Copenhagen & Praesto – Denmark
Invited to a friend’s wedding in Praesto so decided to make a weekend of it doing 2 days in CPH then 1 day in Praesto/Tappernoje then another 2 days in CPH. Departed Heathrow at 0650 on BA812 on time going to CPH Kastrup Airport. Flight was uneventful 1 hour 25 minutes of flying with the usual 20 minutes of faffing around Heathrow and CPH. Pastrami croissant for breakfast on board. Cleared customs and retrieved baggage then headed to the train station. Google maps got us to the Copenhagen Island Hotel (albeit on the wrong side of a dual carriageway in the rain), we were 4 hours early. Paid 200 DKK to upgrade room to a harbour view that meant we could check in straight away!
Hotel is a nightmare for anyone scared of heights (like me) as the corridors from lift to the rooms are ‘jump offable.’ Restaurant and bar area are very comfortable with an outdoor area on the Harbour full of smokers. Food was excellent and beer was expensive at 80 DKK for half a litre of Kronenbourg (approx £9.14!!)
Off we went on our first excursion into the city. 15 minute walk and we were at Tivoli Gardens, a theme park in the centre of CPH. The main square, where City Hall is located, currently is undergoing renovations, so photo’s of the buildings were obscured by large cranes. There are lots of bars and restaurants (and those horrid fast food joints) with bars from around the world. English pub, Scottish Pub, the obligatory Irish Pub(s) and an Aussie pub, where, again beer was expensive.
Day 2 saw glorious sunshine and a day where we ventured into the heart of Copenhagen. There are 3 main squares, all quaint and filled with cafe’s and bars where you can sit and watch the world go by. Had a wonderful lunch, the Danes certainly know how to make a tasty sandwich. Picked up the car from Avis parked it at the hotel and went back to the centre.
Checked out of the hotel, and asked for a ground floor room for the reservation on Sunday. Drove to Tappernoje got there 3 hours too early and the hotel would not let us check in. So went to Praesto, the closest bit of civilisation, and walked straight into a Bric-a-Brac market day. Quickly found a pub and had some lunch. The hotel was the Hotel Fjordkroen that unsurprisingly overlooked Praesto Fjord, with stunning views. Coach picked us up, off to the wedding we went.
Woke up with a mouth like Ghandi’s flip flop and a sore head. Showered and headed back to CPH for the remaining 2 days. Got our ground floor room with a view of the road. Did the usual and always recommend to do, open top bus tour. Hopped off at Christiania the hippy commune that is supposed to be a state within a state. Overhyped! Stayed there for about 30 minutes and went for lunch. Hopped off at The Little Mermaid, and, my word, she is little too. Continued round and hopped off at other places that looked interesting, one in particular we almost missed, Nyhavn. A beautiful canal street with restaurants and bars filling the streets and al fresco dining. A really good atmosphere. This lead up to another square, again, undergoing redevelopment where the National Opera/Theatre was. Stunning buildings.
Last day was mostly faffing around the places we’d already seen, we were booked to leave on BA821 to Heathrow at 1950 where we picked up a Hertz car drove to the Holiday Inn Ariel and had a kip.
In summary: Well worth a visit, but be prepared to spend money like there’s no tomorrow!
Friday, 9 August 2013
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, China
Booked during the British Airways January Sale, flew into
Terminal 3 of Beijing airport from Heathrow on the oldest, most uncomfortable
747 anyone has ever flown on. Looked up the registration and it was 24 years
old. No sign of a refurb or re-covered
seats, terrible. Beijing airport T3 had
an unsurprising smell of wet cement. We landed at 0945 to a deserted terminal,
however, still too an age to get through the 3 open gates out of the 30
immigration gates and took forever to
get our luggage. Taxi tout HELL!!!!!!
They are relentless, our hotel was close to Tiananmen Square, 40kms from the
airport, and was advised not to get a licensed cab but an airport authorised
long distance cab. We did and paid
approx £50. Got to the hotel, weather
was approx 28C and very foggy, not smoggy, but foggy. Finally managed to check in and first thing
was to have a shower.
Hotel Beijing Shangda International was comfortable, had 2 restaurants and a bar. We had a 2 roomed suite with separate sitting area and wired internet. Facebook, Twitter and Google are banned from China, but there are plenty of Proxy websites that can get you access for not much money at all if you miss your social networking! The restaurants were very good, fresh tasty local food cooked to perfection. They even give you a knife and fork as a back up! One Chinese Restaurant and one Japanese, very nice. Breakfast was most excellent, flash cards so you could show the chef you wanted fried eggs x 2 and back bacon. There was also a vast selection of cold meats and cheeses, fruits and Chinese noodle dishes. One flash card said Chicken Feet! I made sure that never went in my hand.
We did a day out to the Great Wall using the travel desk in the hotel. £75 for your own personal guide with limo or £55 for a coach tour. No brainer really! Amazing is all I can say. Walking along the wall, you are walking on the shoulders of giants. People that died while building the wall were buried in it vertically, hence the saying. There is a stone with engraving by Mao Zedong saying you are not a man until you have walked on the Great Wall of China. Well we are men now, however, the gradients are sometimes as great as 65 degrees, very steep steps. On the way we stopped at Mingh Tombs. Very interesting, but, take a hat, it is very hot and exposed to sunshine. Word of warning, on the way back to the hotel, the guide gives the impression that the Jade Museum, Silk Museum, and Doctor Tea are all part of your tour. They are not, guides get paid for taking tourists there and get a commission on the hard sell too. Be very careful in the Tea Tasting, you get 4 free tastes and asked if you would like to try some better ones for a cost. A very expensive cost too.
As you do, and can, in China, we had an overnighter to Xi’an to view the Terracotta Army. Bullet train in business class at 300km/h was a very enjoyable experience. 5 hours to get there and just 4.5 to get back. Didn’t stop so many times on the return. We stayed at Sofitel on Renmin Square, exceptional hotel in exceptional grounds. We got there too late to go see the Army, so booked a private tour with the concierge (always worth their weight in gold) to pick us up at 0700 the following morning.
Spot on time our driver arrives and whisks us off to the museum, a drive of about 50 minutes. Once there our guide met us to take us on our tour of the 4 buildings housing the soldiers. This is a once in a lifetime event, to see this spectacular sight, therefore, I fully recommend to get a private tour. Ours including the car was just £90, we got there early, no crowds or queues and our guide had some special accesses to the site that large party/DIY guide would not get access to. We were there for about 3.5 hours. The driver dropped us back at the HST station and we boarded our train heading to Beijing.
Next we did an overnighter to Shanghai, again the first bullet train out of Beijing South station, of course business class, for the 5 hours trip at break neck speeds. To think 10 years ago there were 0 (zero) miles of high speed train track in China, now there are hundreds of thousands and still building. Arrrived Shanghai approx midday, got the underground to the hotel and had a shower. Here we stayed in the Sofitel Shanghai Hyland on the famous and very busy Nanjing Road. It was baking hot and we had loads to do. Started the afternoon going to the Oriental Pearl Tower across the river, where we had something to eat. Went to the Bund area and low and behold, we found an Irish Pub!!!
The next day, we were booked on the last train to Beijing (Bei = North and Jing = capital) so we got started on our day. Went to the Peoples Park where you could have ballroom dancing classes, then, just for a change and to say we did it, we went to Pudong Airport on the world’s fastest and longest Maglev train. It is capable of doing 554km/h however, it only goes to 300 km/h. Don’t know why. The nuisance on the streets are the locals shouting ‘you want watch? You want lady massage? You want shop?’ as if anyone will ever say yes, they are relentless and very annoying.
Back in North Capital we have just a few days left, so finished off our sightseeing and explored the ex-pat area of Sanlitun village. Full of very expensive designer shops, but very good restaurants and plenty of bars, well it is Expat area!
Airport express to Terminal 3, checked in, security checked 3 times and we’re in the lounge waiting for BA38 to depart. This is the flight number that landed short at Heathrow in 2007.
In summary: Well worth it, however, spend more time in Shanghai and Xi’an and less in Beijing.
Hotel Beijing Shangda International was comfortable, had 2 restaurants and a bar. We had a 2 roomed suite with separate sitting area and wired internet. Facebook, Twitter and Google are banned from China, but there are plenty of Proxy websites that can get you access for not much money at all if you miss your social networking! The restaurants were very good, fresh tasty local food cooked to perfection. They even give you a knife and fork as a back up! One Chinese Restaurant and one Japanese, very nice. Breakfast was most excellent, flash cards so you could show the chef you wanted fried eggs x 2 and back bacon. There was also a vast selection of cold meats and cheeses, fruits and Chinese noodle dishes. One flash card said Chicken Feet! I made sure that never went in my hand.
We did a day out to the Great Wall using the travel desk in the hotel. £75 for your own personal guide with limo or £55 for a coach tour. No brainer really! Amazing is all I can say. Walking along the wall, you are walking on the shoulders of giants. People that died while building the wall were buried in it vertically, hence the saying. There is a stone with engraving by Mao Zedong saying you are not a man until you have walked on the Great Wall of China. Well we are men now, however, the gradients are sometimes as great as 65 degrees, very steep steps. On the way we stopped at Mingh Tombs. Very interesting, but, take a hat, it is very hot and exposed to sunshine. Word of warning, on the way back to the hotel, the guide gives the impression that the Jade Museum, Silk Museum, and Doctor Tea are all part of your tour. They are not, guides get paid for taking tourists there and get a commission on the hard sell too. Be very careful in the Tea Tasting, you get 4 free tastes and asked if you would like to try some better ones for a cost. A very expensive cost too.
As you do, and can, in China, we had an overnighter to Xi’an to view the Terracotta Army. Bullet train in business class at 300km/h was a very enjoyable experience. 5 hours to get there and just 4.5 to get back. Didn’t stop so many times on the return. We stayed at Sofitel on Renmin Square, exceptional hotel in exceptional grounds. We got there too late to go see the Army, so booked a private tour with the concierge (always worth their weight in gold) to pick us up at 0700 the following morning.
Spot on time our driver arrives and whisks us off to the museum, a drive of about 50 minutes. Once there our guide met us to take us on our tour of the 4 buildings housing the soldiers. This is a once in a lifetime event, to see this spectacular sight, therefore, I fully recommend to get a private tour. Ours including the car was just £90, we got there early, no crowds or queues and our guide had some special accesses to the site that large party/DIY guide would not get access to. We were there for about 3.5 hours. The driver dropped us back at the HST station and we boarded our train heading to Beijing.
Next we did an overnighter to Shanghai, again the first bullet train out of Beijing South station, of course business class, for the 5 hours trip at break neck speeds. To think 10 years ago there were 0 (zero) miles of high speed train track in China, now there are hundreds of thousands and still building. Arrrived Shanghai approx midday, got the underground to the hotel and had a shower. Here we stayed in the Sofitel Shanghai Hyland on the famous and very busy Nanjing Road. It was baking hot and we had loads to do. Started the afternoon going to the Oriental Pearl Tower across the river, where we had something to eat. Went to the Bund area and low and behold, we found an Irish Pub!!!
The next day, we were booked on the last train to Beijing (Bei = North and Jing = capital) so we got started on our day. Went to the Peoples Park where you could have ballroom dancing classes, then, just for a change and to say we did it, we went to Pudong Airport on the world’s fastest and longest Maglev train. It is capable of doing 554km/h however, it only goes to 300 km/h. Don’t know why. The nuisance on the streets are the locals shouting ‘you want watch? You want lady massage? You want shop?’ as if anyone will ever say yes, they are relentless and very annoying.
Back in North Capital we have just a few days left, so finished off our sightseeing and explored the ex-pat area of Sanlitun village. Full of very expensive designer shops, but very good restaurants and plenty of bars, well it is Expat area!
Airport express to Terminal 3, checked in, security checked 3 times and we’re in the lounge waiting for BA38 to depart. This is the flight number that landed short at Heathrow in 2007.
In summary: Well worth it, however, spend more time in Shanghai and Xi’an and less in Beijing.
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Berlin, Germany
May 2013 saw us have a cheeky little weekend away (4 days)
here in Berlin. This time we flew direct
with British Airways A320 at 0720 in the morning. If I haven’t mentioned before, we always fly
on the first flight out and last flight back in order to get 4 full days of the
city. This does however, often involve
extra cost in the form of airport hotels, but with so many websites that cater
for these at knockdown prices, the cost is minimal.
Arrived at Tegel (TXL) airport, the favourite one of Berlin as it is only 15 minutes drive from anywhere in the centre of the city. This should have closed 2 years ago and replaced with the new Berlin (BER) airport at Schonefeld, but a problem with the fire alarm have caused a 3 – 4 year delay. There is no direct underground at TXL just buses and taxis in an abundance. Taxi to the hotel was quick and cheap and most importantly, on a very fairly priced meter that issued receipts for the amount it cost, not some fictional figure thought up by the scoundrel taxi driver to rip you off.
We stayed at Savoy Hotel in the vicinity of Kurfurstendamm, Savignyplatz, Kantstrasse and Berlin Zoo . The transport infrastructure is as you would expect it, German. Very clean, punctual plentiful and cheap. There is so much to see and do in this city, we decided to return, at least 3 times, as you cannot do it justice in just 4 days. We saw Berlin Wall, Potsdamer, Holocaust memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg gate ..... all the things you expect to see.
Food was like the transport, German, deep fried and containing pork or chicken. There are plenty of family run restaurants around that do very good affordable tasty German specialities, Schnitzel, Pork Knuckle, Saur Kraut etc. There was an Indian restaurant just down from Potsdamer before the Holocaust Memorial. Adise you give this a miss, the waiters are pestilence itself, trying to drag you in from the street then not giving you what you ordered. Very bad experience, we ended up just walking off and leaving money for the beers we drank but not paying for the food that went straight back.
May saw the temperatures in the late teens reaching mid 20’s by the middle of the day, when, cover was needed and refreshment sought. Cardigan and trouser were needed after 1900 as it got a trifle chilly.
The Hotel Savoy was exceptional, 1920’s decor and ambiance, the cinema over the road was playing The Great Gatsby, how apt! With its own cigar bar, renowned throughout Berlin, as people kept walking in to buy cigars, and a great selection of Whiskies, many a night could be had in there. Breakfast, however, was slapshod. Plenty of waiting staff, but no one doing anything. Therefore, we did what we love to do and ate locally. Again, the age old problem of Egg on Toast reared its ugly head again, even Google Translate didn’t help. I ended up with bacon and cheese omelette with a bread roll in a basket. Think next time I will take a picture of it.
In summary: Go, do it and return to do the bits you missed or forgot to do! One of our favourite cities J
Arrived at Tegel (TXL) airport, the favourite one of Berlin as it is only 15 minutes drive from anywhere in the centre of the city. This should have closed 2 years ago and replaced with the new Berlin (BER) airport at Schonefeld, but a problem with the fire alarm have caused a 3 – 4 year delay. There is no direct underground at TXL just buses and taxis in an abundance. Taxi to the hotel was quick and cheap and most importantly, on a very fairly priced meter that issued receipts for the amount it cost, not some fictional figure thought up by the scoundrel taxi driver to rip you off.
We stayed at Savoy Hotel in the vicinity of Kurfurstendamm, Savignyplatz, Kantstrasse and Berlin Zoo . The transport infrastructure is as you would expect it, German. Very clean, punctual plentiful and cheap. There is so much to see and do in this city, we decided to return, at least 3 times, as you cannot do it justice in just 4 days. We saw Berlin Wall, Potsdamer, Holocaust memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg gate ..... all the things you expect to see.
Food was like the transport, German, deep fried and containing pork or chicken. There are plenty of family run restaurants around that do very good affordable tasty German specialities, Schnitzel, Pork Knuckle, Saur Kraut etc. There was an Indian restaurant just down from Potsdamer before the Holocaust Memorial. Adise you give this a miss, the waiters are pestilence itself, trying to drag you in from the street then not giving you what you ordered. Very bad experience, we ended up just walking off and leaving money for the beers we drank but not paying for the food that went straight back.
May saw the temperatures in the late teens reaching mid 20’s by the middle of the day, when, cover was needed and refreshment sought. Cardigan and trouser were needed after 1900 as it got a trifle chilly.
The Hotel Savoy was exceptional, 1920’s decor and ambiance, the cinema over the road was playing The Great Gatsby, how apt! With its own cigar bar, renowned throughout Berlin, as people kept walking in to buy cigars, and a great selection of Whiskies, many a night could be had in there. Breakfast, however, was slapshod. Plenty of waiting staff, but no one doing anything. Therefore, we did what we love to do and ate locally. Again, the age old problem of Egg on Toast reared its ugly head again, even Google Translate didn’t help. I ended up with bacon and cheese omelette with a bread roll in a basket. Think next time I will take a picture of it.
In summary: Go, do it and return to do the bits you missed or forgot to do! One of our favourite cities J
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Valencia, Spain
This city was highly recommended to us by a couple of
friends, so we thought we’d give it a go in middle April 2013. As you do, we left Heathrow again at silly
o’clock in the morning, for Dusseldorf where we changed for Valencia (anything
to avoid that dreadful RyanAir airline!)
Arrived at 11.00 feeling brave we barged through all the resident taxi
touts, you see at every airport in the world offering to rip you off in an
uninsured unlicensed car, and caught the underground to what we thought was the
local station to the hotel. After
getting Google Maps to tell us we were miles away, decided to get in a cab and
travel in style.
Arrived at the Hotel Silken Puerto Valencia and got upgraded to a penthouse with a balcony as we are now Expedia VIP Access clients. Very well appointed hotel, great location in the city, close to all amenities and underground. Only problem with the room there were no drawers for underwear etc. Restaurant served great local food, and the breakfast was first class, however, we do like to have breakfast around the cities we visit. The egg on toast saga began. I got egg on a plate with the toast on another plate, Egg on a baguette, omelette, it really is never ending.
Temperature was late teens to mid twenties, shorts and tee shirt weather by day and a jumper required at nightfall.
Architecture in the Old Town is stunning along with all the medieval churches and of course the Cathedral. The City of Arts and Sciences is a testament to the complete lack of regard passed local authorities had for the local economy by spending vast amounts of money on something that is beautiful in its own way, but could still do the same job for 25% of the cost. Running through the city is the Turia Gardens. This lies on the old bed of the River Turia and goes for 9km. A really peaceful and tranquil walk in the middle of a bustling city.
The indoor food market is a must, all the different Chorizo and salamis hanging up in the midday heat that would simply not be allowed in the UK. Plaza del Virgen and the Cathedral Square are quite magnificent, 21 centuries of history spreading around you with plenty of bars and cafes to prevent those old nuisances called dehydration and exhaustion.
The airport is like any other European Airport, mainly Orange and Yellow (Easyjet and that awful Ryanair). We flew back via Zurich to Heathrow with the exceptional Swiss International, and as it was the day of Lufthansa industrial action, the planes were almost empty. The one from ZRH to LHR was only 2 weeks old, and there was no circling and queuing to land at Heathrow either.
In summary: Worth a visit once, but we wouldn’t go again to see things we missed.
Arrived at the Hotel Silken Puerto Valencia and got upgraded to a penthouse with a balcony as we are now Expedia VIP Access clients. Very well appointed hotel, great location in the city, close to all amenities and underground. Only problem with the room there were no drawers for underwear etc. Restaurant served great local food, and the breakfast was first class, however, we do like to have breakfast around the cities we visit. The egg on toast saga began. I got egg on a plate with the toast on another plate, Egg on a baguette, omelette, it really is never ending.
Temperature was late teens to mid twenties, shorts and tee shirt weather by day and a jumper required at nightfall.
Architecture in the Old Town is stunning along with all the medieval churches and of course the Cathedral. The City of Arts and Sciences is a testament to the complete lack of regard passed local authorities had for the local economy by spending vast amounts of money on something that is beautiful in its own way, but could still do the same job for 25% of the cost. Running through the city is the Turia Gardens. This lies on the old bed of the River Turia and goes for 9km. A really peaceful and tranquil walk in the middle of a bustling city.
The indoor food market is a must, all the different Chorizo and salamis hanging up in the midday heat that would simply not be allowed in the UK. Plaza del Virgen and the Cathedral Square are quite magnificent, 21 centuries of history spreading around you with plenty of bars and cafes to prevent those old nuisances called dehydration and exhaustion.
The airport is like any other European Airport, mainly Orange and Yellow (Easyjet and that awful Ryanair). We flew back via Zurich to Heathrow with the exceptional Swiss International, and as it was the day of Lufthansa industrial action, the planes were almost empty. The one from ZRH to LHR was only 2 weeks old, and there was no circling and queuing to land at Heathrow either.
In summary: Worth a visit once, but we wouldn’t go again to see things we missed.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Funchal, Madeira
Just to get rid of any cobwebs from the Christmas travel embargo we set off on this cheeky little weekend away. Left Heathrow on TP371 at the ungodly hour of 0640, not even enough time to go to the lounge for a Bloody Mary!! We pushed back 7 minutes early, this is unheard of for Heathrow. Then after sitting in the middle of the apron for 45 minutes, delaying all the other flights stuck behind us, they finally got the right hand engine to start. Friends were joking when I said we were flying with TAP Portugal, saying, ‘You know what TAP means eh? ... Try Another Plane!!!’ How true!
After a wonderful flight landed at the precarious Funchal Airport on time, must have had nice wind. Our chariot was waiting for us to whisk us to the Pestana Casino Park Resort. Fantastic new motorway opened in 2001 reducing journey time from 90+ minutes to 15 minutes. The taxi driver was very proud of this.
Got to the hotel, from the outside it looked like something from a council estate in Smethwick in West Mids, concrete 1960’s nightmare, but the inside was luxurious. Checked in and sat on the veranda with a cold beer (Coral) and it was only 11.15 (had to move the yardarm on this occasion.) When we left Blighty, it was a whopping 1 degree celcius, Funchal was 23, so with our warm layers shed and tee shirts, shorts and flip flops on, we went to town.
My God, the hills are formidable, the average age of tourist here is 65+! God knows how those chariots cope with the steep inclines. Walking around the town and we noticed a lot of seats and railings being put up. It turned out we were there for the Mardi Gras of Madeira! (same weekend as Rio too.) Was a fantastic festival, colours and music and dancing and all the bars were full and exaggerated prices etc.
The timeshare sellers are a real pain in the proverbial, however, one did ask if we were busy the next day. Told her we were going to Porto Santo on the ship. She said not to as it’s North and cloudy, windy and rainy, and we’d waste our time. This story checked out with the hotel reception too. If she didn’t mention it, we would have gone and wasted a day!
One of the main problems for a staying tourist in Funchal, is the curse of the Cruise Ship. Everyday, there are 2 of them docked in Funchal harbour offloading upto 4,000 passengers each for 8 hours. They all have to get from the harbour to the town (coach) and then have a drink and eat. This puts a big strain on these small streets and small intimate cafes, however, they appear to cope and get rid of these people as quickly as they arrive!!
Just to the left of the Pestana is a really quaint restaurant with beautiful food called Casa Velha with a really lovely pub downstairs called Harry’s Bar with a real old character as a waiter. Cafe life lives well here, sitting Al Fresco on a February morning drinking coffee (not moving the yardarm today) has a really nice tone to it, when you realise friends at home are sitting in sub zero temperatures. It is almost too rude to send a picture of me in shorts and tee shirt enjoying my beverage at 0900.
There is a mountain of culture to explore too, Madeira is famous for stuff that you can Google, so I won’t bore you with it. There is also a cable car that goes somewhere I didn’t go. Cheaper than going to the top of the London Shard too (what isn’t.)
We said a fond farewell to Funchal after a carnival filled weekend to wait in the lounge with several large Gin & Tonics for our flight to Heathrow TP372 leaving at 1820 (we got to the lounge 3 hours before as you can!) arriving at 22.05. No additional starter motor was required for the journey back, and the free G&T’s kept rolling on Try Another Plane. Next trip is Valencia Spain. We change in Dusseldorf on the way there and Zurich on the way back.
In Summary: Give it a go, but make sure it’s off season.
After a wonderful flight landed at the precarious Funchal Airport on time, must have had nice wind. Our chariot was waiting for us to whisk us to the Pestana Casino Park Resort. Fantastic new motorway opened in 2001 reducing journey time from 90+ minutes to 15 minutes. The taxi driver was very proud of this.
Got to the hotel, from the outside it looked like something from a council estate in Smethwick in West Mids, concrete 1960’s nightmare, but the inside was luxurious. Checked in and sat on the veranda with a cold beer (Coral) and it was only 11.15 (had to move the yardarm on this occasion.) When we left Blighty, it was a whopping 1 degree celcius, Funchal was 23, so with our warm layers shed and tee shirts, shorts and flip flops on, we went to town.
My God, the hills are formidable, the average age of tourist here is 65+! God knows how those chariots cope with the steep inclines. Walking around the town and we noticed a lot of seats and railings being put up. It turned out we were there for the Mardi Gras of Madeira! (same weekend as Rio too.) Was a fantastic festival, colours and music and dancing and all the bars were full and exaggerated prices etc.
The timeshare sellers are a real pain in the proverbial, however, one did ask if we were busy the next day. Told her we were going to Porto Santo on the ship. She said not to as it’s North and cloudy, windy and rainy, and we’d waste our time. This story checked out with the hotel reception too. If she didn’t mention it, we would have gone and wasted a day!
One of the main problems for a staying tourist in Funchal, is the curse of the Cruise Ship. Everyday, there are 2 of them docked in Funchal harbour offloading upto 4,000 passengers each for 8 hours. They all have to get from the harbour to the town (coach) and then have a drink and eat. This puts a big strain on these small streets and small intimate cafes, however, they appear to cope and get rid of these people as quickly as they arrive!!
Just to the left of the Pestana is a really quaint restaurant with beautiful food called Casa Velha with a really lovely pub downstairs called Harry’s Bar with a real old character as a waiter. Cafe life lives well here, sitting Al Fresco on a February morning drinking coffee (not moving the yardarm today) has a really nice tone to it, when you realise friends at home are sitting in sub zero temperatures. It is almost too rude to send a picture of me in shorts and tee shirt enjoying my beverage at 0900.
There is a mountain of culture to explore too, Madeira is famous for stuff that you can Google, so I won’t bore you with it. There is also a cable car that goes somewhere I didn’t go. Cheaper than going to the top of the London Shard too (what isn’t.)
We said a fond farewell to Funchal after a carnival filled weekend to wait in the lounge with several large Gin & Tonics for our flight to Heathrow TP372 leaving at 1820 (we got to the lounge 3 hours before as you can!) arriving at 22.05. No additional starter motor was required for the journey back, and the free G&T’s kept rolling on Try Another Plane. Next trip is Valencia Spain. We change in Dusseldorf on the way there and Zurich on the way back.
In Summary: Give it a go, but make sure it’s off season.
Friday, 23 November 2012
Cape Town, South Africa
This was our ‘main’ holiday of 2012, and took the decision to go to Cape Town, much to friends disgust as they thought we would get robbed, raped and then bludgeoned to death. However, we asked a couple of friends that have been several times, both in Apartheid and Freedom times of South Africa. They assured us we would find less trouble there than we would experience walking around our local troubled estates at home. ‘You wouldn’t walk there at night, so why would you expect to walk anywhere at night?’
We left Birmingham (BHX) on 25th October on EK40 at 14.15 bound for Dubai. 7 hours later in DXB for an 11 hour wait for EK770. Landed Cape Town at 16.25 with the most stunning view from the aircraft window of table mountain. Luckily, we sat on the side that got the view, all I can say is WOW! Cleared passport and customs much quicker than ever at Heathrow. Met our Chauffeur who took us to The Westin for our 20 day stay.
Had a freshen up and unpacked and then promptly found a bar in the hotel, had a couple and decided to venture out looking for food. Got to the other side of Long Street, famed for it’s local and traditional cuisine, only to get stopped by a security guard who asked us if we were lost. He explained that between us and the restaurants there are Nigerians that will ‘Rob You and Beat You Up!’ We eat at the hotel that night.
V&A (Victoria and Alfred Not Victoria & Albert) waterfront is a brilliant place to find restaurants, bars and shops. The Westin provided a half hourly free shuttle service between V&A and the hotel. This started at 0630am until 23.45 and proved to be a life saver. Out of the 20 days we were in Cape Town, we eat at V&A about 15 times, always in a different restaurant. Speciality meats are delicious, Impala, Springbok, Warthog, Ostrich, Kudu, Wildebeest and Zebra. If you are vegetarian they do occasionally have quiche available.
The open top tourist bus is a must and very good value for money. It’s hop on hop off, so you can spend time at places without having to worry about public transport or taking a rent-a-car. Kirstenbosch is the garden of Southern Africa, established by Jan Van Riebeek of Van Riebeeks hedge fame, the garden preserves southern Africa’s native flora. It’s situated at the foot of table mountain where there is a wonderful little bar with great views. Other stops on the tour are Constantia wine region and the Imizamo Yethu Township where residents will take a guided tour for 100 Randish payable to them so the bus company get nothing ?
Camps Bay is the playground of the rich and beautiful people of Cape Town, YEAH RIGHT! It wants to be, but there are very few people that fit into that category. It has a stunning beach in the shadows of the 12 apostles with the Indian Ocean rather cold. Plenty to eat and drink here, but not nice if the wind is up as it’s like being in a sandstorm.
We rented a car for the middle week and went touring, but still returning to Cape Town each evening. We went along the coast to Cape Of Good hope and Cape Point, not much there at COGH except a sign to say so and a couple of wild ostrich’s roaming around. Cape Point has a funicular railway to the top, and then a steep climb to get to the lighthouse where the views are out of this world.
On the way back, we stopped off in Simonstown, an old British Naval Base still used by South Africa Navy, some nice restaurants and marina there with colonial buildings.
Robben Island is just 30 minutes away by boat, this is a must for all visitors to South Africa. The guided tour is not optional, start on a bus, then finish on foot, but don’t be late for the boat, there are strict passenger numbers for each crossing with most of them full. The tour of the prison blocks is conducted by a former inmate, ours described himself as a state terrorist, but has now calmed down since equality came to his country. There are heaps of Cormorants that follow the bus expecting food. The Island stay is about 2 hours with an obligatory gift shop before boarding the boat. Oh, and make sure you use the toilet on the boat, I don’t think they have been cleaned since Mr Mandela vacated the Island!
Table Mountain took a lot of nerve to get me up in the cable car, but once there, the scenery is stunning. There are little animals there who’s closest living relative is the elephant! On the way back we stopped at The Mount Nelson Hotel for afternoon tea, well worth it, very colonial and civilised.
Stellenbosch wine tour, you have a choice of a minibus that goes to various hotels to pick up that’s about 1000 Rand or for 3500 Rand we got a limo to take us to the vineyards we wanted to go to, had lunch where we wanted and finished the tour when we wanted. Do not drive yourself, the wines are delicious. Some great scenery too as you are driving around.
In summary: Buy your tickets now and get there, fantastic!
We left Birmingham (BHX) on 25th October on EK40 at 14.15 bound for Dubai. 7 hours later in DXB for an 11 hour wait for EK770. Landed Cape Town at 16.25 with the most stunning view from the aircraft window of table mountain. Luckily, we sat on the side that got the view, all I can say is WOW! Cleared passport and customs much quicker than ever at Heathrow. Met our Chauffeur who took us to The Westin for our 20 day stay.
Had a freshen up and unpacked and then promptly found a bar in the hotel, had a couple and decided to venture out looking for food. Got to the other side of Long Street, famed for it’s local and traditional cuisine, only to get stopped by a security guard who asked us if we were lost. He explained that between us and the restaurants there are Nigerians that will ‘Rob You and Beat You Up!’ We eat at the hotel that night.
V&A (Victoria and Alfred Not Victoria & Albert) waterfront is a brilliant place to find restaurants, bars and shops. The Westin provided a half hourly free shuttle service between V&A and the hotel. This started at 0630am until 23.45 and proved to be a life saver. Out of the 20 days we were in Cape Town, we eat at V&A about 15 times, always in a different restaurant. Speciality meats are delicious, Impala, Springbok, Warthog, Ostrich, Kudu, Wildebeest and Zebra. If you are vegetarian they do occasionally have quiche available.
The open top tourist bus is a must and very good value for money. It’s hop on hop off, so you can spend time at places without having to worry about public transport or taking a rent-a-car. Kirstenbosch is the garden of Southern Africa, established by Jan Van Riebeek of Van Riebeeks hedge fame, the garden preserves southern Africa’s native flora. It’s situated at the foot of table mountain where there is a wonderful little bar with great views. Other stops on the tour are Constantia wine region and the Imizamo Yethu Township where residents will take a guided tour for 100 Randish payable to them so the bus company get nothing ?
Camps Bay is the playground of the rich and beautiful people of Cape Town, YEAH RIGHT! It wants to be, but there are very few people that fit into that category. It has a stunning beach in the shadows of the 12 apostles with the Indian Ocean rather cold. Plenty to eat and drink here, but not nice if the wind is up as it’s like being in a sandstorm.
We rented a car for the middle week and went touring, but still returning to Cape Town each evening. We went along the coast to Cape Of Good hope and Cape Point, not much there at COGH except a sign to say so and a couple of wild ostrich’s roaming around. Cape Point has a funicular railway to the top, and then a steep climb to get to the lighthouse where the views are out of this world.
On the way back, we stopped off in Simonstown, an old British Naval Base still used by South Africa Navy, some nice restaurants and marina there with colonial buildings.
Robben Island is just 30 minutes away by boat, this is a must for all visitors to South Africa. The guided tour is not optional, start on a bus, then finish on foot, but don’t be late for the boat, there are strict passenger numbers for each crossing with most of them full. The tour of the prison blocks is conducted by a former inmate, ours described himself as a state terrorist, but has now calmed down since equality came to his country. There are heaps of Cormorants that follow the bus expecting food. The Island stay is about 2 hours with an obligatory gift shop before boarding the boat. Oh, and make sure you use the toilet on the boat, I don’t think they have been cleaned since Mr Mandela vacated the Island!
Table Mountain took a lot of nerve to get me up in the cable car, but once there, the scenery is stunning. There are little animals there who’s closest living relative is the elephant! On the way back we stopped at The Mount Nelson Hotel for afternoon tea, well worth it, very colonial and civilised.
Stellenbosch wine tour, you have a choice of a minibus that goes to various hotels to pick up that’s about 1000 Rand or for 3500 Rand we got a limo to take us to the vineyards we wanted to go to, had lunch where we wanted and finished the tour when we wanted. Do not drive yourself, the wines are delicious. Some great scenery too as you are driving around.
In summary: Buy your tickets now and get there, fantastic!
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Istanbul,Turkey
This was a nice little weekend away in the winter sun of Istanbul (October 2012). Never been there before, but came very highly recommended from a friend as a very beautiful, pleasant and friendly place to visit. We duly departed Heathrow on TK1980 at 11.25am on a very cold October morning. After getting on the plane alive and not suffering crush injuries in the stampede to get onboard, we settled down to a very pleasant flight with plentiful delightful Turkish red wine called Ancyra (a Cab Sauv). We landed at 17.15 local. No one mentioned that we needed to purchase a border visa for 10 English Pounds before making our way to passport control. Queued for that, handed over my tenner, and queued again for passport. Our limousine was awaiting.
Got to our well appointed ‘special class’ hotel Hotel Mina in Sultanahmet Old Town unpacked and went out for a beer. Found a really nice bar called Cozy on Divan Yolu Cad. No: 66 Sultanahmet . This street was a hive of activity day and night. It has the famous spice market on, both big mosques are off this street and the tram goes all the way to the ferry terminal for the Asian side of Istanbul.
Temperature during daylight was low to mid twenties and night was mid teens. There was absolutely zero threat of trouble or no beggars. There were a lot of shoe shine people, who to be fair, are doing their bit by providing a service and not just blatant begging. I wore green shoes in a purely tactical move. No-one had green polish! Taxi’s and trams are 100% trustworthy and do not overcharge or take you for a ride you didn’t want.
Asian side of Istanbul is very different to the European side. Mainly because there is no alcohol to be found anywhere. The crossing by ferry only takes approx 10 minutes and is as cheap as chips with some stunning views along the way. On return, the dock area of Istanbul is very colourful and interesting. Some of your more unusual shops, where shopkeepers wonder why you cannlt take a 45 metre hand woven carpet on a plane as hand luggage! The trick as to not get pestered by shopkeepers is: don’t carry a bag with shopping in it, if you’ve been had once, you are considered fair game!
The food is out of this world, if you like spicy meat. Kebabs or Kebaps as they are called, are nothing like what you get at home. Spicy meatballs are delicious and if you are a vegetarian you can have hummus (serves yourself right!) Yes there is an Irish bar there, 2 actually.
The views at night are amazing, all restaurants and bars have a rooftop terrace where the Blue mosque can be seen in all its glory. Inside the Blue Mosque you are requested not to wear shoes or short trousers. Some of my fellow compatriots thought it very big and clever to deny them of this simple request and even saw people in there with a bottle of beer for God’s sake.
In summary: Definitely well worth a visit and stay in the Sultanahmet area of the city. We were there for 4 days, 5 or 6 would have been nice.
Got to our well appointed ‘special class’ hotel Hotel Mina in Sultanahmet Old Town unpacked and went out for a beer. Found a really nice bar called Cozy on Divan Yolu Cad. No: 66 Sultanahmet . This street was a hive of activity day and night. It has the famous spice market on, both big mosques are off this street and the tram goes all the way to the ferry terminal for the Asian side of Istanbul.
Temperature during daylight was low to mid twenties and night was mid teens. There was absolutely zero threat of trouble or no beggars. There were a lot of shoe shine people, who to be fair, are doing their bit by providing a service and not just blatant begging. I wore green shoes in a purely tactical move. No-one had green polish! Taxi’s and trams are 100% trustworthy and do not overcharge or take you for a ride you didn’t want.
Asian side of Istanbul is very different to the European side. Mainly because there is no alcohol to be found anywhere. The crossing by ferry only takes approx 10 minutes and is as cheap as chips with some stunning views along the way. On return, the dock area of Istanbul is very colourful and interesting. Some of your more unusual shops, where shopkeepers wonder why you cannlt take a 45 metre hand woven carpet on a plane as hand luggage! The trick as to not get pestered by shopkeepers is: don’t carry a bag with shopping in it, if you’ve been had once, you are considered fair game!
The food is out of this world, if you like spicy meat. Kebabs or Kebaps as they are called, are nothing like what you get at home. Spicy meatballs are delicious and if you are a vegetarian you can have hummus (serves yourself right!) Yes there is an Irish bar there, 2 actually.
The views at night are amazing, all restaurants and bars have a rooftop terrace where the Blue mosque can be seen in all its glory. Inside the Blue Mosque you are requested not to wear shoes or short trousers. Some of my fellow compatriots thought it very big and clever to deny them of this simple request and even saw people in there with a bottle of beer for God’s sake.
In summary: Definitely well worth a visit and stay in the Sultanahmet area of the city. We were there for 4 days, 5 or 6 would have been nice.
Sunday, 30 September 2012
St Paul's Bay, Malta
We set of on our week trip to Malta early one cold autumn
morning (September, 2012) from London Heathrow with Air Malta.
The flight was very bumpy and had a service similar to that of a budget
airline, however, the first drink was free and any subsequent drinks were to be
paid for. We arrived in Valletta at
14.25 and picked up the rent a car.
Hello nightmare numero uno .... Do not expect the little standard luxuries of most countries of the world that have tar macadam roads, such as signs directing you to anywhere. What appears to be a main road on a sat nav is actually a single carriage road with cars parked and oncoming buses that you need to chicane past. What should have been a 15 minute journey became 1 hour and 20 minutes of hell inspired oral flame throwing inside a very small Chevrolet.
Finally got to the ‘hotel’ just before dinner. Check in was smooth and eventless, by the way this ‘hotel’ was called ‘The George’ in St Pauls Bay. We were shown to our rooms.
Hello nightmare numero dos. The room was clean and the blackout curtain would have worked if they had met in the middle to blackout the window! There was a large hole in the 1970’s fitted furniture where the website published ‘mini bar’ should have been, however, in hindsight, it was a blessing this was ripped out as the plug socket the mini bar would have used was the only available one except for the TV (nightmare numero tres) socket. Opened the wardrobes (yes it is supposed to be a 4 star) to find a total of 4 and one half clothes hangers. Not to be pushed into a negative and despondent mood I decided to have a shower. Turned it on and stepped in, adjusted the shower head so as it was in the optimal position. Low and behold, the whole fitting came off in my hand and had to have a shower under the bit of copper pipe sticking out of the wall.
Hello nightmare numero uno .... Do not expect the little standard luxuries of most countries of the world that have tar macadam roads, such as signs directing you to anywhere. What appears to be a main road on a sat nav is actually a single carriage road with cars parked and oncoming buses that you need to chicane past. What should have been a 15 minute journey became 1 hour and 20 minutes of hell inspired oral flame throwing inside a very small Chevrolet.
Finally got to the ‘hotel’ just before dinner. Check in was smooth and eventless, by the way this ‘hotel’ was called ‘The George’ in St Pauls Bay. We were shown to our rooms.
Hello nightmare numero dos. The room was clean and the blackout curtain would have worked if they had met in the middle to blackout the window! There was a large hole in the 1970’s fitted furniture where the website published ‘mini bar’ should have been, however, in hindsight, it was a blessing this was ripped out as the plug socket the mini bar would have used was the only available one except for the TV (nightmare numero tres) socket. Opened the wardrobes (yes it is supposed to be a 4 star) to find a total of 4 and one half clothes hangers. Not to be pushed into a negative and despondent mood I decided to have a shower. Turned it on and stepped in, adjusted the shower head so as it was in the optimal position. Low and behold, the whole fitting came off in my hand and had to have a shower under the bit of copper pipe sticking out of the wall.
Went out for a walk to the bay area. The infrastructure would give all these
British ambulance chasing solicitors a very good living. Potholes everywhere.
It was more important to look down at where your feet were going than look
straight ahead. It was preferential to walk into a lamppost than to fall in a
pothole or a manhole with no cover on it.
Had a couple of beer’s, local brew Cisk was wet, yes just wet. Went back to ‘hotel’ turned TV on, numero
tres begins. Rolling screen snow all
over and abysmal picture.
Now lets start on Malta the Island. St Pauls Bay and nearby Bugibba really are
places to commit suicide in. A really nice breakfast on the bay could be had at
Paulus Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/paulusdining)
this really was a redeeming feature for St Pauls Bay. I definitely recommend going on the Red and
Blue bus tours of the Island, one does north and the other does south. Very informative and relaxed, until you need
to get back that is. If you leave it
later than 1.5 hours until the last bus, be prepared for a free for all
stampede to get aboard. The bus showed
us that the rest of Malta is really beautiful and Maltese.
Valetta old town is spectacular fantastic restaurants and
bars, museums and fascinating building adorn the narrow streets. There is still a bit of colonial Britain with
the Post boxes and telephone boxes.
Mdina is also very beautiful, home of Mdina Glassware. Wondering around these quaint tiny little
streets and alleyways finding great little authentic Maltese cuisine and
beverages, was a real part of the trip.
There are a lot of lovely knockers too!
A day trip to Gozo is highly recommended too, very
picturesque, however, very very very very packed with tourists! You have approx
one quarter of a square metre to call
your own.
I am glad we went out of season, otherwise, the place would
have been unbearable in the school holidays with the bucket and spade brigade
there. I phoned my mum while there, as I
knew she had been. She just said that after the first day she cried for 3 hours
solid and she knew she had another 13 days to go. I just thank God we only went for 7.
To sum up: Don’t go!
Monday, 16 July 2012
Bucharest, Romania
Romania is the largest of the Balkan countries that also
sports a stunning coastline on the Black Sea.
It’s Capital is Bucharest, a city of 1,800,000 people, 8% of the
countries population.
The city is made up of majority Romanians (96%) with ethnic
groups of Roma (Gypsies), Hungarians, Jews, Turks, Chinese and
Germans. The city vibrates of an
evening, especially in the Old Town district, where there are bars and
restaurants to be found like a bounty.
Bucharest is a most stunning and beautiful place. Some parts you need to look through the grey
paint of the communists and notice there are still some really fantastically
aesthetically pleasing buildings still there.
Temperatures there are at both extremes of the scale, winter
is harsh and freezing (down to minus 32 degrees C), summer is very hot and
humid (up to 43 degrees C). Average rain
days are just 4-5 per month!
Prices are on the whole very good. Average beer price was 70p for 0.4 litre jug
of draught or 90p for a 0.5 litre bottle of the wonderful local brews. Ursus, Ciuc (pronounced Chuck), Silva and
Bergenbier are the ones most commonly found in bars. All major European brands are available at a
premium for some. Wine is good, cheap
and plentiful.
Eating out is very affordable with very palatable food. All restaurants have a variety of languages
for menu’s, or if not, revert to the good old international sign language of
pretending to use a knife and fork. If you like a good steakhouse, we would recommend the Red Angus Steakhouse. Its situation is perfect for a meal in the evening followed by a nice wander through the bars of Bucharest Old Town.
The city is served by 2 airports, one of which is private, the main International Airport is called Henri Coanda Airport (OTP). It is not very easy to get to by public transport to/from the city centre though.
There is a great transport infrastructure consisting of Underground, Over ground wombling free (Oops got carried away there) trains, Trams and an extensive diesel and electric trolley bus system. Taxi’s are pretty much like everywhere else in the world, ALWAYS get a price before you get in. All official taxi’s must display the Lei per km (Romanian Currency Lei/Leu) on the outside of the rear passenger doors and on the wings of the car. This can vary from 1.40 lei/km up to 3.5lei/km. No prizes for guessing which one is cheapest and not the rip off. Taxi from the airport should be no more than 50 lei, and only this much if you have been sat in traffic for 2 hours or gone to your hotel via Budapest. The average price we found was 20 Lei (Old Town to Airport).
There is a great transport infrastructure consisting of Underground, Over ground wombling free (Oops got carried away there) trains, Trams and an extensive diesel and electric trolley bus system. Taxi’s are pretty much like everywhere else in the world, ALWAYS get a price before you get in. All official taxi’s must display the Lei per km (Romanian Currency Lei/Leu) on the outside of the rear passenger doors and on the wings of the car. This can vary from 1.40 lei/km up to 3.5lei/km. No prizes for guessing which one is cheapest and not the rip off. Taxi from the airport should be no more than 50 lei, and only this much if you have been sat in traffic for 2 hours or gone to your hotel via Budapest. The average price we found was 20 Lei (Old Town to Airport).
The Parliamentary Palace (Also known as the People’s Palace)
is a most stunning building. It is a pity of the circumstances of its
construction is marred by Ceausescu's Lasting, Loathed Legacy, but, still is a must see.
The Bulevardul Unirii goes straight to the front of the palace. It is purposely exactly 1 metre wider and 6
metres longer than the Champs-Élysées in Paris France.
We found Bucharest to be safe and secure, even though the
stories of pillage and robbery you hear, we saw none of it. There are plenty of Gendarme, Municipal
Police and private security guards around to prevent any trouble. There were no beggars in the Old Town, the
closest you got were people selling things like roses and packs of tissues. There is also a man there with 3 parrots
perched on a musical box with 2 mice running around the brim of his top
hat. The kids loved it, a little sense
of non Disney magic.
In summary this is another Gem of Europe waiting to be discovered. Plan at least a long weekend there as soon as possible. If your budget is tight, then this is a must for your short list.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Sofia, Bulgaria
A refreshing gem of a find. Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, and believe it or not the 15th largest city in the European Union. Bulgaria is infamously known to us for the cheap red wines we knew in our youth, but these days, with the English taste buds ripening we are seeing more and more excellent wines from this country on our shelves.
The city has, like many other European cities, had a rough past with wars and invasions, and liberations happening even up to the 20th century. The last struggle for the Bulgarian people was in 1946 when the Republic of Bulgaria was finally born.
Its offical religion is Christianity (Predominantly Orthodox), but has various religious communities that co-exist peacefully - a model for many other countries to follow. In fact, the capital Sofia is known for its so-called Triangle of Religious Tolerance: the St Nedelya Church, Banya Bashi Mosque, and Sofia Synagogue are located within metres of each other in the very centre of the city. If you like wandering round this sort of building, then we recommend taking a tour of all three.
Sofia is a working city, but still sports a plethera of classical buildings as well as more contemporary. Sofia these days offers everything that any place has to offer in shopping terms. With shopping malls including the Serdika Center, and Mall Tsarigradski and more each year, an outlet centre, central shopping streets and plenty of smaller supermarkets.
There's plenty of what I call old-style markets to peruse too. Graf Ignatiev Street sports a row of fruit and vegetable stalls on the tram-only thoroughfare. Fantastic for food shopping with all local produce. There's also shops and a few bars to watch the world go by.
The Zhenski Pazar or Women's Market, is an intensely crowded affair where you can find everything from fruit and vegetables to fake designer-label tracksuits and car parts. Locals from the surrounding countryside arrive here early each morning to sell their produce, and it's one of the few places in Sofia where the pulse of the Balkans of old can still be felt. Beyond lies one of Sofia's older quarters, with rutted cobblestones and low houses built around courtyards.
Rimska Stena is a lively food market amid the Byzantine walls on Ulitsa Hristo.
Although now part of the EU it has yet to take on the currency of the Euro. At the time of visiting, the lev (meaning "lion") was equal to approximately 41 english pence, or 0.52 euros. The exchange rate for us is fantastic and therefore a great get-away or vacation can be had for very reasonable rates.
A meal for two with drinks can come to as little as £10. It is a must to try any of the national beers, as they compete gracefully with any other European beer. A pint (half litre) cost us between £0.70 and £1.40. So, if (like us) you enjoy a few drinks watching the world go by, then we recommend this lovely city wholeheartedly.
Taxis are everywhere, but beware.. there are plenty of one-man bands willing to rip you off or coerce you into giving them more than the going rate. For example, even being taken from the airport to our hotel, the taxi driver insisted on stopping at a shop and getting us a beer each. Granted we were happy for the drink, but all of a sudden we were paying more than the going rate for the beers on top of the taxi ride. That said, there are plenty of honest drivers out there that are very willing to help you around the city.
Try going for the older drivers, as they are likely in the business for the long term. We were advised to use OK Taxis as a good firm. Be careful looking at the emblems on the side though. there are a few that try to mimic their logo using 'HK' and 'CK'. There number (found in the rear side window) should end in 2121.
A special thanks to Ivan (driver 628) from Yellow 333 Taxis (http://www.yellowtaxi.bg) - another good firm. I would even suggest you ask for him specifically as he loves to practice his english and has a good knowledge of things in the city you might be interested in. Many Thanks Ivan.
Finally. Whatever else you do you MUST try the trams. They are frequent and cheap just to jump on. Each has a machine onboard where you can purchase a 1-way journey along any of the tracks for just ONE lev. Its a cheap way to see some parts of the city you might not normally, and you don't really need to get off until you find something interesting. You can also buy a multi-ticket, but be sure you stamp it every journey so you don't get into serious trouble.
The city has, like many other European cities, had a rough past with wars and invasions, and liberations happening even up to the 20th century. The last struggle for the Bulgarian people was in 1946 when the Republic of Bulgaria was finally born.
Its offical religion is Christianity (Predominantly Orthodox), but has various religious communities that co-exist peacefully - a model for many other countries to follow. In fact, the capital Sofia is known for its so-called Triangle of Religious Tolerance: the St Nedelya Church, Banya Bashi Mosque, and Sofia Synagogue are located within metres of each other in the very centre of the city. If you like wandering round this sort of building, then we recommend taking a tour of all three.
Sofia is a working city, but still sports a plethera of classical buildings as well as more contemporary. Sofia these days offers everything that any place has to offer in shopping terms. With shopping malls including the Serdika Center, and Mall Tsarigradski and more each year, an outlet centre, central shopping streets and plenty of smaller supermarkets.
There's plenty of what I call old-style markets to peruse too. Graf Ignatiev Street sports a row of fruit and vegetable stalls on the tram-only thoroughfare. Fantastic for food shopping with all local produce. There's also shops and a few bars to watch the world go by.
The Zhenski Pazar or Women's Market, is an intensely crowded affair where you can find everything from fruit and vegetables to fake designer-label tracksuits and car parts. Locals from the surrounding countryside arrive here early each morning to sell their produce, and it's one of the few places in Sofia where the pulse of the Balkans of old can still be felt. Beyond lies one of Sofia's older quarters, with rutted cobblestones and low houses built around courtyards.
Rimska Stena is a lively food market amid the Byzantine walls on Ulitsa Hristo.
Although now part of the EU it has yet to take on the currency of the Euro. At the time of visiting, the lev (meaning "lion") was equal to approximately 41 english pence, or 0.52 euros. The exchange rate for us is fantastic and therefore a great get-away or vacation can be had for very reasonable rates.
A meal for two with drinks can come to as little as £10. It is a must to try any of the national beers, as they compete gracefully with any other European beer. A pint (half litre) cost us between £0.70 and £1.40. So, if (like us) you enjoy a few drinks watching the world go by, then we recommend this lovely city wholeheartedly.
Taxis are everywhere, but beware.. there are plenty of one-man bands willing to rip you off or coerce you into giving them more than the going rate. For example, even being taken from the airport to our hotel, the taxi driver insisted on stopping at a shop and getting us a beer each. Granted we were happy for the drink, but all of a sudden we were paying more than the going rate for the beers on top of the taxi ride. That said, there are plenty of honest drivers out there that are very willing to help you around the city.
Try going for the older drivers, as they are likely in the business for the long term. We were advised to use OK Taxis as a good firm. Be careful looking at the emblems on the side though. there are a few that try to mimic their logo using 'HK' and 'CK'. There number (found in the rear side window) should end in 2121.
A special thanks to Ivan (driver 628) from Yellow 333 Taxis (http://www.yellowtaxi.bg) - another good firm. I would even suggest you ask for him specifically as he loves to practice his english and has a good knowledge of things in the city you might be interested in. Many Thanks Ivan.
Finally. Whatever else you do you MUST try the trams. They are frequent and cheap just to jump on. Each has a machine onboard where you can purchase a 1-way journey along any of the tracks for just ONE lev. Its a cheap way to see some parts of the city you might not normally, and you don't really need to get off until you find something interesting. You can also buy a multi-ticket, but be sure you stamp it every journey so you don't get into serious trouble.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Taba, Egypt
Taba is a little Egyptian town near the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Sinai Peninsula. From Taba you can see 3 other countries (from the beach – WOW). There are many protected areas including caves, valleys, mountainous passages and some natural springs. The main thing that is protected though is the coral reefs which are some of the best.
In these reefs you can see many different types of fish including; Lion Fish, Trigger Fish, Clown Fish, Cornet Fish and Puffer Fish. You can also have a chance to see Sea Turtles and Sea Horses (however these are a lot more rare to see but they can be seen.) There are many excursions that you can do and one of these is scuba diving with Red Sea Waterworld which is PADI accredited which means that it is very professional and you get to have two dives, the first is to get you used to using the mouth piece and the second is to have a proper look at some of the coral reefs.
Other excursions include seeing Cairo where you can visit the Pyramids. This spellbinding city is stuffed with history that deserves a visit. You will get to see the Saladin Citadel, the Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and you get the chance to watch the dazzling Pyramid Sound and Light Show (for some extra money that is) the second day you get to see the Alabaster sphinx and a fallen statue of Ramses II. You will also be able to see the Stepped Pyramid which is the worlds oldest stone monument. You then have lunch on the Nile cruise and then you will make your way to the Egyptian museum.
Taba is ideally located because you are close to 3 different countries and can do excursions to some of the attractions there. Some include going to Jerusalem, Eilat (where you can do a fun day or a fun day and dolphin snorkel) and Petra.
The best place to stay is one of the resorts called “Taba Heights” within here there are many hotels the two best being the hotel Sofitel and the Intercontinental Hotel. The Intercontinental is on the rise and is slightly cheaper to stay in and you get roughly the same things. In the resort there is a small town that is called “Uptown” which you must go to (however there is a perfume shop you should not go into unless you bring a lot of money. It is quite expensive). Also on the resort is an 18 hole golf course which has hosted the Pro Am. It is beautifully kept and you get wet towels and drinks brought to you throughout your game to keep you cool in the hot temperatures.
The weather is hot hot hot so I wouldn’t advise small children because it can get very hot. The pool in Intercontinental is around 26-27 degrees and the temperature averages around the high 30’s low 40 (celcius) in June – September. It is coldest November – Feb where the temperature is between 21 degrees and 15 degrees. So still hotter than England.
Taba is a must see and with its surrounding countries it is a brilliant destination.
In these reefs you can see many different types of fish including; Lion Fish, Trigger Fish, Clown Fish, Cornet Fish and Puffer Fish. You can also have a chance to see Sea Turtles and Sea Horses (however these are a lot more rare to see but they can be seen.) There are many excursions that you can do and one of these is scuba diving with Red Sea Waterworld which is PADI accredited which means that it is very professional and you get to have two dives, the first is to get you used to using the mouth piece and the second is to have a proper look at some of the coral reefs.
Other excursions include seeing Cairo where you can visit the Pyramids. This spellbinding city is stuffed with history that deserves a visit. You will get to see the Saladin Citadel, the Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and you get the chance to watch the dazzling Pyramid Sound and Light Show (for some extra money that is) the second day you get to see the Alabaster sphinx and a fallen statue of Ramses II. You will also be able to see the Stepped Pyramid which is the worlds oldest stone monument. You then have lunch on the Nile cruise and then you will make your way to the Egyptian museum.
Taba is ideally located because you are close to 3 different countries and can do excursions to some of the attractions there. Some include going to Jerusalem, Eilat (where you can do a fun day or a fun day and dolphin snorkel) and Petra.
The best place to stay is one of the resorts called “Taba Heights” within here there are many hotels the two best being the hotel Sofitel and the Intercontinental Hotel. The Intercontinental is on the rise and is slightly cheaper to stay in and you get roughly the same things. In the resort there is a small town that is called “Uptown” which you must go to (however there is a perfume shop you should not go into unless you bring a lot of money. It is quite expensive). Also on the resort is an 18 hole golf course which has hosted the Pro Am. It is beautifully kept and you get wet towels and drinks brought to you throughout your game to keep you cool in the hot temperatures.
The weather is hot hot hot so I wouldn’t advise small children because it can get very hot. The pool in Intercontinental is around 26-27 degrees and the temperature averages around the high 30’s low 40 (celcius) in June – September. It is coldest November – Feb where the temperature is between 21 degrees and 15 degrees. So still hotter than England.
Taba is a must see and with its surrounding countries it is a brilliant destination.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Zurich, Switzerland
A jewel waiting to be uncovered. Switzerland is, of course a beautiful country with great planes and amazing mountains which gives fantastic panaramas unique to Europe. It has fantastic skiing opportunities, and leasurely biking and camping chances too.
From what we knew, we expected Zurich to be just a simple business working city. Boy were we wrong. Read on to see why.
Zurich has been permanently settled for about 7000 years. Originally it was funded by the Romans. Zurich is a leading global city and among the world's largest financial centres and as such, you don't expect to see much in terms of history and arts. Many of the banking giants and large financial institutions. And is world renound for low rate of tax which attracts overseas companies to set up their headquarters in the city.
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. However, Zurich is predominantly German speaking (and a dialect called German Züritüütsch) with approximately 78% having it as their mother tongue. Don't worry if you're not fluent in German. As you would expect, since this is an international business oriened city, you usually find someone to understand you in English. That said, with our pidgeon-german, we got by as much as we can. As usual you tend to find if you TRY to use their language, they are very forgiving, and most will switch to English when they realise. The people themselves are polite, friendly, and helpful. Everything you would hope for in a country where you might be struggling for understanding.
Most of the sightseeing centres around the old town (Altstadt). For starters, an amazing array of museums and art galleries and churches can be found in the town, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. Zurich also hosts one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, and you can easily sit back and watch the world go by for days at a time. Although the city is in general a modern example of living, the architecture in the old town is beautiful . Some of which dates back past the middle ages and beyond. Beautiful facades an arches. Memorable monuments and walls. And finally, with the river Limmat running through the centre of the old town into Lake Zurich there in excess of 8 bridges, both modern and classical for you to investigate.
If you manage to get hold of a tourist map (most hotels in Zurich have them) you will find a walking route through the old town. As they say it: to experience sophisticated Bahnofstrasse, the winding narrow streets and artisan shops, historic buildings, cultural highlights, and the fresh breeze off Lake Zurich.
We stayed in the Crowne Plaza hotel, approximately 30 minutes from the old town centre. This seems a long way until you discover the first class network of trams and buses. I'm not one usually for using anything other than taxis and underground when in a new city, but this time I was elated that we even bothered. For 25.60CHF (£17.50) you can get a multiple day pass on the ZVV which allows you 6x24hour journeys. What's more, the wonderful lady at the kiosk explained to us (in English) that as long as the two of us stayed together, we could double-stamp the ticket and use two at once. This was ideal for the long weekend we had. Once we had them, from the bottom of the road where we were staying, it took approximately 10 to 15 minutes before we were placed right in the centre of the old town, and with a very interesting view on the journey too.
The icing on the cake for us, was to get the local 30 minute train up to the local Mount Üetliberg. The train takes you all but 500 metres to the top. With a small, walk for the rest to see a hotel with a beautiful panoramic view not only down on Zurich and the lake, but to the other side of the mountain too, to see its flowing gree hills. Even the least energetic of us should give this a go
I'd recommend everyone to visit Zurich, whatever age and interest. The only drawback unfortunately was the cost. Switzerland is not a cheap place to live. An average snack and drink for two people was around £15. And before you think about surviving on McDonald's, a BigMac meal costs 11.50CHF, or £7.80.
From what we knew, we expected Zurich to be just a simple business working city. Boy were we wrong. Read on to see why.
Zurich has been permanently settled for about 7000 years. Originally it was funded by the Romans. Zurich is a leading global city and among the world's largest financial centres and as such, you don't expect to see much in terms of history and arts. Many of the banking giants and large financial institutions. And is world renound for low rate of tax which attracts overseas companies to set up their headquarters in the city.
Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. However, Zurich is predominantly German speaking (and a dialect called German Züritüütsch) with approximately 78% having it as their mother tongue. Don't worry if you're not fluent in German. As you would expect, since this is an international business oriened city, you usually find someone to understand you in English. That said, with our pidgeon-german, we got by as much as we can. As usual you tend to find if you TRY to use their language, they are very forgiving, and most will switch to English when they realise. The people themselves are polite, friendly, and helpful. Everything you would hope for in a country where you might be struggling for understanding.
Most of the sightseeing centres around the old town (Altstadt). For starters, an amazing array of museums and art galleries and churches can be found in the town, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. Zurich also hosts one of the most important theatres in the German-speaking world. There are plenty of places to eat and drink, and you can easily sit back and watch the world go by for days at a time. Although the city is in general a modern example of living, the architecture in the old town is beautiful . Some of which dates back past the middle ages and beyond. Beautiful facades an arches. Memorable monuments and walls. And finally, with the river Limmat running through the centre of the old town into Lake Zurich there in excess of 8 bridges, both modern and classical for you to investigate.
If you manage to get hold of a tourist map (most hotels in Zurich have them) you will find a walking route through the old town. As they say it: to experience sophisticated Bahnofstrasse, the winding narrow streets and artisan shops, historic buildings, cultural highlights, and the fresh breeze off Lake Zurich.
We stayed in the Crowne Plaza hotel, approximately 30 minutes from the old town centre. This seems a long way until you discover the first class network of trams and buses. I'm not one usually for using anything other than taxis and underground when in a new city, but this time I was elated that we even bothered. For 25.60CHF (£17.50) you can get a multiple day pass on the ZVV which allows you 6x24hour journeys. What's more, the wonderful lady at the kiosk explained to us (in English) that as long as the two of us stayed together, we could double-stamp the ticket and use two at once. This was ideal for the long weekend we had. Once we had them, from the bottom of the road where we were staying, it took approximately 10 to 15 minutes before we were placed right in the centre of the old town, and with a very interesting view on the journey too.
The icing on the cake for us, was to get the local 30 minute train up to the local Mount Üetliberg. The train takes you all but 500 metres to the top. With a small, walk for the rest to see a hotel with a beautiful panoramic view not only down on Zurich and the lake, but to the other side of the mountain too, to see its flowing gree hills. Even the least energetic of us should give this a go
I'd recommend everyone to visit Zurich, whatever age and interest. The only drawback unfortunately was the cost. Switzerland is not a cheap place to live. An average snack and drink for two people was around £15. And before you think about surviving on McDonald's, a BigMac meal costs 11.50CHF, or £7.80.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam is known world wide for its romantic canals and its imposing architecture of the 17th century. Amsterdam is the heart of Holland and is set to get anyone's blood pumping.
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world. Fascinating stuff. If that isn't what is going to get your "blood pumping" then a few of Amsterdam's main attractions might. Amsterdam is a party town for all 365 days if the year and even though it is a historical city, the modern Amsterdam easily co-exists with its more historical aspects. The people who live within Amsterdam are very proud of their city and its exquisite city centre; the historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank's House and of course, Amsterdam's famous red-light district. Don't be afraid to visit the red light district, if you aren't interested in what it is famous for you can take a stroll down and the working girls and guys will be as nice as pie to you and won't hassle you (however they may want a chat with someone who isn't only interested in them for *cough cough* one thing.)
Something you must try if you haven't already ... Amsterdam mayonnaise and chips. Trust me, you haven't tasted anything like it before! it is UNREAL!
The summer weather in Amsterdam (June-August) is moderately warm but is rarely hot with the average daily high being around
22.1°C. The winter weather in Amsterdam (November-February) is cold. Very cold. The average high ranging from 5.8°C - 9.7°C so if you are planning on visiting in the winter ... bring your scarf and hats!
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world. Fascinating stuff. If that isn't what is going to get your "blood pumping" then a few of Amsterdam's main attractions might. Amsterdam is a party town for all 365 days if the year and even though it is a historical city, the modern Amsterdam easily co-exists with its more historical aspects. The people who live within Amsterdam are very proud of their city and its exquisite city centre; the historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank's House and of course, Amsterdam's famous red-light district. Don't be afraid to visit the red light district, if you aren't interested in what it is famous for you can take a stroll down and the working girls and guys will be as nice as pie to you and won't hassle you (however they may want a chat with someone who isn't only interested in them for *cough cough* one thing.)
Something you must try if you haven't already ... Amsterdam mayonnaise and chips. Trust me, you haven't tasted anything like it before! it is UNREAL!
The summer weather in Amsterdam (June-August) is moderately warm but is rarely hot with the average daily high being around
22.1°C. The winter weather in Amsterdam (November-February) is cold. Very cold. The average high ranging from 5.8°C - 9.7°C so if you are planning on visiting in the winter ... bring your scarf and hats!
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Pompeii, The frozen Roman town
The astounding city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town near the more modern town/city of Naples which means you can hit two birds with one stone and visit both!
And now for a bit of history that can't go amiss when talking about Pompeii. Pompeii was partially destroyed (along with Herculaneum) and buried (4-6 meters) in ash and pumice in AD 79 when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, and was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1749. Ever since then there has been excavation in this remarkable place to uncover the mysteries of the frozen town.
There aren't really particular areas that you must see for this town because you must really see it all to grasp at the enormity of this natural disaster. There are things that looks like plaster casts of whole people that are actually people that were covered in the ask and pumice.
Many of the artifacts found are in the Archaeological Museum of Naples so if you are in Naples and are interested after you visit, also go here. Hotels and bars etc. are in Naples as there are no hotels in Pompeii.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
You may not have heard of it, you may not even be able to say it but trust me this place is BEAUTIFUL. As you walk down to the city gates you get this overwhelming feeling of amazement only to reach its climax as you climb the brilliant city walls with their own unique view over the Mediterranean sea. You cannot help but imagine what it was like back in the days of old and what they must have felt like, Gods and Goddesses? Kings and Queens? I would. I have.
This city was described by Lord Byron as “The Pearl of the Adriatic”. Even though it has been under the protection of many vast empires it remained as one of the most independent and self-governing republics. The weather is hottest in July and August but is generally warm from May until October with a generally warm sea.
Unfortunately there are few renaissance buildings that survived the Earthquake in 1667 but thank goodness enough are still standing to give an idea of the cities architectural heritage. Some that remain include; Sponza Palace (used to house the national Archives), Rectors Palace (Gothic-Renaissance structure that displays finely carved capitals and an ornate staircase), Dubrovnik Cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery (which coincidently are very close to one another).
Conveniently all of these places are within the city walls and are quite close together. If you get a decent hotel you can walk to almost all of them.
This city was described by Lord Byron as “The Pearl of the Adriatic”. Even though it has been under the protection of many vast empires it remained as one of the most independent and self-governing republics. The weather is hottest in July and August but is generally warm from May until October with a generally warm sea.
Unfortunately there are few renaissance buildings that survived the Earthquake in 1667 but thank goodness enough are still standing to give an idea of the cities architectural heritage. Some that remain include; Sponza Palace (used to house the national Archives), Rectors Palace (Gothic-Renaissance structure that displays finely carved capitals and an ornate staircase), Dubrovnik Cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery (which coincidently are very close to one another).
Conveniently all of these places are within the city walls and are quite close together. If you get a decent hotel you can walk to almost all of them.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Vienna, Austria
Vienna is the Capital city of Austria. and holds more than 25% of Austria's population. Vienna hosts many international organisations ( for example United Nations and OPEC) the city is close to the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. It is regarded as the City of Music because of its musical legacy. It is also known as the City of Dreams because it was home to the worlds first psycho-analyst Sigmund Freud.
You can see many attractions in Vienna for example the Kunsthistorisches Museum (That's a mouthful!) which is a museum that tells the history of Vienna and other countries. You should also try and visit the Schonbrunn Palace (which is a World Heritage site) this is a little out of the city but is worth the trip. It is easy to get to on the metro but you'd have to choose a nice day with no rain in order to fully appreciate it.
Another place to visit in Vienna is the Tiergarten Schonbrunn which is a Zoo. It is rated as number 7 on the list of things you have to do in Vienna! It was absolutely amazing and with such cute animals. This would probably be a good idea to visit if you are bringing children with you so that they have something else to look forward too.
Whilst in Vienna you should also try to go to Salzburg *Sings* The hills are alive! With the sound of music! (If you don't know where that comes from first of all watch The Sound of Music and then hang your head in shame for not watching it before hand.) I'll probably upload a blog of Salzburg soon and I'll put a link on this when I have (it was a beautiful place to visit).
Vienna is generally cold, the coldest being in January where it can be 2.9°C or sometimes even as low as -2°C and in July and August the highest could be 25.9°C or 15.3°C so in that sense Vienna's climate is very much like Britain's and I wouldn't recommend it for a hot holiday because you wont get it.
Vatican City, Vatican City
You cannot visit Rome without visiting the Vatican City! It is literally in Rome but its own country, Its amazing really. It is basically a walled enclave within Rome and is about 110 acres this makes it the smallest independent state in the world by both area and its population.
The Vatican City is an ecclesiastical state, this means that it is ruled by the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). The Vatican's climate is the same as Rome's (Please see Rome for more details of the climate and temperature details.)
The main thing to view in the Vatican City are the Vatican Gardens which account for more than 1/2 of the territory. These gardens were established in the Renaissance era and cover approximately 57 acres of the Vatican City. Other attractions of the Vatican City are obviously St. Peter's Basilica which is arguable one of the prettiest Cathedrals in the world. This is probably because it is the center of the entire Catholic religion so it would have to be the finest one in the world. The Vatican Museum should also be seen because it will give you all the factual information of the Vatican and the previous Popes etc. The Sistine Chapel should also be visited.
You can stay just outside the city walls the closest is probably Hotel Columbus which is only a 3 minute walk (250m) or you could stay more in the city center of Rome which would mean that you could see Rome's attractions more easily.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Rome, Italy
Rome is the capital of Italy and has a history which spans over 2,500 years. Rome was the dominant power in Western Europe for over 700 years from the 1st century BC until 7th century AD and is known to be one of the birthplaces of western civilisation. It is home to many great man made sights including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Gardens of Villa Borghese.
There are countless artists and architects such as Michelangelo, Bramante, Bernini and Raphael who have lived for a period of time in Rome contributing to its Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican city which is its own country within the walls of Rome and is a must see whilst in Rome.
The Colosseum is where the ancient roman’s held their entertainment including lion fights, gladiator fights and even roman games. It is one of the best attributes that Rome has, being built in AD 80 making it over 2000 years old and being in the condition it is now makes it one of the oldest things to see in such good condition.
Rome has a Mediterranean climate which means that Spring and autumn are mild to warm and in the summer months it is easy for the temperature to climb to 30°C. January is mainly around 11.8°C however sub-zero lows are not uncommon. The summer seasons last for about 6 months (May-October) and are the best times to go.
Rome though is expensive being it is in Italy, and because it uses the Euro and exchange rates aren't the best right now. I don’t recommend it as a student holiday unless you have just got your student loan in. However there are certain places you can go if you want to save a bit of money. For example there are camping villages just outside the city centre that can be a lot quieter than the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are also various clubs, bars, cafés and restaurants around Rome and the main streets however the real treasures are the hidden ones in the alley ways where tourists tend not to go. This is where you will get the real Italian food with the freshest of ingredients and a really homely atmosphere. The best that I have been to was Fortunato al Pantheon, It had a lovely friendly service but was also very professional.
There are countless artists and architects such as Michelangelo, Bramante, Bernini and Raphael who have lived for a period of time in Rome contributing to its Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican city which is its own country within the walls of Rome and is a must see whilst in Rome.
The Colosseum is where the ancient roman’s held their entertainment including lion fights, gladiator fights and even roman games. It is one of the best attributes that Rome has, being built in AD 80 making it over 2000 years old and being in the condition it is now makes it one of the oldest things to see in such good condition.
Rome has a Mediterranean climate which means that Spring and autumn are mild to warm and in the summer months it is easy for the temperature to climb to 30°C. January is mainly around 11.8°C however sub-zero lows are not uncommon. The summer seasons last for about 6 months (May-October) and are the best times to go.
Rome though is expensive being it is in Italy, and because it uses the Euro and exchange rates aren't the best right now. I don’t recommend it as a student holiday unless you have just got your student loan in. However there are certain places you can go if you want to save a bit of money. For example there are camping villages just outside the city centre that can be a lot quieter than the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are also various clubs, bars, cafés and restaurants around Rome and the main streets however the real treasures are the hidden ones in the alley ways where tourists tend not to go. This is where you will get the real Italian food with the freshest of ingredients and a really homely atmosphere. The best that I have been to was Fortunato al Pantheon, It had a lovely friendly service but was also very professional.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Paris, France
Paris is the capital and the largest city in France, located on the River Seine in northern France. The city has barely been changed since 1860 and used to be the largest city in the western world for about 1,000 years prior to the 19th century (and the largest city in the world in the 16th century). Paris is one of the world’s largest leading business and cultural centres and has a massive influence over politics, entertainment and fashion. The arts contribute to its status and one of the world’s major global cities, it is considered to be one of the greenest cities in Europe.
The Château de Vincennes has a 52m high keep, was built between the 14th and 17th century and is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Paris is also the home to the Eiffel Tower (known by the French as the La dame de fer – translated to the iron lady.) which has become a global icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world. Standing at 324 metres the tower is the tallest building in Paris and is something definitely not to be missed when visiting as from the top of the Eiffel Tower you can see the whole of Paris. There are also a wide range of opera houses, the largest being the Opéra de Paris Garnier (classic ballets and operas) and more modern Opéra Bastille (mixed repertoire of classic and modern).
With average temperatures hovering between 15 and 25°C in the summer and a fair amount of sunshine it is the best time of year to visit, however there are a few days where the temperature can rise above 32°C. In winter sunshine is scarce and days are cold but generally above freezing with the temperatures staying around 7°C, however night frosts are common and the temperature can dip below -5°C for a few days a year.
The Château de Vincennes has a 52m high keep, was built between the 14th and 17th century and is considered to be one of the most beautiful castles in Europe. Paris is also the home to the Eiffel Tower (known by the French as the La dame de fer – translated to the iron lady.) which has become a global icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world. Standing at 324 metres the tower is the tallest building in Paris and is something definitely not to be missed when visiting as from the top of the Eiffel Tower you can see the whole of Paris. There are also a wide range of opera houses, the largest being the Opéra de Paris Garnier (classic ballets and operas) and more modern Opéra Bastille (mixed repertoire of classic and modern).
With average temperatures hovering between 15 and 25°C in the summer and a fair amount of sunshine it is the best time of year to visit, however there are a few days where the temperature can rise above 32°C. In winter sunshine is scarce and days are cold but generally above freezing with the temperatures staying around 7°C, however night frosts are common and the temperature can dip below -5°C for a few days a year.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Barcelona, Spain
The old town of Barcelona's (Ciutat Vella) is at the centre of the now great city. There are many small neighbourhoods within, and all have their own special little character of olde-worlde. The narrow streets and overhanging buildings make it a delight to visit
And to give it a touch of bohemian atmosphere, it is populated by students, artists and foreigners alike. With its warm climate, being on the Mediterranean it is easy to see how and why this city thrived in the past and will thrive in the future.
Barcelona has a great sense of history, but don't be fooled into thinking it is only a place for hunting historical muse. This place has a copious amount of trendy bars, concert halls, and excellent restaurants serving food from round the world, and o course... being by the sea, plenty of fresh fish dishes to choose from.
My personal favourite area to give you a deep feel of the old town is Barceloneta (Little Barcelona). Just off the coast, this neighbourhood has apartments you can rent in some of the oldest (up to 7 stories high) apartment blocks in the city. This area was originally a fisherman's quarter. Since the Olympics in 1992 there has been much renovation and investment especially along the sea front, and this is an ideal place for a not too expensive break away.
Just along the road is the world renound Las Ramblas: a long and wide parade from Plaça Catalunya down to the sea front full of restaurants and shops, and art galleries. Just off La Rambla is the notorious red-light area, Barri Xines, the medieval Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) home to the cathedral, the very peaceful Plaça del Pi , art galleries and lots of cafes serving delicious hot chocolate. Further east is the Born market, in La Ribera district.
El Monumento a Cristóbal Colón - Christopher Columbus monument at Plaza Portal de la Pau. It has a small lift up to the small public viewing gallery at the top, and is well worth the visit.
Moving further north, and a must of a visit is the extraordinary Sagrada Familia This controversial church, still unfinished because of the untimely death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí, in 1926, has become the city's most visited monument. But they are still building it with charitable funds and entrance fees. You could spend a good half day in there and still be awed when you leave.
With the Mediterranean climate being so mild and the seas calm, you can sail and windsurf all year round from Port Olímpic. From the harbor can take sightseeing tours of the city's waterfront and nearby coastline. Of course the fishing district offers excellent seafood restaurants.
Still at the seaside, the modern Maremagnum has busy bars with outdoor terraces, discos, shops and cinemas. This has been pushed hard since the Olympics of 1992. You'll also find trendy open-air music bars in Port Olímpic in the summer.
I'm sure this is only part of what we saw when we were there. If you like the warmth of the Mediterranean and the feel of a cosmopolitan city next to the relaxation of the seaside this is a must for a weekend break, or longer vacation. Have a look for hotels in Barcelona.
And to give it a touch of bohemian atmosphere, it is populated by students, artists and foreigners alike. With its warm climate, being on the Mediterranean it is easy to see how and why this city thrived in the past and will thrive in the future.
Barcelona has a great sense of history, but don't be fooled into thinking it is only a place for hunting historical muse. This place has a copious amount of trendy bars, concert halls, and excellent restaurants serving food from round the world, and o course... being by the sea, plenty of fresh fish dishes to choose from.
My personal favourite area to give you a deep feel of the old town is Barceloneta (Little Barcelona). Just off the coast, this neighbourhood has apartments you can rent in some of the oldest (up to 7 stories high) apartment blocks in the city. This area was originally a fisherman's quarter. Since the Olympics in 1992 there has been much renovation and investment especially along the sea front, and this is an ideal place for a not too expensive break away.
Just along the road is the world renound Las Ramblas: a long and wide parade from Plaça Catalunya down to the sea front full of restaurants and shops, and art galleries. Just off La Rambla is the notorious red-light area, Barri Xines, the medieval Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) home to the cathedral, the very peaceful Plaça del Pi , art galleries and lots of cafes serving delicious hot chocolate. Further east is the Born market, in La Ribera district.
El Monumento a Cristóbal Colón - Christopher Columbus monument at Plaza Portal de la Pau. It has a small lift up to the small public viewing gallery at the top, and is well worth the visit.
Moving further north, and a must of a visit is the extraordinary Sagrada Familia This controversial church, still unfinished because of the untimely death of its architect, Antoni Gaudí, in 1926, has become the city's most visited monument. But they are still building it with charitable funds and entrance fees. You could spend a good half day in there and still be awed when you leave.
With the Mediterranean climate being so mild and the seas calm, you can sail and windsurf all year round from Port Olímpic. From the harbor can take sightseeing tours of the city's waterfront and nearby coastline. Of course the fishing district offers excellent seafood restaurants.
Still at the seaside, the modern Maremagnum has busy bars with outdoor terraces, discos, shops and cinemas. This has been pushed hard since the Olympics of 1992. You'll also find trendy open-air music bars in Port Olímpic in the summer.
I'm sure this is only part of what we saw when we were there. If you like the warmth of the Mediterranean and the feel of a cosmopolitan city next to the relaxation of the seaside this is a must for a weekend break, or longer vacation. Have a look for hotels in Barcelona.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Reims, France
Reims is in the North of France and the architecture of the major buildings reflects a more germanic feel. It is the largest city on the region of Champagne-Ardenne yet it is not the capital for the region. There are still some parts of the city walls to be seen - originally Roman, and rebuilt during the Norman invasion of France around the 9th Century. This city is a beautiful place to visit and relax in.
For culture, the must-see places are the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims - a Roman Catholic cathedral, and where the Kings of France were once crowned; Porte de Mars ("Mars Gate", so called from a temple to the Roman god Mars ); Palais du Tau (The Palace of Tau) - was the palace of the Archbishop of Reims; Saint Remi Basilica, an easy walk from the centre, taking its name from the 5th-century Saint Remi.
If that's not enough, then try sitting in the centre square at one of the fantastic cafe bars and watch the world go by (one of our favourite past times from The Hotel Club). The people are quite cosmopolitan in nature and in the summer months it is a very relaxing place. Don't let the historical culture fool you though. This is quite an industrious city in the area, and you'll be hard pushed to find something not available in the shops and amenities.
A specific favorite hotel, in the centre ville is the Holiday Inn Garden Court. Located smack in the centre, its an idea place to start your break, but there are plenty of others around that area, so shop around for the best prices.
For culture, the must-see places are the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims - a Roman Catholic cathedral, and where the Kings of France were once crowned; Porte de Mars ("Mars Gate", so called from a temple to the Roman god Mars ); Palais du Tau (The Palace of Tau) - was the palace of the Archbishop of Reims; Saint Remi Basilica, an easy walk from the centre, taking its name from the 5th-century Saint Remi.
If that's not enough, then try sitting in the centre square at one of the fantastic cafe bars and watch the world go by (one of our favourite past times from The Hotel Club). The people are quite cosmopolitan in nature and in the summer months it is a very relaxing place. Don't let the historical culture fool you though. This is quite an industrious city in the area, and you'll be hard pushed to find something not available in the shops and amenities.
A specific favorite hotel, in the centre ville is the Holiday Inn Garden Court. Located smack in the centre, its an idea place to start your break, but there are plenty of others around that area, so shop around for the best prices.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Lyon, France
Lyon is the third largest city in France, and a World Heritage Site. It has a
population somewhere around 480,000. It not only has plenty of historical places
and monuments, but also a great nightlife. This is a real working city. In the
past it was renowned for its production weaving of silk. Nowadays it is know be
the capital of gastronomy.
We would recommend at least a couple of nights in Lyon for a weekend break at least. Or as we did, use Lyon as a base for exploring the surrounding areas of France and stay a little longer. The people are friendly, and the food is great. And if you like shopping... you’ll be there a while.
And if you like heat but not to burn, then you’ll like Lyon, with its average maximum temperature of around 27 Celsius (80.5 Farenheit). Even in winter this is a great break from the misery of cold and rain in the UK.
Many of hotels of Lyon we’ve been in or seen have been Baroque in style, and their elegance gives you a feeling of importance.
If you're feeling the urge to get away to something cosy with the amenities you'd expect at home, then this is a great place to try. Check it out on www.TheHotelClub.co.uk.
We would recommend at least a couple of nights in Lyon for a weekend break at least. Or as we did, use Lyon as a base for exploring the surrounding areas of France and stay a little longer. The people are friendly, and the food is great. And if you like shopping... you’ll be there a while.
And if you like heat but not to burn, then you’ll like Lyon, with its average maximum temperature of around 27 Celsius (80.5 Farenheit). Even in winter this is a great break from the misery of cold and rain in the UK.
Many of hotels of Lyon we’ve been in or seen have been Baroque in style, and their elegance gives you a feeling of importance.
If you're feeling the urge to get away to something cosy with the amenities you'd expect at home, then this is a great place to try. Check it out on www.TheHotelClub.co.uk.
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