Sunday, November 24, 2013

Ski Aspen



Beneath Aspen's star-studded clientele and top-dollar real estate lies an old Colorado mining town rich in history and character.The surprisingly casual attitude reveals itself on Aspen's colorful downtown streets, with an array of top-of-the-line boutiques,world-renowned restaurants, art galleries and shops.But Aspen's main attractions are the surrounding mountains.Enjoy the world-famous views from four ski areas,over 70 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails, or soak it all in on a snowshoe or dogsledding tour.After an active day, enjoy choice of cuisine from diner to gourmet,from casual to elegant and everything in between.
Aspen is truly the ideal ski resort for a memorable ski vacation.A full range of Aspen lodging accommodations are available in this unforgettable resort from the elegantly deluxe to the simply comfortable.Perhaps the most surprising fact about Aspen is that it can be very affordable.

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Cadiz,Spain



Cadiz, founded in 1100 BC on a peninsula 76 miles (122km) south of Seville as a Phoenician trading post, is the oldest inhabited city in Europe and a popular holiday destination. It had to wait, however, until the 16th century before it came into its own as a launching point for journeys to the newly discovered lands of the Americas. From here Columbus set out on his second voyage. Sir Francis Drake later famously raided the city, as did Napoleon. The city's old town is picturesque and Moorish, with cobbled streets and squares, presided over by the Cathedral with a golden cupola. There is a gallery displaying some of Goya's works, and some lush parks on the headlands which offer panoramic views of the bay. The city is also home to some of Spain's loveliest beaches, including La Playa de la Caleta situated between two castles of the Old City, and La Playa de la Victoria, which is the most visited by holidaymakers for its safe bathing and watersports. 



Shopping A great place for quality Andalucian items like ceramics and leatherwork is Belle Epoque, close to the Museo de Cádiz. For incredible local foods go to Hecho in Cádiz. There are excellent food markets at Mercado Central de Abasto (the Central Market), La Merced and San Jose where high quality wine, sausages, and cheeses can be bought. 

Restaurants They say that Cadiz is home to the best fried fish in the world - and the best in town can be found at Las Flores Freideria on Plaza Topete. 

Nightlife Cadiz has a lively nightlife scene, with something for everyone, from laid-back beach bars serving tapas and ambient music to all-night clubs. The foundation for most evenings out is laid by tapas and sundowners, and the practice of botellón, which involves buying your own alcohol and drinking while strolling the plazas or the beach. The main nightclubs are on Playa Victoria beachfront, and tend to open around 10pm. The most popular club in town, from 4am when it opens, is El Hoyo on Calle Manuel Rancés. 

Activities Take a tasting tour along the Jerez wine route. Stroll cobbled stone alleys of the beautiful ancient old city or take some time out to visit Puerto del Cabrito for a view across the Straits of Gibraltar to Africa. Visitors to Cadiz should be sure to include on their holiday itinerary a trip to the town's cathedral and the Fine Arts and Archaeology Museum. Kite surfing in Tarifa is also a popular activity in Cadiz. 

Negatives Cadiz is a well-developed, hugely popular destination and therefore not suitable for those wanting a quiet holiday or looking to experience a traditional Spanish village. 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Cuenca, Spain

                         
Just two hours southeast of Madrid lies Cuenca, one of the most charming small towns you'll find anywhere on the Iberian peninsular. Located on a steep spur, above the confluence of two deep river gorges, Cuenca's magnificent geography is matched only by the architectural wonders contained within its medieval city walls. In fact, the entire town centre of Cuenca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (and has been since 1996), and visitors to Spain who are looking for a romantic town to wander around in for a few days are strongly encouraged to give Cuenca a try.

                    

 Full of Moorish fortresses, Gothic cathedrals with 'unum ex septem' signs outside (if you pray while looking at one of them, you'll get five years' worth of forgiveness for your sins), rococo-style convents, museums and parks, the most endearing feature of Cuenca is in fact its 'hanging houses', residences with cantilevered balconies that overhang the deep river gorges below. The strange angularity of these buildings is said to have inspired the artistic movement known as Cubism. A wonderful place to ramble around for a couple of days, Cuenca is an ideal stop for those travelling to Barcelona from Madrid.

                    

Monday, September 2, 2013

20 places in the world which are worth to see

The world we live in is full of wonderful places that many of us do not know that really there. We all know the joys of the great metropolises like New York, Paris, Rome, London ... and the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, the Caribbean, Cuba ... but there are other parts of the planet, and places that are beautiful, but not very well known. 

Santorini,Greece
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Glacier National Park-Montana
The Giant Buddha of Leshan,China
Natural Pool, Santorini Greece
Garden Nishinomary, Japan 
Bora Bora
The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah
Infinite Pool, Hotel Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Antelope Canyon, Аrizona
Carrera Lakes, Buenos Aires
Langkawi Sky Bridge
Capilano Bridge, Vancouver
Cliff Restaurant near Sanyou Cave above the Chang Jiang River
Terengganu, Malaysia
Castle Elian Donan, Scotland
Marqueyssac Gardens, France
Great Wall of China
Zakynthos, Greece

The Faroe Islands, Denmark



The Faroe Islands  are 18 islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. The Islands are a self-governing island territory of Denmark.The Islands have a population of nearly 50,000  and a language and culture of their own. When visiting the Faroe you are never more than 5 km (3 miles) away from the ocean. The countryside is dominated by steep mountains.The Faroe Islands are undeniably beautiful: green, rugged and wind-swept. Most visitors to the islands come between early July and late August.




One of the main reasons that people visit the Faroe Islands is the incredible nature and scenery. The Faroe Islands turn extraordinarily green during the summertime. The fresh air, the deep blue ocean, the vertical sea cliffs and the green mountains with their picturesque valleys, is something which would amaze anyone who enjoys being surrounded by nature. There are bus rides, horse trekking, mountain hikes and boat trips which allow you to enjoy the magnificent wild green landscape. Sometimes the summer fog creates a mystical landscape, in which you may vividly imagine the great history and mystical stories belonging to the islands. 


Colmar, France



An attractive town in northeast France, Colmar is one of the most popular tourist draws to the Alsace region. Founded in the 9th century, the city boasts many beautiful architectural landmarks, including churches, museums, theatres, mansions, monuments and fountains, many dating back to the 13th century. Colmar is surprisingly big for a medieval city, but visitors should still be able to walk around on foot without much trouble. In addition to its beauty, Colmar is a lively city with music festivals and other events throughout the year. It is also a centre for the German and French-influenced Alsatian cuisine, and visitors can sample local specialties like quiche Lorraine, Black Forest cake, Sauerkraut, and the many varieties of Alsace wine. Attractions in the town include the Musee d'Unterlinden (Museum under the Linden Trees) which is a small but popular art and history museum with an impressive collection of artefacts. The most famous piece is the magnificent Issenheim Altarpiece. Little Venice, a particularly pretty neighbourhood in Colmar, is a good place to take a gondola ride and enjoy the medieval architecture passing you by. The Eglise des Dominicains is a lovely church which now houses Martin Shongaurer's painting 'Madonna of the Rose Garden'. The gothic Eglise St-Martin is also well worth a visit.

Sintra, Portugal

                 

The picturesque resort town of Sintra, 18 miles (29km) north-west of Lisbon, lies at the heart of one of Portugal's most appealing holiday regions, abounding with natural beauty, historical and cultural attractions and plenty of leisure opportunities. Sintra itself, characterised by lush greenery, bright splashes of flowers and elaborate 'wedding cake' palaces, was described as a 'glorious Eden' by classic poet Lord Byron. No wonder it was once chosen by royalty and nobility as the place to build their summer holiday retreats and, in more modern times, has been accorded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sintra is actually an amalgamation of three villages, sprawling down a steep granite hillside, so the layout is a little confusing for visitors on holiday. The huge Palacio Nacional, with its tall, conical chimneys serves as a landmark in the centre of Sintra, and makes a good starting point for walking tours of the key attractions of this fascinating fairy-tale town, captured by Christian Crusaders from the Moors in 1147. A fun way to see the town and surrounds is aboard the historic 100-year-old Sintra Tram, which connects Estefanea to Praia das Macas. It is open for rides for the public on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a couple of Euros. 

            


Shopping Shopping in Sintra becomes a tour of traditional Portuguese folk art and crafts. Do not expect a frenetic spending spree in glitzy modern malls. Sintra's shops are tucked away in narrow cobblestone streets, waiting to be ferreted out by those who appreciate fine holiday souvenirs, like hand-painted ceramics, lace, beaten copper and bronze, embroidered linen and jewellery. Goods come from all over the country, including the Azores. Prices can be steep, but most merchants are open to a little bargaining. Best place to shop is the Praca da Republica and Sao Pedro Square. Those who are seeking modern designer clothing and houseware will have to travel out of town to the huge Cascais Shopping Centre, the area's largest shopping mall. 

Restaurants The best Sintra restaurants tend to keep their offerings local, often with international overtones. Some delicious specialities of the region to look out for are Negrais suckling pig, Merces pork, roast kid, bass and shellfish of all sorts. Then there are the pastries, particularly Sintra queijadas, which are like mini-cheesecakes, made to an age-old recipe. Cream cakes and local jams complete the temptations, all of which should be accompanied by some excellent Portuguese wines. Classical, comfortable dining is offered at Tacho Real on the Rua de Ferraria; for 'haute' Portuguese fare it is hard to beat the luxurious ambience of the Palacio de Seteais; and another recommendation is the rustic Refúgio da Roca on Estrade do Cabo da Roca, Colares. Of course Sintra does have a McDonalds too, but for the best in local fare, try GSpot Gastronomia and Restaurante Dom Pipas, both tucked away in small villages. 

Nightlife Sintra is certainly not a party town, but as one appreciative visitor remarked: 'When there are so many marvels to enjoy during the day, who needs nightlife?' Evenings tend to be spent sedately, dining and wining. There are, of course, several bars in the town, some of which occasionally offer live music and can work up quite a buzz. The liveliest bars and cafes are on the Rua das Padarias, Rua Fonte da Pipa and Rua da Ferraria. Late night owls should enjoy the Adega das Caves bodega, which is open until the wee hours on the Praca da Republica, drawing an international crowd. 

Activities Most tourists are drawn to Sintra for sightseeing, and there are plenty of historic buildings and museums to fill a busy holiday itinerary including the Sintra Modern Art Museum, Toy Museum and Archaeological Museum. Sintra also offers all that is necessary for a seaside holiday, its golden sands, clear Atlantic waters and magnificent coastline ensuring it is a real fun-in-the-sun pleasure spot. Best beaches are Sao Juliao, Magoito, Macas, Grande and Adraga. There are opportunities for a host of water sports, with surfing and fishing being the most popular. The clifftops provide perfect platforms for paragliders. Golfers are also drawn to Sintra to the Estoril-Sol Golf Club, which lies at the foot of the Sintra mountain range. Although only a 9-hole course it is sought after for its beautiful forested setting. 

Negatives Sintra has little to offer the young clubbing and party set, being more of a sightseeing or beach holiday destination. Its close proximity to Lisbon means that it is often crowded at weekends in summer.