Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s Old Town is fabulous at any time of year, but Christmas transforms it into an unearthly performance of light, colors and scents. Every year the Staroměstské náměstí(Central Square) turns into a bustling stage for hand-made puppets, wooden toys, children dancing in traditional costumes and visitors who eagerly become part of this magical performance. Whatever the weather, the markets throughout the Old Town are always open, crowded and buzzing with energy. But it’s more about a special a atmosphere than pure shopping. A shot of Becherovka(traditional spicy liquor), a bite of Trdelník(cinnamon sugar pastry) and you’re all set for one of the best Christmas experiences one can imagine.

Christmas market, Old Town Square in Prague. By Rich pick

A morning walk. By Edgar Barany

Quebec City, Canada

Christmas in Quebec City means home cooking, traditions passed on from generation to generation, and a lot of merrymaking. Plus it’s so unbelievably beautiful. Narrow streets lined with tiny, sparkling firs, buildings dusted with snow, music and live street theater exude Old World charm captured in a winter fairy tale. At the famous Marche de Noel (Christmasmarket), both recreational and shopping conscious visitors will find a myriad of treats for themselves, from hand-crafted toys, hand-knitted winter accessories and ceramics to maple products, liquors and traditional baked goods.

Champlain Street in Quebec City. By pfala

A calèche. By Imapix

Vienna, Austria

If there’s one city in Europe that combines sophisticated elegance with cozy warmth, it must be Vienna during Christmas time. On the one hand, there’s the splendidSchönbrunnPalace, lavish City Hall building and numerous classical concerts to give the holiday some pathos, and on the other, there’s the reputation for one of the best Christmas markets in Europe, with beautifully decorated wooden stalls lining market squares, hand-crafted gifts, impossibly good apfel strudel, cheer-inducingGlühwein, and a lot of sing-along fun.

Christkindlmarkt in Vienna. By -12°C

Christmas decorations. By seandalai

Rovaniemi, Finland

Rovaniemi has all the makings of a truly magical Christmas: heaps of snow,   decorated with sparkling lights, reindeer walking past your window, Christmas carols, nativity scenes, and the outstanding beauty of Lapland, with the awe-inducing Aurora Borealis to lit your way to the manger. It’s exactly what you remember from the fireside tales told in your childhood days. And hey, that’s where Santa has his residence. Christmas in the Arctic Circle? You bet!

A trip to Luosto. Leo Cheung

Cologne, Germany

Celebrate Christmas in Cologne, where the extravaganza of culture, gastronomy, traditions and history flares up every December, backdropped by the mighty cathedral, the Kölner Dom. Streets are flooded with lights, music, puppet theaters and holiday cheer, with the magic of Christmas best captured in the legendary Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market). After all, what’s Christmas without goodies? Stuff on traditional sweet delicacies and wash them down with aromatic mulled wine to warm your frostbitten limbs. Then watch artisans at work, take a ride on the merry-go-round and go skating on Heumarkt. Great fun guaranteed. 2 million visitors a year cannot be wrong.

Christmas market in Cologne. By kölnerweihnachtsmarkt

Ice skating in Cologne’s Heumarkt

New York, USA

Christmas in New York is much more than just holiday shopping spree and strolls in the blizzard. The city is amazing in itself at any given time of year, but this festive season is all about iconic sights and the feeling of togetherness that they generate in the crowd. The giant Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Macy’s window display, fabulous decorations on Sixth Avenue, skiing in Central Park – they may all be cliché, but there’s something about them that makes the horrendously huge city a cozy place with a family-like feel to it. If New York is normally called a city that never sleeps, then what name could possibly describe it in the Christmas season?

Snowing in New York. By Keith Barlow

Radio City Music Hall during Christmas season. By Gary Burke.

Central Park. By Edzone

Bruges, Belgium

It’s easy to combine Christmas celebrations with sightseeing in Bruges. Wandering through the medieval town, Belgium’s undeniable crown jewel, with its historic buildings, picturesque canals, winding streets and charming bridges is a treat in and of itself. Add to it Belgian chocolate and a whole flurry of special events that take place at this time of year, including the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, and you’ve got Christmas to remember for a lifetime.

Restaurants with Christmas lights at “Grote Markt” Square. By Bruno Misseeuw

White Christmas at sunset. By gbatistini

Wherever you land this year, don’t forget to spread some serious dose of love! Merry Christmas.

Contact info@zephne.com to make your Christmas dream come true.

Source: Opentravel.com

Sydney, Australia

Why Sydney? Thanks to its location, it is among the first major cities to welcome the new year. How cool is that? The harbor attracts more than 1.5 million revelers with numerous waterfront events, including traditional rituals by the indigenous people and a spectacular  Harbour of Lights Parade with more than 50 illuminated cruise boats circuiting the harbor all night.
If you want to melt with the crowd lege artis, remember the wardrobe color of choice is black. If you don’t feel like being part of the collective New Year frenzy, though, lay down a blanket at North Head of Sydney Harbour National Park, a relatively tranquil vantage point for gazing at the phenomenal pyrotechnic displays of over 80,000 fireworks traditionally set off from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Scots do know how to party, and it is quite obviously the capital with the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle that attracts the greatest crowds. The four-day Hogmaney celebrations starting on December 29th with the torchlight parade last well until January 1st or even 2nd   and feature anything from live music, outdoor bar events, massive street parties, concerts in the Gardens and folk dancing lessons at the Keilidh. When the clock strikes twelve, be prepared for deafening bursts of fireworks and the communal singing of Auld Lang Syne followed by a traditional kissathon in which thousands are expected to exchange friendly kisses.

Venice, Italy

Venice is magical all year round and the splendor culminates for La Festa di San Silvestro, when the fireworks lit up the sky, music blasts from St. Mark’s Square and wild partying lasts until the crack of dawn. The city offers a compelling blend of romantic charm and the glitz of high society events, including the Golden Opera New Year’s Eve performance and the New Year’s concert at La Fenice Theater.

Tradition wise, try a typical lentil dish that symbolizes good fortune, take a dip at the Lido Beach if you dare, share a communal kiss at the stroke of midnight, and watch your head as some Venetians still practice an old custom of throwing useless things out their windows, which is to signify purification before the New year is entered. The turn of the year kick-starts a series of joyous events, and if you’re still around on the 6th of January, make sure you catch a glimpse of the Befana races, when local men clad in women’s clothes race boats along the Grand Canal.

Goa, India

As a former hippie paradise and a realm of swaying palms, snow-white sands and sparkling waters, Goa seems to be the perfect place to start your new year with a bang. Visitors go gaga over psychedelic trance parties in the open air while locals stick to their long-established traditions and feast in the little villages scattered all over the island. Whatever you do, your New Year stay in Goa is going to be marked with triple “f”: foof, fun and feni (a type of fiery liquor made from either coconut or the juice of the cashew apple).

Barcelona, Spain

With the reputation of the most alluring Spanish party hub, Barcelona certainly doesn’t slow down for Noche Vieja. Las Ramblas, Plaça Catalunya and the Plaça Reial fill up with thousands of   merrymakers who dance, sing, bar hop and wait for Spaniards’ beloved New Year’s Eve tradition. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone eats one grape per chime, with each grape signifying good luck for the twelve months of the upcoming year. Then the party really gets into full swing. From rock to salsa and flamenco, whatever music you fancy, you’ll find a spot for yourself in Barcelona. Yet if indoor events are not your thing, head over to the beach and gaze at star or crawl from bar to bar in the Olympic Port. If you manage to greet the morning at the waterfront, don’t miss an almost traditional breakfast of hot chocolate and churros.

Bangkok, Thailand

Whether you fancy raving clubs with renowned DJ’s spinning their stuff, private parties or collective outdoor countdowns and firework extravaganza, Bangkok doesn’t fall short of world-class attractions on New Year’s Eve. The major countdown takes place in front of Central World Square, with several hundred thousand people greeting the New Year, dazzled with fabulous light shows and accompanied by live on-stage performances by popular local artists.
If outdoor gatherings don’t appeal to you, go a little more intimate and splash out on a candle-lit dinner at one of the riverside hotel restaurants or posh rooftop venues. You’ll get gourmet food, privacy and some of the best views of the firework displays. If you’re on a tight budget and prefer a more dynamic locale, dance the night away in one of the clubs along the Khao San Road, but of course, there are hundreds of other venues around the city. This way or the other, you’re not going to be bored in Bangkok at this time of year.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Of course nothing compares to Carnival parades, but 2.5 million folks gathering on brightly illuminated Copacabana know how to turn Rio into a world’s greatest New Year’s Eve party under the open sky. The celebrations fall smack in the middle of the summer season in Brazil, which boils down to skimpy outfits, amazingly shaped bodies, high temperatures and sizzling beach life. On that special night, stages are set along the beach with live music shows and the stroke of midnight sets off a spectacular fireworks display launched from boats anchored in a safe distance from the beach.

If you want to stick to Cariocas’ tradition, wear white to symbolically undergo a spiritual renewal and leave your problems behind. As part of an offering to Yemanja, the deity of the seas, a lot of people throw flowers into the water or buy specially prepared miniature beauty kits and put it on the surf in a little wooden boat. Most of all, forget designer clothes and open shoes. You wouldn’t want your Gucci dress sprinkled with champagne and your feet hurt with broken glass.

New York City, USA

The list wouldn’t be complete without the all-time classic and the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in the United States – the party on Times Square. A million of revelers flock to New York City’s most dazzling district to watch the famousball drop from One Times Square skyscraper and be showered with a ton of confetti released once the ball touches the floor. Star-studded musical performances, balloons, spectacular pyrotechnic displays and thousands of parties going on in the entire city – New York knows how to make things right at the turn of the year.

______________________________________________________________________________

So where are you partying this year?

Please contact info@zephne.com to book your New Year’s vacation!!!

It’s possible…

Source : http://opentravel.com/blogs/best-new-years-eve-parties/

I learnt this lesson the hard way on my last island resort holiday. My travelling partner and I did our usual packing routine, each packing a cabin luggage bag and a hand luggage bag. Because it was an island getaway, I packed my best evening dresses for smart dinners, best bikini’s, best shoes and my favourite perfume amongst a thousand other things.

It was only once we’d watched the luggage carousel fill up and then completely empty out and do another five rotations that we realised the reality of what had happened: only one of our cases had arrived, and it wasn’t mine. We filled in the necessary reports and were on our way, sans luggage, to our island resort. I spent the hotel transfer trip recounting what was lost in my bag, and spent the greater part of two full days shopping up as best a storm as I could (i.e. wasting holiday time) to replace my clothing, shoes and toiletries, etc. Needless to say, the daily insurance claim budget didn’t suffice, taxi fares across the island to the shopping district cost almost as much as the clothes, and the clothing quality was sub-standard. I hardly recognised myself in my holiday snaps feeling like I was clad in a stranger’s clothes.

The first lesson: Had I ‘divided my assets’ and packed half my things in my partner’s bag, and vice versa, we’d both at least have had half of our items.

The second lesson: Pack one change of (decent) clothing and two sets of underwear plus all toiletries (under 100mls) in your hand luggage. That way, you’ll never have to attend your first welcoming dinner in tracksuit pants and flip flops.

P.S.  I never did get my luggage back. And as for the floral island style dresses, bikinis and shorts… they remain in the deepest darkest recesses of my cupboard.

TOP TRAVEL TIP:

If travelling in a group always spread clothing across multiple bags, even if you have to do this at the airport before checking in.

If travelling alone, spread some clothing and essentials between hand luggage and cabin luggage.

80’s Wine Cooler Recipe:

What island holiday or pool party
would be complete without an 80’s Wine Cooler Cocktail?

Ingredients:

120 ml Chardonnay (try our Havana Hills Chardonnay)

180 ml 7-Up or Lemonade
15 ml Grapefruit Juice

15 ml Pineapple Juice

15 ml Lime Juice

15 ml Lemon Juice

Putting it all together:

1. Mix all fruit juices together in a cocktail mixer.
2. Quarter-fill a large wine glass with ice – preferably crushed ice.
3. Pour in the Chardonnay.
4. Top up with the 7-Up or Lemonade.
5. Add the juice mixture.
6. Stir with a cocktail stick, garnish with pineapple and mint, and serve.

Ingredients:

120 ml Chardonnay (try our Havana Hills Chardonnay)

180 ml 7-Up or Lemonade
15 ml Grapefruit Juice

15 ml Pineapple Juice

15 ml Lime Juice

15 ml Lemon Juice

Putting it all together:

1. Mix all fruit juices together in a cocktail mixer.
2. Quarter-fill a large wine glass with ice – preferably crushed ice.
3. Pour in the Chardonnay.
4. Top up with the 7-Up or Lemonade.
5. Add the juice mixture.
6. Stir with a cocktail stick, garnish with pineapple and mint, and serve.

Imagine placing a grid of 9 rectangles over a potential photograph (imagine the lines while looking through your camera view-finder). The lines should be laid out in much the same way you’d draw lines for a game of noughts and crosses: 2 horizontal lines, dividing the picture into 3 equal horizontal parts, and 2 vertical lines, dividing the page into 3 equal vertical parts… Now you have your 9 rectangles.

The rule of thirds can now be applied in a few ways:

A landscape shot: ensure that the subject’s horizon lines up with your imaginary bottom horizontal line: i.e. the land or ocean part of a landscape shot only takes up the bottom third of the picture.

A close-up shot: instead of snapping the subject dead centre of the view-finder, the law of thirds states that pictures appear more compelling or balanced when the subject is placed in 1 of 4 places: the places where each of the imaginary horizontal and vertical lines intersect with each other… that makes 4 places close to (but not directly in) the centre of the picture. The guru’s reckon those are the ‘sweet spots’!

Contact us for more information about our Artist’s Dreams group getaways – ideal for budding and experienced photographers alike!

TOP TRAVEL TIP:
While many photography style rules can certainly transform your holiday snaps into masterpieces worthy of travel magazines, rules are there to be broken, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Take multiple snaps of the same subject from various angles, using the rule of thirds and not, and see what happens. But do give the rule of thirds a try before breaking it!

Mojito Recipe:
Nothing says “I’m having the time of my life” in a holiday snap, quite like a close-up of a thirst quenching, sexy looking cocktail, and we think an icy, refreshing, bubbling, minty mojito will do just the trick.

Ingredients:

2 parts white rum
1 heaped teaspoon of sugar
10 sprigs of mint
1 part crushed ice
1 part lime juice
1 or 2 slices of fresh lime
soda water to top up

Putting it all together:
1. In a highball/long glass, mash the lime slice, sugar and mint leaves.
2. Add the crushed ice to the lime, sugar and mint mixture.
3. Pour the rum and lime juice over the ice.
4. Top up the rest of the glass with soda water.
5. Garnish with a bendy straw, lime slices and mint leaves, even a cocktail brolly for good measure!

Take a few sips, take a few pics, upload and watch your friends swoon!