Author: rose

Pastrana, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

rose Leave a comment

Pastrana is a village and municipality in the south of Guadalajara province, autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, at 95 km from Madrid. It is the capital of the region of La Alcarria. The city was important in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. There are still a few presences of the medieval city. We find the Ducal Palace, where the Princess of Eboli lived, an important figure in the history of the place, now owned by the University of Alcalá. You can also find the convents founded by Saint Teresa of Jesus, the tapestries of Alfonso V, the Collegiate Church with its Baroque altars, statues and shields, the fountain of four Sewers (1588), Dean Square with its historic buildings that remember the grandeur of the past, the street of the Palm, with its palaces: of the Inquisition, Burgos, knights of Calatrava and the synagogue, among others.

Tips

St Joseph’s Convent, founded by St Teresa, is part of St Teresa’s traces a route of culture and tourism pilgrimage which brings together the 17 cities where St Teresa has left foundations or “traces”. The road is not in an established order or time because every pilgrim can do it when he wants and in the order he wishes.
If you visit the city in January, you can participate in two festivals, the 17th is the day of St. Anton and the 20th is the day of Saint Sebastian, you’ll find songs, processions and typical food. At Easter, you will find similar festivities. The day of St Teresa, October 15th, is also celebrated.

Invalid Displayed Gallery

Ko Tao, Thailand

rose Leave a comment
Ko Tao or Koh Tao is an island in Thailand located on the West coast of the Gulf of Thailand, between the provinces of Chumphon and Surat Thani. It covers an area of 21 km². The primary institution and the main port of the island, is Ban Mae Hat.
Its name derives from ‘Turtle’; many turtles which until a few years ago spawned on its quiet beaches and the curious shape of the island also itself. With most of Ko Samui and Ko Phangan and other smaller islands, forms the Mu Ko Samui archipelago.
The island‘s economy is almost entirely focused on tourism. Ko Tao is indeed known amateurs of diving everywhere in the world for many schools and sport clubs that allow you to get easily the ‘Open Water Diver’ diving certificate. Tourist guides announce the bottom of shallow seas, transparent waters and fascinating coral reefs of the island as an ideal for the practice of diving sport for beginners. The interior of the island is full of wild and lush greenery. The climate is pleasant throughout the year and the beaches are heavenly, the most famous are Sairee and the quieter than others Chalok, Mango Bay and Ao Leuk.
 
 
Tips
 
 
If you want to follow the course of diving and the certificate, as a beginner or as master of diving: there are many centers and many courses because it is cheap, then look at standard tourist packages that are very practical and cheap but be careful, cheap hotels are not recommended!
To move on the island the more convenient is the moto with mountain wheels if possible, because roads are not well paved, or aren’t at all.
If you like fireworks, there are on almost all beaches in the evening.
 

Invalid Displayed Gallery

The Forbidden City, Beijing, China

rose Leave a comment

The Forbidden City, or Palace Museum (the former Palace for Chinese), is the imperial palace in the center of the Beijing Imperial City whose construction was ordered by Yongle, third emperor of the Ming Dynasty; conducted between 1406 and 1420. The palace covers 72 hectares including 50 hectares of gardens and is one of the best preserved in China. Abroad, its name Forbidden City is the most common because as it was the residence of Chinese emperors and their families and servants, the public could not enter. It was like a real city and they only came out of the enclosure in very rare occasions. The palace has a wall 10 meters high and 6 meters wide, surrounded by a moat, which is accessed by four doors; being Wumen the most important because it is a central building with two floors and nine intercolumniations front. 24 emperors lived there. The palace has a courtyard and an outdoor with a lazy river. The city was opened to the public in 1924 and today is one of the most visited places in China and it houses the Old Palace; the largest museum of China and is a World Heritage Site since 1987, it has had many renovations and work continues.

Tips

You can get there by subway.
The Forbidden City was protected from mass trade so you will find just arranged spaces for the sale of souvenirs and light snacks. You can also plan to do a picnic.
There are many free exhibitions and other paid ones so depending on what you want to see, you must calculate to visit it for a half day or a full day. It’s better to inform you before not to be disappointed because it is very large and there are always too many people.

Invalid Displayed Gallery