2009-06-19

Travel to Peru

When you travel to Peru you will likely arrive in Lima the capital city. From Lima you have a variety of options to which other places you would be interested in traveling to Peru. Cusco for example is one of the most frequented destinations when tourists travel o Peru, It is the access point to many Andes treks and tours, it is also where you must go when planning to visit the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Another location worth visiting when you travel to Peru is Paracas; from here you will be able to visit the wildlife preserve of Paracas. The Ballestas Islands have an enormous community of Sea lions as well as a large population of sea birds. This is yet another very popular location when tourists travel to Peru and probably one of the most entertaining.

Arequipa is a city located in the southern region of the country, when you travel to Peru this is another site which cannot be missed. This City is constructed up high and has a unique feature among other destinations you will visit when you travel to Peru; many of the houses and churches are constructed with white volcanic ash. The volcanic ash comes from a nearby volcano which remains relatively active. While in Arequipa you should also make it a point to tour the Colca Canyon, it is much deeper then the Grand Canyon and is considered to be one of the deepest in the world. No doubt a worthwhile destination when you travel to Peru.

The Amazon region of this country is also a very popular tourist destination and another "must see" when you travel to Peru. It has many locations to visit such as; the city of Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado and many others. You will find that the people here not only speak in Spanish but also many other jungles dialects making it an interesting place to visit during your travel to Peru. When touring this region you will find the incredible variety of Flora and Fauna which is abundant in the region, this is yet another appeal to visit this region when you travel to Peru. The vast variety of animals such as snakes monkeys and birds and of course insects as well are enough to make you believe you are in another world.

When you decide to travel to Peru don't forget to always plan ahead and let a professional travel agency such as http://www.peruvacationtours.com organize the entire trip. They will take care of all the details, guides and hotels in your Peru vacation package so you can better enjoy travelling to Peru.

Travel to Peru: Travel to Peru and all of its destinations; Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Amazon, Arequipa and more - peruvacationtours.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hemant_Singh

2009-06-14

I Love Touring Italy - Verona





If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice is its best-known city and one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. But the Veneto region is a lot more than this great city. There are excellent tourist attractions elsewhere, and you won’t have to fight the huge crowds. With a little luck you’ll avoid tourist traps, and come back home with the feeling that you have truly visited Italy. This article examines tourist attractions in the Shakespearean town of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to read our companion articles on northern Veneto, southern Veneto, and the university city of Padua.

Verona. I don’t know about you, but I can’t hear this word without thinking of the phrase, Two Gentlemen of Verona, a not particularly well-known Shakespeare play. Verona was the setting of a particularly well-known Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. This city of more than a quarter million has a long and bloody history. Its residents are proud that on an Easter Monday more than two hundred years ago they drove out the French occupiers. The German writer Goethe and the French writers Stendhal and Valéry included Verona in their travel diaries. The Roman emperor Julius Caesar spent a lot of time here, and probably enjoyed many of the sights described next.

Verona has quite a collection of vestiges from its Roman days. Let’s start with its Roman amphitheatre, the third largest in Italy. This structure is approximately 400 feet (140 meters) long and 350 feet (110 meters) wide, giving it a seating capacity of about 25,000 spectators in 44 tiers of marble seats. While only fragments of the outer walls remain, its interior is virtually intact. This edifice often hosts fairs, theatre, opera and other public events, especially during the summer.

A First Century B.C. Roman theatre was eventually transformed into a housing site but in the Eighteenth Century the houses were demolished and the site restored. Nearby you’ll find the Ponte di Pietra (Stone Bridge), a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River, completed in 100 B.C. Retreating German troops destroyed four of the bridge arches in World War II but the bridge was rebuilt in 1957 using original materials.

You should also see the First Century Arco dei Gavi (Gavi Arch) straddling the Corso Cavour; once the main road into the city. Look for the architect’s signature, a rarity for the times. French troops destroyed this arch in 1805, and it was rebuilt only in 1932.

Porta Borsari, an archway at the end of the Corso Porta Borsari street, is the façade of a Third Century gate within the original Roman city walls. This street is lined with several Renaissance Palaces. Porta Leoni (Leoni Gate) is what remains of a First Century B.C. Roman city gate. Parts of it have been incorporated into a wall of a medieval building. Even in those days some people believed in recycling. You can see the remains of the original Roman street and the gateway foundations if you look slightly below the present street level.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is quite a masterpiece. It is built upon a Fourth Century shrine to the city’s patron saint, St. Zeno, the first Bishop of Verona. The basilica’s splendid one hundred ten foot (seventy two meter) bell tower is worthy of mention in Dante’s Divine Comedy. Both the doorway and the inner bronze door have multiple panels of biblical scenes and depictions from St. Zeno’s life. Its walls are covered with Twelfth and Fourteenth Century frescoes. Its vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St. Zeno as well as the tombs of several other saints.

The small but attractive Romanesque Twelfth Century Basilica of San Lorenzo is built on the site of a Paleo-Christian church, some fragments of which remain. The huge Eighth Century Romanesque Santa Maria Antica Church was the parish church of the Scaligieri family that ruled Verona for many centuries. Many of them are buried in the complex. Some of these tombs are quite unique and well worth seeing, even if you’re not a habitué of that sort of thing.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Duomo (Cathedral) was constructed on the site of two Palaeo-Christian churches destroyed by an earthquake much earlier in the century. The site includes an unfinished Sixteenth Century bell tower. Be sure to see the chapel adorned with Titian’s Assumption.
Verona’s largest church is the Fifteenth Century Sant’Anastasia whose interior is considered one of northern Italy’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, and believe me this competition includes many entries. The construction of this magnificent edifice took nearly two hundred years. Among its items of honor are frescoes and hunchback statues that serve to dispense holy water. It is said that touching a hunchback’s hump brings good luck. Maybe next time.

San Fermo Maggiore is in reality two churches. The tomblike lower Romanesque church dates from the Eighth Century. The huge Fourteenth Century Gothic upper church is notable for its ceiling festooned with the paintings of four hundred saints. There are more churches to see in Verona but we are now going to look at castles and palaces.

The Fourteenth Century Castelvecchio (Old Castle) was built on the banks of the Adige River near the Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge), probably on the site of a Roman fortress. Built to protect against foreign invaders and popular rebellions, it included a fortified bridge in case the owners had to flee north to join their allies in the Tyrol. Over the years the castle has known many renovations and restorations. Make sure to visit its art museum, specializing in Venetian painters and sculptors.

Those Scaligeris spent a lot of their time in the Palazzo degli Scaligeri, their medieval palace, which today, as then, is closed to the general public. But you can go next door to the Arche Scaligere with its Gothic tombs of selected members of the family.

The Italian Piazza is a meeting place. Verona has some special examples. The Piazza delle Erbe (Herb Square) has been around since the days of the Romans. For ages it was a fruit and vegetable market but now is geared to tourists. It still maintains its medieval look and some of the produce stalls. The Piazza dei Signori (Gentlemen’s Square) is Verona’s center of activities as it has been for centuries. This square is right next door to the Scaglieri Palace. Those gentlemen didn’t believe in commuting.
We can’t leave Verona without visiting those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The Twelfth Century Casi di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) long belonged to the Dal Cappello family and since it’s not a long way from Cappello to Capulet perhaps… This lovely house even possesses a courtyard balcony. Yes, the house at Via Cappello, 23 probably isn’t the real thing, but crowds come to gawk and dream. This could be the place to propose marriage.

What about food? Verona's cuisine features typical dishes of the Po Valley plains: mixed boiled meats, nervetti (calf’s foot and veal shank salad), and risotto, often prepared with a healthy douse of Amarone wine. The Piazza delle Erbe still has some fruit and vegetable stalls selling local produce such as radicchio and asparagus. Not only the wine is classified. Verona is home to a classified cheese, Monte Veronese. But who would think that rice is also classified? The Riso Nano Vialone Veronese is a laboratory-developed rice first introduced into the area in 1945. It now represents 90% of the local production. Is it better than other rice? Locals obviously think so. I promise that I will taste it on my next trip to Verona.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Gnocchi (Small Potato Dumplings). Then try Pastissada de Caval (Horsemeat Stew, often simmered in wine). For dessert indulge yourself with Pandoro di Verona (Verona Butter Cream Cake). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Veneto wine. Veneto ranks 3rd among the 20 Italian regions for the area planted in grape vines and for its total annual wine production. About 45% of Veneto wine is red or rosé, leaving 55% for white. The region produces 24 DOC wines and 3 DOCG wines, Recioto di Soave, Soave Superiore, and Bardolino Superiore. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Almost 30% of Venetian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation.

Valpolicella DOC is a world famous wine produced north of Verona from several local red grapes. This wine is usually nothing to write home about and often tastes of cooked cherries. But that is hardly the end of the Valpolicella story. Valpolicella Ripasso is made from young Valpolicella wine put into tanks or barrels containing the lees (one could say dregs, but that might give the wrong impression) of a recioto wine (see below). The mixture undergoes a secondary fermentation and becomes a more interesting wine. Valpolicella Recioto is made from passito grapes, those dried on mats for several months. It may be a still wine, a fizzy wine, or a sparkling wine. Valpolicella Recioto is sweet or bittersweet. Amarone DOC is a type of Valpolicella Recioto whose sugar has been completely transformed into alcohol becoming a powerful tasting wine that packs a punch and ages well. What a difference between Amarone and its source wine, Valipolcella.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His global wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com and his Italian travel website is http://www.travelitalytravel.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Levi_Reiss

Venice Florida





Venice, a city of approximately 21,000, is located in Sarasota County Florida. The city's early as well as present claim to fame lies in it's airport located on the south side of town.

Built in the early 1940's by the United States Army Air Force it served as a military training facility base, being used as well by (ATC), Air Transport Command to deliver US built aircraft to Britain. As soon as the war was over the US government gave the airport to the city of Venice.

The airport has 2, 5000 runways and is the base of FFTC (Florida Flight Training Center), that does pilot training as well as charter service within Florida and the surrounding states.

Triple Diamond is the main FBO and provides assistance to jet aircraft.

On September 12, 2001, national news and the FBI descended on Venice as it was discovered that three of the WTC 9/11 terrorists, Mohamed Atta, Marwan Al-Shehhi, and Ziad Jarrah, had all lived in Venice for the purpose of taking flight training lessons at the Venice Municipal Airport. The trio had all enrolled in Huffman Aviation.

Atta's time in Venice has been chronicled by Daniel Hopsicker in his book," Welcome to Terrorland."

Due to the beauty of the area, warm weather, and white sandy beaches ,many of the men and women who. were stationed in Venice during the war came back to make it their permanent home

Having been listed in many circles as the shark's tooth capital of the world , Venice holds an annual shark's tooth festival to commemorate the abundance of shark's teeth(some of which are known to be thousands of years old) that can be found in the area. Teeth can be found by walking the beach and sifting through the sand, although the best results are had by diving off shore. One can only hope to find the teeth without the shark attached. Just kidding, shark attacks are extremely rare, no shark attacks have been reported in Sarasota County in many,many years.

Probably the best area to find shark's teeth is south of town behind the airport at a beach known as Caspersen's Beach, although Sharkey's Beach is also popular, where shovels and scoops can be rented to find teeth anywhere from 1/4 in. to 3 inches and larger.

In the past, due to the near perfect weather and beautiful scenery, Venice has been the winter home for many organizations,including the Kentucky Military Institute as well as the Ringling Circus .

Be it for a short stay or a lifetime home, Venice calls.

Gary has traveled to many parts of the world, see more articles and photos at: http://www.travelnsnap.com
Gary has developed a line of novelty gifts featuring some of his photos taken around the world. http://www.tshirtsbumperstickers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Wonning

Holidaying in Rome





What images spring to mind when you think of Rome? Perhaps it's the grandiose coliseums that played host to the bloody gladiator showcases of ancient times, or perhaps the vast palaces and other ancient Roman architecture that are dotted around the city.

Nowadays, these battles take a different form, and now top athletes do battle on the pitch and the court instead of the dusty arenas that attracted tens of thousands of spectators.

Indeed, for others the city plays host to spectacular sporting events - including the recent Champions League Final and matches from the Six Nations rugby tournament. And for sports fans, Rome can be a spectacular destination for experiencing both ancient Roman culture and sporting events.

The Stadio Olimpico, home of teams such as A.S. Roma and Lazio, is a popular destination for sporting enthusiasts, and hotels in Rome were recently packed with thousands of football fans as the stadium played host to the Champions League final.

Rome has a rich variety of attractions to suit all tastes - be they sporting or otherwise - there are many museums that showcase the rich history that has made the city recognisable around the world. So whether you're looking to explore a museum or the famous street markets, Rome remains one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, with many taking advantage of cheap flights to Rome in order to explore the ancient city.

As well as a multitude of sights around the city, the tiny state of Vatican City lies within the city, and many flock to this part of the city to take in the sights and sounds of St Peter's Square and the spectacular architecture and artwork of the Sistine Chapel.

Flights to Rome are frequent from many UK and European airports, with many choosing to take advantage of budget airlines in order to take city breaks in the Italian capital. Indeed, short excursions - such as city breaks and romantic weekends - have become synonymous with the city, offering couples the opportunity to relax and take in the beauty of this ancient city.

Looking to holiday in this historic city and are looking for flights to Rome? Go online and search through a wide range of hotels in Rome and cheap flights to Rome to help find a deal to suit you and your holiday budget.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Collins

2009-06-13

London's Top Five Cocktail Bars

If there's one thing London isn't short of, it's a cocktail bar. They're everywhere and Martinis and Cosmopolitans are being mixed all over the city despite the credit crunch. Some are cheap, some are very expensive. Some of them are just right. Of course, it's not always easy to tell which ones are worth the money. This article looks at the Goldilocks of cocktail bars throughout the capital, without having to venture into a scary looking members club or swanky hotel bar.

1. Bourne and Hollingsworth - Rathbone Place



This tiny little slip of a place is just a newsagent to the naked eye. But once you spy the sneaky stairs, you're treated to a gorgeous 30s bar and some excellent cocktails. The £7.50 Sebastian Martini wins points for being the most divine - passion fruit, vodka and champagne in that ever important martini glass. (Cocktails always taste better in a martini glass, don't you think?) Think flapper dresses and feathers and you've got the look just right.

2. Bob Bob Ricard - Upper James Street


This new haunt is taking trendy Soho by storm. It's a breakfast bar, a diner and cocktail bar all rolled into one. How very U S of A. Press a dinky little button at your table to order more champagne (very nice touch) or have one of the charming waitresses bring you a rhubarb gin and tonic. It's not cheap though. Drinks are around a tenner. It's worth it; you're paying for style here.

3. Fluid - Charterhouse Street


Cocktails AND arcade games? Yes please! Throw in some sushi and this is a fantastic little find in Clerkenwell. With favourites like Space Invaders and Pacman on the old school arcade machines, you'll have a great time getting in touch with your inner child. They play great music and do a mean Polish martini. I'm more of a fan of their long drinks, but if you really really want to, you can have yourself a Wasbabi Martini. It's a pricey night out though - most cocktails are £7-8.

4. Lab Bar - Old Compton Street


This is one of the most popular cocktail bars in London and its easy to see why. The cocktail list is gigantic. You'd be very very hungover if you tried to work your way through it. It's not the cheapest cocktail bar - the drinks will set you back about £8 each, but the mixologists are some of the best in the business and if you can't decide what you want, you can always get them to whip up something new. Having your own signature cocktail is pretty cool y'know.

5. Freud - Shaftesbury Avenue.


Freud is very cool little place. It's not just a bar with an immense cocktail menu, it's also an art gallery. There's always something interesting going on here. You'll meet some very cool types here as well. Artists, writers and philosophy students mostly. The cocktails are mostly novelty, but it's that's your thing then you'll really like this quirky little bar. Expect to pay around £6 for your tipple.

When looking for entertainment and new places, it is easy to find hundreds of fantastic bars, restaurants and London hotels in one of the most fun cities of the world.

Sian is a freelance journalist who specializes in writing about entertainment and events in London. She can often be found lurking around cocktail bars and drinking too much tea in little cafes. She is best approached cautiously, with a piece of cake.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sian_Meades

Eating Your Way Around London





For foodies, London is a culinary heaven, with plenty of restaurants, cafes and other places to find some of the best cuisine in the world.

Each summer, this focus on food is celebrated through the Taste of London festival, which draws out tourists and locals alike to sample some of the best fare to come out of London.

London being a multicultural and diverse city, the food during this outdoor weekend festival is varied and comprised of various cuisines. Held in Regent's Park, the event draws of chefs that specialize in Italian, Thai and even local British cuisine for the outdoor event.

In fact, this summer's event will have a particular focus on food from Thailand, with restaurants from around the city showcasing their specialties and even educating many visitors on the history and technique of Thai food.

There is much to experience at the Taste of London festival, including wine tastings and some chefs even provide cooking classes for a few participants. For others there's the ability to sample new and unique foods at individual booths.

The Taste Theatre is one unique draw. The venue showcases professional chefs who demonstrate new cooking techniques and perform for attendees. This educational aspect of the festival is a large draw for many attendees, who relish the opportunity to learn from world-renowned chefs.

The Taste of London festival is part of a wider network of similar food festivals that are held around the UK each year. The festivals aim to promote the local food culture of cities and municipalities, and work to bring together community members through food.

There is also the opportunity for many people to do some food shopping to find some unique kitchen tools and ingredients at the event. Whether it's purchasing a great new frying pan, or a rare and interesting ingredient, there's always something unique at the Taste of London festival. And the event itself is easy to reach, no matter if you're a frequent visitor of busy London; the festival is located in a prime London location.

What's more, it is good to know that plenty of the hotels in London are within convenient location of the festival; therefore, there's no reason not to experience the culinary delights of this world-class festival.

But no matter which hotel you've chosen to stay in, you'll find it's easy to access this festival, and plenty of other entertaining London attractions.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Cochrane

New York Sky Ride - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination




The New York Sky Ride is a virtual tour simulator. It is really interesting because you take a virtual tour of the Big Apple! The Sky Ride is located on the Empire State Building's second floor and Kevin Bacon narrates the tour. This digital virtual tour is really cool because visitors can truly tour the entire city in much less time and with much less effort than doing so on foot or in a cab!

The Sky Ride uses flight simulation that allows visitors to literally "fly" over approximately 30 different sites in this great city. People can visit New York and see all the "must sees" without having to actually spend their entire vacation sightseeing. In addition to the Sky Ride there are also two other shows played. One is a seven-minute program that discusses the history of the Empire State Building. The other is a seven-minute presentation on the "Top 10 Things to do in New York."

This is a perfect stop for visitors to New York who want to tour the Empire State Building and would like to see some of the other hotspots in New York without necessarily having to tour them all!

The New York Skyride is open from 8 am until 10 pm every day of the year. There is a shorter schedule for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. The entire Skyride presentation takes about a half an hour so visitors can easily budget their time to include this show. Tickets are for sale at the New York Skyride Box Office or may be purchased online at a discount.

Combo tickets for the Empire State Building Observatory and the New York Skyride are available for purchase. It is recommended to view the New York Skyride show first so when you reach the Observatory you will recognize the city and the landmarks you are seeing!

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections. Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 8 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Easy To Speak English

http://www.easytospeakenglish.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Benjamin