Blogging Abroad

 
by jnoelbell 
Valentine’s Day is a few days away - did you forget to make dinner reservations at the hottest restaurant? It’s a little too late for that now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still score some points in the romance department by being a little creative.
From Masquerade Balls to exotic hothouses, champagne skylines to sultry jazz - here are some last minute ideas to save you from the dog house! As of publication tickets were still available for all of the below events…
There’s nothing more romantic than a city skyline view at sunset - and no place better in all of London to see it than the top of the London Eye. Indulge in a champagne flight, sipping bubby as you watch the Houses of Parliament, the Thames, and the lighted city unfold below. Big spenders can impress by hiring their own private capsule, complete with a bottle […]

Original post by Rhiannon Davies and powered by Img Fly

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What is this rule of thirds thing anyway? Basically, it’s a rule of the thumb designed to help you compose powerful images. As with most rules in photography, it is important to learn it, understand it, and make it your friend, before you start breaking it. The biggest argument is that once you know what […]

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Original post by Haje Jan Kamps and software by Elliott Back

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I’m in Durham, North Carolina right now, ending my 3.5-month streak of actually staying put in one place. The purpose of this trip was to visit some friends I haven’t seen in over a year and go to a surprise birthday party for one of my best guy friends, Dan. It’s been an amazing, joyous weekend so far (and yes, Dan was certainly surprised!) which I may write more about later. In the meantime, here is a photo from running 10 miles through acres of loblolly pine in the Duke Forest this afternoon. I’ll be back in my wonderful hometown of Fort Collins on Monday.

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Original post by Felix and software by Elliott Back

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What is the world buzzing about this week?
Costa Mesa (in Orange County - you know, the ‘O.C.’) has become a cultural mecca - well for Southern California at least - according to the New York Times travel section. Heading further south, Buenos Aires’ thriving 24-hour party-people scene and up-and-coming neighborhoods get the spotlight. (And the UK Guardian runs down vegetarian options in this land o’steaks). For the sophisticated thirst, London is shaking up a bevy of new cocktails. There’s a handy collection of articles and info on what do see and do in the American state of Georgia; and there are articles on Strasbourg, Iceland, and religious tourism in Cuba.
The San Francisco Chronicle tells why Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a good holiday option for kids, and explains how to avoid the crowds on Mexico’s Nayarit Coast.
The UK Guardian has discovered how to travel on much of South Africa’s […]

Original post by BruceM and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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It’s old advice, but it certainly hits the spot…
Since the dawn of the commercial web we have been warned to not be suckered by “too good to be true” online deals. Keep your friends close and your credit card closer. Over and over scummy retailers are exposed but a quick name-change are back online trading […]

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Original post by Haje Jan Kamps and powered by Img Fly

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Finland may not be on the travel radar of most Americans or Australians. But it’s definitely on the travel radar of the Brits. According to the Finnish Tourist Board there’s been a 10% jump in international arrivals to Finland, with much of that growth coming from London and the UK. The most popular destinations in Finland? Helsinki, followed by Oulu, Tampere-Pirkkala and Rovaniemi.
Now your travel friends at Viator aren’t going to take all the credit for this jump in international arrivals. But it may not be a total coincidence that Viator recently launched a new destination: Arctic Finland & Lapland. This is in addition to our collection of tours and things to do in Helsinki. So yeah, we’ve seen this whole ‘Finland is getting popular’ bandwagon rolling along for a while now. That’s our job, and we’re happy to be doing it.
So what’s popular in Finland this season? Here’s our […]

Original post by Scott Mc and software by Elliott Back

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This picture captures the very spirit of Racha Island, the sense of exclusiveness, comfort and playful luxury. This is the outdoor lounge situated right on the beach near the main lobby. The maple wood structure provided the perfect photo frame. The cloudless blue sky blends right into the layers of the sea down below, just the perfect back drop for the inviting wood and wicker furnitures.

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Original post by Jas and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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After taking my side trip from London to Paris in December, I’ll have to admit that I’m hooked on the idea of extending a vacation with an extra day trip. I’ve paid for the plane ticket, I’ve booked a hotel, and you tell me that I’m only 3 hours from something extraordinary? Sleep is for other people, I’m headed out sightseeing!
Here’s the top seven-day trips on my wishlist pulled from our top tours and day trips in January. And, before you ask it, yes it’s not all one trip (unless someone invents tele-transportation this year).
1. Full Day Tour to Naples and Pompeii. After sifting through the 50+ reviews on this tour, it’s hard not to want to go.
2. England’s Finest: Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Georgian Bath. Alas, I missed mystical Stonehenge last time.
3. Blue Mountains Deluxe Eco Day Tour. As, Nicole S. describes in her review […]

Original post by SuzannM and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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What happens in four inches of sticky snow
I lost count of the times I heard “Ladies and Gentlemen, there are delays on the …..(insert virtually every line)” yesterday. London’s biggest snowfall in 7 years (or 15 if you go by This is Local London) was accurately predicted as early as Tuesday. Even down to the right day. Yet the transport system still couldn’t cope because the snow was too sticky. The Met Office said that snow was unusually large. London Lite gleefully reported that “These giant snowflakes with their increased moisture are sticking together far more than expected, causing it to settle quicker and deeper“.
Geoff Pope, chair of the London Assembly transport committee, said there was “no excuse” for major transport disruption due to bad weather.
“The Met Office has given ample warning of snow, and one would expect that Transport for London has taken […]

Original post by Annie Mole and a wordpress plugin by Elliott

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Fashion Victims on the Tube
It’s the regular Friday look of people on the Tube who’ve taken a style and made it their own.
Allright ducks
Rather than post the many many Ugg variations I’ve seen this week, the following boots stood out for me:
The combination of nursery look ducks, with denim and suede toe caps was just a little too much of a mix for me. Not helped by very loose trousers tucked inside. But if you’re going to buy boots with ducks on them, I suppose you wouldn’t want them hidden.
Padlock Bling
Luckily James Purves was able to snap the following on his camera phone
Is it a charm bracelet with an oversized “charm”? Or just a interesting way of making sure your watch doesn’t get swiped on the Tube?
That’s it for now. The previous set of victims can be found here and the complete picture gallery can be […]

Original post by Annie Mole and software by Elliott Back

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