Plovdiv is the second largest town of Bulgaria, an area since the time of Philip, King of Macedonia, father of Alexander The Great. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads has stimulated cultural and political influences from East and West civilizations and yet maintained its unique cultural identity. The most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Theatre and opera performances are still staged here on warm summer nights. The Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside. The Old Plovdiv nowadays is an original living museum, an architectural phenomenon with many of the houses of those times' most prominent Bulgarians turned into museums, galleries hosting various art exhibitions and festivals.

Situated 20 km away from Plovdiv it is the second largest in Bulgaria. On all sides, the monastery is surrounded by the hills of the Rhodopi mountain, which together with its size and ancient spirit make it one of the most visited monasteries in Bulgaria.

The Rila Monastery is located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the fragrant coniferous forests of Rila Mountain. The monastery is a complex of cultural, dwelling and farming buildings which take about 8800 square meters. The Rila Monastery has an unique architecture. Outside, the monastery looks like a fortress. It has 24-meter stone walls which forms irregular pentagon. That’s why when some tourist enters the monastery’s yard from some of the two iron gates he is surprised by its architecture: arches and colonnades, covered wooden stairs and carved verandas and the 300-400 monastic cells. The temple has five domes, three altars and two chapels. Maybe the most important thing in the church is the iconostasis which has incredible wood-carving. The church of the Nativity of the Virgin is the monastery’s main church and the core of the architectural ensemble. Its construction began in 1835. That was an event of paramount importance for the entire Bulgarian nation. The innovative daring and the flexibility with which tradition has been interpreted in the architectural design of its imposing church reveals the nature of art during the National Revival Period. This church building is unique in the Balkans. It was built by the then widely known master builder Pavel from the village of Krimin who had worked on Mount Athos and from where he borrowed the original spatial design of the church. The compositional scheme includes medieval elements and baroque spatial principles, an approach which distinguishes Bulgarian church architecture and whose features are observed in the art of the epoch.

A day tour from Alexandria to Cairo

I will meet you at Alexandria port and escort you through your day trip. Drive to Cairo approximately 2.5 hours by an air-conditioned vehicle, arrive at the Plateau of the Great Pyramids of Giza to visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinus.

Then proceed to visit the Great Sphinx, a head of a pharaoh with a lion's body, which dates from the time of Chephren; the tour also includes a visit to the Valley Temple, which belongs to the Pyramids of Chephren.

We will break for lunch, then move on to Sakkara to visit the Step Pyramids of Zoser and then to Memphis, the first capital of Egypt, to see the Statue of Ramses II and the second alabaster Sphinx.

Visit one of the carpet scrolls and you will see how the ancient Egyptians were making the magic carpets.

We'll finish the tour with a trip to a cotton store then transfer back to Alexandria.

Mexico is the only place where these amazing creatures feed on the surface of the water. So, in this area you can snorkel and swim with them and really get up close.

Enjoy this once in a lifetime experience with Aquaworld Cancun. Please feel free to contact us for more details.

Experience Russian hospitality while living in a Russian family. Go fishing in the purest river in Europe - the Khopyor. Learn how to cook shashlyki (barbecue). Enjoy the truly Russian banya (sauna).

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel

Day 2: Kakum Nationial Park, Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle

The first stop on this trip is at Kakum National Park where we will have an hour's walk through this rich tropical rainforest endowed with medicinal plants. After lunch we will continue to the Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castles to see the slave dungeons. After touring these remarkable landmarks of Ghana, we will continue to Takoradi. Overnight in Takoradi.

Day 3: Fort Metal Cross and Busua Beach Resort

After breakfast we will drive west to the Fort Metal Cross. Enroute we will stop to visit coconut and oil palm plantations. We will continue to Busua Beach Resort where the rest of the afternoon will be spent swimming, playing games and relaxing.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Nzulezo Village on Stilts

We leave for Nzulezo (the village on stilts), 90km west of Takoradi. The ancestors of this village were said to have been led to the place by a snail. Nzulezo means "surface of water". We will witness how the daily activities of the inhabitants such as cooking, schooling, sports, festivals and durbars takes place on water. In the afternoon we will visit Fort Appolonia at Benyin for a guided tour. Return to Takoradi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Accra

We will return to Accra after breakfast, stopping over at Mankessim "Posuban Shrine", traditional military war shrine for a briefing on the origin of the Akans, especially the Fantis. We arrive back in Accra late afternoon.

Overnight in Accra

Day 6

Departure.

Few information that could help any one who are planning to visit Egypt

Capital: and largest city Cairo (30°2?N, 31°13?E)

Official languages: Arabic1

Spoken language: Egyptian

Government : Semi-presidential republic

President: Hosni Mubarak

Prime Minister:Ahmed Nazif

Establishment :

- First Dynasty c.3150 BCE

- Independence from United Kingdom February 28, 1922

- Republic declared June 18, 1953

Total Area: 1,001,449 km² (30th) 386,660 sq mi

Water: (%) 0.632

Population:

- 2007 estimate 80,335,036 (est.)

- 1996 census 59,312,914

GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate :

- Total $329.791 billion (29th)

- Per capita $4,836 (110th)

- Gini (1999-00) 34.5 (medium)

- HDI (2007) 0.708 (medium) (112nd)

Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP)

Internet: TLD .eg

Calling code: +20

If we only see the Egyptians through modern eyes we miss half of the story - the most interesting half - because the spiritual understanding of these ancient people is as valid today as it was in the age of the pyramids.

So explore Ancient Egypt in a way neglected by conventional archeology. There are unexplained mysteries and secrets on one side, intense beauty and artistic achievement on another. There is a third side, something beyond the words and pictures, something only to be understood. It is this third side that is, after all, the true ascending passage.

All religions have a magical aspect, ancient religions like the Egyptian, according to which all of creation was animated to some extent, perhaps more so than many others. Through magic the creation had come into being and was sustained by it. Thus, magic was more ancient, and consequently more powerful, than the gods themselves as you see from the Following part of the book of the dead .

" I am one with Atum when he still floated alone in Nun, the waters of chaos, before any of his strength had gone into creating the cosmos. I am Atum at his most inexhaustible - the potence and potential of all that is to be. This is my magic protection and it's older and greater than all the gods together "

It was also the extraordinary means for acquiring knowledge about one's surroundings - above all the hidden parts of them - and gaining control over them. Gods, demons and the dead could be implored, cajoled or threatened. Their help could be enlisted to avert evil or achieve one's desires.

Magic was accepted by all ancient peoples as a real force. The Hebrew tradition which was strongly opposed to it, did not deny its efficacy, but rather extolled the even greater magical power of its own god .

You can feel this magic and charm in every single step in the ancient land of Egypt , so I designed especial tours for whom who share this interest in revealing the secrets if this mysterious part of the world and whom who are sacking wisdom and Energy from its stones .

For further information please contact me .

Aquaworld Cancun's brand new service! Simming with Whale Sharks.

If you plan to visit the area between Mid May and September you can take part in this once in a lifetime experience. This is one of the only parts of the world where you can swim with whale sharks on the surface of the ocean.

Duration :1 day

Total Km : 200

This is a one day trip to one of the sorrounding areas of Tunis : Zaghouan and Hammamet

Tunis-zaghouan (60Km)

After breakfast, we start off to Zaghouan ,on the way to Zaghouan we will stop to contemplate the roman aqueduct of Carthage ,which used to conduct water from Zaghouan to Carthage.

Then we Will continue to Zaghouan ,visit of the temple of water ,then we will drive to the old city of Zaghouan for a walk through one of the water fountain streets to end where the Roman arch still lies.

Zaghouan lies seductively on a few hills below the dramatic Zaghouan Mountain, which rises 1,295 out of almost nothing but flat plains.

It was an important town in Roman times, administering one of the most important water resources for Carthage. A few interesting traces of this past is found in town, like a triumphal arch and a fountain as big as a temple but most of it is from the resettlement in the 17th century by immigrants from Andalucia.

The Water temple of Zaghouan dates back to Roman times, and was not a temple, simply a grand fountain.

Its location is as impressive today as it must have been in the 2nd century CE. Above it rises the 1,295 meter high Zaghouan Mountain, and in front stretches the fields. You may almost see the Mediterranean Sea on a clear day.

Its decoration has similarities with what you would find in a temple. There are 12 niches each having a life size statue representing the 12 months of a year. In the middle there was really a temple, of which only the central niche remains.

The basin below the platform is shaped like the figure of 8, and served to filter the water before letting it on to the aqueducts.

Lunch at a local retaurant

Zaghouan –Takrouna-Hammamet(80Km)

Continuation to the Berber village of Takrouna,a small village constructed on top of a hill with a beautiful view of the plains and surrounding area.

The Eighth Army’s last obstacle on the way to Tunis in April 1943, this hill was in the hands of Axis forces. The Allies, predominantly New Zealanders, won the battle but at the cost of heavy casualties.

Visit of the old city of Hammamet and a walk down town .

Visit of the touristic resort of Jasmine Hammamet with its beautiful harbour .

Possibility of an extra balad on board of a ship if available in the marina.

Back to Tunis hotel and end of my services

Hammamet, the Tunisian Saint Tropez. Located on the fertile Cap Bon Peninsula, about 40 miles south of Tunis, the bayfront resort is surrounded by verdant hills and citrus groves.

Price :

-920US$/ day for 1 person

-945 US$ / day for 2 persons

Includes:

Accommodation in 5*****

Hotel Place/city category Type of accommodation

The Residence-tunis Tunis –Gammarth 5***** Bed/breakfast

-transport during the various visits

-Guide / driver service

-tickets for museums and historical sites

-photo /video tickets

*Not included:

Lunch/drinks

-flight to/back from tunis

-tips for guide, services