Things to Do and See in Cordova, Spain

Planning to visit Cordova in the future? It was over six month now since we visited this lovely city of Andalusia in Spain. Called as Cordoba in Spanish, this city has a lot of things to offer to all its guests and visitors.

Sad to say, it has no airport to serve for passengers who wish to fly there.  If you are especially coming  from  England  and wish to visit Cordova, you can check the airports near it.  You can either fly to Seville, Malaga or Madrid.  Easyjet  for example  are offering cheap fares  from London Stansted to Malaga airport. Depending on your point of departure from the UK, you can also check British Airways flights to any destination in Spain.

Here are some of the things to do and see when in Cordova.

Visit the Mezquita

This is the most famous attraction in Cordoba and really a must-see. I was amazed by its architecture especially its interior parts. This was a mosque turned into a Catholic Cathedral. This building is full of history and beauty.You will marvel its arts and architecture once you visit it.

The interior of Mezquita.

Walk On The Roman Bridge

Called as Puente Romano in Spanish, this bridge crosses the Guadalquivir River. it was once the main crossing over the river. It was built in the early 1st century BC during the period of the Roman rule in Cordova. This is a very interesting work of engineering during those times.

The Roman Bridge in Cordova during our trip last Dec. 2011.

See the Calle de las Flores

Translated as "Street of the Flowers" in English, this narrow street with its beautiful tiny square is always full of flowers. From there, you can have a nice view of the tower of Mezquita.

The tower of Mezquita  from the Calle de las Flores.

A Quick Peep at the Synagogue

This is not really a big building. Let's say, it is small but beautiful. It is said to be one of the three remaining synagogue in Spain. It was built in 1315. You can find lovely Mudejar decorative plaster on the walls inside this small square room with high ceilings.

Witness some of its famous events like the Semana Santa, Carnaval, Cruces de Mayo and many events that are taking place every year.

Religious structures such as the historical churches of San Miguel, San Agustin, San Andres, San Lorenzo, San Pablo and many more are also worth to visit.

Trip To The Baltic States- The Center of Europe

Our trip to the Baltic States is finally booked. After convincing hubby that we will go there for our vacation this year, he did not hesitated about it. And yes,  we had a unanimous decision.It will be a 6-day trip on September 2012. We will be visiting some of the cities and towns in the Baltic region.

One of the cities that we will be visiting is Klaipeda. It is the third largest city of Lithuania situated at the mouth of Dane River that flows into the Baltic Sea. Our tour guide will surely show us the sights in this city.

The Curonian Spit is also included in this holiday package. It is very interesting to know that it is home to the highest moving (drifting) sand dunes in Europe. I would surely love to see this wonderful landscape soon. The Curonian Spit is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is shared by two countries, Lithuania and Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia in the southern part.

Riga, the capital and largest city of Latvia is also included in our travel itinerary. It is known as the Paris in the Baltic. We will be seeing the its historical center which is also included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania is another highlight in this trip. It is dubbed as the "Jerusalem of the North". I would love to see some of its famous sights like the Gediminas Castle, Vilnius Cathedra, St. Ann's Church, Three Crosses Hill and more. I hope we can have more time to go around its Old Town.

Other places that we will be visiting are Kaunas, Siauliai (known in German as Berg der Kreuze) and  some sidetrips to Hamburg and Kiel in Germany.

If you plan to visit  the Baltic States, you can surely find cheap flights in any airports like in Riga and Vilnius. Try to read  flight reviews  online especially on  the different carriers that fly to the Baltic capitals.

I can't wait to visit these countries in a few months. I am quite excited especially  because this will be  my first time to go there. Travel images will be shared after our trip!

Cheap Accommodation in Bali

Anyone out there who is planning for a holiday to Bali? If yes, here are some things I can impart to you especially if you are looking for cheap Bali hotels or any other form of accommodation in this island. As a traveller to Bali, you don't need to worry about finding for affordable accommodation because this so-called "famed Island of the Gods" has a vast assortment of cheap Bali hotels from really very cheap to mid-range ones. Depending on your type, needs or budget, there are a wealth of guesthouses, upscale resorts and villas and dorm accommodations that are scattered on the island.

Since Bali is very famous with its world-class diving and surfing, many cheap Bali hotels specialize in the surfer trade from gorgeous Ulutwatu to wild Kuta to tranquil Canggu.
This is also one of the reasons why this Indonesian island is a top destination for many tourists and visitors from all corners of the world.

Bali is also widely known for its vibrantly spiritual culture and decadent tropical partying. For these reasons enormous range of accommodations are available to every tourist from backpackers to the super-rich. The best place for backpackers can be found in Kuta, which has the cheapest and sometimes shabbiest digs on the island. The super-rich ones usually head to the many five-star resorts in Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Ubud.

If you want some quite beaches but fairly happy accommodation, Sanur and Jimbaran are the perfect place for you. Legian also offers a good range of accommodation. Traditional villages in the district of Canggu with rice fiend scenery, also offer affordable and good range of accommodation. If you simply want to rest and revitalize, the perfect place for you is Amed. Private villas for rent are also getting famous in Bali. It is usually complete with staff and top-class levels of service.

Three different currencies are accepted as payments for Bali hotels and other accommodation. The most common one is in U.S. dollars. When a hotel is owned by a European national, Euro currencies are sometimes accepted. Indonesian Rupiah are accepted especially for lower-end places but not always. Credit cards are also accepted as payments.

Tops Sights to Visit in Delhi

If there are a lot of beautiful places to visit in Europe, there are also a lot of exotic and interesting ones in Asia. Let me also tell you this, "One life is not enough to see and to explore all corners of this world. If you have the chance now to see its charm and beauty, grab it because this is only once in a lifetime". This is also the reason why I am always taking my chance to travel especially when time and budget are available.

India is also included in my travel wishlist. It is a vast land ranking the seventh-largest country by geographical area and the second-most populous country in the world. Delhi is one of the cities I wish to visit in India. That is why from time to time, I am searching for cheap flights to Delhi. When I find one including affordable accommodation, I would surely go there immediately.

Akshardham- One of the sights not to miss when visiting Delhi. Also know as as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, it is a Hindu temple known for its Indian and Hindu culture, architecture and spirituality. Akshardham was presented as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple by Guinness World Book of Records in 2007.

Qutub Minar- known for Indians as Qutb Minar or Qutub in English, it is the tallest minaret in India. It was constructed with red sandstone and marble. It has a soaring tower of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft)and contains 379 stairs to reach the top. It is now listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lotus Temple- Also known as Bahia temple, this building is visited by millions of locals and tourists every year. This this gleaming lotus- like marble structure is located on Bahapur Hills in South Delhi. This modern architecture which was completed in 1986 is a must visit for every tourist who comes to Delhi. You can go inside to pray and meditate. Entrance is free.

Lotus Temple in Delhi, India. thanks to my friend Joy for this image.

Red Fort- This is considered to be one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. It is called Red Fort due to the red stone with which it is built. It showcases the very high level of art form and ornamental work combining European, Persian and Indian art works.

Other interesting sights worth to see are India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan,Purana Quila, Humayun's Tomb, Rajghat, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir and many many more!