History Of Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz is a Spanish city that is steeped in history.

• It claims to be Europe's oldest city.
• Founded 3000 years ago by the seafaring Phoenician traders in 1100BC.
• The Phoenicians called it “Gadir”, which means “enclosure" or "walled compound".
• Legend has it that the city was founded by Hercules.
  
• Cadiz was raided by Sir Francis Drake in 1587 when he destroyed the shipping fleet of Cadiz.
• The city has been under the control by Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors.
• Columbus set sail from the port of Cadiz for America on his second and fourth voyage.
• Cadiz was at it's height of prosperity in the 15th century.
• The city faced repeated attacks from both the British and French.
  
• It became a fortified town and approximately 160 watch towers were constructed in the 18th century to guard against sea borne invaders.

Cadiz is a beautiful city with stunning buildings and landmarks that help to tell the story of it's rich and varied historical past. A city definately worth a visit.

Ibiza Town & Hippy Market Of Es Cana

Ibiza is a pretty island and has more to offer than just the infamous nightlife. We visited Ibiza during our Mediterranean cruise back in October 2006 and the weather was glorious as you can see from the photographs and the scenery was very picturesque.

As well as admiring the views from Ibiza town over the Mediterranean and relaxing at a bar on the sea front, we also did an excursion to the famous Hippy Market of Es Cana, which is one of Ibiza's most popular tourist excursions.

The Hippy Market is full of stalls that sell everything from cakes to jewellery, pictures to leather items. A great place to grab a souvenir or a gift for family and friends back home.

The market has a great atmosphere and the rhythms of violins and guitars can be heard as you wander from stall to stall.

The centre of the market has a stage area for live acts to play.

Back in 2006 this was a half day excursion which cost £18.50 each and was available on a Wednesday.

If you love shopping and the hustle and bustle of a market stall then this is a great excursion.

Island Cruises Mediterranean Charm Cruise On Island Escape

In October 2006 we went on the Island Cruises Mediterranean Charm cruise onboard the Island Escape cruise ship.

We flew to Palma and then boarded the Island Escape cruise ship.

Ports of call included:

• Palma,
  
• Ibiza Town,
• Alicante,
• Malaga,
• Cadiz and
• Gibraltar.

This was a great cruise, the destinations were interesting, the cruise ship was relaxed and friendly and the weather for the end of October was very good.

The Hippy Market Of Es Cana, Ibiza

The world famous Hippy Market Punta Arabí of Es Cana is one of Ibiza's most popular tourist attractions in Ibiza.

This market is open every Wednesday from April to October from 10.00am to 6.30pm on the grounds of the Club Punta Arabi. There is ample car parking and coach trips, buses and boats run from around the island to enable you to get there. Entry to the market is free and parking is 5 euros.

The Hippy Market is full of countless stalls that are located beneath the shade of pine trees along winding paths between pretty white bungalows. The stalls sell everything from cakes to jewellery, pictures to leather items, sequinned bags to cotton clothing. Many stalls sell handmade items so it is a great place to grab a souvenir or a gift for family and friends back home.

The market has a great atmosphere and the rhythms of drums, violins and guitars can be heard as you wander from stall to stall.

Whenwe were there the centre of the market had a stage area for live acts to play. Food and drink can be bought at the market so a half day or full day can be easily spent at the Hippy Market.

If you love shopping and the hustle and bustle of market then this is a great excursion.

Travel Insurance

There are many travel insurance companies and numerous travel insurance plans to cover all your travel needs.

Travel insurance plans can cover:

• Annual multi trip travel.
• Single trip travel.
• Backpacker and long stay travel.
• Winter sports cover.
• Adventure /extreme sports cover.
• Golfing cover.
  
• Cancellation cover.
• Cover for loss of baggage or money.
• Cover for damage to baggage.
• Medical expenses cover.
• Over 65's ravel insurance.
• Breakdown insurance cover for motorists.
• Motorcycle travel insurance cover.
  

Remember that it is important to declare all pre-existing medical conditions prior to taking out the travel insurance, as failure to do so may affect your ability to make a claim.

Island Escape Cruise Ship

Back in October 2006 my husband and I went on the Island Escape Cruise Ship around the Mediterranean.


A cruise on the Island Escape cruise ship is an informal, laid back affair with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.


Facilities on board include:

• 3 bars,
• 3 restaurants,
• 1 outdoor pool,
• a gym,
• beauty salon,
• duty free shops,
• internet cafe.
  

The Island Escape cruise ship was launched in 2002 and has a crew of 500 and an occupancy of 1863.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, the food was good, the entertainment was varied and excellent, the excursions were well organised and the cabin was clean.

Limassol Wine Festival, Cyprus

I have a friend who lives in Cyprus who managed to get to the wine festival in Limassol this year. This is what David told me about the Limassol wine festival.

"The wine festival was a very cheap evening out and I would recommend it to anyone visiting Cyprus in early September. It was 5 euro to get in but you can drink as much wine as you want and get a free bottle to take home as well. There are fashion shows, dancing and bouzouki music and a great many stalls selling cypriot food and snacks."

Since David told me about this festival I have read that the Limassol Wine Festival is one of the largest of the festivals in Cyprus and is held every year in the municipal gardens along the sea-front near the old town of Limassol.

Wroxeter Roman Vineyard

Earlier this year my husband and I visited Wroxeter vineyard. The visit was a Boot's gift and what a brilliant present it turned out to be.


Wroxeter vineyard is located in Shropshire next to the Roman city and the vineyard was planted in 1991.

The gift included:

• a tour of the vineyard.
• an informative talk about the vineyard and the wine produced.
• a wine tasing session.
• a Roman lunch.
• a free bottle of wine.

This is definately a gift that I would buy for someone. It makes an ideal Christmas, birthday, anniversary or wedding gift.

Bergen, Norway

Bergen is Norway's second largest city and is the gateway to the fjords of Western Norway. Bergen was first stop on the Norwegian cruise we took back in May 2005 and it is the perfect place to begin a cruise through the stunning fjords and glaciers.

This is a pretty city that is surrounded by mountains with the houses reaching up the lower slopes. The park is a good place to relax and take in the sights and marvel at the beautiful landscape that surrounds the city.

The fish market in the centre of the city is well worth a look. Here is can immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Bergen as you make your way through the hustle and bustle of the market place.

I have read that Bergen is one of the most attractive cities in Norway and as the houses merge into the mountainous landscape, I think I am inclined to agree.

Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

The Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship was a great cruise ship to cruise through the Norwegian fjords.
This cruise ship has 9 decks and 627 cabins and can take 1254 passengers. There are 5 bars, 2 pools and 3 restaurants to keep you fed and watered throughout the journey.

The accommodation on offer on the Thomson celebration includes:

• Suites
• Deluxe Suites
• Standard Outside Cabin
• Standard Inside Cabin

We had a standard inside cabin with two single beds, two full-length wardrobes, a bathrooms with shower, a color TV and a hairdryer. The cabin was comfortable, clean and spacious.

The Celebration has many options when it comes to dining. The main dining room is the Meridian Restaurant and you can dine when you please, as there are no formal sittings. breakfast, lunch and a 6 course dinner can all be enjoyed in the Meridian Restaurant and both the food and the service is excellent. The ship also has Mistral's Restaurant if you are celebrating a special occasion. You will need to make a reservation for this restaurant and there will be extra charges involved when dining in this restaurant. For less formal dining there is the Lido Restaurant, which is a 24 hour self-service buffet with an alfresco dining area. Here they have international theme nights.

One of the dining highlights of the cruise is the Captains Cocktail Party and Gala Dinner, where you can dress up for this traditional dinner.

The entertainments crew provide an excellent selection of activities and entertainment. The Broadway Show Lounge provides West End-style productions and comedy acts to keep you entertained. The Horizons bar entertains with jazz and classical music. The Liberties bar offers a collection of entertainment such as live bands, popular game shows, karaoke (I even sang on the karaoke night!) and a late-night disco. Or pop along to the Hemingway's Casino and bar to place a few bets at the popular gaming tables or try your luck at the slot machines. The Explorers Lounge is a great place to relax and enjoy an after dinner drink.

The cruise ship has a full itinery of activities throughout the day so that if you decide not to leave the ship you can still enjoy your holiday. The cruise ship has:

• a cinema with recently released films.
• the spa offers massages and body treatments.
  
• a beauty salon.
• two swimming pools provided and there is also a wading pool for children.
  
• children can enjoy the teen area and a kid's zone.
  
• the sports deck offers badminton, basketball, carpet bowls (my husband won the carpet bowls!) and table tennis.
  
• a card reading room.
  
• a library.
  
• an Internet lounge.
  
• shops and boutiques.
  

All areas are non-smoking except for those that are designated otherwise.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Norwegian cruise on Thomson Celebration and I would definately recommend this cruise and cruise ship.

Troodos Mountains Cyprus

The Troodos mountain range stretches across most of the western side of Cyprus and I believe is the biggest mountain range in Cyprus.

I was lucky enough to take a jeep safari into the Troodos Mountains on a family holiday in the Summer of 2000.



During the Summer, tourists can visit the Troodos mountains and enjoy idyllic walks through the pine forests, on the look out for the local wildlife, the mouflon, as well as photographing the beautiful scenery and views.


A visit to one of the churches or the monastery that nestles in the Troodos mountains is a good way to spend a few hours and the architecture and mosaics to be found in the churches are truly stunning.
During the Winter months, the Troodos mountains is a good place to ski.

I would highly recommend a visit to the beautiful Troodos Mountains in Cyprus and a jeep safari is a good way to see alot of the mountain region taking in the scenery, a visit to a church and the mouflon enclosure.

Holiday Regions In Spain

Spain is a popular holiday destination and has many wonderful holiday regions to visit.

• Costa Blanca
• Costa Del Sol
• Costa Dorada
• Costa Brava
• Costa De Almeria
• Costa De La Luz

I have been lucky enough to visit the regions of Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol and Costa Brava in the last few years.

Useful Spanish Phrases

It is always handy to be able to speak a few phrases in the local language. Here are a few useful Spanish phrases:

• Hello - Hola
• Goodbye - Adios
• Yes - Si
• No - No
• Please - Por Favor
• Thank you - Grasias
• The bill please - La cuenta por favor
• How much is it? - Cuanto es

I always think it is nice to try to speak a few phrases in the countries language, so when next in Spain, try using a few of these useful Spanish phrase, the locals will like to see you try!

Tips For Driving In Spain

Here are a few facts about driving in Spain.

• A right hand side road system operates in Spain.
• Drivers must wear a seat belt at all times.
• Passengers must wear a seat belt at all times.
• Mobile phone use is strictly prohibited whilst driving.
• Speed limit on toll motorways is 120km/h.
• Speed limit on non-toll motorways is 100km/h.
• Speed limit on main roads is 80km/h.
• Speed limit on urban roads is 50km/h.

Be safe on the roads.

The Crocky Trail - Chester

Friends told us about the Crocky Trail which is an outdoor adventure trail near Chester.

It's a fun day out for all the family. My husband and I visited the Crocky Trail back in 2006 and had a great day.

The trail is about a mile long and there are a whole host of activities such as mazes, swings, slides, bridges and tunnels to navigate over, along, round or through!

Here we are navigating some of the activities:

A wobbly bridge.


Not conventional swings!

A bridge.

A spinning wheel.
A slide.

A wobbly bridge.

Whose king of the castle?!

Crocodile surprise!

I would definately recommend the Crocky Trail for a day out for a group or for a family. The challenges are not too difficult and there is always an alternative route around an obstacle. The adventure trail will provide you with a fun filled experience with lots of laughter.

You need to be wearing casual, sporty type clothing and either trainers, walking boots or possibly wellie boots if it has or is raining! A change of clothing may be a good idea!

There is ample parking and a play area and picnic area. You can also buy a selection of chocolates and sweets as well as hot and cold drinks at the tuck shop.

Dogs are welcome.

The Crocky Trail costs £10.00 per person but under 5's enter for free and a group discount rates of £8.00 per person is available for parties of 10 or more. You can pay cash or by cheque for the entrance fee. The trail is open 10am to 5pm all year.

The Crocky Trail, Cotton Abbotts, Waverton, Chester, CH3 7PH

Puerta De Tierra - Cadiz, Spain

Las Puerta De Tierra is an important monument of Cadiz. It marks the boundary between the old city and the outskirts.The bastions of Santa Elena and San Roque were built in the eighteenth century and were connected by a stretch of wall with the door of the city and the heavy defensive tower that can be seen in the photographs.

Puerta de tierra is a landmark that can be seen if you take a tour bus trip around the city of Cadiz. I would certainly recommend the city sightseeing tour bus as a great way of seeing many of the magnificent buildings and landmarks of the beautiful city of Cadiz.

Open Top Bus Tour At Cadiz

When I visited Cadiz on my Med cruise back in 2006, my husband and I decided to take the open top bus tour of Cadiz.
The City Sightseeing Tour Bus company now costs €10.99 for a adult day pass and €5.50 for a childs day pass. The tour takes about 70 minutes and can be taken all year round.

Here are some of the sights we saw;

Puerta de Tierra

Cathedral of Cadiz - the cupolas of the cathedral.



Old Town Hall of Cadiz


Views of the roof tops of Cadiz


Buildings in Cadiz - many of the buildings have towers on them.



Historic Statue


The City Sightseeing Tour Bus is definately worth the money and a great way to see the historic landmarks and buildings of Cadiz.

Alcazaba - Malaga, Spain

The solid fortified walls of Alcazaba are a major landmark of the Spanish city of Malaga, which are hard to miss and give you a sense of the city's rich history. The fortress dates back to the 8th century, although much of the structure belongs to the mid 11th century. It is built on a hill in the centre of the city, overlooking the port, and comprises two walled enclosures.I was lucky enough to visit the city and view the Alcazaba in 2006 when I was on a cruise around the Med.
This is a stunning historical landmark that should be on your list of sights to see in Malaga. Malaga is located in the Costa Del Sol region of Spain.

Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain

Alicante is a Spanish town along the Costa Blanca on the east coast of Spain. It is definately a town worth visiting with it's palm tree lined boulevards and with shopping streets a plenty, it's a shoppers paradise.
I visited Alicante for a day when my husband and I were on a Med cruise back in October 2006.

I can certainly see why Alicante is famous for its excellent weather because even though it was October when we visited it was still t-shirt weather. The Alicante weather in winter is around 16 ºC. In summer the average is around 32 ºC.

As we were on a cruise and docked along the shoreline, we were able to stroll through Alicante's harbour region where there are beautiful long alleys for nice relaxing walks, enjoying the palm trees and the mild climate.

Alicante is steeped in history with many historical buildings around the entire city. As with many of the Spanish towns there are magnificent cathedrals and churches in abundance. We got to glimpse the famous Castle of Santa Barbara (Castillo de Santa Barbara), a huge medieval fortress overlooking Alicante from the north.

I would love to spend a few days exploring Alicante, so it is a destination that is certainly on my list of places to return to.

Burton Constable - East Yorkshire

I recently visited Burton Constable Hall with my husband. We had a very enjoyable and interesting tour of the house.Burton Constable is a large Elizabethan mansion belonging to the Constable family, set in a 300 acre park. There are some 30 rooms to view with wonderful furniture, paintings and sculptures, along with a large collection of fossils and natural history specimens.

Burton Constable Hall is open every day except Friday from Easter Saturday until the end of October.The Grounds, Tea Room and Shop are open from 12.30pm to 5.00pm and the hall is open from 1.00pm to 5.00pm (last admission is 4.00pm).

House and Grounds: Adult £6.00, Senior Citizens £5.50, Children £3.00 (5-15 years), Family £14.50 (2 adults + 4 children)

Grounds and Stables Only: Adult £2.50, Child £1.25.

We stayed at the caravan park as we have a caravan and this gave us free access to the grounds and house. We had a nice stroll from the caravan park to the hall.

If you are in the area I would recommend a visit to Burton Constable as the house is stunning and has a lot of history and interesting stories. The guides in the house are informative and friendly.

Beach Art - Benidorm, Spain

The beach at Benidorm stretches for miles along the coastline. The sand is clean and pebble free. In August when I was there, the beach was lined with sun parasols and loungers for the many tourists seeking some sun and let me tell you it was hot (temps of 35+).

When I visited, my friend and I went for a walk along the beach and came across some beach art.

I have never seen such an impressive sandcastle as this one!

Further along the beach was a horse and foal made out of sand but unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it. The horse and foal beach art was very impressive, the artists had even marked out the veins of the horse.

The beach artists kept their artwork from collapsing by having water misters on it.

The beach art was certainly a sight that I hadn't expected to see on the beach at Benidorm, but certainly worth a look.

Swimming With Dolphins - Benidorm, Spain

I have just been lucky enough to grab a few days away to Benidorm in Spain. Whilst away my friend and I had the opportunity to swim with dolphins at Mundomar, nature park.

We watched the dolphin show first, which consisted of a display of synchronised swimmers that were joined in the water part way through the routine by the dolphins.Then the dolphins did their show with various swimming routines such as jumping through hoops, leaping through the water and balancing balls on their noses.After the show had finished, my friend and I found a member of staff to let them know that we were taking part in the swimming with dolphins session.

We had to go and change into a wetsuit and then show our ticket, which cost 75euros. For this we got 2 photos, a beach towel and 30-35 minutes in the water with the dolphins in a group of about 10 people.

The experience began with us posing with the dolphins for the two photographs. Then we all swam into the centre of the pool and made a circle. The two dolphins took it in turn to swim around the circle and we were allowed to touch the dolphins. One of the dolphins popped up in front of me a couple of times which at first was a shock and then I felt pleased that I had been chosen. My friend said that the dolphin had obviously taken a shine to me, I tend to agree as the second time the dolphin popped up in front of me the dolphin allowed me to hold his or her fins.

After the dolphins had swam around for a while we were asked to swim back to the side where we got out and then one by one we had to swim to the centre of the pool and stretch our legs out behind us. The two dolphins then swam behind us and pushed our feet with their noses so that we glided through the water with the dolphins pushing us. This was a truely amazing feeling.

Finally we all sat at the side of the pool and the dolphins swam in front of us and then we were able to touch their face or give them a kiss if we wanted. The lady in charge asked the dolphin if they liked the kiss each time. It was funny when they said no, but then she asked the dolphin of it was joking and it said yes! A dolphin with a sense of humour.

The dolphins were very gentle animals and you could see how clever they are by the way they understood what was being asked of them both in English and Spanish. Multi-lingual dolphins, very clever!

I would recommend this experience to anyone who loves animals and is visiting Benidorm.

Site Map

Here is a list of all the articles featured on Sara's Holiday Travel Blog:

Cruises

• Island Cruises Mediterranean Charm Cruise On Island Escape
  

Cruise Ships

• Island Escape Cruise Ship
  
• Thomson Celebration Cruise Ship

Cyprus

• Limassol Wine Festival, Cyprus
• Troodos Mountains Cyprus

Ibiza

• Ibiza Town & Hippy Market Of Es Cana
• The Hippy Market Of Es Cana, Ibiza
  

Norway - Bergen

• Bergen, Norway
  

Spain

• Holiday Regions In Spain
• Tips For Driving In Spain
• Useful Spanish Phrases
  

Spain - Alicante

• Alicante, Costa Blanca, Spain

Spain - Benidorm

• Beach Art - Benidorm, Spain
  
• Swimming With Dolphins, Benidorm, Spain

Spain - Cadiz

• History Of Cadiz, Spain
  
• Open Top Bus Tour At Cadiz
• Puerta De Tierra - Cadiz, Spain

Spain - Malaga

• Alcazaba - Malaga, Spain

Travel Insurance

• Travel Insurance
  

United Kingdom - Adventure Parks

• The Crocky Trail - Chester

United Kingdom - Stately Homes

• Burton Constable - East Yorkshire

United Kingdom

• Wroxeter Roman Vineyard