Sunday, March 2, 2008

Lets Go To Mexico - 5 Great Mexican Destinations

So your finally going on that oft dreamt about vacation and your destination is....Mexico, ole'! The allure of Mexico is appealing for many reasons. You have the acient ruins of the Mayan temples, the big city life of Mexico City, and let's not forget the beaches!

Mexico is known for its fabulous resorts and luxurious beaches with a dash of fantastic night life. Spring breakers have known this for years and often decide to go back, albeit on a much tamer vacation then when they drank tequila from a stranger's shoe for a tee shirt.

Mexico hosts a wide range of natural wonders that appeal to many of those that want to explore outside their home countries. You have mountains, volcanoes, and sea life that can't be found anywhere outside of the waters of Mexico.

Some of the more traveled Mexican destinations include Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cozumel.

Acapulco is rated as one of the top tourist attractions in the world. It is also Mexico's largest beach resort. It is home to some of the world's finest hotels, as well as miles of beautiful white sandy beaches. As in most tropical climes, Acapulco offers a wide range of water activities such as snorkeling, deep sea fishing, and scuba diving.

If you are going for the golfing then you won't be disappointed as Acapulco has fantastic courses with a wide range of difficulty for all players. You can rent a boat and sail the coast for a long weekend or even a daily excursion.

Acapulco is also a great family vacation center and you can't be the romantic getaways. Most of the hotels offer an all-inclusive package for couples and families at fantastic prices!

Cancun, what can you say about Cancun? It is one of the world's most famous resort destinations. Cancun has grown into a large city and one of the world's most popular vacation getaways. When looking for a vacation destination most people consider Cancun as their top pick for its great nightlife, access to the Mayan ruins, a theme park within a half hour drive, and the fantastic resorts and beaches.

Puerto Vallarta is another Mexican treasure. It is without question a tropical paradise. Like Cancun, there is plenty to local historical sites for the history buff in you. Book yourself a guided tour to see the Sierra Madre Mountains and take in some of the most exotic wildlife you could ever see on a tour. Fishing, sunning, and scuba diving are great ways to pass the time during the day and plenty of bars and nightclubs to dance the night away.

Another popular past time of Puerto Vallarta is the shopping. You will love perusing the many high end boutiques as well as the local craft booths that make up the shopping district.

Mazatlan is THE destination to visit if you are going to Mexico for the fishing as one of the world's greatest ports. The waters are known as being the perfect depth and temperature for fishing.

Some of the other popular activities available in and around Mazatlan include surfing, tennis, golf, and fishing. It is also known for the malec?The malec?s a long winding stretch that runs through nearly the entire city and covers roughly five miles of beach.

Mazatlan is also home to a Mardi Gras type festival that is held before Ash Wednesday and lasts for five days. Cozumel is Mexico's most populated island. It is a popular attraction for snorkeling or scuba diving. Cozumel has some of the most beautiful coral reefs you could ever imagine.

Without question Mexico is one of the best travel destinations worldwide. It does not matter if you prefer to swing in a hammock while waiting for your next buffet to begin or climbing the steps of the Mayan ruins, get out and live life like you mean it!



Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Lets-Go-To-Mexico---5-Great-Mexican-Destinations/60342

Galapagos Cruise - Tour In Ecuador

We arrived late in the evening in Quito after circling the airport for some time. My husband and I came to Ecuador to visit our daughter who is studying in the south of Ecuador. While there we wanted to visit Otavalo and cruise in the Galapagos Islands. We were happy to see our guide, Jorge, meet us at the airport as the hour was late and there were no taxis to be seen. Our guide had waited patiently for the plane to land. We found out later that flight delays in and out of Ecuador, especially Quito, are common at certain times. Quito, is in the Andes, over 9,000 feet above sea level and landing there takes the skill and patience of an experienced pilot.

Jorge was very affable, friendly, and spoke perfect English. Turned out that he had lived for some time the states, in New Jersey. We checked in that evening to our hotel, the Dann Carlton. We had chosen this hotel as it is located in the Mariscol area, known for great restaurants, and lots of good shops. We wanted a nice hotel, not too expensive, within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Other choices might have been the JW Marriott or the Swissotel, also hotels in the nearby area. Our tour company, Stanford Travel Systems arranged our tours, transfers, Galapagos cruise, and the flights to the Galapagos Islands.

Originally, we had wanted to stay in the old colonial area near the main plaza of San Francisco and La Compania church. Though many of the hotels there have the old world charm, we found out that they lack a certain standard of service, plus access in and out of the colonial section, "old Quito" can be difficult since the roads are narrow - most of them were built several hundred years ago = and traffic and congestion can be a problem.

TOUR OF THE OTAVALO MARKET

On Friday, Jorge and his driver, met us at the hotel lobby as we had planned an entire day to the area north of Quito, known as Otavalo country. This area is about a one and one half to two hour drive to the north. We had a chance to see the small Ecuadorian towns of Peguche and Cayambe along the way. Jorge knew all the locals and introduced us to his friends and colleagues. In that area is an extinct volcano {Ecuador is full of volcanoes}and a beautiful lake, perfect for an afternoon walk. In Peguche, we met the local weaver, famous in the area for his tapestries and he demonstrated his art to us, as well as meeting a local instrument maker who makes Andean flutes and other instruments for local bands. First a demonstration on how to make the instruments, and then a performance for us. In the Otavalo Market, the Otavalo Indians bring trade goods from miles around for sale or barter. It is a bustling open air market, and the Otavalo Indians are a proud and independent indigenous group from the north of Quito. Lunch was served at a an Ecuadorian hacienda near the town. Hacienda Cusin has almost three centuries of history in Ecuador to boast of.

ON TO THE GALAPAGOS AND OUR CRUISE

An early morning departure with the guide to the airport and we met with a representative from the ship. Our luggage was tagged and stored for delivery on the ship and we were off to the Galapagos for our adventure cruise. Arriving at Baltra island, the airport is small and you must first register before entering. The Galapagos Islands are actually a national part and regulated by the park service. You must pay a entrance fee to enter.

Once on the islands, the first amazing thing you notice is that the animals have no fear of being around you. They walk right up to you, or just ignore you and walk right past and even seem to be a little curious as to why you have come to visit their island.

The ship we were on was recently refurbished: with all new deck furniture, brand new main lounge room furniture, new hairdryers in the private bathroom etc. There were 15 different countries represented on our boat, with many passengers from the US, of course. I used the glass bottom boat one afternoon. No, you do not need to make a reservation. The snorkeling is great. One afternoon, we saw, from the sun deck, a huge black manta ray, the gigantic kind. Many saw it while snorkeling.

We decided ourselves to go back down to the beach for some snorkeling. The cool water was welcome after our hot hike. At first, my mask leaked a bit around the temples so every minute or so I stopped to drain the mask. In spite of all this, I could see, and enjoyed it more and more. At one point, a sea lion swam by to check us out. Then James saw a penguin on the rocky cliff next to us. A little while later the penguin must have dropped into the water because we saw him swim right under us. Wow! After about an hour of snorkeling, we went back to the ship, had an ice cream social, and then some down-time to sit on the deck and catch up on my journal.

The ship was still in the bay and we had an awesome view of the red beach and the islands beyond. Two fellow passengers came by and sat with us. James's first words after sitting down and seeing the view were, "All this, and heaven, too." Amen brother. Amen.
In only four days, we saw tons of wildlife, including a pod of sharks in 2' of water. The islands are better than you can imagine. The food on board is VERY good & the service is excellent. The crew is terrific, the islands beautiful. We stayed on the top deck in a good cabin, but you spend NO time in your room, except for sleeping. The bathroom is small, but as expected on a boat. We had a fabulous cruise, meeting wonderful, interesting people from all over the world.



Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Galapagos-Cruise---Tour-In-Ecuador/63631

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Entertainment, Restaurants and Bars in Birmingham

With the exception of two of the city's theatres, most of the night-life in Birmingham is centred on the Broad Street area, which includes the International Convention Centre, the National Indoor Arena, the Symphony Hall, the Repertory Theatre and the re-furbished Town Hall, not to mention numerous bars and clubs. Not that Birmingham is a 'one street city' when it comes to having a night out. The area between Sparkhill, Moseley and Balsall Heath has a national reputation for a particular style of cuisine along with notable Irish and Chinese quarters too.

Bars and Pubs:
In the city centre if you want an evening out in one of the so called 'drinking palaces', then head for Broad Street, where as well as the national chains of such pubs and bars you'll find places like Stoodi Baker's, which has several rooms ranging from a small and trendy bar to more cavernous rooms complete with dance-floor and professional Go-Go dancers. However, if you step off Broad Street into Brindley Place you enter an area where the pubs and bars have a quieter and more relaxed ambience.

Between Colmore Row and New Street several old banks and commercial premises have been tastefully converted into bars. For example the Old Joint Stock on Temple Row; with balustrades, balconies, chandeliers and the most fantastic front door in the city, gives you the feeling of entering a country club rather than a city bar. Bennetts, on nearby Bennetts Hill, is another former bank turned into a bar. Its plush Regency finish could fool you into thinking you've entered a library instead. Both of these bars serve a good selection of beers, lagers and wine as well as some excellent food. With a history dating back to 1821, the Tap and Spile on Gas Street is an old and original pub by the side of the canal. It's a Free House and serves a good selection of nationally renowned beers and international lagers.

Restaurants:
The so called 'Balti triangle' between Sparkhill, Moseley and Balsall Heath is where you'll find the best of Birmingham' famed Balti restaurants. The award winning Al Frash, on Ladypool Road in Sparkbrook, is probably the best known of the Balti Houses. Located on Broad street is Birmingham's favourite Indian restaurant, Shimla Pinks. It claims to be "...the UKs most stylish place to experience Indian cuisine" if you visit it you'll probably end up agreeing with them. This is no ordinary Indian restaurant to go for a cheap curry, main course prices rise from 15 GBP to 45 GBP a head. The Mailbox has several stylish bars and restaurants, such as Zizzi which serves mainly Italian food. Prices are very reasonable at around 20 GBP a head for a three course meal, Zizzi also has a good selection of reasonably priced wines.

Near the Arcadian Centre in the Chinese Quarter is the Chung Yin on Wrottesley Street. This is the best Chinese restaurant in the city. It specialises in Cantonese cuisine and produces 70 different varieties of dim sum. Chung Yin is popular and always busy, a main course is priced around the 10 GBP mark. Whilst the above restaurants reflect how multi-cultural Birmingham is there are plenty of restaurants offering British and French cuisine. In the city centre two of the places to go are the Berlioz Restaurant in Burlington Arcade and Apres on Summer Row. Brindley Place, behind the ICC and NIA, is very popular with diners going to places such as; Cafe Rouge, Le Petit Blanc, Bank and The Locks. If you're near the Art Gallery, on Chamberlain Square, during the day time a visit to its Edwardian Tea Room is highly recommended. A large and fancily decorated room with cast iron pillars sets the scene for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea in the city.

Entertainment:
Birmingham has three major theatres. The Hippodrome is home to the Royal Ballet and hosts touring drama, musical, ballet and opera productions. Almost half a million people a year visit the Hippodrome making it one of the most popular theatres in the country. The Hippodrome is in the Chinese quarter of the city on Hurst Street. The Alexandra is another theatre that hosts touring productions in Birmingham. On Station Street, just up from New Street, it is smaller than the Hippodrome but still manages to attract the 'big name' productions. The theatre is also used by 'one night stand' touring music and comedy acts. Originally founded in 1913 the Birmingham Repertory Theatre is one of the best in the country. Right by the Symphony Hall in Centenary Square, it has its own company of players as well as having being used for touring drama productions.

At Millennium Point, Curzon Street, to the south of the city is the Birmingham Imax cinema, which has a five-storey screen. Incorporated into the International Convention Centre (ICC), which amongst other things has hosted the annual Labour party conference, is the Birmingham Symphony Hall. With its world class acoustics and auditorium it is home to the city's equally famous symphony orchestra, it is also used by touring musicians, bands, singers and orchestras. Not far from the ICC and Symphony Hall is the National Indoor Arena. Built to be the indoor venue for sporting events in the country it is also used by touring bands, musical and comedy productions. Whilst many of the city's nightclubs are along Broad Street the area around Digbeth to the south of the city also has a tradition of contributing to the city's nightlife. One such place is the Factory Club on Gibb Street in what is known collectively as the Custard Factory, as once it was. There is also The Sanctuary, which is on Digbeth High Street and has for many years been seen as Birmingham's premier 'clubbing' venue. The top comedy spot in Birmingham is The Glee Club which is in the Arcadian entertainment area not far from the Hippodrome theatre.

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Source: http://www.pcwriters.com/Article/Entertainment--Restaurants-and-Bars-in-Birmingham/102006

Chicago Summer Fun

Chicago is one of the most entertaining cities in the United States. Not only does it have some of the finest professional sports teams, Chicago is also known for it's exquisite restaurants and historic theatres. If you are planning to visit Chicago in it's summer months, then you will surely want to read on.

I'll start with the sports teams first. Probably one of the most popular baseball franchises in the country, the Chicago Cubs are a must see. Yes, I know they haven't won a world series pennant in 100 years, but with the nostalgia look of Wrigley field and it's Wrigleyville atmosphere, you could spend an entire day at and around "The friendly confines". If you'd rather watch a game at a more modern park, than you will have to visit the South side residing, Chicago White Sox. US Cellular Field was opened in 1991 and has all the bells and whistles of a high tech park. US Cellular has outdoor fun showers in the bleacher areas to keep cool on those steamy summer days, and blows off fireworks everytime a Sox batter smacks a homerun.

Now after all that baseball, you'll want to dine at one of the many Chicago restaurants, and since Chicago was once a beef stockyard capital, a steakhouse has got to take precedence! There are quite a few choices for a great steak in the Windy City and many are located on or around "Steak Row", otherwise known as Dearborn St. Gene & Georgettis, Keefers Restaurant, Smith & Wollenskys, and Ruth's Chris are all excellent choices. All of these restaurants have great elegant atmosphere and no matter which steakhouse you choose, come hungry! The steaks are quite thick and are always cooked to perfection.

If steak isn't your fancy, than how about Italian? Taylor Street is located just South of downtown and has a number of authentic dining choices. Gennaro's, Rosebud's, Leona's, and Pompei are all excellent. All present a casual atmosphere, and have excellent choices of Red Wine. I must not forget Mario's Italian Ice. This little stand has been on Taylor street since the 1950's and is homemade with feal fruit bits. Try the Grape Ice with Lemon Bits!

Not tired yet, how about a Theatre event? Chicago has many theatres that showcase the Performing Arts. The Ford Center, Chicago Theatre, Briar Street Theatre, and the Auditorium Theatre have hosted many popular plays and musicals for some time. Not only do these theatre's host great plays, the theatre's themselves also provide a historic look back with all of thier interior aesthetics. On weekends, showtimes usually start with a matinee around 2 or 3PM. In the evenings, showtimes start around 7 or 8PM and end with a late show starting around 10PM.

Being some of the most popular, the choices that I have presented are just a fraction of how you can spend an unforgettable summer weekend in the city of "Big Shoulders". With so many choices for entertainment, Chicago is second to none. You will have a memorable, fabulous time!

If you have any further questions about places to dine or events to see, feel free to contact me or my office.



Source: http://www.postarticles.com/Article/Chicago-Summer-Fun/65803