Question 1: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Zürich do for fun?

Answer:

In Summer: people love to swim in the River Limmat – in the middle of the city / or spending their time at the lake or Zürich’s own mountain the Uetliberg.  For nightlife and shopping: Zürich West is very popular also the new area: Europaallee just behind the Zürich main station. Also urban gardening & outdoor bars are very popular. Everywhere in the city you can find them. In Winter: as Zürich is very close to big mountains, people like to go skiing and to do other winter sports, ice skating in the city is also popular, eating fondue in one of the many pop-up chalets in the middle of the city or at Christmastime, plus visiting one of our Christmas markets (especially the market at Secheläutenplatz).

Question 2: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Zürich?

Answer:

Zürich has a lot to offer and it’s not just a boring banking city. It has new areas like the industrial part (Zürich West), the Langstrasse, a lovely old town, nature very close and a great selection of restaurants, bars & clubs (nightlife is very huge in Zürich). You can swim in the middle of the city. And we have fountains with drinking water everywhere in the city.

Question 3: Share some aspect of what Zürich has contributed to the world?

Answer:

The world-famous Muesli or “Bircher-Müesli” was invented in Zürich by Swiss physician and pioneer nutritionist M.D. Bircher-Benner. Hiltl – the world’s first vegetarian restaurant – was founded in 1898 in Zürich.

Go here for further information about travel to Zürich

The post 3 Things About Zürich, Switzerland appeared first on Traveling Archive.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Bordeaux do for fun?

Answer:

The Bordelaise, active and vibrant, enjoy wine tasting in one of the world’s great wine growing regions such as Saint Emilion or Pomerol. Dining at sidewalk tables that line the Historic District, and cycling/jogging on the pedestrian promenade adjacent to the Garonne River. A short drive to the Atlantic Ocean beaches, and to Arcachon, a colorful seaside town is where the Bordelaise dig into a plate of fresh oysters from the Gironde estuary. With one of the liveliest music scenes in France there are performances at the Grand Theater/Opera House, 1789, and on going productions and exhibits at La Cite du Vin, and night clubs. On Saturday and Sunday the Bordelaise also head to the Le Marche des Capucins market to art galleries and antique dealers in the colorful Saint Michel neighborhood.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Bordeaux?

Answer:

Bordeaux is not a “Little Paris.” Old Town dating to the 18th century is the world’s largest UNESCO urban World Heritage Site. St. Catherine Street is the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe. In keeping with the dynamic French culture Bordeaux has a growing collection of young up-and-coming chefs. La Cite Du Vin is a five-star one-of-a-kind venue covering the World of Wine. Bordeaux, a cyclist’s paradise, is the sixth most cycle friendly city in the world with over 100 miles of cycling trails, and seven designated routes for exploring the city. Resident Melanie Pelle explains, “Visitor’s are surprised to discover that We have 71,000 acres of natural woods, parks, pine forests, private gardens and marshlands and a large number of hiking trails, and also 15 museums including a former Submarine Base bunker used during World War II.”

3.  Share some aspect of what Bordeaux has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Bordeaux is long noted for their fine wines anchored by 16th, 17th and 18th century chateaux; preserving their downtown Historic District with 5,000 buildings dating to the 18th century; La Cite Du Vin, (The City of Wine) an elaborate cultural experience, unique to the world, with eight floors, 19 themed modules detailing all aspects of wine through the ages with art exhibits, wine tasting and dining with a view.

Get more information about Bordeaux

The post Three Things About Bordeaux appeared first on Traveling Archive.

1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people in Warszawa do for fun?

Answer:

The thing people in Warsaw do for fun depends mostly on the season and the weather – in general, we love spending time outside, so during spring or summer we enjoy the nature in our numerous parks, gardens, forests that surround the city, or on the beaches of the Vistula River. In the winter, when there’s snow, both adults and kids love playing around, skiing or ice skating.

Inhabitants of Warsaw also enjoy going to various theaters, cinemas, to the Opera or Philharmonic Hall. In the summertime there are many open-air musical events, such as concerts of Frederic Chopin’s compositions that take place in the Royal Lazienki Park, which are extremely popular and always count with big numbers of spectators.

Besides that we like eating (and drinking!) out with our friends and family, so if anybody wants to meet true Varsovians, the best place will be one of the “corner bars”, numerous around the city center!

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Warsawa?

Answer:

Warsaw was one of the cities that suffered the most during the WW2, and its city center, including the medieval Old Town, was completely destroyed. After the war, thanks to great efforts of the people of Warsaw, we managed to rebuild the historic center of the city, which was recognized by UNESCO, inscribed our Old Town to the World Heritage List in 1980. It was an uncommon and very important act, as UNESCO tends to recognize original constructions or places, and not contemporary copies. The main explanation states that “During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, more than 85% of Warsaw’s historic centre was destroyed by Nazi troops. After the war, a five-year reconstruction campaign by its citizens resulted in today’s meticulous restoration of the Old Town, with its churches, palaces and market-place. It is an outstanding example of a near-total reconstruction of a span of history covering the 13th to the 20th century.”

3. Question: What has  Warszawa contributed to the world?

Answer:

Warsaw, thanks to its inhabitants, is one of the most heroic cities in the world. It can be perceived as an example of faith, resistance and courage. Even though it was destructed several times along its history, both during medieval ages and two World Wars, its inhabitants always had a strong will and believed it was possible to reconstruct the Polish capital, which after WW2, raised from the ashes as the legendary Fenix.

Besides that Warsaw is the birthplace of many locally and internationally known people, such as scientists, politicians or artists. The best examples are Maria Sklodowska-Curie – double Noble Prize winner (chemistry and physics) and one of the most important female scientists in world’s history, Frederic Chopin (pl. Fryderyk Chopin) – a composer, or Izaak Singer – writer and literature Noble Prize winner.

The post Three Things About Warsaw, Poland appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The historic city, as high as it is, is entrenched in a river basin tucked between towering Andean Mountain peaks and snow-capped volcanoes lying on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, a Strata volcano. The ageless landscape dictates a long and narrow city with an Historic Center that is one of the largest, least altered and best protected in the Americas, not unlike Bordeaux Historic Center in France and the walled city of Antiqua in Guatemala.

In 1978 Quito was honored by UNESCO as the World’s First City for their Cultural Heritage, Traditions and Architecture, and Geographical Beauty, a tribute that also recognized the opportunities Quito provides to experience an historic slice of South America.

A View City Where Nature Speaks

The historic area is crisscrossed with narrow cobble-stone streets covering an impressive 800 acres. From the 15-room Hotel Castillo Vista del Angel high on the eastern flank of Old Town, astonishing 360* views and vivid impressions emerge under the night sky. Countless twinkling stars above are mirrored below as though their twins plunged downward into the valley, landing across the mountainous landscape in a romantic display of Ecuadorian design.

The Quitenos explain, “We compare the weather to politics, unpredictable and tricky. We can have four seasons in one day so a rain coat, sun block, and sun glasses are ideal when you’re out and about. On a clear day we can see 22 volcanoes, but when the afternoon rains arrive it’s time to pop into a cafe for a cup of coffee.”

In the heart of Quito, thousands of houses, and dozens of churches and Cathedrals line Old Town streets just wide enough for a horse-drawn carriage. A maze of white, sky blue, light yellow, and pale peach buildings spread up the sides of the surrounding steep-sided mountains and ancient volcanoes like a mind-boggling jumble of puzzle pieces not yet assembled that challenges visitors to put on their walking shoes and explore.

The streets and narrow sidewalks in Old Town are alive with Quitenos, an engaging blend of students, young nicely dressed business women, families, indigenous groups from the Andes Highlands, Otavalo and Cotacahi, some ingeniously carrying their babies in the traditional backpack, and vendors selling fresh fruit. Yellow cabs weave like crazed ants in search of their Queen through the streets, expertly navigating the five pedestrian-free streets that lace Old Town and connect with legendary Plaza Grande or Independence Square in the heart of the city. The 16^th century square is neatly lined with the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, Archiepiscopal Palace, restaurants, coffee shops, and Café Galeria. The café offers Pacari organic chocolate tastings, not unlike the wine tastings of other regions, where it’s explained that Ecuador’s climate is ideal for producing some of the world’s finest cacao which is shipped in great quantities to Switzerland.

Cathedrals and Churches: An Historic Understanding

Quito’s churches reveal the history of Ecuador and her people preserving the art of the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the architecture, extraordinary wood carvings, rare fine art, and the traditions of the Ecuadorians. Quito has 27 churches in a 33 block area, including La Compania de Jesus, 1605, adjacent to Plaza Grande. The church is considered the crown jewel of the Baroque Period in America with an interior exquisitely covered with 23-karat gold leaf. Nearby, the Cathedral with Rococo, Neo-gothic, Baroque, Moorish and Neo-classic architecture has a dome that can be accessed up a narrow passageway for views of the plaza, and, for those collecting photographs, a special memory.

A guided walking tour leads to San Francisco Market, 1893, offering vegetables, meats, herbs, seasonal fruit from the Andean highlands, roses in abundance, and a food court to experience potato cakes, chicken stew, potato soup, and slow roasted pork topped with fresh juices. Indigenous holistic herb healers encourage an herbal massage and cleansing using leaves, branches, and flowers that leave legs and feet tingling and give instructions not to shower in the evening in order to let the herb treatment settle. Ecuadorian roses are a major export and foremost city adornment leading one local Quiteno to say, “You can buy 25 roses for one dollar so if you’re not a romantic in Quito you have a big problem.”

In this city of neighborhoods, La Ronda is a bit off the tourist trail in the Southern Historic District. It is an artistic and colorful block-long stone-lined alleyway, similar to those in Southern Spain, with flowered iron balconies, restaurants, classic museum-quality wood carvers and small wall to wall boutiques.

Leave The Driving To Your Guide

Sixteen miles south of Plaza Grande is a monument marking the general location of the equator while nearby a Solar Museum with a modern GBS unit calculates the 0 latitude exactly. A location known to Quitenos as “the middle of the world,” the equator is also the origin of the country’s name, in Spanish, Ecuador.

A two-hour drive brings travelers to Otavalo’s craft market and Plaza de Ponchos, South America’s largest outdoor market, a vibrant array of Indigenous weavings from scarves, blankets, and ponchos, to embroidered blouses, hammocks, and jewelry. In contrast, Cotacachi, 45 minutes northwest of Otavalo, is known as the city of leather with some 50 shops.

Cotacachi is also a glorious stop for lunch, home to the exquisite 23 room La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa, a five-star expanse of beauty and elegance. A former hacienda, opened in 1987, La Mirage is the only Relais & Chateaux property in Ecuador with a wall of prestigious awards. Chef Hugo Flores works with the local farmers and creates delightful specialties from the Andean Region. Out on the grounds, eight peacocks take turns staring through the windows at Chef Flores’ shrimp, avocado, and pineapple salad.

The Annual Festival of Light

South America’s premier Light Festival in August draws visitor’s world-wide. Twenty-one buildings are cleverly lit along with a street of multi-hued umbrellas, and a stunning 12-minute presentation depicting the history and life of Ecuador, Quito, and their people, created with dazzling artistic skill similar to the quality of Pixar or Disney. The streets of Old Town are blocked from traffic and an evening under the lights of Quito is exceptional.

Drink only bottled water and Quito’s diverse gastronomy offerings will be a distinctive highlight with recipes to share.

When You Go

The official Ecuadorian currency is the U.S. dollar with small bills and loads of singles essential. Driving in Quito is not recommended; a personal guide is. Marcelo Guerra, born and raised in Quito, speaks fluent English and can arrange a tailor-made itinerary.

ma******@ho*****.com











;

ma*********@gm***.com











or 011-593 9 8458-7400. Various airlines serve Quito including JetBlue connecting through Fort Lauderdale. The Quitenos recommend visiting from December to April with warmer nights, sunny mornings, and easily avoidable bursts of rain in the afternoon.

For further information, visit Quito Turismo

The post South America’s Lofty Celebrity appeared first on Traveling Archive.

But even recognizing all this, I didn’t fully have a grasp on the essence of the town until I spotted several elderly old men playing Bocce ball. I asked another observer if lawn bowling is popular because many people of Italian descent live in Key West. “Oh no,” she chuckled. “It’s popular because you can play Bocce with one hand and hold a drink in the other.” Welcome to Key West!

Turn a corner on a non-descript street or pass a random restaurant, and strands of guitar riffs assault your receptive ear drums. Either that – or it’s a rooster crowing. Actually a lot of roosters – they’re everywhere.

Many a house bears a plaque dating to the 1800’s – and a number of other historical markers a century earlier. Old Town, the largest predominantly wooden-housed historic district in the country – featuring almost 3000 structures – is deserving of a truth-in-advertising award. There’s a sign near Duval Street, the town’s epi-center, that reads: “On this site in 1897, nothing happened.” That’s probably one of the only spots in Key West where that’s true.

Renovated cigar factories share space with Victorian mansions laced with gingerbread trimming; upscale art galleries reside next to tacky t-shirt shops. Fashion, funk and frivolity define the town; art and shlock and whimsy co-exist on the same bar stool. And yes, those stools are there in abundance – 117 bars on Duval alone, pre-pandemic – many of which claim that Ernest Hemingway, the most famous Key West resident, occupied that seat as well.

And surely, his home is one of the most visited sites in the city. The tiny second-story studio in which he wrote his prestigious novels remains exactly as he left it; photos, books and furnishings recall his life there of more than a decade in the 1930’s. Stuffed heads of animals he shot on safari adorn the walls. You can almost feel the presence of the quirky and fairly disturbed author everywhere. Almost as famous as Hemingway himself was his beloved six-toed cat, Snowball, dozens of descendants of whom still reside there.

An equally notable but very different personality also resided in Key West, but only in the winter. Harry S Truman’s (yes, S without a period is his middle name) Little White House has its own colorful history, with tales of lively poker games and “loud Hawaiian shirt” contests our 33^rd president enjoyed with staff and guests – also chief justices and locals. And oh yes, four other presidents visited there as well.

It’s also rumored that Truman insisted on downing an early morning “shot of bourbon followed by a large glass of fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice,” allegedly on the advice of his doctor. Hemingway, an ardent imbiber himself, would most certainly have approved of his neighbor’s breakfast ritual, which might have made both welcome visitors at Schooner Wharf which boasts the earliest Happy Hour in town, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The theory being that you can’t actually drink all day if you don’t start early.

Hemingway, a hunter of game; Truman, a hunter of humor; Mel Fisher, a hunter of treasure. And his own museum contains treasures – both literal and figurative – for the visiting public. The intrepid fortune hunter spent 16 years seeking the wrecks of Spanish galleons that sank in 1622 off the coast of Key West. The $450 million treasure included more than 40 tons of gold and silver as well as emeralds, Chinese porcelain and other precious artifacts. But even more fascinating than the exhibits themselves is the story of his search for the valuable cache.

So yes, these are the three attractions for which Key West is most famous, but peeling back the proverbial onion proffers many more enticing sites: the always enchanting Botanical Gardens; the Oldest Wooden House with its original furnishings, artifacts and island history dating back to 1829; Tennessee Williams’ small cottage lending insight into another literary giant, and my favorite, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum.

There you get to relive the lives of wreckers – either those brave souls who saved people and ships careening off the dangerous reefs surrounding the island or greedy pirates who pillaged the lost treasures, depending upon your perspective – who played an important part of Key West’s vibrant history. The resulting salvage industry is what Key West is built on.  For a time, that enterprise made the tiny island the richest city per capita in the United States.

But for me, the best way to experience the inimitably funky charm of the town is to just wander the streets, laughing your way from one t-shirt slogan to another, most of which can’t be repeated in a family newspaper. But a few can: “A good lawyer knows the law; a great lawyer knows the judge”; “4 out of 3 people struggle with math”; and “Mermaids smoke sea weed.” Bada boom.

And should you get hungry, be sure to stop at Blue Heaven where, in the 1930’s, Hemingway, an amateur boxing aficionado, refereed matches – yes, he certainly did get around. And even more notable, depending upon your point of view, is that a dance hall and bordello also occupied the same property. But you’d expect nothing less of Key West.

For more information, please visit Florida Keys

The post Key West – Fanciful Funk and Frivolity Wrapped Up in Floridian History appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Visitors can indulge their every desire in the ultimate expression of sensuality along Mexico’s West Coast, while enjoying a shimmering sun and the pulsating rhythm of Mazatlan. For those who wish to focus on one another and put the world aside Mazatlan has delightful pleasures that will keep the travel passion on edge.

A proud working city, long noted as the largest port between Los Angeles and the Panama Canal, Mazatlan finally decided she was tired of playing second mariachi to flashy Cancun, artsy Puerto Vallarta, and the upscale demeanor of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo. Without a touch of pretension, the city stopped pouting, dabbed on a new shade of ruby red lipstick, bought a stunning shoulder-length brunet hairpiece from Mexico City, and picked out the latest in casual fashion from Los Cabos.

A diligent and often overlooked city is strutting her stuff and turning heads with newly landscaped streets, detailed renovations of cathedrals, theaters, and the UNESCO designated Historic District, along with a stunning malecon artistically enlarged with fluttering palms, benches, art work and a bicycle path, adjacent to the Bay of Banderas that stretches over five miles, nearly the entire length of downtown.

Lovers stroll in the cool of an evening, edging past families with enough progeny to fill a bus, cyclists are out for a spin, while clever street entertainers amuse or astonish in exchange for a few pesos, and a blaze of colorful art work in search of a new home stands tall on a forest of easels.

A Mazatlan visit offers a bright new look at the Mexican Riviera making aficionados of Mexico wonder why they waited so long to become acquainted. Located on a splendid peninsula, on the same latitude as Hawaii, 1,000 air miles from Los Angeles and 200 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, the city is brimming with energy and the spirit of fiesta. Mazatlan’s long and endearing sweep of bay is unchanged featuring some 15-miles of picture-perfect beach where the blue Pacific eternally laps against the sand, fishing boats are stark on the horizon, and surfers play in the salty foam.

Open-air Pulmonias, clever versions of a golf cart that are always entertaining and a bit eccentric, first appeared on the malecon in 1965 much to the chagrin of the cabbies. Like busy worker ants, they haul visitors to beach resort hotels, stylish boutiques, restaurants, and bars where they can listen and dance to everything from Mazatlan’s classic Banda Sinaloense, the sonorous tambora, the brass of the Mariachi’s, and the ubiquitous salsa.

English speaking waiters, hip to the latest north of the border lingo, keep drinks flowing. The Pulmonias, occasionally with singing drivers and excellent suggestions, can maneuver visitors to Plaza Revolucion the main square with its classic Victorian-style wrought iron bandstand, and the adjacent, twin-steepled Baroque-revival-style cathedral, built in 1875 with an organ from Germany.

Historic Old Town

Two blocks south of Plaza Revolucion is a celebrated showcase unique to the entire West Coast of Mexico — the stunning 20-block Historic District or Old Town surrounding the restored Italian-style Angela Peralta Theatre. Built between 1869 and 1874, this venerated National Historic Monument presents opera, jazz, symphony, and ballet performances, and is the home of the noted Conservatory of Music and Dance. The theatre, restored to its original 1900’s finery, fits perfectly with the narrow, cobbled streets once designed for horse and carriage, lined curb-to-curb with structures each with their own character, and all holding tight to a by-gone age.

Renovated edifices with classic iron grills and balconies wrap around Plazuela Machado in a timeless surrounding, setting a blissful mood. On the north side of the plaza are a medley of restaurants with sidewalk tables and chatting diners including Pedro & Lola’s named after two renowned singers, Pedro Infante and Lola Beltran, serving Sinaloa regional dishes and live music.

Retirement Mazatlan-Style

With all the outside gloss, the city has a powerful inner strength. A Forbes article named Mazatlan the world’s #3 Destination for North Americans to Retire behind Portugal’s Algarve Region and Valletta, Malta. Long before the article some 10,000 Canadian and U.S folks discovered the city and moved in, forwarding address no problem. Many of these retired North Americans or Mazatiecos serve their new home as tourist aide volunteers, helping visitors with directions and information.

El Cid, The Best of The Mexican World

The private sector, always on the move, contributed greatly to the city’s face-lift when family owned El Cid opened their first hotel in 1972 led by founder Julio Berdegue Aznar. El Cid has developed, full-fledge, to four Mazatlan properties and a personal community of over three thousand families. Visitors discover a splendid Marina and Yacht Club, a fleet of sailing and charter boats, an on-site dive center, bird watching and nature tours. The La Marina El Cocay Spa and Fitness Center opened in 2017 and for golfers a prestigious golf school, along with 27 challenging holes of golf designed by Lee Trevino.

For those on the go, pop up to the top of Cerro del Vigma or Lookout Hill for a spectacular view of the city and sprawling coastline, or take a 45-minute hike to El Faro lighthouse, the second tallest in the world, 450 feet above the sea, for another great view. On the way to El Faro divers can be seen performing a version of the Acapulco cliff diver’s swan dives from El Mirador and the steep rocky cliffs at the south side of the city.

With one of the world’s largest shrimping fleet, Mazatlan offers a catch and release sport-fishing center for anglers who crave to test their skills. Surfing is best at Lupe’s Point and at Los Pinos. Snorkelers should try Cannon’s Point and Cerritos. A popular Mazatlan memory is an excursion to Deer Island, located a mile offshore where the day is spent snorkeling among coral reefs, kayaking, hiking, lounging on the beach and slathering on sun block.

Dining Mazatlan

A suggested culinary visit to Hector’s Bistro includes a chat with Chef/Owner Hector Peniche who in 2014 opened his French-Italian influenced Bistro in the Historical Center to rave reviews and quickly carved a deep niche in the Mazatlan dining scene. Personable Peniche, raised in Mazatlan, honed his culinary skills working for Four Seasons in London, Mexico City, and Punta Mita.

He said, pointing to his kitchen, “I came from a poor hard-working family and attribute success to my father’s advice to be the best. I brought a mentality from Europe, not recipes.” Peniche makes his own bread in his adjoining Via Condotti restaurant and works with an open fire and cast iron cooking pieces. Reservations advised.

El Cid’s Executive Chef Luis Ignacio Pazos Garcia, born and raised in Mazatlan, inherited his love for seafood from a family of fishermen, and the kitchen from his Grandmother. Cooking in some of the top hotels on Mexico’s West Coast, Pazos works with 44 kitchen staff and cooks, and four Chefs’s including Chef’s Pedro Rios Millan, and Luis Villa, who collective have been honored with a basket full of El Cid dining awards with their authentic Sinaloa cuisine featuring a keen bond to shrimp and Mazatlan locale seafood.

Mazatiecos’ Dining Suggestions

To truly know Mazatlan is to dine at Panama bustling with energy and passion offering the flavors of Sinaloa and with their own bakery. Cenaduria Chayito with three restaurants, one in the Historic District, all noted for regional cuisine. Mariscos EL Beto is a little “carreta” with award-winning seafood. El Presidio, located in an old plantation in the Historic District, family owned, designed around towering trees, and a central patio, has the longest bar in Mazatlan, live music, and regional cuisine, perfect for evening dining.

Where else in Mazatlan than El Cid’s La Marina Restaurant would you enjoy three talented, hard-working, guitarists lighting up the room on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. setting a festive mood, the nicely dressed servers moving to the rhythm. El Cid then hosts the trio to a large breakfast, a rarity indeed in Mexico and Latin America.

For all the changes Mazatlan has the feel of discovery retaining enough charm to suit the most jaded traveler.

El Cid; Mazatlan Today; Go Mazatlan

The post Romancing Mazatlan appeared first on Traveling Archive.

They came by the thousands. It was not the first time, nor would it be the last. These were young Americans, many of whom who had never lived more than forty-miles from their place of birth. This all changed with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Most of the U.S. military bases were located in California and the recruits were shipped to an unfamiliar landscape of wide-open spaces, eternal sunshine, crystal-clear ocean waters and groves of citrus trees where you could pick an orange right from the branch. When WWII ended, many of those who were fortunate enough to return home remembered this paradise found. Winters didn’t mean having to dig your car out of the snow each morning or wearing your heaviest boots and gloves to the factory. Many of these families packed their bags and headed to this promised land of the West – where the beaches were wide and expansive, and the Pacific horizon seemed to say that anything was possible.

This California no longer exists. The citrus groves have been razed and track homes have taken their place. Factories and industries have flourished on the once inexpensive and seemingly limitless terrain. Southern California, has now become something else, and, like all things in our land, will continue to grow and evolve.

With endless attractions along the way, there is still a pieces of paradise that resembles this dream of the post WWII years. Although it too has changed, this area still remains the closest to reflecting the California of that bygone era. It begins on the Pacific Coast Highway in San Diego, and continues north to Pismo Beach on the Central California Coast.

San Diego – “America’s Finest City”

Arriving at the Santa Fe Depot, we discovered that we didn’t need a car or even want one. So we ditched my car and headed to the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Bus and Trolley, which allows you to be car-free while exploring the city. The purchase of a three-day Day Tripper pass would transport us to all the attractions.

A short trolley ride took us to the heart of the vibrant East Village. Once a derelict warehouse district, the East Village redefined itself with the completion of PETCO Park baseball stadium. Now downtown’s hippest neighborhood, the area features luxury hotels, condominiums, residential/work lofts, restaurants and galleries. Who would have thought that unassuming San Diego would become a national role model for urban renewal? The historic Gaslamp Quarter, which spills into (or is part of) the East Village (everyone seems to have a different opinion), is lined with Victorian-era buildings, housing restaurants, pubs, galleries, theaters and shops. For history buffs, the Victorian-style Horton Grand Hotel was once the seven-year home of Wyatt Earp.

Accommodations were at the chic Hotel Indigo, the first LEED certified green hotel in San Diego. Virtually all the building materials used were recycled products, with a design reflecting Fibonacci numbers and plant spirals, creating a harmonious ambience. Creature comforts included spa-like baths, 37” flat panel HDTVs, designer furnishings, plush bedding, sleek hardwood floors and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Sitting at the 9th floor Phi Bar Terrace, we gazed in wonder at PETCO Park’s field, even though there wasn’t even a game in process.

Old Town is the first permanent European settlement in California. In 1769, Father Juniper Serrano established a chain of 21 missions; each situated a day’s horse ride away. Today the San Diego Mission overlooks a collection of historic adobe buildings, shops and restaurants. The Old Town Trolley tour is the best way to get an overview of what is considered the birthplace of California.

The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is a sanctuary for over a thousand animals; a place to learn of conservation efforts to protect wildlife from extinction. The setting is stunning, with exotic plant life utilized throughout the park. Start your tour with a tram ride, which offers a comprehensive overview of the zoo.

Balboa Park is the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Home to 14 museums, performing arts venues, spectacular gardens, it is a must-see attraction. Admittance is free to the grounds, but there is an admission charge for a number of the attractions. The Stay-for-the-Day pass offers admission to your choice of any 4 of the 14 participating attractions.

Little Italy dates back to the days of San Diego’s fishing industry when generations of Italian fisherman called the area home. Today Little Italy is a vibrant neighborhood of restaurants, pubs, galleries and shops. It also features a world-class Saturday farmer’s market.

A trip to the USS Midway Museum was how we wanted to end our San Diego stay. The collection of 60 exhibits and 25 restored aircraft aboard the aircraft carrier was a heartfelt tribute to the men and women who have served our country. The tour colored my thoughts as we strolled back to our car in preparation for the next stop in our journey.

Laguna Beach – The California Riviera

Laguna’s history dates back to the arrival of the first Amer-Indian tribe – believed to originate from the Shoshone family. Attracted by the plentiful supply of fish and shell fish, they also hunted deer in the surrounding canyons. They referred to the area as Lagona (lakes), due to the fresh water lakes in the canyon. In 1933, a 17,000 year-old-skull was found in Laguna, indicating the tribe’s early presence in the area. In the 1800s, the Spanish retitled the area Canada de las Lagunas (canyon of the lakes).

The first Euro-American settlers arrived in 1870, followed by tourists who came for the cool ocean breezes as a reprieve from California’s brutal inland weather. Accommodations were in tents, but this all changed with the building of the Hotel Laguna in 1889. Now christened Laguna, the area was on its way to becoming a popular tourist resort. Hollywood was not immune to Laguna’s charm, with the likes of Bette Davis, Mary Pickford, Judy Garland, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Rooney maintaining homes in town. Laguna was transformed into an arts community when painter Norman St. Clair first set his eyes on this stunning landscape. He was so taken by the beauty of the area that he spread the word to his artist colleagues in San Francisco. Today Laguna boasts over 100 galleries, the Laguna Art Museum, Sawdust Festival, Art Walk and the Pageant of the Masters, an once-in-a-lifetime re-creation of paintings, staged using real people. The city fathers have established several measures that ensure slow growth and preservation of Laguna’s terrestrial and marine environments.

Laguna’s Downtown Village tree-lined streets, features aforementioned galleries, quaint boutiques, restaurants, palatial resorts, intimate bed and breakfasts and seaside cottages.

Our accommodations were at Sunset Cove Villas, a selection of eight themed luxury villas, nestled on a bluff overlooking the ocean in the heart of the village. We scored big time by booking the two-bedroom, two-bath, fully-equipped Seychelles Villa – a mere few steps to the beach.

We could have stayed there forever, luxuriating on the private deck, but then remembered there was an important appointment on our schedule – a painting class at the home of the Sawdust Art Festival.

The intimate class was conducted by John Eagle, a former stockbroker who became a full-time painter in his mid-fifties. He’s listed in “Who’s Who in American Art.” After a few brush strokes, it became clear that I was not destined to be another Monet, but John was patient with me and I found the experience both insightful and, above all, relaxing.

After a day of beachcombing and gallery hopping – two of which featured John’s inspiring Impressionist-style paintings – I decided that painting was destined to be part of my future and planned on purchasing my own art equipment.

We continued on our lazily drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, lined with beach towns and spectacular scenery. Soon we were in Malibu. The morning sun was just breaking over the ocean, with scores of surfers waiting patiently on their boards for the BIG One; a wave so monumental that it would change their lives. I remembered a trip to the North Shore on Oahu where a lifelong surfer told me that he became a dedicated surfer when he rode a wave that was so majestic and  powerful that he literally fell in love with it. He had been waiting over another ten years to ride another one. Such is the passion of the surfer in their quest to find the perfect wave.

The Central Coast

We decide to do pit spot, then walk up on the Malibu Pier to watch the rubber clad surfers. I noticed a billboard in the distance which advertised the Chumash Casino. It made me think of the REAL first inhabitants of the Central Coast.

Archaeologist findings indicate that for over 13,000 years the Chumash Tribe were the first inhabitants of the central coastal regions of California with the first settlement started near the Santa Barbara coast. The name Chumash means bead maker or seashell people. Pismo Beach, in fact, got its name from the Chumash, who referred to the area as a place to find pismu, or tar. Spanish archeologists called these early coastal residents playano (beach people). The Chumash, renowned for their magnificent redwood plank canoes, subsided on a staple of ground acorns, wild game and the (now almost depleted) Pismo Clam. The Chumash’s way of life almost ended during the Spanish Missionary Period, but the remaining decedents found a rebirth with their Las Vegas-style casino in Santa Ynez – the Chumash Casino.

Chumash History from the Perspective of the Chumash

Our people once numbered in the tens of thousands and lived along the coast of California. At one time, our territory encompassed 7,000 square miles that spanned from the beaches of Malibu to Paso Robles. The tribe also inhabited inland to the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley.

MORE

Ventura – “The Real California”

I gazed in wonder at the spectacular land and seascape. The place: Ventura – nestled between Malibu and Santa Barbara on the southern-most part of California’s Central Coast. Billed as ‘The Real California,’ we couldn’t wait to see what it had to offer.

With the arrival of the Spanish in the 18th Century, Mission San Buenaventura was established by Father Junipero Serra, the ninth of the California missions. He named it after the Italian, St. Bonaventure, hence the nickname: city of good fortune. Ventura was incorporated in 1866, and grew due to the establishment of the Union Oil Company and an influx of settlers from the east. Located between the Ventura River and the Santa Clara River, settlers found the soil so fertile that citrus grew better there than anywhere else in the state. In 2005, the City Council adopted a visionary plan, focusing on delivering key services within available means and promoting sustainable prosperity.

“Hey, wanna hit some thrift shops,” Deb gleefully shouted as we strolled down Main Street. Indeed, there were scores of them lining the avenue. What I liked best is that Ventura’s revitalized downtown reflects a hybrid of a bygone era and the glitz of new boutiques, wine bars, restaurants, inns, galleries and stage theaters. Suggested stops: the Mission San Buenaventura, Museum of Ventura County and Albinger Archaeological Museum. Make sure to pick up a complimentary Historic Downtown Walking Tour Guide at the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau.

The Ventura coast possesses vast stretches of uncrowded beaches, surf spots, harbor cruises and a gentle 13-mile coastal bikeway – which made me aware that I needed to get into better shape. With the sun at my back I remembered that early Spanish settlers also coined Ventura the land of endless summers with its year-round daytime temperatures averaging 70 degrees.

Ventura’s most amazing attraction lies 14 miles out to sea; Channel Islands National Park comprises five of the eight Channel Islands off the California Coast: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara Island. This stunning nature preserve is often referred to as the  Galapagos of the North  because it is home to more than 2,000 species of plants and animals – 145 of which are unique to the islands and found nowhere else on earth. Excursions launch from Ventura Harbor daily, with hikers on board looking to either camp or snorkel in the crystal clear waters. We opted for a package with Channel Islands Outfitters and Island Packers, where the voyage began on an Island Packers bio-diesel boat to Scorpion Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. Even the ride over was a great experience, spotting whales, dolphins and thousands of sea birds. Once we reached the island, we found recreational options abound, including hiking, camping, snorkeling and kayaking.

We opted for a kayak tour guided by the gentle hands of Channel Islands Outfitters’ Clay Downing. Paddling through arches and into sea caves, reminded me of cenotes, the fresh water underground springs in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Pismo Beach – “Classic California”

The city of Pismo Beach was incorporated in 1951 and from the beginning was a natural as a tourist destination with its long white beaches, great weather, and spectacular views. This is not the town, though, where time has stood still. However, it has done its best to embrace the best of the past and has engineered tourist friendly packages that showcase all the wonders the area has to offer today. As we explored Pismo, I could see it was a place where everyone seems to fit – surfers and seniors walking their dogs share the same beach. Fishermen try to catch the big one from the iconic Pismo pier. You can drive and camp on the beach just down the coast at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Pismo boasts over 30 restaurants and more than 50 motels, hotels, and RV parks. You can enjoy bicycling, golfing, hiking, nature walks, water sports, Hummer adventure tours and horseback riding – also right on the beach!

Pismo Beach is the winter home of the Monarch butterfly that comes to stay annually from October to February. Pismo also makes a wonderful home base for exploring the Central Coast’s other attractions that include the Danish Village of Solvang (Danish for ‘sunny field’), a stunning village nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley. Founded in 1911 by a small group of Danish teachers, Solvang is the place for fine restaurants serving authentic Danish cuisine, import shops, windmills, hayrides, Danish festivals and activities for all ages. It is also home of the Old Mission Santa Inés.

Pismo also serves as the gateway to Hearst Castle, as well as a home base for exploring well-over 100 wineries (think the film, “Sideways.”) shops, boutiques and little B&Bs of the quaint village of Cambria, and the previously mentioned Chumash Casino. Yes, Pismo lived up to its Classic California moniker. But the real attraction was the Pacific Ocean. Paradise found. We couldn’t wait to explore the expansive and pristine beaches. We could spend some serious time here. But now after seven-days on the road it was time to relax… even though I’d been doing plenty of that already.

The post San Diego to Pismo Beach in 7-Days appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Founded by the Romans in the 7^th century, Dubrovnik’s walled village is located on a rocky cliff overlooking the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the Southeastern part of Croatia. The city was known as Ragusa until the end of WWI, when it took its present name.

My first glance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site came from the deck of a cruise ship, which approached from the Mediterranean Sea. From this vantage point I got a panoramic view of the giant stone wall surrounding the city. Jetting 100 feet high from the rocks that line the coast, the 20-ft-thick wall stretches more than 6,350 ft-long as it wraps around mediaeval ramparts, draw bridges, and other castle features. For those wanting a cool, birds-eye view, it is possible to walk along the wall to get a memorable look at the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the nearby islands, and the Franjo Tuđman Bridge, with iconic triangular, cable-stayed profile.

The barrier took nearly 500 years to complete and was built to protect the town and its prized location from ambitious invaders. Today it is considered one of Europe’s finest surviving fortress walls. It’s easy to understand why George Bernard Shaw once said “if you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

After docking in the modern Port of Dubrovnik, I took a bus to edge of Old Town, where I found an exciting seaside atmosphere. There were kids eating ice cream on green lawns overlooking the water, shops full of tourists and pubs pouring beer. On one side I watched colorful fishing boats bob in the harbor beneath the fortress wall, and on the other side, I noticed hotels blending in with regular homes.

To enter Old Town I walked through the main Pile Gate, where I discovered a medieval world of densely packed brick buildings with arched doorways, marble inlays and red tiled roofs. Many of the buildings are mixed-used with private residences set atop quaint shops and charming outdoor cafes.

The town is dissected by a large and shiny limestone main street, which branches into a network of narrow, sloping alleys and steep stairways, teeming with plants. The bustling, cream-colored main street brightly reflects the sun’s rays during the day and turns them into a sandy glowing hue at night.

The landscape is also speckled with Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces, Renaissance fountains and facades, all intertwined with gleaming wide marble-paved squares and those steep cobbled streets, all of which have also remained unchanged for centuries. Old Town is also home to an 800-year-old Gothic church and Europe’s oldest pharmacy.

As I wandered in and out of the town’s walkways, I was overcome by the aroma of fresh seafood riding a warm Mediterranean breeze. The scent led me to a place called Pink Shrimp Street Food located in a charming little alley off the main street. Here I sat outside and enjoyed a fresh shrimp sandwich with salad and a mug of cold, Croatian beer.

As I ate my lunch I watched people from all over the world stroll up and down the cobblestone streets. If you are out at the right time, the place can be a peaceful village, while much of the time it is bustling with tourists. The place gets about 2 million visitors per year and a good chunk of these people come by way of cruise ship. During the summer, Dubrovnik can welcome up to six cruise ships on a single day.

Cruise lines such as Holland America stop in the Dubrovnik. In fact their ship Oosterdam is leaving on a 12-day Mediterranean Romance cruise October 15 (next month), that departs from Venice, Italy and stops in Dubrovnik. For more information, visit Holland America.

Go here for more info on Croatia and Dubrovnik

Los Angeles Intl Airport offers daily connecting flights to Dubrovnik. A good local tour company for the Los Angeles area is Adriatic Travel Inc., which specializes in Croatia and Dubrovnik.

The post A Day in Dubrovnik – A Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site appeared first on Traveling Archive.