The Fabulous French Riviera

If the whole of Europe and the world longs to have holidays in France as the ultimate pleasure, the whole of France wants to have a few leisurely days at the Riviera, the great pleasure resort in France.

Nice, Cannes, Saint Topaz are the smaller towns in Riviera with great traditions of hospitality and tourism. The Riviera beaches are sought after by one and all for its warm waters. There are flying clubs, languages institutes, grand pubs, music and dancing besides of course the renowned Monte Carlo casinos. The coastline has at its proximity mountain ranges, beautiful cliffs and offer enchanting overall views.

A holiday, all said and done has to be different from the routine one has. And what more difference you want that a grand stretch of the sea? The spread of water at once stills the wavering mind but also leads to roar of fresh unfulfilled desires. And these desires can be satiated in Riviera. And to view the expansive stretch of the ocean from the cliffs of the nearby mountain is a magic by itself. There are indeed majestic and breathtaking views of nature in all its varied strands of beauty!

Who is not tempted to have a shot at getting big money? And who has not lost beyond one's capacity in this crazy drive to become overnight rich? Monte Carlo, therefore, is the ultimate gambler's paradise. People do not complain about the inevitable heavy losses they suffer. They know it is part of the life's game! People who for years have been resolute not to go near gambling tables succumb to the pressure (or pleasure?) here and rue themselves eternally for their indiscretion.

The multifarious diversions like flying clubs and dancing halls and all-night pubs relax the tourists. The purpose of a holiday, viz. rejuvenation of one's spirit is amply achieved. Individually or in small or large groups, people according to their taste find delight in pursuing the diverse pleasures offered. There is no dearth of good food and drinks.

Travel arrangements from different parts of France by Luxury vehicles make it easy to travel to Riviera. Besides there are private taxis available. Hotels are slightly costlier than the rest of France but it is natural to expect that in an unusually highly sought after holiday resort.

The convergence of almost the whole of European, North and South American, Australian and New Zealand tourists in Riviera and Cannes make people observe in close quarters a mini world as it were. The sense is enjoyable and very instructive as well. No wonder this visit to Riviera is considered by many as a life-time goal.

The Romance of Rome

When a city has been a founding city of imperialism, culture and religion for over two thousand years, naturally there are unending vistas of display in different strands of life. The romance of Rome has remained unchanged for thousands of years. No wonder Rome is one of the topmost preferences for people from different attitudes and aptitudes - religious perspective, artistically inclined, aesthetically eager, architecturally avid, historically conscious, culturally alive and the list is impressive. And Rome will give satisfaction to seekers of different values.

The Aventine, Castle St. Angelo, Campiodoglio, Roman Forum, Fountains, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Pantheon, Roman Colosseum are but very small illustrations from Rome. From the secular or sacred pursuit, Rome has nothing but magnificence to offer. Whether one wants to the remains of the splendor of Roman Empire that lasted for several hundred years or one wants to merge with the spirit of the Catholic faith of the Christian fold, Rome has its dossier full.

In the Museums alone there are ten to twenty major ones to be visited, the most important being The Palazzo Nouvo, The Palatine, Etruscan National Villa, National Gallery of Antique Art etc. The restored Sistine Chapel and Vatican Gardens are great attractions in the Vatican Rome.

Apart from history and culture beckoning you at every step in Rome, the fusion of people from different European stock is a sight to savor. Cutting across the current political divisions, one discerns a bond among the people who share a common treasure and heritage for the Roman laws and values laid the foundations for many of the European communities. To see the roots of those norms at the close quarters, naturally a great deal of fulfillment sets in. Antiquity itself does not guarantee sanctity but sanctity itself is an antiquity here. Therefore the best in many strands of life are preserved and possessed in great esteem.

Hotels, apartments, villas, dormitories, bed and share arrangements - these are but some of the facilities available for the tourists of varying budgets and tastes. Online reservations are available. Though cheaper by London and New York standards, during some seasons the charges could be higher but there are government regulations prescribing the maximum in all the places. Villa Borghese Park and surrounding areas have great luxury hotels while for cheap business requirements there are plenty of accommodation near the Termini stations.

Your Roman Holidays will be invigorating and informative. The accumulated strain of the working months would disintegrate in the beauty and pageantry of Rome. The colossal structures and sumptuous feasts would give a life to your body and mind. A vacation well spent in Rome will leave you with a great zest and vigor for a long time to come.

The Vintage Venice

Often referred to as the 'most serenely beautiful' and 'the Queen of the Adriatic', Venice has no parallel with any other tourist center in many respects. Constructed over marshy groups of islands and connected by waterways and bridges the uniqueness of Venice is that you virtually live in a 'floating city' where instead of buses or taxis or other vehicles you have all sorts of conveyance through water borne vehicles only. In fact most of the bridges are connecting small island areas scattered over the area.

Of great places of tourist importance mention must be made of churches, monuments and museums. There are more than ten grand churches representing the solemnity and spirituality of the church. Historically and architecturally there are interesting. Di Cannaegio, di Dorsoduo, di San Marcon are some of the famous churches. There are at least six major museums like Accademia and Arsenale with wide collection that rivets our attention. Important monuments also add charm to the place. Besides there are countless sports of tourist interest and one simply gets 'merged' into the atmosphere of serene isolation from the rest of the world. The calmness and deep introspective mood these places instill in us are a great unforgettable experiences.

From December first week to January third week each year there is the creation of Sand Nativity which draws countless international tourists. The nativity of Christ in full sequence is sculpted on the sand and renowned artists and sculptors participate in the event. The sheer excellence in execution of the Biblical sequence of events is breathtaking. Recently Bike Exhibition has been organized which is likely to be made an annual feature.

There are regular carnivals in the month of March, June, July, August, September and November months. These were originally celebrated to infuse among the people a sense of coming together and collective enjoyment of the blessings of life. Now they have become attractions for international tourists who are more than satisfied with the general cheer and robust faith in life.

There are at least fifty to sixty hotels ranging from three star comforts to lesser comforts but none withholds to customers the basic facilities expected in a foreign land. Al Vagon, al Giardini, Hotel San Gallo, etc. are some prominent names. Online booking facilities, group discounts, off-season concessions and a host of attractions make it possible for tourists of every hue to enjoy the stay in Venice. A few day's stay at Venice will wipe out the jaded outlook accumulated over months of routine life elsewhere. Venice is not a place for just one visit. It will make you long for revisits.

The Charm of Brussels

Brussels, the capital of Belgium is a beautiful city. The places to see in Brussels cannot be exhausted in a short article. Nevertheless, some of the highlights of Brussels are Grand Place, Town Hall, Mannekin Pis, Galeries St Hubert, Mont Des Arts, European Union, Ommegang Festival, The Museum of Musical Instruments, The Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art, The Dinosaur Gallery at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, The Cantillon Brewery, The Cantillon Brewery, Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule, Palais de Justice, Palais Royale, Royal Greenhouses, Place du Grand Sablon, Place du Petit Sablon, Museum Horta among several others.

Grand Place is one of the most beautiful buildings constructed in Gothic style in 13th century. It is the major city center where you can enjoy the Belgian hospitality at a terrace café. It is now listed under the UNESCO heritage. The town hall within the Grand Place will charm you with its Gothic architecture and wired façade. The building is 315 feet high with Archangel St Michael at its top.

The little boy peeing in a fountain (Mannekin Pis) has been amusing visitors since almost four centuries. The visiting heads of states have traditionally offered their national dress to the naked boy that is housed in the Brussels museum. Galeries St Hubert built in 1847 is the first shopping arcade of Europe dotted with cafes, shops, and theatres. Mont Des Arts located midway in the city is rich in museums and monuments attracting tourists.

Brussels has large chain hotels such as Hilton and Marriott. The upper end hotels in luxury category offer discounts up to 70 and 75 percent as often announced in their websites. If you carefully select your hotel to stay you might discover that the five star hotels are priced less after discount than four or three stars. The luxury hotels can be priced as low as Euro 70, while a lesser starred hotel can cost you 9 to 10 Euro more.

While selecting the hotels location is an important consideration. The location can considerably affect the tariff per night in a hotel. The hotels located near Grand Place that have a number of sites of tourism importance such as museums, and shopping centers can be relatively expensive. As for instance a four star hotel located in the centre of the city may cost as much as a five star hotel located at a distance. Although most of the hotels are expensive in Brussels, the cheaper ones can be found in the range of 50 Euro.

Finer Aspects of Finland

Geographically, Finland is located in the northernmost part of the European continent, between Russia and Sweden. It is bordered on all sides by the Gulf of Finland. The country has a 1,250 km coastline. It has some plains with small lakes and mountains.

Historically, it is interesting to note that according to archeological evidence, signs of human civilization have been found in Finland about 100,000 years ago.

Finland has a highly industrialized, free-market economy, with per capita income comparable to U.K, France, Germany and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronic industries.

Helsinki, the capital of the Republic of Finland, is a sparkling city, which is having popular tourist attractions like Finlandia Hall, the Olympic Stadium, the massive underground church, gracious Senate and Market Squares, Uspenski Cathedral, and Sibelus Monument, a memorial to the Finland's greatest composer. From Helsinki, a Baltic ferry service is available to go to Sweden across the sea.

Other important tourist attractions are:

• Lahti - northeast of Helsinki - ski resort town.
• Jyvaskyla - through Finland's Lake District.
• Oulu - city located on the shores of Gulf of Bothnia.
• Rovaniemi - south of the Artic Circle - a great tourist destination, museum, theater, Santa Claus workshop and reindeers

There are a number of Holiday Rentals available in Finland, like Kittila Ski penthouse in Finnish Lapland, Kittila Hotel, Kittila Sky Studio, Holiday Home in Tampere, Kuopio holiday Apartment in Lake district, and Radisson Sas Marina Palace Hotel, Finland.

The Midsummer festival is always welcomed by the Finnish people. The Sun does not even set at night. Nature is at its best in Finland summer. On a summer evening Finns happily sit and relax on the jetty of their lakeside cottages. A sailing trip in the extensive Turku Archipelago in Europe with its 20,000 islands offers a memorable experience.

The tourists can stay overnight in the impressive lighthouse of Bengtskar or visit a sheep farm in Pargas. The lighthouse is persistent and resilient as Finland itself. In the sheep farm handicrafts made from sheep wool, autumn colors, ancient mythology and craft traditions of the Archipelago are present. In autumn, huge flocks of cranes or large swans fly across corn fields. They will return to Finland the following summer.

The tourists will hardly hit congestion in Finland, whether on the roads, at airports, or on trains. They can plan along the arterial roads that run across the country or make detours to truly quiet scenic beauty of country roads. Finland has a network of service stations, and along the arterial road there is a network of service stations that are open through the night. Service stations generally have at least cafes, though most of them serve full meals also. Finland's fleets of trains are quite speedy and adequate for the tourists.

The Incomparable Paris

The world's largest number of tourists flocks to Paris. It occupies an exalted place, unapproachable by any other tourist spot. Politics and History, Renaissance and Revolutions, Modernism, monuments and museums all jostle here side by side and delight the tourists. To exhaust visiting places of interest and instruction in Paris, it would take several weeks. Art or Architecture, Music or Painting, history or philosophy, Dancing or Sculpture, Food or Wine, delights to the senses or intellect, name anything, you can have it in Paris.

Having played a very laudable part in the European Renaissance and political Revolutions of modern times and having had such rulers like Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte, it is not surprising that Paris echoes with the spirit of enlightenment. We have a trail of great historical monuments which played a turning point in the history of not only the whole of Europe but the world as well.

Of great museums alone 40 or more must be visited. Among them a few like Louvre Museum, Orsay Museum, Musee d'art Moderne, Marmottan Museum, Picasso Museum, Mussee d' Ennery, Musse Henner, Musee Grevin, etc. are notable. The exhibits in different museums often deal with different areas like medieval art, painting, Chinese art, oriental antiquities, fashion through the ages etc. Even the notable are only illustrative and by no means exhaustive.

The magnificent monuments from the middle ages through the nineteenth century are a delight to the eyes, besides making us wonder at the splendor of French monarchy. Louvres, Versailles, Invalides, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel tower, Grande Arche are accorded the highest value by the tourists. The Church did not lag behind in leaving its legacy in such structures like Notre-Dame, Sacre-coeur, and Sainte Chapelle. The serenity and solemnity in these places are an addition to the spiritual solace they offered to the faithful ones.

We must bear in mind that apart from this tryst with the spiritual and secular past, the greatness of the present must be sought after and appreciated. Countless hotels and clubs offer music, dance and other programs to enthrall the senses. Paris is considered as a delight for the discerning gourmets as well.

There are more than 2500 hotels and depending upon your budget and expectations, you can book online reservations in almost all of them. Starting as low from 35 Euros, the prices go up to several thousand Euros depending upon the taste of the individual tourists. Luxury buses, taxis, tourist vehicles and all modes of conveyance would make you feel at home in Paris, the city of light and delight.

Copenhagen Offers You a Warm Reception

Denmark can look different from the other European destinations as it is a quiet place unlike the hustle and bustle of the other European destinations. Danes are warm people and well known for their hospitality so that you might cherish your Copenhagen visit. Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark.

Copenhagen is today a charming destination with museums and monuments rich in culture and history. Once, it was just a small fishing Viking village.

There are several places worth visiting in Copenhagen including the Statue of Little Mermaid, the Amalienborg Palace, Tivoli gardens, apart from museums and galleries. You can see around Copenhagen either on harbor buses or on free city bikes. Copenhagen is well known as a bicycle friendly city and nothing beats the value of biking around the city free. In fact you can get around the city faster using the bike than any other available mode of transportation.

The Little Mermaid is a beautiful sight at Copenhagen and also one among the most photographed ladies of the world. Tivoli Gardens, the fairy tale amusement park will keep you mesmerized. The Amalienborg Palace is the winter residence of the royal couple. The national museum and the national gallery are the two "must see" sites that will widen your knowledge on history, paintings and sculpture. The national museum houses archaeological findings from ancient times to the present day while the national gallery have paintings and sculptures dating from the 15th century.

The other places of interest are the Viking Ship Museum, displaying Viking ships of different shapes and sizes. Kronberg will enchant you by its magnificent design. It is a well known renaissance castle referred in Shakespeare's Hamlet. You can enjoy the guided canal and harbor tours organized at Copenhagen.

There are luxury hotels as well as budget hotels in Copenhagen. The big hotels like Marriot, Radisson and Hilton hotel are among the luxury hotels at Copenhagen. There are several luxury hotels that are several centuries old but they offer the latest amenities and the modern facilities in the backdrop of antiques, brass, and marble, complete with spa, mini bar and garden.

The difference between the cheap and luxury hotels can be about 6 to 7 times in terms of dollars. In other words, a cheap hotel can cost you about 30 to 40 dollars while the luxury hotels can be around 200 dollars. However, a little research into hotel rates before you actually book can save you a lot. It is quite possible to come across a higher starred hotel at a lesser per night per room rental than a lower starred hotel.