If you ever visit Dubai, you can go skiing, like everyone else, or visit the biggest aquarium in the world, but you might want to do something special...

This is why today, I am going to tell you where you can find beaches in Dubai!

First, I have to warn you that going to the beach here is not really common (strange!), especially during summer: the sand can be scorching hot, and you can very easily start boiling once in the sea (it's over 40°C outside!)

Plus, even if the city has a coastline, beaches are not that easy to find: a lot of them belong to hotels (so you have to be a customer to access the beach), few are open to everyone, but you have to pay to enter (it's not expensive, about 5€, but who wants to pay for a beach!) and then you have free beaches, not known as the best (obviously!)...

Fortunately, if you read the following steps, you will succeed in making this peculiar experience enjoyable!

1) Walk, alone, with no map (planning is cheating!), in the direction of the shore.

                Soon, you will notice that you are REALLY alone in the street: nobody is stupid enough to walk when it's 45°C outside!

2) Notice that you are now lost in one of the biggest cities in the world, but DON'T TRY to locate your position.

                Don't stop walking until you have arrived to a spot where you cannot go forward anymore.

3) Regret your stupidity, you are lost AND you can feel your skin burned by the sun.

                Don't panic, watch closely around you, there is always a way out.

4) "Oh! There is a construction site over there, maybe I should visit it!"

Enter the construction site, workers will stare at you, DO NOT look at them, be confident, as if you know exactly what you are doing there.

5) Walk, quit the construction site by the other side.

6) CONGRATULATIONS! You've just reached the private beach of a 6-star hotel!!!

You can now enjoy a beautiful beach (which is almost empty, remember, you are one of the few people to be foolish enough to be outside) AND you can enjoy this very beautiful hotel!

Once you've finished enjoying this experience, quit the hotel (by the construction site of course), and call a taxi because you have absolutely no idea where you are!

Final step: write an article about your experience.

About the people in Dubai: In case you didn't understand, you won't meet people in the streets, but in malls, restaurants etc. The population of Dubai is very heterogeneous, you will meet a lot of foreigners working in Dubai, who come from every part of the world.

Thus, Western and Eastern cultures are mixed, in a very tolerant way.

Lyon, the second largest city of France, is a very touristic city. But did you know that Saint Etienne, 45 minutes away from Lyon by train, is also a good destination for tourism ? I'll give you some information about the places you need to visit in these two cities.

Lyon : People in the city are used to seeing tourists everywhere and they answer easily if you ask them about a good place to spend your evening.

During your stay, you may want to learn more about the history of the city. It's an old city, built by the Romans, and it was, in fact, the capital of the Gaules. You might want to visit some museums about this aspect of the city, and there are some ruins in the neighbourhood.
During the 19th century, Lyon was also known for its silk. There are museums and guided tours (available in English for groups) about the work of the canuts (local word for silk workers), and also the famous traboules, which are passageways originally used by manufacturers and merchants to transport their products.
Another less known fact is that Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinema in Lyon. You can go to the Institute Lumière to learn more about them and their inventions.

Saint Etienne : The city is less touristic and thus, people may be surprised if you ask them something in English, but they are very open and you will always find someone able to answer to your questions in the language that you prefer.

From the Middle Ages until the end of the 20th century, the city of Saint Etienne has been the greatest manufacters of arms, especially firearms and rifles, in France. It is also the birthplace of the French bicycle, and, like Lyon, an important place for textile manufacturing. You may visit the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie if you want to learn more about that.
There was also a big coal mine in the city, which is now a museum that you have to visit.
But now, Saint Etienne is becoming an important place for arts. There's the Musée d'Art Moderne, with one of the largest collections in France. And, last but not least, the Citée du Design, which hosts several exhibitions on design.

So, if you are in Lyon for several day, take a day to visit Saint Etienne !

When you are in Senegal, you will feel sort of lost (or worse probably) because of the food,

if you are a real westerner, (which means, according to me, someone scared of eating a yoghourt one day after it has expired, or who uses hand sanitizer every five minutes, etc…), you will be sick...! Affected by the Traveler's diarrhera, which would be, as a matter of fact, your fault.

This is why today, I am going to explain to you what you can find/eat in Senegal.

First, you have to remember that you are in an exotic country. You can find mangos, bananas or peanuts, at a throwaway price, 100 times less expensive than in France or Europe. It is really worth it: try! They are so much tastier in Senegal that you won’t buy them any more in the West. (A good thing because that means that you will have to return and thus contribute to Senegal’s economy!)

Then, if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you can find a market, where you can find every thing you love and which would make you sick at the beginning of your trip. No, don’t be afraid, because in fact, as it makes your entire body react, it is a

good thing for you. Then if you come back (and you will) you will be less sick.

But let’s go back to our market where you will meet really nice people and discover the popular culture of the place, which is necessarily the reason why you came down to Africa, isn’t it?

Now, I HAVE TO give you an advise: taste meals such as "poulet yasa" (chicken with onions) and everything with fish in it. These are, as a matter of fact, delicious!

Now that you know all this, I just have to wish you a great trip. And eat well in Senegal!!!

Set in the Old Town of Nice since 1966, on Place Rossetti, Fenocchio Ice-Cream Maker offers a wide selection of ice cream. This ice cream maker employs artisanal and traditional manufacturing methods, in a modern laboratory in La Gaude, providing high-quality ice cream from the finest raw materials.

At the corner of a cobblestone street, escaping the French Riviera's hot sun by taking refuge in the shaded Old Town, you will be able to choose among 94 differents flavours of ice-cream and sorbet. Within the splendid framework of Nice you can take classical flavours (chocolate, vanilla etc.) or exotic flavours (flower of orange tree, rose petals, dragibus, beer etc.).

The ice-cream texture is very soft, it's like eating a sweet cloud of happiness and the taste is very well balanced, you can recognize from which raw material the ice-cream was created without having your mouth oversaturated by artificial component.

  Its taste is incomparable, no matter what the flavour, it will probably be the best ice cream you have ever tasted.

If you are looking for a place in which you can hold down a body without beeing noticed, this is it !!!

The Death Valley : what is it ?

This an exceptionnal desert, one of the hottest in the world. Temperatures can easily reach  50 °C, and the place holds the record for the highest temperature ever. (56.7 °C) Death Valley National Park is the lowest point in North America (bad water) and one of the hottest places in the world. It is also a geological museum, containing examples of most of the earth's geological eras. As its name testifies, this is a place where no creature can live, except some reptiles.

Where is it ?

If you are making a road trip, you can have a break in the death valley between Las Vegas and San Francisco.
What is there to see ?
There are lots of points of view which are very beautiful On the other hand, this place is a unique desert in the world, it would be a shame not to see it, if you are traveling on the west coast.

But how much does it cost ?

You are scared that you have to pay in order to see only rocks ans salt ? Don't worry, the death Valley is a natural park, but contrary to all expectations, visitors can pay what they want.

Where is it possible to sleep and eat  ?


There are four villages in the park, which enable tourists to sleep there. The biggest one is situated in the center of the valley : Furnace creek. But don't worry, the rooms are not too warm in so far as the entire hotel is air conditioned. There is also a pool (yes americans waste a lot of water and energy, but you knew it...), and some old machines which show the difficult conditions of those who worked there in order to extract minerals. The hotel has its own restaurant, if you want to eat there.


Any advice ?

There are some precautions to take before a journey to the death valley. First of all, there is a need for driving a strong car. Indeed, the temperature can have huge consequences on the engine. You need to check the oil emperature of your engine, and be able to replace it with a fresh one. You have to keep a lot of water within reach. It is possible to make some trips  in the death valley, so there is also a need to have plenty of water, and be careful with the animals who live there, snakes for example.

I have been to two different german cities which are Berlin and Munich. I like these cities because they are quite different but very typical : young and dynamic, with lots of students.

I went to Munich for Christmas. There was lots of snow. You could wander around in Christmas Markets, drinking hot wine and buying typical wooden statutes : Noosknackers. Bavarian people are very open and friendly. You can also drink big quantities of beer at the famous Hofbrau Keller Square.

Berlin has quite an atypical spirit because of the former split of the town in two differnet parts : the eastern one and the western one. I guess I prefer the eastern one because you can walk around in small streets and stop to eat a Schnitzel in a typical coffee shop, at Nikolai Viertel, for example.

I have also visited another city in Europe which is Venice. I would say it is really different from Berlin and Munich, not only because of the climate (it is warmer in Venice, though it can also be really cold during the winter), but essentially because of the people : German and Italian people are both open and friendly but they have completely opposite personnalities ! Italian people are a bit jaunty, they smile a lot, speak with their hands and sometimes try to fiddle with the game whereas German people are a bit colder, they are not necessarily expansive. I guess I prefer German people because once you have made the effot to talk to them, you easily feel at home ! Plus, I think that they are often a bit more trustworthy than Italian people...

Anyway, let's talk a bit about Venice !

It's my favourite city in Italy since it is quite unique : it is built on water !! You can easily get lost in the small streets with bridges over the water. There are lots of mask shops and you can spend hours visiting them... I advise you to stop at a coffee shop to drink a typical venitian hot chocolate.

Some breathtaking landscapes from Western America.

Western America has plenty of landscapes worth seeing. But what are the main ones that you must see ? First, before rushing to these wonderful places, you have to buy the Natural Park pass, which will allow your car to visit all the Natural Parks for free. This pass costs only 75 dollars which is nothing compared to all you're likely to see...You'll only have to pay separately for non-national parks, such as Monument Valley or Antelope Canyon. Here is a non-exhaustive list of breathtaking places that you must see before leaving the US.

Grand Canyon

Grand canyon is one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. It is a national park with  viewpoints worth seeing. It's completely stunning as you see the endless beautiful lands. I advise you to go there for an afternoon as you may enjoy the sunset  early in the evening with sumptuous colors.

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon is a very picturesque place where the canyon is weirdly shaped :

Antelope Canyon

Antelope canyon is a park run by Indians. This place is freaking awesome, and the Indian guides are really nice and interesting. It's better if you go there by midday because of the stunning light (as you see on the photo).

Sequoïa park

Sequoïa park is a national park where you can admire the biggest trees in the world : the sequoïas. They can be upto 115 meters tall and their trunk can reach 10m. Don't miss General Sherman, the world biggest tree (1486m^3 the equivalent of half an olympic pool) !

Arches

Arches is really an enjoyable place where I urge you to go if you're fond of hiking. It's not a very touristic place and it is very wild and wonderful. Don't miss Double arches !

Where to sleep ?

In every region, it's be better if you make a reservation. This way, you may easily have a cosy room for 4 for 50 $ for one night. Some good adresses : American best value, Knights inn, Super 8 motel...

Miscellaneous :

Don't forget your camera ! Otherwise it's better going there in April-May or September-October, when the climate is mild. Summers are really hot and dry and winters cold (as you may be at an altitude).

Beware ! You'll certainly meet wild animals in parks such as deer, moose, coyote, or even snakes. Don't approach them or feed them : they may be very agressive. You're more likely to see wildlife early in the morning, or at the end of the evening.

Where to eat ?

The easiest thing to do is to buy some take away meal like a salad, or a sandwitch. Some places where you can find it : Wall mart, Van... Besides, there's plenty of fast foods at cheap prices : Denny's, Mc Donald, Burger King... Mexican fast foods such as Taco bell are very tasty so don't hesitate.   

For us europeens, the first stunning thing when we go to Vegas is the huge road, we need to take. The road 66.

It's like an entire ocean of sand.

Then Vegas starts appearing as we get closer. The sound of wind and the mp3 player of the car is replaced by a new type of sound: The sound of money machines. Huge hotels are everywhere. Some of them represent some important monuments like pyramids while others look like castles,....

But in each hotel, money machines are omnipresent. No matter where you look, Vegas succeds in making you forget that you are in the desert.

You can go to severals parties. If the Beatles music group guided you in your early days, you may like to see "false" beatles who are going to rock.

You may also be interested in marrying girls you just met or just go for a walk as if you teleport your self in some place of the world, Paris, Rome....

The feeling of fun, created by this crazy city in the middle of nowhere, is slowly turning into an annoying sensation. The Bip, Ti-li-li-li,.... is getting on the nerves and reminds you that you need to be at least 21 to have the right to "play".

Still, Las Vegas is one of the cities you have to go at least once in your life.

Vienna is indeed world-famous for its architecture, its music and the numerous famous monuments you can visit. So if you decide to spend some time in Vienna, you will have a lot to do. If you don't have time for everything, here are the things I (as a former visitor) can advise you to see.

The one place you absolutely have to visit is the Schönbrunn Palace, the so-called "Little Versailles" (it is a replica of the Versailles castle). It used to be Princess Sissi and her family's home. A  complete guided tour exists and is worth the price (10 euros or so for students) if you want to know some interesting facts about the story of this castle. The gardens are also absolutely gorgeous (especcially in summer) and if you are brave enough to climb up the hill in the gardens and reach the top, you will enjoy the view on the whole city...

If you are an art passionate, Vienna is meant for you : music, painting...You will love everything ! Vienna's symbol is obviously Mozart, and the opera house is the place to hear some of his works. Furthermore, the opera house is in itself a beautiful architectural piece of work. About the painting, you can take the best of the numerous museums : the Kunsthistorisches Museum (the museum of art history), for classical paintings, the Bevedere (an anciant palace) where you can see more modern paintings, including the Klimt works and these are only two examples...

Kunsthistorisches Museum

But if you are a walker, the Viennese streets will be enough in themselves...As a very dynamic city, the streets are always crowded and make the walk lively! There is always a nice building to look at, classical or modern...

You certainly understand it : a week, even a month won't be enough to visit Vienna...So make the best of your time in Vienna to discover this wonderful city!

If there is a place to visit at least once in Europe, it is clearly London. It’s actually a bustling city, full of life, and one of the most important economic centres in Europe. But if you look at it closely, London has something special, a typical “foggy” atmosphere that makes it unique in its own way. You’ll have fun in London: the Big Wheel, Big Ben, palaces, all these are enjoyable places to visit. Furthermore, you’ll find plenty of natural parks there, because London is somehow a green city. And in these parks, of course, there are squirrels! Yes, they are like pets for people there, and are not afraid of humans. The only difference with pets is that they are also cooked…

People there are very nice. Like in all countries, for sure (except maybe North Korea). But it’s all the more surprising and enjoyable that British people are commonly said to be a little distant. That’s not true! It’s only their distinguished accent that gives you this impression. So, don’t worry: you’ll be very much at ease, wherever you go. Nonetheless, be careful about one thing: avoid criticising those who drink tea, at any cost, or I can’t guarantee you’ll stay alive long enough to finish your trip. The “tea thing” is indeed deeply rooted in the English culture, and it would be a sacrilege to say a word against this…

Kensington Palace is surely a place to visit in London. It’s near Kensington Park, as you may have guessed, and regular visits are organized in this palace where some members of the royal family live. If you are lucky, you might meet one of them in a corridor! But don’t forget to bow before leaving…

Want to see white snow, shining mountains and pretty churches? Want to see the famous castles of King Ludwig II in a fairy tale landscape? Then just go to Bavaria, the most beautiful place in the world, especially in winter, when the light makes everything sparkle. During this period of the year, Bavaria is indeed a fabulous place. The small mountainous roads that cross the white forests around Lake Constance really make you dream. You can also cross the frontier without being checked, because in such places there are not many human beings...

And, if you like skiing, you can go to Garmisch-Partenkirchen: despite its horrible name, this city has got winter sports facilities that were used not so far ago for the World Championships. It’s incredible and free of access, and some competitions continue to take place there every year.

Another characteristic is the tremendous number of churches that are on your way when you cross Bavaria. Even in the middle of nowhere you can find pretty churches that are often much more colourful than French ones. That’s part of the Bavarian charm!

As for German people there, don’t be afraid to talk to them! On the contrary, feel free to try to say a few words, even if it is incomprehensible. At least it will be a funny moment! I remember I entered  a shop once to ask where München Strasse was, the shopkeeper just didn’t understand a word. I saw her trying not to smile, but finally she couldn’t help it and burst into laughter. However, German people will always be happy to help you accomplish your initiatory path…

I was in Vienna for only one week, but I managed to learn some things that can be interesting for those who want to visit this beautiful city. Vienna is indeed a rich city, and sometimes the average Viennese is maybe too aware of his wealth. When you are on a student trip, it doesn't necessarily match your state of mind...But this wealth doesn't prevent them to be open and helpful for the tourists : if you need an address or an indication to find your way, don't hesitate to ask : the Viennese are very proud of their city, so they will do anything to help you discover it! Like everywhere, they are also proud of their langage, so if you speak German, don't hesitate to communicate in their mothertongue : you could make some new friends!

When I was 11 I had the opportunity to go to Canada for two weeks. I lived there with a Canadian family in New-Brunswick, in the French-speaking part of this country.

Even though Canadians and Americans live next to each other, they are in fact quite different.

Let's start with the basic clichés about them.

Canadians, as seen by Americans, are the kindest and most polite people on Earth, and spend theirs days struggling in the snow, playing hockey, drinking beer and pouring maple syrup on everything they eat. And they also love beavers and most of them are lumberjacks.

Americans, as seen by Canadians, love their guns and their burgers (and, in general, don't enjoy a really healthy way of life).

 Now which of these stereotypes are true ?

Canadians are indeed very kind, although I can't tell if they are kinder than Americans (I've never been there). For example, one thing that surprised me during my trip is that a Canadian will not lock his car on a parking lot (like at a supermarket). I don't imagine myself doing that in America, but again I may be mistaken.

As for the weather, if you don't like snow don't visit Canada in February... But the landscapes I saw were truly beautiful, and the snow wasn't a burden since they are used to it : every morning the snow was cleaned off the roads and one could drive easily. Even if winters can be really cold (down to -30°C), the summers are a lot warmer (up to 25°C from what I remember).

Finally, the Canadians love hockey as much as Americans love football. Okay, maybe a bit more but not that much...

 But as a matter of fact, it is harder than expected to compare the “American culture” and the “Canadian culture” : those countries are so huge they are made of several different cultures. It is even harder to relate a Canadian from Vancoucer and another from Montréal... But one may not be able set apart a New Yorker from a Toronto born and raised.

You have planned to visit France in a few days or weeks or months, and you are worried because you don't know anything about French people, French culture and about what you should or should'nt do in this country ? You have always wanted to visit France but you have never tried to do it because of the unknown and an irrational fear of being disappointed ? - As if you could be disappointed ! -.

Don't panic, this guide will help you to avoid any awkward moment during your trip !

First of all, the communication with French people. Most of the population speaks French natively, and rare are those who don't speak French at all (does it really exist ?). But don't worry, you don't need to be able to speak fluent French to visit France. However, it would be really nice if you are able to speak a few words and sentences as “Bonjour” (Hello), “Au revoir” (Bye) or “Savez-vous parler anglais ?” (Can you speak English ?). French people really like it when you make an effort to speak French. Furthermore, not all French people speak fluent English, because of the poor education system regarding foreign languages : everytime you speak English with a French person, remember not to speak English as fast as usual if your interlocutor isn't fluent. French people are very proud, so if you don't make efforts to be understood, they will often not try to speak Enlish, even if the can do it !

Linked to the communication, the greetings. Most men shake their hands in France, except with women, and if you're a woman or a man meeting a woman, you will probably have to do the “bise”. The bise is a sort of kissing on the cheeks : you have to put (delicately !) one of your cheeks on one of your interlocutor's, while making the sound of a kiss with your mouth. Depending on the part of France you're going to, you may have to do this once, twice, three times or four times to the same person (on alternate cheeks).

French humour can be really specific and surprising. They really like teasing people about their origin, their religion, their look, etc... But don't take it seriously, most of them are just joking. But if you are a blond, gay, Jewish woman with Belgian ancestors, you will have to face a lot of jokes. Fortunately, French people tease other French people from different parts of France too : it can be the North against the South, Paris against the rest of France (or the world), the Corsicans against France (often forgetting that they are French too)...

Last but not least : enjoy your trip. Between the enjoyable cultural differences, the greatest food you have ever tasted and the amazing French regions you can visit, you can't be disappointed (except if you are decided to).

 

As every year on the third Thursday of November, the Beaujolais nouveau will be released ! That’s why November is a perfect time to go to the Beaujolais and discover one of the most beautiful regions of France.

When the Beaujolais nouveau is released, many activities are set up to celebrate this particular day. For instance, a marathon is organized and last year, 8200 runners participated in this race. Events also take place in Lyon so that people learn more about wine (free initiations to oenology and many tastings ) and the work of winemakers.

Beaujolais nouveau is the most popular “vin de primeur” ( that is to say it has just fermented for a few weeks ). Every year, around 49 million liters of Beaujolais nouveau are produced which represent half of the region’s total wine production. It is particularly popular in foreign countries because nearly half of the production of Beaujolais nouveau is exported (Germany, Japan and the United States are the three biggest buyers).

But to have the right to wear this glorious name, all the grapes that are involved in the making of the wine must have been hand-picked. That’s why during the month of September a very important workforce is needed to harvest a huge amount of grapes in a small amount of time.

However, the Beaujolais is not a lively region only during this period. Throughout the year, there is animation. For instance, at the beginning of the year, in every town and village of the Beaujolais the feast called “les conscrits” take place. On December the 8^th the “fête des lumières” is also celebrated in all the Beaujolais region.

And don’t worry, people there are very nice and friendly. Some of them may have a strange accent and they will speak of “gone” (which is a word that only exists in this region and means child) but they will always make effots to make themselves understandable.

See you soon in Beaujolais and have fun !