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Archive for the ‘City Guides’ Category

Edinburgh is a Scottish city with a very long history and like all old sites it has its share of ghost stories. Well, more than its share of ghosts by some reports. The best way to find out is to take a city ghost tour, and of course the late night ones are the scariest and the best.

The friendly guides for these tours make it all seem so real that you will be feeling quite frightened of what, or who, might come out of an alleyway, or cellar.  Edinburgh Castle is a favourite place for ghost hunting and there have been many reports of the ‘tunnel piper’ who was originally sent to explore the tunnels beneath the castle and sadly disappeared. He is often heard playing his phantom pipes.

Then there is the headless drummer who only plays his drums in times of trouble, and the ghost dog that wanders aimlessly around the castle dog cemetery, apparently unaware that it is dead.

The dungeons in the castle are haunted by some of the tortured souls who were imprisoned there over hundreds of years. The presence of something very strange has been proved to exist in the castle. An experiment was set up when a group of people who knew nothing of the castle’s history sensed ‘something’ in areas known to be haunted, much more frequently than they did in other areas of the building.  Whatever those people sensed, it was certainly something very strange.

There are ghost hunter tours available in other areas of the city and it is a very enjoyable way to learn something of its interesting and often turbulent history, but certainly not for those who are of a nervous disposition.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, has been continuously inhabited since ancient times. It is famous for its vast expanse of square, flat-roofed houses coloured in light shades, causing it to shimmer in the sun, an effect from which it takes its nickname of the White City. As in Istanbul and Rome, the business of modern life goes on with the backdrop of ancient ruins and the chaos of kebab stalls, coffee shops, bazaars and bustling crowds; Amman has the flavour of the ancient orient about it.

With cheap flights to Amman readily available at the click of a mouse, it’s an ideal time to visit this spectacular and friendly city, and experience something straight out of the Arabian Nights.

Known in the Bible as the city of the Ammonites, Amman has experienced Roman, Byzantine and Moslem Umayyad rule.  The impressive ruins of the great amphitheatre, the Byzantine church on the Citadel and the spectacular Al-Qasr complex bear witness to this fact.

With Amman being quite a small city, access to the tourist attractions is easy on foot or by taxi. There are a number of museums devoted to local folklore and the fine arts, and two great mosques, which are certainly worth a visit.

There are many modern hotels as well as small pensions in the city. A wide range of traditional food is on offer at the numerous restaurants and smaller dining establishments, catering for all tastes. Jordanians are extremely friendly and always happy to help if you get lost or have trouble deciding where to eat.

For an introduction to the Middle East, there’s no better place to start than Amman.

Edinburgh is always bustling with life no matter what time of the year it is; this city is also extremely easy to get to. Take the train up the east coast of England and over the border into Scotland and it only takes five hours from London. You get to enjoy the glorious scenery all the way up the coast from King’s Cross Station in London.

Alternatively you can book flights to Edinburgh from London or several other European airports directly, and then take a taxi or bus into this historical city. This is obviously the fastest way to travel if you just want get there quickly and start enjoying the sites.

Even in winter and early spring there is a lot to do in this city, which is the capital of Scotland. You can enjoy the coast and the bracing wind and walk in the nearby nature reserves and parks. If you are not the outdoors type you could stay warm inside by visiting “The Scotch Whisky Experience”, or one of the famous malt distilleries like the one at Glenkinchie. Sampling some of the products there will give you a ‘warm glow’ for the rest of the day.

Dining is always part of visiting a large city and Edinburgh offers a variety of traditional Scottish fare and food styles from just about every country you could think of. There is even a Roman style restaurant that serves food just as the ancient Romans would have eaten it.

After you have eaten, Edinburgh Playhouse always has something to offer no matter what time of year it is. 2010 sees “Mary King’s Ghost Fest” opening, and this promises to be a really spooky event because Edinburgh is renowned for its hauntings and ghostly Roman legions that are said to march around.

You could of course just go shopping in one of the vast range of arcades and specialist stores dotted around the city and finish off with a special dinner of traditional Scottish fare.

Once you arrive in Manchester either through a cheap flight or on public transport the city is possibly one of the easiest cities in the UK to navigate. Manchester itself boasts an extensive city transport network, in addition to out of town services coming into the city.

Trams, also known as the Metrolink, operate through the city centre.  These are currently on two routes but there are plans to expand this. One line runs from Piccadilly to Eccles, the other between Altrincham and Bury. Tickets can be bought from machines for travel on the Metrolink but the service is relatively expensive.

Metroshuttle is a free bus service that runs through three routes around the city centre covering most of the major areas. Bus stops for this service are located at all major train stations and car parks dotted around the city.

There is an extensive bus service in and around Manchester, with more than one operating company, but due to congestion it may take a long time to go a very short distance. Most bus services are relatively cheap and you pay the driver for the journey as you get on. There is a selection of all day travel and weekly bus passes available, so if you are making more than one journey it may be worth asking about this option.

Driving or taking a taxi is another option, but again due to congestion this may not be the most practical solution.  Car parking in Manchester is very expensive.  Seeing the city on foot is the best way to view all of the sights at leisure.  Boards with street maps are dotted around the city to help with navigation.

For those considering a city break the Northern Ireland capital city Belfast might not immediately spring to mind, but for a small city with plenty of culture there are so many enjoyable things to see and do.

One of the first things to try would be a Black Cab Tour. The cab drivers themselves lived through the troubles and will relate many stories to keep this tour factually informative. Taking in many sites such as the shipyards where the Titanic was built, the Shankhill and Falls Road areas of the city (which were the scene of so much unrest and where you can view the wall murals painted during the catholic – protestant conflict), they also tour the University District.  You can also arrange for taxi tours out of the city to view sights such as the Giants Causeway.

Bargain hunters should head towards St George’s Market; open on Fridays and Saturdays it is a popular way to while away a few hours. Friday’s Variety Market is an eclectic mix of stalls ranging from antiques to fish, while Saturday’s Food and Garden Market, as the name suggests, has stalls full of fresh fruit and vegetables and flowers, and even has stalls selling international cuisine such as French crepes and Spanish tapas.

Belfast Castle and Belfast Zoo are very popular with tourists; both are situated off the Antrim Road and are easily accessible from the city centre. There is a walk from the bus stop to the castle so this may not be convenient for those with walking difficulties.

Glasgow is situated in the east of Scotland just 42 miles from Edinburgh.  Visitors to the city will find travelling there straightforward as the area is connected by rail and flights to many of the UK’s biggest cities.

The city’s Buchanan Bus Station is where most long-distance buses and coaches arrive and depart.  Companies such as National Express and Silver Choice have regular services from major cities such as London, Newcastle and Birmingham with reasonably priced fares.  This does make them very popular so seats will need to be booked in advance.  A number of Scotland’s motorways meet at Glasgow, including the M74, M77 and M8, making it easy to reach the city by car if you prefer to drive.

When travelling by rail into Glasgow from both England and Wales, trains arrive at Glasgow’s Central Station.  Booking rail tickets in advance can work out considerably cheaper than buying on the day and it is a quicker journey than by the bus. 

Glasgow International Airport is just a few miles outside the city and brings in visitors on both domestic and external flights. A number of budget airlines have scheduled flights in and out of the city, which means that flights to Glasgow can be relatively inexpensive.  Flights are available to and from several cities including Brussels, Amsterdam and New York.  Prestwick International Airport is situated a little further away and receives flights mainly from Eastern Europe and some internal shuttle flights.  Both airports have good public transport links into the city.

Scotland is a historical country that forms the northern most part of the United Kingdom and the British Isles. It is on the coast of the North Sea, which makes it a good base for oil exploration companies and their service industries.

The country has a combined population of just over five million people. It is widely regarded as the best place in the world to make whisky, with a number of very old and traditional distilleries still in operation today.

The country has strong transport links at airports in the major cities, including the capital city of Edinburgh. Train services are better than they have ever been into the country and you can drive up the M8 motorway in order to reach the popular city of Glasgow.

The country was historically a sovereign state, which explains the number of wars between Scotland and England that occurred in the centuries leading up to Scotland’s inclusion into the United Kingdom’s parliamentary system.

Sport is also a very important part of Scottish culture, and the Scottish Premier League is one of the most watched football leagues in Europe. The country has also been the host of many big European competitions with the national stadium of Hampden Park, envied throughout the world.

Scotland is a fantastic country for any potential tourist deciding whether or not to visit. It has been described as one of the prettiest and most romantic cities in the whole world, and Scotland has so much to offer to so many people.

If you’re looking for a bit of unexpected excitement and sophistication amidst the antiquity and spirituality of Israel, then a flight to Tel Aviv is just what you need. 

Located on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean, the city of Tel Aviv has some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. The mild year-round climate makes the seaside a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The beaches are informally divided, based on activities, sunbathing at one, water sports at another, young crowd here, family atmosphere there. Just keep wandering until you find the vibe that’s right for you.

The nightlife in Tel Aviv is on par with major metropolitan destinations like London and New York and the commercial and financial sectors are also growing rapidly. Fantastic clubs, bars and restaurants seem to pop up around every corner and the city is fast becoming an important place to do business for companies all over the world.

For the cultured traveller, the abundance of cheap flights to Tel Aviv provide instant access to some excellent museums and theatres. The Tel Aviv Museum of Art houses a remarkable collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings; the Diaspora Museum ushers millions of visitors each year through the annals of Jewish history and both the New Israel Opera and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra are located in Tel Aviv.

As the home of thousands of Jews, Muslims and Christians, Tel Aviv offers a diverse collection of cultures and traditions. These unique influences are apparent in everything from the food to the architecture.

Located in the heart of Europe, Belgium shares its borders with the Netherlands, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the North Sea. This historic and beautiful kingdom is divided between the Dutch-speaking Flemish region in the north and the mostly French-speaking Walloon region in the south. As headquarters of both the European Union and NATO, there are several official languages and English is spoken by most of the population.

Flights to Belgium bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the country each year. Most come looking to explore one of the country’s intriguing cities or to sample the nation’s world-famous chocolate and beer. With five major airports, flights to Belgium easily connect to domestic airlines for travel throughout the country. Brussels Airlines and EasyJet fly into Brussels airport, while Ryanair operate flights to Belgium that land at Brussels Charleroi, about 46km from the capital. The other bigger airports are located in Antwerp, Liege and Ostend.

The Flanders region is home to Antwerp, famous for its diamonds; Bruges, an increasingly popular medieval city and Ghent is a less crowded, but equally impressive city. The coast of Flanders features lovely beaches and quaint little resort towns, like Blankenberge, De Panne and De Haan. The Kusttram is here too, one of the world’s longest tram lines.

Walloonia has the Ardennes, Liege, Namur and Tournai. Brussels is located as well, an enchanting city with a mix of ancient cobblestone streets and contemporary buildings.

Flights to Belgium are popular with travellers looking for something just a little different. The Flemish and French influences create a unique atmosphere, which is very hard to resist.

Flights to Belfast in the Province of Northern Ireland drop visitors into the middle of a place with so much to see that it can be difficult to choose a starting point.

To see natural beauty, visit the regal Mourne Mountains or the Sperrins region.  Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the entire UK; there’s also Lough Erne; the Bann, Blackwater, Lagan, and Foyle rivers; Rathlin Island; and the Causeway Coastal Route.

Visit the Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast for a nip of Irish whisky and to see a bit of local history.  While you’re in Belfast also take a guided tour of the Shankill and Falls Roads.  These Catholic and Protestant areas, divided along peace lines, give some insight into a more troubled time in the city.

In Antrim, check out the Giant’s Causeway, a cluster of more than 40,000 basalt columns.  Resulting from a prehistoric volcanic eruption, this is Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage Site.  Legend has it that Irish hero Finn McCool built the columns in order to reach his true love, who lived across the water in Scotland.

Take a break at the Bushmills Distillery nearby the columns.  The distillery is open for public tours and is the only active Irish distillery accessible to the public.

Flights to Belfast and Northern Ireland also provide access to Florence Court in county Fermanagh.  Dating back to the 18th century, the Earls of Enniskillen lived here for generations.  The grounds and main house are open for tours.  In County Down, you can also tour the grounds of Mount Stewart on Strangford Lough.  Built in the 1920s, these grounds are thought to be some of the best in the UK.