60 Second Geography – Grand Cayman

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

Once you leave George Town, Grand Cayman’s natural wonders come alive. Head west to hike the Mastic Trail, a 200-year old footpath flanked by Cedar, Mahogany, and Black Mangrove trees, as well as the eponymous Mastic.

The West Bay section of the island features the famed turtle farm, where thousands of Green Sea Turtles are raised each year for both food and for release into the wild. This is also the home of the kitschy town of Hell — a bleak natural limestone formation with a nearby gift shop and (of course) a post office that sells postcards that can be sent home from-Hell.

On the North Side resides the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park, a series of lush tropical gardens full of herbs and orchids, not to mention a fascinating butterfly garden and an iguana habitat. But, perhaps the most famous attraction in Grand Cayman is not on land at all. A few miles off shore in the North Sound, lies Stingray City, a series of shallow sandbars flush with friendly southern stingrays just begging for handouts from the tourists who flock to the site.

  • Hit the Beach! Whether it’s relaxing in the sun or snorkeling in the reef just off shore at the Sunrise Villa, enjoy the year-round tropical breezes on Grand Cayman’s beaches.
  • The World-Famous Stingray City: Top of every visitor’s list is an excursion to Stingray City, an extraordinary 12-foot dive site and adjacent sandbar. In as little as two to six feet of water, everyone-with or without snorkel gear-can feed and touch the friendly Southern Atlantic stingrays.
  • Spend a Lazy Afternoon at Rum Point: Hop in your rental car and head to Rum Point on Grand Cayman’s quiet North Side, a favorite destination for both residents and visitors. Experience island atmosphere the way it used to be in a scenic spot known for its clear, calm waters and tall pines. Sink into a hammock with a book, swim, snorkel, or try a glass-bottom boat trip. The Wreck Bar, a Rum Point landmark, serves lunch and frosty drinks at picnic tables on the beach.
  • Boatswain’s Beach: Boatswain’s Beach is the name of the new 30-acre marine theme park that is the expansion of the Cayman Turtle Farm. When Christopher Columbus first discovered the islands in 1503, he named them “Las Tortugas,” meaning The Turtles. According to legend, there were so many turtles that the islands looked like they were covered with rocks. Located in Grand Cayman, the Turtle Farm has been in operation since 1968 and has since been dedicated to educating the public on the benefits of a proactive conservation program for sea turtles.
  • Indulge in Cayman Cuisine: It would be difficult to spend time in Cayman without being offered conch fritters, a local Stingray beer, or Cayman’s own Heavy Cake. But don’t miss the island specialties that will make your visit unique; for a snack that is not to be missed, stop in at any of the Tortuga Rum Company stores for a Tortuga Rum Cake. Compare the spicy taste of Cayman Brac’s McCoy’s BBQ to the unique flavor of Bussy’s Jerk Chicken on Little Cayman.
  • Discover the Cayman Story: The National Trust for the Cayman Islands office, located in George Town, offers visitors extensive information on the islands’ history, environment, national symbols and culture. Tours are also available for guests to uncover the Cayman of yesteryear – by learning about wattle and daub, a method of construction used to build homes; discovering historical sites such as the Bodden Town Guard House, Old Savannah Schoolhouse and Watlers Cemetery; environmental treasures such as the Mastic Trail; and resources such as the Trust’s Herbarium and Insectarium.

Are you ready to getaway to Grand Cayman? Contact Travel Traditions Inc (509)586-0271 and get started.

Posted in Caribbean, Cruise, Dive Vacations, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Grand Cayman, Group Cruise, Groups, Honeymoon, Incredible Views, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line | Leave a comment

16 Day Tour of Bangkok, Cambodia & Vietnam with Air

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

Time left to book: 06 Days, 13 Hours, 12 Minutes, 07 Seconds.

16 Day Bangkok, Cambodia & Vietnam
Experience the vibrant & exotic treasures of Southeast Asia – $2749 from $2599*

Lead Price Travel Dates: Sep 30, Oct 7, Oct 21, Nov 4 & Nov 18 ’12
Promo Valid for Departures: July 2012 – May 2013

The Deal

We’ve made it easy and affordable to see three of Southeast Asia’s most fascinating countries on this 16-day package that combines seven exotic cities with the comfort and convenience of an escorted tour. You’ll fly between cities, which means you’ll spend less time traveling and more time admiring the breathtaking sites.

Tour the Temple Complex at Angkor Wat, view the floating fishing villages of Tonle Sap, visit the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh, and discover the riverside town of Hoi An. Journey over the Hai Van Pass, a mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views of the bowl-shaped Da Nang Bay, to arrive in Hue where you will tour the Old Imperial City and the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City. Enjoy a boat excursion by traditional wooden Bai Tho Junk through Halong Bay then end your journey with a tour of Hanoi.

This package is filled with sightseeing, ensuring you experience the history, culture and beauty of Southeast Asia.

Package Includes

Flights LAX-Bangkok, Hanoi-LAX. Other departure cities available.

Airline taxes & fuel surcharges

Intra-flights

14 nights accommodations

2 nights Bangkok

2 nights Siem Reap

2 nights Ho Chi Minh

2 nights Hoi An

2 nights Hue

1 night Halong Bay

3 nights Hanoi

All transfers

20 meals: 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners

Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern air-conditioned motor coach

Services of an English-speaking tour manager in Vietnam

Services of a local English-speaking guide in Cambodia

Host service in Bangkok

Entrance fees per itinerary

How to Book

Book by May 21, 2012 and save $150 per person off our regular price. Lowest price reflects the $150 promotional savings in addition to the early Book By savings. Promotion is not valid on existing reservations. To redeem the discounted savings use promotional code DLSEA150 at the time of booking. Click here to book or call 800-682-3333 to speak with one of our reservation specialists.

What are you waiting for? Contact Travel Traditions Inc  or (509)586-0271

* The following additional fees are not included, where applicable: Visa fees for Vietnam and Cambodia, domestic airport taxes of $23.45, optional tours, and gratuities. For more details, see our Terms & Conditions.

* Prices include airfare, fuel surcharges, airport taxes and fees. Air & land tour prices apply from the gateway airport or city specified in the Package Highlights. Prices will vary from alternative gateway airports or cities and may be higher. The total price will be clearly displayed prior to any deposit being required. Additional baggage charges may apply.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Cruise, Culinary Tours, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, Monograms, Norwegian Cruise Line | Leave a comment

60 Second Geography – Latin America

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

Tourism is key to the economy of several Latin American countries. Mexico leads the popularity pack with more than 21.4 million visitors per year; followed by Brazil, with 5.0 million; Argentina, with 4.6 million; Dominican Republic, with 4.0 million; Puerto Rico, with 3.7 million and Costa Rica with 2.0 million.

The top destinations in the region include Cancun, Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Cartagena de Indias, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Margarita Island, São Paulo, Punta del Este, Santo Domingo, San Juan, La Habana, Panama City, Iguazu Falls, Puerto Vallarta, Poás Volcano National Park, Punta Cana, Viña del Mar, Mexico City, Quito, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Cuzco and BeginDestinationURL]Patagonia.

  • Galapagos Archipelago. Called the world’s greatest living laboratory, these barren islands in the middle of two cold currents support a fantastic array of wildlife that has developed into new forms such as the marine iguana and the flightless cormorant, huge sea turtles, plus sea lions and penguins far from their original habitats.
  • Angel Falls. The rocks and cliffs forming the tepuis were ancient long before the continent of South America separated from Africa. Now they are home to dense rain forests, clouds of mist and huge sandstone formations. From the top of one tepui, an unbroken stream of water takes fourteen seconds to fall to the base.
  • Amazon. Carving a huge channel through a rainforest which is home to more wildlife species than anywhere else on earth, the Amazon river runs over 4000 miles from its origins to the Atlantic where in one second, it pours more than 55 million gallons of water into the sea. The Amazon basin covers more than two-fifths of South America’s land mass.
  • Lake Titicaca. This high altitude lake, over 12,000 feet high and about 900 feet deep, is the second largest lake in South America. With an area about 3200 square feet, 122 miles long with an average width of 35 miles, with 36 islands, the lake is the highest navigable lake in the world.
  • Atacama Desert. Known erroneously as the driest desert on earth, this narrow strip of coastal desert stretches east to the Andes, and is a mix of lava flows, salt basins, hot springs and sand covering about 600 miles south of Chile’s border with Peru. The barren and unforgiving terrain serves as practice grounds for space exploration.
  • Andes. The Andes are a young mountain system, ranging 4500 miles from the northern coasts to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. Live volcanoes dot the stretch, and form part of the Pacific Rim of Fire. In Peru and Bolivia, the Andes widen into several ranges separated by valleys supporting farms and cities. The greatest peak is Aconcagua on the border of Argentina and Chile.
  • Lake District / Patagonia. Patagonia in Argentina and Chile is home to great glaciers, volcanoes, glacier fed lakes, and fast rushing rivers. Majestic volcanoes like Osorno in Chile, Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina and the fantastic fjords of Chile are all reminders of the wonders of nature.
  • Tierra del Fuego. 28,470 square miles in size, separated from the southern tip of the South American mainland by the Strait of Magellan, Tierra del Fuego is cold, windy and wildly scenic.
Posted in Africa, Argentina, Cruise, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, Panama Canal, Patagonia, South America, Spiritual Travel | Leave a comment

Tea, Tray, Love: The Joy of Afternoon Tea with Silversea

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

By: Silversea

If you’re a tea enthusiast, you don’t have to read Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love to find a way of balancing pleasure and devotion (though it is a wonderful book to curl up with on a lazy afternoon, with a nice cup of tea). And there’s no need to travel to Italy, India and Indonesia to follow in Gilbert’s footsteps (though that would be an amazing journey, right?). And there’s certainly no need to meditate at an ashram, as Gilbert did (though that could be rather enlightening).

No, if you are a devotee of tea, you may simply indulge your passion for the fragrant beverage in the hallowed tradition that is known as afternoon tea, finding balance in its daily regularity, and likely falling in love with the accompanying tray of delicacies.

At Silversea, our custom of serving afternoon tea at 4:00 pm offers guests the perfect respite from an active day usually spent ashore, exploring exotic lands and cultures. In the Panorama Lounge*, with its expansive views of the sea, guests gather to relax, share stories and enjoy the soothing sounds of a live piano performance.

White-gloved waitstaff circulate between tables adorned with crisp linens, fine china and three-tiered trays displaying an assortment of finger sandwiches, miniature pastries, cakes and cookies. They graciously serve pots of steaming hot water, selected teas, and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and a variety of jams. And it’s all complimentary.

Silversea’s elegant framed tea menu, containing actual tea samples and descriptions, features twelve tempting selections, including blacks, greens, oolongs and whites, all hand-picked teas produced by the famous Frankfurt-based Ronnefeldt tea company. A purveyor of tea since 1823, Ronnefeldt claims a Russian czar among its early customers. To truly appreciate their fine teas, have a look at this video, and learn why tea cultivation is truly an art.

On your next Silversea cruise, be sure to drop in for afternoon tea … and discover its enduring charm.

And if, like Elizabeth Gilbert, you’d like to do some soul-searching travel, we can help with that too. Silversea voyages offer the chance to eat, pray and love in Italy, India, Bali and dozens of other enchanting and romantic destinations.

Posted in Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Australia, Caribbean, Castles, Cruise, Culinary Tours, Europe Cruise, Europe Vacation, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Florence, France, Germany, Greece, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Honeymoon, Honeymoon Registry, Incredible Views, Italy, Mediterranean, Mediterranean Cruise, South America, Spiritual Travel | Leave a comment

The Forbidden City in Beijing – A Living Heaven for Sons of God

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

By: Globus

The Forbidden City – the largest imperial palace in the world – is situated in the center of Beijing and covers more than 178 acres of land in China. As an ancient Chinese legend goes, “the God resided in the heavens, known to all as the “Purple City.”” During the 17th Century, Chinese emperors claimed to be the sons of the God in an effort to justify their absolute power, and thus their homes would be considered a forbidden area to the common people. As a result, “Purple Forbidden City” became the official name for the emperor’s palace.

Since 1624, 24 emperors have called the “Purple Forbidden City” home, though many of their lives were riddled with grief and unhappiness. Instead of enjoying a long life full of opulence and happiness, as most people would imagine, the Chinese emperors were confined to a large “courtyard” within the palace and forced to live a life of solitude. It was believed that the less interaction an emperor had with society, the better they were able to maintain a mysterious image in front of the public.

Although some of the emperors died with glory by conquering enemies, ironically, the majority died having lived a life full of mockery and endless lust. One emperor in particular even committed suicide – unable to bear the anguish and solitude that came with the responsibilities of the throne. With the magnificent red walls and yellow roofs shining in the middle of the city, the palace quickly became a graveyard – engulfing the laughs, tears and dreams of its former residents.

During the 18th Century, there once were more than 100,000 employed servants who also lived in the palace of the Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty. Even after 1911, when the last emperor of Qing Dynasty stepped down from the throne, the imperial family still maintained more than 2,000 servants to take care of their daily lives. It is said that there are 9,999.5 rooms in the palace – only half of a room less than the “Purple Palace” where the God lives in the legend.

Throughout history, many of the buildings in the Forbidden City were once destroyed by fire, but most have been re-constructed. Today, visitors to the Forbidden City can experience the palace in all of it historical beauty – exploring the Palace Museum while learning about the luxurious lives of the historic rulers of Chinese history. We design our journeys around the stories they will tell. What story might you discover in China with Globus and Travel Traditions?

Posted in China, Cruise, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, River Cruise, Spa Vacations, Spiritual Travel | Leave a comment

Experience The Duomo with Globus

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

By: Globus

No masterwork in Renaissance Italy could have been as controversial as the dome of the Florence Cathedral – the battles that surrounded it were as bitter as the modern wrangling over high-profile architectural projects like New York’s MoMA. The celebrity “starchitect” of the day was Filippo Brunelleschi. Rising from a modest Florentine family to work as a goldsmith and sculptor, he became obsessed with architecture in his twenties and walked to Rome to study the only surviving ancient temple, the Pantheon. Its magnificent dome inspired him to crown his hometown’s unfinished cathedral with an equally regal form.

In 1420, Brunelleschi entered an architect’s competition, but his experimental plan for reviving the building techniques of the ancient Romans shocked the official commission. At one point, he was accosted by rivals and physically ejected from further deliberations. At another meeting, Brunelleschi produced half an eggshell as a model for his dome; its strength convinced many skeptics that his design might succeed. But there was still deep suspicion of Brunelleschi – he was forced to share control of the Duomo project with another artist, Ghiberti (who was also decorating the Baptistry in the piazza). Exasperated by Ghiberti’s evident incompetence, Brunelleschi feigned illness and took to his bed, until the tradesmen came and begged him to return to work. He did so and the humiliated Ghiberti resigned, giving Brunelleschi full control.

Never had a Florentine architect been so involved in the minutia of construction. Over 14 years, Brunelleschi supervised the day-to-day construction of scaffolds, invented a new pulley system to transport materials to great heights and personally examined each brick for strength as it came from the kiln. He was such a “hands-on” architect that he was once arrested in 1433 for working as a builder without belonging to the official guild. (The bureaucratic charge was quickly dropped.) Brunelleschi accompanied the very first block of Carrara marble from the quarry and set it in place on the building site, and he lived long enough to see the very last block set at the apex. The resulting cupola soared 133 feet and was the largest dome erected in Europe in more than 1,000 years. Florentines boasted that its shadow covered the whole of Tuscany.

Today it is still the tallest building in Florence and dominates the skyline for miles around. Visitors can also examine the wooden models Brunelleschi used, as well as some of his original working machinery, in the nearby Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Don’t just bring home stories. Bring home unforgettable memories. Book your trip to Florence, Italy with Travel Traditions and Globus today and get ready to see first-hand the most beautiful architecture the world has to offer.

Posted in Cruise, Culinary Tours, Europe Cruise, Europe Vacation, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Florence, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, Mediterranean Cruise | Leave a comment

Munich – Germany’s Secret Capitol

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

By: Globus

Munich is the only German metropolis that seems to have everything – wealth, beauty, prominence, fame. Some even call it Germany’s “secret capitol.” Unlike Berlin, which some dub “architecturally challenged,” Munich bursts with historical buildings reconstructed after the devastation of World War II. Its grand Residenz, the former home of Bavarian kings, dominates the city center, which also boasts the flamboyant, gilded Cuvillié Theater. Nearby, the neo-gothic Neues Rathaus gives a medieval touch to the Marienplatz, the heart of Munich.

Not only does the city look good, it also entertains the masses – 70 million people visit Munich every year, making the “secret capital” second only to Berlin for tourism in Germany. The Christmas market on the Marienplatz draws more than three million people each year, and the Oktoberfest on the Theresienwiese averages seven million. Also, the Olympiapark, which was built for the 1972 Olympics, was until recently home of FC Bayern Munich, Germany’s most successful (and richest) soccer team.

Of course, Munich is not without its simple pleasures. On a sunny day, visitors and residents alike find the perfect activity to be a stroll through Munich’s magnificent English Garden, Europe’s biggest city park. After a day of sightseeing, there’s nothing like a cold “Weizenbier” and a bit of oompah music under the Chinese Tower at the park’s famous beer garden. When you book a vacation with Globus and Travel Traditions, you’re not just seeing the world, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at the world’s most interesting places. Discover the stories of Germany with Globus today.

Posted in Cruise, Culinary Tours, Europe Cruise, Europe Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Germany, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views | Leave a comment

60 Second Geography – The Galapagos

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

The Galapagos Islands are famous for a variety of unusual creatures, from marine iguanas to blue-footed boobies. You will get closer to the wildlife than you would anywhere else in the world. The archipelago lies 600 miles off the coast of South America and is reached via a short flight from Quito, Ecuador. The isolation and late discovery by humans, along with a historical lack of predators has set the stage for a unique environmental experiment and developed into perhaps the greatest showcase for evolution to be witnessed anywhere. Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and step ashore and discover it for yourself!

  • Santa Fe (Barrington) Island. This island stretches over an area of 9.3 sq. mi. where you will find a forest of the archipelago’s largest cacti. Among the island’s land species are the land iguana and lava lizard. In addition to admiring nests in seaside cliffs, visitors can snorkel alongside seals in the turquoise waters of the picturesque lagoon.
  • Floreana (Charles) Island. With a surface area of 67 sq. mi., this island was named after Juan José Flores, the first president of Ecuador, whose administration took possession of the archipelago in 1832. Between December and May, pink flamingos and green sea turtles nest here. At the “Devil’s Crown” underwater volcanic cone, visitors can observe unique coral formations.
  • Genovesa (Tower) Island. Stretching over 5.4 sq. mi., Genovesa Island is the remainder of a large submerged crater. It is also known as “Bird Island” due to the population of swallow-tailed gulls, which are the only nocturnal hunters of the species. Visitors will also see blue-footed boobies, lava gulls, swallows and other tropical birds.
  • Baltra (South Seymour) Island. Baltra Island covers an area of 10.4 sq. mi. and is the site of the archipelago’s main airport, built during World War II by the United States military. The military barracks can still be seen there today. The arid island is populated with wild desert flora, mostly cactus, and offers excellent spots for surfing, snorkeling and diving.
  • Santa Cruz (Indefatigable) Island. Spread over an area of 381 sq. mi., Santa Cruz is home to the archipelago’s largest settlement, the town of Puerto Ayora. Its highlands are famous for their lava tunnels while Black Turtle Cove is one of the area’s best beaches. The crystal-clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and surfing.
  • Bartolomé (Bartholomew) Island. This island is a mere 0.4 sq. mi. across. Here, visitors will find Pinnacle Rock, a stone tower in the shape of an obelisk reminiscent of the archipelago itself. At Bartolomé Island, visitors can see the Galapagos penguin, seals, lava formations and recently-formed volcanic cones.
  • Isabela (Albemarle) Island. This island is home to Galapagos penguins, marine and land iguanas, boobies, pelicans, Sally Lightfoot crab, Galapagos hawks and Galapagos doves, in addition to lush and interesting vegetation. On the southern tip of the island, Puerto Villamil is the archipelago’s third largest human settlement.

What are you waiting for? Contact Travel Traditions and explore the Galapagos Islands.

Posted in Cruise, Dive Vacations, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, South America | Leave a comment

Myanmar the History and Mystery that is Burma

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

 By: Voyages to Antiquity

In the autumn of 2012, Aegean Odyssey will embark on her first season in the Far East. She will take our guests to the mystical countries of India , Sri Lanka, and then onto Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar, the last ‘closed’ country in the Far East. All cruises have been meticulously planned to highlight the most important historical and cultural aspects of the places we visit.

 For our Southeast Asia itineraries, we have selected a number of new lecturers who will be travelling with us including Colonel Gerry McCormack, a military historian. Take a look at his overview on the highlights of Myanmar explaining the changes going on in the country also known as Burma. This amazing part of the world is already proving to be a big attraction for many of our past passengers, who are eager to visit a country so incredibly rich in history.

 “You have probably noticed that Myanmar is back in the headlines again because change is in the air. Whilst for the hardy travelers it has always been possible to have a safe and enjoyable holiday there, some people were a little wary. It was a regime that harshly kept its citizens on a tight leash, its currency was suspect and there were horror stories of how it dealt with dissention.

With elections two years ago and recently in the beginning of April this year, at which the mystical Aung San Suu Kyi won, there is clearly a mood of relaxation in the halls of power. More and more visitors will be applying for visas. Burma is already a highlight of many travel journalists with many predicting the country will be the ‘hot’ destination of 2013.

 In spite of their travails, the people of Burma are cheerful, want to practice their English -most are very fluent – and the food is Asian with a Burmese twitch. Even for a simple meal the side dishes seem to swamp the area set aside for the main dish. Their drinks, cold and tasty are refreshing and welcome. The alcoholic drink most available will be one of their many beers. Breweries reflect the care with which the British passed on the noble art of brewing!

For many who visit Burma there is a constant need to pack and unpack but I’m sure that those passengers lucky enough to travel later this year will appreciate using the Aegean Odyssey as comfortable base from which to move around. Once the ship is tied up in the heart of Yangon, (formally known as Rangoon) a simple stroll from the ship or a more organized tour are easily achievable. Yangon itself brings together all of the key elements of life in Myanmar. Ancient pagodas, gold covered spires, university grounds, parks, lakes, market squares and even a hotel to rival Raffles for its intimate colonial atmosphere on the river bank. 

Many guests on our Burma cruises may choose the optional tour inland to follow the ‘The Road to Mandalay’ on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River. The old palace grounds and Mandalay Hill, made famous in the reports from the 1800’s are still in situ and well worth a visit. Similarly, another optional tour is to the thousands of temples in Bagan, another short flight away, which will take you back to a time when Personal Ritual in your own temple was all the rage.

What are you waiting for? Contact Travel Traditions (509)586-0271

Posted in Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, Monograms, Viking River Cruises | Leave a comment

Travel Traditions and Globus Asks, What would Paris Be Like Without the Eiffel Tower?

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Travel Traditions, Inc

By: Globus
Imagining Paris without the Eiffel Tower is like London without Big Ben or San Franciscowithout the Golden Gate Bridge. But no sooner had the architect Gustav Eiffel beaten his 700 competitors in the design competition for the 1889 Centennial Exposition, celebrating a century since the French Revolution, than a vocal outcry began to halt construction of the edifice. Three hundred famous French artists and writers signed a petition in the newspaper “Le Temps” denouncing Eiffel’s radically modern design as “useless and monstrous,” a blight upon the elegant fabric of the City of Light. Others critics were even more vicious, describing the proposed tower as a “tragic street lamp,” a gymnasium apparatus…incomplete, confused and deformed,” “a giant ungainly skeleton,” “a half-built factory pipe,” “a carcass” and even “a hole-riddled suppository.” Nature-lovers argued that it would disturb the flight patterns of Parisian birds. Even as the iron lattice began to rise, Parisians continued to refer to it by the less-than-flattering nickname, “the metal asparagus.” Of course, no sooner had the tower opened in 1889 than the rabid criticism evaporated. At 984 feet, the Eiffel Tower was by far the tallest man-made structure on earth and remained so until the Chrysler Building was completed in New York 40 years later. The view of Paris from the top swayed the hearts of many skeptical artists: It provided a breathtaking shift in how we see the world, as mind-altering in its way as the first NASA satellite images from space. But this new acceptance of the tower didn’t stop the French government from threatening to dismantle Eiffel’s creation when its 20-year lease expired in 1919. Fortunately, the antenna installed at the top had become essential for telegraphing, so the tower survived. Today, it is Paris’ number one tourist attraction and the most widely-recognized monument in Europe.

Great storytellers don’t use scripts. They use itineraries. Contact Travel Traditions at 509-586-0271 and follow your Globus itinerary to see Paris’ Eiffel Tower today!

 

Posted in Europe Cruise, Europe Vacation, Exotic Vacation, Family Cruises, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globus Tours, Group Cruise, Group Vacation, Groups, Incredible Views, Italy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment