Author: rose

Golden Gate, San Francisco, California USA

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The Golden Gate is a California suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate Strait which is the junction between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, linking the city of San Francisco (northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula) to the city of Sausalito (southern tip of County of Marin). Its construction took four years (1933-1937). Recognized worldwide for its orange color and the architecture of its two towers, is the most famous landmark of San Francisco. It was Joseph Strauss, German-born engineer, the director with a group of specialists. It was inaugurated on May 27th, 1937 with a ‘pedestrian day’ where thousands of people turned out for the occasion. It has 30 meters wide, six lanes open to traffic and two alleys for pedestrians on each side. They are currently working to put the bridge with safety standards in an earthquake because the area is known to be on two quite dangerous faults. The bridge is thus gradually renovated, so much so that the original steel will eventually disappear completely. The real challenge is that no one has to realize this work.

Tips

You can visit the Golden Gate Center open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 except on Christmas and Thanksgiving Action.
It is convenient to reach it by public transportation or by bike because it’s difficult to find parking.
You can cross the bridge on foot or by bicycle, but only during the day, access is completely closed at 18.30.
It is best to get information about how to pay the toll on their website before you go.

Chania, Crete, Greece

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Chania, located on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete, is a city known for its narrow streets, 14th century Venetian harbor, seafront full of restaurants and bars and beautiful beaches. It is the second largest city on the island and is very touristy. You will find several monuments with Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman influences and many of its history can be found in the museums of the city. Many old buildings have been restored and today they are hotels, restaurants, taverns or tourist shops. Among its most famous beaches, you will find Elafonissi (pink sand); Platanias, Agia Marina, Maleme, Falassarna and Kastelli. To see: the Old Port with its lighthouse, the mosque of Janissaires; the Splantzia district (behind the harbor); the Greek Orthodox Cathedral (1860); the Roman Catholic Cathedral; the Topanas District Synagogue; the Market Hall (1913); the archaeological museum; the Marine Museum, among others.

Tips

If you can, avoid going on vacation during the big tourist season of July-August because there are a lot of people and the beaches are very busy.

Before you venture out to the beaches, be sure to check in, especially if you are driving because the roads are not at all good and you can also go there with ferries or public buses.

Some of its beaches are completely wild without any service so if you are going to spend the day, do not forget to provide drinking water and food, a parasol and all that you deem necessary to spend a beautiful day in full nature.

There is also the possibility of making several excursions with local operators.

If you want to go to Athens, there are ferries that depart daily from Souda port.

Sleep in a bivouac, Sahara desert, Morocco

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The ‘bivouac’ is still a kind of accommodation for many nomadic people in the world. This set of several “Khima” (nomad tents) offers today a pretty convenient way of accommodation for lovers of the desert. In Morocco, it exists several ones that welcome tourists for a unique experience. Today we refer to a bivouac in the Sahara that was reached by us from Zagora. The tour is usually organized with a dromedary ride that takes around an hour and a half or two hours. When you get to the set of nomadic tents, the Berbers (people) welcome you to their home with mint tea and homemade biscuits. They will show you the tents that are well equipped with electricity and shower service and toilets that are normally outside the tents. There is a very large tent which is the dining room and around it all other tents align making a rectangular space in the middle. You will have a typical meal ‘tagine’ with fruit and local pastries. After the meal, life goes around the campfire with autochtonous entertainment, songs and dance await you as you watch a black sky crowded with stars and even smooth-flowing stars that will take your breath away. You go to bed with the idea of watching the sunrise the next day so you must be prepared to go up the big dune around 5:30 AM; it is really worth it!!! In short, an experience to be lived at least once in life …

Tips

If you do not want to make the trip by dromedary, you can also go in a 4×4 truck.
If you do not do the organized tour, you can take the package with one of the agencies on the desert road. It’s better to make a reservation in the morning.
You can bring a small suitcase or a backpack for your overnight in the bivouac especially if you go by dromedary, so take what is really necessary. Do not forget to bring a coat or jacket a little warmer cause the night temperature goes down a little. In the tent it is not cold.