Tangier : the white city

Located at the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar, at the meeting point between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, the beautiful Tangier presents an unforgettable landscape that has captivated for centuries generations of artists, including Eugène Delacroix, Camille Saint--Saëns, Pierre Loti and Paul Morand. And how not to succumb to this city in northern Morocco.

With its temperate climate, vegetation and its separate strip of beach that stretches over 3 km, Tanger seduces every year thousands of tourists. His story also makes a mythical city, land of successive occupations: which history would have started with one of the stories of the twelve labors of Hercules, the Tanjus and Antaeus gods were behind, was marked successively with Phoenician, Carthaginian,Roman, Vandal, Byzantine, Visigoth and Arabic presence.

The city of strangers, as it is called, keeps track of these relentless colonization periods: the Old Medina retains memories of Muslim influence: barely crossed the threshold, you will be assailed by the smells and scents of the Grand Socco, the big soukh literally, that inspired a novel toJoseph Kessel. Traders in traditional costume héleront you to sell you the traditional clothing of the country and its leather goods. A few meters you will also admire the Sidi Bou Abid Mosque, whose minaret in polychrome pottery is the favorite attraction of visitors with its beauty. Beware though: the entry of this place of worship is forbidden to non-Muslims.

Conversely, the modern city of Tangier, has preserved the marks of the French architectural expertise. The Grand Café de Paris is also one of the key pillars. Tangier is definitely one of those cities that must be surveyed to discover its wonders.

If you want to go to Tangier, know that the city offers a range of accommodation to suit every taste and budget hotels, tourist residences, guesthouses, youth hostels but also campsites.

A flight to Tangier is 2 hours and 45 minutes from Paris. The airport Tangier - Ibn Battuta, which was completely renovated and expanded in 2008, is 15 kilometers from Tangier. Tangier is also connected to other Moroccan cities such as Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech, Fez, Oujda by train. Ferry lines also join the city to Sète or Port-Vendres (eastern Pyrenees) in France.

During your stay in Tangier, let's try the Medina and Grand Socco, which manage to stimulate your senses. At a time of relaxation, guests can also enjoy drinking a mint tea in the square of the small Socco. See also: the Kasbah, ancient palaces district of Tangier. Besides the place of France, let yourself be tempted by a visit by the famous Hafa cafe, which has preserved the charm of the 20s, period of his creation.

Tangier is full of places to eat, listen to music or dancing. The nightlife can be found especially in the Avenue Mohammed VI (Ali Baba Associados, Pasarela Beach Club etc. ..).

Source : www.alibabuy.com

Malta : a Mediterranean pearl

Malta has beautiful sound as big as a grain of sand in the middle of the sea, the archipelago hides his game by being a place rich in history and scenery. Why not take advantage of Battle of Malta to take some vacation and to discover all the attractions of this island in the Mediterranean

Sliema, St-Julians is the most "modern" part of the island, refuge of most international companies and expatriates. It is the ideal place for shopping, going out (bars, restaurants, and street Paceville night clubs, Portomaso and the Dragonara Casino, ...).Apart from that, and if the world does not scare you, you can find some beaches (rocks). If you like walking instead we advise you to do the walk of the waterfront from Sliema Ferries until about Portomaso Casino and Spinola Bay.

If you prefer to avoid the same crowd on the sidewalks, then you can do your walk in the other direction, from Sliema still heading this time in Gzira, by simply running along the seafront towards the marina Ta'Xbiex and up to the church square.

Nice little Sunday stroll if you stay on the side of Sliema.

Mdina is a very typical cute little fortified town whose origins date back some 4,000 years. Once past the ramparts by entering through his front door (the right one), you can stroll through its few narrow streets and have fun imagining you can lose yourself (do not worry, the city is so small that it is impossible to happen).
Go all the way to the Tas-Sar place and also enjoy the view of the whole valley and much of Malta by overcast.

Like Valletta, Mdina seems empty of all its souls to the approach of dusk. Perfect ! Take the opportunity to even breathe a little serenity of the "city of silence" before eventually you find a nice little restaurant to finish the day.

In the center of the island, Mosta is especially known for its huge Church of St. Mary (largest of Malta), and its dome, the Rotunda, the fourth largest in the world!

The hook deserves to be done if you have rented a car or if you go there to get you to one of the other attractions of the island.

Located on the west coast of the island, Dingli goes for its cliffs, landscape that you can enjoy anywhere.
Push your journey a little further south and visit the Blue Grotto via the beautiful coastal road.
A little before going down to the tiny village, stop on one of the parking spaces and enjoy a first view on this extraordinary training nature.

Then you can take a motorboat (€ 8) for a side trip 20 minutes around the cave and discovering some of the cavities, including the famous Blue Grotto and the azure water.

It was at Ta'Qali you can find the "Crafts Village", a collection of craft shops and factories (about thirty), where you can among other things see action glassblowers, before visiting side with a shop impressive selection of creations. Tips: Articles with default (sometimes minimal) are sold at a knockdown price. You will also find many souvenirs.

The place has become very tourist, the tourist buses making stops sometimes on the adjoining parking.

Do not say too much that Gozo is attached to Malta, this may upset the inhabitants!
Gozo is more rural island, most kind, and whose occupants are proud of their roots and identity. Although not very large (14km by 7), Gozo deserves a full day. And yet, even by car, you will be far from having the time to see everything.

Small island of 3 square kilometers Comino is situated between Malta and Gozo, known for it's famous Blue Lagoon, with turquoise and incredibly clear water.
Too bad the place is completely crowded in summer and too denatured by an invasion of sunbeds and parasols. Come early or late in the day for peace of mind.

To get there you must take a shuttle from the port of Mgarr (Gozo) or from Cirkewwa (Malta). Several companies also offer cruises (with stop at Comino) from Sliema.

Source : fr.pokerlistings.com

Marbella: luxury and beauty

Marbella is one of the main destinations of the Costa del Sol. It owes too many qualities, which are, among others: its excellent climate, beaches, natural environment and its sports complex.
Puerto Banús, Marbella's flagship complex, is the proof of the excellent quality of its infrastructure . Surrounded by exclusive residential areas, its famous marina each year welcomes the most important and most luxurious yachts in the world. Among its facilities also note the elegant leisure area, consisting of restaurants, shops bearing the signature of the biggest names of international fashion and luxury articles stores.

Marbella offers vacationers a beautiful coastline along 26 km where sunny beaches succeed each others equipped with all necessary infrastructure and lined with modern hotels, residential complexes, shops and restaurants. San Pedro de Alcántara is a major city located in less than ten kilometers from Marbella, is a fine example of harmony between nature and tourism development.Marbella will delight sports fans. A dozen superb golf courses are available to fans of the sport throughout the year. These lands have a landscape backdrop of rare beauty.
Water sports enthusiasts will find three ports where they can practice their favorite specialty.
Marbella also has equestrian schools, tennis clubs and other equipment of all kinds. Not to mention the many outdoor sports opportunities of Sierra Blanca.
The old town of Marbella is at the foot of Sierra Blanca, in front of a beautiful bay. the Andalucian character with orange trees scattered here and there and pretty facades whitewashed and decorated with grilles and geraniums.
In the center, spreads Plaza Los Naranjos, flanked by noble buildings such as the town hall (XVI century.) And the former Casa del Corregidor (XVII century.).
considered the largest of its kind in Spain, completes the cultural offer of Marbella. Housed in the Bazán Hospital (XVI century.), This museum houses an interesting collection of engravings of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries bearing the signature of renowned artists such as Picasso, Miró and Dalí.
The pescaíto frito (fried fish), ajoblanco (cold soup with almonds, oil and garlic) and gazpacho are among the tasty specialties of Marbella gastronomy. The desserts need to be accompanied by an excellent sweet wine.
Among the traditional festivities of Marbella there is the Feria y Fiestas de San Bernabé, the first fortnight of June. The program includes concerts, bullfights and other activities.
Holy Week and fiestas of San Pedro de Alcántara, held in October, are the other important festivities in Marbella.
The excursion possibilities along the Costa del Sol from Marbella, are numerous. A few kilometers away there is Mijas, a typical village of the sierra which extends to the coast. It is popular with tourists. Torremolinos, Estepona, Benalmádena and Fuengirola are other important tourist cities.
Natural Park Sierra de las Nieves, offers landscapes of extreme beauty. Close to Marbella, we get to Istán, a famous town for its springs, and Ojén, known with its great ecological wealth.

Source : www.spain.info

Singapore : the city-state

City-state, the former Singapura, Lion City in Malay, is now an economic tiger whose roar of satisfaction resulting in an unprecedented economic prosperity. However, behind the glass facades of skyscrapers and shopping malls, this gateway to Asia remains a good summary of the continent in its commitment to the traditions Malay, Chinese and Indian.

Entrenched in the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula as a diamond, Singapore is about seven times the size of central Paris, 693 km2. Conquered from the water, its territory continues to expand and could still win 100 km2 polder 2030.

The main island, composed of volcanic rocks in the center, but rather flat (the highest point is 160 m ...), is 40 km from east to west and 18 km from north to south. Sixty smaller islands surrounding it, including Jurong, Sentosa or Pulau Tekong. They also belong to this city-state, a former British colony which became independent from the Malaysian federation in 1965.

Today, over 5 million people, 77% Chinese, 13% Malay and 8% Indian. The country has four official languages, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English.

This diversity is associated with a commercial offer to satisfy all age brackets. Sentosa Island, formerly pirate hideout boasts a superb zoo and a local replica of Disneyland. On the east coast, the amusement park can reconcile the pleasures of the beach with many sports and contemplation.

tropical, hot and humid, it does not reserve you a big surprise. In November, December and January, it rains nearly two out of three days. The rest of the year, sporadic rain hardly affect the daily life. The thermometer is consistently around 30 ° C during the day and 24 ° C at night. Under these conditions, the timing of holidays and festivities seem more important than the climate for the timing of a trip to Singapore. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in January or February; In November, during Deepavali, Little India is celebrating and shining brightly. Every two years, runs the interesting Singapore Arts Festival.

The least that can be said is that the obsession with economic wealth left in the background of cultural life. However, Singapore has no pretensions in that direction and believes, perhaps rightly, that its surprising mix of languages, cultures and colors well worth museums. Chinese opera (wayang) and the Lion Dance, performed during Chinese festivals and accompanied by drums and cymbals, as the Malay opera (bangsawan) have in recent years found some favor. Remember to go to the cinema, an experience that guarantees its share of emotions, even if it's more in the room than on the screen !

No other piece of land permits to travel through space and time as Singapore. To make this journey, you have to go to Serangoon Road in Little India, Chinatown and Arab Street to where the street names, Baghdad, Jeddah and Kandahar, smack so good the east. If you are interested in the city history, your steps will lead you inevitably to the colonial district, houses in the Palladian style, rich in Doric and Corinthian columns sprinkled with a touch of gothic. Finally, the 32-acre Botanic Garden are not to be missed. Admire acres of rainforest and in the Orchid Enclosure, over 250 species of orchids.

Greedy, not to abstain. Indeed, Singapore allows you to taste all the culinary specialties of the planet. Take an English breakfast, an Indian or Chinese lunch followed by a Malaysian or Vietnamese dinner. Especially since these dishes sold in foodcourts (locally called hawkers centers) are very affordable. Chinese chicken rice, chicken rice with chilli sauce, ginger and soy are the most common. The chicken can be eaten the Malaysian way with a sauce made from coconut milk and spices (rendang). Crab (chili crab or black pepper crab) is another popular dish, like the ubiquitous fried Hokkien meel, local noodles fries.

Source : http://www.alibabuy.com/

Hamburg: not just a port

Upstream of the Elbe, Hamburg is the largest port in Germany, but also the second largest city. As is often the case in open sea cities, Hamburg is a cosmopolitan and attractive city with a strong economic powerhouse that supplies all of its busy streets.
Hamburg is located on the Elbe River a few miles from the North Sea. The city is famous for its nightlife, and St. Paul quarter. Tourists go there to visit his fifty museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts and Decorative Arts. She preserved green areas that allow to soothe the soul after visiting the city. These places are especially on the banks of the Alster. The city also has a city park and a botanical garden named "Planten Blumen." 


Extensively bombed during World War II, Hamburg retains today traces its heritage historique.however,  however, the city radiates culturally: events, museums, opera, concerts ... without forget nightlife whose reputation extends beyond the boundaries very clearly !
Hamburg is the largest port in Germany and the second largest city in terms of population. City-state, Hamburg has always been very independent and proud of its commercial success and wealth accumulated over the centuries. This wealth is reflected in the opulence of some villas. 

The west area of Hamburg near the central station is primarily a commercial area, the streets and Spitaler Mönckebergstraße lead to mayor of Hamburg, near which are the churches of St. Jacobi and St. Petri, two of the five main churches in Hamburg . 

Not far away is the place Rathausmarkt, which hosts many events, especially in summer. North of Rathausmarkt there is a channel called Alsterarkaden and malls, the most famous being the Hanse Viertel. 

Another popular district of Hamburg's Reeperbahn in St. Pauli. This is probably one of the most famous red light districts in the world with that of Amsterdam. Sankt Pauli is one of the most populated areas in Europe and a melting pot of people from around the globe. 

Schanzenviertel is also an area not to be missed, it is located right between Sankt Pauli Eimsbüttel and Altona. Students, immigrants and young designers give this hotel a unique atmosphere. In recent years, due to its success, this quarter has seen the price of rents skyrocketed, so bohemian Schanzenviertel became bourgeois-bohemian.

It was the same for the former Danish village Ottensen which is south of the Altona Central Station, which is now one of the most expensive neighborhoods of Hamburg. 


Therefore, young girls penniless now tend to avoid its neighborhoods become trendy and prefer the less popular places, but that certainly does not take long to become as much as Sankt Georg or Karolienenviertel.

A major tourist destination but also an active business destination, Hamburg has a particularly wide range of lodging. Many places in the district of St. George, around the central train station in Mitte (city center) or St. Pauli, around the Reeperbahn. All hotel categories are represented from 5 stars hostels to cheap youth hostels ... A shared studio apartment  be interesting. Always make reservations before arriving in Hamburg ...

Source: www.cityzeum.com

Kyoto : stroll in the ancient capital of Japan

While Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and especially the economic center of the Japanese archipelago, Kyoto remains for the people of Japan the "capital" of the cultural Empire of the Rising Sun. A simple walk around the streets of Kyoto allows any tourist to understand the richness of Japanese heritage preserved in this city of 1.4 million inhabitants. There is at least one temple, if not two, at all street corners. In total, the Japanese Ministry of Tourism recognizes 1600 temples, Shinto shrines and 400 200 sacred gardens in Kyoto. Twenty percent of the national treasures of the archipelago and many places listed as World Heritage by UNESCO are located in this discreet and symbolic city. Kyoto is a true living museum.

Connected every five minutes to Tokyo by Shinkansen (fast train), the journey takes only half past two, visitors usually arrive by Central Station located in the downtown city. They then discover a modern station testifying that Kyoto is not just an old city, but it grows, like the rest of Japan. The hall of the central station, a set of "aerodynamic" slender spaces, stairs and walkways, was designed by the Japanese architect Koji Hara and completed in 1997, offers visitors - yet come to Kyoto to find temples and shrines - a futuristic access. The total absence of traditional elements has been widely criticized. This station-like tech is also a shopping center where young people spend their yen clothing and gadgets. It is also in this station that foreign visitors are invited to head to tourist office for information on museums, temples and shrines to visit, hotels and transportation.
Just blocks from downtown and south of the station, Toji Temple (Kyo-o-Gokoku) is famous for its highest pagoda in the world. Each must have its Japanese temple pagoda. Over the temple is, the larger is the high pagoda and comprises of stages. That Toji has four and is 55 meters high. Built in 1644, this pagoda is considered the highest "wooden structure" in Japan. It contains statues of four Buddhas and their disciples. 
It is in the Temple Toji that religious foundations were laid in the city. In the Kodo (conference room), visitors can see 21 statues, dating back 1,200 years, forming a three-dimensional mandala, the center of which stands Dainichi Nyorai (the cosmic Buddha, author of the first esoteric teachings).
Not far from downtown, but about fifteen minutes by bus to the east of the station, the districts of Gion and Higashiyama Kyoto are the places most visited. Gion is the famous geisha district and in the eyes of the Japanese "male", the symbol of all that is good in life: sake, good food, women and karaoke. Gion is Kyoto's Latin Quarter where we live at night and sleeps during the day. It was after sunset we came across maiko (apprentice geisha) powdered, ghosts from another era still present in the hearts of the Japanese. Just a little east of Gion, Yasaka Shrine, with its large torii (symbolic gate) vermilion, is the door on the Higashiyama district (Mountains of the East). This area deserves an entire day walk  because it is the heart and lungs of the "capital city" where many temples are located. Several temples and shrines enrich the neighborhood mountainside: the Chion-in temple with his colossal temple door and Shoren-in with his tea house, the Otani Mausoleum with its golden gate and the shrine Ryoze Kwan-on and his colossal statue of 24 meters tall. Higashiyama district is also famous for its narrow streets and alleys of another age.
In the northwest of the ancient capital, there are other iconic temples and shrines in Kyoto. The most famous of all is undoubtedly the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). This pavilion monument was restored after an arson attack in 1950 that inspired the famous Japanese author Mishima Yokio in his novel The Golden Pavilion, and in 1987, its gold hedging was redone. A shaded path leads to a beautiful garden surrounding a pond in which are hunting great blue herons. Thousands of tourists are discovering the true replica of the legendary pavilion. The graceful structure of Kinkaku-ji is completely covered in gold leaf and surmounted by a phoenix also covered with gild. This monument is the most visited of Kyoto - perhaps Japan - and we must choose its time to get there, usually early morning or late afternoon to avoid being jostled ... or be walked on !
Japanese cuisine is well represented there: sashimi and sushi, yakitori, tempura, okonomiyaki, yaki-udon, soba and other dishes as delicious as each other. It's hard to starve in Japan. Kyoto is part of the Kansai region, which occupies a prominent place among Japanese regional cuisines. Kansai products are recognized for their high quality. However, this region being inland, seafood and other fish are not present in the kyotoïte culinary arts. Great Kyoto leaders therefore created many dishes based on the delicious tofu, famous throughout the archipelago.

Kyoto is the place to visit for those who wish to enter the soul of the Japanese. Kyoto, like Tokyo, a very safe city and opened to tourists thanks to public transportation and impressive number of cheap hotels.

Source : www.lapresse.ca