restored indian palace

 

With a site bursting with amazing places to stay it's hard to choose my favourites, but here goes ...

American Safari Cruises - Children and cruises don't usually go together but these itineraries are great with up close wildlife and kayaking from the boat and a special children's programme. click

Devi Garh - This stylish palace in Rajasthan gives the best of both worlds, being in a rural location there are great outdoor activities available, whilst also being close to the city of Udaipur.  click

Hotel Costa Verde, Boeing 727 Fuselage Suite - This 2 bedroom suite would provide privacy with jungle and ocean views on the doorstep of one of Costa Rica's National Parks. click

Belrepayre Airstream Trailer Park - If you like a spot of retro this is the place to be.  Sleep in an authentic American vintage caravan at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains.  After a days hike, chill out to a DJ spinning tunes in the Apollo Lounge. click

Club La Santa - We have been here and all the family love it.  If you like a active holiday and want to come home fitter than when you left go to this great sports hotel in Lanzarote. click

Kooljaman Cape Leveque - I love the unspoilt beauty of the west coast of Australia so I would love to stay at a beach shelter here. clickger tent in Mongolia

Three Camel Lodge - Surely Mongolia epitomises being off the beaten track, but staying in the gers (traditional tents) here means that you don't compromise on comfort.  click  For travellers on a budget the Anak Ranch would offer a more raw experience. click

The Pavilion Hotel, London - Next time I stay in London I'm going to check this place out.  Reasonably priced, a good location and fun funky themed rooms. click

Biological Reserve Huilo Huilo - There are accommodation types for every budget here and the rainforest, lake and volcano surroundings of this Chilean nature reserve offer a wide variety of activities. clickMirrorcube treehouse

Any of the treehouses on the site would be great but my favourites are Free Spirit Spheres click on Vancouver Island and the unique designs of the Treehotel in Sweden. click

Find all these and more on QuirkyAccom.com

blogSemana Santa or Holy Week is celebrated with much ceremony throughout Spain and Latin America.  Processions mark the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Nowhere is this seen with more vibrancy and drama than in Antigua.  This ancient city of Guatamala, found in the central highlands, is famous for its Baroque architecture, although many crumbling buildings and spectacular ruins can be seen illustrating the damage of past earthquakes.  

The cobbled streets are the stage for the processions that sway solemnly to the mournful thump and roll of the drums and blasts of brass.   These lead the many visitors and participants through Holy Week until the joyous celebrations of Easter Sunday.

Giant floats, or pasos, carrying Christ at various stages in his journey, weighing as much as 3000 kilos are carried on the shoulders of 50 or more cucuruchos.  These worshippers in ceremonial robes, feel honoured to take their turn as a form of penance.  At times these parades tread their route around the city for 8 hours, with perhaps the hardest task falling to the musicians for their unbroken accompaniment.  Good Friday sees Roman soldiers lining the route and mock-trials of Jesus.

Jess_Backback-5I'm Jess - aged 42 (and I wont update this each year - that's old enough!). I'm a wife and mother, and a person with umph, who likes to travel, and write and who is always looking for the next challenge.  The perfect combination for a new blog!

I don't have a string of qualifications or impressive job titles behind me; this is mainly because I couldn't stand still long enough to acquire them!  From ages 18 - 28 I travelled pretty much non-stop, on a very low budget, and mostly alone (or more often with changing companions - friendships made in a day - many of which continue now).