European Travel Magazine - February 2014

Issue 2 November 2013 Issue

5 - February 2014

EuropeanTravel Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE

Leeds Bradford Airport

Travelling Around Murcia

Top Prague Hotels

Benidorm – The Jewel of the Costa Blanca The IT V Benidorm series has certainly bought the resort to the forefront of peoples minds Strategies to upgrading to First Class it can happen if you do your homework.

Bulgaria – A Big-Small Treasure Bulgaria is a country with a long history. Fun Facts About Scotland The Gaelic word for Scotland is Alba.

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Popular Places to Visit in Europe Euro p e is u ndo u btedl y r ic h in his to r y , ar ts and cult ure You can see it from the beautiful historical places and architectures. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world and a very popular holiday destination as well. If you are planning to tour in Europe, here are some remarkable and most popular places to visit: London London is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. With a lot of wonderful sights to visit, you will have a great time in your vacation. Two remarkable tourist attractions in London are Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.

Rome Being known as the capital of the world, Rome is an enticing place to visit. There are a lot of historical places in Rome that you can go to and have some fun. Perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in Rome is the Vatican City.

Amsterdam Amsterdam is another place ideal for romantic couples. You will be awed with its world renowned canals and architectures. Of course, don t forget to visit the Van Gogh Museum.

Venice Venice will give you something different. You can take a tour around the place through the gondolas and see its famous bridges and churches. Venice is also a place for romance. Take a look at the Grand Canal to complete your holiday vacation.

Paris Almost everything in Paris is worth a visit. This place has a rich history. Take a peek at the famous Mona Lisa and works of famous artists like Caravaggio, Rembrandt and many others at the Louvre. This place alone would give you a taste of history.

Another famous attraction in Paris is the Eiffel Tower.

CONTENTS

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4 Travelling Around Murcia Spain The Autonomous Province of Murcia in Spain is easily found on the map because it touches borderlines with Alicante on the Costa Blanca passing through Torrevieja and you will know that you are in the region of Murcia because you will be surprised by the beautiful scenery.

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Benidorm – The Jewel of the Costa Blanca

Secrets Tips and Strategies to upgrading to First Class

Reasons To See Paris

The ITV Benidorm series has certainly bought the resort to the forefront of peoples minds, but has perhaps left them with a slightly distorted image of what it is really like.

Getting Upgraded to First Class These days with little profit and extra overheard costs, a flyer with no past history on a given airline has little chance of upgrading to first class.

Architecture Paris contains many famous attractions and beautiful architecture.

Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe.

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Leeds Bradford Airport Guide

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Top Prague Hotels

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Travelodge From £19 per Night

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Croatia – The Ultimate European Destination

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Some Fun Facts About Scotland

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ibiza

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Travelling Around Murcia Spain

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The Autonomous Province of Murcia in Spain is easily found on the map because it touches borderlines with Alicante on the Costa Blanca passing through Torrevieja and you will know that you are in the region of Murcia because you will be surprised by the beautiful scenery of the salt swamps at San Pedro del Pinatar. Its capital city has the same name as the province and within its boundaries, it has a sea or lagoon called the Mar Menor ( or small sea) separated from the Mediterranean by the so called Manga, a sandy stretch of land which looks like a sleeve ( literal translation of the Spanish word manga). It then curves around a peak and the all so important city of Cartagena comes into view and lastly, when you are almost leaving this province you have a fantastic beach resort area and city called Aguilas. This Spanish region has got very hot summers, many a day reaching temperatures as high as 40 degrees and the winters are mild and short. It is usually described as having a very arid landscape on the inlands but has managed to be known to have fertile land for growing vegetables and legumes.

There is evidence that Mursiya, as it was called when it was an Islamic city, dates back to 831 AD when it was founded by Abderraman II. It had suffered and had lost a lot of prestige, but made a come back with the arab domain, becoming the capital in the basin of the Segura River.

Let’s get to Murcia and then we’ll see Either a quick flight into the airport of San Javier which is about a 30 minutes drive from the city of Murcia right near the Manga in the Mar menor or flying into the Alicante airport of the Altet, about a 40 minutes drive to the city, your hotel will be awaiting you. As every visit requires, we will soak up some architecture and culture before delving into the modern day happening, nightlife and good food.

The Cathedral, dating back between the 14th and the 18th century is a potpourri of more than five centuries of different styles of architecture; the Baroque carved art on the front door of Pardon, the Gothic Chapel of Velez, The Renaissance Chapel called Junteron and the emblematic Tower measuring 96 metres tall with 25 bells.

The Sanctuary of Fuensanta ( the good saint ) from the 18th century found on the outskirts, is the patron saint of Murcia.

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Th e I T V B en ido r m ser ie s ha s ce r t ain l y boug ht the resor t to t h e foref ront of pe o ple s mind s, b u t h as per ha ps lef t the m wit h a s lightl y di sto r ted ima g e of w hat it is rea lly lik e.

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Benidorm – The Jewel of the Costa Blanca Benidorm is the top European holiday destination for Brits – and it´s not hard to understand why.

Its success is based on two main attractions – long stretches of white sandy beaches and a micro climate that guarantees almost year round sunshine.

bled streets adorned with white washed houses and an abundance of boutiques, bars and restaurants on every corner. Head towards the distinctive blue doomed roof of the San Jaime The ITV Benidorm series church and you will arrive has certainly bought the at the ´Mirador´- where resort to the forefront of you will have a breathtakpeoples minds, but has ing view of both bays. The perhaps left them with a Old Town is where you will slightly distorted image of find Tapas Alley, which as what it is really like. Many the name suggests is a people that have a negative street full of tapas bars. If impression of the resort, you want a gastronomic base their opinions solely experience of real Spanon watching the series ish food then head to – which is a tongue in Calle Domingo – it´s like cheek poke at stereotypical eating a work of art. working class people taking their annual holiday. They Top of the list why people imagine the resort over run choose Benidorm for their with drunken Brits and Stag holidays is the miles of & Hen parties, as it has golden sandy beaches – become synonymous as a and Benidorm is blessed destination of cheap booze not with one but three! and all day English fry ups Each has its own individual – but that is just one tiny character; Levante – viarea, probably no more brant, loud, full of life and than half a square kilomepopular with young party ter. Benidorm is seeped in going Brits; Poniente – history, culture and tradiwhich includes Mal Pas, tion and non more apparsedate and tranquil and ent then during fiesta time! popular with the Spanish and lastly La Cala – a Venture up to the Old Town sheltered sandy cove and and it´s like stepping back particularly popular with in time – full of narrow cob- families. There are also

several hidden secluded coves dotted around such as Almadrava and Tio Ximo.

If you are a bargain hunter then you have certainly come to the right place.

One of the things that remain unchanged in Spain are the weekly street markets, which remain popular and virtually every town and village has one. There are a great deal along the Costa Blanca, but one of the biggest has to be in Benidorm, which is held twice a week due to its popularity – every Sunday and Wednesday. You will find everything there from fresh locally grown fruit and veg to bags, nik naks, jewelry and counterfeit designer goods….

But the golden rule is barter – especially with the ´look alike products´!

Sandy Beaches

Golf Courses

Festivals

Street Markets For information on what´s going on in and around Benidorm go to http://www.BenidormAllYearRound.com Article By Irena Bodnarec

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S ecrets T ips and S trategies to upgrading to F irst C lass Getting Upgraded to First Class These days with little profit and extra overheard costs, a flyer with no past history on a given airline has little chance of upgrading to first class. But it can happen if you do your homework. Hence why you are here today.

Asking the ticket counter agent nicely or perhaps offering him/her a bribe. Does this work?

In 99% of the time absolutely not. In most cases on most airlines, the ticket agent is not authorized to upgrade passengers unless you have frequent flyer status and even with frequent flyer status, you will most likely need to use miles to get your upgrade. Of course you have to hope they actually have first class seats available for upgrade.

With many frequent flyer programs, and with rules changing frequently due to airlines merging with other airlines, or the carrier simply revamping their frequent flyer program, many of the top tier frequent flyers get upgraded before they fly. Thus by the time you arrive at the airport, there is a good chance that the first class seats that have not been sold

have been allocated to frequent flyers. Bribing a ticket agent can not only get the agent in hot water, but she will probably seat you at the back of the plane just for being stupid.

With some airlines, fellow flyers I have met have been clever enough to ask the ticket counter agent to kindly add a code to their ticket. Why? Because the code signifies to the gate agent that you as a passenger are potentially eligible for an upgrade.

It works with the right airline and of course you will need to know which code to use as each airline uses different codes for different situations that are independent of other carriers.

Dress smart and arrive as late as possible There are plenty of flyers who believe in getting to the airport as early as possible in the hopes of either asking the counter agent for an upgrade or asking the gate agent for an upgrade. Believe me, I have tried thousands of charming ways to get upgraded and the employees are simply following the rules. Oh and they have heard every line in the book. So why would your line be any different?

Of course if you want to press your luck, you can arrive at the 11th hour and ask the

gate agent for an upgrade, it will of course help to dress the part and of course hold some status even if its just a basic member in the airlines frequent flyer program. One method that has worked for me in the past is to tell them the reason you are late is because of a terrible experience you had with their competitor, sometimes if they think they have the potential to win the business of a frequent flyer from another carrier, they might put you in first class, space permitted since you are in an emotional state. It can work.

Buying an Upgrade Many domestic carriers in an attempt to earn more business will happily sell first class seat upgrades on a first come first serve basis. Obviously they want to earn as much money as possible and they will release first class seats typically only at the airport and only on the day of the departure. Instead of paying $1,200 for a first class flight coast to coast, you might end up paying 300 for the coach ticket and just 150 each way for the first class upgrade. Certainly better than begging for an upgrade and this is certainly better than using miles in many cases.

Of course this rate may not apply to you, on some airlines they only offer the upgrades to their frequent flyers first and only after they have exhausted all attempts at selling to their most loyal customers will they sell to you. going to work.

E UROP E AN T RAV E L M AGAZIN E Hint: Get a frequent flyer card as soon as possible. It’s free and will only help you upgrade and of course you start to earn miles with your first flight.

If by chance you paid full fare for your coach ticket, there is still a chance of buying an upgrade, but like everything in this world, don’t expect much with a free or heavily discounted coach ticket.

It’s not what you know but who you know If you just so happen to be related to a family member or are friends with an airline employee, you certainly could ask for an upgrade, but keep in mind that airlines are in the business of making a profit, and if there are upgrades to sell, or loyal frequent flyers to keep happy, don’t expect to be first inline for an upgrade.

On a positive note, keep in mind that suppliers, contractors and airline partners have some pull to get upgraded.

It’s not just family of the carrier’s employees.

Show a travel agent ID Again, if and only if seats are available will an airline offer a free upgrade and even though a travel agent might have some pull, you always have to assume that frequent flyer status will help more than just travel agent status. If you have both, you will only improve your chances of an upgrade.

It certainly does not hurt to try. You can of course become a travel agent for as little as $50 without having to sell anything.

Ask a flight attendant for an upgrade if a seat is available Typically flight attendants never upgrade passengers and simply asking for an upgrade is not A problem with your seat In some cases where your seat has malfunctioned and you can not comfortably sit there, I.E. seatbelt problem or the seat will not stay in the up position, the flight attendant will make an attempt to find you another seat. If no other seats are available in coach yet space is available in first, you will be moved to first class. On the down side, this is a rare occurrence.

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R easons To S ee Paris Architecture Paris contains many famous attractions and beautiful architecture.

Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe Everyone knows Paris Everyone loves it. It’s the city of love and delicious food, of fine wine and culture, of beauty and class. Paris is one of the best cities in the world. It would take a traveler weeks, if not months, to really discover it all. But that shouldn’t stop you from taking a quick visit to Paris. There are many things to see and do in the city. If you have never been to Paris, here are some things that will keep you busy.

Historic Sites Paris has Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Palace of Versailles. This places are some of the most famous and beautiful sites in the world.

They inspire awe and wonder at all who see them. They are rich in history and each place has a fabulous story that goes with it.

Fine Dining Paris could be described as the home of gourmet food and with a huge choice of restaurants and cafes offering delectable food served to perfection.

As well as classic French cuisine, this city also a number of international eateries to cater to all budgets and tastes. France is also very well known for great vino and champagne. Sit outdoors drinking a glass of wine while you observe Paris go by.

Romance Paris is the city meant for lovers. It has always been and always will be. Enjoy a romantic holiday in this city by strolling cobblestone streets, lying in the

grass by the Eiffel tower, having a candle light dinner, and simply just basking in all that is Paris.

Paris will ignite any flame.

Shopping For tourists who love shopping, Paris is one of the best places to go, with everything from designer labels to high street brands to trendy flea markets. Designer labels including Cartier, Chanel and Christian Dior can be found all over the placein the city as Parisians love fashion.

For more affordable clothes with names like Zara, H&M and the Gap, the Champs Elysee is a good choice for the more budget minded travelers.In addition, Paris also contains three big flea markets around the old gates where you are bound to find many bargains and a few unusual things.

Art Paris is full of many museums and galleries making it a haven for art lovers. The Louvre is one of the world s greatest art museums; don?t miss Michelangelo?s Slaves, Leonardo da Vinci?s Mona Lisa and works by Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian. The Musee d?Orsay, a former railway station houses a superb collection of French Impressionist and post Impressionist works making it a must see for any art lover. It displays France?s national collection of paintings, sculptures, objects produced between 1848 and 1914.

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L eeds B radford A irport G uide

In 2007 the airport was privatized. It is a fairly small airport The number of passengers has grown considerably in the last years, therefore, the terminal building is somewhat tight.

Local Transport Train There is no train connection with the airport, but there are plans to realize this by making a division in the railway between Leeds and York (Harrogate Line).

Contact Address Leeds and Bradford International Airport Leeds LS19 7TU Great Britain Telephone, fax, email Telephone: +44(0)113 250 9696 Fax: +44(0)113 250 5426 Email: via website Airport codes IATA airport code: LBA ICAO airport code: EGNM

Car and bus The airport is 18 kilometers northwest of Leeds and 11 kilometers north of Bradford. From Leeds you follow the signs to Yeadon and Otley on the A660.

From Bradford the airport is accessible from the A658 in the direction of Yeadon.

There are various bus lines that go from the airport to destinations in the surrounding areas.

Line 737 goes to Bradford, through Shipley, Guiseley and Yeadon, line 747 leaves every half hour to Bradford through Greengates, Apperley Bridge and Yeadon. The Airlink 757 connects the airport with Leeds train station and bus station and Otley.

Line 767 goes every one and a half hours to Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Car rental – London Gatwick Airport In the Arrivals Hall there are counters from car rental companies: Avis, Hertz and Europcar.

Taxi There are three taxi companies that are allowed to transport from the airport: Streamline (tel: +44(0)113 244 3322), Telecabs (tel: +44(0)113 279 2222) and City Cabs (tel: +44(0)113 246 9999).

Services

Shops and restaurants This small airport has a limited range of shops and restaurants.

Improvement of this wll come with privatization Baggage For information about storing baggage and reporting lost and found items you can contact the general service counter.

Business Meeting facilities are available in the Board Room in the Arrivals Hall, there are rooms for a maximum of 150 people. The Servisair Executive Lounge is accessible for everyone who pays a charge.

There are connection points for your laptop and there is also wireless internet.

Disabled facilities The terminal is extremely acThe airport is very accessible for the disabled, there are wheelchair ramps, adapted elevators, restrooms and telephones. There are

Th e n umber of pa sse ng ers h a s grown co n sid era b ly in th e l ast ye a rs, the re fo re, t h e ter m in a l b u ild in g is som ew hat tig ht.

places reserved in the short-term parking area for the disabled, there is also an induction loop for the hearing impaired.

Other services There are three money exchange offices (Travelex) and many ATM’s. Baby rooms are available (information through the service counter), and there is also a children’s play corner in the Departures Hall. There is wireless internet. The general information counter also functions as the contact point for First Aid.

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Top Pragu e H o tel s H otel P aris 5 * Hotel Paris is located in Prague historical centre, near the Municipal House and Powder Tower, at the entrance of King’s Road to the Prague Castle, and close to many shops, banks, restaurants and historical sights. The well-known Brandejs hotelier family has been running the luxury Art Nouveau Hotel Paris in the centre of Prague for more than 100 years now.

E A H otel D o w nto w n 4 * Right in the centre of Prague just a few steps from the Wenceslas Square you can find this luxurious, modern hotel. Comfortably equipped, specious and fully air-conditioned rooms and double-glazed sound proof windows, guarantee the maximum calmness and comfort. Conference room with day-light and necessary technical equipment as well as a wellness centre.

R amada P rague C it y C entre 4 * In the real centre of Prague, in the middle of the Wenceslas Square, you can enjoy your stay in elegantly equipped, fully air-conditioned and comfortable rooms. Meeting room available for conferences.Parking at the guests´disposal in the near garage. Thanks to the central location easy access by public transportation. Most important cultural and historical sight in the immediate vicinity.

A lch y mist N osticova P alace 5 * Alchymist Nosticova Palace is hands down the best place for accommodation in Prague. Fabulously reconstructed at the end of the decade by the city’s finest carpenters, ceramists, decorators and painters, the residence is housed in a historic 17th century building on a small, quiet, cobbled street in the Lesser Quarter. Alchymist Bar offers selection of a local and international wine and snacks.

E UROP E AN T RAV E L M AGAZIN E B est Western C it y H otel M oran 4 * The BEST WESTERN City Hotel Moran is a charming four star hotel in a beautiful historic building centrally located in Prague near Moldavia River.

Within walking distance you will find most of Prague’s stunning sights, such as the National Theatre, Charles Bridge, Wenceslav’s Square, the Castle or the medieval town center. Situated near the hotel is also the Technical University.

H otel M artin ’ s B rugge 4 * The ultimate address in the very heart of the old town of Prague in an environment linking the magic of the past with sophisticated comfort, one finds the three golden chains palace, which has been adapted as a residence.

Very comfortable and quiet apartments in the same heart of Prague’s historical centre. Near all the main tourist attractions including Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Jewish Quarter.

D emin k a P alace 4 * In Prague historical center near the National Museum, Deminka Palace hotel represents the meeting point between history and modernity, art and wellness, past and future.

Charming and sophisticated, Deminka Palace’s historic residence will accommodate you in its elegant and warm hotel rooms and will let you feel in an atmosphere which is proper of another era.

R adisson B lu A lcron 5 * Located in the heart of Prague, the Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel, is just steps away from all the historic and cultural attractions awaiting you in the Golden City - Wenceslas Square, Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, as well as the National Museum and the State and National Theaters, renowned for their extensive repertoire of classic operas.

V entana H otel P rague 5 * The 5-star luxury boutique hotel Ventana is located in the historical heart of Prague at the Old Town Square opposite the Old Town Hall with it´s Astronomical Clock. The hotel is surrounded by the so called Kings Road and the Tyn Cathedral.

The Art Nouveau palace with high ceilings offers 29 comfortably furnished rooms overlooking the Old Town.

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T ravelodge F rom £ 1 9 per N ight gets a face lift to complement the new Travelodge room

Travelodge was the first budget hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985. It now operates over 500 UK hotels in city centres, next to major routes, seasides, airports and countryside locations, so there is always one near to where the guest wants to stay. Travelodge also has 11 hotels in Ireland and 6 in Spain.

Millions of leisure and business travellers have grown to rely on Travelodge each year for a comfortable, hassle-free night’s accommodation. Most reservations are made online (approx. 80%) at travelodge. co.uk, where prices start at just £19 a night per room

(not per person).

is to bring you our new Travelodge Dreamer Bed – The chain has on-going made exclusively for us by growth plans, opening new Sleepeezee – bringing you hotels in popular toureven more comfort at great ist destinations and city value. centres such as London, -King-size Travelodge Manchester, Edinburgh and Dreamer Bed Liverpool. It is continuing - 4 plump pillows to improve its room offering - Comfy duvet with new King-sized beds - En-suite with shower, in every room and is well baths in most underway with delivering - TV with 17 channels its new-look hotel room - WiFi access (charges approgramme in every hotel. ply - subject to availability) Our New Look Rooms: - Large lit desk area - Tea & Coffee making At Travelodge we have facilities commenced a makeover - Family rooms sleep up to programme to modernise 3 adults all our hotels, this began - All our rooms are 100% spring 2013. An excitsmoke free. ing part of our makeover

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C roatia – T he U ltimate E uropean D estination A few years ago, Paris, Italy, Germany and Switzerland were the most preferred destinations among the travellers to Europe.

However today Croatia is one of the most popular European destinations to visit for travellers. The land of 1,000 islands, Croatia is a popular summer destination with its beautiful coastline, tranquil mountains and national parks.

Ecologically one of Europe’s best-preserved countries, exploring it takes you on a thousand-year journey through history, which has been turbulent, exciting and glorious.

There is a lot to see in Croatia. Zagreb, Istria, Pula, Dalmatia, Split and Dubrovnik are some of the popular destinations where Dubrovnik is one of Croatia’s main tourist attractions and one of only three European cities ranked as a World Heritage Site of zero category by UNESCO.

beeches, the numberless historical sites, the colours, the shapes, the scents, the warmth of the climate and people… will all provide for an unforgettable experience..

Starting with the city walls, originally constructed to fend off attacks and to protect the city. Today the walls are effectively a huge museum that surrounds the city, a fort at each of corner (Minceta Tower, Bokar Bastion, St John’s Fortress and Revelin Fortress) of the old town providing stunning views of the city and over the Adriatic Sea.

Dubrovnik has its fair share of beaches for you to soak up some sun. The best beaches to visit are Banje beach, Sv Jakov beach, Copacabana beach or the Lapad Beaches, with water Dubrovnik, a medieval sports available if you want aristocratic republic from to get out into the sea for the 12th-19th centuries and a while. the best preserved walled city in the Mediterranean, Other beautiful islands in which the English poet Lord Croatia include Korcula, Byron named the “pearl of which has one of the most the Adriatic”. The enchant- beautiful beaches in the ing landscape, including Mediterranean , Zlatni rat the nearby islands, the – which is also a windsurf-

ing paradise. The island of Mljet which is situated between the island of Korcula and Dubrovnik. The most visited island is Krk, but in the Kvarner there are also Cres, Losinj, Rab, Pag… to mention only most famous.

And, if you If you are a food lover, specially sea food, you will certainly more than enjoy Croatia.

Seafood is always popular on the menu, with Sea Bass being a specialty. Traditional Croatian meals include Fritaja and omelette, made from sausages, asparagus and truffles,.

Croatia is perfect for those who wish to combine culture with a relaxing holiday in the sun in a magical environment. Enjoy the beauties of Croatia, its mild climate, the crystal clean, warm sea water, beautiful beaches, virgin nature, combined with rich history and cultural heritage, delicious cuisine and good wines, an above all, warm and friendly people.

Explore Croatia starting with Dubrovnik !

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S ome F un Facts A bout S cotland The Gaelic word for Scotland is Alba.

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom (in the North West of Europe), occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

Scotland is a mountainous country and shares a border with England to the South and is bounded by the North Sea to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the North / West, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the South West.

Scotland consists of over 790 islands (with around 130 inhabited) in addition to the mainland, including the Northern Isles, (sometimes known as the Shetland Islands) and the Hebrides.

Edinburgh is the country s capital and second largest city as well as one of Europe s largest financial centres. It was also the first city in the world to have its own fire brigade.

The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow.

The highest point in Scotland is Ben Nevis at 1,343m.

Scotland is famous for its fresh water lochs (lakes) – there are over 600 square miles of them.

The most famous is Loch Ness where a dinosaur like monster is said to lurk in the water but this has not been proven.

Famous Scottish inventors include Alexander Graham Bell (Telephone) and Alexander Fleming (Penicillin).

Culture lovers from around the world come to Edinburgh for its famous arts festival.

The national flag of Scotland is known as the Saltire or St. Andrew s Cross.

“Flower of Scotland” is popularly held to be the National Anthem of Scotland. Scotland the Brave is used for the Scottish team at the Commonwealth Games.

The largest lake in Scotland is Loch Lomond: 60sq km (40 km long).

St Andrew s Day (30 November) is the national day, although Burns Night tends to be more widely observed.

Scotland currently has a population of just over 5 million.

Edinburgh, like Rome, was built on seven hills.

Tourism is recognised as a key contributor to the Scottish economy. A briefing published in 2002 by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) for the Scottish Parliament s Enterprise and Life Long Learning Committee stated that tourism accounted around 5 of GDP and 7.5 of employment in Scotland.

Scottish music is an important aspect of the nation s culture, with both traditional and modern influences. A well known traditional Scottish instrument is the Great Highland Bagpipes, a wind instrument consisting of three drones and a melody pipe (called the chanter), which are fed continuously by a reservoir of air in a bag.

The thistle is Scotland s Floral emblem.

There are many famous universities in Scotland including the University of St. Andrews, Edinburgh University and Glasgow University.

The currency in Scotland is Pound Sterling.

The longest river is the Tay at 121 miles.

Scotland is in the Greenwich Mean Time time zone.

Famous musicians from Scotland include Annie Lennox, Wet Wet Wet, Travis and Simple Minds.

Members of the European Union can apply for jobs in Scotland and other nationalities can apply for a visa subject to meeting requirements.

T he G aelic w ord for

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S cotland is A lba . S cotland is a countr y that is part of the U nited Kingdom

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ibiza Are you curious about this popular holiday destination? Here are all the things you ever might have wanted to know about Ibiza

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Where is it?

Ibiza is located in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia in Spain. It is within an autonomous community of Spain known as the Balearic Islands.

How big is the island?

Tiny! It’s only about 15 miles wide.This is a great advantage to travellers because it means that you can easily explore the whole island within a short holiday. All the main attractions are situated within a 10-15 minute drive from San Antonio and Ibiza Town.

How many people live there?

Ibiza has an official population of 132, 637 people, but of course these numbers swell during the high point of tourist season, with the influx of visitors to its shores.

What is the climate like?

Hot, hot, hot! People choose Ibiza villas for rent if they want a holiday with plenty of sunshine. This is because the average temperature in the summer months is between 20-25 degrees Celsius and there are over 2,700 hours of sunshine per year!

What kind of accommodation is there?

There are many different types of accommodation, from hostels to hotels to Ibiza villas for rent. There are scaled-down, no frills accommodations for the budget traveller, and also luxurious Ibiza villas for rent with private pools.

I’ve heard there is a lively nightlife scene?

You’ve heard correctly! Ibiza is considered the party capital of Europe, if not the world. The island’s capital of Ibiza Town and the town of Saint Antonio is the epicentre of the all-night-long dance parties that this island is famous for. During the summer months, top DJs perform at the clubs and live music festivals bring big-name bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, The Prodigy, and the Kaiser Chiefs.

Is Ibiza only for young party-goers?

No! This beautiful and peaceful island has plenty of family friendly beaches and activities to entertain mom, dad and the kids. If you are seeking a romantic getaway, Ibiza has that as well with fine dining, romantic secluded coves, sailing trips and private Ibiza villas for rent.

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An Am sterda m cit y bre a k re a lly c an ap p eal to a nyone. No w here el se ha s such a sat isf yi ng m ix of l ibera l ma dness an d h i g h brow culture.

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Amsterdam Makes Such a Great City Break It’s quite incredible that despite all the potential for controversy, .

Amsterdam rarely attracts criticism and continues to appeal to people of all ages, and from all walks of life.

what treasures there are.

This is the home of both Rembrandt and Van Gogh two giants of the art world, with museums dedicated to both. Opera, theatre, dance, street theatre Amsterdam has it in buckets.

their cobbled canalside streets full of boutiques, curio shops and book stalls.

Amsterdam defies its northerly location with an Amsterdam has got to be alfresco street cafe society one of Europe s top city that cashes in on every break holiday destinations, glimpse of sun. Add a wide and to be honest there is so But high art is not all that s and varied ethnic mix and much going for it, it s hard in the frame in this cosmo- you have the recipe for to know where to start. politan bowl of multiculan astonishing range of tural delights. There s the cuisine, with virtually every First is the ease of getting infamous Red Light District international taste catered there. Schiphol Airport had where scantily clad girls for from Thai to Turkish, been voted one of the finparade for custom behind Icelandic to Indonesian. est in Europe and its high neon lit windows. And there Add a dash of Amsterdam s speed trains will whisk you are the notorious coffeehome grown speciality panthe 14 km into the city shops where cannabis is cake restaurants that offer centre every 15 minutes. openly sold and smoked as an endless choice of pizza Then there is the ease of customers sip their capsized pancakes and omgetting around. Amsterpuccinos. There is street elettes and you are guarandam has excellent tram theatre in Dam Square, teed some fabulous meals. and bus services, not to open air concerts in the mention the canal cruises huge city centre VondeldEnjoying Amsterdam city that take in all the cultural park and one of the best breaks has never been holiday hotspots as well zoos in Western Europe. easier. There is a great as the beautiful byways. choice of cheap flights to And for those who like Amsterdam from most Above all Amsterdam city nothing better than to airports and a wide range centre is physically small wander, Amsterdam is a of hotels from luxury and relatively quiet, with weekend city break destito budget accommodamany streets traffic free nation like no other. The tion. You can even book and bicycles the transport quaintly gabled 17th and a room at a floating hotel of choice for most Am18th century houses are a or a canal boat. Book sterdammers. It s a great Dutch delight, as are the online and open the gates place to wander around cosy rings of picturesque to discount airfares and and so easy to take in the tree lined canals than cheap flights plus many top cultural sights and encircle the whole city with holiday hotel packages.

Canal Bridges

Canal Boats

Schiphol Airport

Street Trams

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Bulgaria – A BigSmall Treasure

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One can describe many things as big-small.

Actually, big-small is something small that has the characteristics of something much bigger than itself. And with that in mind, I come to think of Bulgaria. I am sure that many of you who read this have heard of this countryand will ask “Why is Bulgaria a big-small” Well, I will try to explain.

Bulgaria covers a total territory of 111 000sq/ km – that is why it is small. But I am sure you have no idea of how many beautiful things there are in this small area – and here comes the big part.

Bulgaria is a country with a long history, full of ups and downs and critical events. The country culture has been influences by many other nationalities and that is why Bulgaria has now many important historical places. One such place is Etara. It is an open-air museum, but seems more like a whole town, still capturing the traditional spirit and architecture of the Bulgarian national revival. The people there still practice the old Bulgarian crafts, including pottery. Etara is like a place out of time, where the past is still alive. Another such place is the village Arbanassi. It is an old settlement and holds some ancient monasteries. One of them is the St. Nikola monastery that was built during the Assen dynasty – there still can be seen preserved wall decorations and icons dating back to 1716. Near Arbanassi is the town of Veliko Turnovo, where you will be amazed by the great fortress Tsarevets, which was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. It still is a mighty settlement and there even is a “Sound and Light” show in the evenings. An amazing place is the Madara Horseman – a picture, carved into the stone during the 8th century with dimensions, which equal these of a real horseman. It still looks breath-taking and is included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Some other historical places include the Rila Monastery, Pliska (first capital of Bulgaria), the Troyan Monastery and many more.

Bulgaria has also a gorgeous nature. There are many places to go and admire the beautiful landscape. First of all, there are many mountains in the country. Rila Mountain is a wonderful place – there is the highest peak on the peninsula – Mousala (2925m). You can also visit the Seven Rila Lakes, many huts and ski tracks. Another mountain is Pirin – the most fascinating one in Bulgaria, also part of the World Heritage List. There are many nature reserves in Bulgaria and one of them is Srebarna which houses nearly 100 different bird species, most of which endangered.

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Issue 5 - February 2014