| Jun 8, 2012 |
| Euro Cup 2012 - and TV fame for a local guide! |
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| Starting this weekend, Ukraine and Poland are co-hosting the 2012 Euro Cup. This will be the first time either nation has hosted the event, which lasts from June 8 – July 1st. Sixteen European countries will be playing for the prestigious football (soccer) prize: Spain, Italy, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Portugal, Russia, Ireland, England, Sweden, Netherlands, Ukraine and Poland. |
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Back in May, we were approached by the popular BBC Travel Show, Fast Track, whose host was interested in talking with one of our local guides in Sevastopol, a city located in the co-host nation of Ukraine. The Fast Track crew was headed to Ukraine to film a few segments prior to the soccer madness that would soon descend on the nation.
Alex was happy to help out the crew. The show’s host, Keith Wallace, wanted to learn more about Alex’s interesting background, and how he became a popular local tour guide after years of serving in the Soviet Navy. By all accounts the day was a great success, and we’ll all get to see Alex on camera this weekend, when Fast Track is broadcasting their Ukraine travel show on the BBC WORLD NEWS channel (Saturdays 0430, 1230, 1930 and Sundays 0630 GMT).
If you’re like us in Vancouver, and don’t have access to this channel, no worries! BBC will be putting the show online early next week, and we’ll be sure to share the link on our Facebook Page. And while we’re waiting, we can start placing bets on which nation is going to end up on top of Euro 2012: will it be Spain (the defending champion)? The Netherlands and Germany also have strong teams. And of course Cristiano Ronaldo, disputably the hottest player on the planet, puts Portugal in contention.
We’re looking forward to seeing some of the world’s best soccer teams in action – and watching as Poland and Ukraine get a chance to showcase their cities as world-class destinations. First up: Warsaw, which hosts tonight’s opening game between Poland and Greece. |
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| Jun 7, 2012 |
| ToursByLocals Open House |
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The dust has settled from our big move to downtown Vancouver, and we're throwing open the doors of our brand new, bright green office on Pender Street for an Open House on June 14th. Everyone welcome!
Along with our big move, we're in the mood to celebrate 3 years of tremendous growth: with 1253 guides offering 6551 tours in 109 countries around the globe, we're truly meeting our mandate of connecting travelers with local guides worldwide.
Perhaps you're a Vancouver local who has used our guides on your travels, or are considering it for your next trip. Or you might be one of our local guides in the Lower Mainland who hasn't yet met the office staff in person. Or maybe you're a travel agent looking for unique experiences for your clients. Whatever personal or professional connection you have with travel and tourism, you're invited to meet our team and enjoy drinks, food and travel chat.
When: 4-6pm, Thursday June 14th
Where: 1112 W. Pender St, Suite 600 (at Pender and Thurlow, near the Burrard Skytrain Station.)
If you plan to drop by, please let David know: dyoung at toursbylocals.com or call 604.777.4141 ext 6773. Hope to see you there!
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| Jun 5, 2012 |
| Five Things to do in Casablanca: tips from a local guide |
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| Have you ever been to Morocco? The nation is a fascinating fusion of Mediterranean and North African cultures, and its diverse influences are reflected in its unique architectural styles and cuisine. Mohamed, a guide in Casablanca, is here today to share with us five suggestions on how to enjoy his legendary hometown. |
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Today Casablanca is the largest city in the Maghreb; despite its size, the city retains a very real charm, thanks in large measure to different attractions. Here are some of my personal recommendations:
1. ENTER HASSAN II MOSQUE. This great mosque is a MUST SEE, it’s the third biggest in the world and it’s very beautiful! The entire structure, which covers a total area of 24, 000 square meters, is designed on a gigantic scale! This mosque is nothing like any other you've seen before!
2. DISCOVER THE CITY’S ART DECO ARCHITECTURE. In the French-built part of the central districts of the city, visitors can see very interesting decorative details on the façades of residential and administrative buildings in Art Nouveau and Art Deco Style. Motifs taken from Renaissance, Neoclassical and Moorish traditions are also incorporated.
3. EXPLORE THE MEDINA QUARTER OF HABBOUS. With its small squares and narrow, arcaded streets it is a fine example of the successful adaptation of modern town planning to the traditional role of the medina. The copper and brass market is an interesting place to be discovered.
4. HAVE LOCAL FOOD IN A TRADITIONAL RESTAURANT. One of the must-do things in Morocco is to have a tajine, the traditional Moroccan dish named after the earthenware vessel with the cone-shaped lid in which meat, fish and vegetables are slowly cooked. There are a variety of different types of tajine to choose from, and don’t forget to also have a Moroccan tea with mint, it’s the Moroccan national drink!
5. SEE THE CORNICHE. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a stroll along Boulevard de la Corniche which is bordered by an un-interrupted sweep of beaches, swimming pools, cafés, hotels and restaurants. If you have time, you can have a drink and breathe the sea air, while enjoying the nice weather of Casablanca!
If any travellers are headed to Casablanca in 2012 (or beyond!) you can get in touch with Mohamed for more great ideas on how to spend your time exploring this fabled Moroccan city. |
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| Jun 4, 2012 |
| Jubilee Celebrations in London |
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| In the last year, London has seen more than its fair share of pomp and circumstance. There was the Queen’s 85th birthday in April 2011, followed closely by the much anticipated wedding of Prince William and Catherine, ongoing preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics, and now Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. |
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Not even England’s infamous rain can dampen spirits in London these days: British pride is out in full force.
Despite threatening weather that turned to heavy downpours, more than 1 million people are estimated to have turned out this Sunday to watch the queen’s barge lead a 1,000-boat flotilla down the Thames. Sodden sleeping bags and crumpled ponchos along the river banks were evidence of Londoners’ determination to bear witness to the majesty of the monarchy, personal discomfort just a small price to pay to be part of royal history.
The celebrations continue today with a concert staged by a different sort of royalty: that of British pop. Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard and Sir Tom Jones — along with Dame Shirley Bassey, Stevie Wonder and younger artists including JLS, Kylie Minogue and Will.i.am – will be taking the stage outside Buckingham Palace to entertain massive crowds. The BBC is providing frantic live coverage of the event, tweeting incessantly (as I type) about what the Queen is wearing, who’s on stage, and which royals (nearly all of them) are in attendance. (One can only imagine the Queen is wearing a set of earplugs.)
With the feeling of pride and celebration lingering in the air, this summer will be a great time to visit Britain. And if crowds aren’t your thing, there’s no need to stick to London, where the Olympic Madness will no doubt be palpable. Our ToursByLocals guides can whisk you out of the city for glorious daytrips all over the English countryside, from Shakespeare’s home in the Cotswolds to the lovely medieval town of Rye to the Roman relics in Bath...and scores of other places. Rule Brittania! |
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