Looks like I managed to stump everyone last week with an image of the beautiful Valdecorneja Castle, in the tiny village of El Barco de Avila, located about 200 km west of Madrid. This week’s trivia will be a little easier if you like going to the movies!

Q. This city was featured in one of the surprise hits of the summer and is the 7th largest city in Africa. Who is it named after?

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For some people, traveling with pets can be a very rewarding experience, while for others, not so much. It’s easy to throw the family dog in the car for a fun filled vacation, but there is a proper way to ensure your friends in the animal kingdom get the most out of your vacation.

When in the US, it’s pretty easy to take your cat with you, however most people only do this if they are moving. You can bring your cat with you into the cabin on many airlines, provided you keep it in a proper crate. If you are doing this, you definately need to check with your airline first before making arrangements. We all know how quickly airlines can change policy.  It is usually very scary for dogs to fly, as they are typically put into a cargo hold. Animals prefer routine, so if you can leave a dog at home, it’s always best to do so.

If you do decide you are taking a dog to Europe, you have some research to do, as each country has a different law regarding the importation of visiting dogs, and most countries will require a doggy passport. This process can take up to six months and cost hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to ask yourself, do you really need your dog with you?  All animals must have recently had a rabies vaccination if you do decide to bring a pet. It all depends on your needs, and where you are going.

The best way to find out information is to contact the embassy of the country you want to take your pet to. They will be able to tell you the exact steps you will need to take in order to make it happen.

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Soon, millions of first-year students will be off to college, looking to experience all the wonders that secondary education has to offer. Many students will elect to take a semester abroad. Many of my friends have done this and found the experience very rewarding, and came back a little more cultured. Here is a list of the top ten colleges and universities in Europe.

1.  University of Cambridge (UK)
2.  University of Oxford (UK)
3.  Lomonosov Moscow State University (RU)
4.  Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (CH)
5.  Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (DE)
6.  National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
7.  Université de Genève (CH)
8.  Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
9.  Universität Zürich (CH)
10.  Technische Universiteit Delft (NL)

Have you ever taken a semester overseas? If so, what was your experience like, and where did you go? Would you do it again?

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Wow! All four people got the trivia correct this week! Allison, Kat, Eric and Roswitha all knew that the image was Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Nice, France! Nice work! Have any of you ever been there, or was it just good guess work? Now for this weeks image:


Q. This Spanish castle was built in the 15th century, and is now used for local cultural events such as a movie screenings and fundraisers. Where is it located?

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From its inception, Virgin Galactic has been inspiring people the world over to think about what a look at the Earth would look and feel like from the capsule of a space ship. It would appear, that we are inching closer to that reality. For those unaware, the idea behind these flights is to have a large ship, ascend to the height of 50,000 feet and then drop a smaller ship, which will then take space tourists about 65 miles above the earths surface at a speeds of over 2500 mph.

So far what’s been announced has been pretty amazing. A space station known as Spaceport America is already being built in New Mexico, and the larger ship, the VMS Eve has taken several test flights, including one with Sir Richard Branson himself. It was the 16th flight and so far seems to be working smoothly. Virgin expects the ship to make an active drop by the end of 2009.

Another unique aspect of Virgin Galactic is how green it is. Great measures have been taken to make the ships as environmentally sound as possible. The engineers have basically taken what we know about space travel and started over, and so far it has paid off in a big way.

Speaking of paid in a big way, the price tag to get on to one of these flights is $200,000. So in the meantime, I’ll be sticking to regular flights to Europe for my next vacation!

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This past week I was fortunate enough to spend some time in the beautiful city of Chicago. During my flight, I took the opportunity to think about some often overlooked elements of travel. Could the Sky Mall be the most read magazine in America? It’s like the impulse buy for travelers. I don’t think I’ve ever been jet lagged enough to actually buy anything from one though. Are there other people like me who find themselves buying things they should have brought in the first place? While in Chicago, I bought four shirts, deodorant, and a toothbrush.

Regardless of my lack of sleep induced ramblings, Chicago was a world class city with far too much to do and see in the short amount of time I was there. I would love a chance to go back! The food is amazing, the people are very nice if you need information, and the city is one of the cleanest I have ever been to. What’s your favorite American city to visit?

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Congratulations to Alison and Leeroy! Both knew the correct answer to last week’s travel trivia was Edinburgh! This week’s image may stump some of you I have a feeling!

What is the name of this church and what French city is it located in?
Good Luck!

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Here in Portland, Maine, we have a monthly event known as First Friday. Taking place on the first Friday of every month, the art galleries and museums in town open up their doors and for no cost, hordes of art fans come out to enjoy the works on display. It’s a popular event, so needless to say I was excited when I heard about First Thursday in London!

On the first Thursday of every month the galleries and museums of East London do the same, and open their doors up to the public. They generally stay open till 9pm, and have special events featured around culture and art. Over 100 galleries and museums participate in this event, and it’s become one of the most popular events in London! You can bet that the restaurants and bars in East London are sure to be filled with like minded people as well. For more information check out http://www.firstthursdays.co.uk/

Of course don’t forget, if you need to get around with a car rental in London, Auto Europe is the only place you need to look.

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More than 200 years after his death, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart continues to inspire and enchant the world with two new pieces of music that were recently uncovered. According to experts, the pieces are believed to be written by a young Mozart when he was 7 or 8 years old. The two works, Piano Piece in G and Concerto Movement in G were discovered in the archives of the International Mozarteum Foundation. They contained no name, but the experts there have determined through the use of handwriting analysis that they are in fact, original Mozart works.

The handwriting is actually the work of Wolfgang’s father, Leopold who would often transcribe his works as he would write them.

Austrian pianist Florian Birsak recently performed these works on Mozart’s piano for a slew of journalists and music lovers. It’s intense for anyone to hear, and nearly impossible anyone writing such a complex piece of music at such a young age.

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Since I stumped everyone last week, the city will be the same in this week’s trivia, with a couple hints thrown in! This city is home to a royal seat, and a royal distance. Here’s another view of it:

Q: What is the name of this city?
Hint: The royal seat that I have mentioned can be seen in this photo
Good luck!

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