December 09, 2009
With the ending of 2009 insight, this is my last newsletter of the year. It has been a great year with the start of Isabelle’s Travel Guide. This is a nice opportunity to thank you for subscribing, for following me on Twitter and for checking my website. It’s because of you, I love writing about travel so much!
What’s new on my website? Well, I added a series of Guest Bloggers. It’s called ‘Favorite Blogger of the week’. It’s a series that puts the spotlight on other travel bloggers. So far, these guest bloggers have contributed lovely travel stories: That Traveling Couple: A Couple`s Dream Abigail: Weekend Breaks in England Hills of Africa: Honeymoon in Botswana Wild Junket: Feel the Beat of Spain: Granada Shannon RTW: Diving the Great Barrier Reef
Ruben @Nwano gave some great insider tips on Bruges. He lives there, so he knows his way around ;-) Best of Bruges
Oh, did I tell you I got tagged at a game that`s called 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets? Well, you can read it all here.
I got some really nice pictures of favorite beaches from all over the world. Have you already added yours? It`s really easy, just download a picture of your favorite beach and add a few sentences on why or where it`s located. Or just add a photo. Sometimes words aren`t even necessary. What are you waiting for? Share your favorite beach or check out others.
I met up with a Twitter friend @LuxuryTravelMom in Brussels, check out our day at Brussels looking for the best Belgian chocolates.
Topics for this newsletter:
- Things to Do and Things to See: Caribbean cruise and city trip to New York
- Things to Make: Chocolate mousse
- Things to Know: Travel Updates: Rail passengers on track for new rights across the EU
- Fun Facts
- Tip of the Month
- Quote of the Month
Things to Do and Things to See
I`ve combined these too, because I wanted to talk some more on the trip I`m about to go on.
- Caribbean
I`m sure a lot of you agree if I say, it`s nice to see some sun in the winter period. So, I`m really excited to leave on my cruise Friday. I`m flying into New York (JFK) tomorrow and am spending one night at the city before I get onboard the cruise ship on Friday. It departs from a cruise port in New Jersey. I`ll be able to enjoy the ship facilities, as we first have to set sail towards the Caribbean. The first stop will be at San Juan, Puerto Rico. I`ve been here before, but only to leave for a previous cruise I took. I`ve read it has a nice Old Town, I`ll keep you posted. Next stop will be Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. This is a beautiful island that I had the opportunity to visit already. Last time I made an excursion to Magen`s Bay, a beach that`s considered as Top 10 material.
Sailing further will bring us to Samana, Dominican Republic. I love the Dominican style of life, they are so friendly and cheerful. The music is great, looking forward to this port!
Our last port will be Labadee, Haiti. I`ve never been in Haiti before, so this will be a first. After that I have 2 more days at Sea to relax and enjoy before heading back to the cold weather in NY.
- New York
New York is such an amazing place, it`s always alive, lots of things going on. I`ve always wanted to see the city in its full glory at the Holiday Season, I`m thrilled this is the year! I missed the Christmas tree lighting at the Rockefeller Center, but I`ll be able to see the lighted tree when I`m there :-)
Check out my New York guide for tips on hotels, transportation,...
Things to Make
Chocolate Mousse
In the spirit of best Belgian chocolates and the Holidays, here`s a delicious dessert!
Serves: 8 – 10 persons
INGREDIENTS
400 g (0.9 lb) chocolate and 8 eggs
DIRECTIONS
First melt the chocolate `Au Bain Marie`. Separate your eggs for egg yolk and egg white (you’ll need the egg white later). When the chocolate has cooled slightly, add the egg yolk to the chocolate and gently mix. The last ingredient is beaten egg whites. So you have to first beat your egg whites. Slowly add the whipped egg whites with a wooden spoon. (avoid over-stirring, which can deflate the whipped egg whites.) Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Things to Know: Travel Updates
Rail passengers on track for new rights across the EU
Rail passengers will from now on enjoy new rights that will protect them and their belongings when they travel by train anywhere within the European Union.
The new rights that are in force from today will:
- Guarantee disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility non-discriminatory access to trains and assistance
- Strengthen rail passengers' right to compensation when their luggage gets lost or damaged (up to about 1,285 euros per piece of luggage)
- Strengthen rail passengers' right in case of death or injury through an advance payment to meet immediate economic needs. This advance payment amounts to at least €21000 per passenger in the event of death
- Reinforce rail passengers' right to compensation in case their journey gets delayed or cancelled; the minimum compensation amounts to 25% of the ticket price for delays between one and up to two hours and to 50% of the ticket price for delays of two hours and more
Read the whole article with all the new rights here.
Source: Published in Travel Daily News
Fun Facts
How to say `Happy Holidays` in different languages?
Happy Holidays
In German: Frohe Weihnachten
In French: Joyeux Noel
In Dutch: Prettige Feestdagen
In Spanish: Felices Fiestas
In Italian: Buone Feste
Tip of the Month
The travel tips section has been expanded to YOUR travel tips too!
And I loved this tip contributed by @ShannonRTW > Packing Cubes
It’s been a pleasure writing this newsletter and I hope to see you all soon on my website for more new information! If you enjoyed reading this newsletter, spread the word to your friends! And if you want to be informed about the latest additions to my website, you can subscribe to my RSS or follow me on Twitter! @IsabellesTravel
Keep your eye out for the next edition next month. As always I end with the Quote of the month:
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!
WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON! A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SPECTACULAR 2010 filled with love, happiness and lots of travel :-)
HAPPY TRAVELS,
Isabelle from Isabelle’s Travel Guide