Hostels in Paris – to stay, or not to stay?

Do you have a small budget and want to visit Paris without breaking the bank? Staying in a hostel is certainly the most economic solution when travelling alone. If you bring a group of friends, I advise you to opt instead for an apartment in Paris, so you can take advantage of cheaper rates, and sleep in a much more peaceful and comfortable environment.
Hostels however are a great solution for young people wishing to spend a weekend in Paris.

The advantages of choosing the hostel:

· young and festive environment

· the breakfast is often included in the price

· Hostels often organize parties or events

· practice foreign languages

· easier to build relationships and friendships when you share the same room

The disadvantages of choosing a hostel:

· sometimes noisy, it all depends on with whom you share the room

· less comfort than an apartment of hotel

· sharing a room with other people can sometimes be embarrassing

In Paris, there is a large selection of hostels that you can find on websites such as http://www.parisinfo.com/hotels-paris/pour-les-jeunes/. These rooms are usually 3-15 beds, but some also offer double rooms at higher rates, but still cheaper than a hotel. Most of these hostels include bed linen and breakfast in the price, and have a common kitchen to cook a meal in the evening after a day of sightseeing.



In an international atmosphere, young and friendly with high security, staying in a hostel will certainly leave you full of memories to share when you return from your vacation.

The Rome Colosseum – A trip back in time

Everyone has heard about the famous Roman Colosseum that has inspired writers and filmmakers to capture on paper or film the gory stories of very famous fighters of this particular story.

The first time I saw the front of the colosseum was during the day and I must say that is extremely impressive. However, it is at night when this ancient building seems even more beautiful thanks to the many lights that illuminate every detail.

Just before beginning the tour, you can see a lot of people buying souvenirs or being photographed with gladiators (it is ironic that a couple of players try to create a comic in what has been one of the most bloody and cruel stories of all time.)

Passing the gates, you will find a huge queue to pay and start the tour, it can last more than 15 minutes but is certainly well worth it, because after the security check you can walk through the corridors which were once the symbol of the most powerful empire on earth.

Corridors, steps made of stone, and every detail of the Colosseum cannot hide his age. The atmosphere inside it is dark but it is also very interesting to walk around and look at the cages where the animals and gladiators would fight, many times the unfortunate gladiator being beaten.

The difference in ability between the Colosseum then and the current stage is very small. It could hold 50,000 Romans at a time. This is an impressive figure considering that 1900 years after its construction many stadiums do not have that capability.

A visit is really a journey through time. If you stop to look at the Colosseum in silence, I still think that it is possible to hear the cries of the crowd and feel the vibrations caused by the brandishing of swords before the battles began.

It is a very interesting tour and without it, a trip to Rome would not be complete. But after all the smiles from curious tourists, you should never forget the history that this building has and how it represents the darker side of a great empire.

The Arabic Royal Alcazares – an Arabic history in the centre of typical Spain

The word comes from Arabic Alcázares القصر to qasr, which means strength. Today the monuments resemble more a luxurious palace. When you admire their beauty for the first time it will not leave you in any doubt as to why it is still used as a royal residence.

Its importance and strategic location within the city has meant that great battles have been fought using the castles and they even played a key role in building up the legend, importance and history of this place.
Entering immediately I noticed the combination of elements from different nations and times in history, as the various tile images clearly illustrated in Spanish as a galleon or a lion with a crown framed by the beauty of Arabic letters engraved on many of the walls of the enclosure.

All of the rooms that make up the palaces are special and have unique shapes and forms of their own kind. However I think the most spectacular area is the courtyard of the maids, a rectangular courtyard with double arches on marble columns. Even the smallest detail is engraved in letters and figures which clearly allude to the time when the Arabs ruled the land.

It's really amazing to think that these luxurious palaces full of art were regarded as the royal houses of different empires and there is no doubt that the leader who was resting there could show off his wealth and power
The royal palaces are located in the city centre just opposite the cathedral and are very easy to get to, which means that it is a must do during a visit to Seville. When you plan your visit I recommend devoting at least three hours to visit this magnificent place.

The Imperial Palace – Uniting the past, present, and the future of Vienna

The Imperial Palace is the largest castle in the city and one of the major attractions. It is a complex building with plenty of historical significance, but also very important in the present, since one of them is the residence of the President of Austria.

Located in the old part of the city beside the Danube, Sissi houses the museum and the imperial halls, a church, the Austrian National Library and the president's home.

A visit to this palace is memorable and you should know that each of the rulers of the empire was commissioned to add their own touch to one of its buildings, thanks to that, this walk through the palace is like strolling through the history of this city.

When I went to Vienna I was not sure whether I would find an attraction like this in the city, the monuments colossal dimensions are worthy of admiration.

It is rather curious that the front of the building, despite being awesome, is quite austere and was built in an elegant and classic style, however this all changes once you get inside. The ceremonial hall in the palace or the national library are two buildings that are filled from top to bottom with murals, marble and gold sculptures in which the details are exquisite, illuminated by a dim light that highlights its elegance.

Walking around is like you have been transported back in time to an era of kings. These groups were dancing to the nobility of a continent for centuries, as they witnessed large banquets and represented the power of an empire. There are too many things to see and there are not enough words to describe them.

This palace is one of the best I've seen in Europe and is definitely something worth seeing.

Catalonia, a province, a nation, and an incredible cuisine

When you think of a trip to Catalonia do you think of Pan con tomate (bread with tomato) and cava? Catalonia has much more to offer. For example, did you know that the classic peanuts originated in Catalonia?

The cuisine was described for the first time in the twelfth century in a book, Llibre de Sent Sové, as “characterized by an excellent combination of sea and mountains”. Meat, sausage, rice mixed with fish and crustaceans create plenty of tasty and interesting combinations (chicken and lobster?). They often use different sauces, alli’oli (garlic mayonnaise), picada (peanuts, garlic, spices), romesco (peanuts, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and bread) and samfaina (onions, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, zucchini).

Want to know some of the typical Catalan dishes? Here is a list:
 
Arroz Negro. This is a famous and original dish from the Costa Brava. Inside there should be rice, cuttlefish and other seafood, onion, garlic and tomatoes seasoned with olive oil and squid ink that gives it the black colour.

Amanida Catalan. Mixed salad with vegetables and smoked meat, fish or crustaceans.

Graellada de marisc. Varied assortment of grilled seafood served with allioli.

Suquet. Famous seafood prepared with saffron, wine, tomatoes and potatoes.

Fideau. This is a more Catalan version of Paella. Spaghetti accompanied by red peppers, chop or pork tenderloin and sausage.

Botifarra amb mongets. Traditional Catalan dish with black sausage, broiled with white beans.

Esqueixada. Tasty dish with a salad of salted cod, onions and peppers.

Llagosta pollastre. Very typical of Catalonia and the least original combination of lobster with chicken in tomato sauce and hazelnuts.

Amb samfaina pullets. Roast chicken with samfaina (the sauce) and mixed vegetables.

Canelons a les Barcelonès. Baked cannelloni stuffed with chicken livers and pork, adored by the city of Barcelona.

Paella. Traditionally from Valencia, but also widely used in Barcelona and is usually made up of rice with seafood or meat.

For dessert there are two favourites in particular:
Crema Catalana. Egg and covered with a layer of caramel.
Coca de Sant Joan. Cake covered with pine nuts and candied fruit, usually served on the night of St. John

Sevilla – the home of Flamenco, the house of Tapas

Sevilla is world famous for two things: Flamenco and tapas. I know this will sound a little dated, and many people are upset because this beautiful city is often turned into a stereotype that is completely false as Seville is much more than these two things with all of its monuments, palaces, cathedrals, gardens and much more.

However, my intention is not to belittle this but talk about one aspect that has earned the recognition of thousands of tourists year after year. When I was in Seville I had the opportunity to see a flamenco show and it was unbelievable!

As I passed from one tapas bar to another I noticed that the offer was extremely varied. I was hoping to find some tapas, what was to me the most traditional, but I realized that such is the variety of tapas that the best thing to do was just try something different in each different place.
So during my three day visit, the city was based on two tours: the tourist, where I could enjoy all the architectural beauties of the city and the cuisine, where I tasted everything from fresh fish, typical calamares to a skewer of prawns with coconut. The latter was the reason for my return to the Andalusian capital – just incredible.

Unlike Barcelona or Madrid where you can find excellent tapas at high prices, many of the Sevilla tapas are free, and come to the table as you sip your Cruzcampo beer or any other beverage of your choice.
If you are really looking to try the best tapas in the world, you will certainly have to pay a very reasonable sum of money, but you will certainly get great value for money in this gem of a city – away from the high prices of Madrid and Barcelona.

Finally, I would advise that visiting this wonderful city is a “must do” experience and I am sure you will enjoy all its qualities, especially its tapas and flamenco.

Enjoy a slice of Pizza in Rome

Millions of tourists visit the Italian capital year after year to see its monuments, visit museums, go to bars and restaurants and even if you have time to shop. However, very few of them know how the Romans eat pizza.

So, here are the steps to eat pizza like a real Roman ...

First you must know where to eat pizza, Rome is full of luxurious restaurants packed with tourists, where prices are soaring. We will try to avoid this, so you should certainly head off the beaten track and down some smaller streets.

Once you have found the pizza, you must know that here you won’t find the well-known traditional circular pizza shape, as this pizza is cut into small rectangles. This is something unusual outside of Italy but very common in the Italian capital.

We know that to stay at these places for more than 15 minutes is not normal for a Roman, as the vast majority of them calling in for pizza eat it on the go, and just eat a slice or 2 to whet their appetite.

You should be ready to take a slice at one o'clock, because it is lunch time in Rome and of course, is when the pizza is coming out fresh from the ovens, so the flavour is better.

Be ready to face a crowd, since these small places fill up at one o'clock and 25 minutes later can be empty. So, if you want to find a hot Roman pizza you may need to fight for a place in the queue.

Once inside ask for two pizzas with different ingredients, variety is a lot so you must try to test different versions of the pizza, but to be honest with two pizzas is more than sufficient as they come in much larger slices than you will be used to.

Before eating the pizza, join the two pizzas as if they were a sandwich, and enjoy the pizza as does any other Roman. Two pizzas at a time will seem like a heavy plate and probably does not sound like something very attractive, but the taste is unbeatable.

Now when you are planning your trip to Rome do not forget to set aside a few hours to enjoy this unusual experience, a modern tradition that lets you take a taste of Rome everywhere you go.