Archive for March, 2007

20 March, 2007 | No comments

The oldest park of animals

National Park Etosha in Namibia marks its100 year-old anniversary on March, 22nd. In spite of the fact that it was originally planned to lead celebrations later, it has already become known, that celebrations of the Park’s anniversary will take place this week.
In Windhoek - the capital of Namibia - a banquet with assistance of the tourism and environment ministry will take place. It has also become known that the special fact-finding trip for journalists is to be organized. Besides, the national tournaments on football and volleyball, dated for this event, will be also held.
According to the authorized inspector of Etosha’s and Coast of Skeletons area, the holidays, devoted to the Etosha Park will become regular.
The Etosha Park occupies more than 22 000 square kilometers area and it is one of the largest savanna national parks of Africa.
 

19 March, 2007 | No comments

The cultural capital of Macedonia has been defined

In 2007 the city of Prilep was declared the center of a cultural life of the country.
It is the fourth year successively that Macedonia is providing a practice of defining a capital of Macedonian culture. Prilep has received this honorary title has from Kumanovo.
The procedure of new capital definition is rather easy and clear - the cities, applying for this rank, represent the special commission on the plans of the hold-up actions, in which (in an equal measure) all events, concerning cultural life for next year, are reflected.
Museum expositions, festivals, concerts, and folklore holidays - all this are considered with members of the commission.
Except for it one of defining factors foresees the representation of new tourist routes and excursions for inhabitants and visitors of Macedonia.
In 2007 more than ten cities participated in the struggle for “cultural crown”.
Nevertheless, Prilep managed to become the capital of Macedonia.

 

18 March, 2007 | No comments

Design-hotels: night nightmares are included in cost of residing

Berlin - Propeller Island City Lodge
The kaleidoscope of images and spirits
Four-star Propeller Island City Lodge hotel offers the materialized fruit of imaginations of the architect. All subjects of 45 rooms interior are executed manually and unique, and the special theme declared in their names corresponds to each number. For example, Symbol Room, consisting of 300 black-and-white squares-symbols, will certainly plunge the lodger into reflections about a universe, as well as someone seemed “cozy” number Freedom representing simply a prison cell, whence, by a hole in a wall, the former prisoner has run away, having left the future lodgers for memory the hammer forgotten on a floor. As well as it is necessary to stylistics of prison cells, the room number is far from the luxury: the toilet and a washstand are absolutely beside, in the same room. The Mirror Room represents an opportunity to consider and surrounding stop in a mirror kaleidoscope, in passing reflecting about metaphysics of the world and its separation, and in room Upside Down the world has really turned over: a bed is on a ceiling, and a luster is on a floor… How and where to sleep to sleep? It turns out that, for a berth the convenient box in a cellar is adapted. And the special attention is given to the main vacation spot - to beds. Forms and their arrangement is a separate theme of the designer. The visitor is also offered a couple of “pretty” coffins, suspended on circuits at height of one and a half meter, shaking box (it is possible to climb up in it on vertically put up ladder), a huge wooden round table from fairy tales about giants, which actually appears a sofa.
The cost of numbers is from €70-190 per person.
Madrid - Puerta America
The museum of forms and colors
What will turn out, if 19 eminent architects will work above one project? Madrid five-star Puerta America hotel is a place for acquaintance to modern architecture. As unlike museums where it is possible to contemplate only the exposed exhibits, in hotel - Puerta America each visitor has an opportunity to lie down, sit and even “to open-close and twist” on these design features. At entrance the fact-finding card on which it is possible “to choose the designer” is handed over to the visitor.

17 March, 2007 | No comments

12 reasons for going to the Emirates

1. Warm, tender sea. Remarkable sand beaches. The best months for swimming is form October till May!
2. The Best hotels of the world and the highest level of service for “real” money.
3. Reasonable price of the air tickets.
4. Rest and shopping are perfectly compatible in Dubai - it is a “paradise” for buyers from all countries of the world.
5. All-the-year-round conditions for those who love sports: set of soccer fields, golf-courts, tennis courts, pools, diving.
6. A chance to see Arabian miracles with your own eyes! Green oases in the middle of desert, Near-Eastern Manhattan, the Arabian tower, man-made Palm islands.
7. The Emirates are also the transit center on your way to Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Kenya, in the countries of Arabia - Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait.
8. Unique Excursions:  desert safari, jumps, camel racing.
9. Ski Dubai - a unique mounting skiing resort in the middle of the Arabian sand!
10. The Emirates - is business center of a world class where many international exhibitions and conferences are annually being held.
11. Investments. You can legally buy the real estate in one of the most dynamically developing countries of the world.
12. Safety, poverty, cleanliness, strong medicine, clever foreign policy.

Advice to tourists:
The government of the Emirates cares of morality of the citizens, therefore any gambling is forbidden. Drinking alcohol in public places and occurrence in the street in a condition of strong alcoholic intoxication can entail the criminal liability or deportation from the country. We advise you to observe all the laws of the country in order not to spoil your rest and not to get into “the black list”.
Who should visit the United Arab Emirates:
• Fans of sunburn  - the country offers remarkable sandy beaches;
• and the best hotels offer the highest level of service;
• Stylish people - Dubai is a paradise for buyers, so, fine shopping and good mood are guaranteed 
• Inquisitive people- fascinating excursions, camel run and palaces of sheikhs will impress you with their national chlorite;
• Businessmen (and business-ladies) - a set of the international exhibitions and conferences are being held in Emirates;
• Parents with children - the country offers a lot of aqua parks and zoos, playgrounds;
• Fans and sports professionals - soccer fields, a golf-field and tennis courts are also offered.

 

15 March, 2007 | No comments

Bahrain Hotels are to remain without women and alcohol

The five-star Bahrain Hotels are being deadlined on elimination of lacks and to improve the level of the offered services. The official representative of the ministry of culture of Bahrain on tourism affairs has declared, that all places of entertainment in hotels of the country should be closed till July, 1st. In the beginning of 2007 the government of the country has passed the law forbidding the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants of hotels, and limiting stay of women at pools and on beaches.
The new measures will be implemented despite of protests of lodgers to cancel new rules the country. Moreover, “closing date” for hotels has been already established. Thus, almost 80 % of from 104 available hotels in the country, which till now have not closed bars and restaurants, have received the unambiguous prevention. Except for the hotels, the new law on morals orders all restaurants, bars, discos and other places of entertainment, which are being in residential areas or near to schools and mosques, to be closed. Not numerous western travel agencies - sending tourists for exotic to Bahrain, declare that they will be compelled to close this direction. The reason is banal - the quantity of the teetotal men tired of women and music are not necessary for formation of steady demand.

14 March, 2007 | No comments

Biometric identification of luggage and new system of safety

Tourists always face different innovations. Today it is biometric identification of luggage and new system of safety at the US airports.
One of problems, with which travelers often are often faced, is a problem connected with luggage. Attempts to its decision are undertaken in Sweden. Now, when you are handing over the suitcase, you should leave prints. The procedure is extremely simple: you just have to put a finger to the reading out device. For receipt your luggage on arrival, it will be necessary to pass through the same procedure. The system is to be also implemented by the SAS airlines. Now passengers are authorized to use old methods of registration.
At the airport of city the Phoenix (Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, USA) the new system of safety is established. Experts unanimously talk about its efficiency, and passengers - about the infringement of human rights. The matter is that “checked” person will be shown naked on the monitor that is hardly pleasant. The only way out, arranging both side, has been finally found: some parts of the body will be retouched. Everyone should be ready to that the system will be shortly introduced at other international airports of the USA. The only “calming” fact is that the device is not capable to keep, unpack and transfer the image.
The European Union has changed norms of duty-free import of the goods. Now they make 430 euros on the person for air and sea way and 300 euros - for overland. At crossing EU’s border all the imported goods, which has not been intended for a private use, should be declared. It is better to keep before returning home cash vouchers and the other papers confirming purchase. Also do not forget, that nobody cancelled other restrictions. For example, these are the restrictions, connected with cigarettes and alcohol. Practically each country has a limit on import/export of these products.

 

13 March, 2007 | No comments

Women’s island will be established in Iran

The new “just for women” resort will be created in a northwest province of Iran. Under these purposes the whole island on Lake Urumie is allocated.
According to strict laws of the Iranian Islam dialogue with men on public is forbidden to women. It is considered, that similar traditions are dictated by aspiration to protect women, but not in which case to not limit their right.
There will be no men at all on Arezou Island (”Arezou” means “desire”). The public transport, restaurants and other services will be served only by women.
In spite of the fact that the Iranian women still should carry a veil at some governmental offices, the situation with their rights is being successfully improved.
The part of the Iranian beaches is reserved only for women. There women can remove their scarves and shawls and to dress in bathing suits.
Women have already cleared for themselves road to national sports, on stadiums, neglecting strict division of floors. Some parks “only for women” have already been created. The island - the entire women’s resort - becomes a one more step of the outlined tendency.

 

12 March, 2007 | No comments

All Italy can be crossed by train for 5 hours in three years

Almost in three years it will be possible to cross all Italy by train for 5 hours. Such announcement has been made today by the chief of the Italian railways (Ferrovie dello Stato) Mauro Moretti.
Moretti said that now the project of high-speed railways is realized only by half: the high-speed train connects Naples and Rome, Rome and Florence, and also Turin and Novara. But by December, 2009 it is planned to finish works on the high-speed branch line, connecting Milan with Bologna and Bologna with Florence, a branch from Turin up to Milan and then the road from Rome to Milan is to take only three hours instead of the present four hours, and the road from Naples to Turin will take only five “superfluous” hours.
Moretti has added that the high-speed railway network of 634 kilometers general length will connect about 80 % of the biggest cities of the country.
As the chief of the Italian railways has explained, the special attention is given a site between Rome and Milan: it connects the administrative and business capitals of the country, and many thousand passengers move on this route.
Earlier many Italians preferred to do such trips by the plane; however with introduction of new high-speed trains more and more travelers make a choice in favor of the railway.
Other architectural star - Zaha Hadid - will build new station in Naples under name Afragola (Napoli Afragola). Works have already started working in July, 2006, and the new Neapolitan station is to be built up to next year. In parallel major overhaul with reconstruction is spent at old central station of Naples. From last autumn the central station (Stazione Centrale) in Milan is being reconstructed. These works are to be ended by 2008.
 

10 March, 2007 | No comments

What can Russia expect from the visa regime facilitation to the EU?

Countries
On March, 10th Vladimir Putin has signed the Federal law “On ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Community about simplification of issue of visa to citizens of the Russian Federation and the European Union”. After the agreement will come into force (and diplomats assure, that it will occur already in it to year), the procedure of reception of the entry visa to the EU countries for a significant part of Russians will be considerably facilitated.
The agreement extends on all the countries of the European Union, except for the Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark. Thus, visa regime facilitation will concern trips to 24 states of the Europe (today 27 states are the EU members).
Coming into force
After ratification of the agreement by the Russian party, its approval by the EU Ministerial Council (the document has been already approved by the European parliament) will be required. However, it can occur not earlier, than the agreement signed on remission will come into force.
Fees
In case the petition for registration of the visa and confirming documents move the applicant no more than 3 day prior to prospective date of departure,  fees for registration of the visa will make 70 euros.
What visas
The simplification of procedure stipulated by the agreement and the order of delivery of entry visas concerns unitary visas of three months validity, and also multi-visas for the certain categories of citizens.
Positions of the agreement, mentioning all Russians, will concern the prices for visas. In the near future the cost of the Schengen visa will grow up to 60 euros; however for Russians the price remains former that is 35 euros for the visa.
Terms of registration
The agreement establishes the fixed term of visa registration - 10 calendar days from the date of reception of the petition and necessary documents. On occasion term of decision-making under the petition for registration of the visa can be prolonged till 30 working days or is reduced till 3 calendar days.
Documents
The agreement is very favorable for the owners of diplomatic passports. They don’t require any visa for entrance to “the Schengen zone”. However, such regime is to be implemented in case that they will be in the Europe about three months during half a year.
The other categories of citizens will have to give the information on their financial state and confirmation of hotel rooms’ reservation. 
 

9 March, 2007 | No comments

“Hezbollah” prepares for abductions of Israelis on 40 resorts of the world

National Security Council has published the list of 40 countries of the world where there is a high probability of terrorist actions against citizens of Israel. The prevention has followed on the eve of Pesach holiday, a holiday, when thousand Israelis are having a rest abroad.
According to the preliminary data, the greatest threat for tourists is represented with foreign cells of “Hezbollah” radical grouping, which prepares for abductions of Israelis on popular resorts.
The National Security Council has divided the countries with the raised terrorist activity into five categories: from the most dangerous up to the least dangerous countries. Thus it is emphasized, that threat is kept everywhere, and therefore citizens ask or to refrain at all from visiting the named resorts, or to show special vigilance during stay there.
Here is the list of the most dangerous countries; these are Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Somalia, and Yemen.
It is not also recommended to visit Sinai, Turkey, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
Planning rest, it is better to refrain from trips to Kashmir, southern islands of the Philippine archipelago.
There is a high threat at excursions on a southeast of Turkey - along border with Iran and Iraq.
The certain danger is also represented with the European countries, especially areas with high percent of the Muslim population. Here Israelis are recommended not to enter contacts to strangers, “not sink down” on free-of-charge parties and other “freebies” with which local residents will tempt them.

 

 

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