Archive for October, 2009

Are There Good Restaurants In Costa Rica?

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

Costa Rica is becoming more and more popular as a tourist destination for North Americans. And even, going further than that, many Americans and Canadians decide to either retire there or just live a more laid back life in the sun there.  In fact Costa Rica has the largest population of North Americans outside North America!! Not only is the lifestyle great but the food in restaurants in Costa Rica is often quite superb.

It’s not hard to comprehend why North Americans love coming here. First of all there is the wonderful tropical climate all year round. The scenery is truly spectacular with the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Caribbean Sea on the east. The countryside itself is very diverse with rainforest, hills, volcanoes and the variety of wild life is also stunning.

There are many great hotels, both in the capital of San Jose, as well as all major towns and also on the coast. Eating out is almost always a pleasure.

The food here is mostly organic and very very fresh. Whether you are enjoying breakfast with fresh tropical fruit picked nearby or the local organic coffee, or a classy dinner with fresh seafood, restaurants, like the country, are very diverse and often spectacular!

It is really safe to say that most places that have tourists have great restaurants too. You can go to many restaurants that are very similar in look to those in North America. There are also local diners, called ‘sodas’ where the food is also good but it’s more basic and knowing some Spanish would be a help!

In Jaco on the west coast, for example, there is a typical soda where you can get breakfast for around $3. The food is great, buffet style so you can just take it. On the other hand Jaco has more exclusive type restaurants with beautiful décor and wonderful food.  There is even a Mexican style restaurant that looked very North American but the food had a Costa Rican flair. There is so much choice and Jaco is a well known tourist town but really it’s not that big.

We found the same wherever we went. Manuel Antonio is on the coast as well but has a lot of night life too so there are bars and clubs. The restaurants were also really great.

If you go to large towns like Liberia, you will also find quite a variety. However, this isn’t really a tourist town (like Alajuela or San Jose) so things are more local Costa Rican.

To sum it up, restaurants in Costa Rica are very varied. Almost always the food is excellent, very fresh and often organic. Eating out is definitely one of the many highlights of Costa Rica.

Discover why Restaurants in Costa Rica are so good. For even more resources go to Sandra’s website at http://traveldestinationcostarica.com

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Travel to Europe’s Magnificent Capital Cities by Train

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Boasting approximately 50 countries to discover and offering up a diverse selection of cultures and landscapes, Europe is filled with a number of remarkable cities and stunning stretches of wilderness. Cited as the birthplace of western culture, it forms one of the seven continents of the world and is surrounded by the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Due to its close proximity to the UK, Europe is an ideal travel destination for those looking to escape on a short break. Indeed, offering up a number of different locations, all sited within a few hours of Britain, there’s a wealth of exciting cities and environments to explore.

With so much to choose from, though, it can be hard work figuring out which part of Europe to head to. However, offering up some of the best cultural treats in the world, as well as a superb range of iconic landmarks and sights of interest, the major capital cities are a great starting point.

The world’s top tourist destination, Paris is a definite must-see. Home to a huge array of cultural attractions like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower, the French capital also offers up a packed annual events programme. Due to its unique charm and famous sights, over 30 million people flock there each year.

Amsterdam, on the other hand, is ideal for those looking to take some time out and escape from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities. Filled with a jumble of canals, parks and quirky architecture, there’s a lot to discover in this historical capital city. The Museum Square is the site of Amsterdam’s most influential museums and, as such, is well worth visiting.

When you go to book your trip to Europe, whether it be to one of its lively capital cities or a more remote part of the countryside, there are a number of travel options to chose from such as flying, driving, or taking the ferry. However, because of the advantages to be had, it can often be a good idea to travel by train.

In fact, eliminating the need for having to make stressful travel arrangements, the train can help you to maximise your holiday time. For example, you can choose to travel by day, where you’ll get the opportunity to soak up the stunning scenery as you journey throughout Europe, or at night, where you can sleep in comfort and arrive at your destination fully-refreshed.

Not only that, but with a lot of the trains reaching speeds of up to 186 mph, you can reach many parts of the continent within a few hours of leaving the UK.

Owing to the many enticing Europe travel deals on offer, millions of people head there every year. There’s a wealth of cultures and landscapes to explore and with accessible travel options like the train to choose from, everyone has the opportunity to discover all that’s on offer, regardless of whether they’re looking for a luxury or budget holiday.

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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Universal Studios Tours - Behind The Scenes

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

If you will be near Universal Studios on your next
business trip or vacation, you should definitely make
time for a Universal Studios Tour. This will not only
provide you with a day filled with fun and excitement
but you will also get a behind the scenes look at
what it really takes to produce the Movies that we
all wait anxiously to see.

If you are really interested in the world of movie
making, don’t miss the Universal Studios Tour. The
tour takes about one hour, and you will visit the sets
of many famous movies and television shows. You
will see the stars dressing rooms, and you may even
run into a star or two along the way, or get to see an
outdoors filming session in progress.

The Special Effects Stage, located inside the park,
is another attraction you won’t want to miss. Here,
you will learn how Hollywood creatures are made,
how sound effects are produced, and how visual
affects are designed and implemented. This is an
interactive attraction, and it only takes about thirty
minutes to go all the way through it. Even though it
doesn’t last long, there is a lot of information to be
learned here – quickly! The interaction with the
visitors makes this one of the most popular
attractions at the park.

For the most exclusive and personalized look behind
the scenes, you should definitely consider purchasing
a VIP Studios Pass. This pass costs under $150 for
one person, and it is worth every penny! This will
entitle you to a private tour of Universal Studios, and
you will be allowed in areas that standard tour visitors
won’t see. You will also have the right to move right to
the front of the line for all rides and attractions with the
VIP pass. VIP passes can be purchased online, by
telephone, or at the park – but they are limited to a
certain number of VIP passes that are issued per day,
so get yours as soon as possible.

Universal Studios is more than an amusement park,
it is an interesting and amazing learning experience
that you will never forget – no matter what age you
are. The next time you watch an action movie, you
won’t think ‘how did they do that?’ You will already
have some idea as to how those special effects
were created! You may even get so much out of
your Universal Studios Tour experience that you
think of ways that you could have done it better!

Charlie Berger is a leading Home Business Expert and Expert Author. Has been personally responsible for teaching many how to leave the 9 to 5 grind to enjoy the financial and time freedom you always hear about but few can show you how to achieve. See what Charlie is up to now at: http://www.thevacationgenius.com/r/finallyfree

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Beyond the Motorshow Bologna: Exploring Bologna’s Automobile Heritage

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Discover more about the wonders that created the Motorshow Bologna

There are many exciting events that are worth taking part of during your stay in lively Bologna. If you plan on spending the onset of the winter holidays in Bologna, you can complete your vacation with a visit to the Motorshow Bologna and to the museums that showcase the automobile masterpieces of Italy.

The Motorshow Bologna is an international auto show held in Bologna in December of every year. The Motorshow Bologna is held at the Bologna Fiere and is considered as the most important event of the Italian automobile industry. All new and updated automobiles and motorcycles of Italian make will take center stage at the show.

If you can spend your holiday weekend in Bologna in time for the show, you will experience a full five-day event that showcases and celebrates Bologna’s significant role in the luxury car and motorcycle market.

Bologna is the home of several luxury cars and motorcycles, which reflects even more the city’s lavish and extraordinary lifestyle. Famous luxury vehicle brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Ducati can all be traced back to Bologna. So if you get a chance to visit the city, you should take time to explore its luxuriant side by paying a visit to the museums that flaunt these remarkable vehicles. There you will see the automobiles that commanded the kind of attention the Motorshow Bologna affords. Car enthusiast or not, you will certainly find your visits memorable.

If you are planning your Bologna vacation and would like to add these museums to your itinerary, be sure to find a hotel that gives you the relaxing vacation you need as well as good access to these top destinations. One such hotel is the Relais Valfiore, which is strategically located in a slightly out-of-the-way area just outside downtown Bologna to give guests the peace and respite they long for without taking them too far away from the center of the action.

Despite its seemingly secluded ambience and surrounding parks, the Relais Valfiore is, in fact, only 12 kilometers away from the city center where the Bologna Fiere or Bologna Fair is located. But before you will fully appreciate the modern offers of the Motorshow Bologna, you should explore the foundations of the city’s luxury automobile industry. And just nearby lies the three museums you must visit in order to do this. These are the Ducati Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, and the Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari.

From Relais Valfiore, you can set out to visit the Ducati Museum first, which is located in Via Cavalieri Ducati in Bologna. The large 1,000 sq/m Ducati Museum is nestled within the Ducati factory headquarters. It was opened only in 1998 during the first World Ducati Week, but it tells of the history of the Ducati company, from its conception in 1926, and showcases Ducati’s past products. You will find antique Ducati motorcycles and the billboards that hailed them during their heydays.

To fully appreciate the museum, you can join guided tours by obtaining advanced reservations. The museum is open daily except on Sundays and holidays. But if you wish to join a tour, you can choose from the 11 am or the 4 pm schedule. You can also explore the museum at leisure since visits are entirely free.

Next, you can make your way to the Lamborghini Museum, which is located in the area that connects Bologna with neighboring city Modena. It lies at about 21 miles from Bologna and can be easily driven to. The museum was established in 2001 and aims to celebrate one of the most expensive Italian cars in the world.

You can freely visit the museum and spend hours gazing admirably at its extensive collection of Lamborghini luxury vehicles that fill up two levels of the museum, with the second level showcasing the even more impressive race cars of Lamborghini’s 80s days as well as some its concept cars. You even get a glimpse of the company’s factory floor, so you can get an inkling of just how these masterpieces are carefully made.

And to complete your unique museum-hopping, head over to Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. The museum is situated in Maranello, a town just outside Modena and located around 34 miles from Bologna. Although the museum is part of Ferrari’s headquarters, it has its own building separate from the Ferrari factory. Of the three museums in your itinerary, the Ferrari Museum is the oldest, dating back to 1990. The museum spans an amazing 2,500 sq/m and is divided into four sections, namely the Formula One collection, the special exhibits, the technological innovation exhibit, and the photo exhibits.

The Formula One collection displays the extraordinary race cars that have played a monumental role in making Ferrari the most famous automobile maker in the world. One of the most remarkable cars is the first Ferrari 125 S that was built in 1947 and won a race in the same year. And to give you a glimpse of what F1 racing is all about, you can check out the Fiorano test track next to the museum where you might even see a Ferrari racing past.

Once you’ve completed your visits to the three museums showcasing Bologna’s automobile industry, you can drive leisurely back to your peaceful and relaxing room at the Relais Valfiore. Now you’re ready to fully appreciate the wonder that wraps around the major event that is the Motorshow Bologna.

 

Jane Maripose has travelled extensively in Italy for 15 years. She currently spends summers in her house in northern Tuscany and hopes to retire there. She has also been a teacher in California for 20 years. Jane is passionate about Italian food and culture and enjoys sharing her vast experience with others.
Experience:
Jane’s Italy travels have included every region of Italy. She enjoys going to traditional festivals and learning the native folk dances, talking with the locals, and sampling the regional cuisine.
Education:
Jane has a bachelor’s degree in art history and is a credentialed educator. She studied Italian language and culture at the University for Foreigners in Perugia, Italy. Whilst studying in Ialy she undertook various cooking proficiency exams in the main Culinary academies
From Jane Maripose:
The passion for Italy, food and wine, music, have induced Jane to dedicate herself to this new activity which consists of writing independent articles based on her travel experiences, so that she can share this information with those who intend travelling to Italy on vacation.
Personal Details: j.maripose@gmail.com - www.janemaripose.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/beyond-the-motorshow-bologna-exploring-bolognas-automobile-heritage-1392028.html

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