Designed for business & relaxation - Hotel Montemezzi (Verona)

Nonseum, the museum of useless inventions

2012-03-02T07:05:00.001-08:00

Have you ever felt the need to walk with a pole with wheels? And a pair of curved scissors? I don't think either of us do.

Still you have to know that these and dozens of other useless inventions are all on display at the Nonseum, a museum that contains all those patented objects which because of their little application in everyday life, have not been appreciated by the public.

It happens in Herrnbaumgarten, Österreich, where Frits Gall (himself an inventor with little public acclaim), gave birth to this project, just for fun actually, in 1984, during a fair. The Nonseum thrilled immediately thrilled its first visitors, and through word of mouth has found a permanent exhibition space which has already attracted more than 100,000 onlookers! But what else could you find inside the Nonseum?

Toothbrushes for the toothless, beds for the sleepless with sheep printed on canvas which simulate the movement, sweaters with spare arms of different lengths. In short, a stop in this quirky museum could make you come up with the idea for the patent of the century, if not, at least you know where it might end up.

Communion wafers prepared with hallucinogenic flour? it's just a hoax!

2012-02-24T07:12:00.001-08:00

Today we're talking about hoaxes, specifically about a very funny one which took place in our country and in these days was taken up for granted by many national newspapers.

A normal Sunday mass in your average parish can suddenly turn into chaos: this is what happened (seemed to have happened) last Sunday in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Campobasso.

Everything was going just like thousand identical religious functions until the Eucharist time when, after ingesting the wafers, everyone went literally wild.

There were those who claimed to see their favorite saint, those who, at the mercy of hellish visions, embraced the Crucifix, who stole the priest's wine goblet… poor Don Achille, he was forced to hide in the confessional, chased by two old ladies who hit him with their purses and calling him a devil!

Father Achille, taking advantage of the confusion, escaped the two women and ran to the vestry, where he called the police who managed to evacuate the building, despite the resistance of the believers, who started a guerrilla war against those which the assumed to be "the Horsemen of the Apocalypse".

After a few hours, the Italian web quickly spreads the news, but it'll be denied: In Campobasso, in fact, there's no Church of Santo Spirito, not the "infamous" Don Achilles chased by the believers! In addition, the Archidiocese of Campobasso-Bojano, categorically denies the news that we can read on regional and national newspapers.

Want to be a prisoner for one night?

2012-02-17T02:56:00.001-08:00

We sure don't lack imagination, but the fact that a disused prison could turn into a hostel still shocked us! It happened in Liepaja, Latvia, where a The Karosta Prison, a Soviet prison built in 1900, has ended its activities in 1997 to become both a museum, an attraction, and also a place to spend the night.

Everything is organized in detail, during the visit there is a real interactive show, some actors play the role of prison guards and treat visitors as if they were actual prisoners, like a 24-7 reality show!

Special programs require visitors to sign an agreement before participating. In addition to agreeing to respect the property of the prison, participants must be aware that they " may receive insulting instructions and orders which must be carried out without objection. In case of disobedience prisoners may be punished (physical exercise, cleaning works, exclusion from the Show)."

Only the bravest ones, after the initial tour, will decide to stay for the night, and obviously in a cell which totally lacks utilities. If you feel brave enough you should arrange with a group of friends, as groups are eligible for a discount!

Waiting for you with arms wide open:

Check-in:

No en-suite facilities but, hey…

Serenade your loved one!

2012-02-09T06:00:00.001-08:00

The days when you had to grab a guitar and all your courage to go serenade your loved one seem long gone.

Nowadays you can do everything with a click, also serenading! That's the idea of a famous beer, Heineken, that created an amazing Facebook application to celebrate Valentines' day.

The application gives everyone around the globe the opportunity to set up an EPIC date with their sweetheart, creating over 640 customized serenades in 20 different languages.

The lover can create his very own serenade with just four clicks, by visiting Heineken's Facebook page and using the application.

According to the answers selected by the suitor and to the name of his beloved, an original serenade performed by the british singer Paul Kissaun will be created and posted on her (or his) Facebook wall.

At the end of the serenade, the recipient will be able to choose between "yes", to accept the invitation to the date, and "no", to dump him up!

On Feb the 9th, the application will be under the spotlight during "Serenade Live", an international event streamed for 8 hours on Heineken's Youtube Channel, during which lovers from all over the world will try to serenade their (maybe) future soulmate!

If you want to be way more romantic than this, arm yourself with courage and go under the window of the one you love, your voice may not be great, but at least you'll be able to witness their reaction! We remind you that until this evening you can play the game which was organized with the guys from Travel Different, for more information please refer to this post, you can win one of our special package.

Valentine's Day: How to buy the perfect gift for your girlfriend

2012-02-03T06:08:00.001-08:00

Is it hard for you to find the right valentine's gift for your girlfriend? Maybe a heart shaped egg it’s not enough. So let's make things easier by giving you some practical advice to face this problem.

Pay attention to her, she's' going to give subtle hints… so listen up!
Practical gifts are fine, but sometime can be boring and not very romantic.
Smiled at your woman while you give her the gift!
Gifts don't always have to be on a special occasion, like birthdays or Christmas. Give her a gift just because it's Tuesday! (It shows that you really care).

Jewelry is always a good idea (depending on the female in question… but depending on her tastes it can also be quite expensive). Not every jewel has to be gold or diamonds. Listen and observe carefully.

Never forget Valentine's Day. Girls would love a little box of chocolate, but remember not to go cheap, no store brand candy! And if she's allergic to something, get her jewelry or a simple flower. Sunflowers and red and white roses are good flowers to consider.

Give her your gift in a special and romantic way! Why don't you send your partner on a treasure hunt? Draw a map, leave clues to the gift… and why not, clues could also be written in strategic spots on your body! Flowers or any gift will work with this one. You could leave a note on the door for your loved one, telling them to follow the path. Strew rose petals leading to the bedroom, and let her find you at the end of the trail!

If you decide to get clothes you have to be totally sure about the size! Too big could offend her.. but too small can embarrass her.

Don't give her cash! If you want to give her money choose a shopping card to one of her favorite stores. The success of those cards however is relative to the situation. It could tell her that you don't know her likes very well.. but if you choose wisely you'll show her that you know her and still you respect her ability to choose what she will most enjoy!

Don't persistently ask your girlfriend what she likes. She won't tell you, because you're supposed to know that… and you will have to guess!

Please, do not ever buy cleaning items like vacuum, iron and so on… Make sure what you get her is what she wants, not what you want.

And remember that just because she says she doesn't want anything, that doesn't mean it's true! Girls do that when they try to put themselves on equal ground as everyone else, and they're actually just trying to be nice. Even if you ask "Are you sure?" and she replies "yes"… she's obviously still trying to be nice!

Remember the golden rule:
no matter how long you've been together, you are buying a gift for her! So, are you ready now?

The Art Series Hotel: Want a Banksy? Come and get it!

2012-01-27T02:32:00.001-08:00

Perhaps you already heard about Banksy, the genius of street art who attracted worldwide attention for his extraordinary works.

Well, the Art Series Hotel, a hotel chain, has launched a challenge to their customers from a hotel in Melbourne, Australia: "Here at the hotel we have two works by Banksy in display: 'No Ball Games' and 'Pulp Fiction', if you can steal them and leave the hotel unnoticed, you can take them home with you!".

Taking advantage of the notoriety of the artist, the hotel chain has generated a major word of mouth.

Of course the works of Banksy were tempting for many people, who put in place curious tricks in the attempt of doing a memorable bank(sy) job. Read here:

• Re-wiring the internal security cameras so thieves wouldn't be noticed

• Distracting the security reporting broken furniture and fittings in the roooms

• Scantily clad women distracting the staff

• A man with a long broom attempted to unhinge the painting and run away

• A few brazen hit and run attempts

• Some imposters pretending they were hotel staff

• Another imposter pretending he was a tradesman

• A “Bonnie and Clyde” post-modern attempt by two people who Twittered their every move

• Even tennis super star Serena Williams recently gave it a crack

Conclusion: "No Ball Games" has been "legally" stolen. "Pulp Fiction" has been moved for safety reasons to another hotel of the chain. The masterpiece will be given to Crime Stoppers (an association of people who report crimes that they have witnessed) and auctioned.

Some funny news about the celebration of Carnival

2012-01-20T02:58:00.001-08:00

There is no party more democratic and without barriers of the carnival, in which at least for a day anybody can be who they want. This great celebration brings traditions, trivia and stories to be told, Italy is full of them and years later, they continue to be handed down.

For example, do you know how old is the first mask ever?
In a cave from the Tertiary they found the oldest evidence of use of a mask by men. It's a hunting scene in which appears the figure of a man dressed as a goat.

What are the longest Italian carnivals?
They are two, the Ambrosian carnival (also called "Carnevalon"), which ends on the first saturday of Lent, and the Putignano carnival, in Apulia, which begins on December the 26th and ends on Ash Wednesday, with the burning and the funeral of the puppet King Carnival.

What's the oldest carnival in Italy?
It's the Carnival of Fano. First known document that describe the typical celebrations of a Carnival in the city, dates back to 1347.

How are the confetti born?
The confetti (in Italian "coriandoli"), small pieces of colored paper, originally were Coriander (in Italian "coriandolo") seeds colored with plaster, used as sugared almond (in Italian "confetti") to throw from floats and balconies.

How was made the papier mache?
The birth of the modern "papier mache" is due to the Maestro Antonio D'Ariano(1925) who thought of a new system: covering the clay with chalk, so as to obtain a negative mold of the original figure, and then put several layers of paper within this negative model. Once dried, the paper template came off from the plaster with no problems, identical to the original, weighing a few pounds instead of tons. With this invention you can build huge carnival floats that defy the laws of gravity.

When was the first carnival float built?
Despite the ancient origins of some Italian carnivals, the first float was built in Viareggio only in 1873. It was built by port workers, inspired by the techniques used to build ships. They were able to build complex structures with a system of ropes, steel cables and pulleys used on construction sites.

The origin of Carnival in Verona dates back to 1531, year in which a strong epidemic disease led the city up to the brink of a people uprising: the bakers refused to produce and sell bread because of the increasing in the price of the flour, rousing the people anger.
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News and interesting facts about Valentine's Day

2012-01-13T06:01:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day, the day of the lovers. And like any celebration, it brings with it unexpected news and funny facts:

- Valentine's Day has its roots in the pagan festival called "Lupercalia", during which the men were stripped naked, and with a whip they hit young women in an attempt to increase their fertility.

- "Our" Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, receives about 1000 letters addressed to Juliet every year.

- A recent survey has revealed that one young person out of 10 admits to feel alone, insecure, depressed and not liked during Valentine's Day.

- Men spend on gifts twice as women do.

- About 9 million owners of dogs, cats or other pets will buy a gift for their animal.

- 15% of American women will send some flowers to themselves.

- In the U.S., the sale of condoms increases from 20 to 30% during the days foregoing Valentine's Day.

- In Japan, women give chocolate to their partners, (tradition started by japanese companies producing chocolate) who will return the favor on March 14, known in japan as "White Day".

- 73% of flowers sold are bought by men, while women seem to prefer postcards and greeting cards.

- In Wales, the traditional Valentine's gift is a wooden spoon, called the love spoon.

- The greatest love gift ever is the Taj Mahal in India, built by the Emperor Shanjahan as a memorial for his wife, who died during childbirth.

- Every year, people send about a billion Valentine's greeting card all over the world.

- Many weird kissing competitions take place during Valentine's Day. A kiss lasting 30 hours has joined The Guinness Book of Records.

Are you ready to celebrate? Then look up the event that the Hotel Montemezzi has reserved for you.

When in Rome, celebrate as Romans do!

2011-12-22T06:06:00.001-08:00

There are many traditions related to the New Year shared by almost every country of the world. It is common thinking that what you do on the first day of the new year will affect a lot the entire year.
It is also said to bring a lot of luck if the first visitor to your home in the New Year is a tall man with dark hair.

The use of the mistletoe on the doorways of our homes has instead been handed down by the Druids, who believed the plant to be able to drive away evil spirits from the house.

Eating lentils (some people eat them right at midnight) brings good luck and money during the New Year. In ancient times, according to some pagan rites, people offered each other wallets full of lentils as a present on the last day of the year.

Other traditions belong instead to a single population, in Spain, for example, before midnight, you have to eat twelve black grapes, one for each month of the year, and after the toast, the Spaniards put a ring inside the glass in which they drank.

In Greece the first person who comes into the house on January 1, throws a pomegranate on the floor attempting to break the fruit. Doing so they will spread the beans which will bring luck to the hosts. The typical New Year's dish is the Vassilopita, a loaf with a coin hidden inside, and the one who will find the slice with the coin will be very lucky in the New Year.

In Germany they celebrate in masks, like Carnival, while in India you can not wait for the new year in the house, you have to go out on the streets.

In Brazil people dress in white, while in other countries of South America people wear yellow and golden robes.

What are you gonna do on New Years'Eve?

Coca Cola brings Santa Claus on a plane

2011-12-16T04:31:00.001-08:00

For years we heard the urban legend about the Coca Cola company turning Santa's color from green to red, with an advertising illustration by Haddon Sundblom in the 30's. The news has been then disproved in the course of years, in fact there were many illustration representing Santa in red clothes since the early 20th century. As a matter of fact the Coca Cola company has been using Santa Claus for their advertisement for over 80 years.

Recently they went far beyond that, since the bearded old man is now the star of the new flight from Monterrey to the North Pole of the VivaAerobus flight company.

During the long flight the travelers have found above their heads, in addition to the usual prohibition signs and safety alerts, a button that said "experience the magic". Once pressed, the red-dressed hostesses welcomed Santa Claus, in a magical atmosphere created by special lights, who gave the travelers a special package by Coca-Cola as a present. The travel experience continued then at the North Pole, when a few polar bears got on the plane… ok, they were actors dressed as polar bears actually...

Johannesburg, Gandhi's home becomes a museum-hotel

2011-12-09T05:29:00.001-08:00

In recent days, the first museum-hotel dedicated to Gandhi was opened in Johannesburg, in the suburb of Orchard. Gandhi went through these places as a young lawyer, and he lived right in the House Satyagraha between 1908 and 1909. The house was built in 1907 by a close friend of Gandhi, the German architect ermann Kallenbach.

To renovate it and give it new life, it took a team of great experts consisting of a historian, a curator, and two interior designers, who made the Satyagraha House part of the historical heritage of South Africa.

Currently it has 7 guests room and a museum that shows the milestones of the great indian man, particularly those moments that he shared with his friend Hermann Kallenbach are displayed in the very heart of the house. The track also offers visits to key places like Soweto, Constitution Hill and the Old Fort Prison complex in Johannesburg, where Gandhi and, more recently, Nelson Mandela were imprisoned.

SPECIAL PACKAGE NEW YEAR'S EVE | Hotel Montemezzi Verona

2011-12-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

SPECIAL PACKAGE NEW YEAR'S EVE | Hotel Montemezzi Verona

A special package to celebrate the arrival of the new year with quality, good food and music of the Hotel Montemezzi!
A sensational OFFER! Come and visit the Bel Paese...Start dreaming now...

Dorset - UK - The first hotel made of sand

2011-12-02T05:51:00.001-08:00

Surely, at least once in a lifetime, you will happen to build a sand castle. well, in Weymouth Beach in Dorset (UK) has recently been built the first hotel made of sand, which accepts customers starting from 10 pounds per night.

It took 1000 tons of sands to build it and a team of four sculptors working over 14 hours a day for 7 consecutive days. The water they used was of course the sea.

Mark Anderson, the creator of the great sand castle, commented on his work: "It is the biggest sandcastle-like structure ever in the UK. Four of us worked hard and with the help of a JCB we got it built. The beds are made of sand so it can get everywhere, especially between the toes. But the best thing is in the morning the tide laps through the door, what a great way to wake up".

Another unusual feature, besides the lack of a toilet, is the absence of a roof… so the castle could be defined as a sort of temporary hotel since the customers are ready to run in case of rain.

From Paris to Rome, from the Hospitality Awards to WHR

2011-11-25T03:47:00.001-08:00

Those days were spent just very exciting for the staff of The Fun Hotel. From Paris to Rome, from InterContinental Paris Le Grand to Capannelle Hotel, we had the opportunity to present our project around Europe.

The InterContinental Paris Le Grand has the look of a luxury cruise ship moored next to the façade of the Opéra Garnier, the ideal location to host the twelfth edition of the Hospitality Awards.

In a luxurious and elegant saloon in the very flamboyant style inspired by Napoleon III, we had the chance to compete with competitors that really matter.

It was a very spectacular moment, take a look to the beginning of the event.

We came back with no premium, but with the hope we can do it next year. Definitely a positive experience that has allowed us to consolidate our team even more.

In Rome, we instead had the opportunity to deal with other people in tourism and hotel sector during the second edition of Web Hotel Revenue, with the agency MagillaGuerrilla we present the case history of The Fun Hotel.

The people in the Advanced Room were very amused and intrigued when they were shown videos of the prank and of the song created by Italo Crazy Baton. It was a great opportunity to relive a year of this project and of course thank the organization of the WHR.

The sex hotel?

2011-11-18T01:34:00.001-08:00

What I am about to tell you seems more a hoax than real news. Actually for about a year the Swedish businessman Berth Milton Jr has been working to plan the opening of 100 hotels around the world dedicated exclusively to couples.

Would you ever have you and your partner filmed and photographed during an intimate situation? Well, who will be willing to do so will have the free night.

Berth Milton stated: "One hotel alone could generate $ 43.8 million a year from subscriptions of online voyeurs from around the world. It won't be a hotel for swingers, or an explicit place where people run around naked."

Milton, the son of the man credited with creating hardcore porn in the 1960s, believes the amateurish sex sessions will be a gold mine.

Milton's Idea is that people are very interested in amateurs movies nowadays, and hotels such as those he has in mind would provide a lot of material.

Milton himself is considered an innovator in his field: in the 90s his production house was among the first ones to shift the distribution from VHS to DVD.

The Dark Dinner report

2011-11-11T03:43:00.001-08:00

Last Halloween night has been pretty unusual for the customers of the Fun Hotel. Pumpkin lanterns and darkness all over the lobby and the restaurant created the proper atmosphere to introduce our storyteller, "Amelia Bottle Bottoms", who came directly from Transylvania to generate suspense.

While the customers were unaware of the pranks we prepared for them, Amelia started to tell her stories. In fact an actor of ours, hidden behind the tables, popped out from time to time to startle the audience dressed as a dark goblin.

I'll describe to you one particular scene. Amelia is about to tell a story titled: Labels. Behind a booth, our chef Francesco, dressed as a surgeon, enters the room with a pretty weird dish… on the food cart there's indeed a person lying under a white blanket sheet which completely covers him, except for his left arm leaning out from the cart with a red tag attached to it.

Amelia starts speaking: "When you're admitted to a hospital, they tie a white label with your name on it to your wrist. But you have to know that there are other colored labels which mean something different… red labels, are the one tied to the wrists of the dead".

The story continues, Amelia moves closer to our dead actor, takes his arm, showing the label to everyone, and leaves the room shortly after that… a few seconds of silence, required for customers to be less cautious, and our actor, rising suddenly from bed, gives a terrifying shout, then lies down again and the surgeon-chef takes him away.

The dinner continued with screams and laughter, with Amelia telling her stories, and the goblin doing tricks on the audience. Check out the pictures on our Facebook page! Who knows what will reserve the Fun Hotels' near future?

Gogobot, the social network for travelers

2011-11-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there is a travel social network that allows us to plan and organize our trips?

Gogobot was born in San Francisco and is a startup that includes a community of fans travel. Gogobot accompanies the traveler an experience "all year long."

Usually, when we take a trip, the first thing we do is search the location with Google. This travel planning on Gogobot becomes more intuitive and simple thanks to the advice of the community.

Gogobot is a real social network of travel because it is integrated with Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and allows you to view photos, have relationships, add ratings and reviews and share content with a circle of trusted friends and followers. But it is also a social gaming: with Foursquare, as well as to check-in geolocation, allows you to earn points and badges thanks to reviews, photos and information publications. It also offers to share the journey with another person who has our own expectations and the desire to experience different.

The social network has just 'landed' on the mobile with a new application.

Halloween crazy costume ideas

2011-10-28T03:28:00.001-07:00

Halloween is coming, costume makeup too. So 3 days before the darkest night of the year we'd like to show you some crazy video tutorials.

Let's start with Edward Scissorhands (our new gardener). If you want to sport the Scissorhands look for Halloween this year you can learn how to do your makeup in the video below. Just wait to put your scissor hands on until after you finish painting your face!

If you think that Edward's costume is difficult, you can try with a Vampire look from Michelle Phan in the video below.

This year one of the top grossing films was Avatar and it is likely to be one of this year’s most popular Halloween costumes. You can simply grab some blue paint and color up your face, but if you want to stand out from the other Avatars out there, follow the advice in this Avatar inspired how to video.

Do you remember Betty Boop?

Do you like Alice in Wonderland? So you like the Mad Hatter, in Tim Burton style.

Or the Oompa Loompa!

“Oompa Loompa, doompadee doo
We have a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa Loompa, doompadee dee
If you are wise you will listen me”.

via

The Dark Dinner. Countdown: -10

2011-10-22T04:42:00.001-07:00

A few days now separate us from the Dark Dinner, and we wanted to tell you a scary tale that will be told by Amelia Bottle Bottoms.

The title is: The portraits.

A hunter, after spending an entire day in his hobbies, he found himself in the midst of a vast forest. It was already getting dark and the man, having lost its bearings, he decided to proceed in the same direction until he exits the increasingly dense and oppressive vegetation.

After hours of walking, he reached a wooden hut in a small clearing. Since night had fallen, he decided to see if it was possible to spend the night inside the building. He approached and found the door half opened.

There was no one inside. The hunter lay on the only bed, thinking that, at worst, he could apologize to the owners the next morning.

Looking around, he was surprised to see all the walls adorned with several portraits, all extremely realistic. Without exception, they showed close-ups of faces that watched the hunter with features contorted by hatred and malice. The hunter felt very uncomfortable and had to strive hard to ignore those paintings. He turned his face against the wall and, exhausted, finally fell asleep.

The next morning the man woke up, turned and looked around, blinking his eyes in the blinding sunlight that seemed to come from any direction in the room. Looking up, he found that the hut, in fact, had no pictures on the walls.

There were only windows.

Halloween, and the three legends of Jack-o'-lantern

2011-10-14T04:12:00.001-07:00

There are many legends about the night of Halloween and there are many traditions on the occasion of this festival, first of all to carve pumpkins and place inside a lantern.

Many people associate this tradition to the legend (or legends) Jack-o'-lantern, a lazy but shrewd farmer always ready to annoy people.

First Legend: Legend has it that Jack dared to challenge the devil, who, terrified, was forced to take refuge in a tree. In order to prevent the devil descended, the sly Jack carved a cross on the trunk. Only after a long bickering the two came to a compromise: in exchange for freedom, the devil would have to save Jack from eternal damnation.

During his life Jack committed many sins, but when he died, he did not go to Heaven or Hell and he was obliged to to remain on earth. He took a pumpkin, inserted a candle and made a lantern. He began from that moment to wander relentlessly in search of a resting place on earth.

Halloween is just the day in which Jack is looking for a refuge. The inhabitants of each country are thus obliged to hang a lantern outside the door to indicate the unfortunate soul that their home is no place for him. According to other versions Jack had a turnip instead of a pumpkin, was then the popular tradition to pass down the custom of pumpkins.

Second Legend: Another myth says that Jack was a person who drank a lot. One day he met the devil at the bar, which unexpectedly turned into a coin, he took it and died shortly after. He went to heaven, but was ousted, went to hell and was expelled from there too for taking the coin. He then took a turnip, carved eyes and mouth on it and placed inside some burning coals. So he went out alone lighting up the road.

Third Legend: Legend has it that the last Jack, rejected from heaven, presented himself to hell, where he was "cordially" banished by the devil, who, reminding him of their pact, was only too happy to let him wander as a tormented soul. Jack objected that it was cold and dark, so the devil threw a firebrand (eternal, as coming from hell) that Jack positioned inside of a pumpkin that he had with him.

Don’t forget our Dark Dinner, may be Jack will come to visit us!

WHR Seminar: The Fun Hotel in Rome

2011-10-07T06:03:00.001-07:00

Dear readers, it seems that we will have to resort to some super-power, perhaps our Quick Luggage Nick could give us a hand. A few days ago we advanced our presence in the Hospitality Awards in Paris on November 21, just two days after we moved from the city of the Eiffel Tower to the Colosseum.

On 23 November the Hotel Montemezzi will take part for the second consecutive year @ the next Web hotels Revenue in Rome, together MagillaGuerrilla advertising agency, to present the results of the project The Fun Hotel.

The WHR (Web Hotel Revenue) is the training event focusing on issues of revenue management, Web Marketing and Brand Reputation, represent an opportunity for us to show as can be fan to stay in a Hotel :)

What do you think if we go there with Italo Crazy Baton?

Dinosaurs in the center of Beijing

2011-10-06T05:35:00.001-07:00

Relax, we're not back to the mesozoic era, this title isn't even meant to scare you for our dinner in the dark on halloween :)

What we tell you today is a case of promotion for the opening of a new theme park in the city of Beijing, one of the largest in the world to display the fossils of these ancient creatures. The curious news it that ,among the rooms of a large shopping center, they installed life-size replica of the dinosaurs from the jurassic park! So, while shopping, the people of Beijing "made the acquaintance" of Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor and Brontosaurus.

Hospitality Awards 2011: The Fun Hotel in Paris

2011-09-28T04:06:00.001-07:00

It is with great pride and satisfaction that we announce the presence of the Montemezzi Hotel, with the project "The Fun Hotel", at the twelfth edition of the Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2011, which will be held in Paris next November the 21st.

Worldwide Hospitality Awards

The Worldwide Hospitality Awards thus are an excellent representation of the international hospitality industry diversity and help to reveal its innovative processes and concepts.

In fact, our project has been nominated in the category "Best Initiative Client's Experience": this Award will be attributed to a program by a hotel group or brand, or individual hotel to estabilish and mantain the most profitable relations with their clients. This iniziative must take the client's experience in the hotel better, thanks to a program of rewards, loyalty programs and quality commitment.

So, to the question: "What is the legacy your project will leave on hospitality history?", we answered: "The Fun Hotel is the first unconventional hotel in the Italian panorama. Introducing a new concept of wellness as an emotional status and mark the way on the use of social networks in the relationship between customer and his travel experience”.

Hotel Montemezzi will be the only hotel candidate to represent Italy at this prestigious event. Of course thanks to all of you, without your support we couldn't have done it, let's keep our fingers crossed.

The Song of The Fun Hotel

2011-09-23T01:26:00.001-07:00

And finally, after days of mixing and editing, it's time to present the videoclip for the song of The Fun Hotel!

Crazy Baton Italo enters the lobby, facing towards his "orchestra", wand in hand and strictly black tailcoat.

What happens if one day the hotel staff and guests turn into musicians? And if these are led by a somewhat crazy conductor?
We tested this experience here at the Hotel Montemezzi, known as The Fun Hotel, so you can see and hear like normal objects at the hotel have been transformed into real musical instruments: stamps, bottles, glasses, phones, linens and vacuum cleaners, all under the direction of Maestro Italo Crazy Baton. Enjoy the videoclip!

The Song of The Fun Hotel

A day at "The Fun Hotel": When customers become musicians

2011-09-09T08:14:00.001-07:00

He arrived aboard a bright red Alfa Romeo, the same driven by Tazio Nuvolari, the "Flying Mantuan" who has been a legend in the world of motorcycling and motoring for 30 years.

Our Italo Crazy Baton, dressed in tails and with the inseparable wand in hand, came to The Fun Hotel to give life to his musical work.

Between sheets pull, bells sounded, vacuum cleaners in action, bottles hit by young and old men, our conductor has made the stay at the Fun Hotel out of the ordinary.

In a fewdays you can see, but above all listen, the first song of The Fun Hotel.

In the meanwhile, the ones you see are some of the images collected during the event, you can go on our fanpage to see the entire album.

Thanks, of course, to all those who participated and had fun with us during the day, between one key and another.

Funny jokes about orchestra conductor

2011-09-01T08:36:00.001-07:00

Less than two days for the long-awaited arrival of Italo Crazy Baton, our bizarre conductor that on Saturday, lead the customers in our hotel, during the execution of the first song of The Fun Hotel. Are You Ready to play?

In the meantime we would like to make you laugh, telling some jokes around this character.

1. A guy (not the guy of the picture…)walks into a pet store wanting a parrot. The store clerk shows him two beautiful ones out on the floor. "This one's $5,000 and the other is $10,000." the clerk said.

"Wow! What does the $5,000 one do?"

"This parrot can sing every aria Mozart ever wrote."

"And the other?" said the customer.

"This one can sing Wagner's entire Ring cycle. There's another one in the back room for $30,000."

"Holy moly! What does that one do?"

"Nothing that I can tell, but the other two parrots call him 'Maestro'."

2. How many conductors does it take to change a lightbulb?

Only one, but then again, who's really watching?

3. A musical director wasn’t happy with the performance of one of the percussionists. Repeated attempts to get the drummer to improve failed. Finally, in front of the orchestra, the director cried in frustration,

"When a musician can’t handle their instrument, they give him two sticks and make him a drummer!"

A whisper was heard from the percussion section:

"And if he can’t handle that, they remove one of his sticks and make him a conductor."

The next event at Montemezzi

2011-08-26T00:33:00.001-07:00

Have you ever thought that staying in a hotel, you would be able to becomethe protagonists of a music video? Pack your backs and don't foget to put in joy and desire for music, because the on September the 3rd at the Hotel Montemezzi, we'll realize our first song!

You've never used a musical instrument? No problem! Being able to play one is not absolutely important to participate, your happy mood will be enough, the rest is up to Italo Crazy Baton our weird composer, who wandering among the rooms of the Fun Hotel will compose his greatest musical work.

Do you feel better at vibrating like a guitar string, rolling like a drum, or singing like a nightingale? Let's just find out! Join our staff and test yourself in front of an unusual looking composer.

Many additional special services are provided exclusively for our Facebook fans:

- 5% discount on the Best Internet Rate,
- 24H High Speed Internet Connection (in room or wi-fi in the lobby),
- suitable connection for you iPhone, iPad or any Andorid device,
- the special music CD of the Fun Hotel Song and the souvenir photo to remember your unforgettable stay.

Book now on the website, and use the Promo Code of the fun hotel song to get these exclusive services!

Hamburg vs Copenhagen

2011-08-04T04:09:00.001-07:00

The sculptor Oliver Foss has designed and built a siren of gigantic proportions, and has decided to promote his work by placing it into the lake Alster in Hamburg. The statue, made of polystyrene and steel, is designed to look like a woman bathing in the picturesque lake.

Important piece of the statue, which consists of three parts, which makes it not fall into the water, leaving bare knees.

Despite the good result obtained, the team of workers has had many problems to place the siren in the lake. The statue has been exposed on 1 August, but the crane was not able to stay afloat and was submerged for a while time. Fortunately, the sculpture was not damaged and is correctly placed on the following Tuesday.

The three-piece work of art, which is 13ft high and 98ft long, will be turning heads for the next ten days - with many visitors boarding rowing boats to get a closer look.

Three friends and a unicycle

2011-07-29T04:22:00.001-07:00

Three Italian friends are going along the route from Barcelona to Gibraltar in a somewhat unusual way: backpackers and unicycles! The whole journey is told through the notes on Facebook, to share with friends, family and fans of their incredible adventure.

Aldo D'Alessandro, Alessio Paolelli and Tiziano Gallo, aged between 21 and 23 years. They left July 15 from Rome to Barcelona, and then from there a little to luck, to Gibraltar. Little money in their pockets, with the aim to pay the costs of travel by juggling, another great passion of these three guys.

A curious and funny diary, documenting dozens of miles in the saddle of this unusual and difficult, but without a doubt ecologic, means of transport. Among beautiful landscapes, beaches and coves, with the sun hanging over their heads and frequent storms at night time, especially, of course, when the three decided not to pitch a tent. Progress, and unexpected adventures are recounted in the network and create an interactive dialogue with the "public" that follows them from home.

"Everything goes smoothly until Casteldefels (a place with very nice beaches that are vaguely reminiscent of the California coast, with very tall palm trees, long beaches and bike paths all over the waterfront), then the 'tragedy' begins: in front of us 15 km of slopes and curves of a small mountain range overlooking the sea, they separate us from our goal. After one mile we were completely destroyed.", that's what they say, for example, on the second day, among the encouragement of friends and a bit of envy of someone who wants to be there with them.

They encounter generous fellow travelers, who offer them dinner on the beach, barmaids who prepare them a good latte or campsites managers who, seeing them so worn out, immediately bring them some fresh water.

And it doesn't matter if one of them has wounds on the groin and the other one a bad knee pain, this will certainly be the most beautiful adventure of their lives.

"The Fun Hotel" presents: Strange signs and well-known fictional characters at Montemezzi's

2011-07-22T00:45:00.000-07:00

Keep your eyes open if you decided to stay at The Fun Hotel. After the previews that we showed you on the Facebook page, it's time to introduce new games and absurd signboards in the hotel.

Do you remember Edward Scissorhands? And the Hulk?

The Smurfs and the Lilliputians?

So while you're waiting at the reception, you're going to take the elevator or go into one of the five Funny Rooms, you can run into these well-known fictional characters and participate in fun games.

Inside the Funny Rooms and passageways in the hotel, you can participate in "Magic Mirror" (sounds like a tongue twister) and "Picture ShapeShifter".

"Magic Mirror"
Are you tired of the usual post-vacation photos? Do you feel more like an Indian, a singer, a Mexican or a magician? Put yourself in front of a Magic Mirror, turn into one of the four characters and take a picture of you. Again, after publishing the picture on our page, I suggest you go and tell the receptionist you participated in "Magic Mirror".

"Picture ShapeShifter"
In this game you have to recognize which shape, animal or object, hides "in” the framework. The stereogram is a two dimensional image that creates an illusion of depth. As if there was a framework inside the 3D object. It's simple, needed only a little training :)
However if you guessed the object and commented on our facebook page, I suggest you go and tell the receptionist that you participated in the "Picture ShapeShifter".

Oh sure, I take the opportunity to remind you of "Find the difference"!

Around the world in 467 days

2011-07-15T04:51:00.001-07:00

Just a week ago we talked about how it was possible to make it around the world while never getting a plane, and now Eddy Cattaneo, 42-years old from Bergamo living in Liguria, has already covered 68 thousands miles and 34 countries in 467 days. He only traveled overland and by cargo ships.

The decision not to use airplanes was simple, "I had no time or space limits - Eddy says - so I wanted to see everything. The plane allows you to take shortcuts, but that's like cheating. I wanted to cover step by step all over the world, quietly, slowly, savoring every single place. Moreover taking a plane means contributing to CO2 emissions, which I wanted, as far as possible, to prevent”.

"I left in September, traveling to the south-east would have allowed me to remain almost always in an eternal spring - says Eddy - Once in Moscow, in front of me there were three ways to cross the Asia: Trans-Siberian railway to the north, the road through Turkey, Kurdistan, Iran and Pakistan, or the Silk Road. I chose the latter and went down to Kazakhstan ready to cross the states of the former Soviet Union."

The route was mostly improvised, Eddy decided from time to time what would be his next stop. Like when he had face an obstacle called the Pacific Ocean: "The cargo ship that was supposed to take me to Chile from Honk Kong, was a month late…. so I had to change direction and head for South Korea for a ride to Panama." Even Africa was an accident "I found a carafe ship from Brazil to Tangier." But Eddy has not only traveled by commercial vessels. Among broken-down buses, camels in the desert and elephants in Nepal, bicycles, canoes, gigs and so much hitchhiking (in Patagonia he traveled 2.200 miles this way) he achieved his goal.

So, to live almost a year and a half wandering around the world, Eddy has spent just over 10 thousand euros, including camera lenses, a new phone to replace the one stolen on the tube in Shanghai, and a computer purchased during the trip.

Around the world without a plane

2011-07-08T07:07:00.001-07:00

In the age of aviation, there is nothing easier than to be able to retrace the footsteps of Phileas Fogg in "Around the World in 80 days". And if we could not use the plane,we could still go around the world? Apparently it seems a trend back in fashion again, read for example this itinerary: "perfect" for the summer season.

You could start with a train from Rome to reach Venice in three and a half hours. In the lagoon city there are the coaches, equipped with couchettes, headed to Budapest. Leaving at 21.20 we arrive in the Hungarian capital, the next day at 10.54. In Budapest there is a bit to wait for the Russian railway sleeping car to Moscow, which leaves at 18.40 and arrives in the capital red after two days of travel in the morning at 9.55 am. At this point the most challenging railway experience begins: we take the Trans-Mongolian Express which runs from Moscow to Beijing in six days. It leaves Europe, coming into Asia, after three days and 1.105 miles. Then the Express goes to the south, stopping in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, and on the sixth day it reaches Beijing.

With a chinese high-speed trains, it is easy to reach a port such as HongKong or Shangai. And here we face the most uncertain step of the trip, because we must jump on a container transporter which is en route to San Francisco. The trip in the north Pacific on a cargo ship takes 18 to 20 days. Arrived in front of the Golden Gate, we meet the trains again, those of the u.s. state company Amtrak. You can take the historic California Zephyr, linked to the conquest of the West, which in less than three days reaches Chicago. From here continue with the Lake Shore Limited, which in about 20 hours reaches New York. And on the Hudson, we meet the last ocean liner, the Queen Mary II, which in seven days reaches the English port of Southampton.

The end of the way around the world is on rails again: Southampton-London with a local train, from London to Paris by the Eurostar which runs under the English Channel, and Paris-Rome by night train.

Maybe the best job in the world: the beach tester

2011-07-01T05:22:00.001-07:00

The Swedish girl Asa Dejus, a law student, was recently recruited for a new job. And if it's not the best job in the world, it is certainly the most relaxing. In fact, she was hired as a "beach tester": she will travel for several weeks in various resorts around the world, and tell his story in a blog, owned by a Swedish weekly fashion magazine.

The girl said she didn't expect to be taken. Indeed she even had some doubts that the ad was real, especially because it was published in the week of April 1, and therefore could also be a joke. The announcement, by far one of the most absurd ever seen, indicated as a work activity:

“Included in the job assignment is going on outings, lying on beach chairs, drinking wine in local taverns and other ordinary assignments found in a commercial beach and tourist environment. In certain areas, receiving a full-body massage, testing drinks, snorkeling and book reading may be required”.

Dejus hopes she was selected because her application reflected an ability to do justice to the destinations she will cover.

“I am hoping my background in peace and conflict studies will enable me to combine more traditional travel reporting with a reflection of the ‘real’ societies that I will be visiting” Dejus said.

A ticket to Hogwarts, please! Most Brits think TV towns are real

2011-06-23T05:59:00.001-07:00

Summer is approaching and vacation time as well. You need to choose a destination. For example, it would be nice to visit the castle of Hogwarts, where Harry Potter is set, or the city of emmerdale, where the series of the same name has been set for 26 years. Yes, a recent survey indicates that a large number of Britons have tried to plan trips to imaginary places.

70% of adult respondents confuse imaginary places that have a backdrop in movies and TV shows, with perfectly real places. One third tried to book holidays in these imaginary places, all located in England.

1. Emmerdale (setting of the soap opera Emmerdale)
2. Albert Square (setting of the soap opera EastEnders)
3. Downton (setting for the TV show Downton Abbey)
4. Weatherfield (setting of the soap opera Coronation Street)
5. Midsomer (setting of the TV series Midsomer Murders)
6. Craggy Island (the setting for TV series Father Ted)
7. Hogwarts (the setting for the Harry Potter books and movies)
8. Hollyoaks (setting of the soap opera Hollyoaks)
9. Dibley (the setting for TV series The Vicar of Dibley)
10. Meryton (setting of Pride and Prejudice)

Hotel.com holders, which commissioned the survey, commented: "it would be nice, with lots of beautiful places that really exist, if the British took up a guide or a map when it comes to planning a vacation, instead of turning on the TV ... "

Bag Express: Home delivered luggage

2011-06-20T03:52:00.001-07:00

Did you happen to lose a suitcase during a trip to your plane? It is certainly an unpleasant episode, unless you have your luggage home delivered. Yes, after England, the U.S. and Japan, our moment has arrived.

The British and the Americans have been doing it for a long time. The Japanese too are pretty concerned about it: the Yamato Transports has been moving the luggage of the Rising Sun for the past thirty years. Now the door to door luggage delivery service arrives (finally) in Italy, It's called Bag Express and ensures to solve the trouble of the transport of any object (including golf clubs). To travel lighter, avoid queuing at check in, and avert the dreaded loss that could ruin your holiday.

The instructions are simple: Bag Express pick up your luggage at home, office or any other address given and deliveries (within the required time) the package to your destination (hotel, holiday home, boat, airport). No limit to the amount of bags and to their weight (just declare it before), so no penalties for extra pounds, as happens instead with the airlines (the penalty for exceding weight is about 10€ per kg on domestic flights and 20 on international ones). The cases are secured up to 1300 per bag. A significant detail indeed, since in 2010, of 2.44 billion people who have taken a plane, 29.4 million have lost their luggage.

The toilet waterfall

2011-06-13T05:04:00.001-07:00

“I will take you to Toilet World”, promised Journey as soon as we met in Foshan, her hometown in Guangdong province, in the South of China.

“What? Toilet what?!”, I asked her, picturing in my head some kind of huge retail store where they sold all kind of toiletry for the newly built homes. It was my last day in China, my visa was expiring in a few hours and I was eager to see a few landmarks of my friend’s town. Toilet World, however, sounded… weird.

“Oh, you will see. I’m sure you’ll like it”, she reassured me mysteriously, knowing about my interest in the bizarre.

I had met Journey a few months ago while we were both travelling in Thailand, and we became good friends immediately. I loved her relaxed attitude towards life and her passion for travel; that’s why, when she told me she would take me to this “Toilet World” I trusted her choice.
Later that day, we walked inside what I thought would be a “simple public park” and without any introduction whatsoever from my friend, I came face to face with this:

Toilet World: a 100-meter long, 5-meter-high waterfall built with more than 10,000 recycled toilet bowls, urinals and sinks. The waterfall was built in October 2009 as an artistic installation for the Pottery and Porcelain Festival of Foshan by local artist Shu Yong. The toilets and sinks were collected from factories and donated by foreigners and the installation was completed in two months.

This must be said: Foshan, a city of 5.5 million inhabitants, is famous for being China’s capital of china (porcelain!). The organisers of the exhibition decided to leave the waterfall as a public art installation even after the festival, with the objective of raising awareness about water waste and the importance of recycling.
So forget about the old and boring Iguazú or Niagara Falls, this is a bizarre waterfall you won’t find anywhere else in the world!

Aniko Villalba

Aniko is an Argentinian writer, photographer and traveler. She is currently traveling around Southeast Asia and writing about all her interesting, bizarre and curious experiences in her blog Viajandoporahi.

Tourism in Switzerland: a week without the internet

2011-06-10T04:40:00.001-07:00

Today we are featuring a fun and original online activity, launched by Switzerland Tourism, which allows the winner to spend a week in the midst of the Alps, together with 10 Facebook friends, but without the internet.

On the website you can watch a video starring Sebi & Paul, two friendly mountain folk who, since last year, are Switzerland testimonials. The couple goes to a cafè where they begin to communicate through the Facebook chat only, showing what is now the common practice to stay online even outside your house.

The video continues, they continue to chat, until one of them, Sebi, tells Paul that he had just found someone interesting on Facebook. At this point we are asked to provide the link of our Facebook profile, starting an amusing conversation between Sebi and Paul, which will magically begin to browse our profile, talking about our hapits, the number of friends, our interests and especially the amount of hours spent daily on the popular social network.

At the end of this gag, the two folks are in agreement that the user spent too much time on the internet and that he/she should absolutely spend a nice vacation in a hut in the Swiss Alps without any internet connection.

That's what Francesca Rovati, head of Communications for Switzerland Tourism, says about the two protagonists of the video: Sebi and Paul: "Then there are Paul and Sebi…
"The were chosen because they are representative of the appearance and behavior in Swiss countryside. They started with some commercials: the first one was that of the rock pulled up and down from the mountains. Last year, in fact, the central theme was hiking, this year instead it will be Summer in the city."

Nice to meet you I’m George Atkinson, the boy of the Seven Summits

2011-06-03T09:54:00.001-07:00

Today we are featuring George Atkinson, a 16 years old boy from London who turned 17 three days before he was on top of the world, on Mt.Everest (29029 ft), with guides and sherpas, thus concluding his pursuit to the Seven Summits, the seven highest mountains of all continents.

George started this challenge when he was 11 and put his feet on Kilimanjaro, the highest pot in Africa, thus becoming part of the long line of pursuers of weird records ripping the primacy of youth (for less than one month) to the American John Collinson, who put his seventh flag last year.

George celebrated his seventeenth birthday at Everest base camp at the foot of the south side, in Nepal. From there, with oxygen supplies, he started to climb. Now he's on his way back home in Surbiton, a suburb southwest of London.

Mum Penny tells us the only words George said after completing his task: "He was on top at 8:15, the weather was beautiful." No snow storms, cold acceptable. McKinley (20329 ft), the highest peak in North America, Alaska, was the hardest climb. He reminds: " A hard psychological experience, we spent 18 days on the glacier and the weather was the most extreme.".

George's career began in the mountains roped together with his father when he wasonly 6 years. They arrived at the top of Ulster, that is, on Slieve Donard, little risky rocky hill of 2700 feet. The following year, he rises to the highest peaks of Great Britain, Scotland, Englandand Wales. Mountain as a passion, why? George: "I feel joy on every mountainbecause there I can breathe an amazing sense of freedom. " And if Dad is with him satisfaction is double: "We are looking for something together, something we both feel. I love this".

His ride on the highest poins of the planets, starts from Africa in 2005, two years later he's on Mt.Elbrus, In the Caucasus, and in 2008 he conquered the Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Andes, and the indonesian Carstensz Pyramid. In 2010 he deals with the two icy mountains located at the opposite poles: the McKinley and Vinson.

Barefoot: off your shoes, everyone with bare feet.

2011-05-27T02:36:00.001-07:00

Can you imagine a better way than walking barefoot to get in touch with nature? You should know that several years ago in New Zealand a movement called "Barefoot" has born, quickly spreading in the U.S. and Europe.

The people of this community chose as a lifestyle not to wear shoes during their daily activities, just walking barefoot. The philosophy behind it is based on the roots of man in nature, starting from the support of bare feet on it.

According to this philosophy walking barefoot regularly exercise the muscles of the foot, makes a correct distribution of weights and helps perspiration.

To allow the movement to continue to grow and give everyone the chance to try this experience, "barefooters" have created some real theme parks, in Germany and in France, as well as in Austria and Denmark, to bring man closer to Nature.

In Italy the movement has existed since 1998 when Franco Grippa founded the club "Nati Scalzi". In Valle d'Aosta, in Morgez, they designed a new route within the project "Au tour du Mont Blanc". A track located in an area near the Morgex Sports Center, about six hundred meters long with stable materials, stone, wood, grass, moss, mud, sand and water andseasonal materials. Are you ready to take off your shoes?

The ten strangest festivals in the world

2011-05-20T04:20:00.001-07:00

From the island of Phuket to the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, through naked man, car chicken and flying lanterns, “The Fun Hotel” presents: the ten strangest festivals in the world:

Burning Man Festival, Nevada desert
Every year in August, in the middle of the Black Rock Desert, about 50 thousand people, mostly hippies, gather to dance and frolic (naked) for eight days without interruption. On the last evening the participants set fire to a large wooden puppet.

Chicken Festival, Nebraska, United States
The festival of chickens and hens is held every July in the town of Wayne and includes several events such as throwing eggs (without breaking them!), costumes and parades.

Vegetarian Festival in Thailand
It takes place every year for nine days on the beautiful island of Phuket from late September to early October. It 's a very spectacular event, but not suitable for those easily scared. To invoke the gods, in fact, the participants stab themselves with every kind of sharp tool.

Flower Festival in the Philippines
This colorful festival lasts a whole month and is held in Baguio, a mountain town completely decorated with flowers. Throughout the month of November are heldparades, concerts and festivals where flowers are in the spotlight.

Highland Games in Scotland
The traditional Scottish games are held every year in May, recall old times andconsist of contests of strength such as tug of war, the launch of the pole, etc.. Dances, pints of beer and meat feasts abound here. Of course, all the men are wearing kilts.

Holi Festival, India
It 's the most original and colorful celebration of the country and takes place in March. It 's a Hindu religious festival and consists in throwing colored powder on everyone and everything, changing them in a rainbow.

Jazz Fest in New Orleans
It is held annually in April and is the largest jazz festival in the world. Tourists come to be present at performances from around the world.

The celebration of the naked man in Okayama, Japan
It is held the third Saturday of February at the temple in Okayama Saidaji. HadakaMatsuri, which literally means Feast of the naked man, is a traditional festival thatdates back to 1,200 years ago. The men dived into freezing waters in a rite ofpurification. The water temperature is about 48 °F (9 °C)

Schleicherlaufen Festival, Austria
Once every five years, just before the start of Lent, the people of Telfs march throughthe streets in masks, turning the town into a mystical world, almost otherworldly. The first evidence of this festival dates back to the fifteenth century, but may have more ancient roots, related to pre-Christian rituals of the inhabitants of the area.

The Lantern Festival, Taiwan
It 's a propitiatory ceremony for the beginning of the New Year, which falls on the 15thday of the first lunar month. On this occasion, you can see the typical dumpling's banquets everywhere and the unmissable procession with the lanterns on the mountain of Pingshi. Prayers and new year's resolutions are attached to the lights.

A lifetime holiday

2011-05-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

A family from Argentina broke the record of the longest holiday: 11 years on the road with their car, and they have no intention of stopping.

Herman and Candelaria Zapp, along with their four children, all born while they were on the road, are experiencing what they describe as a real dream.

From Buenos Aires to Alaska

Like Harriet Baskas says on the Msnbc website, the couple spent the first years after their marriage nestling in Argentina, where Herman had an IT company working in the field of computer and telephony. The family owned a beautiful house complete with swimming pool. As Herman Zapp says, "Our family was happy and we had everything." But something was missing: the holidays around the world they talked about while they were engaged, and children. So the couple started in 2000 with a drive from Buenos Aires to Alaska.

145 thousand miles

As Mr.Zapp reveals, at the beginning of the adventure "our family told us we would have failed. The most optimistic ones thought that we'd have endured a week at most." Instead, the couple has not only completed the trip they originally planned, (44 thousand miles long) but also decided to continue. Since then, the Zapps has been in over 12 countries and have traveled at least 145 thousand miles.

4 children born in 4 countries

Each of their four children was born in a different country: Pampa, eight years old, in the United States; Tehue, five, in Argentina; Paloma, three, in Canada; and the little Wallaby, one year old, born in Australia.

For the duration of their adventure, 11 years long, the Zapps traveled on a Graham Paige, Model 610, produced in 1928 in Detroit.

The crazy tree house in Vietnam

2011-05-16T02:33:00.000-07:00

Aniko is an Argentinian writer, photographer and traveler. She is currently traveling around Southeast Asia and writing about all her interesting, bizarre and curious experiences in her blog Viajandoporahi

When I traveled to the town of Da Lat, in Vietnam, everyone kept mentioning a very bizarre place that I absolutely HAD to see: the Crazy House. Did they want to send me to some kind of mental asylum or crazy traveler’s institution? Fortunately no. As I found out later, this mysterious Crazy House is one of Asia’s most wacky, creative and unconventional hotels.

Its official name is Hang Nga Guesthouse, and at first glance, this curious hotel looks like Wonderland mixed with Winnie the Pooh’s treehut, with a magic touch of Antoni Gaudi and Salvador Dali style.

Once inside, you will discover that this surrealistic building doesn’t follow any architectural conventions or rules: there are stairs that lead to nowhere, handrails that look like intertwining branches, small tea tables put inside holes in the wall, long walkways that feel like caves, spider web shaped windows, slides and bridges that take you inside the surrounding nature.

This fairy tale house was opened to the public in 1990 and was designed by Hang Viet Nga, a Vietnamese woman who studied architecture in Moscow and was highly inspired by the work of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Her father was president of Vietnam in the 1980s, however, it was very hard for her to get the approval from the government to build this hotel since they thought it was not in line with the socialist architecture of the country. She started building the guesthouse with private funding and finally got the approval from the local authorities to continue freely with her work.

Nowadays, the guesthouse also functions as an art gallery and can be visited by tourists. For those who wish to spend the night, there are 10 rooms to choose from, each one themed after an animal, from the “eagle-room” to the “kangaroo room”.

It was a very fun experience to get lost inside the maze of this tree house, meet wild creatures made of wood, come across giant mushrooms and play happily like a child.

EasyJet: advertisment, sex and politics

2011-05-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

The notorious lowcost airline is used to communicate in an alternative way to attract media attention, just like RyanAir, one of its direct competitors, does. In recent days, Italian public attention was focused on a controversy between the politician Carlo Giovanardi and both Ikea and EasyJet.

First things first, April 23, 2011 Giovanardi argues against the gay-friendly advertisment of Ikea, stating: "The term family used by the multinational is against Italian Constitution, because it is meant for only a couple formed by the marriage between a man and a woman".

The advertisment shows a back view of two men holding hands, above them the slogan: "We are open to all families.". At the bottom, below the photo, there's a sign where the Swedish giant explains: "Ikea is in line with you: family is the most important thing." and it points out :"what we try to do is making life more comfrotable for every person, every family and every couple, whoever they are."

A few days later the EasyJet airline uses the same type of communication, though the image used is very different: a family portrait whose members are plastic fins, obviously orange like the color of the company. On each of them, the name of a seaside resort reachable by plane, such as Majorca, Athens and Malta. But the fin kick comes with the slogan: "We hope Giovanardi likes this family.".

The magical world of amusement parks

2011-04-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Ready to spend a day among the attractions of one of the majoramusement parks in Europe? Among the different types of attractions (Energy, Fantasy, Adventure and Show) at Gardaland there's also the novelty of 2011: Raptor, "the first and only winged roller coaster in Italy".

Enjoy a wild thrilling flight, avoiding the obstacles and trying to escape the relentless predator.

Not to mention the Colorado Boat, a bath of emotions through the waterfalls of the Colorado River on board of a floating log, or the Magic House, where the illusion will shock everyone and people of all ages can spend some time out of the ordinary.
If you feel more adventurous, you could take part in the battle in the temple of Ramses or ride the raging rapids in the tangled scenary of the mysterious jungle.

Before wishing you a good weekend, The Fun Hotel greets you with a gallery of the seven most absurd roller coasters from all over the world!

Kingda Ka - Located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, USA, it's the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds!!

Dodonpa - Located at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.

The Steel Dragon - Gigacoaster at Nagashima Spa Land Amusement Park in Mie Prefecture, Japan, opened in 2000.

The Top Thrill Dragster - the first "Strata Coaster", loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is over 400 feet tall. Located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, USA, it reaches speeds of up to 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).

The Thunder Dolphin - Tokyo's Dome City Attractions amusement park, starts off with a dizzying 218 foot lunge at a steep 80 degree angle.

Tower of Terror - Located at Dreamworld in the Gold Coast, Australia, it is currently the fourth fastest roller coaster in the world, but it has been reported to be the fastest and tallest roller coaster on a tower!

The Millennium Force - Located at the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, USA, was the first roller coaster to exceed 300 feet in height back in the year 2000.

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How to play with Easter Eggs

2011-04-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

Easter Sunday is almost here, as well as the many traditions that brings with it.
To make this holiday even more enjoyable we're going to tell you some of the most funny games held all over the world.

The Egg Tapping is a traditional game of Easter Day. The rules are simple: you have to hold two eggs and beat'em up against each other. Who breaks their eggs loses.

In many places in Louisiana, the fight with the eggs (called egg-knocking or egg-pacqueing) is an important event. In the past, a few crooks used guinea fowl's eggs, which are similar but have a harder shell. Today, there's a separate category for guinea fowl eggs fights. The preparation of the challenge has evolved over the years into a true science. People know which breeds of chicken will produce the hardest eggs. The chickens need a lot of exercise and must be feed foods rich in calcium. Even boiled eggs is a serious issue here. There's a rule that the winner has to break the eggs and eat them, to prove they didn't cheat.

Instead, in the U.S., the famous Easter Egg Roll is an annual event held in the gardens of the White house every Easter Monday for the children and their parents.

The game itself is a race where kids push an egg on the grass with a long spoon. During the event is scheduled the appearance of an inhabitant of the White House in the role of Easter Bunny.

The Egg Dance is a traditional Easter game in which eggs are laid on the ground or floor and the goal is to dance among them damaging as few as possible. The egg was a symbol of the rebirth of the earth in Pagan celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the rebirth of man at Easter.

Another form of egg dancing was a springtime game depicted at the painting of Pieter Aertsen. The goal was to roll an egg out of a bowl while keeping within a circle drawn by chalk and then flip the bowl to cover the egg. This had to be done with the feet without touching the other objects placed on the floor.

Going back to Easter Bunny, according to tradition, this curious character hides colored eggs in the grass of the garden, and only children who behaved well will have the luck to find them. For this reason, on Easter morning, families organize The Egg Hunt! Actually it is the parents, of course, that hide the eggs during the night before, but the kids have a lot of fun looking for them, and competing to see who finds more.

We all live in a Hotel Submarine

2011-04-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

In the city of Key Largo, Florida, you can spend an entire vacation underwater. This is the unusual proposal of the Jules Undersea Lodge, a former hotel converted from a former submarine underwater research laboratory, owned by the U.S. Navy,

The "aquarium" is located in Marine Park in Key Largo, 30 feet deep, in the Emerald Lagoon, a lagoon where mangroves grow, and a natural breeding area for many reef fish.

To get there you need to actually dive, because the only possible entrance is an opening at the bottom of the structure.

The air inside the rooms is pumped through the hotel by a long pipe. Tha fans cause a slight breath that breaks the silence of the rooms. "If the flow stops - alerts the user 's manual - you have six hours of air supply, but you must immediately notify the director of mission. "

Obviously, for beginners there's a diving course before entering the rooms.

The craziest airline in the world

2011-04-07T03:13:00.000-07:00

Remember the movie Airplane! in the eighties, when Lesli Nielsen parodied the disaster movies so dear to the American public? Pilots so myopic they have binoculars instad of glasses, inflatable dolls able to drive airplanes but not to land them, panic attacks cured with slapping based treatments, were just some of the ingredients common to these wonderful plays.

Probably everyone of us, looking at one of these movies, hoped to experience a journey by plane crazy enough to be remembered not just for the thrill of flying. This must have been the idea that drove the communication officers of Air New Zealand to transform the image of the company in a completely unconventional, showing their services through very engaging and funny videos on YouTube.

It all started in 2009 with the campaign "Nothing To Hide", which showed the company staff, dressed just with body-paints, attending quite naturally to their work.

These videos, that were broadcasted on NZ's television as well, were followed by the pirth of Rico, a traveler puppet, irreverent and ironic, that in addition to traveling the world with Air New Zealand has become a web phenomenon, recording a music track with rapper Snoop Dog.

This company from New Zealand in two years of work has really changed their airplanes in a set where the most strange and amusing tales are played: interactive videos about their customers's crazy holidays, impossible commercials featuring the players and fans of Rugby.

But the latest idea of Air New Zealand is perhaps the most fun, a video of Richard Simmons, fitness guru from the 80's, explains the security measures you need to know before take-off through an aerobics lesson.

The Natura Viva Park and funny facts about animals

2011-03-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, the Natura Viva Park reopened to the public who wish to observe closely the 90 different animal species. A few miles from the Garda Lake, in the park there are many wildlife species at risk, who are treated before being put back into freedom. Over the years it has established itself as a place of protection of animal species which are risking extinction.

The park was opened to the public June 20, 1968 through the initiative of Avesani Alberto an his wife Giorgia, both lovers of nature from Verona. The park is divided into Safari, in which the animals live freely and Fauna Park, where there arenearly 90 different animal species.

There are many stories and funny and strange habits about the animal world, so if you decide to hike in the park, you will remember for example that the cats to avoid damaging their claws, which are essential both for the defense and for the attack, they "protect" them as they walk, portraying them in their paws.

But perhaps not everyone knows that:

The teeth of the caiman has a special feature: when this reptile keeps his mouth shut, the fourth tooth of the mandible dovetails perfectly into an existing hole in the upper jaw.

Polar bears (.. in the Park there will be none, but you will find him: http://www.parconaturaviva.it/Animali/Orso-dagli-occhiali) perform real migrations: some years ago in Cape Farewell, Greenland, hunters capture a specimen from the Norwegian islands of Svalbard, 4.000 km away.

In ancient times, during the duels between riders, horses were trained to gallop to the right, which allowed the rider to more easily manage the long lance against an opponent coming towards him.

the beaver, to warn companions of impending danger, repeatedly slams its robust tail paddle on the water surface, producing a sharp noise.

The shock produced by the torpedo, fish belonging to the ranks of elletrofori may havea power of 2,000 watts.

How to avoid the queue at the post office: move it to the bottom of the sea!

2011-03-24T05:23:00.001-07:00

After the holidays with the mother-in-law and visiting the dentist, one of the most hated by the human race is to go to the post office. They try in vain to make your life easier or more comfortable location, time spent in a post office is like an itch in the most unreachable back. However, there is a place in the world where sending a letter can become part of your holiday as a boat trip or a day spent snorkeling. This place is an island nation in the South Pacific: Vanuatu.

Vanuatu's Underwater Post Office was opened in 2003 within the Hideaway Island marine sanctuary, near Port Vila, and soon became a real attraction of the place. Thousands of visitors have used in recent years the post office located 50 meters offshore and at just three meters below the surface, a staggering depth when you consider that the underwater branch is manned daily for usually about an hour, longer on cruise ship days or with demand.

During the opening hours a banner tells the tourists that an operator is present in the office to help send a special waterproof postcards. A new embossed cancellation device replaces the conventional ink stamp. Vanuatu Post promised all visitors they would accept mail underwater and deliver anywhere in the world. Mail that requires a normal Underwater Post Office date stamp is cancelled in the Main Post Office.

If the idea of Vanuatu Post didn't impress you, you can find on their website their latest innovation, which uses another incredible natural beauty of the island: the Volcano Post. You can not really say that this postal agency doesn't know how to take advantage of the territory, to make successful operations of tourism marketing. Wouldn't it be nice if we would open the first underwater post office maybe in the Garda Lake?

The Tree Hotel, the first hotel to have rooms on the trees

2011-03-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

Harads is a small town in the Municipality of Boden, in the northernmost region of Sweden. Despite being the most populous country around the town hall, it has only 600 inhabitants.

A little over a year ago, a few kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, among the many woods in the area, the first hotel in the woods (or better: "on" them) was born.

Only six rooms available, each independent of the others, six different nests, each with its distinctive feature and its architecture.

The Cabin, A Room With A View, The Blue Cone, the Bird's Nest, The Mirror Cube and the UFO. The most striking are certainly the last three.

the Bird's Nest: nest on the outside, room in the inside, it blends into the trees like a real nest.

the Mirror Cube: clinging to a tree, its exterior mirror walls reflect the surrounding landscape are an attraction for the many birds living in the area.

the UFO (coming soon): the typical shape of a flying saucer that is camouflaged to perfection to give the impression of a real alien invasion.

Anette Selberg, the Treehotel Sales Manager, says, "This is untouchedforest and We Want To Maintain it the Same Way. We Decided forexample to not offer snowmobile safari Which is very common up here."

In short, if you want to take the shape of a bird for a few days, all you have to do is to choose the nest (...errr the room) that best suits you.

Singapore and the hotel built around the Merlion

2011-03-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

The Merlion is a statue with a lion's head and body of fish, one of the most famous tourist attractions and legendary emblem of Singapore. Its monument, formerly in the Merlion Park, is now in front of Fullerton Hotel. It was designed for the tourist office in Singapore in 1964 by Fraser Brunner and was used as the logo of the city until 1997.

On the occasion of the Biennal exhibition held in Singapore, the Japanese artist Nishi Tatsuhas created an installation around the Merlion, turning it temporarily into a hotel: the Merlion Hotel clearly. The only room, built around the statue, will be in operation until May 5th. The price of the room, that during the day will be visited by tourists, is around 80$ per night. The price also includes a beautiful view of the Marina Bay Sands, the hotel-casino tower with a pool of 150 meters on the roof.

Matthew Ngui, Artistic Director of the Singapore Biennale 2011, said: "The centre of his idea, is really about bringing art to the masses. People can get to know the Merlion a lot better, by coming very, very close to it. Normally, we view it from the pier, or from over the bridge”.

Venice is also in turmoil for its Biennal exhibition, we wonder if any artist would replicate the installation around the statue of the Lion in Piazza San Marco.

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Italians do it better... obviously the carnival potato gnocchi

2011-03-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

Today's the day of Bacanal del Gnoco, now in its 481 th edition, which like every year will bring enthusiasm and joy amont the presents. Leading the parade, traditionally ending in Piazza Zeno, there will be the Papà del Gnoco, King for a day in Verona, that will pay homage to the presents with potato gnocchi, tipical of Venerdì Gnocolar. To prepare the recipe for potato gnocchi of Verona (which are prepared by thousands of Veronesi in these days) it takes skill and wisdom, but if you want to start training for next year, we present you the main steps.

Ingredients:
1 kg "floury consistency potatoes"
1 "egg"
300 g "00 flour"
salt to taste

Preparation
Wash the potatoes and boil in water, peel and mash, then mix with the flour whichwas previously added to the egg and salt. Stir the mixture until it is soft, spraying, ifnecessary with a little flour the work surface. Form of a small loaf one or two cm high, cutin small pieces about 3 cm in length and then slid them down on the grating by pressing lightly. Pour in boiling salted water and catching them as they arise on the surface. Season to taste (though many would say "strictly tomato").

"Bacanal del Gnoco" & "Papà del Gnoco": the special Carnival in Verona

2011-02-25T02:05:00.000-08:00

The origin of Carnival in Verona dates back to 1531, year in which a strong epidemic disease led the city up to the brink of a people uprising: the bakers refused to produce and sell bread because of the increasing in the price of the flour, rousing the people anger. San Zeno was one of the neighborhoods of Verona most involved in the revolt, in that time also the most populated and poorest of the city. To bring back calm, a Committee of wealthy citizens was nominated, and one of them, Tommaso da Vico, had the idea of distributing some bread, wine, butter, flour and cheese for free to the people, on the last Friday before Lent. In his will he asked to continue this tradition: this is how the Venardi Gnocolàr was born.

The most important mask of Verona Carnival (‘Bacanal del Gnoco’ in Verona dialect) is certainly the Papà del Gnoco (Gnoco’s Dad), that is elected in the full Piazza San Zeno every year after a real electoral campaign. The person who is elected must be well respected among the population: wearing the Sire’s clothes is a really serious ritual. The costume that he'll wear must be sewn by a tailor. It’s a ivory-color dress where some scraps of red cloth are sewn on, with a beautiful mantle and a huge hat. The tick white beard is really characteristic, too, made of buffalo wool, and with long and straight hair. The right hand holds a big fork where a huge ‘gnocco’ is stuck in.

To wear the costume Papà del Gnoco spends at least half an hour, and during the rite he’s helped by a marshal.
And if you want to participate to the next Papà elections you must know that to be eligible, besides being from Verona, you also have to be size XXXL!
The Papà del Gnoco distributes gnocos for free to the people during his parade, and he’s fallowed by Macaroni, dressed up too, that have been his supporters during the campaign for his election.

We remind you that the next Venardì Gnocolar is on the 4th of March in occasion of the allegoric coaches parade trough the centre streets of Verona.

San Valentine's Day at "The Fun Hotel"

2011-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

Before saying goodbye for the weekend, we want to tell you what happened at the Hotel Montemezzi, during Valentine's Day. The couples arrived in the city of Romeo and Juliet for their romantic trip played a sort of treasure hunt through the different rooms of the hotel, in search of their (sarcastic) love sentence.

Once at the front desk for check-in, they were given by our girls an envelope containing the first clue to the game: "If you wanna celebrate your love with us, you're in your room ounces Should you do like Cupid.". In their rooms, they could play the role of the God of eros, piercing with an arrow a heart-shaped balloon containing the second clue: "And now like Romeo and Juliet, fill your love with passion, and go to the bar for a love potion.". Between glasses and red hearts of love, the participants immortalized the moment by taking a picture, and, once found their "love phrase", they concluded the game posting them on Facebook. Look at the photo album on Facebook.

A "Kiss Mob" for Valentine's Day in Verona

2011-02-04T02:39:00.000-08:00

They've been well talked about in the recent years. If you have not partecipated, surely you've heard of them at least once at the news. We are talking about one of the methods. We are taking about one of the most fashionable methods to meet and express one's creativity in this period: the Flash Mob.

This word means a sudden and rapid performance of a large number of people who enact public spaces in an unusual action for a short period of time.
Perhaps it's because one can partecipate with everyone else in something that breaks the normal routine, maybe because they are organized by word of mouth, which is spread on the web through blogs, forums and social networks, in fact flash mob managed to clear through customs perfromance that were once made only be small groups of artists, to the amusement of all.
Among the most copied, and most organized, performances there are for example the pillow battle, or the freeze, in which everyone remain on hold for several minutes, and the group kiss.

If for example you wanted to participate with your sweetheart to a group kiss what would be the day and the city where you would like to do? It would probably be Valentine's Day in Verona.... or so the organizers of VeronaInLove thought, planning an event for those who want to celebrate Valentine's Day in a special way in one of the most romantic cities in Italy.
Un Cuore di Baci (literally: "a heart of kisses"), is an event internal to the VeronaInLove experience, in which all of the couples were invited via web to appear on the impressive staircase of Palazzo Barbieri, illuminated in red, to seal their love with a over-a-minute kiss.
Don't you want to show everyone how much you love each other in a fun and a little different than usual way?

A legendary hotel

2011-01-28T01:31:00.000-08:00

Do you remember Homer's Iliad? There were the angry Achilles, the brave Hector, the Acheans and the Trojans at war for the beautiful Helen. And then there was it, the ingenious invention of the imagination of Ulysses which resolved the conflict: The Trojan Horse.
Turning from legend to reality, today you can see it live. Actually you can also go in and spend a night immersed in a magical atmosphere.

You can find it in a tiny beautiful town in Belgium, Durbuy. The whole atmosphere of the medieval tale of this place has inspired the immagination of the architect and hotelier Dominique Noël. There you can find La Balade Des Gnomes, a very special B&B where each room will take you to a different tale. It is therefore not only the spectacular Trojan Horse - all built in wood, as tradition has it! - but other ten rooms decorated in styles and materials from all over the world. Each one has a particular name and setting: fairies, gnomes, the Thousand and One Nights, and much more. In one room you can sleep watching a desert's starry sky, in another one you can access only by lowering a drawbridge, leading you to another one where a stream will flow through your room.

The urban legend of Arena di Verona

2011-01-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who was imprisoned and sentenced to death because of slanderous accusation, no longer he hoped to be saved. On the eve of execution, in his cell he received the visit of the devil himself, and from him, he received a weird advice. Since the biggest desire of Verona was to have a huge theater, he would have had to build one, to gain freedom.

The condemned man remarked that no man was capable of so much in the short time of one night. So saying, however, he fell into the trap of the devil. Of course he had the power needed to build a building in one night, but on one condition...

as soon as the man sold his soul to the devil, one thousand demons began feverishly working to build a huge theater. The man, now regretting the deal, turned desperately to the Holy Virgin to ask her forgiveness, and spent his last night in prayer. Shortly before dawn, while the demons were about to complete the work, the bells of the Angelus suddenly pierced the sky still dark.

Touched by the sincere repentance of the condemned man, the Virgin had sent Her angels to stop the work. A huge amphitheater was standing in the city, beautiful but unfinished, it established the defeat of the devil, the realization of the desire of Verona and the liberation of the rich man.

The Myrtles Plantation: "one of America's most haunted homes"

2011-01-13T01:41:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you believe or not in ghosts and paranormal phenomena, if they scare you we highly reccomend you not to stay at this bed and breakfast, which recently has been mentioned as one of America's most haunted homes. The Myrtles Plantation was built by general David Bradford in the town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, in 1796, with the name of Laurel Grove.

In over two centuries the building has had different names and owners, until 1950, when Marjorie Munson started to talk about weird things happening inside and around the building. The word of mouth gets bigger with time, the ghosts legend grows, and spreads even outside of Louisiana. In fact, in 1970, the owner wrote a book about the misteries of the place.

Recently the new owners, John and Teeta Moss, turned the building in a bed and breakfast, which claims to host at least 12 ghosts, including the ghost of a young indian girl, and the one of the slave Chloe, who, according to the legend, was forced by her owner to be his lover. Moreover there is a haunted mirror, which is said to host the old housemistress. Every now and then you can see their hands and fingerprints on it. If you're not 21 yet make sure to have an adult with you, or you won't be allowed inside... except if you are just a tourist who wants to join a "Mistery Tour". The most superstitious among you can also buy voodoo dolls.. but you'd better be careful with those :)

A Christmas Ufo 200km away from Oslo.

2010-12-22T08:02:00.000-08:00

What would you think if this morning you read on the Ryanair website a message titled "Ryanair reports UFO Aviation Authorities"? An hoax? A mirage? Too much alcohol on those northern airlines?

These may have been just some of the thoughts that have plagued all journalists,bloggers, fans of UFOs or simple network users who first read the official message of the company. A press release in fact appeared on the website, and quickly ciruclated throughout the web, telling about how the captain of the flight FR1297 from London Gatwick to Oslo Torp had reported, after passengers released shocking images taken onboard the aircraft, the presence of an Unidentified Flying Object some 200km south of Oslo.

To read the whole release was the only way to make clear this curious affair. Observing the infamous picture, you could immediately understand how the UFO picture was actually the shape of Santa's sleigh and the whole story was just an unconventional way used by Ryanair to wish you a Merry Christmas.

As we write, this viral greeting card is already infecting the entire network, changing from person to person, like all urban legends: in Italy, for example, they say the flight from Oslo wasn't heading to Gatwick but Milan (Orio al Serio). And you? Are you already infected?

Lilliput does exist!

2010-12-16T02:25:00.000-08:00

It wasn't built on an island but on a hill in Yunnan, a province located in the south-west China. It doesn't border with its rival Blufescu, but with Kunming, the provincial capital. Its inhabitants do not live to impose what is the best way to break an egg but only toamuse the guests who come to visit them. Ladies and gentlemen, you're not in a novel by Jonathan Swift, but at the "Dwarf Empire", the only dwarf-themed park in the world.

This modern Lilliput is a community where only people smaller than 4 feets live. They do different jobs: some of them are artists, some of them are cooks or keepers, others are CEOs. All the inhabitants of the park, about 100, live in small mushroom-shaped houses, and are part of a true empire, because in the park, there are two sovereigns who the dwarves are loyal to.

The park also gained worldwide media coverage for employing many of the country's height-challenged, who traditionally have had a hard time finding work. Who lives there receive 1,000 yuan ($147) per month plus free room and board, a better remuneration than a university graduate in Kunming can expect to be offered and the employees are no younger than 18 years old.

Are you ready for a trip that will make you feel the Gulliver of our day?

Pictures via

Welcome to Jumbo Stay Hostel: world's first Aircraft Inn in Stockholm

2010-12-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

If you've just arrived at Stockholm-Arlanda, looking for a place to sleep, you don't need to go very far: you can simply get out of your airplane, and enter another. Don't worry! It won't take off: it looks like a Boeing 747 but it's the Jumbo Stay Hostel.

Everything inside has been transformed: where passengers were seated there are now 25 rooms with bunk beds, luggage racks, and flat-screen TVs. The upper deck has become a conference room, while the cockpit is now the honeymoon suite. Of course there are some drawbacks: the toilets and showers are shared (in the back), but the awesomeness of the experience is quite unique.
Moreover, a second life doesn't happen to everyone: it was ready to be scrapped, and is now one of the strangest hotels in the world, the first ever of its kind.

Propeller Island City Lodge: wake up in a work of art.

2010-12-01T05:01:00.000-08:00

Have you haver thought of living the lysergic dreams of an artist in Berlin? Have you ever thought of becoming part of an evolving work of art? If you happen to be in Berlin, near the Adenauer Platz's U-Bahn Exit this could become a reality.

The stunning architecture of the Propeller Island City Lodge was designed and built by the visionary genius of Lars Stroschen, a composer of electronic music in Berlin, who in 1997 decided to use his passion for design and the visual arts to subsidize his record label: the Propeller Island. Thus was born one of the most amazing places in Berlin, a place where to "live in a work of art".

The hotel has 45 theme rooms where every furniture, which are all hand made individually, is transformed into a stage of dreams rather than a place to spend the night. Visit their website to understand the magic of their rooms: one upside down, where you sleep on the floor with the bed floating above your head, or the one that is a reproduction of a jail cell, but the most extravagant one is the room where instead of beds there are coffins.

The extraordinary City Lodge experience is emphasized by the "Instructions for Use" of each room that will be delivered at check-in and that will be very important to fully enjoy this work of art hotels.

Neuwied, the "Food Hotel"

2010-11-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Neuwied is a town in the German federal state of Rheinland-Pfalz. In this town a few weeks ago, thanks to many sponsors (42 total), the "Food Hotel" was created, maybe more like a supermarket than a hotel.

Among the room dedicated to beer and hot dogs and sausages, with wallpaper themes and sandwich shaped pillows, there is also the representation of the set of a commercial branded Ferrero, with a teak pedestal, coconut palms and white sand that encircles the Raffaello chocolate.

Peter Gruenhaeuser, hotel manager, comments on the initiative: "We found sponsors for all the rooms and gave them basic instructions. But for the rest, we left them free to express their creativity and the philosophy behind each product".

Everland: The world's smallest hotel

2010-11-17T14:57:00.001-08:00

The travelling project of the two Swiss artists Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann, which from 2002 to 2009 toured the cities of Yverdon Leipzig and Paris and was known to many as the smallest hotel in the world, has made quite a name for itself.

A single room with attached toilet, which could be booked only for one night for 444€. A tidy installation art whose details are paid full attention, and which turns the guest into a part of the artwork.

The Everland Hotel stopped touring last year, when it went back to its homeland, Switzerland. Its last stop has been the roof of the Palais de Tokyo, home to the Laboratory and Museum of Contemporary Art, in the Trocadero area in Paris. Yes, the Everland has always been transported with a crane and positioned in the most unexpected locations, in front of breathtaking views.

The Fun Hotel | Prank at Montemezzi | The Video

2010-11-11T03:34:00.000-08:00

As you can read in our last post, last weekend will be remembered here at the hotel as the funniest and weirdest in recent here... of course for now...

After enjoying the pictures, here's the official video of the prank, where our characters, Quick Lugagge Nick, Skilled Hand Jimmy and The not very secret Bros, threw the reception hall and the restaurant into confusion.

Prank at Montemezzi's: an unusual weekend

2010-11-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

What would happen if, during a normal holiday weekend in our hotel, we put together Flash, a thief and a couple of secret agents? You could try asking customers, spectators and participants of our pranks, or directly to our staff, who had to work pretending that it was a day like any other.

Situations typical of hotels, such as the reception, the check-in, breakfast, dinner and relaxing moments, have been thrown into confusion by some of our actors, that put up proper Funny Cameras, amusing many witnesses.

At first, the thief, who was appointed for the occasion "Skilled Hand Jimmy", replaced the normal porter, starting the booty service of "the fun hotel".

Then it was the turn of "Quick Luggage Nick" which, bursting on the scene, carried the luggage to your destination faster.

After a few moments "the not very secret bros" appeared. And with anything but serious expressions they "escorted" the baggage of the unaware client.

The pranksters moved to the restaurant, keeping each own role but playing different gags.

In the meanwhile, some "Wanted" postbills were posted inside the hotel at the points of greatest crowding, focusing everyone's attention on our characters. During the week we will publish the official video of the prank.

Hans Brinker Budget Hotel: the worst hotel in the world

2010-10-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

"Attention Clear Freaks! You are making the world too clean. Your immune system is in danger. We need contact with dirt to build up natural resistance to harmful bacteria".

What you just read is only a piece of the text on a playbill that you can see at the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel's bar entrance. The Hotel is being talked about all over Europe, for its status of "World's Worst Hotel"

Since 1996 the Hans Brinker has used to its own advantage all its negative aspects. Its dirt and Its lack of utilities become the strenght of the Hotel, that make it unique and envied by its direct competitors.

Over the years, the agency owned by creative Kessels Kramer (take a look to his website, it's absolutely weird) managed the whole communication, until 2007, when "the Eco-Tour" campaign, of which you can watch the video below, was born. Suddenly the lack of elevators, dryers and showers, becomes a sign of respect for the enviroment: eco-elevator, eco-hairdryer and eco-shower.

To anyone who wanted to know more about the hotel's history and its irreverent communication during these years: Kessels Kramer described everything in a book, "The worst hotel in the world".

The White House moved to Ukraine

2010-10-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

A few miles away from Kiev, near the towns of Romankiv and Phidirtsi, there’s the Senator’s Park, the hotel which copies almost everything from the architecture of the White House.
A hardcover of President Obama will silently welcome you in this slice of America, complete with reception and oval suite.

To strenghten the bond with our oversea beholders, near the hotel the american addicted can spend some quality time at “Rancho Wild West”, a restaurant full of american style where you can taste even stuffed turkey, emblem of the Thanksgiving Day. Don’t ask us to turn Montemezzi Hotel into the Arena di Verona, we reorganized it a few years ago.

The laugh will be contagious...

The funny performance @ Risitaly

2010-10-14T04:13:00.000-07:00

As I promised, this is the video of our prank during the 44th Rice Fair in Isola della Scala.

The laugh will be contagious...

The laugh will be contagious...

2010-10-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

Let's go back in time to yesterday, October the 10th. It's Sunday, last day of the 44th Rice Fair in Isola della Scala, a town in the Verona district. Among the thousands of guests, hundreds kinds of risotto, typical products and wines from Veneto, a contagious laugh was spreading among the tables crowded with tasters.

Some kind of joke? A candid camera? A wandering performance that was on stage at the Fair, suddendly started by one of our pranksters, who burst out laughing, followed shortly after by his mates hidden in the crowd. The laughter was spreading quickly, until the arrival of a peculiar character with a serious and doubtful expression, who started a conversation with the other pranksters using balloons.

No, we didn't go crazy all of a sudden, even if someone thinks so :) we was convinced this was the best way to communicate with you, bringing some enthusiasm and fun to the people who works every day at Hotel Montemezzi, to its loyal customers, and to the new ones too.

Sunday's activity is the official launch of Montemezzi's new project: the hotel of fun. During the following months we'll bring to you several surprise activities, and some minor changes inside the hotel. Blogs and social networks, Facebook profile first of all, will propose many initiatives, but we won't disclose anything else for now.

In the coming days we will publish the prank video, in the meanwhile check these pics out!

The laugh will be contagious...

The colors of Veronese Plain

2010-10-04T01:19:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to our special guests: you are the great value for the Montemezzi hotel!!!

2010-09-09T00:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you very much to our guests which spent last weekend in Verona.

We do our best everyday to ensure a nice and restful stay to all our guests.

It is not a easy job, but we work with passion and faith to make Verona one of the most appreciated town all around the World.

Thanks so much guys!

Maurizio
Hotel Manager

All the flavours of the tasty rice "Isolana style" and fine Veronese wines at the Risitaly 2010

2010-08-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

Once a year Verona becomes the capital of rice culture.
Surrounded by the fields of "Strada del Riso" (the Rice Route) from the 2007 Risitaly has been being the most important show totally based on rice, its culture and its cusine: 90.000 exhibitions areas, 500.000 visitors from all around Italy and 350.000 portions of risotto sold every year this Rice Fair has gained the podium of the gastronomical events in Italy.

About the Risotto...
Rice is one of the most ancient cultivar in the history of human beings: the two principal types came from India and Africa long time ago. But rice is not only a plant, it is mostly a culture: a part of our tradition because of every Veronese family know how to do a really risotto Isolana style. So stop in Verona in these days and spend one night at the Rice Fair is also cusine and cultural experience.

Risotto "Isolana" style secrets...
Ingredients:
1 kg Vialone Nano Veronese rice
2 litres good broth
200 grams lean veal
200 grams pork loin
150 grams butter
140 grams Parmesan or Grana cheese
pepper, salt, cinnamon, rosemary (as you like)

How to prepare:
Dice the meat, dress with salt and pepper (fresh ground) and let it sit for one hour.
Melt the butter, add a twig of rosemary and brown the meat. Cook on low heat until the meat is completely cooked and then take the rosemary out.
Boil the broth, add the rice (cleaned) and cook on low heat for 20 minutes (rice has to absorb all the broth).
Mix the rice with the meat.
Add Parmesan or Grana cheese and a bit of cinnamon to complete the risotto.

See further information on Montemezzi hotel - Special Offer Risitaly 2010 for your holiday and your reservation.

The discovery of Venetian villas in "veronese" plain

2010-08-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Living these wonderful days and the time to get a ride into the green and beautiful countryside in Verona. Riding between Venetian villas, ancient villages, rivers, canals, farms and fields of wheat, corn and tobacco is a good way to reconciliate with Nature. Here we show you one of the many routes you could find in the Verona plain: a not well known part of our region where you can wild nature crosses fields worked by farmes.

Take a little rest in September and enjoy the calm and silence of veronese plain.

Maurizio

Montemezzi Staff

commerciale@hotelmontemezzi.it

"Letters to Juliet" carries Verona to the World

2010-08-14T11:40:00.000-07:00

The love story between Romeo & Juliet is living another time in the new romantic movie entirely pictured in Verona last year: "Letters to Juliet"!
The movie is coming soon in all Italian cinemas at the end of this month and it have already been seen from the people of U.S. and England in July 2010. It is going to be a really block buster and bring Verona and its beautiful landscapes all around the World.
So guys, discover our beautiful town and all its treasures watching "Letters to Juliet" at the cinema and then come to our land to live personally the most famous Love Story.
Watch the official HD trailer and gain more information about your trip to Verona through http://www.hotelmontemezzi.it/.

Visiting RDA Koeln Fair to keep in touch with World

2010-08-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

Last week our Sales&Marketing Staff visited the RDA Koeln fair in Colon, the most important group and coach operators exhibition in Germany.
We spent two days meeting our best cooperators and discovering new interesting relationships.
Keep in touch with the World of tourism is the best way to promote Verona and its province.
Have an intensive work with our customers and partners to join all the skills and resources to offer the best experience and facilities to people who want to come to our beautiful town.

This is the beliving of Montemezzi hotel Staff: Keep in touch with the World!!!

Maurizio
Montemezzi Crew

Your holiday in August: special discount if you choose the right days!

2010-07-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

We select a number of special days in which we ensure the Best Internet Rate if you book through our Official Web site!
Do not give up your vacations, we offer you the possibility to visit one fo the most famous art city in Italy
with a very special price.

Maurizio

Montemezzi hotel Staff

"Picture Contest" in cooperation with LavoroSalute.it

2010-07-21T04:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys! News on our blog today: for everyone who loves make picture during their holidays there is a great "Photo Contest" organized in cooperation with LavoroSalute.it the first Italian web site about jobs and carrers on health & care.
The competition is strictly related to pictures take about hte world og health and care (see Term & Conditions on LavoroSalute.it) and will end on next September the 30th.
For further information please write to redazione.concorso@lavorosalute.it.

Maurizio
Montemezzi hotel Staff

New design for the blog

2010-07-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

We are currently study and apply new design and colours to our blog!
If you have any suggestion do not wait to post...

Have a nice weekend.

Maurizio
Montemezzi hotel Staff

New Tools on Montemezzi Blog

2010-06-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hi to everyone!

Some new tools have been added today in our blog.
Become a FOLLOWER and keep in touch everytime with our
news and offers.
Wacth VIDEOS ON ANIMOTO and discover the highlight in Verona and its beautiful province: Opera season, local party called "sagre", the Garda Lake with is impressive landscape and so on...
Through JUST.IN TV we are going to stream all the events, special dinners and everyday life of our "small invisible town".

See you soon :-)

Maurizio

Montemezzi blog is now on-line

2010-06-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!

The Montemezzi hotel blog is now on-line.
Another tool to keep in touch with our guest, discover your opinion, share all experience in Verona, its beautiful sorroundings and parks.

Let's follow us in this new experience...we hope it could be great ;-)

Maurizio
Hotel Manager