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.
Continue reading...21. September 2009
Now, I’ve played plenny of board games – scrabble, draughts (or chequers if you will), a spot of chess as a young’un, and word has it maybe even a spot of Trouble, though not that I’d own up to that with less than a sixpack on the table. London town had come a-calling, so seemed it was time for the ultimate bored game, why not a round of Monopoly? But mind you, given some of the prices you’d find in the ‘spensive parts of Ol’ Blighty, you’d have to be Rich Uncle Pennybags himself to afford a beer or five if you was to play the Monopoly drinking game. And given I’m not one to do as I’m told, drinking on queue could be added to that list, ‘specially if the mood and lighting ain't quite right.
Continue reading...16. September 2009
Hon, you may know Baltimore as Charm City USA. But did you know 'Bawlmore' is also home to Edgar Allan Poe? OK OK so Poe was actually born in New York City. Whaddabout it? Baltimore's claim to fame is that Poe died here. He was found unconscious in the streets of Baltimore and admitted to the Washington College Hospital. He died on October 7, 1849, and was buried in an unmarked grave. An unmarked grave?? Now that's something to celebrate, Baltimore!
Continue reading...14. September 2009
While the European Union is developing in an ongoing process of enlargement, I was curious about the miniature version. I wondered, what on earth would possess anyone to visit a mini-Europe theme park in Brussels? And what had me baffled even more, why did anyone build such a thing?
Continue reading...11. September 2009
During the perpetual light of Iceland's summer, people like to get out of town. Leaving their posts at their city desk jobs for weeks at a time, people load up the car with supplies, strap in their pretty blonde children, and merge with the summer traffic. Since the completion of the national ring road in 1974 Icelanders have collectively set out to explore every inhabitable corner of their dramatic country. The 1,339km (832 mile) spin around Route 1 really is the ultimate road trip.
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23. October 2009
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