One of the reasons why it pays to consider learning about to Denmark is because this is one Scandinavian country that has extensive gay rights and Danes are by and large very permissive as well. In fact, as early as in the year 1933 homosexuality became a legal option for people of this country and the age of consent was lowered to just fifteen in the year 1979. It does not matter what your sexual preferences are which means that anyone aged fifteen and above can engage in sexual activities.
In Denmark, gays are also allowed to serve in the Danish military while under the country’s laws, people are prohibited from indulging in crimes based on hate which means that even if you don’t tolerate gay lifestyles you are not allowed to take the law into your own hands and commit a crime against gays. In 1989 Danish laws allowed for marriages among gays and the parliament of that country also held discussions about various aspects of being gay.
Gays in Denmark are also permitted to join up in the Danish military and Danish law also prohibits hate crimes which means that no one can commit a crime against gays on account of the fact that they oppose gay life. The year 1989 saw Denmark legalized marriages among gays and even the Folketinget or Danish Parliament started to discuss topics such as marriages among gays, artificial insemination of lesbians and in addition they discussed providing gays with the right to even adopt children. All these facts make it obvious that it will pay to plan for gay tours to Denmark.
Copenhagen is famous for many reasons including being the capital city of Denmark and in addition it is also the capital city for gays in that country. This means that if you are gay and looking for other gays or you want to enjoy gay entertainment you will not face many difficulties in finding what you want. This city is very vibrant and its gay life is very lively and if you need help in finding gay hotspots then you should consult Lonely Planet that offers many tips and advice on being gay in Denmark.
Most gays that live in Copenhagen tend to stay in the old part of the city where there is much to entertain the gays including fun and entertainment that is centered in just a single square kilometer of the city. About 80 years ago, Copenhagen saw its first gay bar that thrives today even though many other bars and cafes catering to gays have sprung up in the intervening years.
Of course, many other cafes and bars with gay customers have since opened but Centralhjornet continues to thrive and remain rather special.
In August each year, Copenhagen Pride Festival sees many gays from the rest of Scandinavia and from the rest of the world coming here. This festival offers a number of gay activities including an open-air film event and in particular the Pride Square Cafe in the heart of gay Copenhagen attracts numerous gays.
To sum up, if you wish to enjoy gay tours to Denmark it is necessary to come to Copenhagen that has the most to offer to gays. Copenhagen offers maximum opportunities for gays to meet each other and to otherwise find something interesting to do and see.
Howie Holben has traveled throughout the world for more than 30 years. He owns and runs Spirit Journeys, a spiritual organization. Spirit Journeys has offered unique a with a difference since 1992. You can learn more at
Latium is on the Tyrrhenian coast of central Italy. Its capital is Rome, the capital of Italy, and, and, and. I said it before, I’ll say it again. Or more precisely, I quoted before, and I’ll quote again (because I did not coin this phrase) Roma, non basta una vita. Rome, one lifetime is not enough. I just read that you can expect four hours of sunshine a day in the Roman winter. Maybe. But you’re in Rome. Romaeuropa Festival is Rome’s big festival of theater, music, and dance held in venues throughout Rome for more than a month starting in early November. This is Italy’s top contemporary art festival, and one of the major European art festivals. It includes dozens and dozens of shows, many of which are national premieres.
The Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is an Italian national holiday. There are celebrations throughout Italy and churches hold special masses. You’ll find parades, feasts, and music here, there, and almost everywhere. Rome celebrates with floral wreaths and a ceremony at the Spanish Steps presided over by the Pope. Although government offices and banks are closed, many stores stay open for holiday shopping.
Latium is home to a large number and wide variety of Living Nativity Scenes. The town of Greccio presents an unusual one: the Re-enactment Of St. Francis Building The First Nativity Scene (Christmas Eve). St. Francis of Assisi is said to have started things off by building a straw nativity scene in a Greccio cave in 1223. Some of the largest and most elaborate Roman Nativity Scenes are found in Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Euclide, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Santa Maria d’Aracoeli on the Capitoline Hill, and in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. You may choose to attend the midnight mass on Christmas Eve followed by the Pope’s blessing on Christmas Day. The Church of Saints Cosma e Damiano, by the main entrance to the Roman Forum, displays a large nativity scene from Naples all year round. Other towns that host nativity scenes include Bassano, Vetralla, and Chia whose offering on December 26 includes more than 500 participants.
Rome’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations are centered in Piazza del Popolo (Square of the People). Huge crowds celebrate with rock and classical music, dancing, and fireworks. The celebration continues on New Year’s Day with festivities for the children. Or you may prefer a classical music concert outdoors on the square in front of the Quirinale off Via Nazionale around 11:00 followed by fireworks at midnight.
In Vatican City, following another Epiphany (January 6) tradition, hundreds of people dressed in medieval costumes promenade along the wide avenue that leads up to the Vatican, carrying symbolic gifts for the Pope. The Pope pronounces a morning mass in St Peter’s Basilica to commemorate the Wise Men visit bearing gifts for Jesus. The town of Velletri celebrates the Festival of St. Anthony Historical Parade and Jousting Tournament in January. At the beginning of February, the hilltop town of Fiuggi honors Saint Biagio by bringing tree trunks in from the forest and lighting them in the main square. That seems to be it for Latium February festivals, with the exception of Carnivale to be covered in another article. And yet, in spite of the weather which may not be the best, I somehow think that you can manage to enjoy yourself in Rome in February.
Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French wine with friends. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website and his global wine website featuring a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.
Situated in the south western part of India, Kerala is one of the most visited tourists destination in India. Famously known as the God’s Own Country the state is endowed with scintillating natural beauty, picturesque backwaters, romantic beaches, post card perfect hill stations, exotic wildlife parks and sanctuaries and spa centers. Tourists from all over the world roll down to this beautiful state of Kerala to enjoy vacation in a delightful and memorable way.
Kerala beauty can hardly be described with words but it can be better experienced making tour to Kerala. Well if you are in Kerala the major attraction of the state are its picturesque backwaters which offers you picturesque vistas of nature at the same time delightful cruise to enjoy. The picturesque backwaters are contributing immensely towards the boom of Kerala tourism. Its beauty, splendor and magnificence are found no where else in the any part of the country. You can delightfully feel and experienced it here in God’s Own Country. Most of the tourists coming to Kerala for leisure vacation and honeymoon vacation love to enjoy time staying in the houseboat cruising over the picturesque backwaters. Come to Kerala and enjoy your holiday vacation that you have never enjoyed before.
Backwater cruise is best enjoyed in a luxurious houseboat that offers you to enjoy leisure time at the same to view the best picturesque gallery of nature from the deck. Kumarakom, Kovalam, Alleppey, Kollam, etc are internationally renowned backwater destinations of Kerala which appeals tourists from all over the world to enjoy the hidden charm of the backwaters. There are several other backwaters destinations which are exotically beautifully catch the attention of tourists coming in Kerala for tours and travels.
Alleppey located at the southern coast of the India enjoys a well balanced tropical climate. Nature has composed its magic to perfection especially its backwater beauty is worthy of admiration. Alleppey houseboat cruise not only offers you the view of the refreshing natural beauty but at the same time traditional leisure that will surely steal your heart with the wonder and splendor. Enjoying holiday vacation on board at Alleppey backwater offers out of this world experience. Hire any one from the many available in the backwater and enjoy the cruise in a delightful way.
Beside these there are several other backwater destinations in Kerala that too are worth for cruising to enjoy the backwater charm of the state. Kasargod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Cochin, Kuttanad, Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram, etc are some other picturesque backwater destinations of Kerala. Cochin too is the internationally renowned backwater destination. It is famously known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. Most of the backwaters cruise in Kerala starts and ends here at Cochin.
Well all the backwaters of Kerala have their own unique charm to offer to tourists. Everyone has its importance and are equally respected by the tourists for their beauty be it nature or its lovely backwater cruise. Once you start the cruise in a houseboat it will take your to the world of wonderments. Cherish able and worth enjoying backwaters of Kerala are meant for to enjoy leisure vacation breaking from the routine life.
Come to Kerala in India and enjoy the backwater cruise in a luxurious houseboat that will not only let you fell the traditional charm of Kerala but will offer you with world of unique experience. Enjoy once the backwater cruise and it is sure you will love to come time and again to Kerala to explore the charm of backwater that is found no where else in the world.
Terence Lewis is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for and . Find more packages at
Whether you can enjoy an Alaska cruise tour will fundamentally rely on what kind of cruise line you go with. There are recent cruise lines like Royal Caribbean worldwide Norwegian cruise company and Carnival cruises.
Latest cruise lines are essentially detailed of the conveniences and facilities found in their fleets. They are just that, modern, with some offering features standard ships typically won’t like wall climbing walls, skating rinks, glass lifts that face the sea and solariums.
Norwegian cruise lines offer yard villas, fantastic for families who take cruises to Alaska together. Carnival cruises, naturally, offer its passengers the sensation of a carnival from kids’s entertainment to a youth camp in the full duration of the trip. Most Alaska Cruise deals that involve fresh cruise lines will generally take one to a 7-day land excursion through places such as Denali, Ketchikan, Fairbanks, Talkeetna and port. Premium cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises, Holland America and Princess Cruises provide up to date facilities at a more cost effective rate than luxury cruise lines. Premium cruise lines are also more intimate vis its size and service than luxury lines. Many of those will offer staterooms and services that cosset their guests like complimentary breakfast, 20 4 hour room service, complimentary washing and pressing across the whole trip, access to areas like top-end eateries, spas, pools and other areas.
Cruise tours mixing with premium cruise lines will take one on a land excursion with an escorted group tour through sceneries and communities in Alaska.
It will definitely be more cost-effective than taking land expeditions alone as most services are tied up with premium cruise lines like transport and lodging. The most recent trend in Alaska cruise tours are niche cruise lines. These are infrequently small, casual, reasonable cruise lines that take in a certain theme in mind during Alaskan journeys. With casual cruising under consideration, many of those cruise lines will not have formal dining, formal cabins or perhaps formal itineraries. They are going to have public lounging areas for a more intimate meeting of other guests.
Another intimate shipping experience that takes one through cruises to Alaska is the northern US Safari Cruise. This may definitely make for cheaper Alaska Cruise Deals as this ship only homes 12 guests with more customized Alaska Cruise Tours. Their itinerary includes canoeing, hiking, whale watching and mountain cycling. The tour will be led by the ship’s own captain or an expedition leader. Sporadically the crew even helps out during some tours. They are required to be just as knowledgeable as the guide. Don’t count these niche cruises out apropos quality though . Plenty of them offering Alaska cruise tours serve gourmand meals, give educational talk from wine pros and take quality keepsakes on the trip.
With a variety of shipping lines to choose from, will never be more fun or straightforward. When making a choice, take in mind your goal for the trip. Whether it’s for exploration or relaxation, there’s certain to be a ship in line for you. Good Luck!
Going for an Alaska Cruise? Before you book for one, be sure to visit Alex’s site for advice on how to get great and information regarding to get the best out of your travel vacation.
is the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land… and died. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the “Church of Moses”, built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage.
This stone says “Mount Nebo Siyagha. Memorial of Moses. Christian Holy Place.”
Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometers away. Unfortunately, there were some clouds when we were there, but the view of Jordan was great. For the best chances of a great view, come early in the morning or late in the evening.
In the nearby town Madaba, there is a mosaic map of the Holy Land and lots of other mosaics.
This can be found in the Greek Orthodox Church in the city center. Information about more mosaics in this area can be obtained in the Madaba museum.
In the Bible
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land…. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendents.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”
And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day on one knows where his grave is. –Deuteronomy 34:1-6
When you are planning for honeymoon vacation or tour you should search the lowest deals possible before booking with travel agents. There are a lot of travel agents claiming that they provide the best travel deal for your holiday, but are these agents really offering the best and economical deal to you.
You can sign up to a travel reward scheme, especially if you are the type of family or individual that takes regular trips abroad. There are some benefits of travel reward scheme like hotel discount, travel insurance or car rental discounts. Depending upon the scheme you can earn points and can be redeemed against discount air travel, cruise, cheaper hotel stays and lots of other travel opportunities which will help you to save hundreds of dollars.
To find the best travel deal Internet is your greatest and most convenient resource, which offer a wealth of information right at your fingertips. You can save a substantial amount of money simply by booking online. Everyone wants to save money while travel planning, and through online research, you will be able to find the best travel deals. You can find what types of special deals and discounts are being offered for various travel destinations (Local and International) and then you make your decision accordingly.
If you want very attractive discounted travel deal, you can choose “off-season” time for your holiday. In this time you are almost guaranteed to find better travel deals for airfare, accommodations, car rentals and activities. In off-season holiday you have additional advantage like fewer crowds. If you book your tickets in advance you can get good discount and save a lot of money. You can also save money by researching all-inclusive travel package deals online. The Internet allows you to quickly and conveniently compare the cost and discounts offered by travel agents, hotels and airlines. It saves your time as well as money.
If you are planning for honeymoon or a romantic vacation, you need to make a right decision while deciding honeymoon packages to make the trip really memorable. Honeymoon packages offer several exciting features and services specially designed keeping in mind the comfort and pleasure of newlywed couples.
Elite Honeymoon Packages is becoming one of the popular honeymoon planners for couples who want to spend their honeymoon or romantic holidays in India. You just need to make an enquiry according to your need and they will arrange everything to make your honeymoon full of fun and pleasure.
Find information on . You can also read about . Also know about .
www.carnival.com – Carnival Dream features an adult-only Serenity Retreat, Cloud 9 Spa, Carnival WaterWorks, and lots of fun activities, including an 18-hole mini golf, delicious dining, amazing entertainment, and more. Find additional information on Carnival Caribbean cruise ships and the Carnival Dream at www.carnival.com
Cruising is fun, convenient, a good value … and easy. Right? Well, cruising is meant to be relaxing, but there are certain things passengers can do to get the very most out of their cruise vacation experience. Here are seven proven tips to maximize your cruise experience (and they don’t cost a thing!)
First – Travel with a like-minded partner or friends. Most cruise ships are like Noah’s Ark: people get on in pairs or in groups. While cruise lines will gladly allow you to cruise solo, it is not the best way to enjoy a cruise. Not only will you sometimes feel awkward during dining or cruise ship activities, you also get slapped with a surcharge since all cruising is based on double (or more) occupancy rates.
Furthermore, travel with compatible people. If you like to party, don’t decide to go on a cruise with a tee-totaler or a recovering drinker. Whether you are a sun bather or a casino denizen, you are going to have your best time if you travel with people who share your interests and values.
Second – Board your ship as early as you can and take any tours of the vessel or facilities that are offered. Most ships allow you to board many hours before the ship sets sail and during that time you may be offered free tours of the ship, the spa, and so on. Although they aren’t going to be the highlight of your vacation, these tours help you get oriented and can give you a glimpse of facilities on-board that you may have not known about.
If you can’t get an official tour, try to walk through the ship systematically. This will help you get your bearings plus you may find out about lounges, snack bars, clubs, meeting rooms, or other areas that you might not have known about.
On a recent cruise, I found out on the tour that the cruise ship had a guarantee program for purchases made in port. If you bought merchandise from certain recognized stores, the cruise line would guarantee them providing you filled out certain paperwork and turned it in to the onboard shopper. It was a great tip, and I never would have known about it had I not taken the pre-sailing tour of the ship.
Third – Do everything. This may sound counterintuitive to most cruise fanatics, who seek unstructured time and the opportunity to just lounge around and do nothing. Actually, most cruise directors will tell you the best cruises are those in which you really attempt to try and do everything offered.
This means you should extend yourself a bit. Sample the dancing, casinos, the pools, on-board games, art auctions, spa services, bingo, shows, and fine dining. Even if you don’t normally do those things, the more you try to take advantage of all that is offered, the more fun you’ll have.
Fourth – Don’t overeat. While some people do take cruises to gorge themselves, this is usually a rookie mistake. It may sound counter-intuitive to avoid overindulging on a cruise ship, since most cruises really emphasize the wonderful food they offer. But here’s how to handle it.
Do enjoy yourself. Order what you love. Chances are that cruise ships will offer it, whether it’s steak or lobster, ice cream or pizza, eggs benedict at sunrise, or chocolate decadence at midnight. Do, by all means, eat the foods you love.
But don’t stuff yourself. You’ll wind up feeling miserable during the cruise and fat after you get off the boat.
When in doubt, pass on food. Why? Because on a cruise ship, you’re never more than a few minutes away from the next opportunity to eat. Do try to sample what strikes your fancy, but don’t overeat and don’t be afraid to say no to many of the things that are offered to you to eat or drink. You really won’t be able to eat and drink everything on board, so don’t even try.
You’ll wind up feeling fitter and stronger and you’ll really enjoy what you do eat.
Fifth – Drink water. That’s good advice anywhere, but most of us forget about it on vacation, particularly on a cruise. Furthermore, if you drink alcohol or spend a lot of time in a hot climate, your need for water increases so you need even more water to avoid dehydration.
Even mild dehydration can cause headaches, aches and pains, and digestive disturbances. Why ruin your vacation? Drink lots and lots of water. It’s available just about anywhere beverages are offered on a cruise ship and bottled water is typically brought every morning to your cabin.
Sixth – Protect your skin. Even if you cruise to Antarctica, you will still need sunscreen. The sun’s intensity is amplified by the water’s reflection, so ramp up your sunscreen protection for a cruise. Put on sunscreen when you go to the pool or beach or even if you’re just sitting on deck in the shade.
If you do get burned, use some of the after-burn products on the market. They should be available on board ship if you don’t bring your own. Whatever you do, protect any burned skin from further sun exposure. If you get a burn on top of an existing sunburn, you can do serious damage to your skin and may even require medical intervention.
Seventh – Don’t be cruise-stupid. That’s a term I made up for a behavior I frequently observe on cruise ships. For some reason, being on a cruise makes some people act foolishly or recklessly and do things they would never normally do. Maybe it’s the unreal experience of being on a cruise ship.
On a cruise ship, people wait on you. Everything is nice and clean. You don’t have to do any work at all. Everybody seems happy. You never have to worry about pulling out your wallet, cooking a meal, or even picking up after yourself. It doesn’t take long before the cruise experience literally becomes “another world.”
Some folks take that as a cue to start behaving irresponsibly and sometimes they get hurt. While I do not want to trivialize bad experiences or say that all bad events are deserved, we should also recognize the fact. People who start acting recklessly sometimes get hurt.
If you decide to pretend you’re a gymnast and balance on the guard rail, you just might fall off. If you leave your purse or wallet unattended in a public area, you can get robbed. If you decide to get roaring drunk in some foreign port of call and act like an idiot, you can wind up in a mess of trouble.
Observe the same good, common sense tactics you use on land or in your everyday life.
For more information on cruising, pick up a copy of Ten Things to Consider Before You Book Your Cruise, available only at . It’s free with our compliments. This article was written by Mandy Karlik, a frequent contributor to TheCruise-Shopper.
.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!
Vacation cruises have become one of the most popular of the “destination” vacations available. While some people are content to step on board a cruise ship and never leave it for the entire length of their vacation, others enjoy cruising to exotic locations where the cruise is only part of the appeal. The best cruises this year include discount cruises to a number of locations that you might not expect to see on a list of cruise destinations.
Cruise the Mediterranean
Mediterranean cruises have always been popular, but this year’s best discount cruises in the Mediterranean include even more surprises. Imagine a ten night cruise that visits seven cities and includes two beautiful days at sea for just over one thousand dollars per person. Eastern European cruises are priced to buy this year with visits to cities such Mykonos, Kusadesi and Rhodes on the itinerary. The Eastern Mediterranean has always been popular featuring ports of call from Italy to Turkey, and stops at ancient ruins and beautiful beaches. An Eastern Mediterranean cruise offers a wide variety of cruise experiences at discount prices.
EuropeanRiver Cruises
Not all cruises to exotic destinations are on the open sea. Europe is famous for its inland waterways, and river tours are among the most popular European cruises. A Rhine River cruise has long been a European rite of passage, but not all that well-known on the other side of the Atlantic. Cruises along the Rhine offer vacationers a one-stop tour of many European countries, with beautiful views, leisurely days and stops at cities such as Strasbourg, Copenhagen and Cologne.
Northern European Cruises
Cruising through the northern waters may not seem like the vacation of a lifetime, but a Northern European cruise is an extremely memorable trip. Visit Helsinki, Copenhagen, Oslo and other Northern European capitals as you take in the remarkable culture and history. One of the most beautiful sights on a Northern European tour is the northern lights and the stunning scenery. If you book your trip early online, you can get multiple discounts and special perks on Norwegian cruises, including free airfare from several regional cities and upgrades on your cabin or overall package.
Australia and the South Pacific
For a decidedly different cruise experience, nothing can beat a tour of the Australian and New Zealand coast lines. The prices for Australian cruises are purely amazing, starting as low as nine hundred dollars per person for a ten night Australian cruise on a Royal Caribbean line, with stops at Sydney, Hamilton Island, Cooktown and Brisbane, Australia. Prices do not include airfare to the departure destination, but when you book online you can often make all-inclusive deals that will cut your prices even further.
Alaskan Cruises
Take a cruise through the chilly northern waters and enjoy some of the most amazing scenery in you will ever see. Alaskan cruises on various cruise lines offer some of the best deals available this year. You can find Alaskan cruises as low as four hundred and fifty dollars per person, double occupancy, for a seven nights that include stops at Seward, Juneau, Ketchikan and other beautiful Alaskan cities.
Shopping for the best cruise deals online is the secret to finding an amazing cruise for a discounted price. There are a many websites that allow you to search across all the cruise lines and many of the larger discount travel sites to pull together the best package deals for cruise vacations. The tips below will help you find the best prices for discount tours to exotic cruise destinations all over the world.
Plan Ahead When Booking a Cruise Online
You can book your cruise several months in advance, and booking early can often get you great discounts. Most cruise lines will directly offer you an early booking discount. Even better, when you book early, you are most likely to get the cabin or suite that you want, on the cruise ship that you want, traveling at the time that you want to go.
Be Flexible
If you are willing to live with a little risk, you can hold out to the last minute to score big discounts on last minute bookings. This is the riskiest method for getting discounts on your cruise, but offers the best possible prices. The down side is that you may not be able to book on the cruise you want if it sells out, or you may have to settle for a less desirable cabin.
Book a Cruise During the Low Season
As with any other industry, prices are apt to be better if you book your vacation during the slow season, which varies for each area of the world. Prices for a Caribbean cruise, for example, will be lower during the hurricane season, while Alaskan cruises will have lower prices during the late fall.
Wesley Pritchard is a freelance writer who writes about vacationing, often discussing a specific kind trip such as .
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