How the Other Half Travel the Globe

I recently had a little trip to Sydney with the family. We headed there for a friend’s 50th and thought we’d make a holiday out of it. We found ourselves a super, little apartment near Manly via AirBNB and so had access to many fabulous locations – unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best. It didn’t stop us from doing things but well, it wasn’t exactly summer holiday weather!

Our second day we jumped on a ferry from Manly and headed to Circular Quay and were confronted not only with the 2nd biggest cruise ship ever but, also this luxurious, private boat. How the other half get about. Funnily enough, on my return home, I was on Google+ to see one of my connections had photographed this same boat, in the same position but his photo also captured a secret hutch I was not aware of. Where you see the oval window in about the centre of the boat on the upper level, this in fact opens up to reveal a little get-about boat!  

It’s the summer school holidays here in Australia. Christmas and New Year celebrations are done for another year and it’s time for some R&R with friends and family before we get going for the 2014 work year! Yesterday I caught up with a friend from the other side of town (Melbourne). Studley Park Boathouse was a good half way point to meet. We scored a pleasant summer day to enjoy a gorgeous lunch and a glass of wine on the verandah of the cafe. Families were picnicing by the Yarra River and some were out boating enjoying their holiday time. As you can see from the photos you would never think this little spot is only 6km from Melbourne’s CBD!

Studley Park Boathouse Cafe and Restaurant

Boats at Studley Park Boathouse

The Yarra River at Studley Park Boathouse

Australian Bush at Studley Park Boathouse

A magpie enjoying a drink

Perhaps unsurprisingly, visitors to Germany often head for the country’s three largest cities, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. While all three offer access to important historical and heritage sites and a range of interesting tourist attractions, there is a very different experience awaiting those who decide to explore Frankfurt am Main, more commonly known simply as Frankfurt.

This is the sixth largest city in Germany, with a population of around 704,449 in 2012, while a further 2.3 million live in the urban area. Frankfurt is also at the center of the Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, the country’s second largest metropolitan region, which has a population of 5.6 million.

Known for its futuristic high-rise skyline, Frankfurt is the business and financial nucleus of the country and also the financial center of continental Europe. A truly global city and a major air, highway and rail transport hub, Frankfurt has Germany’s busiest airport, serving all parts of Europe and further afield. Air France flights operate from other parts of Europe and the US, as well as Russia. Frankfurt also has a diverse population and a rich cultural scene, as evidenced by its many theaters, museums and world-class opera performances.

The city is now becoming more popular with tourists and its central attractions, including the square at Römer, Frankfurt Cathedral, St. Paul’s Church and the museums at the River Main, attract the most sightseers.  However, there are quite a few neighborhoods, such as Bornheim, Bockenheim, Nordend and Old Sachsenhausen that are not on the regular tourist routes and are easily overlooked by visitors. Some of Frankfurt’s best-kept secrets are the beautiful 19th century streets and parks where many of the traditional local eating and drinking places, so beloved by the locals, are to be found.

Getting to know Frankfurt

Unlike other German cities, Frankfurt has a large multicultural population; some 180 nationalities live there. Almost 25 per cent of people living in the city are foreign nationals and 40 per cent of residents have an immigrant background.

Apart from the city center attractions, other popular attractions include the peaceful botanical gardens at Palmengarten, the Mediterranean flora at the River Main in the “Gardens of Nice” and Frankfurt Zoo, which is a particular favorite with local families. With such a compact city center, the best way to get around is on foot. In fact part of the fun of exploring the city is to get off the beaten track, away from the usual tourist haunts.

Palmengarten Botanical Gardens

For example, in Old Sachsenhausen locals gather in authentic and unspoiled pubs in the area around Wallstrasse (Wall Street) and Affentorplatz to enjoy one of Frankfurt’s specialties, Ebbelwol or apple wine; this is not a sweet cider and is something of an acquired taste. Food in Frankfurt is also a serious business and there are several local dishes worth a try beyond the famous frankfurter. There are other sausages, made from beef known as Rindswurst, and a special green sauce containing herbs that is served with meat known as Grie Soss or Grüne Sosse.

Why not take a trip to view the impressive skyline of Frankfurt am Main, to see if it truly does deserve the portmanteau title of “Mainhattan”?

It’s funny to think that despite being the second most populous city in the entire United Kingdom, Birmingham is still largely unknown among the world and in general among all foreign tourists. So when I got the chance to visit it was clear that I had to talk about it afterwards. When I arrived I had no problem parking at Luton airport.

In this unattractive picture is a building undoubtedly contributed for the Birmingham World War II. Being one of the hardest hit cities, it was almost entirely rebuilt at the end of it. This was the time when the Birmingham airport parking was developed. The odd building was saved but they are so hidden, hidden among giants. They are ugly buildings that make you lose interest to unsheathe your camera.

When I had spent more than half my time in Birmingham I was at one point with this famous landmark, The Bull. It was a plump Taurus statue at the entrance of a large shopping center. I wrote in my notebook that it frightened tourists much less than the city itself.

It was perhaps the massive expansion of Birmingham in the seventies when the city really exceeded one million inhabitants. It had left its inhabitants so sharply that only heavy metal born in any of their crude enclosures had served as an escape for their young people.