greek islands vacation

A Greek Island vacation combines the best of a European getaway (history, culture, food) with a “sun and heat” beach vacation.

The Greek islands have, throughout the years, kept their charm, village feel and slower pace of life. On most of the islands, it’s easy to find a nice quiet spot to relax and soak up the history and atmosphere of Greece.

Another good reason to think about a cruise around the Greek Islands is cost: You can actually holiday in Greece on a budget! Greece is one of the cheapest countries in Europe to travel in. Accommodation and food costs in Greece are very reasonable by European standards.
Santorini is one of those places in your travels you will never forget. There’s no other word for it – it is just stunningly beautiful.

A romantic evening here is as simple as picking from one of the many restaurants perched on the edge of the cauldron, and enjoying your meal and drink together while the sun sets on the Aegean sea, almost 1000 ft below. You’ll feel like you’re in a movie, or brochure!
Mykonos has a reputation as being the “party-central” of the Greek Islands. It’s not surprising why when you see the number of bars, restaurants and cruise ships here in high season. It can feel like you’re sharing this small island with ½ of Europe!

Basically, we say stay away from Mykonos in July and August – the crowds are just not worth it. But a visit here in May or September can be rewarding – you can choose the restaurant you want, and enjoy wandering through Hora in a more relaxed way.
Fine beaches, captivating history, memorable villages and towns – that’s Crete.

Chania (Hania) is where you will want to spend time in and base yourself. The Old Town is especially charming, and there are some accommodation and dining options with incredible character that will make your Greek Island vacation memorable.

BELIZE

Winding through the low-lying plains of the Belize District are the steady currents of the mighty Belize river whispering the secrets of the ancient Maya and early settlers who once lived, farmed and traded along this mighty waterway.

Inland waterways, once busy thoroughfares for colonial mahogany cutters, cross much of the district creating habitats for an abundance of wildlife. Scattered on or near to its banks and lagoon network are old Creole villages with names like Double Head Cabbage, Bermudian Landing and Crooked Tree where cashew trees, tilapia farms and water birds abound. Also home to the largest city in the country, Belize City is formerly the nation’s capital. The Belize district pulsates with an infused mix of old-world charm and modern comfort.Visitor adventures include the: The Maya temples of Altun Ha where Belize’s famous Jade Head was founded by archaeologists; the magnificent Jabiru storks at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary; Black Howler monkeys at Community Baboon Sanctuary and, the historical islands offshore Belize City. St George’s Caye is the site of the 1798 battle where the British defeated the Spaniards to lay claim to Belize’s territory.All major international flights land in the Belize district at the Belize International Airport, a few miles from Belize City and from where visitors are picked up by hotels; can rent vehicles, or catch the extensive network of scheduled flights local airlines to all parts of the country.
Belize City
Belize City, featuring a harmonious melting pot of ethnicities, is best known as the cultural and business epicenter of Belize, as well as a doorway for cruise passengers to the country’s endless offering of diverse adventures. A tourist destination in itself, Belize City offers a variety of cultural and historical centers, charming colonial architecture and great excursions - from eclectic shopping and dining to archaeology tours and jungle river adventures.
Belize City, a bustling port city, is the commercial center of the country. The country’s largest hotels are found here with extensive conference facilities, professional services, as well as restaurants, bars, nightlife, Belize’s only cruise passenger terminal, the Museum of Belize and numerous historical sites. Offshore islands offer idyllic day tours for snorkeling, diving and relaxing

snowboarding destinations

Whistler, Canada

Altitude: 653-675m; Highest lift: 2,284m; Pistes: 40/110/50 beginner/intermediate/advanced; Closest airport: Vancouver Airport, 120km; Closest rail station: Whistler. A round trip from Vancouver costs C$199; Resort website: whistlerblackcomb.com
Why? Whistler consistently tops the podium in "best ever" polls because it never stops progressing. Its funparks are the best in the business, its pistes are always corduroy in the mornings, its freeriding terrain is easily accessible and - due to the proximity of the Pacific - often blessed with powder. New for this year is the Peak-To-Peak gondola (due to open at the beginning of December), which will directly link Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for the first time and further increase the scope of the place. And for 2009, expect the forward-thinking park shapers to be experimenting with their snow-shaping toys in readiness for the 2010 Olympics.
Getting there: Neilson (neilson.co.uk, 0845 0703460) has seven nights' accommodation at the Holiday Inn Sunspree, Whistler from £1,018 in December including scheduled Air Canada flights from Heathrow and all transfers.
Where to party: Garfunkels and The Boot are the two biggest snowboard-hangouts in town.
Les Arcs, France
Altitude: 850m (Bourg St Maurice), 1,600m, 1,800m, 1,950m and 2,000m; Highest lift: 3,250m; Pistes: 144/66/29 beginner/intermediate/advanced (with Paradiski neighbour La Plagne included); Closest airport: Geneva, 135km; Closest rail station: Bourg St Maurice; Resort website: lesarcs.com
Why? Take the train to Bourg and you're at the end of the line. As a town it's not the prettiest in the Alps, but its access to Les Arcs (via a funicular train that runs every 20 minutes between 7:30am and 7:20pm) is superb, and the resort is one of the most snowboard-friendly in France, featuring several funparks and world-class terrain. The Vanoise Express is scheduled to re-open in time for Christmas 2008, completing the Paradiski link with La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry and further broadening Bourg's reach for snowboarders.

New7Wonders of Nature Vesuvius,Mud Volcanoes ,Devil's Town

New7Wonders of Nature
Vesuvius ITALY
Mount Vesuvius (in Italian Monte Vesuvio and in Latin Mons Vesuvius) is a stratovolcano east of Naples, Italy. It is the only volcano on the European mainland to have erupted within the last hundred years, although it is not currently erupting. The two other volcanoes in Italy, (Etna and Stromboli) are located on islands.
Mount Vesuvius is on the coast of the Bay of Naples, about nine kilometres (six miles) east of Naples and a short distance from the shore. It is conspicuous in the beautiful landscape presented by that bay, when seen from the sea, with Naples in the foreground.
Mount Vesuvius is best known for its eruption in AD 79 that led to the destruction of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and the death of 10,000 to 25,000 people. It has erupted many times since and is today regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people living nearby and its tendency towards explosive (Plinian) eruptions. It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world. Mount Vesuvius was regarded by the Greeks and Romans as being sacred to the hero and demigod Heracles/Hercules, and the town of Herculaneum, built at its base, was named after him.
Mud Volcanoes AZERBAIJAN
The term mud volcano or mud dome is used to refer to formations created by geo-excreted liquids and gases, although there are several different processes which may cause such activity. Temperatures are much cooler than igneous processes. The largest structures are 10 km in diameter and reach 700 metres in height.
About 20% of released gases are methane, with much less carbon dioxide and nitrogen emitted. Ejected materials often are a slurry of fine solids suspended in liquids which may include water (frequently acidic or salty) and hydrocarbon fluids.
Djavolja Varos, SERBIA
Djavolja Varos (Serbian Cyrillic: Ђавоља варош, meaning "Devil's Town") is a peculiar rock formation, located in south Serbia on the Radan Mountain near Kuršumlija. It features 202 exotic formations described as earth pyramids or "towers", as the locals refer to them. They are 2-15 m tall and 4-6 m wide at the base. These formations were created by strong erosion of the soil that was scene of intense volcanic activity millions of years ago. [1] Most of the towers have "caps" or "heads" of andesite, which protect them from further erosion.[2]
Since 1959, Đavolja Varoš has been protected by the state and a 1995 decision of the Serbian Government declared it a major natural monument subject to category one protection.[3]
A natural spring is located beneath the formations and has a high mineral concentration. There are two springs: Đavolja voda (Devil’s Water), with extremely acidic water (pH 1.5) and high mineral concentration (15 g/l of water), and Crveno vrelo (Red Well).[3]
Đavolja Varoš is a nominee in the New Seven Wonders of Nature campaign

New7Wonders of Nature Finalists

Dead Sea
ISRAEL, JORDAN, PALESTINE
The Dead Sea (Yam Hamelakh -- "The Salt Sea") is the lowest place on earth, roughly 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. It is 34 miles (55 km.) long and varies between 11 miles (18 km.) and 2 miles (3 km.) in width. The Sea is 1,400 feet (430 m.) deep. This unique sea is fed by the Jordan River. There is no outflow; and the exceptionally high rate of evaporation (high temperatures, low humidity) produces large quantities of raw chemicals. These are extracted and exported throughout the world for use in medicine, agriculture and industry.
The Dead Sea is actually shrinking. The southern end is now fed by a canal maintained by the Dead Sea Works, a company that converts the Sea's raw materials, particularly phosphates, into commercial products.
Floating is a novelty that makes visiting the Dead Sea a kick, but most visitors come for the therapeutic value of the mud and salt water. People with skin disorders such as psoriasis and ailments such as arthritis have found relief from treatments using the Sea's natural resources

Galapagos
ECUADOR
The islands lie in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 km from the South American coast and straddling the Equator. There are 13 large islands, 6 smaller ones and 107 islets and rocks, with a total land area of about 8,000 square kilometres. The islands are volcanic in origin and several volcanoes in the west of the archipelago are still very active. Galapagos is a province of the Republic of Ecuador and five of the islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 18,000 people. The capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, although the largest town is Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz.
Galapagos is home to many unique, endemic animals, most of which are fearless due to the lack of natural predators. One of the best known, the giant tortoise, has evolved into fourteen distinct forms on the different islands of the archipelago. Other reptiles include the marine iguana which grazes on seaweed, land iguanas, lava lizards, geckos and snakes. The only terrestrial mammals are rice rats and two species of bat. The 13 species of small, brownish finches are adapted to a range of different foods and are known collectively as Darwin's finches. They have been important to scientists trying to understand how evolution occurs, and include the tool-using woodpecker finch. Other endemic (only found in Galapagos) land birds include a hawk, dove, flycatcher, rail and four species of mockingbird.
Komodo
INDONESIA
Komodo Island in Indonesia is about 500 KM East of Bali and is isolated from other islands. This has allowed endemic animal species to develop. To protect the large monitor lizards much of this island has been maintained as a National Park.
Many close encounters with these potentially dangerous animals can be experienced.

New7Wonders of Nature Finalists

Angel Falls
VENEZUELA
Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world, at 1,002 m, and is located in the Canaima National Park in Bolivar State, along Venezuela’s border with Brazil. It is more than 19 times higher than Niagara Falls. The uninterrupted descent of water falls 807 m.
Bay of Fundy
CANADA
The Bay of Fundy is renown for having the highest tides on the planet (16.2 metres or 53 feet). One hundred billion tonnes of sea water flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy twice daily – more water than the combined flow of all the world’s fresh water rivers. Fundy’s extreme tides create a dynamic and diverse marine ecosystem. The Bay is renown for its coastal rock formations, extreme tidal effects (vertical, horizontal, rapids and bores) and sustainable coastal development. It is also a critical international feeding ground for migratory birds, a vibrant habitat for rare and endangered Right whales, one of the world’s most significant plant and animal fossil discovery regions. The Bay of Fundy is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on North America’s east coast.
Black Forest
GERMANY
Black Forest (Schwarzwald) is a wooded mountain range in southwestern It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the mountain Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 meters. The region is almost rectangular with a length of 200 km and breadth of 60 km.
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Bu Tinah Island
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Off the western shores of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, lies a unique natural treasure, wild and undisturbed by human activity: Bu Tinah Island. Bu Tinah’s thriving ecosystem forms a unique living laboratory with key significance for climate change research. An undisturbed paradise, Bu Tinah has much to teach mankind about environmental protection and survival. This distinctive natural habitat has shallow waters, seagrass beds and tall mangroves, set amid extensive coral reefs. It hosts beautiful and endangered marine life. Seabirds, including flamingos and osprey, various species of dolphins and the critically endangered hawksbill turtle live in Bu Tinah. The island’s waters host the world’s second-largest population of dugong, a large marine mammal that is threatened worldwide. Bu Tinah Island, rich in biodiversity, lies within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve - the region's largest marine reserve. Its protection and survival must be ensured.
http://www.new7wonders.com/n7w/nature/finalists