tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66838997552599679692024-02-02T15:09:31.404-08:00One For The Road"To travel is to live..."
-Hans Christian Andersenreneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-60579336394964865422013-04-24T07:42:00.000-07:002013-04-24T07:43:12.554-07:00Last Blog Post : Everywhere<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So this is the last blog post, and there are still a ton of places that I would love to cover, but I’m probably not going to keep the blog going… so I decided I’ll just cram as much as possible into one special last blog post! It’s like a bunch of mini blog posts in one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>“Jewel of Aragon” : Zaragoza, Spain </strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do? </strong>Zargoza is a Spanish city not far from Barcelona and Madrid that is often passed over by tourists. Though it is not the biggest city, its culture, charm and beautiful architecture are something you shouldn’t miss. Explore the beautiful architecture and basilicas of the old town, “Casco Viejo,” which is also the best place to enjoy many delicious local dishes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>“Fire and Water” : Kalapana, Hawaii </strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> Starting in the town of Kalapana, Hawaii, you can take a two hour hike (ouch) to a place on the coast where active lava flows spill into the ocean. Apparently it’s a stunning sight. Worth the two hour walk? I don’t know, but probably – where else are you ever going to see something like this? </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>Dunhill Castle, Waterford, Ireland </strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> Ireland is definitely high on my travel bucket list, so here’s a quick glimpse. The ruins of Dunhill Castle have stood since the early 1200’s, when it was built by the la Poer clan. Over the centuries, Dunhill castle saw many battles and changed hands many times. The castle fell into ruin during the 1700s. I absolutely love ruins, and there are tons in Ireland, so this is just a sample of what you would be able to find. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>Gorges de L’Areuse, Switzerland <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> The Areuse mountain stream runs through the breathtaking Gorges de L’Areuse. A ‘daring’ hiking path clings to the side of the gorge so that hikers can experience this beautiful wonder as closely as possible. The hike begins in the little village of Noraigues, quite close to the entrance of the gorge. The route follows a train line and then opens up into the Champs du Moulin, a meadow in a narrow valley. After that, hikers go through the gorge, crossing at a beautiful stone bridge. The hike ends in the vineyards of Boudry on the other side. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>“Valley of the Mills”: Sorrento Ruins <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> Explore the ivy covered ruins of this old mill in Sorrento, which is actually quite near the Amalfi Coast (my first blog post). Sorrento is a town in Southern Italy on the Bay of Naples, with spectacular views of Naples, Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. The ruins are in a deep chasm that was created by an ancient volcanic eruption. Visitors can view the mill ruins from the street above, Via Fuorimura, or go down into the valley and explore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">So that’s it for the blog, thanks for reading and bearing with me guys!</span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-18102568468048628792013-04-21T14:05:00.005-07:002013-04-21T14:05:53.870-07:00“Ghost Town” : Bokod, Hungary <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Bokod </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hungary</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is not a tourist destination. It is barely
visited – it’s just an old village on a lake. Along the lake shore, rickety
boardwalks lead out over the lake to old fishing cottages that stand on stilts.
It’s not the nicest location, but I think there’s something enchanting about
the photographs, and there is certainly something artsy about the boardwalks
and cottages on the misty water. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Bokod is a lake about
80 kilometers west of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Budapest</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, the capital city of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hungary</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. It was hard to find information on Bokod.
There was a website in Hungarian, but unfortunately I am not fluent in
Hungarian, and google translate was not very helpful… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’m not sure if the
lake houses are inhabited – one website reported that they were abandoned but
I’m not sure if it was a reliable source. If it is abandoned, I’m not sure if the boardwalks are
even safe to walk on. I was disappointed when I realized this, because I
saw the picture first and thought the lake houses seemed like a really cool place to stay. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhZrpluoUuunvYzI2X0RgntgB6kE75F2QnwJ-A6NMduetePXJ5YOFvyd8FSu7SBNCT9nkCRNj3FWLXl74VzY6vCtLps7Jq6AP2fq0nnQyrtsKZknsHpQ3ONFUlccD1Ta0wF1aSEyH7zbm/s1600/bokod+aerial+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhZrpluoUuunvYzI2X0RgntgB6kE75F2QnwJ-A6NMduetePXJ5YOFvyd8FSu7SBNCT9nkCRNj3FWLXl74VzY6vCtLps7Jq6AP2fq0nnQyrtsKZknsHpQ3ONFUlccD1Ta0wF1aSEyH7zbm/s400/bokod+aerial+view.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeriel View</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> I probably wouldn’t
actually visit Bokod, since there isn’t a lot to do there – just look at the
houses and take some photographs I think. If I did, it would be part of a
larger trip to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Budapest</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. There are all kinds of things to do an sights to see in Budapest that would make for an excellent trip. I just decided to cover Bokod because it’s
such a weird, interesting place, and the pictures are really cool. </span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to eat?</strong> No classy restaurants here guys, this one's a picnic lunch. I'm sure there would be somewhere to eat in the village, but I wasn't able to find any online information. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I think Bokod certainly has potential though – if someone
were to restore it and make the fishing houses into cottages for rent, it would
be a lovely and very cool place to stay. What do you think?</span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-49548699277265672982013-04-21T11:24:00.006-07:002013-04-21T11:24:43.203-07:00The Heart of England” : The Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Cotswolds are a
range of hills in southern </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, known as an “area of outstanding natural beauty,”
home to rolling farm fields and a number of small, charming villages. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One of the best places
to visit in the Cotswolds is the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">village</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Stow-on-the-Wold</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, which sits at the top of a hill where several
of the main Cotswold rural roads meet. <o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Stow-on-the-Wold has a
long and interesting history. The first settlement here was an iron age fort,
which grew over the centuries and became prosperous in the middle ages due to
the wool trade in the Cotswolds. A 7 day market fair has been held in
Stow-on-the-Wold since the 1300’s, and although it is much smaller now, this
still continues today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still very
popular though, and the roads all around </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Stow</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> are blocked for hours on the day of the fair. Stow-on-the-Wold
was also a site for several skirmishes during the English Civil War. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? There are a
range of places to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold. There are hotels in beautiful
restored manor houses and B&B’s, as well a hostel (also in a traditional
townhouse building) and camping. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc2bRSj74xEazN-o0U8PrOQGs5GIDmkYtEsf9e3du9rhtVWgLo2q8f3Tez9DgeSqFOpmKZTivKId0MB3uX3X_tmlX9anDatDaK_gJEwajr38hZ3PCku415D951Jc37SFefKYbkp_wZEu9/s1600/LORDS+OF+THE+MANOR+HOTEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsc2bRSj74xEazN-o0U8PrOQGs5GIDmkYtEsf9e3du9rhtVWgLo2q8f3Tez9DgeSqFOpmKZTivKId0MB3uX3X_tmlX9anDatDaK_gJEwajr38hZ3PCku415D951Jc37SFefKYbkp_wZEu9/s400/LORDS+OF+THE+MANOR+HOTEL.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You can also rent a farmhouse for a reasonable
price, like the Manor Farm, shown below. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSHDzx1of_VqgMAY1VVzRss5IJJ5sDmDRWtV7U913Px6gKRjcj4aRx8vODET6sktqUYBqgkOLCODlEcaDLX_5zoZ6lcCs0MXNrUNa_2sDMmsC3MsxA8C00JAn0yTG6xbq91Dt8zF9t0hJ/s1600/manor+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSHDzx1of_VqgMAY1VVzRss5IJJ5sDmDRWtV7U913Px6gKRjcj4aRx8vODET6sktqUYBqgkOLCODlEcaDLX_5zoZ6lcCs0MXNrUNa_2sDMmsC3MsxA8C00JAn0yTG6xbq91Dt8zF9t0hJ/s400/manor+farm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Explore
Stow-on-the-Wold and shop in the town. Charming shops sell clothing, jewellery,
antiques and art, etc. The buildings are beautiful and old, made from
traditional Cotswold limestone. There are museums and historical sights all
around the town. You can also explore the nearby villages Moreton-in-Marsh and
Bourton-on-the-Water (I love these names). There are miles of hiking trails
throughout the Cotswolds, and many restored homes and beautiful gardens. The
region is about 40 km across and 145 long, so pretty much everything is within
a reach of a short drive if you are spending a couple days here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">In Stow-on-the-Wold a
great place to visit is St. Edward’s Church, a church originally date to the 11<sup>th</sup>
century. The church is built with a mixture of architectural styles due to
renovations and changes over the years, making it unique and beautiful to look
at. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagoIWN-_ZeREkydfIeNNLtJSPiN1sKJMI-1f_ZaA0AW7t8hxj6rtPHLf2n1D3RQq5W6GQU29Bm0CEX2HHmbxP9LoJ9raFXF09XIQYPirch7QmIwFyQHwJYo5phNFtFmOi27_LEmyQHlQj/s1600/ST+edwards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagoIWN-_ZeREkydfIeNNLtJSPiN1sKJMI-1f_ZaA0AW7t8hxj6rtPHLf2n1D3RQq5W6GQU29Bm0CEX2HHmbxP9LoJ9raFXF09XIQYPirch7QmIwFyQHwJYo5phNFtFmOi27_LEmyQHlQj/s400/ST+edwards.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Another good
attraction is </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Broughton</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">
</span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, a romantic medieval manor house with
beautiful walled gardens. You can tour the restored rooms, which have furniture from the period, and have a meal in the tea
room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrkkDRWqhtH4gvFzprj4nD2fRzC1ZWqrAEfW5FKmwubNw6StOlDxU7gHCzzo_6P-IZVG5mw273JcDYocA6mh4dncpmeYjoln0s_mBRltlV1z9E0aLi88O9OQpohdtq9d1aRCI9-ivODlt/s1600/broughton+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrkkDRWqhtH4gvFzprj4nD2fRzC1ZWqrAEfW5FKmwubNw6StOlDxU7gHCzzo_6P-IZVG5mw273JcDYocA6mh4dncpmeYjoln0s_mBRltlV1z9E0aLi88O9OQpohdtq9d1aRCI9-ivODlt/s400/broughton+castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? Stow-on-the-Wold
has many tea rooms, cafes, restaurants and pubs, all serving delicious food in
charming old buildings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Huffkins is
recommended – there are three Huffkins tea rooms throughout the Cotswolds, one
of them being in Stow-on-the-Wold. Huffkins was voted “best afternoon tea in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Britain</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">” in 2008. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family that owns Huffkins have been bakers
since the 1800’s. They use locally sourced ingredients and are known for their
specialty baked bread. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Coach & Horses
in Ganborough, only a couple miles away, is also recommended. The atmosphere is
lovely – the restaurant is inside a restored old home and has open fires, cozy
window seats, beamed ceilings and original stone floors, along with a large
garden and patio area. The restaurant is run by a couple who serve “traditional
English fare with a contemporary twist.” Like Huffkins, the ingredients are
local, and the menu here actually changes seasonally and even daily, depending
on what is available. They also serve ales that are brewed at the nearby
Donnington Brewery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The architecture and atmosphere of the Cotswolds are
charming beyond belief, and I would love to experience </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> in this idyllic region. I think it would make a
really relaxed, peaceful summer vacation and a great get away. </span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.go-stow.co.uk/" target="_blank">Official website with all kinds of info about the Cotswolds and Stow-on-the-Wold.</a><br />
</div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-696826376983102482013-04-15T17:34:00.000-07:002013-04-15T17:34:02.536-07:00New England : Salem, Massachusets
I'm go<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">ing to go with
somewhere a little closer to home for this post – </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Massachusetts</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">USA</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. I’ve actually been here, too, so I’m speaking from experience on this
one. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is a charming town known for its character,
its beautiful architecture and its dark history. You may have heard of the
Salem Witch Trials, which took place here during the 1600’s. The town’s people
basically went hysteric, believing and accusing their neighbours of being
witches. (People were a lot more superstitious back then…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT_Gm5wgTFNQdzdayvn4bXyH97jJ1-G4TDso2QuHoqZzXnlOL-yrvFkZsXj_z3p_NzHkCH6ub0x5kecr_jncAgx8_fksFtioehDjvNQDDxsetNwQE0sjPE3Z2YgvTQ3k4lnJwNOQKuSrX/s1600/fake+salem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT_Gm5wgTFNQdzdayvn4bXyH97jJ1-G4TDso2QuHoqZzXnlOL-yrvFkZsXj_z3p_NzHkCH6ub0x5kecr_jncAgx8_fksFtioehDjvNQDDxsetNwQE0sjPE3Z2YgvTQ3k4lnJwNOQKuSrX/s1600/fake+salem.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? Today, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> uses its history to draw in tourists. There
are all kinds of museums, “magic shops,” and psychic fairs or tourists as well as "modern practisers of witchcraft" (legit? idk), along with Haunted
Walks and night-time tours of the town. </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> really goes all out with these around
Halloween. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You can take the Salem
Trolley, a guided one hour tour of the town, or else a self-guided walking tour
around the centre of the city which will take you past a number of historical
locations and museums. My favourite part of the trip was just walking and
exploring the streets – there are all kinds of great little shops, and I loved
just seeing the houses, which are Victorian or traditional New England architecture – tall, narrow, colourful with decorative porches and towers. Many
of the houses are at least a century old. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You can check out the
“magic shops” and psychic readers if you’re into that kind of thing. I passed,
but it probably would’ve made for an interesting experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Another fun thing to
do is go down to the waterfront, where there are more shops and some great
restaurants. The waterfront is home to an original, restored sailing ship which still actually sails (although it is not open for the public to explore). </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is quite close to Nahant beach, from which you
can see the </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Boston</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> skyline. You can also go to the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Singing</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Beach</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, one mile away, which gets its name because the sand squeaks when you
walk on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? There are
some great restaurants and pubs down on the waterfront in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. If possible, ask a local to recommend one
–they know where the best food is. Make sure you get some New England Clam Chowder, it's famous and you have to get it if you go to New England. I went to the Victoria Tavern, which had a
delicious menu and a deck right on the water overlooking the harbour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I would definitely do </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Salem</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> again! I had a great time just walking and
exploring the city, and probably could’ve spent more than just a day there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://www.salem.org/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.salem.org/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-14318094661894141512013-04-11T11:07:00.002-07:002013-04-11T11:07:46.302-07:00"Forte de Sao Joao Baptiste" : Berlengas Islands, Portugal
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Berlengas</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Islands</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> are a chain of islands off the coast of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Portugal</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">: a breathtaking collage of rugged beauty and
serenity, manmade architecture and raw nature. The Berlengas are one large
island surrounded by several smaller ones and ragged rocks jutting out of the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Atlantic</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. They are fairly unheard of beyond </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Portugal</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The largest, main
island is Berlengas Grande, the only inhabited island. Berlenga Grande is
surrounded by several smaller, tiny islands. The Fort of St. John the Baptist extends
from Berlenga Grande onto a smaller island and has stood since 1502. Visitors
to the island can stay in the fort for an experience that is not like any
other. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This is not a luxury
vacation. The accommodation in the fort is that of a basic hostel, with minimal
modern convenience. The rooms include a bed, toilet/sink, and a clothesline to
hang your clothes on. That’s it. The rooms are apparently cold even in the
summer, and showers are only available at certain times of the day because of
limited water supply. You can rent double rooms or rooms for four, and
breakfast is included. The rooms are also very inexpensive, only about 15
euros. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">But the lack of
features is the basis of the island’s appeal. The attraction is getting away
from complicated, modern life for a few days, and of course enjoying the
architecture and history of the fort. It’s recommended that you bring a
flashlight, since the fort is dark at night, and cards, a guitar, etc. to amuse
yourself since there is no modern entertainment. Staying at the fort is a lot
like camping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I think it’s
fantastic. Spectacular places like this should not be kept exclusively for the
wealthy – they should be available for everyone to see and experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U5YsEG4UTzXbbE163RY-7RO_vbxARclwwuAPBngjEKuXCkMmg12-y55ScQT8RE0bILlxV-KiYogZ3I-2ZsdizeqEY_jX1iRbAN92gQ39X5mKY0LcztbnaUyfOU8ISeaTytQQtv4ZdrQQ/s1600/berlengas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2U5YsEG4UTzXbbE163RY-7RO_vbxARclwwuAPBngjEKuXCkMmg12-y55ScQT8RE0bILlxV-KiYogZ3I-2ZsdizeqEY_jX1iRbAN92gQ39X5mKY0LcztbnaUyfOU8ISeaTytQQtv4ZdrQQ/s400/berlengas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Visting season is May
to September, and the Fort always fills up with bookings. The only way to get
to the islands is by boat, a 45 minute ride over the sea. I would definitely
stay for a couple nights in the fort, but you can also just go for a day trip. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? There are
several beaches around the main island, but only one is usable. In a beautiful
little cove with white sand and turquoise water, you can swim and lounge in the
sun. You can also snorkel fairly far out, until you hit boat territory. There
is also a public diving board. This beach is reached by a little walkway
leading from the little cluster of buildings around the island’s main dock. This
little cluster includes a few lodgings, the island’s restaurant, a little café,
and a clean set of washrooms. Down at the main dock, you can take boat tours
around the caves on the south side of the island for a few euros. The sailors
are friendly and will give you lots of information about the island. It’s a
little more expensive, but you can take the glass bottom boat for an especially
cool tour. You can also explore the island on foot – the whole island is a
nature reserve, and there are many trails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBd0QhuuAPHiyJk4WTxbDBR0q-37KgZfSeBSzvTlwqxWIdRHEOIA0IrYywmMk4VoqsJFApF_U1NCyZywHSDXOi-9OoJlGPBLNcgPKeGO4eRNmCDspWAIb429rb8S7_ID-5X_6VLrcYPdA/s1600/berlengas+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBd0QhuuAPHiyJk4WTxbDBR0q-37KgZfSeBSzvTlwqxWIdRHEOIA0IrYywmMk4VoqsJFApF_U1NCyZywHSDXOi-9OoJlGPBLNcgPKeGO4eRNmCDspWAIb429rb8S7_ID-5X_6VLrcYPdA/s400/berlengas+beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? Food
served at the Fort is home cooked and local. The people serving your meal are
probably the people who caught it – they serve a lot of fresh fish. You can
also bring your own food and cook it in the Fort’s kitchen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is one restaurant on the island, the Sun
and Sea Restaurante. The restaurant apparently has good atmosphere and serves
seafood dishes with fresh, local catch. You can also try the café, which is
good for snacks, delicious pastries, coffee and beer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Overall, the Berlengas are a fantastic experience if
you want to relax, get away from busy every day life and enjoy some gorgeous
nature. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p><a href="http://frogdropping.hubpages.com/hub/berlengas-islands" target="_blank">Tons of useful info and links here. </a></o:p></span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-21292372315301833232013-04-07T11:25:00.001-07:002013-04-07T11:28:52.285-07:00“The House in the Sea” : Newquay and Cornwall, England <div style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place><st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">England</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> has always been known for its culture, charm
and beauty. Tourists flock to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> to enjoy the warm climate and tranquility of
the region, despite the fact that it is fairly removed from most of </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">England</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">’s main tourist attractions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></st1:placename></st1:place> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Newquay</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is an idyllic retreat off the coast of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. When the tide is in, Newquay appears to be an
island – until the tide goes out, revealing that Newquay is actually a rocky,
free-standing outcrop, 70 feet high and surrounded by smooth, sandy beach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fGrIlMmlNDavHMblqMQNhL37UYsBMIFKRdxfiROloT2EzaPBgF4g5FF_RItGiG5j1pgAWEo1tN4sybCtagGGWFH9Zr13-J7ag0kJpMh8nYb90-Jt6hbkUxnPzdKwuQwuf9fpwIvnkQ_w/s1600/the-Newquay-island_8416_large_slideshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fGrIlMmlNDavHMblqMQNhL37UYsBMIFKRdxfiROloT2EzaPBgF4g5FF_RItGiG5j1pgAWEo1tN4sybCtagGGWFH9Zr13-J7ag0kJpMh8nYb90-Jt6hbkUxnPzdKwuQwuf9fpwIvnkQ_w/s400/the-Newquay-island_8416_large_slideshow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between Tides</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">When the tide is in, the
island can only be reached by a narrow suspension bridge which connects it to
the mainland. The bridge was built in 1900 and is wide enough for only one
person across (don’t worry – it is checked and maintained for safety every
year). I have to say, I would not enjoy dragging my luggage across the
suspension bridge. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There is only one
house on the tiny “island,” which is rented year-round to vacationers. The
house is surrounded by beautiful gardens until the edge of the cliff drops
away, nearly vertically, and the island is surrounded by ocean or by the sand
of </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Newquay</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Beach</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> depending on the time of day. Stone steps lead down from the island to
the beach, which is open to the public. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRRE1bCCOSuZRiYyASIuscMQ2Wb9AQmm05yVVBbMoj3qViGO3Ppsy-TZVUVFVzrQArfbTvUeV9PWIKRxr3i2q6sp-3RG4VMTew0VXipg4TCwO_wQVp_pHvS9-tSp_skis-eD1vLqhjU5G/s1600/low+tide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRRE1bCCOSuZRiYyASIuscMQ2Wb9AQmm05yVVBbMoj3qViGO3Ppsy-TZVUVFVzrQArfbTvUeV9PWIKRxr3i2q6sp-3RG4VMTew0VXipg4TCwO_wQVp_pHvS9-tSp_skis-eD1vLqhjU5G/s400/low+tide.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">
Low Tide</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The cottage on the
island, called The House in the Sea, is a unique home-stay experience. The house
sleeps six, has three bedrooms and includes wifi and televison (although why
you would bother with that when you could be outside is a mystery to me). Other
features of the house are the top deck, which faces out to sea, and the lower
deck, which is perfect for sunbathing. The coastal views from the house are
spectacular, and watching the sunset from one of the decks would be
spectacular. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgX5tMiB94r7dm4dhdiiGDOdOj92i3tJ0fTo7kNIWx_GN4ifcFwF4k6wtwiGzuERl9uBo4_3Xw9Gy_p6afygHyvVZpr1V1OnkPR4aXvjkB-XsXRCSWDbPaxr_6cMtyxZ5uI7npq3iSrIt/s1600/conservatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHgX5tMiB94r7dm4dhdiiGDOdOj92i3tJ0fTo7kNIWx_GN4ifcFwF4k6wtwiGzuERl9uBo4_3Xw9Gy_p6afygHyvVZpr1V1OnkPR4aXvjkB-XsXRCSWDbPaxr_6cMtyxZ5uI7npq3iSrIt/s320/conservatory.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Conservatory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The House in the Sea
is a little more luxurious than the places I typically cover. This is probably
not how I would do a trip to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, since it’s quite pricy and I would prefer a
more natural, authentic experience of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, but I thought it was worth blogging about
just because it is so charming! If you could afford it, this would definitely
be a lovely get away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? Most of the
entertainment around </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Newquay</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Island</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is pretty posh (golf, private surf lessons,
etc.) and not really my thing. (Like I said – I prefer to travel in a more down
to earth way). The attraction of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> for me is the small fishing villages and the
old cottages, so I would love to take a few afternoons exploring the villages,
driving the coast and discovering the countryside. Newquay is close to the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">village</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">St. Ives</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, which is a popular destination and known for
its charm. You can also walk the cliff-top Camel Trail along the mainland, and
get fish and chips at the quay in the village. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGle7B_H6z4f8q173v3efE0YlWiH8I9husZmhyphenhyphenjhzbYhX5k4ZPmtoLjmWRIqBZmC6skMLPqf8M3DNrn9-NsWu0C0yBKMtCs1bTGK9ACY8XV-3vEV6UbTa0K23eQfLdRWF-e_JutQWjqfo/s1600/Camel+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGle7B_H6z4f8q173v3efE0YlWiH8I9husZmhyphenhyphenjhzbYhX5k4ZPmtoLjmWRIqBZmC6skMLPqf8M3DNrn9-NsWu0C0yBKMtCs1bTGK9ACY8XV-3vEV6UbTa0K23eQfLdRWF-e_JutQWjqfo/s400/Camel+trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camel Trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? The house
includes a fully equipped kitchen so that you can cook for yourself, and there
is also a bar-room. I would also make sure to get a meal in one of the villages
for some traditional English pub food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">As I said, I would
probably never be able to afford this, and this is not really how I would want
to experience </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cornwall</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> anyways. It’s too removed and aloof for me – I
would way rather stay in one of the fishing villages at a little bed and
breakfast and explore the county all day. But that’s just me, a lot of people
love this kind of retreat, so I thought I’d cover it to give you guys something
new. It’s a different kind of travelling in my opinion. But of course, if I was
ever offered the chance to stay here, I would not turn it down! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://www.uniquehomestays.com/unique/details.asp?id=2246" target="_blank">Details & Rental Info. </a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-40711422831596646402013-04-04T20:41:00.002-07:002013-04-05T07:44:55.077-07:00“The Jewel of Crimea” : Swallow’s Nest Castle<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Swallow’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Nest</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is an ornamental castle in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Ukraine</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, perched precariously on a cliff overlooking the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Black Sea</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. The “castle” is a miniature – only 20 m by 10m, and 12 m high, which only adds to the enchantment. The lonely little house is 130 feet above the surface of the water, exposed to the elements, and looks like something from a fairy tale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI9gnT0n84wzwCG57iRYq7TQhC5HRT7Xgxx2hpHAh3SzoTVRfjSbL2_9HxPqmvdMIkvuf97FAYxZ5azW-GnA_uEp6uf1C3M5A4VDUS0rj68adqI92VFxr23rN5jZg8WXZpzKcLGDTn3ke/s1600/swallows+nest+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPI9gnT0n84wzwCG57iRYq7TQhC5HRT7Xgxx2hpHAh3SzoTVRfjSbL2_9HxPqmvdMIkvuf97FAYxZ5azW-GnA_uEp6uf1C3M5A4VDUS0rj68adqI92VFxr23rN5jZg8WXZpzKcLGDTn3ke/s400/swallows+nest+6.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Swallow’s Nest has a long and eccentric history. The first building built on the cliff was a wooden cabin, built 1985, which the builder named “the </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Castle</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Love</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">”..... Fifteen years later, a German nobleman bought the land and promptly tore down the “</span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Castle</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Love</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">” to make room for the beautiful Swallow’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Nest</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Castle</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> which is still there today. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Three years later, however, he sold it and it became a restaurant. Throughout the 20’s, the building was used only as a tourist attraction, and in the 30’s it was used by a book club for meetings (awesome for the book club, not so great for everyone else…) After that, however, an earthquake damaged the cliff and the castle was deemed unsafe for visitors, so the castle was closed and empty for about 40 years. There was very little damage to the actual castle, but large cracks had appeared in the cliff. Fortunately, in 1968 restoration efforts began. The cliff was strengthened with concrete and the castle was cleaned up. The castle was fully functional again in 1975. It became an Italian restaurant, and still is to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The castle was built to be decorative, not to protect, and therefore it’s really just a very fancy house. It is literally right on the edge of the cliff – parts of the balconies actually extend over the edge of the cliff, supposedly because a chunk of cliff fell away during the earthquake. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">T</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">he castle is an architectural marvel: delicate and weightless, but at the same time grand and sturdy (so sturdy that it survived an earthquake 6 or 7 on the Richter Scale with no structural damage). The castle has two stories and includes a main foyer, two bedrooms and a guest room. A stairway climbs to the top of the tower. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? You can reach Swallow’s Nest by road, or by ferry, which provides a spectacular first view of the castle. The castle is not visible from the road, which adds to the feeling of seclusion. A small fee will get you into the grounds, which you can explore. Inside the castle you should probably have a meal, since it is mainly a restaurant. You can then go out on the decks for a spectacular view of the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Black Sea</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> and the distant shore. You can also walk the Tsar’s Path, a nearby scenic trail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What do eat? I think everyone can figure this one out for themselves… don’t want to be redundant. But I love Italian food, so win-win all around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Honestly, this place is unreal and I would absolutely love to go here someday. (Apologies for the overuse of pictures but I just can’t get enough of them.) Definitely near the top of my list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow's_Nest" target="_blank">More info.</a></o:p></span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-45293201616306624682013-04-01T19:47:00.002-07:002013-04-03T07:05:05.912-07:00"Mist and Mountains" : Wulingyuan, China<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<st1:place><st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Wulingyuan</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">China</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, is one of the most haunting and beautiful places I have ever seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Wulingyuan is a spectacular series of national parks in the </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hunan</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">province</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">China</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, and is relatively untouched by humans as it was historically inaccessible. Wulingyuan is most know for its breathtaking sandstone pillars – there are thousands, along with mountain peaks, ravines, gorges, rivers and waterfalls. The stone pillars are often surrounded by fog, which obscures the view but adds to the mystical feeling of the mountains. There are also two natural stone bridges, the “Bridge of the Immortals” and the “Bridge across the sky.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hiking trails wind throughout the park, allowing visitors to explore the beautiful landscape. A bus system provides transportation to different parts of the park, and there are two cable cars. The park is home to thousands of plant and animal species, including many endangered species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You can get to the park by a one hour bus ride from </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span lang="FR-CA">Zhangjiajie</span></st1:placename><span lang="FR-CA"> </span><st1:placetype><span lang="FR-CA">City</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span lang="FR-CA">, the nearest city, which will take you to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zhangjiajie Cun, the village just outside the park.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? You can stay in the village outside the park, or in the Yuanjiajie Zhongtian International Youth Hostel, which is actually inside the park. The Youth Hostel provides dorms or double rooms, laundry facilities, and inexpensive food. The only option at the park gate is to purchase a three day park pass, so you kind of have no choice there, but the pass includes free rides on the bus system within the park and insurance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiking the park will probably take up most of your time at Wulingyuan. The park is enormous and there is no way you can see all of it in three days, so plan ahead and decide which sights you want to see. The Golden Whip Stream trail is recommended since it will take you to many of the highlighted attractions of the park and past a little souvenir shop. The natural bridges would also be spectacular to see, along with Kongzhong Tianyuan, a garden that sits on an outcropping surrounded by peaks. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Wikitravel recommends looking for "an elderly looking man named Mr. Zhou" who hangs out inside the park entrance and is apparently a very good park guide. Let me know if that works out for you. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? There are restaurants within the park, but they are apparently very overpriced, so you’d be better off eating in the village outside the park if you can. Or you can go hardcore and pack dehydrated food (mmmm!). </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/640" target="_blank">Wulingyuan UNESCO.</a></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Wulingyuan" target="_blank">Wikitravel</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-3251968243361937372013-03-31T09:56:00.003-07:002013-03-31T09:59:32.601-07:00"Garden Above the City" : Torre Guinigi <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I’ve always wanted to
go to </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Tuscany</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. The rolling fields and the villas look like
paradise, and it always seems so sunny and warm and beautiful. I would love to
drive through the countryside on a summer evening and stay in a gorgeous Italian
villa (exactly how realistic that is, I don’t know – sounds a lot like Letters
to Juliet). </span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">But when eventually
travel to </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, one of my first stops will be </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Tuscany</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The first thing you
see when arriving in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is the massive stone wall that surrounds the town, which was originally
built in the 1500’s for defense. It is now a walking promenade around the city
for cyclists, locals and tourists to enjoy. </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is one of the best places to go for an
authentic medieval atmosphere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The town of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> dates back to Roman times, and Roman
architecture is still visible in the town centre today. During medieval times, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> was a centre for trade, especially the silk
trade. In the 14<sup>th</sup> century </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> was full of political turmoil and unrest, so
many towns were fortified for defense. Power changed hands many times, but </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> eventually fell under the control of the
wealthy Guinigi family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">One of the first
things the Guinigi’s did was build a huge tower to show off their wealth. This
was a very common pass-time for rich families in that era, they apparently had
nothing better to do with their money, and many Tuscan cities actually had to
pass laws restricting the height of towers because people were just going
crazy. When the families fought each other, knocking down the enemy’s tower was
the ultimate burn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Fortunately, Torre
Guinigi survived, and today it is a breathtaking tourist attraction. The tower
is entirely medieval architecture, except for the stairs, which are a modern
addition (the original stairs were on the outside). You can still see the
Guinigi family crest carved into the stone. Today, for 4 euros, you can climb
the 230 stairs and from the top floor you can enjoy a panoramic view of the
surrounding town, including the Roman centre, the original city walls, and a
few other towers around the city that are still intact. You can also see the
countryside around the town and the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Alps</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> in the
distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The cool thing about
the tower is that it’s high, but not high enough that you are completely
distanced from the city. You can still hear the people in the streets and the
musicians that play nearby. </span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZcVO5ej4Rgc_Iw2jYUyIFR1h1acGUzhq2DiGN_ZaN6c744mkeUJtaZfBhzXJOqrSez4AVk-Xl-TfKy_QSsg4avyFtlupTFmjEygLxAwjH5jPCrzsQtF0Q-_o9Xaf6VT9Ap_InOmC15Wf/s1600/guinigitowertop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZcVO5ej4Rgc_Iw2jYUyIFR1h1acGUzhq2DiGN_ZaN6c744mkeUJtaZfBhzXJOqrSez4AVk-Xl-TfKy_QSsg4avyFtlupTFmjEygLxAwjH5jPCrzsQtF0Q-_o9Xaf6VT9Ap_InOmC15Wf/s400/guinigitowertop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The most incredible
feature of the tower is its rooftop garden, which dates back to at least the
1600’s. The garden is 125 feet above the ground, and includes several ancient
oak trees. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to Do? There’s
lots to see around the town, enough to keep you busy for an afternoon of
exploring. Across town from the Torre Guinigi is the Torre della Ore (the clock
tower) which is also open to climb. You can visit several medieval basilicas
and the Lucca Amphitheatre, whose architecture dates back to the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Roman Empire</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. The Lucca Catherdral dates to the 1300’s and
has many beautiful paintings as well as a famous sculpture of </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">St. Martin</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. I would really just enjoy wandering the
streets and exploring. I think that’s the best way to discover a city, and </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">’s architecture and culture would be absolutely
stunning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn4zol6JAJEFdL-E6LV7o7iWa7mKrR0nUU_2KsaM_gn0W6bAZz-Z76L68Zvv5tAcrxsw-daw2HCQ0y8MI7kJyaEredsmx_UDeG72mYQsPjuAHqus0UTOERZqJ3IsbmkhpiZZ21L8HD5r8/s1600/lucca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzn4zol6JAJEFdL-E6LV7o7iWa7mKrR0nUU_2KsaM_gn0W6bAZz-Z76L68Zvv5tAcrxsw-daw2HCQ0y8MI7kJyaEredsmx_UDeG72mYQsPjuAHqus0UTOERZqJ3IsbmkhpiZZ21L8HD5r8/s1600/lucca.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? The </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Tuscany</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> region is known for its delicious cuisine. Around
</span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Lucca</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> you can sample the local cooking, including
traditional peasant foods like cheese and herb stuffed past, delicious soups,
and specialties like roast kid (goat kids) and cold rabbit salad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> <a href="http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/torre-guinigi-guinigi-tower" target="_blank">More about the history of the Tower.</a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p><a href="http://beachcomberpete.com/lucca_italy/" target="_blank">More about Lucca.</a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-8936389705330619822013-03-24T12:08:00.000-07:002013-03-24T12:11:32.783-07:00“Venice of the Netherlands” : Giethoorn <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The picturesque </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">village</span></st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> of </span><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Giethoorn</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Netherlands</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> looks like something out of a fairytale. It’s
not </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Venice</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, but it is idyllic and uniquely enchanting in
its own way. In Giethoorn there are no roads – only canals. There are footpaths
along the canals, and beautiful wooden footbridges to cross, but all cars must
be left outside the village.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1e1fAFlGRrUuDFWGVdHYarUV74ed1-AWpennvjlRBInRK2EgGHhswTLY1UqZIt9pLhO1ibjPuIptD6si7L-i79_XvHspgpicfNaDKlz3yTaz-wdwSSfdB9kb49X-gd-_JGQKk2svUH3Z/s1600/giethoorn+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1e1fAFlGRrUuDFWGVdHYarUV74ed1-AWpennvjlRBInRK2EgGHhswTLY1UqZIt9pLhO1ibjPuIptD6si7L-i79_XvHspgpicfNaDKlz3yTaz-wdwSSfdB9kb49X-gd-_JGQKk2svUH3Z/s640/giethoorn+3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There are four miles
of canals total, lined with beautiful old cottages with thatched roofs dating
from the 1700’s. (For anyone who doesn’t know: a thatched roof is a roof made
of straw.) Giethoorn has about 3000 residents and most live in cottages on
private islands which serve as yards. On foot, many houses can only be accessed
by a wooden footbridge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofW5Fs3r34-L66yOt81KOlvvhnUbuOX84VJyzbkfCK5AU9QNUz_gBAjlQI4nCPypJGG9P-bX0NceNsfQReOGka74pSnLXrpKSKWJpAOP6kx5tXmWQ-S14PVgXUh1tK3QywmSAMjVFYAPD/s1600/giethoorn+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofW5Fs3r34-L66yOt81KOlvvhnUbuOX84VJyzbkfCK5AU9QNUz_gBAjlQI4nCPypJGG9P-bX0NceNsfQReOGka74pSnLXrpKSKWJpAOP6kx5tXmWQ-S14PVgXUh1tK3QywmSAMjVFYAPD/s1600/giethoorn+4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Cycling, boating, guided canal tours – or just
explore by yourself and take in the idyllic charm of this little village. You
can get around using punts, canoes, kayaks, or “whisperboats,” which run on
electrical motors. The canoes are quite shallow, so punting is especially easy
(you push your boat along using a long stick). Shops and restaurants line the
canals and each has its own dock, so it’s easy to get out and explore wherever
you want. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTBTH3kMLkFnXgopYKOP-tyyEXHXV9uJUIifoHGw2jILC55PhZGQ4y08r8V8te8hNGepyo38VdmQKRf0Tnsy6zbxx4VjSFczbaXt_FBZES7ebghLPuAOay13Ckgs168xk_kAmfc1gWcah/s1600/giethoorn+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTBTH3kMLkFnXgopYKOP-tyyEXHXV9uJUIifoHGw2jILC55PhZGQ4y08r8V8te8hNGepyo38VdmQKRf0Tnsy6zbxx4VjSFczbaXt_FBZES7ebghLPuAOay13Ckgs168xk_kAmfc1gWcah/s1600/giethoorn+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Giethoorn is not a
long train ride from </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Amsterdam</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, so you could do a daytrip to Giethoorn as part of a larger trip. There
are also some excellent B&B’s you can stay in, and the owners are apparently
very welcoming and friendly. The B&B’s will often rent bikes and boats so
that you so that you can explore the village on your own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">In the winter,
Giethoorn is a popular destination for ice skating. I think it would be
absolutely magical to skate along the canals on a winter evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></b> </div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Most of the B&B’s have their own
restaurant or dinner service, and will serve you delicious home-cooked food.
You can also eat at De Lindenhof, which is pricey but apparently a fantastic
experience. De Lindenhof serves five course meals (that’s my kind of dinner!)
and the food is creative, delicious and well presented. De Lindenhof is inside
a traditional farmhouse and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. De Molenmeester
is another restaurant, inside a restored mill, which serves regional organic
dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The canals can get
quite busy as the day wears on, so it’s best to get out and about in the morning
or wait until the evening, but no matter when you go Giethoorn will be a
charming experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://www.world66.com/europe/netherlands/giethoorn" target="_blank">Giethoorn Travel Guide. </a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-8483928537971297392013-03-16T10:06:00.000-07:002013-03-16T10:08:12.276-07:00“Sacred Blue Cenote” : Cenote Ik Kil <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It’s March Break and
right about now I’m really wishing I was somewhere tropical. So how about </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mexico</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mexico</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">’s </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Yucatan</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Peninsula</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is known for its Cenotes. There are no above ground rivers in the </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Yucatan</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> – all freshwater is underground in natural
caves and subterranean rivers. A Cenote (pronounced “sen-oh-tay”) is a natural
sinkhole, formed when the roof of an underground water-filled cave collapses.
Cenotes can be open like lakes or almost completely covered, except for a tiny
hole at the top. The holes in the roofs allow natural sunlight to filter in,
making for an enchanting atmosphere. “Cenote” means “sacred well,” since
Cenotes were considered holy by the ancient Mayans, who believed the Cenotes
were portals to the underworld and the realm of the Gods. </span><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn5TX1Pad2AlEaKIRUF80ljxkTT7DY2q4pOkX4fwc5IJBvBsl2bkl5vm2qd-q3chBfcZWYZFgEEjIJW66ElVH36Mvg90PEu-RiR1Es_g9BUXvToiGTaZ9DHtm4eTRrQBoF8CxFlhZ_d2x/s1600/cenote+ik+kil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn5TX1Pad2AlEaKIRUF80ljxkTT7DY2q4pOkX4fwc5IJBvBsl2bkl5vm2qd-q3chBfcZWYZFgEEjIJW66ElVH36Mvg90PEu-RiR1Es_g9BUXvToiGTaZ9DHtm4eTRrQBoF8CxFlhZ_d2x/s400/cenote+ik+kil.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cenote Ik Kil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There are thousands of
Cenotes along the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Peninsula</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, but one of the prettiest is Cenote Ik Kil.
Many of the Cenotes are highly developed tourist centres, but in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mexico</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> it’s usually wiser to stick to the well
travelled paths. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Cenote Ik Kil is 200
feet across and almost perfectly round. The water surface is about 85 feet
below the ground above. A stairway carved into the rock leads down to a
swimming platform, where visitors can swim and snorkel in the natural pool. The
staircase is lit up beautifully in the evening. The water in the Cenote is very
deep. Vegetation hangs in over the edges of the Cenote, including vines which
reach all the way down to the surface of the water, and small waterfalls pour
over the edges. Apparently there are catfish that live in the Cenote which
would really be a problem for me, because I absolutely hate fish… but hopefully
I could get over it and just enjoy the Cenote. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Cenote is
surrounded by cottages for visitors to rent, a restaurant, gift shop and changing
rooms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Cenote Ik Kil is part of the Ik Kil
archaeological park, and is very close to </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Chichen Itza</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, a set of Mayan ruins and a very popular site
for tourists. Cenote Ik Kil is also very close to Ek Balam, another set of
ruins, which I would chose over </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Chichen Itza</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> because it is apparently much less of a
tourist trap and you can actually climb the temple. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FAZHh0hP6BFrEOzelgCZwY995G1Ovnqb_8Uij3QoWfWfVU4ppK0cFHYEGBi4ZDZPwJ9IVEtfs_lUVzUBRNznwR3pyl1DxpwdRItRDcGHZi6vYawz_xjCQbPHurC-VgNcSTGMs_U2QEWw/s1600/Ek+Balam+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FAZHh0hP6BFrEOzelgCZwY995G1Ovnqb_8Uij3QoWfWfVU4ppK0cFHYEGBi4ZDZPwJ9IVEtfs_lUVzUBRNznwR3pyl1DxpwdRItRDcGHZi6vYawz_xjCQbPHurC-VgNcSTGMs_U2QEWw/s1600/Ek+Balam+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ek Balam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Ek Balam also has its
own nearby Cenote, called Cenote Maya. After you explore the Mayan ruins, you
can swim and zipline in the breathtaking Cenote Maya, which is quite a
different experience from Cenote Ik Kil, since the two are so different
geologically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwoGfYH8NXVwe1TNq5HFiAENk3ciVipK6S1z-iZnMGExLsSVKgwsvOP1MsW4U18naG5miXHR6-jylFVTE8hq5A3VdGXO3F3uMO1L3UoopGNDcgVqHnVWEUUOn0vLAHnFipyge_sEhjIQE/s1600/Cenote+Maya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwoGfYH8NXVwe1TNq5HFiAENk3ciVipK6S1z-iZnMGExLsSVKgwsvOP1MsW4U18naG5miXHR6-jylFVTE8hq5A3VdGXO3F3uMO1L3UoopGNDcgVqHnVWEUUOn0vLAHnFipyge_sEhjIQE/s1600/Cenote+Maya.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cenote Maya</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> There is only one restaurant at Cenote Ik Kil,
so not much choice there… but it is apparently excellent and buffet style, so
wahoo! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">You can also stay at
one of the many resorts and take bus tours through the entire area, depending
on what kind of experience you are looking for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.yucatantoday.com/en/topics/cenotes-underwater-sinkholes" target="_blank">Information on the Yucatan and a brief clip about Cenote Ik Kil.</a></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-27906466388442479462013-03-07T18:35:00.002-08:002013-03-07T18:35:10.231-08:00“Cave of the Three Travellers” : Fangweng Restaurant
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Imagine dining in mid
air, hundreds of feet above a sweeping gorge with a beautiful river at the
bottom. Cool? Terrifying? This is pretty much what if would feel like to dine
in the Fangweng Restaurant, in the Hubei Province of China. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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</div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The restaurant, also known as "the restaurant near sanyou cave," or the "cave of the three travellers," is
about 30 minutes north of the city Yichang, in the Xiling Gorge, a scenic range
of cliffs and park. The cliffs are riddled with caves and the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Chang Jiang</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> river flows through the bottom of the gorge. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cY6GqqkpXtOxhUZL-dK1TVYar1z1hqrtyYkjo4KMTCE5JActlyAkBVYWXRPD5Wbff77FT9h9SYMZyUnE3Wowp78TO59BbtXIV5shY7cvJZChhUuF6YbpTorGTIQY6r5q-OIx1yHnh-sG/s1600/sanyoucave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cY6GqqkpXtOxhUZL-dK1TVYar1z1hqrtyYkjo4KMTCE5JActlyAkBVYWXRPD5Wbff77FT9h9SYMZyUnE3Wowp78TO59BbtXIV5shY7cvJZChhUuF6YbpTorGTIQY6r5q-OIx1yHnh-sG/s1600/sanyoucave.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The entrance to the
Fangweng Restaurant is marked by a small building that is pretty darn ugly. The
real wonder begins once you pass through the building. To get to the main
restaurant, you must take a precarious walk along a boardwalk built into the
face of the cliff. The walk is said to be spectacular. On the left, the cliff
face goes up almost vertically, and on the right only a small railing guards
the boardwalk from the perilous slopes of the gorge and the river below. Historically,
the cave was used as inspiration for many famous poets and artists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">When you arrive, you
will be seated. Most of the tables are inside the restaurant, which is actually
a naturally formed cave in the cliff – how cool is that?! The strange
combination of being in both a Chinese restaurant and a cave makes for a pretty
unique atmosphere. Some tables, however, are on a deck built out over the gorge.
I can’t even imagine eating a mean with only a few deck planks between me and a
sheer drop to the bottom of a gorge. The view is amazing, but I would be
terrified (I’m not good with heights). </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUVxHNccF20PRz5K-cqvKeqOLEgtsgCyV-AoXS1GwgdMfA9evpEJbuI3K4TLxg6aLp_Q-i6Ms6DtdYv8HxZQQzZrm2QahD6h4HKa4i-6uncg80RJwkzV_iAIboFwAEw5x_b5Gwk59c_Wh/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUVxHNccF20PRz5K-cqvKeqOLEgtsgCyV-AoXS1GwgdMfA9evpEJbuI3K4TLxg6aLp_Q-i6Ms6DtdYv8HxZQQzZrm2QahD6h4HKa4i-6uncg80RJwkzV_iAIboFwAEw5x_b5Gwk59c_Wh/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do? Well, eat,
obviously. The best time to go is during the day, when the restaurant is not
crowded, and the light is good for viewing the gorge. Other than that, you can
hike, bungee jump, or take a boat tour throughout the valley, among other local
activities. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat? The menu
consists of a combination of local specialties and traditional </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Hubei</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> cooking. Dishes include freshwater fish, duck,
pork and if you’re feeling adventurous, you could try turtle (not for me,
personally). Most of the dishes include sauce, vegetables and strong spices. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I just think this
would be a fantastic and breathtaking (but scary) experience you would never forget,
and you would be hard pressed to find another place like this one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
There's not a ton of information on the Fangweng restaurant, but <a href="http://travel.spotcoolstuff.com/china/unusual-restaurant/sanyou-cave" target="_blank">this travel blog </a>covers it pretty well. reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-52381689196572264242013-03-06T17:26:00.003-08:002013-03-06T17:26:29.908-08:00"Kapali Çarsi" : The Grand Bazaar
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So I originally
planned to stay away from places that are super crowded and touristy, but I
haven’t done the most stellar job so far, and this one was just too good to
resist… so from now on, I’m just doing whatever the heck I want. Some places
will be touristy and some will be obscure. Moving on…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuckByKTSpbN6EXvnxGhm-fXM19EjSxJycY64XglnN1l2Htesq2M4M6eotp5EoMZrQ_XNYqeueue-jRCpPKldTrAhI_6cmw4xuf3ChOyj4PQSkzM9Sq-1GsI4NeCrzg8tfqElEhau9mBP/s1600/grand+bazaar+1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuckByKTSpbN6EXvnxGhm-fXM19EjSxJycY64XglnN1l2Htesq2M4M6eotp5EoMZrQ_XNYqeueue-jRCpPKldTrAhI_6cmw4xuf3ChOyj4PQSkzM9Sq-1GsI4NeCrzg8tfqElEhau9mBP/s1600/grand+bazaar+1.gif" /></a><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-dvsR-VgQpjbizXBBN6vW-11ftaxXKPYoU2dchD2ghG3JodkiY0yNMfC69XK_MGu5O_-WF5lx0nRVP8RCt68d7Vyt7pyTR9qw5beyNXJKCtPL-dL-KJnonmFnoU7MA7voh9YZZrbMPZ/s1600/grandbaz1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN6-dvsR-VgQpjbizXBBN6vW-11ftaxXKPYoU2dchD2ghG3JodkiY0yNMfC69XK_MGu5O_-WF5lx0nRVP8RCt68d7Vyt7pyTR9qw5beyNXJKCtPL-dL-KJnonmFnoU7MA7voh9YZZrbMPZ/s1600/grandbaz1.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The Grand Bazaar</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> in </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Istanbul</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Turkey</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, is one of the oldest and largest covered
street markets in the world. The bazaar has been around since the 1400’s, when </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Istanbul</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> was the world’s most important trading centre.
The market covers sixty streets, all of which are named for the craft they were
historically dedicated to, and includes nearly 5,000 shops. The market also
houses numerous restaurants and cafes, four fountains, two ancient Turkish
baths, and two domed buildings, including the Cevahir Bedesten, where the most
valuable items were traditionally sold (and still are today).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The bazaar is a
whimsical melding of the Western and Oriental worlds, and has been since the
middle ages. It really recaptures the feel of historic </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Istanbul</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. You can buy all kinds of unique, eclectic
items here, and the pictures look like something out of an I-Spy book. The
market is home to craftsmanship at its finest – along with pickpocketing at its
finest, so watch out. </span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Qw2FT05RoDfdm_uC8I0IylBDeXfKvbEWDC1PhF2F-qhqG5rZm_PGUTg8cbnlFJ_nZP3fWstIvZu0P3E6p5zbiTcQe2JJP3bWQJjdz5AQpZNpYYFn_U7Dxdg0_xlQG0a94S83p3W2rRJU/s1600/grandbaz2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Qw2FT05RoDfdm_uC8I0IylBDeXfKvbEWDC1PhF2F-qhqG5rZm_PGUTg8cbnlFJ_nZP3fWstIvZu0P3E6p5zbiTcQe2JJP3bWQJjdz5AQpZNpYYFn_U7Dxdg0_xlQG0a94S83p3W2rRJU/s1600/grandbaz2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to do?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> The market is a labyrinth of streets and shops
with many different entrances – very easy to get lost, but I would be happy to
get lost exploring all the cool things the market has to offer. It’s crowded,
busy and warm – the market is several degrees hotter than the air outside
because of all the lights. There are merchants and shoppers everywhere, and
colourful, exotic wares spill from thousands of stalls. The bazaar is divided
into “Bedestens” – complexes of related shops. The merchants are known for
their jewelry, hand-painted pottery, carpets, fabrics, spices and antique
shops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The atmosphere can be
quite overwhelming, and make sure you know how to say no, unless you’re
prepared to blow your life’s savings shopping here. The merchants are outgoing
and can sometimes be aggressive. They will bombard you with greetings and
offers, and try to convince you/guilt you into to buying their items. Apparently
a favourite opener is “Hello, Americans! Where are you from? I have a cousin
there!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merchants often try to take advantage of
people’s politeness, so you need to be firm and sometimes assertive. It’s the
only way to get through the market without spending all your money and being
constantly stuck in conversations. Just don’t feel like you have to engage
everyone who greets you, or buy something everywhere you look. If you approach
the merchants with a sense of humour, it can be quite fun –the merchants love
to chat, and I’m guessing you’d have some pretty interesting conversations. You
could even try your hand at bargaining. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFzDlPy12kbXZN2pnjS_DUHsPNxffr7AzkwbCNKM88dN4FDWblHyIA9-Kf7sAgSO-1V2F0NB2-QnUhNkUFeKmk7Zv90VZHmiw3gL7pwTItyyu2aXr-wZwd1SaYdm_kDmKsqfbv_qn-rR2/s1600/grand+bazaar+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAFzDlPy12kbXZN2pnjS_DUHsPNxffr7AzkwbCNKM88dN4FDWblHyIA9-Kf7sAgSO-1V2F0NB2-QnUhNkUFeKmk7Zv90VZHmiw3gL7pwTItyyu2aXr-wZwd1SaYdm_kDmKsqfbv_qn-rR2/s640/grand+bazaar+4.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">It would be well worth
your time to check out the district of the Silversmiths. Many of them will be
happy to let you inside their workshops if you ask, and you can watch them
craft beautiful objects out of silver. Frequently, merchants are forced to move
their workshops out of the bazaar because of high rents, which is unfortunate
because the bazaar has always held both workshops and shops, and many of the
craftsmen believe the soul of the bazaar will be lost if they are forced to
move their workshops. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Gold is another
specialty of the market. Since Turkish currency is fairly unstable, many Turks
invest their money in gold, a more secure form of wealth. You will see women in
the market whose arms are lined with plain gold bracelets – their life savings.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There are cheap
touristy areas in the market, and other areas that are very overpriced, but if
you go to the outer edge of the market and the streets around the bazaar, where
the local Turks shop, you will find good merchandise for good bargains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">While you’re in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Istanbul</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, there are plenty of other historic sites and
beautiful, ancient mosques to visit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could never get tired of exploring this city. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Try the Kardesler restaurant, a family owned restaurant
that specializes in south-eastern Turkish cuisine. Kardesler is crowded but
inexpensive, and the atmosphere is welcoming and homey. The food is apparently
absolutely delicious. After your meal, if you fancy trying Turkish coffee, Sark
Kahvesi (“The Oriental Coffee Shop”) is a short walk away. Turkish coffee is a
method of making coffee, not a type of coffee. The beans are hand ground to be
extra fine and the coffee is brought to a boil several times. Well prepared
Turkish coffee is flavourful and extra foamy. Turkish coffee is served
extremely hot with a glass of cold water and goes well with Turkish Delight. </span><span lang="FR-CA">A thick layer of sludgy grounds settles at the bottom (don’t drink
that…). Traditionally, the leftover coffee grounds were turned over onto a
saucer and used for fortune telling. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So that’s the Turkish
Grand Bazaar. This is only one aspect of the culturally rich wonder that is </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Istanbul</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, and I could probably spend forever exploring
the Bazaar alone. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Official Website <a href="http://www.grandbazaaristanbul.org/Grand_Bazaar_Istanbul.html" target="_blank">here.</a> And s/o to Rick Steves for a <a href="http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/turkey/grandbazaar.htm" target="_blank">detailed, street-smart self tour.</a></span></div>
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reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-72758955141466458032013-03-01T14:14:00.001-08:002013-03-06T17:28:50.352-08:00"Eldur Og ís" : Laugafell<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I’m heading up North for this post, to the “Land of Fire and Ice” – Iceland. As most people know, Iceland’s name is a huge lie. Parts of Iceland are covered in snowfields and glaciers, but Iceland also has hundreds of volcanos and is known for its hot springs. So yeah, the Vikings who named Iceland were huge jokesters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I’ve always loved looking at pictures of Iceland. It’s such a beautiful country – I love how wild and rugged it is, and soaking in a natural hot spring is totally my thing. One hot spring in particular, Laugafell, really caught my eye (partly because it has a name I can actually pronounce, unlike </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Deildartunguhver</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">…). </span><br />
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><strong>Laugafell</strong> is a mountain in the northern highlands of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iceland</st1:place></st1:country-region>, sitting between the glaciers Horsjokull and Vatnajokull. Its western slope is riddled with geothermal hot springs, which are heated by the earth’s mantle. The hot springs are a bit of an oasis, since the highlands can be very barren. Plants and wildlife flourish around the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">hot springs</st1:place></st1:city>, which are usually 40-50 degrees Celsius. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Laugafell has two mountain huts where visitors can stay. The oldest hut was built 1948-1950 and sleeps 15. It is open all year round and is actually heated by geothermic water from the springs. The newer hut was built in the 90’s and is open for use in the summer. It sleeps 20. Both huts have functioning kitchens with gas for cooking and utensils provided. There is a separate third hut which serves as a washroom and showerhouse. The hot spring pools are located just outside the cabins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">Just imagine waking up in the morning, stepping out onto the beautiful mountainside and gazing over the highlands all around you. Then you could take a dip in a pool heated by the earth’s core, right in your own backyard, surrounded by wildflowers and gorgeous mountain vistas. Sounds like bliss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> Other than soaking in warm geothermal pools (and you would have a hard time tearing me away from that), there are tons of hiking trails all around Laugafell, which lead to other mountains and glaciers and the nearby Eyjafiord Valley. There are gorgeous waterfalls and canyons to visit throughout the highlands, and apparently they raise a lot of horses here, so you could probably do some horseback riding or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to eat?</strong> You’re pretty much on your own here. You’ve got two kitchens with stoves and “the necessary utensils” (not sure exactly what that includes). Laugafell is 85 km from the nearest town, Akureyri, so you could make a stop there and stock up on groceries before heading up to the huts for your stay. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">I tried to find some sort of pun about Iceland or something, but they were all pretty bad… So instead, Fun Fact: many people in Iceland still believe in elves and trolls, and many roads are rerouted around places they think are inhabited by magical creatures. Probably makes for some interesting driving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">There’s not a ton of information about Laugafell, and most of it is scattered in bits and pieces over a bunch of sites, but <a href="http://www.nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_laugafell.htm" target="_blank">this one covers pretty much everything.</a> The English is a little iffy, but I’m sure you can get past that. </span></div>
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reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-68722733051276003472013-02-28T07:42:00.000-08:002013-03-06T17:29:24.916-08:00"Lights and Linen" : The Paris Déco Off<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I've always wanted to go to Paris (who doesn't want to go to Paris?), but Paris is a topic that's way too overdone. Everyone knows everyhing about Paris. So the destination for this post is not </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Paris.</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Instead, I’ve chosen a really cool festival in Paris that you probably haven't heard of – the Paris Déco Off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The <strong>Paris Déco Off</strong> is an annual five day festival that takes place in January. More than 60 designers participate in the Déco Off, setting up show rooms on the roads along both sides of the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Seine</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The festival really comes alive on the Soirée Nocturne, when the festival is open late into the night. The </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Left Bank</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> and the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Right Bank</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> each have their own Soirée on two separate nights. The Rue du Mail, a main street on the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Right Bank</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> with several designer shops, is decorated with a string of gigantic lanterns, whose shades are made from linen provided by various European designers. The result is an enchanting display of light and colour, illuminating the entire street. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I added the the <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Déco Off to my blog because I love festivals and I love the pictures of the linen lanterns. It's so simple but so pretty, and I feel like it would be a really fun atmostphere for exploring and walking around. Of course, I would make sure to hit up the rest of Paris while I was there...but the <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Déco Off is just something fun and unique I'd like to try. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to Do?</strong> There is much to explore at the Déco Off. Visitors can browse displays and collections of furniture, lighting and fabric from the most prestigious international designers. For entertainment, there are films and shows, and a variety of bands play in the Paris Déco Off Concert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to Eat?</strong> There are plenty of restaurants in the surrounding streets – and we all know how good French food is. Do I need to say anything else? Have a baguette or some Escargot or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">For lack of a fun fact (I’m sure everyone is real disappointed), I have a fun travel quote: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">“Men read maps better than women because only </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">men </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">c</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">an understand the concept of an inch equaling a hundred miles.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">- Roseanne Barr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: black;">. </span><a href="http://www.paris-deco-off.com/" target="_blank">More information on the Deco Off here. Hopefully you can read French. </a></span></span></span></div>
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reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-35798473612135110832013-02-27T17:14:00.001-08:002013-03-06T17:29:46.534-08:00"La Merveille de L'Occident" : Mont Saint-Michel <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Has anyone seen the movie <u>The Woman in Black?</u> If not you should, it's pretty good. But anyways, in the movie, Daniel Radcliffe is a lawyer and he gets stuck overnight on this creepy island you can only reach when the tide goes out. Pretty scary. But what's cool is that there's basically a real life version of this island, and it's open for business. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>Mont Saint-Michel</strong> is a rocky island in </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Normandy</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, off the coast of </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">North-Western France</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">. The </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mont</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> has held a fortress since early medieval times and also served as a monastery. Today, 44 people live on the island. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island, which means it can only be reached at low tide. Originally, the road that led to the island was covered during high tide, and the island was completely isolated. Nowadays there is a raised causeway, so the </span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mont</span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is always accessible, but it is still very dangerous to go out into the bay alone, because the tide changes very quickly. </span></div>
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I actually wish there was no causeway, because call me crazy, but the idea of being stuck on the island between tides sounds totally thrilling to me. Kind of creepy, but really cool. What I love about the island is the haunting architecture, and the idea that people have been coming to this island and staying in this building for centuries, doing the same things that people are doing here today. </div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mont Saint-Michel consists of a Gothic style abbey and the village that was built around it, both of which date back to 700 AD. The abbey is an artistic and architectural feat, and its rugged walls and delicate towers almost seem like a natural part of the island. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to do?</strong> There are several hotels around the entrance to the causeway, as well as within the walls of the Mont. The village’s main street, the “Cour de l’Avancé,” has original historical buildings and shops which sell food, jewellery and other souvenirs in the tradition of medieval shopkeepers. You can visit the Abbey and the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Parish</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Church</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, which was built in the 1400’s. Classical concerts are frequently hosted in the Abbey. There are four museums on the island, covering the history, culture, archaeology and ecology of the island. Rates are reduced for non-European young adults (score). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to eat?</strong> Salt meadows surround Saint-Michel, and are used for grazing sheep. Apparently, the salty diet of these sheep gives their meat a unique flavour. “Agneau de pré-salé” (salt meadow lamb) is a local dish that can be found in the island’s restaurants. I’ll have to pass, since I’m not a huge fan of lamb, but other specialties include omelettes and seafood from the bay, which can be enjoyed at numerous restaurants within the walls. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">According to </span><st1:place><st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Wikepedia</span></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, </span><st1:state><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mont</span></st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Saint-Michel was the inspiration for the city of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Minis Tirith</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> in the Lord of the Rings. I thought that was pretty neat. (Apologies if you have no idea what I’m talking about.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><a href="http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en" target="_blank">Official Mont Saint-Michel site can be found here. </a></span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6683899755259967969.post-90138429552256788202013-02-25T16:21:00.001-08:002013-03-06T17:30:13.289-08:00"Terra Delle Sirene" : The Amalfi Coast<h2>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So it’s been nearly impossible to choose what to write about first (which is why I’m doing this now and not a week ago, when I should’ve started…) but since </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> is pretty much the top of the top on my travel bucket list, I’ve decided to start there. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<strong>The Amalfi Coast</strong> is known as one of the most scenic coastal regions in the world. On the Western coast of <st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">, the region can be accessed from land by only one road, and includes 13 picturesque towns. Mountains, cliffs, beaches and the sea combine to form a unique and stunning landscape. In his poem “Odysseus,” Homer described Amalfi as the "Land of the Sirens.” </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Colourful houses cling to the cliffs, with a 500-foot drop to the </span><st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Mediterranean Sea</span></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> and sandy coves below. It’s the houses that got me hooked on the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Amalfi</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> – they are so charming, and this is exactly what I picture when I think of the Mediterranean sun and sea. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><strong>What to Do?</strong> Shopping and eating along the Coast is apparently pricey, and since I’ll probably be a poor student, I’d most likely stick to a day trip. The towns are charming, steeped in history, with shops, villas and beautiful views, but the biggest attraction for me is the scenery. The bus ride along the coast is apparently breathtaking (and somewhat scary - but that's ok, a little adventure never hurt anyone). The bus ride would be the best part of the trip for me (never thought I’d say that), and I’d also make sure to hit the beaches and explore a few of the towns. </span><br />
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The towns are know for the exquisitie architecture, especially the village of Positano, pictured above. Positano is pretty much a vertical town, and has stairs instead of streets. How cool is that?<br />
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<b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">What to eat?</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> Lemons. The Amalfi region is known for cultivating lemons, which grow in terraced gardens all along the coast. The Lemon Festival happens every year in September, and the towns take turns hosting. I didn't know there were multiple types of lemon, but apparently the festival exhibits every kind available. You can sample all kinds of lemon delicacies, too, like the region’s famous limoncello liqueur. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">So that’s the </span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Amalfi</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Coast</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> for you in a nutshell. And fun fact – Beyonce mentions the Coast in her song “</span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Upgrade</span></st1:placename><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> </span><st1:placetype><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">U.</span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">” Beyonce knows what’s good. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> <a href="http://www.amalficoast.com/">Check out the Amalfi website here.</a></o:p></span></div>
reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09471165957989009550noreply@blogger.com6