The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

The Americas

Eco-Tours are Booming in Key West

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Ahh, the backcountry of Key West. Flats that extend for miles in either direction, full of game fish, sharks, rays, tarpon and other surprises. Get up close and see it all on one of the island’s many discovery tours. Go kayaking or have a guide drive you to the remotest areas where nature thrives and excitement rules.

What Makes Key West so Special?

Key West is a sub-tropical island set way out in the Atlantic Ocean, 120 miles from the mainland. To the north, we have the Gulf of Mexico and to the south, we have the Atlantic. There are miles and miles of backcountry around this island, too.

All of this means there is a thriving marine ecosystem out there just waiting to be explored. Key West eco tours will take visitors to remote areas to view wildlife and discover nature in a non-obtrusive way so we harm the environment as little as possible. If you’re an eco-tour newbie, here’s what you can expect:

  • Some eco tours take a boat of visitors to special spots to view dolphins
  • Some tours will take visitors to a remote spot to snorkel an area that’s not frequented by the bigger tour companies
  • Some eco tours involve boating out to a remote spot for kayaking on the flats and amongst the mangroves.

Whatever form is taken, an eco-tour means you get to discover nature at your own pace, silently and carefully. These trips are great for picture-taking, too.

What About Diving?

Key West diving is an exciting way to see the living coral reef that’s just minutes away from shore. Experienced divers and novices alike can get out to the reef and discover the underwater world that surrounds the reef system in our waters.

Even if you’re new to diving, you can take a short course and get temporarily certified for some scuba on vacation. If you really love it, why not get certified for real after you return from Key West? Diving is a lifelong sport that you can enjoy for years to come. There are dozens of charter companies in Key West ready to take you out to the reef or to a wreck for some fun exploration.

What Makes the Coral Reef Near Key West so Special

Key West diving is such a big deal because we are just six miles from the only living coral reef system in North America. That means an amazing diversity of marine life and a thriving, diverse ecosystem out there. All sorts of coral flourish on the reef, from soft coral species to hard coral, like rock.

The reef fish that make snorkeling and diving so popular abound everywhere on the reef, from zebrafish to parrotfish and Sargent majors to all kinds of jacks, snapper, rays and more! A Key West diving trip will take you out to the best areas of the reef, like Eastern Dry Rocks or Sand Key Light, for the best time ever discovering the coral reef.

Must See Toronto Group Tour Destinations

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With a barrage of attractions, Toronto is certainly the place to visit if you are a planning a group trip. From museums to galleries, from the world famous CN Tower to the Toronto Islands, it has got everything to keep you up on your toes. The city also offers a wide array of musicals and performing arts. Now you might be wondering as to how to travel to Toronto and thereafter. Well, not to worry. Go for some affordtable Toroto tour bus rentals. Before you make a bucket list of the places which are a must visit in Toronto, check out this list. It might make your job easier.

CN Tower:

The 553-CN Tower is a must see. Towering the downtown, this tower can be seen from anywhere and everywhere around the city. So you can just enjoy the tower while sipping on a piping hot cuppa, sitting on a couch at your favourite restaurant. Also you can take a trip to Lake Ontario, if you want a better view of the tower. Built between the year 1972 and 1976, this tower was once the tallest standing structure in the world. You want to have a closer look of the tower and a wider look of the city, you should go to its highest viewing area, which is from the Sky Pod at 447 m above the city. The view from this place is magnificent.

Royal Ontario Museum:

The Royal Ontario Museum, also called the ROM, houses some of the exquisite pieces of art and craft from across the world. Its world class collection will make any art lover go weak in his’/her knees. Plus the architecture of the museum makes it all the more attractive.

Casa Loma:

Casa Loma is an exquisitely built castle which takes one back down the memory lane. Much like the castles in fairytales, this one is a riveting in every sense of the term. It was built for Sir Henry Pellatt, a Canadian multi-millionaire who was the first to exploit the resources of Niagara Falls. The castle has got 100 rooms and three dozen bathrooms. This castle exudes the essence of European art and culture. It has been turned into a museum now. Visitors can come down to the castle and gawk at its beauty.

Toronto Zoo:

Some 40 kms northeast of the city center, Toronoto’s zoo is a must visit place. It has a collection of several thousand animals. So if you are a group of wildlife photographers, Toronto zoo might come across as a delight to your eyes and camera. One of the major attractions here is the Panda. Plus, its grizzly bear, vast bison park, and impressive polarium are among the other attractions.

St Lawrence Market:

Built in the year 1850, St Lawrence hall place was as a meeting point for many. However, eventually the area around this hall turned into a market place. From flower vendors to food products, this market place has a lot to offer.

Entertainment district:

If New York has the Broadway, Toronto has the Entertainment district. This place comes to life in the evening with a bevy of theatre productions, concerts and other performing arts on the platter. Plus this area has a barrage of restaurants and hotels which make the place all the more lively.

So folks, these are the few hotspots which should definitely be on your list while you are planning a group trip to Toronto. City Hall, Eaton Center, Distillery district, High Park, Ontraio Science Center are among the other places which you should also visit while you or a trip to Toronto.

When is Lightning Season and How Should I Prepare?

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According to the National Weather department, lightning strikes is highest during the summer months of July and August in Florida. Lightning can be deadly and people die from lightning strikes every year in the United States. The chances of being strike or killed by lightning are very small but what if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lightning victims did nothing to attract the lightning to strike them. They were simply unfortunate and just happened to be at the exact spot when the lightning is going to strike. In order to stay safe, the important thing is simply not to take chances but to recognize the warning signs and get to a safe place as soon as possible. The safest place to be in during a thunderstorm is indoors.

A lightning monitoring system will be able to accurately predict lightning frequency in advance and help to improve the safety of especially fishing, farming communities and other outdoor activities. It also allows ample time for those who have to work in the open space or spend a lot of their time outdoor to get indoors or out of danger way once the warning alert is given out.

This lightning warning system is equipped with sensors for the monitoring of in-cloud lightning so that storm and lightning alerts could be generated faster to protect the communities from severe effects. The advanced alerts are helpful to those who needs time to get to safety and also those who are organizing outdoor events such as school events or sports activities where many lives are involved.

Lightning sensors are used to pick up discharges every day and with the information provided, the system is able to reveal the areas with the most concentration of lightning likely to occur. It is the responsibility of heads of big organizations, schools, universities, and others to seriously think of lightning safety for their staffs, students, and people in their organization.

With advance lightning alerts, people are able to plan their outdoor activities e.g. camping or boating, etc. without endangering their lives. If you are caught in a thunderstorm, try to get indoors or get into your car with the windows wind up. If that is not possible, avoid taking shelter from trees, poles or other tall objects, and stay as low as possible. Stay away from water as water is a good conduction of electricity.

Top Things To See And Do In Canada For 2019

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Source

With 2018 almost on its way out and 2019 coming in strong, you might have already started planning next year’s great getaway. Many people begin planning in advance, especially if they’re looking to make it a getaway to remember – jetting off to far flung places and doing something truly extraordinary that might be a once in a lifetime kind of thing. For many, the experience of a lifetime includes visiting Canada with its rugged coastlines, majestic mountain scenery and historic towns and cities with impressive colonial era architecture. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out the top things to do in Canada for 2019.

The Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer train journey, developed over a century ago brings together luxurious accommodation, dining and sightseeing together with one of the plushest and most desirable ways to experience the Rocky Mountains. With numerous itineraries to choose from as well as the ability to pick tours with flights included, there’s no better way to get up close and personal with the majestic natural wonder that is the Rockies. Choose from departures in Banff or Jasper and see one of the wonders that draw international travellers to Canada time and again!

Road Trips

With so much land to explore, it makes Canada ideal for road trips. Choose from doing a loop of the West from Vancouver-Calgary-Edmonton, the Ontario loop which includes Toronto-Niagara-Ottawa or the Quebec corridor with Montreal and Quebec City. Feeling brave? Combine all three and take a journey coast to coast along the Trans Canada Highway – probably the ultimate road trip you can do with the exception of the US’ Historic Route 66.

Culture and Cuisine

Fancy getting a look into Canadian history and sampling some of the local fare? Head straight to Quebec where you’ll be whisked away in time with some of the colonial era architecture, leaving you wondering if you’ve stepped foot in France or if you’ve wandered back in time. Be sure to try poutine – arguably Canada’s national dish comprised of French fries, cheese curds and gravy, sometimes topped hilariously with extras up to and nearly including everything but the kitchen sink. Explore the history of the regional old trading Forts, such as Fort Chambly or Fort Lennox before taking a river cruise down the historic St Lawrence through old town Montreal.

Friendly Faces

Want to brave Canadian frontiers that many travellers don’t explore? Head to the little visited islands of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland for up close and personal experiences with locals so friendly you might just be slightly rattled. See if you can understand a Newfie with their slang and twang before trying the local dishes of Jigg’s dinner, potlicker, and toutons. We’ll leave you to look into what they are so you can whet your appetite and get excited about visiting this rocky island full of friendly people and glorious scenery.

So if you’re after a trip to remember, check out Canada. With excitement and beautiful nature (and people!) coast to coast, it’s no wonder so many love the Great White North. Be sure to plan your trips accordingly with the weather, with May to September being the ideal times to visit most of the country if you want summery climes. So get those bags packed – Canada won’t explore itself!

The ‘It’ Travel Destinations Of 2018

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Perhaps you’ve noticed through social media and the likes, the popular destinations to travel to this year. Perhaps you’ve even wondered what makes them so attractive, and why everyone seems to be in a rush to visit them.

While the usual popular destinations still remain – such as London, New York, Paris, etc; it seems as though this year travellers have unpacked a whole new set of popular destinations. Destinations that have a few things in common, surprisingly: they’re all about the sun, sand and sea, and kicking back and relaxing, while still learning a thing or two about different cultures, fascinating history and indulging in new tastes, smells and sights. Although some of these destinations are far from ‘cheap’, and you may just need to play Mega Millions online; there are a few that are easy on the pocket, and still offer a vacation experience of a lifetime.

Let’s get into the ‘it’ destinations of the year, and find out why they’re extraordinary. You may just find your new travel bucket list!

Tulum, Mexico

Without a doubt, Tulum comes in as a favourite when we speak of the ‘it’ travel destinations. Why so? Well, Tulum is rustic, yet luxurious; it’s incredibly beautiful, and one thing that stands out is the unique accommodation options on offer on the island which look rather whimsical/’boho’. Some of the hotels even look like tree houses, and others are situated over the ocean. It may just be the next Bora Bora or Maldives, as the honeymooners are flocking to Tulum in their numbers. But don’t be fooled, this is the perfect place even for solo travellers looking to take a break and reconnect with themselves and nature. Tulum is known for holding many spiritual retreats, including yoga retreats and many more. It’s the perfect place to rejuvenate, relax and reconnect.

Source: 3 days away

Bali, Indonesia

Bali comes as no surprise, right? You’ve probably noticed for yourself just how popular Bali has become. Just a few years ago Bali was fairly ‘undiscovered’, and couldn’t compete with the likes tourist-central Thailand. Yet, today, Bali has become a tourist hotspot. The reason for this is that Bali is extremely reasonable in price, making it perfect for students and backpackers, and of course Bali is beautiful; with its pristine beaches and volcanoes dotted throughout the island. It is also deeply immersed in culture and history, as recognised by the many unique-looking temples and spiritual hideaways. This makes it the ideal locale for those seeking out an all-round adventure, packed with beach days, history tours, spiritual encounters and delicious food.

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is yet another extremely popular city to visit, and has also only recently been ‘discovered’ by tourists. Cape Town has seen almost a 40% increase in tourism in the last three years – and there’s no wonder why. This city, although fairly built up, is immersed in natural beauty; from Table Mountain to the gorgeous beaches, the vineyards, and let’s not forget the incredible weather. Over and above all that, Cape Town was put on the map by the great Nelson Mandela. Just off the coast of Cape Town, on Robben Island, Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27 year sentence after he challenged the apartheid government at the time. Robben Island has become one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, and it sure is a hit with the tourists and locals alike. It goes without saying that the deep history, as well as the strong African culture that can be recognised through the foods, the languages and the traditional dress, makes Cape Town one of the most rich and diverse cities in the world.

Source: Le Petit Journal

Mykonos, Greece

While most of the above mentioned destinations are attracting students, honeymooners and anyone looking for a great break; Mykonos is a little different. Mykonos is attracting the celebrities in a big way, as well as those looking to party their way through their vacation. It has become known as ‘the party island’, similar to the likes of Ibiza in Spain. Mykonos is rather exclusive and the rates of hotels are incredibly pricey; as for the restaurants, beach bars and clubs. While Mykonos is stunning, with magical little beach coves dotted throughout the island, this is not what attracts the travelling folk. Be prepared to party from morning to night at the many extravagant beach bars; dance on tables at the exclusive restaurants and live it up in the hotels that scream grandeur!

The Maldives Islands

It’s a no brainer that the Maldives makes this list! For some reason there’s been a significant boost in the amount of travellers visiting this island. Of course we can put it down to the fact that the Maldives literally looks like heaven on earth; but there’s another reason why the Maldives has quickly become popular with travellers across the board, and this is thanks to the very reasonable packages that are on offer for this exquisite island. You’d think the Maldives would be a pricey option because it looks like paradise, and because many of the hotels are on the water – it just screams exclusivity, doesn’t it? And yes, you’re right, but don’t be fooled by this – there are plenty of accommodation options that are extremely well priced, and are just as comfortable, luxurious and utterly breathtaking.