Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.
Culture
The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding one’s head means ‘no’ where as shaking the head means ‘yes’. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers aren’t much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers don’t have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.
Travelling within the country
Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.
Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs €6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.
Eating Out
Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so it’s better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.
Site Seeing
If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.
Accommodation
If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.
Getting There
One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.
If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.
Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.
Duty Free Items
Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them:
1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine
2. 250ml of eau de toilette
3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
4. 50ml of perfume.
Prohibited Items
Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.

Holiday villas have long been of a certain design type – white walls, simple furniture, usually including a fold away bed plus some rather naff print of beaches and sunsets.
But, as people are becoming increasingly interested in interior design, so holiday villas are changing to become more design orientated. Owners of properties and agencies involved in villa rentals are increasingly looking to create interesting, stylish designs that go beyond the bland and utilitarian.
At the top end of the market especially, holiday villas are more likely to be interior designed to create a stylish look.  Swimming pools might have striking designs on the floors, made from tiles while inside designers are choosing individuals pieces of furniture which make every property different from the range of holiday villas on offer.
Antiques are one way to make a luxury holiday villa stand out. Technology is another area where properties are becoming more luxurious and sophisticated. Home entertainment systems that are elegant and unobtrusive and that offer a wide variety of music and films are increasingly available in homes – so why not in holiday villas?
Art is another area in which variety and individualism is important. Holiday villas at the upper end of the market are more likely to have individual paintings and prints rather than mass produced images on the walls. Choosing something that is not only striking and attractive but which has been created by a local artist helps emphasise the uniqueness of the property and anchor it in its surroundings.
You might not think that you can do much with beds – but superking sized beds are increasingly in demand in the best holiday villas as are bathrooms with luxury showers and Jacuzzis.
Those looking for luxury villa rentals not only appreciate these things, but are beginning to regard them as standard.

Situated on the beautiful North Norfolk coast, Sheringham is ideally placed to truly enjoy the best of Norfolk. It is the perfect, traditional seaside town with all the attractions one would expect. If you are looking for a great UK family destination which harks back to yesteryear, then this is definitely it.

Perennially popular with families throughout the ages, Sheringham is a superb UK family holiday destination. This is now more true than ever, given the exchange rate which means that UK holidays are far more attractive than in the Eurozone.

The town focuses around the main high street where you will find some wonderful shops and some excellent fish and chip restaurants and ice cream parlours selling just about every flavour imaginable. There are also several quaint antiques and bric-a-brac shops in which you can spend countless hours browsing and hunting out collectibles.  At one end of the town you will find a small train station where you can board the North Norfolk Railway. At the other end, take a stroll along the cliff tops and from here you will get great views down to the beach, made up of a ridge of pebbles and beautiful clean washed sands. A great place for families to get away from it all and re-connect.

Sheringham is also well placed to enjoy the North Norfolk area and there is plenty to do. The National Trust locations of Sheringham Park, Felbrigg Hall and Blickling Hall are all nearby.

Just two miles south of Sheringham is the stunning Sheringham Park. It is a super place for the whole family with acres of woodland to explore either on foot or on bike, magnificent views of the coast from the viewing towers and displays of rhododendrons and azalea blooms in May and June.

Part of the National Trust, Felbrigg Hall, Garden and Park is a striking estate but a short distance away. It is one of the finest 17th Century country houses in the UK with much to explore inside and out with several lakeside and natural trails to explore through the parkland.

Searching for Sheringham cottages need not be a chore.

Whether you are looking for a coastal property which affords you the opportunity to go on lots of bracing walks along the North Norfolk coast, or searching for self-catering accommodation inland, there is choice for all tastes.

To find Sheringham Cottages just go to www.kettcountrycottages.co.uk

There is a reason Destin, Florida is one of the top destinations for families. With its warm weather, sandy beaches, reasonably priced restaurants, multiple attractions, and comfortably-sized condos along the coast, Destin is one of the top vacation spots. Located in the northwestern tip of Florida, Destin offers an ideal travel destination for Florida and Georgian residents, as well as vacation travelers throughout the United States.
Want to know the best places to visit and eat in Destin, Florida? Feel free to lie in the sun on Destin’s clean, sandy beaches, but if you want places to visit when you are done absorbing the sun’s rays, consider visiting the places listed below.
Tours and Activities for the Adventuresome: Below are suggestions regarding activities to do in Destin, Florida.  
Southern Star Dolphin & Sunset Cruises
Southern Star offers a two hour tour on its 76 foot glass bottom boat. If you want to see dolphins up close, this is the tour for you. The tour is also great for families with kids–allowing them to drive the boat for a while.
Just Chute Me Parasail
If you’ve never gone parasailing, give it a try at Just Chute My Parasail. The view is fantastic, and the adventuresome go all the way–going up 800 feet. People have described parasailing with Just Chute Me Parasail as an incredible experience with a friendly crew. Parasailing also makes a great, memorable date, especially if you are on a romantic vacation in Destin, FL.
Suggested Places to Eat: The following are restaurants to check out during your stay in Destin.
The Luck Snapper Restaurant
The Lucky Snapper overlooks the Destin Harbor, offering a unique dining experience that overlooks the harbor. This grill and bar restaurant serves crab cakes, popcorn shrimp, catfish, calamari, gator tail and crab legs for the seafood lovers as well as pastas, salads, smoothies and a wide selection or Martinis and Specialty drinks.
McGuire’s Irish Pub & Brewery
People describe McGuire’s as a fun restaurant with huge burgers, generous portions, tasty beer, and a fun atmosphere–all for a reasonable price. When you enter the restaurant, be sure to check out the ceiling, which is covered with over 170,000 dollar bills. The menu includes Martinis, Irish potato skins, Yellow Fin Tuna Steak, Peppercorn Steak, $9.99 steak burgers and Irish ale.
Callahan’s Restaurant & Deli
This family-run restaurant offers huge portions and excellent service. Consider ordering their made-to-order sandwiches and taking them on a picnic for lunch. Callahan’s also serves hamburgers, salads and desserts. It’s where all of the locals go for lunch, so go early to avoid the lunch crowd.
Places to Spend the Afternoon: The following are places to spend an afternoon in Destin.
Silver Sands Factory Stores
If you enjoy shopping, check out the Silver Sands Factory Stores. They have the stores you would find in your average mall, such as Gap, as well as higher end retailers like Saks, Kenneth Cole, Coach and BCBG. There is also a playground at the Factory Stores for kids to play at.
Emerald Bay Golf Club
This championship level, 18-hole course is one of the best in Florida. If you are a golfer looking for a nice course at a good price, check out the Emerald Bay Golf Club. Also, consider staying at a Destin, FL golf resort.
Destin History & Fishing Museum
If the weather outside is less than desirable, check out the Destin History & Fishing Museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and is only $5 for adults and $3 for children. This museum includes a large collection of antique fishing rods and reels, the oldest seine fishing boat still in existence, photographs of early Destin boat captains and exhibits that feature what life was like before electricity in the 1930s.  
Gator Beach
This is one of the best attractions in Destin, and best of all–it’s free. This educational site is great for families with kids. At Gator Beach, you can learn about alligators and snakes and see the rare alligator, “Mellow Yellow.” You can even feed the alligators and get a picture holding an alligator at Gator Beach.
If you are staying in Destin for more than a week, consider research Gulf Coast vacation rentals online. You may also be able to find a Destin Bed and Breakfast.

Often we desire for a welcome break from the hustles and bustles of a crowded city life and we decide to plan a vacation tour. For us, the gay people, there remains a wide range of travel options and the trip plans that are tailored in such a way that these trips provide complete refreshment. It is necessary to select a trip properly as a wrong selection can be a waste of hard earned money. Checking out the dates of the vacation departure and return, and trip description is necessary while selecting a gay or any travel package. Gay travel packages can be wonderful and exciting experiences. These travel or vacation packages include exciting participation events like biking, cowboy tours, boat rides and other events.
Before a trip, it is always a good idea for us, the gay people to locate a gay friendly hotel. Most of the gay travel providers offer alluring hotels but checking often helps. There are plenty of travel agencies that offer online trip finders and these often help to find the alluring gay travel packages. The free online newsletters also can be helpful as they provide regular updates regarding the various gay tours offered. It is always best to go with reputed gay and lesbian travel agencies, and the reputed travel agencies are usually members of International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.
Accommodation during a travel is an important thing and it is prudent to check the type of the accommodation provided. Many of the hotels and gay lesbian cruises offer wonderful themed rooms such as romantic antique-filled rooms along with spacious common areas. Enjoying such a room with a partner by sitting beside the fire place and/or a heated swimming pool is a wonderful magical experience. Again while booking a cruise, it is necessary to check whether the indoor and outdoor spas are offered or not. We as lesbian and gay couples enjoy to experience the seasonal events such as hiking trails with the spectacular fall colors, or winter skiing. During the spring time it is enjoyable to be hike the lush mountains. As the trips are ideally rejuvenating, demands of these trips are growing daily.
Before the trip, it is necessary that each and every of us should to check have a proper passport and valid visa. In many of the ports and airports, visas are checked and in most cases it is not allowed to board international cruises or flights without a valid visa. Gay travel and the lesbian trip advisor’s have all the details, and for this reason it is advised to consult with them while planning your next vacation, holiday or vacation tour.
The online resources provide invaluable information and details about the latest gay and lesbian travel packages. The range of the gay and lesbian packages can vary and the online budget estimators can be used to provide insight regarding the expenses of a trip. At various websites, the listings of different destinations and accommodation details are available. Before the trip, with a few clicks of a mouse, it is possible to know more about the possible destinations to visit.Information and knowledge about the different gay bars, restaurants and points of interest of specific cities, can be extremely valuable.

The county historical museum of Morgan displays authentic work of art by Howard Christy, a boy from local region who made his well known Christy girls gracing the covers of all the most popular magazines in the early 1900?s.  Museum also exposes the artifacts of Mc Donald Birch. You will see farm machinery, antique household machines, Victorian furnishing and much more.

The museum also has a very extensive civil war collection, as well as artifacts from the Mexican war, form the American Revolution, and World wars first and second. This amazing ability will carry you to explain the ages and an inclusive exposition of life in the valley of Muskingum River region form the Stone Age through World war second. Built in 1904, the building housing the museum was originally a produce store, then a market and later a feed store. Over the years everything from tractors and farm equipment to greeting cards has been sold from this lovely building.

Button house

Evelyn true button house transport you back in time. The stylish home was built in 1836 and is crafted with period pieces dating from the 1830?s to the 1890?s. The house features 12 Victorian rooms that are absolutely authentic.

You can go through and adore the cupboard, inspect the artwork that adorns the walls and the summer kitchen. Furnished with original lines and quilts, it may be the most exact Victorian home you will ever seen, local artwork, period clothing and dishes. Most of the furniture was donated by the Mc Connel and True families.

The doll house

The doll house features the society?s collection of over 2500 dolls. The dolls are of all types-and from many different eras of history. The collection include Native American dolls, ethnic dolls, movie star dolls, character dolls, designer dolls, teddy bears, handmade dolls, rag dolls, Barbie dolls,  Eganbee dolls, Madame Alexander dolls, antique china dolls, antique leather dolls, just about every type of doll you can imagine.

The building was furnished in 1870 and cared as the medical offices of Dr. Hiram L. True.

The carriage house

While touring the Evelyn true button house, take a walk out back and discover how the Victorians made their way about town. The authentic era fire engine is ready just waiting for the volunteers to hook up the team. And the horse drawn hearse awaits as well, ready to take unfortunate souls to their eternal slumber. There are tools of every type, shape and size hand crafted and elegant.

Rock hollow schoolhouse

This authentic one room school was moved from Union Township in Morgan County to Malta by the Morgan county Historical society.

Visiting Morgan county historical museum

These museums and homes may be visited combined or separately as a package tour. Group tours are available by calling the Morgan county historical society. In addition to the published times hours for group tours are flexible.

Discover more about the wonders that created the Motorshow Bologna

There are many exciting events that are worth taking part of during your stay in lively Bologna. If you plan on spending the onset of the winter holidays in Bologna, you can complete your vacation with a visit to the Motorshow Bologna and to the museums that showcase the automobile masterpieces of Italy.

The Motorshow Bologna is an international auto show held in Bologna in December of every year. The Motorshow Bologna is held at the Bologna Fiere and is considered as the most important event of the Italian automobile industry. All new and updated automobiles and motorcycles of Italian make will take center stage at the show.

If you can spend your holiday weekend in Bologna in time for the show, you will experience a full five-day event that showcases and celebrates Bologna’s significant role in the luxury car and motorcycle market.

Bologna is the home of several luxury cars and motorcycles, which reflects even more the city’s lavish and extraordinary lifestyle. Famous luxury vehicle brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Ducati can all be traced back to Bologna. So if you get a chance to visit the city, you should take time to explore its luxuriant side by paying a visit to the museums that flaunt these remarkable vehicles. There you will see the automobiles that commanded the kind of attention the Motorshow Bologna affords. Car enthusiast or not, you will certainly find your visits memorable.

If you are planning your Bologna vacation and would like to add these museums to your itinerary, be sure to find a hotel that gives you the relaxing vacation you need as well as good access to these top destinations. One such hotel is the Relais Valfiore, which is strategically located in a slightly out-of-the-way area just outside downtown Bologna to give guests the peace and respite they long for without taking them too far away from the center of the action.

Despite its seemingly secluded ambience and surrounding parks, the Relais Valfiore is, in fact, only 12 kilometers away from the city center where the Bologna Fiere or Bologna Fair is located. But before you will fully appreciate the modern offers of the Motorshow Bologna, you should explore the foundations of the city’s luxury automobile industry. And just nearby lies the three museums you must visit in order to do this. These are the Ducati Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, and the Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari.

From Relais Valfiore, you can set out to visit the Ducati Museum first, which is located in Via Cavalieri Ducati in Bologna. The large 1,000 sq/m Ducati Museum is nestled within the Ducati factory headquarters. It was opened only in 1998 during the first World Ducati Week, but it tells of the history of the Ducati company, from its conception in 1926, and showcases Ducati’s past products. You will find antique Ducati motorcycles and the billboards that hailed them during their heydays.

To fully appreciate the museum, you can join guided tours by obtaining advanced reservations. The museum is open daily except on Sundays and holidays. But if you wish to join a tour, you can choose from the 11 am or the 4 pm schedule. You can also explore the museum at leisure since visits are entirely free.

Next, you can make your way to the Lamborghini Museum, which is located in the area that connects Bologna with neighboring city Modena. It lies at about 21 miles from Bologna and can be easily driven to. The museum was established in 2001 and aims to celebrate one of the most expensive Italian cars in the world.

You can freely visit the museum and spend hours gazing admirably at its extensive collection of Lamborghini luxury vehicles that fill up two levels of the museum, with the second level showcasing the even more impressive race cars of Lamborghini’s 80s days as well as some its concept cars. You even get a glimpse of the company’s factory floor, so you can get an inkling of just how these masterpieces are carefully made.

And to complete your unique museum-hopping, head over to Ferrari Museum or Galleria Ferrari. The museum is situated in Maranello, a town just outside Modena and located around 34 miles from Bologna. Although the museum is part of Ferrari’s headquarters, it has its own building separate from the Ferrari factory. Of the three museums in your itinerary, the Ferrari Museum is the oldest, dating back to 1990. The museum spans an amazing 2,500 sq/m and is divided into four sections, namely the Formula One collection, the special exhibits, the technological innovation exhibit, and the photo exhibits.

The Formula One collection displays the extraordinary race cars that have played a monumental role in making Ferrari the most famous automobile maker in the world. One of the most remarkable cars is the first Ferrari 125 S that was built in 1947 and won a race in the same year. And to give you a glimpse of what F1 racing is all about, you can check out the Fiorano test track next to the museum where you might even see a Ferrari racing past.

Once you’ve completed your visits to the three museums showcasing Bologna’s automobile industry, you can drive leisurely back to your peaceful and relaxing room at the Relais Valfiore. Now you’re ready to fully appreciate the wonder that wraps around the major event that is the Motorshow Bologna.

If travelling to London and visiting some Markets to get a few bargains is your idea of good fun I have just the perfect guide for you. Having lived here most of my adult life and worked in Camden Market for over five years and in Greenwich Market for well over fifteen years I had a good opportunity to find out about every aspect of the markets. But in this article I will concentrate on the fun parts mostly.

Greenwich Market is one of the most unique market place you can visit as cheap imports are not allowed in, general quality of the merchandise is above average. Best time to visit is the weekends.

Greenwich Antique Market is the next stop and if the weather is good you wouldn’t want to leave. Lots of stalls, lots of stuff to look and search through, open weekends only.

Camden Market, This is a tricky place to go to and keep your wallet safe. Very busy, lots of action literally thousands of stalls and crammed with tens of thousands of people every weekend. Do not rely on Camden Town Tube station and use Chalk Farm instead.

Stables Market is next to Camden and Camden Lock Market, trendy clothing and antiques are the most sought after goods here; again weekends only and use Chalk Farm Tube if you can.

Spitalfields Market is open every day but busier on the weekends. At the heart of city of London and the East End you can find from art to organic food, antiques and hand crafts.

Portobello Road, well we have all seen this place in the film Notting Hill, you will not bump in to Julia or Hugh but none the less still full of interesting characters and stalls. From fruit and veg to antiques are sold and anything in between is not missed either. Have fun.

Roman Road Market is a typical British street market with quite a good range of fresh flowers and plants on offer. Usual fruit and vegetable stalls along with clothing and household items are on mass.

All the above places have more cafes and restaurants then I can possibly list or review, however it is quite unlucky to find one that is below average. So have fun and let me have your views too.