Tag Archives: europe

Strange June Festivals

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During the month of June, certainly in Great Britain, summer is well upon us and every now and then we may even be lucky enough to get a spot of sunshine for a day or two. However summer is a great time for holidays and for getting out and seeing the world. Although some holidays may cost a pretty penny, if you want to experience some great culture in the form of weird and whacky festivals, there are a couple of places you absolutely need to visit in the month of June to make a great holiday.

leekFesta de Sao Joao do Porto

The Festival of John the Baptist in Portugal holds some strange tradi tions which have slightly lost their meanings over the years, although it makes for a great experience for tourists and holidaymakers.

Although the entire festival lasts over the course of several days, the oddest tradition occurs on the 23rd June which works as a very strange Valentine’s day-esque celebration.

Houses are draped in bunting and people will run around ‘attacking’ their crushes or significant others with a small plastic hammer or limp leeks. The ‘attack’ is normally gentle as it is done out of love, but what this signifies in ancient tradition is unclear.

Roasted Pig Parade

Roast_Suckling_Pig_(2505471024)Known as a pretty famous festival in the town of Balayan in the Philippines, the roasted pig parade occurs annually on the 24th June, again as part of the feast of Saint John the Baptist, where one hundred pigs are roasted. After the roasting the pigs are dressed in a whole number of costumes which vary from year to year and can be anything imaginable.

The residents then gather at the church and sit for the holy mass and afterwards there is a big parade to celebrate the roasting of the pigs. Finally after the end of the parade the pig meat is distributed among the onlookers and the participants of the parade, marking the end of the celebration.

Penguin car hire strives to provide you with a comprehensive and easy to use list of hired cars available in every country in the world. Whether you are travelling from Portland to Portugal and beyond, or are just looking for a great deal for a hired car on your normal holiday abroad, Penguin has a huge range of hired cars for you!

World’s Wackiest Rollercoasters – Voyage

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Everybody loves a different style of holiday. Some people like to tan it out through two weeks of sun, sand and sangria, whereas others will relax in warm shade and read a book or two. Some people like to see the world, snapping photos of ancient ruins and crumbling mountains and some love to ski down the sides of beautiful snowy mountains. Then there are the pleasure seekers. The ones who can easily be happy enough with a day ticket pass to Thorpe Park, where they would ride every roller coaster twice if they had the time.

Whether you belong to one of the former categories or the latter, or you are just looking for a few ways to get some thrills into your life, why not have a look at some of the world’s biggest, highest, longest and wackiest roller coasters with us at Penguin car hire?

Todays Coaster: Voyage
voytageVoyage is a traditional wooden roller coaster and is on both top ten lists for the longest and the fastest wooden rollercoaster in the world. Located at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, the coaster is a staggering 6442 feet in length and the whole ride takes around 2 minutes and 50 seconds. The carts can reach up to 67.4mph which can be pretty intimidating for a wooden roller coaster, and climbs to a height of 163 feet at various points along the course.

Voyage also holds a world record for the amount of airtime – time in which passengers are lifted from their seats either gradually or violently – which is a gut-wrenching 24.2 seconds. Half a minute may not seem like a long time now but while you’re spiralling down at 60 miles an hour with only a padded metal bar across your lap preventing you from falling, it can get pretty exhilarating. The course ricochets through the woods of Holiday World, dipping underground at two points during the ride and starts off with a stomach-churning 154 foot drop.

As the coaster descends underground, passengers are treated to complete darkness and a rush of cool air and then suddenly plunged downwards into two more drops before emerging back out into the sunlight. For a warm Indiana day the sudden temperature change can be as thrilling as the ride itself.

With Penguin we have thousands of car hire destinations to choose from. For a hire car to Holiday World, Indiana you can drive from Terre Haute, Indianapolis or even Nashville, Tennessee. What are you waiting for? Get out there!

Celebrating May Day, Worldwide

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Next Monday the 5th May is the annual holiday May Day, and a bank holiday. Surprisingly enough, May Day is not just a tradition celebrated in the UK, but it has a different level of significance in a number of countries across the modern world. Whether you are planning a road trip across the USA, or you are looking for help hiring a taxi in Romania, Penguin can help you with a huge directory of hired cars available, all at your fingertips!

[penguin] may pole blogEngland

Associated with towns and villages celebrating springtime and fertility, May Day in England is often accompanied by Morris Dancers and with the traditional cross cultural maypole, where dancers will circle it with ribbons attached to the maypole.

May Day was once abolished by puritan parliaments but was reinstated by Charles II in 1660. In 2011 the UK Parliament attempted to replace May Day with a bank holiday in October known as ‘United Kingdom Day’ but this decision was overruled.

Ireland

Ireland has celebrated May Day since pagan times, when it was known as Bealtaine. Originally the Irish would light giant bonfires in order to welcome the coming of summer and to scare away the darkness and cold, long nights of the winter months. Although to this day larger cities do not partake in May Day Bonfires, smaller rural areas will still light a bonfire for good luck. 

Romania

May Day in Romania is commonly associated with the celebration of the beginning of summer. People would have parties where they would roast lamb and drink red wine to refresh the blood and symbolise protection from a bad harvest and diseases. People may wash their faces with morning dew for good health and you might also see birch saplings or green branches tied around house fates for good luck.

In the evenings it was traditional for both men and women to not do any work in the house or out on the farms, as well as the animals, so as to avoid bad luck. It was thought that if anyone worked during May Day eve, they could die or the animals could fall ill.

[penguin] heart blogGermany

May Day is similar to a miniature Valentine ’s Day, as traditionally a maypole was delivered to the house of a girl the night before may day, covered in coloured streamers.

The maypole is normally from a love interest, although if the pole was covered in white streamers it was considered a sign of dislike for the girl. Girls would place roses or rice in the shape of a heart at the doorstep of their loved one. On leap years, females would place the maypole on May Day.

 

Easter Celebrated By Different Cultures

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Whether you are planning on staying home for Easter Weekend, or you have decided to take a few extra days off during the Easter holiday to spend time with the kids, different countries and different cultures have individual ways of celebrating Easter Weekend. Although commonly associated with Christianity, Catholicism and the death and rebirth of Jesus Christ, cultures from around the world celebrate the death and rebirth as well as a number of other, related events in their own way.

Verges in Spain

[penguin] easter blogThe Thursday before Easter weekend is known as the night of the ‘dansa de la mort’ in the town of Verges, Spain. The residents dress up in skeletal outfits and re-enact scenes from The Passion while parading through the streets of town, complete with eerie fire torches. The parade starts at Midnight and lasts for three hours until the early morning.

The end of the ‘dansa de la mort’ is signified by terrifyingly designed skeletons carrying boxes of ashes, signifying the death of Christ.

Rome, Italy

Easter celebrations in Rome start on Good Friday, where the Pope will commemorates the ‘Via Crucis’ or ‘Way of the Cross’. At the coliseum a huge cross made of burning torches is burnt, lighting up the sky, while the 14 Stations of the Cross are described in multiple languages for all to hear.

On both Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday mass is held in the evening, and on the Sunday, visitors congregate in St Peter’s Square to be able to receive the Pope’s blessing seen from the church’s balcony. This is known as ‘Urbi et Orbi’ or ‘To the City and to the World’.

Sweden and Finland

[penguin] sweden easter blogEaster time is like a mini Halloween for most of Sweden and various areas of Finland. It was thought that on the Thursday before Easter weekend, witches used to fly to the mountains to congress with Satan. Children would wear rags and old clothes and would go from door to door holding out a copper kettle for treats.

To scare away the ‘witches’ the Swedes would light up large bonfires that would keep evil spirits from entering their homes. Nowadays children still go out ‘trick or treating’ and bonfires and fireworks are set up and let off throughout the town in  keeping with the old traditions.

Whether you need transport in the bustling streets of London, or are looking for a hire car to help you make your way through the roads of Paris, Brussels or even Marrakech, with thousands of companies to choose from, Penguin Car Hire can get hold of a first class hired car to take you where you want to go within minutes.

Towns Less Travelled in Morocco

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Whether you are a fan of the sun and the sea, you’re eager about hiking and culture abroad, or you just like relaxing holidays, sometimes it is hard to find a destination without swathes of freckly pale British tourists milling around with giant sun hats and oversized beach bags. The most popular destinations such as Tenerife and Hawaii are often populated by tourists, particularly in the warmer months, so where can you go on holiday without having to weave your way around countless other tourists in order to get the best spot on the beach?

As a country rich in both culture and natural beauty, Morocco is a holiday destination like no other. With a number of exquisite and iconic cities each with their own classic theme, you could spend days wandering the intricate streets of Marrakech or Fez and experiencing the many market stalls and array of delectable dishes the vendors have to offer. Or you could take the plunge and explore nature at its finest, with stunning valleys, stretches of beautiful desert, glorious mountains and spotless beaches, Morocco has something for everyone.

However if you are seeking somewhere rich with culture, without having to make your way through crowds of tourists, there are a few destinations within Morocco that are certainly not to miss!

Essaouira

[penguin]essouira blogPronounced ‘essa-weera’, this is a traditional fishing town with an iconic harbour, fortified walls, and a strange design that would not look out of place in France. Nicknamed the ‘Wind City of Africa’ there is a fierce gale that often deters ‘sun sand and sea’ tourists because it often blows the sand in your face!

However the town has its own iconic beauty; with narrow winding streets filled with the exotic aroma of fish blended with spices and thuya wood from the woodworkers of the medinas. You can hire a car or take a walk down the many alleyways, whichever you prefer. Plus if you happen to visit Essaouira in June, you may be privy to the fantastic annual World Music Festival.

Ouarzazate

[penguin]ouarzazate blogThe name of the city means ‘noiselessly’ and the city has been nicknamed ‘The Door of the Desert’. Ouarzazate is a great location to see some classical Moroccan buildings as well as going on excursions across the Draa Valley and into the desert, if you’re a fan of bewitching sights. Ouarzazate is also a famous film- making location and has been used as a backdrop for many Hollywood films including Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia.

If you love seeing rare gems amongst the desert scenery, you can also book a local tour to see the Oasis Fint. After a tough trek through the rocky desert scenery you will emerge into a beautiful Oasis Valley with palm trees, native wildlife and a winding river through the valley. Perfect.

No trip to Morocco is complete without visiting the huge medinas of Marrakesh, as some of the greatest souvenirs and cultural pieces can be found by shopping around. However if you want to take a step back from the tourist side of Morocco and look through its cultural and natural beauty, Essaouira and Ouarzazate are two great examples of beauty where you least expect it.

 

About the Author

Mike James is a fan of Arab culture and Islamic art and enjoys trips to Morocco several times a year. He is a regular visitor to the souks of Morocco and stays at the Riad El Zohar in Marrakech whenever he can.

Holidaying in the Easter

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When it comes to the Easter holidays, although nowadays there is much more diversity when it comes to religion and the meaning of Easter, the Easter holidays are still widely recognised by schools across the country. What this means for your kids is a beautiful fortnight of no school no homework and hopefully some late nights! However what this means for you is two weeks of hastily arranged sleepovers, babysitting arrangements and if you’re lucky, a three or four day weekend to spend with the children.

Although it can be hard many of us choose to keep working throughout the Easter Holidays, even if it means hiring a babysitter to look after your young children during the weekdays. For those with older children it is slightly easier; they have more responsibility, often you can easily trust them to stay home alone without turning the house into a post-war bomb site.

Why not go on holiday then?

The Easter holidays are the perfect opportunity for parents to take some time off to spend with their kids. Sure, trips away may be more expensive during the Easter holidays, but you have a limited amount of time to spend with your children before they grow up and make their own way in the world, so why not make the best of it?

The Mediterranean

[penguin] bournemouth blogWhy not get in some early sunbathing practise? In the UK, the Easter marks the start of spring, where the air becomes slightly less icy and the grass becomes slightly greener.

Unfortunately, spring in the UK also means a lot of April showers and sometimes a Mediterranean getaway can be just what the doctor ordered.

If you are not willing to travel for your sun, you could always wait for a sunny day in the UK and Hire a car to Bournemouth for a cheeky day out at the beach?

Skiing

[penguin] skiing blogIf the sun is not your thing, why not go on a spring skiing holiday? Many ski slopes still keep their courses open in the spring, and as it is known as the ‘late season’ skiing is cheaper than at peak times!

With less people on the slopes both accommodation and course and lift passes are cheaper than if you want to ski in the full throes of winter. Bonus!

Whatever you decide to do for the Easter Holidays, make sure you enjoy it and try to spend at least a little bit of time with the kids. They’re not young forever!

 

Best Art Museums Worldwide

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Are you or your family new to the art scene or are you returning veterans? Interested in learning the origins of various artists, or just love to see some of the weirder pieces of art the world has to offer? Wherever you decide to go on holiday, the chances are that you’ll be able to find an art museum somewhere nearby.

They are incredibly popular, and although the recent rise of the internet has hinted at a decline in the modern appreciation of classical art, they are still incredibly popular and provide a window into what it was like living and working in ancient times, as depicted by various painters and artists of the ages. Whether you are looking for the most visited museums of the world or are more interested in finding those hidden gems, take a look at some of Penguin’s best worldwide museums.

The Uffizi Gallery, Italy

[penguin] uffizi blogLocated in the centre of the beautiful city of Florence, Italy, the Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest museums in the world, and is also one of the most famous museums of the western world. The museum holds many beautiful pieces from classical artists of the 16th century, including works by Da Vinci Himself.

The museum is incredibly popular and visitors hoping to see the beautiful works on show may have to face waiting queues of up to 5 hours to get into the museum. Pre-booked ticket holders experience a significantly reduced waiting time.

Prado Museum, Spain

[penguin] prado blogKnown as the main Spanish national art museum, the Prado houses a vast collection of European art from as early as the 12th century to the early 19th century. To this date the Prado has had over 2.7million visitors and is comprised of over 20,000 pieces of art, including drawings, prints, sculptures and paintings.

The Prado also houses a number of historic documents and is known as a site of significant historic importance. Hire a car in Madrid to visit the Prado now!

The Louvre, France

[penguin] louvre blogHoused in the Louvre Palace, this museum was originally built as a fortress in the 12th Century, and some of the remnants can still been seen in the basement of the museum. It officially opened on the 10th August 1793 and is one of the world’s best known museums, attracting over 10 million visitors since it was opened.

The Louvre holds a huge collection of ancient pieces and antiques from all around the world and is also noticeable for its iconic, pyramid design at the entrance.

Beautiful Lakes in the South of France

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The South of France is a beautiful holiday destination to visit in the summer, particularly for those who love stunning beaches, but aren’t that fond of taking long haul flights to the likes of Hawaii and beyond. Some of the best locations to swim in the South of France are, ironically, not by the sea, but are instead by the region’s various rivers and lakes. These beaches may not be sandy, but their isolated locations and lack of tourists along with gorgeous views more than make up for their outward rocky appearance at first. Here at Penguin Car Hire, with fantastic deals and opportunities on hire cars from Boulogne-Sur-Mer to Toulouse, we look at the more beautiful Lakes and rivers, perfect for holidaymakers, located in the south of France.

Lake Bugarach

[penguin]lake bugarach blogA tiny lake just south of the village of Bugarach, located in the shadow of nearby mount Bugarach, this lake is beautifully quaint. Surrounded by rolling hills and with various nature walks through the forests nearby, Lake Bugarach is perfect for holidaymakers who are looking to get more in tune with nature.

Montpeyroux

Located on a hilltop, Montpeyroux is a small village which accurately reflects the quaint and relaxing atmosphere of the countryside. Situated in the picturesque Lidoire Valley, Montpeyroux is located right next to L’Allier River, where you can see the water cascade its way through the rocks of the valley, down tiny waterfalls and running alongside itself in beautiful rivets made over hundreds of years.

Take a homemade picnic and sit on one of the large rocks stranded in the centre of the river, where you can enjoy the quiet sounds of L’Allier flowing by while basking in the beautiful weather of sunny South France.

Frigoulet

[penguin]french lakes guinguette blgoThe river near Frigoulet village has a popular family beach framed by dense forest on one side. The other side often receives visitors on family days out, attracting both local residents and tourists. The beautiful archway bridge across the river is often used as a diving board for local children, but it is not recommended for tourists!

If you fancy a bite to eat, you can always visit a nearby ‘guinguette’. The traditional word for a classical French pub, a guingette can serve small snacks and sandwiches for a very reasonable price.

Whatever your holidaying preferences, take your trip out in style with Penguin Car Hire. With a first class directory offering hire cars from thousands of destinations worldwide, you can be sure with our comprehensive search and booking engine, you will find the very best rate for a holiday hire car.

 

St Patrick’s Day Festival

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Today is St Patrick’s Day, one of the most well-known holidays for those of Irish descent. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated enthusiastically across the world, but nowhere celebrates better than the Irish themselves. Those of Irish American descent may find themselves caught up in parades and various celebrations, but if you’re looking for the best place to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, Ireland is the place to be.

From the 14th to the 17th March 2014, the whole of Ireland gathered together to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in St Patrick’s Festival, located in Dublin, Ireland, and full of exciting events and performances that continued throughout the weekend.

St Patrick is one of Ireland’s most famous saints and most of what is known about him is derived from the Declaration thought to have been written by Patrick himself. It depicts Saint Patrick’s life before he became a priest, when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery on Gaellic Ireland, where he worked as a shepherd. During his days there he claimed to have ‘found god’ and brought it back to mainland Ireland, where he converted many of the Pagan Irish to Christianity until he died on the 17th March.

DUBLIN IN FEBRUARY 2006The St Patrick’s Day parade uses Ireland’s commemorative era as inspiration and throughout the next few years will be looking at the themes of ‘Past Present and Future’ when it comes to celebrating St Patrick’s Day and Ireland’s history. Plus next year the festival will pose the question ‘Who do we aspire to be in the next 100 years?’

Eight pageant companies will bring beautiful creations to life that culminated in a gorgeous and awe-inspiring parade that started at 12pm today. It begins on Parnell Square in Dublin, passing through O’Connell Street, over O’Connell Bridge, Westmoreland Streets, Dane Street and through to where it finishes at St Patrick’s Cathedral. If you’re visiting Ireland on holiday, why not hire a car in Dublin and head over to catch the festivities?

[penguin]st patricks day blogOther events that occurred throughout the weekend was a number of Music and Street performance vendors, including fun-fairs and various entertainment rides and information about the history of St Patrick’s Day, making it a great day out for you and the kids.

All this culminates in the Greening the City event, among other events, which starts at 6:30pm and sees various iconic buildings throughout Dublin ‘going green’ meaning that they are bathed in a green spotlight. It is a momentous event and one not to miss for those aspiring photographers out there!

Penguin’s Bucket List – Things to do and see before you die

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By definition a bucket list is a list made by people – mostly when you reach your midlife crisis – who want to do certain things or visit certain places before they die. The phrase ‘bucket list’ takes inspiration from the saying ‘to kick the bucket’ because your bucket list wants to be complete before you ‘kick the bucket’. These lists can comprise of anything; see a long lost loved one, travel the world, even spend a day doing absolutely nothing. It all depends on the individual. However most people worldwide have a list of places they would like to see before they died. Other people want to make a bucket list, but aren’t quite sure what to put on there. Why don’t we help? With a collection of truly magnificent, memorable and beautiful places that you should really visit before you die.

Zhangye’s Colourful Rock Formations

zanghye-danxia-formationsKnown as the Zhangye Danxia, these mountains consist of over 24 million years worth of laying down different mineral deposits. The creation of these landforms is something so perfect, so beautiful, that only nature could have done it by accident. Over time the layers of mineral deposit were compressed into rock, and then undulations were caused by the collision of the Eurasian and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, resulting in the stunning landforms we see today. These collisions made by the same two tectonic plates would also create the Himalayan Mountains.

The contrasting layers of different mineral rock make the formations look as if bright white lines have been painted across the landscape. Considering that these fantastic mountains were once just sand blowing in the wind, the Zhangye Danxia formations serve as a great representation of the magic of time.

The National Park where these formations are located is about an hour’s drive from the city of Zhangye, and although no tour buses or coaches normally go there, it is easy to hire a car and drive to see these fantastic formations for yourself!

The Mysterious Moai Statues of Easter Island
easter-island-heads-stone

These statues were thought to be a monument to the seafaring skills of ancient Polynesian peoples, however little to none oral or written history has survived regarding the Moai statues. They were painstakingly carved and sculpted, then moved to the location in which they now stand, by the ancient people of Rapa Nui. Each head averages around 4 metres in height and weighs a staggering 14 tons.

The statues are situated in a nearly unbroken line around the island, and a further 600 more have recently been discovered in a quarry, all in various stages of completion. The overwhelming sense of mystery that accompanies this island is what makes Easter Island a frequent subject among historians. Nobody quite knows why the Moai statues exist or their relevance to ancient culture, but the stalwart design and eerie frequency of these statues makes Easter Island a must see on bucket lists worldwide.

Want to create your own Bucket List?

We will be focusing on ‘places to visit before you die’ throughout the coming months, so why not check back regularly for ideas?