Last night we attended the Cosmopolitan party at Melrose Arch to crown the sexiest man for 2008.
Only 10 of the nominees were present as Oscar Pistorius and Ryk Neetlingh are at training camps. The 10 that made it, only walked on stage as their was no ramp (as at normal fashion shows) when they were introduced. When the final call came for the guys to come out they actually plucked up the courage to walk the isle into the audience - and take off their shirts.
Imagine a room with 200 women and 20 guys...
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Get paid to blog
Accepting credit card payments via your website
You have an online business, but need to accept credit cards on your website to increase your sales – then you need to read this.
First of all, you need to open a merchant account. This can be done either through a merchant bank or a merchant account provider. To apply, complete the merchant account application form. We can process and approve your application within 1 to 2 business days - you will need to have a US based mail address, tax information and be over 18.
We at A+ Merchant Services, have all the banking contacts & relationships that you may need to start accepting credit cards on website.
First of all, you need to open a merchant account. This can be done either through a merchant bank or a merchant account provider. To apply, complete the merchant account application form. We can process and approve your application within 1 to 2 business days - you will need to have a US based mail address, tax information and be over 18.
We at A+ Merchant Services, have all the banking contacts & relationships that you may need to start accepting credit cards on website.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Research: Pisa, Italy
http://www.behindthetower.com/en/pisa/sights/
The Field of Miracles, with the Duomo, the Baptistry, the Monumental Cemetery and the Tower are definitely a must see. The Museum of the Duomo and the Museum of the Sinopie preserve incredible treasures.
The Field of Miracles, with the Duomo, the Baptistry, the Monumental Cemetery and the Tower are definitely a must see. The Museum of the Duomo and the Museum of the Sinopie preserve incredible treasures.
Research: Amsterdam
Amsterdam windmills,
The Netherlands is synonymous for its windmills, clogs, tulips, canals, cheese markets… practically everything that you would expect to find in a charming and utterly picturesque country. But, whatever image you associate with the lowlands, the first thing likely to come to mind is the windmill (molen). Such is the importance of these living monuments that there is even a National Windmill Day (11 May), and on festive occasions or national holidays molens are decked out in flowers, garlands, figures of angels or the Dutch flag. For centuries, windmills have helped the Dutch fight water shortages so it is little wonder that they were the first to develop ‘windmill technology.’ In the glory days, the Netherlands boasted more than 10,000 mills but the molen population today stands at a mere 1,000. Many of the remaining mills are open to the public and a couple have even been transformed into homes, but a word of warning, these are not museums!
Pictures courtesy of: Amsterdam Tourist Information
Travel guide to Amsterdam features information
on hotels, apartments, sights and entertainment
in Amsterdam and all the Netherlands.
Reasearch: Assortment of articles about Europe Holidays/Trips (Munich & Amsterdam)
- Bringing "souvenirs" from Amsterdam to Munich (what a freak)
MUNICH:
- Much to do in Munich
- “When in Munich, do as the Germans do- so we kept drinking”
- Some things about Munich
- Get Munich attractions on a map
- http://realtravel.com/munich-germany-travel-guide-d12778-1.2294531.html
f You Have 1 Day
Local tourist tradition calls for a morning breakfast of Weisswurst (the traditional little white sausages). Head for Donisl, which opens at 9am. A true Münchner downs them with a mug of beer. Then walk to Marienplatz, with its Glockenspiel and Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall). Later stroll along Maximilianstrasse, one of Europe's great shopping streets.
In the afternoon, visit the Alte Pinakothek and catch at least some exhibits at the Deutsches Museum. Cap the evening with a night of Bavarian food, beer, and music at the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl.
If You Have 2 Days
Spend day 1 as detailed above. In the morning of day 2, visit the Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst and, if the weather is right, plan a lunch in one of the beer gardens of the Englischer Garten. In the afternoon, explore Nymphenburg Palace, summer residence of the Wittelsbachs.
If You Have 3 Days
Spend days 1 and 2 as outlined above. Occupy your third day exploring the Residenz, the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, and the Bavarian National Museum. If you have any more time, return to the Deutsches Museum. Have dinner, or at least a drink, at the Olympiapark Tower, enjoying a panoramic view of the Alps.
If You Have 4 or 5 Days
Spend the first 3 days as outlined above. As fascinating as Munich is, tear yourself away for a side trip on day 4 to one of the Royal Castles built by the "mad king," Ludwig II. On day 5, visit Dachau, the notorious World War II concentration camp, or go farther afield to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a taste of the Bavarian Alps.
Amsterdam:
http://realtravel.com/amsterdam-netherlands-travel-guide-d14234-1.2285918.html
If You Have 1 Day
If you have only 1 day in Amsterdam, limit yourself in what you attempt. It's better to come away with a few good memories than to run around trying for a quick glimpse of everything. That doesn't mean you can't see a lot, however. The first thing you should do is invest an hour in a canal-boat trip. Don't worry for one minute about anyone who sniffs at this idea and mutters something about canal-boat tours being tourist traps. Maybe they are, but so what? The view of Amsterdam from the water is the best you can get, and cruising is faster and a lot easier on your feet than walking.
After the boat tour, you should grab a quick lunch. How about a broodje at a broodjeswinkel, or, if you're ready to jump in with both feet, a raw herring with onions from one of the many streetside stalls?
Next you might want to do at least part of one of the walking tours we list. You could start with The Golden Age Canals tour, along Prinsengracht, Herengracht, and Keizersgracht, lined by stunning canal houses topped by step, bell, and other decorative gables, and crisscrossed by smaller canals that have colorful houseboats moored along their banks. Since you will have seen some of the main canals on your boat tour, you could instead try either the Old Center tour or the Jordaan tour. When you're finished with that, head for one of the "big three" museums. Unfortunately, renovations have caused most of the Rijksmuseum to close until 2008 (see the museum listings for more information). But, you'll fare better at the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frankhuis. Take a tram if you're running short on time.
After the museum, it will probably be late afternoon and you'll be pretty exhausted, so I'd suggest returning to the hotel for a drink at the bar before dinner or a nap. Since you probably had a Dutch breakfast and a Dutch lunch, you might consider going for that "traditional" Dutch dinner treat -- an Indonesian rijsttafel.
Afterward, if you're still up for it, you really shouldn't miss having a drink in a brown cafe; your Amsterdam experience won't be complete without it.
If You Have 2 Days
Follow the first part of the itinerary above at a more relaxed pace. Take some notes while you're on the canal-boat tour about things you'd like to see up close later. Go for a short stroll along your favorite canal before lunch. Do the whole of one of the walking tours, visiting some of the stores and bookstores you see along the way. Save the big museums for your second day.
On the second day, you can sleep in a little because the museums don't open until later in the morning, then spend the day museum hopping. Before you leave the hotel you might want to try getting tickets to a concert, the ballet, or the opera, so you can attend a show in the evening. You should still be realistic about what's possible. Visiting one museum in the morning and one in the afternoon is enough. If you are keen to see the Anne Frankhuis, you should do that first and go early in the morning -- so much for sleeping late! -- because there's always a line (but see the note in the museum listings for the best times to visit). After lunch, maybe in a grand cafe, take a tram to your second museum choice. Pick a place for dinner; this time, have a Dutch meal. Finally, go see that show.
If You Have 3 Days
Enough museums already! Today is a fresh-air day. If you want to visit the Red Light District, but not at night, morning is the best time to do it. Most of the weird folks have turned in for the day, and there's almost an air of innocence to the place, which actually occupies one of the prettiest parts of the old city.
Otherwise I suggest you spend the day shopping, sightseeing, and gallery hopping. Walk along Kalverstraat, the more modern shopping street, or Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat -- "the P. C. Hooft" -- which is the fancy one. Then, perhaps stroll along Spiegelgracht and Nieuwe Spiegelstraat (antiques). Take a walk through the Jordaan, a lively former working-class area now filled with cafes, restaurants, and interesting little boutiques. Or take the tram to Waterlooplein for the flea market, or to Albert Cuypstraat for the great street market there. It would also be a good time to go to the Looiersgracht Market on an antiques hunt. If the weather is fine, have lunch on a sidewalk terrace and work in some people-watching.
Later, after you've had dinner take a leisurely stroll along the canals, which are particularly beautiful at night when they're lit up. A visit to a jazz club or music bar is a good way to round off your day.
If You Have 4 Days or More
You'll notice I haven't suggested a single side trip yet, even though there's an entire section devoted to side trips in this guide. That's because 3 days is barely enough to do any kind of justice to Amsterdam itself. With 4 or more days, though, the environs start to come within range.
On your first day of touring, I suggest you travel from Amsterdam to Haarlem, and maybe squeeze into the same day a visit to the North Sea coast at nearby Zandvoort, which has a beach, racetrack, and casino. On your second day, head to Hoorn on the IJsselmeer shore. If you're driving, take in Volendam and Marken along the way, and from Hoorn you can continue on to Enkhuizen and the Afsluitdijk (Enclosing Dike), before returning to Amsterdam.
With more time, you can alternate days spent in the city with visits to, for example, the Bulb Fields and Keukenhof Gardens if it's tulip time; Zaanse Schans for windmills; Leiden for the Pilgrim Fathers; Delft for Holland's royal city; The Hague for the seat of government; and Rotterdam for the world's busiest port.- http://www.amsterdam.info/red-light-district/
Do not take photos of the occupied windows - this is strictly prohibited and any attempt will be quickly stamped out (it could get messy, you have been warned!). Enjoy some discrete Red Light District pictures that are also available for free download, see our copyright license.
Research: Rail & Coach Travel Europe
I found this great article on the web http://www.seat61.com/Europe.htm about travelling by rail with some great tips.
Explore this website, look at the hotel reviews, but also look at ricksteves.com, virtualtraveller.com and slowtravel.com
I also visited TripAdvisor for some Forum advice and found:
• Sorry about your unfortunate experience. RailEurope is the US train ticket booking agency for different trains such as Eurostar and the French rail, SNCF for example. However, RailEurope inflates its prices. If you book directly online with the rail company you need it's much cheaper. These days you can pay online and it's many times possible to print your tickets online too. I used RE once four years ago but have not used them since. I booked my train tickets online instead.
• www.raileurope.co.za
• Try the French rail official site at www.sncf.com
• I just had a quick look on their site and, using a random date in late July, found a fare of 85 Euros with a couchette in 2nd class and 125 Euros with a couchette in 1st class (non-changeable and non-refundable) using a random date in late June.
• The only problem is that the SNCF site can be a bit balky, especially when it comes to international bookings.
• If you are having a problem give another shout, and no doubt we'll be able to figure it out.
• The German rail site at www.bahn.de works much better, but I'm not sure if you can book on their site and pick up your ticket in France.
• Let us know how you get on with the SNCF site...
Other travel things:
• http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti107.html So in a nutshell, if you are going to be travelling overnight on a weekend, during the summer, or to a place where it is very important that you get there on time, (I.e., pending hotel reservations, train connections, etc...) I would definitely recommend that you make the reservations as much in advance as it will let you. I was very discouraged, but it taught me a good lesson. I know that sometimes it doesn't show some specific routes on RailEurope, but if you call them, they will find you virtually any route you are looking for and can make the reservation there as well. If your purchase total exceeds $200, your shipping is free.
• TRAIN PASS: http://www.raileurope.co.za/southafrica/rail/passes/eurail_flexipass.htm ; http://www.raileurope.co.za/southafrica/rail/passes/eurailpass.htm; http://www.eurail.com/1_global_pass?currency=eur * cheaper than raileurope
On finding Accommodation I found the following:
• Before bidding on Priceline then be sure to read the website www.biddingfortravel.com. This will explain how to bid and what inventory is available and the best price. I have used it once in Milan and got a good deal with a hotel there. However, I have used it alot in the States and have gotten incredible deals. However, Italy is a different story. The Italians don't really like this method of using up excess inventory and Italy is booked up for so much of the year so that you don't have alot of excess inventory for Priceline.com.
Other Things:
• I am 95 years young and I have heard stories about toilets in europe being a hole in the ground. Is this true? Is toilets expensive there?
• Most toilets we've paid to use range from about .20 Euros up to about .75 Euros. Several were just a donation, whatever you wished to give. We've found that most of the pay toilets were cleaner than most.
• http://www.ceramicavulcano.it/speciali/index.HTM look at the pic 2nd from top
• I don't know for Switzerland but in Italy accomodation costs vary according to season/happenings: in Milan, in trade fair season, the price are VERY high (and even then, you risk finding nowhere to sleep) and very affordable otherwise.
• In touristic cities spring/summer are to be avoided pricewise...
• It would greatly help if you could be more precies about travelling season and places you'd like to visit.
• In general, in France the Etap hotels chain is very affordable.
• In Italy in high season I'd opt for convents/religious lodgings.
• In winter there are bargains.
• If you plan WELL in advance, you could fly very cheaply inside Europe with carriers like Easyjet and Ryanair (you' better flying light however).
Explore this website, look at the hotel reviews, but also look at ricksteves.com, virtualtraveller.com and slowtravel.com
I also visited TripAdvisor for some Forum advice and found:
• Sorry about your unfortunate experience. RailEurope is the US train ticket booking agency for different trains such as Eurostar and the French rail, SNCF for example. However, RailEurope inflates its prices. If you book directly online with the rail company you need it's much cheaper. These days you can pay online and it's many times possible to print your tickets online too. I used RE once four years ago but have not used them since. I booked my train tickets online instead.
• www.raileurope.co.za
• Try the French rail official site at www.sncf.com
• I just had a quick look on their site and, using a random date in late July, found a fare of 85 Euros with a couchette in 2nd class and 125 Euros with a couchette in 1st class (non-changeable and non-refundable) using a random date in late June.
• The only problem is that the SNCF site can be a bit balky, especially when it comes to international bookings.
• If you are having a problem give another shout, and no doubt we'll be able to figure it out.
• The German rail site at www.bahn.de works much better, but I'm not sure if you can book on their site and pick up your ticket in France.
• Let us know how you get on with the SNCF site...
Other travel things:
• http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti107.html So in a nutshell, if you are going to be travelling overnight on a weekend, during the summer, or to a place where it is very important that you get there on time, (I.e., pending hotel reservations, train connections, etc...) I would definitely recommend that you make the reservations as much in advance as it will let you. I was very discouraged, but it taught me a good lesson. I know that sometimes it doesn't show some specific routes on RailEurope, but if you call them, they will find you virtually any route you are looking for and can make the reservation there as well. If your purchase total exceeds $200, your shipping is free.
• TRAIN PASS: http://www.raileurope.co.za/southafrica/rail/passes/eurail_flexipass.htm ; http://www.raileurope.co.za/southafrica/rail/passes/eurailpass.htm; http://www.eurail.com/1_global_pass?currency=eur * cheaper than raileurope
On finding Accommodation I found the following:
• Before bidding on Priceline then be sure to read the website www.biddingfortravel.com. This will explain how to bid and what inventory is available and the best price. I have used it once in Milan and got a good deal with a hotel there. However, I have used it alot in the States and have gotten incredible deals. However, Italy is a different story. The Italians don't really like this method of using up excess inventory and Italy is booked up for so much of the year so that you don't have alot of excess inventory for Priceline.com.
Other Things:
• I am 95 years young and I have heard stories about toilets in europe being a hole in the ground. Is this true? Is toilets expensive there?
• Most toilets we've paid to use range from about .20 Euros up to about .75 Euros. Several were just a donation, whatever you wished to give. We've found that most of the pay toilets were cleaner than most.
• http://www.ceramicavulcano.it/speciali/index.HTM look at the pic 2nd from top
• I don't know for Switzerland but in Italy accomodation costs vary according to season/happenings: in Milan, in trade fair season, the price are VERY high (and even then, you risk finding nowhere to sleep) and very affordable otherwise.
• In touristic cities spring/summer are to be avoided pricewise...
• It would greatly help if you could be more precies about travelling season and places you'd like to visit.
• In general, in France the Etap hotels chain is very affordable.
• In Italy in high season I'd opt for convents/religious lodgings.
• In winter there are bargains.
• If you plan WELL in advance, you could fly very cheaply inside Europe with carriers like Easyjet and Ryanair (you' better flying light however).
The BusAbout Way - all the information
To make your budget go even further we have some awesome deals which are available NOW.
2008 EARLYBIRD PROMOTION NOW ON! BOOK EARLY AND SAVE 15% ON ALL LOOP AND FLEXITRIP PASSES.
Use promocode 'EARLYBIRD01' when booking. Valid until 25th January 2008
1 Loop trip $639.00
2 Loop trip $1,069.00
3 Loop trip $1,319.00
Flexitrip (6 stops) $549.00
Additional Flexistops $59.00
Ok, for us the flexi pass would work except that we will need 13-14 stops and on the Flexi pass you only get 6 at $549 and we will need to buy 7 0r 8 more at $59 each... adding another $472. Bringing the total to $1021 (at today's exchange rate it is about R7000) just for transport! Then you need to add on another 30 - 50 Euros per night for accommodation and more for food and partying... SIGH
2008 EARLYBIRD PROMOTION NOW ON! BOOK EARLY AND SAVE 15% ON ALL LOOP AND FLEXITRIP PASSES.
Use promocode 'EARLYBIRD01' when booking. Valid until 25th January 2008
1 Loop trip $639.00
2 Loop trip $1,069.00
3 Loop trip $1,319.00
Flexitrip (6 stops) $549.00
Additional Flexistops $59.00
Ok, for us the flexi pass would work except that we will need 13-14 stops and on the Flexi pass you only get 6 at $549 and we will need to buy 7 0r 8 more at $59 each... adding another $472. Bringing the total to $1021 (at today's exchange rate it is about R7000) just for transport! Then you need to add on another 30 - 50 Euros per night for accommodation and more for food and partying... SIGH
Research, Operation Europe: Contiki VS BusAbout VS other
I understand that no matter how great a tour is you will always get people that hated the tour - unfortunately I read a lot of foul tales about Contiki ripping people off etc. This made me realise that maybe I should investigate other options...
Contiki:
BusAbout:
Design your very own trip. choose your route around our network and stop where you want. Our Flexitrip is the ultimate flexible travel option, you can choose anywhere you'd like to go and then buy the number of corresponding flexistops. This is ideal if you really want a true trans-continental adventure or have a clear idea of what cities you want to experience.
Price : Flexi Pass $549.00 Flexi Days $59.00
On our own:
Contiki:
- Don't need to book hotels, accommodation, transport.
- May have too little time to explore the places we go to.
- May meet some interesting people or people that annoy you and drive you to murder.
- 18 days R13 000 is cheap... and you get to see a whole lot of places.
BusAbout:
Design your very own trip. choose your route around our network and stop where you want. Our Flexitrip is the ultimate flexible travel option, you can choose anywhere you'd like to go and then buy the number of corresponding flexistops. This is ideal if you really want a true trans-continental adventure or have a clear idea of what cities you want to experience.
Price : Flexi Pass $549.00 Flexi Days $59.00
On our own:
- Can get a EURAIL pass, but must still book ahead for a ride.
- Will have to plan and book everything.
- Will have to pay each place we stay ... and put down a deposit beforehand or just wing it when we get there.
- The stress of not knowing where we may end up and having to lug around our luggage.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Research: Operation Europe (continued)
Here are a few other interesting blogs I've stumbled upon:
I think that maybe this post is getting too long - so watch out for my follow-up research post!
- So Much Better On Holiday
Unlike Big Brother, there's no weekly task to create a sense of team spirit. Instead you slowly bond with activities like Interpreting Swedish Menus or How To Get To The Bus On Time With Crippling Hangover. Sitting for seven hours on a coach through the dullest of Scandinavian highways also helps people to open up. You sit beside a random person and talk and talk and talk, sifting through the minutiae of your lives until you find at least one thing in common.
In the last week, fatigue kicks in and facades begin to crack. Unlike BB you don't have a million bucks to motivate you to be nice. Another fucking city, another fucking church, another fucking group photo. Some people genuinely thrive in an 24/7 party environment, but some people cannot fucking STAND it and want some GODDAMN SPACE and wish that girl with the voice like kittens being disemboweled would STOP singing 'Welcome To The Jungle' on long bus trips otherwise she is going to be whacked over the head with a bottle of black market vodka. This may well have been The Most Time And Cost Effective Means Of Seeing Russia And Some Other Exciting Places but it also the most Bloody Exhausting. - Contiki Optional Excursions
Tuscan Meal, 27 Euro, this was the turning point for a lot of people in terms of the optional meal. We were crammed into a restaurant, got one bottle of wine at a table (which didn’t go very far for 4 heavyweights) with a tin-foil cork (a little sketchy), and left rather unsatisfied. Again, you could have gotten the same for about have the cost locally. About half the tour was at this. After this dinner, a lot of people began cancelling the remainder of the optional dinners on the tour.
Space Electronic Disco, 11 Euro, right after dinner was the space disco, which I can best describe as “30 year old greasy Italians trying to pick up early-20’s contiki girls”. A few contiki groups were at this, but a lot of the locals made people uncomfortable. I’m also not convinced there was a cover charge, so I don’t know what the 11 euro was for, I’m convinced if you just went in on your own you wouldn’t have to pay anything. You also have to cab back to the campsite (about 5 euro a person in a full cab). This with the “Tuscan” dinner made a lot of people thinking twice about all their optionals. Overall I had a good time, just think I could have went a half hour after my group did to the same place and gotten in without paying.
Venice
Gondola Ride, 21 Euro, Get the vision of you and your loved one alone in a gondola as some italian guy sings behind you out of your head. There will be six people packed in a gondola, for which you could do for 12 euro a person if you don’t go with contiki. I enjoyed this, but finding a gondola in venice is like finding a hot dog vendor in downtown Toronto, there are plenty. Do a little research before hand to see if you still want to do it. - What goes on tour stays on tour ... right?
The call we'd been dreading came about an hour out from San Sebastian.
"Hey Benny," someone yelled from the back of the bus. "I think the dunny's blocked."
"Yeah Ben," someone else said, "it's really starting to stink back here."
I glanced across at Bob*, the driver. We both knew it wasn't blocked. It was full ...
"Well maaate," Bob said in his ridiculous drawl, with a conspiratorial wink. "You'd better get back there and see if you can unblock it."
I clambered over the eight eskies on the seat beside me and made my way back to the toilet. We were on the motorway in between stops in Cognac and San Seb, on our way down to Pamplona for the San Fermin festival, or running of the bulls.
Ordinarily, the crew aren't allowed to sell alcohol on board, but for some reason we'd decided to make this tour, known as a massive party tour, an exception. Picking up cans of Kronenbourg at the supermarket for 30 Euro cents a pop, we'd chucked them on ice, and were now charging the passengers one Euro each for icy cold beers.
So by the time we'd almost reached San Seb, the pax were drunk, and pissing like racehorses. The problem was that our little on-board refuse tank could only hold so much, and, needing to make San Seb in time to set up camp before dark, we couldn't stop for toilet breaks.
Reaching the middle of the bus, I swung myself into the toilet and confirmed that, yes, it was indeed "blocked".
"Just going to unblock this now Bob," I yelled, closing the door so none of the passengers could see what I was about to do. I couched down below the bowl, and slowly pulled out the tank release lever.
I could just picture the torrent of backpacker piss I'd just sent gushing onto the French motorway, most probably showering hundreds of cars behind us. Of course, I couldn't see it, as I was safely locked in the toilet. I hoped none of the passengers was looking out the back window.
After five minutes or so I pushed the lever back in, opened the door, and announced: "Toilet's fixed guys! ... Anyone want another beer?"
Had anyone been looking out the back, I would have been absolutely crucified. You see, there's a problem with tours in Europe at the moment. The passengers are no fun any more. While gnarled old drivers get together like war heroes and discuss the golden years, when the girls were easy and the guys were fun, passengers these days are different. They're not the happy-go-lucky backpackers of the '70s, '80s and '90s. They want the "perfect" experience - which, for the crew, is a massive pain in the arse.
As the guy driving behind us on the road to San Sebastian would attest, things go wrong on tours. Lots of things. While operators would like you to believe tours are just like the highly sanitised vacations the models in the brochure appear to be having, they're not. And when the shit hits the fan, the people who then have to decide what to do about it are not the bigwigs in the boardroom, they're morons like Bob and I. - The tasteless hockey puck of European touring: European Discovery 2003
Don't let them sucker you into the Florence dinner.
It's not romantic. It's not quaint. In their defense, I think it's in a monastery, but under the garishness of the outdoor dining decor, I can't say for sure. It is, in fact, mediocre food in a cafeteria-style setting (if the cafeteria were in, say, Tahiti) with two or three other tour groups, and the "pianist" is actually an old Italian guy playing the electronic keyboard and singing disco songs. Does anyone think "I Will Survive" sets a mood other than tacky? Anyone?
Soon after I returned home, I wrote a letter to the Better Business Bureau about the dinner (and complained to Contiki) because the advertising went beyond the usual exaggeration -- it was outright lying. When you're told that you'll have a traditional Tuscan meal with a pianist setting a romantic mood in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, you don't expect bland food, picnic-style tables, and disco songs as interpreted by an elderly Italian man. If he was even Italian. Who knows? Would any self-respecting Italian sing "Shaddup Your Face"? I expected Joe Pesci to come out and shoot at people's feet.
Had it been part of a Vegas lounge act and had I been loaded on complimentary rum and Cokes, I would have loved it, but given the cost of the meal and the fact that we could have better spent that time in Florence itself, we were rather angered. It's not a cheap optional ($90 for two, at the time), and when I complained to the tour manager about the misrepresentation, people who had overheard me agreed that it was not what they were expecting.
Contiki, of course, told me to scratch my rear, and they wouldn't apologize or reimburse me for the cost of the dinner they so fraudulently advertised, but I didn't expect anything less from them. Live and learn, right? I guess they've got an unsatisfactory with the BBB for a reason. - Contiki? Never Again
WE had some excellent moments on our tour, but overall it was a nightmare.
I guess Contiki can't be blamed for the fact that I am not a "tour person" but there were other things that made the trip less than bearable. All our excellent moments were when we went off on our own.... - Read more EPINIONS on CONTIKI tours
- Contiki on Facebook - Mookie's Photo Blog
Some pics and things - Contiki Hard & Fast Tour 2007
Wa. Wa. We. Wa. What a holiday. A week ago was my first day back in work, so after a period of reflection (so much for avoiding Post Holiday Depression. Le Sigh). I will use this post to talk you through the wonders that was each place I visited, the people who I met and miss terribly, and the two weeks of my life that were life changing and rather fantastic. - contiki...time of my life!!
hen onto Florence, Italy via Pisa to see the leaning tower, it was a dumpy touristy place with scary morrocans selling imitations. Had the day free in Florence after seeing a leather and gold/silver demo and a walking tour with a guide past the famous statues (David...wow) and beautiful cathedrals.That night we had a 3 course meal in town and hit a wick bar Space Electronic where many dodgy Italians were on the prowl. Had a rock and roll lesson with the Zimbawean and a salsa lesson with the Mexcian so watch out next time your'e with me on the d-floor! - Around the world
Who am I to write about this, you ask? Well, I've been in 25 different countries in the last 5 years. I've traveled with trendy tour operators, with Contiki, on my own in 2 or 3-star hotels, and I've backpacked my way through most of Europe. Having done all that, and moreover having done it in different manners, I'm persuaded that I'm experienced enough to write this thing!;-) From a 5-star hotel in Rome, to a crappy dump in Budapest, I've done it all!!!
Okay, so let's talk about Contiki. This is a tour operator dedicated to the 18 to 35's crowd. They are often imitated, but never equalled! They offer a very broad range of tours, both Superior and Budget. Contiki is the perfect way to travel if you've never been abroad before. The groups are comprised of English-speaking guys and gals from all over the world. It's a wonderful way to travel and meet new friends from around the globe.
The greatest thing about Contiki is that they take away the "planning" element which appears to be so daunting to so many would-be travelers. The tour operator takes care of transportation, hotel reservations, a number of meals, etc, and you always have a tour manager to give you a hand. This is ideal for students or those who have no time to spend weeks on planning a trip. You just select your tour, et voilà!:-) You just need to worry about what you'll be doing with your free time!
I've been on 5 different Contiki tours in the past: Spotlight on Greece, with the Golden Fleece cruise of the Greek Isles and Turkey; Simply Italy; Best of France; and Spain and Portugal. I now have friends all around the globe and some of my favourites memories associated with traveling are from those tours.:-)
Being part of a Contiki tour is more costly than doing the very same itinerary on your own. But you have no hotel to book, no reservations to confirm, no search for a place to stay when you reach a new city, no trains to catch, no waiting in line at the train station in order to buy a mandatory reservation for a fast train, etc.
A good way to save on accomodation is to register on websites such as www.globalfreeloaders.com. It allows you to get in contact with people in the cities you are planning to visit and get a free place to stay. I used their service to a place in Antwerp, Belgium, and it was a nice experience.
I think that maybe this post is getting too long - so watch out for my follow-up research post!
Research: Operation Europe
Since it is still a bit quiet at work, I have had some time to surf the web for other peoples' trip tales. I stumbled upon quite a few that really described the tours etc. fantastically, but then I also found some really weird things too...
... and I quote:
"When next thing I know a lady dressed in a costume from ‘Jane and Tarzan’ clutching a banana in her hand is asking for volunteers. I don’t know if it was the alcohol, the egging on of 30 people, the look of sheer desperation in the eyes of Jane or just the fact I felt I was being dared and to not go up on stage would mean I had failed in giving everything a go (something I promised myself when first coming overseas).
So up I went on stage. There I was under the bright lights standing where I had just witnessed the last couple going at it doggy-style with Jane, a banana and what looked like someone dressed in a giant ape outfit with a throbbing hard on in the wings. This was not a Holy cow Batman but more of a HOLY SHIT what have I gotten myself into moment.
The music starts up and Jane starts dancing around, waving the banana around like it was a golden oracle. In order to warm me up she has me copy some moves she makes. It turns into a bit of put your right arm, you put your right arm out, put your left arm in, put your left arm out, put your bum in you put your bum out and you wave it all about. So there we are doing the dutch porno version of the hockey pockey…the music then dies down…the crowd is hushed…we are obviously being built up for something. Jane goes down. Jane spreads her legs. Banana is inserted. Banana is peeled.
Now comes my part…" Read the rest of this here.
I have obviously sent the links to my dear friends/future travel companions as I know that the guys will enjoy that story. I started reading the blog and thought she was the reserved type, I was amazed that someone seemingly so normal and laid back would do something so out of character - but maybe Europe does strange things to you?
... and I quote:
"When next thing I know a lady dressed in a costume from ‘Jane and Tarzan’ clutching a banana in her hand is asking for volunteers. I don’t know if it was the alcohol, the egging on of 30 people, the look of sheer desperation in the eyes of Jane or just the fact I felt I was being dared and to not go up on stage would mean I had failed in giving everything a go (something I promised myself when first coming overseas).
So up I went on stage. There I was under the bright lights standing where I had just witnessed the last couple going at it doggy-style with Jane, a banana and what looked like someone dressed in a giant ape outfit with a throbbing hard on in the wings. This was not a Holy cow Batman but more of a HOLY SHIT what have I gotten myself into moment.
The music starts up and Jane starts dancing around, waving the banana around like it was a golden oracle. In order to warm me up she has me copy some moves she makes. It turns into a bit of put your right arm, you put your right arm out, put your left arm in, put your left arm out, put your bum in you put your bum out and you wave it all about. So there we are doing the dutch porno version of the hockey pockey…the music then dies down…the crowd is hushed…we are obviously being built up for something. Jane goes down. Jane spreads her legs. Banana is inserted. Banana is peeled.
Now comes my part…" Read the rest of this here.
I have obviously sent the links to my dear friends/future travel companions as I know that the guys will enjoy that story. I started reading the blog and thought she was the reserved type, I was amazed that someone seemingly so normal and laid back would do something so out of character - but maybe Europe does strange things to you?
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
2008... a year that will bring only good things
The countdown has begun, 79 days till my birthday! Woohoo, my 29th... I'm soooo excited . (Can you hear the sarcasm?) All jokes aside, this is the year that Europe will touch my feet and love it. I will party it up for at least 20 days all over Europe with some of my best friends.
This year I have NO NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! I plan on eating all the chocolates I can lay my hands on and blow up to the size of a bear - so screw all those that think its cool to ask about stupid resolutions!
If you insist on getting to read all about my "new year's resolutions"... here you go: This year I will be giving my undivided attention to partying and saving for Europe. I will ignore any invites from friends that have fallen from grace and favor. I also pledge to eat less McDonalds, Nandos, Woolworths and try to cook more dishes I can actually eat!
This year I have NO NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! I plan on eating all the chocolates I can lay my hands on and blow up to the size of a bear - so screw all those that think its cool to ask about stupid resolutions!
If you insist on getting to read all about my "new year's resolutions"... here you go: This year I will be giving my undivided attention to partying and saving for Europe. I will ignore any invites from friends that have fallen from grace and favor. I also pledge to eat less McDonalds, Nandos, Woolworths and try to cook more dishes I can actually eat!
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