torviscas beach - tenerife

El Bullullo (La Orotava)
This is a clean, very nice man-made beach that is located east of Puerto de la Cruz. There is a nice place to get drinks here and the waves are great.
It is an open black sand beach. It can be reached by dirt track road or by bus 374.

Playa San Marcos
In the district of Icod de los Vinos, in the north of Tenerife, the small San Marcos beach has a family-friendly atmosphere, especially during summer, with loads of fine, volcanic sand.
Swimming conditions are excellent thanks to the shell-like shape of the beach, which protects it from the pounding waves.

Playa Del Roque
Its sand is dark and more abundant during low tide periods; suitable for practising surf, may become dangerous due to frequent currents and sudden swells, despite the apparent good condition of the sea.
There are some open-air cafés and fish restaurants by the beach.

Tenerife

Climate
Tenerife is known internationally as the “Island of Eternal Spring” (Isla de la Eterna Primavera). The island, being on a latitude of the Sahara Desert, enjoys a warm climate year-round with an average of 20° – 22°C in the winter and 26° – 28°C in the summer and high sunshine totals. The moderate climate of Tenerife is controlled to a great extent by the tradewinds, whose humidity, principally, is condensed over the north and northeast of the island, creating cloud banks that range between 600 and 1,800 meters in height. The cold sea currents of the Canary Islands, also have a cooling effect on the coasts and its beaches and the topography of the landscape plays a role in climatic differences on the island with its many valleys.
The average temperatures, however, can fluctuate between 17-18°C and 24-25°C in the winter season. Evidently there are climatic contrasts which do occur on the island, particularly during the winter months when it is possible to enjoy the warm sunshine on the coast and experience snow within just miles, 3000 metres above sea level on Teide. There is also a contrast in climate between different parts of the island at a lower altitude, even in proximity, notably between the cities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Santa Cruz generally experiences a warm climate throughout the year with temperatures noticeably greater than at the bordering La Laguna, where frequently it is colder with a greater chance of rainfall.

tenerife - spain

The north and the south of Tenerife similarly have different climatic characteristics. The windward side of the island receives 73% of all precipitation on the island, and the relative humidity of the air is superior and the insolation inferior. The pluviometric maximums are registered on the windward side at an average altitude of between 1.000-1.200 ms, almost exclusively in the La Orotava mountain range. However, although climatic differences in rainfall and sunshine on the island exist, overall annual precipitation is very low with some of the summer months often not receiving any days of rainfall. In June and July in particular it is rare to receive any. The wettest season is during the winter, but in December, for instance, an average of five days of rainfall can be expected, and even this is partly attributed to snowfall on Teide.

Temperature for Tenerife

Temperature in Tenerife

Water
The volcanic ground of Tenerife, which is of a porous and permeable character, is generally the reason why the soil is able to maximise the absorption of water on an island of low rainfall, with condensation in forested areas and frost deposition on the summit of the island also contributory causes.
Given the irregularity of precipitation and geological conditions on the island, dam construction has been avoided, so most of the water (90%) comes from wells and from water galleries (Horizontal tunnels bored into the volcano) of which there are thousands on the island, important systems that serve to extract its hydrological resources.

Airports
Tenerife is most easily reached by air. There are two airports: Reina Sofia, in the south, and Tenerife North Airport, also called Los Rodeos, near Santa Cruz. Each has flights to the capitals of the other islands and to cities throughout Europe, as well as to Caracas, Dakar, and Miami. Overall, Tenerife has the highest annual passenger count and the greatest number of aarrivals, made more popular by the frequency of cheap flights from many European destinations. Tenerife North Airport was the site of the deadliest accident in aviation history: in 1977 two Boeing 747s collided on a runway, killing 583 people.

tenerife - spain - 2

Buses (Guaguas)
Tenerife has an extensive system of buses, which are called guaguas in the Canary Islands. The bus system is used both within the cities and also connects most of the towns and cities of the island. There are bus stations in all of the major towns, such as the Intercambiador de Transportes de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Tramway
In 2007 Metropolitano de Tenerife founded Tranvía de Tenerife, a tramway that connects the cities of Santa Cruz and La Laguna with the suburb of Taco. There are 20 stops and it covers a distance of 12.5 km (7.67 miles) in 37 minutes. It calls at some points of interest including Tenerife’s two major hospitals, the university complex of Guajara, and a number of museums and theatres. Concerning its power supply, it will support development of further wind farms to provide it with 100% clean energy

Rent a car in Tenerife

Usefull links:
http://www.tenerifecar.net/
http://rentacar.canarias.com/car_hire.html

Map of Tenerife:

map of tenerife

It is considered one of the most beautifull islands of europe.

National Geographic experts cannot be wrong – recently the Isle of Skye has been voted the 4th best island in the world by 650 professional travel specialists.

The isle of skye

The reasons it has been rated so high are clear. The wild landscape of Skye, the second largest island in Scotland, is dramatic, vibrant and breathtaking. The inland mountains, cliffs, inlets and endless beaches create spectacular scenery capable of amazing even those thick-skinned urban enthusiasts insensitive to the nature’s charm.

Wildlife abounds on the Island, with birds from the tiny Goldcrest to magnificent Golden Eagle, mammals from Pygmy Shrew to Red Deer and fish from Saithe to Salmon. If you are lucky you might catch sight of the elusive Otter playing on the shore. The wide range of geology and topography provides habitats for many wild flowers.

As you travel around the Island it’s not unusual to hear snatches of Scottish Gaelic, the indigenous language of the area. Gaelic culture and heritage pervade the atmosphere, each part of the Island having its own tales of times past and plans for the future.

Cortina d'ampezzo

Cortina is situated more or less to the center of the Ampezzana valley, encircled nearly completely on four sides by the high Dolomites. Originally it was composed of numerous frazioni, isolated villages and hamlets, but with the advent of the tourism it grew rapidly from the 1950s. Only the furthest villages and hamlets in the commune have remained secluded and isolated from the main town, which today is known for its shopping. Cortina is home to some of the most prestigious names in fashion including Bulgari, Benetton, Gucci and Geox and various artisan shops, antiquarians, and craft stores. It is also home to many stores which specialize in mountaineering equipment.

In the winter, Cortina is an endless source of activities and fun.
The Cortina Ski World, in one of the most beautiful settings in the Alps, offers a total of 120 kilometers of ski trails and 52 lifts, all of which are inserted into the grand Dolomiti Superski circuit. Naturally, there are also many possibilities to enjoy other winter sports: cross country skiing, Alpine skiing, off track skiing, telemarking, excursions with “snow shoes”, even paired up with a descent on a sled.
In the Olympic Ice Stadium of Cortina, you can ice skate, play hockey and curling, and practice many other winter sports. With the professionals at the Cortina Adrenaline Center, thrills and chills are available to everyone: taxi-bob, snow rafting, crazy sledge; the Alpine Guide Group of Cortina organizes extreme skiing excursions along the steep slopes of the Dolomites.
All year long, Cortina is home to big events, sports-related and otherwise:
• January – World Cup Women’s Skiing: Super G, downhill and giant slalom races.
• February – Gran Fondo Dobbiaco-Cortina: an international cross country skiing 42 kilometer race from Dobbiaco to Cortina.
• July – Cortina-Dobbiaco: an international 42 km mountain bike race.
• September – the Dolomites Gold Cup: an international race for vintage cars.

official website of Cortina d’Ampezzo is: http://www.cortina.dolomiti.com/

Mont Blanc

Elevation
The summit of Mont Blanc is a thick, perennial ice and snow dome whose thickness varies, so no exact and permanent summit elevation can be determined. But accurate measurements have been made. For a long time its official elevation was 4,807 m (15,770 ft). Then in 2002, the IGN and expert surveyors, with the aid of GPS technology, measured it to be 4,810.40 m (15,782 ft 2 in).

Panorama Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc

Protection
The Mont Blanc massif is being put forward as a potential World Heritage Site because of its uniqueness and its cultural importance, considered the birthplace and symbol of modern mountaineering. However not everyone shares this goal and it would require the three governments of Italy, France and Switzerland to make a request to UNESCO for it to be listed.
Mont Blanc is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world, and for this reason, it is threatened. Pro-Mont Blanc (an international collective of associations for the protection of Mont Blanc) published in 2002 the book Le versant noir du mont Blanc (The black hillside of Mont Blanc), which exposes current and future problems in conserving the site.
In 2007, Europe’s highest outhouses (two) were helicoptered to the top of France’s Mont Blanc at a height of 4,260 metres (13,976 feet). The dunny-cans are emptied by helicopter. The facilities will service 30,000 skiers and hikers annually; thus helping to alleviate the deposit of urine and feces that spread down the mountain face with the spring thaw, and turned it into ‘Mont Noir’.

History

Peles Castle - winter view

Peles Castle

Peles Castle

peles castle

The castle was featured in the 2009 film release The Brothers Bloom. The exterior of the castle is used to represent a large estate in New Jersey, the home of the eccentric billionaire Penelope played by Rachel Weisz.

Description
The first architect was the Viennese Carl Wilhelm von Doderer (1825-1900) and then German Johannes Schultz (1876-1883). Later additions were made between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who added designed the towers, including the main central tower, 66 m in height.
By form and function, Peleş, is truly a palace but affectionately and consistently called a castle instead, by all. Its architectural style is a Neo-Renaissance of romantic inspiration that can find a corespondent in 19th century ideals with the monumental Gothic Revival of Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, ironically called a castle as well. A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades that have rich and ornated fachwerk similar to northern Europe alpine architecture and allegorical hand painted murals. Interior decoration is mostly a Baroque influence with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics.
Peleş Castle has 3200 sq. meters of floor plan, over 170 rooms,30 bathrooms, many with dedicated themes from world cultures (in similar fashion with other Romanian palaces, like Cotroceni Palace for example), themes that can vary by function (offices, libraries, armouries, art galleries) or by style (Florentine, Turkish, Moorish, French, Imperial) all extremely lavishly furnished and decorated to the slightest detail. The establishment hosts one of the finest collections of art in East and Central Europe, consisting of statues, paintings, furniture, arms and armour, gold, silver, stained glass, ivory, fine china, tapestries and rugs; the collection of arms and armour has over 4000 pieces, divided between Eastern and Western war, ceremonial or hunting spreading over four centuries in history. Oriental rugs come from the finest sources: Bukhara, Mosul, Isparta, Saruk and Smirna, porcelain from Sevres and Meissen, leather from Córdoba but perhaps the most acclaimed are the hand painted stained glass vitralios, mostly Swiss .
A towering statue of King Carol I by Raffaello Romanelli overlooks the main entrance but many other statues are present on the seven Italian neo-Renaissance terrace gardens, mostly of Carrara marble executed by the Italian sculptor Romanelli. The gardens also host fountains, urns, stairways, guarding lions, marble paths and other decorative pieces.

Peleş Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable[citation needed] painting collections in Europe, almost 2,000 pieces. An interesting account about Peleş Castle remains the one that comes from Angelo de Gubernatis (1840-1913), an Italian writer who arrived in 1898 in Sinaia as a guest of the Royal Family:
Inaugurated in 1883, Peleş Castle is not only a pleasant place during summer time; it has been conceived to be also a national monument, meant to keep the trophies of the Plevna victory, which explains the simple but majestic style. The castle’s courtyard – Bramantes type – with a fountain in the middle, in the most accurate Renaissance style, pleasantly surprises the visitor. The courtyard has a merry decoration, made out of plants and flowers; all round, the building’s facades are animated by elegant drawings. The interior of the castle is a true wonder, due to the beauty and richness of the sculpted wood and the stained glass windows. As you get in the vestibule, you are on the Honor Staircase, in front of the most important rulers of old Romania: Holy Stephen the Great, and Michael the Brave. In a proud attitude, wearing whether a fur cap or with the gold crown on their heads, they impress through the brilliant dressing, in which the white of ermine blends with the emerald green or the red of the large mantle. On the right and on left side of the two rulers, as servant knights, four shield bearers carry the Romanian Provinces escutcheons. Inside the Queen’s library, over the groups of children symbolizing poetry and science, there is the image of Ulfilas (311-383 a.d.) a Goth religious ruler, from the northern side of Danube River, translating the Bible in their language and bringing his contribution in spreading Christianity, a Christian apostle of the Romans, and the image of Dante Alighieri, the creator of western poetry. Passing the library and getting into the dormitory, we will meet the image of Genies and Allegories of Painting and Music, as well as a series of legendary themes. Inside the apartments reserved for the honor guests, a number of coat-of-arms were shining through their heraldic abundance, speaking about the ancestors of the Royal Family. But among all, the glass paintings from the Peleş Castle are, beyond any doubt, the most profound and shining. Here, the subjects are taken out of Alecsandri’s poetry.

Location
Northwest of the town of Sinaia, 60 km from Braşov and 135 km away from Bucharest, Romania’s capital. Nested in the south-eastern Carpathian Mountains, the complex is composed of three monuments: Peleş Castle, Pelişor Chateau and Foisor Hunting Chateau.

The Ischgl-Samnaun skiing area always achieves top marks in Europe-wide tests and the Silvretta Arena is regularly voted one of the top ten skiing areas. The excellent international reputation of Austria’s most famous winter resort is not left to chance – there are many important reasons for choosing an exciting skiing holiday in Ischgl, the top ‘lifestyle metropolis’.

ischgl ski run

The first reason is the guaranteed snow. You can carve your turns on the slopes the Ischgl-Samnaun skiing area from early December to the end of April. The slope conditions are, of course, perfect – after all, countless helpers work on Ischgl’s mountains every night, using the latest technology. Even in winters with little snow, you are guaranteed to ski since the snowmaking machines in Ischgl are some of the best and most reliable in the world.

Total length of ski-run is about 235 km, 38 km are low difficulty , 132 km are meddium difficulty, 45 km are high difficulty and 20 km are ski-route.
Visitors from all over the world are thrilled by the variety of slopes in Ischgl. The wide runs make for many hours of first-class winter entertainment on skis in Ischgl. There are more than enough slopes to suit every level of ability, all offering top conditions when it comes to maintenance and safety. Of course, snowboarders get their money’s worth too with the fun park and runs.
Another key reason for Ischgl’s first-class reputation worldwide is the ultramodern lift and cable-car system. Queuing is almost a thing of the past, thanks to the high transport capacity of the lifts and cable cars. The individual lifts also offer a high level of comfort and countless extras, such as heated seats in the new cable car.

map of ischgl

Strokkur Geyser - South Iceland

Mainly attractions of Iceland are naturalistic and natural, it has a spectacular dramatic landscape born from volcanic eruptions and carved out by glaciers, Iceland offers striking landscapes, young lava fields, roaring waterfalls, majestic glacial ice-caps, whale watching, bird watching.

Strokur Geyser - South Iceland

One of the most attractive place is Blue Lagoon, a unique natural pool of geothermal seawater (37-39°C) in the middle of a moss-covered lava field.

blue lagoon - iceland

Midnight sun is another attraction, in the month of June the sun never fully sets in the north. There are even special excursions to the island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle where you can experience the midnight sun. Aurora borealis is another Icelandic nature show, during the winter nights, the northern lights are often visible in Iceland.

Aurora borealis (Northern lights)

Thingvellir (site of the oldest parliament in the world), Gullfoss (Europe’s largest waterfall) and Geysir (the one for whom geysers around the world are named). Vatnajökull in Southeast Iceland is the largest of the glacier caps in Europe.

Gullfos - Iceland

more details http://www.icetourist.is

The island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus (Ciphalis), although some hold its name literally means “island with a head”, referring to the island’s shape; the name “Ciphalis” is derived from the Greek word for “head”.

kefalonia

The capital of the Kefalonia prefecture is Argostoli. The island’s population is nearly 45,000; it previously was home to the fastest growing population in Greece, with a growth rate of 35% to 40% during the 1990s. It was officially 36,404 at the census of 2001. The size of the island is ca. 800 km² (300 mi²), and the present population density is 55 people per km² (140/mi²), with Argostoli home to one-third of the island’s habitants. Lixouri is the second major settlement, and the two towns together account for almost two-thirds of the prefecture’s population.

Kefalonia is located in the heart of an earthquake zone, and dozens of minor or unrecorded tremors occur each year. In 1953, a massive earthquake almost destroyed settlement on the island, leaving only Fiscardo in the north untouched.

Harbours and ports

There are five harbours and ports in the prefecture: four main harbours on the island, Same or Sami, and a major port with links to Patras and Ithaca. Poros, in the south, has ferry routes to Kyllini; Argostoli, in the west, is the largest port, for local boats and ferries to Zante and regularly to Lixouri; Fiscardo, in the north, has links to Lefkas and Ithaca. There is room for about 100 small boats in Argostoli, where the port stretches 1 kilometre around the bay, while Lixouri is situated 4 km across the bay from Argostoli, on the Lixouri peninsula. There is a road connection to the rest of the island, but driving from Lixouri to Argostoli involves a 30 km detour.

Towns

Since 1997 the island is divided into 8 communities or towns. These are:

Flights:

Kefalonia can be reached by plane from many international airports via Athens. Daily flights are effectuated to and from Athens and the flight time is about 45 minutes.

kefalonia

There are also some charter flights from and to European cities in summer.

Ferries

Being one of the top three destinations of the Ionian Islands, the island of Kefalonia is linked with various ports.

Daily ferries connect the harbour of Patras, in the centre of Greece, to Sami, 22 km to the east of Argostoli, and the trip takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. There are also ferries from Killini, on the western Pelopenessian coast, to Argostoli (4 hours), Poros (1 hour and 30 minutes) and Lixuri (2 hours and 30 minutes).

There aren’t ferries to connect directly Kefalonia to Piraeus.

Kefalonia ferries also offer regular connections to Patras, Ithaca and Corfu as well as to some harbours of Italy (Venice, Ancona, Bari, Brindisi).

Moreover, there are ferries connecting Kefalonia to the Ionian islands of Lefkada and Ithaca. These ferries are handled directly by:
NAUTILUS TRAVEL, Fiscardo Kefalonia
tel. (+30) 26740 41440/ fax. (+30) 26740 41471

If you want to see the schedules of the two ferries of Nautilus Travel that run the itineraries between Ithaca, Kefalonia and Lefkada click here http://www.greeka.com/ionian/kefalonia/island/kefalonia-nautilus-schedule.htm

Airport

The Kefalonia airport is situated in the area of Minies, about 9 kilometres from Argostoli, the capital of the island. It receives domestic flights from Athens and some charter flights in summer. The flight from Athens takes about 45 minutes.

The transfer time between the airport and the capital is only a few minutes by car. No public buses are available from or to the airport but cars can be rented there to help you explore the island. Taxis also wait outside the terminal to serve the visitors.

map of kefalonia

Buses
The network of roads of Kefalonia is of quite good quality and covers the entire island. Regular buses are available for numerous destinations.

The central station is located in Argostoli, the capital of Kefalonia, nearby the bridge of Trapano.

The daily buses leave from the town of Argostoli and serve : Fanari- Minia- Svoronata- Domata- Kaligata- Sarlata- Kourkoumelata- Metaxata- Lakithra- Spilie- Kombothekrata- Peratata- Moussata- Vlahata- Lourdata- Simotata- Platies- Valriano- Hionata- Mavrata- Kato Katelios- Markopoulo- Ratzakli- Skala- Poros- Razata- Sami- Poulata- Haliotata- Karavomilos- Agia Evfimia- Makriotika- Ferendinata- Potamianata- Divarata- Assos- Messovounia- Markoulata- Fiskardo- Vari- Plagia- Karia- Komitata- Patrikata- Neohorio- Karavados- Pessada- Keramies- Spartia- Lixouri- Mihalitsata- Vouns- Mantzavinata- Havriata- Havdata- Favetata- Kaminarata- Damoulianata- Agios Vassilios- Skinea- Loukerata- Kouvalata- Agios Dimitrios- Kontogenada- Atheras- Valsamata- Mihata- Epanohorio- Faraklata- Dilinata- Davgata.

Taxis
The taxi centre is located in the capital of Kefalonia, Argostoli, nearby the central square called Plateia Valianou. Rates are given by metre but, for popular destinations, there is usually a standard rate given by the driver.

A Radio Taxi service is also available at this telephone number: 226710 28545.

The city is well known for its sporting opportunities, especially alpine sports, as it is located in the Alps and surrounded by mountains. Several ski resorts are situated inside the city territory or within short distance.

innsbruck

The Climate

Innsbruck’s fair distance from the coast and altitude lead to a continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy; summers are generally warm, with highly variable weather. Hot and dry days, with temperatures hitting 30°C, are quite common; but can be followed by a cool and rainy spell, with temperatures only around 17°C in the day. Be warned, however, at any time, summer nights are cool and temperature often drop quickly after sunset, sometimes falling below 10°C in early morning.

How can you get in Innsbruck

With the plane: there are  regular scheduled flights available from Amsterdam, Antwerpen, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Graz, Hannover, London, Rotterdam, Vienna.

The Munich Airport, 2.5 hours away, is another alternative. There are vans that will meet you at the Munich Airport and take you directly to your lodging in or around Innsbruck for the price of a comparable train ticket.

By train

Despite being a smaller city Innsbruck has fantastic train connections to all major cities in its neighborhood. The main station, Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, is located at Südtiroler Platz (South-tyrolean square) in the east of the city center. In addition there are several stations which serve suburban and regional train connections.

By car

Innsbruck is reachable through both of Tyrol’s motorways: Inntalautobahn (A 12) and Brennerautobahn (A 13).

By Public Transport

Public local traffic (buses, trams) is operated by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe and a couple of private operators. All public services are organized in Verkehrsverbund Tirol , which means that tickets are valid in every public transport line (including buses, trams and trains). Only recently new tram vehicles have been acquired which go into service in March 2008. A major extension of the tram network is planned and will be carried out in the following years.

Visitors should be aware that there sometimes are bus lines that split up into different destinations (the bus line O, for example), and so it’s important to pay attention to the destination displays (outside and inside) and the spoken announcements. Tickets are 1.70 euro in the city fare zone, which you can pay to the driver. Regardless of the door you enter, go to the driver and pay, exact change not necessary. Daily tickets are 4.00 euro and weekly ticket 12.30. Buy these from the machines at some bus and tram stops (just outside of Hauptbahnhof/main station for instance) or at a tobacco shop. You must validate the ticket when you get on your first bus or tram.

The special bus line “TS” (”The Sightseer” connects the major sights like Schloß Ambras, Bergisel and Alpenzoo to downtown. However special fares apply for this line

Two tram lines also go to villages in the neighborhood of Innsbruck. Tram line 6 connects Innsbruck and the mountain village Igls, which is worth a visit. The line goes through mountains and woods and provides some nice views for travelers. Igls lies within the city fare zone, so no additional ticket is needed. Tram line STB is 18 kilometers long and connects Innsbruck with several villages in the Stubaital valley.

To be noticed

The Innsbruck-Card offers free entrance to all of Innsbruck’s sights, free use of public transportation (including the TS line). It also includes a one-time ascent&descent to Nordkette, Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum and free entrance to Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens. The Innsbruck-Card is valid for 24/48/72 hours and can be purchased at Innsbruck Information (Burggraben 3), the TI in Hauptbahnhof, and several museums and tourist offices. Tip: The Innsbruck card is pretty expensive, 25/30/35 euro for 1/2/3 day cards. And daily or weekly public transport cards are cheap – the “all inclusive” sales pitch is alluring to disoriented travelers, but make sure the discounts are worth the initial price. If you are not seeing these major entrance-fee sites, remember that you may buy more than one daily card at a time, as the 24 hours only starts once validated. Be sure to compare with the price of a weekly ticket too.

The bus line Sightseer (TS) connects the major sights in Innsbruck. However it there is always a cheaper public transport line going to the same destination, though it might take you more time.

You can download all details about Innsbruck Card from here Download all details about Innsbruck Card
Details about Innsbruck Card you can find here See details

Source: http://wikitravel.org/