Why I love Spain and it’s many attractions

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and is located on the Iberian Peninsula with the atlantic and Mediterranean Sea offering a cool breeze for the many golden sandy beaches that Spain is famous for.

The history of Spain is very important and you will notice a big difference in local cultures as you travel around the country as they all have their own customs based on history dating back many centuries. This is why Spain is such an interesting country to visit as the major cities of Madrid and Barcelona have a different ambience and differ in many ways.

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and is famous for it's bullfighting, flamenco dancing and famous buildings. Some of the top attractions include the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Cibeles and the Prado Museum. You can also visit the home of Real Madrid, one of the world's most famous soccer teams and enjoy watching players such as Ronaldo.

Barcelona is well known for it's culture and is the place to visit if you are looking for art galleries and museums such as the famous Pablo Picasso museum. Soccer fans will also want to check out the museum and guided tour on offer the Camp Nou stadium , home of FC Barcelona.

You will also find many interesting cafes, bars and restaurants in the centre of the city that offer a selection of Spanish Tapas dishes which you will love.

But Spain has so much to offer beyond the major cities so you should explore the rest of the country and even the many islands just off the coast of Spain. The Canary islands are part of Spain and are located just off the north coast of Africa and include the islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. If you are looking for winter sun these islands are the places to go as they enjoy a fantastic all year round climate due to their location. You can book trips to Spain with Thomson All Inclusive holidays 2013.

Another group of Islands to consider is the Spanish Balearic islands which include Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza. The three islands all have their own unique charms, Majorca has some fantastic historical attractions and you will want to visit the Cathedral in the capital city, Palma. If you are looking for a quiet island then pick Minorca which has a laid back atmosphere and some fantastic beaches. Finally if you are looking for an island with a party atmosphere you should head to Ibiza where you will find amazing nightclubs that attract the top dance acts in Europe during the summer.

I have only just mentioned a few attractions of this fantastic country so you really have to check it out yourself !

For charming breaks in Spain check out the deals from Thomson lakes and mountains.

Visiting the Evita Peron Museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Forget Jean Harlow, Marilyn Munroe, and Sharon Tate. If you want an actress who managed to carve out trueicon status, go directly to Eva Peron, affectionately known as “Evita,” a diminutive “Little Eva.” Even before Madonna belted out “Don’t cry for me Argentina,” Evita had long elicited a polarized response from the people in her country. Some loved her; some hated her; everyone had an opinion.

Born Maria Eva Duarte on May 7, 1919 in a rural town, her family was thrown into abject poverty after her father died in a car crash. At 16 she escaped to Buenos Aires to become an actress and there she got a job at a radio station doing dramas. In 1945 she met and married Juan Peron, the man who would be elected president in 1946. Flaunting the expectation of that political wives would stay in the background, this unconventional First Lady marched front and center stage with her husband. She was appointed Secretary of Labor and from this position she supported higher wages and social benefits for the poor and the working class.

The Maria Eva Duarte de Peron Welfare Foundation was set up in 1947. The project was supported by “contributions” from sometimes reluctant individuals, unions, and businesses. It is perhaps fitting that the Evita Museum is housed in the same mansion she set up for homeless women and children. The industrial kitchen to feed the residents has been preserved.

When Evita died from cancer on July 26, 1952, the poor took to the streets to vent their collective grief and over two million mourners filed past her coffin. While the working class grieved audibly, the rich on the other side of town popped Champagne corks and clinked glasses.

There is no doubt that the museum is pro-Evita and there are no warts there. Natalie, who works as the ticket table admits that nepotism is the policy, “If you want to work here you have to love Evita. You also have to have the right connections, because we are like a family. And you have to care about the museum and preserving her legend.”

The displays at the Evita Museum walk visitors through the various stages of Evita’s life, from childhood right up to her death at age 33. Along the way are props to help put things in context: the sewing machine her mother hunched over every day to support her children, various school books, photos and old radios. By the time you get to the fashion show of clothes, handbags, jewellery and hats in the glass display cases at the end of the tour you have a feeling of what this woman must have been like.

Self-serving or saint? Either call, there is no denying that Evita mixed and mingled with the great-unwashed masses and the photographs and film clips abound. She met with workers, visited schools, and promoted health care. And she also championed female suffrage. In 1947, women in Argentina got the vote, largely due to her campaigning and influence. Even those who loathe her have to admit that she was a strong character and a force to be reckoned with. She also got it right in that she died young, beautiful and at the height of power.

If you are left intrigued by your visit to the Evita Museum, consider a follow-up to her final resting place, a mausoleum in Recoleta Cemetery. Between the time she died in 1952 and when she was interred there in 1976, her corpse went on a 24-year odyssey. The body appeared and disappeared to reflect the political winds of Argentina. At one point her corpse was moved from the trade union building and buried in Milan. Then the body was exhumed in 1971 and taken to Madrid where it was on display in the living room of Juan Peron and his third wife, Isabel. In 1974 it was returned to Argentina, restored and briefly put on display.

To ensure her body doesn’t go missing yet again, Evita is buried in a crypt five meters underground. Further it is fortified with cement and steel that would do a nuclear-bunker proud. The contradiction is that it is in the upper-class mausoleum of her father’s family who represent everything bourgeois that she fought against when she was alive.

Details:

Address: Lafinur Street 2988, Palermo, Buenos Aires.

Telephone: (5411) 4807-0306, (541) 4809-3168

Hours: open Tuesday to Sundays — including holidays — from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Admission: 15 pesos per person.

Guided tours: 35 pesos per person for non-residents and 20 pesos per person for locals.

Transport: from a number of bus lines on Santa Fe and Las Heras. Subway Line D, Plaza Italia Station.

Buenos Aires is world-renowned as one of the major cultural centres of Latin America. For more details on the best sights and activities in Buenos Aires contact Tucan Travel, a specialist in Argentina tours.

How to Pick a Specialty Cruise

How to Pick a Specialty Cruise

If youre not familiar with the term specialty cruise, youre not alone. While the concept has been gaining in popularity, it is by no means as well- known as a standard Caribbean cruise on a mega ship. In fact, a specialty cruise can be anything from a special type of ship to a special theme for the week. There are hundreds to choose from; here are a few to whet your cruising appetite:

1. Barefoot cruising has been around for decades and can be the perfect cruise experience for many. The concept is simple, as its pretty much the exact opposite of the typical cruise ship. A small, sailing vessel instead of a floating city is your moving hotel, and passengers are often limited to 100, sometimes fewer. Cruisers are encouraged to participate in the day-to-day workings of the ship, from helping man the sails to swabbing the deck. You can choose to do as little or as much as you want.
2. For an extended girls night out, many women flock to Cropping Cruises. Sponsored by scrapbooking magazines and craft experts, these events have a variety of activities for learning, cropping, laughing and, most importantly, scrapbooking a ton of pages.

   

   If youre not familiar with the term specialty cruise, youre not alone.
   CC image courtesy of smilepak

   If you enjoy the hobby, need to get some pages done and can get some friends to join you, this trip may become an annual one for you.

3. Gay and lesbian families are welcome on traditional cruise lines, of course, but there are specialty cruise vacations geared to creating a positive environment for these families. Offering all the same amenities and, often, on the same ships, the itineraries include gay-friendly activities and ports.
4. An adventure travel cruise is an exciting alternative to the standard destination. If you are looking for a journey of a lifetime, there are cruises on the Amazon, to the Galapagos Islands, and even to Antarctica. Not your run-of-the-mill trip, by any means, this type of cruise can expose the passengers to vistas and creatures seen by very few people.
5. Even the Food Network has joined the trend. For cruisers who love to cook (and eat), they offer product demonstrations, cooking classes and the chance to mingle with Food Network celebrities. Foodies everywhere are drawn to this type of specialty cruise.
6. How about a cruise that is not on the ocean? Cruises along the Mississippi River as well as through the Great Lakes are popular alternatives to open-water cruises. Fall color tours on these types of cruises can book up years in advance.

If you are interested in avoiding the run-of-the-mill cruise lines and itineraries, a specialty cruise may be for you. From cruises focusing on music, poker, art, fitness, golf and even mystery dinners, everyone and anyone can find an option that appeals to them.

12 Common Cruise Terms For Newbies

12 Common Cruise Terms For Newbies

For your first cruise, you might want to brush up on the lingo. It isnt necessary but sometimes it just makes you feel a little better when you know what everyone is talking about aboard the ship. From aft to windward, weve got you covered.

1. Bow This term refers to the very front of a ship. Think of the famous Titanic scene where Leonardo DiCaprio shouts, Im the king of the world!
2. Stern This is the back of the boat or ship.
3. Aft Heres where it can get confusing. Aft means towards the back or towards the stern. So, the stern is the place (noun) and aft is a description or a direction. The sailor is at the stern. The sailor was told to stow the luggage aft.
4. Gangway This is the bridge that passengers walk on to get onto the ship when they first arrive. In the movies, pirates were often depicted as having a shorter version and demanding people walk the gangplank.
5. Bridge Why didnt they just call the gangway a bridge, you ask? Simple. The bridge is the name for the captains area. Its the place where he and his crew take care of all the navigational aspects of the cruise ship.

   

   For your first cruise, you might want to brush up on the lingo.
   CC image courtesy of Number Six (bill lapp)

   His (or her) cockpit, if you will.

6. Embark/Disembark Chances are you will get on and off the ship many times throughout the duration of your cruise. The proper terminology is to embark (get on) or to disembark (to get off).
7. Fluke Usually a fluke is known as chance happening or something good that happens by accident. On a cruise ship, however, a fluke means something much different; it is the point of an anchor that catches the ground when the anchor is deployed, particularly the pointy tips on each arm.
8. Port This means the left side of the ship as you face forward (towards the bow see #1). It also can be a stop along the cruise as in, We docked at the port in Mexico.
9. Starboard The opposite of port, this means the right side of the ship as you face forward.
10. Leeward Heres where it gets confusing to land-lubbers again. Leeward is the side of the ship that is facing away from the wind. It could be port or starboard.
11. Windward Take a guess Thats right. Windward means the side of the ship where the wind is blowing.
12. Knots This is not referring to the knots on a rope but rather the speed at which your cruise ship is traveling. The proper mathematical definition is how many nautical miles a ship can travel in an hour. A nautical mile is just over 6,000 feet or 1,800 meters. If you dont want to remember all that just remember not to ask the captain about mph over dinner.

Study this list. Learn the lingo. If you do your homework, you wont feel like such a newbie. In fact, you might be able to teach a seasoned cruiser a thing or two.

How To Save Money On Your Disney Vacation

How To Save Money On Your Disney Vacation

Disney is a magical place. Once you go, you join the ranks of people starting the countdown until the next visit. Unfortunately, Disney is not always the cheapest of vacations. But, there are some tips and techniques you can use to help ease the financial frustrations. Whether you’re planning your first visit to Disney or one of many return trips, there are always ways to save money. Here are a few simple ideas to make the trip easier on the wallet:

Book Off-Season

The busiest times at Disney are during holidays and the beginning and end of summer. With that being the case, you can usually get a steal of a deal by booking a vacation opposite of any of those times. For instance, you can get almost half off if you schedule a trip just after the school year starts or even the second week in January after the big holiday rush. What you’re basically doing is watching the school calendar and going against the typical vacation times. This may take a bit of planning, but the cost savings are well worth the effort.

Off-season travel not only saves you money on the hotels, resorts, and parks, but it also allows for a more enjoyable experience.

Instead of waiting in line for hours and hours, you walk straight up to a ride or attraction with hardly a wait at all.

Vacation Packages

Booking a Disney vacation package is a great way to save money. Not only do the packages allow you to group everything together, it also allows you to customize your Disney vacation to fit your monetary needs as well as fitting the attractions you want to see. Disney packages will typically save you money on transportation within Disney World, as well as savings on hotel or resort prices, and even food.

The two biggest savings, food and hotel, are the main reasons most people decide to go with a vacation package. If you choose to indulge in a character dining experience, for instance, your bill could easily be well over $100. A dining package adds value by giving you a low flat rate for your dining plan. It doesnt matter if your bill for dinner comes to $5 or $150, you pay a flat fee for the plan. Many families enjoy the fact that there are no loose ends or unknown expenditures for dining. Your dining package will also save on snacks and quick meals, which, just like a gas station candy bar, can add up very fast.

Get the Most for Your Money

Another way to save money at Disney is to take full advantage of all the perks, such as extra hours, formally called magic hours, for which the park stays open to those who reside at a Disney Resort. There are also travel savings, such as buses which take you in between each park, saving money on parking and gas. There is also a monorail and boats, which will not only take you between the parks, but will give you an exciting tour of the entire park.

Conclusion

Of course, these are just a few ways to take advantage of Disney World savings. While there are many other ways to reduce your expenses, these tips are great places to start with serious savings right off the bat. If you want to go to Disney for the first time, or the hundredth time, hop online and see what kind of deals you can come up with. Chances are, with a few of these deals, Disney is more affordable than you could ever imagine.

Top 7 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Cruising Dollar

Top 7 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Cruising Dollar

Whether youre a cruising veteran or a newbie without sea legs, you want to get the biggest bang for your cruising buck. The best tip is to be aware of all the extras charged to your room and dont go over budget. Many people do not realize that all-inclusive does not usually include alcoholic beverages, which can be pricey. Many internet forums discuss ways to smuggle a bottle of their favorite in their luggage but there are much easier ways to stretch a dollar:

1. Off-Season: You cant really write about saving money without mentioning that booking during the off-season or shoulder period can save you and your family a bundle. Do your research and choose your dates wisely.
2. Cellular: Bring your cellular phone; you may need it at the airport, but dont use it on the ship. Unless your cellular plan is very lenient, a phone call here and there could cost you more than the cruise itself. Call your provider for details before you leave dry land.
3. Laundry: Generally, your ship has a full-service laundry and dry cleaning service to take care of all their passengers needs.

   

   Whether youre a cruising veteran or a newbie without sea legs, you want to get the biggest bang for your cruising buck.
   CC image courtesy of smilepak

   Convenient, but with a price tag attached. You can avoid this expense buy bringing your favorite detergent, encased in a zip top bag, as well as a dryer sheet or two. Find the coin laundry on board and get out of the sun for an hour or two.

4. Excursions: Do your research. You can save a ton of money on many cruise-sponsored shore excursions by booking them yourself. Its not complicated; in fact, if you can handle booking a cruise, then you can handle booking an excursion.
5. Coffee: Just like on land, specialty coffee drinks can be an expensive habit. If you still want to treat yourself while on vacation, some cruises offer a coffee card for a reduced, set price that can bring the cost of your caffeine fix down considerably. A similar product is also available for soda on many ships.
6. Upgrades: When you check in and get your room keycard, ask to be upgraded. If there are available rooms (and if you smile nicely), the staff is usually happy to move you to a bigger and better room at no additional charge.
7. Buy stock: Ok, this is a little out-of-the-ordinary, but if you invest in the stock market, you may want to look into buying shares in a cruise line. The general rule of thumb is that they offer shareholders a discount, which is a nice little perk.

Enjoy your first cruise but remember to keep your eyes open for deals as well as for overpriced items. Nothing ruins a trip faster than an empty wallet.