Nice Holiday - relaxing Holiday


A vacation is probably the nicest time in the life of a person. Here one can be completely relaxing and recover from the everyday stress. Besides, a period which invites once more to the vacation stands in a queue in few weeks for many vacationers also with the wintertime and above all the Christmas holidays. All the same as one spends the days, the time should become nice. While some people escape from the cold temperatures and fly to the south, the main trend still lies to enjoy itself in winter on the ski runway. Since what fits better to the winter vacation than snow and the sport of the winter? Tirol in Austria is one of the areas in those one perfectly the winter can spend and also for the Easter time Tirol in Arlberg with the center is a Saint Anton an extremely popular holiday region. However, what does the holiday region around Saint Anton make so popular? How can one take in the region vacation? What does one need everything for a ski vacation? What does the holiday region Saint Anton make so popular? Saint Anton is beside Sölden probably the heart of the holiday zone Tirol. The town and also the region are known for her numerous ski runways and a vacation in this region connects the most different things. On the one hand is not natural also Saint Anton a town in that the party after the skiing may be absent, however, this is not to be compared to Sölden. In Saint Anton it is in general a little quiet. The characteristic feature is laid, on this occasion, on the skiing and the runways are suitable accordingly also for everybody well. There are the ski runways of the most different categories and also for Snowboarder and long-dated security a place is found in Saint Anton quick. The quiet atmosphere which one finds out on this vacation, linked with the sportiness on the ski runway are both things which mark such a vacation. How is vacation taken in Tirol or Saint Anton? Typically for the skiing areas in Austria are the awfully warm and comfortable ski huts which are made of the more often out of wood. These can catch differently many people and are attractive therefore for everybody no matter whether one liked to take rather vacation in twos or with 14 people on travelling goes. What does one need everything for a ski vacation? An available equipment for skiing is an advantage of course always, however, enough ski Hire St. Anton also exist. Many ski Rental in St. Anton offer from the ski up to the ski glasses everything what one needs as a skier and also for the Snowboarder the ski Rental in St. Anton holds almost everything. One needs to himself no worries make, because with a ski Hire St. Anton the vacation and the equipment is protected.
ski rental st. anton

The Magic of Barcelona’s Modernist Art

No trip to Barcelona can be complete without a visit to the wonderful architecture of Antoni Gaudí. This Catalan architect is well known for his unique modernist art, and many buildings and even a park contain his work. While there are many examples throughout the city, below are the definite “must-sees” during your trip.

Temple de la Sagrada Familia

Perhaps the most famous of his works is the Temple de la Sagrada Familia (Temple of the Sacred Family). This magnificent construction was first built using the vision of the architects Martorell and De Villar. Antoni Gaudí then took over the project, but unfortunately passed away before the work was complete. Construction still continues and should you visit. This will be the first time you have paid to visit a construction site! Your contribution will help towards the ongoing work to complete this fascinating building.

Casa Battló

Next on your tour of Barcelona is Casa Battló in the L'Eixample neighbourhood. Originally Gaudí was commissioned to demolish the building and rebuild it from scratch, but he convinced the owner to let him completely redesign the existing structure.

This was back in the days when the Paseo de Gracia was undergoing a "keep up with the Jones'" battle with everyone trying to outdo each other with their architecture. Gaudí did an incredible job using tiles and scales on the exterior of the building, unique and beautiful interior design, and with his famous chimneys on the roof top. The balconies of this building appear to be made from large bones, giving an eerie effect when viewing the house.

Casa Milà

Nearby in the L’Eixample neighbourhood is another astonishing piece of architecture, Casa Milà (also known as La Pedrera). Antoni Gaudí was commissioned by the industrialist, Pere Milà, to construct a building on the boundary of Barcelona and Gràcia, both as a family residence and also to be leased as separate dwellings or apartments.

Owing to the way its facade appears to be carved out of rock, the Casa Milà was nicknamed "La Pedrera", which means stone quarry. The house has amazing interior architecture, as well as the famous and fascinating chimneys on the rooftop.

As an interesting side note, the fascinating chimneys and roof features apparently inspired George Lucas when designing the costumes for the "Star Wars" movies.


Parque Güell (Güell Park)


Ideal for a restful stroll after your busy days in Barcelona, the park was originally planned to be a residential area. It is now a beautiful park with many wonderful Gaudí creations in tile work and stone. The views over Barcelona to the sea are simply beautiful.

Enjoy a rest on the “wavy benches,” or have lunch at the cafeteria, surrounded by wonders.

The park also contains the house of Antoni Gaudí, which is now a museum. Gaudí lived in the house from 1906 to 1925, one year before his death. The house was bought in 1963 by the "Association of Gaudí friends" and converted into "Casa Museu Gaudí," an interesting museum displaying unique furniture, drawings and decor designed by Gaudí himself in conjunction with Josep María Jujol.

So, pack the camera and plenty of batteries, and put on some comfortable walking shoes while you see the sights. For more information please visit All Barcelona Accommodation

Isola d’Elba – the jewel of Tuscany

The Isola d’Elba is the largest island off the region of Tuscany, Italy. Its stunning natural beauty has lead to it being a valued part of Italy’s third largest national park - Arcipelago Toscana National Park. Nowadays the island is perhaps best known for its scorching summer sunshine, pristine beaches and ‘o so peaceful’ secluded island life.



There is no doubt the island is any adventure seeker’s playground, the ragged coastline makes it any water sports enthusiasts’ haven, you’ll find many beaches offer water sports classes or tours such as windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing. (It’s also possible to hire all of this equipment privately).If you’re looking to sail the seven seas you can arrange to go on a boat tour or hire out your very own private speedboat. Often highlights include being taken to see the pirate shipwreck just off the island’s coast.

If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on solid ground, the Island you may be pleasantly surprised on the range of land activities available on such a small island. Apart from the obvious, such as shopping, discovering the local villages and eating out you may find a trying out one of the following activities will make for an unforgettable holiday.
For those who have a need for speed, the local go karting track provides the perfect opportunity in a family friendly environment. The café area beside the track is designed around an old yellow school bus, the table games (such as table football and air hockey) the high rise tables all give the place the feel of an American dinner - all in all it’s a guaranteed winner!



The islanders of Elba are very proud that the island was once a refuge for no other than Napoleon Bonaparte when he was exiled by….. As a result a popular attraction is Napoleon’s island estate which is open to the public. Beware – if you’re only visiting his humble abode to escape the rain, you won’t be alone. During the summer months, the number of visitors quadruples when bored beach goers are forced to find other ways to entertain themselves.
Finally if you’re a keen hiker or cyclist, Elba won’t disappoint. Popular routes include the beach trail and the steep climb up Monte Capanne. Don’t fancy braving the hike, but still want to witness the spectacular views across the island? Luckily there is also a cable car service which operates in high season so you won’t have to put in any of the leg work!

Day trips from Barcelona

We all love Barcelona, but if you’re here for a week or more, sometimes it can be nice and take a little break from the hectic hubbub of city life. Here are a few ideas of great day trips you can take from Barcelona.

Montserrat
Situated roughly an hour away from Barcelona, the mystical monastery of Montserrat feels worlds away. Getting there is simple enough, hop on the ferrocarril (train) from Sants train station and from there you will have two options of how to get up the mountain. You can either go up via cable car, or you can opt for the funicular. Once you’ve made it to the top you’ll immediately appreciate the spectacular views and fresh mountain air. You can pay a visit to the Montserrat monastery and if you’re lucky you may be just in time to hear the choir boys sing. A trip to Montserrat will always be an unforgettable adventure.


Montserrat – by lukasz dzierzanowski

Sitges
Sitges is a typical Spanish fishing village, and unlike many seaside resorts around the Costa Dorada, it hasn’t been spoilt by ugly hotels or flattened by golf courses. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the charming white-washed walls and narrow authentic streets. Sitges is also especially known for hosting the Sitges film festival and Sitges carnival. It’s also a popular gay destination (especially around the time of the carnival). During the summer Sitges is very popular amongst Barcelonans who go to take advantage of its beautiful beaches.


Sitges by Nicole Lerner

Port Aventura / Illa Fantasia
Ok, so perhaps these aren’t places you’d go for a relaxing escape from the city… but, having said that an adrenaline rush never hurt anyone! Port Aventura is a huge theme park where you’ll be able to travel from Mexico, through the wild Wild West all the way to China and back to the Mediterranean.
Illa Fantasia is a fantastic water park, a perfect escape for a hot summer’s day. As you could probably guess the park is only open during the summer months (April – September). With endless pools, slides, floats and more, get ready to get wet!


Port Aventura - by Gnislew

Make the Perfect Gingerbread Man

Make the perfect gingerbread man

  Gingerbread  

One of the best things about Christmas is that’s it’s a time to give into temptation and indulge in all the Christmas sweet treats! A European classic, the gingerbread man is always the perfect festive biscuit. This year why not try making some for yourselves with our simple gingerbread recipe?!

Ingredients check list:

  • 4 tsp ground ginger
  • 7 tbsp golden syrup
  • 200g brown sugar
  • 250g butter
  • 600g plain flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 200C.

2) Sieve the flour into a bowl and mix in the baking soda.

3) Melt the butter in a saucepan and add syrup, brown sugar and ginger. Stir until the mixture forms a thick syrup.

4) Mix the dry and the wet mixtures together to form a sturdy dough. If the dough is too wet, roll in some more flour, one tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too dry add a teaspoon of water at a time. Do this until the dough is moist and easy to handle and shape.

5) Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread man shapes.

6) Bake for 10 - 15 minutes.

7) Leave to cool and decorate!

If your feeling really creative you could also try and make gingerbread Christmas trees, reindeer, snowmen, even a whole gingerbread house! The possibilities are endless…

New Years Eve in Berlin, come and join us!


Do you have plans for New Years Eve? Berlin is one of the top European cities to celebrate New Years Eve in. When we think of Berlin the first thing that crosses our mind is the famous love parade. Although Berlin has so much more to offer to people that can’t stop partying!

A Berlin New Years Eve is of course celebrated in different clubs across Berlin. It is handy to keep up with the programming of the hotspot like; Kulturbrauerei, Club Watergate and the Magnet Club.


If you find yourself searching for an outdoor event that has everything, then why not try the huge Brandenburger Tor party! This is a big event with various performers live on stage. They use a big clock for the crowd to count the seconds until the 1st of January.

Another possible place you don’t want to miss is the Kreuzberg area. The bars here organise great parties and also provide an enjoyable fireworks display in the Viktoria park.

It is impossible to go to all the events but you can pick one that is above, or go exploring and see if you can find a highlight of your own!

Have you already been in Berlin!? Tell us your story we would like to hear from you.

Saludos!

Best British Holidays

Personally, when I think about holidays, I can’t help but picturing paradise. You know, sun, palm trees, sandy beaches, cocktails, secluded ocean view villas… the works. Being a realist though, I understand that for many, including myself, this is just a pipe dream, and one that isn’t happening any time soon. But who’s to say you have to splash the cash and whisk away to exotic destinations to have a good time? As a Brit, I often forget about the beauty that exists on my very own doorstep. Rather, I spend hours stressing, working up a budget and fretting over this year’s holiday destination. I mean, even places like France and Spain, which are relatively close by, can be expensive. Come to think of it, anywhere you go can be expensive. So, why not stay put? Britain may not be everyone’s holiday of choice, but it’s full of gems that I truly believe match even the best of destinations. Here is a pick of some of the best bits of Britain:

Stonehenge- Ok, the obvious one to begin with but really a must-see. This mysterious prehistoric stone circle is believed to have been constructed around 3100BC- yet nobody knows for sure exactly when, by whom or what purpose it served.

Lake District- This stunning rural area in the North-West of England is one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots in England. Stretching over miles of countryside, this is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here, you will also find Lake Windermere (Cumbria), the largest natural lake in the country (2 miles long, 1 mile wide and 220 feet deep).

The Giant’s Causeway- This is a World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. It is a stunning picture. This natural structure is made up of around 40,000 basalt columns, created by a volcanic eruption and is really something to behold as the tide of the sea lash against it.

Bath- Another gem in the South West of England. Few other towns can yield such elegance, charm and fantastic architectural riches. Here you’ll find the famous Roman Baths, Circus and Royal Crescent.

Bath2jpg

York- This beautiful historic town in the North of England is another must see. It is home to York Minster, one of the country’s most impressive cathedral’s and, incidentally, the largest in Northern Europe.

Edinburgh- The Scottish capital is a cultural treat- full of galleries, museums, regular arts festivals and dominated by the impressive Edinburgh Castle. It’s also got some fantastic nightlife on offer, and is home to one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the world, the Hogmanay

London- Finally we come to the UK’s largest city and England’s capital, London. There is so much to see and do here, the list is endless. Historic monuments, museums, parks, buzzing night life. What’s more, the city will be playing host to the 2012 Olympic Games!

edinburgh castle

So there you have it. Obviously not a complete list, I’ve only just brushed the surface when talking about what Britain has to offer. But this should be enough to get you started!