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Travel – Dodecanese Islands – an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands

Traveller — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:47:38 +0000

The Dodecanese Islands (which means “twelve islands”) are an island group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the South Aegean Islands of Greece. These islands are off the southwest coast of Turkey, to the southward of Samos Island and to the northeastward of the Crete Island. Byzantine churches and medieval castles are the tourist specialties of the island. There are a large number of islands, with the total number being 163, out of these only 26 are inhabited islands. The most well known of the twelve islands is Rhodes, Kos and Patmos with the remaining nine being Astipalea, Kalimnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos and Kastelorizo which are located in the east Mediterranean.
Other islands in the chain are Agathonisi, Alimia, Arkoi, Chalki, Farmakonisi, Gyali,Kinaros, Levitha, Lipsi, Nimos, Pserimos, Saria, Syrna and Telendos. There are many municipalities that come under these islands and some of them are Afantou Archangelos, Astypalaia, Attavyros, Chalki, Dikaio, Ialysos, Irakleides and Kallithea.

The regions that come under this prefecture are:
• Astipalea: This island is located between Kos and Amorgos and is a small and not very well developed island. This island is on the borders between Dodecanese and Cyclades. The island has traditional villages and wonderful sandy beaches. This island is in the shape of a butterfly.
• Halkiis: This is also a small and not a very developed island that is close to Rhodes. This island is good for those interested in trekking. The island is popular for its traditional architecture, the lovely waterfront, the calm beaches and the abandoned village in the centre of the island.
• Kalymnos is an island that is located between Kos and Leros that is close to the coast of western Turkey. This is the most beautiful island in Greece, that is also well known as the island of sponge fishers. This is actually a mountainous island but it also has two valleys that are best known for its agricultural products. Beaches, castles and churches make this is a popular place.
• Karpathos is an island that is located between Rhodes and Crete. It is the second largest island of the Dodecanese Greece islands. It is known for its clear waters and beaches and hills. This island is full of mountain villages with whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs and the narrow paved streets.
• Kos is the second most popular and the third largest of the Dodecanese islands after Rhodes. It has a good nightlife along with a beautiful landscape and soft sandy crystalline waters. There are verdant forests and the island is rich for those interested in archaeology.
• Leros: This Island is one of the smallest islands of the Dodecanese Greece islands and is full of vegetation, verdant trees, bright colored along with the deep blue of the sea and the golden sand that is the main attraction, attracting people like a paradise.
• Nisyros This Island is to the south of Kos and is a small island with the only ‘active’ volcano of Greece. The capital of the island which is known as Mandraki is a traditional settlement in blue and white colors. The beaches of Nisyros and the roads on Nisyros are not very developed.
• Patmos: This island is to the north of Leros and is known to be the most religious of Greek Islands as Saint John the Theologian who was exiled in 95-95 AD revealed and wrote the Apocalypse. It is located between Ikaria and Leros. The island has whitewashed cubic houses and flowered gardens, surrounded by narrow streets and stone steps.
• Symi: This is a small island that is located between Rhodes and Kos and to the north of Rhodes. The island has scenic towns and villages. This island is close to the Aegean and the Turkish shores and has a coastline of about 85 kilometers. This island is a mountainous island.
• Rhodes: This is the most popular and the largest of the Dodecanese islands. This island is the one of the most favorite tourist destination. This island has nice sandy beaches, picturesque villages and has an Old Medieval Town (the capital) which is very scenic. This island is very popular among the tourists.
• Tilos: This is another small and remote island that is located between Kos and Rhodes.

The provinces of Dodecanese islands are as below:
• Province of Patmos – Patmos
• Province of Kalymnos – Kalymnos
• Province of Kos – Kos
• Province of Rhodes – Rhodes City
• Province of Karpathos & Kasos – Karpathos

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate of is a mild Mediterranean climate; sunny with dry summers and mild winters. The months of July and August has the temperatures as being more bearable and is the best time to visit the place.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
One can reach these islands from Piraeus, Athens.
Most travelers arriving in Piraeus from Athens make use of the very convenient Metro Line 1 that terminates at the Port from where one can take a walk to the Saronic Gulf ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans, or a free shuttle-bus ride to the ships sailing to Crete and the Dodecanese. Direct Airport Express buses run 24 hours between the port of Piraeus and Athens International Airport.

Frommer’s Greece (Frommer’s Complete Guides)	Lonely Planet Greek Islands	Lonely Planet Greece

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at top-hotels-greece
• Hotels at dodecanese-islands
• Hotels at greekhotels

Blogs / Sites about Dodecanese:

• Blogs and reviews at bootsnall
• Blogs and reviews at lonelyplanet
• Blogs and reviews at worldreviewer
• Blogs and reviews at travelpod

Images and photos of Dodecanese:

• images at Google
• Images at greeka
• Images at united-hellas

Videos of Dodecanese:

Dodecanese Islands – Greece
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Karpathos & Kastelorizo : Two of the Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Dodecanese Islands – Greece

Kassos – A remote island

A video tour of Rhodes, Kos and Kalymnos in Greece’s Dodecanese islands

Rodos Island Greece

Travel – Bali in Rethymno Prefecture on the island of Crete

Traveller — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:58:54 +0000

Bali is located in a place called Rethymno Prefecture, on the island of Crete in Greece. The tourist attractiveness of this place is that it has many beaches of varying size and for staying purposes, countless hotels and apartment complexes.
Attractions of Bali and around:
• Diving: One can go for guided diving. Take your International Padi divers license at Hippocampus diving centre or enjoy an excursion that is by boat to other beaches and towns.
• The Atali Monastery (or Bali Monastery): This is about 5 kilometers from Bali to the South. This monastery has stunning views. This monastery was built in dedication to Aghios Ioannis (St. John) and belongs to 17th century.
• The church of Panaghia Charakiani: This church is at the eastern end of the cove.
• Bali beach: This beach is located about 33 kilometers from Rethymnon to the East. It is only a kilometer from the National Road to Heraklion. There are four other beaches in this Bali bay, some with sand and some with pebbles. These beaches are not affected by the “meltemia” -northern summer winds.
• For having an entertaining night, there are two nightclubs in the place.
• Rethimno is a city on the Crete island in Greece. It has an approximate population of about 40,000. It actually mints its own coins. There are relics of the Minoan civilization centred at Kydonia east of Rethymno. This town still maintains its antiquity and its old aristrocratic appearance. This town dates back to 16th century and its arched arched doorways, stone staircases, Byzantine and Hellenic-Roman remain (making it attractive to tourists). The city’s main income is tourism and agriculture of olives for olive oil and other Mediterranean products.
The Venetian Loggia houses the Ministry of culture today. This town is also known for its wine festival that is held every year at the beginning of July. The other festival in memory of destruction of Arkadi Monastery is on 7-8 November. This town was taken over by the Ottoman Turks in 1646 and ruled for for three centuries. This town was their centre of rule.
• Historic Buildings. The buildings remaining are from the Venetian occupation of Crete dating back to 17th century. They include the Fortessa and the lighthouse.
• The Fortezza: This is the city’s Venetian-era citadel and the best-preserved castles in Crete. It is a fusion of medieval European and Moorish architecture.
• Archaeological Museum Rethymnon: This museum houses objects from the Neolithic to Roman period found in Rethymnon in a Turkish building. These objects have been collected from hilltops sacred sites, in caves and necropolis. It is situated opposite to the Fortezza. The Opening times are from Tuesday – Sunday 8.30 – 15h Monday closed.
• Heraklion Archaeological Museum: This is located on Xanthoudidou Street and it houses finds from the Minoan civilization and excavations across the island of Crete. The find includes the statues of the Snake Goddess, the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, the enigmatic and mysterious Phaistos Disk, and Minoan seals and jewelry. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the world’s great museums representing the Minoan culture.
• Beaches. This city has unspoilt coastline beaches. There is a 5 mile beach to the west of Rehimno and towards Georgiopoli.
• Parks. There is a small park in the centre which also houses a very small zoo containing some Cretan mountain goats.
• Boat Trips: From the Venetian harbor there are boat trips available to go around.
• Chrissi Island: For quiet presence of palm trees and soothing watered sandy beaches one can take a boat trip from here to Chrissi Island. This is one of the uninhabited islands off Crete. It is about 8 miles from Ierapetra. The island has blue-green sea, sandy beaches, cedar forest on the sand hills and colorful volcanic rock. This island is about 5km in length and of a height 10m.

Other monuments:
• The Neratze mosque (the Municipal Odeon arts centre)
• The Great Gate
• The Piazza Rimondi (Rimondi square)
• The Venetian Loggia.

Museums:
• Archaeological Museum
• Historical and Folklore Museum
• Historical Museum of Crete, Heraklion
• Museum of Cretan Ethnology, Heraklion

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit this place is in summer. The temperatures are ideal from July to August.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
• There is a daily ferry from Pireaus (Athens) to Rethimno Crete Island.
• There are regular bus services from both Chania and Heraklion which stop at the bus station, just west of the center of Rethimno.
• The distance from Heraklion to Rethymno is 80 km and from Chania to Rethymno 56 km. Chania airport is much smaller and far less busy than Heraklion airport.
• For getting around: One can either take a bus or a taxi.

Top Sights Travel Guide: Crete (Kindle)	Rough Guide Map Crete [Folded Map]	Lonely Planet Crete (Regional Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Restaurants at rethymno
• Hotels at wikitravel
• hotels at greeka
• Hotels at dilos

Blogs / Sites about Bali, Rethimno:

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at greece.creteisland
• Blogs and reviews at explorecrete

Images and photos of Bali, Rethimno:

• images at Google
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at explorecrete

Videos of Bali, Rethimno:

• Bali, Rethimno:

Greece – Crete – Kourna Lake – Bali Beach – Rethymnon from jose on Vimeo.

• Bali – Crete: Freediving

Bali, Crete

Bali in Crete

Seahorses in Bali Crete

Crete Bali 2007

Travel – Guyana – a country located in north-eastern South America

Traveller — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:00:46 +0000

Guyana is located in in the north-eastern part of South America. It is a country that has an Atlantic Ocean coastline on its northeast; to the east is Suriname; to the west is Venezuela and to the south is Brazil. It is known to be the third smallest country in South America (the first and the second are Suriname and Uruguay). The word Guyana means “Land of many waters”.
It is a non-Hispanic nation in South America along with Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil.
This place’s main events include Mashramani (Mash), Phagwah (Holi), and Deepavali (Diwali). This place is same as that of English-speaking Caribbean. It is also a founding member of the Caricom. The country is mostly populated with Amerindians and is a blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures like that of Trinidad. It has the same types of food, festive events, music, sports, etc. to that of West Indies. Guyana’s main sports are Cricket and Softball cricket and football along with netball, rounder’s, lawn tennis, basketball, table tennis, boxing, squash and rugby.
English is the officially spoken language along with Creole and Amerindian dialects. This place is mostly either on highlands or on low coastal planes. The highest point is Mount Roraima which is at an altitude of 2,835 metres.
This place was initially a Dutch Colony and by 1815, the British took possession. It got its Independence on 26 May 1966 (from UK) and its National holiday is Republic Day, 23 February (1970) with the Constitution formed on 6 October 1980.
The regions of Guyana are:
• Guyanese Coastal Plain: This plain includes the cities of Georgetown, Bartica, Mabaruma and New Amsterdam.
• Guyanese Highlands: This region includes the cities Lethem and Paramakatoi.
• Corentyne-Berbice: This region includes the city Linden.

The cities of Guyana include:
Georgetown: This city is the Capital of the country and is situated in the county of Demerara.

Attractions of Guyana:
• Mashramani: This is an Amerindian word meaning “celebration after hard work” which takes place on February 23rd and it is also the country’s republic anniversary celebration. One can view a carnival-like event with parades and costumed bands through the city.
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Building: It is the largest and most powerful economic union in the Caribbean and housed in this building.
• Providence Stadium: It is on the north bank of the Demerara River and is the largest sports stadium in the country. There is a mall nearby called Providence Mall.
• Guyana International Conference Centre: It is a gift from the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Guyana.
• Stabroek Market: It is a large cast-iron colonial structure which looks like the statue that was located next to the Demerara River.
• The City Hall: This is a beautiful wooden structure originating from the colonial era.
• Orinduik Falls: This is the most visited falls of Guyana. It is situated on a highland river called Ireng River. This river lies on the border of Brazil and Guyana and joins Takutu River and then the Amazon River. These falls are at the Pakaraima Mountains and is known to be an extremely beautiful scene. The name Orinduik Falls is given after Orduik, which is the Amerindian name of an acquatic plant present at the falls. There are several herbal plants here. The surroundings are soothing and relaxings and one can rejuvenate mind and body. It is an eye for natural lovers and enjoyable site for children and family and one can also go for swimming here.
• St. George’s Cathedral, Georgetown, also known as St. George’s Anglican Cathedral: It is situated on Church Street. This church has one of the tallest wooden structures in the world and is the second tallest wooden church with its height being about 43.5 meters. The architect of this Cathedral is Sir Arthur Blomfield and the church was accessible to public on 1899. This is a National Monument as it was the first church, and it dates back to 1810. The arches are of Gothic style and it gives a historical glimpse into the Guyana of that time. The glasses are stained and portray scenes like Crucifixion and the Ascension and it also has a large chandelier gifted by Queen Victoria.
• Demerara Harbour Bridge, Guyana: This Bridge is a floating toll bridge of length 6,074 feet long. It was opened in 2 July 1978 and is one of the longest floating bridges in the world. The construction of Demerara Harbour Bridge, Guyana was assisted and started under the British Government. It is 1.25 miles long and has 61 spans with even small crafts being able to pass under. This bridge links people of Georgetown to the people living in West Bank Demerara and enhances business and trade in the country.
• Dadanawa, Guyana: This is also called as the Melville’s Ranch and is located on the Rupununi River in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana. It is spread over an area of 2,000 square miles. It is also known to be the largest and most isolated cattle ranch of the country. The name is based on an Amerindian name from of the local Wapishanan of a mountain, Dadinauwau, which is close to Dadanawa, Guyana.
• Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Guyana: This is a museum of anthropology that is one of the oldest museums of the country. It was open to public in 1982 though open in1974. It was run by a NGO of Government of Guyana. This museum houses collection and artifact of culture of Guyana. It also hosts exhibitions.
The organization takes care of the collection, exhibition and conservation of the artifacts that showcases the spectacular culture of Guyana. Dr Denis Williams (who was an archaeologist) founded Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Guyana.
• Kaieteur Falls: It is situated in the centre of Guyana and on the Potaro River. It is a natural wonder, very beautiful. It has a single drop of 741 feet which is the largest in the world. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It is known to be five times higher than the Niagara Falls and two times the height of the Victoria Falls. It is the 123rd tallest according to the World Waterfalls Database and the 19th largest waterfall in terms of volume and in their estimation, the 26th most scenic waterfall in the world.
• Iwokrama Canopy Walkway: It was opened in 2003 of November and has a 154 meter long Canopy Walkway from heights of 30 meters. One can see birds like the Green Aracari, Scarlet Macaw, Guiana Toucanette or Channel-bill Toucan and Red Howler Monkeys.
• Ecotourism: This is a booming industry in Guyana.
• The Rupununi Savannah, The Kanuku Mountains, Marshall Falls, Kyk-Over-Al, Shell Beach, Mabaruma, Lethem and Paramakatoi are some other destinations to visit.

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate is Tropical and moderated by northeast trade winds. There are two rainy seasons which are from May to mid-August and mid-November to mid-January. There is a threat of floods in the rainy seasons and so it is best to avoid this time for tourists.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to visit Guyana: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Luxembourg, Montserrat, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States.

By plane:
The Timehri international airport was named in honor of the indigineous displaced peoples of Guyana; and was renamed Cheddi Jagan International Airport after the President. There are daily international flights into and out of Cheddi Jagan International Airport which is about 40km south of Georgetown. International flights include flights to the US, Canada, UK and the Caribbean with Caribbean Airlines.

By car:
Guyana has roads accessible to Suriname to the East and Brazil to the south.
There are no road links between Venezuela and Guyana. Travel to Venezuela may be done by air via Trinidad or overland through Roraima State in Brazil.

Getting around:
Minibuses travel throughout Guyana and are the cheapest way to travel. Many parts of Guyana are separated by large rivers which can be traversed by way of river taxi. Taxis are a good way to get around in Georgetown or also rent cars.

Some books that will help enhance your trip to Guyana:

Guyana (Bradt Travel Guide Guyana)	Guyana [Hardcover]	Guyana, Guyane & Suriname

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Hotel
• http://guyanahotels.com/
• http://www.guyanahotel.com/
• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/

Blogs / Sites about Guyana:

• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/
• Expat-blog
• Travelblog
• Another Blog

Images and photos of Guyana:

• Google Image Search
• http://www.travel-images.com/guyana.html
• pbase

Videos about Guyana from youtube:

Guyana trip 2012

Guyana georgetown 12/6/11

GUYANA IS MY COUNTRY

Travel – Port-au-Prince – the largest city of Haiti

Traveller — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:18:10 +0000

Port-au-Prince is the capital city of Haiti as well as being the largest city of Haiti (which is a Caribbean nation). The population of this place is about 704,000. This city is on the Gulf of Mexico and is a natural harbor for the city’s economical activities. The official language of this place is Haitian Creole and French. French is the administrative language of Haiti. English is known in tourist spots. It was affected by a massive earthquake on January 12, 2010.

This area is divided into communes.
Pétionville: A suburban commune in the southeast of the city.
Delmas: It is directly to the south of the airport and north of the central city.
Carrefour: This is a poor commune that is to the southwest of the city.
Cité Soleil: It is another commune that has split off from Port-au-Prince into a separate commune.

The main economy of Port-au-Prince is production of coffee and sugar and earlier also exported goods such as shoes and baseballs and it has food-processing plants as well as soap, textile, and cement factories.

Port-au-Prince has two sister cities: Miami, United States and Montreal, Canada.

The main attractions of Port-au-Prince are:
The Haitian National Palace, The Cathedral of Port-au-Prince, The Cathedral of St. Trinity, Musee du Pantheon, Place des Heros de Independence, In Boutilliers, the attraction is the Jane Barbancourt Distillery. In the Côte des Arcadins the attraction is the Moulin sur Mer.
The other cities of Haiti are Cap-Haïtien, Gonaïves, Jacmel, Jérémie, Les Cayes, Milot, Miragoane, Mirebalais, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc and Port-Salut.

Haiti is full of mountains with the highest point being Chaine de la Selle which is at 2,777m and has wide and flat central plain to the north. This island was inhabited by Tainos first; Christopher Columbus reached it during his voyage and later a part of this island became independent as the Dominican Republic. This is a part of the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean.

Places of interest
• The Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien: This is a museum where one can take a guided tour to Haitian history. The museum is divided into muraled section of periods containing the items of that period; like the anchor of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus’s flagship, is the centerpiece of the exploration age section.
• Champs-de-Mars: It is a beautiful park in Haiti which is open for public to relax in. It is situated near the National Palace.
• The Citadelle Henri Christophe (also known as Citadelle Laferrière): This is a fortress in Haiti and in the city of Milot. It is situated on a high mountain and to its base are the ruins of Palais Sans Souci.
• Labadee: This is a private port that is used by cruise ships. One can take a cruise to tour the island’s beaches and bays. • • Bay of Acul has many reefs that one can view and the town of Caracol and Amiga Island which has lush green landscapes are very interesting.
• The Citadelle: It is a historic site of Haiti and is a landmark of the country’s history.
• Musee de Guahah: This is a specialty museum which houses many artifacts and arts.
• Barbancourt Rum Distillery: This is a brewery of rum. One can taste and also know how it is made.
• Plaine du Cul de Sac: It is a landmark that is popular and is a stretch of fertile land. It is on the border of the Dominican Republic.
• Petionville: This is a famous neighborhood in the Capital city of Port-au-Prince. This place is full of shops and restaurants and cultural institutions depicting the rich culture of Haiti.
• Lake Saumatre: This Lake is famous for the flamingos, water buffaloes and crocodiles.
• Chaine de la Selle peak: This is the peak point of Haiti.

Things to do
• Sightseeing: Take a look at the mountains, parks, lakes, valleys and beaches with its natural beauty and scenic landscapes and know the historical past and visit the sights
• Outdoor activities: The famous based activities are snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, sailing, yachting and surfing along with beach activities like beach volleyball or simply sun bathing.
• Trekking, hiking, rock climbing, forest exploration, camping and other activities are adventurous here in Haiti over here.
• Dining in restaurants and cafes, like Café Cubano and casinos like El rancho and Casino Choucoune are the places to enjoy and relax.
• Shopping, Cultural tours, boating in the lakes etc., are other activities of the place.

Best time to visit / climate:
This place has a tropical wet and dry climate and wet season runs from March to November and rainfall in July and the rest of the three months is dry season. The best time to visit this place is January to March as during June to October this island is subjected to severe storms as this island lies in the middle of hurricane belt. It is best to visit in the Tropical maritime which has seasonal temperature variation.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map
Or click and paste the URL below on your browser:

http://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&q=port+au+prince+haiti&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Port-au-Prince,+Ouest,+Haiti&gl=in&ei=lSrZTO6ULYawuAO189XcCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQ8gEwAA&z=11

How to get there:
By plane: Port au Prince airport serves several major airlines–Air France, Spirit Air, American Airlines, Copa–and smaller flights from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and other spots in the Caribbean. Haiti at Port-au-Prince (PAP) at the Aéroport Toussaint L’Ouverture Airport or Aéroport International Cap-Haïtien in the North are the airports in Haiti.
From US, American Airlines, Delta and Spirit serve Port-au-Prince, Air Canada, Air France and Caribair, among others, also offer international flights to and from Port-au-Prince, Lynx Air flies from Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Cap-Haïtien and MFI (Missionary Flights International) fly to Cap also from Florida.
By bus: The northern highway, Route Nationale #1 (National Highway One), originates in Port-au-Prince. Getting in to the capital by bus is relatively easy from the Dominican Republic.

Getting around
By car: One can take rent –a-car from Hertz, Avis, etc.
By bus: The public taxis are called tap-tap which is like a van. These are most convenient form of travel around.

Haitian Creole Phraseboo	Dominican Republic & Haiti (Country Travel Guide)	Haiti After the Earthquake

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Restaurant
• Hotels
• Tripadvisor
• Kayak.com
• Travelpod

Blogs / Sites about Port au Prince:

• aljazeera.net
• expat-blog.com
• http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com/

Images and photos of Port au Prince:

• Google Image Search
• http://www.galenfrysinger.com/port_au_prince,_haiti.htm
• pbase
• Tripadvisor
• Infohub

Videos of Port-au-Prince from youtube:

Driving in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Nightclubs of Port-au-Prince

Flying into Port-au-Prince

Caribbean Hotel Port au Prince Haiti

Travel – Nassau – the capital of the Bahamas

Traveller — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:23:51 +0000

Nassau is the capital of Bahamas (which is a member of the British Commonwealth). Nassau is the largest city in the Bahamas and is located on the eastern half of New Providence Island. It was earlier known as Charles Town around 1650 and later to Nassau, named after Fort Nassau. Nassau was also known as a pirates den. It has a population of approximately 200,000 and constitutes 70 percent of population of the Bahamas.
Bay Street is a street that runs along the shore and is the main shopping street of Nassau. It has a mix of jewelry boutiques and trashy souvenir shops. Many government buildings and company headquarters are located on Over the Hill district.
Attractions of Nassau:
• Old Town: This town is a combination of abandoned buildings and Caribbean structures. There is a pink Parliament Building with a statue of Queen Victoria out in the front.
• Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Center: This is the only zoo located in the Bahamas. One can see marching flamingo shows and feed the parakeets. This conservation centre is spread wide on five acres of a tropical garden. Flamingos march here as they are trained in formation and marching. This is a show of marching flamingos that is held daily at 10:30, 14:00 and 16:00 three times. There are Caribbean flamingos which are 40 years old and are the largest flock on Great Inagua Island in Bahamas. This centre houses Bahamas parrot and many species of iguanas. The other animals include jaguars, parrots and small mammals.
• National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, West & West Hill Streets: This centre houses the Bahamian art from the pre-colonial era to the present. The building is a renovated building which was once the residence of the Chief Justice.
• Pirate Museum: This museum is a recreation of the pirate town with a pirate ship and a pirate battle along with a few real artifacts blended. It is fun to take a guided tour.
• Fort Fincastle: This is a small fort that was built in 1793. This fort overlooks the city of Nassau. One can see it from a small hill south of town. One can view many cannons that are kept for display.
• Atlantis Hotel Aquarium: It is known to be the largest open-air aquarium in the world. There is a replica of the lost city of Atlantis through which the stingrays and shining fish swim and there are other collections of Caribbean species in this stunning aquarium.
• Balcony house: This is a restored historic structure of the 18th century dating back to 1788. The residence is very old and made out of wood, an example of a tropical colonial house. The interior has not been disturbed, and has the antiques and objects that belonged to that house originally. There are guided tours available for those who want to visit. The design and construction features are used to keep the house cool, dry and termite free, a specialty of the house. A Mahogany set of swan-neck chairs, four poster beds, a drop-front desk, china and crystal and hand-worked brass valences are among the antiques on display.
• The British Colonial Hilton: This is on the site of Fort Nassau and dating back to 1922. This place gives a view of the harbor and visiting cruise ships. The present building is a replacement to the original wooden hotel of 1898. Henry Flager was the owner and was known for building hotels along Miami Beach and along the coast of Florida. These hotels are special for their Colonial constructions. Its historic façade of towers, galleries, and molded reliefs are maintained. The restaurants and spa are special and an amusement park is also housed.
• Doongalik: This is a centre built to preserve the culture of the Black community who are the majority of the population of Bahamas. It has an art gallery depicting the bush medicine, shops, collection of Junkanoo costumes and sculptures. There are also the traditional instruments for making music out of goat skin like drums and cow bells etc., which are a special attraction.
• Government house: There is a pink and white house on the top of Mount Fitzwilliam which is a Roman-classical mansion dating back to 1801. This served as a house for the British Governor General. There is a white statue of Christopher Columbus belonging to 1830 which is on the stairs of the mansion. On alternate Sundays, changing of the guard ceremony is hosted.
• Paradise Island: Paradise Island is a Caribbean island and off Nassau, Bahamas. This Island is connected to New Providence Island by two bridges crossing Nassau harbor. This island has a variety of beaches and hotels and resorts. Cable beach is the popular one. It is dominated by Las Vegas style Atlantis resort. It is on the northern edge of New Providence. Paradise Island is also known as Hog Island. The bridges were built in 1966 and 1990. An Augustinian monastery was also installed which is dating back to 14th century French style.
Things to do: One can take a guided bus tours, explore old forts, Paradise Island and aquarium and roam around the old town.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Nassau is May to October. This island has a tropical monsoon climate with constant temperatures almost through the year. Summertime temperatures rarely exceed 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) and the winter months have daytime temperatures between 68 and 80 °F (20 and 27 °C), rarely falling below 50 °F (10 °C).

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
By air: Lynden Pindling International Airport is the largest airport in the Bahamas. It serves most major U.S. airlines and flights to Nassau. Limited service from Toronto and London also exists.
By sea: A total of seven cruise ships can dock at the Prince George Wharf Cruise Terminal which is adjacent to downtown Nassau.

Getting around:
• By water taxi: One can take a water taxi to get to Paradise Island from downtown.
• By minibus: These minibuses are also known as jitneys which are the bus system of Nassau city and New Providence Island. These are on and near Bay Street.
• By taxi: Taxis operate around the city and they are identified by their yellow license plates.
• By car: one can rent a car to roam around.
• By scooter: Scooter (small motorcycle) rental is also popular in Nassau.
• By bike: Bikes and bicycles also can be rented in Nassau.
• By foot: One can go around on foot in downtown.

Plan your trip to Nassau better with these books:

Frommer’s Bahamas 2012	Sailing Misadventures of the Wild Hair	The Bahamas (Multi Country Travel Guide)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Restaurant
• Hotels
• Tripadvisor (hotels, restaurants)
• http://www.nassau-hotel.com/

Blogs / Sites about Nassau:

• Travelblog
• Travelpod
• Realtravel
• Virtualtourist

Images and photos of Nassau:

• Google Image Search
• Tripadvisor
• Cruises
• Placesonline

Videos of Nassau from Youtube:

Nassau Bahamas Cruise Dec. 2007

Nassau Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas, East Bay Street Shopping District, May, 2009

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau Straw Market

Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas

Nassau Bahamas Walking Tour – Dec 18, 2007 Pt 2

Plane Wreck at Nassau, Bahamas

nassau bahamas day & night life

Beach on Nassau, Bahamas

Travel – Panama City, Panama – the capital city

Traveller — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:42:15 +0000

Panama City is the capital of Panama and is famous for being a multicultural place, with people from different parts of the world. It is the largest city of the Republic of Panama. Spanish is the most spoken language with English being the second most spoken language. Around Paitilla there are many shopping malls, Via Espana is the banking district and an outdoor mall at the Los pueblos. The approximate population of the city is 1,206,000. This city is located at the entrance of the Pacific ocean inlet of the Panama Canal (probably the most important part of Panama). This city is known to be the political and administrative center of the country and is a hub for international banking and commerce. Panama’s Tocumen International Airport is the biggest and busiest airport of Central America.

Attractions of Panama City, Panama

• The Old City: This is a World Heritage Site and is nearby Pargue Lefevre. There are churches and building of French and Spanish style along with restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops. Tapas and mojito are restaurants speciality here. Then there is also the Presidential palace, and a Tower that also has a cultural centre.
• Vasco Nunez de Balboa Park: This is a small park situated in la Avenida Balboa and a perfect relaxing place near the sea. Vasco Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer, on whose name this park is named. Hence the park has a statue of him with a flag and a sword and, in front a design of sea horse images.
• Pargue Soberania: This is about 15 minutes away from the Panama City and is a hiking place. The hiking trail goes through the rainforests with caves and lakes, and bird watching and fishing too are also part of the overall adventure.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a very famous shipping canal and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and has been the key for maritime trade, saving a huge longer journey around South America. The traffic was about 1000 ships in the early days and present it is about 14,700 vessels a day. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It was one of the largest engineering projects of its times, and took a lot of hard work and dedication, and also cost a lot of lives. The alternate much longer route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.

Historical Tours:
• Panama Viejo: This was once the gateway city for the Spanish conquest of Latin America. Presently there are ruins of the battles with the English pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. There is a museum with Spanish exhibits near the site. One needs to know Spanish or take a guide for translation for understanding as the exhibits are mostly in Spanish.
• Casco Viejo: This is an established Spanish colonial city, established in 1671. This city was established after the downfall of Panama Viejo in battles and until 20th century, this city was Panama City. Panama bay and other sites depict its history with Spain, France and United States.
• Other Highlights include the churches of the 17th century that include the Church of the Golden Altar, the ruins of 17th century convents and residences, original dungeons. There is a French monument for the 22,000 people who died building the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Museum. There is also a restored building which was once the headquarters of the French company which was in charge of building a sea level canal.
• Shopper’s Delight: The popular shopping destinations are Punta Pacifica, Alb rook and El Dorado Malls, the Agenda Central with more local flavor and Latin styles.

Enjoy the Outdoors: The beaches, Trails, national parks, surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, relaxing on beach ends and exploring the marine and mammal life is a must scene in Panama city. The crystal clear waters and the winds and the weather are so favorable and good that one can’t miss it.
• Rio Mar: This offers warm waters and is a best surfing spot. One can also enjoy the beach wind and sip a drink enjoying the view and hear the waves splashing and relax.
• Punta Chame: This beach is ideal for wind surfing and this is the best in dry season which is the best time for it. The other activity is kite surfing.
• Buenaventura: This beach offers plenty of water activities like surfing, snorkeling, swimming etc. If one is not going for these, just the peace of the beach is enough to enjoy.
• Gorgona: This beach is one hour away from Panama City. One can enjoy the beach activities here too in its warm waters.
• Playa Blanca: This beach resembles Florida beach, Nikki beach. One can swim in warm waters and other water activities.
• Amador Causeway: This causeway gives the best views of Panama City’s skyline and the Panama Canal. This is about a mile long causeway that connects four small islands with rock excavations. They also serve as breakwaters to the Pacific Coast to the Panama Canal. A Smithsonian Institute of Tropical Research aquarium, souvenir and specialty shops, a cruise port and a yacht marina are some of the causeway attractions. Some of the restaurants have ocean and Canal views.
• Panama Canal Railway Trans-Isthmus Ride: This is a Kansas City railroad which reopened as the historic Panama Canal Railway.
This is a 50 mile railroad ride with scenic ocean view from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. This ride includes the Panama Canal and rainforest scenery.
• Nightlife: There are nightclubs, discos and casinos in the city.
• Ancon Hill and Los Pueblitos: Ancon hill is a prominent hill in Panama City which overlooks the canal and the city. There is a staircase on the bottom of the hill to the top of the road. This is about half an hour walk. The walk is in a rainforest with birds and animals with a double view at summit and a bird’s eye view of the Canal. There are 3 miniature villages at the foot of the hill. These villages represent 3 cultures, the Spanish, the West Indian and the native Indian.
• Panama Canal Rainforest: The Panama Canal rainforests are one of the most pristine rainforests in the world. The Soberania National Park is about 30 minutes away from Panama City and 45 minutes from the international airport. This is a base for ecotourism.
Some other places to see:
• Las Bóvedas, The Vaults is a waterfront promenade jutting out into the Pacific.
• The National Institute of Culture Building and the French Embassy.
• The Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral
• Teatro Nacional, a performance center, with outstanding natural acoustics.
• Museo del Canal Interoceánico (Interoceanic Canal Museum);
• Palacio de las Garzas (Heron’s Palace), the official name of the presidential palace.

Best time to visit / climate:

Panama City has a tropical wet and dry climate. The dry season is from January to April whereas the wet season is in remaining year. The best time to visit Panama City is in the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: Tocumen International Airport is outside Panama city. This airport offers services for Copa Airline, American Airlines (Dallas/Ft.Worth, Miami), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, Georgia), Continental Airlines (Houston, Newark), Avianca (Bogotá, Colombia) and TACA (San José, Costa Rica and San Salvador, El Salvador) along with major Central American airlines, and several South American airlines and European Airlines. There are direct flights between Tocumen and New York, Newark, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Madrid, and all major cities in the Caribbean area, Central America and South America, like Santiago de Chile.
Domestic flights leave out of Gelabert/Albrook Airport which was once an airbase. Daily flights serve every major town and city in the country. The major carriers are AirPanama and Aeroperlas.

By train:
Between Panama City and Colon, only one train service operates with a passenger car. This ride is a scenic ride with views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rainforest.
By bus: there is bus terminal which is next to Albrook airport which has regular bus services by Tica Bus.
To get around taxis are the best way.

Learn more about Panama and its capital:

Lonely Planet Panama	Panama AdventureMap (National Geographic)	Fodor’s Panama, 2nd Edition

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at tripadvisor
• Restaurants at wikitravel
• Hotels at wikitravel
• Hotels at panamainfo
• Restaurants at Panamainfo
• Hotels with cheap deals at hotelscombined

Blogs / Sites about Panama city, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelpod
• Blogs and reviews at expatblog
• Blogs and reviews at the panama report
• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at blog at panama total

Images and photos of Panama City, Panama:

• Images at google search
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at skyscraperctiy
• Images at galenfrysinger
• Images at wikipedia

Videos of Panama City, Panama:

Panama City – Aerial View

Panama City

Panama Travel and Tourism

Travel – San juan, the largest city of Puerto Rico

Traveller — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:22:22 +0000

San Juan is the largest city of Puerto Rico, it is also the capital and has an approximate population of 442,000. It is the oldest city and located in the north-east of Puerto Rico. San Juan has magnificent beaches, hotels, plazas, historic sites, museums, etc. The total land area is about 122 sq km and a water area of 29.11 sq miles. The best harbors of the Caribbean are housed in San Juan. San Juan is a Latin American city and has a Spanish based culture.
San Juan is a Latin American city with Spanish-based culture, mixed with African traditions and Taíno culture. The citizens of San Juan (called Sanjuaneros) are very festive, as on the rest of the island of Puerto Rico. San Juan has bars and discotheques all-around the city, from Old San Juan to even the southern part of the city that stay open to 3:00-4:00 AM. San Juan has become very modernized as of late, with its first Metro line (called Tren Urbano) and buses. Like most large cities, however, there is a small population of vagrants and beggars lining the streets.
San Juan is also the financial capital of Puerto Rico. There are facilities for petroleum and sugar refining, and pharmaceuticals. The official language of this island of San Juan is Spanish and English. Spanish being the mother tongue of the native living here.

The districts of San Juan are:
• Old San Juan: This is the historic part of San Juan. The most historic attractions, galleries, museums, and tourist traps fall into this part of the district.
• Puerta de Tierra: This is in the middle of Old San Juan and Condado. This is a large residential area.
• El Condado: This is a rich residential neighborhood. It is a beach resort of the city and has many hotels and restaurants.
• Isla Verde: This city is closest to the international airport and has beautiful beaches and parks.
• International Convention Center District: This has a fountain that plays both typical and classical music and has many restaurants and shopping centers.
• Hato Rey: This is a business center and has the main banks, the Plaza las Americas (a mall with over 300 stores), the Hiram Bithor Stadium, Roberto Clemente Colosseum and Coliseo de Puerto Rico.
• Rio Piedras: This houses the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico. This is a municipality.
• Santurce: This is also one of the historical parts of Puerto Rico and is a cultural capital. It has two art museums and a performing arts center.
• Miramar: This is near El Condado and has historical houses.

Attractions of San Juan:
• El Castillo San Felipe Del Morro “El Morro”: This is a citadel that dates back to sixteenth-century. It lies to the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of National Historic Site and is a World Heritage Site (declared by the United Nations in 1983).
• El Castillo de San Cristóbal: This is a Spanish fort that is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This fort was built to protect against land based attacks on the city of San Juan. It is one of the National Historic Sites. It has a height of 150 feet and is on an area of 27 acres of land.
• Palacio de Santa Catalina: It is the residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. This was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the San Juan harbor. It is also known as El Palacio de Santa Catalina or Palace of Santa Catalina which is also the oldest executive mansion in the New World. La Fortaleza is a World Heritage Site.
• El Catedral de San Juan Bautista: Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer’s tomb lies here which was built in the 1520′s. It was rebuilt in 1540 after being destroyed by a hurricane.
• Castillo de San Jerónimo: It is a fort that is known as Condado. This was known to defend from attacks in 1595.
• Iglesia de San Jose: This is a church and Monastery that dates back to 1523.
• Ayuntamiento or Alcaldia: This is also known as the City Hall.
• The municipal cemetery of Santa María Madgalena de Pazzis: This is a cemetery that is situated just outside the city walls.
• Fuerte San Geronimo: This is a fort that built to tighten defense within the city with a small museum housed inside.
• Centro de Bellas Artes: This is a fine arts centre in the Caribbean in 1981.
• Bacardi Rum Factory: This has a trolley and guided tour inside the factory.
• There are famous beaches in Condado and Isla Verde.
• Parks in San Juan: Central Park, Garfield, Munoz Rivera Park and Parque de las Palomas.
• The Casino of Puerto Rico which is a large building and The Teatro Tapia is the oldest theatre in the Western Hemisphere.
• San Juan National Historic Site: This place has the old and colonial portion and includes three fourths of the city wall and forts San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, and San Juan de la Cruz, also called El Cañuelo, plus bastions, powder houses.
• Ateneo de Puerto Rico (museum), Casa del Libro, Cuartel de Ballaja, Felisa Rincón de Gautier Museum, La Princesa (former municipal jail, now a history museum), Museo del Niño (Children’s Museum), Museo Nuestras Raíces Africanas( Our African Roots Museum, Museo de Arte ( Museum of Art), The Pablo Casals Museum are other attractions of San juan.

Things to do:
• Surfing waves, golf course, sunbathing at the beach, tennis, fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, and horseback riding, windsurfing and parasailing are the different activities that the island of Puerto Rico offers.
• Golf: This Island has 15 championship golf courses from the San Juan metropolitan area.
• Snorkel and Scuba dive: These activities are the highlights of Puerto Rico’s Caribbean coasts, especially out of Fajardo. A guided diving and snorkeling tour will take one to the best sites of the activity.
• Bioluminescent Bays: The bays of Fajardo and Vieques are bioluminescent and have microscopic organisms that glow which is really beautiful to watch. One can go for kayaking or boating especially during the new moon to enjoy a clear view of the bay. Lajas is also a Bioluminescent bay that is famous as it is also equipped with kiosks and restaurants.
• Casinos: San Juan offers luxurious hotels and casinos that are similar to Los Vegas.

Best time to visit / climate:
San Juan has a tropical marine climate and has minimal seasonal variations. The climate is mild but has abundant rainfall in the north coast. June and November are usually the seasons of Hurricane. So avoid this time. Other than these months, one can visit the island anytime and enjoy all the activities of surfing, kayaking, beach walking, sun bathing, hiking etc.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Get around:
It is best to rent a car or take a taxi as the public transport system is not very good. A público is a shared taxi service that is another option that is cheap and best to go around the island. The “main” público station is in Río Piedras that is a suburb of San Juan and which are also known as colectivos and pisicorres.
There are ferries from San Juan and Fajardo to Cataño, Vieques Island and Culebra Island along with Mayaguez ferry travels between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Tren Urbano is a fully automated transit serving San Juan, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. Tren Urbano consists of 16 stations on a single line and is the reliable public transport.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• http://wikitravel.org/en/San_Juan#Eat
• http://wikitravel.org/en/San_Juan#Sleep
• http://www.sanjuanhotelsltd.com/
• http://www.elsanjuanhotel.com/
• Tripadvisor

Blogs / Sites about San Juan:

• Travelpod
• http://www.sanjuanislander.com/blogs.shtml
• Lonely Planet
• http://sanjuansafaris.com/blog/

Images and photos of San Juan:

• Tripadvisor
• http://www.travel-images.com/puerto-rico.html
• Terragalleria
• igougo.com

Videos of San Juan from youtube:

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan Sail Away

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Walking and Driving around Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico – San Juan

Travel – Isla Verde – a tiny island in the district of Carolina of Puerto Rico

Traveller — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:43:34 +0000

Isla Verde is a tiny island in the district of Carolina of Puerto Rico. It is to the east of Santurce (which is beside Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge). This city is just outside the capital of Puerto Rico. Rio Piedras and Hato Rey are linked by this island. The island is 400 meters to the north of Punta Medio. It is actually the coastal area of Cangrejo Arriba. The island is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the north, by San Juan to the east, by Sancturce in the south and by downtown Carolina to the east. There are many restaurants, hotels, casinos and discotheques housed on this island. This city has hotels and casinos along with the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport and Isla Verde club scene.
The official language of this island is Spanish and English. Spanish is the mother tongue of the native living here.

Attractions of Isla verde and around:
• Luis Muñoz Marín Airport: This Airport’s Local Name is Aeropuerto Internacional de Luis Muñoz Marín. It is the Caribbean’s large international airport and also the largest in Puerto Rico. It is situated to the east of San Juan which is in the suburb of Isla Verde. This airport has restaurants, communications areas, and VIP lounges. Flights from the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean serve this airport.
• Luis Muñoz Marín Park: This a famous park in Puerto Rico which has a biking trail, walking and jogging path. It is amidst several small lakes.
• Old San Juan: Its Local Name is San Juan Viejo; it is an old historic colonial city about 500 years old. In here, one can see Spanish colonial history blended with contemporary Puerto Rican culture. It is the second oldest city of America. It has more than 400 restored Spanish colonial buildings of the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Old City: This city was given the title of a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1983. It is located on a long narrow inlet at the northeast entrance to the San Juan Bay, Old San Juan that was founded in 1521. Gold mining was done here during 1508.
• Puerta de Tierra: This is a part of the colonial part of San Juan. Now it is a combination of commonwealth government buildings, residences and Navy and Coast Guard facilities.
• Río Piedras: This is the academic enclave of San Juan. It houses the University of Puerto Rico along with the district’s restaurants and cafés. This is also a shoppers spot with indoor and outdoor markets and bazaars. The Jardin Botanico and the Museo de Antropolgia, Hisotria Y Arte are the other attractions of this place.
• Santurce: This is the modern business dense district of Greater San Juan. The main shopping and Commercial Street here is The Avenida Ponce de León. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, The Habana club and great nightlife are all part of this district.
• El Castillo San Felipe Del Morro “El Morro”: This is a citadel that dates back to the sixteenth-century. It is located towards the northwestern-most point of the islet of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of National Historic Site and is a World Heritage Site, declared by the United Nations in 1983.
• El Castillo de San Cristóbal: This is a Spanish fort that is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This fort was built to protect against land based attacks on this city of San Juan. It is one of the National Historic Sites. It has a height of 150 feet and is built on an area of 27 acres of land.
• Palacio de Santa Catalina: The residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. This was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the San Juan harbor. It is also known as El Palacio de Santa Catalina or Palace of Santa Catalina which is also the oldest executive mansion in the New World. La Fortaleza is a World Heritage Site (UNESCO).
• El Catedral de San Juan Bautista: Juan Ponce de León, a Spanish explorer’s tomb lies here which was built in the 1520′s. It was rebuilt in 1540 after being destroyed by a hurricane.
• Castillo de San Jerónimo: This fort was built in 1595 to defend from attacks.
• Iglesia de San Jose: This is a church and Monastery that dates back to 1523.
• Ayuntamiento or Alcaldia: This is also known as the City Hall.
• The municipal cemetery of Santa María Madgalena de Pazzis: This is a cemetery that is situated just outside the city walls.
• Fuerte San Geronimo: This is a fort that was built to tighten defense within the city with a small museum housed inside.
• Centro de Bellas Artes: This is a fine arts centre in the Caribbean in 1981.
• Bacardi Rum Factory: This has a trolley based guided tour inside the factory.
• Condado Beach: This beach is a one mile long stretch along the Atlantic Ocean and Laguna Condado. The line has many luxury hotels and facilities.
• The Casino of Puerto Rico is a large building and The Teatro Tapia is the oldest theatre in the Western Hemisphere.
• San Juan National Historic Site: This place has the old and the colonial portion and includes three fourths of the city wall and forts San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, and San Juan de la Cruz, also called El Cañuelo, plus bastions, powder houses.

Best time to visit / climate:

Isla Verde has a tropical marine climate and has minimal seasonal variations. The climate is mild but has abundant rainfall in the north coast. June and November are usually the seasons of Hurricane. So avoid this time.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
US citizens do not need any visa since Puerto Rico is a US territory. A Picture ID should serve the purpose. For other citizens visa and supporting documents are required.
By plane: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the main airport which is in Carolina, near San Juan. Aguadilla and Ponce also connects with flights like Jet Blue, Continental and Delta. There are direct flights from US. From airport taxi services are available.
By boat: The west coast city of Mayaguez and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic has ferry services available. From Fajardo to St. Thomas, there is a ferry. There are cruise ships that land in San Juan.
Getting around:
It is best to rent a car or take a taxi as the public transport system is not very good. A público is a shared taxi service that is another option that is cheap and best to go around the island. The “main” público station is in Río Piedras that is a suburb of San Juan and which are also known as colectivos and pisicorres.
There are ferries from San Juan and Fajardo to Cataño, Vieques Island and Culebra Island along with Mayaguez ferry travels between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Tren Urbano is a fully automated transit serving San Juan, Bayamón, and Guaynabo. Tren Urbano consists of 16 stations on a single line and is the reliable public transport.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Frommers.com
• Wikitravel.org
• http://www.sanjuanhotelsltd.com/
• Virtualtourist
• Hotels.com

Blogs / Sites about Isla Verde:

• Travelpod.com
• Travelblog.org
• http://10000birds.com/isla-verde-avifauna.htm
• http://www.islaverdevacations.com/

Images and photos of Isla Verde:

• Google Image Search
• Webshots
• Virtualtourist
• Tripadvisor

Videos of Isla Verde from Youtube:

Vacaciones en Puerto Rico ,Isla Verde Beach Part 1

ISLA VERDE

Beach in Isla Verde

Water Club Hotel on Isla Verde Beach, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Travel – Herrera, Panama – named after the general, General Tomás Herrera

Traveller — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:07:58 +0000

Herrera is a province located in Panama. It was named after the general, General Tomás Herrera. This province got its existence after the division of the Los Santos province. Chitre is the capital of Herrara and lies on the coastline of the province. Towards its north are the provinces of Veraguas and Cocle, to its south is Los Santos, to its east are Golfo de Parita and to its west is Veraguas.
This province was created in 1854. There are nine provinces in Panama and Herrara is the third biggest in terms of sugarcane production. The economy is also dependent on sugarcane production, along with retail, equipment repair, banking, and domestic service. The other main industries include dairy, cattle, commercial fishing, alcohol, ceramics, clay products, mosaics, and cement.
This province is popular for its festival Del manito ocueno which originated in the city of Ocu. There are many carnivals held in Chitré, Parita and Ocú. Chitre’s carnival is the most famous in Panama. In addition, Herrera is known for the best pottery in the country.
This province is divided into 7 districts:
1. Chitré District. Corregimientos that includes the cities Chitré (capital), La Arena, Monagrillo, Llano Bonito and San Juan Bautistas.
2. Las Minas District. Corregimientos that includes the cities Las Minas (capital), Chepo, Chumical, El Toro, Leones, Quebrada del Rosario and Quebrada El Ciprián.
3. Los Pozos District. Corregimientos that includes the cities Los Pozos (capital), El Capurí, El Calabacito, El Cedro, La Arena, La Pitaloza, Los Cerritos, Los Cerros de Paja and Las Llanas.
4. Ocú District Corregimientos that includes the cities Ocú (capital), Cerro Largo, Los Llanos, Llano Grande, Peñas Chatas, El Tijera and Menchaca.
5. Parita District Corregimientos that includes the cities Parita (capital), Cabuya, Los Castillos, Llano de la Cruz, París, Portobelillo and Potuga.
6. Pesé District Corregimientos that includes the cities Pesé (capital), Las Cabras, El Pájaro, El Barrero, El Pedregoso, El Ciruelo, Sabanagrande andRincón Hondo.
7. Santa María District Corregimientos that includes the cities Santa María (capital), Chupampa, El Rincón, El Limón and Los Canelos.

Attractions of Herrera:
• La Casa Vegetariana: One can get vegetarian food with wide varieties of fruit drinks and soya bean milk etc.
• Gamboa Rainforest Resort: This resort has a magnificent view of the rainforest. There are adventure programs around the Panama Canal area.
• Portobelo National Park: This is a park which offers snorkeling opportunity and kayaking the mangroves and this place is famous for the Spanish and the pirates.
• Colon: Colón is a sea port that is on the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama. This is a city that is on the entrance to the Panama Canal and is capital of the province by the same name. It is also known as the second city of Panama. It is located on Manzanillo Island. It is surrounded by Limon Bay, Manzanillo Bay and the Folks River. It now includes the towns of Cristobal, Rainbow City, Margarita, and Coco Solo, and the former U.S. Army base of Fort Gulick.
• El Casco Viejo: This is a Spanish colonial city, established in 1671. This city was established after the downfall of Panama Viejo in battles and until 20th century, this city was Panama City. Panama bay and other sites depict its history with Spain, France and United States.
• Iglesia de San Francisco de la Montaña: This is a church that dates to 1727. It has unique Baroque architecture and is a declared National Historical Monument on January 27, 1937. About Seventeen kilometers from Santiago, the San Francisco de la Montaña Church is stationed. This church has hundreds of hand carved pieces and is known to have the oldest baroque group of altars of the continent. These altars are painted or covered with gold leaf. These altars have Scared scriptures carved on them with scenes. It is a reflection of Spanish Catholicism with Indian culture. This is located a few kilometers away from the Pan American Highway.
• La Laguna, Las Colinas: This place is near the mountains and beaches zone. One can enjoy being at the top of a mountain or explore the pre mountain tropical forest with birds, plants and wildlife.
• Palacio de Las Garzas: There are many historic buildings in this area.
• Istmo Brew Pub: This pub provides the tourists with locally brewed beers and imported beers.
• The Panama Canal: This canal is about 77 km (48 miles). It is a shipping canal, located in Panama and this canal joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean; it is a key for maritime trade. The traffic is about 1000 ships in the early days and much higher right now. This canal has its own measurement system called Panama Canal/Universal Measurement System (PC/UMS) in tons. It is one of the largest engineering projects of the times. The route is via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America.

Best time to visit / climate:

Herrera has a tropical wet and dry climate. The dry season is from January to April whereas the wet season is in remaining year. The best time to visit this place is in the dry season.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
There is a large regional bus terminal in Chitré from where there are bus services to and fro to the destinations like Las Minas, Las Tablas, Los Posos, Ocú, Panama City, Pesé, Santiago, and Tonosí. Chitré has a small airport that has flight service to and fro from Panama City on Aeroperlas.
To reach Panama City:
By plane: Tocumen International Airport is outside Panama City. This airport offers services for Copa Airline, American Airlines (Dallas/Ft.Worth, Miami), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, Georgia), Continental Airlines (Houston, Newark), Avianca (Bogotá, Colombia) and TACA (San José, Costa Rica and San Salvador, El Salvador) along with major Central American airlines, and several South American airlines and European Airlines. There are direct flights between Tocumen and New York, Newark, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Madrid, and all major cities in the Caribbean area, Central America and South America, like Santiago de Chile.
By train:
Between Panama City and Colon, only one train service operates with a passenger car. This ride offers a scenic ride with views of the Panama Canal and the tropical rainforest.
To get around in local taxis is the best way of getting around.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
• Hotels at allstays
• Hotel at virtual panama
• Hotels at gtahotels
• Hotels at maplandia
• hotels at exclusive hotels
• Hotels at costaricalink

Blogs / Sites about Herrea, Panama:

• Blogs and reviews at travelblog
• Blogs and reviews at travelpost
• Blogs and reviews at the panama realestate

Images and photos of Herrea, Panama:

• Images at google
• Images at tripadvisor
• Images at Panama Pictures
• Images at Topix

Videos of Herrera, Panama:

Caballo en plaza Colonial de Parita (Herrera-Panama)

Herrera Province, Panama

Herrera Cathedral, Chapel,Center, Azuera Peninsula HD

Travel – Solothurn – The most beautiful Baroque City of Switzerland

Traveller — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:34:02 +0000

Solothurn is in the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. It is the capital and the only municipality of Canton of Solothurn. It is located on the banks of Aare and in the north-west of Switzerland. It is situated on the foot of Weissenstein Jura Mountains. The city is also known as most beautiful Baroque City of Switzerland. This town is known to be built in 1530-1792. It is a combination of architecture of Italian Grandezza, French style and Swiss ideas. Its population is approximately 15,137. Solothurn is also known to acquire Wakker Prize which is given for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage. It is 30km east to Bienne.
Other names for this place are as St. Ursen City, Wengi City, the City of Ambassadors, Switzerland’s most beautiful baroque city, and the city of culture. The cathedral, St. Ursen is famous for its skyline and its emblem. This city is known to be of Roman times where they built “Castrum Salodurum”, a bell-shaped walled fort in 350 BC.
The official language of Solothurn is German but French and English are also well known in the centre. The different places to see are Besenval Palace, Cathedral St. Ursus (1762–73), Church of the Jesuits (Jesuitenkirche, 1680–89), Clock tower (Zeitglockenturm, 12th century), Gate of Basel, Gate of Bienne, Landhaus, Museum of the Old Arsenal (1609–14), Old town, The Verena Gorge and the Hermitage , Waldegg Castle and Weissenstein mountain.
Solothurn was the eleventh to become part of Swiss Confederation, there are 11 churches and chapels, there 11 historic fountains and 11 towers, St. Ursus has 11 altars and 11 bells and has levels between 11 steps and so the place is believed to have special connection to the number eleven. There is also a local brewery called Oufi which means eleven and has a beer named Oufi.
The place is filled with renaissance buildings, noble Palais Besenval, religious building, chapels, churches, one of them known for its Italian style staircase; the town walls which were built according to the principles of the French military engineer Vauban. It is also known as Catholic town. This town belongs to 16th to 18th centuries.

The Events in the town:
• Weissensteinlauf: Weissenstein Walk (Aug)
• Swiss Walking Event (Sep)

Places to see:

• Old Town – It is the finest and most compact Old Towns in Switzerland. It has old building with many Baroque highlights and a marked French influence.
• St. Urs Cathedral – It is made of pale Solothurn marble. It is the most important Early Classical building in Switzerland which has 11 altars and 11 bells. It was begun by Gaetano Matteo Pisoni and completed by Paolo Antonio Pisoni. The interior has stuccoes by Francesco Pozzi and canvasses by Domenico Corvi.
• Museum of the Old Arsenal (1609–14) – This museum has the most ancient collection of armor in Europe.
• Museum of Fine Art –This museum has an important collection of Swiss Art from 1850 onwards, with works by Cuno Amiet, Ferdinand Hodler, Bernhard Luginbühl, Meret Oppenheim, and Jean Tinguely.
• Boat ride on the Aare (in summer) – The boat ride from Aare to the Stork Colony in Altreu and via Büren is splendid. The Old Town features in the National Inventory of Heritage Sites, to bilingual Biel/Bienne.
• Weissenstein – It is the Solothurn’s local mountain (1291 m) which has a chairlift to reach the top and the Hotel Kurhaus Weissenstein in the Jugendstil. One can enjoy the views of Central Switzerland and the Alps. It is a place for walking, cycling, cross-country skiing and sledging.
• The cathedral: This cathedral is of st. Urs and Victor and its tower to which one can go up, are worth watching.
• The clock tower
• Einsiedelei im Verenaschlucht (Hermitage in the Verena gorge): This can be reached by a 45-minute walk north of the city. It is in a forest. It is a place to walk around, especially in the evenings when candles are lit and placed in between the rocks throughout.

How to get there:
By train: Solothurn is served by passenger rail services, the Swiss Federal Rail (SBB) system. Trains run to and from Geneva, Zurich, Bern, and points in between. They are accessible half-hour between 4AM and 1AM every day.
By Boat: Solothurn is also connected by boat to the bilingual town of Biel/Bienne. Boats by the BSG connect to the two towns and leave two (Spring/Fall) or three (summer) times a day.
Get around: The old town is north of the train station and across the river. To get around the town, by foot is the best option.

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit Solothurn is summer that is around May, June and August. The places are mostly churches, chapels, museums, and palace and walks which are best suited in early summer to mid summer.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

Driving directions from Geneva to Solothurn:

View Larger Map

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

• Booking.com
• Hotel.info
• Tripadvisor (hotel, restaurant)
• http://www.hotelscombined.com/City/Solothurn.htm
• http://www.hotels-and-more.ch/en/solothurn/solothurn/
• http://www.hotelclub.com/Switzerland/Solothurn-hotels/
• http://www.switzerland-trips.com/Solothurn/Solothurn-Hotels-Tourist-Info.html
• http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Switzerland/Solothurn/tpod.html
• Virtualtourist

Blogs / Sites about Solothurn:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solothurn
• http://wikitravel.org/en/Solothurn
• http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Switzerland/Solothurn/tpod.html
• http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/57313/Solothurn-Switzerland-5
• http://realtravel.com/e-232547-solothurn_entry-solothurn
• Travelpost
• Virtualtourist

Images and photos of Solothurn:

• Google Search (link)
• http://search.pbase.com/search?q=Solothurn
• Tripadvisor
• Trekearth
• Vrtualtourist
• http://wiki.worldflicks.org/solothurn.html

Videos of Solothurn (link)

Solothurn the city, Switzerland

Solothurn city Switzerland

Solothurn: Timelapse Movie [HD]