ISFMA the Blog

If you’re looking for a city break to get away from the stress of the ever nearing holiday rush, or are just looking to do some Christmas shopping to get those presents that none else will have bought, then Barcelona is the place to be. With a impressive number of shops, Christmas markets, tourist attractions and general Christmas spirit, there really isn’t a better place to be to spend that special weekend away no matter what the reason be.

Shopping
There are so many places to go in Barcelona that all offer their own special quality. For all the major high street names (Spanish style of course) then you need to head to Carrer Portaferrisa and Porta del Angel, just off Plaza Catalunya and Las Ramblas where you will find Zara, H&M, Bershka, Stradivarius and believe it or not, River Island. If you’re looking for something quirkier that oozes originality, you need to hop on the metro and head for Gracia. Here you will find numerous little boutiques specialising in hand made jewellery, clothes and accessories. Here you’ll be guaranteed to find that original present that no one else will be wearing. For handmade crafts and jewellery, a visit to the market at the Port end of Las Ramblas is a must.

Tourism

There’s an endless list of places one must visit while in Barcelona. However, at Christmas time, there are two places that I would strongly recommend you visit. First of all, La Sagrada Famila is not to be missed. Gaudi’s infamous unfinished temple, this attraction is a must anytime of the year. However, the views fro the top of the turrets allow you to enjoy the Christmas lights of the entire city from a bird’s eye view. There is also a little Christmas market situated in the adjacent square. The second attraction that should not be missed is Las Ramblas; a major tourist attraction all year round, the bright Christmas lights make it exceedingly spectacular. Another recommendation is to take a walk around the city to see if you can find the romance of the Christmas spirit.

Christmas Market

The main Barcelona Christmas Market is situated in the Cathedral square and will be there until Christmas Eve. There are numerous stalls all dedicated to traditional Catalan Christmas decorations such as those like Caga Tió and Caganer. If you’re missing something from your nativity scene or simply want an extra bit of tinsel for your tree or a new Christmas hat, then make sure to pop down to the market.

Don’t forget to book your accommodation (alojamiento barcelona) ahead of time as the apartments (apartamento barcelona) get bookes up quite quickly. I do recommend this option however as suppose to a hotel (apartamentos barcelona) as it gives you the opportunity to experience real Barcelona lifestyle.

Listening to good Jazz music in Rome is not so difficult. There are in fact many places that allow you to listen to this type of music, often to live bands and to real concerts.
For today’s best sample of what Rome has to offer on the matter, the 32 edition of Roma Jazz Festival at the Auditorium Park of Music will be showcasing at the 30th of November. The event will be offering important international artists, both European and Italian with a total of over 200 musicians and 20 concerts.

Apart from the festival which will be attracting the attention of a varied audience, it is possible to listen to this type of music in various places throughout the city. One of the most historic clubs in Italy is for sure the AlexanderPlatz, known for the many concerts that are held on stage and it is recognizable also for signatures and graffiti hung on the walls. It has an intimate yet jazzy atmosphere, in which you can also eat the typical Mediterranean cuisine on offer.

Another interesting place is without a doubt “the house of Jazz”, in which you can eat in a jazzy setting and assist in shows and participate in educational and practical activities to get to know the music.

In “the house”, you can find young and undiscovered artists. The objective is to be a meeting point for musicians, producers, critics and simply loversof the genre.

Another good place is “The cotton club” which proposes live music every evening from Monday to Saturday, with jazz music and different influences like Swing, Charleston, Foxtrot and Dixieland that allow for easy listening in a retro designed room. Make sure to grab a table in front of the stage in order to get close to the action. The “Cotton” is also a cocktail bar, trying to attract youngsters with special offers like a 10euro entrance fee with a drink of your choice included in the price.

For all up to date news and a listing of all events and clubs within the city, I recommend you take a look the “Jazz in Rome” magazine which is also available online.

So if you need to wind down after a long day of trekking around the museums, the monuments and what is more than likely, the shops then have a few relaxing cocktails to some soothing music before heading back to your acoommodation (Appartamento a Roma), whether it be an apartment (Appartamenti a Roma) or hotel. I’d reccommend ana apartment (Appartamenti Roma) as it’s the best way of truly experiencing the city.

Due to popular demand, Berlin’s Christmas market in the famous central Gendarmenmarkt Plaza will be staying open throughout the festive period in order to entertain us until the very New Year. This gala is set to be one of the biggest party zones in the city and it’s thought that attendance is going to saw high, attracting both locals and tourists alike. Apart from the fact that the evening has a great line up planned, there are other reasons to visit the city. Berlin has everything; culture, entertainment, history, great nightlife and a family friendly feel. It is therefore the perfect place to spend a couple of days unwinding from the madness of Christmas. So why not let New Years Eve be the perfect excuse to escape and discover what Berlin and its New Year’s Eve Gala has to offer?

The official party starts at 8pm with Uptown Saturday Night. This full-length seventies music show will be going on until the early hours of the morning featuring the special appearance of the Berliner Showband.

10pm sees the start of the ‘Dinner for One’ sketch, featuring a not to be missed performance from Hartmut Guy. This play is a German tradition on New Year’s eve and therefore shouldn’t be missed.

10.45pm sees a performance, for the second year running from legend James W.Pulley. This, what is now becoming a bit of a traditional performance will be entertaining the crowds with timeless Soul and Pop hits.

12pm of course, no New Year’s eve would be complete without a good old firework display. And this one’s a showstopper, shooting off from the top of the Berlin concert hall in the Gendarmenmarkt square.

Then later on, you can enjoy the ‘All is Waltz’ performance from Danceparty at the Gendarmenmarkt! Dancers from the international ballet company ‘Art Changé’ will welcome the New Year with a buoyant waltz, later inviting the audience to join them.

So if you hadn’t considered Berlin as a holiday destination before, then there’s no better time to discover the city. What’s more is that it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with this Gem; so be prepared.

Make sure you book your accommodation (apartamentos en berlin) well ahead of time as almost all apartments (apartamentos berlin) will be completely booked up. I also think that to taste the true atmosphere of this wonderful city, booking an apartment (alojamiento berlin) is a better option than staying in a hotel.

The Eiffel Tower was erected for the 1889 World Fair in Paris, which celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution. It showed to the visitors the advances made in iron architecture and the new limits it foreshadowed.
Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built between the 28th of January, 1887 and the 31st of March, 1889. It consists of more than 18,000 pieces of iron connected by 2,500,000 rivets. In all, it measures 324 metres (1059 ft) and there are 1665 steps up to the top!
On the ground level: The machinery of the 1899 elevator

Every visitor with a ticket to visit the monument can watch the machinery of the corresponding elevator in operation in the East and West pillars. This voyage underground, in an atmosphere which evokes Jules Verne, lets you discover the imposing hydraulic machines designed by Gustave Eiffel. This machinery is still used after being restored and computerized.
First level is a vast space to stroll and relax.

An interesting animated story lets you discover the past and present life of the Tower, the technique and know-how that it symbolizes, as well as the momentous events that occurred during its life. The gallery is large and circular, with explanatory panels as an aid, which leads you through the sites and monuments that make up Paris.
You will also find:

A section of the spiral staircase that Gustave Eiffel used to reach the summit during the inauguration in 1889.
The original hydraulic pump: It supplied water to the machines of the old elevator which ran from the second floor to the top.
The FerOscope: Around one of the Tower’s beams, situated in a transparent bubble, interactive videos; “video glasses” and luminous scenes take you on the discovery of the techniques that enabled the monument to be built, as well as everything involved in protecting the iron with paint.
The Cineiffel is a room with unusual images of the Eiffel Tower. The Totem, a series of 8 television screens invites you to a higher space to discover the magic box of virtual images depicting Gustave Eiffel and his Tower.
An electronic telescope to discover Paris in all its detail.
A cinema room where the wall of screens recalls the history and great moments of the Eiffel Tower.
The Observatory of Tower Top Movement: an original and unique system that monitors, in real time, with a laser beam the oscillation described by the top of the Tower as the function of the wind and temperature. These movements are calculated by a computer linked to sensors.

The second level is where you take the elevator which goes to the summit. You will also discover animated window scenes evoking the construction of the Eiffel Tower, operation of the old hydraulic elevator that ran to the top until 1983 and the current elevator. An electronic panel indicates the number of entries as visitors enter the Tower, with the total number since its construction, and mentions some of the more famous individuals.

At the top, the spectacular ascension is made in panoramic elevators which offer a view of the extraordinarily audacious architecture of the monument. The 180 meter climb ends in the discovery of a panorama view of Paris. There are two levels, one in the open air and the other under shelter, let you wander around and appreciate the view by day and in the evening. At the top of the Eiffel tower you will see Gustave Eiffel’s office. A reconstitution presents Gustave Eiffel receiving Thomas Edison. Panoramic tables will let you study the main Parisian sites. The orientation tables show directions and distances to main towns all over the world. Dioramas make a presentation of events that have marked the history of this floor.

Consistently modern, the Eiffel Tower in Paris makes a special effort to surprise visitors. So if you come to Paris, make sure to book your location paris well in advance as most of the location appartement paris in this city is quite expensive and hard to come by. Saying that, you can get some great deals on some of the appartement paris.

It’s great to take an opportunity for a family vacation. However, what might be a fun trip for some may not serve as enjoyable travel for others. Consider teens or college students on break who want some adventure for a reasonable price.

Well with fuel prices going up along side airfares, student travel deals are becoming harder to reel in. But, don’t despair because there are still some great bargains out there. For some hints and tips on where to find the best travel discounts for students, keep reading.

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

The International Student Identity Card is sold at most Travelcuts and STA Travel locations, and it’s your passport to international student travel deals. The ISIC is recognized by global brands like Hostelling International, but also most state parks and transit authorities.

Want to get a student rate on your Eurorail pass? You need an ISIC. Want to save on your admission to the national parks of Kenya? You need an ISIC. Want to get a discounted rate at that Australian hostel? You need an ISIC. It’s an internationally recognized card that can save you hundreds on a backpacking trip. If you have an ISIC, keep an eye out for the ISIC logo, you could access big savings wherever you see it.

Student Airfare Rates

Most airlines no longer offer student rates directly. However, some continue to provide youth fares that are only available through youth-focused or student-focused travel agencies. Check with your on-campus travel agency to see if they have any student specials before you book.

Before you book a student fare, be sure of your travel dates. Student fares are often cheaper because they’re restricted, meaning you either can’t make changes to the flight or you can do so, but only after paying a hefty flight change fee. So, before you book, make sure you won’t have to make schedule changes prior to the date of your departure.

Get a Hostelling International Membership

Hostelling International is a global network of hostels. By purchasing a membership before you head out on travel, you’ll get discounted rates, preferred booking access, lower cost trips and activities, commission-free currency exchange, complimentary basic travel insurance and savings on long-distance international calling.

You don’t have to be a member to stay at an HI hostel

The important thing to remember about student travel deals is they don’t automatically come to you - rather, you have to hunt them out. So, don’t be afraid to ask about special student pricing or preferred rates for students. You never know, that museum, national park or sightseeing tour could wind up cutting you a great deal.

You want to spend a holiday on the beach? Your kids were already looking forward to having fun in the water? But at the same time you would like to have a city break and enjoy some culture? The answer is simple; come to Berlin.

You might ask “but where is the beach in Berlin?”…Tropical Island is about 35 kilometres away from Berlin in a place calles Schönefeld that will offer you all the benefits of both a city break and a beach side escape.

Tropical Island will give you a nice summery feeling. There are tropes areas with water and beaches and there is also a rainforest! All in the lovely heat of 26degrees!

Besides a lot of attractions like the 25 metres high slide and the miniature golf course, there are special shows which you can visit. By the way, the slide is the highest one in Germany! For example, you can go and visit the “Circus Tropical” show every day at 3 pm. There you will see a lot of dancers and artists. Your kids will like it because there is a lot to see and do, assuring that all tantrums are kept at bay.

Furthermore, there is a wellness area where you can relax by having a massage, a steam bath or by going to the sauna. And of course, there are also a lot of opportunities if you are hungry: It doesn’t matter if you want a whole menu, just a snack or a nice cold ice cream, here you will find everything! You can even have a cocktail if it takes your fancy.

You can have a look at www.tropical-islands.de if you want to learn more about full listings and prices. Tropical Island is open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day! Only the tropical sauna area is closed between 1am and 9am. Day tickets are valid without any time limit so you can stay as long as you like.

The prices for the entrance vary depending on what you want to do. Kids get in free of charge on their birthday and furthermore, if you come with two adults and a kid, 3 kids get in for free. So that’s 6 people in with only 3 having to pay.

You can easily combine a trip to Berlin with a day at Tropical Islands and since it is open for 24 hours you don’t even have to hurry. It is recommended to have a look for accommodation in the centre of Berlin so you can explore the city. Most of the accommodation (unterkunft berlin) is very central anyway. Apart from a berlin hotel you can also have a look for an apartment (ferienwohnung berlin). These are cheaper compared to hotels and you all have your own space.

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona has one of the most extensive collections of artworks by the 20th century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. This is one of the most popular and most visited museums in Barcelona. The museum is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in Barcelona’s Barri Gotic.

The original idea for the museum came from Picasso’s friend, Jamie Sabartés. Picasso had given Sabartés great many paintings, drawings and prints during the course of their friendship. Originally Sabartés had planned to set up a museum based on his collection in Málaga, Picasso’s birthplace. It was Picasso himself who suggested that Barcelona would be more appropriate, given his long standing connections with the city.

The collection doesn’t immediately strike you as being a very extensive one. Among the early work, there are a couple of curious paintings of the beach at Barceloneta as it was 100 years ago, complete with donkeys and none of the landmarks that can be seen there today - no Hotel Arts, no Forum 2004…

The Barcelona Picasso Museum doesn’t contain his most important work - Guernica, for example is in Madrid’s Reina Sofía Art Centre and you’ve got the Paris collections and a new Picasso museum in Malaga.

After Sabartés’s death in 1968, Picasso himself donated a large number of items to the museum, including approximately 1000 items of his early work which his family had been keeping for him ever since the time he first settled in France. This included school books, academic pieces and paintings from Picasso’s Blue Period. There are now more than 3,500 works making up the permanent collection of the museum.

The Museu Picasso reveals Picasso’s relationship with the city of Barcelona, a relationship that was shaped in his youth and adolescence, and continued up until his death.

The Museum has undergone successive renovations and expansions, and it’s currently starting to develop new programmes, activities and services to become a reference place, envisaged to spreading knowledge and to fostering the visitor’s participation and critical views. The Museum wishes to be a dialogue space, exploring new approaches to Picasso’s work and influence and offering new perspectives on the Museum Collection. We invite you to watch the audiovisual Welcome of the Museum director.

Make sure to book your apartment (apartamentos barcelona) well in advance as most of the accommodation (location appartement barcelona) in this city is quite expensive and hard to come by. Saying that, you can get some great deals on some of the apartments (appartements barcelona).

Opening Times
Tuesday to Sundays (including holidays): 10 am to 8 pm. Access to rooms until 30 minutes before closing

Admission
Museum + temporary exhibition € 9
Temporary exhibition €5.80

How to get there:
Metro
Line 1 - Arc de Triomf Station
Line 3 - Liceu Station
Line 4 - Jaume I Station

Museu Picasso of Barcelona
Address: Montcada 15-23
08003 Barcelona
Tlf. (+34) 93 256 30 00
Fax (+34) 93 315 01 02
museupicasso@bcn.cat

It’s a common complaint that American is losing its downtowns. Once the centers of activity, many have fallen out of favor and been replaced by shopping centers and urban sprawl, leaving these historic areas to ruin. Eager to see that this fate did not claim their own downtown, the residents of Church Hill, Maryland worked hard to restore and revive one of their best known landmarks, the Church Hill Theatre.

The Church Hill Theatre today hosts plays, magic shows, children’s theatre and music events. Far more than the name “theatre” entails, it is really a center of community creativity, restored to its Art Deco glory and fitted with modernizations such as handicap accessible bathrooms. In the 20 years since 1988, no less than 76 productions have graced the stage of the Church Hill Theatre. There is always something interesting going on at this historic property.

Church Hill, thanks to the theatre’s restoration, enjoys a downtown that hearkens back to the time when they were the places to be on any given weekend night and the atmosphere still hasn’t lost its charm.

Are you looking for creative family vacation ideas this year? A fun trip that all ages will enjoy? Perhaps you’re interested in an enjoyable vacation time at a lesser-known destination that requires travel.

If so, keep reading for a list of some of the best family-friendly destinations in the state of Michigan.

The Air Zoo

On your upcoming Michigan family vacation, make a stop at the Air Zoo - it’s a massive facility dedicated to flight and space travel. Your kids can explore a huge replica of the ISS (International Space Station), take a ride in a flight simulator or simply explore all the exhibits throughout the museum.

The Air Zoo is open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The facility is sponsored and operated by the Smithsonian Institute. It’s targeted toward both kids and adults, making it a popular stop for families who want an activity that’s both fun and educational.

General admission to the Air Zoo is $19.50 for adults and $15.50 for children. Toddlers and infants under the age are allowed to enter for free. Alternatively, if you buy your tickets three days in advance and online, you’ll save 10% off the regular ticket price. If you plan to go multiple times in a year, you may want to purchase a family membership. Not a bad deal.

The Henry Ford Museum

The Henry Ford Museum isn’t all about Henry Ford. Rather, it’s about the American experience and a long history of ingenuity and commerce. The target audience is children and young adults, but there are numerous activities and resources for adults too. The curators focus on interactive and fun exhibits that capture kids’ imagination and make learning fun.

Like the Air Zoo, you can visit the Henry Ford Museum every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The admission cost is $14 for adults, $10 for kids, $13 for seniors and is without charge for kids under the age of 5. If you’re interested in learning more or about upcoming exhibits or events, then visit their website at thehenryford.org.

Indoor Water Parks

Michigan is full of indoor water park resorts and hotels. You can hit the budget friendly Gold Rush or the family-focused Great Wolf Lodge along with numerous other water parks that are open all year-round.

Expect to pay more than you would at a standard hotel, but enjoy the benefits of relaxing by the pool while your kids are entertained with water sports and fun.

Corn Mazes

If you’re traveling to Michigan in the autumn, you have to check out a corn maze. The state has some of the biggest in the country, and they add a great touch to a Michigan family vacation. For more information on some of the best mazes in the state, you can visit bestmaze.com and get all the details you need.

This is the bohemian part of Berlin that is the remains of the DDR style sparseness including streets and streets of old Eastern German apartment blocs, not only because at least half of all the buildings in this area were destroyed during World War Two. Historically the industrial part of Berlin, this can still be seen in the district due to the remains of old industrial warehouses.

The best way to get a feeling for this interesting place is to walk east from Alexanderplatz down Karl-Marx-Allee – a broad boulevard built in Stalinist style. The real DDR style of the place comes out further down the street when you get to Lichtenberger Strasse as the endless soviet style apartment blocks stretch out before you, towards the twin towers of Frankfurter Tor.

This place is home to the Internationales Berliner Bierfestival every year which is held in the street! If you want to go to it, book your accommodation in Berlin and get your flights sorted! Every August the beer festival draws hundreds of people onto the streets and it is a great atmosphere to experience Berlin in.

Make your way to the south or east of Frankfurter Tor where you will find various bars, clubs and restaurants, particularly good on Simon-Dach-Strasse. As well as this, you should not miss out on the Trodelmarkt at Boxhagener Platz, a weekly market and the shops, boutiques and bohemian atmosphere here.

Finally, a visit to the Volkspark Friedrichshain is definitely worth doing if you are in Berlin for a long weekend, especially if you feel like taking a romantic stroll. This park is scattered with socialist realist art, and has a fountain of fairytale characters and a popular café Schonbrunn. It is a popular gay zone bordering Mitte to the south, where Kreuzberg is.

There are numerous squats in Friedrichshain, particularly in Rigaer Straße, but I’m guessing you’d prefer to stay in accommodation Berlin! In contrast to the more gentrified and expensive districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte, Friedrichshain has a slightly run-down atmosphere, and its lower rents following German reunification attracted students and artists. Nowadays numerous restoration works are under way and Friedrichshain is developing on a fast pace becoming more and more gentrified itself.