Krakow, is one of the oldest and the largest cities in Poland and has long been a popular tourist destination. It is located on the Vistula river and is the capital of the Malopolski – which is also known as the Lesser Poland in the Southern region of Poland. Balice airport located at about 12 kilometers from Krakow is the city’s main connecting airport to other European cities.
The Stare Miasto and the Jewish town are perhaps the first places you’ll notice in Krakow. The Old town with its magnificent churches and impressive buildings is a ten minute walk from the train station. The Rynek Gloway which is the largest medieval square is at the heart of the old city. The Wawel castle which was the home to many Polish kings is also located in the old town and it is not to be missed out when you’re here. The Kazimierz, which is the Jewish town has a number of synagogues and many other buildings of Jewish culture and has been the site of many scenes in the movie ”The Schindler’s List”. Krakow also has a number of museums and art galleries that exhibit the beauty of Slavic art and other World War II memorables.
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Rimini is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and it is also the capital of the Rimini province. It is located along the shores of the Adriatic sea and is perhaps the best known resort in the Adriatic. The city has been inhabited since 268 B.C by the Romans and it boasts of its grandeur in it buildings. Rimini is just the place if you’re looking for the sun and the sand in Italy. Rimini has its own international airport and is well connected with the rest of the European cities.
The Augustus Arch that was constructed in the year 27 B.C is a feast to the eyes, so is the 13th century Cathedral of Tempio Malatestiano. The Domus of the surgeon is an archeological area that documents the history of the region over 20 centuries. La Marina that includes 15 kilometers of beach front along with a number of Roman ruins and medieval monuments is another attraction in the historic town of Rimini. You might also want to check out the local delicacies along with Piadina – a special type of local bread.
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Literally meaning Field of a Thousand Generations, Chiyoda is a special ward in Tokyo city and houses several important buildings including the Supreme Court and the Imperial Palace among others. Other than being just Tokyo’s administrative center, Chiyoda is also credited for being an important place among tourists. The Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and high walls is the official residence of the Japanese Imperial family and is the most visited place here along with the Imperial palace East Gardens which are open on all days except Mondays and Fridays.
The Chidoriga-fuchi Moat located to the Northwest side of the Imperial garden is the most prominent cherry-blossom sites attracts thousands of visitors daily. The Yasukuni War temple is one that is dedicated to the people who lost their lives during the second world war and is worth a visit. The Yushukan war memorial with its war memorables is located adjacent the war temple and should not be missed!
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Sprawling along the shores of the Black Sea along the Southern border of Russia is the resort city of Sochi. The city lies beautifully on the shores of the Black sea with the Caucasus Mountains in its background. It is also claimed to be the longest city in Europe and finds special mention as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a subtropical resort. The city is flocked by millions of tourists each years and is well connected with most of the European cities.
The city is known for its scenic beaches with sandy, pebbled beaches with the beauty of the Caucasus Mountains. It is also known for its numerous cathedrals and other places of interest. The Vorontsov Caves at Kudepsta is noted for its large cave hall and is visited by several tourists. Another important place of interest at Sochi is the Akhshtyr Gorge which has a 160 meter long cave that has remains of humans who lived as early as 30000 years-definitely a must visit!
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Lying as a group of islands in the Micronesia region of Oceania is the island group of Palau. Palau is located just to the Southeast of Philippines and is a whole group of tropical islands waiting to be explored by tourists. Only a few of these islands are inhabited and Babeldaob Island is the largest of these. Koror is the only airport in the island that connects to other cities in SouthEast Asia.
Anyone who visits the island must not miss out the Jellyfish lake that you’ll find in Rock islands. The lake is home to millions of weak stinger jellyfishes and snorkeling is perfectly safe here. Palau has some of the world’s best diving spots and Blue corner and German Channel are some of them. You can also have a tour organized if you want to check out all the World War II battle fields on these islands. Diving lovers will definitely have the best holidays of their life here!
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Located in Central Java of Indonesia is the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan – a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is known to be the largest Hindu temple complex in South East Asia and it was built around the 9th century by rulers of the Mataram or the Sanjaya dynasty. The place is located near the city of Yogyakarta which has an airport and is well connected.
The temple complex has more than 237 temples but most of them are in ruins now. The Candi Prambanan is the most visited temple and the largest one here. It is dedicated to the three main deities of the Hindus-Candi Siva,Candi Brahma and Candi Vishnu. Most of the temples in Prambanam are off limits to touristers these days due to security issues. You should also check out the Candi Lumbung and Candi Bubrah, which are Buddhist temples located near these temples. The Candi Sewu is another Buddhist temple complex with intricate relief work and beautiful designs that is located about a kilometer from the Hindu temples.
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Situated in the Caribbean Sea, to the North of Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique is one of the overseas regions of France and is a part of the European Union. The island has been a region of France ever since the 18th century and locally spoken languages include French and Antillean Creole. The island has a tropical Caribbean climate and the island is mountainous for most of the part. There are four extinct volcanoes covered with lush tropical vegetation and the tallest of these mountains is the famous volcano of Mount Pelee.
Martinique like any other Caribbean island is known for its beautiful beaches; however, the specialty of the beaches in the Northern side of the island is that they have black sand! Martinique is noted for its culture which is a mix of the French and the Creole cultures. Macouba is a beautiful Tobacco town that offers some of the best views of the island and the neighbouring island of Dominic. The Creole cuisine is something that any traveler should checkout when on the beautiful island of Martinique.
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Situated in the Republic of Karelia, Kizhi is an island located in the Lake Onega of Russia. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the most visited tourist destination in Russia. The island is known for its beautiful wooden churches and chapels that portray in Russian architecture in every aspect. Kizhi is easily accessible from Petrozavodsk by helicopter or hydrofoil. The island hardly has any accommodation facilities; however, you could find a lodge or two in the neighbouring villages.
The Kizhi Pogost that is found in the island consists of a wooden church and a bell tower and several other wooden structures and is enclosed within a wooden fence. Many say the island is entirely a museum and the 22-domed Transfiguration church that was constructed in the year 1714 stands as the crown jewel of this island. The church which is a 37 meter high structure is made up of wood and it is one of the tallest structures made out of wood in the world.
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Ho Chi Minh City, in short HCMC or HCM was initially called as Saigon till the fall of Saigon in 1975. This has been the capital of South Vietnam and the largest city of Vietnam. The largest airport in Vietnam, Tan Son Nhat is located in here and it is well connected to many international cities. Be very careful while hiring a taxi to your hotels since there might be many highly charging companies and it is always advisable to take metered taxis.
For getting around the city and for visiting places of interest, you will need tour maps and these are easily available at the airport entrance. Some important places include the Reunification Palace or the Independence Palace which is a famous place having many precious things inside it. War Remnants Museum, which has the war symbols of their war with the Americans. Other popular places include City hall and Ho Chi Minh museum and the Notre Dame museum.
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Dijon is one of the very few French cities which were unaffected by the Second World War and remains as one of the most beautiful cities of France. Dijon is famous for the Mustard produced there and the city itself is named after that mustard. When Dukes controlled the Northern France and some other parts of the Europe, Dijon was their capital and because of their liking towards the arts, Dijon was the seat of Renaissance painters and sculptures and music. If that is the case in early period, now Dijon is a well developed city with all facilities and also many industrial plants in the outskirts.
Getting into Dijon is not a much difficult task. As far as air travel is considered, Dijon has an airport but commercial flights are not available to this destination. Some notable visiting spots in this city include the Ducal palace which was once the dukes palace. And it has within inside the Beaux –arts museum which has the most precious treasures with splendid art on the walls and the ceilings. Other places of interest include the Well of Moses and St. Michel church.
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