"I am going to Iceland to see the Aurora Borealis," I said confidently. Everyone was envious. Which only egged me on. "Yeah, it’s the right time of year, and I’ve just got a feeling." Digging myself a whole trench full of trouble. Everyone knows the Northern Lights are capricious at best, downright elusive the rest of the time. But since childhood I’d wanted to see them. So here I was in Iceland. This was my chance.
Continue reading...19. November 2009
The 2010 Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany, is a once-a-decade event that takes over, consumes, and essentially overwhelms the entire town of Oberammergau. Once every 10 years, more than half of this Bavarian village's 5,000 inhabitants take part as actors in the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play. This may be the world's most famous play... that you have never heard of!
Continue reading...17. November 2009
I arrive for my Rome catacombs tour early and so sit in the last of the October sun munching on a suppli (a Roman snack containing a deep-fried ball of rice and mozzarella). Aptly our first destination is the catacombs of Saint Calisto – one small part of a huge network of catacombs in Rome.
Continue reading...11. November 2009
Before the arrival of the euro, Madrid was well known as one of Europe’s cheaper destinations. These days, as on the rest of the continent, you can go through money like water if you don’t come prepared. You need to plan ahead, and go with the local flow, to make Madrid achievable on a budget.
Continue reading...23. October 2009
Reykjavik (Reykjavík), despite its tiny population, is a very cosmopolitan place for being tucked away in distant Iceland. The nightlife in Reykjavik is legendary. And when the sun is out, the mustards and crimsons of its corrugated houses sit in happy contrast with the Nordic blue of the summer sky. Reykjavik is an awfully pretty town to meander through.
Continue reading...20. October 2009
The Spanish capital, Madrid, isn’t exactly short of things to do. But for those who have got a little more time to explore, there are some awesome day trips from Madrid available. There are a series of interesting cities that are either a short distance away or can be reached in surprisingly quick times via high speed train. Whether it’s mosques, cathedrals and castles or a carnivorous feast on local specialities, these cities have plenty to offer. And then there are the royal and literary hang-outs that are just on Madrid’s door step...
Continue reading...13. October 2009
So you've ticked off the wall in Berlin, the Oktoberfest, the Rhine cruise and all manner of stunning castles and cathedrals? Well, you’ve only just scratched the surface of Germany – and the way to get the most out of the rest is to make things a little weirder. We’ve picked out eight of the most bizarre places to visit in Germany and they’re far from the usual suspects.
Continue reading...1. October 2009
Who among us can honestly say that the idea of living Happily Ever After™ as a fairytale Prince or Princess in a bejeweled castle holds no appeal? Not I, good reader, not I. After years of vicarious tabloid-browsing and a steady diet of Handsome-Prince-Marries-Accidental-Princess stories since childhood, the idea of donning glass slippers and going to the ball has always held a magical appeal for me. So, on a recent visit to Denmark, home to one of the world’s oldest royal families and jam-packed with castles and palaces, it seemed only right that I indulge my fantasies and visit a royal residence or three.
Continue reading...25. September 2009
There’s enough to do in Paris to keep a visitor occupied for weeks, but for those who do wish to venture further afield, there are a series of awesome destinations that can easily be checked out in a day trip from the French capital. From cathedrals and palaces to wine tasting and architectural gems, these five pack in an awful lot for the day-tripper.
Continue reading...22. September 2009
Summer and the movies used to be great together. Me and my mate Simon would buy a ticket to an 11am session, then spend the whole day sneaking from cinema to cinema (via the snack bar) watching movies all day. Good times. While it's still possible to sneak into sessions through the day at Melbourne's big chain cinemas (not that I'm recommending it, of course), daytime is so much busier these days, what with work and babies and stuff.
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20. November 2009
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