Words About Things

Melbourne is a great destination for families to visit. There is plenty to do in and around the city to entertain and delight all ages and help make an unforgettable holiday experience.

Lots of children love animals, and Australia is home to some really fascinating and unique creatures. From the iconic Kangaroo to the deadly snakes and reptiles, Australia is defined by its wildlife. No trip to the country would be complete without finding out about and seeing some of the creature that are at home here. Melbourne provides all kinds of opportunities for this.

The Healeville Sanctuary, also referred to  as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Fauna parks, specialise in animals that are native to Australia. This is actually a lot more than a tourist attraction being as it is one of the leading conservation sites in the fight to keep Australia’s endangered creatures alive.

For a safari type experience with animals from three continents try the Werribee Open Range Zoo. The environments of creatures from Africa, Australia and South America are recreated here, including a Hippopotamus marsh. The group of gorillas which live here are amazing to behold, and it is very rare to see these animals living in the kind of social grouping that they would in the wild. Children will be delighted by the antics of these beasts.

Of course Australia’s special wildlife is not restricted to the land. The Melbourne Aquarium provides an ideal opportunity to learn about all kinds of sea creatures, from colourful tropical fish to octopus and manta rays. This is a particularly child friendly attraction with plenty to keep all ages entertained. As a day out it is sure to be a winner.

Melbourne is surrounded by a spectacular rain forest landscape. A great way to drink in these views is by taking a ride on ‘Puffing Billy’. This is Australia’s oldest steam train, which has now been restored as a tourist attraction. This is more than just a ride, it is very educational and there are also things to do especially for kids at the ‘Emerald Town Station’ including Thomas the Tank Engine!

The Melbourne Botanical gardens are another must see. They have a special children’s garden which will delight and entrance your little ones. Or if you are all in the mood for somehting a little less sedate you can ride on the century old roller-coaster at Luna Park. Hight restrictions do apply, but there are other attractions that are more suitable for littler people.

Getting to the city does not require any connecting flights, as flights to Melbourne are a common option for flights to Australia. Many domestic flights from other parts of Australia also land here, and the city is the ideal jumping off point for a trip to the island of Tasmania.

Turkey is a gateway to the Middle East and offers visitors a diverse and rich culture formed through millennia of civilisation.

Like many Mediterranean countries Turkey has a history intermingled with numerous peoples and beliefs and so is extremely wealthy in terms of culture and history. The Middle Eastern country is also filled with beautiful geographical sites that will astound most.

Cappadocia

The Goreme National Park is a very popular tourist attraction and has been habituated by people for over 4,000 years. The most amazing thing about the area is the volcanic rock formations where people settled in. These volcanoes produced huge hill shaped mounds and networks of tunnels and caves for dwelling in, the most spectacular is Derinkuyu, which is 85 metres deep. It is still possible to see Derinkuyu and get a view of the complex and amazing cave system where the humans of the time lived.

Hierapolis and Pamukkale

This surreal looking ruin was founded in the second century BC and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town has a number of remains in amazing condition considering their age, including a Temple of Apollo, the tombs of Necropolsi and a huge amphitheatre.

The area is built on hot springs and visitors can still bathe in these warm waters, though to have medicinal properties. The area, known as the ‘sacred city’ is around three hours drive from the resort of Kusadisi.

Haghia Sophia Museum

This is one of the great masterpieces of Byzantine art and was built in the 6^th century on top of two previous churches.

Back in the 6^th century it is though it was the largest church in the world, however it was sacked in 1204 and many of its splendid treasures were taken west. It was then converted into a mosque in 1453, though has been turned into a museum since 1936. The interior is one of the best examples of Byzantine mosaics from the 6^th century in the world and is a must see.

Sardis

Once the capital of the kingdom of Lydia, this ruin is a very significant part of Turkish and world history. The city, which was controlled by the King of Lydia Croseus controlled most of the goods in and out of Asia Minor for most of the 6^th century BC.

The Lydians, obviously trading people, were the first to invent coinage and developed methods to extract gold from metal ores. The area is full of well preserved temples to this date, many of which are beautiful due to the historic wealth of the area.

Istanbul

The largest city of the nation, Istanbul must be visited and is a great place to see how east meets west. It has a rich history and is also a great party city. The majestic Blue Mosque and also the Grand Bazaar are just tow of the must see sights in the capital. The city has a reputation as being the gate to the orient, and it is the gateway to the country with many airlines having flights to Istanbul as their option as far as flights to Turkey are concerned.

Paris the capital of France offers exquisite boulevards, exciting nights out and world-renowned sites and has to be visited at least once in a lifetime.

Paris, like many of the greatest cities in the world offers a diverse choice of things to do. However, there is one that will always be on your mind and will spend a lot of its time in the backdrop of your sight.

The Eiffel Tower is a must see when in Paris for a number of reasons. The structure is one of the things that is most closely related with the French capital, it is also an astounding feat of engineering – though was meant to be taken down after it was completed. It also offers some of the most impressive views of the city you can ever imagine and looks right across the metropolis allowing you a view of all the major sites, once you know what to look out for.

The River Seine, which runs alongside the tower and also past many of the cities other sites, is definitely worth a boat trip. There is little more romantic in the world than dinner on the Seine, eating your food when passing the Louvre and other famous Parisian buildings.

Of course no trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the book and coffee shops of the Left Bank. Emulate the likes of John Paul Sartre as you drink coffee, watch the world go by and if you’re able for it talk about existentialism.

Of course talking about life’s meaning is all perfectly fine, but you won’t be in Paris again for a while, so why not take a trip to the Louvre. Admire the classic and modern masterpieces as well as the building itself and don’t forget to see the Mona Lisa. Be astounded by the size of the museum, which was once the political centre of the country until it stopped in 1882

For something a little less serious, Disneyland is only a short RVR trip away. Enjoy the best of what Walt Disney and the resultant theme parks have on offer with a day to Disneyland. This is the perfect place for both young and old alike to visit and is the sort of day that you’ll look back on with joy for the rest of your life.

The Champs Elysee is also a necessity to visit when in Paris. The second most expensive street to rent a shop on in the world offers all the great names of fashion. At its end is the wonderful Arc de Triumph – a globally renowned site. Cross the roundabout to it if you dare, however it is a must see from even a distance and offers wonderful views from on top.

Las Invalides is also worth spending a day in if you can spare the time. The sheer size, grandeur and the fact Napoleon is buried in a giant tomb here make it worth seeing. Originally built as a hospital for injured soldiers, its sheer size makes it a perfect example of French Classical architecture.

There are just a few of the places, more than worth visiting. Trips to Notredame, Pere Lechaise and the Sacre Couer are also essential if you get the time in this wonderful and extremely site packed city.

As for getting to the city, there are plenty of options. There are high speed rail links to neighbouring countries and through the tunnel to London. Among the airlines that operate flights to France, flights to Paris are a common route.