Learning To dive in Lanzarote was a real treat. I really enjoyed my try dive one summer in the calm water or Puerto Tahiche many years ago, so when I returned the following Easter I had already contacted the same dive shop and arranged to take lessons with them.
They packed me off for a few days, back to my hotel, armed with my new PADI instruction book and told me to have a good read and get a sun tan first - divers had to have sun tans - it was compulsory!
Then I returned to the centre and met up with a few other would be divers. Together we watched the videos, did the very basic standard PADI tests (100% for myself and another student) then went to the swimming pool.
As luck would have it, the pool was in the hotel opposite my own hotel, which made life getting their very easy. Especially as these were a 30 minute walk from the centre and the dive shop. Basic swimming tests out of the way and we practised the important skills.
Then it was down to Puerto Del Carmen and onto the beach for the 4 open water dives. Very pleasant beach entries or off the side of the harbour, swim out a bit to watch the fish and complete the exercises and then up the beach or steps to finish.
It was a great time. Not too cold. Not a long flight to the Canary Islands and interesting diving.
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
How to Plan a Leaf Viewing Asheville Mountain Vacation
Autumn is here and the first signs of color are beginning to surface. And, one of the best places to view the colors of the season change is Western North Carolina, and more specifically, Asheville. This southern city is close to popular leaf-viewing destinations such as the renowned Blue Ridge Parkway and one of the most visited parks in the country, Smoky Mountain National Park. It is also a short drive from several southern cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and Atlanta.
Since leaf season vacations are so popular, finding tips for planning the perfect Asheville vacation is important. For example, many travelers will find that visiting during the week is much better than a weekend.
Where to Stay During Your Asheville Mountain Vacation
The first item to consider is where to stay and when. The choice will depend on whether you are planning a family vacation, romantic getaway, or business retreat. Do not assume that you will find a room when you are in Asheville; hotels in Asheville experience their busiest time of year in the fall, so book ahead.
“I planned a North Carolina mountain getaway last year,” Janice Kennedy of Greensboro, NC said. “I started researching Asheville hotels about two weeks before I wanted to go and found that many were already booked. While we were able to find accommodations, they were not as nice as we would have liked. This year, I will plan a few months ahead of time to ensure a romantic mountain getaway with luxury amenities.” Asheville is home to many luxury mountain getaways, family vacation rentals, and luxury condominium rentals. Many of these hotels and property management companies will offer travel concierge services to help you to best determine your personal travel needs.
Now, while getting away during the week may be a challenge for some, it may well be worth the effort. Many Asheville vacation rentals and luxury mountain getaways are less expensive during the week, and the crowds are much thinner. This will allow you more time to view the leaves and to explore fall harvest festivals; it will also leave you with more money in your pocket.
Explore the Leaves During Your Luxury Mountain Getaway
Taking a scenic drive, going for a mountain hike, exploring the many bike trails of Western North Carolina or jumping on horseback, are all viable options for leaf-viewing activities. In the early fall, the best scenic drives are at the highest elevations in the Asheville area such as Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain and Pisgah National Forest. In the mid-Fall, the fall color moves to new elevations and there are many colorful drives and day trips to areas such as Transylvania County, also known as “the land of the waterfalls,” Hot Springs, Cherokee, and Maggie Valley. Late fall visitors will find the best splash of color in places like Kimberly Avenue in Asheville, the Hickory Nut Gap region, and the North Carolina Arboretum.
“My family and I have visited Asheville several times to view the fall foliage. We have visited during the early and late part of the season,” Mollie Page of Naples, FL, said. “I find that visiting at the beginning of the season, early October, and then towards the end, in say early November, are great times to escape the majority of leaf viewers and still have a wonderful Asheville mountain experience.”
Enjoy the Autumn Harvest in Asheville
In addition to scenic drives and hikes, this is also a wonderful time of year to experience the Asheville area’s commitment to agriculture and locally-grown produce with some autumn harvest adventures that include a trip to one or more of over farmers markets, dinner at a local restaurant that serves regional fare, a visit to Harvest Celebration at the Biltmore Estate where the Appalachian heritage is celebrated through craft demonstrations, storytelling, music, and dance. While there, a visit to the winery may be a nice way to break from the sightseeing activities.
Many hotels in Asheville will offer vacation planning tips and provide you with the best ways to enjoy your mountain/city travel vacation. So, remember to plan ahead and book your room or Asheville condominium before you go. The Asheville Chamber of Commerce is a good source for travel and tourism in Asheville and can act as your travel and experience concierge.
Liisa Sullivan lives just outside of Asheville in Weaverville, NC and writes for luxury living and lifestyle magazines. Visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality or email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liisa_Sullivan
Since leaf season vacations are so popular, finding tips for planning the perfect Asheville vacation is important. For example, many travelers will find that visiting during the week is much better than a weekend.
Where to Stay During Your Asheville Mountain Vacation
The first item to consider is where to stay and when. The choice will depend on whether you are planning a family vacation, romantic getaway, or business retreat. Do not assume that you will find a room when you are in Asheville; hotels in Asheville experience their busiest time of year in the fall, so book ahead.
“I planned a North Carolina mountain getaway last year,” Janice Kennedy of Greensboro, NC said. “I started researching Asheville hotels about two weeks before I wanted to go and found that many were already booked. While we were able to find accommodations, they were not as nice as we would have liked. This year, I will plan a few months ahead of time to ensure a romantic mountain getaway with luxury amenities.” Asheville is home to many luxury mountain getaways, family vacation rentals, and luxury condominium rentals. Many of these hotels and property management companies will offer travel concierge services to help you to best determine your personal travel needs.
Now, while getting away during the week may be a challenge for some, it may well be worth the effort. Many Asheville vacation rentals and luxury mountain getaways are less expensive during the week, and the crowds are much thinner. This will allow you more time to view the leaves and to explore fall harvest festivals; it will also leave you with more money in your pocket.
Explore the Leaves During Your Luxury Mountain Getaway
Taking a scenic drive, going for a mountain hike, exploring the many bike trails of Western North Carolina or jumping on horseback, are all viable options for leaf-viewing activities. In the early fall, the best scenic drives are at the highest elevations in the Asheville area such as Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain and Pisgah National Forest. In the mid-Fall, the fall color moves to new elevations and there are many colorful drives and day trips to areas such as Transylvania County, also known as “the land of the waterfalls,” Hot Springs, Cherokee, and Maggie Valley. Late fall visitors will find the best splash of color in places like Kimberly Avenue in Asheville, the Hickory Nut Gap region, and the North Carolina Arboretum.
“My family and I have visited Asheville several times to view the fall foliage. We have visited during the early and late part of the season,” Mollie Page of Naples, FL, said. “I find that visiting at the beginning of the season, early October, and then towards the end, in say early November, are great times to escape the majority of leaf viewers and still have a wonderful Asheville mountain experience.”
Enjoy the Autumn Harvest in Asheville
In addition to scenic drives and hikes, this is also a wonderful time of year to experience the Asheville area’s commitment to agriculture and locally-grown produce with some autumn harvest adventures that include a trip to one or more of over farmers markets, dinner at a local restaurant that serves regional fare, a visit to Harvest Celebration at the Biltmore Estate where the Appalachian heritage is celebrated through craft demonstrations, storytelling, music, and dance. While there, a visit to the winery may be a nice way to break from the sightseeing activities.
Many hotels in Asheville will offer vacation planning tips and provide you with the best ways to enjoy your mountain/city travel vacation. So, remember to plan ahead and book your room or Asheville condominium before you go. The Asheville Chamber of Commerce is a good source for travel and tourism in Asheville and can act as your travel and experience concierge.
Liisa Sullivan lives just outside of Asheville in Weaverville, NC and writes for luxury living and lifestyle magazines. Visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality or email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com for more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liisa_Sullivan
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Blackpool - A Short History Of Tourism In The Resort
Blackpool is a holiday resort on the Lancashire coast in the North West of England. Attracting some ten million visitors a year, the town is the most popular coastal resort in Europe. Historically, Blackpool owes much its success to its proximity to the industrial towns of Lancashire with their large urban populations. Lancashire, and in particular Manchester, was the centre of the industrial revolution which took place in Britain during the nineteenth century. At this time Manchester was an extremely important manufacturing city; it was the focal point of the cotton trade being surrounded by mill towns such as Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, and Oldham with their spinning and weaving industries. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked from the countryside and from further afield such as Ireland to work in these factories and mills, and the population of Manchester and the nearby mill towns expanded rapidly. These developments took place around fifty or so miles from Blackpool – if only people could get there.
For hundreds of years, Blackpool was little more than a quiet seaside village. It was hard to reach being surrounded by bogs and forests. It wasn’t until 1781 that the first road was built into the town, which enabled people to arrive by stagecoach. Even then the resort wasn’t easily accessible because the journey was uncomfortable and time consuming: it could take a whole day to travel from Manchester and two days from Yorkshire. It should be noted as well that there was very little in terms of recreational facilities for visitors in Blackpool at this time. There was a short narrow grass promenade, a theatre, a bowling green and an area for archery. The main attraction was the sea shore: people walked or rode along the sands and swam in the sea. They even drank the seawater which apparently was a highly fashionable activity in those days.
What really changed everything was the arrival of railway in the Blackpool area. In 1840 a railway was constructed with the original objective of transporting passengers to Fleetwood a town lying to the North of Blackpool. Sir Peter Hesketh, the founder of Fleetwood proposed to build a seaport and holiday resort on his land there. The development of Fleetwood never came to full fruition, however, and the railway ran into financial difficulties. It was only rescued by passengers from the Lancashire mill towns, many of whom went on from Poulton station to Blackpool travelling by horse drawn forms of transport such as wagons. In 1846 a railway station was constructed in Blackpool itself enabling visitors to come directly into the resort. It was now fairly cheap and easy to get to Blackpool and people began arriving in ever increasing and unexpected numbers. They came not only from Lancashire but from all over the North of England. In 1863 another railway station was built in the centre of Blackpool to help cope with the thousands of people who wanted to get to the resort.
The huge numbers of people now coming to Blackpool provided the impetus for local business people and the municipal authorities to improve recreational facilities. In the next forty years Blackpool was transformed. Three piers were opened; Blackpool Tower was constructed, the Winter Gardens and Opera House were built, the Blackpool Illuminations began, the development of the Golden Mile was initiated, and ambitious plans were put in place to create a large amusement park – which would eventually become Blackpool Pleasure Beach, now the most popular holiday attraction in Britain.
The infrastructure of the town was vastly improved. A gasworks was built with gas street lighting, a water company was formed and a piped water supply was provided, electric street lighting was introduced, and work began on the tramway system. Some idea of the impact of tourism on the resort can be gauged from the fact that in the late nineteenth century Blackpool could accommodate around a quarter of a million visitors – over seven times the permanent population of 35,000 people. The success continued into the following century, with visitors staying in ever increasing numbers. At its peak, Blackpool was receiving around 19 million holiday makers a year – nearly half the population of England. Photographs of Blackpool in the period after the Second World War vividly illustrate the popularity of the resort, showing the entire length of the Promenade and beach crowded with people
In the early 1960’s Blackpool went into decline, as did all British holiday resorts. Just as cheap rail travel brought the crowds to Blackpool in its heyday so cheap air flights took them to the sunny beaches of the Mediterranean coast and their more dependable weather. However decline is a relative concept. Blackpool still attracts around ten million people every year and many supposedly flourishing resorts would consider themselves fortunate to have such large numbers of visitors.
George Edmunds is involved in the Blackpool tourist industry, being the manager of Blackpool Holiday Flats. He also takes a keen interest in local history.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Edmunds
For hundreds of years, Blackpool was little more than a quiet seaside village. It was hard to reach being surrounded by bogs and forests. It wasn’t until 1781 that the first road was built into the town, which enabled people to arrive by stagecoach. Even then the resort wasn’t easily accessible because the journey was uncomfortable and time consuming: it could take a whole day to travel from Manchester and two days from Yorkshire. It should be noted as well that there was very little in terms of recreational facilities for visitors in Blackpool at this time. There was a short narrow grass promenade, a theatre, a bowling green and an area for archery. The main attraction was the sea shore: people walked or rode along the sands and swam in the sea. They even drank the seawater which apparently was a highly fashionable activity in those days.
What really changed everything was the arrival of railway in the Blackpool area. In 1840 a railway was constructed with the original objective of transporting passengers to Fleetwood a town lying to the North of Blackpool. Sir Peter Hesketh, the founder of Fleetwood proposed to build a seaport and holiday resort on his land there. The development of Fleetwood never came to full fruition, however, and the railway ran into financial difficulties. It was only rescued by passengers from the Lancashire mill towns, many of whom went on from Poulton station to Blackpool travelling by horse drawn forms of transport such as wagons. In 1846 a railway station was constructed in Blackpool itself enabling visitors to come directly into the resort. It was now fairly cheap and easy to get to Blackpool and people began arriving in ever increasing and unexpected numbers. They came not only from Lancashire but from all over the North of England. In 1863 another railway station was built in the centre of Blackpool to help cope with the thousands of people who wanted to get to the resort.
The huge numbers of people now coming to Blackpool provided the impetus for local business people and the municipal authorities to improve recreational facilities. In the next forty years Blackpool was transformed. Three piers were opened; Blackpool Tower was constructed, the Winter Gardens and Opera House were built, the Blackpool Illuminations began, the development of the Golden Mile was initiated, and ambitious plans were put in place to create a large amusement park – which would eventually become Blackpool Pleasure Beach, now the most popular holiday attraction in Britain.
The infrastructure of the town was vastly improved. A gasworks was built with gas street lighting, a water company was formed and a piped water supply was provided, electric street lighting was introduced, and work began on the tramway system. Some idea of the impact of tourism on the resort can be gauged from the fact that in the late nineteenth century Blackpool could accommodate around a quarter of a million visitors – over seven times the permanent population of 35,000 people. The success continued into the following century, with visitors staying in ever increasing numbers. At its peak, Blackpool was receiving around 19 million holiday makers a year – nearly half the population of England. Photographs of Blackpool in the period after the Second World War vividly illustrate the popularity of the resort, showing the entire length of the Promenade and beach crowded with people
In the early 1960’s Blackpool went into decline, as did all British holiday resorts. Just as cheap rail travel brought the crowds to Blackpool in its heyday so cheap air flights took them to the sunny beaches of the Mediterranean coast and their more dependable weather. However decline is a relative concept. Blackpool still attracts around ten million people every year and many supposedly flourishing resorts would consider themselves fortunate to have such large numbers of visitors.
George Edmunds is involved in the Blackpool tourist industry, being the manager of Blackpool Holiday Flats. He also takes a keen interest in local history.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Edmunds
Monday, 15 October 2007
Things To Do In Colorado Springs
The City of Colorado Springs is the second most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 48th most populous city in the United States. The city is the county seat of El Paso County, with a small portion of the city lying in Teller County.
Colorado Springs is located just east of the geographic center of the state and 63 miles south of Denver, the state's capital city. At 6,035 feet (1839 meters) Colorado Springs sits over one mile above sea level, though some areas of the city are significantly higher. The city is situated near the base of one of the most famous American mountains, Pikes Peak, at the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains.
Colorado Springs Hotels and Resorts
Finding a room can be daunting task. Every traveler requires different amenities. Number one in top ten is the Broadmoor. A luxurious retreat conveniently located just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor is the pinnacle of meeting locations in North America. It has 700 rooms and suites, 185,000 square feet of flexible event space, 15 restaurants, cafés and lounges, three golf courses, a tennis club, and world-class spa. These lush 3,000 acres are easily accessible, with non-stop flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Phoenix directly to Colorado Springs Airport, or from anywhere in the United States through Denver International Airport, just 90 minutes away.
Restaurants
In Colorado Springs, you’ll find the best places to unwind, kick back and leave the day behind. Jack Quinn Irish Alehouse and Pub is a nationally-recognized establishment located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. One block from the Antlers Hilton Hotel, the pub is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant offers a full menu of Irish fare and continental cuisine. A popular Sunday Brunch is available weekly from Noon to 3 pm. Banquet facilities offer great space for celebrations of every size. The pub includes two spacious floors of dining and bar service with authentic interiors imported from Ireland.
Nightlife
One of the must-go in Colorado Springs is the Golden Bee. It is an understatement to call this bar an authentic English pub: the Broadmoor Hotel bought the pub and had it moved from England to the hotel's Colorado Springs property. The atmosphere is warm and inviting—perfect for enjoying one of its many imported beers. Drinking from one of the Yard glasses is a quick way to get intoxicated. If you require food, dig into an English delight like a piping hot meat pie. Stop by in the evening for live piano entertainment and bar-wide sing-alongs.
Attractions
Colorado Springs’ featured attraction is the Seven Falls, located just ten minutes from downtown Colorado Springs via Cheyenne Blvd. and nestled deep within Cheyenne Canyon, is Colorado's only waterfall to be listed in National Geographic's “List of International Waterfalls”. It cascades 181 feet in seven distinct steps down a solid cliff of Pikes Peak granite. Crystal clear water from the southern most edges of the Pikes Peak watershed have, over the ages, carved this unique scenic masterpiece in an easily accessed location.
Next to the Falls, a 224-step stairway leads to a system of trails that will take you to “Midnight Falls” and then onto Inspiration Point with a breath-taking view of Colorado Springs and the great plains beyond. Wildlife is everywhere, including hummingbirds, rainbow trout and the rare, waterfall nesting- American Dipper. Blasted 14 stories straight up through solid granite, a mountain elevator safely transports all who venture here to the “Eagles Nest” platform, where the most spectacular view of Seven Falls is experienced.
Check out our Colorado Home Loans website for the best rates on Colorado Loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tasner
Colorado Springs is located just east of the geographic center of the state and 63 miles south of Denver, the state's capital city. At 6,035 feet (1839 meters) Colorado Springs sits over one mile above sea level, though some areas of the city are significantly higher. The city is situated near the base of one of the most famous American mountains, Pikes Peak, at the eastern edge of the Southern Rocky Mountains.
Colorado Springs Hotels and Resorts
Finding a room can be daunting task. Every traveler requires different amenities. Number one in top ten is the Broadmoor. A luxurious retreat conveniently located just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor is the pinnacle of meeting locations in North America. It has 700 rooms and suites, 185,000 square feet of flexible event space, 15 restaurants, cafés and lounges, three golf courses, a tennis club, and world-class spa. These lush 3,000 acres are easily accessible, with non-stop flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Phoenix directly to Colorado Springs Airport, or from anywhere in the United States through Denver International Airport, just 90 minutes away.
Restaurants
In Colorado Springs, you’ll find the best places to unwind, kick back and leave the day behind. Jack Quinn Irish Alehouse and Pub is a nationally-recognized establishment located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. One block from the Antlers Hilton Hotel, the pub is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
The restaurant offers a full menu of Irish fare and continental cuisine. A popular Sunday Brunch is available weekly from Noon to 3 pm. Banquet facilities offer great space for celebrations of every size. The pub includes two spacious floors of dining and bar service with authentic interiors imported from Ireland.
Nightlife
One of the must-go in Colorado Springs is the Golden Bee. It is an understatement to call this bar an authentic English pub: the Broadmoor Hotel bought the pub and had it moved from England to the hotel's Colorado Springs property. The atmosphere is warm and inviting—perfect for enjoying one of its many imported beers. Drinking from one of the Yard glasses is a quick way to get intoxicated. If you require food, dig into an English delight like a piping hot meat pie. Stop by in the evening for live piano entertainment and bar-wide sing-alongs.
Attractions
Colorado Springs’ featured attraction is the Seven Falls, located just ten minutes from downtown Colorado Springs via Cheyenne Blvd. and nestled deep within Cheyenne Canyon, is Colorado's only waterfall to be listed in National Geographic's “List of International Waterfalls”. It cascades 181 feet in seven distinct steps down a solid cliff of Pikes Peak granite. Crystal clear water from the southern most edges of the Pikes Peak watershed have, over the ages, carved this unique scenic masterpiece in an easily accessed location.
Next to the Falls, a 224-step stairway leads to a system of trails that will take you to “Midnight Falls” and then onto Inspiration Point with a breath-taking view of Colorado Springs and the great plains beyond. Wildlife is everywhere, including hummingbirds, rainbow trout and the rare, waterfall nesting- American Dipper. Blasted 14 stories straight up through solid granite, a mountain elevator safely transports all who venture here to the “Eagles Nest” platform, where the most spectacular view of Seven Falls is experienced.
Check out our Colorado Home Loans website for the best rates on Colorado Loans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tasner
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Hello from Austria - Arrival and First Impressions
Many of you will know that I am originally from Austria, but that I have been living in Toronto for more than 20 years. I left Austria early on, by myself, at the young age of 20 and found a permanent home in Canada’s largest, most multicultural city. I always realized that I originally came from a beautiful country, but somehow the big wide world was calling me and settling in Canada’s most cosmopolitan urban centre has been a great decision.
In the early years I used to go back home every year when my father and grandmother were still alive. My mother had already passed away more than 20 years ago. But from 1995 onwards, after the death of my father and grandmother, I paid very few visits to Austria and thinking of my home country often brought back sad memories of people that had passed away. So for almost 9 years I did not travel back home at all until in 2004 I decided to go back for my 20th high school reunion which in itself was an interesting experience.
Now, almost three years later, there was a big reason to go back to my home town: my brother Ewald’s 50th birthday. This big round birthday of my only sibling was an event I simply couldn’t miss. And in addition, I made the decision to discover my part of Austria through the eyes of a travel writer and really take advantage of the sights and activities that my home town and its surrounding regions have to offer.
So this Thursday I boarded an Air Transat plane to fly from Toronto to Vienna and one hour into it I realized that we also were making a stop in Montreal which added about two hours on to the trip. As an astute traveller, I always try to save money on travel, and Air Transat was about $500 less expensive than going with Air Canada or Austrian Airlines. But I also realized that Air Transat planes are packed in very tightly and there is very little space between seat rows. As a matter of act, when the lady in front of me tilted back her seat rest I almost thought she was going to knock my teeth out.
But never mind, I realized that for a savings of $500 I would have to sacrifice a little bit. Altogether the flight to Vienna was pleasant and I guess I am lucky since I am one of those people who is able to sleep on the plane. So I landed nice and early yesterday at 8:35 at Vienna Airport. I had done extensive searches on the Internet for an inexpensive car rental and I had located one off-airport rental company: www.interrent.at was considerably more affordable than all major car rental companies at the airport, but it was located in a business park in the town of Schwechat about 10 minutes from the airport.
So following the advice on their website, I booked a door-to-door delivery service called www.airportdriver.at that dropped me off at the front door of Interrent which was located on the second floor of a five-storey office high-rise building. Service was swift and minutes later I had my little Volkswagen Polo, an economical little car, perfect for booting around the foothills of the Austrian Alps. When driving in Europe, fuel efficiency is a major consideration since a litre of gas is going for about Euro 1.15, so a small car that is good on gas is a great choice.
I enjoyed my drive on the A2, the highway that connects Vienna with Graz, the capital of my home province Styria. Apart from some construction work close to Vienna it was a beautiful drive across the Wechsel mountains into the region of Eastern Styria. Along the way I saw various signs pointing to a variety of theatre festivals in the province of Burgenland that are held in various castles and fortresses, a great way to use some of the old medieval buildings that are located all over Austria.
The weather was sunny and very warm and although my car had air conditioning, I had the window open and enjoyed the warm wind blowing in, listening to Ö3, Austria’s modern music radio station. I turned off the highway at Hartberg in eastern Styria, and drove through rolling hills past tiny scenic villages such as Schielleiten, Stubenberg am See, Lebing and Floing to my home town of Weiz. The rolling hills of Eastern Styria are always a pleasant area for a drive.
I have to admit driving along the roads that I used to grow up on was a strange feeling – not much had changed visually since I had left 20 years ago. The same farms and villages, mountains and hills were still there, although most of the buildings were beautifully renovated, modernised and painted. It was obvious to me that Austria has experienced long periods of prosperity since every little town was clean and the architecture was in near perfect condition. No peeling paint, no run-down buildings, no garbage strewn around anywhere - everything appeared to be in tip-top condition.
Finally at about noon time I arrived in my home town and took a quick spin around the centre. Weiz is a district capital with a population of about 9000 people, and it is located about 25 km from the Graz, Austria’s second largest city. It always amazes me that when I ask North Americans about Austria they all seem to know Vienna and Salzburg, and some of them have heard of Innsbruck, but very few people have actually heard of Graz, even though with a population of about 250,000 people it is Austria’s second largest urban centre.
Weiz in itself is an industrial town that for many years was centred around the ELIN, a manufacturing company that produces electrical equipment such as transformers and generators for hydro electricity production. In recent years, a Canadian company called Magna International, founded by Frank Stronach, a former resident of Weiz, has built several factories in the area. Magna is the largest automotive parts supplier in the world, and Frank Stronach is considered one of Canada’s (and Austria’s) greatest entrepreneurial success stories. Due to these manufacturing jobs, Weiz has become a rather dynamic and prosperous regional centre and many new developments in the downtown area attest to that fact.
The overall feel of the town had stayed the same so after satisfying my initial curiosity I drove to my brother’s house on the outskirts of town where my sister-in-law Anneliese welcomed me; my brother Ewald was still at work. It was great to see her again even though we had just recently seen each other in November of 2006 on the island of Tenerife where my husband and I had gone on a joint vacation with my brother and sister-in-law. After settling in and unpacking my suitcase we went for a quick walk downtown to do some shopping and got caught in a major thunderstorm. So we sat down in a little café in Weiz’ pedestrian zone called “Weberhaus” and waited out the downpour.
In the evening I had a reunion with my brother as well and we started catching up on all the news. Around 11 pm I got a bit tired and jet lag started hitting me so I headed off to bed to rest up for today since we had early plans. Bright and early at 8 am Ewald, Anneliese and I left to do some shopping in the nearby town of Gleisdorf, the second largest town in the district of Weiz. We went for a nice walk with the dog and strolled through the farmer’s market where I admired all sorts of locally grown fruits, vegetables, home-made breads, and a typical Austrian specialty: smoked pork meat.
Austria has a long-rooted agricultural tradition, and farming, although only providing about 5% of the employment in the country, is still an important tradition, particularly in the extremely fertile area of Eastern Styria. People go shopping every few days and many of them actually try to buy local produce and meat in the local weekly markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Big supermarkets and TV dinners are by far not as popular as in North America, and many people still prepare home-made food from scratch, using and actively seeking out local ingredients. And my brother is a chef, and today was his birthday dinner, so he was on the hunt for some special fresh ingredients.
After Gleisdorf we also checked out the farmers market in my hometown of Weiz which was a bit smaller. I took the opportunity to shoot some video clips of the main square of my home town and the surrounding buildings which go back to the 17th century. The old church, the so-called Taborkirche, even dates back to the 1100s, was built in the Romanesque style and is dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury. Some ancient Roman gravestones are on display in the church yard, an indication that this area was already settled about two millennia ago by the Romans, and nearby excavations even prove that there was human settlement here in the Pre-Roman times. Other excavations in the province of Styria have unearthed proof that there were human settlements here dating back many tens of thousands of years ago. An area with a lot of history…
We had successfully finished our shopping trip and my brother started the cooking while Anneliese and I decided to go on a local hike to the so-called Kleine Raabklamm (Small Raab Gorge) and the Bärental (Bear Valley). Like most of Austria, Eastern Styria with its rolling hills, forests, rivers and brooks is just predestined for hiking, and we enjoyed our 1.5 hour hike from Mitterdorf through the valley of the Raab River. The Raab is a major river in the area that eventually flows into the Danube and into the Black Sea. A beautiful hiking / biking trail took us through forests and lush green meadows to the valley of another tributary – the Bärental, which may indicate that this valley was inhabited at some point by bears.
The interesting thing about this area is that there are a variety of wayside shrines, and one in particular is supposed to mark the grave site of hundreds of people that died during the late 1400s of the Black Plague. Ever since I was a child, this dark forested area that was supposed to be the final resting place of hundreds of people from more than 500 years ago has fascinated me, and even today visiting this place sent shivers up my spine.
Our serene hike continued and shortly after we had reached an elevated ridge on the southwestern side of Weiz from where we had a great view of the entire region. Weiz’ most prominent building is the Weizbergkirche, a baroque church on the Weizberg hill that can be seen for kilometers while the town spreads out in the valley below. The entire scene is framed by an amphitheatre of mountains with an elevation of about 800 to 1000 metres.
There was still a bit of time left before our dinner plans, so I hopped into my little rental car for a country driving tour. I went past the village of Gutenberg and the Goller Mountain to the mining village of Arzberg that used to be a location for silver and zinc mining. Today a mining educational trail displaying local minerals and a mining tunnel introduce the public to the mining history of this little town. Arzberg is also one of the entry points to the Raabklamm (the Raab River Gorge), the longest river gorge of Austria. I returned to Weiz via the mountain road on the east side of the river, next to the limestone cliffs of the Gösser mountain.
After a refreshing shower it was time for our small birthday party, and our friends Luis and Isabella had arrived. Together with my brother and sister-in-law this couple had visited us in 2005 and I reported extensively from our Toronto adventures. Anneliese’s niece’s husband and son also joined us and we got ready for a beautiful five-course dinner prepared by my brother Ewald, the expert chef.
Everybody enjoyed the amazing meal and we sat together until about 10:30, laughing, exchanging stories. The little boy and my brother’s dog became friends on the couch and we all had a fabulous time. A long night of discussions until 2:30 am followed since I had to catch up on everything with Ewald. But then it was time to go to sleep since tomorrow (well, actually today), we are planning another hiking trip and I definitely will need to get some rest.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences & interesting life journeys, interviews with travellers and travel experts, cross-cultural issues, and many other features.
Susanne has recently published a series of FREE travel ebooks about destinations such as Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Nova Scotia and many more. Visit Travel and Transitions - FREE ebooks (www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html) "Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher
In the early years I used to go back home every year when my father and grandmother were still alive. My mother had already passed away more than 20 years ago. But from 1995 onwards, after the death of my father and grandmother, I paid very few visits to Austria and thinking of my home country often brought back sad memories of people that had passed away. So for almost 9 years I did not travel back home at all until in 2004 I decided to go back for my 20th high school reunion which in itself was an interesting experience.
Now, almost three years later, there was a big reason to go back to my home town: my brother Ewald’s 50th birthday. This big round birthday of my only sibling was an event I simply couldn’t miss. And in addition, I made the decision to discover my part of Austria through the eyes of a travel writer and really take advantage of the sights and activities that my home town and its surrounding regions have to offer.
So this Thursday I boarded an Air Transat plane to fly from Toronto to Vienna and one hour into it I realized that we also were making a stop in Montreal which added about two hours on to the trip. As an astute traveller, I always try to save money on travel, and Air Transat was about $500 less expensive than going with Air Canada or Austrian Airlines. But I also realized that Air Transat planes are packed in very tightly and there is very little space between seat rows. As a matter of act, when the lady in front of me tilted back her seat rest I almost thought she was going to knock my teeth out.
But never mind, I realized that for a savings of $500 I would have to sacrifice a little bit. Altogether the flight to Vienna was pleasant and I guess I am lucky since I am one of those people who is able to sleep on the plane. So I landed nice and early yesterday at 8:35 at Vienna Airport. I had done extensive searches on the Internet for an inexpensive car rental and I had located one off-airport rental company: www.interrent.at was considerably more affordable than all major car rental companies at the airport, but it was located in a business park in the town of Schwechat about 10 minutes from the airport.
So following the advice on their website, I booked a door-to-door delivery service called www.airportdriver.at that dropped me off at the front door of Interrent which was located on the second floor of a five-storey office high-rise building. Service was swift and minutes later I had my little Volkswagen Polo, an economical little car, perfect for booting around the foothills of the Austrian Alps. When driving in Europe, fuel efficiency is a major consideration since a litre of gas is going for about Euro 1.15, so a small car that is good on gas is a great choice.
I enjoyed my drive on the A2, the highway that connects Vienna with Graz, the capital of my home province Styria. Apart from some construction work close to Vienna it was a beautiful drive across the Wechsel mountains into the region of Eastern Styria. Along the way I saw various signs pointing to a variety of theatre festivals in the province of Burgenland that are held in various castles and fortresses, a great way to use some of the old medieval buildings that are located all over Austria.
The weather was sunny and very warm and although my car had air conditioning, I had the window open and enjoyed the warm wind blowing in, listening to Ö3, Austria’s modern music radio station. I turned off the highway at Hartberg in eastern Styria, and drove through rolling hills past tiny scenic villages such as Schielleiten, Stubenberg am See, Lebing and Floing to my home town of Weiz. The rolling hills of Eastern Styria are always a pleasant area for a drive.
I have to admit driving along the roads that I used to grow up on was a strange feeling – not much had changed visually since I had left 20 years ago. The same farms and villages, mountains and hills were still there, although most of the buildings were beautifully renovated, modernised and painted. It was obvious to me that Austria has experienced long periods of prosperity since every little town was clean and the architecture was in near perfect condition. No peeling paint, no run-down buildings, no garbage strewn around anywhere - everything appeared to be in tip-top condition.
Finally at about noon time I arrived in my home town and took a quick spin around the centre. Weiz is a district capital with a population of about 9000 people, and it is located about 25 km from the Graz, Austria’s second largest city. It always amazes me that when I ask North Americans about Austria they all seem to know Vienna and Salzburg, and some of them have heard of Innsbruck, but very few people have actually heard of Graz, even though with a population of about 250,000 people it is Austria’s second largest urban centre.
Weiz in itself is an industrial town that for many years was centred around the ELIN, a manufacturing company that produces electrical equipment such as transformers and generators for hydro electricity production. In recent years, a Canadian company called Magna International, founded by Frank Stronach, a former resident of Weiz, has built several factories in the area. Magna is the largest automotive parts supplier in the world, and Frank Stronach is considered one of Canada’s (and Austria’s) greatest entrepreneurial success stories. Due to these manufacturing jobs, Weiz has become a rather dynamic and prosperous regional centre and many new developments in the downtown area attest to that fact.
The overall feel of the town had stayed the same so after satisfying my initial curiosity I drove to my brother’s house on the outskirts of town where my sister-in-law Anneliese welcomed me; my brother Ewald was still at work. It was great to see her again even though we had just recently seen each other in November of 2006 on the island of Tenerife where my husband and I had gone on a joint vacation with my brother and sister-in-law. After settling in and unpacking my suitcase we went for a quick walk downtown to do some shopping and got caught in a major thunderstorm. So we sat down in a little café in Weiz’ pedestrian zone called “Weberhaus” and waited out the downpour.
In the evening I had a reunion with my brother as well and we started catching up on all the news. Around 11 pm I got a bit tired and jet lag started hitting me so I headed off to bed to rest up for today since we had early plans. Bright and early at 8 am Ewald, Anneliese and I left to do some shopping in the nearby town of Gleisdorf, the second largest town in the district of Weiz. We went for a nice walk with the dog and strolled through the farmer’s market where I admired all sorts of locally grown fruits, vegetables, home-made breads, and a typical Austrian specialty: smoked pork meat.
Austria has a long-rooted agricultural tradition, and farming, although only providing about 5% of the employment in the country, is still an important tradition, particularly in the extremely fertile area of Eastern Styria. People go shopping every few days and many of them actually try to buy local produce and meat in the local weekly markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Big supermarkets and TV dinners are by far not as popular as in North America, and many people still prepare home-made food from scratch, using and actively seeking out local ingredients. And my brother is a chef, and today was his birthday dinner, so he was on the hunt for some special fresh ingredients.
After Gleisdorf we also checked out the farmers market in my hometown of Weiz which was a bit smaller. I took the opportunity to shoot some video clips of the main square of my home town and the surrounding buildings which go back to the 17th century. The old church, the so-called Taborkirche, even dates back to the 1100s, was built in the Romanesque style and is dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury. Some ancient Roman gravestones are on display in the church yard, an indication that this area was already settled about two millennia ago by the Romans, and nearby excavations even prove that there was human settlement here in the Pre-Roman times. Other excavations in the province of Styria have unearthed proof that there were human settlements here dating back many tens of thousands of years ago. An area with a lot of history…
We had successfully finished our shopping trip and my brother started the cooking while Anneliese and I decided to go on a local hike to the so-called Kleine Raabklamm (Small Raab Gorge) and the Bärental (Bear Valley). Like most of Austria, Eastern Styria with its rolling hills, forests, rivers and brooks is just predestined for hiking, and we enjoyed our 1.5 hour hike from Mitterdorf through the valley of the Raab River. The Raab is a major river in the area that eventually flows into the Danube and into the Black Sea. A beautiful hiking / biking trail took us through forests and lush green meadows to the valley of another tributary – the Bärental, which may indicate that this valley was inhabited at some point by bears.
The interesting thing about this area is that there are a variety of wayside shrines, and one in particular is supposed to mark the grave site of hundreds of people that died during the late 1400s of the Black Plague. Ever since I was a child, this dark forested area that was supposed to be the final resting place of hundreds of people from more than 500 years ago has fascinated me, and even today visiting this place sent shivers up my spine.
Our serene hike continued and shortly after we had reached an elevated ridge on the southwestern side of Weiz from where we had a great view of the entire region. Weiz’ most prominent building is the Weizbergkirche, a baroque church on the Weizberg hill that can be seen for kilometers while the town spreads out in the valley below. The entire scene is framed by an amphitheatre of mountains with an elevation of about 800 to 1000 metres.
There was still a bit of time left before our dinner plans, so I hopped into my little rental car for a country driving tour. I went past the village of Gutenberg and the Goller Mountain to the mining village of Arzberg that used to be a location for silver and zinc mining. Today a mining educational trail displaying local minerals and a mining tunnel introduce the public to the mining history of this little town. Arzberg is also one of the entry points to the Raabklamm (the Raab River Gorge), the longest river gorge of Austria. I returned to Weiz via the mountain road on the east side of the river, next to the limestone cliffs of the Gösser mountain.
After a refreshing shower it was time for our small birthday party, and our friends Luis and Isabella had arrived. Together with my brother and sister-in-law this couple had visited us in 2005 and I reported extensively from our Toronto adventures. Anneliese’s niece’s husband and son also joined us and we got ready for a beautiful five-course dinner prepared by my brother Ewald, the expert chef.
Everybody enjoyed the amazing meal and we sat together until about 10:30, laughing, exchanging stories. The little boy and my brother’s dog became friends on the couch and we all had a fabulous time. A long night of discussions until 2:30 am followed since I had to catch up on everything with Ewald. But then it was time to go to sleep since tomorrow (well, actually today), we are planning another hiking trip and I definitely will need to get some rest.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com/). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences & interesting life journeys, interviews with travellers and travel experts, cross-cultural issues, and many other features.
Susanne has recently published a series of FREE travel ebooks about destinations such as Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Nova Scotia and many more. Visit Travel and Transitions - FREE ebooks (www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html) "Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Vacation In The Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic is a beautiful Island off the Cost of the US. It is a county of warm-hearted people who really enjoy seeing guests have a great time during their vacation stay. A vacation in DR can consist of many components. For example, you may want to schedule a vacation visit to the Puerto Plata is an historic structure which is essentially unchanged during the 20th century. You can spend hours looking at the unusual collections housed here. You can also take vacation time to visit the walled gardens exquisitely planned and arranged, as is the landscaped park which surrounds the house.
The castles of Puerto Plata dates to the Baroque period and is one of the best place to take children in order to have a fun vacation. The mansion is gradually falling into disrepair, although some elements have been restored, such as the Orangery. Children will enjoy exploring the invisible corridors, secret garden and the underground tunnels in the property. Because the great house sits on 600 acres of park and woodland, there is plenty of space to wander around.
Another popular vacation activity during time spent in DR is a visit to the DR potteries. A good overview can be found at the Sharpe's Pottery Museum located in South DR. The history of pottery making in DR goes back to the 16th century. During the early part of the nineteenth century, enormous quantities of household pottery items were produced and shipped to the United States. DR was the center of sewerage pipe production due to the high silica content of its clay.
Of course, no vacation would be complete without a visit to the Dominican Heat Feel The Heat Festival Nov 9 -12 th . This is arguably the best known Exotic event that DR hosts. Am Must be at event hosted by Dominican- Heat's Renard Manley.
The City of Santa Dominigo is a wonderful vacation stop. The churches date back to the tenth century. Not only is there architectural points to be marveled over, there are fascinating artifacts such as the historical Bess of Hardwick's Monument, the tombstone of Joseph Wright and the Bakewell Screen.
Another vacation site of architectural and historical interest is the Palladian mansion known as the Kedlestone Hall. The original owners were the Curzon family and the house was built between 1759 and 1765. It's famous for its nearly complete and unchanged Robert Adams interiors in the country. The staterooms are nothing short of magnificent with original furniture and painting collections. In the Eastern Museum, there is a collection completed by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India 1899-1905.
Chatsworth House is another gathering place for visitors making the vacation trek to Derby. Several times voted England's favorite country home by vacation visitors, the structure is famous not only for its architectural and landscaping elements, but the the priceless collections of the family some of which have been sold just in order to retain the property for the family.
If you are able to do nothing else during your vacation in DR, take the time to visit the Dominican Heat Feel The Heat Festival Nov 9 -12 th. This is one of the most renowned event in Dominican Republic and well worth the time to visit.
Remy has created the ultimate directory for Dominican- Heat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Remy_N
The castles of Puerto Plata dates to the Baroque period and is one of the best place to take children in order to have a fun vacation. The mansion is gradually falling into disrepair, although some elements have been restored, such as the Orangery. Children will enjoy exploring the invisible corridors, secret garden and the underground tunnels in the property. Because the great house sits on 600 acres of park and woodland, there is plenty of space to wander around.
Another popular vacation activity during time spent in DR is a visit to the DR potteries. A good overview can be found at the Sharpe's Pottery Museum located in South DR. The history of pottery making in DR goes back to the 16th century. During the early part of the nineteenth century, enormous quantities of household pottery items were produced and shipped to the United States. DR was the center of sewerage pipe production due to the high silica content of its clay.
Of course, no vacation would be complete without a visit to the Dominican Heat Feel The Heat Festival Nov 9 -12 th . This is arguably the best known Exotic event that DR hosts. Am Must be at event hosted by Dominican- Heat's Renard Manley.
The City of Santa Dominigo is a wonderful vacation stop. The churches date back to the tenth century. Not only is there architectural points to be marveled over, there are fascinating artifacts such as the historical Bess of Hardwick's Monument, the tombstone of Joseph Wright and the Bakewell Screen.
Another vacation site of architectural and historical interest is the Palladian mansion known as the Kedlestone Hall. The original owners were the Curzon family and the house was built between 1759 and 1765. It's famous for its nearly complete and unchanged Robert Adams interiors in the country. The staterooms are nothing short of magnificent with original furniture and painting collections. In the Eastern Museum, there is a collection completed by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India 1899-1905.
Chatsworth House is another gathering place for visitors making the vacation trek to Derby. Several times voted England's favorite country home by vacation visitors, the structure is famous not only for its architectural and landscaping elements, but the the priceless collections of the family some of which have been sold just in order to retain the property for the family.
If you are able to do nothing else during your vacation in DR, take the time to visit the Dominican Heat Feel The Heat Festival Nov 9 -12 th. This is one of the most renowned event in Dominican Republic and well worth the time to visit.
Remy has created the ultimate directory for Dominican- Heat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Remy_N
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