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Around the world in 80 bars – and finding a niche in just one
Around the world in 80 bars – and finding a niche in just one
Throughout London alone there are reckoned to be around 7,000 pubs and bars. In the UK at large there are more than 54,000. Worldwide, the figure is pretty much incalculable.
So the good news is that when it comes to quantity, the world supply of bars is in good order. But then there is another measurement, and that one is slightly harder to pin down. Where do you find the best bars in the world, and how do you know when you’ve found one?
Pune apparently has the highest concentration of them in Asia; Krakow in Poland claims the European crown; Cincinnati and Pittsburgh top the lists in the US; and in Australia, New South Wales is home to almost a third of all the bars in the country. Those might be good places to go hunting. But where do you find the best?
Around the world in 80 bars
There are some bars that are so slick, shiny and swanky that they regularly make the list of the world’s best bars. In fact, that collection is all about shine and swank. It’s a subjective matter but the establishments on the list tend not to be the sort of place you’d go for a game of darts and a bag of pork scratchings. The Artisan bar in London may look spectacular, but if ‘best’ means ‘relaxing,’ that ain’t it.
The Lonely Planet reckons that Jamaica’s Pelican Bar – an open palm-thatched bar on a sand bar set in the clear blue water of the Caribbean – is the pick of the crop. But a bar that you can’t walk home from has a built-in limitation that we can’t overlook. Like The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, there has to be more to a good bar than the view.
We reckon there are some elements that all bars simply must have if they’re to make the grade. Good beer, a great atmosphere, food, live music and the license to play a few games are all on our tick list. It doesn’t matter what the food is, or what the games are – and there are some weird and whacky bar games out there – as long as the place is conducive to letting your hair down, it’s well on the way to hitting the mark. Different cultures shake this cocktail in a different way but a bar should be a place for all around entertainment and refreshment – mind, body and spirits, you could say. And being able to get home without any hassle is also part of the deal.
As good as it gets
Irish bars are never the same as they are on the Emerald Isle itself, but they’ll always be good for the craic. McSorley’s Old Ale House in New York City is about as good as it gets. Scruffy Murphy’s in Sydney also hits the low-stress vibe bang on. They may not all hit the heights that these two achieve, but there’s an Irish bar in just about every city on the planet – and there is a reason for that! Of course, Dublin is full of them (666 at the last count), but be warned, there are plenty of travelers who have gone looking for the craic in Dublin and never been seen travelling again.
The home of the pub
We started talking about pubs in England, and there’s a reason for that. Whatever else you may say, there is nowhere in the world where the simple pleasures of a pint, a good bite to eat and the easy leisure of a game of one sort or another are put together quite as well as in a traditional English country pub. It’s no surprise that familiar, global games such as darts and dominoes originated in the UK.
A personal taste
Everyone will have their own idea of what makes the perfect bar. The world is full of venues, and one size most certainly does not fit all tastes. Charting each and every one of them would be a lifetime’s work – enjoyable as that might be. I have my own personal favorite, and I bet you have yours too. Mine has a dart board, a bar-billiards table and a generous selection of beers. There is often a dog by the fire. But one of the things I like most about it is that it’s so peaceful; not many people know about it. So I’m not going to tell you where to find it, as I like it just the way it is. As you might have guessed though, it is somewhere in England.
There is a whole world of great bars out there. If you find one you like tell as many people as you can. If you find one you really love, my advice would be to keep it to yourself.
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Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar
Find out why Sand boarding, Diving and Safaris through the desert are included in the Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar.
Qatar is a country of reinvention. Shimmering towerblocks rise against a desert horizon, and maze-like souks thrive next to 21st-century shopping palaces. It’s also one of the more accessible countries of the Arab Gulf, with a welcoming reputation towards visitors and plenty of attractions to keep them coming. Some of the best holiday activities you’ll find in Qatar are the adventurous kind. And these are the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar.
Sunset in Qatar – Photo by wj2012
Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar
Diving expeditions
The Gulf Sea is famed for its crystal waters and the exuberant marine life which lurks just beneath the surface. Messaid is a good jumping-off point where you’ll find angelfish and barracuda, while those intrigued by underwater wrecks will love the Hall Island dive site at Al-Sharqi, where bright clownfish circle the abandoned boat.
Sand Adventures
Many of the sports here have been adapted from colder climates, so instead of skiing down a mountain piste, try Khor Al Adaid beach to glide down the impressive dunes on a sand-board. Alternatively, race your blo-kart along the sands of Al Wakrah, south of capital Doha, to experience the thrill of wind-sailing on dry land.
Sand Boarding – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by ground zero
Al Jassasiya
The ancient carvings of Al Jassasiya lie to the north near Al Shamal, amid a truly remote landscape of village ruins and limestone. Hire a 4×4 of your own and make the journey to see the 900 petroglyphs which riddle the rocks here. The carvings denote flowers, animals, fleets of shows, or traditional Arab boats, and to this day, their origins remain a mystery.
Sunset Cruise
When the time comes for a more relaxed excursion, you can do no better than a sunset cruise onboard a wooden dhow as you drift past the super-modern Doha seafront of Al-Corniche and the old harbor at Al Khor. If you’re still hankering after some adventure, rent a smaller vessel and go for a fishing trip the following day.
Desert Safaris
Much of the inland desert in Qatar remains inaccessible on foot, but fortunately, that’s where a 4×4 comes in very handy for a safari trip you won’t easily forget. There are numerous options available from Doha, including day-long excursions, bumping, and rolling to the inland sea at Khor Al Adaid. Or make the trip at dusk for a spot of star-gazing before you settle in Bedouin-style tents for the night.
Desert Safari – Top 5 Outdoor Adventure Activities in Qatar – Photo by robertpaulyoung
Most activities can be arranged via a tour company. Although cash has been the predominant payment method in Qatar, this is beginning to change, which is good news for tourists since HSBC offers protection against loss or theft. If you’re planning on taking part in several activities, it can be handy to have some plastic on you to avoid expensive traveler’s cheques, plus credit cards from HSBC and other familiar providers also enable easy access to money at the ATMs. However, it’s wise to exercise caution, using only official bank machines here and sticking with local currency at the market and in smaller shops.
There’s no doubt that Qatar offers some world-class cultural attractions beyond the more energetic highlights, and while you’re in the country, set aside some time for the historic Al Zubarah fort or browse the recreated 19th-century Souk-Waqif, in Doha.
This country has been undervalued in the past but is now coming to the world’s attention. With its desert adventures, ancient sites, and thriving culture, this attention is thoroughly deserved.
This is a travel feature by world traveler, Jose Capelo. He loves exploring the top 5 outdoor adventure activities in Qatar and has spent many trips exploring the wild deserts of Qatar.
Barcelona has a lot to offer to the quintessential all-boys travel group for a stag weekend in Barcelona. This sunny Spanish city is known for its gorgeous Mediterranean beaches complemented by turquoise waters. In addition to this, this city offers the ideal environment for an all-male party hotspot, considering its vibrant nightlife, football culture, flamenco dance clubs, tattoo parlors, and its delicious sangrias and tapas.
Barcelona is a widespread consideration for a quick all-boys getaway during the summer. With a variety of heart-thumping activities that can make your trip a memorable one, make sure you take out time to pursue the following –
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LTW Tattoo:
If you are looking for a real adventure that will stick with you all your life, there is no better way to commemorate this epic trip than heading to Barcelona’s best tattoo parlor.
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Barna Paintball:
Take on your best buddies in a battle of agility by visiting the Barna Paintball. With four thematic areas to choose from, your experience here can be genuinely adventurous.
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Bar Crawl Barcelona:
Considered one of the most famous pub crawls globally and the biggest in Europe, the original Bar Crawl Barcelona is a great way to explore the city in its nocturnal state. You and your buddies can visit four bars and then finish at one of the best clubs in Barcelona. Complete with some of the craziest drinking games, this memorable experience costs all but 15 Euros.
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FC’s Camp Nou:
If you are a group of football fans visiting the city, you cannot leave without making a trip to Camp Nou, the city’s football ground. With a ticket for the stadium tour, you will have access to the changing rooms, benches, press rooms, and stands. If you are fortunate enough to have a match coinciding with your travel dates, make sure you book your tickets for the game well in advance.
- Circuit de Catalunya Racing Track:
If you and your crew are into racing, consider heading to the Circuit de Catalunya, host to various Formula 1 and Moto GP races. Here, you can get a detailed tour of the briefing room, pits, and podium. -
Comedy Nights:
Comedy nights are often an option that everybody loves. Especially as a group of single boys, you may love to attend an event organized by the Giggling Guiri program that consists of English-speaking shows.
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Al Fresco Drinking on Las Ramblas:
The heart of tourist activity in Barcelona, Las Ramblas, offers unique casual outdoor ambiances for groups of boys to spend hours finishing pitchers of sangria or chugging down buckets of beer bottles. Vibrant as ever, this street located off the Gothic Quarters is a great place to unwind after a long day of sightseeing.
As a group of boys, you can also research options for day trips to beaches outside of Barcelona that offers relaxing and laid-back environments for your holiday. Many options are available in Barcelona for hiring a car to explore this scenic and exciting city with your friends, such as Thrifty Car Rentals. So when you are in Barcelona with your amigos, nothing stops you from having a great time!
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We think our blog is thought provoking and a little witty. But we have been proven wrong before. Find out more about us here...
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