Traveling on a bumpy road across the continents

The hidden treasures of northern Huehuetenango: Laguna Brava

2011-09-15T20:11:00.000+02:00

Two yearsago, I had planned a trip to hike to the Laguna Brava o Laguna Yolnajab butnever went. So when I realized it was close to the Posada where we were stayingI knew I had to go.

On the third day of our stay, we left the Finca early with my dad and ourguide to get to the community where the treck starts. As the Laguna is on a private land owned bythree communities, you need to hire a local guide (75 Quetzales) even if youalready had a guide from the Finca (130 Quetzales) and you need to pay theentrance fees (25 Quetzales per person).

It’sknown as the Laguna Brava because at certain times, but often in the evenings, the wind enters the valley and the waves of the lagoon are heard from afar.

It took us45 minutes on a hilly and muddy path to get to a high point where the descentto the Laguna starts. From there you can see the river meandering to theLaguna. In the area, they are cultivating corn, sugar & coffee so you cansee local working. In 30 minutes, yougot from 1600 m to 1150 m high on a steep path that can get really muddy whenit’s raining. We were lucky that the weather had been quite dry before wearrived! Then we still had an hour walk on planned land to get to Laguna. Whenthere is some sun, the water appears emerald and really clear. It's beautiful!

La Lagunais 4 km2 of turquoise water. You can only see a small part of the Laguna andfor the rest you need to go by boat. They have 4 cabanas with 4 beds each wheretourists can spend a night & visit the Laguna by boat the next day.

We enjoyed the view of the Lake while eating our cereal bars. As it's only accessible by foot, it's really calm and we could hear the birds singing. It took us 2h30 mn to walk back to the carwith one hour of hard climb. Back at the community, a cold drink was waiting for us.

My dad and our guide, ready to start the descent to the Lake.

You can see the lake at the back

Laguna Brava

our two guides in a long discussion

the cabanas where tourists can sleep for a night

The hidden treasures of northern Huehuetenango: Mayan Painting & Hoyo Cimarron

2011-09-15T19:16:00.001+02:00

AroundFinca Chacula there are many beautiful places to discover than not many peoplehave to the opportunity to see while visiting Guatemala.

The firstday of our stay, we drove an hour from the Finca to see some very old Mayanpaintings. As they are on a private property, you can’t go on your own. Even ifyou wished you would not be able to find them as they are well hidden. We hadto wait for an hour for our local guide to arrive as the guide from the Fincadid not call him before to warn him of our arrival. By the time we startedwalking it was 11 am, so very hot & sunny. The path is rocky and with notmuch shade, so one better leaves early! But the walk was worth it as we saw theMaya paintings not many had the opportunity to see. Unfortunately, nothing hasbeen done to protect them and some modern graffiti are decorating the wall. Nobodyreally knows how old they are as a specialist would need to come to study and asour guide said, that cost money.

Entrance fees are 20 Quetzales per person andthe guide is 80 Quetzales for the group.

In theafternoon, we left my mum & Logan at the Finca and went to the Hoyo Cimaronwith my dad. 20 minutes by car followed by 1 hour walk and you get to theimpressive hole. The path to get therehas been restored not a long time ago but it was done at Guatemalan way, it’sbetter to walk on the side than actually on the path. The Cimarron is a huge holeof limestone rock, perfectlyround and has a diameter of approximately 200 meters and a height of 150 meters.

Onthe edges of the Cimarron, the climate is relatively dry, with particularvegetation. At the bottom of the Cimarron however, moistureis evident, possibly because of the undergroundstreams (there is a nearby lagoonand one at several kilometers) and features a green forest, totally different from the trees to the ground level.

There is alegend about the Hoyo that said that the first owner of the Finca Chacula wasvery rich and was exploiting the people. The Mexican Zapata heard about him andcame to kill him. But the owner hearing the rumor fled with 3 donkeys carryingthe entire god he had. They were trapped at the border of the hoyo and hethought that if the god was not for him it will be for anybody else. So hepushed the donkey into the Hoyo and jumped after them. So it’s believed thatthere is god in the Hoyo.

Entrancefee is 10 Quetzales per person, parking is 10 Quetzales and the guide is 80Quetzales for the group but this is very easy to do it on your own if you knowwhere the parking is.

On the way to the paintings

Mexico is not far

the painting

hunting scene

a dog?

Walking to the Hoyo Cimarron. The path is so uncomfortable to walk on!

The Hoyo

Eagle waiting for some food

Finca Chacula, rural and authentic

2011-08-24T04:30:00.002+02:00

When myparents told me they were going to come for a visit in August, I startedthinking about where we should go. When I found the website of the PosadaChacula, I knew I had found the perfect place for us.

PosadaRural Chacula is a beautiful small hotel located 2.5 hours by car north ofHuehuetenango and close to the border with Mexico. The posada is communityowned and was opened in March 2010. They have only 3 bedrooms with a maximumoccupation of 12 people. We had the house for ourselves for the 4 nights westayed there so it was like home! There is no electricity and at night theylight the petrol lamps which make the atmosphere really special. We were afraidto have to take cold showers but no, it works with gas so it is rustic but toomuch!

The nightcosts around U$20 per person including breakfast. For breakfast you can havebread & marmalade (it was perfect for us!) and/ or eggs & black beansif you want a Guatemalan breakfast. Lunch & dinner is US$6.00 each and dependson what they have found at the local market which is 1 hour away by car so theycan’t go every day. That’s why it’s important to call ahead and not arrivewithout notice, or you won’t eat!

A bit ofhistory… People left Guatemala to go to Mexico in 1982 during the civil war. InMexico, they joined small communities and negotiated with the Guatemalangovernment their return in 1994. Thanks to a credit given by FONAPAZ (FondoNational para la Paz) they bought the Finca and 210 families came to live. As they are coming from different parts of thedepartment of Huehuetenango, 5 languages are spoken at Chacula. The community startedthe ecotourism project in 2010.

To getthere by car, take the road which goes to La Mesilla from Huehuetenango.Arriving at La Democratia, turn right to get to Nenton and follow the roadwhich goes to Gracias a Dios (Mexican border). When you arrive at a T junction,turn right to go to Chacula. You will see a sign in the village saying PosadaChacula, the last 1 km is on a dusty road. You can go too by public transport.2 buses leave Huehuetenango daily at 4:00 AM & 1:00 PM to go to Chacula andcost 30 Quetzales.

For moreinfo on the Posada, please check the website here.

In my nextpost, I’ll talk about the beautiful places to visit nearby!

Welcome to the Posada!

One of the room

The bathroom

At night, petrol lamps and firework

Salto de Chilasco, a hidden treasure

2011-08-20T04:26:00.000+02:00

Having a 3 day weekend at the end of July, I took the opportunity to travel and discover an hidden natural treasure of Guatemala: the Salto de Chilasco.

Know as the highest waterfall of Central America with its 133 meters high, the Salto de Chilasco is located in the Reserva Biosfera Sierra de Las Minas, two hours and a half south of Coban (Baja Verapaz)

We rented a car with my friend Lucy and headed to Ram Tzu, an ecological hotel situated close to the Biotopo Del Quetzal, on the road to Coban (km 158). From Guatemala City, it takes around 3 hours drive via El Rancho.

The hotel has 16 beautifulcabanas made in wood and a restaurant made in bamboo. They have a privatenatural reserve with horses, a waterfall, an orquidea farm and coffeeplantation you can discover by feet. As it was raining during most of our staywe didn't have the opportunity to see it.

On the Sunday we woke up atthe sound of the birds. It's much nice than the sound of the Chicken bus whichwake me up every morning in Antigua. The rain stopped us to head early to theSalto of Chilasco. But by 11 am the rain had stopped and we decided to take thechance. From Ram Tzu, you have to head south for half an hour than take a leftturn on a dusty road in a bad condition. 12 km which took us an hour as wedidn't have a 4x4 car.

We arrived at a smalltourism office where we received information about the hike and where to go to start the hike. We paid 30 Quetzales ($4) per person for the entrance feesand we hired a teenager for 30 Quetzales to help carrying the bag as I was withmy son Logan. if you need a guide (which is not necessary but is better so notto get lost) you would have to pay the same price.

As it had rained a lot before our arrival, thefirst part of the hike had some very muddy and slippery part where it was a bitdifficult while carrying Logan. Then it was quite flat until we arrived at the topof the waterfalls. You can hear the sound before you see it appearing throughthe mist. I have seen many biggest waterfalls as Niaguara falls so off coursethis waterfall is not that impressive but it's beautiful and the surroundingsare unique. The waterfall is located in the rainy forest so all is green andthe vegetation is abundant

From the top of the waterfallsthe track brings you down to its foot. They arranged well the path so it's easyto go down. If you don't want to go all the way (like us) you can go to thesecond view point where you can see the whole waterfall and take nice shots. Bythe time we arrived at the 2nd mirador it was getting late and we had to goback to the car before the night. So we decided against going all the way downand after a snack (a and a bottle of milk for Logan) we headed back. We startedthe hike at 12 pm and didn't bring any picnic, only a few bars of cereals, sowhen we get back to the car we were starving! It took us 4 hours in total,walking at a normal space and with a baby. We were all muddy and tired buthappy to have seen this hidden treasure not touch yet by massive tourism.

The Salto of Chilasco isnot visited by a lot of tourists and hardly any guidebooks talk about it. Thisis a pitty for the community who would love to have more income from thetourism. But this is good for the nature as it stays almost untouched and youdon't see garbage along the path like everywhere. The location helps to keepmassive tourism away and only adventurous travelers will make the effort tovisit it and will feel so bless to had the opportunity to visit such a uniqueplace.

Our room for the night

View from our room

The restaurant all in bambu

Going down to the waterfall

First view of the waterfall

Cambodia: 5 Places not to miss in Phnom Penh

2011-07-16T20:24:00.005+02:00

Phnom Penh, known as the "Pearl of Asia", is a colouful city full of noise, smells and histotic sites.But most tourists don't stay long enough to experience the city. If you have a day to spare, here are the sites you should not miss.

1. Royal Palace
We started with the vist of the the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda located just next to the palace grounds. Once you step inside the compound, passing the high walls, there is silence.

The Royal Palace of Cambodia is the royal abode of the King of Cambodia. The compound was the citadel of King Ponhea Yat (1393-1463) and rebuilt to its present state in 1886, when King Norodom (1834-1904) relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. The buildings with beautiful towering spires are a great example of classic Khmer architecture found in Cambodia today.

One of the interesting buildings is The Khemarin Palace, also known as Prasat Khemarin or the "Palace of the Khmer King." This is officially the residence of His Majesty, King Norodom Sihamoni.

Vistors can visit the Throne Hall (Preah Tineang Tevea Vinichhay) where coronations and official ceremonies take place, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Preah Keo Morakot), Stupas (Chedei), a Royal Dining Hall, the Chan Chhaya Pavilion and a French-style building that was a gift from Napoleon III.

The buildings are surrounded by beautiful & well maintained gardens.

2. Silver Pagoda
On the grounds of the Royal Palace, you should not miss the Silver Pagoda, also known as the Emerald Pagoda to Cambodians.

Originally a wooden structure, the palace was initially constructed in 1892 during the reign of King Norodom, but rebuilt to its present grandeur by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1962. The king spared no effort to make this a true embodiment of brilliant Khmer art. More than 5300 pcs of 1.125 kilo silver tiles are used to cover the floor of the Silver Pagoda, and the silver pieces collectively weigh over six tons.

The staircase leading into the pagoda is marble, and inside, two breathtaking representations of the Buddha hold court. The Emerald Buddha is in fact made of Baccarat crystal, and dates back to the 17th century. A small glass case nearby enshrines a sacred Buddha relic brought from Sri Lanka in 1956 by the Venerable Loeva Em of Wat Lanka. However, the second statue of Buddha is the one that catches the eyes of visitors. Its 90 kilo gold body is studded with 2086 diamonds; the largest of which a 25 karats brilliant piece can be found on the Buddha's crown. Cast in 1904 by King Sisowath at the request of his elder brother King Norodom, it represents Maitreya Buddha, the future Buddha.

There are a total of 1650 items on display at the temple. They include cast gold headdresses made especially for the royal dancers, many solid gold Buddha statues in different forms, gifts from royalties and dignitaries from around the world and a myriad of jewels and precious antiques.

3. Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a sanctury which contains the ashes from King Ponhea Yat (1393-1463). This is the symbol of the capital city of Phnom Penh and sets prominently atop an artificial 27 meter hill (or 'Phnom') in the northeastern section of the city. Legend has it that Daun Penh, a wealthy widow, retrieved a large koki tree trunk from the river. She had hoped to use it for a house, but inside a hollow of the trunk, she found four statues of the Buddha. She then ordered for a section of her property to be elevated for a small shrine to be erected to revere the statues. This became a sacred site and people started to settle around the hill; eventually, this became the city it now is. It is here that the city gets its name: ‘Phnom’ means hill in Khmer and ‘Penh’ is of course the name of the lady.

4. Phsar Toul Tum Poung (Russian Market)
This is a very popular market for tourist because you can find all kind of souvenir to bring back home. From genuine antiques to silk scarves and bags, woodcarvings.

5. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or S21 was used by the Khmer Rouges between 1975 & 1979 to interrogate and torture intellectuals, people who had an education. It is believed that over 17,000 people were imprisoned but only 7 survived. The building was preserved as it was left by the Khmer Rouge and was turned to a museum with photos of the prisoners, cells and instruments of torture.
It's really interested to visit to understand what happened under the Khmer Rouges and how the country suffered because of one man, Pol Pot.

If you're interested to know more about what happened there, you should watch the film S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine. The film features two Tuol Sleng survivors, Vann Nath and Chum Mey, confronting their former Khmer Rouge captors, including guards, interrogators, a doctor and a photographer. The focus of the film is the difference between the feelings of the survivors, who want to understand what happened at Tuol Sleng to warn future generations, and the former jailers, who cannot escape the horror of the genocide they helped create.

The S21 Prison which was a school before

The Cells

Waterboard displayed at Tuol Sleng. Prisoners' legs were shackled to the bar on the right, their wrists were restrained to the brackets on the left and water was poured over their face using the blue watering can.

Destination of the month: Cambodia

2011-06-27T04:27:00.000+02:00

There are a few countries I have been but I have never wrote about it so every month I’m going to write a few posts about my travel adventures and put a few pictures about a special country.

This month, I’m starting with Cambodia that I visited in February 2004. A friend of mine is from Cambodia and they flee the country when she was 5. Her dad decided to organize a trip to Cambodia for the friends who helped them when they arrived in France, including my parents. For my friend it was the first time she was going back to Cambodia so it was a very special trip. She asked me to join them so she wouldn’t be the only youth of the group.

We were 11 to travel. It was the first time I was traveling with a group and I only accepted because it was a special occasion. The first part of my trip was not about backpacking and adventures, but more about culture and people.

Our first stop was Phnom Penh, the capital, where we were welcomed by Net’s family.

What strikes you first in Phnom Penh is the traffic. All kind of means of transport are sharing the same streets, from motorbike to cows. You wonder how they arrive all to cohabitate without too many accidents. We quickly understood that the only way not to have an accident is to bump your horn to tell people you’re coming! So all day long you can hear the concert of horns.

After letting our bags at the hotel, we decided to go to explore a bit the neighborhood to find a restaurant. As soon as we stepped out of the hotel, tuc tuc drivers jumped on us. But we wanted to walk; we quickly understood why they were insisting. Be a pedestrian in Phnom Penh is really dangerous, just to cross the street without being hit is a miracle. We learnt our first lesson!

More about Phnom Penh in my next post.

The Mayan Culture of Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan, Take the Plunge!

2011-06-09T20:58:00.000+02:00

Located in the western highlands of Guatemala is the deepest lake in Central America: Lake Atitlan. The word Atitlan is a Mayan for "the place where the rainbow gets its colors". The local people believe that a strong wind that blows over this volcanic crater-lake in the afternoon carries away people’s sins. The region is a magnet for New Age practitioners and those exploring the remnants of the lost Mayan culture.

To get to the lake take a bus from Guatemala City to Panajachel. From here you can explore the lake by a taking a slancha (public boat) to any one of the towns that line the shore. One-way passage anywhere on the lake costs $1.30, but be prepared to haggle as foreigners usually get charged double.

Santa Catarina Palopo and San Antonio Palopo – Most of the residents are descendents of the Cakchiquel Maya. A characteristic of both villages is the blue huipil, or blouse, which is worn prominently by the women of the community. A local legend has it that a tourist wearing a red huipil made in the US, miraculously changed color from red to blue on their visit to the village.

San Marcos La Laguna – This lake town is a big draw for mediators and alternative therapy enthusiasts. Its tranquil setting is perfect for enjoying yoga, reiki or just hanging out and relaxing. There are several New Age centers in San Marcos and more in the pipeline. The most popular meditation centre is Las Piramides. If you’re looking for something more physical there is a self-guided 3-hour hike from San Marcus to the town of Santa Cruz. Options for accommodation in San Marcos include an eco-friendly boutique hotel called Aacualaax that was built using recycled materials.

Santiago Atitlan – Located on the south end of the lake this town is notable for its oil paintings that depict scenes of life around the lake. The town is nestled between two volcanoes: San Pedro and Toliman. Santiago Atitlan is also the home of the Cojol Ya Association Weaving Center and Museum, founded by the Cojol Ya Association of Mayan Women Weavers. The museum shows the history and process of back strap loom weaving, and the evolution of the traditional costume of the Tzutujil people. The best views of the lake and the surrounding countryside are from the summit of the San Pedro volcano. You can hike to the summit as part of an organized tour that departs the town of San Pedro.

Palm Sunday in Antigua: the making of the Palms

2011-04-25T04:53:00.002+02:00

Palm Sunday celebrates the day when Jesus entered into Jerusalem and in Guatemala it's a colorful celebration to begin the Semana Santa.

The palm leaves (palma real or manaca) are collected in Escuintla, Suchitepequez, and Quetzaltenango and delivered to the vendors, generally women from San Juan Sacatepequez.
These industrious women make the arrangements bunches-like adding some purple estaticias (Limonium sp.), red carnations, corozo (Corozo oleifera)flowers, and some other elements.

During the night of the previous Saturday or very early that Sunday, these women arrive to the churches with their precious cargo and before they start selling the bunches, these are blessed by a priest.

making Palms

Palm Sunday in Antigua: art with flowers

2011-04-24T20:05:00.000+02:00

On Palm Sunday, the streets of Antigua are decorated with beautiful carpets before the processions wash them away. Decoration is the key to make your carpet unique and flowers are ingeniously used. Carpets are full of colors and smells of flowers.

The Lent in Guatemala, the secrets of the carpets making

2011-04-01T06:03:00.000+02:00

During the lent and Semana Santa, people make beautiful colorful sawdust carpets on the road where will pass the processions. Where does this tradition come from, this is subject to discussion but what is sure is that these carpets are unique in the world.

The carpets are real masterpieces of Art and it takes months for the families to plan out their carpets. Each one is unique and has its own signature. Carpets are built on the street just in front of their house and families and friends work together in a group effort. It became too a kind of competition to do the most beautiful carpet.

Sawdust is pigmented days before and the night before the procession, neighbors start making the carpets and usually work on it all night long to be ready on time. Size and complexity of the carpets differ, as well as materials used. Most of them use sawdust but others add fruits & vegetables, plants, decorations, or anything that comes to their mind. All is about details.

As the procession approaches, the final touches are placed on the carpets. In a few seconds, all the hard work is destroyed with the float bearers walking on it.

Following the procession is a team of street cleaners and within a few seconds the sawdust has been shoveled and swept, cleaned away.

A carpet of vegetables

Like the butterflies who fly to a destination to survive, humans should work together to end finally this war

the road to the Volcano

The Lent in Guatemala, a long series of processions, carpets (alfombras), and vigils (vigilias)

2011-03-26T03:53:00.001+01:00

With the beginning of the Lent, starts the long series of processions. In Antigua, you can assist to vigils every Friday with its respective procession on Sunday in some villages and municipalities.

The processions consist of floats, or 'andas', bearing statues of Christ with a cross, that are carried by purple-robed men commonly called Cucuruchos. A float with the Virgin Mary follows by women dressed in black clothing.
Being in a procession is taken very seriously by Guatemalan and this is a very serious matter. For the biggest processions during Semana Santa people have to book their space one year in advance and pay for it.

Along the way of the procession, people make sawdust carpets. During the Lent they are really simple but during Semana Santa carpets are really elaborated.

These are the pictures of one the first processions in Antigua:

The Romans walking into the Colonial City

the little Helper or "ayudante"

Jesus carrying his cross

then came the women all in black to represents the sadness of Mary

Mary

and at the end... the cleaning train! To clean the street after the processions, especially when there are carpets

Street sellers

Guatemalan culture: the tradition of the convites

2011-01-24T03:19:00.001+01:00

From the first weekend of December till the last weekend of January, Convites are taking place in the villages around Antigua. Disguised people are inviding the streets of the towns and dance all afternoon to the sound of merengue and Mexican music coming from a big truck. After a few songs, they all move to the next stop, while people follow them on foot. The tradition started during the Spanish Conquest to make fun of the locals, and slowly changed to a big fiesta for everybody to have fun. The weirdest tradition is men who dress up like women. The participants stop along the way in the cantinas to have a beer and finish the afternoon quite drunk.

In the next photos, men dressed up like women...

On the left, Miguel a friend of mine in woman clothes

Pretty!

Sexy :)

Men (sorry women..) drinking the national beer Gallo.

Others nice outfits

families are participating

kids...

even a foreigner!

the famous Guatemalan tortillas!

Some won't remember the end of the day...

The Dead Sea - a must see.

2011-01-20T04:16:00.000+01:00

Having the lowest elevation on Earth, the Dead Sea is located less than an hour drive from Jerusalem and is joining Israel and Jordan. It’s the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It attracts tens of thousands of tourists and health spa enthusiasts from around the world every year. Staying in one of the Dead Sea hotels is an unique experience.

The Dead Sea has a unique climate. It has 330 days of sun per year and it’s the only place where you can sunbathe with little risk of sunburn. The ultraviolet rays are filtered through three natural layers: an extra atmospheric layer, an evaporation layer that exists above the Dead Sea, and a rather thick ozone layer.

Taking a bath in the Dead Sea is an unforgettable experience as you float on the water and you can’t sink. The water contains 21 minerals and some are recognized for activating the circulatory system and easing rheumatic discomfort and metabolic disorders. Another thing to do is to cover your body with the dark mud. The Dead Sea mud is known to help UV rays get absorbed and stimulate the blood circulation around joints affected by psoriatic arthritis.

Nearby don’t miss the ruins of Masada. The mountaintop fortress was transformed in 35 BC by King Herod into a 3 tiered winter home. The story of the siege that took place here has been adopted as a symbol for the modern Jewish state. From April to October, there is a spectacular light show every Tuesday and Thursday which recounts the dramatic history of Masada with special pyrotechnic effects. Spectators sit in a natural amphitheater on the west side of the mountain, reachable only via Arad.
It is home of one of the world first spa resort and now has many spa hotels offering treatments and thermo mineral pools. You’ll have a large choice if you want to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the spa. You can find hotels for all budgets, from simple Guest House to five star spa resorts.

To get there in Israel, the main points of access are the oases of Ein Gebi and Ein Bokek, accessible by bus from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They have both public beaches. On the Jordanian side, it is accessible on a day trip by bus from Ammam and Aqaba.

Australia – your next visa destination?

2011-01-18T03:39:00.000+01:00

When you hear the word Australia you dream of the beach, surf, adventure in the outback… flights from Europe and the United States are regular and you can get a good price if booked in advance. But before to pack your bag and head for the airport check what kind of Australian visa you would need.

If you are under 31 years old and want to enjoy a year in Australia traveling and working, apply for the working holiday visa from home. This is the best way to discover this huge country while enjoying the layback attitude of the Aussie and see if you want to call Australia home.

Australia is the 6th largest country in the world and there is so much to see. The top seven experiences not to miss are:
1. Dive on the Great Barrier Reef
The world’s largest reef stretches along 2,000 kilometers along the Queensland coast, from Cape York to Bundaberg. The best bases to dive are the towns of Cairns and Port Douglas. Discover the reef gardens of Green and Fitzroy Islands. Another great diving spot is Whitsundays to dive around Heron and Lizard Islands. Or take a sea-plane to see the spectacular Heart Reef.

2. Learn to Surf
Australia is well known for its world class surfers. The best surf beaches for beginners are in Victoria on the Great Ocean Road. In New South Wales, the town Byron Bay, Newcastle and Sydney offer a superior swell. But the world’s longest waves are found at Snapper Rocks on Queensland’s Gold Coast. To start, you can do a 3 day surf camp to learn how to stand on the board. Lot of fun!

3. Visit Uluru National Park in Northern Territory
In the middle of Australia is the best world known red rock which has a huge spiritual significance for the Anangu Aboriginal people. According to their creation myths, ancestral spirits formed Uluru, which lies in Australia's red centre like an enormous, moody heart. Aboriginal guides will share these ancient tales as you walk around the rock’s base. Don’t climb it as it’s a sacred place.

4. Walk around Sydney Harbour
Between Barranjoey in the North and Cronulla in the South you can walk along the Great Coastal Walk with sandstone cliffs, golden beaches, lush lagoons and native bushland. The whole walk takes 8 days minimum but you can do day walks too.

5. Watch the Penguins on Philip Island
90 minutes from Melbourne, Philip Island is home of a large colony of the world’s smallest Penguins. Every night at dusk, thousand of them are returning to their sand dune burrows after a day of fishing. The island is home too of koalas and fur seals from October to December

6. Enjoy the wildlife on Kangaroo Island
A short ferry ride from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island is an ecological haven. To get around, you can rent a car or take the only bus stopping at each touristic place. Meet seals, sea lions, koalas, wallabies, bandicoots and platypus can be seen.

7. Hike in the Blue Mountains
90 minute drive from Sydney, hike along the Six Foot track to enjoy breathtaking panoramas. During the summer, temperatures are very high so bring enough water! Others activities include horse ridding and mountain biking.

Photoblog: When there is a fiesta, there are...

2010-12-15T18:42:00.000+01:00

Street sellers

Games for kids

More food

Ice cream

fruits

locals

Photoblog: Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe in Antigua on 12 December

2010-12-13T04:08:00.001+01:00

Just after the Burning of the Devil and the Virgin of La Concepcion, Antigua is celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 12th. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron of America. On this day, the kids from all ages wear traditional indigenous dress and carry the image of the virgin in procession. The tradition originated from Mexico and was brought in Guatemala in 1580.

Chruch La Merced

Virgin of Guadalupe

Christmas ponch!

Photoblog: Dia de la Virgen de la Concepcion in Ciudad Vieja - 8 December

2010-12-13T02:02:00.001+01:00

La Virgen de Concepcion is the virgin patron of Ciudad Vieja. So there is a big celebration on this day starting with a mass at the church, followed by the burning of granadas. During an hour, the main square is full of smoke and you can hear the sound of firecrackers and fireworks.
Then follow the folkloric dances. They originated in the Iberian Peninsula and were introduced in Guatemala during colonial time with local characteristics.

Granadas loaded with firecrackers and fireworks

Christmas spirit!

the show must go on!

Bailes de los Moros y Cristianos

the dance represents the colonization

Dance of the 24 Devils, a theatrical dance between good and evil

the monkey

the death

Photoblog: Convite in Ciudad Vieja 7 December

2010-12-12T05:00:00.001+01:00

On the 7th of December, before the burning of the Devil, there is a convite in Ciudad Vieja. The town is a few kilometers South of Antigua and was the first capital of Guatemala. Convites are allegorical parades the day before a procession.

At 2 pm dozen of carriages & vehicles with religious, cultural and sport decorations left in front of the main church to cross the city. It was fun to see!

Fair in front of the church

When there is a fiesta, there is a marimba

in traditional dresses

angels

a Mexican

Indian

Spaniards

with the local rhum

Men dressed in women!

the dance of the old women

Photoblog: Quemada del Diablo in Antigua, Dec 7th

2010-12-11T23:03:00.003+01:00

To start the Holiday season, all Antigua gather on the night of December 7th to see burning a large effigy of the Devil (Quemada Del Diablo). Guatemalans believe that the Devil live inside their houses and by burning him, he'll be expelled from their houses and homes. The date marks the eve of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and is chosen to symbolize the eternal struggle between good and evil.

The tradition of burning the devil began in colonial times. In anticipation of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patron of Guatemala City, those who could afford it adorned the fronts of their houses with lanterns. Eventually, the poor who could not afford such lanterns began gathering their garbage and would burn all of the year's rubbish in front of their houses. Over time it was formalized and in addition to individual piles of garbage, communities started to burn The Devil to clear the way for Mary's feast.

The Devil decorated with firecrackers

A man read the charges being leveled against the wooded effigy.

the firemen are ready

the crowd is waiting with excitement

the Devil burning

Just impressive!

Traveling with a baby

2010-11-28T04:06:00.000+01:00

Yesterday my son turned 3 month old and we have traveled a long way since he was born. France, Belgium, the United States and Guatemala! We traveled by car, train, plane, bus and pick up. As a backpacker I was used to travel with as little luggage as I could but with a baby things change! But I’m learning to be a traveler mum and be very practical. Here are some advices.

1. Know the place where you’re going

If you’re going to a hotel, ask if they have a laundry service so you don’t need to bring too much change. If you’re going to a friend’s house and they have kids, they probably still have some baby clothes you can borrow or do laundry.

2. Travel light

Well it’s hard to travel really light with a baby as you need to bring the minimum. But I’m trying to be the most practical I can. I only bring the number of diapers I need for the travel and buy a pack where I’m staying. Same for the milk! I bring 2 bags, one diaper handbag and one small suitcase.

3. Get organized
Be organized so during the trip you’ll know where the things you need are. I bring a diaper handbag where I put: diapers, a small pack of clean baby wipes, a tissue to put him/her on while changing diapers, changing clothes, a pullover, a hat, a bottle, sippy cups with formula, a small bottle of water, a small thermos, some plastic bag for dirty diapers or wet clothes, a cloth diaper to clean spit up/ protect your child of the sun/dust.

4. Must have
Don’t forget some medication in case of a fever or pain and a thermometer. I always bring cream in case of irritation, salt water to clean his nose and nail clippers. I found useful to bring a baby blanket, especially if it’s cold or if I’m going to a hotel.

5. Carrying your child
I have opted for a wrap sling or kangaroo scarf in cotton. It took me a few days to understand how to wrap my son but once you get it, it’s really nice. Your hands are free and your baby is sleeping happily on your belly and is warm enough. You can use it too at home when your child is crying a lot or doesn’t want to sleep.

6. Don’t be too stressed
The first time I traveled with my son, I was on my own and I was stressed. How was I going to manage to carry the luggage and my son? But soon I discovered that when you have a kid, there are always people to help you. Actually traveling with a kid make people talk to you!

the kangaroo scarf

Logan loves it!

Biotopo Del Quetzal, a natural sanctuary

2010-11-22T04:45:00.000+01:00

The humidity and greenness greet the tourists at the Biotopo Del Quetzal, where the breeze, the sound of waterfalls and streams become your eternal companions.

The uphill paths in zigzag require any visitor to stop frequently. Some for taking gulps of oxygen to allow them to continue the climb. Others, to look at the sky and the big trees that stand over their heads. The remote hope of seeing the flight of the green bird does not abandon the walkers, even if it is only an illusion.

Biotopo Mario Dary Rivera, or Biotopo Del Quetzal, as mostly known, is a destination for all travelers visiting the departments of Alta and Baja Verapaz. The park of 17 000 hectares, washed usually by the legendary chipi-chipi (persistent drizzle) is located at the Km 160.5 along the road to Coban, Alta Verapaz, although it belongs to the municipality of Purulhá, Baja Verapaz.

The breeze and humidity you can feel during the hike is not only due to the chipi-chipi. The many large and small waterfalls and abundant streams of pure water were created to protect the national bird. The rain is latent throughout the year in the area. However, there are a few minor variations. The months of March and April are when there is less rain, while from June to September is the most precipitation. Between October and January, constant heavy drizzle is taking over the place.

The land and welcome wet grass, and as you go up, the accompanying fog and the chirping of the birds become routine of the voyage. This environment is only interrupted when, in the distance, you hear the crash of water falling over the stones to give life to a waterfall.

The Biotopo is one of the few places in Guatemala where the national bird Quetzal is still living. However, this is just one of many inhabitants of this forest. The variety of plants, saturated with water droplets, are seen everywhere. Different forms of white, black or blond warbler, and lichens, mosses, orchids, bromeliads, algae and other plants can be viewed by the tourists.

They don’t escape the eyes of the visitors, the imposing trunks of eucalyptus, oak, cypress and pine, which rise into the sky, some taller than 40 meters high. These are just some of the 50 species of trees growing in the biotopo, which is administered by the University of San Carlos, USAC.
In the park have been identified at least 58 species of fauna, although it is difficult to observe all of them. You could see the squirrels, wild rabbits, foxes, monkeys zaraguates, poisonous snakes and salamanders, among others.

For anyone wanting to know the place there are two routes, depending on your available time and your physical condition. The smallest route, called Sendero, is a journey of two kilometers which can be done in about an hour. Meanwhile, the longest, called The Mosses, is four kilometers and can be completed in three hours. The first part of both paths is steadily going up.

However, the area which both routes are crossing is just one-twentieth of the entire area of the biotopo, the rest is known as "primitive area." This area conserves the forest in its most natural state.
In this virgin area is concentrated most of the fauna of the area. Howler monkeys, coatis, car mount, wildcats and pumas and jaguars, said Demetrio Dubon one of the guards of the Biotopo.

How to get there :

By Car : From the capital, you have to take the Pan-American highway to the Atlantic (CA-9N) to kilometer 85, El Rancho, El Progreso. From this junction, take the national road No. 17 going to Coban, Alta Verapaz, and searching for the 160.5 kilometer. Here is the Biotopo.

By bus : From Guatemala City, take any bus going to Coban and ask the driver to stop at the Biotopo Del Quetzal. From Coban, take any bus going to Guatemala City and ask the driver to stop at the Biotopo.

When to go :
The park is open every day from 6 am till 4 pm. Entrance fees are $2.50.

Antigua Getaway: Spend a weekend in a mountain lodge

2010-11-20T23:52:00.000+01:00

In the mountains above Antigua, twenty minutes from the city, Earth Lodge is the perfect getaway for a weekend. Own by a very friendly American Canadian couple and their dogs, this small eco mountain lodge and avocado farm has a breathtaking view on the Panchoy valley and the Volcano Acatenango. Come to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings while listening to the birds singing and watching the eruptions of the Volcano Fuego.

They offer accommodation in a tent or a dorm for the most adventurous. Or you can stay in one of their cabin or the tree house nestled in the branches of an oak tree. Every night they are serving a delicious home cooked vegetarian dinners. You will love their world famous moussaka, veggie burgers, beer bread and desserts.

Saturday night is BBQ night and they often organize a music night on Sunday. As for Christmas, New Year’s Eve and the American bank holidays, you’ll sure to have a great diner following by games, fire and marshmallows.
As for activities, you can go for a hike in the surrounding mountains, take some private Spanish lessons, spend some time in the Mayan sauna, play games or just relax and read in a hammock!

You can come to volunteer too at El Hato School that Drew and Briana has been sponsoring for the last 3 years.

To get there, there are different options. You can call a day before to arrange for their driver to pick you up in Antigua for 50 Quetzals (6$). Or take a Chicken Bus to El Hato for 4 Quetzals (0.50$) but the schedule is erratic and it only goes to the main plaza (20 minutes walk from the hotel)

The third option, the one I prefer and have done a few times, is to walk from Antigua. First you have to go to Cerro de la Cruz. The walk starts at the end of 1 Avenida Norte. Keep walking north until you get to the steps entering the forest. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the cross. From there, you can hike up to the village of El Hato where the eco-hostel Earth Lodge is. It will take another hour with no particular difficulties. From the cross, walk uphill to the main paved street and turn left. Keep walking until you get to the village, while enjoying the view on the volcanoes and Jocotenango. Once you get to El Hato, take the muddy road until you get to the pila (water tank). You will see the sign for the Earth Lodge.

For more information on Earth Lodge, check their website

View on the Valley of Antigua

Earth Lodge


A stunning view!

Caban in the trees

Volcano of Fuego in action

Stay in a beautiful Hotel Boutique in Antigua Guatemala

2010-08-25T17:08:00.003+02:00

A concept designed for people with special tastes, more hotels are opening in Antigua Guatemala, all unique and incomparable in beauty and elegance.

Antigua Guatemala, a city of peace and nostalgia, has kept its cobbled streets and colonial style houses with clay tile roofs and elegant balconies. Its temples and monasteries remind you the place has a long history. The city was declared Patrimony of Humanity in 1979 by UNESCO. The whole atmosphere is an essential component for this type of accommodation, the so-called boutique hotels, a style that tends to increase.

The architectural designs of the Hotels Boutique were done in a beautiful way, complemented with unique decorations and attention to the smallest detail. Nothing was done randomly. A table, lamp, pillow or the flowers have been selected with care, always seeking to be unique. This, together with the personalized attention, makes you feel better than at home.

Francisco Sandoval, owner of one of the Boutique Hotel says that the concept, which comes from Europe, is a hotel that is not big or standard. No room is equal to the other regarding the type of bed, furniture or color, and these particularities make the distinction and difference. "They target a type of person who appreciates the culture and Antigua is perfect for that by having a lot of history," he adds.

The number of these hotels is increasing, either in new buildings that conserve Antiguan architecture, remodeling or restorations. When remodeling, walls or elements of the place should be respected, something common in town. The conservation guidelines are written in the Protection Law of 1969, which stresses that if you want to build second floors, a new construction or redesign a building, you must have prior permission from the municipality and the Council protector. Over the years the standard has not always been respected.

Good taste in every room
These small hotels have adapted the old houses or buildings with modern but colonial architectural designs, very typical in Antigua. Eclectic style prevails, but with colonial Guatemalan traditional decor, like knitted rugs, quilts and crafts.

Posada del Angel , a sober and elegant hotel, welcoming guests from all over the world since the early 1990s, became famous when Bill Clinton, then president of the States United, stayed in March 1999.
This hotel was built by his owner Mary Sue Morris, an American who arrived in the country in the 1980s, fell in love with Antigua and decided that this house would be to show the beauty of the handicrafts and antiques of Guatemala. She imagined a small and cozy place, decorated with art of Guatemala, such as furniture, antiques and textiles. The house is bright and has enough space for everyone. The house makes the details; otherwise it would be one more building. The benches and tables in the living room, dining room and bedrooms are from Chichicastenango. They come from private collections of different families. Beams, columns and stone bases are from Panajachel.

Some old doors are located in the green and blue rooms, laundry and library. The chandeliers in the living room are from Istanbul, the painting of the Virgin is from Peru, the tables to play cards are French. The lamps of the corridor and some bedrooms are from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The rugs are from Turkey. But among all these objects, Guatemalan crafts are predominant. Before placing an item in the house, Morris made sure it had a historical value and was very original, for example, fabrics used in the green room are textiles with unique shapes and colors. The bathroom has a special design with two steps that communicate with the shower and two pillars that enhance the decor.

Exclusive attention
Special attention to the guest is what motivated Vayssier Carolina to open the doors of Posada de Los Leones. The mystical and magical atmosphere of Antigua is favorable for the hotel.
The architecture of the Posada de Los Leones has a Moorish influence with a lot of light. The decoration is made of Guatemalan textile and antique forge.

The four bedrooms and two master suites have their own style, each with a fireplace, a Moroccan style bathroom and French windows that connect to their own terraces and garden.
One of the most special environments is in the living room where you can watch the garden and fountain in the rustic armchairs. At night it is illuminated by candles, which makes it even more enjoyable. Even the kitchen has a peculiar touch, where the guests can watch the food preparation and even make their meal themselves.

Mix of contemporary and past
Meson Panza Verde is one of them. Built in the 1970s, it has an old colonial style with an eclectic decor, a mix of contemporary and past. It's one of the first hotels with these features. Recently, the owner bought land to expand the facilities, building a master suite, garden and parking. But without losing uniqueness of the house, with domes and terraces, and different touches, such as paintings, lamps and furniture.

There are twelve bedrooms, three doubles and nine suites, corridors, several rooms and the restaurant. Among some of the details that make it special, the cozy and elegant lamps are from India, the soaps are handmade especially for Panza Verde. Even the roses that adorn the vases in the interior and exterior spaces are planted only for the inn. In addition, there are two galleries because the owners are art lovers. There is a permanent exhibition and another one changing, which combines domestic and foreign contemporary artists.

Old Beauties
One of the most recent Hotel Boutique to open its doors is Casa Santa Rosa, a residential estate of one hundred years ago. During the reconstruction they were careful not to lose that touch that makes it special with its neoclassical style. Thus, some mosaics, hands sink and showers are still original. Spacious and comfortable, each room has a living room and fireplace. Like any boutique hotel, each room has its own style, thanks to the decoration. The bedcovers are made of Spanish fabric and 250-thread count Egyptian linens. A large garden extends throughout the house, where the colors of flowers depend on the season.

These hotels Boutique encourage visitors to spend a pleasant stay in one of the world's most beautiful cities, Antigua Guatemala.

To organize your luxury stay in Antigua and Guatemala,you can contact the Guatemalan based tour operator Tropical Discovery.

10 Most Romantic places in the world

2010-08-23T19:40:00.000+02:00

1. Heart-Shaped Reef , Australia
Within the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia, the Heart-Shaped Reef draws a heart in the turquoise ocean. This is a message of love sent to those who fly over.

2. The Taj Mahal, Agra, India
In the city of Agra in India, the Taj Mahal throne as a promise of eternal love. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahan decided in 1631 to build this incredible monument in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their fourteenth child. The expression of undying passion is exposed to millions of tourists, and lovers.

3. Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Rome, capital of la dolce vita, the Trevi Fountain is the perfect place for a tryst. Built at the request of Pope Benedict XIV, you will be impressed by its charm and its sculptures of enormous proportions. According to a legend, a young girl named Trevi revealed the location of a water source to the Roman soldiers to keep her virginity. Go to the fountain, and with your right arm, throw a coin into the basin while making a wish ... love.

4. Lakes Tislit & Isli, Morocco
In Morocco, the beautiful lakes Tislit and Isli have inspired a Shakespearean legend. A long time ago, Tislit and Isli were in love but it was impossible because of the rivalry between their respective tribes. Knowing they would never been together, they said goodbye and went off, each one on their side, to pour out their grief in a lonely valley. Sitting on a stone, remembering the precious moments they spent together, they cried so much that two lakes were formed at their feet and eventually engulfed them. Feeling sorry about the fate of the two young people, their tribes decided to sign a truce. And they gave the name of the unhappy lovers to the two lakes: Isli (the groom) for the largest and Tislit (the bride) to the smallest. Today, a festival is held each year, the "moussem of the engagements”, during which unions are decided for the young Berbers of neighborhood tribes.

5. Temple Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto, Japan
Who said love is blind? Perhaps it’s one of the visitors of the Japanese temple Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, home to two stones with the magical power of love. It is believed that any person, who successfully passes the eighteen meters between the two stones by closing the eyes, will certainly find a soul mate. Try your luck!

6. The Seychelles, Indian Ocean
A little piece of paradise with a warm and sunny climate all year around, in the heart of the Indian Ocean ... Welcome to the Seychelles! This archipelago with many islands is a favorite destination for those who love white sand beaches and turquoise and translucent ocean. Some choose to get married, their feet in the water.

7. Playa Del Amor, Baja-California in México
You should think twice before going swimming at Playa del Amor, in Baja California, Mexico. The current is very strong and the waves are crashing against the cliffs carved by the ocean. Only those who venture on the east side of the beach will find the perfect place to swim and dive in search of colorful fishes that inhabit the coast. It is the perfect beach for lovers thanks to its hidden bay.

8. Guilin, China
In the southeast of China, the mysterious landscapes of Guilin give a timeless air to this area. Similar to the Vietnamese Halong Bay with its sugarloaf, Guilin evokes a traditional Chinese painting. In the evening, when the sun sets over this town of less than one million inhabitants, fishermen return to the solitary shores. In China, the newlyweds enjoy this destination as a honeymoon. Is love as perpetual as the beauty of Guilin?

9. Ouvéa, New Caledonia
The island of New Caledonia is of a striking beauty. Surrounded by a lagoon, Uvea is dominated by two colors: white and turquoise. The sandy beaches and cliffs pierced with caves are the best places of an archipelago rich in meaning for lovers: the Loyalty Islands.

10. Spitzberg Island, Norway
Spitsbergen is a unique and privileged place for those who wish to escape time ... or create the illusion. During the long months of polar winter when the sun never rises on this island in the Arctic Ocean, the northern lights illuminate the sky. It is said that lovers who are lucky enough to attend one of them on the day of Saint Valentine will remain united for life.

See a Blue Whale in Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec

2010-08-18T18:06:00.003+02:00

Gouged out by a glacier, with banks blanketed in thick forest and flanked by rugged cliffs, the spectacular, 100 km Saguenay Fjord eventually merges its warm waters with the chilly St. Lawrence Estuary, creating one of North America's richest feeding grounds for whales. Seeing a blue whale--the biggest mammal on earth-- is an unforgetable experience to live during your Canada Holidays. Settle yourself on the shore and you may spot one as the Park is one of the few places on Earth where you can observe them from the coast. To have more chance, visit the region between May and October.

To live at the rhythm of the tides, the best experience is to backpack for a few days from a shelter to another one on the path overlooking the fjord.

Photo op: For belugas, head to the viewing platforms at Baie Sainte-Marguerite and Pointe-Noire. On the fjord's south side at Rivière-Éternité, Zodiac boats navigate 300-meter cliffs that dwarf even passing cruise ships.

Wildlife: In summer, finback, mink, and enormous blue whales congregate in the area where the waters meet. Humpbacks and sperm whales also visit. Small white belugas stick around all year. Look for birds gathering over the water--it's a telltale sign of whales beneath.

Where to stay: The Park offers campground sites (Baie-Éternité and Baie-Saint-Marguerite) as well as primitive sites for hiking and sea kayaking. Cabin (Baie-Éternité) and hut (north and south shores of the fjord) accommodations are also available. Or base yourself where the rivers merge, in the French-Canadian village of Tadoussac. Founded as a fur post in 1599, today it trades in tourists and crafts.

How to get there: Situated between Tadoussac and Saguenay, the best is to get to Tadoussac by bus from Quebec City (214 km) then rent a car.

Quebec City, an unparalleled romance

2010-08-18T11:16:00.001+02:00

When I arrived in Quebec City in 2005, I was immediately touched by its beauty and its enchanting settings on 200 foot high cliffs with stunning views of the surrounding Laurentian Mountains and the St. Lawrence River.

Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. Historic Québec was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. From the top of its imposing ramparts down to the mighty St. Lawrence, Québec City, the only fortified city north of Mexico, is your invitation to plunge into a colorful pageant of history.

Orienting yourself in Quebec is fairly easy. Many sights of interest are in the Old Town (Vieux-Québec), which constitutes the walled city on top of the hill. Visit the Artillery Park featuring many historic buildings, including an impressive redoubt dating from the French Regime. If you like museum, have a look at the Musée de l’Amérique française, and the Musée des Ursulines.

Take the funicular to the Lower Town, whose origins hearken back to the first days of the colony. Place-Royale and the adjacent Petit-Champlain quarter are full of activity with an interpretation centre, shops, and many restaurants and bistros. On Place Royale, do not miss the huge mural covering the entire side of a nearby building; the figure with a hat standing at the base of the stree' is Champlain. An interesting museum is the Musée de la civilisation. Walk along the Old Port or, in summer, hop aboard a refreshing cruise on the river.

If you decide to climb back up toward the Citadelle dominating the city, you’ll pass by the medieval Château Frontenac with gables and turrets. From there, stroll along the Dufferin Terrace, a boardwalk offering a grand view of the St. Lawrence River. If you keep going, you’ll come to the Plains of Abraham, also known as Battlefields Park. This vast green space was the site of the fateful clash in 1759 between the French and British armies, one of the most significant military events in North American history. The site also houses the Musée national des Beaux-Arts du Québec, with its remarkable collection of Québec art and steady stream of major international exhibitions.

The Upper Town and Lower Town are connected by many staircases, all of which are unique, such as the aptly-named Escalier Casse-Cou ("Breakneck Stairs").

How to get there? You can find Cheap Flights to Montreal then Quebec is at 3 hours by car or bus.

Discover Paris: Montmartre and its beautiful white Church

2010-08-18T10:23:00.002+02:00

The Church of the Sacré-Cœur, perched atop the Butte Montmartre, attracts tourists from around the world. There are no more balls and cabarets of the Belle Époque. Remains the charm of the old Montmartre: its steep streets, its flights of stairs and its beautiful green-roofed houses. On the boulevards, the concert halls are filling up at night while the Pigalle of sex is awaking. A few minutes away, the New Athens district reveals the charms of its romantic quiet streets lined with hotels. A nice transition before walking into bustle of the boulevards.

Start you visit at the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. It’s a Roman Catholic Church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A popular landmark, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. The inspiration for the Basilica originated in the wake of the division in French society that arose in the decades following French Revolution, between ultra-Catholics and legitimist royalists on one side, and socialists and radicals on the other. A law of public utility was passed to seize land at the summit of Montmartre for the construction of the basilica. Construction began in 1875 and was completed in 1914, although consecration of the basilica was delayed until after World War I. Inside, a mosaic in the apse, entitled Christ in Majesty, is among the largest in the world. The basilica complex includes a garden for meditation, with a fountain. The top of the dome is open to tourists and affords a spectacular panoramic view of the city of Paris, which is mostly to the south of the basilica.

Have a look at the Church St Pierre de Montmartre, one of the oldest churches of Paris hidden behind a facade of the 18th Century. It is the only remain of the abbey Aux Dames (1147), built on the remains of an alleged former Roman temple, from where could come the 4 columns of marble of the heart of the church. The church is the location at which the vows were taken that led to the founding of the Society of Jesus.

Walk around the Place du Tertre. With its many artists setting up their easels each day for the tourists, the Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when Montmartre was the Mecca of modern art. At the beginning of the 20th century, many penniless painters including Picasso and Utrillo were living there. Prominent in the square is a cafe, Au Clairon des Chasseurs, which is famous for its reasonably priced local cuisine, and as a bonus, its constant live music which is in the style of Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. L'Espace Salvador Dalí, a museum principally dedicated to the sculpture and drawings of Salvador Dalí, can be found a few steps from Place du Tertre.

Walk down the hill to the Moulin Rouge. It is a cabaret built in 1889, marked by the red windmill on its roof. The Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today the Moulin Rouge is a tourist destination, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. Much of the romance of turn-of-the-century France is still present in the club's decor.

Have a look around the Nouvelle Athènes district. The triangle formed by Place Pigalle / Notre-Dame-de-Laurette / Sainte Trinité, built in the 18th century, unveils romantic splendor: English gardens, courtyards and arched passages, neoclassical buildings which were once the residence of a community of artists (Berlioz, Sand, Degas, Chopin, Dumas ...)

End your visit by the Passages Couverts on Boulevard Montmartre. It took a few architectural tricks to build these magnificent glass-roofed passageways and hide the irregularity of the plots. The Passage des Panoramas opened in 1799, followed in 1846 and 1847 by the passages Jouffroy and Verdeau. Traders have kept the tradition of old shops. Some shops are like small museums: books, comics, toys, etc.

How to get there: Montmartre is served by the metro: line 2 (stations of Anvers, Pigalle and Blanche) and the line 12 (stations of Pigalle, Abbesses, Lamarck - Caulaincourt and Jules Joffrin).

Where to stay: there are many hotels in Paris city centre for all budgets and all tastes.

Sleeping in a Tee-pee in Canada

2010-07-27T00:15:00.000+02:00

Have you ever dream of sleeping in a Tee-pee like an Indian? I did when I was a kid! A few years ago, I had this unique chance during my Holidays to Canada

Three hours and a half by car north of Montreal is the Lake Saint Paul. On the shore, you’ll find the village tee-pee La Bourgade where they offer an accommodation typical Sioux. The tee-pee has a diameter of 6 meters with a fire place in the middle to keep warm during the night. It's a return to the sources that bring you back to the rhythm of nature. Open all year long, it’s a perfect place to come to relax and enjoy the surroundings. You can use the canoe and go hiking on one of their ecological paths during the summer. During the winter, go dog sledging or snowshoeing.

Next door is the Spa Bains du Lac Marie Louise where you can enjoy a good massage. After, go to their wood-fired Finnish sauna, with an aromatic steam bath and a multi jet whirlpool bath overlooking the Lake. Take two hours to enjoy this beautiful wilderness recreation alone or with your partner. You can finish your weekend by a visit to the hammam and have a swim in the Lake after.
After two days away from the civilization and only surrounded by nature, you’ll feel relaxed and ready to take a fresh start.

All information about prices and directions can be found on their website: http://www.labourgade.ca/Default.aspx

Explore the beautiful natural wonder of Niagara Falls

2010-07-26T19:56:00.000+02:00

Everyone has heard of the Niagara Falls, undoubtedly the most famous waterfall on the planet. The first time I saw them I was 8 and seem to me so huge! In 2005, while living in Dublin, I decided to go back for a visit to see how well I remembered the place.

From Dublin, you can find some Cheap Flights to Toronto so it’s a good place to start your holidays. From Toronto, you can get the Niagara Falls by bus or by rental car.

At the border of Ontario, Canada and the state of New York, the falls themselves are separated into two major sections - Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and the American as well as smaller Bridal Veil falls on the American side of the border.

The top 5 activities in Niagara Falls are:

1. Maid of the Mist
On a boat, protected by blue jackets, you go as close to the waterfalls as you can get to feel the power. Prepare yourself to be soaked! A great experience! The tour operates from late April to late October (depend of the weather) and costs 11 Euros per adult.

2. The Cave of the Winds
To get even closer to the waters of Niagara Falls, go to the Cave of the Winds on the American side. Ride an elevator 53 meters deep into the Niagara Gorge then put a yellow poncho and special footwear provided. The tour guide will bring you to the famous “Hurricane Deck” through wooden walkways. Here you stand at 6 meters from the torrents of Bridal Veil Falls. Although you don’t go into the falls, the falls come to you! Rainbows can be seen day and night. Open every day, the entrance costs 9 Euros per adult.

3. Take a walk along the Promenade
A boardwalk overlooking the river runs from the touristy Clifton Hill area all the way to Horseshoe Falls/Table Rock on the Canadian side of the river. A walk along the boardwalk offers some of the best views of the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe falls. Be sure to take a stroll in the evening as well when the falls are lit with colorful lights.

4. Skylon Tower
Standing at 236 meters high, the observation deck of Skylon Tower offers spectacular views of the falls as well as the surrounding town and area. It was built on the Canadian side and opened as an attraction in 1965.The observation deck is reached by riding in one of the 3 yellow elevators that traverse the outside of the tower. At the top there are too a gift shop and a gourmet restaurant revolving the full 360 degrees once an hour. The ride costs 10 Euros per adult.

5. Niagara Whirlpool Aero car Ride
The aero car spans the river about 6 kilometers north of Niagara Falls. You cross the river above the Niagara Whirlpool offering a beautiful view of the gorge. The whirlpool is formed at the end of the river rapids where the river makes an abrupt 90 degree turn forcing the river to churn counterclockwise exiting at the narrowest part of the gorge. Operating from early spring to November, a ticket costs 9 Euros per adult.

Visit London on a budget

2010-07-26T15:29:00.000+02:00

Everybody has heard that London is expensive. Yes it is but traveling to London on a budget is possible too. Just follow the guide!

1. Get an Oyster Card!
London is big and you’ll certainly take often the tubes and buses to get from a place to another place to see as much as you can. Buy an Oyster card, an electronic travel card which gives you big discount on your tickets. For example, a one-way journey in Zone 1 costs £1.80 on an Oyster card, and £4 with a normal ticket! Choose the pay-as-you-go version. After paying the initial £3 deposit, you can top up the card by any amount (you can even do so online).

2. Visit the free museums
Many of the museums in London are free so if you like art and history, plan a visit!
• British Museum Great Russell Street, WC1 Underground: Russell Square or Tottenham Court Road. This is the first museum visited in London and it’s huge.You might want to plan a full day for the visit.
• Museum of London London Wall, EC2Y 5HN Underground: Barbican
This fascinating museum tells the story of London from 1666 to the present day through a variety of exhibits.
• Natural History Museum Cromwell Road SW7 Underground: South Kensington
Opened in 1881 to display the British Museum's natural history collection, the highlights are the Creepy-Crawly, Human Biology, Ecology and Earth galleries.
• Science Museum Exhibition Road SW7 Underground: South Kensington
This museum is full of science and technology exhibits, of the past, present and future. It's plenty of fun for kids and adults too.

3. Watch a film or listen music for free
Every Tuesdqy, purchase a copy of the weekly entertainment listings magazine Time Out. In each of their sections - Art, Comedy, Film, Music, Nightlife and others - they specify which events are free.

4. Book in advance your hotel
You can find cheap hotels in London city centre but plan your trip ahead and have a look around on the internet. The wide range of accomodation in London gives you a large choice.

5. Take a low-cost airline to London
If you’re coming from Europe, Ryanair and Easyjet have flight from all other Europe to London. Book in advance to get really cheap tickets! If you’re coming from another country, look at the website whichbudget which tracks budget airlines to/from London.

Rouen, City of Art and History

2010-07-20T09:12:00.001+02:00

At only an hour and a half from Paris by car and one hour by train, Rouen is known to be the place where St Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was burnt. The old city center and museums can be seen in a day trip from Paris.

Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Medieval Europe, it was one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th century to the 15th century. Unfortunately a great deal of Rouen was very badly damaged during the second world war, but extensive reconstruction has taken place to rebuild the medieval old town. Rouen also contains a number of noteworthy monuments including an impressive cathedral - famously painted by Monet on many occasions.

Places to visit
The Cathedral: Damaged several times during the centuries, the present building was built in the 12th Century. Last time it was damaged was during the bombing in April 1944 and came close to complete collapse. Happily the cathedral was saved and has undergone major renovations since that time. Covered in lacy Flamboyant Gothic stonework, Rouen cathedral is dominated by three towers: the Tour Saint-Roman (c.1145); the Tour de Beurre (15th century; 151 m/250 feet) and the Tour Lanterne (1876), which contains a carillon of 56 bells, utilizes 740 tons of iron and bronze, and rises to almost 150m (500 ft). Inside is the tomb of Richard the Lionheart which contains his heart.

From the Cathedral walk to the church of St Joan of Arc via the Rue du Gros Horloge. The old city center of Rouen has beautiful half timber buildings. You will walk under the Great Clock which is housed in a Gothic Belfry with a Renaissance archway. It is spectacular. The astronomical clock and the phases of the moon date from the early 16th century.

The Church of St Joan of Arc is a modern church built on the site where Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431. The large cross stands on the exact spot with the church next to it. Its strangely shaped slate tiled roof is supposed to represent the flames. It is quite a contrast to the wood and timber buildings on the other side of the square.

Another beautiful gothic church is the Church St.-Maclou which was built in 1432. A block east is the Aître St.-Maclou, a somewhat curiously decorated cemetery dating from the Great Plague in the 14th century. Have a look at the buildings to see carvings evoking death and the mummified cat.

Walking back to the cathedral take the Rue Rollon to have a look at the Palais de Justice (Palace of Justice), the largest civil Gothic building in France. It was constructed during the late middle Ages. It has been restored since the war but certain parts have been deliberately left exposed as a testament to the bombardments the city suffered during its liberation by the allies.

If you have time, visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Art), which features a collection of sculptures and some excellent canvases by Velazquez, Delacroix, Sisley and Monet (including paintings of the Cathedral Notre-Dame in Rouen).

Eating
You can’t leave the city without tasting a crepe (French pancake). Sharing some delicious crepes with friends and family around a bowl of cider is part of the Normandy experience. Various creperies offer dishes combining traditional galettes (salty pancakes) and crepes with tasty compositions, sometimes quite surprising.

Jeanne d'Arc
I can’t write about Rouen without talking of Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), a heroine of France and a Saint. Bornt in 1412, she was a peasant girl who led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, claiming she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from the English domination. She was captured by the Burgundians, sold to the English, tried by an ecclesiastical court, and burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old. Twenty-five years later, on the initiative of Charles VII, Pope Callixtus III reviewed the decision of the ecclesiastical court, found her innocent, and declared her a martyr. She was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.

How to get there: By car, take the motorway A13 from Paris. It takes about 1h30. By train, several trains depart from the St Lazare Station in Paris for Rouen on a daily basis. Tickets cost around 20 euros and can be purchased at the station immediately beforehand.

Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most attractive cities

2010-07-16T12:33:00.000+02:00

Having family living in Alsace, I almost feel like I'm from Strasbourg. I love the city, the athmosphere and off course the good food. So I'm trying to come for a visit at least once a year, when I'm not on the roads.

Located close to the border with Germany, Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in north-eastern France. The historic city centre, the Grande Île ("Grand Island"), was classified a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1988 thanks to the richness and sheer density of its heritage sites.

The must see are:
• The Kammerzell house (16 Place de la Cathedrale): A genuine "jewel in the crown" of Strasbourg’s architecture, this house once provided income for several generations of merchants. During the 15th century, people would sell their goods under the carved stone arches of its ground floor. The intricately carved half-timbered frames decorating the upper floors date from 1589.

• The Barrage Vauban (Place Hans-Jean-Arp): The Barrage Vauban (Vauban weir) is a weir erected in the 17th century on the river Ill west of the "Petite France" district. It was constructed from 1686 to 1700 by the French Engineer Jacques Tarade according to plans by Vauban. Several stories high, it houses sculptures in its main level and a panoramically terrace on its roof.

• Petite France district: This is the most picturesque district of old Strasbourg. Fishermen, millers and tanners once lived and worked in this part of town where the streets have been built level with the waterways. The magnificent half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries. Their sloping roofs open out onto lofts where hides were once dried.

• The Cathedrale: it is a Roman Catholic cathedral. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of high, or late, Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318. Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel», the cathedral is visible far across the plains of Alsace. Inside, the slending nave inspires meditation. The monumental organ has an incredible buffet with automatons. Opening hours: Every day from 7 a.m. to 11.20 a.m. and from 12.35 to 7 p.m.

• The astronomical clock: it is located inside the Cathedral. Major artifact of the Renaissance, it is the product of a collaboration between artists, mathematicians, watchmakers, sculptors, painters and creators of automatons. The clock dates from 1843. Its main features, besides the automata, are a perpetual calendar (including a computus), an orrery (planetary dial), a display of the real position of the Sun and the Moon, and solar and lunar eclipses. The main attraction is the procession of the life-size figures of Christ and the Apostles which occurs every day at 12:30pm.

• The Cathedral platform: A climb up to the platform (332 steps) is a thrilling experience. The spiral staircase takes you to the very heart of the building, where you can discover some amazing views. The panoramic view from the top of the platform is breathtaking, overlooking the rooftops of Strasbourg and stretching out as far as the Vosges and the Black Forest in Germany when the weather is clear.

• The Palais Royan: Former residence of the prince-bishops, it was built from 1732 to 1742. Now it houses three museums: the Decorative Arts Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and the Archaeological Museum.

• The European institutions: New York, Geneva and Strasbourg are the only cities in the world which are home to international institutions without being national capitals. The choice of Strasbourg as the European capital following the Second World War is no accident. The city stands as a shining symbol of reconciliation between peoples and of the future of Europe.
Discovering Europe’s institutions is also a great opportunity to admire some marvelous examples of contemporary architecture.

• Kronenbourg Brewery: it is a brewery founded in 1664 by Geronimus Hatt in Strasbourg as the Hatt Brewery. The name comes from the area (Cronenbourg) where the brewery relocated in 1850. The company is owned by the Carlsberg Group. The main brand is Kronenbourg 1664, a 5.5% abv pale lager which is the best selling premium lager brand in France. You will follow a picturesque route in the ancient vaulted cellars, before watching a film projection on the history and manufacture of the beer, and then end the visit by tasting different beers. Address : 68 route d'Oberhausbergen 67200 Strasbourg Cronenbourg

How to get there:
- By train: now that the TGV (high speed train) goes to Strasbourg, you can get there only in 2h20 from Paris.
- By air: Strasbourg-Entzheim International Airport is just 10 km from Strasbourg town centre via the motor-way.

Where to eat:
In Strasbourg, cooking is more than just an art of living, it is a vibrant and living culture backed up by centuries of tradition, yet constantly experimenting and innovating, driven on by the talent of the great chefs and the dynamism of the city’s restaurant owners.
Traditional Alsatian specialties such as sauerkraut, baeckeoffe, flambé tart, spaetzle and foie gras can be best enjoyed in the "winstubs", local Alsatian taverns known for their friendly atmosphere. Strasbourg is renowned for its hundreds of restaurants and brasseries offering the latest culinary trends and dishes from all around the world.

When to go:
Strasbourg can be visited all year around. Winters can be really cold with snow but don’t miss the Christmas market every year in December.

Summer Festivals in Paris

2010-07-11T13:50:00.000+02:00

If you are in Paris for the summer or just spending a few days, enjoy one of the festivals taking place around town.

Paris Plages (20th July- 20th August)
You don’t have the money to go to the beach? Don’t worry, the beach is coming to you! For the 9th year, the banks of the Seine (in the centre of Paris) and the Bassin de la Villette (in the north-east) see the return of 2,500 tonnes of sand, hundreds of deckchairs, pétanque, tai-chi lessons, ballroom dancing lessons and a swimming pool on the Voie Georges Pompidou (4th arrondissement). The activities and concerts at Paris Plages are all free! Roller-blading, BMXing and flatland biking activities are also on offer at the Pelouse de Reuilly (12th arrondissement), near the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes (metro station: Porte Dorée).

Fnac Indetendance Music Festival (23rd July – 14th August)
Every Friday and Saturday from 5 pm, artists such as Tricky, Nada Surf, Arno and Beat Assaillant will be performing in front of the Paris City Hall. More info here (in French)
How to get there? Metro 1 and 11 station Hotel de Ville

Au Clair de Lune cinema (4th-22nd August)
If you like watching movies outside, squares and public gardens across Paris host film screenings. Cinéma au clair de lune (Moonlight cinema) is organized by the Forum des Images and offers around ten outdoor screenings for those that love Paris and cinema. It will feature a film tribute to Eric Rohmer, La Science des rêves (The Science of Sleep) by Michel Gondry, A bout de souffle (Breathless) by Jean-Luc Godard and Two days in Paris by Julie Delpy. Admission is Free
Some recommendations :
- In case of rain, the screenings may be canceled.
- Do not forget a sweater, summer nights can be cool.
To see the program, click Here (in French)

La Villette Open air Cinema (17th July – 20th August)
Another place to watch movies is at La Villette in the North East of Paris. For the 20th edition of the open air cinema , they are showing films on the theme “Beeing 20 years old”
European filmmakers François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Ken Loach, Maurice Pialat, Leos Carax, Abdellatif Kechiche, Cristian Mungiu; U.S.: Woody Allen, Sofia Coppola, Jim Jarmusch, Asian, Jie Liu, Hong Sang-Soo ... and others, return to blow the 20 candles the favorite rendezvous of the Parisian summer moviegoers.
When: Tuesday to Sunday nights when the night falls. All movies are in original version with subtitles.
Free admission
How to get there? Metro 5 station Porte de Pantin
To see the program, click here (in French)

Paris Jazz Festival (12th June – 1st August)
If you like Jazz, Paris Jazz Festival is the largest summer jazz festival in Paris with the new vocal project by David Linx and Maria Joao, North African jazz and events featuring the musicians Zohar Fresco and Yair Dalal supporting David El Malek. Paris Jazz Festival also features a more “classical” long weekend: Jazz au Vert, a festival which is set to see the likes of Christophe Monniot perform “Vivaldi Universel” and the pianist Enrico Pieranunzi perform his interpretation of Scarlatti.
It’s taking place at the Esplanade Saint Louis, Parc Floral de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes.
How to get there? Metro 1 station Château de Vincennes ; Bus lines: 47 & 112
Admission: €5 / €2.50 reduced rate (concert days only).
For the programm, click here (in English)

Paris Quartier d’Eté festival (14th July – 15th August)
Come and enjoy the 21st Paris Quartier d’Eté festival which is set to take place in several locations across Paris. The programme includes dance, music, theatre and other original artistic forms of expression: ballet from the Grand Théâtre de Genève in the courtyard of the Palais Royal, Feydeau’s play La Dame de chez Maxim, performed by the Compagnie du Théâtre National de Bretagne land the Compagnie Italienne avec Orchestre, Tangier Acrobatic Group directed by a Swiss duo, etc.
Programm: www.quartierdete.com

Best Summer Festivals in France

2010-07-10T15:11:00.000+02:00

A great way to decompress and get away during the holidays, summer festivals are numerous. Here is a quick overview of events not to miss.

1. Les Francofolies – La Rochelle
Dates: 13 to 17 July 2010
Founded in 1985 at the initiative of Jean-Louis Foulquier, the Francopholies of La Rochelle has an important place in the calendar of the music festivals in France. For evidence, the public's enthusiasm for this event: between 100,000 and 150,000 people are attending each year. The 2010 edition will welcome artists like: Jean Jacques Dutronc, BB Prunes, M.Phoenix, Diam's, Vanesa Paradis, Alain Souchon and Miossec.
For more info (in French), click here

2. Les Vielles Charrues – Carhaix (Bretagne)
Dates: 15 to 19 July 2010
The annual festival lasts four days, Les Vielles Charrues includes artists from Brittany but French and international artists too. Its electrical publicity and friendly spirit make it the biggest festival in France (230,000 entries in 2009). Artists present this year are : Indochine, Muse, Mika, Jamiroquai and Pony Pony Run. But the biggest event will be the live of the group NTM on July 16th.

3. Rock en Seine – Saint Cloud (Ile de France)
Dates: 27 to 29 August 2010
Created in 2003, this young festival has already established itself as a reference for all the lovers of rock, thanks to the representation of international artists. Rock en Seine benefits in addition to an unique setting for all its concerts spread over three stages, in the heart of the Park of Saint Cloud. And this year there will be music for all tastes with the presence of Cypress Hill, Massive Attack, Queen of the Stone Age, The Kooks or Arcade Fire.
For more info click here (in English)

4. Les Rencontres d’Arles – Arles (South of France)
Dates : 3 July to 19 September
Since 1970, Les Rencontres d'Arles is the summer event that brings together international photographic artists and reporters. Thanks to its unique programm, this festival has gained an international dimension. Last year over 70,000 visitors, many from foreign countries, were able to admire the works exhibited in unusual places, such as religious buildings or industrial buildings.
For more info, click here (in English)

5. Festival d’Avignon – Avignon (South of France)
Dates: 7 to 27 July 2010
Founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, the Avignon Festival is today one of the most important contemporary performing arts events in the world. Avignon becomes a city-theater, transforming its architectural heritage into various performance venues, majestic or surprising, welcoming tens of thousands of theater-lovers (over 100,000 admissions) of all ages. Its legendary space is the "Cour d'honneur" (main courtyard) of the Popes' Palace, the heart of outdoor performances, before nearly 2,000 spectators, on summer nights in Provence. The Festival successfully brings together a general public and international creation for an original alliance. Avignon is also a state of mind: the city is an open-air forum where festival-goers discuss the shows and share their experiences as spectators.
For more info, click here (in English)

Festivities in Paris for the 14th of July

2010-07-10T11:55:00.000+02:00

The 14th of July is the national French day or day of the Bastille. In Paris, there are many festivities around town.

Free concert – Tuesday 13th July, Place de la Bastille
On July 13, more than 15 exceptional artists are giving a free concert starting at 8:30 pm at place de la Bastille. (Broadcast live on France Ô). The City of Paris in partnership with France Televisions presents the concert of the diversity. This free concert, under the sign of eclecticism, entertainment and sharing, will bring together over fifteen popular artists: Amadou & Mariam Khaled, Chimene Badi, Uncle Ben Soul, Shy'm, Smod, William Balde, Inna Modja, Sheryfa Luna Stanislas Mike Ibrahim, Jean-Roch, Tom Frager, John Mamann, Lord Kossity ...

Militar Parade – Wed 14th July, Champs Elysees
The parade is organized by the Ministry of Defense. It will run from 9:30 to 12:30 on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. Fifty years after the independence, the troops of fourteen former French colonies in sub-Saharan Africa will lead the traditional parade of 14 July on the Champs-Elysees.

For the first time on the Champs-Elysees, the Special Forces of the Regiment of Parachute Dragoons will be present. To celebrate the centenary of the naval aviation, people will witness an unprecedented parade of planes, and the jump of paratroopers just in front of the official gallery.
If you want to see something, arrive very early to get a good spot. Or… watch it on TV!

Firework – Wed 14th July, Champs de Mars/ Tour Eiffel
The traditional fireworks will be shot on July 14 at 11 pm from the Trocadero gardens on the theme of the colors of the French-speaking community.
To see the fireworks, it’s better to be on the opposite shore to watch the fireworks ( Champs de Mars-Tour Eiffel).
The fireworks & lights show will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of the Francophonie, and propose a 30-minute journey to the heart of the French speaking countries.

Around Paris – 13 July
Cities around Paris organize their Firework on the 13th of July with usually a ball following.
• Versailles: at 9 pm there is a free concert on Place du Marche Notre Dame followed at 11pm by a firework launched in front of the Castle of Versailles. More info here (in French only)
• Provins: the medieval city is organizing its own firework at 10:30 pm from the main square followed by a concert. It’s a good way to end a day of visit! More info on Provins here

Important words of Irish you should learn before traveling

2010-07-05T16:39:00.002+02:00

Recognized as the national and first language of the Republic of Ireland, Irish is a lively language but only spoken as a first language by a small minority of the Irish population, and as a second language by a larger minority.

While traveling in Ireland with your car hire Ireland, you'll see Irish words almost everywhere, indicating the language's underlying influence. You'll see Irish written on road signs, which might be the most notable place. But you'll also see an Irish word here and there, in pubs, shop names, B&B names, and indeed the original version of place names.

Here are some Irish words/expression which might be useful:
Sláinte (sloynta) – Cheers
Fir - Not a tree but the Irish for "men" - you may find this as an identifier on toilet doors.
Mná - Not a misspelling of "man" but the Irish for "women".
An Lár - Literally "the middle" or "the center" and used on bus signs to denote the town center as destination.
Fáilte - The word (pronounced "fall-sha") means "welcome" and is used as a greeting or to denote tourism activities - the Irish tourism industry uses the moniker "Fáilte Ireland". The very popular phrase céad mile fáilte ("kad meel-a fall-sha") translates as "a hundred thousand welcomes".
Cad is ainm duit? – pronounced “coad iss annim dwit”, it means “What is your name?”
Conas ata tu? – pronounced “cunn-us ah-taw two”, it means “How are you?”
An mor ata air? – pronounced “on moor ah-taw err”, it means “How much is it?”
Tapadh leat – pronounced “tapah lat”, it means “Thank you”
Gabh mo leithscaal – pronounced “govh muh leh-skayle”, it means “Excuse me”

Visit the Irish pubs, an unforgettable experience

2010-07-05T15:42:00.000+02:00

When you think about Ireland you think about the pubs and the Guinness. Their reputation as beer drinker is known all round the world. With a consummation of 138.3 Liter of beer every year, Ireland arrives second after Germany in the top beer drinking countries. Not surprising when you see a pub at every corner in every city.

When traveling with your car rental Ireland , you’ll enjoy the experience of sitting in a pub after a long day driving around. Each pub is unique. The decoration, the music and even the customers are different depend of the city and the location. If you go to Temple bar in Dublin you’ll meet mostly tourists but if you want to meet local you better go a bit out of the city center. My most interesting experience was in a small village in the north of Mayo. We stopped for a night away from the tourist path and decided to go for a Guinness. The pub was full of locals surprised to see us here but eager to invite us for drinks. What a great night!

The famous Irish beer is the Guinness made in Dublin. It is very dark beer and has a "toast" or coffee-like taste. Other Irish beers are Smithwick, an Irish red ale style beer from Kilkenny and Beamish stout, Dense, malty, dark and chocolaty, between others.

Some pubs not to miss in Dublin:
• The Brazen Head (http://www.brazenhead.com/) : Dublin's oldest pub have started pouring the good stuff in 1198. Located at 20 Bridge Street (Lower) it is opposite the Four Courts and a good walk (or short bus ride) away from the city center. Recommended for nostalgic decor and a good pint. Bold Robert Emmet had lodgings here and is said to still visit occasionally ... despite being executed in 1803.
• The Auld Dubliner: Situated in the middle of the busy Temple Bar District this pub is known for its bright mural (including a Jack Russell Terrier relieving himself), folk music and crowds. You will never get bored here, but you'll not hear the music at peak times.
• The Hole in the Wall: Right next to the Phoenix Park in Blackhorse Avenue (Dublin 7), this is Ireland's longest pub, created by combining several old houses. Usually full with a local crowd and people "in the know" travelling some distance to enjoy around 100 yards of bar.

All you need to know about Belgium beers and Chocolate!

2010-07-04T10:08:00.002+02:00

If you tell people you’re going to Belgium, they will tell you about the good beers, chocolate, waffles and French fries.

1.The culture of the beer
Beer is an essential part of social life, culture and tradition in this small country located between France, Holland Germany and Luxembourg. With only 11 millions of inhabitants, Belgium is the 3rd biggest producer of beer in the world with 125 breweries making around 800 standard beers. The diversity of Belgian beers is reflected in the variety of shapes of their bottles, their evocative names and pictorial labels. Belgians drink around 93 liters of beer per year. They rank 7 in the top beer drinking countries, behind Germany.

There is no single way to classify Belgian beers and trying to do it may be a perilous exercise as passionate beer lovers will often disagree on the choice of criteria or the designation of a given beer within a given category. Most often, a mixed classification system is used: beers that belong to a given tradition (Trappists and Abbey beers) or region of production (Saison), or beers of a precise type (Pils, Amber). Often both criteria coincide (Lambic, or Flemish old brown for instance) but sometimes we will find very different beers under a same category (Trappists and Abbey beers often offer 'dubbel' and 'tripel' versions).

Each beer deserves its uniquely designed glass, the shape of which is supposed to enhance its taste, color and optimal froth appearance. Serving and drinking beer is an art: it must obey strict rules as to the proper temperature and presentation, amount and shape of froth, yeast sediment, etc.

Each town celebrates its beer festival, all along the year but especially during summer. The best way to taste the Belgium beers is to go out with a local. But don’t worry if you don’t have time to taste them all, about 60% are exported around Europe but to Canada, the United States and Australia too!

2.The world known Chocolate
Belgian chocolate is considered to be the gourmet standard by which all other chocolate confections are measured. Even the Swiss, known for their own high quality chocolate, imported the basic recipe from French and Belgian chocolatiers. Brands of Belgian chocolate and pralines, like Callebaut, Côte d'Or, Neuhaus, Leonidas, Guylian, Galler and Godiva are world renowned and widely sold.

Belgian chocolate is currently one of the most sought after types of chocolate in the world. The biggest consumers of Belgian chocolate include its European neighbors France, Germany and Great Britain. The high-quality cocoa beans used to make Belgian chocolate normally come from Africa. Most chocolate makers in Belgium make their chocolate by hand rather than by using a machine, and take pride in its form and decoration.

Belgium produces 220,000 tons of chocolate per year, so 22 kg of chocolate per inhabitant annually. The world's biggest chocolate selling point is Brussels National Airport.

3.French fries and Waffles
Even if called French Fries, Belgians claim to have invented chips, and indeed about all towns and villages have their own friterie/frituur (chips seller). Many Belgians believe that the term "French" was introduced when British or American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I, and consequently tasted Belgian fries. They supposedly called them "French", as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time."Les frites" (or "Frieten") became the national snack and a substantial part of several national dishes.

A visit to Belgium can’t be complete without tasting their famous waffles. There are 3 main sorts of Belgian waffles: Liege waffles (the most common), Brussels waffles (bigger, lighter, rectangular, and eaten with toppings such as strawberries or ice cream), and stroopwafel (two thin layers of baked batter with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle).

Summer Music Festivals in Dublin

2010-05-19T21:17:00.005+02:00

Summer is always a busy time to visit Dublin but a good time to catch one of the outdoor art or music festivals/concerts.

• Oxegen Festival: Ireland's Oxegen Festival is always one of the can't-be-beat best concerts in Northern Europe and sizzle Dublin with over 100 acts and 80,000 rockers at this sells-out-fast event featuring confirmed concerts from Jay Z, Muse, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, Stereophonics, Paolo Nutini and Faithless. It’s every year at the beginning of July (July 9-11 in 2010). Ticket price hasn't changed since 2008 and is €224.50 total for three days of music and overnight camping. More info here

• Dublin Writers Festival: International writers Antony Beevor, Hanif Kurieshi, Yann Martel and multi-award winning Ian McEwan will join Irish writers Jennifer Johnston, Joseph O’Connor and Tom Murphy and dozens more at this year’s Dublin Writers Festival. The 6-day literary Festival features over 40 writers and takes place the first week of June. More info on the website.

• Dun Laoghaire World Culture Festival: Immersed in folk, traditional, eclectic, tribal, digital and the experimental, the Festival of World Cultures presents a kaleidoscopic program of concerts & club nights, fairs & markets, performances, street events, workshops and so much more. Ireland’s first Global Carnival!! The Festival is committed to presenting a series of world music concerts that can be experienced by all in a unique and intimate local setting while also offering a ‘passport to the world’ program of events, many of which are free to all. It takes place during 3 days at the end of July (2010: 23rd, 24th, 25th July). More info on the town website.

• Electronic Picnic: Electric Picnic has established itself as a truly unique Irish festival, set amid the rolling lawns of Stradbally Hall, Co Laois, a beautiful 600 acre estate just 50 minutes from Dublin. Fine music, art, theatre, comedy, pantomime, holistic health….plus a lot more. It is held in September (2010: 3rd, 4th & 5th Sept). More info here.

While in Dublin, you should visit the surrounding by car. Dublin car rental is easy and cheap, especially if you’re travelling with friends or family.

Londonderry or the Maiden City

2010-05-19T20:38:00.002+02:00

Everyone who has read about the years of violence during the Troubles in Northern Ireland has heard about Bloody Sunday in Londonderry. It’s when twenty-seven civil rights protesters were shot by the British Army Parachute Regiment during a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march on the 30th of January 1972.

But Londonderry is an interesting city to visit not only for that. The 16th Century walls which surround the city are among the oldest and the best preserved citadel walls in Europe. They were built during the period 1613-1618 by "the honorable Irish Society" and form a walkway around the inner city. They provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town with its Renaissance style. Historic buildings within the walls include the 1633 Gothic cathedral of St Columbus, the Apprentice Boys Memorial Hall and the courthouse. It is one of the few cities in Europe that never saw its fortifications breached, including during several sieges like one in 1689 which lasted 105 days, hence the city's nickname, The Maiden City.

Take a walk around the "Free Derry" corner between the Bogside and the western side of the old city walls. Stop and look at the political murals made by local artists during the 90's, depicting the key events in the harsh conflict haunting Northern Ireland. In the same area, the Free Derry monument, Free Derry Museum, and Bloody Sunday memorial are also located.

To get there, car hire Ireland is the best option. From Belfast, take the M2 or the main road (A6) to Derry (signposted as Londonderry) via Dungiven or the scenic drive along the Antrim Coast, passing the Giant's Causeway.

Giants Causeway, a spectacular rock formation in Northern Ireland

2010-04-09T10:38:00.005+02:00

Giant's Causeway is a spectacular rock formation on the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland. The site consists of some 40,000 basalt columns rising out of the sea. The Giant's Causeway is Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Popular mythology attributes the creation of the Causeway to an Irish giant named Fionn mac Cumhaill. To prove his superior strength and status, Fionn decided to fight against a rival Scottish giant named Benandonner. As there was no boat large enough to carry huge Finn across the sea to confront Bennandonner, he built his own pathway of stepping stones from Ireland to Scotland. He then was able to walk across the sea without getting his feet wet. When he crossed the sea, however, he saw just how large Benandonner was. He ran back to Ireland before Bennandonner saw him, but the causeway was built and Bennandonner came to fight. Fionn crawled into a crib and when Bennandonner came to the door to fight him, his wife told him not to wake the baby. Seeing just how large Fionn's "baby" was, Bennandonner grew afraid and ran back to Scotland, tearing up the causeway as he went to prevent Fionn following him.

There are many walks to do around the Causeway. There are two ways to approach the Giants Causeway. It can be reached directly by road, either on foot or using the seasonal Ulsterbus service (buses accessible for people with disabilities.) 0.8km, 0.5 mile to Giants Causeway. A longer circular walk follows the cliff path to the Shepherd's Steps and back via the Giants Causeway. 3km, almost 2 miles.

To get there, the best is to rent a car; we saw in earliest posts the car hire Ireland system. From Belfast, follow the signs for the "Giant's Causeway Coastal Route" for a beautiful scenic route to the Causeway. It takes a longer (around 2 hours depending on traffic) but it is worth it for the views.
There is also the more direct route along the A26 from Belfast or the A2/A37 from Derry/ Londonderry if time is a factor.

Belfast, full of history

2010-04-09T10:03:00.002+02:00

Belfast, in Nothern Ireland is well known for all the troubles (1967-1997) due to the frequency of gun and bomb attacks in the city. But now it’s safe to travel around and there is so much to see. Dublin Airport car hire is the easiest and then take the M1 to Belfast

Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, most of the politically-motivated violence has evaporated. Belfast was recently awarded the accolade of being the safest city in the UK, based on a comparison of nation-wide crime figures, and, as part of its commitment to maintain peace, now seeks tourism from all around the world, especially from countries other than the Irish Republic and the rest of the UK.

Some places not to miss are :
The City Hall : Opened in 1906, this is a fine example of turn of the century architecture from the heart of the British Empire's drafting office. The City Hall houses Belfast's Council chambers and administrative offices. Excellently presented free guided tours are available every day. Alse there is a memorial to victims of the Titanic and a statue of Queen Victoria.

Donegall Place : This diminutive shop space was recently taken over by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) as a small gallery space to promote the built environment in Northern Ireland. Regular exhibitions and workshops are held here.

Saint Anne's Cathedral : The stunning cathedral building is situated at the opposite end of Royal Avenue, the main shopping street, from the City Hall. It is a fascinating building, and is at the centre of the "Cathedral Quarter", which is reluctantly being redesigned and cleaned up by various investment agencies to become Belfast's 'cultural' district. Thankfully, a lot of work remains to be done, and the area contains many fine cafés, bars and interesting buildings that recall the city's commercial and industrial heritage.

Belfast Exposed : Belfast Exposed is Northern Ireland's only dedicated photography gallery, and as well as operating a fine exhibition space in a refurbished warehouse building, also provides local photographers with dark room and processing facilities and a well maintained library. Exhibitions are usually free and always worth seeing.

Titanic Boat Tour : Belfast takes a bizarre pride in that the ill-fated Titanic was built here and you can now take a boat tour around the area that the ship was built. The former boat yards of Belfast are being ambitiously redeveloped into a residential and commercial neighbourhood that will be called the Titanic Quarter. Tours cost £5.

Queen's University : At the southernmost end of the Golden Mile, the university is a fine Victorian building with extensive grounds. It contains a visitors' centre in the main central building.

Botanical Gardens : Accessed from University Rd beside the university and at the southern end of Botanic Ave, it’s very popular with locals and visitors alike. The Palm House contains local and interesting plants, such as carnivorous plants. Beside it is the Tropical Ravine, unique to the British Isles, where visitors walk around a raised balcony observing tropical flora and fauna. With large lawns and well maintained planting, the park is a popular destination in the summer.

Ulster Museum : Close to the Botanic Gardens, this excellent museum has much to see, including a large section on the history of Irish conflict, Northern Ireland's marine life and a significant collection of art. While many locals dislike the 1970s extension, it is one of the finest examples of a Brutalist modern extension being added and successfully integrated to an older classically designed museum. Free.

Belfast Castle (Antrim Rd) :Open daily 9AM-6PM, admission is free.The castle was built in 1870 and was restored in 1988. It is situated on Cave Hill and has good views of the city and the coast.

Political Murals : Visit the world renowned murals in the nationalist Falls and unionist Shankill portions of West Belfast. The main murals are situated on gable walls of buildings on both the Falls and Shankill roads, but others are located in the lower Shankill estate (off the lower Shankill Rd onto North Boundary St) and Bombay St (off the Falls Rd onto Clonard Gardens).

Milltown Cemetery, 546 Falls Rd : Milltown is dripping with history, being the final resting place for many Republican paramilitary members (mostly buried at the Republican plot, beneath the tricolour flag). There is also a memorial garden for IRA members killed during the Troubles, including those who took part in the 1981 Hunger Strike. Milltown cemetery is also the site of the notorious killings in 1988 of three mourners at an IRA funeral by Loyalist paramilitary Michael Stone. The attack took place near the Republican plot.

Galway and the Connemara

2010-03-15T16:11:00.001+01:00

The first ime I heard about the Connemara was in the French song « Les lacs du Connemara » from Michel Sardou. I went there the first time with my parents in 1997, and just loved it ! Who would not… Dublin car rental is easy, or you can rent a car in Galway.

1. Galway
Galway is a lovely small city, easy to visit by foot and very busy during the summer with a great night life. Some famous buildings are the Spanish Arch, St Nicola’s church, Lynch’s castle, and Galway Cathedral.

2. Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are located about 48km from the mouth of Galway Bay. The islands are famous for their prehistoric and Christian monuments including the spectacular Dún Aengus fort that is one of best examples of this type of fort in all of Europe. Enjoy the cliff-top walks and spectacular coastal scenery. To get there, go to Ros a' Mhíl where is the ferry terminal. No car is allowed on the islands so the best is to rent a bike to travel around the island.

3. The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most visited tourist attractions. Situated between the villages of Liscannor and Doolin, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular natural wonders. Over 214 meters tall at their highest point, the shale and sandstone cliffs drop almost vertically to the Atlantic ocean far below. From the top there are views, on a clear day, to the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk and Twelve Bens mountains in Connemara to the north and Loop Head in Co Clare to the south.Try to get there in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the crowd, especially during the summer.

4.The Connemara
Located in the north west corner of County Galway, Connemara's breathtaking landscape is a mixture of unspoilt rivers, lakes, woodlands, rich meadowlands, rugged hills, dramatic mountains and stunning coastline of sandy beaches and crystal blue waters. Connemara is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) area, rich in Irish culture, heritage and traditions. The main town in the Connemara region is Clifden but there are many others very interesting attractions like Kylemore Abbey, Connemara History & Heritage Centre in Clifden, Glengowla Mines in Oughterard and Connemara National Park. Connemara is the ideal place to go hiking and camping, but be ready for the rain !

Mayo and Donegal, my favorite places in Ireland

2010-03-15T15:01:00.001+01:00

To discover Donegal, the best is to rent a car in Dublin and drive 4 hours across the country. To know all about the system of Dublin car rental, check my previous posts. I discovered Donegal in July 2004 during a 4 day trip with my friend Elizabeth from Canada and I just loved it ! Less touristy and wilder than the rest of the country, it became by favorite destination. Some places not to miss :

1. Archill Island
The largest island in Ireland, Archill Island has beautiful sandy beaches and sea cliffs. You should take the Atlantic drive, a 19 km coastal road with breathtaking scenery. The road is passing through small villages as the villages of Shraheens, Derreens and Cloughmore. Take a break at one of the five Blue Flag beaches, like Silver Strand near the village of Dugort. Don’t forget to go to take to steep road to Minaun Heights. The road ends at a hill-top viewing point, giving a breathtaking view of Achill Island. On a clear day, you can see the entire area and also Blacksod Bay and the Belmullet Peninsula.

2. Saint John’s point and Bunglass cliffs
A small road in the middle of Donegal Bay will lead you to St John's Point from where you will be able to admire the whole bay with a panorama of 360 degrees, if the weather is clear.
Close to Carrick, are the Bunglass/Slieve League sea cliffs which are the highest cliffs in Europe, a three hundred metre drop straight down into the wild Atlantic waves below. This creates a breathtaking but extremely scary view. If you like hiking, there is an incredibly beautiful walk from Bunglass to Malinbeg near Glencolmcille.

3. Malinbeg
At the far west of Donegal is the The Silver Strand, considered to be one of the finest beaches in Ireland. It is reached by hundreds of stone steps descending from the village of Malinbeg, lying to the south of Glencolmcille, and facing directly into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a beautiful place to stay for the night at the local hostel.

4. Horn head

This is probably the most dramatic of the beautiful Donegal peninsulas. Nature has painted the landscape with broad, bold strokes and the sculptured rocks and cliff faces are awesome in their majesty. You get a real sense of the power of the sea and the resilience of the land on this wild peninsula. There are two splendid viewpoints, one on the north side where the cliffs dominate the scenery, and the other on the south side overlooking Dunfanaghy with the backdrop of Muckish and the Derryveagh mountains.

Traveling around San Francisco

2010-03-08T03:04:00.001+01:00

Traveling around San Francisco is easy. The different means of transport are the cable cars, the street cars, the bus &tramway and the metro.

1. The cable cars

There are only 3 lines but it has become an icon of San Francisco. It costs $5 one way or $13 for a day pass.

A bit of history...
The first cable car was put in service on the 1st of September 1873 by an English man named Andrew Hallidie.The line involved the use of grip cars, which carried the grip that engaged with the cable, towing trailer cars. The design was the first to use grips. The term Grip became synonymous with the operator.
On April 1892, the first electric streetcars with overhead wires began running in San Francisco.
On 1st October1964, an official ceremony at Hyde and Beach designated San Francisco's cable car system a special "moving" National Historic Landmark.
From 1982 to June 1984, the cable car system was rebuilt and historic cable cars refurbished.

How does it work?

The driver of a cable car is known as the gripman. This is a highly skilled job, requiring the gripman to smoothly operate the grip lever to grip and release the cable, release the grip at certain points in order to coast the vehicle over crossing cables or places where the cable does not follow the tracks, and to anticipate well in advance possible collisions with other traffic that may not understand the limitations of a cable car. Being a gripman requires great upper body strength needed for the grip and brakes, as well as good hand-eye co-ordination and balance.
Besides the gripman, each cable car carries a conductor whose job is to collect fares, manage the boarding and exiting of passengers, and control the rear wheel brakes when descending hills. With the common practice of carrying standing passengers on the running boards of cable cars, passenger management is an important task.

The gripman and the system

2. The street cars

What is the difference with the cable car?

Streetcars also run on steel rails, but with no slot between the tracks, and no underground cable. Unlike the mechanical cable cars, streetcars are propelled by on board electric motors and require a trolley pole to draw power from an overhead wire. San Francisco has the world's most diverse collection of streetcars in the States in regular transit service, and many are quite unique and different looking.

Some history...

The first proposal for an historic streetcar line was adopted in 1979. The same year, the city obtained its first historic streetcar from another country (the streetcar from Hamburg, Germany).
In 1981, there was an historic streetcar service on Market Street during the summer weekend.
During 1986 and 1987, the project received support from the Market Street Railway Company, a non-profit group dedicated to the acquisition, restoration, and operation of historic transit vehicles in the city. They ensured that there would be full-time historic streetcar service in San Francisco.
September 1, 1995, was the first day of service for the F Market historic streetcar line, between Castro, Market Streets and the Transbay Terminal at 1st & Mission Streets.

The different streetcars

Each streetcar has an history. Now there are 30 different streetcars in operation, some are under repairs.

Melbourne, Australia, built in 1946

This tram was donated to the City of San Francisco by the State Government of Victoria in 2009

San Francisco Municipal Railway, built in 1948
This car is painted in tribute to the ‘Magic Carpets’, as Muni’s first five modern-design streetcars were known. It's the only on still in service.

San Diego, built in 1946

This streetcar is painted to honor San Diego, which operated PCC streetcars from 1937 to 1949.
For many years, streetcars in both San Francisco and San Diego served the zoo and Balboa Park. But San Diego actually promoted those destinations on all its PCC streetcars, even the ones on routes that didn't go there.

Boston elevated railway, built in 1848

Because of conditions in its vintage subway, Boston used the only single-end US PCCs to be built with doors on the left-hand side. They were augmented in the late 1950s by second-hand double-end cars purchased from Dallas. Boston's PCC ﬂeet maxed out at 344 cars of several different types.

Welcome to Alcatraz, the thoughest Federal prison in America

2010-03-06T23:39:00.001+01:00

Everyone has heard about Alcatraz and it has became one of the most touristy place in San Francisco. Getting off the boat after a 15 mn crossing, you feel like you're going back in time. There is an interesting audio tour to visit the jail which takes about an hour.

A bit of history...

1775: The island received its name when Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala charted the San Francisco Bay, and named this tiny speck of land La Isla de los Alcatraces, which translated to "Island of the Pelicans."

1847: The U.S. Army took notice of "The Rock" and of its strategic value as a military fortification. The new military fortress featured long-range iron cannons and four massive 36,000-pound, 15-inch Rodman guns, which were capable of sinking mammoth hostile ships three miles away.

1861: Considered as an ideal location for holding captives, the island began receiving Civil War prisoners, and in 1898 the Spanish-American war would bring the prison population from a mere twenty-six to over four hundred and fifty.By 1912 a large cell house had been constructed on the island's central crest, and by the late 1920's, the three-story structure was nearly at full capacity.

21 March 1963: Due to the deterioration of the buildings and high operating costs, the US government decided to close Alcatraz and the last prisoner left the prison. Over the years, about 1576 prisoners stayed in Alcatraz.

Some famous Alcatraz inmates

George Kelly Barnes, better known as "Machine Gun Kelly", was a notorious American criminal during the prohibition. Kelly's nickname came from his favorite weapon, a Thompson submachine gun. His most famous crime was the kidnapping of oil tycoon & businessman Charles Urschel in July 1933 for which he, and his gang, earned $200,000 in ransom. The FBI investigation eventually led to Kelly's arrest in Memphis, Tennessee on September 26, 1933. During his time at Alcatraz he got the nickname "Pop Gun Kelly". This was in reference, according to a former prisoner, to the fact that Kelly was a model prisoner and was nowhere near the tough, brutal gangster his wife made him out to be. He spent 17 years on Alcatraz, working in the prison industries, and was quietly transferred back to Leavenworth in 1951.

Al Capone still remains one of the most notable residents of "the Rock." In a memoir written by Warden James Johnston, he reminisced about the intensity of public interest around Capone's imprisonment, stating that he was continually barraged with questions about "Big Al." Each day newspapers and press flooded his office with phone calls, wanting to know everything from how Capone liked the weather on "the Rock," to what job assignment he was currently holding. He arrived in Alcatraz in August of 1934 after a long history of crimes.During Capone's time on Alcatraz, he made several attempts to con Johnston into allowing him special privileges, but all were denied. Johnston maintained that Capone would not be given any special rights and would have to follow the rules as would any other inmate. He spent 4 ½ years on Alcatraz and held a variety of jobs. Capone's time on Alcatraz was not easy time. He got into a fight with another inmate in the recreation yard and was placed in isolation for eight days. While working in the prison basement, an inmate who was standing in line waiting for a haircut, exchanged words with Capone and stabbed him with a pair of shears. He eventually became symptomatic from syphilis, a disease he had evidently been carrying for years. In 1938, he was transferred to Terminal Island Prison in Southern California to serve out the remainder of his sentence, and was released in November of 1939. Capone died on January 25, 1947, in his Palm Beach Mansion from complications of syphilis.

Robert Stroud, who was better known to the public as the "Birdman of Alcatraz," was probably the most famous inmate ever to reside on Alcatraz.During his thirty years of imprisonment at Leavenworth, he developed a keen interest in canaries, after finding an injured bird in the recreation yard. Stroud was initially allowed to breed birds and maintain a lab inside two adjoining segregation cells, since it was felt that this activity would provide for productive use of his time. As a result of this privilege, he was able to author two books on canaries and their diseases, having raised nearly 300 birds in his cells, carefully studying their habits and physiology, and he even developed and marketed medicines for various bird ailments. Although it is widely debated whether the remedies he developed were effective, Stroud was able to make scientific observations that would later benefit research on the canary species. However, after several years of Stroud's informal research, prison officials discovered that some of the equipment he had requested was actually being used to construct a still to make an alcoholic brew.In 1942 he was transferred to Alcatraz, where he spent the next seventeen years - six years in segregation in D Block, and eleven years in the prison hospital. In 1959 he was transferred to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, and there on November 21, 1963, he was found dead from natural causes.

Some famous escape attempts

The battle of Alcatraz - May 1946

A bank robber from Kentucky named Bernard Paul Coy devised a forceful escape strategy with five accomplices. Coy had carefully studied the habits of various guards over a period of several months. Then on May 2, 1946, aided by accomplice Joseph Cretzer, Coy smeared axle grease over his chest, head, and extremities, and started climbing the West End Gun Gallery from the juncture at Times Square and Michigan Avenue. Climbing hand over hand, he scaled the barred cage until he reached the top.

Using a small wrench, he was able to exert enough force to effectively spread the bars and create an opening nearly ten inches in width,.and painfully squeezed his body through the opening. He made his entrance into the West Gun Gallery.As the unsuspecting guard passed through the doorway, Coy forcefully hurled the steel door forward, throwing the officer off balance, and brutally clubbed him, forcing him to the floor. He then strangled him into unconsciousness with his necktie. Working swiftly, Coy lowered firearms and riot clubs to his partners below, and searched for keys that would provide access to the recreation yard.

The convicts were now fully armed, and were able to capture nine unarmed guards and lock them into cells #404 and #403, located at the juncture of Seedy Street and Times Square. But their escape plan soon began to crumble, as they were unable to locate the key that would unlock the door leading to the recreation yard. The key had been concealed by a brave correctional officer named Miller, who had surrendered all of his keys to the convicts except the most critical one. Miller had been able to quietly hide the key in the toilet of the cell where he and the other correctional officers were being held hostage.

Meanwhile, Coy & Cretzer had released three other accomplices from their cells. Clarence Carnes (the youngest convict ever sent to Alcatraz), Sam Shockley, and Miran Thompson were all serving sentences for violent crimes. When the breakout was discovered the distress sirens of Alcatraz wailed, indicating grave trouble at the prison, and the sound could easily be heard from the shores of San Francisco. The Coast Guard and the Marines were mobilized to furnish the support of demolition and weapon experts, and all the off-duty correctional officers were brought in to help take back the cell house from the armed and desperate convicts.

Inside the cell block, a battle was raging. The escapees, realizing that they were unable to gain access to the recreation yard, had become desperate. In a violent rage, and cheered on by inmates Shockley and Thompson, Joseph Cretzer took his revolver, and leaning against the bars of cell #403, started unloading rounds into the cramped cell. Officers fell in the hail of gunfire, some critically wounded.

Back at the Administration Office the Warden had called together his lieutenants, and they had formulated a plan to send in strike teams to rescue the guards who were being held captive. Harold Stites was one member of Bergen's team who courageously returned fire, attempting to suppress the convicts' barrage. As Bergen provided medical care to the downed officer, Stites continued to spray rifle fire into the cell house. Then suddenly Stites was struck by a bullet, and yelled out that he'd been hit. Stites would be the first casualty of the "Battle of Alcatraz." The other officers were quickly transported by boat back to the mainland, to be taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

At a little after 10:00 p.m., the Associate Warden took a group of fourteen officers and burst into the cell house, hoping to rescue their colleagues. The team fell under heavy gunfire from the inmates who had positioned themselves on top of C Block. The escapees realized that their chances of escape were fading, and Shockley and Thompson retreated back to their cells to contemplate how to explain their involvement in the plan.

Not knowing the origin of the barrage of gunfire, the marines started bombing D Block with explosives as the cell block filled with dense smoke. Coy, Cretzer, and Hubbard retreated in the utility corridor as the bombing continued. The Marines drilled holes in the ceilings, lowering hand grenades attached to wire and then detonating them. The barrage of gunfire, mortars, and teargas was ceaseless. Water from the broken plumbing started flowing from the tiers and flooding D Block.

After nearly 48 hours of battle, the gunfire ceased. In the violent aftermath, Cretzer, Coy, and Hubbard were killed in the corridor from bullet wounds and shrapnel. The mastermind Coy, was found dead wearing a guard uniform. One officer, William Miller, died from his injuries. A second officer, Harold Stites, was shot and killed during an attempt to regain control of the cell house. Thompson and Shockley were later executed together in the Gas Chamber at San Quentin for their role in the murder of Officer Miller, and Carnes received an additional 99-year sentence.

It would take months before the cell blocks returned to any normalcy and the scars on the cement and cell walls would remain strong reminders until the closure of the prison of the consequences of attempted escape.

The Great Escape - 11 June 1962

Frank Lee Morris had spent a lifetime navigating the prison system before his arrival on Alcatraz. Morris was credited by prison officials as possessing superior intelligence, and he earned his ticket to Alcatraz by building an impressive resume of escapes. In 1960, Federal officials decided that his pattern of escape attempts, termed as "shotgun freedom" (although his escapes had never involved the use of a shotgun), would end at The Rock. On January 20, 1960, Morris disembarked from the prison launch and became inmate #AZ-1441.

Frank's accomplices in the "Great Escape" were equally well acquainted with the dark world of organized crime. Brothers John and Clarence Anglin were also serving sentences at Alcatraz for bank robbery, having been convicted along with their brother Alfred. All three had been incarcerated at the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta when they first became acquainted with Morris, and John and Clarence were eventually sent to Alcatraz following a sequence of attempted escapes.

Alcatraz inmate Allen West, who occupied an adjacent cell, was also brought in on the scheme. He was serving his second term on The Rock and carried a reputation as an arrogant criminal, and he knew John Anglin from the State Penitentiary in Florida.

The plan was extremely complex and involved the design and fabrication of ingenious lifelike dummies, water rafts, and life preservers, fashioned from over fifty rain coats that had been acquired from other inmates - some donated and some stolen. They would also require a variety of crudely made tools to dig with, and to construct the accessories necessary for the escape. By May of 1962, Morris and the Anglins and had already dug through the cell's six-by-nine-inch vent holes, and had started work on the vent on top of the cellblock.
The inmates alternated shifts, with one working and one on lookout. They would start work at 5:30 p.m. and continue till about 9:00 p.m., just prior to the lights-out count. Meanwhile John and Clarence started fabricating the dummy heads, and even gave them the pet names of "Oink" and "Oscar." The heads were crude but lifelike, and were constructed from a homemade cement-powder mixture that included such innocuous materials as soap and toilet paper. They were decorated with flesh-tone paint from prison art kits, and human hair from the barbershop.

Using glue stolen from the glove shop, the inmates also started working to cut and bond the raincoats into a makeshift raft and life preservers. Each evening following the completion of their self-imposed work detail, they would hide the materials on top of the cellblock to minimize any chance of being caught with the contraband materials. The inmates also acquired an elaborate array of handmade tools.

After months of long preparation the inmates had completed fashioning all of the gear they needed for their escape, and they then continued working to loosen the ventilator grill on top of the cellhouse. John Anglin carefully completed the valve assembly on a large six-by-fourteen-foot raft, while Morris modified an accordion-like musical instrument called a concertina, which would be used to rapidly inflate the raft. But while the others had progressed well in their various preparations, West had fallen behind in digging out the ventilator grill at the rear of his cell. His primary role had been to construct the life preservers and special wooden paddles for the raft, tasks which didn't require him to leave his cell. On the night of June 11, 1962, Morris indicated that the top ventilator was loose enough, and that he felt that they were ready to attempt the escape.

At 9:30 p.m., immediately after lights-out, Morris brought down the dummies from the top of the cellblock and announced that the escape would be staged that very night. Clarence Anglin attempted to assist West in removing his ventilator grill by kicking at it from outside of the cell in the utility corridor, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Morris and the Anglins would have no choice but to leave him behind. The inmates made their final thirty-foot climb up the plumbing to the cellhouse roof, traversed 100 feet across the rooftop, and then carefully maneuvered down fifty feet of piping to the ground near the entrance to the shower area. This would be the last anyone ever saw of Morris and the Anglin Brothers.

In a later interview, West said that their plan had been to use their raft to make their way to Angel Island. After resting, they would then reenter the Bay on the opposite side of the island and swim through a waterway called Raccoon Straits, then on into Marin. They would steal a car, burglarize a clothing store, and then venture out in their own separate directions. West had finally been able to complete the removal of his grill and climb to the rooftop, but by then all of the other inmates had disappeared. With no raft or other means of escape, he was forced to return to his cell.

For decades speculated abounded as to whether this famous escape attempt had been successful. The FBI spent several years investigating, and later resolved that the inmates' plan had failed.

Now some pictures...

welcome to Alcatraz!

A typical cell

The Hole for the bad inmates

View on San Francisco

You can see the hole through they escaped in 1962

Walking on the Golden Gate Brigde in San Francisco

2010-03-06T03:55:00.001+01:00

Yesterday was the only beautiful sunny day with blue sky of the week, so I decided to go to the famous the Golden Gate Bridge. A must see in San Francisco. I took the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf and decided to walk along the Bay to the bridge. It's a beautiful 5 kilometers walk I did in 2 hours, stopping for coffee and off course taking pictures.

The Golden Gate Bridge by the numbers:
1937 Year the bridge was opened
1.7 miles (2.75 km) Total lengh
75 Age of the oldest person to tap dance across the bridge
38 Number of painters who work on the bridge continuously
220 feet (67 meters) clearance above water
1 Number of deer that have crossed the bridge using the FasTrack lane
4,200 feet (1280 meters) Length of main span
887,000 tons Total weight of the bridge

Now, some pictures!

drinking a coffee while looking at the bridge... perfect!

Walking on the bridge

View on San Francisco

How to choose your outdoor clothing

2010-02-26T21:54:00.000+01:00

Walking is the most accessible and cheapest sport of all time. You can walk anywhere in the countryside with little preparation and with your comfortable clothes. But once you’re doing some more serious hiking, choosing the right clothes is very important. The key is to have clothes providing protection from the elements, but also in which you will be comfortable enough and lightweight.

By buying the right outdoor clothing, you will be able to maintain your body’s core temperature, no matter how bad the weather is. Staying warm is very important when you’re hiking. So it is important that you buy clothes that fit you but allow you to layer what you wear.

It is recommended to wear three layers. The first will be a waterproof jacket or a poncho to protect you from the wind and rain, especially in the mountains the weather can change very quickly. The middle one, insulating layer, will keep you warm, for example a gilet. Synthetic fleeces are the most widely used material for insulating outdoor clothing because it's lightweight, breathable and insulates even when wet. And the base layer helps to keep sweat from your body. The recommended materials for base layers include lightweight polyester or similar synthetics.

Buy clothes that manage moisture well and are breathable. If you only choose one layer that has these qualities then the other will not prove as effective at keeping your warm and dry.

As for the pant, there are many good hiking pants which are light and dry quickly. I personally like the pant which you can transform in short. You can wear them as a pant in the chilly morning then transform them in short during the day.

Another thing you should do is always carry additional clothes to stay warm and dry. If you go hiking all day, it’s important that you change your T-shirt when you stop for lunch or you´ll get cold quickly.

There are many good clothing brands, one of them is Berghaus in England. Or go to any outdoor clothing shops and ask for advice.

My failing attent to leave Guatemala and why Spirit Airlines sucks

2010-02-26T18:25:00.000+01:00

After saying goodbye to all my friends in Xela and Guatemala, I was ready yesterday to leave this beautiful country where I lived for more than three years. Sad to leave off course, but excited about the new adventures waiting for me around the corner.

After a very short night, I took the 4:30 am Alamo bus to go to Guatemala City. Bye Bye Xela I'll see you soon! I was at the airport by 8:30 am, so early to catch my 2:30 pm flight to LA via Fort Lauderale. So i had time to have breakfast and read. Then I make my move to the Spirit Airline register desk and started waiting. First it all went smoothy but suddenly it turned into a chaos! They asked people going only to Fort Lauderale with no connection flight to come foward to register. So after asking around and listening conversations I understood the flight was delayed so I would not be able to take my connection flight to LA. They started saying that we could go to FL, stay there for the night and flight the next day to our final destination. They will be paying for accomodation and food. But suddenly they told us there were no accomodation available in FL so we had to change the flight to the Sunday. WHAT!!!! No way!! I was at the airport, ready to leave and didn't want to lose 3 days of holidays in LA. So I decided to stick around and see. But finally at 3 pm I gave up and changed my flight to Sunday. I was tired and hungry after beeing in the airport for 8 hours! So i called Ana Maria and arranged to go to her house for the night.

Finally I decided not to wait until Sunday and I bought a new flight with Taca tonight, flying directly to LA. I lost $280 but that will teach me a lesson... do never fly with Spirit Airlines! It's the second time I'm flying with them and second time I have a problem. Last time they changed the date but sent me a mail before.

So hopefully tonight I'll be in Los Angeles and ready to discover California! Goodbye Guatemala, Good evening California!

Beautiful County Kerry

2010-02-16T22:36:00.001+01:00

County Kerry is Ireland's most popular tourist destination. With the main tourist attractions of the Lakes of Killarney, Dingle peninsula and the Ring of Kerry all within an hour drive. Renting a car is the best way to discover. We have seen before the system of car hire Ireland.

1. Killarney

A small town, Killarney is a good starting point and base to discover the region. Don’t forget to visit the Killarney National Park with the Muckross House, a 17 century mansion surrounded by beautiful gardens, and the Ross Castle built during the 14th century. If you have time, there are some nice hikes to do.

2. Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a mystical Celtic tourist trail through some of the best scenery in Ireland. It starts and ends in Killarney, and covers over 170km of stunning scenery around the Iveragh Peninsula. It is possible to complete this trail in one day. Some places not to miss are Staigue Fort, north of the Sneem-Parknasilla road, one of the largest and finest ring forts you are likely to see in Ireland. The Skelligs with Valencia Island, joined by the mainland by a bridge, which is an interesting island, displaying many moods and outstanding natural beauty. Stop at Knightstown which is the main centre of population on the island, named after the Knights of Kerry, an hereditary Anglo-Irish knighthood. Just before arriving at Killarney, the Gap of Dunloe is a breathtaking gap between the Purple Mountains and Macgillycuddy’s Reeks. A river runs through the gap, with grassy banks for sitting, and picturesque bridges to cross. The road passes near five small lakes.

3. Dingle Peninsula

North of Killarney, the Dingle Peninsula has a lot of beautiful beaches. You should pass through the Connor Pass which is linking Dingle Town on the south to Kilcummin on the north coast at Brandon Bay and is considered a "must-do" experience. Leaving town from Spa Road , the paved way becomes increasingly narrow an thrilling until it crests at 400 meters above sea level. If you like fort, stop at the Dunbeg Fort in the village of Fahan.

Visit County Cork

2010-02-13T17:37:00.001+01:00

As we saw in the earliest posts, you can do a car rental in Dublin but if you have already seen Dublin and fly directly to Cork, car hire Cork Airport is another option. One of the most traditional counties in Ireland, County Cork has a lot to offer. Here are some places not to miss :

1. Rock of Cashel

On the road between Dublin and Cork stands the Rock of Cashel, known as St Patrick’s rock. It is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century AD. The complex has a character of its own, unique and native, and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe.

2. Cork

The second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, Cork is a nice city to visit. With its seaport and small street, you can spend a day visiting the city

3. Drombeg Stone Circle

On the south coast, close to the village of Skibbereen, you will find the Stone circle of Dromberg , known as the Druid’s altar. The circle consists of seventeen pillar stones that are graded from the two large portal stones, each 2 meters high, at the north-east towards the recumbent stone.

4. Mizen Head

Ireland's most southerly point, the real magic of Mizen Head is the breathtaking scenery of the landscape itself and of course the knowledge that you are at the very southern tip of Ireland, with the vast swell of the Atlantic sprawled out before you.

Day trips around Dublin

2010-02-09T18:07:00.002+01:00

We have seen the system of car hire Dublin Airport and you have decided which car to rent. You have decided to stay a few days in Dublin and discover the surroundings. Below are some ideas of destination for amazing day trips.

1. Newgrange and Kell

One hour North of Dublin, Newgrange has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has an impressive Megalithic Passage Tomb richly decorated which was built about 3200 BC. The 19 meters long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. Nearby is the village of Kells which has a large collection of Celtic Crosses and other remnants from the monastic age in Ireland. The book of Kells has been discovered there and is now displayed at Trinity College in Dublin.

2. The Wicklows
The Wicklows are mountains South of Dublin. A great place to go hiking! Don’t miss the Powerscourt House and gardens, one of the world’s greatest gardens, and Glendalough, an ancient monastery in the heart of the Wicklows Mountains National Park. Don’t forget to stop at Johnnie Fox’s pub in Glencullen for a pint, one of Ireland's oldest and most famous traditional Irish pubs and also the highest pub in the country.

3. Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a medieval city at 1h30 South of Dublin. The main attraction is the castle built in the 13th century. Walk in the city to discover the galleries and old buildings.

Most places are accessible by public transport or with organizing tours from Dublin. But I always prefered to rent a car to have more flexibility and stop anyway on the road.