Switzerland – Much More Than the Euro 2008

Berne is perhaps the most popular city in the country and also its capital. Its Old Town is a protected heritage site by UNESCO and both its parts (western and eastern) are very beautiful. One can visit the Cathedral of St. Vincent (The Münster) from the 15th century. There you can see an outstanding tympanum over the main door, which depicts the Last Judgment and has more than 200 figures. Also interesting is the Bundeshaus – the Federal Palace in Renaissance style. A landmark of the town is Zytgloggeturm (Clock Tower), dating back to the 12th century. Four minutes before every hour, lost of mechanical puppets make a great show for the crowd around the clock. Other places worth visiting are Kunstmuseum (Fine Arts Museum), Botanischer Garten (Botanical Garden), Nydegg Castle, Kindlifresserbrunnen (Ogre Fountain) and more.

Zurich is also a very popular place in Switzerland – the largest city and the capital of the Zurich canton. Its Old Town is very beautiful, located on the banks of the Limmat River with lots of medieval buildings and narrow streets. If you like nature you can go to the Zoologischer Garten (Zoological Garden) and the Botanischer Garten (Zurich Botanic Garden). The Botanical Garden contains more than 15 000 living plants and its herbarium has the amazing 3 million plants. One should not miss the beautiful Grossmünster Cathedral – some parts of it dating from the 11th century. Its 3 storey towers also offer some gorgeous views of the city. Schloss Kyburg is also a recommended place – the biggest castle in the eastern part of the country. It now houses a museum with art and armor from the Middle Ages. You can also visit the Urania Observatory, Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum), Uetliberg and many more.

Geneve yet another important centre in Switzerland, located in its south-western part. The city is near Lake Geneva, between the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Palais des Nations houses the headquarters of the United Nations and is the second largest building in Europe. It is open for visit and there are guided tours available. Just across the entrance you will find another interesting place – the Musée International de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum). There you will experience the history of the Red Cross from its founding in 1863 till present times. Maison Tavel is the oldest house in Geneva (14th century) and is now open as a museum. From Mont Salève and Mont Blanc one can enjoy some amazing views of Geneve and its surroundings.

Last but not least, Basle is another city from the Euro 2008. The settlement is very old and is still the most important cultural centre of Switzerland. It is located on the Rhine River, surrounded by the Jura Mountains. In Basel there are numerous galleries and museums, but you can go to Kunstmuseum (Fine Arts Museum), Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Museum for Contemporary Art), Foundation Beyeler (a gallery of modern art), Historisches Museum Barfüsserplatz and Kunsthalle (also a gallery). Spalentor (Spalen Gate) is a gate from the 15th century which marks the end of the medieval part of the city. Münster (Basel Cathedral) is also very popular, built in the 11th century. It offers some beautiful views of the Rhine River, Germany and Pfalz (the palace).

This is where my list of nice places to visit in Switzerland ends. Of course, there are numerous other interesting sites in the country – one could say that every corner of Switzerland is beautiful. I do hope I was helpful to those who would like to see more than the football games.

Hotel reviews: Mercure Sete Balaruc Bains, South of France

We stayed at this hotel by default but we weren’t disappointed.

We were at the end of a long drive along the coast in the South of France on a scorching day and got lost in the town of Sete. We were looking for an Ibis hotel that our guide book said was in Sete but it was actually in Balaruc les Bains, a separate town on the other side of a salt water lake from Sete.

Eventually we found the Ibis hotel only to discover they had no rooms but they found us a room at their sister hotel, The Mercure, booked it for us, and got us a reduced rate as the Mercure is a bit pricier than the Ibis.

Balurac les Bains is a pretty little spa resort with modern hotels set in spacious parklands around the old village. The town sits on a peninsula in a salt lake with walks along the coast. One side was sheltered with beaches, piers and a promenade lined with predominantly seafood restaurants. The other is more open and wild with a strong wind cutting across the lake. It was very busy with windsurfers and I imagine it is quite popular for sailing and fishing.

Check in was nice and easy and the staff were very friendly and spoke excellent English, my French is very limited. The reception area was kitted out with leather sofas and a pleasant area to sit and have a coffee although the bar/cafe was directly next door.

To get to our room we took the elevator to the 3rd floor and walked along an outside walkway and into a separate building, along to the end of the corridor and there we were, eventually. It did seem a long way but then it had been a long day.

Our room was very pleasantly and recently decorated in a blue floral design and was very cool, which was welcomed.

We had 2 twin beds, which were firm and comfortable, and cabinets with clock radio, a dresser and desk with drawer space and a mini-bar, cable TV with pay for view movies, coffee-maker and ample lamps.The air conditioning was efficient and kept the room on the point of downright chilly. We also had a small balcony with a couple of chairs and we overlooked mostly open ground and could just see the Med off in the far distance.

The bathroom was sparkling with lots of mirrors and spotlights and was well equipped with quality toiletries and soft towels. There was a full size bath and a very welcoming power shower.

There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools and I had a very enjoyable splash around in the outdoor one which was surrounded by landscaped gardens.

They have a cafe and a restaurant which we didn’t try but it looked lovely and it was very busy.There was also a lounge bar and night club which must be well soundproofed as we didn’t hear a thing and my wife is an extremely light sleeper.

We were only looking for a stopover but this would have been a pleasant hotel to spend a few days in.

Hotel reviews: Hotel Icaria, Barcelona

Our family travels quite often and as such are members of several major hotel chains. It comes in handy to rack up these points and obtain a free room for a night. This works out well in many cities throughout the world.

However, there are no major chains in the center of our favorite city, Barcelona. This city offers a temperate climate and great museums. No matter where we visit in Europe, we make it a point to stay in this delightful city a few days.

We discovered a lovely hotel named the Icaria BCN. It stands out as a small 4 star that is located two blocks from the Mediterranean; somewhat away from tourists in a lovely residential area that offers a 16 multi-plex that plays films in the original language. The area is known as the Olympic Village where by taking # 14 bus right in front of the hotel you can head to Port Vell, Las Ramblas and Plaza de Catalunya. It is a bargain at costing only 1.25 euros. The hotel is walking distance to Olympic port with numerous seafood restaurants. If you are an avid walker, the promenade will allow you to stroll along the waterfront. If you booked a cruise departing out of Barcelona, this is a great choice as it is a short cab ride to the port which will run 10 euros.

The Icaria is very modern and chic without feeling pretentious. The standard room was quite large for European standards, sound proof, comfortable bedding and bed with quality amenities in the bath. The suite is large with a separate office area and includes a computer, so there is no need to drag a laptop. In the lobby, there are 3 computers gratis for all guests use also.

The dining was excellent. Breakfast was a buffet with assorted breads, muffins, fresh fruit and smoked salmon. Dining at dinner had interesting choices not normally found in hotel dining and is prepared to order so anticipate a wait. But it is worth it and the pricing is very good. One night we ordered room service in which pricing is better than any hotel I have seen in the past. Some items are available 24 hours.

The staff we came in contact with were professional and informative. The hotel has two outstanding members, Marta and Melchor at the front desk. They are pleasant, knowledgeable and very efficient. It is a difficult task when dealing with the public but they do so with ease and a smile, which is important. as it makes an excellent impression.

For our future visits to Barcelona, we have given up on the Hilton and the Icaria BCN is where we choose to stay. The Icaria BCN hotel is outstanding in price, comfort and location.

Budget Hotels Amsterdam The Sky At Your Feet

You dont need to walk too much to find a traditional place in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House is located in the downtown. Here, she wrote her famous dairy during the World War II. She was hidden for more than two years in her house. If you read her book, the place looks you familiar.

Fortunately, Budget Hotels Amsterdam are around the downtown so you will save money in transport. Please dont forget to change your money to euros, it is the most common currency in Holland.

Visiting museums in Amsterdam is a common activity. Famous paintings and artworks are exposed to the local and foreign visitors. It is advisable to attend museums in the morning because these places are not too much crowded. Dont miss the opportunity to visit Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum.

Amsterdam is not a city only for adults; children can also have fun in Amsterdam and the right place is the Artis Zoo. Animals from all over the world can appreciate in this zoo, carry your camera and not harass animals.

If you pretend to hire a bicycle, buy a chain or lock because it is not permitted to keep bikes in Budget Hotels Amsterdam. Windmills are part of the Holland culture. Many tourists visit them and they can see the windmills function. Today, just few are in activity and the other are in restructuration or are closed.

Sports are very popular in Amsterdam; obviously soccer is the favorite for Dutch people because the national team always participates in international competitions. Despite having a very competitive team, they were never able to win a final. In the last Euro cup Holland lost with Russia in quarterfinals.

All Budget Hotels Amsterdam have programs with activities and events that you can do. Ask for one and enjoy your trip.

Enjoying Your Travels To Spain

Thinking about traveling to Spain? Spain – located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula – continues to be one of the most popular tourist attractions and vacation spots just as much today as it has always been in the past. Maybe you’re wondering about where to visit in Spain… Maybe you want to learn more about its history and experience its tremendous influence in European art… Whatever your reasons for wanting to visit are, you’re certainly bound to enjoy the rich culture, customs, and history of this country once you’ve arrived there.

As you can imagine, the architecture of Barcelona, the Holy Monstreat, and the Toledo cathedral make this a popular coordinate. And because this is such a hot travel spot, you’re advised to make your airline reservations, hotel reservations, and car rental preparations early – three to four months in advance as a matter of fact – especially when tourism is likely to be high (summer months, holidays, etc.). If you prefer to travel “off-season,” – that is, during a time when tourism is low, you may not need to make such early reservations. In the latter case, one month-advanced preparation may suffice.

After you’ve made your reservations, you can fulfill the rest of your time preparing for everything that Spain has to offer. One of the ways that you can do that is by taking a local trip to your favorite library and perusing the immense number of books about Spain. By doing this, you can prepare yourself with the language – perhaps even check out a few books or audio tapes of the language (if available) and additionally learn about Spain’s monetary system.

You should always learn about entry requirements, inoculations and other safety information you might need before you go not only to Spain – but also just about anywhere out of the country. But you can also familiarize yourself with the dress of the land and maybe try a few local restaurants that serve Spanish cuisine and play a little of its native music. Of course you can always visit your museum and inquire about the art of the land so that you’ll know what to look for once you get there – in particular, the works of El Greco. The idea here is to educate yourself amid all the excitement of visiting a place so rich in culture!

Now some people like spontaneity – a little adventure – the unknown – whatever you want to call it, but some of us like to create an itinerary of things to do and places to go. If you’re the “planning type,” then you might appreciate taking the time to map out your excursion. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that – seeing that you’re visiting a new area, your chances of being bored or going against spontaneity are very slim because Spain has so much to offer to each one of your physical senses!

When and if you create such an itinerary, some of the things that you will want to include of course are things like times to eat, take tours, attend shows, and (our favorite) shop! You might think that this information is hard to find but thanks to the Internet, it really isn’t’ hard to find at all. If you’re working with a travel agent, then your efforts to fill an itinerary should be pretty minimal. But if you’re working alone, you can certainly visit the tourist websites of Spain and create your own chart of things to discover and enjoy.

If you’re handy with the native language of Spain (which you might have correctly guessed is Spanish), you can certainly read a few online Spanish newspapers to find events and locals that might be of interest to you. Chances are that you’ll find a lot more entertainment information by reading a Spanish newspaper than you would if you solely relied on an English interpretation.

Once you’ve arrived and have found transportation to your hotel, you can inquire further to find even more interests. By this time, you should be speaking a little Spanish so that you can effectively communicate and exchange money with your hotel manager:

Hola! (Hello)
Gracias! (Thank You)
Como te llamas? (What’s your name?)
Como estas? (How are you?)
Me llamo… (My name is…)
Soy de United States of America (I’m from the United States of America)
No comprendo (I don’t understand)
Por favor (please)
Me numero de telefono es el… (My phone number is [and then the numbers in Spanish [uno, dos, tres, quatro, cinco, etc.)

You’ll of course want to learn how to ask for other important things like help and/or directions. These are some of the things that will make your trip to Spain more enjoyable – especially as you converse with the natives and experiment with new foods or amusements that you hadn’t even planned for! Just remember to pack your camera or your small video cam so that you can record your experience and enjoy them with loved ones back home.

Travel in Spain by Taxi

Traveling by taxi in Spain provides an extremely convenient way to move about and “sight-see.” Like traveling by taxi in the United States, minimum charges accompany metered mileage plus a small additional fee for baggage and evening – night – or holiday drives.

Spain Driving Tips

European Union citizens (18 years or older) must own a national driving license to drive in Spain, however non-European Union citizens (18 years or older) also need an International Driving Permit as well. Both types of citizens must have car insurance and identification (license, passport, etc.) by law, is required at all times. Seat belts must be worn by all passengers, and travelers under the age of 14 must be seated in the back seat of the vehicle. When driving, remember that driving positions are reversed to American drivers. You must yield to on-coming traffic from junctures and traffic circles.

Special care should be taken to restrict your driving to the main routes outlined on the most recent maps of this area as other routes may not be appropriate for driving (dirt roads, mountain passes, etc.). In urban areas, you can conveniently refuel your vehicle from unleaded or diesel gas stations. But if you’ll drive for long periods of time, it’s wise to completely fill your tank, as fuel stations are sparse in rural sections of the country.

Driving speeds are generally restricted to 30 mph to 56 mph, however driving speeds can increase from 62 mph to 75 mph on highways with more than two lanes. Be prepared to pay both variable and fixed toll charges associated with city entry ways.

Traveling in Spain by Car / Car Rental

Because Spain’s city centers are so popular, you are cautioned to avoid driving in these areas – especially since the narrow roads in these places can accommodate traffic traveling in one direction only. In addition, parked automobiles make driving extremely difficult. Traveling by car rental is best accomplished by following a current map of its roads – which offer views that are nothing short of amazing.

Hotel reviews: Hotel Barut Arum, Side, Turkey

The airport for the south coast of Turkey is Antalya, the Hotel Barut Arum is in Side, a small town 60 km to the east. As the transfer was not included in our arrangement, we had to take a taxi, at the taxi station there’s a long list with destinations in the vicinity with fixed prices in Euro, our fare was 65 Euro. (1 Euro ~ 1,25 $)

The Euro is the second currency in Turkey, so you have to change your money into Turkish Lira as well as Euro, you can do that in the airport while you’re waiting for your luggage. You can also get your visa there.

The Hotel Arum is a five star hotel belonging to the Barut group, it’s situated 3,5 km west of Side built on a slight mound. The entrance hall is pompous, big and rather cold in appearance, from there a flight of stairs leads down to the dining-room, another to the pool area, more about that later. The receptionist was friendly and efficient and it didn’t take long until we were in our room. The man in our travel agency at home had told us that all rooms had twin beds, but ours hadn’t, there was only one big double bed, shock, horror, a sleepless night was waiting for us! Back to the receptionist who told us that the hotel was full and that only the following day there was a chance for us to get a room with twin beds.

The new room was quite spacious with ~ 18 m, with a double bed and a normal one, a comfy armchair and enough light to read a book by (a rare thing in a hotel), a small balcony overlooking the pool area and with a view of the sea, unfortunately slightly obstructed by a tall date palm tree. The bathroom contained the usual amenities and toiletries including terry cloth slippers. The TV set worked well (CNN, BBC, National Geographic), all as it should be in a hotel of this category.

The dining room on the lower ground floor is an enormous hall, some low walls dividing it into sections try to give the guests the feeling not to sit in the waiting area of an airport. A piano player also strives to make the atmosphere a bit intimate. It opens onto a terrace where the guests can also sit and have their meals.

What I enjoyed was that it was possible to eat conventionally, i.e., the international food you get everywhere (some people like this) but also Turkish food which is very tasty (we know this from our Turkish neighbour who once a week sends us something to eat in exchange for helping her daughters with their homework). There’s a great choice for veggies. Every night a different sweet was prepared in the

Eating With The Family, The Italian Way

Food is everything in Italy, it’s what brings the family together to sit a round a table after a long day working or at the beach. Meal times are where extended families will sit for hours discussing life, family matters, Italian politics (always popular) and the world as a whole.

Whenever I go to Italy I love sitting down with my immediate family to eat, the whole process is different to what we do at home in England. There may still be five of us sat around a table but it’s not the same. Meal times are a relaxed affair in Italy, you don’t feel the urge to eat your meal down as quickly as possible so you can rush off to do something else.

The food is brought to the table at a more leisurely pace, eaten slower and after the meal we all hang around and talk.

Similarly in an restaurant in Italy it’s not uncommon to see people sat at there table for hours after they’ve finished eating and holding court with the family or as most restaurants in Italy will have a television on it’s not un common to see finished diners still sat their table watching and discussing the latest Italian quiz show. When we have a big family gathering we start the preparation hours in advance of the first guest arriving and when the first person does arrive they’re usually armed with more food that needs preparing.

It’s not until everyone arrives that the event gets underway, it’s an un-written rule that until all the guests have arrived and all food prepared that anyone can get in the mood to enjoy themselves. This is of course except for the children who run around getting under everyone’s feet and pinching salami and cheese from the table when the adults aren’t looking. When you finally sit down for the meal it’s usually a very long, relaxed and drawn out process. Italians think nothing of sitting down to a meal of in excess of 10 courses eaten over 3 hours, the bigger the family gathering the more courses there will be as everyone usually brings something with them to add to the table.

This will always be good traditional home-made Italian food. Granted the courses are generally rather small and are usually served on large platters in the centre of the table for everyone to dig into. If you’ve never experienced this before the trick is not too get too over confident on the fist few courses as there will always be another course further down the line that you’ll regret not having space for.

The courses usually consist of cheese and salami, pickles, vegetables, one or two fish dishes, a couple of meat courses, cheese again and dessert. All of these are washed down with lots of wine or beer over the course of an afternoon or evening. There is always something going on at an Italian dinner table and I’ve never known a quiet Italian dinner table. The females of the family are usually rushing back and to from the kitchen with more trays of food, the older men are sat at the head of the table discussing the old days, the younger generation, competing to be heard sit around the centre of the table discussing the state of the world and the children do what children do.

As the meal reaches it’s finale a few people may saunter off to relax but generally everyone stays around the table with conversations going on for hours or maybe a game or two of scopa, a traditional Italian card game. At the end of the meal you are generally exhausted and unable to eat a single thing, but at night you’ll sleep well and be as relaxed as you’ve ever been before.

Great European Skiing Destinations

When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts.  From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier.  If you’ve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if you’re looking to expand your experience, you’ll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldn’t go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection.  From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, you’ve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from.  France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation.  With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip.  Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip.  From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europe’s film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europe’s finest skiing country.  With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

Or how about some of the Italian resorts?  Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski.  Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weather’s good too!  Or how about Italy’s neighbor, Croatia?  A rising European nation, you’ll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality.  From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year.  Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids.  With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future.  In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.

How about Austria for your skiing trip?  When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air.  Well, it simply doesn’t come much better than Austria, and if you’re looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing.  Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience?  Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.

Skiing in Europe is the ideal way to spend your vacation.  If you love skiing, you are guaranteed to find a great resort somewhere, within your budget that meets your needs, and caters for your ability.  With most resorts also boasting strong training academies, you can also work to improve your skills while you are there, ensuring that your skiing trip is both useful and memorable.  Whatever you are looking for, choose Europe as your number one skiing destination, for that perfect blend of quality, tradition and culture, and for a holiday that is truly breathtaking.

Branding for People! Check Out

Indeed, almost everything we do is influenced by brand names. Virtually everyone, it seems, is brand conscious, and even professional success is sometimes attributed to “personal branding.”

Your personal brand is your promise of value. It helps you stand apart from your competitors, your colleagues, and your peers. Personal branding is not just about framing a unique, artificial picture for the outside world, it is about portraying the distinct amalgamation of cogent and poignant features that you possess. All these features, including your strengths, talents, values, and obsessions, are used to differentiate you and to guide your career decisions.

Your Name Matters

“What’s in a name?” some say, but they ignore the value of names at their own peril. Our names have a grand value in our lives. Treating another person’s name with dignity will make him feel gratified and encourage him to treasure his name as his most valued possession. Treat his name with respect and you will gain his respect, and vice versa.

The Keys to Successful Personal Branding

1. Visualize your brand. “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act,” says French novelist Anatole France. Create your brand framework. Envision your goals. Then begin the assessment process and build up your brand.

2. Identify yourself. Authenticity is critical to establishing a booming personal brand. For better branding, get to know yourself better. If you are innovative, vibrant, and extroverted, you will not win by communicating the traits of being conventional, dull, and quiet.

3. Identify your competitors. You cannot be prominent if you do not know who your colleagues or rivals are. Find out if your competitors are at your present workplace or within your industry. Consider both your own goals and your competition. If you are planning major career changes, then your present colleagues are not your competitors. If you are aiming for a senior post in your current company, identifying competitors and their brand features should be fairly uncomplicated.

4. Focus on your target audience. Identifying the traits of your target audience helps you craft your communication accordingly, helping you to understand how and where you can reach your audience.

5. Convey yourself. Describe the essence of your brand while creating a personal brand profile. List your brand features, prepare a brand statement, and create a personal brand tagline.

6. Blend well. You can discover the ultimate arrangement of communications tools that get in touch with your audience effectively, only when you become acquainted with yourself, your competitors, and your goals. All possible communications tools must be evaluated, and the right combination must be selected to reach your target audience.

7. Connect your brand to everything. Remember never to leave your brand behind, not even when you are participating in a meeting, writing a report, giving a presentation, or going on a business trip.

8. Eat your brand, drink your brand. Give yourself a period of at least two weeks to become accustomed to your brand. Check to see if everything that you do during that period — the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the articles you use during the day, etc. — is consistent with your brand.

9. Assess and progress. Once your brand becomes recognized, and the communication skills needed to reach your target audience are developed, start measuring your brand’s success.

All strong brands grow with the passage of time, proving the brands’ continued relevance to their target audiences.

So, go on, mold yourself into a brand and feel the difference.

- MarketingCrossing

How many calories should you eat

Well, how much do you move? How fast is your metabolism? Are you pregnant? Cycling the Tour de France this week? Getting over a cold? Are you growing (and I mean in height, not in circumference)? Or would you rather shrink a little (and now I do mean circumference)?

Surely the answer to how many calories you should eat is a clear “it depends”. If there ever was an instance where one size does not fit all, it’s the ominous question of caloric intake. I have never seen a single issue so hotly debated, with each single person completely convinced that their calculation is correct.

Generally speaking, you should take into account your level of activity, your age, your stage of development, your environment, your health and your plans for the near future. All easy variables to take into consideration. Which, once you do, gives you a ballpark figure of anywhere between let’s say 1000-4000 kcal per day. Very exact science, I know.

What about the types of calories you’re eating, is that perhaps a bit easier to work out?

Well, not really. If you’re cycling the Tour de France you’d want to make sure you get plenty of your calories from carbohydrates, or else your legs might not take you to the top of the Alps as quickly as desired. If you’re planning an expedition to the North Pole in the next few months perhaps you would like that extra insulating layer and would prefer your calories came from something containing lots of fatty acids. If you’re pregnant, well, then you’d better ask your doctor (I’m really not qualified to make recommendations at this stage.)

So instead of worrying about how many calories you should eat, how about worrying about why you’re worrying about it. Or even better, taking a step back, a deep breathe and telling yourself, I’m alive, life’s too short to count calories and if you dig into that chocolate cake, just remember to get off the bus a stop earlier and walk a little bit more.

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