Edinburgh city break guide

Edinburgh city break guide:
The joy of Edinburgh is that you never need an excuse to visit. There is always something going on, something different to experience, something new to catch your eye. If you only think about the city at Festival time or Hogmanay, boy, are you missing out. You can get high just gazing at the architecture, from the craggy Castle to the mysteries of its Old Town medieval closes, from the Georgian splendour of the New Town to the contemporary tang of Leith. Then weather there’s the clutch of galleries – all nicely do-able in size – and fanfare of museums and attractions, offering a tantalising choice for even the pickiest family.

In truth, you don’t need to do the “arts-culture-history” thing to get a zing out of Edinburgh. Mosey around the streets – particularly just off-centre, say in Stockbridge or around Grassmarket – and you’ll chance on a quirky shop, artisan deli or laidback café. This is a city perfect for browsing, sitting back, or just doing nothing but blessing your cleverness for finding this little place. There are five Michelin-starred restaurants alone, while drinking options range from whisky-fuddled pubs to designer bars.And did we mention food?

Yes, it can get busy; yes, it can rain. But this city pushes so many buttons, you’d have to be a frigid Philistine to visit and remain unmoved.
Рlease write comment on my blog!

The Peloponnese from Homer to hadrian & beyond

The Peloponnese from Homer to hadrian & beyond
This is the land of Homer’s heroes and the great Bronze Age citadels from which they came. The home cities of Agamemnon, Menelaus and Nestor help us to put the Trojan War into its Greek context as a meeting with the world of the Hittites of Asia Minor, at a time when Greek colonists were hungry for land, and introducing their way of life to new territories across the sea.

In later times the Peloponnese was also home to major cities and sanctuaries of Classical Greece and, once again this part of Greece took centre stage in ancient world politics as the Peloponnesian War of the late 5th century BC brought the power of Athens to an end, and changed western civilisation forever.
Perhaps this was the memory immortalised by Homer in his epic poems. Certainly many aspects of the Mycenean culture rediscovered by Heinrich Schliemann clearly echo the world described by Homer.

We finish in Athens, and now spend two days here seeing not only the National Museum, but also the new Acropolis Museum, both with incomparable collections which illustrate all aspects of life and death in Ancient Greece.

Starting with the oracle at Delphi, as all great journeys should, we cross to the Peloponnese and travel through a beautiful countryside of mountains, plains and seascapes. Your journey follows the course of history through the coming of Rome, and then early Christianity, visiting the impressive Byzantine and Frankish city of Mistra.

Central America and Mexico

Central America and Mexico: Exploring Mayan sites, colourful markets, local homestay, vibrant nightlife, swimming in the Caribbean's crystal blue waters, wandering the cobblestone streets of colonial towns, sampling new food and drink.

Live like you mean it on a legendary 46-day journey through six countries. Swap San José's bustling streets for lush jungles, Mayan pyramids and amazing white sand beaches. Share coffee with the locals or—if it’s to your liking—toss back a tequila in a colonial plaza and experience Central American culture with others who share your appetite for adventure. Perfect for the adventurer on a shoestring who wants to explore the region’s diversity, this trip will provide a sampling of the best of Central America.
As it is located in the central highlands, San José enjoys a moderate climate. The heat and humidity of the coast and lowland areas may affect you with a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm, it is simply a reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water (cold bottled water is available everywhere) and do not attempt too much in any given day.

Like most cities, San José has its good and bad sides. It is the centre of government, theatre, and art, as well as of air pollution and congestion. It has beautiful parks and museums, and a few beggers on the streets. It is big and often noisy, but even from its crowded downtown streets, you’ll often enjoy a view of the surrounding lush mountains.

Probably the hardest thing you will do in San José, other than get safely across busy streets, is keep the street numbering systems straight. Street and avenue numbers are posted on buildings at the corners of some intersections. Keep looking as you walk, and you will eventually find one.

Visit to Rastafarian Indigenous Village

Blissing out on world-class beaches around the island, bargaining at the local market, drumming at a Rastafarian village, dancing with the locals at a Maroon village, sampling Kingston nightlife.

Escape the all-inclusive resorts and see a side of Jamaica that few tourists experience on this whirlwind ten-day adventure. Meet true Rastafarians and learn about the original inhabitants of the island while hiking through lush wilderness. There are chances to visit the Appleton Estates rum distillery, the Bob Marley Museum and a Blue Mountain coffee plantation—for a taste of culture with a splash of fun in the sun. With plenty of time to relax on Jamaica's famous white sand beaches, you're going to come back well rested—and with a real understanding of this vibrant island.

Rastafarianism is first and foremost a native Jamaican religion - indigenous to Jamaica and it is therefore a significant contributor to the enrichment of Jamaica’s cultural identity. Rastafarians, also known as Rastas, have as primary tenet of their religion and lifestyle, the teachings of Marcus Garvey. Garveyism and the Rastas by extension, promote ethnic pride, self-determination, self-reliance and the recognition of the country’s African roots which are all positives, especially, for a country still in the infancy of nation-building. The Rastafarian ‘dread locked’ hairstyle is recognized worldwide as Jamaican. Dread locks was popularized in the 1970s when Bob Marley and the Wailers hit the world stage – this era, quite possibly, signified the launch of “Brand Jamaica”. The brand was represented by a guitar toting ‘rebel with a positive cause’, with dread locked hair: a Rastafarian. Rastafarians have also had great impact on Jamaica’s music industry, tourism industry, fashion, language among other cultural aspects.

If you'd prefer to leave the city behind for the day, venture up into the famous coffee-producing Blue Mountains. The lush hills and fresh air are a nice break from the coastal heat. Tour a coffee plantation or two and enjoy a cup of the area's black gold.

Europe- Amsterdam

Partying across Europe, exploring historic cities, galleries and museums, discovering medieval towns straight from a fairytale, embracing a variety of cultures, sampling regional wines and delicacies.
Description

Ah, a relaxing week’s vacation in Old Europa. What could be finer? Don’t ask anyone who’s taken this trip! Our seven-day odyssey across five countries is a blur of beauty, culture and adventure from start to finish, with loads of optional activities to pick and choose from. From the varied architectural wonders of Prague to the nightclubs of Amsterdam and Berlin to romantic Bruges and classic London, this trip contains more European awesomeness per minute than should be permissible by law. (We won’t tell if you won’t.)

Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in Europe. Beautiful, hip, and laid back, with lots to do, lots to see, many pubs, food from all over the world and friendly people. A visit to this stunning city can feel like stepping back in time, surrounded by the charming architecture dating back to the 17th century. But this city is far from old-fashioned and will be best seen on foot or like the locals, by bicycle.

If you only do one thing in Amsterdam, make it a canal cruise. Amsterdam's canals are its signature and cruising these criss-crossing waterways puts the city in perspective while offering unique views of dozens of spectacular Amsterdam sights in a short period of time. Afterwards, head into a cozy bruin café o “eetcafé” (to the Dutch what pubs are to the British and Irish), local spots where friends gather to catch up over a beer or glass of house wine.

Southern Islands

Since pre-Columbian times, the site of Quito has been inhabited by the Quitus, the Shyris and the Puruhas. The Inca reached this city before the Spaniards, but levelled it to the ground rather than give it up to the Spanish. The present capital was founded by the Spanish on December 6th, 1534. Quito is separated into two basic sections, the old and the new cities. The old city is full of historical buildings and churches. One of the more noteworthy is the Catedral de Quito, located on the Plaza de la Independencia. Built between 1550 and 1562, it was one of the first neoclassical works in Quito. La Compañía de Jésus Church is considered one of the most beautiful in the Americas. The decorations in the Compañía contain approximately one and one-half tons of gold, and construction of the church took 170 years (1605-1775).

Encounter the island chain that has enchanted explorers since Darwin first weighed anchor off its shores. Spend eight days exploring the incredible wildlife of the Galapagos archipelago in the company of an expert Naturalist Guide. In the evenings, return to the comfortable g4 to reflect on the day’s adventures. Retire to air-conditioned cabins with exclusive lower berths and private bathrooms. As one of the region’s largest operators, we understand the importance of controlling the onboard experience—that’s why you'll never end up on another operator's ship.

Arrival transfer and Continental breakfast while in Quito, 7 nights in the Galapagos Islands, Visit to Charles Darwin Research Station, Incredible wildlife encounters, Daily opportunities for swimming and snorkelling, Flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, Snorkeling equipment onboard Galapagos Yacht.

There are several excellent museums scattered throughout the city. The Casa de la Cultura Ecuadoriana has an interesting display of traditional musical instruments and Ecuadorian traditional dress, a large art collection, and a small natural history museum. For archeology the best museum to visit is the Museo del Banco Central with its well displayed pottery, gold ornaments, skulls showing deformities and early surgical methods, a mummy and many other objects of interest. The small, rounded hill dominating the old town is El Panecillo or 'the Little Bread Loaf,' a major Quito landmark. From here there are marvelous panoramic views of the entire city and surrounding volcanoes. You can easily take a trolley (streetcar) or a cab between the Old Town and New Town.

International travel- Canada's spirit bear

Life through my lens: Canada's spirit bear
Mark Carwardine, the zoologist and BBC presenter, recalls an unforgettable first encounter with a spirit bear in Canada.

Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Spanning over 9.9 million square kilometres, Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the longest land border in the world.

I had been waiting quietly on the riverbank for several hours, listening to the gentle patter of rain. Every so often a black bear would pass by, fishing for salmon on its way upstream. But suddenly an apparition emerged, ghostlike, from the dark recesses of the forest: a rare and elusive spirit bear.

I was in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest, the largest remaining tract of intact temperate rainforest left in the world, which stretches seamlessly from the northern end of Vancouver Island all the way to south-east Alaska.

This breathtaking wilderness is chock-full of wildlife, but the spirit bear is the jewel in its crown.

One of the animal world’s great enigmas, it is a walking contradiction – a white black bear (an extremely rare colour variant of the American black bear). It is neither a polar bear nor albino. It has normal pigmentation in its eyes, nose and skin and the whiteness comes from a recessive gene, so, to be born white, the bear must inherit the gene from both parents. Also known as the ghost bear, or Kermode bear (named after Francis Kermode, former director of the Royal British Columbia Museum), it is elusive and rarely seen – except for a few weeks every year in one tiny corner of the forest.

Found nowhere else in the world, it spends the winter fast asleep and prefers to hide in the dark, tangled recesses of the forest. But if you go to the right place, at the right time of year, your chances of a close encounter are surprisingly good.

Travel asia- Algeria - Roman Mauretania

Travel asia- Algeria - Roman Mauretania

This has long been the missing piece in the picture of Roman North Africa. Those who have been to Leptis, Carthage and Volubilis have looked longingly at textbook photos of Timgad and Djemila, and wondered when they might get to visit these amazingly well preserved sites in the province of Mauretania with us.

The time has come! Algeria is still one of the least-visited countries in the world, but that is because there is no infrastructure (or presumably desire) for mass tourism. Our Guide Lecturer is experienced in leading Andante tours, is half-Tunisian and speaks fluent Arabic, and we have now together devised an itinerary which allows lots of time at the major sites, includes some beautiful sites which are less well-known, and enables you to enjoy something of contemporary Algeria too - an energetic and vibrant country which is changing very fast.

Security is still quite intense for groups of visitors, and you will have to be prepared to abide by the rules, but the friendliness of the people and the excitement of real travel through terrain untouched by mass tourism brings a sense of adventure and discovery. This is a journey which should only be taken by those who relish such experience. We have chosen new and newish hotels, and have a smart new bus for transporting us over the rapidly developing road network, and the sites and museums are full of amazing artefacts and structures - there will be plenty of great surprises for those who love Roman and Byzantine remains, and for anyone with an interest in the archaeology of the Maghreb.

Our revised itinerary flies into Algiers, drives east to Setif, and then on through the sites of Djemila ('the beautiful'), Timgad (a whole day here), the legionary bases of Lambaesis and Tebessa, north through the hills to Annaba and the territory of St Augustine, thence to the dramatically situated city of Constantine and a flight back to Algiers. We now finish by driving west to Cherchell and the lovely Tipasa, a fine end to the archaeological sites. There is a final morning in Algiers itself before flying home.The actor Phil Davis recalls bucket-and-spade holidays in Suffolk and a rather wet time in Lanzarote.

South hall travel- Which was your best holiday?

South hall travel- Which was your best holiday?

I always try to go somewhere historic in Britain at Easter with my partner [David L Williams, a filmmaker] and our three children. Last year we stayed in a really lovely b & b near Hadrian’s Wall and felt really free; there was nobody there and it was absolutely stunning. We’d walk the wall in the daytime with a lunch the b & b had packed. We’d think we’d done brilliantly, but after hours of walking we’d find out how far we’d gone and it would turn out to be a mile and a half or something! It was up and down, but it didn’t matter. It was fantastic.

I discovered Northumberland fairly recently – the beaches there are so beautiful, and it’s like the Fifties up there: unspoilt and with very few people. Easter’s good for holidaying in England; we seem to get the warm weather then, and a rainy summer.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

A camper van and the open road. I just love the feeling of “We’re off!” We did own one until recently, but we’ve outgrown it. We hire them now because the big ones are very expensive. I had a lot of caravanning holidays when I was young with my parents and have very happy memories, and this is me trying to replicate that.

What do you always take with you?

A washing line and pegs, a tin opener and a couple of books for each of us. We take Scrabble or Boggle or Bananagrams, probably all three. Lately we’ve quite got into Carcassonne, a game where you build a medieval city out of tiles. We get really into our games and then we go off them, so it’s good to have a few.

What’s your best piece of travel advice?

Always have double the number of pairs of knickers of the days you’re away, because anything can happen. You don’t want to get caught short.

Where would you like to go next?

Somewhere in Britain within an hour of home. I think Britain is very underrated as a holiday destination. I’d like to do things like walk the Ridgeway through Oxfordshire. I think we might do a bit of canoeing and camping in the Wye Valley next.

Freshly honed after the successful first trip, we present a tour to some of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, lying abandoned in dramatic terrain in one of the least-visited of countries. The museums contain breath-taking surprises, with artefacts and mosaics of the finest quality. The infrastructure for visitors is new and all tours to Algeria are escorted by a police presence.

Pinpoint travel

Pinpoint travel
What's been the biggest packing mistake you've made?

I'm not bad at packing, and if anything I would say underpacking is my fault. I'm quite minimalist, but sometimes I pack in a rush, so I forget essential things that I then have to go out and buy or borrow. I like to believe I can just throw together a bag the day before I'm due to leave, but really I think being better prepared is the way to go. Having said that, if I had days to plan I'd probably end up taking too much.

Which is the worst hotel you've stayed in?

I've stayed in lots over the years, many of which I've tried to blot from memory, but the worst was probably that one in Delhi in 1997. Back then I was considerably poorer, so I stayed in rather grotty places that I wouldn't want to set foot in again. You name it, I saw it – bugs, cockroaches... plus there was no air con.
Pinpoint travel
What do you avoid on holiday?

Going away without a plan is my idea of a nightmare. I always read about where I'm going to ensure that once I arrive I have some sort of skeleton of what I want to do and see, especially if I'm not meeting someone familiar with the area to show me around. I think it's great to go somewhere where someone knows the place and you can steer clear of all the things that aren't going to work. Search out someone who knows you and your taste.
Freshly honed after the successful first trip, we present a tour to some of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, lying abandoned in dramatic terrain in one of the least-visited of countries. The museums contain breath-taking surprises, with artefacts and mosaics of the finest quality. The infrastructure for visitors is new and all tours to Algeria are escorted by a police presence.

Worldwide travel

Worldwide travel
Travelling Exhibitions
Singapore's rich historical and cultural heritage should be appreciated by as wide an audience as possible; and it should therefore go beyond the confines of museums and institutions. Heritage on the Move hopes to travel to the doorsteps of every community, neighbourhood and any public venues to bring our treasured heritage to the masses.

Each of the exhibitions offers a unique experience of its own. Designed to be interactive and often coupled with supplementary activities upon request, the exhibitions will be the highlight of any event and enhance visitors' experience.
Yes, Even I got my fairy tail ending even after travelling alot and having to meet new friends all the time. I feel extremely lucky to have found him!
Lately, I cannot look at you without thinking ‘jump ship’ first, because there is something that is clearly marked as ‘danger’ in your wide-lipped smile.