Our second day in London greeted us with brilliant sunshine, and even though it was still early May, temperatures in the mid twenties (Celsius, of course) were in store for us. Andrea and I started our day with a nice breakfast at the Zetter Hotel, a boutique hotel in Londons fashionable Clerkenwell area. The main floor restaurant offers an extensive breakfast buffet, but occasionally, when I really enjoy a menu item I have no hesitation to order...more
Its amazing what you can pack into a day: our sightseeing tour on the Number 11 bus had introduced us to some of Londons most important sights. During our walking tour we explored Buckingham Palace, the Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, arriving just in time for Big Ben ringing in the noon hour. Then we took a sightseeing tour on the Thames River and got to know the city from a completely different perspective. With only three days in London...more
Kaput is a common term these days that Europe's summer backpackers use which in layman's terms mean finished. Do not dread the day your daughter runs off to Europe with just a backpack. Backpacker travel insurance is available. This concept is not uncommon in the US. Seeing girls walking with their backpacks in European cities is nothing special. The ones who normally catch a glimpse are backpackers who also make their way around the city, some even ignoring the whole backpack idea. Making a few changes with the backpack is what has been going on in Europe for more than a few years. Statistics on backpackers are appropriately hard to come by. Based on last summer's records, the number of young people heading to Europe this summer is larger. Establishing the exact traffic of backpackers that arrive in this place is the same as trying to uncover their destinations. Based on an East Coast retailer, there was a 100 percent improvement in their sales this year of backpacks thanks to the many travelers to Europe. What the youth of summer on their backpacking trip is getting a chance to loosen up. Let's pretend your tent took in water in Copenhagen and now your sleeping bag is now...more
After five great days in my temporary home in the Western Bay of Palma it was now time to relocate and have a closer look at the eastern side of island. I needed to check out today and move into my next apartment in Port dAlcudia. I packed my suitcase and left the Terranova Aparthotel complex which had been a great location to explore the western...more
With my love for the Spanish language and my fascination for Mediterranean landscapes, the island of Mallorca has been one of my dream destinations for a long time. A couple of months ago or so I had finally decided that 2009 was going to be year for my visit to Mallorca. Spring is the perfect time to visit southern Europe the weather is usually...more
I love unearthing small, quirky cocktail bars in London. When you open the door, you get transported to another world, a magical world away from the hustle and bustle of London. After a lot of searching I think I have found my three favourite quirky bars! 1) Bourne and Hollingsworth (West End)Walk down the stairs, off Charlotte Street and be transported back to a 1930s / grandmas dining room. This may not sound very appealing but it manages to pull it off in a quirky, retro, cool way. The cocktails are fantastic and served in a cup and saucer (which I loved). There are DJs on the weekend but be warned, this place is small. Get there early for pre-drinks perhaps before heading off for the rest of your night. I think Bourne and Hollingsworth is also a fantastic "date" place. Prices are happily affordable with cocktails from £7.50. 2) Callooh Callay (Shoreditch)If you loved Narnia as a kid well this is the chance to live out your childhood fantasies. Imagine the entrance as the wardrobe into the magical kingdom. I loved the fact that you can drink cocktails out of gramophones too. They believe in great drinks, it is indeed a master art for the team at Callooh Callay....more
On my last full day in Mallorca my plan was to explore the eastern part of the island. I had spent the vast majority of my time in the north of Mallorca, where the dramatic Serra de Tramuntana mountain range had held an almost magical spell on me....more
After a tasty home-made breakfast on the balcony of my studio apartment in Port dAlcudia I was ready to head out for a full day of explorations. Somehow, the northern mountainous part of Mallorca has an almost magical spell on me. I had already spent...more
We had thoroughly enjoyed our drive through the Tramuntana mountain region yesterday and our discoveries in the town of Sller. After a restful night of sleep I got up at 8 am and walked to the main house of our rural hotel, Finca Cas Sant, to use...more
Our second day in Mallorca greeted us with bright sunshine. After a restful night at Finca Son Pont, we got ready to have breakfast in this historic rural hotel. Tables were set up in the shady inner courtyard and we were going to have breakfast in...more
Our second full day in Mallorca started with an early morning stroll along the Pine Walk promenade in Port de Pollena, a beautiful seafront town on the northeast side of the island. The expansive Bay of Pollena was shimmering in front of us in...more
Our location in Palma Nova on the western bay of Palma was very convenient with one exception: several of the hotel guests came home between 3 and 6 am in various states of inebriation and were hollering loudly to each other. Their incomprehensible...more