Romania then … and now.

04. July 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe, romania

One of the two newest members of the EU, Romania is rapidly gaining ground as a popular destination for backpackers. There’s a great article in this week’s Independent, comparing the Romania of today with the Romania of just two decades ago.

There are three main international rail routes into Romania; from Western Europe, most travellers will arrive via Budapest, and from south-eastern Europe, via Sofia. From the countries to the north of Romania, it’s more difficult – there are lines from both Lviv and Kiev in the Ukraine, but it will involve a number of changes.

Lesser-known museums of Paris

01. July 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe, france, paris

We’re all familiar with the Louvre, but it’s not the only museum that Paris has. Get away from the crowds and go visit some of Paris’s lesser known museums.

New Lonely Planet Books

27. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: books

Lonely Planet have announced the release of a number of updated guidebooks:

  • British Columbia, 3rd editiion
  • China, 10th edition
  • Great Britain, 7th edition
  • Iceland, 6th edition
  • Perth & Western Australia, 5th edition
  • Romania & Moldova, 4th edition
  • Slovenia, 5th edition
  • Sydney & New South Wales, 5th edition
  • Wales, 3rd edition

Link: Lonely Planet press release

Photoset of the week: Iceland

26. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe, iceland, photo

Some truely amazing photos of Iceland, from omarrun.

Found via TravelMinx.

Schützenfest Hannover

25. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe, germany, hannover, lcguide

While most travellers would be very familiar with the huge party that is Munich’s Oktoberfest, fewer would know that there are many more similar traditional German festivals held throughout the year in other German cities. One of the larger festivals is Schützenfest Hannover, which opens in four days’ time, on June 29th, and runs until July 8th.

So, for anyone thinking of heading to Germany to get a taste for the beer halls and traditional German food, here’s a brief guide to Hanover and some of the sights of the surrounding area.


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48 hours in Faro

23. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: portugal

Faro is the southern capital of Portugal’s Algarve region. A party-town in peak periods, it’s a gateway to Portugal’s southern coast and has an attractive old-town.

Faro is easily reached from Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, by regular Alfa Pendular trains (3 hours, departing Lisboa Oriente station).

Links:

Off the beaten track in Morocco

22. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: africa

The Guardian treks across Moroccan mountain ranges with nomads.

36 hours in Milan

21. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe, italy

The New York Times spends 36 hours in Milan.

Antwerp

20. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: europe

Antwerp is often overlooked by travellers, caught between the large capital Brussels to the south, the highly enticing Amsterdam further north, and the tourist-meccas of Ghent and Bruges to the west.

Nevertheless, it’s wonderful place to visit, with beautiful buildings, great restaurants and a much more down-to-earth feel than its neighbours. There’s plenty to do; a look through the enormous Cathedral of Our Lady, wandering around the many diamond shops south of Centraal Station … or for the really offbeat, take a walk through the art deco St. Anna tunnel, a pedestrian tunnel under the river.

The New York times has an article on Antwerp’s Kloosterstraat, a long stretch of cafes, antique shops and restaurants.

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Suva

18. June 2007 · Write a comment · Categories: pacific

It’s probably far from the best time to be considering a visit to Fiji, in the wake of a relatively coup, and recent diplomatic incidents between the military government and New Zealand, but that hasn’t stopped The Christchurch Press from visiting to see what Suva has to offer. The Star Times notes that New Zealanders remain unfazed by the latest bout of strife, between the two countries.

There are twelve flights a week to Suva from Auckland, four from Brisbane, one from Christchurch, three from Honolulu, eight from Los Angeles, four from Melbourne, eleven from Sydney, one from Toyko and two from Vancouver, all with Fiji’s national airline, Air Pacific.

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