Land of contrasts, multi-faced, magic and mysterious, from Southern deserts to the High Lands' hills, the amateur of adventures and discovery will find it uneasy to chose. Speleology, climbing, canoeing,
rafting, bike, paragliding and other adventure sports, can be practised on this huge and spectacular playground, with tropical colours and in a cinemascope's atmosphere and decor style.
An expedition in Madagascar is unforgettable ! Apart from some classical tours, everything is to be done.
If there has been speleology since the beginning of the colonization, games on living waters and on the rocks only begin to gather adepts. We must aknowledge that the ground is rather good for such activities.
Varied landscapes and climates, generally welcoming people.
In fact, the main problem is logistics ! The trails are often in a disastrous condition and a long-distance trek must include a procession of porters, carts heavily loaded with equipment, powerful 4-wheel drive vehicles and a good knowledge of the ground. Each tour takes quickly the appearances of an expedition, but it is the price to discover fantastic spots. Launching new routes - pleasure getting too unusual in Europe, has something exciting, unique.
To turn up in villages where they have forgotten the last visit of a «Mompera Vazaha» (European priest), like extra-earthlings, arousing fear and curiosity, then after the «fomba» (tradition), have a drink, between men from different cultures, it is wonderful.
You can find the full article here
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Fortaleza - Brazil
The name Fortaleza means "Fortress". The first building in the what is called today Fortaleza was the Fortress Schoonenborch, built in 1649 by the Dutch, who at the time had invaded and were occupying cities in the Brazilian northeast, such as Recife and Natal. After the Dutch were expelled, the city changed name a few times, until settling with Fortaleza.
Two words define the capital of Ceará State: sun and party. Sun is absolute on 25 kilometers of beaches; Fortaleza is the Brazilian coastal city with most sunny days throughout the year. Party is the permanent state of spirit of the people and the city. Forró, typical musical style on the region of northeast, is on the people's blood, on the beaches, on the bars, on the restaurants, on the hotels, in the dance clubs, on the streets of Fortaleza.
If people's happiness and hospitality and the cultural animation are characteristics that make people love Fortaleza at the first sight, other elements also contribute to include the city on the required route of the visitor on Brazil's Northeast. Modern capital, it has become one of the preferred beach of Brazilian and Latin-American visitors due to the combination of a privileged nature with an excellent infra-structure, sophisticated tourist equipments, good reception and services. Besides, the government of Ceará is fully aware of the importance of tourism in the local economy, and the State is the one which makes most investments in marketing to attract tourists from Brazil and abroad.
Place of lobsters, Fortaleza has luxury hotels, resorts, excellent restaurants and bars, diversified commerce and an intense nightlife ensuring the best time to the visitors. Because of all these factors, each day more and more tourists are walking by the sidewalks on Meireles beach with shorts, slippers and colorful shirts, appreciating the poetic movement of the raftings (called, in Portuguese, jangadas). The capital of Ceará possesses one of the largest and best equipped networks of hotels and restaurants in the North East Region of Brazil. The Jangada is a kind of symbol of the city and lobster is one of its most typical dishes. The city has a hot climate and affords a warm reception to visitors, attracted mainly by the beauty of its beaches. Beach Park at Ponta das Dunas is the largest water park in Brazil, offering also one of the best hotel resorts in Brazil.
You can find the full article here
Two words define the capital of Ceará State: sun and party. Sun is absolute on 25 kilometers of beaches; Fortaleza is the Brazilian coastal city with most sunny days throughout the year. Party is the permanent state of spirit of the people and the city. Forró, typical musical style on the region of northeast, is on the people's blood, on the beaches, on the bars, on the restaurants, on the hotels, in the dance clubs, on the streets of Fortaleza.
If people's happiness and hospitality and the cultural animation are characteristics that make people love Fortaleza at the first sight, other elements also contribute to include the city on the required route of the visitor on Brazil's Northeast. Modern capital, it has become one of the preferred beach of Brazilian and Latin-American visitors due to the combination of a privileged nature with an excellent infra-structure, sophisticated tourist equipments, good reception and services. Besides, the government of Ceará is fully aware of the importance of tourism in the local economy, and the State is the one which makes most investments in marketing to attract tourists from Brazil and abroad.
Place of lobsters, Fortaleza has luxury hotels, resorts, excellent restaurants and bars, diversified commerce and an intense nightlife ensuring the best time to the visitors. Because of all these factors, each day more and more tourists are walking by the sidewalks on Meireles beach with shorts, slippers and colorful shirts, appreciating the poetic movement of the raftings (called, in Portuguese, jangadas). The capital of Ceará possesses one of the largest and best equipped networks of hotels and restaurants in the North East Region of Brazil. The Jangada is a kind of symbol of the city and lobster is one of its most typical dishes. The city has a hot climate and affords a warm reception to visitors, attracted mainly by the beauty of its beaches. Beach Park at Ponta das Dunas is the largest water park in Brazil, offering also one of the best hotel resorts in Brazil.
You can find the full article here
Puerto Vallarta - Mexico
On the beautiful Mexican Pacific Coast, where the state of Nayarit joins the state of Jalisco, the home of tequila, mariachi music, famous artists, movie sets, and stunning handicrafts, lies Puerto Vallarta, one of the most popular tropical destinations in the world.
Located about halfway down the Pacific coast of Mexico, it is about a four hour drive to Guadalajara (45 min. by air), about 1,000 miles (driving) to Mexico City. San Cristóbal, in the southern state of Chiapas, is almost 2,000 miles away; and it is a little more than 2,000 miles to the border with Guatemala. From Puerto Vallarta to the US border is about 1,275 miles to Nogales and roughly 1,760 miles to Tijuana traveling by vehicle. Vallarta can be reached by land through Federal Highway 200, by sea, or by air.
You can find the full article here
Located about halfway down the Pacific coast of Mexico, it is about a four hour drive to Guadalajara (45 min. by air), about 1,000 miles (driving) to Mexico City. San Cristóbal, in the southern state of Chiapas, is almost 2,000 miles away; and it is a little more than 2,000 miles to the border with Guatemala. From Puerto Vallarta to the US border is about 1,275 miles to Nogales and roughly 1,760 miles to Tijuana traveling by vehicle. Vallarta can be reached by land through Federal Highway 200, by sea, or by air.
You can find the full article here
Monday, April 17, 2006
A Mountaineering Expedition on Pico de Orizaba - Mexico
Opting out on the Mexico City smog, from Denver we flew into the Caribbean port town of Vera Cruz. This would allow us, we reasoned, to enjoy a happy margarita on the beach after the climb. The day after we arrived was spent piecing together bus schedules from the coast up into the Cordillera de Anahuac and the tiny town of Tlachichuca. There were no direct buses to Tlachichuca, so the day was spent dragging our expedition duffels from bus to bus, heaving them in and out of various taxis, and struggling though many desperate conversations with bus personnel about times, schedules and routes. I had forgotten that climbing the volcano was actually only PART of the adventure.
Venturing across Mexico by local buses isn't the easiest or safest way to go, but it does expose you to the amazing people and reality of small town life in Latin America. Along the way, the geography changed from the humid coastal lowlands and Pacific oil palms to the dry and rugged cordillera. When we got to the Reyes compound in Tlachichuca, it was almost 9 pm and we were grimy from a day spent wading through Mexico's rural bus system. We settled with Reyes at the office of the hostel, where he uttered his famous line, and were set up with a few nights lodging and transport up and back from the volcano.
Other people at the Reyes had just come back from the mountain and sat around on couches in front of a pot-bellied stove staring at the wall across the room. They were exhausted and sunburned, their faces all red and windblown. A few quick conversations revealed that only about half the group made the summit in spite of the good weather. These also revealed that three Russians had died on Orizaba just the week before in a fall on the glacier. There was the scared story of one climber who got to 17,000 feet and blacked out, having to be helped down the mountain to the base of the glacier roped to another climber.
The ones who made it were rather upbeat about the whole thing, but everyone was so tired that little of this enthusiasm shone through. After dinner one of Reyes' staff mountain guides held a fascinating slide show on climbs in South America and Nepal. But by the end of it half the people were fast asleep on the couches. We walked around the place briefly after hearing the stories, letting everything sink in.
Reyes runs a slick service out of Tlachichuca. He has an old soap factory that he has converted into a climbers' hostel. It occupies half of a 'chuca' city block and has an enclosed wall that gives it the feel of a "compound." Various implements of machinery adorn the main building such as the huge oak mixing vats for the lard and lye, belt-driven mixer paddles and the vast old furnace. In the main building there is a gear room and a few couches around a pot belly stove.
Everywhere people have posted flags, business cards and stickers from mountaineering clubs all over the world. A rack room upstairs holds 20 bunk beds with woolen blankets. In the courtyard outside there is a covered garage which houses three Dodge Power Wagons, huge and beefy 4WD vehicles for taking climbers up the road to Piedra Grande, the base camp for the summit attempts. 1952 and 1962 models, they have been fully restored and are probably the most reliable transport to Piedra Grande. We fell asleep that first night in the rack room listening to the snores of the other climbers. Outside, a nearly humorous cacophony of dogs, roosters, burros and car horns continued all night.
You can find the full article here
Venturing across Mexico by local buses isn't the easiest or safest way to go, but it does expose you to the amazing people and reality of small town life in Latin America. Along the way, the geography changed from the humid coastal lowlands and Pacific oil palms to the dry and rugged cordillera. When we got to the Reyes compound in Tlachichuca, it was almost 9 pm and we were grimy from a day spent wading through Mexico's rural bus system. We settled with Reyes at the office of the hostel, where he uttered his famous line, and were set up with a few nights lodging and transport up and back from the volcano.
Other people at the Reyes had just come back from the mountain and sat around on couches in front of a pot-bellied stove staring at the wall across the room. They were exhausted and sunburned, their faces all red and windblown. A few quick conversations revealed that only about half the group made the summit in spite of the good weather. These also revealed that three Russians had died on Orizaba just the week before in a fall on the glacier. There was the scared story of one climber who got to 17,000 feet and blacked out, having to be helped down the mountain to the base of the glacier roped to another climber.
The ones who made it were rather upbeat about the whole thing, but everyone was so tired that little of this enthusiasm shone through. After dinner one of Reyes' staff mountain guides held a fascinating slide show on climbs in South America and Nepal. But by the end of it half the people were fast asleep on the couches. We walked around the place briefly after hearing the stories, letting everything sink in.
Reyes runs a slick service out of Tlachichuca. He has an old soap factory that he has converted into a climbers' hostel. It occupies half of a 'chuca' city block and has an enclosed wall that gives it the feel of a "compound." Various implements of machinery adorn the main building such as the huge oak mixing vats for the lard and lye, belt-driven mixer paddles and the vast old furnace. In the main building there is a gear room and a few couches around a pot belly stove.
Everywhere people have posted flags, business cards and stickers from mountaineering clubs all over the world. A rack room upstairs holds 20 bunk beds with woolen blankets. In the courtyard outside there is a covered garage which houses three Dodge Power Wagons, huge and beefy 4WD vehicles for taking climbers up the road to Piedra Grande, the base camp for the summit attempts. 1952 and 1962 models, they have been fully restored and are probably the most reliable transport to Piedra Grande. We fell asleep that first night in the rack room listening to the snores of the other climbers. Outside, a nearly humorous cacophony of dogs, roosters, burros and car horns continued all night.
You can find the full article here
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Mazatlan - Mexico
The nickname which has been given to Mazatlán... "Pearl of the Pacific", has nothing to do with pearls, it is a gracious compliment to this very friendly Pacific resort city. Mazatlán is a very interesting city and embraces tourism with a zest, but Mazatlán is more than just a resort. Mazatlán could survive just fine without tourism. The tourism industry in Mazatlán is not the most important item on this city's agenda. This translates to a more kicked back attitude toward tourism and this can be a big plus to tourists. Much of the hype and constant pressure from hotels, timeshare companies and the tourist sector in general for the tourism dollar is more sedate here. This equates to a more relaxed vacation to the average tourist.
Mazatlán is home to the Pacifico brewery, which makes one of Mexico's most popular beers. The local shrimp fleet is the largest in Mexico, there is a large commercial fishing fleet as well and Mazatlán is also home to numerous other industries. If you stay where most tourists stay, Zona Dorada, you would never know Mazatlán was such an industrious city. So Mazatlán is a little different than most resorts. Mazatlán is also a city with an incredible history.
When you visit Mazatlán, you should prepare yourself for an active vacation. Mazatlán has great beaches, many attractions, a variety of interesting historical sites and many interesting monuments spread out all over the city. Just visiting the monuments and statues could take up an entire day. Of course, if all you want to do is enjoy the surf and sun, this is OK too. The beach and the water activities associated with resort vacations is what vacations are all about for many travelers. Mazatlán offers you many different choices for your vacation, kicked back - full relaxation, active - adventurous, ecological - exploratory. You may come to Mazatlán to relax but the lure of exploration is a constant possibility if you happen to venture very far away from your hotel.
Mazatlán has been known for years to big game fisherman worldwide for the excellent sport fishing here, as evidenced by the number of sportfishing fleets. Mazatlán is also a base for nearby freshwater bass fishing tours. Excellent Dove, Duck and Quail hunting is readily available in the outlying areas.
Mazatlán is home to one of the worlds greatest parties, Carnival. Mazatlán during Carnival is an unforgettable experience. Carnival, usually the last week in February or the first part of March, is a 100 year old Mazatlán tradition. The expertise that goes into the planning of this event is evident everywhere during Carnival. This is truly one of the great celebrations in the world. If you wish to visit Mazatlán during Carnival you should make your reservations well in advance as this giant party is no secret among the Mexicans and savvy travelers.
You can find the full article here
Mazatlán is home to the Pacifico brewery, which makes one of Mexico's most popular beers. The local shrimp fleet is the largest in Mexico, there is a large commercial fishing fleet as well and Mazatlán is also home to numerous other industries. If you stay where most tourists stay, Zona Dorada, you would never know Mazatlán was such an industrious city. So Mazatlán is a little different than most resorts. Mazatlán is also a city with an incredible history.
When you visit Mazatlán, you should prepare yourself for an active vacation. Mazatlán has great beaches, many attractions, a variety of interesting historical sites and many interesting monuments spread out all over the city. Just visiting the monuments and statues could take up an entire day. Of course, if all you want to do is enjoy the surf and sun, this is OK too. The beach and the water activities associated with resort vacations is what vacations are all about for many travelers. Mazatlán offers you many different choices for your vacation, kicked back - full relaxation, active - adventurous, ecological - exploratory. You may come to Mazatlán to relax but the lure of exploration is a constant possibility if you happen to venture very far away from your hotel.
Mazatlán has been known for years to big game fisherman worldwide for the excellent sport fishing here, as evidenced by the number of sportfishing fleets. Mazatlán is also a base for nearby freshwater bass fishing tours. Excellent Dove, Duck and Quail hunting is readily available in the outlying areas.
Mazatlán is home to one of the worlds greatest parties, Carnival. Mazatlán during Carnival is an unforgettable experience. Carnival, usually the last week in February or the first part of March, is a 100 year old Mazatlán tradition. The expertise that goes into the planning of this event is evident everywhere during Carnival. This is truly one of the great celebrations in the world. If you wish to visit Mazatlán during Carnival you should make your reservations well in advance as this giant party is no secret among the Mexicans and savvy travelers.
You can find the full article here
Machu Picchu - Peru
Modern visitors wanting a visceral taste of Machu Picchu's impregnability can hike 20 minutes past the city to a sheer granite cliff face. Public access beyond this point is prohibited, but the wooden barricade adorned with a prohibido el paso sign is only for the benefit of the insane. From here the trail threads its way down across the precipitous cliff face on a narrow ledge. The sight makes your skin crawl. Halfway across, stretched over thin air, is a large gap spanned by a few logs that Inca guards once slid back and forth as a "drawbridge" to control access. An invading army stood no chance.
But how did a civilization with no iron tools and no wheel manage to chisel and move huge 15-ton blocks along this Andean ridge? Large teams of men apparently dragged the boulders from nearby quarries, positioning them atop building walls via earthen ramps. Half-worked boulders at the small quarry inside Machu Picchu still bear notches where bronze chisels were inserted into cracks. Experts believe heat was then applied to help split boulders. The building blocks were sculpted to fit one another precisely, without mortar—no small task considering how many times the massive blocks had to be moved to get the right fit. Today, even after centuries of earthquakes and weather, you can't slip a razor blade between the stones of some walls.
Archeologists speculate Machu Picchu was built in the 1400s as more than simply a citadel or fortress. Its alignment with sacred Inca mountains, rivers and astronomical points suggests agreement with celestial and terrestrial deities was at least as important as inaccessibility from invaders.
A short walk up the pyramidal mount called Intihuatana in the center of Machu Picchu gives visitors a vivid sense of the city's spiritual magnetism. At the top is a man-sized obelisk. It's said that Inca priests "lassoed" the sun to the obelisk at each winter solstice so it couldn't continue its northward retreat and leave them in darkness. In Quechuan, the language of the Incas, Intihuatana is interpreted by some to mean "hitching post of the sun."
You can find the full article here
But how did a civilization with no iron tools and no wheel manage to chisel and move huge 15-ton blocks along this Andean ridge? Large teams of men apparently dragged the boulders from nearby quarries, positioning them atop building walls via earthen ramps. Half-worked boulders at the small quarry inside Machu Picchu still bear notches where bronze chisels were inserted into cracks. Experts believe heat was then applied to help split boulders. The building blocks were sculpted to fit one another precisely, without mortar—no small task considering how many times the massive blocks had to be moved to get the right fit. Today, even after centuries of earthquakes and weather, you can't slip a razor blade between the stones of some walls.
Archeologists speculate Machu Picchu was built in the 1400s as more than simply a citadel or fortress. Its alignment with sacred Inca mountains, rivers and astronomical points suggests agreement with celestial and terrestrial deities was at least as important as inaccessibility from invaders.
A short walk up the pyramidal mount called Intihuatana in the center of Machu Picchu gives visitors a vivid sense of the city's spiritual magnetism. At the top is a man-sized obelisk. It's said that Inca priests "lassoed" the sun to the obelisk at each winter solstice so it couldn't continue its northward retreat and leave them in darkness. In Quechuan, the language of the Incas, Intihuatana is interpreted by some to mean "hitching post of the sun."
You can find the full article here
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Hotel Lagoa e Mar - Bahia - Brazil
Praia de Jauá, the beach of Jauá, is situated north of Salvador da Bahia at the 'Estrada do Coco' and is „one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil“ (magazine GEO, Spain), with its mile long white sandy beaches. At some parts reefs form natural pools when the tide is out. The southern beaches are almost deserted. In Jauá itself there are even more restaurants, bars, supermarkets and other shopping facilities and visitors can sample a host of Bahian food and drinks in any of the more than forty beach pavilions.
Distances from the hotel: Beach 350 m; Salvador Airport 17 km (app. 20 min by car); Pelourinho - Historic Centre of Salvador 40 km (app. 45 min by car). There is a regular busservice between Jauá and Salvador and some neighbour villages (not at night).
The Hotel Lagoa e Mar is situated in a tropical garden on the banks of a natural lake and consists of twelve spacious circular bungalows (app. 40 m²). The complex has a swimming pool with a separate pool for small children, sun terrace (with bedchairs and sunshades), bar with reading-room, playground and a restaurant.
You can find the full article here
Distances from the hotel: Beach 350 m; Salvador Airport 17 km (app. 20 min by car); Pelourinho - Historic Centre of Salvador 40 km (app. 45 min by car). There is a regular busservice between Jauá and Salvador and some neighbour villages (not at night).
The Hotel Lagoa e Mar is situated in a tropical garden on the banks of a natural lake and consists of twelve spacious circular bungalows (app. 40 m²). The complex has a swimming pool with a separate pool for small children, sun terrace (with bedchairs and sunshades), bar with reading-room, playground and a restaurant.
You can find the full article here
Salvador da Bahia - Brazil
Bahia's capital of Salvador (the name of the city was "Bahia" until it was changed by officious meddlers at the beginning of the twentieth century) sits on a spit of land sticking south south-west into the Atlantic Ocean. And although it sits well within the tropics at a southern latitude of thirteen degrees, it receives a refreshing sea-breeze which seldom falters until the wee hours of the morning when things have generally cooled off anyway. The city sits on a huge bay, a Baia de Todos os Santos (the Bay of All Saints), and the topography is predominently hill and valley.
And it's this rugged geography which is so disorienting to people new to the city. Neighborhoods (bairros) tend to be built on the heights, with thoroughfares twisting around and between. Streets zigzag and change names, and a lot of them are one-way, necessitating roundabout ways of arriving at any given destination. It can take a long time to catch on, but by the same token it can add even more of an element of mystery to the place.
One of the principal characteristics of the city is the outgoingness of the people. People talk to strangers here, are friendly to them. People are not divided by that initial suspicion of strangers that marks so many other places, at least as far as where sociability is concerned. It's easy to meet people.
But there's another characteristic which often takes first-time visitors to Salvador by surprise: I'm referring to the city's urbanscape, its architecture, building and home styles. Colonial Pelourinho was built while Bahia was the economic powerhouse of South America, and many of the buildings are splendid. Most of the rest of Salvador was built on a shoestring, and the results range from the unpainted claybrick shacks of the poor to the reinforced concrete buildings one sees everywhere (usually in need of a painting), to the more expensive modern and generally undistinguished apartment towers found in the middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods. People expecting leafy tropical bungalows may be disappointed. This is an urban, third-world city, with plenty of crowds and traffic jams. It does, however, retain its renowned Bahian soul, and tropical serenity (along with those leafy tropical bungalows) is very close at hand.
You can find the full article here
And it's this rugged geography which is so disorienting to people new to the city. Neighborhoods (bairros) tend to be built on the heights, with thoroughfares twisting around and between. Streets zigzag and change names, and a lot of them are one-way, necessitating roundabout ways of arriving at any given destination. It can take a long time to catch on, but by the same token it can add even more of an element of mystery to the place.
One of the principal characteristics of the city is the outgoingness of the people. People talk to strangers here, are friendly to them. People are not divided by that initial suspicion of strangers that marks so many other places, at least as far as where sociability is concerned. It's easy to meet people.
But there's another characteristic which often takes first-time visitors to Salvador by surprise: I'm referring to the city's urbanscape, its architecture, building and home styles. Colonial Pelourinho was built while Bahia was the economic powerhouse of South America, and many of the buildings are splendid. Most of the rest of Salvador was built on a shoestring, and the results range from the unpainted claybrick shacks of the poor to the reinforced concrete buildings one sees everywhere (usually in need of a painting), to the more expensive modern and generally undistinguished apartment towers found in the middle and upper-middle class neighborhoods. People expecting leafy tropical bungalows may be disappointed. This is an urban, third-world city, with plenty of crowds and traffic jams. It does, however, retain its renowned Bahian soul, and tropical serenity (along with those leafy tropical bungalows) is very close at hand.
You can find the full article here
Monday, April 10, 2006
Aguadilla - Puerto Rico
Aguadilla is known as "La Villa del Ojo de Agua" (village of the eye of water). Aguadilla is also known as "El Pueblo de los Tiburones" (town of the sharks), and recently "El Nuevo Jardín del Atlántico" (the new garden of the Atlantic). Aguadilla was founded in 1775 by Luis de Córdova. Aguadilla derives its name from a name given by the Indians "Guadilla or Guadiya" which means garden.
Aguadilla is best known to visitors for its beaches and for traditional mundillo lace-making (bobbin lace). Aguadilla's most popular surfing beaches include Crash Boat, famous for it's crystal clear waters, Gas Chambers, and Wilderness.
Among Aguadilla's main attractions you will find the popular "Parque Acuático Las Cascadas", a modern aquatic theme park, the biggest in the Caribbean and the "Merendero", with a beautiful view of the town's bay and the nearby Desecheo islet.
You can find the full article here
Aguadilla is best known to visitors for its beaches and for traditional mundillo lace-making (bobbin lace). Aguadilla's most popular surfing beaches include Crash Boat, famous for it's crystal clear waters, Gas Chambers, and Wilderness.
Among Aguadilla's main attractions you will find the popular "Parque Acuático Las Cascadas", a modern aquatic theme park, the biggest in the Caribbean and the "Merendero", with a beautiful view of the town's bay and the nearby Desecheo islet.
You can find the full article here
Sunday, April 09, 2006
San Juan - Puerto Rico
Many believe San Juan is a small Spanish colonial town with but a few bustling avenues. However this impression does not aptly describe the breath and depth of this fine old-world city. Modern-day San Juan encompasses a vast metropolis that covers seven unique and distinct districts. This makes for an eclectic combination of sights and sounds that is essential to the wonder and joy of visiting San Juan.
Old San Juan/Puerta de Tierra
San Juan is a traditional, colonial city that is bordered by walls. As the seat of the island's bicameral government, it houses La Fortaleza, home of the Governor and El Capitolio, the seat of the House of Representatives. The Senate, on the other hand is located in nearby Puerta de Tierra. However, both districts can be found on the islet of San Juan and are connected to the mainland via several bridges. Old San Juan itself consists of narrow streets encompassing over four hundred years of history and tradition. Dine in one of the great establishments on Fortaleza Street, party in San Sebastián until dawn or simply stroll along the charming avenues and thoroughfares. Similar to Europe, a famous tradition in Old San Juan is to people-watch. And there is no better place to indulge in this activity than from one of the several plazas that are located throughout the city. This town has something for all ages, young and old. A ‘must-see' is the impressive Spanish fort called El Morro located on the north side of the islet. Puerta de Tierra houses hotels such as the famous Caribe Hilton and the Radisson Normandie. While a lot of Old San Juan has been in a state of disrepair, the current renovations are making this once decrepit community, an acceptable tourist destination.
You can find the full article here
Old San Juan/Puerta de Tierra
San Juan is a traditional, colonial city that is bordered by walls. As the seat of the island's bicameral government, it houses La Fortaleza, home of the Governor and El Capitolio, the seat of the House of Representatives. The Senate, on the other hand is located in nearby Puerta de Tierra. However, both districts can be found on the islet of San Juan and are connected to the mainland via several bridges. Old San Juan itself consists of narrow streets encompassing over four hundred years of history and tradition. Dine in one of the great establishments on Fortaleza Street, party in San Sebastián until dawn or simply stroll along the charming avenues and thoroughfares. Similar to Europe, a famous tradition in Old San Juan is to people-watch. And there is no better place to indulge in this activity than from one of the several plazas that are located throughout the city. This town has something for all ages, young and old. A ‘must-see' is the impressive Spanish fort called El Morro located on the north side of the islet. Puerta de Tierra houses hotels such as the famous Caribe Hilton and the Radisson Normandie. While a lot of Old San Juan has been in a state of disrepair, the current renovations are making this once decrepit community, an acceptable tourist destination.
You can find the full article here
San Juan - Puerto Rico
San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city). San Juan was founded in 1521. In 1508 Juan Ponce de León founded the original settlement, Caparra, now known as Pueblo Viejo, behind the almost land-locked harbor just to the west of the present metropolitan area.
A year later, the settlement was abandoned and moved to the site of what is now called Old San Juan. San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest city in the Americas.
San Juan is located in the Northern Coastal Plains region in the karst zone, north of Aguas Buenas and Caguas; east of Bayamón; and west of Carolina and Trujillo Alto.
San Juan is a major port and tourist resort of the West Indies and is the oldest city under the U.S flag. The metropolitan area known as San Juan has 3 distinct areas: Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort area, and other outlying communities, the most important: Río Piedras, Hato Rey, Puerta de Tierra, and Santurce. Río Piedras was founded in 1714 but became incorporated into San Juan in 1951.
During the early 16th century, San Juan was the point of departure of Spanish expeditions to charter or settle unknown parts of the New World. Its fortifications repulsed the English navigator Sir Francis Drake in 1595, as well as later attacks.
In the 20th century the city expanded beyond its walled confines, known as Old San Juan, to incorporate suburban Miramar, Santurce, Condado, Hato Rey and Río Piedras.
San Juan is the largest processing center of the island, the metropolitan area has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling and produces cement, pharmaceuticals, metal products clothing, and tobacco. The port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. San Juan is the country's financial capital, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centers there. San Juan is center of Caribbean shipping and is the 2nd largest sea port in the area (after New York City).
You can find the full article here
A year later, the settlement was abandoned and moved to the site of what is now called Old San Juan. San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest city in the Americas.
San Juan is located in the Northern Coastal Plains region in the karst zone, north of Aguas Buenas and Caguas; east of Bayamón; and west of Carolina and Trujillo Alto.
San Juan is a major port and tourist resort of the West Indies and is the oldest city under the U.S flag. The metropolitan area known as San Juan has 3 distinct areas: Old San Juan, the Beach & Resort area, and other outlying communities, the most important: Río Piedras, Hato Rey, Puerta de Tierra, and Santurce. Río Piedras was founded in 1714 but became incorporated into San Juan in 1951.
During the early 16th century, San Juan was the point of departure of Spanish expeditions to charter or settle unknown parts of the New World. Its fortifications repulsed the English navigator Sir Francis Drake in 1595, as well as later attacks.
In the 20th century the city expanded beyond its walled confines, known as Old San Juan, to incorporate suburban Miramar, Santurce, Condado, Hato Rey and Río Piedras.
San Juan is the largest processing center of the island, the metropolitan area has facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, brewing and distilling and produces cement, pharmaceuticals, metal products clothing, and tobacco. The port is one of the busiest in the Caribbean. San Juan is the country's financial capital, and many U.S. banks and corporations maintain offices or distributing centers there. San Juan is center of Caribbean shipping and is the 2nd largest sea port in the area (after New York City).
You can find the full article here
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Cartagena - Colombia
The people of Cartagena want the world to know that their city is not like the rest of Colombia. Perched atop South America on the southern rim of the Caribbean Sea, Cartagena feels a million miles from anything having to do with guerrillas, paramilitaries, narcotics or kidnappings.
Forum: Travel in the News
This former hub of the Spanish empire — a major shipping port for New World riches, and a slave market and Inquisition center — is surrounded by massive stone walls, within which sit hundreds of gorgeous colonial homes, churches, plazas and parks. The Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site, is filled with friendly people and harmless, if persistent, souvenir hawkers — all conducting their lives, business and romances outdoors.
In fact, Cartagena, crime-wise, compares well with other Caribbean destinations. Though the State Department continues to warn of the dangers of travel to Colombia, it says that "violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas," including Cartagena. A department spokeswoman said its officials in Colombia were "not aware of any kidnappings of Americans in or around Cartagena in recent years."
The rare American visitor will find a vibrant contemporary city with an intriguing history, within easy reach of Caribbean islands. There's even a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, though it's geared mainly toward Spanish speakers. But if you bring a Spanish phrase book along with an appetite for Latin and Afro-Caribbean food and culture, you won't be disappointed.
You can find the full article here
Forum: Travel in the News
This former hub of the Spanish empire — a major shipping port for New World riches, and a slave market and Inquisition center — is surrounded by massive stone walls, within which sit hundreds of gorgeous colonial homes, churches, plazas and parks. The Old Town, a Unesco World Heritage site, is filled with friendly people and harmless, if persistent, souvenir hawkers — all conducting their lives, business and romances outdoors.
In fact, Cartagena, crime-wise, compares well with other Caribbean destinations. Though the State Department continues to warn of the dangers of travel to Colombia, it says that "violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas," including Cartagena. A department spokeswoman said its officials in Colombia were "not aware of any kidnappings of Americans in or around Cartagena in recent years."
The rare American visitor will find a vibrant contemporary city with an intriguing history, within easy reach of Caribbean islands. There's even a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, though it's geared mainly toward Spanish speakers. But if you bring a Spanish phrase book along with an appetite for Latin and Afro-Caribbean food and culture, you won't be disappointed.
You can find the full article here
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Latin American Boom
Latin America is gaining as a destination for conventions and meetings, the result of a strengthening euro and skittishness over terrorism and SARS.
In recent months, some U.S. meeting organizers have been passing up Asia, Europe and the USA for Latin cities like Santiago, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, travel industry executives say. And hotel chains like Starwood, Hilton, InterContinental and Sofitel say they're filling more of their meeting rooms across Latin America with U.S. travelers this year.
"It's gradually moving up," says Alvaro Diago, InterContinental Hotels' Latin area president.
The InterContinental in Buenos Aires, for example, is expecting a 60% jump in meetings business for this quarter vs. a year ago. The company's Latin American hotel group overall is planning for an increase of more than 15% in its meetings business within three years, Diago says. The growth is partly from U.S. companies.
A surging regional economy boosts demand for meeting facilities, too. The 11 largest Latin-American economies are expected to grow an average of 3.8% this year, vs. 1.1% last year, says Ricardo Amorim of IDEAglobal, a New York research firm. This will be the biggest growth spurt since 2000.
You can find the full article here
In recent months, some U.S. meeting organizers have been passing up Asia, Europe and the USA for Latin cities like Santiago, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, travel industry executives say. And hotel chains like Starwood, Hilton, InterContinental and Sofitel say they're filling more of their meeting rooms across Latin America with U.S. travelers this year.
"It's gradually moving up," says Alvaro Diago, InterContinental Hotels' Latin area president.
The InterContinental in Buenos Aires, for example, is expecting a 60% jump in meetings business for this quarter vs. a year ago. The company's Latin American hotel group overall is planning for an increase of more than 15% in its meetings business within three years, Diago says. The growth is partly from U.S. companies.
A surging regional economy boosts demand for meeting facilities, too. The 11 largest Latin-American economies are expected to grow an average of 3.8% this year, vs. 1.1% last year, says Ricardo Amorim of IDEAglobal, a New York research firm. This will be the biggest growth spurt since 2000.
You can find the full article here
Mexico City and Around - Mexico
The Valley of México has been the country's centre of gravity since earliest prehistory, long before the concept of a Mexican nation existed. Based in this mountain-ringed basin - 100km long, 60km wide and over 2400m high, dotted with great salt- and freshwater lagoons and dominated by the vast snowcapped peaks of Popocatépetl and Ixtaccíhuatl - were the most powerful civilizations the country has seen. Today the lakes have all but disappeared, and the mountains are shrouded in smog, but it continues to be the heart of the country, its physical centre and the generator of every political, cultural and economic pulse.
At the crossroads of everything sprawls the vibrant, elegant, frenetic and fascinating Mexico City . In population one of the largest cities in the world, with more than twenty million inhabitants, its lure is irresistible. Colonial mansions and excavated pyramids vie for attention with the city's fabulous museums and galleries, while above them tower the concrete and glass of thrusting development. But above all, the city is alive - exciting, sometimes frightening, always bewildering, but boldly alive. You can't avoid it, and if you genuinely want to know anything of Mexico you shouldn't try, even if the attraction does sometimes seem to be the same ghoulish fascination that draws onlookers to the site of a particularly nasty accident.
You can find the full article here
At the crossroads of everything sprawls the vibrant, elegant, frenetic and fascinating Mexico City . In population one of the largest cities in the world, with more than twenty million inhabitants, its lure is irresistible. Colonial mansions and excavated pyramids vie for attention with the city's fabulous museums and galleries, while above them tower the concrete and glass of thrusting development. But above all, the city is alive - exciting, sometimes frightening, always bewildering, but boldly alive. You can't avoid it, and if you genuinely want to know anything of Mexico you shouldn't try, even if the attraction does sometimes seem to be the same ghoulish fascination that draws onlookers to the site of a particularly nasty accident.
You can find the full article here
Yucatan - Mexico
The three states that comprise the Yucatán peninsula - Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo - are among the hottest and most tropical-feeling parts of Mexico, though they in fact lie further north than you might imagine: the sweeping curve of southern Mexico means that the Yucatán state capital, Mérida , is actually north of Mexico City. Until the 1960s, when proper road and train links were completed, the Yucatán lived out of step with the rest of the country - it had almost as much contact with Europe and the USA as with central Mexico. Tourism has since made major inroads, especially in the north around the great Maya sites and on the route from Mérida to the Quintana Roo coast, where development has centred on the "super-resort" of Cancún , the islands of Isla Mujeres, Cozumel , and, in more recent years, the once sleepy fishing village of Playa del Carmen . But away from the big centres, especially in the south, where townships are sparsely scattered in thick jungly forest, there's still a distinct pioneering feel.
You can find the full article here
You can find the full article here
Puerto Vallarta - Mexico
By reputation the second of Mexico's beach resorts, PUERTO VALLARTA is smaller, quieter and younger than Acapulco. In its own way, it is actually every bit as commercial - perhaps more so, since here tourism is virtually the only source of income - but appearances count for much, and Puerto Vallarta, while doing all it can to catch up with Acapulco, appears far less developed and retains a more Mexican feel.
It lies in the middle of the 22-kilometre wide Bahía de Banderas , the seventh largest bay in the world, fringed by endless sandy beaches and backed by the jungly slopes of the Sierra Madre. Its hotels are scattered along several miles of coast with the greatest concentration in Nuevo Vallarta , north of the town and sliced through by an eight-lane strip of asphalt. Just south of Nuevo Vallarta is the new marina , where you can stroll along the boardwalk and have a look at how the other half live, on beautiful boats. Despite the frantic development of the last decade, the historic town centre, with its cobbled streets and white-walled, terracotta-roofed houses, sustains the tropical village atmosphere.
The town's relative youth is undoubtedly a contributing factor. Until 1954 Puerto Vallarta was a small fishing village where the Río Cuale spills out into the Bahía de Banderas; then Mexicana airlines, their hand forced by Aeroméxico's monopoly on flights into Acapulco, started promoting the town as a resort. Their efforts received a shot in the arm in 1964, when John Huston chose Mismaloya, 10km south, as the setting for his film of Tennessee Williams' play The Night of the Iguana , starring Richard Burton. The scandalmongering that surrounded Burton's romance with Elizabeth Taylor - who was not part of the cast but came along - is often attributed to putting Puerto Vallarta firmly in the international spotlight: "a mixed blessing" according to Huston, who stayed on here until his death in 1987, and whose bronze image stands on the Isla Río Cuale in town.
The package tourists stay, on the whole, in the beachfront hotels around the bay, but are increasingly penetrating the town centre to shop in the pricey boutiques and malls that line the streets leading back from the beach, and to eat in some of the very good restaurants both on the malecón and downtown. Nevertheless, what could be a depressingly expensive place to visit turns out to be liberally peppered with good-value hotels and budget restaurants, especially during the low season (Aug-Nov).
You can find the full article here
It lies in the middle of the 22-kilometre wide Bahía de Banderas , the seventh largest bay in the world, fringed by endless sandy beaches and backed by the jungly slopes of the Sierra Madre. Its hotels are scattered along several miles of coast with the greatest concentration in Nuevo Vallarta , north of the town and sliced through by an eight-lane strip of asphalt. Just south of Nuevo Vallarta is the new marina , where you can stroll along the boardwalk and have a look at how the other half live, on beautiful boats. Despite the frantic development of the last decade, the historic town centre, with its cobbled streets and white-walled, terracotta-roofed houses, sustains the tropical village atmosphere.
The town's relative youth is undoubtedly a contributing factor. Until 1954 Puerto Vallarta was a small fishing village where the Río Cuale spills out into the Bahía de Banderas; then Mexicana airlines, their hand forced by Aeroméxico's monopoly on flights into Acapulco, started promoting the town as a resort. Their efforts received a shot in the arm in 1964, when John Huston chose Mismaloya, 10km south, as the setting for his film of Tennessee Williams' play The Night of the Iguana , starring Richard Burton. The scandalmongering that surrounded Burton's romance with Elizabeth Taylor - who was not part of the cast but came along - is often attributed to putting Puerto Vallarta firmly in the international spotlight: "a mixed blessing" according to Huston, who stayed on here until his death in 1987, and whose bronze image stands on the Isla Río Cuale in town.
The package tourists stay, on the whole, in the beachfront hotels around the bay, but are increasingly penetrating the town centre to shop in the pricey boutiques and malls that line the streets leading back from the beach, and to eat in some of the very good restaurants both on the malecón and downtown. Nevertheless, what could be a depressingly expensive place to visit turns out to be liberally peppered with good-value hotels and budget restaurants, especially during the low season (Aug-Nov).
You can find the full article here
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Santiago - Chile
I'd ridden the creaky, 80-year-old funicular up Cerro San Cristobal, the highest point in Santiago, and then, with my sweat-soaked shirt clinging to my back in the December heat, I climbed a few hundred steps to the base of the colossal white statue of La Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción that crowns the 529-foot-high summit, her arms outstretched beseechingly.
It was a commanding viewpoint, or at least it could have been. But on this afternoon, like on so many, brown haze smothered the panorama. Then, as if on cue, invisible hands parted the curtain of smog briefly and I got what I'd come for: a giddying view of the ice-encrusted, 20,000-foot-high Andes towering majestically just beyond the city limits. Instantly I felt cooler.
It was only a glimpse, but it was well worth the trouble. And that's how I came to think of my brief visit to Santiago: Travelers tend to view it merely as a transit point en route to Patagonia, the Lake District or the Atacama desert, but adding a day or two here for a quick glimpse can be very rewarding.
Admittedly, Chile's capital doesn't have the hot-blooded reputation of Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires. Visitors have been comparing it unfavorably to the latter since at least 1835, when Charles Darwin commented: "It is not so fine or so large as Buenos Aires, but it is built after the same plan."
If Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America, Santiago today might be the Zurich. Home of one-third of Chile's 18 million people, it's arguably the tidiest, most efficient, easiest-to-navigate major city in South America, and one of the most prosperous. It's a good place to ease your way into Latin America. And with its lively and picturesque fish market, poet Pablo Neruda's delightfully strange house, a slightly smaller version of Buenos Aires' famous Recoleta cemetery and a good collection of museums and colonial buildings, it kept me more than busy during my two days here.
You can find the full article here
It was a commanding viewpoint, or at least it could have been. But on this afternoon, like on so many, brown haze smothered the panorama. Then, as if on cue, invisible hands parted the curtain of smog briefly and I got what I'd come for: a giddying view of the ice-encrusted, 20,000-foot-high Andes towering majestically just beyond the city limits. Instantly I felt cooler.
It was only a glimpse, but it was well worth the trouble. And that's how I came to think of my brief visit to Santiago: Travelers tend to view it merely as a transit point en route to Patagonia, the Lake District or the Atacama desert, but adding a day or two here for a quick glimpse can be very rewarding.
Admittedly, Chile's capital doesn't have the hot-blooded reputation of Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires. Visitors have been comparing it unfavorably to the latter since at least 1835, when Charles Darwin commented: "It is not so fine or so large as Buenos Aires, but it is built after the same plan."
If Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America, Santiago today might be the Zurich. Home of one-third of Chile's 18 million people, it's arguably the tidiest, most efficient, easiest-to-navigate major city in South America, and one of the most prosperous. It's a good place to ease your way into Latin America. And with its lively and picturesque fish market, poet Pablo Neruda's delightfully strange house, a slightly smaller version of Buenos Aires' famous Recoleta cemetery and a good collection of museums and colonial buildings, it kept me more than busy during my two days here.
You can find the full article here
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Bamboo Rafting, Montego Bay - Jamaica
While in Montego Bay why don’t you laze the day away on a bamboo raft as it drifts down a quiet Jamaican river? On the two-person raft, you can get cosy with a loved one or kick back with a friend, surrounded by beautiful, tropical scenery. In Montego Bay, you can choose to raft on one of two rivers – the Martha Brae in Trelawny and Lethe’s Great River. River Raft Limited and Mountain Valley Tours, respectively, will host you on a relaxing one-hour excursion along their river. Both companies promise that by the end of your ride you’ll have left all your cares somewhere upstream!
You can find the full article here
You can find the full article here
Giac Lam Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Giac Lam Pagoda, formerly called the Cam Dem, was built in 1744. It is now standing as the oldest pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City, the first classic Buddhist training centre for Gia Dinh area and the South. In 1998, the pagoda was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic.
Giac Lam Pagoda stands as a representative of the ancient pagodas in the South, and contains historical, cultural, architectural and religious sculptural values. It was constructed of various kinds of wood largely available in the region and located on the top of a hill under the shade of trees in a spherical design and close to nature. The two-tier gate, prominent in the garden-pagoda architect, was placed right on the lane leading to the yard of the pagoda. It harmonises with Western decorations of square pillars, and Indian and Khmer cultures of lions, lotuses, and Nagar snakes. However, the Vietnamese national culture is the strongest felt with a terra cotta vase made in Song Be and placed in the highest position in the pagoda. Every year, on the New Year Eve - the point of time when the sky meets the earth - the residential monk would stick the scroll with wishes for a peaceful world and happy life for people on the "magic heaven supporting pillar". This is an expression of the harmony between religion and life.
You can find the full article here
Giac Lam Pagoda stands as a representative of the ancient pagodas in the South, and contains historical, cultural, architectural and religious sculptural values. It was constructed of various kinds of wood largely available in the region and located on the top of a hill under the shade of trees in a spherical design and close to nature. The two-tier gate, prominent in the garden-pagoda architect, was placed right on the lane leading to the yard of the pagoda. It harmonises with Western decorations of square pillars, and Indian and Khmer cultures of lions, lotuses, and Nagar snakes. However, the Vietnamese national culture is the strongest felt with a terra cotta vase made in Song Be and placed in the highest position in the pagoda. Every year, on the New Year Eve - the point of time when the sky meets the earth - the residential monk would stick the scroll with wishes for a peaceful world and happy life for people on the "magic heaven supporting pillar". This is an expression of the harmony between religion and life.
You can find the full article here
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Kruger National Park - South Africa
A new four-day, three-night back packing trail has been launched in the Kruger National Park.
The trail, which follows the Olifants River, aims to showcase the natural splendour of the park, says Kruger National Park executive director Bandile Mkhize.
This section of the park has been the exclusive domain of park rangers and scientists until now.
Mkhize said the trail was the latest in a series of adventure tourism products like the Lebombo Eco Trail, the Mountain Bike Trail and the Adventure Trails for 4x4 vehicles that allowed visitors to see more of the park while limiting impacts on the environment.
The new trail, launched at the weekend, saw hikers meeting at Olifants Camp reception for a thorough briefing and equipment check before heading out to the train by open safari vehicle.
You can find the full article here
The trail, which follows the Olifants River, aims to showcase the natural splendour of the park, says Kruger National Park executive director Bandile Mkhize.
This section of the park has been the exclusive domain of park rangers and scientists until now.
Mkhize said the trail was the latest in a series of adventure tourism products like the Lebombo Eco Trail, the Mountain Bike Trail and the Adventure Trails for 4x4 vehicles that allowed visitors to see more of the park while limiting impacts on the environment.
The new trail, launched at the weekend, saw hikers meeting at Olifants Camp reception for a thorough briefing and equipment check before heading out to the train by open safari vehicle.
You can find the full article here
Mexico
The Mayas remain the great archeological enigma of Mexico and Central America. Now we know they erected not dozens, but thousands of cities. Dazzling new finds are revealing their civilization as more ancient than we'd supposed.
The "painted books" that told their story were burned by the Catholic Church as "works of the devil" in 1562. We have only theory on their fall, and it veers ever closer to ecological calamity.
The ruins of Mayadom form a 2,400-kilometre Ruta Maya through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
The best known are in Mexico, notably Chichen Itza and Uxmal in the Yucatan Peninsula. But the most elegant, Mayaphiles will tell you, is Palenque in the southern state of Chiapas.
If Guatemala's Tikal is the Manhattan of Mayadom, Palenque is its San Francisco: compact, vital, exquisite. Its golden age lasted from 600 to 800 AD. Club-footed King Pacal ruled for 68 years and built the Pyramid of Inscriptions, Palenque's architectural jewel, as his own tomb, a rare practice in Maya culture. His bejewelled bones, face concealed behind a jade death mask, were unearthed in 1952.
With only 34 of its 500 buildings excavated, Palenque represents small-is-beautiful Mayadom.
You can find the full article here
The "painted books" that told their story were burned by the Catholic Church as "works of the devil" in 1562. We have only theory on their fall, and it veers ever closer to ecological calamity.
The ruins of Mayadom form a 2,400-kilometre Ruta Maya through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
The best known are in Mexico, notably Chichen Itza and Uxmal in the Yucatan Peninsula. But the most elegant, Mayaphiles will tell you, is Palenque in the southern state of Chiapas.
If Guatemala's Tikal is the Manhattan of Mayadom, Palenque is its San Francisco: compact, vital, exquisite. Its golden age lasted from 600 to 800 AD. Club-footed King Pacal ruled for 68 years and built the Pyramid of Inscriptions, Palenque's architectural jewel, as his own tomb, a rare practice in Maya culture. His bejewelled bones, face concealed behind a jade death mask, were unearthed in 1952.
With only 34 of its 500 buildings excavated, Palenque represents small-is-beautiful Mayadom.
You can find the full article here
Mount Kilimanjaro - Tanzania
I knew just about every glimpse of Tanzania would take my breath away, but I didn't think it would leave me literally gasping for air.
I was 4,700 metres up Kilimanjaro at Kibo Hut, the last stop before the final, gruelling seven-hour trek to the peak, the roof of Africa, at 5,895 metres. It had taken three days to get this far with 10- to 14-kilometre treks each day, ascending 1,000 metres at a time.
The low-lying forest, leaves damp from the frequent rains, morphed into fields of giant spider-like heather, thinning into the moorland, where the giant lobelia tree reigns and tenacious grasses laugh off the regular frost.
At Kibo, there is only alpine desert, with nothing but rocks and moss dotting the grey landscape. Here, the temperature can dip below freezing at night and soar to 35C during the day.
Sitting in the hut, I thought I was just out of breath. It had seemed to take forever to cover that last few hundred metres to camp.
"Pole, pole," said my guide, meaning "slowly, slowly" in Swahili.
You can find the full article here
I was 4,700 metres up Kilimanjaro at Kibo Hut, the last stop before the final, gruelling seven-hour trek to the peak, the roof of Africa, at 5,895 metres. It had taken three days to get this far with 10- to 14-kilometre treks each day, ascending 1,000 metres at a time.
The low-lying forest, leaves damp from the frequent rains, morphed into fields of giant spider-like heather, thinning into the moorland, where the giant lobelia tree reigns and tenacious grasses laugh off the regular frost.
At Kibo, there is only alpine desert, with nothing but rocks and moss dotting the grey landscape. Here, the temperature can dip below freezing at night and soar to 35C during the day.
Sitting in the hut, I thought I was just out of breath. It had seemed to take forever to cover that last few hundred metres to camp.
"Pole, pole," said my guide, meaning "slowly, slowly" in Swahili.
You can find the full article here
Mali
Bamako, a hot, dusty city that sprawls along both banks of the Niger River in southern Mali, near the border with Guinea, does not, at first glance, bear the markings of one of the world's great cultural capitals. Although it is the capital of the former French colony and has a population estimated at more than a million, in many respects the city feels like an overgrown village, with a handful of high-rises along the wide and murky Niger, goats grazing at roadside and a sprawling market, the Grand Marché, filling much of downtown. Yet its musical tradition goes back at least six centuries, and public open-air performances by itinerant musicians, like the one we saw, are as much a part of life here as pickup games of le football. Moreover, during the last decade, the city has undergone a transformation.
A Malian music boom that began in the 1990's, when the soulful vocalist Salif Keita and the singer-guitarist Ali Farka Touré achieved international stardom, has brought an influx of tourists, record producers and aspiring musicians seeking to emulate the stars' successes. (The news of Mr. Touré's death on March 6 from cancer resonated around the world.) As a result, Bamako has become a meeting place and incubator for West African talent, and one of the best places on the planet to hear live music.
Bars and nightclubs have sprung up, often intimate venues with thatched roofs, bare scuffed walls and a few dozen rough wooden tables and chairs, where some of the biggest names in Malian music drop by to play when they're in town. (Several of these establishments, including Mr. Keita's Mofu and Oumou Sangare's Hotel Wassulu, are owned by musicians.) Such Western artists as Robert Plant, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and the French Basque star Manu Chao have visited Bamako to jam and record with the local stars.
The city has become a cultural hothouse, in which singers and instrumentalists from Mali's myriad tribes — the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Sorhai of Timbuktu, the Malinkes from the border region south of Bamako, the Dogon cliff dwellers, the Wassalous near the Ivory Coast, the Peuls of central Mali — mix and fertilize one another's art.
You can find the full article here
A Malian music boom that began in the 1990's, when the soulful vocalist Salif Keita and the singer-guitarist Ali Farka Touré achieved international stardom, has brought an influx of tourists, record producers and aspiring musicians seeking to emulate the stars' successes. (The news of Mr. Touré's death on March 6 from cancer resonated around the world.) As a result, Bamako has become a meeting place and incubator for West African talent, and one of the best places on the planet to hear live music.
Bars and nightclubs have sprung up, often intimate venues with thatched roofs, bare scuffed walls and a few dozen rough wooden tables and chairs, where some of the biggest names in Malian music drop by to play when they're in town. (Several of these establishments, including Mr. Keita's Mofu and Oumou Sangare's Hotel Wassulu, are owned by musicians.) Such Western artists as Robert Plant, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and the French Basque star Manu Chao have visited Bamako to jam and record with the local stars.
The city has become a cultural hothouse, in which singers and instrumentalists from Mali's myriad tribes — the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Sorhai of Timbuktu, the Malinkes from the border region south of Bamako, the Dogon cliff dwellers, the Wassalous near the Ivory Coast, the Peuls of central Mali — mix and fertilize one another's art.
You can find the full article here
Khajuraho, India
Gentlemen, don't try this at home," jokes the guide as a group of tourists gazes at an erotic relief on a Hindu temple.
The sandstone frieze depicts a man standing on his head having intercourse with a voluptuous woman as two handmaidens look on and provide support for the couple. As the sun sets, the sculptures become golden and seem to come alive.
The frieze is just one of thousands of sculptures carved into 25 ancient Hindu temples that remain standing in Khajuraho, in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. These Hindu temples have become a huge magnet for tourists, with travellers from around the world first stopping at the Taj Mahal, India's monument to love, and then making their way to Khajuraho.
The erotic temples at Khajuraho, first discovered in 1838, are a kind of sculptural Kama Sutra, drawing both westerners and Indians alike. Built about 1,000 years ago they are all that remain of a grouping of 85 temples that were designed under the patronage of the Chandella kings who ruled the area from the 9th to the 14th centuries.
You can find the full article here
The sandstone frieze depicts a man standing on his head having intercourse with a voluptuous woman as two handmaidens look on and provide support for the couple. As the sun sets, the sculptures become golden and seem to come alive.
The frieze is just one of thousands of sculptures carved into 25 ancient Hindu temples that remain standing in Khajuraho, in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. These Hindu temples have become a huge magnet for tourists, with travellers from around the world first stopping at the Taj Mahal, India's monument to love, and then making their way to Khajuraho.
The erotic temples at Khajuraho, first discovered in 1838, are a kind of sculptural Kama Sutra, drawing both westerners and Indians alike. Built about 1,000 years ago they are all that remain of a grouping of 85 temples that were designed under the patronage of the Chandella kings who ruled the area from the 9th to the 14th centuries.
You can find the full article here
Tahiti
Two months before Captain James Cook left on his first voyage around the world in 1768, another ship returned to England with tales of a newly discovered tropical paradise in the South Pacific, an island surrounded by a turquoise lagoon and populated by beautiful and friendly women.
Sailors signed up in droves to go with Cook, who made the island a refueling base for his three unprecedented voyages around the world.
The island was Tahiti. It quickly became a destination for adventurers like Cook and for lonely sailors in search of a lover, like the mutineers from the British ship Bounty, who set their captain adrift so they could stay behind and marry Tahitian women.
More than two centuries later, Tahiti and neighboring islands in French Polynesia have morphed into a destination for Hollywood stars, luxury travelers, and honeymooners, who can spend more than $1,000 a night to sleep in overwater bungalows and hundreds more on massages and meals delivered by outrigger canoe.
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Sailors signed up in droves to go with Cook, who made the island a refueling base for his three unprecedented voyages around the world.
The island was Tahiti. It quickly became a destination for adventurers like Cook and for lonely sailors in search of a lover, like the mutineers from the British ship Bounty, who set their captain adrift so they could stay behind and marry Tahitian women.
More than two centuries later, Tahiti and neighboring islands in French Polynesia have morphed into a destination for Hollywood stars, luxury travelers, and honeymooners, who can spend more than $1,000 a night to sleep in overwater bungalows and hundreds more on massages and meals delivered by outrigger canoe.
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Tunisia
If you are looking for a trip that includes history, art, culture, glorious fresh, healthy food and the golden beaches of the Mediterranean, try Tunisia. The country is two hours from most European capitals and offers the traveler so many things to do you must organize your time carefully to take advantage of them.(...)
The things she would urge a visitor to see are Carthage and the ruins in Sidi Bou Said, El-Jem, Jerba and Sfax.
The first thing she wants to eat when she goes back is Brik a la oeuf, a round, paper-thin piece of dough with a raw egg placed in the center. It is then fried in hot oil until it becomes crisp. She also recommends the fish, especially any fresh fish baked in coarse salt and served with salad mishwia, a grilled vegetable salad.
"People are very nice," in Tunisia, Wyner said. "Even in the souq, they want to take you home for a couscous." During the high season of July and August, the country is packed with visitors. To avoid the crowds, spring and fall are a perfect time to visit because prices are lower and it is easier to get around. The climate is mild and sunny most of the year.
There are many luxury hotels to choose from. Some are large modern buildings and others are in former palaces reminiscent of the Tales of the Arabian Nights, with richly decorated rooms, courtyards and terraces
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The things she would urge a visitor to see are Carthage and the ruins in Sidi Bou Said, El-Jem, Jerba and Sfax.
The first thing she wants to eat when she goes back is Brik a la oeuf, a round, paper-thin piece of dough with a raw egg placed in the center. It is then fried in hot oil until it becomes crisp. She also recommends the fish, especially any fresh fish baked in coarse salt and served with salad mishwia, a grilled vegetable salad.
"People are very nice," in Tunisia, Wyner said. "Even in the souq, they want to take you home for a couscous." During the high season of July and August, the country is packed with visitors. To avoid the crowds, spring and fall are a perfect time to visit because prices are lower and it is easier to get around. The climate is mild and sunny most of the year.
There are many luxury hotels to choose from. Some are large modern buildings and others are in former palaces reminiscent of the Tales of the Arabian Nights, with richly decorated rooms, courtyards and terraces
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Bovey Castle in Devon, England
Who wouldn't want to spend a few nights in a castle? When I heard that Bovey Castle, a posh new resort in Devon, England, opened last spring, I felt the urge to head across the pond to spend a long weekend doing little more than sipping tea by the fire, taking long rambles along the moors and generally pretending that I am the lady of the manor. The owner of the property, situated within 60,000-acre Dartmoor National Park near the village of Moretonhampstead, is British entrepreneur and developer Peter De Savary, known for creating ultra-luxurious hideaways around the world.
If Bovey were anything like his former castle hotel, Skibo, in the Scottish highlands (where Madonna had her fairy-tale wedding), my stay would be an indulgent experience. Indeed, when I arrived at the enormous iron gates and spotted the Rolls-Royce in the circular driveway and no less than five staff members to welcome me, my suspicions were confirmed.
The gray stone Jacobean mansion (built for a viscount in 1907) and its expansive grounds have been completely renovated by De Savary, who has pumped millions into returning the estate and its Edwardian-style gardens to their former splendor. One of the most elegant public spaces is the antiques-filled Cathedral Room, which boasts a vaulted oak ceiling and a 30-foot high stone fireplace. For me, it was the ideal perch in which to curl up and read my book or simply doze by the crackling fire. And each afternoon, a proper English tea is served. Pastry chef Christine Windows makes the scones, clotted cream and other calorie-laden goodies from scratch. And in case you are wondering, yes, there is a fitness center.
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If Bovey were anything like his former castle hotel, Skibo, in the Scottish highlands (where Madonna had her fairy-tale wedding), my stay would be an indulgent experience. Indeed, when I arrived at the enormous iron gates and spotted the Rolls-Royce in the circular driveway and no less than five staff members to welcome me, my suspicions were confirmed.
The gray stone Jacobean mansion (built for a viscount in 1907) and its expansive grounds have been completely renovated by De Savary, who has pumped millions into returning the estate and its Edwardian-style gardens to their former splendor. One of the most elegant public spaces is the antiques-filled Cathedral Room, which boasts a vaulted oak ceiling and a 30-foot high stone fireplace. For me, it was the ideal perch in which to curl up and read my book or simply doze by the crackling fire. And each afternoon, a proper English tea is served. Pastry chef Christine Windows makes the scones, clotted cream and other calorie-laden goodies from scratch. And in case you are wondering, yes, there is a fitness center.
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La Casa de Don David, Tikal - Guatemala
Secluded in its own jungle garden on Lake Peten Itza, this beautiful hotel is less than 15 minutes from the entrance to Tikal Park and 25 min. from Flores. The hotel is a wonderful place to base your Tikal vacation activities.
It is located in the village of El Remate, between Flores and Tikal. And it is very close to a number of important Mayan ruins in addition to Tikal, such as Yaxha, Nakun, Uaxactun, Zotz, Motul and Ceibal. Also, within a half-hour are: the Sky Way (swinging bridges, jungle walks), the Canopy Tour, Petencito Zoo, & Actun-Can caves. There are a number of ecologically oriented hiking trails and others points of interest within easy walking distance or a 10 min. ride. The hotel rooms are large, well cared for and most have a view of the lake. The grounds are lush and walkways are of beautifully laid native rock. Each hotel room has a private bath, fan or air conditioned with a veranda sitting area. The water is clean and filtered. Our guests say food is excellent and well worth the stop even if you cannot spend the night. Our hotel has 15 rooms..(In the U.S. it would be called a motel or cabins or guest house.)
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It is located in the village of El Remate, between Flores and Tikal. And it is very close to a number of important Mayan ruins in addition to Tikal, such as Yaxha, Nakun, Uaxactun, Zotz, Motul and Ceibal. Also, within a half-hour are: the Sky Way (swinging bridges, jungle walks), the Canopy Tour, Petencito Zoo, & Actun-Can caves. There are a number of ecologically oriented hiking trails and others points of interest within easy walking distance or a 10 min. ride. The hotel rooms are large, well cared for and most have a view of the lake. The grounds are lush and walkways are of beautifully laid native rock. Each hotel room has a private bath, fan or air conditioned with a veranda sitting area. The water is clean and filtered. Our guests say food is excellent and well worth the stop even if you cannot spend the night. Our hotel has 15 rooms..(In the U.S. it would be called a motel or cabins or guest house.)
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Jaguar Inn, Tikal - Guatemala
The Jaguar Inn, Tikal, was built in 1968, adjacent to the runway and the Tikal airport (in those days it was easier to fly in, than to brave the long, muddy road from Flores, and you could fly directly into Tikal).
The hotel started with a restaurant and only two bungalows, and proved to be a hit because of its good food, atmosphere, and convenient location both to the ruins and to the airport terminal.
Today, the airport has moved to the town of Flores, but the Jaguar Inn continues in Tikal. The hotel now has 9 bungalows, but it is still small enough to retain its cozy and traditional Guatemalan feel.
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The hotel started with a restaurant and only two bungalows, and proved to be a hit because of its good food, atmosphere, and convenient location both to the ruins and to the airport terminal.
Today, the airport has moved to the town of Flores, but the Jaguar Inn continues in Tikal. The hotel now has 9 bungalows, but it is still small enough to retain its cozy and traditional Guatemalan feel.
You can find more information here
Chimino’s Island Lodge - Guatemala
Chimino’s Island Lodge is located in Punta de Chimino, on the beautiful Petexbatún Lagoon in the southeastern Peten, in Guatemala’s jungle region. Chimino’s Island Lodge offers 5 neat mahogany bungalows, each perfectly blended in the Jungle and several hundred feet away from each other, so you can enjoy your own private jungle and the overwhelming views of the lagoon. Each bungalow has its own private bathroom, hot water and rooms completely protected from insects and other animals. You will be surprised by the luxury and cleanness, unusual in these types of jungle lodges.
The property is crossed by pathways, where you will experience intimate contact with the jungle, its impressive wildlife and the remains of the fortified Mayan citadel, for the most part still unearthed. You will experience firsthand, the efforts of it last inhabitants to protect themselves through impressive defensive walls, pits and trenches. They still managed however to build its own ball court and palaces.
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The property is crossed by pathways, where you will experience intimate contact with the jungle, its impressive wildlife and the remains of the fortified Mayan citadel, for the most part still unearthed. You will experience firsthand, the efforts of it last inhabitants to protect themselves through impressive defensive walls, pits and trenches. They still managed however to build its own ball court and palaces.
You can find more information here
Atitlan Hotel - Guatemala
Atitlan Hotel, one of Guatemala's elite cadre of fine hotels, is situated in picturesque Panajachel Solola. This location is the heart of Lake Atitlan's most ethnically authentic peoples, yet conveniently accessible to the most fashionable part of the Riviera.
The Atitlan Hotel was designed as a home away from home for the most discriminating traveler. This precious gem is intimately user-friemdly, and elegant in a classically understated way.
To complete its serene ambiance, The Atitlan Hotel offers a wide range of service. Guatemala most attentive staff, extraordinary cuisine, and without doubt the most dramatic and appealing natural surroundings in The world.
The décor is in the Spanish colonial-hacienda style that was favored by the Guatemalan plantation owners of the 18th-century. A fantasia of ornately gardens, caged colorful exotic birds, hand carved wooden furniture and gorgeous ceramic tiles make the Hotel Atitlan a unique place indeed.
The Hotel's restaurant is yet relaxed. Its elegant ambiance has been compared to that of chic California dining places. In tones of terracotta burgundy and teal, the main dinning room with terrace level comprise the restaurant, enhanced by huge windows, wood columns, a fireplace and mahogany and gold leaf side tables, The bar is adjacent to the restaurant. Cozy and home-like, the bar has its own character. The thatched roof "Ranchito" accessible by coble stone pathways trough the manicured gardens and next to the lake, is devoted to extraordinary functions and banquets. The hotel Atitlan is a MUST for those planning the LAST WORD in a garden wedding.
You can find more information here
The Atitlan Hotel was designed as a home away from home for the most discriminating traveler. This precious gem is intimately user-friemdly, and elegant in a classically understated way.
To complete its serene ambiance, The Atitlan Hotel offers a wide range of service. Guatemala most attentive staff, extraordinary cuisine, and without doubt the most dramatic and appealing natural surroundings in The world.
The décor is in the Spanish colonial-hacienda style that was favored by the Guatemalan plantation owners of the 18th-century. A fantasia of ornately gardens, caged colorful exotic birds, hand carved wooden furniture and gorgeous ceramic tiles make the Hotel Atitlan a unique place indeed.
The Hotel's restaurant is yet relaxed. Its elegant ambiance has been compared to that of chic California dining places. In tones of terracotta burgundy and teal, the main dinning room with terrace level comprise the restaurant, enhanced by huge windows, wood columns, a fireplace and mahogany and gold leaf side tables, The bar is adjacent to the restaurant. Cozy and home-like, the bar has its own character. The thatched roof "Ranchito" accessible by coble stone pathways trough the manicured gardens and next to the lake, is devoted to extraordinary functions and banquets. The hotel Atitlan is a MUST for those planning the LAST WORD in a garden wedding.
You can find more information here
Hotel Tivoli Arade - Algarve - Portugal
Located in the Algarve, in the broad estuary of the river from which it took its name, the Hotel Tivoli Arade has been designed to fit in perfectly with its surroundings. With 196 spacious suites and a magnificent beach in front of the hotel, this resort has been built with the whole family in mind. It has spaces for children, two outdoor salt water pools, exceptional wining and dining in the panoramic restaurant Porto Mediterrânico; gymnasium, and superb rooms for parties and meetings
You can find more information here
You can find more information here
Boath House - Nairnshire/Scotland
Located just outside Nairn on the Moray Firth, and a convenient 20 minutes’ drive from Inverness airport, Boath House enjoys an ideal location from which to explore the beautiful (and underrated) north east coastline and country. Often regarded as the sunniest place in Scotland, there are around the firth many historic places to visit, plus sports and leisure for all ages and interests. Visit Loch Ness, try dolphin watching, explore the Highland whisky trail, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle of Macbeth fame, or check out the 28 or so golf courses within a one hour radius. It's a fine setting
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