As a travel destination, the Czech Republic has much to offer. It’s home to beautiful natural scenery, rolling farmlands, villages lost in time, hills crowned with castles, some of the world’s finest beers, a mild climate and its vibrant capital, Prague.

The Czech Republic comprises two areas, Bohemia in the west and Moravia in the east. Gems in Bohemia include the valleys of the Vltava and Labe rivers, hills and rocky mountains which are perfect for hiking and rambling.

Bohemia boasts a number of delightful medieval towns. A sublime example is the historic center of Cesk Krumlov on the banks of the Vltava river. The town features a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque components.

Moravia is the agricultural heart of the country and is marked by picturesque farms, wooded highlands and vineyards. Brno is the largest city in South Moravia and the Czech Republic’s second largest city. It showcases the natural and artistic charms of South Moravia and offers a host of theaters cinemas, and clubs.

If you’re making your way to Prague from other parts of the country, the area surrounding the capital is well-worth seeing. Notable is the Vltava river valley which has reservoirs, and the many delightful chateaus.

Prague guide

Prague’s many monikers – the Golden City, the City of Hundred Spires and the Crown of the World, attest to its unique splendor. Located on the River Vltava in central Bohemia, Prague was once the seat of Kings of Bohemia and an important trading junction.

Nowadays it’s a vibrant city with a pulsating nightlife and much to see and do. Add to that an enchanting historic ambiance, a low cost of living and superb beer, and you have the recipe for a great vacation. Here are some highlights.

Carving its way through Prague is the Vltava river and many of the city’s attractions are around on near it. To experience these riverside charms, take a boat tour along the river. And be sure to take a stroll over the Charles Bridge at night and view the city with its illuminated castle.

If Prague has a heart it is surely Wenceslas Square, site of all the city’s historic events such as the Prague Spring of 1967 and the Velvet Revolution of 1989 that finally brought an end to communism. Wenceslas Square is now the site of the national museum.

For glorious views over the Vltava to the city beyond, head on up to the Castle District on the hill. While you’re there, visit the impressive cathedral.

The highlight of Prague is its medieval architecture. The city was relatively untouched during the World Wars and so is a showcase of a fascinating medley of architectural styles including Art Nouveau, Baroque, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical, and Renaissance. Add to this the modern towers of commerce.

You can best enjoy Prague’s architecture in the Old Town Square. It’s a great area for walking with its winding streets, old taverns, and antique shops. The highlight of the square is the astronomical clock. A marvel of 15th century engineering, this clock presents statues of the apostles as each hour chimes.

Whether you’re tempted by beautiful natural scenery, historic towns or just the wonderful Pilsner beer, the Czech Republic and Prague make for a wonderful travel experience.

But first, lets get down to the basics.

Cebu, as mentioned, is in the Philippines. Now, when you mention the Philippines, its either Manila or Boracay — those are the first places to come to your mind. But we assure you that Cebu is as good as both those places. Better yet, theres no need to pass through other cities in the Philippines just to get to Cebu. As one of the major ports of the country, Cebu is even directly accessible from other countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong, China.

Since Cebu is highly urbanized, tourists have no need to worry about where to purchase toiletries and other necessities because there are department stores and 24-hour convenience stores strategically located all over the city.

But enough about that and lets get directly to the good stuff.

The Olango Wildlife Sanctuary should always figure prominently in a tourists travel plan to Cebu, Philippines. In this sanctuary, tourists would able to catch a glimpse of different species of migrating birds coming from places as far as China and Siberia. Based on studies made of this natural phenomenon, these birds choose Olango as a wintering ground and a way to increase their fat reserves before they resume flight.

Cebus Fort San Pedro is the oldest tri-bastion fort in the Philippines. Built in 1565, its 8-foot thick walls and 30-foot tall tower bore witness to several wars, not the least would be World War II, in which it served as barracks for American soldiers.

Casa Gorordo Museum is also one of the well-loved destinations of tourists once they arrive in Cebu. Taking a tour of this well-kept museum is like stepping into another time and era, thanks to the lovely antique furniture on display and the conservation of residential features from the old days such as the magnificent courtyard.

And speaking of Gorordo, make sure that you visit 415 Gorordo Avenue in Lahug, Cebu City because that is the address of the Sala Piano Museum. In this museum, youd be able to a see a collection of about hundreds of pianos of different shapes and sizes.

Lastly, theres the Kawasan Falls in Matutinao, Badian. The sight of this majestic waterfall would no doubt make you think how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful world.

Xcaret

Pronounced eshcar..it, Xcaret is an extremely popular tourist resort, perhaps the biggest one in Mexico. At first glance, the overall impression is extremely impressive. The park contains beaches, snorkeling areas, hiking areas, horseback riding, botanical gardens, captive dolphins and so on. The park is essentially a jungle and beach play area for adults and kids.

Unlike Disneyland, a must see at Xcaret is the re-enactment of Mayan games. In a game resembling basketball, Mayan park staff plays Pok-Ta-Pok for visitors. For some reason, the park staff fails to take the game to its historic conclusion which involved the losers being killed. So much for authenticity!

Commercialism

My biggest gripe with Xcaret is it to similar to Disneyland. First, you cant walk five feet in Cancun without someone sticking a brochure in your hand. Once you cave in and go to the park, you can expect to pay $40 to get in. After that, the giving just keeps on going. You can expect to pay for practically everything. Want to go snorkeling? You better have your own gear with you or be ready to pay. Need a beach chair? That will cost you. Horseback riding? Well, you get the idea.

Should You Go

Deciding whether to go to Xcaret is a personal decision. If commercialism bothers you, Xcaret may be a place to pass on. One visit was good enough for me. My bank account cant take another!

The New Year’s parade in Hong Kong is an event not to be missed! The city is dressed up with bright decorations and colorful lights for its biggest celebration of the year, and thousands pour into Hong Kong to take part in the festivities.

Winding along Hong Kong’s picturesque waterfront, the New Year’s parade is filled with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. Representatives from Hong Kong and countries all over the world sing, dance and play music. The songs of marching bands fill the air along the parade’s route as performers in bright costumes prance along the streets.

The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is being celebrated for the coming year, there are always plenty of lions and dragons in the parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion heads leap in the air as long dragons held aloft by more than twenty people snake past the enthralled parade watchers.

The New Year’s parade is the biggest event of Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration. Close to 300,000 people attend the parade and millions more watch it on television. In recent years the parade has taken place in the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light displays.

The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong’s most important and well-loved holidays. Each year one of twelve different animals is celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. Many of the city’s towering skyscrapers are decked out in glittering lights for the holiday. Throughout the three-day celebration, dancers in colorful costumes perform lion and dragon dances in the streets, malls and hotel lobbies. Traditionally, people exchange small, red envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower markets show up all over the city during the holiday, selling plants and flowers with special significance, and stores and restaurants display flowers meant to bring immortality and good luck.

The New Year celebration usually begins anywhere from January 21 to February 19, depending on the year. While the holiday officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong it is celebrated for three days, with the New Year’s parade taking place on the first day. January 29, 2006 is the first day of the forthcoming new year.

The day after the New Year’s parade a brilliant display of fireworks lights up
Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks can be viewed from the waterfront or from boats cruising the harbour. On the third day of the celebration a large horse race takes place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively race is a favorite for gamblers and horseracing enthusiasts.

It’s no wonder why so many travel to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern day fun at one of the world’s biggest Chinese New Year celebrations.

Where are these Europe-loving travelers going? All over! Many vacationers are returning to their tried and true favorites like Paris, Venice, Florence and Milan, as well as Dublin, Athens, Zurich, Glasgow, Budapest and Istanbul. As repeat visitors, they are enriching their journeys with day trips and river cruises, soaking up picturesque villages, medieval castles and unspoiled countryside.

Then there are those travelers who want to explore the places they’ve never been before-especially countries in Eastern Europe like the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Not only are they rich in history and culture, they are remarkably light on the budget.

For travelers on top of the latest trends, Hollywood movies have inspired exciting new itineraries. The buzz around “The Da Vinci Code,” for example, has sparked a number of city tours to locations in the book-the museums and historic churches, abbeys and chapels where the plot unfolds in Paris, London and Edinburgh. Cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas, too, are featuring announced pre- and post-cruise Da Vinci Code packages.

“Pride and Prejudice” and “Match Point” were filmed in England, and tourist offices offer maps pinpointing their locales-and if traveling with children, you’ll also want to explore the dramatic landscape of the Czech Republic captured in “The Chronicles of Narnia.”

What is the correlation between free-trade, real estate prices and holiday making? Perhaps, the first one ignites the race for the rest two. This has been taking place in Dubai’s case for at least two decades now, and the lineage from free-trade to tourism is very apparent. Those likely to go on vacationing should therefore, learn about the various trade policies of the concerned region before making out their travel plans. Liberal governmental policies are bound to show up in the nature of hospitality that you might experience. If there are emerging signs of conflicts from within any administration, better keep off from visiting that place and move on elsewhere.

Duty free shopping and well-planned infrastructure were two main reasons why so many tourists started flocking on Dubai’s roads. Allowing freehold property ownership to the foreign nationals was another smart move, which transformed Dubai’s real estate market dramatically. Speaking with any of the real estate brokers running their operations from Dubai, supports these arguments. Additionally, tax exemption to the corporate world has also played a crucial role in the booming real estate values. Companies are granted 15 to 50 years of tax exemption on starting up their operations in one of Dubai’s free-trade zones. This financial paradise has ensured Dubai will continue to have a booming real estate market for many years to follow.

The level of foreign direct investment has begun growing rapidly in Dubai in the recent few years. According to some estimates, investments in the private equity market have already crossed the $1 billion mark. If this does not seem remarkable then you should note that it is expected to cross $2.5 billion by 2007. There has been a sudden turn around in the recent times and the companies looking forward to making the investments elsewhere have begun making the best out of Dubai’s tax exemptions.

The result is obvious. As more and more foreign companies arrive to do business in Dubai there will be an ever-increasing requirement of skilled work force. That means a further increase in the inflow of foreign nationals who will obviously need a place to stay on. In the final run, we conclude that the high demand for real estate combined with the recent changes permitting all these foreigners to own their property can only lead to a real estate explosion the likes of which the Middle East has never seen before. Already more than 30 percent of all the tower cranes in the world are engaged in Dubai. That, in itself, should give you an idea about the scale at which construction is proceeding in this world renowned city.

With the kind of luxurious life Dubai owns, the ever expanding world events taking place there, the highly competitive air fares that you might enjoy while being on its way, and the increasing number of landmarks like Burj Al Arab, Dubai Marina and Dubai Palm Beach getting constructed day in, day out, the world is bound to keep visiting Dubai for many years to follow now.

The catacombs are located on the ancient way that connected Rome to southern Italy Via Appia Antica. This ancient road was opened in 312 B.C. and went all the way to Brindisi on the Adriatic sea.

At the time, there was a law against burying the dead inside the city, so Via Appia Antica became the place of choice for burials. The catacombs and fantastic burial monuments are located along the way from Casale Rotondo to Cecilia Metella’s tomb.

If by now you imagine yourself spending your day in dark, gloomy caves, staring at bones, you can forget about it. Via Appia Antica has a great view. It is one of the most luxurious areas in Rome. The rich people of modern Rome live nowadays next to the burial location of their ancient ancestors, so while you admire the art work of the tombs, don’t forget to take a glimpse at the houses and gardens of the area.

Inside the catacombs you will not see bones, but the work of art that decorated the ancient tombs of the rich and important.

Entry to the catacombs is only possible with a guide, for safety reasons. The guide, a priest or friar, will explain you all about the history, art and symbolism of the place, and then walk you through the catacombs.

The Catacombs of San Callisto (or Callixtus) The burial location of the Bishops and Popes, are named after Callisto who restored and enlarged them.

Until the third century, Christians in Rome had no official grave yards. At the beginning of that century, the Pope nominated St. Callisto to be in charge of the burial lands on Via Appia Antica. This was the beginning of the custom of burying Christians in lands that belonged to the church. As time passed, these underground grave yards that were dug in a soft rock, evolved to a maze of canals, layer upon layer.

Whenever the room in one layer was exhausted, another layer was dug, so the most ancient layer is at the top.

Santa Cecilia was buried in one of the graves here. Later, her tomb was moved to the church of Santa Cecilia, and a copy of her statue now stands in the place of the grave.

The tunnels here resemble a dark labyrinth, so stay close to your guide. The guides walk rather quickly through the place to make room for the next group. A tour takes about 40 minutes.

Continuing on Via l’Appia Antica, we find the catacombs and church of San Sebastiano. There are four floors of catacombs here, and a statue of St. Sebastian by Bernini. These were the first to be named “catacombs” after the greek words “Kata Kymbas” that mean “by the graves”. These catacombs are the only ones that are easily accessible to visitors. Of the four floors only the second is usually open.

In the Tricila area of the catacombs there are hundreds of graffiti writings on the walls, mentioning St. Peter and St. Paul. Those are probably from the time their relics were kept here, until they were transferred to the Vatican. Christians used to gather here in order to commemorate them.

Delhi has witnessed the ascent and descent of several mighty empires, this is why you will find a number of historical monuments in the city, each one representing a different era. Many of the interesting sites found in and around the city are the ruins of the buildings and areas that played a crucial role in the history of India. This is merely a reason why thousands of visitors take flights to delhi. Some of the most popular venues in Delhi include; the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, the quaint streets of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, and Lotus temple, Humayuns Tomb, Qutub Minar, and the newly constructed Akshardham temple in New Delhi.

The center for tourists hordes coming to Delhi is Cannaught Place. Here you will find plenty of shops, top class restaurant, and pubs too. Walking through the lanes of Cannaught Place, you will come across the largest collection of art and trade stores, where you can haggle for native crafts. If you have flexible travel plans then do spend some time visiting this place. You will surely have a good time over here. Another such place offering traditional Indian crafts is ‘Dilli Haat’, a modern craft bazaar resembling the original village market. While you are here, don’t forget to enjoy the assortment of culinary delights available at the ‘Food Brasserie’.

Whether its shopping or eating out, Delhi offers a plenty of options to its visitors. Wear your shoes, put some cash in your wallet and get ready to shop and haggle as much as you can in Delhi’s markets. From the visitors first preference, the street market at Janpath road to the fashionable market at South Extension and from the export market at Sarojini Nagar to expensive boutiques in shopping malls, there is so much for you!

The ideal time to explore Delhi is from October to November and from February to March, when the temperatures are mild. There are numerous tour operators that provide half and full day guided tours for attractions in and around Delhi. Being the National capital, Delhi is conveniently connected to all the major cities of the world, with almost all the major airlines operating out of here. If you are planning a trip to Delhi, then check out the discount delhi india airfare at Onetravelindia.com!

Carmel which is famous for having had Clint Eastwood as mayor and has also been the residence of people like Doris Day, Upton Sinclair, Henry Miller and Jack London, is on the Monterey Penninsula and is surrounded by areas like Monterey, Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Point Lobos, Pacific Grove, Salinas And Seaside. Tour 17 Mile Drive, golf at some of the world’s best golf courses, visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, drive down the Big Sur coast, go whale watching in Monterey Bay and see Gray, Humpback and Blue Whales, camp at one of the many beach, river or redwood country campgrounds, go scuba diving, fish the waters off the penninsula for salmon, tuna, halibut, rockcod and more or just sit around and relax.

According to the Carmel Chamber Of Commerce “Carmel has consistently been voted one of the top tourist destinations in the country and you have to see it to believe it. It is located on a breathtaking white sand beach and the quaint European style village offers romance, gourmet dining, shopping and fun.” “Carmel has been a mecca for artists, writers, actors and playwrights intent on creating an intellectual and cultural oasis. Each year, visitors are drawn to the diverse festivals and events which promote and enhance the creative traditions of Carmel. The annual Carmel Art Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, and the Carmel Shake-speare Festival are just a sampling of events presented by professional artists, actors and musicians from Carmel and around the world.”

For more information about the city of Carmel, California see http://carmel.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Carmel, California guides and directories listing information, resources, services, things to do, places to go and more.

Bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, the Central American isthmus is a narrow tropical and volcanic landmass that connects Mexican North America to the northwestern lowlands of South America. Early in the 19th century, this region was known as The United States of Central America but today is comprised of the seven independent nations of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

Relax, Explore and Discover
The most spectacular Mayan ruins can be found in Guatemala at Tikal, a ceremonial center of pyramids, plazas and museums tucked beneath a thick and enchanting rainforest canopy. Belize provides the traveler with a slower pace along its white sand Caribbean coastline dotted with world class reefs for the passionate scuba diver. The entire landmass is a geographic wonder of active volcanic chains, which also provides highly fertile soil for agriculture necessary to sustain the incredibly dense populations in urban centers like San Salvador. Costa Rica attracts adventure-seekers from all corners of the world to its thrilling white water rapids and mystic cloud forests, while the truly daring are drawn to Nicaragua’s smoking and belching Santiago Crater, tucked between two active volcanoes in Volcn Masaya National Park.

Central America is also teeming with vivacious urban life. San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital city, is one of the most modern and international cities in the region, blessed with more years of peace than many Central American cities have experienced in recent decades. Bars and Nightclubs are packed every night of the week and booming commercialism, museums and gourmet restaurants seem to momentarily erase the less affluent reality in the background. To the south, Panama City is also a vibrant and expansive metropolis spawned from the commerce generated by the adjacent Panama Canal.

Travel to Central America to come face to face with a collection of cultures and lifestyles more diverse and complex than you had ever imagined. Explore the diverging histories of a region bound by a common past and struggling to achieve a prosperous future. The possibilities are endless in Central America. For more information, visit www.cfares.com, your source for cheap airfare on the web.