What to bring back from vacation?  Be wise and pick a souvenir that will integrate in your everyday life.  Here are some ideas on how to choose souvenirs that will extend your vacation and remind you of the good time you had.  You love to drink coffee or tea in the morning, bring back a cup or a mug from your destination; every morning you’ll escape for a few minutes to a new destination.  Not a coffee drinker?  There are also all the other kitchen items: fridge magnets, placemats or coasters, which will also remind you of your trip.  If you celebrate Christmas with a Christmas tree, why don’t you bring back a small tree ornament; it will be a thrill to rediscover your souvenir year after year.  Of course, a small painting of a famous landmark or a cityscape from a local artist, hung on your wall will also make you relive the moment.  All of the above may be commercial souvenirs but once you’ll be home looking at them, the feeling will be the same.

How many countries / destinations have you been to?

Frequent travelers love to discover new horizons. They are always looking for their next destination. They plan their trip in advance and always have in mind tons of new destinations to explore. To help them in their quest, sites like www.travelerscenturyclub.org or www.mosttraveledpeople.com assist frequent travelers by proposing a great number of destinations. In fact, what they do is simply list countries and destinations from around the world and invite you to count how many of these you have traveled to. www.mosttraveledpeople.com lists more than 600 destinations and anybody can join. To become a member of the Travelers’ Century Club, you must have visited at least 100 countries / destinations.

Team members of Travelika.com qualify for the Travelers’ Century Club. Do you? Start counting…

Each year, the Caribbean experiences more and more hurricanes and tropical storms. If you are planning to go to the Caribbean, Mexico or the Atlantic Coast of the USA between August and November, you should check first on the National Hurricane Center website. On this site, you can find very useful information on present and future weather conditions of the destination you intend to visit.� We went to Bermuda during the month of October and we had the most beautiful stay with warm weather and lots of sunshine. Some years it could be catastrophic.To know more, visit www.nhc.noaa.gov and the Travelika’s When to travel tool

Nature’s ability to play with color and contrast is fascinating. The Azores provide an extraordinary example of such ability. Mainly because of its volcanic origins, this archipelago of nine islands is nothing but a feast for the eyes.

Sao Miguel is a painter’s worst nightmare. How can he or she compete with the unbelievably rich color palette found on this island? The reddish soils so beautifully contrast with the vegetation’s different shades of green. Tea plantations, tobacco fields, prairies and forests cohabit gracefully. Spectacular fences of blossomed blue hydrangeas divide the pastures.

There is a lot to do and see on Sao Miguel. You can visit the Terra Nostra Park, an enchanting place full of majestic trees or observe different volcanic phenomenon like the hot sulphur springs and the fumaroles. You can even indulge on a very filling regional dish called cozido which is entirely cooked in the ground. And you will be mesmerized by Sete Cidades’ poetic landscape. The blue and green caldera lakes located in the center of a volcanic crater offer an unforgettable view.

For a better understanding of the archipelago, stop by Angra do Heroismo. Located on Terceira Island, this UNESCO World Heritage site owes its diverse architecture to the Spanish and Portuguese kings and noblemen who lived in the city. Interesting structures are found throughout the city including the 16th century gothic inspired Se Cathedral and the San Sebastiao and San Joao Baptista fortifications. The City Hall (Pacos do Concelho) built in the 19th century is also worthy of interest. If you want to capture the essence of the city, climb up Monte Brasil, a very accessible protected landscape. 

The Azores has a long reputation for being a safe and welcoming place. This explains why so many transatlantic sailors from all over the world stop by Horta harbour in Faial. This lively city truly has an international flair. Make sure you leave your mark on the jetty. Thousands of sailors have drawn on it, mostly to ensure a safe return trip.

Where?
The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, are located in the Atlantic.

What?
Natural wonders
Breathtaking sea bed
Whale watching
Town of Angra UNESCO World Heritage Site

When?
Best time to go: from June to September

Many of us have read the great literature classics. However, few of us know how some of these artistic recollections have helped archaeologists and geologists identify the actual site of Troy. The Iliad and the Odyssey, by Homer have played an essential role in determining the location of Troy. But is it their artistic value that contributed to perpetuate the site’s magnificence. Troy’s greatness was unanimous. Romans, Greeks, Christian Crusaders, Ottoman conquerors of Constantinople; they all were attracted to the sense of empowerment felt when overlooking the Scamander Plain where the mythical battle between the Spartans and the Trojans took place. Alexander the Great, who kept a copy of the Iliad under his pillow, reached Troy in 334 BC and brought sacrifice to Achilles, his favourite Trojan War hero.

Thanks to Homer, our imagination is filled with images. You may not see actual warriors. But I guarantee that when looking at the sea, you will have no trouble imagining that you are a Trojan witnessing the arrival of countless Spartan ships. You may even feel a sense of duty. Nothing would keep you from protecting the beautiful Helen. You will be able to pretend that you are defending her from the warriors hidden in the wooden horse offered by the Spartans. There is a large replica at the entrance of the site. Why not go inside and get your picture taken. As a challenge, examine the main doors and try to locate a chipped piece of rock. Legend says it was chipped when the Trojan horse was entered into the city.

While exploring Troy’s nine levels of ruins, you will see the various periods of the city. Pay particular attention to site Troy VII, section a, identified by some archaeologists as Homeric Troy. After your visit, ask yourself if the Trojan War really happened or if it is nothing more than a beautiful myth. Scholars are still divided over the question.

Where?
Troy (Hisarlik) is located in the North West of Turkey near the city of Canakkale in the Dardanelles.

What?
- Archaeological site added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998
- Wooden horse

When?
Best time to visit Troy: May, June, Sept, Oct.

One of the greatest experience is to cruise Norway’s stunning fjord-filled west coast: the famous Coastal Voyage (know as Hurtigruten of Norway).

Fjords and Gulfstream
A twelve day journey on the Norway Sea.  Cruise along the coast and discover picturesque villages and magical sceneries. You will navigate into fjords which are always free of ice even in winter because of the Gulf Stream.  The stream is pushing millions of meters of cube of warm water along the coast of Norway and into the fjords.

The Journey
Day 1  Bergen
Day 2  Floro, Maloy, Torvik, Alesund, Molde (in Romsdal Fjord), Kristiansund
Day 3  Trondheim (Don’t miss the cathedral and the museums), Rorvik
Day 4  Ornes, Bodo, Stamsund, Svolvaer
Day 5  Harstad, Finnsnes, Tromso, Skjervoy
Day 6  Hammerfest, Havoysund, Honningsvag, Kjollefjord, Mehamn, Berlevag, Kirkenes
Day 7  Kirkenes, Vardo, Batsfjord, Bervelag
Day 8  Honningsvag, Havoysund, Hammerfest, Oksfjord, Skjervoy, Tromso
Day 9  Harstad, Risoyhamn, Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvær, Stamsund
Day 10  Ornes, Nesna, Sandnessjoen, Bronnoysund, Rorvik
Day 11  Trondheim, Kristiansund, Molde
Day 12  Floro, Bergen

Shore excursions are organized where you get off the boat in one port and catch it again at the next port.  You can also decide to travel on a portion of the itinerary.
The Sun
The Polar Circle is cross on day 4.  After that “line”, the day of the summer solstice, the sun is shining during 24 hours!
Best time to go: Mid-May to Mid-September

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Stingray City
In Cayman Island you can take a very interesting tour: visiting Stingray City. Yes, swimming with those big… huge flat fish in the middle of the ocean.

Stingray City is located in the water of the northwest corner of Grand Cayman’s North Sound.  There is also another site located at Sandbar, near the Rum Point Channel.

An adrenaline shot.
You’ll be very scared at first, your heart will pump and won’t even want to jump into the water with the rays but take all your courage and go for it.  Stingrays will thank you by coming close to you looking for food and sometimes rubbing your legs if you stay still.

Did you bring any food?
Stingrays are constantly searching for food. You can feed the stingrays.  It’s basically a vacuum sensation.  You open your hand presenting the pieces of squid and the stingray will approach, suck everything in one second and it’s gone. 

Standing on a sandbar in the middle of the ocean with water up to your waist watching the stingrays swimming around you is a very special experience. 

We’re interesting in hearing from you, have you ever done this or something else? Please let us know.

Expect more than just a great game.
Feel the Italian heat by attending a football game (soccer) in Milan, Italy.

Be prepared to stand, sing, clap and cheer for your favorites. It’s everything but quiet.

We’re used as North American to sit nicely in the arena or stadium while watching hockey or baseball.  We stand up and clap when there is a goal, we boo when the referee punishes our favorites.

Forget all about that, in Europe soccer is a religion.  When attending a game you’ll have to pray, raise your hands in the air and cheer as loud as you can for YOUR team (make sure you’re sitting at the right place in the stadium and not in the seats dedicated to the visiting team…).

Finding tickets
Even thought very popular and almost each game are sold out, to put your hand on some tickets, you can:  at the train station in Milan, there is a booth where they sell soccer tickets. And if not luck at all, you can try with your hotel concierge desk, they can usually find some for you if you’re willing to pay the price. 

Pick the seat.

You’ll have the choice to sit with the local team supporters, with the visitor’s supporters or in a neutral zone, where you’ll be mark as a tourist and you’ll have bodyguard on each side of the row to protect yourself in case the heat is rising in the stadium! When we went (call us chicken) we were sitting the neutral zone.

Knowing the game
Get familiar with the teams (and soccer rules if you know nothing about it like me the first time):   remember we want you to live an exceptional experience, that’s why we’re recommending you to do this.

Open your eyes wide
The game as not started yet and the supporters are all in the stadium singing what I would called the second national anthem of the city. You’ll see long firecrackers burn in the stadium at higher level and the ashes are falling down.  Those sitting in the lower seats simply move to the side when the ashes are coming and getting back to their seat when all down.  Look also at all the flags that are wave, not only pennant, huge flags are floating in the air.  Wow it’s just great.

We experienced soccer game also in Argentina, Spain and England and it was as great and intense.