Latest Travel Articles

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

To talk about Barcelona is to talk about Antoni Gaudi.  Born 1852 into a family of coppersmiths, Gaudi spent much of his childhood exploring nature.  He attended architecture school in Barcelona, where he was reputedly a mediocre student, and began the most famous project of his career, La Sagrada Familia in 1884.  With its gothic spires and ambitious engineering, the cathedral remained an obsession for Gaudi until his death in 1926, and its construction continues today.

In addition to his religious, civic and residential structures, Antoni Gaudi also designed furniture and other objects.  In his designs, there are few straight line...Gaudi preferred the sensual curves and twisting, intricate forms of the organic world.  His tilework is colorful and humorous.  His town plans and landscaping designs are filled with meandering paths and roadways. 

The designer's whims are most appealingly on display in Barcelona's Park Guell, where pathways lead to spectacular vistas.  Within the park, the home where Gaudi lived for the last 20 years of his life has been turned into a museum exhibiting drawings, furniture and displays related to the architect's major projects.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Oberammergau is a town located approximately 60 miles from Munich. The town is beautiful, surrounded by majestic mountains and picturesque meadows. The village is known for woodcarving. There are dozens of woodcarver shops. The town is also famous for its Bavarian themes painted along side many of the homes and buildings.

What made the town famous, was its performance of the Passion of Christ every decade. It is believed that the Passion Play has been held every 10 years since 1634. During that time, the Black Plague was sweeping through Europe. The villagers of Oberammergau vowed that is their town was spared, they would perform the Passion of Christ every 10 years. The town was spared, and  it is amazing that they have been honoring this pledge from generation to generation, with the 31st Passion Play performances being held May 15th through October 3rd, 2010.

To be in the play, you must be a resident of Oberammergau. Over 2,000 citizens are involved including acting, singing, musicians and technical support.  There are 124 speaking roles, a 65-member orchestra, 48 person chorus and hundreds of people involved in the back end including stagehands, seamstresses, firemen, auditorium attendants and more. Men grow out their hair and beards to make the look authentic to the time. Costumes are hand made.  During these months, the play is performed 5 days per week in an open-air theater which seats about 5,000 people. The performance begins at 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is then a dinner break, and the play resumes from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The play is performed in German, but it doesn't seem to stop people from all over the world, including those that are not of religious backgrounds that are intrigued by the way the town comes together to perform this play. It is anticipated over 500,000 will attend in 2010.

You can can combine the Passion Play with a stay in Munich for as short as 3 nights, or you can take a river cruise, escorted tours or even a Princess Med cruise combined with the Passion Play. Packages are selling out, so book early to avoid disappointment. Visit our Passion Play website to view the available trips and dates.

Monday, November 02, 2009

The small port of Manta is the gateway to Ecuador and its capital, Quito, the second highest capital in the world. A small nation the size of the United Kingdom, Ecuador has one of the world's most varied terrains -- the Galapagos, 600 watery miles to the west, and to the east, the Andes, home to Ecuador's important cities, including Quito. Founded in 1534 and one of the best-preserved cities in South America, Quito was designated a world heritage site in 1978 by UNESCO. The city, apart from its unique position right by the equator, boasts superb Baroque colonial architecture, such as the Monastery and Church of San Francisco -- the first major religious structure built in the New World.

Things to Do in Quito:

Friday, October 23, 2009

Chongqing is a large, hilly city on the banks of the Yangtze.  It is a popular stop on Yangtze River cruises.

Among Chongqing’s attractions are the three-story wood River View Pavilion, the Sichuan Fine Arts Academy, Renmin Hotel which was built in the style of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, Wangjianglou Park and the Chongqing Zoo.

Chongqing Zoo is famous for its Panda Bears.   You see plenty of Giant pandas, Lesser pandas, Golden hair monkeys & the rare South China Tigers.

Hotpot is Chongqing’s culinary specialty.  Meats such as beef, pork, duck and vegetables are cooked in a spicy broth.

Many itineraries spend two nights in Chongqing, so there is time to travel to Dazu, which is listed as a UNESCO World cultural heritage site.  Dazu is a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings dating back to an estimated 7th century A.D.

Friday, October 23, 2009

The eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea have seen the beginning of human history, the emergence of great religions, and the rise and fall of civilizations. Now you can see the place with religious history, where the ancient kings lived and died, and where words and ideas have changed the direction of humanity.

Egypt’s Valley of the Kings has hosted the world’s most spectacular pyramids for 5 millennia, while the country around them has transformed into a modern center for entertainment, activities and culture. Choose from land tours or those that include a journey along the Nile.

Israel is a popular tourist destination in the Mediterranean for its multitude of religious and historical sites, its many luxurious resorts, the modern culture and nightlife of Tel Aviv, the healing spas of the Dead Sea and Eilat, and unique natural surroundings throughout.

Nearby Jordan offers a variety of attractions for travelers seeking something slightly different — an unspoiled land of desert beauty dotted with cities both modern and ancient.

Dubai is a modern city that rises out of the desert like an oasis of glass and steel and total luxury. As one of the world’s fastest growing cities, Dubai has emerged as a premier luxury travel destination, drawing visitors from all over the globe. Its dry and sunny weather, incredible shopping experiences, and unique tourist attractions have helped to turn it into a bona fide hot spot where ancient and modern cultures come together. Tour operators have just started offering vacations to Dubai, but the cruise lines all realized early on that Dubai is a thriving city and have added it as a port of call on several itineraries. Royal Caribbean took things one step further, and from January to April 2010, the Brilliance of the Seas will sail out of Dubai with an overnight stay allowing passengers to to enjoy the city. Ports of call will include Muscat, Oman, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Mina Sulman, Bahrain.

The Eastern Mediterranean region offers a wealth of sites and cities of interest unmatched anywhere in the world. Explore the past and the present on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to this mystical place.

When traveling in the region make sure to wear light colors and fabrics such as linens to reflect sunlight and keep cool. During the days the desert climate can be very warm and dry, while nights are often cool and breezy.

http://www.escortedafricatours.com