Brittany ferries by Mike Cattell

As the airline business-class began to become more about business and less about class, the ‘no-frills’ policy that they have adopted (from air hostess to flight commando) is putting off travelers from booking with them. Travelers like their trip to be an experience, not an inconvenience. Ferries make trips special. And that is why every traveler to the UK needs a quick overview on them to be able to seriously consider ferries as their prime mode of transport for a vacation.

The Money

At first glance, the ferry may seem more expensive than air travel… but ferries have no hidden costs, also the ticket is per car, not per person, so it may cover several people. Also you get the car to come along, which is a huge comfort on trips and you save on renting wheels. Best of all ferries aren’t nit picky about baggage and allow more baggage than airlines anyways. So there’s almost no excess baggage hassle. With your car, you even save on transport to and from the port! A ferry ticket is a full paid deal with no hassles or strings.

Time Well Spent?

Ferries take longer to get there. No doubt. But you’re on VACATION! What’s the rush? Airlines have now becomes grey, clinical and exact. They are more suited to the business world, where travel time is time lost. If you’re traveling for vacation, then by definition you should enjoy the trip… and a ferry is the perfect way to do that. Not dreadfully slow (it’s fairly fast actually) most ferries have sun decks, organized sports, souvenir shops and  à al carte restaurants so the passengers can relax and enjoy both the scenery and the company. Some bigger ferries that cater to longer trips also have a built in cinema for the kids! (how’s that for frills?)

Blissful Cruising:

England is a land rich with scenic beauty and culture. Flying above all that beauty without savoring it seems like a real waste. A ferry trips make for a riveting journey, where port stops are a delight and the journey is so much more that the destination…. Get a chance to see Buckinghamshire, Oxford shire, Berkshire and the University town of Oxford, hike across the coastal trails of Devon and Cornwall, photograph beautiful bare moors, and get enchanted by the art-lovers resort at St Ives. Let traveling be about what it should be… the unexpected delights of a journey.

Article by Channel Ferries.

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Strasbourg is the capital and the largest city of French Alsace. Its name means “City of Road” and it is, of course, justified. Strasbourg has a strategic position within Europe and has always been a kind of crossroads, of which often fought mainly Germans and French. Wrangling lasted for years, once the city belonged to the Germans for a while, then again to the French for a few years, and so it went again and again. Finally, France won the battle and such the city belong to France today. But as mentioned earlier the German influence is evident here, from the street names through the meals in local restaurants up to the typically “German” half-timbered houses. But Strasbourg residents do not feel any injustice, consider that the city took the better of both countries – at first glance is a picturesque like the rest of France, but neat and clean like it would be German city.

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In the distant past Strasbourg used to be a free city of Holy Roman Empire. Being a crossroad of trade routes and also an important crossing over the river Rhine, the city grew very fast. However in the following centuries it was quite difficult, as written above. During the “German” times, the city was a home to some important people, such as Johann Gutenberg (Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg), who was forced to leave Mainz in the 15th century. Right here then constructed one of his first printing machines. A few hundred years later, famous German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived and studied here.

Strasbourg has kept the great importance in France and all over Europe until today. It is home to the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and also a place of regular meetings of the European Parliament. In addition, the buildings of these institutions are among the major structures of modern architecture. But Strasbourg has a lot to offer also in terms of historical sights. Along the river Ill you can see a lot of houses with gables, which dates back to the 16th century. Following century left a few half-timbered burgher houses here.

There are also historic gems such as Gothic cathedral and Rohan castle. Therefore “Grande Île” (Big Island) – which represents the historic center with cathedral, churches and palace has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List already in 1988.

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Although the Apulian countryside is literally dotted with trulli buildings, most fairy houses can be found in the town of Alberobello, which was, due to its unique structures, included in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Hundreds of trulli houses are stuck next to each other in the winding streets. They survived in an almost authentic state, for which we can thank to the Italian conservationists. Already in 1909, Trulli was declared as a protected monument.

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Currently fairy houses serve mainly to tourists – as small shops and pubs, but sometimes as a romantic and rather expensive little hotels and guesthouses. Renting the renovated and modernly equipped Trulli for two to four people outside the main season cost €600 a week (during the holidays up to €800).

Lots of houses are also on sale, at the lower prices. However, in the state before the general reconstruction.

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The city was founded sometime in the late of 12th century by rich Saxon merchants. Its strategic importance gradually grew and the fortifications were improved. Sighisoara is well known because of Vlad Tepes or Vlad III the Impaler (known as Dracula) was born here around the year of 1430.

Historical center is located on a hill, and it is thoroughly fortified. From the train station it takes for about 15 minutes to get there. At the courtyard there is the landmark of the city – Clock Tower, a 64m high tower built in the 13th century where is now museum. There is also Dracula’s family house, which is now one of the best (and most expensive) local restaurant.

There is a medieval festival in the courtyard and city events.

What else you can see in Sighisoara?

• Sighisoara Citadel – a 12th Century Saxon edifice, is the historic center of the city. Still inhabited, the citadel is listed as a World Heritage Site
• Weapon Museum – next to Vlad’s birthplace. Very small, but it contains an interesting selection of medieval weapons (swords, arrows, etc.)
• Covered Staircase – a very old stone staircase with a wooden roof along the whole span. This leads up to the Church on the Hill and the cemetery
• Church on the Hill – contains many frescoes and a crypt. Built on the location of a Roman fort. Located on the side of the hill next to it is one of the Lutheran cemeteries in the city, which contains many tombstones of Germans.
• Bust of Vlad Tepes – Located around the corner from his birthplace, within sight of the Clock Tower

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Piazza del Popolo, Ravenna, Italy by freshcreator

The most popular attraction in the city is the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia which is the resting place of Emperor Theodosius I’s daughter, Aelia Galla Placidia. The mosaics found within the mausoleum date back to the 5th century and today are considered some of the most well-preserved in the world.

Back when the city was first being developed, by Bishop Ursus was built a mammoth basilica in Ravenna. Most of the basilica was destroyed back in 1734 and the only part that remains today is the Battistero degli Ortodossi. You will also find nearby, the Battistero degli Ariani which has an amazing mosaic of the baptism of Christ.

There are many other popular structures in Ravenna that have been built over the centuries. While not dating back to the 5th century, many of these sites have none the less been well preserved over the years. There is the ancient Palatine church of Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo which features mosaics that depicts both Christian and Arian beliefs. The Basilica di San Vitale was built back in the 6th century which is also another very popular attraction in Ravenna.

You will also find the Dante Museum in Ravenna which is dedicated to the world renowned author, Dante Alighieri. Known for having been banished from Florence because of authoring the Divine Comedy, Dante spent the remainder of his life in Ravenna where he died in 1789.

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