People looking for a cheaper and still lovely Mediterranean holiday would be wise to choose Croatia as a locale to visit. When in Croatia there is no better place to head to then the southern tip down to the small Mediterranean city of Dubrovnik. A picturesque town both for its lovely architecture and its stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea, including the lovely Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik offers visitors a variety of things to do. Still more to do in Dubrovnik includes:
Lokrum Island
A 10 minute boat ride from Dubrovnik is the lovely Lokrum Island. Whereas some beaches around Dubrovnik can get quite crowded on a summers day, the beaches on Lokrum are controlled by the number of people that are allowed on the island at any one time and because of that have plenty of room. If you are feeling adventurous the island even has a nude beach. There are several historical attractions as well to visit on the island including the 19th century Napoleonic Fort Royale. Views from the Fort provide fantastic visuals back over Dubrovnik’s stunning old town. A trip to Lokrum Island makes the perfect day trip from Dubrovnik and water taxis leave every half hour from Dubrovnik’s old port. Water taxis ferry back and forth at a cost of $4.75 until 8 pm each night.
Rector’s Palace
Located between Dubrovnik Cathedral and St Blaise Church, the Rector Palace can be found at the end of Stradun in the Old Town of Dubrovnik. The rector who inhabited Rector’s Palace historically lived there just for a month at a time. The Rector’s Palace operated in this fashion until 1806. In contemporary times it is open to the public to enjoy its majestic qualities. Perhaps the most heralded spot inside the palace is the internal court yard which is filled with intriguing monuments and immaculate grounds keeping. On the second floor of the palace is a museum that includes antique furniture – including an intriguing collection of old clocks – and works from local artists. The Rector’s Palace is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily and costs around $8 dollars.
Rome is a city that really has to be experienced once in your life. The saying was – “See Rome and Die!” Rome is a city that was once the centre of an empire and it shows in terms of the sheer number of monuments and attractions it has. A beautiful city on its own in terms of its architecture, this intrinsic beauty is taken to the next level when paired with buildings and sites that have been around for hundreds of years, and in some cases millennia. When a person comes to Rome they also have a chance to sample firsthand the Roman passion and the unique energy of its citizenry. Yet more to see and do in Rome includes:
Basilica di San Clemente
Via Labicana 95 | Rome
The Basilica di San Clemente is an intriguing building in the sense that it is by all accounts a church built upon a church, built upon a church, built upon a church. The first church built there was a 2nd century pagan temple, which was later built over by a 4thcentury church, which later ended up underneath a 12th century church. Visiting the Basilica gives the opportunity to see remains of all 3 previous structures. The Basilica can be found near to the Colesseo metro station and is open daily, but closed for masses, at lunch time.
Gianicolo Hill
Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi | Rome, Italy
West of the Tiber River is Gianicolo Hill which provides a great locale to look over the city and relax. Your view from the hill top will gaze over all the wealth of beauty Rome has to offer. Some of the best places to look from are near Renaissance villa, the villa Lante as well as the Piazza Garbaldi.
Campo de’ Fiori
Piazza Campo de’ Fiori | Rome
The campo De Fiori has two existences, one during the day as a bustling market place and the other as one of Rome’s most concentrated areas for nightlife. Writers say that the Campo de’ Fiori has retained the same qualities and appearance that it had back since the early 1800’s when it also was a market and a place for people to congregate. Travelers call this one of the best people watching spots in the city and a great place to get fresh veggies by day and revel in Rome’s night life as the sun sets.
Being the capital of Canada Ottawa is a city that is filled with a variety of different museums. Amongst the various museums that the city boasts are a museum of nature, war, aviation and space, and local history. Whatever your particular set of interests are there is world class museum that will cater to them. So after you have seen Parliament Hill and Rideau Canal it is time to start hitting the museums of Ottawa. If museums are a large of interest of yours you will leave Ottawa having learned a lot. Some of the various museums of Ottawa include.
Canadian Museum of Nature
240 Rue McLeod, Ottawa
The mystery of nature surrounds us each day. For those interested in looking towards it there is much intrigue and in some circumstances almost magic to be found. A trip to the Canadian Museum of Nature will help you learn more about the fantastic forces of nature that surround us – often unnoticed – daily. A great place to bring smaller children, the Museum is bright, modern and has exhibits that offer quality information for adults but that are also visually arresting enough to interest younger kids. Different exhibits will give visitors the chance to learn more about prehistoric fossils, wildlife, and insects. Other highly visited sections of the museum include the mammal gallery and the bird gallery – the latter of which has the largest collection of Canadian birds in the world. The Canadian Museum of Nature is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and costs around $10 dollars for admission.
Canadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place, Ottawa
Located on the slopes facing the Ottawa River the Canadian War Museum commemorates Canada’s various military conflicts. Wars that are remembered in varied exhibits include the Indian and French War, the war of 1812, and both World Wars. There is even a section that talks about little known victims of Canadian wars such as the thousands of interned Japanese during the Second World War. Stoic in design and somber in mood the museum does not gloss over the fact that many of the Canadian conflicts ended in tragedy. The Canadian War Museum is located just to the west of Parliament Hill and is open from 9 am to 6 pm – and 9:30 pm on weekends – at a cost of around $12 dollars.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
11 Aviation Parkway | Ottawa, ON
The Canada Aviation and Space Museum houses Canada’s largest collection of vintage air crafts. The main exhibition hall, called “Walkway of Time” follows Canadian aviation from its development at the start of the 20th century till the present day. With more than a 100 varied planes there is a range of specific examples to highlight how aviation has grown and changed over the years. The Museum is located in Ottawa’s eastern suburbs – around 5 miles from Parliament Hill and is open daily from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. at a cost of around $9 dollars.
If you had a week it probably will not be enough time to soak in all that Rome has to offer. This is a city that was the centre of the European World two thousand years ago and still has as much of that allure as it did then today. They say “See Rome and Die” and with the number of spectacles the city has to offer there is some real truth to that. With so many things to do in the city some guidance most certainly can be helpful to direct you in the right direction. Some of the best things to do in Rome include.
Trevi Fountain
Piazza di Trevi | Rome
Built in the mid 18th century the Trevi Fountain is a great example of baroque design mixed with ancient Roman Mythology. The scene portrayed involves Neptune emerging from his pool flanked by his trusty Tritons. Roman folk lore says that if you toss one, two, or three coins with your right hand over your left shoulder different good lucks will be bestowed upon you. One coin means you will return to Rome, while two coins means you will fall in love with an attractive Roman, while three coins means you will marry that same Roman. Many feel Trevi Fountain is best seen at night when it lights illuminate the fountain and give it a luminous appearance. Trevi fountain is located near a high concentration of shopping, nightlife, and hotels so is quite easy to find.
Church of San Luigi dei Francesi
Via Santa Giovanna d’Arco 5
A great free attraction to visit in Rome is the San Luigi dei Francesi which features some great works by the Baroque artists Caravaggio. The three works Matthew and the Angel, Matthew’s Martyrdom, theCalling of St. Matthew attraction legions of art lovers each year to enjoy their great opulence. The church closes each day at lunch time and can be found in the Navona neighborhood near the Barberini metro stop.
Trastevere
Trastevere | Rome
If you want to get a sense of what Rome is like, beyond all the attractions and tourists, then head to the Trastevere section of town located just to the south of Vatican City. Trastevere has dozens of restaurants visited by real Romans and affordable shops as well as a great café culture. Walking over the Ponte Sisto leads to a truly stunning view over St Peter’s Basilica to the north and the Gianicolo Hills to the west.
Some say that Detroit has gone on to hard times after recently declaring civil bankruptcy. Though this cannot rightfully be denied, it cannot be denied either that the home of Motown and the heart of automotive industry in the US still has things to offer to visitors. Becoming more and more a haven for artists there is a great art scene developing in the lower rent studios and art spaces around the city. A few different things to do in Detroit include.
Detroit Institute of the Arts
5200 Woodward Avenue
Dating back to 1885 the Detroit Institute of Arts is a massive complex that includes 100 galleries, an 1,150 seat auditorium and a 380 seat lecture hall. With an extensive and well praised permanent collection that includes works such as Vincent Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait” and Diego Rivera’s “Detroit Industry.” The institute also regularly uses its auditorium to host different Friday night concerts as well as once a month brunches with Bach! Visitors to the institute compare it favorably with art galleries around Europe and the US in far larger cities. What is highly lauded is ipads being given to patrons so they can use them to learn more about the art they are viewing. The museum is closed on Monday and Tuesdays and is open from 10 am to 5 pm the remaining days. Admission costs $8 dollars for adults.
Motown Historical Museum
2648 West Grand Boulevard
From 1959 to 1972 Detroit’s Motown record label was a virtual hit making machine. With recording artists under their label such as the Supremes, the Temptations and the Jackson Five Motown helped create an entire genre of music that permanently changed the American music landscape. Now the Motown studios have been altered into a museum to commemorate this trend setting label. The original interior has been kept the same and tour guides can now walk people through Motown delivering tales of the studio in its hay day and the different stars that walked its halls. Perhaps, though the greatest moment to be enjoyed is actually walking into the recording studios where so much hit music was created. The Motown museum can be found on West Grand Boulevard in the Boston Edison Historic District, it is open from 10 am to 6 pm and admission costs around $10 dollars. The museum is closed on Mondays.