About Europe Travel

Portugal: Travel in the Footsteps of the SI Swimsuit Models

2010-02-09T21:48:33Z

I have often recommended picking a quest and following it on your European vacation. You know, just to add some zest to the occupation of strolling through museums and eating way too much. You could follow the life of a composer or artist for example. The Pinocchio Trail in Italy could be worth a day, or maybe the intellectuals among you might like to amble along the Goethe Hiking Trail in Germany. Yes, strengthen your mind and body at the same time--it's all the rage.

But then again, Valentine's day is almost upon us, and one should not forget the manly among us, especially the unattached manly, who don't even get the booby prize on this special day. In this spirit I present my idea of the ideal manly vacation quest: In the Footsteps of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models. Below is the information from which you might prepare a virtual road map. Good luck.

This year's models visited Portugal, starting in Lisbon, then heading over to the big, long stretch of beach from the Costa da Caparica to Cascais, then on to the south bank of the Tejo Estuary and Cape Espichel, where the coastline features a huge 30 kilometers of nice beaches replete with golden sands, sea cliffs and fossil lined ravines.

The shooting sessions continued in the lively and sophisticated Estoril Coast, well known for beaches perfect for practicing water sports. Then on to Portinho da Arr�bida beach, where there's a white sand bay framed by the green mountains of the Serra da Arr�bida Natural Park, where many rare and ancient plant species vie for space amongst the modern green rabble.

Then the tireless models were photographed at one of the finest Renaissance palaces in Portugal - the 500-year-old Quinta da Bacalh�a is a national monument surrounded by botanical gardens, a wine shop, and a lake graced with vineyards.

Here's a preview: Don't worry, there's not a lot of history and travel blather; it's mostly sun and skin. Nature condensed to its essence.

More: Portugal Map | Lisbon Travel Information | Lisbon Pictures

Some of the information in this post was provided in a press release provided by the Portuguese National Tourism Office

Portugal: Travel in the Footsteps of the SI Swimsuit Models originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 21:48:33.

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Spring in Portugal: Time for a Lamprey Fest!

2010-02-08T19:38:53Z

During your European vacation planning, you probably haven't given a whole lotta thought to sitting down to a meal based around bits of a slimy prehistoric animal whose name is said to translate to "stone licker" have you? Well, now you can.

February and March of 2010 are when you'll be able to go to the Centro region (Portugal Region Map) of Portugal and get Lamprey in many places, but one of my favorite cities in Portugal, Coimbra, is hosting a Lamprey Feast at the Best Western Hotel D. Lu�s. Prices are reasonable for a huge dinner and a night in a very nice hotel. Find prices and details on the Centro de Portugal site.

If you're still with me, you'll also want to read Slimy and prehistoric? I'll have it cooked in blood from Reuters. Yum.

Spring in Portugal: Time for a Lamprey Fest! originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 19:38:53.

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Celebrating Naples, Italy--and Real Pizza

2010-02-06T10:59:56Z

You may have missed it if you were anywhere but in Naples, Italy, but Friday was the celebration of the EUs certification of La Vera Pizza Napoletana. 250 free "real" pizzas were given away in central Naples by the first restaurant certified to serve them.

From now on, Naples-style pizza can only be served in restaurants that have received the TSG (Traditional Specialty Guaranteed) label. You can go to Naples and get trained in the theory and methods of making real pizza.

The ingredients for a TSG pizza are specified as local to the Campania region and the methods to make one are tightly defined. That leaves the undefinable skill of the pizzaiolo to create the best of the certified pizzas.

So, maybe you'll want to go on to Naples on a quest to test the skills of all the pizzaioli spinning certified local dough. There are worse ways to spend a vacation.

And while you're at it, take the funicular up the hill to the National Museum of San Martino and take in these spectacular views of Naples from above

Celebrating Naples, Italy--and Real Pizza originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 10:59:56.

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Kitchen Conversations with David Lebovitz & Meg Zimbeck

2010-02-04T12:11:20Z

A little event in Paris caught my eye this morning. Context Paris and Hidden Kitchen are hosting an evening with "chef and author David Lebovitz and journalist Meg Zimbeck as they look at Parisian cuisine at a crossroads and how external influences are re-shaping French gastronomy as part of Context's "Out of Context" series of special events."

Sign up, send some money and you'll get to eat at the renowned Hidden Kitchen in the company of one of Twitter's most compelling voices. (Mr. Lebovitz can put more Parisian life into a 140 character post than anyone I know.)

Check out: Kitchen Conversations.

Follow me on twitter: @wanderingitaly

Follow David Lebovitz on twitter: @davidlebovitz

Find out More about Paris with our Interactive Map of Paris or find other Paris Dinner Gatherings - Salons in Parisian Ateliers.

Kitchen Conversations with David Lebovitz & Meg Zimbeck originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 12:11:20.

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Need a Bag for Your Europe Travel?

2010-02-03T20:14:14Z

Perhaps it's time to seriously consider those expensive-to-load-onto the-plane bags of yours.

What do we carry on our travels? Check out some Carry-On Luggage recommendations.

Did you know that in February you can get 10% Off Orders over $50 sitewide at eBags.com (Buy Direct)?

Need a Bag for Your Europe Travel? originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 20:14:14.

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Where Do You Travel For Romance?

2010-02-02T11:40:31Z

It turns out the majority of you who travel for the purpose of being jabbed with one of Cupid's fine arrows head for the same place I do (albeit for different reasons), namely Italy.

Travelers also cited that their romantic destination of choice would be Italy (22 percent), followed by Hawaii (18 percent), France (10 percent), the Bahamas / Caribbean (10 percent), and French Polynesia (9 percent). ~ Valentine's Day Travel Survey Reveals That Love Is in the Air

Ok, so it's not far fetched to call Italy a romantic place. There's the dim mystery floating in the mist surrounding the watery wonderland called Venice, a casual stroll up Vesuvius hand in hand, a stay in a tiny Bed and Breakfast in one of the 5 quaint and craggy villages called Le Cinque Terre. But then again, 13% of travelers report finding romance in those crowded aluminum tubes called airplanes or at the airport. What's up with that?

I figure it's because its pretty much the same as a single's bar. You know, once you get past the bouncer you're treated to glimpses of half naked people on the full body scanners to get your juices flowing, then on to overpriced drinks in a place so crowded that your sweat shows up on other people's armpits.

So, yeah, I guess in a way flying is sexy.

Where Do You Travel For Romance? originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 11:40:31.

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Oysters and Swiss Army Knives

2010-01-31T13:55:44Z

I couldn't resist some European foodie tidbits from "the more things change the more they stay the same" department.

The "romantic" season is on its way. Luxury is in. Oysters (perhaps with a bit of bubbly) float to the top of the romantic's mind-bubble. Well, did you know that folks in the cheap non-seats in Tudor theaters ate oysters during performances--mainly because they didn't cost much? Yep, evidently the rich (the ones with seats) ate those prehistoric-looking sturgeon.

"Commoners, referred to then as "groundlings or stinkards" who paid just a penny to stand in the yard or pit regularly chomped on oysters." ~ Oysters - the Tudor version of cinema popcorn

Ok, so who wants to become a "stinkard" on Valentines day? Raise your mouse.

In other news, at The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England, according to Gadling, they've put on display a "Roman Swiss Army Knife". It has a knife, spoon, fork, spike, spatula, and small pick. The pick might have been used for nudging the meat out of snail shells, according to archaeologists. Imagine those big oafs sitting on a rock after a hard battle poking at snails. Not a pretty site. And I like snails. At least eating them with lots of garlic and butter is a bit better--morally superior I'm thinking--than just crushing them and leaving them for dead at the edge of the veggie garden, eh?

Oysters and Swiss Army Knives originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 13:55:44.

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2010's Big European Festivals

2010-01-30T00:39:28Z

Some European festivals take place every year. Carnival or carnevale, for example, is a classic celebration that will be taking place soon.

Festivals like the Passion Play at Oberammergau only happen once every ten years. 2010 is one of them. Independent travelers should have reserved by now, but tickets are still available at some travel agents and tour operators. In fact, I've just heard of a deal you might want to know about. It's through Horizon & Co, and according to the press release:

In celebration of Shrove Tuesday (Feb 16) and Ash Wednesday (Feb 17), Horizon & Co is offering free airfare for anyone who books on any of their three Oberammergau programs on either of these two days. With only 30 spots available, the free air won't last long. Anyone interested in pre-registering their interest should email oberammergau@horizon-co.com. The offer is valid on February 16 & 17th for new reservations only.

Check their web site: Horizon & Co for more.

For those more interested in the Normandy coast of France and the style of art called Impressionism, a huge festival is being planned called Normandie Impressionniste 2010, The tireless tourist could see over 100 events and exhibitions going on June through to September this year. See Europe a la Carte: Normandy's Impressionism Festival: Summer 2010

Certainly you know that Holland's Floriade, the huge flower and gardening festival is held every ten years. The next isn't until 2012, but did you know that you don't have to go to Holland to see tons of tulips?

This year, the castle of Groot-Bijgaarden just outside of Brussels, Belgium, is holding a festival of spring flowers from April 8th to May 6th. Over a million and a half bulbs have been planted for the occasion, including 300 varieties of Tulips. For more, see Spring in Groot-Bijgaarden.

2010's Big European Festivals originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at 00:39:28.

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Europe Travel Tip: Consider the Library

2010-01-29T10:49:14Z

Lots of people have begun writing about libraries lately. It's as if travel writers have suddenly realized that libraries are valuable cultural assets worth rediscovering before the funding dries up.

Then again, library buildings themselves are sometimes compelling places for tourists to visit. Some libraries, like the Casa de Las Conches in Salamanca, Spain, offer up some stunning and unique architecture along with their stacks of books.

But today's European libraries shelter more than just recently published and bound books. Barbara of The Espresso Break Blog, takes us inside the National Library in downtown Naples, where a tour allowed her to get up close and personal with papyrus scrolls from the Villa of Papyri in Herculaneum. She even tells you how to reserve the same tour.

Meanwhile, The Tuscan Traveler visits some Galileo First Editions at Biblioteca Biomedica in Florence to see books not often seen outside of museums--and in a far more relaxing atmosphere.

The oldest book I saw was the Operazioni del compasso. Written in Galileo's workshop in Padua and printed in Bologna in 1609. Only 60 copies were printed. (One was just sold at auction for over $500,000.)

And this is only one of the five libraries the Tuscan Traveler has taken us inside (virtually).

You should also know that the EU has established an online database of objects found in member national libraries. It's called The European Library, and it might help you if you're going on a quest for information, or just to see a really, really, old bit of written history on your European vacation.

Europe Travel Tip: Consider the Library originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 10:49:14.

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Bourdain's Brittany

2010-01-28T13:54:33Z

I just caught Anthony Bourdain's trip through Brittany last night on the Travel Channel. When Tony likes a place, his foodie treks can be quite interesting--and informative.

If you live near and occasionally thrash your overworked jaws on the industrial US version of "the other tasteless white meat", you might appreciate the clip Bourdain calls "Pork Porn". Yes, there are scientific reasons that happy, humanely raised pigs taste much better. All the more reason to go on a food quest in a place like Brittany or pig friendly Austria.

See Tony's show (he's next in Prague), then take a look at our Brittany Map. Imagine climbing up the hill at Mont St. Michel to get yourself hungry for the big "tower of shellfish" you'll demolish before digging into some real pork.

Have a question for Mr. Bourdain? You can ask Nomadic Matt to include it in his interview: Ask Anthony Bourdain a Question!

Bourdain's Brittany originally appeared on About.com Europe Travel on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 13:54:33.

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