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photo: The Visual Explorer / Shutterstock.com


The crowds pushed us along, and every now and again a hoot from behind would make everyone move to the side as a motorbike snaked its way past. A clanging bell indicated a donkey and cart were coming through. Bags, belts, shoes, carpets, and wooden handicrafts were everywhere to see. The smell of spices hung in the air and outside every shop sat a man waiting to pounce.

“Hello,” one man boomed. He sat outside a stall peddling shoes. “I have good barg

All eyes this month have of course been on Rio's handling of the Summer Olympics. But this town's used to handling big events, and there's also nothing quite like the massive Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro – the over-the-top extravagance; hundreds of thousands of raucous Brazilians thronging the streets and the Sambodrome; and of course the joyously deafening samba music and dancing that helps give shape to it all. Not all of us can be so fortunate to be flying down to Rio that week in February (i

Now especially in the spotlight because of the Rio Olympics, Brazil is of course known for its splendid beaches not just in Rio de Janeiro but all along its enormous Atlantic coast. Resort distination Praia do Forte is a perfect example, featuring beaches with white sand and crystal clear waters surrounded by coconut trees, all kinds of water activities and sports, luxury hotels, natural reserves with plenty of flora and fauna including turtles and whales, the exotic Brazilian culture and the h

Punks with litre-size steins of beer; festive gay street demos; women in headscarves, sometimes even veils cruising grocery aisles; graffiti scrawled across façades in a bid to awaken social consciences; hipsters on the prowl for vintage comic books… All are multifarious faces of one ofBerlin’s most trendy, bohemian, and multicultural neighbourhoods, Kreuzberg. For most of three postwar decades a low-rent West Berlin backwater surrounded on three sides by the Berlin Wall (you can get the whole

photo: Martchan 


Feet bare, the woman scurried across the desert and up to the jeep as we were about to depart. Smiling, proffering a sizeable plastic bag, she said something which Khalid, my guide/interpreter as well as artist and poet, translated as, “a gift for you.” The bag was filled with fankush, a Sudanese snack akin to Fritos, with far more intriguing shapes: shells, lattices, spirals. Clearly, they’d noticed I’d been gobbling them down by the handfuls as I hung out watching the women

If you’re like me, you’re absolutely entranced by the otherworldliness of what lies off our planet’s shores, you try to don mask and fins and take the plunge into the big blue every chance you get. And Iberia offers so many different destinations to be dazzled – here are some of my favorites. 

Croatia

This country’s Dalmatian Coast is one of Europe’s stars when it comes to all things aquatic, and for underwater scenery, head especially to the Brijuni Archipelago; Istria’s Cape Kamenjak, the Pakl

photo: Ditty_about_summer


A major debate and buzz word within the tourism industry is what is often called “sustainable tourism”.  In reality there is no one definition of what the word means an even less people are sure of how to apply the term.  The word has become so over used that often it has become meaningless.  Often, but nor always, the debate around sustainable tourism revolves around the concept of “mass tourism”, another word without a precise definition. The literature is filled wi

There are few avgeek treats quite as rare and wonderful as the chance to get up close and personal with restored, operational aircraft from the very earliest days of the history of manned flight, the early 20th century. That’s why a “living museum” in New York State’s Hudson Valley, extending from New York City north to the state capital Albany, has to count as one of aviation geekdom’s holiest nirvanas. 

I grew up 20 minutes away from the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, located on a rural back roa

by Phil Paoletta


Paradoxical thing, the sun. It brings life to our planet and makes our holidays warm and enjoyable, but at the same time it also ensures that the most menacing threat around the water actually comes from the sky. Overexposure can lead to skin cancer, but also to some pretty disgusting wrinkles, brown spots, and other nasty damage down the road that will make you look back with regret even if you manage to escape melanomas and carcinomas.

And although obviously you’re more at

Prague and the towns and cities of Bohemia tend get most of the attention from travellers and travel writers alike. But in my many visits and time living in the Czech Republic, I found that the historic region in the country’s south – a bit smaller than Wales and New Jersey – is no piker when it comes to history, scenery, and small-town charm. Moravians speak a distinct dialect of Czech, and Moravia is also Czech wine country, a distinction receiving increasing international appreciation. Here’

Lotus flowers play an important role and special position in both Vietnamese spirit and culture. From long time ago up to now, lotus flowers have been in Vietnamese people’s hearts, life and culture. Contemplating lotus flowers, we can see and realize images of Vietnamese people.


Although it grows in mud, it is not be polluted. But in contrast, it can change its living environment; every where it grows, it turns turbid water into clear one. Lotus flowers have both scent and beauty, but the sc

Food in Hungary's capital stands out for its flavors and aromas, with lavish use of spices (most famously but not only paprika) and generous servings. Prices are more economical than in many other European capitals. Some of the current top tables in town: 

Menza 
One of Budapest's more fashionable venues of the moment, with modern décor,.plenty of young people, a menu combining classic Hungarian dishes and creative nouvel creations, and attractive prices. Liszt Ferenc tér 2.

Cyrano
Recommended b

Planning on a car rental this summer holiday season, and really hoping for a hassle-free experience, with a smooth pick up procedure and no unexpected extra costs? Read these few pieces of advice. Here we try to make it easier for you to avoid unnecessary supplementary costs by listing just a few things to consider before you click 'the submit button' of your car hire booking.

Book Earlier at More Advantageous Rates

Moreover, if you postpone booking your holiday car hire, the availability of c

A quick flight from London will take you a city that really knows how to live. Named as one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 travel destinations for 2016 - allow me to share a few reasons why Manchester’s unquestionably one of the topnotch places to visit in the world.

Arts and Culture


The previous year has witnessed the opening of the £25 m HOME arts centre in First Street and the long-awaited reopening of the Whitworth Art Gallery after a £15 m renovation. There’s no doubt that the future for the city’

Our “ultimate European road trip” started in Stuttgart, Germany after we picked up our brand-new Porsche Macan S from the factory, now heads back north to Stuttgart as we conclude our extended vacation.  Our car, named Max, will be prepped for his long boat ride home where he trades in his lederhosen for a surfboard rack.

Our adventure continues as we explore this beautiful and historic lakeside city.

Mother Nature Deflated Our Zeppelin Adventure

All the planning in the world is no match for Mot

Travelling to the north of Thailand is a trip that has been gaining popularity in recent times. A Bangkok and Chiang Mai trip combo is an alternative to the coastal itineraries of Thailand, offering a perfect combination of bustling city life and a tranquil natural experience.

Bustling Bangkok

The bustling metropolis of Bangkok is the best place to familiarise yourself with Thailand before heading off to more exotic locations. Bangkok has many incredible shopping options to offer visitors, from

by Cristóbal Ramírez


What comes to mind when you think Düsseldorf? Commerce, industry, and trade fairs, most likely. Hardly a place you’d think of as a holiday hot spot.

But as with most other large European cities, there’s another side that not only makes this powerhouse in Germany‘s west, capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, well worth a holiday stop but which some might find downright surprising. For one thing, it seems the locals fancy themselves just a bit Latin. 

For starters, he

With nearly 12,500 miles (20,000 kilometres) of coastline, the United States lined on three sides with some stupendous strands indeed.  Here are some of my top picks within easy striking distance of Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City – many of which are delicious well into September (and depending on the geography, even well beyond). 

Boston

Starting about an hour’s drive south of the city, Cape Cod curves out into the Atlantic Oceanwith wonderful options such as Barnstabl