Quimper – Enjoy the Monuments of Roman Era

Posted on 19th April 2012

Quimper is a small city that is situated in the Brittany province in France. Quimper is a small city that can be seen and explored on foot only and is known for a number of monuments that were made during the early Roman Era.

Reaching Quimper

The city of Quimper doesn’t have its own international airport. The nearest airport is situated about 8 kilometers from the city in Pluguffan. There are a number of regular flights to Paris and other major cities of France. The city is well connected by the French Railways network. The railway station of the city is situated in the eastern part of the city and has a number of regular trains from major parts of the France such as Paris, Rennes, Lyon, Cannes and others. Cheap Eurostar tickets from London to Paris are also available online for those travelling from London. You can reach Paris from London with Eurostar London to Paris train and then travel to Quimper.

Attractions in Quimper

Quimper has a number of historic places that were made during different eras. The city of Quimper is known as “Meeting of Two Rivers”. When you enter the city, you can walk River Odet which has a number of small bridges all along the river. You can walk along the banks of River Steir which are known for the greenery and quiet ambiance.

Cathedral St. Corentin is the landmark of the city and has two spires which provide some of the best views of the city. The interiors of the city are also good. This place remains closed for lunch. Some of the other remarkable churches that are located on close proximity to this church are St. Mathieu and Locmaria.

The city of Quimper is known for its gardens which are open for the general public. Most of the gardens are located in the main part of the city.

Some of the monuments which can also be visited include Earthenware Museum, which is known for uts collection of earthen objects and Garden of the Retreat which is situated in the northern part of the city which is known for its collection of some of the exotic varieties of plants such as Palm Trees. Jesuit Chapel is another place where you can visit. Also visit the Max Jacob theatre which is known for its public garden.

Fly with Singapore Airlines at Low Cost

Posted on 19th April 2012

Singapore Airlines is one of the world’s largest and best known brand airlines. The company has its operations to more than 160 destinations and has its main hub at Changi International Airport in Singapore. The company has been a part of number of successful alliances like StarAlliance and OneAlliance and has entered into Codeshare agreements with many airlines like Virgin Atlantic, SilkAir and Malaysian Airlines.

The company became the first airline to introduce Airbus A380 on its destinations to Australia, London and Tokyo. It is also credited for operating two nonstop flights from Singapore to Newark and Los Angeles.

The company has been a trendsetter in the industry and has been awarded several awards for its services and excellence. The airlines have established itself as a strong brand and have been ranked as five star airlines by SkyTrax.

The airlines have three classes namely economy, business (Raffles) and First Class. The in-flight entertainment system has been voted as the best in the world. The users can choose from a vast variety of programs, games, movies and other stuff. Special access to the lounges across various airports is provided only to the First Class and Business Class holders. The airlines have several partner agreements with different airlines regarding the sharing of lounges on selected destinations.

The SpaceBed seats ensure comfort to its passengers and they can rest on it in variety of position according to the posture they are comfortable in. Special dividers and curtains have been placed to ensure a complete privacy. The Business class passengers can avail the priority check in facility. Seats in the Economy Class are equipped with headrests and footrests that make them comfortable. The cuisines served on board are of world class and is accompanied by special type of beverages. The company has a frequent flyer program also. You can get lowest airfare for Singapore airlines online from online travel agents such as Make My Trip, Yatra, Expedia etc.

So book your tickets for Singapore airlines today.

Rome food tours

Posted on 3rd January 2012

Italy is a famous destination for the food connoisseurs, who come here to taste delicious lasagna, traditional pizza, ice cream and cappuccino, mozzarella, wine and so much more. Thus, if you happen to be one of those people, then most probably you are already browsing the internet for some Rome apartments or Milan apartments at a great price and are already looking for an intriguing Rome food tour. Now, these food tours are quite popular in Rome and most probably you will find several companies offering them.

Photos of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Rome
This photo of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

The Rome Food Tours are guided tours that last for three or four hours. These are walking tours and they also put a stress on various cultural and historical monuments along the way. They include six to eight tastings of some fantastic Italian specialties and are led by polite, funny and very knowledgeable guides. The Rome food tours try to avoid the crowds and to be arranged in small and cozy venues, where could be tried some of the greatest delicacies in Italy. In general, the Rome food tours try to make the participants feel like real Romans by the end of the tour. They are suitable to age groups.

This photo of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

There are many reasons why someone would like to come on a Rome food tour. The first one is that he or she will try several very tasty meals and will enjoy some wine with them. Al The second one is that the fun is absolutely guaranteed. The third one is that one will meet several new people, most probably from different cultures. Fourth, one will discover some hidden spots and landmarks. And fifth and final, the traveler will become a real expert on gelato.

Photos of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Rome
This photo of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Besides the regular Rome food tours, there are also Rome walking tours and Cooking classes, which are four hours in duration. Yes, this is a short cooking class, but it is absolutely worth it. The cooking class is usually done in a small restaurant near the magnificent Trevi Fountain and the experience is very personalized and some deep secrets of cooking are being shared. The participants are also given recipes that they can take home and cook themselves.

Photos of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), Rome
This photo of Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Another Rome food tour to consider is the Taste of Italy Food Tour, which is done outside Rome in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. The participants in this tour are welcome to sample cheeses and wine, as well as salami and some other local specialties. This tour lasts for an entire day and the lunch is done at a small rural restaurant.

If you do not have a full day to spend on food tour, then you can go on a small group cooking lesson in Rome with duration of five hours. During that cooking lesson, you will learn how to cook four Italian meals in a nice private kitchen in the heart of the Italian capital. The groups are only of up to eight people, so that all participants can get equal personalized instruction for a food expert. Several glasses of excellent Italian wine are also in the picture.

Another great destination for a food holiday is Budapest where you can stay in apartment in Budapest.

Barcelona in winter

Posted on 12th December 2011

The city of Barcelona is a wonderful tourist destination throughout the year and is quite tempting place for a stay in the colder winter months. The temperatures in Barcelona usually do not drop below 10 degrees Celsius at that time of the year and only February has some chilly days that are best to be avoided. In case you plan to visit the city in the winter and have already chosen and booked your Barcelona apartment or apartment in Madrid, then read some ideas here and find out what you can do in this lovely city for the period of your stay.

The first thing that deserves to be mentioned is that during the winter months there are no so many tourists in Barcelona and this is normal. It also means that there will be no crowds on the streets, no long queues at the galleries and the museums and several interesting festivals that are great to be visited. Locals love their city in the winter, as they feel they have it all for themselves. There are no tourists crowds, no cruise ships and no charter flights, the stag parties are also waiting for better times, etc. Those travelers however who have learned their lesson, know that the flights in the winter time are cheaper and the accommodation is more affordable as well.

The city of Barcelona is very lively around the Christmas holiday, but not only. An area nice to be seen is Fira de Santa Llucia with its seasonal market and the nativity scene at the Placa Sant Jaume, which is different each year. Besides Christmas, another much celebrated holiday is the Three Kings’ Day, which is held on the Twelfth Night. It is on that holiday that most of the children receive presents. The holiday is celebrated with a street procession, during which the helpers of the king throw sweets to the crowd. After these two holidays start the winter sales, when the city is more quiet, if Barcelona could be quiet at all.

In the middle of January the city celebrates the Festa dels Tres Tombs or the Three Turns on the St. Anthony’s Day in the district of Sant Antoni. The city celebrates it with horse riders and beautifully decorated carts. Another important holiday is the Santa Eulalia Holiday, which is celebrated for five days around February 12th, when are organized various free concerts, processions of giants, etc. At that time of the year many of the museums are free to enter as well. Another interesting holiday is Shrove Tuesday and the Burial of the Sardine, which is a strange local tradition. Several weeks after that is celebrated the Festes de Sant Medir with a lot of sweets.

Nice places to go to at that winter period are the Museu de la Xocolata, or the lovely courtyard of El Jardi. Another good idea is to check the winter exhibitions in the city. Of course, always nice to be visited are the Museum of Picasso and the Gaudi’s La Pedrera, as well as the Catalunya Caixa exhibition centre.

Another destination that you can visit after your trip to Spain is Portugal where you can stay in Lisbon apartment

Local activities in Paris

Posted on 2nd December 2011

The city of Paris, the capital of France, is among the top ten destinations in the world for tourism and entertainment. Being ranked so high by the travellers from all continents and nationalities, means that usually the city of Paris is overcrowded by tourists especially during the summer months, but not all parts of it and actually one can find areas which are far from the tourist noise. Now, everybody is familiar with the main attractions in the city of Paris, the major landmarks, cultural sites and museums near the Paris apartments. For those who want to experience something different and feel part of the city and the way people actually live here, there are certain local activities that should not be missed.

Obelisco di Luxor.

Among the areas that are included are the Batignolles area, placed between place de Clichy and Rue Rome to where Rue de Batignolles starts. The neighborhood is called Batignolles and is not known by the tourists groups. The atmosphere is authentic and one can enjoy some truly pleasant Parisian experience, especially when the weather outside is warm and nice. This district is famous for its many small shops, restaurants, boutiques and terraces. For those who are looking for some loud music and fun at night, there are many restaurants and bars placed on Rue des Dames. There are some interesting boutiques there as well, usually visited by the resident transvestite community. Nearby is placed the town hall the Marie and there are two nice cafes opposite it. Not far away is available a wine bar, which is open only during the day.

Square des Batignolles - Paris (France)

In the region there is also a nice church from 19th century and several restaurants with a pleasant outdoor area, where one can try Provencal food. Close to the church, there is the Square de Batignolles and a small park with very beautiful and old trees, while at the far side of that park are available two pitches for the sport that is typical for France – petanque. That park is usually full of families, couples, people reading books. If one goes out of the park and along Rue des Moines, one will see a busy shopping area and covered market with stalls, as well as some outdoor cafes. Nearby is set a lovely chocolate store.

Brrrrrr

If you like that atmosphere of Paris, then stay away from the highly ranked restaurants like Guy Savoy, Chez L’Ami Louis, Georges or Josephine Chez Dumonet and try to appreciate good food and fine dining in some of the smaller restaurants which are a bit away from the main tourist flow. And finally, tourists who want to experience some local” activities in Paris, should remember that this is a major international capital city and thus it should be accepted for what it is. Thus, if you still want to get the typical feeling of France, then it would be better to go to the French province and spend some time there.

A post written by Pauline Petit who is also writing about apartments in Prague and apartment in London.