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Holiday Destinations Add Spice to Winter
Days
Take the drear out of your new year with a winter holiday to some place new.
Whether you want history, markets, skiing or just a warmer clime, here are a
few ideas.
While temperatures hover around freezing during the day, snowfalls are very
unusual during winter in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic.
Steeped in history, the city offers visitors museums, churches and
cathedrals, concert halls and music clubs. Make sure Prague Castle makes
your must-see list. The largest, ancient castle in the world, it was built
in the 9th century by Prince Boøivoj as a wooden fortress. Subsequent rulers
turned it into the edifice it is today. The Mihulka Powder Tower, originally
part of the castle’s defenses during the 15th century, at one point served
as a laboratory for alchemists.
Prague’s most familiar landmark, the Charles Bridge, connects Lesser Town
and Old Town and was completed in 1400. For some of the best views of the
city, visit Petøín Hill. This network of parks includes the Štefánik
Observatory with its 60-meter high Observation Tower, which is an imitation
of the Eiffel Tower.
These are just a few of the many historic sites to see in Prague. For more
information on the city, visit
http://www.prague.cz.
Immerse yourself in a different type of history and culture across the Irish
Sea in Dublin, Ireland. Castles, museums and a wealth of Georgian
architecture await the historically and culturally minded. If a pint of
Guinness or a shot of whiskey is more your style, Dublin offers 1,000 pubs.
If you find yourself in Ireland from Jan. 25 to 28, the Temple Bar Trad
Festival of Irish Music and Culture spotlights the best of the country’s
music, storytelling, dance and many other aspects of its heritage. For a bit
of shopping, stop by the Blackrock Market, the Cow’s Lane Fashion and Design
Market or Moore Street, which is renowned for its street barrow vendors. For
more information, go to
www.visitdublin.ie.
If you prefer to partake in winter sports, Saas Fee in Switzerland is the
place for you. Near Zermatt and the Matterhorn, 13 mountain peaks surround
the village. With no train access and a no-cars-allowed policy, it would be
easy to overlook Saas Fee. If you did, you would miss the Fairy Glacier and
the world’s highest underground funicular railway and the tallest revolving
restaurant. In addition to skiing, other available winter activities include
snowboarding, ice climbing and snowshoe trekking. Visit
http://www.saas-fee.ch for more
information.
If a warmer climate is calling your name this winter, plan your trip to The
Algarve region of Portugal, the most southern, warmest, sunniest part of the
country. The average daytime winter temperature is 23° C. Similar to the
Mediterranean, the warm temperatures of the Atlantic keep the weather in the
Algarve moderate throughout the year.
The area was the last of the country to be wrested from the control of the
Moors by the Portuguese king in 1292. The Moorish influence remained behind
and can still be seen today in the terraces, chimneys and whitewashed
houses. The area’s southern coastline boasts long stretches of beaches
between rugged cliffs and inviting grottoes. On the western coast, the less
crowded beaches of Aljezur are guarded by a 10th century Moorish castle.
While in Portugal, indulge in the region’s special dishes like seafood
soups, oregano snails, cataplana clams and roasted dried octopus. After
dinner, try the fig and marzipan pastries. For more information on this
inviting region, go to
www.portugalvirtual.pt./_tourism/algarve. Happy travels to all!
The Ghost in the Machine Is Calling
Have you ever thought your cell phone was ringing, actually heard the tinkle
or trill of it, but then realized that there was no call?
Many people are reporting this “phantom ringtone” phenomenon, according to
“I hear ringing and there’s no one there. I wonder why,” by Brenda Goodman
in The New York Times. Experts believe that people have become hypervigilant
to the sound of their phone ringing and are living in states of constant
alertness for the tones. That’s why hearing something that might sound like
a phone ringing activates the brain and the person actually fills in the
rest and hears the ring of the phone.
People seem to be experiencing phantom rings when they are watching
television, showering, using a blow dryer, etc. Another reason people might
be so vigilant when it comes to hearing these tones: Ringtones are usually
in the 1,000 to 6,000 hertz range. Scientists say our ears give these sounds
particular weight and are extremely sensitive to their frequency. Why?
Simple, the experts say, they are in the same range as babies’ cries.
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