Archive for November, 2008

Visit Florence

About Florence

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany ; it is located in the north-central part of Italy, between Rome and Milan. Florence, for many reasons, is the ideal place to learn Italian or to improve your knowledge of the language.

800px-Florence_skyline

Florence is famous for its wealth of fine art and architecture. Known worldwide as the cradle of renaissance, Florence takes pride in the history of its monuments, old world architecture, and pristine cathedrals and churches.

Known for the contribution of its citizens to the Arts and Sciences, Florence is a place that delights its visitors. Their legacy can be admired in its museums, Galleria degli Uffizi, one of the largest museums of the world, Galleria dell’Accademia, where the famous David by Michelangelo is located, churches and cathedrals, Orsanmichele, Duomo - Santa Maria del Fiore and Baptistery - two of the oldest monuments of Florence, and squares, Piazza della Signoria, one of the political hubs of Florence for centuries where many famous sculptures are located. The hotel Florence is tourists favorite beacuse it is close to all the important places

Tourist attractions in Florence, my favorites

  • The Accademia Gallery

The Accademia Gallery

Michelangelo’s David stands self-assured above the crowds that flock to admire him. In the hallway leading up to the famous sculpture are further examples of Michelangelo’s genius in the figures of the four Prisoners.

  • Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio

Best known of all Florence’s treasures, this glorious bridge was the only one of six spared by the retreating Germans on 4 August 1944. Over the centuries flooding unfortunately took its toll; few traces of the 10th-century bridge remain. Today’s bridge, built in 1345, was filled with butcher’s shops which would routinely discard the carcasses into the Arno causing quite a stench.

  • Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine is a church of the Carmelite Order, in the Oltrarno district of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. It is famous as the location of the Brancacci Chapel housing outstanding Renaissance frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale, later finished by Filippino Lippi.

Hotels

You can find a good Florence hotel close to all the important places for € 60.

Safety

Florence is generally safe, but take precautions against the opportunistic thieves common to major tourist attractions - pickpockets and purse snatchers. If you have a pocketbook with a classy, noiseless zipper, it will be opened.

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Visiting Quebec

About Quebec

Quebec is both the oldest and the largest of Canada’s ten provinces. It is a rich province, with a distinctive culture that has evolved from the mingling of French and English heritages.

Quebec is a mix of North American innovaton and European tradition and history. While here, notice the regional contrast by visiting the island cities of Montreal or Laval, or riverine cities like Quebec and Hull.

quebec

Quebec is dominated by a distinct French-Canadian culture, but it is a diverse place where all cultures, from Native to Asian, contribute to the overall experience. Guests of Montreal vacation rental will enjoy the attractions of Canada’s second largest city; a city with an electric art scene and nightlife. There are hundreds of hotels in Quebec city to choose from.

Quebec is an important port and is an industrial, cultural, service, and tourist center. Part of the city is built on the waterfront and is called Lower Town; that part called Upper Town is on Cape Diamond, so the Quebec city luxury hotel industry is very powerful.

Quebec top 3 attractions

  • Quebec City Armoury

Quebec City Armoury

The building, built in 1885, was home to Canada’s oldest French regiment, Quebec’s Les Voltigeurs, and contained a museum of the regiment’s history, uniforms, archives, and other objects. The armoury was also home to a cadet corps.

  • The Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site

The Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site
The Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site commemorates the period in 1535-1536 when Jacques Cartier and his shipmates wintered near the Iroquoian village of Stadacona.

  • Montmorency Falls Park

Montmorency Falls Park
The falls are 83 metres high, 27 metres higher than Niagara Falls. A cable car takes visitors to the top for a hike to viewing belvederes and the suspension bridge over the cascade at the top of the ridge. This park offers a multitude of activities for the entire family. In the summer, walk across one of two suspension bridges or through miles of parkland trails. Ice climbing course on the frozen waterfall wall of ice and snow in the winter.

Hotels

There are hundreds of hotels in Quebec to fit every taste. Quebec city hotel reservations are easy to make via Internet.

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I have found a site about Argentina for students who want to have a gap year South America.

argentina

GIC Argentina is a gap year organization providing gap year programmers for students and adults for many years. 

South America is an amazing location for a gap year - an inexpensive continent but rich in culture and adventure.  Whether you are interested in interning, volunteering, to teach English in South America or getting certified to teach English, or learning Spanish or taking other courses at a university in Argentina, they likely have a gap year program for you.

The top reasons for going to Buenos Aires

  • Buenos Aires is presently rated as the world’s second best overall city
  • it’s inexpensive to live in Buenos Aires for a month or a year
  • Buenos Aires was recently named one of only 3 world design cities by UNESCO
  • You will never get bored in Buenos Aires.

You can benefit from the GIC Argentina offers if you are a student or a volunteer abroad.

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The historical and culturally diverse country of Spain is one of the most popular destinations of the world. With its old castles, ancient ruins, majestic mountains, excellent beaches and modern cities, it has attracted various kinds of visitors from adventure seekers and pilgrims to vacationers and newly – wed couples.

This old country was once the center of one of largest empire in the world. During the highest point in its history, its territory is so vast that it has acquired areas in the Americas, Africa and even Asia. However due to many factors like countless wars, uprisings and political maneuvers, All but few of this territories remain today.

First time visitors to Spain often visit its major cities first. Madrid, which is the national capital, is the country’s arts and financial center. Located almost at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, it is home to excellent museums, a busy night life and the largest bullring in all of Spain. Barcelona, the second largest city, is a major sea port and commercial center. It’s full of modernist architecture and is considered to be one of the major cultural centers in the country. Other major cities include Bilbao, Cadiz, Córdoba, Granada, San Sebastian, Seville and Valencia. All in all, the country offers historical and modern buildings, beautiful beaches, exotic cuisines, enjoyable holidays and people that are friendly, fun – loving and religious.

Getting there is quite easy. If you are from far locations, you can travel by plane to the many airports that are present in the country. Other forms of travel include by train, by bus, by car and by boat.

Visiting Spain can be a really memorable experience and is definitely not a waste of time and money. Whatever the reason is, spending time in this wonderful country it is really worth repeating.

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Visit Toronto

Toronto is a source of inspiration for the world at large. The millions of people living in the greater Toronto area represent countless ethnic communities.

Toronto is the heart of Canada’s financial, cultural, and economic life and one of the biggest North America’s centers of medical research, publishing, media, and software industries. This is why the city is often referred to as a Canada’s corporate capital.

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Toronto Attractions

Toronto attractions are incredible! Use our list to get you on your way to the best of Toronto.

ROM

  • Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Generations of children and adults have trooped through the museum since it opened in 1914. With six million objects in its collections and 40 galleries of art, archeology and natural science, the ROM offers a whole world to explore. Four giant carved totem poles rise in the centre of the stairwells; the largest is 24.5 metres (80 ft. 6 in.) tall. The Hands-on Biodiversity gallery offers families a fun interactive experience about the interdependence of people, animals and plants.

  • St. Lawrence Market

Considered by Food and Wine magazine to be one of the world’s 25 best food markets, the St. Lawrence Market is located in the heart of the historic Old Town Toronto neighbourhood at Jarvis and Front Streets.

  • Toronto’s waterfront

Toronto’s waterfront - one of North America’s largest recreational waterfronts - provides a scenic backdrop for many popular and entertaining attractions including Harbourfront, Ontario Place, Rogers Centre, the CN Tower, and the Toronto Islands.

  • Bird Kingdom

Located on the Niagara Gorge, Bird Kingdom houses more than 400 birds representing nearly 80 species. Guests are encouraged to interact with free-flying birds and tour Bird Kingdom’s six unique galleries. The Main Aviary offers a rainforest-like environment for bird watchers, complete with palm trees, a 40-foot waterfall, ponds, and streams. Reptile lovers can also get their fix in the new Reptile Encounter Zone, which hosts an exotic collection snakes, lizards, tortoises and more. 

  • Mel Lastman Square

There are many exciting events happening at Mel Lastman Square.

Festivals

Toronto is also known throughout the world for the elaborate festivals that it hosts, including the Caribana Festival, North America’s largest Caribbean-style carnival, as well as the Toronto International Film Festival, the 2nd largest film festival in the world.

Toronto restaurants

Toronto is one of the largest cities in North America, and has over 8,000 restaurants. Due to the many different nationalities of people who live in Toronto, the city enjoys great multiculturalism.

Not only does Toronto offer restaurants and foods from all over the world, but the food found at Toronto restaurants is remarkably authentic.

The downtown restaurants in Toronto are famous for their authentic, international cuisine that satisfies every taste.

Safety

Toronto is proud to be one of the safest and secure cities worldwide owing to the dedication and professional disposition of the people and equipment. Subway cars have emergency strips to alert the authorities in emergencies.

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