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Still thinking about what I learned about the fate of the Acadians after my visit to the Grand Pré National Historic Site, I got into the car and started driving westwards through the fertile Annapolis Valley, an area referred to as the "Breadbasket of Nova Scotia". The gentle North and South Mountain Ranges enclose this agricultural land of orchards and vineyards. The Bay of Fundy is located just on the other side of the northern range. A pleasant drive took me along the Evangeline Trail that runs on the northern shoreline of South West Nova Scotia.

My destination was Annapolis Royal, a town with more than 400 years of history, located at the mouth of the Annapolis River. Annapolis Royal, founded in 1605, originally was called Port-Royal by the Acadian settlers, but after the territory changed hands to the British in 1713 it was renamed in honour of England's Queen Anne. The word "polis", Greek for "town", was added to the Queen's name, and the original French word "Royal" was retained. A sign of turbulent times, ownership of this area went back and forth seven times between the English and the French. The town was settled two years before Jamestown, Virginia, three years before the founding of Quebec, and fifteen years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Massachusetts.

Together with today's Port-Royal across the river, it is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St. Augustine, Florida. Annapolis Royal is one of five Cultural Capitals of Canada and was also recently selected as "The World's Most Livable Small Community" in an international competition endorsed by the United Nations. To enter the town I drove across the causeway that houses the Annapolis Royal Tidal Power Generating Plant and drove slowly into one of the most historic and picturesque towns in Canada.

Annapolis Royal used to be the capital of Nova Scotia from 1710 until 1749 when Halifax became the capital of the province. Its collection of 135 Municipal Heritage Properties makes it the largest National Historic District in Canada. The town is a popular tourist destination and boasts numerous bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafes, galleries and retail stores located in heritage properties.

Fort Anne, the main attraction in the heart of the town, was built by the British to protect the mouth of the Annapolis River and this was my first stop. I went into the visitor's office at Fort Anne and was greeted by Alan Melanson, a 9th generation Acadian and a senior guide at this Parks Canada property. When I told him who I was looking for, he mentioned that my destination was actually the Port-Royal National Historic Site which was located on the other side of the river. I had obviously gotten the names Annapolis Royal, Fort Anne and Port-Royal confused and had showed up at the wrong place for my guided tour. That wasn't a problem, though, since Alan indicated that his twin brother, Wayne Melanson, is a senior guide at Port-Royal and he would simply make a phone call to the other location to advise his twin brother of my arrival later this afternoon.

I would have a chance to meet Alan again later tonight to participate in the famous Annapolis Royal Candlelight Graveyard Tour which Alan would lead at about 9 pm this evening. So with my appointment set at Port-Royal for later this afternoon, I decided to park the car and explore the town on foot. I walked down Lower St. George Street past the Town Hall, the Lighthouse which dates back to 1889 and heritage buildings such as the Sinclair Inn Museum – a National Historic Site, the Adams-Ritchie House and the Old Post Office.

I came back up through Church Street and admired all the colourful wooden clapboard houses. One thing about Nova Scotia architecture is the decorative paint trim work that always stands out as a special touch. Since my busy travel schedule had so far kept me from having lunch, I stopped off at the Streetscape Café, a cozy local place where I had a delicious vegetable puree soup, followed by some vanilla biscotti. It was the perfect place to read up on the local brochures and tourist information I had picked up. Appropriately strengthened I was ready to continue my discoveries of Annapolis Royal.

Just a few steps up the street right in front of Fort Anne is the Garrison Graveyard which was originally a French Catholic Graveyard from 1636 to 1710 and is the last resting place of about 2000 early residents. Right across from Fort Anne and the Graveyard was my bed and breakfast for the night, the Garrison House, which I would have a chance to explore a little later this afternoon after my visit to the Port-Royal Historic Site. I continued my stroll past Fort Anne on Upper St. George Street towards the Court House. Built in 1837, it is the oldest court house in the province still in use. An enormous old French willow tree at the Court House lane used to serve as the whipping tree where minor crimes were punished in public.

Just a few steps further on Upper St. George Street are the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens – a full ten acres of horticultural beauty that just celebrated their 25th anniversary. I entered the gardens through the well-stocked gift shop and started my explorations of various display gardens, dykes and marshland areas. A stunning Victorian garden illustrates the horticultural styles of days past. An Acadian House ("la Maison Acadienne") is also located on the property and showcases tools and utensils used by the early French settlers. Although it was already early October, many of the garden areas still provided colourful displays of flowers and during the summer the Historic Gardens also feature a café with hot and cold refreshments.

My brief walking tour through Annapolis Royal had given me a great introduction to a beautiful and very historic town and I was ready to discover even more history at the Port-Royal National Historic Site.

If you're looking for a holiday that consists of nothing but sun, sea and sand, then look no further than the sun drenched island of Tenerfie. With average temperatures lying between 20-22 degreess Celsius, it's the perfect location for a relaxing and carefree vacation or an itinerary packed holiday.

The Spanish island of Tenerife is one of the seven Canary Islands in the Atlantic, lying just off the coast of Africa. Officially co-capital of the Islands with Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, both cities are well known to be popular tourist destinations.

For a relaxing carefree time, Puerto de la Cruz is the place to go. Considered to be one of the oldest tourist spots of the Canary Islands, the northern coastal city used to consist mainly of agricultural land until tourism took hold. Since this time, luxury hotels, resorts and enormous shopping centres have been erected to accommodate the growing number of tourists. Popular attractions include the Costa Martianez (El Lago) - a large open air swimming pool designed by the internationally renowned Canarian artist Cesar Manrique;, the town centre Plaza del Charco and Loro Parque, a famous park and zoo found on the outskirts of the city.

For something with a little bit more excitement, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the perfect alternative. The capital and undisputed largest city, it is a modern industrial town with a busy port. Situated in the North-Eastern corner of the island, the city has the advantage of impressive scenery with mild tropical climates for those whose threshold for heat and humidity is not on par with the most hardcore of tourists or locals. Famous for its commercial stores, the shopping district of the city centre and the shopping malls of Anaza and Avenida de 3 Mayo are not be missed.

Other popular attractions in Santa Cruz are the "La Plaza de España", situated by the sea where the "Cabildo de Tenerife" government building is situated. Travel along Pilar Street and it will lead you to the park of "Garcia Sanabria" where exotic vegetation from all over the world is on display.

Whether you choose to spend your time in the north, south or centre of the island, you'll find that car hire in Tenerife is the most convenient mode of transportation. With the luxury of your own transport, you'll be able to avoid the crowds of people on Tenerife's busy public buses. Moreover, you'll be able to set your own holiday timetable, rather than having to rely on a package holiday itinerary, thus giving you the freedom to explore this stunning island at your own pace.

New York is a city that truly has something for everyone. The diverse residents from around the globe make New York unlike any other city in the world. A major destination for business travel, New York is home to countless businesses and is a world economic capital. When traveling to New York City, business travelers are often surprised by the high cost – including meals, hotels and transportation. Some corporate per diems are not high enough to cover expenses.

Transportation


Airports Serving New York City


There are three airports that you can use when traveling to New York City - John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), La Guardia (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). JFK, the largest of the three airports, began service in 1948 and has since grown to five times it original size. Located just 15 miles from downtown Manhattan, transportation options range from public transportation to taxis and hired cars.

La Guardia is smaller than JFK, servicing about half the number of passengers as JFK. It is located closer to downtown Manhattan than JFK, just 8 miles. Transportation options include public bus service from the airport to all areas of the city, bus service to Grand Central Station and Penn Station via the New York Airport Express Bus and as always, taxis and hired cars are available.

The Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), across the Hudson river in New Jersey about 16 miles from midtown Manhattan is also a good option for business travelers. Currently, Newark airport is undergoing a five year renovation project to its B terminal.

Taking the Train to New York City


For East Coast business travelers, New York City is easily accessible by taking the train. Amtrak offers several routes that travel between New York City and numerous East Coast cities.

The Acela Express train runs from Washington, DC to Boston, with stops in Philadelphia and New York City. Business travelers will find the Acela has amenities not offered on other trains, and travels at speeds up to 150 miles per hour. You will get to your destination sooner than the other trains, but a ticket on the Acela comes at a premium cost.

Getting Around the City


New York City is known for its hectic traffic – but don't worry, getting around is not as hard as it may look. Taxis and the metro are the primary forms of transportation for business travelers.

When getting around or asking for directions, all you need to remember is compass directions and have the right vocabulary. "Uptown" is when you are heading north towards higher numbered streets while "downtown" is when you are traveling south. You will go to the "East Side" or "West Side" when you are crossing the island. And be aware of building numbers which often don't follow logical patterns.

What to See


If you are lucky enough to have some free time while traveling to New York City, you will find you have endless options to keep you entertained. Known as the city that never sleeps, there is always something to do in New York no matter the time. Home to many world famous attractions such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State and Chrysler buildings and over 20,000 restaurants and 150 museums, you will never run out of something to do while visiting this exciting city.

Tourism is a budding business in Southern Africa, with the growth of South Africa's tourism more than three times the global tourism rate.

That is no surprise considering the many and varied opportunities on offer. Find a whole world just at the bottom of Africa.

The sea experience ranges from calm and warm in KwazuluNatal to icy and wild in the Western Cape. The weather also offers all seasons from snow (although not exactly mountains of it), rain, wind, scorching heat and freezes (like recently experienced - particularly in Gauteng). Speaking of seasons, Spring is beautiful because it brings the promise of new life, but Autumn has been an absolute treat for me this year. My gorgeous 20-month old daughter has taught me to play and have so much fun in the leaves. Autumn will never be the same for me again. From wanting to wrap up inside, we now wrap up to go outside and return with red faces and dusty shoes.

I have to reiterate what an amazing part of the world we inhabit. Where else in the world can you find forests, beaches, mountains, wine farms, game, cities, fine dining and accommodation types to suit each different need? So it is really hardly a wonder tourism is such a treat here at the bottom of Africa.

Southern African tourism is a sensation to the soul and an absolute must. For every budget, there's an answer. If budget is no issue, then fine exquisite luxurious self catering and guest house accommodation is readily available. Game lodges or safari accommodation also ranges from budget camp style to the most luxurious tents in the world. For every class of traveler or tourist, there is an answer.

Our facilities are so popular and adventurous, that organisations treasure the chance to take staff into the country. A further wonder about South Africa and neighbouring countries' offerings is that regardless of where you are located, a chance to slip away to nature's special nurturing is never far away. Just a short trip outside of Johannesburg central business district and you can find yourself on a game drive. If you are located near the coast, the chances are it's a short trip and you get to dip your feet in either the Atlantic or Indian Ocean. And it is always very close to have the sensation of country. Although South Africa (or Southern Africa including neighbouring states) is relatively large, car rentals (again suited to every budget type) make your journey right within your fingertips. So whether you are a Southern African tourist, traveler or resident – make Southern African tourism part of your make-up. Experience life, go adventure and fill your being – that way you become refreshed, rejuvenated and educated. To affirm this, I can vouch that my 20-month old beloved has one of the best roars that I have ever heard and has known since she was a mere 12 months old that cheetahs actually meow and not roar. This, all from her own personal experience…. in Southern Africa!