Monday, August 18, 2014

Green lagoon - Colombia Nariño.


Located in the crater of the volcano Azufral 4,700 m, is so named because of the large sulfur mine its depths, for which the lake takes an emerald green color. The lagoon does not own or Flora or fauna. Its waters are unfit for living things. His wealth is mine.

Possessed of great wealth as Azufral nature reserve on which rests the green lagoon, is located at the foot of the volcano one of the lowest activity. His plumed environment, owner of CV and swampy lagoon ecosystem holder.


   
The green color of the lagoon meets the concentrations of sulfur that is inside, the product of volcanic activity. Approximate height is 4,000 m.s.n.m. This volcano is highly mountainous area located in the so-called "knot of the Grass", where the Andes Mountains into three branches known as the Western Cordillera, Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Oriental mountain ranges.

Azufral volcano
The semi-active volcano is Azufral in the Andean region of the Colombian department of Nariño, 12 km from the town of Túquerres, via Samaniego. It has an elevation of 4070 meters.


    
It is considered as a nature reserve by the Board of Corponariño. It highlights three lagoons Green, La Negra and La Crystalline. With the resumption of volcanic activity of Galeras volcano, volcanoes Azufral and other departments of Nariño and Cauca began to be monitored by the Ingeominas, the state agency responsible for seismic and volcano monitoring in Colombia.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Holland America cruises gourmet




With more than 140 years, Holland America Line is a recognized leader in the shipping industry cruise takes guests to exotic destinations around the world in more vessels
comfortable and spacious at sea.

With award-winning service, five star dining, extensive activities and entertainment, the shipping is comprised of 15 elegant mid-sized ships.
Each year, more than 500 outlets offering touring the seven continents. Their cruises visit popular ports as much less visited ports in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mexico, South America, the Panama Canal, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. They also conduct unique trips to the Amazon River, Antarctica and around the world.


   
Holland America Line has one of the most varied and award winning culinary offerings of the cruise industry. It has restaurants of all types, all with elaborate charts and top quality products. The Main Restaurant is an elegant dining room decorated with sophisticated Rosenthal china, offers select meals in a luxurious environment with art and antigüedade, which call attention to the five-course menu designed by Chef Rudi Sodamin.
To try creative and innovative menus, Pinnacle Grill has a high level of elegance and sophistication with Bvlgari china, Riedel stemware and Frette linens. For his part, De Librije Restaurant is ideal for a delicious five-course menu designed by chef Jonnie Boer (awarded three Michelin stars).

The Le Cirque Restaurant is a recreation of the legendary New York restaurant of the same name. Everything is created for an authentic dining experience: the menu, the wine selection and decoration of the tables with the original orange dishes.
If the traveler is a lover of Italian cuisine, the Canaletto offers traditional preceded by a selection of "antipasto".


 
For the more exotic tastes, the Tamarind Restaurant offers cuisine based on the rich culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, China and Japan. It boasts panoramic views and has been awarded by Condé Nast Traveler.
Lido Buffet is a restaurant with extended hours, serving breakfast, lunch and relaxed and informal dining, with menus and dishes from the main restaurant. You can dine inside the restaurant or on the deck. Finally, the Master Chef Diner offers 7 course menu served to 18 people, with innovative specialties by Chef of the Pinnacle Grill and Sommelier boat. All with dishes served in an elegant Frette linens and Versace for pairing with fine wines in Riedel stemware dishes.

A World Cruise offers special outlets where the food will be featured.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Riviera Maya - Mexico



When you visit the Riviera Maya you have to prepare to have one of the best possible travel experiences. It is an attractive and few tourist corridor, including several lovely places like Puerto Morelos, a small fishing village full of peaceful and bohemian atmosphere.

In Puerto Morelos, in addition, you can visit an interesting crocodile farm. Do not miss other tourist spots in this place of Quintana Roo, the Botanical Garden YAAXCHE, or even the Marine Natural Park "Morelos Reef" with its huge variety of coral structures.


   
Playa del Carmen also has its own: a small community that, despite having become an important tourist center, has managed to preserve its provincial essence, giving the visitors rustic accommodation options, with personalized attention.

In the port of Playa del Carmen is a ferry that sails made ​​frequent trips to Cozumel. The local boardwalk has several restaurants, shops on Fifth Avenue and tourists will find a unique environment to live and interact with people from all over the world.
 

What follows is to recommend Puerto Aventuras, with its beautiful white sand beaches and two spectacular bays, Chanyuyum and Fatima. Across the bay there is an island that is used as a night shelter for hundreds of birds.




The resort of Puerto Aventuras fractionation includes a beautiful boardwalk, a beach club, hotels, dolphinarium, condominiums and an attractive shopping center.

Melbourne - Australia


Melbourne is proud to be one of the major cities of Australia. And no wonder, with its mix of old and modern architecture, elegant and lively streets, its multicultural neighborhoods and its many gardens and parks. If to this we add that Melbourne has the best restaurants in the country, a system of excellent public transport and sporting calendar filled with arts and entertainment, has all the ingredients to be one of the most attractive and interesting cities in the world.

Melbourne is the cosmopolitan capital of the State of Victoria, located in the extreme south west of Australia. It's a compact state that offers a wide range of experiences and itineraries around the city and nearby regions of Victoria, and is therefore an ideal place for tourism.


 
Melbourne is also the second largest city in Australia and enjoy exceptional cuisine, with its thousands of restaurants where you can sample cuisine from around the world. Also, wherever you are, you will find a variety of renowned cafes, where you can enjoy coffee Societé in Melbourne.

Always the last one, Melbourne trendsetting boutiques and the bustling nightlife of Australia. If you are looking for high fashion or fashion every day gifts or souvenirs, a bottle of sparkling white wine exceptional, trendy bars or jazz, Melbourne has it.


   
Melbourne is considered the cultural capital of Australia, with its sustained program of food festivals or film; major art exhibitions and musical blockbusters. The city is also known for its diverse range of sporting events and popular, from the Tennis Australia Open to the magnificent floral arrangements Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show.

And if you want to explore beyond the city of Melbourne, you will find spectacular views over the thing, the wild outback, renowned vineyards and wineries, rugged mountain peaks and fascinating animal fauna. All these attractions are very affordable and attract visitors from around the world, making your visit to Melbourne is a unique and unforgettable experience.


Most expensive hotel in the world


Without doubt the Hotel Burj Al Arab is a luxury reserved for only enclosure richer and capricious. It is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Burj Al Arab (Arabic: برج العرب, "Arabian Tower") is a luxury hotel with a height of 321 meters, the second tallest hotel in the world (second only to the Rose Rotana Hotel) and one of the most representative hotel buildings. It is located in the sea on an artificial island located 270 meters from the beach in the Gulf, which is connected to the mainland by a road.

Construction of the building began in 1994 and was officially opened on December 1, 1999 Its shape is inspired by a sailing vessel and is located in a specific area in order that your shadow does not cover the beach. At the highest point of the hotel is a heliport, which is used as a tennis court when you are not getting helicopters.
 
 
The hotel is listed as seven stars, a category that goes beyond normal classification of hotels, from one to six, due to its exceptional features that really set it apart from any other hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab does not have regular rooms but has 202 double suites. The smallest of these suites occupy an area of ​​169 m², while the largest covers an area of ​​780 . The Royal suite costs $ 28,000 per night. It also has a service of Rolls-Royce luxury available to every guest.

   
The Burj Al Arab has nine restaurants, among them the Al Mahara, located under the sea, offering an underwater view through a stained glass window shaped aquarium and the Al Muntaha, located at 200 meters high, allowing a panoramic view the city of Dubai. The latter is located on a cantilevered platform 27 meters each side of the mast extends; and you have access to it through a panoramic elevator. In his famous chefs perform cooking.

 
The interior decoration of the building was provided by Chinese designer Khuan Chew. The instructions of Dubai Sheikh Chew gave the design of the suites and atrium were hit and innovate. Khuan and his team used large amounts Macael, velvet and gold leaflets to adorn. Six months before the inauguration, Sheikh visited the hotel to give their opinion. The majesty of the suites meet your expectations of luxury and grandeur show, but seeing the atrium painted completely white, he failed. The decorator had to redesign the look of the lobby, adding bright colors on the ceiling, dancing fountains, a spectacle of colored lights and giant aquariums.




Monserrate Palace - Sintra


Monserrate Palace is a stately home situated about 4 km. Sintra center that, such as we see today dates from the mid-nineteenth century. The leafy park surrounding it is one of the most prominent examples of romantic gardens of Portugal, the result of the contribution of its successive occupants and owners.

A little history
Around the year 1540 in the field, known as Quinta da Bela Vista, was part of the dominions of the All Saints Hospital, Lisbon. Frei Gaspar Preto, then hospital administrator, had made a pilgrimage to the Benedictine monastery of Montserrat, in Catalonia, and returning in the fifth build a chapel in honor of Nossa Senhora de Monserrate sent.
In 1601 the fifth of Monserrate was granted for exploitation Caetano de Mello e Castro, Viceroy of India, family finally bought in 1718 Since then the property was exploited through attorneys who chose to tenants or occupants of the house, who were holding deal, and the maintenance of the units. Of those homes had no almost nothing after the 1755 earthquake.

In 1790, a wealthy English merchant named Gerard Devisme leased Monserrate and neo-Gothic mansion was built, but in 1794 decided to sub-lease the property to William Beckford. Beckford used a small part of his vast fortune to reform the palace and moved the first works on the refurbishment of the romantic garden, integrating existing ruins, a cromlech (kind of megalithic monument consisting of stones) and an existing natural waterfall.
Just a year later, Beckford definitely leave the country and the fifth goes into decline. In 1809, the famous poet Lord Byron laments visit Monserrate and find empty and neglected so beautiful palace.
Salvation came in 1856 when Francis Cook, English millionaire textile merchant, bought the fifth Mello e Castro, sent remake the palace and put a huge English-style park.



Summoning the English architect James T. Knowles, William Stockdale landscaper, botanist and gardener William Nevill James Burt, the romantic spirit of Sir Francis Cook, appointed in 1870 Visconde de Monserrate, reflected different areas in the park: a sector with ferns ancestral and Australian pine, a Mexican garden, camellias and azaleas from Japan, all growing harmoniously with local plants, brought together by winding paths and complemented with ruins, waterfalls and lakes. The gardens were completed only in 1929.

The Cook family tried to sell the property to the Portuguese government in 1946, but eventually was Saul Sáragga antiquarian who acquired it. The state bought it in 1947 but by then Sáragga had sold all goods of the palace.

From 2001 carried out an extensive project to restore the building, seriously damaged, which in a first stage and allowed to recover outside the gardens. A second step could be concluded between 2008-2009 will allow return to the palace interiors all its glory.


Visit the palace and park
The sculpture of a chimera greets visitors at the door, wanting perhaps mean entry into a fantasy world. The route leads along the paths of this typically English garden where, as we mentioned, grow copies of all continents by the local flora in apparent disorder, but whose disposition obeys actually planning and work of many years. The Jardim do Mexico, Japan and the Jardim do Vale dos utero (valley of ferns) are distinct spaces, but there have been over 2500 species scattered throughout the park.
Facing the castle, the grass covers the uneven ground like a carpet; the first sod was planted in Portugal it had an irrigation system to keep it evergreen, back in the second half of the nineteenth century ...
Heading into the palace is the "Caminho Scented", a path lined with jasmine and wisteria arbors in spring broadcast their characteristic aromas.


 
The building, more like an exquisite country house than a palace, it appears reclining on a slope of the park.
The three constituent bodies, topped by red onion domes, Gothic-inspired show windows on the facades. Gothic is also the pediment of the door. Towards the park gives a balcony with Moorish arches decorated with tiles.
Inside, the exuberant decoration of stucco accentuates the oriental character of the building, especially in the "Music Room". At the moment only one sector of the palace can be visited, awaiting the completion of the restoration work. It is striking, especially after visiting the Regaleira and Pena Palace, this palace is completely empty.
 


 

Bergen - Norway


The best way to discover the wonderful Norway on your own, it's driving your own vehicle.
Airport
Bergen Airport is located 20 km south of the city center and is well connected. Generally rent is from Bergen airport, buy good maps of the country and the city, and runs this wonder of nature.

Major car rental companies are represented Europe in Norway with many rental centers at the airport. You can book a car rental company either through the Internet, travel agencies or directly in their offices. You only need the valid driving license with a minimum of one year, issued in Spain or any other EU country.

Bergen besides being a charming city, is the perfect starting point to visit the Norwegian fjords, a beautiful place where you can breathe fresh air, no pollution just a way to discover this magical place. It is the second largest city after the capital Oslo, steep cobblestone streets and sidewalks of the passion for flowers you see throughout the city a lovely ride.

The fjord town is characterized by having a long day and night in darkness.
  Admission to all this natural wonder is Bergen, a city of fairytale with beautiful wooden houses.

The city is located on the southwest coast of Norway, in a valley formed by a group of mountains known as the Seven Mountains. We can vitar typical wooden houses located in the Bryggen district today retains 62 properties of this urban area and part of the World Heritage.

Also very interesting to visit the fish market, crossing stops authentic Norwegian smoked salmon, among many other products. Medieval wooden church Fantoft. Visit the open-air museum Gamle Bergen (Old Bergen Museum).

Bergen is a good base to start exploring the West Fjords, extending from southern Bergen to Kristiansand.

The fjords are the main tourist attraction in Scandinavia

From the West (Bergen) via Forde and Stryn
Distance: 315 km (about 5 hours and 30 minutes).

Be captivated by this route with a good map you will find the steepest Norwegian, Viking villages of origin where to stop along the way and enjoy nature, gastronomy and wonderful architecture. By the majestic panorama of Geiranger, the fjord, De syv Søstrene and Knivsflå Mountain Farm. The quiet calm nature, clean air and breathtaking view.

From Bergen; Take the E39 north to the Sognefjord (ferry Oppedal - Lavik, 20 minutes), Sognefjord is the longest.

Here the beauty that surrounds the Norwegian fjords makes us feel the absolute beauty of the planet. Also you can see the famous wooden churches; Geiranger fjord also, breathtaking waterfalls, and the region of Rogaland, the land of the Vikings.

Along parts of the coastline, the sea penetrates deep into the mountain wilderness and form the world-famous Norwegian fjords.

  Continue along the E39 to Forde and Byrkjelo. Deviate by fv. 60 to Stryn and Hellesylt.

Getting to the Geirangerfjord amazing figure in the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its spectacular beauty.

You can stay at Hotel Geiranger at this hotel you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Geirangerfjord.

In waters of a deep blue UNESCO-protected, you will be surrounded by majestic snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and lush vegetation.

I recommend hiking in the area, hiking is a must activity for anyone visiting the area. There is a wide range of trails, all marked and labeled, quality maps available.

It is also possible to cruise to delve deep or rent a kayak with guide included.