World Fisheries Trust and Esquimalt Parks and Recreation are hosting an Oceans Day Festival at Esquimalt Gorge Park on Sunday, June 3rd 2012 from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM.
World Fisheries Trust, a local NGO that delivers environmental education and conservation programs both locally and internationally, is working in collaboration with Esquimalt Parks and Recreation to join hundreds of other educators, conservation organizations, stewardship groups and thousands of individuals around the world to celebrate our shared ocean.


This year's Oceans Day theme is "Youth - the Next Wave for Change", and we are promoting and coordinating activities worldwide with a focus on getting youth involved in conserving the world's oceans. As such, our Oceans Day Festival will include activities such as live music, crafts, food, face painting, canoe tours of the Gorge, touch tanks with local marine life, interpretive walks, and educational and interactive displays and models among other activities.


Admission to the festival is absolutely free.

Tips For Booking Travel Online

The days of the traditional travel agent are pretty much long gone. Although you can still find some traditional agents around the local travel agencies have turned to the internet. The internet provides the casual traveler with many options and up to date pricing. So with a touch of a finger we are now able to get great deals online. With so many sites to choose from which ones will fit your needs?

The goal of each site is to offer you the best deals and to create a smooth booking process. Most of these sites are really a matter of preference for the user, but I like to shop around to compare prices when booking. To get the best deals first you should decide what type of trip you are taking.

Regardless of the site you always want to look at their special deals. Especially if you are not 100% sure where you are going and doing but just want a vacation. Websites like Expedia, Orbitz, and Hotwire will offer some great deals for air, car, and hotel packages to certain highlighted cities. There are some strict rules of booking but you will find them to be lower than if you booked each portion individually.

Hotwire also bases much of their pricing on you being flexible with your times. They provide you with a package price and once you agree they tell you what time you have to travel during those days. It is how they control the pricing and offering you the lowest prices they can. If you are flexible in this respect they do offer some great deals.

Keep in mind with Hotwire that you have to be ready to purchase if they give you a deal you cannot refuse. You are on a time limit to purchase and if you leave and come back you could typically lose that rate and get a different one. If that package price is still valid you will get that back but that is something you take the chance on.

Orbitz and Expedia offer great deals on cruises, ski packages, and more. You have flexibility with time and destinations here and although they do offer those random destinations they do also combine packages for you and are easy to use.

If you are traveling and will need air and hotel, or even air, car, and hotel then you will want to consider packaging your trip. Each website is geared to offer you better deals when you package them together. On average the price is around 30% lower when using packages versus booking each individual piece. One thing you will notice on most travel sites is the ability to add tours, shows, and other amenities that will even further your savings.

On sites such as Orbitz they do provide you extensive information about destinations, activities in those destinations, and rating information. This is a nice perk for travelers that have never been to this destination. If you are looking for information on the properties and overall location then you will find Orbitz to be very user friendly.

Expedia has a great layout and can be used for both business and pleasure. Making for a one stop shopping experience and they help you convert your rewards miles which is a perk. They have extensive maps and destination information which makes them quite valuable. You do have to become a member, but they do offer some tremendous deals.
 
There are many other websites out there to compare. All of them offer some of the same features but these were the top 3. Each has unique deals and all are geared toward getting you some great deals. With the touch of a finger you can now access the many great deals and book your perfect trip.

So what if you need specific destinations or times? What if you really only need air bookings? Each of these sites is still in line with this type of travel. You can purchase each piece individually with the same features and benefits of these destinations.

One thing I do when I am purchasing individually is go to the deals section first. Many times my destination will be there and I can see what restrictions are out there and if I can get one of these deals. If not then I go and search the deals for my cities in the search boxes. Don't forget to shop around just to compare prices.

One good thing to also try is the airline websites directly. Many sites like Southwest airlines have extensive explanations of rules and restrictions on their prices making it easy to understand. In the travel world they do use a lot of jargon, but some airlines have really tried to help explain certain restrictions in easy to understand blogs.

The airline websites directly can also offer you deals and packages as they have teamed up with hotels and cars to offer overall deals as well. They may not have as many as someone like Orbitz or Expedia but they can offer some great deals.

The airlines also have the luxury of offering web only fares. These are fares they offer to someone willing to book online versus over the phone. These deals are often much lower than the regular fares making it intriguing for you to go in this direction. You can find a lot of bargains in these web only fares.

Keep in mind that shopping at each individual airline website can be time consuming. That is where Expedia, Orbitz, Hotwire, and others will search them all for you and give you the special deals. That is the true appeal to these sites and can give you that one stop shopping experience.

One last great feature of the internet is the ability to research any location you are traveling. You can get up to the minute weather information, tourist attractions, information on the state and climate, and much more. There are many tourist sites out there and Travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz do utilize some of these features but you can locate many tourist sites on search engines.

Some of the best tourist sites are going to be as simple as typing the location name and tourism. Example being Colorado Tourism and several helpful sites come up and will give you added features on this state along with best airports to fly into so you are not traveling hours upon arrival. You can even go as far as virtual tourism sites that have great pictures and details on your destination.

Travel has been made easier using the internet. No driving to a local agency to get the deals, no relying on just a few brochures to show you the locations, and no waiting on destination information. The internet has brought this all to you with the touch of a finger from the convenience of your own home any time of the day or night. You now have the capability to search competitors and make the best decisions that are right for you.

If you are looking to book your next trip then you may want to consider these keen factors. Make your trip not only enjoyable but affordable.

The Ultimate Language Travel Site

A look back at what the Spanish language world was twenty-five years ago is in strong contrast to what it is now. Who would have said only a few decades ago that a community of 250 million speakers with a low economic development would jump into number two as a world langauge and as a thriving culture which has managed to captivate the rest of the world with its arts and entertainment. Now, at over 500 million, Spanish is not just a matter of quantity. In these two or three decades many things have happened. Spain, accounting for over 40 million, has fast developed into the world's 9th industrial power and a key member of the European Union. Mexico, Chile and Argentina have become much more important than they ever dreamed in the entangled economy of the Americas. The Spanish language minority in the United States has reached unforeseen proportions and keeps growing in a development which will certainly reshape the USA into a formally bilingual country sooner than expected. In other words, the Spanish language world had never been so important in the international context since the old days of the Spanish empire back in the 1500s.

Spanish language is not just an interesting extra for our education and our children's. It is indeed an increasingly important part of the ordinary citizen's CV. Spanish language schools in Spain used to receive a large amount of students in their late teens or early twenties, to whom learning Spanish was just a secondary subject and a lot of fun. Nowadays, the amount of these students have multiplied by twenty while thousands of new courses have been launched for minors and, more importantly, also for executives. It has always been normal to see top level executives taking a two week leave to do a super intensive English course in the UK, the heart of the English language. Well, it is now easy to see the same happening around Spain: top bosses from multinational corporations travelling thousands of miles to take an exhaustive course in order to learn Spanish, not for fun, but because it is crucial to their business.

Chateau Victoria - Hospitality Night

The Chateau Victoria hosted members of the hospitality industry tonight at Clive,s Classic Lounge and Vista 18. Everyone in Victoria and all visitors in Victoria should know this. On may17, 2012 The only bar and bartender in Canada to be recognized at this years Tales of the Cocktail and Spirited Awards is right here in Victoria. Clive';s Lounge and it's Executive Barkeep, Shawn Soole were recognized in the prestigious Top 10 list for World's Best Hotel Bar and International Bartender of the year respectively. The announcement was made from New Orleans on May 17, 2012, following a rigorous evaluation of hundreds of nominees in 17 categories. Both Clive's Classic Lounge and Shaw Soole share the top 10 designation with some amazing international company. Congratulations are indeed in order. The drinks at Clive's Classic Lounge are amazing and the food and the views from Vista 18 are incredible.

For more informaton about the Chateau Victoria, visit their web site.
— at Clive's Classic Lounge.For more pictures see our Facebook Page

The Nanaimo Rhododendron Society (NRS) is hosting the American Rhododendron Society (ARS) Western Regional Conference here in Nanaimo in Sept of this year. The convention will bring together people from all over the Pacific Northwest to discuss and share ideas about rhododendrons, in addition to travelling and enjoying the countryside.
Title: American Rhododendron Society (ARS) Western Regional Conference


The theme of the conference is: Rhodos in Paradise


Dates: September 21 to 23, 2012


Place: Nanaimo, BC


Host: Nanaimo Rhododendron Society, Nanaimo, BC


website: http://arsnanaimo2012.ca


"Imagine a place,


Surrounded by mountains and oceans


Where winters are mild,


Summers are warm,


and the gardening is easy...


Welcome to Nanaimo...


A Rhodo Paradise!"

Go to our facebook page for more photos.

Mount Kinabalu - Kota Kinabalu - Places To Visit In Kinabalu Tips

Mount Kinabalu - Kota Kinabalu - Places To Visit In Kinabalu - Travel Advice

Image source - cliftonphua.blogspot. com

 This beautiful mountain is 4.084m, is located north of the island of Borneo in the region of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu being the nearest town about 80 miles away by road. The mountain's name means "where dwell the dead," and is situated in a nature park with the same name, Kinabalu Park.

The easiest way to reach this site is via a flight to Kota Kinabalu. Once at the airport, the best way to get around is by taxi. There is a tourist office at the airport where they will tell you where to go to catch a bus to Kinabalu Park, so in the taxi office you can buy a tiket to bring you up to this area, the taxi fare is about 50 ringers.

Image source - cliftonphua.blogspot. com

The place where the buses to Kinabalu Park is a bit chaotic, buses tend to leave very early, but there is an option to take a van to take you only when such vehicles are full of people. It is very easy to negotiate with these drivers and even with a dodgy pint, are usually very reliable. For my part, after we got a bargain price of 40 ringet for two (normal is 60 ringett) and the van to ourselves.

The van and the bus will leave the park gate, you need to pay a fee to enter the park. Before, I would go through the shop-bar there on the other side of the road because prices in the park are quite high and does not hurt to catch water, soft drinks and stuff that may be needed. Not a bad idea to eat at noon here.

When you enter the park you should go to the reception room and give you a guide assigned to you, you also get a ticket that will serve you for lunch, breakfast and lunch in the shelter the day of ascension. It's a little mess because they send you from one building to another to do these things but take it calmly.

The guide costs 80 ringet per group, up to 6 people, so if you can associate with others to form a good idea, since the guide costs 80 ringer and not very useful (you can make the guide takes backpack long as you pay 100 ringer).

Image source - cliftonphua.blogspot. com

The rooms tend to be shared if you go for the cheap, are cold and need shelter. They give a blanket per bed to my insufficient, and bathrooms with shower, are common differentiated by sex (in the room is usually a kit with soap and shampoo). The stay in the park is boring, not much to do. For dinner there are two options, buffet or a la carte. The buffet is more expensive than ordering a hamburger and a la carte drink,.

The day of the ascent must be the guide in the guides office near the reception, you can leave luggage bags that do not use, I think it cost 5 ringer per package. From there you take a jeep or minibus to the entrance of the path that goes up top, is as about 6km, once in this place i am just starting to climb. The climb is spectacular, everything is conditioned with steps to climb without technical difficulties.

Every kilometer or so there is a seating area with toilet and place to rest. The problem most people usually start very fast and forget that the day before would probably be at sea level and now you start with only 1.900m of altitude acclimatization night, not much but better to go slowly . The climb continues for 6 km curvy linked,-D, all with the same style of stairs, watching the flora changes as you climb.

Image source -mountkinabaluclimb.blogspot. com

The last mile will clear the forest and it shows a change of flora file where the trees are not as large and shrubs begin to appear until the refuge located at 3,200 meters.

The peak of Mount Kinabalu is very small and gets between large rocks, there are plenty of people and all doing the same picture and waiting for the dawn. If there is a clear day you can see the Philippines, in my case I could see nothing. With a lot of people who had decided to come down and watch the sunrise from a bottom but looks the same and thus avoid falling rocks in that part of so many people. The sunrise is breathtaking and timely, at 6:00 am, shows the true nature of this mountain it's awesome.

The impressive atmosphere. A dense forest, dense, moist, do not allow more than 50 meters down, and created a dark, that in moments of more intense rain was becoming sad. The sound of rain against the leaves, against the hood of the poncho, the waterfalls were added to their fatigue was becoming overwhelming. As we gained altitude we got closer to the clouds, dense enough, and only at certain times let see the rocky summit.

Image source -mountkinabaluclimb.blogspot. com

Sepilok, east of Sabah, is one of the four orangutan rehabilitation centers that exist in the world. It was the number one goal of the trip, but he complied, and as time went well, had to close. It has nothing to do with a zoo, a nature reserve, which allows you to see orangutans, monkeys and other animals in their native environment, surrounded by dense tropical vegetation.

It is also a good opportunity to see a real jungle, dense, moist, dotted with huge straight stems, with more than 50 feet above the ground, and always accompanied by rain.

The descent to the park is horribly tiresome, you better have some technique and get off quickly because they are miles and miles down stairs if they get tired less quickly.

If you like this Places To Visit In Kinabalu Tips  - Please Subscribe for future travel advice

Abkahzi Gardens - A Small Wonder

This small but exceptionally beautiful garden is located near the Oak Bay Victoria Border. It is operated by a volunteer group and today was their annual plant sale. There is a tea house in the Garden that is worth a visit. The flora is truly amazing as you will see below. Go there in the spring especially. The time is now.  Visit our facebook site for more pictures of this amazing garden.

Once again that dreaded spring time freak of nature buries parts of greater Victoria making life here for locals absolutely miserable. Sidewalks arre slippery, road ways impassible, spring flowers smothered and this time a golf course devastated. See for your self by going to our Facebook Page for more pics and story.

Top Travel Sites to See in America

I've had the privilege of traveling to most every city in the United States and most every popular tourist destination. And there are some places that are more fun and better than others. If you are considering traveling to the United States or traveling within the United States, I have some recommendations I what to share with you that hope you'll find helpful for your next trip or vacation.

If you are traveling to the United States I highly recommend you visit Washington DC. The reason why I suggest Washington, DC is that it contains and has all of the history of the United States. I think that every American should visit Washington DC at least once in their life so that they know the history and heritage of this great country. I really enjoyed going to the Smithsonian museums, and that in itself will take you weeks and weeks to complete if you visit each one. Go visit the space and science Museum, I think that's what it's called, and take a look at some of the Apollo space rockets, they are an impressive sight. Of course, go see the White House the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument for a good feel of what Washington DC has. I'm sure the city and the surrounding areas has much more to show so go explore if you can.

Another favorite outdoor destination would be to visit the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, for a family vacation. You simply couldn't go wrong with bringing the family to Yellowstone National Park. There is so much to see there at different times of the year, and you will never get bored with all the park has to show you. There are the geysers, the wildlife including the grizzly bears and wolves and the freshwater rivers that are great for flyfishing and, if you visit Yellowstone National Park in the summertime, you can expect large crowds of people, I would recommend that you visit during the off-season in the spring fall or winter. Of course if you visit during wintertime, you can expect lots of snow and cold but if you're dressed for it, you'll see a part of Yellowstone the very few people have.

My final recommendation would be that you go to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is located in northern Arizona and is one of the seven wonders of the world. If you visit the West, you must go to the Grand Canyon and camp out there in an RV or in a campsite and take a hike to the Colorado River below. The splendor and wonder of this vast area is incredible to experience. A must to be seen by all at some point in their life. My preference is that you visit sometime in the spring, fall or winter, because summertime is busy and hot.

These are just a couple of places to go visit in the United States that everyone should see hopefully sometime in their life. This country has so much more to see and to offer and if you have the time visit every state in the union and you won't be disappointed. Oh, go see New York City and the Mississippi river too because these definitely shouldn't be left out of the list of places to see.

Ric's Grill Victoria BC - Home of Good Food

Last night Linda and I had the opportunity to attend a taster evening at Ric's Grill with members and friends at the Victoria Guest Services Network.  We had a delicious meal and some great wine.  Some of the wine was local, from Muse Winery in North Saanich.  I would recommend that you give Ric's a try, they are doing some amazing things with their menu.  Ric's restaurants are all over BC and Alberta and we are lucky to have one in Victoria.  It is a 910 Government Street, so if you downtown, stop in. You will be glad you did.  To see more pictures of the great food we tried, please go to the VGSN Facebook Page.  See you at Ric's.

Promoting Your Travel Site - Can You Digg It?

There are probably many things you want out of your online travel website: targeted marketing articles, strong SEO content writing and increased traffic to your site. You may not realize it, but there is another thing you will want your site to do: to get Dugg.

Digg is a social media site geared toward bookmarking. When users find what they are looking for online and like what they see, they have the ability to Digg it, or add it to a bookmarked list of other sites they enjoy.

How can a Digg account help your tourism or CVB site?

1. Use Digg to organize articles relevant to the interests of your business. Whether your destination is waterside or countryside, learn more about what your tourists are interested in to help promote your destination. Use Digg's built-in search engine to find what interests your tourists.
2. Promote your Web content on Digg to improve SEO. With a Digg account, you can repost all of the content on your site to your Digg site. By doing this, it is recirculated on the Web more, putting more eyes on what your company has to offer.
3. Link with other businesses of the like to create a network. By using the Add Friends option, you can link yourself with other similar businesses to generate more hits on your Web site.
4. Allow people to Digg your destination. After visiting your travel site, visitors can decide to Digg what they've read, adding your site to their Digg account. Doing so makes them more likely to share what they have found with others, giving your destination more publicity.

Getting Dugg will not only help you tune into the travel industry around you, but more importantly help tourists dig your location.

Getting Honeymoon Vacation Packages at Discount Travel Sites

Today with the advent of the Internet and travel deal sites it usually isn't that hard to find a great deal on travel on-line. The real question comes down to how great a deal it really is. This is especially true if you are using this package to plan a honeymoon getaway. No one wants to end up on a vacation that didn't cost a lot that also FEELS like it didn't cost a lot. So having said that let's look at a point or two that you can keep in mind when making important trip plans using discount travel sites.

Prioritize Activities Before You Choose

If you can come up with a list of activities that you would want to participate with your significant other it can remove a lot of risk from your travel choices. Because you will be choosing your trip based on what you want to experience and not necessarily the location. If you approach it this way you will minimize the risk of having a bad honeymoon experience. So build this list and then make sure that all of your potential honeymoon vacation packages allow you to do at least everything that is essential to you on the list.

Spend Time Reading Other People's Experiences At This Location

You should expect to spend a significant amount of time surfing the Internet to find out what other people who have stayed at the place you are thinking about feel about their experience. You want to make sure you read enough of them so that you can get a real feel for what people have liked and disliked about a specific location. This activity should allow you to whittle the list of potential honeymoon vacation packages down to a manageable size.

What Have We Accomplished?

First, we have save a significant amount of time by only considering locations that would allow us to participate in the activities we want to experience during our honeymoon. Then we have used other people's experiences to further cut this list down by getting rid of places that have too many negative statements recorded. With the remaining list you should use a combination of location and price to make the final decision.

Places To Visit In Berlin Guide - Things To Do In Berlin Travel Advice Tips

Places To Visit In Berlin Guide - Things To Do In Berlin Travel Advice Tips

Berlin, capital of Germany, is culturally very interesting. There are many places to visit is Berlin but here are few very interesting places any one can visit during their trip to Berlin.

Image Source - belongtrip.blogspot.com

Brandenburg Gate -  The Brandenburg Gate is the best known monument of Berlin. The door has seen over 200 years of turbulent history of the city. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, symbol of reunification.

The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is the symbol of Berlin and is located at Pariser Platz.
It is an old gateway to the city. It was built between 1788 and 1791 during the reign of Frederick William II of Prussia and was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans.

In the same square, the Pariser Platz, we can see the Embassies of France and the United States and the luxurious Hotel Adlon.

Reichstag - The German Parliament building in this majestic building. It was completely renovated in the late 90's by British architect Lord Norman Foster.

Unter den Linden - A large concentration of historic buildings located in this boulevard lined with lined trees.

Deutsches Historical Museum, Museum of German History
Staatsoper Unter den Linden Opera House
St Hedwigs-Kathedrale, Catholic Cathedral
Humboldt-University, the oldest university in Berlin
Neue Wache, a memorial to the victims of war, where we find La Piedad
The palaces and Opernpalais Kromprinzenpalais
Bebelplatz, square where, in 1933, there was the sad burning of books by Nazis
Statue of Frederick the Great

Image Source -lindsay-mylifeasaforeigner.blogspot.com

Berlin Wall - The Berlin Wall divided the city from 1961 to 1989 and had a length of 120 kilometers. You can still see the remains of the Wall and in some places, there are plates on the floor indicating where it has been lifted.

Checkpoint Charlie, a former outpost of the Allied Forces. Hosting an exhibition on the history of the Wall.

Topographie des Terrors, a former headquarters of high Nazi institutions. Today it is an exhibition that shows the horrors that produced the Nazi regime.

Memorial to the Holocaust. Completed in 2005, was designed as a tribute and remembrance to the Jewish people. It is almost 300 stunning rectangular blocks among which you can walk.
Museumsinsel - This island is home to an entire museum complex in 1999 was declared World Heritage by UNESCO.

The Museum Island settled the first inhabitants of the city in the s. XIII. The complex was created by Frederick William III and is currently one of the largest in the world. Since 1999, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Image Source -lindsay-mylifeasaforeigner.blogspot.com

 Museum Island, Berlin - The first building was created in 1830 and during the Second World War destroyed much of the buildings, beginning its reconstruction in the 1950s.

Pergamon Museum, which houses a collection of relics and temples
Bodemuseum, a sculpture collection and Byzantine coins
Neues Museum, where the Ägyptisches Museum, featuring portraits of Egyptian royalty. His best known piece is the bust of Nefertiti.
Alte Nationalgalerie, which houses sculptures and paintings of the nineteenth century
Altes Museum hosts a Greek temple and a classic collection of antiques
The Berliner Dom Cathedral is also on the island.

Alexanderplatz - This square and its surroundings are one of the older sections of the capital.
Berliner Rathaus, the Red Town Hall

Berliner Fernsehturm, a television tower of 368 m and tallest building in Berlin
Churches and Marienkirche Nikolaiviertel
Marx-Engels-Forum, a monument to Marx and Engels
Märkisches Museum, Municipal Museum in Berlin
Ephraim-Palais, a baroque palace built in 1766
Fountain of Neptune

Image Source - chicagocircle.com

Potsdamer Platz, Berlin - About 10 minutes walk from the museum is the famous Potsdamer Platz. Here is held every year the famous Berlin Film Festival, the Berlinale, which delivers the Golden Bear for best film.
The history of the place goes back several centuries ago but was especially popular during the nineteenth century was an area of great commercial and cultural activity today, as I recall, you can see a monument to the first traffic light was installed at the site, the first Europe.

However, the square does not retain any of its historic buildings as it was severely punished by Allied bombing in the city during World War II.

Sony Center, the headquarters of Sony Europe
Filmmuseum Berlin museum about the history of Hollywood and Babelsberg
Josty Café, meeting place of artists and intellectuals
Weinhaus Huth, only building in the square that survived World War II
The galleries Potsdamer Platz Arcades
Spielbank Berlin, Casino Berlin
Cinemaxx, one of the largest cinemas in the city
Daimler City, Berlin headquarters of the company car
Theater am Potsdamer Platz, dedicated to musical theater
Replica of the first light of Europe

Kulturforum - is a large complex of museums, concert halls and libraries. It was the equivalent of the Berlin Museum Island west to east.

Gemäldegalerie, gallery that holds works by leading European masters of painting
Neue Nationalgalerie, which exhibits twentieth-century painting
Philharmonie, the Auditorium
Music Instruments, Musical Instruments Museum
Kunstgewerbemuseum crafts since the Middle Ages to today
Kupferstichkabinett, prints and drawings gallery
St Matthäuskirche, church, 1844

Image Source -lindsay-mylifeasaforeigner.blogspot.com

Kunfürstendam - This is a very busy and very commercial in the west of the city.

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche. After the bombing damage in 1943, leaving only the foot of the tower and the main lobby. Next to them, they built a new church. Today the church is being restored.
Schloss Charlottenburg - This is a magnificent Baroque palace designed as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Elector Frederick III.

The Holocaust Memorial - This monument is dedicated to the Jewish victims of Nazi genocide during World War II. It is located south of the Brandenburg Gate was designed by Peter Eisenman. It was built between 2003 and 2005 and consists of 2,711 concrete blocks of different sizes which give an irregular appearance.

Deutscher Dom - German Cathedral is a work of Martin Grünberg, built between 1702 and 1708. It was an evangelical church until 1984 that gave the state, and since 1990 the Bundestag used as an exhibition.
Ishtar Gate, Pergamon Museum - The Pergamon Museum is known for the famous Pergamon Altar, which gives its name, the year 165 a. C. From the city of Mysia, northwestern Turkey today, it is a colossal marble tomb surrounded by a frieze which represents the struggle between gods and giants. Other monuments that stand out are the Market Gate of Miletus, the s. II. C. and the Ishtar Gate, the facade of the temple of Uruk.

Image Source -lindsay-mylifeasaforeigner.blogspot.com

Pergamon Museum - The Egyptian Museum has one of the most important collections in the world, many of this pieces are from the time of King Akhenaton, to the 1340 to. C. You can also see here the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti preserved without restoration since the Amarna period.

Lustgarten - The Garden of Delights is located in front of the Altes Museum. Originally this garden was part of an ancient palace which was the garden. After the Thirty Years War in 1648 was transformed into a royal garden, with statues, fountains, bird, summer house, greenhouse and caves. At this time was when he planted potatoes imported from Holland for the first time in Berlin.

In 1830 he was commissioned to redesign it Schinkel for the Altes Museum.

Fernsehturm, Berlin - In this place it is striking that the "lollipop" found in it. This is the TV tower (telecommunications tower) is located in the famous Alexanderplatz with its 368 meters high, you can enjoy from the viewpoint of an overview of the entire city. The tower was built by order of the leaders of the GDR in 1969 to demonstrate the strength and performance of the socialist system.

It's the first thing we saw from the plane to land in Berlin and is visible from all points of the city.
The Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus) - is the current city hall and the Senate of Berlin. The name of the building is due to the red color of the bricks of the facade. 

Charlottenburg, Berlin - They also emphasize the Oak Room with family portraits, the Oval Room overlooking the. The entrance to the camp is free, and so you'll get the audio guide (available in Spanish) is only necessary to leave the ID at the reception.

If you like this Places To Visit In Berlin Guide - Things To Do In Berlin Travel Advice Tips - Travel Advice Tips  - Please Subscribe for future travel advice

Germany - Berlin Travel Guide - Berlin Tourism Advice Tips - Travel Advice Tips

Germany - Berlin Travel Guide - Berlin Tourism Advice Tips - Travel Advice Tips

The city is divided into several districts, each with its own charm but almost all points of interest are concentrated in Mitte and Tiergarten. It is best to stay in the Mitte which is German for "middle, center." There is the most emblematic and representative of the city, the Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz, Museum Island ... and a lot of shops and restaurants.

Image Source - prootedpalestinians.blogspot.com

Currently the German capital is a great building site. Cranes dominate the skyline of the city. The best architects in the world built or rebuilt a number of public and private buildings. This is one of the things that has caught tourist attention. It is as if the city still further developed and expanded, with streets being constantly raised and rehabilitated buildings ...

All the events of the twentieth century is still very present in this city. Over 50% of buildings were destroyed during World War II. After the war, the they were responsible for saving most of the bricks that were piled throughout the city and which were later used to faithfully reconstruct the fallen buildings. Walking through its streets and avenues are hardly aware of the damage the war caused because the buildings have been rebuilt as they were before the decade of 30-40.

Transportation In Berlin-  The Berlin subway is one of the best in Europe, has 9 lines, which pass through underground sections and also on the surface.

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Urban transport is pretty good so even if the city is large, it becomes very manageable. The one trip ticket costs € 2.30 and is valid for all public transport in Berlin which are grouped under the acronym BVG and include tram, near the metro, buses etc ... There are also card one day, 3 days or more. You have all the information on the website of the BVG.

The meter starts to operate from 4:30 to 00:30 hours, each train passes every 3 to 5 minutes, and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and public holidays the hours are extended to overnight.

Berlin U-Bahn (underground) which has a good network of stations that connect to all the sights of the city
Trains from Berlin - The S-Bahn is a set of trains operating in 15 urban lines, with which you can get almost anywhere in Berlin.

Schedule: Begin to move from 4:30 to 00:30 hours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, trains run all night.

Each train runs between 10 to 15 minutes during peak hours and the rest of the day between 15 to 20 minutes, evenings run every 30 minutes.

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Trams in Berlin - The tram is a kind of train that runs around Berlin, has 22 lines and 400 stations, is a widely used means of transport both for the same population and by tourists for its functionality.

Buses in Berlin - Buses are also a very efficient means of transport, but a little slower, because the traffic is moving slower, has about 150 lines, is especially recommended to travel at line number 100, and that travels throughout the Unter den Linden and makes stops at major attractions for tourists.

Buses also run at night, at least 54 lines, operating from 00:30 to 4:30 inclusive, with a frequency of 30 minutes.

Taxis in Berlin - Taxis in Berlin are cream, all use the meter, you can stop at any point in the city, are recommended to move during rain or when you want to quickly reach a particular location without walking.
The taxi fares are 4 euros for the first 2 kilometers, additional kilometers costs 1.64 euros.

Where to go for Shopping in Berlin- Mitte area, can walk or Neue Alte Schönhauser Strasse, where you find shops of local designers. For men, it pays to check Respectmen clothing and musical emporium Mecca DNS Recordstore. For women, the designer Claudia Skoda and vintage clothing store are great places Sommerladen and Calypso shoes

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Where To eat in Berlin- With the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants throughout Germany, it is difficult to choose just one.

Alpenstück- Gartenstrasse 9, D-10115 Berlin
Traditional cuisine of southern Germany: sausages, sauerkraut (sour cabbage) and schnitzels in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Bandol sur Mer - Torstrasse 167, D-10115 Berlin
For a romantic dinner in the French style book in advance of the 6 tables that make up this exclusive restaurant, a favorite of Brad Pitt. Be sure to try the escargots, foie gras or the house specialty, the Irish style entrecote.

Brecht's - Schiffbauerdamm 6-7, D-10117 Berlin
For Austrian cuisine, head to this bistro-style restaurant on the banks of the river in Schiffbauerdamm. Its famous veal sausages and gnocchi with cream cheese.

Die Quadriga - Eislebener Strasse 14, D-10789 Berlin
One of the best restaurants in Berlin, headed by chef Bobby Bräuer, Michelin star-awarded. Expect a sophisticated cuisine and a distinctly civilized environment. The 1920 decor is another delight.

Gugelhof - Knaackstrasse 37, D-10435 Berlin
A great Alsatian cuisine will delight you with its succulent sauerkraut here and flamed tarts.

Altes Europe - Gipsstrasse 11, D-10119 Berlin
Frequented by the cream of Berlin, this bar bring proper attire required to fit their aristocratic environment.
Bar Tausend - Schiffbauerdamm 11, D-10117 Berlin
If dining in Brecht's continue the night in this mysterious dark floor bar lit by a golden light flowing from one enormous eye in the wall. .

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Kayaking the San Juan River at Port Renfrew

We recently did a kayak trip up the San Juan River near port Refrew.  It was an amazing adventure with lots of scenery.  To see more pictures go to our Facebook Page. 

To read more about our adventures in Port Renfrew go to our Travel Magazine.

Port Renfrew has big trees, really big trees

Port Renfrew has big trees, really big trees! 

Port Renfrew is definitely the Big Tree Capital of Canada. If you go to Port Refrew, you must visit these trees. Some take a hike to get to and others like the San Juan Spruce and the Harris Creek Fir are very easy to access.  If you go to our Travel Magazine Article you will get more pictures and directions to these trees.  If you go to our Facebook site you can see more pictures of these magnificent trees.

Botanical Beach Provincial Park near Port Renfrew BC on Vancouver Island

We just visited Botanical Beach (2-3 km) and walked 20 minutes down a good trail to the beach to catch the morning low tide.  We recommend exploring the tide pools at Botanical Beach when the tide is 4 feet (1.2 m) or less at low tide.  You can check the tide tables at local marinas, ask almost anywhere in town, or go on-line to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada web site.  Botanical Beach is a mystical shoreline that faces Juan de Fuca Strait where it empties into the Pacific Ocean.  If you get a blue sky day it is outstanding.  If you get a grey day it is spectacular.  If you get a windy day it is a great sight but the tide pools might be a bit cloudy.  Any day is a good day.  The scenery is inspiring, the tide pools are prolific and intriguing to explore.  Be sure to take time to sit down and relax and absorb the whole experience and enjoy the serenity around you.  You will quickly realize that this is a very special place.  Botanical Beach Video   Youtube Video You can read our complete article about Port Renfrew and go to our Facebook Page for more pictures of Botanical Beach and Port Renfrew.

Wild Coast Cottages and Water's Edge Recreational Properties Port Renfrew

On our visit to Port Refrew,  Rosie Betsworth took us to some of the new recreational property offerings in Port Renfrew, including a relatively new recreational development called Wild Coast Cottages.  Phase One of this affordable ‘micro-cottage’ development sold out in 2011.  Phase 2, ‘Water’s Edge’, consists of a small village of waterfront and water-view cabins, each 515-660 sq. ft.  These well landscaped oceanfront cottages have spacious decks, with 2500 sq. ft lots.  Cottages are priced from $229,900 to $399,000, including the lot, cottage and HST.  Owners hold regular “free title” to their cottage and maintenance is strata managed.  This project was created by Three Point Properties.  Wild Coast Marina is being developed on the shores below Water’s Edge – bringing deep-water moorage to Port Renfrew for the first time.  Rosie also drove us into the new Port Renfrew RV Resort, now under construction across the road.  It has 55 RV lots under development and each comes with a small 8 x 12 ft. bunkhouse building.  Each lot has water, hydro, on site waste disposal, and optional Wi-Fi and Satellite TV.  Fancy camping!

For more great photos of the Lodge visit our Facebook page. Read our article about Port Renfrew on our Travel Magazine.

Soule Creek Lodge Port Alberni - great accommodation

Soule Creek Lodge in Port Renfrew is one of the finest accommodation available.  They offer rooms in the Lodge, a cabin and yurts for an exciting novel experience.  They have phenomenal dinning experiences as well.  The views from the property are outstanding.  The area around Port Renfrew offers some amazing acitivity such as fishing, kayaking, tide pools at Botanical Beach, giant trees, and a lot more.  Treat yourself soon to Port Renfrew and be sure to stay at Sould Creek Lodge.  For more great photos of the Lodge visit our Facebook page.  At Soule Creek enjoy the views, get information about the area, enjoy some spectacular and tasty food, and great hospitality. Read our article about Port Renfrew on our Travel Magazine.

Painting Victoria in Colour and Culture-ARTISHOW 2012

Australia - Best Sydney Hotels Guide Tips - Travel Advice Tips

Australia Best Sydney Hotels Guide Tips - Travel Advice Tips

Meriton Serviced Apartments - World Tower - These luxury apartments are located from the 62nd floor and above, in the famous Sydney World Tower building.

The Sydney Meriton World Tower offers fantastic views from its heated indoor pool with Jacuzzi, fully equipped gym and sauna. Free wireless internet access throughout the hotel.

Meriton Serviced Apartments - Kent Street - These luxurious and modern apartments, situated in the heart of Sydney offer fantastic city views and access to indoor pool, gym, sauna and jacuzzi.

The Meriton Serviced Apartments - Kent Street offers beautiful views of Darling Harbour and the city. They feature spacious living areas and kitchen / laundry. All have cable TV and DVD players.

The lobby of the resort Kent Street Meriton Serviced Apartments gives the Skyview Shopping Plaza shopping center that includes shops and restaurants. The modern World Square shopping center is across the street.

Many major Sydney attractions including the Queen Victoria Building and Sydney Aquarium, are a 10 minute walk from the Meriton Serviced Apartments - Kent Street.

Guests can enjoy the indoor pool, gym, sauna and jacuzzi at the resort. The reception is open 24 hours every day.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney - The luxurious Radisson Blu Plaza is at the heart of Sydney, 15 minutes walk from the famous opera. It offers free internet access, gym and pool.

The Radisson Blu is housed in a nineteenth century. Its elegant rooms reflect this historical style. All rooms have satellite TV and a luxurious marble bathroom.

The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney is 10 minutes walk from The Rocks area. The Circular Quay and the Museum of Contemporary Art are a 15 minute walk.

Relax in the jacuzzi at the hotel or enjoy the wide range of massages and beauty treatments available. The tour desk can recommend places of interest and help you organize your trip.

The award-winning Bilson's restaurant serves French cuisine. Bistro Restaurant and Bar offers a modern menu Fax combining Australian cuisine with European flavors.

Blue A Taj Hotel -This boutique hotel, situated in the heart of a luxury marina, offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the city centre and heated indoor swimming pool, gym and outdoor terrace.

Rooms at Blue Sydney have ultramodern furniture, including a 27-inch LCD TV, iPod dock and a luxurious king bed. All rooms and lofts have unique elements of the original historic pier.

The award-winning Water Bar offers a selection of spirits and cocktails in a sophisticated atmosphere. In spring all the restaurants you can dine outdoors and offer breathtaking views of the marina and the city.

The cafe is open every morning for breakfast. The hotel offers concierge services, laundry and dry cleaning service, in-room massages and daily newspapers.

Blue A Taj Hotel is located near the Royal Botanic Gardens and 15 minutes walk from the Sydney Opera House.

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QUADRA ISLAND STUDIO TOUR 2012

Quadra Island Artists are hosting their tenth annual Studio Tour on the first weekend of June. Quadra is situated in the beautiful Discovery Islands, just a short ferry ride from Campbell River. Visitors can enjoy exploring the island (with its beautiful vistas to both the coastal ranges on the mainland and to Vancouver Island’s peaks to the west) and check out the work done by the island’s many fine artists. The Tour presents work in many talents – blown glass, stone sculpture, pottery, photography, printmaking, painting and more – and an opportunity to meet the creative people behind the artwork. Add a picnic on Rebecca Spit, gazing across the waters of Sutil Chanel, and it is a perfect weekend outing.

Mark your calendars for June 2nd and 3rd on Quadra Island. Tickets can be purchased for $5 per person (kids under 12 are free) from:

 Hummingbird Office and Art Supply

 Quadra Tourist Info Centre

 Campbell River Public Art Gallery

 Comox Valley Art Gallery (Courtenay)

 And at Quadra Island resorts

More details can be found at http://www.quadraislandarts.com/.

Or check us out on Facebook at Quadra Island Studio Tour

Can’t make the Studio Tour weekend? Many of the studios are open to visitors throughout the summer.

Contact: Kathryn Manry, Cell Phone: 250/205-1002


Email: kamanry@gmail.com

Amazing- Octopus eats a seagull...

To see more pictures of this amazing event, please go to our Facebook page. Sidney, BC, March 22, 2012: It’s well known that birds feast on marine life, but what about the other way around? Ginger Morneau of Langford was walking on the breakwater at Ogden Point with family from out of town when the sound of splash...ing caught their attention. Nothing could have prepared them for what they saw when they looked into the water. “The orange tentacle of an octopus wrapped around a seagull and they were struggling. It felt like time stopped as we watched the encounter.” Morneau was fortunate enough to have her camera on hand to document what in actuality took less than a minute. The octopus drowned the bird and pulled it down into the water. “My husband laughed at me, but I wanted to save the seagull. It was very shocking to watch.” Says Morneau. While it’s rare for this feeding activity to be caught on camera, it’s not that unusual for an octopus to eat a bird. “Octopuses are smart and if they see a bird that consistently lands on a rock they can access then they may have a go at catching it. Birds, on the other hand, are not all that smart and often will not move when an arm comes out of the water because they do not recognize it as a threat.” Say Jim Cosgrove, author of Super Suckers, the go-to guide on Giant Pacific Octopus. The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre in Sidney has a large male giant pacific octopus, fondly known as “The Dude”. He has shown his aquarists first hand just how clever these creatures can be “The Dude learned how to open a jar and retrieve a crab within a minute of us showing him how to do it!" says Paula Romagosa, Head Aquarist. “They’re also incredibly strong, there has been more than one occasion in which it has taken several people to retrieve the cleaning pole when he decides to hold on to the end." Says Romagosa. The Centre will be releasing The Dude soon so that he’s able to continue to grow and complete his breeding cycle in the wild. A wild giant pacific octopus captures a Seagull at Ogden Point -30- About Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is an aquarium and marine education centre focused on the amazing ecosystem of the Salish Sea. The Centre operates as a not-for-profit community facility that is self-supporting through admission fees, grants and donations. The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is governed, funded and owned by the New Marine Centre Society. Capital funds for the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre were raised through generous community support. The Centre is located in a spectacular waterfront building in Sidney, BC. Media Contact: Leshell Michaluk, Sales & Marketing Director marketing@oceandiscovery.ca 250-665-7511 Ext. 109
Thanks to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre for passing along this story.