Shaister Miester Do Da

In Prague, coffee is a tradition. The inhabitants know how to appreciate it and especially how to prepare it. Coffee has always been and still remains to be a good opportunity to meet friends and tell stories. Read more about Prague culture at My blog

The first coffee shop of Prague was opened at the beginning of the 18th century by Deotodus Damascenus, who brought the coffee over from Damascus. Since then, everybody tell his stories in these coffee shops. For example, “the famous circle of Arconautes” is often told; where a group of German intellectuals where became famous Max Brod and Franz Kafka (and who gave the name of the coffee shop Arco. Also, the coffee shop Slavia was the symbol of the Czech national movement in 19th century, used as a meeting place for the dissidents of the communist regime. If you would like some more information on the history of this wonderful country, then visit blog about Prague
These shops (even the smallest), are thus cultural, peaceful places which are always good to have a rest in. In order to be close to all of these coffee shops, it’s better to find a well located hotel a Prague. Here is a small guide which will help you chose the right coffee shop for you.

Slavia coffee shop
The most famous coffee shop in Prague is Slavia and is a symbol of the essence of the city: a tempestuous history with a rich cultural life. The coffee is really quite expensive but of course delicious. Big windows open to a remarkable panoramic view of Prague, (the castle, the warm colours of the roofs of Malá Strana, the Charles and Vltava bridge, the National Theatre…)
Café Slavia - Kavárna Slávie
Národní 1
www.cafeslavia.cz
Métro Národní t?ída.
8h to 23h

Imperial coffee shop
After a tiring visit in the heart of the New City, nothing can beat thr coffee from Imperial (near the small Masaryk station), simply magnificent … With an exceptional service, your coffee will be perfectly accompanied by a smile and not to mention all of the pastries and desserts. You can even eat there for a reasonable price.
Café Impérial
Na Po?í?í 15,
110 00 Prague 1
www.hotel-imperial.cz
Métro: Namesti republiky (line B)

Louvre coffee shop
The “Louvre” is above all a meeting place. You can go there to drink a coffee, to eat, to snack or even to play billiard. The conversation can be as intellectual as the wrongs of the world or as simple as the weather. Or if you prefer, you can sit in peace and read your news paper.

Louvre coffee shop
Národní 20
www.cafelouvre.cz
Monday to Friday: 8h to 23h30
Weekend: 9h to 23h30

The big Orient coffee shop
This is the “cubist” coffee shop of the city! Everything is beautiful, from the shapes to the colours, just like their coffee! This coffee shop is a real synonym of style.

Ovocný trh 19
Praha 1
www.grandcafeorient.cz
Metro M?stek.
Monday to Sunday: 9h to 22h

Lucerna coffee shop
This was the first permanent theatre of Prague. Special guest such as Yves Montand, Maurice Chevalier, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong have all performed here.
The atmosphere is cosy with simple decoration. With good service and great coffee, this place is not to be missed!
Café Lucerna.
Vodi?kova 36
www.lucerna.cz
Métro M?stek.
Everyday: 10am to midnight

In order to fully enjoy this magical city, I strongly advise you to find an apartament à Prague or a logement Prague in the heart of the city. There is good accommodation information on some of the better blog sites, such as my blog about Prague

The Czech Republic is a mix of Austrian and German traditions. Meat therefore has a crucial role in food, whereas vegetables are forgotten. The Czechs do not like cooking which is why they prefer a single meal a day; fatty and full of sauce! After a meal you will have one need: to let the wonderful food digest and to sleep! Fortunately, there is plenty of Prague accommodation (Location prague), and there are of course, many Prague hotels (or Hôtel à prague) lining the streets. Czech culinary specialities are defiantly worth visiting Prague for! You will find some great examples of typical dishes at affordable pride.

Starters (p?edkrmy)
One of the most famous starters is the ham in Prague (pražská šunka). There is a variety of boiled ham stuffed in whipped cream. The Czechs are not great fans of vegetables but they do love salads, notably Šopský salá; a dish with tomatoes and cucumbers covered with warm cheese. And do not miss the játra na cibulce; goose liver with onions.

Soups (polévky)
The national soup (?eská bramborová) is made from a base of carrots, mushrooms and potatoes. It is the typical dish you will find everywhere as the Czechs always appreciate a good soup. Cabbage soup with bacon (zel?a?ka) is also very popular and for the bravest, there’s gut soup (Drstková). Very interesting I must say!

Typicals Czechs dishes (?eská národní jídla)
Generally, Czech food is all about meat (in any shape or form), served in abundance with an accompaniment. Let’s begin with the tradition, goulash. It is an integral part of Czech gastronomy although it has Hungarian origins. Goulash consists of meat (mainly beef), onions, peppers, paprika and potatoes. It is cheap and a particularly fatty dish which will delight big eaters.

Fried dishes are also popular. Almost all of the food here has its own “fried” version; whether it’s some warm cheese coated in breadcrumbs, meats coated in breadcrumbs (especially pork and chicken), fish coated in breadcrumbs and vegetables coated in breadcrumbs (mushrooms, cauliflowers etc.).

Beef is the favourite meat and therefore costs more than others. There are therefore lots of dishes to be savoured!! Amongst all of the beef dishes on offer, it is absolutely necessary to enjoy Sví?ková na smetan? (roasted beef with cream, accompanied by blueberries) and the exotic Špan?lské ptá?ky (beef mixed with bacon, eggs, onions and gherkins).
Although the meat rules in this country, fish has also been a part of Czech gastronomy for years but is generally inedible without having been fried. Carp however is very much appreciated and is generally eaten for Christmas, with grapes and walnuts.

The accompaniments
Side orders are generally not included in the price of your main meal. The 2 traditional accompaniments of Czech food are:
- knedlíky. This dish is composed of meat slices on a base of flour, egg, and bread. This dish is really fatty but it gets eaten with everything.
- bramborák. Pancakes of potatoes flavoured with marjoram.

Desserts (mou?níky)
Czech desserts don’t really have a big place in the meal taking into consideration the enormous main courses. However, you can find some desserts inspired by neighbouring countries, such as Viennese cakes and crêpes filled with fresh fruit and with whipped cream.

If you decide to visit this city, don’t go to one of the many fast food restaurants (which have invaded the city since the fall of communism), and make sure to try something new! And to stay in the centre, there are several cheap offers of accommodation available (Appartement prague) so make the most of it.

Checkpoint Charlie got its name from the American alphabet as President John F. Kennedy ordered the U.S. forces to build three checkpoints at different points in the wall through which diplomatic corps and allied forces could enter West Berlin. Checkpoint Charlie thus, became the most famous.

Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of east and west and for some East Germans, a gateway to freedom. For nearly 30 years, this checkpoint represented not only a divided Germany but a world in political turmoil.

Most of us have only seen this area as feature plots in films and now one can go to this location and experience it firsthand. If you’re one of the many people out there that are curious to know that makes this checkpoint so famous then it is recommended to schedule a trip to Berlin to come and find out this marvel for oneself.

Checkpoint Charlie has been frequently featured in spy movies and books, such as those by John le Carré. The famous cafe and viewing point for Allied officials, Armed Forces and visitors alike, Cafe Adler (Cafe Eagle), is situated right on the checkpoint, it was an excellent viewing point to look into East Berlin, while having something to eat and drink.

You might ask what the importance of this location was or what has happened to it today? This checkpoint was the only place at which foreigners visiting Berlin could cross from West to East and back again. This site has been made most famous by stand-offs between east and west, America and the Soviets, most notoriously in 1961 when American and Soviet tanks faced each other at the checkpoint.

Today one can visit where this checkpoint once stood which meant the difference between the feelings of imprisonment and freedom. This site is interesting to visit as one can get a feeling for the type of idealism that controlled and rules East Germany at that time. Due to the many other attractions in the area, it is recommended to book a hotels Berlijn in advance.

Checkpoint Charlie is one of the many sites within Berlin that a newcomer just has to visit it by oneself in order to try to understand how freedom came to be today in Germany. Whether you want to stay for a prolonged period of time by renting an appartement in Berlijn to take in these sights or just quickly go through to other attractions within Berlin, make sure you visit this site if you have the chance to see the not so pleasant history of Berlin.

Family vacation time can be one of the most gratifying experiences, regardless of the location - whether in the vacation villa, any number of international locations, enjoying a vacation villa, or other adventures.

For many, the peaceful surroundings of a summer cottage are such a thrill. While most of us picture a summer cottage sitting right on the waterfront, inland summer home options are not only abundant, but also significantly cheaper. Before you rent an expensive waterfront cottage, keep reading to learn more about the benefits of inland property.

More Land, Lower Price

While waterfront properties offer beach and water access without having to walk or drive down to a water access point, they also don’t offer the land and privacy that an inland property would for a fraction of the price.

Most waterfront properties are either alarmingly close to their neighbors or directly across the water from other properties. On the other hand, inland properties tend to be situated on larger land parcels and, subsequently, afford more privacy.

Wants versus Needs

Are you renting a summer home because you spend your days swimming and your evenings paddling a canoe around the lake? Or, are you renting a summer home so you can enjoy the woods, go hunting, have bonfires and evenings spent by the barbeque?

Before you set your heart on a week at a waterfront property, think about the difference between what you actually want out of a property and what you and your family really need. If the answer is rest, relaxation, seclusion and quality time together, you may not prefer the expense and worry of a waterfront property.

Alternatively, many families that are renting a summer home to be close to relatives go for an inland property that’s adjacent or close to their family’s waterfront land. This allows them to enjoy their summer home - even if for a short time - be close to family, and still retain water access when they want it.

Waterfront Maintenance

With direct water frontage comes direct waterfront maintenance. This would really only be relevant if buying rather than merely renting. However, from installing and maintaining a dock, which may have to be taken in every season to shouldering the cost of life jackets, water gear and boat accessories, waterfront properties come with a whole lot more than water.

Parents should also think about safety, especially when looking at properties with deep-water docks or fast-moving river currents.

While a waterfront property is beautiful, there are many advantages to renting an inland summer vacation home. Beyond the obvious factor of cost, there’s also maintenance, safety, value for money and, of course, your own family’s actual needs. Before you pay for a vacation near water, consider the benefits of going inland.

3 Things You Should Watch out For When Travelling - air fare -

How to travel well on a budget.

Traveling entails a lot of unexpected expenses and if not careful you could very easily spend more than you can afford. Most travelers get grumpy when they don’t have enough cash.Proper planning is the key to budget travelling and could lead to memorable vacation.

First you should get accurate information about the place you are about to visit.A visit to your travel agent may be able to give you the information you need for your destination and the best airfare as well.You have to make sure that you will get the best deals from airfare to accommodations and with patience and determination you will find it.Browse around for special internet offers and promotions.

Your biggest cost will be the hotels, travel and entertainment

Flying to your destination.

The first step would be to find inexpensive flight, if your dates are flexible then you will be able to save the most.If possible, you should try to avoid holidays and go during the off peak season. The same flight can cost five time more depending on
the date selected. Off peak, when people are less likely to go on vacation the demand are low and most travel companies, hotels, airlines give great discounts to their customers. Also a very good thing about going on vacation during off season is that you will not have problems with crowd and will be able to really enjoy your vacation.

Booking your hotel.

The second step, the important factor, is you hotel location.
If you are far from everything it will cost you everytime you are trying to get somewhere. You will also waste your time waiting for a cab or a bus instead of having fun.
After finding the best location, then you can start looking on line for your cheap hotel.After surfing around your should be on your way for a great time at the least possible cost.

These handy tips will help you in acquiring the best budget travel deal.

air fare

There are already numerous reasons to visit Barcelona. But what if you add the possibility of doing excellent shopping? And cheaply? That’s right, there are lots of chances to do really good shopping in the city at a very reasonable price.

First thing: in Barcelona there is a real “shopping road”, especially dedicated to clothing, with both international chains and local design boutiques. The street begins at Port Vell and moves along to the Avinguda Diagonal, for a whole 15kilometres with many streets having bin made pedestrian zones. All the shops are of a high quality and the long walk also allows you to discover the beautiful attractions of the city. For info about these sights along the way, you can find useful information in one of the many Barcelona blogs available on the internet.

If you are looking for the best shops in town, famous brands and world famous designers, you absolutely have to go along Passeig de Gracia. If you are seeking a shopping mall equipped with everything you can not miss El Corte Ingles in Plaça Catalunya, L’Lille in Diagonal 557 and Maremagnum near to Port Vell. In these three areas you can find comfortable Barcelona apartments (or Barcellona appartamenti), ideal for visiting the city, as well as excellent rooms in Barcelona hotels (or Appartamenti barcellona).

In the centre, a marvellous invention has been implemented since a very lonbg time. In Barcelona, an original Shopping Bus Line exists; a line of buses that move through the most commercial area, giving access to all those who are searching for the best shopping experience. You can buy a special shopping travel card that will allow you to get on and off the busses as many times as you want in order to make the most of your shopping experience.

Leaving aside for a moment all of the clothes shopping posibilitiea, you absolutely have to visit La Boqueria market along Las Ramblas. A colourful and vibrant market full of food produce: like fruit and vegetables from all around the world. The market is a real feast for your eyes.

Some practical information on business hours (so that you always find the shops when they’re open): the opening times are normally separated into two parts; morning trade takes place at 10 to 14h and afternoon trade from 16.30 to 20h, while shopping centres are generally open all day.
Consult the list of available Barcelona accommodation (or Barcellona hotel), you can find some very interesting offers that you shouldn’t miss. Decide the one you like and book it as soon as possible!

The city of Berlin accommodates a total of 153 museums. The Museum Island complex has been declared as a world inheritance by UNESCO. It is situated in the northern part of the Island of Spree, between Spree and the Kupfergraben. It was already declared “districts devoted to the art and antiquities” by Royal rule. Then Altes Museum (Old Museum) in the Lustgarten, from where the queen of Nefertiti is exhibited and the Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Galerry), the Pergamonmuseum and the Bode Museum were constructed. The names of the buildings are not necessarily related with the contents of exhibited collections and items.

There are plenty more museums alongside Museum Island. The Gemäldegalerie (Paintings Gallery) focuses upon paintings from old masters from the 13th up until the 18th century, while the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery, built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe) which specialized in European paintings from the 20th century.

In the spring of 2006, the ever expanding German Historic Museum in the Zeughaus reopened with an exposition dedicated to German history, wherein the fall of the Wall of Berlin of 1989 center stage took.

In the Museum Centrum Berlin-Dahlem (Dahlem district), you can find Art Museums and World Culture Museums such as, the Museum of Indian Art, the Museum for Oriental-Asian Art, the Ethnologic Museum, the Museum of European Culture as well as the Geallieerden Museum (a museum about the Cold War) and the Museum Brücke (an arts museum).

Other Museums:
• Bauhaus-Archive: this is an architecture museum.
• Checkpoint Charlie: A private museum exhibiting materials that allowed the Wall to be build.
• German Technological Museum: situated in Kreuzberg, has a broad collection of historical technical objects.
• Berlin Egypt Museum: situated along on the other side of the street, viewable from the Palace of Charlottenburg, this museum accommodates one of the world’s most important collections of objects from Old Egypt.
• Beate Uhse Erotic Museum: Situated near the zoo, it’s one of the biggest erotic museums found in the world.
• Humboldt Museum: museum of natural sciences, situated near the Berlin Hauptbahnhof exhibits one of the biggest reconstructed dinosaurs in the world.
• Jew Museum of Berlin: a permanent exhibition of two-thousand year old Germanjews history.
• Stasi Museum, in Lichtenberg, with a concentration upon the old Ministry of East-Germany street police (Stasi).
• Museum Story of Berlin: combines new audiovisual techniques with the history of the city. One of the 23 underground bunkers that still remain in the city can also be visited.

In order to fully enjoy the museums found in and around Berlin, it is recommended to sort out all accommodation arrangements beforehand. There are numerous hotels in Berlijn to choose from, if you wish to stay for only a couple of days in Berlin. If you wish to stay for a prolonged period of time to fully explore the city of Berlin, then it is recommended to search for appartement in Berlijn.

All across the world, there are several locations you can choose for your family beach vacation. Below,you will find many different locations, and what they will offer you and your family.

Maui
Throughout the West Coast of Maui, you’ll have many choices for your beach vacation. If you plan to enjoy golf, the Kapalua Resort is a great choice, as guests will receive 30% lower golf rates than those who don’t stay at the resort. The resort also includes the Kapalua Bay Hotel, Kapalua Villas, and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua.

One bay over from the Kapalua Bay is the Napili Kai Beach Resort, which is a low rise family resort that offers comfortable beach front condos. The Napili Kai also offers complimentary programs for children ages 6 - 12 from mid June to the end of August, during Easter and Christmas. The condos are seconds away from the beach, and they include kitchens as well as laundry facilities.

If you prefer a more secluded area, the Maui Prince hotel is located in a quiet setting surrounded by two scenic golf courses and a large sandy beach that kids never seem to get enough of.

Mololai family adventures
The island of Molokai is filled with empty beaches, no traffic lights, and few tourists. Many tourists visits only for a day or so, with some going to the island because they assumed they were going to Molokini (which is a snorkeling site near Maui).

The island of Mololai is accessible by ferry from Maui or by plane from Honolulu. The island is ideal for those who like the outdoors with a twist of adventure. When you visit here, you shouldn’t expect shopping or nightlife.

Florida
The Breakers Hotel in sunny Palm Beach Florida has a spa, golf course, and a 1/2 mile sandy beach.
There is also a seperate pool for the kids, a family entertainment center, and a kid’s program. Families can reserve up to five adjoining rooms while children under the age of 16 can stay for free in the same room as their parents.

If you decide to take your beach vacation in Orlando, the Loews Hard Rock Hotel offers you plenty of beach and amusement rides, with a 240 foot slide and a white sandy beach.

California
With several family beach vacation resorts in California, the Hotel Del Coronado is among the most famous. The hotel offers many different facilities for families, including lessons in kayaking, surfing, tennis, and biking.

Georgia
The barrier islands in Georgia offer ambiance, sandy beaches, and a laid back prospective to life as you know it. Jekyll Island offers you miles of paved bike path with three 18 hole golf courses, which is perfect for golf enthusiasts.

The school holidays is the ideal time to take up a holiday that can be enjoyed by both parent and child. Face painting certainly fits the bill. And when you are on vacation you can be on the look out for new designs to try. Perhaps some animals at a zoo or how about the state flag of the place you are visiting? Face painting ideas are all around you.
childrens face painting ideas
face painting ideas
animal face painting

Every year the small town of Allumiere near Rome stages an unusual traditional donkey race. Donkeys representing the six districts of the town race around the central square on a racetrack specifically made for the occasion. Before the race there is a vibrant historical procession, known as the parade of the Sbandieratori.

The Palio delle Contrade will be held on 17th Aug this year at the Piazza della Repubblica 20 in Allumiere just north west of Rome. Located on the Lazian coast just north of Rome, the town of Allumiere can be reached from your apartments in Rome or hotel in Rome in the centre by taking the E80-A12 and exiting at Civitavecchia, Terme Taurine. Then follow signs to Allumiere. The journey should take less than an hour. The Palio itself is free and begins at 5pm, it is one of the main events in Soriano nel Cimino’s Sagra delle Castagne (Chestnut Festival).

The opening event of the festival is the ‘Blessing of the Cavaliers and Archers’, during which the cavaliers ride (and archers walk) into the main square in a grand procession, accompanied by their districts trumpeters and drummers, all followed by a magnificent parade of villagers in medieval dress. They take formation in front of the cathedral as a priest blesses the competitors and the opening ceremonies commence.
The event begins with a round of archery, followed by a round of jousting for rings. The jousters ride a course that is marked with a series of poles. Each pole has three rings of different size. They are scored based on how many rings they get, how big those rings are, and the speed at which they maneuvered the course.

With the second round, the archers take more distance and the cavaliers get a second shot at their remaining rings, again judged by ring count, ring size and speed. A third and final round puts the archers at a greatly increased distance, and the cavaliers that their last run around the track in an effort for the perfect score. After the race is over, (It lasts roughly 5 hours), all of the scores are tallied and the contrada with the highest combined score wins this year’s Palio…

I would really recommend going to see it this year if you’re going to be in Rome. I had a fantastic time; I stayed in Accommodation Rome in the heart of Rome and drove out to see the Palio. The atmosphere there and the people were buzzing with excitement, and the locals certainly felt very passionately about this festival. The losers of the Palio were crying their eyes out whilst the winners started celebrating with champagne and didn’t stop till long into the night.

The Madame Tussaud Museum is the most famous wax museum in the world. It has the largest collection of wax figures of famous people such as Madonna, Churchill, Elizabeth the Queen etc. The main museum is in London, but there are also museums in New York, Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Amsterdam. Madame Tussaud has also opened a museum in Berlin on the boulevard “Unter den Linden” in the city centre.

This opening is has been tinted with a very controversial addition to the wax work collection. The display of the wax work figure of Adolf Hitler has caused numerous protests from all political parties and the German people. For them this goes against everything Germany has done over the last sixty years to destroy all the symbols in the cities that celebrated the Nazi regime. Many Germans are now frightened of the exhibition of the wax figure of Hitler in the Madame Tussaud’s.

In London’s Madame Tussaud’s, Hitler is exhibited in the bunker where he spent his last days before he committed suicide. The wax figure is based on the film “The Downfall” (Der Untergang), in which Hitler is portrayed as a completely overstretched and confused animal.

The Berlin museum has defended its decision with the statement that this “personality” is one of the most significant individuals of modern German history (because of his influence and because of the atrocities he committed). It argues that the exhibition would be incomplete if Hitler did not appear. Their decision is said to have been based on surveys carried out among thousands of tourists who travelled to Berlin and among many local residents.

In addition, the museum underlined that any Nazi propaganda (songs, flags, pictures…) is strictly prohibited. As well as this, the museum guarantees that it will ensure the strict prohibition of photos with the wax work figure and that a security camera will run around the clock.

For many it is bad taste that the museum is barely 300 metres away from the spectacular and moving monument for the millions of Jews, Democrats, homosexuals, Communists, gypsies and people from the East who did not fit into the worldview of the Nazis and were murdered by the regime. Why not form your opinion about this and visit the museum ?

What are you waiting for? A trip to Berlin is bound to be very moving because there is a lot to explore in this historic city. It is essential to stay in a well- located place in Berlin so that you can adapt to the city. It is advisable to rent accommodation Unterkunft Berlin directly in the city centre or one of the apartments in Berlin Ferienwohnung in Berlin which can be found throughout the city. But if you prefer holidays in a Hotels in Berlin you will also find lots of comfortable and stylish ones in the city centre.