Dornumersiel Harbour

Many do not realise how expansive the North Sea Coastline of Germany actually is. It is a stretch of beautiful beaches, grassy dykes, designated nature reserves with large mudflats and many picturesque towns and villages. This is an unspoilt and widely undiscovered area of Germany yet has so much to offer the tourist. It can also boast to have the freshest sea air in the world.

The port of Dornumersiel sits on this coast line, and has much to offer the visitor. There is a leisure centre and a fantastic wellness and spa centre that offers all manner of treatments that will leave you feeling completely rejuvenated and like a new person. Various accommodations are dotted around the town and whether you want a caravan break or a stay in a rustic holiday home such as Risel-Ferienhaus (German only), Dornumersiel fits the bill. Risel-Ferienhaus is ideally located around 10-15 minutes walk away from the beach and close to shops for stocking up on supplies (essential during the winter months). It also has access to a shared sauna adjoined to the building, ideal for tranquil relaxation and enjoying the North See area in comfort.

Cuxhaven is a well known spa town that sits in the North Sea coastline and home to an important fisherman’s wharf. Slightly off the coast lies the island of Neuwerk, the sea recedes so far at low tide that it is possible to walk across the mudflats to the island. There are quite a few hotels in Cuxhaven and in keeping with the area they are all traditionally built and even the new ones are in the traditional style.

The small village of Rantum has a very colourful history, over the years the original settlements have been destroyed by storms or buried by sand drifts. The village today is charming and picturesque and gives you a real idea of what it is like to live in a small corner of a euro superpower that remains as it did decades ago and hasn’t been invaded by tourists.

If you want to take a holiday on the North Sea coast of Germany, check out the many websites and decide where you want to stay. Wherever you lump for on this dramatic coastline you are assured of a relaxing and peaceful holiday, and the chance to really recharge those batteries.

York, the county town of Yorkshire, is a great destination for a short break. Steeped in history and with a very strong connection to the Vikings of Scandinavia, York has much to appeal to visitors of all ages. As York is a very popular city with visitors flocking in constantly, the compact city centre can get very congested, thus making the train very much the favourite mode of transport to reach York by.

There are many rail tours to York that include your rail and hotel, and these are becoming increasingly popular.  These give you the best of both worlds as your travel and accommodation is all sorted in advance, and you have the rest of the time to explore this stunning city at your leisure.

Some of the main attractions of York, such as the Dungeons and the Jorvik Centre charge entry fees, and you can sometimes incorporate these into the price you are paying for your travel and hotel, or alternatively book them online in advance.

If there is one must see sight in York, it has to be the Minster. This magnificent minster towers over the city majestically, and can be seen from almost everywhere. Today’s Minster dates from 1220, and is the third to have stood on the site. A bolt of lightning struck the Minster in 1984, causing a devastating fire in the South Transept, the damage caused by this act of nature took 4 years to rectify.

Strolling around the cobble stone streets of York is like taking a step back in time, and no trip is complete without visiting the most popular street in Europe, Shambles. Built in such a way that the roofs of the buildings on opposite sides almost touch, Shambles was voted the most picturesque street in Britain in 2010, and is supposedly where Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books was based on.

The beautiful, classical and historical city of Vienna is not only the capital of Austria but is widely regarded as the music capital of the world. Think of Vienna and the Blue Danube, the waltz and Mozart immediately spring to mind, but there is a lot more to this city than music, although the Viennese are rightly proud of their musical heritage.

There are numerous museums and other cultural havens in Vienna, and while a lot are obviously associated with classical music, there are others that feature great works of art and tell the story of the part that occupied Austria played in WWII. Horse lovers will relish a trip to the world famous Spanish Riding School, which features the oldest breed of horses is Europe, the Lippizzans.

Visitors to Vienna are invariably music fans, and classical certainly meets modern here where they still have a traditional ball season at the beginning of the year yet also have a vast array of contemporary clubs where everything from Jazz to pop can be heard live. The combination of great live music, excellent cuisine and the unique essence of Vienna makes for some great nights out during your stay here.

While the River Danube may not exactly be blue, it is still a stunning waterway spanned by many different means of crossing including pedestrian, cycle, road and rail bridges. A short river cruise down the Danube is the perfect way to relax and take in all that Vienna has to offer, and totally embrace the culture of this fabulous city.

Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Iron Curtain, Europe in its glorious entirety is now accessible to all. We in the UK have made sure we see as much as possible to, and Eastern Europe in particular has seen a huge surge in popularity for summer holidays as well as weekend and short breaks. One of the best ways to see Europe is by train, and there are some great train journeys to be had.

Generally, taking train journeys in Europe is the kind of trip usually associated with students and backpackers, but more and more people are catching on to what a great, and cost effective, way of seeing Europe this is. There are some breathtaking journeys to be had; one of them being through the Alps. Imagine going through valleys and glaciers with towering mountains on one side and dizzying drops on the other. A train ride through the Alps is not something you will ever forget and the photo opportunities unsurpassed.

France is not only the biggest country in Europe, it is also the most picturesque and diverse. From the glitzy resorts in the south to the unspoilt rural villages it is like stepping back in time, a train journey through France will give you a taste of the real essence of this fabulous country, and discover for yourself exactly what it has to offer.

Eastern Europe is stunning, fact. Gothic architecture, colourful, vibrant and cultural, a train journey here will give you access to a part of Europe that feels like a different world. Folklore, legends and myths are found in abundance here, and the culture so fascinating and diverse that there is bound to be a particular area that you fall in love with and want to return to for a longer stay.

Oooh, a trip to Vienna! We know what that means: old world Austrian elegance, plenty of Teutonic historical references and rich musical traditions. Did that pique your interest? We thought so! Keep reading to find out how you can craft your own historically rich adventure in “The City of Dreams.”

If you happen to be visiting Vienna during the late fall to early winter months, then a visit to one of the many Christkindl markets that dot the city is a must. Brimming with potential gifts, musical delights and fellow travellers hopped up on mulled wine, get a glance of picturesque Vienna at its best. For a classic Christkindl market experience visit the most popular one located near the City Hall.

If you’re hopping around Vienna then you simply can’t miss a trip to the Schonbrunn Palace. Located right outside the city this cultural treasure is noted for its gorgeously historical interior and the surrounding natural scenery. If you’re in a for a super-packed day, make sure to visit the Palace’s Palm House and accompanying zoo.

Okay, now it’s time to get your traditional culture fix: a little art. For those amongst us who love their classics, head on over to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which was built in the 19th century and is located right on Maria Theresienplatz. Rumored to be on par with the Louvre, but with less of a wait and headache, this behemoth museum might take multiple trips to truly discover and enjoy. The museum houses historic treasures large and small, including million-dollar objects commissioned by the Habsburg Emperors, Velasquez portraits, Bruegels paintings, Near Eastern Art and much much more. If a taste for the finer cultural exploits is on your travel agenda, then the Kunsthistorisches Museum is certainly a must-do!

Bruges calls! This little gem of a city is just waiting to welcome you on a short getaway or longer adventure. If you’re itching for all things Belgian, whether that be chocolate, craft beer or some other Bruges-centric delight (mmmm, waffles!), then hop the train for a relaxing stay in this culture-soaked capital.

First things first, no stay in Bruges would be complete without a trip along its historic canals. Sure, it’s the super-touristic approach but let’s be honest here: if you’re reading this article you’re no local. That being said, there are so many canal tour options that you’re sure to find one that’s a little less cramped and off-the-beaten canal way.

Any weekend in Bruges will certainly feature a fair amount of walking, so pack your most comfortable shoes. Make sure to hit the historic city centre. With all the grand cathedrals, large squares such as the Markt and the Burg and undisturbed medieval architecture, you’ll surely have your weekend fill of historical importance.

If you’re a brewophile at heart then Bruges will certainly come through with its huge selection of quality Belgian beers. No doubt you’ll stop by the cities wealth of breweries (take a tour!), bars and bottle shops to make up your own mind about the Belgian beer scene. For those who like their pints served with some history, hit the famed Brewery Museum which is located in an old malthouse.

And here’s one last thing to keep in mind: don’t forget to pick up some chocolates or truffles for all the unlucky souls who had to stay at home!

Known as the city of Bridges, it would be easy to spend weeks in Porto, Portugal, exploring the rich scents and flavours of the town, but if you only have 36 hours then you will need to narrow down your itinerary to make sure that you see the best that the charming Portuguese town has to offer. The charm of the city is easy to observe as it sits on steep hills with the river Douro passing underneath and providing for great views form the compact cobblestone streets of the city proper.

On your first day in town you should plot out some time to simply walk around the town starting at the Camara Municipal city hall and walking towards the main avenue to the Igreja de Santa Ildefonso church. Continue to head down the street and you will get to see many other great sights including the Gustave Eiffel. While out and about make sure to grab lunch near the Mercade do Bolhao where you will find plenty of great cafes and then refocus your sightseeing to do some window shopping as the area is packed with plenty of boutiques with local and designer goods on display.

The EU came about as a means of preventing another World War as the foundation was formed after World War II when integration among the countries was seen as the best way to steer clear of the violent nationalism that had caused problems for the last several decades. The first approach was to form the European Coal and Steel Community which failed to remain together, but out of which came the European Economic Community to discuss the creation of a customs union and the European Atomic Energy Community to help stimulate the growth of nuclear energy.

Out of these groups would soon come a great deal of tension leading to the Merger Treaty to help bring the communities together creating the European Communities or what would become known as the EC. From the sixties until the nineties a great deal of countries would join the EC which would remain in place until 1993 when the Maastricht Treaty was signed to allow more nations into the newly renamed and established EU. It was at this point that the Eurozone was created as well as the push to use the Euro as the main currency across all member genes.

If you are looking to start your tech business some place in Europe and want to choose a location where your start-up has the best chance of success, you may want to consider Germany’s Berlin. Not only is Berlin known for its vibrant nightlife and its many hip museums, but all of its youth orientated activities and trendy neighbourhoods are now attracting a great deal of innovative entrepreneurs with great success as high tech start-ups are finding great success due to the presence of the many computer savvy grads that line the streets from Berlin universities.

Given the fact that the city is already home to many smart, creative, and young people it has a beating pulse that makes it great for research which is something that industry tech leaders have noticed as well which is why both Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp have offices in the city. Berlin is also attractive to young tech start-ups due to the fact that it offers some of the lowest living costs and low rents, which is great for those who are just getting out there and attempting to start a company in a larger city.

At the moment Germany is suffering from a shortage of qualified workers which is good news for young people with university educations as the country is in hot pursuit of anyone that they can tempt into their borders. The shortage is severe to top it off making it an even more attractive place to seek employment for those who cannot find a job anywhere else given the fact that the Federal Employment Agency of Germany predicts that by 2025 there will be a decrease of about six and a half million workers left in the country.

In order to make up for this loss in workers, Germany will need to encourage 200,000 immigrants a year to enter its borders half of which will need to be university educated and the other half of which need to be skilled in more practical workplace talents. In an effort to make up for their dwindling workforce, Germany is focusing its efforts on countries that have been hit hard by the economic crisis such as Portugal, Spain, and Greece hoping to lure in those who are having trouble finding a job to consider moving into its own borders and starting a new life.