Posts Tagged ‘five star’

The Las Ventas Bullring in Madrid

Sports, Travel | Posted by admin
Jan 15 2009

The Spanish capital city of Madrid is the third most populous city in all of Europe. Madrid’s rich and colorful history has left it with wonderful monuments, architecture, and some of the most famous art in the world, but the city also offers a modern, cosmopolitan atmosphere making it one of the top tourist destinations in Spain.

A visit to the city may begin with a stay in one of the five star Madrid hotels. Travellers can then enjoy many fine restaurants and shopping opportunities. Art lovers will find incredible museums and galleries throughout the city. And Madrid is legendary for its exciting nightlife that begins in the city’s many restaurants but finds its heart in the many bars and nightclubs that keep the city humming all night.

One of the more unique attractions in Madrid is bullfighting. Established in 1929, the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas is Spain’s largest bullring and is considered by many to be the center of bullfighting for the entire world. Dedicated in 1931, Las Ventas can seat nearly 25,000 spectators.

The bullfighting season in Madrid starts up in March and runs through October. Daily bullfights are held from Mid-March to Mid-June during the San Isidro festivities. For the remainder of the season, bullfights occur on Sundays and public holidays. Seating prices are determined by their proximity to the arena and whether they are in shady areas of the stadium or sunny.

Off season, Las Ventas is home to many concerts and other large events, such as the 1996 concert by AC/DC that was recorded as a concert video/DVD.

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The Five Boroughs of New York

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 31 2008

New York city is the most popular tourist destination in the United States. Visitors are drawn to the city’s numerous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center Site, and Central Park. New York is perhaps the leading city in the world for art, fashion, diplomacy, finance, theater, dance, and food. One of the easiest ways to get a feel for this vibrant, multicultural city is to look at the five boroughs that make up the city.

Manhattan is probably the most well-known of the five city boroughs. Here is where you’ll find the many skyscrapers that define the New York skyline. It is the financial center of New York and is home to the United Nations, several universities, and the world headquarters of many major corporations, including the major television and cable networks. Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and a variety of museums and galleries are housed here. Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Greenwich Village, Times Square, and Broadway are all located in Manhattan as is the famous Harlem neighborhood. Manhattan is also home to a number of five star New York hotels, world-famous restaurants, and some of the best shopping and nightlife in the world.

The Bronx is the only borough that is not on an island. If it were an individual city, the Bronx would be one of the ten most populous US cities (along with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens). However, this borough has managed to preserve extensive parkland. The Bronx Zoo is the largest US metropolitan zoo. It houses over 6000 animals on 265 acres. The New York Yankees call the Bronx home. The Bronx is also the recognized birthplace hip hop culture and rap music.

The most populous borough is Brooklyn, which remained an independent city until 1898. As a former city, Brooklyn maintains its own downtown area and an independent art scene from the rest of New York. This borough is known for its diversity, social, ethnic, and cultural. Brooklyn is the home of New York’s famous brownstone architecture and its various neighborhoods are also distinct. Here you’ll find extensive beachfront, including Coney Island, which is one of the oldest amusement parks in the country.

The largest borough by size is Queens, which also holds the distinction of the most ethnically diverse county in the US. Queens was originaly a collection of Dutch-founded villages and towns. Today it is mostly middle class and residential in nature. It is the home of the New York Mets and the US Open tennis tournament. Both of New York’s major airports, JFK and LaGuardia, are located in Queens.

Staten Island is a more suburban and rural borough. In 1984 the Greenbelt was designated to protect the island’s natural environments. It includes seven individual parks, an undisturbed forest, and around 35 miles of walking trails. The Staten Island Ferry provides stunning views of lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty, making it one of the most popular New York attractions. The ferry is free and is the only way of reaching Staten Island from Manhattan.

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Bangkok’s Greenery

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 26 2008

Known as the commercial and business center of Thailand, Bangkok has managed to balance its bustling urban landscape with well-placed parks throughout the city. Each is an oasis of green in the exotic city known for its skyscrapers and modern development. While visitors come for the shopping, food, historical and cultural sites, and to stay in modern accommodations such as the five star hotels of Bangkok, they may find that taking time to visit one (or more) of the parks will offer them easy access to the slower pace of this cosmopolitan city.

Lumphini Park which was designed by Rama VI in the 1920s as the Bangkok’s answer to Central Park. Lumphini serves as the location for ceremonies and grand pageants celebrating the Tahi constitution. It is also a haven for runners, with the western gates being opened on most Sundays allowing access to Silom Road.

Two of the largest parks in the city are Suan Luang Rama IX park and Chatuchak Park. Rama IX is a 200 acre park commemorating the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It features botanical gardens as well as public park areas. Chatuchak is known for its nine ASEAN sculptures. In these two parks you’ll find large lakes and ponds, sporting clubs, and gardens in the Japanese, French, and English styles.

Sanam Luang is home to an annual kite festival, as kite flying is a popular sport in the city. Princess Mother Memorial park includes a full scale mode of the Princess Mother’s house. Other parks with historic sites as well as public greenary include Benchasiri Park, Rommaninat Park, Saranrom Park, and the Santi Chai Prakan Pavilion and Public Park.

Bankok has also designated a number of “green zones” to preserve areas from development. This includes the large forest park located between Samut Prakan and Yannawa. Covering over 50 square kilometers, it serves as a buffer between the large industries of the south and west Bangkok metropolitan area and the CBD.

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The Extremes of Kolkata

Travel | Posted by admin
Dec 14 2008

Kolkata is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River in India. This 12th largest city in the world is the second most populous in India and served as the colonial capital until 1911. Formerly known as Calcutta, the city’s name was changed to Kolkata in 2001 as part of the ongoing reorganization of the states since gaining independence from the United Kingdom.

Famous for its revolutionary background, Kolkata is also known as the birthplace of modern Indian artistic and literary thought. It is a haven for poets, writers, artists and film makers. A major military and commercial port, Kolkata is home to the only international airport in the region. It is also a spiritual and cultural center.

While many visitors experience culture shock from the sheer bustle of this city of over 15 million inhabitants, there are plenty of accomodations that can help provide moments of calm, such as the many five star Kolkata hotels. Once they are ready to step outside their lodgings, visitors will find a vibrant, multicultural environment waiting to be experienced.

Kolkata is filled with historic sites such as palaces, forts, and other momuments. It is home to a number of famous museums and galleries. There are cathedrals and temples of various faiths as well as the tomb of Mother Teresa. Kolkata also offers a variety of shopping and dining experiences that can round out any trip to the city that is nicknamed “the City of Joy.”

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