Month: March 2009

Visiting Romania

After the end of the second world war, during Russias offensive against the Nazis, many small countries fell under the umbrella of the Soviet Union. When the wall came down and the cold war ended, many of these small republics declared impendence and one of these countries is Romania.

Tourists from the United States can get to Romania by boarding Austrian Airlines. This is the preferred carrier since it has daily flights from the Atlantic as well as to other cities in this country.

If the people are traveling across Europe and have arrived from another country, it is still possible to get to Romania by riding the train, renting a car or on a bus. The travel time will be from 2 to 6 hours depending where the person is coming from given the terrain.

Romania has some sights to offer people dating back to the middle ages. The most visited castle in this country is the Peles castle that is the work of German new renaissance architecture.

It has over 160 rooms and each room shows signs of excellent craftsmanship as done on the windows, chandeliers, leather, ebony and ivory sculptures.

A smaller castle not far from the first is Pelisor Castle. It has 70 rooms. This smaller version was constructed a few years after Peles was built since the new king did not appreciate the vastness of the other structure.

Both of these places can be found in the town of Sinaia that is situated at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the Prahova Valley.

Another historical castle that has importance in Romanian history is the Bran castle. This fortification, which is often, called Draculas castle served to protect the citizens from invaders.

Most of the castles in Romania are open from the Tuesday to Sunday from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. People should not plan going there then on Mondays since this place is closed. It is best to do other things then to make the tip worthwhile.

To the east of Ukraine is the Black Sea. There are many fine hotels and beach resorts along this area. Some of these places have remnants of Greek culture as far back as the 7th century B.C.

The main beach resorts covers a total of 45 miles and these include places like the Eforie, Mamaia, Jupiter, Neptun, Saturn and Venus.

There are also health spas in this country to help the body relax after walking up the steps of castles and museums that is exhausting for those who dont exercise often.

The two most famous rejuvenation treatments known as the “Gerovital” and the “Aslavital” can be availed at the beach resort before continuing on with the tour.

Romania also has treasures such as the Voronet Monastery Church in Bucovina that can compete with the Sistine chapel in Rome. This is because most of the artwork in this place and others were hand painted and are still in good condition today.

In most of the monasteries and churches are excellent vineyards so the tourist can taste something another glass of wine that is just as good as those produced in Italy or France.

There are a lot of places and things to see in Romania. This just shows that the former Eastern bloc countries are worth visiting just like those in the West.

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Vegas for Animal Lovers

Wildlife is something that big and little kids from all over the world find fascinating. Whether the wildlife is marine, mamma, reptilian, or bird in nature-even insects, kids find intriguing and love to explore. In Las Vegas there are many casinos that not only offer shows that center around animals but also offer shows where animals are the stars. This is one of the few cities in the world that will offer quite the variety of fun, adventure, activity, and fantasy to its visitors. It’s a good idea to sit back and enjoy as much of that as floats your boat while you’re here.

Some of the great animal offerings you can explore and enjoy while visiting Las Vegas include the Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park. This zoo makes up in quality what it lacks in size. This is a relatively small zoo but offers some rare offerings that make this zoo very much worth visiting. Among the rarities at this particular zoo is one of the last families of Barbary apes in the U.S. In addition to these creatures, enjoy watching wallabies, flamingos, chimps, emus, and exotic reptiles.

Zoos aren’t the only businesses in the business of housing animals. It seems that many museums are cashing in on this act as well. Even if some of the shows are offered free the casinos are definitely cashing in on the big rewards that hosting these animal acts offers. The Mirage is home to quite a selection of animals among the offerings here is a White Tiger Habitat at the Mirage. These magnificent creatures are extinct in the wild. Visitors to this free exhibit are fortunate to be able to view them in their snow-white surroundings (this allows them some degree of security and the ability to ‘blend in’ with their environment).

In addition to the White Tiger Habitat, the Mirage is also home to the Mirage Aquarium. This aquarium is home to more than 1000 animals (60 species) that ordinarily would call coral reefs their home. The coral reef within the aquarium is one hundred percent artificial and there is no actual coral reef in this aquarium at all.

The Mirage is also home to the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. I guess you could say that really do love their animals over there. The goal of this project is not only to provide a safe environment for dolphins but also to educate visitors on the important roll in the ecosystem that these wonderful animals have. The admission to the Secret Garden is $15 for adults. For $500 you can become a trainer for the day if you are over the age of 13. This is a wonderful experience for those that are willing to pay the price.

Mandalay Baby Shark Reef offers glimpses of some rare and not so rare marine life. There are free aquarium experiences around the city but none of them actually quite compare to the scope of the Shark Reef, which is one of the largest exhibits of its kind in North America. The Shark Bay is open daily from 10 am until 11 pm and adult tickets are $15.95 while children’s tickets are $10.95 (4 and under may enter free). This is probably one of the best things to do and see in Las Vegas and well worth the price of admission.

This is only a small taste of the wonderful animal centered activities and events that take place in Vegas each and every day. Animal lovers beware, there is much to see and do here.

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An Asian Love Story: A Honeymoon destination in India

An Asian wedding? Probably. An Asian honeymoon? Why not? If youve already explored the streets of Venice, taken pictures of the Eiffel Tower, visited the numerous museums and art galleries in Italy and wined and dined on tempting Italian and French cuisine, perhaps you may want to explore a different culture and different taste on your first time together as a married couple. This is an experience that would definitely leave a lasting impression on both of you.

Asia offers as much richness and romantic mood as the West. And one place you can explore is India, one of the oldest birthplaces of world civilization. Its a cultural experience you both would never forget, with the colorful muslins, the dark-skinned complexion of its people, the million temples, mosques, churches and palaces you can explore. This will be a honeymoon that would never leave you bored.

Ooty is one of the best destinations of honeymooners in India. From the fragrant wind to the silence punctuated by the rustling of trees and the enchanting scenery, this place spells romance, romance, and more romance. Visit the botanical gardens and the Doddabetta peak with it view of the Nilgiri hill ranges. Seven-hours away from Ooty, theres the Kodaikanal tucked among the hills of Tamil Nadu. Take a boat ride in the Kodai Lake with your loved one and enjoy the trees, the water and the solitude.

If youre looking for something tropical and sunny, plus sand and water in India, theres Goa and Kerala, two of Indias most famous beach get-aways. Goa also boasts of wooden carvings and furniture, coir mats, straw hats, artifacts, brassware, and junk jewelry you might want to stash away as honeymoon souvenir. Bask under the sun and experience the calm and soothing natural beauty of India.

Dont fail to visit the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Made from white marble, this edifice was built by Emperor Shahjahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This is considered as one of the Orients greatest testimonies of love. Here you can feel the warmth and security of being loved greatly.

For some taste of Indian royalty, theres Rajasthan, one of the most colorful regions in India. Visit the Palace on wheels, Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Lalgarh Palace.

Located in North India and covering the states of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, dont miss the ultimate experience of exploring the Himalayas. The peaks in Kashmir are perfect for mountain climbing and trekking, while the Himalayan peaks in Uttaranchal are pilgrimage sites.

India is also known as one of the spiritual centers of many religions in the world. Khajuraho offers a tour at its temples constructed by the Chandela rulers during the 9th and 10th century B.C.

Nature lovers can also consider staying at Darjeeling, Kodaikanal, Srinagar, Shimla and Manali, among others for an aesthetic experience with nature. Take pictures of the forest-covered hills and stroll through orchards and enjoy the sight of endemic Indian flora.

Its a paradise to be explored, boasting of pristine beaches, snow-capped mountains and a peaceful scenery. The hub of the Oriental culture, one of the melting pot of the worlds oldest traditions, religions and civilizations, India is the place to experience on your romantic sojourn.

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