Mauritius is a perfect holiday destination

Mauritius is a little piece of heaven on earth. It is a fantastic holiday destination with many gorgeous white sandy beaches, palm trees and crystal clear turquoise water. This stunning tropical island paradise is located off the coast of Africa. It is surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean which makes it a lovely place to swim.

Mauritius has a tropical climate and it only has two seasons. The summer months are from November to April and the weather is very hot and humid. The winter months are from May to October and the weather is still warm, but drier and cooler than the summer months. The perfect time to visit Mauritius is from May to December when the weather is cooler, dry and sunny. I don’t recommend visiting Mauritius from January to March because that is when it is the wet cyclone season, and there are very strong winds in July and August. I visited Mauritius in December and the weather was just right.

The capital city of Mauritius is Port Louis. The main languages spoken in Mauritius are English, French and Mauritian Creole. The people of Mauritius are multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multicultural and multilingual and Hinduism is the largest religion. Mauritius was also the habitat of the extinct Dodo bird and you will often see pictures of Dodos around the island. There are many sugar cane plantations around the island.

I stayed at the Le Meridien hotel which is a 4 star hotel on the north west coast side of Mauritius. The hotel is situated right on the beach. It is close to the Pamplemousses, Grand Baie and Port Louis which are great places to visit on day trips.

A great outing in Mauritius is to visit the botanical gardens called the Jardin des Pamplemousses to see the giant water lilies or "pamplemousses."

Mauritius offers something for everyone and you can choose to spend your days relaxing on the beach, enjoying water sports or scuba diving or taking a trip to Grand Baie or Port Louis to go shopping at the markets, or visit the national parks and gardens. I would highly recommend visiting this beautiful island!

Germany!

There are many things to enjoy about Germany such as delicious wurst, great beer, stunning architecture, beautiful scenery, gorgeous palaces and castles. In this blog post I will share some ideas of things to do in Germany's capital city Munich.

1. Visit a German beer hall. 
Germany is famous for its great beer. A trip to Germany would not be complete without tasting some German beer. I visited a beer hall called Hofbrauhaus which is a beer hall and Bavarian restaurant in Munich. A great time to visit Munich is around Oktoberfest. This beer festival has a great atmosphere with people from all over the world and from all backgrounds and all ages partying together! Another great time of year to visit Munich is around Christmas so that you can enjoy the Christmas markets.

2. Visit Surfer's Bridge.
This is called "The Eisbach." It is a popular river surfing spot in Munich. I usually imagine surfers on a beach riding the waves so it's interesting to see these surfers surfing in a river!

3. Go on a bicycle tour around Munich. 
This is a fun and economical way to see the city and get some exercise! There is a company called Mike's Bicycle Tours which offers bicycle tours in Munich and in Amsterdam.

4. Visit a Holocaust Museum. 
The experience of visiting a Holocaust museum will give you insight into German history. I visited Dachau Concentration camp which is near Munich. As you enter the camp you see a sign that says "Arbeit Macht Frei" which means "work will set you free." The Nazis put this sign up to mislead prisoners into thinking that their only way of attaining freedom was through hard labour at the camp. Sadly yhere were never any plans to give these prisoners freedom in return for their hard work and  these work camps became death camps. It was a very sobering experience to visit the camp but it is very important to learn about history in an effort to not let history repeat itself.

5. Visit the BMW headquarters

If you like cars, especially BMWs, then you will enjoy visiting this museum and admiring all the cars on exhibition.

6. Stroll around Marienplatz

This is a great area in Munich to walk around, go shopping and have a meal. It's a popular area with busy streets and there are lots of great cafes and bars.

7. Visit St. Peter's church

This is a beautiful Catholic church to visit. It has beautiful stained glass windows and interesting paintings and even if you are not religious it's worth a visit simply to admire the architecture. If you are Catholic you might be interested in attending mass at this lovely church.

8. Visit Nymphenburg Palace

The Nymphenburg Palace is a Baroque palace in Munich built in 1664. It is surrounded by a beautiful park. It is the main summer residence of the Bavarian Royal family. It is a famous tourist attraction in Munich. 

9. Enjoy some food and beer at Viktualienmarkt

This is a food and produce market with over one hundred stalls as well as large beer gardens  The beer gardens are organised so that the breweries take turns on different days to sell their beer.

10. Relax in the English garden

After a busy day in the city why not take a break and relax in the beautiful English garden. This is a huge park with a river where many people come to walk around, jog and go cycling.

11. Go up Olympic Tower

For great panoramic views of the city you should go up Olympic Tower. There is also a restaurant and a museum in this tower.

Munich in Germany is an interesting city to visit! There are many attractions to see and it is well worth a visit.

Going up Mount Stanserhorn in Switzerland and a cruise on Lake Lucerne

In Switzerland I enjoyed going up Mount Stanserhorn by cable car and going on a cruise on Lake Lucerne. Mount Stanserhorn actually has the world's first double deck cable car. The bottom deck is surrounded by windows while the upper deck is completely open.

On top of the mountain there is a restaurant and observation decks. The views from the top are lovely and the air is crisp and fresh. On top of the mountain you can see views of three countries, ten swiss lakes, and over 62 miles of Alpine mountain range at 6,000 feet above sea level.

Before you go there you should check the weather forecast to make sure that the weather will be clear so that you can have clear views from on top of the mountain.

It is possible to hike up the mountain or you can go up the mountain by cable car. If there is a lot of snow the hiking trails will be closed. I would recommend going up by cable car if you are short on time.

After going up Mount Stanserhorn I went on a cruise on Lake Lucerne. A cruise on this lake is a wonderful experience as it is very scenic and the lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains.

 

Information about Mount Stanserhorn:

•  Mount Stanserhorn operates from April 9 - November 13, 2016.
• Closed for maintenance Nov 16, 2015 - April 8, 2016 & Nov 14, 2016 - April 7, 2017
• Discounted fares are only valid with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card and Eurail Passes that include Switzerland please refer to the type of rail pass you have when selecting your tickets.
  • All child rates are valid for children ages 6 -15.
  • Children under 6 are free.
  • Children traveling with a Swiss Family Card are free when they travel with a parent or guardian that is traveling with a Swiss Pass. Where noted below, please indicate the number of children that are NOT covered by the Swiss Family Card. Note: these children will be required to purchase a ticket.
• Train Tickets, Swiss Transfer Tickets are not valid for rail pass discounts.
• Tickets are valid for six months from the date of purchase.
• Prices are subject to change.

Things to do in London

London has so much to offer that Samuel Johnson once said “Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” 

I visited London in August during the summer when the weather was pleasant. I loved the grandeur of the architecture and I also was impressed by the number of luscious green parks in London. There are countless things to do in London. In this blog post I will share some things to do in London.

 

1. Visit Buckingham Palace. 
Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official London home and it is the official London residence and the administrative headquarters of the Monarch since 1837. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, its own Police Station, Post Office, swimming pool and cinema.  When the Queen is at home, you will see her royal flag (called the Royal Standard) flying from the flag pole on top of Buckingham Palace.

2. Visit Big Ben. 
Big Ben is the nickname given to the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. It is a popular landmark in London.

3. Go for a ride on the London Eye. 
 Each rotation takes about 30 minutes and you can enjoy fantastic views. There are also interactive tablets offering information about the landmarks in different languages. The London Eye is also a great place to view the  New Year's Eve fireworks display.

4. Visit the Camden Stables Market. 
This is a great place to go shopping in London. An interesting fact about this market is that is used to be like a horse hospital.  During the Victorian times, when horses were injured pulling barges down the canals they would come  to this place for treatment. Now it is a huge market and shopping area. There are still statues of horses around the market.

4. Visit the British Museum.
 The British Museum contains a wide collection of art and artifacts from around the world and it is free to all visitors. I especially enjoyed seeing the Egyptian Funeral Archaeology.

5. Visit Westminster Abbey
This is a famous church and sixteen royal weddings have taken place here. Many famous people are buried there. Many monarchs have been crowned in the Abbey, except for Edward V and Edward VIII who were never crowned.

6. Visit the Tower of London
You can see the Queen's crown jewels here. The crown jewels is the most popular attraction so be prepared to wait in long queues. You can also see exhibits like the Royal Quarters and a torture chamber as well as weapons and historical armour. There are live historical re-enactments by actors in costumes. You can also go on a tour with a Yeoman Warder (popularly known by the nickname ‘beef eater’) and these guides are very knowledgeable and entertaining. Their nickname 'beef eater' comes from their position in the Royal Bodyguard, which allowed them to eat as much beef as they wanted from the king's table.

7. Go shopping at Borough market
Borough market is a fantastic market that sells food from around the world.

8. Visit Hyde Park
Hyde park is one of the royal parks in London and it is a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy some leisure activities from a casual game of frisbee to boating activities.

9. Visit Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
This is a replica of original Elizabethan theatre and Shakespeare plays are held in the open air. You can also see an exhibition of Shakespeare's life and work and go on a tour of the theatre.

10. Visit London Tower Bridge
This famous suspension bridge that carries commuters across the river Thames. When I think about London Bridge I always think of the traditonal English nursery rhyme "London Bridge is falling down." This is probably because I often had to teach this song when I taught in Japan. The origins of the nursery rhyme differs depending on who you ask. Some believe it's about a Viking attack. The most likely version is that there have been many different London Bridges built on the same site over the past 2,000 years, which were knocked down and the nursery rhyme alludes to this. A new London Bridge was built and opened in 1973, and this bridge still stands today.

11. Visit the London Dungeon
This is a high tech, haunted house type of attraction where costumed actors act out macarbre stories.

12. Visit Trafalgar Square
This is a public square in central London with a fountain and the Nelson statue. It is a central meeting place in London and a nice spot to do some people watching.

13. Visit Madame Tussauds
This is a wonderful wax museum that has extremely life like wax models of famous people. It's fun to take a picture with a wax model of your favourite celebrity.

14. Go shopping in Harrods
This is a luxury department store that sells designer brand clothing and accessories.

15. Visit the Palace of Westminster
This  is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords which are the two houses of the Parliament of the UK. You can go on guided tours on Saturdays and in the summer.

London is a fantastic city and I hope to go back in the future and do some more exploring there!

Bella Roma!

Italy is one of my favorite countries in the world. The food is delicious, the fashion is fabulous, the art and the architecture are beautiful and the people are lively and expressive. In this blog post I would like to share with you some fun things to do in the capital city of Rome.

1. Visit the Trevi Fountain
A trip to Rome would not be complete without visiting the famous Trevi Fountain. This fountain was built in the 17th century and it is the largest fountain in Rome. A traditional legend says that if you throw a coin into the fountain, then you will return to Rome.
                  
                   
2. Visit the Colosseum
When you say “Rome”, you might immediately think of the Colosseum. It's probably the city’s most recognizable landmark. It was built over 2000 years ago by the Flavian emperors. In ancient Rome this amphitheater was used to host gladiator games, festivals and theatrical performances. Today it is a major tourist attraction. Europeans under 18 and over 65 can enjoy free entrance!

                                             
3. Visit the Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was once the center of Rome’s political life and used to have courts, markets, and religious buildings.

4. Visit the Spanish Steps
The Spanish steps were built in 1723-1725 by Francesco de Sanctis to link the the Trinità dei Monti church with the Spanish square below. There are 135 stone steps. It is also a popular meeting spot for people. You can also see the Fontana della Barcaccia (fountain) and Piazza di Spagna below the steps. 

                    
                          
5. Visit Piazza Venezia Il Vittoriano
This grand white marble monument was dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of unified Italy. 
                            
                           
6. Visit the Pantheon
The Pantheon is a temple that is dedicated to all the gods of Rome. It is over 2000 years old. It is one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman monuments. You can also explore the tombs of famous people who are buried in it such as Raphael and Vittorio Emanuele II. 
                           
7. Check out the street art and have your portrait drawn by an artist
There are some extremely talented artists in Rome. This artist drew some really good portraits of famous celebrities like Angeline Jolie, Adriana Lima, Nicole Kidman and Johnny Depp.
                   

8. Visit Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona was built in the 15th century and it is one of Rome’s most beautiful squares with baroque architecture with three lovely fountains. There are many artists who gather here and paint portraits. 
                 
9. Visit St. Peter's Basillica and St. Peter's Square
Vatican City is technically another country, but it’s located in Rome and it's extremely easy to get to from Rome. It's worth visiting and you can see St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.
                           
                           
10. Visit the Vatican Museums
Vatican City is technically another country, but it’s located in Rome and it's extremely easy to get to from Rome. It's worth visiting and you can see St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, and the Michaelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel as well as the Vatican Museum and the Vatican Library. In the Vatican Museums you can see galleries of classical and Renaissance art and famous paintings by artists like Michaelangelo. I took art and art history as a main subject in High School and I remember studying Michaelangelo's history and artworks. It was a dream come true to see Michaelangelo's art in real life! 

My favourite painting is "The Creation of Adam," where God and Adam are reaching out their arms to each other and their fingers are touching.

                               
                     This is an interesting Michaelangelo painting about judgement day
                        
    Here are some photos I took of some other artworks inside the Vatican Museum.
                        
                         
                        
                       
11. Explore the catacombs of Rome
The catacombs in Rome are ancient underground burial places in Rome. The catacombs came to fruition as a result of religion, overcrowding, shortage of land and expense. The Christians preferred to bury bodies rather than cremate them because of their belief in bodily resurrection in the second coming of Christ. It was expensive to buy land in burial sites to bury the bodies so they began to dig underground tunnels beneath the city to bury the dead.


12. Watch a mime!
I saw many mimes while I was exploring Rome. The mimes are entertaining to watch! Mimes have existed in Roman drama since the ancient times and was supposedly introduced from the Greeks when the Romans conquered Greece and they brought the Greek art of mime into Roman theatre and modified it with their own style.
                                      
                                      
13. Visit the Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant’Angelo was built in 123 BC as a tomb for Emperor Hadrian and his family. It has been used for many different purposes such as a mausoleum, a fortress, castle, and even a prison. Now it is a museum. It's an interesting place to visit to see the remains of Hadrian’s mausoleum and ancient prison cells.

14. Admire the beauty of Santa Maria della Vittoria
If you are a Dan Brown fan then this is a must for you! This is the chapel that was featured in the movie Angels and Demons. This is also a fantastic place for art enthusiasts to visit and admire the beautiful frescoes and sculptures. One of the most popular is the Ecstasy of St. Teresa by Bernini.

15. Eat Italian pizza, pasta and gelato
A trip to Italy would not be complete without eating some delicious Italian pizza, pasta and gelato.

Rome is a wonderful city to explore and I would love to go back again! I threw a coin in the Trevi Fountain. I'm hoping that the legend is true and that I will return to Rome someday.