Theme Week Mexico

11 January 2020 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Bon voyage, Theme Weeks, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  22 minutes

Cancun and the Riviera Maya © Mardetanha - www.safainla.us/cc-by-sa-3.0

Cancun and the Riviera Maya © Mardetanha – www.safainla.us/cc-by-sa-3.0

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico has approximately 129 million inhabitants, making it the world’s 13th-largest country by area, 10th-most populous country, and most populous Spanish-speaking nation. It is a federation comprising 31 states and Mexico City, its capital city and largest metropolis. Other major urban areas include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and León.   read more…

Half Moon Bay in California

1 January 2020 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, San Francisco Bay Area Reading Time:  8 minutes

Ritz-Carlton Hotel © Elisa.rolle/cc-by-sa-4.0

Ritz-Carlton Hotel © Elisa.rolle/cc-by-sa-4.0

Half Moon Bay is a coastal city in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population is at 11,000. Immediately at the north of Half Moon Bay is the Pillar Point Harbor and the unincorporated community of Princeton-by-the-Sea. The urban area has a population of 21,000. Half Moon Bay is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of San Francisco, 10 miles (16 km) west of San Mateo, and 45 miles (72 km) north of Santa Cruz. Neighboring towns include El Granada, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Moss Beach, and Montara to the north and Purissima, San Gregorio, and Pescadero to the south.   read more…

Ironman World Championship in Hawaii

16 September 2019 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Sport Reading Time:  8 minutes

Almost 2000 triathletes begin the 2.4-mile swim at the 2005 Ironman World Championship triathlon © U.S. Navy - Chief Journalist Deborah Carson

Almost 2000 triathletes begin the 2.4-mile swim at the 2005 Ironman World Championship triathlon
© U.S. Navy – Chief Journalist Deborah Carson

The Ironman World Championship has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978, with an additional race in 1982. It is owned and organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification races held throughout the world.   read more…

Big Sur in California

9 August 2019 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks, Environment Reading Time:  13 minutes

California Highway 1 near Ragged Point © flickr.com - Fred Moore/cc-by-2.0

California Highway 1 near Ragged Point © flickr.com – Fred Moore/cc-by-2.0

Big Sur is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur has been called the “longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States,” a “national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development” and “one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world, an isolated stretch of road, mythic in reputation.” The stunning views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities have made Big Sur a popular destination for about 7 million people who live within a day’s drive and visitors from across the world. The region receives about the same number of visitors as Yosemite National Park, but offers extremely limited bus service, few restrooms, and a narrow two-lane highway with few places to park alongside the road. North-bound traffic during the peak summer season and holiday weekends is often backed up for about 20 miles (32km) from Big Sur Village to Carmel.   read more…

Costa Rica in Central America

13 March 2019 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  13 minutes

Bonita Beach in Limón Province © AndSalX-WWECR/cc-by-sa-4.0

Bonita Beach in Limón Province © AndSalX-WWECR/cc-by-sa-4.0

Costa Rica (spanish: literally “Rich Coast”) is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Island. It has a population of around 5 million, in a land area of 51,060 square kilometers (19,714 square miles). An estimated 333,980 people live in the capital and largest city, San José. Other large cities are: Puerto Limón, Alajuela, Heredia, Desamparados, Liberia, Puntarenas and San Vicente, with 30,000 to 50,000 inhabitants. Costa Rica is composed of seven provinces.   read more…

Laguna Beach in California

24 December 2018 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Greater Los Angeles Area Reading Time:  23 minutes

© flickr.com - Don Graham/cc-by-sa-2.0

© flickr.com – Don Graham/cc-by-sa-2.0

Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County in California. It is known for a mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation, and an artist community. The population is at 23,000. Tourism is the primary industry with an estimated three million people visiting the community annually. Annual large events include the Pageant of the Masters, Festival of Arts, Sawdust Art Festival, Art-A-Fair, Blue Water Music Festival, and KelpFest.   read more…

Channel Islands of California

21 December 2018 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Greater Los Angeles Area Reading Time:  12 minutes

Santa Catalina Island - Avalon © Spartan7W/cc-by-sa-3.0

Santa Catalina Island – Avalon © Spartan7W/cc-by-sa-3.0

The Channel Islands are an archipelago of eight islands (Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Clemente, San Nicolas, Santa Barbara und Santa Catalina) located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park, and the waters surrounding these islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.   read more…

Del Mar in California

17 December 2018 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  5 minutes

Annual San Diego County Fair © Jessicaowenphotos/cc-by-sa-4.0

Annual San Diego County Fair © Jessicaowenphotos/cc-by-sa-4.0

Del Mar is a beach city in San Diego County, California. Del Mar is Spanish for “of the sea” or “by the sea,” which reflects its location on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Del Mar was named after the famous poem The fight on Paseo Del Mar. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the Del Mar racetrack every summer. Del Mar is located between Los Angeles and San Diego.   read more…

Palau in the western Pacific Ocean

30 July 2018 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Environment Reading Time:  12 minutes

Rock Islands © Peter R. Binter

Rock Islands © Peter R. Binter

Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country contains approximately 340 islands, forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, and has an area of 466 square kilometers (180 sq mi). The most populous island is Koror. The capital Ngerulmud is located on the nearby island of Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Palau shares maritime boundaries with the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Federated States of Micronesia.   read more…

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