Sometimes it’s a challenge coming up with something new for your next holiday, isn’t it? There are so many choices for places to visit and so many things that still remain to be seen. So, why do the same thing this year? Try something new. Go somewhere you’ve never been before. Or experience something you’ve never done.
River cruises can be the perfect solution to both. They offer the chance to experience a new history, a new culture and a new vista. And all of this can be experienced through what may be a new method of travel for you: a riverboat.
The other piece of good news is that no cruise on a river is ever done at a frenetic pace. It’s the ideal way to help you unwind. There is no more relaxing and rewarding way to see some of the most beautiful countries and countryside imaginable. All of this and more can be enjoyed from the very unique perspective of a region’s inland waterways.
With the exception of Antarctica, there is no continent without a navigable river. The first thing on the menu is deciding where you’d like to go. What about the upper Amazon with its indigenous peoples or the Yangtze and the secrets of China’s dynasties? Then there’s the Nile with the awestruck mysteries of ancient Egypt. Or do you want to follow in the footsteps of Mark Twain down the Mississippi? What about the mighty Danube passing through a multiplicity of European cultures before emptying into the Black Sea? These are just a handful of rivers that can open up windows onto new destinations and new experiences.
Next is deciding exactly what kind of experience appeals most. Are you more interested in exploring nature and wildlife? Or do ancient civilizations appeal more? What about the history and architecture of the Renaissance? Are these more to your liking? Or does peeking into indigenous societies whose lives are relatively untouched by the western world attract you? Maybe the appeal is simply a destination that has been dancing in your imagination ever since you were kid?
Any one of these experiences isn’t necessarily mutually exclusive from one another, but it does help to know what turns your crank the most. River cruises can deliver on any of these, but it’s vitally important to let your preferences lead the way.
Needless to say, budget is also essential in considering and helping to determine where you want go and how you want to do it. River cruises to the more inaccessible reaches of the upper Amazon are going to cost more than a cruise on the Mississippi. One of the very attractive features of most riverboat cruises is that shore excursions are often included in the price. This makes it easier to determine most of your costs before you leave.
The popularity of river cruises is growing exponentially and tons of research material is now available online. But planning and research is easy. What’s harder is identifying your desires and preferences (and budget)! Although these questions are sometimes more difficult to contend with, the answers will make your next unique vacation infinitely more rewarding. For more information visit http://www.uncommoncruises.com.
By: Jackie Johnson
Archive for January, 2010
With some of the most exciting opportunities in overseas property situated in far-flung locations around the world, many investors who are making good returns on their overseas property portfolios never get to see the properties in question. But with the global travel and tourism markets constantly evolving, some destinations which were previously thought of purely in terms of their investment potential are now coming to be considered as viable holiday destinations.
Two years ago, real estate in Brazil was still being treated with some caution by property investors. While the economy was beginning to grow, and the idea of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India & China) countries was coming to the fore, it was still difficult to consider property investments away from the established business and cultural centres. When developments began to appear in and around Recife, there was some suspicion of the viability of the investment, and where the rental income would come from.
With the recent launch of a number of lifestyle resorts in some of the more untouched parts of the country, there is a whole new market opening up – residential tourism. With the development of resort-based properties, ambitious plans for golf, equestrian and spa facilities, and a healthy dose of celebrity endorsement, buyers are beginning to view Brazil’s north east coast as an extension to the Caribbean, or according to one agent, the new Algarve.
The area around Natal is Brazil’s closest point to Europe, boasts a climate that with an average temperature of over 24 degrees celsius in winter, and according to the Institute for Applied Economics Research, is the safest city in Brazil. There are now direct flights from London to the city, and with the new resorts managing to secure large tracts of unspoiled beach and coastline, the prospects not only for a relaxing undisturbed beach holiday, but also space for watersports and other activities are superb.
Other factors from more established overseas real estate markets are also helping to attract buyers. Grand Natal Golf, a huge development of over 30,000 properties stretched along 7km of beach, is being marketed in the UK by Resort Group International, and has the kudos of being able to use Brazilian football legend Ronaldo and actor Antonio Banderas as ambassadors for the project. Both celebrities have already secured their properties on the development, with Ronaldo also opening a football academy on the site.
On top of celebrity endorsements, the Grand Natal Golf project also includes plans for a plastic surgery clinic, and with direct flights starting at just £190 return, the cost of cosmetic surgery tourism is likely to rival southern European destinations.
The major attraction with buying property in Brazil however, is that anyone buying property there will open up the potential rental market not only to Brits and Europeans, but also to the US market, who increasingly see Brazil as an alternative to the beaches and overdevelopment of Mexican and Caribbean resorts. Resort Group International’s Graeme Grant says “Now the tourism industry is discovering the fabulous 418 km coast around Natal and property in this area is moving beyond the investment phase into second home purchases. The region is popular not only with Europeans but North Americans and Brazilians as well. Natal is the new Algarve.”
According to NASA surveys, Natal and Antarctica enjoy the cleanest atmosphere in the world, so developers are also keen to make sure their green credentials are recognised as the region develops. As well as protecting the local environment, this should also make sure that there is no overdevelopment in the future, keeping resale values high.
The Brazilian government is also getting involved in promoting the growth of tourism, and protecting the environment. The Ministry of Tourism has only been in existence since 2003, but since then has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into promoting and protecting the country. Adam Cornwell of Gem Estates, who are promoting the Porto dos Corais development just outside Natal says “The target is to grow tourist arrivals annually from the current base of 5.5 million to 9 million over the next couple of years. Rio Grande do Norte is seeing the most tangible results with tourist arrivals for the State increasing by 134% between 2002 and 2005.”
It isn’t just the agents who are getting excited about property in Brazil. Equity International, a US investment company, stated “Brazil is an exciting market with profound political, economic and societal developments propelling it onto the world stage”
By: Pauline Felward
Ancient Mysteries – The Puzzles of Our Past
http://www.yallways.com
The term “ancient mysteries” refers to any of the unsolved archaeological puzzles that have confounded generations of historians. These include technologically impossible monuments, inexplicable primary accounts, and intriguing tales of lost civilizations. Most of these mysteries remain elusive because of the lack of available evidence from their original time periods. Without such data, researchers are left to speculate on such topics as who built the statues on Easter Island or why the Mayan civilization collapsed so suddenly. Although many of these puzzles may never be solved, researchers from every corner of the globe and every academic discipline continue to try and explain some of our world’s oldest mysteries.
Perhaps the oldest ancient mysteries are those that relate to the evolution of human kind. Complicated findings in this area range far beyond the natural selection versus intelligent design debate. Gaps and additions in the evolutionary chain are far more common than most people realize. From crystal skulls to dwarfs and giants, numerous discovers of have left researchers stumped. Some people believe these odd skeletal remains are evidence of extraterrestrial visitation. Others see them as evidence for other human ancestral species, and still others see them as simply rare mutations or manifestations of disease.
The ancient mysteries for which we possess the most evidence are monumental structures like Stonehenge and the Pyramids. Since these structures still exist, it is possible for researchers to study them first-hand. These feats of engineering seem too complex for ancient civilizations to have constructed. Subsequently, a wide range of theories have developed to explain their existence. There are many who take a rational approach and try and recreate these engineering marvels with endless calculations and models. Others construct more imaginative theories ranging from godly interventions to extraterrestrial life.
Another category of ancient mysteries relates to exploration and journeys. Intriguing accounts in this category vary widely. The most popularized mystery is the debate over who truly “discovered” the Americas. Although history grants this honor to Christopher Columbus, evidence suggests much earlier Scandinavian travelers reached the Atlantic coast. There are also theories that Asian travelers were the first to step on American soil. Another significant puzzle in this area is the existence of maps detailing the coastline of Antarctica centuries before it was discovered, and there are even stranger tales like that of the lost Roman army that allegedly turned up in China.
In recent years, a great deal of interest has revolved around yet another type of ancient mystery; advanced inventions potentially dating to thousands of years ago. For example, archaeologists have uncovered models from ancient Egypt that seem to depict airplanes, and some evidence points to the existence of a primitive computer in ancient Greece. There may even have been functioning electric batteries in the ancient Middle East, as findings from digs near Baghdad suggest. Unfortunately, this category is subject to great speculation as often only sparse accounts or broken models are available for research.
Finally, there is a fascinating category of puzzles dealing with tales of extinct civilizations. In some cases, liket hat of the Mayans, a society’s existence can be proven but their disappearance unexplained. Other stories, like the legendary discussions of Atlantis or the myth of the Amazon warriors, lack tangible evidence for support. Instead, they are based off ancient accounts, like that of Plato, which can seem rather convincing. The search for biblical locations is also included in this category. The actual location of such places as Mount Ararat, upon which Noah’s ark landed, and the destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah remain elusive.
These categories outline just a few of the countless puzzles we have yet to solve. The study of ancient mysteries has consumed many scholars over the centuries. However, few definitive conclusions have been reached. In fact, for most mysteries, it seems the more research that is conducted, the more complicated the debate becomes. Perhaps as technologies and research methods improve, a more definitive conclusion can be reached. One thing, though, is certain; the best minds around the world will not give up their quest to solve even one of these ancient intrigues.
By: John W. Martin
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