Paris is a world class city when it comes to many things, but what it may be known best for is it’s love of art. In 1997, a Dutch publisher named Rik Gadella created Paris Photo, the world’s first photography fair. Since then, it has grown and turned into one of the largest most prestigious photo events in the world. From November 19th through the 22nd, visitors can head over to the Carousel du Louvre and check out some of the world’s best photos. 87 galleries from 12 different countries will be on display, which should keep you entertained. This year, the spotlight turns to Arab and Iranian photography, which should be impressive. Admission to the event is 15 € for adults, 7.50 € for students and free for children under 10. Don’t miss out on this fantastic photography extravaganza! Of course if you’re looking to see more of the country, a rental car in France is always a great way to get around!

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There are many reasons to love Europe. Free universal healthcare, six-hour dinners, siestas, bier gardens, quaint villages, and modern cities are some of the things to love about Europe. One aspect of life that separates our culture is Europe’s willingness to celebrate; and hold a festival for, pretty much anything. It’s such a part of the culture, you may not even realize it, but there are strange festivals that take place nearly every day of the year throughout Europe. From delicious deserts, to the downright bizarre, here are a couple of festivals that sound pretty neat.

Chocolate culture in Europe pretty much trumps anything we have here in America, with a few small exceptions. While most of America is okay consuming mass produced, prepackaged treats from corporations that also sell pharmaceutical products, Europeans have quite a different standard. Sure you can still buy gas station candy, but a walk into any of the many chocolate shops in France, Italy, or Germany will have you asking yourself how you ever lived without these hand crafted delights. Many shops are family owned and have secrets that are taught with patience and time, and not written down anywhere. One bite and you will be taken away to a world of chocolaty bliss. It remains a mystery how Europeans stay so fit with shops like these all over the place. It’s not like they don’t celebrate their love of the sweet treats. Take a look at the Eurochocolate Festival in Perugia, Italy. This year it runs from the 16-25th of October, and will feature conferences, exhibitions, hands on activities for adults and children, as well as a special chocolate show, which features more chocolate than most people can handle. It might be a good idea to skip Halloween this year and head go on the Italian vacation you have always wanted!

Generally, the wineries in La Rioja, Spain produce two kinds of wine. One is a distinct regional variety that is served on tables and with meals throughout the region. The other is essentially the “schwill” of wines, that serves one purpose: to be dumped onto as many people as it can at the annual Batalla del Vino, or Wine Battle! No one is really sure how the it started, but one thing is for sure, it has evolved into one of the most unique events in Europe. A week of celebration and festivities lead up to the main event, where a crowd of horsemen parade through the town and place a flag on top of a big hill. As the crowds ascend the slopes, some good natured chaos ensues, as the streets and spectators are covered with wine. This is of course followed by more eating, drinking and merriment. Sounds like an excellent Spanish vacation!

When searching for events online, remember that many festivals don’t give as much information on the internet as you would expect, simply because the purpose of their sites is only to inform dates, times and events, not necessarily to attract newcomers. Don’t let that stop you though, you wouldn’t want to miss out!

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In case you hadn’t noticed, the Fall is officially here! Here in Maine, the leaves are changing color, the air is getting colder, and football season has begun. This year our favorite team, the New England Patriots travel to London to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an official NFL football game. This marks the third time that the NFL has ventured into Wembley Stadium, and the reviews are still coming in. On one hand, it has to be a fascinating experience to play in one of the world’s most famous arenas, filled with such a rich history. On the other hand, jet lag is probably a factor, as is trying to stay organized in a different country. It’s comical to think about the hundred or so professional football players attempting to navigate the city in tiny cars. I would imagine that some players love the opportunity, while others are not so keen on it. I’m sure Tom Brady and Giselle have already spent some time in London, as they seemed to be everywhere while he was nursing his knee back in shape last season.

The game is scheduled for week 7 (October, 25th), and both teams have a bye week right after to ensure there is enough time to recover. The best part for us Pats fans is that for the first time, the game is going to be broadcast on local networks at the usual 1pm kickoff time. It should prove to be an exciting time! If you’re thinking about heading over for the game, you might want to get your ticket soon as it will probably sell out in the coming weeks. Also, be sure to book your car rental in London in advance as well, to make sure you get reservation confirmed in advance.

Our prediction will be posted the week before the game!

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In case you haven’t noticed, London is very excited to be hosting the 2012 Summer Olympics. Certian upgrades have become standard for any city hosting the games, mostly relating to infrastructure and public transportation. If you’ve ever been to London, you may wonder how they will be able to handle the massive amount of tourists that would be coming to the city for the games. The people at the International Olympic Committee had similar concerns, so expect to see big improvements, like the expansion of the East London (above ground) Line, as well as upgrades to the Docklands Light Railway and the North London Line. There is even a brand new rail service, known as the “Javelin” which are going to be a series of high speed bullet trains set to be ready for 2012. Another way London plans on avoiding congestion is by having most of the athletes stay close to the locations where their events will be held.

For the 2012 Olympics, officials have said that there will be 7.7 million tickets available, and half of them are going to be priced under £20, making the events more accessible to more people! This has got to be a good thing for residents who may want to check out an event or two. I know if it were my city, I can’t say I would be too happy with high ticket prices, on top of a massive influx of visitors.

The venues where the events will be held are going to be a mix of the classic venues that London is known for, and new venues built specifically for the event. One location that travelers will probably have not seen before is the new tower that will be known as the Shard. It’s expected completion is in May of 2012, and once finished it will stand at 1017 feet tall, making it the highest skyscraper in the European Union! While the Shard will not be hosting any Olympic sporting events, you can bet it will be one of the more popular destinations for athletes and tourists alike.

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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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Here’s a fever we don’t mind spreading around! As most Europeans are aware, the World Cup of Soccer will be held in South Africa in the Summer of 2010. In spite of a global recession, there are nearly a half million spectators expected to attend from all over the world. South Africa is quickly becoming a more popular destination for tourists, as they had over 9 million visitors last year alone.

Just because they haven’t experienced an influx of tourists like this, does not mean they won’t be prepared. There are currently plans for tent cities to be set up near the sites of the games in order to accommodate those looking for a more down to earth experience.

The World Cup is a massive event, which is always filled with drama and anticipation. The support comes from all over the world. Each fan hoping that their country makes it to the next round. Some countries have higher expectations than others, and it seems like there’s an underdog who takes out one of the world’s best teams. There are only seven countries that have ever won a title: Brazil (5), Italy (4), Germany (3), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), France (1) and England (1).

Will we see an 8th champion in 2010? Who will be the underdog? Will we see a game with more than 16 yellow and 4 red cards? What are your predictions?

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The Tour de France is currently underway, and it looks like it could be a close finish. In it’s 96th year, this year features the return of American Lance Armstrong, who is currently in second place overall. Many of this year’s racers are being subjected to daily drug tests to ensure there is no cheating going on. This has created some controversy, but the bikers themselves don’t actually seem to mind.

The current leader, Alberto Contador of Spain, is looking very strong according to Armstrong, who currently trails Contador by just under 2 minutes. With more mountain stages, most people say it’s still anyone’s race. Tour de France ends on Sunday, July 26th- who do you think will take this years top spot on the podium? Leave a comment with your prediction!

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History
There is ancient history and culture everywhere you look in Italy. From the Colosseum  to St. Peter’s Square, history is found around every turn. Museums in Italy are home to some of the worlds greatest works of art, by the world’s best artists. The cities themselves are also beautiful. Florence syndrome is an illness that occurs in some people when they are exposed to a large amount of beautiful art in the same place!

Food
Italians make some pretty decent food. Fans of pasta are happy when roaming the streets of cities, as there are fresh markets and local villas around every turn. Many have said that parmesan cheese is terrible until you’ve had it fresh in Italy. Of course, who could forget about delicious truffles found in the northern Mountains. Wherever you are, you are sure to find a healthy mix of local products and traditional Italian dishes cooked to perfection!

Wine
Italy produces almost as much wine as France, but if you ask any Italian you may hear differently.  The wine in Italy is delicately balanced to go perfectly with the food. Just one sip and you may never want to leave. For more on Italian wine, check out this previous post!
Landscape
The whole country is a peninsula so there are lots of them to be explored. Also, don’t forget about the mountains! The northern part of Italy borders Austria, France and Switzerland via the majestic Alps!  Cruising the Almafi Coast with a rental car in Italy is just one of the great thrills of the countryside!

One thing is for sure, next time you travel to Italy, with a little research, there won’t be a dull moment!

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Today’s post comes from the archives of  Paul Dodson, a travel writer who claims to have successfully ordered chicken in over 80 countries and knows the pronunciation of ‘crazy’ in eight different languages.

When you think of cheese, do you visualize a stringy piece of mozzarella stretching from your lips to a freshly baked slice of pizza. Perhaps you picture a big fat block of Stilton, some water crackers and a bottle of your favourite red. Or maybe, just maybe you see yourself rolling headlong down 300 yards of Gloucestershire countryside in pursuit of a seven lb. chunk of Gloucester’s finest. If you find yourself falling into the last category, read on.

Cheese rolling’s origins are hazy to say the least. A common presumption is that the masochistic frolic began as a pagan festival hundreds of years ago – a celebration of the onset of summer. Other theories have it relating to age-old fertility rights, the hope of a successful harvest and even as a safeguard of the Commoner’s rights for the people of Cooper’s Hill.

Wherever it’s origins it’s hard to argue that cheese rolling is a sport for the outrageously courageous or at least the dangerously demented. Contestants in the Cooper’s Hill event (between Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham in the Cotswolds) on the last Monday in May, stand precipitously at the top of a 300 yard hill, that maintains a gradient of two in one for the most part whilst a Master of Ceremonies counts them down.

‘One to be ready
Two to be steady
Three to prepare’, at which time an invited guest launches the chunk of cheese on its downward pilgrimage, then
‘Four to be off.’

What follows can only be described as dairy based carnage. Broken bones are a given and sprains and bruises are numerous, as up to twenty contestants in any given race tumble and roll their way headlong down the slope in pursuit of the elusive chunk of Double Gloucester. Keeping your feet is rarely an option, contestants just seem to go with the flow, tumbling out of control like rag dolls with a death wish. Inevitably the cheese wins.

Four races are held on the day, including an event for the ladies. Of the 50 odd contestants – and I do mean odd – 18 injuries were reported from last years event. Not great odds in anyone’s books. And casualties are not limited to contestants. At least one of the estimated 4,000 strong crowd was treated for head injuries after tumbling 30 yards down the course whilst attempting to evade a wayward clump of cheese.

Oh, and the prize for winning, you get to keep the cheese. Food for thought that.

Check out Paul’s article at 2Camels.com to see photos and video of the event! Also, check out some more of his work at http://www.unimportant-man.co.uk

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It’s the middle of summer, and hopefully you’ve had a good dosage of fun in the sun (something we in New England know little about this year), but now is a great time to make arrangements for off season travel. September is only a couple months away, and as you may know, the last couple weeks of September mark the beginning of Oktoberfest. To me, this is the best time to visit. The locals tend to celebrate during September, and from what I’ve heard, it’s generally less crowded, as most tourists choose to go during the month of October. Not that there’s anything wrong with going in October, but if you’ve ever seen photos of a packed beer garden, you know some elbow room is hard to come by.

September is also a good month to travel because it’s not generally considered peak season. This means that your car rental, flights, and lodging are probably going to be less expensive. Plus, when you book early, you can usually find early bird specials for all these services. Whenever you choose to go, you can always turn to Auto Europe for all your German car rental needs.

Prost!

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