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The "Porrat de San Antón" in Alicante

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ALICANTE - Guapa, Guapa y Guapa - is the new catch phrase chosen by Alicante Tourist Authorities for their new 2011 campaign, along with the subheading "Quiereme como yo te quiero a ti" (Love me as much as I love you). In deed, Alicante has come a long ways over the past decade or two in revamping its image from an ugly portside duckling to a shining Mediterranean jewel. Much remains to be done, but overall, the city is certainly on the right track. Despite hords of Northern European vacationers taking the city by storm in the summer, Alicante remains quintessentially Spanish with its own infrastructure, traditions and celebrations. No better way to pay tribute to the spirit and beauty of Alicante than to introduce one of its major local festivals, the "Porrat de San Anton". Spain is known for its many festivities year-round from the bull run of San Fermines in Pamplona to the Fallas fireworks in Valencia. Yet many holidays and festivals are of a more loca...
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The Big Easy II: Community Spirit in the Lower Ninth Ward

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New Orleans is back - there can be no doubt about it. Everywhere construction is taking place, restoring the city to its former glory following the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As we explored in our first article, most visitors will focus on the traditional tourist areas around the French Quarter and Canal Street in Downtown New Orleans. Even in those key neighborhoods, we argued, alternative visitor experiences are possible and highly rewarding. Yet given the impact of destruction by Katrina almost 6 years ago and the enormous community response since then, hardly any neighborhood visit in New Orleans could be more sobering yet uplifting and enriching than to the Lower Ninth Ward. For that reason we would like to take a closer look at a day out in the ward not involving "sighseeing" or tourist activities but rather charity work, community spirit and being part of grassroots movements in the neighborhood. See the full gallery on posterous The Lower Nin...
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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 Yucat...
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