Posted on October 26th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources, Regional Highlights
Elegant Apartments, fully furnished, in the Historical Centre of Palermo
Our elegant and fully-equipped apartments are located in a distinguished and totally refurbished building (with elevator) of the end of the 19° century, situated in the Centre of Palermo, less than 5 minutes walking from Politeama Theatre square (also Called Castelnuovo square), the main square of the city.
The location is perfect as a base for visiting the best shops of the centre, cafes, bars, Arabic-Norman churches and every architectural and historical treasure of Palermo, all of which are very close by.
A short walk will take you to the Massimo theatre and the Archaeological Museum. Politeama Theatre square is also well connected by public transportation to the famous Mondello beach (10 – 15 minutes bus ride) and the airport Falcone e Borsellino (40 minutes away).
We are also very close to an old and traditional market called “Borgo Vecchio”, in which you can find all kinds of typical Sicilian products, and also fresh fish, just caught the night before!
Each apartment is independent air conditioning and heating are provided. Every apartment is furnished with TV, linen and towels, cooking area, bathroom with WC and shower. Iron and cot on request. Free luggage storage is available. Web access in lobby.
The cooking area is fully furnished with cookers, microwave oven, refrigerator and freezer, sink, kitchenware’s and pots.
PROPERTY FACILITIES:
# Internet Access
# Linen Included
# Towels
# Luggage Storage
# Children Friendly
# Guest Kitchen
# Travel Desk/Travel Info
# Key Card Access
# No Curfew
# No Lockout
# Lift
# Bike Parking
# Taxes included in price
# Free Internet Access
# WiFi in lobby
# Web access in lobby
# Air Conditioning
# Meeting Facilities
If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Palermo, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of Bed and Breakfast in Rome and Hotels in Florence, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Sorrento Tours
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Posted on August 27th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
B&B Mestrina is a small familiar structure born to give accomodation and breakfast to people from allover the world: it’s a bed and breakfast in the surroundings of Venice, located in Mestre, providing very cheap rates. Our desire is make you feel as confortable as possible in a warm and friendly atmosphere. You’ll receive all informations to come and go to Venice, to the Airport, to Train Station or wherever you need. We wait for you to make you discover the magic of Venice and Venetian surroundings…
Facilities
Generous breakfast
Private bathroom for each bedroom
Air conditioning
Free parking in the open air
Bus stops to Venice - Train station - Treviso and Venice airports proximity
Banks-Malls-Supermarkets proximity
Pubs-Restaurants-Pizzerie proximity
Microwawe and traditional ovens + Refridgerator at disposal
Towels and sheets
Some of our guests said:
- Excellent value for money, especially for low-budget travellers. Next to bus stop with regular busses to Venice (island) and only 15 minute journey. Comfortable and quiet location (Guest from perthshire, GB)
- stayed in a new and completely renovated apartment! looks really good! bus stops right in front of your door and it takes about 10 min to Venice! (Guest from Groningen, NL)
- We were extremely happy with the way B&B Mestrina provided the services in our stay in Venice. (Guest from from Vevey, CH)
To view the ful description of our Bed and Breakfast in Venice, to appreciate the photographs and our extremely cheap rates, please go to
http://www.submission.it/reservations_–p-hot–h-273–l-0.html . Here you can also proceed to the secure reservation, as other guests already did in the past 5 years.
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Posted on July 6th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
When you think of skiing, you’re likely to conjure up the white winters of the Swiss
Alps, Mont Blanc in France, Vail in the US, or Mount Fuji in Japan.
But Latin America has of course the Andes. And Chile is where we’ll be skiing this
summer. The best news is that, given the tricky economic situation lived in the
country, skiers are greeted each year with excellent package deals.
Despite being lesser known than those in Europe or North America, Chile has
already hosted World Championships, and is also the chosen training ground for
some national ski teams, such as the US. Do you wonder why?
Imagine living in a place where you are greeted each day by the amazing Andean
mountains. Of course, Chileans pay a price in exchange for having such a wondrous
backdrop - pollution. Pollution easily gathers above the cities of Chile and given the
sheer height of the mountains covering the region, pollution simply stales above
with no way of escaping.
But a 2-hour drive towards the mountains quickly leaves the grey air behind and we
reach the Portillo Hotel. Built in the 1940’s on a site known to have been a burial
ground used by the Incan people, the luxurious Portillo resort is one of the top ski
resorts in Latin America, and given the quality of the slopes, it has been attracting
professional skiers and daredevils to the Andes since the late 1800’s.
The Andes, which peak at over 7,000m on Mount Aconcagua, are an idyllic
destination even for non-skiers. The scenery is breathtaking, the mountain air is
refreshing and the people of Chile are hospitable folk happy to help in whichever
way they can.
The crowds at the Portillo are a mixed bunch from around the world. Many are not
even there for the skiing. That’s why the Portillo offers a wide array of recreation, at
the resort and outside.
On a sunny day, you can take part in guided walks along the trails, stop off for a
picnic and return to the resort, get yourself into one of the external heated pools
and contemplate the stars. A full week of this and you’ll return home feeling
refreshed and ready to take on what comes along.
For skiers, however, adventure awaits you on the world-class Double Diamond
chute known as “The throat”. There are easier slopes for beginner skiers or
snowboarders and instructors are at hand to give you the basics. If you’ve skied
before and feel a little rusty, a lesson or two on your first day will get you back on
track. It is also important to point out that the Andes can be sneaky terrain and the
slopes that are seemingly easy at first sight will put you to the test. So I always
recommend even avid skiers to join a class to regain your confidence and relearn
the basics - it is a handy tool to have when traveling at the speed of light towards
the window of a restaurant.
If you really want to experience life on the edge, heli-skiing is for you. It is not for
me or for other light-hearted folk. But world-class skiers visit especially to heli-ski
the Andes.
The third day is usually when the pain sinks in. Your tired muscles beg for a break,
and on such a day, your best option is to visit the wine region. Chile produces some
of the best wines in the world, and a visit to Los Vacos is the ideal escapade where
you can taste some local Merlot or Cabernet.
A restful stay is assured at The Portillo, not only because there is a “no tv” house-
rule but also cater to a maximum of 500 guests at a time. Kids also have a myriad
of activities to choose from and allow parents a smooth, quiet stay.
For off-slope activities, local tour operators offer some very interesting activities,
such as a visit and lunch with the indigenous Mapuche community, or trips to
neighbouring resorts in Chile and in Argentina.
The Vale Nevado is only 1.5 hours away from Santiago and also offers deluxe
accommodation in its lively resort and some of the best snowboarding in the region.
The Termas, or hostprings, de Chillan are 6 hours away from Santiago. But the
reason why so many skiers will do this longer trip is the opportunity the ski the
Chillan volcano. The local hotel is also deluxe, offers guests a world-class spa and
the crowds are an international bunch. The off-slope activities are also varied
enough to make it a good destination for families.
Las Lenas ski resort is probably where you’ll find the best deals, and the slopes are
some of the most difficult, so you’re likely to be rubbing shoulders with experienced
skiers and world champions out on some training.
Known at the Gran Catedral, Bariloche is located in Argentina and given its unstable
weather conditions has some great off-slope activities, such as hiking, sightseeing
and a fantastic atmosphere at night.
All in all, and regardless of the resort you choose, the Andes are your best bet.
Enjoy the high life at any its luxury resorts, experience some incredible skiing, meet
people from around the world, sip some of the world’s finest wines, and wake up
each morning to the fresh Andean air and one the most exquisite vistas in the
world.
Cristina Santos owns The C Channel, a multi-interest website which attracts a
globel audience to its travel, weddings and shopping sites. For The C Channel
Travel Portal we
are building up profiles for destinations around the world, and every day you
will find new articles, new photos and new destinations to dig into.
Visit us at http://www.the-c-channel.com
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Posted on July 3rd, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
To find the best price cruises online and booking them with confidence, you need to understand a few things about how the cruising industry comes up with their lowest price, and follow a few simple steps that the travel professionals at your local agencies don’t want to you know!
The fact remains that over 90% of cruise reservations are done through a travel agent, and you’re not only at the mercy of their service fees, but also to the prices they charge for a particular cruise and sailing. So why do so many individuals go through this booking avenue, when they know the deals are far better online, and they have access to a computer and the Internet?
The answers simple! The cruise industry believes that customers new and seasoned may not truly understand the cruise ships industry language, or feel comfortable booking online! They put their dependency on many travel professionals to interpret the cruising lingo that is the integral part of the cruise booking process.
However, if you take the time to learn and understand the cruise lines language such as guaranteed staterooms, singles supplement, or run-of-the-ship, you should have no worries booking your next vacation cruise online, and start taking advantage of all the fantastic savings!
Booking Cruise Travel Over The Internet Is Simple and Easier Than You Think!
When you’re searching the Internet to find a cruise special, keep in mind that if you go direct to the main cruise lines site, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Princess, you may end up paying a higher cabin price than the online cruise discounters, even though they may be showing reduced cabin prices on their sites.
In order to get the best discounts, you should source large vacation suppliers such as Travelocity, Expedia, or exclusive cruise booking sites like CruiseDirect.com, which specialize in selling cruises, and offer a unique booking engine that can quickly put together your cruise package in minutes.
Why go through these online cruise specialists, and travel suppliers?
Even though the cruise lines want to deal with you directly, they also need to keep a solid business relationship with their travel agencies that are currently booking a majority of cruises for them though their local offices and online vacation websites.
With online travel suppliers and Internet cruise company’s, they deal with the cruise lines a little differently, and they either pre-purchase cabins at a very low discounted price, or they’re large enough to be directly linked to the cruiselines inventory database system. They are also capable of receiving live updated stateroom information daily, and in most cases hourly! With this powerful online system, they can take these updated cabin inventory deals, and pass them directly to the consumer, which offers you the consumer far deeper discounted savings!
What this means to you, is that once you understand what these suppliers are offering, you will have a better chance of reserving your favourite cruise in minutes and take advantage of the incredible discounts that could easily range from 20% - 60%, depending on the seasonality, type of itinerary, and actual cruise ship you book.
Just make sure that before you make any reservations online, that if you have any doubts, or understanding what your booking, contact the customer service departments via their toll-free numbers, or the cruise lines email, and they will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have prior to booking your next cruise vacation.
About the author: William Lezubski is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” at www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com A quality source of top Caribbean Cruise information at your fingertips! If you’re looking to go on a cruise to the Caribbean, plan an All-Inclusive Island vacation, or would like to know what’s the latest trends in holiday
fashion, and luggage, you will find all this right here in one convenient location.
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Posted on June 20th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
Men reported spending much more in 2004 than women on December holiday (Christmas and Hanukah) gifts in a recent survey of the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households. The differences in 2005 gift expenditures will be about the same or a little greater, as men plan to reduce their spending less than women in 2005.
Men reported spending an average of $1,212 on holiday gifts for their spouse, more than double the average $568 spent by women on their spouse. Spending by men (and women) for holiday gifts was $948 ($604) for children under 18, $1,896 ($1,044) for children 18 and over, $734 ($549) for other relatives, and $523 ($395) for friends.
Average gift expenditures for a spouse were highest among those 60 and over ($1,575 versus $740 for those under 60) and those with a net worth of $6 million or more ($2,617 versus $744 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million). Those with an income above $200,000 averaged $1,188 versus $601 for those under $200,000 in income.
Average gift expenditures for children under 18 were highest among those 60 and over ($3,835 versus $760 for those under 50), those with a net worth of over $6 million ($1,395 versus $759 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($897 versus $607 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).
Average gift expenditures for children 18 and over were highest among those over 60 ($2,226 versus $1,191 for those 50 to 59), those with a net worth over $6 million ($4,097 versus $1,219 for those with a net worth of $1 to $6 million), and those with the higher income ($2,075 versus $1,092 for those with incomes above and below $200,000 respectively).
Average expenditures for other relatives and for friends showed a pattern similar to that of children, but the differences were somewhat smaller.
The average expenditure of spenders, weighted by the percent buying for that type of person, totaled $2,807 for the people represented by this survey. That is about five times the average of $565 for all adults, based on a recent survey for The National Retail Federation.
These results were obtained from the recently completed Fall 2005 “Affluent Market Tracking Study #8″ by The American Affluence Research Center. A continuing series of twice-yearly surveys, these studies track the 12- month economic outlook and spending plans of the wealthiest 10% of Americans, the 11 million households representing about half of all consumer income and spending and a third of the total US economy. These are the consumers who have helped the more upscale retailers to out perform others in recent years.
The survey participants were asked to identify the people to whom they would give holiday gifts this year. They were then asked how much they had spent on those people in 2004 and by how much their expenditure would change in 2005.
Highlights of the national survey of 448 men and women in the wealthiest 10% of U.S. households can be found on the AARC website, www.affluenceresearch.org. The survey participants have an average income of $308,000 and an average net worth of $2.7 million. The survey has a 5% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.
Ron Kurtz is a principal of The American Affluence Research Center and The Management Resource Group. Both companies provide marketing research and strategic planning services to prominent clients in the travel and hospitality industries, especially those targeting the affluent market.
Prior to founding MRG in 1989, Ron’s experience included over 20 years in senior management positions in the airline, hotel, and tour business. As the founding President of Sea Goddess Cruises, he created the product category of small deluxe ships for the very affluent. He also served as the chief marketing officer of four cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Windstar Cruises.
Ron has been a key contributor to 6 start ups and 11 turnarounds of substantial businesses. He earned his MBA at Harvard Business School.
For further information: http://www.affluenceresearch.org and http://www.mrgconsultants.com
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Posted on June 9th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
Driving in Thailand
Many people like the thrill of riding fast motorbikes and driving rally cars, some enjoy driving 4 X 4 vehicles in wild terrain at speed or just seeing how fast their 10 year old car can go, whilst others prefer a complicated game of Mah Jong or chess, maybe even the occasional game of Russian roulette. The psychology of Thai drivers includes all these traits and more.
Driving in Thailand is not for the feint-hearted. If you happen to be from one of the few countries in the world who drive on the Left side of the road you have a slight mechanical advantage because you are used to driving on the “wrong side of the road,” and with the steering wheel on the “wrong” side, but even these benefits will not help you much in Thailand.
Whilst the laws of the road are very similar to your home country’s, the Rules of Engagement are quintessentially and pragmatically Thai. Compared with Western countries the passing of a driving test is a minor formality which takes around 10 minutes in a car park with red cones. Until you pass this “test” you can drive anyway without ‘L’ plates if you are with another driver.
The general knowledge of any sort of Highway Code is virtually non-existent and such things as undertaking at speed and a total lack of signalling, even when turning across several lanes of traffic is normal practice.
In towns and cities motorbikes will cut you up left and right at the same time. Another will probably pull out in front of you and expect you to stop for it, whilst pedestrians weaving between traffic queues do not seem to notice cars or motorbikes heading for them at 50 kms per hour and only inches away.
In country districts where the roads or tracks seem to be appallingly potholed in places, any rules of the road are entirely forgotten by the local drivers who have been driving round these hazards for years. They will of course use the bit of the road without holes which may or may not be the correct one. It is possible to find yourself on entirely the wrong side whilst someone going in the opposite direction passes you on his wrong side. 4 X 4 vehicles are a must for country tracks as cars suspensions and ground clearance just won’t cope.
If you have a driving licence from your own country as well as an international one, you have the patience of a holy-man, have eyes in the back of your head, the reflexes of Michael Schumacher in a Formula 1 Farrari, a crystal ball for checking out the local traffic and to make sure that the ‘puddle’ in front of you is not a metre deep, then you may wish to come to South-East Asia to check out this dangerous pastime. It’s actually very good fun!
Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same
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Posted on June 3rd, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
Last Thursday brought a quite unexpected treat. Business activity was polarised by an 8am conference call and a 5pm meeting and I suddenly realised that I had the perfect opportunity to wander around a museum at my leisure and, simultaneously, find sanctuary from the stifling city. New York was literally a city in heat, sweating profusely as the lank humidity enveloped it.
The subway was a revelation, however. That the station was clean and the train punctual was satisfying enough but, on stepping into the compartment, I was transported in more ways than one. The air conditioning was so cooling and so calming that I felt mildly disappointed that my rendezvous was only two stops uptown. Momentarily refreshed, I alighted and wandered in the vague direction of the museum. Having comprehensively proved to myself that I still had not mastered the city grid, I retired to an excellent café for lunch, enjoyed both sandwich and view, flirted with my book and marvelled at the sight of New Yorkers in various states of undress. I marvelled even more at the preponderance of large men walking small dogs and young men walking old women.
It was one of those rare days when there is a perfect symmetry in all one does. The subway trip was brief but invigorating, my initial walk aimless but diverting, lunch both fulfilling and illuminating. These were all themes that would be encapsulated at my destination and so it was, after getting lost again in a suitably agreeable way, I found myself standing outside that pintsized firecracker of a museum, the Frick Collection.
I could remember very little about my last visit except that I knew I had to come again. I certainly didn’t remember the sloppy customer care, epitomised by one long queue which grew ever longer until I pointed it out to the oblivious society matron ensconced at the front desk. Worse still was the surly security guard who was adamant that I could not bring my bottle of water inside but then waved me through without even a cursory frisk. Lucky nobody came armed with a penknife that day. Cultural terrorism takes many forms and I find it unbelievable that the custodians of such a collection could be so casual in this regard.
Once inside the main body of the building, my mood changed markedly. I was invited to take an audio guide about the collection and its contents, introduced by Samuel Sacks, the museum director, with further contributions on nominated works by resident curators and experts. And what a collection! It reminded me a little of the Uffizi in that, at almost every turn, one confronts a masterpiece. It is, of course, minuscule by comparison but I struggled to find a mediocre picture. Certainly, there were some that I enjoyed less than others but the Old Master component was outstanding. There were a smattering of Impressionist paintings that were finely executed but this genre, on the whole, doesn’t make my heart sing.
I can’t honestly say I much lingered over the English portraitists either although all the usual suspects were well represented. I did appreciate, nevertheless, Frick’s clear desire to seek matching pairs although the most arresting example of this was a magnificent pieta, ironically acquired by Frick’s daughter to complement a similar work he had bought earlier. It transpired that the initial one was produced by a journeyman artist as a copy of the original but it is amazing that two versions, dating from around 1460, sit side by side. That first room yielded, in my view, two of the finest works in the collection, those by Van Eyck and Memling. The former had a most luminous quality while the latter’s portrait of an unknown man was compelling in its conviction and simplicity. As I moved from one room to another, I was entranced. Van Dyck, Hals, Vermeer, Rembrandt, El Greco, Titian, Veronese, Bronzino, Turner, Goya, Ingres and plenty more besides.
Mr Frick was evidently a man of catholic taste as the house contained an abundance of furniture, sculpture, porcelain and silver. The porcelain holdings induced very different reactions, however. I found the Sevres collection, while technically excellent, almost overbearingly ornate and it drew no little comparison with the blousy qualities of Fragonard and Boucher, equally excellent in their way but which left me visibly pining for the austerity and clean lines of other periods. I prefer my romanticism a little darker. Conversely, I thought that the Limoges enamels, housed in Frick’s study, were magnificent. Shimmering as brightly as on the day of their creation, these were among the highlights for me among the decorative arts. Another notable item was a lapis lazuli occasional table, whose azure centrepiece was of the greatest precision, but it was the art reference library, looking a tad forgotten, that particularly caught my eye.
Arguably, the only disappointment about my visit is that one could gain no access to these volumes as none were on display. How fascinating, for example, to have seen a few copies, perhaps with Mr Frick’s notes or annotations. It stretches credulity that such an immensely successful businessman, who left such an enduring legacy to the city, did not possess a significant archive relating to his art market activities. It may have been secreted elsewhere in the building but I saw no sign of it. What a wonderful opportunity to glean insights into Frick the man, in addition to Frick the collector, but it is, presently, an opportunity missed to imbue the whole experience with a more humanist dimension.
Overall, however, the Frick did the trick. The thick stone walls absorbed the heat and the collection absorbed me. My abiding memory is of a room containing El Greco’s St Jerome straddled by a pair of portraits by Holbein of the two great theological rivals of the English Reformation, Sir Thomas More and Sir Thomas Cromwell. I am bound to say that the former is one of the most exceptional portraits I have ever seen - the stubble on his chin almost glistens. On the opposite wall is Bellini’s St Francis, another seminal work, flanked by a pair of contrasting portraits by Titian. One displays a fey and sensitive youth, the other the bullish and imposing Pietro Aretino. This pair of pairs exudes ambition, intellect, power and aestheticism and it was in this room that I found the spirit of Henry Frick most prevalent.
My perfectly proportioned afternoon demanded I leave in reasonable time for my meeting. A modicum of urgency does concentrate the mind when one is so geographically challenged and I negotiated the return as serenely as the tropical conditions allowed. My meeting brought about a most interesting postscript to my day trip as, once the specifics had been attended to, the conversation turned to wider matters. On mentioning my prior excursion, my counterpart revealed that he was the personal lawyer to none other than Samuel Sacks, the museum director of the Frick. While he spoke highly of his client, he rather wearily informed me that the trustees of the museum were difficult and I had the sensation that I had witnessed a sliver of this difficulty simply trying to gain entry earlier that day.
I am sure that this is by no means an isolated case as I well recall Christopher Brown of the Ashmolean looking heavenward when we discussed his relationship with his own trustees. Surprising as it may seem to some, the paying customer is a rather vital ingredient in the equation. Time to sign off - I feel another letter coming.
Howard Lewis,
Chairman, Invaluable group of companies.
http://www.invaluable.com
Only Invaluable gives you unrivalled access to pre-sale and post-sale information for auction houses and salerooms across the globe.
Find art, antiques and collectables. Try our Keyword search, register at http://www.invaluable.com for a free 14 day trial.
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Posted on May 23rd, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
The sun-baked Costa Blanca is a 170 mile stretch of white sandy blue flagged beaches, bright blue skies, the sparkling Mediterranean on Spain’s east coast, centred on Alicante and running from Denia in the north to Mazarrn in the south. It’s a wonderful place for a holiday.
There’s plenty to do throughout the Costa Blanca
If a fantastic Mediterranean environment was all the Costa Blanca had to offer, it would be enough for most people. But in fact there’s plenty more to attract you. For a start, the high-rise town of Benidorm has its own attractions if you are seeking entertainment on a large scale, but it isn’t typical of the Costa Blanca.
Up and down the coast there’s a huge variety of water sports on offer, from dinghy sailing to kite-surfing. If that’s not enough to keep the family amused, there are plenty of other choices, from go-karting, quad bikes, golf, mountain climbing to the massive and thrilling Terra Mitica water theme park.
Fantastic walking - and fascinating villages to explore by car
If your tastes incline more towards the countryside, you will soon discover the other side to the Costa Blanca. Those limestone hills and cliffs pretty soon turn into mountains as you head inland. They provide fantastic walking country, with well-marked paths. One example is a circular route in and literally through the Siena de Bernia, because part of the path is a narrow, low natural tunnel pierced through the actual mountain ridge.
Even if you don’t want to go walking, it’s well worthwhile exploring inland by car. Some of the villages are well known the unique Guadalest with its cliff hanging buildings, as well as Castel de Casrels. On an inland drive, you’re guaranteed amazing views and beautiful countryside. And one nice aspect of this part of Spain is that you’re never far from a restaurant, often offering a memorable lunch on a shady terrace with stunning views.
Try the ‘Lemon Train’
Not that you necessarily need a car to enjoy the Costa Blanca. There’s a charming narrow gauge Railway called the ‘Lemon Train’ that sways and rattles all the way from Alicante to Denia, with stations at all the main towns, simply a must to experience.
It’s worthwhile as an experience in itself because it gives a quite different view of the countryside, away from the main roads, and can be quite exciting as it plunges through tunnels and over bridges. But it’s also worth taking the train into Alicante for a city awayday it’s an impressive, vibrant city with an attractive waterfront and great shopping and restaurants.
Choose a charming town with its own character
Which Costa Blanca town should you choose for your holiday - Javea, Moraira, Denia, Calpe or Altea? They all have their individual charms.
Javea is split between the old town and the newer Arinal beaches. The town spreads up the slopes of Montgo, the mountain that dominates the view inland. Javea is a very pleasant town with nice beaches, good restaurants and an historic old centre and port.
Moraira is smaller and doesn’t have so much of an old centre, having grown from a small fishing village. The growth has been very well controlled, with no high rise building. Moraira is very friendly and stylish, with a feeling of exclusivity to it. The small El Portet beach - perfect for young children or watching the sun go down- is backed by a small fringe of restaurants which are great for lunch. Spectacular scenery abounds and a most wonderful meal can be had at the Belgian-owned Dolphin Restaurant in the rocks.
Denia is another town with a castle, great beach and an attractive tree-lined centre. It has a large marina, a port for embarking to some of the Balearic Islands and a super fish market on the front, where opposite there are very good quality inexpensive family restaurants, including pizza and pasta. Inland lie small towns like Orba and Pedreguer, as well as the Jaln Valley, where the almond blossom is quite stunning in February and March. Restaurants with inexpensive, yet good quality food abound in these very peaceful inland areas, so it’s well worth a trip to explore.
Calpe is an interestingly different town. It has two huge and several smaller beaches and long traffic-free promenades that wind behind them. Walk far enough along the town beach promenade and you reach the thriving fishing harbour. The Peon de Ifach (huge rock) is a bird sanctuary that soars 1,000 feet vertically from the sea is a must to walk around. Also towering over Calpe, but dwarfed by the Peon, are high-rise apartment blocks. They’re not to everyone’s taste, but many provide superb views and are closer to the sea than any villa. Anyway, to compensate, there’s a painstakingly restored old town.
Altea is a charming town with a particularly fine hilltop old centre with a large central blue tiled roof church of some distinction and can be seen from a great distance. Small select good restaurants run along the promenade and up into the old town. This town - like the others - has a weekly market, which is well frequented.
And, no matter which town you choose, they are all easily reachable in a very short time.
Try a villa holiday in the unspoilt Costa Blanca
Despite the non-stop building of the last 30 years or so, the Costa Blanca doesn’t, for the most part, feel over-developed or spoilt. Each of the towns and country areas has its own character and its own fans. If you don’t know the Costa Blanca, get out there now, hire a villa and car and prepare to explore and enjoy yourself. Sports, entertainment, heritage, food or just relaxation - it’s all here on the Costa Blanca.
Bruce Gibson is owner of Villaspain - http://www.villaspain.co.uk a long established, though modern, friendly local Spanish villa rental agency. The company fully manages villa rentals on behalf of private villa owners along the Costa Blanca, covering the areas of Altea, Calpe, Moraira, Javea and Denia.
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Posted on April 29th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
The Temple of Heaven was initially built in Yongle year 18 of
the Ming Dynasty (in 1420). Situated in the southern part of the
city, it covers the total area of 273 hectares. With the
additions and rebuild during the Ming, Qing and other Dynasties,
this grand set of structures look magnificent and glorious, the
dignified environment appears solemn and respectful, it is the
place for both Ming and Qing Dynasty’s Emperors to worship
Heaven and pray for good harvest. The northern part of the
Temple is circular while the southern part is square, implies
“sky is round and earth is square” to better symbolize heaven
and earth. The whole compound is enclosed by two walls, dividing
the whole Temple into inner and outer areas, with the main
structures enclosed in the inner area. The most important
constructions are the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the
Circular Mound Altar, Imperial Heaven, The Imperial Vault of
Heaven, Heaven Kitchen, Long Corridor and so on, as well as the
Echo Wall, the Triple-Sound Stone, the Seven-Star Stone and
others of historic interest and scenic beauty. The Temple of
Heaven is a comprehensive expression of the unique construction
techniques from Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is China’s most
treasured ancient architecture, it is also the world’s largest
architectural complex for worship heaven. In 1998, it was
included in the “list of the world heritages” by the United
Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Do you know? There are four wonderful sounds in the Temple of
Heaven! It’s worth your time to study the four wonderful sounds.
1. The echo from the Echo Wall - There is a circular wall around
The Imperial Vault of Heaven, this is the famous Echo Wall. One
person’s mere whisper at any point close to the wall can be
heard clearly on the other side if you draw your ear close to
the wall, it is so clear that it is like talking on the phone.
Do you want to know why? This is possible because the wall is
round and hermetically constructed with smooth, solid bricks, so
the sound wave can transmit to the other side via the extremely
smooth inner circle.
2. The sound of the Dialogue Stone - If you speak while standing
on the 18th stone in front of The Imperial Vault of Heaven, the
sound can clearly pass to the northeast corner of the north side
hall and the northwest of the west side hall that are both 36
meters away. The sound can be heard just as well on the stone
when speaking from the corners of these two side halls, this is
what we call the “Sound of the Dialogue Stone”.
3. Repeating sounds of the Triple-Sound Stone - In front of the
steps leading away from the hall is the Triple-Sound Stone. If
you stand on the first stone and call out or clap your hands,
the sound will echo once; on the second stone, the sound will be
heard twice; and on the third stone, the sound will repeat three
times. Hence it inherited the name. This is because the
distances that the sound wave reflected from the round wall to
the stone are different, the number of echo is also different.
Take a guess which flagstone is at the center of the Echo
Wall’s? The third one. The echo actually gets repeated more than
3 times, it’s just the sound is too weak to be heard after the
4th echo.
4. The hollow of the Heaven’s Center Stone - There is a stone
plate in the center of the Circular Mound Altar called the
Heaven’s Center Stone. Shouting aloud standing above, you will
hear the reverberation of the echo. This is due to the
refraction of the sound.
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Posted on April 18th, 2008 — in Lots Of Travel Resources
England?s magnificent & repeatedly horrifying history is beyond a shadow of a doubt largely represented in it’s historic buildings & nowhere is this better unmistakable than in those properties related to the Royal Family and their entertainment.
For an ample occasion now the British Monarchy has been seen as being highly important to the success of the United Kingdom. They have attracted overseas sightseers for many years & maintain to stimulate the curiosity of foreign day-trippers of all age band. Buckingham Place has been regarded as being the London home of the British monarchy ever since Queen Victoria became inducted as queen in eighteen thirty seven. It is one of a minute number of operating royal palaces enduring in the United Kingdom currently. For details of Buckingham Palace address, visit the Enjoy England website.
Buckingham Palace is used principally as an office, but can as well turn out to be a festivity venue for the fifty-thousand people invited to the Palace annually. There are well over six hundred housings, including nineteen state housings, fifty-two royal & visitor bedrooms, seventy-eight bathrooms, ninety-two offices, but more remarkably an in-house cinema and swimming pool.
Throughout the spring & summer, overseas tourists can travel around the handsome state bedrooms, that help make the heart of the Palace. These superb digs are decorated with numerous of the most finest assets from the Royal compilation, including sculptures by Canova in addition to paintings by the many illustrious painters for example Rembrandt, Rubens & Canaletto.
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