Charming And Not So Vey New...York

On its official website, English York proudly titles itself one of the Europe's most inspiring cities. And as soon as you arrive there you get the idea why they claim that - the city is full of gorgeous places, both historic and modern, that co-exist here beautifully. What inspires you straight away is this rich culture, tradition and history that the city has to offer and all that set in a pictures scenery of this small, yet charming city.

Not a surprise that together with Mario, Agnieszka and Lukasz we decided we can't miss the chance to visit this place on one, warm and pleasant day.

M&M in stunning castle's ruins

Mario enjoying the view

These little fellows represent how friendly York is

York opens its rich Roman history in front of all visitors.
Here a short 'martial arts' workshop in the Romans village

The 'old times' are in every street of York

But York also cares about the future.
A group of people protesting against wars of our times

Mario patiently studying the history of York in the Castle Museum

Romans in da town!

Seriously?
Even the cars are not from our times :)

Aggi, Lukas and Mario after visiting the time machine

'Come on MPs, claim visit in this place back!'
Unusual promotional campaign by The York Dungeon
(very scary and exciting house - highly recommended!)

York Minster - a mixture of styles and witness of rich history of this town

York Castle

Mario on our boat trip
This is great way to visit York and unforgeable experience thanks to the boat captain who we voted best comedian in York ;)

You'll find plenty of these in York

Pubs, bars and cafes overseeing the river are very popular

Most of the town's industrial buildings, like this chocolate factory are now closed or have been transformed into modern apartments

Clifford's Tower - a proof of York's uneasy times

Aggi, Lukas, Marta on the top of the observatory tower

M&M's a bit exhausted after excited day in York

coffee and off we...go
back to Manchester

Whether you are a resident in England or are just coming by, visit York and you won't regret it!

I used this website to prepare for the trip: www.visityork.org

Business, Travel, Fun...What is Dubai all about?

* First a note - not that nothing was going on since the Winter Madness in Sauze d'Oulx! (where my last post was), it's the opposite. So much was going on, including: crazy days at work, leaving the work, holidays and even more holidays and finally planning my big 'come back' to Poland. That's why this is the entry about my trip to Dubai which happened more less a month ago.

Before actually going to Dubai my knowledge about this city was close to zero - as probably most of us would do, I simply went through dozen of websites covering Dubai - from the city map to the list of best shopping spots. No surprise that not only I did not get clearer idea of it, I even got more confused!

I needed something else and this 'else' I needed appeared to be the experience -this is what you really need when coming here. In fact, all the trip to Dubai, including 7,5 hours flight from Manchester, which in my case, was the longest flight in my life so far! (Went through it very well, though as most of the time spent on watching newest films on the TV screen and checking on the flight progress thanks to the cameras attached to our aircraft).

Even arriving to Dubai gives you a lot of experience - from waiting in the quietest queue ever, made of people of all nationalities you can imagine, just to be informed you need to actually take a picture of your iris to complete the visa and finally having a taste of very-English-like tea.

This strikes me the most about Dubai - just feels like 'home' in so many cases (including this tea I mentioned), yet still is like nothing else you had chance to experience before. It makes me wonder about the true spirit and identity of this city - is it more European, Arabian or international? I was thinking still sipping my 'English-breakfast' tea.

a look on the city

High in the skies

'Dubai is all about business' - I quickly figured, having seen this massive towers 'growing' like they were trying to chase one another in the imaginary race to the skies. I got even more convinced about this when realized that in most of these towers the Big World Business is being done and that the hotels in Dubai are full of business tycoons similar to those we see every week in BBC's Apprentice programme.

In fact, I also came here for business - young, (not bold), but most certainly beautiful :) - I came there with my Team: Ged (the Boss), Nicki (great sales person) and Nadine (lovely PR Director). And our main aim was to establish new relationships while attending Arabian Travel Market 2009 exhibition. But there was more to come and we were just about to discover that...

Apprentice by Marta, Nadine, Nicki

Arabian Travel Market - Kuwait's impressive stand

'How could I be so wrong?' - the next thought came when the evening brought fun, excitement and lots of entertainment. This time I was certain - 'Dubai is all about having fun!' The city lights simply amazed me and, followed by stunning views from the city's one of the highest towers,gave Dubai totally different taste. Now the luxury, gold and posh parties were what Dubai had to offer. And sill it wasn't 'it'!

Tourism Unit - mission completed

with Nadine - almost like Abba

Lights' fountains

'Out of space' - Girls having fun with newely met Joao

Tourism Unit Ladies: me, Nicki, Nadine

Models we are!

with Nicki during one not-bad-at-all party :)

It must be great to be able to take your family for a week out in Dubai! The city has really lots in store for literally everyone. The Altantis on the Palm Jumeraih is one of these atractions and you can't simply miss it on your trip to Dubai! I loved the water park - the massive, breath-taking slides, the giantic aqarium and he lovely sun! And I was then sure - Dubai is a centre of excitement in the United Arab Emirates...and probably further then that!

Amazed in Dubai's Aquarium

Hotel Atlantis
the view from the Aqua Park

Sliiiiiides in Atlantis

And then, when you think you really know what this golden city is about, it strikes you again with yet another side you haven't though it has. For me that was the lovely, romantic even and certainly very apealing side of...gastronomy. This came in a form of little cafes, restaurants and bars. 'Duabi couldn't go to the world, because it is so far, so the world came to Dubai' - I thought when Ged and I arrived to Souk Marinat for the supper.

The night was charming and the food very tasty and now I just hope my Mario would understand it trully was only nice supper with my boss :) Anyways, Dubai is also famous for its great food coming from all the parts of the world...funny enough I could not find Polish food anywhere, but I am sure - any minute now it will be there! :)

Shiny Souk Marinat in Jumeraih

with Ged (The Boss) having an international supper

Deep night in Dubai

Sad that my short trip to Dubai was coming to an end, I decided to go on one of my individual adventures and this was the very moment I think I finally realized what Dubai is all about. I guess for me it means a creative, but not necessarily easy to understand as a bigger picture mixture of styles, tastes and people...

Dubai showed me its glamorous side with things like partying on the 32 floor in a private suite of one of the posh hotels, it amazed me with its unusuall, bizzare structures and buildings, it made me feel cared for with its great hospitality.

But it also made me thinking - 'How, on earth, city like that is real?' How can the people live in the place where the temperature outside is unbearable (around 45 degrees when I was there), there are no pavements and the taxi drivers know the city worse than you ,who are there for the first time in your like? How is possible a city where you can't see any kid or woman walking alone, the buildings are so high you can see their tops and (what is actually really great) there is literally no crimes and poor people?

Find what Dubai means for you and let me know what you think!
Cheers!

Burj Al Arab Hotel
the signature sign of Dubai