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Archive for September, 2009

London River Cruise: A Wonderful Dream

September 30th, 2009 No comments
by Jason Myers

London is one of the oldest areas in Europe. It’s loaded with history and historical sites. There’s no way you can go to London without trying to go to as many of these historical places as possible. Cruises through the Thames River are a very famous and enjoyable way to go through in London’s history. The Thames River itself has a very important part in the history of the place. It was where the Romans settled over 2 millennia in the past to make one of the most ancient cultures in history.

Envision seeing the famous sites of London while conveniently cruising along the Thames river. You’ll be able to view St. Paul’s Cathedral, the famous Big Ben, the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s Globe. If you’re a visitor who just speaks an foreign toungue, you don?t have to be anxious; there are headphones in the majority of boat tours that offer commentaries about the varied cultural sites in several dialects including French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish and other languages. Tours vary in duration and in the dimension of the boat. Duration of the cruise starts from 20 minutes up to 2.5 hours depending on your choice. Boats touring the Thames can carry a small number of individuals or larger numbers reaching 380 tourists.

However, keep in mind that you need to plan ahead about your means of transportation upon docking. This is for the reason that a lot of tour vessels leave from one pier at the beginning of the cruise, then dock at another one when it’s done. If it’s more convenient for you to go on a circular boat tour, those are also available however not as much as the other kind. These circular tours regularly take approximately 50 minutes. The majority of boat tours have a tendency to leave in any of four piers; Westminster Pier, Waterloo Pier, Tower Pier or Greenwich Pier.

There are special kinds of tickets you can purchase which give you more choices. There is one type that can allow you to depart the boat for dry ground at whichever pier the boat docks at to see any historical sites from a closer location. There’s another option where you can purchase a ticket that covers both ship and land transportation. So, you can leave the boat at any dock and use the very same ticket for a bus ride or the like. Things don’t getbecome any more convenient than that! When it comes to cuisine, there’s no need to be anxious. This is because you can book one of the many boat trips Thames cruises that offer lunch and supper. Not only will you have fun with the view in a comforting ambiance but you will also be able to split a tasty meal with your relatives and/or friends. These are not barely accommodations available on the boat trips. In case of the presence of a physical handicap, that won’t be an problem to getting pleasure from London by means of the Thames boat visits. This is because there are upper floors engineered to be handy to wheelchairs and yet give an beautiful view of the place.

If you’re looking for a method to get the most out of your vacation in London, a boat tour Thames sail would certainly be a great option.

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4 Lesser Known Must See Cities In Europe

September 30th, 2009 No comments
by Morten Elm

There are 50 countries in Europe ” so you cannot visit all of them on a trip to Europe (unless you have several months). Instead you should focus your energy on a few large cities. In the following you can read about 4 cities in 4 countries, which have unique sights, food and/or nightlife.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands. If you are looking for a very liberal minded city with legal hash and sex, Amsterdam is the place to go. You can buy hash in the so-called coffeeshops or sex (which comes in all kind of sizes and nationalities) in the Red Light District.

But Amsterdam is much more than a city of sins. You can also find museums with great art from Van Gogh and Rembrandt. Or you can visit the Anne Frank House ” the place where the Anne Franks Diary was written.

Barcelona, Spain. The capital of Spain is Madrid ” but the most interesting city is without doubt Barcelona. The city has everything: great food, interesting sights and a very fine nightlife. And then there is FC Barcelona ” the famous football club with the amazing stadium Camp Nou.

On a visit to Barcelona you also have to see Sagrada Famlia ” the unfinished cathedral by Antoni Gaud. Finish your day by a stroll down the La Ramla to the great harbor area, and eat tapas in Barceloneta.

Budapest, Hungary. The capital of Hungary is divided in two parts by the famous Danube (know for the waltz by Johann Strauss). The hilly Buda-part is on the left side while the Pest-part is on the right. The best sights are either located on the Castle Hill in the Buda-part or in central Pest.

Sights not to bed missed are the National Gallery and the Royal Palace. On Margaret Island there are great parks to relax and wander. For shopping you should go to the Vci Street or the largest shopping centre in Central Europe, Westend City Center.

Prague, the Czech Republic. If you need a cheap vacation, Prague could be the place to go. Even though the prices have gone up since the Cold War, you can still find cheap accommodation and eating in Prague.

The city has many great sights. A good place to start is Star Mesto, which is the old part of the city. Here you can see the impressive Astronomical Clock. From there you can follow the Charles Bridge over the Vltava River ” remember to look at the paintings and souvenir. On the other side you find the Prague Castle ” known as the biggest ancient castle in the world. Other great sights are the Jewish Museum, the Kafka Museum and the historical Jewish ghetto Josefov.

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Antarctica Cruise Ships – The Difference Between Big and Small Vessels

September 29th, 2009 No comments
by Daniel Freeman

Going on Antarctica travels starts with making a bunch of decisions. The trick to choosing a good cruise ship is to look at how well they can accommodate your trip needs. Antarctic cruises are easier to choose from when you weigh the advantages of each mentioned here.

You should first know what Antarctic cruise ship you prefer whether big or small. Around 50 to 100 passengers can with you on a ship that is small. Big ships can typically hold about 200 to 3000 individuals. Find out the advantages and disadvantages attached to the Antarctic travel ships you are considering.

You are treated to many recreational activities aboard ship that you would experience on land. You can indulge in casinos gyms dancing group activities swimming and many others. A doctor is available to see you if you are sick as well as a place to get primped. The atmosphere on Antarctica cruises on large vessels however is less friendly.

Big vessels rarely cruise and touch the banks. It is because of the large number of tourists they hold and the limits imposed by environmental laws. Cruise vacations are perfect for people who are not fond of sightseeing. Find out if laws governing cruise lines allow you to tour coastlines if you are riding big ships. Bear in mind that it is only a matter of time before liners have to set sail again.

Smaller vessels have more stopovers which gives you more room for sightseeing. You can take longer to investigate wildlife and distant regions since the ships are docked nearby. The smaller group of people also makes things easier.

There is an air of informality in small cruise lines. This minimizes the awkwardness when chatting up the personnel and fellow tourists. Have fun engaging in favorite pastimes like kayaking and mountain climbing or snorkeling. No payment is required to see a physician in the clinic aboard smaller vessels. This service is not complimentary on larger sea vessels.

Staying protected while aboard is a key concern. Small ships have high ice ratings and rankings. They are strong enough to withstand punctures and similar accidents on the ice. Ask if the cruise vessel features complete equipment for taking care of emergency cases. Rest easy as this is part of the rules ships must comply with.

A cruise on a smaller ship can be quite educational. Your experience is made more colorful by info provided by Antarctica historians about the region. Choose firms that have Antarctica Cruises as its focus. This way you avoid getting stuck with a forgettable trip. You can decide quicker which between big and small vessels is most appropriate if you know their differences. Tourists want their cruise experience to be something worth remembering.

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Best European Cruises

September 28th, 2009 No comments
by Jason Myers

Thoughts of going to Europe during your next summer break? You might find it a lot more amusing and calming if you take one of many European cruise travel right out of a city like New York. Now think about it: one time you are in Rome, and the next you are wandering the avenues of Istanbul. You don’t even have to pack up to reach the next destination. Simply rest into your cabin on a extravagant cruise ship and let the ocean take you to dream cities across Europe. Without phone communication on the open water it guaranteed you shall have a trouble free holiday. Why sail on the sea? You can experience a completely unique holiday by cruising on the rivers.

1. Guadalquivir River: While sailing on the Guadalquivir river, you will totally feel the country, its traditions, food and wine. You will make a break to the cities of Jerez and Seville. The crafts are very comfortable.

2. Volga River: It may not be the most lavish cruise however it certainly has its gems. But don’t worry, the cabins are relaxed enough and the food served on-board is great. So go travel the longest European river.

3. Rhine River: You will cruise on a excellent boat trough five countries while a group of excellent chefs prepare your very great tasting meals. You will view fairytale castles in Germany and party in Amsterdam!

4. Gota Canal: This cruise is located in Sweden. This cruise isn’t a five star cruise also. The showers and toilets are common. But if you don’t object to that, you should go for this dreamy cruise from Stockholm to Gothenburg.

5. Dnieper River: This one is a little longer – you will cruise 17 days from Kiev, Ukraine to Istanbul, Turkey. However it’s worth it! Additionally the ship is comfortable and lavish, the food is fantastic. 6. Elbe River: This one starts from Berlin. You will catch a sight of Eastern Germany and a little of Czech Republic. It cotinous for 12 days and a four star vessel gives you everything you require to feel comfortable and secure.

7. Douro River: This cruise sails in Portugal and Spain. Great cruise for wine aficionados! This cruise has a number of fabulous wine making parts of the two countries. The ship is great, it even has an on board swimming pool!

8. Rhone River: Cruise through France. Very romantic journey through Rhone Valley including a number of great outings available. The vessel is better than a number of of the five star hotels. 9. Po River: If Italy sounds attractive, set off cruising its longest river (although this is the shortest trip on this list – it takes only 6 days). The vessel is quite good, and the on-board cuisine is great.

10. Danube River: I’m sure you’ve been informed about the most prominent waltz ever! So why not travel the Blue Danube? The trip starts in Germany (Passau) and ends in Hungary (Budapest). The ship is so striking and comfortable.

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The Brother Islands Diving

September 27th, 2009 No comments
by Ned Middleton

Over the last thirty years the Brother Islands have become synonymous with perfect diving. Nowhere on earth can match the potential of these unassuming looking volcanic extremities, located 45 nautical miles from the nearest landmass. The Brothers combine every aspect of diving together in one small area: Walls, Plateau, Caves, Wrecks, Corals and HUGE Fish.

Due to the Gretas ability to navigate at night we arrived at Big Brother at 03.45 hrs and were moored under a star-filled sky 20 minutes later, with everyone except the crew and myself still fast asleep. Our 5-hour voyage was as smooth as a ferry crossing the channel. Above us the intense light beam from the tower pointed out the island’s position around a 360-degree horizon, the sea was choppy but we hardly swayed on our mooring. As daylight arrived the barren island glowed red; the aging lighthouse looking even more battered than I remembered it. A slight swell broke over the fringing reef, lapping against the eroding rock face revealing its volcanic basalt origin, shining black in the bright sunlight. In the distance south of us, sat Little Brother.

At 07.00 hrs the famous ‘Ali Baba’ called one of his lengthy 3D briefings, heralding the first of our dives which was to be along the morning wall on the islands east side. As the Zodiac dropped us into the clear blue water the slight current took us southward along a reef wall dropping vertically below us to around 70m. A deep chute cut into the wall provides the perfect environment for numerous types of fan corals, including an impressive gorgonia, taking advantage of both the current and the cooler upwelling bringing food from the depths.

This wall is literally alive with the colour and motion of a million Anthias. Jacks darted in and out of the blue trying to pick them off but not quickly enough to surprise the throbbing mass. A large cave provided a moment’s respite from a quickening current, giving a chance to admire some colourful sponge and coral growths. As you would expect the cave was shelter for numerous soldier fish and a very large Sabre Squirrel fish. Out in the blue sizable Tuna fish shimmered past on the lookout for an easy meal. Towards the southeast corner of the reef the wall begins to spread out into a slope before leading onto a 25 – 60m plateau. It is on this corner that things began to get interesting as large individual Barracuda arrived from the fringing blueness for a service by cleaner Wrasse inside a shallow recess in the reef wall. Several small Napoleon Wrasse showed an interest in the groups activities but kept their distance. Then below I spotted something really special: A medium sized ‘Thresher’ Shark just above the Plateau. As illusive as ever this cutest of sharks on detecting our presence, slipped quickly away off the side of the plateau.

Our second dive of the day was via a bumpy ride to the northern end of the reef to marvel at the both natural and artificial reef. Descending quickly from the choppy surface the sheer beauty of the soft corals and the contrasting colours and shapes of the hard coral hit us right between the eyes as another million Anthias danced amidst the surge. Leveling off at 25m we swam around the corner of the reef wall below an impressive overhang to notice a huge intimidating black shadow slipping from the shallows into the depths below: The Hull of the 120m British ship wreck “Namibia”. A large indentation in the reef wall marks the spot where she hit, but now she makes amends as a reef in her own right. Almost every part of the wreck’s superstructure is covered with cascades of pretty soft corals over an entire covering of hard coral species. The ship’s cargo of Locomotive wheels have now become natural works of art.

The most visually striking feature are the empty lifeboat davits now festooned with soft corals like a hanging garden. This shipwreck has to be the single most beautiful of all warm water wrecks; bar none. The deeply penetrating surge and strong currents (which promote the abundant soft coral), on this occasion, prevented much duration for us, holding any kind of stable position proved difficult in the least: “Humming” would be an understatement. The wreck can be safely penetrated and offers a ‘still’ contrast from the current. Slipping back southwards along the Western Wall through a dense covering of reef fish it wasn’t long before the broken forward section of the Aiada came into view below us, its hull looking vertically up the steep slope. This ship, an Egyptian troop carrier lost during the 1950′s in dense fog has now become a living structure too, and home to a living cloud of marine life. Both of the wrecks are best dived in minimal currents for maximum enjoyment, but investigating the entirety of either one is a no-no as their bows lie at 70 & 82m respectively. The reef wall above the wrecks has large cracks and recesses cut into it filled with schooling fish, the edges softened with fan corals and impressive Black red sea grand slam.

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