Holidays in Tuscany

Summary:
A region on the West coast of Italy, Tuscany is a fantastic destination for a truly unique vacation. Lying on the Tyrrhenian Sea Tuscany benefits from great beaches on one side and yet is also surrounded my magnificent countryside on the other. Major towns and cities in the area include Pisa, the location of the famous leaning tower and Florence, two of Italy’s most visited places.



A region on the West coast of Italy, Tuscany is a fantastic destination for a truly unique vacation. Lying on the Tyrrhenian Sea Tuscany benefits from great beaches on one side and yet is also surrounded my magnificent countryside on the other. Major towns and cities in the area include Pisa, the location of the famous leaning tower and Florence, two of Italy’s most visited places.

Tuscany is divided into regions, one of which is called the Chianti Classico. For those of you who enjoy a glass of wine you may recognise the word Chianti as it is one of Italy’s finest exports. For this reason, the area is dense with vineyards, surrounded by small towns, castles and villas and makes a lovely change from the hustle and bustle found in many of Italy’s other regions and large cities.

To really get a feel for the rural area it is recommended that you utilise “agritourism” as your accommodation. This is a nice change from standard hotels as it involves staying on a farm or vineyard in a spare room, apartment or additional housing area which is rented out by farmers to supplement their income. Many of these are well established and offer the additional facilities a hotel may have, such as a swimming pool. If you are staying within the main accommodation with the family, your meals may well be included and you can be sure of a fantastic home cooked Italian feast every day of your stay. Should you be in self-contained accommodation you will find that facilities to make your own meals will be available.

Tuscany covers an area of 22,990 square kilometres, making it the fifth largest region in Italy. Included in this are the group of islands called the Tuscan Archipelago, the largest of which is called Elba. This is another much visited destination in the region due to its natural beauty and its artistic history, in common with much of Tuscany.

Tuscany boasts an impressive artistic history, as it is credited with being the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance movement. This manifests itself in the traditional form of art, such as paintings, many of which are displayed in the many museums in the area, the most famous of which is the Uffizi in Florence. Other mediums to have benefited from the Renaissance include sculpture and architecture. Many examples of these, particularly the architecture, can be stumbled upon in the streets, even in the small and remote villages which remain largely unexplored by tourists.

Yukon province

The province Yukon is located north of British Columbia and it boarders Alaska to the west and to the east is the North West territories. Yukon was the 11th province to join the country of Canada. Yukon is probably best known for the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. It is said that there is still gold in the rivers up there.


The province Yukon is located north of British Columbia and it boarders Alaska to the west and to the east is the North West territories. Yukon was the 11th province to join the country of Canada. Yukon is probably best known for the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. It is said that there is still gold in the rivers up there

This province is neat because of its beautiful landscape, from fresh water lakes to snow cover mountains there is so much scenery. If you are a hiker this is the place to visit. Hiking through the mountains and seeing all the wild animals is awesome. You can go fishing in the fresh water rivers and lakes. Or just float down some of the rivers in a raft. It’s something that you will never forget.

There is still a lot of mining industry going on. Yukon’s main industry is gold mining. Tourism is there next biggest industry. People from around the world come to this neat province to see these good mines. A lot of people like to tour the river where the big Klondike Gold Rush occurred. It’s got some awesome history there, so prep to learn a lot and experience the Klondike Gold Rush.

Facts
-Largest city is    Whitehorse
-Is the 11th province to become a part of Canada?
-English speaking province
-Klondike Gold Rush

This province can offer a lot of history and its well wroth the trip to see it all, this is a province you don’t want to miss out on.

Yacht charter in Greece

The Greek peninsula at the far south east of Europe is made up of the mainland (Attica, Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace) and the islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The area has a population of about 10 million. The Greek cruising area offers about 2000 islands and 10,000 nautical miles of coastline.


The name of Greece's capital derives from the name of the Goddess of wisdom and intelligence, Athena. This unique city is where democracy first saw the light of day, and where the Parthenon, the gem of architecture, was built. Today, about a third of the population of Greece (around 4,5 million people) live in Athens, and the modern city offers an endless variety of culture and entertainment.


Two hills lie at the heart of the city, one surmounted by the Acropolis and the monuments of Perikles, and the Lykabettus hill with the small white church Agios Georgis. Plaka and Monastiraki, the city quarter around the Acropolis hill, is a tourist highlight with narrow alleyways and attractive squares, which show the city’s romantic side. In summer the streets are full of bustling activity, in the most picturesque of settings. Kolonaki, the quarter around the Lykabettus hill, is typical of modern city life with its elegant boutiques and numerous cafιs.


We strongly advise you to spend a day or two in Athens, in order to view its many attractions such as the Apterous Nike temple, the Dionysus Theatre, the Odeon of Atticus and the House of Music, which should not be missed.
Piraeus, Athens’ harbour, is one of the largest shipping junctions in the Mediterranean, as it has been since ancient times. It has made quite a name for itself amongst travellers to Greece, due to its attractive nightlife and its romantic seafood restaurants and taverns.


The coast from Piraeus to Kalamaki is lined by high-rise apartment buildings. During the hot summers, the nightlife moves from the city to this coastal strip and its numerous beach clubs and restaurants.


Kalamaki  the port and base:

Steering into the harbour during the day is no problem. At night there are beacons, which have to be spotted amongst the many lights on land. The harbour provides excellent protection against winds from all directions. The first mooring piers in the harbour are reserved for a private yacht club. The ware is sufficiently deep and the bottom is solid. Petrol can be delivered to the quayside; water and electricity will soon be available at all anchorage's. Showers are located near the port offices. Finally, there are many shops and several nice taverns near the harbour, and buses to Piraeus and Athens can be caught from the main road.

North of Evia, and away from the usual sailing routes, lie the green islands of the Sporades. All the islands are fertile, gentle, and idyllic, being known for their white beaches and rich under water fauna. Those islands that are more readily accessible have developed into popular holiday destinations. Peace and quiet is the trademark of Alonissos, the tree-covered Skopelos, Peristera (with just 25 inhabitants), the uninhabited Psathura, Palagonisi, and Skiros in the South. Alonissos stretches out quite far and along with the islands just off its coast makes up the “Sea Park”, a natural reserve that is home to the Mediterranean seal and dolphins. The islands are very closely grouped, being about 15 to 20 nautical miles apart, and are thus an ideal area for family holidays and inexperienced yachtsmen.