Travel Tips

Rome was not built in a day and though the empire is gone, the remnants are still there. There is the Pantheon which serves as the tomb of several kings, the Colosseum where gladiators once fought and the Roman Forum that was once the center of public life.

Aside from the former empire, those who are catholic can visit the seat of the church and get a chance to see the pope in Vatican City.

This place is huge as it has 6 gates which comprise the Vatican Palace, St. Peters Square and the Papal Gardens. One of the things that people must not forget to see is the Sistine Chapel which is where tourists can see up close and personal the marvelous piece of artwork done by Michelangelo.

Every hour, the person will even get the chance to see the exchange of the guards. These individuals famously known as the Swiss Guard still wear the old colorful uniform of Helvetian soldiers dating back to the 16th century.

More for aesthetic purposes these days, those who wear the uniform are in charge of protecting the pope similar to the secret service who are in charge of protecting the president.

The Trevi Fountain is another place that should be visited. People can take pictures beside the sculptors and make a wish after throwing in a coin. Tradition has it that those who do this will be able to come back to Rome in the future.

The most famous square in Rome is the Piazza Navona that has a lot of fountains and an old church. This place is very active because of the many shops and restaurants so the person will be able to rest while drinking some coffee, talk with the locals and get some gifts and souvenirs to bring home.

Another palace that has a lot of sculptors and artwork is the Palazza Nuovo. The museums faade was designed by Michelangelo as part of the Piazza del Campidoglio renovation. It holds masterpieces like the Discobolus, Dying Galatian and the Marcus Aurelius.

There are two airports where the plane can land so the person can visit Rome. The airline one has chosen may land at Ciampino Airport or at Fiumicino Airport. From there, the individual can rent a car or take a cab to the reserved hotel.

Getting around to visit the sites can be expensive if the person does not know where to go. One can do some research before flying in or get a brochure to know where the bus and trams are located which will surely save money on food and gifts to bring home.

It is a good thing the transport system in Rome is well connected. Buying a metrocard allows the traveler to move around from one place to another similar to the one used in the New York subway system.

Should the group decide to see other cities around Rome, the Termini Stations is not that hard to find. This is very close to the Via Veneto, Santa Marcia Maggiore Church and the Colosseum.

Walking around Rome will be tiring given that some of these places are quite far. Instead of driving that could get the group lost or wasting money on cab fare, the person can check out the public tours that is being offered. This is still much cheaper than hiring a private coach that will also go along the same route.

Ireland, the politically undivided island is the largest island in the continent of Europe. Lying in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, it is a nation that underwent political transitions or divisions, serving part-tribute to the United Kingdom, the Northeastern part; and the Republic of Ireland composite of five-sixth of the island comprising the East, South, West, and the Northwest. Total population in whole is under 6 million. Republic of Ireland which capital is Dublin is populated 1.6 million in Greater Dublin; 1.7 million in Northern Ireland; Greater Belfast is 0.6 million.

Cultures are a combination from the Scottish, British and the Celt from the Irish native origin but political odds that’s part of its history predominates principal variations in customs and practices.

Rugged hills and low coastal mountains, and sea cliffs in the West surround Ireland’s low central plains, terrains overlooking low plains that abound in vegetation because of its mild climate and moderate soft rainfalls, that gained its credits to be named “the Emerald Isles.”

VACATION-IRELAND, FACTS ABOUT THE ISLAND

The Chief of the State, which is the President, heads the Republic of Ireland and Government headed by the Prime Minister. The generally used language is British English, the Irish native tongue Gaelic is spoken mainly along the Western boarder.

Elevation: lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean is 0 m., and highest point is Carrauntoohil, 1,041m. height.

Ireland is producers of following natural resources: (1) limestone, (2) dolomite, (3) cooper, (4) lead, (5) zinc, (6) silver (7) barite, (8) gypsum, (9) peat, and (10) natural gas.

It has a 99% literacy, and prevailing religion is Roman Catholic Religion comprise 88.4%; Church of Ireland, 3%; other Christians 1.6%; unspecified 2%; without any religion, 3.5%.

Type of Government is democratic Republic and Parliamentary run by the Chief of State and powers in the political government headed by the Prime Minister.

Independence Day: December 6, 1926 thru a treaty from United Kingdom.

National Holiday: March 17, St. Patrick’s Day
Constitution: Gained by plebiscite in July 1937, and implemented December 1937.

Select Some Interests of Destinations: Vacationing travelers could prospect on enjoying settings in Fishing Villages, such as the Ballyhass Lakes, a village development for families accompanied by children who love leisure in fishing.

This salmon fishing grounds is most appropriate for those who also love golf sports, the place surrounded with golf courses and restaurants that serve the best in delicacies in sea foods fished from the neighboring lakes, rivers, and seas. This place also caters to many outdoor sports as horse riding, heritage trail walks, serviced shopping for souvenir items, and eateries accessible to groups, and family with food-craver kids to consider.

Fishing is best considered at the Ballyhass Lakes, and the Fly type of 8 – 14 is allowed, with baits of snails and insects that served as natural food for the trout (sports fish, usually a family salmonidae).

Main lakes allow the fly-fishing, whereas, on the smaller lakes or rivers, it go for the spinning and bubble worms, but does not consider ground baits.

Prices rates at the 4-Star Holiday Homes as to what month one is accommodated, and how many bedrooms of the home one selects. It ranges from 275 to 525 pounds on a 3-bedroom; and, 300 to 750 pounds to a 4-bedroom.

Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is most famous for its catastrophic eruption in 1980. The active volcano
is located in Washington State, about 90 miles south of Seattle and 50 miles northeast of
Portland, Oregon. The Mount St. Helens recreational area was re-opened in 1987.
The Mount St. Helens eruption of 1980 was the deadliest and most economically
destructive volcanic event in United States history. A series of small earthquakes were
detected starting on May 16, 1980. Two days later, at 8:32 on a Sunday morning, a
massive earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale violently shook Mount St. Helens.
The volcano violently erupted, its north face exploded, and lava poured fourth for nine
continuous hours. Minor explosive activity would continue for six years.
More than 1,300 feet of the mountains rocky summit were blown away, leaving a mile-
wide crater. The lava which was 1300 degrees Fahrenheit — incinerated the surrounding
forest and campsites, killing fifty-seven people and 7,000 large wild animals. It also
destroyed more than $1 billion in property. The lava coated 185 miles of highway and
230 square miles of forest. It incinerated 250 homes, dozens of bridges, and 15 miles of
railways.
In addition to the lava damage, the area surrounding Mount St. Helens suffered a massive
avalanche of mountain debris. Within fifteen seconds of the largest explosion, ash clouds
had formed fifteen miles up in the atmosphere. Ash was carried by wind throughout
eastern Washington. Two hundred and fifty miles away, residents of Spokane said that
daytime was as dark as night. After President Jimmy Carter surveyed the damage, he
commented, Someone said this area looked like a moonscape. But the moon looks more
like a golf course compared to whats up there.
Archaeological evidence suggests that many civilizations may have been impacted by
Mount St. Helens eruptions. Campsites at least 6,500 years old have been discovered in
the mountain vicinity. About four thousand years ago, aboriginal settlements were buried
in pumice. People seem to have abandoned the land for two thousand years, after which
hunters and gatherers returned for seasonal collection of food. These included members
of the Upper Chinook, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Taidnapam, and Yakama tribes. The tribes
developed many legends to explain the historic catastrophe and intermittent volcanic
activity.
Europeans may have first spotted the volcano in 1792 when the British Royal Navy
Commander George Vancouver and his officers surveyed the Pacific Northwest coast.
Vancouver named the mountain St. Helens in honor of a British diplomat, an Alleyne
Fitzherbert, First Baron St. Helens. Geologists later determined that starting in 1800, the
Goat Rocks area started erupting for 57 years!
Fur traders and missionaries started to settle the area around 1840. Starting in the wintry
days of 1842, they reported a Great Eruption. This produced ash clouds and was
followed by 15 years of small-scale steam-and-ash explosions.
By 1980, Mount St. Helens did not seem as threatening. The nearby Spirit Lake offered
recreational activities year-round, and the region was a popular boating, camping, and
skiing destination. During the 1980 eruption, the lake was dramatically uplifted.
Thousands of trees were uprooted and the lake sloshed water 800 feet upward. Once
Spirit Lake settled again, it was smaller and much shallower than before. The lake was
devoid of life, as volcanic gases removed all its oxygen.
The Mount St. Helens area was left to naturally recover. It has gradually changed from
gray to green. Some areas are thriving with new coniferous forests, and even the areas
coated with volcanic rock have seen vegetation emerge. By 1993, scientists reported
seeing fish in the once uninhabitable Spirit Lake. Barring another explosion, by the year
2200 the forest may look as it did before the 1980 catastrophe.
President Ronald Reagan and the US Congress established the Mount St. Helens National
Volcanic Monument in 1982. The park was reopened in 1987 and has only closed briefly,
though seismic activity is still evident. People can access visitor centers on the west side
of the mountain via State Road 504. Mountain climbing is permitted, and people can even
dare a climb to the new crater of Mount St. Helens.
PPPPP
(word count 688)