Santos Travel Guide

Santos is the major port of Brazil. Most of the goods destined to Sao Paulo pass through its docks.

Most of the exports that come through here are coffee, fruits, cotton, grains and meat.

Santos was founded in 1543 by the Portuguese. The city grew into a major port when the railway from the interior was completed in 1867.

The Coffee Exchange is the one of the most impressive buildings in town, with an impressive neo-classical facade.

Once in town you should not miss the Boat Ride at the Santos Bay (usually only weekends, except in summer). Go to "ponta da praia" and find the people with the "Passeio de Escuna" boards.

Two great places to eat are Mar de Plats (sp) for seafood and Tertulia (a Brazilian steakhouse) which were both very good.

New Mexico Travel Guide

New Mexico's natural landscapes, architecture and sunsets, provide the perfect background for the history and proud heritage that exist in the "Land of Enchantment". The unique blend of Native American, Mexican, Spanish and Western cultural influences helped New Mexico to develop a colorful and distinctive spirit.

There is no other state with so many national parks dedicated to Native Indian civilizations. From Bandelier in Los Alamos to the ancestral Pueblo Indian ruins in Aztec to Chaco Culture National Historical Park , the whole state has many places where you can learn about this important cultural heritage. Plan to visit one of the 19 pueblos, the Navajo Nation, or one of the Apache nations.

Taos Pueblo is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The Taos people have been in the area for over 1000 years, although the village has been moved several times. The current eye-catching adobe structures date back to the early 1800s. Some of these buildings are four stories high and ladders are used to reach the upper floors and the roofs. Also in the mountains near Taos you can find skiing at several ski resorts.

Albuquerque and Santa Fe are the main urban areas in New Mexico. Both are attractive towns with excellent tourist infrastructure. They are good starting points for exploring the north central portion of the state, where one can find many colonial villages, verdant forests, and high mountain country.

Northwest New Mexico is often called "Indian Country" due to the large populations of various Indian Nations in the area; Grants, Gallup, and Farmington are good bases for exploring this diverse and interesting region. Here you'll find the oldest continuously inhabited city in the US, the venerable Pueblo of Acoma, and the world heritage site of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The tallest mountain in this region is sacred Mount Taylor, part of the Cibola National Forest and one of the "four sacred mountains" of Navajo legend. Zuni Pueblo is the largest of the New Mexico pueblos and can be visited from either Grants or Gallup. With an enticing mix of public lands, ancient and modern Native cultures, and four season climate, this region offers much to the southwest traveler.

Southern New Mexico is dominated by Las Cruces, a fast growing city that has warm winters favored by retirees and others fleeing the snow belt. The rugged terrain of the Gila region in the southwest of the state is home to Silver City and many small mountain towns.

There are many interesting places to visit in Southern New Mexico: Dripping Spring Trail - an old West trail in the mountains with remains of a turn-of-the century sanatorium; Agguire Spring Recreation Area - located on the eastern side of the Organ Mountains, a short drive from Las Cruces, has 2 scenic trails along with picnic areas; City of Rocks - located near Silver City, is has an amazing erect rocks in the middle of the dessert, with near by natural hot springs. Village of Cloudcroft located north-east of Las Cruces has beautiful mountain landscape with numerous trail a must visit for a nature buff.

For hiking and other outdoor activities, El Malpais National Monument and White Sands are spectacular national parks, where anyone with a love for the outdoor can spend whole weeks.

Ontario Travel Guide

A feast for the senses awaits you in Ontario. From lush wilderness to urban adventures, Ontario offers a variety of year-round travel experiences and vacation ideas. Celebrate the seasons, arts, sports, heritage and culture. Whatever your passion, there's more to discover in Ontario.

Due to Ontario's size, temperatures may vary tremendously from region to region and even within the regions themselves. Generally, the weather is considered continental, with January being the coldest month of the year and July being the warmest. Temperatures are given officially in degrees Celsius (C) with the Fahrenheit equivalent (F) often added. For an exact conversion of Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply the Celsius temperature by 9/5 and add 32.

Many tourists visit Niagara Falls as it is an exceptional waterfall and a must if you enjoy waterfalls. It is believed that The City of Hamilton which is one hour drive away has the most number of waterfalls of any city in the world for its size of a half million people. To date 126 waterfalls and cascades have been found within the city boundaries earning it the nicknames "The City of Waterfalls" and "The Waterfall Capital of the World".

Belize Travel Guide

Belize is located at the Caribbean coast, nestled between Mexico City and Antigua Guatemala and offers an intriguing mixiture of tropical forests rich with wildlife, majestic 3,675 foot mountains, Maya temples, and interesting diving and fishing possibilities. In a single day you can go from tropical forest to the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. And the people are known to be very friendly. Belize is also known for its marine environment. The country has the second longest barrier reef in the world, as well as three major offshore atolls. You can find also mangrove systems both offshore and along the coast, thus creating a tremendous wetlands environment in which birds, fishes, mammals, and reptiles can propagate. With such a significant marine ecosystem, scuba divers, marine biologists, and sport fishermen have long recognized the importance of Belize, and it has become a favorite destination for them.

Malaria is a very small, and easy to treat risk (and only in the summer wet season); Dengue fever is a risk throughout the year (for the aches and fever, take a lot of ibuprofen).

The 2 private hospitals (in Belize City and Santa Elena) are more trustworthy than the government hospitals.

Some quick facts about Belize, you could use:

LocationBelize is located in Central America, just south of Mexico, on the Caribbean coast.

Language
English is the official language. Spanish, Creole, Maya,and Garifuna are also spoken.

Population
Approximately 300,000.

Time
GMT -6, which Central Standard Time. Daylight Savings Time is not observed.

Currency
Belizean Dollar (1 USD is equivalent to 2 BZD).

Weather
Belize has a subtropical climate with an average daily temperature of 79F and humidity 85%. Temperatures vary depending upon location and altitude. However, summer high temperatures don't exceed 96F and lows rarely drop below 60F. Saltwater temperatures vary between 75F and 84F.

When to Go
Belize's high tourist season is late November to late April, which is also the dry season. The best months to guarantee good weather are March, April, and May. The rainy "green" season is June to mid-November with the heaviest rain occurring during September and October.

Electricity
110 volts, just like the US.

Entry Requirements
A valid US Passport is required. An extension is required for stays longer than 30 days. No visa is required for US citizens.

Immunizations
There are no immunizations required for entry.

Airport
Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE).

• Belize is home to the longest barrier reef in this hemisphere.
• Belize offers hundreds of ancient Maya sites both excavated and jungle-covered.
• Belize has over 600 identified species of birds.