The first time I went on a river cruise, my colleagues and friends had no idea what type of experience it would be. That was about 10 years ago and river cruising was not well known. Since then I have taken many river cruises, the number of companies specializing in river cruises has increased and the number of boats along the rivers in Europe are now over 50. Due to this increase it is easy to find the right itinerary and the right boat to take a river cruise on.

On my first river cruise, which was most enjoyable, what the boats offered was limited. Since then there has been a vast improvements in the types of accommodations and other facilities. Now most of the boats have cabins with picture windows and some with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors – referred to as french balconies. Other improvements, which vary from boat-to-boat, include, suites, elevators, fitness centers with state-of-art equipment and pools on the top decks..

Among the reasons to take a river cruise is the opportunity to experience the different cultures of the cities, towns and hamlets the rivers flow through. Also to enjoy the views along the river banks – small hamlets, ancient towns that have not changed much over the centuries, vineyards that stretch up the hillsides, medieval castles looking down on the rivers and ancient forts built for protection.

The boats dock in the heart of the cities, within walking distance to the main part of town, with easy access to the historic places, museums and ancient churches. Stroll through the narrow alleyways, admire the unusual architect and colors of the houses, visit the local marketplace, stop to taste the local beer in one of the pubs, where you can also meet the local inhabitants.

One of the most popular rivers is the Rhine, with cruises from Cologne to Basel, while passing through many popular European cities. Along the banks of the river one will see medieval castles on high, and the everyday life of the hamlets, you may even hear the siren’s call and learn the legend of “Lorelei” – the beautiful maiden who lured sailors to their deaths from the Lorelei Rock towering over the river.

Another popular waterway is the Moselle River with its imposing castles and steep-terraced vineyards. This area is famous for its wines and wine festivals, and its Christmas Markets, with handmade crafts, warm gingerbread,, steaming cocoas, mulled wines. A wonderful way to enjoy the local cultures and to hear the song O’Tannenbaum in its native language.

When you talk to Americans about Europeans there are a few things that come to mind. One of course is the scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta is talking to Samuel L. Jackson about his trip to Amsterdam and France.

Vincent “…But you know what the funniest thing about Europe is?
Jules: What?
Vincent: It’s the little differences. I mean, they got the same s*** over there that we got here, but it’s just – it’s just there it’s a little different.
Jules: Example?
Vincent: All right. Well, you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don’t mean just like in no paper cup, I’m talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald’s. And you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
Jules: They don’t call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?
Vincent: Nah, man, they got the metric system, they wouldn’t know what the f*** a Quarter Pounder is.
Jules: What do they call it?
Vincent: They call it a “Royal with Cheese.”
Jules: “Royale with Cheese”.
Vincent: That’s right.
Jules: What do they call a Big Mac?
Vincent: A Big Mac’s a Big Mac, but they call it “le Big Mac”

Europe is cultural and artistic, there are lots of historical buildings, and it’s fashionable. People there like beer and parties, there are lots of gays, you can have sex with anyone, and it’s just plain weird.

The Chinese think the same about America. Minus the culture, art, and history. So basically just the beer, sex, and weirdness.

America is known as an “open” place. It’s funny to think now that I always though of myself as “open”. I think if you ask most Americans to describe themselves, one of the positive adjective they’ll probably use is “open”. But being “open” in china is not as good as it sounds. Open is the opposite of traditional. Openness in china doesn’t refer to your acceptance of other people’s ways of thinking or tolerance of things you’re not particularly fond of. It does not mean a willingness to put yourself in another’s shoes. It means you’re a slut.

Where do the Chinese get this idea? Mostly form TV and movies that make their way across the world. Hollywood movies and reality shows that make it to china show the very worst of America. What we watch for entertainment, they see as the truth about American life. Eating Olympics, Who wants to marry a millionaire, and American pie; these are things that stick in the minds of the Chinese people. “Wow, you’re American? You guys are really open!” I used to agree until I found out it meant that were just horny heathens with no self-respect.

I think that in some way this relates to how china deals with world politics. Could you image how Americans would react if France tried to tell us what to do? Sorry, we don’t want your cheese, wine, and threesomes. Were Americans. We need to uphold our American family values, the American dream, and the American way of life. We’re not some crazy country of bicycle riding baguette-loving gays.

And that’s what china’s doing. They’re upholding Chinese tradition which is at war with Western openness (of which America is often the figure-head). Regardless of the Right or Wrong in whatever political issue is at hand, there’s always an undertone of “America trying to change Chinese values”

So when America tells them to protect the environment, or talks about human rights, it’s not always that they disagree. They too want what’s best for the world and the people in it. But they’re going to do it on their own time, in their own way. They’ve got a history and culture that most Americans don’t understand, and no matter how many books you read, it’s just impossible understand what it means to be Chinese. Our measly three hundred year history is laughable to them – they’ve got five thousand. They’ve been on the map for five thousand years and suddenly America comes along and says “hey, hey, hey, you’re doing it all wrong”. Would you listen?

By the way, “Big Mac” in Chinese is “ju wu ba” but that’s not as funny as “Le Big Mac”.

Europe can either be one of the most expensive destinations in the world, or one of the least costly, depending on what you do, where you eat, where you stay and how you get around. Europe is a hit with budget travelers and the well heeled alike, but this article focuses on helping the former get the very most from their travel dollar.

The goal of budget travel is not merely to spend as little as possible. The true goal of the budget traveler is to get the most value out of his or her travel budget, and to focus those limited funds on the things that mean the most to them. Often this means finding cheap lodging in order to enjoy a four star dinner at the finest restaurant in Paris. For others, it could mean buying food at the local grocery and cooking your own dinner, so that you can splurge on a night at the opera or the ballet.

Listed below are some of our all time favorite tips for saving money on a vacation in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter):

 Eat where the locals eat. Eating with the local people instead of the tourists is a great way to save money and enjoy some of the finest cuisine. The restaurants favored by local residents tend to be those that provide the best meals at the lowest prices.

 For a quick and economical breakfast, pick up a roll, some fresh cold cuts and a piece of fruit from the local market. Then enjoy a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the local park.

 When eating out, choose the fixed price menu and the house wine for the best value. Most restaurants offer two or three choices on their fixed price menu, and these dishes are often a great way to sample the local cuisine.

 Sleep cheap on the train. Overnight trains are a great way to both get from place to place and sleep cheaply. Be sure to bring a meal, bottle of water and snack along with you. You will save money by not visiting the dining car, and you will enjoy some great food as well.

 Take lots of pictures and enjoy the people you meet on the road. Take pictures not only of local tourist attractions but of the friends you meet along the way. If using a film camera, it is best to bring the undeveloped rolls back with you and have them developed once you get back home, since film developing in tourist locations is usually quite costly. And of course a digital camera offers a great and cost effective alternative, and you can choose to print only the best shots.

 Try emailing your postcards. Find a website that offers some great photographs of local attractions, or upload your own from your digital camera. Use these shots to send some great personalized email postcards to family and friends back home.

 Try to learn at least a little bit of the local language. If you know the language, or at least the names of the currency, it will be easier, and often cheaper, to buy the things you need.

 When making large purchases, it is always best to use a credit card. Not only will your cash last longer, but credit cards provide the best exchange rates.

 Get cash through an ATM instead of at currency exchange kiosks and hotels. Like credit cards, ATM cash transactions provide the best exchange rates, and you will avoid the sometimes costly fees charged by hotels and currency services.

 Take advantage of all the discounts you are entitled to. Many locations provide student discounts, senior discounts, etc. If you are not sure about discounts, always be sure to ask.

 Plan your vacation budget wisely. There are some excellent, and very inexpensive mementos of your trip, such as stickers, patches or postcards. For more expensive purchases, remember that the further you venture from the tourist attraction, the less expensive the souvenirs will become.

 Tour the city with the locals. A bus pass or subway token is a great way to meet the local people and see the sights. The public transportation service of most European cites is remarkably efficient, clean, safe and easy to navigate. It is not necessary to speak the local language to navigate on the subway or the bus system of most cities.

On a beautiful warm summer day and after a nice filling breakfast we got going early yesterday to embark on our Sunday excursion to the south-western part of Styria. I wasn’t particularly well-rested after a full day yesterday that included a hike, a local driving tour and a birthday party, but I was keen to explore the area west of Leibnitz, Styria’s foremost winegrowing region together with my brother Ewald, his wife Anneliese and our friends Luis and Isabella.

Distances in Europe are always on a different scale than in North America. Southwestern Styria is only about one hour from my home town of Weiz and nevertheless it is considered a different geographic region from my home area of East Styria. Southwestern Styria enjoys a favourable climate with Mediterranean influences and the temperatures are on average higher than those in the surrounding regions. The area is particularly well-known for its rolling hills, many of which are used as vineyards for growing mostly white, but also some red wines of the Zweigelt or Blauburgunder variety. The most well-known wine of this area is called “Schilcher”, a rose-coloured wine, whose special designation can only be applied to wines that were grown in this particular area and made from a type of grape called the “Blaue Wildbacher”.

We stopped our vehicle on a parking lot just steps away from the “Weinbauschule Silberberg” (the Silberberg School of Viticulture). This particular schools features a 1.5 km long wine educational trail that provides informational background about the history of wine, about details related to wine-growing as well as a collection of old wine farming implements and tools. A 5 m high statue of St. Urban, the patron saint of the vintners, stands at the beginning of the wine educational trail, and further up the hill there is an oversized metal sculpture of an insect called the wine pest that was brought in from France in the 1800s and almost completely deciminated Styrian wine cultivation.

We slowly hiked up on pathways along the vineyards and had a beautiful view south, and westwards towards the mountain chain separating the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. Schloss Seggau (Seggau Castle), dating back to the 12th century, was clearly visible nearby, a structure that was once used to defend Austria’s border against invading Turks and Hungarians, but today has found new use as a hotel and conference centre.

Once we reached the top of the hill we climbed up the “Kreuzkogelwarte”, a lookout tower at an elevation of 496 m that provided a continuous 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. North of us was the provincial capital of Graz with a backdrop of the mountains of Northern Styria, south of us Slovenia, and west of us the Austrian province of Carinthia.

My brother pointed out a particular hill that also featured a vineyard and was apparently the property of famous Austrian tennis player Thomas Muster, who hails from the nearby district capital of Leibnitz. Thomas Muster, a former number 1 player, was one of the most gifted clay court players in the history of tennis and achieved 44 ATP tour titles throughout his career during the 1990s. Today Thomas Muster heads up his own fashion label called TOMS, runs a vineyard, has gotten involved in the production of high-quality Alpine spring water called TOMS Water, and not surprisingly, developed a tennis racquet called TOMS Machine in collaboration with the Kneissl company, released in 2005. A great tennis career can open many doors…

We continued our hike of the surrounding hills and walked by a so-called “Buschenschank”, a rustic local restaurant owned by a vintner who is able to sell his own wine as well as a variety of self-produced culinary products. This is a typical Austrian gastronomic establishment that was originally limited to selling only this-year’s wine and had strict limitations as to what type of foods they could serve. Today, many vintner’s obtain a full restaurant license in order to sell regular hot foods as well.

After an enjoyable hike along the ridge of a vineyards we started our descent into the valley and spent about 45 minutes walking down a forest road and then headed into a cool forest that took us back to our vehicle. A fifteen minute drive later we arrived at our lunch destination: “Buschenschank Koschak” is a popular local destination for good wines and excellent local Styrian food. We had reserved a table and sat outside under trellises covered with grapes and vine tendrils.

It was seriously time for a traditional Styrian meal: I started with a “Fritattensuppe” (a clear beef broth that features thinly cut pancake strips), my favourite Austrian soup. Then all five of us shared a big platter of Austrian Fried Chicken as well as a Rosemary Chicken with Rice. Austrian fried chicken is very crispy and less greasy than North American varieties and is a staple of traditional Austrian Sunday lunches. Traditionally, the largest meal is eaten at lunch time in Austria, although modern work routines have changes the traditional rhythms of food preparation and consumption as well.

The obligatory side dish is a mixed salad containing lettuce, tomatoes, beans and other varieties of vegetables, marinated with vinegar and pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil is a popular Styrian speciality, a specialty oil made from the roasted seeds of pumpkins. Styrian pumpkins are unique: the seeds have lost their wooden shell due to a mutation about 100 years ago and only a tiny silver-coloured membrane protects the seed. This soft consistency of the seeds facilitates efficient pressing of the oil. The final product is a thick, dark green oil that has a nutty flavour and is used primarily as a salad oil, but also to refine soups and other dishes. You can even get a “pumpkin seed parfait” as a dessert, which is exactly what my brother ordered after we were finished.

Incidentally, pumpkin seed oil is the only Styrian delicacy that I buy in Austria to bring back to Toronto, or I might request someone traveling from Austria to bring me a bottle. As a passionate salad eater, Austrian pumpkin seed oil is my favourite salad dressing, bar none. And just recently I found a German delicatessen store that apparently carries Styrian pumpkin seed oil right here in Toronto. So thanks to Toronto’s multicultural culinary landscape I might actually be able to get my favourite Austrian delicacy right here without having to beg an Austrian visitor to bring me a bottle.

After a great meal I got really tired, especially considering the fact that I only had a few hours of sleep last night. I slept all the way home in the car and once we got back to my brother’s house, I crashed for a few hours. I woke up at about 7 pm, and just before having a light dinner, I hopped on Anneliese’s bicycle and went cycling for an hour throughout my home town.

Sunday night Austrian towns are traditionally very quiet since everyone is getting ready to go to work the next day, so the roads were nice and peaceful. When I came back my brother and sister-in-law were ready to go to bed so I turned in early to rest up for today. Well, unfortunately the weather today did not cooperate as planned and the entire morning was grey and drizzly. At noon time I visited my friends Andrea and Herbert, whose daughter Nina had stayed with my husband and me last year to as part of her Canadian stint to work as a nanny.

Andrea is the older sister of one of my best friends from school, and I had not seen her for at least 23 years. It was great to see her again, we had already chatted numerous times for free using http://www.skype.com, and I knew she had the same love for languages, travel and cosmopolitan thinking as me. She graciously invited me to join her family for lunch and I was listening intently to Andrea’s and Herbert’s travel stories from Rumania. Just in the last few weeks they had spent some time in Bucharest and in Transsylvania and learned much about Rumania’s interesting history as well as about the tyrannical Ceauscescu regime. We all agreed that we view traveling much differently as we get older, that today we really see travel as an opportunity to learn and to understand the world and its historic and environmental contexts.

We decided that we would jointly visit another local tourism attraction tomorrow: the “Katerloch”, a famous local limestone cave that is a popular regional tourist destination.

After a little walk in town I met my friends Luis and Isabella and their friend Wolfgang to play a couple of hours of tennis in an indoor tennis facility. The tennis club also features a bistro where we enjoyed a couple of pizzas afterwards and a beer. I thought to myself “these Austrians know how to live”. None of the Canadian tennis clubs that I have been at feature a bistro or any kind of gastronomic establishment. So I realized these Austrians have their priorities straight: you can work out and burn calories, but you have to cap it off with a nice tasty meal and a local beer because “Gemütlichkeit” (loosely translated as warm cordiality in a cozy environment) is an important factor here.

After about an hour I thanked my friends for a great tennis match and a cozy evening and headed back to my brother’s house to reconnect with him and to rest up for another eventful day tomorrow.

Greece has long been a favorite holiday destination for people from around the world to visit. In fact, over 15 million people choose Greece as their holiday destination every single year. Greece has many different things to offer the vacationer, from wonderful villages, to fantastic shopping and pristine beaches; Greece has it all. Usually, the Greek islands are where most people frequent, but the mainland of Greece is also a great place to visit too. You could visit Athens, Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Thessaloniki.

The Mediterranean climate is alive and well in Greece. The winters are short and mild. The summers run from April through November and boast hot, dry weather and days and days of sunshine. Occasionally there will be rain showers, but these are short-lived and infrequent. May and June and September and October are the very best months to see Greece as the weather is at its most comfortable and pleasant. From the middle of July to the middle of August, Greece is under the spell of the hottest summer weather.

The peak of the holiday season is from July until August, the vast majority of those taking a holiday arrive in Greece between April and October. Most of the country’s tourist infrastructure goes into hibernation outside of these months, especially on the islands. The bulk of scheduled international flights are handled in Athens and Thessaloniki. Several charter and planned low-budget flights arrive everyday from several of Europe’s cities to many of the islands and smaller cities on the mainland during tourist season.

There are any number of Greek and international hotel booking services. You will most likely be able to book your accommodations online, as most hotels have websites and will take bookings by email, although sometimes a fax is more reliable for communication. Hotels in Greece tend to be simple establishments. Even in the simpler places, the standards of cleanliness are usually good. Rooms usually tend to be small, have air conditioning, and a balcony. The more luxurious hotels can be found in the cities as well as on the more popular islands, but it is not too common and does not always represent a good value for your money.

Greece is not known for its major cosmopolitan flair. You usually will not be able to do major shopping while on the islands. What you can expect is specialty products from local artisans which can not be beat. These things include hand-made lace and jewelry, leather goods, pottery, local wines, hand woven rugs and much more. When you are in Greece, expect to eat very well since eating out is a major way of life. Most restaurants are called “Taverna” or “Estiatorio” and they are easily found in any area you visit. And if you speak English, then you will not have any issues with a language barrier since most people speak the language.

Jerez is built upon an old Moorish fortress that has been partially restored. In land area, it is the largest municipality in the area with a lot of its ground being used to grow fruit and to herd cattle and horses. Its strength now lies in the processing of the grape into fortified wines, world-famous, for globally exported products such as the estimable sherries; Domecq, Gonzalez Byass and Harveys.

Horses are of huge significance in Jerez, which is also home to the reputable Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art where performances of these noble hoofed animals take place every week during the summer. There are sixty stables, which enjoy regular tours, and practical use of dressage, tacking, and the blacksmith skills of shoeing these thoroughbreds. There is also equipment that is still used on the horses today that dates back to the 18th century.

The town centre is predominantly pedestrianised; palm trees linger exotically throughout the squares. There are many shops to whet your appetite and unsurprisingly it has crafts related to sherry making such as barrel making. It also has an excellent saddle shop that sells well-worked leather items. And it also sells items related to flamenco dancing, which is another favourite pastime of the Jerez townsfolk that they gladly share with their many visitors dancing into the early hours of the morning.

The golden beaches of Costa de la Luz start at approximately 9km away from Jerez. Victoria beach plays host, not only to sun worshipping bathers, but also a promenade that has many bars and restaurants that serve food from the tapas to haute cuisine. The Santa Maria del Mar stretches along ancient city walls near Osborne – another famous sherry producing area. Then there is the Cortadura, a wild beach but one that has been awarded seven prestigious blue flag awards. The average temperatures start from a relatively warm 10ºC in the coolest month of January to a sizzling 26ºC in August. Water sports are also provided at the coast with a game of golf readily available in and around the area of Jerez.

Jerez airport is only 5km away from the city so transfers will not be expensive. Shuttle services are frequent and there is always the cab to whisk you away to your final destination. However, if you can, rent a hire car – this will get you to most places in and around Jerez and it will be ready when you are. Shuttle services and car hire can be arranged in advance and often can be done at the same time as booking your flight tickets. Car rental desks are also located at the airport.

The final destination – there are many hotels ranging from the humble bed and breakfast to the more grandiose five-star. However, another popular option and more flexible approach is to rent your holiday home. These can be tailored around your preferences; from a traditional styled Andalucian home to a more modern luxurious villa stretching near the coastline.

The magic word is EARLY! Yes be there 3 hours before departure time. Because, at any given busy airport you will have to find your way true long walks. And once you get to the check-in area you have 2 choices. A: use one of those Kiosk robot agent and for certain airlines you only have that choice unless you force your way to a real person…good luck there. Or B: get in line with all those that could not use the kiosk and that usually include the groups.

So you got true and the machine gave you the boarding pass and your baggage tags. It took you any ware from 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many machines where available or how long it took you to argue with the agent who sent you back to it. Now you have to bring your baggage to the agent showing your boarding card to the same person who sent you back. Don’t worry this time you’ll get true. Ho and don’t forget to put the tags properly on your baggage. To do that read carefully on the back of the tag. So there you are after about 40 minutes after you arrived, in line to drop your baggage. And other 15 or so and you are done. Be certain none of your baggage is over the limit of weight or size unless you are prepared to pay some extra money or told that you have to send it via cargo.

Ok Your are now free to relax, but wait where is the gate and when do you need to be there? Depending on the size of the aircraft you will need to be a the gate 20 to 50 minutes before actual departure. So you arrived at the airport 90 minutes ago, survived the check in and you find out where the gate is. Now what? Security! Yes that is one major time issue! You should count a minimum of 30 seconds to 2 minutes per person in front of you based on the number of point of search. There again be certain not to have anything that will get you in to trouble; liquids over 90 ml., Pocket knife…anything metallic like heavy jewelry on you. All the rest you will need to put in a plastic bin to be X-rayed.

So ok you were lucky and you got true in 30 minutes. That’s 2 hours so far. And you still need that extra hour to be at the gate for boarding. So if you plane on having lunch before your flight be there 5 hours before!

Your next challenge is connecting to your next flight. Most airlines will sell you minimum time connecting flights. In some case that means 30 to 50 minutes, marketing prevails! No way will you be able to do that if you need to change terminal or walk in the wrong direction. That happens a lot! So when you make your reservation allow yourself a good 2 hours between flight. Insist when you talk to the travel agent because online reservation will not allow you to do that. Why 2 hours? The chances are your initial flight will be late arriving at destination or will wait for the ground crew to be parked. On top of that you may be sitting in row 41 and you will get out only after a 10-15 minutes.

So you are on your way to the connecting flight, you know the direction to the gate and having 2 hours that leave you with some time to go at the duty free. But only if you are staying in the secured zone. Otherwise you will not get true security with a bottle of your favorite wine.

Next time we will talk about the possibility of your flight being delayed or canceled. That is also a fun issue! Until then have a wonderful time in Europe!

DestinationEuro.

Have you ever heard about the country where people could save their traditions about any foreign interference? Have you ever heard about the city that includes the past, the present and the future at the same time? And what about people? Have you ever heard about the nation that hadn’t allowed any foreign influence to change their thoughts, traditions, their way of life? I think that you’ve heard about such countries, and of course you have many examples to prove your answer. Certainly, there are many such countries. One of the examples are Asian countries. Well, but what about Europe? There is a country in the Central Europe that was under the occupation of different countries but it hasn’t changed. It’s Hungary. It’s a small country.

Budapest is its capital. Budapest stands on the bank of the river Danube. There are many wonderful European cities that stand on the banks of this river but only Budapest is known as a pearl of Danube. I think many people would like to visit this city where nothing reminds you about bustling world we live in. The streets are very small and silent in Budapest. They are very similar to each other. So, without a map you can do nothing here, cause it’s very easy to be lost. Budapest was formed from three towns and the contrast between these towns is very visible. On the right bank of the river stands Buda with its ancient monuments. On the opposite side stands Pest with its modern buildings, colorful shop windows that reflect different fashion styles. They say that these shop windows are similar with those in Paris. Examining the architecture of the city I was impressed by the architects’ work that could combine modern technologies with ancient buildings. Although not only the architect of the city impressed me much. Besides, I think you’ll find out this information in any guide-book without effort. What was interesting? It was absolutely another thing. Hungarians impressed me much. I admired the thing how they could carry through the centuries the part of their history, their traditions, their folk songs and dances without any influence.

Wandering about the city I was looking for a drugstore. I peered into buildings with a signboard with a name. I thought that the name had to be clear to everyone, something international, that everyone could understand it. But my searches haven’t met with success. I haven’t found any drugstore. Later I found that, certainly, drugstores in Budapest exist but their names are quite different from the names which we used to hear. So the name of the drugstore in Budapest is GYOGUSERTA’R.

If it happened so that you’ve lost don’t ask citizens for a help. They won’t help you. Moreover they can go away. It doesn’t mean that Hungarians aren’t hospitable or that don’t study any foreign language at schools. Hungarians don’t accept any foreign things. Well, they are friendly and cheerful people. They are able to allocate the time for job and for fun. Speaking about their attitude for job Hungarians are very similar to Germans. They are very responsible and concern to the orders with due scrupulousness.

Nevertheless Budapest is a city that you have to visit. If you arrive here in spring you’ll find yourself on a festival. You’ll have a lot of fun spending time with your friends drinking famous Hungarian wine and eating famous Hungarian goulash. By the way, if you decide to go into a restaurant and have dinner won’t be in a hurry to reserve both the first and the second course at once. Why? Because portions in the Budapest’s restaurants are huge and you can overeat. In addition, there is one thing that can make you happy. Budapest is a very cheap city.

So, if you are tired of the crowed, busy streets and expensive restaurants you have to visit Budapest. You can have a rest both for your soul and for your body. In conclusion, the main thing is that you’ll receive a great pleasure from this rest without any notice of passing time.

Having a holiday to Italy really can be the trip of a lifetime. If you want to make the most of your visit then there are some things that you simply can’t afford to miss out on.

When you talk to people who enjoy visiting the country you soon realise that there are so many highlights. Most of us will have our own favourite destinations within the country.

The reality is that most areas of Italy have a lot to offer visitors from overseas. This is admittedly more obvious in some locations than others.

If you mention to others that you are planning to visit Venice, for example, then it’s likely that many of your friends and family will already know of some of the sights associated with that particular city.

You’ll see a similar situation when it comes to many Italian cities, notably Florence, Rome, Milan and Pisa.

Finding out which cities are the best to visit is something that you can easily discover by looking online or by reading a decent guide book, but how about the experiences that simply are not to be missed?

These are more difficult to discover, but they are often the things worth knowing. After all, when you look back on your trip, it’s likely to be these unique moments that stick in your memory.

So if you want to make the most of your holiday then what should you aim to do? I think a lot of the great Italian experiences are actually not about the architecture of the place, or the fine coastal regions.

Many great memories are created by Italian people and by their hospitality. This is particularly evident when it comes to dining out.

The Italians love to make a fuss of visitors and this is particularly evident when eating out. Head for a trattoria, rather than an expensive restaurant and you’ll be rewarded with a great experience.

The food is fantastic, as is the wine. Try some red Chianti Classico if you want some great local wine, made in the Tuscany region.

There’s one other experience that you can’t miss – make sure that you taste Italian ice cream – it’s not to be missed!

The internet allows us to titivate, tease and tantalise our tastebuds! Cooking is therapeutic. It is artistic and creative giving us the opportunity to heighten and arouse our previously numbed senses. It affords us the hitherto forgotten ability to genuinely communicate with those we love, enjoy and desire! Convenience is a dark word that should be forcibly removed from the dictionary! Though far from being a crusader, my humble quest starts here with the opportunity for knowledge being shared amongst a culinary brethren!

Please allow me to indulge you.

Bouillabaise

(French Provençal seafood stew)

Bouillabaisse is one of the great dishes of French Provençal cuisine. The recipe looks intimidating, doesn’t it? Well it shouldn’t. Making it is actually fairly simple. The key is using top-notch ingredients.

Ideally bouillabaisse is made with rascasse, an ugly fish found only in the Mediterranean. But feel free to make it with any combination of fish and seafood available to you. Try to use as many different types as possible, as it improves the flavor.

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Broth

· Olive oil — 1/4 cup

· Onion, chopped — 1

· Celery, chopped — 2 ribs

· Garlic, crushed — 4 cloves

· Fish heads and bones (see variations) — 2 to 3 pounds

· Tomatoes, chopped — 1 pound

· Fennel bulb, or dried fennel seed (optional) –1 chopped bulb or 1 teaspoon seed

· Orange peel (no white pith) — 1 piece, about 2 or 3 inches long

· Parsley — 6 to 8 sprigs

· Fresh thyme — 2 sprigs

· Bay leaf — 1

· Saffron (optional) — 1 pinch

· Salt — 2 teaspoons

· Peppercorns — 6 to 8

· Water — 2 quarts

· White wine (optional) — 1 cup

Rouille

· Red bell pepper, roasted, peeled and seeded — 1

· Potato, cooked and peeled — 1

· Garlic, crushed — 4 cloves

· Hot chile pepper, minced — 1

· Fresh basil — 2 tablespoons

· Salt and pepper — to taste

· Olive oil — 1/4 cup

To Finish

· Fish and seafood (see variations) — 5 to 6 pounds

· French bread sliced and toasted — 2 to 3 pieces per person

Method

1. For the Broth: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven oil over a medium flame. Add the onions, celery and garlic and sauté slowly until the onions are wilted and translucent. Stir in all the remaining broth ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes.

2. Strain the broth, discarding the solids, and adjust its seasoning with salt and pepper. (The recipe can be prepared up to this point and the broth kept in the fridge until needed.)

3. For the Rouille: Place the roasted pepper, potato, garlic, chile pepper, basil, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor with a little of the broth from above. With the blender or processor running, gradually pour in the olive oil. Thin out the sauce a little with more of the broth if needed. The rouille should be thick but spreadable. Adjust seasoning and place in a sauce boat or small bowl.

4. To Finish: Bring the broth to a simmer again over medium heat. Add the fish and seafood in batches, starting with the firmest fish first and ending with the most delicate seafood. Simmer until all the fish and seafood is cooked through, about 10 minutes.

5. To serve, place the toasted bread in the bottom of each individual’s bowl. Place a piece of each type of fish and seafood over the bread in each bowl and spoon the broth over all. Pass rouille at the table for each guest to stir into the bouillabaisse.