Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Europe Travel Deal

I heard mass today and before I left the church I proceeded to the adoration chapel. I have completed my daily prayers this morning so I have no prayer to recite or read for now. I have nothing in mind to share to Lord too. Not sure why this is so.

Then, I saw this pamphlet about the Miraculous Medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One thing that surprises me is the fact that, for the past weeks and days, my mind and eyes have been opening wider to the Our Lord's Mother. I keep seeing her photos, keep hearing things about her and a certain curiosity has aroused inside me.

My sister gave me a medal a month age and I kind of misplaced it. I racked my mind trying to remember where I could have left it but to no success. Then, last week, it just popped out from my things and I decided to wear it on my chest. I am asking for healing for detected the lumps through the ultrasound I underwent. I am scheduled for surgery but I requested that it be re-scheduled after my visit to Lourdes and Fatima.

That's the deal, go visit Mama Mary.

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Holidays to France

With 81.9 million foreign tourists in 2007, France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world, ahead of Spain (58.5 million in 2006) and the United States (51.1 million in 2006). This 81.9 million figure excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, such as northern Europeans crossing France on their way to Spain or Italy during the Summer. France features cities of high cultural interest (Paris being the foremost), beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). Aside from casual tourism France attracts a lot of religious pilgrims to Lourdes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, that hosts a few million tourists a year. Popular tourist sites include: (according to a 2003 ranking[51] visitors per year): Eiffel Tower (6.2 million), Louvre Museum (5.7 million), Palace of Versailles (2.8 million), Musée d'Orsay (2.1 million), Arc de Triomphe (1.2 million), Centre Pompidou (1.2 million), Mont-Saint-Michel (1 million), Château de Chambord (711,000), Sainte-Chapelle (683,000), Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (549,000), Puy de Dôme (500,000), Musée Picasso (441,000), Carcassonne (362,000).

There is, technically speaking, no architecture named French Architecture, although that has not always been true. Gothic Architecture's old name was French Architecture (or Opus Francigenum). The term “Gothic” appeared later as a stylistic insult and was widely adopted. Northern France is the home of some of the most important Gothic cathedrals and basilicas, the first of these being the Saint Denis Basilica (used as the royal necropolis); other important French Gothic cathedrals are Notre-Dame de Chartres and Notre-Dame d'Amiens. The kings were crowned in another important Gothic church: Notre-Dame de Reims. Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used for many religious palaces, the most important one being the Palais des Papes in Avignon.Saint Louis' Sainte Chapelle represents the French impact on religious architecture.

During the Middle Ages, fortified castles were built by feudal nobles to mark their powers against their rivals. When King Philip II took Rouen from King John, for example, he demolished the ducal castle to build a bigger one. Fortified cities were also common, unfortunately most French castles did not survive the passage of time. This is why Richard the Lionheart's Château-Gaillard was demolished, as well as the Château de Lusignan. Some important French castles that survived are Chinon, Château d'Angers, the massive Château de Vincennes and the so called Cathar castles.

Before the appearance of this architecture France had been using Romanesque architecture like most of Western Europe (with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula, which used Mooresque architecture). Some of the greatest examples of Romanesque churches in France are the Saint Sernin Basilica in Toulouse and the remains of the Cluniac Abbey (largely destroyed during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars).

The end of the Hundred Years' War marked an important stage in the evolution of French architecture. It was the time of the French Renaissance and several artists from Italy and Spain were invited to the French court; many residential palaces, Italian-inspired, were built, mainly in the Loire Valley. Such residential castles were the Château de Chambord, the Château de Chenonceau, or the Château d'Amboise. Following the renaissance and the end of the Middle Ages, Baroque Architecture replaced the gothic one. However, in France, baroque architecture found a greater success in the secular domain than in the religious one.[74] In the secular domain the Palace of Versailles has many baroque features. Jules Hardouin Mansart can be said to be the most influential French architect of the baroque style, with his very famous baroque dome of Les Invalides. Some of the most impressive provincial baroque architecture is found in places that were not yet French such as the Place Stanislas in Nancy. On the military architectural side Vauban designed some of the most efficient fortresses of Europe and became a very influential military architect.The Eiffel Tower is an icon of both Paris and France

After the Revolution the Republicans favoured Neoclassicism although neoclassicism was introduced in France prior to the revolution with such building as the Parisian Pantheon or the Capitole de Toulouse. Built during the French Empire the Arc de Triomphe and Sainte Marie-Madeleine represent this trend the best.

Under Napoleon III a new wave of urbanism and architecture was given birth. If some very extravagant buildings such as the neo-baroque Palais Garnier were built, the urban planning of the time was very organised and rigorous. For example Baron Haussmann rebuilt Paris. The architecture associated to this era is named Second Empire in the English speaking world, the term being taken from the Second French Empire. These times also saw a strong Gothic-Revival trend across Europe, in France the associated architect was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In the late 19th century Gustave Eiffel designed many bridges (like the Garabit viaduct) and remains one of the most influential bridge designer of his time, although he is best remembered for the Eiffel Tower.

In the 20th century the Swiss Architect Le Corbusier designed several buildings in France. More recently French architects have combined both modern and old architectural styles. The Louvre Pyramid is a good example of modern architecture added to an older building. Certainly the most difficult buildings to integrate within French cities are skyscrapers, as they are visible from afar. France's largest financial district is La Defense, where a significant number of skyscrapers are located. Other massive buildings that are a challenge to integrate into their environment are large bridges; a good example of the way this has been done is the Millau Viaduct. Some famous modern French architects include Jean Nouvel or Paul Andreu.
Molière is the most played author in the Comédie-Française

The earliest French literature dates from the Middle Ages when the area that is modern France did not have a single, uniform language. There were several languages and dialects and each writer used his own spelling and grammar. The author of many French mediaeval texts is unknown, for example Tristan and Iseult and Lancelot and the Holy Grail. Much mediaeval French poetry and literature was inspired by the legends of the Matter of France, such as the The Song of Roland and the various Chansons de geste. The “Roman de Renart”, written in 1175 by Perrout de Saint Cloude tells the story of the mediaeval character Reynard ('the Fox') and is another example of early French writing. The names of some authors from this period are known, for example Chrétien de Troyes and Duke William IX of Aquitaine, who wrote in Occitan.

French literature and poetry flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 18th century saw the works of writers, essayists and moralists such as Voltaire, Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Charles Perrault was a prolific writer of children's stories such as: “Puss in Boots”, “Cinderella”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “Bluebeard”.

The Prix Goncourt is a French literary prize first awarded in 1903. Important writers of the 20th century include Marcel Proust, Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Albert Camus, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Antoine de Saint Exupéry wrote Little Prince which has remained popular for decades with children and adults around the world.

Popular sports include football, both codes of rugby football and in certain regions basketball and handball. France has hosted events such as the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, and hosted the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup. Stade de France in Paris is the largest stadium in France and was the venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, and hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in October 2007. France also hosts the annual Tour de France, the most famous road bicycle race in the world. France is also famous for its 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race held in the Sarthe department. Several major tennis tournaments take place in France, including the Paris Masters and the French Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

France has a close association with the Modern Olympic Games; it was a French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who suggested the Games' revival, at the end of the 19th century. After Athens was awarded the first Games, in reference to the Greek origins of the ancient Olympics, Paris hosted the second Games in 1900. Paris was also the first home of the International Olympic Committee, before it moved to Lausanne. Since that 1900 Games, France has hosted the Olympics on four further occasions: the 1924 Summer Olympics, again in Paris and three Winter Games (1924 in Chamonix, 1968 in Grenoble and 1992 in Albertville).

Both the national football team and the national rugby union team are nicknamed “Les Bleus” in reference to the team’s shirt color as well as the national French tricolor flag. The football team is among the most successful in the world, particularly at the turn of the 21st century, with one FIFA World Cup victory in 1998, one FIFA World Cup second place in 2006, and two European Championships in 1984 and 2000. The top national football club competition is the Ligue 1. Rugby is also very popular, particularly in Paris and the southwest of France. The national rugby team has competed at every Rugby World Cup, and takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship. Following from a strong domestic tournament the French rugby team has won sixteen Six Nations Championships, including eight grand slams; and have reached the semi-finals and final of the Rugby World Cup.

Marianne is a symbol of the French Republic. She is an allegorical figure of liberty and the Republic and first appeared at the time of the French Revolution. The earliest representations of Marianne are of a woman wearing a Phrygian cap. The origins of the name Marianne are unknown, but Marie-Anne was a very common first name in the 18th century. Anti-revolutionaries of the time derisively called her La Gueuse (the Commoner). It is believed that revolutionaries from the South of France adopted the Phrygian cap as it symbolised liberty, having been worn by freed slaves in both Greece and Rome. Mediterranean seamen and convicts manning the galleys also wore a similar type of cap.

Under the Third Republic, statues, and especially busts, of Marianne began to proliferate, particularly in town halls. She was represented in several different manners, depending on whether the aim was to emphasise her revolutionary nature or her “wisdom”. Over time, the Phrygian cap was felt to be too seditious, and was replaced by a diadem or a crown. In recent times, famous French women have been used as the model for those busts. Recent ones include Sophie Marceau, and Laetitia Casta. She also features on everyday articles such as postage stamps and coins.
Source: Wikipedia

A Trip to Italy

Italy did not exist as a state until the country's unification in 1861. Due to this comparatively late unification, and the historical autonomy of the regions that comprise the Italian Peninsula, many traditions and customs that are now recognized as distinctly Italian can be identified by their regions of origin. Despite the political and social isolation of these regions, Italy's contributions to the cultural and historical heritage of Europe remain immense. Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (44) to date.

Italian painting is traditionally characterized by a warmth of colour and light, as exemplified in the works of Caravaggio and Titian, and a preoccupation with religious figures and motifs. Italian painting enjoyed preeminence in Europe for hundreds of years, from the Romanesque and Gothic periods, and through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the latter two of which saw fruition in Italy. Notable artists who fall within these periods include Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael. Thereafter, Italy was to experience a continual subjection to foreign powers which caused a shift of focus to political matters, leading to its decline as the artistic authority in Europe. Not until 20th century Futurism, primarily through the works of Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla, would Italy recapture any of its former prestige as a seminal place of artistic evolution. Futurism was succeeded by the metaphysical paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, who exerted a strong influence on the Surrealists and generations of artists to follow.

The basis of the modern Italian language was established by the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri, whose greatest work, the Divine Comedy, is considered amongst the foremost literary statements produced in Europe during the Middle Ages. There is no shortage of celebrated literary figures in Italy: Giovanni Boccaccio, Giacomo Leopardi, Alessandro Manzoni, Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto, and Petrarch, whose best-known vehicle of expression, the sonnet, was invented in Italy. Prominent philosophers include Giordano Bruno, Marsilio Ficino, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Giambattista Vico. Modern literary figures and Nobel laureates are nationalist poet Giosuè Carducci in 1906, realist writer Grazia Deledda in 1926, modern theatre author Luigi Pirandello in 1936, poets Salvatore Quasimodo in 1959 and Eugenio Montale in 1975, satirist and theatre author Dario Fo in 1997.[66] Regarding the Italian theatre, it can be traced back to the Roman tradition which was heavily influenced by the Greek; as with many other literary genres, Roman dramatists tended to adapt and translate from the Greek. For example, Seneca's Phaedra was based on that of Euripides, and many of the comedies of Plautus were direct translations of works by Menander. During the 16th century and on into the 18th century, Commedia dell'arte was a form of improvisational theatre, and it is still performed today. Travelling troupes of players would set up an outdoor stage and provide amusement in the form of juggling, acrobatics, and, more typically, humorous plays based on a repertoire of established characters with a rough storyline, called canovaccio.

Through the centuries, Italy has given birth to some notable scientific minds. Amongst them, and perhaps the most famous polymath in history, Leonardo da Vinci made several contributions to a variety of fields including art, biology, and technology. Galileo Galilei was a physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations, and support for Copernicanism. The physicist Enrico Fermi, a Nobel prize laureate, was the leader of the team that built the first nuclear reactor and is also noted for his many other contributions to physics, including the co-development of the quantum theory. A brief overview of some other notable figures includes the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, who made many important discoveries about the Solar System; the physicist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the electric battery; the mathematicians Lagrange, Fibonacci, and Gerolamo Cardano, whose Ars Magna is generally recognized as the first modern treatment on mathematics, made fundamental advances to the field; Marcello Malpighi, a doctor and founder of microscopic anatomy; the biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani, who conducted important research in bodily functions, animal reproduction, and cellular theory; the physician, pathologist, scientist, and Nobel laureate Camillo Golgi, whose many achievements include the discovery of the Golgi complex, and his role in paving the way to the acceptance of the Neuron doctrine; and Guglielmo Marconi, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention of radio.

From folk music to classical, music has always played an important role in Italian culture. Having given birth to opera, Italy provides many of the foundations of the classical music tradition. Instruments associated with classical music, including the piano and violin, were invented in Italy, and many of the prevailing classical music forms, such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata, can trace their roots back to innovations of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Italian music. Italy's most famous composers include the Renaissance composers Palestrina and Monteverdi, the Baroque composers Alessandro Scarlatti, Corelli and Vivaldi, the Classical composers Paganini and Rossini, and the Romantic composers Verdi and Puccini. Modern Italian composers such as Berio and Nono proved significant in the development of experimental and electronic music. While the classical music tradition still holds strong in Italy, as evidenced by the fame of its innumerable opera houses, such as La Scala of Milan and San Carlo of Naples, and performers such as the pianist Maurizio Pollini and the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Italians have been no less appreciative of their thriving contemporary music scene. Introduced in the early 1920s, jazz took a particularly strong foothold in Italy, and remained popular despite the anti-American cultural policies of the Fascist regime. Today, the most notable centers of jazz music in Italy include Milan, Rome, and Sicily. Later, Italy was at the forefront of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s, with bands like PFM and Goblin. Today, Italian pop music is represented annually with the Sanremo Music Festival, which served as inspiration for the Eurovision song contest, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto. Singers such as pop diva Mina, classical crossover artist Andrea Bocelli, Grammy winner Laura Pausini, and European chart-topper Eros Ramazzotti have attained international acclaim.

The history of Italian cinema began a few months after the Lumière brothers began motion picture exhibitions. The first Italian film was a few seconds long, showing Pope Leo XIII giving a blessing to the camera. The Italian film industry was born between 1903 and 1908 with three companies: the Roman Cines, the Ambrosio of Turin and the Itala Film. Other companies soon followed in Milan and in Naples. In a short time these first companies reached a fair producing quality, and films were soon sold outside Italy. The cinema was later used by Benito Mussolini as a form of propaganda until the World War II.

After the war, Italian film was widely recognised and exported until an artistic decline around the 1980s. World-famous Italian film directors from this period include Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Sergio Leone, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Michelangelo Antonioni and Dario Argento. Movies include world cinema treasures such as La dolce vita, Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo and Ladri di biciclette. In recent years, the Italian scene has received only occasional international attention, with movies like La vita è bella directed by Roberto Benigni and Il postino with Massimo Troisi.

Popular sports include football, basketball, volleyball, waterpolo, fencing, rugby, cycling, ice hockey (mainly in Milan, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto), roller hockey and motor racing. Winter sports are most popular in the northern regions, with Italians competing in international games and Olympic venues. Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Sports are incorporated into Italian festivities like Palio (see also Palio di Siena), and the gondola race (regatta) that takes place in Venice on the first Sunday of September. Sports venues have extended from the gladiatorial games of Ancient Rome in the Colosseum to the Stadio Olimpico of contemporary Rome, where football clubs compete.

The most popular sport in Italy is football, the Serie A being one of the most famous competitions in the world. Italy's national football team is the second-most-successful team in the world, with four World Cup victories, the first one of which was in 1934. Italy is also the current (2006) FIFA world champion. Cricket is also slowly gaining popularity; the Italian national cricket team is administered by the Federazione Cricket Italiana‎ (Italian Cricket Federation). They are currently ranked 27th in the world by the International Cricket Council and are ranked fifth amongst European non-Test teams.

The modern Italian cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political changes, with its roots reaching back to the 4th century BC. Significant change occurred with the discovery of the New World, when vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, and maize became available. However, these central ingredients of modern Italian cuisine were not introduced in scale before the 18th century.

Ingredients and dishes vary by region. However, many dishes that were once regional have proliferated in different variations across the country. Cheese and wine are major parts of the cuisine, playing different roles both regionally and nationally with their many variations and Denominazione di origine controllata (regulated appellation) laws. Coffee, and more specifically espresso, has become highly important to the cultural cuisine of Italy.
Source: Wikipedia

Trips to Spain

Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures. The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state, dominated in recent centuries by Castile, and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 40.

Roman Catholicism has long been the main religion of Spain, though it no longer has official status. About 76% of Spaniards identify themselves as Catholics, about 4% are members of a different religious faith, and about 19% identify themselves as non-religious. A study conducted in October 2006 by the Spanish Centre of Sociological Investigations shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as Catholics or members of other faiths, 54% rarely or never go to church, 15% go to church a few times per year, 10% a few times per month and 19% attend church every Sunday or multiple times per week. Altogether, about 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month.[101] Though Spanish society has become considerably more secular in recent decades, the influx of Latin American immigrants, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, has helped the Catholic Church to recover.Tourists visit the Barcelona Cathedral.

Miguel de Cervantes is probably Spain's most famous author and his Don Quixote is considered the most emblematic work in the canon of Spanish literature and a founding classic of Western literature.

Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European artistic movements. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods.

Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were called Hispania, Al-Andalus, or were formed of several Christian kingdoms.Famous is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona.

Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. An important provincial city founded by the Romans and with an extensive Roman era infrastructure, Córdoba became the cultural capital, including fine Arabic style architecture, during the time of the Islamic Umayyad dynasty.[109] Later Arab style architecture continued to be developed under successive Islamic dynasties, ending with the Nasrid, which built its famed palace complex in Granada. Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles; developing a pre-Romanesque style when for a while isolated from contemporary mainstream European architectural influences during the earlier Middle Ages, they later integrated the Romanesque and Gothic streams. There was then an extraordinary flowering of the gothic style that resulted in numerous instances being built throughout the entire territory. The Mudéjar style, from the 12th to 17th centuries, was developed by introducing Arab style motifs, patterns and elements into European architecture.

The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the 20th century. An influential style centered in Barcelona, known as modernisme, produced a number of important architects, of which Gaudí is one. The International style was led by groups like GATEPAC. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo, Santiago Calatrava, Ricardo Bofill as well as many others have gained worldwide reknown.

Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco, an Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.

In the field of classical music, Spain has produced a number of noted composers such as Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados and singers and performers such as José Carreras, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Alicia de Larrocha, Alfredo Kraus, Pau Casals, Ricardo Viñes, José Iturbi, Pablo de Sarasate, Jordi Savall and Teresa Berganza. In Spain there are over forty professional orchestras, including the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, Orquesta Nacional de España and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid. Major opera houses include the Teatro Real,the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Arriaga and the El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía.

Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine. In particular, three main divisions are easily identified:

* Mediterranean Spain – all such coastal regions, from Catalonia to Andalusia: heavy use of seafood, such as pescaíto frito. Several cold soups like gazpacho and also many rice-based dishes like paella and arroz negro.
* Inner Spain – Castile and Madrid: hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlic-based Castilian soup, along with substantious stews such as cocido madrileño. Food is traditionally conserved by salting, like Spanish ham, or immersed in olive oil, like Manchego cheese.
* Atlantic Spain – the whole Northern coast, from Galicia to Navarre: vegetable and fish-based stews like pote gallego and marmitako. Also, the lightly cured lacón ham.
* The Churros are famous desserts, usually eaten alongside hot chocolate. Porras, which are similar, are typical in Madrid.
Source: Wikipedia

Trips to Portugal

Portugal attracts many tourists each year. In 2006, the country was visited by 12.8 million tourists. Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in Portugal's economy contributing with about 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GPD).

The tourist areas are, by order of tourist receipts and earnings, Greater Lisbon (Lisboa), the Algarve, Portuguese Islands (Ilhas Portuguesas: Madiera and Azores), Greater Porto and Northern Portugal (Porto e Norte), Alentejo, and Centro.

Year 2007 was a record year for inbound visitors to Portugal. During the peak of the tourist season, occupancy rates registered levels of almost 100% in the Algarve and in Porto. Porto benefited from staging important world events in the summer, such as the Red Bull Air Race. Domestic tourism continued its significant increase, since the Portuguese still prefer to travel within their borders. Among the inbound countries that contributed the most to the summer’s success were Sapin, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and Ireland.

Low cost carriers continue to increase their share towards the end of the review period. After a boom in continental airports, Easy Jet expanded to Madeira airport with new routes including London Stansted and Bristol. Low cost airlines continued to invest in their fleets and in direct flights, creating new inbound tourism destinations. The main low cost companies operating in Portugal are Easy Jet, Monarch Airlines and Ryanair.

Demand for dynamic holiday packages is constantly increasing, as consumers show a preference for creating personalized holidays or travel packages. This also prompted tour operators to improve their standard packages, in order to offer a wider range of options to their customers. At the same time, online sales are increasing steadily. This trend is pushing traditional tour operators such as Viagens Abreu to improve their web platforms or to create their own online travel agency, with Star Viagens creating OTA Exit.

Portugal is one of the world’s leading destinations for health and wellness tourism. The country benefits from its climate, mineral and medicinal water properties, natural thermal baths and recent investments in hotel/resort spas. Health and wellness is the main emerging tourism area, as shown in the strategic tourism plan from the government. Health and wellness is also expected to play an important role in diminishing the seasonality of tourism in the country.

Travel and tourism will continue to be extremely important for Portugal, with visitor numbers forecast to increase significantly over the next five years. However, there is increasing competition from Eastern European destinations such as Croatia who offer similar attractions to Portugal, and are often cheaper. Portugal must keep its focus on its niche attractions such as health, nature and rural tourism to stay ahead of its competitors.
Source: Wikipedia

Friday, September 25, 2009

Europe Travel Itenerary

Travel Tours to Europe

Day 1 MANILA – AMSTERDAM – LISBON
We will fly to Amsterdam where we will proceed to the Immigration counter for visa formalities. We then take the connecting flight to Lisbon and stay there for overnight accommodation.

Day 2 LISBON – FATIMA
We begin the day with a city tour of Portugal’s capital city. We visit and celebrate mass at the church of St. Anthony de Padua. The church was built on the site where the saint was born. Across is the Lisbon Cathedral where St. Anthony was baptized. We take a short walk in Alfama, the oldest and most picturesque quarter of Lisbon. We go on to the Discoveries Quarter to see the exquisite Belem Tower and the magnificent St. Jeronimos Monastery. We then journey on to one of the world’s greatest Marian pilgrimage centers, Fatima.

Day 3 FATIMA
After the celebration of the holy mass, we meet our local guide for a walking tour of Fatima. We visit the Chapel of Apparitions; Basilica, where one can find the tombs of the two seers, Francisco and Jacinta; Aljustrel, home of Francisco and Jacinta; Lucia’s house with the well where the angel appeared a second time; Valinhos, site of Our Lady’s 4th apparition; Loca do Cabeco, where the children received the first and the third visit of the “Angel of Peace”; and the stations of the cross composed of 14 little chapels; and the parish church. The rest of the day shall be free for private devotions and prayers. Some time shall be spent at the Sanctuary in the Cova da Iria. Opportuniy is given to meditate and pray at the Chapel of Apparitions, the very heart of the Sanctuary. A marble pillar marks the exact spot on which the Statue of Our Lady is placed. In the evening, we join the Rosary and Candlelight procession.

Day 4 FATIMA – SALAMANCA – BURGOS
We continue the journey toward the ancient university town of Salamanca. There shall be a photostop at the Plaza Mayor before driving to Burgos for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Day 5 BURGOS – LOYOLA - LOURDES
We depart for the town of Loyola where a mass will be arranged at the Chapel of St. Ignatius de Loyola, the birthplace of St. Ignatius de Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. Then, we travel by long distance coach to the town of Lourdes, where in 1858, the Mother of God appeared to the then 14-year old Bernadette Soubirous in the remote Grotto of Massabielle. The message with which Our Lady entrusted to Bernadette can be summarized in four words that evoke and amplify the Good News of the Gospels: Poverty, Prayer, Penace and Church. In the evening, we catch the Rosary and Candlelight procession.

Day 6 LOURDES
We celebrate mass at one of the chapels in the Basilica. The rest of the day is free for private individual activities. Everyone can take time to explore the three superimposed churches built over the Grotto of Apparition: the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Upper Basilica); the Crypt; and the Rosary Basilica. Opportunity is given to spend time meditating and praying the Holy Rosary at the Grotto of Massabielle, the spot where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette and identified herself as “I am the Immaculate Conception”. The Sanctuaries and pools are always open and religious ceremonies are held everyday: Masses, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; Stations of the Cross; Blessed Sacrament Procession and Blessing of the Sick: Confessions; and the Rosary Procession every evening.

Day 7 LOURDES – NICE
After mass, we drive along the harbor of the French Riviera to the city of Nice, often called as the “Queen of the Riviera”.

Day 8 NICE – ASSISI
Leave Nice for Italy to enjoy the panoramic view of the French Riviera. Then, we continue our journey driving through the delightful hills of the Perugia countryside to the walled city of Assisi, hometown of St. Francis and St. Claire.

Day 9 ASSISI
After celebrating mass, we meet our local guide for a morning tour of Assisi. We visit the huge 13th century Basilica of St. Francis where one can see many of the Saint’s possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. Next is a visit to the Church of St. Clare who founded the Order of Poor Clares and followed the teachings of St. Francis by living a life of poverty and humility. We are given the privelege to see the saint’s incorrupt body in the Crypt. Then, we go on to the Basilica of Sta. Maria degli Angeli, where St. Francis spent most of his life. This is where we see the Porzuincula, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint prayed.

Day 10 ASSISI – CASCIA – ROME
We journey on to Cascia, home of Saint Rita of Cascia, who was born in the nearby frazione of Roccaporena in 1381 and died there in 1457. Saint Rita is the patron saint of "impossible or lost causes." Her intercession is also sought by abused women. Inside the Basilica of St. Rita lies her incorrupt body, several relics of her life, and a eucharistic miracle from before the time of the Saint. we visit St. Augustine Church with its Convent and enjoy a wonderful vista of the town of Cascia. We proce to travel south to the eternal city of Rome. Then, we visit and have mass at the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls, built over the burial place of the Apostle of the Gentiles and consecrated in year 324. We continue with our sightseeing tour of Rome’s famous landmarks such as: Piazza de Venezia; view of the Colosseum; and the Roman Forum.

Day 11 ROME
We head for the Vatican City to visit the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II before visiting the Basilica of St. Peter, built over the tomb of the apostle. Then, we visit Rome’s major basilicas and churches, starting with the Basilica of St. John Lateran, then to the Cathedral of Rome and the Mother of All Churches, dedicated to Our Saviour, and to Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Opposite the Basilica is the Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) where one can find 28 marble stairs carefully preserved and which, by tradition, were the steps walked upon by Jesus Christ on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate. We visit and celebrate mass at the Sta. Maria Maggiore, Patriarchal basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and famous for its mosaics, dating back as far as the 5th century and for the holy relics of the crib. We walk our way to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, dedicated to St. Alphonse Maria de Ligouri, known by the name of its famous icon - Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Then , we go on to the Catacombs of Domitilla, which contains an underground Basilica and 17 kms. of galleries and corridors spread over four different levels with almost 150,000 burials.

Day 12 ROME
We visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. The rest of the day is spent for private individual activities. The group re-covenes in front of the Vatican Square. We then visit the Trevi Fountain.

Day 13 ROME - AMSTERDAM – MANILA
We transfer to Rome Fiumicino airport to take the flight back to Manila via Amsterdam.

Day 14 MANILA
We arrive at the airport in Manila, Philippines.

Visa Travel Application

Starbucks Coffee Shop at 7:00 am, Pacific Star at Makati, this was where I shall meet Edwin, the travel agency staff so I can get back my documents and for him to show me where to go.

The embassy starts to entertain applicants at exactly 8:00 am sharp. We were asked by a courteous security guard to form a single line and turn off our cellphones. He gave us a list of what the requirements are and how they should be arranged and advised us to have them ready with our passports. He then gave us a piece of paper with a number indicating what window to approach. I got a slip with the Number 1 on it. I guess, I go first since I was also first in line, whew!

I always wondered how these interviews go, because when I applied for my U.S. visa, drop box - no appearance was still allowed. I got the impression that this is going to be tough so I completed all my daily prayers before going there. I do hope everything will go on smoothly, no negative encounters with the interviewer, no additional requirements, no returning for another interview and please no visa denial.

So all the applicants took there seats at the designated area and waited for their names to be called. I was called first and I proceeded to Window 1 where the interviewer was reviewing my submitted documents. He started to ask a series of questions about me, my family, employment and about the trip. I was asked to jot down additional information on the form and he returned documents that were not needed. He then motioned for me to go to the next designated area where another person was to attend to me. I waited until I was quickly motioned to approach the window, that was about an hour in my seat next to a very nervous lady who was here for the third time and had not gotten an approved visa yet. No other problem while waiting. I had the chance to talk to the other applicants, one of whom was telling great stories about her recent trip to Europe. She had a wonderful time visiting beautiful places.

Bravo (all the glory to God)! I am done here. I was asked to go back to claim my visa after 12 days (that includes 4 non-working days) at 11 am. Got to that visa to travel to Portugal, Spain, France and Italy . . . flight to Lisbon, Fatima travel, Metropolitan Salamanca travel, Lourdes accommodation, splendid Nice, possible hotels in Assissi, accommodation Rome, etc. Oh me, oh my. Yehey, now I can smile with my teeth out, heheh.

Visa Processing Service

























Back to the hotel lobby, yes I am back at the Sheraton Hotel in Manila to submit all the needed documents to the travel agency, Executive Resources, Inc.

I still have to apply for a visa, you know. The requirements are: passport, visa application form, passport-size pictures (ensure the correct size of the face on the photo for the embassy guys are very particular about this lately), latest income tax return, employment certificate (or business registration if you have a business), bank certificate, international credit cards, marriage contract, travel insurance (which the agency handles) and of course the down payment for the processing fee. You have to photocopy the papers in short bond paper, take note.

Visa processing, if approved, takes 15 working days.

More adventure the following week when I got scheduled in the embassy for my interview to get a visa. Got to have that visa to travel to Portugal, Spain, France and Italy . . . flight to Lisbon, Fatima travel, Metropolitan Salamanca travel, Lourdes accommodation, splendid Nice, possible hotels in Assissi, accommodation Rome, etc. Oh me, oh my.

Catholic Pilgrimages


This is more than I can imagine. Though thoughts of going to Lourdes did cross my mind in my childhood days, I never really dreamed of going to Europe. Europe! This blows my mind.

So here at the lobby of the Century Park Sheraton, I dropped by at the travel agency, Executive Resources, Inc., Manila, during a super down pour. I don't mind getting soak in the rain, I just want to know if there is a possibility that I can go with the October batch of the Marian Pilgrimage with Bro. Bo Sanchez as the Spiritual Tour Guide and Fr. Alex Balatbat as Pilgrimage Chaplain. The good lady at Beaconlights, Inc., Beckie, said that slots are limited and the trip schedule is less than a month from now. I just got the ads in the Internet, trips to Portugal, Spain, France and Italy.

When I inquired at the travel agency where they book special pilgrimages and trips to the Holy Land, Lenie welcomed me in the cool air-conditioned office. Connie, her companion was actually waiting for me for Beckie had informed them that somebody (that's me) is interested to join the group.

I was overwhelmed that they said yes, they can accommodate me. Can you beat that! However, that is just the first step. I had to submit my requirements to them immediately and of course pay the reservation fee.

To be continued the next day . . .