France Archives - Page 2 of 3

December 3, 2013 by jfalbelda

Five Most Underrated Attractions In Europe

Planning a trip to Europe? Whether this is your first or a return venture, you will not be disappointed traveling to these less-known landmarks. You will be awed, you will be off the beaten path and you will have adventures your friends will be envious of.

Vezelay, France

Rioja Alavesa, Spain

The Rioja Alavesa Wine Route offers you the tours of wineries in the region and much more. Throughout the year there are fairs, exhibitions, car rallies and marathon races. The area is known for its deep musky Rioja wine and for its landmark modern architecture. The land has a rich history that is seen through many found remains that date back to the Bronze Age.

Vezelay, France

Vezelay is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is famous for the eleventh century Romanesque Basilica of St. Magdalene and one of the most underrated attractions in Europe. Legend has it the basilica was built to house relics (bones) of Mary Magdalene brought to Vezelay by the Benedictine monk, Baudillon. The Basilica has been a pilgrimage place for hundreds of thousands of followers.

Beyond this, the beauty of the Vezelay Abbey is said to rival Chartre Cathedral, and the village, being set into a hillside in Burgundy, is one of the most picturesque in all of France. The surrounding countryside is home to France’s burgundy wine country.

Avebury, England

Twenty miles north of Stonehenge lies one of the eeriest Neolithic monuments in Europe: Avebury. It consists of multiple concentric circles of stone constructed around 2600 BC, amid which the medieval village of Avebury grew. Archeologists assume the purpose of the stones and placement to be ritualistic.

Thanks to a collaboration with the BBC a few years ago, Avebury Mansion has been restored with a museum for exploring the monument. Visitors can re-experience the BBC series the Manor Reborn, tour the Mansion and the Gardens, and experience the Stone circle that borders the edge of the Mansion Property.

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark

On the north end of the Danish Island of Zealand lies Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The museum prides itself on its interface of art, nature and the museum’s modern architecture.

Louisiana Museum has one of the largest collections of modern art in Scandinavia and includes artists from Picasso, Giacometti and Dubuffet to Warhol, Rauschenberg and Guston. They have a tradition of cross-cultural exhibitions and of large, international photo, design and architectural shows. The museum looks across to view Oresund Sound to Sweden, along with Hamlet’s Elsinore Castle, the summer home of Danish royals-Fredensborg Slot and the many beaches and cliffs all nearby.

Dresden, Germany

Culture is the word that comes to mind when one mentions Dresden. The city has three major landmarks and many more minor ones too numerous to mention: Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House, and the Church of Our Lady. For 700 years Dresden has been famed for its music and the calendar year round is packed with musical events from international festivals like the International Dixieland Jazz Festival to theatre and dance happenings to the famous Semper Opera Ball. Christmas is a special time in Dresden as it is home to the oldest Christmas Market, Striezelmarkt, first documented in 1434. No other place has the lights, sounds and tastes of this one.

September 16, 2013 by jfalbelda

Top Reasons To Visit France

The top reasons to visit France have always enchanted and impressed people from all walks of life and different backgrounds. The fact that it has been romanticized by several films makes it less surprising to note that it receives 79 million tourists yearly. No doubt, France is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. And it does not only owe this fete to the 37 UNESCO World Heritage Sites it hosts. France has always been an influential contributor when it comes to art, fashion, food and education. Its history has spawned a lot of innovative ideas and products. And it is because of this that it has remained on the top of the totem pole when it comes to countries people would love to live in.

Among the top reasons to visit France that is continuously being popularized is its infrastructure, with the Notre-Dame Cathedral and Eiffel Tower standing in the forefront. The Eiffel Tower, located on Champ de Mars, was constructed back in 1889 as the entrance arch to the World’s Fair, held that year. Eventually, it became an identifying monument of the country and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. It is visited by 7.1 million folks yearly and offers tourists the option to ascend to any of its three levels. And inside, there are a number of restaurants guests can dine in to enjoy a spectacular view of the city while eating famous local dishes. The Notre-Dame, meanwhile, is a Roman Catholic church which depicts one of the finest examples of French Romanesque and Gothic architecture in the world. It is also the largest and most well-know of its kind, spanning a century of construction. It is characterized by its lifelike sculptures and amazing stained glass windows. And even though it was desecrated during the French Revolution, much of its original aesthetic is still intact.

To add to the aforementioned, the top reasons to visit France also encompass a variety of countryside attractions – one of which are the vineyards – particularly in Burgundy and Bordeaux. It’s no secret that France is among the most outstanding sources of wine as it possesses a climate conducive to the cultivation of different types of grapes, namely Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. But what makes France’s wineries worthwhile to visit are the ancient wine-making practices and styles they adapt. As such, when you pay each of those plantations established in Burgundy and Bordeaux, you’d taste distinct variances in flavor and composition you won’t be able to when you’re just at home.

The French Riviera is also among the famous vacation hotspots in France that attracts a great deal of tourists. And what makes it very appealing is that people can enjoy fun water-based recreation the whole year round in places like Toulon, Cassis, Hyres, Saint-Tropez and Cannes (which will be hosting a big poker tournament in September for even more entertainment, hosted by France Pokerstars). If you find that you still have time to discover other highlights in the region, other top reasons to visit France include the Louvre, Champs-Elysees, and the chateaux of the Loire Valley.

August 15, 2013 by jfalbelda

How to Read a Bus Timetable

Reading bus timetables is something that most of us learn how to do in school or from real-life experience as children taking the bus with our parents. But if you’re not a regular bus user and wouldn’t know where to start to even look for the timetables let alone read them when you’ve found them, where do you begin?

Thankfully most bus schedules are available online through the various bus companies that run the various routes. If you know what area you will be travelling in, then doing a quick internet search for bus companies that operate in that area will direct you to their sites which, in turn, ought to offer you details of the routes, stops and times.

If you are planning an international bus journey then searching for ‘buses to France’ (for instance) will bring up a few options for you to choose from. Each site will be different but iDBUS, for instance, has a really clear bus timetable: just select the cities you want to set off from and arrive in, and the date you want to travel. The site will pull up a really clearly-marked timetables telling you when the bus sets off (e.g. from London Victoria) and when it will arrive (e.g. at Paris Charles de Gaulle).

Normal British timetables will typically have a list of major bus stops down the left hand column, and rows of times that the buses will reach each of those stops. From that you can estimate what time your bus will arrive and many bus stops are now fitted with real-time information about when the next bus is due and which route it is taking.

On the timetables there may be symbols or other notes that you need to bear in mind when reading the timetable: some times and services will only be available on Saturdays, or not on Sundays, for instance.

At major bus stations you can find screens telling you which platform you need to go to in order to catch your bus, and they will also tell you what time your bus will depart. There are also members of staff available who can direct you and – if you are travelling with iDBUS as before – dedicated bus company staff will be easily identifiable and can help you to find your bus and seat.

Remember that bus timetables are always calculated on a best estimate basis. There can be little accounting for changes in road conditions and traffic flow. That’s why real-time information is so handy, and many stops offer a text service so that you can text and receive information about when exactly your bus is due to arrive. We hope this post helped “demystify” how to read a bus timetable just a bit to make your next overland journey a tad bit more, relaxed.

July 27, 2013 by jfalbelda

Great Family Trips in Europe

Heading abroad with the family is a great way to celebrate a landmark event – whether it’s a birthday, engagement or any other joyous occasion. There are a number of destinations within a few hours of the UK that are perfectly set up for family retreats, so you won’t have to travel far to find the right spot for your break.

When it comes to taking a holiday as a group it’s important to choose a location that offers something for everyone, and the best way to to do that is to rent a villa in an area that provides access to several towns and cities as well as lots of countryside. A stay in a French holiday chateau, for example, is something which all family members are sure to love, and you can find more information about this type of accommodation here.

In this brief guide we’ll take you through some of the best locations for family trips in Europe.

Tuscany

Known for its rolling hills and iconic cities – many of which are synonymous with Renaissance art – Tuscany is one of Italy’s most iconic regions. The landscape attracts thousands of walking and cycling enthusiasts every year, and with so many picturesque picnic spots dotted around the area it’s a great place to come if you want to spent a bit of quality time with the family.

landscape of Tuscany

What makes Tuscany particularly suitable for celebrations is its array of fine wines, with 30 local vintages carrying a Denominazione di origine Controllata (the Italian equivalent of the French AOC) classification. Reds such as chianti and brunello are produced here, with the award-winning vineyards of Montalcino and Montepulciano always worth a visit.

When it comes to culture, there’s probably no classier place in Europe than Tuscany, with the regional capital Florence being the spiritual home of Renaissance art. This can be experienced by visiting the world-famous Galleria degli Uffizi, while the city’s cathedral – the Duomo – features some of the most iconic frescoes on the planet.

Elsewhere in Italy, Pisa is full of iconic landmarks such as the Leaning Tower, while those visiting Siena in the summertime can witness the breathtaking Il Palio horse race, which takes place on June 2nd and August 16th in the Piazza del Campo.

Normandy

One of the foremost reasons to host a celebration in Normandy is the food, with the region being home to a huge number of Michelin-starred restaurants serving the finest local cuisine. This is dominated by seafood, with oysters and mussels adding a taste of luxury to Norman life, while the area is also the birthplace of some of France’s most popular cheeses, including camembert.

Finding something to do as a family while on holiday can sometimes be tricky, but Normandy is so full of charming towns and landmarks that there’s no danger of anyone getting bored. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saint-Mont-Michel, for example, is one of the most enchanting sites you’re ever likely to see, with this ancient sanctuary sitting in the middle of the stunning bay of the same name. Exploring medieval towns such as Caen and Honfleur, meanwhile, is another great way to spend a day.

Provence

The region of Provence – which includes the stylish Cote d’Azur and cities such as Cannes and Monaco – is widely regarded as one of the most glamorous locations in the world, so it’s a great place to come for a celebration. Aside from boasting a huge number of pristine beaches, many of which bear the prestigious Blue Flag, it’s also home to an array of top-class vineyards.

Many of these are based around the town of Ramatuelle, which is close to Saint-Tropez, with Grenache, Merlot and Syrah among the varieties that are produced here. Anyone visiting this particular region of Provence can also take a trip to the famous Tahiti Beach, which was immortalised by Brigitte Bardot in the 1956 film And God Created Women, and is now home to a number of exclusive beach clubs.

August 28, 2012 by jfalbelda

Why are Americans so Fat?

Obesity in America

Yes, I’m American, and my country is full of fat people. It’s the truth. With the average adult weight in the USA coming in at over 180 lbs, and the third highest in the world, you better bet there are some pudgers NOT walking the streets (they wouldn’t be fat if they did). Armed with a degree in exercise physiology, a personal training certification and years of traveling abroad under my belt, I’ve always wondered why are we Americans heftier than the rest? Here are a few personal theories. Read More »