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Archive for the ‘TravelandLeisure’ Category

Ten Things You Should Remember When Visiting the United States of America

Posted by admin on March 30th, 2008

Covering the midsection of the Northern American Continent, United States of America offers a wide range of options of tourist sites to make you enjoy your stay in The Land of Opportunities. Pack your bags, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for one great American adventure. Here s a list of where you could go in US.

1.) Statue of Liberty

France gave US more than just a gift of American Independence. The Statue of Liberty has now become a monumental sight that inspires not only US citizens but those tourists who happen to glance at this magnificent piece of art. Sadly, now you can t go inside the Statue anymore because of concerns that stems from 9/11 hijacking.

2.) The Grand Canyon

Head for Arizona and be intimidated by the sheer depth and heft of The Grand Canyon. Be humbled by its size, timelessness and tranquil atmosphere. Take on the Grand Canyon Challenge and explore the roads, trails and turbulent waters in this side of Colorado.

3.) Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is one of the first wilderness parks developed in the United States. Located in Sierra Nevada in California, this park is recognized for its scenic waterfalls, crystal streams, majestic sequoias, granite cliff, and ecological diversity. Find your way past the 3.5 million tourists that visit the site every year.

4.) Glacier National Park

Traverse pristine wilderness and be amazed by the sheer force of nature by visiting Glacier National Park located at the northwest corner of Montana along the Rocky Mountains. With a wide variety of outdoor activities to choose from, both in water and in land, boredom only sets in when you re ready to go home. Enjoy camping, swimming, boating, skiing, hiking, and horseback riding while you enjoy the sun, the ice and water that helped much develop the park we know today.

5.) Central Park

This 843-acre patch of green in the midst of towering edifices of Manhattan is a sanctuary from the busy streets of New York. Visit Central Park and discover the Strawberry Fields, Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir, daily performance in Delacorte Theatre, Concerts in the Great lawn, and more. Rent a carriage and discover the park on horse-drawn wheels.

6.) Mount Rushmore National Park

On the side of the Black Hills lies a majestic site that attracts some three million people a day. Bearing the faces of Presidents Washington Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt and measuring some 18-m in length, Mount Rushmore National Park is a site worthy of a visit. Come here and be struck with awe with the sheer expertise of the team that carved these faces from the walls of the mountain.

7.) Las Vegas

Live the life of a hotshot gambler for a night, and walk around the city not only to gamble but to admire the sheer beauty of this place. Feast your eyes out with high stakes, great atmosphere and beautiful people. Imposing casinos like the Excalibur Palace not only speaks of high rollers but of great architecture as well.

8.) Hawaii

Plunge right down Hawaii and be greeted with flower garlands and alohas. Be captivated by Hawaii s hospitality and innate beauty. Enjoy the sun while sitting down and relaxing in this worldly paradise.

9.) Arizona Meteor Crater

The sheer size of the crater commands awe from people who see it. Find guides to help you down the crater and tell you stories about space, meteors and intergalactic probabilities. Shops are also available nearby, selling pieces of the meteors, t-shirts, photographs, and other gift items.

10.) Niagara Falls

Be mesmerized by the thundering waters and mist sprays of Niagara Falls. Right in the border of Canada and New York, Niagara Falls remains a site for lovers, poets and adventurers to visit. Learn how this waterfall evolves from a military post, a trade center and into the top tourist destination by visiting its thunderous waters.

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos. Visit http://www.destinationguide.tv/usa to view or share USA travel videos.

Where Cretan Eagles Dare

Posted by admin on March 29th, 2008

Today we would be entering a new world, although we were unaware of it at that moment. In our continuing search for new areas and places to offer our visitors, we had come across something spectacular. Today we were to visit the area concerned and see what the eastern slopes of Psiloritis had to offer.

Psiloritis, or Mount Ida, at 8057 feet (2,456 m, 35? 13 38.45? N, 24? 46 15.22″ E ) is the highest mountain in Crete, and is over 1000 metres higher than Ben Nevis. The great Cretan writer Nikos Kazantzakis made mention of it often and it is regarded by many Cretan people as a potent symbol of the island. Although disputed by the claims of the Dhiktean cave on the nearby Lassithi range, the cave of Idaion Andron is also reputed to be the birthplace of Zeus and the continent of Europe is named for Europa, one of his amorous conquests. A romantic interlude, which as any Cretan will tell you, happened on the south coast of the island. It is also notable as the location of the trek following the abduction of General Von Kreipe by Cretan resistance and Special Operations Executive during World War 2. The film of the events “Ill met by moonlight”, starring Dirk Bogarde, was based on the book by W.Stanley Moss (ISBN 0-304-35259-4).

The journey of 60km to the airport at Heraklion, we observe, is done on “autopilot”. Familiarity, sadly, breeds contempt or at the very least, indifference. The highlight, depending on wind conditions, is the drop through Selenari Gorge, where Griffon Vultures (Gyps fulvus) soar effortlessly on the thermals. Further along the route, the banana and potato vendors of Malia line the side of the same roads, which in summer, will be awash with football shirt clad youngsters and hungover party girls seeking out a “full English breakfast”.

Just past the airport turning we cut south on a new and impressive road, which takes us towards Archanes and Peza, the wine growing region to the south of the capital. We continue south to Agia Varvara and realise that we have sailed past our turning, although we see a spectacular rock monolith which we might otherwise have missed. After the usual questions (and lots of pointing and gestures) we take the road north towards our appointment with Ioannis. The road twisted upward on the eastern slopes of the mountain and we could not resist pulling over to see two tombs, hewn from the rock, on the roadside. As is often the case in Crete, there was no information about them whatsoever. I actually like this aspect of the island because almost nothing is put on a plate for you. If you are interested you have to seek out the information, which can, in turn, lead to other discoveries.

The village had a fabulous church, with a very modern chapel at the entrance. We drove through and asked again for directions at the kafeneion where I was taken to the balcony by the owner. He pointed to the hotel and told me how to get to it. After several attempts to go the short way, and several reversing operations down very small and narrow streets, we finally took the long way and found ourselves at the gate of the suites. Ioannis, the manager, made us most welcome and we were impressed by the standard of furnishing and facilities in such an ostensibly “non-tourist” area. There are only four suites, but with a wonderful pool and a spa centre, it is a perfect location for a relaxing holiday. It is also centrally located for exploring the island and ideally situated for seeing the major archaeological sites.

In the great tradition of Cretan “filoxenia”, we were, naturally, invited to join the family for a meal at the hotel taverna. The succulent roast pork, we were informed, had been cooked by the owner and it was served with traditional oven potatoes and a variety of vegetables, dips and salads, washed down with a local red which is bottled specifically for the hotel. Eagles and other birds of prey soared around the area and Ioannis was so familiar with them that he even had individual names for some. It was almost impossible to draw our eyes away from the incredible views across the plain to the distant mountains of the Dikti range, but the time had come to leave and make our way homeward. With simple directions from our host, we were back onto the main road in five minutes and on the outskirts of Heraklion in another ten.

With an area almost the same as England, Crete never fails to have yet another surprise around the next corner. What, I wonder, will next week bring?

For more information on Eastern Crete, interviews and articles, please contact

Steve Moorman
simplycreteholidays ltd
Akti Koundourou & Salaminos 4
72100
Agios Nikolaos
Crete
Greece

tel: (+30) 28410 24101
email: info@simplycreteholidays.co.uk
web: http://www.simplycreteholidays.co.uk

Egypt - Land Of Mystery

Posted by admin on March 28th, 2008

Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world s most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and the Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt has always been widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.

Although no one knows for sure where the ancient Egyptians came from, the land has been important since the beginning of recorded history.

Visiting the country, one gets a feeling that Egypt has existed far longer than the four thousand years the experts claim! The civilization was far more advanced in it s earliest existence than it is today. The skill and know how that was required to build all the antiquities is still unknown at this point in time.

When visiting Egypt, a trip to the Cairo Museum must be included! Days could be spent touring the facility and all the priceless artifacts from the past, everything from the 5th dynasty thru the modern era are on display, including a floor dedicated to King Tut. Ramses 2, the Pharaoh believed to be in power during the exodus, along with his Queen, is well represented also, not only in the Cairo Museum, but at Memphis as well. Ramses 2, if alive today, would be known as a land developer, many of Egypt s finest temples and buildings were erected during his reign.

Many items are still in storage as there isn t time or room to categorize all of them. Taking that into account and realizing that many, many of the artifacts have been taken out of the country makes one realize how massive and wealthy this empire was in it s prime.

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