Pete's Wicked Travels

During my three week dedicated exploration of Italy, I found that in order to see the entire country, I would need much more time. As it was though, I only had three weeks which allowed me to experience the best of central Italy. My trip, which covered Rome, Florence, Venice, Vatican City, Naples, and Capri, was a great introduction to this beautiful country dripping in history and culture.

I landed in Rome and quickly departed to Naples where I took in Mt. Vesuvius. From there, I drove to Pompeii to view its well-preserved past where a local guide retraced history for me. From Pompeii, it was on to Sorrento to take in some sweeping views of the Bay of Naples. From Sorrento, I took a boat ride to the marina on the island of Capri. While in Capri, I had the chance to take a boat ride to view the Green and Blue Grottos. Also while in Capri, I was sure to leave time to shop in some of the island’s quaint and rather expensive shops found in the white-washed villages.

From there, it was on to the beautiful city of Florence. There were tons of things to see and do in this exciting city, and I was sure to see the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. Between the frescoes, markets, and priceless art, and walking along the River Arno the atmosphere of Florence was my favorite. From Florence, I moved on to Pisa where I took in the famous monument, the Leaning Tower.

After Pisa, it was off to Venice, the floating city. This city was packed with character, hidden lanes, and of course its famous network of canals. No trip to Venice is complete without a ride on a gondola. The ride took me through the city’s waters of the lagoon to its historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the gothic arches of Doges’ Palace, and the expanse of St. Mark’s Square all showed off Venice’s unique beauty and way of life. I also had a chance to learn about the local artistry by taking part in a traditional glass blowing demonstration which has been famous in the city since the 13th century. Also while in Venice, I took a walking tour, where I discovered the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi, and markets.

Finally, from Venice it was back to Rome where I was able to soak in the metropolitan city. My favorite part about Rome was how the old and the new exist side-by-side. It overflows with relics from another age right beside office buildings and shopping malls. I loved the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Also while in Rome, I spent a day in nearby Vatican City. I got to see St. Peter’s Basilica, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. After busily touring the whole of Italy, I relaxed in Rome for a few days, taking in the sights and sounds. I also was able to take advantage of the great night life, and spent a couple nights out on the town.

admin Europe Europe, italy, rome, vatican city, venice

As Holland’s largest city, Rotterdam is full of attractions, and has a real buzz to it. Its multicultural community, cultural life and vibrancy are hard to beat, making it a hugely popular destination for weekend breaks as well as longer holidays.

The best way to explore this great European city is by renting a holiday villa or apartment. Renting holiday apartments has never been easier, thanks to the plethora of websites that have sprung up in recent years. Renting either through an agent or privately with the owner is literally a few clicks away and there are many advantages to opting for this type of holiday accommodation rather than a hotel.

The main advantage is obviously flexibility, as there are no set meal times to adhere to, with the kids having to be dragged back for dinner just as they were starting to enjoy things. There’s no need to worry about the sensitivities of fellow guests, because the kids have their own rooms to amuse themselves in, and you can all come and go as you like. Also, self-catering in a foreign city is great fun, getting to grips with the Euro, exchange rates, shopping at the local market or dining out, interacting with the natives and practicing the lingo.

Rotterdam was almost flattened by German bombers during the Second World War, but there are still a great many things to see and do there. Blijdorp Zoo is arranged as a theme park and the whole family will love it, and there are historic attractions such as the Maritime Museum.

admin Europe Europe, holland, rotterdam

Mike Myers used to have a sketch on SNL where he played a Scottish guy who used to say that if it wasn’t Scottish it was “shite.” Well, if it’s not Aberdeen, it’s shite! The third largest city in Scotland and an international hub that regularly sees cheap flights coming in and out on a daily basis, Aberdeen is the chief seaport on the north eastern coast of the country. Commonly referred to as The Granite City, the Silver City or the Flower of Scotland, due to the fact that it is packed full of parks, gardens and floral displays, Aberdeen is considered by many travelers coming into the city on cheap flights as one of the most beautiful cities in the UK.

While it is quite a bit smaller than Glasgow or Edinburgh, the harbor and beaches make for a distinctly different feeling than the central Scottish cities, and when considering the fact that it has some of the oldest university buildings in Europe, including King’s College, which was founded in 1495, it really does have quite a bit of history to boast about. It’s an amazing city that should really be visited when you are in Scotland.

What’s even better is that from Aberdeen you can get anywhere! As an international hub, visitors can easily book cheap flights to London, Belfast, Paris, as well as almost any other city around the world. Considering the fact that modern Aberdeen has been transformed into the new oil capital of Europe, thanks to the supply of crude oil from the North Sea wells, there are more people coming here to live than there are leaving to visit other destinations. While English is mostly spoken, it is important to understand that local dialects are an important part of the cultural history of Scotland and the chances are you are likely to encounter various dialects while touring the city, so be prepared for some strange sounding accents and unfamiliar words.

admin Europe aberdeen, Europe, london, scotland, Travel Tips

Amsterdam has always been a colorful destination for me. World famous Coffee Shops and a legal Red Light District may be Mecca for teenage boys but for their parents it means price checking breathalysers and chastity belts. So there I am with an invite to a potentially very lucrative business meeting in a city I imagined was as smoggy as a Los Angeles in the eighties.

The first thing to be noted about Amsterdam is how easy and cheap it is to get there. With so many good quality travel services available I almost considered not claiming on my companies account! There’s an international airport which is linked to central station by a train service which is modern, clean and very affordable.

After arriving at the station it is only a 2 minute walk to the Damrak (the central square) from which the whole city is a matter of minutes away. The first thing to notice is the bicycles. They are everywhere and with many of the towns streets closed to cars its probably not a bad idea to dust off the peddle pushers yourself.

I opted to take the tram to my hotel which allowed me to enjoy the city without worrying about obstructing cyclists. Amsterdam is beautiful. The canals thread water through the streets bringing a liquid serenity which I have never felt in a city. After alighting at my hotel I was instantly impressed. With over 40 per cent of hotels being 4-5 star, the fierce competition meant I was being treated like a king for the price of a pauper.

After chatting with locals in a bar across the road I caught a cab to the Leidseplein. The bright lights and stunning architecture left me dumbstruck. It’s just so beautiful here. For a moment I feel like to spend rest of my life in this unique city.

The next morning, I explored all the attractive spots of the city and it was really fun for me. I came to know about various secrets which I just can’t forget, even if I want to. It was certainly some thing spiritual which attract me towards the beautiful place.

admin Europe amsterdam, Europe, holland, Travel Tips

It is hardly surprising that Manchester has become such a sought after destination for weekend breaks. Whether you are looking for a relaxing and cultural weekend, some wild partying with a group of friends or an exciting shopping escape, this city will easily cater to your needs.

There are many different corners of Manchester that highlight its cultural diversity. Chinatown is usually a must-visit for most visitors to the city and although it has lost its once vibrant market atmosphere, the area has become increasingly popular for young partygoers at the weekends. The Gay Village ñ sometimes simply referred to as the Village is home to one of the most prominent European gay communities, but is filled with clubs and bars that appeal to all tastes. Of course, Manchester is well known for being one of the most musically active cities in the world and no matter what time of year you travel, there will be plenty of performances in the local venues.

And for shopaholics, this city will truly have you spoiled with choice. As well as all the biggest high street store names around Deansgate and the Millennium Quarter, vintage clothes fans will love the variety of the retro outfitters around Market Street.

Another reason that this city is so popular for short escapes is that cheap flights to Manchester are always easy to find. Flights from Manchester to Edinburgh as well as flights to London and numerous other UK destinations operate several times a day from the city’s international airport. Budget airlines will also cover flights from Manchester to Aberdeen, Dublin and various locations across Europe.

admin Europe england, Europe, travel