BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA

I booked a cheap flight for myself and six others with Iberia Airlines to South America on www.travelnet.ie by Barter Travel. We flew from Dublin to Madrid and stayed in Madrid for one night, you collect your vouchers for the Transfers and Hotel at the airport and it is totally hassle free.
We booked a cheap hotel in Madrid - Diana Hotel which was about 15 minutes drive from Madrid Airport, the hotel was fine and there was lots of small outlets within the hotel,( ie. Pubs, restaurants) we found one little pub in the hotel grounds that stayed open for us until 4am.
The flight from Madrid to Brazil went by fairly quickly, before landing the Captain warned us that there would be a delay with luggage because everything had to be x rayed, by the time we all got out of the Airport, nearly two hours had elapsed. I booked the cheap transfers with Barter Travel and they were great, the poor guy was waiting for over two hours for us and he didn’t moan once.
We stayed in The Porta Bay Rio Intercontinental Hotel on Copacabana Beach and the hotel was just fabulous, all rooms had a sea view, side or facing. We were giving wine on arrival as a welcome drink and the staff couldn’t be more helpful, all spoke English.
The Breakfast room was the best I have ever seen, all glass windows facing the Beach and the food was really good, loads of choice.
The hotel had a swimming pool on the roof, again facing the beach and at the side of us the Statue of Christ the Redeemer.
We didn’t arrive at the hotel until 1am but the staff kept the bar open so another late night.

The following morning we all decided to visit the statue of Christ. We got a taxi from the hotel to Corcovado Mountain (very cheap) from there we took the Tram up to the statue, the Tram goes through the only Urban rainforest in the world with breathtaking views. There are quite a few steps up to the statue, but lifts and escalators are available.
We took a few snaps and had our lunch up there. So cheap.
That evening we went to a local restaurant on the beach front, loads of the locals come around singing and selling different things, we had starters, main meal and loads of wine, the bill was only 25.00 euros each.

Before going to Rio, we talked about going to the Favelas (shanty Towns). The guide books tell you to keep away but we wanted to see the other side of Brazil. We booked the trip through our hotel and it cost around 30.00 euros per person, tourist trips are quite expensive, an open top jeep picked us up from the hotel with a driver and guide who spoke English. We were brought straight up to the Favelas, we had a few butterflies in the belly as we approached because as soon as we entered two guys on walkie talkies started radioing down to let whoever it was on the other end know that we were there and when the guide said we were getting out and walking we nearly lost the plot, but everything was fine, we got a dance lesson from a market trader selling CDs and we were able to buy local crafts. We got taken into one of the houses and even though they look horrendous from the outside they were spotless inside and the views all around them were spectacular. We got back into the jeep and drove all around and people were just shouting out hello as we passed.
After the Favelas we were taken to the national park which was called Tijuca and it was absolutely fantastic, waterfalls and wildlife all around. We spent a good few hours here before heading back to the hotel. That night we decided to visit Shenanigans Irish pub in Ipanema they had a live band and it was full of tourists from America, Ireland and England, a lot of bars that serve food give you a piece of paper with the entire menu of food and drinks, you keep this with you all night and every time you order something they mark it off, and at the end of the night you just pay at the till before leaving, its all waitress service so it would be hard to lose the menu list. The food is mainly burgers, ribs and pasta but really cheap and tasty. The bar has a balcony at the front where you can go out and have a cigarette because the smoking ban is in over there. On a Sunday there is a market on all day right in front of the pub. For our meal and cocktails all night the bill came to 35.00 euros each.
The next day we decided to lounge about on Copacabana Beach, temperature was early 30s. The hotel provided sun loungers on the beach and the guys giving them out also kept watch over you. Locals come around singing and selling stuff all day but they are not one bit pushy, if you say no they just tell you to have a good day. In the afternoon we shopped in the local market for presents, the market was only a minute walk form our hotel and it is on from Friday to Monday all day and night.
That night, which was a Monday, we went into a Brazilian Restaurant in Rio and the place was jam packed, they had a live band and the place was hopping, Brazilians really know how to have a good time. Again we had a meal and Cocktails all night, and still the bill was only 25.00 euros each.
Tuesday was our last day in Copacabana, some of the Guys went off on a Helicopter ride around The Statue of Christ and Rio, for an eight minute spin it was around 50.00 euros, the rest of us lazed by the pool for the day. That evening we went for an Italian meal and again dirt cheap, we didn’t want to have a late night because we were catching a flight from Rio to Argentina the next day.

Brazilian money is a closed currency so we had to spend the surplus in the Airport, if you buy something from the duty free they give you change in American Dollars, but other shops in the Airport give you Brazilian Real back.
Our transfer was waiting for us in Buenos Aires and the first thing we noticed was how cold it was, again the transfer was with Barter Travel and no problem what so ever.
We stayed in the Ameriano in Buenos Aires, four star hotel on BB basis, great spot central to everything. We had an Irish bar across the road and the food was really good and really cheap, no Irish owner though.
The first night we just went over to the Irish bar for something to eat, the food and drink was even cheaper in Buenos Aires, there was a live band playing and no hurry to get you out.
The next day we went on a walking tour to take in the city sites and did the most important thing, looked for the shopping area. Leather is cheap in Argentina and there are plenty of shops trying to pull you in.
In the evening we went to a really nice Steak Restaurant, I thought I was going to come home with mad cows disease I ate so much steak, it is absolutely lovely, really tender, they don’t give you one piece, you get two, for a two course meal with Champagne and wine it was only 25.00 euros per person.
The following day we walked down to the Falklands Memorial, this was only a ten minute walk from our hotel, the memorial has a 24 hour guard manned by two soldiers, an eternal flame burns over an image of the Islands , the memorial is facing the Torre Monumental, previously known as The British Clock Tower, a gift from British Citizens who worked on the railway.

Ten minutes further up the same road we arrived at the City of The Dead where Eva Peron is buried. We didn’t stay long here, outside there is a big Market selling anything from clothes to crafts and in the surrounding area there are loads of really nice Restaurants where you can sit outside and have a coffee, like Brazil the smoking ban is there too.
That night we went to a Tango show which was held in the oldest Tea House in Buenos Aires, it was 10.00 euros per person to see the show, you could also have a meal here. The show was held in the basement part of the building, it was like some old speakeasy from the 1930s in America, upstairs there was a huge restaurant, smaller shows went on here, it was real old Argentina and we had a great night.
The following day we took another tour in, visiting The Balcony of La Casa Rosada the Presidential Palace where Eva Peron gave her final farewell speech before she died, the palace is bright pink so it would be hard to miss.
We also visited The La Boca area, you are told not to visit this area after dark, this is where Maradona comes from, the National Football stadium is here and it is also the Birthplace of Tango.

Brazil and Argentina is a great combination, beach and city. It’s expensive to get to but your money goes a long way once you are there.
The language in Brazil is Portuguese but a lot of people speak English, in Argentina the local language is Spanish and hardly anyone speaks English. When you leave Buenos Aires airport you have to pay departure airport tax, this is about 6 euros per person. When you purchase anything in Argentina the shop owners ask you for your passport number, this is because when you are at the airport you can claim the tax back but be prepared to wait because the queues are very long.
All in all I would totally recommend the two destinations.
To get more info Visit here - Ireland Travel Agents

Travel holidays: Made Lighter on Pockets

Holiday is a word which brings a smile and joy to everyone’s face. It is a refreshing way to overcome the tensions in this materialistic world. Travelling helps in learning various cultures, its forms, languages. You can try different cuisines across the world, meet different people and make new friends. It can be an adventurous to a relaxing experience for you and your family irrespective of the fact whether you are young or old. If you are totally tired with your work and want a change in your life travel holidays can serve your purpose well. Nowadays the internet offers access to a wide range of options for cheap and easy air travel. With a tough competition around and thousands of companies selling air tickets online, you have the benefit to choose from the best schemes present and avail a refreshing travel holiday.

Booking flights by internet is a very user friendly method. Whether it is your sudden business trip or an occasion booking flights over internet can always be a helping hand by avoiding your miscellaneous expense and saving time too. Many tour operators are working round the clock through out the world to make your travelling experience a better one. So why don’t you take the advantage of using such facilities by just clicking a button that too at minimal costs.

Cheap flights and low airfares to various destinations world wide is a good way to save your hard earned money. Air travel is now becoming accessible by middle class people. Scenario has changed. Earlier only very high class people could afford to travel by air. Booking cheap flights has turned the situation as luxury is available at low cost. Customer satisfaction is the most important criteria to draw new clients so the tour operators are coming up with good packages and more facilities. Even for domestic travel new promotional offers have come up. You should always be a smart traveller and avoid getting scammed by fraud agents.

Travelling can be a soothing experience away from a strenuous routine, a romantic getaway along with your family at low budget due to low air fares. Keep the memories of such journey’s life long as a cherishing one.

Are you someone who enjoys life and want to take a break? Log on to Travelnet.ie for travelling related information, travel tips starting from booking flights to hotel accommodation at convenient prices.
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Kobe meat is derived from a variety of cattle Wagyu that originally hails from Japan

Kobe meat is derived from a variety of cattle Wagyu that originally hails from Japan. The meat derived from these cattle is known to be very nutritional because of the presence of oleaginous unsaturated fat. Kobe beef is popular in the whole world so much so that the quality forms a parameter for other meat producing companies. Some of the very prominent characteristics of this meat are its flavour, tenderness and impeccable quality. It is supposed to be a very rich source of thyrolobulin. The marbling of the meat proportionates the content of monosaturated and saturated fats. Around 1635, the importation of cattle was limited or banned out the country. This ban was eventually removed in 1910 and then this breed of cattle of taken to the United States of America where it came to be known as American Kobe beef.

The superior quality of meat comes from the breeding and processing techniques. It is considered to be a delicacy from Japan and its popularity makes it one of the expensive varieties of beef in the whole world. Kobe steaks are also available in a number of varieties and can be purchased from this website by adding them to your cart or wish list. These websites offer huge discounts and attractive offers on the products purchased. You can save as much as $4 on each steak if you buy it online. You can even compare the prices before placing the order as internet offers a lot of convenience to our customers. If you wish to buy a particular product, you can even search for it with the product name on these websites.

Shopping at kobe beef website is very convenient as they offer a number of features. You can even shop for products by category. All the items are displayed on the home page and you can enlarge to view them. This website offers a 24 X 7 free customer service. Some of the popular varieties of Kobe steaks are filet, cowboy steak, flank steak, pillow steak, and iron steak, skirt steak, inside steak, porter house steak, ribeye steak and strip steak. All the best deals and featured products are displayed on the home page. This makes it easier for you to view the new products available in the market. You can also browse for the recipes and other cooking guides on this website. They feature exquisite recipes from round the world.

Tiles can range from simple square tiles to complex mosaics

Tiles are an important part of interior designing. They are available to cover almost every part of your house. Tiles can range from simple square tiles to complex mosaics. Man has been using tiles since centuries. Today ceramic tiles are in vogue as they are durable and resistant to pressure, oxygen, stains and thermal conditions. However, there are several other types of tiles used to tile floors, ceilings, bathrooms, and other surfaces. Modern houses have tiles of various accents and design. It usually takes a lot of time while choosing tiles because they are available in innumerable designs and colors.

Among the different types of tiles, vitrified tiles are very popular. Vitrified tiles are processed in a way which makes them stain resistant, extremely strong, and very low porosity. Majority of the tiles are not stain resistant. Stain resistance depends upon the water absorption quality of the tile. If a tile is highly resistant to water absorption then it will be resistant against stains. Vitrified tiles are resistant to water absorption and so they are stain resistant. These tiles have far more superior properties than those of marble or granite. Natural tiles do not have these qualities and since the vitrified tiles are manufactured their composition and chemical values can be controlled unlike marble and granite. Vitrified tiles remain the same over the years and do not yellow or damage with time.

Vitrified tiles will make great floor tiles as they are strong durable, scratch resistant, and have low porosity. Glazed tiles such as porcelano are not very strong and the glaze or polished surface is prone to scratches and damage. Floor tiles always must be strong and durable. Vitrified tiles are perfect for flooring and they are available everywhere. Floor tiles can make a huge difference to the ambience of your house. If you are remodeling your house then use floor tiles that will flatter the surroundings and give a rich feel to your rooms. Floor tiles must be maintained and well kept. Ceramic tiles and vitrified tiles do not need much maintenance however they must be kept clean to achieve its full effect.

Floor tiles especially made of ceramic are commonly used in modern housing systems. The builders choose similar tiles for flooring each apartment. However, if you wish to use different types of tiles then you can do so. There are tiles available in innumerable colors and designs. It will not be difficult to find tiles of your preference.

Tiles are an important part of interior designing

Tiles are an important part of interior designing and play a significant role in the look and feel of your house. People have become aware of interior designing and use tiles to create ambience as per their liking. It is not an easy task when it comes to choosing tiles. You will be baffled by the variety of tiles available. It is advised that you consult with an interior designer before you choose tiles. Ceramic tiles are in vogue and majority of the modern houses are fitted with ceramic tiles. These tiles are available in various colors and color combinations. These are available in a standard size; however, you can request to customize these tiles according to your requirements.

Ceramic tiles are versatile tiles and can be used almost anywhere, walls, fireplaces, ceilings, and floors. These tiles have number of qualities which makes them perfect to be used for tiling almost any part of the building. Ceramic tiles are durable in three different ways, that is, thermal, chemical, and mechanical. These are resistant to impact, force, stain, and water absorption. Due to their innumerable advantages the ceramic tiles have been used for ages. Ceramic tiles are also used in bathrooms. Majority of the bathroom tiles are ceramic.

You can get extremely innovative while designing your bathroom. Non-porous and slip resistant tiles are perfect to be used in bathrooms. Color of the bathroom tiles can bring a different ambience to the bathroom. Many prefer the crisp white color to make the bathroom look simple, clean, and fresh. Bathroom tiles usually have neutral colors. White bathroom tiles with blue accent look very relaxing and give the bathroom a spa-like feel. The size of the bathroom tiles should be decided according to the size of the bathroom. A small bathroom has to be fitted with small sized tiles; large tiles will look ridiculous and make your bathroom appear smaller. Ceramic tiles were commonly used around the baseboard and shower area. However, today ceramic tiles are used on most of the bathroom vanities.

There is lots of creative scope when it comes to tiling the bathroom. Bathroom tiles are available in a huge variety and colors. While purchasing bathroom tiles always order a few extra tiles so that you do not have to compromise with another in case you fall short of a few tiles. Bathroom tiles with deep colors and vibrant pattern can change the entire look your bathroom.

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