On top of offering the chance for visitors to unwind, lie on the beach, get a tan and truly relax, the island also has a wide range of tourist hot spots, cultural sites and interesting villages and towns to visit.
Mallorca is the biggest of the Balearic Islands and as well as being a great place for a fun-filled holiday including nightclub visits in the evenings and days spent on the beach, it can also prove a peaceful and relaxing destination to take a holiday away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
A wide range of late availability villas on the island can also make it an ideal place to jet off to at the last minute for Brits spurred into holidaying by bad weather at home.
An island full of culture
While many may associate the island with busy nightlife, history buffs and culture fans could also find Mallorca holidays an enjoyable way to spend their Easter break, with the capital city especially offering the chance to soak up some interesting culture.
As they approach the island by plane, visitors may be able to spy the gleaming towers of Palma Cathedral, situated in Mallorca’s capital city.
The cathedral, Gothic in style, has a bell tower more than 50 metres tall and also boasts several towers and intricate stained glass windows. The building is an impressive 121 metres long and is 55 metres wide so holidaymakers could easily spend a relaxing hour or two inside.
Those staying in a contemporary villa in Mallorca may be struck by the style of the building, which was built way back in the 14th century.
Exploring on foot
As well as its bustling capital city, Mallorca is home to several smaller villages which can be explored on foot and help visitors get a taste of real, traditional island life.
High up in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains are the villages of Fornalutx and Biniaraix, which are traditional hamlets made up of colourful homes and winding streets that offer visitors a change from the busy main towns of Mallorca.
In this region, the locals rely on the orange and olive groves on the mountainsides, and visitors can enjoy a stroll around the groves and witness how the delicious food is grown. Both villages are ideally situated for a mountain hike and there is no better place to relax after a long stroll than in a contemporary villa in Mallorca. Once the mountain regions have been explored, British holidaymakers enjoying a villa break on the island could head to Palma and make the most of its busy nightlife, restaurants and culture.
Parts of the city can be traced back to Roman times, which could interest those with a love of history who really want to delve into Mallorca’s roots.
The best time to visit
A holiday to Mallorca is ideal at any time of year, as the weather is always pleasant and there are things to do and places to see 365 days a year. However, Easter is a particularly good time to head to Mallorca, as this is when the island gets into the swing of festivals and carnivals to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, the festivities last all though Holy Week. On the Sunday, locals in many of the island’s towns head out onto the streets with palm branches that are thought to ward off evil. Later in Holy Week, there are a number of carnivals and parades across the island.
Tourists wanting to witness the biggest and the best of the Easter events should head to the capital city, where the Procession of Reunion takes place on Easter Sunday. This parade celebrates the coming together of the Virgin Mary and Christ after he was resurrected.
Running until Easter Monday, the Holy Week celebrations are a true representation of Mallorca’s culture and could be the ideal event to catch on a holiday to a villa on the island.
If you are looking for contemporary villas in Mallorca [http://www.mallorca.co.uk/res/listproperties.aspx?CollectionId=1&AreaId=0&AreaName=All Locations] look no further than Mallorca Farmhouses for accommodation where you can find the finest farmhouses, apartments, and hotels; and a fantastic choice of villas including late availability in Mallorca accommodation perfect for all Mallorca holidays.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dipika_Patel
With Easter just a few weeks away, it’s time to make last minute plans for Easter and what better way to have a marvellous holiday then to take an Easter break in London. Whether you’re visiting the capital as a family, couple or single traveller, London has such a lot to offer there is something for everyone.
This article is aimed at families who are going to be coming to London at Easter.
ARRIVING
If you’re planning to come down to London by car, the general advice is not to take one. London is one of the best connected cities in the World, and has a massive underground network, making travel in the centre very easy. In the centre there are also traffic restrictions in place which a) stops you coming into town unless you have purchased a congestion charge ticket, and b) makes parking using meters very expensive - a car park near Oxford Street can charge up to £20.00 for three hours parking. Forget about it, get a travel card and take the occasional taxi to lighten the load on those days you go shopping!
So once you’ve arrived in London, what’s there to see?
Top 3 Places for Easter in London
- London Zoo - Nearest tube Regent’s Park or Camden Town, the Zoo is a lovely day out for the family. The historic Zoo was built in Victorian times (updated of course) and has a massive range of species and animals on show. The Zoo is quite surreal because it is very peaceful and the way the Zoo is structured means that you can get up close with the animals. There are feeding times for some of the larger animals, including the Elephants, as well as some of the smaller but popular ones, such as the Penguins.
- Kenwood House - Nearest Tube Archway (then take the 210 bus to Highgate). One of North London’s best kept secrets it’s where we go to unwind. Its lack of direct transport by Tube makes it quite an exclusive spot. Those familiar with Architecture will not be disappointed by the work of Robert Adam, which is on display at Kenwood House. The house was originally donated by the Guinness brewery owner Lord Iveagh, and we must thank him for that. With the house came paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Constable. The house is in magnificent grounds and has a lovely tea room. For families, and on a hot summer day, there can be nothing more enjoyable then taking a picnic to Kenwood house and sitting out on the lawns taking in the view of the lake. There’s lots of space for the kids to run around, and in the evenings of the summer months, there are live music concerts under the stars. Magical.
- London Aquarium - Nearest Tube Westminster Bridge (then cross the river Thames). Just a few metres away from the impressive London Eye, you’ll find the London Aquarium, where hundreds of breeds of sea and fresh water life are on display. All the action takes place in the basements of what was the old Greater London Council. This is a great day out but a not of caution for people that suffer from claustrophobia, that during the summer months it can get very busy and cramped. However for Easter it’s going to be fine and is really worth a visit. It’s best to book tickets in advance online as this will help you beat the queues that can form. Of particular note is the underwater tunnel, an area where children (adults too!) can go underneath the great water tank where there are sharks and turtles and exotic fish swimming around. It’s like walking around at the bottom of the sea!
If you’re a family these are three of many different choices that are available to you if you’re planning to come to London for Easter, a large number of hotels and tour operators are offering special Easter packages for families.
If you want to break completely from the capital, you could always try a holiday in Tuscany and really push the boat out.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_M._Peterson
While we happily buy chocolate Easter bunnies, color eggs and hide them, and fill our Easter baskets, many people are unsure as to the origins of these Easter traditions. Whether you celebrate Easter as a religious holiday or the advent of Spring, or a combination of both, it can be fun to understand the origins and meanings behind these traditions, where some aspects of modern Easter celebrations even pre-date Christianity.
Easter Bunny- This iconic symbol of Easter, is found everywhere in the spring. Whether made in chocolate, or a fluffy, full-sized costume, the Easter bunny signals the arrival of Easter. Hares and rabbits have long been symbols of fertility, so they have easily become associated with the renewal of life after a long winter. The inclusion of the hare into Easter customs appears to have originated in Germany. It was here where tales were told of an “Easter hare”, who laid eggs for children to find, seems to have originated. German immigrants who came to America(particularly Pennsylvania), were the ones who brought the tradition with them, and spread it to a wider public. These early settlers also baked cakes for Easter in the shape of hares, and may have pioneered the practice of making chocolate bunnies and eggs.
Easter Eggs- Next to the Easter bunny, the next recognizable symbol of the holiday must be Easter eggs. Historical records show that eggs have been viewed as symbols of new life and fertility through the ages. It is also believed that for this reason, many ancient cultures used eggs during their spring festivals. It is noted that eggs became part of the Easter celebration because they were forbidden during Lent. The eggs that were laid during that time were often boiled, or otherwise preserved. Because of this eggs were a mainstay of Easter meals, and a prized Easter gift for children and servants. There are many different traditions and practices that have formed around Easter eggs. Eggs are also used in various holiday games. These games include: an egg hunt (generally parents hide eggs for children to find), and egg rolls (rolling eggs down a hill for prizes). These traditions live on in modern-day Easter egg hunts, and egg rolls. The most famous egg roll takes place on the White House lawn every year. Different cultures have also used Easter eggs to symbolize various aspects of their beliefs. Orthodox Christians in the Middle East and in Greece, paint eggs bright red to symbolize the blood of Christ. In Armenia, hollow eggs (created by piercing the shell with a needle and blowing out the contents) are decorated with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious figures. The traditions surrounding Easter eggs are as varied as the cultures that celebrate Easter.
Easter Cards- Easter cards were first designed in Victorian England, when a stationer added a greeting to a drawing of a rabbit. The cards exploded in popularity as a way for people to send Easter greetings. According to major card manufacturers, Easter is now the fourth most popular holiday for sending cards, behind Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.
Easter Parades- You may be surprised to learn that this tradition has long-standing origins. Early Christians wore white robes, all through Easter week, after their baptisms. This was meant to indicate their new lives. Those people had already been baptized wore new clothes instead to symbolize their sharing a new life with Christ. In Medieval Europe, churchgoers would take a walk after Easter Mass. This Easter “parade” was led by a crucifix, or the Easter candle. Today in many places around the world, these walks endure as Easter Parades.
Looking for more Easter activities? visit http://www.easterbunnyfun.net/ for crafts, coloring pages, recipes, poems, and the opportunity to share your best Easter memories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Frank
Are you one of the many people concerned about calorie overload on Easter? With Easter eggs, chocolate, ham, more chocolate, turkey, salads, and cakes, it is easy to find yourself overwhelmed by the end of the day. Why not make some healthy Easter treats everyone can enjoy and cut out some of the sugar?
Most people make some kind of fruit salad for Easter dinner. It may be prepared with canned fruit cocktail or be made with fresh fruit, but it inevitably has a thick, sugary whipped cream dressing on it. While the kids are busy sucking the whipped cream off the fruit, everyone else is remarking how wonderful to have a fruit salad again since it is finally spring.
Why not try something a little different? Young and old alike will love fruit kabobs. They are colorful, delicious, and fun, with the added advantage that they are not coated in whipped cream. Everyone likes eating food on sticks! You can even clip off the pointy end of the wooden kabob skewer for safety if you have children eating them.
The fun thing about these kabobs is you can arrange them however, you like. Maybe you want to pair up the fruit with small slices of a complementary cheese. Depending on what kind of fruit you get, maybe you want to fire up the barbecue and grill them for a few moments. You can even encourage everyone to get in on the act and help put them together. Have a contest on who can make the prettiest kabobs, the most colorful, the tastiest, and so on.
For those who need that extra sweetness, provide a yogurt honey dip that is healthy and refreshing. Fruit can be pulled off the kabob and dipped in this delicious creamy sauce as they eat. The dip can be made ahead of time and chilled or it can be made at the last minute.
Recipe for Healthy Fruit Kabobs
Note: If you want to add pineapple to this recipe, you can either use it fresh or grill it first for a caramelized, smoky flavor. Another way to make it fun is to use a tiny cookie cutter and cut up the cheese and melon into fun shapes.
What You Will Need:
* Bamboo skewers
* Strawberries
* Grapes
* Mixed berries
* Melon chunks
* Cheese chunks
* Apple slices
* Banana slices
* Mandarin orange slices
* Vanilla yogurt
* Honey
* Cinnamon
How to Make It:
Cut up the fruit until it is all bite sized. Keep each type of fruit in its own bowl. Apples and bananas should be dipped in lemon juice to keep them from browning. Set out the skewers and get your helpers ready to start kabobbing!
Grab a skewer and start putting the fruit and cheese on the stick. Use caution so no one pokes themselves with the pointy end; it is sharp. The goal is to make the kabobs colorful and vary the contents so you do not have two grapes or two strawberries together in a row. Have your helpers lay their finished kabobs on a platter as they finish them. Wrap the platter in plastic wrap and keep chilled until you are ready to serve them.
For the dip, mix the honey, yogurt, and cinnamon in a bowl and stir until well blended. Serve the dip with the fruit kabobs.
Easy party appetizers like fruit kabobs are fun to make and serve. Whenever you need a cold appetizer recipe, consider this one. It is so simple and fun for everyone. Make your next party memorable with some fun appetizers.
EasyAppetizerRecipes.net - You Make the Appetizers, We Help You Make Them Delicious
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Szalay_Kudra
No matter how you choose to decorate your Easter eggs it is always a fun experience. However if you are looking to change up your eggs from basic dyed eggs to something really different we have some tips for you. Dyeing Easter eggs does not mean that you are stuck simply dropping your hard-boiled eggs into dye. You can take any number of methods and use them to make your eggs really special. Best of all this can be a great project with your kids or you can invite family and friends over to turn your Easter egg decorating into a party. So if you are getting ready for Easter here are some unique ways to decorate your Easter eggs-
* Layer it on-You can put several rubber bands or stickers on your uncolored egg and then begin dyeing it. After a few dips into color remove some of the rubber bands or stickers and then dye again. The result is a multi-tonal and layered effect with the colored dye.
* Rubber cement your eggs-This technique is similar to using wax or crayons on your hard boiled eggs but is much more simple to do. Just layer on some rubber cement in areas of the egg that you want to not be dyed. When the egg is colored the way you want it to simply peel off the rubber cement for a unique effect.
* Birthday candles and Easter eggs really do mix-You can use the small birthday candles to decorate your eggs. For a fun polka dot effect simply light some multi-colored birthday candles. Once the candles are dripping wax you can use them to make polka dots all over your eggs for a fresh springtime look.
* Marbling your eggs-This is another easy technique that can have your eggs looking spectacular! After mixing your egg dyes simply spray in a generous amount of cooking spray on top of the dye. When you are dying your eggs they will emerge from the color with a beautiful marbled effect.
* Glitter and sprinkle your eggs-This is a no dye method that leaves you with unique Easter eggs. Spray your eggs with adhesive and roll them carefully through the glitter. You can also use cake decorating sprinkles to make your eggs look extra delicious however it is recommended that you use this method for blown out eggs since spray glue is not considered edible.
* Stencil it on-There are also many stencils that can be used to decorate your eggs. Basically the stencil must be small enough to fit up against the egg. You can then use a sponge, small paint brush or marker to decorate your Easter eggs. When you are finished carefully pull away the stencil to reveal your masterpiece.
* Dress your eggs in style-There is no reason to stop with the everyday when it comes to decorating these Easter ovids. You can add feathers, fur and pieces from a boa to dress up your eggs. Simply cut some small pieces that will fit onto the egg. You will need some patience though since gluing on feather and boa pieces can be time-consuming. The result is well worth it however with one of a kind Easter eggs.
* Make your eggs the centerpiece-You can really dress up your eggs with edible paste. Simply combine 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar with 1 cup of water to. You can use the paste as an adhesive to attach edible sugar flowers to your Easter eggs and display them on a dessert buffet. Edible sugar flowers can be purchased from a local bakery or are carried at some craft stores.
Looking for more Easter activities? visit http://www.easterbunnyfun.net/ for crafts, coloring pages, recipes, poems, and the opportunity to share your best Easter memories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Frank