Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

November 15, 2009

Las Vegas Trip 2009

Filed under: Holidays,Travel,USA — Tags: — needahand @ 11:06 am
Gill Travelling in Las Vegas Style

Gill Travelling in Las Vegas Style

Just a short post to celebrate our trip to Las Vegas in September 2009. I am still sorting through the photos ( I took over 500!) and it is taking more time than I have to spare at the moment. I am trying to organise everything into a little website which may be of use to others travelling to Las Vegas and also of interest to the 20 or so members of the Pilar badminton club (and friends), with whom we travelled (is it whom or who?). The trip organised by Kitty was a great success and I think everyone had a great time, even if it did prove to be a little more expensive than expected (the prices in Las Vegas have apparently soared in the last couple of years). The picture shown is of my wife Gill, travelling in the style with which she would like to be accustomed! I shall be posting lots more pictures here (when I get the time), but you might find the website interesting as it has a Las Vegas map, which is interactive and very handy if you are driving around Las Vegas, and the current Las Vegas weather, so you can see what to expect if you are visiting….more on Las Vegas later.

November 12, 2009

Playa del Ingles Canary Islands

Filed under: Canary Islands,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 2:31 pm

Situated on the edge of the Dunas de Maspalomas, the Gran Canaria seaside resort of Playa del Ingles is one of the best known spots on the island. Popular more for its climate and beach than for any historical or cultural worth, Playa del Ingles also has a vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of facilities for visitors to enjoy. During the daytime most holidaymakers head for the beach area, where aside from the sea, sand and sun, there are plenty of bars and restaurants to tempt the thirsty and hungry. The climate is of course fantastic, with Playa del Ingles weather being sunny and dry all year long. The beach is excellent and was in fact man-made from sand shipped in from the Sahara Desert, there are also lots of water sports facilities for those who get bored with simply sunbathing. Playa del Ingles can be accessed from the GC1 and the GC500 and is approximately 30 km from the airport at Gando. Playa del Ingles Map.

Vegueta and Playa de las Canteras

Two entirely contrasting districts of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Playa de las Canteras and Vegueta also lie at opposing ends of this great city. Playa de las Canteras is the prime beach for the city and as such has all the modern facilities that such an attraction should have, its 4 kilometres of golden sand attracts visitors throughout the year, they come to enjoy the safe warm waters of this reef protected beach. On the other hand the ancient district of Vegueta was where the original city was founded in 1478, its narrow streets concealing attractions which take visitors back many centuries, head here to see interesting museums, the cathedral and steep yourself in the history of this historic city.

More about Playa de las Canteras here: http://www.needahandspanishproperties.com/playa-de-las-canteras.html

And Vegueta here: http://www.needahandspanishproperties.com/vegueta.html

November 11, 2009

Yaiza Lanzarote

Filed under: Canary Islands,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 4:38 pm

Heading from Playa Blanca towards the Parque Nacional de Tinamfaya, you will pass through the pretty town of Yaiza one of the most attractive on the island of Lanzarote in the Spanish Canary islands. Nestling at the foot of the Montañas del Fuego mountains, Yaiza is the main town for the municipality which covers south-western Lanzarote. Partly destroyed by the great volcanic eruption during the 1730’s, Yaiza’s inhabitants mostly left the town and headed further south for the village of Femes, the population not fully recovering until the 20th century. Notable places to visit in the town include the beautiful 18th century church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, built on the site of an earlier chapel with its colourful altarpiece, outside the town, of course, you can head for Timanfaya, one of Lanzarote’s premier tourist destinations. Yaiza is a peaceful place to stop for a drink or maybe a meal in one of the fine restaurants, there are also some excellent gift shops where you can purchase a souvenir or two from your visit. Yaiza Map.

Things to do in Maspalomas

Filed under: Canary Islands,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 4:29 pm

As you would expect from one of the largest resorts on Gran Canaria, Maspalomas has a wide range of tourist attractions to make your stay in the resort more enjoyable. No doubt the kids will get bored with the beach after a couple of days and families will be looking for something else to fill their time. Probably one of the first places you will head for will be the Aqualand water park, one of the best known Maspalomas attractions, and the biggest water park in the Canary Islands and boasting 13 attractions and 33 slides, the star attraction of Aqualand is the Tornado, with big slopes and fast turns, other rides include Aquamania, Adrenalina and the Rapids. The evening sky of Maspalomas is lit up by the Holiday World amusement park, apart from the usual rides and attractions this holiday complex also offers a 16 lane ten pin bowling alley and a number of pubs, restaurants and discos. Another of the famous Maspalomas attractions is Palmitos Park, severely damaged by fire it reopened in the summer of 2008 and will no doubt return to its former glory offering animal exhibitions and wildlife attractions. Thrill seekers may head for the last of our attractions which is the well known Karting Maspalomas go-kart track, where speed and skill will keep the slightly older visitors happy. Maspalomas Map.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Las Palmas

Las Palmas

The largest city in the Canary Islands, Spain, the historic city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, was founded on the 24th June 1478 by the Spanish conquistadors under Juan Rejón. Las Palmas developed into a significant port and was well used by ships sailing around the African coast and also those visiting the Americas. Used as a stopping off point for Christopher Columbus, before heading for La Gomera and onto the 1st of his American voyages. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria boasts a fantastic museum, named after the famous explorer, the Casa Colón contains models and artefacts relating to Columbus and his voyages and exploits. The fabulous Catedral de Santa Ana was begun in 1497 and took over 400 years to finish, the Neo-Classical façade hides Gothic vaults. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is situated in the fertile north of the island and experiences a humid climate, which is not as hot as the desert-like south of the island, making Las Palmas weather more pleasant in the summer months and whilst remaining mild during the winter. A couple of interesting towns worth visiting near to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are Teror, the religious capital of the island and Moya, a pretty little town dominated by its huge church. Las Palmas Map.

November 10, 2009

El Hierro Canary Islands

Filed under: Canary Islands,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , — needahand @ 6:08 pm
Roque de Bonanza El Hierro Canary Islands

Roque de Bonanza El Hierro Canary Islands

The most westerly and also the smallest of the major Canary Islands, El Hierro has a population of just 10,000, living on an island with an area of 278km2. A mountainous island with over 500 volcanic peaks, El Hierro was actually considerably bigger at one time, but lost a third of its area during a huge volcanic eruprion which took place 50,000 years ago. First settled by the Bimbache tribe, El Hierro later attracted the attention of Castillion and Norman sailors, who seized the island and sold the inhabitants into slavery. The main source of survival for the islanders over the years has been fishing and agriculture and even these days relies mostly on these as tourism has not really taken off on the island due mainly to the scarcity of beaches. The only town of any size on El Hierro is Valverde.

Lanzarote Resorts – Puerto del Carmen

Filed under: Canary Islands,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 3:33 pm

Located in the municipality of Tias, Lanzarote, the seaside resort of Puerto del Carmen was formerly just a small fishing village with an attractive harbour. With the growth of the Canary Islands tourist industry in the 1970’s, Puerto del Carmen developed into the largest resort on the island and now attracts many thousands of visitors, who come to enjoy the fine sandy beaches, wonderful seafood restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Perfect for Christmas and winter holidays and breaks, the off-season Puerto del Carmen weather is more pleasant than the hot temperatures experienced during the traditional summer season. From the harbour it is possible to take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat or even a trip to one of the neighbouring islands, the harbour is also where the best restaurants are located, especially if you are looking for seafood, your meal will be so fresh it will be jumping off the plate! For the best beaches you cannot beat Puerto del Carmen, the main beach right beside the town is as good as any on the island, and to the east of the harbour there are an additional 12 km of fantastic beaches great in the sunny weather. For water sports enthusiasts there are plenty of facilities for windsurfing and scuba diving plus other popular activities. Puerto del Carmen is about a 10 minute drive from Arrecife airport.

November 9, 2009

Hertfordshire Towns – Harpenden

Filed under: England,History,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 2:29 pm

A small town in the county of Hertfordshire, UK, Harpenden is within the district of St Albans and has an interesting history. Roman remains discovered in areas around Harpenden suggest of settlements in the centuries BC, however the original village of Harpenden developed as woodland was cleared under Edward the Confessor during the eleventh century, to make room for farming around Wheathampstead Manor, the first church to be built was the St Nicholas church (1217). Somewhat later during the Wars of the Roses, a common close to Harpenden was the site of the Second Battle of St Albans. During the early 19th century, Harpenden was the location of the 1st annually run steeplechase race, and was a popular location for horse racing throughout the century. The face of Harpenden changed forever with the arrival of the railway, as farms were replaced with residential development. During WW2 the town was used for the evacuation of children from bomb torn London. Harpenden today is mostly a commuter town, which enjoys excellent road and rail links with London.

November 8, 2009

Wheathampstead Hertfordshire

Filed under: England,History,United Kingdom — Tags: , , , , — needahand @ 9:39 pm

A small town to the north of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Wheathampstead has a population of over 6,000 and is basically little more than a large village. The history of Wheathampstead goes back to the centuries BC, when there were settlements established by a tribe known as the Belgae. Evidence found in an area known as Devil’s Dyke provided proof of these early settlements. Wheathampstead was later mentioned in the Domesday Book (1089), when it was referred to as Watamestede. Though there may have been a church in the town before the Normans arrived, the earliest surviving construction is part of the church of  St Helens which dates from around 1280. Right up until 1859 Wheathampstead was part of the same rectory as another Hertfordshire town, Harpenden. Present day Wheathampstead is within the district of St Albans. Map of Wheathampstead.

November 7, 2009

La Pineda Costa Dorada

Filed under: Costa Dorada,Spain — Tags: , , , , , , — needahand @ 6:44 pm

Situated beside the resort of Salou to the south of Tarragona, the quieter resort of La Pineda is more popular with families, it has a superb sandy beach bordered by an attractive palm studded promenade. The coastal section of the town of Vila-Seca, La Pineda is a mostly made for tourism resort with a decent range of facilities. The biggest attraction in the area is the Port Aventura theme park, originally built and owned by Universal Studios, this huge theme park has a great selection of rides, a water park and a beach club. Together with Salou and Cambrils, La Pineda is one of the three big Costa Dorada seaside resorts and attracts large numbers of visitors, especially during the summer months when La Pineda weather is hot and sunny and rain is scarce. Perfect for a beach holiday, La Pineda is also a handy base for touring the city of Tarragona with its many Roman ruins. La Pineda Map.

November 6, 2009

Playa de Papagayo Lanzarote

Filed under: Canary Islands,Holidays,Spain — Tags: , , , — needahand @ 6:45 pm

Boasting some of the finest beaches on the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Punta de Papagayo is a breezy point at the southerly end of the island. Somewhat isolated and not yet developed the area still attracts lots of tourists, seeking quieter beaches away from the busy resorts. The main and most popular of the beaches, Playa de Papagayo is easily accessed by road from nearby Playa Blanca, some of the other beaches are easier to reach by walking or by boat. There are regular boat trips operating from the harbour in Playa Blanca, and many choose this method as a more exciting way to visit. All the beaches benefit from superb views to the nearby island of Fuerteventura, and all are worth a visit if you are travelling around Lanzarote this year. Playa de Papagayo Map.

November 2, 2009

Playa Blanca Lanzarote

Filed under: Canary Islands,Spain,Travel — Tags: , , , , , — needahand @ 7:07 pm

Probably the most pleasant of the main resorts of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca was developed from a small traditional fishing village located at the south-western end of the island. Much more laid back than such resorts as Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca has a more relaxed feel and is ideal for a lazy beach style holiday, while still being suitable for the more energetic having some good water sports facilities and some interesting historic monuments, in fact overall it is an ideal base for Lanzarote travel in general. Well known for its beaches, Playa Blanca has several and also the renowned area of Playas del Papagayos just 4km down the coast has some lovely little beaches situated in pretty coves. You should definitely take a boat trip to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura while you are there and perhaps also a trip to little Los Lobos. Historic attractions nearby include the Castillo de las Coloradas watchtower at Punta del Aguila and the remains of a Norman settlement at San Marcial del Rubicon, nature lovers may wish to visit the Los Ajaches Reserve where birds and wildlife have been protected since 1991. Excellent for holidays all year long, Playa Blanca weather is mostly sunny and pleasant with less than 6 inches of rain each year. Situated quite a distance from the airport at Arrecife, it may be sensible for visitors to hire a car if other transport is not laid on, this gives the added benefit of being able to tour around the island and visit such places as the Parque Nacional de Timanfaya where volcanic lava still bubbles under the surface. Playa Blanca is about 35 km from Arrecife airport.

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