My travel

Park Guell in Barcelona was created by Gaudi - Spain’s famous maveric artist and architect. The Parc Guell area has recently been marked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is without doubt Gaudi’s most colourful and off beat creation.

Gaudi was commisioned in the 1890’s by Count Eusebi Guell to design and build a garden city on about fifty acres of the Guell family land near to Barcelona. He came up with a grand plan for incredibly decorated buildings set in a landscape of unique looking gardens. Only a small segment of his dream became reality and the bit that can still be visited today was finished between 1910 and 1914. This of course echoes the long term building project that is the cathedral of Sagrada Familia - Gaudi’s other great dream building.

Inside Parc Guell the most unique area is the Room of A Hundred Columns - a huge hall with crooked pillars supporting the roof. There are eighty four pillars in all and the room sparkles with pieces of cut glass and coloured mosaics.

A climb to the top of a flight of steps bounded by fierce looking animal models takes you to the Gran Placa Circular. This is an open space with a brightly coloured balcony area and an enormous long mosaic covered bench. This bench is serpent shaped and designed to allow those who sit on it to speak privately - even though the area around may be bustling and busy.

Near the entrance to the parc sits the Casa-Museu-Gaudi - a house that looks for all the world like a gingerbread house. Gaudi lived there for twenty years but ironically it was not designed or built by him - although there is no doubt that it follows his stylings. The internal works and art and the furniture was designed by the great man himself and the house now provides a pilgrimage point for those who enjoy and are entertained by his work.

Gary Hill is a travel writer based in Scotland. You’ll find great tips and advice for planning your vacation in europe - his favourite country is Spain and at present he lives in an apartment in Barcelona

The London tube can sometimes be more efficient than other means of transport. Driving a car in London is like signing a death verdict as the traffic jams are awful, buses therefore move slowly and contrary to the belief that you can explore the city through the bus window does not always work - you might spend hours there just waiting to move.

Should you decide to explore London by tube, get the underground map to see how central London zones are situated. Zones 1 & 2 is where you want to book your central London hotel. From there it will be easy to travel. It is a good idea to buy a day or a three-day travel card. You can then use it throughout the day in particular zones (zones 1 & 2 are the most central) and visit as many places as you want. Good news is that the travel cards are valid on all buses in all zones. This means that you can combine the tube and bus journey to get the most of it.

Most famous London museums and galleries are in central London, zones 1 & 2. The most convenient areas to travel from are Paddington, Kensington, and Notting Hill. Paddington is great as it takes only 15 minutes from the Paddington Station to get to the Heathrow Airport by Heathrow Express. It is also easy to reach Trafalgar Square, the West End theatres, restaurants and shopping places by London underground. Stations are nicely sprouted all around the city.

A one-day travel card is valid only for that particular day. It is cheaper if you buy an off-peak one for 5.30Euros (after 9:30am on weekdays, but any time at the weekend or on a public holiday), alternatively it is £6.80 for peak times. If you only need to use the tube for part of your journey, buy a single ticket which will cost you 4.00Euros. London is a great city and you need to be ready to consume all the beautiful sights that will come across. Explore London by tube and you will make it cheap and efficient.

The article is written by Madhukar Shah for http://www.lth-hotels.com, official website of London Town Hotels Limited, fastest growing London hotels group.

About London Town Hotels:

Website: Lth-hotels.com
Company: London Town Hotels Limited
Address: 162, Cromwell Road, Kensington, London SW5 OTT.
Country: United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7244 2400

Piran is a city that will never change even though the time past by. This is because Piran is found in a narrow peninsula where there is no space or place for new expansion. In the view of the fact that Piran does not change; the government of Slovenia has decided to protect its historical and chronological values.

On the other hand, it depends on what time tourists visit Piran to know what activities are going on. Unluckily, there is nothing much to do especially in November even though it is a wonderful experience wandering around Piran’s narrow streets, have a lunch by the side of the river and climb the campanile that dictate Piran’s town for many remarkable sceneries over to Croatia and Italy.

The town of Piran is mainly focused on Tartini Square, known as Tartinijev trg, named after the most well known Piran’s violinist and composer, Guiseppe Tartini. In the warm summer, travelers or tourists can visit the Giuseppe Tartini house. Visitors can observe his statue and wandering around on the marble that is paved in the region of the square which normally became the place to park cars. Tartini Square is a wonderful square especially the two 15th century Venetian houses but it was ruined because it’s actually hard to take a photo without bringing the cars in.

Piran has a quite strong Italian atmosphere to feel compared to its neighboring cities. The citizens of Piran most likely to welcome the Venetians instead of fighting against them which totally make Piran is different than other Slovenian cities. For some significant years, the people of Piran have been traded with the peoples of Venice since Piran is on of their well-heeled town. On the other hand, Piran after that was conquered by the Austrian Empire and fell down in the commercial world like its across water neighbor Trieste, Italy. This is the main reason that Piran is remained untouched even the time goes by which amazed historians and visitors. Like most museums in the world which operates on their own hours throughout the year, Segej Masera Maritime Museum goes the same but it does not open during November. Segej Masera Maritime Museum covers the rule of the Venetians which consists of three important features of Piran; the sailing, salt (there are huge amounts of salt on the road nearby Portoroz), and sea.

In any case, Piran not only shares the similarities of Italy in terms of architecture - it also bears the similarities of the food and drink. The restaurants in Piran do have Slovenian dishes but it tends to focus more towards Italian dishes for example risotto, compared to other cities of Slovania. The very yummy seafood, the risotto and a fine salad and wonderfully marinated sardines with delightful fries together with a half carafe of wine usually cost less than 20 Euro.

To learn more about slovenia check our our Slovenia travel portal. If you decide to travel to Slovenia this is the go-to information point.

In the state of California, Zinfandel is the number two most widely planted red wine grape. For many, many years, Zinfandel was a mystery grape, its origins unconfirmed. The latest DNA profiling from the University of California at Davis suggests that the grape actually originated in Croatia and not in the south of Italy, which was previously a common misconception. Continued research has shown that the possible original plantings migrated from Greece or even Albania.

Zinfandel arrived in the United States in the 1820’s, when George Gibbs, a New York nurseryman, brought cuts from the Imperial Austrian plant species assortment. Throughout the following two decades, Zinfandel became a widespread table grape in North Eastern America. Although there is some controversy over the actual individual who first brought Zinfandel to the states, it has regardless been thriving since the middle of the nineteenth century.

Its popularity in the United States has lead Zinfandel to be referred to by the masses as the first true “California Red.” Although California is the premier grower of Zinfandel, it is also widely grown in Italy as well.

It is a difficult grape to grow, due to the small, berry-like grapes that grow in tight clusters and ripen unevenly. Water management is essential in growing Zinfandel grapes-if these grapes do not get enough moisture, they will become stressed and will be more likely to raisin.

Zinfandel grapes however, are very resistant to vine disease and it is not uncommon for Zinfandel vineyards to be in existence for 75 or even 100 years. Wine connoisseurs believe that these “old vines” create the best wines because the older vineyards tend to be smaller, causing the grapes to ripen more evenly.

Zinfandels’ preferable growing climate is in warm, coastal valleys, such as Dry Creek Valley, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Paso Robles.

Zinfandel varies in taste from light and fruity to intense and peppery. It is a common variety to blend with other grapes. At its ideal state, Zinfandel is fruity, with hints of raspberry, blackberry, boysenberry, cranberry, or black cherry. Common herbal tastes include briar, licorice, and nettle, while cinnamon and black pepper are both prevalent spices.

Depending on the region the grapes are grown in, the berry flavors will vary. Zinfandels and Merlots produced in the Napa Valley tend to have hints of raspberry while warmer areas like Sonoma County will tend to have more of a strong blackberry flavor. The cooler the environment, the lighter and more fruity the grape will be.

A varietal best consumed within three to five years of the vintage, Zinfandel can become somewhat acidic and develop a higher alcohol level, leading it to have a “hot” taste if it isn’t drank within five years of being bottled. Although typically Zinfandel is a hearty, red wine, in the United States a semi-sweet blush style wine known as “White Zinfandel” is also extremely popular

Recommended food pairings include outdoor grilled steaks, chops, or fruit stewed or stuffed meats. Zinfandels are not usually recommended for seafood and lighter tasting cuisines such as chicken, but more appropriately with full-bodied meats, potatoes, and pastas.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in travel, leisure, home improvement, life insurance, and fine wines. She enjoys wine tasting, traveling, and gardening in her spare time. For great deals on countless varietals, please visit

http://www.wineaccess.com

Whistler - A new Byword for Fun, Adventure and Active Lifestyles

Years ago, BC’s government sponsored travel agency coined the phrase Supernatural British Columbia to describe a British Columbia, Canada vacation experience. The term really can’t be topped. There is no place on this planet like BC. From south to north, the visual tapestry of the British Columbia landscape makes the most profound memories for travellers. Although the Alps in Europe rival the beauty of the Rocky Mountains and Coast mountain ranges in BC, it is the wildlife and sparsely populated wild regions that make BC special. If being alone with nature is your need, BC’s rugged mountainous terrain will give you all the solitude you could ask for. And you’d be enjoying every minute.

There are hundreds of reasons to visit BC but one that stands out is the town of Whistler located an hour north of Vancouver on the Sea to Sky highway. It is rated as one of the world’s top ski resorts yet it offers much more than skiing.

If the destination of Whistler isn’t enough, just getting there is part of the fun. Most drives to a vacation getaway are boring journeys, but not this one. Setting out on a bus ride or car ride from Vancouver you’ll see spectacular mountainside scenery along the coast of Howe Sound. The bay and the towering mountains next to it are a cradle of incredible beauty that has inspired artists for a century. You’ll pass Horseshoe Bay with its ferry port terminal and Cypress Provincial Park with its pristine mountain lakes, rugged snow capped peaks and forests of fir, hemlock and yellow cypress.

BC Mountain Climbing

Next on the rising highway is the city of Squamish where land values are increasing fast because of this area’s growing popularity, and the upcoming Winter Olympic games. Whistler will host a number of skiing events in the 2010 games. Squamish is a mecca for mountain climbers who scale the high rock faces east of the town. Squamish is best known for the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, which is a top North American mountain climbing site. Locals call the granite cliff visible from the highway “The Chief”. Top mountain climbers from around the world come to test themselves on this 700 metres (2,296.6 ft or two times the height of the CN Tower’s observation level) high granite cliff. Mountain bikers too love the rugged trails and the opportunity to ride offroad all the way to Whistler to the north. The local mountain bike race sold all its 600 race entries in under one hour to indicate how fervent is people’s desire to be involved in recreation in this area. The Squamish Mountain Festival held in mid July is a huge draw and celebrates the life of bouldering, climbing, and the joy of mountain culture. The Crankworx Bike Festival is another big event in Whistler in August that draws thousands of visitors through Squamish.

As you leave the region at the end of Howe Sound you can look back at a wonderful setting of sparkling water and mountain peaks fading in the distance. It’s even better at sunset. The elevation is now high and you’re entering the coast mountain range and the Garibaldi highlands. Here in Garibaldi Park you can white water raft, mountain bike, hike, explore and see towering waterfalls and climb on top of gigantic tree stumps.

Blackcomb Whistler Mountains

Whistler lies at the foot of two mountains, Blackcomb and Whistler providing plenty of ski runs for Canada’s top ski resort. With the awarding of the 2010 winter Olympics to Vancouver and Whistler, the nation’s best will just get better as a resort and place for everyone to visit. During the summer tourists take the long gondola ride up Whistler mountain for spectacular views of the Coast mountain range.

Most people however know Whistler as a ski area and there is an endless array of downhill ski runs and hi speed lifts. During the summer, mountain bikers take over the same lifts to begin an exhilarating bike ride down the mountain trails. The area’s extensive lifts are capable of transporting 60,000 skiers or riders per hour. Both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains offer over 100 trails each with the longest trail being an incredible 11 kms. There are areas for cross country skiing too. One very close by has 32 kms of skiable terrain including trails next to an alpine lake. Whistler Blackcomb is being developed for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games so the skiing here is definitely world class. If you’re a novice skier or snowboarder, don’t be daunted as there plenty of novice and intermediate ski runs.

Annual snowfall in Whistler is an amazing 9 feet or almost three metres deep. The vertical rise from Whistler Village to the summit of Whistler Mountain or Blackcomb mountain is over 5,000 feet. That’s almost one mile up. You’ll find the Gondola experience amazing too. Many tourists take the Gondola to the top of the ski hill to dine at the restaurant there or just take in the spectacular views of BCs Coastal Mountain Range. There is a new gondola that takes riders from the top of one mountain to the other.

The village of Whistler is a modern yet quaint collection of hotels, stores, and restaurants catering to the ski and mountain biker enthusiasts. You don’t have to ski or ride a bike to enjoy being here though. There are plenty of shopping outlets and restaurants to visit, and you can explore the region up the highway up to where you might go canoeing, Alpine hiking, snowtubing, wildlife viewing, ATV’ing, or for a zipline tour through the forest canopy.

Check with local Whistler hotels for packaged deals where you can enjoy all the activities possible during your stay, which I’m sure you’ll agree is too short.

The beauty of Canadian travel destinations from Vancouver to Banff to Toronto is the inspiration and focus of powerful, promotional travel writing by Gord Collins which includes introductions to Whistler BC activities and Whistler hotels.