WILDLIFE
ADVENTURES AT SEA WITH BRITTANY FERRIES AND ORCA.
Brittany Ferries’ has joined forces with leading marine
conservation charity ORCA to offer passengers a fascinating
insight into the whales and dolphins of the Bay of Biscay -
one of the world’s most important habitats for these amazing
animals. ORCA’s wildlife education officers will be on
board Brittany Ferries’ flagship Pont Aven twice-weekly
service linking Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander in Spain.
They will be on hand to help passengers make sightings of whales
and dolphins and identify any animals encountered, they will
also give fun and informative presentations about these highly
complex and intelligent mammals
For up-to-date news and stories about the project please visit
the wildlife officers’ blog at http://www.brittanywildlifeofficer.wordpress.com.
More information on Brittany Ferries’ services to Spain
can be found at http:/www.brittanyferries.com/spain
ALBUQUERQUE
INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA.
From
October 3-11, 2009 spectators can witness more than 600 hot
air balloons in the sky at a time at the Albuquerque International
Balloon Fiesta, the world’s largest hot air balloon festival.
This magical event is considered to be the most photographed
event in the world, drawing a huge international crowd of balloonists
and spectators.
The Albuquerque Convention
and Visitors Bureau is offering a chance to win a Balloon Fiesta
two-day getaway, valued at more than $1,500. Sweepstakes contestants
must enter before August 31st.
http://www.itsatrip.org/balloonfiesta for details on the
sweepstakes.
FREE SUMMER
EDITION OF LANZAROTE GUIDEBOOK  Despite
the credit crunch and weak state of sterling the holiday island
of Lanzarote still expects to welcome well over one million tourists
this year.
The bulk of them from the UK and Eire. And anyone planning to
visit Lanzarote this summer can now get a comprehensive 96 page
guide to the island – entirely free of charge.
Lanzarote Guidebook has been created by long term island residents
in order to provide visitors with accurate and up to date information
about the Island of Fire. Along with plenty of inside tips about
the best places to go and things to see and do.
The Summer 2009 edition features 96 pages and can be downloaded
fast and for free at http://www.lanzaroteguidebook.com
HF HOLIDAYS
–LIST THE 10 BEST WALKS IN EUROPE
HF Holidays, the UK’s leading walking and leisure activity
holiday specialist is expanding its European walking programme
for 2010, with the new brochure due out in October.
At the same time, the company has published its list of the 10
best walks in Europe – as nominated by HF Holidays’
panel of voluntary walks leaders.
HF Holidays’ Top 10 Walks in Europe:
1 The Tour du Mont Blanc, France
2 Berliner Hohenweg in Zillertal Alps, Austria
3 La Jonction on Mont Blanc, France
4 Passo Pordoi to Corvara in the Dolomites, Italy
5 The Lycian Way along the coast of Turkey
6 Breche de Roland, Gavarnie in the French Pyrenees
7 Amalfi Coast Path on the Sorrento Peninsula, Italy
8 Malcesine and Monte Baldo above Lake Garda, Italy
9 Las Cañadas crater walk, Tenerife, Spain
10 Beaumes de Venise in Provence, France
Full details of these routes, with comments from HF Holidays’
leaders as to why they are so highly rated can be found by clicking-through
to this link http://www.hfholidays.co.uk
or phone 0845 470 7558
NY’
STATUE OF LIBERTY WELCOMES AGAIN
The
Statue of Liberty in New York reopened on the 4th of July.
It has been closed since the 11 Sep 2001 attacks for safety
and security reasons. The reopening will see upgrades to the
handrails on the staircase, and improvements on Ellis Island’s
crumbling seawall as well as staff available throughout the
Statue to aid visitors. The Statue will be open for two years,
after which it will be “closed again for work on a long-term
solution that will further improve safety.
SEE
MORE OF BARCELONA IN THE STORY- TELLING
CAR
Barcelona’s
talking, yellow sightseeing cars will be giving visitors a chance
to see even more of the famous Catalan city this summer. The
GoCar story-telling cars have doubled the size of their city
tour, with more than 800 “trigger points” in the
GPS guided audio tour using a combination of directions, information,
sound effects and music.
The three-wheeler cars, which launched in Barcelona last year,
take a driver and one passenger on a zippy tour of the city’s
famous landmarks providing clear directions and a running commentary
Prices are 35€ for the first hour, second hour 25€,
additional hour 20€ or for a full day 99€
It is highly recommended to book in advance online at http://www.gocartours.es
or call GoCar on 00 34 93 269 1792 The office is based next
to Santa Caterina market, 100m from the main Cathedral on Freixures
23.
COUNTRY
HOUSE WALKING BREAKS
Beat the credit crunch
this Spring with a selection of UK Classic Value Walking breaks
with HF Holidays - the UK's largest specialist walking holidays
company.
Taking place at a
choice of the company's Country Houses across England, Scotland
and Wales, the 10 options on offer combine local guided walks
- requiring less coach travel - with free time to explore independently
or simply relax at the Country House.
Most meals - with
more value choices and picnic lunches on guided walking days
only - are included and evening entertainment is also provided,
plus every house has a bar and lounges.
Reservations: 0845
470 7558, http://www.hfholidays.co.uk
AMSTERDAM
MOBILE GUIDE
For the first time, travellers to Holland will be able to use
an iPhone or a mobile web browser to explore the city of Amsterdam
from the palm of their hand.
The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions announces the
launch of the Amsterdam Mobile Guide -- a free iPhone application
available now in the Apple App Store. Anyone with a mobile web
browser can also view the Amsterdam Mobile Guide at
http://us.holland.com/mobile.
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DEVELOPMENT AT MAJOR SPANISH RESORT
 The
latest addition to PortAventura at Salou in Spain is the Gold
River Hotel.
The park at PortAventura offers adventures from all corners
of the globe including Polynesia, Imperial China, the Wild West
and Mexico. Gold River is a themed hotel. Set back in time,
it captures the atmosphere of the Gold Rush in the North American
Far West. There are eleven buildings and twenty-four cabins
plus four new swimming pools, four restaurants, three bars,
a shop and a minimarket . For information http://www.portaventura.co.uk
or tour operators
VIENNA
OPEN-AIR OPERATIC DELIGHTS
 The
city of music has a new attraction – for the first time
selected performances will be broadcast live on a giant screen
in front of the State Opera House.
The new attraction for friends of the Vienna State Opera is called
Oper live am Platz. Around 60 opera and ballet performances are
being shown at a series of free open-air broadcasts on Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz
next to the Opera House until end of this year.
MELBOURNE PHOTO
BIKE TOUR
Looking for city sightseeing with a difference?
Get in the saddle for a new tour of Melbourne that combines cycling
and photography.The new half-day tour begins with a fun, interactive
and hands-on photography workshop, followed by a bike cruise around
Melbourne to practise the skills just learnt.
Suitable for beginners and intermediate photographers, this ‘crash
course’ provides learners with photographer and journalist
Murray Johnson’s 10 tips and tricks to be a better photographer,
gained from 30 years of professional experience.
The bike ride offers the opportunity to enjoy the city from an
insider’s perspective and passes through some of Melbourne’s
most popular sites (such as the Australian F1 Grand Prix track
and the awe-inspiring Eureka Tower), which provide an excellent
backdrop for taking striking shots.
Workshops begin at
Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne, and run all year
round. Prices start from AU$99 (£48). Bookings are essential.
For more information go to http://www.rentabike.net.au For information
on visiting Melbourne http://www.visitmelbourne.com/uk-tv
ALBUQUERQUE.
ABQ TROLLEY
For the first time in years, ABQ has a regularly scheduled city
tour. The newly established ABQ Trolley Co. provides visitors
with an introduction of the must-see sites offering guided city
tours from a completely-custom, uniquely Albuquerque, open-air
trolley. The trolley was designed to incorporate elements that
are specific to Albuquerque-wrought iron rails with intricate
scrollwork; a stucco-texture paint treatment; custom mosaic tile
art pieces; and an open-air interior.
FREE
SHUTTLE TO VANCOUVER ATTRACTION.
 The
Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver's most popular
attractions and now it's even easier for visitors to get there
from downtown via a free shuttle service. Located just over the
Burrard Inlet on the North Shore, this 230-foot high swaying footbridge
is a must-see. Breathe in the cedar-scented rainforest air as
you make your way across the bridge and enjoy the unique perspective
of Treetops Adventure, a walk high in the trees. Shuttles depart
daily from three convenient locations in the downtown core (Canada
Place, Hyatt Regency, and the Blue Horizon Hotel). htttp://www.capbridge.co
ONTARIO
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS 2009
The Ontario calendar for 2009 includes
Toronto International
Film Festival, September 10th – 19th
Among the most prestigious film festivals in the world, the
TIFF is widely regarded as the ‘Cannes of North America’.
Drawing in all the most high profile stars, the festival is
publicly attended by in excess of 300,000 people and sees
between 300-400 film screenings in downtown Toronto. It is
considered by many studios to be a ‘launch-pad’
for Oscar buzz, so visitors can see the films that will be
winning the awards first. www.tiff09.ca
Niagara Grape and
Wine Festival, September 19th – 28th
Many know the Niagara region for it’s ice wine, but
the region is fast becoming a superb boutique wine producing
area with great reds and whites. The festival is held in the
towns of St Catherines, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls,
it is the largest wine festival in Canada, incorporating more
than 100 events including tours, tastings, seminars and entertainment.
www.niagarawinefestival.com
For more information
on events in Ontario see http://www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca
TOWER
FESTIVAL
AT THE HISTORIC TOWER OF LONDON
10th- 20th September 2009
CELEBRATING THE BEST IN ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC!
**************
SADLER'S WELLS IS DANCE
LESLEY GARRETT AND THE FRON MALE VOICE CHOIR
GILBERT & SULLIVAN'S THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD
Presented By Carl Rosa Opera
DAME KIRI TE KANAWA AND THE FUTURE STARS OF OPERA
KIND OF BLUE AT 50 FEATURING JIMMY COBB'S SO WHAT BAND
WOMAD PRESENTS WORLD MUSIC AT THE TOWER
International concert promoters and owners of the O2 Arena,
AEG Live, have
teamed up with legendary operatic and concert impresario Harvey
Goldsmith, to
launch the 2009 TOWER FESTIVAL at the TOWER OF LONDON, celebrating
the very best
in arts, culture and music.
The TOWER FESTIVAL will take place over the 10th-20th September
at the historic
and prestigious TOWER OF LONDON, the royal palace and fortress
on the banks of
the River Thames in London.
 TETHERED
BALLOON AT DISNEY
A
new attraction is being introduced at Walt Disney World in
Florida.
'The Characters in Flight' Operated by Aerophile, the attraction,
in the Downtown Disney area, is a giant tethered balloon,
which rises 400 feet in the air, carries up to 30 people in
its gondola and provides them a view of the sprawling Disney
park.
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