Malta Goes Dotto For 2008 Tourists
Malta has a reputation for good sunshine holidays in the Mediterranean – and a fleet of 1950’s Leyland buses that have become a recognisable part of life for the island’s visitors.
But now the island is investing in a safe and visitor friendly mode of transport for the 2008 tourists – dotto trains.
The trains are already an established feature in many European holiday destinations, but Malta takes her time, and comes nearly twenty years after the idea was first suggested.
The dottos are anticipated to be up and running for New Year’s day, and will be operating in the popular areas of St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba and Qawra, all in the north of the island, and if successful will be also included in the south in areas like Marsascala.
The delay in introducing dotto trains to Malta is typical of the island and the attitude towards tourism – it seems to take years for an obvious idea to be implemented, and then it’s embraced wholeheartedly – with everyone wondering why they didn’t do it years ago. Another example is the introduction of low cost flights to Malta.
With a downward spiral in visitor numbers, the Maltese government finally relented to pressure from the Malta holidays industry and allowed low cost carriers to fly to the island for the first time last year.
Competition was keen between the airlines to take up the lucrative UK to Malta route, and Dublin based Ryanair was chosen over rivals easyJet to take up the route, and the island has benefitted this year with a sharp increase in tourists, reversing six years of decline.
Since then the island’s tourist authorities have finally waken up to the fact that competition in the skies could bring more benefits to the country than protecting her national airline, and new routes have opened between Malta with Germany, Spain and Scandanavia.
New official figures show that this year’s all important summer season has been the best in six years for Malta, reversing the decline in fortunes for the Mediterranean island.
The good news for Malta is that despite the increase in the number of tourists arriving on the island via low cost flights, the occupancy levels of hotels has increased from basic to 5 star, showing that Malta can appeal to all.
Further good news for Malta came from the figures for hotels and holidays with the news that while the number of arrivals from her traditional UK market rose by eleven per cent, the number of people from Germany visiting Malta increased by a third this year, adding strength to the holidays industry that has been reliant on tourism from one country in the past.
Both Germany and the UK have seen new low cost flight operators sucessfully applying to fly to Malta, and the increase in tourism can largely be put down to them.
2007 has been a turning year for Malta, with previously poor publicity turning to good press reports in the media overseas.
The dotto trains may be coming late to Malta, but as the low cost flights have shown, once they are up and running the island will be pleased to have them!
YourMalta.com provides news and information for holidays in Malta at http://www.yourmalta.com
Kensington Palace Explored
Go diagonally towards the Round Pond, up the slope, along the Broad Walk and left past the sunken garden which was created as recently as 1909. As you go look through the railings at the architecture. The east front to be seen beyond the statue of Queen Victoria at the time of her accession, by her daughter Princess shows the beginnings of Palladianism, with the central three bays projecting forward under a pediment.
The palace was the preferred London home of William and Queen Mary, who disliked the damp atmosphere of Whitehall, they saw it simply as a private retreat, not a palace and its modest aspect is the main source of its appeal today. It was also popular with George II and Queen Caroline, in whose time the gardens were developed. The architecture is restrained, and although Wren was involved he seems to have resisted opportunities for exuberance. The south front has been argued to resemble more closely the work of a Dutch architect, Jacob Roman who had worked for William in Holland.
The Dress Collection is met first on the tour, displayed in a series of rooms on the ground floor. Court dress is an extraordinary notion, consciously behind fashion, deeply hierarchical and arcane, and of staggering expense. On occasions it has been reformed such as when George IV simplified procedures on his accession in 1820, and in the 1920s but for coronations and similar big events, even today the designers and tailors have a field day. And everyone apparently enjoys either wearing or watching it.
The most recent powerful display of the phenomenon was given by Princess Diana, whose clothes we know were part of some wider statement. Dresses from her collection, and the Queens, are often part of the changing exhibitions.
No one had heard of Lady Diana Spencer when she married Prince Charles in 1981, but she soon became inescapably prominent. This occurred inevitably because of her natural good looks and her role as mother of the next heirs to the throne (William was born in 1982 and Harry in 1984). But it was reinforced by her own inconsistent response to the public gaze, partly delight, as her interest in being seen as a leader of fashion confirms, but also partly fear at intrusions into privacy.
The full iconic status of Diana developed only in the 1990s, firs. after her separation from Charles, part of some kind of inner revolution within the royal family whereby several celebrated marriages were dissolved and second after her tragic death in a road accident in Paris in 1997. This was followed by a short-lived but intense outpouring of national grief, during which flowers spread endlessly around the gates of Kensington Palace, where Diana had lived after her divorce.
Archy Ash writes for Property Helper ltd. a site aimed at where people should buy property and their Kensington property needs at http://property-helper.co.uk
Learn About the Cape Fur Seal
When you think of Africa & its incredible wildlife you almost inevitably conjure up images of endless plains, scattered with antelope huddling together under the deceptively disinterested gaze of the ‘king of the beasts’.
It may then surprise you to learn that Namibia is also home to more than half the world’s population of Cape Fur Seals. A population of approximately 1 million these intelligent and gentle creatures grace the cold Atlantic coastline of this desert dominated country.
They can be found almost anywhere along the 1,200 km coastline, but primarily are located in colonies dotted up and down the coast. The largest of these is the famous Cape Cross Seal colony, where December’s breading season can see populations in excess of 100,000!
Crammed onto the little beach a packed and noisy throng of barking mothers and lost, crying pups fight against the constant roar of the ocean for attention, this makes for a memorable – if smelly – stopover.
The females grow to about 90kg & have a life expectancy of about 20 years, while the males prior to breading pile on the pounds, growing to an immense 350kg. Once on land the males will often not eat for up to 3 months as they use up their reserves of stored energy to defend their harem of females against rogue male impostors.
The energy needed to survive this fast requires them to eat up to 14% of their body weight per day in the period leading up to the breeding season. This results in a total estimated consumption of 900,000 tonnes per year, which is 300,000 tonnes more than the whole Namibian fishing quota for the year.
This inevitably sets man against animal with annual culling still being a very contentious issue. Research though would indicate that only half of the seals diet is made up of commercially viable fish and their feeding has little to no effect on the bottom feeding fish stocks.
Still the Namibian Government has this year granted a quota of 86,000 seals to be culled, the majority of these being pups and the remainder being bulls, killed for their genitals which are sold in the Far East as an aphrodisiac.
Last week my family & I popped down to the coast to spend a little time learning more about these fascinating creatures. Our base was the resort town of Swakopmund, staying in the comfortable and homely Sea Breeze Guest House, but the real base for seal viewing is the port town of Walvis Bay, located just 30km south of Swakopmund.
Besides being Namibia’s main deep sea port, Walvis also offers a number of leisure based boating activities from catamarans to the very popular sea kayaking. We chose to travel with Mola Mola Coastal Safaris, one of the oldest and most reputable operators at the coast.
We departed the yacht club at nine for a three and a half hour trip in search of the seals and dolphins and we were not to be disappointed. No sooner were we away from the quay side than we spotted an old friend of Wally’s, our captain and vastly experienced guide for the day.
Sally the seal hopped aboard our shiny new motor launch with the ease of an acrobat, and with
the aid of a sardine bribe let Wally talk us through her layers of waterproof fur, whiskers and powerful flippers.
Our boat was soon joined by a school of Heavyside Dolphins, indigenous to the west coast of Africa and they jumped and raced our boat, fighting for space under the prow. We were also lucky enough to spot a group of Bottlenose Dolphins who also were good enough to put on a spectacular show of speed and athletic prowess.
Pelicans swooped over the boat, eager to grab a fish on the wing from Wally’s outstretched hand, seagulls whirled and a cheeky cormorant settled on the boat, waiting patiently for breakfast.
All this feeding left us feeling rather peckish too, so right on queue the fresh oysters, snacks and champagne were served, making for the perfect end to the perfect boat trip!
For more information about visiting Southern Africa please visit our website http://www.infotour-africa.com
Puerto Escondido – for Surfing, Hiking, Learning, and Living Well
Puerto Escondio, in Oaxaca, Mexico, sits on one of the most famous surfing beaches in Mexico. This was once a small fishing village even before the Spanish conquest, but it is now home to over 20,000 people. Thousands more visit each year to catch the gigantic waves off Zicatela Beach. Others come for the hiking, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, and learning opportunities – and for the friendly, laid-back atmosphere.
This beautiful town on the Pacific Ocean was occupied long before the Spanish conquest, but it became a prominent port at the beginning of the last century, and became a major tourist attraction and hippie getaway after Federal Highway 200 was built along the coast.
You can reach the city by plane, or drive there from Acapulco, which is 400 km to the northwest along the coast, or from Oaxaco, the state capital, which is 324 km north of Puerto Escondio. A flight will take approximately 45 minutes from Mexico City.
One of the nicest aspects of this town, in addition to the views of the sea and the attractive colonial homes, is the availability of a rich variety of housing and hotels. If you plan to visit the city to see if it’s the perfect place for your retirement, you can stay in a 4-star hotel or rent a rustic cabin, depending on your taste or budget.
The local restaurants serve the traditional Mexican cuisine, but if you want a taste of Europe or North America, you’ll be able to find a restaurant that caters to your needs.
You will be able to see the famous beaches as you walk along the steets in town. Zicatela beach is known throughout the world in surfing communities, because the waves are truly huge. If you don’t surf yourself, you’ll still enjoy watching world-class surfers challenging the waves.
For a calmer, more tranquil experience, visit Main Beach, where you can swim, fish or dive. If you are just learning to surf, this would be the place to get your feet wet before you attempt to tackle the giant waves on Zicatela beach.
For a bit of peace and seclusion, you can visit Playa Bacocho, which runs for almost 30 miles and is often completely deserted. The beach is sandy, and the waves are mild. Or visit Playa Carrizalillo, a perfect spot for swimming or snorkeling because the water is warm and calm.
If you visit the area long enough, you can find several other beaches in the area, where you can go boating, learn to surf or snorkel, or just hang out on the sand. International fishing tournaments are held in the area in February and November, and the waters are known for excellent fishing for sailfish, marlin and tuna. Dolphins and whales also visit the water off Puerto Escondio, and the black coral reefs are home to a variety of smaller, colorful fish.
There are many smaller towns in the area, and anyone interested in traditional Spanish architecture and churches will want to bring a camera. Marketplaces in each village sell the local handicrafts.
If you’re thinking of retiring anywhere in Mexico, you’ll want to know the language. Many Spanish language schools have been set up in Mexico for business travelors, tourists and potential residents. There is a Spanish language school is in Puerto Escondio, that offers much more than just spanish lessons.
If you stay at the Maress Spanish School a while you can learn about the local culture, take some painting or sculpture lessons, learn to cook some Mexican dishes, and even take salsa dancing lessons. Many people combine a few months of classes with a stay in the home of a local family, and totally immerse themselves in the culture of Puerto Escondio. If you decide to do this, contact the school – they will help you make arrangements for your stay.
Thinking about buying a house in Mexico for a second home or retirement? Find local real estate experts to help you find the perfect Mexican home, and to help you make your purchase safely and legally. Visit http://www.find-real-estate-in-mexico.com