Croatia’s Istrian Riviera, with a brief interlude in Venice, Italy.
By: Paula Wallis If you’ve been considering a beach holiday along the Istrian Riviera, you’re not alone. If not, why not? Croatia’s Istrian Riviera is becoming an ever more popular sunny destination for holidaying European families. But there’s a slow influx of North Americans that have discovered the beauty of the Adriatic coast as well. My first impression upon arriving in Croatia was how clean and well maintained the highways and roads through the countryside were. All the buildings and homes alongside the roads were in good repair and the surrounding areas seemed immaculately landscaped. This held true for every area we passed through or visited for the duration of our time in Croatia. What a beautiful, green country. The town of Porec teems with...
Read MoreSpooky Snowdonia: Ten of Snowdonia’s Most Haunted Sites
By: Steven Jones The existence of ghosts, spirits and other supernatural phenomena is a much-debated subject; nowhere more so than in Snowdonia, where many centuries’ worth of myths, legends and spooky stories are an integral part of our rich storytelling heritage. The following are ten of Snowdonia’s most haunted sites, if the stories are to be believed… 1. Maes-y-Neuadd Maes-y-Neuadd at Talsarnau, near Harlech, is a 14th century building, extended over the centuries to become a manor house, which is now run as a hotel. The hotel has a resident ghost, reputedly the spirit of a children’s nursemaid from centuries ago. She’s a friendly ghost, though; guests report feeling comforted by her presence, and drifting pleasantly off to...
Read MoreSpooky Snowdonia: Two Snowdonia Ghost Stories For Halloween
By: Steven Jones The mythology of Snowdonia stretches back many hundreds of years. The deeds of King Arthur and his knights, mythical beasts like giants and the Gwiber, warring dragons – all are common themes in Snowdonia’s mythology. But spooky stories abound, too. Caernarfon residents describe visitations from Roman legionaries and ghostly nuns, Gwydir Castle boasts a number of resident ghosts – including the spectre of a long-dead dog – and shadowy figures in period costume have been reported at Conwy Castle. The following are two of our favourite Snowdonia ghost stories. The Landlord of Beddgelert According to legend, in the late 18th century the villagers of Beddgelert, led by a David Pritchard, landlord of the Goat Inn,...
Read MoreTen Ways To Enjoy Autumn In Snowdonia
By: Steven Jones In the winter, every Snowdonia vista seems to boast a dazzling backdrop of snow-capped mountains. At springtime, lush green fields come alive with the bleats of newborn lambs. And in the summertime, the nodding orange and red heads of wild crocosmia line every country lane, urging visitors towards the next beach. But it’s in autumn that Snowdonia is at its very best. The red and golden hues of trees donning their autumn jackets; the purplish heather on the mountainsides; the greens of the fields – all backed by the deep blue of the sea – are a sight to behold. During a Snowdonia autumn there’s still warmth in the sun during the day – enough for a walk through fallen leaves without having to wrap up winter-warm...
Read MoreLinks Golf Courses Of Snowdonia
By: Steven Jones As the great Ian Woosnam himself once said of playing golf in North Wales: “If you are looking for challenging golf then there is no better place to test your driving skills than on the golf courses in Snowdonia Mountains and Coast… it is the ideal location to test all the abilities of your game”. We’ve said ourselves, time and time again, that North Wales’ golf courses are set in some of the UK’s most breathtaking scenery. And with golf in Wales being under the spotlight right now, with the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 just around the corner, there’s no better time to talk about what makes golf in Snowdonia so special: the courses. You’ll find all sorts of courses in Snowdonia, from parkland and...
Read MoreSnowdonia And The Arts: Ten Snowdonia Theatres And Galleries
By: Steven Jones The landscape of Snowdonia has long inspired the works of artists and craftspeople, and it’s easy to see why; the colours, the textures, the shapes and the layers of contrasting yet complementary elements are an artist’s dream. Snowdonia has also produced many well-known stage and screen artists, from rock and pop stars to opera giants; composers to playwrights; actors to directors. The Arts are in our blood, here in Snowdonia, and that’s why you’ll find so many wonderful theatres and galleries throughout the region. Whether your interest in the Arts is from a viewer’s or practitioner’s perspective, you’re sure to find a gallery or theatre in Snowdonia that you’ll fall head over heels in love...
Read MorePortland, Oregon: Visiting the City of Roses
By: Eric Alexander Hamilton Imagine a city built on the banks of two huge rivers that has year-round mild climate, a mixture of beautiful historic and modern buildings, numerous parks with green forests and colorful gardens, tree-lined streets, elegant neighborhoods, a major university (Portland State University) and an efficient public transit system of light-rail trains and streetcars that connects all parts of the city to each other. That city is Portland, Oregon. In this city you can easily go anywhere in the downtown area by foot or by transit—a rarity in the United States. Portland is located in the Northwestern section of the United States, directly across the river from Vancouver, Washington. Lying about 70 miles (124 km.) from the Pacific Coast,...
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