traveling with kids 2012

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Published by Distribuidora Mediterránea,Paseo de Reding, 43 1º Izq Tel +34 952 12 19 50Fax + 34 952 21 43 88

FEATURES Managing Editor: Carlos Verdier Writers: Cristina Toledo, Sandra Zúñiga, Laura Rueda, Francisca F.Álvarez ART Layout: María José GavilánLogistics: Almudena del Pozo

Advertising Sales: EPH Barcelona Angel Somoza – Director Tel / Fax 93 311 21 84Movil 628 343 581 [email protected]

MálagaDistribuidora Mediterránea de Ediciones MultimediaFrancisco Bueno – Director of Sales [email protected] Tel +34 902 36 57 01Fax +34 952 21 43 88

Content Syndication: Rights Syndication S.L. [email protected]

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Travelling with Kids Magazine (TWK) is whollyprotected by copyright. Partial or wholereproduction of the material in this publication maynot be reproduced in any form, without permission.While every effort has been made to ensure theaccuracy of the information, neither the author northe publisher can be held responsible for anyomissions or inaccuracies. Opening hours, prices,room rates and restaurant menus may changewithout notice. It’s recommended to check with thetourist information office or the venue in advance.Editorial material and opinions expressed in Travellingwith Kids Magazine (TWK) do not necessarily reflectthe views of the editor or the publisher. The publishercannot be held responsible for the advertisingcontent.

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HOW LONG THEVACATION

REALLY LASTSreative advertising people aredoing justice to their professionlately, especially those dedicated totourism and travel. In one of the TVcommercials broadcast recently,the company being advertised isportrayed as a pioneer project,looking for volunteers to implantmemories. The allusion to a movie is

obvious in the approach. Another spot focuses onthe moment the parents tell their children that theyare going to go on a trip. At that precise moment theadventure begins.

The values communicated in both cases are obvious,and invite reflection. It is true that when we travelwe enjoy the moment intensely, but the sensation islimited to the duration of our holidays. On the otherhand, the experiences are not lost, rather they aresaved in our memories and will continue to give ussatisfaction when we evoke them.

The other example also shifts the time of enjoyment.In this case, it focuses on the period prior to leaving.We still haven’t begun our trip, but we are alreadyproducing endorphins that make us feel good.Anticipation is also a part of the holiday.

Ultimately, the goal is to make our enjoyment of thetrip last longer, by extending it at both ends. Theideas are brilliant, and for this reason we thought weshould mention these messages in this editorial. Theexperience isn’t limited to the moment the actionhappens. When we travel, we accumulate memoriesthat last forever. In addition, simply knowing what isabout to happen gives us pleasure. How long do ourholidays last then?

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TURINItalian character

TURKEYExotism in Europe

IBERIAPetit Madrid

SW ISS ALPESV isual Appeal

ESTONIAMix of cultures

THEM E PARKS

CANARY ISLANDSThe magnificent Seven

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BERLINIn the heart of the continent

PIRAM IDS OF GÜIM ARA very entertaining mystery

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THE PORTUGUESE COAST THE ALGARVE Golden sand and crystal-clear water are the main features of the Algarve

beaches. The coastline has over 150 kilometres, and is especially known for its

diversity. Relax in the cool breeze of Cape St. Vincent or head over to Lagos to

savour exquisite fish. Swim with the kids, sail or just have a quiet dip. The

beaches have lifeguards and flags that tell you how safe it is to swim and the

water quality. The Algarve also has other attractions for kids such as the zoo or

amusement parks.

LISBON The coast of Lisbon is one of Portugal's main tourism centres. It has a gentle

climate, many hours of sun and countless beautiful landscapes. Costa Caparica

is one of the places most visited by locals and tourists alike; the best way to

travel around Lisbon and to beach areas such as Cascais, is to take the train. At

Cascais, as well as the beach you can also take a bicycle ride on the endless

bicycle lane that goes all along the playa Guincho coastline. The Maçãs Beach is a great leisure centre for bathing and sunbathing, and an excellent place from

which to admire the view between the mountains and the Atlantic. One of

Portugal's most beautiful places that should not be missed is the famous Cape

Roca, the most western point of continental Europe and Lisbon's most famous

tourist attraction.

ALENTEJO Discover the beaches of Porto Covo or Almograve, a quiet and isolated area

where you can get away from it all. Another paradisiacal corner is the Zambujeira

beach, a long stretch of clear water and golden sand, where all sorts of

amenities are provided. You can also practise sports like surf, thanks to the

waves in some areas, or even scuba diving in the waters of Comporta or Santo

André. There is kayaking at the Melides Lagoons or you can alternate bathing with excursions on horseback or on foot, admiring the coast.

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TURISMIN PORTUGAL

You can find information on the coastsof Portugal on the official PortugueseTourism websitewww.visitportugal.com. Plan your tripand find out all that you need to knowon the best destinations and what tovisit.

TURISMIN SPAIN

If you want to know more about theSpanish coasts, you can check out theofficial Spanish Tourism websitewww.spain.info/Tourspain, where youwill find all the information you needon the beaches and coasts of all ofSpain, from north to south and fromeast to west. You will also findinformation on all of the Spanishcommunities, as well asrecommendations and places that youshould not miss if you travel to Spain.

One of Portugal's most beautiful places that should not be missed is the famousCape Roca, the most western point of continental Europe and Lisbon's most famous

tourist attraction

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http://www.visitportugal.com

http://www.spain.info/Tourspain



THE SPANISH COASTIN SOUTHERN SPAINThe southern coast stands out thanks to its richness, diversity and the manyblue flags that are a guarantee that the beaches fulfil the requirements ofquality, safety, health and wellbeing for bathers. The Costa de la Luz is agreat example, it goes from Tarifa to Ayamonte and if you are looking forexotic landscapes, this is your best option. The dunes are the mainattraction on the Huelva coast. At El Rompido, a small fishing village,there is a sandbank running parallel to the coast for 10 kilometres. Cadiz,on the other hand, attracts younger tourists, thanks to the waves rustledup by the Gibraltar Strait winds. As for the Costa del Sol, its excellentclimate and lack of wind affords many enjoyable beach days. The westernarea is more cosmopolitan, with towns such as Torremolinos, Marbella,Fuengirola or Estepona, whereas the eastern area attracts more ruraltourism, ideal for family

and traditional holidays, with top quality amenities, such as Nerja, Torre delMar and Torrox. Regarding gastronomy, delicious fried fish is the typicalfare at the beach restaurants. Between the Costa del Sol and the Coast ofAlmeria you will find the Costa Tropical, in Granada, an amazing stretch ofbeaches, coves and crystal clear water that is perfect for swimming withthe kids.

COSTA BRAVA AND COSTA DAURADAThe Costa Brava borders onto the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, and itbelongs to the province of Girona. Its climate, nature, history and the bluewaters on its beaches attract thousands of visitors every year. Get readyto delight in lovely beaches with golden sand, surrounded by uniquelandscapes and offering all sorts of amenities for the whole family. Itsmodern tourism infrastructure makes the Costa Brava one of Spain's maintourist destinations.

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NAUTICAL CENTRESIf the sea fascinates you, the Spanishnautical centres offer fun activityprogrammes for any time of the year.You can practise any type of watersports, regardless of your expertise.Kayak, jet-skis, surf, parasailing orkitesurf are some of the activitiesoffered. Relaxation is also veryimportant, therefore fifteen of thetwenty-one nautical centres offer spaamenities. Most of the centres alsohave activities on land, such as golf,trails on horseback or 4x4 and hiking.You will have a great time with thekids.Further Information:www.estacionesnauticas.info

GIBRALTARTO THE SOUTH OFEUROPEGibraltar's tourist attractions areconcentrated on scarcely 6 squarekilometres. It is surprising to find Britishexactness in Southern Europe, and thiscontrast is a magnet for visitors. Noone should leave Gibraltar withouthaving had the experience of riding onthe cable car, visiting the top of therock and seeing the monkeys, the starattraction, because Gibraltar is theonly place in the world where theseanimals live wild. The San Miguel cave,the Alameda Botanical Garden anddolphin watching are other activitiesthat should not be missed. Rememberthat the currency is the GibraltarPound.

Cambrils, in the middle of the Costa Daurada, next to Tarragona, is anotherideal destination for the family. Its gentle orography makes itrecommendable for the little ones, as it is easy to keep an eye on themwhile they run up and down without any danger. The water at L'HortaSanta María Beach is calm, protected by breakwaters out at sea. Anothergood option is the Regueral beach, only a few metres from the city centre.This is an important surf area that also has a nautical centre and sportszone with kids' play areas. L'Ardiaca, la Llosa, La Riera, el Esquirol,Vilafortuny and Cap de Sant Pere are all beaches along the gentle linethat separates Cambrils from the sea. They are all equipped withboardwalks, showers, lifeguard, signs advising

of the swimming conditions, access for disabled persons and buses to getthere..

THE GALICIAN COASTThe Galician coast is over 1,600 km. long, and contains many cliffs andbeaches. One of the main attractions of the Galician coast are the RiasBajas, which occupy the western coast of the La Coruña province and thewhole coast of Pontevedra, from Cape Finisterre to the Portugueseborder. Of course, we can not forget the Cíes Islands, in the heart of theRias Baixas, forming a natural barrier between the Vigo Ria and the sea. Aparadise to be discovered with the family.


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Indeed, the subtropical ocean climateis one of the greatest attractions ofthe region. With average annualtemperatures of 20º C, theseconditions provide the islands with anenviable richness in both biology andscenery.

The seven islands of the archipelagoare of volcanic origin and each of them has itsown very pronounced personality. Lanzarote,Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, LaGomera, La Palma and El Hierro are united bycommon richness but each hold some surprisesthat perhaps we didn't expect.

GRAN CANARIA

We don't say that Gran Canaria is a miniaturecontinent just because we love this kind ofpoetic license but because it's really known bythis name. And rightly so, because the maincharacteristic is the diversity of the differenttypes of countryside, which include peculiarcharacteristics from many places all over theworld.

The mild climate is another distinctive feature,as it is for the other islands of the archipelago.The beaches are beautiful and offer exoticdetails which remind us that we are far away

from European sobriety, geologically speaking.Beaches are wide and of fine and yellow sandwith huge dunes, like the well known beachesMaspalomas and Playa del Inglés.Las Canteras beach is the crown jewel of theGran Canarian capital, as its biggest lung andleisure space. The golden sand beach withquiet water is sheltered by a natural barrier.Located in the city, it offers all types ofservices: police, lifeguards, spas, hammocks,promenade, cafés and restaurants, showers,toilets, very well comunicated and with goodaccomodations.

Also very attractive for families is Puerto RicoBeach with its tranquil water due to the

THE CANARY ISLANDSHOW TO HAVE FUN IN PARADISE

ONLY 100 KILOMETRES FROM THE AFRICAN COAST LIE THE CANARY ISLANDS, THAT AWAIT OUR V ISITTO OFFER US THEIR PRIV ILEGED CLIMATE AND AN ENDLESS OFFER OF LEISURE, CULTURE, SPORTSACTIV ITIES AND CONFERENCES. A LAND FULL OF CONTRASTS AND A MEETING PLACE FOR DIFFERENTCULTURES WHICH AWAITS US WITH OPEN ARMS.

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protection of the marina. You canreach this very well-equipped beach,with parking area, with a guagua.The natural pools are the best placesto have a lot of fun and to safelysplash around with our kids. The Salinasare situated at the mouth of theBarranco de Agaeteriver, where wefind a beach of stones. Three naturalpools connected to each other bycanalsare located in this area, whichgive the bathers the possibility ofswimming from one to the other. ElCharco de San Lorenzo and LosCharcones also boast natural poolswhich are a guarantee for a veryenjoyable day.

Its natural spaces are very valuable,which is the reason why 43% of theterritory is protected by the natural

spaces law, worthy of thedenomination of world biospherereserve by UNESCO. It’s really nowonder. One moment we aresurrounded by wonderful palms andthe next we are looking overspectacular landscapes that spreadbeneath our feet. Or we are walkingthrough a dense canary pine wood, anendemic tree of the Canary Islands,and suddenly we are standing at theborder of an almost extraterrestriallandscape, which looks like a widelyspread robe made of black volcanicrock.

If you like hiking then you should usethe recovered old paths which wereused to move livestock and which arepart of the historic and culturalheritage of the island.

"...Thenaturalpools arethe bestplaces tohave a lotof fun andto safelysplasharoundwith ourkids..."

TENERIFE

A sea full of options is what we find onTenerife. It’s a place where you canenjoy a wide variety of beaches withsand of all colours, the benefit of thesun and the immense coastline. LasTeresitas is the most popular beach ofthe capital of Tenerife. It’s ideal for anice family day since the yellow sand isvery fine and it’s protected from thewaves and the currents by a seawall.The beach is equipped with toilets,parking area, showers and hammocks.Also the Red Cross and the policehave booths here.

Las Vistas, situated between the twotourist towns of Los Cristianos and LasAméricas, is one of the biggest andlively beaches of the south of Tenerife.The water is calm, the sand is fine andyellow, because it comes from theseabed, and it has a complete rangeof services.

The beach is of fine, sand and calmwater. La Arena is situated in PuertoSantiago beside a small touristenclave that has very goodequipment and services.

The town Garachico in the northcompliments Tenerife’s offering ofpatrimonial attractions with an originalspa area consisting of several naturalpools, which are the capricious resultof magma contacting with theseawater after the eruption of thevolcano Trevejo in 1706. This place iscalled El Caletón and lies in front ofthe Avenida Marítima. There you cantake a refreshing swim in anexceptional environment, but youmust pay attention to the seaconditions, because there are oftenvery strong waves.

Since we are armed with towels andsunscreen we shouldn’t miss a visit tothe natural pools of Tenerife. Bajamaris one of the most well known and oneof its two conditioned pools isespecially for small children. Also theComplejo Costa Martiánez has a poolfor small children. The Parque MarítimoCésar Manrique in Santa Cruz deTenerife is the largest leisure complexcovering about 22.000 square meterswith a range of pools, some of them forkids.

From the magic of the sea and thepools we turn to the most formidableelevations. We have to remind ourkids that the Teide is the highest peakin Spain at 3.718 meters. It is only oneof the many natural treasures we will

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see in Tenerife and which wasdeclared a World Heritage site byUNESCO. Let’s talk about San Cristóbalde La Laguna and about the parkParque Nacional de Las Cañadas ofthe Teide. The former stands outbecause it’s the first example of atown that is not fortified and thesecond is a volcanic landscape thatstands out for its richness and diversity.

The diversity is precisely one of thedistinctive features of Tenerife: fromthe green color of the laurel woods,the vineyards and the extensivebanana plantations to the beacheswith black and yellow sand and theenigmatic and wild landscapes aroundthe different vulcanos which aredistributed along its geography.

LA PALMA

When somebody talks about La Palmawe first think of the clear and starry sky.This image corresponds to reality,because this sky is famous for its clarity,which is the reason why theobservatory of Roque de LosMuchachos became a globalbenchmark for astrophysics, thanks ofthe installation of the Gran Telescopiode Canarias, situated at the highestpoint of La Palma.

The Isla Bonita, another name for LaPalma, has many other attractions.Beautiful landscapes, Woods, springsand beaches shape a mosaic with alittle touch of Paradise. Its treasures

are well known. The island wasdeclared a biosphere reserve byUNESCO thanks to such beautifulllandsapes like the forest of El Canal yLos Tiles and the Caldera deTaburiente national park.

That much beauty deserves more thanjust contemplation. Fun is assuredwhen we enter these natural paradisesand take some of the many trails. Theby springs dotted forest takes us toanother era. Not only because of theremoteness of the urban centers, butbecause of the flora that is the samethat existed here during the age of thedinosaurs. What a luxury.

La Palma offers us crowded beacheswith very good infrastructure forleisure and unspoiled beaches whereyou can simply enjoy sun andtranquility. Even though the sun andthe beaches are not the main touristattraction of La Palma, it nonethelesshas beaches that stand out for theircleanliness and purity, and impressivelandscapes, like its steep cliffs.

Timespent in the natural pools will beunforgettable. El Charco Azul is agrouping that lies in the northeast ofthe island. It has a large pool, a poolfor kids and a pond named Charco dela Damas, with areas for sunbathing.The Piscinas de la Fajana is a groupingof three pools: a large one, a mediumone and a third one for kids. They areall suitable for bathing.

"...Beautiful landscapes, Woods,springs and beaches shape amosaic with a little touch ofParadise..."

LANZAROTE

Lanzarote is a unique experience forthe senses, especially for sight andhearing, which capture the impossibleshapes of the landscape and a silencethat fills one with peace. As abiosphere reserve, the island also hasa marine reserve, a national park and12 protected natural areas. That’sreally an incredible treasure foranyone who likes to truly enjoy thenature, the sun and the fresh sea air.

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FUERTEVENTURA

Expansive and unspoiled white sandbeaches, along the ocean shore, withcalm and transparent waters thatinvite you to relax. You won’t find abetter place to glide with a boardover the turquoise sea and takeadvantage of the wind.

But if you are looking for even moretranquility then you should visit LosCharcos in Cotillo. It’s in the north ofthe island and there you can enjoysmall, white sand beaches where thevolcanic rock forms natural lagoons.The calmness of the water makesthese beaches an ideal place for thewhole family. And in the vicinity,several restaurants offer tasty dishesto hungry bathers.

You also take a short trip to Isla deLobos to visit Playa del Puertitobeach.The boat trip to the island is short andthe kids will enjoy it. Once you arrive,they will have a lot fun in the naturalpools, boasting different shades ofblue, inviting you to a swim.But Fuerteventura, the oldest of theislands of the archipelago and thesecond in length, is much more thanjust sun and sand.

You can enjoy surprising landscapeslike the extensive plains which are aproduct of the years of erosion thatcontrast with the volcanos and layersof lava, or the impressive dunes fromwhere you can perceive, only a fewkilometers away, an uninhabited andunspoiled islet, which is catalogued asa Special Protection Area for birds, inaccordance with Europeanregulations.

The Corralejo sand dunes are one ofthe most appreciated spots, built upthrough the accumulation ofcalcareous sand proceeding from themarine remains, which get dragged tothe coast by the sea.

On the island of volcanos, likenowhere else, we will see just howmuch the volcanic origin of a territorycan influence the life of its population.In a beautiful agricultural landscapewe will see the rural population ofLanzarote who joined forces withnature to survive. They invented asingular cultivation that allows themobtain excellent fruits from apparentlyinfertile earth, where the crop growsbelow a black mantle of volcanicsand. And if you are the type of personwho is concerned about theenvironment, you are in the rightplace, because the island wasdeclared by the World Organisationfor Tourism to be one of the universalmodels for sustainable development,thanks to the artist César Manrique,whose untirable defense of naturalenvironments still is alive in manyplaces.

Rabbit island offers quiet beaches andstrong waves, which are ideal forsurfing, windsurfing, diving and fishing.Playa Blanca is situated in the town ofYaiza and offers fine, yellow sand

beaches and quiet water. There aremany restaurants with terraces facingthe sea along its promenade andbeachside services such as showers, aswell as hammock and parasol rentals.

La Ensenada de Las Caletas in Teguiselies in a semiurban area and is verypopular for its tranquil water which isideal for a visit with the family. PlayaGrande, situated in Puerto del Carmen,also promises an enjoyable day withthe family, because it has all thenecessary services to relax.

A great swim is in store for us inLanzarote’s natural pools. LosCaletones in the northern villageÓrzola are formed by the seawaterthat flows between the rocks and formlittle coves with shallow water. It’s apeaceful area for a visit with thefamily.

At Punta Mujeres, in the town of Haría,we will find pools formed by lava in apeaceful environment with goodaccess and ideal for a visit with kids.

"...The boattrip to theisland isshort andthe kids willenjoy it..."

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The island was known formerly as Planaría and issurrounded by kilometers of fantastic beacheswith white sand and turquoise water, perfectto spend a day with the family under the sun. Ifyou are looking for more activities, then youare in the right place because the island is aParadise for practicing sport, especially watersports. In fact, every year one of thecompetitions of the Windsurf and KiteboardWorldcup is held on the beaches of Jandia.

The Jandía peninsula is located on the south ofthe island, where the Pared Isthmus separatesthe two coasts of the narrowest point ofFuerteventura. In this little corner of the worldis one of the most appreciated assets ofFuerteventura: the world renowned beaches ofJandía. All through this nature park are tranquilbeaches with crystal clear water, hidden littlecoves, kilometers of sand and the wild ocean.There are definitely beaches for all tastes. Thenatural and the scenic value are the reasonwhy UNESCO declared this island to be abiosphere reserve.

EL HIERRO

If Hierro is known for something, it is for itscrystal clear water that attracts divers, whocome from all over the world to photographone of the most beautiful seabeds on theplanet.

If you want to relax and rest with the family youcan visit La Restinga, a black sand beach. Thewater is calm with no waves or currents andthere are hotels and restaurants in the area.The Island offers so many wonders that it wasdeclared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO and60% of the territory is considered protectedarea.

When we leave we take unforgettablememories of volcanos and lava fields, fertilevalleys, impressive cliffs with heights of up to1.000m, dense forests of plant species thathave survived on the island since prehistorictimes, millennial tres, twisted by the wind, andreptiles that were supposed to be extinct.

El Hierro has embarked on an ambitious projectthat will enable the island, over the comingyears, to become energy self-sufficient usingrenewable energy sources. This would make ElHierro the first 100% renewable energy island inthe world.

LA GOMERA

La Gomera is waiting for us to discover theenormous treasure that is a national park andworld heritage: the Parque Nacional deGarajonay. It`s a dense forest that is very rich ina floristic sense and with a phantasmagoricappearance. You will find many species thatare already extinct in the rest of the world andgentle springs. It’s definitely a place for thehiking lovers, who will be surprised by the roughterrain with deep precipices that fall into thesea.

The spectacular beauty of the laurel forest isanother of the main hallmarks of La Gomera. Itssingular terrain caused the developement ofthe typical whistle of Gomera, a language thatis used for communication over long distancesand that has been used for centuries.If you want to spend some time at a beach youcan visit the La Caleta beach with black sandand very good conditions for taking a relaxingswim. The water is fairly calm as the beach liesprotected from currents in a cove. Also, allservices are available.

"...one of the mostbeautiful seabeds onthe planet..."La Calera beach in the Gran Rey valley and LaCueva beach in San Sebastian de La Gomeraare perfect for a visit with the kids, both for thequality and the tranquility of the water, and theeasy access.

Also in the Gran Rey valley is the Charco delConde, a place of scientific interest and thatforms a little bay that is perfect for the kids tohave their first contact with the sea. We don’thave to leave the place to enjoy fantasticnatural pools. On Gomera there are plenty ofthem and we won’t have any difficulties findingthem. Also very entertaining are thecetaceans sightings that Océano Gomeraoffers (www.oceano-gomera.com). Not onlywill we see dolphins and whales, but also thebiologists will us tell everything about theseimpressive animals. A similar experience canbe enjoyed with Excursiones Tina(www.excursiones-tina.com) that offers atranquil outing to discover La Gomera.

FAMILIES ARE WELCOMEThe restaurants offer kid-friendly dishes andmenus and child seats, family rooms orinterconnected rooms, bottle warmers andmicrowaves in the hotels, special activities forkids and available goods like books, toys,games or DVDs. The Family Welcome stampcertifies the global offer of tourist services,especially in the hotel and the restauranttrades and the offer of the municipalities. Thevaluable services and resources are thefollowing: destinations, beaches, natural parksand cultural heritage, restaurants, touristicactivities and accommodation. Families canbe assured that travel is to a destination that isprepared to satisfy their special needs.

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http://www.oceano-gomera.com

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A visit to the caves is one of the moreentertaining and educational activities wecan undertake with our children. The magmaticnature of the Canary Islands helps to create alarge number of them. The caves are wellmarked, so that if one employs basic safetyprecautions, they can be safely visited andenjoyed.

CUEVA DEL VIENTO EN TENERIFE: Thiscave is a volcanic pipe that is the biggest inEurope and the fifth largest in the world. It canbe found in the municipality of Icod de losVinos and its length is about 17 kilometers. Thecave has three different levels of passageswith many

wonderful geomorphological phenomena. Thecave is also a place that is rich inarchaeological fossils of extinct animals fromCanary prehistory.www.cuevadelviento.net

CUEVA DE LOS VERDES ENLANZAROTE: This cave is part of a volcanicpipe that has a total length of seven kilometersdown to the coast and it extends furtherbeneath the sea, with a passage known as theAtlántida Tunnel. The origin of the cave was aneruption of the Corona volcano about 5.000years ago. In the past the cave was used bythe population to protect them against theattacks of the

Berber. In 1964 illumination was installed toenable visits to the cave and there is also anauditorium.www.centrosturisticos.com

CUEVA DEL LLANO ENFUERTEVENTURA: This cave is a volcanicpipe that was filled with sediment over thecourse of thousands of years. This left the caverich in fossils and allows to us to understand theclimate variations of Fuerteventura. There is atype of spider that lives here that becameblind due to the darkness. It's called theharvestman and its oddity is that it does notspin a web. www.fuerteventuraoasispark.com

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH

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http://www.cuevadelviento.net

http://www.centrosturisticos.com

http://www.fuerteventuraoasispark.com



There’s nothing better for having fun with thefamily than an unforgettable trip on the backof an animal. It’s an excursion that enables usto view the beautiful landscape of the islandsfrom a different perspective. A guided tour ona camel back is the perfect option, since thecamels are fairly calm.

DUNAS DE MASPALOMAS, GRANCANARIAThe company Camellos Safari offers theopportunity to enjoy a pleasant and slow-paced 30 to 35 minute camel ride in thefamous Maspalomas Dunes. This tour offersviews over the amazing desert landscape thatextends over 400 hectares, that was declaredNatural and Protected Area. Manolo, Pepe,Roberto, TT, Macho, Daniel and Sofia are only afew of the 35 dromedaries that take us,together with the Canary guides, through this

beautiful scenery. In 2004 the excursions withcamels were declared cultural heritage of themunicipality by the town council of SanBartolomé de Tirajana.www.camellosafari.com

PARQUE NACONAL DETIMANFAYA, LANZAROTEWe can get to know the Timanfaya NationalPark from the back of a camel and enjoy anentertaining but safe ride along the route thatleads through the National Park on a trailtransited only by these special animals. The triptakes about 25 minutes.You cannot travel this route with any othervehicle. Thanks to the dromedaries we canreach incredible and wonderful places whichare incredibly well preserved.www.lanzarote.com

FUERTEVENTURAIn Fuerteventura we can enjoy the beautifullandscapes, such as those in the Oasis ParkBotanical Garden, or the beaches on the southof the island, from the back of a camel.It is a wonderful, colourful trip and while thecaravan ascends the mountain the gentlebreeze makes this experience unforgettable.www.fuerteventuraoasispark.com

LA PALMAHere you can enjoy the amazing landscapescreated by the San Antonio volcano on camelback. You will find them at the beginning of theAccess to the volcano.

BURRO PARQUE, LA GOMERAThe Burro Parque La Gomerais is situated in anopen area surrounded by nature. The mainobjective of this park is the preservation andthe breeding of the different breeds ofdonkeys. The offer includes two types ofexcursions, by donkey or by horse.

VERY DIVERTING TRIPS

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http://www.camellosafari.com

http://www.lanzarote.com/es/excursiones/sur-corto

http://www.fuerteventuraoasispark.com/es/main.html



On the Canary Islands the earth is alive. Natureand volcano enthusiasts will find many reasonsto be astonished, either in the TimanfayaNational Park on Lanzarote, in the TeideNational Park on Tenerife or on El Hierro. By theway, don’t miss the cable car in Teide.(http://www.telefericoteide.com)

PARQUE NACIONAL DETIMANFAYA. In this National Park you canobserve the high temperature of the earth,which is about 600Cº at a depth of less than 10meters. It’s really interesting to see how thewater flows into the geyser and spills out as

steam. Even more entertaining is the deliciousmeat cooked with the heat released by theearth.www.centrosturisticos.com

PARQUE NACIONAL DEL TEIDE. This isthe Canary Islands’ biggest and oldest nationalpark. The peak of the Teide, at 3.718 meters, isthe highest of the island and the highest inSpain. The rich biodiversity of the flora andfauna, with its endemic species, stands outwherever the walls and the cavities of LasCañadas help to preserve them. Our childrenwill undoubtedly have a lot fun going up to the

peak with the cable car and we will enjoyimpressive views and the aroma of fumarolesof sulfur.

REMAINS ON LA GOMERA. On LaGomera remains exist from volcanic activity.The last eruption occured about two millionyears ago. It's very interesting to have a look atLos Órganos, a sample of colonnades whichwere shaped through the slow cooling of thelava in the old crater. Los Roques also veryinteresting. It's a natural monument of greatscientific interest, thanks to the singularity ofseveral elements of important scenic value.

DORMANT VOLCANOS

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http://www.telefericoteide.com

http://www.centrosturisticos.com/centros/CENTROS/published_es/DEFAULT/timanfaya.html



To go on a safari in the jungle, it’s not necessary to travel to a remotecontinent. On the Canary Islands we can enter the laurel forests, a type offlora that has been living on our land since the times of the dinosaurs. Wemake our way through the dense laurel forests, which grow very well heredue to the mild temperatures and the stable levels of humidity. This type offorest can be found on almost all of these islands.

BOSQUE DE LOS TILOS: This forest is situated in the municipality ofSan Andrés y Sauces on La Palma. It’s one of the most important naturalspaces of the archipelago. In this forest we can see many differentspecies, such as ferns, lime trees, laurel trees, arbutus, persea indica,beeches, heather… Another natural space with similar characteristics isthe gorge Cubo de la Galga situated on the northwest of La Palma.

FUENTE DE MENCAFETE: Fuente de Mencafete is situated in themunicipality of Frontera, in El Hierro. The high biodiversity of Monteverdeestablishes that one of the major accumulations of species of El Hierro isright here, including some endangered species of flora and fauna. There isa good representation of species like laurel, heather and stone plants.

BOSQUE DE EL CEDRO: This laurel forest lies in the Parque Nacionalde Garajonay on La Gomera. It is one of the largest woodlands of theCanary Islands. One of the advantages of this forest is the creek wherewater flows year-round. The forest was declared world heritage byUNESCO in 1986 because it is the most well-preserved laurel forest of thearchipelago. It boasts species such as beeches, heather, laurel, mossesand lichens, ferns… And rising 30 meters high is the tallest tree of all, theking of the forest, the persea indica. The forest is perfectly conditioned forvisits and for enjoying the landscapes.

LAS MERCEDES: This place is situated between the municipalities ofSante Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de Laguna, in the Parque RuralAnaga. It’s one of the most densely grown forests of the island and fromthe Peak of the Pico del Inglés at a height of 1.000 meters we can enjoywonderful views.

Don’t miss the Sendero de los Sentidos. This trial is abrupt with exceptionalnatural and cultural values. The landscapes are harmonious and beautiful.It is a nice trail for the whole family giving us the opportunity to becomeone with nature and enjoy surprising views from the Llano de los Loroslookout point.

TILOS DE MOYA: This is the most important representative of thelaurel forests of Gran Canaria, also called the Selva de Doramas. Today it’sprotected by the special nature reserve. Taking a walk through thisscenery we can enjoy the greenest nature of the island.

A JURASSIC JUNGLE

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Let’s face it. When we travel with kids, we lookfor moments and places where they can use upall their energy and really have fun, so thatthen afterwards we can have some tranquility.The water parks always help to fulfill this desireand for sure that the kids will have a lot fun.There are several water parks on the CanaryIslands, where all the family can spend anentertaining day. All of them have specialareas for the little kids monitored by lifeguards,rest areas, eating, toilets, changing rooms…

PARQUE ACUÁTICO BAKU WATERPARK: This water park is situated on the northof Fuerteventura with attractions for all ages. Italso offers many services including a sandsolarium, restaurants, medical services andcrazy golf and on Mondays and Fridays you canvisit a handicraft market.www.bakufuerteventura.com

AQUALAND MASPALOMAS: AtMaspalomas, on the south of Gran Canaria, youwill spend an incredibly fun day, any day of theweek. You can enjoy all the services andamenities the water park offers. Thetemperature is very good all year long and thepark often has new attractions to avoidgetting bored.www.aqualand.es

AQUAPARK LANZAROTE: This waterpark is located in the central area of Lanzaroteat the Costa Teguise. Some of its installationsare thrilling, even for the boldest. Some otherattractions are calmer for seniors and othersare entertaining for kids. In this park you alsocan practice paintball.www.aquaparklanzarote.com

AQUALAND DE COSTA ADEJA: InTenerife we find this water park that offers amultitude of aquatic attractions and pools. Thedolphinarium offers shows throughout the dayso that we can enjoy these amusing animalswith our children.www.aqualand.es/tenrife

SIAM PARK: This water park is located onTenerife and is the biggest theme park ofaquatic attractions in Europe. The world’sbiggest wave pool is very fun and you evencan practice surfing here. Besides themultitude of new attractions, the atmosphereof the park makes us forget time andeverything else.www.siampark.net

WATER PARKS


http://www.bakufuerteventura.com

http://www.aqualand.es

http://www.aquaparklanzarote.com

http://www.aqualand.es/tenrife

http://www.siampark.net



The televisions are turned off andthe video games are forgotten.We are in Madrid, a city that offersa lot of fun for kids. The theme parkand the Warner Bross, the Zoo, theFaunia, the Museo de Cera(waxwork museum) or of theFerrocarril (railroad museum) areperhaps the best options in any

tourist guide of

Madrid for kids but the options are infinite.

Another option is Micropolix. A town scalemodel where the kids are the adult population.They can be doctors, pilots, reporters, firemenor working in their own shop or learning to be apoliceman. The kids learn while they have funand the parents enjoy imagining which of allthese professions will be the one preferred bytheir child in the future.

And what could we say about Madrid-Rio, a bigpark along the river Manzanares with 30kilometers of footways, due to the burial of oneof one of the cities ring roads. There you canenjoy forests, gardens and urban parks, 33sports courts for skating, climbing, 7 for footballand 11 for small field football, paddle, tennis,basketball and cycling, 17 playgrounds, areasfor picnic, parking for bicycles and an urbanbeach. It’s the new green lung of Madrid and

T H E M A D R I DF O R K I D STEXT AND PHOTOS: ROSA MAESTRO

MADRID ON HOLIDAY AND WITH KIDS CAN BE ONE OF THE BEST EUROPEAN CITIES TO V ISIT. BUT YOUHAV E TO KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST PLACES TO GO. PUPPETRY, ANIMALS, ATTRACTIONS,SNOW…, THE OFFER IS EXTENSIV E AND FUN.

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INTERESTING PLACES AND NOT SOWELL KNOWN

• The little house of the mouse Perez. Asthe legend tells the mouse lived in acookie jar in the Prast confectionarynumber 8 Arenal street. And there we findthe Casita Museo de Ratón Pérez (in Eng.Tooth Fairy), where we can see amongother things a model of the cookie jar thatwas his home, including some illustriousmilk teeth. • The Museo de Ciencias Naturales(Natural Science Museum) includes veryinteresting workshops for the kids.(www.mncn.csic.es) • Museo Nacional de las ArtesDecorativas (National Museum ofDecorative Arts) offers storytelling onSaturdays and Sundays. • In number 4 Génova street we find thebookstore Pasajes that sells books for kidswith stories and legends from Madrid,which are really wonderful.• The IMAX (cinema with three giantprojection systems) and the Planetario(center for the divulgation of astronomy).• In the park Parque Juan Carlos you canride bicycles for free.• El museo del Traje (Dress Museum) with aworkshop to create designs (www.museodeltraje.mcu.es)• Churros con Chocolate in the knowncafé San Gines in Arenal street 11.• Xanadu: skiing at any time of the year(www.madridxanadu.com).• El Jardín encantado de San Martín (thebewitched Garden of San Martin) inValdeiglesias.• The park Parque Europa in Torrejón deArdoz.

THE WEBwww.madridfree.com art workshops, jazzschool, family cinema, concerts of classicalmusic for kids, comic workshop, cinema,gastronomy and tasting… at any time, thereis always something fun to do to entertainthe smallest kids and it’s all for free.

thanks to its linear shape it gives thepossibility to see historic bridges such asthe bridge of the Rey, Segovia or Toledo…

But, if there is any favorite place for thekids it’s the park El Buen Retiro. Atweekends the kids can watch puppetry,listen to music and make boat trips. It’sperfect to spend a day with the childrenbecause of the large activity program.Also it’s possible to skate, go for a bikeride or simply let them play where everthey like. The puppet theatre is alreadyenough reason to visit the park but thepark has got many secret places. El Retirois Madrid’s most important park since itwas opened for public in 1868.

The mealtime is probably the mostcomplicated time of the day. To find agood restaurant that’s not expensive andwhere the kids are entertained seems tobe an impossible mission, but that isn’treally right. We just have to name therestaurant Tommi’s Mells, set in the fiftiesof the United States; the Baby Deli, aworld of its own, with café, wholefoodshop and activity center; the Si Señor is aMexican restaurant perfect for the wholefamily; the Tren Europeo with the decor ofan old railway carriage; Pizza Jardín at thePlaza de Colón, where they always have alittle present for the kids and the FastGood restaurants founded by theprestigious Spanish cook Ferran Adriá incollaboration with the NH chain.

“STORY EVENINGS”That’s the name of the activity that takes place every Fridayin the Biblioteca Joven de la Casa Encendida. Storyteller,clowns, fictional characters, wizards… makes you enjoy amagical evening of literature, art and human values for kidsbetween 6 and 12 years. From 17.30 until 20.00 (reservationsunder the phone number 915063889) the surprise, theimagination and the diversion rule in the premises of thislibrary. Don’t miss visiting it with your children! Until the endof May.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW•Iberia offers daily up to 15 direct flights from London to Madrid at any time of the day. The company also offersdirect flights from Glasgow, Manchester and Edingburgh to Madrid operated by Iberia Regional / Air Nostrum orunder code share with Iberia Express. Most of the prices have a discount for kids under 12 years and thecompany offers a special service for kids between 5 to 11 years travelling alone. You will always find the bestprices at www.iberia.com. • Madrid Card: http://www.madridcard.com/es/Inicio.aspx. The tourist card Madrid Card Niños is a good optionfor your kids to enjoy the complete offer: including the entry to Madrids museums which are thought out forchildren and also the entry to the three big galleries (Museo del Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Centro deArte Reina Sofía). Also included are all the guided visits of the program “Descubre Madrid (Discover Madrid)”,the unlimited use of the touristic bus Madrid Vision, the tour of the football stadium Santiago Bernabéu, the Zoo-Aquarium and discounts in other leisure centers, shows, restaurants and shops. Aimed at children up to 12 years,the price is 15 Euros and is valid for 72 hours. You can buy it in the tourist offices; phoning the number +34 902877 996 or in internet at www.madridcard.com.


http://www.mncn.csic.es

http://www.madridxanadu.com

http://www.madridfree.com

http://www.iberia.com

about:blank

http://www.madridcard.com

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P Y R A M I D S O FG Ü I M A RA VERY ENTERTAINING MYSTERY

Fascination with pyramids has inspired many books and even today causes a mystical attraction tothese structures. But you don't have to travel to Mexico or to ancient Mesopotamia to experiencethe magic of pyramids. In Güimar, close to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can visit several pyramidsthanks to the Parque Etnográfico de Güimar (Güimar Ethnographic Park).

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About 30 kilometres away from Santa Cruz de Tenerife we have theopportunity to get to know some amazing buildings. The pyramids ofGüimar are shrouded in mystery as structures of this type often are.The ethnographic park is excellent and gives us the opportunity tolearn many things about the pyramids. Altogether the parkoccupies 64.000 square metres and has a variety of facilities. Thereis a museum, an exhibition, lecture halls, a botanical route and aleisure area. Various cultural events and activities are offered here,as well as guided tours for schools, associations and other groups.

THE ORIGIN OF THE PYRAMIDSBefore we talk about the details of the park, we should focus on themain attraction. The pyramids of Güimar sparked the interest ofNorwegian anthropologist Dr. Thor Hederdahl after he read anarticle published in a local Tenerife newspaper. The researcher, whois internationally known for his transoceanic expeditions withprehistoric boats and his theories of human migration , carefullyexplored the pyramids and put forth the hypothesis that thepyramids were built according to the architectural principles of theold and the new world. In this sense he connected the pyramidswith famous buildings from Sicily, Mexico, ancient Mesopotamia,Polynesia and Peru.

"...the park occupies 64.000square metres and has a varietyof facilities..."The truth is that nobody knows the true origin of the pyramids. Thereare various theories in this regard. Some researchers propose thatthey are only cairns gathered by farmers cleaning the terrain for itsfuture cultivation. Following Thor Heyderdahl's research, somearchaeologists started to relate the existence of the pyramids withancient civilizations. An illuminating finding is the orientation of thepyramids. Researchers at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canariasdiscovered that the pyramids are astronomically aligned with thesummer and winter solstice.

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ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL The ethnographic park was the answer to town planning that endangered

the conservation of the pyramids. Thanks to this effort, we can enjoy

these entertaining and educational facilities with our children. As soon as

you arrive, you will be offered the possibility of using modern audio

guides, which explain the different theories in an entertaining and

educational way. The audio guide is available in 7 languages

EXPOSITION IN THE MUSEUM The Museum is one of the key features of the park and is located in the

old Casa Chacona house, that was renovated according to the traditional

architecture of the Canaries. The different rooms contain exhibits that

reproduce the cultural vestiges of the old and new world and that provoke

questions about the possible cultural contacts between the two coasts of

the Atlantic.

The exhibition displays the results of the different archaeological

excavations carried out at the pyramids and in their surroundings. The

archaeoastronomical research on the alignment of the main pyramid with

the summer and winter solstice is explained and there is a lot of

information about primitive navigation and the global use reed boats and

one of the largest collections of examples of step pyramids in the world.

After visiting the museum, our route leads us to a panoramic terrace

where we have a scenic view over the pyramid complex.

"...The ethnographic park was the answer to town planning that endangered the conservation of the pyramids..."

Also of great interest is the auditorium, located in a newly built semi-

subterranean building, designed with the aim of not harming the

environment. The hall has a capacity for 164 persons and shows a

documentary about the investigations into the step structures in Güimar and the exciting transoceanic crossings with primitive boats made by

Heyderdahl. The documentary is shown continuously in six languages. In

the auditorium there are replicas made to scale of the different reed

boats used by Heyderdahl and a visual diary of his life that is part of the

permanent exhibition "Thor Heyderdahl: the man, the myth".

A WALK AMONG THE PYRAMIDS Leaving the Auditorium we will experience one of the most exciting parts

of the park, we will finally see the pyramids up close. The landscaped

path passes between the pyramids and gives us the opportunity to

observe the structural details like the meticulously carved volcanic stones

and their precise archaeoastronomic alignment.

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MORE POSSIBILITIES

The Pyramids of Güimar Ethnographic Park offers, in addition to everything already mentioned many more options so we all can

have an entertaining and enjoyable day.

- The park has a playground so the kids can complete their visit with

some healthy and fun activity.

- There is also a well-appointed bazaar where you can choose from

a wide range of souvenirs, textiles, games, books and typical

handicrafts of the Canaries.

- The number of events in the park is constantly increasing with the

celebration of cultural meetings, conference series, special

exhibitions and activities like the celebration of Canary Islands’ Day,

the international museum day, etc. An offer with special prices for

schools, associations and other groups.

- The educational environment of the park has been very successful

with schools, which has culminated in an ever-increasing number

of guided tours for school groups. During their visit, students take

part in educational workshops and activities. At the end of the tour a

photo is taken of the class that is later sent on to the school as a

memento of the visit to the Pyramids of Güimar Ethnographic Park.

- Another attraction for the pupils are the different contests

organized annually by the park. Contest entry requires pupils to

complete a class project. This is very important for developing

creativity and teamwork. At the beginning of every school year

contest information is sent to the different schools.

"...The different rooms contain exhibits that reproduce the cultural vestiges of the old and new world..."

There are still more surprises in store. The Chacona cave lies exactly

underneath pyramid number 1 and was discovered by a team of

archaeologists from the Canary Islands and from the United States.

Archaeological remains of the Guanches were found here and carbon-14

testing revealed that they are from the years 680 - 1020 AD.

The gardens are one of the biggest attractions of the park with 20.000

square metres of botanical areas and landscaped terraces. Plants native

to both the Canary Islands and other parts of the world are represented.

They are labelled with their common and scientific names and their place

of origin. Additionally, there is a botanical route with information panels

that describe the most representative species of Canary Islands flora. We

can also take the exportation route which provides details on the products

of vital importance for the economy of the archipelago throughout its

history.

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Berlin is one of those cities that seem to be a pending subject on my list of

travels. The first time I went, I was not able to get to know the city and left it for

sometime in the future. The guidebook, purchased quickly at the airport, was

placed on the bookshelf at home, unopened. This year, it was my husband's turn

to have to plan a trip to Berlin. The kids and I managed to convince him to invite

us for the weekend in Berlin.

THE FIRST DAY, A MARATHON Our wonderful weekend began very early at the Brandenburg Gate, as it is the

symbol of Berlin. It was very cold so we decided to go to a nearby

café to warm up. The Berlin pastries deserve a special mention, because they are delicious. We stuffed ourselves with sandwiches, croissants and pastries

dunked in hot chocolate. As if we were planning a military campaign, we decided

which places to visit and which to leave out, because we had very little time and

we wanted everyone to be happy.

We walked to the Reichstag, which is only a short distance from the

Brandenburg Gate. The building is magnificent, although we decided not to go in

because there was a long queue. We then took a tour of the city to see the main

places. This tour takes about two hours if you stay on the

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bus, but it is also possible to hop on and hop off at the specified stops, which is

very convenient if you do not have much time. The price for this tour is around

£17.

Kurfürstendamm, better known as Ku'Damm by the Berliners, is the city's main shopping street and was our first stop. A short walk took us to the Kaiser-

Wilhelm Gedächtnis-Kirche, a Romanic tower that was destroyed during the

World War II bombings. Ku'Damm leads to Tauntzienstrasse, where the

KaDeWe department store is located, offering an impressive variety of goods.

Shortly after noon, we took the bus that left us at Potsdamer Platz, one of the

most modern places in the world. Here we ate in one of the restaurants located

under the large dome that represents Mount Fuji in the Sony Center, Sony's

European headquarters. One of the things that we loved was that the restaurants

and cafés have heaters on the terraces as well as small red blankets on the chairs for customers, so it is a pleasure to eat outside. There are also shops,

the German Cinema Museum, IMAX cinema and loads of interesting things.

Our wonderful weekend began very early at the Brandenburg Gate, as it is the


The kids barely ate, not because they did not like the food, but because they were

impatient to get to the last stop of the day: Legoland Discovery Centre, right there

at Potsdamer Platz. As soon as we had settled the bill, they ran excitedly towards

the huge giraffe made out of Lego blocks that guards the entrance. Tickets for

kids under 11 cost around £10 and for adults £13. If you buy the tickets online at

www.legolanddiscoverycentre.de they cost a bit less. At the reception desk we

were greeted by Einstein, and as it was close to Halloween he had spiders all

over his face. I honestly don't know who enjoyed it more, the kids or us. It was the

perfect ending to our first great day.

We walked to the Reichstag, which is only a short distance from the

Brandenburg Gate. The building is magnificent, although we decided not to go in

because there was a long queue. We then took a tour of the city to see the main

places. This tour takes about two hours if you stay on the

THE FIRST DAY, A MARATHON No longer having the tourbus, we took the U-Bahn or subway, which left us at the

Zinnowitzer Strasse station close to the Natural History Museum at Invaliden

street, where dinosaurs awaited us. The kids were most excited, obviously,

about the Dinosaur World. The piece de resistance is the Brachiosaurus

Brancai, the largest dinosaur skeleton ever put together.

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The collection comprises five skeletons and numerous fossils. The kids could

not make up their minds what they liked best and they kept running back and

forth, sharing their extensive knowledge with their admiring parents. "This is a

Stegousaurus, Mommy, but no, because it has spikes on its tail," my eldest told

me. The creature was of the same family but it was called Kentrosaurus. Our

visit ended outside of this world, in the Cosmos and Solar System room, which

taught us about the origin of the planets.

After eating close to Alexanderplatz, we went up to the television tower to admire

a panoramic view of the city. The last visit was nearby, at Kindercity in the Alexa

shopping centre, where the kids had a great time pretending to be top-level

mechanics and chefs.

On our last evening in Berlin we celebrated at an excellent Italian restaurant on

Ku'Damm. Italian food is delicious in Berlin thanks to the large number of Italian

immigrants in Germany.

SUNDAY, GOOD-BYE BERLIN Before leaving, we decided to give ourselves a last gift, a visit to Sea Life and its

wonderful AquaDom. After touring the aquarium's different settings, we ended up

in the AquaDom, the world's largest cylinder aquarium. More than 900,000 litres

of saltwater were required to fill it, in order to hold some 2,600 fish of 56 different

species. A central elevator goes through it so that visitors can admire this

technological wonder. Still in awe, we then made our way to the Alexanderplatz

station to catch the train to the airport.

On the map there are many places to visit and many kilometres still to be toured.

Every city holds a different world but we are convinced that Berlin, so near to us,

is a city that we will return to in the near future.

Our wonderful weekend began very early at the Brandenburg Gate, as it is the



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urin, capital of the Italian Piedmont, is simply magnificent. Its

important role in the past as centre of the Italian unification with

the Savoy and in more recent times as an industrial city with the

founding of Fiat, has afforded it architectural and cultural

treasures of great beauty and aesthetic value. Neither children

nor adults will have time for boredom, as there are activities for

everyone.

GETTING AROUND IN THE CITY Turin is ideal for walking, its 18 kilometres of galleries, of which almost 13 are

uninterrupted, allows for pleasant strolls through the historical centre. We

recommend that you purchase the Torino + Piemonte Card, which allows free

access to urban transport and to more than 160 cultural sites. The card also

provides large discounts on tickets to shows, car rental with Hertz and Avis and

guided tours. The options are from two to seven days and prices range from £17

to £31. The card is valid for one adult and one child under 12. The 2-day Torino +

Piemonte Junior Card is ideal for those under 18 and costs £8. You can buy the

cards at tourist information kiosks around the city.

TURIN FOR KIDS There are so many things to do in Turin, but these are ideal for young travellers:

MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL CINEMA The spectacular 63-metre-high dome holds a lift that takes you 160 metres up to

the very top of the Mole Antonelliana.

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AROUND TURIN If you have the time, visit the surrounding areas of the city, you will find good entertainment options at any time of year. Winter sports are

practised at the installations of the 2006 Olympics at Alta Val Susa. In spring, summer and autumn you can breathe in the pure air of the

national parks in the region of Canavese and Valli di Lanzo. The region has no less than 10 parks and natural reserves, among which is

La Mandria, ideal for sports, excursions, savouring local food, purchasing handicrafts or learning history. More information at

www.turismotorino.org

The chocolate tour

Turin was the birthplace of chocolate as we know it today. The Choco Pass

allows visitors to enjoy 22 tasters in the historical cafés of the city, within a period of 3 days. It costs £10.50 and you can buy it at the Torino Tourism offices.

Museo Egizio

The largest collection of ancient Egypt artefacts, after the Cairo Museum, can be

found here, the only European museum dedicated entirely to Egyptian culture.

Children will have a great time amongst mummies, papyri and sarcophagi.

Tickets: Normal £6.50; Reduced £3 (18-25 year olds and teachers); Free for

children up to 18, seniors over 65 and disabled persons, and for holders of the

Torino+Piemonte Card.

Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6 - 10123 Turin; tel.+39 011 561 7776

www.museoegizio.org

Museo Nazionale del Cinema

La Mole Antonelliana is the seat of this museum, which more than a museum is

a theme park based on cinema where you can spend hours interacting with its

permanent collection. The lift, rising through the centre of the tower and leading

you to panoramic views, is a glass cubicle that seems to float on nothingness.

Willy Wonka’s elevator automatically comes to mind, from the Charlie and the

Chocolate Factory movie.

Tickets: Museum + panoramic lift = £7 (adults); £5.7 (Children over 11 and

seniors over 65); free for children under 11 and for holders of the

Torino+Piemonte Card.

Via Montebello,20-10124 Turin, Tel +39 011 813 8560

www.museonazionaledelcinema.it

Parque Valentino and Villa Medieval

This beautiful park on the bank of the River Po is the locals’ most beloved park.

Its main attractions are the medieval village and castle, which, incredibly, are

fake! The village, built in 1884, recreates a town from the Italian Middle Ages and

is free to visit every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in winter and until 8:00 p.m. in

summer. The castle can be visited every day, except Tuesdays, from 10:00 a.m.

to 6:00 p.m. and the tickets are £4.5 normal and £3.50 reduced.

Viale Virgilio 107, Tel +39 011 443 1701/02

www.borgomedievaletorino.it

Parque de la Mandria

This 1,600 hectare park, 16 kilometres from the city, takes a whole day to visit. It

is a UNESCO World Heritage and can be visited on foot, on bicycle, on horse, by

carriage or on the park’s train. There are unique tours offered, such as the night

tour, where you can see animals living in the wild or the exclusive tours for

families on special dates. You can get to the park on

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http://www.turismotorino.org/

http://www.museoegizio.org/

http://www.museonazionaledelcinema.it/

http://www.borgomedievaletorino.it/

USEFUL INFORMATION

It is easy to get to Turin from the UK at good prices. Turin is also a large railway hub with fast connections to the rest of Italy and some European cities.

It is not recommendable to rent a car unless you are planning to travel outside of the city. Many of the centre’s streets are pedestrian and, although there are

plenty of parking houses, the cost is quite high.

Public transport is recommended, tickets can be purchased in the tobacconist shops.

There are no conductors on the buses, but if you are caught without a valid ticket, the fine is over £175.

The website www.gtt.to.it has information on the city transport network as well as on the river and gastronomic tours.

Before travelling check the www.turismotorino.org website to find plans and offers for visitors, or ask for information brochures in the tourism offices located at

Piazza Castello/via Garibaldi, Porta Nuova train station or Caselle international airport.

the express bus from Turin, from Tuesday to Sunday. The ticket is £2.50 one-way

and £4.5 return. Free for holders of the Torino Card. For more information on

schedules, activities and prices: www.parcomandria.it and

www.comune.torino.it/gtt/avvisi/venaria2

TURIN FOR GOURMETS Children will have no problem finding something to their liking in Turin at

mealtimes. It is impossible to resist a good plate of spaghetti, a crispy pizza or

some delicious ravioli because eating well is almost a religion for the people of

Turin. It will be practically impossible to pry the kids away from the multicoloured

window displays of chocolate, sweets and every flavour of ice-cream.

The “Merenda Reale” recreates the ritual of the house of Savoy of the afternoon

snack with hot chocolate. Many places offer delicacies of local patisserie and

cakes with a delicious cup of hot chocolate. It is essential

to book the day before at the Torino Tourism Office. Check on prices, places and

times at www.turismotorino.org/merendareale as this programme is not offered

all year round.

The city also has a tram restaurant, a historical-gastronomic tour, and a place

that vindicates “slow food”: Eataly, a market selling top quality Italian

gastronomic products and freshly made food. Those who love good food should

prepare to spend large amounts of money, because it is easy to go wild

amongst such excellence.

CIAO TORINO With more than 40 museums, 13 historical cafés, parks, markets, plazas, the

famous Turin Shroud, the Palazzo Reale, the Teatro Regio, Art Nouveau

buildings, famous designer shops, river tours and its rich historical past, the

problem with Turin is to manage to make the most of your time on a short stay.

But we are sure that it will be unforgettable because the city is perfect for all

audiences and visitors will always want to return to get to know it a bit better.


http://www.gtt.to.it/

http://www.turismotorino.org/

http://www.parcomandria.it/

http://www.comune.torino.it/gtt/avvisi/venaria2

http://www.turismotorino.org/merendareale

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There are already numerous books that explain in full detail everything you need

to know about the Turkish heritage, artistic features or the construction style of

the Blue Mosque or the Roman Theatre of Aspendos. Therefore, this article is to

help families with children enjoy their trip to Turkey to the fullest, telling you about

the experiences and adventures that my family and I had during our trip.

ISTANBUL, A FAMILY DESTINATION If you are planning a family trip, Istanbul is an ideal destination. It is true that on

trips with children you have to balance activities that are probably boring for them

such as visits to monuments, with other fun activities, but on a trip to Istanbul

there are places that you can not miss, such as the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia and

the Topkapi Palace, which can be great fun for the kids. It also has some

exhibition rooms that may arouse their interest: the room showing arms of the

different armies of the Ottoman Empire, the kitchen with all its utensils and the

treasure room holding one of the world’s largest diamonds. I am sure that your

kids will not be bored. Istanbul has many attractions and interesting places, but it

all depends on how many days you have and how accustomed your children are

to seeing monuments and enjoying art.

SHOPPING AT THE GRAN BAZAAR This is a safe and lovely place that should not be missed. You can find anything

here, from street vendors to the most luxurious boutiques, but if you are partial to

shopping or easy to convince, you will surely overspend. It is very important to

watch the price of everything that is being sold to you. However quick we are

mentally changing currency, the bazaar vendors are much quicker than we are,

so if you try to confuse them and get a better price by changing currency, it won’t work, they are faster.

If you finally give up and are willing to purchase, for about £12 you can find small

suitcases with wheels to put everything in.

TIPS WHEN EATING

When eating out, be careful with the spices in some dishes, because

the kids might not like them. We advise you, depending on how the

kids take to hot spices, to be more or less insistent on this matter

when eating in Turkish restaurants. In Antalya they go a bit easier on

the spices than in other areas, possibly because they use more fish.

The main ingredient in traditional dishes is the area's delicious fish,

both sea and river fish. Regarding meat, lamb is another thing to take

into account. In Turkey and all that part of the world, lamb is mostly

mutton. It is an older animal and the flavour is a bit stronger. Keep

this in mind when ordering for the kids, because the meat will have a

stronger taste.

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http://www.onasol.es/

If the Gran Bazaar overwhelms you by its size, the Spice Bazaar is an option for

small gifts and inexpensive purchases. There are also a few jewellers’ shops. If

you are knowledgeable about gold and jewellery, you can find good bargains, but

if you are not, like me, it is best not to venture there.

ISTANBUL FOR KIDS If you think that Istanbul is only for seeing monuments, shops and other adult

activities, think again. As well as all that, there are places especially dedicated to

kids.

The Toy Museum, one of the best and cutest in the world, is located in the Asian

section of the city. This museum still has not been included in the usual tours

and excursions offered to tourists, but if you request it, the kids will love you for it.

Another place meant for kids is the “Miniaturk”, the Miniature Park of Turkey. This

is a small themed park where you can see miniature reproductions of all of

Turkey's monuments. There are also reproductions of some of the country’s

uniquely beautiful natural areas, and some

constructions that, although they are outside of what is now Turkey, were built by

Turks in the different countries that were under its Empire. Without a doubt

Istanbul is a city to see, to live, to feel and to visit. After getting to know it for a

week, you are left with the desire to return and see it in more detail, especially

with the kids.

OUTDOORS IN ANTALYA Antalya is in the Turkish Mediterranean region, it enjoys more than three hundred

days of sun per year, and so is an ideal place for a nice holiday with the family

and, especially, for outdoor activities such as swimming, water sports, hiking or

horseback riding. If there is a coastal region that is best visited in Autumn, that is

Antalya.

The area is eminently maritime and its beaches are famous throughout Turkey.

The Turkish coasts are seeing an increasing influx of recreational boats and

small passenger yachts; all types of vessels and mini-cruisers can be seen,

handled by fishermen who in the tourist season change the tuna fish for tourists.

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NATURAL EXCURSIONS There is great interest in the preservation of Antalya’s natural resources. The

Düden waterfalls are an amazing sight, even during dry seasons. The Higher

Düden waterfalls are formed by a park with semi-caves, and the falls of the outlet

are on an impressive cliff over which the water gushes. All of the rocky

formations and practically unexplored caves that are dotted along the coast are

quite interesting to explore and, although I am not a diver, I have friends who are,

and they consider these coasts a wonderful place to enjoy.

ANTALYA'S MONUMENTS Turkey has been in the middle of every important historical event. All of the

civilisations have been through it, when they did not originate from Turkey.

Alexander the Great, Constantine, the great Turkish sultans, the Ottoman

Empire, the Hittites, the Persians, even Iraq and Iran border with Turkey.

In Antalya we can visit mosques, archaeological museums, Roman theatres,

etc. Even if it is unfair to highlight a single monument, my favourite was the

Roman Theatre of Aspendos. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I was fascinated, in

addition there is a spectacular Roman bridge and an aqueduct that looks as if it

had been recently inaugurated. The truth is that it was one of the constructions

that most impressed me.

In short, Antalya and the whole Turkish Mediterranean region is a very interesting

area, just becoming a popular tourist attraction, and the autumn and spring

months are the best time to visit and enjoy all of its charms.

TURKISH CULTURE Turkey has been in the middle of every important historical event. All of the

civilisations have been through it, when they did not originate from Turkey.

Alexander the Great, Constantine, the great Turkish sultans, the Ottoman

Empire, the Hittites, the Persians, even Iraq and Iran border with Turkey.

In Antalya we can visit mosques, archaeological museums, Roman theatres,

etc. Even if it is unfair to highlight a single monument, my favourite was the

Roman Theatre of Aspendos. As soon as I laid eyes on it, I was fascinated, in

addition there is a spectacular Roman bridge and an aqueduct that looks as if it

had been recently inaugurated. The truth is that it was one of the constructions

that most impressed me.

In short, Antalya and the whole Turkish Mediterranean region is a very interesting

area, just becoming a popular tourist attraction, and the autumn and spring

months are the best time to visit and enjoy all of its charms.

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The Alps are a great alternative for the holidays, far from the overcrowded

European beaches. Visitors will find themselves in a dramatic and healthy

natural setting in which to inhale pure fresh air, away from the city traffic, pollution

and noise. Villars-Gryon and Les Diablerets are in the western part of

Switzerland, just 120 kilometres from the Geneva airport.

FROM ONE DAY Villars-Gryon is a tourist complex that blends tradition with modernity in its

infrastructure. It is built on a natural balcony facing the Alps, exhibiting a

spectacular horizon, from Lake Geneva to the Mont-Blanc, bathed by the shining

southern light. In the heart of the Vaudoise Alps is a typical little mountain village

impassive to time: Les Diablerets. An impressive glacier covers this mountain

range, which reaches up to 3000 metres. These two wonderful lodgings are

open to the whole family with the Free Access Card, with it you can travel from

one to the other and take advantage of all the numerous permanent activities

during your stay. From the first to the last day of your holidays.

HOW TO GET IT? It is a treasure for tourists and we have the map for

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finding it. In order to obtain The Free Access Card all you have to do is choose on

the web your accommodation from the three beautiful Alpine villas at www.villars-

gryon.ch and www.diablerets.ch. Reserve the option you prefer (hotel, apartment,

apart-hotel) and you will automatically have a free access card for all the

members of your family. This card will allow you to use up to 20 local mountain

transports (3 gondolas, 2 Alpine trains and 7 mountain trains) without limits. The

car stays in the garage during your holidays, and so you help preserve the

natural beauty of the Alps.

Likewise, all of the leisure and sports installations: tennis courts, swimming

pools, archery, ice-skating, guided excursions and the amazing golf course

with views to the Mont-Blanc. An adventure trek and a miniature train for the kids

are a fun way to acquaint yourself with the surroundings.

PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY The Free Access Card allows you to change your plans and programme next

day's family schedule taking into account the weather as well as everyone's

energy and wishes. For example, the day could begin with an excursion to the

top of one of the mountain ranges, taking the gondola up to about 2000 metres

above sea level, from the villa. You can return strolling through a pathway

winding between cows, flowers and mountain lakes. It takes no longer than

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http://www.villars-gryon.ch/

http://www.diablerets.ch/

an hour and is recommended for the whole family. To get everyone's strength

back we recommend you have lunch when you return, at home or on a terrace at

one of the restaurants. While you enjoy the typical Swiss cuisine (don't miss their

cheeses and their chocolates) this is the ideal time to plan the afternoon with the

family. A dip in the swimming pool, where the kids will have a blast on the slide,

a game of tennis or mini-golf, or a ride on the miniature train, after which the

moon announces the end of the day, and all you have paid for was the food. This

and the sunshine over the Alps is all that remains the next day, because then you

can enjoy it in a totally different way. Something for everyone's taste.

FOR NATURE ENTHUSIASTS

The area offers 300 kilometres of well-conditioned trails that will allow you to

discover all the beauty of the Alps, far from the noise and pollution of the big

cities. Mountain bike enthusiasts have 100 kilometres of perfectly signposted

paths that are free from danger. One way or the other, you will explore Alpine

meadows that trace an intensely green landscape, lush forests and wild

summits. The mountain train and the gondola cable cars complete the

combination for reaching the summit with the whole family. The Free Access

Card is your key to a world where Nature shows both a kind and wild face. Open

the door and enter the Alps with your whole family, you will not regret it.


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Vilnius should be explored leisurely, in order to savour every corner, because the

city has many faces that are revealed to visitors with every step you take. This

capital of what used to be the largest state on the continent, with borders that

stretched from the Baltic sea to the Black sea, can not be discovered in just a

short visit.

A THOUSAND YEA RS AND MORE The first written record of Lithuania dates back more than a thousand years. A

thousand years is a long time for history, and more so when the walls and

streets of the city have seen the presence of Christians, Orthodox, Jews, Tartars

and have also undergone sieges, invasions and dominion by Crusaders, Polish,

French, Germans and Russians. All of this history remains and can be seen in

the unusual architecture of the old city, the best preserved baroque ensemble of

the whole centre and eastern

part of the continent. If you want to see it all, go to the Gedimias hill, where the

High Castle was built to defend the city from the Crusaders. The tower, symbol of

the city, now holds a museum. Or if you want a better panoramic view of the city

you could go for a ride in a balloon. Vilnius is the only capital in the world where

balloons take off from the centre of the city itself. For £115 you will not only have a

wonderful hour-long flight, you will also receive a certificate, a baptism ceremony,

champagne, and more. www.oreivystescentras.it

DE VOTION IN VILNIUS Churches and more churches, that is what you can expect on a visit to the capital

of Lithuania, which is a bit ironic considering that Lithuania was the last kingdom

in Europe to accept Catholicism. As if the Lithuanians had wanted to settle their

debt with God, they filled the city with the best and

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http://www.oreivystescentras.it/

most beautiful examples of the religious architecture catalogue, from the Middle

Ages to today. A walk through Vilnius should start at the Cathedral, the country's

main catholic temple and the resting place of key figures of Lithuanian history

such as Vytautas the Great, Lithuania's most popular leader. Personally, I loved

the Saint Anne church, a jewel of the late Gothic. The red of its thirty-three

different types of brick has mellowed over time to a soft pink. The church of the

Holy Spirit is the main Orthodox church of Lithuania, but the Holy Mother of God

was the first one. Whether you are a follower of the Virgin Mary or not, you should

go to Ausros Vartai, or Gates of Dawn. This is the only surviving door of the ten

contained in the defence wall, and it holds the painting of the Madonna of Vilnius,

which is considered to be miracleworking. The painting is beautiful, but aside

from the aesthetic value, there is an aura of deep devotion emanating from this

place that will surely move you.

Saint Casimir, the country's first baroque church, with its black dome and red

tower, has quite a history: restored in the 18th Century after a fire, it was a grain

silo during Napoleon's march to Russia, it was an Orthodox temple in the 19th

Century and even a museum of atheism during the Soviet period. There are

many more churches with interesting stories, which highlights the open and

multicultural spirit of Vilnius.

"EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE HAPPY" This is one of the declarations of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzupis, the

bohemian and artistic quarter of the city. Frequently compared with Montmartre,

this original and amusing incubator of artists is one of the city's oldest quarters.

It has its own anthem, president, bishop, its own guardian and, as can be seen

on a wall of Paupio street, its own Constitution. To reach this area, you have to

cross the bridge over the

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Vilnele river, where you will see many engraved locks, symbol of love and union

for couples. It might be a good idea to take your own and leave a mark of your

visit to Lithuania. Of course, there is also a church, the city's smallest, on Uzupio

street.

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE FUN With so much green around, the parks should be enjoyed. Kids will have a great

time on the wooden structures in the Sereikiski Park, or climbing on the

sculptures and structures of the Pasak , or fairytale, park. Lithuania is

cold in winter, but you won’t have

to wait for the rivers to freeze over to skate on ice. All year round there are ice-

skating rinks at the Ice Palace and the Akropolis shopping centre, where the

whole family will have fun trying to keep their balance. To warm up afterwards

you can go for a snack in the café Nykstuky pasaulis or dwarf world, a charming place on the Laisvés avenue that is a large aquarium with play areas. It is normal to find many cultural activities for everyone in the European Capital of

Culture 2009. Several theatres in the city have specialised in children's shows.

You can see a puppet show at the Léle

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puppet theatre on Arkliv street, or a ballet show, or maybe even an opera at the

National Opera and Ballet Theatre. "Fashionable" parents will find brand name

shops on Vía Didzioji and on Corso Gedimino street; however, it is unforgivable for you to return without an article of amber jewellery or linen clothing. The Amber

Museum Gallery is on number 8 Via Sv. Mykolo; its prices are a bit higher than on

the street markets, but the design is worthy of the extra cost, and you will receive

a certificate with your purchase. A walk down Pilies street, the oldest in Vilnius, is

also a must. Take the chance to visit the

With so much green around, the parks should be enjoyed. Kids will have a great

time on the wooden structures in the Sereikiski Park, or climbing on the

sculptures and structures of the Pasak , or fairytale, park. Lithuania is

market that is set up at the end of the street, where Pilies becomes Didziojiya

street. Here you will find paintings, handicrafts, amber jewellery and linen

clothing.

Vilnius is an amazing city, with everything it takes to make it a great place to visit

and enjoy. Don't be fooled by the reduced proportions of the old city, as there are

secret nooks and crannies to be seen and stories to be heard around every

corner. Let yourself be enchanted by the song of the Vilnia river mermaid and fall

in love with this beautiful baroque gem.


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ast summer, on a friend's advice, we decided to get away from the

usual beach destinations and head to the Baltic. After a flight of

almost three hours from London, we arrived to this country of kind

people, where history is in the air and nature is an integral part of

people's lives.

TALLINN, MEDIEVAL CITY The most outstanding feature of this city is the perfect conservation

of its Historical Centre or Old City. The capital of Estonia is a

small, but perfect, example of medieval architecture, German baroque and

Czarist Russia. The children felt as if they were in a fairytale while walking

through the cobbled streets and medieval buildings of the lower part of the Old

City. We chose to eat at the Olde Hansa, a great restaurant that recreates a

fifteenth century tavern, with a somewhat different menu, as the recipes are

ancient. The children, in awe, had no complaints. The problem was that I had to

make a tremendous effort to climb the Short Leg of the Toompea hill to the top of

the city with an overloaded stomach thanks to the

Lrestaurant’s generous portions! My wife went into every shop, fascinated with the

hand-painted silk scarves, the amber jewelery and ceramic objects. I am not a

great shopper, but I couldn't help but admire that the Estonian souvenirs were

exquisitely made. The top is adorned by the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a

magnificent example of Orthodox cathedral, with rounded domes. The inside is

richly decorated with icons and it also boasts the largest bell of Tallin. The hill

has outlooks from which to enjoy superb views of the city, the harbour and the

sea. The following morning flew by visiting the Saint Bridget convent and the

Kumu Art Museum, an avant-garde building that does not clash with the natural

environs of the Kardriorg park. This park contains the Kardriorg Palace, built by

Peter the Great and today presidential residence. The park is an ideal place for

strolling and breathing in fresh clean air. What we were deeply impressed with

was the cheerfulness shown on the Tallin people's faces. The Estonians are not

boisterous, but they are very friendly.

TARTU, PLAYFUL LIKE A TOY The evening saw us driving towards Tartu, a small city in Southern Estonia,

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where we arrived at nightfall. This city is like a beautiful toy, and the fact that it is

home to the country's main university gives it a happy and l ight-hearted

character. We went for a short walk in the environs of the hotel and had dinner in

a cheerful tavern with a somewhat baffling menu, but ideal for the kids: breaded

chicken strips, chips, chicken fajitas, hamburgers and other Tex-Mex dishes. The

following day we visited the Tartu Toy Museum, a house full of antique toys,

puppets from many different countries and models that were used for filming

children's series. Afterwards, we went to the Craft Guild, where my wife took

pleasure in purchasing small gifts for everyone: ceramic, glass objects, hats,

handmade notebooks. This association holds a festival in December every

year, selling items like in a medieval market. The craftspeople wear the typical

dress that has barely changed since medieval t imes and they hold big

celebrations throughout the streets of Tartu. Over midday, we were invited to go

for a cruise in a traditional boat on the river. Unfortunately, one cannot do this

privately, as it can only be hired if there is a group of twenty. On our cruise we

saw bathers basking in the sun on the small sandy beaches on the river banks,

and people rowing. Estonians love the sun and they take every chance they can

to enjoy it.

ADVENTURERS Our itinerary took us further south and we headed to Otepää, a small

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village situated in one of the areas of the country most visited by tourists. Snow is

anxiously awaited here, as this is an important centre for winter sports, such as

cross-country skiing and ski ramp jumping. Slope ski is not practised here, as

the land is quite flat. The Otepää Adventure Park, next to the sports complex, is open during good weather months. This park's five routes are suspended

amongst the trees, with different levels of difficulty. Suspended logs, bridges and

rope ladders are some of the obstacles to be overcome, but the most

impressive is a long and very tall zip line which to me seemed endless but which

my twelve year old and fourteen year old enjoyed immensely. Having overcome

the obstacles

and still with a thumping heart, we set off for the hotel, a lovely building on the

lakeshore. The landscape in this area is dotted with lakes and its forests attract

many families for trekking. We felt as if we were in a dream. The hotel network is

perfectly prepared for receiving guests in the area year round. In summer,

trekking, and in winter snow sports are practised.

Once back in Tallinn, we decided to have another walk through the Old City

before catching our flight back to London. This country has a peculiar charm, and

although we did a lot in a short period of time, we left with the feeling that in order

to truly enjoy it a longer visit is required.

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our visit to the Parque Warner will not leave you indifferent, it is

renowned for the shows it puts on and, especially, for its roller

coasters. There are all kinds, classical, wooden, through water.

The kids can watch different shows in each theme area and they

will feel like they are in a different world. Here they are one by

one:

AMERICAN STYLE On Hollywood Boulevard there is a great variety of restaurants

and shops,

Yyou will feel like you are in classical Hollywood. One of the most impressive

shops is the "Great Warner Bros. Park Store", where you can find a large

assortment of gifts for people back home. After shopping, we had tea at the

"Beverly Hills Bakery"; delicious cakes! And my kids danced with Daffy Duck and

the Roadrunner in the "Hollywood Dancers" show.

CARTOON VILLAGE What child wouldn't love to visit Bugs Bunny's house or have a go on the

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Daffy Duck ride? Tom and Jerry's roller coaster, the capture of Gossamer or the

fun water games in Cartoon Village attract thousands of little tourists. You can

relax a bit in the Looney Tunes theatre after so much excitement and enjoy the

adventures of their favourite characters. There is also a "Cow and Chicken" ice

cream parlour, all themed around these likeable characters.

WARNER BROS STUDIOS There are continuously shows on in this area. One of the most amazing is the

Police Academy Stunt Show, with explosions and surprises and even a

helicopter, which will amaze the younger ones. If you want to find out all the

secrets from behind the scenes, you can at the Hollywood special effects show.

"The Haunted Hotel" is another of the star attractions, here you will be both

terrified and surprised, thanks to the setting and a few frights here and there. In

addition, the Lethal Weapon show gives you the

chance to experience cinema-style chases and skirmishes. It really is worth

seeing.

A FANTASTIC WORLD Anything can happen in Super Heroes World. Movie superheroes like Batman or

Superman put on their shows with fantasy-filled sets as backdrop. There are two

huge roller coasters, Batman, "The Scape" and Superman "The Steel attraction",

to test those nerves of steel. Nevertheless, bad guys also win so there are areas

dedicated to characters like Lex Luthor, Joker, Enigma or Mr. Freeze. One of the

most exciting moments is the fight between the Joker and Batman and Robin;

suspense will take hold of kids and adults alike.

TRIBUTE TO THE FAR WEST You will feel like a real cowboy in the Far West with these cinema-quality

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sets. One of the shows in Old West Territory is "The knife thrower" where Ali will

challenge you to take part in his show, making you protagonists. There are

several water rides such as "The adventure of the Rio Bravo" in an old goldmine

or "The wild waterfall", where we got soaked! But what my kids most enjoyed

was the roller coaster themed in the Wild Wild West style.

USEFUL INFORMATION We recommend that you arrive early so that you have time to enjoy

everything in the park. You can buy roadrunner bracelets, which allow fast

access to most rides, avoiding long queues. This is a good option, especially if

you travel with kids. If you like excitement you can buy the season pass for 2009

that provides, in addition to entrance to the Warner Park whenever you want,

discounts for Terra Mítica, Isla Mágica or Port Aventura. For the 2009 season there are new benefits, such as special prices in restaurants, shops or even for

the Madrid Zoo and Selwo Marina.

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uch more than just an amusement park this themed

complex comprises an amusement park, Port Aventura, and

a water park, Caribe Aquatic Park. Through the different

themed areas you will discover the mysteries of Imperial

China and explore the Polynesian forests. We took a tour

through the exotic Aztec Mexico, we earned the respect of the

Far West and we had a great time with the quaint stories of

the most welcoming, fishing community of the world, the M

Mediterranean.

RIDES FOR EVERYONE At Port Aventura you will find rides both for the brave of heart and for those not so

brave. Don't miss challenges like the legendary Dragon Khan, emblem of the

park since it opened, which reaches speeds of up to 110 kilometres/hour and

has eight loops. Its exciting reptile sound is one of its

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distinguishing features, as well as its bright red and white coloring, so it can be seen from

anywhere in the park. Our adrenalin level shot up on the Hurakan Condor freefall, we had to

be quick, we were almost back on the ground before we had time to scream! One of the

kids' favourite areas is the China Children's Area, a park set up to look like Imperial China,

ideal for enjoying activities and shows. Your family will be the main characters of the

craziest invention ever on Furious Baco, this roller coaster will take you through vineyards

and many other surprises.

SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES The surprising shows are the most amusing way to immerse yourself in the culture of each

themed area. Proof of this is China Town, where the best acrobats show off their talent,

leaving everyone in awe. Your kids' imagination will have no limits at the Makaku Theatre,

with Birds of Paradise from different exotic places around the globe; parrots, macaws,

cockatoos or cassowaries will all earn the children's applause.

COOLING OFF The Caribe Aquatic Park is a water park set up in Caribbean style. Distributed in two

R O L L E R C O A S T E R PARADISE Port Aventura has many attractions, but it is known in

Spain as roller coaster paradise. There are now many

parks and many roller coasters but, when Port

Aventura opened, its visitors were in for a surprise.

Last summer we were in the area and decided to spend

a day at the park. My brotherin-law, who was travelling

with us with his family, developed a sudden passion for

culture and decided to go see the Roman ruins in

Tarragona, leaving his 12 and 14-yearold sons with us. I

should have known that something was afoot then,

because someone whose comment on the ruins of the

Roman Coliseum is "It's all so run-down!" is not one to

exchange lightly a day of fun for cultural tourism.

I, being a pacific man, had to overcome my fear to

heights in order to go with my kids. and nephews, on all

the roller coasters that they wanted to try out. I must

say that I was on the brink of a heart attack more than

once, but luckily, everything works like clockwork at

Port Aventura. They are totally unyielding in matters of

safety, if you can go on a ride, you get on, if you do not

meet the requirements, tough luck. Moreover, on the

ride, any violation of safety rules leads to expulsion. I

fully agree with this, because fooling around cannot be

allowed when you are quite a few feet above the

ground.

Food at Port Aventura is good everywhere and prices

are in accordance with the difficulty of its preparation. If

you like fast-food, there are different kinds, at good

money value. If you are looking for a more elaborate

meal, you will also find variety at reasonable prices.

Port Aventura has entertainment enough for two action-

packed days. So depending on your itinerary, the

season and your preferences, you have different

accommodation options. You can stay in the Park's

hotels, in Salou or even in Tarragona. This will depend

on what you prefer, proximity, beach or culture and

monuments.

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have two options, either have a great time on the thrilling water attractions or get

a sunbed for a bit of R&R. There are also play areas, restaurants and

spectacular swimming pools that perfectly imitate the Caribbean atmosphere.

Children will love the indoor area with the exciting water slides of this unique

paradise.

EVEN MORE CHOICES The Beach Club, across from Playa Larga in Salou, brings the family closer to

nature and offers direct access to the beach. There are seven different water

areas, where adults and kids can relax or practise water sports. A visit to the

Lumine restaurant is a must if you want to have a great meal; we had the chance

to savour signature cuisine with unique views to the Mediterranean. It

specialises in Mediterranean Haute Cuisine based on fresh seasonal products

and, not to worry, they have an assortment of children's meals so the kids will

also enjoy it.

PORT AVENTURA GOLF This is the ideal place for golf enthusiasts and also for those seeking a first

contact with golf; both you and your children can enjoy this area within the

amusement park itself. Port Aventura Golf has three areas, the north course

packed with excitement, the centre course, which offers the most fun, and the

south course where you will face great challenges. Moreover, the landscape is

beautiful and our guide explained that the golf park was designed by the

Australian golfer Greg Norman and Green Project.

¿WHERE TO STAY? If you don't want to miss anything that Port Aventura has to offer, the best option

is to stay in one of its hotels. Four-star accommodation, with exclusive rooms

from the select Club San Juan, and a host of services in each for a full enjoyment

of your stay. You can choose the hotel that best suits your needs; the Hotel Port

Aventura recreates the charm and

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manticism of a Mediterranean village and is ideal for a romantic getaway. The

Hotel El Paso, in colonial Mexican style, offers shows and activities for all ages.

And for an unforgettable stay, the Hotel Caribe has the largest

swimming pool surrounded by white sand and a dreamlike setting with palm

trees and gardens. The children will have the vacation of their life at the Woody &

Friends Club, with very special fun-filled rooms.


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A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT

If you like Western history, this is the best chance to get to know different cultures

and traditions, because Terra Mitica is themed on the ancient civilisations of the

Mediterranean. Divided into five theme areas, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and

The Islands, each section has its own rides, which are sure to leave you

breathless. There are different categories: infants for the little ones; gentle or

medium for those who want to have some fun; and intense for those who want

unlimited thrills. Which one will you choose?

RIDES FOR EVERYONE

The traditional roller coaster meets the latest technology on the "Magnus

Colossus", a very original wooden roller coaster and on "Tizona", which is

similar but upside-down. The kids were screaming on the top part of the ride, but

they couldn't wait to go back on it. For those who do not suffer from vertigo, "The

Flight of the Phoenix" is the ideal place to enjoy panoramic views of the whole

park. "Synkope" is the most thrilling ride, where your adrenalin levels will surge.

On summer days get ready to have a very refreshing adventure on "Triton's Fury"

where vertigo and mythology are the protagonists.

LEISURE AREAS FOR ADVENTURERS

Ocionia is Terra Mitica's new amusement area with rides such as "Infinnito",

Benidorm's highest lookout tower, or "Queenwater" where children will be

amazed by an entertaining water and multimedia show. My husband and I dared

to go on the karts and play paintball, where we laughed non-stop playing against

other families. My children went on the horror dark ride and they had a ball, we

could hear their screams while waiting for them! Afterwards, we went for a boat

ride on the lake to relax, we needed a break! Atalaya is the most impressive

area, decorated with wooden constructions; it also has sections that are ideal for

the braver souls, such as the Himalayan Bridge, the Monkey Pass, the Ziplines

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or the Assault Lines. If you want to test your skill, strength and dexterity, these are

definitely for you.

¿WHAT ARE ITS ADVANTAGES? The first advantage when travelling to an amusement park is that you will spend

a different kind of day, full of excitement, entertainment and shows and the kids

will thank you for it. However, Terra Mitica has much more to offer as an ideal

destination for a family holiday, as we saw first-hand. For example, the park

layout has different large areas divided by themes, which is quite interesting for

adults and children. You can start wherever you want; we recommend that, after

looking at the maps and show times, you start on the right-hand side and go up

to the back, because if you stay at the beginning you will have to endure longer

queues.

EATERIES Lunchtime is not a problem because Terra Mitica has the best restaurants and

services. One recommendation, when you arrive, decide where you will eat and

as soon as possible book a table. Even if it does not seem important, this will

save you a lot of time and you will not have the unpleasant surprise of having to

wait when you are exhausted and ravenous. The gastronomic offer is quite

varied, there are meals for every taste, from restaurants like Luxor, in Egypt,

where you must try the Hummus or Lamb Tajin; to Via Apia, in Rome, with its

exquisite Venetian style cod. If you like Andalusi art, don't forget to go by

L'Almadrava in Iberia, a replica of the Alhambra's Patio de los Arrayanes, offering

a delicious assortment of fish and rice dishes. No one will go hungry!

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Every year Terra Mitica increases its number of visitors, especially in summer, as it is the perfect

complement to Valencia's tourism attractions.

The main civilisations of the Mediterranean are perfectly represented at Terra Mítica, where you will see the traditions and customs of ancient people.

100% adrenalin

The best descriptor for this park is "multipurpose";

whatever adrenalin level we seek can be found here.

But, let's face it, we don't need to be macho man. If a

ride is labelled as "intense", it really is intense. You

should not go on these if you are really not into this

type of rides; you can always use the cervical-neck

pain excuse, since a lot of people have neck pain, you

won't stand out.

Terra Mitica offers a large variety of interesting and

unusual food. For better or for worse, they try to

recreate food from all over the world and/or from other

times. The good thing is that this variety can also be

found in all price scales, which is quite refreshing

because in most places if you don't want to spend a

fortune you have to make do with the usual rubbery

hamburgers.

Terra Mitica's shows are always interesting because

they are inspired in ancient times; this originality is a

bonus for visitors.

Public transport to Terra Mitica from Benidorm is not

bad. This is important because if you are staying in

Benidorm and have managed to overcome the

challenge of finding a parking space, it is not worth

moving the car and losing the space just to get to the

park.

When you begin planning a visit to the park, it is a good

idea to check the websites of different hotel chains, or

even individual hotels, in Benidorm. Many of these

companies have agreements with the Park and the

tickets are cheaper or they may even have

Accommodation + Tickets packages at good prices.

These companies change every year, so you should

look for updated information.


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WHAT IS THE PARK LIKE? Isla Mágica is the first Theme Park to be situated within a city. It recreates the settings and society of the 16th century, a time when new unexplored worlds

were being discovered. The surprise factor is key, because when you least

expect it you might run into a pirate who is fleeing, terrified, or a damsel from the

Middle Ages strolling through the gardens. My younger son had a great time

trying to hide from the pirates. In addition to the

performances, shows and activities, it offers many water-based rides, ideal for

cooling off on those hot sunny days.

STREET PARADES A succession of theatre and entertainment performances, which are renewed

every year, constantly march up and down the streets. The whole family can

become part of the Isla Mágica shows and we saw this as soon as we went in. "Los Modistillas" surprised us by giving us advice on the garments we should

wear, and we laughed a lot. Our first stop was the

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Puerto de Indias, a representation of the Seville of the 16th Century. We went

directly to the Corral de Comedias where magic and theatre shows are

performed, to the fascination of the younger ones. However, if you prefer legends

of ships and treasure chests, you can start at La Guarida de los Piratas (Pirates'

Den) where there is a frigate turned into a stage for "El Matasanos" (The Quack)

or the classic "El Motín" (The Mutiny). You will see thrilling fight scenes, acrobatic pursuits, jumps and skirmishes, with a grand finale bursting with special effects.

THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH This space is especially for the younger ones, full of animals, waterfalls, caves,

mysterious corners and even dragons, in short, a different world. There are

different attractions such as "Chrysallis" where my kids rode in a gondola or the

"Jumping Frog", a small gravity-defying free-fall tower. "The Spring wheel" was

the ride that the kids liked best, a Ferris

wheel with different fun-shaped seats. Puppet and musical shows are a great

attraction at The Fountain of Youth, as they tell, for example, the adventures of

Pinocchio and other characters.

MUCH MORE THAN JUST MYSTERY One of the most popular rides is "The Fury of the Gods" in the Quetzal area,

where the bravest explorers will enjoy a wonderful trip through the Mayan world.

The object is to overcome ten daunting challenges imposed by the gods; will you

succeed? We did! At the Fuerte de San Felipe, located in La Puerta de América, we had lunch while watching musical shows. Afterwards we went to the "Potosi

Train" a children's family roller coaster where we discovered the famous Potosi

coalmines. Another corner that attracted our attention was Amazonia, with thick

vegetation and themed with wooden cabins representing a native village. Here

you can find, for

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example, “The Jaguar”, Spain’s first upside-down roller coaster, so if you are

brave, get ready for 360 degrees loops and great fun. The tracks run above

wooden cabins and different pathways, without a doubt the park's most

spectacular ride. However, as well as amusement there is also an instructional

aspect for our children. An example is the Balcony of Andalusia, where you can

stroll through a scaled model measuring 10,000 square metres, showing the

100 main landscapes and monuments of Andalusia. Without a doubt, an

unforgettable experience to be enjoyed by the whole family.

CINEMA LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT The El Dorado area is a meeting point for the best acrobats, where they

put on a lovely circus show. We were all pleasantly surprised by the birds of prey

exhibition and the visit to the temples and ruins. However, we still felt ready for

some action and the Orinoco Rapids and the Falcon Flight were the perfect

combination. El Dorado also offers the magic of audiovisuals, with the

"Cinemotion" show, where we were the protagonists thanks to a semi-spherical

screen and the seats coordinated with the picture and sound. We also went to

the "Dimension 4", which combines 3D effects with smells, movement, the

impression of being underwater, gusts of wind and even lightning. If you want

more excitement, you can find it at "El Capitan Balas" where you will have the

chance to use a laser gun to shoot at the bulls' eyes on the set and accumulate

as many points as possible to beat your opponents. We split into two teams,

parents and kids, but the kids won by a landslide!

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NOTAS DE VIAJE On a visit to the Rio Tinto Mines in Huelva, at the

end of the mining train ride you can go down to a

bend in the river and see the red water that is

contaminated since centuries due to the mining

works. My husband and one of my children wave

to the camera, against the backlight on the River

Tinto.

Inmaculada García Guiral

This picture is a memento of our ride on the boat

through the huge port of la Valetta, capital of the

island of Malta. There were Spanish and German

families, and the information on the city's history

was given in both languages.

Guillermo Portillo Guzmán

We decided to travel to Spain this summer, to the

lovely city of Malaga. My youngest daughter is in

the picture, on the beach in Maro, where she

played all day with her cousins. We will be back

next summer.

Charles Rush

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SAFE EATING ne of the recurring questions our friends ask us

when we travel to more or less exotic countries,

with the word 'exotic' encompassing a wide

range of destinations depending on who is

speaking, is about food safety. It's already a

classic. When we return from a trip, questions

like "How was the food?", "Was it difficult?" etc.

are like a mantra repeated over and over by our

friends.

The more unusual or far away the country we

travel to is, the louder their tirade about how absolutely irresponsible

we are for exposing our kids to God only knows what kind of food

calamity.

It doesn't matter that my children aren't fat, that they don't have poor

eating habits and that they are used to eat healthily, thanks to our

efforts as parents.

And it doesn't matter that in four years of travelling around the world our

children haven't suffered from even mild diarrhea (For this reason the

antidiarrheal medicine in our first aid kit always expires unopened).

To pay for my university studies, among other jobs, I worked in various

open air restaurants and bars. For me, the look of a plate, a waiter or a

table is all I need to judge the level of risk we are taking. It is not at all

odd for me to have a beer and an appetizer at one restaurant and

suddenly decide to leave and go to another place to eat.

OIF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME ADVICE, READ ON. Hot, scratched plates or glasses mean the dishwasher gets a lot of

use. I don't know about you, but boiling hot water is something I like for

the tableware and the cutlery I use to eat.

If the cook is bad tempered with the waiter, and both towards everyone

in general, then it is better to find another restaurant. When employees

don't like their work, hygiene suffers.

Although my father always said that the best dishes came out of the

dirtiest kitchens, if we can see grime in the small part of the kitchen

visible to customers in the majority of restaurants, just imagine the

condition of the rest of it, and act accordingly.

Order dishes that have a high turnover. If not, you may end up eating

food cooked days or even weeks before. In closing, something a bit

unpleasant: prawns and similar items have only one head and, for this

reason, you should be careful with soups and other dishes with a

disproportionate amount of them. I think there is no need to explain the

reason.

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