Switzerland Switzerland In June 2011, we spent a week in Switzerland, flying into Geneva, with an initial stop in Montreux, followed by a picturesque stay in Wengen, located above the Lauterbrunnen valley. The alps provided a stunning backdrop to explore the area. During our stay in Wengen, a small village that is accessible by train or foot, the main sound heard was cow bells. We took day trips and hikes in the Interlaken area of central Switzerland. The village of Wengen where we stayed in an alpine chalet/hotel, above the Lauterbrunnen valley. Lauterbrunnen below, with its iconic waterfall. The train system in Switzerland is excellent. The train to Jungfrau. In the village of Lauterbrunnen. Another scene from Lauterbrunnen. Alpine cable cars rise into the fog above Wengen. The lakeshore village of Brienz. Brienz. Lucerne. Alpine village of Murren. Artist H.R. Besides cows, goats and sheep tend to be outfitted with bells. A cog train at Kleine Scheidegg. Relaxing with a plate of charcuterie under Mt.
10 Incredible City Cliffs around the World There are some amazing feats of architecture in our world – not just single beautiful buildings, but entire towns built on the tops of towering cliffs or carved into the sides of mountains. The first glimpse of towns like this can take your breath away. You could get that same thrill when looking out from one of these towns to the ocean or the earth far below. Here are some perfect examples of the world’s most interesting city cliffs. 10Castellfollit de la Roca Castellfollit de la Roca is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the region of Catalonia in Spain. 9Rocamadour Rocamadour is a tiny village built on the rocky face above a gorge on the Alzou River in southwest France. 8Bonifacio Bonifacio is a city at the southern tip of the island of Corsica. 7Acapulco Acapulco is the original Mexican resort town which came into prominence by the 1950s as a getaway for Hollywood stars and millionaires. 6Mesa Verde 5Bandiagara Escarpment 4Ronda 3Al Hajjara photo/ 2Positano 1Fira and Oia
Contiki Euro-Trip: Get paid to Travel & Party Imagine the following scenario: You have the summer off and would love to go traveling across Europe, meet a ton of people, go to festivals and have the time of your life. Now what if I told you that you can have all that for free AND get paid on top of that? You don’t think that’s possible? Our friends over at Contiki, the world’s biggest provider for young group travels, is recruiting team players for their guerilla army, a group of cool folks aged 18 to 35 who travel through various festivals in Europe this summer. The itinerary is pretty amazing: France, Austria, Italy, Germany – 3 weeks, 4 countries, 3 festivals, unlimited hours of fun with an army of new friends from all over the world. The festivals in question are: Garance Reggae Festival in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, Southern France. Szene Open Air Festival in Lustenau, Austria. SonneMondSterne Festival in Saalburg, Central Germany Conditions: Return flights/trains will be provided to the winners. Good luck!! Tags: competiton, contiki, win stuff
ntemporary Hotel Viura in Spain by Designhouses | Luxury Furniture, Property, Travel & Interior Design Contemporary Hotel Viura in Spain by Designhouses This ancient and illustrious wine country is the place where the old world charms of Spanish wineries now blend flawlessly with the ultramodern architecture of the Hotel Viura. Designed by Spanish architects Designhouses the hotel is located in the heart of a traditional village, next to the 17th century church, Viura’s architecture, is a true departure from traditional form: a series of concrete cubes, one on top of the other, that seem to rise out of the ground. The architecture successfully links the interior to the exterior landscape; floor to ceiling windows throughout and private terraces ensure that there is always a view of the village, the Sierra de Cantabria or the church. Clever use of partitions, glass and sophisticated lighting add to the ambiance and fun. About Richard Barker Love Interior Design & Exotic Travel? November 15, 2010 | Alava Spain Travel | View comments Luxury Hillarys landscape project by Ritz Exterior Design
French expressions you wont learn at school -- Expressions fran軋ises en Anglais - StumbleUpon Conrad Maldives Rangali Island's unique underwater suite (NOT photoshop) Phrases in 5 common languages to know when traveling in Europe | Travel tip | Traveldudes.org - StumbleUpon Traveling abroad this summer? These helpful phrases will open doors and help you gain immediate acceptance. You don't need to be fluent in the language of the country that you are traveling to, but learning some key phrases makes a great impression. From saying hello to asking how much something cost; knowing some important phrases will set you up for an amazing trip. Your pronunciation doesn't have to be perfect, all that matters is that your trying and that means a lot the locals. Here are some helpful phrases in 5 common languages to know when traveling in Europe French, Italian, Spanish, German and Dutch The Basics: Hello: bonjour (bohn-zhoor) Please: S'il vous plaît (see voo play) Thank you: merci (mehr-see) Goodbye: au revoir (oh reh-vwar) Where is the bathroom? Do you have a menu in English? How much is it? I’m lost, can you help me find ____? I would like: Je voudrais (zhuh voo-dray) Some Phrases Just for Fun: I drank too much, can you call a taxi? Can I climb the Eiffel tower? German
10 Wonders of the World You Don’t Know Our World While most of these wonders will be known to a few people, they are, on the whole, not as well known as the famous “seven wonders”. Despite that, each has a reason for being considered wonderful and deserves its spot on this list. Enjoy the list and be sure to share other lesser-known wonders in the comments. Banaue Rice Terraces Philippines The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. Tower of Hercules Spain The Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain. Toru? Valley of Flowers India Bagan is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma.
Top 20 free attractions in Paris City of love, fashion capital, literary paradise…Paris has many different guises. And while museum entry can be steep and fine dining comes at a premium, the French capital can also be a very cheap date. Whether you go weak at the knees for soaring church spires or want to rub elbows at an authentic French market, let yourself be seduced by our top 20 must-sees. They are all are completely gratuit, letting you save the euros for the really important stuff: wine, cheese and a flashing Eiffel Tower keyring you’ll regret the minute you return home. 1. Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris Festooned with gargoyles and gothic touches, this imposing Parisian icon is essential for every visitor. 2. Window-shopping (or lécher les vitrines to the locals) is a great way to take an indulgent peek at objets d’art and wild curiosities you’d never actually buy. 3. A lift to the peak of the Eiffel Tower can squeeze the budget at €13.40 per ticket, but luckily the views below are just as stunning. 4. 5. 6.