London, England

Where to? London, England

Monday, October 3, 2011

Last stop: A Beautiful Memorial

The last stop will take you to the Diana Memorial Fountain.

The information posted about this fountain was written so perfect, I could not have said it any better. With that said, I will quote how this fountain was built.

"The design aims to reflect Diana's life, water flows from the highest point in two directions as it cascades, swirls and bubbles before meeting in a calm pool at the bottom. The water is constantly being refreshed and is drawn from London's water table. The Memorial also symbolizes Diana's quality and openness. There are three bridges where you can cross the water and go right to the heart of the fountain." RoyalParks.org.


 I hope you can understand why this fountain is so meaningful and absolutely worth visiting in my opinion. Knowing the beautiful person Diana was to the world, makes this an important and historical place to see. My favorite part about the this memorial, is the thought, and meaning behind it. They truly made the fountain to symbolize the person she was and THAT is worth visiting. 

Next Stop: Let's wine and dine!

First of all, DO NOT under any circumstances, look at the prices. The Roof Gardens, is located above Kensington High Street in central London.

          This high end, and sophisticated restaurant will give your taste buds an incredible experience. I have heard from a close friend, who toured the beautiful city of Westminster, that this restaurant was (in her words), "The most elegant dining I have ever experienced. The wine tasting tour before dinner was incredible. The atmosphere of the garden surrounding me made the experience that more amazing." I viewed the menu, photographs, and blogs. I am SOLD. If I ever get an opportunity to travel out of the country, I will make sure that my reservation is BOOKED! Take a look at the pictures, I will include the website for you to also take a look at. I think you will be amazed!

The Roof Gardens offers a different scene from the buzzing streets down below. It is located on the 6th & 7th floor and has been a unique venue for over 70 years.

If you are going for a night out, a private event, or just to dine, then enter the elevator and take it to the roof top.  It offers entertainment, lounges, and majestic scenery, depending on the month.

Here is the link to get more information.
http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/about_us

The Roof Gardens, Babylon Restaurant.

The Roof Gardens, Garden.

The Roof Gardens, Dining in the Garden (one of their events)

The Roof Gardens, Club

FIRST STOP; Westminster, London UK

Westminster is one of the most visited cities in London. It's located in central London, and it has attracted visitors from all over for many reasons. My reason for visiting this city, would be to see the beautiful Buckingham Palace.

First of all, look at this place. Who wouldn't want to visit it? Looking at the Buckingham Palace reminds me of my childhood. As a little girl, being a princess was a dream I seemed to play over and over. I remember my mother telling me stories of a princess who stayed in that palace. Little did I know then that she was always referring to the beautiful Princess Diana. As I grew up, I learned to admire, the woman she was. Not just because she was a princess, ( the role I always had to play) but also because she helped people, ( another role I hoped to be able to do as I grew older). For me this would have to be the first place I visit. Its history and my fond memories as a princess would be a magical experience for me.

Before we start our tour...

Although I've never been to London, I can tell you a few reasons why I would visit. First and foremost London is a large city filled with many attractions, businesses, and is the financial heart of the United Kingdom. I feel that visiting London will give me a wide variety of different traditions, old and new. As you travel with me I hope to give you enough reason to visit this beautiful country yourself.

Greece

My dream vacation country is Greece. It is a country with a particularly rich history and famous personalities. Excavations show that the first settlement dates from the Palaeolithic era (11,000-3,000 BC). During the second millennium BC, Greece gave birth to the great civilization of the Minoans (2600-1500 BC), the Mycenaeans (1500-1150 BC) and the Cycladic civilization.

The Classical Period of the Greek history (6th-4th centuries BC) is the most famous worldwide. The peak of the classical period is the 5th century BC, when the foundations of western civilization were put in Athens. This city-state became the greatest naval power of Greece that time and developed all domains of culture, including philosophy, music, drama, rhetorics and a new regime, democracy.

 The Greek Islands are the Europeans' favourite vacations destination. Greece is a country of natural beauty and charm which welcomes every year millions of visitors from all over the world.

Santorini island is the top Greek summer destination, famous all over the world for its romantic sunset, the unique sunken caldera and the still active volcano. Connected frequently with the myth of lost Atlantis, Santorini is a particularly popular destination for honeymooners and couples.

Mykonos island is famous for its vivid nightlife, the traditional Cycladic architecture and its long, sandy beaches. This is the second top Greek destination and it is often compared to Ibiza for its
 nightlife options and party atmosphere. Mykonos is particularly among with the young. The trademarks of the island are Paradise beach, Little Venice and the Windmills.

Corfu is the most cosmopolitan and elegant of the Ionian islands and distinguishes for its Venetian architecture. Beautiful beaches and charming villages mark the landscape of Corfu while tourism is much developed there. The most picturesque spot of Corfu is Paleokastritsa but many other resorts can be found all over the island.

Rhodes is the largest and most popular island of Dodecanese, located on the southeastern Aegean. It is known as the Island of the Knights due to its rich Medieval History. In fact, the Medieval Town is the most famous part of Rhodes along with the beautiful beaches all over the island.

Greece Architecture
Greece Architecture has influenced all architectural movements of the world along centuries, as for example the movement of Renaissance and the Neoclassical style. Many of the architectural masterpieces of the world were influenced by the Greek architecture, using some elements such as the Doric, Ionic or Corinthian ancient style.

Favorites in Greece and Greek Islands

                                                             Small Boat Greece Cruises

                                                                 Romantic Greek Islands

                                                               A Private Island Hiking Tour

                                                          A Greece Sailing Adventure

                                   

                                                           
                                                               
                                                      
Athens, Greece the land was chosen by the Gods to live in. Watching this video reveals the beauty of the  Athens, Greece and its history.

Australia

G'day! It has always been a dream of mine to travel to Australia. I love the outdoors, hiking, watersports including scuba diving, and the relaxed atmosphere that Australians seem to live in. Here are some important things to know about Australia and some of the best places to visit while you're down under.

Map of Australia



History and Demographic Information

Australia was discovered by Dutch explorers in 1606, but they did not colonize the new land. Not until 1770 was the eastern half was claimed by Great Britain and settlements established. As the population grew, a total of six colonies were established. On January 1, 1901 the colonies formed the Commonwealth of Australia. Before the arrival of European settlers, there was a large indigenous population of Aborigines estimated to be near one million. In 2001, the population of Aborigines and the other primary native group, the Torres Strait Islanders, was counted at 410,003, which accounts for 2.2% of the total population. There are more than four hundred distinct groups of Aboriginal people in Australia. They each have their own cultures, customs, and languages. There is a difficult history between the Australian government and the indigenous Australian groups. From 1870 to 1970, many children of Aborigies and Torres Strait Islanders were forcibly removed from their families by the government. These children are known as the Stolen Generations. There are several reasons for their removal from child protection to a fear about mixing of racial groups. On February 13, 2008, a formal apology was issued by the government for the removals.

Aboriginal man playing the digeridoo, a traditional musical instrument

Listen to a Didgeridoo Performance

“One of the strongest prejudices that one has to overcome when one visits Australia is that created by the weird jargon than passes for English in this country.” Valerie Desmond

Dictionary of CommonAustralian Words and Sayings

Places to Visit

“Australia is an outdoor country. People only go inside to use the toilet. And that's only a recent development.” Barry Humphries

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef. It is located off the northeast coast of Australia and has been used for thousands of years by the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, who fished and hunted in the waters around the reef. Four hundred different species of hard and soft coral make up the reef. Animals often seen in and around the reef include dolphins, whales, sea turtles, sea snakes, clownfish, snapper, coral trout, and many species of birds. Snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular and are the best way to experience the reef. There are also several beautiful beaches near the reef if you'd prefer to relax on land. One of the most beautiful is Whitehaven Beach, named for it's pristine white sand, on Whitsunday, Island. It is accessible by boat from the mainland.



Arial view of a portion of the reef





















Uluru or Ayers Rock

This amazing monolith, which is the largest in the world, is 348 meters high and 9 kilometers around. It is also called “The Heart of Australia” because of it’s location in the middle of the Australian desert. It is made of sand stone which changes color as the light changes during the day. The color can vary from light brown to deep red, with the most spectacular colors at sunrise and sunset. During rainy weather, Uluru looks silvery gray. It is considered sacred by the Aborigines, who have marked its holiness with petroglyphs, rock drawings, around the site for ten thousand years. Visitors can hike around Uluru or up to the top, though the indigenous people prefer that the site not be disturbed by hiking to the top. It is sometimes reported that people who take rocks from Uluru will be cursed. There have been many instances where people who removed such rocks attempted to mail them back to various agencies in an attempt to remove the perceived curse.



Uluru





Aboriginal petroglyphs at Uluru



Barossa Valley

This area is Australia’s most popular wine producing region. It is primarily known for producing red wines, specifically Shiraz. Other grape varieties grown in the area include Riesling, Semillon, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Bethany Vineyard was first planted in 1852 and is the region’s oldest vineyard. The best view of the valley is from Mengler Hill. The Barossa Vintage Festival is a week long festival held every other year at the end of April to celebrate the end of the harvest. There are 150 wineries in the region and over 80 cellar rooms and tasting rooms that are open to the public. One of the most well known and popular to visit is Penfolds Grange.



Vineyards in Barossa Valley



Penfolds Grange- Australia's most popular wine
















These are only a few of the amazing things to see and do in Australia. There's also exotic wildlife at the Australia Zoo, surfing, the Sydney Opera House, and much more. I can't wait to plan my trip!

Costa Rica

I love to travel so trying to pick just one place that I am really looking forward to visiting was tough.  I am dying to make my way to Peru and hike Machu Picchu and I have heard wonderful things about Iceland and it is not that far of a flight.  However for this blog I’ve decided to discuss my desire to go to Costa Rica.

According to the United Nations, in 2009 Costa Rica has an estimated population of 4,579,000.  Together, whites and mestizos make up 94% of the population, 3% are black, 1% Amerindians, 1% Chinese, and 1% other.

I have had many friends visit Costa Rica and come back telling me about how the people and the atmosphere is like none-other.  Pura Vida (POO-rah VEE-dah), used by Costa Ricans since 1956, literally translated means “Pure Life.” Contextually, it means “Full of Life” “Purified life," “This is living!” “Going great!” It is used as a greeting, a farewell, and to express satisfaction. The phrase has become widely known in the USA and Europe. Some foreigners view the phrase as an expression of a leisurely lifestyle, of disregard for time and wanton friendliness. However, Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly, celebrating good fortune, whether small or large.

Interesting Historical Facts:

-1502 Christopher Columbus anchored just offshore from present-day Limon on his fourth and last voyage to the New World. 

-1821 Spain granted independence to its colonies in Central America.  Costa Rica joined the Central American Federation but in 1838 withdrew to form a new nation.

-Mid 1800s coffee was the country’s main export and free land was given to anyone willing to plant coffee on it.  Soon plantation owners grew wealthy and powerful, creating Costa Rica’s first elite class.

-In 1889 Costa Rica held its first free election in Central American history.  There was no bloodshed when the opposition won and thus the region became the only true democracy.

-Unlike most countries Costa Rica has had a history that didn’t really allow bloodshed.  The people there have lived for the most part a peaceful existence. 

Now that I have discussed the history and demographics of the country, let’s discuss the real reasons why I want to travel to Costa Rica.  Costa Rica has so much to offer for someone who likes to mix adventure with relaxation.  Getting to Costa Rica from the New York area is a simple flight to San Jose. 

My first destination after spending a day in San Jose would be Monteverde.  Monteverde is set atop Costa Rica’s continental divide.  It is set some 4,662 feet above sea level.  Due to this, Monteverde is set in the clouds.  The moisture from the clouds, often in the form of fog, lingers on the branches of the tallest trees.  The drip from the moisture helps to support a complex ecosystem, one that is home to over 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds, tens of thousands of insect species, and over 2500 varieties of plants, 420 of which are orchids alone.  As a visitor this lends itself to a lot of activities.  There are trails and trams and canopy tours with guides.  You can easily spend a few days here, as there is over 8 miles of trails.

The next stop on my tour would be Manuel Antonio National Park.  In 2011, Forbes listed Manuel Antonio among the world's 12 most beautiful national parks.  This park has the best of worlds, beautiful beaches and gorgeous hiking trails.  There are four beaches within the park, Manuel Antonio, Espadilla Sur, Teldoro, and Playita.  Both Manuel Antonio and Espadilla Sur contain tidal pools and offer the possibility of snorkeling.  Although Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica's smallest national park, the diversity of wildlife in its 3 square miles is unequaled with 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds.  Not only are there a wide variety of water activities one can participate in, you can also go zip lining through the forest, take a canopy tour, or go horseback riding.

The final leg of my journey would take me to the Guanacaste Gold Coast of Costa Rica.  After all the hiking, zip lining, and touring of the two parks, a little bit of relaxation is required.  This region lies on the Pacific Ocean and is home to some of the nicest hotels in the country.  I’m the type of person that loves adventure but for some rest and relaxation I love a five star hotel that pampers to my every need.