Russia Travel Guide, climate:

Russia Travel Guide - Information and Advice Russia Travel Guide Information and Advice 'A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' Churchill St Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide Russia Map | Russia Pictures Russia Travel Guide, climate: Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet . Worst: Nov-March [winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill! ] Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights: Moscow or St Petersburg are excellent for a wild and wooly underwear weekend. Recommended: 2 weeks to take in Moscow, St Petersburg and some of the surrounding towns - such as the Golden Ring - and countryside. The Trans-Siberian Railway to Irkutsk [Lake Baikal] will require at least 5 days. Main Russia Festivals Guide : 25 Dec- 5 Jan, Russian Winter is celebrated with traditional activities such as music, dance, sleigh rides, folk shows. New Year's Eve tends to be a family/friends occasion, so not wildly exciting. late Feb-early March, Goodbye Russian Winter, as above. Easter Sunday, Moscow, procession and service in stunning Kolomenskoe [Orthodox] church. April/May, Moscow Music Spring Festival , classical music. May 9, Victory Day Parade, Moscow. A stirring military procession. June, the White Nights arts festival is St Petersburg's liveliest event. April/May, St Petersburg Music Spring Festival , classical music. For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Colourful Festivals or European Festivals Activities Guide: The country is spacious - to say the least - and outdoor activities are popular but facilities and safety measures can be primitive so get specialist advice before undertaking anything halfway dangerous. Hiking: There is no shortage of excellent trekking terrain, just a shortage of marked trails or maps, so extracting information from locals regularly is essential, and as a consequence a few words of the language are vital. Either that or get a good guide. Lake Baikal [see Russia travel favourites, right], the Elbrus area of the Caucasus, west Ural Mountains and Altay Mountains are prime targets. Check the travel safety situation . White Water rafting: The Katun River in the Altay Republic, Vladisvostok and Kamchatka. Climbing: The Elbrus area of the Caucasus are superb but get specialist advice before arriving in Russia, safety aspects included . Cycling: roads are often in bad shape, cars and drivers even worse shape, but bike travel can still be rewarding, with care, a tough bike and essential spares. Local hospitality is tremendous. Canoeing: rivers can be heavily polluted so inland water travel is difficult to recommend, though the Volga River delta is supposed to be alive and delightful, while the coasts up north offer prospects of isolated adventure. Boat cruises: either on posh tourist boats or cheap, dilapidated Russian craft. The main highway is the Volga River and boats go to/from Moscow, Novgorod, Volgograd and many other attractive cities. Volgograd to Rostov-Don is supposed to be the most interesting section. June-September only. Fishing: mostly salmon out east e.g. from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Skiing: Cross country skiing is traditionally more popular than down-hill skiing; snowboarding is becoming increasingly popular and heli-skiing is available and remarkably good value. There are more than a hundred ski areas, many of which need modernisation, though some resorts in the Caucasus Mountains offer good facilities and comfortable accommodation. For instance, Cheget in the Baksan Valley offers challenging runs, including the longest of 2.5 km; or Mount Elbus - Europe's highest peak at 5,642m [1,8513 ft] - hosts one of Russia's largest resorts, Prielbrusye. There are at least 20 ski slopes within 50 miles of Moscow and some can even be reached by metro! Ice Skating: Possibly the country's most popular pastime with frozen lakes and outdoor rinks all over during the long winter and even indoor rinks open in the summer. Inexpensive and very cheerful. Banya bathing: this Russian style sauna is a good way to experience authentic Russian social life, particularly if you are a graduate of an old British public school where extreme heat, cold and beatings were a way of life. There are banyas everywhere, ranging from appallingly dilapidated to highly polished. The Trans-Siberian Railway This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either: - Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast. - via Mongolia to Beijing. - via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing. This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone. Downside: - there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers. - conditions will be cramped. - dining car food will be abysmal. - the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform. - As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on... Upside: - you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk [see Russia travel favourites, right] and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved. - due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days , though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point. - if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare. Train Survival hints: - don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water. - clean your window to improve views and photos. - stand well clear when flushing the toilet , it can backfire if the train travels at speed. - learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants. - take lots of vodka with you . You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising! Russia Travel Star Guide: Monuments **** Shopping and souvenirs *** Walkability *** Food Quality and Variety *** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value *** Beaches black sea Wildlife * Landscape *** Local People **** Architecture **** Safety ** Nightlife and Clubbing ***** Health Problems ** Museums ***** Why Travel to Russia? This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly . Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da! Big , brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller. Downside: - Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available. - Hygiene can be a problem. - Officials are often unpleasantly boorish . - Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye . - Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record. Some Russia tra vel favourites: 1] ***Moscow, a diverse and interesting city with masses of history, action and must-see spectacles, though not on the same planet as St Petersburg for elegance. See Moscow Travel Guide . 2] ***St Petersburg , one of the world's most beautiful cities, with many splendid buildings and museums, including the spectacular Hermitage, with a sophisticated service industry. See St Petersburg Travel Guide . 3] ***Novgorod, 190 km [118mls] south of St Petersburg , an important political and artistic centre from the 9th century and still holds a wide and varied collection of magnificent structures including Russia's oldest cathedral, frescoes galore, and plenty of glorious oddities. 4]***The Golden Ring,a few hours travel northeast of Moscow, are a collection of attractive historic towns dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. These can be visited on day trips, but better, hire a car or join a boat with a guide and take your time to enjoy: ***Suzdal , the most important town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal used be a political and religious centre and has more than fifty quaint and well-preserved old structures. About 210km [131 mls] from Moscow. It is a major tourist attraction, yet still retains an enchanting, pre-Soviet atmosphere. **Vladimir is famed for its Golden Gate and two splendid cathedrals. About 180km [112 mls] from Moscow. **Rostov. This quiet, rustic town offers the usual churches but also a lovely lake and spectacular kremlin. **Yaroslavl is much bigger than other towns in the Ring but totally crammed with gorgeous churches, if you haven't seen enough. 250kms [156mls] from Moscow. 5] **Irkutsk , the 'Paris of Siberia', is a long way from anywhere except Mongolia, but is on the Trans-Siberian train route [see more info left] and well worth a stop-off. The city is mostly charming, with considerable Chinese influence and some magnificent architecture, including typically elaborate Siberian 'gingerbread' houses. Another of Irkutsk's attractions is the proximity to lovely, 636km [398mls] long Lake Baikal where hiking, biking, horse trekking, fishing and boating are big time. The north end is the most beautiful and isolated. Listvyanka village is a popular place to stay for tourists. 6] ***Cruising the Volga River via some superb old towns like Kazan [ancient Tatar city], Shiryaeva and Ulyanovsk [Lenin's birthplace]. See Boat cruises, left. 7]**Black Sea, Sochi. This is a Russian beach resort town with a warm climate and sophisticated health spas [sanatoria], with beaches and tennis courts, scenically situated at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. 8] ** Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains is a pretty, pleasant city except perhaps for Tsar Nick II and his family who met their end here and the USA's U2 spy pilot who was shot down in the area. The place offers excellent architecture, museums, entertainment and access to the Urals for varied activities. Cuisine Guide: You can eat well and inexpensively nowadays, especially in cafés and fast food places in the cities. Do choose places that look clean and are busy , poor hygiene could result in intestinal blowout. Moscow and St Petersburg in particular have seen an astronomical growth in cafés, bars and restaurants, including classic Chinese, Japanese and Italian offerings, western fast food chains and traditional Russian cuisine . Russian food tends to be rich and on the heavy side in winter , such as meaty dumplings, meaty cabbage rolls, cabbage soup with sour cream, and the national icons - borscht [beetroot soup], blinis [pancakes] and caviar, while lighter foods like superb soups and salads are around in the summer . Avoid eating shellfish except in St Petersburg and street ice cream anywhere. Drinks: We all know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine , passable tea and effective coffee. Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging. Accommodation guide: You are supposed to have a place booked in order to get a tourist visa . There's a wide range of accommodation from luxury hotels at silly prices to cheapish hostels at around $20 pn, but it's important to book well ahead for the June-September season. Private home stays are widespread , giving the tourist relatively good value rooms and a close look at real Russian life. The downside is that the place may be out of the way, the bed lumpy and the morning-after breakfast provider in-your-face during your recovery time. Camping is fine in many places though - as usual - check with locals before bedding down. Organised camping sites are rare and usually open mid-June to mid-September. Russia Tours Tour operators offering travel to Russia can be found in our listings here: Russia Tours For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Map of Europe Travel Safety: Travel to Chechenya and the north Caucasus is not recommended; check the Foreign Office site or tour operators for up-to-date warnings. Otherwise stay on the regular tourist routes. Don't flash your cash! Pickpocketing and bag filching may occur on crowded public transport while hotel rooms are by no means thief-proof. Lock everything into your bags before leaving the room and use a safe deposit if there is one. Take care with taxis. Don't get in if there is anyone other than the driver inside, and don't necessarily trust the driver. See Safety page. Travel Health: Do not drink Russian tap water , not even for cleaning your teeth. Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant. Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance! Costs: Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places. Change money for roubles only at official exchanges or banks. Cash is easier to change than travellers cheques. Tipping: About 10% to taxi drivers and 10-15% to waiters in restaurants. Electricity : Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Internet: There are masses of reasonably priced web cafés in bigger cities. Local travel: The big cities have good metro and bus services at low prices . Locals enjoy life as illegal taxi drivers for extra cash. Beware though, some are pure evil, others wonderful, hospitable guides. Hitch-hiking is common for Russians but not advisable for tourists . Intercity travel: Trains connecting Moscow to St Petersburg are common, efficient and inexpensive . The Aurora day train takes 6 hours, the evening train 4 hours. Passenger boats are common between cities - tho' slow - including Moscow to St Pete. For exploring the countryside around big cities consider car hire, with or without a driver/guide. It's not expensive and very convenient. International travel: Moscow and St Petersburg are both easy to reach from many European cities by fast, efficient trains and buses ; other Russia cities are more difficult to access directly. Language: Some locals speak English, French, or German but ability to recognise the Cyrillic alphabet and a few words of Russian would really help your experience along. Visas: All visitors need a visa which needs a hotel/hostel booking . If you plan to travel in Russia you may want to see our: China Travel Guide Japan Travel Guide Austria Travel Guide Czech Republic Travel Guide Finland Travel Guide Hungary Travel Guide Turkey Travel Guide Travel Pictures | Destination Finder | Exotic Places | World Festivals | World Wonders | Safari Wildlife | Beaches | Top of Page European Places | Walking Tours | Travel Health | Travel Safety | Travel Directory | English Speaking Places | Tours Gap Year | Site Map | Travel Guide Homepage | Contact | Press | Advertising | Legal | Maps | Travelogue © 2000-2005 Bugbog

European Vacation 1985 Holiday

Mutant Reviewers from Hell do "National Lampoon's European Vacation" Mutant Reviewers from Hell do National Lampoon's European Vacation 1985 Holiday Road Summary Capsule: The Griswald family wins a trip to tour all of Europe. Justin's Rating: *GONG!* Justin's Review: The Griswalds are back and on TV... a game show, to be precise. After a lot of humiliation (not to mention french kisses) by the game show host, the wacky family wins an all-expenses paid trip to Europe. Thus, another journey is launched, and countless (well, I suppose you can count them, it's just a hyperbole people!) disasters will ensue. European Vacation is generally agreed to be the worst of the four Vacation films, and I'd have to concur. It has a lot of good moments that are unfortunately held together with the duct tape of bad plotting. By taking the Griswald family out of their semi-natural habitat and focusing more on the "ha-ha everything's foreign" aspect instead of the family themselves, we end up with just a very lackluster ride. It's a lot like one of those travel agency videos where they're trying to show you as much scenery as possible at the expense of a lot of content. Sure, Chevy Chase isn't too bad, and a fourth of the script really does seem inspired. Watch for Eric Idle (of Monty Python fame) as a very sincere Englishman who keeps apologizing every time he's hit by Clark Griswald. But for every good scene, you get three like the one where the Griswald car gets caught up in a traffic circle and cannot leave and cannot leave and cannot leave... well, you get the idea. One of the strangest and most disturbing parts of this film involve Audrey Griswald. In this movie, she's chubby going on super-chubby. Yet the filmmakers try to make her also sexy, so we end up with a kid who's fat and eats a lot yet is hit on by pretty much every guy in the film. I'm not saying fat doesn't equal unsexiness, but it's bad form for films to give a character such polar opposites (gross and sexual). Maybe it's just me (all of you out there repeat in chorus: "It's you"), but Audrey was just too bizarre in this movie. There's some sort of loose plot thread involving a certain amorous video tape of Ellen (Bevery D'Angelo) and international conspiracy, but *shrug*. Sometimes I feel like I could do an entire movie review in nothing but body language. About the only really positive thing I can say about European Vacation is that National Lampoon didn't give up on the series, and two more sequels were made, both a lot better than this movie. Didja Notice? It is revealed in the intro, on his passport, that Clark's middle name is Wilhelm. The Movie Store! European Vacation : Movie [VHS] Intermission! That's John Astin who is the host of "Pig In A Poke". For those ultimate cult fanboys out there, Astin is best known for his role of Professor Gangriene in the later three Killer Tomato movies. Groovy Quotes: Stewardess: Can I get you anything to drink? Clark: Honey? I guess I'll have a Coke. Stewardess: Do you want that in the can? Clark: No, I'll have it right here. If you liked this movie, try these: Vacation Christmas Vacation Vegas Vacation main page reviews by title reviews by category reviews by dvd mutant viewings what is this? mutant bios frequently asked questions features MUTANT archive comments poolman's picks main page reviews by title reviews by category reviews by dvd mutant viewings what is this? mutant bios frequently asked questions features MUTANT archive comments poolman's picks

Argentina Travel Advice »

Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica - Argentina Travel Advice Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica Contact Travelsur | Log Out | Argentina Forums | Search Travelsur Home | Moderators | Register | Edit Profile Argentina Travel Advice » Destinations in Argentina »Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica « Previous Next » Author Message Joseph Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 6:59 pm: Is ist possible to go from TDF to Antarctia or close? Roberto Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, May 16, 2005 - 8:35 pm: Hello Joseph and welcome! Yes, it is possible to depart from Ushuaia and cruise to Antarctica. Not all year round so this need to be planned. For specifics please contact Erna at erna@travelsur.net . In the meantime, if I gather some concrete information I will drop it here. Jennifer Castillo New member Username: Travelfan Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2005 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 11:24 am: Hello, I plan to travel in July. Would you eliminate the most southern areas, given the time of year. Is Mendoza worth seeing in July, Bariloche? Will Bariloche be overcrowed because of skiing? Roberto Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, May 23, 2005 - 1:05 pm: Hey Jennifer, I'd say for places like Ushuaia and Calafate days will be too short and excursions would depend on weather permitting issues. Bariloche is a great winter destination as long as you enjoy snow and skiing. It might get a little crowded by end of July/first of August because of school vacations but in general, Bariloche is a fairly big city, so... As for Mendoza, some excursions are high altitude so here it too you may experience very cold weather and snow. If you are comfortable with it, Mendoza is a great place to visit and July will just be fine. Julio Sandoval Castillo Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 10:15 pm: How much would it cost to travel from Buenos Aires to Bariloche and how much is it to rent some snowboards and go boarding or skiing Roberto Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Tuesday, July 05, 2005 - 12:35 am: Welcome Julio! I will get to this (and your other inquiries) in the next few hours. Please check back. Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 36 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2005 - 12:29 pm: Julio, a roundtrip ticket Bue - Bariloche - Bue is approx. USD $324 and a day of rental equipemt for skiing is about USD $18 (does not include any clothing). Prices include taxes. Nita Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 10:32 am: Hi Roberto We are going to Argentina 2/5 to 2/18. We are hearing conflicting reports on weather. We are planning Iguazu Falls and Salta region and around Buenos Aires. We would appreciate your input. Thank you in advance. Nita Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 44 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 6:59 pm: Hello Nita and welcome! All three destinations will be hot. Average temperature for Iguazu during the month of Feb. is 80 F, but there are at least an average of 15 days when temperatures are above 90F. In addition, this place will be very humid. In Salta, temperatures are a bit lower as well as humidity. Rain is similar in both areas. Jan and Feb are the rainy month in Salta. Only 11 days average are above 78F in Salta. Many excursions here might involve altitude so you may experience and even cooler weather. As for Buenos Aires, it will also be hot and humid but I doubt as much as Iguazu. Temperatures may hover around the 88/90F but some days may feel specially hot. What did the conflicting reports said? Wing Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 6:44 pm: We plan to travel to El Chalten to hike in March. Is this a good time to travel there? Are there hotels in that region? Are there many day hike trails available? Can we do this by ourselves without travel agents? Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 62 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Tuesday, July 26, 2005 - 7:36 pm: Hi... I think this can be done on your own provided you do some homework. El Chalten is *very* small and therefore lacks infraestructure. Although high season is January/February, March is bound to be busy so if you plan to just arrive and find yourself at home you will be for a shock. There are at least 100+ rooms inventory available in dozens of cabins/hostels and small accomodations but during the busy season that may not be much. Bear in mind El Chalten is very isolated and to reach it you will need to drive approximately 220 km from the nearest place -El Calafate- to where you will arrive by plane. This drive is lengthy because the road is composed of pebbles. As you can see traveling by yourself will require planning. There are trails available both for the beginner and the seasoned trekker. Trails may last 1 hour to 7 hours or more and they may involve different levels of difficulty. Most of them are easy and enjoyable. I think you can hike at least a dozen or so trails that have been well mapped. You can do this by yourself and arrange accomodations in advance, but once there your first action should be to approach the information desk at Parque Nacional Los Glaciares to become acquainted with the rules and regulations for visiting the area. On site, there will be many guides and turist services as well. wing Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 11:55 am: Hi Roberto, Thank you very much for your response. I understand there is a bus to El Chalten from El Calafate. What is the bus schedule and how much does it cost? Can we fly to El Calafate from Buenos Aires in the morning and take the bus to El Chalten in the afternoon? If El Chalten is too remote may be we will hike around El Calafate. How are the hiking trails in El Calafate? Are they close to town or far away? Is it safe to hike without guides? We like to hike different places how is the scenary between El Calafate and El Chalten? Is it very different or about the same? Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 - 4:49 pm: Wing, give me a few days please. I am on road as I write... Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Tuesday, August 02, 2005 - 7:00 pm: Hello Wing, here is some more information. There are buses every day from Calafate to El Chalten. Departing in the morning at around 8am and returning to Calafate at around 10pm (departing from El Chalten at 6pm). You should spend at least one night in Calafate in order to take the bus to El Chalten. The drive is approximately 4 hours (for 215 kms). El Chalten is not *too* remote at all, just small. If you reach Calafate it will be a shame not to make it to El Chalten. I would not know the price for the bus ticket. I would not know either how Calafate trekking compares to Chalten trekking. This can only be known if done. Here are a few links that have a ton of information: Todo Calafate EL Chalten Wing Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 7:46 pm: Roberto, Thank you very much for the information. I can not find flight schedule to go from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. Can you help? We plan to arrive Buenos Aires on February 26 early in the morning. Is there a flight that day to go to El Calafate? Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 140 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 1:41 pm: Will check on this tomorrow morning and publish the rates/schedules here. Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 144 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 3:16 pm: Buenos Aires - Calafate roundtrip February 26 USD $239 taxes included Leaving 8.50 am from Ezeiza international. Arriving 12.03 pm to Calafate. Argentine Airlines. Prices may vary at the time of booking. They also depend on availability. As of this morning, there were many seats available. If you are interested, you can always contact Erna at erna@travelsur.net lulu Unregistered guest Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 10:36 pm: Dear Roberto, I'm interested in traveling from Tierra del Fuego to Antartica for a short period of time in December. Any suggetions on scenic trip & destinations there & back? Thank you.}}} Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 204 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 5:26 pm: Lulu, I will post something about it on Monday, once I have a chance to talk to the Buenos Aires office... Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 205 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Monday, November 14, 2005 - 1:37 pm: Lulu, the guys at the office in Buenos Aires tell me there are no ships -that we know of- leaving for Antartida in December. Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 206 Registered: 12-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 ( Vote! ) Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 11:51 am: If I receive new information I will post it here. Add Your Message Here Post: -Color- Black Red Green Blue Yellow Purple Orange Cyan Gray White -Font- Arial Courier Symbol Times Verdana -Size- Smallest (-2) Small (-1) Normal Large (+1) Largest (+2) Username: Posting Information: This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional. Password: E-mail: Options: Enable HTML code in message Action: Argentina Forum | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Guidelines | Travel Directory | Argentina Vacation Administration

France Travel Guide 2

France Travel Guide - information and advice France Travel Guide Information and Advice France Map | Paris Pictures | Paris Travel Guide France Travel Guide 2 - Attractions exodus specialises in “The different holiday”, offering the widest selection of walking, adventure, cycling, mountain biking, wildlife, cultural and winter holidays, and overland journeys across all seven continents! Homepage | France Tours | Brochure Request France Travel Guide, climate: Best: March-June, Sept, early-Oct for sightseeing. Jan-March for wintersports. Worst: July, Aug. The country is packed with foreign and local tourists, while many services - even museums and restaurants - are closed. Dec-Feb can be bitterly cold in mountain areas and in the north including Paris. Length of stay: Minimum worthwhile travel, not incl. flights: Paris and île de France [a short excursion] - 4 days. Weekend trips to just Paris are good too. Recommended: At least 2 weeks to take in Paris, and some country/mountain/beach activities, but you'll need months to discover how diverse the country's attractions are. France Festivals guide: Apart from Bastille Day and Assumption of the Virgin Mary [Aug 15th], which are celebrated nationwide, there are regional folk festivals and arts festivals, as well as Catholic events throughout the country, especially around July. Most of the events involve food, wine and extreme dyspepsia. Jan. 1st: Grand Parade Paris , twinned event with London for New Year celebrations . Massive and colourful. Feb-March : Mardi Gras Nice [ more info and picture ], one of the biggest and the most original carnival s in the world, a two week event with colourful parades, street parties, fireworks, and monster illuminations. mid May: Cannes Film Festival - No need to be a celebrity to enjoy Europe's high profile film fiesta. Loads of public screenings are available, as well as a small chance of bumping into stars. No better place for people watching. mid May/mid Oct: Gypsy Festival [Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Provence], a gypsy gathering; historic, unique and kaleidoscopic. June: International Music Festival [Strasbourg in Alsace, the North], contemporary music. July 14th: Bastille Day [nationwide], France's biggest street festival, with parties, parades and fireworks to remember the French Revolution. July: Tour de France , a three-week cycling race for 3,500km [2000 miles] over the country [route changes annually]. The world's most famous French sporting event. mid July-mid Aug: Festival d'Avignon [Avignon]- a dynamic and diverse Arts festival, boasting over 50 official productions and many more fringes. F or classical music, try Festival International d'Art Lyrique in Aix-en-Provence in July, too. early Aug: Festival Interceltique [Lorient in Brittany], a worthy folk event [Celtic music and culture]. Oct: Jazz Festival [Nancy ], one of the country's best jazz events. For some precise dates see: European Festivals or Arts Festiva ls . Cuisine Guide: Traditional French cuisine of the protein-covered-with-rich sauce kind has been top of the gastronomic world since Romans travelled there to eat wild boar with cranberries in 34AD. But it's finally out of fashion - too heavy, too fattening, too taste-limited, but... [ more info and picture ] Shopping Guide: Pricewise France is not so brilliant due to the €uro's strength, but French style and taste is still irresistible. If designer labels are not your thing, try French eccentricity at smaller boutiques in trendy areas, or cheap chic stuff at flea-markets. Bargain shopping for any French products at huge malls in places such as Calais or Lille is very popular [with mainly British travellers]. Visiting local open-air food markets for regional cheese, pastries and wine, especially in Provence, is a fun way to make lunch. France Star Rating: Monuments ***** Shopping and souvenirs **** Walkability **** Food Quality and Variety **** Value for Money *** Hotel Prices and Value ** Beaches **** Wildlife ** Landscape ***** Local People ** Architecture **** Safety **** Nightlife and Clubbing **** Health Problems none Museums ***** Why Travel to France? The language is one of the most beautiful things about the country so let's forgive the French for being very sniffy about it. Style, culture, architecture, food, wine and fashion all exist in multiple layers of excellence , with Paris in particular capturing and displaying these assets to great advantage. This, the largest country in Europe, has an incredible diversity of soaring landscapes, gorgeous villages, world-famous resorts and spectacular romantic escapes. On top of that, French love anything to do with bodies, so there is no better place for fulfilling your physical dreams, whether it's paragliding off the Alps, boating through the Dordogne or stuffing yourself with foie gras and a bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé. Downside: - Traffic. Not only are French car drivers notoriously aggressive, inconsiderate and occasionally dangerous , but being a convenient transit thoroughfare for North-South Europe road deliveries means that many French roads suffer terminal truck overdose. - Endless, sudden, disruptive strikes. - Petty crime wherever groups of tourists congregate . - The Riviera is mostly crammed with the filthy rich these days. - Locals attitudes to foreign travellers could be improved, particularly in Paris. Activities Guide: Walking/Climbing: With more than 60,000 km [37,500 miles]of well-marked long-distance footpaths to travel on, France is a superb walking country [ more info and picture ] . Also see Walking Tours - France. Cycling: the most French of activities; t he first modern bike was French! France has 28,000km of marked cycle routes, as well as good city and town cycle lanes [ more info and picture ]. Camping : Plenty of choice of places and facilities from basic campsites to luxury holiday parks throughout the country, especially along west coast beaches [ more info and picture ]. Efficient, stress-free and perfect for the family. Skiing: France is one of world's finest and most popular destinations for both downhill and cross-country skiing [ more info and picture ]. Caving: The limestone caves along Spanish border or the Southwest are ideal. Golfing: There are over 500 golf courses in the country [ more info and picture ], with several world-class ones. Relatively inexpensive and uncrowded. Hangliding & paragliding: The Hautes-Alpes of Provence, the Pyrenees [ more info and picture ] and Corsica are considered to be best places to hang loose. Rafting /canoeing: rental boats and organised excursions are available just about everywhere by the water in summertime [ more info and picture ]. The gorges in the Pyrenees, the Alpes and the Massif Central are particularly suited for more adventurous travellers [ more info and picture ]. Swimming/sunbathing: From Normandy to Corsica there's no shortage of swimming spots in the summer. [ more info and picture ]. Sailing: The Atlantic coast has solid winds and good ports to visit unless you are silly rich and want to park your yacht in Cannes. Diving/snorkelling: Available in Corsica. Surfing: often good waves along the Atlantic coast, such as Biarritz, Anglet and Hossegor. Wind/Kitesurfing is most popular on the western Mediterranean coast. Many rivers as well as on lakes such as Lac d'Annecy and Lake Geneva have leisure centres offering a wide rage of watersports. Fishing: Available on rivers and lakes with permits. Try Brittany for carp fishing, River Loire and Brittany/ Normandy for trout and salmon, but the best and most scenic rivers for salmon fishing are in the western Pyrenees. Get a licence at the local tourist office. Sea-fishing, including night-fishing, is popular and available at most seaside resorts. Horse riding: widespread but particularly favoured in Burgandy and the Camargue at the Rhône Delta [in Provence], a nature reserve famous for its indigenous horses. Another horse friendly area is the north; Parc International de la Canche in Le Touquet has 112km of forest riding routes and 26km of beach trails. River/Canal Cruises: A large and sophisticated network of canals and rivers can take you all over the country in peace and quiet, and you still see the sights, but you don't have to book a room ahead or...[ more info and picture ]. France Tours Tour operators offering tours to France can be found in our listings here: France Tours Map of Europe For links to Tourist Offices, Embassies, Cheap Air Tickets, Currency Converter, Climate, Language advice, other online Travel Guides and more, visit Bugbog Travel Directory Visas: EU citizens do not need visas, nor do many other country's residents - including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel for visits up to 90 days. Electricity: Electric sockets are 230v and take 2 round pin plugs. Safety: Relatively safe but always use common sense. Pickpockets operate on many metro and train lines, around tourist sights and along the Cote d'Azur. Cars travelling with foreign number plates are also popular targets for theft, ranging from smash 'n' grab by motorcycle while in motion, 'Mister your wheel it look funny' trickery, and regular parked break-ins. Always hide luggage, especially valuables, and park in a conspicuous area if possible. See Travel Safety. Language: Nowadays more locals understand English, but do not expect them to speak it, even if they are in service. If you can throw together a few words it will help when travelling in most places in France, except possibly Paris, where city dwellers are notoriously sniffy about their gorgeous language being tortured by foreigners. Do, at least try to say 'Bonjour Madame/monsieur' when you enter a small shop and 'Au revoir' when you leave, this will show that you have some appreciation of their culture, even if you don't speak any other French. 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Cruise Vacation and Baltic

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