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If you’re coming to Costa Rica on vacation, chances are you are going to visit at least one or two of the country’s beautiful tropical beaches, possibly a volcano, and probably one or more of this proud nation’s national parks. The destination you may or may not have in your travel itinerary is the capital city, San José.

Most travelers – either on the recommendation of others or simply due to short vacation time and so much to see – rarely spend more than their first and last nights in San José

In almost every nook and corner of Myanmar - not just in Yangon (Rangoon), Bagan, or Mandalay - at every turn you will encounter a Buddhist temple.  No wonder most visitors think of this country as the “Land of Temples”. But lovely as they are, when you find yourself are visiting temples again and again, it can get a little old. Fortunately, there are many other things to do here, as well, from beaches to local communities to thrilling adventure activities.

There are plenty of beaches, river tr

by Ed Salvato

When it comes to LGBT travel, few experiences are as rewarding as travel to Europe. There’s such an amazing variety of cultures, environments, climates, and experiences – all on the most liberal continent on the planet, thanks to the encouraging social (r)evolutions of the 21st century, making most of Europe an ever more gay-friendly destination. There are hundreds of welcoming cities large and small, as well as towns and rural areas, which I could steer you to, depending on your

Apart from Santo Domingo and its lovely colonial zone, in general the Dominican Republic is better known for its spectacular beaches than for its historic architecture – though over the years I’ve certainly come across some fetching examples scattered hither and yon. Happily for lovers of quaint and charming towns, San Felipe de Puerto Plata is an exception that proves the rule.

This city of around 200,000 up on the DR’s north coast, just a hop and a skip over from Playa Dorada, the zone wher

With four-wheelers and two-wheelers carrying “GP” on their number plates, Johannesburg was once dubbed “Gangster’s Paradise”. Ages ago, this city had a reputation of being a crtime-ridden jungle , but it’s only in the last few years that Johannesburg experience a rebirth and it became one of Africa's most attractive tourist destinations. Nowadays, you may hear the city being referred with names like Jo'burg, Jozi, J’burg or Egoli, and many residents now proudly extol the excitement and beauty o

Xian was the start of the Silk Road and at one time the largest city in the world.  Today the city of eight million is booming, and still home home to the famous "Terracotta Warriors" and other great attractions. Here are its do-not-misses:.

1. The Terra Cotta Warriors: The sight of thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors in formation does not disappoint.  It is part of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang who, 2,220 years ago, united the various areas of China and named himself First Emperor of China.

Rajasthan, the dessert state of India is not only known for its beautiful and picturesque tourist destinations but also for its cultural heritage that is depicted by the numerous temples in the state. The temples of Rajasthan are in fact some of the most excellent tourist attractions of the state. While some of them were built more than a few centuries ago, there are many that boast of amazing architecture too. Here is a quick look at some of the interesting temples in Rajasthan.

Pushkar Temple

Th

After living in Australia more than 20 years, I can say that there are still aspect of Australian cuisine that I find worth exploring and learning about. What defines food of the country I now call home? Traditionally a lot of meat, but since the whole continent is surrounded by the sea/ocean there is an abundance of seafood. That is what I loved about Australia: fresh, healthy variety of the seafood platter. Add some original brands of wine and good beer and you have a recipe for success in eve

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Story/photos by Mary Gallagher and Will A. Davis

Seven weeks ago, the eyes of the world were again on Louisville as the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby produced a winner, American Pharoah [sic] with major buzz to go on to win the first Triple Crown since 1978 - which he did in fact do. 

But besides the famous racetrack where it all happens, Louisvile has many reasons to put this city on your bucket list - all no-hassle sights that will definitely pay off big dividends if you are a history

Tucked between the Osa Peninsula and the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, the “Sweet Gulf” of Golfo Dulce is the perfect destination for nature lovers and adventure-seekers.

Circling the warm blue waters of Golfo Dulce is a tropical rainforest with secluded beaches and amazing biodiversity. Here you can encounter all four species of monkeys – white-faced Capuchin, spider, howler and the endangered squirrel monkey, scarlet macaws, toucans, coatis, wild pigs, exotic snakes, ocelots and jagu

Vibrant tulips, buttery coffee cakes and local wines were just the beginning as I was welcomed on board my river cruise. seven days ahead and I was ready to partake of as much as possible, and why not? It was vacation and more highlights were about to unfold. Usually boarding a ship begins in the afternoon, but I saw the AMA Waterways ship moored early at the dock in Amsterdam and stepped on board.  Smiling staff offered to take my luggage and told me to make myself comfortable in the lounge. T

Budapest never fails to fascinate those who visit , both due to its history and its architecture. Furthermore, it has an attraction which remains largely unknown to the general public: the large number of caves which run beneath it, formed by the erosive effect of the thermal underground waters. The best known and in the best condition is the Pálvölgyi Cave, a formation discovered in 1902 and opened to the public in 1927, 18 kilometers in length. It is the second longest cave in Hungary, and has

It has been some time since we reviewed a Hawaiian vacation property, and the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas on the leafy garden island of Kaua‘i  is particularly interesting for several reasons.

Mixed Clientele

The Westin Princeville is a village style resort that caters to a number of different types of vacationers. We spoke with Westin Vacation (timeshare) owners, business people using their Starwood Preferred Guest points for a much deserved vacation, and ordinary folks seeking a safe

The whole purpose of a railway is to reduce the friction of the wheels, to enable a heavier load to be carried for the same amount of power. That lack of friction works against the train if it has a steep slope to climb or descend. The usual way is to tunnel through the hill, avoiding the slope altogether.

This, though, is very expensive, and, when they built the railway westward from Sydney in the 1860s, Engineer-in-Chief John Whitton did not have the money available to him to tunnel through A

Whether it be for business or for pleasure, or better yet, combining business and pleasure. I've always found that travel inspires me more than anything else in life. Nothing excites me more than to travel for business, only to discover new sightings that quickly turn into personal encounters. Evidence of the languages, cultures, scenery, food, style, design sensibilities that I discover all over the world can be found in every business venture that I have set out upon.

I always bring home a pi

Southport, Connecticut is a picturesque, historic (est. 1639) port town on the Long Island Sound, just an 80-minute Metro North train ride from midtown New York City, And just a quick stroll from the local train station, Delamar Southport's classic white clapboard colonial architecture situated on the Old Post Road looks like it's been a fixture here since the town's 19th-century maritime heyday.
 
Until walking inside, it's hard to conceive that construction on the property was actually comple

The relaxed Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica not only has some of the prettiest beaches in Costa Rica, along with upscale Costa Rica boutique hotels, is also the gastronomic capital of the Costa Rica southern Caribbean coast.

Puerto Viejo’s dining scene reflects its widely varied international population – Caribbean, Italian, Argentinean, Mexican, Asian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, North American, and of course, Costa Rican.

“Considering the size of Puerto Viejo – a small beach tow

For Memorial Day Weekend our son invited us to Bakersfield, CA.  Normally when we think of Bakersfield we think of a small city North of  Los Angeles, CA, just past the Grapevine.  What was once a small little town of honky tonk bars, race cars and working farmers is now a sprawling city boasting of small communities where folks are neighborly.

Surprisingly enough good food and local shopping is easy to find.Major hotel chains offering comfortable accommodations are located just off the 99 High