For adventure-seeking voyagers, staying in a historic places is enough of a thrill after exploring the interesting sites that the country can offer. If the said historic places has affordable rates, then the more appealing the idea of going on a foreign sabbatical is. The Belleveue Hotel Interlacken is an awesome residence to stay in, even to the standards of an untrained voyager. A well-liked choice of honeymooning couples and lovers on retreat, the said places carries about a romantic air that is hard to miss. More than a hundred years old, the Belleveue Hotel Interlacken stands close to the Aare river along a verdant mountain background. Once inside, voyagers can be surprised and overwhelmed at the beautifully decorated floor and walls.

Aside from couples, leisure voyagers and businessmen stay at the Bellevue Hotel Interlaken when they need to rest and laze off. *All of the accommodations are designed to look elegant, cushy, yet simple so as to fit with everyone’s taste. The places also has a restaurant that serve delicious Swiss food that is well-liked with foreign tenants. However, the best thing about the Bellevue Hotel Interlaken is that it has cheap rates for the budget-conscious voyager or couple. Depending on the season, the price reductions that this places offers vary differently.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

Spain is a spellbinding and spectacular state that is full of energy and merriment. There are a lot of exciting things to do and pleasant landmarks to visit in this beautiful state, and many voyagers find themselves drawn to Spain frequently. Of the many areas and provinces in Spain, Madrid is one of the most well-liked and well-visited. For those who plan on going to Madrid, it is important to look for a decent yet cheap place to stay in.

Right in the heart of the fabulous municipality of Madrid lies the well-liked Carlton Hotel. Boasting of an awesome 4-star rating in the International community, the Carlton Hotel is a favorite lodging of choice for voyagers. Offering 112 completely air-conditioned rooms equipped with a minibar, direct-dial phone, and a colored TV, the rooms pledge to give its a good night’s worth of sleep. Added features in the rooms are hairdryers and a safety deposit box where lodgers can lock away their valuables. However, the impressive thing about the Carlton Hotel is that lodgers can spend the night here for only around 104 Euros. It may seem a bit steep, but for a 4-star places, this rate is practically affordable.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

The Arli Sochi Hotel is just one of the many places that an average budget-conscious voyager can choose from. For people traveling to see foreign sites, it is always advisable to be aware of the affordable places to stay and eat in. Of course, one must also reflect upon the quality and standard of the services offered before registering in a certain places. Fortunately, not all reasonably-priced places have unfavorable services and rooms. The Arli Sochi Hotel is relatively economic yet its tenants can be assured that their stay here is pleasant and cushy. All of the rooms in this places are outfitted with air-conditioning, a security safe, tea and coffee equipment, and a colored TV set. All of these will ensure that the tenant will be able to spend a cushy and relaxing stay at the places.

The Arli Sochi Hotel also offers a lot of services that a voyager looks for. The place has a bar and restaurant that offers delicious, hot, and reasonably-priced meals that will suit everyone’s tastes. From local cuisine to well-liked foreign food, the Arli Sochi Hotel is able to appease its lodgers’ hunger while watching out considering their taste preferences. For the voyager who plans on renting a car, the place has ample parking spaces available.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

For people looking for a great place to spend their sabbatical, the glamorous and magnificent France is a common choice. As a country known for its fashionable people and extravagant shops, France also has well-liked ski resorts in Tignes. Voyagers from all over the world go here to spend the day snowboarding or skiing with their associates and family. In the nearby Espace Killy area of the Tignes Les Brevideres area, the Chalet Chardons Hotel is a welcoming sight for voyagers.

Voyagers who stay at the Chalet Chardons Hotel find that the cheap cost of rooms and delicious home-cooked meals are just some of the things that make them come back again and again. The usual tourists in this places are students and backpackers who are on a tight budget. All of them spend much of their time outdoors in the snow, so they look forward to spend their evenings comfy and well-fed at the Chalet Chardons Hotel. There are some instances where the places hosts late night informal parties with beer and mountains of affordable food for the younger crowd. Voyagers and local residents can be sure that their stay at the Chalet Chardons Hotel will be remarkable, especially since the service staff are efficient and helpful.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

For people looking for a great place to spend their sojourn, the glamorous and impressive France is a common choice. As a country known for its fashionable people and costly shops, France also has famous ski resorts in Tignes. Excursionists from all over the world go here to spend the day snowboarding or skiing with their buddies and family. In the nearby Espace Killy area of the Tignes Les Brevideres hamlet, the Chalet Chardons Hotel is a welcoming sight for excursionists.

Excursionists who stay at the Chalet Chardons Hotel find that the uncostly cost of rooms and delicious home-cooked meals are just some of the things that make them come back again and again. The usual excursionists in this apartment are students and backpackers who are on a tight budget. Some of them spend much of their time outdoors in the snow, so they look forward to spend their evenings relaxed and well-fed at the Chalet Chardons Hotel. There are some instances where the apartment hosts late night informal parties with beer and mountains of uncostly food for the younger crowd. Excursionists and local residents can be sure that their stay at the Chalet Chardons Hotel will be terrific, especially since the service staff are efficient and helpful.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

Pre-blog note: I just met the most disgustingly stereotypical guys while exiting the Metro at Akropoli. They were from Orange County, said “dude” at the beginning of every sentence (if you can call them sentences), and asked me if the nearby hostel was “legit or not legit.” I replied, “Um, yeah, it’s pretty good for a hostel.” Their response: “Hot chicks? Do you think they’ll bang us in the dorm room?” My response: “Yeah maybe [turn around and leave].” What I was thinking: only if they are as pathetic as you two. Ugh, it was funny and despicable all at once. To backpack through Europe with the goal of having sex with “chicks” in hostel dorm rooms is both unhealthy and only something that Westlake rejects from Orange County would do with their parents’ money. I made an oath not to get too negative/critical in this blog, but I just couldn’t resist today. For all I know, there was a Laguna Beach camera filming the whole thing for MTV. Moving on…

I am back in Athens and have been blessed with a free place to stay by my friend Constantine, who I lived with in high school (Dickinson House) and who is now studying modern Greek here for a few weeks.

We went out dancing for the past two nights since we both LOVE music (the same styles, too). The music at the place we went to last night was amazing… I have to figure out what you would even call the genre so that I can buy some for my iPod back home. Yesterday, we also went to the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis. Since Const is a philosophy major and has studied abroad in Athens before, his knowledge of all these sites and the city itself has made him even better company. (He’s also pre-Med, so if I sprain my ankle (Bailey!), I’ll be in decent hands.)

The weather for the second half of my trip has been somewhat unfortunate. Though yesterday afternoon was beautiful, I woke up today to a downpour that has not stopped. I’m planning to go to the Archaelogy Museum today to avoid the weather but still enjoy the geeky stuff. Tomorrow, I’m hoping to do my day trip up to Delphi.

On Wednesday, I may do some souvenier and gift shopping. I want to get a backgammon board with a nice Greek design on it–apparently they are made of olive tree wood. I’d also like a bracelet, or something along those lines, that has some Greek beads on it. And my last consideration is that I would get a henna tattoo on my arm. Mom & Dad, henna tattoos are NOT permanent, but the ink is strong and stays around for a while. We’ll see if I actually do this. Since Deidre dyed her hair blond while in Paris, I feel obligated to do something on par with that while in Athens. Blame it on Deidre is the concept here.

Ok, time is ticking away and I must go. Cheers,

Gogo

Original post by Gogo and software by Elliott Back

We stepped aboard “The Ghan” in Adelaide with about 24 hours of rail travel in front of us. The train was practically identical to the “Indian Pacific” - although the scenery was a bit different: orange sand and scrubby bushes all over the place.

The Ghan is a shortening of Afghan. Apparently Afghan camel teams were pivotal in the establishment of Alice Springs as a settlement. They carried cargo and passengers up to Alice. The train was named after them - which is why there is a statue of a camel and rider at Alice Springs station.

We stepped off the train in Alice Springs into the blazing sunlight of the “Red Centre”. We were met by the hostel bus (they remembered this time and were taken back to the hostel for a well-earned rest, curry and beer. In the morning (6am to be exact) we were picked up by our tour bus, destination Uluru.

On our tour we took in such sights as Kata Tjuta and King’s Canyon. We saw various rock formations, valleys, chasms, outcrops and aboriginal sites. Each night we stayed in tents around a camp fire.

Uluru

Kata Tjuta

Kings Canyon

We also added dingos and emus to our “seen in the wild” list. We also were able to spot wedge-tailed eagles and whistling kites.

All in all the whole experience was wonderful. We met some really friendly and cool people on our tour and hope to keep up with as many of them as possible (and get a hold of some of their photos too!). Last night we had a post-tour dinner and wound up drinking all the Coopers Ale in the whole bar!

The photos will follow shortly. Once I find a computer that lets me upload all my photos to facebook I’ll put them all up there for general perusal and provide a link.

Original post by Iff and software by Elliott Back

Switzerland is a highly diversified country, especially after the successes of the Second World War when it absorbed the different folkways of other states and put them to use along with the world’s modernization, which inevitably refined the original Swiss way of life. Fortunately, some eating modes and a part of the Swiss cuisine remain untouched, giving visitors the chance to grip a portion of what Switzerland has originally been before all the foreign invasions.

Several kinds of cheese and chocolates highlight most of the lavish Swiss cuisines available like the official national dish called fondue neuchâteloise, which is a melted mixture of two famous cheeses, and the pastries, which are far more delightful with chocolates. Touches of German can be marked out in other preferred dishes like the fried pieces of potatoes called Rosti, and some other recipes that make use of sausages and sauerkrauts. French and Italian fusion, meanwhile, can be marked out on the lavish servings of pasta, risotto, and solenta on a Swiss dining table. Aside from the many international dishes on hand on set menus offered at the cafes and restaurants, Switzerland also houses several American fast food chains, which can be found even in some far off Alpine areas like Saint Moritz and Zermatt.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

Meal time in Spain is peculiar to that of the other European countries because it is far more defined, nominal, and provides a lot of choices not only for locals but most especially for visiting tourists. Spaniards love spending their eating hours as well as receiving guests out in on hand restaurants rather than at home, so it is no longer rare that cafes, bars, and restaurants operate on most parts of the day.

Breakfast is almost missed; otherwise, it would be a plain serving of toasts, jam, and coffee; churros, a sprinkle of sugar, and hot chocolate; or croissants and freshly squeezed orange juice. Lunch and dinner, meanwhile, are more ostentatious and lavish, usually composed of a four-course meal or more, consisting of either authentic Spanish dishes or foreign cuisines such as French, Italian, and even American. The sensible treat of course, is to partake all the standard meals that Spaniards have been known for all over the world like paella, tapa, meat casseroles, and gazpacho toppled with a refreshing glass of sangria afterwards. Obviously, Spain is heavy on meat but that is not to say however, that Spaniards miss the worth of vegetables when in fact, they grow one of the freshest varieties in the world.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back

A Russian dining table used to be filled with a variance of interestingly rich fares, but due to the recent economic difficulties felt countrywide, those rich dishes are being replaced by simpler, cheaper alternatives. Also, the used-to-be generous Russians oftentimes turn down guests lately as part of their austerity measures since entertaining them and preparing food for them would mean added costs. But back to its glory days, a Russian dinner table is an sensational meeting place where friends and associates bond over extravagant meals.

A customary meal in Russia, which is eaten thrice a day, mainly starts with cold treats like ham, salami, smoked fish, pickled mushrooms, spring onions, and caviars as appetizers, then with either a beetroot or cabbage soup. The main course is mainly made up of either a fish or a meat dish served with potatoes while the dessert is mostly stewed fruits or pancakes with lots of jams and creams. Bread is a staple in every Russian banquet as with the black tea, which is made on hand all throughout the day with an urn called Samovar. Aside from tea, vodka is another prominent Russian drink as well as the local Kvas, which tastes resembling beer but is absolutely non-alcoholic and actually made of dark bread.

Original post by Traveler and software by Elliott Back