The Info Barrack Resources Site

Faro Airport is the principle airport for the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal. The next two nearest airports to the Algarve are actually in Spain: Seville and Jerez Airport.

Thanks to some of Europe’s best golf courses and some great sporting facilities, the Algarve is a year round destination and this year Vale Do Lobo on the Algarve is where the England Football team will be preparing for the world cup. (May 15th-20th 2006).

Getting to Faro from the UK and Ireland is getting easier and easier with all the main low cost and national airlines offering a wide choice of flights from 20 different airports. 17 in the UK, 1 in Northern Ireland and 2 in the Irish Republic.

Most of the main European airports have direct flights to Faro but if you are travelling from outside of Europe it is best to head for the UK or Lisbon (the main Portuguese Airport) and then get your flights down to Faro.

Below are details of all the main airports and airlines offering direct, non stop flights to Faro from the UK and Ireland.

The flights take between 2 hours and 30 minutes and 3 hours depending on where you’re flying from and The Algarve is on the same time zone as the UK and Ireland at all times of the year!

Norwich - Flybe
Manchester – Jet 2 & Monarch
Leeds – Jet 2
Doncaster Sheffield – Thomsonfly
Birmingham Monarch & Flybe
Nottingham East Mids – Easyjet & BMI Baby
Coventry – Thomsonfly
Bournemouth – Thomsonfly
Exeter – Flybe
Cardiff – BMI Baby
Bristol – EasyJet, Thomson Fly
Southampton – Flybe
Luton – Monarch & Easyjet
Gatwick – BA, Monarch, EasyJet
Stansted – EasyJet
Heathrow – TAP Air Portugal
Belfast – EasyJet
Dublin – Aer Lingus, Ryan Air
Cork – Aer Lingus

There is no train service from Faro Airport and the bus service is somewhat limited. The best way to get to your destination is via a taxi, by pre booking a private transfer or by hiring your own car.

Having driven around the Algarve quite a lot my recommendation would be to hire a car. The whole area is easy to navigate, the roads are well sign posted and in general the traffic is pretty light.

One other tip…if you are flying from somewhere like London Gatwick remember that you can travel each way with different airlines, in many cases the flight times are quite different and it can be quite a lot cheaper to get 2 one way tickets!

Gary Ingram runs Faro Airport Guide, an informative website that gives in depth information on Faro Airport, covering all services, facilties and flights to Faro

Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any.

Budapest Spas

Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proliferation of mineral water spas in the city. Here are a few highlights.

The Gellert Spa Hotel is located in the center of Budapest on the eastern shore of the Danube River. From the front, the hotel looks like a classic renaissance building you would find in Paris or Vienna. The entrance to the hotel opens onto an indoor pool that looks like something out of ancient Rome. The square pool is surrounded by baroque columns and covered by a glass roof two stories above the water. Palms, plants and relaxing Hungarians are everywhere. It is staggeringly impressive.

For roughly ten dollars, you can have the full Gellert experience. There is on mixed sex indoor pool and two sections reserved for just men and women. In these reserved sections, one can get massage services, but keep in mind these are vigorous Turkish style massages. Put another way, you will be getting slapped around a bit instead of nearly falling asleep.

At the rear of the Gellert, there is an outdoor area that rivals any Las Vegas hotel. Unlike Vegas hotels with themes, this pool area is truly historic. The area comes with marble steps, ceramic tile mosaics and lush landscape. One tends to feel a bit like you are taking a bath in the Vatican.

Other Spas

Frankly, there are spas all over the place in Budapest. Although I didn’t personally visit it, I was told very good things about the Kiraly Baths. Kiraly was apparently built during Turkish rule and the spa experience is entirely Turkish.

If you get the chance to visit Budapest, make sure you drop by one of the spas. Prices are relatively cheap and the experience is definitely worth it.

Rick Chapo is with www.nomadjournals.com – makers of travel journals. Writing journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for him or her. Visit www.nomadjournaltrips.com for more travel articles.

Situated in the city of Boca Raton, Florida, just 50 miles north of Miami and 26 miles south of Palm Beach, you will find the beautiful luxury resort hotel, The Boca Raton Resort And Club. This hotel sits on 356 acres of beautifully tended well manicured grounds with gorgous gardens, one half mile of private beach, thirty tennis courts, a full service marina, three fitness centers, two championship 18-hole golf courses and much, much more.

The famous Boca Raton Resort And Club, has five distinct styles of deluxe guestrooms and suites:

1. The Cloister which is the most classic of the Resort’s five accommodation choices. Set within an intricate pattern of tropical gardens, tiled courtyards and sparkling fountains that seem suspended in another era.

2. The Tower which is a dramatic contrast, being a sleek and modern high-rise soaring 27 stories above the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Florida Gold Coast. The decor is contemporary, yet comfortably inviting and the views from the guest rooms and deluxe corner suites are truly inspiring.

3. The Boca Beach Club presents the irresistible lure of staying and playing on the Atlantic seashore. Lanais and guest rooms provide views that beckon guests to pursue their favorite water sports by simply stepping out the door. Recreation amenities include a half-mile of private ocean beach, two pools, private cabanas, a whirlpool, and a variety of watersports.

4. The Yacht Club, which is Reminiscent of a grand Venetian palace, commands the Resort’s waterfront, with 112 of the country’s most luxurious guestrooms and suites, the Yacht Club features custom-designed appointments and luxuries as well as private balconies with sweeping views of the Resort’s marina, the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway.

5. The Boca Bungalows, casual and quiet, are available with one-and two-bedrooms, have an easygoing charm all their own. Many are conveniently equipped with kitchens for informal entertaining. They provide an opportunity for golfers to stay near the beauty of the rolling fairways and manicured greens.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club offers its guests an unmatched variety of sports and leisure activities. Boca Raton Resort & Club offers two championship 18-hole golf courses with fully-stocked pro shops and complete practice facilities. The Resort Course which is located directly on the resort grounds is a 6,253 yard, par 71 course highlighted with a variety of elevation changes and 12 surface acres of water including a signature water feature designed by Hugh Hughes. The Country Club Course is located at the Boca Country Club, just minutes from the Resort and is a 6,585 yard, par 72 course with an 18th hole island green.

The full-service marina features 30 slips and can accommodate vessels up to 170 feet and longer. The Resort also offer one of the widest varieties of water sport facilities in the United States. From fishing and sailing charters to cigarette boat rides and yacht rentals, the Resort delivers an ocean of good times.

The new tennis facilities include a tennis clubhouse with viewing deck and elaborate pro shop, as well as 18 Har-tru clay courts. These courts utilize the latest in HydroGrid technology to maintain a consistent level of moisture on the courts’ surface. Tennis Magazine listed the Resorts in it’s “The 50 Greatest Tennis Resorts in the United States”, list.

There are 19 dining and entertainment venues housed in a variety of unique locations, these many eateries share several common themes – fantastic food, impeccable service and total exclusivity. Because every one of these establishments is open only to guests and members, the Resort can consistently provide access to great tables and personalized service.

Check out the Spa Palazzo, a perfect sanctuary of peace and tranquility, in a private, beautiful and unique environment. According to the Resort, “At Spa Palazzo your every desire will be met, and more importantly, your need to invigorate the body and restore the spirit will be fulfilled.”.

Boca Raton Resort And Club isn’t cheap, but it is definitely worth the price and more. Relax, be pampered and enjoy the beauty of the Resort and of the city. When you come home after your vacation you’ll feel rested and wonderful.

For more information about the city of Boca Raton, Florida see: http://bocaratonfl.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to the city of Boca Raton, Florida guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, attorneys, real estate brokers, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go and more.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.

When you think New York, you imagine a city, full of taxis and blaring horns, right? Besides all of the skyscrapers, clubs and people in a giant city, New York has a whole other part to the state. New York is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery that are often overlooked.

New York is home to many unique attractions, without having to load the kids up on the subway to tour. Here are some fun stops outside of the big city:

North Pole – No, you read that right. There is a North Pole in New York. It may seem like the North Pole since it is so close to the Canadian border, but it is in the New York boundaries. What is the North Pole without Santa’s Workshop? An amusement park by that name was built and opened in 1949 for kids to enjoy all year long. There are shows, gift shops, an arcade and costumed characters and a parade for all to see.

Albany – A giant statue of a white dog sits atop the RCA Building. He was placed there in 1954 and is named Nipper. Nipper has appeared as a real dog in versions of commercials for RCA on television. RCA has offices in Albany.

Oneida – Need a quick prayer to help get you through a family road trip? Stop in to Oneida, where the World’s smallest church is located. The church is actually a chapel, and sits on a small platform in a pond. It was built in 1989 and seats two people and a minister.

Jamestown – Lucille Balls hometown. There is a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnaz’s life together. Her wedding dress, a hairbrush, TV set items and other personal effects are on display for the public. There is also a gift shop to take home little bits of Lucy history as souvenirs.

LeRoy – What’s that wiggling on your spoon? J-E-L-L-O? A museum dedicated to the history of Jell-O sits in LeRoy New York. It is full of all the promotions used by Jell-O in the past, as well as TV’s that constantly air commercials. Jell-O happened to be manufactured in the town of LeRoy for sixty four years.

Lake George – Does Uncle Sam have an overwhelming presence in your life? In Lake George, a 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam will make that feat a reality. The statue was built in honor of Samuel Wilson, who became known as Uncle Sam. He spent his adult life in Troy New York, and is buried there.

Cherry Valley – What is a vacation without buying a bunch of rubber tomahawks for the kids? Rubber tomahawks, in case you need a definition, is a term for cheesy, easily-falls-apart, memorabilia that the kids must have before going home. The TePee in Cherry Hill is full of such trinkets for every age. The fifty foot metal teepee replica signals to those highway bound – pull over! We have what you need to remember this vacation!

To find more information and resources about New York, visit: www.bnewyork.com

For a vacationer looking for a city to holiday in that offers unparalleled pleasure, the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is one of the best choices. The city of Rio de Janeiro is a melting pot of races, colors and creeds. Rio de Janeiro is a Portuguese term meaning, River of January.

Rio was the country’s capital until 1960 and is the second largest city in Brazil after Sao Paolo. The residents of the city are known as Cariocas. They have made extensive contributions in the fields of history, culture, music and literature, particularly when Rio de Janeiro was the federal capital and the hub of Brazilian growth.

Rio is famous for its hotel-lined tourist beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. The best way to enjoy in the city is by organizing a trip to Sugar Loaf Mountain or Po de Acar. The mountain offers a spectacular view of Rio and Guanabara Bay and is a paradise for rock climbers. It also has the biggest forest found inside an urban region, called Floresta da Tijuca, or ‘Tijuca Forest’.

Christo Redentor, the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, is a 38-meter statue of Jesus overlooking the city of Rio. The statue has become a symbol of the city and reflects the warmth of the Brazilian people.

Perhaps, at no time is the city’s festive reputation better displayed than during the annual carnival, which enlivens the city for 4 whole days with music, singing, parties, balls and street parades of brilliantly costumed samba dancers.

For a true football fan, a visit to the Maracana Stadium carries the importance of going a pilgrimage. They can lay their feet in the imprints of football greats like Pele and other Brazilian legends.

Rio’s unique landscape, with a magnificent bay and dazzling beaches on one side and a rising mountain range on the other, justifies its title of Cidade Maravilhosa, or ‘Marvelous City’. With its world famous beaches, splendid bay and wonderful climate, Rio de Janeiro has achieved a reputation as a great tourist destination.

Jet Lag! Those two words conjure up that debilitating feeling of tiredness and
confusion that often overtakes us after a long journey, especially across the ocean.
It can rob you of the first one, two or even more days of your overseas visit. If you
are on vacation, you lose a precious chunk of your well-earned time off; if you are
on business, you could blow an important deal because your brain wasn’t
functioning up to par.

Jet lagwho needs it?

Nobodybut everybody gets it. A Conde Naste survey showed 93% of longhaul
travellers do. A survey from New Zealand showed 96% of international flight
attendants do.

Jet lagwhat causes it?

• The biggest cause of jet lag is crossing time zones, particularly from west to east
although it also happens in the opposite direction.

• The atmosphere in jet aircraft contributes in two ways. First, cabin pressure
results in air that many times more pressurized that what most of us are
accustomed to on the ground. Second, the air is often recirculated in the cabin and
becomes stale. This makes you tired and can even cause headaches.

• The majority of adults drink alcohol at some point in a long flight, and flying
increases the effects of alcohol on the body by about 200-300%. So if you tend to
feel drowsy after a couple of glasses of wine at home, multiply that effect by three
for each glass you have in-flight and it’s not surprising you feel sleepy!

• Sitting for the eight to fifteen hours it can take to cross one of the world’s larger
oceans doesn’t help, because it puts extra pressure on your stomach at a time when
you are probably eating more often than usual in that period of timethat’s because
they keep feeding you to pass the time!

Altogether, it would be surprising if we didn’t get jet lag on overseas flights!

Jet lagwhat can we do about it?

• The time we spend before our flight can have an effect. How often do you run
around at the speed of light trying to get everything done before you leave on
vacation? Then you have to packbut before that you must make sure you have
selected all your wardrobe items and that they are laundered. Quite often you are
doing things until late at night, and you don’t even get the amount of sleep you
usually take. All these activities add to your stress level, which in turn adds to the
effects of jet lag.

Solution: plan ahead as much as possible, enlist the help of family members, go to
bed at a reasonable time and get a good night’s sleep.

• Many transatlantic flights, for example, are overnight. You leave in the early
evening, so you don’t eat dinner before you leave. By the time the flight takes off
and the attendants are ready to serve, you end up eating dinner at what is normally
close to your bed time. Most people don’t sleep well during the flight, and to make
matters worse, when you land on the other side of the ocean you have virtually lost
five hours out of your normal sleep time.

Solution: try to take one of the growing number of daytime flights. Yes, it’s the same
amount of flying time, but experts agree the jet lag effect can be much less.

• Who hasn’t felt dried out during a long flight? It’s the dry air on the aircraft.
However, drinking alcohol, caffeine or sugary fruit drinks doesn’t help, and may add
to the jet leg effect.

Solution: Drink lots of water, preferably the bottled kind. Bring your own in your in-
flight luggage.

• Lack of exercise and sitting in an unnaturally cramped position (especially in the
limited seating space in Economy Class) add to the misery of jet lag.

Solution: learn some exercises you can do while sitting. Twisting and stretching
exercises can help keep your joints limber. Regardless of how silly you may feel, do
get up and walk up and down the aisle a few times over the hours. It will help keep
your feet from swelling, and may decrease the effects of jet lag.

Don’t let jet lag spoil your tripuse all these techniques and fight back!

Helen Wilkie is a joyful traveler, who likes to pass along her travel tips to others who
share her love of travel. Send a blank e-mail to hwilkie-170241@autocontactor.com
and Helen will send you her free 7-part e-course “Seven surprising, fun ways to see
the world”!

Bangkok is the capital and the largest city and capital of Thailand. Popularly known as Krung Thep or “City of Angels”. It is one of the biggest city in the world and perhaps the biggest on with a population of around 10 million. Bangkok as a destination is ranked high by the travel and tourism department of most of the countries. Thus most of the airlines now provides, cheap flights to Bangkok with discounted air fares.

Earlier Bangkok was connected with an elaborated networks of canals, and thus given the name – “Venice of the East”. At that time most of the transportation was carried out on boats. Now, most of the canals are converted into streets. Bangkok International Airport, popularly known as “Don Muang” is the busiest airport in South East Asia. This airport host many international and domestic flights from all over the world. There are many travel agents offering cheap flights to Bangkok various destinations. Bangkok has a network of sky-trains which were introduces to ease the notorious traffic jams in the city. The sky-train was introduced in 1999 and was also known as BTS system and rot-fai-fah in Thai. There are two more metro used in Bangkok for commencement by the people, viz. the underground MRTA subway and another elevated line known as BERTS.

Bangkok’s nightlife has an attitude of being tempestuous and noisy. But at the same time, it’s calm, comfortable and pleasurable. Bangkok’s assorted nightlife happening attribute everything from brilliant live music, to delightful jazz clubs, ultra cool bars, energetic and spirited dance spot and enormous restaurants. It is rapidly establishing itself as Asia’s capital of cool nightlife. The best thing about shopping in Bangkok is that even after the malls are closed you can shop in bunch of small markets that gets opened with the first shine of sun and stay opened till the midnight. Bangkok and Thailand has become a good shopping centre in Asia because of low prices offered with high quality and lots of variety. Duty Free shopping can be done at the Thailand Duty Free Shops Company branch in the World Trade Center on Ratchadamri road.

Thus Bangkok is now becoming a most sort out destination for tourism and business. With such growing importance of Bangkok, Etihad Airways are offering cheap flights to Bangkok from London. At Etihadairways.myvacation.co.uk, you can find fairly discounted air tickets for Bangkok from London Heathrow. Etihadairways.myvacations.co.uk is an UK based travel agent appointed by Etihad Airways. Log on http://etihadairways.myvacations.co.uk and book cheap flights to Bangkok and get heavy discount per person on all Bangkok flights.

Annie Jones writes about “Weddings In India”. Get more information about Indian Weddings and Cheap Flights To India at “http://www.ticketstoindia.co.uk”.

The morning starts with a bang or one bang after another, a series, a chorus – the same sound that lulled me to sleep the night before. Well, I smile to myself, after all it’s their country and they’re free to do as they like. How does it matter that most cities elsewhere have practically banned firecrackers?

I totter out of bed, thinking I’ll go for my morning walk, a habit that’s not been practiced for over three weeks, courtesy a broken rib, couretsy an evening of hard drinking, a huang jiu (house liquor, yellow in colour at a restaurant), bai jiu, the fiery white rice wine topped by swigs from a bottle of Chivas Regal. I was brought home (apartment at the university) drunk where I promptly crashed into my bed…yes crashed, and was left with a broken rib. Anyway, that was a few weeks ago…

I sit at my computer, checking my mail – there’s hardly any, other news sites – nothing of earthshaking importance and a chatsite where I meet new people, flirt and generally make friends fast and lose them faster with my sacrilegious pronouncements.

I spend the morning doing this and a little more of the same….Ahhh wait…CCTV 3, there’s a girl in a gypsy dress on what looks like a circus stage, walking a dog through her very pretty legs…hey, I think to myself, I too am a Dog (was born in the Dog Year) so why am I being denied the pleasure of weaving in and out of those legs. As if in response, she stops!

I sit and spend the morning thus, making friends and losing some and finally decide lunch can wait no longer. I walk down the four four flights of the hotel building where I and others of my ilk are housed. We, the so-called foreign teachers are on the top-floor, I guess, to ensure we can’t make a quick getaway. My apartment is cold. The airconditioners (with heating) stopped functioning many weeks ago. I complained to the FAO, they bought me an electrical heater. I suppose they didn’t consider me worthwhile investing on any more…they have me by the balls of my contract anyway and the contract says nothing about ensuring the aircons will work. So, here I am, freezing sometimes. The weather has been very cold, well below zero most days…

Anyway, I walk out and out the compound that houses the teachers and oficials’ residences, looking for a place to get some chow. Everything is closed. Everyone is celebrating the Spring Festival. I walk further down the road and come to a fandian (a small restaurant) that’s still open to custom. I order some cabbage (not the hot and sour one, I make clear to the waitress, a young thing with a bigger butt than most but an equally pleasant smile) and rice. I watch television while I wait for my meagre lunch to arrive and then eat quickly and leave. Outside, I walk past the numerous karaoke bars. Looks like everyone’s there, dressed in their best, smiling their prettiest. Young women in tight jeans through which my eyes can sometimes discern the indiscernible never fail to escape these lecherous eyes. Sometimes I wonder if my eyes are the busiest on earth. I wave at a few nodding acquaintances. Suddenly someone steps into my path, ‘Jack’ he says. I smile a smile that’s reserved for times when I know I am known but don’t know the knower myself. He fishes out a red pack of cigarettes…Chungwahs. Very expensive at about 50 to 80 a pack. He gives me one and I gratefully accept. It’s not polite to refuse offers of cigarettes here in China.

In any case, it would take me very little persuasion to accept a Chungwah though I often refuse others, and perhaps make secret enemies. I already have a lit cigarette in my hand and resist the temptation to stick the new one above my ear as so many do here and also in India. I don’t want a precious Chungwah to fall unceremoniously onto the spit-and-retch-washed pavement from where retrieval would be difficult and non-retrieval of a Chingwah equally painful. Pleasantries over, I make my way further down….and I see a family get off a bus and a young woman looking curiously at me and then suddenly calling out, ‘Jaaaaaack’. I look more closely. It’s a former student, and she’s back in Huainan from Shijiazhuang in Hebei to be with her family. She runs across the street, arms opened wide, her family trailing, a curious and confused expression on their faces as she comes straight into my arms. We hug..it feels warm in this season of frost, ice and snow. Passersby look even more curiously. We stand and talk for a while, exchanging telephone numbers and her father offers me a cigarette…I am about to say a polite no, when I notice…yes, another Chungwah. My lucky day, I smile to myself. They continue on their way, as the father says they must have me over for a meal. I nod gratefully…it’s nice to see a former student.

Further, into the main city square…i see more of what I saw at the karaoke bars…people…happy, smiling, chattering, shopping, spending. China is a giant at all times…during Spring Festival it’s like a giant dancing. People from Xinjiang, the ones with the small muslim white caps line the streets selling small pieces of meat kababs on sticks, little stands where kids and adults take aim and shoot at helpless balloons in an effort to win an apreciative word or look, electrically operated height-weight measuring machines, stalls selling preserved and sweetened colourful fruits on long sticks, smellly suasages also on little sticks. Everything seems to be on sticks, even girls’ legs in tight jeans look like sticks…i wonder what delicacies come on those!

I notice the heat…it’s the warmest day we’ve had in months and I’m sweating…i unzip my feather-lined hooded jacket to let in some fresh air. Others stare at me…they don’t like bearded men, I guess…only the homeless, the beggars, the tramps in China seem to have anything close to a beard…I carry on…until I return to my sanctuary, hot and sweating…

http://www.writingup.com/blog/oneinabillion
http://o3.indiatimes.com/kjack

Rajesh Kanoi (Jack) is a published writer, now living and working in China. Many of his short-stories, poems and articles have been published, including a book of short-stories, ‘Tales From China’ (Lipstick Publishing).

Just accross the Lake Worth Lagoon from Palm Beach sits the city of West Palm Beach, Florida, a 55 square mile city with a population in excess of 82,000 situated on the Intercoastal Waterway.

Staying in West Palm Beach puts you right in the middle of things but costs less than staying in Palm Beach. You are right next door to Palm Beach with it’s luxurious resorts and beaches, minutes from Boca Raton and just over a one and one half hour drive north of Miami Beach.

Stay at the West Palm Beach Marriott, 1001 Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, (561) 833-1234, or the Crowne Plaza West Palm Beach Hotel, 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406, (561) 689-6400 (Note: At this time the Crown Plaza is closed due to damage from Hurricane Frances, but will be reopening soon.), or the Courtyard By Marriott West Palm Beach, 600 Northpoint Parkway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407, (561) 640-9000, or the Hilton Palm Beach Airport (A 100% non smoking hotel.), 150 Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33406, (561) 684-9400, or the Radisson Hotel Palm Beach Airport, 1808 S. Australian Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, (561) 689-6888. There are also a large number of even less expensive hotels in and around the city.

Play tennis on one of the thirty six tennis courts throughout the city, play golf at some of the best golf courses in the country (There are dozens of clubs and courses in the area.), visit the Palm Beach Zoo, 1301 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach, Florida 33405, (561) 547-9453 with it’s Over 23 acres of lush, tropical landscaped habitats that are home to over 900 animals from Florida, Central and South America, Asia and Australia, visit the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, (561) 832-5196 with it’s distinguished permanent collection featuring 19th and 20th century European and American art, Chinese, contemporary art and photography, or visit the South Florida Science Museum, 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, FL 33405, (561) 832-1988 with its dozens of fun, hands-on interactive exhibits, natural history exhibits and it’s Planetarium. Dine in one of West Palm Beach’s or Palm Beach’s fine dining establishments.

Shop at West Palm Beach’s trendy boutiques or shop in Palm Beach at some of the finest shops in the world. Cruise the Intercoastal Waterway or go saltwater or freshwater fishing. If you just want to laze around on the beach and soak up the sun or play in the warm clear waters, you will find miles of beautiful public beaches in the area. Take in the Clematis by Night, free fountainside concert series, where visitors and locals mingle among arts and crafts vendors while enjoying live entertainment. Check out SunFest, Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival, which takes place in West Palm Beach each May. If you like night life you will find numerous night clubs and dance clubs right in West Palm Beach.

West Palm Beach, Florida has everything you could want and more, except high prices.

For more information about the city of West Palm Beach, Florida see: http://westpalmbeachfl.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to the city of West Palm Beach, Florida guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, attorneys, real estate brokers, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go and more.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including http://www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.

Catalonia shares it’s northern border with the countries of Andorra and France in the mountainous Pyrenees. The Mediterranean Sea forms it eastern border with the coast running south west down as far as the region of Valencia. The eastern border is shared with the region of Aragon. Throughout history Catalonia has struggled for greater autonomy in it’s relationship with Spain. In attempts to gain full independent it has on more than occasion revolted. Few Catalonians today aspire to have any real expectations of independence but the struggle for greater autonomy within Spain continues.

History – Greeks and Romans established trade along this part of the Mediterranean coast. In the middle ages Catalan art and literature flourished and the now established coastal trade saw merchants become very powerful rivalling those of Venice and Genoa. In 1461 Catalonia rose up in protest at it’s alliance with Aragon but the rebellion was crushed. The subsequent union of Aragon with Castile side lined Catalonia. Trade routes were moved, commercial income fell, famines and plagues all contributed to it’s decline. But the Catalonian desire for independence continued. It rose against Philip IV during the thirty year war of 1618-48 and followed that by taking the side of Archduke Charles in the War of the Spanish Succession against Philip V. It was a centre for socialist influence at the turn of the 19th Century. 1931 saw the Catalans establish a separate government which went on to win autonomy from the Spanish Cortes in 1932. Two years later a revolution for complete independence failed, but in another 2 years autonomy was restored. In the Spanish civil war of 1936-39, Catalonia once again picked the wrong side and following Franco’s victory over the republicans the region suffered badly and the cherished Catalan language was banned in public life. In 1978 it was restored and is now an official language of the region along with Castilian or Spanish. It elected its first parliament as an autonomous region in 1980. By the mid-1990s Catalan nationalists had become a force in both the region’s and the nation’s politics.

Catalonia comprises four provinces, Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida, all are named after their capitals.

Girona or Gerona in the north sits on the Onyar River. Dating from pre-Roman times, the old town has preserved its medieval aspect. Girona was ruled by the Moors from 714 to 797. During the Peninsular War of 1808-09 the town resisted the Napoleon’s French forces. Industries today include chemical production, machinery, paper making and textiles. Outside the city and on the coat the beaches and coves around Begur and Palafrugell and particularly attractive. Or take in a sunrise at the Cap de Crues, Spain’s most easterly point. Just to the south is the enchanting whitewashed village of Cadaques built around a rocky bay. The artist Salvador Dali spent the holidays of his youth there and later lived in the nearby village of Port Lligat. The barren shorelines, odd formations of rocks and desolate moonscapes so typical of his paintings can be seen in abundance throughout the locality. The Teatre-Musea Dali is located in the town of Figueres and contains a great deal of the artist’s works. The Pyrenees, in the north of the province, offer many opportunities for walking and hiking, the Parc Nacional d’Aiguestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici being one of the most attractive areas. There are several ski stations operating throughout the winter months.

There is evidence of some settlement in the area going back to the 15th century BC but Barcelona is reputed to take it’s name from the powerful Carthaginian family of Barca who founded the basis for the city as we know it today. Under the Romans and Visigoths the city flourished. In the 8th century it fell to the Moors and in 801 it was taken by Charlemagne, who included it in the Spanish March. The March became independent under the leadership of the powerful counts of Barcelona in the 9th and 10th centuries, They won lands from the Moors to the south and acquired all of Catalonia. In 1137, following the marriage of Count Raymond Berengar IV to the heiress of Aragon the two regions became united. The city of Barcelona became the capital as it was for future kings of Spain. A well ruled Barcelona expanded trade in the Mediterranean. Its cloth industry flourished and it became a powerful centre of banking and commerce. Around 1400 saw the peak in it’s fortunes, decline followed along with the rest of Catalonia. The French occupied the city on three occasions in 1640-52, 1715 and 1808-14. Catalan separatism centred on Barcelona and the city was the scene of many insurrections. It revolted against Philip IV of Spain from 1640-52. It also became the Spanish centre of socialism and other radical political doctrines around 1900. Barcelona was the capital of the region’s autonomous government from 1932-39. During the civil war the Spanish Loyalist government sat in Barcelona until it fell to Franco’s forces in early 1939. The region saw demonstrations against Franco’s dictatorship throughout the 1950’s. Today Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and the claims to be cultural centre of the country. It is the capital of the Catalonian region and more than one third of region’s population reside there. Barcelona is also Spain’s largest port and its chief commercial centre with international banking and finance houses. It is a major industrial centre and production includes aviation, chemicals, electrical equipment, foundries, locomotives, machinery, textiles and vehicles. The city itself is modern, with wide avenues, bustling traffic and striking new architecture. By contrast the well preserved old city, Roman walls can still be seen, is filled with narrow, winding streets and ancient structures, including a cathedral, many churches, the city hall and the Lonja or exchange. Barcelona is the site of a reputed opera house, the Contemporary Art Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of Catalonia and the Picasso Museum. In 1992 it hosted the summer Olympics. The remainder of the province of Barcelona is in the main hilly or mountainous. But it also home to some highly fertile plains where cereals grapes and olives are grown. The province also produces one third of Spain’s wine. Much of the area’s power is generated by hydroelectric plants built on the Ebro, Cinca and Segre rivers. The coastline, stretching nearly 400 kilometres has many good harbours and marinas, excellent fisheries and an buoyant tourist trade. West of Barcelona you will find the vineyards of the Penedes area. Also the mountain of Montserrat, on a clear day the peak at 1236m above sea level offers views of the Pyrenees to the north and to Mallorca in the Balearic Islands to the south east.

Tarragona sits on the mouth of the river Francola on the Mediterranean. It was formally known as Tarraco and in 218BC was captured by Roman forces. They built up is fortifications against attack by the Carthaginians. The ruins of Roman walls and an aquaduct remain still. It fell to both the Visigoths and the Moors in the 5th and 8th centuries respectively. The Christians recaptured it in the 12th century but when it’s trade was captured by either regions Barcelona or Valencia it fell into decline. In 1903 Carthusian monks settled in the city having been expelled from La Grande Chartreuse in France. Their famous liqueur is produced here to this day. Today it is important as both a commercial centre and port. Industries include flour mills, an oil refinery and wine production and export. Some of the countries finest wines are made nearby in the Priorat region.

Lleida lies on the river Segre. Formally known as Llerda, Julius Ceasar defeated the generals of Pompey here in 49 BC. The Moorish invasion from the south saw Lleida fall in 714. It was liberated by Christian forces in 1149. By tradition a strategic, fortified city, Lleida became a key defence point for Barcelona in the Spanish civil war. It eventually fell to Franco’s forces in the April of 1938 having withheld for nine long months. A castle, whose ramparts enclose a Romanesque cathedral, dominates the old section of the city. Lleida is the centre of a fertile farm area and agriculture predominates. There is little in the way of a manufacturing industry.

Ken Jones runs a Spanish Guide.
More information about Catalonia can be found here.
Find Spanish hotels & property for rent & sale in our Spanish Directory.