Top 10 Islands to Visit!

Islands are the ultimate destination for fun, sun, and plain old relaxation. There’s no reason why your next vacation destination can’t be an island, and there are dozens of choices all over the world. These are the ten top islands and beaches in the world where people can sit back, relax, enjoy the sun, and wonder if they really should board that flight home.

Bora Bora

In the Australian Pacific you’ll find the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Bora Bora is surrounded by sand-fringed islets on an outer coral reef that encloses a turquoise lagoon. Steep yourself in the island’s traditions, activities and authentic cuisine.

Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where beautiful fish animate the colour gardens. Seen from the air, Bora Bora has been compared to that of “a tiny emerald in a setting of turquoise, encircled by a sheltering necklace of sparkling pearls”.

The Seychelles

Located off the east coast of Africa, these islands are pure paradise. If anywhere in the world would convince me to give it all up and live in a beach hut, the Seychelles would be it. Perfect beaches, perfect water, tons of islands to choose from, and all the seclusion you could want. The Seychelles are my dream and should be yours, too. This group of 115 islands offers everything a beach lover could ask for. Sadly, these islands are pretty expensive, but I guess there is a price to pay for paradise. The best time to visit is during the cool season from May to September, when it rains less.

Anguilla

In the heart of the northern Caribbean you’ll discover the tiny island of Anguilla. Currently under British control, Anguilla is a melting pot of cultures blended with the beauty of the beaches and landscape of the island itself. The locals do everything possible to accommodate tourists while at the same time holding dearly to their own cultural standards. You’ll stop by for a relaxing vacation but you’ll leave treasuring and appreciating the island’s rich heritage.

Bali

It's one of 17,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago—and the only one on which Hindus form the majority (93 percent). Even more striking is the fact that there is a spiritual celebration here nearly every day. Three Hindu temples at the Besakih (the Mother Temple of Bali) survived a 1963 eruption that destroyed nearby villages while missing by mere yards this terraced complex atop volcanic Mount Agung. The event is still considered a miracle by locals, who arrive in regular procession; they balance offerings on their head and climb the steps to the sound of mantras, jingling bells, and the sharp flutter of umbul-umbuls (ceremonial Balinese flags). Anyone interested in exploring the inner self might like the Nirarta Centre, an 11-room hotel set amid rice terraces and gardens that holds daily meditation sessions. After finding your center here, channel your energy into jungle treks, scuba diving, and big-break surfing along beaches of fine white and volcanic black sand. Exhale against a backdrop of rice paddies and Impressionist sunsets that illuminate the Indian Ocean.

Fiji

Though this country has some 322 islands, less than a third are inhabited. Most of the action happens in the western islands, but no matter where you go, this is heaven. Any time the name Fiji is heard, visions of beaches and tropical ocean dance in people’s head. There’s good reason for that – because this place is one of the best places to go in the world, and with so many islands, you’re bound to find one you like. It’s a popular destination with young people and honeymooners, with something for everyone. Most young people head to the Yasawa Island group. The temperature remains mostly constant through the year, with cyclones occurring between November and January.

Chiloé

The lush, cloud-covered Chiloé archipelago may lie off the western coast of Chile, but its history, customs, and language bear little resemblance to those of the mainland, or anywhere else in the world, because of its isolation. Local farmers have passed down a mythology of gnome- and witch-filled woodlands and ghost ships. Valdivian temperate rain forests are protected within Parque Nacional Chiloé. In the Pacific, dolphins, penguins, otters, and the largest creatures in history—blue whales—are studied and protected by the Cetacean Conservation Center. In the central city of Castro, order a steaming meal of curanto (shellfish, meat, and potatoes) and peruse handicrafts made of wood and colorful garments created from Chilean wool. Residents still live in traditional palafitos (stilt houses). Jesuit missionaries, who first arrived in small numbers in the 1600s, used local materials and construction techniques to build exquisite chapels. Their work survives in more than 50 wooden churches found in communities such as Castro, Nercón, Chonchi, Dalcahue, and Quinchao; their appearance reflects a hybrid of European and indigenous styles that you won't find anywhere else on earth.

Boracay

Also located in the Asian Pacific is the island of Boracay in the Philippines. Arguably one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world, Boracay is an incredibly popular tourist destination. The island is the perfect destination for both those seeking relaxation and those in search of adventure. The island boasts beautiful climbing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails as well as amazing locations for snorkeling, scuba diving, and jet skiing. The White Beach is more commercial, home to dozens of restaurants, spa services, and sun bathers. The Bulabog Beach is for more active guests interested in windsurfing and other water sports.

Big Island Hawaii

Hawaii’s biggest island has everything you could ever want to do and more. But what separates it from the other islands is Volcano National Park. Explore volcanoes, climb through old lava tubes, and watch as new lava oozes into the ocean. Then there are all the waterfalls on the island, too. Big Island has it all. I mean it’s Hawaii –- how could you go wrong?! The wet season is from October to March, though the weather is cooler during these months. However, despite being located near each other, weather conditions on each island can vary greatly, so you never know what to expect!

Galapagos Island

The namesake tortoise is only one reason to explore this archipelago overrun with more than 500 spectacular native species found nowhere else. Charles Darwin's 1835 visit sparked his curiosity, leading to his landmark book and the observation that these islands are the "laboratory of evolution." Much of the biological kaleidoscope noted by Darwin—such as penguins, sea lions, finches, blue-footed boobies—is still visible on the Galápagos, which are scattered more than 600 miles west of Ecuador. Look out for the waved albatross, which has a 7- to 8-foot wingspan, on Española. Tour operators navigate the islands on everything from luxury catamarans to motor yachts, and many employ naturalists to guide you through the archipelago's rocky coasts, lagoons, coral reefs, bays and white sand beaches. Gap Adventures offers small-group itineraries that often include meals, airfare from Quito, and a cabin aboard a 16-passenger ship. Life on the island is only half the equation, so pack your mask, snorkel, and wet suit.

Curacao

Located in the Caribbean Sea, this Dutch-owned island is perfect. Voted one of the best in the Caribbean, Curacao is like being in tropical Holland. The town is built in the Dutch style, but the surrounding areas are all tropical. Hit the beaches, lay in the sun, and party the night away. This may not be Gilligan’s Island, but what it lacks in privacy, it makes up for in romance and fun. The weather is pretty stable here year round. It’s always hot and usually sunny. If it rains, it’s between November and January. And don’t worry about hurricanes – it’s below the hurricane belt!

Most expensive Chocolate to gift your Valentine

          Have you ever felt silk lately? This week is celebrated as Valentines week and today is Chocolate day. When you gift you should always gift the best. I would love my Valentine to give me chocolates but then i was wondering why i cant get the best, so i share with you this blog where you can ask or give your valentine world's 10 most expensive chocolates, surely this can make a hole in your pocket but the smile you'll see on your valentines face is worth everything in this world. May be these chocolates aren't available in your country but you can surely order them online.

1. Vosges Haut Chocolat:

Travel the world through with chocolates.

Vosges offers you chocolates which are with bacon or butterfly shaped chocolates.

$69 a pound - This type of chocolate uses several signature flavor that include milk chocolate with Sweet Indian Curry and coconut.

2. Richard Donnelly

$75 a pound -Richard Donnelly started making his chocolate in 1988. His chocolates are hand made. He creates new chocolates each year based on the best selling chocolate bars in the U.S.

3. Chuao 

$79 a pound - This type of chocolate is named after region of Chuao located in Venezuela. They use only fresh ingredients and also do not use preservatives in their chocolates.

4. Debauve & Gallais 

$94 a pound -Debauve & Gallais typically make chocolates that are low in sugar and use quality cocoa. There are no dyes, preservatives or any other additives used in these types of chocolate.

5. Pierre Marcolini 

$102.50 a pound - This type of cholate also uses the finest cacao beans. Ingredients vary based on the type of truffle they are making.

6.Richart 

$120 a pound -Richart chocolate uses 70% Criollo cocoa from Venezuela, which is considered the best cocoa in the world.

7. Godiva "G" Collection 

$120 a pound - The "G" Collection of chocolates was just recently introduced to Godiva. Each chocolate is made with premium cocoa beans and many other types of ingredients depending on the type of chocolate.

8. Delafee 

$508 a pound - This type of chocolate is made with fine cocoa beans and flakes of edible 24-karat gold.

9. Noka Vintages Collection 

$854 a pound - This chocolate is made up of the finest dark chocolates found in Venezuela, Ecuador, Trinidad and Cote d'Ivoire. Noka does not use vanilla or soy lecithin in their chocolates.

and the most expensive chocolate in the world is........

10. Chocopologie by Knipschildt

$2,600 a pound - Knipschildt was created in 1999 by
Fritz Knipschildt. The most expensive chocolate that he sells is a $250 dark chocolate truffle which you can only
pre-order.

Do let me know how has your experience been when you gifted these chocolates to anyone......Cause love is like chocolate makes your heart melt and you should enjoy every bit of it before its over....

10 Best Things to eat in Thailand

           Thailand’s food needs little introduction. From San Francisco to Sukhothai, its profusion of exotic flavours and fragrances make it among the most coveted of international cuisines. As a walk through Bangkok forcefully reminds, these flavours and fragrances are seemingly inexhaustible. However, whether it be juicy pieces of grilled pork on a stick or a fiery bowl of ‘Tom Yum’ soup. And what better place than our carefully selected Top 10 of Thai Food, which spans everything from staple backpacker favourites to Thai classics.

1.Tom yum soup (shrim soup)

The quintessential Thai aroma! A bold, refreshing blend of fragrant lemongrass, chilli, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice and fish sauce shapes this classic soup, giving it its legendary herbal kick. Succulent fresh prawns and straw mushrooms lend it body. A versatile dish that can fit within virtually any meal, the distinctive smell reminds you of exotic perfume, while it's invigorating sour-spicy-hot taste just screams 'Thailand'!

2.Pad thai (Thai style fried noodles)

From Cape Town to Khao San Road, the default international Thai dish! Dropped in a searing hot wok, fistfuls of small, thin or wide noodles (you choose) do a steamy minute-long dance alongside crunchy beansprouts, onion and egg, before disembarking for the nearest plate. A truly interactive eating experience, half its fun (and flavour) lies in then using a quartet of accompanying condiments - fish sauce, sugar, chilli powder and finely ground peanuts - to wake it from its slumbers.

3.Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry)

Made with morsels of meat, red curry paste, smooth coconut milk and topped off with a sprinkling of finely sliced kaffir lime leaves, this rich, aromatic curry always gets those taste buds tingling. At its best when the meat is stunningly tender, it could be likened to a beautiful woman: it's mild, sweet and delicately fragrant. And like all true love affairs, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

4. Kai Med Muang (Chicken with cashew nuts)

Pardon the pun, but tourists go nuts for this stir fried dish. Perhaps it's the wildly contrasting textures of a dish that saut's chicken alongside roasted cashews, sweet soy sauce, onions, chilies, pepper, carrot and mushrooms. Perhaps it's the sweetening dash of honey that appeals. Do you really care? The important thing is that this dish works: it's simple but scrumptious, a little bit tame and yet still totally Thai.

5.Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)

Hailing from the Northeast state of Isaan, this outlandish dish is both great divider - some can't get enough of its bite, some can't handle it - and greatly distinctive. Garlic, chilies, green beans, cherry tomatoes and shredded raw papaya get dramatically pulverized in a pestle and mortar, so releasing a rounded sweet-sour-spicy flavour that's not easily forgotten. Regional variations throw peanuts, dry shrimp or salted crab into the mix, the latter having a gut-cleansing talent that catches many newcomers by surprise!

6.Khao Pad (Fried Rice)

Fried rice, egg, onion, a few herbs - nothing more, nothing less. A popular lunch dish served typically with a wedge of lime and slices of cucumber, the secret of this unpretentious dish lies in its simplicity. The concept is this: you're the one devouring it, so you dress it. To do so, Thais use everything from prawns, crab or chicken to basil, chili and left-over vegetables, in the process turning an unremarkable pauper into a gastronomic prince!

7.Tom Kha kai (Chicken in coconut soup)

A mild, tamer twist on Tom Yum, this iconic soup infuses fiery chilies, thinly sliced young galangal, crushed shallots, stalks of lemongrass and tender strips of chicken. However unlike its more watery cousin, lashings of coconut milk soften its spicy blow. Topped off with fresh lime leaves, it's a sweet-smelling concoction, both creamy and compelling.

8.Pak Boong (Morning Glory)

Found all across South-East Asia, the leafy plant with hollow green stems and thin fragile leaves forms the main component of this super easy favourite. Cloves of garlic and birds eye chilies join it in a wok alongside oyster sauce, fish sauce and black fermented bean. A few lazy stirs, until the leaves are shrunk and soft, and it's done! The result is an alluring favourite with an unobtrusive flavour, a staple for those who love their Thai food but not spice induced sweats.

9.Gaeng Keow Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry)

Morsels of fresh chicken. Cherry-sized eggplants. Tender bamboo shoots. Sprigs of Coriander. Generous handfuls of sweet basil. These humble elements form the body of this seminal curry. But how does it get so gloriously green you ask? Oh, that'll be the spoons of green curry paste that's stirred furiously into hot creamy coconut milk. Sounds unexciting? Sure, but it's not. Served alongside a bowl of fragrant Thai rice, Gaeng Keow Kan Gai is the extreme opposite.

10.Yam Nua (Spicy Beef Salad)

If there was such a thing as a 'Salad Hall of Fame', Thailand's zesty own breed, or 'yam' as they are known here, would surely take pride of place. Unconvinced? Experience the fresh, fiery thrill of yam nua - with its sprightly mix of onion, coriander, spearmint, lime, dried chili and tender strips of beef - and you won't be. It perfectly embodies the invigorating in-the-mouth-thrill of all Thai salads, the yummy-ness of yam.

The Maldives

With the bluest sea that you will ever see, the calm that you don’t easily find, Maldives make a great vacation spot. Get reengaged in the tropical climes of Maldives, dress up in traditional garb and get carried in the bridal carriage and at the end of the ceremony, literally sail off into the sunset for a romantic sunset sail.

Specks of emerald green enveloped by dazzling turquoise waters like scattered beads in the ocean; white powdery beaches, tall palms lean on towards the sea, crystalline white sands giving way to crystal clear waters, shades of turquoise blend flawlessly with deeper hues of blue; pristine coral reefs and some of the most incredible underwater life on our planet. Rising from the deep blue of the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean are more than a thousand islands and thousands more reefs that form the Maldives.

Maldives Islands are characterized by a unique coral nature and thus they possess unique tourism resources though in a one-sided way, namely in the submarine and littoral environment of the islands, lagoons and reefs, associated with the year-round tropical climate.

The Maldives has twenty-six natural atolls and few island groups on isolated reefs, all of which have been divided into twenty-one administrative divisions

Things to Do

Diving

The warm seas of Maldives have high visibility throughout the year, with water clear enough to see the passing fish as far as fifty metres away at times. Add to that the marvellous formation of over 3000 coral reefs and the free flowing tides of the monsoons. The result of these perfect conditions have created one of the world’s richest diving coral reef areas.

Over a thousand species of fish and other underwater creatures inhabit the Maldivian waters. The monsoon tides of the Indian Ocean create a collection of small marine creatures as well as microscopic plant cells. This in turn creates a hub for all kinds of underwater species who gather in these waters lured by the abundance of food. In the Maldives you will get to see everything. From tiny shrimp and groups of colourful swimmers to the magnificent mantas and sharks, a careful eye will give you enough to enrapture you for a lifetime.

Dives in the Maldives usually take place along a faru (reef), a thila (a submerged aquarium like reef, on a channel where the atoll meets the ocean, or on a wreck. Night diving is particularly beautiful as is a macro dive that lets you see tiny, interesting and usually disregarded creatures up close and personal.

Surfing

Maldives is a mecca to surf-enthusiasts from all over the world, with the southwest monsoon bringing with it massive swells, especially from June to September. The sizes range from 3 – 8 feet. There are several well-known surf breaks in North and South Male’ Atoll. Resorts near these breaks are perfect for surfing aficionados, as you can get the full Maldivian experience while riding the waves to your hearts content. The lesser-known, but amazing surf breaks further away from Male’ atoll can be accessed by specialised surf cruises (often referred to as surfaries) offered by cruise operators in the country.

Virgin Islands

With over 1,190 islands and only few hundred being utilised, it is easy to find an uninhabited island anywhere in the Maldives. Make sure you take time to enjoy the experience of being alive on this untouched part of nature; the softness of sand that has not seen a human foot print for a long, long time, and the undisturbed sounds made by nature. Without a single light on the ground, the stars above come alive in abundance, while tiny lights of phosphorescence get washed up by the beachside with the wave. For a moment, it is as though you are floating among the stars. A day-time trip to a desert island is an experience of its own. The raw, unspoilt vegetation surrounded by blinding beaches and dazzling sunbeam-lined waters are like a phantasm; everything feels imagined, and you are the only person in this beautiful universe.

Spas and Hotels

Spas set in the Maldives, thus, are perfected as the ultimate getaway cocoons in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. Traditional healing methods, that have been passed on for generations as family secrets by the hakeembe (healing experts), have been incorporated into special spa programs in the Maldivian islands. The types of treatments vary with each spa but you can get almost any world-class treatment in a Maldivian spa. Every Maldivian resort has a spa; some of them nestled deep within thick vegetation, others sitting in solitude on a wooden jetty built on the lagoon, and some even built underwater. The pictures above are from The Undersea hotel in the Maldives. 

Ithaa Underwater Restaurant, at the Conrad Maldives Hotel, is the first underwater restaurant of its kind in the world. The Ithaa Restaurant sits 15 feet below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a coral reef and encased in clear acrylic, offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views. The restaurant is reached by a wooden walkway from the nearby over-water Sunset Grill Restaurant, and seats just 14 people for exclusive dining with a real difference.

Making your drink alcohol free

    I was just thinking what would the non alcohol drinkers must be doing at parties or new years, where the world is in hangover these people would be surely handling the drunker's. But not any more here are some interesting things that you can try with your drinks.
So cheers !!!


Shaker: 
In recent years, Italians have embraced a coffee drink called the Shakerato, which is just a cooled shot of espresso, a couple tablespoons of simple syrup, and ice shaken vigorously in a metal martini shaker until frothy, and then strained into a glass.


Muddle it up:
Winter produce is perfect for muddling a drink that captures the flavors of the season and can serve as an appetite-stimulating aperitif: the pestle-like muddler releases the juice and aromatic essential oils in citrus skin and seasonal herbs. Of course you can buy some hot house mint at the grocery store and muddle up a Fauxjito (a Mojito, with a bit of soda water standing in for rum) but try a more savory riff using kumquats, sugar, and rosemary.


Are you a virgin:
Long gone are the days when a Shirley Temple was the only mocktail option for teetotalers. Ordering a virgin drink at a bar can be a mindblowing mixological experience, thanks to the fact that the cocktail revolution has put more non-alcoholic mixers and ingredients in the bartender's arsenal. Add to that the fact that bartenders are better trained in improvisation, many of them offering custom cocktails based on a customer's taste. Ask a bartender to create a unique non-alcoholic cocktail using their arsenal of seasonal ingredients. If they refuse, just order a Fever Tree tonic with a twist of lime, admittedly a more respectable order than a soda gun Diet Coke. 


The Italian Way:
Half the pleasure of eating at an Italian restaurant is drinking an acidic and earthy glass of wine in between bites of pasta: it resets your palate and makes every bite of the dish taste like it's the first. Fortunately this slightly strange request is easy for restaurant to honor: Order a tall glass of soda on ice and ask for a shot of balsamic on the side. Add a bit of balsamic at a time until you get just the right balance to suit your taste: balsamic has just enough sugar and acid that when mixed with soda it can stand in for that savory tart hit that a Sangiovese or other Italian red provides at the table.


Bitter the better :
While not technically alcohol free, bitters are just about the quickest shortcut to a complex and satisfying drink that is virtually calorie-free: soda with bitters. Essentially alcohol infused with aromatic botanicals (as in spices, roots, and herbs), just a few drops of high quality bitters can impart amazing complexity of flavor to a glass of soda while adding only the tiniest amount of alcohol. And we are going through an artisanal bitters renaissance, with flavours like hubarb, sour cherry, chocolate, and spices being produced by companies like Fee Brothers, Regan's, Bitter Truth, and Miracle Mile Bitter's Company.

Ways to make your dessert healthy

        Are you absolutely in love with desserts? and calorie conscious at the same time? Try out these substitutes and keep your indulgence in dessert going on like always without having to care about the extra calories.

 1)   Smaller portions. Instead of cupcakes, make mini cupcakes. This goes for frosting, too. Just use less. Either one of these techniques will put you ahead of the game without substituting a single ingredient.

 2)   Reduce sugar. Cut the amount of sugar called for in a recipe by half. If this sounds too drastic, try reducing it by a quarter. You don't even have to replace it and in nearly every case, no one will ever notice.

 3)   Substitute for sugar. Honey, agave and maple syrup are all great natural sweeteners. But because these are all liquid, don't replace the white sugar entirely unless you're feeling adventurous. If your recipe calls for one cup of sugar, try 2/3 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of honey instead. If that works well, use even more honey next time.

 4)  Use whole wheat flour. An easy way to add a bit of fibre and reduce the amount of overly processed food coming your way, whole wheat flour is often available in organic versions, too. Start baking with a blend, half whole wheat and half white flour, and if you still enjoy your favourite recipes, transition your flour supply to all whole wheat.

 5)    Add wheat germ. Full of folic acid and fibre, wheat germ makes its way into most baked goods at our place and no one is ever the wiser. For every cup of flour called for in a recipe, substitute ¼ cup of flour with wheat germ. Because you can see the brown flakes, wheat germ is a good addition to chunky recipes such as crisps, chocolate cookies and cakes.

 6)   Add oat bran. Another great-for-you food, oat bran can be added in place of ¼ cup of flour in lighter coloured recipes such as yellow cake, chocolate chip cookies and pancakes.

 7)   Replace oil with applesauce. Replace half the oil in any recipe with applesauce. This is an easy, can't-fail step that works as brilliantly forspice cakes and banana muffin  as it does a boxed cake mix.

 8)   Use white beans in place of butter. Since the consistency of applesauce is more liquid than butter, pureed white beans are a great substitute for half the butter called for in a recipe. Don't forgo all the butter because that delicious flavor has no substitute but beans will keep your cakes just as moist. Even pound cake.

 9)  Add vegetables. If you have picky eaters, this secret weapon does double duty. Vegetables like pureed roasted beets or spinach actually keep cakes from drying out while adding a bounty of vitamins that some small fries might not be getting much of.

10) Focus on fruit. When choosing a sweet treat, seek out recipes that have fruits, cobblers, banana, bread and even vegetables by way of carrot cake and zucchini bread. Increase the amount of produce called for by half and your dish will only be more full of flavour and richness. If you sense that it needs more baking time due to extra juices and thickness, just add a few more minutes in the oven. In the end you'll have a delicious treat packed with nutrition.

Bonus: Say yes to nuts. Whenever a recipe calls for nuts--walnuts, sesame seeds, almonds, pecans, cashews, and so on--go for it.

One final thought. Some people are excellent at eating in moderation. Sweet treats make their way onto plates only every once in a while and for those rare occasions, it's awesome to indulge. Especially when you're eating healthy the rest of the time.

Festivals and Events You Must See in Italy

When you are traveling to Italy, you can make your trip even more memorable by being a part of the wonderful and unique festivals they celebrate. Italy has so much to offer that your trip is not complete without seeing some of these events and festivals!

 

Carnevale di Venezia

The whole of Venice becomes a platform for the Carnival with different events happening here and there. St Mark’s Square is usually the hub, but during the nearly 2 weeks of celebrations you’ll find people wearing masks all over the city. You can combine your Venice Carnival experience with sightseeing around this truly beautiful city; enjoy a gondola on the canals, cross the famous Rialto Bridge, marvel at the architecture of St Mark’s Square, and visit just a few of the many excellent museums.

The masks remain the trade mark of the Carnival of Venice and there are many excellent shops in the city where you can buy a mask, from the most beautiful to the frightening! Masks are on sale throughout the year, not just during Carnival time, though obviously during Carnival time they are in much higher demand! Carnival of Venice began in the late 1200s, so that everyone could just enjoy themselves without the classification into upper or lower classes. There are many Masquerade balls and many other events held in Venice during this time.

The Venice Carnival is an adventure worth to be experienced and it is one that you will never forget!

Festa del Redentore

The Festa del Redentore is an event held in Venice in July where the fireworks light up the Venice Sky. In 2012, it will be the 14th and 15th.

On Saturday evening at 7pm the 333m-long bridge, called the Ponte Votivo ('votive bridge') is opened and there is a special religious ceremony at the Redentore Church. Around this time you'll see boats and barges laden with festival-goers making their way along the canals to take their places on the water. 

Families sit around tables in specially-decorated boats. All kinds of vessel are hired out for the occasion, including transport barges. Some of these, packed with young revellers, moor cheek-by-jowl to create a kind of multi-boat disco. People who do not have boats stay at the waterside. Local people, some of whom have previously chalked 'reservations' on the waterfront, bring out tables and chairs and enjoy convivial meals.

Around 10 o’clock, the lagoon shore and all Venice's roof terraces are packed for the big event, the firework display. The firework display takes place over the water between St. Mark's and the Giudecca, and lasts around half an hour. The fireworks last for around 45 to 60 minutes, illuminating the night and arousing intense emotions in both Venetians and visitors. Once the fireworks are over, the young people of the city head off to the Lido, where they sit on the sand and wait for dawn.

Palio di Siena

The Palio di Siena (known locally simply as Il Palio) is a horse race that is held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16, in Siena, Italy. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrades, or districts into which the town is divided. The Palio is run to celebrate the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary near the old houses that belonged to Provenzano Salvani. The holy apparition was therefore called "Madonna di Provenzano" in whose honour the very first Palio was run on August 16, 1656.

The preparations for this parade are slow and methodical like a liturgical procedure. Four days before the day of the Palio trials take place in the "Campo" square which is turned into a race track. A thick layer of earth is spread on the ground and a row of mattresses is placed against the walls at the dangerous corner of San Martino to protect the jockeys in case they fall.

All around the track, perched up against the walls of the houses, seats are arranged one behind and above the other like bleachers. Windows, balconies and loggias, too, are made ready for the visitors; 33,000 seats in all, but they are far from sufficient and are always sold out long before the day of the performance.

Scoppio del Carro 

The Scoppio del Carro ("Explosion of the Cart") is a folk tradition of Florence, Italy. On Easter Sunday, a cart, packed full of fireworks and other pyrotechnics, is lit and provides a historic spectacle in the civic life of the city.

On the morning of Easter Sunday, the 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) antique cart (in use for over 500 years), moves from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza del Duomo . Hauled by a team of white oxen festooned with garlands of the first flowers and herbs of spring, the cart is escorted by 150 soldiers, musicians, and people in 15th century dress. 

Meanwhile, a fire is struck using the historic flints from Jerusalem at Chiesa degli Santi Apostoli. It is then carried in procession to the cathedral square by members of the Pazzi family, clerics, and city officials. The cart is loaded with fireworks while a wire, stretching to the high altar inside the cathedral, is fitted with a mechanical dove (the "columbina"). Shortly thereafter, at the singing of the Gloria in excelsis Deo during Easter Mass, the cardinal of Florence lights a fuse in the columbina with the Easter fire.

It then speeds through the church to ignite the cart outside. During all of these stages, the bells of Giotto's campanile ring out. The complex fireworks show that follows lasts about 20 minutes. A successful display from the "Explosion of the Cart" is supposed to guarantee a good harvest, stable civic life, and good business.

Infiorata – The Flower Art Festival

Many Italian towns hold an infiorata, flower art festival, during May and June (look for posters announcing an infiorata). Flower petals are used to create amazing works of art in the streets or in abbeys, a really beautiful sight. In some places, the infiorata is a simple flower-petal design in front of the church. At a more elaborate infiorata several different tapestries are created, each with a different picture, but often centred on a theme.

To create the picture, the design is first sketched in chalk on the pavement. Soil is usually used to outline the design and then it's filled in with thousands of petals and seeds, much like the making of mosaics or tapestries (but with different materials). The entire process takes two or three days to complete. Often a religious procession takes place on the flower carpets after they are completed.

Truffle Fairs

Truffles are a top Italian fall culinary item and are celebrated with truffle fairs and festivals in central and northern Italy. Going to a truffle fair is a must for foodies visiting Italy.

Truffles are found primarily in the regions of Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, and Le Marche. During October and November there are many white truffle fairs held in these regions and fall dishes made with the white truffle, tartufo bianco, are plentiful in this part of Italy. What could be more romantic than feasting on a meal made with the sensuous truffle?

Going to a truffle fair is worthwhile even if you don't want to buy truffles. The scent of fresh truffles fills the air and there are locally made truffle dishes to try (usually for much less than you'd pay in a restaurant). There's often entertainment and concession stands sell local foods such as cheese, salami, honey, and wine.

Maschera di Ferro

Maschera di Ferro is a historic reenactment of the Man in the Iron mask legend. According to the legend, the man in the iron mask was held for 11 years in the French fortress of Pignerol (old spelling of Pinerolo), in Piedmont on the first weekend of October.

Street performances in the squares and streets of Pinerolo's historic center are the highlight of Saturday evening, la notte del moschettieri. Other events include a Sunday morning special mass in the cathedral, lectures, demonstrations, and dinners.