.Getting away from it all...

They say "change is as good as a rest." A holiday is a time to switch off, to unwind, to recharge one’s batteries or it could be an opportunity to embark on a new adventure. Whatever it is, just check out these proposals from some EOIP C1 students. You never know, you might get a great idea for your next vacation…

VIETNAM

I had never been interested in Asiatic countries, but when we got our early retirement my group of friends decided to go to Vietnam. Asian culture sounded to me a bit strange and distant but very early I became enthusiastic.

Everybody knows Vietnam because of the war but maybe you don´t know where to place it on a map. It is situated in the East of Asia, near China, Thailand and Laos, so the flight takes about fourteen hours.
I would give several reasons to go there. First, people are extremely kind and smiling and always trying to please you. Food is different but tasty and healthy. No sugar, no milk, no bread, only vegetables, pork, chicken and fish but very well cooked and delicately presented . It is so healthy that some of us lost weight.

The contact with Buddist culture is also interesting and the way they respect their dead and Gods.
I recommend it to everybody but, as we were recently retired, you can see that language is not a problem. They try to understand you and there are expert guides who learnt Spanish in Cuba.
My personal experience was really fantastic. We realised how Vietnamese people have overcome the war because they are extremely hardworkers and determined.
I especially remember the night we stayed in a boat among the high rocks in Halong Bay. Fantastic!
What shocked us more was the incredible amount of motorbikes in all directions. We recorded it and now we find it amazing. It seems that the old bikes have changed into a variety of Japanese motorbikes.
You won´t find any plump person, even old people are slim, thanks to their diet but maybe genetics has something to say.

If you are interested in Vietnam, you should:
Be careful crossing streets. Careful but brave! Otherwise you will never cross.
Try the wide range of delicious food.
Buy a suit made to measure in ten hours in Hue or Hoian. Very cheap!
Sleep in a boat in Halong Bay. It´s a wonderful experience.
Visit the tribal groups in the North near China.
Visit the war museums and secret passages where Vietcong soldiers used to live during the war.
In the Ho Chi Ming tomb you can observe the great admiration and respect of people to their old leader.

Finally you will see how those determined people who managed to win the long war against a giant, can now live, work and feel. How strong they are!
I hope the latest changes in its economy don´t transform this beautiful country into a big market as you can see in the main cities.

Nati Ezcurra C1 (A)

PARIS

Most young honeymooners go for Paris avid to begin a new life together in this legendary romantic city. It’s really a place that one should visit at least once in a lifetime. Paris is such a beautiful place to travel all through the year and so easy to get to with the TGV from Hendaye. Just over five hours with none of the hassle of air travel and you arrive near the city centre.

Paris welcomes couples with open arms and offers many places to visit. Of course, you don’t have to miss places such as the art treasures of the Louvre, the marvelous Eiffel Tower, the saucy streets of Pigalle, the sightseeing cruise on a ‘bateau mouche’ or the pavement painters of Montmarte. But, the city is not only typical sights and touristy places. Wandering through the less known ‘arrondissements’, you can discover a melting pot of culture.

Although the city is known as one of the most expensive, it is possible to avoid tourist traps and find fantastic value for money hotels and restaurants. Could be something more romantic than having a wonderful dinner in a small bistrot next to the Senna river? Go for it.

Amaia Gaínza · Group C1-A

TALLINN

The Forum Hotel is in the city of Tallinn. It is very well located, actually it is five minutes from the city centre.
The hotel has a wide variety of rooms, all of them comfortable, big and full of luxury that will make your stay unforgettable. During the stay in the hotel a 24h cleaning service is provided as well as special services within or to the guest’s rooms such as breakfast, mini bar, tv and radio channels, Jacuzzi… Apart from that, specific facilities such as sauna, spa and massage room will give you the chance to relax and forget your daily routine or the noises of the city. All those facilities and services come together with the harmonious decoration in the hotel which emulates the forest with corridors covered with a grass-like carpet and never ending special spots.
The hotel is ideal for honeymooners who are looking for a different kind of holiday far from the typical Caribbean resorts. The Forum is perfect not only to relax but also to enjoy very special moments with your partner.

Try booking this hotel several months in advance as they have many special offers for recently married couples. In case you are also interested in visiting the city of Tallinn and aren’t very keen on the cold don’t book for wintertime as Tallinn has a quite extreme winter.

I, myself, was there in August on my honeymoon and I found the service and the hotel, in general, fantastic. Apart from that, the city of Tallinn is very beautiful, full of medieval buildings and I had the opportunity of having a candlelit dinner in a medieval restaurant which made my stay even more romantic. I really have fond memories of this place.

Naiara Ibero Egaña, C1-A