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Panama Canal: A Cruise Over Oceans

The might of the Panama Canal locks, fails to eclipse the beauty of the different sights. After an effort for 400 years to build the Panama Canal, it has served its purpose as a viable trade route and a promising tourist route for cruises.

During a typical cruise, you will not only be marveled with the engineering effort that brought out the Canal. Tourists also find its natural beauty very relaxing. The nature’s stock in the Caribbean, Panama, and Central America is so rich that it is a great sight for Eco-tourism activities. The region’s unique ecologic diversity is seen at the different range of flora and fauna. Tourists can easily see the beauty of such places as cruise ships travel straight through the forest.

The major destinations of these cruises can be found mostly in Central America and the Caribbean. First in the list is Acapulco in Mexico. Different cruise ships that go through the Panama Canal find itself in Acapulco because of its golden beaches and sunsets, different shopping varieties, the historic town square, and the best cliff diving spots in the world.

Another destination is Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The Panama Canal cruise lines goes to Cabo San Lucas to marvel at the numerous nature and water activities there from diving, kayaking, and sports fishing. From Florida, you can pass through the Panama Canal and see the other side of the world to an aquatic wonderland.

Many regard San Juan in Puerto Rico as the most rewarding destination today. After the display of the Panama Canal’s engineering marvels, a run straight to Puerto Rico will reveal an old Spanish city with rich and classical architecture.

One of the most popular cruise lines is the fleet known as the Princess Fleet. The coral princess is a cheap cruise that goes from the Southwest United States to as far as Alaska. The Coral Princess includes the fine dine-in restaurants, European Casinos and Chic Bars.

The Island Princess is a ship that goes to the most splendid ports in the world. The Island Princess goes to different Island docks so that the tourists can absorb the beauty of these islands. This luxury cruise ship can travel as far as Hawaii and Tahiti.

Finally, the intimate Pacific Princess is a cruise that goes straight to Asia. Tourists in this ship can look at different sights in the Pacific Islands after enjoying themselves to the view of the Panama Canal. View different kinds of sunset’s day in and day out with these cruises.

Shopping Throughout Asia

In between climbing pagodas and snapping pictures of golden goddesses, most travelers to Asia take time to visit the shopping districts. The quality and selection of designer clothing and extravagant items found in shops across Asia will not disappoint those with a penchant for luxury goods. From China to India, great buys are available for those who know what to look for.
Mainland China is a fantastic place to find extravagant jewelry at discount prices. Jewelry markets are filled with glittering gems and beautiful jade pieces abound.
Exquisite strands of high quality, lustrous pearls are easy to find in China. When purchasing jewelry in mainland China, feel free to bargain. It’s the way business is done in China, and most owners of small shops expect it.
There have been cases of shopkeepers taking advantage of tourists, and the best defense is knowledge. If buying pearls, test them against your teeth for roughness. You might want to test both a real pearl and faux pearl in advance to make sure you can recognize the difference. For gems, consider purchasing a jeweler’s loupe and learning to use it. Be especially careful when buying jade, since it can be difficult to tell true jade from false.
Silk is also a good buy in China. Stores that sell lengths of fabric and silk garments are abundant, and some shops will make a shirt or dress from the silk fabric of your choosing.
Because there is no sales tax in Hong Kong and imported goods are not taxed, designer clothing can be purchased there for excellent prices. Bargains can be found on cameras and electronics, but make sure you know the going prices for these items so you’ll be able to spot a good deal. Hong Kong is also an excellent place to buy watches and jewelry.
Thailand is another great source for jewelry. Unfortunately, dishonest jewelry dealers are plentiful. Never follow any “helpful” individual who offers to lead you to a jewelry store with incredible bargains – it’s probably a scam. To avoid being cheated it’s best to deal with a respectable jewelry firm, preferably one that is a member of the Jewel Fest Club. The Tourism Authority of Thailand founded this reputable organization, and member stores are listed in a booklet and display the Jewel Fest Club logo.
In India you can find many items made from the amazing textiles created in the country. Clothing, tablecloths, towels and other household goods are good buys here.
Jewelry is also a good buy in India, but again, beware of fakes and frauds.

So Much To Do In Costa Brava

Barcelona is a city with much history and much to offer. However the most intriguing thing about Barcelona is what the Arabs left behind. These are all beautiful structures as well as the spirit of the people of Catalunya. There is much to do and many sites to see when visiting the city so do not be discouraged if you are not able to fit everything in. The city will be more than happy to see you multiple times to take in everything that there is to offer. The cities of Lleida, Girona, Tarragona and Barcelona make up this region that has a vast shoreline for many to see and enjoy when visiting the city.

With so much to offer as well a vast amount of beach front it is no wonder that there is so much summer tourism to the area especially when you consider all that there is especially along Costa Brava. Some of the things to partake in include watersports, soccer matches, museum visits and just simply walking and enjoying the city architecture. One of the primary attractions to the city is the Sagrada Familia at the Placa de la Sagrada Square with so much history and aesthetic pleasure to be gathered from that site. This church was built by Antonio Gaudi in 1883 as a place for the needy. One of the most intriguing aspects of this structure is the fact that the bell towers are rounded off as opposed to being square which was unique for this time period. In addition to the round corners Gaudi gave the towers a Swiss cheese appearance. Gaudi worked furiously on his church and died while working on it in 1926. It is here that he is buried in the crypt of St. Joseph on the East side. The church has yet to be completed, but the bell towers are done. You will find works by Gaudi all over the city particularly in the Guell Park. But The Sagrada Familia remains today to be a magnificent piece of architecture to many.

There are many sources for information about touring Barcelona such as the web, tourist agencies and of course at the city itself. Much of this information is free and is usually available in multiple languages. It is also very helpful as it will usually list prices and times of operation for many of the exhibits and attractions in the city. This can be quite helpful to the planning of time as well as budget for your trip and not feel so much like a tourist.

Grand Canyon Glass Bridge: A wonder within a wonder

Imagine standing on a 70-foot glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It provides an amazing wide view of the canyon but, foremost, this part of the trip is not suited for acrophobics. The Grand Canyon glass bridge began construction on March 2004 and set to be completed in the last quarter of 2006. The whole project is a brainchild of Las Vegas-based architect David Jin and cost more than $40 million.

Jin teamed up with world-renowned team Lochsa Engineering whose portfolio includes projects like the Taipei 101, Mandalay Bay Resort, The Palms Hotel Casino, Wynn Resort Las Vegas, and the Hoover Dam. The bridge stands on the Hulapai Indian Reservation and was primarily financed by the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. A new resort, which will be called the Grand Canyon West, will also be erected on the reservation as part of the project including a recreation of an Indian village. The Hulapai Tribe allotted 1,000 acres of its reservation into a tourist destination, which soon will also include a golf course, a high-end resort, and campgrounds.

The Grand Canyon glass bridge was able to pass engineering requirements during the final test by 400 percent. This means the Grand Canyon glass bridge can withstand more than 71 million pounds of weight (equivalent to 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes). The bridge is designed to sustain strong winds over 100 miles per hour as well as earthquakes of 8.0 magnitude within 50 miles. Over one million pounds of steel will be used in building the structure and includes dampeners to minimize vibration.

The structure, which can accommodate around 120 people, is certainly another attraction for the millions of park visitors each year who would wish to experience walking on a 4-inch thick glass (bottom and sides) at $25 per person. By comparison, visitors pay a fee of $20 per car to enter the South Rim of the national park, which is approximately 200 miles away by road.

The Grand Canyon glass bridge is definitely another attraction within one of the world’s natural wonders – an attraction in itself. Critiques are suspecting whether the future revenues of the bridge can cover up for the cost of the whole construction but hopefully tourism, which is the biggest source of income of the reservation, will not fail its designers.

Due to construction delays, the opening of the Grand Canyon glass bridge to the public is postponed on March 28, 2007.

Italy Cruise – Expert Guide

History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people and stunning views – an Italy cruise has it all! You can visit the main sites of Italy on a European cruise or a Mediterranean cruise, but to really experience Italy – to really taste it – you need to immerse yourself in everything that Italy has to offer by taking an Italy cruise…
Italy cruises depart from several ports around the country. Many depart from Civitavecchia – the gateway port to Rome. However, to get the full Italy experience it is recommended that an Italy cruise be embarked upon from the ports of Savona or Genoa on the Ligurian Peninsula and taken all the way round to Venice, or vice-versa. This way, you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to Italy than a cruise departing from Civitavecchia would be able to show you!
So, what delights await in this classical land? The Ligurian Peninsula is a true paradise. Largely undiscovered by mass tourism, quaint Italian villages line the coastline in this spectacular part of Italy. Beautiful sandy beaches alternate with rocky headlands, and magnificent coastal villages shine like beacons on the shore…
In Genoa you can discover the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and marvel at the city’s stunning Gothic architecture. A little further to the south Livorno is a port of call worth spending a little time at. Here, you will be able to arrange shore excursions to see the famous leaning tower of Pisa, as well as visit the grand Renaissance city of Florence – home to Dante, Michaelangelo and the Medicis…
The Colosseum at Rome, Mount Vesuvius and the ancient city that it buried – Pompeii – are essential attractions to visit when on an Italy cruise, as is Rimini on the Adriatic Sea. From Rimini you can take a shore excursion to visit the enclave of San Marino, which is less than an hour’s drive from Rimini port…
Finally, irresistible Venice awaits as the final stop at the end of your cruise. Venice is a true waterworld, consisting of more than 120 islands through which a network of waterways can be explored by gondola. Renaissance-style architecture is everywhere in this city, and you’ll be able to take a shore excursion that takes in the famous Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs…
So, whether you want to discover what it felt like to be a gladiator in Rome’s Colosseum, peer into the gigantic crater of Mt Vesuvius or navigate your way around Venice’s canal system, an Italy cruise is a special adventure that you’ll never forget.

Topic: Italy Travel

Key Words: incoming italy travel agency, KWD: 1.22%

Incoming Italy Travel Agency – Coming, And Leading, Your Way

Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Florence, Venice, Genoa, Pisa. Air Tours Tourism Travel Guide introduces the incoming Italy travel agency list for the millennium.

Accommodation in Tuscany-Chianti-Italy – is an incoming Italy travel agency that finds you great deals including rentals of villas, holiday homes, cottages, farmhouses with swimming pool, apartments self catering establishments in the heart of Tuscany, Chianti, San Gimignano, and more.

Cottages to Castles – Having lasted for 18 years, Cottages to Castles still offers the discriminating the first choice in privately-owned and superbly presented villas in Italy – literally taking you from Cottages to Castles.

Itavia Travel Ltd – are incoming Italy travel agency mediators specializing in flights to Italy and around the world, providing information and services on car rentals, insurance, hotels and scheduled flights that are also bookable online for the techie traveler.

JP Moser Guide – gives a selection of proven good places to stay in Italy as well as in other destinations: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. All their property has been thoroughly checked out by experienced travel industry professionals.

Guartopiano B&b – connects you to a place where there are no cars, yet everything is near. B&b is in a historical agency-managed building with 5-meter-high ceilings lasting from a time when Florence was still the capital of Italy.

Ryedale Travel – is a finalist in the 1997 & 1998 Travel Agent of the Year Awards for having organized everything from an overland trek across Africa to the Rolls Royce Owners Club Tour of Italy, a truly independent travel service for clients nationwide – a to-watch-for incoming Italy travel agency this century.

Select International Tours & Cruises – is a special interest tour operator with programs designed for Christian groups going to Italy, and also to Greece, Turkey, the Holy Land, and more. They also lead in wine and food tours, garden programs, art & music, and vacation cruises, plus giving away free travel for group organizers.

Tourist Friend, Italy – offers bed and breakfast, hotel, apartment, accommodation services, as well as tours throughout Italy, including heaps of additional tourist assistance.

Travel Corporation London Ltd – is Super bike, TT and Motorcycle Grand Prix renowned, ticket holders for Assen Circuit, best of all – an incoming Italy travel agency for rest and recreation, giving coach tours to European events en route for Le Man 24 Hour, Nurbering, Hockenheim, Spain, and Italy.

All coming and leading your way – towards Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Florence, Venice, Genoa, Pisa – Italy.

London Hotels

London is home to a lot of fascinating natural attractions and several man-made sights. Do you know that a huge budget is allocated to promote tourism in the city? A tourist’s thirst for adventure and memorable experiences will definitely be satisfied in London.

Whether you’re in London for a business meeting or for a vacation spree, your choice of accommodation will dictate the outcome of your trip. There are hundreds of London hotels to choose from. But while popularity can be a basis for your selection, it should not be the only factor that should drive you to your choice.

Parkes Hotel, which is about 20 kilometers from London Heathrow Airport, is one of the most well-known London hotels. Featuring 33 fully air-conditioned rooms with marble bathrooms, the Parkes Hotel offers all of its guests complimentary buffet breakfast. It is also conveniently situated within a short distance from some of the city’s best tourist spots.

The Chesterfield Mayfair is among the London hotels that have earned a good reputation of excellent service. With its 110 air-conditioned rooms with full amenities, Chesterfield Mayfair is definitely a top accommodation choice. It offers its guests three dining options with its in-house restaurants: the Butlers Restaurant, The Conservatory, and the Terrace Bar.

One of the London hotels that got a five-star ranking is the Covent Garden Hotel. It is ideally situated right in the midst of the theatre area, and is a short stroll from the Royal Opera House. Its 58-rooms are perfect for those who are die-hard theater fans, avid shoppers, and indulgent travelers.

With the numerous recreational activities available nearby such as canoeing, rowing, boating, horse-riding, bird-watching, and bicycle rentals, the Parkcity is among the London hotels that will give you more than what you expect form your trip. This 62-room contemporary hotel in an 1869 Victorian setting will surely capture every guest’s heart.

The Renaissance Chancery Court London is among the largest London hotels. A modern hotel housed inside a 1914 structure, the Renaissance Chancery offers its visitors a great London experience in any of its 356 rooms.

A slightly small, yet charming hotel, the Pelham provides fine amenities in each of the 52 guestrooms. Guests are left to decide whether to enjoy their meals in the in-house dining areas, or order them from the hotel’s 24-hour room service.

The list of London hotels gives each tourist several alternatives. And with hundreds of hotels competing against one another, guests are left with better options.

South Australia

Thrilling activities and an extensive array of captivating experiences await every visitor of South Australia. Flee the bustling resorts and jam-packed cities, and explore the natural side of South Australia faceting breathtaking sceneries, unique wildlife, and wide open spaces. It’s not hard to find one’s own exhilarating expedition with a rented truck or join the many available enjoyable coach tours.

South Australia enjoys a temperate climate that promotes outdoor life and relaxed ambiance, blending with some of the world’s most exclusive wildlife sanctuary. Why not swim the turquoise clear waters amidst great giants of the blue, or rock climb the beautifully rugged mountains, or explore brilliant caves, or maybe just get into one of the hot air balloons and enjoy a different but delightful point of view.

Get in touch with nature as South Australia presents one of the few places in the world where one can find enormous tracts of land unscathed by human hands, investigate the wilderness, ocean regions, and outback with the help of qualified eco tourism operators, and chase fervor for flora and gardens, birdwatching, and fossils.

South Australia is also the abode of countless iconic wine districts such as Coonawarra, Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Riverland, and Adelaide Hills, to name a few. Every winery features cellar doors that open up to meet the maker and the chance to taste high-quality wines. The feast does not stop there as one continues on to exquisite regional gastronomy, dining in first-class restaurants and getting the season’s finest at the farmers markets.

Home to Tandanya; get a glimpse of the Aboriginal culture, through guided walks or tours that take tourists to the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, and the South Australian Museum where one can find the biggest collection of Aboriginal artifacts. Events such as Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival of Arts, and WOMAdelaide, that offers a year round schedule of arts and celebrations to enjoy.

South Australia’s outback is literally just out back, with only some hours north of Adelaide, lying beyond a huge sky and land rising up to prehistoric peaks of the Flinders Ranges, the outback is where one can have an adventure and discover the legends of Aboriginal times, while quenching the dryness with cold beer in a small pub.

Finally, the Murray River of South Australia gives an awe-inspiring retreat for relaxation, featuring magnificent sunsets underneath ancient cliffs, crisp morning air, and soothing activities such as fishing, and lazy afternoon barbecues. Everything about South Australia is definitely a brilliant blend that makes it all worth visiting.

Best scuba diving locations in the world

Scuba diving is a fun activity to do anywhere in the world. The following are some of the places you could go to when you want to engage in scuba diving.

West Indies Barbados

In this area of the planet, individualized scuba diving lessons is available as well as a dive that is tailor made.

Services Scuba One on One offer a unique scuba diving activity and experience that you won’t forget.

Scuba diving in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is composed of little unique hotels as well as nature in all its unspoiled glory.

Some of the islands in the Caribbean that are amazing scuba diving areas is Rotan, Bay Islands, Guanaja, Belize, Mexico, among others.

Reservations are taken online.

Pacific Cook Islands

This scuba diving location is perfect as it is distant from the noisy hustle and bustle of scuba diving tourism. This paradise in the South Seas offers scuba diving experience that is unparalleled.

Diving in Cuba

Cuba is considered as one the islands that is largest in the beautiful Caribbean, although it is also considered as the country that is the poorest.

Diving in Cuba is therefore considered as one of the very affordable scuba diving locations in the Caribbean Islands.

The Quarry Gilboa

This scuba diving location is considered as one of the best scuba diving locations in Ohio. It is in this place where more than a hundred feet of deep water where Nitrox is available.

Believe it or not, underwater sites to be discovered include motorcycle, a vending Dr Pepper machine, cabin cruiser, rowboat, among others.

Also, more than twenty shaded and primitive sites are easily accessible to various scuba diving point entries.

Mabul and Sipadan Malaysia

This scuba diving location in Malaysia is comfortably situated in the Sea of Celebes.

Flower Gardens in Texas

Try not to be fooled by the name. Instead, picture yourself over a hundred miles from land and smack in the center of the Mexican gulf.

Though the ocean can be unforgiving, plus the weather could instantly turn foul and angry almost instantly, don’t let these distractions stop you from engaging in scuba diving.

In this area lies what is considered as the wildest and beautiful scuba diving locations in the world.

Heads of coral are much bigger than conventional cars and can be found as well as manta rays, sharks and other fish species.

All in all, there are a lot of scuba diving locations that offer the best scuba diving adventures. Know what you like and dive into the fun.

Subic Bay Philippines

For many centuries, Subic Bay was recognized as a deep safe harbour. Realizing Subic Bay’s potentials, the Spaniards used the bay as a port to defend and maintain the Philippines as a part of their empire in the 17th century. In 1885, it was built into a naval base that utilized the safe harbors and natural resources.

After their victory over the Spaniards in 1898, a naval repair and supply base in Subic Bay was established by the Americans. It was only reachable by sea until 1932 when the zigzag roads were opened linking Subic Bay and Olongapo to the rest of the Philippines.

The Japanese bombed Subic Bay in 1941 and was held by them until the US took back the Philippines in 1945. The naval base was returned to the control of the United States. The two invasions by the Japanese and Americans produced a number of bombed or scuttled naval ships in Subic Bay. Scuba divers from around the world are now enjoying these wrecks in their underwater graveyards.

Control and maintenance of Subic naval base remained under the United States despite the Philippines gaining their independence. The United States was given 99 years free access of the facility via an agreement signed between the Philippines and US. With the outbreak of the Vietnam War, Subic Bay became a strategic site in the maintenance of a strong US presence in Asia.

In 1991, the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo covered Olongapo and Subic Bay with nearly half a metre of ash. After the Senate of the Philippines rejected the renewal of the US bases treaty in 1992, the Subic Bay Freeport was established after the last of the American naval ships completed its pullout of forces.

Since then, Subic Bay Freeport Zone has now become a well-known economic, commercial and tourist hub. It is booming with world class restaurants and duty-free shopping.

Subic Bay is situated in Zambales Province on the west coast of Luzon 120 kilometres north of Manila. Mountains with lush jungles bound its coastal area. Mountains with lush dense jungles, suitable for trekking, surround the coastal area. The bay cuts out into the South China Sea.

Subic Bay brags of interesting wreck dives. It is home to a impressive combination of wrecks. The six wreck sites have an average depth of 45 ft.

Subic Bay boasts of its rainforest and a white sand beach. Its world-class facilities, which include a marina, yacht club, hotels, shopping arcades and food shops, are supported by Philippine tourism. An international airport is another attraction.