Top 10 Top 10s
- February 2008 – Segway Fun in Paris
The Segway was meant to revolutionise the way we lived, reduce the need for walking and reclaim the streets for car‐less citizens. These emission‐less transporters didn’t quite take the world by storm but they have become quite popular among tourists on the streets of Paris. It’ll take you a little while to get your centre of balance accustomed to this pressure sensitive propulsion, but when you get going there’s nothing like it. The Fat Tire Bike Tours kick off with these electronic wonders from rue Edgar Faure and if you’re not convinced, then a major selling point is the elevated, celebrity spotting, vantage point that these clever little devices offer. I managed to pick Groundhog Day’s Andie MacDowell out from the crowd on the bridge between the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay!
- March 2008 – Travel Tips in Bath
The Thermae Bath Spa: This is Britain’s original and only natural thermal spa, and it’s something you can’t afford to miss – no matter your budget. A two hour session is only £22 and this gets you into the gentle rapids of the basement Minerva pool, the beautiful airway decongesting vapours of the four flavoured steam room and my personal favourite, the open‐air rooftop pool! You can save a buck by bringing your own towels, slippers and robes, and you can save yourself from accumulated jet lag stress by taking my word for it. This is worth every penny!
- April 2008 – Brighton’s Best Bits
The Lanes: If mint condition, vintage Ralph Lauren for £20, old school telephones, knock off designer shades and random ‐ giant stuffed animals are your thing, then you’ll love The Lanes. These boutique ridden narrow streets are stuffed with the finest clothes, the cutest eateries and the most bizarre collections of memorabilia that you could ever imagine. Add to this mix ‐ street performers and the welcome absence of commission based, charity street collectors, and you have an afternoon of activities made in heaven.
- May 2008 – Across England
Yorkshire not only gave the world the best savoury, Sunday lunch pudding – it also gave birth to some stunning scenery, in and around Ilkley. If you’ve ever seen the film Calendar Girls then you’ve already seen Ilkely, but if you haven’t had the pleasure, do it in person. National Express East Coast offer high speed train transit from London to northern cities like Leeds and then from there ‐ Ilkley is a short branch line ride away. You can also make the most of National Express services to visit the less well known locations in the north ‐ such as Doncaster which is just an hour and a half from London Kings Cross Station on the express. Once you’re there ‐ Sherwood Forest, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a plethora of other fun times are within your grasp, so take a look at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com to see just how easy and affordable it is to get there.
- May 2008 – Across England
Princess Margaret’s Misdemeanours: A favourite stop on the London Fat Tire Bike Tour is the residence of the royal ‐ Princess Anne. This Olympic equestrian gold medal winner is tenth in line to the crown but despite her distance from the queen’s quarters, she’s had a fair amount of high profile, royal run ins. Princess Anne is in fact the only member of the Royal Family to be almost kidnapped in modern times. On March 20, 1974 a crazed gunman attempted to force her and husband Mark Phillips out of the car. Her stiff upper lip, stoical response was: “Not bloody likely.” This fine British specimen also became the only royal to face criminal court charges after she was caught speeding at 93 miles per hour and her dog – Dotty, mistook two boys for chew toys.
- July 2008 ‐ Fun Things to do in London
The Royal Albert Hall: The innards of this venue are beamed around the world to millions of viewers every year – be it to expose the Proms, the Black Rock Tennis Masters or the back bone defying Circ de Soleil. Hands down – it’s pretty spectacular and with tickets starting at a mere £5, it’s a venue which is accessible to all. It was of course built in memory of Queen Victoria’s beloved husband – Albert, and his presence can be seen throughout. The organ here is the second largest musical instrument in Britain and boasts 9999 pipes. Interestingly enough, the privately owned boxes retail at over £1 million – on the rare occasion that someone sells on a 999 year lease. This is all just a snippet of what you’ll learn on the daily tours so take a look at the website and book your introduction now.
- August 2008 – Top Tips in Amsterdam and Bruges
Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder: This is an attraction not to be missed in Amsterdam. Take yourself to Oudezijds Voorburgwal and keep an eye out for a very discreet entrance at number 40. In the rafters you’ll find an amazing Catholic attic church. It’s amazing because it manages to cram everything you’d find in a super sized cathedral, into the roof space of three tiny, terraced houses. The space saving on show here puts IKEA to shame. The Chocolate Line: Bruges has an international reputation that centres around beer, Colin Farrell and chocolate. Alas there’s only one chocolate shop in the city that makes its own merchandise any more and that’s the superb Chocolate Line. It’s run by a culinary experimentalist called Dominique and the more unusual treats on offer include Chilli filled cocoa parcels and the more sweet than sour, salted caramels. You can find this aromatic slice of heaven on Simon Stevinplein.
- October 2008 ‐ The Top Ten Travel Guides
TNT Magazine: This badger’s been an institution on the streets of London since the early eighties and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Every Monday morning you can pick up a brand spanking new copy of this glossy lifestyle bible, absolutely free from innumerable points across the city. Inside you’ll find a lot on London, a nice juicy travel section, music reviews, career advice, news, sport and much more. On top of all that the guys behind the magazine are also friends with Lonely Planet’s travel guru ‐ Tom Hall, who writes a regular Q and A column, AND they lay on two great travel shows every year!
- November – The Top Travel Songs
Walking In Memphis: A classic from Cher documenting the catfish on the table, the soul of Elvis and a bit of gospel in the air. This is a treat of a tune and a fantastic reminder of better days spent strolling through the streets of Tennessee. From Paris To Berlin: This cheesy Euro Pop / Dance number covers two of the most popular capitals on the European continent and it’s brought to you by the slightly plastic duo – Infernal. Think fake bake tan, bleach blond hair and waxed chests. Terrific. Barcelona: A strong Spanish flavour accompanies this number in which Freddie Mercury realised a life long dream – to sing opposite an opera singer. The lucky lady in this number was Montserrat Caballe who also features heavily on the Pop‐Opera album with the same name.
- December 2008 ‐ The Top 10 Gifts You Don't Want For Christmas
Guides on How to Lose Weight: First of all unless you ask for this, a book on weight loss is highly offensive and overwhelmingly presumptive. You are well within your rights to throw this straight back in the face of the gift giver or (if your image is important in this respect) ask for a month’s gym membership in the city that you’re residing in – instead! Socks: It’s true that you always need socks and that you’re likely to lose legions of them to the sock eating monsters who live in washing machines around the world, but you can buy them for yourself and as a Christmas gift, they’re quite simply, inarguably ‐ boring. Instead ask or exchange them for a pair of Cozy Feet Microwavable Foot Warmers from gadgetshop.com. These are great for winter travellers and after two minutes in the microwave, you’ll be set for hours of snug‐ness in hostel common rooms and movie marathons!
‐ Rob Savage
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