history

January 30, 2010

Athens is the pre-eminent city

Athens is the pre-eminent city of Greece and the main arrival destination.  No town mixes history and a chaotic energy better than Athens. 

Athens

Athens is city with striking archeological sites, colorful neighbours, overcrowding and smog like you have never seen it.  For many travelers, the general impression is one of a poetic chaos.  Roads are packed, taxi drivers are nuts and shops appear to spill off the paths and into the middle of roads.  Yet, in the middle of this chaos you’ll find calm places like the Acropolis, although it is packed with tourists. 

History

You can’t mention Greece without talking about the Greeks result on civilization.  The city is littered with sites of intensely heavy importance.  This is not the place where you may stand in front of an old structure where Sir so and so fought Sir so and so to the death in a duel that established something faintly significant.  Instead, you’ll stand in front of monuments where civilization took a quantum leap forward. 

The Acropolis is the dominant archeological site in Athens.  It is one of those rare locations you may visit where the massive number of holiday maker don’t diminish the impact.  Soaring over Athens, the Acropolis saw better days until you consider how old it is.  The Pantheon and Erechtheion are the 2 standing structures and both are galvanizing. 

While contemplating the Pantheon, one can not help but be impressed by the capability of the Greeks to build such a towering, stone structure when much of humanity still considered a hut a luxury.  The Erechtheion is amazing as it contains the famous Caryatids, the columns molded into the form of female figures.  Standing upon the mount, you will have a view of Greece that will uncloak the chaos and a sense of the age of the town. 

Athens has much to offer beyond the Acropolis.  Books have been authored on the subject.  Massive books.  I’m not going to try and cover them here, but you need to try to get over to the Tower of the Winds, where the whisking Dervishes got their start. 

Walking thru Athens is like walking through history.  They say time travel is most unlikely, but Athens appears to suggest otherwise.

Do you enjoy reading this? If yes, you may also visit famouswonders.com to read more about some of the best places to visit in the world and have a look at Sanctuary of Asklepios Greece.

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October 28, 2009

See natural history and prehistoric mammals at the International Wildlife Museum

The Tuscon International Wildlife Museum is a beautiful natural heritage museum created to fostering public knowledge and appreciation of the world’s interesting animal life. Started in 1988, the museum houses over 400 kinds of animals—insects to prehistoric animals—from around the world.

The museum features wildlife in natural surrounding, wildlife videos, interactive exhibits, guided interpretive tours, and hands-on displays.

Group tour description:

Guided excursions are available for ages 6 and up. Guided tours may be customized to meet your needs of a class curriculum.

Other resources:

Pre-visit activity packets are sent to all approved groups. Regularly shown animal life movies are free and available to all. Reserved movies are available to guided tour groups only.

The museum holds weeklong summer programs for youth ages 5-11. Natural history exhibits and family events are funded by the museum during the year. Wildlife courses and activity guides, movies, and artifacts are also available on loan. Contact Jennifer Stoddard at 629-0100, ext. 311.

Outreach exhibits

Programs emphasizes the natural history of wildlife across the country using live animals and artifacts. Programs can be taught at your high school or incorporated into a field trip to the museum. For a list of courses and additional details call Ms. Stoddard, Education Specialist (520) 629-0100, ext. 311.

Parking:

Plentiful, for cars, buses, and RVs

Hours of operation:

Weekdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Weekends, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Admission fees:

$7.00 Adults
$5.50 Seniors (62 & over) and Students (w/ID)
$2.50 Children (4-12)
Free for ages 3 and under when accompanied by a parent.

School rates:
$2.00 per student for self-guided tours.
$2.50 per student for IWM-guided tours.
One free adult for every 10 students (required); additional adults are $5.50 each ($6.00 for guided tours).

Membership: Yes

Handicapped access: Yes

Lunch facilities:  Group lunch discount or bring your own sack lunches

Gift shop:  Yes; Teachers may pre-order inexpensive gift shop bags by calling 618-3568.

Curriculum relevance: Life Sciences, Biology

Contact person:  Kristine Massey, (520) 629-0100, ext. 336

Arranging a Group Visit: Reservations are required at least one week in advance.  For more information on Arizona Tourism, checkout Tucson tourism.

International Wildlife Museum
4800 W. Gates Pass Road
Tucson, AZ  85745
(520) 629-0100 ext. 336 or 311
(520) 618-3561 Fax

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August 26, 2009

Egypt or Cuba for your next holiday

Although they are different they do have a similarity. Although these countries are very different, but they both hold something unique to each other in history terms. Cuba is a victim of the past being frozen. This is a great area to see the Ancient world. But of these two which is best for a holiday?

 

Cuba holidays have slowly come into the tourism light. They haven’t been sought after much before the year 2000, mainly because they were considered dangerous. Cuba is set in its own past, old cars and bars still exist and are doing very well, the modernisation of Cuba has come to a bit of a slow stop. Although they have a powerful military control, the streets of Cuba are lined with very old and traditional houses; the roads are pebble stone or concrete. They are also the producers of the most expensive cigars in the world, all hand rolled. Some of the Cigar factories give people the chance to roll their own cigars. Cuba offers some truly great diving locations, covered in coral and very clear blue seas.

 

Egypt holidays have always been popular with many people. Now these holidays are getting cheaper as well. Egypt is the place to see the oldest civilization in the world. Egypt is huge so in order for you to see everything that is available for tourists in this place means that you will need a long holiday. If anything you must visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx; these are some of the most stunning sights anybody will ever be able to lay their eyes on. Not to mention they have been around for thousands of years, amazing. Cairo is a great place to be for all the hustle and bustle of all the people and markets, many people visit this place just for the crazy trading atmosphere. Egypt is home to the oldest civilization known to man, and a library that contains some of the oldest scripts in the world. This place is considered the place for all knowledge.

 

So there you go now you have two very exciting places to consider for your next holiday, I would recommend either one of them, but for weddings abroad it has to be Cuba.

 

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Go back in time on your next holiday!

One place in this world that you must visit before it’s too late is Cuba. This is by far one of the most unique and beautiful countries in the world. This world is considered that of times gone by, people travel to Cuba to see the 60’s over again.

 

Cuba is stuck in the late 60’s, early 70’s. You wont see many modern cars in Cuba, in-fact you will find some very old ones everywhere. Tourism is becoming a big money spinner in this country. Cuba holidays offer many people all kinds of activities and new experiences. The bars and restaurants are unique and very friendly, and the flamenco dancing is original and good fun. Cuba is a country just stuck back in the place, so visit to see the world of yesterday. This is the location for many diverse cultures and some truly brilliant people. There is a massive amount for any tourist to do.

 

Now for the holiday maker who likes a bit of sea sun and sand, well you have come to the right place. Cuba is guaranteed to give you all of this. You can see that some of the beaches are amazing, and the hotels keep them clean. Just make sure that you book a stay in one of the hotels that is by the beach and they will give you free access to the private beach. Yo wont be disappointed at the condition of the rooms, the best way to describe them is; luxurious. Everything is very clean and well kept; the general service is prompt and friendly. I think a lot of people get the impression that Cuba is a volatile place; the simple truth is that because we don’t have much press coverage in over here, we are drawn into thinking of it in certain ways.

 

If you are considering a holiday this year then give Cuba a go, the only other holidays I would recommend are Egypt holidays, this is because they still maintain a very powerful and interesting history.

 

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