Iceland by Rosemary Barrass

From Stockholm airport to Reykjavik is 3 hours and 10 minutes at a total cost of $1149 for two people. With $1000, you can exchange your money for 225000 Icelandic krona (kr). You will get a car at the airport for a total, three day cost of 47925kr. For all three nights you will stay in the Hotel Bjork for a total of about 45900kr. After these deductions, you will have 131175kr.

The first place you will go when you arrive in Reykjavik is Tþjöðmenningarhúsið, Culture House. The main attraction here is the floor of bound medieval books. The Icelandic people think that reading is very important and many of the people are avid readers. Most of the books displayed were made in the 14th and 15th centuries. The admission will come to a total 600kr.
If you're interested in the local legends and scary stories, you will love the "Haunted Walk of Iceland". This tour focuses on the ghost stories and the macabre legends. One of the stories is linked to the grave of a 6-year-old boy that is supposedly the devil's son. These haunted walks are believable and will have you on your toes for rest of the night. The full cost comes to 4000kr.



Next, you will unwind in one of Iceland's famous spas. At the Laugar Spa you can rest in one of the six, different-temperatured steam baths and let the thematic fragrances ease your mind. If you want to get in the Jacuzzi, you can choose either to relax in freshwater or saltwater. There is even a bath devoted specifically to foot-soaking. There is a relaxation cave that has high-security. Yes, they scan your retina at reception and, when you go to the cave, your eye is scanned to allow entry into the relaxation cave. Prices depend on treatments.

You will love visiting the old harbor, Hafn. It was the largest construction project in Icelandic history up until 1917. Most people like to visit the eastern pier, where the last four of the whale-hunting ships have been ironically lined up across from the whale-watching tours. You can look at all the old vessels that are still docked here. Though most ships tend to go to the new harbor, some people still use the old harbor.

If you like vegetarian food, Á Næstu Grösum is a great place to go. The restaurant is set up like a cafeteria. You pick out what kind of food you want and they'll dish it out for you. Most of the ingredients are organic and at least half of the menu is vegan. This restaurant is a great place if you are in the need for some comfort food or you're eager to try their sugar-free banana cake. The main courses are 1,250kr-1,500k.

Next on your trip is the National Gallery of Iceland. Many painters have been inspired by the great colors, light, and natural formations of Iceland, and a lot of the fabulous art that has come from this is on display at the museum. This gallery doesn't have any permanent exhibits, rather many revolving exhibits from the permanent collection.

Laugardalur is the Hot Steam Valley that is located near the bay. The hot springs here provide heat and business for many people. The name for the capitol, Reykjavik, came from the Icelandic words for Smoky Bay, which is what Ingólfur Arnarson called Reykjavik when he first saw the steam rising from Laugardalur.

You can't go to Iceland without seeing the Northern Lights. This natural marvel is a sight to see that you will never forget and will definately treasure forever. The Northern Lights have been the inspiration for many artists for centuries. Their fantastic look have a lasting impact on all that ever see them.

Viðey Island is a quaint little island off the coast of Iceland that provides a nice place to escape in the afternoon. For such a small island, Viðey Island has a lot of history. It is now even the showcase of environmental art.

Sweden by Rosemary Barrass

From Ireland, you will fly to Sweden. It will cost 432€ to go on a one stop flight to Stockholm from Dublin when flying with Czech Airlines. You can exchange $1000 for 7937 Swedish Krona (SEK). To get a rental car, it will cost 1508SEK for a mid-size car for three days. You will stay three nights at the Hotel Bentleys which will cost a grand total of about 2477SEK. You will be left with about 3952SEK.

First, you will go to the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum). There you can find all the things from Sweden past. This museum showcases much of old Sweden's cultural life. They showcase some of the odd fashions of the Swedish people in the 1890s. When you first enter the museum, you are greeted by a humongous, pink-tinted statue of Gustav Vasa, one of Sweden's great sculptors.

Next you will go to Rosendals Trädgård (Rosendal Botanical Garden). This can be one of the most appealing places in Sweden for anyone who has every tried to grow a plant. In 1817, this garden became the place for the Rosendal Palace that sits on a hillock above the biggest and most varied commercial organic gardens in Stokholm. The Swedish Horticultural Society movec their headquarters to these amazing gardens, proving just how important these gardens have become to plant-lovers.

Skansen is the next place for you to visit. It was the first ever open-air museum to open in the world when it was finished in 1891. This museum is often called "Old Sweden in a Nutshell". This museum has over 150 reconstructed dwellings that mimic the buildings that were around in the 18th-19th centuries. Admission is 50-80SEK.

Next, you will visit the historic Vasa museum. The Vasa is the oldest complete and identified ship in the world. When the ship left the harbor on its voyage in 1628, it capsized and sank almost instantly. When they salvaged it in 1961, it was an engineering and archaeological triumph. Over 4,000 coins, carpenters' tools, sailors' pants, and other items were found when they brought the ship up. Also, they were able to recover many of the sculptures that have been carefully restored and returned to the vessel. The cost of admission is a total of 80SEK.

You should go out to eat at the Cattelin Restaurant for the true taste of Sweden. This restaurant has been around since 1897 and has remained a well-priced, nice place to eat through all of the wars and fads that have swept through Sweden. They serve all kinds of preparations of beef, salmon, trout, veal, and chicken.

You can go to Stockholms Auktionsverket (Stockholm Auction Chambers) if you're interested in some shopping. This auction company is the oldest in the world, founded in 1674. About 150,000 auctions are held there every year. You can find anything from pottery to Picasso at thes auctions, and all at a great bargain.

For some relaxation and a good drink, the Icebar is the place to go. This is the world's first permanent ice bar. Yes, it's a bar entirely made of ice. Every piece of furniture and all the glasses are made of ice, so wear your warmest outfit so that you won't freeze in this "cool" bar.

Another great place to go is Drottningholm Palace and Theater. The palace is grand and regal where it sits on its island in Lake Mälaren. The royal family still lives in the palace, but they live in a sectioned off part of the palace that is heavily guarded. The palace is referred to as the Versailles of Sweden because of its beauty and complexity. Admission is 120SEK in total.

Next on your trip is Riddarholm Skyrkam. This is the second-oldest church in Stockholm. It was made in the 13th century as a Franciscan monastery. It is now a virtual pantheon of Swedish kings. The last king to be buried there was in 1950, King Gustav V. Some of the greatest monarchs of Sweden are buried here. As you walk through, you will be basically walking on the tombstones of loyalty. Admission comes to a total 60SEK.

Den Gyldene Freden is the place to go for fantastic Swedish food. It is one of Sweden's oldest taverns, having been opened in 1722. Many Swedish famous singers have eaten here, like Carl Michael Bellman. You can get some really good traditional Swedish food here like fresh Baltic fish and local game dishes, or more modern foods like sauteed duck breast with pickled pumpkin and warm rose-hip soup with vanilla ice cream.

Ireland by Gunilla Leuterio

Welcome to Ireland, the land of the Celts. In Ireland, you would experience the classical river dancing and hear folktales of leprechauns with pots of gold. This land is absolutely covered with shades of green due to occasional rain. Christianity is its the major religion, it blossoms from the teachings of St. Patrick.

Currency

Ireland's currency is the euro. 1,000 U.S. dollars = 732.2 euros.

Cities

Dublin is a mjor city in Ireland. It has played an important part of Irish history since the Middle Ages. It is becoming one of the fast-growing countries of a European capital city. It has also been the center of major events.

Dublin Castle

It is a 13th century castle built during the ages when the Irish monarchy rule. There are many castles like this scattered throughout Ireland as medival fortesses against invaders. This castle is of the one of the numerous fragments in Irish history. It has been served a fortress for the centuries by the Vikings, Normandy, Anglo-Normans, and other people.

Dublin Writers Festival

The Irish loves to tell stories to children. Whenever they tell stories, they create an atmosphere as if you are insie the story themselves. They love literature and a form of poetry writing like limericks came from Ireland. In this festival, it is a 4-day festival featuring 30 of the world's most celebrate writers.

Festivals

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day in Dublin.

St. Patrick's Day is a national Irish holiday for the Republic of Ireland. It is an annual feast day which celebrates the Irish saint patron, St. Patrick. The main tradition is to wear green

Music

When you are arriving to Ireland, you could hear music where ever you go. Most of the time, music is free of charge and performers walk down the streets or stay in one place in a happy tune. Types of music are the hornpipes, polkas, barn dances, and waltzes. The Irish tunes falls into two catergories: the jig and the reel. The jig have a 6/8 rhythm while the reel is much older , and its measure is 4/4 which is very fast. The harp is a national symbol in Ireland. The Irish culture today is into rock and pop music.

Food

Potatoes

The staple food in Ireland is potatoes. The Irish depends on the potatoes because it is easy to grow for peasant farmers. One major event in Irish history is the Great Famine which is the period of time where the potatoes were infected by a disease commonly known as the late blight. This tragic event caused the Irish population to decrease by 20-25 %. The Irish immigrated to the U.S. to escape the famine.

Mutton Broth

Black forest gateau

Traditional Irish Breakfast

Whenever you order eggs in the morning, when you are asked, “Would you like a gentlemen or a lady?” Don’t be alarmed. A gentlemen means two eggs and a lady means one egg. Several Irish people in the past eat 2 eggs for breakfast.

Irish people always start their day off with a huge breakfast. Most of the people back then were farmers, so they must have a lot of energy to start the day. Since Ireland is more modernized and farming is becoming less common, the Irish starts to lessen their meal intake.

Car rental

The cheapest is the economy car with its daily rate as $16.28.

The most expensive is the full size van with its daily rate as $95.01.

Airport

Our next stop is Stockholm, Sweden.

The costs ranges from $1,152-$ 2,505.

The airlines that go there are SAS, British Midland, Air France, Lufthansa, andKLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

England by Rosemary Barrass

A flight from Paris will take you to London, England. Flying with British Airways, nonstop, will take about 1 and 1/2 hours and will cost 277.91€. Once you get to the airport, your euros will not be of use. The exchange rate as of 1/9/09 is $1000 to £659.20. You can rent a car for £90.61 to cover the whole trip. The first two nights, you will be staying at the Milennium Bailey's Hotel London Kensington, which will be about £118 in total. The last night you will stay in the Radisson SAS Hotel Birmingham which will be about £110 for the night.

The first place you will visit in London is Big Ben. This cliched London landmark is beautiful and is a must-see for any passing tourist. The magnificent clock tower is especially great to see on the hour, when the famous bells of the clock will sound.

After Big Ben, it's off to see one of the less talked about historic places. Gray's Inn, one of four ancient Inns of Court still in operation. On the late-Georgian terrace you can see a line of many buildings used for homes and offices. The Inn contains a rebuilt Tudor Hall and many beautiful lawns and gardens. The square still emanates a 17th century feel.

While in London, you must go on one of the boat tours. We recommend the Thames River boat tour that will take you to Greenwich, which is a 50 minute ride. On the tour, you will have a great view of the most magnificent parts of London that you could never see otherwise. All 50 minutes will be spent on the scenic Thames river, which travels straight through London. You will be able to see much of London that would otherwise take a whole lifetime to explore. The one-way trip to Greenwich will cost a total of £14.

In Greenwich, which is a small village on the outskirts of London. Greenwich has been the zero point of used in reckoning the longitudes of earth since the late 1800s. It was also the site of Britain's Millennium Dome, which is a multimedia extravaganza of education and entertainment. This project was unsuccessful and has become a national joke. Prince Charles once described it as a milky gelatin dessert, and it then finally closed. It reopened as "The 02" in 2007, with an 11-screen cinema, a live music venue, exhibition spaces, theaters, bars, and restaurants. Sports evenings of the 2012 Olympics will be hosted in "The 02".

The next day, you will visit the Southwark Cathedral. There has been a cathedral in this same sight for over a thousand years. The present one is from the 15th century, but was partially rebuilt in 1890. There is a wooden effigy of a knight that has stood in the same spot since the late 1200s. Shakespeare and Chaucer used to worship in this very cathedral. Although the admission is free, but they suggest a donation of 4£.

For dinner, you will go to Kensington Place. The cuisine in this wonderful restaurant is wonderful and continues to bring in more and more customers. With meals like grouse, venison, roast partridge, grilled wild boar chops, and chicken with goat-cheese mouse, this bistro is a popular place for locals and pop stars alike. The average main course is £14-£32.

The next morning you will travel to the city of Birmingham. Birmingham isn't a very famous place, but you will enjoy getting away from all the hustle and bustle of tourists and locals of London. There are just few places to visit here, but you will most definately be able to see everything you would want to here.

First, you will go to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Though it looks a bit bland on the outside, but it is equal to any of the museums in England outside of London. They have works from great artists like Bellini, Botticelli, Brueghel, Canaletto, Delacroix, Gainsborough, Gauguin, Guardi, Murillo, Renoir, Rubens, Turner, van Gogh, and Whistler. Admission is free and you will be able to tackle all the exhibits before the day is up.

You will have plenty of time for shopping in Birmingham. This city is definately a great place to find all the things that you wanted to buy whilst in London. There are many top-designers along the lengthy shopping centers. You can find everything from department stores such as Harvey Nichols to salons and the upscale Malmaison hotel.

To finish off your trip to England, you will go to the Midlands Art Centre in Cannon Hill Park. There are three areas where they perform drama, dance, musical performances, and sometimes even show films. You can see what performances will be taking place at the box office that is open daily.

France by Gunilla Leuterio

A French neighbohood

Oh la la~! Is what the shop hunters of this country might say. France is rich in their love for art, agricultural foods, fashion and many more. The well-known sad, romantic movie of departed lovers is one of the many blends of French culture. This city is getting more and more industrialized with an active seat in high fashion trends and boulevards of boutiques. Not only does France have that, they additionally have a high class cuisines with chefs that studied the art of cooking with gusto and passion. Take a stroll down the streets of France to unlock the hidden romances in every dark corner.

Currency

France's currency is the euro. 1,000 U.S. dollars = 732.2 euros.

Cities

Paris

What better place to dream then in Paris? What better place, but to experince Paris! Paris has the well-known Notre Dame and also the Eiffel Tower.

Sites to see

Notre Dame Pictures

Notre Dame is a magical place out of a Disney movie. It takes a person to actually be there to take in this wonderously crafted building. There is simply no words to describe this mystical place. It makes you mesmerized by the figures looking down from the pillars.

-Interior

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built for thr 1889 Centennial Fair by Gustave Eiffel. It is made up of 7,000 tons of metal and 50 tons of paint. Towering among Paris, its only purpose is its appearance. Several tourists view the Eiffel Tower by elevators which goes from 200, 400, and 900 feet level. The higher level you go, the more you have to pay, so if you could take the height and the cost, go for it.

Festivals

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)

"Mardi Gras" means Fat Tuesday in French. It is a religious holiday that is celebrated before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras marks the final day of Carnival. Several people dance the streets and take part in parades wearing colorful masks and costumes. It is the period of time between Ash Wednesday and the Epiphany. Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout some parts of Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and also cities in the U.S. like New Orleans.

Art

French fashionable clothing

Claude Monet Painting

France is a very colorful country with many activites to do. The French loves art in every shape and form; there are several museums and art galleries to look upon. One of the famous artist, Claude Monet, was born in France and was an excellent inspiration to several modern artists. Film making has also partake as a form of art film festivals occur annually around certain towns.

Car Rentals

The cheapest is the economy car with $61.08 as its daily rate.

The most expensive is the full size van with $310.96 as its daily rate.

Airlines

From France, our next trip is flying to England.

The cost ranges from $462-$795.

The airlines that fly there are Air France, British Airways,and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.

Perhaps one day if you ever plan to visit Paris again, flights from San Jose, California to Paris costs $2,194-$3,667.

Hotel

Feel like a royal duchess or a nobleman by visiting a French hotel. Being pampered from head to toe with lusciously cozy rooms and modern texturing art after sight-seeing the night makes you truly fulfill the French life.

France's hotels ranges from $80-$600

One of the cheapest hotels is Mercure Saint Amand Montrond LAmandois. It has one restaurant on its site and have additional amenities like non-smoking rooms, pets allowed, wheelchair accessible, and meeting rooms.

One of the most expensive hotels is Le Pavillion de La Rotonde is opened by the end of August 2005. It has a dining room, but no restuarants on site. The additional amentities are non-smoking rooms, pets allowed, gambling facilities, hot tub, meeting rooms, and dry cleaning/ laundry.