Rock Im Park

Unfortunately, the tickets for both festivals were sold out and the organizers are promoting the Rock im Pott as the alternative festival that will be held on Saturday, 25th August in Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins Arena, featuring musicians like Placebo, the Red Hot Chilli Pepers and others. The tickets will cost approximately 72€.

Next up is the Isle of White Festival which is known for the legendary artists’ performances (like the Muse, Bob Dylan etc.) and takes place from Thursday, 21st to Sunday, the 24th of June with prices from 160£ for non-camping to 200£ for camping included. The list of performers for this year’s festival includes the Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, the Vaccines and many more.

Following the Isle of White Festival is the Polish Open’er Festival, which is a camping based event, held from Wednesday, the 4th of July until Saturday, the 7th of July. The confirmed performances up to now are Bloc Party, Björk, Franz Ferdinand, Public Enemy, and many more. The ticket prices range from 40€ for a daily ticket to 89€ for the whole event including camping.

Somewhat overlapping with the Opene’er Festival in Poland is the T in the Park Festival, that takes place from Friday, the 6th of July to Sunday, the 8th of July. This festival has confirmed performances of Snow Patrol, the Stone Roses, Elbow, The Courteeners etc. Tickets for this festival are available from 70£ for a daily ticket to 189£ for the whole event including the camping.

There are many more festivities and events in Europe this summer and probably the busiest month in summer festivals is the August. Hungary hosts the Sziget, the famous festival that has been awarded the Award for Best Major European Music Festival, and that provides 7 days of great music for affordable price of 45€ per daily ticket and 200€ for overall ticket. Next up is the Pukkelpop festival in Belgium, followed by the Electric Picnic in Ireland, also named the “Irish Glastonbury”, and there are numerous other events available throughout the summer.

Most Notable Festivals and Events in Europe This Summer is a post from: Europe Traveler

The Olympic Stadium of London is one of the central places of action during this summer's Olympic Games. Image source: London 2012.

The City of London has been preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games since 2004. The Olympic Park is a new venue that was built especially for the next summer Olympics due to complaints that the existing facilities are not sufficient. Also some other venues have been reconsidered, like the road racing venue, that was initially set at Regent’s Park and Hampstead Heath, but was relocated to start and finish at The Mall in the centre of London, with route going through the Surrey area and the loops of Box Hill. The explanation was that the closing of the Tower Bridge would cause a grid-lock to London.

The Games will be held at various locations, some of them will be temporary facilities, some of venues have been relocated or resized, other venues are already existing historical locations, and certain locations are renowned like the Horse Guardians Parade or the Hyde Park.

Most of the venues have been distributed into three “zones” in the area of the Greater London; these are the River Zone, the Olympic Zone and the Central Zone, while some locations like Portland National Sailing Academy located on the Isle of Portland in Dorset and Weymouth are situated outside the Greater London boundaries and will host the Olympic sailing events about 200 km southwest from the Olympic Park. The football tournament will also be held in various football grounds around the United Kingdom.

The Game Makers are volunteers that are not specifically paid to perform at the Olympics, but wish to contribute with wide array of tasks, and the estimate is that these people will invest over 8 million hours during the Games. Experts comment that the Games couldn’t happen without the extensive help and support of the Game Makers, as there was said to be more than 240.000 applications for Game Makers’ positions.

The cost of an enterprise like the Olympic Games is enormous, and the tickets for the event are supposed to cover some of the cost. The organizers have predicted there would be around 8 million tickets available for 2012 Olympics with approximately 80% of them actually sold out. Some events will be free, like the road cycling, marathon and triathlon, while the sailing events will be ticketed for the first time in the history of Olympic Games.

2012 Olympic tickets prices in United Kingdom range from over 2000 £ for the seats in the opening ceremony to 20 £ for different events during the Games. Tickets have been sold in 2011 from middle of March to end of April, as well as some tickets have been donated to military and certain people as well as for children to “win” them over some event. The second round in tickets sales took place in a ten-day period in July 2011, and the last round will be sold from May 2012.

London Olympics 2012 is the Biggest Event in Europe This Summer is a post from: Europe Traveler

After visiting Berlin, we suggest travelling over to Paris. Paris is such a beautiful city, filled with amazing architecture and scenery. Stop by the “Louvre” and visit the “Notre Dame”, to experience something quite different. French food is amazing, as well as the wine, so make sure you go into a reputable restaurant to taste some real French food. Rome is just around the corner, so rent a car and travel to this stunning city. This city has many Piazzas that are worth visiting. Make sure you don’t miss the Spanish steps, as this is one of the main features in this city. Of course, as well as French food, Italian food is one of the best in the world. Try some gelato from many of the ice cream parlours situated around the city. It is something to die for!

Head over to Madrid to witness some extraordinary architecture, which is portrayed through the many cathedrals in this city. This city, however, can get rather humid and hot in the summer – so make sure you bring some cool clothes. Last but not least, head towards the capital of England – London- where you will get to see such sites including the “London Eye”, “Big Ben” and the “Houses of Parliament”. There are also some beautiful private bed & breakfasts in London available to rent to suit a variety of budgets. Each capital has its own character and should all be experienced if ever planning a trip to Europe!

Source: www.isango.com

A Trip around the Capitals of Europe This Summer! is a post from: Europe Traveler

What Type of Boat?
Depending on things like the size of your budget, the required speed and the extent of your adventurousness, there are many options from luxurious cruise ships and private yachts to cargo ships and smaller boats. A transatlantic cruise in a high class passenger cruise ship has the definite advantage that it makes the travel time just as enjoyable as would be time spent on an entertainment center that consists of a luxurious hotel, a casino, a shopping mall, bars and restaurants, and much more. But if you are content with (or even prefer) a less flamboyant environment for your transatlantic travel, then you might want to also consider the option of getting on board in a cargo ship, also known as a freighter. A good travel agent should be able to help you in comparing these options and finding the best sea travel solution in accordance of your personal needs and preferences.

RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner that can carry more than 2600 passengers at once

Some Things to Remember
There are several things to remember when planning to travel by boat to Europe. Number one important step is to research the matter carefully. The fact that you are reading this article may be an indication that you have already begun to research the subject. We encourage you to continue your research because getting good information beforehand is a good way to avoid surprises and keep things under control. To list some other important issues, you should take care of your ticket reservations in good time beforehand, plan your trip from your home to the port from which the ship will depart, and also take care of the travel documents that you need for the trip.

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a boat has a certain amount of a sense of history about it, given that it was the exclusive way to travel between the European and the North American continents prior to the advent of passenger flights. Nowadays traveling across the ocean may be less of an adventure than during the time of Columbus, but it can be a nice thing to experience nevertheless.

How to Travel by Boat to Europe From the United States is a post from: Europe Traveler

One of counties where football is taken very seriously is England; football (soccer in United States) is so to speak English most popular national sport although some people disagree, by saying that cricket holds that title. However, England has few globally renowned football teams like Chelsea. Manchester United, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool and others.

The English Football Association issued the first set of regulations of the football as a game in 1863 and those rules have generally remained as they were until today. England also had the first football club, national team and Football League (national league) and the first FA Cup (national knockout competition). The highest level of national league is today called the Premier League which is one of the biggest sports leagues of the world.

A research conducted in 2006 showed that more than 40.000 clubs were registered at FA (Football Association), which is more than any other nation has registered world-wide, even Brazilians “only2 have 29.000 registered clubs and they have a reputation of being football enthusiasts.

The Football League was formed in 1888 and is the precursor to all other leagues. The today`s Premier League was established in 1992 because the top English clubs wanted to separate from Football Association to be able to earn more. Each season 20 clubs compete to be in the prestigious Premier League.

The major cups in English national football are the Football League Cup or Carling Cup and the Football Association Cup as the winners qualify for the UEFA Europe League. FA Cup Final is opened to about 600 clubs and is one of most traditional competitions, meaning it is well respected and the first ever organised football competition.

In certain countries alcohol drinks, usually beer and football go well hand in hand. This is also the case in England; in 70s and 80s English football fans were so wild that the vandalising and other unwanted attitudes at sporting events were called the “English disease”, but this seems to no longer be the case.

English Football Culture is a post from: Europe Traveler

As a result, Slovenia is a very diverse country, regarding its people and given natural characteristics. Even the landscape is a mixture of the Alps and Dinaric Alps – Karst Plateau, Pannonian lowlands, and the coastline or in other words, Slovenian Istria that meets the Adriatic Sea.

Julian Alps lie in the north-western part of Slovenia, with nation`s highest peak Triglav. This is in the centre of protected Triglav National Park, and near the beautiful glacier lakes Bled and Bohinj. Other mountain areas are Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and Pohorje. These are all very popular skiing and hiking destinations.

The Dinaric Karst Plateau is a specific landscape that was formed by water dissolving the carbonate bedrock, a process that resulted in formation of numerous caves. Probably the most known are Postojna Caves with over 29 million visitors, and the Škocjan Caves that are listed and under protection of UNESCO.

The Postojna caves are a popular tourist attraction in Slovenia

Slovenian Istria is the coastal region by the Adriatic Sea with picturesque Gothic Mediterranean town of Piran that has its own aquarium, Portorož, a touristic site that attracts many visitors especially during summer, and Koper, an international port.

Geographically, the central region with the center in Kranj is Gorenjska. Ljubljana, which is also the largest city in Slovenia, as well as nation`s capital city, lies in between Dolenjska ,Gorenjska,  Notranjska and Štajerska. Other regions in Slovenia are Pomurje, Prekmurje and Bela Kranjina.

Due to this diversity the flora and fauna and also the climates differ regarding to specific region. Generally the climate is temperate, but influenced by hilly landscape, so depending on a region Alpine, Mediterranean and continental climates are characteristic.

There are many rivers and extended river-networks in Slovenia, as well as beautiful glacier lakes and more than half of the country’s territory is covered in woods. This is a beautiful and picturesque country with remarkable and numerous natural and historical sites and locations.

Slovenia borders to Italy in the West, Austria in the North, Hungary to the Northeast, and Croatia in South. This is a small country, with around 2.000.000 citizens; something hard to imagine for most people due to the fact that elsewhere individual cities have more population than that.

General Introduction of Slovenia is a post from: Europe Traveler

Finding Good Accommodation in London
Accommodation becomes an important issue during your stay, especially if you plan to stay in London for some time (as you should if you really want to enjoy the city and get to know it). There are many kinds of accommodation options with quite a range in prices. Many tourists have to respect the limits of their budget, but if you ever want to splurge just a little bit, then doing it while you enjoy life in one of the most exciting cities in the whole world would not seem like a bad time to do that. Luxury Central London hotels would provide a great setting for your stay in London. An appropriate location in central London also helps to minimize the need to travel within the city during your stay. For example, hotels in Earls Court are conveniently located for a person who would want to visit such attractions as the Hyde Park, the Imperial College, the Natural History Museum, Kensington Gardens, and many others.

Noteworthy Attractions in London
In addition to the attractions that were just mentioned, London offers so many others that even if one may hope to get a glimpse of many of them during a London trip, it is virtually inevitable that one has to pick just a small fraction of these attractions when planning to explore them more closely. Art and design lovers would probably enjoy visiting Victoria and Albert Museum, which is considered by many to be the greatest museum of art and design in the world. The Tower of London is a famous building with a long and fascinating history that one has a chance to explore in detail. Madame Tussauds is another favorite of many London tourists. It has over 300 very realistic wax figures of famous people (both past and present).

The Tower of London

Special Events in London
It is not surprising that a city of this size and cultural importance has a calendar full of special events of many kinds. Perhaps the single most exciting London event in the near future is the 2012 Summer Olympic Games which are held from 27th of July to 12th of August. Huge numbers of sports enthusiasts are going to visit London during this time. But even if you are not that interested in sports, you are likely to find many other events to match your interests in London’s event calendar for the coming summer – and indeed for the whole year.

London as a Tourist Destination is a post from: Europe Traveler

Photo by Mark Connell

Some of us sometimes need a little push to take a well-deserved holiday. A few friendly words from someone we know, or someone we know of, can work wonders…

10. William James: “Every man who possibly can should force himself to a holiday of a full month in a year, whether he feels like taking it or not.”
James was a 19th century American philosopher and psychologist and this quote sums up why he was seen as a natural leader of the pragmatism movement.

9. J.B. Priestly: “A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours.”
Workaholic Priestley was an English writer who had 26 novels and many dramas published in his lifetime. Yet he still appreciated the need to abandon deadlines and let time slip by every now and then.

8. African proverb: “There is no one who became rich because he broke a holiday.”

7. Robert Frost: “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less travelled by.”
American poet Frost wrote these lines in a poem which was published in 1916. How would he feel if he were alive to know that the lines still continue to inspire travellers almost a century later?

6. Rudyard Kipling: “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.”
English writer Kipling had a keen nose for travel and was exceedingly aware that foreign adventures should stimulate all the senses.

5. Benjamin Disraeli: “Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.”
British Prime Minister Disraeli knew that the memory can play tricks when it comes to recalling holidays. However, telling stories about holiday exploits is such great fun.

4. Freya Stark: “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.”
British travel writer Freya Stark reminds us that travelling alone can be just as fun as travelling in company.

3. St. Augustine: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
Augustine of Hippo had views on many aspects of 4th century life: philosophy, theology, war, sin and travel included.

2. Susan Sontag: “I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.”
American literary icon Sontag died in December 2004 and was too busy writing plays and fictions to achieve her ambition of travelling all over the globe; but she had a pretty good crack at it.

1. Lao Tzu: “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s observation still holds true today. So why not take that first step today and book yourself and your loved ones a well-deserved holiday?

Business directories like Thomson Local are a great way to find details about holiday companies.

10 Top Quotes About Holidays and Travelling is a post from: Europe Traveler

Don’t forget to pack some essential dental care items before setting off on holiday. Photo by Mandy Jansen.

Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you can take a break from cleaning and looking after your teeth! Holidaying in exotic foreign climes can make a refreshing break from the old routines but some of these old routines, such as the ones involving maintaining a good level of oral health care, are just plain good common sense.

Write some of the following ten tips on a postcard and pin it to your hotel room; they will help ensure that your smile is in tip-top condition during and after your holiday.

1. Book a dental check-up just after you book your holiday
This way you can check whether there are any hidden problems that could see you confined to your hotel room with tooth ache when you should be enjoying your break. Just because you are experiencing no discomfort doesn’t mean that tooth decay isn’t lurking in your mouth.

A dental examination should uncover decay and allow it to be treated before it becomes a problem. And if you’re planning of having a course of teeth whitening so that you can be the star of your holiday photos then make sure the procedure is completed long before you set off on holiday. This will mean that you don’t suffer from any lingering teeth-sensitivity issues on holiday. Always be sure to vist your dental hygienist before any teeth whitening procedures.

2. Check out your travel insurance
You’d probably rather be choosing your holiday wardrobe than going through medical travel insurance documents but being prepared can prevent dramas from developing into full-blown crises. You might have to pay through the nose to have your teeth given emergency treatment while abroad so make sure you’re covered.

3. Don’t forget your toothbrush
Electric and manual toothbrushes shouldn’t take up too much room in your suitcase and are definitely essential to your peace of mind. Before you take a break it might be a good idea to take a break from your old worn-out toothbrush and buy a new one. If you still think that the toothbrush you use at home will take up too much room in your case then why not invest in a pocket-sized travel toothbrush. Manufacturers such as Panasonic sell them online for £20 and Superdrug have one for just £1.55 – handily they’re just the size of a lady’s lipstick.

Travellers who plan holidays with military precision might benefit from a ‘tube toothbrush protector’ which will stop your toothbrush leaking all over items like those speedo swimming trunks buried at the foot of your suitcase. They will also stop your toothbrush from being squashed beyond recognition.

It’s also a good idea to take bottled water if you are travelling to remote places where the quality of the drinking water can’t be guaranteed. After all, you don’t want to rinse your mouth out with water which will give you an upset stomach after you brush your teeth.

4. Watch your diet and stay busy
The food and drink you eat while on holiday could come back to bite you. Try to cut down on sugary fizzy drinks and drink water between courses of acidic food and glasses of wine to minimise the risk of tooth decay.

Staying busy will mean you avoid falling into the dangerous routine of exposing your teeth to damage throughout the day. Hopefully your holiday has plenty of activities to keep you busy and give your teeth a break from the assault of acid.

5. Have fun!
We all know that organising holidays can be teeth-grindingly stressful but try to have fun and relax. After all that’s what holidays are all about!

5 Top Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Clean on Holiday is a post from: Europe Traveler

The Dog Cemetery in Paris – Photo by John Kroll

1. The Dog Cemetery.
Okay, so it doesn’t sound like the most positive way to spend some time in Paris – but this is not to be missed! This is a very unusual experience and you will find you can spend a lot of time reading the headstones and marvelling at the extent people will go to, to commemorate their pets. You will get a lot of interesting photos in this place and are very likely to feel a bit touched!

2. The Vampire Museum.
Vampires have been rising in popularity recently, but this Museum pays homage to the traditional Vampires as well as modern. This museum has an enormous collection of Vampire related things – and you could spend days looking at it all. There is a lot to learn and the owner is an expert with a lot of knowledge to share – just make sure you make an appointment so you don’t miss out!

3. Tea and Tattered Pages.
This combines the best of British and the best of Paris in one – the English second-hand bookstore and tea room. Feel like a true Parisian while relaxing with a book, there are so many to choose from, and accompany this with a cup of tea! If you have a few days in Paris, this is the perfect way to unwind without losing the holiday feel.

4. The Statue of Liberty.
The original Statue of Liberty resides in Paris, in the Jardin du Luxembourg. It has a lot of history to it and is worth seeing, especially if you hope to one day visit the one in New York. It is a lot smaller than what you may be used to, but it is important to have a look at the original and understand the history behind it. You may even prefer the smaller, less famous Statue of Liberty!

5. Sightsee in a 2CV
After a few days walking around Paris, you will be likely to need a day to rest your feet! A very unusual and romantic way to see Paris is being seated in the back of an iconic Citroen 2CV having a private tour around all of the must-see sights. This is a completely new take on tourism and you will be doing it in vintage style, while letting someone else worry about the route.

If you are flying to Paris then be sure to check out airport parking providers FHR for deals on Heathrow airport parking.

5 Unusual Things to Do in Paris is a post from: Europe Traveler