Other Great Museums
Museu da Funda ao Calouste Gulbenkiai Hailed by art critics as one of the world's finest private art collections, this magnificent treasure trove was formed from a nucleus of art acquired by Calouste Gulbenkian, an oil magnate with an eye for art, who died in 1955 and willed his collection to the state. The modern museum was constructed on a former private estate that once belonged to the Count of Vilalva and opened in 1969. Allow at least 3 hours for a romp through this varied collection,...
Deluxe Sleepers
One to three beds per cabin Secure compartments with private Private bathroom with shower and Sitting area only on some trains Electronic door locks, luggage storage areas, panoramic windows, individual climate controls Breakfast always included in rate If you can't stand the idea of an overnight ride without a shower, these trains provide showers Private Showers Spanish night trains between Madrid and Barcelona. Paris-Germany night trains between Paris and Munich, Frankfurt, Bremen, Hamburg,...
SHOPPING Slc
There's virtually a shop or shops in every block, selling Venetian crafts, such as glass and lace, and oh, so much more. Most of the shopping is concentrated around Piazza San Marco or Ponte Rialto. The best place to buy Carnevale masks is Mondonovo, Rio Terra Canal, Dorsoduro 3063 amp 041 5287344 , where talented artisans labor to produce copies of both traditional and more modern masks, each of which is one-of-a-kind and richly nuanced with references to Venetian lore and traditions. Prices...
GETTING FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE TRAIN STATION Xbh
The Bern-Belp Airport amp 031 960-21-11 www.alpar.ch is 6 miles 9.6km south of the city in the town of Belpmoos. International flights arrive from London, Paris, and Nice, but transatlantic jets are not able to land here. Fortunately, it's a short hop to Bern from the international airports in Zurich and Geneva. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs about 35F 29 , so it's better to take the shuttle bus that runs between the airport and the Bahnhof train station in the city center....
INFORMATION ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY Eky
A 5-minute walk from the rail station, Geneva's tourist office, the Office du Tourisme de Gen ve, is located at 18 rue du Mont-Blanc amp 022 909-70-00 www.geneve tourisme.ch . The staff provides information about the city, and can also arrange hotel reservations for a 5F 4.10 fee, both in Geneva and throughout Switzerland, and refer you to other establishments specializing in tour bookings. They can also give you details about audio-guided visits to the city's Old Town. The tourist office is...
B
Check into your hotel, then start your day in Madrid at the Royal Palace and work your way east to the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales. Spend the night as locals do by Tasca hopping. See Madrid in chapter 17 for more on information. How does the Museo del Prado compare to the Louvre Today's your day to find out. If there's time, head over to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, home of Picasso's famous Guernica. If you aren't too exhausted, take in a flamenco show after dinner....
Rato
Antonio Clara 10 Bachus 15 Conventual 6 El Bodeg n 11 Escorial 17 Kais 23 Luggage storage is also available daily from 8 30am to 11 30pm, and costs 3 3.90 for a locker for 48 hours. You can get both rail information and tourist information at offices to the right as you exit from the trains and walk past Ticket Window 1. These offices are open daily from 9am to 10pm. Hotel reservations can be made at the tourist office here, and there is no commission charged. Esta ao Oriente Metro Oriente is...
First Vs Second Class
Most European trains have two classes of seats first and second class. On local, regional, and express trains, there's not as much difference between the classes as there is on the high-speed and premiere trains. First-class cars usually have either three seats per row a seat on one side of the aisle, two seats on the other or six seats per compartment second-class cars have four seats per row two on each side of the aisle or eight per compartment. First class has more legroom, and the...
SHOPPING Qhp
Shoppers fill the pedestrian-only Vaci utca, from the stately Vorosmarty ter, the center of Pest, across the roaring Kossuth Lajos utca, all the way to Vamhaz krt. The Castle District in Buda, with many folk-art boutiques and galleries, is another popular if somewhat overpriced area for souvenir hunters. Locals and budget travelers might window-shop in these two neighborhoods, but they do their serious shopping elsewhere. One popular street is Pest's Outer Ring Nagykorut another bustling street...
Lige
Fervent, lively Li ge its nickname is la Cit Ardente the Passionate City exudes the aura of an aging industrial gloom, but that seems to fade next to its gracefully down-at-the-heels 19th-century monuments and remnants from the time of its powerful prince-bishops. GETTING THERE There are between two and four trains an hour to Li ge from Brussels and Antwerp, one an hour from Maastricht and Cologne, and one every 2 hours from Luxembourg. The Thalys high-speed train, arrives via Brussels, from...
Weather
BRITAIN amp IRELAND Everyone knows it rains a lot in Britain and Ireland. Winters are rainier than summers August and from September to mid-October are the sunniest months. Summer daytime temperatures average from the low 60s Fahrenheit teens Celsius to the mid-60s 20s Celsius , dropping to the 40s single digits Celsius on winter nights. Ireland, whose shores are bathed by the Gulf Stream, has a milder climate and the most changeable weather a dark rainy morning can quickly turn into a sunny...
WHERE TO DINE Dxi
tterem is the most common Hungarian word for restaurant and is used for everything from cafeteria-style eateries to first-class restaurants. A vendeglo, or guesthouse, is a smaller, more intimate restaurant, often with a Hungarian folk motif a csarda is a countryside vendeglo. An etkezde is an informal lunchroom open only in the daytime. An onkiszolgald is a self-service cafeteria, typically open only for lunch. Stand-up bufes are often found in bus stations and near busy transport hubs. A...
Value Your Pass to Exotic Countries
A trail of ancient cities, mosques, and natural wonders can be made most affordable through a Balkan Flexipass, granting you unlimited travel through Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, and Serbia Montenegro. There are three options to choose from any 5, 10, or 15 days in 1 month, with prices starting at 197. Travel is in first class only, and there are special fares for passengers under 26 or more than 60 years of age. The Balkan Flexipass is available through Rail Europe amp 877...
WHERE TO DINE Tsi
Edinburgh boasts the finest restaurants in Scotland and a wide variety of available cuisines, including Scottish, French, Asian, Italian, and modern European. The Scottish-French culinary connection dates from the time of Mary Queen of Scots, though it's been much refined over the centuries. More and more restaurants are catering to vegetarians, too. Some of the dishes Edinburgh is known for include fresh salmon and seafood, game from Scottish fields, and Aberdeen Angus steaks. Note Some...
SHOPPING Rfm
Most stores are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and on Saturday 9am to 1pm. A new government regulation allows shopping on Sunday in June, July, August, and December. As a result, Forum and Stockmann see below are open during those months on Sunday from noon to 4pm. The most important shopping neighborhoods are in the center of the city. They include Esplanadi, for those seeking the finest of Finnish design but at high prices. Even if you don't buy anything, it's a delightful promenade in...
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