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Sorrento, sitting on the south shore of the Bay of Naples is about an hour’s drive from that city and makes a very good center of operations for a three or four day stop in this area. Amalfi is to the south, Pompeii to the east, and the Isle of Capri just to the west in the Bay.

So we start by taking a short ferry ride to Capri, a four by two mile island that has became a tourist zoo in July and August, it’s a tourist trap, plain and simple, during the height of summer. Early spring and again in late September the Island becomes enjoyable again. It originally became famous as the vacation home of the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius. There are a few Roman ruins about (name me a spot around here that doesn’t have Roman ruins!), and an eight hundred year old monastery inhabited by Carthusian monks, its chief attraction is its Blue Grotto.

The Blue Grotto - I hate to keep saying this because I know these people have to make a living - is a TOURIST trap big time. There are three ways to get there: by boat from the harbor, by bus up the road to Anacapri, and hiking up the Phoenician steps, all 800 of them! The bus is the best bet, and certainly a lot cheaper than going by boat. The bus stops quite a distance above the water, you descend the steps hewn into the rock down to where you pay. Did I say pay; you pay three times, once for the boat to the Grotto, again for the rowboat into the Grotto, and again for the entry fee. From mid June to mid September there’s usually a lineup for your turn in a rowboat. Twenty minutes, a half-hour tops to rowboat, visit, and return to your boat.

You need the rowboat because when you get up to the entrance, you have to get down on the floor of the boat, the oarsman grabs a chain along the wall and pulls the boat in. And, yes, it really is blue. If you’re on Capri or even in Sorrento, be sure to go. Just make up your mind to go with the flow, put up with the touristy stuff; and see the Grotto. ONCE, I would never go back.

Second day is a trip east to Pompeii. This is where Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, and as you explore the excavated ruins, you get a first hand look at what life was like in Roman times. It had a population of 20,000 when it was buried under thirty feet of hot mud and volcanic ash, but its best art has been removed to the Naples Archaeological Museum. It was a bustling city, with so much traffic that chariots were banned during shopping hours. You see the odd street sign picturing men carrying vases, apparently this meant “Pedestrians Only”.

Herculaneum, much smaller, less ruined than Pompeii, it has a small number of intact surviving buildings.

And then there’s Mount Vesuvius itself. Some 4,000 feet high. If you have a car you can drive up to the summit, there’s a kind of shuttle bus that trundles up and down all day, or if you’re in the chips take a taxi, but get a quote from several before choosing one. There’s a sort of trail you can follow if you want to hike around the rim. Vesuvius has been rumbling and shooting off steam since 1944, but is not considered really dangerous any more.

Third day is the highlight of this mini tour, the Amalfi Coast. For the money, the road from Sorrento through the towns of Positano and Amalfi to Salerno is one of the best bus rides in the world, and is not for the weak at heart. There are sheer drops of 4 to 500 feet off the side of the road down to the shoreline below. Grab a seat on the right side of the bus from Sorrento, and then a seat on the left for the ride back after a few stiff ones in Salerno for fortification of the spirit. There isn’t a level piece of land anywhere, yet both sides - up the hillside and down towards the water - there are hundreds of dwellings, hotels, villas and garages. Traffic along this road is so heavy in the summer that cars with even numbered licenses are allowed to drive one day, odd numbered the next. Buses and tourists who hunger for the ultimate thrill drive any day.

Enjoy the ride along the road, you probably won’t enjoy the towns along the way. Over-crowded, over-priced and out of reach for the most part of the beaches far below. Positano is the best bet if you want a stopover here. It’s on a short stretch of pebbly beach and has the obligatory expensive collection of women’s clothing stores and caf

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The Tanzanian currency is the Shilling it cannot be imported into the country and so it is necessary to bring foreign currency with you on safari. US$ Dollars are the best currency to take to Tanzania with the Euro or GB Pounds coming in second and third. US$ Dollars are bar far the safest option with larger notes US$50 and US$100 offering a better rate of exchange. The lower denominations are not popular with the US$1 being difficult to get rid of except as a tip. If you intend to pay for a safari with cash then pay in large dominations to avoid a possible penalty.

Travellers checks are accepted by banks and bureaus, they attract a lower rate of exchange and can be a bit of a hassle; it is better to keep them to a minimum or to avoid them totally. Credit cards [Master and Visa] are more widely accepted now than they were in five years ago. However, if you wish to draw cash against a credit card then try to do this from the banks as many hotels with change heavy commission for the privilege. More importantly let your bank know where and when you travel otherwise you may hit problems once you start using your card in Tanzania.

Visas are available in advance from Tanzanian Embassies or they can be obtained on arrival at border posts or airports. There is a departure tax for Tanzania if you leave by air but this should be included in the price of your ticket.

It can be expensive to fly into Kilimanjaro airport especially in high season. It is usually a cheaper option to fly into Nairobi airport and transfer countries via the bus-shuttles that travel to Arusha via the Namanga border post. At Nairobi airport purchase a transit visa this costs US$20 and will last between five and seven days. All visas obtained on arrival in Kenya and Tanzania must be paid in US Dollars and in cash. Have the correct amount ready. The Tanzania holiday visa costs vary according to nationality.

The shuttles are 25 seat coaster buses that travel from Central Nairobi to Arusha town and then off to Moshi Town which is nestled against Kilimanjaro.

The shuttle bus companies are Riverside, Davanu, Bobbies and Impala. The price should be about US$ 25 per person and an extra US$10 to Moshi. They will all pick up and drop off passengers at city centre hotels in Nairobi or Arusha - by special arrangement. They all set off from Parkside hotel in Nairobi and end at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha.

The shuttle from Nairobi can be taken either from the city centre or from the airport. If you have a late arrival then an overnight in Nairobi will be necessary. It is best to overnight at the Parkside Hotel in Nairobi as it is clean and inexpensive - no more that US$20 per person. All the shuttles for Tanzania leave from outside this hotel.

The journey should take about five hours including Immigration and Customs at the border post town of Namanga. The driver will show you where to go to get the necessary stamps for your passport. The shuttle will give out immigration cards for you to fill in whilst you travel. To do this in advance will save time at the border post - remember to travel with a pen to save on unnecessary stress.

If you travel in the midst of high season - mid July to October I would advise you to make all your bookings for accommodation and safaris in advance. All other months and especially low season [March through to the end of June] it is possible to arrive in Tanzania and Zanzibar and shop around for cheap accommodation and bargain safaris.

Arusha Tourist Board Office is on Boma Road and they can advise where to start your search for a safari. The office has a small notice board on the left hand-side wall with special offers displayed by reputable tour operators. The tourist Board offers a safer bet to start a search for a bargain safari. Be warned that as you enter and leave the Tourist Board the Safari Street hawkers will hassle you and try to sell a safari. Remember all that glitters is not gold so beware making deals on the street, however good the sales pitch. Be good natured but firm and do not be tempted by offers that sound to good to be true, because that what they are

Travelling from Arusha to Zanzibar the cheap way is by bus to Dar es Salaam and then high speed ferry from Dar to Stone Town. Scandinavia, Royal or Dar Express have luxury coaches [about US$18 to US$25 per person] these three companies offer the best and safest road transport to Dar es Salaam. To travel from Arusha to Stone Town in one day means an early departure 6.30 to 7h30 getting to Dar by 14h30.

There are many cheaper alternatives to travel to Dar es Salaam - US$6 to US$10. The two best companies being Amazon or Fresh Coaches as they travel at a slower speed and have fewer seats squashed inside. The fast coaches are not safe and should be avoided at all costs.

The last ferry to Zanzibar departs about 16h30. There is an overnight ferry but this is from Zanzibar into Dar only - it is slow but cheap.

For more information on travel to Tanzania http://wwwbetheladventure.co.uk and for a non-tourist information and Tanzania tourism links see http://www.tanzaia-info.co.uk support responsible tourism and change lives

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Spain is one of the better countries in the world with rich culture based on religion and customs. The country is inhabited of about 45 million people of whom 80-94% are Roman Catholics. This is the reason why local as well as national events are based on Catholicism and faith. Spain is also home to several great things to do. While in this country, you will never have to worry how to spend your days because believe it or not, Spain travel can give you total vacation experience.

Here are some of the events you can catch and the things you can do if you decide to travel to Spain:

Run with the bulls. If you dare and tough enough to face the challenge of running with the bulls or simply want to join the fun without actually getting face to face with the bull, Pamplona should be your destination. The festival happens every July and has already attracted visitors from all parts of the world. The celebration is offered to San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona. This religious and unusual celebration makes Pamplona a good destination for your Spain travel.

Skiing and Mountaineering. Visit Catalunya, Aragon, and Torremolinos and Malaga in Andalucia and stay at one of the top winter resorts in Spain. Perfect time to go is during the late spring where you can have your winter sports by day and go at the beach and sunbathe in the afternoon.

Watch the Primera Liga Live. See you favorite football stars like Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Ronaldo, and David Beckham as they all play for the best football team in the UAFA Cup: Real Madrid.

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