Eating in style at the Eiffel Tower

When it was first built, the Eiffel Tower prompted angry letters to the newspapers from the supposedly artistic community of Paris who regarded it as an eyesore. They obviously didn’t expect the Eiffel Tower to be the iconic symbol of Paris, and even of France itself, that it has now become.

One of the best ways to get a good all round vista of Paris is to take a trip up the Eiffel Tower, because, perhaps surprisingly, it still remains the tallest building in the city. If you want to have an idea of this impressive view, then take a look at the 360º panoramic tour on the Official Eiffel Tower Website. You can see over the River Seine with its many bridges, the Champ de Mars, and numerous other Paris landmarks.

It certainly seemed to take the people of Paris some time to get used to the Tower. It is said that the novelist Guy de Maupassant hated the Tower so much, that he ate his lunch there every day, because it was the only place from where you couldn’t see it. There are certainly some good restaurants at the Tower now. On the first level is Altitude 95, where you can enjoy starters such as prawns and avocado, followed by wonderful main courses such as beef tartare.

Going up a level we have Le Jules Verne, where chef Pascal Féraud creates wonderful menus, ranging from poached Brittany lobster, to salmon marinated in lemon, caviar and vodka. You can even book online!

So if you want to eat a meal to remember, while enjoying an unrivalled view of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is not to be missed.

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Ibiza - clubbing heaven

If spending a holiday sitting quietly in the sunshine with a book is simply not for you, and what you really want is a good night out, then you really can’t go wrong with Ibiza, which is one of the music and clubbing capitals of the world. The place to stay is the lively town of San Antonio which, as well as its proximity to gorgeous beach, has lots of pubs and clubs where you can have a good time and meet lots of other lively holidaymakers. If you don’t fancy staying right in San Antonio, there are plenty of places to stay all along San Antonio Bay - this end of town is a bit quieter, and yet only about twenty minutes walk from San Antonio itself.
Ibiza is probably most famous for the dance music scene, and on the island you can experience techno, electro, house, hardcore, garage, and even rock and pop. Most major DJ's have done a season in Ibiza, and in the summer the latest hot DJ's are to be found on the island.

Amnesia was one of the first open air nightclubs on the island, and one of the venues, along with Pacha, that helped to start the whole Ibiza clubbing phenomenon. Ibiza boasts the world’s biggest club, Privilege, which has a stunning interior complete with pool and gardens. Space has seven different music areas, each offering a different musical genre, making it the ideal venue if you and your friends have different musical tastes, or if you like to sample a variety of music in one evening.
Other popular clubs are Es Paradis and Eden in San Antonio, and El Divino located at the Ibiza Marina.
So if you want to try a number of great nightclubs as well as soaking up the sun, Ibiza is the place to head for.


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Discover Zakynthos

Tsilivi is situated on the North East coast of Zakynthos or Zante. One of its resorts, Tsivili, has quickly become one of the main resorts on the island. With a host of family run restaurants, bars and nightclubs, this area which lies just 4km from Zante town has become one of the islands hotspots, for entertainment and nightlife. In Tsilivi, there is plenty of accommodation to meet high such high demand from a growing number of tourists. One such Hotel, The Hotel Petros, offers guests a true taste of Zakynthian hospitality in a wonderful location. Situated close to a beach awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety, the Petros Zante Hotel combines typical Ionian architecture with modern design to offer tourists a pleasant stay in a high-class environment.

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Venice - City of Water

Venice is totally unique - there is no other city in the world like it. Venice is built on more than a 100 small islands in a shallow lagoon on the Adriatic Sea, and has around 150 canals, and 400 bridges.

Venice was once a sea-faring republic in its own right, and a centre for the spice trade. It was also a major city for Renaissance art, and this is strongly reflected in the stunning architecture of the city, such as the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica of San Marco, St Mark’s clock, the Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs. In Venice there is not a modern building in sight, and the shops are small and exclusive, selling masks, jewellery, and gorgeous objets d’art.

One of the things that makes Venice so totally different from other major cities is its total lack of cars, buses and other vehicles on the streets – in fact it is Europe’s largest urban area that is totally free of cars. In Venice you can either walk, or travel on the water. The canals are the roads, with gondolas, water buses, water taxis and private boats.

Venice has to be one of the most perfect locations for a romantic city break, and if you want to get an idea of what it is like before you go, then you could whet your appetite with Francesco da Mosto’s BBC2 series “Francesco’s Venice”. Francesco comes from an old Venetian family, and he gives a fascinating history and tour of the city, that will leave you wanting to see the City of Water first hand.


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Berlin - a capital of culture

Berlin is famous for once being a divided city, split at the end of World War Two, for the most part by the Berlin Wall. Then with German reunification in 1990, Berlin was reinstated as the capital of Germany. Now a unified city with a strong sense history, Berlin is a wonderful location for a city break for those who love culture, music, and the cosmopolitan environment. Berlin’s great architecture, innumerable museums, art galleries and interesting events provide something for every taste.

With its diverse nightlife Berlin has also become established as a centre for popular, underground and counter-culture in Europe, making it one of the most exciting spots for young people. The city has some world class clubs, such as arthouse Kunsthaus Tacheles and techno venue Tresor, as well as varied pubs and bars. There are plenty of gigs to go and see, and most major acts on tour will do Berlin.

If you are into more traditional culture then Berlin has more than fifty theatres, three major opera houses, and seven symphony orchestras – so the choice of things to do on any one night is wide and varied.

A number of Berlin’s museums are located on its Museum Island, an island in the Spree River. Here you can find the Old Museum with its impressive array of Prussian antiques, and the Pergamon Museum which contains amazing reconstructions of historical and ancient buildings, such as the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

If you like to have plenty of choice in terms of culture, Berlin is the place to be.

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