On Weekends

Switzerland is the high class jewel of Europe. This fabulous country situated in the very heart of Europe is the perfect travel destination for those who enjoy a unique blend of culture, modern sophistication and breathtaking landscapes. With the world-renown Swiss Alps and thriving cities such as Bern and Zurich, Switzerland is an all year round travel delight. From skiing and hiking to traditional folk entertainment and shopping, travel Switzerland is never a dull experience. Be sure to take a look at Switzerland Travel Guide before embarking on the vacation of your lifetime.

Although Switzerland is a medium-sized European country with a population of only 7.3 million it’s surprising how much variety it has to offer. The country is gorgeous any time of year and cities such as Zurich, Bern or Geneva should be part of your itinerary. Zurich, the financial capital of the world, is beautifully located on the tip of the Limmat River. The city’s must see attractions include the Gothic Fraumunter, the Fluntern Cemetery and the Church of Our Lady. Switzerland is also famous for its high class shopping locations such as the famous Bahnhofstrasse Street in Zurich. The historical city of Geneva also has much to offer: the world’s tallest fountain, the flower clock, the Chatedrale de St. Pierreand and the Musee de L’Horlogere - dedicated to Swiss watches. Switzerland Travel Guide offers detailed information on Switzerland accommodations, customs, attractions and costs.

The renowned Swiss Alps are definitely an important part of Switzerland’s unparalleled charm. If you’re planning to travel Switzerland during the winter season you’ll be absolutely delighted with everything it has to offer. The mountain peaks rise above 4,000m providing some fabulous skiing resorts, including St. Moritz and Klosters. Switzerland is also famous for its high class ski resorts and exceptional services. Adventure lovers will be captivated with the skiing at Matterhorn in the Zermatt region. Mount Titlis and mount Rigi are also popular tourist attractions with beautiful glaciers and capped peaks. During summer, the Swiss Alps are a natural paradise and an ideal location for hiking and sightseeing.

Switzerland is the land of fine chocolate, cuckoo clocks, wine, cheese and the famous army knives. Switzerland is also a country with exceptional history, culture and traditions. If you enjoy cultural traveling experiences, Switzerland is the perfect destination. The highly acclaimed Montreaux Jazz festival attracts thousands of tourists who enjoy good music every year. If you plan to travel Switzerland you shouldn’t leave without visiting a few of its unique museums such as the Collection de l’Art Brut museum in Lusanne. Switzerland Travel Guide will help you find all the information you need on the country’s cultural, historical and fashion hot spots. Read the rest of this entry »

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Actually, much as Galilee Sea (Kineret, in Hebrew) is fascinating, it’s mostly beautiful to look at, but not really as fascinating when you decide to step in the water. Although the legendary crocodile has already been taken away from the water, there are still a lot of water spiders, and other unpleasant underwater habitants. Let’s not forget that Galilee Sea contains no salt and you can drink the water (theoretically you can, though if you get the chance I strongly recommend NOT to drink, the water is very dirty and can simulate a nice list of disease). So, you go to Galilee See, where to stay?

The most famous spot would probably be Tibberias, a very nice city with beautiful hotels and nice old looking streets, tho bear in mind that this is the unofficial drug dealing capital of the entire Middle East, although while visiting it for the first time you’d never tell. If you want a more quite place to stay at, I’d recommend Migdal — a small town near Tibberias, very cosy, with a lot of exotic flowers, and attractions for tourists — horses riding rodeo, saunas, pools, and cimers. You won’t find cheap accommodation here, but it’s only a few minutes from Galilee Sea and if you stay somewhere up on the mountain, you can enjoy from a stunning view of the entire sea under the moon.

If you stay in Migdal, you will see the sun raising from the corner of the sea, while staying in the other side of the lake would mean you can enjoy the sun setting on Galilee Sea’s horizon…

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As the fanfare of the festive season has died down, it is easy to feel the need to get away from the cold British winter and experience some sun. For a luxury holiday offering the requisite sunrays as well as excellent cuisine, views and different festivals throughout the year, look no further than Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, officially known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island nation in South Asia, located about 19 miles off the southern coast of India. With a population of around 20 million, the country is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic, with nearly a third of the population following faiths other than Buddhism, most notably Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. This multiculturalism can in part be attributed to the different rules of Sri Lanka, including colonisation by Portugal, the Netherlands and finally Great Britain. After peaceful negotiations with the British, the island nation became independent in 1948, and in 1972, the nation, then-known as Ceylon, changed its name to Sri Lanka, meaning “Resplendent Land”.

As a result of the multi-religious background, Sri Lanka is renowned for its many religious festivals. Sri Lanka offers at least one festival each month as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims celebrate both religious and national occasions. This month, for example, the full-moon festival of Dututhu commemorates the visit of Lord Buddha to Kelankya, the temple of Kelania. The Hindu community meanwhile celebrates the harvest festival of Thai Pongal, where homes are cleaned and decorated, farm animals bathed and sometimes adorned, and special dishes prepared. The sizeable Muslim community celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, roughly every 11 months, with prayers in mosques, distribution of alms, family-oriented celebrations and the enjoyment of traditional dishes. In addition, there are several national holidays, such as the Sri Lankan New Year, celebrated every year between 12-14 April, to ensure good fortune in the coming year. Amongst the traditional rituals undertaken, houses are spring cleaned, new clothes worn and newly harvested rice cooked in milk in new pots. Traditional games and music are enjoyed, and passing visitors are invariably invited to join in the celebrations. These are merely some of the many festivals held throughout the year, with further information being available from the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. Read the rest of this entry »

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People visit Australia for different reasons - the country has lively cities, spectacular scenery and a fascinating Aborigine culture. And many people go there to experience the country’s unique wildlife, animals that cannot be seen anywhere else, such as the koala bear, kangaroo, dingo and wallaby.

Australia’s diverse conditions and landscapes have contributed to the evolution of creatures with rare or unique characteristics. Millions of years of isolation from other land-masses have also given rise to flora and fauna that is unique to the country. Australia boasts an amazing 450 species of mammals, 2,000 species of fish and even an estimated 2,000 species of fly.

The kangaroo is perhaps the most instantly recognizable of Australia’s animals - well known to anyone who has flown the country’s airline QANTAS, as the airline’s striking logo. Surprisingly, there are actually over 60 species of kangaroo and most of them are found only in Australia - they can be seen all over the country, from tropical rain forests to hot deserts. The kangaroo is the largest marsupial in the world - it is not unusual for them to reach seven feet high.

Australia’s cuddly koala bear is almost as well known as the kangaroo, although it isn’t actually a bear - it’s a distant relation of the wombat. Koalas are definitely cuddly - in fact, they are probably one of the most docile animals in the world. If you come across a koala bear, chances are that it’s asleep - koalas spend around 80% of their lives asleep and the rest of their time eating.

If you have ever heard the cry of the Kookaburra, you will understand why the bird is also known as the laughing jackass. The bird actually belongs to the kingfisher family although it eats insects and small reptiles, rather than fish; the reason for its strange laugh? Some people claim the bird is laughing with man, others say it is the bird’s way of warning of bad weather.

The dingo is a wild dog, which was probably introduced to the continent from South East Asia. Despite their somewhat ferocious reputation, Dingoes are no more dangerous than any other domestic breed of dog. Dingoes cannot bark although they make up for it by yelping and howling. Unfortunately, the dingo is dying out due to man encroaching on the wilderness and the practice of interbreeding.

Wallabies are often mistaken for kangaroos - just like kangaroos they can hop and jump. They range in size from just a few inches to almost six feet long. They can be found all over the country in every kind of habitat - desert, forest and swamp. Wallabies can go a long time without drinking - in fact they can actually dig their own wells to locate water.

And perhaps the oddest of Australia’s wondrous creatures is the Emu - the bird that can run fast but cannot fly. Emus are enormous, often standing up to six feet above the ground; they are also a very old species, having been around for about 80 million years. The Emu has always been important to the Aborigines as it provides them with the
two things most important for them to survive, food and clothing. Read the rest of this entry »

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Discovering the beautiful side of north Cyprus is possible during most of the year time, starting from April and up until till December. At north Cyprus, the sea is warm, the water is light blue and crystal clear, similar to what you’d have near Greece yet absolutely different from Israeli and Jordan shores..

Due to the warm climate, here is a massive population of life under the water — big water turtles, octopus, grouper, and numerous other fish and of course - the unforgettable corals. Diving in water there is as well a fantastic chance to visit special underwater dive sites (no, I do not mean online websites!) such as shipwreck in the world which artifacts and other remains are still visible when diving in north of the country just off Girne seabed.

There are quite a few courses ranging from 2 hours to over 3 days, avenged for diving tourists who wish to discover the underwater world with minimum learning or base knowledge. In my opinion, Cyprus is one of the best diving sites in the whole Mediterranean Sea.

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This is one of the most important economic centers of Belgium. It is the fifth largest harbor in the world and probably the most productive one. This is no wonder, as the Belgians are the most productive workers of the world per working hour. And the Antwerp harbor workers also score high with yearly productivity.

Apart from the economic importance Antwerp has always been and still is one of the most important cultural and artistic cities of the country and of Europe. Old masters like Peter Paul Rubens an P. Van Dyke lived and worked there. The city’s cathedral is among the most famous and beautiful of the world. The cathedral and a number of places of the city play a very important role in the famous story “The Dog of Flanders” which is extremely popular in Japan.

When you visit this city, be sure to visit the famous Antwerp cathedral one of the important masterpiece of European Gothic.. Its construction began in 1352 as a church. But only in 1559 it became known as the Antwerp cathedral of Our Lady. It is among the finest and exquisite Gothic constructions of Europe. Famous architects worked on it: Jean Appelmans, Herman de Waghemakere, Domien de Waghemakere, Antoon Keldermans II and Rombout Keldermans. What you can see now as a beautiful architectural masterpiece is indeed the work of centuries. The central nave is flanked by three aisles. Each aisle has 48 pillars. The total length of the Antwerp cathedral is almost 117 meter! Can you imagine how huge is this place? Read the rest of this entry »

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To get a good idea of what Czech Republic is, there is a thing you have to do besides visiting its capital, Prague: you should take a tour around the country, visit its towns and old castles.

To do this, you don’t have to go far from Prague. The most beautiful of all the Czech castles, Karlstejn, is located only 33 km south-west of the city. As seen from its name, the history of this castle is connected with the name of Charles IV – it is for him that this unassailable fortress was erected in the XIV century. Karlstejn (or Karlstein) stands on a high rock above the Berounka river. A wonderful view observed from here makes tourists grab their cameras and forget about what the guide says. Meanwhile, Karlstejn was not only the king’s residence, but also the place for safekeeping royal treasures. Royal regalia were kept in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, walls decorated with precious jewellery and Gothic panel paintings by Master Theodoric.

While Karlstejn belonged to the king himself, other castles were the property of local aristocracy. After the so-called Velvet Revolution some castles were returned to their former owners. One of them is Cesky Sternberg, built in the 13th century, whereas in XVIII it was rebuilt in Baroque style. The castle boasts of its antique interiors, walls adorned with huge paintings and hunting trophies. At the same time, while walking around the castle, you feel ill at ease – this is a private property and you feel like you’re having an excursion around someone else’s flat. The excursion is guided by some relative of the castle’s owner, who lives in its other part. Still, you get the feeling that the old duke will appear soon, and its even hard to believe that you live in the XXI century!

Each castle has its story, its zest. For instance, Konopiste castle, built in the XIV century keeps the largest European collection of armory and medieval weapons. For a period of time, the castle belonged to Franz Ferdinand of Austria, who was assassinated in Sarajevo – this triggered World War I. The historical castle is located about 45 km from Prague and is surrounded with an English rose garden.

Those who are assured that the only thing you can find in Czech Republic is beer should visit Melnik town and its castle, famous wine-making sites. In XIV century king Charles IV brought vine from Burgundy, and since then, wine was produced in Melnik. Nowadays visitors to the castle wine cellars can try excellent wine and hear its story. The castle is situated 35 km north of Prague.

Castles not far from Prague are often visited by tourists, but only those who value real beauty venture for a trip to remote castles. Lets move to the south of Czechia, as it is here that you can feel national diversity. There are many beautiful cities in this region which you are advised to visit whenever you have a chance to: Tabor, Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov and many others.
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This large country whose capital, Mexico City, is one of the largest countries in the world and also boasts of a lot of wonders. If you are a nature-tripper who would love to spend your time on the beach or on the green, Mexico will appeal to your taste. If you fancy ancient architecture, you would be pleased to know that Mexico is just the right place for you.

1.) Rio Grande Rivers

Rivers are abundant in Mexico. The biggest of the Mexican rivers and of all the rivers in the world is the Rio Grande. It serves as a separator between Mexico and the USA, and it is also known as Rio Bravo in Mexico, a river that is popular for thrill-seeking tourists.

2.) Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental

There are two mountain ranges that run across Mexico, and these are Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental. Both are known for their majestic height and beauty. While here, make sure that you take a visit to this place for you to see these mountain ranges.

3.) Oaxaca Plateau

Situated in Oaxaca in Southwest Mexico, the Oaxaca Plateau is more than just a wonder of nature. It is also where the early Zapotecs, one of the predecessors of the Mexicans, built an ancient city. As such, Oaxaca Plateua remains to be one of Mexico’s greatest treasures.

4.) Isla Mujeres

You will be excited to know that the Caribbean Sea is actually a nearby neighbor of Mexico. Isla Mujeres is one of those beautiful islands whose beauty is partly thanks to the Caribbean seas. Aside from a perfect place to sunbathe, Isla Mujeres was also actually part of the Mayan civilization.

5.) Internationally recognized beaches

Beaches are aplenty in Mexico. You will definitely want to visit at least one of the Mexican beaches - prided by the Mexicans for its pristine waters and precious sand. These beaches are good places for you to hang out, sunbathe or swim in.

6.) Bull fighting

The Mexicans have this rich cultural heritage that has been remarkably well preserved. Until now, traditional practices such as the bull fighting are still being exercised. You will do well to witness at least one of these cultural events.

7.) Day of the Dead or El Dia de los Muertos

Mexicans love to celebrate, and one of their most cherished celebrations is the El Dia de los Muertos, a day meant to commemorate the people who have passed over. The celebration is marked with a festive mood. Colorful costumes, food and flowers mark this event.

8.) Nuestra Señora del Carmen

The cathedrals in Mexico are of high value, just as much as religion is a big part of a Mexican’s life. Your visit to Nuestra Señora del Carmen will grant you witness to the “Doorway of the Archangels.” This is a world-famous altarpiece that is alluded to as the doorway of the angels.

9.) Maya City of Tulum

Marvel at the beauty and glory of Mayan civilization through the ruins of their city. You can find this in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Aside from ancient and well-preserved structures, the Maya City of Tulum is also where you can find preserved objects and tools used by the ancient people of Maya. Read the rest of this entry »

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Brazil is a country that is full of life and full of color. Because of its heritage and culture, this has also become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This country has become a popular honeymooner’s choice because of the variety of sights and sounds that Brazil can give to any tourists, and here are the ten must-go-to places if you are going to Brazil.

1.) Rio’s Hunchback.

Anybody who wants to go to Brazil should visit the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. This is a famous landmark in Brazil, and anybody can enjoy the magnificent sight this can give them. Along the way, one can always enjoy nature such as the diverse flowers and the butterflies.

2.) Iguazu Falls.

If you want nature at its best, then why not go bike riding along Iguazu Falls. This is a magical place to behold as it is always a beauty to see a permanently shining rainbow through the falls’ mist. This is also a great way to see Brazil’s wildlife.

3.) Amazon.

Nothing beats exploring the Amazon jungle. There is so much to see in this wilderness that any other country will pale in comparison. Here, you will get to see animals native to Brazil as well as the huge diversity of its trees and flowers, truly a magnificent sight to behold.

4.) Rio de Janeiro.

What better way to see Rio de Janeiro than to hang-glide and enjoy a bird’s eye view of this great place from above. From a peak in Pedra Bonita in Gavea, you get to soar above the wonderful place and see the forests below. After you are done hang-gliding, then why not visit Sco Conrado’s equally beautiful beaches?

5.) Pantanal.

Pantanal is a great place to visit if you want to see a plethora of sea life. Take a horse-riding tour of the area to see more of its creatures. Or, you can always explore the area on your own.

6.) Aquario Natural.

This is a great place to visit if you want to go snorkeling. Here, you will see a vast variety of wonderful and vibrant tropical fishes. You can also visit Rio Sucuri where you will surely be captivated by the wonderful sight of its waters and the clear skies.

7.) Chapada Diamantina Read the rest of this entry »

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The Mexico Caribbean Coast isn’t renowned as being the place to go for a cheap family holiday but in fact it is one of the few Caribbean Vacation Spots where you can take a family holiday and entertain your children without spending too much of your hard earned cash.

Flights to Cancun and all inclusive hotel prices have brought the Mexico Caribbean Coast within more family budgets than would have been believed possible ten years ago.

The question remains what do you do to entertain the children that won’t cost the earth outside the hotel. It seems a shame not to explore the Mexico Caribbean Coast when there is so much that is interesting to see and do, especially when you can do much of it relatively inexpensively, and yet keep the children entertained, educated, and happy.

If you want to see crocodiles, then go to Croco Cun at Puerto Mereles, and not only crocs at this zoo.

Go to north of Playa de Carmen to the Tres Rios Ecopark where you can float down a clear clean river all the way to the beach. It is a real all day activity centre with canoes, kayaks, bicycles, snorkels, or even horseback riding, or take a boat tour to the coral reef.

South of Playa de Carmen is Xcaret an eco archaeological park which has grown up around the Maya ruins of the port city of Pole, and there is a lot to be enjoyed here.

Bring bathers so you can snorkel in the underground rivers, and don’t worry life jackets are provided, and you can rent snorkels.

You can swim with the dolphins but it’s important to know that you need to get signed up early in the day for this.

There is a terrific butterfly exhibition in a canyon.

There is the ruins of the old Mayan port and also scale models in the museum.

You can ride on horseback through the jungle and on the beach.

Finally there is early evening entertainment for all the family.

Go to Akumel which is like a big warm bathtub with shallow water going out a long way, and a great place for rock pools. Older children can take their first steps to scuba diving, and snorkel, whilst mums and dads can go diving and have their children cared for.

Close to Akumel is the Aktun Chen Cave with plenty of stalactites and stalagmites.

The Xel-Ha Lagoon National Park is another unmissable treat with beach, snorkeling, archeology, and hiking. Lots to do and equipment to hire.

Tulum is the only real Mayan ruin overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and lots to look at, and you can then go for a swim on the beach below. Read the rest of this entry »

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