Just in Case You Wish To Get Out Of Rome

We've all heard of Rome, Italy.  It's one of the most famous cities in the world and it has been for thousands of years.  The thing is, when you go to a city and you don't come from the city; it can get a little crowded.  So, just in case you are out seeing St. Peter's and the Vatican, or one of the many churches and cathedrals in Rome, or climbing the Spanish Steps, or whatever; take the time to get out of the city for a while.  The place is Ostia Antica.  It's an ancient city just outside of Rome.

Ostia Antica has a Colosseum, but there's so much more.  It has everything.  There are apartment buildings, aqueducts, baths, temples, houses, streets, and everything that the Romans built everywhere they went.  It's not a huge tourist attraction like Pompeii, but it does draw a small crowd.  It's worth it to have that little window that tells us a little bit about how the ancient Romans lived.

The Romans were very advanced for their time.  The idea that there are still ruins marking an entire city is amazing.  In Ostia, you can even see the stone roads.  It's unbelievable that these people had every bit as much of a civilized lifestyle as we do now.  However, the idea of a public bath is unsettling.

This is a paradise for history buffs.  And, it's just around 30 kilometers from Rome.  The museum/park is open during the summer months from 8:30 to 6.  It cost 8 pounds for most of us, so it's not expensive.  It's one of the rare cases where you get to walk around an ancient town where no one lives.  It's a ghost town and historic at the same time.  And you can walk the cobble streets at your leisure.  You can also take a guided tour if you wish.

The beautiful part of this place is that it hasn't been lost on the locals.  There are many companies that will be happy to take you on a tour that includes Ostia Antica.  You can even hire a local personal guide for the trip.  This place is unique in that it's the one that flew under the radar.  We all know about Pompeii and thousands upon thousands of people go there all the time.  Ostia Antica is well preserved and a lot of fun to explore.

You can easily spend a day in Ostia Antica.  And why wouldn't you want to?  Italy is full of ruins and antiquarian sites.  It's just that Ostia is one of the better preserved sites, and you shouldn't miss it.  It's not Rome, but it's better.  It's the ruins without the traffic and extreme crowds.  It's the way to get away when you're in one of the busiest cities in the world.  So, get out of town and come to explore Ostia Antica.  It's one of those places that you didn't ever think of.  It's that place where life slows down for the tourist and the traffic melts away.  So, come and enjoy the antiquities of Ostia Antica.  See life from the perspective of ancient Romans.  Walk the town's streets and imagine a life gone by.

Take some time away from the regular sites and come by and check out Ostia Antica.  Seriously, it's a short drive from Rome, and it gets you away.  It's interesting to see how people lived.  Come by, check it out, step back in time, and enjoy!


http://www.ostia-antica.org/
https://www.rometoolkit.com/whattodo/ostia_antica.html
https://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33/ancient-ostia-by-train-trip-half-day-tour-from-rome-t10454/
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https://romancandletours.com/en/tours/page/15/ostia-antica-tour
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http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone/

Fairy Tales? Come Visit Efteling!

I like to think that there's a little kid in all of us.  That being said, I still like to visit zoos, Santa Clause, science museums, aquariums, fairs, and theme parks.  Therefore, I would like to present Efteling Theme Park in Holland, The Netherlands.  Being summer, there's no place quite like a theme park to get your juices flowing, and this park is right outside of Rotterdam and is just waiting to amaze you.

Officially begun in 1952, this original park is somewhat of a Disney like park.  If you loved fairy tales growing up, then you will love this place.  Fairytale Land was one of the firsts sections of the park to open.  Now, all these years later, they have roller coasters, water rides and all kinds of amazing things to do.  It's one of the largest theme parks in Europe.

One big difference in this place is that not only are there dragons waiting for you at the roller coaster, but the park is full of fairies.  You just never know what you're going to find.  And, unlike most theme parks in northern latitudes, Efteling is open year round.  Not only can you visit fairy tales, but you can celebrate Christmas there if you like.

Talking trees and dancing fountains make this place special.  There's a little bit of Disney, a touch of Universal Studios, and a pinch of Las Vegas to keep you entertained.  One of my favorite parts are the fountains.  Not only does the water dance, but the fountains also shoot out flames.  That's not something that you see every day.  I wonder what Snow White thought when she woke up to that.

The rides are great.  Not only do you get shot out of a medieval tower, but you get shot through the water.  There are many surprises amongst the rides.  One of the biggest surprises ever is the bobsled ride.  You get to go down a makeshift bobsled run in a sled.  I've never heard of that one in a theme park before.  It may be a one of a kind.

But, if the bobsled isn't your thing, there are a ton of rides from looping coasters to spinning kettles.  There are a lot of things to do.  There's a ride where you sit in a vehicle and the room rotates around you.  There's a haunted house.  This place has it all.

You can ride a pagoda that lifts you high in the air.  Efteling is one of those places that remind you that there are parks out there that aren't Disney or Six Flags.  In Europe there are a lot of great parks, and we hardly ever hear of them because of our giant parks here.  Well, Efteling is huge and it's been a public gathering place for over a century.  Now it's a great place to take the kids.  And it's all right outside of Rotterdam.

So, before you book that trip to Disney; think about Efteling Park.  Let your childhood come to life and spend some time with the Brother's Grimm.  It's a one of a kind park, and it should not be missed.  Britain has Blackpool, and the Netherlands has Efteling.  It's the place to be for a great day with the family.  It's fun, it's literature, it's fairies, and it's a one of a kind experience in Holland.  Pack you bags and head for one of a kind fun at Efteling Park.  Enjoy!

http://www.booking.com/hotel/nl/gtefteling.html
http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/article/the-efteling.htm
https://www.efteling.com/en
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2b7BeDVP2U
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http://www.netherlands-tourism.com/efteling-largest-theme-park-netherlands/
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https://uk.hotels.com/de1720272/hotels-near-efteling-theme-park-kaatsheuvel-netherlands/
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https://www.gogobot.com/kaatsheuvel-netherlands/hotels/efteling-hotel/nearby-restaurants
https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Netherlands/Provincie_Noord_Brabant/Kaatsheuvel-460231/TravelGuide-Kaatsheuvel.html
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http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
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We Visit the Real Center of Connecticut Along the River in Middletown, Middlesex, and Portland...

There's a portion of the whole wide world that collides in the middle of Connecticut.  Whether it be history, recreation, water, kids, arts, or the F40 Motorsports Garage featured on Chasing Classic Cars on the Velocity Channel; there's a little something for everyone in this  very central area of Connecticut.  So, pull up a taxi and have a hotdog while I explain myself.

Portland, CT is the home of the garage for Chasing Classic Cars, but it's more than that.  It's the city on the east side of the Connecticut River on Route 66 (Yes, that Route 66).  It's the first city you visit when you cross the Charles J. Arrigoni Bridge  from Middletown to Portland.  This amazing high and beautiful bridge connects the two sides of the river in this area and on the Portland side there is a park along the river that is ready to have a concert or a wedding reception--your choice.  But, Portland has so much more.  Everything in the center of Portland is called Brownstone.  Brownstone is the name of the quarry that used to be the hinge pin of the working class of the town.  Now, what do you do with an old quarry?  Well, you make it into Brownstone Park.  Here you can do all things water, and some other cool stuff too.  They have zip lines, and scuba diving, wake boards, and all kinds of stuff to do.  It's the biggest attraction in the area, running out some old favorites like Dinosaur Mini Golf (Sorry world, but I loved that place) and becoming the most popular spot around.  There are three parking lots to support the place and the parking is currently not that convenient, but they are making the best of it.  It's a little new here, but they are making improvements all the time and soon they will be the well prepared Disney of Connecticut.

MIddletown is really something when you think about it.  The view of the bridge from along the river bank alone is worth the trip.  But, it's more than that.  It's about Wesleyan University and their rowing team that practices here close to their campus.  It's about Connecticut's first children's museum, Kid City.  My son used to go there when he was little, before it became a huge trend in this area.  You can take a theme cruise on the Lady Katherine from Harbor Park.  You can visit Wild Bill's Nostalgia Shop.  You can find your way out of an adventure room with that growing trend to bring excitement to your life.  You can visit an observatory and see what's going on in the universe.  There's no end to the things to see in this area.

Then there's my favorite spot, lunch with a view.  Along the river in Harbor Park is the Mattabesett Canoe Club at Harbor Park.  In my lifetime this place has had a dozen names, but us old timers call it Harbor Park.  This one comes with a story.  When I first moved to Connecticut back in 1992; this is the place that I used to come on the weekends to hear live bands.  They get some of the best local bands in the state to perform here, no matter who the current owners are.  There's also the fact that you can park your boat outside this club.  They also have amazing food.  It's always been one of my favorite places in the world, and I have now introduced it to my son.  He loved it too.  You can't miss it.  It's right below Route 9; the central road through Middletown.  Don't miss this one.

So, we went looking for some local state parks around Middletown to write about today.  First thing to know about Connecticut State Parks in Middletown is that all the signs seem to be missing.  We looked for Dart Island State Park which is only accessible by boat on the Connecticut River; however, we didn't find  any way to access this place even with a map.  This also made it impossible to find Hurd State Park right down the road.  These are a mystery and not worth the search; I promise.  Dart Island might be worth it if you have a boat.  What we did find was the Wadsworth collection.  There is a mansion that resembles the White House a bit, but it seems to only be available for rent for special occasions.  We found Wadsworth Falls State Park, but discovered that it has two distinct parts.  The first part was a lovely beach on a pond.  It seemed very popular on the hot day that we visited.  There were lifeguards, but there was only a fee on the weekends.

As we wondered for the second time in as many weeks where the waterfalls were that the park was obviously named for, we found a map.  There was a whole other section of the park.  You could hike there on trails, or you could take the lazy way and drive there.  We were all over the driving idea, since we hadn't had the best of luck with finding parks at all that day.  What we found at the other end was beautiful.  Wadsworth Falls looks beautiful even during a drought like the one we're currently having.  The locals were there swimming in the cool cascading waters.  There was also a little falls, but the main falls were the drawing point.  They were gorgeous, and easily accessible.  Once again, the signs are non existent.  Be prepared to use your GPS app.

There's an awful lot to do in the middle of Connecticut.  I know that the traditional center of the state is supposed to be Hartford, but I learned on my very first trip here, back in the 1980's that Middletown is the center.  There's a lot to do in this mid sized city.  The people are great.  It's so close to most things, that you can't help but  stick around for a while.  And why wouldn't you stay?  Where else can you glide on zip lines over a quarry, play in a waterfall, and park your boat at the best restaurant in town?  In the evening, you can run up to New Britain and see the Minor League Baseball Team; The Bees.  There's something for everyone here, and great music to go with it.  This is my summer of Connecticut, so don't miss out on my great advice on how to visit my state; Connecticut.  The tourist board here should be so lucky as to have me to help them draw you to this fabulous state.  So, welcome to the center of the microcosm that I call Connecticut.  Enjoy!

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https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

You Won't Believe This Spot In China...Shenzhen!

Not far from Hong Kong and Macau lies a place that seems like it comes out of a movie.  This is Shenzhen, China in the Guangdong Province, and it's not like most cities on Earth.  This place was planned in the 1970's and has turned into the entertainment capital of this part of the country for families and tourists of all kinds.

The architecture in Shenzhen is modern.  They have some of the most modern buildings in the world whether it be the local library or an apartment building.  There is nothing old here, unless you count 50 or so years as old in the world of architectural design.  You won't find walled cities here or ancient gates.  You will find modern shops, modern clubs, modern restaurants, and modern hotels.  If you like old and historic, this is not the place for you.

What will you find in Shenzhen?  Well, that may surprise you.  I love attractions and I love innovations.  That's what you will find in Shenzhen.  What Shenzhen has is parks.  Tons of them.  All kinds  of them.  This is tourism central for this province and all of China.

In addition to Sea World and a fabrication that was supposed to feel like a Disney park, there are beautiful parks, culture parks, relaxing parks, and traditional parks.  There are a ton of places to take a walk and take a lot of pictures.  This city is a favorite hopping off spot for people from Hong Kong and Macau.  There are not a lot of international tourists that visit the city and that is not unusual since China has been rather closed off to the rest of the world for several decades.  But beware, as things open up more and more, this place will get crowded.  If Disney has taught us anything, hokey theme parks will draw tourists.

Shenzhen has a safari park to go along with it's Sea World.

They also have a park that is dedicated to beaches.  These are all man made and really impressive.  The one thing that it not simulated when it comes to Dameisha Park, is the sun.  So, don't forget some serious sunblock.  The military park is home to the Minsk and many other military things.  This is a great park for history buffs.

Happy Valley is what we Americans would call a traditional theme park.  It has all the thrill rides with roller coasters and water parks.  This is the place to take the family to ride on rides for the day.  It is one of Shenzhen's most popular parks, so if you think that by going to a park in China you might sidestep the long lines, I doubt it.

Here's the Adventure for Anyone though.  It's called Window on the World Park.  This is a theme park designed to let people experience the great landmarks from around the world.  China is new at being open and having their people get out and travel the world.  This place gives them a chance to take a peek at what's out there all in one place.  Personally, that sounds convenient.  You can go to the Pyramids of Giza without getting on a risky flight.  You can see the Tower Bridge without going broke to go to London.  It's great fun, and the kids can get a passport and go around the park trying to identify the exhibits by the descriptions in the passport.  It makes a game out of it.  All of the buildings and structures are reduced scale and you can theoretically see the best parts of the whole world in a day.

So, if you would like to see the Sydney Opera House and the Grand Canyon all in one day, Window on the World Park is your spot.  If you want a surreal experience, instead of the more traditional trip to Beijing, then Shenzhen is your stop.  The public transport is great in the city, and the accommodations are modern and luxurious.  If you want the whole world in one stop and all the creature comforts of a resort as well, Shenzhen is your place.  So, after you've seen Hong Kong and gambled in Macau, swing by Shenzhen and see the world in a day.  Enjoy!

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