Travelers Best

Large sandy beaches, a wide variety of wildlife and speed boats, make it obvious you have left the familiar environment of your home. Sydney is a unique city, with lots of attractions suitable for the whole family. Australia with its unique flora and fauna will never seize to amaze, providing breathtaking scenery, along with a lively nightlife and plenty of sites to visit, it is a place where children as well as the parents are set for a great time during their holidays.

Where there are beaches there is water, and at the Sydney Harbour you will find many different vessels ranging from private yachts to a fully fledged destroyer and submarine from the Australian military. It is also the home of the famous “Spirit of Australia”, which ranks amongst the fastest ships in the world.

A ride on the ferry will take you to Manly, passing each of the gorgeous golden beaches and pines. Once there, be sure to tag along with the others to the main beach and avoid the smaller ones next to the ferry terminal. Also while you are there, be sure to take a walk over the Harbour Bridge. You will see scenery that will take your breath away, and when you feel up to it, participate in a three hour climb organized by BridgeClimb, that will take you to the highest point which is over 400ft above the water.

The Taronga Zoo was built on a large hill that provides a view over large parts of Sydney, just like the Harbour and the Opera House. The Zoo itself contains plenty to see with an excellent selection of wildlife, including facilities where one can observe the nocturnal wildlife of Australia up close, providing a sight rarely seen otherwise. It is also the home of Australia’s official Easter Bunny.

Sydney also houses one of the largest interactive museums of the world, with many exhibits all related to the technological accomplishments of mankind. Allow yourself to be fascinated by the many wonders of technology as the trip will be well worth the time.

Of course a trip to Sydney would not be complete without visiting at least one of the wildlife reservations it holds. The animal selection is nothing short of awesome and all the animals are well treated. Surely you would not want to pass up the opportunity of going on camera with Australia’s most famous animal, The Koala.

Besides wildlife and museums, Sydney offers plenty of opportunity to shop and of course excellent waves for surfers at Coogee Beach.

M.A.H.

Paris commonly referred to as the city of light has always been associated with romance and the finer things in life. Paris is a city with a rich history with lots of places to visit and with limited time one can never see them all.

A trip to Paris is not complete without exploring the old Paris with its nostalgic cobblestone paved streets, alleys and atmospheric cafes. Walking past the ancient fountains will invoke the feeling of time travelling as you are visiting a part of the city where life has never changed for centuries. The rich history of Paris surrounds you from all sides, visiting the same places the likes of Ernest Hemminway have visited before you along with many other famous names in history. While there be sure to experience the Pantheon after which a visit to the famous Notre Dame is an absolute must. These are just a few highlights that a visit to Paris holds in store, there are many more famous sites to visit and explore.

After a day filled with exploring the sites have a seat in one of the many cafes that are always nearby. Should you be a traveler originating from the United States, tasting the typical French coffee is recommended, you will find it to be very different. All the places are easy to visit using the famous Metro system in Paris, so go and visit “Place Monge” for some typical French cuisine. France has always been famous for its kitchen and not just because of its wines. You will find the prices very reasonable.

Paris was built on the two sides of the Seine and its best known monuments are nearby. As darkness falls these are covered with lights, so get on a cruise down the Seine and experience how Paris got its nickname. The site of a completely lit up Eiffel Tower is majestic to say the least, and so are all the other sites. The sight of these will be engraved in your memory forever.

A visit to Paris is not complete without a visit to Montmartre, a large community built on the top of a large hill. From there one can oversee all of Paris. Especially when looking over Paris from the large church which gives an overview of Paris of approximately 30 square miles. Montmartre became famous during the 1860’s when practitioners of the fine arts sought it out in order to experience the gorgeous sights first hand. The fame of the area was made complete by the paintings of the area from the hand of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Another site in Paris one must visit is without a doubt the Louvre, home of a collection of art that is unrivaled. One could spend a day at the Louvre and never see all the pieces in their collection. The pieces the museum is most famous for are the Mona Lisa and the legendary Venus de Milo.

Besides the arts, the food and the wines there is one other thing Paris is famous for, which is fashion. With this premise it is safe to say the shopping is fabulous in Paris, especially their large department stores and shopping malls.

M.A.H.