Archive for July, 2009
Begining Morocco Travel Guide
Morocco
Morocco is an exciting unique and friendly country which offers host to a multitude of unforgettable holidays beach side towns offering warm long days on beautiful shores long lost cities with a large and varied history and a varied landscape to explore ranging from hard deserts leading to woodland. Whether you want a romantic honeymoon break escape from a grey city or just a break from a monotony of life Morocco has it all.
A Moroccan Guide
Even though Morocco offers so much for any holiday maker and due to this is quickly increasing in popularity in the tourist industry Morocco has a bad name for being a difficult county to take a holiday too. Would be visitors should focus on researching the needs of a holiday maker including those who are looking to rent a villa riad or palace. Visiting morocco can be a rememberable experience to treasure as long as any would be travelers remember that a holiday to Morocco is a lot different to a holiday in Europe.
About Morocco
Morocco is a country found on the north west coast of Africa and is a hub of culture great food and wonderful architecture all deriving from its African heritage but also covered in a layer of European flavour the result of being so close to Europe and its years of French empiric rule. The information below should help you with your research of a holiday to Morocco.
Basic guide to going on holiday to Morocco
Time: The local time in Morocco is GMT London time
Electrical supply: At the time of writing the average electricity supply is 220 volts 50Hz. The Two pin round plugs are the most commonly in use.
Languages: Arabian is the main language spoken inside the country of Morocco but eight other languages are also widely spoken including Spanish Berber and French. English speaking Natives are mostly found around the main tourist areas but French is most widely known.
Medical information: No vaccinations are necessary when entering Morocco. It is generally usual practice to only drink bottled water when outside main towns and cities and avoiding food sold on streets is essential. Hospitals are in most major towns and insurance is a necessity.
Tipping staff: usual tip of ten too fifteen percent is generally expected in the more high class bars and restaurants though many places have a built in service charge. lot of the services preformed by staff are done with the ultimate aim of getting a higher tip but dont let yourself be pushed around by strong hustling
Morocco Safety Warnings: Assault is not a major problem inside Morocco though there have been a few cases of armed thievery with knives on beaches and main cities. General common sense such as staying away from dim lit streets should keep you safe. Guides should be able to show a badge from a local tourist authorities. Generally visits to Morocco are trouble free but like any country acts of terrorism have occurred before and tourists are advised to keep a watchful eye on their holidays.
Moroccan customs and Laws: since Morocco is a Muslim dominated country the showing of naked skin is generally a bad idea so avoiding shorts swimsuits and other showing clothes outside of your hotel or beach as you especially females will be less hassle. Smoking is a common hobby and is generally shared inside social situations. It is important that religious customs are respected for example during the month of Radaman eating drinking and smoking should be done out of sight since it is disallowed by the Muslim customs. Things should only be passed from person to person with the right hand since the left hand is seen as unclean. Gay and lesbian acts are a criminal offense and none marital sexual relations are against the law.
Duty Free Laws: People Over the age of eighteen entering Morocco can bring:
50 Cigars or 200 Cigarettes or 400 grams of tobacco.
1 ltr spirits 1 ltr of wine.
5 grams of perfume.
Communicating abroad while in Morocco:
Morocos international access code is 212.
The outgoing code is double zero then the country code Example the United Kingdom would be 0044
Area codes are in use in certain areas for example 037 for rabat 044 for Marrakech.
Be wary of using hotel phones since many add large bills to abroad calls.
Two GSM Mobile networks are situated in the north of the country.
Internet cafes are in wide spread use in the main tourist areas.
This isnt an entire guide on Morocco but should help you start your research to the brilliance of the Moroccan country but a start on your research of the great country.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Paul Benjinks is a 32 year old American who has just started writing guides on the hundreds of countries he has visited on the website International travel Guides
As long as this bottom text remains you may use this guide for any free online purpose.
Bastille Day In Paris
The day is a celebration of independence and liberty. Cities all over France will be celebrating the spirit of freedom and democracy but the major events will be held in the Capital Paris making it a great time to plan your visit and take part in the celebrations.
Bastile Day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille in 1789 a prison which held political rebels who were considered by King Louis 16th to be unlawfully outspoken and troublesome.
At the time France was ruled by a wealthy King and Queen who did nothing to improve the life of the poor many of whom were starving on the streets. The middle class was growing and becoming more and more resentful of the life of luxury their leader was living thanks to the heavy taxes imposed by the King while France suffered massive foreign debt and an unstable financial future.
Through their writings and public assemblies these people called for rejection of the powerful monarchy and for the establishment of a free and democratic society with leaders elected by the people. Anyone seen to be challenging the authority of the King was arrested and imprisoned in the Bastille. A large cache of weapons was also stored at the prison making it the perfect symbol of the Kings power and tyranny.
On the 14th July 1789 a public demonstration protesting the incarceration of these prisoners and rejecting the rule of the king gathered momentum outside the prison walls. At least 1000 citizens managed to overpower the guards and take hold of the building burning it to the ground. 98 attackers were killed as well as one of the guards defending the prison. It was the start of the French Revolution. As the middle class took to the streets building barricades and fighting the royal army who were struggling to gain control the King fled with his wife for Versailles relinquishing his control of the nation.
Soon after this event the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was drafted outlining man’s equal liberties the rights to elect their own representatives reject oppression and communicate freely without fear of prosecution. The country was later declared a republic for the first time in 1792.
A year after the storming of the Bastille a festival was held to mark the anniversary of its destruction and the French have continued to celebrate the moment since then. In 1880 Bastille Day was declared an official national holiday under the motto of ‘liberty equality and fraternity’ the values which are represented on the French flag le Tricolour.
Although France was not free continuously from that moment on it was the values that these men were fighting for that remains symbolic for the people of France even to this day. Truly a cause for celebration!
Bastille Day or Fete National as it is known to the French is celebrated over two days. Traditionally the fire stations in Paris open their doors to the public between 9pm on the 13th July and 4am on the 14th for music and dancing spilling out onto the streets for the public to enjoy. A list is published of those stations which will be open in the weeks leading up to the event in local papers and a small donations is usually collected on entry. All the money raised goes to the Paris Fire Brigade Association.
The Town Hall of Paris usually hosts an evening of dancing in the Bastille Square the original site of the prison. Each year a theme is chosen reflecting one of the many nationalities of which France has citizens today. In 2007 the theme was African Music and the square was alive with bongo drums and percussion instruments late into the night.
On the 14th at about 10: 30am a grand parade is held on the Champs Elyses from Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. People line the streets to watch the parade led by the president of France followed by police cadets infantry and motorised troops of the military. Military jets will accompany the parade from the air streaming red blue and white to represent the colours of the flag.
The parade lasts about 2 hours and is a great spectacle to enjoy but if large crowds and marching bands is not your thing a great alternative is a visit to the Lourve Museum which is open free to the public on this day. It’s an excellent chance to enjoy some of the worlds greatest art in the worlds most famous art museum.
Later in the afternoon the Hippodrome de Longchamp is preparing for the only night of the year where horse racing is allowed after dark. The gates open at about 4pm and the races start by 5pm. The main race is held at 8pm followed by dancing long into the night. For children pony rides a barbecue and fair with rides is in full swing throughout the evening. A great option for families.
The most popular event of the day however is usually the fireworks display which takes place that evening. The main show is launched from from the Eiffle Tower but smaller displays are usually held around other parts of Paris followed by more parties and clubs until the early hours of the morning.
Bastille day is the one day in the year where just about everyone in Paris is free from work and school to celebrate the democratic foundation of their country in a most spectacular way. Everyone should enjoy at least one Bastille day in Paris
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Gaizka Pujana is the coowner of Barcelona Homes S.L. which is a companyspecialized in providing short term tenancy solutions in Seville and Barcelona through itsweb pages Paris apartment rentalParis holiday apartmentsAppartement Paris
Barcelona An Overview Guide
The locals are friendly and proud they believe with good reason in the beauty and history of their city and their Catalonian heritage. For many today Barcelona is the cultural capital of Spain leaving Madrid to host the politics. Today Barcelona is home to some one and half million people and millions of visitors every year.
It was Barcelona that won the bid for the 1992 Olympic Games an event that really helped to develop the city and place it on the tourist map. Prior to the huge developments that the city underwent in order to host the games Barcelona was certainly attractive but lacked a certain international city appeal. Following the games however it is one of the most visited cities in Europe and the Olympic area overlooking the Mediterranean and the whole city before it is still one of the most popular attractions. The Olympic area may be accessed by a cable car which takes you directly from the beach to the mountain top an absolute must for any visitor in Barcelona.
The Trendy Las Ramblas is a wide pedestrian mall of a little over a kilometer in length cutting from the harbor to Place Cataluya the centre of the city where the major thoroughfares of the city meet as do the old city and the newer parts. Las Ramblas is a favorite amongst locals and visitors due to its peacefulness in the heart of a bustling city its greenery its plentitude of bars cafes and restaurants and its ample supply of street entertainers.
The architecture of Barcelona is unparalleled in its diversity and quality. Antonio Gaudi changed the face of the city with his revolutionary style that dominates the attractions of the city today. One of the best examples of his work is probably the Park Guell situated on the el Carmel hill in the Garcia district of the city. The structure was originally part of an unsuccessful housing initiative in the early twentieth century and today provides spectacular vistas over the city and beautiful walks. La Sagrada Familia cathedral is probably the most spectacular Gaudi Structure. Started in 1882 this giant temple is still under construction and will not be finished for several years. The building itself towers over its surroundings easily picked out of an arial photograph and will quite simply take the breath away of any one in its vicinity. Gaudi’s many works are dotted around the city and have come to represent a style all of their own; a days walking tour visiting these sites is highly recommended.
The city has become homage place to a surprising group of people skaters. Due to its open plans and plentiful outdoor monuments and squares it provides an abundance of spots perfect for street skating.
Barcelona is not a cheap city to play in and with most hotels boasting an 85 year round occupancy it is easy to see why. An important point to be aware of is that there is a difference between a ‘hostel’ and a ‘hostal’ the later being a guest house or small hotel whereas the former is a youth hostel. A hostal is sometimes also referred to as a pension. Hostals are not rated as hotels are by a five start system but rather by a three star system are mostly family run and often can not be booked online. However many prefer them as they provide the same level of comfort as a hotel whilst also providing a family atmosphere giving you the opportunity to meet locals and taste local food all at a much reduced price. You should also be aware that some hostals have shared bathroom facilities so ask before you book what the set up is. A double room in a hostal will usually cost between 60 and 100 euros per night depending on the season and the star rating of the hostal. Hostels on the other hand start from around 18 euros a night including bed linen and breakfast whilst aparthotels hotel rooms with self catering facilities cost between 70 and 120 euros a night again depending on the star rating.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Get Ready Rentals offers short term rentals all over Europeappartementen Barcelona vakantieapartment BarcelonaApartment in Barcelona