The town of Alice Springs is located in the middle of the Australian continent and is the unofficial but undisputed capital of the Australia's vast outback. This unique town is rich in history and natural features, and is the perfect base from which to explore Australia's Red Centre which includes world famous features such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and the MacDonnell Ranges.

Alice Springs is nestled in the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia. Roughly equidistant between Adelaide and Darwin, it lies almost at the geographical centre of Australia, approximately 1500 kilometres from any major Australian city in any direction. The highest mountain in the Northern Territory of Australia, Mount Zeil, rises to 1,525 metres out of the West MacDonnell Ranges about 200 kilometres west of Alice Springs. The town has a growing population of around 28,000 and is today a thriving regional centre where an amazing variety of tours, accommodation and activities for every taste and budget are available.

The history of Alice Springs began in 1871 with the construction of a telegraph repeater station, one of several such stations built between Adelaide and Darwin as part of the historic Overland Telegraph. Originally known as Stuart, this name was never really popular and in 1933 the town's name was officially changed to Alice Springs. Development was initially slow, with the original dirt road to Adelaide not being replaced until 1987. Until then, travellers including train travellers on the historic Ghan railway followed the same route north as that followed by early Scottish explorer John MacDouall Stuart, north from Port Augusta in South Australia to Alice Springs via the outback towns of Oodnadatta and Finke. Today, the Stuart Highway which runs from Adelaide to Darwin is a first class highway suitable for any vehicle.

Development in Alice Springs accelerated greatly in the 1980's, and the town today is a modern, moderate sized municipality with a wealth of resources and facilities compared to similar sized Australian towns. The Ghan Railway played a significant role in the town's development, first arriving in 1929. The railway line was recently extended north to Darwin, with the resulting route across the centre of the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin now representing one of the world's great train journeys.

A variety of historic buildings can be found in the centre of Alice Springs, including the original hospital in Adelaide House, the John Flynn Museum and Church, the Old Courthouse, the Residence and the Stuart Town Gaol. The original Telegraph Station is located in a reserve a short distance outside Alice Springs to the north. On the eastern side side of the normally dry Todd River, which runs through the centre of town, is the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, an arid zone botanical garden located right in the heart of town.

Alice Springs is located in a predominantly dry region, with glorious cloudless blue skies from April to September. Rainfall is unreliable and intermittent, but can normally be expected during the warmer summer months from October to March. During summer, temperatures of 40 degrees C (104-108 F) are common, while in winter (June to August) overnight temperatures often fall below freezing point. Winter days are typically bright and sunny, making this the most popular time of year for visitors.

Information about the Arrernte people of Alice Springs can be found at the Strehlow Research Centre, where many fascinating artifacts are displayed. The Araluen Arts Centre maintains a large collection of paintings by Aboriginal artists from the Alice Springs area, including renowned the watercolour painter Albert Namatjira. Many other activities are available in and around Alice Springs, including hot air ballooning, horse and camel riding, cycling, and excursions to nearby natural attractions in the MacDonnell Ranges. Alice Springs also hosts a variety of events and festivals in the cooler months between May and September.

Alice Springs is well serviced with accommodation suited to all tastes and budgets, from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, and has several good restaurants. Alice Springs is easily accessible by air or bus from all Australian capital cities. To travel in style to Alice Springs, consider the luxurious Ghan train which departs from Darwin, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Cars can be carried on the Ghan so that your own transport is available when you arrive in Alice Springs.

Many people learn to sail by going sailing with their friends or parents. But how do you get started if you do not know anybody with a boat? Or perhaps you want to undertake formal training to acquire a recognised qualification. Many yacht charter companies will require potential customers to hold a recognised qualification prior to them chartering a yacht. Sailing in many countries is looked after by national associations or federations. The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) in the United Kingdom and in the United States the ASA (American Sailing Association) to name but two.


These governing bodies have designed a series of courses that enable people to obtain internationally recognised qualifications. The courses are rarely run by the national body itself. Private companies can apply to run the courses to national associations/federations and if approved they can then offer recognised courses to people wanting to learn to sail.


Courses are available both on the water (practical) and shore based (theory) for sailboats, power and motor boats, dinghies as well as supplementary courses such as sea survival and diesel engine maintenance. This article will look only at courses for sailing boats and the structure of courses within the United Kingdom.


The the number of people carried on board for the practical courses will vary but normally will not exceed an instructor and 5 students. I completed my own Day Skipper Practical with just one fellow student and the instructor. The higher the student/instructor ratio, the less one to one time everybody gets with the instructor but the cost per person is reduced. It is also preferable, I think, to have a mix of people taking different courses. 5 people taking the Coastal Skipper Practical Course aboard the same boat will have a reduced amount of time in their role as skipper.


Getting started - The first course we'll look at is called Start Yachting, no previous experience is required and over two days participants will be shown how to steer a yacht, how to handle the sails, a little ropework and an insight into safety on board. The Competant Crew course is again aimed at complete beginners, no previous experience is required. This course last five days and in addition to steering and sail handling participants will be shown how to keep a lookout and row a dinghy.


The first shorebased course is called Day Skipper Theory. A little on the water experience is desirable. The course requires 40 hours and two written exams are taken at the conclusion. Primarily about the basics of navigation, seamanship and the weather, when completed you should be able to navigate a boat in familiar waters in daylight.


The Day Skipper Practical follows and can be completed in 5 days or over 3 weekends. This can be undertaken in either tidal or non-tidal waters and the certificate issued at completion recognizes the distinction. Experience is required, participants should have spent five days at sea with 4 hours night sailing and have logged 100 miles. The course covers boat handling, seamanship and navigation and pilotage. When finished you should be able to skipper a yacht in familiar waters in daylight.


The Watchleader Practical course, as the name suggests, teaches the responsibilitiesof a watchleader, navigation seamanship, safety and collision avoidance. Experience is required, participants should have have logged 100 miles and spent five days at sea with 4 hours night sailing. After the 5 day course you should be able to take the watch on a sail traing vessel.


The second shorebased course is called Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory. This course is in part a preperation for the Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore practical examinations. It continues on from the Day Skipper theory course looking again at navigation and meteorology and also considers safety, collision avoidance and passage planning. Some practical experience is necessary and you should understand theory of navigation to the level of the pervious Day Skipper theory course. The course takes 40 hours and concludes with three examination papers. When completed you should understand the theory of navigation required to undertake coastal and offshore passages.


The Coastal Skipper Practical Course follows the theory. Again this can be taken in tidal or non-tidal waters and again the certificate issued at completion recognizes the distinction. This course is aimed at skippers wishing to make coastal passages by both day and night. It assumes you will have spent 15 days at sea with 2 of them as skipper and have 8 night hours. You should have logged 300 miles. You should have practical skills equivilant to the Day Skipper Theory Course and theoretical navigation to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore Theory. The course lasts 5 days and deals with boat handling, safety and emergency situations, pilotage by day and night and passage planning. You will be expected to plan and skipper a short passage.Upon completion you should be able to skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night.


You can follow this up with the Coastal Skipper Sailing Practical Examination. More experience is required, 30 days at sea with 2 days as skipper and 12 night hours and you should have logged 800 miles. You are also required to hold a First Aid Certificate and a VHF SRC Radio Operator's Certificate. You should undertand theory to the level of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased course. Course content includes boat handling and seamanship, collision avoidance, safety, passage making and navigation, meteorology and ability as skipper. Upon completion you should be capable of skippering a yacht on coastal passages by day and night and with the additional of a commercial endorsement you can skipper commercial vessels under 24 metres in length up to 20 miles from a safe haven. For one person you should expect the exam to take between 6 - 10 hours, if two people are taking the exam this will increase to between 8 -14 hours.


The next level is the Yachtmaster Offshore Sailing Practical Examination. Canditates are required to have spent 50 days at sea with 5 days as skipper you should have logged 2,500 miles. You should have made 5 passages in excess of 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. Again you are required to hold a First Aid Certificate and a VHF SRC Radio Operator's Certificate. You should undertand theory to the level of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased course. You will be expected to demonstrate your ability as the skipper of an offshore sailing yacht, including questions on collision avoidance, navigation, pilotage, meteorology and boat handling. After a sucsessful completion you should be able to skipper an offshore sailing yacht by day or night. For one person you should expect the exam to take between 8 - 12 hours, if two people are taking the exam this will increase to between 10 -18 hours.


Back on shore for the Yachtmaster Ocean Theory Course. This provides the knowledge required for those wishing to sail long distances. It covers ocean passage making and astro navigation including the use of a sextant. I'm sure the purists will disagree but personally I'm not convinced of the relevance of astro navigation and the sextant. I once crewed across the Atlantic for a couple who were making a circumnavigation. Seeing the sextant on board I asked the skipper if he could give me a demonstration of it's use. He pointed me in the direction of the book that went with it saying he'd relied upon GPS for the last 12 years. "What happens if the GPS packs up?" I asked. "We use the spare one" he told me. The course lasts 40 hours and when completed you should understand how to plan and navigate on an ocean passage.


Finally the Yachtmaster Ocean Sailing Oral Examination on passage details and sun sight information. You must have successfully completed the Yachtmaster Offshore practical exam. You should have made a 600 mile passage as either mate or skipper and be able to take sun-run-sun sights and compass check by azumuth. You will receive questions on the techniques and problems of ocean passage making, including navigation, passage planning and ocean meteorology.The exam lasts a minimum of 1 and 1/2 hours and upon sucsessful completion you should be able to skipper a sailing yacht on an ocean passage.

Beijing, the Capital of Republic of China, formerly called Peking, Beiping, Dadu, Jingcheng, and Yanjing in different periods of Chinese history; has become one of the famous tourist destinations in the world. It is a home to nearly 14 millions people, with high rise building, International hotel and extensive suburbs. The modernization process is rapidly taking place. In contrast, Beijing is also a city covered with wide Chinese culture and historical interest.

The 2008 Olympic has turned Beijing to be world recognised city. Newly added transportations and amenities system were invested heavily by The Government of China for the 2008 Olympic in Beijing. And in turn, it has made Beijing’s Olympic 2008 to have “the largest television audience in Olympic History” medium channel stated.

Things to do in Beijing:
1. Olympic in Beijing
For those who are wondering how Beijing host the Olympic 2008 ought to visit the Olympic Green, where most of the competition venues were held. The Olympic Green is constructed for the Olympic 2008.

Inside the Olympic green, there is The Beijing National Stadium. Because of the appearance, it is also known as Bird’s nest. The venue hosts various track and field events as well as opening and closing ceremonies of Beijing Olympic 2008. The unique building has also become the world’s largest steel structure.

After the Olympic, the building has already been looked by International Band and soccer team to hold their next performance. The building is built nearby hotel and shopping mall not only to promote the Olympic, but also for future tourist attraction.

2. The Forbidden City
Visit The Imperial City called Gu Gong in Chinese - must not miss for those visited Beijing. It is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in China. It lies in the heart of Beijing.

For about 5 centuries, Forbidden city, with more than 9000 rooms, has been home to more than 20 great emperors and their families during Qing and Ming dynasties who lived in isolated but luxurious lifestyle and also where emperors lived and ran the administration and ruled the country. For more than 500 years the city was forbidden to the world to enter, except the emperor, his family and court official and selected servants. And now Forbidden City is opened for public!

The Forbidden City was constructed in early 1400s by the Ming Emperor, Yong Le. Upon visiting Forbidden City, one will get idea of how the Emperor and his family lived, surrounded by courtiers and retainers. In addition you can also see the traditional Chinese architecture clearly and amazed with the treasures of the imperial family and its court. It is said that Forbidden City is one of the world-famous palaces, which include the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in England, the White House in the U.S. and the Kremlin in Russia. It is also claimed to be the largest palace complex in the world.

The Forbidden City itself has more than 100 museums and gardens.

3. The Infamous Tiananmen Square
The Infamous Tiananmen Square is the largest square in the world, with total area of 109 acres, can accommodate more than 5 million people at a time. The Tiananmen Square became famous in world eyes and become great political importance because of the 1989 massacre during Mao Zedong period, where many Chinese students and workers surrounded Beijing's Tiananmen Square and began the largest political protest in China’s history were killed.

There is Monument to the People’s heroes (Inside there are large sculptures which show the development of Chinese modern history, it is devoted to people who died in the struggles to make China an independent nation in the century before the Communists came to power)

Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen tower and Mao Zedong memorial Hall (where Mao's body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses) are attractions to visit during your trip Tiananmen. And not to be missed is the raising of National flag ceremony! To see the National flag ceremony, one has to wake up early in the morning and reach the square before sunrise. There are mass of people presence in the ceremony every morning

The square is also the gates to Forbidden city, previously use in the past in the dynasty time as the place holding big ceremony to the common people to declare the emperor and empress.

4. The temple of heaven
The Temple of Heaven is located in the southeast of Beijing. It used to be used by Emperor to pray for good harvest and weather. The Temple of Heaven has been listed as one of the World Cultural Relics by the UNESCO.

5. Beihai park

Beihai Park located in central Beijing, is one of the oldest and most authentically preserved imperial gardens in China. The total park is 69 hectares, including a 39-hectare lake. The plants and the architectures come together creating a paradise on earth. Be sure to visit Round city of Beihai Park and Tibetan style While Dagoba, which was build on the advice of well-known Tibetan Lama priest, NaomuHan.

6. The Summer Palace
The Summer Palace in Beijing is on a lake nearby and includes the longest covered walkway in the world. The Summer Palace in (Yi He Yuan) is the most wonderfully well maintain and largest imperial garden in China. The Palace is surrounded by a huge variety beautiful ancient building, pavilions, pagodas, bridges and Kunming lake area, famous for the longest and most famous corridors in the traditional Chinese gardens. It used to be the summer resort for the emperor. Bring your most comfortable shoes as there is a great deal of walking involved.

7. The Great Wall of China.

The Great Wall is said to be one of the largest and longest man made building ever constructed.

Construction of the Great Wall started in 221 BC by Emperor Qin to defend the Middle Kingdom from Mongol soldiers. Most of the current Great Wall was built during the Ming dynasty, in between 1368 and 1644, resulted the great wall to be 6000 kilometre wall.

Sad but true, this amazing ancient Great wall are holding people’s suffering. The wall was the result of the never ending work day and night by soldiers, civil and criminals. The amazing Great Wall was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat and tears.

Archaeologists have discovered many humans remains buried under the wall. Estimated that more than 1 million people died during the construction of The Great Wall of China

Many locations can be visited by one to have spectacular view of the Great Wall of China. Badaling is one of the places. Badaling is significant for the Ming dynasty contribution to the Great Wall. Other places include Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling

Sleeping in the great wall of China?

8. Hutong
Other places to see on Beijing are the “Hutong”. In the old days the word Hutong came from Mongolia language, which means “water well”. It refers to the place where there is water, the place where people gathered together and live in. Today, “hutong” means a small alleyway or lane.

In the old days, people live in Hutong courtyard residences. The alley passageways of Hutong are narrow. One can go through the zig-zag alley by foot or by ricksaw or by bicycle.

If you wonder about Chinese lives, in Hutong you can see old people spending their time playing chess, mah-jong and hear the traditional folk singing. In Hutong, some of the Chinese tradition is still preserved. Private homes in the Hutong can be visited as well so the tourist can see how genuine Chinese people live.

One can visit 300-year old courtyard in the Shichahai area, belong to army officer during Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644).

The lucky tourist will get to visit a school inside one of the Hutong areas where young children are taught from as young as two years of age.

9. Silk Alley

Last but not least. After a lot of walking and sight seeing, its time to do what women likes to do all the time! For shopping at a bargain price, one has to visit “Silk Alley”. “Silk Alley” is a great place to buy souvenir and buy well-known brand such as Nike. Cheap pirated DVD and CD are also sold there. Remember, “Bargaining” is what you must do when visit the “Silk alley”. The price can be discounted until 50%!

Popular hotels to stay in Beijing

Asia Hotel Beijing *****

The Asia Hotel Beijing is 5 minutes’ walk from the nearest metro stop. The airport is approximately 20 minutes away by car. The Asia Hotel Beijing is an upscale business and leisure property that is part of the Jin Jiang family of hotels. There is a Cantonese restaurant on site, as well as the Cherry Tree Coffee Shop, which serves buffet snacks and drinks throughout the day. There is a banquet hall for up to 1,000 people. For relaxation, the hotel offers guests a sauna, swimming pool, and fitness room. There is a bar, a game room, and a television lounge. Parking is available on site for guests.

Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing****

The Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing is located in the commercial area of the city. Nearby attractions include Wangfujing and the Forbidden City. The Oriental Plaza is also located nearby, making this one of the more conveniently located hotels in Beijing.

Guests of the Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing will find themselves situated near many shops and restaurants. The hotel offers multiple restaurants for guests to enjoy as well as a coffee bar. Onsite amenities include meeting rooms, a karaoke area, babysitting service, a tour desk, a car rental, and concierge service.

The InterContinental Financial Street Hotel*****

The InterContinental Financial Street Hotel Beijing is located in the financial and business district of the city. Many attractions, such as the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square are located near the hotel and can be viewed from many of the rooms. Lama Temple and Beihai Park are also located a short distance from this Beijing hotel.

Malta hotels just keeping on winning awards - and it's helping boost the island's reputation as a holiday centre of excellence to those who haven't been before and are considering it.

And for tourists who already take holidays in Malta it's boosting the return rate of visitors - important to any destination that has tourism form a large part of its economy.

Malta has been a popular tourist destination for years - especially among the British - but her reputation has been transformed recently. In the past the island was seen often as a Mediterranean holiday for the retired.

Low cost flights however now means that the island is affordable for a long weekend or mid-week break for those tourists who want just a few days away because of their jobs - bringing down the average age of those taking Malta holidays in the last couple of years, and the hotels are to standards high enough to see many of the tourists visiting again and again - a good boost for the island's economy.

And it's not just traditional three and four star hotels that are enticing people - Malta is becoming well known for spa breaks and some of the hotels are regularly featured and praised in European and UK magazine and newspaper articles as being among the best in the Mediterranean.

Which all means the island is more than capable of competing with areas that traditionally people head for on a three day break - the Costa del Sol and Marbella for example, as well as other Mediterranean islands like Cyprus for those who take 7 day trips.

Cheap Malta Flight

Holidaymakers from the UK have been drawn to Malta in the past because it enjoys the weather of the Mediterranean, but also because it's comfortingly British in many ways, despite independence having been gained in the sixties.

Over the years the island has established her own identity, but some remnants of the former rulers remain - driving on the left for example, and English is universally spoken. Put that together with the low crime rate and it has an edge for UK tourists that other holiday destinations cannot offer.

It remains attractive to the British - helped in recent years with cheap Malta flights - but the vacations are increasingly appealing to other nationalities too - notably the Italians and increasingly Scandanavians, and the holiday market is no longer geared exclusively to the UK travel market.

The hotels that have won awards recently include the Corinthia Palace - well known for its spa facilities - when they won a World Travel Award while another of the hotels in Malta won two awards from Expedia - Le Meridien in St Julian's. Both of these Malta hotels could benefit from extra bookings in 2010 from holidaymakers looking for good accommodation.

As the island diversifies it's tourist base from almost exclusively British just a few years ago to being more cosmopolitan now, so the holidays and hotel industry has raised its standards to win and ultimately retain visitors to the extent that they are able to win awards in competition with the rest of Europe.

Which all bodes well for the future of Malta and her economy which derives a lot of income from tourism today.

Nowadays, the globe is at your end of a finger. Declare the word and you'll be able to at once book a cruise to whichever of the 7 continents. Cruising is the most effective holiday and there are cruise vacations to match every account. Therefore why not to settle on a Hawaiian cruise ?

Your Hawaiian cruise fare can contain all meals, your stateroom, on-board activities and amusement, plus transportation from port to port. Housed among the Hawaiian cruise ships are swimming pools, volley ball and basketball courts, spas, fitness centers, theaters, beauty salons, dance clubs and of course, a wide array of restaurants .
To keep yourself busy throughout the time the ship is sailing to Hawaii, (that can be 4-7 days) you'll be able to visit computer course or go to health and wellness seminars .

You may notice that a Hawaiian cruise ship is a floating resort, with all the things a quality place of recreation has to offer and more. You'll come across new friends, individuals like yourself who split the identical tastes and interests. And, you'll be able to spend your time becoming vigorous or relaxing.
Sometimes, your solely extra expenses can be drinks, optional shore excursions, and private services like massage or hairdressing.

The majority tourists to Hawaii opt to fly , however many are increasingly preferring a Hawaiian cruise.

Sailing from one island to a different , that primarily sums up what a Hawaiian cruise is . While you sail your way through the gorgeous waters of Hawaii, you can expertise an amusement and relaxing vacation with less hassles than any land-based excursion. A Hawaiian cruise might sound expensive for you, but taking into consideration the advantages it is less expensive than you think.


Virtually everybody who take a Hawaiian cruise swear they'll go again. From white-sand beaches with lively-blue water to wild orchids that grow by the roadside, your eyes are on constant alert for brand spanking new, remarkable sites.

One among the most well-liked Hawaiian Islands, Maui is a tropical heaven filled with amazing sights, unbelievable seaside and thrilling recreational activities.

Maui's widespread attractive sandy beaches can leave you breathless.For a perfect afternoon in the sun, visit the shores of Kaanapali Beach, that is considered as one of the best beaches on Maui because of the good snorkeling site at Black Rock.

Your visit to the garden island of Kauai reveals calm waterfalls, blooming rainforests, and therefore the Spouting Horn lava tube formation.

While in Oahu, you may perhaps take a visit to the well-known seaside and nightlife of Waikiki, and take a sad excursion with a boat to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. On The Big Island of Hawaii you can see the active Kilauea Volcano, visit a pineapple plantation or occupy yourself with a round of golf at any of the award-winning golf courses.

Hawaiian cruise became one of the more common Hawaiian vacations, particularly for those who have not yet experienced the islands.When you consider all the additional costs at a land vacation , there is no better value than cruising.

Whether or not you've been designing a Hawaiian cruise for years or are just beginning to explore the thought , bear in mind that a Hawaiian cruise promises a lifetime experience.

To get around Copenhagen is very easy.

Parking is expensive so walk, hire a bike or use the public transportation – that’s the Danish way!!!

First of all we have the free citybikes, yes free! All you have to do is find one, which can be hard, but if you do you put a 20 kroner coin in the bike lock and its all yours!!!!

Be aware though that you are only allowed to ride it within the city (there is a fine is you get caught outside the city center). You get the 20 kroner coin back when you replace the bike in the lock.

At the Danish Tourist Information you can by a “Copenhagen Card” which give

you unlimited bus and train rides and free entrance at most museums.

We also have big yellow buses. You can buy tickets on board or discountcards at train stations and selected shops. The night buses don’t run as often as buses doing the day and they cost twice as much as a day ticket, but they are cheaper than a taxi.

The Danish homepage for the city buses is:

www.ht.dk

If you need to get out of the city you can catch the train. Some of the trains are even worth taking when you want to get from one part of the city to the other, and if you arrive by plane in Copenhagen you can catch a train from the airport to the city. The journey only takes 12 minutes and price is cheap. The trains don’t run at night.

Note: There are a lot of ticket checks in the trains and the fines are big so always buy your ticket before getting on the train.

Taxies are expensive: from the airport to the city will be about 130 dkk.

I never like getting up early in the morning but today is different I have booked a hot air balloon ride and I'm required to be up at the crack of dawn to be at the centre for the launch. I travelled to the balloon centre driving while still dark and while the rest of England sleeps under a full moon. I eventually arrive at the Balloon centre and start to meet up with the other intrepid passengers for our flight.

The Virgin Hot Air Balloon center which is manned by qualified pilots CAA approved and generally very good and professional team.

The flight consists of a safety brief and an outline of where today's flight might take you as the balloon is very much in the hands of the prevailing wind. The skill of the pilot can make the difference by knowing that wind travels in different directions at different altitudes a skilled pilot can make the Hot Air Balloon travel in almost the direction he or she wants providing there is sufficient fuel to rise and lower the balloon.

A hot Air Balloon is made up of three parts and they consist of the Basket, the burner and envelope. The basket for todays flight holds quite a few so the envelope must be massive there is a calculation for the load but I was never good at working things like that out. It was a lot of cubic feet of air anyway.
The parts of the balloon are started to be assembled. The passengers are volunteered to roll out and stretch out the envelope.

The weather for today was absolutely perfect the sun could be seen just making its appearance over the horizon and the temperature although a little chilly not too bad at all however this is at ground level. When the balloon gets up into the air it can be very chilly indeed. Most balloon companies provide very good information on what to wear and bring the main item being a woolly hat as you need to protect your head from the cold.

After the safety briefing and a good cup of tea the balloon team and pilot instruct you in how to roll out the balloon and help out with the start of the inflating. The balloons are pumped with cold air to start with to start to fill the envelope before the burner is used on its side to heat up the cold air inside the balloon.

After A while of expert inflation of the envelope the basket is balanced and the lucky passengers get to climb in and wait for the moment when the balloon is ready to lift off.

The balloon is then untied carefully by the ground crew and the burner is used in small bursts to bring the craft off the ground and rising slowly into the air. With a cheer we the passengers gasp as the ground slowly moves away from us as the burner goes off and we gently rise.
At this time of the morning there is not that much activity and you get to drift over the land in a very quiet peaceful manner as the world below wakes up from its slumber. Hot air Balloons are flown very early in the morning or just around sunset in the evening as this is the time that the air is most still across the land.

During the normal part of the day there is too much thermal activity for it to be safe to fly a hot air balloon and the wind is too unstable as . Todays early morning flight went very well It was a breath taking experience all round. A hot air balloon is tracked by a ground crew this helps when we land to pack up the balloon and get off the farmers land.

Hot Air Balloon flights have to land somewhere and mostly it is in farmers fields most farmers are not to bothered by a Hot Air Balloon landing and a bottle of good scotch usually smooths over the landing. However some farmers are hostile and some pilots have maps indicating hostile farm land owners.

Landing is the only part you get a little bit more apprehensive about as depending on fuel and the surrounding area sometimes you feel that you are going to land with a big bump and sometimes you're not it's down to the skill of the pilot.

We had a good pilot and although the basket ends up horizontal fairly quickly it was deemed to be a reasonable landing for us. The tracking crew with GPS that had followed the balloon where soon there to help with deflating and packing up of the balloon with a glass of champagne to help us with our nerves.

What sets a great family apart from an ordinary family? It is the bond between family members that they share with one another; it is the time they spend cherishing every moment that they are together. It is in the way where they share everything: ranging from laughter to sorrow and successes to failures of one family member. It is the genuine love, trust, honor and respect that every member has for each other.

A great family is the one that find ways to make the close family ties and the link between them stronger. Ways like having active dinner time during the evenings, parents spending time with the children, visiting theme parks, doing movie marathons together, and engaging in activities such as adventure family vacations are all great ways to increase the bonds and ties of a family.

When it comes to family vacations, careful planning is necessary. You do not want to go on a trip without all the necessary preparations since every opinion and suggestions of each family member counts. The location of the vacation, the budget and the prevailing season are some of the factors that should be considered in planning the event.

There are multiple selections where the family can seize a vacation such as an out of town vacation, at their grandparents' ancestral house, or even a trip outside of the country. Throughout the summer, the greatest family vacation locations are at the beaches of Mexico, the Caribbean, or in Europe. And since summer is at hand, it is wise to enjoy yourselves with exhilarating and enjoyable activities fit for the family.

Vacations, most of the time, require a lot of money. However thinking that this will make the whole family happy and will make the family closer, it is worth to spend on it. When it comes to budget vacations, it is very practical to avail of the all inclusive family vacations. This all inclusive vacation literally contains everything that a family can think of for a very affordable price.

These family vacation packages include everything that a family desires at a convenient rate. Integrated in the package are the activities and indulgence that both the parents and the children will take pleasure in; including the food, water sports activities, and attractions that will create a thrilling and unforgettable event for everyone.

If you are not yet planning for your whole family vacation, then this is the best time to do so. Do not ever miss the chance to get close with each family member with adventure family vacations, or else you'll regret it for the rest of your life.

This is the perfect time to do some planning if you are not yet planning for that grand family vacation. Never ignore the opportunity to be close to every family member with adventure family vacations if you don't want to be sorry later on. Form a plan of your preferred family outing and allow them to experience and sense the tenderness and company of every member through the bonding and activities.

Our journey starts upon arrival in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. We are taken to the hotel where we spend our first night in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. The city is crowded during the day and noisy especially from the traffic. But the uptown of Nairobi is a bit calm and the perfect place for your rest.

Early the next morning we start our safari to Masai mara national park. Kabiro is our driver and guide in the next 3 days we will be in Masai mara.Our drive takes us to the south along the floor of the Great Rift Valley with wonderful scenery and perfect place to take lots of pictures. We take a break at Narok Town for our lunch and then climb the western wall entering Hemmingways Country of the "Serengeti Plains". We arrive in Masai mara late afternoon in Masai mara with a game drive along the way before arriving in the campsite where we spend the night. The campsite is so amazing since we are sleeping in self contained tents with electricity and shower inside, who could imagine that in a bush unless it was a lodge. Kudus to the agency.

We later join other travelers for a campfire and some entertainment by the Masai villagers, ooh what a wonderful way to retire for bed.

Early the next morning after superb heavy breakfast we leave for a morning game drive in the park. Our guide makes a joke that we are going hunting but we should not use guns but our cameras. What i loved during the game drive was the cooperation between all the drivers who were in the park, the way they could communicate with each other on the radio on the exact spot where the animals were and where there was a hunt. It was so good, because this way we were able to see many animals and i guess it was also our lucky day because we saw a cheetah on the hunt. It killed a antelope and unfortunately a crowd of hyenas came and chased the cheetah away and enjoyed the meal. how unfortunate, but i guess is the way to survive. Our driver told us that it was our lucky day to witness the hunt,we took lots and lots of photos.

After our full day game drive, our driver takes us to the Masai village where we make a stop and learn on their culture , ways of living and the food they eat. There houses which are commonly known as the manyattas are pretty small but the Masai are proud of there ways of living. We had a chance to get some beautiful Masai souvenirs, what a day.

We headed back to the campsite for some freshening up and later had a wonderful African dinner which was prepared on a special request by our host. It was a meal of Ugali and fried goat meat. We later join the camp fire and interact with others then retire for bed.

On the third day our driver picks us up for a morning game drive after breakfast which lasted up to 11.00 o'clock in the morning. Am sorry to say this, but the trip ends here. We later arrive back in Nairobi in the late afternoon for lunch. Lunch in Nairobi restaurants are more fair in price compared to eating in the hotel. We are later joined by our host Nancy and she gives us this wonderful surprise of taking us to carnivore restaurant to wind up out trip with dinner there.Waw, the dinner was great, they have different range of bush meat , and choma was perfect. After this wonderful dinner we left for the airport. Asante sana Kenya and i will sure come back for more days.

The Heidelberg Castle is a well-known ruin that is located in Germany and is considered as the landmark of Heidelberg. The Heidelberg Castle is one of the most significant Renaissance structures found at the north of the Alps. The Castle has been demolished during the 17th and 18th century, but then only few parts have been rebuilt. The Heidelberg Castle lies at a distance of 80 metres up the northern part of the Konigstuhl hillside, and from there it dominates the outlook of the old downtown.

You can reach to this site through the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway. The railway operates its services from the Kornmarkt to the summit of the Konigstuhl in Heidelberg. The original structure of the castle was built before 1214 AD and later has been enlarged into two different castles circa 1294. Unfortunately, in the year 1537, a lightening bolt has destroyed the upper castle.

The present structures were built with an expansion project in the year 1650, before the destruction through the wars and fires. All depends on the fate that some of the rebuilt sections were again destroyed by one more lightening bolt. Until the beginning of the 19th century, the Heidelberg Castle was not considered as the tourist destination. After building up the railway network in the year 1840, tourism has received a big boost in this area. At the beginning of the 21st century, over 3 million people visits this place a year, and nearly 1,000,000 people enjoyed overnight stays.

To get some wonderful views of Heidelberg, head to the Neckar River and the Neckar valley that is located far into the Rhine plain. If you are lucky enough to experience something beautiful with a clear day then the Mannheim is a better option that could be visible on the horizon.

Some of the other attractions at the site that will lure you entirely are:
The Gardens:
The castle gardens were built between the years 1616 and 1619 by Salomon de Caus who was the garden architect. Prince Elector Friedrich V commissioned him for his beloved wife Elizabeth. During that time, the gardens were considered as the masterpiece. The gardens are built upon many terraces with many flowers beds, mazes and arbors. With various sculptures, a heated greenhouse along with the orange trees, waterfalls, huge fish ponds, and a man-made grotto for the musical water arts.

Heidelberg Tun:
The Heidelberg Tun is also called as the World’s Largest Wine Barrel that was built by Prince Elector Karl Theodor in the year 1751. The structure stands at a height of seven metres and its breadth is of eight and a half metres. The Heidelberg Tun holds some 220,000 litres of wine and also boasts a dance floor that was built on the top of it.

Apothecary Museum:
Below the oto Heinrich Building, you will get the unique Apothecary Museum. Visitors get an opportunity to learn the history of pharmacy and dispensaries. There is a huge compilation of such things.

Castle lighting:
You can see the renowned fireworks display that lights three times during every summer. The three times occur on the months of June and September - first Saturday, and the second Saturday in the month of July. The lighting is done to remember the past event and history of the castle.

So if you love to explore the historic places then head to the Heidelberg Castle and spend a memorable time in your life.

The Icefields Parkway...Canadian Rockies, Alberta, Canada

The Icefields Parkway is considered to be one of the top ten scenic drives in the world, and rightly so. The Parkway consists of the northern section of Hwy 93 which stretches from just beyond Lake Louise all the way to Jasper, Alberta. It is built through both Banff and Jasper National Parks and was one of the "make work projects" during the 1930's the government implemented to provide jobs for men in those Depression years.

Today, it is traveled each summer by a multitude of tourists; many on coach tours, some who have rented RV's, others in their cars and even some on bicycles. In fact, it is one of the most popular cycling roads in all of the Rockies and extremely challenging.

Without a doubt, the scenery is the reason so many make this their destination to see stunning turquoise-colored lakes, soaring mountain peaks, remnants of the Wisconsin Ice Age in the form of icefields and glaciers.Then there is always the hope for a glimpse of wild animals in their natural habitat, protected by Parks Canada and overseen by the Park Wardens. Black bears, grizzly bears, mule deer, elk, mountain goats and bighorn sheep are all species that one might see along the way. Park regulations specify that you not get out of your vehicle when animals are spotted. In fact, one must remain a minimum of 135 feet from the animal. After all, they are wild and can be unpredictable.

The speed is limited so one might enjoy the scenery along the Parkway. You travel parallel to the Continental Divide, the highest point of the Rockies that divides the watersheds. Some of the lakes you see from the highway are Hector Lake, for James Hector who named many of these Rocky Mountains and was part of the Palliser Expedition from 1857-60; Bow Lake, the source of the Bow River and home to Jimmy Simpson's Num-Ti-Jah Lodge; and Peyto Lake, named for Bill Peyto, early outfitter and guide. It's considered to be the bluest lake in the Canadian Rockies and will make you gasp in awe at first sight.

Polar Bear Viewing in Churchill: Polar Bear Capital of the World

Churchill, Manitoba is uniquely situated on a polar bear migratory route, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and adventurers. Although bears are present in the area year round, the best time to observe these wild animals is in autumn when they start congregating, anxiously waiting for the edges of the Hudson Bay to freeze so they can reach ringed and bearded seals, their primary food source.

	Mother and Cubs1

AMAZING ANIMALS

Few animals are as endearing as the large, white polar bear. However, their cuddly appearance is only a human idealism; they are in fact vicious carnivores, sneaky, sly and adept at stalking and killing large prey, including seals, walruses and beluga whales.

Polar bear cubs are born in the darkest of winter, from December through January. They rely on their mothers for food and warmth, emerging from their dens in March or April. After hanging around the den for a couple of weeks and acclimatizing to their new environment, sows and their cubs begin journeying onto the ice to look for their first kill of the season.

In July and August, mothers and their young families are easily spotted against a colourful background of arctic wild flowers and grasses. As autumn begins, bears start sparring and wrestling playfully, exploring their abilities and honing their hunting skills. During these warmer months the bears subsist on sedge grass and an occasional kill. Then, as winter approaches, polar bears start gathering in the Churchill area, waiting impatiently for ice to form so they can begin looking for seals, a more substantial food source that will allow them to endure the long winter.

WILDLIFE VIEWING

There are many tour companies operating in Churchill. Bears can be seen on foot, on custom vehicles called tundra buggies and by boat. Tour companies do not guarantee bear sightings, however, given Churchill's unique position and the large bear population, few visitors are disappointed. Wildlife viewing by helicopter is also a possibility but of course seeing these animals clearly from the air isn't easy in winter due to the colour of their coats.

Knowledgeable guides educate visitors and ensure that safe distances are kept from the creatures at all times during guided walks. A zoom lens is certainly recommended for avid photographers. Churchill Wild and Lazy Bear Lodge offer tours around Churchill and the surrounding area.

A Curious Bear Follows Tundra Buggy Tracks2

Tour operators also run tundra buggy tours equipped with furnaces and bathroom facilities, which make navigating the far-reaching landscape comfortable. Viewing decks on the back of the vehicles elevate sightseers to a safe height and provide an opportunity to observe polar bears closely in their natural habitat. Tundra buggy tours range from half-day trips to overnight adventures at remote lodges in the heart of bear country. Excellent buggy tours are offered by Great White Bear Tours, Lazy Bear Lodge and Tundra Buggy Tours.

Many visitors choose to take several days to a week for a packaged vacation at a backcountry lodge. Lodges are typically well equipped, reputed for their good cuisine, cozy atmosphere and serene setting. Large fireplaces and massive picture windows make wildlife viewing a warm, relaxing experience. And for adventurers who want a closer look, three-metre-tall (10 ft) wire fences around the lodge separate polar bears from guests, providing an excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing and photography. Churchill Wild, Dymond Lake Lodge and Seal River Heritage Lodge are all highly recommended for their beautiful locations, excellent guides, comfortable accommodations and great food.

Though there are many areas well suited to polar bear watching, one of the most popular destinations is Wapusk National Park (Wapusk is the Cree word for white bear), a polar bear maternity denning area. Here, female polar bears give birth to cubs and help them through their most vulnerable stage of life.

WEATHER

Churchill is a place of extremes. Summers are pleasant with highs up to 20°C (70°F) in July and August. During the cold winter months there are only a few hours of daylight and temperatures can drop as low as -40°C (-40°F).

Polar bears can be seen all year but are most abundant from October to November, a snowy time when temperatures range from 0°C (32°F) in early October to as low as -20°C (-5°F) toward the end of November. Visitors should prepare themselves by wearing insulating layers close to the body and a good windbreaker on top to withstand the harsh tundra winds.

	Looking for Seals Can Be Exhausting3

PEOPLE & BEARS

First Nations people and bears have coexisted in this region for a thousand years. Some of this history can be explored at the Eskimo Museum, which has an extensive collection of Inuit artifacts. Polar bears have long provided important raw materials for the Inuit people and almost all parts of the animal are used, in particular fur for warmth, meat for food and fat for fuel. These items, especially fur pelts, were also used to trade with Europeans when they arrived.

Inuit cultures have many tales and legends featuring polar bears, revealing their deep respect for these animals. A healthy respect for nature is crucial to coexisting with wildlife so the Town of Churchill and Parks Canada educate the population about polar bear safety to decrease confrontations and ensure resources are managed and tourism conducted in a sustainable manner; in this way, both the human community and polar bears benefit.

Another initiative, the Polar Bear Alert program, allows local residents to phone in when a bear is spotted too close to town. These bears are tranquilized and transported to the Polar Bear Jail for a temporary stay before being released back to the wild, farther from the townsite. Tours of the jail are a popular activity.

ECOTOURISM

Heightened awareness of wildlife and habitat conservation means that there are a lot of options available to eco-conscious tourists. Employing a tour company is one way to support conservation in Churchill. Many tour companies donate transportation time on tundra buggies, boats and helicopters to students and teachers as well as provide logistical support for scientists and conservationists. Several of them also make cash donations to Polar Bears International.

Numerous shops in town sell wildlife-themed stationary, books, videos and artistic items such as paintings, photographs and jewellery and a portion of these proceeds go to various non-profit environmental organizations that help conserve wildlife and the unique arctic habitat.

BEYOND BEARS

A polar bear adventure in Churchill is complemented by the amazing natural beauty and diverse wildlife of the area. During the day, visitors can enjoy a helicopter or dogsled tour to explore the expansive landscape. Boat tours take tourists to remote islands to see unique seascapes, including mountains and icebergs, and at night visitors may be treated to the Northern Lights. Go swimming and kayaking with beluga whales, or take a wildlife tour and discover a variety of birds and mammals, including herons, owls, caribou, moose and wolves.

Visitors can also see the historic Prince of Wales Fort, built in the 1700s, or take a side trip to beautiful Cape Merry.

British Columbia

New Brunswick

The season to be outdoors is upon us and New Brunswick is an excellent province to explore the marvels of nature. It is a land of natural enigmas, and the Bay of Fundy, located in the southern part of the province, sets the stage and the tone, with its ability to boast the highest tides in the world. Twice a day, over ten billion tonnes of water swirl and churn into the bay, eroding away the land and creating a vibrant home for thousands of marine plants and animals. With tides rising as high as forty-five feet, and falling as low as two feet, all in the span of twenty-four hours, it is no wonder that thousands of people visit the Bay of Fundy each year.

The best place to experience the effect that centuries of erosion can have on the surrounding land is at the Hopewell Rocks. Affectionately nick-named “the flower pots”, the Hopewell Rocks are a group of rocks towering over fifty feet in height and defying the physics of architecture. Once part of the Fundy coastline, the “rocks” have become isolated geological structures as the result of years of billion tonnes of water ebbing and flowing through narrow fissures and cracks. The rocks now stand apart from the surrounding cliffs, and create a impressive reminder of how our land is constantly changing.

The Hopewell Rocks are open from May to October, and are located one hour from Moncton. The best time to visit is during low tide, where a short ten-minute descending hike will allow you to reach the ocean floor. There, you can meander along the red silt and marvel how a fifty-foot tall rock can still stand when its base is narrower than its top. Kids will enjoy playing hide-and-seek through the ocean-formed arches, and you can grab lunch and savour the view from the patio at High Tide Café. If you miscalculate the tides and you arrive at high tide, fear not; you can rent a kayak and paddle through the tops of the rocks – a thoroughly pleasurable and unique experience.

If the experience of being on the ocean floor excites you, then drive south to St. Andrews, a quaint, sea-side town that is located along the Fundy Coastal Drive. Just outside of St. Andrews is Minister’s Island, notable for the nearly two-hundred year old mansion that was home to a wealthy railway builder in the late 1800s. A two-hour tour of the mansion is available, but it is the journey to the island that is the true adventure. If you time your arrival right, and head to Minister’s Island at low tide, you will be able to drive right on the ocean floor to reach the island. There is no gravel or paved road, just the mixed rock and silt that the tides bring in twice a day. You do not need a special car for this adventure; any four-wheeled vehicle will do. The drive is seasonal, accessible from May to October.

Perhaps a little more tame but certainly more puzzling is the mystery of Magnetic Hill, located just outside of Moncton. Kids will delight in the ability of a car, put in neutral, to be invisibly “pulled” and roll uphill. Tour buses are a real hit, since one would expect it to be impossible for four-thousand pounds of steal to defy the laws of physics. Whether an optical illusion or the workings of subterranean magnetic forces, Magnetic Hill certainly draws many people to its location every year. There is also a zoo and a few shops along a wharf to provide extra entertainment. The hill is also opened seasonally, from May to October.

For an opportunity to smell the fresh sea air while walking along one of the last remaining sand dunes of Atlantic Canada, visit La Dune de Bouctouche, about forty minutes north of Moncton, near St. Edouard-de-Kent. This twelve-kilometre long sand dune was formed from wind storms and tidal deposits approximately two thousand years ago. There is an ecological centre which gives information on the preservation of the sand dune, and a two-kilometre boardwalk allows you to casually stroll out to the Atlantic Ocean and unobtrusively observe the various local fauna and sea life. The dune is open from May to October, but occasionally closes if heavy storms prevail.

No doubt Mother Nature has left her mark on the province of New Brunswick; from the phenomenal record-breaking tides at the Bay of Fundy, to the secret magnetic forces of Magnetic Hill, New Brunswick has much to offer to its visitors. Spend a little time wandering through the natural splendors and you will forever be reminded of the formidable abilities Mother Nature has.

The scenery in New Brunswick is one of the most spectacular in the world featuring wonderful views of the ocean and the nearby Appalachian Mountains. Whether you want to experience the natural beauty of the New Brunswick region on foot or by automobile you will definitely have some memories which will make it into the family photo album.

The Appalachian Trail runs along the coast of the New Brunswick region and is famous for the wonderful hiking trails which it offers. You can find your way through the day hiking trails on your own or you can hire one of the guides in the region to take you through the safer regions of the mountains.

Some more of the province s tourist attractions are the New Brunswick Museum, Kouchibouguac National Park, Mactaquac Provincial Park, Les Jardins de la Republique, Parlee Beach, Hopewell Rocks, La Dune de Bouctouche, Saint John Reversing Falls, Magnetic Hill Zoo, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, King s Landing Historical Settlement, Crystal Palace, Magic Mountain Water Park, Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Preserve, Sugarloaf Provincial Park, Sackville Waterfowl Park, Fundy National Park, and the Fundy Hiking Trail. Major population areas include the City of Saint John; the capital city, Fredericton; beautiful Grand Manan Island; world renowned St. Andrews; the northern community of Grand Falls; Miramichi and the area of Restigouche.

There are over one hundred species of birds thriving in the New Brunswick region making it a perfect place for bird watching. Among the species which live in the region is the giant woodpecker which is always a treat for North American bird watchers to view.

There are several mammals in the region that are worth the time it takes to find and observe them in their natural habitat. These include the lynx and white tailed deer. You should definitely bring your camera on your trip through the Appalachian Range since the lynx is a rare find.

If you would prefer to observe marine life in the area then you will not be disappointed. New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy is one of the few places in the world where you can view the marine wolves along with over a dozen different species of whales. The Bay of Fundy is also the home of the world’s highest tides due to the unique geography of the bay itself.

City life in New Brunswick can be compared to the most cosmopolitan in the world. You will find fine dining experiences, art exhibits and museums tucked in among the wonderful shopping centers and spas of the region.

The city of Saint John is one of the best places to enjoy shopping and the various fun related activities that city life has to offer. You can enjoy a stay in a top notch hotel in town and quickly find that there are many shopping centers within walking distance to your hotel.

Saint John is also the home to the famous Reversing Falls which run backwards as the tides come in. This is a very interesting sight to see and one you will remember for a long time.

Venture in the Historical Centre of Old Havana

La Habana Vieja is the most popular area, and when you’ll see its fabulous architecture, you’ll know why. Heavily influenced by the 400 year long colonial period, the heart of the city is a classified World Heritage Site by the UNESCO and its magnificent buildings truly reflect the many cultural influences that have polished the town over the years. Visiting Habana Vieja is an unmissable stop in every Havana holiday, and a good location to set base choose your Havana hotel here if you’re looking to find the “Real Cuba” and fully experience the country’s cultural heritage.

Step Back in Time in Calle Obispo

If you choose a holiday in Havana to experience Cuba’s unique retro vibe, Calle Obispo will help you do just that. Bustling with history and entertainment, the street is especially alive at night with locals and tourists gathering in its many restaurants. With a mixture of Cuban Baroque and Art Nouveau Eclectic, the buildings that line the Calle Obispo are full of charm. It’s no surprise many popular Havana hotels were established in the street.

Take it Easy in Plaza de Armas

For a real slice of Cuban life be sure to visit the Plaza de Armas in Havana. Close to Havana Cathedral and the sea, the large park has been a favourite amongst locals for hundreds of years – whether it’s to stroll, sit, or watch the activity of the plaza unfold before their eyes.

Reminiscent of times past, gas lamps light the park at night – meaning that the central gathering spot is full of life at any time of the day. An ambitious restoration project gave the Baroque buildings surrounding the park a second youth, and Havana hotels can now be found in impressive colonial mansions here.

Look over the Town with El Cristo de La Habana

Little known to tourists, an imposing statue of Christ stands in the harbour of Havana. Similar to Rio de Janeiro’s famous Cristo del Corcovado, El Cristo de La Habana stands on the other side of the bay, blessing the city and incoming ships. The white marble statue is impressive in itself and well worth a visit. But visitors should also bear in mind that its prime location at the top of a hill makes it an ideal spot to view a large part of the city – and a great place to take pictures for their Havana holiday album.

Marvel at the Callejón de Hamel

An amazing visual spectacle, the Callejón de Hamel is a unique art project started back in 1990. The cultural platform within the community started with a mural celebrating Afro Cuban culture. Today, it is a mix of shrines, sculptures and murals bursting with colours and originality. Make sure to stop here during your Havana holiday and absorb the breath taking sights and energy of the place. A rumba session is also held there every Sunday afternoon.

Genoa, the capital city near Portofino Italy one of th eight wonder of the world is a town full of life and activity that reflect the character of her inhabitants. Writers and politicians who saw her before the historical events of the XVII century and her altered economical circumstances of the XVIII, called her Superba (haughty).

Heine disparaged her XIX century aspect whereas her ancient splendour, that was blossoming again in her new middle class and merchant princes during the XIX century was enthusiastically praised by De Musset, Flaubert and Michelet, Nietzsche and Wagner.

Special guest that we have reported their presence also in Portofino Italy.

Genoa is a lovely town that the tourist must conquer.

A restless town continually changing. She has flattened her hills to widen her squares, filled in valleys to lay down new roads, built new edifices near old ones with such on innate sense of appropriateness that at first sight the change in topography are not striking.

Wherever building regulations have not been too drastic and regulations better applicable to a town situated in a plain have not been too rigidly enforced, the individual aspiration for something sudden to attain a panoramic flight is revealed in different and picturesque ways, like so many cinema exposures.

Grand views of the town and harbour from points of vantage in public gardens and squares up on the hills, mountain views with pine woods, chains of mountains crested with fortifications belonging to the days of the old Republic, rows of cypresses among olive groves on the hills and large gardens scattered about the town, or on roofs of mansions that introduce a note of green in the gray and silver of the slate with which they are covered.

Palaces everywhere, in streets wide or narrow; palaces seemingly of the XVII century with peeping from under plastering applied in later years, the ashlar of the XIII and XIV centuries to which they properly belong.

XV century courts from which depart delightful little porches with ceilings vaulted and groined and imposing marble staircases sometimes mounting within the building, at others winding round a court, or even completely open.

The mystery of frescoed decorations awakens memories of a past life; little churches with their doors opening on small solitary squares appeal silently to passers by.

Sensation follows sensation, overtaking and mingling with impressions when, on leaving the main arteries one penetrates into the ancient part of the town where every stone speaks of history and reveals the soul of Genoa.

The ancient town never had a proper centre in the accepted sense of the ward, other than the harbour towards which all the narrow streets converged.

On the other hand each great family, such as the Doria, Spinola, Cattaneo, Fieschi etc. had its own centre, and small squares in which their palaces stood, still bear their names and perpetuate them toponymically.

The Cathedral, Palazzo Ducale (Doge s Palace), Palazzo del Banco di S. Giorgio were never centres properly speaking, and indeed Genoa never had a vital urbanistic centre till Piazza De Ferrari was laid out in the XIX century.

The ancient lines of walls were pulled down and only the two gates, Porta Soprano and Porta dei Vacca remained of those erected in 1155, besides some topographical names, and Ponte Monumentale built on the site of Porta dell Arco (XVI century) and the end of Via XX Settembre where the XVII century Porta Pila was demolished but has been rebuilt on the hill of Montesano; all obstacles thus removed, the modern part of the town has merged with the ancient one, and they form an undistinguishable whole that conceals completely the passing of centuries.

What s hot about Sicily? Pretty much everything during the summer months when the white hot siroccos blast across the Mediterranean to shower Saharan sand on the heads of Sicilians and tourists alike.

Actually, during my six months in Sicily, I never got sand in my hair but I did experience the hot African winds when the mercury climbed to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Picture a nineteen year old American boy, in sweat drenched short sleeve white shirt and brown polyester pants riding his bicycle in the empty August afternoon streets of Catania and Palermo.

ANCIENT GREEK RUINS

What else is hot in Sicily? How about ancient Greek ruins for starters?

Temple E is the name given by modern archaeologists (yes, archaeologists have a knack for coining colorful names) to one of the best preserved temples of the ancient Greek city of Selinunte.

Just as the Roman empire encompassed not only the Italian peninsula but also Spain, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel and other parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa so also did the empire of Greece extend beyond the bounds of the Greek Isles.

MAGNA WHAT?

Magna Graecia (Latin for Greater Greece as in greater metropolitan area ) was the name the Romans gave to Sicily and Southern Italy, for this region was home to numerous Greek colonies.

[Did you know there are still Greek speaking descendants of the ancient Greeks in Italy? It s mostly in the tip of the boot in Calabria. Their language is Griko . You can read an article on it at Wikipedia.

Selinunte was founded by Greeks who emigrated from Western Sicily around 640 BC. It quickly became one of the most progressive and successful cities in all of Magna Graecia, second only to Syracuse in prominence and grandeur.

HERE COME THE AFRICANS

In 409 BC, the Carthaginians of Northern Africa, along with their elephants, were still smarting from a loss to the Sicilian Greeks in the war of 480 B.C. (Apparently, Carthaginians, like elephants, never forget.)

So they sent an army of 100,000 men (yes, that was a little bit overkill) equipped with battering rams, and with siege towers that were taller than Selinunte s walls.

After a siege that lasted only nine days, the Carthaginians broke through the walls of the city and overwhelmed the defenders.

SELINUNTE IS WIPED OUT

Of Selinunte s 25,000 inhabitants, 16,000 were killed and 7,000 made slaves. (Hopefully not sex slaves.) Only 2,000 escaped. And this is why you have never heard of any famous Selinuntians: they were pretty much wiped out in this slaughter.

Though the city never regained its former prestige it was re populated to some degree by Carthaginians (free land) until 250 BC. At that time the Carthaginians, fighting Rome, in the first of the Punic Wars, were fleeing the Roman advance and razed Selinunte to the ground.

The ruins of Selinunte lay abandoned and desolate for nearly one thousand years until a group of Greeks (ironic, eh?) from Byzantium (modern day Istanbul) established a small village there about 700 A.D.

MORE TRAGEDY

Alas, this settlement also met a tragic fate when, a century later, an earthquake struck Sicily, destroying the village.

WHERE IS IT?

How about just checking out its location on a map?

A quick search on Google maps shows Selinunte to be southwest of Palermo in the southwest corner of Sicily.

If you enjoy the archeological ruins at Selinunte you ll find more at Agrigento and Syracuse.

WHAT ELSE IS HOT ABOUT SICILY?

Pasta al forno is pasta baked in the oven (sort of like lasagna, but better). You can find it at almost any trattoria in Palermo and elsewhere on the island.

Beautiful beaches abound.

The cathedrale at Monreale, near Palermo, is thought to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

For something a bit quirky and macabre, check out the catacombs of Palermo where hundred year old corpses hang from the walls fully dressed in period attire.

WHAT S NOT HOT?

What s not hot about Sicily? I would have to say organized crime. The Mafia began here and is still a factor in daily life though it is becoming less so with each passing year.

Many cities around the world have loads of sights in store for tourists and travel enthusiasts, forcing them to flock to these cities through out the year from all corners of the globe. New York City, being the economic hub of International commerce and trade attracts millions upon business journeys, but it attracts even more tourists to see its wonderful sights.

In order to make the most of a brief visit to the ‘Big Apple’, you can resort to a New York City Bus Tour. New York bus tours are an effective source of seeing most of the tourist attractions which are offered by the city of New York, in a shorter period of time. Major NYC bus services which offer great travel packages are Vamoose, the Boston Deluxe, Apex Bus and Fung Wah. There are many sights worth visiting whenever you set your foot in New York, some of the most popular being, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Chinatown, Times Square, Broadway and much more.

New York is a city that never sleeps and whether its day or night, you will find enough people on the streets. Visiting Times Square in the evening will definitely be a wonderful and memorable experience as the flashy and dazzling signboards will mesmerize you. The city marks the height of modern day life and the progress which man has achieved since early days. Empire State Building stands as a mark of human progress and decorates the city of New York like a jewel in a crown.

In order to grab a view of all the major tourist attractions in New York, there are several types of bus tours available. Tour packages like Downtown Tour, Night Tour, Uptown and Harlem Tour, Super Downtown, Super NY Tour and All Around Town offer you great options within your budget constraints. Each package trip contains a list of sights to be seen, and you can choose the one which offers the chance to visit most places within your budget. Bus tours themed on popular TV shows like Friends, Sex and the city and Gangs of New York, are also available to make your trip a memorable one.

If you happen to plan a tourist trip to New York with your family, friends or office colleagues, then hiring a charter bus service may suit your group’s needs. Embarking on a downtown tour of New York on a charter bus would mean that you would be having much more facilities and less consumption of fuel saving you money. One of the major benefits of charter bus service is that you can have a back and forth travel facility from any point within the area of the services. Charter bus services allow you to travel in luxury, at the same time not compromising on your safety as the statistics state that traveling in buses is much safer as compared to cars.

If you intend to tour New York with a group, then hiring a charter bus will be much cheaper as compared to driving several cars. Whether you travel in New York alone or with a group, in order to maximize your experience as a tourist and minimize your costs, you should join any of the New York bus tour packages.

Rome

In this classic romantic comedy, Audrey Hepburn plays a Princess who rebels against her regimented schedule and gets taken on a whirlwind tour around Rome with a charming yet conniving American news reporter.
On your camping holidays in Italy, why not rent a classic Vespa and take your own whirlwind tour around the city, whizzing past the Coliseum and arriving at the Spanish Steps, where Princess Ann (Audrey) famously tasted her first Italian gelati. The Castel Sant’Angelo was where the duo famously danced amongst the river barges, something you’ll most certainly feel like doing on your camping holiday in Italy after sampling Rome’s incredible ice cream.

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade

Venice

Ah, the city of romance, winding canals and, the Holy Grail? Well that’s certainly what old Indiana Jones believed in his third movie. On your camping holiday in Italy you should start your quest for the Holy Grail at the Church of San Barnaba in Campo San Barbara, as it is here that Indiana Jones reveals some of the key clues to the whereabouts of this Holy Vessel. However, had he just stayed at home and stuck on the Da Vinci Code he’d have soon released that it was in Paris buried under the Louvre Gallery the entire time.

Life is Beautiful

Tuscany

Life is beautiful and so is Tuscany, should have been the title given to this Oscar winning tragic comedy about the holocaust. You’ll soon realise what we mean when you view the dramatic rolling hills and sloping Chianti filled vineyards on your Italy camping holiday. The first part of the film was filmed in Arezzo and the main square, or Piazza Grande, is instantly the most recognisable spot. It is here that the clownish character of Benigni spots his ‘Principessa’ for the second time. If you watch the film before your camping holiday in Italy, you will also instantly recognise the Piaggia San Martino, as the place where the key drops down from the heavens.

The Spy Who Loved Me

Sardinia

The sun kissed beaches of Sardinia provide the stunning backdrop to this James Bond movie. In fact, one of the most memorable Bond scenes of all time features in this film and takes place around the millionaire’s playground of Porto Cervo. The scene sees James Bond’s white Lotus Esprit being chased off a cliff by a sleek black helicopter. The car then falls into the water, and upon landing turns into a futuristic white submarine. You may not have a submarine in which to explore the area of Sardinia, but on your Italy camping holiday you can discover the varied underwater side of this island by taking part in one of the island’s renowned diving excursions.

Quantum of Solace

Lake Garda

It seems that 007 just can’t get enough of beautiful Italy, and who can blame him? The 2008 movie, Quantum of Solace opens with an action paced car chase beginning on Lake Garda and racing along the lakeside road to Malcesine. The pursuit then moves onto the mountainous region of Tremosine, before dropping again back to Lake Garda and the attractive town of Gargano. Whilst still being chased by persistent Alfa Romeo drivers, James heads nearly 200 miles south of Lake Garda and the pursuit finally ends in the beautiful marble quarries of Carrara, where Michelangelo often came to seek stone for his sculptures.