Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Popular Tourist Spots in Cyprus

Ayia Napa was a very poor village, the only income came from the fishing port. After the invasion in 1974 from Turkey Ayia Napa was born. For the young we have the centre of Ayia Napa that caters for their night life with bars and clubs and it is one of the most popular tourist spots in Cyprus. Over the years it has developed into a popular holiday resort with its beautiful crystal clear blue beaches with golden sands and is visited by many people from all over the world. In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a party capital similar to Ibiza. All beaches in Ayia Napa have been awarded with the EU blue flag for their level of cleanliness and the comprehensive facilities offered in line with the uniform standards set by the European Union. Water sports such as wind surfing, canoeing, speed boating and scuba diving are very popular here. The Cyprus Tourism Organization supervises the beaches and is responsible for protecting the interests of all tourists. It is also very well known for its magnificent night clubs and bars which cater people of any age. The Square, is in the middle of the town, and is filled with nightclubs and restaurants and shops, and for many is seen as the focal point of the Ayia Napa night life. The clubbing season in Ayia Napa starts off in June and lasts all summer until September or October, though a few clubs like the Black and White are open all year round. Licensing hours in Cyprus last nearly all day, starting at 9am and running through to 2am. Like all the major towns in Cyprus, it is bursting with markets and shops. Leather goods, clothes, jewellery and CDs are particularly well stocked and are a fair bit cheaper than at home. It now has a few shops open all day, every day of the week. Well known for its haute cuisine people tend to come here for other reasons. But there is a wide range of food from around the world available Thai, French, Mexican, Indian Chinese, and British. If you want fish and chips, you can have it. There is a McDonalds too. If you want to try something traditional in a restaurant, ask for some meze. It is a selection of different foods, some spicy, and a choice of dips and sauces.

By Douglas Scott

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Parks at San Francisco


San Francisco Bay residents and travelers have many grand gardens and parks to be explored. San Francisco is one of the biggest metropolitan cities in the world and it boasts eye-catching and sophisticated parks and gardens. From the seasonal open-air festivals of Yerba Buena Gardens to the biggest urban park around the world, one and all are bound to find the ideal spot to relax and enjoy nature.Golden Gate Park is the best city landmark worth spending a glossy afternoon in or at the very least a turn through. It is larger than the New York City's Central Park; Golden Gate Park is about 1,000-acres of fields, gardens and made up of wooded paths. Whether you are chartering a row boat at stow Lake or tentative the over 6,000 plant species at Strybing Arboretum and at the Botanical Garden, the park has something amazing for every nature lover. Highlights of the park comprise Shakespeare Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers as well as the Japanese Tea Garden.The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park is residential in a recently renovated Victorian glass makeup and is touted as the oldest public greenhouse in the western hemisphere. The greenhouse is actually open on Tuesday till Sunday. A nominal fee is obligatory for admittance to the greenhouse, but it is waived for the first Tuesday of every month.


By Amjath