Davepeanuts's blog

B*gger this, I'm going abroad...

With the summer slowly creeping its way forward all the signs point to a scorching sunny period, and to be honest it’s about bloody time. However, if like me you don’t believe the weatherman, the MET office, tealeaves or Mystic Meg then you may experience a slight amount of pessimism every time someone mentions the idea of a long, hot summer. SO ... if you’re unwilling to take the risk of another tragic British washout then you’re probably going to consider going abroad instead, because let’s face it, it’s just better over there in that-there-Europe. If the euro continues to plummet and the pound rallies then you may also find more bang for your proverbial buck.

Most Brits with a prophetic sense of the seasons go to Spain for their summer holidays for one simple reason: Because it’s bloody hot! One of the most popular destinations in Spain for holidaymakers is Malaga, visited on average by 6million tourists each year. Luckily for all those people Malaga is served by the fourth busiest airport in Spain, Malaga AGP. If you’d prefer to take a more scenic route you can always take the high speed train down from Madrid or hire a car and drive from Alicante.

Now most people have a somewhat tainted view of Malaga due to its busy port district and its collection of immensely attractive concrete tower blocks. However, despite its obvious drawbacks Malaga still has lots to offer. One of Malaga’s biggest enticements is its location slap bang in the middle of the Costa del Sol. If you find the cityscape of Malaga slightly depressing, then all you have to do is hop into your hire car and take a quick trip to anyone of these locations; Benidorm, Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Marbella. 
        
But don’t discount Malaga out of hand as there are a number of important and historical buildings within the city limits. One particularly popular building is the Picasso museum which opened back in 2003. The museum currently holds over 150 original works of art and attracts thousands of tourists each year. As well as the Picasso museum there is also a number of historical monuments including a baroque cathedral and the Moorish fortress of Alcazaba.

Malaga4

Orlando - Home of the Theme Park

Every now and then on Moonbadger we like to hop over the pond to see what those big and brash, loud mouthed Americans have got to offer. I mean apart from the stunning scenery, destruction derbies and Hooters, what else have they got going on? Well quite a lot really, especially if you happen to be holidaying within the sunshine state of Florida.
With one of the largest state populations in the United States, you would expect a shed-load of entertainment and activities around and of course you would be right, especially if you take your hire car and head to Orlando. Yes, for adrenaline junkies and general thrill-seekers there’s no better place than Orlando, the home of the theme park.

Walt Disney World Resort

First and foremost is Walt Disney World Resort a collection of 4 major theme parks, 2 water parks, 32 resort hotels and 5 golf courses. Disneyland is quite frankly massive! The four main parks are; Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. All of these resorts have a huge range of rides including the famous Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain and Indiana Jones Experience. Don’t forget you also get the chance to abuse a whole host of people dressed up as Disney characters

Walt disney world

Aquatica Water Park

In 2005 Seaworld, not content with 2 resorts, announced the creation of its third resort, Aquatica. The 59 acre park opened in 2008 and features a whopping 36 water slides and six winding rivers with lagoons. The park also contains a number of pools and exotic waterfalls with a whole host of aquatic wildlife. The park also features a 60ft rain fortress-come play area for all the family. Water cannons of course are a must.

Aquatica

Universal Studios

Another major player in the Orlando theme park hall of fame is Universal Studios. Built in the 1990’s, Universal offers a highly imaginative and enthralling experience based around some of the world’s greatest pop-culture icons and Hollywood blockbusters. Popular rides include Jaws, Terminator 2, Shrek 4D and a number of roller coasters throughout the park.            
 

Universal-studios

When it comes to thrills and spills, Florida has it all. But if you’re more inclined for a quieter, more sedate holiday then you may want to consider taking your hire car down south towards the Florida Keys, a 137 square mile stretch of beaches, palm trees and islands heading off into Gulf of Mexico. 

Fly to Dubai, you’ll be amazed by the water-sports...

When you talk about water-sports  you normally imagine scenes involving 6ft buff Hawaiians surfers, 50ft waves and iconic wave riders like Laird Hamilton or Kelly Slater, one of the places that does not instantly spring to mind is the dazzling cityscape of Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates.

But your instincts would be wrong. Dubai has never, and will never, be known as a big wave capital – in-fact it’s on the Mediterranean and as one surfer described it “UAE is on the Gulf of Arabia, there IS no surf there. Just look at your atlas and anybody with the slightest knowledge of surf/swell mechanics will easily see that this is not an ocean with waves, it's basically a big frickin lake with occasional wind chop.” Yet despite this admission and the clear lack of surf, a quick flight to Dubai and a visit to one of the United Emirates many costal resorts will show you that water sports are well and truly alive and kicking in Arabia.

Dubai is more of a kite surfing, body boarding paradise, rather than a wave riding destination. One of Dubai’s greatest assets for boarding enthusiast is the Wild Wadi Water Park, an artificial park that provides water sports veterans and beginners with a great selection of constant action. The Wipeout and Riptide FlowRiders offer a great day out for boarders and surfers alike “by shooting out more than seven tonnes of water per second in a thin sheet across a moulded foam structure, producing a realistic wave effect ideal for body-boarding, knee-boarding or surfing.”

If you want to get back to basics and have a more naturalistic session, then there are several notable places to visit throughout the UAE. One of the most beautiful and scenic spots to visit is Khorfakkan on the eastern coast. The resort is famed for its sun soaked sandy beaches and the clear blue sea. Khorfakkan offers a huge range of water-sports including waterskiing and windsurfing, but the resort is best known as a great place for snorkelling.

Abu Dhabi is also well known as a hotspot for water activities. The city has several diving centres and offers numerous excursions to wreck, reefs and deep sea dives. As well as the snorkelling and diving, Abu Dhabi offers a selection of jet-skiing and wakeboarding locations, as well as canoeing trips through the coastal lagoons of Umm Al Quwwain and the mangrove-covered islands north of Abu Dhabi and Mussandam.
  

Khorfakkan

 

This summer take a flight to the UK....

With the UK economy in such a bad state and with the Euro zone becoming increasingly more expensive, taking a holiday in England may not be such a bad idea this summer. Although the UK is often devoid of sunshine and definitely lacks certain European charms that one would find on the Mediterranean coast, it still boasts a significant amount of tourist attractions and unique locations for all the family to enjoy.

Running a travel blog is not always easy, especially when it involves selling your own country, but this year if you do happen to pick up some cheap flights to the UK you may want to consider spending a few days in and around the nation’s capital, the great smoke: The city of London...

London – It’s not Paris...

It may not be romantic ‘Gay Paree’, but London still has a lot of Cockney charm and as the Irish say – it’s still a good crack. Flights to London are easily available and there are a number of airports that serve the big city. Of course navigating your way around the nation’s capital is the next big task. If you’re travelling through the inter-city car hire may not be the best option, instead rely on the tube and public transport to make your way around.

Once you’ve established a base camp in London your choices are virtually endless. If you want to take in a show you can head to the West End for a bit of Shakespeare, or if that doesn’t tickle your fancy and  you still want a bit of culture then why not  visit some of the biggest and most expansive museums in the world. If that’s not your cup of tea, then London offers you one of the best shopping experiences on the globe, including world famous locations such as Mayfair, Regent Street, Savile Row and Camden Market.

If sightseeing is more your kind of thing, London definitely won’t disappoint you. The city is jam-packed with historical locations, monuments, palaces and quirky buildings. Parliament is by far one of the most incredible sights to see in the whole of London, followed closely by Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London. Of course there’s also a huge selection of nouveau building to take a gander at, such as the Tate Modern and various others.   

Ok so it can be a bit grimey and it’s not always the easiest of cities to travel across, but essentially London has it all. It’s got art, culture, nightlife, music, attractions, monuments, parks, zoo’s and all sorts of restaurants, cafes and bars – enough to satiate even the hungriest and booziest of tourists.

London

Should I really pack this much lingerie Dave?....

Choosing a destination for your holiday is pretty much the most important and central decision you will make when it comes to vacationing. However for a lot of people, yes mainly I’m looking at you girls, choosing your wardrobe is equally as important. So to satisfy the burning question of ‘what clothes should I take on holiday?’ Dave Knutz our intrepid fashionista was sent to investigate.

Decisions, Decisions...

Before you even start to rummage through your wardrobe the first thing you need to take into consideration is of course - location. There’s no point packing thermal underwear if you’re off to the Maldives, or anywhere else on the equator for that matter; conversely it’s absolutely ludicrous to take swimwear to the Alps on a skiing trip, unless you have some sort of bizarre photo-shoot to attend. Certain customs, traditions and religious factors also need to be considered depending upon your intended destination. In certain Muslim countries it is considered disrespectful for women to walk around without wearing a headdress. These factors should be properly investigated before arrival.

The Essentials...

According to the arch-fashionista Gok Wan, the holiday wardrobe is all about taking those all important little essentials. In his recent column in the Guardian, Gok outlined his top travel fashion tips. In brief Gok recommends the following...

1)    1950’s Swimwear is apparently in, but I assume that if you can’t be bothered with that, any form of trunks, bikini or swimsuit will do, the style of it is entirely up to you.
2)    A hat – well pretty self explanatory really. I’d go for an old skool straw hat personally.
3)    Underwear – you would think that this is a given, but from my perspective you can never take enough lingerie with you. Sometimes you just can’t plan for those unforeseeable underwear malfunctions, so don’t be caught without.
4)    Formal wear – for guys some sort of sports jacket, a shirt and smart shoes will do. Ladies you may want to pack a few evening dresses, maybe a jacket as well for those cold romantic walks down the beach.
5)    Sunglasses – You may not want to take your expensive pair of Oakleys on holiday, instead pick up a cheap pair and rock those.
6)    A raincoat – you never know when you might need a sturdy mac. Always bring one with you.

Gok has a few other tips and tricks up his sleeve, but I think the essential ones are pretty much covered. As long as you’ve got enough lingerie, pants, dresses, shirts and a few other bits of pieces you’ll be fine. To help make things more complicated here are two babbling celebrity fashion spotting Americans...       

WHAT TO WEAR ON THE HOLIDAYS

Mobile phones abroad – Roam at your own peril...

Phoning people abroad let’s face it has never been cheap. International tariffs, strange operating practices and different networks can make it all very, very confusing. People using contract phones abroad often think that they are safe when it comes to incurring additional charges, but often they’re no better off than users on pay as you go phones. This world of telecommunication confusion gets even worse when you chuck in the extra factor of mobile broadband and the great world wide Interweb.

Although a new raft of European telecoms legislation is about to be implemented, the occasional mobile phone travel horror story still emerges. Take for example 22 yr old William Harrison, a third-year student from Nottingham, who managed to accrue roaming broadband charges of £7,648 during a six month internship in Paris.

First of all, what a complete idiot! Never, ever... ever use a non -native dongle in a foreign country. If you’re in France - get a French dongle, if in Spain - a Spanish dongle, when in Rome get an Italian dongle and etc ad infintum. Sometimes these services are harder to get and may require a contract, but it will save you in the long run, not to mention that your net speeds will be significantly faster considering that you’re not connecting to the web via an English proxy.

Of course young Mr Harrison is not entirely to blame. The operator at Orange who sold him the dongle contract was completely remiss in not providing all the relevant information when it comes to roaming charges abroad. Any usage above the above the monthly allowance gets charged by the MB, depending upon the network this charge can be anywhere from £1 to £5 per MB. In 2008 one holidaymaker discovered this much to their dismay after they were hit with a £31,000 charge for downloading an episode of friends via their mobile while abroad.   

Often getting a pay monthly SIM only when abroad is the most sensible option. Recently a new series of EU laws has been introduced in an attempt to equalise phone and mobile MB charges across the continent, but as with all laws various loopholes still exist making it still extremely difficult for consumers. As with most things in life buyers beware! What you think is a great deal, isn’t always the case.

Roaming charges

Any hotels in Leon

Would love to visit Leon, just done a quick bit of research on all the art and architecture in the city. I'm thinking of trying to head out there in May, does anyone have any idea for good hotels? Will need a double and a single room, somewhere nice and pretty central, but not too expensive please.

Costa del Sol? - Pah! Head north and see the real Spain...

Nowadays the majority of Brits visiting Spain tend to head south to the sunny Spanish Riviera to enjoy the bright lights of Benidorm or Marbella, but the Costa del Sol concrete wonderland is a far cry from the real Spain. Even Barcelona is quite removed from native Spain due to its metropolitan and cosmopolitan culture. Yes, to discover the real Spain you have to trek northwards to the historical heartlands of the Reconquista.

The history of the Reconquista is too detailed to extol in such a short post, in-fact its narrative is so lengthy and convoluted that one could spend a lifetime studying it, so I won’t digress, but essentially the European Christian culture now associated with modern Spain is a direct result of that era. The unification of Spain took hundreds of years; one of the major developments throughout that process was the eventual reunification of the kingdoms of Castille and Leon in 1230.

The kingdom of Leon was created in 910AD after the area was repopulated by King Alfonso III. The city soon expanded under the royal patronage of King Alfonso V, becoming a major hub for traders and travellers around Europe. In the 12th century the Kingdom of Leon was officially established and the city became the capital of a thriving and prosperous region.

Today Leon is the largest municipality in the region, with nearly a quarter of provinces population living within the city limits. Positioned near the Cantabrian Mountains, Leon enjoys a hot yet temperate climate. During the summer period days regularly hit a steady average of 20 - 27°C, the temperature is often cooler around Leon due to the proximity of the mountains.

Getting to Leon is relatively easy, the city has an airport which is currently being revamped, but is still at present operational. Others may choose to fly into Santander or Madrid and then pick up a hire car in Spain and drive to Leon – one short note, Santander is on the other side of the Cantabrian Mountains which makes getting to Leon a slightly more arduous task and will certainly add to travel times.

Once in Leon there is plenty to see and do. The city contains numerous works of art and architecture, one of the most dramatic sights is the Santa María de León Cathedral, otherwise known as the house of light. The cathedral was built in a wonderfully graceful Gothic style during the 13th – 16th centuries; the cathedral itself contains over 1,500 works of sacred art including many Romanesque sculptures.

LeonCathedral

Another must for history buffs is the Basilica of San Isidoro, once a Roman temple and converted in the 10th Century to a Benedictine monastery. The Basilica later became a mausoleum for the Kings of Leon known as the Royal Pantheon. Fantastically preserved, the Royal Pantheon contains 11 Kings and relatives in a columned vault containing some of the greatest works of Romanesque and Visigoth art in the whole of Europe. There is also a museum on site which holds a number of rare and unique medieval works including the Caliz de Dona Urraca – a chalice once owned by Infanta Urraca, daughter of Ferdinand I the Great.

Basilica of san isidoro

 

As well as having a whole host of historical monuments, Leon is also the capital for the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, a museum of modern and contemporary art. The gallery was described in the New York Times as "one of the most astonishingly bold museums to hit the Spanish cultural landscape in years." The building itself was designed in an avant-garde style with a large wall of multicoloured panels resembling a stained-glass window.

The city also contains numerous parks, squares, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs as you would expect from a large and vibrant cosmopolitan Spanish city.

    
 

Castilel leon

 

The Land of Oz

Do you come from a land down under?� Ohhh! Well if you don’t, and if you’ve never been down that way, then perhaps it’s time to dig out that cork-string hat and journey through the centre of the Earth, straight to the Land of Oz: The great Australia. Alternatively it might be a tad easier to just book a flight to Sydney and start there, rather than traversing the planets’ molten core.

In recent years, Britain’s have had an ever increasing love affair with the continent of Australia. The amount of TV emigration shows and relocation programmes have practically tripled within the last decade. Every year more and more Britain’s are descending down under; almost 100,000 UK citizens immigrate to Oz in search of a new life every year. The number continues to increase year by year, but just what is so fascinating about the place? Can it really be just the sun, sand, surf and Fosters? Is life in Oz really that much more preferable?�

Australia

Of course Brit’s haven’t always held Australia in such high esteem, far from it in-fact. Back in the days of the British Empire we used the continent as a vast dumping ground for all our waifs and strays, not to mention boatloads of criminals. Eventually the wholesale transportation of convicts was stopped and soon after in 1901 the federation of Colonies was formed. It took a further 30 years for Australia to achieve independence; in 1931 the Statute of Westminster was signed, officially acknowledging Australia’s as an independent autonomous Commonwealth state.

Since the countries inception, Australia has continued to grow from strength to strength. The country now ranks highly amongst the G20, and its economy remains strong having escaped much of the financial meltdown that has hit the rest of the Western world. 56% of Australia’s economy is service based and a large percentage of that revolves around tourism. Every year thousands of tourists take flights to Australia from all over the world, hoping to catch a piece of that sunshine feeling.

So just what is so appealing about Australia? Well for starters 4 of Australia’s cities, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, are within the Economist’s top 10 most liveable cities in the world. The country was also ranked 2nd in the UN Human Development Index and 6th in the Economist’s Quality of Life Index. So from all accounts it seems that Australians not only have nice places to live, but they also have good functional cities and great quality of life. So what else have they got?...

Well, I mean you can’t really count all that glorious sunshine can you? Neither do I think it’s fair to include places like the Outback, Ayers Rock, the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef – I mean having those things within one country is just geological luck isn’t it? The Sydney Opera House and Steve Irwin’s Zoo are another two sites that feature heavily on any tourist handbook. To be quite frank, Australia has lots to offer. It really is no wonder that thousands visit each year. The country has lots of beautiful beaches which contains some of the best surf in the Pacific Rim, numerous urban centres packed full of museums, galleries, parks and more. The Great Barrier Reef is arguably the best scuba diving location in the entire world; the Australian government has gone to great lengths to protect and preserve this unique environment.

Perhaps the main reason why so many emigrate is the promise of a new life in the sun. The appeal is certainly tempting and with so much to see and do it’s easy to see why thousands go for broke every year.��������

To beach or to board...

It seems that the majority of holidaymakers are either boarders or beach’ers. Personally I can’t stand the beach, you get sand everywhere, it gets boiling hot and there’s practically no shade, which combines to make it the most boring, dry and dusty experience this side of the Gobi Desert. Give me a mountain, the fresh cool alpine air and a shit load of powder any day; it’s much more exciting than slicing your foot up on a razor clam and getting sepsis from the local sewage outlet.

For me the filthy state of our local beaches has always been a major, major turn off, most of the time they’re strewn with wrappers, plastic bottles, dog mess and children, it’s completely disgusting. Despite my clear and understandable reservations, not every beach is like the one I described, far from it in-fact. I hardly imagine that the beaches of Tenerife, Barbados and Thailand look anything remotely like Blackpool or Newquay. In fact I imagine that the beaches of Tenerife and Grand Canaria are packed full of golden sand and set up against a backdrop of luscious clear blue water. In my mind I also imagine lots and lots of palm trees, bikini clad hotties and fish with snorkels.

Denise on the beach

I’m on the whole completely opposed to these kinds of beaches, in-fact having never set foot on a tropical island I can imagine that my opinion would quickly change. The chance to do a bit of beach fishing, some snorkelling and generally drink vast amounts of liquor out of coconuts sounds extremely appealing right now. However, at the same time I could quite easily strap on a pair of salopettes, knock back a few shots of schnapps and hit the piste.   

Boarding has always been an interest of mine, it’s just a shame that it’s so expensive if you happen to live in a country with only minimal amounts of mountainous terrain. If you live in the UK you have to trek out into Europe to get your dose of boarding thrills. The last time I went, we managed to get a great last minute package deal which included accommodation, flights, lift passes and car hire in Austria. The accommodation was a bit ropey and due to the lateness of our departure there wasn’t much snow, but there was enough off-piste to keep us riding across the two weeks. It was the first time I’d been to Austria and although it wasn’t the best skiing holiday, the people were friendly and the nightlife was interesting and varied, I’d definitely go back again if I had the chance. 

Austria skiing

Alas not this year, the season is coming to an end, perhaps I should about investing in some fishing gear and a couple of beach towels.