Archive for October, 2009

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Brussels on a budget

October 30th, 2009

What comes to mind when you think of Brussels? Boring bureaucratic buildings, grey skies and extortionate prices? Brussels reputation as being a dull, over priced place is a little harsh; this bilingual city may be the heart of bureaucratic Europe but it has a lot to offer tourists in the way of history, art, fine cuisine and even romance! Here are some tips for the budget conscious traveller on how to make the most of a couple of days in Brussels and hopefully dispel the myth that Brussels is all business and no play!

Getting around: Brussels is a great city for walking and I would highly recommend a ARAU walking tour. If you want to walk independently, pick up a map from the tourist board and use Grand Place as your starting point. If you are feeling a little lazy or the weather isn’t great, the local bus, tram and metro networks are good, cheap and efficient, you could even invest in a Brussels Card for 30 euros which combines unlimited access to public transport with free entry to certain places of interest for tourists.

Eating out: There is a lot more to Belgian cuisine than chips and chocolate, in fact I happen to think it is one of the most underrated cuisines in the world. Brussels is a real foodie’s paradise and there’s something for every budget here, from the cheap eats on Rue du Marche to any of the stunning bistros around Grand Place.

Accommodation: You won’t find many hostels but that is not to say that you won’t find any budget accommodation in Brussels. There are a range of decent yet cheap hotels in Brussels available in or around the centre at reasonable prices. Check if breakfast comes included in the price of the room as Belgian breakfasts are usually delicious and filling up for free before you head out is always a great money saver.

Entertainment: Brussels is brimming with museums and art galleries. If money is tight and you don’t have a Brussels Card, it’s worth knowing that the Museum of Ancient Art and the Modern Art Museum are both free in the afternoon on the first Wednesday of every month. And if you want to make your museum visit special, why not go on a Thursday evening when the doors are open until 10pm and the crowds are away.

Pretty cobbled streets, cosy pubs, delicious meals out, night time museum visits…who said Brussels was boring?

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Andorra – A breath of fresh air!

October 28th, 2009

Tucked away in the eastern Pyrenees, somewhere between France and Spain, you will find the beautiful Principality of Andorra, a health haven full of spas, ski resorts and duty-free shops. Andorra attracts flocks of visitors every year and, for such a small area, has a surprising amount to offer in the way of leisure and entertainment. The pretty valleys and rolling hills offer the typically picturesque mountain landscape which is equally charming when covered in snow as it is in the springtime, making it a great place to visit at any time of year. Andorra also has a long history, being one of the oldest European nations and there are some lovely historic buildings dotted around it’s countryside, particularly Romanesque churches. Catalan is the official language spoken here although you can get by on a bit of Spanish, French or Portuguese.
Tourism in Andorra is widepread so go to the local tourist information office for a comprehensive list of things to see and do, but for now here is my list of personal favourites:

1 – I love going to spa resorts, so Escaldes-Engordany is my idea of heaven! This pretty spa town is located very close to the capital, Andorra la Vella and, as well as spas, it has some really attractive Romanesque architecture.

2 – Skiing, skiing and more skiing! You can’t come to Andorra and not ski. There are too many resorts to list and describe here but check out this link for more info.

3 – Other outdoor activities. Andorra is all about the great outdoors, so whether it’s cycling, walking, fishing or horse riding, make the most of the crisp, clean mountain air and get active. You’ll feel amazing for it!

4- Go shopping. Andorra is famous for it’s cheap shops. Due to certain tax breaks, you can buy things cheaper here than you can back home.

When looking for a hotel in Andorra , unless you are going for something very specific, consider staying in the capital as it will be the easiest place to get to and depart from and pretty much everywhere can be reached from here easily.

The people of Andorra are said to have a very long life expectancy, and when you have been to Andorra, eaten the delicious, healthy local cuisine, breathed the fresh mountain air and taken part in one of the many sporting activities on offer, it’ll be easy for you to understand why!

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A 2010 of culture and arts is waiting for you in Istanbul

October 14th, 2009
An exciting year is coming up in Istanbul as the Turkish city will be European Capital of Culture 2010. “City of four elements” is the slogan of Istanbul – European Capital of Culture 2010 and the four quarter-year periods named earth, air, water and fire promise to bring an exciting program of visual arts, music, cinema, literature and more! What more do you need? Check the official website and discover the amazing program of an year of culture in this amazing Turkish city!

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The Muse in Concert – Alternative rock in Dublin!

October 13th, 2009
Experience one the best groups of British alternative rock at the Muse concert in the O2 Arena in Dublin on November 6, 2009. These English lads must have something special as they are able to attract throngs and fill massive venues with thousands of people such as the O2 Arena in Dublin. This is part of their world tour which hits the United States and a number of European countries after the release of their new CD Teignmouth: The Resistance. This, the most recent album comes after “Showbiz” (1999), “Origin of Symmetry” (2001), “Hullabaloo” (2002), “Absolution” (2003), “Black Holes and Revelations” (2006) and “HAARP” (2008), and was self-produced and recorded by the band in an Italian studio last year.

Putting his signature touch on this album was a man who has worked with big names like Massive Attack, U2 and Oasis: Mark “Spike” Stent. And it would seem that the name of the group, Muse (which has its etymology in Greek mythology), could not be more apt, as the band has served as inspiration for novelist Stephenie Meyer in her books like, Twilight. Whether you are a super-fan of Matthew Bellamy’s band or have only recently fallen victim to this Brit bands charms, you won’t want to miss out on this unforgettable night at the O2 Arena in Dublin. Are you ready to move your body to the guitar rhythms of Muse?

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Battle of the titans on two wheels! Moto GP in Valencia!

October 13th, 2009
Motors are starting to rev for the Valencian Community Grand Prix MOTO GP 2009 at the Circuit de Ricardo Tormo de Valencia on November 6, 7 and 8. To be more precise, the circuit which was built in 1999, is located in Cheste, just 30 km outside of the city of Valencia. Get ready for some thrilling maneuvers and exciting victories on two wheels around the last curve by 5 star names in the sport, many of which are home grown such as Sete Gibernau and Dani Pedrosa, and international stars like Marco Melandri and Casey Stoner or one of the biggest phenomena in the last 10 years, Valentino Rossi.

Aka “Il Dottore”, this Italian racer is the only one in the history of the sport to have won the world championship in four different categories. He is currently the leader of the Moto GP, followed by Lorenzo and Pedrosa. The battle for the title of leader has never been closer and this race promises to be a real nail-biter. Get ready for some tight passes, burning rubber and pumping adrenaline during this memorable weekend. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, enjoy a pleasant stay in one of the most pleasant cities on the Mediterranean and a a thrilling battle of the titans on two wheels!

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Tour of the Univers in Barcelona! Depeche Mode hit the town!

October 12th, 2009
Depeche Mode will finally touch down in Barcelona and give two concerts on the 20th and 21st of November at Palau Sant Jordi as part of their Tour of the Universe. After the American part of the tour, Dave Gahan, Martin Lee Gore and Andrew John Fletcher will perform in not one, but two concerts in Barcelona in one of the best venues in the city, the Palau de Sant Jordi, located on Montjuic along with the 1992 Olympic Games venues.

The two concerts in Barcelona form part of the second phase of the Tour of the Universe, probably the most memorable Depeche Mode Tour ever. It is not only memorable becuase you can hear the songs from their last album “Sounds of the Universe” live along with other classics such as “Enjoy the Silence”, “Personal Jesus” or “Just Can’t Get Enough”, but also because there are rumours that it could be the last Depeche Mode tour ever. Buy your ticket for the Depeche Mode concert on the 20th or 21st of November and enjoy a great gig close to the Montjuic hill in Barcelona.

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Spectacular November in Berlin with the MTV EMA!

October 12th, 2009
On the 5th of November the MTV Europe Music Awards will take place in Berlin. The German capital must have something special as this is the second time since the event started in 1994 that the MTV Europe Music Awards or EMA have chosen views of the Brandemburg Gate for this Pop event. On the 5th of November don’t waste this chance and combine your visit to the capital of the “Currywurst” with the glamour and glitz of the MTV gala.

The spectacular 02 World in Berlín will be the venue for the equally spectacular event. Every year, the MTV Europe Awards combine performances by the most popular artists of the day with the distribution of prizes like the Best Band or Best Song. The EMA are different as, as well as all the usual awards, the spectators can vote for the winner of the Best Band award for their country or region. So come and take part in this hedonistic music celebration and vote for your favourite artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

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Sport, music and fitness: the NYC Marathon is coming!

October 11th, 2009
The participants of this year’s ING New York City Marathon, taking place on Sunday, November 1, 2009 are counting down to the starting gun. It is one of the world’s great road races, drawing more than 100,000 applicants annually. The course of this marathon, which is one of the largest marathons in the world, runs through all five boroughs of New York City: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, uniting dozens of culturally and ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, crossing five bridges, and finishing in the world-famous Central Park. Make sure your accommodation in New York City is situated close to the course in order to be at the centre of this event, which has become a model for big-city marathon courses around the world.

Whether you are signed up for the big race or not, there are plenty of reasons to be there! More than 100 live bands will be stationed at regular intervals along the course to motivate and entertain around 37,000 participants and an expected two million cheering spectators alike. And the “New York City Marathon Health and Fitness Expo”, which is free and open to the public, will offer you everything you need to start or improve your own marathon training. So hurry up and get inspired at the ING New York City Marathon 2009.

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Game, set, match! Tennis in Paris

October 11th, 2009
November 7 -15, Paris will host the BNP PARIBAS MASTERS 2009, the last of the ATP tournaments before the grand finale is played out in London. Paris will transform itself from the city of romance to the world capital of tennis. This male tennis tournament will be held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and forms part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000, a series of the most important tournaments in the ATP circuit after the Grand Slam. The number 1000 in this edition represents the amount of points which will be added to the ATP ranking of the winner, which is no small figure.

This tournament has been going on since 1990 and includes both singles and doubles categories, having acquired a high level of prestige as testified by the number of stars gracing the winner’s list in recent years. Among the winners in the singles category are David Nalbandian (2007), Nikolay Davydenko (2006) and the unforgettable Andre Agassi, who won in 1999. So why not see a premier sporting tournament rather than the usual visits to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe during your stay at the capital of the baguette?

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Jazz in Prague at the AghaRTA

October 10th, 2009
From the 19th of October until the 10th of November 2009, the AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festival 2009 will give jazz lovers the opportunity to enjoy live music in the heart of Prague. The annual festival is organised by AghaRTA Jazz Centrum, named after the important Miles Davis album from 1975, and known as one of the most important jazz venues in Prague. It has already attracted excellent performers from all over the world since its inception and this year is no exception. So don’t hesitate, choose among the wide range of  budget hotels in the centre of Prague, in order to discover the beautiful city of Prague and its thriving jazz culture.

This year’s festival programme features the Richard Bona Group, Steve Gadd & Friends, the Soul Jazz Orchestra, Joe Lovano “Us Five”, Anat Cohen, Tuck and Patti, as well as Jana Koubková & friends. Don’t miss out on this jazz event which will take place in the indescribable urban autumn atmosphere of Prague and enjoy the AghaRTA Prague Jazz Festival 2009.

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