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Archive for December, 2011

Balaklava And Its Reputation As A Scuba Divers Paradise

Crimea an autonomous republic is reinventing itself after the ending of the old soviet union. Private enterprise is flourishing and wellstocked shops and good restaurants are the norm. Transport and accommodation are cheaper than the Mediterranean resorts but the weather is better and the sightseeing amazing!
Visitors from all over the world are welcomed in a country which has opened its doors to foreign tourists by reducing visa requirements to a minimum.
Whether you want winetasting or scuba diving mountains or sea to visit the Byzantine ruins of Khersoness or the fabulous Livadia Palace near Yalta home of the last of the Russian Tsars or if you just want to relax on the beach and then while away a warm summer evening in a gourmet restaurant Crimea has something for you.
In this article we will focus on the Balaklava and its reputation as a scuba divers paradise.
Balaklava Harbor lies on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea in the Ukraine. It is a fine natural harbor and provides excellent all round shelter. In the past the harbor was closed to all private vessels and was home to the Soviet submarine fleet. Yachts should establish the current position before attempting to visit Balaklava.
Balaklava is rapidly changing from being primarily a working port and in Soviet times a secret submarine base for the Russian navy to a leisure destination for tourists lured by the history of the place and the drama of the rugged coastline. Period houses along the waterfront are being restored a new hotel the Golden Symbol with its own harbor has opened and the place has an air of fresh prosperity.
The harbormaster at the Golden Symbol himself an exsubmariner will tell you about the maze of tunnels within the hillside that allowed large numbers of Soviet submarines to hide unobserved. It is an indication of the way things are moving that you can now take a tour inside the previously secret base and the large floating dry dock which used to be used for submarine repairs is to be moved to the naval harbor in Sevastopol this year. Crewing a submarine was a dangerous business and the town has several memorials to sailors and commanders who are remembered for acts of bravery.
Unlike elsewhere in Crimea restaurants in Balaklava are generally called Tavernas a nod in the direction of the Archipelago Greeks’ from the islands who settled this part of the coast under Catherine the Great. It was a Greek battalion which attempted to prevent the British occupation of Balaklava at the start of the Crimean war by holding out on the commanding heights where the ruins of the Genoese fortress overlook the town. There are locals with Greek names today who can trace their encestry back to this period.
Apart from the excellent restaurant The Gavan’ on the ground floor of the Golden Symbol there is a famous seafood restaurant with a good selection of Crimean Georgian and French wines and an English menu as well as numerous tavernas along the waterfront.
The Aquamarine’ diving centre offers scuba diving along the coast and from the Golden Symbol you can get a variety of boat trips from sea fishing to dolphin spotting.
There are three swimming beaches along the Balaklava inlet but the locals will advise you to walk the extra distance to the far side of the Genoese fortress where the beach faces the open sea or to get a boatsman to take you to a wild beach along the coast accessible only from the sea but make sure he remembers to come and collect you! or to swim in one of the numerous sea caves which abound under the cliffs.
A submarine turned by its bow to the shore and went with a slow speed towards the rock. The rock parted and hid the blackdeck cabin at first then the entire submarine.

Those who found themselves at the Balaklava seaside late evening could watch such a scene. A tourist would hardly understand what happened whereas the local people would guess that the next submarine that entered its shelter would be at the underground shiprepairing factory.
For a long time residents of Balaklava did not know exactly what was happening in the underground factory. Nowadays it’s possible to wander the dark winding halls with a guide. The excursion to the navy complexmuseum “Balaklava” clarifies the mysterious past of “Facility 825″ a top secret complex where the Soviet subs were hidden and repaired.

In the mid 1950s Josef Stalin a leader of Soviet communists amazed by results of Abombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki gave the order to hide the underwater fleet from possible nuclear attacks. The order had to be carried out and soon military engineers prepared the project for the constructing of a giant underground complex located in the thick of the rock deeply underground. This facility had to serve as a house for subs. It had to include such a roof and doors that could allow the ship to enter and exit by its own speed. And inside it had to be able to survive Abombs in the company of other subs surrounded with the consideration and care of commanders and repairers.
You can hire motor launches and sailing yachts by the hour to take you out to sea or to perfect beaches accessible only by boat because of the steep cliffs. You may want to take a dip from the boat and swim into sea caves. For more serious diving scuba equipment and guided dives are available from Aquamarine’. The Black Sea is home to the bottlenose dolphin and chance encounters are not uncommon.
If you fancy a spot of seaangling you can hire a boat rod and line and the services of a local seaman who can take you to the best fishing areas. In some cases you can cook and eat what you’ve caught on board.
So if you want a vacation with a touch of the deep sea extreme head for the Crimean Peninsula. The sea waters will gently embrace you and the Black Sea shelf will readily reveal its historical secrets of sunken ships and ancient epochs breathtaking underwater landscapes caves and volcanoes as well as acquaint you with marine life. Even though this underwater fairytale is quickly over; the memory of it will stay with you for the rest of your lifetime.

Like a museum the Black Sea preserves military relics. A great number of shipwrecks were left following the Crimean War of 1853 1856 that enveloped the waters of the southwestern Crimea from Cape Lukall to Cape Sarych. During a single hurricane in November 1854 in Balaklava Harbor 60 British French and Turkish vessels sank just as they readied themselves to bombard the fortress city of Sevastopol. On that fateful day the sea took into its embrace the pride of the British fleet the sailing frigate Prince and 20 thousand Pound Sterling in gold and silver. The legend of dozens of barrels filled with gold and silver still attracts treasure hunters all over the world and frigate itself was long ago renamed The Black Price in order to make the intrigue more exiting.
One more wonder of Crimeas underwater realm is an English frigate whose name still remains in mystery which went to the bottom with a cargo no less precious than that of the Price numerous bottles of wine and cognac which caused divers to christen it in The Drunken Jack. Today in the wreckage of the ship you can find a bottle of wine or cognac that has already been maturing for more than a century. At depths from 6 to 15 meters one can finds the eternal resting place of other heroes of the Crimean War: the legendary Lord Reglan and his fair lady the Duchess of Glendaloge and the majestic warriors Gung Pyrenees and London.
The Second World War also left its marks in Crimeas submarine spaces. In Unforgettable impressions will remain after a visit to Balaklava a small town in the vicinity of Sevastopol. During the Sovjet era there was a submarine shooting range there in the area of Mramorna Balka. Today at a depth accusable to divers one can see the remains of broken targets and unsuccessfully lounged torpedoes.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;StigArne Kristoffersen
A Globetrotter
www.lulu.com/stig

Countryside Activities Cyprus

European E4 long distance path
The Cyprus section which has been set up as a joint venture between the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Cyprus Tourism Organisations connects Larnaka and Pafos airports. Along the way it passes through areas of outstanding natural beauty places of ecological importance and historic and archaelogical sites. All the roads and tracks on the route are well signposted and the CTO has published a booklet of the Cyprus section splitting it into comfortable daily sections with the distance and time needed to cover each one. Ot also gives useful information on the geology flora fauna and points of interest along each section of the route.
Hiking and rambling
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Forestry Department have created over sixty nature trails to assist hikers and ramblers enjoy the islands hills and vales. The trails some linear and others circular help walkers discover the most fascinating corners of Cyprus. The terrain varies from that of Cape Gkreko in the southeast through the Troodos Mountains the foothills and forests to the Akamas peninsula in the west. The tyrails which are designed to take in areas of outstanding natural beauty and cultural importance are on gentle gradients and are divided into three degrees of difficulty with two trails suitable for the disabled. Wooden signboards mark the start of each trial and there are pointers to interesting flora or geological features along each route. The CTOS booklet European Long Distance Path E4 and other Cyprus Nature Trails gives details of the European E4 path and all the nature trials with the length duration and degree of difficulty of each one. You can pick up a copy at the nearest CTO information office.
Cycling:
If your idea of traveling is to have the wind on your face the sun on your back the gentle crunch of tyres on gravel the scent of pines around you and a glimpse of the sea sparkling in the distance then cycling in Cyprus is for you. Almost all the tourist resorts have bicycles for hire and the CTOs guidebook Cyprus Cycling Routes can be picked up at the nearest CTO information centre. The guidebook covers main routes connecting towns or regions and excursions within a region. Each itinerary describes the route from point to point by altitude and the distance from the start point the total distance is given as well as the difficulty rating which is based on the average moderately fit cyclist. Recommendations are also made as to the type of bicycle suitable for each route and the road surface is described. The book includes a map of each route. There is also a longer cycling route in the Troodos mountains. This is split into three sections and takes riders from Pano Platres to the Karvounas mountain saddle; then to Prodromos and finally back to Platres. The route is on forest rural and secondary roads and it passes villages historical sites monasteries and areas of outstanding natural beauty. It is signposted and there are markers pointing to viewpoints etc. for competitive cyclists the Cyprus Cycling Federation which is a member of the International Cycling Union ICU organizes an annual threeday international mountain bike competition called Afxentia that attracts cyclists from all over Europe. The CCF also runs annual road races.
Horse Riding:
Riding is a different way of exploring the hidden secrets of the Cyprus landscape. There are riding stables and ranches all ovewr the island so you can enjoy the Akamas peninsula the Cape Gkreko Natiional Forest Park or the pinescented Troodos Mountains on horseback. Riding allows you to enjoy nature at a slower pace to hear the birdsong and watch the incredible colours of the last rays of the setting sun over sea or mountain. Riding can be enjoyed yearround thanks to the islands climate and there is trekking and hatching for all levels of competence. Riding lessons are also available at centres with welltrained horses and qualified instructors. The CTO has published a pamphlet Horse Riding in Cyprus and more information is available from the Cyprus Equestrian Federation. For those who are nervous of horses donkey rides are also available.
Skiing and Snowboarding:
Chionistra the traditional name for Mount Olympus at the summit of the Troodos Mountains means the snowy one and in winter it is covered with a good layer of snow.Cyprus Hotels There is a brief but vigorous skiing and snowboarding season from December to March. There are four main runs on the southern slopes Sun Valley I is ideal for novices and Sun Valley 2 is for more practiced skiers. North Face I and North Face 2 are for the experienced. The Cyprus Ski Club runs tbar lifts at Sun Valley and the North Face where there are six alpine standard runs varying from 100 to 500 metres. There are two langlauf trails at Sun Valley; one of eight kilometres and one of four which go through some wonderful and dramatic scenery. Snowboarding is growing in popularity and plans are afoot to create a park dedicated solely to this upandcoming sport. Visitors can hire equipment from the ski store at Sun Valley and individual and group tuition is available for skiers and snowboarders.
Angling:
Angling in the dam reservoirs of Cyprus is a very popular pastime and twentyone reservoirs provide excellent freshwater fishing throughout the year. Seventeen species of fish are stocked including trout bass carp perch and roach. Catch and keep is allowed at akk but two sites Polemedeia Lemesos District and Achna Ammochostos District which are catch and release only. Anglers need a fishing licence which can be easily obtained from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research in Nicosia or from the regional offices of the Fisheries Department.
Ornithology:
Cyprus lies on one of the main migratory paths for bird species from Europe Asia and Africa and there are many endemic species on the island. Winter is the time to enjoy spectacular flocks of flamingos and wildfowl at the Salt Lakes. High summer is a quiet time as the number of breeding species is relatively small. Autumn is excellent for the passage of raptors especially in September and October. The season also sees a massive movement of wildfowl gulls and herons. Birdlife Cyprus is an NGO that promotes the protection of birds and their habitats. BLC is an affiliate of Birdlife Europe and it runs birdwatching trips and a birdline through which visitors can find out what is happening on the local scene.
Botany:
In the heat of summer visitors can be forgiven for thinking that Cyprus is bereft of flowers as the dry rockstrewn hills show scant evidence that the island is home to an extraordinary variety of wildflowers and orchids including around 130 endemic plants. The best time to see Cyprus wild flowers is in early spring Februarymarch. When most species enjoy a short period of blossoming and take advantage of the unusually moist climate. The countrys floral profile is the result of the catastrophic ice ages when much of the flora of northern and central Europe was glacier covered while the Mediterranean basin escaped unscathed providing a haven for the evolution of plant life.
National Forest Parks:
There are seven national forest parks including two within the environs of NicosiaAthalassa Park and Paedagogical Academy Parks which have nature trails picnic sites birdwatching basketball arenas. The Troodos National Forest Park is the largest and includes four Nature Reserves. It has the largest number of wild plats including endemics compared to anywhere else on the island and has been designated as one of the thirteen Mediterranean Plant Diversity Hot Spots. The Park has many recreational facilities including picnic sites a campsite nat?re trails riding and winter sport. The Cavo Gkreko National Forest Park in the southeast of the islands is ideal for hiking. picnicking cycling riding climbing swimming and diving.

About the writer:  Write about cyprus villages

More Holiday Ideas To Beat The Credit Crunch

One of the things that I did not have time to cover in my last article on ‘Holidays ideas to beat the Credit Crunch‘ was a real killer money saver. House Swapping actually I noticed the organisations concerned prefer to call it exchanging perhaps to avoid any overtones. This one seems a bit way out at first but offers some real savings if you still want to travel and gives much more chance to get into the local culture and pace of life than a traditional package.

The range of people and places who want to swap houses is really quite surprising. At the biggest home exchange service Homelink there are over 14000 from 72 countries. I think that sort of people this would suite would be slightly more independent and adventurous. If you dislike the way you are treated like a tourist on conventional tours and hotels that are impersonal. I think Home Exchangers want to gain new experiences and like to feel in control of their precious leisure time.

Here are some of the reasons why some people find home exchange makes for an ideal holiday.

Holiday Ideas Costsavings

The cost of accommodation is a major factor in holiday budgeting especially for those such as teachers or parents of schoolaged children who are tied to specific dates and so tend to pay inflated prices. For the price of annual membership 120 accommodation budgets can be totally eliminated irrespective of the duration of your stay. It is easy to see how this money could be put to good use: A more exotic destination perhaps? How about longer or more holidays? Or maybe you might have little more spending money to treat yourself to some special events that help to turn a good holiday into a great one. One home exchanger recently put the costsavings into context for me when she said that her membership more than paid for itself on the first night of her first exchange!

You can keep it simple by merely exchanging homes however you can save even more money by also agreeing to exchange cars so that the holiday budget can be limited to cost of travel plus food / spending money.

Holiday Ideas Authenticity

Conventional tourism can sometimes thwart the principle of “When in Rome….” as travellers are often treated as tourists. In this way you have the opportunity to parachute into a genuine local community and live like a local. So if you like the idea of sauntering along to the local diner to ask for “eggs easy over and coffee” home exchange could be for you. With this in mind you dont have to live in a touristy area yourself either.

Holiday Ideas Flexibility

Remember also that there is no limit to the number of exchange holidays that you can take during your membership year. This should be appealing to retired or semiretired members as they are more able than most to succumb to wanderlust. This also means that there are quite a high proportion of similar travellers and the sites indicate both where people have children and where they are retired. Having members in over 50 countries also means that there is an enormous range of destinations from which to choose.

The emergence of local airports and lowcost airlines makes domestic and European destinations more accessible and so opens up the possibility of adding a number of cheap 37 day breaks to the main holiday of the year. On renewing for their second year one family recently told me that they had completed seven exchanges in their first year!

Holiday Ideas Convenience

Wellmatched home exchange partners go on holiday in the knowledge that their accommodation is likely to be tailored to their needs. For instance parents of young children may find it easier to relax when their holiday home is childfriendly. Parents might also enjoy travelling light as many normal accompaniments can be left at home as a car seat high chair and a range of toys await them.

Furthermore many members agree to take care of each others pets and/or garden maintenance so there may not be a need to pay for alternative arrangements or return home to a jungle after your holiday.

Frequently asked questions about Home Exchanges

How do I know my home will be Safe?

The answer is you don’t. However arguably your home will be much safer when occupied by exchangers than if left empty. Home insurance companies know this as do the police. HomeLink claims that in over forty years of exchanging they have had very few instances of damage and no reports of theft. Most problems are at the level of “housekeeping standards” at the home being visited. Even in these rare situations exchangers return to find their own home just as they left it. While you are setting up your exchange you will get to know the other family. You also know the other exchanger’s profession and have a good idea of the home involved before you make your first contact.

Most HomeLink members are professionals doctors engineers teachers etc. business executives and retirees. In general they are in an upper income bracket well educated and are experienced travellers. They are also very proud of their homes which is why they’re not too embarrassed to let others enjoy their home whilst they’re away.

Who pays the bills?

Pay your mortgage and utilities as you normally would and agree beforehand who should pay extraordinary expenses such as long distance telephone calls. If a carexchange is involved you should discuss who pays for minor or major damage.

Is my house covered by my insurance?

In general most home insurance policies covers home exchangers. After all they’re your guests and it’s really no different from having friends or relations stay in your home whilst you’re away on holiday. Most insurance companies say they would much prefer you to have exchangers looking after your home rather than going off on holiday and leaving it empty. However you would have to check with your insurers and personally I would ensure it either explicit in your policy or you have it in writing.

Planning and getting an exchange

There is a continual turnover of people joining such schemes and looking for exchanges many arrange an exchange within a couple of weeks. The most successful exchangers are those who are proactive and send many invitations. The more flexible your plans the greater your opportunities. Generally speaking shorthaul trips are planned 36 months in advance with longhaul trips being planned 69 months ahead or more.

Whats actually involved? How do I prepare my house?

These recommendations from http://www.HomeLink.org will give you some idea of what you have to do to prepare your home.

1 Leave your home clean. Standards of cleanliness vary so make sure that floors are cleaned refrigerator emptied oven and hob greasefree bath and shower free of mould and grime windows seethrough and surfaces dustfree. No need to repaint the house!

2 Clear away enough of your personal belongings to leave space on shelves and in wardrobes and drawers so that your guests can empty their suitcases arrange their things in bedrooms and bathrooms and feel at home.

3 Leave at least two sets of clean sheets per bed and two sets of towels per person.

About the writer:  Rachel is a travel enthusiast and writer. Visit her blog Find holidays4U Blog or get you own unique holiday ideas by taking the free profile at Findholidays4U