10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen en-us Salcombe is situated on England’s south coast and is an Area od Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is certainly not a budget destination. The shops in town are indicative of the gentrification that the area has been through in recent times. Jack Wills, Fat Face and various other overpriced clothes shops with a sporty-but-trendy image line the high-street intersected only by food shops selling organic produce or fancy sandwich shops. The result is a rather pretentious atmosphere as the majority of people in town seem to be peroxide blonde London kids clad in the latest in the sailing-chic, sipping Lattes in street-side cafes. However, walk five minutes away from all this and one can see its attraction as a holiday destination. Firstly, there are the beaches. South sands, north sands, Mill Bay and a host of other beaches make up some of the best cared for beaches in Britain. The area is also a haven for sailors and surfers. Other water sports, such as waterskiing, are also av... Salcombe, United Kingdom Helen Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:28:47 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/986 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/986 Belgrade, Serbia’s capital is a really fascinating city – it is still emerging from its days of conflict yet is pulsing with life and full of interesting things to do. A visit to Belgrade Kalemegdan fortress is a must, especially for the views over Belgrade where you can see the the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers. The military museum which is housed in one section of the castle is also interesting and proves that the politics of the recent conflict are still controversial. The last exhibit in the museum shows artifacts from NATO actions against Yugoslavia in the 1990s, including cluster bomb shells, depleted uranium ammo, and graphite bombs. More shockingly, the uniforms of dead soldiers and KLA weapons with blood still on them are displayed almost as trophies. As for nightlife, Belgrade can provide some pretty unique eperiences. There are a series of barges on the river which are set up as clubs. My advice would be to steer clear of the first barge – as so... Belgrade, Serbia Helen Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:57:39 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/962 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/962 I visited Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, at the beginning of an interrail trip through the capital cities of Eastern Europe. On arriving in the city the first thing that struck me was the natural landscape in which Sofia is set. Over the wide streets and colourful buildings of the capital loom impressive mountains which are popular ski and hiking destinations. I only spent two days there but, feeling adventurous on the second day, my travel companions and I decided to journey up into the hills. For a Brit, Sofia is extremely cheap, so we caught a taxi to the foot of the cable car which is about 20 minutes drive out of town. Once we had negotiated the surly ticket woman, we hopped onto the cable car. It has to be said, the 20 minute ascent up to the mountain-top is not for the faint-hearted. Health and safety does not seem to be a priority in Bulgaria and our cabin rocked precariously from side-to-side. Even more disconcerting was the lack of direction as we passed through succes... Sofia, Bulgaria Helen Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:04:05 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/961 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/961 On most weekends you will find York heaving with tourists. York is one of the UK’s biggest tourist attractions. Despite this the city has retained much of its charm. Perhaps this is because its walls – which still stand and which can be walked around – keep the city itsself contained meaning it has avoided urban sprawl. The highlights of the city include the imposing Minster, the beautifully preserved shambles, the Yorvik museum and many quaint tea rooms. This is the place to go if you’re looking for that quintessentially British dining experience: afternoon tea. Betty’s Tea Shop is York’s most famous. It is renowned for its good service and, take it from me, its cakes are to die for! I study in York and always take visitors here. There are two braches in York – Betty’s and Little Betty’s. Betty’s is located on Saint Helen’s Square and is perfect for those wanting to experience a proper bit of class! The décor is 20s and you are greeted at the door... York, United Kingdom Helen Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:34:57 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/725 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/725 Aix-en-provence, situated in Southern France, is well worth a visit. Its streets combine the understated classical architecture of the 16th and 17th century with fountains and plane trees and provide one of the most elegant and stylish cities I have ever visited. There are lots of reasonable, quality places to eat and convivial bars as well as many high class shops and a buzzing market which sells delicious local produce. I went during 2006 when commemorations to mark 100 years since Cezanne's death were fully underway with an impressive exhibition of his works, as well as many other events, drawing art lovers from all over to the city. The city is tied closely to this painter who was born here and the city's museum houses a permanent collection of his work. For nature lovers or dedicated fans, Mont Sainte Victore - the mountain which Cezanne painted 28 times - can be reached by a (somewhat erratic) bus and shuttle bus from the city centre. A steep climb upwards and some in... Aix-en-Provence, France Helen Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:40:34 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/701 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/701 I recently read that Scarborough is to be 'regenerated'. Money will be injected into the area in order to update its facilities and make it a serious, classy tourist venue. Of course, this is great news for the local community and the wider area. However, a small, very selfish part of me felt a bit regretful about this. The selfish daytripper in me resented the fact that soon, Scarborough as I know it, charmingly dilapidated from its original status as a prime Victorian holiday location will be no more. For me a day in Scarborough has to begin with fish and chips. There are plenty of chippies dotted along the sea front where one can purchase a healthy portion of fishy goodness! Following this, a walk along the beach is perfect. Scarborough boasts some of the best beaches in Britain: sandy, clean and long, they attract hoards of surfers and families during the summer months. After this there is plenty to keep one occupied - endless arrays of arcade games (including th... Scarborough, United Kingdom Helen Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:49:52 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/702 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/702 Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university city and a couple of days spent here will leave you longing for the student lifestyle. I spent two weeks of Summer 2005 exploring this delightful city but just a few days is enough to sample its prime offerings. The city’s charm lies in its setting - its red-roofed buildings are situated on the meandering Neckar River in-between lush rolling green hills, it’s hard to imagine a city which looks better on the front of a picture postcard! My acquaintance with the city begun with a wander round its main sights. First stop, the amazing, architecturally diverse Heiliggeist Kirche (Holy Ghost Church) which once contained a wall to separate Protestants and Catholics, and impressive fountain and main square. This was followed by a stop-off at Altebruke (Old Bridge) with its quirky (apparantly lucky) monkey statue; I later discovered that the bridge is popular spot with students who gather here at dusk to enjoy a beer and the sunset. A w... Heidelberg, Germany Helen Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:00:32 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/699 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/699 On emerging from Leeds station I felt slightly intimidated. Already I was confronted with the sense of a heaving metropolis; a far cry from the sedate pace of York’s (the city where I study) city centre. However with a friend studying at Leeds University as a guide, I discovered that Leeds is the perfect place for a Saturday wander. Our first stop was the Corn Exchange, an impressive example of Victorian architecture, built in 1861, converted into a shopping complex in 1990 and hailed as the ‘Covent Garden of the North’. In fact, it was more reminiscent of London's Camden. Shops such as ARK and Exit, small boutiques and stalls, as well as large groups of teenagers dressed in retro t-shirts and black jeans, gave the whole place an indie feel. A brief browse was enough to establish that most of the wares were pretty overpriced and we quickly installed ourselves in the complex’s central café . The building’s high-ceilinged glass roof creates a large, airy space an... Leeds, United Kingdom Helen Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:14:07 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/helen/experience/693 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/693