Breaking Blue : Helping you explore the world!

The small island of Anguilla has everything a visitor to the Caribbean could ever want. The island itself is little more than a foundation of coral and limestone covered with rock and scrub vegetation. However, with its pristine beaches, crystal clear waters and coral reefs, Anguilla is a true Caribbean paradise.

Despite its relatively small size, Anguilla can boast over 30 spectacular white sand beaches. Each beach has its own particular characteristics, making exploring them all a must. Whether looking for seclusion, swimming, romantic sunsets or snorkelling, the friendly locals will soon point out a beach to suit the visitor’s needs.

The secluded Dropsey Bay is fast becoming the top spot for SCUBA diving and snorkelling. Mead’s Bay, meanwhile, is the most popular beach for sunbathing, swimming and socialising. Beach clubs, resorts and restaurants lie just off the beach, making this the place to see and be seen in Anguilla. Despite all this activity, green bill and leatherback turtles still slowly make their way up on to the sand.

Boat excursions and cruises to other small islands and secluded beaches nearby are a great way to see more of Anguilla. Sea fishing, windsurfing and parasailing, meanwhile, are just a few of the many activities available to visitors. Hiking, horseback riding and tennis are also popular.

Anguilla’s small airport only connects with other Caribbean islands. If visiting from Europe or continental North America, flights will land in Saint Martin from where regular ferries make the 20 minute trip to Anguilla.

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One captivating region in Northern Europe is the Baltic Sea region. The countries forming the Baltic Sea region – Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Norway, Poland, Russia, Estonia, Germany, and Lithuania – are very promising for a European tour and Baltic cruise. A region with rich traditions and exciting history, Baltic cruises will surely give you a very memorable experience in Northern Europe.

You will not be disappointed with the wonderful scenery that you’ll get to encounter when you go on a Baltic cruise. Sailing Northern Europe by luxury ship will appeal to your senses as you experience this wonderful journey. Vikings flourished here and St. Petersburg is nearby – Baltic cruises will surely fill your travelling appetite.

One of the places that the Baltic Sea region boasts is Gothenburg. Not only does this place boast of its architectural structures like the Gothenburg Opera House, it is also famous for what the famous opera house has to offer – the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest when it comes to classical music.

Baltic cruises also offer you the best of both sea and space. While in Russia, you can visit the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. You may also try the docking simulator with the Soyuz-TM space vehicle.

If you want to indulge in medieval architecture then Tallinn is the place to go. You’ll find 21st century boutiques on cobblestone roads, and the 13th century Toompea Castle.

Some popular companies that offer Baltic cruises are Royal Caribbean International, P&O Cruises, Cunard, and Princess Cruises. A passenger can also choose to either fly and cruise or cruise from a UK port.

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Theme cruises are becoming more and more popular every day. Theme cruises are designed to help people live out their dreams and wishes in amazing settings and beautiful places.

If you love to experience fine wine and dining every night, love to play golf and wish you could be taught by experts, if you have always wanted to master Photoshop or learn how to take that ‘perfect’ picture in a photography master class, you can on theme cruises.

More and more cruise holidays are becoming theme orientated, due to the overwhelming interest in these types of holidays. In some cases, the theme holidays onboard cruise ships require you to sign up to certain events, while in other cases, the entire ship is turned over to a specific theme.

You might want to take a Christmas or a New Year themed cruise; they are usually the most popular and the most frequent. Theme cruises usually take place in December and January, as these are the quietest holiday times for cruise lines. These cruises tempt travellers to go on holidays they might not have bothered to go on, which is good for both the traveller and the cruise companies.

Some operators organise theme cruises throughout the year, so if you are interested, check with your travel agent or directly with the cruise company.

Some of the more popular cruise themes include dancing, food and wine, history and world affairs, fitness and recreation, hobbies, crafts, sports, lifestyle and music, though there are many more to choose from.

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Skiing in Canada offers the skier serious and spacious pistes, excellent snow conditions, superb powder and well-maintained runs. It is no surprise that Canada is widely regarded as one of the world’s top destinations for ski holidays. However, Canada has more to offer than snow; with its top class service and excellent hospitality a ski holiday in Canada is an unforgettable experience.

Canada has a number of ski resorts such as Whistler and Banff that frequently appear in the list of the world’s best ski resorts. In addition Canada offers the skier a huge range of resorts to choose from, some of which are renowned for their challenging terrain and are suitable for experts, whilst others are ideal for families seeking affordable ski holidays.

British Columbia has the most mountain resorts with steep mountain ranges that run from the coast to the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Its location also means that it gets plenty of snow. Red Resort, Big White, Silver Star, Whistler, Fernie, Kimberley and Sun Peaks are just some of its ski resorts. Alberta is home to the Canadian Rockies and has long seasons, with some resorts still running their lifts well into May. Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay are some of its resorts. Ontario has smaller mountains, but still has plenty of ski hills. Blue Mountain is just two hours from Toronto. Quebec’s most popular resorts are located around Montreal and Quebec City. Mont Saint Sauveur, Le Massif and Mont Sainte-Anne are close to Quebec City giving skiers the opportunity to not only enjoy the snow but also the cosmopolitan atmosphere of this ‘European’ city.

The ski season in Canada runs from the end of November to April and the snow is reliable. Accommodation ranges from self-contained apartments, budget lodges and affordable hotels up to luxury apartments.

Skiing in Canada packages are available from a number of websites with many offering special ski deals. Check out the prices and offers under ‘Ski Holidays Canada’ on a number of the sites before you make your final arrangements.

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The Moscow Kremlin and Red Square are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the combined effect of the two is awe-inspiring. The Kremlin is the ancient heart of Russian power and politics, the fortified complex serving as the official residence of the Russian President. The citadel is an architectural treasure situated on perhaps the most famous city square in the world, Red Square.

At the very heart of the city, Red Square is the focal point of the Russian capital. As well as the Kremlin, visitors can see a host of interesting sites surrounding the square. Lenin’s Mausoleum is open daily from 10.00am until 1.00pm, although it closes on Mondays and Fridays. Entry is free, but be prepared to wait in line to see the embalmed body of Lenin himself.

Construction of Saint Basil’s Cathedral, also located on the square, began in the 1550s. The Russian Orthodox cathedral is an architectural wonder and one of Red Square’s most distinctive buildings. Another architectural treasure, the restored Kazan Cathedral, is situated on the north eastern corner of the square. On the north side, the State Historical Museum is a great place to learn more about Russia’s long and fascinating history.

Moscow itself is easy to visit from the rest of Europe. Situated in the west of Russia, short and cheap flights can take visitors directly into the capital. Red Square is located in the very heart of Moscow and is easily located from any other part of this spectacular city.

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If you fancy some city shopping all under one roof, then Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow is the place to go, no matter what the weather. This shopping centre is in the centre of the city so getting there is simple, whether you travel by bus, car, rail, or walk from the city centre; there is parking available for over 2000 cars.

Inside you will find everything you could imagine in the 80 major high street stores. If fashion is your interest, you will find Austin Reed, Gap, Mango, The Original Levi Store and Wallis, to name just a few. For the men there is Ciro Citterio, Gravity, Moss and Envy, plus a lot more smaller specialist outlets.

Shopping there is not confined to fashion wear. The stores include outdoor wear from Eisenegger and even a Sunglasses Hut. Gifts, home ware, beauty products, jewellery and electrical goods are among the other goods available there. Don’t forget that if you are entitled to VAT free shopping, this can be arranged in most stores.

If all that sounds a bit exhausting, a cup of coffee in the Costa Coffee shop, or Caffe Ritazza will soon revive you. Meals and snacks are also available in a range of ten cafes and restaurants, ranging from fast food at Burger King to a quiet restaurant lunch at a venue of your choice.

There is so much to look at and browse through in Buchanan Galleries and you never know what you might find, but the one thing you can be certain of is that you will not come away empty handed. You are bound to find something to buy.

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Sadly, as with much of the travel industry, cruise holidays are not without their fair share of scams. The most important thing to look out for when searching through the latest cruise deals is that the travel agent or company you are dealing with have a good reputation and business history. Unfortunately, the travel industry has few regulations and it can be a lot harder to spot scammers than you may think.

When you do make the final choice for your cruise holiday and decide to purchase a ticket, it is always best to do so by credit card. If you are dealing with a travel agent one-to-one, this will be the safest way to protect your investment. Should the travel agent or cruise line go bankrupt you will receive a refund to your account.

The money you hand over should always be going directly to the cruise line and under no circumstances should you make a cheque or money order to the travel agent. This will be easier to trace on a credit card bill as the name of the cruise line should be clearly displayed. After you have paid for your ticket, you will need to make sure you have the proper confirmation number from the cruise line, not one handed to you by your travel agent.

Once you are ready for your holiday, you need to sort out travel insurance. It is recommended you do this via a third-party and not the cruise line. This way you will be covered, should the company go bankrupt.

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Caribbean cruises are an important part of the rich cruise culture. Popular with first timers and veteran cruisers alike, the Caribbean cruise embodies all that is great about a cruise holiday.

The Western Caribbean cruise itinerary is one of the most popular, often departing from ports along the US Gulf Coast, and offering a great opportunity for a ‘cruise and stay’ style holiday taking in a number of diverse destinations.

The Western Caribbean cruise itinerary offers a real sense of variety on a relatively short haul cruise.  One of the first ports of call for cruise companies such as Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Cruises serving this popular route, is Florida’s legendary Key West – the southernmost city in the US that was the adopted home of Ernest Hemingway.

Once out of American waters the ships head for the delights of the Dominican Republic, celebrated as the producer of some of the best cigars in the world.
Passengers will want to take advantage of shore excursions when calling at the Mexican ports of Cozumel or Playa Del Carmen, from where they can tour the country’s ancient Mayan ruins.

Of course, what Caribbean cruise would be complete without a call in Jamaica with its limestone caves and cascading waterfalls?

The Western Caribbean cruise itinerary offers a little something for everyone, and with longer sailing times between ports than its Eastern counterpart, it also affords opportunities to truly take advantage of the onboard experience.

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If you were thinking that you have to be an expert to enjoy ski holidays, you would be wrong. Going to a resort to enjoy some time on the slopes is not something that only expert skiers can enjoy. No matter what your level of experience, you can plan an enjoyable winter getaway.

Getting away during the colder months is something that many people look forward to. Instead of focusing on the fact that this time of year can be grey and drab, they embrace the fact that it also opens up opportunities to spend time outdoors in the crisp, fresh air. Even someone who has never strapped on a pair of skis before can look forward to a wonderful time.

All they need to do is find a resort offering lessons to guests and sign up. Many resorts offer lessons at various levels, including those designed for people who are just learning how to ski. Once they get a few lessons under their belt, they will have moved from the ranks of newbies to one of the many people who regularly enjoy ski holidays.

Ski resorts offer many other activities in addition to hitting the slopes. Some resorts offer spa services, indoor exercise facilities and swimming pools for their guests. Exquisite cuisine and fine wines are also on the menu. Visiting a ski resort isn’t just about going skiing; it’s an entire experience for those who are interested in getting away during the winter months.

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Travelling to Moscow is not as straightforward as getting to some other destinations, but for a place with so much history and culture it will really be worth the effort. Travellers need to be aware that a visa will be required to enable travel to Moscow.  They should also remember to check with their medical practitioner, as some immunisations may be required. Depending on length of stay an HIV test certificate may be required.

Moscow’s main airports are Sheremetyevo and Dododedovo, and which country you are flying from will depend on which airport you will be using. Sheremetyevo is rather small and was built for the 1980 Olympic Games. It is well known for being overstretched, so expect long delays both on arrival and departure.  Dododedovo, about 50 miles out of the city is a newly renovated airport which deals with many domestic flights and a few international ones, including British Airways. A train service from this airport takes around 45 minutes to get into Moscow city centre. For connecting flights from Moscow airport leave at least a four-hour gap, as check in and security are slow.

For those that do not like to fly, Moscow is accessible from Western Europe by train, with the average journey taking about 36 hours. Prices are reasonable for a return ticket, and if holding an international rail pass it can work out a great deal cheaper. Travelling by car into Moscow is not recommended, and those brave enough to try it need to bear in mind that they will be faced with congestion in the city centre.

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