Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece

Mytilene is the main city and port of Lesbos, the Greek island in the Aegean often called Mytilene the name of its capital. It is located on the southern tip of the island, near the Turkish coast. Aristotle lived and taught there. The island changed hands several times throughout the years, but since 1916, the city and the island joined the independent kingdom of Greece. In 1941, the island was occupied by a German infantry division. There are many neoclassical buildings such as the prefecture of Lesbos, the former City Hall, the Experimental High School, hotels and homes. The port is dominated by the Baroque church of Saint Therapon. The port for ferries communicate with the most important cities and the neighboring islands. To see: the old theater, archaeological museums, the castle, the church of St. Simeon Monastery of Saint Raphael, the Statue of Liberty, among others.

Tips

The city is ideal for a relaxing vacation and enjoy visiting other places with the ferries. You can go to Piraeus, Thessaloniki, the islands of Chios and Ayvalık and sometimes you can also visit Dikili in Turkey. Enjoy to buy one of the most known products the Ouzo (Greek anise-based liquor made of neutral alcohol mixed with various spices and then distilled and diluted). You will find a couple of producers on the island and shops where you might even enjoy it. You can also enjoy sardines and olives of the region.

 

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Sugar shack, Quebec, Canada

The sugar shack or ‘sucrerie’ is the place where it manufactures the maple products. It lies within the wood where they collect the sap of maples in spring. This sap (or maple water) is discharged from the cells of the tree in autumn to allow it to survive the winter freeze. This is not the pure sap, there should be a transformation into maple syrup using a system of kettles and vessels where the sugar concentration increases at each stage. These shacks date from the beginning of the 19th century, with their craft and a popular tradition. It is a typical activity of Quebec but there are some other Canadian regions and even in the United States where you can find them. There are commercial or family shacks. From maple syrup, producers make toffee, caramel, candies, sugar bread, syrup, jelly and also alcoholic drinks.

Tips

You can taste a good meal or just simply visit the sugar shack, see the production of its products and buy on-site. A traditional meal usually has an omelette, ham, with potatoes, beans, etc, and for dessert, you will find the sugarpie, all with maple syrup.
You will also find animations and activities on-site. It is a good activity for the family, with children or friends.
The time to make your visit is from March to April.

Special thanks to the artist Cristina Benevidez Legault who let us have a picture of a sugar shack made by her.

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Brasilia, Brazil

Brasilia is the capital of the federative Republic of Brazil and the seat of Government of the federal District, fourth most populous city in Brazil. Its construction dates from the 1960s and was born through the project to create a new capital inland to better distribute the wealth and population, largely concentrated on the sides, and put an end to the rivalry between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. She became one of the capitals most recently built in the world but also one of the cities more quickly built (2000 days), under the guidance of visionary President Juscelino Kubitschek, architect Oscar Niemeyer, urban planner Lucio Costa and architect Roberto Burle Marx. View from the sky, Brasilia design evokes the shape of a plane (or of a hummingbird), with each of its strategically arranged architectural wonders and its residential and commercial blocks. Administrations and major state agencies leave Rio de Janeiro to settle in the new capital. The move was not easy because some officials refused their mutation. Brazil had even threaten some states of a rupture of diplomatic relations if they didn’t move their embassies. The ideal plan was to accommodate 500,000 people but today there are just over two and a half million inhabitants. They also built satellite towns and it is inhabiting the vast majority of the population. The city is bordered by the Paranoá Lake, which is water artificially created together with Brasilia. Masterpiece of modern architecture, Brasilia was declared world heritage of humanity by UNESCO. The residential areas are functional and self-sufficient with shopping malls, schools and parks nearby. To see: the Cathedral, the National Congress, the square of the three powers, the Memorial JF, Dom Bosco sanctuary, among others.

Tips

The city can be visited by car or bus because it is large enough. You must make sure to book your hotel in advance because half of room is already occupied by people who work in the Government or who have to do with him.
One of the most popular attractions is Lake Paranoá and its activities: surfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, etc. You can also make ideal swimming for warm, dry days. Another option to refresh is visiting the National Park with its two swimming pools and plenty of green space to walk (30 km) and enjoy to see the typical vegetation of the region with beautiful flowers and hear the birds; the park is home to a number of threatened species, including deer, Anteaters, the giant Armadillo and maned wolves. nice place to relax. You can go by bus.
If you visit the Don Bosco sanctuary, you can also take advantage of the small nearby on lake beaches or green areas for a picnic.
If you want to have a beautiful view of the city visit the television tower, which has a terrace of observation at 75 metres.
The surroundings of the capital are also to explore and if you stay several days there, you can visit the waterfall of Itiquira (about 100 km), 168 metres high, it is the second largest in Brazil. Sites are protected from development and therefore offer outstanding natural beauty.