Category Archives: Places

Driving in Italy

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Driving in Umbria

 

 

 

 

 

Lamborghini Murciélago coupé

Italy’s automobile history is long and glamorous, with A-list car manufacturers including well-known names such as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.
The timeless styling of Italian cars can often be attributed Pininfarina, an Italian design house, which has been responsible for creating the looks of many famous super-cars.
The iconic Alfa Romeo Spider is the work of Pininfarina as is the Maserati Birdcage which took its inspiration from new, futuristic ideas rather than re-working features from past classic models.
With such an impressive automobile history, there really is no better place to think of for a driving holiday than Italy.

The region of Umbria in particular has diverse countryside, perfect for enjoying long drives along winding roads which pass rows of olive trees, vineyards, pretty villages and Aleppo pine groves. Furthermore, the Apennines provide beautiful mountain terrain, equally perfect for exploration.

Jean Paul Sia from the Umbrian Tourist Board says “Away from the big crowds, this small piece of land blends art, food, nature and culture in perfect harmony. Driving is a wonderful way to get to know this fascinating region”.

For the ultimate driving holiday rent your favourite Italian car, whether it is a dependable Fiat Grande Punto or a flashy Lamborghini Murciélago coupé, and relax as you soak up the fantastic sights of Umbria.

Car Driving Guide for Italy

  • If you have a UK issued driving license, you do not need an international driving permit to drive in Italy.
  • You must be over 18 to drive in Italy
  • Keep right and overtake on the left
  • Trams and trains have right of way
  • Seatbelts are compulsory for both front and rear seats, failure to comply with this rule can result in fines for both the driver and the passengers
  • Vehicles approaching from the right have right-of-way at crossings

Speed limts for

  • Urban areas is 31mph (50kmph)
  • Minor out of town roads 56mph (90kmph)
  • Major out of town roads 68mpm (110kmph)

It is compulsory to carry a spare tyre, triangle and reflective safety jacket
Third-party insurance is compulsory
Tolls are levied on the more popular motorways
In urban areas, horns are only used for emergencies
It’s compulsory to use dipped headlights during the day on two-lane motorways.

Article by Stephanie Sheehan

A final word. These are the laws for driving in Italy but with the Italian’s reputation and my own experience including driving in Rome I would add this side note.
(Not to be taken seriously):
To drive like the Italians and be able to keep up with the traffic flow: –
“Put your foot to the floor, ignore everyone else, and don’t worry about the dents.”

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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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Paris Nightlife

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Bars

Ice Kube is one of the coolest bars in Paris, literally. Kept at a refreshing -12C, you will be given special coats to wear to keep the frost-bite at bay. For a fixed price you half an hour in the bar and four tasting cocktails. Find it near the La Chapelle metro station and be sure to make a reservation as it gets booked-up quickly!

Do you enjoy reading while drinking your wine? Then La Belle Hortense could very well be your new idea of heaven. Named after the novel by Jacques Roubaud, this cosy bar/bookshop is the perfect place for a rainy Paris afternoon – perch on one of the bar stools or make yourself comfortable in the back room.

For a special occasion or just a good meal followed by some classy cocktails then the Mezzanine Bar at Alcazar is the place to go. After a delicious dinner downstairs, head upstairs for cocktails and champagne overlooking the bar below. DJ’s play until late from Wednesday to Sunday and you can have the set menu for dinner

 

Clubs

There are underground clubs and then there is Showcase. In an old naval hangar beneath the Alexandre III bridge in the Champs Elysees, you will find this glamorous club overlooking the Seine where you can hear the very best in house and electro music. If you are used to partying until dawn then you might be able to stay up until the club starts serving brunch on selected mornings.

If you’re determined to do some celeb spotting in Paris the VIP Room is one of your best bets. This exclusive club is strictly on a reservation only basis and you will need to dress to impress! Open from Thursdays to Saturdays from midnight until 6am, 

Live Entertainment

If it is a show you’re after then where else springs to mind than the Moulin Rouge.

 

Dinner on one of the small round tables, adorned with the red lamps that are synonymous with the windmill, followed by the Féerie show will be an unforgettable evening in Paris. See the jewelled, feathered dances and enjoy the sumptuous menus at this famous windmill if you want to experience traditional French cabaret.

Is jazz is more your thing? Then head to New Morning near the Chateau d’Eau metro station. Eat, drink and be merry and start your night off at this atmospheric club. Gigs begin at around 9pm, so get there at about 8 if you want to eat before.

Find out more about Paris city breaks with lowcostholidays.com here.

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Surprising Hot Spots

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4 Cleveland Hot Spots That You Might Not Have Expected

One might not think of Cleveland Ohio as a tourism spot but there are some surprising hot spots that are must-sees. It’s time for a road trip to Cuyahoga County to visit four surprising and interesting attractions and yes, they’re in Cleveland.

1. Bradstreet’s Landing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Flickr rittyrats

Only five miles from downtown Cleveland is a local favorite but it’s not a secret. Bradstreet’s Landing is a six acre park with a 600 foot long fishing pier right on Lake Erie. Locals fish here but perhaps its most exciting offerings are the serene picnic areas and the 125-foot sand beach.
Swimming isn’t allowed but you can launch sailboats and windsurfers as long as you avoid the local fishers. The pier itself is handicap friendly and fishermen lore is sure to please those who interact with the locals. Not surprisingly, you may hear may old wives tales on your jaunt to this destination. Many also say this is a place to find a bench under a tree and just reflect.

2. Thirsty Parrot Sports Bar


 

 

 

 

 


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Flickr BekiPe

If you have Cleveland Indians Tickets the Thirsty Parrot sports bar is right across the street from Progressive Field and is the party spot before and after all Indian games.
The bistro style menu includes burgers, sandwiches and soups and it’s full of popular appetizers from cheese sticks to wings. Drink specials are always abundant and the hot spot of this sports bar is the outdoor patio. Dress is casual and it’s hard to miss with its blue tent overhangs and a Caribbean style look.

3. Marjorie Rosenbaum Aviation Plaza


 

 

 

 

 


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Cleveland National Air Show

This free to the public outdoor museum hosts airshows and is a fun Cleveland destination for the entire family. Opened in 1997 it’s located in downtown Cleveland within walking distance of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
From 1964 the plaza site has been home to the longest running air show in America. Beyond the air shows, guests can browse the plaza wall and legend plaques for aviation history. From 1929 to 1949 the plaza hosted the National Air Races and there is memorabilia there from aviation legends like Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh.
You can’t miss the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom jets located right in the center of the plaza and the planes are painted in traditional U.S. Navy Blue Angel and U.S. Air Force Thunderbird colors.

4. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Flickr compujaramey

No trip to Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located in downtown Cleveland on Rock and Roll Boulevard. The 150,000 square foot museum boasts seven floors of music history and four theaters.
The Hall often hosts free public events and offers a variety of exhibits that are constantly changing. There are entry fee discounts for seniors and kids and the museum makes for an all-day event.
The list of inductees is vast at 701 people (279 bands) and they also offer a “Rent the Rock” feature, great for corporate parties.
Cleveland does have its hot spots and each of these are guaranteed to inspire, have tons of fun with friends and learn some history along the way.

Anthony Alexander is a freelance writer, journalist, author, and an organizer of words and thoughts. He is a diverse writer who captures moments and converts them into literary works. He is passionate about sports, traveling, and life.

 

Resources:
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http://www.clevelandairshow.com/foundation/plaza.html
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http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Ohio/Cleveland-845026/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Cleveland-MISC-BR-1.html#tip=1021683

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Giant Panda Bear of China

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Get to know the Giant Panda Bear of China
……… by China Odyssey Tours

China’s National Treasure
The giant panda, regarded as one of China’s National Treasures, is on the verge of extinction. Today there are fewer than 1,000 giant pandas living in the world. The giant panda is the symbol of eco-environmental conservation. Visitors to China can see this reclusive animal in Sichuan Province’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. We hope, with their cute faces, unusual beauty and grace, giant pandas can bring visitors to China pleasure and enjoyment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


panda climbing the tree
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Living Fossils
Paleontologists have discovered fossil remains that indicate that over 8 million years ago ancestors of the giant panda were living in China.  That is the reason why the giant panda is has been called one of China’s “living fossil” by historians.
The giant panda’s lifespan in the wild is unknown, but in captivity they average more than 20 years. Due to the constant expansion of human activity, the habitat of giant panda has been gradually shrinking and they are now only found in the southern part of Gansu province and northwest part of the Sichuan basin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


twin pandas

Plump and Lovely
The giant panda looks quite plump. Its body length is about 160 to 180 centimeters, and weighs 80 to 125 kilograms. The giant panda’s colorization is simple but elegant. Normally, the giant panda is very gentle and reclusive, like a shy lady. When the panda meets strangers, it often covers its face with its palm, or lowers its head to hide its face. After giving birth however, a female giant panda can be very aggressive using her teeth and claws to protect her infant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

confused panda
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Recluse in the Bamboo Forest
Giant pandas live alone and scattered, rather than living in herds.  Because of this, the giant panda is often called “the recluse in the bamboo forest”. They do not move too far from their home base, and live their entire lives in a small area. The giant panda can eat at anytime, and sleep in any place. They have a truly easygoing lifestyle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


red panda

Best place to see panda
Over 80% of the world’s giant Pandas live in Sichuan Province, China. The best place to see panda is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which covers an area of over 359,000 square meters and it is now under expanding for an area to over 1,999,000 square meters.
As the first ex-situ conservation project for giant pandas, this base has not only dedicated itself to giant panda conservation, but has also endeavored to combine natural scenery and man-made landscapes to create wonderful and humane living areas for giant pandas, red pandas, and other Chinese endangered animals.
This panda research breeding base appears to be a beautiful landscaped park. Luxuriant bamboo grow everywhere around the base.
Here 15 pandas live a protected life, where visitors can view them eating, sleeping or playing. Visitors can also learn more about this precious species in the giant panda museum.
The panda hospital can also be visited, where there is a 7,000 square meter educational space for the foreign and domestic visitors. In these learning areas, visitors will come to know more about the work being done to preserve this lovely animal.
There also has a project that you can even hug the cute panda.

Check more Giant Panda Pictures here
Take a private Chengdu Tour to see the giant panda with China Odyssey Tours, a leading China tour operator. Enjoy more with flexible itinerary.

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Folk Culture Is Alive And Well In Hungary

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In Hungary, even if it is not immediately evident, folk culture is still alive and well in many aspects of everyday life. Almost every city and township boasts its own folk ensemble and recently many young musicians from different genres of music have turned towards folk music for inspiration. UNESCO recently added the táncház (dancehouse) method of teaching and recreation to its List of Intangible Heritage of Urgent Safeguarding.

read more …

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Saunas In Really Cold Places

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Unlike Saunas in clubs, spas, hotels and people’s houses, Saunas in the depths of Scandanavian winters are totally different.

We’ve heard of running out in the snow, jumping into lakes and getting beaten with Birch twigs, but what’s it really like to actually go there and do it?

Sauna in Finland

A couple of Canucks, Dalene & Peter Heck sold up to travel the world and did just that in their visit to Finland.
As well as sitting around naked with strangers they smeared themselves in a peat moss paste which was easier to put on than get off.

Peat Moss “Paste”

You can see this story, and lots of others about their trips around the world.
http://www.hecktictravels.com/ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
Get a free listing in traveljunkies for your travel or activities business!

 

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The World Asks …

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Not sure how true the following Q&A is, but it is said to have been taken from genuine stereotypical questions asked of an Australian government department by overseas tourists.

One thing I know is true … the answers are pure Aussie. Enjoy!

 

from hostelbookers.com blog

  • The world asks …Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? (UK) … and the Aussie answers – We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

read more …

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Discover the Regal Appeal of Majorca

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The Balearic Islands sit not far off the east coast of Spain, basking in the hot sun all summer long in the cool waters of the Mediterranean. It’s easy for the island chain to catch your eye as a holiday destination, but with so much going on between all the islands the difficult part comes when you try to decide which one to visit.

Majorca, the largest island of the archipelago, has more to offer a budget or short-stay traveller than most European countries, and if it’s good enough for the Spanish Royal Family holidaying at Marivent Palace, then frankly, it’s good enough for us.

And it is easy to see why Majorca has been given the royal seal of approval. read more …

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Top 7 Family Friendly Vacation Spots in the USA in Springtime.

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Spring is in the air and your family wants to do spring break right this year, but you need a destination that will offer plenty of fun for the kids while not killing you with boredom. You can resort to the usual vacation staples or try a few under-the-radar destinations.


Hawaii: Experience the Sun, Waves and Great Times

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via Flickr by StuSeeger
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Always a staple of top vacation lists, Hawaii has it all – incredible beaches, perfect weather and a relaxing atmosphere. Whale watching in Oahu is a great family event and a day out to Wet ‘n’ Wild in Honolulu is a blast for the kids. Kauai Surf School is a family-fun atmosphere to fully immerse yourselves into the Hawaiian surf life. read more …

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