Wednesday, 13 January 2016

Killarney It is all in the name of the Pub

I recently wrote a blog on our website about the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.  Magnificent  Golf Club under the shadow of the McGillycuddy Reeks  on the shores of Lough Lourne.
This particularly   golf club show cases all the natural beauty that Killarney has to offer.   It has been operating here for many years.   I have a gut feeling because its is located in an National Park that nowadays objections would prevent its development.
Killarney Rose New York

We provide a platform for Killarney service apartments and Killarney self-catering apartment to advertise.  Killarney Holiday Village is our main focus in the town.
But while focusing recently on Killarney I began research the use of the word or brand Killarney.   Put in the USA immediately appeared.
The first being the Killarney Rose  at  127 Pearl St., New York, NY 10005
For several decades now, Killarney Rose has been a go-to financial-district watering hole for suits and locals alike. Part bar and part restaurant it has an extensive menu with an extensive floor area that allows table service.  The is taken from their website which is refreshingly open and honest “extensive list of traditional heart-clogging bar foods (calamari, wings, and mozzarella sticks) alongside sandwiches, salads, and burgers. In a cheeky move, happy hour is never at the same time each day; a bartender starts and ends things at his discretion with the sound of a bell”.
The have an upstairs area that can be reserved at weekends for parties. The go on to outline the fact that they sell beer  by the half-yard, and as they live gigs they can sometimes be over done.
Come to think of it we have serviced apartments and self-catering apartments in New York.
Another Irish Pub is on the Killarney list.
It is Killarney’s Publick House is the premier irish pub in Mercer County, NJ. They offer a wide selection of Irish drafts and bottles, including Guinness, Harps and Smithwicks. Yes Harp and Smithwicks I am guessing it doesn’t matter they drink that stuff in Ireland any more. They claim to have an  a full menu featuring some of the best Irish and traditional dishes in the Central Jersey area.
Don’t go on to say what is there traditional dishes.
The warm and welcoming ambiance at Killarney’s make it an perfect spot to host a party, watch a sporting event, or just grab a drink with friends. See you for a pint! Sláinte.

Moving swift to West Coast of the US we find the following pub.
Raiders Haunts: Killarney Pub and Grill, Huntington Beach, California
 Killarney Pub and Grill in downtown Huntington Beach, California, is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Huntington Beach's famous pier.

As the only Irish pub on Huntington Beach's main drag, Killarney's serves classic stouts, ales, and whiskeys along with traditional Irish cuisine. Signature dishes include hearty Irish breakfasts and delicious steak and Guinness Pies.

From karaoke to lives bands to D.J.s with dancing, there is entertainment every night of the week, and there is never a cover charge.
And when the Oakland Raiders are playing, you had better believe that Killarney's is stuffed to the gills with passionate Oakland Raider fans.
Killarney Pub and Grill 209 Main Street, Huntington Beach, California Telephone: (714) 536 7887 Website: Killarney Pub and Grill.

Monday, 14 December 2015

Fly to Amsterdam for a short stay

Amsterdam is a great city to visit any time of the year.  They welcome visitors from all over the world.  Some hust arrive for a short stay some extend their stay to a holiday others are just visiting families.  Amsterdam has an array of accommodation to be used whatever your purpose here. Your choice is excellent hotels and hostels  luxury serviced apartment and very well located self-catering accommodation. The word famous Schiphol Airport  is the best way to get in and out of this great city.  The is located a few miles southwest of the city in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province of North Holland.
Schiphol Airport
Schiphol Airport


Amsterdam airport has become a European Hub allowing travelers to access flights to a large number of airports all over the world. Its the home base of KLM, Arkefly, Transavia, Amsterdam Airlines.

 Amsterdam Airport started operating back in 1916 and it was initially used as a local airbase for the military. The airport only had a few barracks and a field that used to serve both as the platform and a runway. The civil airports started using the facility in December 1920.  Today the airport has been built as one large terminal where all its facilities are located under one roof.
There are a number of very interesting aspects to Schiphol. One in particular is the runways crossing over canals and roadways including motorway via bridges.
Schiphol runway
Runway 

This terminal has been split into three large departure halls. There are plans in place to expand the terminal further and to build other separate new terminals between the Zwanenburg Baan and Polderbaan runways thus bringing to an end the one-terminal concept that the airport has long been known for.
Overview
Schiphol


I have in the pass transited through Schiphol and I have to admit I was impressed by the one Terminal design and how efficient is was to get in and out of aircraft.  There is no long walks that you have to negotiate in London Stansted or new terminal in Dublin.

Flights daily arrive from all over Europe

Here is a small example of fights arrived or due to arrive on the evening of the 14th December 2015

Airline                                                    Location Origin            

Flybe                                                     Birmingham
Alitalia                                                   Stockholm
KLM
KM                                                        Rome
Alitalia
Air Europa                                              Dusseldorf
KLM                                                      Brussels
KLM                                                      Inverness
Flybe
KLM                                                      Barcelona
AIR EUROPA                                        Madrid
Flybe                                                     Liverpool
Flybe                                                     Hanover
KLM                                                      Newcastle
Air Europa                                             Berlin
KLM                                                      Edinburgh
Air France                                              Paris.
Check out websites like www.goholidaylets.com where you can list your self-catering property for free.  Just click on Advertise here.

Friday, 4 December 2015

Krakow Christmas Events

The Polish city of Krakow welcomes thousands of visitors each year.  They have wonderful restaurants and accommodation but most of all they have a great welcome.  You can stay in an excellents hotel or chill out in the privacy your own home from home in a well located self-catering serviced apartment.
Krakow Christmas
Christmas in Krakow

They celebrate Christmas in style.  This time of year there is a theater festival in Krakow.  The the press have in the past welcomed it as  a celebration of Polish theater and a great event that  during the week create a great scene in Krakow.  Its  a week on the stages of the biggest Krakow's theaters, you can see the best Polish performances of over the past years  were performed in theaters across the country.  A number of well known director will be present Monika Strzępka,  an America dir. Mario Biagini, . Krzysztof Warlikowski,  Factory 2 dir. Krystian Lupa and  dir. Jan Klata. Every year in Kraków they  also host workshop where among others, Krzysztof Warlikowski, Jan Klata, Grzegorz Jarzyna and Lupa, who daily tell the audience about their work during open workshops. At the festival there are also artists from abroad,  India, South Africa, Iran and Colombia, presenting the achievements of the theater carried out outside the European cultural circle.
An international jury composed of prominent critics and directors of world theater festivals each year also grants the Divine Comedian statuette for best performance and the director, set designer, composer, actor and actress. The festival has gained media recognition not only of Polish, but also from Europe. Among others, reported on it a prestigious German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Russian Kommersant and Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Organizer: Krakow Festival Office.  There is excellent restaurants and accommodation to be got in Krakow.  They hotel accommodation and magnificence self- catering serviced apartment.

Krakow Christmas Fair for several years are entered in the calendar of events taking place on the Krakow Main Market Square.
It's a tradition, which has a large impact on the development of cultural and economic center. Krakow fairs is  part of a number of similar events  that are held throughout  Europe.
Stuttgart Christmas Fair is more than 300 years great tradition and created a grand scale.  Other shows "Festivity" in Milan is a great event for the whole country.  Other Christmas fairs include  Berlin, Rome and Vienna.     The organizer of the fair is Krakow Merchant Congregation.

Krakow Cribs Competition
Every year, on the first Thursday of December in the morning, around the monument of Adam Mickiewicz crib makers gather to show off their latest works. They are accompanied by crowds gathered Kracovians, locals, tourists and numerous television crews. Applications for the competition are got from the  Museum . Each crib is given a  competition number . For many years, the number entered in the contest works is similar - between 120 and 160, including a large majority of cribs made ​​by children and young people. With the sounds of bugle call ringing out at noon from the tower of St Mary's Church, crib makers colorful procession moving their work to offices Museum - Krzysztofory Palace, to meet with the adjudicators . The meeting is chaired by the Director of the Museum, and the adjudicators consists of art historians, artists, employees of the Historical Museum. The competition is open  to natives of Cracow, participation in it can take regardless of age or place of residence.Each participant may submit a maximum of three cribs into competition. Before the adjudicators  will focus on the assessment of individual work needs to determine whether all comply with the conditions of the competition. If the work does not meet the accepted criteria, unfortunately; even if it was the most beautiful, you can not claim the prize. Organizer: The Historical Museum of Krakow Place: Market Square at the monument of Adam Mickiewicz.  The website www.goholidaylets.com list self-catering accommodation in Krakow for free.

Thursday, 3 December 2015

Christmas Events in Lagos Portugal

As with quite a lot of Portuguese towns and villages place like Albufeira and Lagos the local council known as Camara organise the festive events at different times of the year. This town is a tourist resort full of hotels and self-catering accommodation but its also home to a huge local population.  So local activities are part and parcel of every day life here.
Portuguese Christmas
Christmas in Portugal



In that context of programming of Christmas  will start at the beginning of the month of December in Lagos. The have named this years program "THE BOY JESUS".  The organising of the event will be executed by  Municipal Librarian Dr Julius Dantas  The activities incorporates a cycle of cinema and a exhibitions on December 10, on an occasion that marks the International Day of Human Rights.

The now famous Christmas Nativity Scene ( Cribe) will be back on display  to open to the public 2015-11-27
Once more José Cortes  the owner and creator of the crib will give all the public opportunity to see the crib as it will be displayed free of charge. This crib has become very famous in Lagos completely designed and built by this Lagos local,  each year he adds new detail.  You can visit from 17 December. The entrance is free.

Lagos prepares to receive the Christmas  on the 2015-11-26 for the festive season of the year. The Mayor of Lagos has prepared, in collaboration with the various cultural collectivities of the county, a collection with various municipal departments in Lagos as a whole, a festive programming special.  Its begins on the 5th of December 2015.

EXPENSIVE SOUL in  Lagos on New Years Eve.

The municipality of Lagos will celebrate  the arrival of the New Year to the sound of one of the best music groups in the country - the Expensive Soul. The gig,  will run in the Infante Square, is free entry and will be followed by an actuating the DJ TobyONE.  Free to the public.
Lagos is an excellent location to send Christmas and New Year. Top class restaurant all open over the holiday period.  Excellent hotels and holiday rentals .  They self-catering apartments and self-catering villas to suit large groups.


Monday, 30 November 2015

Step into 2 wonderful beach side restaurants in Praia da Luz and Lagos

Fortilaza do Luz

Fortilaza do Luz Restaurant
Fortilaza do Luz

Fortilaza do Luz is a splendid restaurant situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the wonderful beach of Praia da Luz. They say they source the best ingredients and prepare everything from scratch.  They source the fish from local market daily.  Which means it was caught locally. They say all vegetables are organic and also sourced locally. Personally nowadays I want to see from where its sourced.  All in all well worth a visit. As is Praia da Luz with its wonderful self-catering apartments and self-catering villas.  Praia da Luz has excellent holiday rentals.  Sunday lunch can be a very special occasion at Fortilaza do Luz.  For 20yrs they have held their famous Jazz Lunches every Sunday from 12pm to 3 pm, which take place from March to November.  Also every Thursday evening they do a dinner dance with various bands providing the music. It is in the centre of the holiday rentals location.  Enjoy!!!

Gaivota Branca ( White Seagull) at Meia Praia, Lagos

Gaivota Branca ( White Seagull) at Meia Praia, Lagos
Gaivota Branca ( White Seagull) at Meia Praia, Lagos


Another great beach side restaurant is Gaivota Branca ( White Seagull) at Meia Praia, Lagos.  Had notices this place have been refurbished over the last few years. Lately just wondered into it by accident for morning coffee.  Wasn't that busy but on entering we met a  very friendly and welcoming waiter who treated us as if we were his best clients.  Perception is everything and straight away the impression of the hostelry was positive.  Even knowing we weren't eating suggesting  we look at the menu as we might come back again.  I personally like that attitude.  The menu was excellent by the way. It is well located on Meia Praia beautiful decorated the high glass doors off the decking area gives it a touch of luxury.  They are in business since 1968 and the business has been handed down from father to son.  A place well worth a visit not just if your staying in a nearly hotel of self-catering apartment or self-catering villa Lagos, but also in if your in holiday accommodation in Lagos.



Thursday, 26 November 2015

Comparing Bus and Train fares in and out of Birmingham

Because I have a commercial interest in Birmingham in England West Midland I at times research certain aspects that might connect to those interests.

Grand Central Birmingham
Grand Central Birmingham
They are mainly property related.  Have units rented by a serviced apartment company but on our website www.goholidaylets.com we also promote serviced apartments in Birmingham.
With this point of interest I casual researched rail fares and their alternatives in and out of Birmingham.  To my somewhat amusement and curiosity I came across various degrees of difference which I will explain as best I can.  Before doing so I am somewhat suspicious of comparison websites and their credentials to compare.

Ok I searched rail fares London to Birmingham, up popped Goeuro.  Honestly hadnt seen site before but could see straight away fares were in dollars $.  Which is fine but only one Rail Company appeared Virgin.
That s fine as well the cheapest fare on the 30th November to Birmingham was $15.08.
I know London Midlands  and Chiltern also have routes from London to Birmingham albeit from different stations within each city.
But lets stay with Goeuro its not a bad website they also give  the options of bus, car or plane.
National Express to Birmingham same date slightly earlier time price $9.05 which is good.
Carhire was with rentalcar.com and their best deal was $26.76 and they offered a Hyundai i10.  Honestly didnt read about extras and addons.  I am sure they ll be there somewhere.
Next piece of information surprised me.  There was no flights to Birmingham to London they were all to Manchester with either BA or Flybe.
Next site was the Redspottedhanky.  To be fair I think that is a great name for a site, not a keyword in sight.
To my relief yes London Midland were there as was Chiltern Railways.  The later arriving to Moore Street Birmingham a station that has been preserved in the past. I priced a comparison fare London---Birmingham after 9am on 30th £15 so Goeuro win out there.
Ok London Midlands website  London  9.49  Birmingham 12.02  £6.   A little shorter stops in more places I would think.
Hope if your reading this it has put you thinking.
Remember click on www.goholidaylets.com and book a excellent self-catering and serviced apartment in Birmingham and get there on a cheap train.

Friday, 20 November 2015

Side by Side in Birmingam's Southside

Arcadian Apartments
Arcadian

Birmingham is a place I know very well.   First started going there on business nearly 10 years ago. My awareness was mostly of the City Centre.   I had been involved in a number of  Buy to Let property developments in the Birmingham City Centre.  Some of these are now self-catering and serviced-apartment businesses.
The area I first got to know was Southside which is now very well established.  Back then it was a huge apartment block on the edge of the  Chinatown/Arcadian. 
It also consisted of the Theatre District, over the years the place has been rebranded as SOUTHSIDE.
It was fascinating to arrive here and watch a multicultural ethnic group go about their daily business.  On top of that a sizeable Gay Community was also existed here.   Which was was interesting, I have always been a live and let live sort of person so the sight of same sex couples holding hands in no way distracted me from my task on hand on any particular day.  Even at 50 + and a life time in Irish Police in Middleton it gave me a self awareness that people are different but everyday we still have to get on with everyday life side by side. Its just happens to be Birmingham at our moment in time.
Southside Birmingham
Southside

But was a vibrant and still is a vibrant community the sense of multi-national cultural is every where.  Weather its the 1,900 seater  Hippodrome Theatre Victorian theatre with modern foyer. Where hosting musicals, ballet, opera and West End shows. Or the Old Rep  Theatre, nearby Staycity serviced apartments, IBIS Hotel, The Glee Club which hosts first class comedy acts from around the world,
The Arcadian car park managed by APCOA is accessed from Bromsgrove Street via Bristol Street or Hurst Street and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provides safe and secure parking with over 500 car parking spaces spread over three floors. 
Chinatown Birmingham
Chinatown Birmingham

The Arcadian car park is the closest car park for the Hippodrome as well as being convenient for access to the Bullring and the Chinese Quarter.  The car park has achieved 'The Park Mark Award' for safer parking presented by the Home Office and cost effective contracts are available for regular users and tailored packages for short or long term parking can be accommodated.
Visit Southside for the most diverse range of entertainment options, for all the family. Eat in one of our fabulous restaurants, drink in any of bars, dance the night away in one of our clubs, be entertained in one of our theatres or visitor attractions. Stay-in-a-nearby-serviced-apartment or hotel.