Traveling around the world

Norway

2010-02-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

For the one who seeks peace and loneliness,Norway is the place to visit.The fjords and the far-away well hidden forests offer an unique experience in the middle of nature.The small fishing villages on the coast invite you to stay a while and reflect,while the mountains offer those who like hiking and climbing the opportunity to test their skills.Even in the big cities,where you can feel the pulse of life,you can surely find a place to relax.
Lofoten
Lofoten Islands,which separate the Wester Fjord from the open Sea of Norway are fishing islands towards which the code fish migrates from the Arctic Ocean.The fishing boats are crowding in the harbor.The streets are full of small,wooden house colored in red,white or blue.

Cape North

Cape North is situated on Mageroy Island and it is known as the most northern point of Europe.The attraction points for the thousands of tourist which visit it every year,are the summer nights in which the sun shines all the time,but also the long winter nights starting in the middle of November till the middle of January in which the sun doesn't rise at all.In this unreal landscape live only the locals with their reindeers.

Charles Bridge,Prague,Czech Republic

2010-02-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Much of Prague's present architectural beauty was achieved during its 14th century glory days under Charles IV,king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor.It was Charles who established a university in the city and commissioned his namesake Charles Bridge in 1357,Prague's most beloved and recognized icon.There are fourteen other bridges that span the swirling Vltava River,but the view form the foot of this pedestrian bridge on the east bank is nothing short of wondtrous,encompassing the remarkable melange of architecture on the hilly slope of the Mala Strana that leads up to Prague Castel on the opposite bank.Thirty-six Baroque saints,the majority added in the 17th century,line the bridge's graceful sixteen-arched crossing.
The ritual of visiting the land,ark bridge at many different times of day is a must.Early morning on the swan-studded Vltava means having the bridge to yourself while the guardian statues hover like ghosts shrouded in the lifting mist.Midday brings on a mass of residents,tourists,buskers and other street performers,and t-shirt vendors.At night ,the spirit of an ongoing block party winds down and the bridge becomes magical.
Within arm's reach of the bridge,the romantic boutique inn U Tri Pstrosu(At the Three Ostriches) offers oak-beamed guest rooms and excellent dining with a view.Formely Bohemias' first coffeehouse,its massive centuries-old walls keep out the noise of the crowds.Ask fir a corner room for the best views.
More information: info@upstrosu.cz

Jamaica's reggae festival,Jamaica,Greater Antilles

2010-02-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Jamaica is the birthplace of raggae.Born of the Rastafarian religion,and with a deep-rooted spirituality evolved form centuries-old slave songs,the music is a blend of African-influneced percussion,contemporany pop instrmentation,lyriks that give voice to everything from religious to political and social commentary.
The annual Sumfest festival showcases star performers jamming nonstop from dusk till danw,and highlights the music's most influential mouthpiece,something of a national folk hero,the late Bob Marley.Sumfest runs for aproximately five days at the bigining of August,usually in Montego Bay,when hotels are booked to overflowing and the hot summer nights reverberate with music that includes hip-hop,rap,soca, and calypso.
More information on: www.reggaesumfest.com
The straight library knocks the analogue.

New Year's Eve at Copacabana Beach,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

2009-12-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

No less impressive then Rio's wild and raucous Carnaval celebrations is New Year's Eve along Copacabana Beach during the exotic,mysterious quintessentially Brazilian homage to Iemanja.She is beloved African goddess of the sea and central deity(conveniently conflated with the Virgin Mary) in such Afro-Brazilian spirit cults as condomble,macumba and umbanda.Well before dusk,thousands of her white-clad followers begin to gather on Rio's many beaches,particularly Copacabana,where macumbeiros baptize initiates while others chant and create candlelit sand altars.The air is thick with incese as a huge fireworks display turns the thirty-six-floor Meridien Copacabana hotel into a gigantic Roman candle.Cariocas(Rio's residents) launch small handmade boats carrying their gifts of flowers,perfume,lipstick,mirrors,and lit candles-anxious to see if Iemanja will accept them and fulfill their wishes(the boats are washed out to sea and sink into the depths) pr reject them(the waves return them to shore).The best view for those not into entranced crowds is from above.If you can't wrangle an invitation to any of the swank hich-rises lining Avenida Atlantica,book a beachside room at the Meridien,but do it months in advance.
Information:Le Meridien Copacabana,tel:55/213873-3888

New Year's Eve Greetings for everybody

2009-12-30T04:26:00.000-08:00

If it comes to the end of the year everybody goes crazy,in a way or another.No matter if they just chill at home with friends or go on a cruise or travel to places one can only dream about.
Either way each year a lot of charts are made by different websites,tv shows,magazines trying to figure out where it is best to party,best to chill,best to eat,best to travel and so on for New Year's eve.If you'd ask me I would answer that it doesn't matter where you are,but with whom you are,cause having the right people on your side will bring you the best time of your life no matter if you party in a basement,in an one room apartment or in a tent.
I'm sending all my friends from all over the world my best wishes.May the year to come be better then the one that passed,filled with love,money and health.
Get your friends together and make the best out of it...Here is a list of how u can say Cheers in 50 different languages..In Romanian you say Noroc!...
Afrikaans : Gesondheid! : (Ge-sund-hide)
Albanian : Gëzuar! : (Géschuar)
Arabic (Egyptian) : في صحتكم! : (Fee-sa-ha-tak)

Armenian : Armenia : (Gen-ots-it)
Azerbaijani : Afiyët oslun! : (Afeeyet Ohs-lun)
Basque : On egin! : (On egín)
Bosnian : Živjeli! : (Zhee-vi-lee)
Bulgarian : Наздраве! : (NAZ-dra-vey)
Chinese (Mandarin) : (Gan BAY)
Chinese : (Cantonese) : (Gom bui)
Czech : Na zdravi : (NAZ-drah vi)
Croatian : Živjeli! : (ZHEE-vi-lee)
Danish : Skål! : (Skol)
Dutch : Prosit! : (Prowst)
Esperanto : Je via sano! Toston! : (YEH VEE-ah SAH-no/Tóston)
Estonian : Terviseks! : (Ter-vi-seks)
Ethiopian (Amharic) : Letenachin : (L’-TAY-nah-chin)
Farsi : (Ba-sal-a-ma-TEE)
Finnish : Kippis! : (KEEP-us)
French : A Votre Sante! : (Ah Vot-ruh Sahn-tay)
Gaelic (Irish) : Sláinte! : (Slawn-che)
German : Prost! : (Prohst)
Greek : στην υγειά σας! : (Stin Eyiassou/Stin Eye-ee-yass-ooh)

Eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart. —Ecclesiastes 9:10

Hawaiian : Okole Maluna! : (Å’kålè ma’luna)
Hebrew : לְחַיִּים!/L’Chaim! : (Le Chy-em)
Hungarian : Egeszsegere! : (Egg-esh Ay-ged-reh)
Italian : Salute! : Cin cin! (Salu-tay/Chin Chin)
Japanese : /Kampai! : (Kam-pie)

Payday came and with it beer. -Rudyard Kipling

Korean : 위하여 (Chukbae) : (Sheet seki yah)
Latvian : Prieka! : (Pree-eh-ka)
Lithuanian i : sveikata! : (Ee sweh-kata)
Luxembourgish : Prost! : (Prohst)
Maltese : Evviva! : (A-vee-va)
Mongolian : Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө! : (Erüül mehdiin tölöö)
Norwegian : Skål! : (Skoal)
Persian : به سلامتی! : (beh salamati)
Polish Na : zdrowie! : (Naz-droh-vee-ay)
Portuguese : Saúde! : (Sow-ooh-jee)
Romanian : Noroc! : (No-roak)
Russian : Будем здоровы! : (Boo-dem Zdo-ro-vee-eh)
Serbian : Ziveli! : (ZHEE-vi-lee)
Slovak : Na zdravie! : (Naz-drah-vee-ay)

Work is the curse of the drinking class. -Oscar Wilde

Spanish : ¡Salud!/Salut! : (Sah-lud/Sah-lute)
Swedish : Skål! : (Skol)
Thai : ไชโย! : (Chuc-dee)
Turkish : Şerefe! : (Sher-i-feh)
Vietnamese : Chúc sức khoẻ! : (chook-sa-koi-ah)
Yiddish : געזונטערהייט! Zei Gazunt! : (Zye GAH-zoont)
Zulu : Oogy wawa! : (oogee-wawa)
If you are curios off what others say about where it is best to spend New Year's Eve check out these websites:
http://www.pubclub.com/newyear/index.htm
http://www.celebrations.com/content/Top-5-Places-to-Spend-New-Years-Eve
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/top-ten-places-new-years-eve/

Gundel,Budapest,Hungary

2009-12-29T10:43:00.000-08:00

Budapest's fanciest and most famous restaurant is also widely consider the country's-and maybe Easter Europe's-best.Reopened to much fanfare in 1992 after restoration by Hungarian-born American restaurateur George Lang,the aristocratic magic of its 1894 debut can still be felt,from the era when Budapest was the Paris of Eastern Europe.The menu is delightfully old-fashioned,with many classic dishes prepared as they were in Gundel's glory days.Some of Hungary's best wines never leave the country,and they can be found on the extensive wine list,the city's most impressive,including a noble Tokay dessert wine,one of many under the Gundel house label.Just next door is Gundel's popular sister establishment,Bagolyvar(The Owl's Castle),whose manu is less extensive,less expensive and more homestyle-owner Lang wants visitors and Hungarian diners alike to have a wandering Gypsy violinists,and a cozy down-home alternative.
For those who like exclusivist places,this would be a good choice to spend New Year's Eve.

The World's Best Beaches

2009-12-29T03:21:00.000-08:00

Tongabezi Safari LodgeLivingstone,Victoria Falls,Zambia

2009-12-29T02:18:00.000-08:00

Just 10 miles or so downstrem from the Tongabezi Safari Lodge are the thundering Victoria Falls;although you cannot hear their roar,you are somehow aware of their powerful presence.Yet Tongalezi itself is a place of tranquility,built along the banks of the still-gentle Zambezi so that each guest cottage and its veranda enjoys award-winning sunsets.The lodge is no bush camp:There's a tennis court and a river-side swimming pool,four-poster beds,and sunken baths.Tasteful natural furnishings one could describe as "high bush" decorate the Tree House,or open-air Honeymoon House,atop a cliff.This is the perfect romantic base for your Zambezi experiece,weather of invigorating morning bush walks and bird walks,or for gentle canoe trips with the option of overnighting on the river's many private islands.You can also choose to fly over the falls in the lodge's private plane or take wild white-water rafting trip at their base.
Information:www.tongabezi.com,www.safariexperts.com
Cost:329$(cottage),389$(houses)/persone/night/all inclusive

Museu Picasso,Barcelona.Catalonia,Spain

2009-12-29T02:01:00.000-08:00

Adjoining 13th-and 19th-century palaces provide a handsome setting for one of Spain's most interesting museums,a must for Picasso lovers.Beginning with the boyhood sketchbooks and marginal doodlings of the nine-year-old artist(born in Malaga in 1881),the museum provides the rare opportunity of following Picasso's evolution as an artist,particularly in his earlier works.There are paintings that hint of his Blue Period and studies for seminal Guernica as well as The Maids Of Honor,fourty-four Cubist variations done in the 1950s on the classic Las Meninas,the famous Velazquez paining hanging in Madrid's Prado Museum.Although this may not be the finest asssemblage of Picassos,it is the largest,with 3600 paintings,drawings,engravings,and ceramics.Dating from 1890 to 1976,many pieces were donated by the artist before his death in 1973,and the majority of the ceramics were given by Jacqueline Picasso in 1982.This modern colection is found on a narrow street around outskirts of Barcelona's Barri Ghotic,a quite warren of medieval buildings and byways containing most of the city's historic and artistic treasures along with numerous tapas bars to sustain one's energy.
Cost:4$

Short facts about Zanzibar

2009-12-29T00:43:00.000-08:00

Zanzibar is popularly known as the "spice islands.

Zanzibar is located about 30 Km off the coast of mainland Tanzania in the Indian Ocean.
Zanzibar is actually an archipelago with the two main Islands of Zanzibar (also known as Unguja, the larger one) and Pemba (the smaller of the two).
Zanzibar was incorporated into the United Republic of Tanzania in 1964.
Zanzibar, which in 1992 had only 723,300 people, does have its own democratically elected president and government that run the internal affairs of the Islands.
Zanzibar's Serena Inn on the Stone Town waterfront is a splendid example of the careful preservation of historic buildings. This project undertaken by the Aga Kahn Fund for Economic Development, owner and manager of the Serena Hotels, involved the restoration and rehabilitation of two historic buildings , the Old Extelcoms Building and the Chinese Doctors' Residence.
Zanzibar has the largest number of carved doors in East Africa.
Zanzibar's Stone Town has 50 mosques and four Hindu temples.
The House of Wonders is one of the first buildings in East Africa to have electricity and Stone Town's oldest existing building.
In 1987, the Stone Town Conservation Authority was created to provide strict guidelines for architectural design and materials used in all renovations of public and privately owned buildings.

Zanzibar is the world's oldest functioning Swahili city.
Zanzibar has seen an influx from the British, Dutch, Portuguese, Egyptian, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Arabs and Sumerians at various times in its history.

Zanzibar offers the visitor a variety of pristine beaches and stunning coral reefs.
Zanzibar's Muslim worshippers, during daylight hours of Ramadan lunar month, may not eat, drink, smoke or have sex. Exempt only are the sick, young children and travelers .

The earliest visitation to Zanzibar was in the 8th century, when the Arab traders arrived.

Zanzibar's oldest remaining building is the 11th century mosque at Kizimkazi .

The name Swahili comes from the Arab word sawahil which means 'coast'.

Indian food

2009-12-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

For all those who love spicy food,as I do,i think Indian food is the best choice.I had the chance to taste some home made Indian food and learn something about the condiments used and the way you have to cook it.The smell,the taste,the colors,everything makes you feel overwhelmed by this food.
If you want to try cooking it yourself i recommend you the following websites which contain a lot of recipes. The only thing that is difficult sometimes when preparing Indian food is finding all the condiments needed.Anyway,you will figure that out.Here are the links..
http://www.indianfoodrecipes.net/
http://www.indianfoodsite.com/
Good appetite!!I recommend Chicken biryani and Carrot cake:D

Count Dracula's Castle,Bran,Transylvania,Romania

2009-12-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

The figure of Count Dracula that captured the imagination of 19th-century author Bram Stoker did exist.Prince Vlad Dracula of Walachia(1431-1476),who allegedly lived in Bran Castle in the wild and raw region of Transylvania,was known in his lifetime for drinking blood-that was something born of Stoker's fantasy as he researched the vampire-related tales prevalent the folklore of eastern and southern Europe.However,he was known for his ruthless cruelty,including his habit of having his perceived enemies impaled alive on enormous stakes-a practice which he driven the nickname of Tepes(the Impaler).No one's all bad,though,and his native land Vlad remembered as a hero for his battles with the Ottoman Empire.There is no proof that the prince actually ever lived at the medieval Bran Castle,But that hasnt's stopped steady trickle of thrill-seekers,who find in this "land beyond the forest" one of the last European wildernesses,a time-locked country that seems never to have felt the 20th century's touch.Among the forest-blanketed Carpathian Mountains bordering Transylvania are ancient Saxon towns where farmers drive ox-drawn carts and maintain simple life that by no means curbs the sense of hospitality for which they have long been know.:D
So we don't suck blood in Romania.But there are a lot of beautiful places worth to be visited.

The Temples of Khajuraho,Madhya Pradesh,India

2009-12-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

In this sleepy little town a long way from anywhere,a century-long burst of creativity during the dynasty of the Chandela kings,resulted in the construction of more than eighty-five temples of which twenty-two remain,decorated with long running friezes that intersperese day-to-day scenes with military precissions.Khajuraho is the most renowned,however,for it's profusion of sensual and erotic friezes and sculptures,in which celestial maidens pout and pose while other figures engage in the every imaginable positions of the Kama Sutra.These sculptures are great jubilant paeans to life,with an extraordinary explicitness that makes them as remarkable today as they must have been when they were first unveiled.

Finland,Icebreaker Cruise

2009-12-28T12:37:00.000-08:00

The Sampo is one of the world's few tourist icebreakers,offering a one-of-a kind experience on the frozen Gulf of Bothnia,the northernmost tip of the Baltic Sea.The four hour cruise departs from Kemi,just south of the Arctic Circle,and ventures out into Europe's largest continous ice field.
Once out at the sea,passengers are invited to don bright-orange watertight survival suits and float among the newly broken ice,sometimes 3 feet thick.They can alight from the Sampo onto the rock-hard sea for ice fishing or be whisked away by snowmobiles or husky-driven sleds.Either way,it is an exhilarating ride through splendid solitude that is both heart sotpping and surreal as the midwinter half-light reflects off the white solid surface of the sea.Finland is known to be the world's number one builder of ice-breaking ships,so passengers are in good hands.The captain leads a fascinating tour of the ship from bridge to engine room.
Tours that include the icebreaker often include land activities in or around Kemi such as winter safaris(snowmobile or dogsled rides,reindeer mushing,and exploration of Sami/Lapp settlements).Created every winter since 1996,Kemi's fantastic SnowCastle grows larger and more inventive every year.The three-story-tall wintry stronghold is composed of a courtyard ice-sculpture exhibitions,a chapel,cafe,and autitorium where performances are often staged.Guests can overnight at the "World's Largest SnowCastle"-preferably in the Honeymoon Suite.
Where:on the Bay of Bothnia,in the northern Lapland region that covers one third of Finland,1-hour flight from Helsinki.
Departure:daily,end of December-Mid-April
Information:www.sampotours.com,tel:358/16-256-548,costs:150$ for 1 day winter adventures,including half-day on the Sampo.
www.snowcastle.net,double room from 184$,HoneyMoon Suite 230$.

Saas-Fee,Valais-Switzerland

2008-05-20T04:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone falls for Saas-Fee in a big way.Then again,nearly everything in these parts is big:the mountain village("Pearl of the Alps") is surrounded by a majestic arena of thirteen peaks towering over 13,120 feet.This is stunning scenery indeed.And although one naturally expects extensive skiing to match,the steep terrain,tight ring of dramatic peaks,and extensive glaciers have limited development.But Saas-Fee offers some of the best snow conditions in Europe,and its Felskinn-Mittelallalin ski area is Switzerland's premier summer ski destination.The area's high-terrain walking paths also draw summertime visitors.
Visitors must leave their cars out of town and realy upon a few ekectric cars in town.Another high atraction in Saas-Fee is the celebrity chef Irma Dutsch,the ebullient queenpin at Hotel Fletchhorn.
What is such a sophisticated culinary personality doing high on a forested hill,in a chalet-like hotel-restaurant just outside town?Female chefs are not commonplace in Switzerland,but this one's international gourmet followers are so loyal they call her "Pearl of the Alps".Her French-based regional cuisine with smatterings of the exotic and poetic would be a standout anywhere.
Accommodation:Hotel Fletchhorn:tel.41/27-957-2131,www.fletschhorn.ch

Forbidden city is now acesible for the disabled

2008-05-20T03:53:00.000-07:00

Disabled tourists now have better access to Beijing's famous Forbidden City following extensive renovations. New facilities were opened yesterday, to mark National Help-the-disabled Day.

"This is an excellent example of how Beijing and China intends to advance accessibility for all people in the years to come," said Sir Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

"Chinese people are making unbelievable efforts in Sichuan to relieve the suffering caused by the earthquake disaster. Paralympians from all over the world are with you, with all of the Chinese people."

The Forbidden City has numerous stone steps and thresholds, which are distinguishing features of traditional Chinese architecture, but had restricted access for disabled people.

The famous landmark now has three barrier-free tourist routes covering the main scenic spots. About 1,000 m long, the main route runs from Wumen (Meridian Gate) in the south to Shenwumen (Gate of Spiritual Valor) in the north.

With the help of the newly installed elevators, wheelchair-bound people can ascend Wumen Tower avoiding nearly 100 steps. At Taihedian, Zhonghedian and Baohedian, wheelchair stair lifts are available to help people with physical disabilities climb the stairs.

"The barrier-free facilities and the ancient architecture in the Forbidden City complement each other, which embodies the concept of the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games - Transcendence, Equality and Integration," said Li Ji, vice-director of the Forbidden City.

China's golden girl of the torch relay, Jin Jing, who was attacked by protestors in Paris but refused to let go of the sacred flame, also praised the new facilities.

"I'm really looking forward to experiencing a barrier-free Forbidden City, and today is my first time to visit here," she told China Daily while walking with her crutch on Wumen Square.

All this is made out of humanity because people should be considered equal and should not be excluded out of any activity.

Old pictures of Arad-Romania

2008-05-20T00:12:00.000-07:00

I've always liked looking at old pictures as they bring back passed times and manage to loose free your imagination.It is interesting to see how places can change in time...to the best or to the worse...
About Arad,it is a city situated in the western part of Romania at the border with Hungary.Its beautiful architecture,parks and cultural places makes this little town a wonderful place to live in.
The river Mures flows trough Arad and gives you the opportunity to go wishing sailing or just camping on it's side.

Short facts about China

2008-05-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

- China has 1.3 billion people, a little over 20 percent of the world’s population.

- The Chinese New Year is the first day of the lunar calendar based on the cycles of the moon. The date varies from year to year but typically falls in January or February.

- The twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, with each year represented by one of the animals. A full Chinese zodiac is twelve years. A complete calendar cycle is sixty years.

- The money used in China is called renminbi, meaning the people’s currency. The basic unit is the yuan.

- The Great Wall can be seen by the human eye from outer space.

- Giant pandas are a national treasure in China. There areabout 1,600 pandas living in the wild today.

- The compass, paper, gunpowder and printing are called the Four Greatest Ancient Chinese Inventions. Other Chinese inventions include fireworks and ice cream.

- China is the homeland of tea, and its cultivation dates back two thousand years.

- Mount Qomolangma (also known as Mount Everest), the highest point in the world, is located
between China and Nepal.

- In China, a person’s family name comes first, followed by the first name. There is no middle name.

- The three most popular Chinese family names are Li, Zhang, and Wang.

- In ancient China, Chinese characters were written on animal bones, turtle shells, silk, or bamboo slices.

The Forbidden City-Beijing-China

2008-05-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

The magnificent Forbidden City,so named because it was off limits to commoners for 500 years,was the imperial court for twenty-four emperors from the early days of the Ming dynasty in the 15th century until the fall of the Quing dynasty in 1911.It is the largest,most complete,and best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China,representing the work of battalions of laborers.Fires and lootings over the years have left a largely post 18th-century shell that mimics its original layout,and much of its storied wealth and opulent furnishings are long gone.Nonetheless,this vast complex of halls,pavilions,courtyards,and wall in a masterwork of architectural balance,monumental but never oppressive.A self guiding tape narrated by Roger Moore helps bring it alive,with tales of eunuchs,concubines,ministers,priests,court intrigues,and terrific excesses.Occupying more then 183 acres,the expensive complex earns the title of "city".It was not unusual for emperors and servants alike never to venture beyond the moat-surrounded 35-foot wall and formidable gates-ever.That they believed themselves to be at the cosmic centre of the universe is a fantasy visitors can readily appreciate today.
Where:also called the Imperial Palace(Gugong) or the Palace Museum,the Forbidden City is adjacent to Tiananmen Square,at the center of the city.
Best times:May to mid-June and late August to early November

Sintra,Lisbon-Portugal

2008-05-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Lord Byron had already seen his fair share of the Continent when he wrote to his mother fon Sintra,calling it "perhaps the most delightful(village) in Europe".Today the same cool,gentle climate and garden setting that made this a favorite summer residence for the Portuguese kings for more than 500 years provides city dwellers and tourists an idyllic respite from the heat and hustle of Lisbon.Commanding the highest peak are the dramatic 8th century ruins of a Moorish citadel,the Castelo dos Mouros,with a heavenly view to the sea.
Stay in a castle of your own at the Palacino de Seteais,a dreamy 18th-century palace built by the Dutch consul to Portugal that looks down across vineyards and orange groves to the sea mist.Common areas and some of the older guest rooms are graced with antiques;gold leaf and crystal chandeliers anchor ballroom-high ceilings.The name Seteais refers to seven sighs said to have been the reaction to a [eace treaty signed here during the Napoleonic wars-a reaction shared by many guests today,enthralled by the palace's spell.
www.tivolihotels.com

Museums in Germany

2008-05-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

There are around 6000 museums in Germany,and 600 of them are devoted solely to art.Here's just a small selection but you will find more at www.museen-deutchland.de.

Hamburg
The Spectrum at Hamburg's Deichtorhallen ranges from the Old Masters to contemporaray art and photography.
www.tagederkunstmeile.hamburg.de

Frankfurt
The two sides of the Museum Enbankment on the River Main are home to a series of 13 museums for art and culture.The Museum Embankment Festival,one of Europe's largest cultural events,is worth visiting.
www.frankfurt.de

Bonn
Within the brief space of just few years Bonn has developed an impressive museum complex with the Kunstmuseum,the Bundeskunsthalle and the Haus der Geschischte.
www.bonn.de

Dresden
Dresden's state art collections reside in eleven museums-including the Old Masters Picture Gallery in the Zwinger and the recently reopened Green Vault containing jewels of Saxony's rulers-and they attract 1.5 milion visitors each year.
www.skd-dresden.de

Munich
It's a good idea to plan on spending a few days to visit the numerous museum highlights in Munich including the world famous Pinakothek art galleries and Lenbach House.
www.pinakothek.de

Bora Bora

2008-05-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

If you ever have the chance to get to Bora Bora you will surely be amazed by the wonderful surroundings,the water and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla (or "Bollabolla").
If you want to know more about Bora Bora ,accommodation,food,traditions and free time you can find out by clicking here.
Enjoy your virtual trip!

JungfrauJoch-Bernese Oberland,Switzerland

2008-05-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

The scenic wonders of Switzerland all come into focus in the central region called the Bernese Oberland,and the rail trip up to the Jungfraujoh is the acme of all high-altitude excursions.At 11,400 feet,the Jungfraujoh terminus has been the highest railroad station in the world from more than a century,and,as one of the most popular excursions in Switzerland,it can often seem like Grand Central Station at rush hour.Come early or late in the season to avoid the worst of the crowds,and treat yourself to some of the most staggering mountain scenery anywhere in the world.There are stops along the way and things to do onces you arrive,including a visit to the chilled depths of the famed Eispalast,a cavernous area carved out of a glacier and featuring permanent ice sculpture on display.Check out the Sphinx Terrace,from which the views of the Monch and Jungfrau peaks are topped only by that of the 14-mile icy expanse of the aletch Glacier,Europe's longest.
Head for the Top of Europe restaurant for a lunch break that gives new meaning to "haute" cusine.Vary your return trip by taking the route to the traditional mountain village of Grindewald,which shares it's first class ski area with equally adorable Wengen.It is one of the region's most picturesque year-round resorts,dramatically set beneath the towering north face of the Eiger peak.In Interlaken,stay at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa.With refinement and service as light-weight as an eiderdown quilt and as efficient as a Swiss-made watch,the hotel is a monument to luxury,seemingly untouched since it was built in 1865.
Jungfraujoch rail trip:full day round trips offered daily from Interlaken(58 km southwest to Bern,145km southwest of Zurich) and Grindewald(27km east of Interlaken).Cost:110$ second class from Interlaken.
www.interlakentourism.ch

Koh Phi Phi-Thailand

2008-05-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Although devastated by the tsunami of December 2004,Koh Phi Phi,remains a textbook version of the ultimate dream isle.It was Hollywood's pick for the Leonardo DiCaprio sand-seeking vagabond dud The Beach.Against a backdrop of steep,jungled limestone cliffs,a few simple bungalow resorts dot crescents of palm-shaded bleached-white sand.Day-trippers from nearby Krabi or Phuket are transported by boat to the beaches of Koh Phi Phi Don,while those who hop a long tailed boat can visit even more spectacular Koh Phi Phi Le.Here you can visit unspoiled coves,crystal-clear waters,and nearly undeveloped beaches;Maya Bay,surrounded by soaring cliffs,is particularly beautiful.Snorkling is excellent.About the only other thing to do,besides waiting foar a simple grilled fish lunch at an open-air beachside spot,is to visit the immense,cathedral-like caverns,where Sea Gypsies harvest edible birds' nests,a delicacy prized by Chinese gourmets for their nutritional value.The simple grilled-fish lunch sounds better and better.:D
Where to stay:Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island with 77 beachfront bungalows snuggled in a coconut plantation.
Contact and informations at:reservations@hitours.com or www.stayxs.com

Amanwana-Moyo,Indonesia

2008-05-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

Located east of Bali,the tiny island of Moyo is inhabited almost exclusively by butterflies,crab-eating monkeys,and rusa deer-plus handful of cosseted barefoot visitors from this luxury nature camp,carved into a secluded cove amid lush jungle.The Amanwana gets its share of high-profile guests,but needn't be trying to elude paparazzi to relish being both a million miles from civilization and within hailing distance of an excellent kitchen,superb water sports,and a hotel staff that lives to serve you.The twenty beachfront "tent" accommodations are actually spacious,canvas-roofed,teak-floored bungalows replete with camouflaged modern amenities,where the absence of Tvs,telephones,and a daily newspaper will make reality seem like a bad dream.Most of the guests eventually set off on a series of nature walks inland,jeep trips to a waterfall,or boat excursions to pritine bays and secluded coral caves.Amanwana is one of Indonesia's prime dive resorts,and its 1000 foot vertical drop is home to giant lobster,turtles and white-tip reef sharks.At 5 o'clock,everyone's aboard the hotel's wooden outrigger for a sunset cruise on the Flores Sea,the evening sendoff to another fine day in paradise.
Cost:doubles from $725(includes all meals and some activities)
Acommodation:www.amanresorts.com