Tip: Paris France


You have probably heard stories that Parisians can be very rude to tourists. I have certainly heard that more than once but I have also heard and experienced just the opposite. A little tip that can help you avoid that kind of situation when trying to communicate with Parisians is too make an effort to speak a little French. They really appreciate it when you at least try and converse with them in their own language. You will be amazed at how far a few words or phrases will go and who knows, you might even end up making a new friend.

Destination Paris France

It is true what they say, there is nothing like Paris in the springtime, actually there is nothing like Paris all year around and once you are there you can’t help but fall in love with it. Paris is home to world-renowned attractions, art galleries, museums, parks and gardens. It is fondly referred to as “The City of Light” and has some of the most beautiful sites in the world.
One of the most well-know attractions in Europe is the Eiffle Tower. It really is a site to behold. The line-ups to get in are usually quite long but it is well worth the wait. You can view the city from several levels. The higher you go the better the view gets and once you reach the top level the view is simply spectacular. At night, the tower is lit up and every hour a spectacular light show lights up the city. The tower also has some wonderful restaurants for dining as well as gift shops where you can find a great selection of souvenirs.
The Champs Elysées is know as the most famous street in Paris and has many high fashion boutiques for shopping and restaurants featuring exquisite cuisine for your dining pleasure. It stretches from the Arc de Triumphe and goes all the way down to the Place de la Concorde.
Taking a cruise along the Seine River is truly a unique way to see the sites of Paris. The cruise takes you under some of the most beautiful ornate bridges in the city and past some of the major sites such as the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Musee D’Orsay. It’s not only worth it to take a tour during the day but also in the evening as the city and the sites look spectacular all lit up at night.
Notre Dame Cathedral with its dramatic towers, stained glass and statues will take your breath away. No wonder it is considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in all of Europe. Climb the north tower to view the city from the very spot from which the hunchback Quasimodo viewed it.
 There are so many sites and attractions in Paris that are a must see that it is hard to know just where to start especially if it is your first visit. Check out the link below, it has some really good information that will help you out.
http://parisfrance.ca/

Tip: Istanbul,Turkey

The best time of the year to travel to Istanbul is April to May and September to October. The weather these times of the year is moderate and very comfortable. During the summer months, it is very hot and humid thus making it very uncomfortable, so much so, that even the locals choose to head out of the city in search of cooler climates.

Destination Istanbul Turkey

Istanbul is as remarkably beautiful as it is distinct and actually lies on two continents, the western part being in Europe and the eastern part in Asia. Imagine being in Europe one moment and then crossing a bridge and being in Asia the next moment, how cool is that? The people are a unique blend of different cultures come together and are amongst some of the friendliest I have ever encountered in my travels.Istanbul has many extraordinary places to see and one of my personal favorites is the underground Yerebatan Cistern. The cistern was used as a backup water source thousands of years ago during droughts or when the city was under siege. The cistern is capable of holding 2,800.00 cu.ft. of water and the ceiling is supported with 336 marble columns. In 1987, the municipality cleaned it up, put in wooden walkways and opened it up to the public. It is truly something you do not want to miss seeing.
Istanbul has more that its share of beautiful mosques and most of them are open to tourists. The most famous one is the Blue Mosque. The inside is decorated with 20,000 blue and green hand painted Iznik tiles, has 260 stained glass windows and has six minarets, most mosques normally have two or four. It is located opposite the Hagia Sophia, which was built as a church that later became a mosque and now is a museum. It is said that Sultan Ahmet commissioned the building of the Blue Mosque to rival the beauty of Hagia Sophia, but when it comes to beauty, they both warrant a visit because each is just as magnificent as the other is.
One of the most popular sites to visit in Istanbul is the Topkapi Palace. The complex is immense with its maze of buildings that center around four courtyards. Each building contains different types of treasures. The old kitchen contains a priceless collection of Chinese porcelain as well as ancient kitchen utensils.
The treasury has an exquisite collection of jewels, many of which decorate daggars, chain mail and golden thrones. One of the most amazing gems on display there is the 86-karat Spoon Makers Diamond, which is the 5th largest diamond in the world.
One of the highlights of the palace is the harem but in order to see it you must sign up for a tour. It will cost you additional money but it is well worth it. With all that there is to see in the palace it will probably take you a full day of exploring to see everything so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
While in Istanbul, shopping is a must and one of the places to shop is the Grand Bazaar. It houses over 4,000 shops where you can purchase items such as Turkish carpets, leather and suede goods, hand painted tiles, gold jewelry, pottery and much, much more. When you have decided on your purchase don’t forget to barter for the price, it is a tradition and is a business practice in Turkey.What ever you choose to see or do when you are there, once you experience the beauty of the city, the friendliness of the people, the extensiveness of its history it will be a place that you will want to go back to time and time again. Click on the link below to get a detailed list of attractions and sites to see in Istanbul.

http://istanbulturkey.ca/

TIP: Athens Greece

Driving in Athens is not recommended due to the heavy congestion of traffic and the almost impossibility of finding a legal parking space. Athens has very good public transportation services that include bus, trolley tram, the metro and taxi’s that make it easy to get to where you are going.

Destination Athens Greece

If you love ancient history and old ruins, Athens is definitely the place to go, as it is one of the oldest cities in the world. Even if you are not into history and old ruins, you will love Athens just for the shear beauty of it. There are so many places to see and things to do besides touring the ancient sites and ruins such as concert halls, theatres, bazaars and shopping. For those who are so inclined Athens also has an exciting nightlife. You will find bars, café’s and clubs where you can dance the night away to jazz, disco, traditional Greek music, pop, heavy metal and hip hop.
Some of the sites that were high on my list and were really worth seeing were The Acropolis, as ancient Greek culture goes it is a site that is very well known and has the most noteworthy architectural masterpieces of the 5th century BC. The view of Athens from the top of the Acropolis is simply breathtaking.
Syntagma Square, this Square is considered the heart of Athens. After having been restored recently, it is more stunning than ever with all of its white marble, water ponds, shade trees, restaurants and café‘s. You will probably end up there more than a few times as it has access to major sites and attractions from the square.
The National Garden, strolling through the gardens is comparable to being in a tropical paradise in the midst of the rush and chaos of a big city. It has been referred to as one of Athens greatest treasures.
The Plaka, this is one of the oldest parts of Athens and is made up of a maze of small streets and little squares, most of which are open only to foot traffic. Most of the old buildings have been restored and are now home to museums, unique shops, restaurants and pubs.
The Ancient Agora, take a walking tour through this amazing archaeological park where Socrates often strolled with his disciples, one of which was Plato. Take in the beautiful herb and flower garden, ancient statues and ruins, some dated as far back as the 5th century BC.
Panathenaic Stadium, this stadium is where the 1896 and 2004 Olympic games where hosted. The stadium was originally built in 330 BC, was restored between 140-144 AD and again at the end of the 19th century for the rebirth of the Olympics in 1896.

These are just a sampling of the awesome things there are to see and do in Athens. To find many more sites and attractions that are absolutely worth seeing Check out the link below:

http://athensgreece.ca/