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Traveling by train across Europe

April 11th, 2011 Comments off

Traveling by train through Europe

of the great things about travel in Europe is that you can do a very good market. This low-cost travel has led to the backpacker and they were high school graduates or students who spend the summer traveling through Europe with one or two months longer trains to be used optimally. They can also stay in hostels, meet fellow travelers and go visit different countries, sometimes in packs, sometimes with a travel companion or just sometimes. This unique experience has spread to North America and the Americans and Canadians are on this path, it is sometimes a rite of passage for this sense of independence and lose considerably improved their education to real life on the world .

Here are some things you should know when planning a trip to Europe:

1. Do your research. Using the Internet to plan your trip. Find out about the best places to go early. Try to find the cheapest places to stay and see if you can book in advance. Also try to find the train schedules so you can plan your journey and avoid the long hours spent at the station.

2. See where necessary travel documents. Maybe your country has no reciprocity with certain countries who intend to visit if you can get a visa. Some periods of visa application more than a month to plan ahead.

3. Get information from travel blogs. Sometimes the best information can be found online for those who visited the region. This is unique on the Internet and can be very useful for you.

The area of ​​travel has also increased. Since 2000, travelers can now travel to Sweden directly by train from Brussels, which can lead to Copenhagen. The Oresund Bridge connects Copenhagen to Malmo in Sweden through and beyond the railway bridge that connects people who travel in their own cars on the European continent, which is Denmark via Copenhagen to Sweden. The world has become smaller with such an infrastructure. The Swedish train became more economical for both Swedish citizens going a trip to Europe and vice versa, and only adds to the Swedish economy in terms of increasing numbers of tourists.

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Eurostar train from London to Brussels

February 20th, 2011 Comments off

London to Brussels Eurostar train

Brussels is full of historic buildings, monuments and museums to make an incredibly long list of worthy attractions ( Manneken Pis, the Ommegang, iguanodon Bernissart Belgium center of the strip Comi Toone Theater, Atomium Mini Europe and Bruparck).

The best way to travel to Brussels to receive the various niche interests and maintain the traveler’s map (the comic book fan). Brussels has 70 major museums alternately explain the long history of Belgium, showing his art and architecture, as well as knowing that chocolate is just fun in general, do all three at once.

time famous Channel Tunnel train began to move at a faster pace, it was expected that the first true high-speed rail line that will soon be British, promising an experience greener and more surprising, with shorter journeys between England and South-East Europe.

With this, the Eurostar is a high speed train which gets to the heart of Brussels from London St Pancras International is now the center of the Eurostar trains. The promise of a green (Eurostar generates ten times less dioxide carbon than flying the same routes) the journey more relaxing experience, with him in less time between southern England and Europe. The Eurostar is a passenger train arriving in Paris from London very quickly, but do not confuse it with the Channel Tunnel, which is the shuttle train, which also allows cars and buses to travel through channel.

Eurostar faces the threat of high-speed trains others like TGV and Thalys, and they offer the same services next 2010 years traveling in Europe. If you do not know the costs, it is definitely worth a trip from London to Brussels by train, because it gives you the journey more comfortable and break. When the Eurostar train from London to Brussels travel at a maximum speed of 186 mph when it gives a sense of traveling through the air and covers the distance in 20 minutes 1hrs. Pay only £ 69 and get a return ticket from London to Brussels Eurostar train. Buy your tickets for Eurostar and Belgium, without hidden costs and also get discounts by booking tickets in advance for Eurostar to Brussels or to any other destination in Europe.

You can board the Eurostar to Brussels from London’s three main stations: Ashford London St Pancras and Ebbsfleet. However, the duration and rates vary from three Eurostar stations. There are changes for cheap Eurostar to Brussels if booking tickets well in advance.

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palace on wheels travel a luxury train in India

February 16th, 2011 Comments off

Palace on Wheels India Luxury Train Tour
Palace on Wheels Tour calendar

Day 1: Wednesday output 18:00

New Delhi
You will treated as a Maharaja and Maharani of welcome by garlands, Tikka and turban with a glass of wine. The capital of modern India, a city known for its rich history and exotic courageous. Once the city’s legendary hero of the Mahabharata, and ruled by the Rajputs before they were displaced by foreign invaders. The tour begins in the night with a welcome ceremony aboard the Palace on Wheels in New Delhi Safdarjung. He presented his traveling companions. Feel free to explore his new palace, and acquainted with its various facilities. Relax with a drink at the bar. Dinner will be served on board the two restaurants.

Day 2: Thursday, 3:45 a.m. 11:30 p.m. Arrival Departure < br />
Jaipur
The tour began Hawa Mahal Palace in the wind followed the amazing Jantar Mantar, the observatory should be explored at leisure. The house of the former leaders. The City Palace is now a museum full of royal splendor. Jaipur also offers a great shopping experience as the city is the capital of the country as business is concerned.
New Deal of the season
1. Lunch at the famous Amber Fort.
2. Jaipur by night.
3. Visit to the Albert Hall.
4. Dinner, Bar-be-that folk dance 5 star Hotel Jai Mahal, a palace of the Rajput rulers.

Day 3: Friday, 5:30 Departure 10:30 Arrival

Sawai Madhopur
Sawai Madhopur Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. at the junction of Aravali and Vindhya is a unique juxtaposition of natural and historical riches, especially emphasizing the vast, arid and devoid of Rajasthan, barely 14 km from Sawai Madhopur.

1000 years of Ranthambhore Fort is the historic significance of the hill still standing historical part of the cenotaphs, tombs, went well, the summer palace harmoniously merged the expansion of the forest.

br The fast break is to be served at Hotel Vinayak in peace and quiet again-Return to Palace on Wheels.
Lunch on board.

Enjoy the afternoon in the train which travels at the green countryside before arriving at Chittorgarh.

Friday, 4:00 p.m. Departure Arrival 2:00 pm Chittorgarh

Chittorgarh Fort is considered the greatest strength of India, built by various rulers of Mauriyan for 5 the period of the eighth century, it covers an area of 680 hectares of structures in the strong side of the buildings are in ruins. However, a preview of this giant purple Rajput still filled with emotion. The fort is accessible after the ceremony with seven doors. Rana Kumbha Palace and the Palace in the fort of the masterpieces of Rajput architecture Padmini Padamini Palace was the residence of the beautiful queen Rani Padmini

day 4. Saturday, 8:00 Arrival Departure 15:30

Udaipur
sirodia Maharanas capital, enjoy pre-Eminem among the clams to spend Rajasthan Rajput day visit to Udaipur Maharana Udai Singh, laid the groundwork for a new kingdom of Udaipur is located on Lake Pichola in which he lavished the impressive Palace of the city with aesthetic and imaginative work of art in miniature painting was encouraged .

Later, the princes built the seemingly floating Ireland Palace, the royal summer residence, which offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains

Day 5 :. Sunday, 9:15 a.m. 11:45 p.m. Arrival Departure

Jaisalmer
The golden city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan has its own charm, Bhati Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal founded the city in 1156 AD. The west of the citadel of the desert, Jaisalmer has an ancient history linked to its development as a commercial center. Located on a highway in two passages, linking India with Persia, Egypt and West Africa. Bhati Rajputs single guardians of the city to accumulate enough wealth through the tax levied on Carwana password. Jaisalmer picturesque environment a marvel of beautiful culture and harsh climatic conditions. Sonar Quila Fort, yellow sandstone immediately draw your attention here

Day-6:. Monday, 7:00 Arrival Departure 15:30
<. br /> Jodhpur
welcome on arrival and see the view of the great strength followed by a lunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace Gorgious.

The city known for its indigo-colored houses and buildings, Jodhpur is the ancient capital of Marwar. The Mehrangarh Fort was built by Rao Jodha in 1459 and later, his estate has also added new structures. The 120 meters is high rocky hill, the fort is a witness to history and real estate Rathore.

Fort is located within the walls of the high and wide, only 20 to 120 feet high and 12 to 70 feet thick to massive intricate carvings, intricately carved structure are a feast for eyes.

The current structure has its own set of security and beauty of the palace perl has a delicately carved stone screen shows Umaid Villas Rajput miniature paintings and Ajit Villas exhibits musical instruments and costumes real. Local craft store

days – 7:. Tuesday Arrival Departure 8:45 5:00

Bharatpur
Bharatpur A kingdom where the king Jats, rather than the Rajputs, he said. Bharatpur Jat history is not too old, with Suraj Mal establishing a firm foothold in a region contested by both the Rajputs and the Mughals. Suraj Mal exploits are legendary, and the strong, Lohargarh, or Iron Fort, has a story told with pride. The high in the state of being bastions of mud, these proved meritorious because they simply do not swallow the artillery shells that allows shocks.

Chaman Thakur
FULL CIRCLE DISCOVERY TOURS
227, Plot No. 3, Vardhman Deesha
Dwarka Sector 10, Market Dwarka

New Delhi – 110 075 Phone (Inde)
: + 91 11 65646595 + 91 11 65646595
Phone: +91 9811552453 +91 9811552453
: + 91 11 28083543 (91 is the code for India) / email>

Explore a fantastic travel option through the luxury train tours

October 16th, 2010 Comments off

Guests interested in traveling across their favorite holiday destination can opt for luxury train tours that are short in duration, suitably equipped to offer one an insight into the essence of the place and at the same time are surrounded by luxury and comfort so that guests can enjoy a pleasurable sojourn. One of the foremost luxury tour options, for today’s travelers, is luxury train tours. Guests who enjoy the royal chug will especially love these travel alternatives that are more like a traveling hotel facilitating you with 5 star holiday features, all throughout your stay and travel.

India is a colorful destination replete with age-old monuments and palaces that tell tales of a bygone era. It is also dotted with pilgrimage sites that offer serenity and peace even to the most troubled mind. The country is also endowed with picture-perfect locations that facilitate honeymooners and romantic couples to re-discover their love and loved ones. Such is the charm of India that lures the global travelers with varying tastes to come to its midst and enjoy exploring the Indian elements. India is second to none in offering luxury train tours. A number of royal sojourns wait to be picked here by the visitors that take guests on an enchanting trail across the picturesque locations and historical destinations of the place.

There are currently 5 luxury trains that ply across India with several itineraries striving to cater to the guests. The 5 trains that ensure luxury train journeys are as:

As has been already mentioned, the luxury trains in India are equipped to offer more than one travel option. For instance, The Golden Chariot provides a choice of two unputdownable alternatives Pride of the South and Splendor of the South. While the former traverses guests across Karnataka and Goa, the latter takes guests on a fantasy journey across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the other two significant South Indian states. Similarly, Deccan Odyssey offers 2 itineraries – Deccan Odyssey (covering Maharashtra and Goa) and Indian Maharaja (covering Maharasthra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi) respectively. And if these are not enough, you could also avail of any of the 4 itineraries offered by the Maharajas’ Express. The grandest feather in the cap of luxury train tours, the Maharajas’ Express sojourns have been aptly named as Royal India, Princely India, Classical India, and Celestial India.

Most of the luxury train journeys in India begin from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore that are 3 leading Indian cities. Not only are these destinations easily accessible for the international guests (each of these destinations house international airports that are connected by direct daily international flights), they also enable one to feast on the Indian essence in the very right spirit.

So, all you globe trotters, what are you waiting for? Embark on luxury train journeys in India and explore the spirit of the country in a never before way…

Travel From London to Berlin by Train

October 15th, 2010 Comments off

By the end of the Second World War, up to a third of Berlin had been destroyed by concerted Allied air raids and street fighting. The so-called Stunde Null marked a new beginning for the city. Greater Berlin was divided into four sectors by the Allies under the London Protocol of 1944, one each for:

Berlin was the capital of Prussia until 1945 and the capital of Germany between 1871 and 1945 and again since the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990. (The German parliament, called Bundestag, and the German government moved from Bonn to Berlin in 1999. ) Between 1949 and 1990, it was divided into East Berlin, the capital of the German Democratic Republic, and West Berlin. It was divided by the Berlin Wall between August 13, 1961, and November 9, 1989.

In present Berlin has so much attraction in his lap with lots of amazing moments. Berlin is back on today’s city skyline with the magnificently restored golden dome of the 19th-century New Synagogue. Also has captured a lot joys and unforgettable moments with its wonderful attractions bunches.

Travel from London to Berlin by London Berlin Train:

Train journeys from London to Germany generally start from London St Pancras International Station on the Eurostar. This is the best travel mode while thinking about the momentum journey. The most logical routing is via Brussels in Belgium with the fastest journeys taking just over ten hours.

The Eurostar trains stop in Belgium at Brussels Midi Eurostar station from where it is about a 15-minute walk for transfers to regular long-distance trains. Eurostar trains have check-in times, usually half an hour before listed departure time, while other trains can be boarded up to seconds prior to departure.

From Brussels-Midi station, travelers can take either the Thalys TGV or the Germany Inter-City-Express (ICE) train to Cologne Main Station (Köln Hauptbahnhof). The journey is two hours fifteen minutes. From Cologne, frequent ICE trains run to Berlin in just over four hours. London To Berlin by Eurostar:

Eurostar trains are the fastest means of transport across Europe. You can easily travel from one country to another within couple of hours with high speed Eurostar (186mph). The Eurostar trains are the most convenient way to travel from London to Berlin. You can easily reach Berlin with Eurostar, simply need to change at Brussels and cologne and you can travel on to Berlin with Eurostar Partner Thalys and ICE. You just hop on the Eurostar train from London spectacular St Pancras International station to Brussels Midi. It will take 1hr 51min to reach Brussels. From Brussels you can travel to Berlin via Cologne. You just hop on the Thalys train from Brussels to Cologne then from Cologne to Berlin by ICE trains.

London to Berlin by Train is an exciting journey.   First you have an exciting journey by Eurostar London Brussels Train and then you take Brussels Cologne (London Cologne Train) and finally from Cologne to Berlin.   From Brussels, you need to use services of Thalys or ICE hi Speed Train services in Europe.

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Berlin City experience can start from as little as GBP£27. 00 at Hotel Baerlin Berlin, which you’ll find at Scharnweberstrasse 17-20, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For the best accommodation in Berlin City, enjoy luxury from GBP£105. 00 at the Pullman Berlin Schweizerhof Hotel, located at Budapesterstrasse 25, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£27. 00 for a room at the Hotel Baerlin Berlin, conveniently situated at Scharnweberstrasse 17-20, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£65. 00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Berlin City can base themselves at the Holiday Inn Express BERLIN CITY CENTRE-WEST which is located at Kurfuerstenstrasse 78, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Lastly, for the family or group travellers you may prefer a Berlin City apartment, starting from GBP£35. 00 at the RS Apartments Berlin, Kurfuerstendamm 94/95, Berlin, Berlin,Germany.

1. Angleterre Hotel Berlin:

A model of international standard four-star service, Angleterre Hotel Berlin will have your Berlin visit off to the most relaxing possible start.

Angleterre Hotel Berlin is easily accessible in the Berlin City neighbourhood, at Friedrichstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, Germany, and is an ideal launch pad for sampling the sights of Berlin or doing business, sure to be a highlight of your trip to Germany.

Use our map facility to find Angleterre Hotel Berlin or search for other accommodation in the Berlin City area of Berlin here.

2. Altberlin Hotel Berlin

For comfort and security, the three-star Altberlin Hotel Berlin opens the door to the delights of Berlin.

A fixture of the Berlin City area, Altberlin Hotel Berlin can be found at Potsdamerstrasse 67, Berlin, Berlin, Germany. From here, you are perfectly placed to explore Berlin, a quintessential experience for any visitor to Germany.

Use our map facility to locate Altberlin Hotel Berlin or look for other hotels in the Berlin City area.

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Mitte Tiergarten experience can start from as little as GBP£26. 00 at Wedding Pension Berlin, which you’ll find at Schulstrasse 40, Berlin Wedding, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£61. 00 at the Hotel Gates Berlin City East, which can be found at Invalidenstrasse 98, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£26. 00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Mitte Tiergarten can base themselves at the Wedding Pension Berlin which is located at Schulstrasse 40, Berlin Wedding, Berlin, , Germany.

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Prenzlauer Berg experience can start from as little as GBP£62. 00 at The Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin, which you’ll find at Storkowerstrasse 162, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£62. 00 at the The Park Plaza Prenzlauer Berg Berlin, which can be found at Storkowerstrasse 162, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£99. 00 for a room at the Old Town Apartments Berlin, conveniently situated at Schoenhauser Allee 5, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Lastly, for the family or group travellers you may prefer a Prenzlauer Berg apartment, starting from GBP£99. 00 at the Old Town Apartments Berlin, Schoenhauser Allee 5, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

There are cheap hotels in Berlin and your Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf experience can start from as little as GBP£26. 00 at Alecsa Hotel am Olympiastadion Berlin, which you’ll find at Glockenturmstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

International standard rooms with service is available from GBP£43. 00 at the NH Hotel Berlin City West, which can be found at Bundesalllee 36/37, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

For travellers seeking a balance of comfort and value for money, accommodation starts at GBP£43. 00 for a room at the Arche Hotel Pension Berlin, conveniently situated at Kantstrasse 104a, Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

And for just GBP£26. 00, discerning visitors looking for budget accommodation in Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf can base themselves at the Alecsa Hotel am Olympiastadion Berlin which is located at Glockenturmstrasse 30, Berlin, Berlin, , Germany.

Top Sights and Attractions in Berlin:

The vibrant German capital offers a lot of entertainment as well as cultural delights. You can see most of the city from a boat trip on the Spree River. Tours usually go around Museum Island, past the government buildings and reveal the most picturesque parts of the city. Particularly attractive is the night tour, which allows you to see the city in a totally different light. If not from the waterways, discover the city walking along its streets and squares, such as the most famous, Unter den Linden or Kurfuerstendamm alleys and the former East Berlin centre – Alexander Platz or the only recently adapted to a shopping and entertainment centre Potsdamer Platz. Don’t forget about the zoo and the vast Tiergarten park in the very centre of the city, right next to the central railway station.

1. Brandenburg Gate

 

Erected in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was one of the German capital’s 14 original city gates. Today, the only evidence of the others’ existence are the names of metro stations, such as Schlesisches Tor and Kottbusser Tor. The design of the Brandenburger Tor was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. The famous statue on top of the gate is Victoria, the goddess of triumph riding atop a four-horsed chariot. It was crafted by the sculptor Gottfried Schadow. In 1806, the sculpture was taken to Paris by Napoleon’s troops as a war trophy only to be returned to Berlin after the ultimate war defeat of the French.

 

2. King Friedrich II of Prussia Monument

The monument of King Friedrich II of Prussia (1712-86) stands at the end of Forum Fridericianum, marking the beginning of the boulevard of Unter den Linden. The monument forms part of what is known as Via Triumphalis, stretching from the victory arch of Brandenburg Gate to the Berlin Castle. Monuments along this route have been added by several generations of artists since the 18th Century. The statue of King Friedrich II was erected in 1851 and is one of the best known works of Christian Daniel Rauch. It significantly contributed to the later style of royal monuments.

3. Holocaust Memorial

This intriguing monument to Jewish victims of the Third Reich was unveiled in the German capital 60 years after the tragic events of World War II. Nearly 15 years elapsed between the time it took to conceptualize and its final completion. It can be found beside the Brandenburg Gate and the remains of Hitler’s underground bunker. It has since become an internationally recognised symbol of the victims of the Holocaust.

4. Berliner Ensemble

Berliner Ensemble is a famous theatre of Berlin, continuing the tradition which started in 1949 when Bertold Brecht and his wife Helene Weigel established a theatre group under this name. It was designed as a touring theatre, but five years later the theatre moved to the present building, earlier occupied by Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. Since then, it has staged plenty of plays by Brecht. With his wife and a team of directors, stage designers, composers and other collaborates, Brecht managed to prepare a number of excellent performances, such as ‘Mother Courage’ or ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’ and the Berliner Ensemble achieved a large success. After Brecht’s and Weigel’s deaths, the theatre extended its repertoire to plays of other European playwrights.

 

5. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin

The Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, or Berlin State Library, boasts more than 350 years of history and is the largest and most important academic and research library in Germany today. It was founded in 1661 by Friedrich Wilhelm I von Brandenburg and since then gathers and catalogues diverse materials. Nowadays its impressive collection includes 10 million books, 13,5 million images in the picture archive, 1 million maps and atlases, more than 180,000 newspaper volumes, around 60,000 manuscripts, a large number of autographs, print music editions and personal archives. The library also possesses a state-of-the-art electronic catalogue and databases. This huge treasure is housed in two locations of the library in the centre of the capital – the original site in Unter den Linden, in the former East Berlin and the new building on Potsdamer Strasse, in the West.

6. Nikolaikirche

Nikolaikirche is situated in the heart of Berlin, exactly where the city was founded. It is the oldest standing church in Berlin and it is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The church lies in the eastern part of central Berlin, in the district known as Mitte. It is surrounded by the historical streets of Spandauer Strasse, Rathausstrasse and the Muhlendamm, which contain many, restored Medieval houses. The over 400 kilometres long River Spree flows beside the church.

7. Deutsche Oper Berlin

A monumental structure, the Deutsche Oper occupies a central spot at Bismarckstrasse in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Active since 1961, the building towers over its surroundings, thus providing for one of the principal Berlin landmarks. The interiors of the Oper are vast and airy, with a spacious foyer. The work of architect Fritz Bornemann, the building has clear, distinct angles and simple architecture. The main auditorium follows the same rule of simplicity, and offers outstanding acoustics. The colouring is minimal, and the entire hall is clad in wooden panels.

Mallorca Travel: The Vintage Train to Soller and Mallorca’s North Coast

October 15th, 2010 Comments off

I woke up to another day of gorgeous sunshine and took a seat on our spacious balcony at the Torrenova Aparthotel complex. The surrounding view of the Mediterranean was astounding and I still could not believe that we had lucked out with this beautifully located water-front hotel after booking it extremely inexpensively over the Internet.

Shortly before 10 am we drove on the coastal highway to Palma and my friend dropped me of at the Estació Intermodal on Plaça d’Espanya. My goal today was to take the historic train ride on the famous Ferrocarril de Sóller to the mountain town of the same name. This railway line was constructed in 1911 and opened in 1912 with the profit from the orange and lemon trade that was flourishing in the bowl-shaped mountain valley of Sóller. The vintage electric train was already parked in the Estación de Palma and when I arrived there at 10:40 virtually every seat in the train was taken. While this narrow-gauge train route was originally built as the main line of transport between Sóller and Palma early on in the last century, today it is a major tourist attraction and the vast majority of passengers are tourists from all over the world. I walked all the way to the front of the train to take a picture of the “Red Arrow” vintage electric train and then took my seat in the last wagon. 10:50 am was the official departure time, but we did not get going until about 10 minutes later. The train started to slowly and quietly roll away from the station into the streets of Palma where it occupied the median on a major street. Palma’s historic apartment houses started to recede as we headed for the suburbs. Then suburban housing developments gave way to flat agricultural lands that were framed in the north by the impressive Tramuntana mountain chain.

I left my seat and passed through the door of the railcar to take up a spot on the outside platform of the last car in order to have a great panoramic view of the countryside we were traveling through. Every once in a while a fellow traveler would come through the door, take some pictures and disappear again to relax in the comfort of the train car. I enjoyed the warm wind and the great views from the end of the train. We started to get closer to the mountains, and the flat plain gave way to groves of olive trees and stands of fir trees. Now we were heading into the mountains and started to enter one tunnel after another. Altogether this 27 kilometre long railway route has 13 tunnels, and one of them seemed like it was 10 minutes long. After entering this tunnel I could see the light from the tunnel entrance for several minutes until the train took a turn and I was standing in complete darkness. Standing on the platform with the wind grazing my skin and absolutely no vision at all, I enjoyed this ride, sensing the motion of the train and the gentle air flow on my arms. At some point the experience was almost surrealistic, as if we were headed to the centre of the earth, in total darkness.

Once we had crossed the major part of the mountain range the train stopped and several passengers got off to catch some photos of the great panoramic view of the Sóller Valley that opened up below us. Then the train went along the hill slopes southwest of Sóller and within an hour we had arrived at the historic train station in Sóller which is located inside a fortified house dating back to the early 1600. A café and a museum dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro are also located inside the train station.

My friend was waiting for me on the main square of Sóller; he had taken the road over the mountain pass of the Tramuntana Mountains. We started our drive into the mountain village of Fornalutx, a tiny hamlet that has won many different prizes and recognition for its beauty and conservation efforts. From here we headed westwards to Deià, another gorgeous mountain village with a great view down towards the northern coastline of the island.

Deià is most well-known for being the long-term home of British poet Robert Graves, who lived here from 1929 until he passed away in 1985. A church is scenically located on the highest point of the village and the view from the adjacent cemetery towards the sea and the mountains is simply breathtaking. The scenery in Mallorca continues to amaze me.

Continuing westwards along the coastal road high above the water, we stopped at another one of the island’s main attractions: Son Marroig, the coastal estate of Archduke Ludwig Salvator, a member of the Austrian Habsburg family. Ludwig Salvator first arrived on the island in 1866 and became captivated by the island’s beauty. He even fell in love with a local woman and learned the local Mallorcan dialect. He authored a highly recognized seven-volume work about the history, archeology, folklore and traditions of Mallorca. The estate occupies a gorgeous position high above the coastline and can be visited for 3 Euros. Access exists to the main floor’s common areas and the impressive formal dining room on the second floor whose balconies open up to provide a phenomenal view over the Mediterranean. The estate is surrounded by beautiful gardens and a white marble rotunda at some distance away from the main mansion. The beauty of Mallorca’s north coast becomes evident in Son Marroig. Our next stop on our country drive was the Port de Valldemossa, a tiny hamlet on the northern coastline that essentially consists of only a couple of restaurants and a handful of houses. To get down to the village we had to drive on a steep narrow road with hair-raising hairpin turns. Back at the top again we went to the inland village of Valldemossa, one of Mallorca’s favourite tourist destinations. Valledemossa is an extremely scenic village with cobble-stoned streets and many bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. The main sights in this town are the Real Cartuja (the Royal Charterhouse of Jesus of Nazareth), a Carthusian monastery dating back to the 14th century. Among the famous former residents of this town are composer Frederic Chopin and the French writer and feminist pioneer George Sand who came here to spend the winter of 1838 to 1839. George Sand wrote “A Winter in Mallorca” here which actually painted a rather unflattering portrait of the locals. Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have a home nearby and some years ago they founded a cultural centre called “Costa Nord” which is now owned by the town. We sat down at a nice restaurant with an outdoor patio and enjoyed some savoury local bread with olive oil and tomato paste. Sitting in the shade, we watched the locals and the tourists go about their businesses and I also managed to get my souvenir-shopping done in this town. In the late afternoon we drove back to our home base of Palmanova and relaxed on our balcony, overlooking the Mediterranean before we headed out to explore some of the local restaurants. Palmanova features a large selection of British pubs, Italian, Indian and Thai restaurants. We settled in at “Los Curries”, a restaurant with a large second floor patio overlooking the Bay of Palmanova that offers traditional Indian fair. I enjoyed a tasty channa massala while my friend had lamb tikka.

The restaurant owners were very friendly and provided us with local travel advice. At the end of the evening they offered us two glasses of free orange liqueur which provided a nice ending to another busy day of discoveries in Mallorca.

 

London Travel: Two historic Train Stations, the Portabello Market, Notting Hill and London’s Little Beirut

October 11th, 2010 Comments off

Finally I had succeeded in getting to London after my one day delay in Salzburg. I had spent about a week in Austria and was scheduled to fly to London during the late evening of May 8, but when I arrived at the airport I was told that my flight had been cancelled and that I was booked on next-day’s flight.

Of course panic set in immediately since I had planned four days in London, and with a departure a day later I would lose an entire day of my already short stay in London. Huge disappointment set in since I had been looking forward to my London visit for a long time. Well, since I had no choice I made the best of the situation, and the customer service agents at the Salzburg Airport were very helpful and assisted me in finding reasonable accommodation. Once my room was booked I wheeled my suitcases out of the airport building, went on a 10-minute bus ride, checked in at my small local inn and quickly passed out cold after a long day.

Yesterday, the sun woke me up and a brilliant warm day was in store. I spent the entire day exploring Salzburg, hiking up on the Kapuzinerberg Mountain that faces the famous Hohensalzburg Fortress. I enjoyed a great outdoor lunch on the tree-shaded patio of the Franziskischlössl, a small fortified castle at the top of the hill that offers a great view of Salzburg’s mountain panorama.

In the afternoon I descended back into the city and watched the local street life unfold on the banks of the Salzach River and also admired the beautiful gardens of Mirabell Castle. Finally at 6 pm it was time to head back to the airport to make a second attempt to reach my coveted destination. After observing the airport activities from the rooftop terrace at the Salzburg Airport I watched my British Airways plane land and got ready to board. Finally I was on my way to London.

It had been a long time since I had been to England: in fact 27 years have passed since my first and only visit to the British Isles. As a teenager I went on a language exchange program to England to practice my English and stayed with a family for three weeks in the coastal town of Southend. I had only ever spent one day in London, after taking the train into the city to visit the British War Museum. That was now more than a quarter century ago.

So I was really excited to get to know London, one of the world’s great cities. My good friend Andrea, from my home town in Austria, was going to meet me in London to assist me with her local expert knowledge. Prior to my departure I had already contacted Visit Britain in order to get lots of valuable input for my trip, and with their help I had worked out a detailed itinerary that would expose me to many different facets of London.

After arriving around 10:00 pm at London’s Gatwick Airport I booked a local train ticket to Farringdon Station and used public transit to get to my hotel. Any North American will notice that London has an extensive public transport system which today comprises the London Underground (the subway), London Rail and various forms of surface transport including buses and passenger boat service on the River Thames. Regardless of which city I travel to, I always enjoy using the public transit systems since this gets you a step closer to the daily life of the local residents.

Finally after 11 pm I had arrived in Clerkenwell, an area in Central London that got its name from the Clerk’s Well in Farringdon Lane. Although it was close to midnight when I exited the train station I entered into a local entertainment area that was full of young stylish people laughing and socializing on various restaurant patios. Street life was absolutely hopping. Even at this late time of the day I felt completely safe walking through the streets of this neighbourhood, and just about ten minutes after my arrival by train I arrived at my abode for the next three nights: the Zetter Hotel.

The Zetter Hotel is a boutique hotel in the heart of Clerkenwell that offers 59 unique decorated bedrooms. My stylish rooftop studio was located on the top floor and came with a terrace that provided me with an enchanting view of the lights of London. I could even see London’s giant ferris wheel, the London Eye, in the distance. The many interesting buildings of London’s financial district were all lit up, testimony to London’s role as a global financial centre.

My travel partner Andrea had arrived a few hours earlier and had already attended the famous Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, a historic ritual dating back to the 14th century that I unfortunately missed due to my late arrival. While Andrea was still excited about her interesting evening, I started to settle down in my stylish hotel room and began to relax after a very long day.

After a few hours of good rest we were ready for a full day of explorations. We started with a hearty breakfast in the main floor restaurant of the Zetter Hotel which included an extensive breakfast buffet. I enjoyed a scrumptious Banana Strawberry Crepe while my travel partner partook of the generous buffet. After breakfast we had a chance to interact with the crew of the restaurant and snapped a few pictures of them in the cool lounge area.

Now we were ready to head out and I was excited about the chance to explore London. We started to discover the historic streets of Clerkenwell. Just around the corner from our hotel, we passed by St. John’s Gate, built in 1504 as an entrance to the inner precinct of the Priory of the Knights of Saint John, also called the Knights Hospitaller. This Christian organization provided care for sick or injured pilgrims in the Holy Land during the Crusades from the 11th century onwards. St. John Ambulance, founded in 1877, is a charity organization that is also connected with the Order of St. John.

Through the narrow streets of Clerkenwell we strolled towards Farringdon subway (or rather tube) station and came across Smithfield Market where meat has been traded for about 800 years. Today’s market consists of an expansive Victorian-era building with two wings, the East and West Market, which are separated by Grand Avenue. Street names like Poultry Lane bear witness to the meat-trading history of this market. The market buildings are a stunning example of Victorian-era architecture and feature very colourful metal ornamentations and interesting details.

This Saturday morning the market was closed, and I wish we had had more time to explore it in further detail, but our busy schedule demanded that we move on. We got on the tube at Farringdon Station and went a few stops to St. Pancras Railway Station, a great example of a Victorian railway station, built in 1868. The station was renovated during the last few years and recently reopened as the terminal for the Eurostar trains that connect London with the European continent via the Channel Tunnel.

Just steps away from St. Pancras is another major railway station: King’s Cross, which was built even earlier than its neighbour and opened in 1852. Great Britain is truly the cradle of railroad travel, and many of London’s historic railway stations provide an ambience that gives you a feeling for what early rail travel must have been like.

King’s Cross is the southern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, one of Britain’s major railway routes. King’s Cross has even found its way into popular culture: the Pet Shop Boys used it as a backdrop in several of their music videos. More recently the railway station was featured in the popular Harry Potter series, and a Platform 9 ¾ is indeed located in a side building of the station. King’s Cross St. Pancras Tube station is the largest station in the entire London Underground, illustrating the importance of this nerve centre of public transportation.

Then we hopped on the Tube again and were quickly whisked away to our next destination: Portobello Road Market. Located in the Notting Hill District, this outdoor street market runs through almost the entire length of Notting Hill from north to south. Saturday is the day for the famous street market which features an eclectic collection of fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, second hand clothing and antiques. People flock to it from far and wide, and this street market attracts its share of unique characters. We got enticed several times by different street vendors that sold anything from fresh steaming paella to colourful Italian mini-pizzas, freshly baked bread and sweet chocolate crepes.

The outdoor stands were displaying funky clothing, cashmere shawls, fur coats as well as all sorts of unusual antiques. From vintage miniature cars, to old binoculars, record players, metal contraptions that I had no idea what they were and instruments that looked like early machine guns, this is definitely a place that will delight any avid antiques collector. If you are looking for eclectic items to decorate your house with, Portobello Market is your answer…

The streets in Portobello Market were so packed that we had to plough through the masses of people to make headway through the crowds. Police officers, locally referred to as bobbies, were handing out flyers, making the public aware of the danger of pickpockets. They graciously agreed to have their picture taken with many of the tourists.

In the early afternoon we had arranged to do an interview with Michael Williams, one of the organizers of Notting Hill Carnival, London’s annual Carribean festival. We arranged to meet in a small café near Notting Hill Gate to find out more about the city’s biggest street party. Michael initiated us to the history of this annual event which first happened in 1967. The carnival is the world’s second largest street festival after the carnival in Rio de Janeiro and has attracted up to 1. 5 million spectators.

Michael provided us with a historic overview of Caribbean immigration in London. During World War II in particular, a lot of black immigrants from West Africa and the Caribbean arrived in London, working as sailors and in the armed services. During the 1950s and 1960s Britain experienced heavy immigration from English-speaking Caribbean countries, in particular Jamaica. Many of these immigrants worked in transportation, hospital services and railway development, significantly contributing to Britain’s post-war rebuilding efforts.

The initial Notting Hill Carnival was actually held in 1959 as a response to the poor state of race relations. Racial riots had taken place in Notting Hill in 1958 when white working class youths attacked houses of West Indian residents. Claudia Jones, a Trinidadian political activist and community leader, founded Notting Hill Carnival in 1959 in order to showcase the talents of the Afro-Caribbean community in Britain. Her Mardi-Gras celebrations turned into an annual event. From 1965 the event was held annually in August and became a popular street festival. During the 1970s there were often tensions and riots, reflecting the uneasy state of race relations, but in recent years British authorities have come to view Notting Hill Carnival as a very positive addition to the London’s annual event calendar. Recent estimates indicate that Notting Hill Carnival contributes around $200 million to London and the British economy.

After this fascinating introduction to London’s Notting Hill Carnival and the historic circumstances leading up to it, Michael had to leave. Andrea and I set off to explore the local neighbourhood. Notting Hill came to international fame as a result of the 1999 hit film of the same name that starred Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. From the houses we walked by we could see that this is a very affluent and fashionable neighbourhood.

Historically the Notting Hill area was used for clay brick-making, and it also featured a large number of pig farmers. The main development of the area got started in the 1840s by the Ladbroke family who were major landowners in the area. A main street in the area is still named after this family. In the early 20th centuries many of the large mansions were converted into rooming houses, and during the post-war years Notting Hill became a low-income area dominated by a number of slum landlords. The neighbourhood came full circle in the 1980s when affluent families started to move in again and began to gentrify the area. Today, Notting Hill is one of London’s most popular areas.

By now it was mid-afternoon and we wanted to expand our explorations so we hopped on the Tube again – what a convenient way to get around – and went to another unique London neighbourhood: Edgeware Road. Also often referred to as “Little Beirut” or “Little Cairo”, this area is one of London’s ethnic neighbourhoods in the western part of central London. The entire street has a distinct Middle Eastern flavour; stores and pharmacies feature signs written in Arabic; Middle Eastern men sit in patio cafes, smoking water pipes, and many kebab and shawarma restaurants line the street. Being such a vibrant, diverse metropolis, London has many different ethnic neighbourhoods that invite locals and tourists alike to explore other cultures without ever leaving the city.

We had already had a great start to exploring the city, and our next destination was a true London landmark: Hyde Park!

 

Train Travel in India

October 7th, 2010 Comments off

Train travel in India is the most popular mean of transport in the country. In fact, train travel is the best way to explore India and experience the country’s diversified culture and people at its best. It is said that any trip to India is incomplete without experiencing train travel, which is provided by the Indian Railways. A government body, Indian Railways operates trains to almost every part of the country including big cities and small villages. Train travel in India is cheap, reliable, safe, comfortable and exciting as well. One can reach his or her desired place by boarding a train for the particular destination according to the train schedule. In addition to plains, Indian Railways provides train travel services to hilly areas. Trains operating in the hilly areas are called the ‘Toy Train’ or ‘Mountain Railways’, and they run on the narrow gauge track passing through winding hills. Indian Railways offers train travel service as per the set train schedule in various classes such as common seating, chair seating, sleeper class and air-conditioned, etc. You can travel on Indian Railways trains as per your choice. The trains have been categorised as passenger, mail or superfast, according to their boggies, route, amenities and speed. For travelling in Indian trains, passengers need to follow the train schedule and book train tickets for the respective destinations. Information about train schedule is available online on Indian Railways official website. Besides, the information like Indian Railways timetable and train schedule are also available on the website. Every year, in the month of July Indian Railways timetable is fixed for trains running on the different routes and it remains valid till the end of June. Hence, for avoiding any type of last minute train travel chaos, it is better to have the complete information about Indian Railways timetable. Train passengers can find the information on Indian Railways timetable and train schedule by buying a copy of the book ‘Trains at a Glance’. In addition to Indian Railways timetable, train travel and train schedule, the book carries information like how to book train tickets. Before booking train tickets and for other related information it is advisable to buy a copy of the book ‘Trains at a Glance’, available at all important railway stations. You can also find the guidelines for booking train tickets by surfing the Indian Railways official website. For train travel in India with ease it is necessary to book train tickets in advance. One can book train tickets from the computerised reservation counters available at almost all the railway stations across the country. In addition, train tickets can also be booked online through the IRCTC official website. Through IRCTC website you can plan your train travel in accordance to Indian Railways timetable and book train tickets.

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