Brittany – Drinking Rules and Nightlife

The age limit for drinking in France is only sixteen, but there is pretty much no real enforcement of this law. You probably won’t get rejected or “ID’d” in a caféteria, pub or off licence. You are able to buy whiskey and vodka along with everyday goods in shops, gas stations and of course supermarkets. Obviously children are more free and able to access alcohol than those in the UK or the USA. Wine is always served with every meal in lots of families, however it is no longer considered incomplete without it. This has meant that drunk youths being roudy is a lot less common. When people go out to a concert or club, they don’t normally get drunk as in the same way an English youth may do; they listen to the music or talk.

Drinking at a young age prepares them for the biggest drinking test of all, university. One of the best universities in terms of its nightlife is Rennes. The consequence of being a student city means Rennes has a vibrant nightlife on offer. The main area of the nightlife/bar culture is centered in the older area to the north of the cathedral on two roads, rue St Michel, and rue St Malo. This is not to say that this is the only area, it is just that these two roads and the area between them have the highest concentration of bars. For quieter areas and restaurants there’s the old quarter around the cathedral and also rue St Georges, near the parliament. Students meet in bars and Thursday evenings can be very popular at “rue de la soif” (thirsty street).

Success in the cider industry has also encouraged the development of pommeau de Bretagne, a subtle aperitif first developed in the 1970s through the expert blending of the fruitiest cider apples and apple brandy and which was awarded an Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée in 1997.

These unique drinks attract cider lovers from all around Europe, but in particular from the UK. With such easy accessibility from Caen many visitors tend to come over to towns such as Rennes for the weekend and pleasure their tastebuds with the local drinks. Rennes council takes a strict view on binge drinking and has in recent years has tried to ensure that visitors can enjoy their lambig or pommeau de Bretange in the right atmosphere and safely head back to their accommodation.

Family fun in Brittany

For many kids and teenagers, going on vacation with Mum and Dad can sometimes be like you have been thrown onto a desert island in the middle of nowhere. No friends or people to chill out with, and maybe even worse again, no internet! But don’t worry as Brittany has a wide choice of adventurous activities just waiting for visitors of all ages to explore.

 

If there’s one island you’d want to be stuck on, it’s Mont Saint Michel. Although it’s situated in Normandy it’s a popular sight for British people who rent some of the superb apartments the region has to offer. Before modernization, at high tide the town would be completely isolated giving the queue to start listening to those desert island discs. However, at low tide a thin, natural land bridge emerges out from the water connecting this tidal island with the main land. This mystical quality has attracted visitors from all over for years and years.

Start by following the Grand Rue. This has been the pilgrim’s route to the abbey since the 12^th century. Along this winding route make sure to take in the souvenir shops and keep watered and fed as the walk to the abbey can be more like a trek amongst the hustle and bustle of the crowds. Once at the top the impressive Gothic and Romanesque architecture will have you pleased that you rode the visitor wave all the way to the top.

If there is still no hint of even a little bit of smile from young Johnny then head over to Brest. Not only will the mention of the name arouse a giggle, but it is also home to Océanopolis ocean discovery centre. The 3 separate pavilions (tropical, polar and temperate) give visitors a chance to view over 10,000 different creatures. Make sure to visit the Antarctic section for the penguin feeding. The ‘Voyages aux poles’ exhibition is still open inviting visitors to adventure to some of the coldest territories on earth.

The centre costs a reasonable 11 euros for under 17’s and 15.80 euros for adults. If you have rented a car then simply follow the signposts, alternatively take the number 7 bus to "Port de Plaisance" and get off at the "Océanopolis" stop.

If the sharks at the centre don’t put you off then there are plenty of water sports on offer in Brittany. In addition to sailing several other sports are enjoying increasingly more popularity such as, rowing (on either the rivers or the sea), canoe/kayaking, sand yachting, speed sailing, diving, surfing and body boarding. Tuition is usually offered.

If all else fails then Brittany is a well known cider producing region and although I’m not encouraging under age drinking, it might help. Brittany is the second largest cider-producing region in France, but other preferred drinks are wine (produced near the Loire), a sort of mead made from wild honey called chouchen and an apple eau de vie called lambig.

If still at this point Johnny is still showing as much expression as a Hollyoaks actor then you can go and give him his ipod back.

All roads lead to a Roman night out

Crazy Nights In Rome

Ideas on out-of-the-ordinary bars in the city

Are you ready for one of the most eccentric evenings in the eternal city? Rome is certainly less well known than its Milanese counterpart for its evening fracas, but for enthusiasts of originally-styled bars, this little selection should certainly be to your taste.

Buddha del Mar Sevilla vs. Buddha Bar: Differences and similarities

For those of you who don’t know the concept, Buddha del Mar is a disco with a touch of Asian décor, characterised by its modern atmosphere and its mix of electronic music.

The disco is different from the famous buddha bar, which has a presence in all the most important cities in the world, going beyond borders and oceans, from New York to Paris, but it doesn’t have a venue in Seville.

Despite the fact that Buddha del Mar hasn’t got a worldwide reputation, it definitely gives night life in Seville some kind of recognition.

It has quite a big entrante and the décor is as impressive as in any Buddha Bar venue, being full of enigmatic touches and Buddha figures, which, together with the music, create an atmosphere which is unmatched elsewhere.

The kind of music being played in the disco means that you can dance and make the most of the night, as well as enjoy a much more peaceful evening where you will be focused on talking to your friends or your partner.

When I visited this disco, I was there at the same time as a well-known DJ who made the entry prices go up to 30 euros, although it was definitely worth it.

The night was extremely pleasant and I enjoyed the atmosphere and the music so much, that now I remember very little about the décor and the place’s layout.

The price for a drink isn’t at all cheap, however, it’s less than what you’d pay for a drink in Barcelona, Paris or Milan, because the average cost is about 8 euros.

I also think that the alcohol they serve you with is good, because the following day I only had a pretty small hangover, when you think about how much I drank the previous night. I was drinking orange Absolut most of the night, so I don’t know if the rum or whisky you get is as good as the vodka.

I advise you to go to this huge disco because you will have a great time, but you should be prepared to stay in your apartment until the afternoon of the following day, because as happens in the majority of Spanish discos, the party doesn’t finish until 7 in the morning.

Rome – Enjoy shopping in the Eternal City with a private tour guide

If you are taking a trip to Rome any time soon, then you are very lucky.

If you are taking a shopping trip to Rome, then you are even luckier, because it is one of, if not the best cities in the world for taking your credit card on a spending spree.

Of course, being a tourist in the city, you are probably thinking – where am I going to start? It looks so big on the map, so many different districts, so many different areas to shop in. This is where you may want some fine local knowledge, an experienced Rome shopaholic that will take you to all the best places – the well known, must sees, and the hidden away gems that only a local would know about.

Fear not any longer, as there is an answer to your worries. Stefania Troiani offers herself as a private Rome shopping tour guide throughout the year. She describes her tours as seeing the ‘must-see shops and private showrooms for THE discerning Fashionista’, so you are guaranteed to be taken to the best possible places to suit your fashion needs.

The best thing about these tours, is that Stefania has fallen into the local Italian fashion trap herself, and loves nothing more than to take fashionista around her favourite places, meaning that the experience will be a fun, memorable part of your stay in the city.

To get in touch, visit http://www.romeshoppinguide.com and see which tour you prefer.

Athens – the heart of Ancient Greece

Athens, Greece, an extremely popular destination for tourists for hundreds and hundreds of years. Over the last 10 years however, Athens has been drastically improved, in part due to the show that the city put on in its successful bid to stage the 2004 Olympic Games. The Greek Government, aided by the EU, has funded money into major infrastructure projects such as the new, high-tech "Eleftherios Venizelos" International Airport, the enormous expansion of the Athens Metro system, and the new Attiki Odos Motorway. These infrastructure projects have helped make the quality of life better for the people and tourists that live in or visit Athens, and have eased overall traffic problems for the city. The city is currently the 6th most visited capital.

Athens is located at a transition point between the Mediterranean and the Alpine climatic zones. The city enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with the greatest amounts of rain fall mainly occurring from mid-October to mid-April. Any rain fall is sparse during summer so you will only see the odd shower and/or thunderstorm. However, the Athenian climate is very dry compared with most of Mediterranean Europe. The mountainous northern suburbs, however, experience a somewhat differentiated climate with generally lower temperatures and more considerable snowfalls in winter. Fog is highly unusual in the city centre but is more frequent to the east, behind the Hymettus mountain range.

The heritage of the classical era is still evident in the city, portrayed through a number of ancient monuments and artworks, the most famous of all being the Parthenon on the Acropolis, standing as an epic landmark of western civilization. The city also has a huge variety of Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a small remaining number of Ottoman monuments that project the city's long history through the centuries. Modern landmarks can also be found, dating back as far as 1830 (establishment of the new independent Greek State), such as the Greek Parliament (19th century) and the Athens Trilogy (Library, University, Academy).

Dublin – Capital of Ireland

The city of Dublin is the largest city in Ireland with an urban population of approximately 600,000 and is the capital of the Republic of Ireland. The city is located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey. The city of Dublin and the surrounding Dublin County has a total population of approximately 1.1 million people. Today, it is an economic, administrative and cultural centre for Ireland, and has one of the fastest growing populations of any European capital city.

Dublin County is the surrounding area of the city where you can find an abundance of picturesque seaside villages, rolling mountains and rural hinterland and all within half an hour of the city centre.

Dublin is the centre of Ireland’s transport system as the port is the country’s busiest sea port and Dublin airport being the busiest on the island. There are many low cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet who fly to Dublin airport from all over Europe as well as larger commercial flight operators therefore flying would be considered the best option. Dublin Airport is located off the M1 Motorway (Dublin-Belfast road) approximately 10km (6 miles) north from the city centre and 2 km (1 mile) south of the nearest town, Swords. Currently there is a direct bus service from the airport to several destinations in the city centre along with many direct taxis available (usually priced €18 to €40, depending on traffic.) Plans are underway to construct an underground railway directly from Dublin city centre to Swords.

However if you fancy something different from flying and prefer the sea air then there is also a Ferry service from Liverpool to Dublin port with several journeys each day.

Dublin is becoming increasingly popular with tourists as the city has so much to offer such as the nightlife. Known as one of the most youthful cities in Europe - with estimates of 50% of inhabitants being younger than 25, so it’s great for those who like to party. St Stephen’s Green - especially Harcourt Street, Camden Street, Wexford Street - is a centre for some of the most popular nightclubs and pubs in Dublin. Also the internationally notorious Temple Bar area is famous for stag and hen nights, offering a wide range of pubs and clubs however generally can be considered as a tourist trap and pricey.

Ireland is also home to the world famous Guinness drink and the original factory is located just outside the city where you can take one of the many daily tours and taste “real” Guinness. For those who appreciate the Arts, Dublin has various galleries, museums and theatres which exhibit lots of traditional Irish work, from paintings, literature and theatrical performances. Of course you cannot forget traditional Irish music which is famous around the world and in the city of Dublin it is never too difficult to find live music on the streets or in one of the many bars around the city.

Dublin is definitely city filled with sports. The city hosts many sports like soccer, rugby and most famously, the traditional Irish sports; Gaelic football and Hurling. The home of Gaelic sports is Croke Park: the 4^th largest stadium in Europe.

Apart from the previous attractions, Dublin is also a popular shopping spot for both Irish people and tourists. Dublin city centre has several shopping districts, including Grafton Street and Henry Street and the adjacent Stephen Green’s Shopping Centre, Jervis Shopping Centre to name a few and there are plans from the city council to invest more money into the expansion of many shopping areas.