Florida

Florida, often referred to as The Sunshine State, is positioned on the South East coast of America bordering Georgia and Alabama. The state is tourist driven and has everything from the large theme parks, recognised to be the biggest and best in the world to the solitude and wilderness of the Everglades, and some of the best beaches in the world.

Many visitors to Florida end up staying or coming back for a second visit quickly. Disney World is the greatest attraction in Florida but there is much more…

Weather

Florida is renowned for it sunshine and long, hot summers. During the winter months it mostly remains warm making it an ideal all-year destination.

Average temperatures in Orland degrees fahrenheit

January 61.2
February 60.9
March 66.5
April 72.7
May 77.7
June 81.1
July 82.8
August 82.6
September 81.0
October 75.3
November 67.0
December 62.3

Travelling around Florida

Most visitors will Fly/Drive as Florida is very compact and easy to navigate by car. Travelling from the East/West coast is only a couple of hours and the interstate, federal and state highways make getting around quite simple. With so much to do and so many places to see, first-time visitors will want to get out and about.

Public transport does link most major towns and cities but prior planning is essential.

Theme Parks

Think about Florida and you think about Theme Parks. It is without doubt the unrivalled Theme Park capital of the world. Tourists flock inland to Orlando and Kissimmee to witness the magical experience of Walt Disney World, with it’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and MGM Studios, as well as Universal Studios and Sea World. It is simply known across the world as the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ for young and old alike.

Beaches

Florida has over 1,200 miles of coastline with some of the finest, pristine, white beaches in the world. It doesn’t matter where you are in Florida, you are never far away form a beach. You are never more than 60 miles away wherever you are and there are beaches for every preference.

Top things to do

1. Visit The Everglades – Everglades National Park consists of over 1.5 Million acres of swamps and jungle. It houses many endangered species and rare sightings that you could not see anywhere else in the United States.
2. Walt Disney World – Of all the quality Theme Parks in Florida (and these are sprouting up all the time) Disney World is still the biggest draw. The site covers nearly 45 square miles and consists of four theme parks: The Magic Kingdom; The Epcot Centre; The Animal Kingdom and Disney-MGM Studios. There is enough here to fill a two week vacation on its own.
3. Get Golfing – Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the US with over 1,000 golf courses. There are many municipal courses which are to exceptionally high standards and provide much more competitive pricing than the privately owned clubs.
4. Kennedy Space Centre – Cape Canaveral is famous as the location that sent Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon in July 1969. You don’t have to be a scientist to be encaptulated into becoming an Astronaught Wannabe for the day. Start the countdown.
5. Busch Gardens – Visit Tampa Bay to taste a piece of Africa. Here you will find a 335 acre African theme park with great rides, live shows and exotic terrain.
6. Daytona Beach – This is one of the very few places in the world where you can drive a family saloon onto the beach. It is also the home to the Daytona 500, the great American race. During the Biketoberfest and Bikeweek motorcycle events, the town is busy with thousands of motorbikers.
7. Fishing – Whether it is sea fishing, fly fishing or fresh water fishing, Florida has it all with some of the best catches across the US.
8. Water Parks – If you want to get wet and wild, and cool down from the hot summer sun, a day out at one of Florida’s water parks is a must. You won’t be disappointed – you’ll get the thrills and chills of all the theme parks but in water.

Portugal
Portugal has superb beach resorts, wistful towns and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. It is also graced by one of Europe’s most relaxed and attractive capitals.
Positioned on the Atlantic side of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal is a great historic country of immense diversity. From the culture and prosperity of Lisbon, through the beautiful wine regions and the Sun, sea and sand of the Algarve. Modern marinas and spectacular golf courses mean that there are plenty of activities.

Weather

Southern Portugal including the Algarve, has a Mediterranean cimate with hot, dry summers and mild winters whilst the north is wetter particularly in winter with cooler temperatures.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 15
February 16
March 18
April 20
May 22
June 26
July 29
August 29
September 26
October 23
November 20
December 16

Culture

The culture of Portugal is based on a past that dates from a prehistoric era into the times of Roman and Moorish invasion. All have left traces of archaeological remains including prehistoric cave paintings at Escoral, a roman town of Conimbriga, the Temple of Diana in Evora and typical Moorish architecture of southern towns as Olhão and Tavira.

Throughout history, Portugal’s arts have been enriched by foreign influences, including Flemish, French and Italian. The Portuguese discoverers opened the country to Oriental influences and the revelation of Brazil’s wealth of gold and jewels fed the Baroque flame in decoration.

Food and Drink

This is the place to eat, drink and be merry! Many of the dishes are homebaked, healthy and fulfilling. Most regions have their own special dishes, some meals are common to most of the country. Here are some of the specialities:

Sopas (soup) - made with potato puree and very wholesome; try the caldo verde, made from shredded kale.

carne de porco a alentejana - pork with clams

leitao assado - roast sucking pig

arroz de marisco - seafood rice

One thing to note is that the Portugese don’t often eat breakfast but a black coffee will suffice.

The most popular drink in Portugal is wine or you could try a Portugese brandy, the two varieties being Macieiera and Constantino.

Beaches

There are 600 miles of coastline in Portugal, most of which are gorgeous white sandy beaches, making it a beachgoers paradise. Add the gorgeous climate and you can see why it is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe. Unlike other countries in Southern Europe whose coast faces into the calm waters of the Mediterranean, Portugal faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes for some excellent surfing conditions.

Top things to do

1. Visit one of the watersports centres dotted all along the coast and try your hand at snorkelling, wind-surfing or water-skiing
2. Try out big game fishing which is popular along the Algarve coast
3. Listen to Portugal’s traditional Fado music at the atmospheric bars and clubs
4. Visit the port houses of Porto or Gaia for the country’s best port wine tasting.
5. Absorb the spirituality of the shrine at Fátima, which has been an important centre of Roman Catholic pilgrimage since 1917
6. Cruise along the canals of the wetlands around Rio de Aveiro aboard a traditional Portuguese moliceiros
7. Hike, climb or canoe in the Peneda-Gerês, Portugal’s only national park
8. Play a round of golf on the championship golf courses in the south of the country (there are 19 in the Algarve alone)
9. Attend a car or motorcycle race at the world famous Estoril racetrack, which is located a short distance from Lisbon

Spain

Few countries party as hard as Spain and the challenge for the visitor is trying to keep up. But by carefully balancing your fiestas with siestas, you should have energy left to tell the extraordinary tale.

Travelling there is easy, the climate is great, the people friendly, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by. There are more than 50 million foreigners a year who visit Spain, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but Spanish.

Geographically, Spain’s diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches. From the famous White Coast (Costa Blanca) to the clear waters and golden sands of Costa del Sol, there is plenty for everyone.

Weather

Spain is one of the warmest countries in Europe with dry summers and winters and balanced temperatures. You can enjoy more than 3,000 hours of sunshine every year.

Average temperatures in degrees celcius

January 14
February 15
March 17
April 18
May 22
June 26
July 30
August 31
September 28
October 22
November 17
December 14

Culture

The cultures in Spain are very varied and interesting, the main ones being bullfighting, bull-running, flamenco dancing and the tomato fight (La Tomatina). The spanish are widely known for their festivals and carnivals. All Spanish towns have their own special celebrations. The way in which the national events are celebrated varies from place to place.

Food and drink

Food is a national obsession in Spain. Here are some of their popular dishes:

Paella – a dish made from rice, fish, meat and vegetables and probably the most famous dish from Spain

Tapas – these can range from a piece of bread with garlic to a bowl of olives but it is the best way to sample the loacl cuisine. This tradition started when a customer asked for a Manzanilla (a dry, white wine) with something to cover (tapar) it. The landlors served the glass with a slice of ham on it. The ham served better than a plate and this became a custom!

The most popular drink in Spain is wine, with around 11 varieties produced including the popular Rioja wine.

Beaches

Spain may be flanked to the east by France and the Pyrenees and to the west by Portugal but most of the country is ringed with sand, rock and seawater. Together with the year round sunshine, millions of beachgoers are attracted!

Most of the beaches have beautiful white sand and turquoise sea, together with some dramatic landscapes. The spanish coast really is the place to visit if you are a lover of great beaches.

Theme and Water Parks

Port Aventura theme park in Salou, on the Costa Dorada. The park’s theme is a journey of adventure through exotic lands round the world.

On entering Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Alicante you are swept back to the Mediterranean world of mythical civilisations to experience ancient legends and mysteries.

Isla Magica in Sevilla - The park’s theme, which evolves around the adventures of the Spanish pioneers in the New World, is made up of 6 zones.

Warner Bros. Movie World in Madrid offers five theme areas based on the sets and characters of the Warner Bros. films and cartoons

The best things to do in Spain

1. See Frank Gehry’s amazing architecture.
2. Skiing in the Sierra Navada Mountains
3. Take part in a local village fiesta.
4. Experience Gaudi’s Barcelona.
5. Try the Tapas
6. Sit outside a café and watch the world go by
7. Stamp your heels to the flamenco
8. See the spectacular views at Ronda
9. See the best football in Europe
10. Stroll along Las Ramblas in Barcelona
11. Test your golfing skills at one of the many golf courses.

Greece

Visit the mythical land of Greece and the Greek Islands – a truly perfect place to explore its mountainous landscapes, take advantage of its incredible weather, its many islands, its long sandy beaches and much more. It really is a beautiful country.

Every year Greece attracts millions of visitors from all over Europe. The following provides information about Greece and the Greek Islands, so that you can enjoy the perfect getaway!

Weather

The weather in Greece is fairly uniforn throughout the country. Because of its geographical position, Greece and the Greek Islands have mild winters and warm summers, cooled by seasonal winds. The summer has lots of sunshine and very little rainfall which means that you are guaranteed a great summer holiday!

Weather: Air Temperature in Greece, in °C
April May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
Athens 15 21,4 27,8 28,7 27,2 24,2 16,8
Corfu 14,2 19,2 24,6 27,8 25,5 21,8 17,4
Iraklio 15,7 20,2 25,9 26,4 26,1 24,5 18,9
Rhodes 16 20,3 25,6 27,4 26,8 25,0 20,2

Culture

Because of its location, at the junction between the east and the west, Greece is a country with diverse cultures and great interests. There have also been many occupations held by the greek people throughout history.

Greeks are extremely passionate and proud of their culture, country and they speak of it often.

The major composites of the Greek culture are traditions, religion, music, language, food and wines.

Food and Drink

Greek cuisine is famous for its amazing taste of its food and wines.
Some dishes are the same everywhere in Greece, whereas some others are local culinary specialties or same dishes cooked in different ways (ie. in the Greek islands). Popular dishes include:
Horiatiki Salata: Also know as “Greek salad”, the horiatiki is a mix of fresh tomatoes, olives, cucumber, onions, green pepper, feta cheese, olive oil and oregano.

Feta cheese: The famous Greek cheese can also be eaten alone, as a meze, with olive oil and oregano.

Moussaka: This famous Greek dish has a base made of potatoes topped with eggplants onions, minced beef and béchamel.

The well known Greek drink is Ouzo - It is a strong alcohol, drinkable straight with ice or with a bit of water. It is ideal to drink with all kinds of mezedes. The best ouzo is made in Lesvo (or Mytilini) and the best trades are Ouzo Plomariou and Barbayanni.

Beaches

One of the main attractions of Greece and the Greek Islands are its 13,676 km of coastlines anf its beaches decorating these coasts. You will definiteky find the beach of your dreams whether that is one with long white sandy beaches, turquoise crystal waters or a smaller beach surrounded by huge cliffs or pine and palm tree forests!

All of the beaches have their own beauty and charm and we are certain that you will find the one that is perfect for you!

Topless sunbathing is allowed on all of Greece’s beaches and for the more adventurous of you, there are some naturist beaches found in every location.

Archaeological sites
There are some fascinating and beautiful archaeological sites to be found all over Greece:
The Acropolis of Athens: also known as the sacred rock, it is considered as Europe’s most important ancient monument. The Parthenon Temple stands in the middle of the Acropolis and is an architectural splendour.
The Site of Ancient Olympia: Ancient Olympia is situated in an area of ouststanding natural beauty. It is dedicated to the father of all Gods – Zeus. It is also the place that saw the very first Olympic Games in the 7th century BC.
The site of Knossos: Knossos is the most important and best preserved palace of the Minoan Civilization. It is also a place connected to the story of Icaros around 2,000 BC.
The Site of Delphi: This site was discovered in 1893 by the French School of Archaeology. It is the most important oracle of pagan Greece ever built.
The Site of Delos: Delos is included in the World’s Cultural Heritage and is protected by the UNESCO. It is a little islet situated a few miles from the island of Mykonos, in the centre of the Cycades. It is considered one of the most important Pan Hellenic sanctuaries of Greece.
The site Mycenae: This site is considered the most important Mycenaean site and witnesses the Mycenaean civilisation. It is the legendry home of Atreides.