With a population of around 2.75 million, Buenos Aires is the largest city and the capital of the South American country of Argentina. The name Buenos Aires means “Fair Winds” and the city is located one the southern banks of The River Plate. Founded by the Spanish explorer Pedro de Mendoza in 1536, Buenos Aires has a long and interesting history. The well known dance the Tango originates from the back streets of Buenos Aires and it perhaps for this that the city is most famous. These days Buenos Aires is the commercial and financial capital of Argentina and has one of the busiest ports in the world. The architecture of Buenos Aires is varied and has influences from many European countries including Spain. Italy, Germany and France. The city has wide, tree-lined avenues, beautiful green spaces for relaxation and recuperation, and a large number of historic churches, mixed in with the modern skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Buenos Aires is also renowned for its sculptures and visitors will find these all over the city. In the last few years Buenos Aires has become a popular location for property investors and Buenos Aires property is proving to be a good investment as the prices are rising by up to 20% each year. When searching for a property in Buenos Aires, investors should take care to select a decent area for their purchase, as there are good and bad areas within the region. The property market is certainly booming in the city and the choice of Buenos Aires properties is wide and varied. There are a great many brand new apartment blocks appearing and Buenos Aires apartments are a popular choice with those seeking to purchase within the city. If this is your choice then finding a good value apartment in Buenos Aires should not be a problem and looking in an area such as Palermo or maybe Puerto Madero should give you plenty to choose from. All in all if you are looking to invest in property and would like to try somewhere a little different, then you could do little better than picking a Buenos Aires property for your money. Buenos Aires Map.
September 4, 2009
September 3, 2009
The Costa de la Luz Andalucia Spain
Located in south-western Andalucia on Spain’s border with Portugal, a 300 kilometres stretch of coastline called the Costa de la Luz is often called “The Spanish Algarve”. Its name which means “Coast of Light” derives from its clear unpolluted skies, and the subsequent quality of light that can be found there, it is renowned for its stunning sunsets. As yet mostly unspoilt the Costa de la Luz is becoming increasingly popular with holidaymakers, who visit to enjoy the wonderful sandy beaches, the interesting historic towns and cities and the beautiful countryside of its hinterland. Apart form the traditional beach style holiday, many visit for the excellent water sports facilities, especially surfing and windsurfing, where strong winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean provide ideal conditions for these popular sports, one of the finest resorts for these activities is Tarifa in the south-east of the region. The strong winds make temperatures cooler in this area and Costa de la Luz weather is generally a little cooler than the neighbouring Costa del Sol. The Costa de la Luz has a rich history and boasts the oldest permanently inhabited city in Europe – Cadiz – which is well worth a visit if you are in the area. The Costa de la Luz is made up of 2 provinces Huelva and Cadiz, Huelva begins at the border with Portugal and the Algarve, and ends at the Guadalquivir River, Cadiz stretches from the Guadalquivir to Tarifa. If you are flying to the Costa de la Luz, you will probably land at Jerez airport, a modern and compact airport situated north-east of Jerez de la Frontera. If you are on a package holiday you will no doubt be picked up from here, if not you can pick up your Costa de la Luz car hire vehicle directly from the airport. It is advisable to hire a car while you are visiting otherwise you will miss out on some great opportunities to travel around the region, don’t forget a trip into the magical city of Seville. Costa de la Luz Map.
Salobrena Costa Tropical
Considered by many to be the “Jewel of the Costa Tropical”, the Andalucian pueblo blanco, Salobrena tumbles down a high rock just inland from the coastline which is known as the Costa Tropical. Domnated by the Moorish castle which looks down on the town from its high position, Salobrena is surrounded by sugar cane plantations, a notable feature of this region of Spain. The Moorish castle (Castillo) was built in the tenth century and was a refuge for its Arabic inhabitants during their long struggle with the Christian troops of the reconquest, there is also evidence of Roman structures showing that Salobrena has an even longer history. Salobrena has eight kilometres of coastline including a fine wide beach of greyish sand, it is a popular location for those seeking a quieter holiday away from the main coastal resorts, but is also an ideal base for those wishing to explore the larger towns of Almunecar and Motril and also the historic city of Granada, which is less than an hours drive away. Costa Tropical Map.
September 2, 2009
Discovery Point Dundee Scotland
If travelling around the city of Dundee in Scotland this year, you should certainly consider a visit to Discovery Point, a major tourist attraction for the city. Discovery Point is where Captain Scott’s ship the RSS Discovery is on display, and there you can follow in the footsteps of Scott and his crew and get an idea of what life was like onboard this historic ship which sailed to Antarctica. With an audio / visual show, computer based multimedia, and guided tours, you will find plenty for the whole family to do at the Discovery Point adventure in Dundee. Discovery Point is located on Discovery Quay on the waterfront just before the Tay Road Bridge. Dundee Map.
Travel on the Costa Brava Spain
Boasting some of the most attractive coastline in the whole of the Spain, the Costa Brava region is located in the extreme north-east of the country within the region of Catalonia. The Costa Brava borders France to the north, Aragon to the west and Valencia to the south and was one of the first regions of Spain to attract mass tourism as cheaper package holidays and flights took off during the 1960’s, from then on Costa Brava travel was a popular option for those seeking a bit of guaranteed sunshine and a holiday abroad. Obviously the excellent summer time climate was one of the biggest draws for the region but the many beautiful Costa Brava beach resorts and the fine beaches which service them was an additional attraction. Amongst the best known resorts there are some real gems, and many have an interesting history along with their appeal as pure holiday resorts. Places such as Roses, Blanes and Estartit are among the best known while inland towns such as Girona, Figueres and Begur also have much to offer. Those wishing to get the most from a visit to the region should purchase a decent Costa Brava guide book, which will advice of the best and most interesting places to visit. Costa Brava Map.
History of Denia Spain
Though today a popular and modern resort, Denia, located on the Costa Blanca, Spain has a long and turbulent history. Thought to be named after the Roman temple of Diana, remnants of which were unearthed near the town, Denia is overlooked by its 16th century castle, built on an earlier 11th century Moorish fortress. These days the castle serves a more peaceful purpose and acts as the Archaeological Museum for the town, well worth a visit in order to delve deeper into the area’s history. Denia is also a busy port and for centuries survived by its fishing industry, there are still parts of its old fishing quarter, and wandering its narrow streets and alleys, whisks one back to simpler times. Settled over the centuries by Greeks, Romans and Moors, it was the Moors who built the first castle and held on to the town from the 8th to the 13th century. Taken back by the Christians in 1244, Denia became a marquisate in the 15th century, it joined the losing side in the War of Succession, which resulted in great hardship for the town. A thriving grape and raisin industry developed during the late 18th and early 19th centuries brought wealth and prosperity to Denia once more, though this was ruined by an outbreak of Phylloxera, which destroyed this industry and caused the decline of the town once again. Only the arrival of tourism during the 20th century allowed Denia to once again become prosperous. Denia Map.