São Paulo

Advantages: São Paulo
Disadvantages: São Paulo

...The city of São Paulo officially became a city in 1711. In the 19th century, it experienced a lot of economic prosperity, brought about by coffee exports, which were shipped abroad from the port of the neighbouring city of Santos. It is one of the big 5 cities that exist in the world. It is the business centre of Brazil and, has many of the down sides of any big city: São Paulo is located on a plateau that is part of the Serra do Mar. Although there are no beaches in Sao Paulo there are places along the coast of Sao Paulo State. Rainfall is abundant, especially in the warmer months. One of the biggest financial centers of Brazil and the world. São Paulo is the most ethnically diverse city of Brazil....

Nazuku 06.07.2006 (26.07.2006) · Read review
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Review of São Paulo

A journey with Paulo Coelho

Advantages: amazing journey, you will learn about yourself and the world, mystic, great narrative
Disadvantages: none

... A journey with Paulo Coelho Today I am reviewing "The Pilgrimage", a book by the well-loved author Paulo Coelho. This book was given to me by a friend who is a massive fan of his works. Who is Pauloe Coelho? Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 in Rio de Janero (Brazil) and has written quite a few bestselling books. His works are partly autobiographic. He has recieved many awards from 1993 up until now and his works are greatly appreciated. Why did I read this book? One of my best friends gave it to me, telling me that it would help me figuring out life and overcoming tragedies and personal experiences. She said it would positively influence me - and it really did. I took my time reading this book as I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. The plot The narrator of this book is a member of a Christian group called RAM...

morticiaaddams 26.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Pilgrimage - Paulo Coelho

An alphabetic tour of Sao Miguel.

Advantages: Relaxing, stunning scenery and still unspoiled!
Disadvantages: Cuisine lacking in fancy menus.

...Sâo Miguel also known as the Green Island is 65 kilometres long and 16 kilometres wide. It is the largest of the islands making up the Azores. The island is made up of several volcanic groups, the black lava fields form a dark coastline dotted with a handful of beaches, but the green hills provide some splendid scenery, and every turn (and there are many!) along the windy roads unfolds some wonderful surprises. In the east the highest point is Pico da Vara standing 1,103 metres tall, in the centre is the Sierra de Água do Pau, with a volcanic Lake called Lagoa do Fogo. In the west are the smaller volcanoes, and the highest point is about 900metres, one of the most popular places to visit called the Caldeira das Sete Cidades, where the ground still rumbles and geysers boil and streams flow with the water of hot springs. There are two...

jo145 05.10.2006 (30.01.2007) · Read review
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Review of Sao Miguel Experience

Poverty Vs Effuency

Advantages: Cheap
Disadvantages: Dirty

...Sao Paulo is a strange city. It is home to the multi million pound grand prix circus that visits Brazil once a year. Yet next to the Sao Paulo circuit's glitz and glamour lies the poverty of the shanty towns that make up the majority of the city. Here people are begging and struggling to feed their families in one of the fastest growing civilisations in the world. People often think of the Rio carnival when they talk of Brazil or the lavely beaches. People often forget the other side to Brazil. The side of disease and poverty and poor quality of living. There is a very distinct "them and us" culture developing in Brazil. You either have it or you dont....

andycharger 21.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of São Paulo

Ibis Euston - good deals to be had

Advantages: Good location, not too noisy, good value if on offer
Disadvantages: Slow check in

...Although I am usually to be heard extolling the virtues of hostels and small private hotels, I have of late found myself increasingly turning to Accor hotels. Admittedly I do look at their cheaper chains first but I have managed to get myself some reasonable rates at some of their mid-priced hotels too. The same rooms can be available at several different rates and differ according to certain conditions. You?ll get the best rate if you are prepared to pay fully in advance and risk losing your payment if you cancel. This is how we managed to pay a, not unreasonable, rate of £63 for a double room at Ibis Euston on a Saturday in late November. The standard rate advertised outside the hotel is £129 so this represents a good saving. Although we were traveling into and out of Kings Cross we were happy enough to stay at Euston as...

fizzytom 01.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ibis London Euston, London

Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Absolute tripe of the lowest calibre

...The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, is billed as a modern classic, yet I find it difficult to discern why. It has the feel of a fable; from a time as hazy as the desert in which it is set, and carries the lessons on life one would expect from such a parable. The feelings of distant memory that it creates, however, fashion a gap between the book and the reader. It begins with Santiago, a shepherd boy, who gives up his customs to follow a dream he has, a vision of treasure found at the Egyptian pyramids. Along the way he meets a king, a crystal merchant, an Englishman, and an alchemist; all of whom, with their passing involvement, provide him with a piece of the spiritual jigsaw that is his life. Finally, when he arrives at the Egyptian pyramids, he learns a lesson in life that brings him happiness. The novel is short, and, while it gets...

sjmcabney 23.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

The city of the contrasts

Advantages: variety
Disadvantages: pickpockets

...São Paulo is one of the biggest cities of the world. Being like that, with so many people, its natural that there is more violence and robbery than in the small, quiet countryside villages. Thats´s obvious, and its a pity people who only see pollution and robberies and poverties in sao paulo. It is yes, a city of contrasts, i agree, but there are much more things to do. and you dont need to be rich to have fun in São paulo. there are restaurants for all the tastes. if you are a limited budget traveller, I wouldnt go to a mc donalds or pizza hut, there are many reastaurants all over the palce where you pay what your plate weight..you can eat loads, have a couple of drinks for about 2 pounds. the best restaurants are the italkians in bexiga, but ther are japanese, greek, french, all sorts...For the nighttime if you have money to spend, go...

mairagaluzio 02.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of São Paulo

Ibis Sheffield - the heat is on, no it's off again!

Advantages: Good location, good value for money
Disadvantages: No additional facilties

...A low budget weekend getaway (thanks to National Express for the £1 each way offer!) called for a low cost hotel. I remembered someone saying that the Accor family member Etap now had a hotel in Sheffield but, situated by the Don Valley Stadium, it was a little too far out of town to be practical for such a short stay. As I am now the proud owner of an Accor hotels loyalty card I decided to check the Accor website and see if any other reasonably priced hotels presented themselves and this was how we came to choose the Ibis. I know this will sound strange to those readers who like a certain ?standard? of accommodation but I have rarely considered Ibis hotels because I?ve always thought them to be pricey; in any case I tend to look at hostel and bed and breakfast accommodation before I look at hotel options. We were quoted £49...

fizzytom 28.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ibis, Sheffield

Ibis Graz - where the smoke gets up your nose

Advantages: Useful location for transport; clean comfortable
Disadvantages: Smoky lobby; over-priced if no offer available

...If like me you are the sort of person who prefers to stay in more moderate hotel accommodation in order to have more money to spend on things like eating out (or the purchasing of horrific souvenirs) you may be interested to know that to celebrate their 30th anniversary, some of the brands that fall under the Accor umbrella are offering a limited number of rooms at special rates this year. It does mean that you can't alter your reservation and won't qualify for a refund if you cancel but for those travellers who are willing to risk that, there are bargains to be had. In mid-June we are going to Hanover and have booked a double room in a very central Mercure hotel for just 39 Euro per night and have just stayed in the Ibis Graz, the subject of this review, for 59 Euro for a double room, a saving of some 20 Euro based on two people...

fizzytom 02.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ibis, Graz

Ibis Paderborn (Germany)- Sehr Gut!

Advantages: Clean, Servicable, Friendly
Disadvantages: No Pool!

...Welcome to my review on the Ibis hotel, Paderborn. Ibis. Ibis is a parent name for many franchises world wide. Each hotel is owned and run by individuals trading as Ibis, complying to the companies standards and ethics. Ibis has a base standard work line for all its hotels, and you will find a standardisation between all of them. Ibis was the first hotel chain to earn ISO 14001 certification, the standard for environmental protection for such businesses. Ibis Paderborn. The Ibis in Paderborn (Nord Rhein Westfahlen, Germany) is located at the centre of the city, with ease of access to the shopping facilities, and all main British Military Barracks within the area (Allenbrooke and Barker Barracks) It has 90 rooms with WiFi Internet, two meeting rooms, a bar, snack vending 24 hours, room service, private outdoor pay parking...

gt5952 14.11.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ibis, Paderborn