World Travellers

You find plenty of sports in Portugal. Often dubbed as the “jardim à beira-mar plantado” (garden planted by the sea), Portugal certainly is a wonderful playground in the southwestern Europe. So, if you are looking to have wonderful sporting holidays in Portugal, go ahead!

Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west & south and by Spain to the north & east, Portugal is known for a wide variety of sports activities, such as football, Golf, tennis, bullfighting, basketball, swimming, futsal, rink hockey, handball, volleyball, rugby, and water sports. You can find numerous sporting sites and venues in Portugal.

FOOTBALL is the most popular sport in Portugal. If you are footballer or football fan, you can plan your holidays in Lisbon or Porto. Lisbon is home to football clubs as S.L. Benfica (Sport Lisboa e Benfica) and Sporting (Sporting Clube de Portugal). Porto is known for F.C. Porto (Futebol Clube do Porto or FCP). FUTSAL, an indoor version of football (soccer), is also very popular in Portugal. You can find many futsal venues in Lisbon, and other cities of Portugal.

This area is a foremost tourist area in Scotland and is privileged to have two of the most distinctive ecosystems in the UK.

High up in the Cairngorms there is the relict flora of the last Ice Ages - a British tundra. As well as heather there is enough lichen to support reindeer, dwarf willows, the cloudberry (a kind of sweet yellow raspberry, extensive also in Norway) and the mountain aven (extensive also in Canada).

In the lowlands there are extensive woodland remnants of the ancient Caledonian forest, which have Crossbills, Black Grouse and Capercailzie. More famous are the Ospreys at Boat of Garten.

There is excellent walking country (railway assisted if you wish - there is a train almost to the top of the Cairngorm) with rounded mountain tops such as the Cairngorm, Ben Macdhui and Braeriach and deep U shaped glacial valleys like the Lairig Ghru west of the Cairngorm. Deep cliffs, the altitude and the disorienting nature of the rounded mountain tops mean that you must take your walks with care. You must not walk on the tops when bad weather threatens (snow, fog, rain, wind) and you must have the right footwear and warm clothing

Ok I know what you’re thinking. You can get a flight to just about anywhere nowadays. You can visit places you’ve never even heard of and see cultures you didn’t know existed, so why stay in the UK. Easy, why travel miles when you have natural beauty and plenty of attractions right on your doorstep.

Wales is the gem of the UK. Here are the top five reasons to visit.

Mountains

Whether you like mountain climbing or just want some breathtaking views, Wales has it all. Mount Snowdon is the highest point in Wales and offers stunning views across the countryside. And if you can’t be bothered climbing up to witness them, take the Snowdon Mountain railway and relax as you take in the beauty of Snowdonia.

Beaches

As long as the weather is good, and let’s face it there’s always a bit of a risk there, you can enjoy the perfect beach holiday in Wales. Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire was recently named Britain’s best beach.

Castles

If it’s a bit of history you’re after then this is the place to be. There are hundreds of castles in Wales, not to mention cathedrals and churches.

According to conclusions of scientists from Britain research center “New Economic Foundation” who, together with the ecological organization “Friends of the Earth”, made “The European Happy Planet Index” rating, Iceland appeared to be the happiest European country.

Analysts estimated every European country according to three factors: satisfaction of citizens with their living standards, life expectancy and “environmental pressure”. The last term means the quantity of land necessary for providing the population with food products and neutralization of industrial wastes.

The rating including 30 countries of Europe was made up basing on the results of these estimations. As the survey revealed, Scandinavian countries are at the top of the list of the happiest European countries – Iceland is followed by Sweden, Norway and Denmark, they took the second, third and sixth places, accordingly. Switzerland is at the fourth place in the list, in this country there is the highest duration of life in Europe as well - 80.5 years. Estonia is the last at the tail of the rating of the happiest countries of Europe, where, besides the highest points on “environmental pressure”, the level of criminality got the second place among the other countries of the list.

No visit to the Netherlands can be complete without visiting the magnificent gardens at Keukenhof Lisse. Me and My wife always visit the park once a year and I never enjoy a better day each year as there are so many things to see and experience.

This year is the 58th time the parks are open to the public and they are spectacular. The Dutch people really excel in art of producing the worlds most beautiful flowers. The other draw is the fact that the smell of the flowers is astonishing.
Opening this year on the 20th March I found my self and my wife engrossed in the splendor of colour and imagination of the various flower mosaics and exhibition flowers. In one of the large exhibition rooms you can watch the flower masters I have no other words for them putting together arrangements and displays. They are extremely talented also as you browse you notice that each of the flower arrangements and displays are marked.

The markings are to show that these arrangements have been judged and some of the fine examples that are awarded gold and silver and bronze medals. I can hardly judge the difference but I’m not a flower expert.

Usually when people talk about international vacation destinations, Portugal is one country that they never think of. Little do they know what they are missing out on. With it’s beautiful landscape, culture and buildings, Portugal should be one of the must-see countries in your holiday itinerary.

Here are some of Portugal’s famous tourist attractions that are bound to pique your interest:

• Lagos: This town is a combination of magnificent cliffs and sandy white beaches. You can see many films and enjoy the beer that is sold in large amounts here. This Algarve town is the correct place for party lovers but you should not miss a chance to explore its beaches which can be done by renting a bike, moped or a horse.

• Evora: This walled town is situated amidst vineyards, flowers and olive trees. The cathedral and the Roman temple are the main attractions here. But do not miss the ossuary chapel, which is made from thousands of human bones and skulls. Sound morbid but it is also fascinating.

Salzburg is a mid-sized city in western Austria with a population of about 150000 people. As a member of the European Union, the currency used is the Euro. Salzburg is subject to the Alpine climate; winters are quite cold and usually bring snow while the summer is hot and inviting, although prolonged rain showers are not uncommon.

The city of Salzburg is situated on the site of the old Roman settlement called Juvavum. Towards the end of the seventh century, St Rupert founded a bishopric in the city, and the growth of the city began anew. By the end of the eighteenth century, the city was in decline, and during the Napoleonic Wars, came under the control of both France and Bavaria. Further recession followed and after World War I, and during the second World War, many of the beautiful buildings in the city were damaged or destroyed. On May 15 1955, following a bitter involvement in the war, Austria declared itself neutral and joined the United Nations.

Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world. A mix of new and old, history and shopping, Europe and Asia, Istanbul provides something for everyone, especially the frugal traveler.

The Blue Mosque

When I think of Istanbul artwork, I think of the beautiful blue and white tiles and no where will a traveler find more beautiful examples of 17th century Blue Iznik tiles than in the Blue Mosque. The entrance fee is free but as it is a religious site, women should bring a head scarf (I always walk with one) and dress modestly.

The Grand Bazaar

This, one of the largest covered markets in the world, is where the frugal traveler finds souvenirs. Favorites include tiles, carpets, and apple tea sets. Haggling is a must and shopkeepers are quite persistent (though cheerful). The concept of personal space is different than in North America so expect to get up close and personal. That is part of the fun.

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia was first a basilica, then a mosque, and today a museum. Often when travelers see photos of Istanbul, this building is featured. There is an entrance fee (about $10 U.S.) but the view of the 9th to 10th century mosaics are worth it. This site is rather crowded so time accordingly.