World Travellers

When you are looking for facts about Scotland it is no surprise that the history of Scotland and Scotland tourism play a very strong part. Here are some facts about Scotland that you will find interesting.

1. History of Scotland

Scottish history can be traced back over 10,000 years when the first inhabitants arrived. The modern history of Scotland involves the many battles with their English neighbours in which the battle of Bannockburn was significant as Robert the Bruce and the Scots army defeated the English. Throughout the next few centuries there continued to be tensions and battles with the English but the act of union in 1707 united Scotland and England and they were governed by a shared parliament. However, Scotland remains a fiercely proud country and although still part of the United Kingdom the Scottish people have their own parliament and most would consider themself Scottish before British.

2. Sport in Scotland

The dominant sport in Scotland is football (Soccer to the Americans). Almost very town or city has a local team at various levels but the most famous teams are Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers. The Scotland football team enjoys strong support from a loyal group of supporters often known as the “Tartan army” who follow their team home and away.

Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. It lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. A ring of coastal mountains and plains filled with lush vegetation make it a much sought after tourist destination.

Varied options for Ireland travel tours are available for the avid tourist. Those with an adventurous bent will find flexible self-driving vacation packages to be a great way of seeing Ireland. Those who prefer things to be arranged for them will find escorted bus tours to be a good option. Those who have a time constraint can use the well connected airline services to reach various destinations in Ireland.

Ireland travel tours are very popular for their theme-based feature. On this basis, the various Ireland travel tour options available are Ryder Cup, for the golfing enthusiast; banqueting, breweries and distilleries; bus, train and coach tours; cycling and walking tours; and, literary, language, and painting tours.

Golf vacation packages like the Ryder Cup vacations are a much sought after option. Reservations must be made ahead of season due to its popularity. Bunratty Castle medieval banquet, Dunguaire Castle medieval banquet, and the banquet at the Knappogue Castle are the choices available to those who wish to take a peek into the lavish hospitality of the days gone by. This kind of a travel tour is unique to Ireland.

The SS Norway, of the Norwegian Cruise Line, was one of the grande olde ships I had always wanted to go on. Their seven-day cruise was over Thanksgiving out of Miami to the Caribbean. It was a Big Band Cruise with dance hosts and four well-known swing bands from the past. Perfect — I like the old jazz and big band music and I love to dance but often don’t have a good dance partner. I signed up.

Sailing on the Norway turned out to be a trip back in time. She was built in 1960 as the famous SS France, more than 1,000 feet long, a 110 foot beam, and with about 2,000 passengers and a crew of 900 who come from all over the world.

The entire city of Rome is like a free open air museum with historic buildings, sites, piazzas, every where the frugal traveler looks. There are some sights well worth the entrance fee such as the Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican City, a walled enclave within the city of Rome) but many of the not-to-be-missed sights are absolutely free.

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is a Baroque masterpiece carved out of marble. Available to all, legend says that if visitors throw a coin over their shoulders, they will be sure to return to Rome.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Touted as perhaps the largest church in Christianity, travelers can’t say they’ve seen the religious sites of the world without paying St. Peter’s Basilica a visit. Most Papal ceremonies occur at St. Peter’s. And the frugal traveler will be pleased to note that there is no entrance fee. Highlights are the awe inspiring dome and Michelangelo’s Pietà.

Note: St. Peter’s has a strict dress code (when we attended, not even shorts were allowed) so dress modestly.

Pantheon

Groups of individuals looking for a wonderful destination for all purposes should travel Spain Barcelona. As one of the world’s oldest, most beautiful cities, Barcelona offers everything that one could possibly hope for in a vacation. Even above the leisure time, groups love to travel Spain Barcelona for the wonderful accommodations that are offered there in the form of conference facilities and other amenities. In short, it is a city that has something to offer for everyone.

Travel Spain Barcelona if you are looking for a place to hold a group meeting or corporate training courses. Not only are there a number of excellent hotel options in the city, but there are also resorts that cater especially to corporate groups. Holding company seminars in Barcelona has become a popular idea for many companies, as they are finding that resorts offer meeting space, good food, and all of the comforts that their employees demand. On top of that, nerves will be calmed by staying in one of the world’s most beautiful locations for an extended stay.

These days, just about every town or hamlet in the United States boasts of an “authentic” renaissance festival. Invariably, these festivals feature such attractions as “authentic” renaissance maidens sporting authentic renaissance-era, biker chick tattoos and renaissance cuisine like Ye Olde hotdogs or Ye Olde pizza slices.

So most Americans know all about Renaissance festivals from their experiences stateside. However, just for fun, let’s consider the counterpart festivals in European countries where the Renaissance actually took place.

Denmark, for example, the country that brought us those ubiquitous plastic toys, Legos; has designated the entire year of 2006 to be “The Year of the Renaissance.”

Imagine my surprise, a father who has stepped on many a Lego in the dark with bare feet, to learn that Legos have nothing to do with the Renaissance, and were not in fact invented until much later. All along, I had assumed that I was enduring those pesky little toys because it was good for my children’s education. Shows what I know.

OK, back to Denmark. The entire country is open for business to celebrate the Renaissance. Check out these excerpts from Europe Travel News (http://europetravelnews.com/2005_12/394_copenhagen-renaissance/#more-394″)on some of the exciting things you can do and see when you travel to Denmark during the year 2006: