You Have To Visit Leeds Castle, Kent UK, Once In A Lifetime
Leeds castle in Kent has a history spanning 900 years and is set on two islands on the River Len – it was home to Royalty, Lords and Ladies.
The Saxon Lord of the Manor – Esledes Robert de Creve Coeur – built this castle in 1119. Then in 1278 it passed into the hands of Royalty and became part of the Queen of England’s dowry settlement.
Over a period of the next 150 years it was held by Medieval Queens such as Eleanor of Castle, Margaret of France, Isabella of France, Joan of Navarre, Anne of Bohemia and Catherine de Valois.
During Tudor times Henry VIII used to visit here quite regularly, with his wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, for the tournament of Cloth of Gold.
Henry’s son King Edward VI gave it to one of his courtiers for his excellent services and later it was used as a garrison, a prison and a convalescent home to different families like the Culpepers, Fairfaxes and Wykeham Martins.
The stone bridge that you walk across when you enter the castle still looks the same as it did in the 13th century.
In the last 900 years there have been many other changes however, done by various rulers. It has Norman foundation and the Gloriette was built by Edward 1 and later updated during Henry VIII’s times.
The Tudor Tower and 19th Century Country House – were substantially refurbished in the 20th century.
The last owner of the castle were Olive and Lady Baillie and they did not leave it unscathed.
She was an heiress to an American fortune from her mother’s side and also the daughter of an English Lord, she married thrice. It was during her second marriage to Arthur Wilson Filmer that she bought this castle in 1926. She did a complete renovation and brought in the finest French Architects and Designers to create an elegant country residence for herself. Read more »
There are many different types of Peru vacation packages that cater to a wide variety of interests. Indeed, this is a necessity as Peru is a very diverse country and host to many ancient cultures and archaeological ruins.
Peru is the only country that has the coast, desert, highlands, mountain ranges and jungles. It also has both the cordillera blanca and the cordillera negra (White and Black mountain ranges).
The country has a rich ancient history with cultures like the Inca Empire, Moche, Nazca, Chachapoyas, Chavin, Paracas, Tiahuanaco, Wari, the Norte Chico Civilization and Chimu. There is even a theory that descendants of the Vikings live in Peru!
There are also islands, catacombs, canyons, Spanish colonial structures, museums, lakes, Pisco Sour, the ayahuasca spirit vine, curanderos (healers) and traditional dances.
Peruvian cuisine is becoming world-famous. Peru has some of the most diverse and delicious food the world has to offer. Peru has 35 varieties of maize (corn), 2,000 varieties of potatoes, over 2,000 varieties of sweet potatoes, 2,000 species of fish (more than any other country in the world), and probably the best lemon anywhere.
Main Attractions
Peru tourism can roughly be divided into two main circuits: the Northern Circuit and the Southern Circuit.
The Southern Circuit is by far the most popular with tourists as it includes Peru’s #1 site-seeing attraction – Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is in the Cuzco area. Other highlights in the Southern region are the Nazca Lines, Nazca; Colca Canyon, Arequipa; Lake Titicaca, Puno; the Sacred Valley, Cuzco; the Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuaman and Koricancha, Cuzco City; the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu; Choquequirao, a couple of days from Cuzco city; and Manu National Park near Cuzco. The Cuzco region is the archaeological capital of South America.
The Northern Circuit is not as popular as its Southern counterpart, yet offers spectacular scenery and marvelous ancient structures. Main attractions here are Caral, Barranca; Chavin de Huantar, Huaraz; Chan Chan and El Brujo Archaeological Complex, Trujillo; The Lord of Sipan, Chiclayo; the Pyramids of Tucume, Lambayeque; the Amazon Jungles, Iquitos; Kuelap, the Gocta Waterfall, the Gran Vilaya and Karajia, Chachapoyas. The Chachapoyas region in may actually have more archaeological ruins than the Cuzco region as it is still relatively unexplored.
There are so many things to see in Peru that you may need to sign up for several Peru vacation packages!
The Most Popular Peru Vacation Packages
The main attractions are just the tip of the iceberg of what Peru has to offer. However, unless you have years of time available you’ll need to choose a Peru vacation package that includes the primary things you want to see within your scheduled vacation time.
The most popular Peru vacation packages head from Lima to the Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, then Cuzco. The Cuzco region is a must see. All main tour packages include at least a day trip to Machu Picchu. A Sacred Valley and City tour of Cuzco covers several sites. This takes about 7 days. If you have more time then you might consider a visit to Colca Canyon and Manu National Park.
The second most popular package is a trip to the Amazon Jungles in Iquitos. These tours usually include meals and lodging, trips along Amazon rivers, jungle hikes, wildlife watching and visits to native towns. Minimum tour length is usually 3 days. There are tours that last for weeks, but the magic number here is 4 to 5 days.
If ancient ruins are more your style and you have already seen the main attractions of the Southern Circuit, then a tour package based in Trujillo is an excellent alternative. From Trujillo tour packages go to Chan Chan, El Brujo, The Lord of Sipan, the Pyramids of Tucume and sometimes to Caral. Tour length is about 7 days.
Unfortunately most Peru vacation packages don’t include a trip to Kuelap because it is still fairly isolated. But if you have a few extra days Kuelap should be a must-see in the Northern Circuit.
What Do You Want to See?
Before you decide on a tour company you will want to make a must-see list based upon how long your vacation will last and the main region to visit. Pick a few of the sites that you will not do without. If there will be extra vacation time after visiting the places on your must-see list then you can add secondary things to see.
Once you have your refined list in hand you can begin looking for the tour agency that offers you the perfect Peru vacation packages. There are so many types of tour packages available that you will probably find an excellent match without any difficulty. If in the unlikely case you don’t find the ideal package ask the tour agency if they do custom tours. There are several agencies that are flexible to what you want, especially if you will be travelling in a group.
Choosing the Right Tour Agency
Contact a few travel agencies and speak with a travel agent. Let the travel agent know how much time you have, what you want to see and how much money you are willing to spend. Also be sure to mention if you will be traveling with others and ask about discount group rates.
The travel agent will then be able to offer you Peru vacation packages that fit your needs. When you have the ideal package be sure to get the itinerary. You will also want other details on what is included: meals, lodging, transportation, free time and extra activities – maybe buy the local best eye cream. Ask how much it will cost and what the policy is if you have to cancel. Be sure to check into the travel agency’s credibility. You want nothing less than excellent service.
With the proper tour package fit to your desires you will have a wonderful time in Peru. Your vacation will be an experience that you will remember for a lifetime and you’ll soon find yourself pondering a return trip.
————————
Thomas Carroll was born in California and now lives in Lima, Peru. If you would like more information about Peru Vacation Packages then be sure to visit his blog:
http://www.peru-vacation-packages.com/
When snowboarding first came on the scene, we saw intense young men and women flying down ski slopes on what appeared to be a single wide ski. It looked extreme and dangerous. But those intense young people have grown up and started families, and since they still snowboard, snowboarding has become mainstream. Most ski resorts attempt to have at least some accommodation for boarders on their slopes.
If you ski or snowboard in the United States, you have access to some of the best slopes in the world. If you hope to take up or continue snowboarding, the following American slopes are some of the best in the country. These resorts have been classed as top resorts with regards to accessibility for people of all ages and levels, and also have great features for snowboarders.
- Big Sky. This Montana resort has 150 runs, of which 17% are beginner, 25% intermediate, 37% advanced, and 21% expert. It is known for being spread out and un-crowded, allowing boarders and skiers the chance to get on the slopes often without standing in long lines. – Crested Butte. This area of Colorado has 120 runs: 23% beginner, 57% intermediate, and 20% advanced. It hosts not only skiing but snowboarding, hiking, mountain climbing, and many other winter sports.
- Jackson Hole. If you are an accomplished snowboarder, Jackson Hole Montana is the place for you. Only 10% of their runs are for beginners, and the rest are for intermediate and advanced boarders. The danger and challenge inherent in this huge, wild mountain offer just the extra dose of excitement some boarders are looking for.
- Mammoth Mountain. The only top-ranked California resort in this article, Mammoth Mountain enjoys a ski season that runs well into June, later than almost any other area in the US. It offers a healthy mix of beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert slopes, coming in at 25%, 40%, 20%, and 15% respectively.
- Snowbird. This Utah resort has a fairly even mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes. Snow falls well into May, extending the skiing season for fanatics who don’t want to call it a day just because it’s spring. It is a short distance from Salt Lake City, which makes it ideal for long weekend trips, since you can catch a flight in and get on your skis in the same day.
- Steven’s Pass. This Washington resort focuses on catering to intermediate level snowboarders and skiers, but doesn’t neglect the beginners or experts, either. It is also the only ski resort in Washington that has three half pipes for snowboarders: one for beginners, one for intermediates, and one for experts.
————————
Find all the latest prices on ecommerce fulfillment and snowboarding holidays, visit directline-skiing.co.uk for unbeatble prices on ski holidays.
We noticed recently on a trip to Brighton that there were dozens of stag and hen party groups celebrating there. Fair enough, Brighton is a great seaside resort. It is a sign of the times, maybe – a couple of years ago those same individuals would probably have gone to Iceland or Barcelona. But even if you have to reduce your celebration budget you can still celebrate in style. A good alternative is to rent a party bus, and take your whole group to your favourite clubbing area while you get into the party mood.
This is a great treat for a birthday party too – instead of a night at the local pub, you and your closest thirty friends could be the envy of the ordinary people. If you have not seen a boogie bus before, it is like a disco on wheels. The funky pink and black interior has all you would expect – disco lights, a smoke machine and, of course, a dance floor with cages, pole banging juke box. To rent a boogie bus in Scotland is really easy and you will not regret the choice.
There are many quieter, traditional areas of Greece which repay investigation and can provide an idyllic holiday, away from the more bustling tourist centres. The power of Greece is very much contained in its diversity – many different kinds of holiday are on offer in this ancient country with a traditional heart.
Without doubt, those looking for hedonistic holiday pleasures will never be disappointed – the sun, sea and sand; the warm, lazy days and nights; the waterside wining and dining – it is all here in abundance.
Greece has the second highest number of Blue Flag beaches of any country in the world – an award which confirms and demonstrates the quality and cleanliness of its beaches and sea. Read more »
A self guided walking holiday through the Beaujolais vineyards in August or September would be the ideal holiday for any wine loving walkers. Starting from the town of Fleurie, the tour give you the opportunity to visit the home of the Beaujolais Crus. The trek is called the Beaujolais Ridge Tour, and it offers six full days of walking, following marked footpaths. Fully detailed maps are supplied, and your luggage is transported each day to your next destination. All you need to do is pull on your boots, pick up your packed lunch and start walking.
Walking in the Beaujolais region, north east of Lyon, comprises a series of rolling hills, reaching a maximum height of 1000m above sea level. Although the hills are quite gentle, the scale of the peaks and the depths of the valleys means you see some superb panoramamic views during your walks. Passing through some of the most famous Burgundy vineyards, you will walk through the maturing vines during the summer months, or if you take this walking holiday in the Autumn you will see the spectacular changing hues of the vine leaves. Read more »
Posted July 28, 2009 
Comments(0) 
