I had a chance in Lanzarote to go diving in Playa Blanca, almost an hour's drive away from where I was staying. Usually I dive with a local dive outfit just 5 minutes away, but this trip was arranged by one of the entertainment team and seemed too good a chance to miss.
I was budied with the guy from the entertainment team as all the others on the trip were taking part in a Discover Scuba Diving trip, so on another dive. At about 15m the dive leader saw a large grouper hiding under a rock and started to settle us all down onto the sand. Jan, my buddy settled into the sand where pointed and Dave, the dive leader signed for me to do the same.
Right where he pointed I saw a pair of eyes staring up at me and a long, thin tail. Not fancying disturbing a sleeping Angel Shark or Ray, I signed back no, look there. A bit of confusion reigned - Dave no doubt thinking I was thick - then suddenly he realised why I wasn't moving, pointed me to settle elsewhere and hastily moved the rest of the divers, before cautiously uncovering my first ever electric ray.
A lovely sight, thankfully it didn't get to have me as it's next victim!
Thursday 25 October 2007
Saturday 20 October 2007
Diving In Lanzarote
I've had various diving experiences in Lanzarote - my try dive was there and the following year I completed my open water course and then a few months later my advanced open water course.
I've shore dived, jumped in from jettys, rolled in from the back of ribs and climbed down steps in full dive gear, surrounded by nudists in Mala!
Depending on what time of year you go there's a great variety of wildlife to be seen. Angel Sharks visit the island and lay quietly on the sandy floor in wait for they potential prey. One of the best memories of my try dive was one such specimen.
If you are lucky, rays can be seen if you are visiting at the same time as them. These graceful animals glide out of the deep to visit the shallows. I've been lucky enough to see small Eagle and Electric Rays and even a 6 foot sting ray in the Canaries.
I've also managed one to see a large Grouper. The instructor was so keen to show us this fish under the rock that he couldn't understand why I wouldn't settle on the sand next to my companion. He became frustrated and signed me to descend to the sand and look under the rock. I signed to look where he wanted me to settle. He suddenly took the hint and moved my buddy to a safe distance then uncovered the 4ft Electric Ray that he'd been trying to get me to sit on! Never just take your instructor's word for it - look first!
If you are around the rocks then there's always the chance of Eels and of course hundreds of small flatfish and other small fish abound wherever you go, plus shoals of Barracuda.
If you are thinking of diving on a family holiday, Lanzarote is well worth visiting.
I've shore dived, jumped in from jettys, rolled in from the back of ribs and climbed down steps in full dive gear, surrounded by nudists in Mala!
Depending on what time of year you go there's a great variety of wildlife to be seen. Angel Sharks visit the island and lay quietly on the sandy floor in wait for they potential prey. One of the best memories of my try dive was one such specimen.
If you are lucky, rays can be seen if you are visiting at the same time as them. These graceful animals glide out of the deep to visit the shallows. I've been lucky enough to see small Eagle and Electric Rays and even a 6 foot sting ray in the Canaries.
I've also managed one to see a large Grouper. The instructor was so keen to show us this fish under the rock that he couldn't understand why I wouldn't settle on the sand next to my companion. He became frustrated and signed me to descend to the sand and look under the rock. I signed to look where he wanted me to settle. He suddenly took the hint and moved my buddy to a safe distance then uncovered the 4ft Electric Ray that he'd been trying to get me to sit on! Never just take your instructor's word for it - look first!
If you are around the rocks then there's always the chance of Eels and of course hundreds of small flatfish and other small fish abound wherever you go, plus shoals of Barracuda.
If you are thinking of diving on a family holiday, Lanzarote is well worth visiting.
Wednesday 17 October 2007
Traveling With Children in Ireland
Traveling with children can be a fun and memorable experience for both you and them, and Ireland is a great place bring them. However, children like routine and security so it requires some preparation and effort to make traveling an enjoyable experience for both kids and adults.
There are very few health risks to young children in Ireland and the worst they are likely to get is a head cold or sunburn. Nevertheless, be sure to pack a well stocked first aid kit for those inevitable little accidents, and keep them protected from the sun on hot summer days.
It is also a good idea to let them know about the holiday well in advance to give them time to adjust to the idea. Also, get them involved, show them brochures and seek their input on what they would be like to do when they are there. Most likely, they will be dragging you out the door to the airport when it is time to go.
In so far as possible, try to keep them to their regular routine during travel as regards eating and sleeping. Pack plenty of snacks so they don't get hungry and keep plenty of games and toys at hand.
Once you arrive in Ireland you will most likely be driving and will need a good rental car to get you around. Be sure to rent a spacious vehicle. Three kids squashed into the back of a hatchback does not make for a harmonious holiday. Thrifty Car Rentals has a good choice of family cars and people carriers to suit your family at reasonable prices. It has offices at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, and Dublin and Cork city centres as well.
There is no shortage of fun activities all Ireland for children and adults to enjoy together. With beautiful beaches, zoos, petting farms, water parks and much more, there is no reason for the little ones to get bored. Be sure to include at least one activity that they will enjoy each day.
Colm Brady is Director of Business Development for Thrifty Car Rental Ireland and has worked with Thrifty since 2000. Colm is continually developing the companies business through both the traditional and online channels. Among the websites that are currently under the Thrifty Umbrella are: MPV Car Hire Ireland, and Thrifty Car Hire in Ireland.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colm_Brady
There are very few health risks to young children in Ireland and the worst they are likely to get is a head cold or sunburn. Nevertheless, be sure to pack a well stocked first aid kit for those inevitable little accidents, and keep them protected from the sun on hot summer days.
It is also a good idea to let them know about the holiday well in advance to give them time to adjust to the idea. Also, get them involved, show them brochures and seek their input on what they would be like to do when they are there. Most likely, they will be dragging you out the door to the airport when it is time to go.
In so far as possible, try to keep them to their regular routine during travel as regards eating and sleeping. Pack plenty of snacks so they don't get hungry and keep plenty of games and toys at hand.
Once you arrive in Ireland you will most likely be driving and will need a good rental car to get you around. Be sure to rent a spacious vehicle. Three kids squashed into the back of a hatchback does not make for a harmonious holiday. Thrifty Car Rentals has a good choice of family cars and people carriers to suit your family at reasonable prices. It has offices at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports, and Dublin and Cork city centres as well.
There is no shortage of fun activities all Ireland for children and adults to enjoy together. With beautiful beaches, zoos, petting farms, water parks and much more, there is no reason for the little ones to get bored. Be sure to include at least one activity that they will enjoy each day.
Colm Brady is Director of Business Development for Thrifty Car Rental Ireland and has worked with Thrifty since 2000. Colm is continually developing the companies business through both the traditional and online channels. Among the websites that are currently under the Thrifty Umbrella are: MPV Car Hire Ireland, and Thrifty Car Hire in Ireland.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colm_Brady
Tuesday 16 October 2007
So You Are Planning To Visit Ireland
Maybe you are passing through or just have a free long weekend and you decide to pop over to our Emerald Isle! You may be fitting a tour in around a conference or some other event or planning a short weekend getaway. It may not be a long stay, but it is long enough to have some fun!
Short trips can often be rushed and you need a holiday to get over it when you get home! You do not want to waist time travelling to and from towns. I would advise you to pick one location and spend your time travelling to all the tourist spots that surround it.
'So where would you recommend we visit?!' There really is so much to see and do, but if you have a limited time to be here, the best places to choose are probably those that are close to airports / ports. There are very cheap airlines in and out of Ireland where you could fly to London, Paris etc for as little as 1cent (not including taxes and airport charges, which they fail to tell you!!) But you have quite alot of choice.
Choosing Accommodation
There are plenty of Bed and Breakfast homes around all of Ireland. Many of them are very homely and not expensive to stay in.
Off season it is possible to get very good self-catering accommodation for a short stay. Look especially for cottage rentals, but plan to eat out. Nearly all pubs (and every town in Ireland has about 20) do great pub lunches and they are not expensive. Find a pub that has live Irish music at night, so you get a bit of the culture!
Whatever standard of accommodation you choose, stay in the same one for your whole trip, moving during such a short stay is not worth the hassle.
Are you stuck in a rut?
Do you want more from life?
Receive a complimentary life coaching session here: Life Coaching
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Osborn
Short trips can often be rushed and you need a holiday to get over it when you get home! You do not want to waist time travelling to and from towns. I would advise you to pick one location and spend your time travelling to all the tourist spots that surround it.
'So where would you recommend we visit?!' There really is so much to see and do, but if you have a limited time to be here, the best places to choose are probably those that are close to airports / ports. There are very cheap airlines in and out of Ireland where you could fly to London, Paris etc for as little as 1cent (not including taxes and airport charges, which they fail to tell you!!) But you have quite alot of choice.
Choosing Accommodation
There are plenty of Bed and Breakfast homes around all of Ireland. Many of them are very homely and not expensive to stay in.
Off season it is possible to get very good self-catering accommodation for a short stay. Look especially for cottage rentals, but plan to eat out. Nearly all pubs (and every town in Ireland has about 20) do great pub lunches and they are not expensive. Find a pub that has live Irish music at night, so you get a bit of the culture!
Whatever standard of accommodation you choose, stay in the same one for your whole trip, moving during such a short stay is not worth the hassle.
Are you stuck in a rut?
Do you want more from life?
Receive a complimentary life coaching session here: Life Coaching
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Osborn
Monday 15 October 2007
Family Vacation Ideas In Washington DC
There are kid friendly vacations locations throughout the United States and beyond. One of our family’s favorite family vacation spots is Washington DC. Our family of six has traveled to Washington DC many times …. This article lists our favorite kid friendly Washington DC family vacation attractions…
Over time, and after many family vacations to Washington DC, we have found that the best amount of time spent in Washington DC with children is three days. There is just so much to see and do there, you will absolutely wear yourself out if you try to so it all at once.
The Smithsonian Museums
You and your family can literally spend days in each of the Smithsonian Museums without seeing all that there is to see in each museum. The Smithsonian consists of 17 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and 2 museums in New York City
Of the museums in Washington DC, our favorites are The National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Zoo.
The National Air and Space Museum has a great number of kid friendly activities throughout the museum. Our favorite was the paper airplane contest - The contest consisted of constructing a paper airplane, and then flying is through a loop held by one of the attendants.
The National Museum of American History is a complete study in the culture and history of America and the American people. We really enjoy walking through all of the exhibits and being reminded of how far the American People have come in the arena of transportation through the years.
The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to understanding the natural world, and our place in it. The animal exhibits are amazing. The dinosaur exhibit is a family favorite of ours. Be sure to see the Hope Diamond on display there.
The National Zoo is a fantastic place to walk and enjoy your family vacation time together. The apes were personal favorites at the National Zoo.
There is no charge to visit any of the Smithsonian Museums. The Museums open at 10:00 AM daily.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
This tour is absolutely awesome. The tour was about 45 minutes long, and very informative. The tour guides were very open to answering any questions that the visitors might have. The tour is throughout the actual working Bureau. There is actual currency printing going on during the tour. The kids loved it, and the gift shop at the end of the tour was a real treat. The Bureau is located on 14th & C Sts. SW in Washington DC. If you are visiting in March - August, you will need a free ticket for the tour. The ticket booth, which is located on 15th Street, is open at 8:00 AM - get there early, the tickets are usually gone by 9:00 AM.
Fords Theater
The Fords Theater is a live, working theater in downtown Washington DC as well as a memorial serving as a living tribute to President Lincoln's love of the performing arts. The Theater is in excellent condition, and the tour allows you to spend as much time as you would like in the theater. The tour was simple and very interesting, and we were able to take photos inside the theater. The tour guides were very informative and willing to spend as much time with us as we wanted to spend in the theater. This tour is definitely a "must see" on any of your family vacations.
Spy Museum
The Spy Museum has many interactive exhibits making this a fun stop on a kid friendly family vacations itinerary. We added this stop to our list of family vacations fun stops because we were curious about it, and since we are all interested in espionage and spying. The visit turned out to be a great choice. The exhibits included a history of spying, school for spies, an introduction to espionage, the war of spies, and on into the 21st century of spying. There is a great deal of history rolled up in that one museum.
Washington DC offers many kid friendly vacation options. These are just a few of our favorites.
Teresa Mills writes and maintains Kid-Friendly-Family-Vacations.com, a chronicle of her family's vacations. Additional Kid Friendly Washington DC Destinations can be found at Kid Friendly Family Vacations' Washington DC section.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Mills
Over time, and after many family vacations to Washington DC, we have found that the best amount of time spent in Washington DC with children is three days. There is just so much to see and do there, you will absolutely wear yourself out if you try to so it all at once.
The Smithsonian Museums
You and your family can literally spend days in each of the Smithsonian Museums without seeing all that there is to see in each museum. The Smithsonian consists of 17 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and 2 museums in New York City
Of the museums in Washington DC, our favorites are The National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Zoo.
The National Air and Space Museum has a great number of kid friendly activities throughout the museum. Our favorite was the paper airplane contest - The contest consisted of constructing a paper airplane, and then flying is through a loop held by one of the attendants.
The National Museum of American History is a complete study in the culture and history of America and the American people. We really enjoy walking through all of the exhibits and being reminded of how far the American People have come in the arena of transportation through the years.
The National Museum of Natural History is dedicated to understanding the natural world, and our place in it. The animal exhibits are amazing. The dinosaur exhibit is a family favorite of ours. Be sure to see the Hope Diamond on display there.
The National Zoo is a fantastic place to walk and enjoy your family vacation time together. The apes were personal favorites at the National Zoo.
There is no charge to visit any of the Smithsonian Museums. The Museums open at 10:00 AM daily.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
This tour is absolutely awesome. The tour was about 45 minutes long, and very informative. The tour guides were very open to answering any questions that the visitors might have. The tour is throughout the actual working Bureau. There is actual currency printing going on during the tour. The kids loved it, and the gift shop at the end of the tour was a real treat. The Bureau is located on 14th & C Sts. SW in Washington DC. If you are visiting in March - August, you will need a free ticket for the tour. The ticket booth, which is located on 15th Street, is open at 8:00 AM - get there early, the tickets are usually gone by 9:00 AM.
Fords Theater
The Fords Theater is a live, working theater in downtown Washington DC as well as a memorial serving as a living tribute to President Lincoln's love of the performing arts. The Theater is in excellent condition, and the tour allows you to spend as much time as you would like in the theater. The tour was simple and very interesting, and we were able to take photos inside the theater. The tour guides were very informative and willing to spend as much time with us as we wanted to spend in the theater. This tour is definitely a "must see" on any of your family vacations.
Spy Museum
The Spy Museum has many interactive exhibits making this a fun stop on a kid friendly family vacations itinerary. We added this stop to our list of family vacations fun stops because we were curious about it, and since we are all interested in espionage and spying. The visit turned out to be a great choice. The exhibits included a history of spying, school for spies, an introduction to espionage, the war of spies, and on into the 21st century of spying. There is a great deal of history rolled up in that one museum.
Washington DC offers many kid friendly vacation options. These are just a few of our favorites.
Teresa Mills writes and maintains Kid-Friendly-Family-Vacations.com, a chronicle of her family's vacations. Additional Kid Friendly Washington DC Destinations can be found at Kid Friendly Family Vacations' Washington DC section.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Teresa_Mills
Sunday 14 October 2007
10 Reasons To Visit Berlin Germany
You want to see ‘Spree-Athens’? It surely is Berlin, the German capital, lying on the course of the Spree River, in the northeastern Germany. Often compared with Athens, the Germany’s “grey city” – Berlin has always been a major center of European history, culture, art, politics, sports, and science. It is home to world-famous universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums, and historic sites.
Berlin is one of the most popular top tourist destinations in the world; certainly, one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Europe. It is widely known for its numerous museums, palaces, historic sites, cafes, clubs, bars, and vibrant nightlife. Surely, you can pick numerous reasons to visit Berlin Germany, but here are top 10 reasons to visit the magnificent city.
Reichstag, the magnificent edifice with crowning glass dome, is one of the primary reasons to visit Berlin. Located near the Brandenburg gate building, the German parliament is the city’s top tourist attraction. It has been the seat of the German parliament since 1999, after it was redesigned by British architect, Sir Norman Foster. Queues at entrance are often lengthy, but you can sneak in through the side entrance, having lunch at the Dachgarten Restaurant.
Berliner Funkturm or Funkturm Berlin (Radio Tower Berlin) is another worthy reason to visit Berlin. It is 150 meter high transmitting tower, with open-air observation deck 124 meter above ground. Often nicknamed "der lange Lulatsch" ("the lanky lad"), the tower was built between 1924 and 1926 by Heinrich Straumer. Standing on the Berlin fairground in the Charlottenburg, out of city center, the lofty tower is one of the best-known points of interest in Berlin.
Fernsehturm, a 368 meters high television tower in the heart of city, close to Alexanderplatz, is one of the most celebrated landmarks, in Berlin. Easily visible throughout the central districts of Berlin, the iconic tower was built between 1965 and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). Its image was used as a symbol of Berlin by the GDR administration. The tower has an observation deck 204 meters above ground.
Siegessäule (Victory Column), a 60 meters high historic monument with panoramic view in the very center of the city, is one of the famous sights in Berlin. Designed by Heinrich Strack after 1864 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian war, the Column on its top features an 8.3 meters high magnificent bronze (weighing 35 tonnes) statue of Victoria, designed by Friedrich Drake. On a polished red granite base, the column sits on a hall of pillars with a glass mosaic designed by Anton von Werner.
Berlin Wall, a 1.3km long stretch of intact historic Wall known as the East Side Gallery, is one of well known sites of Berlin, Germany. Located to the east of the city centre along the River Spree in Mühlenstraße near the Oberbaumbrücke, the East Side Gallery is an international memorial for freedom. On the painted east side of the Berlin Wall, the Gallery features approximately 106 paintings by artists from all over the world.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, is one of the well known sites of Germany. It is a recently opened (2005) vast abstract artwork covering an entire block near the Brandenburg Gate, including an underground museum narrating the terrifying tale on the Holocaust. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineers Buro Happold, the Holocaust Memorial features comprises a grid of concrete pillars with a disorienting concrete maze at the centre.
Berlin Zoo or Zoologischer Garten Berlin (Berlin zoological garden) is one of major tourist attractions of Berlin. Located in Berlin Tiergarten near the S-Bahn and railway station in the city center, the Berlin zoological garden is one of the biggest zoos in Germany, with largest number of species of the world. Opened on August 1, 1844, Berlin Zoo was the first zoo in Germany. The zoo boasts approximately 14,000 animals from 1500 species, and a marvelous Aquarium.
Tierpark Berlin is another fine reason to visit Berlin. It is another great zoo in Berlin. Founded in 1954, the zoo is one of the major tourist attractions of Berlin. Located in Friedrichsfelde, on the former grounds of Friedrichsfelde Palace, Tierpark Berlin, with 160 hectares of total area, is one of the largest zoos of Europe. You can watch numerous rare animals and species in the Tierpark Berlin.
Berlin Museums give you every reason to visit the city of Berlin. The German capital is widely known for its very wide array of museums and galleries; the city offers over 50 state run museums. Featuring Pergamonmuseum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bodemuseum, and Neues Museum, the Museuminsel (Museum Island) is the best known area for art lovers. Some other notable museums include Deutsches Historisches Museum, Jüdisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, and Neue Nationalgalerie.
Berlin Churches are also one of the major attractions of Berlin. The city has many historically interesting and architecturally remarkable churches. Some of the notable churches of Berlin include – Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, Marienkirche, Nikolaikirche, St. Hedwigs Kathedrale, Berliner Dom, and Friedrichswerdersche Kirche.
James Burrows writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for hotels, villas, & Holiday accommodation in Berlin, and Holiday apartments in Europe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burrows
Berlin is one of the most popular top tourist destinations in the world; certainly, one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Europe. It is widely known for its numerous museums, palaces, historic sites, cafes, clubs, bars, and vibrant nightlife. Surely, you can pick numerous reasons to visit Berlin Germany, but here are top 10 reasons to visit the magnificent city.
Reichstag, the magnificent edifice with crowning glass dome, is one of the primary reasons to visit Berlin. Located near the Brandenburg gate building, the German parliament is the city’s top tourist attraction. It has been the seat of the German parliament since 1999, after it was redesigned by British architect, Sir Norman Foster. Queues at entrance are often lengthy, but you can sneak in through the side entrance, having lunch at the Dachgarten Restaurant.
Berliner Funkturm or Funkturm Berlin (Radio Tower Berlin) is another worthy reason to visit Berlin. It is 150 meter high transmitting tower, with open-air observation deck 124 meter above ground. Often nicknamed "der lange Lulatsch" ("the lanky lad"), the tower was built between 1924 and 1926 by Heinrich Straumer. Standing on the Berlin fairground in the Charlottenburg, out of city center, the lofty tower is one of the best-known points of interest in Berlin.
Fernsehturm, a 368 meters high television tower in the heart of city, close to Alexanderplatz, is one of the most celebrated landmarks, in Berlin. Easily visible throughout the central districts of Berlin, the iconic tower was built between 1965 and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). Its image was used as a symbol of Berlin by the GDR administration. The tower has an observation deck 204 meters above ground.
Siegessäule (Victory Column), a 60 meters high historic monument with panoramic view in the very center of the city, is one of the famous sights in Berlin. Designed by Heinrich Strack after 1864 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian war, the Column on its top features an 8.3 meters high magnificent bronze (weighing 35 tonnes) statue of Victoria, designed by Friedrich Drake. On a polished red granite base, the column sits on a hall of pillars with a glass mosaic designed by Anton von Werner.
Berlin Wall, a 1.3km long stretch of intact historic Wall known as the East Side Gallery, is one of well known sites of Berlin, Germany. Located to the east of the city centre along the River Spree in Mühlenstraße near the Oberbaumbrücke, the East Side Gallery is an international memorial for freedom. On the painted east side of the Berlin Wall, the Gallery features approximately 106 paintings by artists from all over the world.
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as the Holocaust Memorial, is one of the well known sites of Germany. It is a recently opened (2005) vast abstract artwork covering an entire block near the Brandenburg Gate, including an underground museum narrating the terrifying tale on the Holocaust. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman and engineers Buro Happold, the Holocaust Memorial features comprises a grid of concrete pillars with a disorienting concrete maze at the centre.
Berlin Zoo or Zoologischer Garten Berlin (Berlin zoological garden) is one of major tourist attractions of Berlin. Located in Berlin Tiergarten near the S-Bahn and railway station in the city center, the Berlin zoological garden is one of the biggest zoos in Germany, with largest number of species of the world. Opened on August 1, 1844, Berlin Zoo was the first zoo in Germany. The zoo boasts approximately 14,000 animals from 1500 species, and a marvelous Aquarium.
Tierpark Berlin is another fine reason to visit Berlin. It is another great zoo in Berlin. Founded in 1954, the zoo is one of the major tourist attractions of Berlin. Located in Friedrichsfelde, on the former grounds of Friedrichsfelde Palace, Tierpark Berlin, with 160 hectares of total area, is one of the largest zoos of Europe. You can watch numerous rare animals and species in the Tierpark Berlin.
Berlin Museums give you every reason to visit the city of Berlin. The German capital is widely known for its very wide array of museums and galleries; the city offers over 50 state run museums. Featuring Pergamonmuseum, Altes Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bodemuseum, and Neues Museum, the Museuminsel (Museum Island) is the best known area for art lovers. Some other notable museums include Deutsches Historisches Museum, Jüdisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, and Neue Nationalgalerie.
Berlin Churches are also one of the major attractions of Berlin. The city has many historically interesting and architecturally remarkable churches. Some of the notable churches of Berlin include – Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, Marienkirche, Nikolaikirche, St. Hedwigs Kathedrale, Berliner Dom, and Friedrichswerdersche Kirche.
James Burrows writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing listings for hotels, villas, & Holiday accommodation in Berlin, and Holiday apartments in Europe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Burrows
Saturday 13 October 2007
Hello from Austria - Hiking through the Vineyards of Southwestern Styria
On a beautiful warm summer day and after a nice filling breakfast we got going early yesterday to embark on our Sunday excursion to the south-western part of Styria. I wasn’t particularly well-rested after a full day yesterday that included a hike, a local driving tour and a birthday party, but I was keen to explore the area west of Leibnitz, Styria’s foremost winegrowing region together with my brother Ewald, his wife Anneliese and our friends Luis and Isabella.
Distances in Europe are always on a different scale than in North America. Southwestern Styria is only about one hour from my home town of Weiz and nevertheless it is considered a different geographic region from my home area of East Styria. Southwestern Styria enjoys a favourable climate with Mediterranean influences and the temperatures are on average higher than those in the surrounding regions. The area is particularly well-known for its rolling hills, many of which are used as vineyards for growing mostly white, but also some red wines of the Zweigelt or Blauburgunder variety. The most well-known wine of this area is called “Schilcher”, a rose-coloured wine, whose special designation can only be applied to wines that were grown in this particular area and made from a type of grape called the ”Blaue Wildbacher”.
We stopped our vehicle on a parking lot just steps away from the “Weinbauschule Silberberg” (the Silberberg School of Viticulture). This particular schools features a 1.5 km long wine educational trail that provides informational background about the history of wine, about details related to wine-growing as well as a collection of old wine farming implements and tools. A 5 m high statue of St. Urban, the patron saint of the vintners, stands at the beginning of the wine educational trail, and further up the hill there is an oversized metal sculpture of an insect called the wine pest that was brought in from France in the 1800s and almost completely deciminated Styrian wine cultivation.
We slowly hiked up on pathways along the vineyards and had a beautiful view south, and westwards towards the mountain chain separating the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. Schloss Seggau (Seggau Castle), dating back to the 12th century, was clearly visible nearby, a structure that was once used to defend Austria’s border against invading Turks and Hungarians, but today has found new use as a hotel and conference centre.
Once we reached the top of the hill we climbed up the “Kreuzkogelwarte”, a lookout tower at an elevation of 496 m that provided a continuous 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. North of us was the provincial capital of Graz with a backdrop of the mountains of Northern Styria, south of us Slovenia, and west of us the Austrian province of Carinthia.
My brother pointed out a particular hill that also featured a vineyard and was apparently the property of famous Austrian tennis player Thomas Muster, who hails from the nearby district capital of Leibnitz. Thomas Muster, a former number 1 player, was one of the most gifted clay court players in the history of tennis and achieved 44 ATP tour titles throughout his career during the 1990s. Today Thomas Muster heads up his own fashion label called TOMS, runs a vineyard, has gotten involved in the production of high-quality Alpine spring water called TOMS Water, and not surprisingly, developed a tennis racquet called TOMS Machine in collaboration with the Kneissl company, released in 2005. A great tennis career can open many doors…
We continued our hike of the surrounding hills and walked by a so-called “Buschenschank”, a rustic local restaurant owned by a vintner who is able to sell his own wine as well as a variety of self-produced culinary products. This is a typical Austrian gastronomic establishment that was originally limited to selling only this-year’s wine and had strict limitations as to what type of foods they could serve. Today, many vintner’s obtain a full restaurant license in order to sell regular hot foods as well.
After an enjoyable hike along the ridge of a vineyards we started our descent into the valley and spent about 45 minutes walking down a forest road and then headed into a cool forest that took us back to our vehicle. A fifteen minute drive later we arrived at our lunch destination: “Buschenschank Koschak” is a popular local destination for good wines and excellent local Styrian food. We had reserved a table and sat outside under trellises covered with grapes and vine tendrils.
It was seriously time for a traditional Styrian meal: I started with a “Fritattensuppe” (a clear beef broth that features thinly cut pancake strips), my favourite Austrian soup. Then all five of us shared a big platter of Austrian Fried Chicken as well as a Rosemary Chicken with Rice. Austrian fried chicken is very crispy and less greasy than North American varieties and is a staple of traditional Austrian Sunday lunches. Traditionally, the largest meal is eaten at lunch time in Austria, although modern work routines have changes the traditional rhythms of food preparation and consumption as well.
The obligatory side dish is a mixed salad containing lettuce, tomatoes, beans and other varieties of vegetables, marinated with vinegar and pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil is a popular Styrian speciality, a specialty oil made from the roasted seeds of pumpkins. Styrian pumpkins are unique: the seeds have lost their wooden shell due to a mutation about 100 years ago and only a tiny silver-coloured membrane protects the seed. This soft consistency of the seeds facilitates efficient pressing of the oil. The final product is a thick, dark green oil that has a nutty flavour and is used primarily as a salad oil, but also to refine soups and other dishes. You can even get a “pumpkin seed parfait” as a dessert, which is exactly what my brother ordered after we were finished.
Incidentally, pumpkin seed oil is the only Styrian delicacy that I buy in Austria to bring back to Toronto, or I might request someone traveling from Austria to bring me a bottle. As a passionate salad eater, Austrian pumpkin seed oil is my favourite salad dressing, bar none. And just recently I found a German delicatessen store that apparently carries Styrian pumpkin seed oil right here in Toronto. So thanks to Toronto’s multicultural culinary landscape I might actually be able to get my favourite Austrian delicacy right here without having to beg an Austrian visitor to bring me a bottle.
After a great meal I got really tired, especially considering the fact that I only had a few hours of sleep last night. I slept all the way home in the car and once we got back to my brother’s house, I crashed for a few hours. I woke up at about 7 pm, and just before having a light dinner, I hopped on Anneliese’s bicycle and went cycling for an hour throughout my home town.
Sunday night Austrian towns are traditionally very quiet since everyone is getting ready to go to work the next day, so the roads were nice and peaceful. When I came back my brother and sister-in-law were ready to go to bed so I turned in early to rest up for today. Well, unfortunately the weather today did not cooperate as planned and the entire morning was grey and drizzly. At noon time I visited my friends Andrea and Herbert, whose daughter Nina had stayed with my husband and me last year to as part of her Canadian stint to work as a nanny.
Andrea is the older sister of one of my best friends from school, and I had not seen her for at least 23 years. It was great to see her again, we had already chatted numerous times for free using www.skype.com, and I knew she had the same love for languages, travel and cosmopolitan thinking as me. She graciously invited me to join her family for lunch and I was listening intently to Andrea’s and Herbert’s travel stories from Rumania. Just in the last few weeks they had spent some time in Bucharest and in Transsylvania and learned much about Rumania’s interesting history as well as about the tyrannical Ceauscescu regime. We all agreed that we view traveling much differently as we get older, that today we really see travel as an opportunity to learn and to understand the world and its historic and environmental contexts.
We decided that we would jointly visit another local tourism attraction tomorrow: the “Katerloch”, a famous local limestone cave that is a popular regional tourist destination.
After a little walk in town I met my friends Luis and Isabella and their friend Wolfgang to play a couple of hours of tennis in an indoor tennis facility. The tennis club also features a bistro where we enjoyed a couple of pizzas afterwards and a beer. I thought to myself “these Austrians know how to live”. None of the Canadian tennis clubs that I have been at feature a bistro or any kind of gastronomic establishment. So I realized these Austrians have their priorities straight: you can work out and burn calories, but you have to cap it off with a nice tasty meal and a local beer because “Gemütlichkeit” (loosely translated as warm cordiality in a cozy environment) is an important factor here.
After about an hour I thanked my friends for a great tennis match and a cozy evening and headed back to my brother’s house to reconnect with him and to rest up for another eventful day tomorrow.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences & interesting life journeys, interviews with travellers and travel experts, cross-cultural issues, and many other features.
Susanne has recently published a series of FREE travel ebooks about destinations such as Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Nova Scotia and many more. Visit Travel and Transitions - FREE ebooks (www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html) "Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher
Distances in Europe are always on a different scale than in North America. Southwestern Styria is only about one hour from my home town of Weiz and nevertheless it is considered a different geographic region from my home area of East Styria. Southwestern Styria enjoys a favourable climate with Mediterranean influences and the temperatures are on average higher than those in the surrounding regions. The area is particularly well-known for its rolling hills, many of which are used as vineyards for growing mostly white, but also some red wines of the Zweigelt or Blauburgunder variety. The most well-known wine of this area is called “Schilcher”, a rose-coloured wine, whose special designation can only be applied to wines that were grown in this particular area and made from a type of grape called the ”Blaue Wildbacher”.
We stopped our vehicle on a parking lot just steps away from the “Weinbauschule Silberberg” (the Silberberg School of Viticulture). This particular schools features a 1.5 km long wine educational trail that provides informational background about the history of wine, about details related to wine-growing as well as a collection of old wine farming implements and tools. A 5 m high statue of St. Urban, the patron saint of the vintners, stands at the beginning of the wine educational trail, and further up the hill there is an oversized metal sculpture of an insect called the wine pest that was brought in from France in the 1800s and almost completely deciminated Styrian wine cultivation.
We slowly hiked up on pathways along the vineyards and had a beautiful view south, and westwards towards the mountain chain separating the Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. Schloss Seggau (Seggau Castle), dating back to the 12th century, was clearly visible nearby, a structure that was once used to defend Austria’s border against invading Turks and Hungarians, but today has found new use as a hotel and conference centre.
Once we reached the top of the hill we climbed up the “Kreuzkogelwarte”, a lookout tower at an elevation of 496 m that provided a continuous 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside. North of us was the provincial capital of Graz with a backdrop of the mountains of Northern Styria, south of us Slovenia, and west of us the Austrian province of Carinthia.
My brother pointed out a particular hill that also featured a vineyard and was apparently the property of famous Austrian tennis player Thomas Muster, who hails from the nearby district capital of Leibnitz. Thomas Muster, a former number 1 player, was one of the most gifted clay court players in the history of tennis and achieved 44 ATP tour titles throughout his career during the 1990s. Today Thomas Muster heads up his own fashion label called TOMS, runs a vineyard, has gotten involved in the production of high-quality Alpine spring water called TOMS Water, and not surprisingly, developed a tennis racquet called TOMS Machine in collaboration with the Kneissl company, released in 2005. A great tennis career can open many doors…
We continued our hike of the surrounding hills and walked by a so-called “Buschenschank”, a rustic local restaurant owned by a vintner who is able to sell his own wine as well as a variety of self-produced culinary products. This is a typical Austrian gastronomic establishment that was originally limited to selling only this-year’s wine and had strict limitations as to what type of foods they could serve. Today, many vintner’s obtain a full restaurant license in order to sell regular hot foods as well.
After an enjoyable hike along the ridge of a vineyards we started our descent into the valley and spent about 45 minutes walking down a forest road and then headed into a cool forest that took us back to our vehicle. A fifteen minute drive later we arrived at our lunch destination: “Buschenschank Koschak” is a popular local destination for good wines and excellent local Styrian food. We had reserved a table and sat outside under trellises covered with grapes and vine tendrils.
It was seriously time for a traditional Styrian meal: I started with a “Fritattensuppe” (a clear beef broth that features thinly cut pancake strips), my favourite Austrian soup. Then all five of us shared a big platter of Austrian Fried Chicken as well as a Rosemary Chicken with Rice. Austrian fried chicken is very crispy and less greasy than North American varieties and is a staple of traditional Austrian Sunday lunches. Traditionally, the largest meal is eaten at lunch time in Austria, although modern work routines have changes the traditional rhythms of food preparation and consumption as well.
The obligatory side dish is a mixed salad containing lettuce, tomatoes, beans and other varieties of vegetables, marinated with vinegar and pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin seed oil is a popular Styrian speciality, a specialty oil made from the roasted seeds of pumpkins. Styrian pumpkins are unique: the seeds have lost their wooden shell due to a mutation about 100 years ago and only a tiny silver-coloured membrane protects the seed. This soft consistency of the seeds facilitates efficient pressing of the oil. The final product is a thick, dark green oil that has a nutty flavour and is used primarily as a salad oil, but also to refine soups and other dishes. You can even get a “pumpkin seed parfait” as a dessert, which is exactly what my brother ordered after we were finished.
Incidentally, pumpkin seed oil is the only Styrian delicacy that I buy in Austria to bring back to Toronto, or I might request someone traveling from Austria to bring me a bottle. As a passionate salad eater, Austrian pumpkin seed oil is my favourite salad dressing, bar none. And just recently I found a German delicatessen store that apparently carries Styrian pumpkin seed oil right here in Toronto. So thanks to Toronto’s multicultural culinary landscape I might actually be able to get my favourite Austrian delicacy right here without having to beg an Austrian visitor to bring me a bottle.
After a great meal I got really tired, especially considering the fact that I only had a few hours of sleep last night. I slept all the way home in the car and once we got back to my brother’s house, I crashed for a few hours. I woke up at about 7 pm, and just before having a light dinner, I hopped on Anneliese’s bicycle and went cycling for an hour throughout my home town.
Sunday night Austrian towns are traditionally very quiet since everyone is getting ready to go to work the next day, so the roads were nice and peaceful. When I came back my brother and sister-in-law were ready to go to bed so I turned in early to rest up for today. Well, unfortunately the weather today did not cooperate as planned and the entire morning was grey and drizzly. At noon time I visited my friends Andrea and Herbert, whose daughter Nina had stayed with my husband and me last year to as part of her Canadian stint to work as a nanny.
Andrea is the older sister of one of my best friends from school, and I had not seen her for at least 23 years. It was great to see her again, we had already chatted numerous times for free using www.skype.com, and I knew she had the same love for languages, travel and cosmopolitan thinking as me. She graciously invited me to join her family for lunch and I was listening intently to Andrea’s and Herbert’s travel stories from Rumania. Just in the last few weeks they had spent some time in Bucharest and in Transsylvania and learned much about Rumania’s interesting history as well as about the tyrannical Ceauscescu regime. We all agreed that we view traveling much differently as we get older, that today we really see travel as an opportunity to learn and to understand the world and its historic and environmental contexts.
We decided that we would jointly visit another local tourism attraction tomorrow: the “Katerloch”, a famous local limestone cave that is a popular regional tourist destination.
After a little walk in town I met my friends Luis and Isabella and their friend Wolfgang to play a couple of hours of tennis in an indoor tennis facility. The tennis club also features a bistro where we enjoyed a couple of pizzas afterwards and a beer. I thought to myself “these Austrians know how to live”. None of the Canadian tennis clubs that I have been at feature a bistro or any kind of gastronomic establishment. So I realized these Austrians have their priorities straight: you can work out and burn calories, but you have to cap it off with a nice tasty meal and a local beer because “Gemütlichkeit” (loosely translated as warm cordiality in a cozy environment) is an important factor here.
After about an hour I thanked my friends for a great tennis match and a cozy evening and headed back to my brother’s house to reconnect with him and to rest up for another eventful day tomorrow.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions (http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences & interesting life journeys, interviews with travellers and travel experts, cross-cultural issues, and many other features.
Susanne has recently published a series of FREE travel ebooks about destinations such as Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Nova Scotia and many more. Visit Travel and Transitions - FREE ebooks (www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html) "Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher
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