Monthly Archives: March 2012

a roundup of travel news – Milan, Reykjavik, Dublin

From the London Independent’s Simon Calder… Air arrangements assume a London departure, of course, but the overviews are exciting. Milan Reykjavik Dublin

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Art is everywhere in Prague

Building facades, statues, lamp posts and museum entrances are just some of the places where you’ll find art. Some beautiful, some thought-provoking. Too much to take in

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three churches and a synagogue in Prague

Just a few of the beautiful religious buildings in Prague. See separate blog post for St Vitus.

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London Tube closures for weekend of 31 March – 1 April 2012

Big works weekend and NO April Fooling! This weekend’s Tube closures in London include partial closures on FIVE lines and all of the Victoria line. Most closures affect both Saturday and Sunday services. Yikes!

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a new director for the RSC

From the London Independent. A new director has been named to head the Royal Shakespeare Company.

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a really, REALLY cool idea for a winter activity in Finland

Take a trip on an icebreaker in Finland. Recently featured on Deutsche Welle Euromaxx. Here is the home link for the Sampo.

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a Prague toy shop window

Dolls and elves                     Marionettes                               and Krtek the mole… my apologies for the crummy photo quality

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Prague’s beer signs

Prague and environs is the home of lots of great beers. Three of my favorites are …              

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bring your fishing pole next time you’re in London!?

From the London Independent. The Thames, along with other rivers in the U.K., is getting so clean that trout fishing is making a comeback.

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the best English gardens for visitors

From the London Independent – the 10 best English gardens open to visitors. Great places to celebrate springtime. Click on the link for prices and websites.

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chocolate festival in Oxford!

From the Oxford Mail. If you’re in or near Oxford, England this weekend, check out the Chocolate Festival. I wish I’d known!

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who were they?

A brass memorial plaque in England names two casualties of Gallipoli but the plaque’s original home is unknown. From the Oxford Mail. Will post any updates.

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a new clothing label for the U.K.

From the London Independent, a new Welsh company enters the jeans market. And a Swedish label comes to London.

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Banbury Cross gets a wash for the Jubilee

Cleaning up the Banbury Cross for the Queen’s Jubilee. Who gets to ride a cock horse, I wonder? From the Oxford Mail.

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a historic pub in Abingdon getting another chance

Nags Head pub will get some major renovations and reopen later in the year. CAMRA is excited. From the Oxford Mail.

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London Tube closures for weekend of 24-25 March 2012

This weekend’s Tube closures in London include partial closures on the Northern and Central lines on both days. Bakerloo line has a partial closure on Sunday. The closures are outside zone 1, so visitors aren’t likely to be affected. One … Continue reading

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the new Skoda is introduced

From the Prague Post – Czech automaker Skoda unveiled the Citigo, a new mini model, at the Geneva auto show.

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Floriade is coming – Netherland’s horticultural expo

Floriade, the Netherland’s big horticultural expo, only shows up once every ten years. 2012 is the year. Plants and trees, new growing methods, environmental improvements and more. It runs from 5 April thru 7 October. Click on the link for … Continue reading

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shopping in Helsinki and a very nice dinner

Whether good or bad for my image as a wise globe trotter, I like to go shopping when I travel. At times I just need something ‘normal’, such as tissues or toothpaste. Very often, I’m looking for packaged food that … Continue reading

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An airplane designer celebrates his 100th birthday

Among this centenarian’s accomplishments – design changes to the Spitfire. From the Oxford Mail.

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the annual Beethoven festival in Bonn

Mark your calendar for Beethovenfest 2012 in Bonn, Germany. From Deutsche Welle.

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London Tube closures for weekend of 17-18 March 2012

This weekend’s Tube closures in London include partial closures on the Metropolitan, District and Hammersmith & City lines. Also, the entire Circle line is closed. Both Saturday and Sunday service is affected.

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travel ideas for Bermuda and Nice

From London Independent’s Simon Calder. Continuing the ”48 hours in …” series. Ideas for visiting Bermuda. I’ve stayed at the Rosedon Hotel he mentions. It’s within walking distance of downtown Hamilton, yet private and very tropical British. Also, a sunny European … Continue reading

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A new bell to mark the Queen’s Jubilee

A town in Oxfordshire raises a new bell to mark Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee.

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what is ‘schmutzfink’??

It sounds vaguely racy. Click on the link for a cute picture.

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a new alternative to the navy??

An unusual way to meet women and travel the world. From the London Independent.

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a new playwriting contest in London

From the London Independent. London’s Royal Court Theatre is seeking really, really short plays for their Young Writers festival. Through mid-April.

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A commercial stunt at the Uffington White Horse

From the Oxford Mail. New canvas lines were added around the Uffington White Horse, a prehistoric hillside chalk carving near Oxford, England. Locals are upset, but it’s canvas and does not affect the existing chalk. Lax security should perhaps be … Continue reading

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Keukenhof is open for 2012; the most beautiful spring garden in the world

Keukenhof is open for 2012! The latest listing of events for Keukenhof 2012, including a link for tickets

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London Tube closures for weekend of 10-11 March 2012

This weekend’s Tube closures in London are on large portions of the Central Line on  Saturday and Sunday and the Bakerloo line on Sunday. Bus services listed in the tfl link above.

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