Russia Travel

Russia Travel St Petersburg Moscow Travel Hotels Tours Russia Travel Specialist since 1967 TRAVEL RUSSIA HOTELS TOURS & CRUISES TRAVEL TO RUSSIA & THE BALTIC STATES HOTELS RUSSIA St. Petersburg Hotels Moscow Hotels Russia - all hotels ESTONIA Tallinn Hotels Parnu Hotels Estonia - all hotels LATVIA Riga Hotels Jurmala Hotels Latvia - all hotels LITHUANIA Vilnius Hotels Kaunas Hotels Klaipeda Hotels Lithuania - all hotels Russia Estonia Latvia Lithuania Chauffeured Car Tour St. Petersburg Russian River Cruises Chauffeured Car Tours Moscow 4 days St. Petersburg 4 days St Petersburg Special Winter City Package 4 days/3 nights chauffeured car tour St. Petersburg Russia In Depth 6 day chauffeured car tour St. Petersburg Novgorod Moscow 7 days by chauffeured car 3 Day Taste of Estonia 3 days from Sweden to Russia by Cruise, Chauffeured Car & Coach Taste of Tallinn Estonia 3 days by ferry to Tallinn from Helsinki Rail Journey Unique 3 days by train Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki Iron Maiden Express 4 days by train (Escorted) Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki St Petersburg by Train 4 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - St Petersburg - Helsinki Moscow by Train 5 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - Moscow - Helsinki Route of the Czars 6 days by Private Coach & Train Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki St. Petersburg & Moscow, Deluxe Package from Helsinki 7 days by Train & Private Car Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki Helsinki St. Petersburg Mosow by Train 7 days by train (Unescorted) Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Moscow - Helsinki Road to St. Petersburg 4 days by Private Coach Helsinki - St. Petersburg - Helsinki The Baltic States 6 & 7 Day Tours Russia-Latvia-Estonia-Lithuania Estonia Info and links FIVE COUNTRIES HIGHLIGHTS TOUR Poland Baltics Russia POLAND - LITHUANIA - LATVIA - ESTONIA - RUSSIA 11 DAYS By Private Coach LUXURY SMALL SHIP CRUISES ABOARD M/S ANDREA Baltic Cruises Elegant & Intimate Cruises St. Petersburg, Baltic & Scandinavia ST. PETERSBURG OPERA & BALLET SEASON TASTE OF KALININGRAD & THE CURONIAN SPIT 7 Days BEST OF RUSSIA, FINLAND, SWEDEN & DENMARK 13 Days St. Petersburg Selection of tours St. Petersburg & Moscow 6 & 9 Day tours by ship, coach and train St. Petersburg Hotels Hotel descriptions and online reservations St. Petersburg Cruises Russia & The Baltics 16 Days Kings Road Imperial Passage through Scandinavia Kings' Road and St. Petersburg 3 Day & 7 Day tours St. Petersburg Sightseeing Full selection of sightseeing tours Moscow Sightseeing Full selection of sightseeing tours Moscow Hotels Hotel Descriptions and online reservations HOTELS RUSSIA St. Petersburg Hotels Moscow Hotels Russia - all hotels ESTONIA Tallinn Hotels Parnu Hotels Estonia - all hotels LATVIA Riga Hotels Jurmala Hotels Latvia - all hotels LITHUANIA Vilnius Hotels Kaunas Hotels Klaipeda Hotels Lithuania - all hotels Baltic States Tours About Scantours General Conditions Travel Insurance Practical Tips CST # 2022206-40 SCANTOURS INC. USA Toll free US & Canada: 1-800-223-7226 Local Phone: 310-636-4656 Fax: 310-390-0493 Comments? Suggestions? E-mail us at info@scantours.com 2005 Scantours Inc. All rights reserved. HOME USEFUL LINKS

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

Ski Vacations > Store

Ski Vacations Store Reviews and Ratings at BizRate Log in to your account Bookmark this page! Home Home & Garden Computers Clothes Toys Electronics Kids Jewelry Store Ratings All Departments I'm shopping for in All Departments ---------------------- Special Offers Store Ratings Welcome to BizRate.com's free comparison shopping site! We help you find the best deals on the biggest selection of products from all of the top-rated stores. Compare products, read reviews, and compare prices to make sure you quickly find the right product at the right price every time! Shop smarter at BizRate. Home > Travel & Leisure > Ski Vacations > Store Ratings Email This Page Customer Ratings of Stores in Ski Vacations (updated daily) Below is a list of 0 stores carrying Ski Vacations and their customer ratings. Click on a customer rating score to see a full report card, or click a store name to visit the store. Compare Stores See All Store Ratings All Departments Travel & Leisure Reservations Airline Tickets Hotels & Resorts Travel Services Car Rental Cruises RV Rental Airport Shuttle Limousine Planning Currency Exchange RV Sales Travel Guide Travel Insurance Nightlife Passport Satellite Phones Weather Reports Traveler's Checks Travel Type All Inclusive Vacations Sex Vacations Adult Vacations Cheap Vacations Disney Vacations Nude Vacations Singles Vacations Vacation Packages Spa Vacations Beach Vacations Honeymoon Vacations Romantic Getaways Swinger Resorts Tropical Vacations Gay Vacations Lesbian Vacations Swinger Vacations Hedonism Vacations Adventure Travel Golf Vacations Luxury Resorts Business Travel Luxury Travel Ski Vacations Destinations Las Vegas Vacations Hawaii Vacations Cancun Vacations Florida Vacations European Vacations Tahiti Vacations Mexico Vacations Caribbean Vacations Italy Vacations Australia Vacations Aruba Vacations Thailand Vacations Bahamas Vacations Ireland Vacations Jamaica Vacations Spain Vacations Belize Vacations New York Vacations Costa Rica Vacations Grand Canyon Vacations Alaska Vacations California Vacations London Vacations New Zealand Vacations England Vacations France Vacations Paris Vacations Activites Camping Parasailing White Water Rafting Water Skiing Fly Fishing Horseback Riding Jet Skiing Scuba Diving Bird Watching Whale Watching Safari Boating Deer Hunting Kayaking Skydiving Windsurfing Hang Gliding Spelunking Surfing Hiking Snorkeling Canoeing Snowboarding Mountain Climbing Accomodations Marriott Hotels Best Western Hotels Club Med Super 8 Motels Motel 6 Embassy Suites Hotels Hilton Hotels Days Inn Hotels Westin Hotels Ritz Carlton Hotels Radisson Hotels Four Seasons Hotels Clarion Hotels Fairmont Hotels Howard Johnson Hotels Hyatt Hotels Hampton Inn Hotels Homewood Suites Wyndham Hotels Loews Hotels Doubletree Hotels Intercontinental Hotels Sheraton Hotels Airlines Mexicana Airlines American Airlines Aeromexico Northwest Airlines Singapore Airlines Delta Airlines British Airways US Airways Lufthansa Japan Airlines United Airlines America West Airlines Frontier Airlines Air New Zealand TWA Continental Airlines Cathay Pacific Alaska Airlines Qantas Airways Virgin Atlantic Hawaiian Airlines Aloha Airlines Austrian Airlines SwissAir Car Rentals Enterprise Car Rental Alamo Car Rental Budget Car Rental Thrifty Car Rental Hertz Car Rental National Car Rental Sort This Table Store Name Would Shop Here Again On Time Delivery Customer Support Products Met Expectations Travel Resources (Sponsored Links) Ski Vacations Get Tickets, Rentals, and Lodging! Book Your All-Inclusive Ski Package www.funjet.com Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated Ski Vacations Deals Book Early for High Season Savings! Hotels, Flights & Lift Tickets. www.expedia.com Overall Rating: Whistler Ski Lodging Whistler Ski Resort Accommodations on Whistler Mtn. Book at '99 Rates! www.alpinewhistler.com Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated Whistler Ski Packages 5 night Whistler Ski Packages starting at USD $449 per person www.enjoywhistler.com Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated Ski Travel Official Tourism Site for Alberta Canada's Rocky Mountain Playground! www.skicanadianrockies.com Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated Ski break for 7 nights 42 per person - half board Sauze D'oulx - Italy hotelmontegenevris.it Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated Low fares at AA.com. Find our lowest fares at AA.com and pay no online booking fee. www.aa.com Overall Rating: Not Yet Rated I'm shopping for in All Departments ---------------------- Special Offers Store Ratings See the 2005 Circle of Excellence Winners! Home | Your Account | Help | About BizRate.com | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Jobs Merchant Login | Merchant Listings and Advertising | Ratings and Research | Affiliates BizRate International - BizRate UK | BizRate France | BizRate Germany Check out our new site, Shopzilla.com - Take a Tour | Online Shopping Shopzilla International - United Kingdom , France , Germany Thank you for shopping online at BizRate © 2005 Shopzilla, Inc.

Spain Travel Essentials Tarragona

Tarragona Spain Visitors Guide - Travel Planner for Tarragona  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors Tarragona: Location Map of Terragona, Spain. James Martin Stay up to date! Tarragona: Location Map of Terragona, Spain. James Martin Email to a friend Print this page Tarragona and Catalonia Links Tarragona Catalonia (Cataluna) Links Spain Map and Travel Essentials Near Tarragona Barcelona Travel Guide Barcelona Pictures Barcelona Links Recent Discussions Need Help Planning a Trip Accomodation in london Mediteranean Feries Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Tarragona Spain Travel Essentials Tarragona Spain Profile From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Tarragona - Location:  Tarragona is located on the Mediterranean coast, 60 miles southwest of Barcelona, Spain, in the region of Catalonia. While ealier settlements may have inhabited the area, the first occupation of Tarragona is attributed to Gneus Scipio, who founded a Roman military camp here in 218 B.C. It grew quickly and was named a colony of Rome in 45 B.C. by Julius Ceasar. Tarragona is considered the most important Roman town in Spain. Tarragona - Population:  Tarragona has about 110,000 people. Tarragona - Getting There by Train:  The Tarragona train station is in the Plaza Pedrera. There are 8 trains a day to and from Madrid, and many to Barcelona, just up the coast, about an hour and a half away. The station at Tarragona is close to the port and to the main street, the Rambla Nova. Turn right out of the station and go up the hill; there are several hotels on this end of the Rambla. Staying in Tarragona:  Look for a hotel near the sea, where the Rambla dead-ends. We stayed at the Hotel Lauria at Rambla Nova 20, and found it comfortable, centrally located, and air conditioned for 64 Euros a double in high season 2003. Tarragona Cuisine:  Think seafood, nuts, onions, tomatoes, oil and garlic. Romesco sauce is a product of this area. Tapas are plentiful in the Rambla Nova area, as well as the interesting Placa de la Font, which you'll find loaded with cafes and restaurants, the place to head on your early evening stroll. Tarragona is know for its fine wine as well. Tarragona Beaches and Naturism:  Tarragona is the main city on the Costa Dorada. There are many beaches and coves nearby. Todotown has a review of beaches in or near Tarragona. Playa El Torn is where you can get naked and sunburned in public. Tarragona Closing Days:  Unless quiet is your ultimate goal, don't go for a day trip to Tarragona on Monday--everything is closed. Tarragona Attractions:   Amfiteatre Romà - The Roman Amphitheater is located seaside, just off the Rambla Nova. Cathedral - At Tarragona's apex sits the 12th century cathedral. Inside is the Museu Diocesà, with a collection of Catalán art you can visit for 2.40 Euros. The Archaeological Museum - At Plaça del Rei 5, overlooking the sea. Free on Tuesdays. Museu Necròpolis - The Necropolis Museum outside town that's one of the most important Christian burial sites in Spain, used in the 3-5th centuries. Tarragona Notes: You'll find some interesting bars and seafood restaurants in the Port area near the marina. I also heartily recommend the Placa de la Font area for its lively cafe and tapas scene. Remember that Spaniards eat dinner very late in the evening. Often 9pm is a bit early for eating. Tarragona, besides being a fine city peppered with Roman ruins and good restaurants, is a relatively innexpensive place to stay while visiting Catalonia. You can get to Barcelona in about an hour and a half, although it's quite a walk from the Barcelona station to the Gothic Quarter--you can take a bus or cab. Building human pyramids is a Catalonian sport. Castellers have been building human pyramids here, some as high as 5 story buildings, for hundreds of hears. You can see them in action in Tarragona during the Sant Magi festival in mid-August. Jill Yesko has written an excellent article about this phenomenon called Castells in Spain in Away.com. You'll see pictures commemorating the Castellers in our photo gallery. For a virtual visit of Tarragona, see our Tarragona Picture Gallery .        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. 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Central America Travel Stories

Central America Travel Stories Archives: BootsnAll Travel Network Visit other BootsnAll sites: BootBlog | Bali | London | Australia | Written Road | Travel News Daily Home | Ask an Insider | Members Forum Plane Tickets | Youth Hostels | RTW Guide About Us | Advertising | Contact | RSS | Staff First Time Visitor? Home » Central America » Central America Travel Stories Central America Travel Stories Making a Splash in St. Croix - St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Linda Vissat finds herself surrounded by the ocean...and running out of water. A Taste of Tranquility: Life on the Shores of Lake Atitlan - San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala Amy Richardson discovers the gem of Guatemala. Island Moment - Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua Hilary Miller longs to return to Nicaragua's most beautiful island and the best host she's ever had. The Perfect Panama - Panama City, Panama Kat Edwards found traveling in Panama to be the perfect experience. Guatemala City - Worth a visit? - Guatemala City, Guatemala Hilary Miller decides that although she wouldn't make Guatemala City a destination, it's not a bad place to be stuck for a day or two. Ocho Locos en Costa Rica - Costa Rica Susan Gottfried and her band of friends take on Costa Rica for less than 2,000 a piece. What We Offer - Santa Ines, Honduras Devin Foxall believes that to cherish the good that survives this world, it may be necessary to acknowledge the scars that bind us as well. Pyramids and Political Strife: A Day in the Belize River Valley - Belize River Valley, Belize David W. Kingsley examines the lives of the native people of Belize on his travels. Costa Rica, Hostels, and Plastic Surgery - Costa Rica There comes a time in every traveller's life when she realizes that she absolutely cannot spend even one more night in a dorm, and it's time to spring for a single. Maximon - the Saint that Loves to Drink and Smoke - Santiago de Atitlan, Guatemala Luminita Bianca Cuna pays her respects to a Mayan saint. Land of Eternal Spring - Guatemala Rites of spring and Passion Week go hand-in-hand in Guatemala. Soaring Skyscrapers of the Jungle-City of Tikal - Tikal, Guatemala Lito Galvan thinks George Lucas wasn't too discreet imagineering the aerial scenes in his film "Star Wars" - it's unmistakably copied from the magical fantasy city of Tikal. Shooting Two Birds with One Stone - Antigua, Guatemala Lito Galvan finds tourist police to be clueless crosses between cinema ushers and supermarket security guards that might have been recruited just days before the onslaught of the peak tourist season from a pool of the habitually indolent and unemployed. Chuckling Post from a Chicken Bus Ride - Pan American Highway, Guatemala The chicken bus offered limited outside view but inside, there is free entertainment, ride fare not inclusive. Temblor en Puerto Viejo - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica Natural disasters aside, and being scammed to get her wallet back, Lisa Britt discovers there is something very real about being out there away from everything. Guatemalan Interlude - Guatemala Allan Taylor revisits his favorite spots in Guatemala and also discovers some new ones. Pura Vida! - Costa Rica Lisa Britt says that you won't see the seedier side of Costa Rica unless you go looking. Welcome to Costa Rica - Costa Rica Theresa Yiju Lin finds herself in an unusual position when she's welcomed into a country. Heros and Pleasers - San Salvador, El Salvador Traveling - the lack of sleep, the cessation of routine, the unbalanced diet, the abusive drinking - always turns Gary Pollitt into a mentally unstable 14-year-old girl. The Modern Bus: Smell The Magic - Latin America Dave Prival became an expert in Latin American busology while traveling by bus from Mexico to Argentina over 15 months and has a few tips to share about choosing the least-worse seat. Panama Living - Panama City, Panama, Less touristy than Costa Rica, but safer than other Latin American countries, Alexis Lojowsky thinks Panama is an excellent country to spend some time in. Love and Kindness in San Antonio Aguas Caliente - San Antonio Aguas Caliente, Vicinity of Antigua, Guatemala Luminita Bianca Cuna plays godmother twice - once in a monk wedding, and again on the street. Coming home to Costa Rica - San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica Lisa Britt visits a place she knew she belonged before she even set foot on the ground: Costa Rica. Costa Rica: Gold, Floods and a Robbery - Costa Rica A flood, a robbery and a strenuous hike still don't deter Jerome Burdi from enjoying the Pura Vida. Guatemala Chicken Bus Travel - Guatemala It's Heather Okvat's chicken bus versus her sanity! Who will win?! Hello from Costa Rica - Alajuela, Costa Rica Sara Lamnin tromps through the jungles, mountains and the second-largest city in Costa Rica. The School of Life - Tamarindo, Costa Rica Solbeam learns that despite what her economics teacher says, the value of life cannot be charted on a map. Mango Season Madness - Playa Zunzal, El Salvador Catherine Mojsiewicz discovers Playa Zunzal by randomly picking a place on a map of the coast, and is overwhelemed by mango madness. El Dia de Todos Santos - Santiago, Guatemala Lafe Metz enjoys the Guatemalan custom of flying giant kites in graveyards to honor the dead each November - and the drinking that goes with it. Dodging the Bullet - Honduras When Derek Lalonde decides between beer and bed, he learns the latter might not have been a bad idea after all. Journey to Tambor - Costa Rica Bert Brun heads to Costa Rica thinking that he may invest in a resort - however, after a rough ride, a new bus may be a better use of his funds. Loud Volcanoes and Dense Jungles - Playa Hermosa/Central America/Costa Rica There is much to see and do in Costa Rica, but Tamara Garcia fears it will all soon dissapear. The Last Chicken Bus - Guatemala There are three of us in this row: me in half of my seat, his bag of mangoes in half of his, and him straddling the middle between us. Today is not a day I need anyone else's body heat. Roatan: a Caribbean Island in Transition - Roatan, Honduras David Alan Robinson snoops around Roatan and witnesses another Caribbean island that is poised for development. Don't Worry, It's Straight Ahead, and Other Guatemalan Fibs - Guatemala Children run from her shrieking, she has to catch a ride on a dump drunk and Claire MacDonell still has another week in the mountains of Guatemala. Petén: The Guatemalan North As anyone coming to Guatemala is painfully aware of, if you miss the ruins at Tikal, you might as well not come at all. As the number one tourist attraction in the country, this jungle encrusted ancient city of... Over Copan Out - Mexico & Honduras Chris Matcham is astounded by the impressive Aztec and Maya ruins in Mexico and Honduras. After too much 'stone-watching,' he is ready to call it quits. 8: Did I Tell You I've Never... - Diary of a Single Girl - La Fortuna, Costa Rica Fun abounds in La Fortuna: lava-boiled hot springs, toxic sulfur fumes, mutant cucharachas. You can also swing around the forest and wham-bang into a tree at high speeds. 7: Hey Mon... - Diary of a Single Girl - Puerto Viejo Talamanca, Costa Rica Fun abounds in La Fortuna: lava-boiled hot springs, toxic sulfur fumes, mutant cucharachas. You can also swing around the forest and wham-bang into a tree at high speeds. 6: Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head... - Diary of a Single Girl - Quepos, Costa Rica Life stays pretty hazy on CR's Caribbean side, but Maria's clear on one thing: just because she likes the chicken doesn't mean she likes the chef. A Year and a Day #25: An Often Depressing Paradise - Costa Rica Costa Rica and its natural beauty was one of the main reasons for Daniel Wallace to visit Central America. Reality was far different from expectation. A Year and a Day #26: Conclusion: No ticket home - Central America Daniel Wallace's travelogue is drawing to a close, but that does not mean his trip is ending. Rather, he's starting fresh, with a new perspective on his travels than he had when he started 6 months ago. A Year and a Day #24: Christmas and New Year\'s Eve, but where was the fiesta? - Nicaragua Daniel crossed over into Nicaragua and found his favourite city in Central America so far: Grenada. A Year and a Day #23: Diving on Utila - Honduras Daniel left with very warm memories of his very cold time on Utila. The diving was great and the people were fantastic. A Year and a Day #22: Honduras - Honduras Daniel crosses the border into Honduras and immediately sees the differences from Guatemala. A Year and a Day #21: El Retiro and the Day of the Devil - Guatemala Those of a nervous disposition may wish to avoid Guatemala on December seventh as the Day of the Devil celebrations explode with fireworks. A Year and a Day #19: Xela, Antigua and Chichi - Guatemala Daniel found Antigua and Xela to be places that are pleasant enough for a holiday from your holiday, but any longer and he started to feel uncomfortable. A Year and a Day #18: Todosantos Chuchumantan - Guatemala Todosantos was exactly what Daniel was looking for in Guatemala. It wasn't Utopia by any means, but he was able to feel more a part of the community than anywhere else he had been. A Year and a Day #17: Arrival in Guatemala - Guatemala Daniel has only been there a week, but already he is sure Guatemala is a lovely, amazing country to travel in. Even a bit of mysterious illness and the upcoming general elections can't discourage him. The Year of Living Differently #1: The Plan - Central America Trisha's plan, including her route, visas she needed, travel insurance and shots she got before she left. A Year and a Day #20: Coban - Guatemala Daniel discovered that the Gringo Trail is very heavily trafficked. He's also a staunch defender of the Chicken Bus. A Year and a Day #25: An Often Depressing Paradise - Costa Rica An Often Depressing Paradise Tuesday, 13th January 2004 "Ten years ago, this country was a paradise", grumped the ageing and slightly slimy Costa Rican barrister, speaking as our bus to the coast paused for a food break. He blamed the... Hippocrates Laughs - Nicaragua Shawna Kenney goes to Central America to cure her friend's loneliness and finds another world in the process. Caye Caulker - Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (4 of 5) Justin Bryant tackles wildlife, forests, scary restaurants and rickety bars, but why worry, man? It's Belize. Cayo District - Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (1 of 5) May-June 1999 I spent 27 days in Belize in the summer of 1999. The trip cost me $1300 or so, including $330 for my flight from Miami. I could have done it cheaper, but I splurged a little in... Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve - Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (2 of 5) Justin Bryant tackles wildlife, forests, scary restaurants and rickety bars, but why worry, man? It's Belize. Placencia - Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (3 of 5) Justin Bryant tackles wildlife, forests, scary restaurants and rickety bars, but why worry, man? It's Belize. Tikal, and Difficulties & General Info - Belize & Tikal, Guatemala (5 of 5) Justin Bryant tackles wildlife, forests, scary restaurants and rickety bars, but why worry, man? It's Belize. La Catarata - Costa Rica Rebecca Bowe and her friends put their clothes back on and made their way back up the path feeling exhausted and full of wonder. Utila - Hangover in Paradise A tequila hangover doesn't stop Malcolm Blakey from spending 2 weeks diving and eating on the island of Utila. Avoid being Ripped-off in Guatemala Maury Englander follows up his story of being robbed in Guatemala City with some tips to help you avoid the same fate. Deconstructing Travels To Tikal - Tikal, Guatemala Amongst the huge stone temples at Tikal, Shawn Cooley waxes philosophical. Biting the Bullet - El Salvador William Koplitz went to El Salvador to go surfing and was shot by thieves after being in the country for 24 hours. Fear (but no loathing) in Guatemala - Guatemala Explosions ripped Shannan Murphy out of an exhausted sleep. But she learned she had nothing to fear, but fear itself. ER in Guatemala - Guatemala The nightly turtle races were all the excitement the village of Monterrico was supposed to offer. Laurie Magree found a bit more than that after helping to save two locals attacked by a machete-wielding drunk. Pepperoni, Island Style - Belize A Washington state man sells off three pizza joints and stateside life to open shop in a bamboo-covered trailer in Belize. Touch the Wire (Part Two) - San Jose, Costa Rica After 2 years of highs and lows Brandon Dane's hand got pried off the high-voltage line of life. He can't wait to clutch on again. Touch the Wire (Part One) - Costa Rica After 2 years of highs and lows Brandon Dane's hand got pried off the high-voltage line of life. He can't wait to clutch on again. Don't Miss the Boat - Costa Rica Costa Rica is considered one of the most ecologically abundant areas in the hemisphere, writes Judy Wolf. It has distractions and attractions galore - beaches, surfing, nesting sea turtles, cloud forests, active volcanoes, rivers and more. Pura Vida en Costa Rica - Costa Rica Whatever your taste, you can find it in Costa Rica. Lee Abbamonte promises that you will want to return time and again. The Idiot's Guide to Good Transport in Guatemala Diana Espirito Santo navigates the scary, but rewarding, world of Guatemalan transportation. Bloody Football - Honduras Today's football heroes are worshipped, but in an ancient time, they worshipped the gods with human sacrifice. I Will Survive: Early Morning in the Guatemalan Jungle with a Drag Queen - Guatemala The temples of Tikal are cause for awe and wonder. But Diana Reed found herself wondering about one of her fellow visitors to the ancient ruins. Counting the Hours on Contadora - Panama Troy White visited the only nude beach in Central America, called 'Swedish Girls Beach.' The problem was: there were no Swedish girls, just he and his friends. Casa Viejo Mike Heavers is awed by resilient, sensual, enticing Casco Vieja - epitomized by the daily struggle against poverty by its people. A Bridge in The Bay Islands - Roatan, Honduras The Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea pale in comparison to the quality of the Bay Islands of Roatan. Time may be running out, writes Lee Abbamonte, to see this unspoiled area. Don't wait. Escape from Roatan - Roatan, Honduras Leaving Roatan, Honduras felt more like an escape than a departure for Diana Espirito Santo. Diving Adventure in Belize - Belize Seasickness, wild waves and an overflowing toilet weren't going to keep Kristin Piljay from diving in Belize's blue waters. Costa Rica Beach Bum Buddha - Costa Rica People can touch your life, even if you know them only for a short while. Shawn Cooley reflects on the people that touch the life of a traveler. Seven Days in Costa Rica - Costa Rica Traversing through the rainforests next to an active volcano, David Alan Robinson makes the most of his seven days in Costa Rica. La Fortuna Fiesta - Costa Rica A spring break with a difference, Catharine Wells traveled to Costa Rica to see Volcan Arenal. Instead she arrived in time for a local festival. Relax, Mon - Caye Caulker, Belize Matt Scott quickly adapts to the easy-going pace of Caye Caulker - both above and below the water. The Legend of La Mona - Puntarenas, Costa Rica Did a half-woman half-monkey, with a hysterical laugh, prey on Andrew Black's sanity? The Complete Rules of the Road for Driving in Guatemala Ken McCormick provides a basic set of rules for surviving (or not) Guatemala's notorious highways. La Casa Grande What Chris Lele's search from the website blurb on Casa Grande led him to expect and what he found was different, even shocking. Belize and Tikal, Guatemala Justin Bryant tackles wildlife, forests, scary restaurants and rickety bars, but why worry, man? It's Belize. A Guatemalan (Sad) Story - Guatemala City, Guatemala Maury Englander was distracted for just a second, but that's all it took for thieves to end his holiday in Guatemala. Island Time - Roatan, Honduras Island Time - undetermined quantity of time just long enough to infuriate, confuse and befuddle a sick-stomached mainlander, writes Thomas Jones. Like a Fish to Air - Roatan, Honduras Roatan is reknown for diving, but it also forces Kristina Johnson to confront her fears. From Baja to the Land of Fire #9: Panama City, Panama (part II) What was that about South America? Things were going to plan, but then romance called for a change in itinerary. From Baja to the Land of Fire #8: Panama City, Panama Nicaragua, Costa Rica, an awesome dancer named Arlen, and a bit of illness (well, a lot of illness) can only mean one thing: it's time for South America. From Baja to the Land of Fire #7: Tegucigalpa, Honduras Theo takes rain delays in stride as he visits the ruins of Copan, has a near death experience while rafting, and takes a night dive on Roatan. From Baja to the Land of Fire #6: Coban, Guatemala A week of Spanish lessons, volcanoes, learning how the chickens feel and, at last, arrival in the city of everlasting drizzling rain. From Baja to the Land of Fire #5: Guatemala Cool long-term travelers, colorful locals and plenty of good times meet Theo throughout Guatemala, from Tikal to Xela. From Baja to the Land of Fire #4: Caye Caulker, Belize Belize is a midpoint between Mexico and Central America, a chance to finish adapting from home life to road life, before plunging in to some real traveling. Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #27: After Latin America, What\'s Next? Recap & More on Plans The full statistical breakdown of Wee-Cheng's trip, but it's only this part that's coming to a final destination. Look for him in Europe soon... Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #23: Mad Rush Through Honduras, El Salvador & Belize - Honduras, El Salvador, Belize Late, late, late. WeeCheng is behind schedule, and so he had to rush through Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #22: Nicaragua: Bulls' Testicles in the Land of Fire and Revolution - Nicaragua If the North Americans will leave the place alone, peaceful Nicaragua can finish the process of rebuilding after years of conflict. Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #21: Costa Rica: Rice and Beans, Beans and Rice - San Jose, Costa Rica Gringolandia at its finest, but for heaven's sake, not another jungle-and-volcano tour... Worldwide with Wee-Cheng #1: Project Infinite Liberation Wee-Cheng outlines his trip, route and destinations. Latin America is only the beginning. Paget's Belize Journal #10 September 27: Here I Am and It's Hot! Here I am in Belize and well on my way to slowing down. Since we have lots of new people on the list since my June visit, I will repeat some... Paget's Belize Journal #11 September 28: More Weather; Sensations; Housing Today Dangriga is back to being a refreshingly breezy coastal community, but when I first arrived here, it was very still. The staff at Pelican Beach (the resort where I'm staying temporarily) say... Paget's Belize Journal #12 October 1: Housing Styles and Security A few people have expressed some interest in the security measures that are in place here, presumably because of my mention both of the issue of security bars on houses and the night... Paget's Belize Journal #13 October 4: Security and SNORKELING! Just a short note to finish the security topic for now and then on to the good stuff. The point of all this security is not physical protection but possessions protection. As I was... Paget's Belize Journal #14 October 5: Dock Activities, Yoga and Nightlife One of the reasons I will be very sad to leave Pelican Beach Resort (when I finally find a house) is the dock. It's about 120 feet out into the ocean and... Paget's Belize Journal #15 October 7: Day-to-Day Life - Part 1: Avoiding Nocturnal Mosquito Bites It appears to be true that mosquitoes do not land in a breeze and that although they can bite through cloth, it has to be taut enough to... Paget's Belize Journal #16 October 8: The Quadrille, or, Lewis Carrol Ain't Got Nuthin' On Us! I offer here, an entire, unedited article from the online version of the Belize Reporter Newspaper - one of four national newspapers in the country (there are... Paget's Belize Journal #17 October 8: A Place to Live, Hooray! My househunting efforts have been successful and I will be moving into an apartment in the next few days! I'm a little apprehensive, it's been cozy and safe and quiet at Pelican,... Paget's Belize Journal #18 October 13: Cleaning and Culture Well, the weekend did not go quite as I had planned. I got felled by one of those lovely stranger-in-a-strange land bugs and wasn't too lively for most of it. But I did get... Paget's Belize Journal #19 October 14: Hurricane Irene Just in case you were wondering, here is this morning's evaluation of our weather GENERAL SITUATION: HURRICANE IRENE NEARING THE SOUTHWEST COAST OF CUBA POSES NO IMMEDIATE THREAT TO BELIZE EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL BAND... Paget's Belize Journal #2 Monday, June 14 Things are going well here in Belize, but it's taken me this long to get an e-mail connection operating via the account of my hosts Tony and Therese. Weather has been lovely, the rainy season here... Paget's Belize Journal #20 October 19: A Weekend in Hopkins Village Since I didn't have a new bedstead and I still had quite a few not-so-tiny roommates, I decided to get on the bus and go to Hopkins - a small Garifuna village... Paget's Belize Journal #21 October 19: Hopkins Village Part II There are a few more things I want to relate about my visit to Hopkins before I forget. Hopkins is primarily a fishing village, the fishing boats (really slightly enlarged rowboats in a... Paget's Belize Journal #22 October 23: A Weather Report or, What they think is cold Here's another Belize weather report for you: GENERAL SITUATION: COLD FRONT AFFECTING THE COUNTRY! TEMPERATURES: HIGHS(TODAY) COASTAL 30C/86F INLAND 30C/86F LOWS(TONIGHT) COASTAL 20C/68 INLAND 16C/61F And that's what... Paget's Belize Journal #23 November 2: Observations on Transportation As I think I've mentioned, there's not much in the way of paved roads in Belize. There's a big project to pave the Southern Highway and most of the Hummingbird Highway is paved, and... Paget's Belize Journal #24 November 6: Food Experiments Even though Belizeans (or at least the Garifuna) are content to eat beans and rice and stewed chicken every day, the food here is really quite good and varied. The fresh fish and shellfish of... Paget's Belize Journal #25 November 12: The Brits; Furniture Therese and I just got back from a trip to the capitol, Belmopan, to talk to the British High Commissioner (a super-ambassador) and his staff about developing a web site. It looks like we'll... Paget's Belize Journal #26 November 17: Night Noise, Settlement Day I've had a restless enough go of it the last two nights that I decided to complain a little. Although there are not enough people here to make a truly difficult noise pollution... Paget's Belize Journal #27 November 18: Dragonflies! Just a quickie. There was a dragonfly hatch yesterday and it is the most amazing thing to have a sky full of dragonflies. There were truly millions of them, all drifting lazily from where they were... Paget's Belize Journal #28 November 24: A Good 19th As I told you earlier, November 19 is the major Garifuna holiday and Dangriga is the center of Garifuna culture, so it is a very big thing here. (You refer to it as "the... Paget's Belize Journal #29 November 30: Wrapping Up the 19th Some interesting things to tell about the Thanksgiving trip to Mexico to visit Carol, so I'll just do a quick wrap up on 19th festivities and hope for time to write more later... Paget's Belize Journal #3 Wednesday, June 16: A tourist trip Yesterday I had my tourist day. Went by van up from the coast on various "highways" and back roads through the citrus fields to the Belize zoo which is a natural habitat approach... Paget's Belize Journal #30 December 1: Traveling to Mexico Getting to and from Mexico and across the border was half the fun of the Thanksgiving trip to Bacalar to visit Carol (a friend from the States, "wintering" there). I flew from Dangriga to... Paget's Belize Journal #31 December 7: Thanksgiving in Mexico Thanksgiving in Mexico with Carol's friends was a good combination of traditional and local color. Carol and J.B. are back in Bacalar, located about 10 miles from Chetumal (just across the Belize border) on... Paget's Belize Journal #32 December 10: A Trip to Cockscomb Basin They called me Wednesday from Pelican Beach and said that there was a tour going to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary on Thursday that had space available. So I went. There hasn't been... Paget's Belize Journal #33 December 15: A Belizean Week-end I got a little more adventurous this weekend and ended up with some typically Belizean experiences, unlike my usual mode which is mostly observation. On Saturday night I finally visited a Belizean bar (a... Paget's Belize Journal #34 December 15: Tobacco Caye: A "Trip" The plan after my night at the lodge with Capt. Frank, Sgt. Alejandro and the drunk (a Saturday) was that we would meet on the street in front of my house at 7:30... Paget's Belize Journal #35 December 21: Is it really Christmas? Several of you have had the experience of trying to get into the Christmas spirit in a tropical clime. Just doesn't work for me. I put up my Christmas lights and got out... Paget's Belize Journal #36 December 24: This is the Life I know that Oregon and Massachusetts and many other spots also had good viewing for this beautiful, bright full moon and it sounds glorious, but it's hard to believe it could get any... Paget's Belize Journal #37 December 24: Christmas Wishes Christmas wishes for you and yours. Here's a nice Christmas wish I just got from Kurt, the young programmer here at Naturalight. Worth passing on, I thought. We wish you the courage to be warm,... Paget's Belize Journal #38 December 31: Some Christmas Experiences I had quite a nice time over the Christmas holiday even though nothing topped the moon, caye, shrimp and Chardonnay of early in the week. Christmas Eve I went visiting with Therese and the... Paget's Belize Journal #39 January 7: Bits and Pieces About Life in Belize As my time here begins to wind down, I've been thinking about the major social characteristics and influences that I've written little or nothing about. The short list is: Lottery,... Paget's Belize Journal #4 Friday, June 18: Flying to San Pedro; Sand Crabs Here I am in San Pedro (Canon Beach, or maybe Rockaway Beach at 110 degrees with dreadlocks) and finally got a connection that seems "normal" in a streetside lab ($16/hr... Paget's Belize Journal #40 January 10: Caye Caulker - The Haircut Well, my trip to Caye Caulker was one of those mixed experiences. The water taxi from Belize City takes about 45 minutes and it was threatening to rain and the wind was... Paget's Belize Journal #41 January 14: Caye Caulker Again After my haircut I went walking around the village to see what I could see. This is a nice little beach town (in the middle of the ocean), pretty much focused on tourism and... Paget's Belize Journal #42 January 18: Red Bank, Scarlet Macaws, Gray Skies My last nature trip in Belize was a good one, very strange and jungly. We (Godfrey the guide, a couple from Las Vegas and me) started out from Dangriga a little... Paget's Belize Journal #43 January 25: The Last Few Days Well, I'm back home, taking hot showers and goggling at all the white people. But I have a few more thoughts in me about Belize. If it's not as interesting because the dramatic... Paget's Belize Journal #5 Saturday, June 19: Saturday in San Pedro Gradually sorting out what I'm here to do. Last night I went to the annual banquet of the Belize Tourism Industry Association at the grand opening of a convention center facility -... Paget's Belize Journal #6 Monday, June 21: Braids, Snakes and Dogs Well, I'm not sure the Caribbean braids are an unqualified success. They're certainly cooler, but I have to be very careful and wear my hat all the time in order not to... Paget's Belize Journal #7 June 30: Leaving Dangriga I was to leave on Tuesday afternoon about 2:00 and had lots of things to take care of - finishing up a project at the office, packing all the hot sauce and belongings, sorting out... Paget's Belize Journal #8 September 10: Can You Help the Library? I will be leaving for a four-month stay in Belize in two weeks. One of the things I want to do in Belize this time is to help the Dangriga librarian, Mrs.... Tapir Travels #15: The Ixil Highlands Talking abou the war with the locals and visiting the hidden city of Tikal. Tapir Travels #14: Back in School Again Spanish schools and internet cafes in Antigua and plans for the next part of the trip to the Ixil triangle. Tapir Travels #13: Men of Corn After visiting Lake Atitlan, Mattias meets his friend from Sweden in Guatemala City. Tapir Travels #12: The Tourist Trap After coming from El Salvador, Guatemala's Antigua has a very different atmosphere. Tapir Travels #6: Colonial Charm Granada's European architecture and then in to the jungles of the Miskito Coast. Tapir Travels #5 Slowing down for a chronic allergy and then on to Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua. Tapir Travels #4: Prejudices Nicaraguans in Costa Rica and the Caribbean influence. Tapir Travels #3: Critters and Creeps Volunteering in Barra Honda national park and then back to civilisation in San Jose. Tapir Travels #2: Birthday Celebrations A ceremony for a 15th birthday and life in Nicoya. Tapir Travels #1: The Arrival Flying into San Jose, Costa Rica from Mexico City and travelling across country. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #11: The End - Taulabe to Copan, Honduras Honduras is Kelli's country. She will never again voluntarily eat bananas. She now know the best alternates to toilet paper. And she thanks everything holy for flushing toilets and warm showers. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #10: The Ticket to Taxis - Tegucigalpa, Honduras Kelli gives you three very good reasons why not to slam the doors of the taxi when you're trying to bargain a ride. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #9: Pulhapanzak - Pulhapanzak, Honduras Was it the brilliant 200 foot waterfall surrounded by jungle or the green-eyed prodigy jumping from top of said waterfall that took Kelli's breath away? Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #8: Emmex - Tegucigalpa, Honduras Volunteering in a Honduran hospital, Kelli didn't think she was strong enough to handle it. Until she met a little orphan named Emmex. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #7: Bus or Bust - Tegucigalpa, Honduras Honduran buses, be them yellow American school buses or masterpieces with the face of Bob Marley plastered on the rear, always made Kelli a little nervous and provided several entertaining stories... Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #6: Washed and Pressed with Bullets Included - Tegucigalpa, Honduras Running late to make a meeting became irrelevant after Kelli looked into the front seat of the taxi, engine running but dead driver hunched over the steering wheel. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #5: Hotel Juticalpa - Juticalpa, Honduras Hotel Juticalpa is a lot like Kelli imagined Hotel California to be. The owners guarded the entrance with a fully loaded machine gun...as they slept on the couch watching a Latin soap opera. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #4: Hitch Hiking 101 - Talanga, Honduras It's not as easy as throwing your thumb in the air and kissing public buses goodbye. There is definitely skill involved, as Kelli found out on the way to Guaimaca. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #3: Homemade Barbed Wire - Tegucigalpa, Honduras What do you do when a 40 year old drunk man comes straight at you with a machete? Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #2: Que La Vaye Bien... - Copan Ruinas, Honduras Almost as soon as she arrived, Kelli was off on a trip to the ruins at Copan, where she learned that dogs hate rocks and always hike with your passport. Hammocks, E-Coli, and Liquados #1: Introduction Kelli knew she needed to be somewhere else in the world besides the monotony and mediocrity of her college town in Utah. Two weeks later she showed up at the airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Finger On The Trigger - Costa Rica It was a cool morning in April 2000 in San Jose, Costa Rica, when Brandon Dane had his run-in with the Costa Rican Police, aptly named: FUERZA PUBLICA. Hear No Evil - Costa Rica I was sitting in my room in San Pedro minding my own business when a buddy of mine calls me to tell me that there has been ANOTHER American girl found dead in Costa Rica. I held my tongue... Volcano Pacaya (1 of 2) Hiking a live volcano should be adventure enough, but throw in a few bandits and it's downright scary. Volcano Pacaya (2 of 2) Hiking a live volcano should be adventure enough, but throw in a few bandits and it's downright scary. The Jungle - San Jose, Costa Rica Qualifying Statement #8 This article is dedicated to Joy Rothke, my harshest critic. Well, I came sliding back into San Jose, Costa Rica, last Saturday afternoon. Four months in The States was all that I could stand, even with... Disturbing the Peace Clouds fall over the sleepy village of Santa Elena, Costa Rica as the chirping birds sing in the sweet symphony of the night. The occasional monkey howls off in the distance as the wind rustles the branches and leaves... Dreadlocks & Voodoo (1 of 4) Jack Simpson, Jr honeymoons in Belize where he experiences dark caves and voodoo rituals. No tigers though. Dreadlocks & Voodoo (2 of 4) Jack Simpson, Jr honeymoons in Belize where he experiences dark caves and voodoo rituals. No tigers though. Dreadlocks & Voodoo (3 of 4) Jack Simpson, Jr honeymoons in Belize where he experiences dark caves and voodoo rituals. No tigers though. Dreadlocks & Voodoo (4 of 4) Jack Simpson, Jr honeymoons in Belize where he experiences dark caves and voodoo rituals. No tigers though. Dead Pirates and Frozen Fish (1 of 2) Battling a fever in Honduras, Christine Michaud uses the only thing at her disposal to cool down: a frozen fish. Dead Pirates and Frozen Fish (2 of 2) Battling a fever in Honduras, Christine Michaud uses the only thing at her disposal to cool down: a frozen fish. Tico's Rampage (1 of 3) The story of Craig Guillot's right leg dashes on a mad horse through Costa Rica. Tico's Rampage (2 of 3) The story of Craig Guillot's right leg dashes on a mad horse through Costa Rica. Tico's Rampage (3 of 3) The story of Craig Guillot's right leg dashes on a mad horse through Costa Rica. Paget's Belize Journal #1 How Paget's adventure began. Paget's Belize Journal #9 Paget comments on her gifts. Antigua: Home Sweet Home Semana Santa is one week when Antigua gets even more international visitors than usual. La Union to Potosi Boat problems lead to a refreshing break on the island of Conchaquita. Los Chiles to Lago Nicaragua Many different ways to travel on this river, in varying degrees of comfort. Puntarenas to Nicaragua Taking the bus from Puntarenas to Nicaragua and back. Tikal to Rio Dulce & on to Livingston The Hotel Backpackers is a great way to meet other travellers in Rio Dulce. Home » Central America » Central America Travel Stories Book It! 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