Travel Globally

The very best of Kyrenia

travel globally — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:14:29 +0000

Even though it was mentioned in the previous post Kyrenia is a destination which has so much to offer to its visitors and it deserves more attention and a post of its own. An escorted tour is a good way to get introduced to this destination and you can return and spend more time later as there are so many things waiting to be discovered by you. The town of Kyrenia is a highly accessible city that provides more than just typical beaches. Tourists around the world constantly visit it to enjoy its unique flavour and attractions. Accessible by plane and boat, this small piece of paradise is just a few hours from Turkey.

Any first time tourist will immediately appreciate Kyrenia because of its unique layout of structures. The beach front structures are not populated with expensive hotels. Tourists will instead see structures that were built centuries before Kyrenia (or Cyprus) became a known destination. Tourists can literally visit the beach and then proceed to visit beautiful structures in the city in minutes.

The Kyrenia Castle

The most popular tourist attraction is the Kyrenia Castle. Believed to have been built as early as the 7th century, it’s a towering structure easily seen by everyone in the harbor. Its current state was from 1570 when the Ottomans ruled Kyrenia. A heavily fortified castle, the structure is also home to a museum featuring collections from a shipwreck from 306 BC. This structure should be in the tourist’s itinerary as it also provide a picturesque view of the town.

Combining the Old with the New

What also made Kyrenia a favourite spot for many tourists is the way the city is laid out. Instead of succumbing to commercialism, there are still a good number of open air markets and traditional restaurants near the castle. A stroll nn the shore is your best chance to shop for souvenirs and try out the traditional meals of the island.

Mosaic Holidays: North Cyprus Signature Tour

Mosaic Holidays: North Cyprus Signature Tour

travel globally — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:33:29 +0000

The best way to make the most of your holiday is an escorted tour: you get to see the most important attractions in a region and your guide will always be there with extra interesting information. A tour in Northern Cyprus will unveil the beauty of this region. Start with Kyrenia, one of the most beautiful cities in North Cyprus, visit Kyrenia Castle and the Abbey of Bellapais (Abbaye de la Paix) to admire the gothic architecture of the Lusignan period. A visit to the Abbey is a must and getting there is very convenient as it is only 10 minutes from Kyrenia.

The next objective of your tour should be Famagusta and the ancient city-state Salamis with ruins dating from the Roman period: the theatre and gymnasium have been restored and there are baths with little bits of mosaic. The Byzantine ruins include a Basilica of Bishop Epiphanos containing a baptistery.

After the fall of the Berlin wall Nicosia remained the only divided capital in the world. On your visit to the city you will see the barriers separating the two sides of the city. A must see in Nicosia is also the Venetian city wall dating from the 16th century and the Gothic cathedral of Saint John (1665).
Touring through Northern Cyprus will help the visitor discover other hidden treasures of this region: caves, castles or picturesque villages full of history, each day of your tour will bring something new.

The very best of Kyrenia

Pisa: inclination to travel

travel globally — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:57:14 +0000

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is omnipresent: from official posters of Italy to photo albums of travellers around the world who are captured (for eternity) trying to push the tower. Apart from its famous tower, Pisa has a lot of other attractions for you: historic churches and buildings or lovely bridges across the Arno River. The Leaning Tower is a bell tower which originally was built vertically but soon after its construction it began to lean due to a poor foundation and substrate. The tower served as a place where Galilei was experimenting his theories to demonstrate that speed is independent of the mass of objects and then during the WW2 the tower was used by the Germans as an observation post.

Remember to add to your Tuscan travel itinerary also Piazza del Duomo (or Piazza dei Miracoli – “Square of Miracles”), the Knight’s Square where you can admire vasari designed Palazzo della Carovana. Culture vultures should see the church Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri which houses works of arts signed by Vasari, Donatello or Ligozzi.

The church of St. Francis has works by Empoli or Gaddi. To admire some gothic architecture visit the church of Santa maria della Spina. Science fans should visit the Palazzo Reale where Galileo Galilei showed the Duke of Tuscany the planets he had discovered.

After such a tour end your day with a nice dinner in a fine Italian restaurant or an osteria.

Cottage Holidays in Ireland

global traveller — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:47:56 +0000

Waterford is a southern county of Ireland within the Munster province which has lots to offer to tourists who enjoy walking, horse riding, fishing or practicing water sports as part of their holidays. In fact, the region has a much diversified landscape going from the dazzling coastline over the Celtic Sea (the Copper Coast which is so called for the copper mines set in the 19th Century) to the beautiful river valleys among the mountains.
The Copper Coast GeoPark, in particular, is a natural museum where you can see geological layers of over 460 million years. The coastline stretches along 25km and can be visited through walks or on horse, but also by kayaking all along. Some areas in the west of Dungarvan, the county capital, have a rich historical and cultural value for preserving an exclusively gaelic speaking environment and are known as the Gaeltacht.

One of the villages in west Waterford is Clashmore, located on the Creagagh River, where you can visit one of the whiskey distillery built in the 19th century which is one of the few mills left to be powered by the old river spanning system. If you happen to visit the area, you might consider the option of renting a self catered cottage where you can enjoy the natural landscape and environment in your own pace.

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Winter Holidays in Canary Islands

global traveller — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:43:00 +0000

The Canary Islands have become a very popular destination for winter sun holidays for many good reasons. Above all, because the mild climate and spring temperatures of the Spanish islands lasting for the whole winter season can offer to tourists from the rest of Europe a sunny holiday break on some beautiful beaches in a location just 4/5 hour flight away from main European cities.

Among the islands, Gran Canaria and Tenerife are particularly lively places to visit and offer much choice for day as well as night entertainment. Fuerteventura, on the other hand, has some amazing coastlines and is the perfect location for relaxed beach holidays. La Palma is the island boosting a marvellous natural beauty whereas Lanzarote has a much arid natural environment but a spectacular volcanic landscape.

Other than for its natural environment, we would also want to recommend the Canary Islands for the cultural activity and events that are regularly held. A recent feature of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for example, is the TEA, an impressive structure which was designed by renowned architects Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron and Virgilio Gutierrez as a cultural centre and exhibition place. Moreover, the Canary Islands Music Festival adds further appeal for tourists who love music to visit Tenerife and Gran Canaria in January and February when they will find the best classical music concerts. Finally, for those who enjoy a more loud and colourful festival, the Tenerife Carnival in February is definitely not to be missed.

Holidays in Zanzibar

global traveller — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:00:58 +0000

Although commonly referred to as a single island, Zanzibar is an archipelago right in front of Tanzania coast with two main islands, Unguja and Pemba among other smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is often identified with Unguja which is the main one in the archipelago. This location is the perfect getaway for a dream holiday in one of the most fascinating islands of the Indian Ocean.

The main city of the island is Stone Town, which has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is truly special where its visible influences perfectly embody the history of Zanzibar as a commercial crossroad during the spice trade period. The architecture, indeed, suggests the co-presence of Middle Eastern, African and Indian traditions. Another piece of history worth visiting is the Slave Market, where African rulers sold slaves to Arab traders to eventually work for white European people.

However, the most renowned parts of Zanzibar are certainly its magnificent beaches and crystal water of the sea. Famous spots in the island where to enjoy the sea and the beach are in particular Nugwi resort, in the north area of the island, and Kendwa, a small fishermen village which attracts many scuba divers and deep sea fishing experts.

Saint Lucia in Stockholm

global traveller — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:00:02 +0000

For its winter atmosphere, Sweden is the ideal place to visit around the period of Christmas festivities. Although, Christmas celebrations do take place on the 24th December, there is a very peculiar tradition for Saint Lucia’s day on the 13th December, which occurs close to the winter solstice.

Saint Lucia is one of the few Saints to be celebrated in Lutheran Scandinavian countries that is in fact also related to a pagan mythical figure of Lucia and dates back from Medieval Times. She is personified as the queen of light, a young woman bringing light and sweets in the darkest period of the year.

In Stockholm, where the tradition is particularly felt, the is a procession on that day starting in the afternoon and thousand of young people dressed in angelic white gowns who walk through the town’s streets and sing traditional Lucia carols. The Saint is traditionally interpreted by a young girl with a crown of lights on their head. Many other churches organize other Lucia processions throughout the day and it is certainly worth visiting the main ones, like the Jakobs Kyrka situated in Gamla Stan (the Old Town), where you can also find Lucia concerts.

Other than the traditional rituals, the whole city of Stockholm is enlightened with candles and Christmas lights, whereas cafés and restaurants are open until late. If you are also lucky enough to found the city covered with snow, then you will have the full magic Christmas experience.

Sweden to develop Arlanda Airport

Skiing in Poiana Brasov

travel globally — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:54:25 +0000

Many European tourists travel to Romania to enjoy the ski resort of Poiana Brasov situated in the Carpathian Mountains. This place was established back in the 50’s and today it is well known for being a beautiful resort that attracts many ski lovers. Poiana Brasov is not only an excellent place for skiing but you’ll also love exploring the place as it has a rich and wonderful culture as well as colorful history and folklore.

Poiana Brasov is excellent for beginners but the more experienced skiers would also find the facilities perfect for learning and developing their skills further. Beginners can hire instructors to help them learn the basics and to try out the slopes for themselves. It’s safe here and the place is well-guarded and well-preserved. Come here during the months of December up to March where it gets good snow coverage.

The terrain is wooded and you’ll love the view of all the pine trees. The view is definitely captivating and breathtaking that many tourists love staying here for several days at a time. There are hotels, bars or night clubs around the resort where tourists enjoy some dancing and dining with some of the excellent meals at a great price.

The city of Brasov is just 13 km away and you can also travel to Dracula’s Castle which is half an hour drive from Poiana. The locals make sure their tourists are happy so they’ll keep on coming back. It’s definitely going to be a wonderful experience if you decide to have your ski vacation at Poiana Brasov!

Romania’s best kept secret: Brasov

Kos holiday for body and spirit

travel globally — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:31:10 +0000

Kos is a good choice for your holiday. It caters mostly to family holidays, but single travellers or honeymooners can relax and find their peace here as well. Aside from the beautiful beaches that it is most popular for, Kos also has many ruins that you could explore. Kos has a healing dream (or sleep) temple of Asclepius which is believed to be founded after Hippocrates – the father of medicine – died. Hippocrates is thought to have been born on Kos island where you will also find the oldest tree in Europe – The Plane Tree of Hippocrates. It is believed that lectures were held by Hippocrates under this tree. The old branches of this impressive tree are held by scaffolding, but it’s worth a visit and lots of pictures.

The resort of Kardamena is very popular with British tourists. Spiritual tourists can visit the Orthodox cathedral in Zia or a mosque catering to the muslim population of Kos.

When you’re on Kos island, make sure you check out the Knights’ Castle. It’s a 15th century castle of the knights of St. John. If you travel with your children, they would love exploring and pretending to be knights while visiting this castle.

2 for 1 sailing in Greece

travel globally — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:41:48 +0000

Sailing is a relaxing and fun activity, a way to discover new lands and live new experiences. If you plan to go sailing, there’s no better place to go but the Greek Islands.

The islands have so much to offer and you can embark on a journey to the Roman city of Ephesus and enjoy the ancient beauty of the place. You can enjoy your cruise and pay less becuase there is a special 2 for 1 offer for you: an Aegean Odyssey Cruise from £1,295 (and your companion goes for free).

eWaterways.com offer great cruises around the world and the fleet is impressive. You will sail the Greek Islands onboard mega yachts such as Harmony V, Harmony G as well as Galileo which are luxurious yachts for private cruises (they accommodate only 50 passengers).

Other cruise special offers include the classical Greece Cruises, and the Jewels of the Cyclades Cruises that are available for as low as £1,595 and £1,077 per couple.

So what are you waiting for? Enjoy these late summer private cruises and luxury yachts at cheap rates and make the end of this summer a time to remember!

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