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After my official Montreal bike tour, my individual explorations of the Lachine Canal and my chat with André from Ça Roule, I decided to go for a little stroll to explore Montreal's Port area which was hustling and bustling with celebrations on this Canada Day. I strolled out on Jacques Cartier Pier to an outdoor concert stage where two well-known Canadian singers, Kim Richardson and Sylvie Desgroseillers were enchanting the audience with Mo-Town and R&B melodies.

I walked east and happened onto a huge playground area on the little island in the Bassin Bonsecours that was a family entertainment zone. Kids were sliding up and down and in and out of a whole variety of huge inflatable slides. Freestyle skiers were jumping off a large ramp and performing summersaults and various aerial acrobatics. The whole area was packed with people enjoying themselves on a beautiful summer day. I walked up Place Jacques Cartier and into a small pedestrian street called Rue des Amables which is full of portrait artists and galleries. At the end of this little street I found my dinner destination: Galiano's.

Galiano's is located in a 200 year-old building on a small cobble-stoned street in Old Montreal. Formerly a "boîte à chanson" it opened its doors eight years ago. The restaurant stretches over two floors with an open area in the middle and a wooden staircase leading up to the second floor with seating on an interior balcony. The street-side patio adds additional seating capacity and ambience to this rustic restaurant.

Always a big fan of Italian cuisine, I was looking forward to a filling meal after a day packed with exercise and activities. The whole area around the restaurant and Old Montreal in general was absolutely hustling and bustling with people and everyone was in good spirits, ready to celebrate since it was Canada Day. Street performers were entertaining the crowd. At just before 6 pm it was still a bit early and I was fortunate to find a seat in the lounge area of the restaurant that features several tables flanking an arrangement of leather couches in front of the fireplace.

For a few minutes I was able to catch the owner, John Tsinas, to find out more about this culinary establishment. John is part of Montreal's famous Antonopoulos family that owns a variety of hospitality restaurants and hotels in Old Montreal. His uncles are silent partners in Galiano's. John's younger brothers Manny and Peter also work with him in the business. At 40 years of age John is the oldest, and the two other brothers are each five years apart. John says that Manny is the people person and today Manny was seating customers, tryig to keep up with the sheer onslaught of customers that were just streaming into Galiano's.

Manny is also the man with the creative ideas and he was the one that came up with the idea for lounge area and some of the new decorating styles featured at Galianos. Another new idea is to use a small balcony area above the entrance door as a location for a DJ or some live music. And a wine cellar next to the entrance is presently under construction and will be opened in the near future.

John has a lot of experience in the hospitality industry: he started working in the restaurant business at age 14 and has worked his way up all the way from the bottom. He even ran a food warehouse for McGill University which included restocking the vending machines and was a waiter at three different restaurants prior to opening Galiano's. John added that he still thinks like an employee and because of his hands-on experience he always treats his staff members with respect. His working style is very hands-on, he says that today he will be calling out the orders in his kitchen and preparing them for the waiters.

Galiano's is known for its Italian cuisine and its generous portion sizes. Everything is made from scratch at Galiano's. John mentioned their signature dishes: Scaloppini alla Veronica, their Antipasto Misto, a Filetto Tre Sapori, home made Lasagna as well as their Quattro Stagioni Pizza. John recommended that I try Galiano's Calamari Fritti. Just about 10 minutes after my order a steaming plate of juicy and tasty calamari arrived, the perfect introduction to a filling meal. I followed it up with a Galiano Salad: a huge plate of salad with cold cuts and cheese. John wasn't kidding when he talked about huge portion sizes!

John of course had to get back to work after our little chat, but I thoroughly enjoyed my evening meal and by the time I was finished, the lineup was stretching all the way out the door and down the street. Galiano's is obviously a favourite destination for many in Old Montreal and for me it was a great starting point for my evening discoveries which would include the official Canada Day Celebrations and a big concert in the Old Port of Montreal.

India is one of the most popular tourist destinations in south Asia. It fulfills the wish of each type of tourists. It offer everything to tourists what a tourist can ask for? When you will be in India tours you will observe that India surprises you with its eye-catching locations, timeless monuments, blazing deserts, exhilarating wild life, exciting adventure & sports, snow caped mountain peaks and valleys, blooming valleys, magnificient forts & palaces, eternal rivers, enticing cultural tradition, lovely lakes and beaches, and warm & friendly hospitality of Indian people. Over all, India provides something new, something extra on your every step while you are traveling in India.

Among above mentioned attractions of India, beautiful beaches have their own unique significance. With its unique charm and fascination, beaches of India never fail to allure you. Beach tourism is the major factor of India's rapidly growing tourism industry. Every year thousands of tourists around the world come to India especially for India beach tour.

Endowed with sun, sand, sea and serenity beaches of Goa summon thousands of beach lover tourists for India beach tour because India has the most appealing varieties of lovely beaches which you can hardly find anywhere in the world. Easy going lagoons and backwaters, nautical estuaries swarming with fish, roaring waves, pure powdery golden sand or palm fringed sea-shores where the mind is appeased with the peaceful whisper of the sea – what a beach lover tourist ask for?

Among all lovely beaches of India, Goa beaches have their own unique charm and significance. Goa beaches are dotted with picturesque little beach huts that provide ice cold beer and spicy & delicious Goan cuisine. It is said that Goa beaches are like the curves of a young woman's body – warm, appealing and sensuous. Baga Beach, Bambolim Beach, Bambolim Beach, Benaulim Beach, Palolem Beach, Agonda Beach, Anjuna Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Sinquerim Beach, Sinquerim Beach, Sinquerim Beach and Cavelossim Beaches are some of predominant beaches of Goa.

In addition to Goa beaches and other beaches in India, south India is also famous among tourists for its spectacular beaches and stunning lagoons & backwaters. South India beaches create a soothing ambience for the tourists who came to Travel to India. South India beaches are the much loved picnic spot for the tourists. South India beaches have not only serene sea and soft sand but also the lovely garden nearby the beaches which enhance the beauty of beaches.

In south India, set amidst the blue of the Arabian Sea and the lush green state of Kerala, there is famous beach resort- Kovalam. Kovalam beach resort is regarded as the one of the most popular sea resorts in India. Apart from Kovalam beach, there are also many other spectacular beaches in south India, such as; Kanyakumari Beach, Marina Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Malpe Beach etc.

If you are planning for India beach tour, come to India and enjoy the fascination of Indian beaches which is endowed with spectacular views and create a soothing ambiance for the tourists.

Without a doubt Europe and North America have some of the best ski vacation destinations that allow skiers to ski the fabled slopes all the way from Aspen, Colorado to the slopes of Park City to the peaks of the Andes. Europe provides idyllic skiing opportunities in Switzerland, Italy, Scandinavia and more. In spite of the misconception that American ski resorts are overcrowded, there are more than six hundred snowy playgrounds that are not only unheralded, but also relatively uncongested.

Mammoth Mountain, Aspen, Banff And More

Mammoth Mountain, California is big and includes a ski season that lasts till June or July. It even boasts of a ski school with hundreds of instructors, and provides high quality groomed snow throughout the winters. Aspen, Colorado is famous, and has many black-diamond runs as well as steep, narrow trails twists down. As a skier you face the challende of taking on the Rockies. Aspen certainly has quality terrain combined with powder and steep drops that comprises over six hundred acres of skiing excellence. With expert runs and room enough for first-time skiers, Aspen is a hot spot for North American ski vacations.

Another popular North American ski vacation destination is Banff. It is located in Canada. It has been in existence since 1883 and has been a haven for skiers from all across the world down to this day. This ski destination provides three ski areas that have more than two hundred and fifty runs spread over 7,700 acres and is consistently rated as being the top ski destination for skiers as well as snowboarders.

The Andes provides plenty of skiing opportunities and the list of ski resorts is quite long. The Andes of Argentina is certain to provide world class ski vacation opportunities and you can be sure to find a day or two of satisfying downhill skiing available at places such as Las Lenas, Cerro Catedral and Chapelco. There are also limited skiing options available on the volcanoes of the Los Nevados range in Colombia.

In Ecuador, one can ski the four highest peaks called Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe and Antisana. Peru too has potential for exploratory skiing, while one may want to try out the Chacaltaya Mountain just outside La Paz in Bolivia.

Europe no doubt is a haven for skiing and there are many ski vacation destinations you can choose from including Davos, Adelboden, Champery, Engelberg, Gstaad and many more skiing destinations in Switzerland. Davos is certainly the largest ski resort in Switzerland. It is also the highest city in Europe and is one of the oldest and most fashionable ski resorts that has an enviable reputation for providing excellent skiing along with an exciting night-life. It has five ski areas on both sides of the valley and has much variety in terms of terrain that is ideally suited for alpine skiing.

Of special interest to serious skiers would be a ski vacation that takes in Zermatt in Switzerland, Innsbruck in Austria and Chamonix in France. Also favored are ski vacations in Italy where the Dolomoti Mountains comprise ski regions like no other and high peaks coupled with gentle slopes provide excellent skiing. There is plenty of adventure available for everyone and with an abundance of ski vacation packages available, you can find entertainment, excellent shopping as well as an international skiing holiday for the beginner as well as the experienced skier.

Further north in Scandinavia can be found plenty of skiing opportunities like the impressive Lillehammer Olympic region in Norway. Looking for the very best in Alpine and cross-country skiing? Try the Hafjell Ski resort. It offers excellent ski conditions with Soft-Packed and Machine-Groomed snow. Oslo has the famous Holmenkollen ski jump that attracts plenty of visitors taking a ski vacation in Norway.

Once you have planned your dream ski vacation, it is necessary to know what to pack since this is a difficult part that involves selecting ski gear such as jackets, pants, gloves, helmets, goggles, base layers and more. Whatever you do, don't forget to pack the ski wear in the order that you will be wearing them. Pack ski accessories as well as those items of clothing you will wear when you are not skiing. Above all, you should make sure to pack ski equipment such as your ski boots, skis, and poles. Also we recommend that you have a ski bag for them. Of course, if you would rather travel lightly, which is what we would recommend, then renting your ski gear is the way to go!

Sweden is the largest Scandinavian country and it offers you several opportunities for cultural and outdoor activities. You have plenty of opportunities to explore the glorious history of the country while visiting the cities which are fine examples of cosmopolitan and modern society. Extensive forest region, 90,000 lakes, mountains, and beautiful sea are the wonderful assets of the country. Obviously, to have the pleasure of seeing all this, you need to stay longer over there. Cheap Sweden hotels are the best option if budget is anyway a matter of concern for you. Despite being on the outskirts of Europe, Sweden never lost its fabulous cultural taste. The chiefs of the then kingdom used to invite artists from all across the globe to their courts. This trend helped Swedish people immensely in developing own traditional, cultural and architectural heritages.

Four of the greatest cities, Stockholm, Linkoping, Gothenburg and Malmo have all the good traits to bring smile on your face. The capital city Stockholm is a hi-tech city which has a fine historical background. Predecessors such as Uppsala, Birka, Kykoping and Sigtuna surround the city. You must enjoy the famous trip Gothenburg on boat through the Gota Canal that connects Gothenburg with Stockholm. You will find plenty of interesting facts about both medieval and modern history of aviation and electronics while on the trip through the central plain and valleys of Sweden. Some of the cheap hotels in Sweden also have incredible configuration when it comes to get impressed by the superb architectural design.

Gothenburg is the industrial town of the country. It is the commercial capital of the country. Large international port dominates the city. Malmo is another city in the south which is cosier and has a more common touch. Nature has bestowed upon a lot of blessings to the southern region of the country. Warm and sandy beaches, rural landscape with beautiful manors and patches of woods pervade through the region.

What exactly is Small Group Adventure Travel?

Lucky means many things to many people. I have never won a large sum of money in fact I never won anything really. I have a nice place to stay and enough to eat but I work for that so I'm not sure how much it has to do with luck. I find more red lights than green and I never get away with anything that is even slightly naughty. But I am a lucky man.

I have worked in small group adventure travel for 10 years now I have experienced many countries andsights, made real friends and learnt a great deal. Travel makes me happy and a happy man is a lucky man.

Small group adventures is a fast growing sector of the travel industry, some say the fastest, but it's a style of travel that has many misconceptions. Unlike other styles of travel such as cruising, or a beach resort the words small group adventure is quite cloudy for travellers and travel agents alike. So what I want to do, as simply as I can, is clarify what small group adventure is all about.

Adventure-
Adventure is the word that starts to confuse us because adventure means different things to different travellers. Think of this type of adventure as a genuine experience of a country and it's people. So if we are having an adventure in Tuscany, for example, we would stay in a beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, meet Tuscans in a local restaurant eating great Tuscan food. Now if we were having a genuine experience in say Papua we will be trekking through thick jungle, staying in a remote village house and the food, well, it will be local.

Escorted tours in small groups-
The words group or escorted tour can conjure up visions of name badges, flag waving guides and one hour toilet stops. Small groups average 12 people of many nationalities from different backgrounds and all ages. Small groups mean more attention from guides and leaders and a lot more freedom. For most it is a relaxed way to travel that gives you freedom and expert local knowledge but takes the hassles of day to day travelling away.

Age-
The average age of one of our travellers is 18 to 70. Travellers are attracted to different destinations, level of budget and comfort. This determines what type of person travels on which trip. Generally the group you are travelling with will have chosen that trip for the same reasons as you. Will they be the same age as you? Maybe but you will find you will have a lot in common.

Accommodation-
Small groups do not need to book big hotels. Your budget determines the facilities of your place to stay but not the comfort. People travelling on a budget will be staying in basic but clean, comfortable and central accommodation. You can afford something a little more then stay with a Maharajah in his palace or in a family run 4 star boutique hotel. You can afford the best then we will find you the best hotels hand picked for their uniqness.

Responsible Travel-
The only time you can have more fun being responsible than not being responsible is travelling. Giving back to people who welcome you to their country is a responsible thing to do. How can we do this? We can use operators that take us to eat in a good local restaurants, that use family run hotels, that use local businesses to help run their trips, we could buy some souvenirs from the markets or visit some sight that is away from the crowds. We could also use operators that have different community projects help those that need help the most. We can even get involved in those projects by donations or spending a couple of days helping out on a volunteer holiday.

This, I hope, clears some of the haze surrounding small group adventures. There are many other questions to be answered I'm sure so you can contact me on the address below.