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Lava Land Sun, Solitude & Silence

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When talking about volcano islands, most may think of Iceland or Hawaii – many may not know that Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa, has much more to offer than package deal resorts. While beaches may be more bountiful on other islands of the Canaries, Lanzarote boasts the most unique volcanic landscape and the most harmonious architecture. It was local artist´s César Manrique´s legacy that public building ordinances were changed to require all houses on the island to remain white and low-rise, which with few exceptions has been carefully observed since his passing. While most visitors to Lanzarote tend to stay in the main tourist resort of Puerto del Carmen, the island has much more remote and unspoilt scenery to offer in its Northern half. Here we find the high mountain range of the RISCO DE FAMARA with spectacular views over the Atlantic ocean and the nearby island of LA GRACIOSA. It is here, in the village of YÉ, that we start ou
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The Other Side of Jerusalem

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View over Old Town Jerusalem While most visitors to Israel will undoubtedly see the highlights in Jerusalem like the famous Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old Town, not as many will venture further afield to explore the areas outside the main tourist attractions, in particular beyond the “Green Line” of HaShalom Street in what is known as East Jerusalem, center of Palestinian life in the city. As a true example of a treasure off the beaten track, however, a visit to East Jerusalem may be highly worthwhile, as it can provide a glimpse into the current dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian relations, an introduction to Palestinian culture and an insight into individual identities contested along geopolitical and religious boundaries. So no better way to start such exploration than to visit Damascus Gate along the walls of Old Town. To reach the gate, we are already crossing the former border, where between 1948 when Israel was founded and the 6-day war of 1967 East Jerus
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Beaches and Ruins on the Mayan Riviera I: Tulúm, Cobá & Beyond

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Once the mass-tourist resorts of Cancún and Playa del Carmen are left behind, we may wish to head South on the Mayan Riviera to discover some of the true treasures of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Mayan ruins in Tulúm and Cobá. Just an hour south of Playa del Carmen by bus, we reach the sprawling village of Tulúm, once a sleepy small community and now a booming center for ecologically-minded tourism and gateway for the Mayan heritage sites. In Tulúm, it may be advisable to rent a bicycle to have easier access to the amenities in the village itself, as well as to the Mayan ruins and the magical beaches on the Carribbean. The first stop of any bus service to Tulúm is at the "ZONA ARQUEOLÓGICA", from which a 5 minute walk leads past sales booths and local handicrafts to the Museum Entrance itself. At a cost of 57 Pesos per Person, visitors gain access to what may rank among the most fascinating and scenic sights on the Yucatán Peninsula. Mayan ruins meet the blue Carribbean
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Beaches and Ruins on the Mayan Riviera I: Playa del Carmen

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With the war on drugs raging in many parts of the nation particularly in are as close to the U.S. border, tourism to Mexico has equally been adversely affected with many visitors questioning their personal safety in light of exagerated media coverage on the ongoing battle between drug cartels. For visitors that actually do venture south of the border (if coming from the U.S.), almost all tourist areas are perfectly safe, offer great value for money and unforgettable scenery, pristine beaches and unique cutural and architectural treasures. The most popular resort areas to visit would include the Baja Peninsula, the Pacific Coast around Puerto Vallarta as well as the Mayan Riviera on the Yucatan Peninsula. Among those destinations, the Yucatan may be by far the most popular and most crowded, as in addition to North American visitors, Europeans equally flock here in high numbers mostly from France, Italy and the Benelux. The best advice to arriving passengers here would be to leave
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Rising from the ashes...Dresden, Saxony!

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  There are few places in Europe with a more disturbing history yet of such surprising beauty: Dresden, capital of Saxony in the former East Germany, devastated by an infamous air raid in February 1945 and by the millenium floods of August 2002 exactly a decade ago - yet shining ever so proudly above the banks of the Elbe river with beautiful buildings both historic and new.  See the full gallery on Posterous Every time we arrive in Dresden, guests are pleasantly surprised by the city´s charms, beauty and unparalleled historic legacy. From driving into central Dresden and seeing its magnificent skyline, preferably from the other side of the Elbe river in Dresden Neustadt in what is called the "Canaletto view", to exploring the area around Our Lady´s Church and the recently restored Neumarkt, Dresden is a place of discovery, depth and character. For centuries it served as the seat of the WETTIN dynasty, the kings of Saxony, whose most illustrious leader AUGUS
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Savoring the Jewel of Southern Bohemia - Cesky Krumlov

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Few visitors to the Czech Republic ever venture much beyond Prague, although the Czech lands certainly have more attractions in store for those who do in fact leave the capital. On previous occasions we touched on other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Bohemia and Moravia, such as the famous Trinity Column in Olomouc or the "Garden of Europe" around the Palaces of Lednice and Valtice. The single most important destination for visitors outside of Prague, however, is a small town couched in the Vltava Valley in Southern Bohemia by the name of Cesky Krumlov. With a population of merely 15000 people, this gem of a Bohemian city boasts the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic after Prague and ranks among the most scenic and athmospheric destinations in all of Central Europe. The name Krumlov or Krummau in German makes direct reference to the city´s magnificent geographical location on a meandering bend of the Vltava River.The town´s setting is indeed spe
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