July 2012 – The Travel Masters

July 30, 2012August 7, 2012

The Tea Garden Set Ustu in Istanbul

Set Ustu in Gulhane Park in Istanbul, is not only a place for tea in the tradition of Istanbul, it is also an excellent vantage point of the Bosphorus; you sit down (preferably on weekdays, so you need not fear “competition” by residents), you order tea, and you will be served with the traditional brass samovar, with strainer, sugar and cups to be filled with tea.

You can relax while sipping tea, but also wanting a coffee or a soft drink, if you are hungry, you can eat meatballs with potatoes, watching the sea, where, if you’re lucky, you see dolphins as they pass between two seas, and always, on any day, the wakes of ships; and it is not uncommon for someone to sit down here, with a book in his hand, indicating that it is a regular customer of Set Ustu. Continue reading “The Tea Garden Set Ustu in Istanbul”

July 28, 2012July 30, 2012

Giant Buddha of Leshan: China

The photos below you see that – as you’ve imagined – show the stone statue larger than the world depicting Buddha. It is located near the city of Leshan, Sichuan Province in China.

Construction began in 713 by a Chinese monk, to try to calm the raging currents of the nearby rivers. It was completed only ninety years later.

The statue is about 71 meters, is part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site and represents Maitreya Buddha in a sitting position, hands on knees.

July 26, 2012November 1, 2012

What to do in August in Holland: All upcoming events

The schedule of August in Holland is full of events. There’s something for every taste. It will start already on 1 August with the Gay Pride in Amsterdam, at which movies, exhibitions, workshops and attend parties. The event runs until August 5, the salient moment of the Gay Pride will be the Canal Parade.

From August 10 until 19, again in Amsterdam, it is completely different genre with the Canals Festival and the historic city center will become the most beautiful concert hall in Holland, you can attend concerts on floating platforms in the canals, hidden in courtyards, in the historical rooms of the palaces and terraces. Continue reading “What to do in August in Holland: All upcoming events”

July 24, 2012July 30, 2012

Post Ranch Inn: Ultra scenic cliffs of California

Film and TV have accustomed us to think of California as a state with only sandy coasts and beaches. Instead those parts you can also find areas where the sea breaks against extensive reefs, perhaps dominated by ranches that offer opportunities to stay really interesting. As the Post Ranch Inn, a hotel perched a top a tall stretch of coast, located on top of a hill from where you can enjoy a panorama really very broad.

From Big Sur, where it is, the Ranch promises a romantic holiday and ecological (it makes extensive use of renewable and recyclable materials) overlooking the Pacific Ocean, as well as a range of accommodation to suit all tastes, a wellness center and a restaurant pretty well stocked in terms of wines. Continue reading “Post Ranch Inn: Ultra scenic cliffs of California”

July 21, 2012November 1, 2012

The top ten craziest festivals in the world

Today want to tell some of the top ten festivals that feature some very extravagant city in the world.

It can be of various types, from music to local tradition, including masks, costumes and parties decidedly strong colors. Some are very familiar with it, but others are not known by all.

Glastonbury Music Festival:
It celebrates in Pilton, England, for three days in the last weekend of June. One, if not the largest music festival in the world. Last year there were 177,000 attendance and 700 musical performances. All this crazy party after excluding the evening and the general debauchery that goes with it.

Songkran:
It is held anywhere in the Thilandia, especially in Bangkok and Chang Mai. It occurs at about mid-April. It celebrates the Thai New Year, the solar New Year, lasts a week and the people walk down the street, on the ground, and takes the bucketful of water, to symbolize the expulsion of bad luck. Continue reading “The top ten craziest festivals in the world”

July 19, 2012July 20, 2012

The most beautiful beaches: Cala Estreta in Costa Brava

Cala Estreta, the best beach of the Costa Brava in Catalonia, is a short stretch of coastline, where the crystal clear water, which changes the colors of emerald and turquoise, iis populated by flocks of fish and marine plants.

Two beaches, narrow, curving up to meet under the rocks, framed by pine trees and low contours, burned by the sea and the Mediterranean, to which we are so accustomed. Continue reading “The most beautiful beaches: Cala Estreta in Costa Brava”

July 17, 2012December 31, 2012

Sleeping in Toronto: Drake Hotel

Art, design, extravagance, music, brunch and a fair price, are the key words that come to mind when thinking of Drake Hotel in Queen Street. Hotel but also permanent art exhibition with a collection always updating works by young contemporary artists, bar, restaurant and terrace for brunch, and rooms for every type of customer.

Arranged on four floors (from -1 to + 2) The Drake Hotel is a thousand faces: on level -1 you will find the Underground, with a stage, mix, service audio, lights … well, a real dance club concerts and evenings. At level 0 there is a reception, bar with outdoor stations, and lounge. It is very characteristic, decorated in wood, with a library that is also the location for DJs, bar counter with a selection of draft beers, liquors and good wine, tables for dining and space for relaxing. Continue reading “Sleeping in Toronto: Drake Hotel”

July 16, 2012July 17, 2012

Halmstad: The second best city in Sweden

Have you ever heard of Halmstad? Halmstad was ranked second among the cities to live in Sweden, with its 90 000 inhabitants settled on the west coast of the country. Location Danish towns until 1645 the Swedish Centre attracts tourists and vacationers with many cultural events, festivals, sporting events and concerts.

In the top ten things to see in Halmstad are the Picasso Park, a green area situated along the banks of the river Nissan and embellished with some reproductions of sculptures by the Spanish. The Najaden museum ship, moored on the banks of the river, along which it is pleasant to walk through the pedestrian streets. Continue reading “Halmstad: The second best city in Sweden”

July 15, 2012May 6, 2014

The castles of the Loire: Chenonceau

We continue to wander around castles and manors, and, after a stop at Chambord, proceed to another stage of the beautiful castles of the Loire. So here we are at Chenonceau, unique castle-bridge to the east of the city of Tours.

Among the many impressive castles of the Loire that really has something more; since it was built over a river and its great halls stand on arches of stone in the water. Taking advantage of this particular shape on the ground floor has been built a magnificent ballroom and immense, with huge windows overlooking the river and the woods. Do not miss of course, the castle entrance, an Italian garden, guarded by a round tower isolated from the rest of the building. Continue reading “The castles of the Loire: Chenonceau”

July 14, 2012May 6, 2014

The Castle Road: go to castles between Germany and Czech Republic

If the beaches do not attract you and the mountain tired you, here’s a fresh and intriguing itinerary for your next holiday. This is the Castle Road, fascinating historical journey of the most impressive castles in Lower Germany and the Czech Republic’s route between Mannheim, Heidelberg, Heilbronn, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Ansbach, Nuremberg to reach the magical Prague. Touched the manors of Coburg, Kronach and Kulmbach, Bamberg and Bayreuth: past the Czech border here is another 15 cones and a monastery, between Prague and Eger.

There is short enough to satiate the appetite of the most demanding lover of history, architecture and military events, along a route along a thousand kilometers (it is therefore not recommended to start walking). The first press trips on this route dates back to 1954, passed the first phase of post-war reconstruction, many began to afford trips with historical and cultural content, then the boom in traffic encouraged the rapid development of Castle Road. Continue reading “The Castle Road: go to castles between Germany and Czech Republic”