The capital of Portugal, Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa) has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with a contemporary culture that is alive and thriving and making its mark in today’s Europe. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon is one of the rare Western European cities that face the ocean and uses water as an element that defines the city. Lisbon enchants travelers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and an easy going charm that makes it a popular year round destination.

The Spanish Towns of Southern Costa Blanca

By: Macon Gravlee

Torrevieja

This is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the southern part of Costa Blanca. It is located 40 minutes away from Alicante airport to the north, or 20 minutes away from the Murcia airport. Torrevieja is a busy tourist hub and has been so for many years now, thanks to the 2 large saltwater lagoons that continue to harvest salt. The lagoons are also home to flamingoes and other bird species, thus attracting all manner of tourists. Being a busy commercial centre, the town serves both the locals and tourists. Torrevieja town features a Spanish design evident in the living style of the locals as they reside in apartment blocks.

The town of Torrevieja is not lacking in terms of beaches as just recently, the main beach walkway was renovated to give a pleasant soothing stroll or an ideal spot for relaxation and unwinding as one sips a cup of coffee from a beachfront café. There are lots of beaches to choose from, and if you are a dare devil, you can always go to the water parks. Along the beach promenade, most of the days you will find a small market equipped with collectibles and souvenirs while every Friday, there is a large open air market that sells all kinds of goods at unimaginable bargains.

Holiday accommodation in this part of Costa Blanca is not a problem as there is everything for everyone, from luxurious golf courses villas and beachfront villas, to apartments and townhouses.

Alicante

If you are like many people, you know the city of Alicante by your view through the window of an airplane as you arrive in the international airport in Costa Blanca, or through the windows of a rental car as you make your way to other destinations in Costa Blanca. However, if you took some little time in Alicante, you will be amazed by how much it really has in store for tourists.

Alicante is the capital city of Costa Blanca, dating back to the Roman times. As you make your way from the airport towards the town, you will be forgiven to think that it is a boring city as the first impressions are quite poor. However, just past the urban sprawl you will be greeted by a palm lined walkway on the front part of the town. Alicante further boasts a buzzing nightlife, irresistible restaurants serving mouthwatering delicacies and a great shopping avenue for an irresistible shopping experience. Southwards from the town the city’s coastline stretches for miles of stunning golden sandy beaches.

La Manga

La Manga del Mar Menor (Little Sea) is a resort town located near Murcia and boasts of beaches in a 40km stretch and various golf courses. The Little Sea is a covered salt water lake that forms part of the Costa Calida, a perfect resort for water sport activities. There are lots of coastal strips hotels, rental holiday apartments, houses, bars, and restaurants stretched along the Mar Menor. If time is on your side, you can always visit the nearby coastal towns of San Javier and Murcia and Cartagena or San Pedro del Pinatar, or if you are a fishing enthusiast, the old fishing village known as Los Alcazeras. Football fanatics will find the famous La Manga Club that is located close by irresistible, particularly during the winter months.

Author Resource:-> http://freetravelarticles.com/ http://akumalvacation.com/

By: Andrea Delucia

An Amsterdam city break really can appeal to anyone. No where else has such a satisfying mix of liberal madness and high brow culture. 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.

Amsterdam has got to be one of Europe s top city break holiday destinations, and to be honest there is so much going for it, it s hard to know where to start.

First is the ease of getting there. Schiphol Airport had been voted one of the finest in Europe and its high speed trains will whisk you the 14 km into the city centre every 15 minutes. Then there is the ease of getting around. Amsterdam has excellent tram and bus services, not to mention the canal cruises that take in all the cultural holiday hotspots as well as the beautiful byways.

Above all Amsterdam city centre is physically small and relatively quiet, with many streets traffic free and bicycles the transport of choice for most Amsterdammers. It s a great place to wander around and so easy to take in the top cultural sights and 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.

But high art is not all that s in the frame in this cosmopolitan bowl of multicultural delights. There s the infamous Red Light District where scantily clad girls parade for custom behind neon lit windows. And there are the notorious coffeeshops where cannabis is openly sold and smoked as customers sip their cappuccinos. There is street theatre in Dam Square, open air concerts in the huge city centre Vondeldpark and one of the best zoos in Western Europe.

And for those who like nothing better than to wander, Amsterdam is a weekend city break destination like no other. The quaintly gabled 17th and 18th century houses are a Dutch delight, as are the cosy rings of picturesque tree lined canals than encircle the whole city with their cobbled canalside streets full of boutiques, curio shops and book stalls.

Amsterdam defies its northerly location with an alfresco street cafe society that cashes in on every glimpse of sun. Add a wide and varied ethnic mix and you have the recipe for an astonishing range of cuisine, with virtually every international taste catered for from Thai to Turkish, Icelandic to Indonesian. Add a dash of Amsterdam s home grown speciality pancake restaurants that offer an endless choice of pizza sized pancakes and omelettes and you are guaranteed some fabulous meals.

Enjoying Amsterdam city breaks has never been easier. There is a great choice of cheap flights to Amsterdam from most UK airports and a wide range of hotels from luxury to budget accommodation. You can even book a room at a floating hotel or a canal boat. Book online and open the gates to discount airfares and cheap flights plus many holiday hotel packages that offer cheap breaks in Amsterdam.
Author Resource:-> Andrea Delucia writes for TravelSavvy Amsterdam – independent city guide for tourists. For more information visit: http://www.travelsavvy-amsterdam.com/.

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Bulgaria – A Big-Small Treasure

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. Actually, I don not need to list any more natural places worth visiting, because when you go to the surroundings of almost every town in Bulgaria, you will find something incredible to look at.

As far as culture is concerned, the best places to visit are the bigger towns – Varna, Burgas, Veliko Turnovo and of course the capital Sofia. Sofia can be compared to many European capitals – it is a large city with many people and numerous places to go if you are a culture-lover or just enjoy the nightlife.
With all this I hope that even some of you will agree with me that the little country Bulgaria holds so many interesting and marvelous things that it can be easily called big-small.