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FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Founded in 1982
Online Since 1995
FREESUN N° 486 - May 2011
Stuttgart Celebrates the 125th Anniversary of the Automobile
The Automobile Year of 2011
! PAGE 1
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Daimler, Carl Benz and Wilhelm
Maybach, are guaranteed to make the
Automobile Year of 2011 an unforget-
table highlight.
In the Stuttgart region, too, this unique
jubilee will be the focus of attention.
After all, here more than anywhere
else in Germany automotive history is
ever-present and very much alive. In
the Stuttgart region there's a tangible
link between the history of the auto-
mobile and future innovations. As well
as the amazing and unique Mercedes-
Benz and Porsche automobile muse-
ums, the Stuttgart region also offers a
huge diversity of places to visit with
attractions to suit every taste, such as
the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in
Stuttgart – the name of Baden- Stuttgart's close involvement with the
Fellbach, the Galleries for Art and
Württemberg's capital is inseparably automobile.
Technology in Schorndorf, the Boxen-
linked with that of the automobile. And now, to honour the 125th anni-
stop Car and Toy Museum in Tübin-
This is where one of the very first versary of the automobile in a fitting
gen, Gottlieb Daimler's birthplace in
automobiles was conceived in a little manner (it was in 1886 that Carl Benz
Schorndorf and his inventor's work-
workshop by Wilhelm Maybach and invented the famous Benz Patent Mo-
shop in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. Yet
Gottlieb Daimler, and where today tor Car, the world's first automobile),
despite their variety they all have one
two of the world's most outstanding the state of Baden-Württemberg is
thing in common: a love of automo-
automobile museums are to be found. devoting a whole summer of events to
biles. All of these institutions will be
And here, too, is where the main pro- this economic icon. Countless events
getting spruced up for the Automobile
duction plants of both Mercedes-Benz on the theme of the automobile, a host
Year of 2011 in order to offer their
and Porsche are located, and where the of special exhibitions in museums and
visitors a really special experience on
people feel a close bond with the his- cultural institutions, interesting in-
this festive occasion ■
tory and traditions of these two global sights into automotive history and –
www.stuttgart-tourist.de
last but not least – the celebration of
Baden-Württemberg's great automo-
tive pioneers and inventors, Gottlieb
concerns. Ever since 1951 the Mer-
cedes Star has revolved unceasingly
on top of the tower of Stuttgart's main
railway station, and the spectacular
"Retro Classics" trade fair is just one
more example of the long tradition of
! PAGE 2
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
The Reikartz Hotels & Resorts in
Ukraine
April 2010 announces
about the management contract signed
for Reikartz River Mykolaiv. This
business hotel is peacefully located in
the historical center of Mykolaiv, on
the bank of the river Pyvdennyi Buh.
The end of 2010 witnessed the open-
ing of two more Reikartz hotels in
In 2003, the Belgian architect Francois Kvasova. Due to its SPA & Wellness Pochayiv and Lviv, Ukraine. Reikartz
Ryckaerts and partners bought a build- center Reikartz Polyana has an at- Pochayiv with the 70 rooms capacity
ing on Drukarska Street in Lviv, West- tractive advantage over all the other is located in Ternopilska region, close
ern Ukraine. Thus, Reikartz Hotels & local hotels and health resorts, as it is to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv
Resorts were created with Francois not only common balneotherapy that it Lavra, which is very convenient for
Ryckaerts as Chief Architect. offers to its guests. The specialists of numerous pilgrims and tourists who
Reikartz Polyana apply a combination come to visit the monastery.
In December 2008 Reikartz Hotels & of various treatment methods – min-
Resorts opened the first hotel, Rei- eral water is used alonside with mud
kartz Carpaty, in Zhdeniyevo, treatment, massotherapy, electrother-
Zakarpatska region. This region is an apy and magnetotherapy. This allows
important tourist and travel destination to efficiently treat a whole range of
with wonderful landscapes and mild health disorders, as well as to provide
climate - a perfect choice for skiing, a complex health improvement.
hiking and admiring the beauty of
nature. Reikartz Hotels & Resorts continued
its rapid expansion during 2009 and
Subsequently, Reikartz Hotels & Re- in August took over the management
sorts acquired a hotel in the nearby and upgraded one of the best business
health resort Polyana, renowned for its hotels in Kirovograd, today called Reikartz Medievale Lviv became the
climate and mineral water Polyana Reikartz Kirovograd. second hotel of the chain in the city.
The name is fully justified by the ho-
In Lviv, a busi- tel’s location close to the ancient heart
ness hotel with of Lviv, Rynok Square. At first the
stylish and ele- hotel will have 23 rooms; later on the
gant interior, capacity will grow up to 70 rooms.
Reikartz Dwor-
zec Lviv, In February 2011, the company signed
opened in De- the agreement for managing the hotel
cember 2009. Aurora, Kryvyi Rih, which joined
Reikartz Hotels & Resorts and from
Reikartz Hotels now on is known as Reikartz Aurora
& Resorts con- Kryvyi Rih.
tinues its rapid The last opening took place on May,
growth and in 1st, 2011Reikartz Dnipropetrovsk is
! PAGE 3
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
a business-hotel with 80 rooms. With
its two modern conference halls and
convenient downtown location, the
hotel will be of great interest for the
business circles of Ukraine.
Internet :
The strategy of Reikartz Hotels & http://en.reikartz.com/
Resorts is to enlarge the chain up to
twenty hotels conforming to European
Standards during the coming five
years. Hotels will be located in the
largest cities and the most visited tour-
ist resorts of Ukraine. Our goal is to
make Reikartz Hotels & Resorts the
preferred provider of quality accom-
modations for business and leisure
travel in Ukraine.■
! PAGE 4
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Reikartz Hotels & Resorts Open Hotel in Dnipropetrovsk
Ukrainian hotel chain Reikartz Hotels & Resorts an-
nounces the opening of a 4-star hotel in Dnipro-
petrovsk.
The new hotel of the chain is conveniently located in
the historic and business center of the city, on Krasnaya
Street. This location is only minutes away by foot from
Karla Marksa Avenue – one of Dnipropetrovsk’s main
streets.
Reikartz Dnipropetrovsk offers its guests 80 modern
and spacious rooms. Rack rates this year for double
rooms start from 650 UAH . The exclusive three-
room Suites will cater to the needs of the VIP guests.
In addition the hotel offers two spacious conference
halls for business or private occasions, restaurant of
European and Ukrainian cuisine, as well as stylish bar.
«Even long before the opening we witnessed considerable interest towards Reikartz Dnipropetrovsk from the Ukrainian
business community. I am quite convinced, the new hotel will become the constant choice of our partners for organiza-
tion of business conferences in Dnipropetrovsk», - says Sebastian Kraemer, Chief Operating Officer, Reikartz Hotels &
Resorts.
Dnipropetrovsk has more than 1 ml population and is considered to be one of the most important economic centers of
Ukraine. The center of iron industry, the city is also witnessing active development in services and trade. However up to
this very moment the city lacked hotels of 4-star level. Reikartz Dnipropetrovsk opening with perfect infrastructure for
business travelers solves this issue.■
! PAGE 5
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
One in four Russian citizens could
own Sochi 2014 Olympic coins
Sochi 2014 Games region – particu-
larly the unique city of Sochi itself.
Nine savings coins of original rectan-
gular form showing the Sochi 2014
mascots will also be issued. The coins
design was developed by V/O Goznak
of Russian in collaboration with the
Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.
The Sochi 2014 Organizing Commit- tovskiy, Deputy Chairman of Sber- Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sochi 2014
tee, the Central Bank of the Russian bank of Russia Stanislav Kuznetsov, President and CEO, said:
Federation, V/O Goznak and Sberbank General Director of V/O Goznak Ar-
of Russia has announced the start of kadiy Trachuk and Sochi 2014 Presi- “The main peculiarity of the Sochi
the Sochi 2014 Coins Program. It will dent and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko. 2014 Coins Program is its all-Russian
be one of the largest-scale coins pro- The ceremony was also attended by geography. Thanks to the way we are
grams in the history of the Olympic famous Russian Olympians represent- organising the program launch, every
movement: between 2011 and 2013, ing the different kinds of sports de- fourth citizen of Russia can become an
46 kinds of commemorative and sav- picted on the Sochi 2014 coins. Two- owner of a little part of Olympic his-
ings coins made from gold, silver and times world champion Irina Slutskaya tory. The experience of the Central
non-ferrous metals will be issued. In represented figure skating and two- Bank of Russia in creating successful
total 36,7 million coins will be cre- times Olympic champion Svetlana coins programs and Sberbank’s wide
ated. Moreover, for the first time in Ishmuratova represented biathlon. regional network open unique possi-
Games history a coin with a value of bilities for the Sochi 2014 Coins Pro-
25 rubles will be issued for mass cir- The themes and design of the Sochi gram to have a real impact. I’m sure
culation. Also for the first time in Rus- 2014 coins reflect not only the Olym- that it will become a bright part of the
sia the reverse side of the coins will be pic events but also national peculiari- Sochi 2014 Games, which represent
decorated not by the two-headed ea- ties of Russia and the specifics of the new Russia.” ■
gle, but by the National emblem of the
Russian Federation.
The ceremony of the Sochi 2014
Coins Program launch was attended
by the First Deputy Chairman of the
Central Bank of Russia Georgiy Lun-
! PAGE 6
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Mkulumadzi , Majete Wildlife Reserve
dards of accommodation, hospital-
ity, guiding and catering are second
to none. ■
OPENING JULY 2011 The Reserve is an impressive example
Located in the Majete Wildlife Re- of sustainable development and biodi-
serve, Mkulumadzi offers guests a versity, since 2003 the African Parks
chic and contemporary retreat set Network has worked tirelessly to rein-
amidst rugged and untouched bush troduce endangered species and pro-
land. tect and preserve Majete’s flora and
fauna.
The lodge, accessible by footbridge
suspended over the Mkulumadzi Mkulumadzi is owned and managed Website : http://
River, comprises of eight spacious by Robin Pope Safaris, which was www.mkulumadzi.com/en/
chalets, each with private viewing founded in 1986 and known for it’s email : info@mkulumadzi.com
decks offering dramatic and unim- specialized and walking safaris. Stan-
peded views over the confluence of
two rivers, the Mkulumadzi and the
Shire. The main lodge is an open-
fronted space maximizing the beauti-
ful river views and taking advantage
of some cool shade on the forested
banks. Activities range from swim-
ming in the pool and dining under the
starts, to river cruises, game-drives
and walking safaris.
There is an abundance of wildlife in-
cluding the rare black rhino, elephant,
buffalo, Nyala, sable, eland and
Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. Numerous
species of birds grace Majete, includ-
ing Rock Prancole, Pels Fishing Owl
and more.
! PAGE 7
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Holidays on the beach: a thing of the past?
lar with the Germans is going out of within Europe round trips rank ahead
fashion. Whereas in 1998 64.5 per of wellness and health vacations.
cent of German holidaymakers spent Among German holidaymakers
the nicest time of the year on the cruises are another strong growth
beach, only 58.5 per cent will be market. Dr. Buck “For many years the
booking this traditional form of holi- cruise market has been one of the most
daymaking in 2011. These are the growth-intensive sectors. It remains a
findings of a representative survey by driving force in the German tourism
ADAC Reisemonitor. By contrast, market.“ According to the ADAC sur-
round trips, city travel and cruises are vey, since 2002 this segment has expe-
the latest trend. rienced huge growth, in the order of
95 per cent. This year 4.8 of German
People on holiday still want to be ac- holidaymakers are planning a cruise,
tive, be entertained and have a over 1.5 per cent more than in 2007.
change“, says Dr. Martin Buck, direc- At 29 per cent, Central America, the
tor of the Travel & Logistics Compe- Caribbean, the Mediterranean and
tence Center at Messe Berlin and re- the Northern Cape remain the most
sponsible for ITB Berlin. “More and sought after destinations, closely fol-
A holiday experience instead of hang- more Germans want to experience lowed by river cruises, which at 20 per
ing out – Germans no longer want something new when they are away cent are rapidly growing in popularity.
their holidays to be a passive affair. and would like to get to know a coun- The market for city travel is experi-
Latest ADAC Reisemonitor survey: try and its people. This trend is also encing major growth too. Since the
round trips, city travel and cruises reflected in the catalogues of tour op- year 2000 the number of Germans
are becoming more and more popular erators, who have put together new travelling to cities has risen by 53 per
with German holidaymakers holiday deals and have expanded their cent.
portfolio to include round trips under
certain headings.” The ADAC Reisemonitor survey is
carried out once a year and is pre-
Berlin, 5 May 2011 – Summer, sun- According to the survey every second sented annually at ITB Berlin. It pro-
shine, beaches and the sea… the sort long-distance holiday booking has a vides information on trends and evalu-
of holiday that has always been popu- round trip accompanying it. Even ates travel patterns among German
holidaymakers. 4,000 members of the
ADAC were polled in order to obtain
data for the Reisemonitor. Among
other things this representative trend
survey looks at holiday expectations,
decisions and destinations in 2011. ■
! PAGE 8
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
! PAGE 9
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
The Ultimate Green Traveller's Guide To Copenhagen
tice that is becoming the norm in Co-
penhagen. But green eating in Copen-
hagen does not necessarily mean opt-
ing for a gourmet restaurant as there
are sustainable choices in all price
ranges. In April the new gastro pub
Nose2Tail (www.nose2tail.dk) opened
in the meatpacking district. As the
name indicates the concept is to use
everything from the animal to avoid
waste. At Nose2Tail the menu is de-
termined based on which products are
supplied by local organic producers
on the day. Around the corner in the
meatpacking district is the large or-
ganic restaurant BioMio
(www.biomio.dk) with room for 250
people. Here they serve organic,
healthy and tasty food at reasonable
prices in a laid back atmosphere.
For a fast food option try eating at an
authentic Copenhagen hot dog stand,
with a green twist. By Copenhagen’s
Round Tower you can find the city’s
only organic hot dog stand – Den Øk-
According to the city’s climate strat- of World’s Best Chef. ologiske Pølsemand (www.døp.dk).
egy Copenhagen is to be the world's Here you can order hot dogs and fried
first CO2 neutral capital by 2025 and At the Michelin starred restaurant sausages made from organic pork or
this has the full support of the Copen- Herman, located within the Nimb beef. Side orders and drinks are also
hageners as a green vibe flows through complex, (www.nimb.dk) they serve organic.
every corner of the city. Whether you radical interpretations of Danish clas-
are looking to eat, drink, shop or sleep sics and whether beast, fish or fruit, Green Drinks
with a clear conscience, Copenhagen every last bit is made use of – a prac-
has an eco-friendly option for you. Besides organic soups, Soupanatural
(www.soupanatural.dk) in Nørrebro
Green Eating specialises in healthy organic
smoothies - or "Vitaminas" as they
One take on green eating in Copenha- call them – and organic cocktails to-
gen’s culinary scene is seasonal cook- go. HarboBar café on Blågårdsgade,
ing with local products, with the makes spectacularly good organic
world’s best restaurant Noma leading coffee and cupcakes, and turns into a
the way (www.noma.dk). Noma’s cocktail bar in the evening, where you
success has had a profound trickle- can chose from a selection of organic
down effect on other restaurants prac- beer, wine, cocktails and schnapps.
ticing New Nordic Cuisine. Among
them is the fully organic restaurant Green Sleeping
Geranium (www.geranium.dk) with
head chef Rasmus Kofoed, winner of Lots of Copenhagen hotels tick the
Bocuse d’Or 2011, giving him the title eco-friendly box, in fact 58 % of hotel
! PAGE 10
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
energy consumption for cooling and
heating by nearly 90 percent.
Axel Hotel Guldsmeden
(http://hotelguldsmeden.com/axel/engl
ish/), situated in the trendy district of
Vesterbro, sets a high standard when it
comes to sustainability and ecology.
The breakfast buffet is 100 % organic
with homemade yogurt, French
cheeses and rustic bread and pastry
from Emmery's. Furthermore, the ho-
tel offers organic beauty products such
as shampoo, body lotion and soap
especially made for their rooms.
Green Experiences
That Copenhagen cares about the en-
vironment is clearly visible in the
street scene. The water in the inner
harbour is so clean, you can take a dip
in it and the city is sprinkled liberally
with green spaces. When the sun is
out, take a break from the busy city-
life at the Assistens Kirkegård park in
Nørrebro - a historic cemetery, which
is the burial site for prominent Danes
such as Hans Christian Andersen and
philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.
For a convenient and eco-friendly
sightseeing tour of Copenhagen take
the CityCirkel buses, route 11, which
run all day on electricity from batter-
ies charged during night time, thus
emitting less CO2 and exhaust fumes
than ordinary cars and busses. Or if
rooms are certified with the official The four star Crowne Plaza Copenha- you want an alternative means of
Green Key guarantee. Scandic Hotel gen Towers (www.cpcopenhagen.dk) transportation take a guided tour of the
W e b e r s is built to be one of the World's green- sights of Copenhagen on an environ-
(http://www.scandichotels.com/en/Hot est hotels. It has Denmark's only CO2 mentally friendly Segway
els/Countries/Denmark/Copenhagen/H neutral hotel building and meets EU (www.tourscph.com). The special ve-
otels/Scandic-Webers/) close to the requirements for green construction hicle runs on rechargeable batteries
main train station and Tivoli Gardens and all of the hotel's energy consump- and lets you glide around Copenha-
is particularly impressive. Not only is tion comes from renewable energy gen's sights in a CO2-friendly and fun
all the food and drink organic, the sources. The hotel's CO2 neutral tech- way.
hotel’s furnishings are made from en- nologies include an advanced climate
vironmentally sound textiles and a system, which uses groundwater for At Experimentarium in Hellerup
programme aimed at making the cooling during Summer and stores the (www.experimentarium.dk), just north
building 100 per cent carbon neutral heated water and recycles it to heat in of Copenhagen, you can explore eve-
by 2025 is in place. Winter. The result is a reduction of rything green in their permanent exhi-
! PAGE 11
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
bition on energy use and production; =15877) on Nørre Farimagsgade is a the bridge during morning rush hour, a
on climate and the future. The exhibi- lifestyle store with clothing, shoes, seriously impressive figure. 37 percent
tion provides a tangible picture of the bags, maternity wear, skin care prod- of commuters going to work or school
opportunities provided by both your- ucts, glass, toys and things for the in Copenhagen use their bicycle. The
self and technology. garden. Everything is organic, fair ambition is that it will be 50 percent in
trade and/or sustainable. The mini 2015. Choose between a bicycle taxi,
department store K29 (www.k29.dk) a guided bike tour
sells trendy sustainable eco clothing, (www.bikecopenhagenwithmike.dk),
shoes and silver jewellery, from rent your own bike (www.baisikeli.dk)
among others, the three owners’ own or use one of the free city bikes
brands Maxjenny, Margareta Forslund (www.bycyklen.dk). See the joys of
and Owe Johansson. Pure Shop
(www.pureshop.dk) on Grønnegade in
downtown Copenhagen sells just
about every organic beauty treat you
can think of. It is Denmark's first or-
ganic perfumery specialising in or-
ganic beauty care, hair treatment and
make up. Copenhagen also has some
of the best vintage shops in the world,
Green Shopping including, Ti m e ’s Up
(www.timesupshop.com) on Krystal-
Consumers in Copenhagen demand gade.
both organic and environmentally
friendly products and retailers have Green Transport
been paying attention. You will find a
growing number of shops exclusively Getting around in Copenhagen in an
selling organic products and services. eco-friendly manner is easy – do as
cycling in Copenhagen in this award-
Noir (www.noir.dk), Ecoture by Lund the Copenhagers do: take the bike!
w i n n i n g v i d e o :
(www.shop.ecouture.dk) and Jackpot Over a third of the city’s 1.1 million
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiL
(www.jackpot.dk) are just some of the people regularly cycle to work, mak-
FHKTz6yA
high style, high sustainability brands ing Dronning Louise's Bro [Queen
available. Eco Ego Louise's bridge], the busiest cycling
If you prefer a little more comfortable
(www.winkas.dk/wkwebshop/?shopid spot in the western world. An esti-
way to get around the city, you can
mated 35,000 cyclists stream across
book a CO2 neutral taxi through
Amager-Øbro Taxi
(www.amagerobrotaxi.dk), they neu-
tralize the CO2 that your car causes
by buying certified European CO2
quotas.
! PAGE 12
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
Uckermark – Exploring
by Donkey in the
North of Berlin
The donkey sets the pace. This new
way of exploring was invented in the
Uckermark. You hike, your donkey
carries your luggage (up to 35 kg).
The tours, which may be of one or
several days’ duration, take you
through landscapes featuring small
villages, tucked away lakes and tre-
mendous views. Sometimes your
good-natured Eyore will take the lead,
other times he may prefer to take a
break and sample the grass. This will
probably mean time and kilometre
schedules getting into a state of some
disarray. The advantage is that the
two-legged participants find them-
selves learning from their long-eared,
four-legged companion how best to go
about “slowing down and relaxing”.
An additional plus point on this hike:
hikers will find that they quickly make
contact with the locals through the
donkey. You can choose from a selec-
tion of different routes which take you
through the Schorfheide and the Uck-
ermark. These often start in Suckow, a
village not far from the Pfingstberg
motorway exit north of Berlin. The
daily stretches of 10 to 25 kilometres
are geared to the requirements and the
capabilities of the visitors. You need
between two and eight hours for the
individual legs. There is always a
packed lunch. If you are participating
in trips covering several days, over-
night accommodation and evening
meals will be organised. Recently a
tour has been launched featuring over-
night accommodation in tents. For
more information visit
www.wanderninbrandenburg.de
! PAGE 13
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
! PAGE 14
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
A thousand years since first written
record of Bled castle
of Poliksena and the Sunken Bell on Bled Castle is becoming one of the
the upper terrace of the Castle, along must see places for almost all visitors
with a visit from Venetian gondolas to Bled. Nearly one fourth of them
and fireworks from the castle on the come from Slovenia, followed by
lake promenade. The first weekend in guests from Great Britain, Italy, Japan,
June will be another weekend of cele- Israel, Austria, Hungary, Croatia,
bration, when the 5th annual Medie- Spain, Germany and the USA. Over
val Days of the Lord of the Manor the past several years, Bled Castle has
Perched atop a steep cliff rising 130 will feature brave knights, beautiful become a true experience – offering a
metres above the glacial Lake Bled is maidens, and skilled craftspeople and breathtaking view, a visit to the Castle
a symbol of Bled and Slovenia – Bled merchants from Slovenia and abroad.
Castle. The image of the castle, form- Two weeks later, from 17 to 19 June,
ing a dramatic backdrop to the roman- a mass castle wedding will be held at
tic island with the church on it, has Bled Castle, at which numerous cou-
earned worldwide recognition through ples from Slovenia and the neighbour-
centuries. The deed of donation in ing countries will be married simulta-
which Bled Castle is first mentioned neously.
as Castellum Veldes, dates back to the With its green-blue lake, the little
year 1011. island with its church and the medie-
museum, Castle printing works, the
“In the name of the holy and indivisi- val castle on the crags above, Bled is
Castle wine cellar and herbal gallery,
ble Trinity. Henry, by favour of the the most famous view of Slovenia.
while on the occasion of state visits,
Divine Mercy, King...” This is the The fame of Bled and its beauties was
weddings and other opportunities, the
beginning of the text of the deed of spread around the world by world
Knight Gašper Lambergar Theatre
donation from 1011, when the German travellers, including Janez Vajkard
Group takes its audiences into the
king, Henry II, donated Bled Castle – Valvasor and his Glory of the Duchy
Middle Ages by demonstrating medie-
then called Castellum Veldesin – along of Carniola of 1689. This tourist gem
val culture and entertainment.
with the surrounding land in the size of international fame located at the
For more information on the history
of 30 king’s farms from the area be- edge of Triglav National Park was
and offer of Bled Castle, please visit.■
tween the two Sava Rivers, to Adel- among the nominees for seven new
beron, the bishop of Brixen. wonders of the World!
In terms of written documents, Bled
Castle is the oldest castle in Slovenia.
It will celebrate its anniversary ) dur-
ing a major investment cycle and vari-
ous events marking the millennium
will be held throughout the year, be-
ginning in May. The main ceremony
will be held on Saturday and Sunday,
21 and 22 May 2011, with a Medieval
performance of King Matjaž and
Alenčica and a baroque performance
! PAGE 15
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
10 Things Not to Miss in San Francisco
One of the nicest things about visiting the world, manages to impress even stunning 1.7-mile span. Approxi-
San Francisco is that, although the city the most experienced travelers with its mately 120,000 automobiles drive
is "big" in terms of attrac-
tions and amenities, it is
geographically small - only
49 square miles. Conse-
quently, it is very easy to
see and do a great many
things in a short period of
time.
It is also easy to spend
weeks in San Francisco and
still not experience every-
thing the city has to offer.
Here is a suggested list of
the top 10 things not to
miss in San Francisco, ac-
cording to the San Fran-
cisco Travel Association:
1. The Golden Gate Bridge,
the most famous bridge in
! PAGE 16
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
across it every day. A pedestrian they explore the buildings and European-style sidewalk cafes, restau-
walkway also allows the crossing on grounds. To reach the island, take an rants and shops centered near Wash-
foot, and bikes are allowed on the Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 43. ington Square along Columbus and
western side. The Golden Gate Bridge Advance reservations are recom- Grant avenues. The beautiful Church
is said to be one of the most photo- mended, 415-981-ROCK (7625). of Saints Peter and Paul is a beloved
graphed things on Earth. (www.alcatrazcruises.com) landmark. Coit Tower atop Telegraph
Hill offers a splendid vantage point for
photos of the bridges and the Bay.
Inside the tower, floor-to-ceiling mu-
rals painted in the 1930s depict scenes
of early San Francisco.
(www.coittower.org).
7. The entrance to Chinatown at Grant
Avenue and Bush Street is called the
"Dragon's Gate." Inside are 24 blocks
of hustle and bustle, most of it taking
place along Grant Avenue, the oldest
street in San Francisco. This city
within a city is best explored on foot;
exotic shops, renowned restaurants,
food markets, temples and small mu-
seums comprise its boundaries. Visi-
tors can buy ancient potions from herb
shops, relax and enjoy a "dim sum"
lunch or witness the making of fortune
2. Cable cars have been transporting 4. Fisherman's Wharf is also home to cookies.
people around San Francisco since the Pier 39, a festive waterfront market-
late 19th century. The cars run on place that is one of the city's most 8. Dining in San Francisco is an at-
tracks and are moved by an under- popular attractions. A community of traction in itself. Known as America's
ground cable on three routes. Their California sea lions has taken up resi- best restaurant city, San Francisco
familiar bells can be heard ringing dence on the floats to the west of the chefs excel at combining the freshest
from blocks away. Tickets ($5) may be pier and visitors line the nearby railing local ingredients, authentic interna-
purchased at the cable car turnarounds to watch their antics. From there it's a tional flavors and a touch of creative
at the ends of each route. Each one- short walk to the Wax Museum, genius. Choose your cuisine - Chinese,
way ride will provide spectacular Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the
views of the city's celebrated hills as famous crab vendors selling walk-
well as exhilarating transportation. away crab and shrimp cocktails.
(www.sfcablecar.com)
5. Union Square is the place for
3. Alcatraz, the notorious former serious shoppers. Major depart-
prison, is located on an island of the ments stores and the most exclusive
same name in the middle of San Fran- designer boutiques line streets like
cisco Bay. Some of the United States' Post, Sutter, Geary, Grant, Stockton
most notorious criminals were incar- and Powell. The Westfield San
cerated there. Though several tried, no Francisco Shopping Centre houses
inmate ever made a successful escape the largest Bloomingdale's outside
from "The Rock." The prison was of New York and the second largest
closed in the 1960's and stories about Nordstrom in the U.S.
Alcatraz are legendary. A visit to Alca-
traz today is fascinating. Recorded 6. North Beach, the city's Italian
cell-house tours are available, allow- quarter, isn't a beach at all. It's a
ing visitors to learn about the prison as neighborhood of romantic
! PAGE 17
FREESUN NEWS! 19 MAY 2011
The San Francisco Visitors
Planning Guide is available at
the Visitor Information Center,
900 Market St., at the corner
of Powell and Market streets,
lower level, Hallidie Plaza. A
virtual edition of the guide is
also available online:
Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, companies dot the city. The San Fran- http://guides.weaver-group.com/sf/ovg
Moroccan, Indian, Malaysian, Mexi- cisco Museum of Modern Art, the 2/2010/ A visitor's kit may also be
can, Greek, Russian or "fusion," a Asian Art Museum, the de Young Mu- ordered online at
combination of any or all of these in- seum, the Palace of the Legion of www.sanfrancisco.travel, by phone at
fluences. Visit TasteSF at Honor and other museums and galler- 415-391-2000 or 415-392-0328 (TTY/
www.sanfrancisco.travel/taste for a list ies are devoted to the finest of classi- TTD), by written request to the San
of San Francisco's hottest restaurants, cal and contemporary arts. For a com- Francisco Visitor Information Center,
a calendar listing of food-related news plete museum guide, visit 900 Market St., San Francisco, CA
and events, the history of San Fran- www.sanfrancisco.travel. 94102, or via email to
cisco's many food firsts, chef profiles, For general information on hotel vic1@sanfrancisco.travel. Domestic
and Foodie 411, a weekly insider's packages and reservations; events; and international shipping charges
blog by Marcia "the tablehopper" Ga- activities and transportation in San apply.
gliardi. Francisco, visit
www.sanfrancisco.travel. For lodging San Francisco International Airport
9. Nightlife in San Francisco is a con- reservations, call 800-637-5196 within (SFO) offers non-stop links with more
stantly changing scene. The "hottest" North America or 415-391-2000 or than 30 international points on five
clubs currently are in the South of 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD) elsewhere. continents with 29 international carri-
Market and Mission districts, with live ers. The Bay Area's largest airport
and recorded rock and Latin music. connects non-stop with more than 65
Jazz, blues, swing and "oldies" music cities in the U.S. on 20 domestic air-
can be found all over town. For a lines. For up-to-the-minute departure
complete list of nightlife options, visit and arrival information, airport maps
www.sanfrancisco.travel. and details on shopping, dining, cul-
tural exhibitions, ground transporta-
For general information on hotel tion and more, visit www.flysfo.com.
10. A visit to San Francisco would not packages and reservations; events;
be complete without a cultural experi- activities and transportation in San American Express® is the official
ence. The city is home to internation- Francisco, visit credit card partner for the San Fran-
ally recognized symphony, opera and www.sanfrancisco.travel. For lodging cisco Travel Association. ■
ballet companies. Playwrights such as reservations, call 800-637-5196 within
Sam Shepherd and Tom Stoppard in- North America or 415-391-2000 or
troduce their works in San Francisco 415-392-0328 (TTY/TTD) elsewhere.
and avant-garde theatre and dance
! PAGE 18
PAGE 22
Wizz Air celebrates its 7th anniversary
“Wizz Air operates one of the
youngest fleets in the industry,
maintains a highly efficient point-
to-point network, providing direct
connections to major regional cen-
ters in Europe, and keeps its
internet-based booking system ef-
ficient and convenient. This allows
Wizz Air, the largest low fare - low The number of passengers carried
cost airline in Central and Eastern in the past 12 months exceeded 10
Europe celebrates its 7th anniver- million, 22% more than in the
sary on 19 May, 2011. previous 12 months.
Since its first flight on 19 May, Wizz Air operates one of the
2004 from Katowice in Southern youngest fleets in the world, con-
Poland, Wizz Air has become the sisting of 35 Airbus A320s. The
largest airline in Central and East- airline has a further 104 aircraft
ern Europe operating from 15 on order, which will deliver the
bases, in Poland, Hungary, Roma- airline’s growth plans for many
nia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Czech years to come.
the airline to operate with one of
Republic, Serbia and Lithuania.
the lowest cost-structures in the
industry and offer truly affordable
prices” – said József Váradi, Chief
Executive Officer of Wizz Air.
“Wizz Air has come a long way in
7 years. From an idea of establish-
ing a low cost airline in Central
and Eastern Europe and inspiring
more and more people to fly, Wizz
Air has become the largest airline
in the region, achieving market
leadership in the low-cost sector in
every country where the airline has
an operating base” – he added.
PAGE 22
Wizz
Air
launches
new
route
from
Vilnius
to
Dortmund
Wizz Air, the largest low fare – low cost airline in Central Wizz
Air
carried
more
than
10
million
passengers
in
and Eastern Europe announced that it launches a new route the
last
12
months.
The
airline's
fleet
currently
con-‐
sists
of
35
Airbus
A320
aircraB
operaCng
from
15
from Vilnius to Dortmund. The first flight will take off on
bases
in
Poland,
Hungary,
Bulgaria,
Romania,
2nd of August 2011 and will operate three times a week Ukraine,
Czech
Republic,
Serbia
and
Lithuania.
initially.
Tickets are already available from as low as LTL 47 (all
inclusive, one way) on wizzair.com or by calling the Call
Center.
Wizz Air opened its Vilnius base on 15th April 2011 and has
sold more than 70.000 segments so far. Besides this new
route, Wizz Air flies from Vilnius to Cork (Ireland),
London-Luton, Doncaster-Sheffield (UK) Eindhoven (The
Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Rome-Fiumicino and
Milan-Bergamo (Italy).
Rail Europe Opens Asian Flagship Store in Hong Kong
Amid Impressive Global Results
Expansion into the Asian market re-
sponds to a significant increase in de-
mand for exploring Europe by train,
especially among university students
and young travelers.
“Bookings in Hong Kong were up by
48 per cent from January to April this
year, with a 141 per cent increase in
April alone,” said Philippe Kirsanow,
Rail Europe’s Sales Director for Main-
land China, Hong Kong, Singapore
and the Republic Of China (Taiwan).
With a renowned focus on university
student and youth travel, Sincerity
Travel has been Rail Europe’s premier
Rail Europe has opened its first Asian quarter of 2011, confirming the organi-
sales agent in Hong Kong for over a
retail store with a flagship outlet in sation as the worldwide leading dis-
decade and was chosen as the ideal
Hong Kong in partnership with leading tributor of train travel.
partner to open the store.
local agent for train travel in Europe,
Sincerity Travel.
The store opened amid impressive
global results for 2010 and the first
PAGE 22
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