The French capital is a city heaped in history and tales of conspiracy, murder and even vampires! Rosie Khdir gets a fright on a Parisian ghost tour.

While the evenings are still cold and dark enough to set the scene, take a walk around Paris, a city haunted by its eerie and often violent past.

You will be surprised to learn that unlike in the capital cities of the UK, Paris does not have many ghost tours, but one that every fan of the paranormal should experience is the Mysteries of Paris Ghost Tour.

The tour group gathers every Friday and Saturday at 8pm in Black Dog Bar where you will meet one of two enthusiastic tour guides who will take you back in time, as they recant tales of Parisian horror.

These guides are like walking historical encyclopaedias, spouting interesting fact after gruesome tale as you huddle together on old cobbled streets. The tour is described as “The Dark Side of the City of Lights” and covers all things macabre including torture, executions, cannibalism, serial killings, Satanism and unexplained phenomena.

The guides are funny and engaging and make this a really unique and enjoyable way to spend an evening. You hear about the less romantic and darker side of Paris, which although at times is quite grim, is also an eye opener!

Previous visitors who have written on the Mysteries of Paris website have labelled the experience “a mix of rock & roll, urban legend and haunted history” but be warned it is not for the easily frightened!

The Black Dog Bar is situated at the 24 rue Lombards, Paris 75004 and the tour lasts about two hours. Some language can be explicit so it might not be the best family activity but for anyone who is up for a good scare and dose of gruesome French history this tour is ideal!

The Mysteries of Paris Ghost Tour is now a member of the Office du Tourisme in Paris you can get more information about the tour through them.

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Image credit: boklm

Tags: France, History, Lifestyle, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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If you are sick of visiting museums where you have to be silent and constantly obey “do not touch” signs then you should try visiting NEMO. Rosie Khdir takes a look at the largest science centre in the Netherlands.

Just moments from the Amsterdam Centraal Station sits a bold, green building that looks like a ship that’s docked. Do not be fooled, for this is the famous NEMO science centre, design by Italian architect Renzo Piano.

The five floors of this museum are dedicated to science and technology, a place where people can use all their senses to discover how the world works. A trip to this museum is great for children and for the adults out there who are kids at heart.

It is a fun and educational experience to learn how bridge become so strong in the Amazing Constructions exhibit, find out how the brain works with the Journey through the mind display; you can even discover the language behind computers at the Bits & Co exhibit.

People who are more hands-on can blow soap bubbles big enough to fit a whole person inside, experiment in the Wonder Lab and find out how to make glue from potatoes. In the summer you can splash about on NEMO’s roof in the Splashing Water Wonder.

The latest exhibition to be introduced to NEMO is “The search for new life”. This interactive exhibit questions the difference between lifeless objects and living things and whether there is life beyond Earth.

The museum has workshops, games and theatre shows are held during almost every school holiday. There are cafes inside the museum but if you prefer to bring your own food, you can snack in the assigned places.

NEMO is not only a fun and educational day out for the whole family it’s also a great sight to behold for fans of great modern architecture.

Image credit: o palsson

Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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For one enchanting evening in March some of the most famous museums in Brussels will be opening their doors to the public for some after hour’s, art filled entertainment. Rosie Khdir takes a look at what’s in store…

On the 6th March 2010, twenty museums in Brussels will open from 8pm to 1am for the Night of the Brussels Museums. This, the second edition of the event will include exhibitions of music, dance, workshops, DJs and of course the art.

Museums included in this artful extravaganza are the BELvue Museum, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art, the Museum of Costume and Lace and the Museum of the City of Brussels.

This rather unusual and delightful event has been organised in cooperation with youth organisations and students and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

It will be a night of spontaneous performance, electro-architectural exhibitions, dancing and guided tours. The best part is that those of you who come alive at night can party on until 3am at Bozar, where the event’s after-party will be held.

This truly is an extraordinary event that should not be missed by any art lover. Advanced tickets can be bought on the official Museum Night Fever website up until the 5th March but be aware that children up the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

For more a program of events, places, transport information and ticket prices visit the official event website.

Tags: Belgium, Lifestyle, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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In 2010 we will say goodbye to the Year of the Ox and welcome in the Tiger! Rosie Khdir explores the Chinese New Year celebrations across Europe.…

This weekend Chinese communities all over the world will be celebrating the start of a new year. The Year of the Ox will end on Sunday 14th of February so for those of you, who don’t fancy celebrating St. Valentine’s Day, why not join the Chinese in celebrating the Year of the Tiger?

Celebrations will kick off all over Europe for this major event in the Chinese calendar. In Paris’ 13th arrrondissement, where the largest Asian community lives, a party will begin with the traditional procession of the dragon. A colourful parade featuring firecrackers, music, dancing and this giant serpent will take place in the heart of the Chinatown in the French capital.

In the Netherlands the festivities will begin on Saturday 13th February in the city hall in The Hague. A one kilometre log red carpet will connect the city hall to Chinatown and at 1pm a firework show and dragon parade will mark the start of the party.

For the last few months Brussels has been the host for the Europalia a festival celebrating Chinese culture. This event will end on the 14th February as the new Chinese year begins. The Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, along with various other organisations in the country, is putting on a celebration on Friday 19th February at the Concert Noble in the Belgian capital, complete with delicious Chinese cuisine, performances and prizes!

A person’s Chinese zodiac sign is based on the lunar year in which they were born. The Tiger is the third animal in the zodiac which is the sign for people born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962 and 1950 and is characterised by its courage, optimism, rebelliousness and vigour.

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Image credit: Dalliano0925翹鬍子周末

Tags: Belgium, France, History, Lifestyle, Netherlands by Rosie Khdir
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The Central Museum Utrecht is opening an exhibition this weekend dedicated to Alexander van Slobbe, an international pioneer of Dutch fashion. Rosie Khdir takes a look at Fashion for thought…

Alexander van Slobbe, already celebrating his 20th anniversary, has taken the Dutch fashion world by storm and the Central Museum Utrecht is celebrating his successes with a show of his works.

The exhibition, entitled Fashion for Thought, displays the designer’s unique attitude to the design process and allows visitors to reflect on the role of fashion in society. The exhibition shows Van Slobbe’s finished designs along with some of his personal archives including patterns, fabric samples, film footage and photos.

Van Slobbe is the front runner of Dutch modernism with his sleek and simple straight lines, inspired by the works of Dutch painters like Johannes Vermeer. As part of the rebellion against the industrialisation of fashion in the late nineties Van Slobbe remained intensely involved in all processes of his clothing lines, from drawing sketches, to sourcing materials to crafting his creations.

The designer graduated from the art academy of Arnhem and has, since the late eighties, had his designs admired worldwide. In 1988 he founded his women’s fashion label, Orson + Bodil and in 1993 a men’s label called SO.

He has also collaborated with Claudy Jongstra, Royal Tichelaar Makkum, Marc Mulders and PUMA and some of these creations are on display at the exhibition in Utrecht.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 13th February 2010 and ends 16th May 2010. Visit the official Central Museum Utrecht for more details.

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Image credit: Horia Varlan

Tags: Lifestyle, Netherlands, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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This year’s Belgian Gay and Lesbian Film Festivial is going on as we speak, in ten different towns for ten days. Rosie Khdir finds out more…

This year marks the 24th festival of its kind, and will be held in ten towns around Belgium including, Anderlecht, Anvers, Charleroi, Liège, Mons, Namur, Tournai and Verviers and of course Brussels.

The event, presented by Tels Quels, is supported by Marthe Alphonsine Djilo Kamga, “an author of recognised works on female homosexuality in Cameroon and initiator of two cinematographic projects on this theme”, and Charles Gueboguo, “author of several books on homosexuality and AIDS in Africa”.

This year events will coming to three new locations in Brussels; cinema Le Vendôme, for screenings, the Palace for 3 shows, the European Gala and the Closing Party and the Smouss Café for a “Special Thé Dansant” (Tea-dance) as an Opening Party.

As for the actual entertainment, there will be films, plays, exhibitions showing photos and paintings and parties galore! The three shows held at the Palace in Brussels are “Comme ils disent” (”As they say”), from Pascal Rocher and Christophe Dauphin, “Le Plongeoir” (”The Diving Board”) by Patrick Lowie and “Mmmmmmh Libido!” by Anne Calife with Rachel Logel.

The various exhibitions explore the questions faced by our communities today, such as Gay and Lesbian rights, Trans-identity in Belgium and homosexuality and religion. These issues will be put to audiences in numerous forms, through performance, films, art and the written word.

The festival closing party is to take place at the Palace on Saturday 6th February featuring music from DJ Walibi. Please visit the official website for more details.

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Tags: Belgium, Lifestyle, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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This week sees a celebration of our 8,000 year relationship with the humble olive. John Hillman discovers a festival that’s a perfect combination on delicious scenery and gorgeous food.
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Olive oil has been around a long time. Long before the Pharaohs, the Greeks and the Romans. Indeed, before any concept of civilization began the peoples of the Mediterranean relied on its properties as a food, body cleanser, perfume and lighting fuel.

It began life in the Eastern Mediterranean and was carried west by Greek and Phoenician sailors, having already underpinned the wealth of the Minoan Empire of Crete a thousand years before.

Such is its ongoing importance to the civilizations of the Mediterranean that Olive Oil continues to be found in the religious ceremonies of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Today it underpins the regional economies of the Mediterranean – we consume 2.8 million tonnes of the stuff each year, with people from Australia to Iceland recognizing its enormous health benefits and willing to pay handsomely for their annual share.

It only makes sense, therefore, that we celebrate the annual harvest of each newest batch, which comes around the end of winter. (Hooray it’s the end of winter!). This takes place at the end of the first week of February in the medieval fortified town of Nyon in the Drôme Region of Southern France.

Known as The First Press Oil Festival, visitors to this delightfully picturesque town are invited to sit at enormous communal tables in the centre of Nyons, at the Place des Arcades, where they can rub toast in crushed garlic before dipping it in the newest batch of local olive oil, savouring the most genuine, fresh and delicious flavours of the Mediterranean.

Organised by a group known, entertainingly, as the Knights of the Olive Tree Confederation, the festival also includes folk music, dancing, concerts and special conferences. If you are heading through France this week then this is a culinary pit stop that’ll be well worth your gastronomic inspection.

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Image Credit: M. Minderhoud

Tags: France, Lifestyle by Gabriel Grant
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Next week, Antwerp will host its first ever Diamond Trade fair in the beautiful and historic Antwerp Diamond Bourse. Rosie Khdir finds out more…

The Belgian city of Antwerp is widely known as the Diamond capital of the world, but it also has a sophisticated financial and trading sector, making it ideal for this Diamond Trade fair.

The fair will have a “members-only” trading floor, open to buyers who can come and make great contacts in the diamond industry. A select group of 43 Antwerp diamond firms have been chosen to display and offer their gems, expertise and knowledge. There will also be a display of the incredible jewels for all the guests’ viewing pleasure.

It will take place at the 105-year-old trading hall of Antwerp Diamond Bourse, where over 2,000 members for around the world have traded and brokered diamonds since 1904.

Although this event is run on an “invitation only” basis, all you holiday makers can still enjoy the sparkling pleasures of Antwerp. The city has four prestigious international diamond bourses: Antwerp Diamond Bourse, where this event is being held, the Diamantclub van Antwerpen, Antwerpsche Diamantkring and Vrije Diamanthandel.

There are dozens of specialist diamond shops around the city and there is even a diamond museum, containing replicas of the British Crown Jewels and two of the world’s largest diamonds.

The Antwerp Diamond Trade fair begins on the 7th February 2010 and ends on the 9th. For more details take a look at the official site.

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Image credit: Swamibu

Tags: Belgium, History, Lifestyle, P&O Ferries by Rosie Khdir
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