Author: rose

Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

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Poas Volcano is a stratovolcano in Costa Rica. Very active, he has known at least 39 eruptive episodes since 1828. It is currently experiencing moderate activity. Located 37 km northwest of the capital San José, this volcano culminates at 2,708 m altitude. It is integrated into the Poas Volcano National Park. Its main crater hosts an acidic lake which regularly produces toxic sulphurous steams. It presents several eroded calderas, volcanic cones and three craters aligned, which contain crater lakes. The main crater is about two kilometers in diameter and is 300 metres deep. The green waters of the lake that occupies the bottom (Laguna Caliente) are highly acidic sulfur and hot (up to 85 ° C). You can also see the fumaroles of sulphide in the internal slopes of the crater. On the other hand, the other crater has had its last eruption there are 7,500 years. It is called Botos and its lake has cold water (Laguna Botos) which is connected with the river Angel. Until the volcano became a national park, people went there to fill glass bottles with acidic water from the crater, and they sold it in pharmacies to relieve muscle aches and also to put it in the hole of a cavity to cause the tooth to fall or it was also used to burn the warts, and to treat wounds.

Tips

The Poas is very often covered by clouds so before going there, ask for the weather conditions. And of course, you must be at the gate at the opening (8 h 00) because the clouds come down quickly.
It is almost 1 hour from San José and its access is easy. If you go by car, the parking is near the crater and you must walk a hundreds meters through a paved driveway.
Another option is to take a half-day trip from San José. There is a regular bus to get there. The ticket costs nearly nothing and the entrance to the park is approximately $10.00.
If the weather is good, take a walk to the Botos Lake and its forest of altitude at 2,400 metres, it’s worth it.

St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert, Prague, Czech Republic

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St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert is located in Prague, the Czech Republic and is the seat of the archbishop of the city. It is the biggest and most important church in the country, located within the Prague Castle. Henry the Fowler offered to the Duke Wenceslas 1 a relic of Saint Vit around the year 925 and to house it, the Duke Wenceslas built a church on a place of pagan site dedicated to the goddess of mythology Slavic life (Siwa). In 973 the church was chosen as the seat of bishopric and in 1060, a Roman basilica is raised instead. Through the centuries, the original church took the form of what is now a mainly Gothic church. St. Wenceslas Chapel contains the tomb of the saint, it is adorned with murals on the top, representing the saint’s life and in the lower part there are semiprecious stones. The crown jewels are locked in the chapel. There is also the burial crypt of Czech kings, which contains the tombs of Charles IV, Wenceslas IV and Rodolphe II. St. John of Nepomuk has a tomb in silver. The windows date mostly from XX century. Zygmunt Bell (the biggest Czech bell, 1548) is in the south tower. There is also a carved monumental cross, in wood, dating from 1899.

Tips

Do not leave without climbing the south tower from where you can have a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Guided tours in the cathedral are organized by the Administration of Prague Castle but you can not just buy the visit to the Cathedral, this visit will be included by purchasing one of two tours offered. Tickets are on sale in the Information Center. There are discounts for children and adolescents under 16, seniors 65 and over and families.

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.