World Travel Guide Magazine

19/07/2024

Experience the world’s first certified vegan wine and indulge in mouthwatering vegan delights amidst lush grapevines and wildflowers.

16/07/2024

New Rooms & Suites

14/07/2024

17 Facts You May Not Know About Portugal:

1. Portugal is home to Europe's westernmost point, Cabo da Roca, located near Lisbon. It's not just a picturesque spot but also holds historical significance as it marks the edge of the European continent.
2.The University of Coimbra, established in 1290, is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world. Its Joanina Library, built in the 18th century, is renowned for its exquisite Baroque style and houses thousands of ancient books.
3. Portuguese is the official language of not only Portugal but also of Brazil, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe, making it one of the most widely spoken languages globally.
4. Porto, Portugal's second-largest city, is famous for its production of port wine. The wine is produced exclusively in the Douro Valley and aged in cellars along the Douro River before being shipped from Porto.
5. Portugal is the world's largest cork producer and exporter, with much of its cork harvested from the cork oak trees that blanket the country's landscape.
6. The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is one of the longest bridges in Europe, spanning the Tagus River at a length of over 17 kilometers (about 11 miles). It's named after the famous Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
7. Portugal's Algarve region boasts some of Europe's most stunning beaches, attracting millions of tourists each year. However, beyond its beaches, the region also offers picturesque fishing villages, dramatic cliffs, and a rich cultural heritage.
8. The Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is composed of nine volcanic islands. It's a paradise for nature lovers, offering unique landscapes, hot springs, and opportunities for whale watching.
9. Portugal is home to one of the world's oldest bookshops, Livraria Bertrand, which opened its doors in 1732 in Lisbon. It holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest operating bookstore.
10. The Portuguese love their seafood, and one of their traditional dishes is "Bacalhau à Brás," a flavorful combination of salted cod, onions, potatoes, and eggs.
11. The country has a rich tradition of fado music, characterized by its soulful melodies and melancholic lyrics. It's often performed in intimate settings known as "fado houses," particularly in Lisbon's historic neighborhoods.
12. The Alentejo region in southern Portugal is known for its vast cork oak forests, rolling plains, and medieval hilltop towns. It's a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, offering visitors a glimpse into traditional Portuguese culture.
13. Portugal has a long history of seafaring exploration, with renowned explorers like Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Bartolomeu Dias. Their voyages played a significant role in shaping world history during the Age of Discovery.
14. The Portuguese town of Óbidos is famous for its well-preserved medieval walls and picturesque streets. It's also known for its annual chocolate festival, where visitors can indulge in a variety of chocolate treats.
15. Portugal has a rich tradition of ceramic tiles, known as azulejos, which adorn buildings, churches, and palaces across the country. These intricately designed tiles often depict historical scenes, religious motifs, and geometric patterns.
16. The Tower of Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Lisbon, was built in the early 16th century as a fortress to defend the city's harbor. It's a stunning example of Manueline architecture, adorned with intricate carvings and maritime symbols.
17. Portugal is one of the sunniest countries in Europe, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year on average. Its mild climate, combined with its diverse landscapes, makes it an ideal destination for outdoor activities year-round.

04/05/2024

Looking for the perfect place to spend the winter? See what Lisbon has to offer for snowbirds...

12/04/2024

Canadian snowbirds have been flocking to Lisbon in recent years. Get the inside scoop on why...

21/01/2024

Relatives of men killed in Medellin after meeting local women for dates are now searching for answers.

01/01/2024

Discover the must-see cruise destinations from Cunard. Cruise regions include the Mediterranean, Caribbean plus our famous transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York.

29/12/2023

https://www.cnn.com/travel/2023-worst-destinations-overtourism-avoid-crowds/index.html

A post-pandemic travel surge has inundated destinations with visitors at the height of summer. Here’s what you need to know enjoy crowd-free vacations in 2024.

26/11/2023

19/11/2023

When I first started learning Spanish, I could only speak in metaphors. I sat with my now-fiancée on a 1,000-year-old facade outside the...

29/10/2023

https://www.cnn.com/travel/cassadaga-florida-spiritualist-camp-mediums/index.html

For more than a century, the bucolic Central Florida enclave of Cassadaga has been home to a Spiritualist camp where mediums say they can communicate with the spirit world.

26/08/2023

This village is built on a basaltic cliff more than 50m high and spreads about 1 kilometers long.(Castelifollit de La Roca, Spain)

02/07/2023

Our security membership plans provide critical emergency extraction and advisory services. You’ll be able to travel with confidence knowing the unparalleled capabilities and advice of our military special operations veterans is just a phone call away.

18/05/2023

Asheville has become a can’t-miss culinary city with food like Indian street snacks and summer-camp inspired breweries.

13/05/2023

MANSIÓN PONS - PEREZ DE LA RIVA
(Publicado por D. Jácome)

De las construcciones que les señalé como significativas de esta área, aún me falta comentarles sobre esta mansión, que actualmente ocupa el Museo de la Música. Les comento:

Cuando en 1904 Francisco Pons compra las casas de mampostería y tejas, sitas en Aguiar 2 y 4 y Habana 1, se encontraban en estado ruinoso. Eran casas sencillas, de una o dos plantas, levantadas en terrenos inmediatos a las murallas y los fosos.

Estas tres casas, que luego formarían el palacete de los Pérez de la Riva y Pons, mantuvieron por largo tiempo su función de vivienda, aunque los documentos de principios del siglo XX registren, sin precisar fecha, la existencia de una bodega y hasta una refinería de azúcar en la esquina que formaban dichas casas.

En 1816 consta en la antigua “Anotaduría de Hipotecas”, que dichas casas pertenecían a los hijos del Conde de Mopox y de Jaruco, Don Joaquín de Santa Cruz y Cárdenas, y entre los herederos menores de las mencionadas casas, se hallaba María de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, la célebre Condesa de Merlín, de la que recientemente le hice una publicación.

En 1828 la finca será vendida a Don Bonifacio González Larrinaga y heredada por su hijo Don Antonio González Larrinaga y Benítez, quien había sido Coronel de Milicias Disciplinadas de La Habana y casado con Doña Susana Benítez, fundadora del “Colegio del Santo Ángel”, precisamente en una de sus casas en Teniente Rey y San Ignacio, en la Plaza Vieja.

Al no tener descendencia, en 1840 a la muerte de Don Antonio, la propiedad pasa a su hija Doña Francisca Valdés, hija natural, no reconocida hasta unos años después en el que hará uso del apellido paterno. Después pasará a los hijos de ésta, quienes en 1904 las venden finalmente por el precio de $ 18 000 a Don Francisco Miguel Pons y Seguí, natural de Mahón, Islas Baleares, comerciante, propietario y vecino de la calle Cuba Nº 61.

Este comerciante menorquín, de ciudadanía norteamericana, llegó a poseer una fortuna considerable que le permitió invertir dentro y fuera de Cuba, donde había emigrado en 1868.

Será en enero de 1905 que solicite la licencia a la Alcaldía Municipal para construir su nueva planta su casa de Aguiar y Habana. En junio comenzaron las obras y concluyeron en mayo de 1907. La mansión, que todos conocemos, fue proyectada por el arquitecto Francisco Ramírez y Ovando. En sus interiores está presente el estilo ecléctico característico de la arquitectura y decorados de la época, pero manteniendo siempre la sobriedad y la elegancia propias de una de las mejores residencias habaneras de principios del siglo XX.

Una vez instalado, la historia de esta residencia atesora las lujosas recepciones ofrecidas en sus salones, como la brindada por el propietario a un descendiente de Lord Albemarle, aquél que en 1762, había tomado La Habana con una escuadra de 50 barcos y 25,000 hombres arrojando unas 21,124 bombas y granadas, según consta en un diario de operaciones militares y al costo de casi tres mil vidas. Pero ya eso estaba olvidado…

Y ya comentando sobre esta distinguida y aristocrática familia inglesa, mucho más reciente, en 2011, otro de sus descendientes Rufus Arnold Alexis, décimo “Conde de Albemarle”, viajó hasta La Habana para celebrar su boda, según el rito anglicano, en la Basílica Menor de la “Iglesia de San Francisco”. Para tan “significativo” evento, se trajo a La Habana 289 aristócratas y otros amigos, quienes pudieron disfrutar de lo que ha quedado popularmente como “la boda de los mameyes”. La isla les atrae…

Pero volvamos al tema de la mansión y sus propietarios.

Francisco Pons muere en Boston, Estados Unidos, en 1912, dejando la residencia en manos de su viuda Rosa Vidal, su única hija Catalina y sus nietos Francisco y Catalina Pérez de la Riva y Pons, a quienes lega la propiedad del inmueble hasta su mayoría de edad.

En el año 1936 la residencia es adquirida por el gobierno cubano para instalar su Secretaría de Estado. El Ministerio de Estado era, hasta 1959, la entidad encargada de las Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba y mantuvo su sede en esta antigua residencia de la familia Pérez de la Riva.

En el año 1971 queda allí establecido el “Museo Nacional de la Música”, institución dedicada al desarrollo histórico de la música y los instrumentos musicales desde el siglo XVI hasta el siglo XX, aunque actualmente desconozco si aún se encuentra funcionando en este edificio.

Nota:
Juan Perez de la Riva y Pons (París, 1913-1976), historiador cubano, fue descendiente directo de esta familia y su infancia transcurrió en esta mansión.

Considerado un innovador en la metodología histórica al introducir el estudio de las cifras económicas en el análisis histórico. Interrelaciona la sociedad, con el hombre y la naturaleza, a efectos de inferir la evolución de la población. En su obra encontramos textos tales como: “Los culíes chinos en Cuba”, “El barracón y otros ensayos” y “Contribución para la historia de la gente sin historia”…con frecuencia consultados para estas publicaciones.

CUBA EN LA MEMORIA 12/05/2023

02/05/2023

An increasing number of long-haul airlines are offering economy seats that let passengers lie down. Sky couches as they’re often called, are a business-class approximation, without the frills, or the price.

22/04/2023

Insider's writer flew 10 hours in first class on Emirates and thought it was a bucket list experience for perks like luxe pajamas and gourmet food.

21/03/2023

Uneducated, a single mother and the first person ever to receive six Michelin stars, Eugénie Brazier was a tour de force. So why doesn't the world know about her?

20/03/2023

NEXUS is a Trusted Traveller Program that expedites travel between USA, Canada & Mexico.

25/02/2023

How to get a global entry appointment sooner rather than later

14/02/2023

Authorities in French capital also want more affordable housing for working- and middle-class families

12/02/2023

A flight attendant's travel tips went viral on TikTok, due to one of her suggestions which recommends putting a shoe in a hotel safe with your valuables

12/02/2023

Since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, a massive number of airlines across the world have gone bankrupt, including national carriers in Italy and Namibia. Did covid kill them, or just hasten their deaths? It's complicated, say industry experts.

08/02/2023

The bottom line is air travel is very safe -- much safer than road travel. But that doesn't stop us from wondering which seat on the plane offers the most protection in an emergency.

14/01/2023

Some of the world's greatest cooks worked at Noma in Copenhagen. Not all of them were inspired by the experience.

24/11/2022

Social media is helping travel agents to impress clients, and sometimes to scam them.

04/11/2022

United, Delta and now American Airlines have all scrapped first-class service on international flights.

17/10/2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/10/06/help-street-cats-dogs/

If you see a stray dog or cat during your travels, go ahead and help. Just be safe and smart when handling and feeding street animals.

13/09/2022

Crete, Greece 🇬🇷
https://www.designfinderescapes.com/stella-island-luxury-resort-spa-hersonissos-crete-greece/