TOURIST LIFE TRAVEL & TOUR

Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city of contrasts. Impossibly steep granite mountains jut out of the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand, impeccable colonial buildings nestle in between modern glass skyscrapers and verdant forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas. It is a city high on life, a city of beach worship, football, samba and Carnival. And high above all this fun and frivolity stands Rio’s ever-present, iconic landmark – the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
The continuing strength of foreign currencies against the Brazilian Real and the national football team’s success in the 2002 World Cup have both helped to make Brazil, and Rio in particular, an increasingly popular and affordable year-round destination. And as the host of the forthcoming Pan American Games in 2007, the city is undergoing considerable regeneration and many new hotels are either built or being built. As well as the city’s well-known landmarks of Corcovado and Sugar Loaf mountains, Rio boasts a wealth of attractions and activities, plus great food, music and entertainment – enough to keep a visitor busy for any length of stay.
Situated in southeast Brazil, on the natural port of the Baía de Guanabara (Guanabara Bay), Rio is a city of over 10 million people squeezed between the ocean and the mountains. The cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) is a melting pot of cultures and peoples in varying degrees of wealth or poverty. In Rio, the rich and poor live together and the exclusive areas stand in stark contrast and close proximity to the slum areas or favelas. But no matter what their background or economic standing, the Cariocas (as the citizens of Rio are known) are characterised by a passion and enthusiasm for life, which is on full show during Rio’s famous annual Carnival.
Central to the Carioca lifestyle is the beach. From dawn until dusk and even after dark, the residents of Rio can be found enjoying the long stretches of sandy coastline with which the city is blessed. The beach is not merely a place to absorb the sun’s rays but also an important venue for sports, socialising and even business. It is a people-watcher’s paradise – clothing is minimal and bodies are bronzed and beautiful. The famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are magnets for Brazilians and tourists alike.
It has taken 500 years for Rio to transform itself into one of the world’s greatest cities. On 1 January 1502, Portuguese explorers sailed into Guanabara Bay and named it Rio de Janeiro (River of January), under the mistaken impression that it was an enormous river mouth. The French attempted to gain control of the bay in 1555 but were finally evicted by the Portuguese in 1567.
The Portuguese colony was based on sugar cane and agricultural products throughout the 17th century, until the discovery of gold in the nearby Minas Gerais region led to the city’s emergence as a control, export and taxation centre. Black slaves formed the majority of the population in these early days of trading and the African influence is still present in the city’s culture. The capital of colonial Brazil was moved from Bahia (now Salvador) in 1763 to Rio de Janeiro and the city began to flourish, especially when coffee became the predominant export in the 19th century. After the Portuguese monarchy was exiled from Portugal, when Napoleon conquered Lisbon, Rio became their home and eventually the capital of an independent Brazilian Empire. Finally, Brazil became a Republic in 1889; Rio de Janeiro remained its capital until 1960, when the Federal government was transferred to Brasilia.
Rio has continued to grow and has become a popular destination not only for tourists but also for migrants from other parts of the country. Despite its development, the city still has more than its fair share of social problems. Strong divisions exist between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. Attempts have been made to curtail crime, although both residents and tourists should remain alert to petty thieves.
Rio’s best season is undoubtedly the summer months, between December and February, culminating with Carnival. Temperatures can rise to around 40ºC (104ºF) or more, which is ideal weather if tourists do as the Brazilians do and visit the beaches rather than rush around.

Ethiopian Airlines announced the launch of online passenger check in services starting on October 24. The new service will enable customers to check in online to avoid airport queues.

The web check in services will help enhance operational efficiency as well as maximizing the airlines customer services according to Gobena Michael Chief Commercial Officer of Ethiopian Airlines.

Online services allow passengers to select their own seats, confirm special requests, update personal information, register their loyalty miles while checking in and print boarding pass.

This service allows Ethiopian passengers to go directly to the boarding gate at the airport. Passengers with check in baggage will be able to drop of their luggage at the drop off zone.

Online check in services will be available from 2 to 48 hours before departure for international flights and 2 to 24 hours prior to domestic flights. Passengers that do not have check in luggage can arrive at the airport 60 minutes before departure for international flights and 45 minutes before hand for domestic flights.

The web check in service will be available for 32 destinations initially. The Airlines expects to expand the online check in service for all destinations.

Ethiopian Airlines, one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa, made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946. With the addition of new flight services to Seychelles the coming winter, Ethiopian will provide dependable services to 64 international destinations spanning four continents.

Source: Ethiopian Airlines Press Release

By Laura Bly, USA TODAY

While President Obama acknowledged that the North African country “will travel a long and winding road to democracy” after Moammar Gadhafi’s killing on Thursday, the end to the dictator’s iron-fisted, 42-year rule could signal a revival of Libya’s on-again, off-again tourism industry.Commercial advertising is banned in Libya but multiple images of Col. Moammar Gadhafi are found in every town.
Italian, British and German tourists have been long been drawn to its well-preserved (and uncrowded) Greek and Roman ruins and Saharan landscapes, but Libya has remained “terra incognita” for most American globetrotters. After an initial flurry of interest after a U.S. travel ban was lifted in 2004, a morass of diplomatic red tape scuttled further tours until a new trade agreement took effect last May.

During my visit in 2004, the man President Reagan dubbed the “Mad Dog of the Middle East” was ubiquitous – showing up on currency, portraits in restaurants and hotels, and a forest of billboards in every town. (Ask a Libyan what he or she thought of the “Great Leader,” however, and you’d invariably be met with averted eyes and a sudden change of subject.)

Now, as Libyans celebrate his demise, at least one company is already advertising a three-day, 295-euro tour of “post-war Libya” on its website, featuring visits to Tripoli and the Roman ruins of Leptis Magna.

“The tour was very popular, actually. But not now, not yet,” Ibrahim Usta, the company’s self-described international customer assistant, admitted to Reuters. “We have many inquiries right now, but the problem is mainly security and visas,” he said. “There’s no (visa) system in place and many embassies are not functioning.”

A handful of U.S. tour operators and cruise lines that had resumed trips to Libya scuttled them when civil war broke out last winter.

San Francisco-based adventure tour operator Geographic Expeditions cancelled its April 4 departure to Libya, and now “I think it’s going to take a while to shake things out,” says spokesman John Sugnet.

A related case in point: “When president Bush declared victory in Iraq, people were clamoring to go,” recalls Sugnet. But it took until 2010 for the company to feel comfortable offering a trip to Northern Iraq/Kurdistan, a journey that was also offered this year.

The royal city of London is a personal favorite of mine and with the recent marriage of Kate Middleton and Prince William, it has captured a lot of buzz. Londonhas a lot of interesting historical sites and since I am a history buff I certainly enjoyed it. Also, just like many Englishmen, I am a huge tea addict. Did you know most Englishmen drink over twenty times more tea than Americans?

London is a large city with many attractions and is filled with fashion, royalty, and history. The “Tube” is London’s underground railway system and was the first one built in the world! If you’ve visited London, you probably have been on the tube. Some must-see attractions are the Westminster Abbey, The Tower of London and its crown jewels, and the royal palaces of Kensington and Buckingham to name a few. Also, for those that love art, the National Gallery of London and the Tate Modern are must-sees. For those fashionistas out there, you can enjoy the famous Harrod’s Department Store as well as the boutiques along Oxford Street.

The London Eye is another attraction that shouldn’t be missed. It’s the tallest observation wheel in the world and each rotation takes about thirty minutes! At the very top of the wheel, you can see a beautiful view of the entire city! A colleague of mine recently visited London and had a great time. Read more to find out about her royal adventure.  Read more: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/homepage.htm