Month: December 2020

Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada

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Vancouver is a large island of British Colombia, in Canada, on the Pacific coast. Separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia, being the largest island on the West coast of America. Almost the half of the population live in the metropolitan area of Victoria, in the South of the island, which is also the provincial capital of British Colombia. Other cities are Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Parksville, Courtenay and Campbell River. Visiting Vancouver is quick and easy, whether by seaplane or aboard one of the many ferries of the company BC Ferries, comfortable and well equipped. They leave South or Northwest Vancouver terminals to reach either Victoria or Nanaimo on the island after a passage of 1 hour 35′. Other ferries connects Seattle, United States. to Victoria .

Tips

The island is inhabited only in the South, the rest is wild and almost intact. Moreover, they say that this is one of the last places in the world that is almost entirely wild. This makes this island a paradise for fauna and flora observation.

Here are 4 destinations that we recommend:

1 – The city of Victoria where everything is calm and charm. They live under English stylke by having advantage of the traditional afternoon tea, with gardens all in flower and admiring its Victorian architecture. You can’t miss the Butchart Garden and the Royal BC Museum, which tells the story of the Indians of Canada in a very original way.

2 – The Pacific Rim of the island national park has the Pacific ocean as a backdrop. We uggested to you, especially, the Long Beach area, miles and miles of deserted beaches, with surprising vegetation and abundant marine and terrestrial life. This area of the Park offers 9 trails that you can mostly do in less than an hour.

3 – Cathedral Grove in the MacMillan Park is a wonderful place which is one of the last vestiges of the temperate rain forest which covered the entire island of Vancouver over 1000 years ago. It is a forest of huge trees and an amazing ecosystem, which can make us think to redwood forests that you can visit on a trip to California. When you walk in this forest, you’ll be unable to see the sky cause the vegetation is dense. For the Indians of Vancouver Island, it is a sacred place! You will quickly understand why.

4 – In the North of the island, you will discover the beautiful village of Telegraph Cove. You will be charmed by its time stilt houses connected by boardwalks. Telegraph Cove is the best place in the world for the observation of the orcs. From there, you will find a lot of excursions for an observation trip.

 

Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

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Mazatlán is a Mexican city located in the state of Sinaloa and has the same name as the municipality. The city is well known for its port which serves as a stopover for several cruise ships. The city is on the Pacific coast northwest of the federal capital. It was founded in 1531. There are many tourist complexes as well as several kilometers of beach. The average annual temperature is 26°C with the humidity factor in summer the temperatures are felt far above what the thermometer marks. To visit: the historic center with its parks, its typical restaurants and its magnificent cathedral which is a must see, the Church of San José, the Aquarium, the Botanical Garden, the promenade by the sea, among others. Among the most popular beaches are Olas Altas and Playa Norte, both of which are not far from the historic center. Mazatlán’s Carnival is quite well known, especially for Ash Wednesday.

Tips

If you visit Mazatlán in a cruise stop, leaving the port, you must follow the big blue line which is marked in the middle of the streets and you will arrive by walking to the historic center very easily. You will also have the opportunity to see the nice colorful houses with beautiful wrought iron doors and fences.

If you want to shop, you have a shopping center next to the port and several small shops in the historic district and in front of the cathedral you will find a large area of two floors: Liverpool Mazatlán Centro.

Rhodes, medieval town, Rhodes, Greece

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Rhodes is a town located at the north end of the largest island in the Dodecanese archipel which has the same name (Rhodes). It has a very important medieval town with many ruins in an enviable position where were ancient ports and where today are the modern ports. The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, was a gigantic, statue traditionally located at the entrance of the port. It has a beautiful square which is the tourist centre of the city: Hippocrates Square; where you can find several good modern restaurants with terrace balconies at the top; there is a Turkish fountain in the middle of the square. It has beautiful ceramics and a column topped by a bronze owl. Another place to know is Socrates Street, a small narrow street; you can walk from the square towards the mosque of Soliman, it’s a fully-lined shopping street. Bordering Hippocrates square, there is an interesting building of stones with stairs known as Castellania or lodge of merchants. The building continues through a serie of picturesque arcades in Aristotle St. which connects Hippocrates Square with the Archdiocese. Walking through Akandia entry, you’ll find the ruins of Sainte Marie du Bourg (14th century). There are three apses which remain, a few steps from the ramparts, and the court of the older nave. The ramparts of the medieval city of Rhodes stretch over 5 kilometres in length. There are a dozen doors whose most masterful is the door of Amboise. There are two particularly imposing round towers but it opens on a chicane and you still need to cross Saint Antoine’s door to access within the city. The other remarkable door is the Door to the sea or Door of the Port which was the main entry. Two beautiful twin towers crenelated and equipped with machicolations are rather attractive. Above the semicircular arch, a mutilated bas-relief represents a Virgin with the child surrounded by Saint Pierre and Saint John the Baptist. In the place of the Archdiocese there is another fountain with very modern lines with three metal seahorses that celebrate the nearby marine environment. Akandia Port is one of the three ports of Rhodes. The oldest harbour is in front of the ‘Sea door’; here we can see the boats of fishermen. Mandraki, the most famous with the deer and the hind, welcomes boats and day cruise boats. Third, besides the fortifications, the other port welcomes the Giants of cruise and ferry boats from Piraeus. The harbour of Mandraki is protected by a 300 metres long dam on which stand still three antique windmills; at the end of the dam, the Fort of Saint Nicolas defended the city of Rhodes of the first maritime assaults. Inside the fort, there is a lighthouse which guides the boats at night.

Tips

If you only visit Rhodes for a day, the medieval town takes all day long, but if you stay a few days on the island, you’ll be able to visit it at different times of the day. To walk, the morning and the evening are the most enjoyable moments because the sun is very strong and the the temperatures are too hot nearly noon.
You will find many shops with typical handicrafts but you can usually discuss the price and get what you want for a more reasonable price.
If you want to enjoy the sea, not far from the port, you will find beaches to spend some pleasant hours. The most beautiful beaches are farther but for a day visit, it’s worth it to relax a bit in this so nice sea.
The city has plenty of cafes, restaurants, bars where you can also relax a little and enjoy a good coffee or a good local wine.
Wear comfortable shoes and in summer, wear light clothing and especially, drink plenty of water.