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Studio Ghibli Museum – Tokyo

Whether you have seen only one of the films or you’re an avid lover of Hayao Miyazaki’s works among others, the Studio Ghibli Museum located in Tokyo, Japan, is not to be missed. A museum like no other, it encapsulates a real child-like feeling of wonderment with huge scenes depicting castles and cities from films such as ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ and ‘Howls’ Moving Castle’. Step into   the world of Ghibli and straight away you see a gentle moss covered building with large glass windows, portholes and hatches that you’ll see as you wander through the museum.

With your ticket you will receive a free cinema ticket to one of the six short films that play on a random rotation throughout the year in the museum’s own mini-cinema. Not available on DVD or to watch outside of the museum, the films last around 15 minutes and are only in Japanese with no subtitles but are still a joy to see.

stai8ned glassUpon first entering the museum what you will immediately notice is that it is not laid out like normal museums. Normal museums are full of long hallways with exhibitions on clear display with a few ‘interactive’ pieces here and there. Miyazaki states that he wanted the Ghibli Museum to feel like a magical place and in fact the tagline of the museum is ‘Let’s get lost together’.

The museum is set out over three floors with a huge hallway in the centre of the museum connecting the floors. Spiral staircases lead to the first and sometimes the second floor and in archways you’ll see more staircases leading to different levels. An elevator passes between two of the floors and you’ll see a walkway connecting two balconies together on the first floor. Artwork adorns the walls and windows and you’ll see children and adults alike running around, ducking under archways and pointing in awe at the various works on display.

As you walk through the museum you can see the various works that inspired Miyazaki to make some of the great Ghibli films as well as early artwork and storyboards in the art room. On the second floor, if you have young children, you can supervise them while they play in the giant plush Catbus corner among piles of dust bunnies. Unfortunately this is only for younger kids!

The animation room is full of different animation styles and techniques including stop motion, puppets, hand drawn cells and the use of clay figures to give depth to an animation.

giantTake a step outside into the quiet garden world of Arrietty, and if you decide to have a look on the roof you can shake hands with and even take photos of yourself with a giant, full scale robot statue from Laputa; Castle in the Sky.

If you’re tuckered out from running around the various rooms and hallways, the Ghibli Museum has its own tea house with sandwiches and hot and cold drinks available.

Sit on one of the terrace benches or find a place inside for a little break! After having lunch make sure to check out the souvenir shop where you can buy the Studio Ghibli DVD’s as well as artbooks, stationary, plush creatures, glass sculptures, sweets and more. Careful though, it can get quite expensive!

busThe Studio Ghibli museum can be found by hired car or by taking the Ghibli Bus which can be caught at the JR Mitaka Station which can be easily reached from Shinjuku Station and is completely unmissable!

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos inside the main museum part, perhaps to maintain the mystery behind the museum, But you can buy books within the museum that contain photos of the museum as well as visual designs for the museum too!

Happy Hot Dog Day!

Happy Hot Dog Day! A world renowned and widely loved snack, the origins of the term ‘hot dog’ is unclear, but we do know that although it is incredibly popular with American sporting events, Frankfurters – the type of sausage normally used for a hot dog – were originally invented in Germany. Germany is well known for its spiced meats and various meat products and has produced the frankfurter (from Frankfurt) and the hamburger (from Hamburg) as well as the Wiener (from Vienna, Austria, whose German name is ‘Wien’).

hot dog 1When visiting Germany in December, it is incredibly easy to find several different types of sausage and hot dog floating about their Christmas markets, although ‘wurst’ is enjoyed year round in its many forms in Germany. With hundreds of years experience cultivating and curing meats with herbs, Germany combines exotic flavours with various different types of sausage and pork meat to create new and exciting types of ‘wurst’.

The frankfurter is the most recognisable form of sausage, but other popular types are the Landjager which is similar to salami and can be eaten cold or boiled, the Leberwurst (Literally ‘Liverwurst’) which is like a pate to be spread on bread or crackers and the Blutwurst or ‘blood sausage’ a delicacy made from congealed pig or cow blood and bulked out with oatmeal, meat and fat, to be eaten cold.

The first recorded instance of a hot dog was when German immigrant Charles Feltmen began selling sausages in bread rolls in Coney Island, USA in 1870. Later on one of his former employees, a Polish-American named Nathan Handwerker, separated from the business to start his own, creating Nathan’s Famous, a world renowned hot dog company that is still in production today.

hot dog 2Nathan’s Famous  started in 1916 with the help of $300 from a few friends. Handwerker quickly gained popularity by selling his hot dogs at a reduced price of five cents each whereas Feltmen was charging ten cents per hot dog. Now it boasts world fame and products in millions of supermarkets and stores throughout the USA.

You can even still visit and enjoy a hot dog at the original Nathan’s Famous store in Coney Island, Brooklyn. If you’re planning a holiday in the USA and have always wondered what an original, award winning hot dog recipe was, why not grab a hired car and head over for a tube of American and German history?

The top ten holiday destinations to propose

If you’re planning to propose (or create the right opportunity for that certain someone to think about proposing) then a trip to somewhere significant is the way to do it. Make your proposal memorable with somewhere romantic and scenic. Here are our top ten destinations for proposal opportunities.

paris1)      Paris – a perennial favourite with lovers the world over, France’s capital city has a long history of romance with plenty of spots to do the deed. If you don’t fancy scaling the Eiffel Tower, then maybe you can use the Pont des Arts over the River Seine, or aboard one of the river’s many cruise boats.

2)      Dubai – Hot, exotic, and containing some stunning modern architecture, Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. Dubai is a great choice if you want to combine a proposal with engagement ring shopping. A trip to Gold & Diamond Park and other shopping malls and souks could be on the itinerary! There are a plethora of potential proposal spots in one of Dubai’s many skyscrapers, aquarium restaurants, or fountains.

new york3)      New York – With trans-Atlantic flights faster than they used to be, a short break in New York is more than feasible. A trip to New York feels like visiting a living film set, and where better to propose than atop the Empire State Building, on a helicopter over the Statue of Liberty, or in the world famous Times Square? Shops galore with the peaceful haven of Central Park, New York offers it all.

4)      Venice – Venice is possibly Italy’s most famously romantic city, and attracts around 50,000 tourists a day. It is famous for its waterways and canals, and you can’t go to Venice without taking a gondola ride along the Grand Canal.

norway5)      Norway – if your loved one is not a fan of exotic weather, then a trip to see the Northern Lights could be a winner. There are lots of places to stay where you have a good chance of seeing the lights, and you can also take a dog-sledding tour, or a cruise around the fjords. Please see the website of Visit Norway for the best places.

6)      Dublin – for a proposal filled with fun, Dublin is a lovely place for a bit of sightseeing and bonding over beer. If you need a bit of Dutch courage and feel the ‘luck of the Irish’ would be most welcome, then making your proposal in Dublin could result in success!

7)      London – The UK’s capital and one of the world’s biggest cities provides a whole host of proposal opportunities. The London Eye is a popular choice, or maybe the scenic Trafalgar Square. If you want to add height to your proposal, then a trip up London’s tallest building The Shard is the place to do it.

propose8)      Sydney – for the trip of a lifetime, and one you will never forget, take a trip to Sydney, Australia. Often thought of as Australia’s capital (it isn’t), it’s probably the most recognisable of Oz’s cities. The harbour area with the Opera House is simply stunning, and if you want to introduce an element of peril into your proposal then you can join a climbing tour of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

9)      Barcelona – the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona in the region of Catalonia is a mix of green space, coast, and interesting architecture created by Gaudi. Proposal sites could include the wonderful Park Guell, or the mountainside park of Montjuic. Ride a cable car to the hillside villages, and if you’re a sports fan, the Olympic stadium and The Camp Nou are worth a tour.

10)  Las Vegas – Not keen on long engagements? Propose in Las Vegas and you can be engaged, married, and on your way home before the hangover has even kicked in. Feeling extra lucky? Try one or two of the many casinos and maybe you can stretch to an even better ring.

Wherever you propose, make it a good one. Good luck!

The Bus to Downtown Vegas

When someone says they are going to Las Vegas for a holiday, often people think of the bright lights, the never sleeping city, the flashy casinos and huge atmosphere that Las Vegas portrays in all the big films, right down to its 99c postcards. However there is a little place not far from the strip, between the Strip and downtown Vegas, which is so stark in its contrast it is a little scary.

ehtiopiaTake a bus ride downtown and particularly in the evening, you’ll see a sight not far from the Strip, but with a very different atmosphere.

With its mish-mash of shingled roofs and flat roofs, metal fencing, whitewashed walls next to heavily graffiti-d walls downtown almost seems like a ghost town.

Many of the hotel and casino staff of the Strip live here and it is worth the trip to see just how strange the scenery of Las Vegas becomes once you leave the Strip.

Fairy Lights and stark white lights dot around the place but unlike the Strip’s huge flashing lights and billboards, the trip downtown seems almost empty and desolate. The houses are clustered together like a make-shift town and streetlights blink on and off like some apocalyptic future world.

Downtown Vegas itself is much more colourful, with large signs boasting deep fried Mars bars and drinks aplenty, it is hard to believe that in a simple bus ride between the main Vegas Strip and Downtown Vegas, such a desolate little land exists. It may sound creepy but after the vivid life pumping out from the Vegas Strip, this little stretch of land is eerie, fascinating and almost acts as a welcome break to the craziness of Vegas.

downstownIf you happen to be visiting Las Vegas for a holiday in the near future, make sure to take a bus trip to downtown Vegas.

Downtown in itself has a fair few tourist attractions but the bus journey itself is an experience that is chilling, yet interesting.

With Penguin car hire you can choose from thousands of different companies at thousands of different locations to find the right hired car for you or your family while on holiday. We provide a huge database to ensure that you are never left in the lurch on holiday. With a number of different taxi and hired car points available throughout Las Vegas, book a hired car for your next holiday today!

Strange June Festivals

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!

Visit Las Vegas – Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam

Although made famous by the thousands of casinos lurking in the giant hotels, bars and shops located across the strip, Las Vegas is a fantastic city with far more to offer than simply gambling all your holiday money away. The Strip is a section of the city that is larger than life, covered with huge structures, artistic portraits and happy-go-lucky costumed characters plus with miles and miles of entertainment lurking within every door; it is so easy to get lost in one of its many hotels.

Las Vegas is a city built in the desert, with sheer sand dunes and stark mountains rising all around it, it seems like a misplaced dot of light on an otherwise dark deserted crop of land. Surrounded by the Mojave Desert and with the Las Vegas Bay to the east, Las Vegas is full of both natural and manmade wonders. Two such wonders are the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

Grand Canyon

canyonWidely considered one of the wonders of the modern world, the Grand Canyon that stretches 277 river miles long, 18 miles wide and is a staggering 1 mile deep. The layers of rock shown through the Grand Canyon encompass almost 2 billion years of Earth’s geological history, slowly eroded by the Colorado River winding through the canyon.

The Grand Canyon was actually once home to a number of Native American families who built settlements in the canyon and lived inside its various cave systems. The Canyon is a sight to behold and helicopter rides are offered over the Canyon for a truly spellbinding experience. Taxi rides are available from Las Vegas itself to the Canyon, for a day trip to see the canyon and experience a number of Nevada’s other attractions.

Hoover Dam

Hoover_damOriginally known as the Boulder Dam, the Hoover Dam was controversially renamed after President Hoover as a symbol of his presidency as a ‘great engineer’. It was built over the course of five years during the Great Depression following the idea that building a dam would allow the population to control floods and use the water for hydroelectric power.

The Hoover Dam seals off Lake Mead which is the largest reservoir in America and is a staggering 725 feet high and 1,244 feet long. The dam’s generators now provide power for both public and private purposes in Nevada, Arizona and California and are visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year looking to see one of the largest human structures built to hold such an intense body of water.

The Hoover Dam can be reached by hire car from Las Vegas using one of Penguin’s thousands of hired car searches, or you can book a tour while you are out holidaying in Las Vegas.

50 States Road Trip – Massachusetts

Massachusetts is the 3rd most densely populated states in the USA. The state has played a significant role in shaping American History. Plymouth was the site of the colony founded by the pilgrim passengers of the Mayflower in 1620 and the oldest institute of higher learning in the entire 50 states; Harvard University was founded in Massachusetts in 1636. Massachusetts was also the first U.S state to legally recognise same-sex marriage, in 2004. A leader in higher education, healthcare technology and financial services, Massachusetts has a lot for tourists to offer.

current state

[penguin] witch salem blogSalem

Famous (or is that infamous?) for its Witch trials, take a step into the history books as you learn about the historic importance of this city, and its connections with the witch trials of 1692.

A lot of Salem associates with the witch trials of 1692; police cars have witch logos on them, an elementary school is named Witchcraft Heights and most of the athletics teams in the schools are known as the Witches.

Salem is also home to a number of quaint New Age and Wiccan boutiques, as well as being a popular location for holidaymakers around Halloween!

Cape Cod

For the chance to see some extreme weather, head on over to Cape Cod. It is a beautiful cape that, due to its location, receives slightly colder winters and slightly warmer summers. Consisting of 15 distinctive towns each sporting their own unique charm, Cape Cods beautiful beaches that attract hundreds of tourists and honeymooners in the summer months.

If you are planning on visiting Cape Cod on your holidays, make sure to check the local weather report, as every five-six years a tropical storm accompanied by high winds tends to hit the Cape, so take care!

[penguin] nantucket blogNantucket

A beautifully quaint little island located to the south of Cape Cod, Nantucket is well known for its sparkling beaches and iconic home designs. Nantucket’s beaches are known to be some of the most pristine and beautiful beaches in the world. Littering is strictly prohibited and punishable, as it could damage the fragile ecosystem of the island.

Plus with houses, cottages and time share rentals available, you can own your own little piece of paradise during the holiday season.

Next Stop

Our next state is the state of Rhode Island. Why not hire a car in Providence, Rhode Island’s capital city by using Penguin’s Car Hire service?

50 States Road Trip – Montana

Heading into Montana, we see that there are a huge range of things to do including visiting national parks and plains, as well as having a look at some of the older nations of native America. Montana is a beautiful vast county full of natural beauties and it is also a cornerstone of ancient Native American history, with several traditional tribes dotted around the county in homage to ancient traditions.

usa-map-montana1

 

National and State Parks

geyser-montana

Choose from the Glacier National Park or the Yellowstone National Park, both of which are home to a stunning selection of natural beauty landmarks. For those who want a more scenic c vista, Glacier National park offers huge snow peaked mountains, waterfall studded hiking trails and fields of wildflowers, whereas Yellowstone National Park is host to a number or wolves, bison and bears (oh my!) as well as numerous hot springs and natural geysers. Yellowstone is also famous for being America’s first national park.

As well as the two national parks, the state of Montana is also home to 54 fantastic state parks where you can undergo a host of activities, including skiing, hiking, nature trails and camping, or simply relaxing in the great outdoors.

Sacred Lands

buffallo-bison-wagon-old-native-american

The Indian nations of America are extremely proud of their heritage, and there are seven main tribal sites around Montana, many of which speak their own indigenous language. Some Indian nations, such as the Apsaalooke Crowe Tribe, have their own reservation area including herding grounds and places for tourists to stay. Many of the tribes still use the same farming and animal rearing techniques today as they did hundreds of years ago before America was colonised, and you can have a hand at living with the land yourself, if you want an idea of what life was like surviving out in the plains of Montana, for the native American tribes of old.

High Plains

A stretch of land untamed by human hands. Prairie’s, badlands, buttes, all home to a vast array of natural wonders, plants and wildlife. Be prepared for harsh, sweltering days and cold nights as the High Plains of Montana shows the raw, bleak yet beautiful aspect of pure nature.

Montana’s high plains are also home to the C.M Russell National Wildlife Refuge; a million acre size of land home to 45 different species of mammals plus over 200 different species of birds. Plus with abandoned homesteads, wagons and tepee rings, the National Wildlife Refuge also captures a piece of native history that goes beyond visiting a museum, leave your hired car behind as you can walk through the remnants of an old village, treading the same soil as American ancestors trod hundreds of years ago.

Pack Your Bags

Because we are heading east next week into the state of North Dakota, known for its Norwegian and Germanic inspired cuisine, and the largest Scandinavian festival held annually in America; the Norsk Hostfest.

Welcome To Pete’s Blog

Well here we are kick-starting the new Penguin Car Hire blog. We’ve been so busy developing the website that we’re only just getting round to sharing a load of travel related advice and information with our thousands of visitors to the website.

We’ll also be using the blog to announce any current special deals and offers and any news we feel is important for travellers to know. And sometimes Pete may also jump in and write some rubbish…but it’s best just to leave him to it sometimes!

We hope you will enjoy the blog as it grows and make sure to get in contact with Penguin Car Hire if you need any specific advice or want to discuss your car rental options with us.

Happy travelling!!

Justin, Pete and Team