Sao Paulo - Brazil

Sao Paulo – Brazil

Post published:1 June 2013
Post category:Brazil South America

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I am not led, I lead

As so excited it can get, finally travelling to Brazil, although a very tiny part of the massive country. We managed to find a nice open-jaw ticket, the ones we are more and more frequently starting to seek and take advantage where possible. This means, you depart from one city in a country, but do not return to the same city, but to another, also likely to be in a different country too. So to give you our example, it was a Madrid to Sao Paulo, few days there and then the leg Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro; while for the return flights, it was Rio to Sao Paulo and to London, all with TAM Airlines. But for more information on the different kind of tickets, and when is best to find nice offers do not forget to take a look at the section The Flight Search Guide.

Although the highlight for this trip was getting to Rio de Janeiro of course, one should never underestimate the beautiful and gigantic city of Sao Paulo. Forget what you hear from the mouth to mouth, or even from locals there saying there is nothing to see, or if it’s ugly, dangerous and nothing to do. This is absolutely wrong; and yes, although not much from the historic colonial town remains, it is enough for at least 2 days or even more of full sightseeing.

The city is well divided in neighbourhoods, and as a tourist, the chances are you will be for sure in 2 of them. These are around Paulista Avenue, and the Downtown, where both the historic colonial city was founded and the business district that grew around it.

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San Francisco - USA

San Francisco – USA

Post published:24 September 2012
Post category:North America USA

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The City by the Bay, Paris of the West

Here we are, at our last city on this tour across the USA coast to coast, San Francisco. And also at the time of writing this guide, September 2012, the farthest to the west I have ever been in the world and the very first time by the Pacific Ocean. One of the must visit places in the USA, beautifully elegant city with plenty of things to do and see. Don’t underestimate the time you will need here as it happened to us. Even with a rental car as we had, the time played against us the three days and a bit of the 4th we spent here. It was just too short. Basically, calculate that distances although not too big as some other cities, it takes really ages to reach from one place to another, specially if you count with public transportation. The whole of the city is up and down the hills. And if you plan to walk around you should better rethink about it and plan again something involving transportation. You can get exhausted of going up and down the hills, especially during the summer months. Quite a radical chance from Las Vegas where we came from our previous destination.

The city is well divided in clear areas, each of them having it’s own sights, therefore pretty simple to follow a route and know what to do. Although physically everywhere you go is nice. Unless of course, the fog. Chances to be foggy in the mornings and again towards afternoons are pretty high, this is a climate fact which cannot be avoided. What you can do in the other hand, is plan around to avoid going for example to the Golden Gate Bridge area when the chances of fog are high. Come in the afternoon instead of the morning or evening. The same applies to the famous hills over the city.

Also, even during summer, it’s pretty cold here coming the evening. You will need for sure long sleeve and jacket, not to mention when you go up Twin Peaks, where the temperature difference from the top respect the below one is steep. But it is from here and the Coit Tower where the views of the entire city will awe anyone. Lombard Hill is another great spot but in truth, any higher point will offer incredible views.

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Muir Woods National Park - USA

Sausalito and Muir Woods – USA

Post published:20 September 2012
Post category:North America USA

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In Search of the Tallest Trees on Earth

Right after landing in San Francisco coming from Las Vegas, and after checking in to our apartment, we drove towards Sausalito and then Muir Woods, in order to free the remaining last three days of our coast to coast tour around the USA for the jewel city on the Pacific coast. If you have the choice and can, definitely get a rental car. It will save you lots of time and will allow you the possibility to stop wherever you like to make incredible pictures, and also have a great circle drive as I will explain here later on.

Sausalito is just on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge if leaving San Francisco. Obviously, this is your perfect chance to get off at the viewing points and visitor centre and enjoy some of the best views of the bridge. Afterwards, simply follow the signs to Sausalito and you would have arrived in matter of no time. It is a small yet beautiful village on the shores of the Golden Gate Bay and the mountains, and from the small promenade and little pier there are splendid views of San Francisco skyline and the whole bay.

There is not much more in here, apart from the beautiful wooden houses, nice nature and the famous floating houses. Therefore it should not take too much of your time. Continue driving farther north, and you will get to see the signs for Muir Woods. Follow these until the end and you will have arrived at the entrance gates of this National Monument Park, here official website.

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Las Vegas - USA

Las Vegas – USA

Post published:19 September 2012
Post category:North America USA

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Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

Finally another dream accomplished, Las Vegas. And although when we landed at the airport we drove directly to the Grand Canyon, we only started to enjoy this city in the evening when we returned and saw all the lights from far away and near, until we reached the spectacular Strip, Las Vegas Boulevard. From here, we started to live a movie. Beginning with the world famous neon sign of “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” and up to The Stratosphere, the hotel we stayed along the immense Boulevard, all the casinos, hotels and resorts passing one after another.

Lights, music, sounds, effects, the people, the cars, the wedding chapels, just everything is like a Deja-Vu. You already know these places, you’ve seen them so many times that you recognise them straight away, either by name, silhouette or look. The main difference is that this time the movie is real, and you are the actor.

This is the city that never sleeps, 24 hours crowded, whole year round. Very hot during the day, perfect temperature in the evenings and nights. Tastes, likes, flavours, desires for everyone. Anything you want, anything you wish, you have it there. You can do it. Unfortunately yes, money matters. In Vegas money can get you whatever you desire, and while to some it might bring riches and fortunes, to others it means bankruptcy, ruin and abuse of alcohol and drugs.

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Hoover Dam - USA

Hoover Dam – USA

Post published:19 September 2012
Post category:North America USA

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From Boulder Dam to Hoover Dam

Not far from Las Vegas is this world renown engineering masterpiece, a National Historical Landmark, the Hoover Dam. Located in the Colorado River, it also creates an immense lake named Lake Mead. But what makes it more unique in terms of beautiness is its elegant pure 1930s art-deco style, and incredible to think this vast project was opened in 1936 and still there with its turbines producing enough electric power and water supplies for Las Vegas and many other cities across different states.

It is one of the most common tours one can do from Las Vegas and definitely worth to spend some hours to come and visit it. Many options are available on how to get here, while of course, the easiest and cheapest is to have a rental car. Otherwise check for the many daily tours organised here either by bus, limousine, and even helicopter. The site is not that big, however once on the tour when they take you well inside the machinery room and corridors, it becomes bigger than you originally thought. Half a day is the perfect calculation of time you need, perfect to spend an afternoon avoiding the scorching heat in downtown Las Vegas.

If you have a rental car, all you need to do is to follow directions to Boulder City and signs for the Hoover Dam will appear next. It will not take longer than 30 minutes until you reach the car parks so could not be any easier and straightforward that that; however for more information and history of the construction, check the Wikipedia site. The United States of America currency is the Dollar (USD, $). Please note that any price reference is true as from when this guide was created, therefore check prices in advance as with the time they change.

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Grand Canyon National Park - USA

Grand Canyon – USA

Post published:18 September 2012
Post category:North America USA

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One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Heading to the west and after having an incredible view from the plane from Chicago over Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and Nevada, we land in Las Vegas. And mere few minutes right after that we picked up the rental car and drove directly to the Grand Canyon West National Park. This is the nearest spot to Las Vegas from where to enjoy this incredible mother nature sight, and although quite a pricey one, it is nevertheless, spectacular in every inch and you are guaranteed to feel the enormous majesty of the place.

Starting with the approach, you will enjoy for sure the desolated road and that you can stop along the way to make pictures, either from the empty infinite long roads, or maybe of these cactus trees, the desert, dust and the emptiness. Just a little piece of how gigantic the country is, and how much more to offer everywhere you go. After all, such landscapes are something we have all seen in the movies and somewhat, are now very familiar to be honest. The big lorries eventually coming and going let’s you remember you are in the USA for sure.

Now, for someone coming from Las Vegas, highly likely your same circumstances, remember it will take you most likely the whole day. Fair enough once you return back you will still have plenty of fun and time to watch some of the spectacles along Las Vegas Strip, nice dinner and perhaps some gambling; but the drive to the Grand Canyon, the tour, and back it takes all good time hence do not rush it. It is already quite incredible to reach this place, more even to enjoy as it deserves. Easy and straightforward too. (more…)

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