The City Museum Of The Caribbean Sea

By Giselle Rodriguez

Tradition and history are combined in the city of Trinidad, located in the province of Sancti Spíritus, in the south coast of the Cuban central region, at 370 km. of Havana. Founded in the early 16 th century in honour of the Holy Trinity, the city was the third village founded by Spaniards in the island of Cuba. Trinidad was a bridgehead for the conquest of the American continent, and it was the home of rich landowners who constructed beautiful mansions and palaces. This fascinating place, also known as the city-museum of the Caribbean, it's considered a National Monument and it's one of the most attractive destinations for those who prefer going on vacations to Cuba.

This city is recognized as an architectural jewel. Frozen in the past, Trinidad exhibits a unique site, where the beauty of its nearly untouched colonial style grants the city the credit of being one of the most complete and best preserved colonial architectural groups of the American continent, an authentic invitation to photograph. Its houses and churches, its colonial mansions that became museums, all of Trinidad reminds us ancient times, like some kind of nostalgic evocation of the colonial epoch.

Trinidad offers many interesting cultural attractions for your cuba vacations. Among them are the Manaca-Iznaga tower, located in the area where one of the most influencing families of the region made its fortune, the Valle de los Ingenios, the beaches, the Tope de Collantes Mountains, as well as the art and craft traditions characterizing the small city. Its urban center stands out for its cobblestoned streets and appealing constructions protected and decorated by railings with singular shapes.

Thanks to the rich urban setting, the small squares and beautiful buildings that date from the Spanish colonial time, Trinidad has been declared by UNESCO Humanity's heritage, along with the nearby Valle de los Ingenios.

The visitor can appreciate the architecture of its 18 th and 19 th century buildings, such as the Palacio Brunet and the Palacio Cantero, which were built in the city's days of prosperity derived from the sugar trade. A combination of neoclassic and baroque styles in Trinidad's architecture is testimony of a history of opulence and wealth.

The city of Trinidad constitutes an important touristy attraction in the island. The best places of interest are located in the historical center where visiting the Plaza Mayor has become very popular fir its surrounding remarkable residences of the city: the house of the regidor Ortíz, today Gallery of Art Benito Ortíz, the house of Padrón (Museum of Archaeology Guamuhaya), the Palace of Conde Brunet (Romantic Museum), and the house of the Sanchez Iznaga family (Museum of Architecture). Another appeal of the city is the Iglesia Mayor de la Santísima Trinidad, considered one of the largest churches of Cuba which reunites several pieces of great value like the Christ of the Vera Cruz and an altar dedicated to the Virgin of Mercy.

Around the Plaza Mayor other outstanding constructions like the Cantero Palace can be admired, where the Museum of History is located at the moment; I also suggest visiting other places of cultural interest like the House of the Trova and the House of Music. In the same way the visitor can make a stop in the bar the Canchánchara, to taste a traditional drink of the same name, made with brandy, honey and lemon.

Near the city, an excursion that must be in every visitor's itinerary is a visit to the Valle de San Luis also called Valle de los Ingenios since it was beset of sugar factories in the 18 th century.
This valley is a true archaeological monument to the sugar industry because numerous ruins of the facilities related to the manufacture of sugar are conserved, like sugar mills, the large cabins of slaves, the summer houses, etc. I recommend admiring the elegant bell tower of the Manaca-Iznaga tower which was used in the past to keep an eye on the slaves. In this valley the visitor can enjoy the countryside; horse riding, the excursions to caves and rivers and the towns like San Pedro, considered a Natural Museum of the African Culture in Cuba.

Other sites are the Viewpoint of La Vigía with a wonderful view of the region, the Plaza de Carrillo, also known as the Parque Céspedes where the Parish of San Francisco de Paula, constructed in the 19 th century, is located. Nearby there is also the Bar Cafeteria Daikiri and the Casa Fisher places chosen by the Casa Artex to organize many cultural activities. In addition, one of the best views of the city can be obtained from the tower of the Convent of San Francisco de Asís.

Culture and history followers will find in the city of Trinidad and its surroundings a unique place to be on holidays. One can ramble by its spotted streets and appreciate its diversity of styles, visit its museums and its cultural facilities, and enjoy the work of the local artists of pottery, crafts, weave, music and dance; living the rhythm of a city full of customs and traditions, where popular culture will captivate any guest.

Furthermore, very close to the city, one can discover the mountainous zone of Topes de Collantes only 19 kilometres away; an ideal place for the diverse existing variants of ecotourism and tourism of health; while to the south, in the Peninsula de Ancón, the best beach of the South coast of the country can be found: the Playa Ancón.

Museums, churches, sugar mills, buildings, squares and small squares of Trinidad, the city-museum of the Caribbean Sea, constitute one of the highest expressions of national history available. This, combined with its friendly and welcoming people, make this city a great choice for your cuba vacations.

Giselle Rodríguez is a Blogger at http://www.umbrellatravel.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Giselle_Rodriguez

Holidaying In The Bulgarian Sea Resort Of Borovets

By Josh Taylor

The climate here is mild in winter with snow cover from December to April but there is plenty of snow around. The Bulgarian government has recently committed to developing the resort further under a scheme called 'Super Borovets', with the aim of turning it into a world-class, year-round resort.

Skiing in Borovets
Although a well established resort, Borovets has all the facilities and comforts of a modern winter sports centre. The resort has hosted the Alpine ski World Cup twice and offers visitors a wide range of world-class ski runs to suit all abilities from novice to expert. Skiers here can also take part in cross-country skiing, ski-doo, ice skating, snowboarding, biathlons and ski jumping. The biathlon track here is held to be one of the best in Europe.

The resort's ski facilities are excellent and will be improved further during the 'Super Borovets' initiative. The resort has around 19 ski runs split into three areas (Sitniakoyo, Markoudzhik and Yastrebets). International signs and markings are used across the resort which well maintained and serviced. There are a range of lifts including a gondola, chair lifts, drag lifts and baby drag lifts.

Accommodation in Borovets
The resort offers a full range of accommodation both for people who wish to go self-catering and for people who wish to stay in hotels. The hotels in Borovets include high-quality luxury hotels and mid-range and smaller options. There are plenty of hotels here due to the size and popularity of the resort. People looking to rent accommodation are also given plenty of choice. Self-catering options include chalets, bungalows, houses, villas and apartments. Visitors can choose to rent new properties or older, traditional homes and there are options available for all size of party.

Entertainment in Borovets
The resort offers all kind of options for eating-out and night-life. There are many restaurants, bars, cafes, discos and clubs in the town to suit all tastes. Many visitors like to try out local cuisine but restaurants also offer a full range of other options here from simple snacks through to classic modern European cooking.

Local attractions
Many visitors describe Borovets as being like a big friendly village. Although the town isn't large it is still full of local charm and tradition. The countryside in the area is lovely in both winter and summer and many people choose to spend their spare time walking and hiking and horse riding is also available. Taking a trip up Mount Musala is a popular option for many. Visitors should also make sure to visit the Bistrista Palace. This old royal hunting lodge is worth a trip in itself but make sure to take a look at the local woodcarvings there which are a local tradition.

Those looking for attractions further afield can visit Sofia which is around an hour's drive away. There are a lot of museums and churches worth a look here including the National History Museum and the St Nikolai Church.

Conclusion
It's not surprising that so many people choose to return to Borovets after their first ski trip. The resort offers high quality skiing and facilities, the locals are friendly and there is plenty to do in the town. Although the most popular resort in the country, costs are still relatively low compared to the UK which makes it even easier to enjoy a stay in Borovets!

Josh Taylor writes regularly on real estate and business topics.

Find further regional information and a variety of both full and self-catering accommodation in Borovets, Bulgaria ranging from hotels to apartments and ski chalets at Sunny Rentals.

The Beryl Gem With the Color of the Sea - Aquamarine

By Chris Ralph

Aquamarine, the "gem of the sea", does not come from the ocean, but derives its name from from the color of "sea water". The reference is obvious: aqua sparkles like the sea and its color is pale to medium blue, sometimes trending to a light green color. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. Aquamarine is always a pastel blue to blue green, but the darker the color, the more valued it is. Many folks prefer a pure blue, with no green in it, however the greenish colors are also very beautiful.

It is a relatively hard gemstone, 8 on the Mohs scale, and possesses moderate brilliance. Because the color is generally pale, larger stones show their color best. Aquamarine should also have a good clarity. If you are looking for a big, durable gemstone, aqua is readily available in larger sizes and is truly dramatic when cut in rectangular or oval shapes. These stones are also often cut in emerald or step cuts. More saturated colors are unusual in small sizes: usually it takes a stone of some size for the color to appear as a darker shade. Aquamarine is a durable and lively gemstone that is appropriate for all jewelry uses. Its pale fire is flattering to most skin tones.

Aquamarine can occur in very large clean hexagonal crystals, and are even found as bi-colors with other beryl minerals such as morganite. The coloring element to produce the beautiful blue green color is iron, which is substituted for aluminum in the crystal structure. The gem forms special in geological formations known as pegmatites. Most of the best and largest crystals form in open vugs, also known as pockets, associated with crystals of quartz and feldspar.

Aquamarine is found in Brazil, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, Afghanistan and other countries, but Brazil is overwhelmingly the major source.. The principal producer of aquamarine has been Brazil but in more recent times Zambia, Mozambique and Nigeria have been producing very fine quality stones. Some very dark blue aquamarine is also being mined in India. The largest high quality gem crystal ever discovered, mined in the early 1900's, was a 200-kilogram crystal found in Brazil. It was so clean that one could read newsprint through it! Some Aquamarine continues to be produced in smaller quantities, but it has been years since large quantities have come to the market.

This gemstone has been popular for centuries, but received new vigor during the early 1970's. As a result, the price has remained stable or has increased even during recessionary times.
Twenty years ago the demand for aqua was small, and the material was quite inexpensive.
Today the finest gems may wholesale for well over $1,000 per carat. Fine quality aquamarine in sizes over 10 carats is not abundant. Commercial stones tend to be pale blue or pale blue-green, while investment-grade material is deeper blue, and of a medium to dark tone. The pervasive demand for aquamarine in the jewelry marketplace, however, indicates that all grades can ultimately be used for adornment and provides an excellent secondary market potential.

Intensity of color and clarity are the most essential considerations in evaluating Aquamarine.
Aquamarine of pale colors is most commonly seen in commercial jewelry stores, but stones of a good deep blue color are considered far more valuable than the pale ones. It should posses at least a bright sky blue color at a minimum. Exceptionally deep and vivid blue, to blue green colors are very scarce and becoming increasingly valuable. As part of the normal finishing process, many aquamarines are heated to remove traces of yellow and permanently intensify the blue color. Some aquamarine occurs in a blue/green color and even a pure green color, these are sometimes heat-treated to a temperature of 600-1200 degrees Fahrenheit to produce a pure blue color. This treatment is permanent and accepted in the trade as standard. All gem quality aquamarine should be well-cut and free of any inclusions.

For photos and more information on the varieties of aquamarine gems, see the author’s website at: http://nevada-outback-gems.com/Encyclopedia_pages/Aquamarine.htm

The author has an entire set of web pages which are devoted to providing information about the world of gemstones. His gemstone information Encyclopedia page can be seen at:
http://nevada-outback-gems.com/Encyclopedia_pages/Gemstone_Encyclopedia.htm

Chris Ralph writes on small scale mining and prospecting for the ICMJ Mining Journal. He is a rock hound and prospector and owns his own turquoise mines in Nevada. His website on gemstones and jewelry can be viewed at: http://nevada-outback-gems.com