3
September

Advice For Backpackers Going To Europe

Friday | Filed in: Europe

Backpack in hand, you are ready to head to Europe for some fun and sun. Here is some advice for backpackers from someone who has done it multiple times and made the mistakes.

Advice For Backpackers Going To Europe

In my personal opinion, spending a few weeks or months backpacking in Europe should be a mandatory task for every person. Admittedly, it can’t really be called a task since you will love every minute of it. Having backpacked Europe more times than I can count, here are some of the lessons I learned which can help you.

The first piece of advice is to limit the number of things you take. Europe is not located on a far away planet. If you can buy it here, you can buy it there. This includes items such as soap, socks, toothpaste, disposable digital cameras and guidebooks. I guarantee that you will take too much junk with you. Don’t. One or two pairs of shoes, shorts, one pair of slacks [to get into museums and churches] and a couple shirts is all you need. If you need anything else, you can just buy it there.

There is a lot to see and do in Europe, so most people want to maximize their time. One way to do this is to travel and sleep at the same time. Yes, I am talking about the night trains. When moving from one location to another, try to take the latest train and sleep during the trip. You only have a set amount of time. Taking this approach will keep you from wasting valuable daylight hours on the road.

One of the key pieces of advice I can offer you is to use your common sense. If you wouldn’t walk down that alley or into that establishment at home, why the heck are you going to do it in Europe? Europe is very safe and the people are friendly. That being said, every location has its rough spots. Avoid them. Particularly in the Eastern European countries. Trust me on this one!

To maximize your experience, it is best to get off the beaten path. When you visit a city, spend at least a day in a town outside of the city limits. You will discover the real nature of the country. Tourists are fewer, so people tend to be interested in talking with you. There are always a group of older men sitting in a café. Join them and you will be laughing for hours. I did this in Austria and ended up speaking a week in a little village called Halstatt. One of the best times I ever had.

When it comes to tips backpackers and Europe, this final piece of advice is very important. Do not try to see everything. Stick to one country for two weeks, but no less than one week. This lets you get the most out of the visit.

Yes, there are other countries, but you will just have to come back again to see them. Poor you.

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3
September

Visit Boca Raton Florida

Friday | Filed in: America | Destinations

The city of Boca Raton, Florida, with it’s more than five miles of publicly owned beachfront property and it’s approximately 1,080 acres of parks is situated in Palm Beach County, almost midway between the cities of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

Stay at the famous Boca Raton Resort And Club, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432, (561) 447-3000, with it’s five distinct styles of deluxe guestrooms and suites, The Cloister which is the most classic of the Resort’s five accommodation choices, the Tower which is a dramatic contrast, the Boca Beach Club, the Yacht Club and the Boca Bungalows. The Boca Raton Resort & Club offers its guests an unmatched variety of sports and leisure activities, all of which can be found on the Resort’s 356-acre property. If that is too much for you, try the Marriott Boca Raton at Boca Center, 5150 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, Fl. 33486, (561) 392-4600, with it’s marble bathrooms, rainfall showers, solid walnut highlights, and deluxe aromatherapy amenities, or the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th Street, Boca Raton, Fl. 33431, (561) 368-5252, with it’s Mediterranean ambience, tropical pool and lush grounds or any one of a number of other excellent hotels in the city.

Play golf at the Boca Raton Resort And Club Resort Course on the Resort grounds, a 6,253 yard par 71 course highlighted with a variety of elevation changes and 12 surface acres of water including a signature water feature designed by Hugh Hughes, or the Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course, Golf Course Road, (561) 483-6317 with it’s 18-hole regulation, 6,115-yard, par-72 course, nine-hole, 1,877-yard, par-30 executive course, driving range and putting green, or at the Red Reef Executive Golf Course, 1111 N. Ocean Blvd., (561) 391-5014, with it’s nine-hole, 1,628-yard, par-32 course on the ocean, or at the Southwinds County Golf Course, 9557 Lyons Road, (561) 483-1305, with it’s 18-hole, 72-par course.

Check out the Royal Palm Polo Sports Complex, 18000 Jog Road, Boca Raton, Fl., (561) 994-1876, the oldest existing club in South Florida, Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Polo Club is known as the sport’s winter capital.

Go shopping at the Town Center Mall, 6000 Glades Rd., Boca Raton 33431, (561) 368-6000, where you will find almost 200 exclusive stores including Bloomingdales, Burdines, Cartier, The Disney Store, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom’s and Tiffany’s, or try other area centers like the Royal Palm Plaza, Boca Center, Glades Plaza, the Fifth-Avenue Shops, Oaks Plaza, Shops at the Sanctuary, Polo Shops, Del Mar Shopping Village, Garden Shops of Boca, Palms Plaza, Point West Centre, Village Pointe, Mission Bay Plaza, Shadowood Square, Boca Lyons Plaza, Somerset Shops, Regency Court, Shops of Boca, Piccadilly Square, VPC Center, Lakeside Centre and West Boca Square

Lie on the beach, go swimming, snorkeling or scuba diving, go freshwater or saltwater fishing, dine in one of the many fine restaurants, play tennis, check out Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest freshwater lake in the United States or just lie around your hotel pool and relax. If you get tired of Boca Raton you are right near Palm Beach and you are within just over an hour’s drive from Miami Beach and all it has to offer.

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3
September

Alicante Beautiful Costa Blanca City

Friday | Filed in: Destinations

Alicante, Spain is located in Eastern Spain in the southern portion of the land of Valencia. Alicante is surrounded by Murica to the south, Valencia to the north, mountains to the north and west, and the Mediterranean Sea on the east. Popular travel destinations in the Alicante province include Alicante, Torrevieja, Benidorm, Alcoy and Elche.

Alicante is the second largest city in the Valencia region. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the summer. About six million people visit the Costa Blanca every summer and most enter through the Alicante Airport. The city has been called the best all around city in Spain.

Weather and Climate

This area has a typical Mediterranean climate. The summers are dry and hot. The winters are temperate. There is rarely any snow at all in the coastal areas. The weather is nice in both the summer and winter, making this area a good choice for vacations at all times of the year. Spring and autumn tend to bring rain storms, so keep this in mind when choosing a time for your trip.

Accommodations and Hotels in Alicante

Hotel options are abundant in this city. There are many hotels of all kinds, from basic accommodations to luxury hotels. Compare hotels and prices on the internet or through a travel agent. If you are planning to travel to the area during peak season, be sure to plan early. Some hotels fill up quickly, so make your reservations early.

Property rental is a good alternative to a hotel for some people. If you are planning an extended stay or are travelling with children, consider renting an apartment. You may be more comfortable and feel at home in a private residence. In addition, you can save money by enjoying some meals at home, rather than in a restaurant.

Things to do

The beaches are the biggest draw in the summer travel season. The Costa Blanca has the longest summer season in Spain. After enjoying the sun, take a walk along the Promenade in the shade of the palm trees. Sidewalk cafes are a great place to stop for lunch during your stroll. Craftspeople from all over the world can be found along the waterfront.

Consider taking a ferry to the island of Tabarca. This small island has a colonial style village and a beautiful beach. The island is a popular spot for snorkelling. Fins and snorkels are a common sight in the waters off Tabarca.

If you enjoy golf, there are several courses in and around the city. Green fees range from thirty five to eighty Euros. The fees depend on the course you choose and the time of year. Make your reservations early, as some fill up quickly in the summer season.

Alicante offers plenty of opportunities for sight seeing. Cathedrals and churches are popular sightseeing spots. The Concathedral of San Nicholas de Bari is a beautiful cathedral and home to the local Bishop. This cathedral is one of the landmarks of the city.

The Castle of Santa Barbara is one of the largest medieval fortresses in all of Europe. The original structure was built by the Moors in the ninth century and additions were made in the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. The castle overlooks the town and offers a breath taking view. The castle is rich in local history. Artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age have been discovered around the site of the castle. The castle is also home to modern art. A large collection of modern Spanish sculpture can be viewed during your visit to the castle.

There are several museums in the city for your enjoyment. The Nativity Museum is a unique place to visit. The museum contains hundreds of Nativity scenes from all around the world. Admission is free to this museum.

If you love the night life, visit the Barrio Santa Cruz. This is the old quarter of the city. The area has a medieval feeling. Bars and pubs are plentiful in this area, offering a variety of choices in the night life. Music from the clubs adds to the experience.

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2
September

An Overview of Libya For Travelers

Thursday | Filed in: Africa | Libya

To say that Libya is a controversial country is a mild understatement. Regardless, it is turning away from its violent past and even opening up to travelers.

An Overview of Libya For Travelers

Libya is located on the northern coast line of Africa. It is surprisingly large country, covering over 1.7 million square miles. Much of the land, however, is arid desert and unused. 90 percent of the population lives along the coast line while the interior of the country has little or no population to speak of. The capital of the country is Tripoli, also the largest population center by far.

The people of Libya are called Libyans. Total population is believed to be 5.6 million and growing at a rate of 2.3 percent a year. Ethnic groups break down as Berber and Arab. Sunni Muslin is the dominant religion and Arabic is the primary language. The literacy rate is 82 percent. Live expectancy is 74.1 percent for men and 78.58 percent for women. In an odd twist, roughly 50 percent of the population is believed to be under the age of 20.

Historically, Libya has been a country ruled by foreign powers. From the Phoenicians to the Carthaginians to the Greeks and Romans, the country has seen little independence. The primary reason for this is the strategic location of Tripoli in relation to shipping lanes in the Mediterranean. Regardless, the country is home to a vast collection of ancient structures and ruins including a near copy of the Coliseum in Rome. For travelers who enjoy historical sightseeing, Libya presents a treasure chest of relatively unexplored finds.

Libya is ruled by Mu’ammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi who came to power in 1969 in a military coup. At the time, he was only 28 years old. During his rule, Libya has been known as a hotbed of terrorist activities, particularly with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland. The country has recently taken major steps to renounce its past and more or less has seen its diplomatic status restored.

From a traveler’s perspective, Libya is still a bit of an adventuresome area. Using common sense, one should have no problems traveling in the country. Further, the country is making a major effort to attract tourist dollars, and an accepting attitude towards foreigners seems to have come along with this approach.

Much like Cuba, Libya is a country dominated by one man. Although Libya has moved to rejoin the international community, one must wonder what will happen when Qadhafi is gone.

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