Prague concert hall

Now in its 67^th year, the 2012 festival will be held from May 12 through June 4. It has long been considered one of the most prestigious music festivals in Europe. The celebration has always been an international one, featuring top conductors, composers and musicians from all over the world.

The festival is an evolving creative showcase, offering a mix of chamber orchestras, big bands, soloists and symphonies, while casting a special spotlight on Czech composers.

Concerts are held throughout the city in a variety of venues, such as the 19^th century neo-renaissance Rudolfinum, a sumptuous venue by the Vltava River. Other venues include acoustically perfect churches and abbeys, and Prague Castle’s own Italianate concert hall.

Certain traditions are always observed: since 1952 the festival has opened with a series of symphonic poems by Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, “Ma vlast (My Country),” and finished on the last night with Beethoven’s ninth symphony.

The celebration also celebrates special moments in the classical world, hosting performances of works by composers whose pieces have reached a milestone anniversary. Each year, audiences also enjoy the world premieres of contemporary works.

A violinist playing in Prague

Many classical music stars have performed or conducted over the years, such as Arthur Rubinstein, Lorin Maazel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Mstislav Rostropovich, Lucia Popp, Sir Colin Davis, Maurice André, Sir Simon Rattle, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Leopold Stokowski. Since 1947, young musicians have also been welcome, for the Prague Spring Competition.

The festival, called simply “the Prague Spring,” was founded in 1946 as part of the celebration of the end of World War II and the Nazi occupation that has gripped the city for six long years.

The May 1990 festival was a similar time of celebration, coming seven months after the Velvet Revolution and the end of 40 years of communist rule in the country. The opening concert that year was a moment of joyful renewal of the Czech culture. Czech conductor Rafael Kubelik, also one of the founders of the Prague Spring, returned to his home country to conduct “Ma vlast”, performed under the magnificent Art Nouveau rotunda of the Smetana Hall.

While there, visit Prague Castle as well, and not only for its architectural beauty. Among the paintings by Brueghel and Canaletto and other priceless artwork you’ll find a score of “The Messiah” reorchestrated in Mozart’s hand.

Also preserved are original pages of Beethoven’s Fourth and Fifth symphonies, inscribed with the composer’s own corrections, annotations and signature. You will learn that Prince Joseph Lobkowicz was a leading patron of Beethoven.

Rudolfinum concert hall

Go to http://www.festival.cz/cz/program for the 2012 program, sporting stars such as the Dun Huang New World Ensemble, the Agon Orchestra, violinist Marianna Vasiljeva, pianist Arta Arnicane, Vasilij Petrenko conducting the Czech Philharmonic, Koji Kawamoto conducting the Pilsen Philharmonic, and Jakub Hrůša conducting the Prague Philharmonic. Tickets are available at http://www.festival.cz/cz.

Caroline Ryan is the author of An Old Castle Standing on a Ford: One Yank’s Life in an Almost Peaceful Belfast (Eloquent Books), a cultural narrative about life in Belfast after the Troubles. She writes often about intercultural issues, and currently writes for Pimsleur Approach, a leading seller of audio based language learning software, including learn to speak Brazilian Portuguese.

featured image by Loozrboy

Authors and attendees come from the US, Germany, Italy, Greece, Zimbabwe, Chile, China, Iceland, Morocco, the UAE, and dozens more countries. They present on poetry, graphic novels, common themes in literature, geographic and cultural differences, and much more. There’s also a section for kids, called the International Children’s and Youth Literature (ICYL). Authors and illustrators of children’s books answer questions, lead workshops, and give readings of their books, poetry and novels, specifically for young readers.

Of course, even the most voracious reader might get bored after a few days of nonstop literary events. Luckily you can pick and choose what you want to attend and pay only for those sessions, starting at six euros each. And Berlin offers plenty to see and do outside of the festival, from exploring modern art galleries and the city’s lively nightlife, to immersing yourself in history at famous sights like the Brandenburg Gate or Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

The festival runs from September 9 to 17. Munich’s Oktoberfest kicks off September 17 and ends October 3, which means if you’d like to combine brews and books, you could attend both festivals. Look for airfare to Berlin (or Frankfurt) rather than to Munich, as it’s likely to be cheaper. The train between the two cities takes about six hours; some low-cost and regional airlines also make the trip in about an hour.

Download mTrip’s Berlin Travel Guide for iPhone

Photo by: Friar’s Balsam

Taking place throughout July, with a diverse program of exhibitions, events, talks and workshops, activities will take place in and around King’s Cross. Chosen for its rich heritage as an industrial hub of London, King’s Cross will serve as the perfect spot to host this festival. Venues include: National Portrait Gallery, V&A, St Pancras International, the German Gymnasium and British Library. Satellite activities & exhibitions take place across London.

© Walter Joseph Collection, courtesy the British Library

What is Street Photography?

As defined by the London Street Photography Festival…

“un-posed, un-staged photography which captures, explores or questions contemporary society and the relationships between individuals and their surroundings.”

With its first year of producing this event, the organizers of LSPF are dedicated to preserving street photography as an accessible art form, important tool for communication and method to document and reflect on society and human behavior.

“The newspaper lies, the radio lies, the TV lies, the streets, they howl with the truth.” Henry Miller

London Street Photography Festival runs 1st – 31st July at various venues, http://www.londonstreetphotographyfestival.org/

Watch the video:

Images: © Mimi Mollica, Bus Stories & © Walter Joseph Collection, courtesy the British Library

Hit the beach

Chicago’s beaches – particularly Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach – become the center of the social universe on hot summer days. Families come to play in the sand and surf, while young singles come to work on their tans and mix and mingle under the sun. Admission to most of Chicago’s 15 swimming beaches is free, as is access to the Lakefront Path, a route that winds its way north from downtown and is packed with bikers, walkers, roller-bladers and runners in the summer.

Visit the Lincoln Park Zoo
The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It’s also the country’s largest free zoo, home to over 1,200 animals. Come early to avoid the crowds (and the midday heat) and see giraffes, hippos, lions, tigers, seals, zebras, penguins, polar bears, and many more. If you come on a Wednesday or Saturday, be sure to swing by the Green City Market, also located in Lincoln Park. You can shop for artisanal breads, cheeses, pastries and treats, or just wander the stalls and snack on free samples.

Party at a neighborhood festival
Chicago’s neighborhood festivals are one of the greatest joys of summer. It seems every weekend you can find another fest with live music, food and drink vendors, artists displays and crafts for sale. From food festivals and art shows to book fairs and cultural festivals, there’s something for everyone. And though you’ll need to spend money if you want to eat, drink or shop in the festival, the admission is often free or on a donation basis.

Schedule museum visits on free days
Throughout the year, many of Chicago’s museums schedule free admission days. The Art Museum is free every Thursday after 5pm, the Museum of Modern Art is free each Tuesday, The Field Museum is free the second Tuesday of every month and the Chicago History Museum is free every Monday. Many other, lesser-know museums offer free admission every day, so when you still want to satisfy your desire for culture but don’t want to bust your budget on admission fees, check out the free options.

Enjoy Chicago’s best view for free
When it comes to sweeping vistas in Chicago, the two most famous options are the John Hancock Building and the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. The latter has vertigo-inducing glass-bottomed ledges you can look down from, for a hefty fee. But at the former, you can skip the observation deck and head up to the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor. Drinks are pricey and you’ll need to order one to sit down, but for the same price you’d pay just for the view, you get to enjoy a drink too.

By Katie Hammel of BootsnAll

Download mTrip’s Chicago Travel Guide

Photos by: bryce_edwards, cincooldesigns, pelican, DoNotLick, DanJBailey, Bernt Rostad

In fact, Cinco de Mayo is really only celebrated in one place in Mexico – the state of Puebla. The holiday commemorates the date when the Mexican army defeated the French in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. On this date, you’ll find festivals of food, music, and dancing throughout Puebla, but not much elsewhere in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is almost a bigger deal in the US, where people use the holiday as an excuse to eat their favorite Mexican food, drink margaritas and don a sombrero.

If you want to join the fun closer to home, here are the best places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the US:

Chicago
Chicago’s southside neighborhood of Pilsen is home to a large Latino population, and hosts a free parade every year. The many Mexican restaurants (some of which are BYOB, so you can save money on your Dos Equis or Tecate) also host Cinco de Mayo parties.

New York City
New York seems to have a party for just about everything, so it’s no surprise the city gets down for Cinco de May as well. You’ll find a Cinco de Mayo party at nearly every Mexican restaurant and there’s a weekend parade near Central Park.

San Marco, Texas
The San Marco Cinco de Mayo party includes a parade and a Miss Cinco de Mayo (and Little Miss Cinco) pageant plus music and dancing, tons of food and menudo (a type of Mexican soup) cooking contest.

Los Angeles
Los Angeles is home to the biggest Cinco de Mayo street fair. Head to Broadway in downtown L.A. or to the historic Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles at Olvera Street for traditional dances, music, and kids’ activities.

By Katie Hammel of BootsnAll

Photo by maveric2003, sbctb, Paul Lowry

Although Songkran is a long-standing holiday in Thailand with many aspects to its celebrations, the most famous element of the festivities for travelers and locals alike is the splashing and throwing of water. The country can look like it’s one big water fight, especially if you look up photos of the holiday online. It’s easy to raise an eyebrow at this, thinking about how your camera might survive such an aquatic attack or whether you should steer clear of the celebrations so as not to get your clothes wet, but if you’ve been to Thailand in April you’ll know that getting doused by a passing water gun is welcome relief.

You see, it’s hot in Thailand in April. Really hot. June may be more well-known for its high heat and humidity, but from April on it’s trending in that hot and humid direction – so by mid-April you’ll be thanking the people with the water guns for spraying you during Songkran.

Of course, this doesn’t change the fact that your camera will need some seriously waterproof protection to survive the festivities (it’s advisable to pick up an inexpensive waterproof camera or a sturdy waterproof housing for your existing camera). As for your clothes, the good news is that as long as you’re not wearing anything that’s actually damaged by water (and the occasional inclusion of chalk), it’s hot enough outside that they’re likely to dry while you’re still wearing them. Just in time for someone to spray you again, naturally.

While water is a huge part of Songkran, it’s not the only way Thais celebrate the holiday. Throughout the country, people make sure to wash household Buddhas as well as go to wats in order to pray. In Chiang Mai, where the largest Songkran celebrations take place, the festivities can last more than a week and include parades of Buddhas through the city streets. Locals then toss water on the Buddhas, so it’s not as if this part of the holiday is water-free, however.

If you’re traveling to Thailand for Songkran, remember that although it’s technically the shoulder season this is a major holiday that draws visitors from all over the world – so book your accommodation as early as you can.

- by Jessica of BootsnAll

photos by Wyndham, Electrostatico, recoverling

Download the Bangkok Travel Guide

New Orleans for Jazz & Heritage Festival

From April 29 until May 1 & from May 5 until May 8, the city will be music to your ears, literally! New Orleans just breathes culture and what better way to celebrate their city than with the Jazz & Heritage Festival. Whereas normally you can’t walk down the street in New Orleans without hearing live music, you will hear even more of it during the festivities (if that’s even possible). Artists booked include Bon Jovi, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Cyndi Lauper, and the Neville Brothers.

New York for the Easter Parade

On Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011) paraders, dressed to the extreme wander along the closed streets of Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Street. The ideal place to see the parade is the area around St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival runs from 10am to 4pm. While the parade doesn’t have any floats or marching bands, it is still a spectacle; from around the world people come to New York City to participate, with outfits ranging from elegant to outrageous.

New York travel guide

 

Istanbul for the Shopping Festival

Istanbul Shopping Festival (ISF) is an annual event that brings together people of all kinds, making Istanbul the shopping, cultural and entertainment centre of the world. Until April 26, visitors will enjoy the many activities taking place at the 90 indoor shopping malls and many stores, open till late hours. The glamorous spirit of ISF is not to be missed if you are planning on taking a trip there. Don’t forget the tax free shopping for visitors from overseas!

Istanbul travel guide

Munich for Strong Beer Season

Did you miss Oktoberfest? No worries because with spring in Munich also comes Strong Beer Season. This is the insiders alternative to Oktoberfest yet the beer is stronger and the crowds are thinner .The traditional serving of the spring strong beers begin during Lent and lasts about four weeks, this year until April 26th.

Munich travel guide

 

London for the Royal Wedding

The Royal Wedding takes place at Westminster Abbey on April 29 and the city will be abuzz. Locals might flee the city, while travelers might pay a visit for the cities unique buzz. If you want to be part of the celebrations and catch a glimpse of the royal couple, you can stand somewhere along the wedding procession route. The route will include The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.

London travel guide

Amsterdam for Queen’s Day

On April 30, Amsterdam is home to the biggest collection of events and parties in celebration of Queen’s Day aka Koninginnedag. Aside from endless crowds and the colour orange, visitors can expect many outdoor parties with bands and DJs on several squares and parks throughout the city. The biggest outdoor concerts are held by Museumplein and Rembrandtplein. Queen’s Day is also the one day of the year that the streets and sidewalks become one big ‘free market’ (vrijmarkt). Don’t forget about Queen’s Night either – check out one of the many bars and clubs hosting events.

Amsterdam travel guide

Singapore for the International Film Festival (SIFF)

With its dynamic film programming and commitment to development of film culture and local cinema, SIFF has become Singapore’s largest international film festival. In its 23rd edition, SIFF will take place from April 15-24 and will showcase Asian film in various venues like The Singapore Art Museum and The Arts House.

Singapore travel guide

What interesting festivals and events will you be headed to this Spring? Or for Easter? Let us know in the comments!

 

When to go

The best time to visit DC is when the blossoms begin to peek out. This is predicted to be between March 29 and April 3. At this time the trees are in fullest bloom and offer the prettiest pictures. Tip: Get out to view the blooms early morning before the crowds descend. Or get out to enjoy the festival by renting a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin. Make advanced reservations!

 

 

What to see

From sustainable sushi tasting and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade to photo safaris and fireworks, there’s plenty going on for everyone. Other interesting events include: Cherry Blast: Art + Music Dance Party, Make your own Bonsai Demonstration, Monuments-by-Moonlight River Cruises, Tudor Nights: Blossoms & Bubbly, Lantern Walks, as well as Cinematic Tourist Series: Japanese Film, Animation and Cultural Workshops. For the packed list of festivities going on, click here.

Getting around

During the Cherry Blossom festival, let alone on a regular day parking around the monuments can be a pure mess; avoid the disaster by taking the metro. Get off at the Smithsonian stop (orange and blue lines). From here you can expect a 10-15 minute walk to reach the Tidal Basin. If you prefer a shuttle service, take Tourmobile from Virginia’s Haines Point parking area to the Tidal Basin. You may also consider getting on a bike and using the free bike valet at the Jefferson Memorial’s parking lot from 10am to 6pm. For $15 a day on a five day pass, you can rent a bike through Capital Bikeshare.

Download mTrip’s Washington Travel Guide to navigate around the festivities!

During those early days, the holiday honored the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. Now it’s a more secular holiday for many people who enjoy the parties, parades, music, food and demonstrations that highlight the culture and history of Ireland. The biggest celebration, the five day St. Patrick’s Festival, is held every year in Dublin. As the capital of Ireland and the largest city, it’s one of the best cities for St. Patrick’s Day throughout the world.

Included in the event are comedy shows, storytelling and cultural lectures, film and visual art shows, musical performances and boat races as well as scavenger hunts for the kids. And of course, there will be plenty of good Irish food and beer on hand to keep festival goers happy. Parade grandstand seats sell for 60 euros (lining up on the street costs nothing), but other events are free. Even if you don’t attend many of the festival events, you’ll still find a celebratory atmosphere in Dublin at the time and you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy yourself.

Dublin isn’t the only place in Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the holiday’s homeland. Cork, Derry, Galway and several other towns also host large celebrations. Of course you’ll mostly likely find flights to Dublin are cheaper than to other destinations in Ireland (as Dublin is the hub), but once in the country it’s easy to get around and distances from town to town are not great.

Even if you can’t make it to Dublin, you’ll find several other destinations putting on a lively St. Paddy’s Day party. From Chicago and New York in the US to Japan, Argentina and New Zealand, other cities and countries around the world get in on the holiday. The level of emphasis on Irish culture can vary – some places focus more on shamrocks and green beer – but the fun factor will be equally high no matter where you raise your glass.

Photos by infomatique at Flickr

By Katie Hammel of BootsnAll

Traveling to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day? Download mTrip’s Dublin Travel Guide

The Strong Beer Festival lasts roughly two weeks and occurs during Lent, the period leading up to Easter. The timing of the festival isn’t random, either. It dates back to the mid-17th century when Paulaner monks, all too aware that they could only consume liquids during Lent, brewed an extra-strong beer to serve as liquid sustenance. The beer was (and remains) so potent one of its nicknames was “liquid bread.” The clever idea caught on, and to this day Starkbier (strong beer) is very popular at this time of year.

A visit to Munich in March isn’t just an opportunity to imbibe in some “liquid bread,” however – it’s also an opportunity to enjoy the year’s first beer festival. In a city like Munich, so wedded to its brewing, the calendar is dotted with beer-related festivals (not to mention the fact that beer is present at pretty much every single other festival year-round). The Strong Beer Festival, however, marks the first official beer festival of the year, and generally coincides with the first spring thaw – meaning locals will be even happier to be out celebrating the strong brews.

In addition to the plentiful potent beers on hand, the Strong Beer Festival also features comedians, music, dancing, and food. The center of the festival is the Paulaner Keller, but because it’s grown significantly over the years it has spilled into other venues around Munich as well.

If all of this sounds a bit like Oktoberfest, there’s a reason for that – it’s likely what Oktoberfest used to feel like, before Oktoberfest became an enormous tourist attraction. The Strong Beer Festival is still more of a festival for the locals than for outsiders, so don’t be surprised if you don’t see lots of other tourists – but if you’re prepared to join in the fun, it’s a great time to experience an authentic beer festival in Munich without paying the high Oktoberfest prices.

- by Jessica of BootsnAll

Get around the city with mTrip’s Munich Travel Guide

photo by Nick Perretti