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Père Lachaise. Celebrity cemetery.

Today´s route takes us into one of the most bucolic places of the French capital: Père Lachaise cemetery , the largest one in Paris and one of the best known and most visited in the world.

We left a little of the bustle of the Parisian streets and headed to the twentieth district, east of the city, particularly at number sixteen Rue du Repos (resting Street), where we find the main entrance to the cemetery.

Upon entering, we feel that the place has a special energy, and walk quietly through their streets is a wonderful thing. Curiously, we will say that Parisians use it as a park, so it is not surprising to find locals strolling, reading, drawing ... Or even watching tourists with their maps in search of the most famous tombs.

And like good tourists that we are, we did what we were supposed to do and bought a map of the camp, which helped us not to be lost and to locate the graves of many celebrities who are buried there.

I have to confess that, even before arriving we had already chosen some tombs that we wanted to visit, we were surprised by the large number of known characters that lie among its more than 70,000 graves.

Among the personalities who inhabit this posthumous Walk of Fame, are Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Molière, Maria Callas, Chopin and Isadora Duncan.

One of the most visited places, is the legendary leader of The Doors, Jim Morrison, and it is a pilgrimage place. There you can read the inscription "Kata ton Daimona eaytoy" (according to his own mind). A few years ago, you could see a bust of the singer, but it was stolen and never recovered. Now, instead, find a security guard to prevent further vandalism.

One of the most famous landmarks is the Mur des Federes in tribute to the dead of the Commune of Paris from 21 to 28 May 1871 or memorial tribute to the French volunteers in the International Brigades in Spain between 1936 and 1939.

Père Lachaise Cemetery is very well preserved, although there are areas where the trees seem to gain ground to tombs.

One of the most beautiful mausoleums is home to the love story of Abelard and Heloise.

However, we also find creepy sculptures that horrorized us: winged children in memory of those gone too soon, or some with their faces covered by the anonymity of those who rest there.

It is getting dark at Père Lachaise and silence would absolutely if not for the incessant cawing of crows flying over our heads. To make matters worse, in this Halloween postcard, we realized that tens of smug cats have started appearing all over the place ...

Call us superstitious, but I think it's time to leave.

By Nadia Polo

Pictures by Ricce and Rama

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Amongst beaches and dunes

Fuerteventura’s volcanic origin gives a great natural beauty, with miles and miles of white sand and turquoise sea, sun for the whole year and a very characteristic flora and fauna you’ll discover in the different natural parks. It is perfect for water sports such as surfing , diving , windsurfing and kitesurfing , with a lot of schools and training courses specilized in these sports , and it is also a good place for hiking .

Some things you should not miss if you visit Fuerteventura

Cofete Beach is located in the south of island and surrounded by mountains. It is easily reached from Morro Jable by a narrow road, though its complicated access makes it not too crowded . There are 12 miles of pristine beach , where there is no building but only open sea, has become one of the most famous of all the Canary Islands. Here takes place the traditional release of turtles to begin their new life in freedom. In the dock of Morro Jable you can also visit the turtles’s kindergarden. It opens to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 h.

Corralejo’s Dunes and its great beaches in the municipality of La Oliva, running from Three Islands hotel to Barreta’s beach . They are placed within the Natural Park of Corralejo’s Dunes , which has more than 2600 acres, and forms a landscape of exceptional beauty. Feel the tingle of turquoise waters on your feet and relax with that wonderful feeling that happens when you are in these desert dunes next to the crystal clear sea. Within the park it is also the mountain Esmeralda , a natural area of ​​great historical and geological value, some call it the magic mountain.

Opposite the Dunes Park there is Islote de Lobos, a small island attached to Fuerteventura which owes its name to the ancient seals that at some point came to populate the island, also known as sea lions. You can reach it by taking one of the boats that leave from the port of Corralejo. You can tour Islote de Lobos on foot or by bicycle, visiting some of its points of interest, such as the mountain of La Caldera, its coves and swim in its natural pools or explore the wonderful deep sea.

The ancient capital of Bentancuria is largely the essence of the island. Founded in 1405 by the Norman conqueror Jean de Bethencourt is at the bottom of a picturesque valley. Lose yourself in its local elegant craft shops. Some of the pieces are made with techniques inherited from the natives, and museums like the Casa Museo Arquebiologico or Centro Insular de Artesanía. Discover also its architecture, especially church of Santa Maria de Betancuria , fully restored and open to the public.

Picture by Thomas Fietzek

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Customs and traditions

Palermo is an open air museum; the different architectural styles intermingle through its streets as if it were a history book . This great artistic legacy is the visible testimony to the influences of the various cultures that have lived in it.

Quattro Canti, the epicenter of Palermo’s historic center, is an octagonal square formed by the intersection of two major roads: Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda, which are surrounded by four identical facades adorned with baroque sculptures. The seventeenth century square is also called Il Teatro del sole, since the sun gradually illuminates each part of the square thoughout the day. The four fountains in the square point to the four historic districts: Kalsa to the southeast, Amalfitania to the northeast and Sincaldi Albergheria to the northwest and southwest.

The beauty of this city lies within the chaotic streets, particularly in the Capo district. It is one of the oldest areas of Palermo, and houses a maze of rocks and semi-destroyed churches.The Capo District is an abandoned, quiet location in the center, away from the chaotic and noisy traffic.

Some aspects to consider in Palermo

In the Antica Focacceria .S Francesco, established in 1834, you can taste the rich palermitana gastronomy. Specialties include the "panino meusa", a sandwich made of boiled spleen, lung and liver of bezerro, and the "arancini", an emblem of Sicilian gastronomy. It´s said to be the first local town who refused to pay the "pizzo", a tax that businesses have to give the mafia. Another great place to try the local cuisine is the Vuccira market .Here you can buy fresh produce, eat typical fried food, such as croquettes, fried vegetables, or fried fish, and visit stalls offering the usual panini.

The Opera of Pupi, marionettes consisting of three Sicilian threads representing chivalrous fights, is one of the Sicilian traditions. To learn about the Sicilian puppet theater workshop, which has been a way of life for generations for this family, visit the Cuticchio on Via Bara all'Olivera to admire the collection dating back to the early nineteenth century. To this day, the workshop displays musical instruments, puppets and essence machinery. The Cuticchio is magical! Or visit the Museum of Antonio Pasqualino 4000, which houses a collection of puppets from around the world.

Another great custom is Sicilians coffee, which is always accompanied by a glass of water and ordered at the bar. Keep in mind that ordering table service may increase the cost by 50%.

Finally, a curiosity we discovered in the award-winning documentary "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey" is a typical hand gesture in the shape of horns, called "malocchio". The documentary explains the origin of this superstitious gesture which is typical amongst older Sicilian women in the street in order to avoid the evil eye. Heavy metal fans started making this gesture in concerts after it was introduced by Ronnie James DIO.

A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.

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The Rebellious Heart of Berlin

Some journeys take you to unknown places, some envelop you in peace and tranquillity while others are designed to help tap your inner creativity. Without a doubt, Berlin manages all three of these things. Let’s walk today through the melting pot of the city’s most rebellious heart, where new artistic spaces open every year, where music, art and design coexist with parks, restaurants and street markets. Perhaps this is why more than 8 million tourists come here every year, only to discover it has changed slightly each time they return. Carlos Medina, from My Vueling City, guides us through the city to a musical backdrop. OnPiedra de Toque, we continue to seek the hidden side of our cities. Today, Berlin, with the Kreuzberg district, the Prenzlauer Berg district and the B-Parade.

The strong>Krezberg district: 160,000 inhabitants of 200 different nationalities, Turkish being the majority. “After the wall came down, Berlin united the two Germanies – the east occupied by the Russians and the west occupied by the Americans, French and English. The Kreuzberg district lies in the east, boasting a great night life and a spectacular Turkish market. Simply consider that Berlin is the European capital with the most Turks and that most of those live in the Kreuzberg district. However, there is another area that, given the low rent prices, is also full of all sorts of creative people. A visit to the Prenzlauer Berg district is highly recommendable. Here you will find cafés and restaurants of all nationalities with an excellent offer at more than reasonable prices. Top spots for Carlos Medina: Il pane e le rose, Mami Camilla, A Cabana.

Volkspark Friedrichshain has been the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for more than 160 years. It is the oldest public park in Berlin. Mauerpark and its street market is the other essential location for discovering the hidden side of the German capital. Finally, if it’s the various shopping areas that turn you on, then Castangalle is the place for you.

B-Parade, 21 July. To conclude our visit to Berlin, we will mention the old Love Parade that began in 1989 before the fall of the Berlin Wall and that lives on today under a new name: B Parade. This popular street festival gathers a large number of DJs and performances to create the biggest party in Europe. This year, it will be held on 21 July.

Picture by David Herrmann

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