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Archive for March, 2010

Gdansk – Poland A City Of Growth And Expansion A Tourist City In Essence

Gdansk is the city where the first shot of World War II fired by Hitlers German forces from the Schleswig Holstein echoed around the world. The name was Danzig at the time and about 100000 residents perished in the battle between Germany and the Soviets who came to the rescue of Danzig in 1945. The ancient city nearly destroyed eventually fell under Polish rule and began to rise from the ashes with a new name Gdansk. The Gdansk shipyards became the battleground for the 1980 Solidarity revolution fought in Gdansk as the name Lech Walesa became a household name around the world.

Today Gdansk is a city of growth and expansion a tourist city with many hotels restaurants cafes bars nightclubs and shopping centers. Museums monuments art galleries concert halls and the Opera House are some of the places to visit in Gdansk. Entertainment sites across the city are enjoyable some nights and unappealing to some on other nights. Always check the type of entertainment in the bars and clubs each night before going to avoid undesirable offerings.

Buses are available for transport in the city and surrounding cities such as Sopot and Gdynia. Both cities form a triangle with Gdansk as sites to explore while visiting in Gdansk. There is no shortage of things to do and places to go and see in Gdansk. The city is like many cities of Eastern Europe a mix of the old and the modern and all filled with the romance of the past in the palaces and castles amidst ancient surroundings.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;StigArne Kristoffersen
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Gaucin Spain Do All Roads Really Lead To Rome

The Serrania de Ronda region of the Spanish province of Malaga is home to the village of Gaucin which sits at 608 meters above sea level and has 1842 residents.

In the area of Loma de Enmedio just 4km away from Gaucin the remnants of an ancient necropolis can be found. Although this points to an occupation of the area by an ancient civilisation there is a commonly held belief that it was the Romans who founded the village mainly due to the fact that there are remains of Roman buildings just 8km away in Casa del Abrevadero.

As was the case in many Roman occupied regions roadways were an integral part of the communication network and this area is no exception. Paved roads can be found between Gibraltar and Ronda and the Romans used the dry river beds and Valle de Guadiaro to have the roads go up to the mines at Los Reales and Hacho de Gaucin passing through Lacipo on the way.

The village of Gaucin is characterized by the steepness of its streets and the multitude of steps built as a result of this. The whitewashed houses of the village built in the style popularised by the Muslims make it one of the most beautiful of the Sierra de Ronda region. During the 19th century many artists were attracted to the village as they had a ready source of inspiration at their disposal.

The Castille de Gaucin now in ruins once sat proudly on the tallest of the peaks in the inhabited area. Three wells and an excavation possibly an Arab escape route can be found in the immediate vicinity of the building and to the west is the San Nino chapel used at one time as barracks for the soldiers of the castle.

The restored San Sebastian parish church which dates back to the 16th century is located in the centre of the village and is just one of many important monuments that are part of the villages heritage. Others include the 18th century Fuente de los Seis Canos and grand houses of the 17th and 18th centuries. The skill of the craftsmen during the periods in which these houses were built can still be seen in the intricate designs of the balconies and doors.

The villagers of Gaucin celebrate one of their fiestas the Romeria de San Juan by vacating the village for the day and spending their time in the surrounding countryside in an event involving a great deal of dancing and music which goes on long into the night.

Another of the fiestas The Toro de Cuerda which occurs on Easter Sunday is one of the running of the bulls in which large numbers of mainly young men try to prove how brave they are by running in front of the charging animals.

The Feria de Agosto is held in the 2nd week of August and is a fiesta in honour of the Virgen de las Nieves with another fiesta on the last Sunday of August celebrating the day Jesus appeared as a child to San Juan de Dios in 1536.

Gaucin cuisine is derived from the traditional agricultural products from the region which is evident by the fact that each of the seasons brings its own delicacies. For example spring is when dishes including the seasons wild herbs fennel and asparagus can be enjoyed. Gazpacho which is a soup served cold in summer is another typical dish of the region but the people of Gaucin also eat it hot during the winter months. Winter also brings another of their favourite dishes to the table; called Migas it is made up of breadcrumbs in olive oil and is served with fish and fruits such as melon olives and grapes.

Pork and rabbit are popular meats that are used as an ingredient in a variety of dishes as are the Spanish style stews that include chickpeas. These are year round dishes and are not really season dependant as much as the other traditional recipes and with the people of the Valle del Genal area enjoying a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables they can only be complimented on their healthy balanced diet.

About the writer:  Written by Mark Buckingham for Rentaccomspain.com. Rent or buy your perfect Spanish retreat direct from the owner. Find other articles on Spain here Find properties to buy in Spain here

Gatwick: More Than Just Flying

So Gatwick is nothing much more than an airport correct? Actually no Gatwick has a lot more to offer than simply being one of the major airports in the whole of the UK. Its simply that most people only visit the area when they are flying somewhere else for their holidays!

But Gatwick does actually have a lot more to offer plenty in fact to keep you amused if you are looking for a day out somewhere a bit different. You might be surprised by what is on offer here.

For starters and in keeping with the aviation theme there is the Gatwick Aviation Museum. You can walk among such great planes as the Hawker the de Havilland and many more. Indeed if you prefer the old days to the kinds of planes flying out of Gatwick every day you should definitely try this museum for size.

If you like the idea of wandering around a town that is packed with history give nearby Crawley a try. Crawley is situated only a few miles south of Gatwick Airport and people lived here as far back as the Stone Age. As such plenty of items from centuries gone by have been found in the area giving a unique insight into what it used to be like. In fact if you would like to see how the town has developed from its earliest beginnings including the many items that have survived through to the present day pay a visit to the Crawley Museum Centre. The building itself is stunning but it reveals many secrets from Crawleys distant past.

Nowadays people from the surrounding areas come to the area to go shopping; it is a major area to visit for many people not just those who live in the immediate area.

But if shopping and browsing arent your type of activity perhaps you would prefer to go to the races for a day? Lingfield Racecourse is just a short drive away from the airport and the racing calendar runs through a significant portion of the year.

Gatwick isnt one of the obvious choices when it comes to spending a few hours away from home. But if you are travelling abroad on holiday and dont fancy going straight to the airport in the early hours of the morning then you can enjoy spending some time in the surrounding area.

So whether you decide to do some exploring before you set off travelling or if you’re simply looking for something to do when staying at one of the Gatwick Airport hotels it is good to know that you have options when in the area.

About the writer:  Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote but should be considered professional content.