Off to Europe

Walking Holidays in Germany

Ben S. — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:55:06 +0000

One of the many hiking trails in the Karwendel mountains in Bavaria, Germany. Photo: © manfredxy

Today we will take a look at a holiday destination for those who love to explore the countryside and discover the hidden pearls of its geography. The country in question is Germany, a great destination for nature lovers who get excited at the thought of strapping on their boots for some adventurous hiking.

Although this aspect might often be under-publicised, Germany is filled with romantic forests, colourful hills, steep mountains as well as hidden shores leading to tranquil embedded seas. Those who dare to hike its trails will find a destination filled with options: from early hikes along tidal shores and visits to traditional villages to trips through the low mountain regions and journeys to the mountain-tops.

We’ve found the country to be prepared for demanding hikers as there are numerous trails and routes that are well maintained and lead you through some of the most beautiful locations. These trails are all signalled and offer information regarding the difficulty and length of the hike which makes planning your trip that much easier. If you don’t want to explore by yourself you can hire the help of a professional guide and there are even trip-organisers who offer “hiking without luggage” packages that make your life easier and free your hands (and backs!) to enjoy the sights at your leisure.

Journey to the Bavarian Forest

The Bavarian Forest is one of the most popular German destinations for hikers. The region is located in the area between the Danube river, the Bohemian Forest and the Austrian border and is the largest closed woodland area in all Central Europe. As is customary throughout Germany, there are well signposted hiking trails that can lead you through mysterious woodlands and across both natural and cultivated landscapes. Most of these trails will also allow you to visit villages both large and small and even reach the mountain peaks of the Bavarian Forest, such as the 1,456 metres tall Arber Mountain.

Those who would like to take a look at Bavaria’s past can follow the historic trade routes located between the Danube river and the Bohemian region. These routes were used by salt and glass traders to transport their merchandises from the many glass workers that had originally settled in the mountainous Bavarian-Bohemian border area. Of those settlements, there are about a dozen that still exist. One of the most popular hiking trails, the “Route vom Lamer Winkel”, presents a six day stretch over 99km that will take you through the countryside and showcase a variety of traditional glass manufacturing villages such as Zwiesel, Spiegelau or Riedelhütte before ending in Grafenau.

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Regional Guide to the Food of Tenerife

Ben S. — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:40:17 +0000

Tapas is the perfect way to sample different flavours. Photo: © Toniflap

Spend your time in Tenerife trying some of the most delicious dishes and sensational Canarian cuisine by checking out the most highly recommended regional variations. There are a wide range of different tastes and styles to be found on the Canary islands, but it’s on Tenerife, the most cosmopolitan of the seven, that you’re most likely to be able to find a rich variation of traditional dishes.

Why Tenerife?
In Tenerife, you’ll find savvy restauranteurs who’ve realised that many tourists no longer want food too familiar to the kind they would find at home, instead they are hoping to have their taste buds and their expectations challenged with local cuisine.

If you book flights to Tenerife, you can expect to find traditional Canarian dishes as well as plenty of Spanish dishes with influences from Africa and Latin America. Of course, you still need to pick your restaurants and dishes wisely to be able to sample the most interesting dishes.

Where to go?
The southern region of Tenerife is warmer and brighter, and therefore is where you’ll find the largest concentration of resorts and tourist-friendly restaurants. While this is ideal if you’re gasping for a cup of tea, it is harder for you to find a wide variety of authentic restaurants.

When you move out of the resort zones, you’re more likely to find the kind of small restaurants typifying the Canarian approach to food – that the customer should be able to eat whatever they want to, whether that’s a sandwich at dinner time or a selection of starters for your main course.

What to eat?
Be sure to try the many different variations on a classic stew you’ll find in Tenerife, the meat is generally succulent and the vegetables locally sourced and flavoursome, including garbanzo compuesto, a gorgeous chickpea and meat combination.

You’ll also want to experiment with fish dishes, as the lobsters, crab, dorada (a type of sea bream), mussels, oysters are all easily available and of a high quality, while the salted and spiced fish of ancocho canario is an excellent taste of Tenerife. Complement these with sides such as papas arrugadas (wrinkled potatoes) and ensaladilla, which is actually a Russian salad but which can be found all over the Canaries.

How to eat?
Tapas is the perfect way to sample a huge selection of different flavours and the small portion sizes perfectly suit the climate. There are few better ways to make the most of cheap flights to Spain than by indulging in as many experiences as you can while you’re there.

Bienmesabe, a very sugary dessert made from a blend of honey, almond cream, eggs and rum will end your meal on a high note but if that’s too rich for you, you should definitely try ron miel, a sweet honeyed rum.

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Beneath the Golden Domes: A Trip to the Grand Bazaar

Ben S. — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:54:56 +0000

A shop selling handmade plates in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. Photo: © Vitaly Titov

The popularity of Turkey as a holiday destination for Europeans has sky-rocketed in the past decade. Istanbul, millenarian city and capital of three successive empires is the perfect destination for those who wish to experience the mysterious world that sits on the crossroads of Europe and Asia. In this article we’ll talk about the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth of shops at the heart of Istanbul that attracts huge crowds every day.

The Grand Bazaar is a massive complex, truly one of the largest covered markets in the whole world. The 5,000 shops of the Bazaar receive between 250,000 to 400,000 visitors daily. While this little fact should give you a clear picture of its scope and popularity, the most important thing to realise is that a visit to the Grand Bazaar is as much about the people as it is about shopping. The experience of delving into a small city of pedlars, hagglers and throngs of customers has few equivalents around the world.

Entering through the Nuruosmaniye Gate visitors arrive to the Jewellery street, a wide pedestrian avenue that goes completely across the bazaar. As its name implies, this street is filled with jewellery stores that deal in gold, precious and semi-precious stones (such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds.) The bazaar is actually one of the most important gold markets in the world. The prices of the materials are not particularly low but lower workmanship costs means that mindful buyers can get these hot commodities at a reasonable price.

Gold and precious stones are just the tip of the iceberg. The Grand Bazaar has incredible variety for those who wish to alleviate the weight of their pockets. Most shoppers visit the bazaar because of its jewellery, hand-crafted ceramics, regional carpets, spices and antiquities. The good news is that most of the stalls are grouped in sections by type of goods, which means that (except for a particularly elusive item) you won’t have many problems finding what you want. Still, many first-timers who choose to wander might feel lost walking around in side-streets that seem to be part of an insidious labyrinth. Getting your bearings is not that hard as long as you make sure you remember your way back to the main street or the tourist information points.

After your stroll (or shop) you can sit down at one of the many cafes or treat yourself at one of the dozen restaurants sprinkled over the premises. Even those who choose to pass on the shopping can spend an afternoon exploring the two bedenstens (domed buildings) of the bazaar and watching the crowds. The Grand Bazaar is open from 09:00 to 19:00 (Monday to Saturday only) and can be reached by taking the Zeytinburnu tram or by a 15 minute walk from the Aya Sofya/Blue Mosque area.

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Five Reasons to Visit Spain this Year

Ben S. — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:38:22 +0000

San Sebastian's La Concha Beach - Photo: © Ben Savill

From more convenient travel options to a host of cultural events, there are manifold reasons to visit Spain this year. When planning a trip, it’s helpful to take a look at upcoming local festivals, attractions, and transportation options to maximize your Spanish holiday.

Semana Grande in Bilbao

One of the best ways to experience Spain is to take part in its highly varied cultural festivals, celebrating the history and tradition of each region. One of the best is the Big Week, or Semana Grande, in Bilbao, which draws 100,000 visitors each year. Taking place in the third week of August, it features the best of Basque culture, with everything from a strong-man competition to giant puppets parading through the streets.

Attractions of the Costa Blanca

A highlight of Spain for many visitors is the Costa Blanca, the long stretch of golden sandy beaches in the Alicante province. Flights to Alicante drop you off in the center of the Costa Blanca’s scenic capital city, from which you can explore all of the surrounding historically rich towns and tranquil beaches. For an alternative view of this region, you can visit some of the lesser-known areas such as the ruggedly beautiful Calblanque nature reserve and the quaint hilltop village of Guadalest to get away from it all.

An increase in flight options

There are now numerous budget airlines offering cheap flights to Spain, and the number of destinations is set to increase this year. For example, the Spanish low cost airline Vueling is adding new routes from Cardiff to Spain beginning in 2012, and Ryanair is rolling out a flurry of new flight options to destinations including Barcelona, Ibiza, and Madrid beginning in March. Jet2 is also adding budget-friendly flights to their roster this year, including a route from East Midlands to Malaga.

Music festivals in Barcelona

The Primavera Sound Festival takes place from May 30th to June 3rd in Barcelona’s spacious Parc del Forum. With the sea as your backdrop, you can shake it to numerous international rock and pop acts. Past performers include The White Stripes, Pixies, and Lou Reed. Only two weeks later, there is Sonar Festival, on 14-16 June. This festival is mainly dedicated to multimedia art and electronic music. It also draws in big names such as Orbital, The Chemical Brothers and Beastie Boys.

High speed AVE trains

Spain’s new high speed AVE trains can barrel through the countryside at a speed of up to 193mph, allowing you to see more of the country in less time. For example, it now only takes 2.5 hours to get from Barcelona to Madrid. New routes in 2012 will include a line from Seville to Cadiz and extended service throughout the Northern corridor in Basque country.

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10 Free Things to Do in Rome

Ben S. — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:56:30 +0000

When in Rome there are hundreds of things to do and places to see – but do all of them mean spending a small fortune? Think again. There are loads of awesome sightseeing activities that you can do and they are all virtually free. Here are some suggestions for a thrifty but still fun way to enjoy Rome.

Go to church – at the St. Peter’s Basilica, you can walk around the cavernous halls when there is no Mass, explore the grounds or visit the Vatican Museum, which offers free admission every last Sunday of the month. Rome has hundreds of churches with impressive architecture to boot so get out your map and start walking.

Take a fitness test – walk up the 138-steps of Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti (the Spanish Steps), the longest and widest staircase in Europe. Once you get to the top, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole city.

See Egypt in Rome – or one of Egypt’s iconic figures, the Pyramid of Cestius. The 87-foot tall structure is one of the best-preserved monuments in Rome and is a popular tourist attraction.

Enjoy nature – on a sunny day there is nothing better to do than to be in a lovely park such as the Villa Borghese. Take a stroll in the heart-shaped park, read a book or take a nap under one of the trees.

Take an ancient polygraph test – the Bocca della Verita is an ancient sewer grate with a rather dreadful legendary power. According to old tales, if you place your hand inside its mouth and tell a lie, your hand gets bitten off.

Be in the center of everything – in Rome, the Piazze are where most people converge and chances are there will be free events happening. Walk around the Piazza Navona and enjoy watching the fountains or the Piazza Campo dei Fiori where there is always a local market.

Soak up on Roman history – visit the Pantheon, an ancient pagan temple turned into a burial ground. Built in 27 BC, it is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments. Or stroll through the ruins of Foro Romano – the center of government, religion and commerce in ancient Rome. Another leisurely walk to enjoy would be down the old road out of Rome, along the Appia Antica.

Get a free pass to the museums and galleries – check out calendars or websites and find out when they are open free to the public. The Musei Capitolini, for instance, offers free admission on the last Sunday of the month.

Explore the eerie and unusual side of Rome – visit the Capuchin Crypt in the Santa Maria della Concezione with its collection of the bodies of 4,000 Capuchin friars.

Enjoy open-air music and shows – mark your calendar for special festivals and holidays where there will be parades and performances throughout the city. During summer, there is the Estate Romana where Rome is transformed into an outdoor event spectacle – concerts, film showings, dances and art on display are often offered free to the public.

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