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All the Queen’s Castles: Celebrating a 60-Year Reign

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 19:59:38 +0000

Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year, with key events taking place the first week in June. Queen Victoria is the only other English monarch to earn the distinction — and, given Elizabeth’s spirit and good health, she’s poised to out-reign her predecessor. If you’re headed to England, you’ll soak up spirit simply by walking the streets. But if you have to settle for being an armchair spectator, there are plenty of ways to join in from abroad.

The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday, June 3 is a spectacle of massive proportion — and one to watch on TV if you’re not in London. More than a thousand ships of all shapes and sizes will float down a seven-mile stretch of the river, with the royal family waving to the crowds from the sparkling Royal barge. That day, thousands of picnics and parties will be held to honor the Queen, including the Big Jubilee Lunch. Then, on Monday, June 4, the stars will really come out, as the feted royal attends the Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace, with Elton John, Paul McCartney, and others performing.

In addition, the Royal Family occupies several royal residences — and many more are uninhabited, such as Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London. Here are a few places that will be hosting special Jubilee events and exhibits to celebrate the occasion.

Buckingham Palace
The “Queen” of them all, Buckingham Palace is the Elizabeth II’s official residence in London. Buying a ticket to tour the palace’s state rooms also gets you into the special exhibit in the Queen’s gallery, “Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration,” where you can see a number of the Queen’s personal jewelry on display — including her Coronation Necklace from 1953.

Windsor Castle
The Queen spends weekends and Easter here at the largest occupied castle in the world. This year, visitors to Windsor can see “Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years,” an exhibit showcasing the queen’s public and private life. A mile down the road from Windsor, you can find Frogmore House, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried.

Kensington Palace. (Photograph by Annie Fitzsimmons)

Kensington Palace
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a. Will & Kate) currently live in a small apartment here while they renovate Princess Margaret’s former 20-room apartment. Prince Harry has also moved to Kensington. Don’t miss “Victoria Revealed,” the stunning new exhibit that chronicles Queen Victoria’s life, undying love for Prince Albert, and historic reign.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Queen’s official residence in Scotland presents “Treasures from the Queen’s Palaces” in honor of the Jubilee. Highlights include Rembrandt paintings and Imperial Easter eggs by Fabergé.

Clarence House
The official London residence of Prince Charles and Camilla, Clarence House was home to Her Majesty the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) and The Duke of Edinburgh following their marriage in 1947. Though the residence is usually open to the public from August-October, it will be closed in 2012 (it will resume public openings in 2013).

Sandringham House
Located in Norfolk, England, this is where the Queen and Royal Family spend an extended Christmas holiday each year. Gossip columnists chattered about how Kate had to prepare five outfits for her first Christmas Day at Sandringham — No lounging around in PJs here! The home and gardens are open to the public this year from April- November.

Balmoral Castle
The Queen loves her summertime escape in the Scottish Highlands, and spends August and September here. The castle was built for Queen Victoria and has been passed down through the family (rumor has it that this is where Will and Kate spent their first few days as a married couple here). Prince Charles’ private residence, Birkhall, is also located on the estate grounds. Balmoral is open from April through July.

The Tower of London
As you may have guessed, the Tower of London is unoccupied — but open to the public. Don’t miss the new “Discover the Crown Jewels” exhibit, where you can watch video footage of the Queen’s 1953 coronation (with a three-year old Prince Charles looking on).

For more information, visit www.visitengland.com.

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Up Up and Away

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:46 +0000

11am Sunday

By the time we arrived in Plymouth last night we were all suffering from Olympic Torch fatigue – and just plain fatigue from being on the run from 4:30am and rather dehydrated from too much time spent in the Eden Project’s tropical rainforest (despite drinking gallons of water).
I actually fell asleep, sitting up with my fingers on the keyboard.

But I couldn’t finish this series of blogs without sharing a few more pictures and highlights of yesterday, the Olympic Flame’s first day in the UK.

First off, Ben Fogle’s impressive flight to the top of the rainforest biome. Suited up in the white torchbearer’s track suit – with a white hardhat to match, Fogle carried the Olympic Flame inside a safety torch – the same kind used to transport it in aircraft – more than 100 feet up in the dome. He made sure that everyone got a good look at the flame before being hauled back down by the unsung heros below who held onto the guy ropes.

The helium balloon is actually used by gardeners inside the biome to prune and tend to the largest plants. A bit like the film Silent Running, about a similar dome in a spacecraft, I suspect. Well there is something definitely 22nd century about the Eden Project.

Plymouth

In Plymouth at about 7pm, crowds were lining the Barbican area, the old part of Plymouth -departure point of the Pilgrims – and Plymouth Hoe, it’s other, somewhat grander, festive waterfront. At least 20,000 had crowded onto the Hoe and tens of thousands more lined the streets. Entertainers, like the Morris Men pictured here, kept the mood lively.

At about 8p.m., the Olympic Torch, carried by a one of the UK’s 8,000 local heroes, arrived behind a convoy of vehicles – barely visible, as you can see, above the heads of the crowd.

Now the flame continues its journey toward the London 2012 Olympic Games. For the next 68 days it will be visiting thousands of communities around the country and we’ll be keeping track of it, as well as England’s @faninavan Rachel Kershaw, via twitter and facebook. Stop in from time to time to see what’s happening. Now, on to London

©Ferne Arfin

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Tips for Visiting the Doge’s Palace in Venice

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:22:10 +0000

One of the top places to see in Venice is the Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale, on Saint Mark’s Square. For centuries the Doge’s Palace was the home of Venice’s ruler, or Doge, and the government headquarters of the Venice Republic.

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Don’t Miss the Ryanair Deadline!

admin — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:17:54 +0000

Flying with Ryanair these days? Then check-in online in the next five hours or you may face a fee of 60 for check-in at the airport! Yes, that’s right – the normal cost if you miss online check-in is sixty Euros (or even sixty Pounds in the UK) and there are no signs that the budget carrier will waive this. Despite giving some confusing messages regarding their website closure this weekend.

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2012 India Monsoon Watch: When’s the Monsoon Expected in Kerala?

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:28:10 +0000

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Hong Kong International Art Fair 2012

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:28:08 +0000

Every now and again, I escape the dalu (大陆), that’s “mainland” in Mandarin, and scoot down to Hong Kong for some reason or another. This trip was riding on the coattails of my business-traveling husband with a free mileage ticket on Dragon Air. (Thank you, husband.) I managed to spend an afternoon at the Hong Kong International Art Fair, otherwise known as HK Art.

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Fifth Night Free and a New Dining Experience at Gansevoort Turks + Caicos

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:28:05 +0000

Stelle is the newest restaurant at the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos resort, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, a hot lounge scene, and a locale right on Grace Bay Beach. The new eatery is the work of Toronto restauranteur Franco Agostino, whose other restaurants include Il Post Nuovo, Caffe Doria, and Banfi.

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Chef Patrick Ferry at Sofitel Guarujá Jequitimar

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Now that the Mercure Grand Hotel São Paulo Parque do Ibirapuera has replaced the Sofitel São Paulo Ibirapuera, some travelers might wonder where they can sample the award-winning cuisine of …

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Look Ma, No Hands: Savannah from a Bicycle

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:59:42 +0000

If I’m being honest — totally honest — I’ll admit to liking Savannah just a bit more than I liked Charleston.

Less people, less fuss, less care, less… well, children.

“People don’t discriminate by race here,” a new friend of mine said. “But they do by the square you live near.”

I decided to take a bike around a few of those squares (there are 22 total) — giving my own faux tour of the city — all the way to Bonaventure Cemetery of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil fame.

P.S. As always, please forgive the edits — this was done on the fly.

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Car Masters Weekend Rolling Into Downtown Disney for Second Year

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:41:32 +0000

Lots of fun will rev up at Downtown Disney in two weeks — Saturday and Sunday, June 2 & 3, 2012 — as classic cars meet the car stars from Disney-Pixar’s animated motion picture “Cars 2.” Lightning McQueen, pal Mater and master British spy Finn McMissile are racing into town for meet and greets during the second annual two-day Car Masters Weekend. Car fans are sure to delight in a family-friendly weekend devoted to all things cars, that includes activities from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day at Downtown Disney’s West Side:

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Cremona Hotel Recommendation

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:22:00 +0000

The northen Italy town of Cremona is often overlooked by tourists but well worth a visit. Famous for its high-quality violins, Cremona has been a music town since the 16th century and its Civic Museum has a good display dedicated to Stradivarius violins.

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Go Gardening this Weekend

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:17:36 +0000

Or should that be “watch what others did in their garden”? From North to South, Ireland is gardening … amateurs as well as professionals, for show or for pleasure, in …

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Big Day Today as Olympic Relay Begins

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:00:41 +0000

5am

On our way since 4:30 am to Land.s End. Just a few hours until the launch of the torch. Fireworks over Falmouth harbor last night and Union Jack bunting all over the place.

This morning we’re chugging along in faithful Dumpy, the 54-year-old Bedford Butterfly Bus. Pictures and local color of the big events ASAP – (depending on Wi-Fi and 3G reception here). See you later.

©Ferne Arfin

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2 Upcoming Adventure Travel Trips in India

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:28:04 +0000

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Aargh, Where Be This Fair Vista?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:28:01 +0000

‘Tis a pretty thing, but where be it located?

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Campos do Jordão International Winter Festival 2012

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:18:04 +0000

Campos do Jordão, one of Brazil’s most scenic mountain destinations, hosts a prestigious classical music festival every winter.

Planning as early as possible is a must for travelers who want to …

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#FriFotos: Houses of the Holy

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:59:30 +0000

This week’s #FriFotos theme is HOLY PLACES, so we decided to run this stunner that Ken Thorne submitted to National Geographic Traveler‘s 24th annual Photo Contest in the “Sense of Place” category. This photo of a grove of ancient baobab trees, sacred to the Malagasy people, was taken near Morandava, Madagascar. “Walking amongst these giants is like nothing else on this planet,” he writes in his caption. “It is a spiritual place, almost magical.” We are right there with you, Ken!

The contest runs through July 11th, so you still have plenty of time to enter for a chance to win one of these amazing prizes: a National Geographic Galápagos Photography Expedition; a Santa Fe Workshop; a National Geographic Traveler Seminar; and $200 gift certificates to B&H Photo. You can submit digital photos online in any of these four categories: Travel Portraits; Outdoor Scenes; Sense of Place; and Spontaneous Moments. Enter today!

Want to see one of your photos featured on our website or Intelligent Travel blog? Make it happen by uploading your favorite travel pics (don’t forget to add a caption!) to ngm.com/yourshot. Tag all your submissions #travelshot – then look for your photos in one of our My Shot galleries or on our blog.

#FriFotos is a weekly themed Twitter chat founded by @EpsteinTravels where travelers share their favorite pics. Search #FriFotos on Twitter to see the latest submissions or tweet one of your own.

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Battleship Missouri, the “Mighty Mo”, Featured in Universal Studios Motion Picture “Battleship”

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:08:24 +0000

_{16-inch Guns of the Battleship Missouri}

Today the much anticipated motion picture Battleship from Universal Studios opens in the USA and Canada. The film has already earned over $200 million overseas.

Initial reviews of the film, including the review from About.com’s Hollywood Movies’ Guide, Rebecca Murray, are not particularly positive, however, I have heard from several friends who live on the island of O’ahu, where much of the motion picture was filmed, saying that they really enjoyed the film, especially the scenes filmed on the island.

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We’re On the Way to Meet the Olympic Flame

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:39 +0000

4:23p.m.
Arrived in Falmouth in time to discover that sailor Ben Ainslie, first torch runner tomorrow, won his sixth world championship this afternoon.

On the way down, chatted with 30-year-old Rachel Kershaw, winner of Visit England’s Fan in a Van competition. Normally head of commercial production at Metro Radio in Newcastle, Rachel will be taking 70 days off to travel around England, roughly in pursuit of the Olympic Torch.She’ll be blogging and tweeting @faninavan , and you can help her on her way by tweeting suggestions about what she should visit as she makes her way around the country.

On arrival, Rachel’s van, Rosie, pictured here, was waiting to meet her. We’ll be seeing her off on her odyssey formally, tomorrow, along with the Torch.

photo by Ferne Arfin

It’s all go as we head out from Paddington Station on a First Great Western train this morning, heading for our rendezvous with the Olympic Flame.

We’ve just heard that Ben Ainslie, Triple Olympic Gold Medal winner and six times world champion sailor will be the first to launch the torch on its way tomorrow morning. He’s on track today to take his sixth world championship (fingers crossed) in his Olympic boat in Falmouth Bay.

First stop for us today will be Falmouth, where we arrive just after the Finn Gold Cup regatta, the last qualifying race for Britain’s Olympic sailing hopefuls, will have finished. Three-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner Ben Ainslie is among the competitors in this single-handed sail dinghy class.

Looking forward to all tomorrow’s excitement too. The torch will apparently take flight in a hot air balloon INSIDE the Eden Project Biodome. This I gotta see.

I’ll keep you posted as often as I can. Come back later for more live blogging.

©Ferne Arfin

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Exclusive Exotic Driving Experience

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:41:18 +0000

Extreme, exhilarating, exciting, extraordinary and extravagant all define the experience of getting behind the wheel or even riding in a FERRARI, LAMBORGHINI, AUDI or PORSCHE during an Exotic Driving Experience. This incredible encounter, developed by the Richard Petty Driving Experience team, is currently only available at the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando.

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Free Movies in Bryant Park Begin June 18, 2012!

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:06:24 +0000

The annual tradition of Free Movies in Bryant Park begin on Monday, June 18. Every Monday evening through August 20, you can catch classic films on the big screen in …

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On a Budget? Why Not Free?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:17:37 +0000

With the Eurozone in financial turmoil and the Euro rising and falling, budgeting is ever more complicated … will that last dollar buy you one more Guinness or not? It …

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Panagiotis Pikramenos Leads Interim Government of Greece

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:15:40 +0000

Panagiotis Pikramenos has been sworn in as the leader of the interim government of Greece. His cabinet has been selected, and the resulting government will be in power until the …

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If You Go Down to the Woods Next Week…

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:00:42 +0000

…you’re in for a big surprise. That is, if you are still looking for something to do in the Midlands between May 25 and May 27. Somewhere, in a secret woodland around Nosely Hall – not far from Leicester, they’ve been erecting stages and various bits of wood art structures for the Noisily Festival. It’s a celebration of techno funk, dance music and all sorts of local indie sounds in the woods. Audience members don’t find out exactly where it is until they buy a ticket. All they’ll say for now is that it’s about half an hour from Leicester and two hours from London, somewhere between Leicester and Market Harborough.

Day tickets and camping tickets are available and if you bring a campervan it’ll cost you an extra tenner.

Find out more about the lineup and the festival by visiting their website. Then go make like a druid who’s into techno soul and what the organizers describe as a “weekend of unrestrained hedonism.”

Or, plan for later this summer by checking out some of the other music festivals around.