5 Things to do in Berlin

BY FABIENNE HENRY • 28 NOVEMBER 2013 • TOP 5 , TRAVEL • COMMENTS (4) •  1698

Berlin, the capital archi connected to the liberal mindset and shameful history is full of creative and unusual places. At each corner are warning signs of German history. Fascinating blend of the past and the future, Berlin is young and dynamic and we feel this energy by walking its streets.

Obviously there is much more to do in Berlin, but here are 5 ideas for a weekend in the German capital.

1 - The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) and Checkpoint Charlie

A must, I want to say because it is the emblem of the city as it was for thirty years the symbol of the division east / west.

If you are fascinated by the history of the city, we'll go for a walk to Checkpoint Charlie where there is a museum that tells the history of the city.

2 - Discover street-art

The street-art enthusiasts will delight in Berlin as one finds everywhere. To be sure to see the best places, it is possible to make a street-art tour with Alternative Berlin Tours . The tours are free, but you can tip the guide if you enjoyed the tour.

3 - Take a walk in the Memorial to murdered Jews of Europe

Also known as the Holocaust Memorial, this impressive monument is located in the center of Berlin between the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz. Inaugurated in 2005, it perpetuates the memory of the Jewish victims exterminated by the Nazis. Consists of 2711 concrete variable heights, the place is awesome and asking for silence and meditation.

4 - Zeitlos, a beach bar

For a little change of scenery and light towards the Charlottenburg district where the Zeitlos, where you can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat, feet in the sand overlooking the River Spree.

Cocktailbar Zeitlos , Franklinstrasse

5 - Museum Island - Museuminsel

Here is an island in the Spree river, which as its name suggests, is all about museums. Designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1999, the place includes 5 prestigious museums:

- The Bode Museum: the Byzantine art, the collection of sculptures and the Cabinet of medal collection

- The Pergamon Museum: archeology

- The Altes Museum (Old Museum): Ancient works

- The Neues Museum (New Museum): Egyptian collections

- The Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery): German art of the nineteenth century French Impressionists

A book to get you in the mood: "This time there" Douglas Kennedy

Pageant, philosophical novel, spy novel but most tragic love story in the tradition of The Pursuit of Happiness, an ambitious work, which is mainly in Berlin before the fall of the Wall, between the excitement Western and Eastern confinement subjected to terror.

An excellent blog to prepare for your visit to Berlin Good Morning Berlin

Have you ever been to Berlin? What places would you recommend to complete the visit?

5 Christmas markets not to be missed

BY FABIENNE HENRY • 10 OCTOBER 2013 • TOP 5 • COMMENTS (10) •  660

Do not you love the festive atmosphere at the arrival of Christmas? The windows that are adorned with their finest decorations, cities light up, the children's eyes sparkle and Christmas markets that are beginning to mount their chalets in some cities.

These markets where there are small shops with items of Christmas decorations, and regional crafts, treats, sweets and mulled wine. Ah, the mulled wine!
Maybe it's a little early and I packed, but I think it's already time to prepare for Christmas and I wonder what market I will visit this year.

Strasbourg
The Christmas market is a tradition since 1570 in Strasbourg. Each year, the market unfolds around the magnificent Cathedral. With its reputation, since the market is multiple account several markets: Christkindelsmärik - Place Broglie, the market Bredle - instead of Austerlitz, Alsatian flavors - instead of the Millers, markets and local crafts - Station Square ...
I went there a few years and I really enjoyed this special atmosphere.

November 30 to December 31, 2013
Syllabus

© City and Urban Community of Strasbourg

Colmar
The reputation of the Christmas market in Colmar continues to grow
We must discover Colmar Christmas this warm city puts on its finery. You will see beautiful displays and decorated houses, small lively streets mingling scents of orange and cinnamon.
A Colmar also several markets: Jeanne d'Arc (regional gourmet products), instead of the Old Customs (crafts and food), instead of the Six Montagnes Noires (for children), instead of the Dominicans (market fir)

November 22 to December 31, 2013
Syllabus

© Tourism Colmar

Mulhouse
As for Strasbourg and Colmar, Mulhouse market invites young and old to share the magic of Christmas. You will be struck by the scents of cinnamon, wine and hot chestnuts, marveling at the lights and charmed by the warm atmosphere of the city. Note the Christmas market in Mulhouse celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

from November 23 to December 29, 2013
Syllabus

© City of Mulhouse

Brussels
With the approach of Christmas, the heart of Brussels is transformed into a real Christmas magic. 250 chalets are spread around the Bourse, Place Sainte-Catherine and the Marché aux Poissons. There are gourmet invitations, gift ideas ...

November 29 to January 5, 2014
Syllabus

London
The British capital has not left since, when many festive Christmas markets are emerging. Each parts of London almost a Christmas market: Portobello, Hyde Park, Southbank, Covent Garden, Spitalfields, Camden ... The most important (and perhaps the most commercial) is certainly the market Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

Winter Wonderland
November 22 to January 5, 2014

© PWR Events

Do you know of other markets to visit nice Christmas?

The most welcoming city in Europe

BY FABIENNE HENRY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 • EDITORIALS , TRAVEL • COMMENTS (16) •  2371

In your opinion, what is the most welcoming city in Europe? Paris (lol), London, Amsterdam? Airbnb , site rental owner has compiled a ranking of the most hospitable cities in Europe. Before you reveal palmares, see what criteria were used. But first, do you know Airbnb?
This is a community platform created in 2008 that offers unique accommodations around the world, discover and allows them to book. Thus, Airbnb connects homeowners seeking a rental and owners who provide their property.We can find goods as diverse as any city apartments, villas or a room in a castle. It is possible to rent for a night, a week or even a month.
I have not yet had the opportunity to try this service, but I have friends who swear by this type of accommodation when they go traveling.

The criteria used for this ranking were collected on the site itself as Airbnb is based on a rating system that allows users to record the location where they stayed several criteria: cleanliness, location, relationship quality Price, communication with the owner, home ... You can assign zero to five stars.

Airbnb has recorded the best percentage of notes left for vacation each destination. And Zurich is tops the ranking.

Here is the record:

1 - Zurich
2 - Frankfurt
3 - Porto
4 - Nice
5 - Vienna
6 - Hamburg
7 - Oslo
8 - Brighton
9 - Mallorca
10 - Dublin

What do you think of this ranking?

The Following two tabs below-happy exchange.

5 Things to do in Lyon

BY FABIENNE HENRY • 17 OCTOBER 2013 • TOP 5 • COMMENTS (8) •  834

Lyon, the capital city of Gaul, Lyon dining destination of choice ... This city between the Rhone and Saone offers so many faces. Just for its historical center, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyon worth a visit.

Whether you're passionate about museums and culture, gourmet or gourmand or lover walks in the city, Lyon is the ideal city.

Discover the alleyways

Typically Lyon, the alleyways are passages through courtyards to get from one street to another. They are like secret passages in all. Lyon has no less than 500 alleyways. They are mainly located in the old Lyon. For the record the word comes from the Latin traboule trabulare meaning "cross." In Lyon, the trabouler verb is sometimes used to say q'on moves in a maze. It was my Master Capello minute.

Dominate the city from Notre Dame de Fourvière

Visit not to be missed for anyone who travels to Lyon. Symbol of the city, Our Lady of Fourvière Lyon dominates the top of the eponymous hill. Built in 1872, the basilica is neo-Byzantine style. If you're brave, there goes off and if a little reluctant, the funicular is preferred. From above, we have a great view of the city of Lyon.

Walking along the banks of the Rhone

Since they were redesigned in 2007, you can stroll along the quays along the Rhone. The Parc de la Tete d'Or at Gerland Park, the Berges du Rhône offer different atmospheres and multiple uses of 5 kilometers, we take advantage of the green, play areas and terraces where you can stop a drink ... It can be done on foot, by bike (with Vélo'v), rollerblading. A breath of fresh air.

Notre Dame de Fourvière off

Lunch in a plug

Foodie or refined gastronomy, Lyon offers plenty of choice. Cradle of gastronomy, special places abound. There are so many specialties in Lyon: dumplings, rosette, brains weaver, hoodie sapper sausage brioche fritters ...

No trip to Lyon without a meal in a plug. The plug is a typical restaurant where you can enjoy based on the authenticity of the ingredients. The atmosphere is warm, the checkered tablecloths and the friendly atmosphere.

dumplings

Pie pink pralines

No question of leaving Lyon without tasting this sweet specialty: the famous pink praline tart.

Another specialty Lyon par excellence, the praline is a confection made of an almond surrounded by colorful hard candy pink. Enjoy pie pralines in restaurants or found in pastries in town. A safe bet is home Sap (5 places in Lyon). You can also try the bakery Jocteur of the Ile Barbe.

One last thing: if you find yourself in Lyon early December, do not miss the festival of lights.

Do you know Lyon? What visits do you suggest?

5 applications for travel

BY TRAVEL BLOG • 27 MARCH 2014 • TOP 5 , TRAVEL , WEB • COMMENTS (3) •  2722

Regularly we find useful applications for travelers. This is not the first time that we are talking about practical applications for travel or vacation .

Here are the latest that caught our attention.

Pin Drop

This often happens to say "but what was this nice restaurant where I went last month with my friends? '. We remember the nice experience but we have forgotten the name and address. It comes back, but not right away. Pin Drop avoids these small memory lapses boring. The application allows you to place pins on a map, to name and categorize.

A nice app also to plan a trip. One can point to a map of a future destination places that you want to visit, restaurants we want to try, places to see ... Ideal for traveling as the card can consult offline.

We can even add photos. Also, if desired, you can share your pins with his friends. It's a bit of a mix of Foursquare and Pinterest basically.

Free

 Tripadvisor offline City Guides

Tripadvisor has created an application that met the guides on towns that can be viewed offline. Very handy when one is on another network, and if you care to save his phone battery. On Tripadvisor offline City Guides , sections that make the success of the site include: reviews of hotels, restaurants, attractions, suggested itineraries, map of the city ...

Just download the guides that interest us - 80 cities available. And if you're worried about the memory available on your mobile, do not worry, you can clear the downloaded guides when one needs it more.

Free

 WorldWize

The purpose of WorldWize is to connect real-time world travelers and even local to share tips and tricks. The more people connected, the more it will be possible to obtain advice and information quickly. It can connect via their Facebook account if desired. You can choose to connect with some travelers and local and chat online. An interactive map allows you to see where the "fellow travelers" and where they traveled.

Where to drink the best coffee in Stockholm? What is the quickest way to reach the airport in Munich means? An e-pub with traditional Irish music in Cork? All these questions will surely answers on the network WorldWize travelers.

Free

EatWith

Well, this is not an application, ok. But the concept is so awesome that it deserves an application. With EatWith , you never dine alone! This site allows you to find a covered homestay. Passing through a city, you can share a unique experience with local and an excellent meal. What better way to get to know a city than through its people by sharing a meal? There are more than food to share around the table. There are individual experiences, suggestions for tours, tips from locals ... EatWith already exists in more than fifteen cities: New York, Milan, Lisbon, Madrid, San Francisco, Bueno Aires ... One way to give a new dimension to his travels.

Citymapper

This we believe is the ultimate application of transport. It optimizes its urban transport and can save his trips offline. You can choose the mode of transport: metro, bus, taxi or bicycle; the application gives you an estimate of how long it takes you, the number of calories you burn go and cost. The interface is pleasant to use, very complete and very intuitive. Unfortunately, it only exists for very few cities: London, New York, Paris and Berlin.

Free

What travel apps do you use?

Travel ideas for 2014

y Fabienne Henry • January 9, 2014 • Editorials , Travel • Comments (9) • 3227

Each January magazines provide a list of destinations to visit for the coming year. I do not know exactly how these are chosen destinations according to their popularity? Because they have been ignored in recent years? Because a movie star currently habits since last summer? Because a hotel chain there has developed its latest business? A mystery, especially as published at the other choices are not the same.

Here is my travel wishlist for 2014

Want to discover São Tomé and Príncipe , one of the smaller African states. Archipelago of two main islands located 350 kilometers from the Gabonese coast and Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe is a former Portuguese colony. Independent since 1975, speaks Portuguese. The beaches of white sand and palm fringed not yet overrun by tourists. They say it is also a paradise for surfers. A place to discover before it becomes too popular.

Thrill felt, I suggest you go to the province of Alberta , in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Canada. In the month of May 2014 will open a breathtaking attraction: the Glacier Skywalk . A huge balcony glass shaped horseshoe to 280 meters above the ground overlooking Sunwapta Valley. This engineering feat recalls the Grand Canyon Skywalk. We took the opportunity to visit this beautiful region: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise ... The question is: would I have the courage to get into that transparent balcony?

Between the World Cup and the next Olympics, Brazil is waiting to be visited. Almost 8000km of beaches, rainforest, Samba ... We will discover the state of Alagos north east of the country as there are there, it seems, the most beautiful beaches in the country. It will house a pousada. Beautiful addresses here (in English).

Cuba , because I love to go back and read everywhere that you need to go before it changes. It's been quite a few years we hear that. Yet Cuba still retains its legendary old-fashioned charm. His mythical hotels, its music, its beautiful white sand beaches, the friendly people ... mojitos!

Exploring the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall County and enjoy its microclimate. The archipelago consists of five main islands are sparsely populated - about 2500 inhabitants. A veritable paradise in the UK.

Portland is an American city I'd like to see for a while. Known for its small independent cafes, creative atmosphere, unconventionality of its people, its passion for local organic food, Portland plot because it is unique among American cities.

And where would you like to go in 2014?

- See more at: http://blogs-de-voyage.fr/2014/01/09/des-idees-de-voyages-pour-2014/#sthash.5lDTPIxY.dpuf