tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27953820464673162202024-02-07T05:50:07.194+00:00Travel BugYour guide to the best (and worst) cities in the worldLaila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-86409444074802380932009-08-16T12:30:00.000+01:002009-08-15T17:21:24.938+01:00San FranciscoIn <a href="http://pinknic-uk.blogspot.com/2009/03/ive-lost-my-mojo.html">this post</a> about my San Francisco trip I asked if any of my readers wanted to ask me questions about stuff I might have forgotten to mention, or just anything else you wanted to know about the place and what I got up to.<br /><br />And some of you actually did!<br /><br />So here are your questions and my responses:<br /><br /><a href="http://diary-of-a-journey.blogspot.com/">Girl on a Journey</a> said:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I've always wanted to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcatraz_Island">Alcatraz</a> - how was it?! Any ghosts? I hear there are ghosts there.</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> Alcatraz was brilliant, so interesting. I heard about the ghosts too, but no, I didn't see any. I was there in the daytime, and I don't believe in the 'paranormal' anyway. That's not to say I'm not open-minded about having it proved to me, but I would literally have to see a ghost with my own eyes before I believed it. But yeah, go to Alcatraz.<br /><br /><a href="http://mssalti.blogspot.com/">Ms Salti</a> asked:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Which hotel did you stay in? I'm always looking for suggestions!</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> I stayed at the <a href="http://www.daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/home">Days Inn</a> on Lombard Street. It's more of a motel really, but it was cheap and came with all the essentials. If you're on a budget, then it's a good place to stay. Just don't tell them it was me who broke their coffee machine.<br /><br /><a href="http://gotobeskinnybitch.blogspot.com/">Gwen</a>'s question was:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Not one interesting event while you were there?</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> I wouldn't say anything really out of the ordinary happened. Well, there was the taxi driver who insisted on playing (and singing along to) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dion_and_the_Belmonts">Dion and the Belmonts</a> songs at full volume, then proceeded to produce a pair of drumsticks and use the steering wheel as a drum. I just stared out the window, trying my hardest not to erupt into fits of giggles.<br /><br /><a href="http://nicoleelkington.blogspot.com/">Nicole Elkington</a> wanted to know:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Did you get scared by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Famous_Bushman">Bushman</a>?</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> I think he was going to try, but I spotted him hiding behind his silly little bush and shot him my best <span style="font-style:italic;">jump-out-at-me-and-I'll-stab-you</span> face. Yeah, I can actually do that face quite well. It's useful, where I come from.<br /><br /><a href="http://chinkygirlmel.blogspot.com/">ChinkyGirlMel</a> asked:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">So, how was the seafood at <a href="http://www.fishermanswharf.org/">Fisherman's Wharf</a>?</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> It was good. I love seafood anyway, especially crab and lobster, and I tried clam chowder, which was...alright.<br /><br /><a href="http://starbucksbreak.blogspot.com/">Cheryl</a> said:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Why ARE people always so obsessed with the <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Speak-in-a-British-Accent">English accent</a>? I've never figured it out.</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> Search me. I'm not complaining, though. It's a useful pulling tool.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogspot-com-blog-er.blogspot.com/">Bored Housewife</a> wanted to know:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I heard they're putting a <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/11/local/me-goldengate11">net under the Golden Gate Bridge</a> to stop people jumping off it? Anyway, were you tempted?</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Nic says:</span> Is that true about the net? Can't be! But I heard that a lot of people do jump off the bridge. But no, I wasn't tempted, thank you very much! Although I was on a pier at one point, walking towards the end and thought, "I wonder what all these people would do if I just kept walking." Thoughts like that amuse me.<br /><br />Thanks for your questions, people!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-12070862224444370122009-04-26T17:43:00.001+01:002009-05-15T22:11:26.086+01:00Travel SpotlightAs some of you know, I live just outside London. Being so close to the capital, my town is quite busy and hectic and there aren't many places you can go and relax. But this is definitely one of the few where you can:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaiC2lf7J2sdnX4yowtE3ylWrqP6vkBDWCqNj0R8oCN80EKxRimjim22ICcW2_qfGSNI78XzJCLnzjc8yYxIkwrwDBfjdYqvc8Z_lFBZQ7ugSEEWZ6qf0BeaGPmr_dB4lWX6KLM7OApY/s1600-h/coalhouse9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaiC2lf7J2sdnX4yowtE3ylWrqP6vkBDWCqNj0R8oCN80EKxRimjim22ICcW2_qfGSNI78XzJCLnzjc8yYxIkwrwDBfjdYqvc8Z_lFBZQ7ugSEEWZ6qf0BeaGPmr_dB4lWX6KLM7OApY/s200/coalhouse9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325770336029359986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4SzhOp8SeQImA4SIaJaLwMwPpnsrYhcdwC4PHOvaEE7ML3zcebtIZ3T5q4pWD8CQGfJASaJfv_W-X9AQYODY_MgqKEdpTnWPWshJbEoUxQAyxtXHUQWrp1hW6uSZP5GYAcQ4EF1h0uU/s1600-h/coalhouse11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4SzhOp8SeQImA4SIaJaLwMwPpnsrYhcdwC4PHOvaEE7ML3zcebtIZ3T5q4pWD8CQGfJASaJfv_W-X9AQYODY_MgqKEdpTnWPWshJbEoUxQAyxtXHUQWrp1hW6uSZP5GYAcQ4EF1h0uU/s200/coalhouse11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325770531877722018" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-weight:bold;">Coalhouse Fort, Essex</span></center><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">A brief history:</span> Coalhouse Fort is a Victorian coastal defence fort set in parkland next to the River Thames, completed in 1874, to defend the approaches to London from the perceived threat of invasion from France. It's considered to be one of the finest examples of an armoured casemated fort in the UK. </span><br /><br />I love this place because my grandparents used to take me there all the time as a child. At the time I was just interested in the play park with the ridiculously high slide (which has since been taken away - safety hazard, more than likely) and playing in the ditch (when it was dry, of course...I'm not <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> disgusting.) <br /><br />Now I go there when I need to get away from it all, relax, walk, sunbathe, be alone with my thoughts and write. I mean, how can you <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> be happy when you're surrounded by this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2jI3OAajUmdNG_5hVL3sEtMS_rVwv7Fx5rrvo-l5sRQJj48pkYKqvq0aBP0OT-qyt_HCeonaglh9_LjZSE7L4wqekTbxqqqPqSGHUACm56LRZYKBQRLGUlh4WrecvlwzguyYof6tkAk/s1600-h/coalhouse8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2jI3OAajUmdNG_5hVL3sEtMS_rVwv7Fx5rrvo-l5sRQJj48pkYKqvq0aBP0OT-qyt_HCeonaglh9_LjZSE7L4wqekTbxqqqPqSGHUACm56LRZYKBQRLGUlh4WrecvlwzguyYof6tkAk/s200/coalhouse8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325770260763192098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS4kOaAyDibZO6p7obf1vKVZaelJ3Gt-7rTV1RomVbBV-fsRLC4AOAiNhyphenhyphenIXZJZkg1k0R7upQgJL3psjkt7VQqR98HUygGw8sAX1yc5JFHpFG7qBFLupTvEcn9LnfF2mGl4c4NH9z5kc/s1600-h/coalhouse2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS4kOaAyDibZO6p7obf1vKVZaelJ3Gt-7rTV1RomVbBV-fsRLC4AOAiNhyphenhyphenIXZJZkg1k0R7upQgJL3psjkt7VQqR98HUygGw8sAX1yc5JFHpFG7qBFLupTvEcn9LnfF2mGl4c4NH9z5kc/s200/coalhouse2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325769310299673378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8LeDLYxTSdmmmzpBPsE_fgPu0oExyZfOxkNpLRJ6rjyKQdmF2IpDvLDnMyrX883hzWIBXeVWimu80ITuIEkhO8YraGW7V_Avpl-bydgv-fLdwG7MONHZKcr-3L2Vh9BcsWupP8RQscw/s1600-h/coalouse12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8LeDLYxTSdmmmzpBPsE_fgPu0oExyZfOxkNpLRJ6rjyKQdmF2IpDvLDnMyrX883hzWIBXeVWimu80ITuIEkhO8YraGW7V_Avpl-bydgv-fLdwG7MONHZKcr-3L2Vh9BcsWupP8RQscw/s200/coalouse12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325770689879454114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF9-viSDHHZ4raTffu8FTxwhiecfOU79RWbQW_BAlxXlN9rPE_Io00HTBXMtm0xNbSAqWCk4atubc270VHYyl2JNCB06KnQD2DoLIOVwxp2kVm220lqslQDW8SrUOtdSyXgH2uwz5o7Y/s1600-h/coalhouse7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF9-viSDHHZ4raTffu8FTxwhiecfOU79RWbQW_BAlxXlN9rPE_Io00HTBXMtm0xNbSAqWCk4atubc270VHYyl2JNCB06KnQD2DoLIOVwxp2kVm220lqslQDW8SrUOtdSyXgH2uwz5o7Y/s200/coalhouse7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325770169653751506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwR1EB3GkPqfD-0lu9WBdkTQreTVzzK1lH7oF1bdAzZSsoK8EP95jFe3KmYWi9C50d-Le099zhFAp2eBKQY1XyHXQXbuC5iyRAf0rdxJB4kcNhP6Z6OyIYBtJ-cHeBa7rkaeZRr19TSk/s1600-h/coalhouse5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwR1EB3GkPqfD-0lu9WBdkTQreTVzzK1lH7oF1bdAzZSsoK8EP95jFe3KmYWi9C50d-Le099zhFAp2eBKQY1XyHXQXbuC5iyRAf0rdxJB4kcNhP6Z6OyIYBtJ-cHeBa7rkaeZRr19TSk/s200/coalhouse5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325769622236649570" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">(Click on the pics to enlarge)</span></center><br />The fort was also used as a coastal defence in World War II and there are occasionally open days when you're allowed inside the fort to look at the war memorabilia. I remember as a child being shown an unexploded German bomb and freaking out until someone told me it wouldn't actually go off as it had been diffused. Even then I kept an eye on it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Interesting fact:</span> In 2005, some of <span style="font-style:italic;">Batman Begins</span> was filmed here. The scenes at the beginning where Christian Bale (Batman) is in prison were shot inside the fort. But it was kept quiet and even the locals didn't find out until a week later.<br /><br />So...that's my favourite place. It's just a fifteen minute drive from my house and I feel lucky to live close to somewhere like this. Do you like it?<br /><br />Where is your favourite place in your hometown? Leave a comment or even write your own blog post about it. Let me know if you do as I'd love to read it!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-51747254245134990112009-04-19T00:34:00.000+01:002009-04-22T17:38:47.975+01:00InterviewIt's my pleasure to introduce you to Jennine from <a href="http://travelaholicanonymous.com/">Travelaholic Anonymous</a>. She's here to tell us all about her globetrotting experiences! Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thanks for agreeing to be my interviewee today, Jennine. First question: If you had to pick just one, what is the best country/city you've visited and why?</span><br />As a "travelaholic" it's very difficult to pick just one place as my favorite, but if I have to pick just one I would have to say Santorini, Greece. It was so beautiful with its black sand beaches and white washed buildings. I also love Greek food, so that was a big plus as well.<br /><br /><strong>Is there anywhere you haven't been that you're desperate to visit?</strong><br />I haven't done much traveling in Central or South America, and I really want to see that part of the world. Recently I have gotten the bug to travel to Costa Rica. I would love to explore the rain forests and relax in the natural hot springs.<br /><br /><strong>Do you always sample the local food and culture in a new country?</strong><br />Definitely! That's half the fun for me. I can't say that I've loved every new food I've tried, but it's another part of the adventure.<br /><br /><strong>Where was your biggest culture shock?</strong><br />I think that living and studying in Spain was my biggest culture shock. Spain isn't that "foreign" of a place, but it was the first place I traveled to outside of the United States. I was a sophomore in college, and I jumped into a program in a new country where the language was not my first. It was tough at first, but one of the best experiences of my life!<br /><br /><strong>What's the most unusual thing/event you've experienced while travelling?</strong><br />I don't think I've seen all that many unusual things in my travels, or I've just gotten so used to unusual that it doesn't phase me. One thing that stands out in my mind was the first time I traveled to London I was staying in a hostel and making dinner. On the burner next to the one I was using some other hostel guests were cooking "mushrooms" to make "tea" as they were telling a friend and I about being deported from several countries. Not all that unusual, but at that point I hadn't really seen people cooking up drugs on a hostel stove. <br /><br /><strong>What is your one travel essential?</strong><br />A good attitude. That's obviously not a tangible item, but I couldn't think of one single other thing that I would consider essential. My first thought when I read the question was a camera, but pictures never do the sights justice anyway. The best pictures are your memories.<br /><br /><strong>And finally...any tips for inexperienced travellers?</strong><br />Do your homework. Figure out what the weather is generally like, what local customs you should be aware of, if there are any health or safety risks, etc. This will help you pack the things you need and be prepared for what you might experience. <br />My other big tip is to pack light! I am definitely guilty of being an over packer. I always want a bunch of outfit choices because I never know what situation I'll find myself in while traveling, but after hauling heavy suitcases through airports, train stations, and city streets I decided I can live without 3/4 of the junk I would cram into my suitcase. Plus, if you limit what you pack you can always buy a cool new outfit and have a story to tell about where you got it from.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-13895893001388083052008-11-09T23:17:00.000+00:002008-11-11T15:29:53.550+00:00BathLocated in Western England and just an hour’s drive from the world-famous monument of Stonehenge, Bath is easily accessible by both road and rail.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHTdAm2YU1nXvsWeTLi12A4iHDfW1Gx-GVww7TsxctMoDFrqG6t4V6ceyy2K-VAk7AZYp_qnISGivdY8WFNbxknV5_OFO1wcq9CElzvfU9VqtfzMIXtDscOGmNW3VLJAB7Y_QQJki9aW3/s1600-h/HPIM0124.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHTdAm2YU1nXvsWeTLi12A4iHDfW1Gx-GVww7TsxctMoDFrqG6t4V6ceyy2K-VAk7AZYp_qnISGivdY8WFNbxknV5_OFO1wcq9CElzvfU9VqtfzMIXtDscOGmNW3VLJAB7Y_QQJki9aW3/s320/HPIM0124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267172790818259330" /></a><br />Famous for - and named after - the roman baths which can still be found there, Bath is a city full of culture…but also amazing shopping! In fact, Bath boasts more shops than a city ten times its size. From massive department stores to tiny boutiques, this place really does have it all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zzZEjQ6FgeehOfeG3xF9lluSrJ9SPatWIvqzsBGmFoE7NyTwYg0OTU6gQsNI8uHi1YBHHhy7jBwrdojMOv6Y_oTaJH0TJFu_X2SnYTCThyvu8B-gHdJV_CsldwXxLpbwnJme6owbDr1x/s1600-h/shop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zzZEjQ6FgeehOfeG3xF9lluSrJ9SPatWIvqzsBGmFoE7NyTwYg0OTU6gQsNI8uHi1YBHHhy7jBwrdojMOv6Y_oTaJH0TJFu_X2SnYTCThyvu8B-gHdJV_CsldwXxLpbwnJme6owbDr1x/s320/shop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267172537791467650" /></a><br />While you’re there you can explore the city any way you want. You could choose to join one of the many walking tours, or you might prefer to see the area by vehicle – in which case you should buy one of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours, which are great value for money.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5evkWwvixIF5i2mhuSgcYTINsegpkhZXwKxZgIfCljo3PvBtyiAugRMBr7woh-licVywn3ypHQF76vzT55eLBTMqAApCxqciBacgCMS5nRSLF8t-9CLcV99jv-X59RhjbScMVEmQ06Eat/s1600-h/general20089_MEDIUM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5evkWwvixIF5i2mhuSgcYTINsegpkhZXwKxZgIfCljo3PvBtyiAugRMBr7woh-licVywn3ypHQF76vzT55eLBTMqAApCxqciBacgCMS5nRSLF8t-9CLcV99jv-X59RhjbScMVEmQ06Eat/s320/general20089_MEDIUM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267172341364476642" /></a><br />The Romans were captivated by the miraculous stream of endless hot water Bath offered, the Georgians later came from all over the country to bathe in it, and now people can once again experience its powers with the opening of the Thermae Bath Spa - the only place in Britain where you can swim in the natural thermal water. It’ll cost you a bit, though!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8bKi3dLj3oNjhXTcHU1BMFKlYFa7B_SOFddDutp3GeFmUAIiGjcfczFkzz4fJ31EzTzZqCsK4xfKxxHlRlP-U6K78f_LdftUEApTyZFegFDlDx7i0q66NF9Z4w4GpVNA5l7N7WliyPoh/s1600-h/UK2008329.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8bKi3dLj3oNjhXTcHU1BMFKlYFa7B_SOFddDutp3GeFmUAIiGjcfczFkzz4fJ31EzTzZqCsK4xfKxxHlRlP-U6K78f_LdftUEApTyZFegFDlDx7i0q66NF9Z4w4GpVNA5l7N7WliyPoh/s320/UK2008329.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267172149160297698" /></a><br />Add to all this the plethora of restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and the abbey, and Bath succeeds in the near-impossible feat of being both a historic and bang-up-to-date city. It really is quite magical.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-39458226797418773172008-11-02T21:26:00.000+00:002008-11-03T14:20:24.963+00:00Athens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKIYrZGMZ0FMBDXZcLjIHpZq9Ey7vhAq9Z6wxLoFBpk98QcEY2pxOI-y-gg1JnxAdYKNs4FbWDzThFbizCyvzsx_1qLULN9TOXjy63HNR6JFohXDcPRIwNUN4rEPUkgi9dAvo1rUD4Vbh/s1600-h/athens5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKIYrZGMZ0FMBDXZcLjIHpZq9Ey7vhAq9Z6wxLoFBpk98QcEY2pxOI-y-gg1JnxAdYKNs4FbWDzThFbizCyvzsx_1qLULN9TOXjy63HNR6JFohXDcPRIwNUN4rEPUkgi9dAvo1rUD4Vbh/s320/athens5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231132892025521042" /></a><br />Situated in the region of Attica, Athens is the capital and most visited city in Greece. And it's easy to see why. It’s surrounded by gorgeous mountains named Ymmytos, Pendeli and Parnitha and the sun shines over the city all year round. <br /><br />The climate is one of the best in Europe, with mild winters and hot summers, ideal for tourism. It’s located just a few kilometres from the port of Piraeus, the central commercial port.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT7up22OLkqEykOhTKKmcheAuhyrVf9QwLuSXzmfC7oAUCCaYSWSZOt8eMmpAhv3L6LAItSxkgaKhX9IWV6YlZLFcwErWJs4CsZQI6l3x2cUmqqaLBM_ruhZoXu1DPt7_tY3NZhkWOG6i/s1600-h/athens3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmT7up22OLkqEykOhTKKmcheAuhyrVf9QwLuSXzmfC7oAUCCaYSWSZOt8eMmpAhv3L6LAItSxkgaKhX9IWV6YlZLFcwErWJs4CsZQI6l3x2cUmqqaLBM_ruhZoXu1DPt7_tY3NZhkWOG6i/s320/athens3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231133630163351122" /></a><br />A walk around the famous historic triangle - Plaka, Thission and Psyri (the old neighbourhoods) - reveals the coexistence of different eras. Old mansions, some well-preserved and others worn down by time, luxurious department stores and small intimate shops, fancy restaurants and traditional taverns all have their place in this city. <br /><br />Athens and Attica in general are home to some of the most important archaeological monuments in Greece – the Acropolis, the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Roman Market, the Panathinaiko Stadium and the Temple of Poseidon. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhozvj2BztMzO5OMhcqpGnSzhbQ-raUjZ279PLG0gJjoJVjEWEaXKScXJduN41WTsj4NcFd1lVd1JFgRINHB3vAzfdSpPE6JieWKJs0FKIn6D3kwbTd5DeSmq7DPkRZrPna9ZwSqKX1EGi/s1600-h/athens4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhozvj2BztMzO5OMhcqpGnSzhbQ-raUjZ279PLG0gJjoJVjEWEaXKScXJduN41WTsj4NcFd1lVd1JFgRINHB3vAzfdSpPE6JieWKJs0FKIn6D3kwbTd5DeSmq7DPkRZrPna9ZwSqKX1EGi/s320/athens4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231133767241054386" /></a><br />Don't forget to visit the city’s famous museums – the Archaeological Museum, Military Museum and Byzantine Museum.<br /><br />By the time your trip to Athens comes to an end, you'll feel very cultured indeed!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-11003248574313957562008-10-26T17:54:00.000+00:002008-11-03T14:22:07.687+00:00Tokyo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimurPXf7ZZLntcm1x3D7-TaO38k2gakS42n3cPDDiRIA-Eb8ZUUPu5xqGWIBm8jWjAvRo7S26YJyNiBMRx7Ncigcu0zFo-lqLnNVbuPHstHFgiR_PrRsu1QDSqOzKyGRjNsK5KeI59VP6i/s1600-h/tokyo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimurPXf7ZZLntcm1x3D7-TaO38k2gakS42n3cPDDiRIA-Eb8ZUUPu5xqGWIBm8jWjAvRo7S26YJyNiBMRx7Ncigcu0zFo-lqLnNVbuPHstHFgiR_PrRsu1QDSqOzKyGRjNsK5KeI59VP6i/s320/tokyo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230707456213132082" /></a><br />If you want to experience modern Japan, Tokyo is the city to visit. <br /><br />About two days are needed to gain a superficial feel for the capital and at least a week to get to know it more intimately. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gsP51Cv1EL0ECoPDtxYdyOHJ_aT-X4bxTRi18439p7_v2uXX00QN-PxqL5WxCXCx_8pSenbbjvvW5nF9DReM9bcNHnwWjFn9asp9-jygfM0g3KAQdbPLhiJ70bzywlg4VLLo3WD17g9E/s1600-h/tokyo3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gsP51Cv1EL0ECoPDtxYdyOHJ_aT-X4bxTRi18439p7_v2uXX00QN-PxqL5WxCXCx_8pSenbbjvvW5nF9DReM9bcNHnwWjFn9asp9-jygfM0g3KAQdbPLhiJ70bzywlg4VLLo3WD17g9E/s320/tokyo3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230707458493763970" /></a><br /><strong>Places to visit and things to do in Tokyo</strong><br /><br /><strong>Old Tokyo </strong><br />Visit the excellent Edo-Tokyo Museum and learn about Tokyo's history. Afterwards, explore the nearby Asakusa area around Sensoji Temple where a touch of the old Tokyo can still be experienced. <br /><br /><strong>Futuristic Tokyo </strong><br />From Shimbashi Station take the <em>Yurikamome</em>, an elevated train across the Rainbow Bridge onto a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. There, visit the shopping and entertainment attractions and view the futuristic architecture and landscape design around Odaiba and Tokyo Big Sight. <br /><br /><strong>Shinjuku </strong><br />In Shinjuku, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, Tokyo's tallest building, for a free bird's eye view of the city. Then take a look around the area’s department stores. To escape the crowds, take a break in the Shinjuku Gyoen, a spacious city park. In the evening, experience the notorious Kabukicho entertainment district. <br /><br /><strong>Shibuya, Harajuku, Meiji Jingu</strong> <br />Shibuya and Harajuku are the most popular shopping and entertainment districts for Tokyo's young generation. For some contrast, visit Meiji Shrine, located in a spacious wooded park just next to Harajuku Station. <br /><br /><strong>Imperial Palace, Ginza</strong> <br />Visit Imperial Palace and its East Gardens before exploring Ginza, Tokyo's most expensive and famous shopping district. <br /><br /><strong>Tokyo Disney Resort</strong> <br />Tokyo Disney Resort, just 15 minutes by train from Tokyo Station, consists of two separate theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Kids and adults of all ages will love it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD7_Owb1pbFUCRWDsWQ-W4g33uNy0O0P82ydP3g-MwgmS56UQiwp9jO2lALKriCn8EN6L49nPbgAmZ16EJAC0MG6jNRoYfgywWc6Q3bHZA0Np6OzHR_9SPCrRPWL__D1IfwgrQUIEfAX0/s1600-h/tokyo2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZD7_Owb1pbFUCRWDsWQ-W4g33uNy0O0P82ydP3g-MwgmS56UQiwp9jO2lALKriCn8EN6L49nPbgAmZ16EJAC0MG6jNRoYfgywWc6Q3bHZA0Np6OzHR_9SPCrRPWL__D1IfwgrQUIEfAX0/s320/tokyo2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230707460055248994" /></a>Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-26555494295447600302008-10-19T00:05:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:26:05.292+00:00Niagara Falls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoUePfjCK072_Q-3jb4AanMPNdbDx53fFzuxi0RlNDM0Jiy0ip0yNQ53xQ9MsxL4W1AhAr0s9aGud7erFKZbh3sXFECOC2IvCabvpXxpEJFhAk349pLciPFhALz6yyrIVhPPt87e2llK4/s1600-h/niagara4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoUePfjCK072_Q-3jb4AanMPNdbDx53fFzuxi0RlNDM0Jiy0ip0yNQ53xQ9MsxL4W1AhAr0s9aGud7erFKZbh3sXFECOC2IvCabvpXxpEJFhAk349pLciPFhALz6yyrIVhPPt87e2llK4/s320/niagara4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229301286448561858" /></a><br />The city of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is home to one of the wonders of the world – Horseshoe Falls, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls (the other side is in New York, USA). Its spectacular views attract 20 million visitors each year.<br /><br />Beautiful park walkways run alongside the full length of the Niagara River where you can take a leisurely stroll while gazing at the magnificence of the falls.<br /> <br />If you’re more adventurous and want to view the waterfall from somewhere other than the ground, here are some suggestions: <br /><br /><strong>1. From a tunnel behind the falls </strong><br />Descend 150 ft by elevator then follow a short tunnel to two outdoor observation decks and two portals where you can view the falls from below and behind.<br /><br /><strong>2. From one of many observatory towers</strong> in the area.<br /><br /><strong>3. From your hotel room </strong> <br />Hotels line the streets facing the falls. The Sheraton Fallsview has one of the most stunning views.<br /><br /><strong>4. From the Skylon Tower,</strong> a very posh, elevated revolving dining room. <br /><br /><strong>5. From a helicopter</strong><br />This is quite expensive (over $100) but the experience is well worth the money. Book online.<br /><br /><strong>6. From the SkyWheel,</strong> a ferris wheel on Clifton Hill, located next to the falls.<br /><br /><strong>7. From the Maid of the Mist,</strong> a boat which takes passengers right up to the foot of the falls. You get very wet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CGO89kw74qS6I5dZjydmYwSZaaSv2XFlkeEb2mZzPqYYxzZaDf_B4-4NygpsDhDTNJgfzMDgAztj4Lyl6RV2lyEa3L7_vdThyphenhyphenr0jPhVa7vr-_IGu8cl4VSfJ-AD-YKPtp_xsyTH-s1FM/s1600-h/niagara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CGO89kw74qS6I5dZjydmYwSZaaSv2XFlkeEb2mZzPqYYxzZaDf_B4-4NygpsDhDTNJgfzMDgAztj4Lyl6RV2lyEa3L7_vdThyphenhyphenr0jPhVa7vr-_IGu8cl4VSfJ-AD-YKPtp_xsyTH-s1FM/s320/niagara.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229300886230943938" /></a><br />The falls are especially captivating at night, when they are lit up in several different colours.<br /><br />It’s easy to see why Niagara Falls is the honeymoon capital of the world.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-7222666968429811002008-10-12T13:23:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:26:31.226+00:00Las Palmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCD2reyHYVwJJD4CChMoQ10qbF5Rh34PuYe2VIoDJQcQgDXzynpj_fu7XGntafNcr7Hch7hSI6OEUfiYhOcw5A-MtR902Lhw_h3RO6ikS2sxD-wpUjfM_l0fXbrn10YkoyReqm5o3NCCm/s1600-h/laspalmas2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCD2reyHYVwJJD4CChMoQ10qbF5Rh34PuYe2VIoDJQcQgDXzynpj_fu7XGntafNcr7Hch7hSI6OEUfiYhOcw5A-MtR902Lhw_h3RO6ikS2sxD-wpUjfM_l0fXbrn10YkoyReqm5o3NCCm/s320/laspalmas2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229153202140188386" /></a><br />Las Palmas is the sunny Spanish capital city of the island of Gran Canaria - the largest of the Canary Islands located off the north-western coast of Africa.<br /><br />It’s a bustling, vibrant city with three beaches and plenty of nightlife. Whether you want to rest and relax with the family or go clubbing with friends, you can do it in Las Palmas.<br /><br />The weather in Gran Canaria has been referred to as “The best in the world”. I would call it “Hot”. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is a matter of personal taste.<br /><br />During your trip, stay at the 4-star Reina Isabel Hotel by the main shopping area of Las Palmas. It has 224 rooms and the average price is 78 euros.<br /><br />It’s well located for Canteras Beach and is the only hotel in the area with its own sun loungers on the beach. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpHcK7UwvTDJzVNRdIkv6S2rXJYW0SDsYD_yjvyUePq6fryaKgwyJg3DLUOHvW-uxqb0Dny6hhHsRg3P-ZE1XZot6Q9a8-1PRL_EqN8wfrzqUXcPeD3C_uviW3W2ec4ALRrxxzfpKYCHQ/s1600-h/las_palmas_gran_canaria.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpHcK7UwvTDJzVNRdIkv6S2rXJYW0SDsYD_yjvyUePq6fryaKgwyJg3DLUOHvW-uxqb0Dny6hhHsRg3P-ZE1XZot6Q9a8-1PRL_EqN8wfrzqUXcPeD3C_uviW3W2ec4ALRrxxzfpKYCHQ/s320/las_palmas_gran_canaria.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229152930498226194" /></a><br />A room with a sea view is a must. Alternatively, the views from the rooftop pool area (with sun loungers) are amazing, and there are screens to shelter you from any wind. <br /><br />The promenade is just outside the back entrance to the hotel and is perfect for a stroll at any time of the day or early evening. <br /><br />The food in the hotel is first-rate and there is free internet access in the reception area.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtPK2foywE5MWLOce3i3DKREJa-Vng6gpMoMw7cbgvIcSzNE4vFo1zB77WgtaVZgS6V3Bzu_E9y5TxQ7-M0CvYUx1DSmtHMOddegpomYrljFTpjLm4MG0E-AYetvAlzq32J3lNQwj2rVc/s1600-h/LasPalmas5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtPK2foywE5MWLOce3i3DKREJa-Vng6gpMoMw7cbgvIcSzNE4vFo1zB77WgtaVZgS6V3Bzu_E9y5TxQ7-M0CvYUx1DSmtHMOddegpomYrljFTpjLm4MG0E-AYetvAlzq32J3lNQwj2rVc/s320/LasPalmas5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229152926726663938" /></a><br />The annual <em>Carnival of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria</em> is widely known not only in Spain but worldwide and is one of the main attractions for tourists.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-69898104348687518522008-10-05T01:18:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:27:43.739+00:00Sydney<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhV-mjHVWTOZp6J3V6yJbrKM0pX4YcJ5OxS5eWDNmsNw-L5c3RVe9yIOZ8dg-pITwk1j0iJMqCLunrYRJM-F1UHLTAT9ZgedwmGXBzgaTz5fw9URtSluKi25ZJXWGInI_L87XA75aDc7B/s1600-h/sydney+opera.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhV-mjHVWTOZp6J3V6yJbrKM0pX4YcJ5OxS5eWDNmsNw-L5c3RVe9yIOZ8dg-pITwk1j0iJMqCLunrYRJM-F1UHLTAT9ZgedwmGXBzgaTz5fw9URtSluKi25ZJXWGInI_L87XA75aDc7B/s320/sydney+opera.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228596108908048450" /></a><br />Located in New South Wales and known as <em>Harbour City</em> and <em>The Gateway to Australia</em>, Sydney is a dynamic and cosmopolitan city surrounded by gorgeous sandy beaches.<br /><br />While the coastlines here are perfect in their natural state, there are quite a few that come with extras anyway - coffee bars, surf lessons, spas and even the odd dolphin, if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse. Sydney can more than cater to all your seaside needs!<br /><br /><strong>Bondi Beach</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrX4Pj5SWHKAscyqxyn0FGvEIB3qGQ7E9YWGBbdXcGn0a30rx9guaLbAFgsKHeFn-vTuQ_szJxnt364RXpdDP84xPS5u8nl4pa4yVPX7YogUcIbX_wfT66yvTRg_LtJmxTdVMAkWU1u77/s1600-h/sydneyBondi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrX4Pj5SWHKAscyqxyn0FGvEIB3qGQ7E9YWGBbdXcGn0a30rx9guaLbAFgsKHeFn-vTuQ_szJxnt364RXpdDP84xPS5u8nl4pa4yVPX7YogUcIbX_wfT66yvTRg_LtJmxTdVMAkWU1u77/s320/sydneyBondi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228595590784526802" /></a><br />The most famous beach in Sydney – if not the whole of Australia – has to be Bondi Beach. It’s a whole kilometre of golden sand and the closest beach to the centre of Sydney at approximately 20 minutes drive.<br /><br />There is a vibrant café and restaurant scene on Bondi. Check out Campbell Parade, a strip of outdoor cafés and ice-cream bars running along the back of the beach. Just a street back from the parade you’ll find shops selling beachwear and streetwear.<br /><br />On the beach itself you can learn to surf with <em>Let’s Go Surfing</em>, relax in the Icebergs Pool [above pic] or take part in the daily Bondi to Bronte Walk, starting from Bondi Beach and ending up at Tamarama Beach (nicknamed <em>Glamarama</em>) in Bronte, with refreshment stops and magnificent views along the way.<br /><br /><strong>Manly Beach</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIQYra2RszVqSl51_F-YdbyIciKvC6Sx_UCbtsS4FxKdGRHn0pByZwkGurclz-vMjKzjtTXSSdH7FpSsUf2l3BBPjfYNhHIqLx3G2_x7QRK31Q-UDpD_FeRu_u1YYdCum1036ng7gvz_R/s1600-h/sydney_manlybeach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIQYra2RszVqSl51_F-YdbyIciKvC6Sx_UCbtsS4FxKdGRHn0pByZwkGurclz-vMjKzjtTXSSdH7FpSsUf2l3BBPjfYNhHIqLx3G2_x7QRK31Q-UDpD_FeRu_u1YYdCum1036ng7gvz_R/s320/sydney_manlybeach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228596106793849266" /></a><br />More relaxed than Bondi, but somehow managing to be just as vibrant and fun, Manly Beach has all the essential criteria for a great day out – sun, sea, sand, surf, shops and spectacular views, not to mention a world-class dining scene.<br /><br />Check out Oceanworld Manly, a fish’s-eye view of the underwater world. If you’re brave enough, try Shark Dive Xtreme, a scuba session with sharks. If you’re not <em>that</em> fearless, but still feeling adventurous, take a guided boat or shore dive with Dive Centre Manly. <br /><br />For something a bit less adrenalin-filled, join the Manly to Spit Bridge Walk - a 10km stroll along beaches, through parks and forests and over cliffs and bushland.<br /><br />At the weekend there’s the Manly Arts and Crafts Market, where you can buy such things as candles, jewellery, woodwork, paintings, leather and glassware.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRn5_JIoujwcUcy8ICI1H0v4MxA3JkEZgrEFJJAwr2UzPqhQx3nlMQGyYyCJeqDQ4MPE7SgPzWMSui8VV8xFJSiATufD0fFo9vlfxUpv8DRE_Zf0Fli9mlAQg5KrlPg3zSGf7YFlpLx6s/s1600-h/sydneyharbour.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRn5_JIoujwcUcy8ICI1H0v4MxA3JkEZgrEFJJAwr2UzPqhQx3nlMQGyYyCJeqDQ4MPE7SgPzWMSui8VV8xFJSiATufD0fFo9vlfxUpv8DRE_Zf0Fli9mlAQg5KrlPg3zSGf7YFlpLx6s/s320/sydneyharbour.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228595591033101778" /></a><br />Sydney and its beaches have been described as bold, brash and beautiful and this certainly seems to be the case. If you ever happen to be passing by Oz on your travels, stop and say “hi” to Sydney!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-31199569823243964072008-09-28T13:21:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:30:26.407+00:00Berlin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKlhkz90G4zqEpt-RZtsNb7WGqBxHaCXYt5nG3EUsX3EDvjBc9lyGAf984HAZ4m-MH62Y_nP9_RNqraebwIHX7F1g0ywNrACZvVyg54yUuRpdviYxp17Zgt_Bg0hyphenhyphengRb-yHHa1HWfIis_/s1600-h/berlin3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKlhkz90G4zqEpt-RZtsNb7WGqBxHaCXYt5nG3EUsX3EDvjBc9lyGAf984HAZ4m-MH62Y_nP9_RNqraebwIHX7F1g0ywNrACZvVyg54yUuRpdviYxp17Zgt_Bg0hyphenhyphengRb-yHHa1HWfIis_/s320/berlin3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228410539211912402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUtt0q5sUYF-XXOrefoZRREmTzNDPiqwJ3vKnDqtmGv3dWPflNIBn6mRw4d0UNLAkeafHVQzCltPBMrJLCo4qqRjSIXd5t0k55XCYViYhzmjf4DSL6gvl0QCfxQ0O9OO9V-seH9Gnt-nf/s1600-h/berlinwall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUtt0q5sUYF-XXOrefoZRREmTzNDPiqwJ3vKnDqtmGv3dWPflNIBn6mRw4d0UNLAkeafHVQzCltPBMrJLCo4qqRjSIXd5t0k55XCYViYhzmjf4DSL6gvl0QCfxQ0O9OO9V-seH9Gnt-nf/s320/berlinwall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228411048105805410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHfoNWB3y7KDnJY-lE6AGajN_AGboYVy4Vpn13xh4fdw37a1d8Dy1v0-NTj6SknVSR3A0na39AXz27lwEgoVPO9SmaKjyLiRO7M5UZ3PKDcM77j4ziyGJJg-rs9Il9H3kbFMsWVPoNrRR/s1600-h/berlin_nov_08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHfoNWB3y7KDnJY-lE6AGajN_AGboYVy4Vpn13xh4fdw37a1d8Dy1v0-NTj6SknVSR3A0na39AXz27lwEgoVPO9SmaKjyLiRO7M5UZ3PKDcM77j4ziyGJJg-rs9Il9H3kbFMsWVPoNrRR/s320/berlin_nov_08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228411225164412338" /></a><br />Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. Throughout the year, it plays host to many events - including <em>Popkomm</em>, <em>Festival of Lights</em>, <em>Art Forum Berlin</em> and the <em>Berlin Marathon</em>.<br /><br />But the most impressive event to be held in the city this year is definitely <em>Babylon – Myth and Truth</em>. Here’s what the official website <strong>www.berlin.de</strong> has to say about it:<br /><br /><em>"With this major exhibition, the National Museums in Berlin, jointly with the Musée du Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London, venture to explore the myth of Babel and the true facts surrounding the ancient city of Babylon: two worlds - one exhibition. <br /><br /><strong>Truth</strong><br />The first section of the exhibition exposes the roots of our Western culture by looking at the archaeological remains of Babylon, thus revealing what lies behind the legends. This section centres around the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way of Babylon. Over 800 objects are exhibited, among them statues, reliefs, votive offerings, architectural fragments and documents. <br /><br /><strong>Myth</strong><br />The second section of the exhibition regards Babylon as a metaphor for the dark sides of civilisation - repression and the lack of freedom, terror and violence, hubris and madness. In European art and culture, the myth of Babel is closely related to mankind's primal fears. <br /><br />Here, visitors experience the mythical story of the rise and fall of Babylon as a city of sin and tyranny, as the site of the confusion of tongues and the metropolis of eternal apocalypse. They venture on an expedition to the mysterious roots of these ideas, their emergence and establishment throughout the centuries up to the current day. The story is not one of a historical truth about Babylon, but of a truth about a civilisation that needs the myth of Babel in order to understand itself." </em><br /><br />The exhibition is open now until 5th October.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-24635747528486148772008-09-21T16:05:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:30:49.593+00:00Chicago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRQz2DJK7XyNVgrTKtk08CpLLqZqviRsxboGxCLhlrBtDZ6BwRtuVDRWePaIdcBWssDwb19tecO6vqs6MjfLdGcoNV9AzAopGiJpnUCrkgIzOJpa3W5LDZX8cueorl-XaSD5UfkKJ_zVy/s1600-h/chicagobeach"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMRQz2DJK7XyNVgrTKtk08CpLLqZqviRsxboGxCLhlrBtDZ6BwRtuVDRWePaIdcBWssDwb19tecO6vqs6MjfLdGcoNV9AzAopGiJpnUCrkgIzOJpa3W5LDZX8cueorl-XaSD5UfkKJ_zVy/s320/chicagobeach" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227711246370365234" /></a><br />My favourite thing about Chicago is the fact that it’s not just a normal city…it’s located next to a beach. This means that you can walk down the street with soaring metropolitan skyscrapers to your left and a relaxing, sandy beach with views across Lake Michigan to your right. <br /><br />You could spend the morning shopping in the city and the afternoon sunning yourself on the sand, before going back into town in the evening to eat dinner in a restaurant or catch a show at one of Chicago’s many theatres.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyXpwwm6XJCIOf3QW_xiUV7qNlYlh9Sz1De02M0EbuQ-Xj5CUnk_QAmIQbZxLq7qK29eCi1tZjnY6mDyTQMy-p8l1MbR0xcdgElC13lJS11FyXMo77LvupM7irPJ6uzGzgojmQscuARNV/s1600-h/chicbean.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyXpwwm6XJCIOf3QW_xiUV7qNlYlh9Sz1De02M0EbuQ-Xj5CUnk_QAmIQbZxLq7qK29eCi1tZjnY6mDyTQMy-p8l1MbR0xcdgElC13lJS11FyXMo77LvupM7irPJ6uzGzgojmQscuARNV/s320/chicbean.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227711482236099458" /></a><br />Chicago’s Millennium Park is home to Cloud Gate – a large mirrored legume-shaped sculpture, which is the centrepiece of the AT&T Plaza and is appropriately nicknamed <span style="font-style:italic;">The Bean</span>. If you photograph it from the correct angle you can capture a reflection of the city’s impressive skyline, as seen above.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrewyPVVbjzSfoiFCOc4kx6l21ssrtWmLOqdppzDrn7lMEn5b3kUf2B0qS8B_p47csTCoaplJgjO1dB5vS7RFb6I8BjezW8RjWXadi7MKNNPeGYbhTyLD_KuyJMSiiPpxU2ONd-eWEswF/s1600-h/chicjohnhancocktowrgiftshop.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrewyPVVbjzSfoiFCOc4kx6l21ssrtWmLOqdppzDrn7lMEn5b3kUf2B0qS8B_p47csTCoaplJgjO1dB5vS7RFb6I8BjezW8RjWXadi7MKNNPeGYbhTyLD_KuyJMSiiPpxU2ONd-eWEswF/s320/chicjohnhancocktowrgiftshop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227711775777818402" /></a><br />Chicago hosts some of the world’s tallest buildings, including Sears Tower – the highest building in the western hemisphere – and the John Hancock Center, a building full of offices, restaurants and living accommodation. The photo above shows the gift shop on the top floor of the JHC. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-50VbTIhPQVMgFATrbtrIyAqY2KOF_DL1cibCwnwEJ-Pl6eZwZbAiA1x0hUDTWWxJDxjzFFzpTv5E8Efa11uGLL6JLH6qbpjso-A5RfcpgsT0H5GIZDFSrFRdiet3Y4Y9Aj7DyDdRLTkv/s1600-h/chicagotrolley"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-50VbTIhPQVMgFATrbtrIyAqY2KOF_DL1cibCwnwEJ-Pl6eZwZbAiA1x0hUDTWWxJDxjzFFzpTv5E8Efa11uGLL6JLH6qbpjso-A5RfcpgsT0H5GIZDFSrFRdiet3Y4Y9Aj7DyDdRLTkv/s320/chicagotrolley" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710993223107234" /></a><br />The Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. provides a fascinating hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour of the city. It’s a two-hour, fully narrated tour that covers 13 miles of downtown Chicago. When you board the trolley, you receive a free Hershey's chocolate bar and Garrett popcorn sample. Book online before your trip and save 10 per cent off the ticket price.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaftq2LCZLEQC_IB_JeKNKz6GMJc6zhwoCASQz6AIA9vR5z6AgWG6qyjHCc8HfRgtZBB7jk02ex97NraNmu1qSDCZCPAMk68F9srxzarB1Id_T4Wvp-taBVNW6BJSa9HzJEq8FZ8z8llWV/s1600-h/chicago.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaftq2LCZLEQC_IB_JeKNKz6GMJc6zhwoCASQz6AIA9vR5z6AgWG6qyjHCc8HfRgtZBB7jk02ex97NraNmu1qSDCZCPAMk68F9srxzarB1Id_T4Wvp-taBVNW6BJSa9HzJEq8FZ8z8llWV/s320/chicago.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227710751516262306" /></a><br />There’s something for everyone in Chicago. It’s one of the best cities in the world for entertainment, shopping, sports, culture, cuisine and nightlife and is well worth a visit.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-19187151683381600562008-09-14T00:50:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:32:08.431+00:00Dublin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHBKoBnyQtad1cUjtpSzVAA7fRjWG-e7CvSVvqBDfUIj1MGazV9DVqsVRCLL_d5G2VTy51a4bjNMgBKX8BxvcCjVgkA4F7ZGy8WvhElKmVor7aG9jTJT029vXZ7R_ybdFx7JI7Q1KxU2p/s1600-h/dublin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHBKoBnyQtad1cUjtpSzVAA7fRjWG-e7CvSVvqBDfUIj1MGazV9DVqsVRCLL_d5G2VTy51a4bjNMgBKX8BxvcCjVgkA4F7ZGy8WvhElKmVor7aG9jTJT029vXZ7R_ybdFx7JI7Q1KxU2p/s320/dublin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227105174407767362" /></a><br /><em>“Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!”</em> and <em>“What’s the craic?”</em> may be stereotypical clichéd phrases associated with the Irish, but they are actually genuinely used by Dubliners. <br /><br />In fact, one of the best things about this city is the people. In 2007, Dublin was voted the friendliest city in Europe. You won’t run out of people to party with while you’re here.<br /><br />The most famous area for nightlife in Dublin is Temple Bar and attracts tourists from around the world, including numerous stag and hen parties from Britain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzmy9wnsS9061I094W47O4UafJ3koWO8Rp0KvfQsmdQNk9RqdYSF0Sy3tpOdg20Hhp4ZrqHOh-XPzhWSJmTF30LLs7dcW7rAriHbb4w6ajyGODLlwsfOiBeqPEIao1g5s9-VUUpngGNci/s1600-h/dublin6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzmy9wnsS9061I094W47O4UafJ3koWO8Rp0KvfQsmdQNk9RqdYSF0Sy3tpOdg20Hhp4ZrqHOh-XPzhWSJmTF30LLs7dcW7rAriHbb4w6ajyGODLlwsfOiBeqPEIao1g5s9-VUUpngGNci/s320/dublin6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227104915970858402" /></a><br /><strong>Three of the Best Places to Drink in Dublin’s Temple Bar</strong><br /><br /><strong>Best Pub: The Temple Bar Pub<br />(www.thetemplebarpub.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ7dNlDCsWArzLuKub6t7BodZVQV0MNzF37M8ffpiTdblizsrUcxghzSUpQvIBrZByeNQIS1HhpqH064LRSWOoqdhm2RrcazLRx69exxBqm3aLke3aTvmTd4y_8oVd3qEvNsj-vXsa2SZ/s1600-h/Dublin2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ7dNlDCsWArzLuKub6t7BodZVQV0MNzF37M8ffpiTdblizsrUcxghzSUpQvIBrZByeNQIS1HhpqH064LRSWOoqdhm2RrcazLRx69exxBqm3aLke3aTvmTd4y_8oVd3qEvNsj-vXsa2SZ/s320/Dublin2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227104773261540914" /></a><br />A traditional Irish pub with traditional live Irish music, the unique selling point of The Temple Bar is its beer garden – a peaceful haven to sit and relax in the middle of this hectic area. The pub has Ireland’s largest collection of whiskeys from around the world, and the shop next door sells a wide range of pub merchandise, from t-shirts to hats to bar signs.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Best Bar: The Morgan Bar<br />(www.themorgan.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm92Bl0Y38p3S9mwCruAbJX0Oz9FLqo_cfvz9w_5dTAt3keLubkoOyAsZipaakN7pIU6NFsyxprML0dEA2PotdL4PUaLVONKRIfIjwhwDsIsiCcJD4eblQTbD_06cYku8PzpHYORxsZuhU/s1600-h/dublin8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm92Bl0Y38p3S9mwCruAbJX0Oz9FLqo_cfvz9w_5dTAt3keLubkoOyAsZipaakN7pIU6NFsyxprML0dEA2PotdL4PUaLVONKRIfIjwhwDsIsiCcJD4eblQTbD_06cYku8PzpHYORxsZuhU/s320/dublin8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227104605253009394" /></a><br />Situated in the Morgan Hotel, this is Dublin’s newest bar. It’s more sophisticated than most of the pubs in the area – with its soft leather seats and comfortable sofas, there’s a very cosmopolitan feel about the place. A great venue for a relaxing pre- or post-dinner drink with friends. And there’s a live DJ in the bar at weekends.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Best Nightclub: Club M<br />(www.clubm.ie)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSbptghq2JcNyRUFEqClfGzMJuIBDLW-7lIgl8vE7S9KbRfOLnXKa27XPp_WYPcAi6h7hkPczAx7kGLZtj28W8IyHbc3l4lFdP2f5WoEYy29-QFFKsIPZTaVsS7Syl3qo-IqWbCB1amtL/s1600-h/dublin9.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSbptghq2JcNyRUFEqClfGzMJuIBDLW-7lIgl8vE7S9KbRfOLnXKa27XPp_WYPcAi6h7hkPczAx7kGLZtj28W8IyHbc3l4lFdP2f5WoEYy29-QFFKsIPZTaVsS7Syl3qo-IqWbCB1amtL/s320/dublin9.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227104201039718290" /></a><br />Club M is one of Dublin’s most famous nightclubs and only has two rules: <em>Dress to Impress</em> and <em>Be Happy, Not Drunk</em>. Inside are four bars, many seating areas, a huge dancefloor and even two podiums. If you’re staying in Blooms Hotel you get a pass for yourself and three friends to enter the club for free on weeknights, and money off at weekends.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQkioN8Cp6ah1RMgYCj3DDlaHmX1bS6050R96XUrsPvIPBBmNyc9FwN7ViZHaeLAWAF4Y4omfTLPEtIiPBmoGH7-eokQo4IKRYfnKcLNhW2BXB4g2mGwWmUXmo58jiF9ysL_mw6iPUCgn/s1600-h/irish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQkioN8Cp6ah1RMgYCj3DDlaHmX1bS6050R96XUrsPvIPBBmNyc9FwN7ViZHaeLAWAF4Y4omfTLPEtIiPBmoGH7-eokQo4IKRYfnKcLNhW2BXB4g2mGwWmUXmo58jiF9ysL_mw6iPUCgn/s320/irish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227103933638043170" /></a><br />And all this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other pubs, bars and nightclubs in Temple Bar – not to mention all the restaurants and cinemas – and whether you’re in Dublin for the weekend or a longer stay, you’d be crazy to miss out on experiencing the capital’s most famous partying district!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-30775561157622912252008-09-07T00:12:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:33:55.413+00:00Venice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF0swflsYk9Db5nkp4cD1mOmM41-u19_lMubIKKQJRaU6GwUdcLwMnrHQDyB8Ao-0YtzVbZcvct5d16PZpaodyEv0HZBBtixjZPA9Q5m9CcgcxOFHCWMBVX2ib24s0eE3EB-s8zjmngkN/s1600-h/ven.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivF0swflsYk9Db5nkp4cD1mOmM41-u19_lMubIKKQJRaU6GwUdcLwMnrHQDyB8Ao-0YtzVbZcvct5d16PZpaodyEv0HZBBtixjZPA9Q5m9CcgcxOFHCWMBVX2ib24s0eE3EB-s8zjmngkN/s320/ven.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226723868577894674" /></a><br />What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Venice? I’ll take a shot in the dark and guess that you said, “Water”. <br /><br />That’s what 99.9% of people would say. But there’s so much more to this city than just the canals. <br /><br />The food, for instance. Venice is where you’ll find the best pizza and ice-cream in the world. Don’t believe me? See for yourself:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5M_kmrwARC2R0X56xKPQTBmWUCiT2917BhtONY624w-tNJ7ImvcfsMNRlO1V2eqvcIX4qn2TmkIxlaDJnyLCxYYvGZNYwtHSKatahXTOAx4A3Bb_1SC3RJleGnxaDIFUPuaJrkbywcCo/s1600-h/June2008042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ5M_kmrwARC2R0X56xKPQTBmWUCiT2917BhtONY624w-tNJ7ImvcfsMNRlO1V2eqvcIX4qn2TmkIxlaDJnyLCxYYvGZNYwtHSKatahXTOAx4A3Bb_1SC3RJleGnxaDIFUPuaJrkbywcCo/s320/June2008042.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226723713787770082" /></a><br />Look at the size of that pizza!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir48ge3evIKZ3EJcjOgF1UkL8JUAgOo3_vMACRZXmG5B09R6zXCRSlbJp3Lzpr0PtHp1XvjHT5zUaLF6o_LRXJMUuidQsUTRpx8d_zbCtgFnpGs0gwXTqlf8qtBAAZjOcP4AzEC4yj5jT_/s1600-h/Gelato.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir48ge3evIKZ3EJcjOgF1UkL8JUAgOo3_vMACRZXmG5B09R6zXCRSlbJp3Lzpr0PtHp1XvjHT5zUaLF6o_LRXJMUuidQsUTRpx8d_zbCtgFnpGs0gwXTqlf8qtBAAZjOcP4AzEC4yj5jT_/s320/Gelato.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226723555116615170" /></a><br />And the variety of ice-cream!<br /><br />Is your mouth watering yet? <br /><br />Everyone has eaten these foods before, and most people love them. So it’s worth going to Venice just to try them made the authentic Italian way – it’s so much better!<br /><br /><strong>Other things to do while in Venice – apart from eat!</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7_rYS-6YctV3VFB9g6U37fQku1tavxr9Xl7yrDMHdB2vPzueIiIeQBMUED3WXF-K1ttBlkacmExm5jwGA6bEwvlpk_19v1NoZZyMXe1KTBrvIhj95FDCLPYq2ynWsBT-sihccAPazY0v/s1600-h/untitled.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7_rYS-6YctV3VFB9g6U37fQku1tavxr9Xl7yrDMHdB2vPzueIiIeQBMUED3WXF-K1ttBlkacmExm5jwGA6bEwvlpk_19v1NoZZyMXe1KTBrvIhj95FDCLPYq2ynWsBT-sihccAPazY0v/s320/untitled.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226723396047651650" /></a><br /><strong>Take a gondola ride</strong><br />There are no cars in this city so if you want to get anywhere, you have to walk or take a boat. The classic gondola ride is quite expensive (starting at 80 euros for 40 minutes) but for just 50 cents you can get on the <em>traghetto</em>, a commuter gondola-ferry that crosses the Grand Canal. Bargain!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk620tBbekIxeQSA0VgPLLa1Dvef-28haA18OiwShIAYZIj0UAdLuR9xRjkcBw7a0xyeNLaN2xCrbR8wHiH_y92Ftd62ovTbvnJwGosruvP8riAMGU_500YXGccY1yzvZLRyIYaACoe2RQ/s1600-h/Venice-StMarksBasilica.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk620tBbekIxeQSA0VgPLLa1Dvef-28haA18OiwShIAYZIj0UAdLuR9xRjkcBw7a0xyeNLaN2xCrbR8wHiH_y92Ftd62ovTbvnJwGosruvP8riAMGU_500YXGccY1yzvZLRyIYaACoe2RQ/s320/Venice-StMarksBasilica.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226723211459109746" /></a><br /><strong>Visit Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square)</strong><br />For a spot of culture, go to Piazza San Marco while you’ll see Basilica di San Marco (St Mark’s Basilica, above), Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) and Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower). The piazza is huge and notorious for its pigeons, so watch out for birds suddenly flying in front of your face! And don’t buy a coffee from any of the cafés on the piazza – one espresso can cost 11 euros.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0gPBK-k0-7Rm_juZpCly8J3YW28kkWXzwDj8D3hyHimzop2552YfkFKb2oSxxqW_meZq6s_zgPxaGzB0TJp-ycLXYM4TO7US4WLDkfrj-dX3A5eYaaDXZ2RmO8GR1Kb1kfuICEGw0PXI/s1600-h/IMG_0862.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0gPBK-k0-7Rm_juZpCly8J3YW28kkWXzwDj8D3hyHimzop2552YfkFKb2oSxxqW_meZq6s_zgPxaGzB0TJp-ycLXYM4TO7US4WLDkfrj-dX3A5eYaaDXZ2RmO8GR1Kb1kfuICEGw0PXI/s320/IMG_0862.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226722973236257698" /></a><br /><strong>Go shopping</strong><br />You won’t find any malls or department stores in Venice. Instead, you’ll notice many markets and small shops such as antiques shops and bookstores. Venice is known for its glass and lace, and there are loads of market stalls around the city selling glassware [such as the masks above] and a plethora of lace vendors on Piazza San Marco.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4l-9qQ9hEKh7ruRhEbDBIBponKViZH0LgPIm5LzLn18KmcGwrrJIyixKhHEfl_1bK9oHwJYPu1P753ytKfbbdGy7mnSzqUbTSpW3ex0MEDSEVhVNf0gmFHZn-QGwz3cJk4GGoHglNJbK/s1600-h/bridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4l-9qQ9hEKh7ruRhEbDBIBponKViZH0LgPIm5LzLn18KmcGwrrJIyixKhHEfl_1bK9oHwJYPu1P753ytKfbbdGy7mnSzqUbTSpW3ex0MEDSEVhVNf0gmFHZn-QGwz3cJk4GGoHglNJbK/s320/bridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226722591807123442" /></a><br /><strong>Tackle the bridges</strong><br />Try and walk over every bridge in Venice. I bet you won’t succeed; there are 409!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-72624448338836108312008-08-31T00:10:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:35:03.299+00:00London<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CRdA4LP58DLa0DvEOGe0kbx5_m8qriHFrzM7-zPI8SzJYbfx-QtBhbaWsf3R536A7rTofmjVDObdNsMVK_xqwQkI24CTswPBOAUOcT9PDD-h9nOpI88y1nvOLAb7HqVSXJ_OWRQkvPHM/s1600-h/London2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3CRdA4LP58DLa0DvEOGe0kbx5_m8qriHFrzM7-zPI8SzJYbfx-QtBhbaWsf3R536A7rTofmjVDObdNsMVK_xqwQkI24CTswPBOAUOcT9PDD-h9nOpI88y1nvOLAb7HqVSXJ_OWRQkvPHM/s320/London2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226351982430654786" /></a><br />As a Londoner, you’d think I’d have loads to tell you about the place. The truth is, it’s the city I’ve found it the hardest to write about so far.<br /><br />This is because I’m so used to it, I don’t really notice all the tourist attractions. I walk past them on a daily basis without batting an eyelid.<br /><br />I do, however, know my favourite places in the capital and I’m going to share them with you now.<br /><br /><strong>The O2 Arena (formerly the Millennium Dome)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN-irufAstBoIRNYydbBrxVMRplDsrhYSmysVZfMCvoKGvFt5xZgm8WUsqSpUg3I-X5qU0KsDEs2tfOZ0VbUMxUzpNXeiFxgXvw6Gu2yEuhzCiOljjXrMacg4PZqMJLZtY_lwFgWx9f8U/s1600-h/millennium-dome-at-dusk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfN-irufAstBoIRNYydbBrxVMRplDsrhYSmysVZfMCvoKGvFt5xZgm8WUsqSpUg3I-X5qU0KsDEs2tfOZ0VbUMxUzpNXeiFxgXvw6Gu2yEuhzCiOljjXrMacg4PZqMJLZtY_lwFgWx9f8U/s320/millennium-dome-at-dusk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226351803616457874" /></a><br />Located in Greenwich, south-east London, this is my concert venue of choice. It holds 20,000 people and I’ve seen many shows there. But even when I don’t have tickets to an event I still like to go. Entertainment Avenue, inside the dome and surrounding the arena, has a fantastic array of shops, bars, restaurants, clubs and a Vue cinema, so it’s a great place to enjoy a meal, have a night out or just socialise with family or friends.<br /><br /><strong>The West End </strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXv8_q9ARPCDoA4shHPLBPVdsIqxOpP7zSu6vr5YZSeXesuodDQp00Njkq3-viskzW43tFsHF7Rxk2N-Qc00VHZJptQbNd46cfjUXrplOM4PbNsvs7-UF0pf60VT-2rVuaCbu5yU1o6ze/s1600-h/DSC01349.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXv8_q9ARPCDoA4shHPLBPVdsIqxOpP7zSu6vr5YZSeXesuodDQp00Njkq3-viskzW43tFsHF7Rxk2N-Qc00VHZJptQbNd46cfjUXrplOM4PbNsvs7-UF0pf60VT-2rVuaCbu5yU1o6ze/s320/DSC01349.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226351650304824226" /></a><br />The entertainment centre of the capital and one of the busiest spots in London. Here are some of the best places to visit while you’re in the West End:<br /><br /><strong>Leicester Square</strong><br />Leicester Square boasts a wide variety of shops, bars, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and restaurants – including my personal favourite, the Haagen-Dazs restaurant. The Trocadero shopping centre just west of the square is fantastic – visit Designer Sale Shop for fashionable designer clothing at knock-down prices. Leicester Square is a nice place to sit and have lunch while engaging in a spot of people-watching or even some celeb-spotting, as Capital Radio is broadcast from here.<br /><br /><strong>Trafalgar Square </strong><br />Just south of Leicester Square, this is where you’ll find Nelson’s Column. The square used to be full of pigeons but this is becoming less common as it’s now forbidden to feed them. In Trafalgar Square you can sit and eat by the fountains, take interesting photos or meet up with friends. The <em>Café on the Square</em> sells great food as well as hot and cold drinks at reasonable prices.<br /><br /><strong>Covent Garden</strong><br />Covent Garden is an Italian-style piazza packed with cafés, pubs, theatres, boutiques and the Royal Opera House. The only area of London licensed for street entertainment, it’s full of jugglers, mime artists and musicians. In the middle of the piazza is the famous Covent Garden Market where you can buy almost anything, from clothes to food to arts and crafts.<br /><br /><strong>Oxford Street</strong><br />Europe’s largest high street, and in my opinion, the best! It has over 300 shops and department stores including the world-famous Selfridges where you can buy absolutely anything. Just off Oxford Street you’ll find Bond Street, home to the most expensive shops in London – Gucci, Chanel, Versace, D&G, Armani and Tiffany’s, to name but a few. Even if you can’t afford the designer labels, go and have a browse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0X8Pfk8YzoW7F4gjiv5r68DJOYIuh8m56CA2rAs0Bm9iWQ2O8_Gwb1bos_nQ4pExTpa-xyFzMBH5EIkefpAT_cCeyTjsHKNDHDAyGyItbBc79lqCA6wh48doyCyWphdiUbXGNGjqYxIq/s1600-h/Wimbledon2008014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0X8Pfk8YzoW7F4gjiv5r68DJOYIuh8m56CA2rAs0Bm9iWQ2O8_Gwb1bos_nQ4pExTpa-xyFzMBH5EIkefpAT_cCeyTjsHKNDHDAyGyItbBc79lqCA6wh48doyCyWphdiUbXGNGjqYxIq/s320/Wimbledon2008014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226351440259157810" /></a><br />While you’re in London, I suggest purchasing a ferry ride down the Thames. It’s a lot more scenic than getting the Tube. You get to see all the sights, such as Tower Bridge [above], Buckingham Palace, the London Eye [below], the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. I’ve done it before and I learnt a lot of stuff that I probably should have already known about the history of the city. And it’s beautiful at night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiwhoFB6mGZQbMZIcQKfeXX1gAohlJSXTDF8h7NK8XETzeo_EmoI4CWqXusK3ZMeisIg3-OOkU9fjUNH6JVPZ_A6wa8d5BEXZs1JRbOKESByBDp5TJHQDfzB_9J_Xk1GXYL7c0pB4wpe6/s1600-h/eng_londoneye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiwhoFB6mGZQbMZIcQKfeXX1gAohlJSXTDF8h7NK8XETzeo_EmoI4CWqXusK3ZMeisIg3-OOkU9fjUNH6JVPZ_A6wa8d5BEXZs1JRbOKESByBDp5TJHQDfzB_9J_Xk1GXYL7c0pB4wpe6/s320/eng_londoneye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226351203749754722" /></a><br /><strong>Tip:</strong> If you’re planning a visit to London, bring enough money! London is more expensive than many other cities in the world.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-87013343119492001722008-08-24T00:05:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:36:21.333+00:00Paris<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1VKr7GR7MLNcR9lS-s5oGFwO1XZVW2pV8Epkh9ok6EDOI7NKUaQOCcCh-zeL6klzOAWEYBV2wqcbEMr6f_dztSBXfLQ28cX8SWDq6P-UFIUw2_xvp-VpC4ShiwEjhIX4Nqf2Wy9X9e2O/s1600-h/CIMG0090.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1VKr7GR7MLNcR9lS-s5oGFwO1XZVW2pV8Epkh9ok6EDOI7NKUaQOCcCh-zeL6klzOAWEYBV2wqcbEMr6f_dztSBXfLQ28cX8SWDq6P-UFIUw2_xvp-VpC4ShiwEjhIX4Nqf2Wy9X9e2O/s320/CIMG0090.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225979636567566658" /></a><br />Before my trip, I had high hopes for Paris. I even splashed out on a detailed guidebook to help me find my way around and to learn about the famous sights.<br /><br />Unfortunately, while Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world, I also found it to be the most disappointing.<br /><br />At the time I went, I was in the middle of reading The Da Vinci Code [NB. If you haven’t read it yet, you haven’t lived]. I wanted to visit the Louvre (where most of the novel is set) so that I could visualise it in my head properly as I read the book. This was, of course, before the film was released.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCORXOo_JZmrXPQGvDSE0kc69q0ICKJgehJdzRb_HpiFh27HngpXuPRaoeX6tXyWKnCx_9m7IMOYp6fjqAX5-wEbmHcfO0TGcOnznBcXocoa10yDql7QXa7lEA70WHFN0uumyWwRlRltj/s1600-h/DSC00133.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCORXOo_JZmrXPQGvDSE0kc69q0ICKJgehJdzRb_HpiFh27HngpXuPRaoeX6tXyWKnCx_9m7IMOYp6fjqAX5-wEbmHcfO0TGcOnznBcXocoa10yDql7QXa7lEA70WHFN0uumyWwRlRltj/s320/DSC00133.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225979420064597090" /></a><br />When I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the large glass pyramid outside. A lot of people, especially Parisians, think it’s ugly but I liked it. It enticed me into the museum. I didn’t stay in there for long, though. Granted, I’m not a fan of art so I’m probably not the best person to comment, but I didn’t find it particularly exciting. I paid eight euros, went and had a look at the Mona Lisa, muttered, “Oh, is that it?” and, satisfied that I’d had my culture fix for the year, left. However, if you want to go to the Louvre, then don’t let me put you off. I’m sure it’s incredibly interesting – fascinating, even – if you appreciate that type of thing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNYAIHvFQW3FQQNCy01J1UhyphenhyphenA42L3yz0fBKp9P7SotZp4VvJLeyzJN6Bs_SumXaZHl6h82RUVIDFSy5uLVwFs-bS6s4ydzeXjmmait8cblgVUpfP2H5jo1iMlFNJPGBVHNhhpfQ4gpRv2/s1600-h/champs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNYAIHvFQW3FQQNCy01J1UhyphenhyphenA42L3yz0fBKp9P7SotZp4VvJLeyzJN6Bs_SumXaZHl6h82RUVIDFSy5uLVwFs-bS6s4ydzeXjmmait8cblgVUpfP2H5jo1iMlFNJPGBVHNhhpfQ4gpRv2/s320/champs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225979209612729746" /></a><br />The Champs-Elysees was more my cup of tea. Full of restaurants and designer shops, I spent a considerable amount of time on Avenue Montaigne. Some of the more well-known shops along the avenue include Christian Dior, Chanel, Prada, Calvin Klein and Valentino. There was a queue outside Louis Vuitton which was impressive, if not slightly annoying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim6l2McWoBrM3PzYKz2bMoHZ2HEZbWSE4sAkdudFBRHwx0Dm0YSHZ-kmXgsbelHeq85HbSWD25pyimCQ1bD5SE2T7qsMRDl_y6IVCOOg1_QOQ30BW_L6mQTbxvA_OYWtMPOlnPekPcuiu/s1600-h/20080715_032.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim6l2McWoBrM3PzYKz2bMoHZ2HEZbWSE4sAkdudFBRHwx0Dm0YSHZ-kmXgsbelHeq85HbSWD25pyimCQ1bD5SE2T7qsMRDl_y6IVCOOg1_QOQ30BW_L6mQTbxvA_OYWtMPOlnPekPcuiu/s320/20080715_032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225978862419486530" /></a><br />The Arc de Triomphe was a let down, because it was literally just an old arch at the end of the Champs-Elysees. It’s in the middle of a roundabout so you can’t even get near it without risking your life by walking into the crazy traffic with its even crazier drivers beeping and swearing at each other (I know they were swearing, because I can speak French). It’s somewhat terrifying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh-_B1Ag9QC78HGzJATSJpzFn-WFsXzYom1AXPX1uabrJsnN49Bg17TUT-cc8xdcGwEjpCijTkSvJHpkYaVtbNfNqvzvismHGZMRozyVru5mbjw1DKTgzBW8JmSYJXmP2mXwugMmzSf9n/s1600-h/eiffel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBh-_B1Ag9QC78HGzJATSJpzFn-WFsXzYom1AXPX1uabrJsnN49Bg17TUT-cc8xdcGwEjpCijTkSvJHpkYaVtbNfNqvzvismHGZMRozyVru5mbjw1DKTgzBW8JmSYJXmP2mXwugMmzSf9n/s320/eiffel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225978646097633586" /></a><br />I decided that a visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a trip up the Eiffel Tower, which I must admit I enjoyed. On each level as you ascend, there are museums, cafes and gift shops, and a viewing gallery on the third and final level (at 899 feet, or 274 metres) where you can see for 50 miles (80 km) on a clear day. However, I was there in the evening. It was still a great view though – the whole city was lit up and actually looked quite pretty. The tower illuminates at night too [see above pic] and looks extremely impressive. <br /><br />But my verdict is: Unless you’re desperate to go, don’t bother with Paris. It’s overrated.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-58374132057110660072008-08-17T00:06:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:36:39.806+00:00New York<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn41CGOuLi0CudgPcfxwCo7iZ3nk_fdZoO8jeM-iw01rmd7XEMUnjTKWkI2H5oHaqueldaSWiQenY9gus5W1ANCWvgGkjfkJ9s26A3XdldbO8WhXjqlQ-i9aBLS_mxFeozHUpCkOuvtY3i/s1600-h/statueoflibertynewyork.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn41CGOuLi0CudgPcfxwCo7iZ3nk_fdZoO8jeM-iw01rmd7XEMUnjTKWkI2H5oHaqueldaSWiQenY9gus5W1ANCWvgGkjfkJ9s26A3XdldbO8WhXjqlQ-i9aBLS_mxFeozHUpCkOuvtY3i/s320/statueoflibertynewyork.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225595364878652834" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMOy2Su35Skpm5NseSxouKvMOgOzgNaEvfkB7Vfw7m6x3w3zu3guSt_JIhPbYboKgCoQyD1L0JkJRFjD4HFvsPG9-vxtZGRjkZl-QWEyBoDEBTY32csb077qCJMjvsKZweTtx-Wdt33I/s1600-h/4thofjuly.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mMOy2Su35Skpm5NseSxouKvMOgOzgNaEvfkB7Vfw7m6x3w3zu3guSt_JIhPbYboKgCoQyD1L0JkJRFjD4HFvsPG9-vxtZGRjkZl-QWEyBoDEBTY32csb077qCJMjvsKZweTtx-Wdt33I/s320/4thofjuly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225595209507646050" /></a><br />Brits take note! A shopping trip to New York this summer could actually be a cost-effective way of getting your Christmas shopping done early. No, really.<br /><br />With many electronics and designer items at half their UK price, as well as cheap air fares and the low exchange rate for the dollar, stocking up on designer goods in the Big Apple is a lot less expensive than buying the same items in London.<br /><br /><strong>TOP FIVE NEW YORK SHOPPING EXPERIENCES</strong><br /><br /><strong>Macy’s – 151 West 34th Street (www.macys.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx53o4Afgdp936v6vimxzMNkvAA6D_i-Bhia5sAbz7K8hdwJ-Y156tIsENUxYWkINAWrUTT6d8rTAuiOfsim8UTyJfmLLFG3_531OdAIXXcpYyqOi64IIuNVT0HqYXUDrmEsxsOq6bPFf/s1600-h/macys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKx53o4Afgdp936v6vimxzMNkvAA6D_i-Bhia5sAbz7K8hdwJ-Y156tIsENUxYWkINAWrUTT6d8rTAuiOfsim8UTyJfmLLFG3_531OdAIXXcpYyqOi64IIuNVT0HqYXUDrmEsxsOq6bPFf/s320/macys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225595005728187410" /></a><br />The largest department store in the world sells everything from high quality jewellery to discounted designer goods. The shop features seasonal window displays and every Christmas children can meet Santa Claus in a large grotto in-store. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Saks Fifth Avenue – 611 Fifth Avenue (www.saksfifthavenue.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLN6w5HnULpxMDeTwqSJ0Z88BOjwzrnkZTox2T2UT4Dy7Aer5RKLzFMuK-2PqbJGhk9N_zNvRjjFmnCA88cxmHkJe0eJdhRW8ofrhhQzVkpla0iSRfHGi0vekDgo2p1E-mZkNcGmkJOeL/s1600-h/VWP_At_Saks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLN6w5HnULpxMDeTwqSJ0Z88BOjwzrnkZTox2T2UT4Dy7Aer5RKLzFMuK-2PqbJGhk9N_zNvRjjFmnCA88cxmHkJe0eJdhRW8ofrhhQzVkpla0iSRfHGi0vekDgo2p1E-mZkNcGmkJOeL/s320/VWP_At_Saks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225594655161247698" /></a><br />One of the easiest shops in New York to find as the many entrances are all decorated with colourful flags. If you buy too much to carry, the store will deliver your purchases to any hotel in Manhattan free of charge.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Bloomingdale’s – 1000 Third Avenue (www.bloomingdales.com) </strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA_5fbI3WQSmCucwHfU_ovl0js1tF51OhQu0rmt1HJsA1N-A0w8vRvVeoB4FQBaf0rPKE127CCD38reOQiN1x1XmPOQv7p67sq_qeOVwi-47OgWOoSWPHb-NxHbzp86e6XQVZ1SEa2g5R/s1600-h/bloomingdales.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA_5fbI3WQSmCucwHfU_ovl0js1tF51OhQu0rmt1HJsA1N-A0w8vRvVeoB4FQBaf0rPKE127CCD38reOQiN1x1XmPOQv7p67sq_qeOVwi-47OgWOoSWPHb-NxHbzp86e6XQVZ1SEa2g5R/s320/bloomingdales.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225594487435065970" /></a><br />Friends fans will recognise this as the place Rachel worked as a personal shopper early on in her fashion career. With nine floors featuring everything from high couture to classics, Bloomingdale's has it all.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Tiffany & Co. – Fifth Avenue at 57th Street (www.tiffany.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSbdzSg_9snOWsft74IzwGuiNZ6O6d6ESjJxVk7T7mh1b1Ko9dExWodr0N3CXeZCcQo6XBw_Mnvoe84cBE0x9gOQ863hPZBLOfh6Xb32u9SMddOlKbSOa8E6jisiWFEbuq74UMjQMv9jI/s1600-h/tiffany.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSbdzSg_9snOWsft74IzwGuiNZ6O6d6ESjJxVk7T7mh1b1Ko9dExWodr0N3CXeZCcQo6XBw_Mnvoe84cBE0x9gOQ863hPZBLOfh6Xb32u9SMddOlKbSOa8E6jisiWFEbuq74UMjQMv9jI/s320/tiffany.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225594277764630018" /></a><br />Imagine you’re Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s as you waltz through the revolving door and prepare to be dazzled by the sparkling treasures inside. The breathtaking jewellery makes this one of the most popular stores in the world.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Manhattan Mall – Sixth Avenue at 33rd Street (www.manhattanmallny.com)</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPclvK1q24mfbajGshnJIFvFpVbomRpJRD9wUUmi_E2nj8DIw1OzH2duG9sx2DBvYXjijGZGDfFdRRyV0FnKU2IrGLGUNtRwKU2qxICa7I4YZZxmx5rYWsMTKFB4k9WeXlNGCs8QkwYzk/s1600-h/manhattanmall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPclvK1q24mfbajGshnJIFvFpVbomRpJRD9wUUmi_E2nj8DIw1OzH2duG9sx2DBvYXjijGZGDfFdRRyV0FnKU2IrGLGUNtRwKU2qxICa7I4YZZxmx5rYWsMTKFB4k9WeXlNGCs8QkwYzk/s320/manhattanmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225594024427008530" /></a><br />Situated right in the centre of New York City, the mall is one of the cheapest places to shop in Manhattan. There are a number of designer outlets located throughout the complex, providing the chance to pick up many bargains.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZ-bc3Ywp6k4UREXF6gI87tSsuuvehEC9nnIdA6f7z0OZ_V-rNqact53DepLb_YDFEbSiXHj0jFXFCAgGlYiRpl19BVfzX91hDPtn18v_jX7jgHm34X7PLx4EgINhau9WimyKJhyUZ_6/s1600-h/IheartNY.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvZ-bc3Ywp6k4UREXF6gI87tSsuuvehEC9nnIdA6f7z0OZ_V-rNqact53DepLb_YDFEbSiXHj0jFXFCAgGlYiRpl19BVfzX91hDPtn18v_jX7jgHm34X7PLx4EgINhau9WimyKJhyUZ_6/s320/IheartNY.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225593801941631842" /></a><br />So get booking your flight now!Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795382046467316220.post-46207891707179824912008-08-10T17:15:00.000+01:002008-11-03T14:36:57.902+00:00Memphis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXWfE3Bw5_D-S61NVd2H6DW3LT9jup58wh6f8qs6EBaFHG-0PmUcEZ1vQo1Ev7cG_bNJ3JCfDGVjdfAbyzPcXxYm6Q49-LacEwZuuM1qWSnL7KELNk-7yd6y2g7zBYPLhYrWVG2u9295O/s1600-h/0001MemphisSign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmXWfE3Bw5_D-S61NVd2H6DW3LT9jup58wh6f8qs6EBaFHG-0PmUcEZ1vQo1Ev7cG_bNJ3JCfDGVjdfAbyzPcXxYm6Q49-LacEwZuuM1qWSnL7KELNk-7yd6y2g7zBYPLhYrWVG2u9295O/s320/0001MemphisSign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225502176733959362" /></a><br />Known as the <span style="font-style:italic;">Home of the Blues, birthplace of Rock n Roll</span>, Memphis certainly lives up to its reputation. Other cities show off their skylines; this one shows off its sounds.<br /><br />As an avid Elvis fan, it has always been a dream of mine to visit the King's home, the one and only Graceland. This was the main (okay, I admit, the only) reason I decided to go to Memphis, but once I was there I fell in love with the whole city. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomWZASr7cV9C1PSZINYqWQ_oL1oq3BZNasYcaM69SX8nidF21MWVCfkDBz2tC49C4f_EdqkOv_2a6IAqV5uANzcNO9QduMftwPuMXFgi8BCfjvuNZ4uWk4rRbNL842oPZhteXFe8FMu7N/s1600-h/graceland_front_31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomWZASr7cV9C1PSZINYqWQ_oL1oq3BZNasYcaM69SX8nidF21MWVCfkDBz2tC49C4f_EdqkOv_2a6IAqV5uANzcNO9QduMftwPuMXFgi8BCfjvuNZ4uWk4rRbNL842oPZhteXFe8FMu7N/s320/graceland_front_31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225502497850382466" /></a><br />Visiting Graceland is an experience unlike any other (<em>surreal</em>, I remember calling it) and thousands of people make the pilgrimage there every year. If you've ever, even for a second, entertained the idea of visiting - do it. Feel the magic of Elvis for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed. <br /><br />I paid for the Elvis Entourage VIP Tour so as well as all-day entry to the second most famous house in America (beaten by the White House), I was able to enjoy the benefit of jumping the queues and an enhanced tour including the grounds, Elvis’s two aeroplanes – Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II – and three museums: Elvis After Dark, Sincerely Elvis and Elvis’s Automobile Museum, home to 33 vehicles owned by the King including his pink Cadillac and the red MG from the 1961 film Blue Hawaii.<br /><br />As well as all that, I was given a ‘backstage pass’ to wear so I could be identified as a VIP and to take home at the end of the day as a keepsake.<br /><br />Shopping at Graceland is extremely easy due to the large volume of Elvis-themed stores. Good Rockin’ Tonight, Elvis Threads and Gallery Elvis are a few of the best but with such a wide variety of merchandise to choose from you may end up needing to buy an extra suitcase to carry it all home!<br /><br />After Graceland, the next place on my checklist was - naturally - Sam Phillips' Sun Studio at 706 Union Avenue. It’s a small, plain building and would be largely unnoticeable if it wasn’t for the bright orange and yellow ‘SUN’ sign on the outside wall. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdA7PsxXqTvz_YmKBc8ZOXf2en-I_j_yq601caZ5_0R7I5XJlI2C1UXP74jjS1ASdL65cYxkqqkNK5lj0NiAqk3KtVjgqKmmc_eu0M4q8MYnKVfT5RLaqSn1QnKQeeaEes1Na4QCOa2A0/s1600-h/Sun_Studio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdA7PsxXqTvz_YmKBc8ZOXf2en-I_j_yq601caZ5_0R7I5XJlI2C1UXP74jjS1ASdL65cYxkqqkNK5lj0NiAqk3KtVjgqKmmc_eu0M4q8MYnKVfT5RLaqSn1QnKQeeaEes1Na4QCOa2A0/s320/Sun_Studio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225503134186118530" /></a><br />They say "The tour gives you goosebumps"; now I don't know who ‘they’ are but, well, they’re definitely not wrong! Standing on the very spot where Elvis recorded his earliest songs (an X is marked on the floor), listening to outtakes of recordings from the likes of The Million Dollar Quartet - Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash together - and seeing priceless memorabilia from the fifties is, quite frankly, breathtaking and not an experience you'll forget in a hurry.<br /><br />You are allowed to touch the exact microphone that Elvis used – it’s still in the studio and the guide recommends having your photo taken with it, an opportunity most people don’t miss (except me, who had used up two whole rolls of film at Graceland and had no more left).<br /><br />After the tour, I took advantage of the free shuttle service which runs every day from Graceland (and the Heartbreak Hotel, which is right next door) to Sun Studio and on to Downtown Memphis, the latter being where I ended my ‘Elvis journey’ at the world famous Beale Street. The street boasts three blocks of more than 30 nightclubs, bars, restaurants, shops and museums, including the Memphis Rock n Soul Museum (situated by the Fed-Ex Forum, which was hosting a WWE wrestling championship while I was there). The Rock n Soul Museum provides a two-hour tour back in time to the birth of Rock n Roll and Soul music, and entry cost me just nine dollars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg346i2LLA2WOfFhToonmE6uchToSbSa4VXGLhHDDkMv77gmG5ax3lbCXs8d0Ei5_S_awcEVnultD0nF5rZSrBvU_Faetp-nGPEw9PHYzm1zsAAD7qncMGry0OFi3WeHrW_Jq1VikOAd6ZZ/s1600-h/hardrock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg346i2LLA2WOfFhToonmE6uchToSbSa4VXGLhHDDkMv77gmG5ax3lbCXs8d0Ei5_S_awcEVnultD0nF5rZSrBvU_Faetp-nGPEw9PHYzm1zsAAD7qncMGry0OFi3WeHrW_Jq1VikOAd6ZZ/s320/hardrock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225503730551544002" /></a><br />Another fantastic method of transport (and a great tourist attraction) I noticed while in Memphis was a thing called ‘Ride the Ducks’. You get picked up Downtown by a vehicle which looks like a perfectly normal sightseeing tour, but which then drives to the banks of the Mississippi and plunges in, where it turns into a boat and takes you on a 70-minute cruise down the river! An entertaining captain narrates the interesting and fun adventure.<br /><br />All you shopaholics, be sure to go to Peabody Place Entertainment & Retail Center – the most famous shopping centre in Memphis, which features a wide variety of department stores, gift shops, restaurants and a 22-screen cinema. <br /><br />For those with children, exciting attractions include Memphis Zoo (kids will love the zoo tram and the farm train just as much as they’ll love the animals), Mud Island River Park, Laser Quest and The Children's Museum of Memphis, where children get to learn through experience.<br /><br />So, whether or not you’re a Rock n Roll fan, you are certain to find something to keep you entertained in Memphis, Tennessee.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Diary Dates</span><br />Unsurprisingly, most events in Memphis feature a music or Elvis theme, and whichever time of year you go, there should be something happening. Here are some of the most popular annual events:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Elvis Birthday Week</span>, held each January to celebrate the King’s birthday on the 8th.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Memphis International Film Festival</span>, held in March and April.<span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Memphis May Festival</span>, a famous music festival held throughout the month of May. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Arts in the Park Festival</span>, featuring fine arts and performing arts displays, every June.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Choctaw Heritage Festival</span>, with traditional Native American music and crafts, held each August. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Christmas at Graceland</span> - Elvis's mansion is spectacularly decorated and lit up every December.Laila Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14447862361159699962noreply@blogger.com0