Valais. Delicious wines by the Rhone River

Sometimes the sun turns Valais into a Mediterranean country. This is one of the reasons why there are so many wonderful specialties produced here.

None of the other 22 cantons can boast of such culinary richness as Valais. The reason for this is its special microclimate and various types of soil. The canton combines territories of arid Mediterranean climate and Alpine grounds. No wonder why the highest European vineyard (1150 meters above the sea level) is located here, in Visperterminen.

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It’s impossible to visit France and not to attend one of the main attractions of the French capital - the Louvre. The biggest and the most famous world museum was opened to public on August 10, 1793. Before that it used to be a private museum available only to the elite of the court. The palace, where the museum is situated, is more than 800 years old, being initially a fortress of Philip Augustus. Today there is a special exhibition devoted to this page of the museum history. Works of all historical epochs and art currents (up to the XIX century) are represented in the Louvre. The Italian collection, which is considered to be the best outside the limits of Italy, has always attracted connoisseurs, tourists and artists from all over the world.

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An annual holiday is always something to look forward to, but it’s good to treat yourself in between those holiday periods as well. One way to do this is by booking a weekend break - and the possibilities for what you can do are endless.



First of all, think about whether you would like to relax and unwind: somewhere quiet and peaceful, or whether you would prefer to de-stress by taking part in an outdoor activity like boating or mountain biking, for example. Your answer to this question should give you some ideas on what kind of location would be best for you.



You don’t have to go that far a-field to get away from it all either. In fact, when you are spending a weekend away you don’t want to be travelling for hours to get to your destination. Pick somewhere that is ideally not much more than a couple of hours away from your home. That way you can get an early start on Saturday and still enjoy the whole day - and on Sunday you won’t have to worry about leaving early to get home in time for a good night’s sleep before work the next day.



Once you’ve got an idea of the kind of area you’d like to visit, you’ll need to pre-book your accommodation for the night. Treat yourself to a nice hotel room that you can relax and unwind in after a day’s sightseeing. Most hotels will also be able to advise you of any particularly good places to visit in the area - giving you some ideas for how to spend Sunday.



The great thing about a weekend break is that you don’t need to take too much with you. A small overnight bag should be enough to hold everything you need; if you are planning on taking part in any activities you can always hire any equipment that’s required.



You can also organise a surprise break for your partner if you wish. It’s a wonderful way to de-stress and spend some quality time together. Try and choose an area you would both enjoy, and that has a wide range of sights and activities to enjoy, depending on what mood you are both in.



To make the most of your weekend break, you can take the Friday off from work - or at least finish early - so you can get to your destination and spend two nights there instead of one. You can then spend the evening enjoying a nice meal or going to the cinema to see a film, safe in the knowledge you still have two whole days to enjoy.



In short, a weekend away can keep you going until your next big holiday comes around. It doesn’t need to cost much and the benefits you will gain from it can be better than you think.

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I’m an offbeat tourist. I try not to do as the other tourists do and not to go where the others go. I do not try to show-off or something like that. I just leave many places that are considered to be a must-visit behind. That is all.

For instance, I haven’t been to the Louvre. It’s not a reason for pride and it’s not a cause for regret. I just didn’t want to race through the halls making short stops near three points (Nike, Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa). This museum is worth being admired for a long time, which I didn’t really have. But I do hope to come to Paris again…

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As a nation full of travelers, we easily spend hours of our day dreaming about that next break, only to finally act on whatever special is going on at the time of booking, regardless if that’s where we intended to go or not. Why? Because we assume that the flashy deal is the only way to get the great price. Thankfully with the abundance of online booking services and great discount travel websites now scattered throughout the web, the competition is so fierce that someone is always offering a great deal - and finally, it’s to destinations you actually want to visit!

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I decided to share my impressions about the trip to Rome as my emotions still linger…

The decision to go to Italy was made shortly before the journey, so we didn’t have much time to prepare for that. But we managed to organize the trip as quickly as possible. And, as it turned out, we planned everything very well.

Rome covered us in the suffocating heat as it’s extremely hot in Rome in August. We wanted to hire a taxi but didn’t like the faces of the drivers approaching us, so we decided to take a suburban train called “Leonardo Express”. I should say it’s rather comfortable and inexpensive.

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The main point about Brittany is that its not France. Well, at least not France as we are used to seeing it. Cities in the east of Brittany - Fougeres, Dinan, Saint-Malo - do bear the resemblance of French antiquity, which can also be discovered in Burgundy or Aquitaine. By farther to the west the cities become less usual and less typical.

Let’s start with language. There are two languages used in Lower Brittany: guide-boards and signboards are written in French and the Breton language. This old Celtic language has the same routes as the languages on the other side of La Manche (the French name for the English channel) - Scottish and Irish. Houses also look like German ones.

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A Trip to the Past With Palenque
By Tatyana Kogut

The south of Mexico is the cradle of Maya civilization – one of the greatest cultures in human history. Born 3 thousand years ago, it is surrounded with historical mysteries and legends. But the most wonderful thing is that this world is still alive. Meeting with Maya means a travel to the past. The first place to get to know Maya is Uxmal. Then we advise you a travel to Palenque – a wonderful site. One of the main local attractions is the Temple of Inscriptions where in 1952 there was a true treasure found – Maya temple. The temple is one of the oldest Maya erections, preserved in its primeval state. There is also a Palace situated opposite the temple. The palace is adorned with ancient bas reliefs and stone carvings.

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