Bøker av Ellis Robertson

Patagonia Travel Guide. Environmental Study for Tourism. The place "Patagonia" is emblazoned in the minds of many who love the outdoors, yet the specifics are more of a mystery. Even the borders are not strictly defined-the region encompasses the large cone-shaped landmass at the southern end of South America shared between Chile and Argentina. Rough boundaries are Argentina's Neuquén province in the north and Chile's Cape Horn on the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago in the south. This area contains some of the most impressive and rugged terrain on earth. The Andean Cordillera runs the length of Patagonia and creates a constantly changing backdrop of jagged peaks. The Southern Patagonia Ice Fields, the world's third-largest frozen landmass after Antarctica and Greenland, feed a complex system of glaciers, milky blue lakes lined with icebergs, and powerful rivers. Southern Patagonia is wind-whipped and extreme; northern Patagonia is more temperate and lush with volcanoes and monkey puzzle trees. It's true that Patagonia isn't quite as as far-flung as it once was. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile and the Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, in particular, have seen steady increases in tourism. Upscale hotels and good restaurants are more commonplace than ever before. But Patagonia has retained a far-off frontier feel, and the places most people visit represent only a tiny fraction of all that there is to explore. Below are the prime areas of interest for those traveling to Patagonia, along with valuable trip planning information that is tough to come by for the region.

Porto Travel Guide, Portugal. The History, Porto Environment for Tourism Information. Port-tippling and charismatic, Porto is a city that wins hearts with its laidback charm, medieval cobbles and cavalcade of bridges, but it's more than just a place of pilgrimage for port wine lovers. Portugal's second city is wonderfully picturesque: a higgledy-piggledy pile of red roofs, azulejo-tiled restaurants and pastel painted buildings that straddle the river Douro, admiring their own image that's mirrored in the water. Nuzzled in the northwest of the country, Porto is closer to Spanish Galicia than it is Lisbon, gifting the city an appealing pan-Iberian atmosphere that complements its historic and artistic charms. For a relatively small city, it's easy to fill a weekend. World-class museums intersperse with port wine cellars; lavish baroque churches loom over incredible seafood restaurants. The old city centre, found in the Ribeira district, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Part of its charm is that it hasn't been shined and spruced for tourists, it remains crumbling and untouched. Buildings gleam with distinctive blue-patterned tiling, preserved as some of the nation's best examples of its azulejo (painted ceramic tilework) tradition. Its medieval streets are architecturally fascinating too: lanes snake up and down hills, creating a cubist landscape of myriad angles. Talking of which, Rem Koohaus' geometric architectural masterpiece, the Casa della Musica, shows off progressive Porto; the city now bequeathed with one of the greatest concert venues in the world. Álvaro Siza Vieira's space age Museu de Arte Contemporânea illustrates its advancement too. If that sounds like it's running off the rails, it's not. Many visitors just step back and enjoy a glass of port, the fortified wine that gave the city its name. Since the 18th century, wine lodges here have been obliged by law to be based on the city's south bank and all open their doors for tastings. Sip away looking for a souvenir, whilst nibbling on a fine accompaniment of local cheeses and cured meats. Good things, they say, come in small packages, and Porto is the perfect size for a long weekend away

Outer Banks, Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, USA. Environmental Study and Tour Guide. Ocracoke Island is the Outer Banks' getaway spot. People who live on the rest of the Outer Banks go to Ocracoke for their own vacations, and that says a lot about the character of this island. If you're looking for some peace and quiet, this island is for you. Ocracoke definitely operates on "island time." That saying might be a little cliché, but it holds true for Ocracoke. The rushing and hustling of normal life ceases when you're a visitor on Ocracoke Island. The whole aura of the island and its people reminds you to slow down and enjoy life's moments. The thing about Ocracoke is that it's admittedly not for everyone. People who expect a high level of excitement such as go-carts, amusement parks, shopping malls and flashy nightclubs might not enjoy it here. Ocracoke is about simple activities such as building a sand castle, crabbing from a dock, pedaling aimlessly on a bicycle, peeling your own shrimp...and actually having very little to do! The remoteness of the island contributes to its slower pace. You can't get to Ocracoke by zipping over a bridge, like you do to the rest of the Outer Banks. To get here, you have to put in a little more effort on a ferry. Ferries depart from the southern tip of Hatteras Island and from the North Carolina mainland in Swan Quarter and Cedar Island. The ferry ride is an essential part of the Ocracoke experience. It takes about an hour of just sitting and waiting to get across Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke Island, and during that time you can just feel yourself slipping into that aforementioned "island time." From the mainland the ride is even longer more than two hours. After staring into the water, feeding the sea gulls and having a short nap in the sun, you'll be ready for Ocracoke

Prague, Czech Republic. Prague Travel and Tourism Guide, the History. Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. It is the fourteenth-largest city in the European Union.It is also the historical capital of Bohemia proper. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its larger urban zone is estimated to have a population of nearly 2 million.The city has a temperate oceanic climate, with warm summers and chilly winters. Prague has been a political, cultural, and economic centre of central Europe with waxing and waning fortunes during its 1,100-year existence. Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic and Renaissance eras, Prague was not only the capital of the Czech state, but also the seat of two Holy Roman Emperors and thus then also the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire and after World War I became the capital of Czechoslovakia. The city played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in 20th-century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era. Prague is home to a number of famous cultural attractions, many of which survived the violence and destruction of twentieth century Europe. Main attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petřín hill. Since 1992, the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The city boasts more than ten major museums, along with numerous theatres, galleries, cinemas, and other historical exhibits. A modern public transportation system connects the city. Also, it is home to a wide range of public and private schools, including Charles University. Prague is classified as a Beta+ global city according to GaWC studies, comparable to Berlin, Rome, or Houston. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009. In 2011, Prague was the sixth-most-visited city in Europe. The name Prague is derived from an old Slavic root, praga, which means "ford", referring to the city's origin at a crossing point of the Vltava river. The native name of the city, Praha, however, is also related to the modern Czech word práh (threshold) and a legendary etymology connects the name of the city with princess Libuse, prophetess and a wife of mythical founder of the Přemyslid dynasty. She is said to have ordered the city "to be built where a man hews a threshold of his house". The Czech práh might thus be understood to refer to rapids or a cataract in the river, the edge of which could have acted as a means of fording the river thus providing a "threshold" to the castle. However, no geological ridge in the river has ever been located directly beneath the castle. The same etymology is associated with the Praga district of Warsaw. Another derivation of the name Praha is suggested from na prazě, the original term for the shale hillside rock upon which the original castle was built. At that time, the castle was surrounded by forests, covering the nine hills of the future city the Old Town on the opposite side of the river, as well as the Lesser Town beneath the existing castle, appeared only later. Nicknames for Prague have included: Praga mater urbium/Praha matka měst ("Prague Mother of Cities") in Latin/Czech, Stovězatá Praha ("City of a Hundred Spires") based on count by 19 century mathematician Bernard Bolzano. Today's count is estimated at 500

Porto Venerer, Cinque Terre, Italy. Europe, Italy Tourism and Vacation. Your first view of Portovenere will seem like travel magic. The old Ligurian town will appear like a romantic oil painting with that famous facade of tall, vividly colored buildings arranged on its promontory slope. This is the timeless picturesque fishing village that you've read about and dreamed of.oops, sorry folks, actually it was not built as a fishing village and nothing here is original. It's a fortified town and while it's really charming, every part has been rebuilt, often numerous times. Going back more than 2,600 years, Porto Venere* has been conquered, reconquered, destroyed, rebuilt, bought, sold, repurposed, and rebranded. The history will completely fascinate you. Italians love this wondrous place, and you'll see many more Italian tourists here than in Cinque Terre. The poet that captured the essence of the town in Italian was Nobel Prize winner Eugenio Montale a Ligurian for whom a local piazza is named. His poem 'Portovenere' from 1925 gave imagery to the feelings that a contemplative visitor senses. Here is one of earth's special places where land and sea and sky are trying to communicate with you.

Potsdam, Germany. Travel and Tourism. A trip to Berlin wouldn't be complete without paying a visit to Potsdam, known for its 18th-century baroque architecture, especially Sanssouci Park, the former residence of the Prussian royals. The town center offers historical landmarks, charming boutiques, and café-lined cobblestone streets. The bonus is that it's only a half-hour trip from Berlin. Potsdam is the state capital of Brandenburg (the region surrounding Berlin), and although it was severely damaged by bombing during World War II, much of the city has been restored to its former glory and still retains the imperial character it accrued during the many years it served as a royal residence and garrison quarters. The city center has stately Prussian architecture as well as a charming Dutch quarter, while Sansoucci Park, the city's main tourist attraction and sometimes called the Versailles of Potsdam, is a short bus ride away. Just north of Sanssouci Park is Neuer Garten, where the Schloss Cecilienhof was the site of the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Both are home to manicured gardens, stunning architecture, lakes and fountains, and several palaces, galleries, and former royal buildings. An enthusiastic history buff could happily spend several days exploring the palaces and landmarks of Sanssouci Park and Neuer Garten, but considering that most of the palace interiors are quite similar, and that the city is quite compact and well connected with public transport, one day is generally sufficient for a visit. Potsdam is on the Havel River, and its small harbor area showing off modern and vintage-style boats is a casting-off point for boat tours around the area or back to Berlin. Potsdam also plays a central role in the history of film. The world's first major movie studio opened in 1911 in Babelsberg, just east of Potsdam, and turned the area into a prewar Hollywood. Fritz Lang's Metropolis and The Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich were both filmed here, and many modern filmmakers continue to use the studios. The historic Filmmuseum Potsdam will interest film buffs

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. The History, Tour Guide, Vacation Guide Book. From its manicured green spaces to its deliciously diverse food scene, Portland has become a must-see destination in the Pacific Northwest. The city overflows with cultural offerings whether it's the stacks at Powell's City of Books or in one of the more than 100 craft breweries in the Portland metro area. The city of many nicknames (Stumptown, the City of Roses, Bridge City, P-town, PDX) has emerged as an urbanite's dream, with some of the most pedestrian-friendly streets in the country, many of which are lined with food carts that have given Portland some of the best, most affordable and diverse street food anywhere. It's also full of adrenaline, with plenty of trails for hiking and biking (miles of them are found in Forest Park), as well as access to water sports along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers that dissect and border the city not to mention the volcanic Mount Hood. But the most-loved attractions are low-key and intangible: a sip of locally roasted coffee, a late afternoon chat at a brewery, a stroll through open art galleries on the first Thursday evening of the month. Hip, alternative and unrelentingly progressive, Portland is one of the most flourishing cities on the West Coast.

Portofino, Liguria, Italy. Touristic Guide. One of the most photographed villages along the coast, with a decidedly romantic and affluent aura, Portofino has long been a popular destination for the rich and famous. Once an ancient Roman colony and taken by the Republic of Genoa in 1229, it's also been ruled by the French, English, Spanish, and Austrians, as well as by marauding bands of 16th-century pirates. Elite British tourists first flocked to the lush harbor in the mid-1800s. Some of Europe's wealthiest drop anchor in Portofino in summer, but they stay out of sight by day, appearing in the evening after buses and boats have carried off the day-trippers. There's not actually much to do in Portofino other than stroll around the wee harbor, see the castle, walk to Punta del Capo, browse at the pricey boutiques, and sip a coffee while people-watching. However, weaving through picture-perfect cliff-side gardens and gazing at yachts framed by the sapphire Ligurian Sea and the cliffs of Santa Margherita can make for quite a relaxing afternoon. There are also several tame, photo-friendly hikes into the hills to nearby villages. Unless you're traveling on a deluxe budget, you may want to stay in Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure rather than at one of Portofino's few very expensive hotels. Restaurants and cafés are good but also pricey (don't expect to have a beer here for much under 10).

Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. Travel and Tourism. Out on a limb from the rest of Umbria, ORVIETO is perfectly placed between Rome and Florence to serve as a historical picnic for tour operators. Visitors flood into the town, drawn by the Duomo, one of the greatest Gothic buildings in Italy. However, once its facade and Signorelli's frescoes have been admired, the town's not quite as exciting as guides and word of mouth make out. This is partly to do with the gloominess of the dark volcanic rock from which Orvieto is built, and, more poetically, because it harbours something of the characteristic brooding atmosphere of Etruscan towns (it was one of the twelve-strong federation of Etruscan cities). Two thousand years on, it's not difficult to detect a more laidback atmosphere in the cities east of the Tiber founded by the Umbrians, a sunnier and easier-going people. All the same Orvieto is likeable, the setting superb, the Duomo unmissable, and the rest of the town good for a couple of hours' visit. And you could always indulge in its renowned white wine if you're stuck with time on your hands. Over New Year there's also the Umbria Jazz Winter festival: five days of marching bands and jazz performances. It is the first impressions of Orvieto from afar that tend to linger; its position is almost as remarkable and famous as its cathedral. The town, rising 300m sheer from the valley floor, sits on a tabletop plug of volcanic lava, one of four such remnants in the vicinity. It starts to look fairly average again from the dismal town around the train station, but hit the twisting 3km road up to the old centre and you begin to get a sense of its drama and one-off weirdness. Orvieto's old centre is compact and walkable: all of the main sights are within a twenty-minute stroll of the Duomo.

Paradise Island, Atlantis, Bahamas. A Guide to Vacation, Honeymoon, Tourism. Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort is very proud of its humble beginnings. What started out as a weekend picnic destination back in the seventies, catering mostly to friends and their families has become what it is today as not only the preferred island getaway for families but is also the byword for those growing impulsive groups who are so busy and yet wise enough to squeeze in leisure in their hectic schedules at the spur of the moment. Having a shoreline of almost eight hundred meters (800 m), it is the only place in this part of Samal Island that has maintained its shores by feeding the fishes, clean them with having periodic "Scubasurero Activities", and has placed a "safety pole" to ward off jelly fish and rubbish, discouraging anglers from poaching the area and encouraging its visitors to enjoy the marine life and leave the same so that others may also enjoy them. Its white sand beach as well as its surroundings are combed and cleaned throughout the day giving a pure and clean ambiance for its visitors and workers alike. Privileged Paradise Island linked to Nassau by two great arcs that may as well be bridges to another world is unashamedly built for profit and pleasure. Its landscape is mostly artificial: vast hotels straight from the covers of fantasy paperbacks, hangar-sized casinos, ersatz 'villages' in which to shop and eat, and the lushest lawns you'll see anywhere in the Bahamas.

Liguria Travel and Tourism, Italy. Italian Region Tour Guide. Liguria is in north-western Italy, bordering with France. The region features impressive mountains and lovely rolling hills, colored by the green Mediterranean turf and overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The two are divided by a high, indented coastline. Liguria is a multi-faceted sliver of the Peninsula, where differences weave together to create a wide array of things to do and see during a visit here. Nature, mountains, culture, entertainment and night life: all one has to do is choose. The waters of this section of the Mediterranean are an enormously important feature of the region, with its characteristic rocky coasts interrupted by small coves, and beaches of fine golden sand. The Cinque Terre and the Gulf of Poets, the Gulf of Tigullio, Genoa and Paradise Gulf, the Riviera delle Palme and the Riviera dei Fiori make up the famous coast of Liguria which stretches from Ameglia to Ventimiglia, for more than 300 km (186 mi). During an itinerary so spectacular for the beauty of the land and seascapes, we can see the most famous tourist resorts of Liguria: Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante with its enchanting Baia del Silenzio (Silent Bay), and Chiavari. One after another, generous beaches, minuscule yet gorgeous ports and amazing sceneries for exploring greet visitors, and turn into vivacious centers by night, with plenty of entertainment and shopping on offer. Some of these include: Sanremo, the city of flowers, famous for the Italian Music Festival and for its Casino; the refined towns of Bordighera and Alassio, with its 3 kilometers (almost 2 mi) of fine sand, along with Laigueglia and Varigotti, some of the gems embedded in the Riviera di Ponente. Then comes Portovenere facing Palmaria Island then Lerici with its grand Medieval castle, elegant villas and lush gardens. The Ligurian Sea also attracts several specimens of sperm whales, rorquals and dolphins, who find their natural habitat and live safely in this area known as the "Sanctuary of Cetaceans." The extensive woods of Liguria with their centuries-old trees, a true natural legacy, are an excellent alternative to traditional tourism. Immersion into the region's natural environments allows one to get to know and see the places where man, with love and dedication, has managed to cultivate the best possible fruits from thisland. Places full of history, culture and traditions, which witness the passage of ancient peoples coming from the sea. The provinces of the region are: Genoa (the region's capital), Imperia, Savona and La Spezia.,,,

Perugia Guide, Umbria, Italy. The History, and Travel Information. Lifted by a hill above a valley patterned with fields, where the river Tiber runs swift and clear, Perugia is Umbria's petite and immediately likeable capital. Its historic center, rises in a helter-skelter of cobbled alleys, arched stairways and piazzas framed by magnificent palazzi (mansions). History seeps through every shadowy corner of these streets and an aimless wander through them can feel like time travel. The closest tourist destinations to Perugia are the lovely pilgrimage town of Assisi just 20 minutes away by train and Lake Trasimeno. A circular tour of the Umbria region could take in a range of pretty historic towns: Assisi, Spello, Spoleto, Orvieto, Lake Trasimeno and Gubbio. There are also plenty of smaller towns and villages where travelers can potter and pass a pleasant couple of hours. Deruta is famous for its ceramics and is a good place to view Italian majolica in a museum and to buy in local shops.

Palermo Travel, Sicily, Italy. History, Monuments, Environmental Study for Tourism. This is a beautiful and original city, the real heart of Sicily. Norman Palace, the building of which was started by the Arabs, is the symbol of the city. According to the plan this was meant to be a perfectly fortified citadel, and in the result was built a luxurious residence that became the main place of interest of the city. Palermo has managed to keep many historic monuments, and each of them has a great interest to visitors. In the city you can see numerous old churches and cathedrals, the most famous of which are Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, the Church of San Cataldo, La Mortarana and Il Duomo Cathedral that is famous far beyond the country's borders. An interesting fact the majority of the religious buildings in Palermo have been created on the site of Islamic mosques. Capuchin Catacombs are one of the darkest and most symbolic places of the city. This is a real underground city, which was built by monks in medieval times. The unique properties of the underground atmosphere made the mummifying of the body really simple, so many years the Catacombs were considered the most prestigious place for burial. Today the underground tunnels keep approximately 8000 sarcophagi

Orlando Travel Guide, Florida USA. The History and Tourist Information. If there was ever a city dedicated to enjoyment, then Orlando is it. Even the most cursory drive through the city will tell you one thing: there is no disguising the fact Orlando is a city built on theme parks. Lots of them. Strange to think that until 1966, though, there was precious little here in central Florida. A few roadside attractions aside, it was one man, Walt Disney, who really changed the landscape. No matter which way you slice it, growth has spiralled thanks to a huge influx of tourists that followed the arrival of Walt Disney World Resort. Almost all of Florida's cities and resorts are based around its long coastline, naturally capitalising on the beaches or swampland national parks that attract so many international visitors. Orlando is the only real exception, a strange, idiosyncratic place in the middle of the Floridian wasteland, and coincidentally one of the most famous resort towns in the world attracting around 50 million tourists a year. Most head straight to one of the theme parks, the biggest and most famous being Disney World. Beginning with the original Magic Kingdom, which opened in 1971, the park has expanded to encompass three more theme parks, two water parks, a mini town called Downtown Disney and a pretty lakeside stretch known as the Boardwalk. But while theme parks dominate, Orlando has built a distinct character of its own. There has been a stab at giving the city some historic context with the promotion of 'Old Orlando', a stretch of the increasingly gentrified Downtown which includes Orange and Garland Avenues. There's also the pretty Lake Eola, with brick streets lined with old oak trees and 19th-century homes, as well as retro roadside attractions such as Gatorland. Really though, Orlando is all about encouraging as many people to have as much fun as they can cram into a fortnightwhether that's at Disney, Universal or in the city centre itself.

Pattaya, Thailand. The History, Travel and Tourism. Pattaya has activities on land, under water and on water or even in the air. Extreme genres, adventurous species or martial arts, a wide range to suit any liking. There is a range of facilities such as golf, bowling, fishing, jetski, windsurfing or Thai boxing. Pattaya offers access to underwater life, diving around the nearby islands or even snorkeling trips. Pattaya City is a special administrative district, located within the area of Chon Buri Province. It is regarded as a world-renown beach resort that is the best value for your money. In the past decade, many people viewed Pattaya as a place for exotic nightlife. That might be true. But now a general public perception of Pattaya has been changing as what the city really offers is far beyond beaches and entertainment. The Greater Pattaya has adapted to suit the present situation by offering a wide diversity of tourist attractions to be a place for everyone. No matter what you are opt for--beaches, accommodations, international cuisines, shopping malls or a water park, Pattaya has them all. Moreover, there are a few brand new tourist places in the Greater Pattaya area like Pattaya Floating Market, Ang Sila Old Market and Pattaya Old Town in Na Klua County, presenting traditional ways of life of the local folks. This is no less interesting than other already popular sites. (see more attractions in Excursions from Pattaya). One day excursion in the Greater Pattaya is very convenient (just 90 minutes' drive from Bangkok) and cheap (only one full gas tank). The overnight stay is such an attractive option too with the variety of attractions and accommodations to choose from. On this site, we divided attractions in the Greater Pattaya into the following topics: Beaches, The Most Visited Places, Excursions from Pattaya and Nearby Island