Campo di Fiori Market

By far, the most visually stunning market is the market held in Campo di Fiori, which is a vitual playground for amateur photographers. Campo di Fiori, which means field of flowers, is filled with flower venders whose delicate selections of flowers transported me, well, into a photograph of Rome. Smiling venders watered their flowers while men and women dressed in business attire purchased the bouquettes that would later adorn their offices and homes. If you’re traveling, you might not need an entire bouquette, so single flowers are also sold. Further on in the market you can find Italian specialty foods of all types as well as the tools and utensils used to prepare them. I found great deals on marble mortar and pestles (great for making authentic Genevese pesto) and espresso makers.
The selection of fresh produce is extensive but a little on the expensive side. For example, a single artichoke can cost as much as a 1.50 euro, but they are some of the best in the world. Pay attention to what is in season too, because although all of the produce looks nice, some of it is imported from other countries, particularly the fruit. Seafood, olive oil, wine, cheeses, and baked goods are also sold, and don’t pass up visiting a few of the shops that surround the piazza. The Campo di Fiori market takes place Monday through Saturday in the morning and until 1pm.

Via Sannio Market

If you’re looking for inexpensive clothing and enjoy the hunt as much as the spoils, the Via Sannio market is a fun and expansive market worth a visit. Most easily reached by taking the Metro’s A Line toward Anagnina and getting off at the San Giovanni stop, this market is a good place to test out your bartering skills. A good friend once gave me a few tips. Her father is a professional gambler who loves to win with a good bluff. The first rule to bartering, he told her, is to be prepared to walk away. If you can’t leave it, then you can’t barter. With the knowledge that you can walk away, you can always get a lower price because you hold all the cards.

The clothing sold at this market is sometimes simply thrown in piles on large tables with 1.00 euro signs hung above. Dive in. If you want to try anything on, simply do so. If you find a pair of shoes and want to try them on, say Posso provare?, which means, Can I try it? The stand owner will likely provide you with a mirror and chair. The Via Sannio market begins early in the day and goes until early afternoon, Monday through Saturday.

Porta Portese Market

One of the best markets in Rome, the Porta Portese market only takes place on Sunday mornings. It ends early afternoon. Located around Piazza Ippolito Nievo and running up to Ponte Sublicio, it offers more items than I could imagine, including the food, clothing, and antique furniture. If you happen to be in the city on a Sunday it’s worth a visit. Because the streets are jam-packed with people, it’s an adventurous experience. Be sure to pay attention to your wallet or purse.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com

Photo by Bill Fogarty for EuropeUpClose.com

Introducing Thailand

Thailand is an increasingly popular tourist destination. It is a country unlike any other, with historical, natural and cultural attractions. Many westerners love to visit Thailand during the Christmas and New Year period, avoiding  the worst of the winter weather.  Travellers usually fly to  Bangkok International Airport, also known as Suvarnabhumi Airport, to see the capital city of Bangkok, before setting  off  to discover other cities and resorts in the country.

If you are interested in flying to Bangkok, Thai Airways International is the largest airline in Thailand offering international flights to Bangkok.

Start your tour of Thailand in Bangkok and discover a city of temples,   canals and culture.

Discover its beautiful Buddha temples, such as Wat Pho and Wat Arun, exotic restaurants where you can sample the best of local Thai cuisine  and the floating market for a sensory experience. Bangkok is full of  intense colours,  delicious aromas of street food and fabulous historical  -   a delight for the senses.

Sun and Sand

Having visited Bangkok, head south  for  exotic beaches and paradise islands where you can soak up the sun and relax.

Beach resorts are on Phuket and Phi Phi Island

Some of the most popular beach resorts are on Phuket Island and Phi Phi Island. Anyone who wants to explore or set off on an individual adventure should head to the north of Thailand, which is perfect for trekking, hiking and getting in touch with nature. The countryside will entrance botanists and wildlife lovers.

If you are tempted by the colourful photographs you see of Thailand, imagine what it is like to experience it first hand. Book flights to Thailand and find out!

Sao Vicente benefits of consistent trade winds during the October – July period. The safest beach for learning is Salamansa, a kiting location with a big empty sandy beach bay, warm water and near-perfect* wind. Alternatively if you are up for more radical conditions try the waves of Sandy Beach with a world class right, hollow point break.

For most of us flying to Sao Vicente is by indirect flight. International flights arrive from Lisbon (TAP and TACV) and national flights arrive from Praia and Sal. The national airline TACV offers reasonable airfares from Boston, Fortaleza and various cities in Europe to Praia and Sal and does not charge for the onward flight to Sao Vicente.

A friend who is planning a trip to France recently called to ask if I knew anything about Peugeot’s “Buy Back” program. I didn’t, but was intrigued, so I did a bit of research so I could help him with his travel arrangements. He called me yesterday from France to report that his Peugeot “Buy Back” experience went swimmingly, so I decided to pass the information on to the readers at EuropeUpClose.com.

Here’s the deal:
A Non- European Union citizen traveling to France for more than 17 days is eligible to purchase a brand new Peugeot, drive it during your vacation (as you would a rental car) and then sell the car back to the dealership.

If you are arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport, there is a Peugeot dealer nearby that will sell you one. Another option is to request to be picked up at the airport/train station/hotel to go to the nearest dealership.

What’s in it for the dealership? In France (as well as throughout Europe), there is a Value Added  Tax (VAT) that makes luxury purchases (like a car) very expensive…20% more expensive, to be exact. If dealerships sell cars that are “slightly-used,” it saves the new owner this 20% tax. Individuals who are not citizens of the European Union are not required to pay this tax, however. So, the Peugeot dealer sells you the car (without VAT) for at least 17 days, you sell it back, and then the dealership sells it to an E.U. citizen or to a rental company (with no VAT, thanks to the fact that it is pre-owned).

Price-wise, it is often less expensive to do this program than it is to rent a car. It is in the dealership’s best interest that the car is well taken care of while in the possession of its first owner, so they offer zero deductable insurance coverage and a 24-hour service hotline. In the best case scenario, everyone benefits from this program.

Positive aspects of the “Peugeot Buy Back” program:
•    You get to drive a brand new Peugeot
•    The car is fully insured (zero deductible) and you have 24/7 breakdown coverage in case anything goes wrong
•    You only have to be 18 to participate in the buy back program (versus most car rentals that require the primary driver to be at least 21)
•    You can pick up and drop off the car in different cities within France
•    You can return the car without filling up the gas tank

Other things to consider:
•    You need to have the car for at least 17 days
•    The car will usually come to you with very little fuel in it, so be sure to locate a gas station near the pick-up location
•    You will be charged extra for pick-up or drop-off outside of France

Sound good? Check it out at AutoEurope for more information.