Photo By Nicoleta Raftu

Beautiful Beach of Buzios Peninsula, Brazil

Two Hours north of Rio de Janeiro you will find the Buzios Peninsula, with over 20 breathtaking tropical beachs just waiting to be explored. Looking for sun or water sports travelers will find what they are looking for. Brazils summer time from December through February and Carnival, travelers will find Buzios with a mixture of people from all over the world.

For more information and destinations in Brazil check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Brazil

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas

Milan is not so much a tourist city in Italy but travelers do visit here and the main attractions are the Duomo, the Galleria and La Scala. Maybe the Fashion District is on their list too but for me, one of the lesser known but interesting places to see in Milan is the Sforzesco Castle or Castello Sforzesco.

History

Not located near the Duomo or Fashion District, the Sforzesco Castle is just a Metro ride away on the MM1 line at the Cairoli – Castello station.  This 14th century historic monument in Milan was once the residence of the Sforza-Visconti ruling families of Milan. Later the Austrian governor called it home when the region of Lombardy belonged to the Hapsburg empire. Today this fortress is the home to several museums. The Sforzesco Castle has been demolished, rebuilt and restored several times and has been open to the public since 1900. Today it commands the attention of crowds because of its history and various museums housed within its walls.

Museums

Inside the castle are 12 mini museums, called the Musei Civici, and they occupy space on several floors. The exhibits include ancient archeological artifacts, ancient art sculptures including one unfinished by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Trivulzianus manuscript, furniture and Italian paintings. Other exhibits feature musical instruments such as a harpsichord dating back to the 16th century. Tapestries and objects in gold, silver and other metals are also on display in these museums.

Layout

Sforzesco Castle is laid out in a square and has three inner courtyards and numerous towers. In the front there are two round towers and in the rear two square towers. The round towers are 102 feet tall and have names: Torre Castellana and Torre Falcioniera.

As I passed through the main entrance I actually am walking right through the tallest tower named Torre del Filarete, which is 230 feet tall. Passing through this tower this takes me to the main large courtyard, which is so big it is considered to be a piazza and is named Piazza d’Armi.  From the courtyard I am able to see another tower, this one being Torre di Bona Savoia.

Hours and Fees

The Sforzesca Castle is to the public open every day of the year from 7am to 6pm and from 7am to 7pm in the summer. There is no admission to enter the castle grounds but nominal fees are charged to visit the museums. The museums are open from 9-5:30Tuesday through Sunday and the admission fee is only three euros and free for anyone age 25 or younger.

There are other discounts available for students and seniors and on certain days at certain hours the entrance to these museums is free. The free times include Fridays from 2-5:30, weekends and from 4:30 to 5:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I didn’t even know Milan had a castle until my Italian friend accompanied me there. If you are looking for something different in Milan, spend a few hours at the Sforzesco Castle.

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas Follow Margie on her blog at margieinitaly.wordpress.com

Photo By Margie Miklas

Bellagio, Italy, Lake Como

Bellagio is located at the intersection of 3 arms of Lake Como, and is also located at the foot of the Alps. This provides for a magnificent view practically anywhere you look. Bellagio is not a big city, as it only has about 3500 residents that live there full time. Many of the people are visitors who go and enjoy the activities, the food, and the scenery.

For more information and destinations in Italy check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Italy

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas

Pescallo is a small quiet village on Lake Como and is located less than a mile from the larger resort town of Bellagio. Having read about this place as being a little fishing community away from the tourist area, I was interested to see it for myself. On my recent visit to Lake Como and Bellagio I started exploring and found that it was only short walk and I was in Pescallo.

The walk to Pescallo may be short but it is not that simple. For anyone who has difficulty navigating steps or uneven walkways, this is not for you. Although Bellagio is at the water’s edge, the town is built on a hill. There are various staircases rather than streets because of the steep topography, and the names of these walkways reflect that they are staircases, e.g. Salita Monastero. The term Italian word salita means climb.  The path to Pescallo cannot be reached on foot except by walking uphill first in Bellagio.

The main road in Bellagio at the top of the hill is Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and eventually leads to the town hall or municipio.  Just across from that town hall is a paved footpath that goes off to the left with a small sign indicating Salita Cappuccini and this goes towards Pescallo.  The walk down is less than ten minutes away and consists of part path and part staircase. There are more steps than you think possible, and after turning a corner, there is another set of steps, and another and another. They are quite steep in places and this continues for awhile. Eventually Pescallo is just ahead after turning right onto Via E. Sfrondrati

Pescallo looks like a postcard and is truly an enchanting and lovely little fishing community. Only a few people are around and there are ducks in the water and boats pulled up on the shore.  Reminiscent of a scene from a movie, a couple sits on a bench in the quiet solitude of Pescallo.

One of the two hotels in Pescallo is the family operated La Pergola and its covered outdoor restaurant sits right on the water. This 14 th century restored convent is the perfect location for a drink or a meal while enjoying il dolce far niente, or the sweetness of doing nothing.

For a little respite from the crowds and activity of beautiful Bellagio, take the walk to Pescallo and don’t forget to bring your camera.

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas

Photo By Stefan Gottschild

Cityscape of Buenos Aires from Puerto Madero district

Buenos Aires, meaning good air, is the largest city in Argentina and also serves as the capital of the country. Buenos Aires a high energy city with strong European ties is a port city located on the southern shore of the Rio de la Plata bordering Uruguay. Situated on the southeastern coast of South America, Buenos Aires is the continents third largest metropolitan area. Located in the Pampas Region of Argentina,

For more information and destinations in Argentina check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Argentina

I was raised on the mainland of United States enjoying the freedoms and rights afforded by the constitution. It states that we Americans are all created equal. I never fully appreciated my rights as an American until I married and followed my husband to his island kingdom of Tonga.

Tonga has a Constitutional hereditary monarchy, which means that it is ruled by a king with authority being passed down through The Royal Family. So, there are the royals and the commoners, with a distinct difference between the two.

In 1989, my husband was called to preside over the LDS Mission in Tonga, which included all of the islands. The kingdom has 171 islands, with only 48 of them being inhabited.

Taufa’ahau Tupou IV was the reigning king in 1989. He was a Christian as were all of his royal ancestors back to King Siaosi Taufa’ahau I. As part of our mission, we were to meet with the king and his family once a month. I was very excited, but also quite intimidated by this assignment. We contacted the spokesperson for the King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, and arranged for an audience with His Majesty for us and a few of our full-time missionaries.

The date was set, and our meeting would occur at the Royal Summer Cottage. We were informed by the spokesperson that in order for us to gain the approval of His Majesty, we were to prepare food for him and his family. Because I was from America, he suggested that we bake ham, turkey, potato salad and trifle (an English dessert).

On the assigned day, we gathered to prepare ourselves by dressing in the appropriate attire, and we did our best to make the food attractive and tasty fit for The King. We had planned a program that included singing hymns, reading scriptures and saying prayers.

Twenty of our missionaries joined with us as we traveled to the lovely Royal Cottage in Fua’amotu. My husband had informed me that I was expected to crawl up to the King on my hands and knees and kiss his hand. At first I let out a guffaw, and said “yeah, right”!  So much for being created equal – then I remembered I was not in America anymore!  This was going to be an interesting (and humbling) experience for sure!

As we crossed the threshold to the inner sanctum, I observed the enormous throne on which His Majesty sat, flanked by two spokesmen.  Trying hard to be a good little wife, I obeyed my husband’s commands. Wearing a long dress and nylon stockings, I clumsily crawled across a large woven floor mat. I somehow managed to make it all the way across the floor to find myself at the King’s feet. Being well over 300 pounds, the impressively massive King extended his hand towards me. His finger was adorned with a large shiny ring.

Shaking, I kissed the back of His hand, after which he lifted me up and peered into my face. I was informed that it was taboo for me to look directly into his eyes, so I lowered my gaze. In his deep raspy voice, The King asked me a question. He wanted to know if the gentleman following me was my husband.  I replied that he was. He then invited me to sit on the floor beside him whilst he greeted my husband (who just so happens to be his not-too-distant cousin).

I observed as each person in our group showed their respect while being greeted by the King of Tonga. No one stood or attempted to talk unless they were on the program. When walking out, it is forbidden to show your backside to the King, so we all backed out of the room.

Our program went quite well, and it was an exciting and fascinating time that I will never forget. I realize what a rare opportunity it was for me. We made many similar visits to the King and his family, some in the Royal Palace in Nuku’alofa.

Tonga is a very culturally rich and traditional country. Only lately has a pro-democracy movement been active. I felt as though I had traveled in a time machine to another era.

Bio

Ruth Elayne Kongaika was raised in the mainland, USA, but has been traveling in the South Pacific for the past forty years. She tries to capture the beauty of the islands through her photography, painting and writing. She has a blog which shares some of her art and favorite subjects at:

http://hawaiianart.ning.com/

email: kongaikr@byuh.edu

Photo By Dan Breckwoldt

Village of Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre, Italy

Riomaggiore, Italy is part of the area known as Cinque Terre. The area is part of the rustic Italian Riviera and is comprised of five cities: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. The history of Riomaggiore and the Cinque Terre area sounds as if it could have been ripped from a movie script. The area along the coast was dangerous and uninhabitable until around 1000 A.D. due to the large population of pirates, marauders and slave traders prone to frequenting the area.

For more information and destinations in Italy check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Italy

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas

Positano has to be one of my favorite places on the Amalfi Coast and I would enjoy returning there over and over again. There really is no other place as unique as this vertically built town in one of the most beautiful places of the world. Positano has the views, the shopping, the food and the beach. What more could I want in Italy?

Positano is a walking town and only small shuttle buses can navigate the streets here as they are so steep and have endless turns. To really explore Positano the experience begins at the top where the buses must drop everyone off and the rest of the way is on foot. The views from above the town looking down onto la spiaggia or the beach are awesome, especially on a sunny day. As a photographer I was in my glory here, shooting every angle possible.

On the walk down and through  the town  that was featured in the film Under the Tuscan Sun, I notice that the many of the hotels in this resort city are situated on these hills, and  I can’t help but think that if you stay here, you had better be prepared for a lot of walking. The views though are totally worth it.

Positano is a shopper’s paradise as there are many small boutique type shops and ceramics, clothing and artwork are the main attractions here. Since Positano is a resort, you can expect the prices to be higher than in Sorrento but I still found a print here that I thought was reasonable and brought it home with me.

Of course the food is incredible and both times I was here I was not disappointed. Lunch at the beachfront restaurant Buco di Bacco was outside as the breeze was blowing and the ocean waves were gently rolling.  Other restaurants along the winding road down gave me the opportunity to have a cappuccino and dolci and the cannoli were delicious. Are you hungry yet?

Positano’s beach is named Spiaggia Grande and like most beaches on the Amalfi Coast, it is not sandy but consists of small stones. Nevertheless it is a beach and the views are stunning. Boats are docked here and sometimes locals are painting or fishermen are mending their nets. Positano is a very impressive and relaxing place to enjoy the natural beauty on the Amalfi Coast and is a “must-see” destination.

Guest Post By: Margie Miklas

Photo By Timurk

Sunset in Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica

The three main beaches attract visitors because of their pristine, white sand. Tourists can snorkel in the tidal pools that form near the Manuel Antonio and Espadilla beaches and traverse the “tombolo” or sand bridge that connects the two sandy stretches. The coastline offers visitors the opportunity to see dolphins and migrating whales. Active water enthusiasts will also enjoy other recreational opportunities such as scuba diving, sea kayaking or deep sea fishing.

For more information and destinations in Costa Rica check out Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures Costa Rica

Madrid, the capital and largest city in Spain is definitely one of the most popular cities to visit. Known for its fascinating history, Madrid boasts over 45 museums–many of them art museums–but all promise cultural experiences that should not be overlooked. When staying in a city for a extended period of time whether it be a hotel or an Apartment in Madrid, one gets to take in the city at a slower pace. One gets to enjoy all the city has to offer, from fine dining, the architecture to the history of the city and quite often this can be brought together in the many museums Madrid has to offer.

The Golden Triangle of Art is made up of three museums including the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. Each one of these museums has its own appeal. The most famous art museum by far is the Prado. This museum, which opened almost 200 years ago is housed in an 18th century building and contains works by European masters such as Raphael, Velazquez, Rubens, Bosch, Goya and many more. With over 4,800 paintings by Spanish artists and large collections by the Italian and Flemish, and over 900 works of sculpture, it is easy to see why this museum is known the world over.

For contemporary art the Reina Sofia is the perfect choice. This museum, which is housed in an 18th century hospital, offers four floors of both permanent and temporary exhibits, with collections by Picasso, Miro, Dali Salano and other famous artists. A complement to the Prado and the Reina Sofia, the Thyssen-Bornemisza offers an important private art collection with everything from ancient to modern pop art.

The Museo de America exhibits archeological findings, textiles and clothing from North, South, and Central America. This impressive museum's 25,000 artifacts exhibit the myths, beliefs and ways of life of different societies, and languages of indigenous cultures. The most fascinating exhibits are the Aztec Tudela Codex from the 1500's, and a Paracas mummy from the first century BC.

For a trip back in time to Spain's golden age, the former home of the "Shakespeare of Spanish literature", now the Lope de Vega Museum, is a delightful experience. A two-story brick house, this museum offers rooms with furniture from the 17th century and a beautiful garden with fruit trees that were described in Lope de Vega's journal.

With 24 rooms of artifacts reflecting the history of the Spanish Navy, El Museo Naval is one of the most significant naval museums the world over. The rooms go in chronological order with exhibits from the 15th century to the cutting-edge technology of today. One of the most interesting exhibits is the Peral Submarine, invented in 1884, which many call the first U-boat.

There are a number of other important museums in Madrid such as the Archaeological Museum, the Caixa Forum, the Goya Museum and many more. For those who are planning a trip to Spain, visits to any of these museums offer rare experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime.

 Head back to your apartment in Madrid, take your time and soak up the city, enjoy a bottle of wine at your new favorite restaurant and plan your next visit to one of the many museums throughout Madrid.