You are currently browsing the monthly archive for September, 2007.
Engelberg Bus Station
Engelberg, less than two hours from Zurich in central Switzerland, offers some of the best off-pist skiing in Europe. The ski season runs from December to early May with most crowds during Christmas, New Year and other holidays. The village is charming with beautiful surroundings and an amazing view of the mountains. Engelberg has two sides - Brunni and Titlis - with more than 82 km of ski runs and over 20 lifts. Brunni is often referred to as the sunnier side and suitable for beginners while Titlis has runs for all type of skiers.
We stayed at Hotel Bellevue, a two-star hotel with a perfect location opposite the railway station. For the best after-ski, go to Yucatan at Banhhofplatz where you can listen to great live concerts and eat tasty food in their Tex-Mex restaurant.
Engelberg is accessible by train from Luzern.
Disentis/Mustér
When you drive through the Alps during the autumn everything is calm and quiet, a complete opposite to the busy wintry ski season. Our first road trip started in Dornbirn, Austria, where we had watched the European Championships in gymnastics. After a quick stop in the popular ski resort St. Anton, we crossed the Swiss border and continued to Disentis/Mustér, known to offer great off-pist skiing during the winter. From Disentis we drove over the Oberalppass to Andermatt, carried on towards Realp and took the 15-minutes Furka car-train through the Furka tunnel to Oberwald. From there it wasn’t far to Zermatt where we had planned to stay over the night. The following day we drove into France past Chamonix, Argentiere and Albertville before ending our trip in Grenoble.
Matterhorn, Zermatt
The next day we drove from Grenoble to Briancon, passing Le Bourg-d’Oisans, Les Deux-Alpes, La Grave and Serre Chevalier.
Le Bourg-d’Oisans
Serre Chevalier
Spinrock at Liseberg Amusement Park
Liseberg Amusement Park in Gothenburg, Sweden, is the biggest amusement park in Scandinavia. Since they year I was 2 I have probably been there about 14 times, or even more. We always begin at the Liseberg Tower offering an amazing view over Gothenburg and end with the House of Mirrors, a maze full of different mirrors which make you taller, shorter, thinner, fatter… I can guarantee you will laugh!
One of my favorite rides is Balder; they call it the biggest wooden coaster in the world, not for people afraid of heights because the first drop is 70 degrees. Another funny ride is Spinrock, the carousel opposite Balder, where you almost ride upside down. Don’t miss the roller coaster Lisebergbanan or the water rides Flumeride and Kållerado. My favourite carousel has always been The Jukebox where you ride in gaudy coloured cars moving and down and round whilst listening to music from the 50s. The new attraction for 2007 is Uppswinget (The Screamin’ Swing). I haven’t tried it yet, but apparently it is the scariest ride in the park.
To make the most out of Liseberg, stay until they close - often at 11pm. Evenings are better because most people have gone home and the queues are shorter. We always buy the 1-day ride pass for 280 SEK or a 1-day ride pass for 315 SEK including a ticket to the Gasten Ghost Hotel. You can also buy a large ticket book for 225 SEK including 18 ride coupons and 3 wheel-of-fortune tickets, but you will probably gain on buying a 1-day pass with unlimited rides.
The best amusement park outside Europe is, in my opinion, Cedar Point in Ohio. Cedar Point is located on a peninsula in Lake Erie, between Cleveland and Toledo, in Sandusky. We travelled by car from Michigan, arrived around 11am and went to the roller coaster Raptor, near the entrance, at once. After 45-minutes waiting we sat in a ski-lift style seat with lap belts and shoulder harnesses, our legs dangled free during the ride and we went upside down six times.
The best ride at Cedar Point is Millennium Force, one of the fastest and tallest roller coasters in the world, with an 80 degrees descent. We saved this ride till the end because of the extremely long queue during the day. If they weren’t about to close the park we would definitely have gone a second time.
Don’t forget to see the beach before you leave Cedar Point. The two beach entrances are located by Hotel Breakers south of Soak City (the water park).
We paid $41.95 per person for a Cedar Point Funday. Children aged two and under can enter Cedar Point and Soak City free.
Are, the most popular ski resort in Sweden, is located by Lake Are near Ostersund in the area Jamtland. In my opinion, it’s even the best ski resort in Scandinavia, a terrific place to ski whether you are 7, 25 or 50-years-old. The ski system has pistes and off-piste to suit everyone from complete beginners to professional extreme skiers. I remember the first time we came to Bjornen, east of Are, and tried to make our luck in one of the blue slopes. Because of the wide and easy pistes, Bjornen is perfect for kids and beginners. When our skills improved we skipped Bjornen and headed directly to Are’s main ski-system. One year we lived in Duved, west of Are. Unlike Bjornen this ski-system is not linked to Are, but great if you prefer a calmer location and less crowds.
Are has gained a lot of attention since the World Ski Championship in February 2007 and attracts visitors from Sweden as well as Europe and the rest of the world. For the ultimate ski vacation, avoid the Swedish holidays (especially Easter) when the ski lift lines tend to be longer.
For the best view over Are, walk (or pay the scooter to take you) up to Areskutan’s Peak about 1,420 m above the sea.
Apart from awesome skiing, Are offers great after-ski - for example at Hotel Diplomat and Bygget - and the nightlife won’t make you disappointed either.
Jon Olsson Invitational Are
Jon Olsson - one of the world’s best all round skiers.
The Dominican in Brussels, Belgium’s first member of Design Hotels, opens in the end of October. The hotel with interior by the Dutch duo FG Stijl is located behind La Monnaie, a well-known theatre and opera house. Apart from 150 individually designed guestrooms and suites, a gym with a Turkish steam bath and a Finnish sauna, the Dominican boasts a stylish Lounge Bar and The Grand Lounge restaurant.
The Dominican is owned by Carlton Hotel Collection including nine luxury hotels in United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Click here to read the whole press release.
Some day I would love to experience India. Recently I have found many stories, articles and photographs from this amazing country. One of them is the article “10 Most Beautiful Places in Orissa, The Land of Warriors” from the blog Destination India. Make sure to check it out.
Glimpse’s new Calendar features the top twelve finalists of their Spring 2007 Photo Contest “Market Day” and shows images from markets in Spain, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Mexico, Senegal, Italy, Japan, Togo and Fiji. A Glimpse Calendar with the best up and coming travel photographers costs £12.95. “All proceeds support the charitable mission of the Glimpse Foundation to promote cross-cultural understanding and exchange.”
Don’t forget to Download PDF Sample
Central Park © Thomas Debray
Although everyone might not agree, Central Park is in my opinion the best park in the world. It’s definitely one of the most famous ones, a park for everyone offering plenty of fun things to do. You can jog, walk, play boll, rollerblade, go to the zoo, rent a boat, swim, sunbath, play baseball, play tennis at the tennis courts on 96th Street West near the Reservoir, have a picnic on the lawn, visit John Lennon’s memorial place, check out the street artists, listen to saxophone players and other musicians, stroll over the Great Lawn and admire the mid Manhattan skyscrapers, rent a bike by Loeb’s Boat House, or sit down on a bench and just look at people and enjoy the original atmosphere.
Throughout the winter (from November to March), you can ice skate at Wollman Rink at East 63rd Street or Lasker Rink at East 107th Street. During the summer I recommend the Shakespeare’s Garden, Belvedere Castle, the Strawberry Fields and the performances at Delecorte Theatre by Belvedere Lake. And don’t forget the area toward Harlem, like Harlem Woods and Harlem Meer, in the northern part of Central Park.
Central Park is located between 59th and 110th Streets and 5th to 8th Avenues.
Central Park © Paola Sansão
Montreux Jazz Festival © Joanna Griekspoor
The coast between Vevey, Montreux and Villeneuve is called the Swiss Riviera, when we walked along the waterside it just hit me how stunning Montreux is. A long pedestrian walk starts at Villeneuve - not far from the French border - and continues past Montreux all the way to Vevey. An hour’s stroll along the lakeside is more than enough because it’s not for the sake of walking you visit Montreux. It’s for the atmosphere, the incredible view across Lake Geneva and the mountains, the overall beauty of the place and - of course - the annual Montreux Jazz Festival.
Our stopover was in 2005, one day before the jazz festival, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday. Even though I enjoyed Montreux I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t stay and listen to Norah Jones and the other artists at the festival the following day. But we had to return to our au-pair jobs in Zurich after the weekend. However, I really recommend Montreux Jazz Festival. People we spoke with, including an old couple who was in Montreux for the third time in a row, had only good things to say about the event.
Lalaria Beach
My favourite beach so far is Lalaria Beach on Skiathos in the Greek Sporades Island. Lalaria consists of white pebbles and limestone and is only approachable by boat because of the high cliffs on both sides of the beach. A rock to the west of the bay forms a natural bridge between the sea and the beach.
Another peaceful beach is Agios Elenis located on the southern part of the island. Paraskevi and Kolios are shallow and suitable for children. The busiest beaches are Vromolimnos beach, 8 km from Skiathos town, and Koukounaries, once rated the 7th best beach in the world. A five minutes walk south from bus stop 26 leads to Koukounaries. But make sure to check the signs. We were about to take the wrong path leading to Little Banana Beach, west of Koukounaries, a popular beach among naturists from all over Europe.
What I love about Skiathos is the island’s terrific coast. With 66 different beaches everyone can find something in their taste, whether it’s a secluded romantic beach or a crowded tourist spot with a water sports centre offering water skiing, wakeboarding and parachute after boat. The best beach in terms of water sports is Megali Ammos, the longest beach on Skiathos located 1 km from Skiathos town below the street leading to Koukounaries, by bus stop 4 or 5. Megali Ammos Watersports offers water skiing, wakeboard, parachute, flyfish, banana, kneeboard, family rings and extreme rings where you lie down on your stomach. My sister and I opted for the normal rings and couldn’t stop laughing as the driver Thanasis drove us in high speed. Halfway through the ride when Thanasis made a few quick turns, we clasped to the handles to avoid falling off as the rings bounced on the waves. The couple who went before us were not as lucky. Both of them fell off during a set of higher waves.
Aside from boasting some of the best beaches in Greece, Skiathos is known for its great nightlife. You will never risk getting bored here. In Skiathos town, try BBC if you fancy techno, Arena for Greek music or Roof Top Bar for a romantic evening. Avoid the restaurants (tourist traps) along the harbour and the main street Papadiamantis where they charge excessive prices for mediocre food. Instead, head to the old part of the town where you will find real Greek food in cozy taverns.
Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia
Ithaka outside the Greek west coast is known to attract the rich and famous. I once read Madonna and Guy Ritchie, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have spent their vacations here, but we didn’t spot anyone of them during our stay on this pretty Ionian island. But we did visit the world’s largest natural harbour in Vathy, hoping to catch a glimpse of the owner to some of the luxurious yachts anchored along the waterside.
Even though the capital Vathy has a few bars and nightclubs it is thanks to the nature and culture, people visit Ithaka. Because of the island’s small size and rather poor accessibility - ferry and fast boats depart from Kefalonia, Lefkas and Meganisi though - you will not find any crowds of tourists here as on the neighboring island Lefkas. As a result, many celebrities see the Ithaka as a perfect hideaway.
Stroll around the village center, past whitewashed houses, taverns, cafés and shops where local artists sell their work. Spend the afternoon at Vathy’s own beach or join a boat tour to discover the more secluded beaches on the island. Don’t forget a diving-mask. The water around Ithaka is perfect for snorkeling. Lunch at one of the taverns serving traditional Greek food and try Rovani, the island’s special sweet rice, for dessert.
A 45-minutes boat ride took us to the neighboring island Kefalonia, known from the movie “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” starring Nicholas Cage and Penelope Cruz. In hope to attract more tourists a few restaurants on the island have names as Captain Corelli’s Bar or Captain Corelli’s Restaurant. But skip those and head for Kiani Akti, in Kefalonia’s main city Argostoli instead. The tasty meze dishes are satisfying, but most guests probably opt for Kiani Akti because of its terrific location on the pier.
Wherever you choose to lunch, don’t miss the island’s own produced wine Rompola or the flavoursome honey-and ewe’s milk cheese.
We spent most of the time in the village Fiscardo - visited by Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Bruce Springsteen and the Italian fashion family Prada - on the northern tip of Kefalonia, and on the attractive Myrthos Beach five minutes from the village Agia Efimia. Check out the small cave at the end of the beach. And don’t hurry. There is a reason why Myrthos is the most photographed and visited beach on Kefalonia.
Our base for the trips to Ithaka and Kefalonia was Nidra on Lefkas, a tourist resort on the island’s east coast, easy accessible from Preveza Airport thanks to the bridge from the mainland. Apart from Ithaka and Kefalonia, we enjoyed the excursion to Skorpios, a private island owned by the shipmaster Ari Onassis.
Island Hopping Tips
For information on ferry schedules in the Greek archipelago, visit Greek Travel Pages, Greek Islands and Ferries.gr. Island-hopping is a terrific introduction to Greece. Despite the increasing tourism you can find empty beaches and quiet surroundings - for example at Paxos - and people in search of the opposite have lots of islands with busy nightlife to choose between. A good idea is to focus on one island group and have your base on any of these islands or, if appropriate, on the mainland. You can either book your island-hopping holiday with a set itinerary through a travel agent, use the regular ferry services as the locals, or take small boats with only a handful of passengers. If you are a skilled sailor and prefer ultimate freedom, why not rent your own boat?
We focused on the Ionian Islands and because of their proximity to the coast, we opted for a hotel in Parga (the first week) and on Lefkas (the second week). By living on the mainland we could hop back and forth between the nearby islands and didn’t need to worry about accommodation. Boat connections are best during high season, July and August, but at the same time hotels and B&Bs charge less before and after the busiest months.
For great tips on travel adventures, events, hotels, restaurants, outdoor recreation and much more, check out Julie Gallaher’s cool blog Things You Should Do, dedicated to all the fun things to do around the world. Some of the latest posts feature the stylish Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the Bono-owned The Clarence Hotel in Dublin, and the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival.
For more useful tips, visit Things You Should Do. And don’t forget to sign up for the TYSH free newsletter.
I love writing lists, I have been doing it since I was a kid; of the best songs of the year, countries I want to visit, the cutest guys in school. Now I make lists of things I need to do each day (I call them my daily targets), things I want to buy/am saving for, places I want to see, useful expressions in other languages, short and long-term goals, dreams. The best thing is that I never run out of topics and writing lists makes me feel organized, I feel like I have everything under control.
I also love reading lists, whether it’s of the hottest boutique hotels in NYC, the Film Box Office or the best European destinations doesn’t matter because, more or less, all lists create curiosity. People’s opinions on different topics are interesting, but I also like to see whether I agree or not. I am not fully of the same opinion as the readers of Condé Nast Traveller, but I enjoyed perusing the latest Anniversary Issue featuring the best countries, islands, overseas cities, transport and other travel related titles.
Below are some of the results from CN Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2007.
Destinations
Countries
1. India
2. Italy
3. Thailand
4. Australia
5. New Zealand
6. South Africa
7. Spain
8. France
9. Brazil
10. Mexico
11. Greece
12. Switzerland
13. Argentina
14. Chile
15. Sri Lanka
16. Japan
17. Canada
18. Vietnam
19. USA
20. Egypt
Islands
1. Maldives
2. Greek Islands
3. Balearic Islands
4. Mauritius
5. Barbados
6. Seychelles
7. Bali
8. Zanzibar
9. St Lucia
10. Great Barrier Reef Islands
11. Hong Kong
12. Phuket
13. Cuba
14. Koh Samui
15. Capri
16. Sicily
17. Langkawi
18. St Barts
19. Bahamas
20. Sardinia
Overseas Cities
While Sydney got highest rate as the cleanest city, New York placed best in the nightlife/entertainment section. Venice and Florence had the highest rate for aesthetics/architecture.
1. Sydney
2. New York
3. Paris
4. Rome
5. Barcelona
6. Venice
7. San Francisco
8. Cape Town
9. Singapore
10. Hong Kong
11. Bangkok
12. Amsterdam
13. Florence
14. Istanbul
15. Vancouver
16. Buenos Aires
17. Madrid
18. Marrakech
19. Dubai
20. Berlin
UK cities
1. Durham
2. Edinburgh
3. London
4. Glasgow
5. Manchester
6. Canterbury
7. Liverpool
8. York
9. Oxford
10. Bath
11. Cambridge
12. Cheltenham
13. Newcastle
14. Brighton
15. Bristol
Transport
Short-haul leisure
1. British Airways
2. BMI British Midland
3. KLM
4. Lufthansa
5. Swiss
6. Aer Lingus
7. Air France
8. SAS Scandinavian Airlines
9. Alitalia
10. GB Airways
Long-haul leisure
1. Virgin Atlantic
2. Air New Zealand
3. Emirates
4. Singapore Airlines
5. British Airways
6. Cathay Pacific
7. Qantas
8. Thai Airways
9. South African Airways
10. Qatar Airways
Business
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Virgin Atlantic
4. British Airways
5. Cathay Pacific
6. Lufthansa
7. American Airlines
8. KLM
9. Swiss
10. Qatar Airways
Low-cost
1. EasyJet
2. Flybe
3. Jet2
4. BMIbaby
5. Southwest Airlines
Airports
1. Hong Kong International
2. Changi, Singapore
3. Dubai International
4. Schiphol, Amsterdam
5. Madrid
6. Vancouver
7. Tokyo Narita
8. Sydney
9. Munich
10. Zürich
11. Copenhagen
12. Barcelona
13. Kuala Lumpur
14. Charles De Gaulle, Paris
15. Frankfurt
Spas
UK Hotel Spas
1. Calcot Spa, Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire
2. The Spa, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
3. The Spa, Barnsley House, Gloucestershire
4. The Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
5. Sequoia at The Grove, Hertfordshire
6. C-side, Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire
7. The Pavilion Spa, Cliveden, Berkshire
8. The Spa, Chewton Glen, Hampshire
9. The Spa at The Dorchester, London
10. The Spa at Turnberry, The Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire
11. Aquarias, Whatley Manor, Wiltshire
12. Cowshed, Babington House, Somerset
13. Olympus Suite, Claridge’s, London
14. Serenity Spa, Seaham Hall, County Durham
15. Agua Spa, Sanderson, London
Accommodation
UK Business Hotels
1. The Berkeley, London
2. The Savoy, London
3. Four Seasons Hotel London
4. Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London
5. Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf, London
6. InterContinental London Park Lane
7. Claridge’s, London
8. Hotel Felix, Cambridge
9. The St Davids Hotel & Spa, Cardiff
10. Malmaison Manchester
11. The Dorchester, London
12. One Aldwych, London
13. The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh
14. St Martins Lane, London
15. Baglioni Hotel, London
In Ryanair Magazine, I recently read a survey about the most punctual airlines. The results were as follows.
1. Ryanair
2. Lufthansa
3. Air France
4. SAS
5. easyJet
6. Iberia
7. British Airways
Another survey included the airlines with the fewest lost bags. Ryanair was number one on that list as well, followed by SAS, Iberia, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways and easyJet.
La Petite France © Claudia Meyer
1. Stay at Hotel Le 21 at 21-23 rue du Fossé des Tanneurs. This small 2-star budget hotel is situated in the heart of the city near Place Kleber, a perfect location for sightseeing, shopping and Strasbourg’s annual Christmas market. All rooms have shower, WC, internet access and a small television. Breakfast is available for an additional fee and the ground floor level has a public Internet café and bar. The facilities and the service aren’t perfect, but I doubt you can find a better located hotel to a lower price than Hotel Le 21’s average rate of €51 per night.
2. Rent a bike. The best way to discover Strasbourg is from the saddle of a bicycle, the city has over 400 km of cycle tracks. The cycle shop at 10 rue des Bouchers near the train station is the best in the city in terms of friendly and helpful staff.
3. See Strasbourg from the Ill River. Boats depart regularly from the Palais de Rohan and a 75-minute cruise includes a recorded commentary in six languages.
4. Take a walk in Le Petite France. The most charming part of Strasbourg, Le Petite France, is an island surrounded by canals, pedestrian bridges and old timbered houses.
5. Shop at La Place des Halles. This two floor shopping mall offers everything from grocery stores to fashion from Mango, ZARA and H&M.
6. Go bar hopping. The best bars in Strasbourg are located around Place de la Cathedrale, rue des Soeurs, rue des Freres and rue de la Croix.
7. Admire Modern Art. Musee d’Art Moderne at 1 place Jean-Heans Arp, in the middle of La Petite France has a great collection of modern art from the 1870s.
8. Pick up a free map at Office de Tourisme de Strasbourg at 17 place de la Cathedrale.
I recently read a magazine that had made a list of the ten calmest islands on Greece. Paxos, one of the Ionian Islands, came on the first place. I wasn’t surprised. The island has around 2,300 inhabitants and is well known for its slow pace and peaceful atmosphere. Coming here is a pleasant change from the hectic tourist spots on other Greek islands. We travelled to Paxos by boat from Parga on the mainland, but boats also depart from Korfu 14 kilometers away.
When you approach Gaios, one of the three main villages, remember to keep your camera at hand as the boat enters the inlet and passes the islands of St Nicholas and Panayia. If I knew about the view I wouldn’t have left my camera in our hotel room in Parga. In Gaios town, follow the narrow alleys and explore the local shops before stopping for a meal at one of the cozy taverns or coffee bars. And don’t act surprised if you find yourself sitting next to some Hollywood star. Since the British actor Peter Bull moved to Paxos in the 60s, the island has attracted many British and American celebrities.
If you appreciate serene islands you will also love Antipaxos, 15 minutes by boat from Paxos. During the summer, boats depart frequently from Gaios, Lakka and Loggos. Board the earliest morning ferry from Gaios to make the most of the magnificent beaches Voutoumi and Vrika.
We returned to Parga in the evening, but if we hadn’t already a booked hotel room we would definitely have stayed on Paxos. It’s not an island you want to leave in the first place.
Saying goodbye to Salzburg was difficult because I hadn’t seen everything I wanted to see. But when you get that feeling it’s easy to remind yourself the place will still be there and you can return in the future. Apart from the cloudy and rainy weather, my stopover in Mozart’s birth city was even better than I expected, partly because of a water leak. I will get to that later.
A lot in Salzburg revolve around Mozart, you can even visit the house where he lived and see the piano he played. House of Mozart’s Birth, a big house with several floors, is located at Getreidegasse 9 and attracts curious tourists all year round. Except for boasting one of the most famous birth houses in the world, Getreidegasse is also an exceptionally pretty shopping street lined with boutiques, cozy cafés and beautiful arcades.
Another Mozart feature is the Mozartkuegeln, a delicious candy made of fine chocolate, hazelnut nougat, hazelnuts, marzipan and a caramel-resembling substance. Each Mozartkuegel is wrapped in foil and has a portrait of Mozart on the front. Just make sure you get the real deal and not some cheap fake version.
One of the most appreciated parts of Salzburg is Mirabell Gardens where Sound of Music was shot, but the old town (a ten minutes walk via one of the bridges) offers many great sights as well. I saw the Cathedral at the Cathedral Square, St Peter’s Abby with the Benedictine monastery at St-Peter-Bezirk, the Mozart Square and the fortress at Mönchberg above the city center. After a day of sightseeing in Salzburg, don’t miss Franz-Josef Kai along the river because this area is especially pretty in the evening. And the restaurant near the river is one of the best in Salzburg for a tasty dinner.
As for the water leak, it happened to take place in the room I had booked at the family run Atel Hotel Lasserhof. The young receptionist kindly explained he had both good and bad news.
“Bad news first,” I said. “Always bad news first.”
The receptionist took a deep breath.”As we are fully booked we can’t offer you another room at our hotel tonight.”
“And the good news?”
He smiled. “The good news is that we have booked you a room at a nearby 4-star hotel we cooperate with, at no extra cost.”
Hotel StieglBräu was located at Rainerstraße 14 and one of the best Best Western’s I have ever stayed at. Warm and welcoming with friendly and helpful service, spacious rooms, an extremely comfortable bed and a terrific location near Mirabell Gardens only ten minutes from the old town.
Sacré coeur © Claudia Meyer
Even though strolling down the streets is probably the best way to discover Paris, the Metro is a perfect alternative for longer distances. You can buy ten tickets at a time and go as far as you like on one ticket. If you plan to travel a lot, buy the Metro card “Paris Visite” which allows up to five days of unlimited traveling. The Metro is quick, easy, punctual and a great way to get around. A plus is the beautiful Metro stations spread out across the city. Apart from metro stations in other European cities, many of the Parisian ones have “class”.
One of my favorite sights in Paris is the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Place du Parvis-Notre-Dame, on Ile de la Cite, near Métro Cité. Some people say Notre-Dame is best appreciated from a boat on the Seine late at night, but the interior is actually even more impressive and the calm atmosphere makes wonder for your mood.
Another much loved sight is the one from the Eiffel Tower in the evening and the observation platform is usually not as crowded as during the day. Those wishing to see Paris wake up should head to Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. An early morning here will stay in your memory forever.
Paris clearly has its share of luxurious accommodation, but to make the most of your stay in the French capital you don’t necessarily have to choose an expensive hotel. One of the best budget hotels in the city is Hotel Plessis in the Marais district not far from Gar de´l Est. With only two blocks to Place de la République and less than two hundred meters from two Metro stations, this two-star hotel has a perfect location.
For an average rate of €72 a night you will get a clean, comfortable and rather spacious (in European measurements) double room with bathroom, TV, telephone and heating. All rooms are non-smoking and continental breakfast is included in the price. I can’t think of any other hotel in Paris that can beat Hotel Plessis’ terrific location and service to a better price. If you do, let me know. Hotel Plessis is located at 25 Rue du Grand Prieuré.
Will you be on the road for the next few months and want to let your friends and family know what you are up to?
In Sweden, Resedagboken (the Travel Diary) is a popular site for people wishing to share their travel experiences with text and photos. Some English versions include BootsnAll Travel Blogs & Logues, Footstops, TravBuddy, Travellerspoint and Matador. Choose your preferred site, join for free and write your first post before you take off. Don’t forget uploading pictures during your travels. Your near and dear ones will appreciate it.
Lyon © Martin Boulanger
Shopping and sightseeing when it’s 35 degrees Celsius outside is not the best combination, but despite the hot weather we enjoyed our stay in Lyon. After a quick breakfast purchased in a health food shop at Course Vitton we walked to the big park Parc de la Tete D´Or, not far from Boulevard des Brotteaux. We crossed the river near the park and walked to the center of Lyon. Found the best shopping along the pedestrian Rue de la Republique, from Hotel de Ville to Place Bellecour. Place Bellecour is a big plaza where the tourist office ís located and on the other side is Rue Victor Hugo, also popular among shoppers.
In the afternoon we went up to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere at Colline de Fourviere - a famous sight among visitors. The cathedral is open daily from 6am - 7pm. We followed Montee Saint-Barthelemy that leads to Place Saint-Paul, but you can also take the Metro to Vieux Lyon. Don’t miss the pretty rose garden below the cathedral.
Summer evenings in Lyon are perfect for a stroll along the river, the lights on the bridges create a special atmosphere to the water front. Lyon is much more beautiful at night because many buildings in the city are illuminated when it’s dark outside.
During our visit in Lyon we stayed at Hotel Britania, a two-star hotel at 17 rue du Professeur Weill. Sometimes it’s better to go for location rather than look and that’s exactly what we did when choosing Britania, the only inexpensive place we could find close to The Part Dieu Station. The hotel is located on a quiet road in the 6th district close to the business center. It’s an acceptable place to sleep, but don’t expect anything more. Instead, head out and explore Lyon!
Wasserturm and Kapellbrücke © Emiliano Spada
When arriving in a new city, try reaching the highest point. Apart from a great view, in some cases this means you will also get away from the touristy side of a place and explore an area not many visitors have a chance to experience.
Lucerne by Viervaldstätter See in central Switzerland was crowded with tourists during our stopover, especially the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke). This wooden bridge stands on wooden pillars in the water and its high water tower is probably the most photographed monument in the city. If you like the idea of escaping the crowds for a while, follow Mariahilfgasse from the the old town and walk uphill for about twenty minutes. You will get a terrific view over Lucerne and the lake.
Lugano by Lago di Lugano, in the canton of Ticino, is definitely one of my favorite places in Switzerland. The first time we stopped to admire the view from the lake shore promenade, starting at Piazza Manzoni near Riva Giocondo Albertolli, an elderly man turned to me. He pointed towards the other side of the lake; “Non è esso bello, la signora?” I knew “bello” meant beautiful so I nodded and said “sì”, the only Italian I knew at the time.
After a stroll along Lago di Lugano we returned to the old town and Via nassa, a long pedestrian street lined with fashion shops. Via Nassa starts at Piazza della Reforma in the center of the old town and continues parallel with the lake.
If you visit Lugano during the warmer months, don’t miss the public bathing beach or the Lido of Lugano at Via Castagnola 6. The restaurant by the beach is worth a visit because of its cozy terrace with comfortable armchairs and several large white parasols, and the view of course!