Our last day in San Francisco welcome us with bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine. In the morning we had already hopped on one of the citys moving landmarks and experienced a ride in the open-air cable cars that make this city such a favourite destination. Then we spent about three hours exploring the infamous Island of Alcatraz, famous for the maximum security pentitentiary that was located here from 1933 to 1963. What an eerie yet...more
San Francisco a dream destination for so many people across the worldWell, in February of 2008 I finally had to opportunity to revisit San Francisco, one of my favourite cities in all of North America. In just a bit more than four days I had a chance to sample so many of the things that this fascinating city has to offer. Here are just a few highlights: as an avid biker I went on two bicycle tours and cycled across the famous Golden Gate Bridge ...more
After our interesting introduction to local history as part of the Victorian Homes Walking Tour we had to switch hotels for one night and grabbed our overnight bags to move to The Handlery Union Square Hotel in downtown Geary Street, just next to Union Square. It was now late afternoon, it was drizzling and the streets downtown were packed with revelers participating in the Chinese New Years Celebrations.We settled into our elegant suite, and I then located Karen Dominguez from the hotels marketing department to find out a little more about this venerable institution. The Handlery is family owned and operated, and in 2008 the Handlery family is celebrating 80 years of hotel ownership and operation in California.Composed of two earlier hotels, The Handlery today is an upscale hotel that is located right in the heart of San Francisco, just minutes away from the cable cars, the theatres, the Museum of Modern Art, the Financial District and the Moscone Convention Center. Union Square, the 2.6 acre large plaza, is just steps away and features a variety of upscale boutiques, souvenir shops, art galleries and salons. The entire area is a mecca for shoppers and features department stores...more
A long and harsh winter can take the wind out of you and just make you feel like you want to get away. And what a long winter it has been: Toronto has experienced one of the harshest winters in a long time, with near-record snow accumulation. I knew I had to get away to warmer, sunnier place, even if it was just for a few days. I started to think...more
It is always wise to have a travel guide when you go on vacation. They can provide an overview of the most important thing you need to know about your holiday destination. One of the best investments you can do before a trip is a guidebook. Whether you want to lie at home in the hammock and dream away, are newly arrived in the bus...more
A big storm was forecast for our second day in San Francisco, but so far we had been lucky. Our culinary tour through the North Beach area had gone off without a hitch. Even the sun peeked out here and there. Local food and culture expert Tom Medin who runs Local Taste of the City Tours, provided us with a great introduction to San Francisco and its lifestyle as well as a sampling of the culinary treats on offer in this bustling Italian-flavoured neighbourhood in San Francisco.This three and a half hour tour had not only enhanced our knowledge of San Francisco; the various treats we were offered had also stimulated our taste buds.We said goodbye to Tom on Washington Square and started heading up a steep street called Filbert Street to explore another San Francisco landmark: the Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. Walking up the steep incline I was amazed how people are able to park their cars on these streets. As we continued further up the hill, a beautiful view opened up towards downtown San Francisco, crowned by the Transamerica Pyramid. Through the trees we even got glimpses towards the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.The Coit Tower was built in 1933 at...more
If you're looking to save money on air travel, this is the time to strike. Because of the economy, because it's in such a slump, many people are choosing not to travel this holiday weekend. They are choosing instead to stay home and they're finding...more
For decades, Native American miners have worked the mines of the Colorado Plateau. These miners were drilling for a powdery yellow ore that we've all heard of - uranium. This uranium, mined by thousands of Native Americans over the years, became a...more
A comfortable and pleasant trip to Barcelona hugely depends on your decision to hire a car rental company. You must understand that your decision to hire a particular car rental company is an irreversible decision and if you make a...more
Albufeira villa holidays in Portugal give you everything that you can possibly want when you are looking to travel to this region of Portugal. If you like this country for the sunshine and the attractions, you should consider taking in villa...more
Post-wedding every couple wants to travel to some exotic destination which has lifelong memory. After the typical ceremonies and rituals of marriage, crowd of relatives, olds, young, couples wish to go away from maddening crowd and a trip to some...more
India is a great tourist hub. It holds varied attractions and spots where one can spend holidays cheerfully. India has endless tourist places. It has desert, mountains, hill stations, backwaters, beaches, wildlife destination, etc. People of all...more