Europe | Viator Travel Blog

London’s Royal Palaces

2. July 2009

It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but, okay, I will admit it for all of us. Part of our fascination with England – even for many of those born and raised there – is the Royal Family – one of the last remaining monarchies in the world. They’re all over magazines just like real celebrities. Their faces stare at us from mugs and plates and T-shirts. History is full of them. We all want to see inside their houses. So, I did it. I went to London and I visited a whole lot of Royal palaces. Did not meet a prince, but, given the history of princesses I’m kind of glad of that.

Vatican Confidential: Behind the Scenes of the Guided Tour Industry

30. June 2009

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Personally I have rarely been tempted to take guided tours. The times I have were usually accidental; faced with some complicated monument in the depths of India, an ageing guide has approached me and very softly urged me to take a tour at a wonderfully reasonable price. This is the sort of guided tour that possess a little travel exoticism. But I recently had a rare insight into the big business industrial tours of Rome, the Vatican and its huge museum.

Venice: Boating through Lagoon City

25. June 2009

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When you travel to Venice, it’s easy to tramp around the narrow streets of the historic centre, getting lost at every turn and not caring because everything you see is beautiful, magical and wonderfully old. And at the end of the day, if your feet are aching and your eyes are popping out with an overload of looking, you can sit in an outdoor café sipping on a Spritz or a Bellini and gaze out over the water of the lagoon to relax. But the lagoon deserves a bit more attention than just that. It’s because of the lagoon and its many tiny islands that Venice is even here. Take time to hop on a boat and see a little more than just the Piazza San Marco.

Top 10 Things to Do in Copenhagen

23. June 2009

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Copenhagen is one of those cities that just works. I’m not the only one who thinks so; it always rates highly on those coveted "Best in the World" lists for livability, environmental friendliness, and various other desirable traits. And the shopping is pretty sensational. Packed with palaces and castles, littered with gardens and snaked by pretty waterways, I can think of countless reasons to suggest a visit to the Danish capital.

Paris Attractions: The Quirky Side

22. June 2009

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In Paris, it is often easy to just settle for the clichés; sit in a café, gawk at the Eiffel Tower, join the scrum to view the Mona Lisa and walk hand-in-hand along the banks of the Seine. And that’s just fine. But look a little further, and you can stumble into some of the fabulous oddities that give the French capital a slightly quirkier character.

Lost in Transit

19. June 2009

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You’ve probably been getting the idea lately that I’ve been all over the place like some kind of bad euro-rash – y’know: everywhere at once and no matter what you do you can’t seem to get rid of it. I’ve had more than my share of disorder and, dare I say it in a public arena, distress in my days in the Northern Territory. And to tell you the truth I’m not even sure what I’m doing in Europe anyway.

Rome Photo Tour: Advice from Pro Photographers

17. June 2009

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Rome Photo Tour: Advice from Pro Photographers

If you are at all like me you have a pretty cool camera and you just love taking pictures. But none of them look like they would make it into National Geographic, and you really can't put your finger on exactly why. It's not that you don't go to interesting places, or take enough shots, or try hard enough. There's just something missing. That's how I feel most of the time when I look at my travel photos. Lately I've been feeling better though, and it's because I took one of our photography walking tours in Rome.

Iceland: Whale Watching, Waterfalls & Wonders

11. June 2009

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Iceland: Whale Watching, Waterfalls & Wonders

Most visitors to Iceland are blissfully unaware of the fact that the popular whale watching tour boats they happily bundle onto in Reykjavik share a dock with commercial whaling vessels. The same dock that is also home to a popular eatery that serves fresh whale kebabs daily. Funny, right? Or shocking?

Paris Chocolate Tour

3. June 2009

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Do the words "chocolate" and "French pastries" get you excited? If so you should keep reading. Otherwise this borderline Paris food porn post will rub you the wrong way. You have been warned. It all started a few days ago, when we noticed an excellent review of our Paris Chocolate & Pastry Tour by Marie Maguire on the Contra Costa Times website.

Ping Pong Berlin, Tischtennis for the Well-Dressed

29. May 2009

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Ping Pong Berlin, Tischtennis for the Well-Dressed

When you think of all the great sports stars Germany has to offer – Michael Schumacher, Katarina Witt, er, Boris Becker, and Steffi Graf - one is imbued with a sense of grace, power and athleticism uncommon in the everyday punter. But does one ever consider Timo Boll? "Who!?" I hear you cry. The current top-ranked German champion of the Small White One, Timo has dedicated his life to the mastery of the art of ping pong since the age of 8.