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What surprises most Europeans when they first visit the USA is that "everything is just like it is on TV". From the shopping malls to the whitened smiles and from the way people talk to the cars they drive, - it all seems terribly familiar, yet "much bigger than I had imagined". Interestingly, even when it comes to "the making of", the USA is just like the film industry. Whether you're into motorbikes, chocolate or designer shoes, you can get a peek behind the scenes of almost anything. If you want to get the feeling you saw and learned something new during your holiday, factory tours are brilliant excursions for you. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll discuss the most fascinating factory tours in Florida. The first one that really whet our appetite is: Whetstone Chocolate Factory.

Continue reading... Peek behind the Screens of Florida - Chocolate Factory

This Jewish proverb summarizes beautifully how important motherhood is for the Jewish and Christian tradition. It's to be expected that a culture that regards mums so highly has a special day to celebrate them: the 4th Sunday in Lent, better known as Mothering Sunday. Though it's originally a Christian festival, people of the most varied backgrounds are keen to join in on this tradition because, as Thackery put it: "Mother is the name of god on the lips and hearts of all children." In 2012, this joyful day will take place on the 18th of March, so it's time to start thinking about ways to pamper your own mum, the mother of your children or, if you are blessed with children of your own, yourself.

Continue reading... "God could not be everywhere so he created mothers"

Whether you're running on empty already or hoping to hit the ground running this year, the Cyprus Marathon on Sunday 11th of March 2012 might be just the thing for you. Training up for this marathon will help you get in shape, deal with the stresses of everyday life better and give you more energy in general, while the winter sun in Paphos will do you a world of good too.

Continue reading... Put your best foot forward in Paphos

There will already be plenty of exciting events related to the carnival before the official opening of the festival. For example, from Thursday 26th of January until Saturday 28th of January, the International Trade Fair and Congress Centre will host the three rounds of the Children Murgas Contest, and the first three rounds of the Adult Murgas Contest will be held in the same location from 6th February until 8th February. The Finals will be held on Friday 10th February at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez.

Continue reading... Anticipating the greatest Canary Carnival of 2012

Travelling and reading have more in common than you'd think: they are the most popular activities on planes, trains, boats and at airports, and both can make you relax, bite your nails and laugh. To kindle the flames of laughter, we're running a cheerful travel story competition among bloggers in the UK! Write a blog post about your most funny, exciting, surprising or embarrassing experience abroad; post it on your blog; link to this competition to let your readers know about it and leave a comment with the URL of your post below to submit your entry. The writer of the story that made us laugh most will win the new Amazon Kindle so that you don't have to pack heavy books while travelling!

Continue reading... Write and Win a Kindle

When the bells in the square clock tower of Teguise's parish church toll, they attract people from all over the Lanzarote - not to pray but to visit the island's largest street market. Teguise market takes place from 9am to 2pm in the square in front of the church and through the narrow, cobbled streets in the area. Though Teguise itself only has about 3000 inhabitants, the market attracts both locals and tourists from all over Lanzarote, because the stalls are the best place to buy Canarian lace and linen, trainers, leather handbags, clay pottery, jewellery and traditional leather masks. The market is also a popular day trip because of its delish food stalls and fascinating street entertainment.

Continue reading... Lanzarote's levitating man

Forget bloody bull fights, dog duels and cruel cock fights. During mating season along the Aegean coasts, Casanova camels will kick off a fight over a couple of camel cuties in heat. If you want to see a smoking hot battle, attend the Camel Wrestling Festival that will be held Sunday 15th of January 2012 in Selcuk, a popular city in Izmir, Turkey.

Continue reading... Wrestling Camels in Turkey

This year the Islanders of Lanzarote are attempting to take their Christmas celebrations to record breaking lengths. The annual Father Christmas Parade, held on the 23rd of December, in Puerto Del Carmen is a tradition long observed and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. The main attraction, Santa himself, is led down the promenade aboard his magically decorated, horse drawn sleigh, from 18.00-20.00, and throws gifts and sweets to all the children that come to join the parade. But children are not the only ones expected join in: this year, everyone has is asked to don a Santa suit and aid the Islanders in their attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most Father Christmas' holding hands. Shops all along the waterfront are set to sell costumes for reduced rates, so there is no excuse not to join in.

Continue reading... Festive Fun in Lanzarote - Christmas 2011

Instead of spending another raining weekend talking about how depressingly-soon Christmas is, why not transport yourself to some sun, beach and a fantastic little Spanish festival. On Sunday 13th November, the picturesque little village of Tao, in the centre of Lanzarote, hosts its annual fiesta. And flights to Lanzarote will have you enjoying its mid-20s weather in only four hours.

Continue reading... Fiesta in Tao, Lanzarote

Holiday romance isn't limited to intense but insignificant flings. Exploring idyllic shores and lounging in luxurious hotel rooms is a sure-fire way to rekindle the passion between couples who know each other inside out, which is why Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton during their holiday in Kenya. If you and your other half can do with a shot of romance, it's time to book last-minute flights to Cyprus, the fabled birthplace of the Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.

Continue reading... Love in Larnaca

If you have booked flights to Dalaman, Izmir or Bodrum, this article is for you. We have asked 15 people living in Turkey for advice for tourists. They have told us all about the do's and don'ts, foods and drinks and the experiences you don't want to miss out on. It became clear from the interviews that these tips are only the tip of the iceberg - when you get to Turkey, you will find it easy to mingle with the locals and build up more and more knowlegde about their wonderful culture. Or, as they say: "Damlaya damlaya gol olur" (Drop by drop the lake is formed).

Continue reading... Locals about Turkey: Drop by drop the lake is formed.

During April the main festival that is celebrated in Tenerife is Easter and this festival is a weeklong event. Normally this festival is the start of the better weather on the island of Tenerife and this makes it a popular time with tourists. A lot of the tourists that come here to enjoy the sunshine make use of the regular flights to Tenerife. There are tourists that come to this area all year round however the numbers tend to increase when the weather is warmer and the schools have more holidays.

Continue reading... Festivals in Tenerife During April

The annual festival that is known as Semana Santa is held on the Thursday, which is known as Maundy Thursday. This festival takes place in the resort on Palma on the island of Mallorca. During this festival there is a procession that leaves the church that is known as La Sang and the procession carries a crucifix. There are a lot of tourists that make the most of the regular flights to Ibiza.

Continue reading... Semana Santa

Crocodile Park is a very popular attraction, which is located in Gran Canaria. The Balser family initially started this park when they were asked to look after a couple of crocodiles. Nowadays this park is home to a very large collection of crocodiles and it is the biggest collection of its type in Europe. Over the years the Balser family has been responsible for looking after a number of different animals, which have been placed in their care by SEPRONA who are the environmental protection police within Gran Canaria. This park is a very popular attraction with both locals and tourists who come to enjoy the collection of animals that are located in the park. A lot of the tourists that enjoy visiting this park also enjoy making the most of the frequent flights to Gran Canaria.

Continue reading... Crocodile Park in Gran Canaria

Angel Sunday is an annual event, which takes place during March. Angel Sunday is a festival, which is celebrated at Bellver Castle and this takes place on the first Sunday after Easter. This is a popular festival that is celebrated by the locals and also a vast number of the tourists that come to this area and a lot of these people make the most of frequent flights to Mallorca. Angel Sunday is a traditional event and in previous years bread was blessed during this festivals and then given out to the poor people. Angel Sunday is known within the local area as Domingo del Angel and this is a big celebration within the local area.

Continue reading... Angel Sunday in Mallorca

Holiday World is a theme park that is popular with both tourists and locals alike. This theme park allows people to enjoy an array of different amusements in the open air. Holiday World theme park is the biggest funfair within the Canary Islands and it is home to a number of different amusements that are breathtaking. The popular rides within this park includes a roller coaster, shooting stalls, dodgems and also a Ferris wheel that is twenty seven meters in height. This park also offers parrot shows and seal shows which are very popular with children. This park is very popular with tourists that make the most of the frequent flights to Gran Canaria.

Continue reading... Holiday World in Gran Canaria

The Ethnographical museum in Turkey is dedicated to the history and culture of the people in Turkey. The building that houses this museum was designed by Arif Hikmet Koyunoglu and the building work was started during 1925 and it was completed during 1928. This museum is popular with tourists and a lot of these make the most of the regular cheap flights to Turkey.

Continue reading... Ethnographic Museum in Turkey

The popular resort of Fuerteventura is popular with people from all around the world who want to make the most of the cheap regular flights to Fuerteventura and enjoy doing some shopping in the sun. This popular resort is home to a vast array of shops and these all cater for the needs of the people that live in this area and they also cater for people that are visiting.

Continue reading... Shopping In Fuerteventura

The popular tourist attraction that is known as Es Freginal Park is located within the capital city of Mahon. This attraction is a green park, which has several different areas where people are able to sit and have picnics whilst enjoying the lovely exhibits of flowers. This park is also the location for a lot of cultural events that take place in Menorca. Over the years there have been a lot of world-class musicians that have preformed within this park and this is especially the case during the Jazz Festival. This attraction is very popular with tourists that make the most of the cheap flights to Menorca.

Continue reading... Es Freginal Park in Menorca

There are an increasing number of tourists that are enjoying all of the fun that is available in Lanzarote and this includes the various different markets that are held within Lanzarote and the surrounding area. These markets are a great place to pick up souvenir items, although there will be people that do not enjoy the experience. There are a lot of people that enjoy regular trips to these markets and they come from all across the world, as they are able to enjoy the frequent flights to Lanzarote.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Market

Monte Toro is located on the highest point of Menorca in Es Mercadal. This highest point has a height of three hundred and fifty two meters. The legend of Monte Toro is that a bull found a statue, which was of the Virgin and it was found within a cleft on the rock. The name of the peak however is more likely to have come from Arabic's. The name al-tor means the highest mountain. This highest point is very popular with tourists and a lot of them make the most of the flights to Menorca. There is a convent that is located at the top of the peak and this convent is home to the Franciscan nuns. The convent is open to the public on the first Sunday within May.

Continue reading... Monte Toro in Menorca

The town of Parga is located within the northwestern area of Preveza which in the northwest of Greece. The town of Parga is located on the Ionian Coast and it is between the areas that are known as Igoumenitsa and Preveza. The town of Parga is well known for its spectacular scenic views. There are a lot of regular flight to Preveza and this helps to make Parga a popular tourist destination. The closest airport of the town of Parga is Aktion, which is located about seventy-five kilometers away. This airport is able to offer a number of direct flights. This town is well worth a visit when you are in the area.

Continue reading... Parga in Preveza

Kassope is an ancient town that is located within Preveza. Kassope is considered to be one of the best cities that is built along the banks of the Hippodamian plan within Greece. Kassope is located on the southeastern slopes of the Zalongo Mountain and it is close to the village of Zalongo. This is a popular tourist destination and this is assisted with the regular flights to Preveza.

Continue reading... Kassope in Preveza

Las Palmas has a magnificently maintained natural environment especially the 2 bays and 2 excellent beaches named Playa de las Alcaravaneras and Playa de las Canteras. In all Las Palmas consists of eight amusement and theme parks that include the Palmitos Park that happens to be a subtropical zoo. Holiday World is another one which is simply for leisure. If you are planning to visit Las Palmas then make sure you travel with children via one of the various flights to Las Palmas. Thats because there are other fabulous places to visit such as the Castellons Planetarium, which your children will not only enjoy but also learn a lot.

Continue reading... Castellons Planetarium in Las Palmas

Ibiza is packed with some of the best places to visit, so be sure you catch flights to Ibiza this holiday season and enjoy on this paradise island. Whether you wish to party on the awesome Ibiza beaches or simply explore the museums here, you can do it all on this picturesque island. One of the well known museums is the Archeological museum that is located in Dalt Vila in the Cathedral square.

Continue reading... The Archaeological Museum in Ibiza

Banjuls climate is subtropical characterized by two distinct seasons out of which one is dry and the other is rainy. The most appropriate time to go on a vacation to Banjul falls between November to April, when the sea shores are most lively and sunbathing is something you will definitely enjoy. Banjul has an airport of its own and flights to Banjul are quite regular. Many European airlines fly to Banjul since the time tourism has gained momentum.

Continue reading... Bakau in Banjul

Malta has been a wonderful and most sought after tourist destination from the very beginning. The beautiful city of Malta has been gaining a lot of popularity for its well maintained beaches, the Grand Harbor, The old town, The Island named Gozo and Comino is yet another destination for various wet adventures. Though reaching Malta is easy as flights to Malta are almost on a regular basis, being a popular tourist destination you must plan your trip in advance. BirdLife Malta, as the name suggests, creates a natural habitat for birds from a number of remote areas of Europe.

Continue reading... Ghadira Nature Reserve in Malta

Preveza is located in Greece and is known for its beautiful beaches on the coast of the Ionian Sea. Apart from the beaches the city boasts of the Byzantine monasteries, wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf and Venetian castles. Preveza has the Aegean Airlines and Olympic Airways that operate about three to four flights to Preveza every day. The Aktion Airport also offers several flights from some of the major cities of Europe. The monument of Zalogo also has historical importance and is known as a place of love of freedom and sacrifice.

Continue reading... The Aheron Delta and the Amvrakikos Gulf in Preveza

Preveza is the capital of a Prefecture consisting of the same name. The city of Preveza is located inside the boundary of Epirus. If you really want to explore the interesting culture of Greece then Preveza is a great place to start from. You can book a flight to Preveza in advance and reach here to unveil the exciting mysteries wrapped up in the surrounding churches and monasteries. You can even explore some of the natural settings around the city. Preveza happens to be a central location in case you are also visiting a couple of other places of attractions such as Thesprotia, Lefkada, and Aetolia. While staying in a nearby hotel you can easily go and visit other places and come back on the same day.

Continue reading... Acheron springs in Preveza

The initial settlements at this location, called Real de Las Palmas, explored the area around a ravine here. They then moved ahead into the towns named Triana and Vegueta on the right side and Barranco de Guiniguada on the left. Initially the Castillian Army encampment was located on the hillside close to the Barranco de Guiniguada where you will find the chapel called San Antonio Abad chapel. The elaborate highway of Las Palmas called Calle Juan de Quesada today extends beyond the Barranco de Guiniguada and assists people out of the town into the central part of the island. The highway is the landmark that divides the two historic sides of Las Palmas.

Continue reading... Pueblo Canario in Las Palmas

While you are planning your holidays and booking your flights to Fuerteventura, be sure to spare 8 to 10 days for it. The climate here is often compared to Mexico and Florida as they lie along the same latitude as Fuerteventura. At no other destination in the Canaries are seen such huge sand dunes and elaborate sandy beaches.

Continue reading... The Archaeological Museum of Betancuria in Fuerteventura

Ancient Nikopolis is an incredibly impressive location to visit in Preveza. Apart from this, there are a number of places to see in Preveza. For your vacation, you can easily reach Preveza by air as there are numerous flights to Preveza from several locations.

Continue reading... Archaeological Site of Ancient and Early Christian Nikopolis

Corfu is a great place to be with family and young children if you want to get a taste of Greek culture. Reaching here is easy as the city has an airport of its own and there are some flights to Corfu from several international airports. The Archaeological Museum of Corfu acts like a wide window to the Greek historical background. The museum was constructed from 1962 to 1965 at a location that was provided more as a donation by the Municipality. It was inaugurated later for allowing general public including tourists in 1967. The primary aim of constructing the museum was to store the impassioned Gorgon Medusa classical architecture belonging to the Great Temple from Artemis. The temple was made during 585 B.C. and the remains of the temple were excavated during 1911 close to the monastery called Aghioi Theodori.

Continue reading... Archaeological Museum of Corfu

Being at a scenic spot on the southern coast of Cyprus, Larnaca is both a popular tourist destination and a busy business center. You can take a flight to Larnaca, from where its various resorts and interesting locations can be reached by a car.

Continue reading... Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca

Occupied by several rulers in history, Preveza today is a modern town with all the facilities like any other city in the world. Being at the tip of a peninsula, the city provides ample opportunities for holidaymakers to enjoy the scenic beauty of its sandy beaches and indulge in some water sports. However, if you are here to explore the history of Preveza, the town and its surroundings are quite intriguing. Your flight to Preveza will land you at the Preveza airport, located about 10 minutes from the town on the Mainland.

Continue reading... Ancient Necromanteion Preveza

The Cyprus International 4 Day Challenge is an event that brings out the adventurous streak in participants. Those who want to participate or maybe witness the event can catch a flight to Paphos from any major international airport nearest to your city. The event mixes conventional road running and remarkable trail running through a National Park called Akamas National Park situated in Paphos. The participants take part in 4 events and the final winner is the person who achieves best scores in all four events.

Continue reading... Paphos Cyprus International 4 Day Challenge

Birgu is one of the oldest communities in Malta with a rich past. Being situated at a strategic location in the Grand Harbor, it was considered an ideal location for military as well as maritime activities. Due to this the city remained under foreign control for quite some time in the history, with rulers ranging from the Phoenicians to Romans and Arabs to Aragonese. Reaching Birgu is quite simple by catching flights to Malta, as it is very close to the Malta International Airport.

Continue reading... Malta Birgufest

Varkarola is a popular festival of Corfu that is held here in every summer season. The festival has got everything to do with Saint Spyridon. It is the belief of the locals of Kalami that Saint Spyridon saved the people of the Island from the persistent attacks of the Turks. The event celebrates this miracle that took place on 11th August 1716 in the most incredible manner. The festival is celebrated by performing nautical fights among sailors of the Island. It is a depiction of how the Turks were defeated and sent back from the Island.

Continue reading... The Varkarola Festival of Corfu

The Zakynthian carnival is one of the most fun filled and zealous festivals of the world. The beginning of the celebration of Zakynthos Carnival dates back to the time when Venetians ruled the island. It is also said it is based on imitation of the Commedia dell Arte organized by Italians and the Venetian carnival. One of the Commedia dell Arte performances is proved to have occurred in Crete during 1611.

Continue reading... Zakynthos Carnival

Just like all other amazing locations in Greece, Kefalonia is no less and holds great importance in terms of many celebrations and religious festivals. Flights to Kefalonia can be planned according to the events you wish to attend, as the city offers numerous events all through the year and more so in the summer season. The festival, especially the Kefalonia Carnival, is organised with great amount of joy and excitement around the picturesque villages.

Continue reading... Kefalonia Carnival

Easter also known as Paska, is considered to be the most important day in Greece traditionally. While Easter is on, it spans almost a weeks time and that week is termed as the Great Week or Megali Evdomada. During the Greek celebration of Easter, you will witness deep devotion and rich pageantry. There are celebrations and the excitement is quite contagious. Prior to the arrival of the festival traditional Greek people keep a fast of 40 days called nisteia as Easter is welcomed with preparation of elaborate meat, milk products and pastries. They are all the more excited because of the restriction they undergo during the fasting period.

Continue reading... Easter in Santorini

Apokrias Carnival in Crete is celebrated to appease Dionysos, the God of Feast and Wine. Traditionally it is supposed to prepare the people for the 40 day fast or Lent, during which there is are no parties, weddings or celebrations of any kind. The carnival is held as a form of last time of celebration before Lent begins, when people are not allowed to have meat or drink wine. It is held over a period of three weeks filled with fun and festivities, more to compensate for the abstinence to be held during the 40 day fast.

Continue reading... Crete Apokrias Carnival

The unusual tradition of Matances de Bujots marks the Easter Sunday in Menorca. The event involves hanging of effigies of prominent figures which, for some strange reason, are then targeted by marksmen. The term Bujot means a rag doll, which actually stands for someone without any character or personality.

Continue reading... Matances de Bujots in Menorca

Whether you like cultural events or not, the Carnival at Corfu is sure to get you celebrating for no real reason. However, the locals have enough reason to rejoice, as the carnival marks end of evil and beginning of a new year, free from sins. This is the purpose behind the carnival, where Ancient Greeks celebrated it in the beginning of spring to appease the Gods, and get a good harvest throughout the year. Held in February end or beginning of March, it is quite a popular event in the region.

Continue reading... The Carnival at Corfu

The festival is about 40 years old, and actually marks the end of the watermelon harvest and includes an interesting competition that takes place at Placa Tomeu Penyato, where local farmers are invited to enter their biggest fruit. One of the recent winning melons was weighed in at the incredible mark of 17,780 g. That is quite impressive!

Continue reading... festa del melo in palma de mallorca

The Zakynthos Carnival is the annual carnival that happens once every year. This time it will happen in February 2011. The entire fun and frolic lasts for about 4 weeks but the major action happens in the last 2 weeks of the carnival where you will finds crowds gathering to watch the spirit of the carnival. This carnival takes its inspiration from the Venetian Carnival.

Continue reading... fun and frolic at the zakynthos carnival

On the island of Fuerteventura, there is no lack of festivities and celebrations. There calendar of events is extensive and even though most of the year has already passed, there are still many reasons for you to book flights to Fuerteventura today.

Continue reading... Enjoy the luxuries of eventful Fuerteventura

The Virgen del Pino festival, also known as the 'Feast day of the Virgin of the Pine', will be taking place on the 8th of September in Terror, a beautiful village in Gran Canaria. During the time of this festival, a lot of flights to Gran Canaria bring thousands of pilgrims to this annual religious festival. If you really want to know more about the culture and history of the Island, then this is an ideal destination for your holiday.

Continue reading... Virgen del Pino Festival in Gran Canaria

Do you love festivals, but hate rain, mud and threatening, cloudy skies? Me too! Why not drop everything and head to the "Spirit of Burgas"? Over 100 live acts performing on seven stages ..... ON THE BEACH! What's not to love??

Continue reading... Party on the beach

If you're looking for a last minute holiday with beer aplenty, check out our flights to Malta now because from Friday 23rd July to Sunday 1st August, the Farsons Great Beer Festival will once again attract thousands of beautiful, sociable people to the Ta'Qali Park.

Continue reading... The Farsons Great Beer Festival

This year's Malta Military Tattoo will take place on Saturday 9th October and Sunday 10th October at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) at Ta'Qali.

Continue reading... The Malta Military Tattoo

In Santa Cruz every Sunday morning there's a flea market at Mercado de Nuestra Senora de Africa, Calle San Sebastian. Some of Tenerife's other main markets are located in the Costa Adeje, the Los Cristianos area and in Santa Cruz, including a notable open-air flea market along the Avenida Jose Manuel Guimera, which takes place every Sunday morning. You can find inexpensive items to bring back home plus lots of local produce and handicrafts. Some of the items to look for are hand-crafted lace tablecloths, pottery and ceramics, and local wines.

Continue reading... A Taste of Tenerife

The Balearic island of Mallorca is known for its hip and happening bars and clubs, its luxurious villas and yachts as well as for being the summer playground of the Spanish Royal family. While basking in the late summer sunshine, this iconic Spanish island deeply steeped in tradition also offers the discerning tourist a chance to experience medieval Spanish custom, and wine, at its best.

Continue reading... Celebrate Spanish wine with the locals: La Festa des Vermar

Malta is the place to be this weekend. If you have already booked your flight, consider yourself lucky. If not, you might want to check out our last minute flights to Malta, because from Friday the 4th of June until Sunday the 6th, the annual Ghanafest will take place in the Argotti Gardens in Floriana, within walking distance from the capital Valletta. This year's edition of the festival will be dedicated to Indri Brincat, the Maltese guitar maker and folk guitarist known as il-Pupa, who passed away on the 24th of March 2010.

Continue reading... Folk, Food and Fun in Malta

Other European clubbing locations may be on the rise or the fall but Ibiza still heads the pack, with the best clubs and the most impressive list of high profile DJ's this summer.

Continue reading... Ibiza Still Club Capital

For equestrian fans, the Club Escola Menorquina that is located between Ferreries and Cala Galdana on the island of Menorca makes an interesting place to visit. Here you'll be able to see the traditional activity of horse riding displayed in frequents shows put on during the summer evenings by the skilled riders of the school. Displays are normally on Wednesday and Sunday evenings starting in June until September. For riders there are options to take lessons or a riding course at the school, but for spectators the show is certainly dramatic enough. Many marvel at the way this breed of horse, specific to Menorca, is able to rear up and walk along on its hind legs, often for extended periods. The horsemanship and abilities of the horses is amazing. This jet black breed also performs in other places around the island and at festivals, particularly the larger ones in Mahon.

Continue reading... Equestrian School of Menorca

In 2010, the eightieth edition of the Feira do Livro, a great open air book fair in Lisbon, will take place again in the Parque Eduardo VII from 29th April to 16th May. Opening hours are from 12:30 to 23:30 on weekdays and from 11:00 to 23:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. It's bound to be a sunny and lively festival because participating bookstores and libraries will organize street sales with great discounts, autograph sessions, book launches and entertainment for children, and from 21.30 to 22.15, there will be live music every weekday.

Continue reading... Buying Books in Lisbon

The peaceful island of Menorca seems to be quickly emerging from its typically quiet off-season period and all over the island there are events taking place for visitors to enjoy. Locals also get their first opportunities of the year to get outside and take part in some sporting competitions with tennis being one of the sports on offer. The 21st edition of Jaime Mascaro Open tennis tournament took place on 11th April. Mr Mascaro is not some former tennis champion from the island but a local shoe manufacturer who sponsored the tournament. Sailing is also popular in Menorca and April saw various regattas taking place with the La Caixa Trophy held between 4th and 18th April. Also, the Sa Nostra Trophy event for the smaller laser and optimist boats was held on 12th April in Es Castell.

Continue reading... Menorca Emerges

By far the biggest occasion during April was the two day visit by Pope Benedict XVI to the island, an event that commemorated an unfortunate event that happened almost two thousand years ago. That was the time when St Paul's boat was shipwrecked on Malta while he was on a voyage to Rome. The Saint remained on Malta for 3 months and there are many locations around the island that exist due to this unfortunate accident. In Rabat there is St Paul's Grotto and Church that was built in the 17th Century. It is claimed that the grotto was also used by the Romans as a prison and it was also an air raid shelter during the 2nd World War.

Continue reading... Malta Spring Celebrations

Earlier this year, the inhabitant of Madeira worked together with determination to recover quickly from the destructive storms that hit parts of the island during February. After showing so much resilience, the annual Flower Festival on Madeira during April provided an opportunity for them to put recent events behind them and look forward to another great summer.

Continue reading... Madeira's Flourishing Flower Festival

We've already mentioned some of the sporting events planned to take place on the Algarve during April, with a round of the World Superbike Championship being one of the most high profile. This event represents a great opportunity for British bike fans who may struggle to get tickets for the home round of this series. Book some time off work, secure some cheap flights with flythomascook.com and spend a long weekend enjoying the Portuguese round of the series in the warm sunshine of the Algarve.

Continue reading... Algarve Arts in March

If you are planning to spend a holiday on the island of Menorca during April then, in addition to the wonderful beaches that are just perfect for lazy days in the sun, the island has plenty of plans for other activities and attractions that will encourage you to get out and about in the countryside and on the water.

Continue reading... Menorca on Land and Sea

In the Portuguese holiday region of the Algarve, the start of the main holiday season is also joined by the first of several international motorsport events that will take place on a recently built circuit just outside the city of Portimao.

Continue reading... Algarve Motorsport Season

One major sporting event that always brings attention to the island of Lanzarote, and always fills up its quota of places, is the annual Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon. The event, which acts as a qualifying event for the world famous Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, has been taking place for the past 18 years.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Builds On Ironman Triathlon Tradition

Calendars have already been flipped over to March and now on to April, and Spring has certainly arrived on the island of Mallorca. Temperatures are nudging their way towards 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the island is a picture of new life with orchards all over the island proudly displaying their almond blossom.

Continue reading... Spring Forward in Mallorca

The link between the island of Menorca and Britain was once very strong. In fact, the British ruled the island for almost 100 years during the sixteenth century. Strategic naval aspirations were the reason for the initial takeover during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1708. To cater for the strong British Naval fleet the capital of the island was moved from Ciutadella to its current location in Port Mahon. When the British handed control of the island back to the Spanish in 1802, it was on the understanding that the naval fleets of both countries would continue to jointly use the deep harbours of Mahon. It was under this agreement that the British Navy sent Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood out to Menorca to command the fleet. Collinwood has already made a name for himself, being second in command to Admiral Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalger and being instrumental in securing victory following Nelson's death during the battle.

Continue reading... Admiral Collingwood Celebrated on Menorca

Relatively few resorts were promoting large events during march, preferring to wait until the new holiday season really starts at Easter. In Tunisia, music festivals are relatively thin on the ground anyway, so it was unusual to find a new festival taking place during March this year.

Continue reading... Music in Monastir

There are only a few days to Easter now and all over Europe villages, towns and cities will be making plans to celebrate the event in many different ways. Easter is also a time when the holiday season starts to take off and, for many, the two weeks that surround the Easter weekend are a perfect opportunity to fly off for a short family break. Places like the Canary Islands are popular as are the closer islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Corfu.

Continue reading... Easter on Corfu and Mallorca

During the winter period, flythomascook.com offers flights to Paphos in Cyprus from three UK airports, namely London Gatwick, Nottingham East Midlands and Manchester. Once we get to April, however, the schedule adds departures from a further seven airports and lots more flights. There are a number of ex-pats living in Cyprus, so flights from the UK are always popular, but Cyprus also makes a great destination for a winter or early spring break, particularly as the weather can be kind at that time of year.

Continue reading... Approaching Spring in Paphos

Here are some more details about this year's Carnival that was held in the town of Rethymnon between the end of January and 15th February. This Crete carnival is slightly unusual in that the event programme was made possible due to the participation of several "teams". These teams were made up of locals who either belong to a sporting or social club, or are perhaps a group of friends or family. In addition to the usual street parades and musical performances, there were also lots of "team" parties held in different venues across the town. The dates and locations of these parties were published and everyone was invited to come along.

Continue reading... Rethymnon Celebrations

After a string of big cultural events during early January, Mallorca switched to music for the remainder of the month with a varied mix of concerts in Palma and other towns across the island.

Continue reading... Mallorca Music

Just when you think the carnival celebrations are over on Lanzarote and the streets of Arrecife have returned to normality, then things kick off again in another resort.

Continue reading... More February Celebrations on Lanzarote

If you were lucky enough to be enjoying the warmer weather on Cyprus in January then various music and motoring events may have been of interest to you.

Continue reading... Motor Show and Music Sundays in Cyprus

If you happened to be spending a break on Malta during the second half of February then carnival tradition and sporting excellence awaited as two of the island's main annual events took place before the end of the month.

Continue reading... Malta in February

Forgive us for mentioning carnival events yet again, but for our travellers to Lanzarote, here is a review of the island's carnival events which kicked off on Saturday the 13th of February. There were also some events in the period leading up to this date including a children's fiesta and a series of plays.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Prepares To Celebrate

Colourful costumes, street parades, plenty of parties and of course great food and drink are the ingredients for most carnival events and things are not too different on Ibiza. For five days during February the main towns on the island seem to stop work and get down to the serious business of letting their hair down. If you can't quite imagine what goes on there, then think back to the best fancy dress party you ever went to and multiply it by a factor of ten. Everyone, whether part of an organised group in the parade or just watching from the pavements, is encouraged to dress as brightly, even as outrageously, as possible.

Continue reading... Ibiza Celebrations

We've already posted information about several of the big carnival events planned for the Canary Islands and the Balearics but Greece is another country that celebrates at this time of year.

Continue reading... Greek Carnival in Crete

If you go to the Canary Islands for a winter break, don't be surprised to find the locals with a healthy appetite for watching football. The islands currently have several successful teams, one that competes in the top Spanish League and others that play more locally.

Continue reading... Canaries Football Spotlight

Since beach volleyball became part of the Olympics in 1996, its popularity has boomed. In October last year, Tenerife hosted a top level mens tournament at Siam Park.

Continue reading... International Volleyball in Tenerife

Barely a day goes by in Larnaca without some kind of cultural, artistic or sporting event taking place, even during the quieter months of the holiday season. We have already reported on the classical music concerts being performed by the island's Symphony Orchestra and the visit by one of China's best-known international dance troupes, both were in early October.

Continue reading... October Culture in Larnaca

The Spanish islands of Mallorca, Menorca and the Canaries are not the only places to hold their carnivals in the early part of the year. The town of Rethymno in Crete also stages a spectacular carnival programme that runs throughout the whole of February.

Continue reading... February Carnival in Crete

Some of the big sporting events in Lanzarote during 2010 have been announced and are already attracting entries from competitors.

Continue reading... Sport 2010 on Lanzarote

The small island of La Gomera, one of the less well known of the Canaries that lies just off the west coast of Tenerife, is the start point for a rowing challenge that calls itself the 'World's Toughest Rowing Race'.

Continue reading... Rowers depart Canaries on Marathon Journey

There are all kinds of festive events on the calendar for Malta in the run up to Christmas.

Continue reading... Christmas Events on Malta

The Challenge, or to give it its full name the Malta International Challenge Marathon, took place again in November for the 19th time. The format of this popular running event is very different to that of your typical London or New York marathons. In this race the distance to be covered was split into three more manageable pieces and tackled over consecutive days. It gave runners more chance to see different parts of this remarkable island whilst at the same time making the challenge of running a marathon slightly more accessible.

Continue reading... Malta Marathon Challenge

As a holiday island that relies on tourism for much of its commercial activity, the authorities in Mallorca have a responsibility to their business community to provide a continuing stream of events and attractions that help bring visitors to the island all year round. Mallorca has slowly developed a tried and tested seasonal shift that sees the springtime favouring the activities of cyclists and athletes, who come to the island for warm weather training. Then the long summer panders to the millions of sun and beach lovers who enjoy the island's many perfect resorts. Autumn sees a switch to sailing and also culture that brings art and music festivals to the island. At the end of the year Christmas provides a perfect bridge to the golfing season that takes over in the New Year.

Continue reading... Mallorca's Seasonal Shift

The Canaries version of the WOMAD Festival took place from 12th to 15th November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Continue reading... WOMAD Festival in Gran Canaria

Flights to Lanzarote donated by Thomas Cook helped a team of three that triumphed in a charity jail break challenge during November.

Continue reading... Thomas Cook Flights Assist Charity Jailbreak

Plan ahead now if you have Disney's World Marathon Weekend in mind for January. The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will be the stage for a 4 day running festival planned to take place between 7th and 10th January 2010. Taking alongside the running events is a health and fitness expo or exhibition. With an accent on family fun, the marathon weekend runs start on Friday with a short 5 kilometer race for all the family.

Continue reading... Disney World Marathon Week

The Mallorca Festival of Music has now concluded, its two final concerts were held in October and November.

Continue reading... Mallorca Festival of Music

During October the St Peters Singers, a fifty strong chamber choir from Leeds, England performed a number of concerts during a short tour of the island of Mallorca.

Continue reading... St Peters Singers in Palma

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Sports November

There were two International sporting events that featured on the events calendar of the island of Lanzarote during November.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Sports November

Colourful skies were promised at the annual Fuerteventura Kite Festival in November this year.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura Kite Festival

Plan ahead now if you have Disney's World Marathon Weekend in mind for January. The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will be the stage for a 4 day running festival planned to take place between 7th and 10th January 2010. Taking alongside the running events is a health and fitness expo or exhibition. With an accent on family fun, the marathon weekend runs start on Friday with a short 5 kilometer race for all the family.

Continue reading... Disney World Marathon Week

Vintage car events seem to be ever more popular these days and the Historic Motoring Festival on the Algarve during October is one example.

Continue reading... Algarve Historic Motoring Festival

September is a wonderful month to spend some time in Cyprus and this year was no different. The very hot days of the high summer are gone and milder weather, together with a wide selection of cultural events, make the island a pleasant place to spend a week or two.

Continue reading... September Events in Cyprus

For anyone visiting the island of Madeira during the middle of October, the town of Ribeira Brava provides the chance to experience some traditional local music and culture.

Continue reading... Autumn events on Madeira

Mallorca has a fine reputation as a summer beach holiday destination however there is a lot more to this amazing island than just fine beaches and holiday resorts.

Continue reading... Felanitx Festival in Mallorca

Sunday 8th June was World Oceans Day, A United Nations initiative to honour the world's oceans, celebrate the marine life and bring greater awareness of the role oceans have in daily life. Conservation and environmental issues are also part of the day and it brings a focus for groups to participate in beach cleanups, educational events, competitions and other activities based around the oceans. In Sharm el Sheikh , groups in the area were keen to participate in the initiative and work to protect the Red Sea environment that brings thousands of people to this Egyptian resort every day

Continue reading... World Oceans Day

The towering Bellver Castle, situated in the woods high above the city of Palma in Mallorca, is home to an annual music festival during July.

Continue reading... Music Towers above Palma

Extra flights have been added to the schedules at FlyThomasCook which bring greater flexibility for passengers travelling to the island of Lanzarote from Manchester, East Midlands and Gatwick.

Continue reading... Extra Flights to Lanzarote

Visitors to the island of Lanzarote next weekend will have the opportunity to sample the Festival of Arrecife, a series of musical events taking place at different venues around the city on Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Festival in Arrecife

FlyThomasCook will add a new Tuesday flight to its Manchester - Arrecife route that, together with the existing Thursday and Sunday flights, will bring more choice and additional flexibility for people flying to the island of Lanzarote. The additional flight will operate from 4th August until 27th October 2009 inclusively.

Continue reading... Extra Flights to Lanzarote