Tuesday, 3 July 2012

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

With the Wimbledon tennis tournament in full swing and the Tour de France underway, it seems like a good time to take a look at some of the premier sporting events that it is possible for one to take in whilst visiting Europe.  So, upcoming, is the TOP 10 SPORTING EVENTS IN EUROPE.

In other news, I will be travelling to The Netherlands next week.  It will be my second visit there and whilst I will, again, base myself in Amsterdam, I hope to see some other parts of the country and dig a little further beneath the surface of the capital than the average visitor.

Prior to my departure, I will be adding a quick reference guide to The Netherlands.  My revision of information about the country should prove as useful to me as anyone!

Look for Eurotrivia to return soon also!



Yours in fun and adventure,

Anthony R.

Monday, 25 June 2012

TOP 10 THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN LONDON






EUROPE

PIC: London is so close to Europe you can reach out and touch it!


It may appear a weird thing to say about a city you love, but one of London's best assets is the ability to get away!

Easy and affordable access to the rest of Europe (as well as the likes of Africa and the Middle East) is a major part of London's appeal.




ICONIC SIGHTS

PIC: 'Big Ben' and the Houses of Parliament.  Many
people think 'Big Ben' is the clock, but it is actually
the bell in the tower.  The tower itself is to be renamed
"Elizabeth Tower" in honour of her majesty Queen Elizabeth.


London is full of iconic sights.  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus, just to name a few!

When you live in London, all those sights that you grew up seeing on television or on postcards, are all in your backyard!





PUB CULTURE

PIC: the bar of a typical London pub!


Pubs are not just a part of life in London, life revolves around them!

In the cold of winter, there's nothing better than popping into a cosy pub with a crackling fire to have an ale, a pub meal and, perhaps, watch a game of football.

When the sun is shining, settling into one of the city's many beer gardens to enjoy a refreshing cider or jug of Pimms is a unique pleasure!






GALLERIES & MUSEUMS


PIC: Ancient Egyptian artefacts are just
some of the many items you can see for
free at the British Museum.


London is home to many museums and galleries that house some of the most amazing artworks and artefacts in the world.  

The best part is that a lot of them are "free".  

The National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and others allow visitors access for no cost, though a small donation is requested to go towards the upkeep of these facilities.




LIVE MUSIC


PIC: Florence Welch of "Florence and the Machine"
entertains the crowd at Radio 1's "Hackney Weekend",
a free festival held in London last weekend.


London is constantly inundated with big music acts.  There is never a shortage of the world's best artists in town, playing venues like the O2 Arena, the Hammersmith Apollo or one of the summer festivals the city hosts.

There are also thriving local music scenes in a variety of different neighbourhoods across the city.





THE TUBE

PIC: The Underground is an iconic part of London life.


Okay, sometimes it can be frustrating, squishy, delayed and poorly ventilated, but most of the time "the tube" is an extremely efficient and easily-navigated method of getting from A to B.  

Londoner's may grumble about it from time to time, but it really is one of the best public transport systems in the world.






SUNNY LONDON

PIC: With the sun out, local residents gather in parks like
Clapham Common (above) to soak it up.


The British capital is not renowned for its sunny weather, but, when the sun does come out, the city really comes alive.  

Londoners love to make the most of their time in the sun, so when it shines, the city's parks and other outdoor areas play host to impromptu outdoor parties!






THE CLUB SCENE

PIC: Clubbers and DJs engage at 'Ministry of Sound'


The British capital is one of the world's premier clubbing destinations.  

The world's best DJs are regular visitors to, if not residents of, London, playing regularly at clubs such as 'Ministry of Sound', 'Fabric' and 'XOYO'.  

A definite plus is that the big clubs are inclusive rather than exclusive.  Its not only about the big clubs, however, as there are many mid-size and smaller clubs that offer a great night's clubbing as well.





MULTI-CULTURALISM


PIC: 'Notting Hill Carnival' is an example of how multi-
culturalism has added to the London experience.


As part of the Euro-zone, London has, naturally, become home to many people from all over the continent.

Immigration has also brought in many people from elsewhere on the globe, particularly the subcontinent, Africa and the Caribbean.

There are, of course, also, many people, like myself, from the Antipodes.

Whilst never losing its quintessential English-ness, the melting pot it has become gives London a real cosmopolitan, multicultural vibe.

London is the world's city and this is reflected in the cultural experiences, cuisine and the people you have a chance to meet here.





THE THAMES

PIC: Boats follow the Queen's flotilla down the Thames
as part of Elizabeth II's recent Jubilee celebrations.


So, it may not be the prettiest body of water in the world.  It's not Lake Geneva.  And its certainly no Tahitian beach.  Its probably not even as nice as its Parisian counterpart, the Seine.  But Londoner's love it!

The city's life-source is always a hive of activity, as it was when people gathered by it recently when the Queen's flotilla passed by as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.




***


Feedback is appreciated - and don't forget you can follow this blog on Twitter: @EuroTravelBlog

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Euro Travel Blog is back!

After taking some time off around the the Queen's Jubilee weekend, Euro Travel Blog is back with a new feature tomorrow.

I didn't head to any new locations during my break, rather I just took the opportunity to enjoy living in London and all that it has to offer, so that will be the theme of tomorrow's feature: THE TOP 10 THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN LONDON.

In keeping with the theme of the moment, coming soon will be a special 'Eurotrivia' quiz all about the United Kingdom, whilst our next 'Quick Reference Country Profile' will be on mother England!


Safe travels,

Anthony R.




******************************

Feedback is appreciated - and don't forget you can follow this blog on Twitter: @EuroTravelBlog

Saturday, 2 June 2012

TOP 10 EUROPEAN MUSIC FESTIVALS


With the summer music festival season about to kick off, its time to look at the best of the big music events that Europe has to offer.  Some are infamous, some not so famous, but all promise great music, unique locations and a top day out!

(In date order from now:)










SOUTHSIDE FESTIVAL




WHERE?:
Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany


WHEN?:
June 22nd to 24th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Justice ; Florence & The Machine; The Cure ; Blink 182 ; The Kooks ; New Order ; Rise Against ; Die Artze ; Mumford & Sons ; The Stone Roses ; The xx ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; Garbage ; M83 + many more.

ABOUT:
Of the many music events that Germany hosts throughout the year (including Rock am Ring/Rock im Park and Melt), 'Southside Festival' presents the best, and most varied, collection of artists on the German calendar.

With everything from the acoustic-folk of Mumford & Sons to the electronic crunch of French dance-rockers Justice - and healthy nods to the past  - this festival, taking place just north of Lake Constance, has something to suit all musical tastes.







ROSKILDE FESTIVAL

WHERE?:
Roskilde, Denmark

WHEN?:
July 5th to 8th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Björk ; Bon Iver ; The Cure, Mew ; The Roots ; Bruce Springsteen & the E-Street Band ; Jack White + many more.

ABOUT:
Whilst there are many new players on the European circuit, Denmark's time-honoured Roskilde festival remains a highlight.

Set in an ancient Viking city, this festival was started in 1971 by two high school students and, over the years, has played hosts to such legendary acts as The Kinks, Bob Marley, Lou Reed, Eric Clapton, Nirvana and, on numerous occasions, Bob Dylan.

Fast-forward to 2012 and Roskilde can still be relied upon to produce a line-up that meshes established musical royalty with the freshest of up-and-comers.







EXIT FESTIVAL


WHERE?:
Novi Sad, Serbia


WHEN?:
July 12th to 15th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Guns N Roses ; Duran Duran ; New Order ; Erykah Badu ; Plan B ; AVICII ; Richie Hawtin ; The Gossip ; Laurent Garnier ; Knife Party ; Claude Von Stroke + many more.

ABOUT:
The small, student city of Novi Sad lies approximately an hour and a half north of the Serbian capital Belgrade.

On the banks of the mighty Danube, this city is home to a magnificent, 18th century fortification called the 'Petrovaradin Fortress'.  This fortress plays host to 'Exit Festival', one of the world's most spectacularly located music extravaganzas.

The line-up now includes acts from all genres, but also stays true to its roots by retaining a strong electronic presence.







FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE BENICASSIM



WHERE?:
Benicassim, Spain


WHEN?:
July 12th to 15th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Bob Dylan ; Florence & the Machine ; David Guetta ; At The Drive In ; Chase & Status ; The Stone Roses ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; New Order + many more.

ABOUT:
The seaside resort of Benicassim hosts the Iberian peninsula's premier music festival.  The chance to take a dip in the Mediterranean, before and after festivities, competes with acts like Bob Dylan, Florence & the Machine and David Guetta as the main attraction.

This festival is also handily timed and located in relation to Pamplona's infamous San Fermin festival (running of the bulls), which make it an easy add-on for many young travellers.







GLOBAL GATHERING



WHERE?:
Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom


WHEN?:
July 27th & 28th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Chase & Status ; Friendly Fires ; Armin Van Buuren ; Markus Schulz ; Tinie Tempah ; Afrojack ; Nero ; Skrillex ; Knife Party ; Above & Beyond ; Ferry Corsten ; Magnetic Man ; Annie Mac ; W&W + many more.

ABOUT:
Whilst festivals like 'Creamfields' remain extremely worthy contenders, 'Global Gathering' is the United Kingdom's premier dance music festival.  As its moniker suggests, it is a veritable who's who of the international dance music scene.

Whilst the genteel setting of Stratford-upon-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare) might invoke more images of sonnets than dirty beats, the Bard's hometown makes a terrific setting for dance music royalty and their loyal subjects.







TOMORROWLAND

WHERE?:
Boom, Belgium


WHEN?:
July 27th to 29th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
AVICII ; Fatboy Slim ; David Guetta ; Bloody Beetroots (dj set) ; Calvin Harris ; Carl Cox ; Steve Aoki ; Swedish House Mafia ; Skrillex ; Ferry Corsten ; Sven Vath ; Laidback Luke ; Cassius ; Fake Blood + many more.

ABOUT:
Already sold out for 2012 - it sold out in half an hour, leaving many disappointed - Tomorrowland is perpetually rated amongst the top dance music festivals in the world.

Set in the appropriately named Boom, this festival hosts artists and DJs from a variety of different dance music genres.  Whether you're taste is underground tech or more radio-friendly grooves, there is something here to keep everyone happy.

Its not just about the music, however, with the luxuriously named camping site of 'Dreamville' believed to come with its own attractions.







MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL


WHERE?:
Montreux, Switzerland

WHEN?:
June 29th to July 14th, 2012

HEADLINERS:
Ed Sheeran ; Chris Cornell ; Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson ; Alanis Morissette ; Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds ; Lana Del Rey ; Rufus Wainwright ; Erykah Badu ; D'Angelo ; Van Morrison ; Pitbull ; Tony Bennett ; Jessie J ; Kimbra ; Bobby Womack + many more.

ABOUT:
Far from being just a jazz festival, as the name may suggest, for two weeks in late June/early July, the Swiss town of Montreux embraces all kinds of popular, non-classical music.

The shores of Lake Geneva play host to an incredible variety of the biggest names in music - from upstarts like Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Kimbra through to pioneers such as Van Morrison, Tony Bennett and Bobby Womack.

'Montreux' operates differently from the other festivals in this list in that each artist/show is individually ticketed, rather than the 'all you can eat' approach of the others.

In addition to many paid events (the bulk of your 'name' artists), there are also many free events to take in.

Montreaux is a real celebration of modern popular music and its roots.







BESTIVAL



WHERE?:
Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

WHEN?:
September 6th to 9th, 2012


HEADLINERS:
Stevie Wonder ; Justice ; Florence & the Machine ; New Order ; The xx ; Sigur Ros ; Friendly Fires ; Nero ; 2 Many DJs/Soulwax ; Two Door Cinema Club ; Hot Chip ; Bat For Lashes ; Orbital ; SBTRKT + many more.

ABOUT:
Already unique enough due to its setting on the spectacular Isle of Wight, September's Bestival gives us another taste of something different with its fancy dress theme.

Each year, thousands of festival-goers descend on the British island, clad in all manner of costumes, for a weekend of hedonism and to see a fantastic array of the hottest bands and artists.

This year's line-up is second to none.







SNOWBOMBING 










WHERE?:
Mayrhofen, Austria

WHEN?:
April 1st to 6th, 2013


HEADLINERS (2012):
Dizzee Rascal ; Example ; DJ Shadow ; Groove Armada Present Redlight ; The Vaccines ; Booka Shade (live) ; Fatboy Slim's Street Party + many more.

ABOUT:
Already past for 2012, you will have to wait until autumn 2013 for this one, but it's well worth it!  "Everything is better in the snow" might not be the official slogan for Austria's 'Snowbombing' festival, but it definitely could be.

Take some of the hottest acts of the modern era and transplant them into a winter wonderland, and you have one of the most unique and exciting music festivals anywhere in the world today.

And you get to flex your winter sports muscles as well!







GLASTONBURY
FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY PERFORMING ARTS


WHERE?:
Glastonbury, United Kingdom

WHEN?:
from June 26th, 2013


HEADLINERS (2011 - event not scheduled for 2012 due to London Olympics):
U2 ; Coldplay ; Beyonce ; Primal Scream ; The Chemical Brothers ; Queens of the Stone Age ; Cee Le Green ; Big Boi ; Kool & The Gang ; DJ Shadow ; The Streets ; Crystal Castles ; Mumford & Sons + many more.

ABOUT:
When it comes to music festivals, this is the grand-daddy of them all!

The legendary 'Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts' - more commonly known simply as 'Glastonbury' - is perhaps only rivalled for scale by California's Coachella festival.  What Glastonbury has that Coachella lacks, however, is 40 plus years of unparalleled history.

In late June, it's time to pack your "wellies", prepare to get muddy and have the time of your life watching a collection of the biggest names in music from today, yesterday and tomorrow!




***
Feedback is appreciated and don't forget you can follow this blog on Twitter: @EuroTravelBlog

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

TUESDAY EUROTRIVIA #2


It's Tuesday again, so here's some more Eurotrivia!!

Once again, see how much you know ... or what you can learn!!  The answers to some questions may have been revealed in previous content!  


(Answers are at the bottom of the page).






Q1: Lake Geneva has shores in which two European countries?


PIC: Lake Geneva














Q2: In which country would you find this landmark?


PIC: Which country owns this natural sight?








Q3: Which five countries may be considered to make up Scandinavia?


PIC: Scandinavia


















Q4: Which European country uses the forint as its currency?


PIC: Forints and associated currency





Q5: What is the capital of Montenegro?


PIC: Montenegro, marked on a map of Europe


















Q6: Which country's flag is this?


PIC: Who's flag?













Q7 If I visit the cities of WroclawKatowice and Gdansk, which country am I travelling in?


PIC: A beach in Gdansk















Q8: What is the second largest city in Germany?  (Hint: #1 is Berlin)


PIC: Which city is this?





Q9: Which country has islands called Gozo and Comino?


PIC: Malta, marked on a map of Europe

















Q10: What does the Italian phrase: dov'è il bagno? mean when translated into English?


PIC: This phrase could be useful!





















ANSWERS

1. Switzerland & France ; 2. Ireland - they are the 'Cliffs of Moher' ; 3. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden ; 4. Hungary ; 5. Montenegro ; 6. Portugal ; 7. Poland ; 8. Hamburg ; 9. Malta - the third, and largest, island is called 'Malta' ; 10. 'Where is the bathroom?'

Monday, 28 May 2012

A WEEKEND IN BATH



BATH, located approximately 120 miles west of London, is an ancient spa city founded by the Romans, but whose warm, natural springs have remained popular ever since.  To this day, they continue to be the lifeblood on which the city thrives.

World Heritage-listed, Bath is a student city and, as such, is well-served in terms of culture and nightlife.  There are many museums, theatres and galleries, as well as bars, pubs and clubs.



PIC: Bath as seen from the River Avon




GETTING THERE:


The bus leaves from Victoria Coach Station and takes roughly three hours, due to traffic getting out of London and also because of stops at Heathrow and Swindon.

The train takes roughly half the time, but, when I booked, it would have been double the price.

It is worth checking both options.





THE SIGHTS:







PIC: The Great Bath




As the foundation on which the town was built, many consider this to be Bath's premier attraction.  Time-damage aside, visitors are able to see the baths as the Romans saw them.  

There are presentations on how the baths were built, life around the baths and the spiritual relationship the people had with the springs.  There is also an opportunity to see some of the artefacts found in the excavation of the site.

Entry is £12 and includes a free, very informative and easy-to-use audio-guide.  The operators recommend spending an hour and half at the baths.








PIC: Bath Abbey



Bath Abbey is a quite impressive Gothic church whose tower (£5 entry) offers the best view over the city.

Australian visitors, in particular, might be interested to know that Bath Abbey is where Arthur Phillip, a very important figure in Australia's history, is buried.  There is a memorial to that effect inside the abbey.









This crescent-shaped block of houses is widely considered one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture.

Whilst the houses were once the homes of notable people, they now include offices and a hotel amongst their tenants.

The Crescent looks out onto the very large, and very green, Royal Victoria Park, which is worth a look in its own right.




OTHER SIGHTS:


Pulteney Bridge provides a great view of the River Avon, Pulteney Weir and the Parade Gardens.  

A walk in the Parade Gardens, by the river, will cost the visitor a small fee.





THE ACTIVITIES:






PIC: Thermae Bath Spa



The old saying begins: "When in Rome ...", and whilst you're not exactly in Rome, the opportunity is still there to do as the Romans did!

You can't enter the water at the ancient baths site, but if you do want to experience the springs for yourself, you can head to the more modern facility at Thermae Bath Spa.  Here, you can really indulge yourself.

Entry to the New Royal Bath costs £25 for 2 hours and includes entry to the steam room and other perks.  Thermae also offers other more luxurious - and pricier - packages.



GET LOST!


One of the best things to do in Bath is just to wander the street and alleys, lose yourself and discover the city for yourself.





EAT/DRINK:



THE BOATER


Situated on Pulteney Bridge, overlooking the river, The Boater offers the best located beer garden in Bath.  On a sunny day, its a pleasure to sit there, sip on a cold pint and let time slide away.  This popular student haunt also offers a nice menu of standard pub food.





Another pub with a neat outdoor area, this one takes a less traditional approach.  Their burgers are well-worth sampling and they have a wide selection of lagers, ales and ciders to choose from.




PARTY:





A fun, if a little generic, and slightly cheesy, nightclub.  It plays mainly mainstream dance music, and drinks can be a touch on the wrong side of expensive, but for a non-big-city club, its an amiable night out.




SIDE-TRIPS:





PIC: Stonehenge


Bath is less than an hour away from prehistoric Stonehenge, one of the most famous sites in the world.  

There are many operators running tours out to the monoliths from Bath.






PIC: A typical village in the Cotswolds



The same operators often offer trips out to the Cotswolds, either as a separate trip or in a tour combined with a visit to Stonehenge.




***
Feedback is appreciated and don't forget you can follow this blog on Twitter: @EuroTravelBlog

QUICK REFERENCE COUNTRY PROFILE:


SPAIN


PIC: Antonio Gaudi's famously unfinished
cathedral 'Sagrada Familia', located in Barcelona.




OFFICIAL NAME:
REINO DE ESPAÑA
(KINGDOM OF SPAIN)




FLAG:

PIC: Officially known as 'Bandera de España', the flag
of Spain is informally knowns as '
la Rojigualda'.




OFFICIAL LANGUAGE(S):
(CASTILLIAN) SPANISH
BASQUE
CATALAN
GALICIAN





CURRENCY:
EURO

PIC: Euro Currency





MAP:

PIC: Map of Spain




BORDERING COUNTRIES:
ANDORRA, FRANCE, MOROCCO, PORTUGAL & THE UNITED KINGDOM
Spain borders the United Kingdom via the British territory of Gibraltar (see map)
and Morocco via its North African territories.




CAPITAL & LARGEST CITY:
MADRID




SECOND LARGEST CITY:
BARCELONA




THIRD LARGEST CITY:
VALENCIA




NATIONAL ANTHEM:
LA MARCHA REAL
(ROYAL MARCH)
It is one of the only national anthems that has no words.







NATIONAL HOLIDAY:
FIESTA NACIONAL DE ESPAÑA
It is held on October 12th and celebrates Christoper
Columbus landing in the "New World".  As such, it is also
observedin other countries, notably as "Columbus Day"
in the USA.





NATIONAL MOTTO:
PLUS ULTRA (Latin)
This is translated to English as "Further Beyond".





HIGHEST POINT:
PICO DE TEIDE

PIC: Pico de Teide




LOWEST POINT:
ATLANTIC OCEAN




LONGEST RIVER:
TAGUS RIVER

PIC: The Tagus




LARGEST LAKE:
SANABRIA LAKE

PIC: Sanabria Lake





BORDERING OCEAN:
ATLANTIC OCEAN





BORDERING SEA(S):
MEDITERRANEAN SEA, BALEARIC SEA, ALBORAN SEA
& CANTABRIAN SEA (BAY OF BISCAY)





LARGEST ISLAND:
MALLORCA (MAJORCA)





PARTY ISLAND:
IBIZA

PIC: a foam party on Ibiza




LARGEST RELIGION:
ROMAN CATHOLIC





MOST POPULAR SPORT:
FOOTBALL (SOCCER)

PIC: Spain's footballers celebrate winning
the 2010 FIFA World Cup





PRIME MINISTER:
MARIANO RAJOY

PIC: Mariano Rajoy




KING:
JUAN CARLOS I

PIC: King Juan Carlos I and his wife,
Queen 
Sofía of Spain (née Princess
Sophia of Greece and Denmark)




HEIR TO THE THRONE:
FELIPE, PRINCE OF ASTURIAS

PIC: Felipe, Prince of Asturias




HELLO:
HOLA

GOODBYE:
DESPEDIDA

THANK YOU:
GRACIAS

EXCUSE ME:
PERDON

DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?:
HABLE INGLES

I DO NOT SPEAK SPANISH:
YO NO HABLO ESPANOL

WHERE IS ... ?:
DONDE ESTA ... ?