France: The Country of Love

You will certainly not be bored when you travel to France. Considered one of the most romantic countries in the world, France remains one of the ultimate travel destinations in the world, especially for people who love to go sightseeing.

There are a lot of places to travel to in France. One of which is the world-famous Louvre, which houses some of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Travel back to the time of such great artists like Leonardo Da Vinci. See for yourself the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the ancient Winged Victory. The Louvre is the largest and the most famous museum in the world, boasting an art and artifact collection that would make any traveler to France gasp in awe. Other museums that people who travel to France should look into are the Pompidou, the Musee Rodin and the Musee d’Orsay.

Another sight worth seeing when you travel to France is the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, which was built in the 17th century. The avenue has the Arc de Triomphe at one end and the Place de la Concorde on the other. Restaurants and boutiques can also be found along the stretch.

One’s travel to France will not be complete without visiting The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. A model for French Gothic Cathedrals in the Middle Ages, the structure still stands proud, rich in history and architecture. With its large glass surface area supported by carved stone tracery, the Notre Dame de Paris remains to be one of the greatest works produced in that era.

Children who travel to France will find the Disneyland Paris a great place to hang out. The 5000 acre resort is in itself a wonderland filled with the most exciting rides and games. Disneyland Paris in fact is one of Europe’s biggest tourist attraction.

The Bois de Boulogne will not disappoint any person who paid money to travel to France. Inspired by London’s Hyde Park and Regent Park, Bois de Boulogne is the favorite of Parisian walkers and tourists. Inside, France travelers can also find the Auteuil and Longchamp race courses. Another sight that any person who travels in France should go look for is the famous clay tennis court, Roland Garros, where the French Open is held. The court is all housed within the Bois de Boulogne.

Of course, you must see the beautiful and famous Eiffel Tower. Those who travel to France would not dare leave the country without seeing this wrought iron landmark made by French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Paris World’s Fair.

People who would love to travel in style will probably shop until they drop in some of France’s fashion squares. The Quartier Latin stretch and the St. Germain des Pres offer a wide variety of shops, from booksellers to antique shops to boutiques. The Printemps and Galeries Lafayette will also be a shopping haven for people traveling to France.

There are also great restaurants inside the QL. Try Parisian pizza, the Lebanese Mezze or just a plain croissant. Visit the bars and party on with the locals. The La Java, for instance, features live Latin bands that will entertain anyone who travels to France. The Moulin Rouge, thanks to the movie, has also attracted quite a number of following.

Central America Travel Destinations

Central America is a great travel site. With its combination of rich history and great scenic views, Central America will surely charm any traveler that books a flight.

Guatemala starts off the list of travel spots in Central America. The Maya ruins in Tikal, Guatemala certainly helps in this country’s growing tourism. Considered as one of the world’s largest Maya ceremonial centers, the Tikal Maya ruins are the site for many excavation and archaeological discoveries that would fascinate any traveler to Central America. It has been believed to house a population of 50,000 people until it was abandoned by the Mayans for reasons no one knows sometime in the 10th century. The sites feature temple pyramids that are elaborately worked and designed. Other impessive Mayan ceremonial sites can be found in Uaxactún, Quiriguá, and Mirador. Colorful Mayan fabrics can be bought as souvenirs for their travels in Central America.

Costa Rica is another travel spot in Central America that no one should dare miss. Rich in culture, Costa Ricans frequently celebrate festivals in honor of their patron saints. This is one event that travelers to Central America should put in their must attend list. Travelers in Central America will have a lot of hiking to do as one-third of the country’s land area is covered by Forest. One of those that are open to tourists is the Braulio Carillo National Park. The Velvetworm is another point of fascination in Costa Rica and a scientific wonder that will interest travelers in Central America. Found in the country’s vast rain forests, it has the characteristics of both the joint-legged animals and the segmented worms.

The Panama Canal is another noteworthy Central America travel spots. Joining the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans and connecting the Caribbean Sea with Pacific, the canal is about 82 kilometers long. A project that was started by the French but was later abandoned, the US government continued the project when it gained construction rights in 1903. It was opened for traffic on 1914 and it was only in 1999 that Panama gained sovereignty over the canal. In addition to Panama City, Panama’s largest cities are Colón, David, Santiago, Penonomé, and Chitré.

El Salvador has also a lot to offer the Central America traveler. One travel destination is San Salvador, its capital, which is marked with a rich culture and architectural flair. Destroyed largely by earthquakes, scenic parks, modern buildings, and plazas have now been erected in place. El Salvador is also home to the Santa Ana Volcano, which is the highest point in the country.

Honduras, another Central America travel country, boasts of great beaches and resorts. Like Guatemala, it also has its Mayan ruins located in the northwester part. Copan, another ceremonial center of this ancient civilization is one of the greatest archaeological sites in this part of the world. People in Honduras are also quite artistic and one of the popular places that travelers in Central America should visit is the School of Fine Arts in Comayagua.

Definitely not the last on the list is Nicaragua, whose popular Central America travel spot would be the Mosquito Coast. These inland areas are covered with rain forests. The area, in fact, receives the highest rain of all in the region

Traveling to the sights of Canada

Bordering the United States, the largest percentage of Canadian tourists are Americans.

Among its main tourist attractions are the Spring Festivals in the Nova Scotia and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. There is also the Ottawa Festival of Spring and the Calgary Exhibition. Travelers to Canada will also enjoy the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival in Ontario.

The city of Toronto also plays host to the Canadian component of the Niagara Falls, which is often called the Horseshoe Falls because of its horseshoe shaped cradle where the water falls. Another great sight in Toronto that travelers to Canada should not dare miss is the Georgian Bay, a picturesque waterscape with its row of pine-filled islands. The largest and best known of Ontario’s more than 200 provincial parks is the Algonquin Park. Other tourist spots that Canada’s travelers should take special note of are the Quetico Provincial Park, the Lake Superior, the Polar Bear Park in Hudson Bay and the Kakabeka Falls.

Travelers to Canada will also not be disappointed when they see the snow-capped mountain Mount Begbie, which can be found in one of Canada’s main provinces, the British Columbia. Located in the Mount Revelstoke National Park, it retains its lovely evergreen forests. The province of British Columbia offers travelers in Canada the best in hiking, fishing and canoeing opportunities in the world.

Quebec, whose name was derived from the Algonquian term which means “a place where the river narrows,” promises travelers to Canada a mix of the old and the new.

Travelers can visit the French-style hotel Chateau Frontenac, which is located in the Old Quebec district and the Tadoussac, where whales congregate near the mouth of the Saguenay fjord. Travelers to Canada can also enjoy a little bit of fishing experience in the little fishing villages in New Brunswick and in Concepcion Bay, one of Canada’s many coastal inlets. The island of Newfoundland also affords travelers in Canada the best in music entertainment. It also boasts the country’s finest landscapes with its flat-topped peaks and glacier-gouged lakes, which can be found in the Gros Morne National Park.

The waters of Lake Louise, which can be found in the Banff National Park, is the main attraction in the province of Alberta. A lake of glacial waters, Lake Louise reflects on its surface the surrounding Rocky Mountains and forests, making it a great sight to behold.

Wedged with Alaska and British Columbia is the Yukon Territory famed for its mining industry. In fact, one of its bustling towns during the gold rush period, Dawson, is now a tourist attraction. Travelers in Canada just love the Gaslight Folies variety show, a recreation of the entertainment during that period in history. They are performed at its Palace Grand Theater. Southwest of Yukon Territory is the Quill Creek, which flows from the Saint Elias Mountains that contains the highest peaks in Canada as well as the waters that flows in Yukon’s extensive natural water system composed of creeks, lakes and rivers. The Kluane National Park and reserve is one place that travelers in Canada’s Yukon province should not dare miss. Found in the Kluane Ranges and Saint Elias Mountains, the park offers a sight of Canada’s highest peak, Mount Logan as well as a number of glaciers and ice fields.

Travelling to Europe

Traveling to Europe is like traveling through time. Each country will take you from the triumphs of the past centuries to the discoveries of the present. Elaborate palaces, gothic churches and other great structures reflect the beauty that is Europe.

Your travels to Europe can start off with a visit to the Tower of London. Formerly used as a prison house, the Tower now holds the crown jewels of England, making it one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. Another feature that any traveler to Europe should not miss is the Yeoman of the Guard, known as Beefeaters, who still wear the uniforms that date back from the rule of the Tudors.

Another place that travelers to Europe should look into while in England are the Houses of Parliament. Collectively called New Palace of Westminster, this seat of the British legislature is composed of several buildings, including three towers: Victoria Tower, Middle Tower and the very popular Saint Stephen’s or Clock Tower, which houses the Big Ben.

France also offers much when it comes to sight seeing. The Musee de Louvre currently houses the famous Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci as well as the Venus de Milo. Also travel to the Paris’ Eiffel Tower and the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. A visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral or Disneyland Paris will also make any traveler to Europe sigh with contentment.

Amsterdam is also another European traveler haven. Visit the house of Anne Frank— a girl whose diary accounts of German concentration camps were published years after she died. Also tour the Rijksmuseum, which houses one of the largest collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world, including those of 19th century painter Vincent van Gogh.

Though Italy has been primarily associated with fashion, the country also offers an old-world charm that would make any traveler to Europe swear to come back. Their return is assured, according to tradition, if they toss a coin into Rome’s Trevi Fountain, which was designed by Nicola Salvi.

Traveling to Europe, particularly to Rome will of course not be complete without a visit to the Pantheon, considered as one of the few surviving ancient temples in the world. Equally impressive is the Colosseum, the gigantic amphitheater that witness the combats of gladiators. Though already partly destroyed, the Colosseum continues to fascinate travelers in the country.

Known as the shopping and fashion haven in Italy, Milan is also a major center of arts and architecture. Any traveler to Europe will certainly enjoy traversing Piazza del Duomo, at one of which stands the Duomo, a huge Gothic Cathedral made of white marble.

Lover of arts will not be disappointed when traveling to Europe especially to Madrid (Spain) where the finest museums in the world can be found. Among them are Museo del Prado, which is the most famous in the group; the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia named after the current Queen; the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum that houses close to 800 paintings; the Lazaro Galdiano Museum; the National Library, which houses every book published in Spain; Museum of Bullfighting; the National Museum of Decorative Arts; and the Cultural Center of Madrid.

Where to Go when You travel to Spain

When traveling to Spain, be prepared to indulge in a variety of culture and traditions. With its many regions, each with its different government and ways of doing things, travelers to Spain will sure be treated to a plethora of rich sights, sounds and experiences.

Within Barcelona, one the world’s famous tourist destinations, travelers to Spain will find the openwork spires of the El Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia or the Church of the Holy Family. The neo-Gothic architectural masterpiece known for its undulating curves and flamboyant design was the personal obsession of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi y Cornet just before he died in a trolley accident. Travelers to Spain’s Barcelona will also find the paved thoroughfare Las Ramblas leading to Plaza de Cataluña fascinating. In the oldest section of the city, travelers to Spain will get to see the Church of San Pablo del Ocampo and the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, which is a monument to Christopher Columbus. In Barcelona, the Barri Gotic and the red brick Arc del Triomf can be found. Both were designed by Josep Vilaseca.

Travelers to Spain will love touring Barcelon’s finest educational and art institutions. Among them are the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Royal Archives of Aragon, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Contemporary Art Museum.

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a city known for its nightlife. Travelers to Spain will be entertained with its bars and summer terazas. Areas of note are the Chueca and the Circulo de Bellas Artes where travelers to Spain can enjoy relaxing and drinking in its many bars and discotecas. Three of the finest museums in the world can also be found in Madrid. Travel through Spain’s art history as you view the country’s art collection. Museo del Prado is the most famous of the lot. Travelers to Spain will be able to see in the museum Velazquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s Las Majas.

The Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, on the other hand, houses Pablo Picasso’s Geurnica, a depiction of the Spanish Civil War. Other notable museums that travelers to Spain should visit are the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum that houses close to 800 paintings; the Lazaro Galdiano Museum; the National Library, which houses every book published in Spain; Museum of Bullfighting; the National Museum of Decorative Arts; and the Cultural Center of Madrid, which contains a theater for zarzuela, Spain’s version of the opera. Of course, no place will compare to the Royal palace itself, where travelers to Spain can walk through the residential rooms of 18th and 20th century royalty.

Another sight that travelers to Spain should not leave without seeing is the Alhambra Palace, which is perhaps the greatest work of the Moorish art in Spain. Consisting of several courtyards and patios, this Palace in Granada is a superb piece of architectural work with its intricate inlaid walls and ceiling designs.

Traveling to Spain will not be complete without visiting Cordoba, a city in the South. Look for the Mezquita, Europe’s grandest and most beautiful mosque. Alcazar is another great tourist destination. Now largely in ruins, this Moorish palace was the venue for the Inquisition.

Spain’s sprawling beaches and resorts also offer the perfect tourist destination. Travelers to Spain will love Costa del Sol and the Costa Brava, a string of coves from Palamos to Begur.

Central America Great Destinations

Central America is a great travel site. With its combination of rich history and great scenic views, Central America will surely charm any traveler that books a flight.

Guatemala starts off the list of travel spots in Central America. The Maya ruins in Tikal, Guatemala certainly helps in this country’s growing tourism. Considered as one of the world’s largest Maya ceremonial centers, the Tikal Maya ruins are the site for many excavation and archaeological discoveries that would fascinate any traveler to Central America. It has been believed to house a population of 50,000 people until it was abandoned by the Mayans for reasons no one knows sometime in the 10th century. The sites feature temple pyramids that are elaborately worked and designed. Other impessive Mayan ceremonial sites can be found in Uaxactún, Quiriguá, and Mirador. Colorful Mayan fabrics can be bought as souvenirs for their travels in Central America.

Costa Rica is another travel spot in Central America that no one should dare miss. Rich in culture, Costa Ricans frequently celebrate festivals in honor of their patron saints. This is one event that travelers to Central America should put in their must attend list. Travelers in Central America will have a lot of hiking to do as one-third of the country’s land area is covered by Forest. One of those that are open to tourists is the Braulio Carillo National Park. The Velvetworm is another point of fascination in Costa Rica and a scientific wonder that will interest travelers in Central America. Found in the country’s vast rain forests, it has the characteristics of both the joint-legged animals and the segmented worms.

The Panama Canal is another noteworthy Central America travel spots. Joining the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans and connecting the Caribbean Sea with Pacific, the canal is about 82 kilometers long. A project that was started by the French but was later abandoned, the US government continued the project when it gained construction rights in 1903. It was opened for traffic on 1914 and it was only in 1999 that Panama gained sovereignty over the canal. In addition to Panama City, Panama’s largest cities are Colón, David, Santiago, Penonomé, and Chitré.

El Salvador has also a lot to offer the Central America traveler. One travel destination is San Salvador, its capital, which is marked with a rich culture and architectural flair. Destroyed largely by earthquakes, scenic parks, modern buildings, and plazas have now been erected in place. El Salvador is also home to the Santa Ana Volcano, which is the highest point in the country.

Honduras, another Central America travel country, boasts of great beaches and resorts. Like Guatemala, it also has its Mayan ruins located in the northwester part. Copan, another ceremonial center of this ancient civilization is one of the greatest archaeological sites in this part of the world. People in Honduras are also quite artistic and one of the popular places that travelers in Central America should visit is the School of Fine Arts in Comayagua.

Definitely not the last on the list is Nicaragua, whose popular Central America travel spot would be the Mosquito Coast. These inland areas are covered with rain forests. The area, in fact, receives the highest rain of all in the region.

Great sights from Mexico

Mexico is a hub of different interests and cultures. People who travel to Mexico will witness many rich and diverse cultures and entertainment. From museums and opera houses to idyllic beach resorts, travelers in Mexico will definitely not ask for anything more.

Probably one of the places that people who travel to Mexico will surely enjoy are the beach resorts outside the capital city. At the top of the list is Acapulco, which is sometimes referred to as the Riviera of Mexico for its hotels, casinos and beach resorts. The Acapulco is a very popular tourist destination where one can also do deep-sea fishing as well as other water sports. Another haven for people who travel to Mexico is the Mazatlan, which frequently holds the international fishing tournaments as well as pre-Lenten carnivals. Hunting and fishing are also things that will interest people who travel to Mexico. One can also find in Mazatlan an observatory and one of the tallest lighthouses in the world. Other beaches that travelers in Mexico should not miss are the Cancun Island, the Puerto Vallarta and the Los Cabos.

Traveling to Mexico also opens the door to a world of arts and drama. With its many museums, Mexico is one of the most important museum destinations in the world. The Chapultepec Park houses several of these celebrated museums; the most important of which is the National Museum of Anthropology. Other museums that travelers in Mexico should also visit are the Museum of National History, Snail Museum, Technology Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, which boasts of the finest collection of Mexican painting including those of masters such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. Children will also enjoy the Mexico City Zoo and the Papalote, a children’s interactive museum.

Traveling to Mexico will not be complete without visiting the Basilica de Guadalupe, which marks the site of the Virgin Mother’s appearance in 1531. The Metropolitan Cathedral is another travel destination within Mexico. With its baroque and neoclassical façade, the church is a great example of architectural art forms.

Another Mexican architectural masterpiece is the Chapultepec Castle, which once served as presidential residence. The castle also features the murals of Mexican painter Juan O’ Gorman as well as the Memorial to Infant Heroes. Los Pinos, which is the official residence of the Mexican President, is also on the grounds of the Castle.

Monuments abound in the Paseo de la Reforma, a tree-line boulevard that houses Mexico’s landmarks. Travelers will surely love the monuments such as the Angel of the Independence, the symbol of the country’s national identity, Cuauhtemoc Memorial and the Diana Cazadora, the statue of Diana the Huntress.

What is traveling to Mexico without shopping for souvenirs? The Zona Rosa or the Pink Zone is an ideal shopping paradise. Within the area are restaurants, boutique squares, shops and hotels. Another shopping district is the Alameda Park, which borders the Palace of Fine Arts.

History fanatics will also love traveling to Mexico’s famed religious city of Teotihuacan, the capital of pre-Aztec civilization. In Teotihuacan, travelers to Mexico will find the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, two pyramids that face each other, providing a great view of the surrounding regions from the top.

World Travel Secrets

World Travel Secrets
Whether you are going on business or pleasure,traveling can be very stressful. Tension can start from the planning stage up to the time you are leaving. However, stress does not have to ruin your business or vacation. These simple tips are guaranteed to help you get rid of that travel stress bug.

Plan ahead
There is no replacing good planning. To ensure that your travel will be stress-free, make sure that your flights and hotel accommodations are booked and confirmed. This will put you at ease knowing that delays are unlikely and there will be no surprises at the hotel desk.

If you arrange for transportation for the duration of your travel, all the better. In case, you will have to get around the city by taxi, it is good to ask the concierge to help you find a reputable taxi company.

Be prepared to get lost
Remember that you are on a foreign land and unless you have already traveled there a couple of time, you’ll have no way of knowing how to get around. Becoming lost is probably the biggest nightmare for travelers.

Before embarking on your trip, buy a travel book with maps and some useful phrases that you can use with the locals. Carry with you a credit card, identification papers and enough money to get around the city in case you get lost. It is also a good idea to ask your hotel for a business card which you can show to locals when you ask for directions.

By acknowledging that you can get lost, you can better prepare and be ready for anything.

Keep the communication open
Nothing can be a better stress-buster than staying connected with your family when traveling. With today’s technology, communication is increasingly more available. People who travel can now keep in touch through cellular phones, emails and text messages. Rates in international phone calls are also cheaper now than before.

Reward yourself
Do not procrastinate. If on a business travel, make sure that you have done all your work before you go sightseeing. Set aside a day where all you can do is travel to different sights in the city. If your schedule is spread out, make sure that you have ample time to go somewhere. It will also help to make out an itinerary of places to see. You can always ask the hotel to help you with that.

Eat local cuisine
Eating can minimize travel stress! So, treat yourself to local foods and stay away from your usual staple of burger, spaghetti and cola. Be adventurous and have fun in local restaurants. Before leaving, you can ask people who already traveled in the country if they can recommend any restaurants. Hotel personnel can also help you immensely. When you’re there, don’t hesitate to ask for the house specialty and enjoy!

Keep a travel journal
Writing down your experiences during your travel will not only preserves the memories, it will also help you relieve stress. Describe the sights that you have seen, the places that you have been to, even the people you have met. Get small keepsakes from each experience, a napkin from the restaurant where you have eaten, a receipt from a souvenir shop, a bus ticket going to a special place. This will keep the magic of your travel with you.