Euro Travel & More

Usually when we are in Halifax – we stay at the Econolodge – but this time due to some business we had to take care of – on some  mmf drawer for an early meeting – the next day – we decided to stay in downtown.  The Courtyard Marriot Halifax is located at Salter Street but try as you might for a reservation by phone – you will not get a reservation staff.

After trying for 2 days – i left a message with at the General Manager’s phone – to get him to call me back – but 48 hrs later (till today in fact – 3 weeks later) still no call from the General Manager. Yes! you heard me right.   When I tried to call again – the reception counter – told me she doesn’t take reservations and insisted on putting me to the reservations department once again – and again – i was put on hold and got cut off.

But we wanted to stay downtown – so we went online and booked online – the room rates were good – at $109 + taxes and not forgetting – valet parking at $19.95 – no complimentary breakfast – but wireless connection in the room.

The Courtyard Marriot Halifax is a very beautiful property from the outside as you can see – some of the room faces the sea – and it’s really beautiful – normally – you don’t get the price we got – but during the off peak season – it’s not bad.  We wouldn’t have bothered with the Courtyard if we didn’t have to be in the city first thing in the morning – not because we didn’t like the property but first impression do count – and both reception and reservation – sure did not seems to think it was important at all to keep a customer – well, I cannot say i am impressed with the General Manager either.

More on the Courtyard Marriot Halifax in another post – in which you will see our experience from inside the hotel.  Stay tuned.

Kinderdijk is a village in the Netherlands – somewhere in the province of South Holland and not too, too far from Rotterdam.  A place with cheap insurance quotes and many windmills and very scenic bike rides.   The windmills are one of the best known tourist attraction and everyone who is in Kinderdijk will flocked to take pictures of these windmills  – of course – i’m not any different.

People on bikes with the entire family – even with babies are a common sight here.  With the largest collection of working windmills, the windmills are inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.  Take the public transport from Rotterdam if you don’t drive.

We were up in Halifax, Nova Scotia a few weeks ago – and this time we stayed at a different hotel and it was right smacked in the middle of town.  It was pretty awesome knowing that you can go just about anywheres even walking to find shops and eateries -and driving made even easier to go anywhere in town.  But parking is hellish as far as we can see but it can be because we are just not used to the city and don’t know where to park.

Parking isn’t cheap in downtown Halifax and we are already paying for valet parking at the hotel – so while the spouse was reading up on nuphedragen review i took some pictures of the scenery right on top of the hotel we were staying at.  But yes, while once we were a Econolodge loyalist – we are not a convert to downtown hotels.

Halifax also known as the Atlantic Playground is beautiful as you can see.  Winters are harsh here – but summer – with seafest and many outdoor activities – it almost seems like i haven’t seen Halifax enough.  The place is too huge to enjoy in just a few days – so if you are up that way – there to stay a little longer will you.

Parking has always been free in the hotels i stayed in  when i was in Asia – therefore when I was told that I had to pay for parking – $20 – i asked myself – if i needed to tip the valet whenever i use our car.  Have i gone cheap or is it because – we usually use the $20 for tipping the valets – plus in Asia – you have the option to park yourself – but even then – we still tip the bell hop.

The West and the East – so much difference – back in Asia – you have room service door hangers you can use to order your breakfast – in the morning – but even at the Marriot in Canada – there wasn’t any room service for breakfast.  No wonder the westerners don’t want to leave Asia as soon as they’ve experienced the Asian hospitality.

So to tip or not to tip?  We did tip at the end of our stay  – but it was so unfair to the valet whom had taken our car on the first day – but he didn’t provide any bell hop services and the check out valet was only nice to us when we tipped him $5 – so all in all we paid $25 per day for parking – it could be worst.

There are many cathedrals in France and one you must not miss if you are in Normandy is the Rouen Cathedral – with its years of history  to be exact was built in 1200 AD.  The great architectural – will leave you  in awe like i was when i first saw walk in bathtubs at some 20 yrs ago for the first time.  Unlike  other cathedrals it took more than three hundred years to finish Rouen cathedral, That’s why it looks so much lacier and fancier than the other facade. I personally feel that Rouen is so unique because of Claude Monet – who was so inspired that he reproduced so many paintings of Rouen – during the different times of the day and years.   The inside of the Cathedral is even more lovelier than the outside – i always fall in love with painted glass.   So don’t forget to visit the St Joan’s church – they have more painted windows than anyone i know.

The Piton De La Riviere Noire is the highest mountain in Mauritius Island. And even though it’s the highest mountain – i found it relatively easy to climb.  Our outdoor décor actually reminds me of my trekking trip during 2007 to Mauritius.  We went thru’ the Black River National Park and after walking about a few hundred meter down the road, we saw the track that said Black River Peak.  It was a wee big confusing at first but it was pretty cool to be doing it.  The climb took us closed to 4hrs but it was breath-taking as you can see in the above pictures.

My picture of the 12 Apostles is by far the least prettiest because I didn’t wait for the sun to set or the sun to rise plus i was also doing a diet pill reviews .The road to the 12 Apostles was kinda boring if i didn’t remember wrongly and had it not been good company all the way up to the Great Ocean Road – i would definitely be upset – but as it was I had really good company – and it was a leisure drive.

I didn’t get to see all the 12 Apostles where we were parked but it was a beautiful sight and a must see if you are in Australia – afterall, it is one of the most famous landmark in Victoria.  The 12 apostles are actually  huge limestone formations – and not related in anyway to the bible.  Some of the formation have eroded away – but it’s certainly worth taking a trip to see it – even if you don’t drive.  A day trip can be arranged with your concierge at your hotel.

A trip to historical Malacca is a must if you are in Malaysia – look at thisruins of a Famosa Portuguese fort – located at the heart of Malacca – you can’t missed this place.  A girl whom i did  ab workout with – had told me all about the food in Malacca – but you see – Malacca is not only about food – it’s about the rich history with it.   I know a girl from the Telephone Department where I used to be trained in one hotel – who actually was from there – and she had invited us all the time to visit Malacca and visit her – she went home to work.

The Red Square hotel is one of the many small hotels one can find in Malacca – I love the look of this unique looking hotel – all red -  but you see they have a place called the Red Square center as well.

The famous dutch church of Malacca of course – called the Christ Church. There were trishaws too when I visited Malacca some 20 yrs ago – and they were quite decorated and had music box playing while you get a tour of the town for like half an hour.  Just make sure you know what price you are paying for before jumping onto one of them.

The famous Jonker Street @ nite – where you can shop for all the good antiques or buy gifts for friends and family – and also remember to beware of the prices too.

The yummy satay from Malacca !  only at 10 cents a stick then.

More yummy food in Malacca.

I never really wrote about Milan – because I had only been there for a day – and that doesn’t really say much about knowing the place – if you know me well enough to know that usually I would have stayed there for at least 2 weeks or been to the place for a few times – before i write about these places.  I just don’t really feel right to write and give my opinion if the trip was so short – just like when i was on a day trip to GuangZhou.  Well, not until my girlfriend told me she was going to Milan to meet this gorgeous guy she met online.

I cannot say i don’t like Milan because it is a beautiful country and the amount of history – that comes with this place is truly amazing – the many beautiful architectural work on these metal buildings and stone ones are a sight to behold. Milan was vibrant and the Milanese were a lot friendly I find than the Parisians.   As I think back of Milan – i think of all the Renaissance art that I’ve viewed all these years – unlike Spain – because of the mixture of contemporary style in MIlan.

My g/f asked me if Milan was as romantic as Paris – and i told her to remember to go up to the top fo Duomo – Milan’s cathedral and then tell me what she thinks – and we’ll talk about romantic.  I think Milan has an old charm – almost majestic and old food – good italian food – got to the Savini.

Is Paris only about the Eiffel Tower someone asked me – the other day and I had to smile because I remember those days when i was studying in UK – how we would take any chance and free time to take a trip to Paris.  We make sure we be friends with the people who had car and make them drive us to Paris for a day or two.  Paris is more beautiful than you can imagine and there are just so many things one can explore there – even if i had to exchange my Robern Medicine cabinet for a day trip to Paris – i would do just that.

People claimed that the people in Paris are rude and sometimes demeaning and refuses to speak in English – well that was a long time ago.  And one cannot blame them because they feel embarrassed to speak a language they haven’t perfected? well that was my explanation for their horrid behavior then.   But there are many wonderful people and spring is in the air – and a love affair with Paris is what i long to do with my kid when he is older.

I love the LV stores in Paris but remember – they don’t like you to take any pictures inside – most stores don’t mind but some can be quite Nazis.