Travel Blogs 2012 - Part 1

Tue, 10 Jan 12

The holiday season marks the end of the working year – but in between wrapping presents, slaving over the oven and visiting loved ones, there is often little time left over to re-energise for the New Year. Sometimes the best way to stay in touch with the place you call home is to pack your bags and travel far away – which is why we are bringing you Shirt Studio’s 2012 Holiday Destination shortlist! Read on for the first instalment of our top ten travel picks. First on the itinery: Argentina, Sweden, Vietnam, Germany and Spain.

Buenos Aires – Argentina

This vibrant Argentinean city will see that you immediately swap work for play – as Buenos Aires is the nightlife metropolis of South America. If you happen to tire of learning the tango or partying in the dance club district, you can fill in your days with shopping trips and dining in either glitzy mall strips or outdoor markets, depending on which side of town you venture to. The cross-section of wealthy suburbs and humble neighbourhoods add to the diversity of the city, as no day in Buenos Aires will ever be the same.

Stockholm - Sweden

Although the Swedish city has only recently received worldwide media attention due to its film and fashion industries, the 700 year old landmark is a historic ode to Nordic culture, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and an archipelago of more than 24,000 islands. Writer Stieg Larsson set parts of his acclaimed Millenium series books (The Girl with a dragon tattoo) in the streets of Södermalm, a former blue-collar district in Stockholm. For those with a fashion inclination, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for photographers from the fashion blog Stockholm Street Style, who snap well-heeled style citizens amongst a backdrop of stunning architecture and museums.

Hanoi – Vietnam

For any part-time historians, the capital city of Vietnam is a cultural monument signifying colonial grandeur and Asian tradition, set against a landscape of pagodas, monuments and street markets. The remnants of French-Indochina have left a lasting Parisian influence, infused with the Asian delicacies and fresh produce on sale in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is also known as the city of lakes, with small boats for hire to explore the calm waters and scenic surroundings, or perhaps dine at the floating restaurant on Hồ Tây Lake!

Berlin – Germany

Two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, a new creative scene has risen from the ashes and taken hold of the city. The nation’s fascist history is contrasted with flourishing experimentations in fashion, music, art and design, as the youth of Berlin sidestep conformity and opt for joyful, liberal celebrations. As well as energetic nightclubs, restaurants and galleries, the city is full of reminders of the past: the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and the rubble of the Berlin Wall.

Barcelona - Spain

This jewel of the Mediterranean was founded as a Roman colony before serving as a landmark for Gothic architecture in medieval times. Nowadays, the city is a symbol of European success in business and the arts and a haven for historic culture such as the art gallery Museu Picasso and the cathedral La Sagrada Familia. Perhaps the most eclectic part of Barcelona is Las Ramblas, a leafy boulevard bursting with open air markets, an opera house and 18^th century mansion – all before the street winds into a sordid gentlemens club district.

Read part two of our travel blog for more yummy getaways!