Europe Euphoria

Temperature is getting higher, trees turn into green and the music is starting to play! The Festival season has started. Enjoy at Belgium’s biggest Rock Werchter Festival that attracts a massive selection of well known artists each year. This year, Rock Werchter Festival promises to be the biggest and best yet. The highlights include Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Bj�rk, Muse, Amy Winehouse, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, Keane, LCD Soundsystem, Interpol, Faithless, My Chemical Romance, Beastie Boys, Kings of Leon and Queens of the Stone Age. When: 28 Jun – 1 Jul 2007. Where: Festival Site. Cost: Day tickets €69-€75; 4-day pass €160. Click here to get more info about the festival If you are a rock music fan, you just can’t afford to miss it.

London has always been known as one of the most expensive places in the world for eating. An echilada comes at a whopping $25. But hold on, do not lose heart. If you thought that this city does not have much to offer to the not so rich, think twice. One has a gamut of cheaper options to choose from. Finding interesting food at good prices calls for a quest of sorts, coupled with luck and instinct. Jane Perlez, writing for the International Herald Tribune, has thankfully managed to hunt down a handful and share them with those many of us to whom a pound means a lot. One way to keep down the cost of eating out in London is to choose places that specialize in tapas or that feature "grazing" menus. Or else, one can always please oneself by savouring delicacies in the ubiquitous Chinese restaurants. Perlez mostly suggests international cuisine. Though British food is not that popular on this planet, one may wish to eat the local specialities of the country they are visiting. Which is when one discovers a British staple called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in the crowd of a variety of other cuisines like the Thai, Chinese, Spanish and Iranian. The name Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese may not sound enticing, but it is one of the few places where one needs to fish out just £7.75 to have fish and chips. A novice in London would rather be well-versed with the fact that very few things come at easily affordable prices in this city. To start with, there is the £4 subway ride that will take you one stop. However, these tips may definitely do a lot in extricating travellers out of the stymie. (Did I hear you heave a sigh of relief?)

To ease the congestion along a busy commuter route to Dublin, a 37-mile-long (60-kilometer-long) road northwest of Dublin was intended but last month the work was halted as a large circular enclosure that is estimated to be 2,000 years old was found at the site. The large timber monument, a structure inside is thought to have been a temple. The artifacts at the site include a stone axe head, a pottery fragment and an ornamental pin. The find is located just 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) from the Hill of Tara which was once the seat of power of Ireland’s Celtic kings. It is said that the enclosure seems to have had a ceremonial link to Ireland’s prehistoric royal sites. The monument probably formed part of an important ceremonial complex centered on the Hill of Tara and the remains date back to the Stone Age. Though Lismullin site is declared a national monument, yet the protection of the site is not ensured. If the environment minister considers the case in the public interest, the monument can be destroyed and the road work can continue. National museum of Ireland in Dublin is urging a complete investigation of the site. It is yet to be decided whether the site will be protected or the construction of a controversial four-lane highway in Ireland will continue.

The charm of Sorrento and its people, the mildness of its climate and the magic of its landscapes continue to attract visitors from all over the world. Set high atop the Mediterranean cliffs, Sorrento is a town of extraordinary beauty that has remained a favored resort for centuries. Sorrento has always had a beguiling allure and a jaunt will prove worthwhile. Can’t afford to miss: Cloister of St. Francis: A short walk from the center of Sorrento, this religious sanctuary is worth a visit. Image Credit Image Credit Herculaneum: The excavations of Herculaneum have revealed a small town, but their evidence is unique because the city was buried in mud, which preserved the structures and furnishings. There many poignant remains such as Houses of the Hotel, Skeleton, Two Atria, Loom, Bicentenary, Deer, and Samnite House. The Thermae, Palestra, Therms suburban and Theatre are also outstanding. Image Credit Opening times: 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (November-March). 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. (April – October). Image Credit Vesuvius: Vesuvius had two eruptions that rate among the largest known in Europe. Large earthquakes frequently jolted the area. Vesuvius is famous for the catastrophic eruption in 79 A.D. that buried the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. Image Credit Sant’Agnello: Lying between Sorrento and Piano di Sorrento, Sant’Agnello spreads out between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno with a variety of distinctive features. The town is built on a flat land with marvelous terraces by the sea, rising up to the green picturesque hills behind and finally plunging down sheer on to southern. Walks in the hills, still green and abundant with living nature, or long hours of sun on the cliffs of the Marinella are among the many delights to be enjoyed on a holiday at Sant’Agnello. Image Credit Amalfi: It is the principal jewel of the famous Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy. It is also the popular base for those who wish to explore this area. The view from the sophisticated village of Ravello, high above this coast, is absolutely breath-taking! Image Credit Image Credit Ravello: It is perched high on the cliffs above Amalfi and is famous for its views and its gardens. Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo are the two panoramic gardens out here, which are open to the public and you can wander through the tropical plants and enjoy the fabulous views of the coastline. Image Credit Isle of Capri: Capri and Ancapri are the two towns on the island of Capri. The principal attraction of the island is Capri with its views, its rocky seashores and its scenic charm. Top scenic panoramas include views of the Bay of Naples, the Faraglioni Rocks and the Gardens of Augustus. Image Credit Sorrento is one of the world’s scenic treasures, leaving lasting, life-long, memories. It’s a must see holiday location which is absolutely beautiful.

Predjama castle, which is miraculously built into a cave is one of the most visited castles in Europe. Locally known as Predjama Grad, it sits on an hour southwest of Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana. There is a cave behind the castle which is known as Erazmova Jama and there are four levels in the castle. The deepest is water filled; the river flowing through is called Lovka. The castle is built into the huge entrance of the middle level. The stairs leading to the upper floors are carved into solid bedrock. An exit from the top level to the plateau was used as a secret entrance in the middle ages; today it is filled with rocks. The castle hangs on the middle of a 403-foot-tall limestone cliff and has no man-made rear walls. It is a wonderful castle that offers the experience of the medieval legend of the robber baron Erazem Predjamski. You can tour the grounds, the inside of the castle; explore the caves and the underground river below. Location: Predjama castle and its caves are situated about 12 km from Postojna, world famous for its extensive karst cave.

An amazing archipelago off the coast of Italy that offers you beautiful sights, plush living and the rumblings of an active volcano. The Aeolians’ volcanic heritage lends a mystical air to the aura due to the islands distinguished mythical history as islands of wind and fire. Image credit Seven islands (Lipari, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli, and Vulcano) comprise the archipelago known as the Aeolian Islands. Each of the seven sisters, as the archipelago is also called, has its particular charms. On the edge of Vulcano, Image credit: Luigi Masella Location: Tyrrhenian Sea about 25-50km north of Sicily in Italy Clean and clear waters rich in marine animal and plant life making them a scuba divers’ heaven surround all of the islands. And the islanders, true to Sicilian tradition, create simple, delicious meals from fresh vegetables and fish, with salads and sauces getting a particular, pungent flavor from capperi (capers), which grow wild just about everywhere, in fields of broom, bougainvillea-shaded gardens and cracks in stone fences. Image credit Stromboli: The most remote of the islands, it is little more than a volcano rising out of the sea. Its now become the chic Aeolian island of choice. Stromboli, Image credit: Hinrich Popular for trips out at night to see magma spurting out of the cone which are surprisingly regular. Almost "every nine minutes," a thin red flame suddenly igniting above the island’s dark outline where it burns for a second before decreasing again, repeatedly glowing on and off through the night. Eruption of Stromboli, Image credit: Thomas Reichart Salina: It is lush and hilly, because of its natural springs. It is the quietest and the greenest of the more developed islands. With numerous excellent walking tracks through the pine-scented, bird-rich interior. Some of Michael Radford’s film Il Postino was shot here. It is the most unpretentious of the islands. The five small towns strung around its coast all share a tone of laid-back sleepiness, with just the port town of Santa Marina, with its metronome masts, narrow high street and scattering of restaurants hinting at anything more lively. Salina, Image credit Lipari: The main island and the main town (called Lipari as well) is the bustling transport hub, with plenty of hotels and makes a good base. "Castle mountain" and Lipari city, Image credit: Thomas Reichart Vulcano: right next to Lipari, this island is dominated by the Gran Cratere volcano cone giving off clouds of sulphurous gas. This peak gives great views. The island is popular for its beaches and mud baths. Vulcano island, Image credit: Peter Fuchs Panarea: It is a smaller, upmarket island with great views across to Stromboli. Its strip of inhabited eastern shoreline has, for many years now, attracted the exclusive, big-yacht set. From here you could take a boat out to the islets of Lisca Bianca and Dattilo. Swimming can be na exceptional experience in these secluded coves. Image credit Filcudi and Alicudi: They lie to the West and are much less visited, particularly Alicudi, which is still primarily agrarian. Image credit Most of the tourists visiting these islands are mainly homegrown, from Italy. Visiting these islands could become a rare prize of seductive indulgence, with its beautiful surroundings, historical sights and clear waters.

Have you heard of Baked Bean Museum of Excellence? I’m sure you haven’t. It is a museum that is situated in a second floor flat in Port Talbot, recognized by the Welsh Tourist Board as an official tourist attraction. It is the world’s first private & visual baked bean museum of excellence on Planet Earth. Captain Beany owns the museum whose love of baked beans started with the music group The Who. The Museum attracts media global attention and visitors from all walks of life and the visitors are truly astounded by the wide diversity of it all. There are two-bedroom flat filled with with cans of baked beans of various sizes and baked bean paraphernalia. This museum is captain Beany’s fundraising effort to draw attention of people from all over the world and earn his place on the list of eccentrics who do good work. The epic endurance 100 hour beananza-The Bean-A-Thon was performed in the Aberaven Beach Hotel lobby in Port Talbot and generated well over 1,500 ponds for a mini bus appeal, on behalf of a local Gateway Club for special needs personnel in Port Talbot . For his unique devotion towards his contribution to tourism, Captain Bean has been awarded by the Whales Tourist Board a signed star attraction certificate. Captain Beany has transformed himself into an oddball superhero. He’s earned awards from the department of tourism for promoting his town. If you go to the museum, a signed certificate of authenticity is rewarded to every individual and a signed Polaroid is posted onto the reception walls Haricot Hall of Fame.

By fast I mean really fast! That is moving with speeds such as 125 mph (201.12 km/h) and up, according to the International Union of Railways besides even faster trains are on the way. Adopting these trains does not come easy; it costs up to $20 million a mile. Certainly not as fast as jet aircrafts, but the time taken comes almost to power when you consider, time to reach the airport. Super duper fast trains A Japanese maglev Shinkansen train called MLX01 went 361 mph (581 km/h) in 2003 Japanese Shinkansen systems: The Japanese have excelled in both standard multi-engine trains and shorter maglev (magnetic levitation and magnetic roll forward) trains. Their high-speed Shinkansen trains have become a world model. They travel at just below 200 mph (321 km/h). Each train of their 500 series cost $40 million. The Japanese tunnel through mountains rather than climbing grade, and it is a major cost factor. The Shinkansen system will be fully operational by 2009. Image credit French Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV): France just grabbed the world record for standard-gauge rail trains with its TGV V150. The cost of construction is averaging $21.5 million a mile. It is minimized by using steeper grades rather than tunneling. Image credit German Neubaustreke systems: Germany is also working to increase speeds with a series that they call Neubaustrecke (NBS) routes with new train cars. Image credit Spanish National Railways (RENFE): And in Spain, RENFE is planning a Barcelona-to-Madrid run that will, when it opens, accomplish the trip of 375 miles (603 km) in two-and-a-half hours at a speed of up to 230 mph (370km/h), a quarter of the time it takes by car. The Spanish government has allocated about $31 billion through this year for work on it. The car-dominated United States is a clear lags way behind Europe! So if you are fed up with airport hassles while in Europe, just go in for the nearest fastest train!

Nobody wants to miss the train or wait for long at the station. But, there is one breathtakingly beautiful station where I’m sure you will love to do that. The greenhouse of tropical plants at Atocha Train Station is a beautiful corner of Madrid that delights its visitors. Atocha station, which is just down the road from el Prado Museum, has a big jungle. Here you can venture to enjoy the green and spot some birds. Rafael Moneo is the architect of the station and has converted the old building into a moist and tropical greenhouse to make waiting much more comfortable. It’s a covered jungle, which stretches out around 4.000 m2 and inhabits more than 500 species amongst which you can find carnivorous plants, goldfish and turtles. Just make sure you don’t miss the train once you venture into the jungle.

World-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster has recently completed his geometric and eye-catching Palace of Peace and Reconciliation – a giant glass pyramid opera house in Astana, Kazakhstan. Foster’s new project, Khan Shatyry Entertainment Center for Astana is set to be completed this year. The new structure will sit at the northern end of the new city axis and stand as the highest peak on the skyline at a majestic 200 meters tall. It will house 100,000 square feet of public park, retail, and entertainment space. The entertainment center with a floor-space of 80,000 sq m will be built on a site of 7 hectares. There will be an interior park, undulating terraces, a river, wave pool, and waterfall – all lit by a high-tech roof lighting system seamlessly integrated into the structure. Other public spaces include a hypermarket, multi-hall cinema, restaurants, bars, a fitness center with a swimming pool and a bowling area. The pinnacle of the building, literally and metaphorically, will no doubt be its viewing deck terrace, offering dramatic views of the park and city. It stretches to three times its normal length without losing its elasticity, has controllable shading and noise insulation properties and never gets dirty due to the non-stick properties it shares with its cousin Teflon. Developed as a response to harsh weather conditions in both winter and summer, Khan Shatyry is held up by a central mast and clad in ETFE, which allows for a wash of light for interior spaces while sheltering inhabitants from the heat or cold. The Khan Shatyry Entertainment Centre will become a dramatic civic focal point for the capital of Kazakhstan.