Image via WikipediaYour honeymoon is one of the best vacations you’ll ever take. It is the start of a new life with someone you love. As well as a great reason to visit one of the most beautiful places in the entire world. Whether you leave straight from your reception or wait a few weeks until the excitement dies down, a honeymoon is a vacation that you will remember for the rest of your life. One of the most popular places to go on a honeymoon is the Caribbean.

There are many reasons why the Caribbean is the perfect honey spot. First, not many people live in a magical tropical paradise as is found on most of the Caribbean islands. Because we do not live in this kind of weather, the Caribbean is an escape from reality. Another reason when the Caribbean is a great place for a vacation is because it is in fact so popular. The islands cater to couples and love, and you can find a variety of special activities available just for newlyweds.

To plan a honeymoon in the Caribbean, you must start long before you even finish planning your wedding. First, consider how much the honeymoon will cost in your budget. If you overspend, you’ll find yourself coming home to a new life filled with debt, and that is never a great way to start a new life. Instead, start with a budget in mind and find a Caribbean island that can meet your needs.

The second thing you should consider when it comes to planning a Caribbean honeymoon is that you’ll need a way to transition from the wedding to the honeymoon. Traditionally, the honeymoon was to start on your wedding night, but most couples also love to hold wedding receptions. Your wedding reception will probably last well into the night, and leaving for an airplane trip to the Caribbean islands may not be the best idea at that point. Instead, lots of couples are opting to spend the night in a local hotel and leave for the honeymoon in the morning. Still others spend the week after the wedding moving into a new home and leave on the honeymoon after that. Some couples even wait an entire year and plan their honeymoon for their first anniversary in order to save up money. The key is to do what is right for you.

When on your honeymoon in the Caribbean, make sure that you mention this fact to people. You may receive special treatment like a ticket bumped to first class or a nicer hotel room for the same price if people are helping you to celebrate. Champagne and other free drinks, special prices are restaurants, and hotel gifts are some of the other great honeymoon specials you may receive on your honeymoon in the Caribbean. This is a great way to start your new life, so even if small things go wrong, simply focus on enjoying your time together.

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Image via WikipediaHome of the late King, and his final resting place, his beautiful home of Graceland gives an insight into how the man lived when not on stage. From the beautiful entrance to the famous Jungle Room, Graceland is everything you imagine it to be.

Tours of Graceland start across the road from the grounds themselves. Here you will find everything Elvis from the tacky to the collectible. From record stores to museums housing Elvis memorabilia such as his collection of cars, and the Lisa Marie, his private jet, there’s bound to be something that will tempt you into parting with your dollars. One of the simplest mementos is to send a postcard home from the Graceland post office, this will have a Graceland postmark on it and so becomes an instant souvenir. Your ticket into Graceland doesn’t usually include admittance to the other Elvis museums so if you want to see “everything” be prepared to pay for it.

One Graceland attraction that’s free to tourists is the sight of those famous musically decorated gates. Which Elvis fan can forget the fans that lined up hoping to get a glimpse of what was happening on the days immediately following his death? As the bus that takes you across to the house approaches, the gates open and you are admitted into this once very private estate.

Apart from the main house, there’s also an exhibition of Elvis’s stage clothes and other personal items, including his wall of “Records”, and the grounds behind the house where Elvis is laid to rest. Even today, many years after his death, there are fresh floral tributes regularly sent to the estate by various Elvis fan clubs and associations and which are put on display.

Graceland is a home where a King once ruled, but even though his body may have long since past, his presence amidst the contrasting beauty and garishness is still felt today. If you’re an Elvis fan, this is one place you must see if you’re in the Memphis area!

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Image via WikipediaAbout the county

Czech Republic is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The capital of Czech Republic is Prague which is also the biggest city of Czech Republic and a popular tourist destination. Czech Republic became a member of European Union in May, 2004. Czech Republic was earlier a part of Czechoslovakia which was dissolved in January, 1993 and was split into what is now called Czech and Slovak Republics. Brno, Ostrava, Plze?, Olomouc, , ?eské Bud?jovice, Zlín, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Pardubice and Karlovy Vary are the other important cities of Czech Republic. Czech Republic is divided into two parts based on geographical and cultural classification. They are Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemian cities and towns are popular for their spas and wine vineyards. It is also home to many castles which are open for visitors. One of the other tourism attractions is the availability of hundreds of miles of marked trails for hiking, cycling and skiing.

Population & Languages

The population of Czech Republic is roughly 10.2 million and the official language being spoken is Czech.

Electricity

The voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. The type of plug used is Round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin

Geographic Location

It is located in Central Europe bordering Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. It is basically a landlocked country strategically located on some of the most important land routes in Europe.

Climate

The climate of Czech Republic can be termed as Temperate with hot summers and cold overcast winters. It also gets snow. Most of the rain comes down in summer. Due to different altitudes the variation of temperatures is diverse. The temperatures are relatively low at high altitudes and more precipitation. The temperatures average only -0.4°C at high altitude areas whereas the temperatures can average as high as 10°C in low altitude areas.

Local Customs

Dressing should be conservative and casual except at formal dinners or good hotels or restaurants. Tipping is usually 5 to 10 percent in restaurant, hotels and taxis.

Attractions

The Castle District (Hradèany) – It has some of the best churches and museums. It also has some beautiful gardens, fortifications and state apartments also.

St Vitus Cathedral – It is located in the Castle District, the prominent feature of this cathedral is the spires which soar high in the sky. It is also country’s largest church with great architecture.

Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) – This is one of the most popular tourist spots of the city and should not be missed.

Old Town Square (Starom?stské Námestí) – It is the most vibrant square of Prague with many historical structures. It also hosts various markets every year like yearly Christmas market.

The Jewish Museum – It is the largest Jewish Museum in Central Europe with a vast collection of Judaic art works.
Vyšehrad – Is a great hill fort built on a rock above the river.

Travel

By Air – The national airline of Czech Republic is Czech Airlines. There are many other small and popular international airlines operating from Czech Republic. The major airport is Prague Ruzyne International Airport (PRG). The airport is located approximately 10 miles north west of Prague.

By Rail – The country is part of the extensive network of trains connecting the European cities. If you are coming from Western Europe the most convenient connections are via Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich to Prague.

Duty Free Items

1. 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg tobacco for EU countries.
2. 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco for Non-EU countries.
3. 10 liter of spirits with alcohol content over 22%, or 20 liter of alcoholic beverages with alcohol volume less than 22%, or 90 liter of wine or 60 liter of sparkling wine, or 110 liter of beer for EU countries.
4. 1 liter spirits or 2 liter wine for Non-EU countries.
5. 50g perfume or 250ml eau de toilette
6. Food, fruits, medications and flowers for personal use
7. Gifts up to €175

Prohibited Items

Un-canned goods, meat or dairy products, Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.

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Image via WikipediaAny traveler interested in Canada’s history and aboriginal people will want to make a trip to the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is dedicated to the preservation and display of Canada’s history and to the culture and art of the First Peoples (a common Canadian term for the pre-European native population of Canada).

The Museum, in Hull, Quebec, is across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill, Ottawa.  Douglas Cardinal designed the two massive curvilinear buildings that make up the museum and the curatorial department.  The design was intended to be evocative of the formation of the North American continent and its subsequent reshaping by glaciers, wind, and water.

The Grand Hall exhibit space is a little over 19,000 square feet (1,782 sq m) and contains six full-size reproduction facades of houses and totems.  Each facade represents a typical chieftain’s home in one of six Aboriginal communities from coastal British Columbia.  The Museum is working with the Native people of each region represented to create a cooperative exhibit for the houses’ interiors.

The First Peoples Hall celebrates the contributions of Canada’s First Peoples.  Exhibits include works of art, audiovisual presentations, artifacts, and archival documents.  The exhibit is self-guided or a guided tour is available for an additional fee.

Housed on the third level of the Museum, the Canada Hall illustrates the history of the country for the last 1000 years with a series of life-size displays.  Visitors may catch a performance by Dramamuse, the Museum’s in-house theatre company.  The troupe stages re-enactments of scenes from the country’s past in the exhibit area and are available to answer questions.

The Canadian Children’s Museum, on the second level, takes children on an interactive adventure around the world.  An art studio, puppet theatre, and game section round out the exhibits.

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Image via WikipediaIf you’re a geologist, a naturalist, or just someone that’s interested in a place a bit off the beaten track, then The Badlands, South Dakota is the place for you.

A mixture of spires, valleys, buttes and sharply eroded sandstone, this mixed prairie grass preserve is a great place to go whether you’re a fossil hunter, or just interested in natural beauty.

Badlands National park is a gorgeous place – with unique and unusual sandstone rock that layers in ways that has to be seen to be believed.  The spires, and erosions formed over several thousand millenia make for a unique skyline.  Vegetation and fauna sprinkle crevices and valleys, making for interesting walks, and of course, the badlands are home to all kinds of wild animals, from Bison that graze by the side of the road as you’re driving through, to Prairie dogs, Elk, Coyotes, and wild Horses.

Many interesting fossils have been found there, since the interest in paleontology kicked up in 1840 or so.  Several species of fossils have since been discovered in the White River area of the Badlands – more than 3/4s of the total found by 1854 had come from that one area.

Theodore Roosevelt national park is the most interesting of the Badlands parks, made up of three packages of land that are separate from one another – and are all connected by The Maah Daah Hey   trail.  It is said that Theodore Roosevelt associated strongly with the ‘dying’ way of life of the Western cowboy, and rancher and had his own ranch there to recover from the loss of his mother and later, his wife.  His Ranch is set deep within the heart of one of the packets of land and though there’s nothing left of it now, he wrote about the peace he found there, before returning to politics later in his life.

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