Epsom or Hull

Once was voted the worst place to live
And the other was voted the best
Someone has done quite well
To move from a council estate in East Hull
To a four bedroom detached on the downs
That has cost a few thousand pounds

What a difference these towns are
One is up north on the river humber
That never seems to wake up from its slumber
The other is down south near the river thames
A short train ride away
From the capital of the UK
It is not a fair comparison
As both places are very old
But one was a docking port
And the other famous for its salt

Epsom was always seen as quite posh
Had nice shops and restaurants with good nosh
Hull was a poor mans town
But it has certainly turned itself around
There is a lot to see and do there
Like the big aquarium on the river front
Or the princess quay shopping centre

You may be surprised find out
That Hull’s football team has a lot to shout about
Hull city is now in the premiership
And have been winning a lot this season
So now you don’t need a reason
To go up the M1 and take a trip
To the place where it is never dull
In Kingston Upon Hull

A very rainy Venice

I went to Venice last November with my sister. Looking back I should have gone with a boyfriend, but I didn’t have one at the time. Venice is a very romantic city and there were so many couples around. It is certainly not for those looking for a bar hopping and clubbing weekend.

My sister and I flew into Venice on Thursday evening for a long weekend. When we arrived at the airport, we had to wait which seemed like ages for a bus to take us to the outskirts of Venice where we caught a boat to St Mark’s square. It was such a rainy and gloomy evening, but you can’t expect great weather in November. We stayed at a 3 star hotel called hotel Paganelli, five minute walk from the Palazzo Dulce and St Mark’s Square. It was a nice little place, only about 6 rooms. Breakfast was included in the price of the double room we had and was about £140 for 3 nights.

Friday we decided to walk around St Mark’s square and the little streets just behind it. However, as there had been so much rain in the weeks leading up to our trip, we found a lot of Venice was flooded. You can see in the photo, what normally is a busy St Mark’s square is submerged under half a foot of water. Parts of Venice were flooded just in the morning when the tide was high. But we still needed to buy ourselves a pair of rain boots or “wellies”!! A bargain for just 10 euros, considering how often I was going to use them. The rain didn’t stop us and we walked for what seemed like ages around Venice.

We went to the Rialto bridge where there are lots of market stands. Here, we purchased many Venice souvenirs and Christmas presents. We also went into the Palazzo Dulce, you should go in the morning to avoid the queue. There are lots of “free” things to do in Venice. St Mark’s Basilica is free to enter, but expect to queue here as well. The Santa Maria della Salute – the main part is free. I Carmini – the Church of Santa Maria del Carmelo which has paining by Lorenzo Lotto and Cima da Conegliano is free.

The last day we were there, it was nice and sunny. We took the opportunity of this good weather and walked all the way along the waterfront to the park Parco delle Rimembranze. If it is sunny, you should take a gondola, it is about 80 euros for a 40 minute ride and some gondolas take up to 6 people. There are gondolas all lined up just outside St Mark’s square, it looks just like it does in the "movies".

I would recommend going to Venice in the early autumn or early spring to avoid the huge crowds that descend on the city. November probably isn't the best time to go, although if you are sticking to a student budget, it is the cheapest. Even the shops give you discount as it is very quiet, we managed to grab quite a few bargains when we were there.

A trip to Brighton

I went to the seaside on Saturday and it was warm and sunny. A nice change since the whole of August had been a complete washout.

It doesn’t take that long to get to Brighton, about an hour from Cheam, Surrey down the M23. However, there is a lot of traffic getting into Brighton town centre and parking is expensive so I would advise taking the train especially during the peak season, there are fast trains from London Victoria, takes just under an hour.

When we arrived, we took a walk along the beach . There was a great atmosphere, there are lots of bars and restaurants, a few clubs, and as it was such a nice day, everyone was outside. People were also playing beach volleyball and basketball on the courts.

We walked to Brighton Pier, which is home to arcade games, rides and attractions and a restaurant where you can have fish and chips, although we ate at Harry Ramsden, the famous fish and chip, opposite the pier.

We went to the Lanes, famous for its intricate maze of alleyways with antique and jewellery shops. The Lanes was the heart of the old fishing village Brighton. There are lots of buskers down the lanes and we saw two very good young musicians entertaining the crowd.

Then we visited the Royal Pavilion, which was the palace of Prince Regent (George IV), remodelled by John Nash between 1815 and 1822. The residents of Brighton and Hove have reduced entry during the winter months, but last weekend, it was £8.50 for an adult.

If you are in Brighton over the summer, there are a lot of free events to attend. This year there was the Summer Festival Week 26th July - 3rd August 2008 and the Carnival Parade and Park Event Saturday 2nd August 2008. There were french markets to visit, Pier to Pier Swim - a swimming race, a BHF Sponsored Sea Swim. This autumn, there are a lot of fun raising walks and runs. This Sunday, there is the Brighton Triathlon in Madeira Drive and in October is a 10Km Cancer run.

There is something for everyone in Brighton. So don’t hang about, get on a train to and visit the seaside town today!

Take a bite of the Big Apple

New York is everything you think it could be and more. I have been here twice and want to go back again.

There are lots of places to stay, hostels and hotels. I highly recommend staying somewhere midtown as you are right in the middle of the main attractions. Bring some walking shoes as well, you will need them. The first time I went to New York, I stayed at Chelsea International Hostel, just north of Greenwich Village and south of Midtown. It was cheap and in a good location, but quite overcrowded and the rooms were very basic. The second time I went to New York, I stayed in the Hotel Wellington, which is a few blocks south of Central Park. It is between West 55th and West 56th Street.

I was overwhelmed the first time I went to New York, there was so much to see and do. I would recommend just walking around Manhattan to get yourself orientated. Walk to Central Park, there is an ice skating rink in the winter which is open to the public for $14 (to hire skates) or a roller skating area in the summer. If you like horses, you can take a tour of the park in a traditional horse and carriage. The best time to go to NYC is in the spring or the autumn where the temperature is pleasant as winters can be very cold, and summers very hot and humid. However, January is cheaper, as it is just after the Christmas rush.

With the credit crunch sinking in, you may think that you can’t afford New York. But there is a lot to do in New York that is free. Wear comfortable shoes and walk to see the Chrysler Building (405 Lexington Avenue), Empire State Building (350 Fifth avenue – it will cost to go up the Empire State), Grand Central Terminal (42nd Street and Park Avenue), Rockefeller Centre and Flatiron Building, (175th Fifth Avenue). Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for view of Manhattan skyline and take your own panoramic photos of NYC. The Staten Island Ferry which goes between Manhattan and Staten Island is free and gives you great views of lower Manhattan, harbour and the Statue of Liberty.

Throughout the year there are free indoor and outdoor events downtown, south of Chambers Street, such as South Street Seaport which has outdoor concerts and performances. South Street Seaport is an historic district with a museum as well as shops, cafes and restaurants.

If you love shopping, New York is the place for you. 5th Avenue is the famous street that everyone flocks to when they first arrive and where you can find Tiffany’s, Abercrombie and Fitch, FAO Schwarz, Louis Vuitton and the famous Trump Tower. If you are feeling flush, treat yourself to a stay at the Plaza Hotel, on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street.

For better shopping bargains head down to Avenue of the Americas where you will find TJ Max and Filene’s Basement, (both located 620 6th Avenue between 18th and 19th street). Alternatively, go to the Morningside Park Famer’s Market which is open on Saturdays from 8:00 am from early July to late November. Here you will find local meat products, organic locally processed nuts and nut butters and local farm produce. China town always has bargains, and Greenwich Village has a lot of quirky shops.

There is a lot to see and do here, so I would recommend going for at least 5 days. You can always find a deal online, lastminute.com, ebookers, STATravel to name a few booking destinations.

The discreet charm of San Diego

San Diego must be one of America's best-kept secrets, at least on this side of the Atlantic. Very few Europeans would put it at the top of their list of places to visit and yet is has a climate unrivalled by Florida and a location to surpass Los Angeles. It also has a diversity of culture and sights to match Washingston, New York, San Francisco or any of the other "great" cities.

When to go
With an almost perfect climate - the average temperature in summer is 75C-80C, in winter around 65C - San Diego is an all year round resort and an ideal retreat for winter sun. The added advantages of a winter break are cheaper fligths and fewer people. January and February can be wet, but early spring is good as the State Parks, a couple of hours out of the city, burst into colour as the desert blooms.

The top attraction has to be the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. Set in 100 subtropical acres, it's home to one of the few baby pandas to be born recently in captivity. Admission, including a bus tour and the aerial tramway, is $34 for adults and $24. Standard admission is $24 for adults and $16.50 for children. For those also wishing to go to Sea World and the San Diego Wild Animal park, with more than 2,500 animals, a three for one pass can be purchased from £60 for adults and £50for children.

Balboa Park is made up of a magnificent collection of buildings, museums, gardens and a centre for the perfomaing arts. Downtown San Diego includes to Victorian-style Gaslam Quarter along with Horton Plaza and Seaport Viallage next to the marina all of which are stops on the Trolley Tour.

Harbor Cruses from Embarcadero offers excursions that allow vistors to see one of the world's most sheltered harbours, as well as the famous Hotel del Coronada, where Marilyn Monroe cavored with Jack Lemmon in Some Like it Hot.

Food and drink
Seafood is a speciality of the area, notable in Anothony's Fish Grotto, opposite the Holiday Inn, one of the most frequented fish eateries in town, with panoramic views over the harbour and reasonable prices. Main courses vary from $14 - $30. Reservations are necessary.

Fidel's at Solana Beach offers Mexican cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. The Edgewater Grill at Seaport Village on the waterfront and serves everything from pasta to seafood. The margaritas are recommended.

Nightlife
The Gaslamp Quarter is the home of nightlife in the city. Croce's Jazz Bar has the live jazz in the Victorian-style bar and Croce's Top Hat Bar and Grill has live R'n'B nightly with an ambience reminiscent of the New Orleans French Quarter. The Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town has nightly perfomances of flamenco dancing.

Out of town
No Trip to San Diego would be compelte without a trip acrosss the boreder to Tijuana, in Mexico. The Trolley goes to the border and a bus takes you into Tijuana where you can sample bullfighting and jai alai, a tpye of pelota. But shopping is the main reason for a visit. Silver jewellery is a good buy, as well as crafts and duty-free alcohol.

So next time you are thinking of getting away, try a break to San Diego

Written by Jennifer Turnbull

Hollywood

I heard so much about Los Angeles in the media, that it was hard to believe I was actually there when I arrived.

We flew into LAX airport and took a cab to Santa Monica. We stayed at the Hostelling International in Santa Monica. I recommend staying in a private room as the dorm rooms are quite small and you never know who you can get staying in your room. However, Hostelling Santa Monica had free breakfasts and the staff were very friendly. There iare also two tv rooms and 5 internet computers as well as a library.

Santa Monica is right on the beach. We walked down to Muscle Beach which eventually lead to the famous Venice beach. Santa Monica has a lot of nice restaurants and bars and shops stay open till 9:00 pm. There are all the main shops - Abercrombie, American Eagle, Borders, GAP and ZARA.

To visit the other Los Angeles sites, you have to take a bus. We took a bus to Rodeo Drive and walked around the Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Gucci shops. It only covered about 2 or three blocks. On the other side of the main road was Beverley Hills, which you can go round if you go on a tour bus. The houses of the rich and famous tend to be older Hollywood people as the stars now a days have houses high in the hills or behind gated communities.

Hollywood Blvd is one of the main attractions in LA. You have to go down the Walk of Fame where the celebrities have their names in stars on the pavement. The Kodak Theatre is the home for the Academy Awards and tours are available. Next door is the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre where there are more than 100 Hollywood handprints, footprints and autographs in the cement. You can also do a bit of shopping in the Hollywood and Highland centre.

I have to say, Los Angeles was not very friendly for non car owners. You need a car to go everywhere. There are pockets of communities like Santa Monica, Beverley Hills, Hollywood and then there are just lanes of roads. You do need a car, so I would recommend hiring one if you want to the freedom to go where you want, when you want.

A short train ride away from Los Angeles Union Station is San Diego, another town that you must visit.

The Seven Wonders of the World

Grand Canyon is one of the seven wonders of the world and it was overwhelming when I visited in April this year.

The Grand Canyon is in Arizona, approximately 5 hour drive from Las Vegas. There are lots I took a tour which picked us up from the Excalibur hotel, took us round to Hoover Dam and then the South Rim of the Canyon.

The tour guide was very good, very informative, told us a lot about history of Las Vegas and the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam is 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, on the border of Nevada and Arizona. A reservoir which is Lake Mead was created behind the dam. We got off the bus here and took pictures of what was the greatest dam constructed in its day. It transformed the America South West and controlled the formerly wild Colorado river.

When we reached the Grand Canyon, we were taken to Mather Point and then Yavapai Observation Station where could walk around the rim and take photos. We decided to stay over one night in the Grand Canyon. We stayed at Yavapai lodge, half a mile from the south rim of the Canyon. If you want to see the Canyon properly, I would go recommend staying over for one night. We were dropped off by the Lodge around 2:00 pm and later that afternoon, took a mini bus to Hopi Point. There is a lot to see at the Canyon which you cannot appreciate if you do not stop over.

For those feeling adventurous, you can take a mule trip down the Canyon from Bright Angel lodge. For the others, there is plenty of other routes to explore and the Apache native Americans perform dances up to three times a day. The El Tovar Hotel is an upscale hotel with views overlooking the canyon. A few metres away is a family run shop called Verkamps which sells Native American and other Grand Canyon souvenirs. It is 102 years old but unfortunately, from September 30th, it will be taken over by the National Park Service.

The bus picked us up from Bright Angel lodge at 3:00 pm the next day and we headed back to Las Vegas. We made one snack stop - another place to buy souvenirs and arrived back at Las Vegas around 9:00 pm. Then we headed down the strip to sample the Friday night in LV.

Sunny Barcelona

Barcelona is a great city. I have been here twice in a year. I went in August when the temperature can get up to 35 degrees Celcius. The evenings are cooler but still pleasant to walk around without a sweater. If you haven't been to Barcelona before, I recommend taking the Bus Touristic when you first arrive. It costs 20 euros for the day and there are three routes to take. You really do get your money's worth. It takes you round all the main sites in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia, Guell Park, Barcelona Stadium, Olympic Park, Marina and the beach.

For accommodation, the first time, I stayed in a one star hotel called Hotel Commercio which was at the bottom of La Rambla. It was very good value for money, about £200 for three nights and the flights to and from London Gatwick. The second time, I stayed in the NH Duc de la Victoria just off La Rambla, near Placa Catalunya. It was a nice hotel, but on the pricey side between 100 and 200 euros a night.

If you want really good Spanish food, I recommend Taller de Tapas on the Rambla Catalunya. I went there on my last night in Barcelona and the food and service was excellent. Our waiter John Alfano was very attentive and polite and recommended several good Spanish dishes. After dinner we went to a bar called Mojito. A very good salsa bar/club. I went on a Saturday night and it was quite busy but they played salsa music and some R&B. The bar is quite expensive, 10 euros entry fee which includes a drink. Additional drinks are 10 euros each, but in Spain they are very generous with their shots, when you order a whisky and coke you receive a double or a triple shot of whisky.

If you only have time to see one thing in Barcelona, go to Guell park. It was built by Anotoni Gaudi between 1900 and 1914 and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is free to enter but Gaudi's House, "La Torre Rosa" is 5 euros each. From the park , you can see panoramic views of Barcelona, a beautiful view on a clear sunny day.

Japan

If you haven't been to Japan already, I highly recommend visiting this fascinating place.

There is a lot to do in Japan, shopping, visiting the famous temples and shrines. Last tme I went, I flew to Tokyo, Japan where I met my sister. We stayed in Shinjuku, in a hotel called City Hotel LornStar. It was right in the centre of Shinjuku, 1 minute on foot from Shinjuku-sanchome Station which is the busiest station in the world. Shinjuku is a major commercial and administrative centre, home to multinational corporations.

April is a great time to visit Japan, the cherry blossom known as "sakura" (桜) is out in bloom and it can be quite warm, up to mid 20s on a sunny day. There is not much rain at this time but the evenings are still cold.

There are not that many foreigners in Japan and not many people speak English so you do really need to learn some Japanese before you go, otherwise navigating your way around the subway system can be a nightmare. I recommend going to the Japan Centre to purchase some books about Tokyo and Japan before your trip.


My sister and I had not been back to Japan since we were young and a lot had changed. We went to Omotesando (表参道) in the Minato and Shibuya wards of Tokyo which has a modern new shopping area. Here you can find all the international stores such as Gap, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Next. The famous Japanese store called KiddyLand which has 6 floors of Japanese toys such as Hello Kitty is also here. Omotesando Hills, a shopping centre opened in 2006 has the world's fashion brands such as Jimmy Choo, Dolce & Gabbana and YSL.

Another place to visit is Yokohama, (横浜), a short train ride from Tokyo. Yokohama opened its ports to foreigners in 1859 and many Westerners settled in an area of Yokohama called Yamate. Motomachi is a shopping area in Yamate built for these Westerners and there are still a lot of international shops down this street. One of the supermarkets, Union stocks a range of Western food but it is very expensive. Yokohama is also home to Negishi Park, built on a former race track. Next to the park is an Equine Museum and Pony Centre where you can ride horses. Outside the park there is a street vendor selling Octopus on a stick, a bit different to hot dog vendors. If you are feeling adventurous, purchase one and a drink from a nearby vending machine. There are hundreds of vending machines in Japan dotted around on street corners.

I really liked Japan, I lived here as a child and still have very fond memories of the place. The people are very friendly and it is not that difficult to learn some Japanese to help you get by.

A Weekend in Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and should not be missed if you are thinking of visiting Espana.

There are lots of places to stay, but this time I stayed in a hostel called Residencia Alvaro in the centre of Madrid, very close to the Plaza del Sol. It was good value for money, 129 euros for 3 nights. There is free internet, use of the kitchen and washing machine. It is a small hostel, only 7 rooms, some private some dorms but the staff are very friendly. Towels and linen are also provided and there was a tv and fan in our room.

I was only here for a weekend, but I would recommend 5 things to do in Madrid:

1. Take the tourist bus around the city. This gives you an overview of the whole city, you can hop on and hop off all day which is especially nice if it is a warm and sunny day. There is a lot to see, the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace.

2. Go to El Retiro - the park on the east of Madrid. While you are there, visit the botanical gardens (Jardin Botanico) entrance is 2 euros per person. There is a wide range of flowers and plants to see - if you like that sort of thing.

3. Eat Tapas - go to Cava Baja - there are lots of restaurants to choose from - not far from Plaza Mayjor. For more bars, you are just a short walk away from La Latina

4. Go out and Party - Madrid is the party town where bars open till up to 6am in the morning.

The Penthouse is an outdoor terrace bar on the top floor of the ME Madrid Reina Victoria- in the Plaza Santa Ana. It is open for hotel guests and the public, and once you arrive at the top floor, you can see panoramic views of the Plaza Santa Ana.

If that is not your thing - I can't imagine why it wouldn't be, then just a few metres away are a whole host of bars and restaurants in the Plaza and surrounding streets.

5. Plaza Mayor

This is Madrid's most famous plaza and is worth a visit. Have dinner or even a cerveza in the Plaza Mayor, then head off to Puerta del Sol.

You can easily travel from Madrid to the other Spainish cities by bus or by train, next stop for me, was Valencia.