Uruguay travels: Party in Punta Del Este, get culture in Montevideo and history in Colonia Del Sacramento

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Overview of Uruguay

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Uruguay is one of South America's hidden treasures. The most famous location is likely to be the capital, Montevideo. However, many South Americans will associate Uruguay with being a playground of the rich and famous. The coastal resorts of Punta Del Este are very exclusive and expensive, and during the summer months much of the wealthy in Argentina make their holiday here.

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Food in Uruguay - Decidely Argentinean

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The food and drinks in Uruguay is very similar to Argentina, you will find steaks, malbec wine, Argentinian style coffee and medialunas. The accent is very similar to the Porteno accent (Buenos Aires) and for a foreigner it is difficult to tell apart.



PUNTA DEL ESTE - Author Summ and Image courtesy of Wikipedia

 

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Places to see in Uruguay

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Key places to visit when in Uruguay; Punta Del Este, Colonia and Montevideo. Punta Del Este is a very tourist oriented summer beach town. Well heeled South Americans, particularly from Argentina, will often own summer houses here. It is surprisingly expensive in the peak season. Drinks and meals can often be at more European prices and the hotels can be more expensive, as well. The town is around 1 hour north of Montevideo, which ensures that the water is clear of the brown colour that the mouth of the Pirana river creates. If you are in South America in January and February, Punta Del Este, will be alive. There will be plenty of nightlife, meanwhile all the restaurants and bars will be busy.

Montevideo is Uruguay's capital, it is approximately 90 minutes from Colonia (the first stop in Uruguay from the Hovercraft from Buenos Aires). The City has a few modern indoor malls and some great eats around the town. The old town has some great nightlife and restaurants, culminating in mercado del puerto. The mercado del puerto is a feast for all the senses. It is an old covered market place full of fresh parrillas cooking a wide range of meats.

A Parrilla in Montevideo at the Mercado Del Puerto - Image courtesy of Wikipedia / Author Gonzalo Velasco.

Colonia is the first town from the Hovercraft from Buenos Aires, which takes 30-40 mins. It has a great river view, but is also quite an old and quaint town. The majority of the centre of the town is cobbled. It is an old Spanish colonial town and one of the oldest settlements in that part of the continent. The town is quite touristic due to its proximity to Buenos Aires, therefore there are lots of places to eat on the river, art and craft shops and the like. Altogether the town has a lovely atmosphere and somewhat of an old European feel.

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Summary

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All in all, Uruguay has much to offer and is easily accessible from Buenos Aires. Here 3 places have been highlighted but there is much more to see

France: Chateaus and Wine in the Loire Valley

One of France's most appealing areas is the Loire Valley. It is rich in history, natural landscape, foods and wines. It truly embodies many of the attractive characteristics of France.

Author Touriste and image courtesy of wikipedia.com - Chinon

The Loire commences around 1 hour south of Paris and meets the sea in the Nantes region. This convenient location makes it accessible to French, British, German and Southern European tourists. There are three main cities in the Loire Valley: Orleans, Tours and Nantes. Orleans was once the capital of France and possesses some wonderful historic buildings. Likewise, Tours is a larger city, but it also has a wonderful pedestrianised centre of the city. You should also be sure to visit some of the smaller towns, which are charming. Some of these towns include Blois, Chinon and Amboise.

Blois

Blois is a wealthy town situated between Orleans and Tours. It sits on the Loire and is accessible by train and major roads. It is a true delight. The central area is overlooked by an impressive chateau, which is on a raise area in the centre. Within the town there are cobbled old street that are full of character. There are great cafes, bars and restaurants. One recommended restaurant is Vinomania, which accompnaies excellent French food with wine tasting.


Author Michael Osmenda and image courtesy of wikipedia

Chateaus

From Blois it is easy to get to some of the most famous Chateaus in France. The elegant splendour of Chambord is only a short drive from the town centre. Another nearby Chateau that is worth a visit is Cheverny. This is more stately and modernised than Chambord, but again very elegant. Cheverny is in village that boasts some excellent eateries. Both Chateaus have their own wines.

If you fancy a more medieval fortress style of Chateau, you can visit Chinon. This is a little far from Blois, but is accessible from Tours.

Wines

The area is famous for great red, white, rose and sparkling wines. It is truly a wine lovers delight. Some towns with a special focus on wine include Vouvray , in the Tour region, Chinon, Amboise and Saumur. All of these towns have wine tastings and shops dedicated to the wine of their vineyards.

The Loire Valley is truly a great place to visit and offers so much to visitors, year round.

Travel Brazil: Rio De Janeiro and surroundings

Rio De Janeiro is a truly beautiful and unique city. It is a cultural centre for Brazil and South America and plays host to the world famous Rio Carnaval. From a tourist’s point of view, the Zona Sul is the most important.

The Beaches

This part of the city revolves around three famous beaches; Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Each of these beaches are surrounded by fashionable and usually expensive districts. The beaches are a centre focus for socialising and entertainment, during any major event in the city. For a visitor to Brazil, these beaches can be a great place to people watch and take in ‘Carioca’ life.

                                     Image courtesy of wikipedia and Author Artyominc

Christ the Redeemer

However, there are many more great sites that are world renowned. One such site is statue of Christ the Redeemer which sits on top of one of the numerous steep hills that surround the coastal parts of the city. From this statue, the views are spectacular, with a panoramic view of the cities primary beaches.

Other sites of  interest

Sugar Loaf Mountain with its impressive cable car are a must for any tourist. Again the views are spectacular from this beautiful location. Maracana stadium is also a very popular place to visit in the northern part of Rio De Janeiro.

 

Favelas and Social Issues

                                         Image courtesy of wikipedia and Author Chensiyuan

Brazil and Rio are famous for a high crime rate and social inequality. You will notice in parts of Rio, many million dollar apartments, which are overlooked by favelas (slums) on the hillside. Many famous Brazilian moves like City of God and Elite Squad have illustrated this issue. However, Brazil has witnessed a period of extended economic growth. This has led to an improvement in the living standards of many people. Furthermore, with the onset of the Olympics and World Cup in Rio De Janeiro, the authorities are actively improving these issues in Brazil.

Day Trips

Rio is surrounded by small and beautiful beaches and islands. These towns are definitely worth a visit. We will focus on the beautiful island of Ilha Grande, which is a piece of nature close to a large city. There are no roads or cars on the island and some beautiful scenes to witness.

Paraty is a nearby town on the mainland, with stylish Portuguese colonial architecture. Paraty is like a little Venice, as the central streets flood during the high tide and drain on low tide. The town is popular with foreigners and Brazilians. There are great restaurants and bars in the town and it even has a colourful and loud carnaval. The harbour is full of boats which can take you on memorable boat trips in the crystal clear inlets between the mainland and the numerous islands. There is also usually great fish barbeques available on board.

                                         Image courtesy of wikipedia and Author Fontela01

Travel Spain: Madrid a place to visit for everyone

Madrid is Spain's capital city and is a very vibrant and diverse city. The history of Spain and the warm culture is evident at every street corner. We will highlight some great locations to visit and also talk about the Spanish capital's food and nightlife.

Museums

Madrid has two globally prominent art museums in the centre of the city. El Museo del Prado (The Prado) is truly spectacular, with arguably the best collection of Spanish art in the world. The art includes a wide range of artists from the 12th - 19th century. This is definitely worth a lengthy visit.

Reina Sofia, named after Queen Sofia of Spain, is a great testimony to modern art in Spain. It was founded in the name of the reigning Queen in 1992. It holds a wonderful collection of art by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso and so much more. The closest staion is Atocha and it is definietly worth another lengthy visit.

Parks

The City is certainly not all about museums, for those who love gardens and outdoor life, there are parks. The most famous and prominent is the central park of Parque Retiro. Here ther are tree-lined paths, cafes, bars, a large lakes, ornaments and nice gardens. Given Madrid attractive dry climate, this can be a great place to relax.

 

Retiro Park, courtesy of wikipedia buy author Jkiang

 

Areas

There are many great areas to go out in Madrid. In the area aorund Banco De Espana, there are some upmarket bars. One of these bars is Ramses bar, they have great interior design and are quite an experience. If bars in the day is your interest, why not finish a lovely walk in park with a quick champagne in Ritz Garden Bar. For shopping, Gran Via, Sol and in particular the El Corte Ingles (Department Store Spanish Chain) may be of great interest.

Above: Plaza Mayor with thanks to Wikipedia from author Sebastian Dubiel


For Plaza and sitting out in large square, Plaza Mayor and Plaza Santa Ana are very popular.

Food

All the same food is extremely important in Spain and a night of tapas is most common. La Latina, Chueca, Plaza Santa Ana all possess speciality tapas bars. Be sure to try Bacalao (Cod), Gambas Ajillo (Garlic Prawns), Jamon Iberico (Ham of the highest quality), Lomo Iberico (Pork Tenderloin in a type of Ham/Chrorizo format) and much more. Madrid is a city where wondering around can lead to you stumbling on a great find.

Learning Spanish Language: Spain, Argentina and the rest of Latin America

One question that many people ask when they are about to learn Spanish, is where should I learn Spanish?

Firstly, we must dispel the concept that if you learn Spanish in one country you will not be understood elsewhere. Generally, if you gain a good level of Spanish you will understand all types of Spanish, bar the occasional regional slang word. Therefore, this question has no right or wrong answer, as there are positives and negatives within each country, region and city. You should choose the place that suits your personal needs, why do you need Spanish and where will you use it?

Nevertheless, there are certain centres in the Spanish speaking world that are popular.  

Spain

For Europeans, Spain is the most popular destination. If it is the case you need Spanish language in order to operate in Spain, the Spanish spoken in Spain will be most useful. It is possible to draw a distinction between Latin America and Spain, due to geography. Some slang will only be used in Spain and some words have a different meaning in Spain compared to Latin America. Spanish cities have numerous excellent Spanish Language Schools. Generally speaking you will be perfectly understood in Latin America, but don’t use the verb ‘coger’ outside of Spain. Things to be aware of in Spain are that the national language is from Castile (Castilian) and some other provinces speak another language as their first language. This can be confusing for Spanish Language learning, if you hear languages that are similar to Spanish. Also, the accent in some provinces is hard to understand, but this is an issue in most large countries.

Argentina

Argentina is hugely popular and has many great language schools in its major cities; Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Mendoza have numerous schools. The standard of education in Argentina is high, so people in general will use good grammar in speaking and writing. The country has a wonderful culture. However, you should be aware that the Porteno Spanish (in Eastern Argentina and Uruguay) has an unusual pronunciation, which is somewhat unique. Argentines also use ‘vos’ for you instead of ‘tu’, which again is unique to Argentina and Uruguay. Nevertheless, Argentinean Spanish is understood all over the Spanish speaking world and these issues should not be deterrents, just something to be aware of.

 

Summary  

We have selected two major countries which are popular with people learning Spanish. However, the majority of Spanish speaking countries offer language schools and each have their advantages and disadvantages. Just choose the place that you would like to visit and the type of Spanish that you will use the most. There is no correct place to learn the language, just ensure you choose the place that is relevant to yourself and will be interesting and enjoyable for your visit.

Christmas Markets of Germany: Berlin

During December, the towns and cities of Germany open wonderful Christmas markets. They may vary from region to region, with the opening days and the food that is available.

In Berlin, the Christmas markets are open before Xmas and after. Whereas, other regions of Germany pack up the Christmas market before Christmas day. Berlin is Germany’s Capital and largest city. It is also widely regarded as the most lively and artistic city in Germany.

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market

Gendarmenmarkt is a very popular Christmas market that is open at night. It is a very busy market, although you may have to pay an entrance fee of 1-2 Euros. Here you can enjoy all the specialities of a German Christmas market and more. There are stands selling Bratwurst, Gluwein, Feuerzangenbowle (an alcoholic drink) and much more.

 

There is also a whole range of shops selling arts and crafts products, which is common across Germany.

The Gendarmenmarkt market is very popular and busy and has some outdoor music and stage, aswell. If you are in Germany over the Christmas period, you should try to get to Gendarmenmarkt.

This area also has a large La Galerie Lafayette, with a great food court and building design. This shop then merges with a high end shopping mall.

Other markets

There are also major Christmas markets in Spandau, which is quite a cosy and attractive Christmas market. Potsdamer Platz also has a large Christmas market, which is great for children, as it has many rides for children and some indoor bars for the adults. The surrounding area is also very interesting.

Charlottenburg Castle Christmas Market and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church Christmas Market have two other major Christmas Markets. However, Berlin possesses between 50 and 60 Christmas markets, so it is always possible to find one and they can all possess they own magic feel.

Weather

Berlin is one of Germany’s most eastern cities and possesses a very continental climate, with extremely cold winters. You need to be prepared for extremely cold conditions and remember that the majority of Christmas markets are outside events.

Buenos Aires: Restaurants and Foods

Argentina is famous for lots of good quality beef, but actually there is much more to food in Buenos Aires. Nevertheless, on any visit to Argentina you must visit a good quality parrilla. A parrilla is a grill or steakhouse. A popular one in San Telmo, which is in Estados Unidos, is La Brigada. This restaurant possesses numerous cut of beef and the waiter will be able to present it to you by cutting large cuts of beef with a spoon. Not surprisingly, the meat melts in the mouth. Another great accompaniment is the Malbec wine list. All the fine wines (approximately AR$ 100+ a bottle) are decantered.

Argentinian Parrillas / Steak

However, Buenos Aires is full of parrillas and some of the cheaper end can make for a great night out. Be aware of some of the language; Bife de Chorizo is a Sirloin Steak, Entrana is a skirt steak, Bife de Lomo is a Fillet Steak and so on. However, parrillas also stock a great line in Pork (Cerdo) and Lamb (Cordero). Popular pork cuts are Bondiola (Tenderloin), Morceja (Sweetbreads) and Argentine Morcilla (Black Pudding) and Choripan (Argentina’s Chorizo). The desserts in a parrilla will focus around Dulce de Leche, Argentina’s pride, and ice cream. Starters and side dishes to be aware of are Empanadas, Humitas, Tamales, salad and papas fritas (french fries).

Italian Food

Buenos Aires is a centre for immigration from all over the world. Therefore, Spanish and Italian food is available, as is Peruvian from the more recent migration to Buenos Aires. Italian influence is apparent all over Argentina, but especially in Buenos Aires. This has led to some great ice cream parlour and coffee, all over Buenos Aires. However, fine Italian dining can be found at Sette Bacco in Aguero, Recoleta. This is a smaller, quaint restaurant with excellent carne, pasta and fish. There are more impressive Italian restaurants in Recoleta and in the other barrios. If you are self-catering in Argentina, you should visit Pasta Fresca shops for some fresh pasta. This is great quality, often produced by family recipes, and very cheap.

Spanish Food

Spanish immigration to Argentina was primarily from Galicia and Basque country, which are two regions with a strong food culture. Gallego (from Galicia) cuisine is famous for great fish. In Belgrano, there is a fantastic Gallego restaurant in the lovely tree lined street of Olleros. They have truly excellent fish. In fact, this street also has an excellent Greek restaurant and some delightful cafes.

 

 Peruvian Food

For me, Peru is one of the last great cuisines that have not been fully discovered by the world. Peruvian cuisine is a mix of influence from African slavery, Japanese and Chinese immigration, Spanish colonial influence and the indigenous cuisine of Peru. Therefore, there are flavours and ingredients to suit all people. Ceviche (citrus marinated fish), causa, tacu tacu and some excellent spicy dishes list only a few of the Peruvian delights. The alcoholic cocktails of Pisco Sour is also delicious, although can be quite strong and does contain egg white, in case you don’t like eggs. Astrid y Gaston is a premier restaurant in all South American Capitals and Madrid. In Buenos Aires, it is within a large 19^th century house in Palermo Chico and certainly worth a visit.

Travelling in Spain: Seville and Ronda

If you are looking for some winter sun, the south of Spain can offer just this and so much more. Aer Lingus, German Wings, Ryanair and Easyjet all offer cheap and frequent flights to Malaga and Seville during the winter months from Northern Europe. What are the attractions to this area?

There are many attractions and we will focus on the attractions of Seville, the largest city, and the historic town of Ronda. However, firstly the entire region has an excellent climate. In the summer months, it is hot and dry and generally consistent. In the winter, it can still be relatively warm. In November, temperatures in the 20s are reasonable in the day, but it may dip down at night.

Ronda

Ronda is a truly remarkable spectacle and it has attracted international tourists for centuries. The South of Spain was conquered by the Moorish Kingdom in Northwest Africa for several hundred years. Therefore, the Moorish Kingdom of Andaluz has numerous signs of its heritage. Ronda has three sites that truly catch you eye:

1.       The three bridges that span the canyon that divides the town into two. The canyon in Ronda is truly remarkable, as it is quite narrow but more than 100m deep. Buildings surround the canyon. The three bridges that are built are called Puente Viejo (Old Bridge), Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) and Puente Romano (Roman Bridge).

2.       Ronda also possesses the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain. Whether you like or do not like bullfighting, it makes for interesting viewing due to the architecture.

3.       The Arabic baths that date back to the later period of Arabic rule can also be seen.

Seville

Seville is the capital and largest city in Andalusia. It therefore, has been the historic, cultural and economic centre of this region. Therefore, it has great sites and entertainment that symbolises its present and past. Here are some recommended sites, but they are far from a comprehensive list.

1.       The Alcazar of Seville. This is the oldest royal palace in Europe, dating back from the days of Moorish Spain. The mix of architecture in the palace pays homage to both Spain’s Moorish and Christian heritages and is a marvel to witness.

2.       The Cathedral of Seville is an excellent example of Gothic architecture and is a very imposing building indeed.

Flamenco shows. This is a classic tourist activity in central Seville. El Arenal is one of the principal sites to see professional flamenco dancer perform, whilst dining. This is truly a spectacle of Andalusia culture.