Byteful Travel Blog Carnival #19 – 2013 August
Hello and welcome to the Byteful Travel Blog Carnival. I’d like to thank Andrew at Byteful Travel for allowing me to host another edition of the carnival. I’ve been a big fan and have always enjoyed participating in them. If you’re new to blog carnivals, they’re a smart way to discover new writers that you wouldn’t normally come across. Read more
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that the 19th edition of the Byteful Travel Blog Carnival will be on JimsGotWeb.com on July 31st. Be sure to go to BlogCarnival.com and submit your travel posts by July 27th to be listed in the Carnival.
I look forward to reading all of your interesting travel articles. See you at the Carnival!
Jim
Whether you are going on a short weekend trip, a fortnight in the sun or are planning on an extended break to see more of the world, making sure you have enough cash to keep you going whilst you are away is essential. Read more
Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit and one of Europe’s most historic and picturesque cities. Suitable for short breaks and longer holidays alike it will be sure to delight all age ranges and types of groups Read more
Located in the North West of England, Liverpool is a vibrant city steeped in history. With a rich culture and plenty of attractions to boot, Liverpool makes for the perfect short getaway. With a nearby airport and excellent rail connections, travelling to and from Liverpool couldn’t be easier. If a friendly atmosphere and a dose of famous Scouse humour sounds up your street, here are a few attractions you may want to consider.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Located at the Albert Dock, the Maritime Museum makes for an interesting and fun-packed adventure. The museum showcases Liverpool’s strong heritage as a seafaring city, and a major global trading hub. With displays ranging from Liverpool’s naval role during the Second World War, to the infamous Titanic, there’s a lot on offer to float your boat!
The Beatles Story
Also located at the Albert Dock, The Beatles story is within easy walking distance of the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the city centre. With global fame, The Beatles need no introduction.
This award winning attraction will take you on a mesmerising journey through the lives and music of those four iconic Liverpool lads. The Beatles story has recently tripled in size, so there is plenty to see and do.
Discover the solo success of the band’s members in the special ‘Going Solo’ areas, or take an interactive tour of The Beatles Story in the fun and exciting ‘Discovery Zone’. After seeing all this attraction has to offer, there is no better way to relax than grabbing a coffee in the atmospheric Beatles-themed Starbucks Coffeehouse.
Mersey Ferries
In addition to its many land-based attractions, Liverpool also boasts a beautiful waterfront along the River Mersey. There is no finer way to experience this World Heritage Site than from the deck of the Mersey Ferry. Ferry trips across the Mersey run regularly throughout the day and are a great way to experience the sights of Liverpool.
When on board there is a running commentary to guide you through the various historical points of interest along the way, and you will soon find yourself captivated by the rich history and culture of Liverpool. There is also a café on board where you can purchase refreshments and a tasty snack during your trip.
If you wish to travel on a ferry out of Liverpool, try the http://www.channelferries.co.uk/ service. Ferries from Liverpool travel to Belfast, Dublin and the Isle of Man.
Spaceport
If you fancy even more adventure, you can visit Spaceport when you get across the Mersey. Spaceport, the £10 million attraction where the topics of space and space travel are brought to life, makes for the perfect day out for kids and parents alike.
Shopping – Liverpool ONE
Opened during Liverpool’s 2008 year as European Capital of culture, Liverpool ONE is the largest open air shopping centre in the UK. It offers a huge variety of high street shops and boutiques, and plenty of restaurants to choose from. There is also an Odeon cinema if you fancy catching the latest blockbuster.
Conclusion
Liverpool is a city waiting to be explored. With so much to see and do, it makes for the perfect UK break; the only problem is deciding where to begin! Visitors will be hard pressed to not fall in love with a city so rich in culture and history.
By Bradley Houston
I spent a couple of days at the Munich 2011 Oktoberfest and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to drink beer in a large, friendly, crowd.
We went on a Wednesday so we didn’t have any trouble getting into a tent and sitting down. They will not serve you unless you are at a table. The tables where we sat all had “Reserved” signs on them but it was my understanding that most of them were for people who were coming in later in the day so you are welcome to use them until someone comes to claim them. We went into a few different tents just to see what they were like.
The Hofbrau t
ent is the biggest beer-tent at the Oktoberfest, and the only one with a standing only area. When we went in it was around 10 A.M. and the party was going strong! We went to the standing area which is right in front of the bandstand and ordered beer and chicken that came right away. Every few minutes someone would stand on the bench at their table with a full stein of beer and hold it above his head. Everyone would start chanting and then he would try to chug it all down. If he did it, then everyone would cheer and applaud. If he didn’t, then he would get loud boos for his failure!
Another tent at the Oktoberfest that we visited was the Weinzelt. The band there was playing Elvis Presley tunes and other Rock songs, it was great to hear “Smoke On the Water” with a German accent! While sitting at a table two ladies came up and gestured that they would like to sit with us, we said sure, have a seat. The next few hours that we spent communicating with them are some of my best memories of Oktoberfest. They couldn’t speak very much English and we couldn’t speak much German, but we were able to get past that barrier with a lot of drawing, pointing, and laughing! They taught us the words to a toasting song that is sung every few minutes in all of the tents, “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit”.
Here are some peop
le inside the Hoffbrau tent at a standing table wearing their Dirndl and Lederhosen. During the festival, which goes on 16 days, it is common to see people dressed like this in the stores, the restaurants, the train station, pretty much everywhere.
The Hacker Fes
tzelt is one of the largest tents at Oktoberfest. The ceiling is painted with blue skies and white clouds which is the colors of the Bavarian flag, so the tent is popular with the locals. If you get tired of the brass bands this is the place to go, every evening starting at 5:30pm a Rock and Roll band performs.
The Spatenbrau Tent at the Oktoberfest in Munich this year celebrates it’s 131 year at the festival. The feat of roasting an entire ox on a spit started in 1881 and turned the Spantenbrau into a real attraction which still goes on today.
Have you been to the Oktoberfest in Munich?
London, what a great city! Once you learn how to use the Tube you can have a great time traveling around the city. Here are some of the sites we had the chance to visit while we were there.
You have
to see and hear Big Ben while you’re in London and it was something to see. Big Ben is actually the name of the bell and has come to include the clock as well. The clock tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. It is at the north end of the Palace of Westminster.
The Londo
n Eye is a giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, just a short distance from Big Ben. The entire structure is 135 meters tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 meters. The wheel’s 32 passenger capsules holds 25 people,who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided.
Westminster
Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day. It has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs.
The Red
Lion is a classic late 19th century pub. It is located midway between the House of Commons and Downing Street. There has been a Red Lion pub on this site since 1434, but the present building dates to 1900. Long associated with Parliament, every Prime Minister up to Edward Heath has popped in for a drink after work, and The Red Lion also featured in the childhood of Charles Dickens, the formation of the unions and has been the scene of much political intrigue over the years.
Harlaxton 
Manor was built in the 1830s by Gregory Gregory, a wealthy Nottinghamshire businessman, to replace the original Elizabethan Manor House in Harlaxton Village and was an experience in itself. The luxury of the house was extraordinary, it has over 150 rooms, and you could really get a feel of what life was like for the wealthy in England in the 1800s. Back in that time the servants lived and worked in a separate part of the house and most of them were never seen by the owners. There is a staircase that’s in the middle of the house that the servants would use to get to different parts of the house without bothering the owners. There are still a lot of staff that work there to keep the place running, but things are different now, it’s just a place of employment for them, they have their own lives and are a large part of the Harlaxton experience.
The gr
ounds of Harlaxton Manor are amazing! The formal gardens were created as an integral feature of the stately home built by Gregory Gregory. Highlights of the Gardens include French-style terraces, an Italian Garden, a Dutch ornamental canal, and English landscape walks. The 6.5 acre walled garden is one of the largest in Britain. Here is a picture of the Gatehouse, located at the beginning of the driveway of Harlaxton Manor. It’s use is for sabbatical rentals and is completely furnished. It contains two one bedroom apartments, one on long-term lease and the other available to individuals. The available flat is suitable for a single person or a couple and contains a kitchen/dining area, bedroom and separate bathroom, and a top floor living room overlooking Harlaxton Manor itself.
Here is a picture of Harlaxton with a view of the front circle drive. On the right is the front entry way and on the left is the current cafeteria, which originally was a service wing built in 1843 and housed the brewery.
This is a view of the circle drive facing the front gates. If you saw “The Haunting” remake in 1999, you might recognize the setting, all of the outside shots were taken there.
This view is looking at Harlaxton Manor through the gates, which were removed for the filming of “The Haunting” to film the scene where a car rams through them. While the gates were off they were completely refurbished.
The Conservatory is unique in design and was a later addition to the house, but by 1977 had fallen into disrepair. The first part of the Manor to be refurbished, it is an extraordinary mixture of Baroque and Elizabethan shapes and ornament.
Have you been to Harlaxton? Please leave a comment and tell me a little about your experience there.
Grantham is about 3 miles from Harlaxton Manor, which took me about an hour to walk, and 120 North of London by train. The birthplace of Margaret Thatcher and where Isaac Newton went to school, there is a lot of history there. The Arnold Graham convenience store at 47 Swine Gate is a great place to pickup some fresh produce.
One of the oldest pubs in Grantham, the Beehive Inn dates back to the 16th century and is named for the living beehive in the tree outside. Since at least 1830 there has been a hive of bees in a lime tree above the pub’s sign. This unique feature has protected status from the local council.
The Blue Pig Inn is located at 9 Vine Street in Grantham. They weren’t serving food when we were there, I think they were looking for a new cook. It’s off the beaten path and mostly frequented by locals, but you have to at least check out the cool sign.
The Angel an
d Royal Hotel on the High Street in Grantham, originally known as The Angel, was established in 1203. It has been visited by seven kings of England and various other members of Royalty, including the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII.
Want some delicious fish and chips? “Relax” Fish Bar is located at 71 Westgate, Town Centre, in Grantham. I stopped here for a quick lunch and would recommend it to anyone looking for some tasty fish and chips.