Archive for the ‘Catch it’ Category

Spain, the favourite destination of Erasmus students

Monday, May 18th, 2009

erasmus
@ garzhia

Since 1987, ERASMUS scolarship allow exchange of European students between universities. The name of the program comes from the traveler Erasmo of Rotterdam.
Nowadays, more than 27.000 students choose each year Spanish universities.

Spain is the country that receives most foreign students but also that sends a lot of students abroad, after France and Germany. Universities that attract the most are Grenada, Valence and Madrid.

Reasons are very diverse; some look for a cultural aspect, others want to learn another language and to experience the famous Spanish evenings and parties.

Until 2000, the population of ERASMUS in Spain was lower than in France and in Germany, but the figures climbed after the movie “L’auberge Espagnole” (The Spanish Inn) which illustrates a perfect image of the ERASMUS phenomenon in Europe.

In any case, it is a very interesting way to get to know another culture.
This idea was developed to give to students a chance to discover other lifestyles and to have a good memory of their experience in a different place than the one they are used to.

Pipa, the secret beach in Brazil

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

I had always thought there couldn’t be any place as good as Rio de Janeiro or Bahia all over Brazil. I was wrong.

Near Natal, a colorful village is hidden, plenty of live and quite during daytime, that’s what gives it all its charm.
A lot of foreign decided to live there for a while in order to stay away from big cities and their noise.

To go out, there is a large choice of restaurants to eat and a large amount of bars will welcome you with some music.

Pipa’s beaches are “Praia do Madeiro”, “la Bahia dos Golphinos”, “la Praia Central”, where most of people go.

My favorite one is “la Bahia dos Golphinos” (Dolphins’ bay).
As you should already have guess, it is common to see dolphins playing near swimmers. It will give an amazing feeling.
Moreover, the beach is huge, its sand is soft and the beach end up with wild vegetation.

pipa
@ marquiroga

ADVICE

If you are a woman and feel like buying a Brazilian bikini, I would tell you not doing it. Actually, they don’t use Brazilian bikinis but small pieces of fabric joined with string… :-) .

A lot of night parties are going on around « la Prai de Amor », in the middle of palm-trees. These parties are unsurpassed.

CURIOSITY

In « la Praia da Minas », huge turtles get together when it’s time to lay eggs in orders to dig them into sand.

The Bossa Nova” is a kind of music, which usually goes with a guitar, drums and percussion instruments. Elis Regina and Gilberto Gil are some of the artists that have popularized this beat.

A Kafkaesque airport

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

It happens to “loose” his luggage, to get stress from flight delays, etc. Unfortunately, we all (or almost) had to suffer from our plane trips.

But, for sure, we didn’t experience the cavalry, the humiliation and the despair that did travelers from Franz Kafka airport.
Don’t expect they take care of you, to pass the control without any problem, to find your gate, neither to fly… Don’t put a feet in this airport!!!

This warning is not in vain, as this airport is number 1 in the ranking of the worst airports in the world, according to The Onion News Network.

Take a look at this video; travelers and staff speak for themselves!

But no worries, if you need to get Paha ( which is a wonderful city) for business or personal reasons, there are other “real” airports and less Kafkaesque.

The world wide fastest train will go 186 miles per hour

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

train-japonais
@ kamoda

Till now, the Bala train or Shinkansen run 186 miles per hour and has reached 501 travels.

The Japanese train company, Central Japan Railway, has said that in 2025 the fastest magnetic levitation train of the world will be running and will reach 342 miles per hour.

The first line that reached the speed of 186 miles an hour cost 44.410 millions of dollars.
This project was not only a speed record; it was also a perfect example of ecologic transport as it does not discharge pollutants in the atmosphere.

Although these systems, in theory, can go past 435 miles an hour, it will be a whole experience to reach 342 miles an hour and seeing (or not) the landscape running fast in front of us.

Tobotronc, the biggest toboggan of the world

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

troncboggan2
@ jorge.correa

Sometimes we don’t need to go far away to enjoy some wonderful things worth listed in the Guinness book.

In the Rabassa, in Andorra, there is the TOBOTRONC, known from its technical name, Alpine Coaster and which is the biggest toboggan of the world with a 3,2 miles track.

Its 2,2 miles to come down (with control) and its 1,2 miles to get up by means of a ski lift make, without doubt, one of the most attractive activity of the Pyrenees, as much for kids as for adults.

troncboggan2
@ jqmj

This new attraction enables to enjoy striding inside the forest, sitting on a sledge.
You will get down in 8 minutes; so if you want to visit a little bit you had better to know how to manage this two people vehicle. The one on the back is in charge to control the engine in bends with two sticks.
This attraction has got 100 wagons (or sledges), each one can hold 2 people; Kids under 12 years old have to go with adults.

A suggestion to have fun safe and with respect of the nature, which give another perspective of the forest.

Ten places to enjoy for free

Monday, May 4th, 2009

In this crisis situation, the word “free” is a big attraction for travelers. The Travel European Commission has offered a top 10 of the best free activities in Europe that we can enjoy for the next months.

Germany

musee-berlin
@ dalbera

The famous museum in Berlin, in the middle of the river Spree , offers free entry to the 5 museums every Thursdays from 2pm.

France

The ring of Kerry sums up all virtues and attractions of this Gaelic country: Gold and hiking in the green hills, fishing in the rivers and fine sand beaches. That’s not all; the area is an authentic museum in the open air with prehistoric buildings, castles and monasteries.

Estonia

The city of Navarra, located at the Russian border, is the most oriental point of the European Union. The Teutonic Knights castle is from the century XIII and it is split up by a river. Over there all kind of concerts and other open air events are going on.

Hungary

Already famous for its Red Bull, the Air Race takes place in Budapest from August 19th and 20th, with dozen of pilots doing acrobatics and jumping from bridges in a minimum of time.

Switzerland

The street Parade in Zurich goes on in August. It’s a colorful party with electronic music, it’s actually a huge “RAVE PARTY” which succeed with dignity to the “love Parade” in Berlin.

street-parade
@ Javi Vte Rejas

England


London is famous to be expensive. Taking a look at these countless treasures and works of arts from the Britannic museum and the national Gallery is priceless. That’s why it’s free

Belgium

The sentence “free beer” has a special meaning in this country that produces some of the best beer worldwide. The Haacht beer offers a free tour with 2 degustation of their beer included.

Norway

“The Scream”, famous Edvard Munch’s paint, can be contemplated in the national gallery in Oslo, with Cézanne’s, Gauguin’s, Picasso’s works of art.

Austria

In the city of Innsbruck, the “hiking bus” is free from end of May till October for all costumers of the city and for the ones being around this city, it will be free if you acquire the Club Innsbruck Card. Of course, there is a vast hiking program.

Barcelona hosts artists from all over the world

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

drapeau-espana
@ R.Duran

Barcelona is a city of arts. Its historical architecture, such as the Sagrada Familia built by Gaudi and its artists such as the painter Joan Miro, famous from his colorful oeuvres, makes us traveling in an unreal world.

Barcelona Turisme Creatiu gets involved in a new project. They give a chance to artists from all over the world and with any style to exhibit, to act and to create in Barcelona.

If you take a look at the website, and if you let yourself know where it is going on, you will be able to show your artistic skill.

This project, created by Barcelona tourism, is presented by the Fundació Societat i Cultura (Fusic). According to them, about twenty applications are considered per day.

This works thanks to people and structure diversity in the city as Caroline Couret, project coordinator explains.

Thus, if you are an artist and you have no idea where you could exhibit your works of arts, where to act, now you know that in Barcelona everything is possible. If it has worked for some people, why not YOU?

Moreover, they make a report about yourself, in order to get to know more about you and your culture.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ARTISTS !!!!!!!

lezard
@ ironmanixs

Fasten your seat belt

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Getting security instructions in rap, always better…

The nomad hotel

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

hotel-everland
Hôtel Everland

Two artists from Switzerland, Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann (L/B), got the idea of this original concept.

The Everland hotel combines art, design and accommodation of quality.
The concept is simple: Putting down a modern capsule on the top of a monument, a museum, an unusual place to create an absolute illusion as you are in a hotel room.

Customers must feel like being in a hotel room and must get the impression to merge with the building.
The room, 35m2, provides a king-size bed, a bathroom, a mini bar and has everything expected from a luxury hotel. The difference? An exceptional view!

We have already seen this capsule in 2002 at the Expo 02, in Switzerland, at the edge of the lack Neuchâtel. This project was a success. Public were invited to spend a night inside.

Then, this capsule was in Germany, on the Museum of fine arts in Leipzig, and for the first time in France, in Paris, on the top of the Tokyo Palace.

During its stay in the French capital, staff from the famous Hotel Sezz, which is partner of the project, is in charge of cleanness.
However, the 2 idea men do not want to make a business of this capsule. They wish that customers enjoy a unique and artistic experience.

That’s why, only one night per person (or per couple) is available. You can book it only 2 months in advance.

Admittedly not everyone can afford it, but imagine you, in Paris, with unobstructed view guaranteed, rocked with city lights, lighting up your room…

This is an exclusive experience.
The only way to get to know where the hotel Everland will go next, is to register on the website.
So, take look on it, even just out of curiosity, maybe it will pass by around your city. For now, it is in Paris till the end of May…

Video tells more than pictures. Here is the overview of this unusual housing


@ Youtube

THE tourism office of the future with Google

Monday, April 6th, 2009

The city of New York has decided to set up THE tourism office of the future.

This project, called NYCGo , is made of a partnership with Travelocity, which is the booking search engine. It aims to create exclusive offers for NYCGo.com. The one with Time Out New York will able to get next events RSS flowing.

This new tourism office, located on the 7th Avenue, will prevent from getting lost in New York.

Actually, inside, there are big touch sensitive tables connected to Google Maps and Google Earth. You can go sightseeing in New York by touching screens.
With the function “You are here” It is even possible to plan an itinerary in saving interest points, to print it, to send it via email or to save it in your mobile phone.
You, also, can project the image of where you have decided to go on the walls, in order to get an idea of what you are going to visit, still sitting on a chair.

For those who have got a Smartphone, you can get all touristic events by SMS, with a link to Google Map Mobile application, in order to get there easily and quickly.

Don’t forget to go on the website called Dealomatic. It gathers all special offers and discounts for New-York city events and attractions.

In crisis time a touristic strategy is welcome. It will, maybe, attract more people. Here is a video introducing THE tourism office of the future.


Youtube