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Posts Tagged ‘Mediterranean’

Cyprus : A Great Place To Spend Your Holiday

September 20th, 2010 No comments

The island of Cyprus combines the Mediterranean’s rich history with terrific local food and unparalleled weather. Situated in the eastern section of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is sure to offer something to every vacationer who visits this beautiful land. There has been plenty of time for Cyprus to cultivate its culture, as its settlement dates all the way back to the 2nd millennium BC.

Choirokoitia is one of these earliest settlements. Not only is it acknowledged as possibly the first colony on Cyprus, but it is known as one of the first communities in the world. Choirokoitia has received World Heritage Site designation by UNESCO, which affirms its place in human history. Upon discovery, Choirokoitia was already incredibly preserved, but measures have been taken to fully restore it to its original grandeur. Outstanding examples of Byzantine art can be seen in any of Cyprus’s ten painted churches that have also been placed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Vivid frescoes adorn the walls of these churches, embodying the artful spirit of the settlers. Don’t forget to head underground into the Tombs of the Kings that have been carved into the rock of the Cypriot landscape.

Any vacation worth its salt requires a sampling of local cuisine. Due to its proximity to the Turkish mainland and its history of Greek settlers, Cypriot food enjoys a unique blend of ingredients found in Greece, the Middle East, and Asia Minor. Many of the recipes full of fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, wine, and of course olive oil have been passed down from generation to generation, so even the food of Cyprus is steeped in history. Accompany your delicious meal with a locally distilled wine. Wine has played a major role in the Cypriot economy nearly as long as people have dwelt on the island, and Commandria, a very sweet wine, is considered to be one of the first wines in the world to be identified. If you want a little more kick, try Zivania, a wine that is nearly pure alcohol.

Being a Mediterranean island, Cyprus is rife with sunny, sandy beaches perfect for lying out in the sun or diving into the waves. Cyprus’s climate places it above most other places on earth for swimming and sunbathing. There’s more to the beaches than swimming. You can enjoy windsurfing and sailing year round on Cyprus. Head underwater with some snorkeling and go out for deep water fishing, activities that many enjoy on the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Cyprus offers a wide array of activities for every vacationer. A land steeped in history and culture, it is an eye-opening glimpse into the past. Do not delay any longer in planning your trip to Cyprus.

Learn More : Cheap Holidays Cyprus

The Steamship Carnatic Diving Holiday

December 18th, 2009 No comments

The story begins in August 1869 when the Steamer “Venetian” sailed from Liverpool for Alexandria with a cargo bound for Bombay. Shortly afterwards the “Pera” sailed from London with passengers for the same destination. This was at a time when the Suez Canal was nearing completion and due to be opened within three months.

Even at this late stage, however, few could imagine how such a new “seaway” would change the shape of world trade forever. Up until now, ships had unloaded passengers and cargo at Alexandria from where they would be moved by land to Suez – over 200 miles away, before joining another vessel and resuming the journey. In this way, the longer and more perilous route around the Cape of Good Hope was avoided.

The passengers on board the Pera had enjoyed an uneventful crossing to Gibraltar and a similarly quiet journey taking in almost the entire length of the Mediterranean before their ship grounded off Alexandria – where they remained for three hours until floating off with the tide.

Despite this minor mishap, they were, nevertheless mostly at ease and looking forward to joining the more opulent “Carnatic” – the pride of the P & O fleet. The long trek to Suez was a frightful journey in the most oppressive of conditions – but there really was no alternative and everyone knew they would soon be enjoying cool evening sea breezes once again. In the meantime, the Masters of both the Pera and Venetian had played their part and were already heading back to England.

Progress overland was always slow, so it was not until the second week of September that Captain Jones was able to supervise the arrival and stowage of both passengers and cargo. He exercised great care – some of that cargo was very valuable and he had to make sure every single item was accounted for and thoroughly checked.

Finally, he was able to confirm a total of 230 passengers and crew in addition to a cargo of cotton bales, copper sheeting, Royal Mail, and 40,000 specie – as bullion was called in those days.

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Taking a Holiday to the Maldives? – Try Bandos

November 12th, 2009 No comments

I have visited 8 Maldives resorts in the past 6 years and I have now been to Bandos twice and I can honestly say that I shall be going back! I have tried to present an objective overview in this article for anyone considering visiting it, or who is not sure which island to choose.

Bandos was totally refurbished during 2005 when it was closed for the whole season pretty much and reopened as a new and, in my opinion, beautiful resort. The island resort of Bandos is relatively close to Male, and coupled with natural beauty, great activities and facilities, it is also very family orientated.

The lighthouse restaurant, with its prominent peaked white spire, appears in most of the photographs you might see of this resort (this is the only building on the island missing the proverbial thatched roof). The food and service here, as in the rest of the resort, I found to be great. The restaurant itself is split between an upper lounge bar (great to chill with a cold drink here about 6pm and take in the panoramic views), and the lower-level haute cuisine restaurant serving an exceptional menu of Mediterranean and Asian fusion dishes.

The other main restaurant – the Cayenne Grill – prepares a range of seafood, meat and vegetarian options to your own specification and serves this at one of the individual thatched pavilions at the waters edge.

Your first impression of the resort I’m sure will be a good one and this is raised further when you arrive at your accommodation for the first time. There are 3 room categories here: 30 water villas, 20 Baros villas, 24 Deluxe villas, and a single pool villa. The attention to simple detail and quality of the workmanship cannot be overstated, and walking into these rooms for the first time may give you the idea that you have walked into a magazine article for a chic boutique hotel. There are designer fittings, concealed plasma Tv, quality coffee maker, and more importantly for me, a well-stocked wine cooler.

Every room in this resort is just a few strides away from beach or lagoon and each has a large decked verandah complete with a daybed. Combine this with the 24 hour room service and the well stocked wine cooler, and its not surprising that many guests stay put by their rooms for days on end.

With a fine and easily accessible reef encircling most of the island the snorkeling is really good here on Bandos (yes I am actually writing this while on the island)!. The PADI dive school is very friendly and offers open water courses and beginners can try an introductory dive in the lagoon. There are more than 30 dive sites you can visit from Baros and with several trips per day even the most avid divers have plenty to go at. There is a Marine Biologist on hand to provide talks and accompany the snorkeling and diving trips sometimes to chat about the local marine life for those who want to know more.

It is difficult to beat Bandos island resort for a Maldives holiday that will not break the bank, go on, find out more.

Shelley is a travel writer and writes about tropical destinations such as the Bandos Maldives resort and other articles about The Maldives.

Egypt Package Holidays To Remember

October 24th, 2009 No comments

Booking a holiday to Egypt will never be regretted. Whatever the reason, it is impossible to be disappointed. Egypt has activities and sites to suit people from all walks of life. Whether you are interested in ancient culture, water sports, or simply enjoying the year round sunshine you will not have any regrets from an Egypt package holiday.

There are many historical sites to visit in Egypt and you will find travel packages that will visit the pyramids, the Royal Library of Alexandria and much more. These ancient buildings are one of a kind and considered some of the most wondrous sights in the world. Most people travel o Egypt specifically for the pyramids and the Sphinx.

The Red Sea coast is a destination that many informed tourists now choose. The crystal clear water that lap upon golden sands are a truly heart warming picture. The warm waters are full of exotic marine life including corals and tropical fish that have now made this area one of the world’s premier diving destinations. The climate here is second to none – year round sunshine with very little rain. All of these combined with the famous Egyptian hospitality results in a holiday that can never be forgotten.

Egypt has many festivals and carnivals throughout the year and you can find a travel package that focuses on a specific celebration. There are many religious based festivals as well as public celebrations. The spring festival, Sham en Nisim, has been happening for several thousands of years.

Another option is to take a break to the Mediterranean coast. You can pass countless hours leisurely taking in the sun’s rays on golden beaches or even visit the memorials that have been built recognising the colonial past.

It really is no surprise that Egypt has become the preferred destination for tens of thousands of people.

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Enjoy A Cheap Mediterranean Holiday

October 6th, 2009 No comments
by Michael Bolderwood

Plenty of us have hectic lives and really look forward to our holidays as a result. It can be a really good idea to travel to somewhere that will be nice and warm. It’s easy to see why the Mediterranean has become such a popular holiday destination. Countries like Spain, Greece and Tunisia now attract millions of visitors, all attracted by the climate and the relaxed way of life.

If you’re thinking about getting away to the Mediterranean this year then there may well be one thing putting you off: the price. There’s no doubt that such holidays can be expensive and especially so if you’re taking the whole family. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to try and reduce costs. Many of them are about flexibility and taking a new approach to travel bookings.

Remember that the Mediterranean Sea is surrounded by many differing countries and possible destinations. A holiday in one part of the region could be really different to taking a trip to another destination that’s not too far away. It’s because of these differences that you’ll find that prices can vary considerably. If the first destination that you look at seems too expensive then don’t be put off. There will undoubtedly be cheaper options available.

Do you generally book your holidays by nipping in to see a traditional travel agent? Many people still think of this as being the only option, but the reality is that cheaper deals can often be found by looking online. You’ll be able to compare prices more easily and spot the very best deals.

When making your booking, try to be flexible. You need to consider that most people like to travel during the same few months of summer. By avoiding traveling at these busiest times, you can keep costs down. That doesn’t mean to say that you have to fly in the winter months, but it does mean that it makes good sense to think about the days and times of day when you are intending to travel.

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