WITH sunglasses perched on her head, the woman knelt and put a bunch of flowers at the gravestone marked J Dawson. Kissing the tips of her fingers, she tenderly touched the top of the headstone before walking back to the waiting tour bus. Everyone who saw the movie Titanic, released in the UK in 1998, remembers handsome Jack Dawson, the romantic liner passenger played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Twenty years on, many of the cruise- ship crowd and other tourists who visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s eastern coast make a beeline for the J Dawson grave in Fairview Cemetery — where 121 victims of the 1912 maritime tragedy are buried. There is just one thing, though. It was erected in memory of a different Dawson — Joseph, rather than Jack. But a local tour guide friend later advises me over a drink in a downtown bar: “If you spot a female fan of the fictional Jack Dawson putting flowers next to the J Dawson headstone, my advice is, ‘Keep shtum!’.” … [Read more...] about Halifax is a must for anyone interested in the Titanic – but a visit to the Canadian city is not all about doom and gloom
Travel
Who needs Thailand? The best alternative gap year destinations, from Laos to Sri Lanka
It's that time of year when grades have rolled in, plans are being made, and others are being put on hold as disappointments are digested. And when other schemes are being hatched, for travels into the distant yonder - for a few weeks, a few months, or longer. The list of gap year destinations is a reasonably familiar one. A dash of Australia here, a dose of New Zealand there, a soupcon of Thailand, perhaps a dalliance with the Inca Trail in Peru. This may not be familiarity to the point of cliche, but it is certainly good reason for a travel feature suggesting a few feasible alternatives to the old staples. As an aside, this article does not suggest an alternative to New Zealand - which is also a gap year stalwart. Because, really, there isn't an alternative to New Zealand - unless you want to stay in the UK and stroll the Scottish Highlands instead. Which rather defeats the object of taking 12 months off to follow your nose to the ends of the planet. But as for Thailand, Australia, … [Read more...] about Who needs Thailand? The best alternative gap year destinations, from Laos to Sri Lanka
Extreme for adventure seeking travelers in Gabala
By Naila Huseynli Today, tourism is one of the most profitable sectors of the economy in Azerbaijan. Gabala is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country. Tufandag is located four kilometers away from Gabala city. Over the past years tourism has rapidly developed in this region, and there are many opportunities for tourists. The city allows visitors to enjoy different extreme sports and tourism activities in the harmony with nature. From the winter months of this year, Paraplane flights became another fun and extreme type of entertainment in Gabala. The region’s nature landscape and the ambiance make this place more favorable space for flights. Flights are carried out from Tufandag every day starting at 10 am and the flight duration is 10-15 minutes, said Alexander Makarov, the organizer of flights in Gabala. Makarov told Trend that both domestic and foreign tourists are interested in flights: “We are carrying out five or six flights per day depending … [Read more...] about Extreme for adventure seeking travelers in Gabala
Frustrated Brit holidaymakers complain on Twitter after Ryanair website goes down
RYANAIR'S website went down earlier today as frustrated Brit holiday makers attempted to book travel and check in online. Dozens of annoyed sunseekers took to Twitter to vent their irritation this lunchtime. One person tweeted: "Is your website down; trying to check in for over an hour now - blank screen." Another said: "What's wrong with the check in page? It's frozen! It ages to move to next page? Anyone can help?" An eager travelling posted: "Having real trouble with your website! Trying to book a flight I found on sky scanner but your site is failing miserably." A note on the site's homepage said it was down for maintenance, but as of midday appeared to back up and running again. GRIM FIND Bodies of pregnant wife & kids found at 'killer' husband's work after TV plea 'BULLIED TO DEATH' Nurse and mum of two killed herself after 'bullying by NHS colleagues' ERN FOR IT Brits could get another HEATWAVE next week - but Storm Ernseto will hit first PUNISH the PUSHER Girl, 16, who was … [Read more...] about Frustrated Brit holidaymakers complain on Twitter after Ryanair website goes down
Why this Nordic gem should be your next city break
As the nights start to lengthen, celebrate the end of summer in Finland. Go now The Finnish capital (myhelsinki.fi) is currently saluting the last vestiges of summer via the Helsinki Festival (helsinginjuhlaviikot.fi/en until Sept 2) – two weeks of music, drama, dance and film, spread around venues across the city. Flights are available with BA (ba.com) from Heathrow, Finnair (finnair.com) from Edinburgh, Heathrow and Manchester – and Norwegian (norwegian.com) from Gatwick. Stay here Hotel F6 (1) (telegraph.co.uk/tt-hotel-f6/) is a stylish boutique option set just in from the harbour front. Doubles from €168 (£150), with breakfast. The five-star Hotel Kamp (2) (telegraph.co.uk/tt-helsinki-kamp) has been decorating Pohjoisesplanadi since 1887. Doubles for €306, room only. Walk here Gain a snapshot of the city by standing at the west end of Pohjoisesplanadi and admiring the Swedish Theatre (3) (svenskateatern.fi). Stroll east, through Esplanadi … [Read more...] about Why this Nordic gem should be your next city break