February 2014 - traveljunkiesblogtraveljunkiesblog

Beer is not just a drink but is a beverage that is central to the culture of many European countries. Beer festivals give the visitor the chance to enjoy good company, rousing music, local food and, of course, beer. Festivals take place throughout the year and provide the perfect opportunity for a city break holiday. So why not pack a bag, make sure your passport and insurance are in order, and visit one or more of the following:

Photo: evocateur
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/evocateur/5912108245/

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany

The Oktoberfest is, quite simply, the world’s oldest and largest beer festival. It takes place in Munich every autumn and is visited by up to five million people. The Oktoberfest is a celebration of Bavarian culture and gives the visitor a chance to enjoy traditional music, hearty food and to sample the region’s fantastic range of beers. The festival this year takes place between 20 September and 5 October.

Prague Beer Festival, Czech Republic

The Czechs are Europe’s top beer drinkers in terms of quantity consumed. They also claim to produce the finest beers in Europe. The Prague beer festival provides a good opportunity to check out this claim and to visit one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities into the bargain. This year’s festival takes place from 15 to 31 May..

Stuttgart Beer Festival, Germany

Stuttgart is one of Germany’s most elegant cities and is home to the country’s second largest beer festival. The festival this year commences on 26 September and lasts 17 days. It is more than just a beer festival but is a celebration of the abundant fruit harvest that autumn brings to this beautiful part of Germany.

Essen Christmas Beer Festival, Belgium

Without doubt, Belgium is home to the world’s biggest range of beers. The Belgians produce a great variety of styles of beer, including some that use fruits and spices. As visitors will discover, every Belgian beer is served in its own special glass. The Essen Festival is a Christmas beer festival and takes place this year on 15 and 16 December in the small town of Essen near the Dutch border. Many of Belgium’s beers are made by Trappist monks in accordance with traditional recipes. Some of these brews are very strong and are guaranteed to provide a little inner warmth on a cold December day.

Great British Beer Festival, London

Much closer to home, but well worth a visit, the Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) takes place in London every August. It has established itself as one of Europe’s top beer festivals and takes place this year on 12 to 16 August. The festival is held at Olympia and the organisers describe it as ‘Britain’s biggest pub’ with 800 real ales being served as well as a range of ciders and foreign beers. As well as beer, up to 50,000 visitors a day are able to enjoy a variety of foods and musical entertainment. The GBBF is the perfect centrepiece to a weekend or midweek break in London.
Tickets go on sale in April/May

Cliff
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Courtesy of http://mytraveladventure.com.au/

Take a deep breath, get strapped in and feel the buzz. Lonely Planet brings you the thrill-seekers’ list, from its 1000 Ultimate Experiences book.

1. BIG SHOT RIDE, LAS VEGAS, USA

This ride, atop the 110-storey Stratosphere observation tower in Las Vegas, has incredible views. The Big Shot runs on compressed air, which, with incredible force, rockets you in your harness from the ride’s base to the top of the Big Shot’s 49 metre tower in just over two seconds. It’s on the boulevard, on top of the Stratosphere Hotel.

2. MOTORCYCLE-TAXI RIDE, THAILAND

Motorcycle-taxi riders bob in and out of endless lines of cars at alarming speeds, often mounting pavements, and wipe-outs occur with shocking regularity. Often the injured rider or passenger is carted off to hospital in a passing tuk tuk. Look for the orange vests worn by licensed taxi riders, who are legally required to carry a spare helmet; motorcycle taxis are usually down the alleys just off the main roads.

3. ROCK CLIMBING, YOSEMITE VALLEY, USA

They say Yosemite Valley is climbing mecca, with climbs coveted by ‘rock heads’ far and wide, and a degree of difficulty that has necessitated many technical innovations. Even today, as the most demanding ascents have crumbled, aficionados still point to El Capitan, Yosemite’s 915m granite wall, as the planet’s greatest rock climb. Be prepared to self-rescue: it is illegal to camp at the base of any wall.

4. PARASAILING, ACAPULCO, MEXICO

Parasailing was invented in Acapulco and that’s no surprise: it’s an absolutely prime location for floating upon the air, with a spectacular, panoramic view of the city, the hills and the islands beyond Acapulco Bay. You take off from the beach and you land on the beach. Operators abound at Contesa Beach and are easy to arrange except during the busy spring holiday season.

5. ZAMBEZI RIVERRAFTING, ZAMBIA & ZIMBABWE

The British Canoe Union classes this white-water run as an extreme Grade V: violent rapids, steep gradients, massive drops. One of the rapids is called ‘Oblivion’ and is said to flip more canoes than any other on the planet.

6. RUNNING WITH THE BULLS, PAMPLONA, SPAIN

Ever since Ernest Hemingway popularized the event, running with the bulls through the narrow streets of Pamplona has come to symbolize some kind of macho pinnacle. Bull runs start at 8am every day from 7 to 14 July; runners must enter before 7.30am. Once you start running it is technically illegal to stop.

7. SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE CLIMB, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Follow in Aussie comedian Paul Hogan’s footsteps, prefame – he worked as a rigger on the ‘Coat Hanger’, the world’s largest steel-arch bridge; its summit is 134m above sea level. The climb takes over three hours and it’s a hairy thrill, with cars and people below like ants, and lovely Sydney Harbour before you. .

8. SWIMMING WITH SHARKS, DYER ISLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

Dolphins not edgy enough for you? Try swimming with a great white off Dyer Island. All you have to do is jump in a cage and be lowered into a school of hungry sharks. As they peer in helplessly with those dead black eyes, you might think ‘this is soft!’ Think again. Smaller sharks have been known to butt their way through the bars. From April to August most operators can almost guarantee the sharks will appear.

9. ‘EDGE OF SPACE’ FLIGHTS, RUSSIA

This must be the ultimate high for mainline adrenalin junkies: strapping yourself into a MiG-29 fighter jet and submitting to speeds of Mach 3.2 at a height of 25km – the edge of space – where the sky is black and earth spreads out beneath you. The pilot might even let you take the controls, but make sure you’re not too jittery and bank too far, otherwise you might be forced to draw upon that ejector-seat training they put you through.

10. SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS, NEW ZEALAND

These graceful and playful creatures are guaranteed to quicken the pulse of anyone lucky enough to get near them, with their undeniable intelligence and exuberant personalities. They get frisky and acrobatic only if they feel like it, so a new trend has taken root: swimmers sing not only to attract dolphins, but also to get them in the mood. Apparently Elvis tunes do the trick nicely.

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Monthly Archives: February 2014

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