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Eat a pizza in Italy

Experience — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:17:52 +0000

For a truly authentic pizza experience you have to eat a pizza in Italy – the home of pizza.

Pizza falls into two distinct categories: Italian pizza and pizza from everywhere else. It might seem ridiculous considering the basic ingredients, but one taste of a true Italian pizza and you will never feel the same about pizza’s again.

The best Italian pizza’s are made in a traditional pizza oven, fired by wood. The burnt edge of the pizza crust shows where it got close to the flames. Because it takes a long time to get the oven ready, frequently pizza is only served at dinner.

While the Pizza Margherita may be the classic Italian pizza, each region in Italy produces their own distinct pizza variations based on the Italian culinary rule of fresh, local ingredients. Pizza Marinara, a traditional Neapolitan pizza has oregano, anchovies and lots of garlic. Pizza Napoli Tomato mozzarella and anchovies. Capricciosa: a topping of mushrooms, prosciutto, artichoke hearts, olives and half a boiled egg! Pizza Pugliese makes use of the local capers and olives of the area while Pizza Veronese has mushrooms and tender Prosciutto crudo. Pizzas from Sicily can have numerous toppings ranging from green olives, seafood, hard-boiled eggs and peas. Of course there are hundreds more pizza variations around Italy to experience.

When ordering a pizza in an Italian pizzeria one thing to keep in mind is that the product is personal size. Each person should order their own individual pizza – one bite will explain why! In certain places outside Italy, there are a few piazzioli who keep to their homeland traditions as best they can with the ingredients they have, but it really isn’t the same. In the end there is no going back once you try a real Italian pizza, no delivery or frozen product will ever stimulate your taste buds the way a real pizza will. An authentic wood fire baked pizza in Italy is something every pizza lover should experience.

Gondola serenade on the canals of Venice

Experience — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 05:30:41 +0000

Venice is one of the most magical and romantic places on earth, and a gondola serenade on the canals of Venice is the ultimate romantic experience.

As you gently float down the canals in your gondola, the splendor of Venice unfolds from the unique vantage point. Look up at the old Venetian homes and float beneath elegant bridges, hear the quietness of the minor canals, watch the oars silently glide through the water and imagine the days of old. As you glide along the quaint canals listen to the soothing sounds of a serenade sung by the Gondolier just for you and your special someone before floating out into the vibrant Grand Canal.

Make sure you float under the Bridge of Sighs, as local legend says that lovers will be assured eternal love if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the bridge.

A gondola ride through the canals of Venice is an incredibly peaceful, serene and romantic experience.

London Eye

Experience — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:42:58 +0000

For a bird’s eye view of London, the London Eye provides spectacular views over the city’s famous landmarks, buildings and river. Soaring above London on one of the worlds tallest observations wheels is an unforgettable experience.

Located on the South Bank of the River Thames, the London Eye is a distinctive highlight of London’s horizon and offers unrivalled views over the capital. Rising 135 metres (443 feet) above the city the observation wheel contains 32 air conditioned and fully-enclosed capsules. Rotating at less than a mile an hour, a full rotation or “flight” takes thirty minutes. A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye capsules can see up to 25 miles (40 kilometres) in all directions. It permits view’s of London from an entirely new perspective, and passengers can see parts of the city that are generally not visible from the ground.

Since its opening in the year 2000, the British Airways London Eye has become the most popular paid-for UK attraction, drawing over 3.5 million people a year (an average of 10,000 a day). It took the skills of hundreds of people from five countries and seven years to make the London Eye a reality. However there’s much, much more to the Eye than its amazing views and engineering. It has become an iconic symbol of London.

Canal Boating through France

Experience — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:37:08 +0000

Explore the French countryside from your very own canal boat. A canal boat tour is a relaxing and romantic way to discover the charm and mystery of the hidden France.

You can choose to self drive or rent a fully crewed barge. Either way you have the pick of over 10,000 kilometres of sheltered waterways that wind though an amazing array of different regions and landscapes. Cruise through the peaceful countryside, past tempting vineyards and historic villages where tiny medieval churches, ancient castles, exotic markets and small local restaurants will offer you an endless stream of new experiences and delights.

Canal boats travel at a leisurely and relaxing pace of 5 kilometres ( 3 miles) per hour. However half the fun of canal boating is getting off the boat to explore the little towns and other attractions in the surrounding area on foot or by bicycle.

Paraglide in the French Alps

Experience — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:15:10 +0000

For an extraordinary adventure, go where eagles dare and try a tandem paraglide flight high above the Chamonix valley in the French Alps. Its an exciting and thrilling experience but at the same time incredibly relaxing and a wonderful way to enjoy the staggering beauty of the mountains. With big thermals, soaring eagles, dramatic glaciers and high mountain peaks the Chamonix valley is one of the best flying areas in the world.

Flying with a professional paraglide instructor a tandem paraglide is open to everyone of all ages. The take off is usually a matter of running for a few steps before the wind inflates the wing and you gently float off the mountain side. Landing is similarly easy requiring just a few steps and is usually a very gentle affair.

One of the reasons people fly in the Chamonix valley is to be near the huge mountains. Mt Blanc rises above them all at 4810m (15,780 feet). And for the “ultimate” French Alps paragliding experience try a paraglide from the snow capped summit of Mt Blanc. Get yourself a mountain guide and an expert paragliding pilot for a tandem jump. You’ll also need good weather. To climb Mt Blanc with a paraglider takes a great deal of effort but the experience is extremely rewarding.