California is blessed with sandy beaches, dense forests and snowcapped mountain peaks. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US. It is popular among natives as well as foreign travelers. The key to having a wonderful and memorable vacation is planning. With proper planning, California vacations will make your holidays relaxing, enjoyable, and affordable.
Planning a California vacation is quite easy. If you are planning a vacation in California, then there is a wide assortment of wonderful destinations to choose from, each offering a unique holiday experience. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, San Diego, California Wine Country, Death Valley, Big Sur, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park are some of the most popular tourist destinations in California.
Before planning a California vacation, check out the various vacation packages. For those planning a vacation in California, there are excellent travel guides that provide handy information on hotels, restaurants, activities, attractions, and much more. They provide a wealth of information on when to go to California, what to do, where to stay, and how to get there. They help you in budget management at new and unfamiliar destinations. No matter where you travel in California, these travel guides offer useful tips.
While planning a vacation in California, the foremost thing to consider is the type of vacation experience you seek. It is very important to choose the best California vacation destination that meets your special interest. Other important things to consider are the duration of the vacation plan, and the travel mode such as air, rail or cruise ship. Plan a budget as soon as you decide on the vacation destination to avoid financial burden
Choose the hotel or resort you would like to stay in at the earliest as this is where one spends the maximum. Hotel reservations can be made online or by contacting the hotels directly. If you are a foreign traveler, then apply for visa and passport prior to planning a California vacation.
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Firenze, as the Italians call it, is one of those A-list travel destinations with an embarrassment of riches for the eager tourist to explore. Florence has an abundance of elegant piazzas and charming restaurants, trendy pubs, neighborhood bars and cafes just waiting to revive the weary traveler. You’ll find stylish gathering places dotted all over the city, chic Florentine shopping, boutique hotels, and a profusion of lively hot spots whose existence was never dreamed of by the famous deMedicis. But wonderful as the twenty-first century is, the reason most travelers come to Florence is for Florence’s number one attraction… the art. More than 60% of the world’s great works of art are in Italy, and of those, more than half (as estimated by UNESCO) are in Florence. You’re in for a real treat.
Your first stop on any tour of Florence is likely to be the Piazza della Signoria, right in the heart of the historic center of town. Surrounded by some of the city’s most venerable old buildings including the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio and the 16th century Palazzo Uffizi, the Piazza della Signoria was and still is the cornerstone of Renaissance Florence. It’s a kind of al fresco art gallery… you can stroll around Neptune’s Fountain, marvel at Cosimo de’Medici mounted on horseback, see a copy of Michelangelo’s David and a copy of Donatello’s Marzocco… the heraldic Florentine Lion, (the originals of both are now housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia and the Bargello Museum, respectively.)
In the Loggia della Signoria you will find Benvenuto Celini’s Perseus With The Head of Medusa, and Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women.
Galleria dell’Accademia
Founded as Florence’s, and possibly Europe’s, first art school, (the Accademia di belle Arti, or Academy of Fine Arts) in 1563, the Accademia’s holdings consist of mostly religious paintings by Florentine artists from mid-13th to late 16th centuries. The collection includes some wonderful late-gothic polyptychs, the work of 19th-century sculptors Lorenzo Bartolini and Luigi Pampaloni, plus a section of Russian icons. More recently the Gallery has added a fascinating collection of historical musical instruments from the Cherubini Conservatory.
Though the Accademia, like all Florentine galleries, is home to a large collection of spectacular art and sculpture, inevitably, the piece which every visitor comes to see, the top of every tourist’s must-see list, the piece which resonates, whose image will linger in your mind’s eye long after you have returned home from vacation…
Michelangelo’s David
You see him from a distance, eighteen feet tall, mounted on a pedestal above the heads of the crowd, glowing, pristine marble illuminated by a skylight in the vaulting above. He takes your breath away… first the size and scope of him, which no one expects, then the sheer, aching beauty of him, the exquisite, pulsing detail. He represents humanity breaking free of oppression, but the perfection of his form is beyond human.
Michelangelo was 29 years old when he created David from a single block of marble, a miraculous, inspired work of art in every sense of the word. To even begin to fathom how such a feat was possible, you have to back track into the Hall of The Prisoners, so called. They are a series of Michelangelo’s unfinished figures which seem to be unfolding out of their marble blocks with a desire to be free, clearly showing the master’s eye for the natural form, and his chisel at work.
The Duomo
The other landmark sight which leaps off the page of every Florence tour guide because of its brilliant and unique colors, is Florence’s Basilica Santa Maria del Fiori, known simply as the Duomo for its magnificent dome. There’s a sense of complete familiarity when you see it in person, so distinctive is the facade of pink, green and white marble.
Designed and begun by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296, work on the landmark cathedral by the best Florentine artists and craftsmen continued for over 150 years. It was finished, minus the cupola, around 1367, but it was not until 1415 that master architect Filippo Brunelleschi won a public competition for the assignment to complete the dome by coming up with the bold and innovative design which would allow the massive cupola to be built without underlying framework, a technique known in antiquity to the Greeks and Romans but which had been lost during the dark ages.
The Baptistry
Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistry. Once the site of a Roman temple and one of the oldest buildings in Florence, it is an octagonal structure built between the fifth and twelfth centuries. Dedicated to San Giovanni di Batista, it’s most famous features are its bronze doors.
Ghiberti’s Doors
The city of Florence awarded the commission for the creation of the Baptistry doors to Lorenzo Ghiberti, in a public competition in 1401, and he subsequently worked on the ten panels and their carved surrounds for twenty seven years. Sculpted in bas relief they depict scenes from the old testament and were so exquisitely executed they were dubbed the ‘Gates of Paradise’ by Michelangelo. The panels that you actually see in the Baptistry doors today are reproductions. The originals have been restored and are housed in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
Medici Chapel
Called the New Sacristy, this chapel is the final resting place for the tombs of two of Florence’s Medici rulers. It was designed by Michelangelo as a funeral chapel and memorial for Lorenzo de’Medici, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Giuliano, his grandson.
The sarcophagii are draped by the exquisite reclining forms of Dawn & Dusk, and Day & Night, allegorical figures for the passing of time, rendered in Michelangelo’s characteristic, larger-than-life, heroic style. An idealized statue of each of the two Florentine Dukes sits framed in an alcove above each tomb. Lorenzo represents thoughtful, contemplative man, while Giuliano with his soldier’s baton across his knee, is active, dynamic man… contrasting aspects of the human soul in Michelangelo’s lexicon.
Michelangelo spent fifteen years creating the chapel and its sculptures, and ultimately left them unfinished as he was called to Rome to begin work on the Sistine Chapel’s Last Judgement. There was never a suggestion that they be completed by anyone else as the emotional impact of every piece is fully realized, and would not be improved upon were they finished.
The Uffizi
Florence’s most famous art gallery, the Galleria degli Uffizi situated in the Palazzo Uffizi, literally, the Palace Offices contains the world’s largest collection of Italian and Florentine art. This was the de’Medici family’s private art collection which was bequeathed to Florence in 1737 on condition that it never leave the city. The extraordinary opulence and scope of the collection is testament to the wealth and sheer reach of the de’Medicis. This is a place to see treasures… there are two-thousand-year-old sculptures here. You will find early works by Fra Filippo Lippi, Cimabue, Giotto, and Masaccio.
Central to the collection are the Botticelli Rooms. You will also find Leonardo’s Annunziazione, and Michelangelo’s Holy Family. There are literally rooms full of Raphaels, of Titians, of Veroneses, Tintorettos, Caravaggios, and Canalettos.
Plenty of non-Italians are well represented in the Uffizi too: Rubens and Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Breughel the Elder, Durer and Goya.
Take deep breaths, you’re in pretty heady company. In today’s terms these were mega-stars. Pace yourself. It is possible to feel overwhelmed in the presence of this abundance of exceptional talent. Just try to maintain your decorum. Don’t gush.
When you visit Florence give the Uffizi Galleries as much time as you possibly can. It will not be nearly enough.
“Since the resort took up hosting international competitions again, the name of ‘Serre Chevalier’ travels around the ski world and we the resort has come out of it’s anonymous state. This is shown by the regular visits of world-wide ski teams who come and do their pre-season training here”, declares Fabien Astier, assistant marketing director of the resort.
In the build-up to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, French, Swiss and Norwegian skiers warmed up their thigh muscles here.
“Since the early 1990’s, the International Ski Federation (FIS) knows it can count on Serre Chevalier”, continues Fabien Astier. He was one of the architects behind Serre Chevalier’s return to the competition scene. Serre Chevalier reared several ski champions, like Riquet, Brechu, Melquiond and Blanchard, and regularly hosted big competitions until the late 1970’s. As interest declined in slalom gates during the 1980’s, competitions were no longer held in Serre Chevalier.
“In the early 1990’s, Briançon and Serre Chevalier wanted to host commercial events that would upgrade their status. The idea to once again become a big resort able to host World Cup seemed like a valid proposition to the local marketing force”, concludes Mr Astier, who at this time was the Chantemerle ski school director. Along with the directors of the ski club and a local committee, he was able to launch investments and get their piste approved. These improvements included artificial snow, new base work, enlarging the piste, installing security protection such as netting and padding, putting in place underground timers (there is 60 km of wiring under the slope) and creating a helicopter pad.
The resort then gained the necessary approvals from the FIS to host any World Cup event apart from men’s downhill, which calls for longer pistes with a longer vertical drop. In December 1990, Serre Chevalier hosted a European Cup women’s downhill and one year later a women’s downhill and a super G that were part of the World Cup circuit.
Important competitions followed one after another, until the talented local boy won the downhill crystal globe at the end of the winter of 1995. The Olympic was then re-named the Luc Alphand to thank this skier for competing under the Serre Chevalier flag. The legend of the piste grew and the resort hosted slalom World Cups, European Cups, French Championships. Before each race, enough artificial snow needs to be made to ensure a smooth and hard surface for the skiers. Departures and arrivals are made safe, gates are installed and timekeepers, press people, security staff, etc. need to be in the right place at the right time.
“An international competition requires around 300 people, so to organise this kind of event takes a lot of technical know-how, organizational skills and one hundred percent efficiency. The FIS approvals are renewed every five years”, explains Patrick Gelato who is now the ski club director. Clearly, Serre Chevalier fulfills all these criteria, judging by the Luc Alphand record.
For the last fifteen years, this piste has seen the organization of the British Army Championships over a period of three weeks.
It is also here that the junior World Championships have been held, as well as many FIS races.
Each one of these events helps to boost low-season activity. They also contribute to spreading the Serre Chevalier name through broadcasting of the races. But, in the end, it is the average tourist that really benefits from this permanent high-standard maintenance.
This article was written by Jane Richardson, who has written many articles about skiing and snowboarding.
She enjoys winter sports holidays in serrechevalier.org Serre Chevalier, a ski resort in The French Alps.
In the summer Jane enjoys travelling, mostly in Europe, having a great adoration for England, France, Spain and Italy.
Jane is a niche marketer, specializing in areas such as uk-insurance-travel.co.uk travel insurance for the elderly (UK) and providing serrechevalierholidays.com holidays in Serre Chevalier. Her internet marketing strategies include web 2.0, article marketing and traditional search engine optimization.
Although based in Santa Monica, California USA, Jane works extensively with Rick Lomas in France and Steve Pritchard in England. Together the three form Indexicon which is evolving all the time.
Try imagining a giant banana split bowl big enough to build a city inside. Imagine the bowl twisted into a crooked “S” shape. The next miracle is a city gets built along the winding and twisting bottom of the bowl and all up and down the sides. If you can imagine this, you have a description of Guanajuato, Mexico. This place must have given its ancient Spanish designers fits trying to build a city in a giant ravine. But, they did it.
The city today is as it was when its designers built it. The streets are few. They snake in and out, around and even under (tunnels), the ravine. The houses perched on the sides of the mountains are accessible by a series of staircases and callejóns (alleys), which is really the fastest way to get up the sides of the mountain. And, Guanajuato is not a city in the mountains. It is the mountains.
When walking through the streets of Guanajuato, you will see what appears to be a preponderance of people with bandages and casts on limbs. The reason? Falling!
I began asking, “¿Qué le pasó?”—What happened to you? Their answers: falling. One hundred percent of those I asked had fallen. Guanajuato can be a tricky place to navigate on foot if you are not careful.
The streets or sidewalks can be cobblestone, brick, or very poorly maintained rocky-asphalt. Falls are not just common, they are a given. I’ve taken some pretty nasty falls, never breaking anything, but nasty nonetheless. Also, when the teens are getting out of school, watch it!
A good rule of thumb when climbing the stairs up the sides of the mountain: try remembering to stop before taking in the view. Looking and walking up the mountainside could become a fatal error. Also, when walking near a school full of careless teenagers, find a plaza bench and wait the surge out. Sidewalks in Guanajuato can be very narrow and the teens, well, they don’t see you. They could knock you into the narrow streets with a bus bearing down on you.
It’s happened!
Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Content, Transitions Abroad, International Living, Escape Artist, and The Front Porch Syndicate.
He is founder of zyworld.com/theolog/page14.htm Mexican Living Print & eBooks
