Mini Travel Guides

A visit to Munich’s toy museum is a pleasure for children from 8 to 80. Get into the spirit of things by going to the Marienplatz shortly before 11am. Line up in front of the Neue Rathaus and wait for the world famous carillon (Glockenspiel) to begin.

Neues Rathaus at Munich's Marienplatz

The Rathaus was built between 1867 and 1909 in a Flanders Gothic style and is dominated by the tower with its spires. Crane your neck and discover the upper part of the carillon which displays a joust arranged in honor of the marriage of Wilhelm V and Renate von Lothringen.

The fun part is the lower part. At the stroke of the clock, historical figures come out and perform the Schäfflertanz. Round and round they go until they return to their ‘house’ to await their next performance.

Then turn to your right and make you way to another Rathausturm  and enter the world of toys. The museum is located in four levels of the narrow tower, which means you climb up a spiral staircase and look at the exhibits in small rooms just off the stairs. It’s a very cosy museum with wooden floors and showcases which allow a close inspection of the collection.

Toy museum located in this Rathaus Turm

Ivan Steiger, a cartoonist, writer, filmmaker and journalist, born in Prague,  has collected toys mainly from Europe and the USA going back two centuries and made his collection accessible to the public in this beautiful museum.

It’s as much a joy to observe the kids as it is to look at the doll houses, dolls, teddies, toy trains and of course, a superb Barbie collection.

Teddy bears by Margarete Steiff

Dolls from Käthe Kruse

Dollhouse with Biedermaier furniture

Barbie collection

The museum is open from 10.00 to 17.30. If you feel hungry afterwards, make your way back to the Marienplatz and to one of the many cafes and restaurants around the square to enjoy a Bavarian feast. Bear in mind that Weisswurst is best eaten before noon, but everything else is delicious all day.

Bavarian specilities

If you’re planning a trip to Munich you can find hotels using the Late Rooms search box below.

A visit to Munich’s Toy Museum

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In the UK, many people were out shopping and enjoying the day after Christmas.  Since the Boxing Day holiday falls on a Sunday, many banks and other businesses will be closed on Monday.  In Ireland, it’s known as St Stephen’s Day.  However it is known, Boxing Day has a long history in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and other parts of the world.

While fox hunting was banned, it's still a big part of Boxing Day

Fox hunting in Keswick, 1962 (Flickr: Phillip C)

Boxing Day goes back to the times of Victorian England.  During those days, many rich and middle class gave servants and their families boxes of gifts and tips.  As part of their appreciation, the servants were also given the day off so they could visit their families.  Other Victorians celebrated Boxing Day by donating food and money in boxes to the poor in their areas.  Many of these donations would be placed in pots – the first piggy banks.

In 1871, legislation was passed to make it an official Bank holiday in the UK.  As an official holiday in the UK, most people have the day off and it’s known as a big shopping day filled with bargains and after Christmas sales.  For sports fans, it’s a huge day every year as the Premier League and Scottish Premier League have a full day of matches.  In year’s past, it was a day of rivalries as local teams would play many of their derbys.  For sporting fans, horse racing and fox hunting have also been a big part of Boxing Day.

This year, many have celebrated Boxing Day with lots of snow as winter weather has blanketed the UK.  For those that braved the elements, a number of shopping deals were available.

During the Christmas and holiday season, England and other parts of the UK are the home of many holiday traditions.  For those enjoying Boxing Day, know your history, be a little more charitable this year, and remember that it’s a day of giving and time with family – with a little shopping and football as well.

Celebrating the history of Boxing Day in the UK

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Last week I highlighted one of the two European Culture Capitals, Turku, who is throwing a blow-out bash next year.  Most years there are at least two culture capitals, and this year’s other  capital of culture is the charming little town of Tallinn.

Photo by nagillum

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, just 50 miles south of Helsinki on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, making it a great daytrip from Helsinki (or vice versa).  I loved Tallin, and this gorgeous medieval town is no stranger here at Europe a la Carte.   Sian points out that it a great place to get hot chocolate, Gloria’s wine bar is also recommended as is a meal at the tasty restaurant Old Hansa.

But those things are there anytime.  What can you expect for the European City of Culture festivities?  The official website suggest a few interesting things going on, including:

• Stories of the Seashore: a forum where writers from all of Europe and globally can share stories
• Rooftop Cinema:  sounds great – bet the stars are beautiful at night up thr!
• 52 Surprises & Ideas: a weekly arts and cultural event
• Maritime Days:  a festival in July celebrating harbour culture

A few other things sound interesting – such as the “60 seconds of Solitude in Year Zero,” but unfortunately much of the content isn’t available in English so I can’t tell you more.  But I can tell you that, European Capital of Culture or not, you’ll love it here.

It looks like Tallinn is a great bet for a European city break in 2011. You can find a range of Tallinn hotels for your stay, using the LateRooms search box below.

European Culture Capital 2011: Tallinn, Estonia

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With all the stunning historical sites in Istanbul around you, it’s easy to forget that Turkey has prestigious modern artists too. To create a home for their work and give Turkish modern art the exposure it deserves, the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, commonly referred to as ‘Istanbul Modern’ opened its doors in 2004.The museum has become quite the ‘in’ place for the sophisticated Istanbul art and literature crowd to see and be seen at vernisages and other cultural events.

Istanbul Modern Cafe on the top floor

You should not miss a visit to this remarkable Istanbul attraction when planning your sightseeing. Located in Tophane, just across the Galata bridge, the museum is situated in a vast former dock warehouse right on the shore of the Bosporus. It’s extremely stark, a gray concrete block with a bright red  stripe down the side emblazoned with the words Istanbul Modern. It’s really an impressive contrast to all the opulence of the other buildings which are Istanbul’s landmarks.

The museum is located in a former dock ware house

Picture by nerostrateur taken from wikipedia free licence

Take the Kabatas tram and get off at the Tophane stop. Don’t miss to look at the  fishermen on the Galata bridge and cast your eye over the Galata tower looming in the background.

View of the Galata Tower crossing Galata Bridge

Cross the street towards the waterfront, turn left and start walking. Your route leads you past the baroque Tophane mosque and, next to it, a row of quaint nargile cafes.

Follow an arrow towards the gate to the parking lot and make you way to the entrance of the museum. You can’t miss it anyway as the red sign which is higher  than the building is visible from quite a distance.

In the small park in front of the museum are a few sculptures by modern artists. Whereas the exterior is bare, the interior is beautifully distributed and dedicated to changing exhibitions of Turkish as well as foreign artists. They also have slide shows, videos and audio guides.

Modern sculpture in front of the museum

You are not allowed to take pictures inside the museum, but you can photograph in the museum shop which offers a wide range of art books, posters and such things as stationary and note books  adorned with reproductions of the paintings inside.

The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm but, like most museums in Istanbul, closed on Mondays. Admission is TYL5.

After you have walked through, climb up an iron staircase and enjoy a coffee and snack in the museum café with a nice view over the water.

You can find our recommendations for Istanbul hotels for all budgets or use the LateRooms search box below.

A visit to Istanbul Museum of Modern Art

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Those of you visiting the Eternal City during the Christmas season will be certain to notice the Christmas trees that now grace the city. Christmas trees are a relatively recent import – a northern European tradition. To get a real flavour of Italian Christmas traditions, visitors in should visit the many Roman churches that host a traditional presepio – a nativity scene.

The nativity scene is said to have originated in Italy. It is Saint Francis of Assisi who is credited with having constructed the first  nativity scene in a cave in the town of Greccio, outside Assisi, way back in 1223.

Nativity scenes from Naples are the most famous and even today its craftsman are renowned for carrying on this ancient tradition.

My favourite among the many on offer in Rome’s churches during the holiday season is a Neapolitan nativity scene from 1700 on display is at the Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano (Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian) in the Roman Forum, just off the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano  was built in the early 6th century AD and it is the oldest church in the Imperial Forum.  The church features original early Christian mosaics in the apse.

Each year at during the Christmas season, tourists and Romans flock here to see the stunning details of Neapolitan craftsmen in this lovely nativity scene. Jesus, Mary and Joseph are surrounded by hundreds of figures and animals, all set amongst Roman ruins. The details are marvellous and, even after numerous viewings, I find myself admiring scenes I hadn’t noticed on earlier visits.

A visit to see this historic nativity scene in Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano  is my European travel tip if your holiday travels take you through Rome. Be sure to also stop off at the Christmas market on Rome’s lovely Piazza Navona.

When in Rome: Nativity scene tourism

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About two hours north of Stockholm a goat stands in the town of Gävle.  It’s a large goat, a Christmas goat, a straw goat.  This goat is a tourist attraction, it is known, simply, as Gävlebocken.  The Gävle Goat.

A Swedish Christmas tradition accounts for a Christmas goat that also delivered presents.  As a small child, the Christmas goat scared me.  A lot.  It was loud, gruff, and just kind of ugly.  Luckily, the Gävle Goat is less scary and more impressive.

Each year, Gävlebocken is built, and each year, people try to burn it down.  Turns out that a goat made of straw is an inviting target.  This year though, there was a new twist as an attempt was made to steal the goat with a helicopter.  Someone thought it would be a good idea to steal a straw goat that weighs 3.6 tonnes, is 13 meters high and seven meters long.

The chess game between the potential vandals and the protectors of the goat has become a sort of holiday tradition.  Since the first goat was burned down in 1966, 24 subsequent goats have been burned.  So far, the 2010 goat still stands, and would make a perfect day trip from Stockholm for anyone doing some last minute European travel planning.

This goat, as you may imagine when people are trying to burn you and steal you with helicopters, has a story to tell.  That’s why Gävlebocken has a blog, a Twitter account, and even submits itself to a webcamera.  Learn more about the Gävle Goat here.

Picture by plastAnka.  More pictures by plastAnka can be found here.

The Christmas Goat of Gävle, Sweden

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As we celebrate the Christmas holiday, there are a number of unique celebrations and traditions around the world that originated in Europe.  Throughout Europe, countries like France, Germany, Norway, England, and others have their own unique ways of celebrating Christmas.

As we look ahead to Christmas, here are some well-known and unusual Christmas traditions throughout Europe.

1.  Mistletoe - This tradition originated from the Celtic Druids around 500 B.C. in England.  These pagan worshipers loved nature and believed that holly and mistletoe warded off evil spirits and helped ensure futility.  In the Christmas tradition, mistletoe was symbolized everlasting life through Christ and faith which would never die.

An English tradition, kissing under the mistletoe has been practiced for years though no one is certain how the tradition started.  It probably has something to do with with the fertility celebration by the Druids.

Mistletoe (Flickr: Dramatic)

2.  Christmas cards - The first Christmas card was issued in December 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.  During this time of the year, holiday messages were written on calling cards to friends and acquaintances.  Sir Henry Cole was too busy and hired London artist John Calcott Horsley to design a card with a Christmas message.  The first Christmas card greeting read “Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.”  With post offices in England and the United States, this Christmas tradition was spread.

Christmas Card (Flickr: mjurn)

3.  Fruitcake - For people who have tasted fruit cake, it is something that is either loved or hated.  However, the tradition of the fruitcake began in Italy.  Italians have a variety of fruitcakes – panettone (big bread), pandoro (golden bread), panforte (strong bread), and pandolce (sweet bread).

Fruitcake is a blend of break and fried fruits celebrated and eaten throughout various regions in Italy.  While each region enjoys its favorite, the history of fruitcake is debated.  Many believe it may have been created in the 12th century by Sienese monks.

However, the popular, romatic story of fruitcake is that of panettone,  A baker from Milan fell in love with a woman and wanted to capture her love with a delicious cake.  His mixture included eggs, candied fruit, and too much yeast.  The result was panettone version of fruitcake which is popular all over Italy.

Panettone (Flickr: ben hanbury)

4.  Silent Night - This famous Christmas carol was first performed in Austria in 1818.  Legend has it that a local priest was out on Christmas night to bless a baby.  On his way home, the experience of that night on a starlit evening inspired him to write a poem.  Franz Gruber, the church organist, set the poem to music and on Christmas Eve 1818, the song was performed for the first time.  In Obendorf, Austria, the Silent Night Chapel stands on the place where Gruber and priest Joseph Mohr stood as it was performed for the first time.

5.  Nutcrackers - Nutcrackers were believed to originate from the Nürnberg region of Germany.  Legend has it that a man was on his deathbed but schoolchildren sang to him and he recovered.  In appreciation, he gathered what he had – wire, prunes, figs, and walnuts – and made a little man.  These became very popular and were sold in the markets.

Over the years, the Nutcracker became a wooden figurine of policeman, soldiers, and more used to crack the toughest of nuts.  These wooden versions were designed in 15th century Saxony as miners became woodworkers and developed these popular figures.

Nutcracker (Flickr: mikejmartelli)

For many celebrating Christmas, many of the popular traditions originate from Europe.  From mistletoe to Silent Night, the origins of these traditions go back many years.  While the origin of some of these Christmas traditions aren’t certain, it is these Christmas traditions which make celebrating Christmas in Europe so memorable and fun.

Christmas traditions in Europe

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The Centre for Contemporary Art (CAC) in Malaga opened in 2003 as a showcase for international modern art.  It’s a free Malaga attraction.  Their website says it’s a free wifi zone but there was no wifi available during my visit in late September 2010. As I can’t speak Spanish, I don’t know if this was just a glitch that day or an ongoing issue.

Sculpture at entrance to CAC Malaga

CAC  is in Malaga city centre so easy to reach by train or bus. There’s a trendy cafe with outdoor seating. Below is a photo tour of my visit to CAC Malaga but the exhibits regularly change.

Do check the opening hours at CAC Malaga before you visit, as in Summer it’s open from 10am-8pm but in low season it’s closed between 2pm-5pm, re-opening in the evening. It’s closed on Mondays all year around.

You can read about other Malaga attractions such as the Alcazaba, Malaga Park and Malagueta Beach.

Photo Tour of Centre for Contemporary Art (CAC): A Free Malaga Attraction

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

I always love reading about the new European Culture Capitals every year, because typically those cities get lots of cash to put on a good show and upgrade their tourism infrastructure.  This year is no different, with two great nominees in the line up.  Today I’d like to highlight Turku, Finland’s former capital city.  I’ve mentioned it before as a great daytrip from Helsinki, and by the looks of it, Turku is planning on a wizz bang party for most of 2011.

Turku is one of the larger cities in Finland, so you’ll find a lot of great restaurants and bars/pubs.  There’s a lot of old world architecture as well – a great balance between an urban area and a quiet town.

What’s on for the culture capital?  Well, here are some things that caught my eye:

• A special event for Easter at the Museum of Agriculture.  Something about Easter eggs perhaps?
• Live jazz nights all spring and summer
• A “modern electronic” music festival – Turku has a thriving club scene so I suspect this will attract some good European talent
• The Tall Ships regatta, which I’ve seen in Amsterdam and loved, will be in Turku in August
• “Pitch Black” gallery nights, where you’ll be led around a guided tour of an art gallery…in the dark.
• Comics Rule: over the summer, some of the road signage will be turned into comics.  (It looks like they might be in Finnish, or Swedish – the city is bilingual – so they might be more funny if you ask a local for the explanation.)

If you’re making your 2011 plans, I’d encourage you to check out Turku.  Next time, I’ll talk to you about Europe’s other nominee.

2011 European Capital of Culture: Turku

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The Alcazaba in Malaga is the best preserved Moorish fortress in Spain. It was the palace of the city governors.  Building started in the 8th century but most of the construction took place during the 11th century. It’s a really interesting Malaga attraction with wonderful views over the city.  I visited on a Sunday afternoon after 2pm when it was free to enter. However, the standard admission fee is around 3 Euro, which is excellent value for money.

Floodlit Alcazaba

There is a lift up to the Alcazaba but it was out of order on the day I visited. I wasn’t planning on using it anyway. The ascent isn’t that steep but it’s on an uneven cobbled path. I took the turning to the right which offered scenic views over the city.

View to City Hall and Malaga port from Alcazaba

View towards Malaga Bullring

I then doubled back and took the path up to the left which led me to a rose garden.

Rose Garden at the Alcazaba Malaga

Then it was upwards again.

Archway on path at Alcazaba

Bath water feature at Alcazaba

At the next level there was another garden and public toilets.

Fountain at Alcazaba

A large wedding party appeared and they stared taking photos in this garden. It was fun to watch but a bit annoying, as I’d found a shady corner to check my own photos and had to move so as not to be in the wedding shots.

The bride and groom pose at the Alcazaba

From the wall at the back of this garden you can see over to the mountains and Malaga Cathedral.

View towards mountains from the Alcazaba

View towards Malaga Cathedral from Alcazaba

Intricate archways at Alcazaba

Pool at Alcazaba

If you’re staying in or close to Malaga, do visit the Alcazaba,  it’s a beautiful historic building with great views.  Also don’t miss a walk in Malaga Park and some time on Malagueta Beach.

Malaga is an underrated short break destination, with plenty to keep you occupied for 2 – 3 nights. If you’re looking for a cheap city break, there’s a wide choice of low cost airlines flying to Malaga and you can find good Malaga budget hotels from under £50 a night for a double room. You can check out all hotel options in Malaga using the search box below

Photo Tour of the Alcazaba in Malaga, Spain

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