Tag Archives: History

One of England’s Most Historic Cities: Top Reasons To Visit York

Shopping is one of the top reasons to visit York

If you haven’t yet explored the entirety of England, then these top reasons to visit York might just help you complete your journey. York is situated in the north of Yorkshire and it has been deemed as a vibrant city, a fact which draws a great deal of tourists more and more each year.

For those who have a passion for delving into the olden times, the city’s rich history is probably one of the top reasons to visit York and one of the more interesting ones in England. A lot of tourists come from homes that places like AnyWeather Roofing LLC help to construct, which are beautiful and well built, but they often lack the historical component that is so intriguing to many of us. York showcases the biggest medieval cathedral in northern Europe and it also takes pride in Clifford’s Tower, which is one of the major attractions in this city. Also, to have the best possible experience with York’s abundant historical assets, you can visit the York Dungeons, which are run by Merlin Entertainments Group . With the Dungeon’s interactive presentations and complex exhibits, adults and children alike can enjoy while learning at the same time about the in-depth past of the city of York.

With many affordable trains available for travelling in the United Kingdom, tourists won’t find it difficult to explore York. Several connecting rides are obtainable from different locations, thus choosing your trip by rail will allow you to appreciate better the captivating scenery of York along the way.

Another of the top reasons to visit York is its museums. York possesses a huge number of museums within its borders, ranging from the York Castle Museum to the Yorkshire Museum. Any of these museums will satisfy the complex tastes of true culture buffs. If you happen to tour by train, you can also drop by the National Railway Museum for a fast peek.

If shopping is your greatest love, you will never be dismayed from the moment you set foot in York. Apart from the conventional shopping markets which are situated within the city, long-established roads such as the Shambles are still present. The Shambles was formerly the spot of 25 butcher’s shops and at present, it already contains a great deal of gift shops and more fresh additions of restaurants and cafes, many of which count among the top reasons to visit York.

18 Nov 2014

Visiting The Top Tourist Attractions In Yemen

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Many people visit Yemen to see its top tourist attractions every year. Situated at the South-bend of the Arabian Peninsula in South West Asia, Yemen is a part of the countries of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is on its north, Oman to the East, and Red sea to the West. Yemen has more than 200 islands it takes pride of. One of them is Socotra – the largest among Yemen Islands just 415 km off the coast of Somalia. It is the sole republic of the Arabian Peninsula.

Socotra Island has a very diverse flora and fauna that can only be seen in the island. Only here will you see a flesh-eating centipede and countless varieties of reptiles and birds. A must-see sight here is the Dragon’s Blood trees.

The capital of the Republic of Yemen is Sana’a. This city is a second century city listed among the World Heritage sites by UNESCO. If you are in Yemen, you will feel like you are in a biblical era because men and women here still wear traditional clothes and houses are made of rammed earth and look like pictures of biblical or Koran houses hence, including it in the top tourist attractions in Yemen.

Shibam is another notable city to visit due to its amazing landscape holding numerous tourists around the year. A majestic group of clay and stone as well as wood buildings is its main attraction. Shibam is also fondly called as the Manhattan of the Desert and is considered to be the first city of skyscraper buildings in the whole world with some structures having a height of eight stories. Though this is not an archaeological site, Shibam is a living city.

Wadi Dhahr is also an ought-to-see valley abundant with vegetables and fruits. In 1930’s, Imam Yahya’s palace was erected here on top of a high rock that is why it’s called the Rock Palace or the Dar Al Hajar.

Aden City is a magnificent city which is among the top tourist attractions in Yemen. It is where Aden Museum is situated. It is also always visited by tourists because of its fun-filled water parks, lagoons, and bird watching activities. There are also a number of beautiful hotels and resorts here which are perfect places for leisure and unwinding.

There are just a lot more top tourist attractions in Yemen to experience. For souvenir hunting, visit Kawbakan City and Souk of Beit Al-Faqih. The Shihara Suspended Bridge is a 17th century bridge and its Sunday Market is popular to tourists. The Rock Art of Sa’da has ancient drawings and texts that were written by nomadic tribes which date back about 4,500 years ago.

24 Jun 2014

Fun in the Sun during your Corfu Holiday

A Corfu holiday should include a day on isolated beaches like these ones!

Corfu is a beautiful Greek island cast out into the Ionian Sea, close to the coast of Turkey. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and for good reason too – one glimpse at those lush hillsides, dense forests and sparkling blue seas and it’s clear to see how it got its name.

Like its neighbouring islands, Corfu has a fascinating story to tell and is peppered with ancient ruins. Its history is smattered with battles and conquests which span the last several centuries, and its legacy survives in the form of crumbling walls and fallen temples, towering fortifications and echoing castles. Wander among the remains and learn about the Ancient Greece lifestyle, the advances of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish sieges, and even the Napoleonic Wars.

It’s fair to say that if you’ve got a Corfu holiday on the agenda, you’ll never be short of fascinating things to see, do and experience. But of course, a trip to this beautiful island offers so much more than a history lesson – something that the kids will be happy to know!

Today, a Corfu holiday take many different forms. Check out a tour operator like Thomas Cook holidays to get an idea of the different types of package holidays available. You can enjoy family fun in the sun on one of its beautiful beaches, a day’s shopping trip in its incredible capital city, or pick up the tempo in its buzzing party resort of Kavos.

If you’ve got a laid-back beach break on the cards, this lovely island is happy to oblige. Head to beautiful Acharavi or Aghios Georgios in the north, and enjoy a laid-back lifestyle with wide sandy beaches and quiet, traditional tavernas – perfect for trying the local cuisine or enjoying a Grecian nightcap at the end of another gorgeous day.

In Corfu resorts like Sidari and Govia, you’ll find a livelier vibe which tempts in tourists looking for somewhere upbeat, with plenty of home comforts and nearby activities. These resorts lay on plenty of entertainment both day and night, so you’ll never be short of things to do.

For fun in the sun, the beautiful Emerald Isle of Corfu ticks all the right boxes…

12 Mar 2014

Top Reasons To Visit South Korea

Bright lights and a vibrant city life is one of the top reasons to visit South Korea.  But there’s more to this Asian country than neon-laden cities and urban jungles.  South Korea has a history that spans hundreds of years and much of its culture is still well-preserved, thanks to the unsuccessful colonization of the Europeans.

But despite this, South Korea remains to be at the forefront of technology and entertainment, as K-pop music and fashion is slowly making its way into the mainstream media (some of which are already dominating the US Billboard Charts).

So, pack your Delsey luggage, get your passport ready, and get ready to enjoy the top reasons to visit South Korea!

pagoda in South Korea

Authentic Korean Food.  Korean cuisine offers a great variety of flavours, from mild to downright spicy.  Choose among some of the most appetising dishes, from mouth-watering bulgogi, traditional Korean noodle dishes, to Korea’s national food Kimchi, a fermented vegetable side dish.

Korean cuisines are both healthy and delectable, catering to both vegetarians and meat lovers alike.  It is no wonder Koreans have great, supple skin.

Natural attractions.  South Korea is not all neon-lights and brick and mortar establishments and concrete pavements.  It still preserves some of its natural attractions, such as the Jeju Islands (also called the “Island of the gods”, and the majestic views in the Seoreksan National Park.

Cultural heritage.  South Korea is home to a great number of UNESCO World Heritage sites.  And you won’t even have to go from city to city to discover it.  Taking a leisurely stroll along Gyeongju or Seoul (or joining a tour, if you find that more convenient), you will be able to marvel at a great number of old palaces, temples and gates which have a lot of story to tell about the history of South Korea.

Bathhouses.  One of the top reasons to visit South Korea is their bathhouses.  Choose from a great variety of saunas and spas, from milk baths, mud baths or even baths with temperatures ranging from cool to scalding hot.

Either way, you are guaranteed a relaxing way to call it a day after touring Seoul or feasting on authentic Korean cuisine in one of the most interesting countries in the world!

 

21 Feb 2014

Discover Desert Landscapes and the Red City in Jordan

Wadi Rum is one of the amazing natural assets that are just begging to be discovered in Jordan...!

Jordan is becoming an increasingly popular place to visit for a walking holiday and with very good reason, as its desert landscapes are truly spectacular and provide a wilderness experience like no other.

Another attraction of hiking in Jordan is that you can visit some amazing historical sites as you walk, including the breathtaking city of Petra. Also known as the Red City, this was once an important stop on the trade routes from east to west, although much of its charm for travellers lies in the fact it remained undiscovered by the western world for centuries.

We’re going to take a look at some of the highlights of a trekking tour in Jordan – if this interests you, Explore Worldwide can help you organise your ideal holiday.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is a desert valley where you’ll find some incredible rock formations and beautiful scenery. The cliffs and rocks here have been carved into bizarre shapes by the power of the wind and they really are a sight to behold.

This part of Jordan was made famous by TE Lawrence, who was based here during the first world war and who went on to write about his experiences. He described the landscape as “vast, echoing and god-like”.

However, Wadi Rum was being used centuries before as a trade route and it’s one the local Bedouin people know well. They still live a semi-nomadic life in the desert and visiting one of their camps will give you an insight into how they survive in what seems to be such an inhospitable environment.

Among the most famous – and impressive – rock formations in Wadi Rum are the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a towering red-stone cliff, and the Burdah Rock Bridge. Dotted throughout the valley are thousands of petroglyphs and inscriptions that indicate that the area has been inhabited by humans for centuries.

Petra

Petra is Jordan’s most famous tourist attraction and with very good reason. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is quite incredible, with the original city having been hewn out of the cliffs and other buildings developed around it in its sheltered location among the mountains.

It was the Nabateans who developed it into a thriving hub for traders crossing the desert from the Orient to Arabia and it was a bustling city until the Roman era, when trade routes were diverted and Petra gradually lost influence.

Despite being known to the local Bedouins, it was forgotten by the rest of the world until the early 19th century when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt stumbled across it. Although many of the buildings were in ruins, the tombs and chambers that had been carved out of the cliffs themselves are still in remarkable condition.

One of the highlights is the Treasury, which greets travellers as they enter via the Siq Gorge. Obelisks, temples, tombs and a Roman-style theatre are some of the other things you can discover as you wander around the city.

If you’ve got the energy for a bit of a climb, make your way to the Al Deir Monastery, which stands at the top of a flight of 800 steps that have been cut out of the rock. In addition to the archaeological treasures themselves, there are two museums onsite that have been designed to give visitors a better understanding of Petra’s history, as well as to showcase artefacts that have been recovered here.

15 Feb 2014

Top Reasons To Visit Adelaide, Australia!

There are definitely a lot of top reasons to visit Adelaide, Australia.  The capital of South Australia (and the fifth largest city as well in the continent) has a lot to offer tourists with a taste for art, adventure and good food.  The best wines, great, bush tucker food, arts, historical landmarks, you name it:  Adelaide has it.

And there’s more to love about this city.  Here are some of the top reasons to visit Adelaide:

historic buildings in Adelaide, Australia

Festivals.  Adelaide is known as the “Festival State” of Australia.  And why not?  There’s always something to look forward to when you visit Adelaide.  One of the highlights in Adelaide is the Adelaide Festival of Arts which is celebrated between the last week of February to the first week of March. This internationally renowned festival is one of the world’s biggest celebrations of arts.  The weeklong celebration involves theatre, opera, dance, cabaret, classic and contemporary music, as well as new media.  At the heart of the celebration is the Adelaide Festival Centre, which usually hosts the opening of the event.

Local Flavors.  Want something a little more extreme than the regular barbies and fish and chips?  How about some bush food?  Australia (particularly Adelaide) is rediscovering the joys, wonders and flavours of bush tucker, or food enjoyed by the Aboriginal people for thousands of years.  Try out Kangaroo, crocodile or emu meat, or feast on some witchetty grubs.

If the idea of eating grubs or feasting on emu meat is a little too intense, then try out a pie floater from one of the late night pie carts.

Wines.  South Australia’s rich soils and ample amounts of sunshine makes it a perfect place for making some of the best wines in the continent.  As a matter of fact, it is considered Australia’s premier wine state.

Adelaide has some of the best vineyards in the state, with the nearby Barossa Valley boasting of some of the world’s finest Shiraz and Cabarnet.

Gaming with a Touch of Class. Not every country has gaming and casinos, but Australia is not one of them! A sight in itself, Adelaide Casino is located within the historic Adelaide Railway Station which was built way back in 1856. They have plenty of table games and slots, and if gambling isn’t your thing, just admire the iconic structure! Australia is also a special country because they are one of the last to permit online gambling as well. So, if you’re worn out from sightseeing all day, feel free to hit the tables from your hotel room on http://www.casinomidas.com.au/!

Adelaide Central Market.  One of the top reasons to visit Adelaide is its lively central market, which is filled with some of the freshest, organic produce in the country.  It’s the best place to observe the Adelaide culture (while shopping for some souvenirs and local finds).

 

10 Dec 2013

The Best Time to Visit The Falkland Islands

Before getting into the information regarding the best time to visit the Falkland Islands, one must know a few very important things about this archipelago. First of all, though it may still be a British territory, this archipelago is pretty much isolated from the rest of the world. Its location is somewhere further south from Argentina, which makes it truly remote and figuratively invisible in the world map. In fact, no one would have probably heard of this archipelago if not for the unfortunate war between the British expeditionary special force and Argentinian military that occupied the island. The casualties in the 1980’s Falklands War have amounted to about 900 souls both among the British and Argentinian forces. Secondly, due to the isolation of Falkland Islands its civilization is only limited to the basic necessities of life. Anyone looking for five-star restaurants and shopping malls should never choose this place for a vacation. However, nature lovers truly find this archipelago a unique paradise.

best time to visit the Falkland Islands (more…)

03 Nov 2013

Top Destinations In Azerbaijan

The top destinations in Azerbaijan are iconic places worth visiting around the Caucasus highlands that practically demarcates Europe and Asia. As far as basic history is concerned, this country was once a tributary state of the Soviet Union. During its collapse in 1991, the country has faced another “adversary” much closer to home – Armenia. This neighboring nation has supported a separatist region named Nagoroh-Karabakh. This succeeding conflict took out 20% of Azerbaijan’s total territory. While the nation undergoes a certain difficulty in sustaining the 800,000 more refugees since the 1994-ceasefire, its people were able to assert their own cultural identity like never before. For a country that is predominantly Shia Islam, they are almost twice as liberal in their lifestyle than most Arab nations. This was all due to the extensive influence of secularism by the Soviet regime.

cityscape of Azerbaijan (more…)

11 Oct 2013

Travel Escapes: Belgrade!

Belgrade is quickly entering the limelight shared by exciting European travel destinations such as Berlin, Paris and Prague. Complimented by the Sava/Danube River that flows through the capital, the city’s non-stop nightlife, fascinating history and delectable traditional restaurants have been attracting thousands of visitors since Serbia’s tourism boom during the past decade. Perhaps best known for the Yugoslav crisis during the 1990s and Nato’s bombing of Belgrade in1999, which among other buildings left the Police & Army Headquarters desecrated. The remnants of the bombings and Serbia’s eventful past propels Belgraders of all ages to treat every night like a Friday night shaking off the past.

  Danube in Belgrade (more…)

09 Oct 2013