The end of 2009 should see a multi-storey arcade of additions to Camden Markets indoor and a fresh outdoor series of stalls. An artist’s impression on display in Camden shows the type of goods on offer should be of the same ilk – weird, eccentric and downright strange.

Exotic grub

Camden Market is already a haven of home-grown food sellers touting passers-by to try their cuisine, be it pasta, pizza, noodles, bagels, doughnuts, coffee or cake. Notably, the passing of a new law in London meant Camden Market’s infamous magic mushroom stalls had to close down, but they have been replaced by a haze of shisha-pipe smokers sitting on cushions outside mock Moroccan cafes.

Cyber chic

Techno-fans will find the largest Cyber Dog store in the UK in Camden Market. It’s hard to miss, with two huge cybernauts outside, and often a plethora of tourist taking pictures (occasionally of the odd decked-out local or two). Upstairs is for gadgets, downstairs for doing yourself up techno-style, with neon lycra and plastic bodices, hot pants, cyber boots, day glow trousers and hair pieces on offer. Need directions? Listen out for the pumping techno music outside.

Retro glam

Around the corner from Cyber Dog is vintage corner, full of gear undergoing a revival from 60s glam through to 80s punk in the UK. Further afield are full length leather and PVC coats for fetishists, tartan, pierced and pinned attire that looks like it is trying to be something the godmother and godfather of punk, Vivienne Westwood or Malcolm McLaren, might have designed in the 70s. Go on the look-out for lots and lots of stylist hats, wacky scarves, dark glasses and cool gloves in the small stalls, full of little dinkies.

Funky furniture

Deck your house out Camden style with a super-size bean bag, laminated-picture deckchair or restored furniture from the warehouse-size shops opposite the new build alongside the canal. Even if the price tag is a little more than you can afford, it is a great place to wander round the paintings, sofas and tables, if only to pick up some cool, off-the-wall ideas.

Canal-side booze

Taking a breather by Camden locks proves popular on a sunny day, where there are a few bars and pubs to let your hair down and watch the world go by in their garish get-up. Add this, to a trip past the tattoo parlours, piercing boutiques and spin-off stalls along Camden high street and you have got a day to remember. Just don’t forget to wear your pink, pedal pushers, cyber boots and spike your hair.

Top London Accommodation near Camden Market:

• Holiday Inn Camden Lock
• Apartment SO Quartier

Photo of Cyberdog shop in Camden Town, London, UK, by Punchup

London is the first city in Europe to offer the likes of Dickon Savage, Tony Love and Lord Dashwood in the male tournaments of tease.

Working men

Amateurs and professional strippers go boylesque at the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club for the Male Tournament of Tease with spectacular results. Wannabes are welcome to take part with free coaching from the in-house trainer who promises to help men make ladies scream! There are still a few heats to go and plenty of laughs in store. Tickets are £8, with showtime at 20:30 local time. For more information visit http://www.workersplaytime.net/.

Bearlesque

I kid you not. Portly men with beards are the next big thing on the London burlesque scene. Also performing as The Bear Boys and The Bears, this bearded burlesque troupe can also be seen at KOKO in Camden during Guilty Pleasures on the last Saturday of every month, as well as having starred in the Male Tournament of Tease. A large section of the act were also seen earlier in 2009 at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London in the flesh. Check out http://bearlesque.thegreatstromboli.com/ for up and coming dates.

Madam Jojos

This rum Soho club has a history that dates back to the 1940s, but shows have been brought up-to-date with sultry and saucy burlesque performances from men and women. Finger in the Pie cabaret takes place on the first Sunday of the month inside the red and raunchy interior compered by “acid tongued” drag-queen Myra DuBois. She introduces top city acts such as Chrisalys and Lady Beau Peep as well as burlesque performers Bourgeois and Maurice and magicians Stuart and Maurice.

High-end class

This all-female burlesque club puts the t back in tantalising. Volupte is widely touted as one of the best, provided punters dig deep. For £30 a head you can dine while watching the very best of London’s burlesque scene perform cabarets, or stand for the less advertised spaces by the bar with cocktails £5 a pop. As well as special events, there are late shows - which can prove marginally cheaper – on from 22:00. Barflies should look at Volupte’s calendar at www.volupte-lounge.com/ to get filled in on events at the Club off Norwich Street in London by Chancery Lane on the Central Line.

Have a go

Owing to the rising success of glamorous burlesque, Madame Jojos has become the first club to offer people the chance to get it on with the best of them. You guessed it, 2009 is the first year this Soho club has gone on the look-out for an army for 1940s-themed soirees entitled the London Burlesque Social Club, planned for the first Thursday of every month. Special requests include soldier uniforms, suspenders and bright red lipstick.

Where to stay in Soho, London?

• Sanderson A. Morgans Hotel
• Hotel Rathbone
• Arosfa Hotel

Photo of burlesque performer in Soho, London, by Faster1974

Hiring a car for a week is not cheap, but corners can be cut, by renting a manual over an automatic and cutting the time it takes to the minimum of two to three days. Cheap B&Bs and guesthouses are available for people who look hard enough along the way.

1. What do I need?

Balls of steel to drive this winding route where the roads are so thin, there are people employed to wave traffic off and back on the route when coaches try to pass. One false move on some of the roads on the Italian Riviera and it’s a Thelma and Louise moment for you, except it would be into the Mediterranean and that’s kind of beautiful. Take a map, plenty to drink and bathing costumes for impromptu stop offs at scenic shores.

2. How should I drive?

Slowly. People who have done this route will probably say the same, that there is no other way. Try to avoid traditional holiday times and peak periods around working hours in the major towns along the route. This includes Genoa and Portovenere. Automatic cars save all the gear-shifting, but are more expensive to hire.

3. Which way should I go?

There’s a lot of debate about shortcuts along this route, but take the wrong one and miss out on the spectacular sea scenery. One recommendation is the E80, which is the main route, but perhaps less quaint. There are tracks closer to the edge of the sea, which may be good to nip in and out of, especially nearing  Portovenere where the major roadway nips inland. Take a map and enjoy the adventure!

4. Where can I park?

Parking in the hotels is costly, as is taking a car in the first place, with some reports putting hire of a Mercedes hatchback at £250 for a week. That’s before drivers have factored in the cost of petrol. But driving the coastline is a great way to see the scenery and stop off at leisure in small towns, such as Camogli, Monterosso al Mare and Manarola to sample traditional food and wine. It also saves lugging bags between buses, which can be a pain when not travelling light.

Photo of  road trip to the Italian Riviera by BlackSide

Blooming load of species

An exotic plantation of more than 3,000 species awaits visitors to the Exotic Garden in Roscoff, Finistere. Many of the plants are able to thrive in Brittany’s climate, which is warmer thanks to the hot currents that make up the Gulf Stream that runs along the coast and up towards the United Kingdom. Alongside waterfalls, rock gardens and plants live tortoises.

Plant-lover’s paradise

Generations of the La Salle family have kept this garden, which is hidden on an island off the coast of Roscoff, in memory of Georges De La Salle who loved plants. The avid botanist even went so far as to grow palm trees, which thrive in the northwest coast of France’s warm climate. The garden on the Ile de Batz is worth the trip by boat when it opens in April, if only for its historical value was it was created more than 100 years ago.

A-mazing dahlias help educate

Disabled people use the Broceliande Gardens in Le Pommeret, Ille et Vilaine, as therapy and there is a centre for community use set in the grounds, which explains why it is usually only for private viewing. However, during the rendez-vous in the gardens, visitors can take in the Irises and unusual dahlia maze, which was a new attraction in 2008 to help educate and stimulate users’ senses.

Castle gardens are English and French

Contrast the regimented English garden with the French in the castle grounds also in Ille et Vilaine in Montmarin. Holidaymakers that can afford to stay for a month after the rendez-vous in the gardens in June could see artist exhibit in the colourful grounds in July. Gardens descend in terraces to the river Rance. Visit the park, gardens and castle after April to avoid disappointment.

Chance to cast an eye over a collection

Head to La Gacilly in Morbihan to look at the Yves Rocher Botanical Garden. This garden is devoted to more than 1,000 species set out in different areas in conjunction with the French Natural History Museum. Visitors to the garden during the three-day rendez-vous period may be able to get their hands dirty in what promises to be a very special event.

1. Blackpool Tower

Although it is less grandiose than the Eiffel Tower, this wrought-iron structure has kept tourists flocking to Blackpool since its construction in 1894. At the top, visitors can take a ‘walk of faith’ over a glass floor that looks all 158 metres down. It’s not all about the top of the tower though, tourists can also enjoy an aquarium, ball room, circus and children’s play area all-day from £9, booking online. The entrance to Blackpool Tower is along the sea front between North and Central piers.

2. The Pleasure Beach

What was known as the world’s largest free attraction is going to start charging admission soon, so get round the rides and arcades quick. Highlights include the Pepsi Max Big One which held the title of the world’s tallest rollercoaster when it opened in 1994, the loop-the-loop Revolution ride, fire and water flume Valhalla, shows and an ice rink. A book of tickets that would provide reasonable access to rides, classified from A to C, with shows used to cost about £20. Find the Pleasure Beach a short taxi ride from the airport at South Pier.

3. The Sandcastle

This is the place to take the family for flumes, water rides and a wave pool. There are 18 attractions in total from £6 for youngsters all day. The pools are patrolled by lifeguards and there are places to eat and drink during breaks. A horn signals the start of the wave machine that is one of the biggest attractions as well as the green flumes, which take swimmers outside the Sandcastle building and back in again. The Sandcastle is located opposite the Pleasure Beach by South Pier.

4. The Golden Mile

The mile-stretch of arcades got its name because of its row upon row of slot machine, gamblers and game stations from North to Central Pier. Parrot-fronted Coral Island is probably one of the most famous gaming emporiums where people can play air hockey, basketball and bowl as well as have a go on the machines. The arcades are interspersed with attractions like Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, a Dr Who exhibition and palm or crystal ball-reading gypsies.

5. The Illuminations

Every September, Blackpool is lit up with hundreds of thousands of light bulbs and tabloids during the Illuminations. Coaches come from miles around to buy fish and chips and travel the glittering light show that stretches for 10km from Starr Gate near Blackpool Airport to Bispham in the north of the town. Celebrities are invited to make ‘the big switch on’, which takes place on September 4th this year, with the Illuminations running until November 8th. Blackpool Council recently launched an Illuminations bike ride for interested guests, which takes place at the start of the show.

Photo of rollercoaster at The Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, UK, by johnthescone

Great view

Set high up from the 20th arrondissement, a breathtaking walk uphill from the Metro station of the same name, the Parc de Belleville affords a stunning panorama of Paris. It’s a must-see for anyone trying to find that perfect location to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Cheap food

Historically boasting some of Paris’s lowest rents, Belleville initially attracted bargain-hunters from all over the world who championed the area’s array of continental cuisine. One of France’s most famous working-class entertainers Non, je ne regrette rien’s Edith Piaf was born under a lamppost here.

Low-cost wine

Piquette wine was made here by a local innkeeper who wanted to keep prices low for the locals. This has made Belleville famous for some of the cheapest (and most tasteless) wine in the country.

Famous residents

As well as the birthplace of some of France’s biggest icons, it is also the resting place of a few of the world’s most famous. Stuck out like a staccato blip, among the graves in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the lipstick-adorned Art Deco monolith to playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde while other tombstones are graffitied with arrows pointing towards the final resting place of The Doors former front man Jim Morrison.

Art community

Today, people come to Belleville for the art scene, predominantly displayed by the painters, sculptors and crafts people that make up Les Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville, who are fierce opponents of the mainstream art scene.

Free museum

Inside the park is the Maison de l’Air, which describes the elements of the atmosphere in intricate detail. Find out how animals and plants use the air and discover how to help stop pollution. Opening hours are between 13:30 to 17:00 and admission is free.

Smallest cabaret

Paris’s smallest cabaret has opened here under the title Le Zebre de Belleville on the main boulevard. You’ll know you’ve got the right place if you look up and see an inflated black and white four-legged zebra, mid-gambol, looming over the belfry.

Photo of Belleville Metro Station, Paris, by arslan

Each year there are free celebrations across the city, with a special focus on Merrion Square. The central point of the city hosts a fun fair, puppets and circus acts during this year’s Saint Patrick’s Festival, which runs from March 12th to 17th.

Laughs

The Republic of Ireland has been voting on the funniest up-and-coming comedians this year, to give visitors a taste of true Irish humour during St Patrick’s Festival. Plan a trip to the Laughter Lounge between March 12th and 14th for the Best of the Fest to see the top five comedians perform. The Best of the Fest shows are on for three nights only in Eden Quay in the city centre.

Ceilidh

The can-can kicks, line-dances and straight upper body movements made famous by Riverdance group in the Eurovision song contest in 1994 will be on show at St Patrick’s Festival in Dublin. Sean Keane and The Irish Scattering take on the mantle to close the celebrations at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on March 17th. The musicians and dancers perform some of the best known Irish songs and there are readings from celebrated Irish authors. Admission to the event starts from €18, so book a seat early.

Parade

Five days after the night show in the city centre kicks off the celebrations, the St Patrick’s Festival parade of people in costume, marching bands and floats takes to the streets. Expect thousands of spectators, revelling in Irish stout and the fun-filled atmosphere. The parade has been described as an “unmissable” part of the event, so scope out a good vantage point early, preferably near the pub.

Guinness

Temple Bar area will be packed throughout the festival as punters queue for pints of the black stuff in historic drinking houses and sample Irish food traditionally eaten around St Paddy’s Day: local bacon and cabbage. If this does not appeal there is plenty of dark stout to try, including Guinness, which should come served with the symbol of Ireland – the shamrock – imprinted on top.

Language

Once the Irish were ostracised for their strong accent by foreigners, this year the Gaelic language celebrated around the city as part of the festival with a Gaelspraoi series of songs, dance and performances. Gaelic is more widely spoken in the south of the country and remains a compulsory subject in state-funded schools. Useful phrases for St Patrick’s Festival would be: what’s the craic (what’s up), conas ata tatu (how are you) and pogue mahone (kiss my a**).

Cost

Festival-goers should reserve early and brace themselves for increases in the cost of accommodation. Expect to pay €3 for a coffee, an average of €6.88 for a take-out meal and €1,300 for a luxury two-bedroom apartment for the month on a normal day, according to the Mercer price indicator.

Photo of St. Patrick’s parade in Dublin, Ireland by  infomatique

1. Super Lamb Banana

This wacky, yellow half-lamb, yes, half-banana appeared outside the Baltic Fleet Public House in 1998. It was designed by Japanese artist Taro Chiero in an apparent link between Liverpool’s traditional banana and lamb imports and the dangers of genetically modified food. It has been through a range of guises, from Friesian cow banana – following modification from vandals – to a pink lamb banana after charity sponsorship. Check out the website to take home your very own mini version of the super lamb banana, which changes location around the city.

2. Emin’s missing bird

Controversial modern artist Tracy Emin is perhaps best known for her exhibition of a patchwork tent detailing all the people she slept with, but her work in Liverpool hit the headlines again in 2008 – this time for going missing. Someone had nabbed the miniature bronze bird sat on top of a pole, created by the artist for Upper Duke Street. The Liverpool Echo reported Emin as retorting “This is taking the p***. Don’t bite the hand that feeds” in response to the repeated theft of the bird from the grounds of the Anglican cathedral.

3. Offerings to Eleanor Rigby

Passers-by can see offerings of beer, flowers and even sick in the bowl cradled by a statue dedicated to Eleanor Rigby on Button Street. The character was made famous by a song by the Liverpool lads, the Beatles. Artist Tommy Steele took a line from the lyrics when he dedicated the statue sat alone on a bench to ‘all the lonely people’. Some people take the structure as a symbol of devotion, while others treat the effigy less kindly.

4. Yellow Submarine alights

The artwork modelled on the Beatles song on the Revolver album now lies at Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport to welcome visitors into the city. The yellow structure with an eye on the blow-hole was reportedly designed by Cammell Laird’s shipbuilders for an exhibition in the city in the 1980s. It is one of many Beatles statues located round Liverpool. Others include John Lennon on Mathew Street, which was historically frequented by the Fab Four.

5. Yoko Ono’s skyladders

One art installation that will probably not be missed is Yoko Ono’s in the ruined grounds of St Luke’s Church off Hardman Street. To celebrate Liverpool’s year as European City of Culture 2008, Yoko invited residents to set up step ladders, which did not quite become the “forest” she intended. The Skyladders project was designed in memory of her late husband John Lennon whom, she said, “immediately connected with the idea” when she first exhibited the project years ago.

Photo of Super Lamb Banana Sculpture in Liverpool, UK by Steve Montgomery

Speed date

The law of probability is an amazing thing, therefore the more single people you talk to, the more likely it is you will be lucky in love or find a good friend. For an evening with like-minded individuals or to match-make a pal, why not book an evening speed dating at Amuse Bouche in London on February 13th? Reserve a ticket on 020-7193-5325 for the venue, which is by Oxford Circus tube station in Soho on February 13th from 19:00.

Sky dive

Here’s an instructor who is guaranteed to fall for you – 10,000ft to be exact. Start Valentine’s Day with an adrenaline-fuelled sky dive. After the initial lesson, divers are taken up in a plane, strapped to an expert and sent into free fall for 15 seconds before a parachute takes the two of you to the ground. An exhilarating experience could be just what you need to get your dating confidence back on track. Check skydivelondon.co.uk for more.

Get out there

Two hot recommendations for girls and guys is Volupte burlesque show and the Adonis Cabaret. For booty-licious shows by temptresses like Dita Von Teese, stop off for a bite or cocktail a short walk from Chancery Lane tub station on Central Line to Norwich Street. Meanwhile, guests can gawp at the male models performing in the Adonis Cabaret at Club Aquarium on Old Street, which combines comedy and drag with strippers and drinks. Hunks who have appeared in Eastenders and the Graham Norton show perform acts like Carwash. Bring your swimming costume, there is a pool!

Be photographed

Get evidence of how gorgeous you are, by going into ID Studios in London for a makeover and photo shoot from £25. Feeling great does not come much cheaper than this. The price includes refreshments, skin toning, hair styling and make-up as well as an A4 print that you can show all of your mates or post on that dating website you have always been meaning to join. ID Studios also caters for groups, which would make this ideal experience for groups of singles. Visit www.newidexperiences.com to find out more.

Get pampered

There are a range of treatments available for ladies and gents in London this Valentine’s Day. Men can attend grooming sessions at GENT Salon for £70, which includes haircut, a manicure or a pedicure or visit Urban Rites for a goodie bag with and cleanse from just £28. Women can go for mud treatment at May Fair Spa in London from £60 or receive two treatments and a goodie bag worth £45 at the Intercontinental Spa in London for £99.

“London Love” photo by Lilivanili

Valentine on a Vespa

Valentines can go on a tour of the countryside around the English seaside town of Brighton on a Vespa scooter on February 14. Vroom hires out these retro modes of transport from £30. Visitors should not expect anything less in Brighton, which is widely regarded as the capital of alternative living in the UK. Aphrodisiac oysters and champagne are on offer at Riddle & Finns near the seafront, which provides romantic strolls. Couples can also see ballet Swan Lake this weekend at Theatre Royal Brighton from £25.

Pencil in Portsmouth

Lovers are urged to scrawl messages to their loved ones on the pavements in Portsmouth. The tourist office is leaving free chalk around the city for people to pen a message to those closest to their hearts. Take a sea of love tour with an expert in the love-lives of the underwater world at Portsmouth Aquarium, followed by fish and chips in the Aquarium cafe. For dessert, the Kings Theatre, is serving up stage version of the popular British film, the Full Monty, a comedy about unemployed steelworkers who turn to stripping to pay the bills.

Walk across fire

Would you walk across burning coals for your loved one? Oxford Castle’s Malmaison is offering couples the chance to prove themselves to their other halves on a Hot to Trot fire walk for Muscular Dystrophy on February 13th – see the charity website for details. Valentine’s Day activities are half the price this weekend in Oxford with discounts offered by First Great Western. There are two-for-one tickets for romantic settings such as Blenheim Palace and cut price cuisine for couples in top restaurants. Perhaps the Big Bang on Walton Street will have some special treats on February 14th during the Valentine’s Day Poetry Grand Slam.

Get on the boozy lowdown

Couples after a tipple before they topple can try Denbies Vineyard in Dorking, Surrey, which is offering half price admission over the Valentine’s weekend break. Tickets are two-for-one to a 360 degree cinema experience, which introduces tasters to the world of wine in the south-east of England. This is followed by a tour of the vineyards and lessons in grape growing, processing and bottling. Valentines are invited to enjoy a meal overlooking the fields in one of Denbies’ two restaurants after the excursion. Go to visitsurrey.com for details.

Photo of Brighton at night by Dominic

Legendary Hotel Guests

Ever seen the mustachioed man on the Britain Needs You posters, calling men and women to the armed services? Lord Kitchener, who was probably one of Britain’s first male models, had a suite here. The hotel started out as high-class apartments that also attracted Russian aristocracy in the form of Grand Duke Michael as well as politician William Gladstone and Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw.

Secret Service

No longer such a secret, is the hotel’s habitation by the Secret Service during World War I. Anyone staying on the eighth floor of the hotel will be treading boards once stepped on by the James Bonds of British society back in the early 1900s, as this was where military intelligence was co-ordinated in what was then known as Block Two.

Passages to Parliament

Tunnels running from The Royal Horseguards to parliament were rumored to have been built, so politicians could escape to the safety of the command center. Indeed the Cabinet War Rooms tourist attraction on King Charles Street is not too far away from the building, which details the hub of military operations during World War II.

Intelligence Center

During the Second World War many government department were housed here as well as foreign embassies, including the Russian, on the fifth floor, the American, on the sixth floor and the Air Training Corps occupied the seventh floor. Wartime prime minister Winston Churchill commanded operations from this intelligence center.

Churchill’s Drinking Hole

As Churchill was partial to a tipple or two throughout his career, it makes sense that this was one of his favorite drinking holes. After all, the Royal Horseguards is merely across the water from parliament. The Churchill Bar inside used to be the National Liberal Club frequented by many British politicians wanting to unwind.

Modern Day Inspiration

Up and coming London fashion designer Aimee McWilliams planned to put her latest collection on display at the Royal Horseguards, which was one of the inspirations for her new line entitled Capsule. The clothes embody the character, history and style of this hotel and were expected to be auctioned off for charity after the exhibition.

Pigeon poo threatens leaning tower

It may not quite be the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but engineers are desperate to save the great Campanile bell tower that has shifted several millimeters over the past half century and is in danger of collapse, like it did unexpectedly in 1902. But, gravity is not this structure’s biggest threat, nor the high tides. Engineers have blamed the corrosion of the newer 1912 structure on pigeon poo.

No more room to roost

Venice’s famous Renaissance, Byzantine and Gothic towers have become perfect places for pigeons to roost, but overpopulation of the birds has caused damage to the architecture and been a nuisance to hoteliers, restaurateurs and shopkeepers who have to foot the bill. They scratch and peck at the marble for its calcium content, pooping what has been branded a “biohazard” by the Italian Cultural Works Ministry.

Anti-pigeon squad

Following recommendations from the Italian Cultural Works Ministry, feeding pigeons in St Mark’s Square, which is almost as synonymous with the birds as Trafalgar in London, was banned on May 1 last year. People caught will eventually face a similar penalty to that in the English capital, which was a £50 on-the-spot penalty fine when the ban went into force in 2003.

Rogue pigeon feeders

Last year, the media reported animal-lovers careering into St Mark’s Square in speedboats with skull-and-crossbones to feed the pigeons. Protestors hurled bags of bird feed in direct confrontation with the police. Officials ignored the demonstrators and banned licensed feed vendors from operating .

Keep birds lean

The problem is the number of pigeons, officials said. A manageable number would be 2,400 but there are more like 60,000, city chief environmental officer Pierantonio Belcaro said. In an interview with the Seattle Times, he added: “Overfeeding is a problem because those that are ill and not strong live longer than they should. It is no longer a natural thing.”

Cats needed

Some locals put the problem down to the lack of cats and – oddly – Napoleon. One hotelier said in the report that the French leader was responsible for introducing the birds. Meanwhile, a five-star hotel manager was searching for a solution over laying blame. The hotel had gone to extreme lengths to keep pigeons away from a rooftop terrace, introducing nets, decoy hawks and even ultra sound to shoo the birds.

Stop the pigeons

The only way to help Venice preserve its architecture for visitors to enjoy for years to come is to not feeding the pigeons. Keep your panini safely tucked away and do not give any money to rogue feed sellers, of which there were several on top of the licensed vendors in the early part of 2008. The authorities were planning to introduce fines for anyone even seen giving out tucker to the birds, so that could be reason enough to ward you away from going home penniless and on an empty stomach.

Photo of pigeons, St Mark’s Square, Venice, by Dawvon

Here are three of the scariest amusement parks in Europe :

1. Alton Towers in the UK

This theme park has by far the best rides for adrenaline junkies in the UK. Oblivion celebrated its 10th birthday in 2008, which is a ride that sends passengers plummeting, face-first. It was one of the newer additions to roller coaster Nemesis that leaves riders’ feet dangling in the air and a swooping air ride, which is a bit namby pamby.

One of the best times to book into this theme park in Staffordshire is in the run up to Halloween when the park puts on a whole host of events to get the hearts racing. Marked in scores from one for the kids to five for the fearless, there are mazes filled with zombies, a gloomy wood of demons to walk through and a scary performance by an evil janitor locked inside a boiler house.

There is a discount for people who book tickets online and cheaper tickets for groups. Anyone who visits Alton Towers website could even win tickets free by entering competitions that are regularly posted on the company’s website.

2. Tivoli in Copenhagen

Located in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tivoli is scary because it is an ancient amusement park. Opened for the public by the royal family in the late 1800s these rides are rickety and rustic. One push too far and something might snap off. Luckily, a large part of the park has been updated and the older rides are tested frequently to live up to stringent Danish safety standards.

A good time to visit is also in October when the theme park puts on scary events, albeit milder than Alton Towers’. The Demon is the most fearsome ride in the park dropping riders more than 20 metres in the air, there is a sky swing that spins visitors several feet up and a fling in the arms of the octopus for a mild bit of titillation.

Getting in costs 85 Denmark Kroner (£10.27, $15.27 or €11.41) for over 12s and 45DKK for visitors aged between three and 11 years. Children under three get in free. Tickets for attractions are charged in addition to admission with multi-ride passes 200DKK for over 12s and 160DKK for three to 11-year-olds.

3. Europa Park in Germany

Fly in to Germany’s Europa Park with EasyJet offering flights from London and Liverpool in the UK and Swiss providing planes from London and Manchester. The 239 ft tall roller coaster the Silver Star dwarfs the Pepsi Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK, which held the title of the world’s tallest roller coaster in 1994 at 235 ft. That’s enough to send a shiver up any adrenaline junky’s spine.

Although the park is based around ideas of the stereotypes of the different nationalities in Europe, there are some adrenaline rides. There’s the Alpine Coaster, which sends riders on loop-the-loops at top speed, Atlantica SuperSplash, Europa’s version of a log flume and a water roller coaster. So you don’t get frustrated with attractions like ‘Crazy Taxi’ next to the ‘London Bus’ in the English quarter, ‘Fijord-rafting’ in the Dutch or gondoliering in the Italian area.

There are different prices in the winter and the summer at Europa, with admission at €34 in the summer for over 12s and €30 for four to 11-year-olds with under fours getting in free. This makes winter a better time to visit for travelers on a budget. From November 29th to January 11th, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day prices for over 12s adult admission is €26 with entry for four to 11-year-olds, €23. To make a visit cheaper still, evening tickets are available for entry after 16:00 (the park closes at 19:00 in the winter). The cost for children is €12 and for adults the price is €15.

Photo of roller coaster at Europa park, Germany, by beketchai

1. Romania is cheapest

Romania has some of the cheapest ski breaks, with a package trip in Poiana Brasov going from £200. Slovakia and Bulgaria are great places for people holding the euro as there are favorable exchange rates with the Koruna and Lev at present.

2. Fly the budget route

The price of flights can make up a large part of ski breaks, so cut these out by flying with one of the many low-cost airlines to Geneva rather than a smaller and more costly airport. From there, ski resorts like Megève or Chamonix-Mont-Blanc are less than an hour’s drive away.

3. Plan the route ahead

When booking an airline it is essential to look at the cost of the road ahead. Will the hotel provide an airport transfer or is the resort reachable by public transport? There are trains to some resorts from Geneva Airport and ski buses.

4. Stay away from the piste

Not only will you get a better night’s sleep by staying away from the main towns in the resort, but you will save on currency too. There are transport options from the more far flung hotels which are well seasoned in getting ski fans on the slopes early.

5. Steer clear of package deals

Not only do they suck up time, but money. Hanging on for the missing people in a tour group can be a pain, but paying for the privilege when there is ski to be had? No thank you. Savings can be made by breaking trips down into smaller parts, choose the cheapest places to eat food and book affordable accommodation early online.

6. Time it right

Don’t go around Christmas, New Year or February half-term. The start and end of the ski season is best for in-pocket trips to the piste.

Photo of skiing in Chamonix, France, originally posted by moggsy

1. Haunted tombs

When this attraction was being dug out contractors came across a pit of human bones, which are believed to have been the remains of victims of the plague in the capital in the 14th century. Since the discovery builders reported tools going missing and lights flickering on and off, with some even refusing to finish the job.

Some of the skulls even displayed holes where they were believed to have been put on spikes along London Bridge, which runs on top of this attraction. According to The London Experience, in 1305 Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace (whom Mel Gibson famously played in the film Braveheart) was the first person to have their severed head put on show on London Bridge.

This attraction claims to be the scariest in London, taking visitors on a grisly tour of London’s illustrious history from the Great Fire of 1666 to the pestilence that claimed the most lives a year earlier. Tickets range from £15, but booking online and avoiding peak times could almost halve the admission price. Eerily it is cheaper to visit The London Experience after 17:00.

2. Dare the Dungeon

This place is like a history lesson in fear. There’s the story of famous murderer Jack the Ripper, mutilated his victims on the cobbled streets of Victorian London. In 2002, Johnny Depp starred as a clairvoyant investigator who tries to catch the killer in the film From Hell.

A boat ride take travelers through a purgatory of back spins and watery experiences alongside the drop that sends those brave enough plummeting downhill. Feel the heat of how the Great Fire of London started, that burned all in its wake in 1666, and smell the stench of disease that reviled people from the victims of The Plague in 1665.

Visit the London Dungeon from December 7th to 29th to see Santa strung up by Satan, who has robins roasting on an open fire among blackened Christmas trees this year.

3. Trapped in the Tower

The Tower of London is a ghoulish place where prisoners were kept shackled and put to death over the years, living in unsanitary conditions by today’s UK standards. For more than 900 years kings, queens, sinners, saints and traitors were locked up here regardless with one of the UK’s first terrorists Guy Fawkes imprisoned here before being burned at the stake for trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Graffiti of the name Jane may be a lasting tribute to the 16-year-old queen who was put to death under accusations of being a traitor by her husband jailed elsewhere in the Tower. She was only queen for a few days until her power was snatched away in 1553.

The Queen’s House is said to be one of the most haunted places of the Tower of London, which was once occupied by Arabella Stuart. She was imprisoned for an unconventional marriage to Lady Jane Gray’s nephew Willam Seymour. Despite planning a daring escape for the pair of them, she was discovered and sent back to the Tower where she later died while her husband got away.

Photo of London Dungeon, London, UK, originally posted by Iaw keven

Founders from Club Med

The Trigano family know what makes young people tick, having founded Club Med many years ago. They decided to make Mama Shelter a home-from-home, hence the name, and allow flashpackers who stay here to make their mark in indelible ink.

Funky slogans

Did you know 27 per cent of women who win the lottery hide the tickets in their bras or that dolphins are the only other animals besides humans who have sex for pleasure? Mama Shelter’s target market is apparent by reading the slogans on the walls.

Comfortable facilities

The Triganos have invested in fine quality bedding, television and wireless internet capability for guests, investing in a comfy communal living area so everyone can get to know everyone else.

Trendy neighborhood

The founding family of Mama Shelter thought they were taking a risk by opening a guest house in a working class area in Paris, but beds have been consistently booked up in the first weeks of opening in October 2008.

Famous dead

The area is famous for the people who are buried at the nearby Père Lachaise cemetery. They include Irish playwright Oscar Wilde and former Doors front man, Jim Morrison. The area’s is very popular with the art community and has cut-price cafes selling food from all over the world.

Ski slope in Manchester

The £31 million Chill Factor is the first indoor ski slope in the northwest of England, opening its doors in November 2007. The 250,000 sq ft snow dome offers visitors the chance to try real tobogganing on an ice luge, tubing down the snow in special tyres and a ski slope for skiers and snowboarders.

There’s no need to be a professional, with several courses on offer for novices to learn the ropes. Prices for one and a half hours on the slope range from £19 for adults. Find the Chill Factor at Junction Ten of the Manchester M60 ring road by huge shopping arcade the Trafford Centre, which has its own bus depot with services to and from the city centre.

Snow slide in Manchester

Piccadilly Gardens in the centre of Manchester has been turned into a gigantic 50-metre snow slide suitable for adults and children. Stroll through fir trees and Christmas lights after grabbing a drink and a bite in the alpine chalet or at the Christmas market in from of Manchester Town Hall nearby.

Children under 1.1 metres must be accompanied by an adult, but anyone can join in the fun on the white AstroTurf slide until January 4th, 2009. The ‘Snow Slide’ is open from Sunday to Friday from 11:00 to 21:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00, but is closed on Christmas Day. The price for a ride is £1.50. Bring the family along for some winter time fun.

Ice rink in Manchester

Manchester’s open air ice rink is back for people who want to celebrate winter holidays in a more traditional way. The skate is located at Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, which is off Deansgate until January 4th and is closed on Christmas Day.

The dazzling ice rink has sparking Christmas trees and contemporary decorations with plenty of places to eat and drink nearby. At busy periods it is advisable to book in advance on 0870 066 6848 or for a small fee with quaytickets.com. The ice rink is open from Sunday to Friday from 10:00 to 21:00 and Saturday at 09:30 to 21:45. A ticket for an adult aged 17 and over is £8.50 with discounts for children, disabled people and senior citizens.

Photo of Chill Factor ski slope, Greater Manchester, originally posted by Pew!Pew!Pew!Lasers!

Huskie-mushing, icefall climbing and diving under the ice and into the eerie depths of Lake Montriond are kilometers away from this picturesque town.

Dog Sledding

Become the White Witch out of the Chronicles of Narnia by driving a sleigh led by huskies through the Mont Blanc scenery. These dogs do not need Turkish delight to keep them going; Laplanders have been using this mode of transport to get around for generations. Tour operators offer ten minute trials to a day’s adventure through the winter wonderland.

Contact: Cham Adventure

Icefall Climbing

Sound insurmountable? Far from it, tour groups run climbing trips up the side of frozen falls and iced rocks for children over the age of ten. The sport has become so popular that Champagny has a practice wall that looks like the gigantic legs from a Star Wars AT AT.

Equipment, including axes, ropes and protective gear, is included in excursions. The experience is exhilarating for anyone who likes to mix snow and sport to warm up from the cold.

Contact: Gorzderette

Dive under ice

This sport comes with a health warning: not for the claustrophobic. It is strange that dive operators should say that because Lake Montriond is 1320 meters long. Dry scuba suits help swimmers brave temperatures of between two and three degrees Celsius at depths of up to ten meters under a meter-layer thick sheet of ice. One of the most magical descriptions of the world under water is that pockets of air stick to the frozen lake ceiling like huge bubbles.

Contact: Cameleon Organization

Photo of Mont Blanc, France, originally posted by Alain Wibert 

When you visit the monastery overlooking the thinnest part of in Prachuap Khiri Khan take a stick, a very big stick, and a word of advice – it ‘aint going to be for walking.

Above all, do not do what I did. That’s put your cash and your camera in the bag of bananas that you have bought to feed the monkeys. The monkeys are thieves – and they don’t just want one banana, they want the bag.

At first I was puzzled why the banana seller gave me a stick. I was young, fit and able, why did I need a walking stick? But it soon transpired the so-called stick was for other reasons entirely.

I had barely set foot on the first of the 365 steps to the temple – which overlooks the Burmese mountains and Thai bay – when I was lynched by hundreds of hairy hungries. Some with babies slung round their bellies, some small and skinny, but most, huge with big, pointy teeth.

It didn’t take long for the daddy of all monkeys to grab the bag. The immediate problem was that I had given my ‘walking stick’ to my companion. I had to resort to desperate measures. I vaulted the railings and chased the flea-ridden filcher.

Tiptoeing closer, I spotted him under a tree going through his booty. There was nothing else for it (without the stick) – I had to ping a tree branch in his face.

This is something not to be entered into lightly faced with a monkey twice the average size and big enough to give you a very nasty bite. As I found out, this breed of monkeys don’t recognize commands like ‘shoo’, ‘sit’ and ‘stay’. I got winded with as I gave what I thought was an authoritative ‘bad monkey’, when a grey-head jumped off a post and used both feet to bounce off my belly.

Fortunately for me, this massive monkey recoiled from the blow from the branch and dropped the bag with my belongings. He made off with the bananas though, disappearing into the undergrowth, bald bum in the air.

Moral of the story, if you visit the Monkey Temple in Prachuap Khiri Khan take the stick with you. Just don’t be scared off from seeing sunset from the top. Located about 175 miles south of Bangkok, this monastery is magic. The bats that circle the top at dusk are testament to that.

Photo of monkey in Prachuap Khiri Khan originally posted by Nicolai Bangsgaard