Weekend Travel Articles

While Wednesday might be the best day to receive those weekly deals newsletters from a gazillion of websites selling travel, Sunday is THE day to relax and enjoy reading the latest from US travel writers.

This past weekend, here are a few noteworthy articles:

Hey, neighbor - Nicole Cotroneo of the Washington Post spends the last part of her rather long Italy visit in a small village on the Amalfi Coast, Praiano. She goes native, walking up and down the insanely endless steps.

Sarah Wildman writes a short piece for the NY Times on Baruc Corazon shirts, manufactured in a hidden shop in Madrid's famed Plaza Mayor.

Take a look at a nifty slide show on Luxembourg, one of the two cities designated as the European Cultural Capital in 2007. But don't bother looking for pictures on Sibiu, Romania, the other city sharing the honor, because the NY Times writers do not investigate further.

Finally, if all your travel decisions go through your stomach (or your taste buds), you might want to check out this interesting piece on exotic culinary exploits in Istanbul and Vietnam. According to the author, more and more hotels are offering cooking classes for travelers in more and more destinations.

Biedermeier, the beauty of simplicity

If you are a big fan of Biedermeier, Vienna has the perfect exhibition for you at Albertina, one of the most important museums in the world. Albertina "is also the largest Hapsburg palace in the centre of the former K.K. Monarchy’s (royal and imperial monarchy) capital Vienna."

You might want to read up on the World of Biedermeier (as I previously posted), but the big fans are loaded with all the necessary documentation.

Tip of the hat to the Economist for the exhibition information. Oh, and if you want to buy the chair in the picture, go here.

The Clueless (American) Tourist

Some people like to blend in. Some like to stand out. If you belong to the former, then you might want to read this Frommer's forum discussion thread on How Not To Look Like A Tourist (in Italy).

If blending in is your thing, here a few ideas I gathered from there:
- don't be clueless/ don't leave your guard down in crowded areas
- do NOT wear your fat wallet in your back pocket
- no matter how hard you try, locals will always be able to pick you as a foreigner
- avoid the baggy jeans/white sneaker/baseball cap combination - it screams 'I am American'
- did I say do NOT wear your fat wallet in your back pocket?
- khaki pants/polo shirts are NOT exactly a fashion statement in Europe (and they are also a dead give-away)
- it's OK to have a guide/map handy - that's NOT the giveaway
- do NOT worry too much about blending in - people like tourists - generally speaking, no matter what they feel about the politics of the country of origin.
- if you're a man and really, really, really want to blend in, ask yourself: are you willing to wear TIGHT jeans/pants? Would that put a dent in your masculinity?
- if you're a woman and really, really, really want to blend in, ask yourself: are you willing to wear really TIGHT jeans/pants and high heels?
- oh, and remember: do NOT wear your fat wallet in your back pocket!

Economics as a Dismal Science

We always knew economics was a dismal science, but The Economist confirms it through its latest annual list of the World's Most Expensive Cities. The top honors go to...no, not Tokyo, not even London. It's Oslo, Norway.

[gasps, followed by What the..?-style questions]

While I am convinced their numbers are right (not sure what they actually picked as criteria for their rankings), I am convinced people will just shrug off the fact that 8/10 most expensive cities in the World are in Europe. One can always go cheap even in the most expensive of the cities.

To illustrate this point (and thumb their noses at The Economist), Gridskipper came out with a Cheap-O Guide to Oslo.

I'd say you could go on a 6-night joy ride that would include air from the US (or Canada), 3-night stays at budget hotels in Reykjavik and Oslo, and the flights to connect the two cities.

Just check it out here: Reykjavik and Oslo by Air from $945

Van Gogh Loses to Global Warming, Cruise Lovers Rejoice

(Actually, it was Hendrick Avercamp who immortalized Dutch ice-skaters in his paintings, but Van Gogh makes for a better title. )

According to the NY Times, there is an old ice-skating race in Netherlands, a veritable ice-ultra-marathon 125-mile long. Unfortunately, as you probably heard in Al Gore's Oscar-winning Inconvenient Truth, Polar Bears (to be found at higher latitudes than Holland) have an increasingly hard time finding ice for their Coca-Cola glasses, so there is no wonder this race has been indefinitely postponed until everyone drives hybrids (not exactly, but that would be rather cool.)

As with almost all negative news, there is a positive twist - River Cruisers are probably going to be able to enjoy their favorite travel ways all year round. And speaking of river cruises, how about this Tulips and Windmills 9-night river cruise starting at $277 per night (as a plus, it includes deeply discounted flights from North America.)

Looking for more river cruises? Go here for a list of best of Europe's river cruises (including air.)

Mykonos, Greece

As if you needed another reason to visit this Aegean island...but here it is just in case: celebrity-spotting. The NY Times tells us which destinations are great for such endeavours. For some reason, islands and private islands are high on the celebrity priority list.

NY Times article here.

While if you go to Mustique, a private island in the Caribbean, you might need to save up, Mykonos is more affordable. For example, you will pay little over $1,000 for a 7-night trip, including flights from NYC, 3 nights in Athens, and 3 nights on Mykonos.

Athens - Mykonos from $1,045 (including flights from/to Athens.)

Spain, gladiators, Romans

There is no doubt in my mind that Gladiator (the movie) helped rekindle America's infatuation with the glory of Roman Empire. Amid a flurry of books, Discovery channel shows, made-for-TV-movies, travel guides saw an opportunity as well.

While the obvious place to look for Roman artifacts/history/monuments is Italy, Frommer's wisely advises readers about a variety of places outside Italy, to include Turkey, Germany, Israel, and France. It makes perfect sense.

What doesn't make sense in my opinion is why they left out Spain, where one literally steps on Roman stones, aqueducts, roads almost everywhere. According to Wikipedia, we find out not only that Trajan, one of the most successful Roman Emperors, came from Hispania, but also that Spain was effectively under Roman rule for 7 centuries.

For example, check this Roman Route itinerary from EuropeanDestinations: Madrid - Seville - Merida - Trujillo - Ciudad Rodrigo - Zamora - Astorga - Burgos - Madrid.

Brussels is cheap

And now you have a good reason to go. So: if it's Tuesday... actually if it's March 2-4, 2007, it must be the Brussels Art Festival, or BRXL Bravo. (Special thanks to my source: a special Frommer's article on world events and festivals.)

It is probably too late too book a weekend stay in Brussels (at a decent price,) but if you happen to be there the weekend of 2-4 March, you might want to take advantage of the special 3-day pass that costs a mere 10 €, which will give you access to all 200 events taking place in Brussels. Here's more info about what to do in Belgium, if you are interested: Belgium Tourism Office.

Actually, I just checked, and I must swallow my words. It turns out that a 3-night stay, with flights leaving JFK at 7:20 pm, would only cost $564 per person, provided that you bring a (boy)(girl)friend/spouse. The source? European Destinations.

Check out this screen shot:

Portugal's Costa del Sol: Cascais

France has its famed Cote d'Azur. Spain has its Costa del Sol.

What makes Portugal's Costa del Sol slightly different is Cascais, once an exclusive high-end resort where the Spanish King went in exile from Franco's dictatorship. No longer exclusive nor outrageously expensive, according to the NY Times. A mere 20 minute drive from Lisbon, Cascais has apparently become a popular weekend destination for Lisboetas. And there is more to it. NY Times would not be NY Times without putting an art spin to this article - which seems to be the theme lately (see Geneva's Collection Privee.) Yes, there are some world-class art and art galleries.

So, if you want to go without paying an arm and a leg for King Juan Carlos' residence, try this fly-and-drive package: Costa do Sol - Cascais. You will pay $545 for round-trip flights (from the aforementioned NY City - air taxes not included,) hotel for 5 nights, and car rental for 6 days.

One more reason to visit Geneva

This is exactly the type of article I expect to find in the Travel section of the NY Times: an invitation to visit Geneva's Private Collection, where one can find:

an eccentric collection of vintage industrial-design furnishings and midcentury modern gems.

Does this make you get up, go to your computer, and book a transatlantic flight and a few nights in Geneva? Unless you are an enthusiast, probably not.

But here's something you can do: book a trip Paris - Geneva for 6 nights including international flights, 3 nights in each city, and inter-city high-speed train for only $865 from NYC.

Bon voyage!

Do you believe in hotel rankings?

Apparently, the NY Times does not, as it publishes a rather glamorous piece on Hotel de Rome, ranked on TripAdvisor.com #137 out of 400+ hotels in Berlin.

Quoth the writer:

For years, if you were a movie star or a head of state visiting Berlin, there was only one place to stay: the Hotel Adlon. That has changed with the October opening of the lavish Hotel de Rome housed in the former central bank of the old East Berlin.

To its credit, the hotel was open in October of 2006, so the score it received from 4 reviewers does not reflect reality (yet).

So don't forget to post your own opinions of the hotel after you visit Berlin.

Unconventional City Guides

I got to discover a rather unconventional city guide (Le Cool) due to a post in Gridskipper (which is a rather cool idea of urban travel blog done right).

According to the Le Cool website,

le cool magazine is a free, weekly magazine presenting a selection of concerts, djs, exhibitions, odd movies and other cultural events and happenings.

It's worth subscribing if you plan on traveling to any of the cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam, London, Istanbul, Milan, and Rome. You will not regret it.

Shop 'til you drop in exotic Europe

Charis Atlas Heelan of Frommer's posted this past Thursday a list of tips for shopping in exotic locations (Shanghai, Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, but also Athens, and Istanbul.)

We find out that shopping in Euros is not necessarily scary if you know where to look in Athens, and that Turkey is, in addition to socks, a major clothing brand producer.

So if you are to heed Ms. Heelan's advice, go on a shopping spree in Athens and Istanbul. And here's the package to help you do it: Athens and Istanbul by Air - 6 nights from $745 - if you travel by the end of March.

Go to Prague!

So I was maybe a bit too rough on the editors at Fodor's Travel Wire for posting a too-expensive-for-my-taste deal. However, they redeemed themselves by recommending Aria in Prague, a new, musical-themed hotel (also ranked #13 in TripAdvisor.)

Good job! (Although I might have to ask why do you advertise a Valentine's Day package on Valentine's day?)

Regardless, let's say this promotion (€690 for 2 nights, breakfast, and a dinner) is still valid next Valentine's day. Google tells me

690 Euros = 896.79300 U.S. dollars

I would say: if you are going to fly to Prague, you have to spend at least 3 nights. But why not - if you are still in a romantic mood next year - go to Paris first, stay 3 nights, then continue on (by air) to Prague, stay 3 more nights. Here's to Paris and Prague by air for 6 nights from $589!

Romantic Venice

Another year, another Valentine's day, another month or so of marketing messages full of diamonds, flowers, chocolate, luxury. The idea is of course to impress your loved one by showering them with the most expensive gifts you can find, or they won't love you back (or so I understood.)

On a seemingly unrelated, yet-emailed-on-Feb-14 note, Fodor's Travel Wire "found" a good deal: a 3-night package at some upper class hotel in Venice for €1,450. While this might appeal to some, I am a big fan of good value for your money. (on a secondary note, the hotel is ranked 64 out of 358 on TripAdvisor; ouch.)

Luckily, our friends at EuropeanDestinations have somehow listened to some complaints regarding overnight train travel in Europe, and put together the ultimate romantic package: Paris and Venice by air. For $859 (plus taxes), you can fly into Paris, spend 3 nights, fly to Venice, stay 3 more nights, and then fly back to the US.

Call me a cheap-o, but that's how you impress your loved one: by saving them $1,000 on a trip to Europe.

However, if you have never traveled by train (in Europe,) you should at least try. The same city combination (plus one night on a train from Paris to Venice) is available for $819.

St Patrick's Day 2007

If you are thinking about traveling to Ireland for St Patrick's day this year, you might be cutting it close (target date: March 17), yet there is still some time left for planning a somewhat inexpensive trip.

And there is plenty of help when it comes to finding that Irish vacation you always wanted. For starters, Frommer's dutifully posted an article on how to find somewhat discounted air deals to Ireland, as well as some vacation packages from the big providers as well as from the somewhat Irish-oriented packagers such as CIE Tours, Sceptre Tours, Dooley Vacations, and Go-Today.

All in all, nothing but good advice from Frommer's. However, they somehow have left out the new kid on the block in terms of Europe packages: EuropeanDestinations.

On this green note, I am pleased to see the following self-drive packages that would satisfy your inner-most Irish desires (from farm houses to castles):

Live Like a Lord: 7 nights from $1,219 (incl. air + car rental)
A self drive through Ireland in Style. Spend your nights in medieval castles, ranging from the 11th century to the 18th century. Visit Dublin, Galway, Connemara, Clare and Limerick.

King and Kinsmen: 7 nights from $839 (incl. air + car rental)
Sample all facets of life in Ireland, with stays at a Farmhouse, a Bed & Breakfast, a castle and a hotel. Visit Dublin, Galway, Connemara, Limerick, Kerry and Kilkea.

Celtic Treasures: 7 nights from $2,149 (incl. air + car rental)
Now this is the luxury package Frommer's was looking for: stay in some of Europe's finest hotels, ranging from a stylish city center 5 star hotel to Ireland's oldest inhabited Castle. Visit Dublin, Galway, Cong, Connemara, County Clare, Kerry, and Kenmare or West Cork Region and the Midlands.

Georgian Farmhouse Tour of Ireland: 7 nights from $739 (incl. air + car rental)
How better to experience Ireland than by staying in stylish Georgian or other period/historic farmhouses, where history and the warm Irish welcome can be combined. Visit Dublin, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cork and West Cork or Kerry, Ring of Kerry, Limerick or Tipperary and Kildare or Meath.

Go Green - Irish Travel Inspiration

Whatever draws you to Ireland (grass, cottages, castles, beer or magic) here are some beautiful pictures from The Guardian Unlimited (a UK publication) to get you motivated to book that one Irish trip you always wanted.


Cheers!

Just how far will your dollar go?

One of my favorite monthly articles on Frommers.com is the Global Price Index where the editors compare prices at different locations in the world. As one might expect, Mozambique is cheaper than Venice, but again Venice prices are reasonable when comparing them with Manhattan, NYC. According to the January 2007 article, you might want to skip Tahiti and go for Venice, after all.

A good place to start converting currency is this site (rates will vary on the streets of Venice, of course - just watch our for the commission).

Washington Post Travel Log

At last, The Washington Post embraced the new media and launched its own travel log with 8 professional contributors.

Looking forward to their first posts: read it here.

Nice - an excellent winter choice

The Financial Times (Weekend Travel section, Jan 12, 2007) reminds everyone why Nice is an amazing destination during winter and an excellent destination all year round. It turns out that due to its geographical location, Nice is well protected from any cold winds which makes neighboring Aix-en-Provence rather chilly.

Another reason to visit at any given time is the city's history, reflected in the city's Italian architecture, customs, and culture.

Some suggestions for possible itineraries including Nice:

Paris - Nice

London - Paris - Nice

Nice - Venice

For more similar pictures of Nice, feel free to visit Nice Tourism Board.

Burgundy wine and food

On the same mouth-watering food and drinks topic, Slate Magazine has an excellent article on Burgundy and Beaune: A Wine Lover in Burgundy. This is really fortunate, as European Destinations recently ran a promotion on its Paris and Beaune self-drive itinerary, 6 nights from $589.

The article does Burgundy justice and shies away from any hype currently surrounding Tuscany and Provence.

Here's a good way to plan your vacation to Burgundy - visit this page for suggestions.

At the same time, don't forget the other Burgundy package: Paris-Dijon (a self-drive itinerary).

Keep in mind though that probably your best option (if you are driving) is to pick up your car at the end of your stay in the French capital. Or better yet, take a train.

Eat Like a Local - Barcelona

Budget Travel Online, the online arm of the famed Budget Travel Magazine has come up with an article on the gourmet scene of Barcelona.

The structure of the article is similar to other travel guides or major newspapers that send out armies of travel writers attempting to dissect the local food scene.

Read the article here and enjoy your meal!

The best Vienna is Prague

"The best Vienna is Prague," says location manager for The Illusionist Jaroslav Vaculik, as quoted in the December 2006/January 2007 issue of Budget Travel Magazine. (For the record, The Illusionist was apparently filmed on location in Prague, yet it is set in Austria)

Ouch. He must be receiving lots of hate-mail, in German, nowadays.

How about if you could have the best of both worlds?

Here's to a great price for a 6-night train package combining both Prague and Vienna!
If you travel in the low season (i.e. January - March), you will pay roughly $645 (you might want to add your own taxes, depending on your departure airport).

When in London...

...do as London and UK restaurant guide Harden's tells you.

Not only they have provide reviews of restaurants, but they also are based in London, therefore the information is probably fresher than other guides.

On their site, you can search restaurants by cuisines or by features - so now you have no excuse for claiming that all British food is bland.

While researching your next trip to London, check out their top 10 London restaurants. You might be surprised to find out that French cuisine is making a come back, as chef Morgan Meunier can probably testify.

On the same note, here's a way to save for that fancy dinner in London: travel to London during the European low-season (January - March): Air + 5 nts = $539

The World of Biedermeier

While I clearly had no idea what it was about when I came upon the book World of Biedermeier, I must say I am now tempted to travel to Vienna, Berlin, and Potsdam, where the authors have thoroughly explored numerous castles and royal residences, baths, museum attics in their quest for the ultimate Biedermeier guide.

Their goal (beautifully accomplished) was to bring together everything Biedermeier - furniture, decorative ornaments, paintings, porcelain, crystal, and fabrics. The result was a 416-page reference book filled with astonishing detailed photographs.

After you check the book out, you might also embark upon a trip to Germany or Austria. And while you are there, why not splurge with a detour to Prague as well?

Here's a trip idea from EuropeanDestinations: Berlin-Prague-Vienna for 9 nights

Bringing Tuscany Home

There is no doubt in my mind that Frances Mayes has cornered the Tuscany market. She has become the de facto expert on Tuscany. Her 2004 book 'Bringing Tuscany Home - Sensuous Style from the Heart of Italy' strays away from the world of travel (sort of) and enters the wonderful and competitive realm of home decorations. Her spin is, of course, Tuscany.

Beautiful photographs make this book extremely appealing as a coffee table item, although recipes for Tuscan meals as well as descriptions of Tuscan elements of design abound.

While I don't think I can take more of Tuscany, this book is definitely worth reading if you are willing to intimately know your destination.

Berlin's Cultural Best

Jason Sheftell of Frommer's came up with some great deals related to Berlin in his 6 Nights of Berlin's Cultural Best for Under $750.

Whether you choose to stay in Berlin alone or visit a combination of cities in the area, you have plenty to choose from should you decide to go.

Here are some additions ideas:

Berlin - Prague

Paris - Berlin

Berlin - Prague - Vienna

Berlin - Dresden - Prague

Paris - Berlin - Prague

Amsterdam - Paris - Berlin - Prague

Paris - Berlin - Prague - Budapest

Gute Reise!

Chasing Architectural Wonders

If you are no longer content with Europe's beaten path (i.e. you politely yawn when people tell you how wonderful the Louvre is), why not look for the edgy, trendy in architectural design.

One of the most prestigious architectural prizes is the annual Royal Institute of British Architecture Stirling Prize. Not necessarily limited to the Ol' Continent, the winners and the runner-ups are usually from Europe. Surprised?

If you have any doubts in your mind, consider keep in mind that two of 2005 runner ups were two factories:

BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany - Zaha Hadid Architects

McLaren Technology Centre, Woking, Surrey - Foster and Partners

And if you want to visit the 2005 winner, why not go to Scotland - the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh.

World's Most Expensive Restaurants (2006)

In case your budget allows it or you just want to impress your future spouse, Forbes.com came up with the 2006 list of world's most expensive restaurants (building on their 2005 article).

Paris: Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée - Dinner For One: $231

Rome: Alberto Ciarla - Dinner For One: $113

Munich: Acquarello - Dinner For One: $125

London: Gordon Ramsay - Dinner ForOne: $183

Madrid: El Amparo - Dinner For One: $70

Milan: Boeucc - Dinner For One: $62

As the French say, Bon Appetit!

Global Gourmet - Europe

Under rather sad circumstances, the NY Times published what was probably R.W.Apple's last submission to that publication.

The article, titled Global Gourmet, gives us the author's top 10 favorite restaurants in the world. Why weren't I surprised to see that 6 out of 10 restaurants were from Europe? Ahhh, the charms of the Old World! Please note the author's preference for smaller town restaurants in France, Italy, and Spain.

FLEURIE, France

SANT’AGATA SUI DUE GOLFI, Italy

SAN SEBASTIÁN, Spain

BRUSSELS, Belgium

LONDON, England

GOTHENBURG, Sweden

Enjoy!

Bucharest - now here's an idea

It was bound to happen sooner or later. While Prague and Budapest will probably remain Expat Central for a little longer, the interest is bound to shift East - to Romania and Bulgaria.

The NY Times opened the gate with a positive travel review of Bucharest, clearly stating the reason why the Romanian capital will most likely become the next Prague: cheaper & less crowded.



Here's a brief list of reasons to go:

- cheap
- good food
- cheap
- excellent performing art scene
- cheap
- revamped city skyline/infrastructure
- cheap
- did you know Bucharest used to be called Little Paris?
- cheap
- Byzantine churches
- and more...

Wide Angle: Travel ideas from another National Geographic book

I recently discovered Wide Angle - National Geographic Greatest Places. Beautiful photography (as always).

This book pretty much covers everything in the world. As far as Europe is concerned, it spans several chapters.

Since pictures (especially National Geographic ones) are worth more than a thousand words, I would not even attempt to describe the beauty of those places. However, if you could get a copy of the book (in stores or at your local library), you might get some new ideas for discovering Europe.

Central and Eastern Europe travel ideas:

- visit the gardens and palaces in St Petersburg, Russia

- go see the painted monasteries of Romania (featured: Moldovita)

- go people-watching in Austrian coffee shops - Salzburg, Austria

- watch kids at play in Istrian Peninsula, Croatia

- go for a ride in a horse-drawn wagon on a snowy day in Bavaria, Germany

- visit Europe's largest white pelican colony in Romania's Danube Delta - Lake Rosca, Romania

- enjoy scenic mountain views in alpine village Hallstatt, Austria

- visit Moscow's Red Square - Moscow, Russia

- discover turn-of-the-century beehives at the Ethnographic Museum in Roznov, Czech Republic

- discover simple life in rural Slovakia - Parnica, Slovakia

- visit the Liechtenstein Castle in Germany

- face history at splendid Church of the Resurrection (location where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated) - St Petersburg, Russia

- admire the scenery across The Caucasus Mountains in Russia (and find out why some people check the race box: Caucasian)

- discover The North Wall of Mount Triglav, rising 9,393 feet above the Vrata Valley, Slovenia (previously immortalized in one of Albrecht Altdorfer paintings)

- mingle with the locals in Bialowieza, Poland

- observe nomadic life style with gypsies in Buzescu, Romania

- have you ever considered visiting Dracula's Castle, in the region of Walachia, Romania (spooky) - actually the Bran Castle, near Brasov, Romania

Northern Europe travel ideas:

- how about swimming almost naked in the midst of winter - Blue Lagoon - Iceland ?

- spot perfect symmetry while visiting St Mary's Cathedral and the Georgian row houses surrounding it in Edinburgh, Scotland

- visit the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England

- go pub hopping in Ireland

- walk along the streets of Gamla Stan, the medieval center of Stockholm

- uncover centuries of histories at The Althing, where Iceland's leaders have met each year since 930 a.d. - Thingvellir National Park, Iceland

- Lake Bandak - Telemark, Norway

- discover stone burial chambers - Betws-y-Coed, Wales

- visit the local cemetery in Inverness, Scotland

- take your kids on a geography tour - walk along the brass strip marking Zero Longitude at Greenwich, England

- see how economic forces have altered once profitable working coal miles in Big Pit in Blaenavon,Wales (a popular museum)

- climb atop Ben Nevis, Scotland (highest mountain in Britain)

- visit London

- attend the Annual Braw Lads Gathering in Galashiels, Scotland

- visit Britain's largest Puffin Colony in St Kilda

- breathe history in Machynlleth, Wales

- admire the ancient tradition of burning fishing boats (to send the spirits of the dead to heaven) on Finland's Seurasaari Island

- visit the beautiful gardens of Hampton Court, Greater London, England

Western and Southern Europe travel ideas:

- running of the bulls - Pamplona, Spain

- ride a gondola in Venice, Italy

- go swimming in Lake Thun, Switzerland

- find out what happens when people don't buy laundry dryers - Genoa, Italy

- discover what inspired Claude Monet along France's Canal du Nivernais

- the architecture of Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain

- more impressionist inspiration at Gervais Courtellemont, France

- relax with the locals in Place des Vosges, Paris, France

- take your kids white stork spotting in Spain

- visit the harbor of Honfleur, Normandy, France

- admire beautiful painted facades in Lisbon, Portugal

- how many tulips can you pick in Keukenhof, The Netherlands

- admire Switzerland's Bernese Alps

- attend a Basque Festival in Bayonne, Pyrenees-Atlantique Department, Aquitaine Region, France

- see Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

- go shopping in Milan, Italy

- visit Tuscany, Italy

- find out why bulls are garlanded in Agia Paraskevi, Lesbos, Greece

- make your way up to a Basque Sheperd's cottage (looks challenging)

Budget Travel's Movie Quest 2006

Budget Travel Online wants people to submit and vote for the movies they found inspirational. They have done that in 2005, they want your suggestions in 2006. Slogan: "The 10 films that are inspiring us to travel--and how you can re-create the best moments yourself".

Since this is supposed to be an annual list from the movies released that particular year, I find the idea of proposing 10 movies a bit exaggerated. There are not many movies out there that would truly inspire us to travel.

Case in point, Match Point, which made the Budget Travel Movie Quest 2005 list. Aside from being captivating in a disturbing way, the movie did not entice me a bit to go visit London. But alas, I risk being unfair and unbalanced.

Here's their top 10 for 2005 - read and make up your own mind.

10. Sahara
9. Match Point
8. Grizzly Man
7. Everything is Illuminated
6. Duma
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
4. Brokeback Mountain
3. Memoirs of a Geisha
2. Pride & Prejudice
1. March of the Penguins

Also, if you so wish, submit your 2006 entries to this email.

Royal Gardens of Europe: From Grandeur to Privacy

The final chapter from the book Royal Gardens of Europe by George Plumptre is taking the reader from Big to Small, showing how the small and the private became - in time - the new beautiful.

The author recommends:

Fredensborg Palace - Lake Esrum, Denmark

Balchik - Balchik, Bulgaria

Castle of Mey - Caithness, Scotland

Laeken - Brussels, Belgium

Isola Bisentina - Lake Boselna, Italy (near Orvieto)

Highgrove - Gloucestershire, England

Enjoy your trips!

Royal Gardens of Europe: Great Restorations

Without a doubt, many of today's impressive royal gardends would not be on display without the tremendous work of restoring and preserving the centuries-old gardens.

Here are a few the author recommends:

Hampton Court - London, England (the supreme Royal Garden, as proclaimed by the author)

Het Loo - Apeldoorn, The Netherlands (garden completely destroyed, then completely restored)

Isola Bella - Lake Maggiore, Italy

Charlottenburg - Berlin, Germany ("considered by many the greatest braoque palace and garden composition")

Beloeil - Brussels, Belgium

Again, the book is Royal Gardens of Europe by George Plumptre.

Royal Gardens of Europe: Botanists and Plantsmen

It seems that horticulture was long a passion of the kings and queens of Europe, as their royal gardens often displayed exotic plants. Some of them actually became of international interest for the variety of plants, turning into veritable botanical gardens.

Le Park du Vasterival - Dieppe, France (Eastern Normandy)

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew - London, England

Osborne House - Isle of Wight, England

Chateau de Belvedere - Brussels, Belgium

Royal Gardens of Europe: Royal Landscapes

What makes a Royal landscape....truly royal? Find out visiting the following:

Tsarskoye Selo (Pushking Palace during Soviet times) - St Petersburg, Russia

Konopiste - Prague, Czech Republic

Pavlovsk - St Petersburg, Russia

Wilanow - Warsaw, Poland


There are elements of landscape inspired from the English gardens and perfected in some exotic locations - Russia, Czech Republic, Poland.

Royal Gardens of Europe: The Age of Leisure

Mainly, a chapter on royal weekend escapes .

Aranjuez - Aranjuez, Spain (just south of Madrid)

Sanssouci - Potsdam, Germany (former residence of Prussian king Frederick the Great)

Drottingholm - Stockholm, Sweden

Schonbrunn - Vienna, Austria

La Quinta del Duque de Arco - Madrid, Spain

Schwetzingen - Mannheim, Germany

You have to read the book. I almost packed up tonight, these gardens are amazing!

Royal Gardens of Europe: Gardens for Display

Well, don't worry, I won't provide a detailed account of this chapter because I don't want to get sued, plus it's impossible for me to to speed read the fascinating details. I will let you discover them.

In good blogging, web 2.0 (insert cliche here) fashion, I will instead provide a list. (Listmania!!!)

Versailles - Versailles, France (just outside Paris).

Nymphenburg - Munich, Germany

Palacio de Queluz - Queluz, Portugal

Peterhof - St Petersburg, Russia

Palazzo Reale - Caserta, Italy (near Sorrento, The Amalfi Coast)


Ok, so you could swing a Queluz - Paris - Munich - Italy package, maybe. But you should probably break it into two or three trips. How about Lisbon - Paris and then Paris - Munich? I don't know - ask the experts at European Destinations...

Royal Gardens of Europe

So you know Europe by heart. You've been to Paris 10 times, shopped in London 20 times, and vacationed in Italy first as a kid with your parents, did the hostel thing in Spain during college, (re)discovered Venice with your sweetheart. You are pretty much tired of "touristy" Europe, but you are in love with the Old Continent. What to do, what to do?

How about looking for some inspiration? (No, I won't mention Tuscan, Sun, Under, The) .

Here's a book for you: George Plumptre's Royal Gardens of Europe. It is not your typical coffee table book (not as heavy, half page photos, lots of useful information).

How can this book help you? Let's take a look at the index: you can read more about Gardens For Display, The Age of Leisure, Royal Landscapes, Botanists & Plantsmen, Great Restorations, and From Grandeur to Privacy. Aside from the chapter on the people behind the great gardens of Europe, you can pretty much find sufficient information for your next 2-3 quarterly trips across the Atlantic.

Enjoy. Next, I will review the chapters individually.

Paris, by night

Or so would be the rough translation of the latest NY Times article on Paris: Paris, la nuit (ok, so we all know a bit of French, maybe). Elaine Sciolino (the chief of the Paris bureau of The Times) romantically explains why one should bother forgetting about jetlag and just go out and about the streets of Paris. (She is of course talking about the much safer centre-ville, and not about the incendiary banlieues). The reason is simple: "Inhibitions evaporate." Au revoir, New World puritanism. Bonjour (or rather, bonsoir) passionate (public) embraces. All poetic licenses and metaphors aside, she does make an excellent point: given the size, density, and popularity of Paris, it only makes sense to see the City of Lights by night.

Other interesting references in this article: movies. Elaine mentions Something’s Gotta Give, Everyone Says I Love You, and then proceeds to explain exactly how expensive and how elaborate the art of turning on the lights in Paris truly is. (no mention however of two not-so-glamourous movies La Haine and Banlieue-13, both dealing with the violence in the suburbs - and no mention is needed, as tourists probably have no business to conduct in those neighborhoods).

For more details, read the article here.

To embark upon an affordable vacation to Paris, go here and you could pay $509 for air + 5 nights this Thanksgiving, $555 for Christmas, $589 for New Year's. (air taxes not included, and of course do not expect 5 star hotels for these deals).

So you want to go to Italy - Tuscany

But of course you want to travel to Tuscany. Why shouldn't you? You've seen the movie, you've read the book, now all you have to to is pack up and go. You know everything. Right? Wrong. NY Times writer Mark Bittman seems to find some hidden culinary gems in a little Tuscan town called Lucca (read The Riches of Lucca from the NY Times Travel Section).

Regardless, now is the time to go, as the options for exploring Tuscany at your own leisure have increased exponentially with the addition of famed fly and drive packages:

Tuscany - Montecatini Terme

Tuscany - Pisa

Tuscany - Siena

Journey through Tuscany and Umbria

Highlights of Italy

Happy travels, everyone!

Trips that Will Change Your Life

Ever since Paul Coelho published the Alchemist (or even before that - but I am too young to remember), it was only a matter of time before Life-Meaning-Finding spilled into the travel sector.

I was not very surprised when I saw the NY Times Best-Seller: 1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz. Well-written, even bought my own copy instead of getting at the local library. Obviously the author had gone to great lengths when researching the book (a little short on pictures, as any good book should be).

It appears it's OK to get inspired from previous works, as witnessed by one of the top 10 travel books on The Economist: Unforgettable Journeys to Take Before You Die by Steve Watkins and Clare Jones (Paperback - April 2006)

Ok, so maybe I should not be so rough on these guys - a simple search on Amazon.com yields a much earlier book, 100 Things to Do Before You Die: Travel Events You Just Can't Miss by Neil Teplica.

And, don't forget: Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die by Steve Davey and Marc Schlossman.

Alright, so I need to go to the library and get more books.

Book review: The Seasoned Traveler

The Seasoned Traveler by George Bauer
A Guide for Baby Boomers and Beyond

This book supposedly targets the senior crowd. I’d say this book could be written for just about anyone interested in travel. It does have some good older crowd tips, but I just think it’s a book designed to be the first to target the senior market.

Here are some good tips/websites.

Best Mature Traveler Websites:

www.adventuresabroad.com
www.50plusexpeditions.com
www.frommers.com
www.gct.com
www.smarterliving.com/senior
www.third.age.com/travel
www.travel.state.gov/olderamericans.html
www.vantagetravel.com
www.wiredseniors.com

What not to buy:

- all products made from sea turtles
- all ivory
- furs from spotted cats/marine mammals
- feathers/ feather products from wild birds
- live/stuffed birds from Australia, the Caribbean, several nations in Latin America
- most crocodile and cayman leather
- most coral

Voyages of Discovery

elderhostel
www.roadscholar.org
InterHostel
TraveLearn
Spiritual:
www.destinationseurope.com
EcoTouring
Garden Tours
Cooking/Eating Tours

The Author’s Favorite Places to Shop in Europe
Dublin
London
Brussels
Paris
Amsterdam
Rome
Prague
Vienna
Salzburg
Copenhagen

Why take volunteer vacations:
- caring for abused animals
- helping scientists with environmental research or other projects
- teaching English or other courses
- engaging in archaeological digs or restoring older structures
- helping at camps for special-needs children
- building infrastructure in impoverished communities
- constructing homes for the homeless
- providing health services in rural regions
- caring for orphaned or abandoned children
- helping a family farm continue to operate
- clearing trails into wilderness

Volunteer Vacations Providers

Earthwatch Institute
Global Ventures
Cross-Cultural Solutions
Sierra Club
American Hiking Society
Travel with a Challenge
www.li-feline.com
www.i-to-i.com
Volunteers for Peace: www.vfp.com
www.orangutan.com
Archaeological Institute of America: www.archaeological.org
www.amizade.org
www.ophanage-outreach.org
www.globalcitizens.org
www.oceanic-society.org
www.conservancy.bc.ca
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteers
www.seniorcorps.org

Top places in America (by state) – not the subject of this blog

Top places in Canada – not the subject of this blog

Top Places in Mexico - not the subject of this blog

The author’s Top Places in Europe

Norwegian Fjords
Cote d'Azur
Yorkshire Dales
Tuscany
The Swiss Alps
Prague
Athens
Scottish Isles
Paris

One of the Author’s Trips to Europe - Six Countries in 16 days:

- London; Paris; Nice; Lucerne; Pisa; Rome; Sorrento; Naples; Florence; Venice; Salzburg; the Rhine

So you want to go to Spain - Girona

I got my hands on a rather nice and glossy magazine titled Top Girona, available also online. If you want to explore this area of Catalonia from Costa Brava to the Pyrenees, you should check it out.

While Girona is a city in itself, this magazine covers the entire area of Catalonia, marking some of the must-see sites such as the Botanical Garden Marimurta of Blanes, the terrace of Can Batlle in Calella de Palafrugell (a favorite hang-out place for local writer Javier Cercas), Hotel AC Palau de Bellavista, Restaurant La Cuina de Can Pipes, El Bulli restaurante, the social club "Golf Fontanals de Cerdanya," Rafael Maso's architecture,

Do not forget to try some of the local Saint John's Day Cake, the food in the county of Olot, the rope soled shoes of Cristina Castanera, or celebrate during the Procession of the Virgin del Carmen in L'Escala (and other towns on the Girona coast such as: Llanca, Roses, Palamos, Castello d'Empuries, Sant Feliu de Guixols, and Cadaques) .

Of course, you can make Girona part of a longer trip through Spain, either by train or by car:

Spanish Sepharad - Madrid, Cordoba, Barcelona and Girona with the Ave and Talgo trains.

Jewish Heritage - Barcelona, Girona, Cordoba, Toledo, Segovia and Madrid by rail and rent a car.

Road Trip in France

Joel Achenbach, one of my favorite writers at the Washington Post, went to France and decided to embark upon an American-style road trip (i.e. with no much planning involved). We find out why in his amusing article. Apparently his family did not appreciate his impromptu visit to the Loire Valley. He should have instead planned a train trip to either Blois, Orleans, or Tours.

Paris - Blois (Loire Valley)

Paris and Blois with the TER regional train.

Paris - Orleans (Loire Valley)

Paris and Orleans with the TER (regional) train.

Paris - Tours

Paris and Tours with the TGV train.

Had he known these train packages, he would have probably gone there by train, which we all know (and he admits) everyone at times is a much better way to travel to Europe.

Travel Books: A list from the Economist

Every now and then, The Economist publishes interesting book reviews or lists of top travel books. From the list published on April 6th, 2006, one can pick some interesting books pertaining to Europe. This means more book reviews for me...

1. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert.

4. 1,000 Places To See Before You Die. By Patricia Schultz

5. Unforgettable Journeys to Take Before You Die by Steve Watkins and Clare Jones (see a theme?)

6. A Year in the World: Journeys by a Passionate Traveller by Frances Mayesa> (hurray, the book I am reviewing right now!)

7. Rick Steves’ Italy 2006 by Rick Steves >(another book on Italy?)

8. Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country’s Hidden Past by Giles Tremlett

10. The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt (one of my favorite writers - it's hard to surpass the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but I will give him a chance)

As one can easily see (and easily imagine, one might add), Europe is THE preferred destination for millions of travelers each year. 7 books out of 10 on the top 10 best-selling travel books list. Even if one eliminates the 1,000 Places... and Unforgettable Journeys - which touch on many continents, you still have 5 out of 10 books on Europe.