Bonjour ! FRANCE

France is a wonderful country, which is why it is one of the world's most fascinating and rewarding tourist destinations. It has everything that you could ever want to see on your holidays:
lovely nature, incredible mountain scenery, architecture, historic avenues, good beaches…

There are also many activities to try out during your vacation in France. You could kayak in the rivers of the Dordogne, ski in the Alps or sunbathe on the Atlantic coast.


Paris, the city of light and its surroundings are one of the most visited areas. Paris is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities on the planet.

The thing to remember about planning a trip to France. You could plan your trip on a theme, walking for example, or just aim to discover a region. Try all the food you can, visit as much as possible and, if you are able, speak the language as it is such an integral part of the French experience.

ATTRACTIONS

The Eiffel Tower




This is probably the most known monument in France, but at the beginning it was a not very well accepted construction, french citizens did not like it and thought it was a waste of money. This iron tower was built on the Champ de Mars beside the River Seine in Paris, the tower replaced the Washington Monument and was called the Tower Eiffel in honor of its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel.

The French Alps



If you like skying this is a good option, the French Alps are imponent and majestic, the perfect place to sky, the Mount Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe with an altitude of 4808 meters. There are also shop markets and valleys with trees and lakes, the landscape is simply fascinating.

La Rochelle



The city of La Rochelle was the first city in the world to provide free bikes - "city bikes", back in the 70's. Free to use for the day. La Rochelle also has beautiful beaches all around where you can enjoy and relax, La Rochelle is also famous for its towers some of them are: La Tour de la Lanterne, Tour Saint-Nicolas and la Tour de la Chaine.

Chartres Cathedral


Chartres is truly one of the greatest of all French Gothic cathedrals. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres is located less than 100 km (about 50 miles) south of Paris and is considered to be one of the finest examples of the "high Gothic" style of architecture.


Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard aqueduct, built by the Romans, now funnels francs into the town of Nîmes as one of France's most popular tourist attractions.

The Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous and most visited places in France.

In the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle, at the border of the 8th, 16th and 17th arrondissement stands one of the greatest arches in history: the Arc de Triomphe (arch of triumph).

Champs-Elysées

The most fashionable street in the world is copied by many cities, but none can match the original.

South Africa : A Kind Of Magic

South Africa is one of the most diverse and enchanting countries in the world. Exotic combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture offer the traveller a unique and inspiring experience. South Africa is a heady mix of third and first world cultures - along with the best and least crowded beaches in the world.

Throw in wildlife parks such as the Kruger Park, Eight World Heritage Sites, beautiful natural scenery, a great infrastructure and a stable post-apartheid environment and you have a great destination waiting to happen.


ATTRACTIONS


TABLE MOUNTAIN


No visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain – home to some of South Africa's most breathtaking views. Take a guided walk on one of the many routes or simply ride the cable car to the top - it will be one of your lasting memories of South Africa.

ROBBEN ISLAND

A short cruise from Cape Town's V&A Waterfront by ferry, this legendary island is a must-see on any newcomer's itinerary. This is where Nelson Mandela and his comrades were imprisoned for decades during the Apartheid era.

Former inmates will take you on an insightful tour of the prison grounds. This historical island is now a World Heritage Site and a proclaimed nature conservation area.

THE GARDEN ROUTE

From Cape Town along the coast to the Tsitsikamma Forest, this 600-kilometre stretch of small towns, wineries, farms and sea villages has been a traveller's delight for more than a century.

Take your time, soak in the scenery, stay over in a guest-house, enjoy the cuisine and let South African hospitality take over.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

About the size of Israel, the Kruger Park is the greatest of South Africa's many national parks which attract a great number of visitors intent on drinking in the wilderness.

On guided walks, drives or self-drive, visitors have the best chance of spotting the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo) in this park.

THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

A thousand kilometres of mountain majesty, the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) range is the adventure tourist's playground. It is also perfect for nature photography, easy walking and simple relaxation.

Full of game sanctuaries, Bushman rock art sites, challenging peaks and cascading waterfalls, the views in the Drakensberg will compete with anything the rest of the world has to offer.

NAMAQUALAND

Every Spring (August to September), the Northern Cape comes alive with vast fields of daisies in a natural splash of vivid colour. Fed by winter rains, the flower grounds of Namaqualand are a photographer's delight.

THE CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago.

New York City

New York is a city of superlatives. Besides being a world financial centre, the urban island of Manhattan teems with world-renowned restaurants, architectural masterpieces and venerable art institutions that make it one the world’s greatest cultural cities.

Events and Activities during Autumn in New York
Autumn is perhaps the best time to visit New York City -- temperatures are mild, there are many great Autumn activities, the summer crowds have left, and the holiday crowds have not yet arrived. The Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, Baseball, U.S. Open, Halloween, the New York City Marathon, Thanksgiving and more make Autumn a great time in New York City.

Attractions

Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, stretches 5,989 feet over the East River connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. On completion, it was the largest suspension bridge in the world and the first steel-wire suspension bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge has a center lane open to bicycles and pedestrians, just above automobile traffic. While the bridge has always permitted the passage of pedestrians across its span, its role in allowing thousands to cross takes on a special importance in times of crisis and becomes a symbol of New Yorkers' resilience.

Central Park

Central Park has offered a welcome escape from the concrete jungle of New York City for over 150 years. Take a walk, a boat ride or just enjoy a picnic in Central Park and discover for yourself why Central Park is so popular.

Madison Square

Madison Square, located in the Flatiron district, is one of the historically most important squares in New York City. The attractive 19th century Madison Square Park is surrounded by historic landmarks from the Gilded Age, including the famous Flatiron building and the classical Metlife tower.

Fifth Avenue

New York City’s Fifth Avenue is a shopping district unrivaled by the likes of London’s Knightsbridge section or Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. The approximately 10-block stretch of this Big Apple avenue – from 49th to 59th Street – is covered with stores representing some of the world’s most magnificent designers.

South Street Seaport

Situated on Lower Manhattan’s waterfront with a breathtaking view, South Street Seaport is a must-see for anyone visiting New York City. It’s a combination maritime museum and mall, offering insight into NYC’s rich maritime history and providing a great place for shopping and dining.

Statue Of Liberty

Located in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. The Statue was extensively restored in time for her spectacular centennial on July 4, 1986.

Times Square

TimesSquareNYC.org, the official web-site of Times Square provides you with complete information on Broadway Theater, Hotels and Restaurants, Special Events, and of course, the world's most famous New-Year's celebration, New Year's Eve in Times Square.

It is one of those places that make New York a city that never sleeps.


Washington Square

Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and crowded square. It is best known for its bohemian and rebellious character.

New 7 Wonders of the World

The New Open World Corporation (NOWC), a private and a non profit Swiss orgainsation tried to create an alternative to the historical list of the Seven Wonders of the World. The final list was announced on July 7, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal. The method of choosing was through votes which were cast through the Internet or by telephone.

The new list:

The Great Wall of China


This wonder is a series of stone and earthen fortications built in China throughtout the 5th century BC till the 16th century to protect China in the north. It stretches over approximately 6400 kms, signifying resistance from the foerign intrusion.

Petra
Jordan

This wonder of the world lies in a basin among the mountains of eastern range of the Arabah in Jordan. It is famous for having many stone structures carved into the rock. The city built served as a fortress and was so designed to store water thus making an artificial oasis in the desert city.

Christ Redeemer Statue

Brazil

Standing 125 feet tall atop the Corcovado Mountain high above Rio, this statue took five years to build. Constructed in France by sculptor Paul Landowski, it was shipped to Brazil in pieces, and then carried up the mountain by train, where it was reassembled.

Machu Picchu

Peru

This "city in the clouds" was built 8,000 feet above sea level in the 15th century by Incan emperor Pachacutec. Abandoned by the Incas, the city remained unknown until it was rediscovered by an explorer in 1911.

Pyramid at Chichen Itza

Mexico

The center of Mayan civilization in its day, Chichen Itza is still visible in several structures, including the pyramid of Kukulkan.

Roman Colosseum

Italy

This giant, 50,000 seat amphitheater in the center of Rome was built over 2,000 years ago, and still influences the design of sports stadiums worldwide.

Taj Mahal

India

This wonder lies in India, and was built as a sign of love and remeberance of one's beloved. The purity of love is symbolised by the white marble used. It presents an intricate mix of Persian, Turkish, Indian and Islamic architecture.

The Seven Wonders of the Modern World

The 20th century has provided spectacular advances in design, engineering, and construction which have allowed humanity to create an array of monumental structures. And from these, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), with help from experts around the world, selected these wonders: the Empire State building, the Itaipu Dam, the CN Tower, the Panama Canal, the Channel Tunnel, the North Sea Protection Works, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

These wonders embody an abundance of human ingenuity, thus showcasing humankind's ability to dream, plan, and achieve on a colossal, mind-boggling scale.

Man has an incredible ability to make the impossible, possible.

Empire State Building

Finished in 1931, it towers 1,250 ft over New York City. Until the first tower of the World Trade Center was finished in 1972, it was the world's tallest building.

Itaipu Dam

Built by Brazil and Paraguay on the Paraná River, the dam is the world's largest hydroelectric power plant. Completed in 1991, it took 16 years to build this series of dams whose length totals 7,744 m. It used 15 times more concrete than the Channel Tunnel.

CN Tower

In 1976, the tower became the world's tallest freestanding structure. It looms about one-third of a mile high (1,815 ft) above Toronto, Canada. A glass floor on the observation deck lets you look 342 m down to the ground.

Panama Canal

It took 34 years to create this 50-mile-long canal across the Isthmus of Panama. The amount of digging required and the size of its locks helped make it the most expensive project in American history at that time—and the most deadly: About 80,000 people died during construction (most from disease).

Channel Tunnel

Known as the Chunnel, it links France and England. It is 31 mi long, and 23 of those miles are 150 ft beneath the seabed of the English Channel. High-speed trains whiz through its side-by-side tubes.

Netherlands North Sea Protection Works. Because the Netherlands is below sea level, a series of dams, floodgates, and surge barriers have been built to keep the sea from flooding the country during storms. The biggest part of the project was a two-mile-long moveable surge barrier across an estuary finished in 1986. It is made of 65 concrete piers each weighing 18,000 tons. It has been said that the project is nearly equal in scale to the Great Wall of China.


Netherlands North Sea Protection Works




Because the Netherlands is below sea level, a series of dams, floodgates, and surge barriers have been built to keep the sea from flooding the country during storms. The biggest part of the project was a two-mile-long moveable surge barrier across an estuary finished in 1986. It is made of 65 concrete piers each weighing 18,000 tons. It has been said that the project is nearly equal in scale to the Great Wall of China.


Golden Gate Bridge.



Connecting San Francisco and Marin County in 1937, for many years this was the longest suspension bridge in world. Experts thought that winds, ocean currents, and fog would make it impossible to build. It took about four years to complete the beautiful 1.2-mile-long bridge. It is held by 80,000 mi worth of steel wire, and the cables that link the two towers are 36.5 inches in diameter—the biggest ever made.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is one of the most popular tourist destinations in North America. The falls are made up of two separate parts, Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and American Falls on the USA side.

Although not the highest waterfall in the world they move a staggering 168,000 cubic metres (219,600 cubic yards) of water per minute over a drop of 51m (167ft), making them one of the natural wonders of the world. The surrounding town, a celebrated North American honeymoon destination, offers a wealth of visitor activities including a casino, as well as land and boat tours of the falls.

Activities & Attractions

Maid of the Mist

For more than 150 years, the Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist has taken visitors through the foaming waters beneath the falls. The journey begins at the bottom of the Observation Tower, where you’ll be provided with a souvenir rain poncho.

The Maid of the Mist will then take you to the base of the American Falls and then to the basin of Horseshoe Falls, through the crashing waters and massive rock formations. This half-hour Niagara Falls tour allows you to experience firsthand the power and intensity of the falls.

Cave of Winds Tour

Soak up the experience of being closer to the waters of Niagara Falls than you thought possible, on a spectacular Niagara Falls tour. Your journey begins with an elevator ride 175 feet into the Niagara Gorge. Then, clad in a souvenir rain poncho and sandals, you’ll follow a tour guide over wooden walkways to the Hurricane Deck, less than 20 feet from the torrents of Bridal Veil Falls.

On the deck, you’ll experience tropical storm-like conditions, getting doused with the spray from the rushing waters. A special viewing area has also been set up for handicapped individuals and adults with children in arms.

See a side of the falls few people get to experience by taking the Cave of the Winds journey after sunset, one of the most awe-inspiring Niagara Falls tours available to the public. Follow the rainbow of colors illuminating the falls right up to the Hurricane Deck for a breathtaking adventure you won’t forget.

FIVE STAR RESORTS IN THE MALDIVES [PART III]

Huvafen Fushi, Maldives





Set within its very own lagoon, Huvafen Fushi is a wonderland where the stunning environment is an attraction in itself. This beautiful resort is dedicated to the sustainable and sensitive development of the land and natural resources of the island as well as ensuring their guests enjoy a stay beyond their wildest dreams.

The forty-three bungalows all have air-conditioning and their own private oasis with a fresh-water pool. The Beach and Deluxe bungalows are ideally situated on the powdery white sand, whilst guests staying in the Ocean and Lagoon bungalows can step down into the crystal clear water from their private deck.

With fresh produce from around the world flown in daily, the master chef and his team deliver temptation at every turn, with flavourful, light and healthy cuisine. The Aquum Spa combines soothing architecture, cutting-edge spa technology and the very latest in water therapies, including the world's first underwater spa treatment rooms.

Soneva Gili, Maldives

Located on Langfushi Island on North Male Atoll, Soneva Gili is truly unique, being the first all over-water villa resort in the Maldives. A mere fifteen minute speedboat journey from the airport, Soneva Gili is located in one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives. Its crystal clear turquoise waters are ideal for snorkelling.

The whole resort has been carefully planned to ensure that you are afforded absolute privacy. The water villa suites and residences are rustic in appearance and offer the ultimate in home comforts while skilfully utilising natural materials and traditional fabrics.

The villas are unbelievably spacious and have open-air living rooms and bathrooms, roof-top sun deck with jacuzzi or daybed and also a floating sun deck. Facilities also include an oceanside restaurant, overwater bar and also the superb Six Senses Spa. Soneva Gili is quite simply the ultimate waters edge experience.

Paradise Island Resort & Spa

Approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Male’, on the eastern edge of North Male’ Atoll, in a reef-enclosed lagoon, Paradise Island is almost 1 km in length while the width of the island is just 230 meters. This resort has absolutely everything for the sun worshippers.

Paradise Island Resort & Spa is ideal for :
Family Holidays
Diving
Spa

Website: www.villahotels.com