FLYING TIMES

Nerja is one resort that has seen a tremendous amount of change over the last couple of decades. It is also one of the few resorts on the Costa del Sol that has retained its authentic Andalusian charm.

Visitors from the UK are the most likely to take their summer holidays to Nerja. The area is also particularly popular with Scandinavian visitors. With this sudden boom in tourism, there has been a massive growth in private holiday rentals in Nerja, with areas such as Capistrano being in particular demand.

The main tourist centre in La Axarquia, Nerja is an attractive small town of Moorish origin and whitewashed alleyways perched on a promontory above the Mediterranean.

This stretch of coastline at the foot of the Sierra de Almijara is characterized by steep cliffs and delightful beaches. Nerja’s many bars, outdoor cafes, restaurants and night-clubs have made the town into the popular summer resort it is today.

Source: Maximo Lopez

Nerja’s most renowned landmark is the Balcon de Europa. This magnificent mirador in the historical centre of Nerja was built on the site of the old castle. It is a large landscaped square overlooking the sea with an avenue of palm trees and views of this rocky coastline. On clear days it is possible to make out the African coast in the distance. The whitewashed 17C Iglesia del Salvador, with its impressive bell-tower, stands alongside the square.

Another highlight of any holiday to Nerja is a visit to the nearby Nerja caves. Discovered as recently as 1959, this enormous natural cave complex has been carved out of the marble landscape of the Sierra de Almijara. Traces of pottery, ceramics, human remains and wall paintings indicate that the caves were inhabited during the Paleolithic era.

Well this time last year the Icelandic ash cloud caused chaos with the travel industry in the UK and many other countries. This year it is back again but not as badly as last year, yet. The volcano has begun to erupt again sending ash into the atmosphere, The airlines and the engine/plane manufacturers have spent the year calculating what the limits are to be flying safely. The engine manufacturers have told the air lines their findings and as such they are aware that planes can fly whilst this ash is in the atmosphere. They have said that it is not safe to fly through the ash cloud but that is just common sense.
This news, for the airlines, was good. They now are aware of what the limitations have become with regards to the situation as last year they were pretty much unprepared for such an event. Despite the more awareness that the airlines have the Scottish airports had grounded flights yesterday, this was on a week where the high winds were causing havoc with the flight plans of many aircraft. High strong winds were reported at airports throughout the UK making it difficult during landings and take offs.
But it is this wind that has been pushing the ash cloud towards Britain’s airspace.

With summer fast approaching I thought it was time to write an article about the fear of flying and the myths behind this phobia.

Basically, the fear of flying is one of the most common phobias around. This fear/phobia can be difficult for people to overcome. This is because of the numerous factors that can cause fear, these fears all come into play together. The phobia makes people feel claustrophobic during the flight, people fear about being “trapped” in the plane. There is the anxiety about the possibility of a panic attack whilst on board. Ultimately, you may fear crashing. Some of these fears may not have a basis in reality at all and are just the result of myths that people have wrongly come to believe as truth.

Commonly, people that have a fear of flying will mainly be concerned about “air pockets”. These “air pockets” are about as real as the tooth fairy or father christmas! The myth about these “air pockets” is that if a plane is unlucky enough to fly into one it can suddenly fall hundreds of feet, basically making it appear to be crashing. Despite all these myths this simply isn’t possible. There could be no place within the sky that is a “pocket” without air.

A second fear is that planes are really very fragile and that turbulence could cause them great damage, this is a threat to both the safety of the passengers and crew (so do you think the crew would want to fly on them if they knew they were unsafe), or the wings of the plane could fall off. In a world full of common sense, commercial airplanes are built to withstand far more turbulence than you would ever experience on a normal flight. No amount of turbulence that you would normally encounter could damage the plane at all. Turbulence is more of an annoyance than a danger to flights. The planes strength is within it’s flexibility. The wings of an airplane are actually built to be extremely pliable, and will bend and flex with the wind. Turbulence is basically a comfort issue and not an issue for the safety of the plane.

The fears that the plane would just fall from the sky if the engines were to stop working is absolute tripe. If the engines of a plane were to cut out when it was flying at the cruise altitude then it would glide for about 100 miles. Planes will not just simply ‘fall’ from the sky sometimes they glide into land without the power oif the engines to save fuel and people never know.

There are lots more myths about flying that could cause more unnecessary fear and anxiety about flying. But the best way to enjoy flying is by getting more and more information about flight and how planes work. This will make you less afraid.

A city of enchanting regal palaces

A visit to Copenhagen will enchant all ages with the city’s fairytale history and ‘olde worlde’ charm. It is a compact and attractive city and it is filled with history rivaled by its location with it nestling between Langeline harbour and the pretty Nyhavn Canal. If you visit Copenhagen you will uncover some colourful history dating all the way back to the Vikings and the city boasts a mass of museums and galleries to wander round. The charming statue of the Little Mermaid can be seen basking herself in front of the harbour and is definitely a must see. The Danish capital is filled to the brim with royal palaces, such as the ornate Princes Palace, which houses the Danish National Museum, and Christiansborg Palace which is a stately home that could possibly have come from the mind of Hans Christian Andersen.

Colourful art and architecture

Copenhagen is one of the cleanest and greenest cities in Europe and it is small enough to explore easily on foot or by bicycle. The historical Nyhavn Canal area is an ideal starting point during a break in Copenhagen and it features an array of colourful traditional timber houses, a bustling market and plenty of waterfront cafes. It is also Copenhagen’s most vibrant district when the sun goes down as it has a multitude of bars, jazz clubs and late night eateries. From this district the National Gallery and Museum of Decorative Arts are just a short distance away and highlight the city’s artistic heritage since medieval times.

Magical days out

There is absolutely no denying the appeal that Copenhagen has to offer with so many attractions and its enchanting history to explore. An absolute must-see attraction is the original Legoland theme park at Billund which is sure to excite children and nostalgic parents. You should definitely see the world famous Tivoli Gardens, as it is packed full of fun with its amusement theme park and acres of landscaped gardens.

The Tivoli Gardens

Tivoli Gardens, the popular amusement park, which was founded in 1843, enjoys a supply of high-class restaurants and stages for both music and theatre. It is just a few minutes walk from the City Hall Square which is in the centre of Copenhagen. You can enjoy pantomime theatre which dates back to 1874 or perhaps something faster-paced with rides such as ‘The Deamon’, ‘The Golden Tower’ and ‘The Monsoon’. They perform rock concerts every Friday on the open-air stage as well as classical music, ballet and international shows at the Tivoli Concert Hall.

A truly remarkable city

Reykjavik is a small city it contains low, brightly painted houses and has a vibrant artistic and musical scene. With a famously pulsating nightlife and an unforgettably romantic setting, amidst amazing scenery. It is home to an extensive collection museums and galleries which also ensure a Reykjavik break will offer plenty of cultural interest. The Old Town with its charming wooden houses, parks and lakes, has an easy going small-town atmosphere. A city break in Reykjavik would offer an insight into the unique culture and history of Iceland. You can see this via a collection of museums and galleries, and it shows in Iceland’s strong sense of cultural identity.

Amazing landscapes

A break in Reykjavik could include excursions to volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, waterfalls and lava fields. Other activities could include whale watching, riding snowmobiles, 4X4 tours, playing golf, and skiing. And no break in Reykjavik is complete unless you have visited the famous geothermal hot baths and swimming pools. This is a unique experience, particularly if visited in the depths of the Icelandic winter.

Sightseeing

‘Austurvöllur square’ which is in the Old Town is home to the Althingishús, the world’s oldest functioning parliament. The Lutheran cathedral in the city dates back to the 18th century. The charming streets of the Old Town are a delight. Then kick start the evening in one of the city’s trendy cafes or bars and then move on to one of a good choice of classy Reykjavik restaurants. You could always find cheaper ethnic and take-out food. If you follow the crowds in the central streets of Reykjavik to find the trendiest places the pubs tend to get busy towards midnight and many of the clubs go on until well into the morning.

Thermal Baths & Spas

The Reykjavik thermal pools and spas are one of the perfect ways to relax after a night out. They are also a great way to observe part of the Icelandic social life. These pools feature “hot pots” and there is at least 6 pools in the city. ‘Laugardalslaug’ has the largest pool in the city, plus a slide, hot pots and a steam bath as well. If you venture outside the city, the ‘Blue Lagoon’ spa is set in a weird lava field and offers massage, beauty treatments and has a restaurant. Don’t forget there is the extraordinary scenery on the doorstep to the city, the Hafnarfjorður suburb is a fascinating harbour area within the city that is home to a sculpture garden, lighthouse, museums and yet more thermal heated pools.

Breathtaking scenery

Few destinations can match Oslo for spectacular scenery. An Oslo city break will not only feature the charms of the oldest Scandinavian capital, but also offer an experience to see the breathtaking grandeur of Norway’s fjords, mountains, waterfalls and numerous lakes. Fantastic walking and skiing can be reached quickly by underground and train. If you are staying longer in Oslo you should consider one of the amazing longer tours that combine the unforgettable train journeys, stunning fjord cruises and mountain roads.

The Nordic atmosphere

You should visit the mighty fortress, the royal palace, the renovated quayside warehouses and countless waterfront cafes. Oslo offers a pleasant shopping experience in its indoor and outdoor markets. With its luscious green parks, vast open spaces, animated waterfront quays and a collection of low-key attractions make Oslo a good choice for relaxed sightseeing. With it’s location summer breaks in Oslo enjoy long hours of sunshine and daylight. Whereas in winter they have a special atmosphere, with snowy squares and a cosy atmosphere in the warm cafes, bars and restaurants of the city.

Viking ships

If you are considering a short break in Oslo it is a city rich in Viking folklore and maritime history. It’s only a short ferry trip to the Bygdøy Peninsula with its collection of well-preserved Viking ships and the iconic vessels such as Thor Heyerdal’s Kon-Tiki as well as the 19th century boat Amundson used in the Antarctic. The city also offers delightful small galleries and museums. It has a thriving cultural scene that includes classical concerts, opera and ballet. The Oslo nightlife cannot compete with Reykjavik or Stockholm, but Oslo can offer buzzing cafes and pubs, with live music that includes jazz, blues and rock, and a small but rather stylish clubbing scene.

Sightseeing

The Akershus Palace and Fortress which dates back to the 13th century with it’s ancient walls and medieval tower occupy a privileged seafront locale. The castle has superb banqueting halls and medieval dungeons and passageways. The Resistance Museum which is in the castle grounds, is a moving tribute to the Norwegian resistance of the Nazi occupation. Whilst by the waterfront you should take a look inside the waterfront City Hall as it has some rather astounding murals. Oslo cathedral also hosts regular concerts.

Museums & Galleries

The National Gallery includes works from artists Picasso, Cezanne, Gauguin and El Greco and it is also home to an extensive collection of Norwegian art. The Museum of Applied Art features fashion, costumes, furniture and ceramics dating all the way back to the seventh century. There is also the Munch Museum, dedicated to impressionist painter Edvard Munch, also has fine gardens.

Simply unique

Rome features the world’s greatest living museum: an atmospheric, beautiful city that is simply overflowing with personality, energy and romantic charm. The joy of a short break in Rome is such, that even a casual stroll in the city will combine Baroque squares and then the sudden unexpected arrival of extraordinary sights like the Trevi Fountain. The day-to-day streets of central Rome are fascinating at every twist and turn and are simply beautiful.

Astounding art and architecture

Of course everyone that has a Rome city break will want to include the Coliseum, the Forum, the Vatican, the Pantheon and the Sistine Chapel in their visit, if they have the time. City breaks in Rome are a paradise for art lovers, with many of the Renaissance treasures in their original locations. Longer weekend breaks in Rome will give more time to take in the amount of sights. Even the shortest of short breaks in Rome is still long enough to visit the key locations of the city and allows you to soak up the astonishingly exuberant atmosphere of this city.

Squares & Fountains

If you take a stroll through Rome’s squares and fountains you will find this a superb way of discovering the ancient city. Rome’s squares are meeting points for tourists as well as residents alike. These squares include the ‘Piazza di Trevi’ with its iconic ‘Fontana di Trevi’ as well as the stunning ‘Piazza Navona’, this square is a Baroque masterpiece with three wonderful fountains. Some of the other symbolic squares include ‘Piazza di Spagna’ with the Spanish Steps.

Food, Cafes & Ice Cream

Visiting the Rome cafes should be a part of any Rome break. ‘When in Rome and all that’ do as the Romans do and sample different styles of coffee, cakes and snacks. Rome has many ice cream parlours as well. Some of the more memorable eating experiences are in some of the more basic-looking places with the simplest paper menu: great pasta and a cheap carafe of house wine. Amidst this there are still plenty of family restaurants in the heart of the city.

Shopping

If you are planning on the short break to do some shopping in Rome in the very heart of the Centro Storico you will find some fascinating grocery stores, some Italian interior design, numerous shoe shops and of course all of the big names in high fashion.

Parks

The Rome parks are a welcome break from viewing all the monuments and the hustle and bustle of the many tourists and they provide some of the best views of Rome. Within Palatine Hill are the ruins of the original city and it is a retreat from the traffic. The formal gardens of Aventine Hill, with their rows of roses and orange trees, provide a serene setting for the superb churches.

Magical history and high jinks

It isn’t hard to fall in love with the city of Dublin. It offers the familiar trappings of the British way of life, yet the city has a refreshing openness and irrepressible spirit that is all too rare in modern UK cities nowadays. Dublin city breaks are never short on fun with a legendary pub scene and a great range kids’ activities. There are also a number of magical historic sites to explore. First time visitors should take a tour of the imposing Dublin Castle and perhaps stroll through the delightful cobbled courtyards of hallowed Trinity College. The more modern attractions that should not be missed on a short or long break to Dublin include the ever popular Guinness Storehouse tour and kids will be sure to have a wild time at Dublin’s famous old zoo.

Take a fun filled city tour

If you have limited time in Dublin, then probably the best way to take it all in is on one of the many organized city tours. There are tours on everything from literary pub crawls, walking tours and even amphibious road and river cruises. Having said that, the impressive city of Dublin is compact and never more colourful and exciting than simply exploring the city at random. If your in Dublin for shopping then this is never truer. There are bargains to be had everywhere. From the small boutiques down the side streets of Grafton street which are sure to throw up a few eccentric gift ideas and possibly a bargain or two.

Legendary late nights

With the low cost of a city break in Dublin you can find charming small guest houses right in the middle of all the action. Or if you prefer some are a little off the main tourist beat. There are plenty of cheap eats and delicious pub grub at great value prices. Drinking is what Dublin does best and it would be criminal not to indulge in a night out in a good old traditional Irish pub at least once while you are on a Dublin break. You can also enjoy partying in the trendy Temple Bar district, a stage for the student orientated live music bars and kicking late night dance clubs.

Sightseeing & Museums

You can visit the impressive 16th century Trinity College. The imposing Dublin Castle has splendid 18th century apartments. The National Museum of Ireland has extraordinary antiquities, medieval church artefacts, ancient jewellery and one of Europe’s outstanding collections of prehistoric gold. Other favourite Dublin attractions include the National Gallery of Ireland and Phoenix Park which is one of Europe’s largest, with beautiful gardens, lakes, deer and of course Dublin Zoo.

The tour operator Thomas Cook has estimated the disruption to its trading caused by any political unrest in Egypt and Tunisia has cost the company about £20m.
The company has suffered around 150,000 cancellations due to the political unrest in the countries. The company has also had to take a hit to pay for the cost of repatriating tourists back to Britain.

Business in Europe was “progressing well”, the firm had said, as bookings are ahead of last year in many countries. Despite this UK trading was weaker, this has been largely due to “fragile consumer sentiment”. In response to the downturn, the company has said that it was taking “a more prudent approach to capacity”. The tour operator said that it was now flying into Egypt and Tunisia from the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium, and would re-start flights to the two destinations from Northern Europe towards the end of May.

The disruption to all the flights would cost £15m in lost trade and £5m in repatriation costs, the company has said. Thomas Cook also added that fuel prices had risen by about 20% since the start of this year, this meant it had to introduce fuel supplements in some markets. The operator also said that it expected to receive clearance from the competition authorities for its joint venture with Russia’s Intourist in May.

“Overall, the business is performing well, given the disruption caused by the unrest in Egypt and Tunisia,” said group chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa. “Summer bookings are ahead of last year across most segments, with particularly strong growth in our German tour operator and airline.”

Edinburgh Airport is to launch three new routes which will hopefully see an increase of about 8,000 new passengers use the already busy hub.

Thomson Holidays and First Choice are to be offering a new service to the Greek island of Rhodes, this is going to be starting in the summer from the Scottish capital.
They are also going to be starting two new routes to the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. This announcement follows Thomson’s increase of capacity at Edinburgh by 23,000seats. Kevin Brown, Edinburgh Airport’s managing director, said: “These new routes are further demonstration of our commitment to providing the widest choice of routes for our passengers. This investment in Edinburgh Airport is very welcome and we look forward to working with Thomson and First Choice to further develop sun destination offerings.”

Paul Cooper, Thomson Airways airport negotiations manager, said: “We are delighted to be operating Gran Canaria as a new destination from Edinburgh and a new route to Rhodes this summer. The new offerings will enable our customers from Scotland to have a wider choice of destinations and demonstrates our commitment to local airports. This move reflects the high level of demand from customers wishing to fly from Edinburgh.”