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Beach City Europe France La Rochelle Uncategorized

La Rochelle, France

If you like to combine the sun and sand with a bit of history and military history in particular then La Rochelle on the French west coast could be just the destination for you. If you have been following the Sky TV series “Das Boot” based on the German novel and film about  U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic you will know that many of them sailed from La Rochelle.

La Rochelle’s history is strongly linked to the sea.  Originally a small fishing village it grew and became so significant that the English fought and lost Battle of La Rochelle in 1372 which three months later led to the French conquering the town and saw the beginning of the end of English control of Aquitaine. 

La Rochelle Towers - Chris Bromley
La Rochelle Towers – Chris Bromley

The pens for the U boats were constructed in secret at night and could hold 13 submarines.  Some of the most important missions set sail from here.  Unfortunately they are not open to the public as they are used by the French navy. The U-boat complexes in St. Nazaire, Lorient and Bordeaux are open to the public. 

Despite being heavily used by the Germans during the Second World War, the city itself suffered very little damage and was the last city in France to be liberated from the Germans.

La Rochelle - Karlo Kolumno
La Rochelle – Karlo Kolumno

For us it means that the “Vieux Port” (“Old Harbour”), and the old town are well preserved, with it’s churches, market square and passageways.

In town you can also visit the Bunker of La Rochelle built to protect the submarine commanders from bombs and learn about what life was like for the citizens of La Rochelle from 1939 to 1945.

Île de Ré - Christoph Maurer
Île de Ré – Christoph Maurer

For the beach you can have a choice of the beautiful Ile de Ré or the small resort at Chatetlaillon Plage, a short distance south of La Rochelle.

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City Poland Warsaw

Warsaw, Poland

n 1945 85% of Warsaw had been destroyed but walking around the old town today you would have no idea. It has been reconstructed with alleys, houses and churches so faithfully that the area has earned UNESCO World Heritage Status. The plan was to recreate the city’s late 18th century appearance, you can judge for yourself how successful they have been. Old drawings, plans and even paintings by the famous Italian landscape artist Bernardo Bellotto were used to aid the reconstruction. You can find more details on the UNESCO site. The majority of the work was completed by the mid 1960s but the final piece was finished in 1984 with the opening of the Royal Palace.

The most historic part of the Old Town is the old market square. Here you can dine out and watch the world go by surrounded by magificent Renaissance and Baroque buildings where in years gone by the town’s merchants would have lived. Whilst visiting the Old Town do not miss out on a visit to the Royal Palace which is now a museum and the Castle Square where Bill Clinton welcomed Poland to NATO in 1997.

Warsaw Old Town Copyright Jacqueline Maco
Warsaw Old Town

If you have a fascination for architecture from the Communist era then you must not miss the 237 meter tall Palace of Culture and Science. The building was a gift from the Soviet Union to the people of Poland in 1955 and today houses four theatres, two museums and a multi-plex cinema amongst its offerings. Take a trip up to the 30th floor observation tower for a great view of the city.

Palace of Culture and Science Copyright Andrzej
Palace of Culture and Science

Other notable stopping points on your visit to Warsaw might include the Warsaw Uprising Museum where you can discover the story of the August to October 1944 uprising that led to much of the destruction of the city by the Germans, with many before and after images. A relatively recent addition to the museums in the city is the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN) that was fully opened in 2014 and documents the lives of Jews over the thousand years during which Poland became home to the largest Jewish community in Europe.

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City Granada Spain

Granada, Spain

The number one destination in Granada has the be the magnificent Alhambra which was declared a World Hertiage site by UNESCO in 1984. The Alhambra stands on a small plateau and is visible for miles around. It’s orgins date back to the 11th century and the time of the Moorish dominance in the region. In the 13th century it became a royal palace. It wasn’t until 1492 that the Moors were expelled from the region and it became home to Queen Isabela I and King Ferdinand II.

Alhambra, Granada - Copyright Pablo Valerio
Alhambra, Granada

There are essentially 10 main structures within the Alhambra. The Royal sector, the Court of Myrtles, the Hall of Ambassadors, Court and Fountain of the Lions, the Hall of the Abencerrajes and Generalife are the most famous and the average visitor will spend at least 4 hours there, many spend the whole day. Normally you would have to book days in advance but due to the current situation it is possible to book a visit for 48 hours in advance. At the time of writing there are tickets available on everyday through the summer.

The Partal, Alhambra - Copyright Frank Nürnberger
The Partal, Alhambra

There is plenty more to see and do in Granada. Notable stops on your itinerary should include: Alcaiceria – the last remaining section of the Moorish, Grand Bazaar, Sacromonte – view houses built into the rock face and in the evening visit a traditional flaminco show, Carrera del Darro – this street follows the course of the Darro river and was the line of the old city walls. Granada is also an important university city and it offers plenty of entertainment in the evenings and for the young at heart.

Today we would just like to finish off with this version of Granada by Bruce Welch’s Shadows. Originally from an EP entitled “Los Shadows” recorded in Barcelona in 1963 the track was never played live until the version below.

Granada – Bruce Welch’s Shadows
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Australasia Australia City Perth

Perth, Australia

Perth is Australia’s sunniest city and temperatures even average above 18°C even in winter. In summer, average temperatures are over 30°C with 11 hours of sunshine. In the Perth metropolitan area there are 19 unique beaches to choose from including the world famous Cottesloe (Cott) Beach with its picturesque pavilion, and experience a wonderful Indian Ocean sunset.

The Crawley Edge Boatshed Copyright tourism.wa.gov.au
The Crawley Edge Boatshed

Perth’s city sights are easily accessible with one of the free Central Area Transit (CAT) bus that connect all the cities main tourist attractions. Just because it’s remote does not mean that Perth lacks high culture, you can visit the ballet, opera or art gallery. Choose between the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts or the Aboriginal Art and Craft Gallery or take in all three. Established in 1899, visit the Perth Mint and watch a live gold pour and see the world’s largest collection of gold bars.

Watching the sunrise at Kings Park and Botanic Garden with the Perth Skyline in the background. Copyright tourism.wa.gov.au
Watching the sunrise at Kings Park and Botanic Garden
with the Perth Skyline in the background.

If you get as far down the coast as Freemantle then make a visit to the historic prison where convicts from the UK were incarcerated .

Corridor in Fremantle Prison, Fremantle Copyright tourism.wa.gov.au/
Corridor in Fremantle Prison, Fremantle

Other highlights would be to take a cruise up the the Swan River or make a tour of the wineries along the Swan Valley. Many people head off to the Caversham Wildlife Park, east of Perth where you can meet koalas, wombats, kangaroos and many other native wildlife. The absolute must see if you travel all that way is a trip out to Rottnest Island, a protected nature reserve, home to the Quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial.

Taking selfie with Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) on Rottnest Island. Copyright tourism.wa.gov.au
Taking a selfie with Quokka (Setonix brachyurus) on Rottnest Island.

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Berlin City Germany

Berlin, Germany

East Side Gallery Copyright: visitberlin, Foto: Philip Koschel
Art on the Berlin Wall

This week we are in Berlin. In 2013 having not released any new material for 10 years David Bowie released his 24th album “The Next Day”. The first single to be released from that album was “Where are we now?” The song and the video below make references to places in Berlin that have a connection with Bowie.

Where Are We Now? – David Bowie

After 19 secs we see some of the graffiti art on the few remaining sections of the Berlin Wall. These are worth the time and effort to see on your trip to Berlin. Potsdamer Platz (0.28) was the place to be in the 1920s. Today you’ll find the Lego Discovery Centre nearby. A great option if its raining and you have children. The Fernsehturm (TV Tower) is Berlin’s tallest landmark and the view on a clear day is superb.

Copyright: visitBerlin, Foto: Sarah Lindemann
Fersehturm – Berlin

The back entrance to the German Parliament (Bundestag) is next on the route, followed by Nürnberger Strasse where Bowie played several times in The Dschungel nightclub. Although reference is made to the KaDeWe department store (1:10) is made we actually get to see the magnificent Cathredral (Dom). Berlin’s answer to Marble Arch is up next. The Brandenburg Gate (1:49) is one of the most recognised sites in the city.

Brandenburger Tor Copyright: visitberlin, Foto: Wolfgang Scholvien
Brandenburger Tor / Brandenburg Gate

Berlin makes a great destination for a short break. There is so much to see that you will want to go back again. Not be missed are the Wall Museum and Check Point Charlie, the Jewish museum, the largest in Europe, the very moving Holocaust Memorial and not too far from the city centre is the former concentration camp at Sachsenhausen.

Holocaust Memorial Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe Copyright visitBerlin, Foto: Pierre Adenis
Holocaust Memorial

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Argentina Buenos Aires City Food Latin America

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires has a curious blend of the European and the Latin. It is well known for its preserved colonial and neo-classical architecture as well as its rich cultural life including a tango show or a visit to a ranch. In more recent years ” meat loving” visitors will seek out traditional “asado” or a themed tour devoted to famous Argentines such as “Evita” (Eva Peron).

Buenos Aires is the most visited city in South America and the second most visited city in Latin America after Mexico City. Known as the “Paris of South America”. In a survey for Travel and Leisure Magazine, visitors voted it the second most desirable city to visit after Florence. According to the Tourism Board of Argentina nearly 6m tourists visited the country in 2018 a figure that more than doubled over a ten year period.

Cabildo of Buenos Aires - Copyright Welcome Argentina
Cabildo of Buenos Aires

The most popular tourist sites are found in the historic core of the city. Buenos Aires was conceived around the Plaza de Mayo. To the north of here is the Caefral Metroplitana and the Banco de Nacion Argentina. To the west is the Cabildo that was the seat of the town council in colonial times.

If you have the time then seek out the Café Tortoni. The café was opened in 1858 by a French immigrant who named it after a Parisian café bearing the same name. Café Tortoni was selected by UCityGuides as one of the ten most beautiful cafes in the world.

Café Tortoni - Copyright WelcomeArgentina.com
Café Tortoni
Categories
Asia City Food Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong has to be on your list of places that you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Here on “GrippedbyTravel.co.uk” we visited Singpore and a trip to Asia would not be complete without a trip to Hong Kong. Why not combine the two?

Across its 263 islands not only does East meet West in terms of culture, but those islands provide mountains with their natural beauty in contrast with the man made beauty of its skyscraper skyline.

Market - Jardine's Crescent
Market – Jardine’s Crescent

Part of the fancination with Hong Kong is the opportunity to shop till you drop. As a free trade city there are bargains to be had in the numerous markets and shopping centres that the city has to offer. If shopping is not your thing, then there is the historical side of Hong Kong to discover. An excellent starting place is the Hong Kong Museum of History which is located next to the Hong Kong Science Museum. Whatever your reason for visiting Hong Kong you will not be disappointed.

Temple Street Night Market - Copyright Hong Kong Tourist Board.

Temple Street Night Market

At the end of the day however tired you might feel, a visit to a night market is a must. You just cannot travel halfway round and world and not experience the unique sight, sounds and smells of a Hong Kong night market. What are you waiting for?

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Barbados Beach Caribbean Sun

Barbados

This small Caribbean island is an eight and half hour flight from the UK and when you step off the plane at Grantley Adams International Airport you will have been transported to a different world but some elements of familiarity. Afternoon tea and cricket are just two of the examples.

The temperature rarely drops below 25°C, with daytime temperatures in August reaching around 30°C. The sea in Barbados is warm enough to swim all year round. The driest period is from December through to April. If soaking up the sun is for you then there are few prettier places in the world to do it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but it’s generally considered that Barbados has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

There is more to Barbados than just beaches and due to its size its relatively easy to travel around the island. Buses travel all over the island and are super cheap! They are a great way to experience Barbadian (aka Bajan) life. Meet some locals and see life outside your hotel or villa.

Since 2011 Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Categories
Asia City Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong has to be on your list of places that you must visit at least once in your lifetime. Here on “Grippedbytravel” we visited Singpore and a trip to Asia would not be complete without a trip to Hong Kong. Why not combine the two?

Across its 263 islands not only does East meet West in terms of culture, but those islands provide mountains with their natural beauty in contrast with the man made beauty of its skyscraper skyline.

Market - Jardine's Crescent
Market – Jardine’s Crescent

Part of the fancination with Hong Kong is the opportunity to shop till you drop. As a free trade city there are bargains to be had in the numerous markets and shopping centres that the city has to offer. If shopping is not your thing, then there is the historical side of Hong Kong to discover. An excellent starting place is the Hong Kong Museum of History which is located next to the Hong Kong Science Museum. Whatever your reason for visiting Hong Kong you will not be disappointed.

Temple Street Night Market - Copyright Hong Kong Tourist Board.

Temple Street Night Market

At the end of the day however tired you might feel, a visit to a night market is a must. You just cannot travel halfway round and world and not experience the unique sight, sounds and smells of a Hong Kong night market. What are you waiting for?

Categories
City Graceland Memphis Tennessee USA

Graceland

It was also a year ago, that Graceland started to reopen to the public after the first wave of the pandemic. At the time I commented elsewhere that it was probably a good time to go as it wouldn’t be so crowded.

A year later I would still say that same thing. Its a great time to visit Graceland right now because its not as crowded as it used to be. It will be soon but in the meantime take advantage of the situation.

Graceland isn’t just a house there is so much to experience. First and top of any visitors list is this is where Elvis lived. You feel like he could be just around the corner. See his wide range of costumes he wore on stage including the famous 68 comeback concert stagewear. Don’t miss out on seeing the famous pink Cadillac and wonder at his wall of gold records.