But real this island is. Fano (pronounced fay-nooh) is the northern most of the North Sea islands that span from Holland in the south, to Denmark in the north. It is small, only about 8 km wide and 20 km in length and lies 3 km off the Danish city of Esbjerg, onetime 3rd largest fishing port in Europe and, undeniably, Denmark’s ugliest city, though a good deal better than many other cities to be found in Europe.

The only way to reach Fano is by a small car and passenger ferry that departs from Esbjerg every 20 minutes. There has been talk of building a bridge to the island, but it is to be hoped that this will never happen. After a 15 minute crossing you arrive at the main town of Nordby (pronounced nor-booh). It is called a town but it is really only a village. The island has two settlements Nordby and Sonderho (pronounced sunner-hooh) and both are exquisite.

When departing the ferry, spend some time walking the length of the main street. The street has barely changed in over 200 hundred years. Both sides are hemmed in by single storey thatched cottages – the ridge of the thatched cottages is finished with sods of grassy-earth, unlike England where the ridge is also made of thatch. And the road narrows in places so that a car can only just squeeze through. The street contains many little shops, selling everything from flowers, knit wear and crafts. There is an ancient potter (complete with a shaggy beard) who makes and paints beautifully simple pots, vases, plates and cups. You can also pop-in to the amber shop. If you talk to the owner, he will tell you how he collects the amber off the beach after the spring storms and polishes and grades the amber. He will even show you his more unusual pieces that contain insects that lived and died millions of years ago.

You can travel south to the island’s other settlement, Sonderho. Both villages are on the east side of the island, gaining protection from the North Sea on its westward side. Sonderho, especially, seems to ‘hunker down’ in the sand dunes. The visitor will leave Nordby knowing that the town is truly exquisite, he will arrive in Sonderho and know he has found something sublime.

Sonderho, is beautifully positioned on the south of the island amongst the sand dunes and reed beds. There are few shops but there is the Sonderho Kro (inn). It was founded in the early 18th century and has been in the same family for nine generations. The visitor really should dine there. The cuisine is superb and the inn is one of the most romantic spots on earth. You should try the smoked fish and meats, and afterwards walk in the small garden of the inn and inspect the smoke-houses. There is also a windmill on the outskirts of the village and a church, and both are well worth seeing.

The islands crowning glory is its beach. It runs the entire length of the island and is very, very wide. There are acres of room, even at the height of summer. You can be far away from everyone else despite the cars and camper vans that drive up and down it the island bus that connects Sonderho to Nordby the kite buggies and kite boarders that throng to the island dog walkers and the few nude tourists you’ll often see strolling along the beach! There is an annual kite festival held every year on the beach, in May, and thousands of kites are flown it’s a fantastic site.

The island has, what seems like, hundreds of summer-houses. Most are holiday homes for Danish families. If you’re going to spend some time on the island, you should consider renting one and spend time amongst the dunes or in the woods, sitting on the porch, sipping wine in the a amber-glow of the long, Nordic summer evenings. The intoxicating, dream-like quality of the island will take hold of you and wash your weariness away it’s a promise.

And when you come away, you’ll have dream-like memories of the shimmering images you saw on the beach and doubt if you were really there. Maybe the island is just a dream, maybe it isn’t. Perhaps, the island is the ‘Lorna Doon’ of the North Sea. A place, a lucky few, has had the good fortune to visit.

Beautiful churches adorn the banks of the Grand Canal as she snakes her way through the city. This main artery is at the centre of a myriad of canals running throughout the town.

The lifeblood of Venice is its tourism, a magnet for over 12 million visitors a year. Catering for this influx of visitors, the cities population of 70,000 people continue their daily lives, working the bars, cafes and restaurants.

Despite all this however, it seems that Venice is slowly sinking at the rate of approximately 2 inches every century. Terrible floods in 1966 caused much doom mongering and many people feared that Venice was about to be taken off the map.

The threat to remove funding for vital restoration projects gave serious cause for concern and prompted an urgent response to save the city. It was feared imminent flooding could completely destroy the city preventative measures were high priority.

The efforts of the past two decades have had considerable success. Reduced pollution, shipping and the restoration of natural sandbanks have all contributed to the cause.

The first settlers of Venice were those fleeing the Barbarians around 400 AD. To create solid foundations for their buildings they drove timber into the mud and began creating a community for their people.

The city’s emblem, the winged lion, derived from Saint Mark the Evangelist. The first significant church of Venice was built in the ninth century to house the relics of Saint Mark, and his emblem was soon adopted.

Venice’s trade brought great wealth and prosperity to the city and for many centuries it continued to grow. The city thrived on its colonies and invested its riches wisely. Churches and palaces became commonplace, as were museums to house many newly acquired works of art.

For the past couple of centuries however, the obvious lack of development space meant the city found it difficult to advance further. Wars with Turkey were a drain on the resources and so Venice was content to consolidate.

Despite this, Venice does not rest on its laurels. Every visit offers something new, a fresh experience to take home. Each region of the city has an individual charm, giving the sense there is always something special around each corner.

If you are an active person, you can find Maui activities to keep you busy. If you’re a beach bum, there’s no better place to go. If you prefer to relax in a spa or resort, Maui has plenty of those as well. There are fine places to shop, to eat and even historical places to visit. You can enjoy a luau with authentic Hawaiian good and much, much more. There is literally Maui fun for everyone!

See below for an overview of some of the many different places to see and things to do while visiting in Maui.

See a Volcano

Have you ever been to a volcano? Maui has the world’s largest inactive volcano, Mount Haleakala.Called the “House of the Sun” it is a sleeping volcano whose base it big enough to cover Manhattan! That’s right it’s over 10,000 feet high. Any volcano is impressive but this one is truly amazing.

There are places where you can tour and hike in the craters and much more. This will certainly be something to write home about! Get pictures of yourself in the volcano and share with friends and family.

The Valley Isles

Maui is known as the “Valley Isle” due to the two volcanic mountain ridges that go on the east and west coasts of the island. Maui is the second largest island of Hawaii and it measures 48 miles long and 26 wide, offering some 728 square miles of paradise to enjoy.

Maui has everything you’d expect from Hawaii, including lovely beaches, warm tropical waters, a fascinating history, high mountains, lush green valleys, fantastic waterfalls and sugarcane fields stretching to the horizon. It is a true tropical paradise for anyone of any age.

Activities

The island is full of many activities no matter what your style and physical fitness level. One favorite activity is golf and there are tons of resorts and courses to choose from. Maui is one of the most beautiful places on earth to golf and there are locations that are perfect for you whether you are new to golf or have been playing your entire life. There are also many affordable package deals you might be interested in.

You can go sailing, surfing or swimming in you enjoy the water. You can spend some time just tanning on the beach sipping tropical drinks, visiting the many shops and stores that are located on the shores. You can go shopping and buy authentic Hawaiian pieces or other souvenirs. You can visit many historical and nature sights all over the island as well.
Underwater Adventures

Many of the activities to do on Maui are underwater related. There are is the Maui Ocean Center to learn first hand all about the underwater life of Maui and you can also find places to go SCUBA diving or snorkeling. You can watch the whales come in to mate during the right season and you can also go fishing, dolphin watching and much more.
Dining

There are some fabulous choices for you when it comes to dining on Maui. There are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from all with different, varying but delicious menus. Whether you want a simple, quick and cheap meal or eloquent dining at its finest, you will find a place that meets your needs on Maui.

Some of the finest chefs in the world have come here to Maui to enjoy the opportunity to cook in restaurants on this fabulous island. You can take advantage of this culinary delight and enjoy many different types of foods while you are visiting Maui.

Tour the Island

There are actually many different ways to tour the island. You can enjoy it by land, sea or even air. There are hikes, bicycle tours, driving tours and more as well as tours by plane and helicopter. You can go sailing, boating, parasailing, parachuting and almost anything else you can think of. There are so many different ways of getting a new and different view of the island of Maui.

Whether you are coming alone, as a couple, as a family, for business or any other reason, you will love Maui and you are sure to find something to keep you content and busy. In fact, you may find it really hard to do everything in one trip and you will likely want to come back to Maui again as soon as possible.

In the local Indian language, the name of “Iguazu” means “great waters.” A local legend contends that the waterfall came into being when the god of the Iguazu River became enraged and had an outburst. The god is rumored to live in the area of the waters downpour called “The Devil’s Throat.”

The top of the waterfall rests along the rim of a cliff that is approximately 2 miles in length. Along this rim there is a collection of some 275 different cascades and waterfalls whose waters fall out over the edge and flow into a gorge 269 feet below. The clouds and mists of water that are sent spiraling into the air when the water hits various ledges and cliffs during its descent create beautiful rainbows that seem to appear everywhere.

Iguazu Falls is almost always a very active waterfall, but is at its peak during the rainy season, which occurs from November through March each year. Much to the dismay of the Falls’ fans, the waterfall completely dried up in 1978 and remained dry for a total of twenty -eight days. This was a phenomenon that had not occurred since 1934, and it is anyone’s guess when it may happen again.

Seeing Iguazu Falls is no hard task, as there are helicopter rides available that will fly the curious right over the top of the Falls, and boat trips that can be taken to the base of the Falls. Incredibly, there is also an elevator that will take visitors to the top of Iguazu Falls, and catwalks available that allow one to walk out over the various cascades that make up the wondrous waterfalls. If you prefer to stay dry, rain suits are available.

If you wish to be lulled to sleep by the calming sounds of Iguazu Falls, there are numerous lodges located nearby that offer wonderful accommodations, as well as being close enough to the waterfalls to hear them as you nod off.

Iguazu Falls are part of a protected jungle ecosystem that is comprised of two different national parks one in Brazil and the other in Argentina.

A visit to Iguazu Falls has something for all of the senses sights, sounds and smells included! Don’t forget to bring the camera, as these unique waterfalls are something to behold, and you will surely want to capture their rarity on film.

If and when you get the chance to step foot on the beautiful land that is known as Alaska, there are a few places that you will not want to miss on your journey. Listed below are a few of the most popular destinations while visiting Alaska.

If you ever get the chance to take a cruise to Alaska, it is absolutely recommended! There are many beautiful coastal cities that you can view on your way around Alaska, including: Skagway, Juneau and Fairbanks. When you get a look at the view from the deck of a ship, it is a scene that you will likely never forget.

The forests of Alaska can be just as memorable as the well known wildlife that calls it home. There are many glaciers and icebergs found in Alaska. For many visitors, it can be a very peaceful and surreal experience to visit Alaska. According to scientists, the glaciers of Alaska (with the exception of one) are shrinking in size, so if you want to see them for yourself, time is of the essence. They may seem huge right now, but in many years, they may well be a part of the water that surrounds Alaska.

If you are like most travelers, then one of the first things you may think of when someone mentions Alaska are the incredible mountains. Though there are many photographs of these mountains floating around, there is nothing like the incredible view in person!

Aside from the scenic points of view in Alaska, certain history is also of important note. If you were inclined, you may want to stop by a saloon or other historical attraction that were known as the building blocks of Alaska’s early settlement. Alaska was a key factor in the gold rush, too, so that is also an important part of it’s history to learn a little more about.

While sightseeing is a big part of the vacation process, it is also equally important to be properly prepared for your trip to Alaska. It is especially imperative that you are aware of the current weather conditions when you are packing and traveling. In a moment’s notice, it can become quite wet and cold in Alaska, so it is recommended that you keep a jacket near at all times.

In Alaska, there are times of the year that “never end” sometimes, the sun doesn’t set for weeks at a time! These times of the year really help with the development of Alaska’s fruits and vegetables. Alaska is acknowledged as having beautiful crops of lettuce and strawberries.

When you are trying to think of a destination for your next family vacation, remember Alaska! There are a ton of activities and things to see in Alaska, so boredom should never have the chance to set in. If you are making a list of things to do while you are in Alaska, try including these things:

Snowmobiling

Mountain Biking

Hunting

Kayaking

Humpback Whale Watching

Fishing

Helicopter/Plane Tour

Attend Current Festivals

Catch the Moonrise/Moonset

When you are on your vacation in the beautiful land of Alaska, make sure you take plenty of pictures! Be sure to pack enough film and/or memory cards and travel accessories for your camera so that you don’t miss a second of your trip.

Now that we have observed everything that makes Alaska so special, I think I am ready to book a cruise. What about you?

There are some things though that almost every Israeli eats and which you shouldn’t overlook if you travel in Israel.

Aubergines – Called hatsoolim, the eggplant in Israel is baked and then made into a paste for sandwiches and pitta bread.

Bagels – They’re ring-shaped, coated in sesame seeds and assured to block up your intestines for days.

Felafel – Common to many Arabic countries, this is the original one stop fast food in Israel. Boiled chick pea are mashed with onion, coriander and other spices and then deep fried in balls. These are inserted into pitta bread with a generous quantity of hummous and tahina and, though damn healthy, can constipate you for days. The Israelis had some troubles with deceitful falafel stalls using machine oil in the deep pan but they say it’s been sorted out now.

Hummous – The standard food of hippies all over the world, few refrigerators in Israel won’t have a tub of hummous on hand. It’s chick peas boiled up and the mashed with tahini, lemon, garlic and, hopefully, olive oil. The commercial hummous is often full with saturated oil so it’s best to buy in the markets or, preferably, from the Arabs. Israelis often add extra olive oil and the zatar herb on top.

Israeli Salad – Israelis cut their vegetables small and the usual salad is tomatoes, cucumber and onion in small cubes.

Jacknun and Malouach – Shabbat law prohibits Jews from doing any kind of work on a Saturday so they get around it by leaving bread to cook slowly overnight on the Friday (turning ovens off is allowed. Jacknun amd malouach are chunky and greasy and are best with a kind of tomato salsa.

Pitta Bread – If you ever felt silly trying to balance slices of meat and salad on bread it’s because you’re a dumb goy. In the Middle East they’ve been eating bread for thousands of years with a pocket in it so that you don’t have to replace your shirt after each meal. Pitta bread is quite heavy though, made with oil.

Shakshuka – The favourite Israeli breakfast, this is basically eggs boiled in tomato and onion juice. The consistency varies from a tomato stew to something more like scrambled eggs with tomato. You need to eat it with thick bread and then you’re set for the day.

Tahina – This is mashed sesame seeds that comes in a concentrated form that the rest of the world calls tahini. The rest of the world thinks it’s a sandwich spread though and Israelis find it funny to watch Europeans getting their jaws stuck on the thick tahina paste. What you’re supposed to do is dilute it with lemon juice and warm water, mixing it in with a fork and then throw in some garlic and parsley. Then it’s great with bread and salad.

Wine – Israelis don’t really have a drinking culture (if you don’t count the recent Russian arrivals) but wine is essential for every Friday meal or holiday. Grapes are grown in the Carmel region and whilst the vineyards of Bordeaux aren’t losing any sleep, it’s not a bad drop.

Zatar – This is a Middle Eastern herb that gives some flavour to your hummous or tahina. The fact that it’s full of salt kind of helps too.

Winding along Hong Kong’s picturesque waterfront, the New Year’s parade is filled with colorful, lavishly decorated floats. Representatives from Hong Kong and countries all over the world sing, dance and play music. The songs of marching bands fill the air along the parade’s route as performers in bright costumes prance along the streets.

The forthcoming year (2006) is the Year of the Dog. No matter which zodiac animal is being celebrated for the coming year, there are always plenty of lions and dragons in the parade. Energetic dancers wearing giant lion heads leap in the air as long dragons held aloft by more than twenty people snake past the enthralled parade watchers.

The New Year’s parade is the biggest event of Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration. Close to 300,000 people attend the parade and millions more watch it on television. In recent years the parade has taken place in the evening, featuring vivid, dazzling light displays.

The Lunar New Year is one of Hong Kong’s most important and well-loved holidays. Each year one of twelve different animals is celebrated, according to the Chinese zodiac. Many of the city’s towering skyscrapers are decked out in glittering lights for the holiday. Throughout the three-day celebration, dancers in colorful costumes perform lion and dragon dances in the streets, malls and hotel lobbies. Traditionally, people exchange small, red envelopes filled with money as gifts. Flower markets show up all over the city during the holiday, selling plants and flowers with special significance, and stores and restaurants display flowers meant to bring immortality and good luck.

The New Year celebration usually begins anywhere from January 21 to February 19, depending on the year. While the holiday officially lasts fifteen days, in Hong Kong it is celebrated for three days, with the New Year’s parade taking place on the first day. January 29, 2006 is the first day of the forthcoming new year.

The day after the New Year’s parade a brilliant display of fireworks lights up
Hong Kong’s famous Victoria Harbour. The fireworks can be viewed from the waterfront or from boats cruising the harbour. On the third day of the celebration a large horse race takes place at the Sha Tin racetrack. This lively race is a favorite for gamblers and horseracing enthusiasts.

It’s no wonder why so many travel to discover all that Hong Kong has to offer, with the vibrant fusion of ancient customs and modern day fun at one of the world’s biggest Chinese New Year celebrations.

For some, Cyprus is a haven of sun, sand and social life, where a week of partying is the objective and it’s one that’s easily fulfilled. For the more adventurous tourist, Cyprus is a real island of contrasts and the fascination is in comparing its many faces.

Forty percent of the island of Cyprus is occupied by Turkey, and has been for over 30 years. This part of the island is largely barren and suffers from very poor economic growth. The remaining sixty percent is unoccupied and welcomes tourists with open arms, resulting in a very healthy economy, that’s sustained year-round by visitors from abroad. Most of these visitors remain largely unaware of the occupation, despite the fact that one of the island’s best-known party resorts – Aiya Napa is less than 10 miles from the UN Buffer Zone.

Cyprus benefits from warm coastal weather all year round, but its central region is rugged and mountainous with the Troodor mountain range providing excellent skiing during the winter, whilst off-peak tourists are sunning themselves on the beaches. A well-planned winter holiday can see you snowboarding one day and windsurfing the next – the perfect way to make the most of the contrasts in landscape.

If you’re willing to take a drive, you can also experience traditional Cypriot life by visiting some of the more remote, rural villages. Here, people rarely move far outside the immediate vicinity and concentrate on traditional crafts and cuisine. Take a car, a map and a basic language guide and experience the “real” Cyprus that the main resorts just can’t give you. On your way back, visit some of the most impressive archaeological sites in Europe – from Greco-Roman through Byzantine and Medieval, Cyprus is steeped in history – and you can relax on the beach later, safe in the knowledge that you have explored some of the contracts that Cyprus can offer.

City Tourist Attractions

This fascinating country has much to offer travelers. China’s capital of Beijing is home to the mysterious Forbidden City and some of the best-preserved sections of China’s Great Wall. The city of Xian hosts one of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures, the Terra Cotta Warriors and Shanghai offers gleaming skyscrapers and designer boutiques side by side with the historic Old Town.

Yangtze River Wonders

Although many tourists come to China to see these key sights and shop, travelers who limit themselves to the cities miss one of China’s most amazing treasures-her life blood, the mighty Yangtze River. Flowing 3,964 miles, the Yangtze is the world’s third-longest river, carving its way through the stunning “Three Gorges” on its way to the world’s largest dam. By combining a land trip with a river cruise along the Yangtze, tourists can witness the misty mountains and sheer cliffs of these famed Three Gorges, the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam and turquoise waters of the Lesser Three Gorges, as well as catch a glimpse of China’s traditional culture, from farmers plowing with water buffalo to colorful pagodas clinging to the cliffs.

Language Barriers And Food

Many potential travelers to China are concerned about the language barrier and “fried rice syndrome”-day after day of the same, poor-quality food. With the combination of a Yangtze river cruise and key city tours in Beijing, Xian and Shanghai in one package, however, a cruise-tour solves these concerns while offering the best of China’s attractions. The leader in the industry, Viking River Cruises, offers four different China cruise-tours for the traveler. Each is all-inclusive with intra-China air, English-speaking guides who escort travelers from airport arrival to departure and hotel stays in five-star/best-in-city properties. The company has operational offices in both Beijing and Chongqing that ensure the menus offered during the tours are of high quality and variety, and regularly reviews all aspects of the land tours, from hotels and restaurants to their own team of experienced guides.

For the cruise portion of Viking River Cruises China itineraries, travelers sail on Viking Century Sky or Viking Century Sun, the newest, most luxurious ships on the river. Both ships feature all-outside cabins, each with a private balcony. The company is unique in China in offering onboard Swiss management to oversee operations, plus Western food alternating with Chinese menus by celebrity chef Martin Yan.

While the citizens of Pasadena enjoy an income that is well above average, there are numerous other areas surrounding the city, such as Encino, Flintridge, Glendale, La Canada, La Crescenta, San Marino, Sierra Madre, etc., where many of the residents also have disposable income high enough to be able to afford the purchase of fine antiques.

Due to the foregoing many excellent antique dealers and shops have opened establishments in the city. Here you will find fine early american, spanish colonial, european, oriental and most any other type of antique furniture, accessories, jewelry, etc. you could wish for.

For a listing of Pasadena antique dealers that deal in real antiques, not used furniture, so called “estate jewelry” or other lesser quality items see http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com/antiquedealer.html. Most of the dealers that I spoke with have been friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Several have buyers that travel the world in order to locate top quality pieces for their clients. Many were even willing to refer me to other establishments if they were unable to supply me with what I was looking for.

For more information about the city of Pasadena, California see http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Pasadena, California guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, churches, physicians, attorneys, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go, art galleries, service organizations, auto dealers, nursing homes, convalescent hospitals, antique dealers and more.