World Travellers

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark officially gaining that title during the 15th century. The city is also proud to be the home of the oldest monarchy in the world. A must see for any tourist going to Copenhagen is the Royal Castle Amalienborg.

Copenhagen is considered to be one of the most fun cities to visit in Europe and it is the largest city in the Oresund (a strait in Denmark) region. From Oresund there is an impressive eight kilometre bridge which heads to the city of Malmo in Sweden. Though Copenhagen started as a small fishing village, today more than one million people live in the greater metropolitan area.

Of course, being quite far north, Copenhagen can get very cold in the winter so you are advised to go between May and October, which are the most temperate times to visit. If you are lucky enough to catch the spring you will find it unforgettably vibrant as everyone shakes off the winter blues.

If you prefer to go to Copenhagen in the winter, maybe to use it as a base for skiing, you should know that it can get very dark and dreary over a sustained period. However Christmas is a lot of fun in Denmark when pretty lights and plenty of drinking help to pass the time.

New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed and breakfasts. But now add in the varied and startling scenery of sandy beaches, rocky coastlines and the lakes and mountains, and you’ve the ultimate in choices for romantic getaways.

But where would I choose to visit and stay? Here are four destinations for romantic getaways in New England that would always make my list.

ACADIA REGION IN MAINE:

Travel further north than the shopping outlets and the Boothbay Harbor region and you enter another Maine of dramatic coastline, beautiful villages and islands, and Acadia National Park. Here you can cycle on carriage roads with breathtaking views, walk through silent forests or hike to mountain summits, or drive on scenic roads.

Visit the park but then slip away to Deer Isle on Penobscot Bay and take in the historic villages of Castine and Stonington, or travel north to the Schoodic Peninsular and tour along coastal Route 1 where fishing villages dot the inlets and secluded harbors all the way to the Canadian border. Places to stay that specialize in romantic getaways can be found in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth both just outside Acadia National Park’s boundary.

Your trip to the city of Vienna is always incomplete, unless you visit some of the fantastic sites located outside the city. Vienna certainly is the city surrounded by scores of beauties. Located in the east of Austria, close to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, the Austrian Capital has beautiful fringes.

Vienna, the cultural, economic and political centre of Austria, surely has numerous attractions inside the city, but the also offers you a number of attractive sites in its vicinity. So, whenever you are in Vienna, you must take a trip outside the city to see some of the wonderful sites outside the city. Here are some of the sites that you can visit outside Vienna.

Baden - is a lovely spa town in medieval setting, located 26 kilometers south of Vienna, in Lower Austria. Posited at the mouth of the fantastic Helenental, on the Schwechat banks, Baden is a scenic resort, known for its baths and springs, gardens and parks, coffeehouses, vineyards, and pastoral wine pubs. Römertherme (Roman thermal bath) is one of the most notable baths of the town.

Located in the southwestern part of the country, Kaiserslautern, Germany is an historic city that dates back to the 9th century. It is in the Bundesland of Rhinlenad-Palatinate right on the edge of the Palatinate Forest, which is part of one of the largest biosphere forests in the world. This city is within easy reach of Paris and Luxembourg and is small by city standards with a population of just under 100,000. There is an American base here as well and the military personnel called the city K-town.

Archaeological evidence shows that there was settlement in this area as far back as 800 B.C. and Celtic tombs that are at least 2500 years old have been uncovered. The name of the town came from The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who loved to hunt in the region. He built two castles here, the ruins of which can still be seen. The oldest church in the city, the Stiftkirche, dates back to the 13th century and St. Martin’s Church dates back to the 14th century. At one time there was a wall around the city, as was common in medieval times, and a portion of this wall is still standing in the churchyard of St. Martin’s.

General summary of city:

The city of Brussels is the capital city of Belgium and is a modern city that is rich in medieval and art-nouveau buildings. Brussels is steeped in rich history with plenty of museums and galleries and a pulsating cultural life.

Brussels is also the administrative center of the European Union, which has earned the city the title ‘the capital of Europe’. The business sector in Brussels is booming with international agencies taking root in the city, however not at the expense of the rich cultural history. The juxtaposition of past and present is evident in Brussels with blocks lined with international businesses and their advanced steel and glass high rises which are only a few steps away from cobbled streets and medieval architecture that speaks of the city’s flavourful past.

With a mixture of French and Flemish culture and language, Brussels is steeped in history and culture, with something for everyone to enjoy. The nightlife culture of Brussels, complete with clubs and pubs to enjoy add to the eclectic ambience of this fair city in Belgium. During the day, as business booms throughout the week, there is a wide variety of attractions for visitors and locals to enjoy, regardless of age. Families enjoy Belgium for its unique atmosphere which embraces every aspect of family life and socialization for adults.

Antwerp is most famous for being the diamond capital of the world, but there is much more to be known about this Belgian city with a 2008 population of 472,000. One reason that Antwerp emerged as a trading center for the world’s diamonds is its location on the right bank of the River Scheldt, which links to the North Sea. In fact, Antwerp is Europe’s second-largest port.

Antwerp is not a tourist city per se, however it is a bustling place that offers much interest and entertainment to visitors, with a great night life, a wide array of restaurants and top notch shopping opportunities. There are also many historical architectural buildings to take in, most notably the massive 14th-century Cathedral of our Lady which to this day remains the tallest building in the city. The Church of St. James has a stunning interior of Baroque design and houses the tomb of the famous painter Rubens.

The main square in Antwerp is impressive as well with a stunning town hall and a wide array of 16th-century guild houses. For you castle lovers, be sure to visit the waterside Steen Fort, a restored remnant of the once mighty and extensive fortified citadel.

Once you arrive in Germany, if you are American, you will notice that the German public transportation system is much more efficient and cost effective than that of America. There are many more options and for the most part, you can get anywhere any time. Keep in mind that you can purchase a train ticket from your current location to your destination and this ticket is valid for the train, bus and street car. ie. Take a train from Darmstadt to Hanau then use the same ticket for a bus from Hanau to Frankfurt.

Taxi Cab: Taxi cabs can be found around any airport or public location. If you walk up to a taxi parking area and there is a row of taxi cabs go to the front vehicle first. The price varies but can be expensive at times. The weekend taxi fees are generally more expensive than the fees on a weekday. If you can avoid using a taxi cab I would recommend it. If you are relatively pleased with the service provided by the cab driver a one or two EUR tip would be sufficient.