I’ve already bookmarked this website as a reminder for when I hit Berlin this spring: New Berlin Tours hosts a variery of city tours, but only two of them are
free. The first is a 3.5 hour walking tour that begins at the
Brandenburg Gate, follows the line of the Wall, through the Nazi government district to Checkpoint
Charlie. After a coffee break the tour travels the 1920s cabaret mile, over Gendarmenmarkt Square
to Museum Island, concluding at the old royal gardens. The tour starts daily at 11 am and 1 pm and is offered in
English and Spanish. From March 1 – November 30, the company also offers a free bike tour of Berlin that meets daily at 2 pm at the S-Bahn
Hackescher Market. Riders must provide their own bike or rent one for 7 euros. They offer several
other niche Berlin tours at affordable prices (8-12 euros,
including the10 euro pub crawl with unlimited shots!) and offer a free Munich
walking tour as well.
Ceres, South Africa & Juice
Inspiration for this particular travel destination
comes from a tetra pak of apricot juice. Must have had a few more
morning brain cells charged up than normal. I focused my half-awake eyes on the same tetra pak I normally pull from the
fridge and pay no mind to, other than gulping down some of the best fruit juice in the world. But where in the world?
As I started reading the labeling on the box I was suddenly sucked into the fertile valleys at the southern most tip of
Africa. A land where rivers are replaced with streams of free-flowing youngberry, guava, mango, hanepoot, and passion
fruit juices with no added sugar, colorants, or preservatives. All the real earthy fruit juice you could possibly ever
want and desire found in the "Eden of Africa."
Ceres, South
Africa offers a wide-variety of activities beyond visiting the fruit growers factories or the Klondyke Cherry Farm.
Mountain drive tours through the Matroosberg are available at the Matroosberg
Reserve, experience panoramic views of the level shallow valley of the Ceres Karoo, mountain bike, go fishing, on a
cultural tour or something as simple as a donkey cart ride in Wethu. Visit the tourism site to see a full list of activities, accommodation, restaurant, and
historical information about the region. If you decide to go try not ask about the free-flowing streams of fruit juice.
That was only wishful thinking on my part.
The Year of Outdoor Alabama
Last year Alabama was all
about rolling up the sleeves and digging into good, old-fashioned, down home, in the back woods Alabama food as well as many nuevo cuisines. Must
have been an extreme amount of good eating going on because now they want you to work it off in the great outdoors.
2006 has been declared the year of ‘Outdoor Alabama’ by Gov. Bob Riley
according to this piece from the Mobile
Register. After a visit to the Alabama tourism site it’s very clear why the decision was made to make the focus on
being out and about. Any type of outdoor enthusiast is bound to find an activity or environment perfect for their
needs. Check out the beaches on the Gulf Shore or spend a day in Northern Alabama’s caves. Hang out with the birds, on a hunt, campground,
trail or with your
camera on some of the state’s most scenic drives.
As a child I loved getting lost in early afternoon
strolls through woodsy trails near the house. Red clay mounds and small hills were an added bonus when I either wanted
to get dirty or tuck myself into a ball and tumble down the soft earth from a rolling hill nearby. They existed mostly
in the neighbors yards and spending hours on their property without getting caught was the adventure. Thanks for all
the swell memories outdoors Alabama!
Melbourne: St. Kilda
This Frommer’s article about St. Kilda in Melbourne has me feeling
a bit nostalgic today. I spent a lovely day in St. Kilda a few
years back and still remember it as if it was yesterday. The sky was powder blue, and even though it wasn’t hot, the
temp was mild enough (in March) for me to lie on the beach for a bit and take a quick dip in Port Philip Bay. We
brought our bikes and took a great ride along the water, beginning at Port Melbourne, where we watched the Spirit of Tasmania ferry depart for a trip south to East
Devonport. We biked past the historic Palais Theater, the Espy Hotel and the famous clown creature entrance
to Luna Park, making our way to the shops. We walked along Acland Street
briefly, stopping only to buy some St. Joseph’s Day pastries at the Monarch Cake Shop, which a St. Kilda native hails as one of the only
authentic outposts left in the area. I didn’t sense the screaming comercialization of the area that he criticizes,
probably because we didn’t dine or shop — we simply enjoyed the waterfront area for the better part of a perfectly
pleasant afternoon. The City of Port Philip hosts a Film
Festival each year in St. Kilda, which takes place May 30 – June 4. It’s late autumn in Australia at that time, so
flights and accommodation will be cheaper in off-season…it might be a cool time to consider a visit.
Adventure Sports Festivals in 2006
The Independent featured a brief overview of some of the best adventure
sports festivals to be held around the world this year. They mention the Icarus Cup held in southern France each September, a high-flying air
sports spectacle. Daredevils may also want to drop in on the World Freefall
Festival, to be held in Quincy, IL in late July. If you prefer your adventure closer to the ground, why not
consider a trip to the Giro del Trentino mountain-bike festival in Riva
del Garda, Italy in late April. Or in the US, at the Sea Otter Classic Bike
Festival, which brings over 10,000 bikers to Monterey, CA. The article also offers up suggestions for ski and
snowboard festivals in Whistler, British Columbia and Mayrhofen, Austria, andsome kayaking and mountain sport options
too. It’s a great roundup piece to help get you planning an adventure trip for the new year.