Beach Parks" & Beaches on the Big Island of Hawai'i !

Beach Parks" & Beaches on the Big Island of Hawai'i !

The Big Island of Hawai’i has over 266 miles of coastline. Many beaches on the Big Island are “Beach Parks” meaning they have facilities and a host. A "BEACH" means that it generally lacks facilities but has a "host" or owner. You pack out what you bring in!!


Types of Beaches on the Big Island.
1) Black Sand-
These beaches are made by the erosion of basalt or are created when a lava flow comes in contact with the sea. The molten rock fractures as it is rapidly cooled and some of the molten earth becomes gains of black sand.
2) Coral Rubble-
This type of shoreline is composed of pieces of coral and coral heads. The rocks and coral heads are broken off the reef and deposited onto the shoreline during large surf.
3) Green Sand-
Green Sands Beach is composed of a greenish semiprecious stone known as olivine that is mixed with black sand.
4) Salt & Pepper-
A mixture of white sand made from coral and black sand created by Madam Pele mixed with shell fragments from the sea.
5) White Sand-
The natural occurring white sand was created from the coral reefs offshore. It is not the same stuff you see on the golf course and at certain resorts.

Ahalanui Park
This relatively unknown county park offers a natural geothermally heated pool that is lifeguarded. The perimeter of the warm pool is shaded by hau trees. The water temperature is warm and comfortable. The pool measures approximately 50x20 yards (45x18m) and is protected by a seawall.
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'Anaehoomalu Bay
The name of the area indicates the importance of these fish ponds. A full-size "mullet" is an 'anea and ho'omalu means "to protect". Only ali'i (royalty) were allowed to take fish from the pond. Follow the ancient trail that goes around the perimeter of the pond. Signs placed along the trail provide information.
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Green Sands Beach
The beach at Papakolea or Green Sands Beach is composed of green and black sand. The grains of greenish sand are made of a semi-precious stone known as olivine. Pu'u o Mahana has been eroded by the surf and slowly torn down to expose the cinder cone's core.
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Hapuna State Beach Park
The beach is made of soft white sand (as you'll discover in the shower when you get home). Hapuna offers swimming and body boarding in small waves. Please use caution when the surf is large. Check with the lifeguards if you have any questions. Turtles can be seen by the rocks at the ends of the beach.
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Holoholokai Beach Park
This park is located between the southern edge of Puako and the Orchid Resort. The park has recently been improved: 3 new fire pits/grills have been added and the underbrush has been cut back to improve the beautiful ocean view and to provide a breeze. By the restroom, is a bike rack that can hold six bikes.
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Hookena Beach Park
North of the main beach are some great tidepools and a couple of blowholes. If you walk south towards the end of the beach and look up you can see a lava tube in the side of the cliff. It is partially hidden behind a kiawe tree and it is about 100 feet above the beach. Use caution and bring flash lights.
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Isaac Hale Beach Park
There is a small geothermal pond in Pohoiki located just outside the park. From the boat ramp, follow the path just above the high water mark past the red house towards the bay. The path will lead you to the warm pond in 3-5 minutes. The pond is located about 50' back from the beach.
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Ka Lae Historical District-"South Point"
South Point or Ka Lae is the most southern point in the United States. The South Point Area is surrounded by the Ka Lae National Historical District. On the way to South Point or Ka Lae "the point", you will pass many trees that are growing sideways due to the constant wind.

Del Mar Beaches

Del Mar Beaches

It's remarkable indeed that Del Mar has managed to maintain its rural yet sophisticated feel even in the face of a burgeoning North County population boom. If you rise early in the morning you may still find trainers from the famous Del Mar racetrack exercising their horses on the beach by The River Mouth. Head inland on Via De La Valle and you'll find stately ranches and polo fields. But the beach is what started it all, and visitors keep coming year after year. There are three main beaches in Del Mar, all large and with lots of sand.

Across from the race track, where the San Dieguito River meets the sea and (as they say in Del Mar) the turf meets the surf, The River Mouth is a broad wedge of beach with lots of room for volleyball games and a gathering place for dogs. The swimming here isn't too good, due to the shallow sandbars and unpredictable currents, but it's well protected from wind and surf - a perfect spot to introduce small children to the sea or help them build their first sand castle.The northern half of Del Mar City Beach, from 15th Street to The Rivermouth, is arguably San Diego's finest. It's a fantasyland of architectural dream houses flying colorful flags fronting a wide sand beach with good swimming, intermediate surf and easy access at every block. If only there were more parking, there'd be no argument at all. The main impact zone for crowds and parking is at the south end near Powerhouse Park, and the 17th Street lifeguard tower is ground zero. Most of what little parking is available here is metered, and you may have better luck with the higher numbered streets to the north, or across the highway on the east side of Coast Boulevard. On special occasions like 4th of July and Labor Day, people start arriving at dawn to stake their claims.South of 15th Street, bluffs line Del Mar City Beach, though they are neither as high nor as steep as elsewhere in North County. At all but the highest tides, the beach is totally passable all the way to Torrey Pines, and there are a number of sketchy, unsanctioned trails down from the cliffs. A dirt path paralleling the train track on the bluff is a favorite of walkers and joggers, who can go for miles without encountering a car or crossing a road. There are some patchy reefs offshore along here, creating some fairly good surf breaks at 15th Street, 11th Street, 7th Street and south of 4th Street at a place called G-Spot (so named for the womblike storm drain pipe that disgorges surfers onto the beach from an unmarked dirt trail above). People other than surfers and joggers do use the beach here, but most prefer the northern zone.
DirectionsFrom the 5 FWY exit Del Mar Heights Road or Via De La Valle and head west. Del Mar Heights leads to the south end of Del Mar at PCH and 4th Street; Via De La Valle meets PCH on the extreme north end of Del Mar at the Rivermouth. To find the main beach area, follow the Coast Highway to the intersection of 15th Street and Coast Boulevard, midway between these two points. All of Del Mar's beaches are named after its numbered streets, so finding any specific spot referred to here is as simple as locating the same street.
OfferingsEverything you could ever hope for except adequate parking. Lifeguard towers every few blocks from 15th Street north to the Rivermouth; a grass park area with playground, bathrooms, showers and recycling bins; and nearby restaurants, shops and hotels. The fairgrounds and racetrack offer open-air concerts, the annual county fair, Fourth of July fireworks and horse racing throughout the summer. For beach info call 858-755-1556

Considerations

Traffic and parking are Del Mar's only drawback, especially at the height of the summer fair and racing seasons, but also on weekends and at workday rush-hour throughout the year. No helpful hints or sneaky shortcuts beside the obvious: come early; stay late. If it's any consolation, know that your patience will be well-rewarded as soon as you ditch the car and make it to the sand.

Warning

It is not advisable to use any of the cliff trails here. Also, Del Mar is one of those infamous San Diego beaches where the sand can take the skin off your feet on a hot summer day. Don't forget to bring shoes or sandals.

Canadian Beaches

Canadian Beaches

Canada is large and has shores along the Atlantic, Labrador Sea, Daffin Bay, Hudson Bay, Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Because of the coldness of the seasons, most swimming is done in freshwater lakes and indoors. But there are still many thousands of beautiful shorelines, and thus beaches, to see in its over 100,000 miles of coastline. Although the following are along major bodies of water, the other divisions also have plenty of water in the form of freshwater lakes.
Official Site of the Canadian Tourism Commission is on canada.travel. This site is fully developed with all the different aspects of Canada that you would like to explore.
Beach photos of Canada include:* Canada beach images on Google.
For some Canada non-beach photos, check out:* Canada Photos and Pictures on canada-photos.com
British Columbia

British Columbia is in southwestern Canada along the Pacific Ocean. Victoria, its capital, is on Vancouver Island. Vancouver is an important city in British Columbia. British Columbia is historic and offers whale watching opportunities.
There are many miles of beautiful beaches beween the mainland and Vancouver Island. Beach areas include Fairhaven, French Beach Provincial Park, Ninety Mile Beach, Qualicom Beach. Detailed information on the many beaches of British Columbia can be found here.

Manitoba
Manitoba has a shoreline along Hudson Bay
For some Manitoba non-beach photos, check out:* Manitoba photos on canada-photos.com

New Brunswick
New Brunswick is on Chaleur Bay, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Northumberland Strait, the Bay of Fundy, and Passamaquoddy Bay.
The Bay of Fundy is in New Brunswick. The Bay of Fundy is well known for having the highest tides. The Bay supports migratory birds and an abundant range of sealife from the mudflats to the open waters.
For some New Brunswick non-beach photos, check out:* New Brunswick photos on canada-photos.com

Winter Romantic Honeymoon

Information about the best winter honeymoon places. Find romance and passion moments in the best honeymoon colder destinations.

Winter honeymoons are as much enjoyable and romantic as any other honeymoon and even more since when it is cold outside, it is warm inside and there is no better time to cuddle and to stay really close to each other. Winter is a marvelous season and should be enjoyed just as much as summer so take a look at some of these winter honeymoon destinations where you will have the chance to experience the most amazing time together.
When it comes to find the best winter honeymoon destinations for you to enjoy your honeymoon, people usually think of ski centers. In the western coast of North America and Canada you will find the best ski centers, but also in many European villages there are many ski and snowboarding centers where many activities and sports can be performed. While the American town of Aspen is famous across the world, Europe has places like Kitzbuhel (Austria), Chamonix (France), Canazei (Italy), Courchevel (France) or Livigno (Italy).
If you don’t like ski centers but still want to enjoy a winter holiday, you don’t have to worry. There are many alternative places to visit and enjoy. In the first place, both North America and Europe offer the most beautiful cities where snow is a friend of the house and where there are also many things to do and to be entertained with. We must mention the American cities of Chicago, Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and of course, New York. The Canadian cities of Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg are also great in winter.
Europe is home to lots of winter places and in this sense, each major capitol or city has a beautiful and peculiar winter so try places like Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, Moscow, Rome, Venice, Florence, Manchester, Dublin among others. South America is also home to some of the most beautiful winters, especially in the region that is known as the Patagonia and that is shared by both Argentina and Chile. There you have amazing European like landscapes and lots of activities such as whale watching, cruises, ferries, colonies of penguins and other sea animals, mountain adventure and the best cottages and cabins where to stay, as well as the most delicious typical gastronomy.
Enjoying your winter honeymoon is really up to you and you will see that even though you are not lying on the beach, you will still be able to enjoy lots of amazing places and wonderful scenarios.

The 10 Most Beautiful Places in America

It's a nation so blessed with sights -- natural and man-made -- that you could ask all 300 million residents for their favorites and expect 300 million different answers. So how do you go about picking the country's 10 most beautiful spots?
More travel reports: 10 Places to Eat Take in the flavors of the nation.10 Best out-of-the way Spots We take you off the beaten path.America the diverse Places that celebrate our nation's many faces.Top 10 places to have fun The classic summer prerogative -- good, old-fashioned fun.10 Most Beautiful Places in America A nation blessed with sights -- natural and man-mad5. Golden Gate Bridge in San FranciscoEngineering marvel, art deco icon, monument to progress: The Golden Gate Bridge does much more than connect San Francisco to Marin County. Named for the strait it spans -- the 3-mile passage between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific -- the bridge is a grand symbol of one of the world's most striking cities. Completed in 1937, the $35 million structure of concrete and steel embodied a city's unquenchable spirit -- and, by extension, the nation's. Set off by its signature orange paint job, twin 750-foot towers that seem to disappear into the heavens and spidery cables that stretch like harp strings, the Golden Gate was unlike anything else ever built. At 4,200 feet, the main suspension span was easily the world's longest. (Almost 70 years later, it ranks seventh.) Facts and figures tell only a partial story: Admired as a practical feat, the bridge is beloved as a work of art, one of the greatest the 20th century produced in any medium. For more, go to sfvisitor.org. e.America's 10 Best Historic Landmarks Defining moments and places in the evolution of our democracy. 10 Must-See sites: Understanding of what it means to be American.
Well, for starters, you go about it very boldly. You solicit opinions from travel writers and photographers, poll your colleagues, and talk to outdoor enthusiasts, historic preservationists and relatives who, every time you see them, seem to have just returned from another fabulous trip. In putting together USA WEEKEND Magazine's annual summer travel story, our editors did all that. To help frame the unenviable -- all right, nearly impossible -- task of limiting America's most beautiful attractions to a mere 10, we also offered a few guidelines. Nominees had to be publicly accessible and reasonably well-known. Iconic stature wouldn't hurt a place's chances, and, given the want of any objective way to measure beauty, sentimental favoritism was an acceptable tiebreaker. In other words, we instructed our experts to follow their hearts. After reading the top 10 list they produced, we hope you'll do the same.

1. Red Rock Country (Sedona, Ariz.)

Ever since the early days of movies, when Hollywood has wanted to show the unique beauty of the West, it has gone to Sedona, a place that looks like nowhere else. Beginning with The Call of the Canyon in 1923, some hundred movies and TV shows have been filmed in and around town. We fell under Sedona's spell, too, and while debating our No. 1 spot kept returning to it for the same reasons Hollywood does: The area's telegenic canyons, wind-shaped buttes and dramatic sandstone towers embody the rugged character of the West -- and the central place that character holds in our national identity. There's a timelessness about these ancient rocks that fires the imagination of all who encounter them. Some 11,000 years before film cameras discovered Sedona, American Indians settled the area. Homesteaders, artists and, most recently, New Age spiritualists have followed. Many cultures and agendas abound, but there's really only one attraction: the sheer, exuberant beauty of the place. People come for inspiration and renewal, tawny cliffs rising from the buff desert floor, wind singing through box canyons, and sunsets that seem to cause the ancient buttes and spires to glow from within. We hear the canyon's call and cannot resist. For more, go to www.sedona.net.

2. Nighttime view from Mount Washington in Pittsburgh

In a nation with a wealth of stunning

cities full of compelling stories, ranking Pittsburgh as the No. 2 beauty spot is perhaps our most surprising choice. But the Steel City's aesthetic appeal is undeniable, as is its very American capacity for renewal. Standing atop Mount Washington, the steep hill that rises giddily on the city's south side, sightseers enjoy the unforgettable panorama of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers flowing together to create the mighty Ohio, that waterway so essential in the nation's settlement. The rivers cup downtown's lustrous Golden Triangle, where landmark skyscrapers thrust upward like rockets. At night, lights twinkle on no fewer than 15 bridges. Almost as breathtaking as the vista itself is the urban renewal that made it possible. A century ago, a pall of smoke lay so thick over town that streetlights burned all day. As Pittsburgh continues an evolutionary course that has taken it from trading post to transportation hub to industrial goliath, we salute its reinvention into one of America's most scenic and livable communities. In the life of a city, there's nothing more beautiful, or inspiring, than a renaissance. For more, go to pittsburgh.net.

3. The upper Mississippi River

For third-place honors, we turn to an area less celebrated than others, but nonetheless packed with the unique beauty our nation abounds in. Its low profile makes it all the more charming. To truly appreciate the Mississippi, we leave the familiar territory of Huck and Tom and take a spin on the Great River Road as it runs alongside Old Muddy's upper reaches through Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. One of the nation's most scenic routes, it winds over hills, atop towering bluffs and through one 19th-century river town after another. The sites along the way read like chapters in American history. Ancient Indian burial mounds punctuate rolling parkland, sidewheelers ply the river, and villages on either bank present fine examples of Steamboat Gothic, the ornate architectural style born in the heyday of river travel. In Galena, Ill., 85% of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. At Trempealeau, Wis., the Trempealeau Hotel has offered haven to watermen since 1888. The whole laid-back region's real draw is the river itself. Steady and timeless, it makes one fine traveling companion as it rolls toward the Gulf.

4. Hawaii's Na Pali Coast

At the country's extreme western edge, half a world away from the cradle of the American Revolution, we gain a flash of insight into the restlessness that drove our forebears from New England to the Pacific Ocean and beyond. They pushed west in search of paradise. Amid the coral reefs, beaches and mist-shrouded volcanic peaks of Hawaii's oldest island, they surely found it. Along the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali coast of Kauai, verdant mountains plunge 4,000 feet into the sparkling Pacific. A short hike inland, where Hanakapi'ai Falls pours into a crystal pool and tropical flowers dapple the lush hillsides, the play of color and light creates the effect of an Impressionist painting gone native. Experience the splendor at your own risk: The hardest thing about a trip to Kauai is boarding the plane to go back home. For more, go to kauaivisitorsbureau.org.

America's most visited memorials

“The purpose of Memorial Day is to honor America’s war dead,” says Joe Davis, the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Director of Public Affairs, offering a blunt reminder of the intent of a holiday that originated in the U.S. after the Civil War as “Decoration Day,” an occasion for citizens to lay flowers at the graves of those killed in battle.
While that intent is at times drowned out by the din of summer-inaugurating celebrations, solemn ceremony tends to be the order of the day at monuments and memorials throughout the country that commemorate (and mourn) America’s wars and soldiers.
Visitation peaks at certain public monuments on Memorial Day (at Arlington Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, for example, an annual presidential wreath-laying ceremony draws large crowds), but public war memorials attract steady traffic throughout the year, and the better-known monuments draw millions annually. We looked at the National Park Service’s data on annual visitation to its various park “units” to compile a list of the 15 most-visited “memorial” destinations. While the NPS war-related sites and monuments have numerous designations (some are dubbed National Monuments or Memorials, others are National Historic Places; still others are called National Military Parks), we chose the top war-related sites, in terms of average annual visitation (from 2003 to 2007), regardless of their official categorization. As might be expected, Washington, D.C.’s iconic war statues, walls and plazas dominate the top of the list. Gavriel Rosenfeld, Associate Professor of History at Fairfield University, refers to the nation’s capital as the “nerve center of memorials.” In addition to Arlington Cemetery (which itself contains dozens of monuments and memorials within its boundaries), the Washington, D.C. area is home to the National World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, among many others.

The architectural styles of this array of memorials comprise polar opposites within the space of a few miles. Rosenfeld says that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial represent distinctly different forms of commemoration. The former, a sunken, V-shaped black granite wall inscribed with the names of the war’s casualties, takes what he calls a “humble aesthetic form,” while the latter assumes a more “traditional, heroic style.”
iStockphoto.com
In 1958, President Eisenhower approved the creation of a memorial to honor the 1,177 crew members who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Completed in 1961, the USS Arizona Memorial sits atop the submerged remains of the battleship. A steady trickle of oil still leaks from the sunken hull. Visitors per year: 1,539,986.
Situated on the National Mall between the Washington and Lincoln Monuments, the World War II Memorial was designed by Austrian-American architect Friedrich St. Florian and features a semicircle of pillars (representing the U.S. states of 1945) flanked by arches adorned with eagles and wreathes. Although it opened only a few years ago—in 2004—“it looks like it could have been built right after the war,” says Rosenfeld. “Its style is what many historians would call pompous or monumental—it’s hardly self-effacing.”
In fact, says Rosenfeld, “A lot historians distinguish between memorials and monuments. The latter are meant to be admired or looked up to, while memorials are more admonitory—to remind us not to forget a certain lesson.”

Winter Place Alabama

Winter Place Alabama

Winter Place was built in 1855 by Joseph Samual Winter and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winter. One of the country's leading architects of the time, Samuel Sloan of Philadelphia, designed Col. Winter's first home and it is believed that Sloan designed Winter Place as well. Sloan also designed the Governor's Mansion in Raleigh, NC. Mary Elizabeth Winter is the namesake for the very historically significant Winter Building, which she inherited from her Father, John Gindrat in 1854.
An 1880 census shows the Winter family living in the North House while their daughter Sally Gindrat Winter Thorington was living the South House with her husband Robert D. Thorington and family. The South House has been in the Thorington family ever since. The North House was out of the Winter family from 1946-1951 but has been in the Thorington family ever since.

On September 29th, 2005, Winter Place was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage primarily for housing the first offices of the Confederate Army.
Built in 1841 by John Gindrat to house the Montgomery branch of the Bank of St. Mary's. In 1854 was willed to his daughter, Mary Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Winter.
On April 11, 1861, Confederate Secretary of War Leroy Pope Walker sent telegram from second floor offices of Southern Telegraph Company to Charleston authorizing Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard to fire on Fort Sumter. Subsequent bombardment was first military action of War Between the States.

London's cosy winter places

London's cosy winter places

Bleak January weather may be urging you to stay in eating comfort food in front of the telly, but resist the temptation to hibernate at home – the capital is full of warming winter venues, be it a snug pub, a cosy café, an intimate restaurant or a toasty Turkish bath

Café at Foyles

The most easygoing and relaxing place you’ll find on Charing Cross Road, this unpretentious joint (on the first floor next to Ray’s Jazz) serves up all the expected café grub: sarnies, salads, flapjacks, fantastic coffee. And it’s a more cerebral alternative to Starbucks and the like.Café at Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Rd, WC2 (020 7440 3207/http://www.timeout.com/external_link/?http://www.foyles.co.uk) Leicester Square tube. Open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm; Sun 10am-6pm.

Porchester Spa

Getting off the sofa is hard. Getting out of a bath? Impossible, particularly if you’re sitting in these traditional Turkish baths, which boast two Russian steam rooms, three Turkish hot rooms, a log sauna, an ice-cold plunge pool, plus a range of hamam treatments and massages.Porchester Spa,Queensway, W2 (020 7792 2919/http://www.timeout.com/external_link/?http://www.westminster.gov.uk/leisureandculture/sports/porchesterspa.cfm) Bayswater or Queensway tube. Open Mon-Sun 10am-10pm. Ladies: Tue, Thur, Fri; men: Mon, Wed, Sat. Three-hour session £20.35.

Bourne & Hollingsworth

Decked out just like your great aunt’s front room circa 1930, this tiny bar hidden under a newsagent at the bottom of Charlotte Street only opened recently – and if we’re honest, we were reluctant to tell you about it. The cocktails are superb, and they somehow find room to fit live music into the space. Prohibition-era themed parties and radioscript recitals are pencilled in for February.Bourne & Hollingsworth, 28 Rathborne Place, W1 (020 7636 8228) Tottenham Court Rd tube. Opening times vary.

Candid Café

Beaten-up sofas, drapes on the walls and battered wooden furniture… you’d have to work hard to find somewhere as comfy as this Angel stalwart. There’s a gallery next door if you fancy a touch of culture, and a courtyard if by some miracle it’s warm enough to sit out.Candid Café, 3 Torrens St, EC1 (020 7837 4237/http://www.timeout.com/external_link/?http://www.candidarts.com) Angel tube. Open Mon-Sat 12noon-10pm; Sun 12noon-5pm.

Nikita’s Russian Restaurant

This small, decadent restaurant has two private dining booths, each seating six, full of cushions, mirrors and a heavy curtain to pull closed for privacy. Two private dining rooms each seat 15.Nikita’s, 65 Ifield Rd, SW10 (020 7352 6326/http://www.timeout.com/external_link/?http://www.nikitasrestaurant.com) West Brompton tube. Open Mon-Thur 6.30pm-11.30pm; Fri, Sat 6.30pm-1am.

Edinburgh sparkles in winter

Edinburgh sparkles in winter

Places to be this Christmas & New Years

Edinburgh really does light up in winter - sparkling with festive spirit, dazzling lights and something for everyone to take part in. Already known for big festivals and a youthful vibe in the summer, Edinburgh doesn’t let up at all in the winter. To pull you out of the winter doldrums, the streets are lit with spectacular Christmas lights, the Edinburgh Wheel gets dusted off, the Traditional German Christmas Market and Scottish Street Market open for business, gluhwein flows and fireworks light up the sky. The festivities kick off in November and run until Christmas in a great programme of events and activities. If that’s not enough, the fun continues with the programming for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities. In the lead up to Christmas, you can expect the opening of Winter Wonderland (one of Britain’s largest outdoor ice rinks with nearby food stalls), carolling, and plenty of activities at the Princes Street Gardens with the Edinburgh Wheel and Christmas Carousel. Over two dozen venues will stage Christmas shows and pantomimes and nine exhibitions will feature as the highlights of the cultural calendar. To see the largest gathering of Santas you’ll ever find, then make sure you’re in town on Sunday 10th December. Edinburgh is competing for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gathering of Santas at the Great Scottish Santa Run. This will be to raise funds for When You Wish Upon a Star, a charity for children with terminal illnesses Not enough for Christmas? Then stay in town for Hogmanay celebrations during the New Year. Recognised the world over as the true home of Hogmanay, Edinburgh brings in the New Year in style. The city comes alive with processions, street theatre, live pop and classical concerts, indoor and outdoor ceilidhs - all combined with the warmest welcome you will find anywhere in the world. And of course, it finishes with a bang on New Years Eve, with parties all over town, from the Royal Bank Street Party on Prince Street to Concert in the Gardens for some great live music. And this is just some of what’s on offer! Check out the websites for a full programme listing.

Why Africa?

Why Africa?

Why do we find Africa so exciting, so fulfilling? What draws us back time and time again? A huge continent, staggeringly diverse, bursting with activities and places just made for adventure travellers. It's the stupendous wildlife, for sure, but also those vast, breathtaking landscapes and the vibrant, dizzying tribal cultures. And the coastline of course, perfect for adding a touch of holiday to your adventure!
Just be warned: travel in Africa can be addictive…

Wildlife unlimited

King of The Plains
Think of Africa and think wildlife. David Attenborough and others have brought so much of it to our living rooms, but really there's no substitute for the real thing. Smell an elephant, listen to lions roar, and go eye to eye with a Mountain Gorilla.
Wildlife lovers love Africa. And often it's the small details that last in your memory and draw you back. The brilliant plumage of a bee-eater, extraordinary trees like the mighty Baobab, the weird and wonderful stories of the termite or the dung beetle.
Your options are virtually endless. Africa's National Parks are as thrilling as they are diverse: try classic game viewing in Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa; explore the crater of Ngorongoro where only the wildlife matches the mind-blowing landscapes; or go active and hike in South Luangwa.

Take a walk on the wild side?

There's more, far more, to Africa than her wildlife. Walkers and trekkers can explore any number of jungles, deserts and above all mountains on foot. From the Atlas in the north to the Drakensberg in the south, with plenty in between: Ethiopia's Simien massif, Uganda's Mountains of the Moon, and of course Kilimanjaro - all 5,895 metres of her.
Walking in Africa is different. Sure, it gets you off the beaten track, but it also gets you closer to the land and closer to the people. The real Africa is outside and on foot: amble through the backstreets of Stonetown in Zanzibar, walk amongst Mali's Dogon villages, or trek Morocco's Mgoun Massif.

The Africans

Local children . . . Camera shy?
The people of Africa couldn't be more engaging, colourful and welcoming.
And diverse they certainly are: from the Berbers of Morocco in the north to South Africa's multicultural 'rainbow nation'. The continent may be beset with problems - political, economic and medical - but Africans tend to be optimistic and resiliently cheerful.
Whenever you get the chance to meet and interact - in markets, on the bus, at a local restaurant - don't miss out. You often pick up insights more valuable and more lasting than anything from a guidebook, and it's usually great fun too!We're proud to support several excellent charities working in Africa, and we provide hands-on help to a number of local initiatives. For more information see our charities page.

Africa, Africa, Africa!

Beautiful beaches of Africa
We love Africa. So much so that we now have a choice of more than 80 tours in 30 countries. And what a choice! You can go on safari, explore ancient ruins ( Ethiopia, Sudan), go trekking or even cycling ( Morocco, South Africa), camel trekking (Tunisia, Mauritania); or, for wilderness lovers, how about off-roading through Algeria or Libya. And when you've had enough activity you can chill out and relax on some of the best beaches in the world - in Zanzibar, Lamu, Seychelles…
Whether you're into the wildlife, the people, the landscapes (or a bit of everything?) Africa almost always matches or surpasses expectations - a continent full of surprises and superlatives. Have a browse through the Africa options and call us if you want to talk things through.

Winter Places In Europe

Winter Places In Europe

My friends visited Europe recently and they raved about it for a very long time, I saw the pictures of the places they went, it was amazing. They visited many winter places in Europe and said some of the places are must see category type. I like to visit the Swiss Alps, St. Anton in Austria, Courcheval and Meribel (shown in the picture is one of the luxury ski chalets in Meribel) in France, Northern Italy and few other places in Europe. All these places are perfect especially during the month of December, holiday season.
I saw this site Supertravel which is based in UK offers some of the best travel arrangements in the world, they have more than 40 years of experience in this industry. They help to arrange Ski and Golf holidays and have dedicated specialists to arrange the travel providing great places to stay and provide the best foods & wine to dine and drink and enjoy your vacation.
You can see some of the special offers for you and your family, these deals looks competitive and comprehensive. If you plan to get away from work and want to have the best time in Winter skiing and other activities with your loved ones, then you should check the site. I have bookmarked it for future use. If you are in UK you can contact them at this number, 020-7295-1650.

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Edinburgh sparkles in winter

Places to be this Christmas & New Years

By Infohostels.com staffPubblished on 25-Ott-2006Section TRAVEL INFO
Edinburgh really does light up in winter - sparkling with festive spirit, dazzling lights and something for everyone to take part in. Already known for big festivals and a youthful vibe in the summer, Edinburgh doesn’t let up at all in the winter. To pull you out of the winter doldrums, the streets are lit with spectacular Christmas lights, the Edinburgh Wheel gets dusted off, the Traditional German Christmas Market and Scottish Street Market open for business, gluhwein flows and fireworks light up the sky. The festivities kick off in November and run until Christmas in a great programme of events and activities. If that’s not enough, the fun continues with the programming for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festivities. In the lead up to Christmas, you can expect the opening of Winter Wonderland (one of Britain’s largest outdoor ice rinks with nearby food stalls), carolling, and plenty of activities at the Princes Street Gardens with the Edinburgh Wheel and Christmas Carousel. Over two dozen venues will stage Christmas shows and pantomimes and nine exhibitions will feature as the highlights of the cultural calendar. To see the largest gathering of Santas you’ll ever find, then make sure you’re in town on Sunday 10th December. Edinburgh is competing for an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gathering of Santas at the Great Scottish Santa Run. This will be to raise funds for When You Wish Upon a Star, a charity for children with terminal illnesses Not enough for Christmas? Then stay in town for Hogmanay celebrations during the New Year. Recognised the world over as the true home of Hogmanay, Edinburgh brings in the New Year in style. The city comes alive with processions, street theatre, live pop and classical concerts, indoor and outdoor ceilidhs - all combined with the warmest welcome you will find anywhere in the world. And of course, it finishes with a bang on New Years Eve, with parties all over town, from the Royal Bank Street Party on Prince Street to Concert in the Gardens for some great live music. And this is just some of what’s on offer! Check out the websites for a full programme listing. Link view

Recommended hostels in Edinburgh:

Brodies Hostel
The Globetrotter Inn Edinburgh
Ellersly House Hotel
Palmerston Lodge
Kaimes Guest HouseOur Edinburgh News
Smart City hostels Edinburgh
Something for everyone all the time
Smart City Hostels Edinburgh
Lay your weary Hogmanay head
Edinburgh sparkles in winter
Places to be this Christmas & New Years
This Week endRigaRecommended hostels in Riga :
Knights Court
Dome Pearl Hostel
Old Town Hostel Other cities:
Rome
Barselona
London
Paris
New Yorrk

Summer places in Alaska

Summer places in Alaska

The most likely starting points for summer visits to Alaska are Anchorage,Seward, Juneau or Fairbanks. Major air carriers fly in to Anchorage, Juneau and Fairbanks. Cruise ships make stops in Juneau and in Seward.
Many places in Alaska are accessible only by air or water. The state capital, Juneau, is one of those. There's been talk in the past of running a highway into British Columbia to connect Juneau to the North American road system but, in the meantime, the choices come down to airline, cruise ship or the Alaska State Ferry. As of 2007, Alaska had just under 15,000 miles of roads.
Anchorage and Fairbanks can be reached by road, but it's a long drive from the Lower 48 states or from the urban centers of Canada. The smaller communities of Seward, Homer, Talkeetna, Valdez, Skagway and Haines are on the road system, as is the entrance to Denali National Park.
Visitors arriving in Anchorage or Fairbanks will find it most convenient to rent a car or motorhome for their Alaskan vacation. Road conditions, in general, are good. The highway between Anchorage and Seward has been improved in recent years, with a number of three-lane passing areas, and it is one of the most spectacular drives in North America. The 126-mile trip can be easily made in three hours, though frequent stops to admire the views may make it take longer. The first 40 miles of the trip between Anchorage and Denali National Park is on a four-lane highway, with the remainder on a good, two-lane highway.
The Aleutian Islands, western, northern and much of Southeast Alaska are off the road system. Homer, in Southcentral Alaska, is as far west as it is possible to travel on the North American road system. Among the places that can not be reached by road are the Gold Rush mining town of Nome, which is better known today as the terminus of the "Last Great Race," the Iditarod; Barrow on the North Slope; and the Southeast Alaskan communities of Ketchikan and Sitka.

Hotels in these Alaska Communities:

On the Kenai Peninsula: Cooper Landing, Homer, Kenai, Seward, Soldotna
In Southeast Alaska: Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
In Southcentral Alaska: Anchorage, Girdwood, Kodiak, Valdez, Wasilla
In Interior Alaska: Cantwell (near Denali Park), Copper Center, Fairbanks
See what's available and make reservations.

Historical Places of Egypt

Historical Places of Egypt

Visit the most historical places of Egypt and and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different historical places.
01.
Abu Simbel( Ramesses II, Nefertari Temples)
19.
Vestibule and Central Tomb Chamber
02.
Abydos (Abtu)
20.
Graeco-Roman Museum
03.
Temple of Osiris
21.
High Dam
04.
The Osirieon
22.
Montazah Complex
05.
Temple of Ramesses II
23.
Nubia Museum
06.
Colossi of Memnon
24.
Roman Theater (Kom Al-Dikka)
07.
Citadel of Qaitbey
25.
Temple Of Dandara

Abu Simbel(The Temple of Ramesses II)(The Temple of Nefertari dedicated to Hathor)

Not only are the two temples at Abu Simbel among the most magnificent monuments in the world but their removal and reconstruction was an historic event in itself. When the temples (280 km from Aswan) were threatened by submersion in Lake Nasser, due to the construction of the High Dam, the Egyptian Government secured the support of UNESCO and launched a world wide appeal. During the salvage operation which began in 1964 and continued until 1968, the two temples were dismantled and raised over 60 meters up the sandstone cliff where they had been built more than 3,000 years before. Here they were reassembled, in the exact same relationship to each other and the sun, and covered with an artificial mountain. Most of the joins in the stone have now been filled by antiquity experts, but inside the temples it is still possible to see where the blocks were cut. You can also go inside the man made dome and see an exhibition of photographs showing the different stages of the massive removal project.
Abu Simbel was first reported by J. L. Burckhardt in 1813, when he came over the mountain and only saw the facade of the great temple as he was preparing to leave that area via the Nile. The two temples, that of Ramesses II primarily dedicated to Re-Harakhte, and that of his wife, Nefertari dedicated to Hathor, became a must see for Victorians visiting Egypt, even though it required a trip up the Nile, and often they were covered deeply in sand, as they were when Burckhardt found them.

Abydos (Abtu)

Location :
Suhag, EgyptSituated on the West Bank of the Nile, 12 km south-east of Al-Ballyana, it was the chief center for worshipping the god Osiris.
How to get there : By daily air conditioned trains, scheduled at regular hours. By private vehicles, taxis and tourist buses. For information and reservation contact the Upper Egypt Bus Company which organizes excursions to Al-Minya. Tel : +20-2-2609304/9297/8.
Description
On the west bank of the Nile, 90 miles (145 km) north of Luxor, lies the Temple of Abydos. Abydos is linked to the earliest dynasties recorded, and in 1993, the earliest known tomb was found here, along with some of the oldest hieroglyphics ever discovered. The Temple dates to around 3150 BC, and the records have provided scholars with much of what is known about the earliest periods of recorded history. This area, sacred to Osiris, was a very powerful location to those who believed in the next world. The ancient Egyptians said that at sunset, the area looked like a golden staircase leading to the afterlife, and thus many people wished to be buried here. It was here, too, that Osiris, after being killed by his brother Seth, returned to power. Seth had killed Osiris and scattered the pieces of his body all over Egypt. Osiris' wife and sister, Isis, gathered the pieces one by one, put them back together, and restored life to her husband. It was said that Abydos was where the final piece, his head, was buried, and so it was here that Osiris was brought back to life to become the judge of the dead and lord of the netherworld.

The Temple of Osiris


The original Temple of Osiris was built by Seti I, who came to power 29 years after the collapse of the regime of Akhenaten. Seti wished to restore the beliefs in the traditional gods and so built this temple to show his devotion. The way leading into the temple had two courts and a pylon, which were built by Ramesses II. The way these courts and pylon were positioned gave the entrance the illusion of sloping upwards. Sadly, this entrance has been mostly destroyed. The front of the temple is now 12 rectangular pillars, covered with sacred images welcoming Osiris, Isis, and Horus. The first (outer) hypostyle hall was built by Ramesses, but the quality of the decorations on the columns are not as impressive as those found in the second (inner) hall, which Seti built. It is widely thought that Ramesses used the best craftsmen in building his own temple, but used lower quality workers on this temple after the death of Seti. Just beyond the second hall are the seven separate sanctuaries dedicated to Seti I, Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amen, Mut, and Khensu. Originally, seven doors led to the sanctuaries, but Ramesses, for reasons still unknown, had all but one covered over. When the temple was in use, each of the sanctuaries would have contained the god's barque (sacred boat), and would have had a stele placed in front of a false door. The sanctuaries were locked and only the high priests of each god could enter, as the Egyptians believed that the gods actually lived inside their sanctuaries. The sanctuaries are highly decorated with bas-relief paintings dedicated to the several gods of the temple. Many of the bas-reliefs in the sanctuaries still have their coloring, but the best decorations are the masterful unpainted moldings. One scene in Seti's sanctuary shows him being crowned by the goddess of Upper and Lower Egypt, but by far the most incredible paintings are the ones found in Osiris' sanctuary. The temple also possesses a King's Gallery, a room that lists all over its walls the names of the gods along with over 70 of Seti's predecessors (minus some omitted for political reasons such as Akhenaten and Hatsheosut), making it an invaluable resource for historians.

The Osirieon

Through the rear door of the temple is the Osirieon, the only visible tomb at this site, which was built before the main temple. Much of the damage to the Osirieon has been from flooding, as it was built at water level, yet it is not much diminished. Red Aswan granite pillars, each weighing about a hundred tons apiece, support equally massive archways. This temple was built as a symbol of Seti's closeness to Osiris and contains a sarcophagus, though Seti was not buried here. Seti's actual tomb is in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. This was a fairly common practice among many of the pharaohs, having "public" tombs in one location, but actually being buried in another. The Osirieon is currently inaccessible because of the rising sand and the flooding that has occurred. Excavation has been done on the south side passage, which revealed texts from The Book of the Gates and The Book of What is in the Duat. This section was begun by Seti and finished by his grandson, Merneptah. It is a complete tomb structure, all ready to receive the mummy of a king, yet it does not appear ever to have been used so.
Abydos does have a reputation for these "false tombs" or cenotaphs. Some theorists state that Abydos does not even have a single actual tomb in it, but that all the dead who have tombs at Abydos are actually buried elsewhere. The cemeteries of northern Saqqara certainly have a great number of royal mastabas, of which many have been linked to the Archaic rulers. It is very possible that actual burials of kings and high-ranking officials were carried out at Saqqara, which is near Memphis, the new court city. Thus the monuments at Abydos are precisely that : monuments. It is fairly simple to see why this might be so. The rulers would no doubt have a desire to be buried near the place they ruled, but Abydos was also a powerful site because of its religious ties, as well as being deep in the ancient homelands. Thus, the rulers arranged to have themselves "buried" in both places. The body at Saqqara or another site, and a cenotaph built at Abydos. Of course, the reverse could be true, with Abydos as the true burial site and all the tombs at Saqqara are cenotaphs. Or perhaps the explanation involves a little bit of both, with some rulers desiring to be buried near Memphis, and others at Abydos, but each ruler building two tombs, one in each location.
It would be rather unusual for the rulers to remain as visible as possible in their new capital during life, and then at death, simply passing from view. Thus much of the current consensus is that Saqqara is the actual burial site and that Abydos is the site of the royal monuments. The tombs at Saqqara as a whole are larger and more luxurious than those at Abydos (with the exception of the valley "temples" of Abydos which are immense and have no known Saqqaran counterparts), suggesting that Saqqara is the true burial site.

Aruba

Aruba

Aruba is a 33-kilometre (21 mi)-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, 27 km (17 mi) north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela. A country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba has no administrative subdivisions. Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm sunny weather. It has a land area of 193 km² (75 sq mi) and lies outside the hurricane belt.

History

Main article: History of Aruba
Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Amerindians from the Arawak tribe, who migrated there from Venezuela to escape attacks by the Caribs. Fragments of the earliest known Indian settlements date back from 1,000 AD. The Caquetios remained more tied to South America than the Caribbean, due to Aruba's distance from other Caribbean islands and sea currents which made canoe travel to other islands difficult.came across it in August 1499. Vespucci in one of his four letters to Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici described his voyage to the islands along the coast of Venezuela. He wrote about an island where most trees are of brazilwood and, from this island, he went to one ten leagues away, where they had houses built as in Venice. In another letter he described a small island inhabited by very large people, which the expedition thought was not inhabited.
Aruba was colonized by Spain for over a century. The Cacique or Indian Chief in Aruba, Simas, welcomed the first priests in Aruba and received from them a wooden cross as a gift. In 1508, Alonso de Ojeda was appointed as Spain's first Governor of Aruba, as part of "Nueva Andalucia."
Another governor appointed by Spain was Juan Martinez de Ampues. A "cédula real" decreed in November 1525 gave Ampués, factor of Española, the right to repopulate the depopulated islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. The natives under Spanish rule enjoyed more liberty than the average northern European farmer of the period.
In 1528, Ampues was replaced by a representative of the "House of Welser". Aruba has been under Dutch administration since 1636, initially under Peter Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant was on a special mission in Aruba in November and December 1642. Under the Dutch W.I.C. administration, as "New Netherland and Curaçao" from 1648 to 1664 and the Dutch government regulations of 1629, also applied in Aruba. The Dutch administration appointed an Irishman as "Commandeur" in Aruba in 1667.
Britain occupied Aruba from the years 1799 to 1802, and from 1805 to 1816.
In August 1806, General Francisco de Miranda and a group of 200 freedom fighters on their voyage to liberate Venezuela from Spain stayed in Aruba for several weeks.
In 1933 Aruba sent its first petition for Aruba's separate status and autonomy to the Queen.
During World War II, together with Curaçao the then world-class exporting oil refineries were the main suppliers of refined products to the Allies. Aruba became a British protectorate from 1940 to 1942 and a US protectorate from 1942 to 1945. On February 16, 1942, its oil processing refinery was attacked by a German submarine (U-156) under the command of Werner Hartenstein. Miraculously, the mission failed. The U-156 was later destroyed by a US plane as the crew was sunbathing; only one survived. In March 1944, Eleanor Roosevelt briefly visited American troops stationed in Aruba. In attendance were: His Excellency, Dr. P. Kasteel, the Governor of Curaçao, and his aide, Lieutenant Ivan Lansberg; Rear Admiral T. E. Chandler and his Aide, Lieutenant W. L. Edgington; Captain Jhr. W. Boreel and his aide, Lieutenant E. O. Holmberg; and the Netherlands aide to Mrs. Roosevelt, Lieutenant Commander v.d. Schatte Olivier.
The island's economy has been dominated by five main industries: gold mining, phosphate mining (The Aruba Phosphaat Maatschappij), aloe export, petroleum (The Lago Oil & Transport Company and the Arend Petroleum Maatschappij Shell Co.), and tourism.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Aruba

Parliament of Aruba in Oranjestad.
As a Constituent Country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba's politics take place within a framework of a 21-member Parliament and an eight-member Cabinet. The governor of Aruba is appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by the Staten (or "Parlamento") for four-year terms. The Staten is made up of 21 members elected by direct, popular vote to serve a four-year term.
Together, the State of the Netherlands, the State of the Netherlands Antilles, and the State of Aruba form a Commonwealth. As they share the same Dutch citizenship, these three countries still also share the Dutch passport as the Kingdom of the Netherlands passport. As Aruba and the Antilles have small populations, the two countries had to limit immigration. To protect their population, they have the right to control the admission of Netherlands nationals. There is the supervision of the admission and expulsion of Netherlands nationals and the setting of general conditions for the admission and expulsion of aliens.

The move towards independence

In August 1947, Aruba presented its first "Staatsreglement (constitution)", for Aruba's "status aparte" as the status of a completely separate and autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, under the authority of the Dutch crown. This is the same as in Britain's Statute of Westminster, an equal status of the Dominion Parliaments with the British Parliament, where the Dominions were under the authority of the crown and not of the government of Britain.
In November 1955, J. Irausquin of Aruba's PPA political party spoke in front of the United Nations Trust Committee. He ended his speech saying that in the future there will be changes to come.
In 1972, at a conference in Suriname, Betico Croes (MEP) proposed a "sui-generis" Dutch Commonwealth of four states: Aruba, the Netherlands, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, each with its own nationality. Mr. C. Yarzagaray, a parliamentary member representing the AVP political party, proposed a referendum for the people of Aruba to determine Aruba's separate status or "Status Aparte" as a full autonomous state under the crown. He proclaimed: "Aruba shall never accept a federation and a second class nationality."
Betico Croes worked in Aruba to inform and prepare the people of Aruba for independence. In 1976, a committee appointed by Croes introduced the national flag and anthem as the symbols of Aruba's sovereignty and independence, and he also set 1981 as a target for Aruba's independence. In March of 1977, the first Referendum for Self Determination was held with the support of the United Nations and 82% of the participants voted for independence.
The Island Government of Aruba assigned the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague to prepare a study of Aruba's independence, which was published in 1978, titled "Aruba en Onafhankelijkheid, achtergronden, modaliteiten en mogelijkheden; een rapport in eerste aanleg".
At the conference in the Hague in 1981, Aruba's independence was then set for the year 1991. In March 1983, based on the Referendum, Aruba finally reached an official (de-colonization) agreement with the State of the Netherlands, the State of the Netherlands Antilles and the Island Governments, for Aruba's Independence, first becoming an autonomous country and member state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with its own constitution, unanimously approved and proclaimed in August 1985, and after an election held for Aruba's first parliament, Aruba officially became a member state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on January 1, 1986, with full independence set for 1996, within a Dutch Commonwealth of sovereign states. This achievement is largely due to the late Betico Croes and the political support of other nations like the USA, Panama, Venezuela and various European countries. Croes was later proclaimed "Libertador di Aruba" after his tragic death in 1986.
In 1990, movement toward independence was postponed upon the request of Aruba's Prime Minister, Nelson O. Oduber. The article scheduling Aruba’s complete independence was rescinded in 1995, although the process can begin again after a referendum.
Since January 1, 1986, the Kingdom has consisted of three completely autonomous, constitutionally equal countries: the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba.
Although the “equal status” of the countries is explicitly laid down in the preamble to the Charter, which states "..considering that they have expressed freely their will to establish a new constitutional order in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in which they will conduct their internal interests autonomously and their common interests on a basis of equality, and in which they will accord each other reciprocal assistance, have resolved by mutual consent", in practice, the Netherlands has considerably more power than either the Netherlands Antilles or Aruba.

Education

Aruba’s educational system, patterned after the Dutch system, provides for education at all levels. The Government finances the national education system, except for private schools, such as the International School of Aruba (ISA), which finance their own activities. The percentage of money earmarked for education is higher than the average for the Caribbean/Latin American region.
Arubans benefit from a strong primary school education. A segmented secondary school program includes vocational training (VMBO), basic education (MAVO), college prep (HAVO) and advanced placement (VWO).

Culture

Main article: Culture of Aruba
See also: Music of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles

Oranjestad, Aruba
On March 18 Aruba celebrates its National Day. In 1976, Aruba presented its National Anthem (Aruba Dushi Tera) and Flag.
The origins of the population and location of the island give Aruba a mixed culture. Dutch influence can still be seen, as in the celebration of "Sinterklaas" on December 5 and 6 and other national holidays like April 30, when in Aruba and the rest of the Kingdom of the Netherlands the Queen's birthday or "Dia di La Reina" (Koninginnedag) is celebrated.
Christmas and New Year are celebrated with the typical music and songs of gaitas for Christmas and the Dande for New Year, and the "ayaca", the "ponchi crema" and "ham", and other typical foods and drinks. Millions of dollars worth of fireworks are burnt at midnight on New Year's.
On January 25, Betico's Croes birthday is celebrated.
The holiday of Carnival is also an important one in Aruba, as it is in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, and, like Mardi Gras, that goes on for weeks. Its celebration in Aruba started, around the 1950s, influenced by the inhabitants from the nearby islands (Venezuela, St Vincent, Trinidad, Barbados and Amquilla) who came to work for the Oil refinery. Over the years the Carnival Celebration has changed and now starts from the beginning of January till the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday with a large parade on the last Sunday of the festivities (Sunday before Ash Wednesday).
In June there is the celebration of the "Dia di San Juan", with the song of "Dera Gai".
Tourism from the United States has recently also increased the visibility of American culture on the island, with such celebrations as Halloween and Thanksgiving Day in November.
Religion also has its influences; the days of Ascension and Good Friday are also two holidays on the island.
According to the Bureau Burgelijke Stand en Bevolkingsregister (BBSB), as of 2005 there are ninety-two different nationalities living on the island.