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Saturday

What Fiji and its Islands Are Like

Fiji is located in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu. This country is composed of 322 islands. 106 of those islands are permanently inhabited. Along with that are 522 very small islands, also known as islets. The two major Fijian islands are Viti Levu (translated into Large Island) and Vanua Levu (also called Small Island) and they hold 87 percent of the population.

The climate of Fiji is tropical, of course. Therefore, it can get very humid because of the daily rainfall and plentiful sunshine. When visiting Fiji, sandals, sun hats, loose clothes and lots of bottles of sunscreen are often recommended items. One of the most popular aspects of Fiji is its beaches. The sand is usually filled with shells from when high tide went out and, just a few steps into the ocean, a person can instantly have their ankles surrounded by small fish.

The smaller islands are much of the same. Temperatures can either be hotter or cooler depending on the tree/shade cover on the island. One of the most popular summer beach games would probably be volleyball. Fijians will sometimes invite tourists into a game and share the entertainment of bouncing a ball over a net!

When visiting Fiji, there is one particular drink that a person should at least try. That drink is kava. Kava is an ancient crop of the western pacific. When this plant is made into a liquid, it creates a drink with anesthetic and sedative characteristics. A person will normally feel their lips, tongue and throat become slightly numb. The drink is also known to taste like dirty water.

Monday

Different Traveling Methods

When thinking about long distance travel, a person will most likely turn to airplanes before other means of transportation. However, there are a few other ways that are other easily accessible and cheaper methods of getting around. Other transportation vehicles include cars, boats, trains and cruise ships.

For traveling outside of your country of residence, airplanes are usually the preferred standard. People like to travel by plane because it is fast, decently comfortable and, with thorough research, can be very affordable. These reasons are perfectly alright but, what if a person doesn’t want to travel quickly and would prefer to enjoy more of a leisurely “stroll”? That is where a cruise ship comes into play! When traveling on a cruise ship, the amount of time it will take to get your destination varies between four to fourteen days. The price of the trip could be a little high but the amounts can be between $32 per day to $63 per day.

Another method of transportation is to travel by train. Trains are used for in-country travel, not overseas. Traveling by train is considered to be a more classic way to go from one side of the country to the other. Trains have also become a lot more sophisticated than were before. Cabs now have plush booths, travelers can (most likely) admire beautiful scenery on their trip and, depending on how far you’re traveling, trains can be inexpensive and quick. One of the most popular train companies is Amtrak. Amtrak provides its customers with comfortable seats, a special food cab and a smooth, quiet ride. Tickets for this train can be $160, more or less. Travel time can be as little as 40 minutes or as long as 16 hours.

Tuesday

Traveling to France: It’s Geography, Climate and Famous Attractions

France, which is even more known for its romantic atmosphere than other European countries, is located in the Western part of Europe. France is bordered by lots of countries, such as, Belgium, Germany, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Andorra and Spain.

The climate of France ranges from Mediterranean (north and northwest) to something with mild winters and cool to warm summers (in the west). Therefore, when traveling across the country, pack clothes for all seasons.

However, you’ll have to get to France first, and for that, you will most likely need airplane tickets. From the JFK airport in New York to the PAR airport in Paris, a one way ticket costs about $1,500 (per Delta Airlines). Even though the price may seem a bit much, a person can do more research and very possibly find themselves a more agreeable amount. The ticket price listed above is mainly a general price from a well known commercial airline company.

Once you arrive in France, you’ll probably be very interested in what there is to see. Some of the most famous tourist places are: the Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe. Most of these attractions are in Paris, but rest assured, there are many others throughout France. Be sure to bring plenty of memory cards/film for your camera when visiting these places so that you are able to capture each and every bit of beauty they have to offer.

Sunday

A Few Tips When Traveling to Italy

Ah, Italy! This place is known to be one of the more romantic countries in the world. Italy is located in Southern Europe, and looking at the country on a map, is well known for being shaped like a boot. Italy shares it boundaries with France, Austria, Switzerland and Slovenia. The capital is Rome.

Now that you know a little bit about Italy’s background, it’s time for a review of the climate. If you are traveling in the summer time, it can be very hot. When in Rome, the sun can tend to be a little overbearing. Knowing this, it is often advised for a person to pack non-clingy clothes, hats, sandals, shorts and plenty of sunscreen! Even though the temperatures in Rome can be high, the overall climate of Italy is very diverse. Depending on your location, the climate can be humid subtropical (Turin, for example) or Mediterranean (Liguria) or snowy and cold in the higher altitude areas. Therefore, if you’re planning to travel all over the country of Italy, try to keep in mind the varying climates and what types of clothes best suit each destination.

That’s not all! There are many, many things to look at when in Italy. Historical structures such as the Parthenon, the Coliseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are all major tourist locations. Even the Vatican could be a nice pit stop on your journey! Whichever tourist spot you end up picking, there is almost always a little bit of history for you to learn about.

Saturday

Info About Greece and How to Get There

When thinking about traveling to a foreign country, it is highly recommended that you know where that place is located. For this article, the destination is Greece. Greece is located in southeastern Europe, on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula.
In order to get to Greece, you’ll need to buy tickets. The prices for plane tickets vary depending on which country you’re coming from. If you’re traveling from a country that is closer to Greece, such as Albania, Bulgaria or Turkey, the fare may be considerably cheaper than if you were traveling from America. The fare is around $1,800 for a single person plane ticket to Greece from the JFK airport in New York, NY. This is using a regular commercial airline that flies overseas (Delta Airlines).

Next is to determine what you’ll need to bring with you. For clothing, you should most likely pack items that are versatile. Greece is a mixture of two types of climates: Mediterranean and Alpine. A person shouldn’t necessarily pack a large coat or anything like that but having something warm in case it gets a bit chilly is advised.

In general, it is always best to do your research before flying off into foreign territory. Sometimes you may think that the location is warm and humid but, when you land, it could turn out to be cold and dry. Having back-ups is choices very important!

Ticket Prices and Other Info about South Africa

While most people travel to countries in Europe and Asia, there are also other destinations that are becoming more and more popular. A place, such as South Africa, is steadily becoming a summer hot spot. South Africa is, quite obviously, located at the southern tip of the African continent. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans border this country. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. In the east are Mozambique and Swaziland.

South Africa has a temperate climate mainly because of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The days are usually warm while the nights are cold. Temperatures vary mostly because of elevation, terrain and ocean currents.

When preparing to travel to Africa, you should most likely try to find an airport that is closest to the destination. For an example, I’m using the JFK airport in New York. If a person is traveling from this airport to the CPT airport in Cape Town, South Africa, the airfare is about $3,500 (one way with Delta airlines). For a lot of us, that’s a pretty big chunk of money. If possible, try to find the cheapest way to the final destination. For instance, a different airline might be better. This was just an example.

While in South Africa, you are provided with many different types of attractions. There are nature walks, wildlife activities and cultural/history events. Some of the more natural attractions are waterfalls, observing gigantic turtles and walking down the Wild Coast. Cultural events include the famous graveyards, museums filled with plenty of ancient arts and artifacts, and historic battlefields.