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Munich 1a Munich 1a Tags: Munich Germany Callan Travel

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Munich part 1 Visiting Munich, focusing on the historic center of town, one of Germany's great cities. Tags: Munich Germany Callan Travel

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Copenhagen intro Copenhagen intro Tags: Copenhagen travel Denmark Scandinavia

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Copenhagen part 1 Copenhagen part 1 Tags: Copenhagen Denmark Scandinavia travel

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Stockholm part1 Stockholm part1 Tags: Stockholm Sweden Scandinavia travel

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Stockholm part2 Stockholm part2 Tags: Stockholm Sweden Scandinavia travel

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Scandinavia tour comments Scandinavia tour comments Tags: Scandinavia travel Sweden Norway Finaldn Copenhagen

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Nile Cruise The best way to see Egypt is cruising on the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Scenery is spectacular, viewed from the comfort of your ship, and you stop along the way to visit the historic sites. Tags: Nile Egypt cruise Luxor Aswan Edfu Kom Ombo

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Luxor markets The street markets of Luxor, Egypt are very colorful places, with lots of great bargains, friendly people, goats wandering around and many unusual things to see, along the banks of the Nile. Tags: Luxor Egypt markets Nile sites Thebes

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Luxor Temple Detailed tour with a local Egyptologist of the great temple at Luxor, Egypt, on the banks of the Nile. Tags: Luxor Egypt Nile temple

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Luxor shops & sites Luxor is one of the world's great cities to visit, with ancient sites, temples, Valley of the Kings, authentic local markets and beautiful setting on the Nile. Tags: Luxor Egypt Nile temples

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Karnak part 2 Continue our visit to Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt, the world's largest religious structure and one of the oldest. Tags: Karnak Luxor Egypt Nile Temple Thebes

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Karnak part 1 Karnak Temple in Luxor, Egypt is the world's largest religious structure and one of the oldest. Tags: Karnak Luxor Egypt Nile Temple Thebes

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Egypt Introduction Begin the tour of Egypt with a summary look at this great nation. Tags: Egypt pyramids Nile Cairo Luxor Aswan

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Barcelona's Park Guell A major visitor activity in Barcelona is pursuit of architectural masterpieces created by Antoni Gaudi, and one of the best is his phantasmagoric Park Guell, a whimsical whirl of colored ceramics, sculptures, sinuous benches, weird buildings, bizarre pavilions and curved paths winding through a lush garden setting, with a view across the city from its hill-top perch. The park's structures are curved in a mélange of fairy-tale shapes covered with mosaics of broken tiles in a style called "trencadis." Most of these tiles are brightly colored creating dazzling surfaces on the benches and columns, while other tiles are earth-brown fragments covering various pavilions and structures that look like they have grown out of the ground. Craftsmen worked under Gaudi's direction to create these amazing mosaics by smashing porcelain plates and pottery into little pieces then arranging them like a jigsaw puzzle. Some sculptures are similarly covered, especially the salamander fountain on the divided staircase that leads up to the 86-column Hypostile Hall. There is usually a small crowd waiting in turn to be photographed next to the bizarre salamander. Gaudi was the city's most famous architect, best known for his still-unfinished Sagrada Familia church which is also worth seeing but is not as pleasing as this park. He lived from 1852 to 1926 and designed Park Guell at the beginning of the 20th century as part of a large housing project that never got built. Instead we are left with this much more interesting and valuable 37-acre park that is one of the city's most popular attractions. Its main section consists of a broad terrace rimmed with benches and steps leading down to the front gate, which is flanked by two small Hansel and Gretel-inspired huts topped with ice cream sundae-shaped roofs. These small areas can get very crowded, making it difficult to properly appreciate this premium destination, so your best strategy is to arrive when the park opens at 10:00 a.m. in order to see the colorful sights without a thousand other tourists getting in your way. Park Guell is too far from the center to comfortably reach by walking but you can get there in 30 minutes by public transportation, preferably bus number 24 heading in the Carmel direction, which conveniently drops you off right next to the upper level of the park. You can catch the bus from major downtown locales including Placa Catalunia and along the Passeig de Gracia. Alternatively, the metro could bring you to the general vicinity, but requires much more walking than the bus. If you prefer rail, take the metro Green Line L3 and get off at the Lesseps or Vallcarca stations and tackle a 20-minute walk, with the last portion leading up a steep hill and then into the park along a pleasant winding path through the woods. Some of that uphill climb is alleviated by outdoor escalators running alongside the road, but overall you'll find it easier to take the bus. The same bus route will take you back to downtown after the visit. Gaudi lived on the property in one of the two houses that were actually constructed here. His home has been converted into a small museum of his memorabilia, for the die-hard fans. However there is not all that much in the way of attractions inside the house. They display some of the odd-shaped furniture designed by Gaudi, and visitors can enter his study, bedroom, living room and other parts of the house. There is an admission charge and the visit will take time, so you might find it unnecessary to enter this little museum, but you can certainly admire the outside of the house and garden for free, and it is conveniently located near the exit for the bus stop. It only takes 30 minutes to see the park from top to bottom, but you might linger in the gift shop and get something to eat at one of two snack bars. The food and seating is a bit better at the lower café near the front gates, but the sandwich counter up above on the main terrace has a pleasant outdoor ambience, with a strangely entertaining way of ordering food in which you tell the clerk your sandwich choice and he barks back "five minutes" without taking your name or giving you a number, but all works out well in the end. This is not great food, but it's a simple, inexpensive sandwich on a long, hard roll, and if you are hungry it is conveniently located in this beautiful setting which could hit the spot. Tags: Barcelona Park Guell Spain Europe Travel denniscallan

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Barcelona Mercat de la Boqueria Every city has a few special places where people gather together to experience the delightful ambience, and very often you will find that the main food market is one of the most exciting destinations in town. Occupying a city block filled with food and shoppers in the center of Barcelona, the Mercat de la Boqueria food market is a Great Public Place that is fascinating any time of the day, but especially worthwhile early in the day when not much else is happening in town. Most of Barcelona does not open until well after breakfast, except for this busy place, located along the famous Rambla boulevard, which in itself is another Special Space to explore later. The market begins to stir from 6:00am when the first merchants arrive and a few coffee counters open inside the hall and just outside, making this about the only place in town available for a pre-dawn caffeine fix. The market is fully up and running by 7:00am and stays open all day, making this a great place to hang out, watch the colorful action, get a coffee and maybe pick up some snacks for your busy day ahead. Even if you are not an early-bird, don't need any food and have no interest in architectural history, simply walking through this market is a rich adventure for your senses, passing row after row of perfectly displayed fruits and vegetables arranged by workers who really care about visual impact, color and aesthetics. At the same time you are immersed in the bustling atmosphere of busy shoppers and merchants calling out their specials in booming Spanish tones to seize attention and entertain the crowd. Odors fill the air with a constantly changing palette as you walk from cheese to fish and on to the fruits and veggies. You will get a sensual overload of sight, sound, color, motion, aroma and taste, for an experience not to be missed. Housed in an old-fashioned steel and glass structure first built in mid-19th century with an elaborate steel construction in the Modernista style of one century ago, the Mercat de la Boqueria resembles other great food halls once found in Europe's major cities, nearly all of which have been torn down or converted into shopping malls. In many ways these food hall structures were the first truly modern buildings, using the engineering technique of glass walls held together by steel frames which has subsequently dominated urban architecture. While most of the market's products are meant to be brought home and cooked, the intrepid traveler can certainly find fruits, nuts, cheese, breads, sweets and other great items for snacking during the day that will cost less and be more convenient than meals purchased in a restaurant. There is a lot to be said for munching on simple foods pulled out of your pocket while walking along sightseeing, and so far, no medical reports have suggested there is anything unhealthy about eating while you walk. Of course you are going to want to sit down and enjoy some great meals but not necessarily every time you get hungry, especially outside normal meal hours when your appetite and slumping energy level call for some attention. Several small counters offer excellent, quick meals and a chance to rub elbows with some talkative locals. Eating at a simple café like this is a refreshing contrast to the long wait for table service in a typical restaurant, because everything happens immediately in front of your eyes when you sit on that stool, especially when they are not crowded. The continued existence of this venerable structure is another fine example of the intact preservation of Barcelona's historic center. Its archaic glass and steel design looks like something out of an old movie but the market continues to play an important role in the modern daily lives of shoppers getting their daily fix of fresh, healthy foods. Most shops of the Gothic Quarter have sleek, ultra-contemporary interiors behind their old facades, unlike Mercat de la Boqueria, where you step back into the 19th century. While the decorated façade is visible along the Rambla, it is recessed from the street and gives no outside indication of the treasures to be found within. If you are not intentionally looking for the market you might miss it, so be on the alert for this must-see attraction. Tags: Barcelona Mercat Boqueria Spain Europe Travel denniscallan

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Queenstown Mall Another Great Space: The Queenstown Mall Best known for active outdoor activities in the rugged, beautiful mountains and lakes surrounding it, Queenstown, in the southern extreme of New Zealand, is also a charming village with a friendly town center that is a wonderful place to simply hang out and relax. The Queenstown Mall is the heart and soul of town, and focus of action with very good restaurants such as Tatler and Chicos, along with wine shops, boutiques, and specialty stores. This short pedestrian promenade runs through the middle of town and is flanked by several little side streets and a lovely the lakefront, making it very easy to find your way around this village center on foot. No driving necessary. There are some hip cafes along the mall with outside and indoor seating where you can come for your morning cappuccino with a croissant or perhaps brunch, read the newspaper and meet some local folks. Rustic, wooden architecture in a human-scale just one or two stories high creates a soothing atmosphere, enhanced by trees and comfortable outdoor furniture. The mall leads directly to the picturesque waterfront of Lake Wakatipu with a sandy beach to the left and a boardwalk to the right, which leads to the wharf and small marina, with mountains on all sides. You could swim in the lake, although its nippy temperature never varies more than a few degrees throughout the year, for the lake is extremely deep, scooped out by glaciers eons ago, as were most of the nearby valleys. The vertical, jagged mountains, on the other hand, are still growing a half-inch every year, pushed skyward by the collision of tectonic plates. All around the Queenstown Mall you will discover a compact zone of a half-dozen streets featuring nearly 300 restaurants, cafes and bars along with plenty of shops, postcards places, clothing boutiques and outdoor gear shops. It figures that such an active recreational area is a fine place to buy sporting goods, offering a good range of high-quality hiking gear and clothing, backpacks, shoes and boots. After all, with all these experienced outdoors people visiting they've got a high level of customer, so the shops have to provide high-quality goods to make the sale. Of course there are souvenir shops selling products made in New Zealand such as the ubiquitous sheepskin and delicious local foods including various jams, and fruits. The most popular souvenirs are anything with New Zealand printed on it, like t-shirts, coffee mugs and wall hangings. On one hand, it is wonderful to simply relax in town, shop, dine, gaze at the lake and mountains, and enjoy a short boat ride, which is enough for many visitors. You really don't have to do much except sit on a bench and look about at the attractive sights. For all the slackers and layabouts, perhaps the finest Queenstown activity is simply kicking back at a café on the mall and watching the people walk by in a never-ending stream. But Queenstown is mostly about the scenery and adventure activities, so you will probably want to plunge into nature's bosom. This is adventure central, so whatever your passion, you can find it here. Queenstown is perhaps the most popular visitor destination in New Zealand because of the outdoor activities, so get out of town and take advantage, which is really the main reason for coming here: visit Milford Sound, ride a jeep into the back country, tour some vineyards, take a cruise on the lake, watch a sheep farming demonstration, and maybe jump off a bridge on the end of a bungee, along with dozens of other exciting options. But you will always come back to town and to the tranquil comforts of the Queenstown Mall -- in the evening especially -- and you'll find this is an excellent place to gravitate back to. Nearly all of the shops stay open until 9:00pm since potential shoppers are out of town adventuring during the day and so the merchants remain open to accommodate and cater to those late arrivals, seven days a week, twelve months each year. Or if you just skip all that adventure and stay in town all day, that's OK too. Tags: Queenstown New Zealand Travel denniscallan

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Istanbul 8 Dolmabahce Palace After residing in Topkapi Palace for four hundred years, the royal Sultanate built the new palace of Dolmabahce in 1842-1856 after deciding that Topkapi was wearing out and no longer met the standards fit for European royalty. It has separate sections for men, women and ceremonial functions. Builders used over 10 tons of gold and 15 tons of silver to decorate the palace, which has an elaborate style that blends Asian and Western influences along with a mix of French Empire, baroque, rococo and classical themes. Some of the extravagant highlights include giant crystal chandeliers, silk carpets and drapes, original furnishings, vast murals, 600 paintings, hundreds of sculpture and objects d'art, decorated ceilings and spectacular architecture throughout. Furnishings for the palace were designed by Sechan, the same decorator who created the opulent interior of the Paris Opera. One is reminded of Versailles on steroids, with an exotic Oriental atmosphere wildly mixed in. Admission price includes the services of an informative palace guide who walks you through many of the 285 rooms and 46 salons, connected by elegant halls and chambers. The main entrance has a grand staircase lined with Baccarat crystal banisters, impressive Corinthian columns all around, golden carved decorations and a glass ceiling from which hangs the world's third biggest chandelier, weighing one ton. All the elements in this dazzling entry coexist in perfect symmetry and harmony. Passing through room after room is an exhilarating experience as you try to absorb the infinite details. Other decorative features include clocks, ceramics, detailed parquet floors, mirrors, balustrades, mantles, candelabras and gilded fixtures. Just when you thought the decor couldn't get more outrageous, you reach the climax in the Grand Hall, with its golden dome towering 100 feet over a vast room decorated in a brilliant display of gold, crystal and marble, with tall columns and vaulted arches all around. The tour then continues into the ladies side of the palace, which is similarly beautiful, encrusted with gold everywhere. The palace stretches for 600 yards along the shore of the Bosphorus and is surrounded by vast gardens filled with flowers, trees and shrubs that were gathered from all over the world. You can stroll through the lush garden terraces, adorned with fountains and statues, while enjoying views across the water. Tags: Istanbul Dolmabahce Palace Turkey Europe Travel denniscallan

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Istanbul 7 Bosphorus boat ride Now it is time to reward yourself with the most pleasant out-of-town diversion -- a ferry ride on the Bosphorus, the strategic waterway that divides Asia and Europe. This excursion offers beautiful views of palaces and villages along the waterfront and a wonderful choice of fish restaurants in one of three villages on the north end near the Black Sea, Sariyer, Rumeli Kavagi or Anadolu Kavagi. It takes about 2 hours to get to the end of the line, 3 hours for a meal, and 2 hours to return the same way. You could shorten the ride by turning around sooner and just buying a snack on board, but the fish restaurants at the various stops are world-famous. Organized tours can make all the arrangements, but it is easy and much cheaper to do on your own. Bosphorus ferries leave from the dock at Eminonu, by the Spice Market and Sirkeci Railway Station. An alternative trip to Princess Islands by hydrofoil is also available at the Galata Bridge end of the dock. The ferry terminal is a busy area where you can feel the pulse of the city, especially at rush hour when thousands of locals are walking between here and work. To find the Bosphorus ferry, look for Pier 3 and the sign that says "Bogaz Hatti," operated by the official Istanbul Sehir Hatlari Boats. Don't let yourself be misguided by aggressive salesmen to one of the smaller boats alongside the commercial ferry, because this is another rip-off with a shorter cruise that takes longer. (Ferry departures are at 10:35a.m., 12:45p.m. and 2:15p.m.; with returns from the last stop of Anadolu Kavagi at 2:15, 3:15 and 5:00p.m.) The Bosphorus is one of the world's busiest waterways with 130 large ships passing through daily, carrying petroleum products and other valued cargo, as well as a myriad of small craft. One of your first sights will be the extravagant Palace of Dolmabahce you just visited, with its 600-yard frontage on the water. Leaving the city, you soon pass under the Bosphorus suspension bridge, one of the world's longest. Soon, you come to two remarkable fortresses facing each other across the straight: Rumeli, built by the invading Muslims in 1452 in their final siege of the city, and Anadolu, on the Asian side, built 50 years earlier as part of the same long-term attack. The forts enabled the Muslim forces to block food shipment to the city and prevent Christian allies from entering in support. It took the invading Muslims nearly a century before they conquered what was then Constantinople, the last refuge of the once-mighty Byzantine Empire. The ferry then passes under Fatih Sultan Mehmet, a newer suspension bridge linking the two continents, and then continues north past small suburban villages and lush green hillsides. More palaces and historic old wooden mansions called "yali" line the shores on both sides as your ferry zigzags from Europe to Asia, stopping at several towns along the way. Many luxury apartments have been springing up along this desirable stretch and the older wooden homes are nicely maintained with colorfully-painted facades. When you have reached your preferred end destination and finish a meal, you could return to Istanbul by return boat or by a local bus, which would give you a different perspective and new scenery. You could even hop off along the way if you wish to see more sights, such as the beautiful Rumeli fortress, which is open as a museum. Tags: Istanbul Bosphorus boat ride Turkey Europe Travel denniscallan

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Istanbul 6 Shopping streets & Spice Market After you have had enough of the bazaar, be sure to take a walk through the streets nearby, which are also packed with shops and have a lively atmosphere. Book-lovers can stroll a block over from the bazaar's southwest corner to the book stalls along Sahaflar Carsisi. An intellectual atmosphere pervades this long courtyard, with jumbled displays of second-hand books spilling out of the little shops onto sidewalk tables, and with tiny cafes tucked away. Istanbul University is just two blocks further, so you will undoubtedly see students milling about as well as many older characters. Notice the street vendors in front of the big Beyazidiye mosque at the end of this bibliophile alley, with cheap clothing strung over their arms -- especially denim pants for the students. You are in the middle of Beyazit Square, one of the liveliest places in the Old Town, with several nice sidewalk cafes and many people passing through. If you are keen to see more mosques, have a look inside the Beyazidiye Cami'i, built from 1501 in what is considered the first classical-style design, with an attractive courtyard in front and entrances on three sides. Don't linger here too long because a much bigger and more magnificent mosque is waiting 500 yards away on the other side of the university, the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent. The Spice Market is one of the oldest shopping centers in the world, dating back to the 7th century. Inside they sell exotic spices that you would never see at home, along with nuts, candy and dried fruits. Remember to bargain for the goods. The L-shaped market is also called the Egyptian Bazaar and has shops on two floors with a nice café upstairs. It is not nearly as big or touristy as the Grand Bazaar and has an attraction all its own, so don't think that you can skip it because you've already seen the larger market. They are both worth your time. Among the unusual items you can find in this and most other markets is Turkish Delight, a sweet treat popular among locals that makes an excellent gift to bring home. Buy several extra boxes, however, because once you have a taste of it, you are going to want to eat it all. It has an almond flavor that is not overly sweet, but addictive. Tags: Istanbul Spice Market Turkey Europe Travel denniscallan

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