Grand Cayman Islands

During spring break of my senior year in high school I went on a cruise with my family and friends. The cruise was on Royal Caribbean navigator of the seas and took us to four stops in the Caribbean. The ports included Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Among the stops one of the most beautiful places was Grand Cayman, one of the three Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is a British colony and is located at the top of an underwater mountain. George Town is the capital and is the location where the cruise ships come in. In George Town there is a wide variety of shopping including jewellery, beautiful local arts and crafts, and designer clothes. Located five minutes from the cruise ship port is Seven Mile beach which has crystal clear waters and white sand, it was absolutely stunning and was where we spent most of our day. One of Grand Caymans main tourist attractions is Stingray city. Stingray city is a sandbar off the island where you can take boat out and swim with hundreds of stingrays. Unfortunately the day we were in Grand Cayman it was very windy on the north side of the island which is where stingray city is located and it was closed. Besides that minor downfall I still really enjoyed Grand Cayman and it was one of my favourite stops on the cruise. If your do not visit Grand Cayman while on a cruise it is extremely expensive due to its upscale hotels, private homes and condos. I looked up how much a week would be in an all inclusive in Grand Cayman and it was over $3000 which is very pricey.

Cairo Egypt

Cairo Egypt is definitely a travel destination I want to experience. Ever since I did a unit on Ancient Egypt in my grade seven class I have been interest in visiting the Pyramids. Apparently Cairo is the most popular city in Africa to visit and is one of the world’s largest urban areas. When I think of Egypt the first site that comes to my mind are the Pyramids, the Nile and Camels. I love horseback riding, have ridden a dolphin in Mexico and an elephant at the circus, it would be really cool to add a camel to that list which I am sure you can do that at the pyramids. Egypt was once the home to the Pharaohs, and Romans and is located by the Nile River. Cairo is home to almost every Egypt Pyramid, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza on the very edge of the city. The only time I have even been close to a pyramid is the Luxor in Vegas which is magnificent but I would rather witness the real thing. There are also ancient temples, tombs, Christian churches, magnificent Muslim monuments, and the Egyptian Antiquities Museum to visit. I am camera crazy when on vacation and all these sites sound like they would be wonderful photo opts. As well Cairo is known for its incredible selection of shopping including the famous Khan el Khalili souk which to us is known as the bazaar, where you can find anything from tea and spices to Egyptian cotton. The only concern I have when visiting Cairo is that it is a foreign country therefore safety most likely is an issue. I read that there is not a high crime rate in the city but you do have to beware of your belongings being stolen such as your purse. Women also are not recommended to walk around unaccompanied due to harassment which sounds pretty scary. There also have been terrorist attacks in the past five years in tourist spots so it is advised to try to avoid areas that are packed with people. Besides these minor setbacks Egypt is an avid place for travellers to visit. Cairo sounds like an amazing place and I really want to visit it someday.

Hawaii the Island of Oahu

The islands of Hawaii are one of my favourite places on earth. Last Christmas instead of going to one island my family and I went on a one week cruise through three of the islands. The cruise departed out of Waikiki, a city on the island of Oahu. During the duration of our cruise we visited Kauai, Kona and Hilo (which are two cities on the big island of Hawaii), and Maui. After experiencing all of the islands I still prefer to stay on the island of Oahu where I have spent many Christmases. The island of Oahu is home to the city of Waikiki located along the shoreline where many of the tourists stay. Although our family stays in the city we prefer to rent a car and travel to different beaches along the island. A wonderful place for snorkelling on Oahu is Hanauma Bay Park. Hanauma Bay, located in the crater of a volcano, is one of the Hawaii's most beautiful bays, with world-class snorkelling and scuba diving. Hawaii is famous for its beautiful beaches from its pounding waves of the North Shore, to the gentle break in Waikiki. On the North Shore, Waimea beach is located in a bay home to at times thirty foot waves. If you are an experienced swimmer it can be a lot of fun. Sunset beach and Banzai beach are also great places for surfing. During December on the North Shore you can catch the Banzai Pipeline surfing competition where you can witness some of the most talented surfers in the world. Besides going to beaches there are many tourist outings you can visit on the island. Sea Life Park and The Honolulu Zoo are wonderful places to take children as they have a wide range of marine and wildlife. If you are interested in history and the culture of Hawaii the Polynesian Cultural Center and Pearl Harbour Memorial Museum are very interesting and education places to visit. Lastly the there is the Dole Pineapple Plantation, Diamond Head Mountain where you can see the beautiful view of Waikiki beach, and Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park which is an awesome waterslide park good for all ages and that you cannot miss. At night in Waikiki there is a wide range of stores to shop at ranging from Gucci to more affordable stores like Billabong and Nine West. As well ABC stores are found on every corner where you can buy almost everything. Along the strip there are many different restaurants including Red Lobster, Cheese Cake Factory and one of my favourites Dukes. I love the island of Oahu and have many memories there; it is a wonderful island to spend Christmas in the south pacific.

Greece

A destination I have always wanted to visit has been Europe. With the affluent culture, history and historical scenery the continent of Europe is a sought after place that one day I hope to visit. Although I wish to travel through many different countries in Europe my first choice of destination would be Greece. Located in southern Europe between Albania and Turkey, Greece borders the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Many tourists travel to Greece to see its ancient ruins and architecture. I myself want to travel to Greece for the beautiful sites, culture and food. The geographical landscape is very mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands. Places that sound fascinating to visit in Greece are the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. The island of Santorini is rumoured to be the source of the Atlantis myths, and is a hot tourist spot due to its beautiful beaches and taverns. As well the island of Mykonos is well-known for its beaches including some of the best in the Mediterranean. Besides the beaches I want to experience all the culture and taste all types of authentic Greek food. I am obsessed with calamari and souvlaki and know I will be able to find some new favourite dishes among the delicious Greek Cuisines.