Different places to travel » Culture

Travel – Lethem – A town in the border area of Guyana

Traveller — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:38:52 +0000

Lethem is a town located in the border area in Guyana, situated in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of the South American Country. It was named after the Governor of British Guiana, Sir Gordon James Lethem. He was governor from 1946 to 12 April 1947. It is on the Takatu River that borders with Brazil and is opposite to the town of Bonfim. It is the capital of Region 9 and links to Georgetown villages. The Takutu River has a bridge known as the Takutu River Bridge and links the two countries. This bridge brings Brazilian goods to Georgetown harbor; a link between northern Brazil to the Atlantic coast port of Georgetown. The town is 280 feet above sea level. Lethem comes under Guyanese Highland plain. This region includes the cities Lethem and Paramakatoi. It is a non-Hispanic nation in South America along with Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil.
This town is a part of Guyanese Rupununi savannah and includes lots of cashew trees and mango and coconut trees in its flora. There is a cashew processing plant in Lethem in St. Ignatius. Its main economy area are the plant and mineral extraction, and tourism. At Easter time, a rodeo event takes place which is a tourist attraction.
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. Guyana is populated with Amerindians and is a blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures like that of Trinidad. It has same types of food, festive events, music, sports, etc. to that of West Indies.
The town is a mixture of Caribbean and African culture and heritage. The official language is English but has a Caribbean accent to it. The others accents are Creole and Amerindian dialects. This place was initially a Dutch Colony and by 1815, British took its possession.

Attractions of Lethem and around in Guyana:
• Rupunni Savannah is in the southwestern part of Guyana. It is on the Brazilian border and the Rupinni River. This region has a land area of 15,000 square kilometers. It has termite mounds, creeks, and Amerindian villages and cattle ranches. To reach the Rupununi Savannah, pass the Iwokrama Rainforest which is a rainforest management.
• The Kanuku and the Moco Moco mountains and falls are the attractions of the place. The savannah divides the Kanuku Mountains into North and South Rupununi and this area is known for its mountains, fresh water systems, various Amerindian villages, large rustic cattle ranches and majestic termite mounds that are tall up to six feet.
• Rodeo Event: At Easter time, a rodeo event takes place which is a tourist attraction. It is said that this sport event turned cultural festival was introduced by an American from Dakota, named Ben Hart during the late nineteenth century. It became an annual tradition in the Rupununi by the local ranchers.
• 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 fall from Pakaraima Mountains and create a beautiful scene. The name Orinduik Falls is given after Orduik, which is the Amerindian name of an aquatic plant present at the falls. There are several herbal plants here. The surroundings are soothing and relaxing and one can rejuvenate the 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 British Government. The bridge is 1.25 miles long and has 61 spans with even small crafts being able to pass through. This bridge links people of Georgetown to people living in West Bank Demerara and to enhance business and trade in the country.
• 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 opened in 1974. It was run by a NGO of Government of Guyana. This museum houses collections and artifacts related to culture of Guyana.
• Kaieteur Falls: It is situated in the centre of Guyana and on the Potaro River. It is one of the natural wonders. It has a single drop of 741 feet which is the largest in the world. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It has a series of cascades with a total height of 251 meters (822 ft). 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. It is a 154 meter long Canopy Walkway from heights of 30 meters. One can see the birds like the Green Aracari, Scarlet Macaw, Guiana Toucanette or Channel-bill Toucan and Red Howler Monkeys.
• 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 near called Providence Mall.

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:

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http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Lethem,Guyana&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.863178,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lethem,+Upper+Takutu-Upper+Essequibo,+Guyana&z=12

How to get there:

By plane:
Trans Guyana Airways and Roraima Airways have daily flights between Georgetown and Lethem. There is a small municipal airport in Lethem. The flights go between the Ogle airport on the East Coast and the Lethem airstrip which is about two hours.
The Timehri international airport which was named in honor of the indigineous displaced peoples of Guyana and which was renamed Cheddi Jagan International Airport. 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:
The road link from Bonfim in the Brazilian state of Roraima to Lethem is the only way to the Guyana Coast. The road between the capital of the Brazilian state of Boa Vista and Bonfim has been a highway.

Get 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.

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

• Virtualtourist.com
• Tripadvisor
• Yahoo Travel
• guyanahotels.com

Blogs / Sites about Lethem:

• Travelblog.com
• Travelpod.com
• Travelblog.org
• http://en.wordpress.com/tag/guyana/

Images and photos of Lethem:

• Google Search
• http://www.maplandia.com/guyana/airports/lethem-airport/

Videos from youtube for Lethem:

Georgetown to Lethem

Moco-moco Falls, Lethem-Guyana

Travel – New Providence – A Caribbean island

Traveller — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:54:33 +0000

New Providence Island is dominated by the capital Nassau and is a Caribbean island, being the most populated island in Bahamas. Its best attractions are the small vessel harbors in the Caribbean.
The Spanish were the first to deport slaves to this place, and as a result, a small English colony was formed. This island was a nest for pirates as it was close to New Providence harbor and they attacked ships returning to Spain laden with wealth, gold and silver. Now, the Americans have taken over with tourism and two-third of the Bahamas population is housed here.
The cities of New Providence include Nassau, which is the capital, and is on the eastern side of the island. New Providence is 21 miles in length and 7 miles in width. Paradise Island is located to its north and both are linked by two bridges.

Bahamas Attractions

• Power boat Adventures: This is in the capital Nassau. One can enjoy stingray and shark encounters, with the iguanas and have a good lunch. It is scary for some of the tourists as the wave might cause the boat to shake around.
• Bacardi Distillery: This distillery was established in 1962. This is a production house for rum that is sold on the island. One can take a tour and taste sample cocktails and buy them at the store. Its gift shop is still in running mode but the distillery was closed in 2008.
• Blue Lagoon Island and Dolphin Encounters: This is an exciting tour and cruising through Nassau Harbor on large, high-speed catamarans to the beautiful private island, giving a just perfect trip. Dolphin Encounters also offers a close encounter with California sea lions along with Dolphin swim.
• Daq shack: This is a local flavor to Cable Beach. It is situated direct from the Wyndham and Sheraton. The local straw market, food and cigar vendors are part of the shack. One can enjoy Caribbean music and have fun.
• Arawak cay: This is a cay which is known for its Fish fry. The local flavor of fish can be tasted here. Other Bahamian cuisines are also available.
• Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas: This is a notch, swimming with sharks and diving expeditions are available.
• Nassau: This is the capital of the Bahamas and is on New Providence Island. This is a colonial Caribbean city which has modern American culture. It is a combination of old and new in its facilities with an old-world charm. Many of the town’s buildings are dated back to 18th century.
• Junkanoo: This is known to be the biggest event in the Bahamian calendar. This is a street carnival which is held on December 26 which is also known as the Boxing Day. On New Year’s Day Junkanoo groups rush all through the town. Nassau town is the centre of this festival. Junakanoo music is played which has African rhythms and medley on cacophony. Every year the costumes are made from the scratch.
• Dolphin Encounters: Dolphin encounters are where one gets to swim with dolphins. One can also watch from the side. This is located on Salt cay.
• Bahamas Historical Museum: This museum is housed in Nassau and exhibits the pre Columbian times to present times, around 50 years of the history of Bahamas. It has interesting historical artifacts.
• Pirate Museum: This is a tour which takes us to a journey to the heart of downtown Nassau and back to 1716. There is a replica of the pirate ship “Revenge” which can be boarded and seen from the inside.
• Aqua venture at Atlantis Paradise Island: The Atlantis resort that is located on Pirate island houses the largest water park of the world and is spread on a 97-acre Park. There are many waterslides and river rides with special effects that are great fun.
• Bimini Islands: These islands are a group in the Bahamas with an underwater cave system. It is 50 miles (80km) east of Miami and has an area no larger than 10 square miles (26 sq km). The main island of North Bimini, is seven miles long (11km).
• Paradise Island: This Island is connected to the New Providence Island by two bridges. This island has a variety of beaches and hotels and resorts. Cable beach is the popular one.
• Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island: This Island has white beaches and aquamarine seas and is fifty miles, that is, 80 km, east of Miami. Free port is an inland which is preferred by visitors for stay or they choose Lucaya which is a seaside suburb.
• Andros Island: This is the largest island in Bahamas. This island is ideal for scuba divers and fisherman. This island is not that developed but tourist enjoy on the island.
• Exumas Islands: The Exumas comprises of a myriad set of islands and cays. They are spread over hundreds of miles. There are two parts of the islands, the largest is the Great Exuma and the little is the Little Exuma.
• Long Island: This Island hosts one of the main events of Bahamas, a yachting race called Long Island Regatta. It is held in the town of Salt Pond every may. People from all over the world come here to watch it. It is one of the unspoilt islands of the Bahamas.
• Eleuthera Island: This Island has no hotels nor cruise ships and hence not very crowded. It is spread almost 100 miles (161km) but is at most two miles (3km) wide. Harbor Island is considered to be its satellite island.
• Hartley’s Undersea Walk: One can take a walk along the oceanic floor here. Diving is popular and is easy with the use of undersea botanical helmet which is useful for a normal breathing experience and dry hair.
• Pine tree Stables: Here people are taken on a two hour Bahamian horse back ride. This ride starts from Freeport and through the Pine Tree forest, through a castle and then to the dunes and along the beach.

Best time to visit / climate:

This island has a tropical marine climate and the waters of Gulf Stream are warm. The place is attacked by hurricanes and tropical storms and floods. The hurricane season lasts (officially) from June to November. The hotels charge their highest prices during the peak winter period from mid-December to mid-April and are the peak period for touring. Late summer or summer is the best time to visit the place.

Location on Google Maps:

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

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=New+Providence,+Nassau,+Bahamas&sll=25.06,-77.345&sspn=0.264352,0.44014&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Nassau,+The+Bahamas&ll=25.060099,-77.345123&spn=0.279903,0.44014&z=11

How to get there:
Visitors from US, Canada, EU and Japan do not need an advance visa for stays of up to three months.
By plane: the capital Nassau, on New Providence, and Freeport, on Grand Bahamas are the largest airports of Bahamas. There are smaller airports in other places.
By boat: The capital, Nassau, on New Providence Island is one of the world’s busiest cruise ship ports, and is served by ships that originate from Florida, Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island.
Getting around: One can go by Bahamasair from Nassau or take bus services from Nassau/New Providence or take a taxi or rent a car to go around the place. Mail boats are served in almost all islands in Bahamas and are the cheapest mode of transport.

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

• Tripadvisor (hotel, restaurant)
• Wheretostay
• Caribbean.com
• Bahamas-travel.info

Blogs / Sites about New Providence:

• Travelpod.com
• http://www.newprovidenceblog.com/
• nj.com
• Travelbuddy.com

Images and photos of New Providence:

• Google Search
• Trekearth.com
• Tripadvisor.com
• pbase.com

Videos on youtube:

Destiny’s Day of Paradise and New Providence

Nassau – Bahamas New Providence Island – by Esther Borbas

Snorkeling Southwest Reef, New Providence, Bahamas

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 – Isla Palenque Chiriquí, an island in the Gulf of Chiriquí in Panama

Traveller — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:53:12 +0000

Isla Palenque is an island located in the Gulf of Chiriquí. The word Palenque actually means a refuge for escaped slaves and this is island is given this name due to Central America’s colonial periods Indians who were indentured to work in the Spanish mines in those times. The island is situated off the western Pacific shore and near the Costa Rica border. To its north is Boca Brava and is linked to it by a narrow bridge. This island is about 400 acres (1.6 km2), with approx. 5 miles (8.0 km) of coastline and over 1-mile (1.6 km) of beaches. The island is mostly full of ecosystems of tropical forest that have mangroves, lagoons, and littoral forest and is home for many species of plants, flowers, animals and birds.
Families of Howler monkeys, Northern Tamandua Anteater, the Nine-banded Armadillo, White-nosed Coati, Crab-eating Raccoon, Agouti, Woolly Opossum, and the Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine, kinds of rabbits, squirrels and mice all exist here. Among the large reptiles are the Emerald Basilisk, Black ctenosaur, Green Iguana, and Spectacled Caiman along with multiple species of frogs, salamander, lizards and snakes. Among the birds are Toucans, Parrots, Woodpeckers, Frigate birds, Hawks, and Owls along with multiple varieties of Hummingbirds.
This island is also another ideal point for sport fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of Chiriquí.

Attractions of Islas Palenques, Chiriquí, Panama
Wildlife:
• Whale watching: One can watch the humpback whales only once in a point of year as these are migratory whales. This archipelago displays their acrobatic behavior with leviathans of deep travel of miles on icy waters and winter feeding at the poles.
• Bird Watching: The Frigate bird colony on Coco Island at Islas Secas Resort is worth watching and a beautiful experience as one can watch many species of birds on the archipelago.
• Coiba National Marine Park: This is on the island of Coiba. There are 37 surrounding islands and islets which are 30 miles off the Panamanian coast in the Gulf of Chiriquí. During the period 1919 to 2004, this island was a location for political prisoners and a penal colony for criminals in Panama. It is about twenty miles to the southeast of Las Secas and one can reach by boat to this archipelago. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Islas Ladrones: This Island is in the Gulf of Chiriqui and is an island. The word Ladrones means “thief” in Spanish. Islas Ladrones is situated to the south of Boca Chica and is 27 miles to Boca Chica. This island is the ideal point for sport fishing and scuba diving in the Gulf of Chiriquí. This island is full of fish life; divers can see many varieties of fish species like King Angelfish, Damselfish, Surgeonfish, Parrotfish, Triggerfish, Wrasse, Gobies, Blennies and Moorish idols. This island is unique as from May to November giant manta rays make an appearance and on a year round basis one can view species of eagle, mobula and devil fish. Sharks of white-tip, black-tip and nurse species are also seen all through the year along with humpback whales. Among the activities that tourists do are scuba diving (with a visibility of 30-80 meters) and Snorkeling. Boco Chica is an ideal place for scuba diving and sport fishing.
• Islas Secas is located in the Gulf of Chiriquí and is an island. This island, Islas Secas, is situated to the east of Boca Chica and is 16 miles to Boca Chica. This island is also another ideal point for sport fishing and scuba diving in the Gulf of Chiriquí. The visibility is good in dry months and right for sport fishing as the fish flock from corals and rock to form schools. One can also see White-tip sharks, rays and turtles along with moray eels, lobster and nudi branchs and Humpback whales. One can watch the humpback whales only once in a particular time of the year.
• Diving: The Secas Archipelago with its neighboring island groups like Ladrones, Paredas and the Coiba National Park and the park being an UNESCO World Heritage site gives us the best adventure diving in the world. This island is governed by five oceanic currents and is rich in eco-regions. The Tropical Eastern Pacific, the islands of the Gulf of ChiriquÌ and the marine biodiverse life and habitat is unique here and is not there in other islands like the Galapagos and Coco Islands, Costa Rica. One can watch about 800 species of fish which include about thirty-three species of shark including the Reef White Tip, Scalloped Hammerhead, Bull, Tiger, and the bizarre Guitar shark.
• Kayaking – Sailing – Surfing: There are hidden coves, reefs, beaches along with mangrove forests which is a biggest attraction of this island. One can go through an all Kayaking safari. There is a blow hole which is also known as Buffona which is a natural phenomenon on Isla Cavada. One can do the best surfing from April through October.
• Boca Brava: This is an island in Panama in the Gulf of Chiriquí. One can access Boca Brava from David’s Enrique Malek International Airport. From Boca Chica, one can access by a boat. Boca Chica is a small fishing village that is 5 miles from Boca Brava.
• Parque Nacional Marino Golfo de Chiriquí is in the Gulf of Chiriquí and is a national park. This national park was found in 1994 and spread over 14,730 hectares or 36,400 acres. This area has coral reef, mangrove swamp and marine meadows with forests and white sand with temperate air and weather. This has been given the tag “one of Panama’s best kept secrets.” It is one of the hot spots of Bouquet. It has an archipelago called Las Isla Parida where one can see green iguanas, humpback whales (from August to October), hammerhead sharks, dolphins and multiple species of sea turtle on its island beaches.

Best time to visit / climate:
Isla Palenque’s temperatures are consistent year round but the dry season is from December through April and the rainy season is from May through November. So the best time for visiting this island is December through April.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
From David’s Enrique Malek International Airport, the island of Isla Palenque can be accessed by boat from the small fishing village of Boca Chica which is just about 5 miles from Isla Palenque over water. This takes about one hour or less and from port of Pedregal it is a 50 minute scenic ride.
To get around electric GEM bikes and cars are available for the resort residents.

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

• http://iguide.travel/Isla_Palenque
• Tripadvisor (link1, link2)
• http://www.boutiquehotelcalamia.com/hotelcalamiapanama.html

Blogs / Sites about Islas Palenque Chiriquí, Panama:

• http://www.islapalenque.com/blog/
• http://adamspictureblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/isla-palenque.html
• http://www.islapalenque.com/blog/2010/03/furniture-finds-in-panama/

Images and photos of Islas Palenque Chiriquí, Panama:

• Google Search
• http://www.islapalenque.com/blog/2009/12/scale/
• http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Palenque.aspx
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Isla-Palenque/103250256395958?sk=wall

Videos of the island “Isla Palenque Chiriquí” from Youtube:

Isla Palenque by Chopper

Isla Palenque Shoreline

Whales and Dolphins off the Coast of Isla Palenque

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 – Hamilton (Bermuda) – the administrative centre of Bermuda

Traveller — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:05:39 +0000

Hamilton is in Pembroke Parish and is the administrative centre of Bermuda. It is known to be the largest city and the present capital of Bermuda after St. George. This city has a large number of museums, some fine buildings and some great architecture, along with a fine Anglican cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity. There are many forts, fortifications and bits of Royal Naval heritage and a modern blend of cinemas, along with a variety of shops, bars, hotels and restaurants. Apart from these this city has markets, gardens, stalls, beaches, squares and plazas with wide streets, boulevards and walkways.

The main attractions in Hamilton are:
- Anglican Cathedral of The Most Holy Trinity
- Barr’s Bay Park
- Bermuda Farmers market
- Bermuda Historical Society Museum
- Bermuda National Gallery
- Bermuda National Library
- Bermudiana Arcade
- Cabinet Building and Cenotaph
- Canon’s Court
- Cathedral of St. Theresa
- City Hall
- Law courts
- Par-la-Ville Park
- Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
- Sessions House
- Victoria Park
- Washington Mall

Few of the popular attractions are:
• Bermuda Forts: There are large forts and smaller batteries on the island. They were built from 1612 to 1957. Almost 100 fortifications are built on this island. The larger ones are restored while some are on displays. Some can only be reached by boat.
• Fort Hamilton: This is a Victorian fort and has a view of Hamilton Harbor. The fortification dates back to mid-19th century. It was the times of rift between Britain and the USA. The ramparts are mounted with 18-ton artillery pieces (to date unused) capable of firing 400-pound (181kg) cannonballs through iron-hulled vessels. There is a small beach nearby known as Clarence Cove. There is a house known to be the residence of Royal Navy’s regional commander and the house is dated from the early 19th century.
• Harrington Sound: This is a big inland sea that is five miles (8km) northeast of Hamilton. The sound is associated to the changing tides and water rush below the bridge connecting. One side is Flatts village on north side and the other side is south side.
• Crystal Caves: The caves are on the land between Harrington Sound and Castle Harbor. One can see stalactites and stalagmites formations. There is a lake known as Cahow Lake which is at a depth of 55ft (17m). Palm garden is another attraction nearby. Further located are Leamington caves which has underground pools.
• Bermuda Maritime Museum, Pender Rd., and Royal Naval Dockyard: One can go for 1/2 a day to the Royal Naval Dockyard. During the American Revolutionary War, the island had naval bases. This island had been the base of the British Royal Navy which relocated the headquarters of its Atlantic Fleet here from 1812 to 1957. The tourist attractions include the old limestone storage buildings, fortresses which were redeveloped by the Bermuda Government. There are shopping centers too.
• Bermuda Perfumery & Gardens: These gardens are for nature lover. There is horticulture and jungle spread with flora like hibiscus, passion flowers, Easter lilies, thumbergia, night-blooming cerus and other flowers. This is known to be the oldest and best perfume shop which also shows how the scents are made. The perfumery is in an old farmhouse that was built around 250 years ago.
• Hamilton City Hall, Repton, Church St, Repton: This hall is known to be built in 1960. It has two galleries and a theatre. The Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts take place here, and others like the magical Evening of Jazz concert etc. are performed in this hall.
• Scuba Look, Hamilton, 11 Blue Hole Hill, Hamilton: This is on the east side of Bermuda and at Grotto Bay Beach Hotel. It is the only dive operator.
• Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo, 40 North Shore Road, Flatts Village: This aquarium has a centerpiece of a 140,000 gallon replica coral reef which is special and there are Over three hundred birds, reptiles and mammals and 200 species of fish housed in this centre.
• Devil’s Hole Aquarium, Harrington Sound Road, Hamilton: It is a small aquarium but one has to look for reef fish and turtles with bait.
• Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, 40 Crow Lane, East Broadway, Pembroke: This is just outside Hamilton which takes tourists to an underwater expedition.
• John Smith’s Bay Beach, Hamilton Parish: This is another nice pink sand beach.
• Shelly Bay, North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish: This bay has lots of shallow water. It also has a large playground ideal for families with small kids. It is not far from Flatts Village and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo are also nearby. This bay also has Restrooms, beach rentals, food concession.
• Bermuda Railway Trail: This trail was dismantled after 17 years in 1948. It is now a public walking trail from St. George Town in the east end, through Pembroke Parish near the City of Hamilton and on toward Somerset Village in the west end. On the way one can find trestle houses, station houses and railway ties and views of the island and waters.

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate of Hamilton is sub-tropical, the weather being sunny and hot all year round. July, August and September are hot enough. The best time to visit Bermuda is from spring through to autumn. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream give it a quasi-tropical atmosphere. Overall, Bermuda has a mild, humid subtropical maritime climate; strong winds are common in winter. The hurricane season is from June to November. It is best to avoid this time of the year.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Hamilton is accessible from all parts of Bermuda.
By plane: Bermuda International Airport is the airport operating in Bermuda and is located in St. George’s parish which is beside Castle Harbor. This airport serves daily flights from Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Toronto and Washington, together with less frequent flights from other US and Canadian cities. British Airways fly from London (Gatwick) to Bermuda.
By boat/yacht: The cruise ships operate from the ports of Baltimore, Boston, Bayonne, New York, Norfolk, Miami/Ft Lauderdale, and Philadelphia on the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Get around: All locations in and around Hamilton are easily accessible by foot.

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

• Wikitravel.org
• Tripreport.com
• Tripadvisor
• Travel at Yahoo

Blogs / Sites about Hamilton (Bermuda):

• http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/
• Travelblog.org
• Travelpod.com
• http://ca.loadedweb.com/cities/ontario/hamilton/blogs/
• http://www.travbuddy.com/Hamilton-travel-blogs-520444

Images and photos of Hamilton (Bermuda):

• Google Search
• Travel-tips
• dere-street
• Travelpost

Videos of Hamilton in Bermuda from Youtube:

Hamilton Bermuda, HD Video

Cruise ship, Front Street, Hamilton Bermuda

Bermuda Hamilton Harbor

Hamilton Harbor

Travel – Georgetown – is the largest city as well as the capital of Guyana

Traveller — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 06:38:48 +0000

Georgetown is the largest city in as well as the capital of Guyana, located in the north-eastern South America. It is a country on the Atlantic Ocean coastline, with the ocean on its northeast, and to the east is Suriname. To the west is Venezuela and to the south is Brazil. Guyana lies between Suriname and Venezuela. It is the third smallest country in South America (with the smallest and the next being Suriname and Uruguay). Georgetown is the Capital of the country, and is situated in the county of Demerara and in the Demerara-Mahaica region.
Georgetown is located in the Guyanese Coastal Plain. This plain includes the cities Georgetown, Bartica, Mabaruma and New Amsterdam.
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.
It is populated with Amerindians and is a blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures like that of Trinidad. It has 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 officially spoken language along with Creole and Amerindian dialects.
This place is mostly on highlands and on low coastal planes. Savanna is in the south and the highest point is Mount Roraima which is at an altitude of 2,835 metres.
Construction booms
Georgetown got a boom in construction and the major projects are:
? Providence Stadium, Providence (a few miles south)
? Buddy’s Hotel and Resort, Providence
? East Bank Highway expansion (4 lanes)
? Georgetown Centre Shopping Mall (City Mall)
? Providence Mall
? Greater Georgetown Conference Centre
? Repavement of all roads
? Repairing Demerara Harbour Bridge
? Construction of many private houses
? Construction/Renovation of churches,mosques and mandirs.
Among its economical businesses are:Demerara sugar, timber, bauxite, gold, and diamonds that are exported through Georgetown’s harbour.
There are many of the businesses headquarters in Georgetown and some of them are:
? AH&L Kissoon
? Bank of Guyana
? British Sky Broadcasting (Sky TV)
? Cevons Waste Management
? Courtney Benn Contracting INC.
? Courts Guyana Ltd
Attractions in and around Georgetown, Guyana:
• Victoria: This was the first village that was bought by the slaves.
• 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 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 near 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 which is from the colonial era.
• Orinduik Falls: This is 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 fall from Pakaraima Mountains and it is a beautiful scene. The name Orinduik Falls is given after Orduik, which is the Amerindian name of an aquatic plant present at the falls. There are several herbal plants here. The surroundings are soothing and relaxing 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 is the first church and it dates back to 1810. The arches are of Gothic style and it gives a Guyana historical glimpse. The glasses were 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 British Government. It is 1.25 miles long and has 61 spans with even small crafts being able to pass through. This bridge links people of Georgetown to people living in West Bank Demerara and to enhance business and trade in the country.
• 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 founded Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, Guyana who was an archaeologist. This museum also has excavated objects and information on its culture.
• Kaieteur Falls: It is situated in the centre of Guyana and on the Potaro River. It is one of the natural wonders. It has a single drop of 741 feet which is the largest in the world. It is located in Kaieteur National Park. It has a series of cascades with a total height of 251 meters (822 ft). 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. It is a 154 meter long Canopy Walkway from heights of 30 meters. One can see the birds like the Green Aracari, Scarlet Macaw, Guiana Toucanette or Channel-bill Toucan and Red Howler Monkeys.
• Ecotourism: This is a booming industry in tourism in Guyana.
• The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Library, the Bank of Guyana, the National Museum of Guyana, State House and St. George’s Anglican Cathedral..

Go to maps.google.com, search for the place, and when you find it, click on Link on the right side, Paste the HTML in the lower text box.

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

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Georgetown,+Demerara-Mahaica,+Guyana&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.863178,56.513672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Georgetown,+Demerara-Mahaica,+Guyana&z=12

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 which was named in honor of the indigineous displaced peoples of Guyana and which was renamed Cheddi Jagan International Airport. 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 road 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.
Get 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.

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

• http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-485312-georgetown_vacations-i
• http://guyanahotels.com/
• http://www.guyanahotel.com/
• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/

Blogs / Sites about Georgetown:

• http://www.herdmanstonlodge.com/
• http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/south-america/guyana/
• http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Guyana/blogs-page-1.html
• http://en.wordpress.com/tag/guyana/
Images and photos of Georgetown:

• http://www.google.co.in/images?hl=en&biw=1024&bih=653&q=Georgetown,+Guyana+images&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=H9nXTILWFpGkuAOt0p2bCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQsAQwAA
• http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/guyana/georgetown/
• http://www.infohub.com/pictures/images_guyana_291.html
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g294078-Georgetown.html

Travel – El Valle de Anton – a seven square mile town in Cocle in Panama

Traveller — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:11:30 +0000

El Valle de Anton is a seven square mile town in Cocle in Panama. It is surrounded by a volcanic caldera which was a deep lake. The crater spit out richest volcanic soil onto the valley floor which is known as tierra negra or black earth. It is located at a 2,000 foot elevation. It is known to be the cultural, environmental and culinary bounty of Old Panama.
One can ride or walk to waterfalls, square trees, mud baths, a zoo, a museum, the forest canopy tour, pre-Columbian petro glyphs, farmers market, tours of the local organic farm, coffee roaster, artisan bakery, and guided birding and fauna surveys, El Nispero – a local private zoo, a large waterfall called “El Macho”, a grove of square trees, a etched hieroglyphic rock, lots of birds, bugs, butterflies, animals or cooking school. El Valle houses an orchid conservatory and the amphibian rescue station that are two world class eco sites in town.
Activities at the place include hiking, horseback riding, and bird watching as El Valle houses around 500 species of birds.
Attractions of El Valle de Anton and around:
• “El Valle’s Sunday Market”: It is the town’s public market, which is open 7 days a week, located on Avenida Central or Calle Central to the east-west of the town.
• “El Nispero”: This is a zoo as well as a historical and geological museum, and a small serpentarium and an orchid garden that houses local orchid species.
• Cerro Gaital National Monument: It is a house for Panama’s 10,000 plants, 1500 trees, 1000 birds, 220 mammals, or 354 amphibians and reptile species.
• El Valle Amphibian Conservation Centre, EVACC: Over 200 frogs, salamanders and toads are prevented from attack from an unstoppable fungus that has been known to be hit them. They are maintained in micro climate and treated and detoxed. This also houses exhibits like the local golden frog, a cultural icon and the republic’s emblematic conservation symbol.
• El Nispero Zoo-Nursery: This place has examples of the local fauna, flora and wildlife.
• El Valley Orchid Nursery: This is an eco-site where the orchidophile can experience orchidelirium. There are about 1300 varieties and 200 endangered samples housed here. The JICA, COSPA, APROVACA center is one sponsored by a consortium of Japanese and Panamanian orchid growers.
• Three Sisters Cooking School: This is a cooking school giving insight of history and culture of food ways of the place.
• Alquiler de Caballos: This is a stable that houses 30 horses, who are used for exploring the mountains that are nearby. One can enjoy the horse ride over the mountains.
• Canopy Adventure: This is a gliding adventure that uses cables, pulleys and harness to glide and view the rainforest from above the jungle which is a magnificent experience.
• Chorro de las Mozas: This is a waterfall or set of waterfalls that cascade down the hill sides into the valley. These falls are also called Young Women’s falls.
• Chorro El Macho: This is the popular waterfall of El Valle which is 85 feet high. Below the falls one has swimming pools for swimming which are made out of rocks and surrounding it is the rainforest, with the water of the river being fed into the pool. There are hiking trails too available here.
• Handicrafts Market: This is a popular attraction and one of the Panama’s largest handicrafts markets.
• La Piedra Pintada: This is a huge boulder which is a colored stone of pre-Columbian carvings and full of petro glyphs.
• Coffee Plantation of Boquete: This region is famous for gesha coffee which can be visited and enjoyed and one can buy coffee that is grown on volcanic slope. Cafe Ruiz and Kotowa are for touring.
• Whitewater River Rafting on the Chiriquí Viejo: River tours that are either about 1/2 day and full day rafting excursions. Among them are:
o Chiriqui River Rafting
o Panama Rafters
o Boquete Outdoor Adventure
• Visit Paradise Garden: This is a Wildlife Rescue Center in Panama which takes an entrance fee in order to support the centre.

Best time to visit / climate:
El Valle de Anton dry Season starts from December through March which is also known as summer, and a cooler Wet Season which starts from April through November and is known as Winter. The best time to visit this place is hence December to March which is summer.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
There are frequent buses to and from Albrook in the Panama City hub which connects to Costa Rica or the Caribbean side. Also from the Albrook bus terminal there are buses that are run by Panafrom, Padafront, and Terminales David to David every one hour.

Get around: One can either take foot or take a taxi to go around. Apart from this there are several tour companies offering packages of tour around the place.

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

• http://wikitravel.org/en/El_Valle#Sleep
• Tripadvisor
• Czbrats
• Panamainfo.com

Blogs / Sites about El Valle de Anton:

• http://blogs.vidaenelvalle.com/
• Travelpod.com
• Lonelyplanet.com

Images and photos of El Valle de Anton:

• Google Search
• Tripadvisor
• http://travel.webshots.com/album/115166797oCQRsV
• Abpanama.com

Videos from youtube:

The Golden Frog Inn, El Valle De Anton, Panama

El valle de Anton

HD – El Valle de Anton

On the way to El Valle de Anton, Panama

Panama, El Valle de Anton, 2007

Travel – El Condado, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Traveller — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:51:01 +0000

El Condado is in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is an oceanfront, located to the east of the Old San Juan (which is a historical colonial district of San Juan). Its land area is about 0.82 km² (824,791 m²), and has an approximate population of 6,170. This place is known for its Condado beach and its nightlife. El Condado has some great hotels, restaurants, boutique shops, bistros, nightclubs, casinos, and cafes. It has the De Diego Avenue on its eastern border which is known to be the extension towards the Atlantic coast. To its north are the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. In its eastern district area there is a 1 mile long beach called the Ocean Park.
It is a Latin American city and has a Spanish based culture. This city lies in the capital of the island which is a home for the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean. San Juan and also El Condado is a Latin American city with Spanish-based culture, mixed with African traditions and Taíno culture. Museums of modern art exist abroad.
The official language of this island is Spanish and English. Spanish is the mother tongue of the native living here.

Attractions of El Condado and around in San Juan:

• Condado Beach: This beach is one mile long stretched along the Atlantic Ocean and Laguna Condado. The line has many luxury hotels and facilities.
• The modern Convention Center: This convention centre is in Condado. It is known to be one of the largest in the Caribbean. This centre can hold about 10,000 people and houses and hosts many art exhibitions and festivals. The total area is about 580,000 square feet. It is located on a site that was earlier a US Naval and Coast Guard Base. It is the centre for many shopping centers, theatres, restaurants, and more.
• Casinos: There are two popular casino hotels of San Juan. Also there are small parks in the surroundings.
• Shopping: Most of the shopping centers are found on Ashford Avenue. The main centers are
1. Cartier
2. Louis Vuitton
3. Ferragamo
4. Furla
5. Hellmuth
• Nightlife: The following are the casinos and restaurants that stay open late into the night:
1. Eternal, the lobby-level lounge at the Conrad Condado Plaza.
2. The lobby bar at the La Concha Resort.
3. Kali, an Eastern-themed lounge and restaurant.
• 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 a part of National Historic Site and is a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1983.
• El Castillo de San Cristóbal: This is a Spanish fort that is in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This fort was built to protect against land based attacks on this city of San Juan. It is part of National Historic Site. It is of a height 150 feet and is on an area of 27 acres of land.
• Palacio de Santa Catalina: It is a 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 by 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 destroyed by hurricane.
• Castillo de San Jerónimo: It is a fort that was built 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 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 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 the colonial portion and this 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. Among the best preserved, this city of San Juan is one of the oldest locations and is also a National Historic Site.

Best time to visit / climate:
El Condado, 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.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:
Condado is located between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Old San Juan and is a 10 minute taxi ride away from each. To get around, one can just walk around.
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. SJU is the modern airport in the Caribbean. 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.

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

• Hotelguides.com
• Wikitravel.org
• http://www.sanjuanhotelsltd.com/
• http://www.condado.com.pe/pages/index.php
• Virtualtourist.com

Blogs / Sites about El Condado:

• http://www.travelpod.com/s/el+condado
• Tripwiser.com
• Lonelyplanet.com
• http://sanjuansafaris.com/blog/

Images and photos of El Condado:

• Google Search
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjd_photography/3515913303/
• http://www.terragalleria.com/america/puerto-rico/san-juan/
• http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-l613-San_Juan_photos.html

Videos of El Condado on Youtube:

Travel San Juan, Puerto Rico: Glitz @ El Condado & Isla Verde

El Condado, San Juan

El Condado, San Juan – Puerto Rico

Travel – Bellinzona – famous for its three medieval castles

Traveller — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 19:11:07 +0000

Bellinzona is in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. It is the capital city and is famous for its three medieval castles, Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro. These three castles are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This capital city includes the village of Artore and is on the east of the Ticino River, which is at the foot of the Alps. It is suurounded by Saint-Gotthard Massif. Many major alpine passes several key alpine passes, including the Nufenen, St. Gotthard, Lukmanier, San Bernardino and the Poebene meet and make Bellinzona a key trading centre.
The city of Bellinzona has approximately 17,000 inhabitants. This city is famous for its Carnival Rabadan and the local football team, AC Bellinzona. It is also known to be the most Italianate town of Switzerland. This city is located at the narrow part of the valley to the Alpine passes of St. Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lucomagno (Lukmanier). This is a gateway to Italy and key to the Alps, in north and south directions respectively.
The city is unique with its Italian-style theatre, squares, old houses in Lombardy town and courtyards. The patrician houses tell the history of the place and the place has many churches too. For shoppers, there is a big weekly market on the Piazza Nosetto, every Saturday. This place boasts of the medieval architecture in the Alps. It was first ruled by Romans before it became a part of the Swiss federation. It is an ideal place for touring, for resorts etc. There are many resorts of Locarno, Ascona and Lugano. There are many valleys too to watch for like towards north, Leventina, Side valleys of Tessin, Bedretto valley and Blenio valley.
Among the three castles, The Castelgrande is situated on a rocky peak of the valley along with a series of fortified walls protecting the old city and connect to the Montebello, the second castle. The third castle (Sasso Corbaro) is located on an isolated rocky promontory south-east of the two other valleys.

The Top Events
• La Bacchica, wine festival (Sep – Sep )
• Chocodays – The chocolate week-end (Nov)

Place to see:
• Villa dei Cedri – It is a municipal art gallery which comprises of Swiss and Italian paintings dated back to late 19th and early 20th century. There is also focus on artists from the local area.
• Old Town – It is in the area around the Piazza Nosetto, Via del Teatro and Piazza del Governo. The Old Town is famous for the wealth of beautiful merchants’ houses, stone gateways, balconies with wrought iron railings and inn signs from the history. There is a big weekly market on the Piazza Nosetto, every Saturday. The city is unique with its Italian-style theatre, squares, old houses in Lombardy town and courtyards.
• Teatro Sociale – It is a building is in the typically Italian Classical style and the only theatre in Switzerland to have been preserved from the 19th century. It is said to be inspired by La Scala in Milan.
• Modern architecture in Bellinzona – In the castle, the Castelgrande, the architect Aurelio Galfetti has integrated a boldly designed restaurant. The Convento delle Agostiniane on the Monte Carasso has been converted into a modern training centre by the architect Luigi Snozzi.
• The three castles that have been part of UNESCO heritage sights.
• Castelgrande – This castle is part of the history and is the Old Castle in 14th and 15th centuries. This castle is made out of Castlegranade hill that is 150-200m in diameter and very steep on southern side. The insides of castle wall are now flat with many renovations and expansions. The castle grounds were once filled with buildings which were pulled down by the Dukes of Milan to have interior space. The walls, towers all were raised, extended and added. This castle has an elevator from foot to the top of the castle. It can also be reached by foot by climbing or from the streets of the city centre through the city wall.
• Montebello – Montebello is located of hilltop to the east of the town that is connected to Castlegranade. Montebello is known as the Small, New or Middle Castle in the 15th Century, as Schwyz Castle from 1506 and St. Martin’s Castle after 1818. It was also renovated and extended in 19th century. There is a dedicated chapel to Saint Michael. It has an Archaeological and Civic museum which was opened in 1974 in the tower. The museum is open from March to November. In the history section there are several capitals from the 15th Century and a rare 13th Century Baptismal font and collection of military arms along with drawings and sketches from several artists. The archaeology section includes items from 1400-1500 B.C. It also has a collection of ceramics, glassware, funeral urns, ornamental objects and jewellery in iron and bronze from around the canton.
• Sasso Corbaro – This castle is also known as Unterwalden Castle after 1506; Saint Barbara’s Castle after 1818 and is about 600m south-west of town on a rocky hill. This castle is not integrated to the other two with city walls. The first part of the castle was built in defense of the city to close a gap. It was built in 1478. It is open from March until November. This castle houses the Sala Emma Poglia built for Emma family. The room is typical with walnut panelling and suva, a stove for heating. It has temporary exhibits now.

How to get there:

By train: There are frequent trains from Milan to Lugano (takes 1 – 2 hours) and from Como (takes just over half an hour). All the major trains towards Zurich, Lugano, Chiasso, Locarno and Italy stop at Bellinzona. The train station in Lugano is situated above the city and you can either walk down towards the lake or take the funicular. The landscape between Chiasso – Lugano – Bellinzona is very beautiful, and the train goes very smooth and quiet.

By Road: The A2 and A13 motorways, as well as some main roads link to Bellinzona making it an important transitional node.

Best time to visit / climate:

The best time to visit Bellinzona is early summer to mid summer. The visit to the three medieval castles, Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro, the walk around Old town, to look at art gallery, this time would be just right for anyone to enjoy.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

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

• Wikitravel (link)
• Tripadvisor (hotel, restaurant)
• Virtualtourist (reviews and restaurants)
• Virtualtourist
• Booking.com
• Eurobookings
• http://www.isyours.com/e/guide/ticino/bellinzona.hotels.html
• http://www.a1tourism.com/switzerland/bellinzona.html

Blogs / Sites about Bellinzona:

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Bellinzona
• Tripadvisor
• Virtualtourist
• http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Switzerland/Bellinzona/tpod.html
• http://www.oleole.com/switzerland/bellinzona/tlnf.html
• http://www.mytripjournal.com/travel-Switzerland-Bellinzona
• http://realtravel.com/c-1449-23535-castle_vacations
• http://www.flexijourney.com/Bellinzona

Images and photos of Bellinzona;

• Google Search
• http://realtravel.com/dp-23535-0-bellinzona_photos
• Tripadvisor
• http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-l16593-Bellinzona_photos.html
• http://travel.webshots.com/album/128365658HShdpO
• http://wiki.worldflicks.org/bellinzona.html
• http://www.fotopedia.com/en/Three_Castles_of_Bellinzona

Videos of Bellinzona (link)

Castello Grande- Bellinzona, Switzerland

Bellinzona, Switzerland

Bellinzona city (Switzerland)