Brussels could be Better

For the second leg of our trip at the beginning of July, we got a train from Amsterdam to the "European Capital" of Brussels. I had high hopes for the city, home of the European Parliament, it should be welcoming, clean and modern.
I am sorry to say however, that we experienced exactly the opposite during our 2 days in the city. Now it may be, and for the sake of the city I certainly hope it is, that our experience is not the usual. On first arriving in Brussels, we decided to go to a restaurant for lunch before checking into the hotel. When we sat down, we saw a number of waiters and waitresses standing chatting at the bar, which is fair enough, but it took them 20 minutes to even bring us the menus, the waitress who did serve us looked as if she would rather be anywhere else.

Following this we made our way through the city to The Theatre Hotel (a lovely hotel if ever you are staying in the city). It has to be said that the buildings in Brussels are very impressive and it is nice to see them converted for modern use. We passed many buildings with classical architecture which had been converted to restaurants, bars, banks and many other buildings. In the quieter parts near our hotel, however, we witnessed prostitutes offering their services to passing men, I would expect some of this after dark in a large city, but the scale on which it is occurring in Brussels, and in broad daylight, is very off-putting. Considering we were in the the home of the EU, which should be a pillar of human rights, to see women (many of them clearly working against their will) offering themselves like this right in the back-yard of the EU speaks volumes!
Finally, we witnessed yet another example of terrible public services at the central train station. Trying to buy our tickets to Vienna, we had to wait 10-15 minutes while the person at the ticket desk finished his chat with some other employees.

Now it must be said, when we went out in Brussels to the Celtica Bar, we had a fantastic time and met some lovely people, namely Tanguy Van Dooren and his band from Antwerp, a group of extremely talented lads!

They were kind enough to humour us with a cover of The Scientist by Coldplay at the request of Dominika. A video of which I will upload shortly.

Amazing Amsterdam

 It is most certainly not one of the “undiscovered” cities of the world. It is not even new on the tourist scene. Amsterdam has been attracting visitors for years now. It is seen by many as a destination for stag parties and the like, with its reputation for leniency towards drug use (the many infamous coffee shops scattered around the city don’t even draw a second glance from passing locals) and of course the Red Light District where women from all over the world come to sell their “services” to those who wish to pay for it.

            One would be forgiven, then, for assuming that Amsterdam is a dirty, drug filled, sex obsessed den of inequity. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever had the pleasure to visit. The people are so friendly and welcoming and make a person feel right at home. The architecture in the city is majestic with so many old buildings converted to modern use and kept in such a clean state.

            There is so much to do and see, such as the van gogh museum, canal cruises etc. The Heineken Experience is not to be missed, aside from educating visitors on the science behind the lager and showing you how it is brewed, the Heineken experience is entertaining and fun, even if you are not a beer drinker.

The Anne-Frank house is also a must-see, there is quite a line to get into the house but it is well worth the wait. It is a truly moving experience to see how the tragic family lived in hiding from the Anti-Jewish regime during the second world war.

 If  you just want to sit in one of the major squares in the city and take in the atmosphere you will see talented buskers performing original songs and covers, exciting Capoeira demonstrations, daring stunts, escape artists and street magicians. The evening atmosphere in the city is vibrant and exciting, there is entertainment around every corner and people from all walks of life, different cultures, nationalities and ethnicities perform together and take in the entertainment side by side.

            Of course the reputation of Amsterdam as a party city is not unwarranted. From nightclubs and ice-bars, to cocktail cruises and Irish pubs, Amsterdam has something to suit you, whatever your taste in night-life. When I visited the city at the beginning of July, my girlfriend and I stumbled across a Czech and Slovak bar and decided  to stop for a drink, the barman was so welcoming and gave me a few free shots as it was my birthday. The other people in the bar warmed to us immediately and we felt as if we had been in our local bar at home.

            It would be difficult for anybody to not feel at home in Amsterdam, its friendly atmosphere, welcoming residents and relentless entertainment make it an ideal choice for a city-break.

Top 5 Places to Visit in Ireland this Summer

5. Cork City

This beautiful city in the South of Ireland is often referred to by locals as "The Real Capital". Cork city has much to offer to visitors, it is a lively city full of culture and music. There is always a nice atmosphere around the city. For those looking for retail therapy, Cork city has many shops and shopping arcades with both high-end and budget shops. The nightlife is always lively, there are countless bars throughout the city and a number of Nightclubs, the most popular being Havana Browns and Gorbys.

4. Dingle

The beautiful seaside town of Dingle in county Kerry has long been a tourist favourite in summer time. With many festivals and events such as the Dingle adventure race, there is always plenty to keep you busy in the town. Dingle has a very famous resident, Fungi the bottlenose Dolphin, a solitary male Dolphin who took up residence in Dingle harbour many years ago. Local fisherman and boat-owners offer daily tours to see Fungi. The OceanWorld Aquarium also offers amazing family entertainment at a reasonable cost and contains a wide variety of marine life.

3. Galway City

One of the most lively cities in Ireland. Galway offers an amazing array of nightlife, walk into any of the many bars in the city and it is likely you will encounter lively, traditional music. Or covers of modern songs being performed by talented local artists. Galway also offers some of the best dining experiences in the country, with many restaurants serving food for all tastes. If it's to your liking, you can take a day trip to the Connemara National Park, one of Ireland's most beautiful landscapes. Galway bay offers a spectacular backdrop to the city.

2. West Clare (Loop Head)

Named by the Irish times newspaper as "the best place to visit in Ireland". Loop Head takes second place on my list. It is perfect for those seeking a more tranquil getaway. The scenery in this area of Ireland is spectacular. Towns like Kilkee offer a peaceful base to explore the rest of this region. Just a stones throw from the Burren and Cliffs Of Moher, daytrips to either are easy to undertake. This is also a perfect location for those interested in a fishing holiday.

1. Killarney

Killarney in County Kerry has long been one of the most popular destinations outside of Dublin City and is the perfect tourist town. One can take in the traditional Irish ways, from music to story telling and dancing to farming. Killarney also has a bustling nightlife to suit all tastes, from live bands to nightclubs and cocktail bars. The town is also an ideal base for exploring the Ring Of Kerry. The lakes of Killarney and the National Park are a must see on your trip to Killarney and, for those of you who are interested in the supernatural, there is a  spectacularly spooky Ghost Tour available. For more information on Killarney click here.

Caragh Lake

For those of you who have read some of my previous posts, or my entries on Traveldudes.org, you will know that I enjoy getting lost. Since we got some fantastic weather today, I decided it was about time to get lost in my own back yard. Luckily I brought the camera with me and took some pictures to share with you guys. Enjoy!

The Cliffs of Moher

I recently had my first taste of being a professional Tour Manager. To my surprise I enjoyed it immensely!
As a part of the college assessment we were tasked with planning and running a trip around The Burren and Cliffs of Moher for a group of German students. We also had to write out scripts and be the tour guides. (A shout out to my teammates Andrew Mullins, Mike Keating, Louise Daly and Deborah (Debbie) Bouse)

I never realised how much time and effort has to go into a coach tour, so much can go wrong but luckily for us everything went to plan...well aside from ALMOST forgetting one of our students at the cliffs. But we all make mistakes right?

We were lucky in the route we were given, it offers some of the most spectacular scenery you will see anywhere in the world! The Burren supports alpine, arctic and native irish plant species side-by-side. The landscape is often described as "lunar". If you are in Ireland make sure to check it out!

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