Long famous for its art and literature, Dublin has produced a staggering number of writers, such as Samuel Beckett, William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, and, in modern times, Roddy Doyle and Maeve Binchy. So a visit to Dublin gives you some idea of what it was that gave so many people such inspiration.

One of the top things to see in Dublin is the beautifully illuminated manuscript produced by the Celtic monks in 800 AD, known as the Book of Kells, which can be found in Trinity College. Other interesting places to go are the National Museum of Ireland, the Government Buildings, Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral, which dates back to the eleventh century.

After marvelling at the sights during the day, the popular area to go for a night out is Temple Bar, with its great selection of pubs, restaurants, small music and theatre venues, and its narrow streets thronging with people enjoying a good evening.

From Temple Bar, you can cross the Liffey by walking over the famous footbridge known as the Ha’penny Bridge – it’s called that because you used to have to pay half a penny to cross it.

The city centre of Dublin is good for shopping, one of the best known shopping streets being Grafton Street, where you’ll find the fine department store Brown Thomas, and other good shops. Waterford Crystal and Aran sweaters are popular Dublin souvenirs.

For good nightlife, Guinness, and a feel for Irish history and culture, Dublin is a great place to go for a city break.


Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...

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.

Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...

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.


Spread the Word: Share/Submit or Bookmark this Post...