Creative Maps of London

Having my day off, I have done literally nothing today. It's been raining all day so the only chance to do something was to stay at home and read books.  Two hours ago I decided to stop reading and look for some nice maps of London. All of them I found on the Internet.

I love them.

Very colourful, very creative.

Which one is your favourite?






 

Join Bits of the Brits on Facebook

The Art of Window Displays

As you know there are hundreds of interesting topics about Brits to be covered but today I want you to have a closer look at the shop displays during the Olympics 2012.

When 6 years ago I heard that the 2012 Olympics were going to be held in London I couldn’t be happier. It was the time I was already in love with London so it could mean only one thing: two things I truly love at the same place at the same time! I was desperately waiting for the 6 years to pass.

I was lucky enough because I was working in Ascot near London and once I had my day off I spent it wandering around London and witnessing the capital getting ready for the Olympics…but about that I will write more in a couple of days ;) Each shop display on Oxford Street or Regent’s Street was carefully designed. You couldn’t just pass by without stopping to secretly admire the art of showing the pride of being British. For me it was a piece of art. Brits were so proud and were so united these days. They were one nation having over nations from all over the world and they weren’t only cheering  for the GB Team but for all athletes.

 

Join Bits of the Brits on Facebook

This is GREAT Britain Campaign

In 2012 Great Britain celebrates the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, hosted the Olympic, Paralympic Games and World Pride.Thanks to these events Britain has the global audience. And that's why the Great Britain Campaign was launched.

Mr Cameron said: "In 2012 there will be only one place to be. We are determined to make the most of this opportunity." And it definitely is Great Britain! The aim of the campaign is to promote Britain as a place to do business and recommend it as a tourist destination. There are several posters saying what is GREAT about Britain. For example a poster with Henry VIII tells us that HERITAGE is GREAT. Sir Richard Branson tells us that ENTREPRENEURS are GREAT. These posters/ billboards can be seen across Great Britain as well as across the world.

What I like the most are the short videos available on YouTube. Black&white videos with a soft background music + lovely drawings illustrating what the person is saying make me watch these videos all the time. I have chosen some of them just to show that while watching them you can not only watch a good campaign but also learn as loads of important and interesting facts about Great Britain are enumerated!

Just to start with: Fashion is GREAT: Victoria Beckham and Sir Paul Smith

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X85PdfQqnM?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr1eV16Yrqc?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Business is GREAT: Sir Richard Branson saying that there's no point of setting up business in order to make money and what British people have been good at

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHYiH1Kp1YM?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Food is GREAT: the most celebrated chefs in Britain tell about British dishes and having every cuisine under one capital

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OomVVu8AR4?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Music is GREAT: I don't think I have to write anything about this video as we all know that music is GREAT BRITAIN

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgjcCo6pP94?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Sport is GREAT: the world's greatest sport stars talk about being one nation and being proud of being British

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDrkCkbzPuo?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Join Bits of the Brits on Facebook

 

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3978992/?claim=s26kv85nbt2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Brit Rail- discover unseen places by train

Last week I came back from England and brought  loads of ideas (and photos.) On my way back I did Inter Rail (this year France&Spain) but 3 years ago I did Brit Rail . It's high time to  encourage you to travel by train in Britain and discover places you've never dreamed of!   

Brit Rail is a pass which allows you to travel across Great Britain by train. You can hop on and hop off at any stations and at any time you want. When planning your trip think of places you'd like to see. Are you interested only is seeing big cities (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool) or maybe small places, little villages (Wales is perfect!)? Open that map, do some research about the places  you've chosen and start planning you train trip.

• check the types of tickets available on the website. There are two types of passes Consecutive  (allows you to travel on select number of continuous days) and Flexible


• think where you want to sleep (I recommend using  CouchSurfing or Airbnb)


• get a good guidebook (not too heavy as you have to carry it with you all the time but still choose the one that has all the useful info and maps in it)


• try to see as many places as possible-remember that you can hop on and hop off at any station.    If there are castles worth seeing, a bakery famous among the locals or just the best fish&chips don't hesitate and get off on the nearest station


• don't take too much things it's better to buy some and take home:)

It's good to know that the first passenger railway was opened in 1825 between Stockton and Darlington. In general traveling by train in England is: easy, safe and comfortable. For me it's the best way to get to know Brits and the way they live. While being on the train have a look on what people are wearing, reading or saying. I know it's not nice to listen when someone's on the phone but if you can do it unnoticeable try to focus not on the content fo the conversation but on the grammar structure ( listening comprehension task!)

Join me on Facebook

Delilah- why isn't she famous yet?

Have you ever wandered through YouTube being bored and looking for a nice tune to listen ? I do it very often especially in the late evenings when I have to work or study. I am looking for something I haven't heard before and for something what won't make me feel sleepy any longer.

Few months ago I discovered Delilah and can't stop listening to her songs. They make me calm down but never make me feel sleepy. There's something about the lyrics and the musics.

She's a 22 years old British singer from London and having  English, Cuban, Nigerian, French and Spanish descent makes her beauty exquisite. Delilah has just released her new album  From the Roots Up. There's not much to write about her as she is (yet) unknown so turn the volume up!








Her new tour starts in September and covers many cities in England so if you are lucky and will be in the city where she's playing a gig, go and see her live!

Here are three songs I like the most. You can find some nice remix songs on YouTube, I truly recommend live concert videos  from KOKO London.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvkgnm8jcyY?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxNe9jWNuEU?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbsF4xchioo?rel=0&w=853&h=480]

Join us on Facebook!

London's ni(gh)t

I remember I had a very lazy afternoon and decided to do something about that. I took my camera, I took a train to Waterloo and walked to Trafalgar Square.

Late evening, early night. Me, myself and London by nite. I wasn't looking through the viewfinder, I let my camera walk with me.

Two years have gone by since I took these photos. I think this is the day. London's ni(gh)t sees the light of day

Join us on Facebook!