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.Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destructions and occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975. The city has always played an important role in political and cultural life of Spain and it is well reflected in the variety and quality of historical buildings, museums, many other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with unique culture and rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things and the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm and sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes and itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler. Pavement cafes and stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teeter del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Rambla’s mosaic. La Rambla ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) and the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived and worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 and Joan Miro was born and lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla, it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets and now is home to much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous and magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks. The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are four towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there are the towers of the four Evangelists, and the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, and since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade, is almost done, and the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building, the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.It is one of his finest and most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, and ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building and go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the Spanish Village and the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks and the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features and is the most popular destination in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. It has amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, and a family fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views. A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi and his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of almost 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Spain. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park and a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends and ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral and at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.

MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind and gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood and stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions and prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica and Inca civilisations. Palau de la Musica Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, and Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, and this collection, is particularly strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pictures from the beautiful Rose and Blue periods, and the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, and portraits and busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, and now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.

BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava and Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there are also several nice beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, we will list just several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swathe of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There are three perfect beach bars and two very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango and Chiringuito de Moncho) and countless bars and restaurants are just a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is twice the length of adjoining Nova Icaria and fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading and cycling. Three large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olimpica, plus 20-minute walk)- Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – good for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barceloneta- wide and long, a traditional and popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy and very jolly.

WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring and early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot and humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit). Especially avoid the “dead” month of August, when many shops, bars and restaurants close for the month as many local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from almost any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November and December to February (excluding Christmas and New Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or car, though these take much longer than a plane and often work out no cheaper. Many Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call.

ACCOMODATIONS: We can offer you a range of choices. You can choose vacation rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accomodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this extremely popular tourist city and surrounding resorts.

DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- three or four chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds and sample local specialities. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of two dishes and dessert would come to about 25 Euros. Travellers on an extremely limited budget can do well for themselves by using the excellent markets, bakeries and delis and filling up on sandwiches and snacks. Decent restaurants and cafes are easily found all over the city, though you’ll probably do most of your eating where you do most of your sightseeing, in the old town, particularly around La Rambla and in the Barri Gotic. Look for the best and most authentic seafood restaurants in Barceloneta, a seaside neighbourhood. Gothic Quarter neighbourhood is home to some of the oldest and most traditional restaurants in the city. Gracia is a very popular area among young people during the weekend, it leads the way in terms of exotic restaurants (Lebanese, Egyptian, Thai etc.).

TRANSPORT: Barcelona has excellent transport system comprising the metro (subway), buses, trains and a network of funiculars and cable cars. You can find a link to transport maps at the end of our guide. On all the city’s public transport you can buy a single ticket every time you ride, but even over only a couple of days it’s cheaper to buy a targeta – a discount ticket strip. The T-10 targeta is valid for ten separate journeys on the metro, buses and trains. These tickets can be used by more than one person at a time. The metro is the quickest way of getting around Barcelona. For black-and-yellow taxis there is a minimum charge of $ 2 euro. You’ll obviously have a great deal more freedom if you rent a car . Major roads throughout the city are generally good, and traffic is generally well behaved, though Spain does have one of the highest incidences of traffic accidents in Europe. It also has some of the lowest fuel prices on the continent.

SHOPPING: Barcelona, one of the most stylish cities in Europe offers great shopping, from designer clothes and accessories to household items. You will find the city to be quite cheap for a lot of items, especially if you coincide with the annual sales ( rebaixes in Spanish) lasting from mid-January until the end of February, and throughout July and August. The best shopping areas in Barcelona are the old streets off the upper part of the Ramblas. Souvenirs include ceramics, which are widely sold in the streets around the cathedral; leather goods; city’s delicatessens, particularly cooked Catalan meats and sausages; a porron (the long-spouted glass drinking jar); CDs and tapes of Catalan rock and pop, sardana music, Spanish rock or flamenco. If you’re looking for original gift ideas, some of the best hunting can be found in the shops of any of the city’s museums, where you’ll find reasonably priced and unique examples of Catalan disseny (graphic), and other original items ranging from postcards to replica works of art. We wish you a nice and safe trip!

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The countdown to Christmas is underway, and if you are planning to fly this Christmas make sure you are aware of the restrictions for carrying items in both hand and checked-in luggage.

Checking luggage restrictions is particularly important if you plan to carry Christmas presents onboard an aircraft, as you need to make sure that you are aware of what is and what isn’t permitted to avoid having items confiscated at security.

If you are carrying wrapped presents, they must be carried within your checked-in luggage. Any presents carried within your hand baggage must not be wrapped as they are subject to checks at security and may be unwrapped.

Most travellers should now be familiar with the liquids in hand luggage restrictions, after all, they were introduced three years ago! Don’t forget that the liquids in hand luggage rules also apply to Christmas presents, so if you are carrying a present, be it a bottle of champagne, perfume, or even a jar of jam, if it’s over 100ml it must be in your checked-in luggage otherwise it will be confiscated at security. Liquids include perfumes, pastes, gels, jams, preserves, lotions, lip sticks and mascara.

While it is permitted to carry Christmas presents within your hand luggage they must still adhere to the security rules of hand luggage items – no sharp objects, corkscrews etc. Check the weight restrictions of your hand luggage and make sure the size of your bag is the within the size permitted by your airline’s cabin baggage policy – you don’t need the added expense of having to check your bag in to the hold because it is too heavily laden with Christmas presents, or too large.

Pay particular attention to seasonal items such as Christmas crackers and party poppers as most airlines do not permit carriage of these items either in the cabin or hold. Some airlines permit Christmas crackers, but only if they are factory produced and are in unopened boxes – no homemade crackers will be permitted – and they must be carried in checked-in luggage only. As some crackers may contain restricted items within them, most airports have banned them from hand luggage – if you wish to carry them they must be placed in your checked-in luggage and must be for personal use only, generally a maximum of two boxes per passenger is permitted, but do check with your airline before packing them.

Another traditional Christmas item is the party popper, and while they may seem to just be a bit of fun, they are an explosive device and are not permitted to be carried at all, either in the cabin or hold.

If you are carrying Lithium batteries, these can pose a fire risk if not wrapped correctly, or the item they are being transported in is accidentally activated during the flight, so be careful when packing these items.

Good that must not be taken on board an aircraft include:

•fireworks, flares, toy gun caps

•culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders

•petrol, lighter fuel, paint, non-safety matches, firelighters

Items that can be carried include:

•gas powered hair curlers (one per person) – the safety cover must be fitted at all

•times, however, refills are not permitted

•safety matches, which must be carried on the person

So, if you are flying over Christmas and want to have as hassle-free a journey as possible, follow the rules, and if you have any questions about the carriage of any item check with your airline.

Everyone loves a white Christmas, but when the snow refuses to budge and treacherous ice makes your journey to work a living nightmare for weeks on end, then you could well be forgiven for wanting to quit the UK all together and start a new life in the sun.

If that seems a rather extreme reaction to the recent cold snap, then perhaps a shorter, less permanent spell in a warm country would do just as well. In fact now is the perfect time to look ahead and make sure you bypass the worst of next year’s British winter altogether – by flying to the other side of the world for a good few weeks.

Spending Christmas day on a beach with the sun shining, birds singing and a barbeque sizzling away on the sand might seem a strange idea to most Brits who are used to warm jumpers and a turkey dinner. But if you’re prepared to forgo a white Christmas and the idea of an afternoon opening presents on Bondi Beach appeals, then start looking for a new swimsuit.

If you plan on going as far as say Australia, then considering the distance, it makes sense to go for a decent amount of time and see as much as the country as you possibly can. But taking a family away on holiday for more than a week can pose a number of problems, including how much to pack and how on earth you’re going to fit it all into your suitcase. That’s where an international shipping firm can step in.

If carting enough of your belongings Down Under to last you a month is simply not practical, then consider using an international baggage shipping company to help lighten the load. Move your luggage by air, sea or land, depending on the speed you need it to reach its destination. Whichever method you choose though, it can be as easy as making a telephone call or logging onto the internet and you can have your effects picked up at the door and delivered to your destinatioshipping to Australia or some other exotic destination then make sure you choose an international shipping firm that has the experience to make you holiday a relaxing experience that you’ll remember forever.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/sick-of-the-snow-how-about-spending-next-christmas-on-the-beach-1767121.html

St. Petersburg boasts some of the most extravagant monuments with a rich heritage and history of their own. With Christmas and the New Year almost here, the city is lit up and tourists throng to all the historical places here. However, if finding an accommodation here tops your priority list then worry not because there are virtually thousands of apartments for rent in St. Petersburg.

The holiday season

St. Petersburg has many official holidays to mark Christmas as well as New Year. The New Year holidays start from 1st January and continue until the 5th to commemorate the New Year. During this time, people in SPB rejoice, celebrate togetherness and the love of near and dear ones. The New Year holidays hold special significance in Russia especially as it marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar. New Year is traditionally considered to be a celebration with family members and it is ushered in by drinking champagne and bursting fireworks. The dinner tables are set with lavish food and gifts are exchanged amongst friends and family members. The final countdown to the beginning of the New Year is initiated by the President of Russia and with each chime, the people of St. Petersburg make a wish. This practice is very common in Russia right after Novi God. January 7th is celebrated as the Russian Orthodox Christmas day.

Centralized locations of apartments

If you are here in St. Petersburg to usher in the New Year, you can find many apartment rentals priced very reasonably as per your individual budget and financial considerations. Most of the apartments for rent in St. Petersburg are situated centrally, which means that you can access any part of the city with ease. Hence, travel and sightseeing become very easy to accomplish. All major forms of transport originate from the SPB center and hence taking up a rental in this region is advantageous to you.

Proximity to major holiday events

The famous Russian Winter Festival is held each year to celebrate and usher in the New Year. Places like St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Moscow, Novgorod, Suzdal etc. are prime locations where festive celebrations abound for the New Year. Various traditional Russian folk customs, the famous troika rides as well as various other cultural celebrations occur during this festival. Hence, taking up residence at one of the apartments for rent in St. Petersburg will be very beneficial to anyone looking forward to participate in the New Year and Christmas celebrations this year! With most of the apartment rentals in St. Petersburg being located in close proximity to such festive celebrations, you can easily join in all the fun and excitement! Most of these accommodations are located very close to the nearest destinations for the Winter Festival.

For the best apartment rentals in St. Petersburg situated close to the upcoming New Year celebrations, check out our site at: http://www.apartment-rentals-russia.com/

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Camping in France at Christmas may be slightly in the chilly side, but you will find the spirit of family and generosity that surrounds you will warm you up in no time. Whilst the celebrations are different in every region, each is as spectacular as the next. Though all regions celebrate Christmas Day on the 25th December as per tradition, for many in France, celebrations start with La Fete de Saint Nicholas on the 6th December.

La Fete de Lumieres

Held by the inhabitants of Lyon on the weekend closest to the 8th December, with the climax of the festival happening on the 8th itself, La Fete de Lumieres is a splendid Christmas tradition. This renowned festival of lights is when the Lyonnais pay homage to the Virgin Mary, by lighting a candle in each of their windows. These candles light up the village, and give off a wonderful homely and festive feel. One of the main focal points of this festival is the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, where the impressive stained glass windows are lit up with different coloured lights. Over at the Place des Terreaux in the very heart of the town, various shows are held, using bright-coloured, moving beams of lights and images to tell the story of Christmas. The Fete de Lumieres is a fantastic way to welcome Christmas while you’re camping in France.

La Messe de Minuit

If you are wondering when you will get a chance to join in with the community and celebrate Christmas with prayers and carol singing, then you should ensure that you go to midnight mass while you are camping in France. Held on Christmas Eve, this is an important tradition in most regions in France, though it is often held between 7 and 10 in the evening, rather than at midnight. Services tend to be broad and the sense of community and Christmas spirit to be found often attracts both non-practitioners and people of different faiths. In many churches, a nativity display is set up at the front of the church, and a statue of the Baby Jesus carried to it in a procession at the beginning of the service. Whether you are a church-goer or not, the traditional midnight mass service cannot fail to get you in the festive mood, ready for Christmas Day.

Don’t Forget To Put Out Your Shoes

All over the world on Christmas Eve, children hang up their red stockings with white trim in the hope that Father Christmas will come. However, in France it is their shoes rather than their socks that they leave out in anticipation. Preferably wooden, a pair of shoes should be left by the fireplace just before the children go to bed, and in the morning they will have filled the shoes with presents. Though it is unlikely that the tent, caravan or mobile home that you are staying in while camping in France will come equipped with a real fireplace, shoes left by the door may still fill up with gifts! Why not break with tradition for a year; replace stockings with shoes and get a visit from Pere Noel rather than Father Christmas.

Camping in France at Christmas, you will get to experience a whole new set of festivities. With family, tradition and fun being the key ingredients of a French Yuletide, there really is no better place to get into the Christmas spirit.

Lorraine Waddell is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, a leading European camping operator that provides the best selection of sites for camping in France . With over 40 years of experience, Canvas offer superb camping holidays to France, Spain and a total of 9 European countries.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/christmas-camping-in-france-1649225.html

Merry Christmas is all about spreading festive vibes in the milieu, singing melodious Christmas carols, savoring the scrumptious plum cakes and celebrating the holiday with your family and loved ones. Travelmasti Holidays Pvt. Ltd. desperately wants to share the joy of the festival and hence we offer some very beneficial Christmas holiday packages.

How about celebrating the occasion of Christmas at an awe inspiring destination? Do the idea of celebrating Christmas in the lap of nature? If all these questions sound familiar to you than Travelmasti can help you to have a memorable experience on this Christmas. We bestow you Christmas wishes in the form of Christmas vacation packages. Although there are many splendid destinations to celebrate Christmas holidays but India is a country with difference. Your Christmas holidays will turn into a mirthful event with lots of happiness falling in your lap. There can’t be any other cheap option to roam around some marvellous locations in India and behold the convivial festivities taking place in different forms.

Asia being the second largest burgeoning continent of world, it draws a multitude of travellers in season of festivals and other occasions. Christmas holiday packages are perfect present to confer to your family, close relatives and friends. It would not only give a sweet surprise to them but would strengthen up the mutual relationship.

Our Christmas vacation packages start from a very nominal amount and cover all the coveted inbound and outbound destinations. The online booking facility is available on the website of Travelmasti which not only saves lots of time but also let you prepare for the vacations in a better manner.

The festival of Merry Christmas is not just about Santa Claus and merrymaking, but it is about taking a refreshing break at the end of the year and spend some quality time with your loved ones. Christmas is no more restricted to Christian community as nowadays everyone celebrates and enjoys the occasion to full extent regardless of religion.

With the help of our cheap Christmas holiday packages, you can realize the dream of celebrating Christmas in a unique way and to have plethora of rollicking good times. Despite of the grave economic crisis, multitude of tourists head towards desirable destinations on Christmas to cavort and frivol the way they want. The Christmas season arrives in the end of the year which is considered as a peak season in the travel and tourism industry. In this time, getting a suitable room in a hotel of your choice and arranging all other things on your own is almost impossible. At this crucial time Travelmasti can prove to be a trustworthy travel escort. We book the room and the mode of transport of your choice. We make sure that you have a rocking gala time in Christmas. With Travelmasti you can avail heavy discount on Christmas holiday packages and Christmas vacation packages which will prove to be a key to extreme delight.

Travelmasti is a traveler who likes to share his experiences. All the articles published by him will help you understand India & International better and answer all your holiday queries regarding, Christmas Holiday Packages , International Luxury Hotels, Agra hotels Holiday Packages
Kerala tours, Goa hotels, Kerala Tours Packages, India Holiday Packages , Find tourist info on travel packages, travel destination, Tour Packages and much more.

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Like the rest of Spain, the Balearic island of Mallorca observes an extended festive season which begins in early December and reaches a series of climaxes over the 12 days of Christmas. It’s a period of joy and celebration when old traditions blend harmoniously with more recent introductions, and it really is all about the family.

In just about every town and village in Mallorca the lights and other street decorations start things off at the beginning of December, the shops put on their festive faces, and beautiful nativity displays appear in offices, shops, homes and churches. Some of these displays are very large and ornate, and some are very old. The extensive display in the Palma Town Hall in Plaça Cort reflects island life through handmade figures and artifacts. You can create your own nativity scene with selections from the Christmas markets which appear everywhere. The Christmas tree is a fairly recent addition to the Mallorcan Christmas and has become a fairly common sight in homes and the bigger stores.

It’s a great time for strolling around, enjoying the sights and sounds, soaking up the atmosphere, and perhaps doing a spot of shopping. There’s a great variety of goods on offer, the Christmas rush is far less frenetic and exhausting than most other places and there are dozens of cafes and restaurants offering every type of sustenance. On the streets, you’ll also find informal stalls selling roast chestnuts and freshly cooked bunyols (a sort of mini doughnut without the hole – delicious, but probably fattening!) to keep you going and warm your hands while you enjoy the street music and entertainers.

The 12 days of Christmas begins with midnight mass on Christmas Eve, during which one of the main symbols of Mallorcan tradition and culture, the song of the Sibyl, is performed. The song dates back to around the 10th century and prophesies the arrival of the Redeemer and the Last Judgement. It’s normally performed by a single singer, dressed in fine robes and carrying a sword, and it has the oldest Gregorian melody known in Europe. Christmas in Mallorca is in itself very important, and families gather together to share typical dishes and traditional fare – only recently has the practice of giving gifts on Christmas Day infiltrated Mallorca, probably due to marketing pressures. Although it’s not a religious holiday, the day after Christmas is also given over to family, and reunions with relatives who perhaps live a little further away.

There’s a bit of a breather until 31st December when Palma celebrates the Christian conquest of the city by King James I in 1229. There’s a whole programme of colorful religious and secular events beginning with the raising of the standards in Plaça Cort, and ending with a cavalcade performed by the horses and riders of the Cofradia Balear de Cavallers de Sant Jordi.

It’s round about now that the kids, who were already having the time of their lives, start to get really excited about the imminent arrival of the Three Kings, who are bringing all the festive gifts. The Kings, Melchor, Gasper and Balthazar – rather like Santa Claus – visit every child on Mallorca on the night of 5 January, so for once, an early night is guaranteed. In many places, the Kings send their pages ahead a few days in advance to alert everyone, and the Kings themselves arrive during the day and parade through the streets in colourful processions, some of which have traditions going back hundreds of years. Hordes of kids scramble for the sweets thrown by the Kings and their pages, and gasp at the fireworks.

At last it’s all over and everything gets back to normal, at least until the fiesta, fires and fireworks for Saint Anthony on 16 and 17 January – but that’s another story.

Andrew Regan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/christmas-in-mallorca-1621746.html

Christmas at Disneyland

Fireworks truly ignite when you combine the magical celebration of Christmas with the magic of Disneyland. The park is full of holiday cheer; the sleeping beauty castle alone boasts of over 50,000 lights! Rather than just don princess costumes, little girls can come in red Christmas princess dresses, and boys can wear Santa hats. Bundle the kids for some truly special Christmas fun!

The Christmas décor at Disneyland is astounding. The Christmas tree on Main St. is over 60ft tall and is capturing. I remember looking at it as a little girl in amazement—the ornaments seemed bigger than me! Lights, ornaments, and greenery are in abundance throughout the park, and little ones will delight in the particular attention that is given to Toontown. If possible, include some evening time there as well, so you can see all the decorations all lit-up. The sleeping beauty castle, along with other areas in the park, is beautiful when lit. Bring your girls in their princess costumes or their Christmas princess dresses to photograph some magical princess moments.

A few rides are decorated as well. It’s a Small World is outfitted in lavish Christmas décor, and is a special treat to see at Christmastime. Don’t miss the Haunted Mansion either; it has been decorated in a Christmas Tim Burton style. The Christmas decorations bring a whole new atmosphere to these and other favorite rides.

The Big Thunder Ranch houses Santa and his reindeers during the Christmas season. You can stop by to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus as they vacation in Disneyland. Make sure to bring your camera when you stop by to say hi! If you’re lucky, you may even catch the reindeers walking around in their yards. They need their vacation time too! In Toontown, find Goofy. He dresses up like a silly Santa!

The best part of Disneyland at Christmas is the parade. The Christmas parade starts at the It’s a Small World ride and runs to the Town Square. The Town Square is the most decorated place to watch the parade, and is also the most popular. If you want to watch the parade from there, plan on getting there at least two hours early. The parade is full of jolly Christmas fun and dancing, and Santa himself joins in the fun! After the parade is the traditional Disneyland fireworks, followed by a special Christmas event—snowfall! There will be snow falling at various parade locations throughout the park, which are marked on the park map. You won’t want to miss it!

Don’t be afraid to bring your own traditions to Disneyland. While the park offers many fun things to do, make it your own Christmas experience. Bring hot cocoa in thermoses to sip on while you’re there, and bring candy canes for every to eat. You could let the family decorate their own Santa hat before going to the park to bring with them to wear throughout the day. Your girls may want to wear Christmas princess dresses or other Disney princess attire. Try bringing bells for the toddlers to play with while they wait in lines. It will be a new toy for them as well as an opportunity to spread holiday cheer.

Make sure you record these unique Christmas memories! Enjoy the Christmas Disneyland experience and have a very merry, magical Christmas!

Shelby Strong is an at home mom of 3 kids. She enjoys running an online store called My Cute Dressups where she sells Cinderella Dresses, and other princess costumes like Sleeping Beauty dresses, Snow White costumes, princess accessories, boy costumes and more.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/christmas-at-disneyland-1603132.html