Neustadt and the Pfalz Wine Region

Ok, so you want to go to Oktoberfest in Germany this fall. Well, you’re a little late. They tell us that the tents are just about sold out. Sure, there will be cancellations as certain as there will be price increases–but you don’t want to buy an expensive ticket to Germany only to find out there isn’t a place for you inside, do you?

Well, my suggestion is to head over to the Pfalz wine region. That’s where I’m going in September. If you’re lucky, you might catch the Dürkheim Wurstmarkt. No, it’s not the worst market you’ve ever been to, It’s simply the main event of the year in the Pfalz. You can gulp down enjoy over 150 different wines in over 50 different places at this big festival.

Ferienhaus Lausekuppe - Germany Vacation Rental

You’ll need some lodging, of course. If you wanted to save a bundle, perhaps you’ll want to stay out in the country. It’s beautiful country indeed. The place over there to the left is in the middle of some vast green. And guess what? The cheapest rental rates are in the fall. Go figure.

The place is called “Ferienhaus Lausekuppe” and it sleeps four.

So, instead of trying to find a seat in a tent outside Munich, why not belly on up to a Schubkärchler? That’s a “small traditional wine stand with scrubbed wooden tables worn smooth over the years.”

I’m surprised you didn’t know that. But trust me, the wine of the Pfalz is first rate. You’ll love it.

I’m outta here. I gotta pack.

Rent a Rome Apartment While There’s Still Culture

It’s funny how politics gets muddled with travel. We’re recently learned that the new conservative party now in control of Rome has proposed a 500-hectare (1,250-acre) theme park on the outskirts of Rome while doing away with the extremely popular cultural legacy of progressive Walter Veltroni. Why? Unlike the young, single tourists that events such as White Night attracted to Rome, (deputy mayor Mauro) Cutrufo said he wanted to attract more families to visit, to reverse a slight drop in visitor numbers, “because families contain more people”.

Ah, money speaks, but through your children! “Ma, can I have that Caesar bobblehead? Please?! Pretty Please? I’ll clean my room! I neeeeeeed that!”

Anyway, your kids can get a more realistic view of Roman life if the Colosseum is built of fiberglass and the gladiators blood is really marinara sauce. Saves the kids the trouble of imagining things. You can’t be a politician (or journalist) today if you have an imagination, now, can you?

Rome Apartment in the Historic Center

So go soon, while there’s still culture and nightlife to speak of. Maybe you’d be interested in renting the apartment, er, the Roma holiday get away shown on the left. This place even comes with covered parking. Now, you might say “great!” but think very closely about the alluring possibility of nosing your rental car into a small piece of pavement between the curb and a big tree at a very odd angle and wondering if the constabulary find it amusing that you, a mere tourist, can park like a real Roman so they forego the usual writing up of the ticket and move on shaking their heads and snickering…

If you’re really into getting with the culture, you’ll head over to Testaccio, where they’ve dug night clubs out of a big hill made up of amphora sherds. Dance the night away while thumbing your nose at the new administration in Rome and looking up at a ceiling made up of 2000 year old broken wine jars. That’s the ticket.

And just think, Testaccio is where the old meat processing went on. Folks learned to make tasty things outta stuff that hanged rather low off the hog. Offal is the thing they do best. You know, innards.

Enjoy.

The Olive Garden in Greece

Ok, I’m gonna warn you. If you were shocked at the title, be shocked no more. I wasn’t referring to a place where you could get mounds of Pseudo-Italian food, I’m talking about a place to stay that’s just a bit northeast of Athens outside the town of Marathonas.

Marathonas or Marathon has become synonymous with a long distance run. You’ll remember from your history that a Greek soldier was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been miraculously defeated in the Battle of Marathon. He ran all the way, evidently.

In reality, “Marathon” is the Greek word for fennel. There’s lots of it around. Italians call fennel “finocchio” which is also synonymous in some circles for a gay man. You see, during times when repressive regimes and religions persecuted witches and homosexuals, they used to burn them “at the stake” as you remember from the fourth grade. Well, the stench was unbearable, as you might imagine, so they used to throw fennel on the fire to sweeten their memories of being so darn righteous.

The Olive Garden Vacation Rental in Greece

Anyway, if you like Greece, you might want to stay for a week or two at the place over there to the right. Yes, it’s called the Olive Garden. You won’t get soft breadsticks there, which could be a good thing.

What you can do is loll about the pool. Imagine, the place was “Built 2000, Modernized 2002, Laid out garden.”

I’m thinking the people who built it must have been really out of the loop. Maybe they were spending all their time running to Athens for Persian rugs or caulk or something, because someone’s got to come in two years later and bring the thing up to modern standards. And the garden is laid out. That’s nice, no? Generally, I like to lie out in the Garden. “Gee, we’re winning the war and are heroes in Iraq” I might utter. I would lay there, too, but for the bugs that most gardens have.

I’m just having some fun here. Look at the place. It’s gorgeous, no? And look at the price for a week of bliss. It’s quasi nothing, as we say. And you can take a car to Athens.

And get this, there’s a beach! Look southwest of the town and you’ll see the beach of Schinias a popular windsurfing spot. The 2004 Olympic Rowing center is also located there.

What are you waiting for?

Torre del Lago Puccini Vacation Rentals

If you’re an opera fan, you certainly know one Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini. Born in Lucca, a bronzed Giacomo sits stately on his favorite chair in his piazza in Lucca.

After working at Torre del Lago near the Tuscan Coast, Mr. Puccini built a villa there around 1900. It’s now a museum dedicated to the composer and his work.

I mention all this because every year there’s a festival of Puccini’s operas at Torre del Lago Puccini, and this year’s edition started yesterday. Every year 40,000 people turn up for the month long festival and to bask in the beauty of the lake-side setting.

Torre del Lago Puccini Vacation Rental

Can you imagine what it would be like to experience the festival by simply putting on your shoes and walking to it? What if you had an apartment in the town and could experience things just like a native? And it’s just far enough away from the venues that “nessun dorma” wouldn’t apply to you.

When you weren’t going to opera, you could stroll around the lake, or go to the Mediterranean beaches. They’re not far away.

The Torre del Lago Puccini holiday get away shown on the left is a mere “700 m from the centre of Torre del Lago, 3.8 km from the sea, 50 m from the lake.”

You could be right there in the center of all of it, even the new stuff. You see, a new open air theater was dedicated June 15, 2008 and it’s part of a music park dedicated to Puccini.

Don’t you wish you were there?

The Melody of Taupo, New Zealand

Set against the breath-taking mountain scenery of Mt Ruapehu, vacation rental homes in Taupo New Zealand offer the spectacular view in every window of your vacation holiday home in Taupo.  Expect to find yourself standing at the window of your vacation rental in Taupo with a mug of coffee watching the sunrise in disbelief of the natural beauty and serenity of New Zealand. 

Here are my top recommendations for visiting your Taupo, New Zealand vacation holiday home:

• Huka Falls: These beautiful falls are a lovely opportunity to bring your camera and get some wonderful postcard shots of the rapids.  As a great place to hike or take in the scenery for nature lovers, you can get in a leisurely stroll while at vacation rentals in Taupo New Zealand or a brisk hike to get the heart started while visiting your cottage in the woods.
• Huka Jet:  If you are feeling adventuresome while visiting Huka Falls during your stay at holiday villas, then you absolutely must enjoy the fast paced ride of Huka Jets.  Fair warning…you will get wet and you will get the right of your life!
• Waipahihi Botanical Gardens:  These lovely gardens near vacation homes in Taupo New Zealand are the representation of excellence in foliage and dramatic landscaping.  Situated high on a hill, the panoramic display of the thousands of flowers add zesty colors to the rainbow of Mother Nature’s gifts.
• Prawn Park: If you want a little fun for the whole family while at vacation holiday homes in Taupo New Zealand, then a visit to Prawn Park for some fishing for prawns is in order.  Whether you enjoy the time in the sunlight at the water or teaching your children some lessons in self reliance, your accommodations will be a great place to rest after a day of exploration at Prawn Park.

The centerpiece of many movies, Taupo New Zealand is a paradise of mountainous beauty for those who want to walk quietly through the woods around their vacation rental home in Taupo, ski down the mountain slopes surrounding their Taupo holiday homes, or just sit by a warm fire to watch the world go by.  Filled with opportunities to shop of souvenirs and restaurants tempting your taste buds, vacation rental homes Taupo New Zealand are centrally located to every activity.

To experience the best of Taupo holiday home for your spectacular trip to New Zealand, book your vacation home in Taupo today with Vacapedia and get ready to be greeted by the beauty of the fantasic magnificence of New Zealand.

Compact Casa Between Volterra and San Gimignano

Tuscany Vacation Rental

Everyone loves the city of towers, San Gimignano. I happen to prefer Volterra, the Etruscan city just down the road. If you squint, you can see the towers of San Gimignano from the outskirts of Volterra. But what if you stayed between the two of them?

You’d have some pretty nice views. Plus you’d have a lot of places to visit when you weren’t lolling in the sunshine in front of your little cottage that sits like a mushroom on a grassy slope.

The place over there on the right is called Marzia. It’s cute as a bug’s ear, isn’t it? And it’s just for two. You don’t have to invite the mother in law to share the expense.You don’t need friends or enemies. It’s all yours.

If you need internet services, there’s my favorite place in Volterra called Wine and Web. yep, a very civilized wine bar with computers.

So how about it?

Legends and Folklore of Fyn, Denmark

The lovely crystal blue skies of Denmark float lightly over vacation rentals in Fyn.  With picturesque vacation rental homes Fyn dotting the landscape of green hills, one almost expects to see a happy crowd of children skipping through the land of fabulous fables following the fancies of Hans Christian Andersen.  Whether traveling with a child or just a child at heart, the food, fun, and frolic of your vacation home in Fyn Denmark is waiting on you.

Here are my top recommendations for visiting your Fyn, Denmark vacation holiday home:

• Aero Island:  The wonderful island filled with culture and charm reminiscent of a coastal bay town in the States brings the opportunity to stroll along the coastline while staying at your lovely cottage or catch some dinner in the quaint town near your vacation rental in Fyn, Denmark.  Whether playing in the surf around your vacation holiday home in Fyn Denmark or enjoying the sunset over the water, you will fall in love with this little island.
• Egeskov Castle:  Representing the architecture of periods many years ago, Egesko Castle is still a working castle with staff and family living in residence. As short trip from vacation homes in Fyn Denmark, Egeskov Castle has wonderful examples of furniture, tapestries, and gardens provide an incredible escape.
• Funen Village (Den Fynske Landsby): The historic town of Funen Village has hardly evolved over the years.  Reflected in the surrounding holiday villas, the tiny town and museum boast of a mixture of old world charm and new world adventure.
• St. Canute’s Cathedral:  This beautiful cathedral embodies the religious, cultural, and historical crossroads for Fyn.  Close to Fyn vacation holiday homes; whether you want a few minutes of religious worship or the occasion to find serenity in the peaceful religious celebration, St. Canute’s Cathedral is a welcome retreat.
• H. C. Andersens Hus:  The Hans Christian Andersen house is an important place for literary lovers and children alike.  While at your vacation holiday home Fyn, the Han Christian Andersen house is a great place to see where the legends and fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen were born.

Don’t let your chance to participate in the culture and atmosphere around your vacation rental home in Fyn get away.  To experience the best of Fyn, Denmark holiday home for your spectacular trip to Denmark, book your vacation rental home in Fyn today with Vacapedia and get ready to be greeted by the beauty of the inspiring atmosphere of Denmark.