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
Posts Tagged ‘Ancient Civilizations’
How About a River Cruise For Your Next Vacation
January 29th, 2010Ancient Mysteries – the Puzzles of our Past
January 27th, 2010Ancient 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
