Darth Vader Balloon Ride Auction

“Luke, I am your father”… Officials are auctioning a ride for two people in the Darth Vader hot-air balloon on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the 30th Anniversary of the Great Reno Balloon Race. The auction begins on eBay, Monday, Aug. 8, and bidding starts at $500 and will be open for seven days. The Darth Vader balloon is the most photographed and sought after hot-air balloon in the world, making the value of the ride priceless. Just don’t end with Darth chopping off your hand as you dangle.

Universal Studios Hollywood – The Tour

Recently went on the Universal Studios Tour to check out the Dinosaur vs. King Kong 3D fight from Peter Jackson and all the new stuff. Just keeps on growing.  http://bit.ly/mKVq69

Cog of My Heart

The world’s first cog mountain train starts up again in New Hampshire. The first rack railway went up Mt Washinton, the highest peak in New England, now the site of the Mt Washington Observatory. http://bit.ly/iPAwzD

Do You Know This Girl?

She’d be a 107 now. Win a trip to Antwerp and a $1,000 Diane Von Furstenburg Shopping Spree with the “Do You Know This Girl” contest to promote the Red Star Line Museum in the Flanders port of Antwerp scheduled to open in 2013. The museum and city are promoting their American and Canadian emigration roots. Identify her and discover Belgium.  http://bit.ly/kG1xRS

Know Her?

MT PILATUS – PANORAMA GALLERY OPENS

The brand new Panorama Gallery on the top of Mt Pilatus above Lucerne, Switzerland has its grand opening party on July 2nd and 3rd, 2011. One of the most spectactular views of the Swiss Alps, the world’s steepest Cog Railway to 2132 meters above sea level and two unique hotels await.

Swiss Fireworks – Independence on Lake Constance

The Swiss love fireworks – the splashier the better – not only to bring in the New Year or to celebrate their National Day of August 1 – but on the shores of Lake Constance, you dont have to miss Independence Day if traveling in Switzerland.  The traditional lake festival in Arbon on the shore of Lake Constance (Bodensee) takes place from July 1 to July 3. The highlight of the festival is big firework display on Saturday night, which is ignited when the clock chimes 10:30. Set to music, it lights up the dark sky for 30 minutes.  Watch the bursts reflected on the lake from the shore, or from a cruise boats with music and dance. Lake Festival Arbon

BLOOMSDAY IN DUBLIN

Bloomsday in Ireland commemorates the day in 1904 during which all the action of James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses” takes place. For 2011 - its Thusday the 16th of June

Bloomsday Breakfast returns to its birthplace, the Bistro Martello on the Sandycove seafront. Bloomsday is celebrated with a street festival and impromptu performances and Joycean readings during the day. Breakfast in Caviston’s and Juggy’s Well orbrunch at Odell’s Restaurant and Fitzgerald’s pub. The 40 Foot  bathing pspot beside the Tower, where Buck Mulligan swims in Ulysses, is traditionally the place for a Bloomsday plunge to get the day off to a brisk start. 

The James Joyce Museum at the Sandycove Tower in Sandycove, where the poetic novel begins, will be open all day from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. for readings and commemorations. Visitors are invited to contribute to the celebrations and to take inspiration from the museum’s wonderful collection of original Joycean material. Nearby, the Dalkey Castle and Heritage Center marks the day with exhibitions on local Joyce and literary connections and, at 3:30 pm the schoolroom scene set in the neighborhood in the second episode of  Ulysses will be recreated. A 8 pm a Joycean Evening of extracts from his works and music and songs either known to have been sung by Joyce or featured in his books will be performed. Tickets for the schoolroom scene and walk are €10, and those for the Joycean Evening are €15.

In the port town of Dun Laoghaire a road tourist train will operate from the harbor to bring passengers along the seafront to Sandycove and back via George’s Street, Bloomfield’s Shopping Centre and Marine Road. There will be a Bloomsday breakfast al fresco outside St. Michael’s Church in the town centre. Musicians and readers will perform around the town, there will be competitions for themed hats and shopfronts, and there will also be entertainment for children. Events Details http://www.visitdublin.com/dlr

Paris in Springtime

Seine Cruise Notre Dame

What’s more perfect for traveling to Europe than Paris in the spring. Lovers on benches and romantic dinner cruise boats motoring down the Seine. Go before the late summer crowds line up under the pyramid at the Louvre. Shop along the Champs Elysee at the luxury brand flagships stores or just oggle the pricey car marquees at showrooms with their own bars. Climb the Arc de Triomphe or the Eiffel Tower. The Paris Pass is offering a discount for the access pass.  Use discount code parpas05.

Where to stay in the world’s most romantic city without breaking your budget. Try of the best hostels in Paris or one of the hotels of the Opera district. Bon Voyage

USA Women’s Soccer in World Cup

Women’s Soccer is still the little sister of men’s championship football around the world, but this June and July the FIFA Women’s World Cup, returns to Germany for the head to head match-up’s of the best women’s soccer teams. I recenly went to the stadiums in Germany where Team USA will meet the competition and a bit of explorartion for a look ahead to the stadiums and what else to do in the host cities of Dresden, Wolfsburg, Sinsheim/Heidelberg and Frankfurt.

Ireland in Style

Not a lot of folks you talk to think of Ireland for its gourmet cuisine, but at the upscale castle hotels and lodges on the green garden isle a revolution is underway.  Discover some of Ireland’s Goument Dining a Golf Luxury Getaways from  Castle Hotels to Organic Farms

South East Ireland – County Wicklow to Wexford – Some Culinary and Golf Escape Treats
Monart Spa & Hotel - A pure spa experience
Cliff House – Ardmore Coast - Ireland Michelin Star Hotel Restaurant on the Dramatic Coast of Ardmore
Mount Juliet – Horses and Jack Nicklaus Course - 17th Century Leisure Escape near Kilkenny
BrookLodge and Macreddin Golf - Ireland’s First Organic Restaurant and Manorhouse Hotel in Wicklow

West Ireland
Dromoland Castle and Horse Carts - Historic Castle Hotel and Golf in County Clare
Glenlo Abbey Galway - At the gateway from Galway to Connemara