Mexico - One Hot Destination for Travel
June 27, 2009
Mexico: The Hottest Vacation Destination for 2009
If you have been wondering where the hot vacation spot is this year, we have the answer, it’s Mexico.
Mexico has always been a top destination for travel of people from the United States for the simple reason that it is a foreign country without having to travel across the world. Our neighbor to the south, Mexico is a perfect destination for those wanting to travel outside the U.S. but not wanting to fly somewhere far away.
This year is a prime opportunity for those wishing to travel to Mexico to take advantage of the low exchange rate from Mexican to U.S. currency.
The value is always fluctuating, but right now the exchange rate is great. For example, right now $100.00 U.S. is about 1,300 pesos. In comparison to say Europe in which $100.00 dollars American is equal to only about 73 Euros. So if you are looking for bang for your buck, Mexico is definitely a great option.
Of course, money isn’t everything, what else is driving Americans to visit Mexico. It depends on what you are looking for, history, relaxation, archeology, white sand beaches, surfing, rainforests or fantastic food, Mexico has it all.
Some of the most traveled destinations in Mexico are Cancun, Cozumel, and Mexico City. This is what each has to offer.
Cancun is Mexico’s most popular resort location. Found on the Yucatan Peninsula, the traveler can find amazing white sand beaches, luxury hotels and resorts, fine dining and amazing Mayan ruins. For a perfect mix of fun and history, Cancun is the place to go.
Cozumel is for obvious reasons, a great place to visit for a wet and wild travel excursion. In Cozumel you will find hundreds of activities to do in and around the ocean. Dive with the sea turtles, swim with the dolphins, or investigate underwater ruins from thousands of years ago. If you prefer to just look at the water without actually being in it, you could try the Cozumel Lobster Dinner Cruise. This was an interesting find. Sail on an Old Spanish Galleon and have your fill of a delicious lobster meal. Food and an amazing experience all in one.
Mexico City is the undisputed hub of commerce, how about a trip to the largest city in the world?
Filled with thousands of years of culture and history, Mexico City is the place to go if you want to try out the city life. Full of Museums of Art focused on Aztec and Mayan cultures or the more recent Frida Kahlo, art abounds in Mexico City. With the great exchange rate you could hit the local shopping scene, or just walk around its wonderful scenery. There is always something going on in the city.
No matter what you are looking for in a great Mexican vacation, you are sure to find it. Now is the time to travel to this near, yet faraway place. As always, when travelling to a foreign country, don’t forget to check on what is required of you as a visitor and also, don’t forget your passport. If you prepare before you leave, you will be sure to have a wonderful trip to Mexico, a hot destination for travel.
Sealand - A little Nation with a Big Past
June 11, 2009
Yes, there really is a Sealand, and it is small. Sealand is considered a micro nation, and is located 6 miles off the coast of Suffolk, England.
I suppose you could call it an island as there is water all around, but unlike other islands, it is manmade. Not made of sand and stone like other lands, but steel and concrete, Sealand is definitely one of a kind.
The history of Sealand is quite interesting, beginning from its creation in 1942. Sealand is actually a floating pontoon base with two towers and a platform, which was floated out 6 miles and then sunk to the bottom leaving only the towers and the platform above the surface of the water.
Originally, Sealand was called HM Fort Roughs and was created by the UK as a form of defense from the Germans during World War II. Later, the fort was occupied by between 150 and 300 Royal Navy until 1956 when the last personnel were removed.
In September of 1967, the fort was occupied once again, but this time it was a civilian, a pirate radio broadcaster in fact. His name was Roy Bates and his plan was to broadcast from the platform. Not long after Mr. Bates set up at the platform, the Royal Navy cruised in the area to fix a buoy near the platform. Mr. Bates then informed the Royal Navy that it was in his territorial waters and the fight was on.
Guns were fired from the fort by the son of Roy Bates as a warning to the Royal Navy to leave the area and soon after that Mr. Bates was called to court to discuss the incident in England. The ruling was that the platform was outside the jurisdiction of Britain and was therefore dismissed, but the precedent had been sent. Mr. Bates was already referring to the fort as Sealand at this point and it seems was set to create his own utopia. In 1975 there was a constitution, national anthem, flag, currency and passports all for the independent nation of Sealand.
In 1978 a man named Alexander Achenbach believed himself to be the prime minister of Sealand and while the elder Bates was away, staged a takeover of the fort and held the younger Bates hostage, until finally releasing him days later. The battle was on with the enlisted the help of armed helicopters, the senior Bates took it back.
The history of Sealand is short, sordid and likely to continue as such. A fire in 2006 is and a notice to stay out of the area are basically the last things recorded on Sealand’s website, but the island was offered for sale on the internet in January of 2009 by the King of Marduk who claimed ownership. But according to Michael Bates in the Sealand News, the King of Marduk is an imposter, and the battle rages on still.
Image Source: http://www.sealandgov.com/images/sealand_main.gif Originally from http://en.wikipedia.org
Extreme Sport Vacations - Adventure Vacations of a Lifetime
June 5, 2009
An extreme sport is defined as having a high level of danger, which may involve speed, height or extreme levels of physical exertion.
Today there is a new kind of traveler, one that craves the unforeseen, difficult, or unexpected. Gone are the days of jumping in the station wagon and driving down the road to the same place year after year. Now, it is common for many types of people to jump in a plane and fly to some rarely traveled place and do something many of us would cringe at the thought of.
Some of these locations and activities are here in the U.S. and some are far away in the mountains, oceans, or deserts that until recently were destinations only on rare occasions.
In today’s well planned, organized, palm pilot life, extreme sport adventures play a part in bringing us back to the unplanned, unexpected lives that people once had.
Most everyone has a bicycles. Many of us even have off-road bicycles, the question is what do you do with your bicycle? In an urban world, it is rare to even leave the pavement, mountain bike or not. Bicycles have been an important mode of transportation for generations.
We still load up our bikes on the back of our cars and drive somewhere like Mackinac Island to jump on and enjoy a relaxing ride around the island, not very extreme, but enjoyable.
Please note that extreme sports of any kind are not for the inexperienced, take caution, and make sure to learn what you are getting into before you try it. These are called extreme for a reason.
If this sounds a bit mundane to you, why not try mountain biking in Slovenia, a country located in Central Europe containing a portion of the Swiss Alps. They have accommodations nearby where you can relax when you are not riding through a converted mine deep under the mountains, or up a slope that until recently only saw wildlife. The park was created in 1995 for those bikers craving excitement.
You have the option of going on your own, or if you are more comfortable, joining a tour. Either way, there are hundreds of miles of forest paths winding through the mountain range all of which will offer you the bike trip of a lifetime.
Caving, otherwise known as spelunking may be another option for the extreme adventure enthusiast. This you should never do alone, so plan your trip with a friend, and remember to have a guide experienced in the area to assist with your trip.
Missouri has over 5,300 registered wild caves, a cave which is yet mapped, to explore. If you prefer a mapped area, yet still on the wild side, the area surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks has hundreds of caves perfect for the spelunker in you.
Caving gives you the opportunity to go deep beneath the surface of the earth and explore the makeup of our inner world. Filled with carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite, pools of deep clear water, and formations that until now you only saw in the movies.
Soda straws, helictites, stalagmites and stalactites surround you on your very own Journey to the Center of the Earth! Caving is more popular than ever before and many states here in the U.S. will offer the adventurous caver the opportunity to explore this little seen world in the dark.
If you prefer Icarus to the subterranean world why not try your hand at hang gliding or paragliding.
Head up, way up, and see what you have been missing all these years. Queenstown New Zealand offers even the inexperienced the opportunity to fly with birds.
High above the Mountains, jump on a hang glider or para glider and soar above the beauty of the ranges below. These tandem jumps offer experienced guides there for you to make this trip whatever you choose. If extreme for you is floating gently down, you have that option, but if you are in for a more unpredictable glide down, don’t worry, that is also an option.
Hang and para gliding is an experience that you will definitely not forget. Of course if you want something a bit more close to home, they also have wonderful trips available for the hanglider in California as well. Enjoy the view!
These are obviously just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the adventure vacation industry, the options really are endless. Deep sea wreck diving, shark adventures, motorbiking, skiing, bungee jumping, it is all up to you. Why not try something new and amazing on your next vacation? Try an extreme sport adventure.