If you travelled a lot and visited most of the popular destinations in the east and west, maybe it is time to visit exotic cities and countries. By that, I don’t mean sun, sand, and fun islands in the Caribbean, although they fit the description of travel fort eh young.

Mongolia, in Central Asia, is a destination that should be on the itinerary of the curious world traveller interested experiencing something ordinary western tourists have never seen. But, you must hurry; the country and people are changing fast.

Ghenghis Khan founded Mongolia in 1206. Hearty Mongolian riders and warriors on their small horses roamed the arid steppes of Central Asia and beyond. Genghis Khan’s successors enlarged the empire from what is today Poland, to the Korean peninsula, from Siberia to the Gulf of Oman and Vietnam in the east covering come 33 million square kilometres.

Mongolian horses are a little larger than ponies, but have very strong hind legs. They can climb high mountains, and run for long periods.

Mongolia’s population converted to Buddhism gradually over two centuries (16 – 17^th centuries), and still today most are devout Buddhists despite 75 years (1924 – 1989) of Soviet occupation. 50 per cent are Buddhists, 40 atheists, 6 believe in Shamanism, Bahai faith, and Christianity, and 4 in Islam).

Ulan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia, a sparsely populated country of close to three million people, is home to one million.

The city has a few Buddhist monasteries that escaped demolitions at the hands of Soviet commissars, the most famous of which is Choijin Lama Monastery completed in 1908. It was turned into a museum in 1942.

The other monastery is Gandan Monose built in the 19^th century, and famous for its 26.5 metre high golden statue of Migjid Jauransig.

The ruler of Mongolia had four palaces in Ulan Baatar, of which only the Winter Palace(Old Ikh Khuree) remains, but was converted to a museum.

There are several other museums, of which the following are recommended – national Museum of Mongolian History, and the Zanabazaar Museum of Fine Arts.
the Soviet-style opera house is worth a visit.

The Sukhbaatar Square boasts the Zaisan Memorial commemorating the soldiers who perished in World War II

The Gorkhi Terelj Natural Park, a nature preserve with many tourist facilities, 70 Km. from Ulan Baatar, is popular amongst tourists.

Mongols still today are fond of horses, and many children growing up in the country can ride before they can walk.

Wrestling and archery are two sports celebrated annually at different fairs.

Mongolia looks and feels like an unfenced paddock, approximately three times as large as France, it is inhabited by a little less than three million people.

Many in the country live nomadic lives in their gers (circular, modular white felt tents), but enjoy modern amenities like cellular phones, TV sets powered by solar panels, and cocasioanlly own Soviet built motorcycles with sidecars, or Landover type vehicles.

The interior of the ger is cozy, decked out with carpets, and an ornate cast-iron stove and family pictures.

Air China and MIAT (the Mongolian Air Line) fly from Beijing twice weekly to Ulan Baatar, but other international airline including Aeroflot, Lufthansa and others fly from Tokyo, Seoul, Berlin, Moscow, and Irkutsk direct.

For North Americans, flying involves one or two stopovers, but can be embellished by overnight- or short stops in Moscow, or Berlin, or Tokyo, or Beijing.

Those who decide to travel to Mongolia and possibly a few other capitals will not regret and soon forget the adventure.

Never miss a post! subscribe via RSS or subscribe via e-mail. Post writer – Hrayr Berberoglu – E-mail – Read his books?   Professor B offers seminars to companies and interested parties on any category of wine, chocolates, chocolates and wine, olive oils, vinegars and dressings, at a reasonable cost.

Tourism-linked third world countries benefited a great deal from wealthy western travellers and often ever charged for their services. But all these have changed with the onset of a serious recession in 2008 mainly caused by unscrupulous American bankers.
Now, overprices destinations like London, Moscow, Tokyo, Reykjavik, and many others have had to revise their prices and the beneficiaries are travellers with money to send.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010 outlines the top ten countries, top ten regions, top en cities in the coming year.
Each brief article s written by contributors who know the destination well and provides sources to obtain more and valuable information.
In addition to all the above, this book provides a list of the best open-air entertainment such as live music clubs, Bamako, in Mali, or Calgary Stampede, Calgary, in Canada or the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Australia just to name a few, then there is a list of all cities offering reasonably-priced medical treatments; a list of places where you can attempt to launch a musical career, best values (i.e. Iceland, Thailand or Mexico) list of best cycling rotes, list of ten hedonistic cities.
In short, this handy book is for the young and old looking for interesting and exciting destinations offering bargains.
Even if you do not have plans to travel in 2010, read this entertaining and enlightening book to make arrangements for the coming years.
Highly recommended.

Never miss a post! subscribe via RSS or subscribe via e-mail.   Post writer – Hrayr Berberoglu – E-mail – Read his books?

This weekend we were in Bergen and trying to take some photographs. It was raining cats and dogs and the wind was troubling too. I did my best holding the umbrella and camera and standing up for the wind while taking pictures.

Bryggen (Norwegian for the Wharf), also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf) is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.

The city of Bergen was founded in 1070. In 1360 a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established there, and as the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved. The administrative buildings of Bryggen housed clerks from many areas, especially Germany. The warehouses were filled with goods, particularly fish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe.

Throughout history, Bergen has experienced many fires, since, traditionally, most houses were made from wood. This was also the case for Bryggen, and as of today, around a quarter dates back to the time after 1702, when the older wharfside warehouses and administrative buildings burned down. The rest predominantly consists of younger structures, although there are some stone cellars that date back to the 15th century.

Parts of Bryggen were destroyed in a fire in 1955. This area was used for the construction of Bryggen museum containing archeological remains, plus some old-style wooden houses, these being the six leftmost houses on the panoramic picture below. Controversially, a brick hotel was also raised on the premises, which is seen behind these six houses.

Today, Bryggen houses tourist, souvenir, and gift shops, in addition to restaurants, pubs and museums.

source: In English wiki In Norwegian wiki

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The custom of tipping can often be a dilemma, and confusing for travellers.
Many first-time travellers tip they are not supposed to, and do not, when they should. This can be embarrassing to say the least.
In some countries, tipping is an integral part of the hotel bill, while in others; gratuities form an important part of their income. Yet, in some countries, tipping is regarded as an insult.
Knowing when and how to tip can be an important asset to any traveller. Often, upon receiving a tip, the maitre d’hotel of a fully booked restaurant suddenly finds a table with an excellent view. In fact, tip stands for “to insure promptness” and often seasoned travellers, pending circumstances; tip before any service is rendered.
Here are some general guidelines:
Australia – tipping as a rule is not expected, but a small token of appreciation is always welcome.
Canada – servers, bartenders, bellhops, hairdressers, taxi drivers expect a trip anywhere from 8 – 10 per cent of the total excluding taxes.
China – due to the influence of western customs, tipping is becoming a way of life. In tourist
cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Wuxi, and Xian servers, boat- and taxi drivers expect a tip.
New Zealand – service employees, except bartenders, in both hotels and restaurants expect a tip, but not taxi drivers.
Egypt – tips are expected, particularly from tourists everywhere, even for the smallest service rendered. Have small change to reward boat-, taxi- and bus drivers, guides, servers, bartenders, and chamber maids. Even if a little child leads you to a restaurant he will expect a tip.
Mexico – all service employees eagerly anticipate tips, in fact they depend on tips.
Taxi drivers are happy with five per cent of the total fare as a token of appreciation.
Japan tipping is not expected.
Fiji tipping is not expected, but tourists somehow encourage servers to solicit tips discreetly by strategically placing boxes in hotel lobbies and/or restaurants.
United Kingdom most restaurants include a gratuity in their prices advertised on menus. If you were particularly happy about an attentive server, consider a small amount.
France – in restaurants and hotels, 15 per cent gratuity is customarily included in the advertised price. You mat consider rounding up the bill, or go a little beyond if you were very pleased.
Taxi drivers expect at least 10 per cent of the fare as tip.
Italy – here restaurants charge a “cover” (coperto) and include 15 per cent service charge in their prices. Servers always appreciate a little extra, particularly from tourist.
Spain – all bills include service charges, but you can round out a restaurant bill. Tourist guides also expect to be tipped.
Scandinavia – in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, all service prices advertised include a charge. Yet, service employees appreciate five to eight per cent of the bill as extra appreciation of their efforts.
Germany – all service prices include a charge, but employees appreciate rounding up a bill. Taxi drivers expect five per cent of the total fare and also charge extra for luggage per piece above one.
Tourist guides like a token of appreciation.
Austria – Same as in Germany.
Greece – all service employees expect a tip from 10 – 15 per cent of the total, even if the invoice presented includes a gratuity.
Taxi drivers, guides, and chambermaids eagerly await fro tips particularly in large cities, but not on Aegean islands and the countryside.
U.S.A – all service employees expect to be tipped, particularly servers, as they are paid minimum wage. In some states service employees are paid “tip-minimum wage” as authorities know that customers tip if they are happy, and tip even when they are not just to satisfy appearances.
In some restaurants, management includes a 10 – 15 per cent service charge for groups of more than six if the server agrees. In some establishments service is exemplary, but in most, friendly, yet less than professional.

Never miss a post! subscribe via RSS or subscribe via e-mail.   Post writer – Hrayr Berberoglu – E-mail – Read his books?

Cruising was quite popular for upscale and even middle-class North Americans and Central Europeans until the arrival of the recession. The convenience of unpacking once for the entire vacation and never changing your “hotel” appeals to millions.
The food served is ample, but generally of only acceptable quality in most cases, although touted as gastronomic. There are, as always, different cruise lines offering a range of quality, size of boats, cabins, service and itineraries.

Some cater to the middle-class who are lured by colourful and often overstated advertising. Some cruise lines operate huge boats accommodating up to 4000 passengers. Some are even planning larger boats, but there are inherent problems with having 4000 people living in such small quarters.

Once bacteria or viruses establish themselves, they spread fast and are uncontrollable. Cruise boat kitchens are kept immaculately clean, and authorities in every country operating cruise piers inspect all the boats regularly in an attempt to make sure that epidemics are prevented.

There are even websites that lists boats inspected and their scores for all to see. Security in large boats represents a serious problem. Some cruise lines issue a security clearance card to every passenger, and inspect everyone boarding and de-boarding. Waiting lines to clear security can be long and very time consuming, especially when agents are poorly trained.

Some companies even go as far as hiring retired FBI agents as security chiefs.

Then there are government mandated evacuation sessions. In my case, the session was too short, poorly organized and presented.

Cruise lines offer their winter itineraries in Caribbean waters, and come summer switch to destinations in the Mediterranean Sea and now increasingly also to the Baltic Sea with planned visits to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia (St. Petersburg), and Finland.

Modern boats offer many amenities including swimming pools, shuffleboards, climbing walls, and spas, but all have waiting lines and you must make reservations to use them.

Cruise lines that operate large boats advertise an abundance of food, but never make mention of quality, claim tips are not required and/or mandatory. The food is rarely of high quality, although plentiful, and in most cases someone of authority asks passengers enjoying their last dinner to show appreciation of the service received with a “gratuity’ to be put in an envelope.

Here are some facts that I have observed during such a trip. Mimozas, traditionally a blend of orange juice and champagne, were degraded to orange juice and the least expensive sparkling wine on the market. Needless to say the taste left a lot to be desired. Then the boat administration promised caviar. In reality what was served not real caviar but imitation, and it was clearly noticeable.

The service was touted as being the best, but it was slow, unprofessional, and sullen. Servers were clearly not, or poorly trained, and even worse supervised.
Alcoholic beverage prices are supposed to reflect the duty free status of cruise boats, yet there was hardly evidence of duty free prices. Wine and cocktail prices were close to prices charged in regular mainland bars and restaurants.

Passengers are looked upon as ready-made markets and constantly asked to book land trips at exorbitant prices, which are short, poorly organized, and actually worthless as each passenger could do it by him/herself for much less.

Practically every boat has a casino. All passengers are constantly reminded to visit the casino, which at least in my opinion, is offensive.

There are many cruise lines. Some specialize in huge boats, and hope to become profitable by taking advantage of economies of scale, and by constantly pushing cocktails to unsuspecting passengers at exorbitant prices given the fact that the liquor is purchased duty free.

Others operate small boats; offer the use of several different restaurants, and 24-hour on-demand food service. The boats are thoughtfully designed and lavishly decorated, cabins are comfortable and the service is beyond reproach, but prices charged are extremely high.

My experience is based on an Alaska cruise with Holland America Lines. Upon my return I complained, but the company denied all responsibility.

In the end the boat, which was old, was sold to a Mediterranean cruise line and I am told it is being operated as a gambling boat out of territorial waters.

Before you book a cruise, research all companies and see for yourself what they offer. Ask friends and people you know about their opinion. Never believe a travel agent. They are interested in their commissions and will never reveal the true picture, unless you deal with a highly reputable agency.

There are web sites that will inform any interested party about each cruise line.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Specialized travel companies offer a variety of packaged tours. Some are general bus torus travelling to many European countries starting in London (mostly for English speaking tourists from the United Kingdom and other countries), others target specific interest groups – history buffs, wine lowers, gastronomic tours, naturalists, ecologists, beer enthusiasts, religious individuals. The list goes on.

Group travel offers advantages for many. Older, unilingual people love group travelling, everything is arranges in advance, the route established, departure ad arrival times are known, as are menus, hotels, all stops and a guide in each city provides commentary. There is a tour director who ensures that the entire tour enfolds as planned, and according to itinerary. There are certainly advantages to people who cannot be bothered to travel on their own due to many difficulties inherent to individual touring. The first, and for most North Americans, is their unilingual status. For this reason and many others North Americans like to travel to the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and to some extent South Africa, all of which are speaking countries.

When it comes to Europe, travelling solo means changing languages every few hundred kilometres, and even currencies. (This today is less of a problem due to the Euro in many countries).

While group travel offers advantages, it also has some disadvantages that must be considered before booking.

In group travel individuals are of a different background, nationalities, habits and character.

Some are always late, others complain constantly about their accommodation, food quality, visiting times, seats in the bus; just to name a few, yet others pick fights with other group members. A weak and permissive tour director can spoil the whole tour. Generally, tour directors are young many inexperienced, or poorly trained.
There are too many countries and cities in itineraries, which means travelling for most of the day in the bus, then checking into the hotel, and dinner.

The following day a superficial city tour provides a bird’s eye view of a magnificent city with short commentary and the bus heads to the next city or countryside Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, or Luxembourg are so small that you can cross them within a few hours by bus. Occasionally, an inexperienced bus driver may also get lost and drive hours on end in circles as it happened once to me in Sicily).
Then the food may become a problem. Generally, tour operators select the least expensive menus and understandably they are not the tastiest. Chefs pay little attention to quality and presentation. Service is swift and impersonal. Some people like to eat certain foods that may be unavailable in such situations. (I remember well, some American ladies craving spaghetti and meatballs in Kathmandu, Nepal).
Then beverages and their prices may represent problems. In Italy a glass of Coca Cola costs more than a glass of wine, which many North Americans cannot understand or do not want to understand.

Seating arrangements in bus tours may also become problematic. Some seats offer better views than others. Assertive travellers always occupy these desirable seats and others resent it. Occasionally, complaints are lodged, and seats are rotated daily to satisfy all.

Bus tours take long to embark and disembark cutting into visiting times. The most irritating aspect though is a constantly late passenger with no respect for others in the group. They are late to show up for departure, or come late from a visit, or claim to have gotten lost in crowds, or are constantly ill. One day it may be food poisoning, the other diarrhoea, the following day they may claim to suffer of headaches, and yet another day it may be foot aches of just imaginary illnesses.

Before you decide to book a group tour, check out the reputation of the company, and how long they have been ion business. Some companies go into bankruptcy while you are travelling and hotel management may ask for payment before you are allowed to leave, even though you have for everything in advance). Look at the price and hidden costs, the condition of the bus or boat, hotels, and even the driver before you embark.

If you want to enjoy a group travel, join an interest group, hopefully a small one, at an affordable price point and be satisfied.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Hawaii consists of hundreds of islands spread over an area of 2400 km. in the Pacific Ocean. However, there are only eight major islands – Nihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui Kahoolawe, and Hawaii, which is the largest and most famous of all.

The first European explorer was captain James Cook in 1718. He was so impressed by the beauty and exuberant population that a year later he returned. He tried to capture King Kalauiopuu to resolve a dispute, but the indigenous war-like population managed to kill him. Hawaii was independent kingdom inhabited by people of Polynesian descent. Today, the population is highly mixed with many Japanese, Hispanics and mainland Americans.

Hawaii’s main industries are – tourism, education, military, agriculture (pineapples, sugarcane) and food processing. Honolulu on the main island Hawaii id the biggest city and the seat of the government. The tropical climate of Honolulu and the whole of Hawaii attracts millions of tourists. Rich Japanese jet over for a weekend of golf, and buy US steaks at half the price paid in Japan.

Honolulu airport is busy catering to many airlines fling to Far Eastern countries but this importance is gradually diminishing with the design of long range passenger jest, capable of fling non-stop from Los Angeles to Sydney, or Hong Kong and farther.

Honolulu offers a myriad of hotels from ultra luxury to quaint bed and breakfast operations. If offers visitors excellent, well-maintained beaches in Waikiki. The beaches are full of eye-candy to elderly and vouayeurs. Honolulu offers many sights to visitors – Chinatown, Iolani Palace, State Library (designed according to typical Hawaiian Renaissance architecture) Waikiki tourist district, several museums, the Honolulu Zoo and Ala Moana Centre.

Many specialized travel agencies offer half or full-day sightseeing tours. Some companies organize luau feasts ( kalua suckling pig cooked in pits, poi, lome, salmon, haupani and beer ) complete Hawaiian dancing ensembles. These feasts are educational and highly entertaining.

While in Hawaii, you can also visit on day-trips neighbouring islands Maui, (Kaanapali beach), Lanai and Molokai which offer, more quaint, and less expensive life styles.

Hawaii’s cultural roots run deep, and islanders love to share them with visitors. Many hotels feature Hawaiian cultural activities, and traditional luaus, which combine traditional food, music, dancing showcasing the influences of various Polynesian cultures.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Italian cities have a particular flair. This may be the layout, the architecture, or the people, but all have their appeal, some more so than others.

Parma, in Emilia Romagna, is a small town with specialties known worldwide – Parmigiano Reggiano and prosciutto di Parma, and the Barilla pasta manufacturer. The third is not a specialty, but Barilla is well known for its quality pasta. Interestingly enough, all Italian pasta manufacturers import their hard four (durum) from Canada, process it, and then export a good portion of it to many countries including Canada.

Needless to say, residents of Parma love their football (soccer), opera and are infatuated with fashion.

Giuseppe Verdi, a local son, composed many operas, and most are still staged in Teatro Regio.

Parmigians’ love to dress well, and follow fashion closely, they also love their breads, patiers and cakes.

Parma is made for walking – you can walk to Piazza della Pilotta, the former residence of the Farnese family. Now this huge and ornamental edifice houses the city’s national gallery, archaeological museum and the Farnese theatre. It was lovingly restored after World War II.

After crossing the Verdi Bridge, walk to Giardino Ducale, the French-style gardens that once surrounded the summer residence of the Franese Family. You must not miss the museum dedicated to Arturo Toscanini.

Once you are back in city centre and Piazza del Duomo, you can visit the Bishop’s Palace and the Duomo (Cathedral). It is an enchanting Romanesque church full of angels and frescos by Corregio.

Parma’s cheese, actually a gift to the world, Parmigiano-Reggiano is inimitable. It requires the milk of a specific race of cattle, grazing on delimited pastures, and the cheese is aged a minimum of 24 months in specially designed warehouses with a specified humidity and temperature. Three-eyar old Parmigiano tastes better, but also costs more. This is the only cheese astronauts are allowed to take with them in their expeditions to the outer world. The reason for this is the exceptional textural characteristics of this unique cheese.

Many cheese manufacturers outside of the region and Italy try to imitate Parmiginao, but are never successful.

Parma ham is another specialty that has appellation controllee status in Italy. The pigs are fed a special diet, and must be of certain weight and the ham must be aged for a minimum of one year in specially designed warehouses.

Getting there: You can fly to Rome by a number of airlines from Toronto via Frankfurt am Main, London, Paris or Alitalia direct to Milan and then to Parma.
Alternately, you can rent a car in Milan and drive to Parma.
Ryanair flies from London to Parma direct.

There is no shortage of hotels and bed and breakfast establishments (turismo.commune.parma.it) or (eimiliaromagna-turismo.it).
The food is always tasty, even in trattorie, but outstanding in Antice Corte Della Vicine Farini, Enoteca Fontana, and La Greppia.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

We are going for a trip to Paris, France me and my wife. This is my Christmas gift for my wife and it is also a 5 year wedding celebration. This will be our first trip to Paris and even France ever so this is very exciting.

We are staying at the hotel Le Marquis which is near the Eiffel tower; I do hope we can see it from the room. I know from experience that it will be a lot of walking through the streets this weekend, because we do like to see as much as possible in the short time. I will bring my camera and take a lot of pictures so there will be much blogging posts with picture from Paris next week. And to all my EC card droppers: I will have a break from dropping, so this will be a time to see who cares to drop back.

We are planning to take some time at the Montmartre and I do hope the weather will be with us. We must visit the Eiffel tower, but I’m not sure we will go to the top due to our fear of heights. Notre-Dame is a must and I really like to see Mona Lisa, but I am uncertain about the queue at the Louvre so this is on hold.

We are also looking forward to good food and wine and hopefully we will bring you some reviews of a restaurant or two. The airplane is leaving Gardermoen, Oslo at 08:00 am tomorrow and we have an hour drive to get there so we must get up early, but this will be for fun.

Wish us good luck!

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Lying hundreds of kilometres off the west coast of Africa, Funchal, on the subtropical island of Madeira is the perfect place to soak up the sunshine in the spring or summer. The temperature rarely ever exceeds 25 C on this rugged, but beautiful island.

Overlooking the Atlantic ocean, clinging to the edge of the mountainous interior, Funchal’s steep, cobbled streets, historic buildings, and abundant food markets separated by colourful gardens.
Madeira discovered by Joao Golzalvez Zorca in the 15th century (1419) century, belongs to Portugal with an autonomous political status. It is a also a free trade zone. When the now famous captain discovered Madeira, it was uninhabited and covered with dense forests.
Funchal’s name comes from the word fennel (funcho), which the first settlers found growing in abundance across the island. They promptly uprooted most, planting sugarcane and vine instead.
The governor of the island and all the settlers decided to set fire to the virgin forests to create farmland, and it is said that the fire burned for seven years. The soil became very fertile and vines were imported from Mediterranean countries. In time Madeira became a sought after stop merchants ships plying the oceans between the United Kingdom and European mainland’s so as to provision vessels.
Madeira is closer to Africa than Europe and the island’s tropical temperatures provide ample subtropical fruits, vegetables, and abundant fish from the Atlantic Ocean. Avocado, kiwi, papaya, custard apple and passion fruit, along with regular fruits and produce dominate markets; Funchal’s Mercado de Lavadores offers all these fruits, and hybridized ones to the visitor. Flowers grow abundantly in the sunny climate and much of the harvest is exported to mainland Portugal and beyond. The botanically interested visitor can spend a whole day in this two-storey building and discover many flowers less well known in Europe and North America.
Funchal’s botanical Gardens overlooking the shiny Atlantic Ocean are high recommended. The museum of Antiquity and History of Madeira is full of beautiful silverware, nautical instruments of yore, and even a few medieval boats.
The old town with its cafes, historic buildings, and many stores, is worth a full day, particularly if you are interested in tasting Madeira wines free of charge. Madeira’s wineries, of which there are seven, pour their wines for tourists and offer guided tours, explaining the lengthy process to produce the world’s longest lived wines. You can still find 18th century Madeira wines in London’s wine auctions. (Check out Christie’s and Sotheby’s web sites for details).

Thye Gothic cathedral is definitely worth a visit with its intricate woodcarvings and ivory with Moorish patterns weaved in red, gold, and blue. Exploring the 140 km. Network of levadas (mini canals for irrigation) is definitely recommended not only for educational purposes but also to witness how persistence and hard work can achieve works of great use.
There are several companies offering full-day excursions to the other side of Madeira, including lunch at a typical restaurant offering scabbard fish (only found around the waters of Madeira). The scenery is a s beautiful and as fascinating as in lush tropical places.
Back in Funchal you can visit the casino located in stupendous building in a park. There are many hotels, bed and breakfast to choose from.
Restaurants abound both in the old-town and neighbouring satellite villages. The food is always fresh, lovingly prepared, and local.
Getting there: Several airlines fly to Funchal including, Transat from Toronto, Easyjet from London, and TAP from Lisbon.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Down breaks, accompanied by an explosion of fireworks, and the dogs begin to yelp and howl. In the distance, a rooster crows a cheery Buenos dias and, adding to the cacophony, scores of church bells start to peal.
It is seven in the morning, and Granada is wide-awake.

The main square in the middle of this, the oldest continuously inhabited city of the America’s founded in 1524, features a huge Spanish cathedral. Once upon a time, before the Panama Canal was thought of, planned and constructed, it catered to a lively human and cargo traffic originating in Florida. The route was the most direct connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the west coast. Ships sailed from Florida to the mouth of San Juan River that originates in Lake Nicaragua, the largest in the country.
Granada, on the shores of the lake is only 17 Kms. away from the Pacific Ocean. Here the cargo was unloaded, and transferred to vehicles bound to the shores of the Pacific and further north to the California coast.
The plans visualized using the river and the Lake to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. It would have required digging 17 Kms of canals, but Americans thought earthquakes and volcanoes represented too much potential danger. Panama was chosen instead, although the construction cost several times more than the one planned through Nicaragua, and took much longer to complete through the malaria infested jungle. In addition, several locks had to be designed and constructed to elevate the ships and lower them again on the other side.
Today Granada has a population of 150,000, a charming market featuring indigenous produce and pre-colonial buildings nowhere else to be found in the country.
Old buildings true to Old Spanish design adorn downtown Granada. Many have been poorly maintained and are deteriorating, but a few ruins are being renovated to their previous glory. Gran Francia just next to the main square is fully restored and opened as a gourmet restaurant. The building features a bar and banquet facilities for up to 60 people.

Granada offers a rustic charm, beautiful and almost empty beaches at walking distance and ample opportunities for excursions on the lake. Many of the small islands (called isletas ) are covered with tropical forests.
The Mombacho Volcano is nearby, offering beautiful vistas of the Lake Nicaragua and an opportunity to see tropical rainforest up close. Highland coffee grown on the volcanic soils of Mombacho is aromatic and smooth and available on location. Because most people are unfamiliar with the coffee and its superior quality, prices are still reasonable offering great value.
Back in Granada, you will see, as in many colonial Spanish cities and towns in Central- and South America, gardens and courtyards that are hidden from view by high exterior walls. It is said that Nicaraguans create a flower garden and surround it with a house. Gran Francia in Granada fits this description well. To truly appreciate Granada, located only 52 Km. from Managua, the capital, you must go behind doors. There are a few restaurants and bed and breakfast operations catering to mainly English and German tourists who like warm weather and visit the city in winter. The situation will soon change as Nicaragua is determined to attract millions of tourists eager to experience natural beauty and friendly people.
Nicaragua is safe, much safer than any other country in Central America, inexpensive, and above all, unspoiled. Rush to visit it, before it is too late.

If you go: There are several daily (eight) flights from Miami to Managua.
Grupo TACO and American Airlines operate direct flights (2 ½ hours) or via San Salvador.
You can also fly via Houston with Continental Airlines several times daily.
There is a US $ 5.00 entry permit and US $ 25.00 exit fee.
Managua and Granada offer accommodations in a wide price range including two Intercontinental properties, one Holiday Inn, one Ramada and one Princess Hotel in Managua.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

Since its liberation from the soviet-inspired government, the Czech Republic and its capital Prague have become one of the most popular tourist destinations of Europe. The beauty, history and cultural heritage of Prague are deep, worth exploring, and experiencing.

Prague is a most majestic town and mind frequently wandered to Rome – the city which resembles Prague more than any other. For completeness’ sake, I would like to mention the splendour of a celebration at which the aristocratic beauty of the Prague women, their magnificent gait and robes, so charming and elegant in the blooming Spring Gardens of the Palace, remind me of Dante’s Paradise.
August Rodin 1902

Rodin, the famous French sculptor, was right. Prague, located on both banks of the Vltava River is steeped in history, but beautiful, culturally rich and architecturally rewarding.
Several bridges, the most famous of which is the Charles Bridge connect both parts of the city. The Bridge has been declared “ for pedestrians only “ to allow tourists to admire it leisurely and take in the vistas of Prague.
Starting in the ninth century, and due to its central location in Europe, Prague has been the focal point of merchants from all over the world. Many settled here. It is said that the women of Prague are the most attractive and beautiful in Europe.
Prague is a town to enjoy on foot. Every step will reveal a new architectural wonder, a new vista, an interesting individual or even a wonderful piece of art, like a creation of crystal by an unknown master craftsman.
Start with the Old Town Hall where the astrological clock has been measuring time for centuries.
The Charles Bridge, built by an edict of Charles IV in mid 14th century links the Old Town to the Lesser Quarter of Prague. The origins of the Lesser Quarter can be traced back to the 13th century, but its current appearance reflects 16th century town layout due to a devastating fire in 1541.
The Kampa Island in the middle of the Vltava River owes its present shape and size to the debris of this fire dumped here. Today the island houses a tranquil park for strolls and quiet contemplation.
The nearby Prague Castle, surrounded by 1000-year-old walls, has been the seat of monarchs, kings and emperors from time immemorial, and each ruler has left his architectural legacy by building an addition, or a new freestanding structure. The overall look of the present castle originates from Empress Maria Theresa of Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today the castle is the residence of the president of the Republic. Pass the guards, and enter the First Castle Courtyard. Inevitably you will walk towards Saint Vitus Cathedral, a breath-taking example of ecclesiastical architecture, again created by Charles IV. He invited the best architects of the time to create this masterpiece.
After passing the Old Royal Palace and the Basilica of Saint George you come to the Golden Lane, where, under the orders of Emperor Rudolf II, alchemists tried to convert base metals to gold. Now you can return to the Hradcany Square via the Southern Prague Castle Gardens, which afford a stunning view of the Lesser Quarter. Renaissance Schwarzenberg Palace (now the Military Museum), and the Archbishop’s Palace, leading to the Sternberg Palace (now housing National Gallery’s Ancient European Art collection) dominate the Hradcany Quarter, situated next to the Prague Castle.
Nearby you can visit the Loreta containing a replica of the Santa Casa Chapel, a number of chapels and a church.

Cross the Vltava River and you enter the new town of Prague, which was founded in the 14th century by Charles IV. The largest square here, a former cattle market, is now called Charles Square. The Wenceslas Square, the main thoroughfare of Prague, was created in the 14th century and served originally as a horse market, an animal in great demand at the time.
No visit to Prague is complete without going to the Josefov Quarter, a former Jewish town, today still housing several synagogues and a Jewish cemetery. The synagogues contain splendid collections, of which the Pinkas Synagogue is the most famous.

The Troja Chateau, located close to downtown was built as a summer palace, and now houses the collections of the Art Gallery of Prague.
This Baroque chateau is bound to increase your appreciation of Baroque architecture and garden design.
Prague boasts innumerable cafes, restaurants and pubs, (Czechs consume some 150 litres of beer per capita, more than Germans) but fine food is difficult to find. Portions are large, but heavily laden with starch, garlic, fat and little else. Your best bet maybe sausages and soups. Bread quality is fairly good and pastries passable.
When it comes to beer and pub atmosphere Prague is hard to beat. Any pub will serve fresh, properly pulled Czech draught beer you can enjoy thoroughly.
The city’s glorious tradition of concerts and cultural life offers many opportunities to listen to philharmonic music at its best, and you can take in concerts staged in Baroques churches and palaces.
Many world-famous composers like W. A Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, B. Smetana and H. Berlioz conducted their work here and stayed on to compose more.
Before leaving Prague you must shop for world-famous Czech crystal and finely crafted jewellery.

If you go: Several airlines operate non-stop flights to major European hubs where you can connect to fly to Prague.
Accommodation:
Always reserve you accommodation before departure. There are several fine hotels, mid-priced establishments and many bed and breakfast operations.

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

If you have already visited all the Caribbean and South American winter-vacation countries, it is time to consider a “ new “ Central American vacation country – Nicaragua. It is beautiful, green and warm. The people are nice and friendly too.
Since Sandinistas lost their power around the beginning of 1990’s, Nicaragua has come a long way. The stores are full with merchandise, people are shopping and commerce is vibrant. The country is open for business and more importantly politicians decided to encourage tourism by several means. More and more hotels, bed and breakfast operations, restaurants, and nightclubs are opening their doors for business. The highway system is being upgraded and foreign currencies can be exchanged freely.
While western Nicaragua facing the Pacific Ocean is more populated, the east facing the Atlantic Ocean resembles more to a national park interspersed with a few small fishing villages and idyllic small resorts.

Nicaragua may be considered the safest country in Central America, but more importantly it is still much less expensive than Mexico and all Caribbean countries with more established tourism industries.
The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua offers many opportunities for the tourist to explore. You can check in a resort on the Pacific coast and do absolutely nothing except, relax, swim, eat and drink, or you can enjoy what this interesting country has to offer.
Two airlines operate several daily flights from Miami to Managua and Continental Airlines connects the capital with Houston on at least one flight daily. Once in Managua (there is an entry fee of US $ 5.-) you can check in at Intercontinental Hotel, or Holiday Inn, or Ramada. But there are also locally operated small hotels providing equally luxurious accommodations but charge for less than internationally recognized chains.
Nicaraguan food contains elements of other Central- and South American cuisines, but is more subtle. It uses spices sparingly and herbs more liberally. The population favours beef more than pork or for that matter any other red meat. Poultry and seafood are popular, but less than one would think, given he fact that on both east and west the country borders two great oceans.
Nicaraguan beaches are still as natural as when they were created. Those who like to swim in unspoiled waters will find Nicaraguan beaches most inviting. Hurry before it is too late!
Here is a seven- day itinerary you might want to consider:

Day I – Managua – visit the new Cathedral, and marvel at its acoustics. Take a walk on the shores of the Lake Managua , marvel at the Old Cathedral and visit the Plaza de la Republica. You may also want to see the presidential residence close to the Old Cathedral.
Visit the bustling market and shop for typical paintings, leather goods, consider buying coffee, hammocks and simply wonder at the human traffic on the streets.
At night you can visit a pub, (yes there is an “ authentic pub “), or simply any of the night clubs.

Day II Drive, or better yet, hire a taxi to visit Granada (52 Km), and see the oldest continuously inhabited city in Central America, founded in 1524 by Spaniards. The cathedral shows a pure Spanish colonial style architecture and the plaza in front is as pristine as the first day it was inaugurated. Downtown Granada has an unmistakable
“ Spanish “ character with houses opening to courtyards.
Granada, located along the shores of Lake Nicaragua ( the largest in Central America ) has beautiful beaches. You can sail on the lake and marvel at small islands (called isletas) of which there are hundreds.

Day III Visit Volcan Masaya located between Managua and Granada, in the Masaya Volcano National Park, possibly the most visited of all in the country.
This large volcano still steams and belches out of its three craters.
The interpretive centre at the foot of the volcano displays many large-frame paintings created by local artists. The only regrettable thing here is that every bit of information is written in Spanish, although most visitors are American, German, Italian or French!
Nearby El Mirador de Catarina offers an incomparable view of the Apoyo Lagoon, Granada, Mombacho Volcano and both Lakes Nicaragua and Managua, drop by the historic Fort Coyotepe that served to control the valley in the past centuries, but in 1970’s and 1980’s was used as a prison.

Day IV Today a visit to Mombacho Volcano should provide an opportunity to see how old growth tropical forests thrive. The road to the top in this private park is narrow and winding. A four wheel drive vehicle is a must or you can take the remodelled, old sturdy Russian built trucks to the top. The interpretive centre provides ample information about this tropical paradise but only in Spanish. The footpath circumventing the top of Mombacho takes you through forests and offers beautiful vistas to the Lake Nicaragua and the town of Granada.
Here, buy organically grown Mombacho coffee and compare the taste of highland beans versus insipid, processed, brown liquids.

Day V Matagalpa located north of Managua is certainly worth a visit. This region, famous for its coffee plantations, and Ciudad Dario, named after the most famous and talented Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario.
Matagalpa is home to many rivers and small lakes that offer superb fishing. Miraflor and Bosawas Biosphere Reserves are worth visiting; they contain 200 species of mammals, serpents and birds.

Day VI For all visitors to Nicaragua a visit to Leon is a must. Founded in 1524, this city houses the largest number of churches in the country. The Cathedral of Leon is remarkable because of its central location at the plaza and “ colonial Spanish “ religious architecture. Leon viejo’s ruins are a World Heritage sight and should be visited by all interested in history and evolution of civilization. The nearby majestic Volcano Momotombo ought to be in the itinerary of all.

Day VII After a leisurely breakfast, go to the main market of Managua to observe and experience the hustle and bustle of a busy trading centre. Here you can buy the best souvenirs. Stores selling them are clustered providing an opportunity for comparison shopping. In the afternoon spend a few quiet hours by the Lake taking in the serenity of the water and the backdrop of mountains. But you can also go to a café and enjoy a dessert along with an excellent cup of Nicaraguan coffee.
A visit to Nicaragua will surprise as well as enchant you!

Guest Writer – Hrayr Berberoglu E-mail or interested in his books?.

This Easter we went to Skagen in Denmark, at the top of Denmark. This place is very popular in the summertime, but we think that it is too crowded then so Easter is a fine time to see the place and get around without too many tourists. We rented a house in the middle of the main street so it was easy to go to the shop without using the car.

The houses in this little place are mostly yellow and small and sweet to look at.

The harbor is large and there are many fish bouts and restaurants which serves a lot of food from the sea.

The beach is large to and attracts a lot of tourists even in the winter time, just for looking.

They have an old lighthouse at the beach and there is about 200 stairs to the top.

There is great view at the top of the lighthouse.

This church is a great tourist’s attraction because most of it is buried under the sand and all you can see is the top of it.

As always in Denmark it is a fine place for the family and the kids. And we enjoyed a lot of good food, wine and Danish pastry.

We have already booked a place in Denmark for the next years Easter. This time we will travel a little more south and visit Ringkoebing and I guess there will be a day at the LEGOLAND in Billund.

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