If your New Year’s resolution for 2010 is to see more of the world, we’ve got inspiration for every single week of the year, covering every single one of the bmibaby destinations…
BY SARAH RODRIGUES
Week 1
Amsterdam
1 – 7 JANUARY
Not only was he handy with a paintbrush, Vincent Van Gogh also had quite the way with words. Catch the last few days of this exhibition (which ends on 3 January) of more than 120 of his original letters, some of which include sketches that are exhibited alongside the works about which he was writing. They offer a real insight into the man. The Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein, www.vangoghmuseum.nl
Week 2
Paris
8 – 14 JANUARY
Parisienne dog owners are so unique as to be the stuff of caricature – so come and see them (and their dogs, of course) at the Paris Dog Show (from 9-10 January), where over 300 breeds are on show and in competition. Even if you’re not dog mad yourself, it’s quite a show. Quelle bitch fight! Parc Floral de Paris, Esplanade du Château de Vincennes, Route de la Pyramide, Bois de Vincennes, www.sc-if.org
Week 3
Edinburgh
15 – 21 JANUARY
Two weeks into the New Year and surely it’s time to ditch those good intentions? Head to Edinburgh’s Farmers’ Market on Saturday 16 January (and every Saturday from 9am to 2pm) and fall off the resolution wagon with gourmet sausages, buttery pastries and cheeses galore. Castle Terrace, www.edinburghfarmersmarket.com
Week 4
GENEVA
22 – 28 JANUARY
Housed in Maison Fontaine, one of the city’s oldest shops, The Museum of Swiss Cutlery includes the first Swiss army knife (made in 1891) and cutlery made by some of Switzerland’s finest silversmiths . 15 Rue de la Confédération, www.fontaine-shop.ch
Week 5
Toulouse
29 JANUARY – 4 FEBRUARY
The Toulouse Modern Dance Festival will showcase a range of performances in venues across the city from 21 January to 12 February. Tickets to events, featuring artists and choreographers from around the world, such as Lemi Ponifasio, who hails from New Zealand, Wen Hui from China and Bouchra Ouzguen from Morroco, can be purchased online. www.cdctoulouse.com
Week 6
Manchester
5 – 11 FEBRUARY
Even if hip hop isn’t your cup of musical tea, there’s plenty to fascinate at HomeGrown, an exhibition dedicated to the story of UK Hip Hop. It’s not just about the music either – photography, fashion and film all feature too. Until March. Level 1, Urbis, Cathedral Gardens, www.urbis.org.uk
Week 7
Paris
12 – 18 FEBRUARY
Valentine’s Day in Paris? Hold hands and cosy up as you glide across the temporary ice rinks at Montparnasse (Place Raoul Dautry) or Hotel de Ville (Place de l’Hôtel de Ville); both free other than a €5 skate-hire fee. www.paris.fr
Week 8
Cardiff
19 – 25 FEBRUARY
The day of lurve may have been and gone for 2010, but that’s no reason to kill the passion. Check into the spa at Cardiff’s St David’s Hotel for an indulgent couples’ treatment, including hot-stone massage in intimate surroundings. St David’s Hotel, Havannah Street, www.thestdavidshotel.com
Week 9
Belfast
26 FEBRUARY – 4 MARCH
What do you mean, you can’t see the similarity between Belfast and Nashville? They’re “sister cities” and to prove it, the Belfast Nashville Songwriters’ Festival returns from 24-28 February, with more than 100 songwriters performing in 30 venues, along with seminars and workshops on the art of songwriting. Various venues, www.belfastnashville.com
Week 10
Birmingham
5 – 11 MARCH
It’s fast, it’s furious and it’s terribly, terribly British. Catch England’s Olympians, who will be hoping for home success at the 100th All England Open Badminton Champtionships as they battle the world’s top players. From 9-14 March. The National Indoor Arena, King Edwards Road, www.thenia.co.uk
Week 11
Glasgow
12 – 18 MARCH
Make your mother’s day with afternoon tea at Rogano, a Glasgow institution since the 1930s. Traditional sandwich selections, crumpets, éclairs, scones, tarts and shortbreads should keep her sweet – card and gift optional! Remember, people: Mother’s Day is on Saturday 14 March! 11 Exchange Place, tel: +44 (0)141 248 4055, www.roganoglasgow.com
Week 12
GENEVA
19 – 25 MARCH
Get ready for downhilll thrills – 20 March is the date of Nissan Xtreme, the final leg of Freeride World Tour, with the world’s best skiers and snowboarders battling it out on the slopes of Verbier, about 160km from Geneva. www.xtremeverbier. com
Week 13
Palma de Mallorca
26 MARCH – 1 APRIL
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and in Mallorca they do it with an ensaïmada, so popular a choice that most bakeries sell out of them by mid-morning! Get yours from Forn Fondo, where you’ll find these spiral-shaped pastries at their doughy best. 15 Calle Unió, Palma, tel: +34 971 711 634.
Week 14
Barcelona
2 – 8 APRIL
Happy Easter! Nowhere does a religious festival like it’s done in Spain, so check out the Palm Sunday celebrations in Barcelona, culminating in a massive procession from La Seu (Barcelona Cathedral) in the Old Town. And if for you Easter is more about the chocolate, head to the Museum of Chocolate (Museu de la Xocolata) for your fix – and an opportunity for children to make their own chocolate figures. 36 Carrer del Comerç, www.pastisseria.com
Week 15
Paris
9 – 15 APRIL
Right then, time to work off the excesses of Easter. Even if you’re not quite up to running the Paris Marathon on 11 April, just watching the race ought to inspire you to hit the gym a couple of times before Christmas! It’s limited to 40,000 runners and sets off from the Champs Élysées at 8.45am, before trooping past a number of the city’s sights. www.parismarathon.com
Week 16
JERSEY
16 – 22 APRIL
The Jersey Motorcycle & Light Car Club holds events throughout the summer; head to Sorel Point, St John, on Sunday 18th for a Moto X race and watch heart-lurching jumps and hair-raising corners. Admission is free! www.jerseymotorsport.com
Week 17
East Midlands
23 – 29 APRIL
An institution in Leicester (about 16 miles from East Midlands Airport) since it was established in 1937, Brucciani’s bakeries and cafés have seen more than their share of courting couples and truanting teens. The Fox Lane branch, in the heart of the city, is the perfect place to recharge your shopping batteries: don’t miss the ice-cream sodas. 5 Fox Lane, tel: + 44 (0)116 251 9232.
Week 18
Barcelona
30 APRIL – 6 MAY
Running from the last week of March through the middle of June, Barcelona’s annual guitar festival features performances from virtuosos in venues throughout the city, including the spectacular Palau de la Musica and smaller, more intimate bar settings. Expect to feast your ears on a range of styles ranging from blues to flamenco, jazz and classical. www.theproject.es
Week 19
Malaga
7 – 13 MAY
To really explore Malaga’s narrow winding streets, Malaga Bike Tours will take you on a four-hour voyage of historical and cultural discovery through the city, with knowledgeable and – crucially – entertaining guides. Minimum group size is two, €23 per person. www.malagabiketours.eu
Week 20
Venice
14 – 20 MAY
The Annual Feast of the Sensa, from 15-16 May, captures the mystical appeal of Venice. Accompanied by a huge entourage of decorated boats, the mayor sails from St Mark’s Square and renews the watery “marriage” between Venice and the sea by throwing a ring into the waters of the lagoon at the Port of San Nicolò. www.comune.venezia.it
Week 21
Newquay
21 – 27 MAY
Kickstart your festival season with a spot of Beetle-mania. Run to the Sun, which started out 22 years ago as a surf culture and VW event, now encompasses DJ sets, live bands and comedy, as well as a ubiquitous silent disco, and starts on 28 May, running for three days. Trevelgue Holiday Park, Porth, www.runtothesun.co.uk
Week 22
Malta
28 MAY – 3 JUNE
May marks the anniversary of Oliver Reed’s death from a heart attack during a drinking session while in Malta to film Gladiator. Don’t let the month end without raising your glass to the acting legend at the familiarly known“Ollie’s” Pub, where he met his untimely end. 136 Archbishop Street, Valletta.
Week 23
Murcia
4 – 10 JUNE
If you fancy trying your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing – or any kind of sailing – head to Murcia’s Socaire Watersports School on the shores of Mar Menor. There’s no better place to have a go than on the world’s largest saltwater lake. Escuela de VelaSocaire, Santiago de la Ribera, www.socaire.com
Week 24
Faro
11 – 17 JUNE
Journey just 40km from Faro and be amazed by the grand and ornate sand sculptures at Fiesa, a competition held annually from May to October. Visit by day to appreciate the full attention to detail of the sculptures, or by night, when their scale is enhanced by live performances. Péra, www.fiesa.org
Week 25
Dubrovnik
18 – 24 JUNE
It’s Father’s Day on 20 June, so if you’re going for the trustworthy gift of a tie, make sure you buy it from Croatia, where it was allegedly “invented”. For every imaginable kind, visit Boutique Croata. 2 Pred Dvorom, www.croata.hr/homeland/index.php
Week 26
LOURDES
25 JUNE – 1 JULY
For two months over the summer the Lourdes Fêtes bring folk dancing, markets, performance and general merriment to the town. From June you’ll find details on the Lourdes’ Tourism website. www.lourdes-infotourisme.com
Week 27
Toulouse
2 – 8 JULY
Reach for the stars at the Pic du Midi obvservatory. Take the cable car up, then ride a mountain bike back down! Or why not stay the night? There’s accomodation for up to 19 guests with meals, apéritif, sunset, an astronomy animation and star gazing included: €299 for two. Rue Pierre Lamy de la Chapelle, La Mongie, www.picdumidi.com
Week 28
Cork
9 – 15 JULY
Ireland’s premier sailing event, Cork Week, runs from 10-16 July and is free for spectators, who can watch the events on six different courses, as well as enjoying live entertainment on land, including the excellent après-sailing, with parties and such like going on into the small hours. As you’d imagine, the Irish know how to party! www.accbankcorkweek.ie
Week 29
Bordeaux
16 – 22 JULY
Music and wine have always been a good combination, and now you can visit some of the grandest châteaux around Bordeaux to enjoy both. Les Grands Crus Musicaux Bordeaux, 12-25 July, features performances by well-known classical musicians at the châteaux, with wine tastings – naturally! – following the concerts. www.grandscrusmusicaux.com
Week 30
Knock
23 – 29 JULY
About 90 minutes from Knock lies Achill Island. Measuring 20km from east to west and 18km from north to south, it’s Ireland’s largest island and home to the highly regarded Scoil Acla school, which was set up in 1910 to promote Irish, Piping (Irish War Pipes), dance, song and culture. This year marks its 100th annual Irish Traditional Music Summer School, which runs from 26 July to 1 August. Achill Island, www.scoilacla.com
Week 31
Perpignan
30 JULY – 5 AUGUST
Throughout the months of July and August, Thursday nights in Perpignan are more colourful and vibrant than ever with the renowned Perpignan Thursdays. The weekly spectacle (which is free of charge) includes circus acts, street performances and world music. www.perpignantourisme.com
Week 32
Almeria
6 – 12 AUGUST
Want the perfect all-over tan? Give naturism a go at Vera Playa, about one hour from Almeria airport, which boasts a 3km stretch of beach. As one of the largest naturist resorts in Europe, you can rest assured that no one’s going to be looking at you! www.veraplaya.info
Week 33
Sardinia
13 – 19 AUGUST
Escape Sardinia’s summer heat with a trip into Neptune’s Cave, hidden within Alghero’s limestone cliffs. Its clear waters, tunnels, columns and formations can all be explored on hourly guided tours. Capo Caccia, www.algherosardinia.net
Week 34
Lisbon
20 – 26 AUGUST
Up the style quotient of your Lisbon city break with a drink at Manga Rosa, one of the city’s slickest haunts: the décor is a blend of luxe decadence and pared-down minimalism, with sexy lighting and video projections on the walls to amuse you as you sip cocktails and check out the other punters. 14 Rua Sociedade, Filarmonica Incrivel, Almadense, tel: +351 965 526 060.
Week 35
EAST MIDLANDS
27 AUGUST – 2 SEPTEMBER
Spend the Bank Holiday weekend at the National Forest Wood Fair, with archery displays, chainsaw sculpting and lots more. Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire, www.nationalforest.org
Week 36
Menorca
3 – 9 SEPTEMBER
The final fiesta of the season – the Fiesta of Our Lady of Grace – runs from 6-9 September in Mahón and has a particular focus on horses and equestrian events, from graceful displays like dressage to more adrenaline-fuelled, break-neck displays, like jousting. www.e-menorca.org
Week 37
Perpignan
10 – 16 SEPTEMBER
Make a point of checking out one of Perpignan’s coolest bars – uBU La Suite, run by an Irish local. Super laid-back and ultra-hip – yet still welcoming – it adjoins an I-want-everything clothing store, so you can plan outfits while you sip. uBU La Suite, 40 Place Rigaud, tel: +33 (0)4 6880 0367.
Week 38
Lisbon
17 – 23 SEPTEMBER
Lisbon’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is one of Europe’s best, which is exactly what you might expect from a city with such an open vibe, and it returns for its 14th year with offerings from around the globe. Screenings are held at the Cinema São Jorge; check website for times and details. 175 Avenida da Liberdade, www.queerlisboa.pt
Week 39
Corsica
24 SEPTEMBER – 30 SEPTEMBER
Food matters in Corsica, as its proverb “eat the soup or jump out of the window” testifies. Try la boutargue, a local specialty made with dried salted roe, at Bastia’s oldest restaurant, Le Lavezzi, which overlooks the Old Port. 8 Rue Saint Jean, tel: +33 (0)4 9531 0573.
Week 40
Paris
1 – 7 OCTOBER
It’s Paris Fashion Week but, sorry, darling – you’re not invited. Console yourself with a trip to the Louboutin boutique and flash some red sole in true fashionista style. 38-40 Rue de Grenelle, tel: +33 (0)1 42 22 33 07.
Week 41
Cardiff
8 – 14 OCTOBER
Release your inner primate at Go Ape in Margam Country Park, about 30 minutes outside Cardiff, with three exhilarating hours of scrambling up ladders, swinging from ropes and zipping along high-wires through the treetops. Port Talbot, South Wales, www.goape.co.uk
Week 42
Nice
15 – 21 OCTOBER
Located about 15 minutes from Nice airport is the villa in which Henri Matisse lived in the 1940s. Painting courses are run here throughout the year, but even if you can’t secure a place, make sure you check out the Matisse museum during your stay. Villa le Rêve, 261 Avenue Henri Matrissse, Vence, www.villalerevevence.com; Le Musée de Nice, 164 Avenue des Arènes de Cimiez, www.musee-matisse-nice.org
Week 43
Cork
22 – 28 OCTOBER
Don’t let those winter blues get you down – at least not before getting a taste of blues of a more enjoyable nature. The four-day Cork Jazz Festival has been running for more than 30 years and attracts talent – and festival-goers – from all over the world. www.guinnessjazzfestival.com
Week 44
Faro
29 OCTOBER – 4 NOVEMBER
Get into a suitably ghoulish frame of mind – just in time for Halloween – with a visit to Faro’s grisly Capela de Ossos (Chapel of Bones), next to the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (a church). The interior is completely lined with the bones of monks, grinning skulls and all. Largo do Carmo
Week 45
Amsterdam
5 – 11 NOVEMBER
The city is ranked in the top 25 safest in the world, so as the evenings begin to draw in there’s no excuse not to go out. Head to the Sound Garden, a hip bar perched by the Singelgracht canal, and hang out. 164 Marnixstraat, www.. cafesoundgarden.nl
Week 46
Birmingham
12 – 18 NOVEMBER
It’s time to start putting serious thought into that festive season wardrobe. Avoid looking like every other LBD-wearer by picking up some unique pieces at Cow Vintage. 82-85 Digbeth High Street, tel: +44 (0)121 633 4745.
Week 47
Geneva
19 – 25 NOVEMBER
Get those festive juices flowing at Geneva’s International Christmas Tree and Lights Festival, which starts in the last week of November and runs until the New Year. The countdown to Christmas is on! www.festivalarbresetlumieres.ch
Week 48
MANCHESTER
26 NOVEMBER – 2 DECEMBER
Set yourself up for the party season with a detox before you retox at Titanic Spa (the UK’s first organic spa), about 30 minutes from Manchester. Low Westwood Lane, Linthwaite, Huddersfield, www.titanicspa.com
Week 49
Alicante
3 – 9 DECEMBER
Festititeres, Alicante’s International Puppet Festival, is on this week, with performances, exhibitions and workshops held around the city. While you’re there, treat yourself to some turron, a nougaty confection available primarily during the festive season. www.alicante.es
Week 50
Jersey
10 – 16 DECEMBER
La Fête dé Noué, Jersey’s Christmas Festival, begins the last week of November and runs through most of December with seasonal events happening almost daily, including a drop-in lantern-making session, French markets, guided walks, an outdoor carol concert, Victorian craft-making and more. www.jersey.com
Week 51
Prague
17 – 23 DECEMBER
What’s Christmas without a Christmas market? In Prague, the main one is held in Wenceslas Square, with smaller ones within walking distance, all offering local handicrafts and trinkets, plus food and bone-warming beverages. www.pragueexperience.com
Week 52
Edinburgh
24 – 31 DECEMBER
Four days of exhilarating revelry await you in Edinburgh. The Scottish take on New Year’s Eve – Hogmanay – features street parties, ceilidh and other performances; it all kicks off with a torchlight procession on 29 December. www.hogmanay.net
GETTING THERE
Resolved to get travelling? Start booking now! bmibaby flies to all these fantastic destinations – for more information, log on to www.bmibaby.com
