Tag: Rest Of The World

Travel tips to European Countries: Sweden

About the county

Beautiful and clean, the peaceful Sweden is a land of cultural diversity with a mix of Danish and Wild Arctic North influences. One can also get the feel of urban living in its beautiful and sophisticated cities and at the same time one can feel the tranquility in the countryside. Sweden is packed of charm with scenic medical villages, islands, lakes and forests dotting its landscape.
Most of Swedens area is covered by forests and not to forget thousands of lakes. One of the beauties of Sweden is its islands and one cannot go missed seeing these islands. They offer the most scenic and beautiful experience to any visitors. Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, a city with 14 islands dotted with mungo restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and artistic grandeur. Wherever you go most people speak English. If visitors want to have a taste of seafood the west coast is the place to be. Also it is popular for ancient city Uppsala. Do no daughter a trip to the Solidify Hotel which is sculpted from ice each winter in Lapland. Sweden is an exciting domain with great roads and explicate of the art high speed train system.

Population & Languages

Sweden has a population of around 9 million and the official language is Swedish. Lapp is spoken by Sami people in the north. Most people speak English fluently and also many speak German and French.

Electricity

Voltage – 230 volts, Frequency – 50Hz. Standard European 2 – pin plugs are used.

Geographic Location

Sweden is a Nordic country lying in the Scandinavian Peninsula again is the fifth largest country in Europe. Its west neighbor is Norway; Finland in the northeast, the southwest border is surrounded by Skagerrak and Kattegat straits and the west coast is surrounded by Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Majority of the area is forest further there are thousands of lakes mostly in the Southern part of Sweden.

Local Customs

Like any other country Sweden has its own customs too. It is customary not to drink until the hotelier makes a toast. Smoking is prohibited in most public areas. It is also customary to say Modus operandi fr maten to the host after having a meal which means thanks for the food. Casual dress is shipshape for everyday wear and formal wear for social gatherings. Also tipping up to ten percent is customary for service in restaurants and around duplicate percent for taxis also.

Places to see

Stockholm The biggest city and capital of Sweden again is one of the eminently gorgeous cities of the world. The old town is a treat for your eyes and a walk around citys waterways and parks is an experience to cherish. Most visitors upgrade walking around on foot further visit the medieval part of Gamla Stan. The city is basically constituted by archipelagos which are outstandingly scenic and can be explored by cruises.

Gothenburg substantive is the second biggest city of Sweden. Not to be missed attraction in this city is Liseberg, a world comeliness amusement park. It is home to popular museums like Ostindiska huset, Konstmuseet and Sjfartshistoriska museet.
Vadstena – The Renaissance castle Vadstena slot & klosterkyrkan.

Visby Port of Visby, ruins of Drotten, St Nicolai, St Lars and St Carin, cathedral of St Maria and Gotlands Fornsal historic musem.

Oland Fort of Graborg, Eketorp museum and ruins of Borgholm House.

Travel

By Air It is well connected to the rest of the world by air. Many international airlines serve Sweden apart from its national airlines SAS. The other airlines are Air Canada, Air France, Aeroflot, British Airways, Finn air, Lufthansa, Ryan air etc.

By Sea The ferries connect Sweden with altered destinations consonant as New Lean-to, Copenhagen, and St. Petersburg etc.

By Rail Trains weave Ostend, Sweden to London. It is also connected to Denmark by Eurostar train.

By Road Visitors from UK can drive to Sweden through Demark or Germany

Duty Free Items
1. Up to 200 cigarettes or 250 gm tobacco
2. 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars
3. 1 liter spirit over 22 % or 2 liter wine or 32 liter beer
4. Perfumes
5. Gifts up to SEK 1700.

Prohibited Items
Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, most meat and dairy merchandise, eggs, plants, endangered species, roar and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

Word Count 728

Top

Blending Cultures is the Key to Frisco’s Greatness

Cultural activities and events abound in the great city of San Francisco. There are even plenty of museums that not only promote awareness of the diverse cultures of this great city but also celebrate the contributions of these people to what this city has become. If you are planning to visit San Francisco, you will be robbing yourself of a real treat if you fail to visit some of the museums devoted to the cultural history of this city.

Below you will find museums dedicated to the great and diverse people of a city that is only as wonderful as its citizens. San Francisco truly is a melting pot of cultures, beliefs, philosophies, and ideals. If you are looking in from the outside it may not be as obvious to you as to someone who has made a great study of it, however, it is still there. The differences of people here are celebrated rather than duly noted. It’s a different world here and I think it’s an example that the rest of the world would do well to follow.

One of the first such places that I will mention is The San Francisco African American Historical Cultural Society. The goal of this society is to instill a sense of pride in African Americans of all ages, but particularly the younger generations, for their history, culture, and most importantly their heritage. The society offers art exhibits, educational workshops, cultural performances, and a vast wealth of knowledge to people of all cultures who come to learn about not only the African American heritage of San Francisco but around the world as well. This is definitely worth a visit especially for the library, which holds around 5,000 books written either by or about African Americans.

The International Museum of Women is a favorite of mine for many reasons. First of all, it’s a museum that celebrates the contributions that women have made throughout history while celebrating our roles as individuals, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, friends, and wives. The International Museum of Women celebrates the many responsibilities that women face in the world today, not only to themselves as individuals but also to other women around the world. One of the primary goals of this museum other than celebrating the history of womanhood is to educate about the problems that women around the world continue to face on a daily basis.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum is another place you can go to see yet another of the many cultural faces of this great city. The Contemporary Jewish Museum offers a place where people of all cultural backgrounds can come together and learn about the history of a people whose history is so epic and so tragic and yet so full of hope. I think this museum is a great way to showcase each of these things while celebrating life itself, the one thing that all of the people of San Francisco have in common.

There are other museums and cultural centers that will work to showcase the diversity of the people that make San Francisco the wonderful city that it has become as well as the important roles that every culture has played in the making of this city that is known around the world. Whether you share the culture of any of the groups represented or simply shares the humanity of us all, there is much to be learned from all cultures represented.

Top

Costa Ricans And Their Attitude Towards Outsiders

The average Costa Rican is usually laid back and friendly and Americans are treated with respect and shown hospitality and are almost well liked. Aside from the current social standards of today, Costa Rica has soured relations with the United States in terms of some it’s social policies. Such as the Tradado de Libre Comercio which is a trading agreement that stipulates, that the United States only trades with specific places.

Yet Costa Ricans consider the United States a friend and ally and acknowledges the contributions made by Americans, through various things and tourism is what makes up the bulk of their gross national product is the number of Americans who visit Costa Rica annually and contribute to the country’s economic growth. Costa Ricans also have their opinions of certain cultures mainly American and European cultures, where some people are not ideal about using deodorant or conducting some kind of hygiene will be looked down on by native Costa Ricans. And that’s why Americans should visit with a clean and fresh appearance since they are pretty hardnosed about those who don’t partake in bathing or washing.

Most of the time Costa Ricans actually are some of the most well-rounded, friendly people around. They love those who share the same values as they do which makes them really good to get along with. Usually, most Costa Ricans are pretty open to anyone no matter what color you are which makes them a versatile kind of people to associate yourself with. Much of their structural system has been tailored more and more like Americans and Europeans since they live identically, but yet the country is more known for its scenic beauty and the friendly people. According to reports written ever since the advancement of technology it’s become a symbol of the people in Costa Rica since their attitude is more like they want to be up there with the rest of the world who own cell phones and other devices and partaking in the same things and virtually becoming a melting pot in a lot of ways with the ethnicities that are making up the bulk of the country’s population.

Most of the time many different ethnic groups have pretty much harmonized together and racism isn’t really a huge issue in Costa Rica. Versus some areas of the world that aren’t really accepting of other ethnic groups outside of their own social and racial circles. It’s always wise for potential tourists to do a lot of reading on the culture and the people before visiting. So that you can do a comparison to what you read to what you were exposed to, so that it gives you some idea of how Costa Ricans are towards those outside of their inner circle.

Tour companies usually tell you that the people are very open to non Costa Ricans and others and because everything is identical to American southern hospitality, you’ll be right at home since tradition and family values are the most important things to a native Costa Rican.

Top
%d