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Posts Tagged ‘world heritage site’

This Part of Spain Gets Very Hot

June 2nd, 2009 No comments
by Ken Morris

Antonio Gaudi gave so many gifts of architecture to Barcelona. In 1972, UNESCO designated this gift from Gaudi, ‘Parc Guell,’ as a World Heritage Site. He constructed the ‘parc’ between 1900-1914 as a commission from a royal patron of the day. This oasis 20-hectare park situated on a group of northern hills belongs to a central district of Barcelona.

Until 1972, it was a peaceful oasis of greenery holding other natural elements. It is from this vantage point that the holidaymaker can get a stunning view of Spain’s beautiful Barcelona laid at their feet. The nearby terraced gardens offer a brilliant combination of the natural and the artificial. There is an ample example of a colorful mosaic tile art form that Gaudi loved to incorporate into his work.

While you are there stop at the small cafe on the outer edge of Parc Guell. It is best to go before entering the park when you can enjoy a cool drink. This part of Spain gets very hot and the walk though this work of art is energizing. Holidaymakers who are adventurous will enjoy the teck but they’ll also require some sustenance. If you feel you need a bite to eat before e setting off on the tour there are some small eateries that you can choose from. Of particular interest to most guests and holidaymakers is the dazzling dragon-themed fountain. Take a minute to enjoy the multi-colored tiles, which adorn it.

Now you can take in walkways with seemingly endless flowerbeds that are dotted with the celebrated Gaudi touch. Now you can stroll down seemingly endless walkways as you take in the vista that seems awash with flowerbeds dotted with the famous Gaudi approach. He sprinkled the area with numerous mosaic tiles as his signature on the scene. There are a lot of unique sights deeper inside the park itself. The park has a gallery devoted to Gaudi’s art, stuffed with photos and other Gaudi items that will let you in on the life of the man himself. This gallery was at one time the man’s home and it contains furnishing he designed for himself.

Now outside again you may want to remember your sun block. Strolling alongside the lush green shrub border you’ll find countless interesting sights that include sculpture, columns, more eateries, and other museums. Here in the park even the benches are art works. There is a giant, curved on the Paseo de Palmas instance that is celebrated right through the city. Further on, there are still more instance of marvelous sights. Visit the (Sala de las Cien Columnas) Hall of the Hundred Columns which offers an array of classical art. But, what the columns support is drawn from later styles, portraying the romantic-era,

The exhibit is adorned in mosaic tiles of a more contemporary design. Close by there’s another walkway that is bordered by twisted rock pillars. This introduced yet another style. Gaudi embraced an organic fashion that also lends itself to organic eclecticism. There are numerous gates leading into the park. You as a visitor should choose according to where in the park you’d like to visit first.

Taking the subway travel to the Lesseps station. From this station, there will be a steep climb up a hill to where the ‘parc’ is situated. Admission to the park is free and most buildings open at 10 a.m.

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Luxury Resorts in Antigua Guatemala – La Reunion offers Relaxation, Pampering and Golfing

May 4th, 2009 No comments

There are some outstanding luxury hotels in Guatemala. When looking at Antigua Guatemala luxury resorts La Reunion offers some of the best golf and sports fishing experiences. Antigua luxury resort, La Reunion, is only 17 kilometers away from Antigua Guatemala. In 1979 UNESCO declared Antigua Guatemala a world heritage site. Here is an overview of La Reunion Luxury Golf Resort:

La Reunion is different from most Antigua Guatemala luxury resorts. It combines a residential zone, a sport club, a golf course and Antigua Guatemala luxury hotels. The architecture is elegant and is able to embrace the colonial feel of Antigua Guatemala. It is a fantastic collaboration between wonders of nature and luxury.

La Reunion Antigua luxury resort has 26 colonial hacienda style suites. Each has a private terrace with an outside pool, Jacuzzi and shower. The suites have relaxing ambiance. There are traditional highly detailed Guatemalan wood crafts and furnishings in each unit. Every unit offer views of the four volcanoes.

The master suites have two queen beds and a bathroom. The Suite Gran class has one king size bed, a living room with an ergonomic chair, and a bathroom. A Golf cart is included with the suites. The golf cart is to be used for transportation to the club house and around the resort. The suites also include an LCD TV, a bar, IPod base and CD player.

La Reunions was originally a coffee plantation. Now it is an example of Antigua Guatemala luxury. There are four imposing volcanoes that frame the Antigua luxury resort. They are Agua, Fuego, Acatenango and Pacaya. Volcanoes and mountains are believed to be full of spirit. They are places that provide purifying and rejuvenating energy. Shamans still perform sacred ceremonies on Guatemalan volcanoes and mountainsides. La Reunion has wonderful scenic views of the volcanoes.

La Reunion has a stunning 18-hole professional golf course, Fuego Maya or Mayan Fire. The golf course offers spectacular views of the Fuego volcano and the Pacific coastline. This is a beautiful place to play golf in Antigua Guatemala. The course is designed to demonstrate similarities between the millenary Mayan calendar and golf.

The Mayan calendar has 18 20-day months with an extra period of five days. The first nine holes are connected to the first nine months. In the Mayan calendar the first nine months follow the sun moving north. The last nine holes connect with the last nine months following the sun as it travels south. Wayeb, the last five day period is for relaxing and preparing for the journey ahead. Much like the club houses so fondly known as the 19th hole.

Sports fishing on the Pacific is very popular in Guatemala. It is only 40 minutes from La Reunion golf resort to Guatemalas sport fishing marina. There Billfishing Adventures offers fishing tours or angling adventures. An exhilarating chance to catch sailfish, blue marlin, Dorado, tuna and all varieties of marine life. Sailfish offer a great battle between fish and angler. Sailfish are about 8ft long and 80lbs. They fight when hooked, providing acrobatic displays and speedy runs. A challenge for any sports fisher. La Reunion Antigua Guatemala luxury resort offers the opportunity to combine a golf vacation with sports fishing.

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5 Fun Islands to Visit In The Caribbean

April 2nd, 2009 No comments

1. Cayman Islands – The Cayman Islands are very well renowned for the extraordinary brilliance and the excellent environment they propose to water sports lovers. Millions of visitors come to this splendid area of land, and it is not a tough question to guess “why”. It has plenty of untouched beaches, like the Seven Mile Beach. You can go underwater to find out about the shipwrecks or just lay on the beach to absorb the sun and admire the landscape.

Nature lovers will be delighted to watch various kinds of birds as well as climbing trails. Families are not left alone when considering the offers the glorious islands offer. Theme parks are there for the finest pass time action. Believe it or not some are very unique in their theme like the theme park “Hell” which has an aquatic conception. This is quite enough details for an introduction to this amazing place and for more exciting activity go there and explore it yourself.

2. Aruba – This is a Colourful Island. Aruba is undeniably an island which offers plenty elation and fun for any person. Aruba presents diverse tourist magnetisms which includes charming chapels, ostrich farm, bird sanctuary and of course the water sports. Visitors are promised a pleasing time of their life.

Like most beaches in the Caribbean, beaches in Aruba are spectacular and put forward many water sports activities. Another attraction of Aruba is the tasty and luscious food. It offers something to every person visiting Aruba. The periodical fares are also famous to attend like Aruban fare, American fare, Thai fare…and many more.

3. The Bahamas – This Island is filled and crowded with activities, landscape, the celebration of local people and like many other island the water sports. Bahamas attracts each one from elders to young ones, from females to kids, from families to singles. You are sure to have the best time of your life there. Very significant experience you will have when you visit this fabulous piece of land.

If you are with family then you will be bewildered to make a decision on your place to go on that day. Would you desire to swim with the dolphins or view nesting turtles or go horseback-riding together? Choice is yours or you can consent upon going for water sports. Many superb sites are there for mountaineering and rock climbing. Gaming people can spend the night in casinos and the youth and effervescent people are welcome at the dance floors. You will find it amusing to dance with the native moves.

4. Saint Lucia – Saint Lucia is admired for its loveliness and its wonderful beaches and resorts. This is a hilly place and offers wonderful mountains for mountaineering and rock climbing. This fact makes Saint Lucia a special island. It hosts UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Pitons. It is the unique island that has a entrench volcano. Festivals are the life for its natives and it celebrates festivals such as the world-acclaimed Jazz Festival and Lent Carnival, which is a nice occasion for guests to get familiar with the locals.

5. Antigua – This is a fairly well developed island in the Caribbean. The activities offered here are with the dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery, or with the Stingrays at Stingray City. There are plentiful events presented both on soil and ocean. Personal boat charter facility is also there to go and have the expertise of deep sea fishing with friends or family.

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Tropical Destinations in Africa

February 18th, 2009 No comments

One of the best places in the world to discover pristine, stunning tropical beaches is on the continent of Africa. Most are undeveloped and not visited by many tourists, they are often very rough|mountainous|tropical|rugged, the water is a stunning clear blue, the coral copious, and their beaches are fine white sand. If there were any placeson earth that are postcard worthy the following islands would be it.

Zanzibar is an island that is part of Tanzania. Once its own state, Zanzibar has a rich history of spice trading with Arab cultures. The capital of Zanzibar is Zanzibar City. The citys old area of Stone Town is a World Heritage Site. The beaches here are undeveloped, and the area around the place has an amazing amount of fish, as evident by the piles at the fish markets. It is still sometimes referred to as the Spice Island due to its production of cloves.

Madagascar is a large island nation in the Indian Ocean of the coast of Africa. The island is the fourth-largest island on earth and has 5% of all the world’s species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. The eastern end of the island is the location of many tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which are in the shadow of the highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts. For travelers desiring rugged jungle trekking, refreshing streams, and cascading waterfalls, a vacation to Madagascar should be on your travel list.

Mauritius is off the coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean and is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Reunion to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues to the northeast. Mauritius has great palm lined beaches and crystal warm water, as well as nice people. Its out of the way location makes it a great place to go to get away from the crowds.

An island of true contrasts, Reunion is relatively unheard of to many of the world’s people. This different location in the middle of the Indian Ocean is simply one of the most captivating locations in the world. With an active volcano in the south, 17 miles of inviting beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion offers a lot to its travelers. Its remote location means that little travelers are there. Like Mauritius, it is also part of France.

Africa may be known for safaris, jungles, desert, and poverty but the continent also offers great tropical islands. With so many great places to visit, consider a trip to the islands in Africa the next time you are planning your tropical vacation.

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Blue Mountains Sydney Australia

February 15th, 2009 No comments

The Blue Mountains is a famous Australian mountainous range west of Sydney in Australia.Sydneys metro sprawl pushes up to the base of the famous mountain range at penrith and the hawkesbury areas.

The mountains officially start about 60 kilometres to the west of Sydney.The famous Blue Mountains National park starts near the western side of the Nepean River and all the way in the west to the trout laden Coxs River.

The mostly sandstone plateaus and deep gorges can descend to over 700 metres can also rise at its highest points to over 1,000 metres above sea level.Most of the Blue Mountains is listed in the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site which consists of a conservation area a well as seven national parks.

The Blue Mountains area also includes local government areas of the City of Hawkesbury, the City of Blue Mountains, the City of Oberon and with its most westerly city being Lithgow.

Of course the koori tribe were inhabiting the Blue Mountains areas prior to the “discovery” by white settlerrs from the united kingdom.One famous example of ancient aboriginal hand stencil art is Red Hands Cave, near Glenbrook.Nearby are axe sharpening grooves as well.

It is now known that the koori inhabitants used two main paths to move around through the mountain areas.The bilpin ridge was the most often used followed by the Cox`s river.The river paths were easier and lead to the farming area called the kanimbla valley.

Early settlers believed the rugged mountains were not passable due to the rugged terrain as well as the dense foliage they encountered.The governor at the time encouraged the population to think the mountains could not be passed to discourage escape attempts.This mindset worked for several years.

A former convict, John Wilson, is believed by some historians to have been the first man known to history to have crossed the Blue Mountains.He lived with the aboriginals and returned to Sydney in 1797 and claimed to have moved over 100 miles in a circuit round Sydney.

Wilsons descriptions of the areas were later proven to be fairly accurate but he may not have been recognised as the first one due to the authorities of the time seeking to confuse convicts on the possible escape routes they could use.He was killed by aboriginals after abducting one of their women.

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