City Preview - Rome

Must Do's

• Colosseum
• Arc Di Constantino (arc of constantine)
• Foro Romano (Roman forum)
• Palatino (palace ruins)
• Terme di Caracalla (baths of caracalla)
• Bacca della Verita (mouth of truth)
• Circus Maximus (tip: No ruins here. Just a huge ground. Overlooked by the Palantino)

NB: The above are within walking distance of each other. Take the underground line B.

• Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish fountain
• Spanish steps
• Sant Angelo Castle
• The Vatican City (tip: Visitng times vary. Check before you visit)

NB: Take the underground line A for the above sites.

Transport in Rome is quite efficient. €4.00 will get you a day ticket to be used on the underground, busses and trams.

Airports:

Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) Airport to central Rome:

• Train - Leonardo Express direct to Termini (Rome's main station)
• Bus - Terravision direct to Termini
• Taxi - very expensive

Ciampino Airport to central Rome:

• visit the link: http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/rome/ciampino.html for the best info.

useful sites:

• http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/rome/airports.html
• http://www.rome.letsgo2.com/whygo2.php

Pics We Took In Italy

Venezia

To all those who dream of venice and its romantic canals, moonlit walks and gorgeous buildings - its everything to look forward to. Junaid and I didnt expect much(complaints from others), but to our surprise Venice is quite a city. Right now we are taking a city tour and thereafter going to have lunch on one of the canals. Its a bright sunny day and we enjoying every minute. Anyway, we gotta go, venice awaits!!! will keep yall posted when alls done.

Italy, Ahhh, Ferrariiiiiiiii

Italy, watch out, here we come.

We off to Italy tomorrow morning. Know you guys are envious, but we'll enjoy for all. Promise (hand at my heart). Anyway, gotta go, watching Sahara right now, and what ever filth comes after that. hehehehe.

Will post whilst on the trip.

Ciao

FA Cup Final 2007

Well, so the end of the football season is upon us. So what if Manchester United lost 1-0 to Chelsea at the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley stadium. I did watch most of the game, when I could see past the the big head of a friend who I was watching it. He kept jumping up screaming at the screen, shouting at the players to shoot, pass, run, you name it. Couch coaches. It was quite entertaining though. Thanks Uzayr. Some fun for the day.

United have had an excellent season I think. We only took the trophy for one of the best football leagues in the world. We lost in the semi final of the European Cup. Lost in the semi final of the FA cup. Kinda like a pattern, Lost a semi, lost a final, won a final (something like that). I think United have been one of the teams of the year. I know, I know, I am a United supporter, not Die Hard though. It was not the end of the world when they lost yesterday. I do enjoy it when they win.

How can any United supporter be disappointed after the season they've had. It was awesome. Lets home we have an excellent season for many years to come.

GO Man United!!!

City Preview - Istanbul

Must Do's

• Blue Mosque
• Topkapi Palace Musuem
• Hagia Sophia
• Grand Bazaar
• Hamam (Turkish Bath) - (tip: there is a nice one, open till 24:00 with male and female seperate, opposite SultanAhmet tram station. If you are modest, make sure you were some underware, else you will be NACKED!!!. Ask my wife, she had some good experiences with other ladies in the hamam.)

NB: the above are within walking distance from each other

• Egyptian Bazaar
• Sulaimaniya Mosque
• Cruise on the Bosphorus - 5 lira
• Walk on the main street in Taksim
• The Sahaba Buried in Istanbul : There are about 29 Sahaba R.A (Companions of the prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H) buried in Istanbul. Visit the link below to get more info on burial sites around Istanbul. (MUST DO) http://www.paklinks.com/gs/archive/index.php/t-124308.html

Most restaurants in Istanbul are Halal, owned by muslims. There is some controversy whether some are halal or not. Up to the individual to find out.

Public transport in Istanbul is cheap (most fares were TL1.30/trip - 11/2006). This consists of Trams, Buses and Ferries.

Airports:

Useful site: http://www.travel-library.com/airports/europe/turkey/istanbul/

(Tip: Cheapest way from Sabiha Gokcen to Sultan Ahmet :

Bus from airport to Kadikoy, Ferry from Kadikoy to Eminonou, Tram from Eminonou to Sultan Ahmet)

useful site - Istanbul : http://www.ibb.gov.tr/en-US/KenteBakis/IstanbulGuide/

City Preview - Amsterdam

Must Do's:

• Take a cruise on the canals of Amsterdam. (tip: use canalbus. its a "hop on hop off" tour, valid till 12:00 the next day with explanations about various sites in many languages).


• Take a trip in the country side. See the windmills, cheese factories, clog factories.


• Take a walk around the city. No need to use public transport. Also the canalbus is useful.


• Museums: Rembrant's House, Van Gogh, Anne Frank's House.


• The red light district. Not that it's nice. Just out of interest.
  

Most coffee shops are for over 18's only.

Most coffee shops sell weed, majic mushrooms etc. (enjoy)

Many halaal places to eat : http://www.zabihah.com

Beware of the bicycles. Do not walk in the bike lanes next to the pedestrian walk way. You will get knocked.

Hotels in Amsterdam are quite expensive.

We stayed in a golf resort just out of the city. Purmerend. 20 minute bus ride into city centre.

Watch this space for previews on Brussels, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris and many more.

Frankfurt

We have just arrived in Frankfurt from our lovely Golf course hotel in Holland. 465km, 4.30 Hrs later. This internet access (Holiday Inn) is very expensive so I will not sit here long. We are on our way to the city centre to see what's up. Sun sets at about 21:45 in central Europe, so its cool to tour if you are on "Butler" time.

Autobahn is so cool. Even though it's raining, people are still driving at almost 100 miles an hour. If we were in England, there will be a huge traffic backlog and we would have been cruising at 40 mi/hr. (gotta post something about english drivers here soon - viz. matrix boards)

Anyway, gotta run.

Watch this spot.

PS: Those small pics at the top are photos taken by us on our trips.

Amsterdam

Well, thanks for all the comments on my previous post.

I did not have internet access the past 2 days so here's a small update. Paris was lovely, did all the usual sites. Going back there so will update with further Paris details when back home.

We are currently sitting in an internet cafe, 20 meters from the ........"District". It was shocking, Fathima was getting excited asking if we can take a few items from the windows home. Obviously NO!!!! (hey guys, fathi here......dont let junaid lie to you, you should have seen his eyes pop...talk about saucers!!!!!! and his neck nearly break turning from one window to another!!! :-) )

Well, she pried the keyboard away from me there. anyway, forgetting that nonsense. Amsterdam is a lustly, I mean lovely place. Chucking buckets outside though. We going to see some old places tomorrow with weedmills, I mean windmills and clog making and stuff. ( P.S---guys NO side comments about the clogs I used to wear...they served me well... Fathi).

Awrite, gotta get on the streets and test the wears. Will post asap. Keep the comments coming

Excited about Paris

Really excited today. Leaving for Paris tonight. Driving to Dover, ferry to Dunkerque, straight to hotel in Paris. Wife's at work, so got to clean the house first, cook supper, pack my bag, pack her bag, massage her feet when she gets back..........whew, wish me luck.