Everything Else

The Stylish Guy Abroad:- Disney World

Posted on by thatstylishguy1

The Most Magical Place on Earth? Well…yes, depending on your definition.

Visiting Disney World is not going to provide any great cultural epiphany but damn is it fun. The design of the place is almost out of this world, I suppose that is the point yet still it is surprising when you are transported into this magical world. Everything just looks perfect and right as it should be.

The Magic Kingdom looks exactly how you would picture a wonderful world of Disney. Everything is immaculate and each land is distinct and immersive showing their own individual form of magic. The rides themselves vary depending on your interests but there is something in The Magic Kingdom to suit everyone, my personal favourites being Big Thunder and Space Mountain.

Epcot has evolved into possibly my favourite park. The butt of many a joke and famously mentioned in The Simpson’s it seemed a bit too educational to many but that is part of its charm. It is much more adult in its theming and is also much more educational. Future World makes up the first section of the park and explores our known world from the depths of the Oceans to Outer Space. World Showcase gives a slightly stereotypical yet thoroughly charming depiction of several of the worlds most culturally rich countries. Ranging from Mexico and Canada to China and even Norway the world showcase its rich for exploration and incredible food. The rides to see here would have to be Test Track and Soarin’ both of which are immersive and fun in different ways.

Hollywood Studios was on my visit my least favourite park. I visited prior to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxies edge or Star Wars land to the less formal among us. Prior to this land though I just felt there wasn’t enough to see in Hollywood Studios. Toy Story Land was great yet sparse and beyond that there was little here to appeal to me yet it is still worth a visit for the most adult rides in Disney World. Although you wouldn’t catch me dead on Tower of Terror.

Animal Kingdom is the newest Disney park and also the most atypical it features incredible lands themed around Asia and Africa whilst also presenting the most immersive theming I have experienced with its Avatar-themed Pandora, a beautiful landscape of alien flora and bioluminescence. The African and Asian themed lands are also incredibly immersive and well themed just not in as showy a way. They still provide many a great ride and are rife for exploration just not in the same way as Pandora. The Avatar themed section provides easily my favourite ride of the whole theme-park with Flight of Passage which is just so immersive it needs to be seen to be believed.

Two things I did not expect when visiting Disney World were the food available and the scale of the place. To put it simply the place is huge. Roughly the size of two(!!) Manhattan islands the scale of Disney World was astounding as was the transport options available, boats, buses, monorails you name it and it is probably a way to navigate the behemoth that is Disney World.

Similarly I did not expect the quality of food on offer. In both variety and taste I have yet to find a place with so much nice food from so many different cuisines. It is possible to eat incredible fine dining as well as moorish sweet snacks. Restaurants such as Morimoto Asia and California Grill provide excellent food and fine dining in spades and are just two examples of the many great restaurants on offer in Disney World. Similarly sweet treats like ice cream cookie sandwiches, Baklava, Brownies and more are enough to make my mouth water just writing this.

A word must also be given to the various nighttime shows across Disney World. They vary in style yet all are suitably spectacular and epic showcasing projections and fireworks to uplifting and inspiring music.

So there you have it The Most Magical Place on Earth, just lacking a little culture but then who goes to Disney World for Culture.

The Stylish Guy Abroad:-Lisbon

Posted on by thatstylishguy1

I visited Lisbon earlier this month and I was blown away. A less mainstream choice than the likes of Paris, Rome or Berlin, it ended up combining the best parts of all of them. I expected it to be fun, what I didn’t expect was the oldest capital in Western Europe stuffed full of history with a mini Champs-Élysées to boot. Not to mention the hyper modern Parque das Nações district. It is of course impossible to do all of this justice in so few words but suffice to say it deserves a visit.

A shocking fact I learned before my trip was that Lisbon was actually older than Rome and being a History student that was especially shocking. Just walking around the city it becomes clear however. It carries the same old grandiose charm of the Italian capital and yet is somehow vastly better organised. The sites are plentiful and beautiful with the Castelo de Sao Jorge being a particular highlight as is the entire Alfama district. It is a place steeped in beautiful culture and history that must be seen to be believed. One of the best ways it can be seen is through the infamous Tram 28E which not only delivered the expected sights but also unexpected rollercoaster thrills.

Another not so hidden gem of Lisbon is Belem. The birthplace of the Portuguese Custard Tart and also the Presidents Residence as well as many of Lisbon’s Museums and the Torre de Belem, a beautiful tower from the Age of Discoveries.

If a more modern experience is desired Lisbon supplies this also. The state-of-the-art Parque das Nações houses an incredibly modern and beautiful aquarium teeming with life and knowledge. It also houses a brilliant cable car and one of Europe’s most impressive bridges, it literally goes on for MILES with no hyperbole.

To completely round out the set of brilliant reasons to visit – the shopping. Lisbon houses almost every store you could possibly think of from local to high fashion. Many are located in an area ranging from Lisbon’s tourist centre Praça do Comércio all the way to the cities own Champs-Élysées named Avenida da Liberdade, modelled on Paris’ most famous Avenue. This stretch contains any brand you could wish to find along with beautiful scenery along the way. One minute you could be exploring your favourite high-street chain and a couple later you could be rubbing shoulders in even the most high-end shops imaginable.

As stated in such few words it is impossible to do justice to such an amazing city and a mention must go to the mouthwatering food and incredibly friendly and charismatic people. Both of which often go hand in hand and are an unfaltering delight of visiting the city.

So what are you waiting for? Go. Now! All the way home to book a holiday to Lisbon or as the locals say Lisboa.