Travel Time

Paris is considered one of the most romantic cities in the world. It is where lovers convene, walk hand in hand, and eat in beautiful restaurants. However, this is not the only reason why the City of Love is famous all across the globe. It is also rich in arts and culture, which is evident in the Nuit des Musées or in English, Museum Night.

Brief Description of the Museum Night

Paris’ Museum Night is actually a part of the European tradition that started in the year 2005. Since then, this is celebrated each year during Saturdays that are closest to another important European event, the International Museum Day. This year was quite special because both the International Museum Day and the Museum Night in Paris took place at the same day on May 18th.

As previously mentioned, 2005 was the year when Museum Night was born in which the French Ministry of Culture and Communication initiated the event. This is a great night that you should not miss and it will be a huge help to you if you are able to plan your trip to the museums in Paris.

What Happens During the Museum Night?

Tourists who are planning to visit Paris in May are in for a big surprise. Those who may have heard about Nuit des Musées for the first time, this is one of the best times for every art and culture enthusiast. You can expect that all the museums in Paris, as well as the other participating museums in the rest of Europe, will close at roughly one in the morning. What makes this event so exciting is that the public has a chance to visit every museum they want – all without charge. You will see just how different it is to view the collections in the museums at night.

Every visitor, especially those who are huge fans of arts and artworks, will be glad to know that most of the museums in Paris are found in one area only. In this case, there is no need to ride from one district to another. There are many that are within walking distance from one another, which gives you ample time to enjoy and savour collections before all of them bid goodbye. It is a good idea to stay in Paris’ Louvre quarter in the 1st to 8th arondissements where several museums and attractions are found. These include Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, and Orangerie. The Louvre quarter is also where the famous Champs Elysées is located.

The Paris’ Museum Night is for Everyone

Young and old are invited to experience Paris’ Museum Night. There are several street animations during the event and there are parties as well. Last year, there were two million people that joined the exciting occasion. From 6PM to midnight, you can see just how striking the collections are in Petit Palais, Nouvelle Athènes, and Musée de la Vie Romantique among many others.

Depending upon your location, your flight may not be as cheap as you want it to be. However, you can fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle to save money. Travelling from the airport to Eurostar station is the most affordable method especially during one of Paris’ busiest nights. Try to book your travel two weeks in advance to get the cheapest fare available.

Catherine Howies is a travel writer working contributing to different blogs and publications.

59 Rivoli is located behind the Louvre. Once a squat, but today it is an important artistic centre. This is the tale of its transformation from taboo to one of the celebrating places in the whole of Paris.

Once 59 Rivoli housed a Crédit Lyonnais, but the bank moved on leaving the building empty for around 15 years. Then, in 1999 a group of squatters took over the very valuable piece of real estate and used it to stage performances and exhibitions. These were quite successful and drew up to 40,000 visitors a year, due to this the city decided that rather than evicting the squatters it would legitimise their activities.

This was to be just the first of a massive programme for the City of Paris. There are currently twelve similar venues throughout Paris. The message is that collective creativity is now a vital part of Parisian culture. Such venues provide artists with spaces where they can create and share their work. They have to pay a nominal rent and they are not allowed to live there, but the income that they generate offsets the cost of renovation.

These artistic centres attract many itinerant artists from all over the world. The cost of renting a creative space in 59 Rivoli is just €130 a month which, as you can imagine when compared to the rest of the city this is nothing other than a peppercorn rent. While many artists in the city still occupy illegal squats, gradually they are being encouraged to rent spaced in the legitimised ones. The advantages are that there is no danger of being evicted, there is running water, electricity and heating, and they attract potential buyers keen to discover the avant garde of the Paris art scene.

Anyone can visit 59 Rivoli the studios of which occupy six floors. Visitors can explore the studios and meet the artists who work and live there.  As you would anticipate, the art on display is very diverse with just about every media being covered. Art is in the form of photograph, illustrations, sound and of course paintings.

Although noble in concept and successful in implementation, the scheme to legitimise these former squats is not without its critics; particularly amongst the housing groups which are concerned that is does nothing to help the massive housing shortage in the city. Moreover the amount these ‘squatters’ are paying to stay in some of the most sort-over places in Paris have enraged some people.

However Paris has a tradition of itinerant artists. Even Pablo Picasso lived once in a Montmartre squat called Le Bateau-Lavoir. Other Montmartre squatters included Modigliani, Apollonaire, Cocteau and Matisse.

Perhaps some artists from the current commune of legitimised squatters will one day be as famous as these. Many visitors to Paris make a point of exploring places such as 59 Rivoli in the hope of discovering one and bringing some artwork back from Paris to London; and even if they are unsuccessful there is generally cheap wine in plastic cups available in return for a suitable donation.

This is a guest post by Claire Chat a new Londoner, travel passionate and animal lover. She blogs about Pets and Travelling in Europe. If you want Claire to write you specific content, you can find email her here or contact her on Twitter (Claire_Chat).

Whether a native of London is interested in trekking to the Serpentine for a water sport, walking their dog, or going for a jog, Hyde Park is a location with a rich history that likely to be quite a familiar place for the majority of Londoners.

For tourists and campaigners Hyde Park is an absolute must see attraction because it has so much to offer, from wide-open lakes to famous memorials, through to unique works of art that pepper the park and give it its unique feel.

Hyde Park Origins

Those who may be on vacation in the London area may notice the central location of Hyde Park as well as its natural beauty. An interesting fact to make note of is that Hyde Park was originally acquired by King Henry VIII for the purpose of serving as a deer park for those with the means to use it as a private hunting ground. James I was the first to offer common people limited access to the park, and Charles I was the individual who totally changed things by allowing entrance to the general public. The Ring, located north of the boathouses near the Serpentine, is an addition that can be attributed to Charles I.

Hyde Park Diversions

Hyde Park opens at five o’clock in the morning throughout the year and remains accessible to the public until midnight. Those who may have watched the 2012 Olympics might generally be familiar with the cycling routes that are accessible in the park, and numerous residents of the London area are likely to have tried the cycling routes themselves. For both visitors and locals to the London area, Hyde Park offers more than three hundred acres of space; the natural beauty of the locale is always stimulating to explore.

Hyde Park Attractions

The Serpentine was added to Hyde park in the early seventeen hundreds when Queen Caroline ordered its creation. In more recent times, Hyde Park has seen the addition of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. This attraction is located only a little bit south of the Serpentine, and it allows numerous Londoners to remember their departed princess. It is intended to capture the spirit of the deceased royal through its reflection of her personality and love of children. Hyde Park is also the home of a memorial dedicated to the memory of the victims of the July 7, 2005 London bombings, and it has been the site of numerous rock concerts. For those who may be interested in more active past times than simply viewing the memorials, swimming is available from ten to six at the Serpentine Lido.

With so much going on in London’s Hyde Park, if you are planning on coming to London on holiday it makes perfect sense to find an accommodation near to Hyde Park. Fortunately there are a large number of 4 star hotels that flank the park, while on Park Lane alongside the luxury sports car showrooms you can also find a few 5 star hotels. You only limitation is your budget, the views over Hyde Park will all be splendid.

Thanks to guest author Jane Saul who writes for the Travel sector and lives in London. Her interests include travelling, discovering different cultures and then writing about it!

The city centre of Cardiff provides a unique opportunity to tour the spectacular Millennium Stadium, walk the picturesque trails of Bute Park and take a boat ride down the River Taff and across Cardiff Bay. The city combines a shopping addicts paradise, with acres of greenery to wander through and an interestingly lively waterfront district.

Cardiff found fame exporting coal and steel from the South Wales valleys across the world, when these industries dried up it, Cardiff reinvented itself as the political and commercial heart of the Principality. Now the city is populated with iconic buildings, both modern and historic, a wide and diverse range of entertainment venues and a magnificent array of sporting facilities everywhere.

City Attractions

Not many cities have a square mile centre that is dominated by both a 74,000-seat stadium and a 2,000-year-old Castle but Cardiff does. It has always been famed for its shopping with the stylish Victorian Wyndham, Castle and Morgan arcades complemented by the new, modern St David’s developments. You will find everything from chic boutiques to internationally renowned department stores, designer labels to individual craft items.

Visitors will discover that the National Museum of Wales holds a wealth of interesting exhibits, paintings and shows. It has one of the best collections of Pre-Raphaelite pictures and a fabulous display of the paintings by Gwen John, the Welsh lover of the sculptor Rodin. The stately City Hall is also worth a peek to see the magnificent statues of Welsh heroes that stand on the first floor lobby.

Dining Out

Eating out in Cardiff is a joy, the Café Quarter on Mill Lane and the Old Brewery provide a massive selection of world restaurants. Diners can try everything from Japanese sushi, Indian curries, American burgers and traditional Welsh fayre. The city also has a great choice in independent snack bars and cafés, which offer something out of the ordinary for those looking for a quick bite between tours.

Once the sun goes down Cardiff continues its entertainment in its exciting bars and pubs, great diverse club scene and fantastic theatres and concert venues. Much of the city centre is pedestrianised and getting around comes at a premium, as you don’t have to worry about avoiding a constant precession of cars, taxis and buses.

Where to stay?

The centrally located hotels in Cardiff provide visitors with the security and knowledge of comfortable accommodation, first class restaurants on hand and being situated only minutes from the main attractions of Cardiff City centre.

Whether you are coming to Cardiff for a special occasion, a weekend break or a business conference, staying in this central location you are free to explore the exciting Cardiff Bay area, take trips along the spectacular coastline of the Vale of Glamorgan or a quick drive to the marvellous wonders of Caerphilly Castle just up the road.