Travel Stories

Winter Racing, Winter Travel

bourniers — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 21:16:00 GMT

If you love cycling, then winter is as good as any other season when it comes to the sport.

If you suffer the cold, then being a spectator instead of a competitor may be the best for you.

Getting your bearings, whether or not you’re using any (a small cycling joke), is of course up to you as an individual.

But, whether you’re watching or wanting to take part, there are plenty of races around the US worthy of taking a trip to over the coldest months, this and next, year. They make for a great trip, adding excitement to a winter break whether you’re a cycling fanatic already or not. Combining cycling with sightseeing is, of course, our favorite, and a great option for couples who travel if one cycles and the other does not.

Some of the races include:

- 50th Annual polar Bear Ride (Jan 1): kick off the new year with this ride that began way back in the 1970s. It occurs in Indiana.

- Key West Century Ride (Jan 17): this 1 day, 100 mile cycle tour takes in some impressive scenery and is considered one of the most beautiful areas in Florida.

- Triple D Winter Race (Jan 18): this endurance trail can be undertaken on bike or by foot, and is situated in Iowa.

- Frozen Fat Fondo Fest (Jan 25): set in Davenport, Iowa, this Mississippi-based race promises some serious speed as well as mud-immersed action.

- Old Man Winter Bike Rally (Feb 9): a multi-sport event, this one again features running as well as cycling and is set amongst the rugged mountains and canyons of Colorado.

- Camino Real Double Century (Feb 14): see San Diego the pedal-head way in this race which takes in some spectacular climbs.

There are lots of other races around the country, look up listings for your travel destination of choice in order to check out the action.

Racing never stops in this country, irrespective of wind, rain, hail, sleet, or even snow!

If you do plan to race, then registration is taking place now for this winter season events. And, needless to say, you need to both train yourself up to ready level of fitness, as well as prep all the right gear to use if the weather is due to be cold, wet, or even icy.

One word of warning: if you are planning to race, make sure to book your accommodation, at least for the first night, not too far from the race’s en point. Tired legs + travel = no good at all!

Enjoy your winter spree, whatever form it takes.

Happy cycling!

Winter Olympics

bourniers — Sun, 3 Nov 2019 21:51:00 GMT

The Olympics take place every 4 years. The summer Olympics and winter Olympics offer a distinct range of seasonal sports, and they occur 2 years apart.

Typical summer sports event include athletics, long jump, 100 metre sprint, and javelin.

Standard winter events include skiing, ice skating, bobsleigh, and luge (the art of bobsleighing head first).

Within skating are numerous competitions, including speed skating and figure skating. Ice hockey is another popular winter sport and there are some modern additions to the Olympics, too, such as snowboarding.

The range of competitive events is amazing and people do tend to travel across the world to attend them.

The winter Olympics take place next year in Japan and tickets are already on sale, as are flights to the oriental archipelago. You are recommended to book now if you wish to attend this exciting event.

Beautiful photos of Florence

bourniers — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:13:00 GMT

Food in Florence

bourniers — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:12:00 GMT

Tuscan food is simple yet very delicious...

I'll let the photos do the talking.

Uffizi Gallery and the best museums to visit in Florence

bourniers — Mon, 7 Mar 2016 23:05:00 GMT

There are so many museums in Florence, with a total of 72 it would be impossible to visit them all without needing a lot of spare time to do so. So which ones are the best museums in Florence and why are they better than the rest?

The Uffizi Gallery

Duke and Duchess of Urbino by Piero della Francesca (Photo: Theo K)

Of course, it really depends on personal taste but one museum that is probably the most popular of all is the Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, as it is called in Italian. The Uffizi is widely recognised as the most important museum of Renaissance art in the whole world. This museum includes paintings and sculptures by all the really famous artists from the Renaissance period, and includes work by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian, Botticelli and Raphael.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence (Photo: Mark Hintsa)

Whilst the Uffizi Gallery, for very many people, is the best museum in Florence and it is described as the “Heart of the Renaissance,” its popularity causes great queues to build up of all those wanting to visit it. The answer to this problem is to book tickets in advance. Another good way of avoiding the crowds is to book your place on an exclusive tour of the Uffizi Gallery. Located next to the Piazza della Signoria in the centre of the city, this famous art museum is easy to find, and is also within easy reach of hotels in Florence city center.

Michelangelo’s David (Photo:ctj71081)

The Accademia Gallery is another of the best museums in Florence. It is famous for its collection of works by Michelangelo, including the large statue known simply as “David.” The Accademia Gallery also houses the Museum of Musical Instruments and includes the work of Antonio Stradivari, who was famous for his violins, and Bartolomeo Cristofori, who invented the piano.

Bargello Museum

Visiting the Bargello Museum (Photo: faungg’s photos)

The Bargello Museum, as a historic building dates back to 1865, and it is one of the oldest museums in Italy. It was originally used as a city hall, a prison and a police station before it became the museum it is today. The Bargello is mainly a gallery for sculptures containing works by very famous Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo and Donatello. The Bargello also has a large collection of ceramics and old coins.

Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

Inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo (Photo: Mark Hintsa)

The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo is on this list of best museums to see in Florence because it contains many examples of artwork and sculpture that were originally created for the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), and this church is one of the main attractions of the city. This museum includes displays of Duomo architect Brunelleschi’s plans.

Museo Galileo

Museo Galileo (Photo: Anthony Crider)

It is not only art works that are housed in the museums of Florence because many great inventors and scientists made their name in Italy too. One of the most famous was Galileo, and what was once known as the Institute and Museum of the History of Science has been renamed the Museo Galileo in his honour.

Introduction to Florence

bourniers — Mon, 7 Mar 2016 22:48:00 GMT

Florence, located in the Tuscan hills of norther Italy, is a beautiful city with many monumental buildings, art galleries, and breathtaking palaces that make the city unique. The most popular destinations include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Bargello, and the Accademia.