Saturday, 24 September 2011

Luxembourg Ville: Possibly One of the Most Boring Capital Cities in the World

Luxembourg city is undoubtedly one of the richest and most expensive capital cities in Europe, but it also has the dubious honour of being in contention for the title of the Most Boring City on Earth. In spite of all the grand architecture, the overflowing evidence of wealth, and the sight of its impressive Medieval Fortifications and Old Town - both are inscripted UNESCO World Heritage site - Luxembourg is by all means a rather dour, not-very-exciting place.


The moment you step out of Luxembourg's main train station, you know you are in a French sphere of influence. The style of buildings in downtown Luxembourg are fairly typical of cities in Northern France, albeit with slightly less greyness.


Wednesday, 14 September 2011

Cafe Bristol, Corfu: Beautiful Cafe in the Heart of Corfu

Like many of its Mediterranean neighbours, the Greeks take their daily cup of coffee very seriously. One of the best things about travelling around Greece is that it is never difficult to come across good cafes no matter where you are, and the quality of the espresso or latte are on par with those available in Italy itself, especially in those parts of the country which had been under Italian influence for centuries.


Being one of the major cultural centres on the crossroad between Italy, the Greek mainland, and the Adriatic Sea, the beautiful medieval city of Corfu Town is well-known for its well-preserved old town centre, delicious Italian ice-creams, and its abundance of beautiful Italian-style cafes. Take a walk around Corfu's scenic waterfront and its picturesque old town centre, and you will be enchanted by its array of coffee houses. Cafes in Corfu Town have a wide range of characteristics: modest roadside take-away coffee places alongside busy throughfares, traditional neighbourhood cafe+sandwich bars, serene mini-cafes tucked away in the myriad of narrow alleys and lanes of the old town, with their trademark colourful tables and chairs and frequented by students and younger people, stylish trendy boutique cafes with colourful decors and modernist interior designs, or classical grand cafes along the Liston with timeless appeal and an enduring sense of elegance.