Guide to Ireland’s Splendour

Posted by TravelSee on Apr 16, 2012

Ireland makes for a dream destination; dramatic windswept landscapes, shorelines ravaged by the wild Atlantic and crystal clear lakes and rivers teeming with salmon. Its cities are magical too, from the cultural bastion of Dublin to the industrial powerhouse of Belfast and the tragic tale of the Titanic Ocean liner.

Irish customs and traditions have spread throughout the world but here you can appreciate them in their own natural beauty. Celtic folklore, decorative manuscripts and mysterious hill forts are all here for visitors to discover and enjoy. The bars and pubs dance to the traditional folk tunes while the hills whistle with the sounds of Irelands ancient roots.

Artistic Ireland

Visit Trinity College in Dublin and marvel at the sheer wonder and creativity that has gone into creating the famed “Book of Kells”. This is a truly remarkable piece of medieval Celtic religious work and a testament to the artistry that still exists in Ireland today.

Religious Ireland

If you are staying in Dublin on your travels, St Patrick’s Cathedral was established in 1170 and is one of three cathedrals in Dublin that are well worth a visit. St Patrick’s being the National Cathedral of Ireland and is regularly used for state occasions and special ceremonies. The other two cathedrals being the Anglican, Christ Church next to Wood Quay and the Roman Catholic, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.

Ancient Ireland

Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth in County Meath are three impressive prehistoric tombs that date back to a time even before the construction of the pyramids. They are believed to have some religious significance to worshiping the seasons as they are aligned with the summer and winter solstices and marvellously decorated with rock carvings. Their uniqueness also has bestowed upon them the UNESCO World Heritage status and a protected site worth touring.

Irish Cuisine

Travelling around Ireland will give you a chance to sample the real taste of Irish cuisine and many of the local pubs serve up lunchtime and evening menus packed with traditional dishes. Colcannon, Irish Stew, Soda bread and seafood dishes are popular with many including a drop of Guinness in the recipe for good measure.

Irish Folklore

One of Irelands most magnificent locations is the UNESCO Heritage site, the Giants Causeway. The causeway is a natural volcanic feature in Antrim that crosses the Irish Sea to Scotland. Here it is rumoured that the giant, Finn McCool, threw them into the sea so as to cross it and take up the challenge of fellow Scottish giant, Benandonner.

Getting to Ireland

No matter where in Ireland you wish to travel there is more than likely a local airport serving your destination. International airports can be found at Dublin and Belfast, with Dublin also having an airport hotel, visitors regularly travel to Cork in the south and Shannon on the west coast as well. There are also regional flights to Kerry, Sligo and Waterford. County Donegal is a very nice area to visit and finding a hotel in Letterkenny will allow you to explore the county easily.

The View From The Burj Khalifa

Posted by TravelSee on Apr 16, 2012

Breathtaking view of the Burj Khalifa, makes the city below look incredible. Photo by Jokin Sukuntza

Your Guide to a Night Out in Birmingham

Posted by TravelSee on Feb 29, 2012

Birmingham has one of the best night-life scenes in the UK, so get ready to party all night long in this exciting city!

When the sun goes down in Birmingham, one of the best and most eclectic night-life scenes in the UK is revealed. From classical concert halls to local pub quizzes to jazz joints, every venue is filled with people enjoying the evening.

With a huge population of young students who put energy and passion into enjoying a night out on the town, Birmingham has an unforgettable club scene. Many clubs and bars offer student nights with cheap drinks and discounted entry, making a night on the town surprisingly affordable.

The Hippodrome Theatre

Are you ready to spend a fantastic night out in Birmingham?

Start with a Pub Quiz

Begin your evening on a fun and intellectual note with a trivia game in a friendly local pub atmosphere. The Queens Arms on Newhall Street has the best pub quiz in the city. It is only £1 to enter and there is no limit on how many people you can have on your team, so make a team of your smartest friends and see if you can win some prizes.

Groove to Some Live Music

Now that evening is beginning to turn into night, it’s time to check out what the Birmingham live music scene has to offer. There is such a wide variety of shows here that you can find almost any different kind of music every night of the week. Look around for a copy of the local publication “The Fly “or “Ryan’s Gig Guide” to find out who is playing tonight. Popular music venues in the city include the O2 Academy Birmingham which contains three massive arenas and mostly hosts alternative and indie bands, and the Flapper and Firkin which is a friendly pub that features underground rock and punk music.

The 02 Academy

Shake It at a Nightclub

The night is still young, so go and get on the dance floor at one of Birmingham’s great clubs. Whether your style is indie, retro, old school, or something else, you are sure to find the right club for you in this city. Hang out on Broad Street, which is the centre of the night-life action, and you are sure to find out where the party is. You can also check out The Arcadian and The Mailbox, two other great areas of town for stylish nightclubs.

Check out Ramshackle for an absolutely unforgettable experience of the UK indie clubbing scene, or the new super club Oceana which has 5 bars, 2 enormous dance floors, and a roof top patio. Another trendy place to enjoy a drink is the Apres, which has the warm and sophisticated atmosphere of a Scandinavian ski-lodge.

When the bars close and the sun starts to peak over the horizon, your amazing night doesn’t have to end. Why not gather in your hotel room for a few last laughs and drinks in the early hours of the morning? For a luxurious and elegant place to stay in Birmingham, check out the Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham, a stunning 39 story glass skyscraper which is in a fantastic location in the heart of the city. The chic rooms and suites were styled by Italian designed Matteo Thun, and feature flat screen televisions, free high speed internet, and floor to ceiling windows for an amazing view of the city.

Have a night to remember in exciting Birmingham!

The View Over Rio De Janeiro

Posted by TravelSee on Feb 29, 2012

Everyone knows the famous view over Rio De Janeiro with the Christ the Redeemer statue but have you ever seen it in a huge interactive panning photo? Click here to take a virtual tour around the view.

Free Things to Do in Athens, Greece

Posted by TravelSee on Jan 26, 2012

The capital city of Greece, Athens is considered the birthplace of Western civilization and is incredibly rich with history and culture. However, you don’t have to be rich to enjoy this fantastic Greek city, as there are many things that you can do for free. If you are on a tight budget and have spent the last of your travel money on the flight to Athens — or on delicious souvlaki and spanikopita — here are a few ways that you can enjoy the beautiful sights of Athens without spending a thing:

• Climb up to the whitewashed chapel located on the top of Lycabettus Hill, in the Kolonaki area of the city. Legend says that this hill is a rock dropped by Athena, and you can hike your way up the rock in approximately 20 minutes and enjoy gorgeous panoramic view of the Acropolis and the sea. It is the highest point in all of Athens, and to watch the sunset from up at the top is an experience to be remembered.
• Art fans rejoice, because the Municipal Art Gallery of Athens is another attraction that is completely free. You can see over two thousands works of art from Greek and international artists, including paintings, drawings and engravings.
• If you are travelling with your little ones in Athens, take them to the Hellenic Children’s Museum. This family-friendly attraction is free and offers many fun and interactive exhibits.
• Every day at 11am you can watch the changing of the guards at the Greek Parliament. They will be wearing the same style of uniforms that they have worn since the War of Independence in Greece, and will march to Vasillis Sophias Street from the barracks near the National Gardens.
• You can see over 200 antique music instruments dating back to the 1700s at the Museum of Popular Musical Instruments next to the Roman Agora. Admission to this 3-story museum is free.
• Visit the Panathenaic Stadium, which was originally built in the 4^th century BC and was host to the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896.
• It doesn’t cost a thing to spend the day soaking up the marvelous Greek sunshine on one of the lovely beaches of Athens. One of the most popular is Alimos Beach, located right in the heart of the city.
• Do some people watching in Monastiraki, the bustling shopping district of Athens.
• The War Museum of Athens offers free admission and is a great way to spend the day if you are interested in ancient battle lore. There are many neat items on display here, including Spartan helmets, World War II artifacts, and even a modern fighter jet.
• Take a walk along the Piraeus Port, the largest port in Europe, and enjoy the live music, quirky gift shops, and fascinating variety of people.

Athens is a fascinating city, accesible by direct flights to Greece, and with so many free things to do you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have an amazing and memorable travel experience here.

Wandering Around Leuven

Posted by TravelSee on Jan 12, 2012

The streets of Leuven, in the centre of Belgium, are a simple joy to walk around. This busy and dynamic student city has a long and illustrious history and many marvellous buildings that pay testament to its former glories.

Leuven is a perfect city to simply walk and enjoy the wonders that are on offer, there are many splendid buildings to explore and even more that are worth stopping for five minutes to look at. The city is full of café bars where at any time you can stop off for a coffee and a pastry and sit watching the world go by.

Central Walks

Leuven Town Hall

Strolling around the city centre you can’t miss the decorative façade of the Town Hall. There is no other building more lavish than this 15^th century creation, which is wonderfully covered in pillars and niches, filled with statues depicting 236 influential figures of the town’s history. The building is especially pretty at night when it is lit up with a display of lights and lasers.

St Peter’s Church is a typical late Gothic building whose grand designs for three tall towers were never realised due to the unstable ground on which the church was built. However, inside the building you can see the architect’s model of the original intentions for the church. The interior is also rich in artworks, despite the pillaging of war and destruction by fire, which makes it well worth visiting.

St Peters Church

The Museum Van der Kelen Martens is another destination to take in on your travels, housing as it does a vast collection of 15^th to 18^th century paintings and sculptures. The University Library is also an iconic image to resistance. Deliberately destroyed during the First World War, rebuilt and then destroyed once more in World War Two only to be reconstructed a third time. Rising from the ashes the library stands as an example of endurance and international cooperation.

Peace in the Beguinage

The Beguinage of Leuven is part of the city’s university complex now but when the district was originally constructed it was designed to accommodate chaste women who wanted to live a pure and productive life. Securely ensconced behind the Beguinage walls on three islands and surrounded by canals and the River Djile the women learnt skills and lived a productive obedient lifestyle. There are the private cottages of the more wealthy women in the compound and larger communal halls where the less affluent girls lived. The area is now a UNESCO protected site, administered by the university but visitors are still able to walk the narrow cobbled streets and experience the peace and tranquillity that the Beguinage women sought.

Visitors to Leuven will find a picturesque Belgium city that encourages you to relax and take things easy. It is a city of two faces busy during term times but quiet and sedate when the students are away. For convenience you can stay at the Park Inn Radisson, Leuven, which is ideally located just steps away from Leuven Central Station and has 133 modern rooms available.  Whenever you choose to visit you are guaranteed to find fabulous shopping, great food and tasty beer, after all this is the home of Stella Artois.