POLAND

TATRA MOUNTAIN

Poland is a beautiful country for a great holiday and one you will never forget.

In 1980 Poland broke free from communism and it was the first country to do so. The new government reformed, privatised and joined the European Union.

Poland is a large country in Central Europe and has an area of 312,680 sq km.

The country borders in the east with the Russian Federation, Lithuania, Belarus and the Ukraine. In the south and west it borders on Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany. The three major rivers are the Oder, Warta and the largest, most important, the Vistula.

The Vistula's spring is in the black granite Tatra Mountains in the very south. Then it makes its way through the green hills of the Carpathians, the woods and limestone caves of central Poland, the lakes and woodlands of the north and eventually the pine forests and sandy beaches of the coast.

Poland has untouched and huge forests. The Bialowieza Forest Park which is in the west of the country has the last remaining herd of wild European bison. The forest also has wild boar, wolves, foxes, deer, elks and brown bears roaming freely in the mountainous countryside.

BIALOWIEZA FOREST 
ANCIENT FOREST 
NATIONAL PARK

LAST EUROPEAN BISON 
AT A SECRET LOCATION 
THE BIALOWIEAZA FOREST

WARSAW  - TOWN CENTRE

Poland's climate has warm summers and very cold winters

ECONOMY

The main Polish economy has always been manufacturing, mining and agriculture. The main crop is potato, sugar beet and wheat. Poland changed in 1989 from planned economy to free-market and after that encouraged investment from western businesses.

HISTORY

Poland's past history was turbulent to say the least. The country is between powerful nations of the east and west. In the 6th and 7th centuries AD the West Slavs occupied most of the area which is now Poland.

In the 14th century Poland regained its power. King Casimir III, a great and powerful king, was the last of the Piast Dynasty. He supposed to have said that he found a Poland of wood and left it when it was made of masonry.

In the 16th century Poland and Lithuania joined and as a commonwealth was the largest country in Europe.

The many wars and bad leaderships finally broke Poland's back. In 1772, 1793 and eventually in 1795 Poland's land was divided up into Prussia, Russia and Austria. After that Poland did not exist anymore. The Treaty of Versailles, in 1919, gave land back to Poland. A dictator, Jozef Pilsudski, ruled in Poland till 1935. Poland economy was weak again.

The worst time in Polish history was when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 in Gdansk. Between 1939 and 1945 Poland lost six million people which were 20% of its population.

The Teheran Conference in 1943 Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin gave all land east of the Oder and Neisse rivers to Poland.

In 1944 the Warsaw Uprising left the capital destroyed and 250,000 people died. After that Poland went into a depression. In 1956 workers in Poznan rioted over wages. In 1970 the living conditions were bad and food prices were rising which made the workers in northern Poland go on strike.

BALTIC COAST 

PIENINY MOUNTAINS

1980 saw more strikes and spreading. A political party 'Solidarity' was formed and its leader was Lech Walesa. The Communist state government tried to stop the movement, arrest were made and enforcement of martial law was declared. In 1989 the political party Solidarity became legal.

In 1990 General Wojciech Jaruzelski stepped down from being a president and was replaced by Lech Walesa. This was Poland's turning point.

On 18 September 1993 the last Russian soldier left Poland. It was 54 years from when Stalin ordered his troops to invade Poland. In November 1995 presidential elections were held and Lech Walesa lost to the new president Aleksander Kwansnieski.

Gdansk is on the Motlava River which branches from the Vistula. Gdansk is Poland's largest port and a major shipbuilding centre. The Solidarity movement started there in 1980.

In the 19th century Frederic Chopin, who was Polish, was a genius. In 1817 at the age of seven, he publishes his Polonaise in G.  At the age of 20 he was celebrated as Poland's national composer.

GDANSK - THE LONG MARKET

ZAKOPANE - 
TATRE MOUNTAIN

SLOWINSKI NATIONAL PARK

KRAKOW

Poland a beautiful country for a great holiday and here are just a few details to see and visit.

Zakopane, has the name of Poland's winter Capital. The Tatra Mountains are a popular ski resort. The town is at the foot of Mt. Giewont and has an altitude of about 900m. Poland's highest peak is Rysy with 2500m, in the Tatra Mountains near the border of Slovakia. In the summer there is a horse-drawn carriage going up the mountain to the lake. In the winter they use 
sledges. There are many hiking trails and caves to explore. Hotels have open fires and wooden inside interior which gives a homely and cosy atmosphere.

Krakow with its medieval streets, elegant mansions and beautiful castles. The old town with its towers and fascinating ancient churches had survived the war.

Warsaw was very much destroyed but it is still impressive with skyscrapers next to beautiful palaces. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage which visits to some of the most outstanding attraction.

In any Polish city or village it is hard to pass-by a restaurant with their mouth-watering welcome. The food is mostly home-cooked and you will have a feast for a very reasonable price.

Auschwitz a bus-ride of 60 km from Krakow where the atrocities happened to Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and Jehovah's witnesses. A place of heartbreak and sorrows.

Gdansk on the Baltic Coast. The birthplace of Solidarity. The centre on the Polish Rivera and the beginning of the castle country. Nearby are 1000 lakes and a spectacular scenery.

The Baltic coastline is 528 km long and has on average 22oC.in the summer. Broad sandy beaches, scenic dunes are ideal for bathing, sun tanning and leisure activities. The Baltic Beaches have a collection of amber washed up by the sea.

Bledow Desert in the south of Poland and is about 32 sq km. One of the five natural deserts in Europe and the warmest. Created thousands of years ago by melting glacier with an average of 40m thickness. The sea's activity in Slowinski National Park created sand dunes. Waves and wind carry sand inland and the dunes slowly move at a speed of 3 to 10 m per year. Some dunes are 30m high.

Poland has 30 primeval forests, mainly in Masuria, Pomeranian and Carpathian foot-hills. The forests have a tremendous wildlife like red-deer, roe-deer, wild boars, foxes, raccoon dogs, pine martens, lynx and wolves. Also rare forest birds like the western capercaillie and hazel grouse. Somewhere in the forests are the last remnants of the original UR- horse and very guarded.

With sightseeing of all these old cities, and castles, hiking in mountainous areas and beautiful forests. Swimming and sun-bathing on the Baltic coast, wondering in the sand-dunes, bird and animal watching and travelling from end to the other. There won't be enough time to be bored.

CITY OF ZAMASC  -  UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

CZECH REPUBLIC

BEAUTIFUL PRAGUE - 
THE MOST VISITED CITY IN EUROPE

When you visit the Czech Republic you will have a great holiday experience. The country borders on Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia. It has no coastal areas and lies in the centre of Europe. It contains Bohemia and Moravia. Bohemia's borders are natural by mountains. They are the Sumavas and Ore Mountains along the German border. The Sudetan Highland is across the Polish border. The river Elbe flows across to the north Germany. The Vltava is Czech longest river at 430km and flows through Prague.

The fertile Moravin is surrounded by the Bohemo-Moravian Highlands in the West, Sudetans in the north and the White Carpathians in the east. The Moravian karst, a rough limestone country, north of Brno is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

SANCE DAM  -  MORAVIN

The Czech Republic climate is warm, showery summers and cool winters. In Prague the winter is usual freezing in December and January.

The country has about 30% forests with spruce and beech. However, acid rain has destroyed vast areas of the forest in northern Bohemia. The acid rain was caused by burning poor-quality of brown coal.

Czech people are very musical. Great Czech composers are Bedrich Smetana who wrote 'The Bartered Bride' in 1855 and 'My Fatherland' from 1874 to 1879. Antonin Dvorak, who wrote the love symphony 'From the New World' in 1893. Leos Janacek who wrote the comic opera 'The Cunning Little Vixen' in 1924. The country also produced famous writers like Franz Kafka who wrote 'Metamorphosis' in 1915, The Trial in 1925 and The Castle in 1926. In 1926 the play of Karel Capek 'Rossum's Universal Robots' introduced the word Robot. Jaroslav Hasek became famous with his humorous WWI's story 'The Good Soldier Schweik' in 1923. Another famous writer is Milan Kundera and the poet Jaruslev Seifert who won the Nobel Prize in 1984. Marionette theatre became famous and the animated film of the puppeteer, Jiri Trnka, is some of the best in the world. In the early 19^th century the Czech introduced the Polka and with that whole Europe was dancing it.

CESKY KRUMLOV

CZECH COUNTRYSIDE

ECONOMY

The Czech Republic is rich on natural resources which are coal, timber, uranium, iron ore, lead and zinc. They have to import oil and natural gas. Their heavy industries are manufacturing of steel, machinery and railway equipment. Pilzen is the home of Skodia and Volkswagen works which manufactures cars and trucks. The Pilzner lager is also brewed there. Budweiser beer is brewed at Ceske Budejovice. Other industries are cement, ceramics, chemicals, glassware and textiles. Agriculture employs about 10% of the labour force. The crops are barley, hops, maize, potatoes, sugar beet and wheat.

RECENT HISTORY

In 1948, Czechoslovakia which was the Czech and Slovakian Republic together became part of the Communist Party.  It was ruled as an annex of the USSR.  April 1968 became known as the 'Prague Spring'. The general secretary of the Communist Party Alexander Dubcek started a more democratic policy.  In August of the same year the reform was crushed when 200,000 Soviet troops invaded the country. The pressure increased and 20 years later the Communist Party lost its power in 1989.  Democratic election was held and the playwright Vaclav Havel who was the leader of the Civic Forum Party became the elected president.  January 1993 the Czech Republic and the Slovakia Republic separated

In recent years there was also a great increase in tourism and the generated millions add to the economy.

MARIENBAD

KARLSBAD

If you want to improve your health and have a holiday at the same time, the Czech Republic has hundreds of mineral springs (spas). They offer a great variety of therapeutic treatments for a wide variety of ailments.  Patients drink the water, bath in it or even wallow in a mud bath. The largest and famous spa town is Karlsbad which is in northern Bohemia. It specializes in treating digestive disorders and metabolic disturbances.  Then close by is Marienbad  especially for urinary and respiratory systems.

The picturesque land is of gently rolling hills, green, fertile valleys and huge forests and flatlands.  The Czech Republic has a lot to offer for a wonderful holiday. The country has been described as the Roof of the World because all the rivers and streams flow out of the country and none of them back.

Then there is the visit to Prague which is legendary for its fascinating and beautiful buildings. The most famous are - the Charles Bridge - spanning across the Vltava River and the other is - Hradcany Castle - built in the 9th century and covers 18 acres. It is the largest ancient castle in the world.

The medieval town of Cesky Krunlov is on the banks of the upper Vitava in Southern Bohemia

PRAGUE  -  ONE OF THE FAMOUS BRIDGES

LIECHTENSTEIN

CASTLE VADUZ  -  
LIECHTENSTEIN

Liechtenstein a principality is a very small country. Its size is only 62 sq miles or 160 sq km and has a population of 28,000. It is ruled by a Germanic prince. He lives high up on a hill in a castle. The principality is so beautiful it feels like a fairy tale land. Nevertheless, it is highly industrialized and very rich.

Liechtenstein scenery is very mountainous and is on the east of the River Rhine. It borders Switzerland on one side and Austria on the other. The Tiroler Alps extent into Liechtenstein and on the south-east the peaks reaching a height of 2,500m. It has a perfect climate. In the summer it is dry and warm. In the winter Liechtenstein has a cold weather and heavy snowfalls.
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Their agriculture consists of corn, vines and fruit which are grown on the lower fertile slopes of the mountains. The cattle which are raised for milk, dairy and meat production are grazing on the high meadows. In the autumn they bring the cattle down to the valley floor. It is quite a great event because the leading cattle are decorated with big floral arrangements. It also attracts tourism.

                                                  VADUZ
CAPITAL OF LIECHTENSTEIN

JOHAN I JOSEF 
PRINCE OF
 LICHTENSTEIN

The country has a various big industries even so there are only 28,000 people.

Their products are precision instruments, false teeth, leather goods and steel screws. They have their own postage stamps which bring in some income.

In the winter tourism is high because of skiing in the mountains.

In the summer tourists come for mountaineering, cycling, hiking, hanggliding, paragliding and walking.

Liechtenstein has a great attraction is being duty-free.

Liechtenstein is a principality because it is ruled by a prince. His castle is near the tiny capital Vaduz. In Vaduz is a bridge which leads over the river Rhine into Switzerland. The railway line from Austria to Switzerland runs through the valley.

According to history, Liechtenstein was once two counties and ruled by a count of the Holy Roman Empire. At the beginning of the 18th century the Austrian Liechtenstein family took the two counties over.

In 1719 the head of the family became a prince. Johann the Good who ruled from 1858 to 1929. He managed, due to clever manoeuvres, not to be overrun by one of the bigger countries on their borders.

Nowadays, Liechtenstein has closed links with Switzerland. Switzerland provides telephone service, and electricity which is missing in Liechtenstein. The prince has 15 member parliaments which are elected by the people.

SKI RESORT MALBUN
LIECHTENSTEIN

MAP OF SKI RUNS IN MALBUN

 Holidays in Vaduz, the capital, is very much to be enjoyed.  Summer and winter have all the sports facilities available.  

The closed by Triesenberg invites you in summer for walking, cycling, climbing and walking. 

In the winter it is perfect skiing resort.  Liechtenstein turns into a winter wonder land with good snow from December to April. 

Vaduz itself is a small town but very attractive and good hotel, restaurants and two very interesting museums.

A major ski resort is in Malbun which lies in the south-east of the country.  It has ski school, and good runs with 30% for beginners, 60%for intermediate and 10% for experienced skiers.  There are also toboggan runs.  A Sareis lift goes up 2000m and the two chairlifts up to 1600m.

In the summer are huge outdoor swimming pools open. The beautiful surrounding demands to be explored. Magnificent path in forest and open country enables to see a rich wildlife. Liechtenstein has so much to offer and yet it is hardly known as a big tourist attraction.  If you stay privately, which is only recommendable, the holiday or vacation will not be too costly.

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CUBA

HAVANA  -  THE CAPITAL 

CUBA BEACH

Cuba, its people and history makes it a fascinating country to read about it. First of all Cuba has a long history of colonial oppression then corrupt dictators and constant disagreements with one of the most powerful country in the world; America.

In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered Cuba and claimed it for Spain. Spain ruled it for almost 400 years and in the 19th centuries the People demanded independence. Even a 10 year old war in 1870 did not achieve it. Eventually the US managed to force out the Spaniards and the influence from the US lasted for 50 years. In those 50 years dictators ruled Cuba and the poor got poorer. while the rich got richer. At the end a revolution began and Fidel Castro was the leader.  In 1961 Castro declared Cuba a communist state.

Cuba's tobacco and especially the cigar became world famous. The discovery began when the Spanish saw the Indians twist up a leaf, wrapped it in a dried palm leaf, lit and smoked it. However, the native Indians grew the tobacco long before the Spanish landed in Cuba.

Cuba is one of the largest islands in the Caribbean. It is over 1250 km across. The climate is warm and tropical including heavy rainfall. These heavy rainfalls are between May and October. Between September and October is hurricane season. The country, once covered with rain forest, was much cleared to grow crops. However, there still remains a tropical paradise.

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The plains from Havana towards the east are cultivated for crops and cattle rearing. The Sierra Maestra Mountains in the south-east rising 2000 m are difficult to cultivate. The hillsides and valleys are used to grow tobacco.

Animals native to Cuba are small. Hundreds of birds migrate to the island from the American mainland in winter.

The Cubans are proud of Fidel Castro having succeeded in the communist revolution in 1959. Since tourism started and getting more popular; the Cubans start to realize the wealth in other countries. Citizen from the USA are not welcome.

In the centre of the modern city you will find Old Havana with its maize of cobble-stone streets and alleyways. There are also magnificent old 18th century's mansions. This area had been declared a World Heritage Site. These mansions were built by countless smugglers, black marketeers and pirates.

Cuba was supported by the USSR but they cut short the financial aid in 1990; Cuba was plunged into a crises. However, they pulled through with the successful industries of sugar cane and tobacco. In 1980 the quality of tobacco dropped and sales was reduced.

The US blockade, because of the communist regime, is very damaging. Since Cuba is so close to the US it could have been its biggest trading partner.

ISLE OF MAN - BRITAIN

ISLE OF MAN  
SATELLITE PICTURE

The British Isle of Man is definite a holiday worth your while. It is in the middle of the Irish Sea with an equal distance to England and Northern Ireland. Although it has its own government it is still part of the British Isles and called Crown Dependency.

Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State and Lord of Man. She is represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Crown every five years. Their parliament is called Tynwald and it is the oldest in the world. It has been in power continuously for 1000 years. Every year on 5 July the Tynwald parliament meets on Tynwald Hill and reads the new laws being passed during the last year. This is read in Manx, which is the language on the island and in English. The reason for this is that residents can't claim they don't know anything about it.

The permanent government buildings are based in the capital, Douglas.

Douglas is on the east coast of the island where the river Dhoo and Glass meet. These rivers gave the capital its name. The other rivers are Neb, Silverburn and the Sulby which is the island longest river with 17km. In the north and south of the central uplands are flat and fertile plains. The mountainous region has the highest point of 621m and is called Snaefell.

A very distinguished animal is the Manx cat. It has no tail as a matter of mutation. To preserve this unique cat a special breeding programme had been set up.  On the south-west coast lays a small island called Calf of Man and is by the swift tidal waters of The Sound from the mainland.  Grey seal frolic in the waters. The Calf of Man is a sanctuary for many rare seabirds and the four-horned logthan sheep.

The Isle of Man is also famous for holding their annual motorbike races. This race attracts 540,000 or more of visitors. It also increases tourism which is one of the isles most important industries.

FOUR-HORNED 
LOGTHAN SHEEP

THE BRAAD, 
CENTRE OF THE ISLE 
ONE ROUND HOUSE
 TWO LONGHOUSES 
BUILT BY A CELTIC NORSE MAN
650 - 950 AD

Large numbers of cattle, for dairy products as well as for beef, are raised on the isle. Also they rear sheep, grow cereal, seed potatoes, wool and flowers. Their herrings are processed and the famous Manx skippers as well as scallops are well in demand. All these products are for the export market and bring currencies to the economy. Important industries are electronics, plastics, engineering and food processing. However, because of the island's tax regime most of the more lucrative contribution is in the financial section, like banking and packaged investment.

According to Manx folklore, the Isle of Man gets its name from a warlock called Manannan. During a visit in 447 AD St Patrick wanted to break the spell of the Mananna on the island. He couldn't decide what to do? The Warlock saw St Patrick indecision and taunted him, "Whichever way you throw me, I stand". St Patrick turned him into a three-legged symbol and that became the Island's emblem.

DOUGLAS SEA PROMINADE

HORSE DRAWN TRAM 
IN DOUGLAS

If you decided to spend a holiday on the Isle of Man you can enjoy Douglas, the capital, and take a leisurely ride along the promenade in the world's oldest horse-drawn trams. These trams date from 1876. For lovers of trains there is a vintage steam train to Port Erin. You will find an electric train to Ramsey and Laxey where you will find the world's largest working waterwheel. Another enjoyment will be, taking the Snaefell Mountain Railway right up to the summit of the island's highest peak and on arriving there you find a glorious view as far as you can see.

Considering all these, you will find that the Isle of Man is a holiday worth you while and for the whole family.  There is something for everyone to enjoy.

A beautiful Island with breathtaking scenery and unspoilt beaches. It can be reach by plane or boat from England, Wales or Scotland. It is definitely a holiday worth your while and ideal for a short break but after you have been there once; you will want to go back for a longer holiday.

CASTLETOWN HARBOUR

LAXEY BEACH

HOLIDAY INFORMATION:   For all your Isle of Man bookings requirement visig contact:  www.destination-isle-of-man.com #holidayisleofman