Next month, the Swiss Alps village of Chur will be holding one of the most unique events around the world. The International Beard Meeting takes place during the Chur Festival each August. This year marks the 25th anniversary of an event that started a hairy tradition.
From 20-22 August, there will be facial hair of epic proportions as far as the eye can see. Stately handlebar mustaches, whiskers galore and beards that rival those of such famous bewhiskered men like Jerry Garcia, Santa Claus & the members of Z.Z. Top will be on display. Over 150 men from all over Europe will travel to Switzerland to take part in this championship.
There are three categories that participants can be placed in: Mustaches, Chin & Whiskers, and Beards. The winner of the contest receives the highest honor of Best Alpine Beard and is declared the Grand Master.
Find a cheap flight to Zurich and drive over to Switzerland’s oldest city for this fun-filled weekend. Chur is approximately 74 miles from Zurich and the drive is absolutely beautiful, through mountainous landscapes and past Lakes Zurich, Obersee and Walensee. Call for a free quote on a trip to Zurich and ask about receiving an additional discount when you pair it with your car rental and hotel reservations.
1-800 Fly Europe is glad to announce that we now have excellent fares with Air Tahiti Nui. Fly from Los Angeles to some of the most popular destinations in the world at excellent prices! Relax on a beach in Tahiti when you catch a cheap flight to Papeete, take in a lunch at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower on a trip to Paris or spend a day exploring the hills of the Waitakere Ranges while on vacation in Auckland.
Fantastic Fall and Winter Fares are available now, but must be booked by August 31st, 2010. Check out our rates online or call an agent for a free quote on your next vacation to one of our many destinations. Ask about discounted rates on car rentals and hotel reservations worldwide.
During the month of August, Amsterdam will be welcoming one of the most anticipated events of the year, De Parade. This traveling theatre festival visits various cities throughout Netherlands including Rotterdam, Amsterdam and The Hague. Visitors are treated to performances by wandering entertainers, children’s programs and my favorite, the food fair!
The food fair is one of the most popular features at De Parade. An international food booth offers a great variety of cuisines in snack portions or full meals. This year, De Parade will take place from 6 August until 22 August at the Martin Luther King Park on Amsteldijk between the Beragebrug and Utrechsbrug.
Gates are open from 3:00 p.m. until midnight.
This week, our food travels will take us on a trip to Amsterdam for a refreshing summer dessert. Hangop is an old Dutch recipe that is not only delicious, but healthy as well! Plus, this treat is extremely easy to put together.
Berry Hangop
4 c plain, strained yogurt
1 lb fresh strawberries (or any berry of your choice)
5 tbsp sugar
1 vanilla bean
sugar to taste
¼ c balsamic vinegar + 2 tbsp (optional)
2/3 c fresh chopped basil (optional)
Sweeten the yogurt with sugar to desired flavor and whip in the seeds of the vanilla bean.
To make the sauce, puree berries, sugar and a teaspoon of water in a food processor or blender. If you wish, add the vinegar and basil to the mixture for a unique topping.
Part of the fun and excitement of international travel are the unique dining experiences that one is exposed to. Any city in Europe that you visit will offer countless options for indulging yourself, but the best ones may not always be obvious. Some of the best restaurants in Europe are located in areas you wouldn’t expect, and in some cases you might walk right by and not even know what you just passed. Here are three examples of restaurants that are worth a try if you happen to be in these cities.
Starting in Madrid, you could visit this restaurant during the day and not even know that you are in a restaurant. Asiana is a restaurant that is located in the basement of an Asian antiques store. Head chef Jaime Renedo opened this restaurant in 2005 at the age of 22, in the basement of his mothers Antiques store in the heart of Madrid. What Renedo lacks in age, he makes up for in fantastic cuisine and creative dishes. The menu features a 10 dish fixed tasting menu that changes each month or depending on what is available at the market. The dishes are influenced by Japanese, Mediterranean, South East Asian and Peruvian cuisines, as well as a heavy influence from the creativity of Renedo. The restaurant emits a cozy and intimate atmosphere, only seating about 25 guests around 7 tables. Although a relatively pricey restaurant, those who have dined there were not disappointed and you will not be either.
Considered one of the top cities in the world for fine cuisine, Paris will be sure to not disappoint when it comes to dining out. With so many fine dining options that Paris presents, it might be overwhelming to make a decision on where to eat. Not mentioned in any tourist guidebooks, Le Tournebievre is a restaurant that is sure to impress. The first thing that you notice about the restaurant, that is when you find it, is the phenomenal view of the Seine River and the Notre Dame. A small, cozy bistro style restaurant seating around 20 guests, Le Tournebievre isn’t a flashy restaurant that stands out; in fact it is located between several chic touristy dining spots that won’t stand out at first glance. Le Tournebievre is also not priced like the other restaurants that surround it, making it that much more appealing. Not saying that it is a cheap restaurant, at Le Tournebievre your money goes a long way and you absolutely get more than what you pay for.
Not as famously noted for fine dining like Paris or some Italian cities, London features a plethora of dining options that will please any palate. One restaurant that surpasses just about all London dining options is The Fat Duck, located just west of the city. Voted the best restaurant in the world in 2005, The Fat Duck is a dining experience that you are sure to never forget. Head chef Heston Blumenthal is a self taught chef who lives to cook, or as he calls it “molecular gastronomy.” Again this restaurant doesn’t stand out from the rest, and does take either knowing where it is or having someone point you in the right direction, but is worth the journey once you are seated and about to delve into the unique creations that Blumenthal thinks of. The menu features large meals, some with as many as 15 courses, all with small portions, which enables you to sample all of the delicious creations from the chef. Part of the dining experience is the atmosphere and the presentation of the food, featuring frozen soups, liquid nitrogen as an ingredient, blow torches and even scrambled egg and bacon ice cream! Although pricey, if it fits in the budget The Fat Duck is worth every penny and will be sure to make a lasting impression on you.
So whether you are looking for some dining options while you are in Europe or just hungry for adventure, Europe has a restaurant for you. Travel to Europe and give your palate an international treat that you will never forget.
