Santiago de Compostela, Spain by Mário José Martins

I had been invited to meet friends from Canada who were taking their two year old daughter to Spain to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, and be christened.  I was spending Christmas in Szeged, Hungary with family friends, so I planned on arriving in Santiago de Compostela by train a few days before New Year’s Eve.  It was a long trip with 3 nights spent sleeping on trains.  I loved sleeping on trains even though the motion, which allowed me to sleep deeply, didn’t do anything to stop my bizarre nightmares.  Just before the porter brought continental breakfast, as we zipped toward my first layover in Zurich, I woke from a dream that I had arrived at my destination, and as it dawned on me that I’d left my daypack somewhere, it arrived on the doorstep looking like a skinned animal.  What?  I had stops in Geneva, Barcelona, and Madrid before arriving in Santiago.

Is It A Law Or A Suggestion?

Peter and Pili met me at the train station, and we took the scenic/most indirect route to Pili’s parents’ house.  They wanted to drive up to A Coruña to hunt for old coins in antique shops and this way my introduction to Peter’s obsession with looking for coins.  Not only did he buy several coins, he also admitted that he had a list of castle/ruins that he wanted to visit on the way to the house, and a metal detector in the trunk of the car!  So there weren’t any actual signs posted anywhere forbidding people from using a metal detector and shovel to locate and dig up artifacts, but it seemed like a no-brainer.  So Pili and I had to stand watch while Peter hunted and dug.  He didn’t have any luck finding coins because we wouldn’t let him spend tons of time at it, we found it too stressful.  It was certainly a different way of looking at ruins.  One of our stops was at Castillo de Vimianzo which was built in the 13th century and is considered to be one of the best preserved castles in Galicia.  We also stopped at Castillo del Cardinal which was built as a fort right at the water’s edge to protect the mouth of the estuary.

Seafood Paella by avlxyz

The Freshest Seafood

When we finally reached Pili’s family’s home I was treated to first of many feasts.  Every night that I was there we ate mountains of wonderful fresh seafood.  The town also had a cannery, so even the canned scallops and mussels were fantastic.  Pili’s mom was alternately offended by and concerned for the health of, anyone who lacked appetite.  My favorite was the Calamari Romana, and she let me help prepare it one evening.  The instructions couldn’t be simpler.  Dredge cleaned and salted squid in a mixture of flour and baking powder, then into beaten egg.  Fry in small batches in shallow oil until browned.  Squeeze lemon over and serve.

Elizabeth Evans left her backpacking days to join a multinational focused on SEO in latin america, she is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian.

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The Royal Pavilion may sound like a typical tourist trap but Brighton doesn’t do anything the normal way and this royal palace isn’t any different. From the outside you wouldn’t think this was once a royal residence commissioned by King George IV when he was still Price Regent. The first thing you’ll notice is it doesn’t tower above you; there are no intimidating walls, motes or turrets as seen in traditional castles. In fact it looks more like something out of a movie set trying (and not quite succeeding) to look like a palace from the far east. This is because it was built just over 200 years ago by a young man who was fascinated with China and India despite never actually visiting these countries. One of the first large rooms you reach when walking round is the grand banquet room with the most imposing and mesmerising chandeliers you’re ever likely to see. The lavish décor is very eastern and the extravagant décor is too grandiose to be overwhelming but as you walk round the other side of the first floor you come into the library and drawing rooms that suddenly offer a more sombre décor. These rooms were completed after the Prince Regent became king and suddenly had to grow up.

Royal Pavilion, Brighton, UK by Richard Randall

Shopping

Once you’ve had enough history grab a map (or an app) and head into The Lanes and North Laine to check out some incredibly eclectic shops. The Lanes are famous for their jewellery and antique shops, no matter what you find in them, you can be sure there aren’t many other people out there with the same item. The reason this shopping destination is so iconic is because of their narrow walkways, in some place there isn’t enough room for two people to pass head on. Although natives can navigate their way round these lanes with ease, first timers can find themselves getting turned around, but don’t worry, this isn’t London, if you get lost find a local and ask for help, most Brightoneons will be happy to help. Once you’re don’t with The Lanes, head over to North Laine, Gardner Street, Kensington Gardens and the surrounding streets for a range of eclectic shops sure to cater to everyone from music lovers, shoe hoarders, clothes addicts and everything in between. If you love junk shops, anything retro or just something a little bit different have a walk round Snoopers Paradise on Kensington Gardens – you’re going to need that sense of direction again though.

Dinner

You can’t throw a pebble from the beach in Brighton without hitting a dozen restaurants, cafes and bars but the trick with finding somewhere amazing to eat in Brighton is not to judge a book by its cover. You can head over to one of the expensive hotels but the best restaurants are hidden in plain sight, usually on the sea front and have been battered by the assault of the salty weather over the years. If you’re in Brighton it really needs to be a sea food dinner and the best sea food restaurant in Brighton has to be The Melrose just opposite from the old West Pier, it might look like a throw back from the nineties from the outside and the inside décor doesn’t fare much better but the menu is a fish lover’s dream with everything from oysters to lobster with the usual code and plaice thrown in too. The food is always cooked perfectly, the service is second to none and the prices are incredibly reasonable. If sea food isn’t for you then try Stekis still on the sea front but closer to the main pier for mouth-watering traditional Greek food. You have no reason to even look at the non-descript restaurant chains when in Brighton.

Brighton Pier, UK by stephen jones

The Pier

You’ve had a great day, you’ve seen some landmarks, done some shopping and you’re well fed. No trip to the sea side would be complete without actually visiting the sea side. All along the water’s edge there are plenty of bars and when the weather is nice there’s nothing like a drink out on the beach. If you’ve gone for dinner at one of the places mentioned above, walk down to the promenade by the West Pier, find an inviting looking bar and head in for a drink. Once you’re done carry on towards the Pier, stopping to look at the artists galleries peppered along your left hand side. Once you reach the pier stroll along it, play the slots in the amusements, have your caricature drawn or tarot read and once you reach the end go on a few of the rides. The Booster should only be attempted if your dinner has well and truly gone down and you’re not faint hearted. As you head back down the pier stop for some good old fashion candy floss or doughnuts and munch them as you head over to the Brighton Wheel, for less than a tenner you can spend 15 mins and see the whole city from a height and take in just how awesome it is.

And there you have it, the perfect day out in Brighton.

Jessica spent several happy years living in Brighton and now works for Travelworldrv.co.uk where you can find the perfect vehicle for exploring the amazing cities and country side the UK has to offer.

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The old city centre is built around a cathedral, the most impressive in Belgium. The cobbled lanes and backstreets are packed with bars, antique shops, art galleries, chocolatiers, designer boutiques and diamond shops, making Antwerp a haven for people who like to shop. Tucked away between these shops are restaurants bursting with delicious meals — Antwerp has a reputation for having some of the best food in the region.

The people of Antwerp are known for their easy-going lifestyles and their cheerful dispositions; they’re thought to be some of the happiest people on earth because of the relaxing and enjoyable nature of the city. Fashion designers, painters, musicians, actors, dancers, poets, publishers — they all flock to Antwerp, creating a lively cultural scene.

Not only is the cultural scene lively; so is the nightlife. They say life pulsates in Antwerp like nowhere else in Flanders. Antwerp’s club culture has expanded; in summer the regenerated docklands to the north and south of the town beat and pulse with music.

Antwerp truly has something for everyone; you can spend your days relaxing, shopping, eating and taking in the beautiful buildings and history of the town but spend your nights partying and having fun.

The city of Antwerp has also one of the biggest and most important seaports in Europe.

View The city of Antwerp with one of the largest seaports in Europe Belgium in a larger map

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Town hall and Place Jean Jaures, Tours, France by Tango7174

City of Tours was established during The Hundred Years’ War, between the years of 1337 and 1453. At that time, the three smaller cities were merged into one and such created the present Tours. Already in Gallic-Roman period Tours was an important city and in the Middle Ages it became rich. It gained fame mainly due to the famous tomb of the bishop of St. Martin, who is now buried in the crypt of the new basilica. The city flourished during the Renaissance as well, at that time, thanks to the silks, jewellery and weapons. But after that the city became to fall followed by several centuries of decline, which was completed by the devastation of the World War II, during which the city of Tours became a temporary capital of France (10–13 June 1940). At that time the city suffered great losses and only a few relics remained standing undamaged. However, those sights still show the original shine and glance, which had the city at the peak of its fame during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Best part of the city of Tours is its quarter of Saint-Julien spread along the river. It is full of trendy restaurants and antique shops. It is good to start your tour at the busy quarter of Place Plumereau, which is lined with cafes and restored half-timbered buildings. Nearby is the Hotel Gouin – a Renaissance building that now houses the Musée de l’Hôtel de Gouin, which exhibits art and archaeological collections.

Tours Cathedral, France by Dave Hamster

Through the Pont Wilson from 1978, which is a true copy of the original stone bridge of 18th century, you can get to the former Abbey of Saint-Julien. The facility now serves to the wine museum – Musee des Vins de Touraine. Also charming is Musée du Compagnonmage located next to it. This museum is dedicated to the history of craft guilds and trade.

Recently renovated Cathedral of St.-Gatien dominates the skyline of the city. The tower rises to a height of 87 meters, and overlooks the Old City. It was built in the period from 13th to 16th century and is an excellent example of the development of Gothic architecture. Its very complicated façade combines several architectural styles that were typical for the particular century at the time of its construction. The interior of the cathedral is built in the late Gothic style.

Tours is generally quiet and peaceful town but offers everything you can expect from your relaxing and truly French holidays.

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