Notting Hill Carnival, London, England

Where? London, England
When? 26th - 27th August 2012

Held each August Bank Holiday since 1966, Notting Hill Carnival is the largest celebration of its kind in Europe. Started as a local festival set up by the West Indian immigrants of the area it has now become a full-blooded Caribbean carnival, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.

With scores of massive sound systems, many spectacular floats and, of course, the traditional steel drum bands, plus hundreds of stalls lining the streets; this is probably London’s most exciting annual event!

Further information: www.mynottinghill.co.uk

By: Progress On 02:32

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Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland

Where? Edinburgh, Scotland
When? 3rd - 27th August 2012

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival on the planet. It is a celebration of the best performances and entertainment acts from a range of different countries across the world. The Festival is an ‘open-access’ festival, which means if you have a show to perform, and somewhere to perform it, your on the bill.

The Festival itself actually has no part in producing any of the performances. They simply advertise, and rely on the thousands of individuals from across our planet to put on a show.

Further information: www.edfringe.com

By: Progress On 02:26

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La Tomatina Festival, Buñol, Spain

Where? Buñol, Spain
When? 29th August 2012

The sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia in Spain is world-renowned for its tasty and succulent oranges. And just thirty miles away is Buñol, another town just as famous for its produce. But its notoriety comes from the locals' habit of wearing the produce as well as tasting it: every year, Buñol hosts La Tomatina, the world's largest vegetable fight. Situated only 30 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea, and well-connected by motorway and rail to Madrid and Valencia, this charming town erupts into a fiery blaze of tomato-hurling on the last Wednesday of every August.

The "batalla" takes place during a week-long celebration filled with ongoing festivities and with even greater anticipation for the monstrous tomato battle that serves as the culmination of the week's events. Plus, last year's La Tomatina festival saw the birth of The La Tomatina After Party! 2,000 people, cheap booze and dancing in the streets. The after party takes place at The Valencia Modern Arts Museum, however, if you are allergic to tomatoes, please, do not go.

Further information: www.spanish-fiestas.com

By: Progress On 02:14

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Reading & Leeds Festival, Reading/Leeds, England

  

Where? Reading/Leeds, England
When? 24th - 26th August 2012


With no Glastonbury this year due a shortage of portaloos because of the Olympics, Reading and Leeds look like the biggest festivals in the UK this year! The festival started back in 1989 and was seen as rivalry to the likes of Glastonbury and The Isle Of Wight Festival. In 1999 Leeds Festival was born, as the northern Reading Festival and became the sister festival of Reading.

The crowd is mainly young, but there are always an array of different people of different ages. It is renowned for having huge acts play way down the bill when they are fairly unknown, then having the same band headline when they are massive (Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Muse, The Maccabees). The lineup for 2012 includes: The Cure, Kasabian, Foo Fighters, The Maccabees, At The Drive In, Metronomy, Foster The People, The Black Keys, Justice, SBTRKT and Florence and The Machine.

Further Information: www.readingfestival.co.uk

By: Progress On 02:06

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August Moon Festival, Boston, United States

Where? Boston, United States
When? 12th August 2012


Also known as the 'Moon Festival', The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates a 14th-century uprising against the Mongols. Plans for the revolt were smuggled to like minded sympathizers inside small cakes. Today cakes made from ground lotus and sesame seed paste known as 'moon cakes' are typically eaten as part of the celebrations.

Many families travel to vantage points for moon-watching parties. Boston's Chinatown is the third largest Chinese neighborhood in the country so festivities are usually busy, and very lively.

Further Information: www.bostonusa.com

By: Progress On 01:58

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Catania Tango Festival, Catania, Italy

Where? Catania, Italy
When? 11th - 19th August 2012

Based in the adorable town Catania in Sicily, when it comes to festivals, the location does not get much better than this! The 9 day festival features Tango nights, shows, music and “Milonga by Moonlight”. This festival is not just for Tango lovers, the key to this Festival is its location, atmosphere and ambience. This festival provides all of the above, and more. So get on your dancing shoes!

Further Information: www.cataniatangofestival.com

By: Progress On 01:40

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Ryanair set to charge passengers extra taxes on prepaid Spanish flights

Ryanair recently sent an email to already booked and confirmed passengers travelling to and from Spain, which read something like this... 

RYANAIR LETTER

Dear Customer,

The Spanish 2012 budget was passed into law on Saturday 30 June, as a result all airlines are obliged, with effect from 1 July onwards to collect increased Spanish airport departure taxes from all passengers booked on flights after that date.

It appears that the increased Spanish airport departure tax may also apply retrospectively to customers who booked flights before the 2nd July 2012 and are travelling from the 1st July onwards.

In accordance with Ryanair's General Terms and Conditions of Travel (Article 4.2.2) we hereby advise passengers that we may be forced to debit passengers for the increased airport departure tax imposed by the Spanish government for all flights departing from Spain which were booked before the 2nd July 2012 for travel from the 1st July 2012 onwards.

Once the Spanish authorities confirm whether the increased airport departure tax applies retrospectively (as set out above), Ryanair will notify passengers by email of the additional charges applicable to their pre 2nd July booking. Passengers not wishing to accept the additional tax will have the option to cancel their flight and receive a full refund.

N.B. All new flight bookings departing from Spanish airports made on or after the 2nd July are not affected by this retrospective clause as the increased departure tax has already been included in the purchased flight price.

Ryanair Holdings plc (Company No. 249885) / Ryanair Ltd. (Company No. 104547).
Registered in the Republic of Ireland. With registered address Corporate Head Office, Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

END OF LETTER

The obvious questions that arise from this are...

1. Can an airline charged already paid and confirmed passengers more money for a flight than what was already agreed and paid, despite the small print?
2. What damage will this do to Spanish Tourism? In other words, perhaps the authorities will gain some more taxes, but the country may well lose a number of Tourists at the same time, which is their main economy. 

We encorage all the feedback from Perpetual Traveller readers.

By: Progress On 00:33

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