Puerto Rico Island Guide

It’s hard to believe that a destination this exotic is not only close to the United States (2.5 hours from Miami) but a part of it. When you travel to Puerto Rico, you’ll discover gorgeous white sandy beaches, delicious food, fascinating Spanish history, and extraordinary natural attractions that include a rain forest and a bay where you can swim at night surrounded by millions of tiny, glowing creatures.

Puerto Rico Basic Travel Information
Location: Between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Size: Total area is 3,508 sq. miles
Capital: San Juan
Language: Spanish and English
Religions: Mainly Roman Catholic
Currency: The U.S. dollar is the official currency
Telephone/Area Code: 787 or 939
Tipping: If service charge is not included, tip 15 to 20 percent
Weather: Average year-round temperatures are in the mid-80s. Hurricane season is June to November

Puerto Rico Activities and Attractions
Be sure to stroll around the historic district of Old San Juan with its pastel-colored Spanish-style homes, and visit El Morro, a fort built by the Spanish in 1540. El Yunque Rain Forest, located 24 miles southeast of San Juan, is another must-see, with wonderful hikes that take you past waterfalls and natural pools. Mona Island offers snorkelers and scuba divers exceptional visibility and a huge variety of marine life including turtles and octopuses. Hope for a cloudy night so you can take a mystical, nighttime swim in the bioluminescent bay on the island of Vieques or in Fajardo.

Puerto Rico Beaches
Popular Luquillo Beach near San Juan is great for families, with excellent facilities and lots of restaurant options. On the island of Culebra, Playa Flamenco is considered one of Puerto Rico’s loveliest beaches, with soft, pure white sands that strike a vivid contrast to the surrounding green foliage; Playa Zoni is also beautiful, and more secluded. Boquerón Beach, near the charming village of the same name, is more than a mile long, but can get crowded on weekends.

Puerto Rico Hotels and Resorts
Puerto Rico offers plenty of resorts and hotels, many on or near a beach. The Horned Dorset Primavera, located in the surfing hotspot Rincon, is one of the most romantic. If you’re the type to get bored easily, book a stay at the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa, where activities include watersports, horseback riding, golf, tennis, a spa, a casino, a marina, and, for escapists, a private island. Lower-key options in Puerto Rico can be a great way to save money; these include guesthouses, villas and paradores (country inns)

Puerto Rico Restaurants and Cuisine
Puerto Rican restaurants serve traditional Criolla food (a blend of Taíno, Spanish and African influences) as well as just about every international cuisine. Mofongo, a favorite island dish consisting of mashed green plantains fried with garlic and other seasonings, can be served plain or stuffed with meat or seafood. Look for restaurants participating in the Mesones Gastronomicos Program if you want to sample traditional dishes. San Juan has a wonderful selection of restaurants, from upscale fine dining to familar U.S. chain eateries.

Puerto Rico Culture and History
Following Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1493, the local Taíno Indians were first enslaved, then decimated by disease. African slaves took their place as laborers. The island was ruled by the Spanish until 1898, when Spain ceded the island to the United States. Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens in 1917, and in 1952, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth of the United States. Present-day Puerto Rico is a major tourist destination, and Puertorriqueños take pride in their unique combination of heritages: African, Taíno (Amerindians), Spanish and North American.

Puerto Rico Events and Festivals
The Casals Festival, a classical music festival in late February/early March, draws many international guest conductors, orchestras and soloists to San Juan's Performing Arts Center. Puerto Rico’s Carnival features float parades, dancing, and street parties and takes place the week before Ash Wednesday. June’s Heineken Jazz Festival is a big draw, and November marks the start of baseball season. Occasionally, you may find a Major League Baseball player doing a stint with a Puerto Rican team in the off season.

Puerto Rico Nightlife
Whether you’re looking for bars, salsa, casinos, performing arts or discos, San Juan is the place to go. Be warned, though, that things heat up very late here, and keep on going until the wee hours. Most of the hotels in Condado-Isla Verde have casinos; check out the Ritz-Carlton. In Old San Juan you’ll find many bars lining Calle San Sebastián. Pick up a copy of Qué Pasa, the visitor's guide, for events listings.

Athens Acropolis

What would a visit to Greece be without going to the Acropolis? You can take a tour or wander up there yourself but during the summer, whatever you do, unless it is overcast, go early in the day. It can get very hot up there and gasping for breath can detract from your ability to marvel at the greatest of all archeological sites.

After climbing the steps you are at the entrance, or the Propylaea, which was completed in 432 just before the outbreak of the Peloponesian wars, the main architect was Mnesicles, a collegue of Phidias. To your left is the Pinacotheca and a Hellenistic pedestal and on the right the tiny temple to Nike Athena or the Athena of Victory which commemorates the Athenians victory over the Persians. Supposedly this is the place where King Aegeus threw himself into the sea because he thought his son Theseus had been killed by the Minataur. But if this is the point he chose to jump into the Aegean then how good a king could he have been? The sea is miles away. If you are looking from the propylaea towards Piraeus on a clear day you can see ships waiting outside the port of Piraeus, the islands and the mountains of the Peleponesos beyond.

The Parthenon and the other main buildings on the Acropolis were built by Pericles in the fifth century BC as a monument to the cultural and political achievements of the inhabitants of Athens. The term acropolis means upper city and many of the city states of ancient Greece are built around an acropolis where the inhabitants can go as a place of refuge in times of invasion. It's for this reason that the most sacred buildings are usually on the acropolis. It's the safest most secure place in town. As little as 150 years ago there were still dwellings on the Acropolis.

The best time to go up there is the spring when even this stone mountain is not immune to the proliferation of grass and wildflowers which seem to burst from every crack.

The Erecthion sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. Poseidon thrust his trident into the rock and a spring burst forth, while Athena touched the ground with a spear and an olive tree grew. Athena was declared the victor and the great city of Athens was named for her while Poseidon was given a small village in Syros after it was discovered he had merely ruptured a water main, (not really). The building itself contains the porch of the maidens or Caryatids, which are now copies, four of which have been placed in the Acropolis museum.

Even having seen a thousand photographs one is still not prepared for the immensity of the Parthenon. The building was designed by the architects Kallikrates and Iktinos as the home of the giant statue of Athena. It took 15 years to build and was completed in 438 BC and is probably the most recognizable structure in the world next to the golden arches of MacDonalds. From a temple it became a church, a mosque and finally as a storage facility for Turkish gunpowder. In 1687 the Venetians bombarded it from below. A cannon ball hit the gun powder and blew it up.

Below the Acropolis is the theater of Herod Atticus built by the Romans in 161 AD and still used today for classical concerts, ballet, and performances of high cultural value. Further on is the Theater of Dionysious the first stone theater and home to Sophocles, Aeschylus, Eripides and Aristophanes. It was rebuilt around 342 BC by Lykourgos and then enlarged by the Romans to be used for gladiator fights.

Below the Acropolis is the rock of Areios Pagos. The steps are very slippery so be careful as you climb them, but once you do you won't want to come down (unless it is 100 degrees). You have a great view of the Agora, the Plaka, Monastiraki, Omonia and much of Athens. It’s a great place to watch the sunset, or to come up at night with a bottle of wine and your true love, and watch the lights of the city.

Afterwards, continue back around the Acropolis and down the hill into the Ancient Agora below. Part of it is free and you can go through it to get back to Adrianou Street, or you can pay the entrance fee and walk the streets of ancient Athens.

You may notice at the entrance to the Acropolis and the paths leading up to it the licensed guides, who for around 30 Euros or so, will give you a tour so that you may leave the area more informed then when you got here.

Jade Emperor Temple, Penang Hill

There are modernized in many ways yet you can see quaint little buildings, streets and alley ways mushrooming around you as you walk by the streets of harmony in the heart of Georgetown.

Little Indian man bending down hard at work in the goldsmith shop next to Chinese kopi tiam (coffee shops) is a common sight in Penang island. The temple looms over visitors with its prominent red roof, snarling dragons and lions.

The incense, smoke in the Chinese temples will make your eyes watery as you observed the devout or god fearing locals praying away on the 1st or 15th of the Chinese lunar month.

Buddhist, Thai, Burmese, Taoist and Hindu temples all over Penang island. You might even hear the calling of the five times prayers from the nearby mosque if you lived in the heart of Georgetown.

Churches sounding the bells can be heard if someone passed on in the neighborhood. Walk and tour island's places of worship here. Then there is a snake temple or Admiral Zheng He's place where you will see his gigantic footprint. Georgetown in Penang island was also listed by the World Monuments Watch as one of the World's Hundred Most Endangered Sites, Penang Island is quickly losing its heritage character through modern renovations and defacement but it has not lost its charm.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is both the capital and Federal capital of the United Arab Emirates, and is the second largest of the seven emirates. This second most populous city of the UAE lies on a T-shaped island with its futuristic skyscrapers rising from the desert coast of the Persian Gulf.

Among the modern island city there are remains of an older and more cultural society. Abu Dhabi comprises of international luxurious hotels, never-ending shopping malls, extensive entertainment and leisure facilities, along beautiful green streets and parks.

The city’s origin reflects its true prestige, as it was a major hub for the pearl industry before it had discovered its rich reserves of oil. There is a stretch of traditional wooden dhows along the harbour, which were not just used for fishing but also for pearl diving.

Abu Dhabi is known as the most important cultural city in the UAE, attracting many visitors to its established Cultural Foundation centre, which is responsible for hosting various art exhibitions and musical performances from all over the globe.

Abu Dhabi is one of the most prosperous and rapidly developing cities in the world, with an impressive population of 1.45 million (2008). In just over half a century it has become a major centre for tourism, as well as transforming from a small Bedouin village into a thriving investment enterprise.

Emirate	Abu Dhabi
Capital	Abu Dhabi
Area	67,340 km² (26,000.1 sq. mi)
Population (2008)	Around 1.45 million
Density	293.94/km² (761.3/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT/UTC +4

Star Cruise to Bond Island

James Bond Island

If you want to see more of Phang Nga's spectacular scenery and less of the crowds, take a speedboat.

Far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour, you can visit famous "James Bond Island," the interesting fishing village of Koh Pannyi, explore the mangroves around the edge of the bay, and the sea caves at Tham Lod.

After lunch, stop at Khai Nai for snorkelling and return to Phuket late afternoon.

Cruise Asia Pacific

Cruise Asia-Pacific Waters for a Whole New Experience
The warm waters of Asia-Pacific is something to experience. The land, a place to explore. Find yourself amazed with centuries old culture, tradition and lifestyles when you board one of Star Cruises' famed cruise ships. We'll bring you to the shores of virgin jungle contrasting against modern skyscrapers. Cruise Asia-Pacific for the tropical sun, local delicacies, native smiles, non stop entertainment and great shopping bargains.
It's definitely a new experience!

Asia-Pacific Today
Friendly smiles greet you in Asia-Pacific. Sandy beaches and the tropical sun tempt you to sit by the sea all day. Historical sites will educate you about the past. Religious ceremonies will awe you into a trance. Local delicacies will get you cringing for more. More shopping spots will give you the best bargains in this part of the world. So much to discover, so much to see and so much to do in a land we call home. Cruise Asia-Pacific for exhilarating moments and for a memorable time.

So much to enjoy for so much less
Our first class treasure ships are fully equipped with the latest in entertainment and facilities. A list of endless activities, places to visit and cuisines to savor from all over the world are available around the clock. You can utilize all our amenities or you can do nothing at all. From computer games to movies, from ballroom dancing to karaoke, from cabaret shows to a massage, from a day in the gym to night parties, there's always something to do onboard any one of our ships. Cruising with us will see you stretching your traveling budget all the way to the end of Asia-Pacific. You'll save on airfares, hotels, transfers and trips to restaurants because you'll find everything you'll ever need onboard Star Cruises fleet. It's something for you to experience to believe that cruising with us will help you save while traveling more.

Voyage into the East
Travel to Asia-Pacific in comfort leaving your stress and workload or worries behind. Let your mind be at peace while you stay afloat the open seas. A great way to get away and one way to relax in solitude. Go to bed after enjoying all the amenities and services provided and wake up in another part of the world the next morning.

Glamour Revives Port of Batumi

Seiran Baroyan/Associated Press for The New York Times

In Batumi, at the grand white-columned Cafe Sanapiro, which uses the Georgian word for beach, the seaside tables are stacked with Georgian specialties.

oars above the clear Black Sea and the mist-covered Caucasus mountains surrounding the port town of Batumi, Georgia. Its night lights flood the skyline, revealing a new building that contrasts with the 19th-century facades of the old town and casting a warm glow over a palm tree-lined promenade of strolling lovers and giggling families. The majestic structure — the tallest on the sea’s coast — calls to mind a mosque, a library or a museum. Multimedia

Seiran Baroyan/Associated Press for The New York Times

Swimmers on the shore of the Black Sea at Batum.

But, as I discovered when I entered the marble-floored lobby this summer, the building was a much more unexpected cultural treasure: an $80 million, 203-room Sheraton hotel, which opened in June and became Batumi’s first international brand hotel. Modeled on the lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt, built by Alexander the Great, it is a beacon of what Batumi aspires to become.

A once-decrepit resort town 12 miles from the Turkish border, Batumi is undergoing a frenzied facelift. As recently as four years ago, water and electricity were sporadic, functioning sewage disposal did not exist and peeling paint marred most historic buildings in the town’s Belle Époque quarter. Not only have those issues been resolved, but the town has also renovated dozens of Old Town buildings and completed a swanky extension to its four-mile oceanside walkway as part of a $103.9 million government investment into infrastructure. A host of upmarket restaurants and nightclubs have opened, as have three Monte Carlo-inspired casinos. And Air Batumi started in June, offering flights between the Georgian capital Tbilisi and Batumi with plans to serve other cities in the region.

Among the projects in the works are more hotels (including a Radisson in 2012 and a Kempinski in 2015), a renovated historic district and a push for eco-tourism. There is even a plan by private investors to import golden sand for the rocky coastline that stretches to Turkey.

Now the chief spectacle of Batumi? Cranes.

“We are, in a sense, catching up,” said Teimuraz Diasamidze, chairman of the tourism and resorts department for the Adjara region, of which Batumi is the capital. “We are lucky that the conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia did not touch us, but we still lost visitors,” he said of Georgia’s 1991 and 2008 wars over breakaway regions whose independence is still disputed.

Not since the oil boom of the 1890s, when industrial magnets like Baron Alphonse de Rothschild and the Nobel brothers of Sweden transformed Batumi into a playground for the wealthy, has this city of some 120,000 pulsed with such enterprise. Under the Russian Empire, the thriving port was home to one of the world’s first oil pipelines. Then came years of Communist decline, followed by the 2003 pro-democracy Rose Revolution, accompanied by widespread economic reform and a flood of foreign capital. Private investment into tourism totaled $311 million from 2004 to 2009, according to the local government.

Some of the growth is evident in the 20 restaurants and 10 nightclubs that have opened in Batumi in the last two years, part of a night-life renaissance led by young Georgians who have spent time abroad. Keti Bochorishvili, 30, a partner in the Tbilisi dance club Bamba Rooms is typical of the new nightclub owners here. “Last year I came to Batumi on vacation and saw all the construction and great projects planned, the international hotels, the new roads,” said Ms. Bochorashvili, an entrepreneur who spent a year of high school in Louisville, Ky., and studied management at an Italian university. “I thought, ‘Wow, Batumi is becoming beautiful.’ I felt like we needed to be there.” The Batumi outpost of Bamba Rooms opened on the beach in August with an all-white, Miami-meets-St.-Tropez décor and menus that contain its signature Continental and Georgian dishes, as well as sushi. Still heavily reliant on Georgian beach lovers, Batumi is initially seeking visitors from countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan. The port town received 554,150 hotel visitors last year, about twice as many as in 2006, with most coming from the surrounding region, according to the Adjara tourist department. But Ms. Bochorashvili and others have their sights set on Western visitors. For now the club is hopping with well-coiffed Georgian fashionistas with a weakness for Marc Jacobs who can rattle off their favorite trance playlist in Russian, English and French.

Mediterranean Cruises

guest post by Gill Cruises Every year, more and more travellers are discovering the convenience, flexibility and excitement of embarking on a cruise ship holiday. While there are cruises sailing around the world, those heading to the Mediterranean are among the most magical and beautiful. Few other cruise destinations offer the cultural wealth and historical beauty like Monte Carlo, Naples, Athens or Istanbul. And unlike a traditional holiday, where you will spend many days of your travel time in transit, on a cruise ship all the travelling is done at night while you catch up on your beauty rest. Each morning you will wake up to discover a new port of call. Athens, Greece is one of the world’s oldest cities, with around 3,400 years of recorded history. On your stop in Athens, there are tours to view a stunning array of ancient monuments and works of art. The Parthenon on the hill of the Acropolis is not to be missed, but you could also visit the Propylea, the Temple of the Wingless Victory, the Erechtheion temple, the Acropolis Museum, the Arch of Hadrian or the Temple of Olympian Zeus. There is also a huge collection of antiquities for you to peruse at the National Archaeological Museum. Naples, Italy is another very popular port of call on Mediterranean cruises. This is another ancient city, dating back more than 2,800 years. Naples is also brimming with extraordinary works of art and architecture. Pompeii should be at the top of your list of tours, one of the world’s most famous excavation sites. Naples is also the birthplace of pizza, so you should seek out an authentic Italian pizza shop before you head back to the ship. Monte Carlo, Monaco is undoubtedly the most glamorous city on the Riviera, and has long been a favourite holiday destination for the rich and famous. The most popular day trips include stops at the casino, the Hotel de Paris, the Oceanographic Museum, and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier are entombed. Istanbul, Turkey dates back to 800 BC, but is now a modern, bustling city of almost 12 million people. One of the most inspiring experiences you might have is listening to the prayers being broadcast over the public loudspeakers in the morning or evening. There are also amazing day trips to visit the Blue Mosque, Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Basilica Cistern, or the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered marketplace in the world. Taking a Mediterranean cruise holiday with Cunard Cruises is simply one of the best vacation values for the money. You will be able to sample a wide geographic area of destinations, and see if you’d like to return there for a longer holiday. You will find a non-stop variety of activities, events, activities and meals, and you will be pampered like nowhere else. Plus, most of your shopping can be done duty free! With so much to see and do, every traveller will come home with wonderful memories to last a lifetime.

Beauty Mount Bromo Indonesia

Mount Bromo (from Sanskrit / Old Javanese: Brahma, one of the main Hindu gods), is still an active volcano and most famous as a tourist attraction in East Java. As a tourist attraction, Mount Bromo become attractive because of its status as a volcano is still active.

Bromo has a height of 2392 meters above sea level is located in four regions, namely, Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Lumajang, and Malang. Mount Bromo mesh body shape between valleys and canyons with a caldera or sea sand covering approximately 10 square kilometers.

Mount Bromo crater has a diameter of ± 800 m (north-south) and ± 600 meters (east-west). While the danger area of a circle with a radius of 4 km from the central crater of Bromo.

The eruption history of Mount Bromo, Mount Bromo, including very active.
See notes Bromo eruption this:
During the 20th century, the mountain is famous as a tourist spot that erupted three times, with regular intervals, namely 30 years. The biggest eruptions occurred in 1974, while the last eruption occurred in 2004.

Bromo eruption history: 2004, 2001, 1995, 1984, 1983, 1980, 1972, 1956, 1955, 1950, 1948, 1940, 1939, 1935, 1930, 1929, 1928, 1922, 1921, 1915, 1916, 1910, 1909, 1907, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1907, 1896, 1893, 1890, 1888, 1886, 1887, 1886, 1885, 1886, 1885, 1877, 1867, 1868, 1866, 1865, 1865, 1860, 1859, 1858, 1858, 1857, 1856, 1844, 1843, 1843, 1835, 1830, 1830, 1829, 1825, 1822, 1823, 1820, 1815, 1804, 1775, and 1767.
From this data we can see, the mountain is very active.

But other than volcanic eruptions that very much. This mountain has a very beautiful tourist attractions.

Seeing the sun rises in the peak bromo.

If you want melihan beautiful sunrise on Mount Bromo. You have to prepare thick clothing, head coverings, gloves and sock. Why? Because the temperature reaches 10 degrees Bromo even 0 degrees celcius.

How to Achieve Peak Bromo
You can reach this area by any private car hire vehicle. There are four main gate to enter the park area that is: if through the village Cemorolawang Probolinggo, Pasuruan track Wonokitri village, Ngadas villages and towns of Malang path is the path Lumajang Burno. The route that can be implemented is as follows:
Pasuruan-Warung-Tosari Dowo Wonokitri-Bromo-use cars with a distance of 71 km, Malang-Overlapping-Shack Klakah Jemplang-Bromo-use cars with a distance of 53 kmAtau-Malang-Nongkojajar Purwodadi-Tosari-Wonokitri-Penanjakan approximately 83 km

Monaco the Most Surreal and Strange Places in the Western World.

Some have likened it to the facade of a Disney resort and others to the obscene and visible display of a Las Vegas. But for me it is neither, it is just a very strange place. And unless you are living there for tax purposes it is hard to see why you would want to live there.

The city and country (as at around 2km square it all is the same) largely comprises of uninspiring, large and very unimpressive tower blocks. The very tower blocks from the 50s, 60s and 70s that popped up post was across many European cities. The one difference being they cost outrageous sums of money.

Monaco is jam full of buildings. Space was limited, although some land reclamation and building into the sea helped expand the space a bit - but when they did they threw up more tall blocks.

Underneath most of the city there seems to be either vast parking garages or road tunnels. The whole underneath of the city seems to be a world for cars. This was driven by necessity as there would have had to be valuable building space given up, and also they needed to figure out how to get a lot of traffic in, around and out of the city.

I had never been sure what the difference between Monaco and Monte Carlo was - if anything. I discovered that Monte Carlo is a district within Monaco, with the country and capital both being called Monaco (as they are one and the same). The famous Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place each May in the Monte Carlo district, which is kind of the centre of the most know and visited area of Monaco where the Casino and Hotel De Paris are located.

Monaco is a strange quirk as it is ruled by the Grimaldi Family, who have done so for many hundred of years (since 13th century). It is an independent state, with only the Vatican being smaller. And although they have their own tax and business regime (there is no personal income tax) and run local affairs, the major things like defence and the such are set and guaranteed by France.

It is a place where locals are in the minority by far, with most residents being wealthy foreigners seeking the nil income tax. You have to be wealthy to be allowed to buy property. Apparently though you cannot be a French tax exile as this is an agreement with the French government.

The state is under pressure from many governments to be more open with their financial institutions, as there is a feeling that it is not only a place where the rich are using it for tax avoidance in their home countries, but also that it is used to launder money by organised crime and other illegal organisations.

As there is a lot of wealth, you see spectacular yachts (well more like ships) in the yacht basin, a lot of elderly wealthy people, over dressed over ostentatious people strolling about dressed to display wealth and very up-market stores to serve that all up.

It all is very conspicuous consumption. It is also outrageously expensive, both for hotels and food and drink.

Monaco also is obsessed with security. It has the largest number of police per capital (who are very visible) and the whole place is riddled with CCTV cameras. They literally are everywhere.

The other obsession is cleanliness. The place is kept very clean and very neat!

Five Great European Travel Destinations

All over the world, people everywhere celebrate their Irish heritage on March 17th. Regardless of your heritage, you can't deny that spring is in full swing. The days are now officially longer, and while it takes a few days to get used to, it marks the arrival of spring. It doesn't hurt that the weather is acting accordingly either!

Travel during the spring season is something that everyone should try. Throughout Europe, there are many locations that offer warm sunny climates this time of year. On top of that, spring is also considered an "off" season by many people. I never really understood that. In my opinion, there are some locations that are actually better in the spring. For those of you who like spring time travel, here's a list of the top five European spring travel destinations.

1. Crete, Greece - This Greek island is surrounded by the Mediterranean waters, and is one location that will keep you hot all year round with its vibrant nightlife and culture.
2. Ibiza, Spain - This well known Spanish island is much more than crazy youngsters looking for a party. The island is actually quite beautiful, and will keep you entertained with things like scuba diving, fishing, and other outdoor adventures.
3. Naples, Italy - The entire Italian coast line could be a great spring destination. The cool ocean breezes are waiting to chill you out after a day exploring in the national parks located south of the city.
4. Palermo, Italy - Explore more of Sicily with a rental car in Palermo. The entire island is filled with small coastal villages that will keep you full on olives and local cheese. Sounds like fun!
5. Faro, Portugal - This Portuguese city located near the Spanish border is a very popular destination for many Europeans. You should check it out to see what you are missing before it's too busy. The good news is, April and May are full of all kinds of great deals for travelers, and the weather is perfect!

Council gives $2.5M for tourism promotion of southern Id

Tourism revenues declined slightly in south-central Idaho as the recession prompted visitors to either cut their vacations short or in some cases avoid them alltogether.
Lodging revenues, an indicator of dollars spent in Magic Valley by visitors from outside the valley and the state, declined 3 percent during the 2010 fiscal year ending June 10, compared to the previous year. It marked the second consecutive year of declining tourism.

However, help is on the way to promote events and attractions in Magic Valley.
Southern Idaho Tourism, the marketing and promotion arm of the seven-county area, will receive nearly $207,000 in state assistance to promote tourism for the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. The money is part of $2.5 million in Idaho Travel Council grants to fund non-profit organizations that promote tourism.
"We plant use the money to carry us through the rest of the year," said Debbie Dane, executive director of Southern Idaho Tourism. "It will be used to help us market events and attractions with overnight stays to people in neighboring states.
She said overnight lodging, which also generates tourism revenue for restaurants and other services, is important to increasing tourism dollars in the area.
New this year was the regional effort to seek one grant for various entities in south-central Idaho. Grant requests are often made by one or more organizations like chambers of commerce, associations and visitor bureaus. Southern Idaho Tourism worked with the Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce to apply for one - with the money being distributed among the entities.
"As far as I know, it's the first time anyone in the state has done this," Dane said. "It will help us reduce our auditing costs for the grant, so we can put more of that money into marketing our region."

Tourism is a $3 billion dollar industry in Idaho. Total lodging tax collections for fiscal year 2010 were $6.26 million.

By Joshua Palmer Times-News

Chicago: Thrilling and Awesome Place

Are you planning to spend your honeymoon in Chicago? Then, it is a good idea. Chicago is blessed with superb scenic beauty and the place is all about enjoyment and fun. One can draw up a huge list of popular attractions that helps the newly-wedded couple to spend as much as time together. Furthermore, this place has mind blowing picturesque beauty which will just sweep you off your feet. From natural beauty of the Michigan River flowing across the heart of the City to the spectacular view of the Chicago high rises from one of the tallest buildings of the world Sears Tower, Chicago will treat you with a dream vacation. Now let us discuss what its major attractions are: · Navy Pier: This is one of the well-known attractions in Chicago which offers number of dining options where you can pamper your taste buds with the delicacies of great varieties seafood. · Adler Planetarium: It is located on the lake shore drive and this Planetarium exhibits the first Star Rider Theater and the state-of-the-art computer technology of the world. A tourist will be thrilled to see the excessive artifacts of historical value which is displayed in this planetarium.

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Shedd Aquarium: This is another popular attraction in Chicago which has great collections of marine life. However, it is located by the Lake Michigan and the collection in this aquarium is so enriched that the tourists across the world come and visit cherished with it. · The Field Museum: Field Museum is one of the many attractions of Chicago which reflects the specimen of natural sciences. The enriched anthropological and biological collection of the museum amused tourists from across the world. · The Art Institute of Chicago: In this you can enjoy some of the utmost art collection from around the world. Moreover, you can also catch a glimpse of the Amerindian and African art collection at the Institute. Beside all this, this place has many other spots like museum of Science and Industry, the Hancock Observatory, Sears Tower Sky Deck, Cruise across River Michigan, Millennium Park and many more that offers memorable experience to their visitors. However, talk about the cuisines and hotels of Chicago, visitors can enjoy various culinary dishes, notably the Chicago-style hot dog, the Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich and the deep-dish pizza. There are numerous hotels, resorts and accommodations are available here that allows people of every budget to enjoy and cherished with their services etc

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The Jewel Of Jordan PETRA

Jordan was expensive and seemed even more so when arriving from India. I think three nights in Jordan cost me more than double my week in India. But it was worth it. In planning the trip I used several web-sites, but this one was the most useful: http://www.go2petra.com/





There are many myths about Petra, some with a basis in fact, most not. Partly for that reason I won't attach labels to the pictures because there is still argument about the appropriate names and whether they are tombs, living areas, treasuries or palaces. I'm just fascinated by their age, architecture (is it still architecture if it's carved out of the rock?) and design.

Each section is interesting. The ancient site starts with the Siq. This is a long winding path, about 1200m or 3/4 mile long, naturally slashed through a ragged cleft in the surrounding sandstone mountains




When in the Siq it is easy to see what a great defensive entrance it was for the ancient Nabateans. The Siq is a natural geological formation resulting from the frequent earthquake activity in the region for millennia. The Nabateans cunningly used it for a defensive entry and also to be part of their hydraulic and plumbing system to divert every drop of water that fell near the city to supply their needs. Notice the channel on the left in the last photo of that set and the detail in this photo.



The shape of the Siq and the hydraulic system may be the reason for one of the myths or legends. People from the mists of time believed this was where Moses struck the rock to secure water for his wandering people after the flight from Egypt (see Exodus 17:6 or Numbers 20:8). Thus the Jordanian town which now services the Petra tourism industry is Wadi Musa, the Valley of Moses. Apparently the valley was named by Baldwin, the Crusader King.



After the Siq you come quite suddenly on the opening to Petra itself; see the photo at the top of the page. That is the astonishing first glimpse of Petra as seen by every arriving traveller for the past two millennia. The scene was made famous more recently in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark".



Petra has not always been just the remains we see now, carved out of the rock. In the past there were also many free standing buildings but, over time, they have been lost to earthquakes. Many were lost in a major earthquake in 363; the few standing ruins that remain from that time have suffered severely from weather, pillagers and antiquity robbers.

The origins of the Nabateans are a bit vague. Some believe they were the descendants of the Edomites mentioned in the Bible, others that they were nomads from Arabia in the south who defeated and supplanted the Edomites.

They first appeared in historical records around the sixth century BC. Their influence grew over the next few centuries until the Romans arrived in the region in the first century BC. At their peak they controlled all of the land between Yemen in the south and Damascus in the north. They profited greatly from all the trading caravans that moved through their district and the associated merchants who used their cities, including Petra, to trade. Their own traders travelled too, as far as India, China and Rome, but most of their wealth came from closer regions. Their government was a monarchy but with a strong democratic flavour and they did not keep slaves; unusual at that time.



Rome became their nemesis. They initially repulsed the Romans in 63 BC but had to accept their nearby presence and slowly came to hate them. The rulers made a mistake by becoming Parthian allies when the Parthians warred against the Romans. They paid dearly for that and eventually Herod, as a puppet of Rome - yes, that Herod - occupied their territory. Roman trade routes slowly moved away from Petra and the city declined slowly from that time on.

Eventually, over the following two millennia, the city was claimed by the desert and the nomadic Bedouins until it was “discovered” in 1812 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

I made the mistake of trying to save a few dinars by ignoring the various transportation options along the way and walked all day. If I go again, I'll spend the money. There are really four long sections for footslogging. The walk starts at the entrance gate, with an option of a pony ride or buggy ride. Then there is the Siq, with the same options, then the long and dusty site itself with camels available and finally, if you have the energy (I didn't) the climb to the Byzantine Church. Then you retrace all that and walk home again, mostly uphill. I saved about $70 and my poor feet regretted that for a week.



For the rest, just wander through the pictures and click on those you find interesting. I had a long, fascinating, dusty, footsore day and enjoyed every minute of it. We drove back to Amman in the late afternoon and dusk via the faster, but less interesting, Desert Highway.




One of the modern conveniences lacking in the long valley of Petra is, er, conveniences. I met these two beasts of burden while searching for one, or at least for some privacy. There was sufficient evidence of their, or their masters, past presence in the cave that I was not embarrassed to follow their lead. I later found a restaurant at the far end of the valley; much too far at the time.