Argentina Travel Guide Overview

Argentina Tours | Argentina Tour Guide | iExplore.com FORBES' #1 ADVENTURE TRAVEL SITE 5 YEARS IN A ROW — TIME MAGAZINE TOP 50 Keyword Search: -- Home Trip Finder Travel Guides Community Special Offers Store My iExplore advertisement -- Home Travel Guides Central and South America Argentina Overview Argentina Travel Guide Overview Tours Where to Go Activities General Info History Weather Travel Tips Dining Shopping Visa & Health View Trips to Argentina Central and South America Overview Browse Argentina Photos Argentina Questions and Answers Read Argentina Journals Find a Argentina Travel Buddy Argentina Overview Argentina is a land of extremes, its hectic urban centers contrasting with a staggeringly remote hinterland, and can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another. The one common thread is that the people possess a curiosity, passion, and fervor for life, most visible when it comes to football, the national obsession. Evita, the Tango, gauchos and estancias are the country’s clichéd attractions, but what strikes visitors most is that life here is for living – the fast pace only letting up for the afternoon siesta. Referred to as a grimy Paris, Buenos Aires is a sophisticated capital brimming with character and an excellent spot for shopping and watching the world go by – whether it’s pedestrians strolling or motorists driving at break-neck speed. Nightlife is second to none and the restaurants are a food-lover’s delight. Argentina’s national parks teem with wildlife and incredible mountainous vistas, while the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and Iguazú Falls are natural wonders. Endless hiking opportunities abound in the south, where Patagonia is stunningly barren and mystifying and the Tierra del Fuego feels like the end of the world. The Andes offer excellent skiing – the ski-resort of Bariloche being the country’s most established. Horse riding, adventure sports and birdwatching are just a few of the other activities on offer throughout the country. Argentina, vastly unexplored and undiscovered by most tourists, is an adventure waiting to happen. Geography Argentina is situated in South America, east of the Andes, and is bordered by Chile to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil to the north and northeast. There are four main geographical areas: the Andes, the North and Mesopotamia, the Pampas and Patagonia. The climate and geography of Argentina vary considerably, ranging from the great heat of the Chaco ( El Chaco ), through the pleasant climate of the central Pampas to the sub-Antarctic cold of the Patagonian Sea. Mount Aconcagua soars almost 7000m (23,000ft) and waterfalls at Iguazú stretch around a massive semi-circle, thundering 70m (230ft) to the bed of the Paraná River. In the southwest is a small ’Switzerland’ with a string of beautiful icy lakes framed by mountains. Sponsored Listings ( Add your listing ) advertisement Advertisement -- advertisement Why iExplore? About Us Advertise Site Map Privacy Policy Travel Agents Contact Us © 2005 Adventure Travel with iExplore --

Europe Travel

Bus Travel in Europe Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living As seen in Transitions Abroad Magazine September/October 2000 Related Topics Budget Travel Back Door Travel with Rick Steves Related Articles Bus Tours Can be Great Bargains Cheap Travel in Europe European Travel by Bus By Koke Miller-Thomas (Web editor's note: Updated to link to sites for current rates and information.) After working six months in Scotland and England, I realized that my initial financial forecast was too optimistic. I didnt want to leave without touring Europe, but I could not afford to travel by train. So I looked around for alternatives and found two bus passes that I could afford: Eurolines Europass and the Busabout pass . Eurolines Europass is less expensive than Busabout (and offers fewer perks), but both passes cost less than comparable rail passes. For example, here are the current rates for the Europass. The current rates for the Busabout pass are listed here . The main advantage of Busabout versus Europass and Eurail is additional convenience. Busabout will drop you off at hostels and help you book rooms in advance. Eurolines provides an external link for booking accommodations online via their site. Both bus passes let you travel to a few countries that a Eurail pass does not include. For example, with Europass you can visit the following countries . Busabout, does not offer quite as many country destinations, but it lets you visit more smaller destinations, as well as packages to Morocco, Croatia and the Greek Islands. Ultimately, comfort is the main factor to consider when deciding whether to travel more expensively by train or more cheaply by bus. Buses are often crowded and are about as comfortable as they are in the U.S. On the upside, European bus stations are far nicer than in the U.S., and buses are used by more people. Compared with the train travel Ive done in Europe, bus passengers seem to socialize more than rail travelers. Perhaps more importantly, most bus passengers are locals. All of our drivers were locals, and they generally provided interesting bits of information. You can buy a Busabout pass online. Their web site, www.busabout.com , also contains maps and stop information. The Eurolines pass can be bought online as well and a network map is available. An audio interview is available at www.eurolines.com - just click for the Podcast. KOKE MILLER-THOMAS has lived in several countries. Currently she is a social worker for the state of Texas. Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living Disclaimer ©Transitions Abroad

Russia Travel

Travel Russia | Russia.com About Russia Russia Tourism Russia Visa Russia History Russia Flag Russia News Russia Info Photo Gallery Advertise With Us Destinations North West Russia Central Russia South Ural Siberia Far East Kamchatka Peninsula Golden Ring Karelia Caucasus Mountains Yakutia Altai Russian Cities Moscow St Petersburg Vladivostok Chelyabinsk Kazan Nizhny Novgorod Perm Vladimir Pskov Kalingrad Russian Lakes Lake Baikal Caspian Sea Ladoga Onega Uvs Nuur Lake Brosno Lake Plescheyevo Travel Russia Hotels Moscow Hotels St Petersburg Hotels Flights to Russia Flights to Moscow Weather in Russia Map of Russia Activities in Russia Russia Tour Wildlife Tours Moscow Tours St Petersburg Tours Adventure Sports Skiing in Russia Snowboarding in Russia Hunting & Fishing Aerobatic Tours Jeep Tours River Rafting Ice Diving Sport in Russia Business Travel Russia Business Shopping in Russia Culture Art in Russia Art Galleries Moscow Galleries St Petersburg Galleries Russian Theatres Moscow Theatres St Petersburg Theatres Languages Newspapers Flowers in Russia Community Meet Russians Russian Men Russian Woman Join Discussions Guest Book Moderators F A Q Discussion Policies Privacy Policies Travel Russia Visit our Online Community Travel Russia Plan your Russian Travel Experience now If you have considered to travel to another country, you might as wellconsider Russia as the ideal destination. Flights are constant andvery accessible, car hire and accommodation is plenteous and there aremany vacation packages that cater for various needs. Although many people would think of Russia as just another big boringcity in Europe, the fact is that it has much to offer. Russia isdivided into some very exciting cities and many small picturesquecountryside towns, each with its own special attractions. You can plan a day of fun and adventure by exploring Russia'slandscape through some of the most beautiful waterways to be found inthis country on a river rafting tour. If you are amongst the ones thatprefer the wildlife tours, then why not go on a exciting jeep tour tothe Republic of Sakha in Yakutia, which has the largest huntinggrounds in Russia. This region has a high population of Brown Bears soyou can almost be sure of a 100% trophy warranty in this region. If its history that excites you, Russia offers a good measure of thistoo. Moscow and St. Petersburg has an abundance of museums, artgalleries and guided tours through the older parts of the cities thatfeatures some sightseeing activities of monuments and old Russianarchitecture. Russia is also home to some of the oldest lakes in the world, such asLake Baikal - an estimated 25-30 million years old. When visiting inwinter, Russia is covered in snow and the lakes are covered with adense layer of ice, these conditions are very favorable for those whofascinate the winter adventures, such as skiing, snowboarding,ice-diving and ice-skating. Russia is a country that has something to cater for everyone's taste,and when the sun sets, you can spoil yourself to some lip-smackingRussian cuisine in one of the many delightful restaurants. Make Russiayour next holiday destination you wont regret it! Featured Hotels in Russia Pulkovskaya Hotel On Moscow's main avenue, perfect venue for business or pleasure. From €41 pp. Close to the airport, the Pulkovskaya Hotel is surrounded by historic buildings and more. Radisson SAS Slavjanskaya Hotel Centrally located next to Europe Square on the bank of the Moscow River. From €110 pp. This hotel is only 3km from Red Square and the Kremlin and offers extensive facilities. Superb! Radisson SAS Royal Hotel St Petersburg The Hotel Radisson SAS Royal is located in the very heart of the city. From €104 pp. Bedrooms are decorated in a classical decor and equipped with modern amenities. Travel Information Russian Visa Info Russia.com Supporters Russia.com is supported by the following advertisers below. Russia.com advertisers enjoy qualified traffic and great returns on their investment. Contact us , if you would like to advertise here. Prague Hotels Hotel Reservations Russia Visa Russia Calling Card Russian visa Travel in Russia About | Advertising | Affiliates | Contact Us | Privacy | Use Policy | Sitemap All Rights Reserved © 1995 - 2005 | NewMedia Holdings, Inc. This site is operated under license to Paley Media, Inc. which is solely responsible for its content. This site is not affiliated with any government entity associated with a name similar to the site domain name. Visit: airplanes.com | algeria.com | autoracing.com | bangladesh.com | birds.com | horseracing.com | morocco.com | nepal.com | nicaragua.com | puertorico.com | scotland.com | snowskiing.com | southafrica.com | stockmarkets.com | ukraine.com | AIDS in Africa - Charity Fundraising Russia.com - The Guide to Russia

Mexico Travel Savings Holiday

Mexico Travel Guide - The News Mexico mexico travel guide Situated in the southwestern part of mainland North America and roughlytriangular in shape, Mexico stretches more than 3000 km (1,850 miles) fromnorthwest to southeast. Its width is varied, from more than 2000 km (1,200miles) in the north and less than 220 km (135 miles) at the Isthmus ofTehuantepec in the south. Mexico borders two major bodies of water, thePacific Ocean (with the Gulf of California between the mainland and theBaja California peninsula) to the west and on the east the Gulf of Mexicoand the Caribbean Sea that lead to the Atlantic Ocean. Here are foundcoastal plains, whereas central Mexico consists of high plateaus andrugged mountains, including volcanoes, the highest of which is thePico de Orizaba at 5 610 m. The terrain and climate vary from rocky deserts in the north totropical rain forest in the south. Mexico's major rivers include theRo Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande) and the Ro Usumacinta on its northernand southern borders, respectively, together with the Ro Grijalva, theRo Balsas, the Ro Pnuco, and the Ro Yaqui in the interior. $page topical links link 1 link 2 link 3 Favorite Mexico Vacations Acapulco Cancun CaboSan Lucas Cozumel Guadalajara Ixtapa Mazatlan MexicoCity Monterrey Playa del Carmen PuertoVallarta San Miguel de Allende Mexico Newsletter subscribe to the newsletter States of Mexico Aguascalientes BajaCalifornia BajaCalifornia Sur Campeche Chiapas Chihuahua Coahuila Colima DistritoFederal Durango Guanajuato Guerrero Hidalgo Jalisco Estado deMexico Michoacan Morelos Nayarit NuevoLeon Oaxaca Puebla Queretaro QuintanaRoo SanLuis Potosi Sinaloa Sonora Tabasco Tamaulipas Tlaxcala Veracruz Yucatan Zacatecas Search Now: Mexico Travel Savings Holiday Inn Hotels in Mexico Cheap Tickets To Mexico Travel Book Reviews Mexico Forum Discussion Forum Link Partners link 1 link 2 link 3 history ofmexico | food anddrink | mexican culture | arts of mexico | handicrafts of mexico | learnspanish travel tips | maps of mexico | pictures of mexico | about the mexico travelguide | mexico travel books | forum newsletter | advertise | sitemap © 2005 TheNewsMexico.com's Mexico Travel Guide

Japan Travel International Travel

Metropolis - Japan Travel: Jesus in Japan JAPAN TODAY | METROPOLIS | CLASSIFIEDS | PERSONALS | JOBS Issue Index Original Features Features Mini Features Cultural Features Life in Japan Big in Japan Rant & Rave Cars & Bikes Health & Beauty Interiors Practical Jobfinder Money Talks Tokyo Tech Web Watch Food & Drink Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Bar Reviews Word of Mouth Travel Travel Features Japan Travel International Travel Travelogue Style Art Artifacts Fashion Tokyo Talk In Store Buyline Music Japan Beat CD Reviews In Person Concerts Clubbing TRAVEL Jesus in Japan Jesus' supposed resting place Photos by Mary King Mary King hunts down the Messiah in the small village of Herai in the wilds of northern Japan. Church bells will ring out louder this year as millions of Christians across the world join in songs of praise for Jesus Christ's 2000th birthday. While most turn their thoughts to Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem, few know of the important role some claim Japan played in the life of Christ. There are probably very few Christians who have even heard of the small village of Herai that lies tucked away in the northern reaches of Aomori Prefecture, but some here maintain this to be the place where Jesus settled, married and died at the ripe old age of 106. Although it's commonly held that Jesus grew up as a carpenter in the Galilee town of Nazareth, according to the legend of Herai, or Shingo as it's now known, the 11 "missing years" of Christ's life not accounted for in the New Testament of the Bible were spent in Japan. According to the local legend, Christ first came to Japan, aged 21, during the reign of the 11th emperor, Suinin, and landed at the port of Hashidate on the Japan Sea coast. Apparently, he settled in Etchu province where, under the tutelage of a great master, he studied Japanese language, literature and various other subjects. The Legend of Daitenku Taro Jurai (Daitenku Taro Jurai was the name Christ is said to have later taken) claims that at the end of his 11-year stay, Christ returned to Judea, aged 33, where he taught about the "sacred land" of Japan. But, unfortunately, "Christ's teachings about Japan were considered too radical," and he was condemned to death. The New Testament teaches Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, rose from the dead after three days and later ascended into Heaven. However, according to the legend of Herai, Jesus escaped this fate, and instead his brother Isukiri was nailed to the cross and died. Christ, meanwhile, fled with his disciples and went into hiding, carrying locks of the Virgin Mary's hair and his brother's ear. After an arduous journey across Siberia, Christ finally returned to Japan and settled in Herai where he changed his name, married a Japanese woman called Miyuko, fathered three daughters and lived to the age of 106. Devout Christians may insist that the Garden Tomb, which lies not far from Damascus Gate outside the Old City of Jerusalem, is Jesus' true burial site, but the people of Herai have another story to tell-marked by a large wooden cross, Jesus' tomb ( Juraizuka ) sits alongside his brother's ( Judaibo ) in Herai. Isukiri's tomb holds his ear and locks of the Virgin Mary's hair. It's hard to imagine anyone, let alone Christ, would have schlepped out to one of the remotest parts of northern Japan in days of old, as even today it demands a great deal of effort to reach the village. Herai epitomizes the middle of nowhere. The place is little more than a lonely grocery store, a sprinkling of farmhouses and scraggly garlic fields and rice paddies blanketed with snow at this time of year. Most tourists either already know about the tombs, as well as the "pyramids" said to predate those of Egypt, or are so intrigued by the wild talk they hear of Herai while trekking out near Towadako Lake they can't resist coming to check it out. Remains of the Mirror Stone pyramid Pyramid scheme The first pyramid of the "O-Ishigami Pyramid" circle, we are told, was discovered in August, 1935 on Mt Towari, exactly one day after the discovery of Christ's tomb in the village. According to the "history of the Divine Age" found in the documents of the Takenouchi family, there are seven pyramids in Japan, dating back tens of thousands of years and older than the Egyptian pyramids. Legend has it that the largest of these "pyramids," the Mirror Stone, used to stand upright and had writing engraved on it, but fell over during an earthquake in 1857 and became embedded in the ground. Disappointingly, not one of the rocks slightly resembles a pyramid in the Egyptian or Mexican sense, but apparently Japanese pyramids are different from those found elsewhere. They were triangular rocks situated on the top of mountains and used for sun-worship in ancient times. A local standing by what may be Jesus' grave Tomb of the unknown Savior The "pyramids" are a five-minute drive from the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan (Village of Christ Legend Museum; Tel: 0178-78-3741), where you can read about the history and customs of Herai, and catch the audio-visual show of the Kirisuto Matsuri (Christ Festival) held in the early summer. The museum is open from April to October. Contact the Shingo Business and Tourist Section at Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111) for visits during other times of the year. The present museum, open for the past five years, also records the uncanny circumstances surrounding the tombs of "Christ and his brother Isukiri" as well as old folk songs and customs that resemble ancient Judaic-Christian ones and various theories that either support or quash links between the Japanese and Christians of Jewish descent. Even the name of the village, Herai, is said to be derived from the word Hebrai (Hebrew). It sounds like a tall tale, but no stranger than stories of burning bushes, the parting of the Red Sea and water being turned into wine. For the people of Herai too, the revelation that Christ is buried in their village came as a shock when documents claiming Jesus had resided in Japan were discovered in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1935. Said to be Christ's will and testament and the proof that he had lived and died in Japan, the "Takenouchi documents" later proved to be fake. For years, many villagers felt that the shroud of mystery surrounding the large ancient tombs in a bamboo thicket had finally been lifted. The documents explained some of the village's customs, such as marking a cross on the forehead of a child when it first leaves the home and why Sanjiro Sawaguchi, a village elder, had "blue eyes like a foreigner." The museum explains mysterious local customs The tombs are located close to the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan, marked by two large wooden crosses and are sitting on a small hill overlooking those of the Sawaguchi family-local garlic farmers who are said to be the descendants of Christ and who, to this day, care for their great ancestor's tombs. "Somebody special lies there but I don't really believe it's the tomb of Christ. It's probably the tomb of a foreigner who settled in the village at some point. It's certainly interesting that some of the old customs in this village are said to be similar to those of ancient Judea, and it may explain why some people in the village have blue eyes. But this village has always been Buddhist and the Shinto shrine in the village is more than 1000 years old, so I really don't think that there are any ancient links between Japanese and Jews or Christians of Jewish descent," said Yoshiteru Ogasawara, who runs Nobara Pension (Tel: 0178-78-2484). Regardless of what you believe, Herai makes an interesting-if somewhat barren-destination, and you're guaranteed a great travel story to share with friends. Getting there: From JR Ueno stn, take the Tohoku shinkansen to Morioka stn and change to the express train for Hachinohe. From Hachinohe, take a bus to Gonohe, where you can change to a bus for Shingo (Herai). For information on the local bus service, contact the tourist section of the Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111; Fax: 0178-78-2118). Getting around: Those seriously thinking of venturing out to this part of the world to see the tombs and the "pyramids" should consider hiring a car or taxi from Hachinohe or Gonohe as the local bus service is irregular, and getting around Herai on foot is nigh-on impossible, especially during the winter months. TRAVELOGUE WORLD TRAVEL TRAVEL FEATURES JAPAN TRAVEL: SEPTEMBER 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine AUGUST 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet JULY 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes JUNE 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan MAY 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group APRIL 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain MARCH 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave FEBRUARY 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- TOP