www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
Sant Francesc Hotel Singular åpnet nylig dørene i et tidligere adelspalass i gamlebyen i Palma de Mallorca. Takterasse med basseng og utsikt, samt en grønn bakgårdshage, er blant høydepunktene på det nye femstjerners designhotellet, skriver Se og Hør.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
A Chinese team of scientists is conducting a seismic survey of the ocean basin between Maldives capital Malé and the airport island for a planned bridge.
Maldives housing minister Mohamed Muizzu last week said the bridge will run from Malé’s surf point, Raalhugandu, to the southwest corner of Hulhulé island’s airport runway, the Minivan News – www.minivannews.com website writes.
The Chinese team is to drill 29 boreholes, 59 meters deep, in the ocean basin to see if it can hold the bridge’s foundation pillars. Designs for the six-lane bridge is expected to be completed by the end of June this year, the government has announced.
China has previously said it would “favorably consider financing” the bridge if the design proves feasible, while President Xi Jinping said he hoped the government would call the bridge “the China-Maldives friendship bridge”.
It is expected to cost between US$100million to US$150million. Construction of the Malé-Hulhulé Bridge, first slated to begin in 2014, will now start by the end of this year, and will be completed within two years.
The bridge, a key campaign pledge of President Abdulla Yameen, will also connect Malé to its suburb Hulhumalé, an artificial island located behind Hulhulé and connected by a short causeway. In March, 227 hectares of land were reclaimed in Hulhumalé for a planned “Youth City”.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
The transport system in Mauritius does not meet the exigencies of a modern and outward oriented country. Hence the need to create a revolution in the public transport system which will be driven by innovation, leadership and quality and which will provide efficacy, comfort and safety to the 750 000 passengers travelling daily by 3 000 buses, the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, says.
Mr Bodha was speaking at the Octave Wiehe stadium in Réduit at the launching of an intercollege debate competition on public transport organised at the initiative of Rose Hill Transport Holdings Ltd (RHT Ltd). He said that the challenge is to make the public transport system as modern as in other countries, while adding that the issues of road safety and congestion also need to be tackled. He pointed out that it is unacceptable that 120 people lose their lives every year in Mauritius while in Reunion Island the number is much less (42) for the same number of cars.
Speaking about the bus industry which can be thriving and modern, the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport stressed that it needs to comprise of three pillars. These are: the National Transport Corporation (NTC); companies like the RHT Ltd; and individual bus owners. He said that all these companies should provide the same quality of transport under the same rules and regulations.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
Martinique has announced a “not-to-be-missed” walking tour of Fort-de- France, the www.cruiseindustrynews.com website reported.
Among the highlights are:
Fort Saint Louis – Originally carved from a rocky promontory jutting out into The Bay of Fort-de-France, Fort Saint Louis dates back to 1640. Recently closed, when it was reinstated as an active military installation, the fort reopened to the public July 2014.
La Savane Park – The 12-acre Park built in the 18th century from land reclaimed from the sea and mangroves was originally used for training by French military stationed at Fort Saint Louis. In 1830 La Savane became known as Le Jardin du Roi (The Garden of the King). Its new purpose: to harbor scientific experiments on plant species that were new to the island, many of which are still present in the Park today.
Schoelcher Library – erected for the same 1889 World Fair in Paris that saw the debut of the Eiffel Tower, the Schoelcher Library stands as a tribute to French abolitionist Victor Schoelcher. Designed by Henri Picq, a contemporary of Gustave Eiffel, the library was dismantled piece by piece following the World Fair, shipped to Martinique, and reassembled in Fort-de-France along Rue de la Liberté just across from the La Savane Park.
Saint Louis Cathedral – also designed by Henri Picq, the Saint Louis Cathedral has a Gothic Revival architectural style standing out as the most prominent structure in downtown Fort-de-France. The Cathedral in its current form was built in 1895, though it is the seventh such church built on the same location one block northwest of La Savane since 1657.
All previous churches were destroyed by fire or natural disasters, prompting Picq to construct its entire frame out of steel, earning the structure the nickname “The Iron Cathedral”.
Le Marché Couvert – another Picq design, the Covered Market was originally constructed in 1901 and later restored in 1989. Bustling, it’s still the place to go for local Martinican spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts. The restaurants within the market offer local cuisine.
Aimé Césaire Theater – Formerly the City Hall of Fort-de-France, where playwright, statesman, and civil rights leader Aimé Césaire maintained an office for more than 50 years, the Théâtre Aimé Césaire presents an example of Neoclassical architecture in the Caribbean. Constructed between 1884 and 1901, the building now houses a museum dedicated to Césaire upstairs.
To help visitors enjoy all that Fort-de-France has to offer, the city’s Tourism Office recently launched new self-guided audio tour maps. Available for rent through The Fort-de-France Tourism Office, the new maps are equipped with audio pens that enable visitors to hear details on featured attractions simply by pointing the pens on the attractions on the map.
Audio is available in a choice of English, French, Spanish, and Italian, with additional languages to be added in the coming months.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
The capital of Morocco, Rabat is home to the country’s most important museum, the Royal Palace and a popular, crescent-shaped beach.
And with an urban population of over 1.2 million, it’s not surprising that the beach is bustling, busy and packed on summer days, the Weather Channel – www.weather.com website writes.
“It is incredibly crowded,” one TripAdvisor reviewer said. “Half the beach is usually taken up by soccer games.” However, some visitors still appreciate the beautiful views of the Atlantic.
“Walk up to the lighthouse and you have a breathtaking view of the ocean, yet you’re just a few steps from the medina,” said one TripAdvisor reviewer.
The world’s most crowded beaches:
1. Dameisha Bathing Beach, Shenzhen, China
2. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3. Plage Publique de Beau Rivage, Nice, France
4. Plage de Rabat, Morocco
5. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
6. Brighton Beach, England
7. Haeundae Beach, Busan, South Korea
8. Beach of Durres, Albania
9. Haad Rin Nok, Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand during Full Moon Parties
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
Antananarivo, Madagascar – The United Nations says it is sending experts to Madagascar to assess a claim by underwater explorers that they had found treasure and the wreck of a ship belonging to the pirate known as Captain Kidd, the Assocaited Press News agency reported.
Ulrike Guerin, a specialist in underwater heritage for the UN cultural agency Unesco, said on Thursday that experts will examine artefacts at the site where American explorer Barry Clifford had been operating.
Unesco is also concerned that Clifford’s group may have damaged the site.
Last week, Clifford said he found a silver bar that he believes belonged to William Kidd, who raided ships in the late 17th century and was executed in London in 1701.
Photo: foxnews.com
Barry Clifford (right) presented the bar to Madagascar’s president, Hery Rajaonarimampianina (left), in a ceremony on the country’s Sainte Marie island.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
A heritage group has criticised a decision that paves the way for major changes to Douglas railway station, the Isle of Man Today – www.iomtoday.co.im website writes.
Douglas, Isle of Man
An independent inspector has approved the Department of Infrastructure’s £1.4m plan that includes remodelling the interior of the ticket hall.
In an attempt to make the station more commercially viable, a shop will be created on the ground floor and the restaurant will be moved into a greatly-extended mezzanine level that will cover most of the hall.
Douglas Railway Station, Isle of Man (wikipedia.org)
But planning inspector Anthony Wharton agreed with objectors concerns about the potential impact on the north-facing wall, which includes the original ticketing windows and an original map of the island’s railway network. He ruled that the mezzanine must stop short of the wall.
Peter Kelly, caseworker for the Isle of Man Victorian Society, told iomtoday: “It’s a very poor compromise that will not go down well with the railway enthusiasts who we’re trying to encourage.
“The feeling and ambience of the ticketing hall will be lost.
“If you can visualise a 4ft gap where people must crane their necks, it won’t achieve what it’s trying to achieve, which is giving the feel of the large hall that once existed”.
He continued: “Douglas station is the showcase of the island’s heritage railways. Given that the island is marketing heritage railways as an attraction, it’s ironic – if not heretic – to be messing about with something original like this”.
“Now that it has the benefit of planning permission and registered building consent, the die is cast and it would only be Treasury or Tynwald, by not granting the necessary funds, that would stop it.”
In a statement, Ian Longworth, director of public transport, said: “We are happy the planning inspector agreed that building repairs are essential and our Minister will now seek Tynwald approval for the work to commence this winter”.
“It is our intention to make Douglas Station more commercially viable, with any alterations designed to sympathetically enhance the original station and improve our passenger facilities”.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
Malawi President Peter Mutharika on May 1st officially opened the $100 million Umodzi Park complex which comprise the world-class Bingu Wa Mutharika International Conference Centre (BICC) , Presidential Villas and a 5-Star President Walmont Hotel, built in the capital Lilongwe, the www.starafrica.com website reprted.
Speaking during the opening, President Mutharika said the complex represents a symbol of excellence in the hospitality industry of the country.
“This complex will strategically position Malawi to tap into the growing tourism market segment and enhance its image as a destination for international events”, the president said.
He assured his government’s commitment to continue putting tourism sector as a priority area in the national agenda.
Chairperson of Umodzi Holdings, Francis Mbilizi said the multi-faceted development forms a vital part of Malawi’s plans to boost the tourism industry.
“The state-of-the-arts complex is set to raise the country’s profile within the African conferencing industry, making Malawi an attractive option for conference delegations from within the continent as well as the rest of the world.
The complex is an initiative of the late president Bingu Wa Mutharika, brother of the current president, and was funded and built by China.
The South Africa-based company Peermont will manage the complex for 10 years.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
Macau International Airport (MIA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Two decades after its opening, it still needs to expand to bring more international tourists to Macau, the www.macaubusinessdaily.com website reported.
Experts praise the role of the airport for the development of the city but concede there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Amy So Siu Ian is programme co-ordinator for hospitality and gaming management at the University of Macau. She says that the more international flights arrive at MIA, the more international tourists Macau could have.
The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is bullish about the future role of the airport. In a written reply, it said the traffic capacity of Macau will be strengthened with the development of the Macau aviation industry, the master plan for Macau International Airport, and the construction of the New Ferry Terminal in Taipa, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
“The tourism and aviation industries are closely related and are vital to the diversification of tourist markets. In recent years, there are more airlines/budget airlines providing routes to and from Macau, which helps to boost regional tourism and diversification of tourist markets”, a spokesperson said.
The master plan for the airport has yet to be implemented. And it takes time for all the works to be completed, Vicente Serafim, CEO of Macau Jet International Co. Ltd., tells Macau Business.
He slams the lack of strategy for the airport, questioning its future here, considering that other airports in the region are expanding and developing fast. Jacky So Yuk Chow is the dean of the University of Macau’s Faculty of Business Administration. He says the airport here can face more competition in the future.
“There’s competition among the airports in Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macau in term of travellers and flying zones, etc. Zhuhai and Macau airports are now serving as regional airports. Hong Kong is the real international airport. In order to increase efficiency in terms of cost and time, I believe that co-ordination and division of labour are badly needed between the three of them”, he says.
www.hovedsteder.blogg.no is a Norway-based blog about the capitals of the world, with a focus on tourism, travel, transport, the environment, politics, diplomatic affairs, lifestyle, culture and entertainment, food and drink.
The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, world’s second largest equestrian statue located at Tsonjin Boldog, east of the Mongolian capital city of Ulan Bataar, receives huge numbers of foreign and domestic visitors each year, the www.en.cihan.com.tr news agency’s website reported.
Tens of thousands of people visit the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue, which is among 100 most wonderful artifacts in the world.
The 40 meter tall statue, which was completed in 2008, was made of 250 tons of stainless steel on the bank on Tuul River. Visitors can go to upper parts through a lift or a stair.
There is also a Mongolian historical museum in the complex.
The statue is one of the leading sources of tourist income in the country.
