Your holiday ideas

Have you ever been away to a place that you partcularly enjoyed? Is there a destination that you would recommend again and again? Then why not send us your own holiday ideas?

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'A Lot of Bull in Pamplona'
Beginning on the seventh day of July, each and every year, you have the chance to be chased down the street by a herd of angry bulls. If you are mad enough to enjoy this type of recreation, get yourself along to Pamplona and join in the fun. The 'Bull Running' or to give it its correct title, 'The Festival of San Fermin' commences on the sixth, when the Mayor officially announces to the thousands of eager visitors, that the festivities have begun. A rocket is launched and the party is under way. No-one is quite sure when the festival originated, but the evidence seems to point to the thirteenth century when some kind of bull related events occurred in October. San Fermin is in fact a religious festival, but these days it has become an excuse to sing and dance and have bulls chase you of course. The event was moved to July by the Town Council of 1591 who decided, that if you're going to be trampled by a couple of tons of bull, you may as well be warm whilst you're doing it. The starting date has remained fixed ever since. [tell me more]
Andorra, One of the oldest countries in Europe
This small country in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain, consists of mountains, which are a great destination for winter sports, with valleys running north and south between. Andorra enjoys warm summers and cool winters, this high altitude brings an alpine climate with Mediterranean influences. [tell me more]
Attractions of Germany
Tourism has grown since the war, with the country claiming 7th place in the world's 'most visited' chart. Let's not forget that this is the land of Goethe, Mendelssohn and Bach. The history is rich, the landscape is varied and the people are friendly. As a holiday destination, the country takes some beating. Although sunshine isn't guaranteed, as is the case in the south of Europe, there are plenty of other attractions. [tell me more]
Australia's Top ten attractions
If you're planning a trip down under, try to visit some or all of these outstanding attractions. [tell me more]
Beach holidays
Book yourself a well-earned break and head off to soak up the sun at one of our seaside holiday homes. [tell me more]
Bed & breakfast
Bed & Breakfast accommodation is great for short or long holidays. [tell me more]
Canada, The Big Country
Canada occupies the major part of northern North America and is the second biggest country in the world. Stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, it shares land borders with the USA, both to the south and north. [tell me more]
City breaks
With more and more companies offering great deals on short hop flights to European destinations there has never been a better time to go for a city break. [tell me more]
Disneyland
Experience the magic of Disney's four captivating Theme Parks and dive into fun at two refreshing Water Parks. There's something here to ignite the imagination and warm the spirit of everyone in your in family or group. [tell me more]
Diving in the Red Sea
The Red Sea, it's name coming from the red tinted mountains that surround it, is said to be one of the 7 Wonders of the underwater world, narrow, elongated in shape and its incredible depth (9,350ft) have led to an unequalled diversity of marine life. With more than 1,100 species of fish, and over 200 species of soft and hard coral, with the calm warm sea and clear visibility it makes Egypt a world class dive destinations for divers of all levels. [tell me more]
Family getaways
In need of inspiration for your next family holiday or a half term break? [tell me more]
Following the Fiestas
Fiestas take place throughout the year in various parts of Spain. The ones in small villages are certainly worth a visit, but if you want to experience something truly spectacular, try one of these; [tell me more]
Golf Holidays
Choose from an ever increasing selection of holiday homes situated near to golf courses. Golf courses can now be found in all sorts of great locations which means that even family holidays can incorporate a golfing element. Most golf clubs will cater for a variety of levels and abilities so you can go and play a few rounds for fun, or plan a serious golfers break. [tell me more]
Hang Gliding on Lanzarote
Lanzarote is a ideal island for the spectacular sport of Hang Gliding , especially in the winter when flying in Northern Europe isn't much fun. [tell me more]
http://www.estrellaevents.com/
Make your holiday an EVENT to remember! ESTRELLA EVENTS are proud to offer you the very best in activities and events on the Costa del Sol, Andalucia. Whatever takes your fancy - from exclusive, affordable yacht charter to adrenalin pumping adventure activities - and from extreme sports to the ultimate in pampering. http://www.estrellaevents.com/ [tell me more]
Hvar Island, Croatia
The Island of Hvar one of the most beautiful islands in the world is the fourth largest Adriatic Island. 68 km long and maximum 10,5 km wide this island counts 11200 inhabitants. With average of approximately 2750 sun shine hours per year this island is among the most sun tenacious travel destinations in the Adriatic. [tell me more]
Lake Vinuela
Surrounded by spectacular scenery, this man made reservoir has become a popular place for holidaymakers, with many private villas with lake views available to rent throughout the year. [tell me more]
Mediterranean Cheeses
I used to think that Mascarpone was a little horse wearing a blindfold, then a clever person told me it was a cheese, but later an even cleverer person said it wasn't actually a cheese at all, so I asked if it really was a small horse. 'No', they said 'it's a curd', so now I'm not sure if it's a horse, a cheese or a native of a much troubled area of Asia. Some of the less confusing cheeses of Italy are Ricotta, a firm, white cow's milk cheese, Mozzarella, a soft buffalo milk cheese and Parmesan, the ever popular, hard cheese of Parma. It is believed that Parmesan has been produced in the area for at least seven hundred years and the basic methods of production haven't really changed. [tell me more]
Menu of the Day
Pssst?I'm going to let you in one of Spain's best kept secrets. You can enjoy a three course meal with wine for the price of a snack, if you know these magic words; Menu del Dia, which means simply Menu of the Day. Normally served between two and three in the afternoon by just about every restaurant in Spain, this afternoon delight is a great way to eat good food at a very reasonable price. [tell me more]
Ouzo, it's all Greek to me
Do you know why Ouzo appears milky? No? I'll tell you then; It's the anethole (be careful how you say it) you see. Anethole is what supplies the aromatic taste to Ouzo, and it dissolves in alcohol, but not in water, so when Ouzo is diluted, the anethole separates and turns the drink milky. Not a lot of people know that, as Michael Caine once said, but this isn't a story about anethole, it's about that wonderful Greek institution, Ouzo. Like the drink, Ouzo's history is a little murky too. Although the popularity of Ouzo as we know it today, rocketed during the nineteenth century, there are some who believe the drink to be much older. The claim is that Ouzo is the offspring of Tsipouro, a drink that was distilled during the Byzantine Empire and adopted by the Ottomans. The home of Tsipouro was said to be a monastery on the much revered Mount Athos, where fourteenth century Monks would prepare a type of Tsipouro that was flavoured with anise, and it was this that eventually came to be known as Ouzo. [tell me more]
Paris - Ten Top Attractions
Paris, one of the most famous and historical capital cities, has much to tempt the discerning visitor. Her are ten of my favourite must-see attractions of the most romantic city in the world. [tell me more]
Pasta and Miss Braithwaite
I was having these very thoughts as I untied yards of Spaghetti from around my neck (I love Spaghetti, but have not yet mastered the eating of it, at least not in public), so I decided to do a little research on the matter, and it turns out that there are a few myths surrounding our durum friend. It looks like Miss Braithwaite, my teacher from the distant past, had told me a few lies, and me at such a tender age hung on to her words without question Marco Polo, although being a first class explorer and thoroughly nice bloke, did not bring pasta back from China. To be fair to him, I don't think he ever tried to claim credit for its introduction, and I don't know how the rumour started. Maybe he once ate his shoelace for a bet; I don't know, but Miss Braithwaite swallowed it anyway (the rumour, not the shoelace). [tell me more]
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea with a land surface of 24,090 sq km. With 1,849 km of rocky coastline and ample deep bays and inlets surrounded by smaller isles. Sardinia's has 300 days sunshine a year with rainfall in the Winter and the Autumn, some heavy showers in the Spring and snowfalls on the highest hills in the winter. The wind, can be fresh and usually dry and cold, blowing from north west, throughout the year, but most frequently in winter and spring. [tell me more]
Sherry or Jerez?
It was the Phoenicians who introduced Sherry to the Iberian Peninsula, and the Romans were only too happy to carry on the tradition. Even the Moors, who generally abstained from alcohol, used it for medicinal purposes, but when Francis Drake attacked Cadiz in 1587 and returned to England with 3000 barrels, the tipple became an instant favourite with Queen Elizabeth 1 and the English Court, beginning a British love affair with the drink. [tell me more]
Skiing in Bulgaria
Bansko is the newest and the most rapidly developing ski resorts in Bulgaria. 40 million Euros have been invested, to create a top rate facility with the best equipment, including a new gondola, snow guns, electronic ski pass system etc. [tell me more]
'Spain, The Bear Facts'
Not many amongst the thousands of tourists that head for Spain each year will be aware that the country has a bear population, albeit a small one. Hunted almost to the point of extinction, the Cantabrian Brown Bear is now protected, but its numbers have dwindled to around one hundred and sixty which live in two colonies whose boundaries are separated by a mere thirty kilometres. The larger group of around one hundred and twenty bears lives on the borders of Asturias, Galicia and Leon whilst thirty or forty live around the borders of Cantabria. Today, the maximum fine for killing a bear is three hundred thousand Euros, although the hunting ban did not come into force until 1973. [tell me more]
Spain's Top Ten Attractions
Spain is absolutely bursting with places to see and things to do. These are my top ten must-see attractions. [tell me more]
Spanish Serrano and Iberico Ham
Even during the days of the Roman Empire, Jamon Serrano, or Mountain Ham, was considered a delicacy and its popularity hasn't diminished in these times of fast food. The preparation of this dry-cured, Spanish ham is anything but fast, but it's well worth waiting for. [tell me more]
Spanish Tapas
Now, I'm not what you'd call a 'Big Bloke', but I do like my food and I especially like Spanish Tapas which are essentially small tasty snacks served with drinks in Spanish bars and cafes. Rather than dine in a single place, the ever-social Spaniards go out for Tapas. You could call it the Iberian equivalent of a 'Pub Crawl', but without the falling over bit at the end of the evening. There are many different styles and varieties of Tapas, many taking the flavour of locally available ingredients and tastes. Widely consumed all over the Iberian peninsula, Tapas are now also enjoyed by diners all over the world, but let's face it, Spain is the Daddy. [tell me more]
Spanish Troglodytes-The cave house Dwellers of Gua
On the A92 between Granada and Almeria you'll come across Guadix, which is famous for the Jarra Accittanas. These ornate terracotta vases are used for wedding guests to carry their gifts for the bride and groom (no-one ever receives a TV for a wedding present in Guadix). Despite this unusual tradition and the pretty streets and buildings, the town is better known for its cave houses. [tell me more]
Spanish Winter Sun
Get away from the cold damp british winter take a break and find some winter sun. Andalucia, Spain enjoys some great winter tempratures, ideal for many types of holiday. [tell me more]
Ten Top Spanish Tapa's
I'm not sure that the Spanish realise just what treasures they hold in Tapas. Rather than grabbing a burger or a boring sandwich from a Filling Station, Spaniards prefer to go to a bar and enjoy their favourite snack, along with a drink and a chat. [tell me more]
Ten Top Tips for a Successful Villa Holiday
Renting a holiday villa that you've never seen can be worrying, but if you take a few simple steps beforehand, you'll find the property that suits your needs. [tell me more]
'The Bishop of Norwich is an Awfully Nice Fellow'
Port Wine goes back a long way, and Douro, the region in Portugal that produces it, is the third oldest protected wine region in the world. The 'General Company of Viticulture of the Upper Douro' was established in 1756, with the purpose of ensuring both the quality and the price of the product. [tell me more]
The Island of La Palma
One of the seven major Canary Islands, located off the west coast of Africa, the name "Isla de La Palma" means "The Island of Palms" it is also known as "La Isla Bonita" the beautiful island, and "La Isla Verde" the green island. La Palma dose not depend on tourism for its survival so you won't find bustling towns with high rise hotels everywhere, but it does have good local restaurants, interesting places to visit and charming Spanish towns and villages to explore [tell me more]
The Lure of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond may have been immortalised in song, but it is also the largest freshwater lake in Britain (by surface area) and a popular tourist destination. It occupies a surface area of 71 square kilometres between the Western Lowlands and the Southern Highlands. It is 39 kilometres long and between 1.2 and 8 kilometres wide. You will find the loch in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, in the council areas of Stirling, Argyll and Bute, and West Dumbartonshire. It southern shores lie 23 kilometres north of Glasgow, making it a perfect day trip location for anyone visiting the country's largest city. [tell me more]
The Mediterranean Olive Tree
At the bottom of my garden, which lies in the Axarquia region of Andalusia, is a track that leads to Lake Vinuela. At the side of this track is an Olive tree that must be hundreds of years old. Its trunk, gnarled and twisted like an old mooring rope appears to be growing out of a huge rock. If this tree could talk, it would entertain you for hours. It was there long before the man-made lake appeared, and I suspect it will still be there when I have left this mortal coil. [tell me more]
'The Mystery of Stonehenge'
5000 years ago at a site near Amesbury, Wiltshire in England, someone decided to dig a serious of circular holes. Each of these holes was around a metre deep, a metre wide, and formed a part of a circle of 284 feet in diameter. Although human remains have been found, it is thought that the holes, known as 'Aubrey Holes', where originally excavated for some kind of religious ceremony. For whatever reason, the site was abandoned soon after its conception, and remained untouched for another 1000 years. [tell me more]
The Treasures of Cordoba
Due to its importance as the highest navigable point on the River Guadalquivir, Cordoba became a city of great importance. Founded by the Romans, the city boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage. It was the birthplace of three famous philosophers - the Roman Stoic Seneca, the Muslim Averroes, and the Jewish Maimonides - as well as the Roman poet Lucan and several modern flamenco artists including Paco Peña, Vicente Amigo and Joaquín Cortés. [tell me more]
'The World's biggest Tomato Fight'
If throwing squashed tomatoes turns you on, I know just the place for you. Bunyol, near Valencia hosts its annual 'La Tomatina' festival, and it has to be the biggest Tomato fight in the world. The festivities begin early in the week, but the main event occurs on the last Wednesday of August around 12 O'clock. High noon in a Valencian village; I can just imagine Gary Cooper walking through the town square with his tomatoes cocked. [tell me more]
Travelling to France
The largest country in the European Union and the second largest in Europe, France has been a major world power for many centuries and is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The French colonised huge parts of North America, North West and Central Africa and numerous Pacific islands. [tell me more]
Turkish Baths
Imagine this; you're walking down the high street and you bump into an old friend. 'How are you doing?' she asks. 'How am I doing what?' 'You know, how are you getting along. I haven't seen you in a while.' 'I'm fine and you?blah,blah,blah, and so it goes on until suddenly you ask 'Fancy having a bath with me tonight?' 'Love to,' she says 'see you around eight-thirty.' [tell me more]
Valais, Switzerland
Switzerland is best known for winter sports, cuckoo clocks and chocolate, but there's a lot more to it than that. Valais, one of the 26 cantons (regions) of Switzerland is an L-shaped valley which borders Italy to the south and France to the west; it was formed when mighty glaciers sliced a path between two alpine mountain ranges. [tell me more]
Walking Maroma
'Let's walk up La Maroma', I said after I'd downed a few bottles of San Miguel in a Spanish bar. My friend, who had also sunk one or two, agreed that it was a superb idea, and so it seemed at the time. But it doesn't pay to take Maroma lightly. I mean, really, who in their right mind would set off to walk up a mountain without a proper map? Well me for one...and him. [tell me more]
'Wine Regions of France'
The English and the French have had their disagreements in the past, but most English people would agree, albeit begrudgingly, that the best wine in the world comes from across the channel. More than two million acres of French land is turned over to the vine, which translates into a staggering amount of bottles. Although second to Spain in area of cultivated vineyards, France rightly claims to be the world's largest wine producer, with the Languedoc-Roussilion region in the South alone, producing more wine than the entire United States. [tell me more]

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