3D Express Coach: The bus that solves traffic jams by letting you drive UNDERNEATH it! Unbelievably clever!

3D Express Coach: The bus that solves traffic jams by letting you drive UNDERNEATH it | Mail Online

You have to check out the pictures!

Extraordinary film

2 days in Paris is a fantastic story, with believable acting and script, hilarious moments that balance the heart wrenching ones, you can totally feel each character has depth and that the relationships between them all are real. I don't know if they are actually related, or have acted together before, but the smoothness of the conversations and the chemistry was excellent. The two sisters and parents felt like a real family (in fact the dad and the blonde are actually father and daughter). The main protagonist couple felt like rounded people with real lives. I cannot recommend it highly enough - I gave it 10 stars on IMDB.

I also loved the side of Paris that it showed and the reality of travelling as a couple. I love that the flawed personalities came to the fore - the neuroticism, the jealousy, the lying-to-be-kind.

I love that about half the movie is in French with subtitles but it doesn't feel like a bleak foreign language film, nor a chore to keep watching the screen - it keeps you focused. I normally multi-task through movies -reading, writing, eating, painting my nails, etc. and just keep track of the dialogue. However, this one made me watch the entire thing in a little window on my desktop whilst I did my other tasks. Marvellous, really marvellous.

It was also amazing because Julie Delpy wrote, directed, starred, made music and took still photography for the entire thing. She is a wonder! Apparently there will be 2 days in New York.

I think I'll check out her other movies (which she writes and stars in, too) - The Countess (2009), Before Sunset (2004) and Looking for Jimmy (2002). I think I'll look at Adam Goldberg's, too: (Untitled) (2009), I Love Your Work (2003), Scotch and Milk (1998) and Dazed and Confused (1993).

Restaurant ramblings

I'm not normally a fan of fancy ratings for restaurants - but Michelin stars are probably reliable in the main. Thusly if you are in Bristol there are some restaurants to check out:
   Ellipse    5-7 Welsh Back GB - Bristol BS1 4SP http://www.mercure.com
  Bistro   The Sugar House GB - Bristol BS1 2NU http://www.hotelduvin.com
  Riverstation   The Grove, Harbourside GB - Bristol BS1 4RB http://www.riverstation.co.uk
  Bordeaux Quay (The Restaurant)   First Floor, V-Shed, Canons Way GB - Bristol BS1 5UH http://www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk
  Bell's Diner   1 York Rd, Montpelier GB - Bristol BS6 5QB http://www.bellsdiner.co.uk
  Greens' Dining Room   25 Zetland Rd GB - Bristol BS6 7AH http://www.greensdiningroom.com
  Culinaria    1 Chandos Rd, Redland GB - Bristol BS6 6PG http://www.culinariabristol.co.uk
  The Albion Public House and Dining Rooms    Boyces Avenue, Clifton Village GB - Bristol BS8 4AA http://www.thealbionclifton.co.uk
  The Pump House   Merchants Rd GB - Bristol BS8 4PZ http://www.the-pumphouse.com
  Rockfish Grill   128 Whiteladies Rd GB - Bristol BS8 2RS http://www.rockfishgrill.co.uk
  Robin Hood's Retreat   197 Gloucester Rd GB - Bristol BS7 8BG http://www.robinhoodsretreat.co.uk
  Casamia   38 High St, Westbury-on-Trym GB - Bristol BS9 3DZ http://www.casamiarestaurant.co.uk
  The Kensington Arms   35-37 Stanley Rd GB - Bristol B56 6NP http://www.thekensingtonarms.co.uk

Loving Language Lessons!

I've been searching for a while for comprehensive, free language lessons online. I've signed up to lots of RSS feeds for my GoogleReader but none were useful apart from those that involved video - those were excellent. I've found two so far I would recommend so here they are.

SpanishDict.com has an awesome provision for language learners. Clear, concise and accessible. The lessons aren't too slow or repeat first-year Spanish; these are for keen people to learn a language properly. You really should try them out:

SpanishDict.com | Spanish to English Dictionary and Translation

This one seems a bit old school but is well-intentioned and professional.

The other one is DailyFrenchPod which provides videos, too.

Now all I need are the same resources in German, Italian, Japanese and Welsh.

A trip to Paris?

If you are short on time, try this itinerary from Eurostar.

A more leisurely method of seeing the city

Need a cheap way to travel - try car shares.

Or let the train take the strain: Eurostar, Directrail.com, City breaks from LastMinute, guide from TripAdvisor, TrainLine, or this AMAZING international rail travel planner, TrainLine ticket search,

Cheverny seems a good hotel...find it here Or the EdenMagenta.

TimeOut and things to do (which are free)

LonelyPlanet

A cute blog by a well travelled couple

Wanting to save pennies? Try here and more here

Public transport: from airport and throughout the city (more here)

Mobilis: A 1-day pass covering (except airport services) zones 1 & 2, 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5 or 1 to 6. The non-transferable ticket voucher can be purchased in advance and you should fill in the date you decide to use it. NB: this card is valid for one full day and not for 24 consecutive hours, meaning the whole day would be counted even if you only start to use the pass at 8 in the evening, so it is far better start first thing in the morning!

Paris Visite: This pass is valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days in zones 1 to 3 or 1 to 6. The coupon slides into a card specifying your name, a photo is not required. The coupon can be purchased in advance and you should fill in the date you decide to use it and the number of the card. NB: this card is valid for full days and not for 24, 48 or 72 consecutive hours, meaning that a whole day would be counted even if you only begin to use it at 8 in the evening, so it is far better to start first thing in the morning! As a rule, when you buy your coupon, the ticket seller will receive a « Paris Tourisme » map and an SNCF map. But if not, do not hesitate to ask for them

ParisVisite - ADULT

	1 DAY Euros	2 DAYS Euros	3 DAYS Euros	5 DAYS Euros
zones 1 - 3	9,00	14,70	20,00	28,90
zones 1 - 6	18,90	28,90	40,50	49,40

ParisVisite - CHILDREN (4-11 years old)

	1 DAY Euros	2 DAYS Euros	3 DAYS Euros	5 DAYS Euros
zones 1 - 3	4,50	7,35	10,00	14,45
zones 1 - 6	9,45	14,45	20,25	24,70

Do you have better suggestions?

Audio Accompaniment

On a tour of London, you might like a little more information on your journey - iPod/MP3 guided talks for free from here and here and here.

Lost London

From Wikipedia:

• Following a victory at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror, the then Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England in the newly finished Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.
• On 12 October 1934, in anticipation of his forthcoming marriage to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, his third cousin, he was created Duke of Kent, Earl of St Andrews and Baron Downpatrick. The couple married on 29 November 1934 at Westminster Abbey. The bride was a daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and a great-niece of Queen Alexandra. It was the last marriage between a son of a British Sovereign and a member of a foreign Royal House to date.
• At the Palace of Westminster, at the time of its completion, the Victoria Tower was the tallest and largest square tower in the world.
  

Inigo Jones, born in London of Welsh parents, was a famous architect who brought Italianate Renaissance design to England.
From Wiki:

Jones' best known buildings are the Queen's House at Greenwich, London (started in 1616, his earliest surviving work) and the Banqueting House at Whitehall (1619) – part of a major modernisation by him of the Palace of Whitehall – which also has a ceiling painted by Peter Paul Rubens.

Christ Church at Greyfriars was destroyed in the Second World War; the ruins are now a public garden. However, in an ingenious use of space and to maintain architectural relevance, the main bell tower has been converted into a remarkable residence by BoyarskyMurphy.

Reasonable Hotels in London

So far for bargainness and good reviews on TripAdvisor and Booking.com, the leaders are:

Edward Lear Hotel
Chelsea Guest House
FlexiStay ApartHotel
Leyton Lodge Studios, nr. location of New Spitalfields' Market and site of 2012 Olympics
Ruskin 23-24 Montague Street, London WC1B 5BN

Other search sites:
Budgetplaces.com
Travelstay.com

For activities try:

• The Roxy (Borough High Street near Borough Tube station (Northern Line)) - cinema/bar Sunday-Wed
• Walk along Embankment: Tower of London, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Gherkin, St Paul's Cathedral.
• Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace - 11:30am daily
• Free concert at London's National Theatre (Southbank near Waterloo Bridge), Monday-Saturday at 5.45pm, and at 1.45pm on Saturday.
• Climbing to the top of Primrose Hill in North London & Marine's Ices at Chalk Farms.
  
• Sandeman's New London Tours operates 'Royal London Free Tour' which leaves by Wellington Arch at 11am and 1pm every day
• With fit feet and plenty of time, this excellent walk is not to be missed: hits every cultural hotspot south of the river.
• Feeling historical? Try tours of Roman London.
• Guildhall Art Gallery: Free Friday tours: Combine a visit to the Gallery with a free tour of the highlights of the permanent collection. Booking is not necessary and the tours begin at 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm and 3.15pm.
• Bermondsey is London’s premier weekly antiques market. Open: Fridays 6am - 12 noon Nearest underground station: Borough
• Whitechapel Market sells Sari fabrics, eastern silk fashions, bedding and so on.Open: Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm Nearest underground station: Whitechapel
• Portobello Road sells everything from antiques to silverware, fruit and veg and second-hand clothes. Open: Monday to Wednesday 8am to 6pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Friday - Sat 8am to 7pm Nearest underground stations: Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park
• Greenwich market sells everything from antiques to wooden toys, designer clothes, model ships and second-hand clothes.Open: Saturday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm Nearest stations: Greenwich (BR), Cutty Sark (DLR)
• Museum of London is open daily and is FREE! Monday to Sunday: 10am-6pm Last admission: 5.30pm (Museum of London, London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN) By tube: Barbican, St Paul's, Moorgate; By bus: 4, 8, 25, 56, 100, 25, 172, 242, 521.
• Get some shopping done in the famous tailor district - sartorial elegance need never be beyond your reach again! Savile Row & Jermyn Street.
• Late night openings: Natural History Museum Fridays till 8.50pm. V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum) Fridays till 10pm Both at Cromwell Road, London SW7.
• Westminster Abbey Evensong is at 5pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, plus at 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. It is free and very moving.
• Southbank Centre - upcoming shows include: What is South Asian dance? Fri 9th April 6:15pm; Alchemy Market - A taste of India - Fri 9th-Sun11th 11am-8pm.
• Imperial War Museum London, Lambeth RoadLondon SE1 6HZ Open daily 10.00am - 6.00pm; last admission 5.45pm. ADMISSION IS FREE (Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee).
• The Ceremony of the Keys requires a written request two months in advance, but it is free and fabulous. An ancient (700yr+) tradition of locking up the Tower of London every night.
• Geffrye Museum (Opening hours:Tuesday-Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday 12pm -5pm.) Peek inside interiors set up as they would have been from 1600 to modern day!
• Horniman Museum is also a popular venue: Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ. Daily 10.30am - 5.30pm Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is FREE.
• Greenwich
• Visit the oldest buildings in London
• Shop? Banana Republic is in Covent Garden and Regent St.
  

Travel:
Transport for London has a comprehensive site - use the Travel Planner, it is well worth it.
Also get an Oyster card, you will save loads of money - regardless of the number of journeys you make the total cost for the day's travel will always be less that the top Travelcard price (peak/offpeak).
If you have a railcard it gets cheaper still!
Here is a map of the Oyster valid London routes
You can even use it on some river transport: Thamesclippers.com



View Larger Map

Planning a trip to London?

Then I recommend these links, starting with a total planning section which is part of the excellent LondonTourist.org site. Plus some budget-busting tips and more here.

Transport
Planes - Skyscanner.net - comprehensive, easy-to-use
Trains - thetrainline.com
Bus/Trains - MegaBus and MegaTrain

What's on guide
TimeOut
VisitLondon

What to see guide
Museums
Art Galleries
Whitechapel Gallery
Historical buildings
Entertainment

Good restaurants

Nr Spitalfield's Market, a good place for Sunday lunch, especially recommended is 'Meson Los Barilles' a spanish restaurant/tapas house - it's quadrupled in size over the past five years and it's still always packed. Nr Borough Market, Quite a few good restaurants on the fringes including our favourite Brindisi. Excellent for breakfasts all week (esp The Monmouth Coffee Shop).

Bocca di Lupo - a series of recommendations for this Italian eaterie. Lunch and dinner menus.
Tayyabs - a Pakistani restaurant

What to buy
Alfie's Antiques Market
Gray's Antiques Market
Church Street Market

Hotels
http://www.london-discount-hotel.com/
http://www.simply-london.com
http://www.easyhotel.com/
http://www.hotelmap.com/London
http://www.londontown.com/
http://www.hostellondon.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.booking.com/

The Easter Weekend has arrived...

So, I'm heading home to spend my birthday (Monday) with my family. The sun is shining. The train is filling up nicely. I have my war paint on already in anticipation of a bit knees-up tonight con mis amigos viejos - they are not so old in age, but they are from olden times, yore and way back when.

Treats for today include:

• Feminist art exhibitionists
• Nipple-tassel malfunction Now I am not a fan of big ladies, as previously discussed, but I am a fan of bodypositivism, so whilst I do not find her appearance and routine sexually exciting, I do applaud her confidence and 'fuck you' attitude.
• Non-traditional singing sensation
• Voting for internet success: app's, links, etc.

Don't forget, you can follow me on twitter, too!

Links-o-rama

For a regular welcome and a stylish place to stay in London, look no further than a wee piece of the bonny land.

You had better make sure you're sufficiently lady-like to join: check your ranking at HuffPo

Piratical advice: http://www.pirateproductions.com/history.htm

Need more distraction at work? Then this is the answer.

Surely, you have wanted new names for your lady-parts... if so, these is the site for you.

Either for protection or pleasure, this product could be a lifesaver.

A one-stop shop for fans of art, sex, culture, photography and words...

Latest editions (5, 6, 7) out now for Pride Comics

After you've read that check out BUST and BiMag

Smart ladies will want to connect in more ways than Facebook, Twitter, FriendsReunited, Linked In, Where Are You Now?, MSNMessenger, Skype and Hotmail allow... So sign up for intellectual connectivity with Academia.edu

Once you've done that read all about Hannah Arendt and marvel at a woman with such wide-ranging skills and forward-thinking beliefs.

UK rail-linked airports

Thank you for contacting Transport direct regarding airports with direct rail links. The following airports can be accessed directly by rail or light rail systems:

London City (using docklands light railway)

London Gatwick

London Heethrow

Birmingham international

Manchester International

Newcastle International (using Tyne and Wear Metro)

Glasgow Prestwick

London Stansted

Southampton Eastleigh

These are all airports where it is possible to access the airport without using a bus.There are however many other airports which are well connected to the rail network by means of well organised short bus links

I hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely

Angus Huntley

Transport Direct
Programme Support Office
Department for Transport

Zone 1/F20, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street
LONDON SW1E 6DE

www.transportdirect.info
Connecting People to Places

04/21/06 2:08 pm >>>

Dear Transport Direct,

I would like to find out which airports in the UK have rail links, like
Birmingham International Airport. I do not drive and I find it easier to carry
my luggage onto a train then into the airport, rather than off and on buses,
etc.

Do you know where I might find a list of airports with rail access?