Culinary Experiences on Cunard Queen Mary

Cunard guests will soon be able to savour numerous new culinary experiences on board the flagship Queen Mary 2. Already renowned and acclaimed for creating some of the finest cuisine served in the most glamourous surroundings at sea, we are introducing new dining options as well as a raft of enhancements to each of the liner’s existing restaurants during the ship’s major refit taking place in June.

New Culinary Experiences to Debut on Queen Mary 2 Remastered

Cunard guests will soon be able to savour numerous new culinary experiences on board the flagship Queen Mary 2. Already renowned and acclaimed for creating some of the finest cuisine served in the most glamourous surroundings at sea, we are introducing new dining options as well as a raft of enhancements to each of the liner’s existing restaurants during the ship’s major refit taking place in June.

Queen Mary 2 fine dinning will see the creation of the entirely new Carinthia Lounge serving alternative breakfast and lunchtime offerings together with bespoke premium coffees; a new Verandah Restaurant evoking memories of the famous Grill on the original Queen Mary; a completely transformed Kings Court Buffet; new Queens and Princess Grill menus and completely refurbished restaurants for guests staying in the suites and a new Smokehouse alternative dining concept.

In addition, menus in the existing Britannia Restaurant and Golden Lion pub, together with Cunard’s famous Afternoon Tea selection served in the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, are all being refreshed.

Many of their new menus are being finessed during months of detailed research at a specially-commissioned new Development Kitchen which has opened in Cunard’s homeport of Southampton. Here, teams of chefs have been working with other culinary experts and suppliers to create a wide range of new dishes to be served on board.

Executive Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann, Global Culinary Ambassador for Cunard Line shares his recipe here for;

CRAB BRIOCHE THERMIDOR 

Ingredients
4 small brioches 
3.5 oz crab meat
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp fresh crated parmesan
1 tbsp shallots
.5 oz butter
1 tbsp finely chopped shallots
? cup white wine
1 cup chicken stock
3.5 oz Button mushrooms
1 tsp Dijon mustard

Directions
Melt the butter and add the finely chopped shallots

Sweat a little but do not color

Deglaze with the wine 

Add chicken stock and reduce

Add the heavy cream and sliced mushrooms and reduce until right consistency

At the last moment whisk the Dijon mustard into the sauce and put aside

Whip heavy cream and one egg yolk and mix into the sauce

Do not reheat the sauce 

Add the chopped crab meat and mix gently

Slice off the top of the brioche and scoop out a hollow, then heat the brioche under a medium grill until golden brown

Spoon the sauce with the crab meat into the brioche

Sprinkle fresh grated parmesan over the dish and glaze under the grill 

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Cunard Plans Around The World In 100 Plus Days

Cunard is planning another epic around-the-world cruise that will include stops at more than 30 ports on six continents.

The 107-night voyage on the 2,014-passenger Queen Victoria will kick off on Jan. 10, 2019 in Southampton, England and end in the same port on April 27, 2019.

The Queen Victoria will follow a westerly route around the globe that starts with a trans-Atlantic sailing to Bermuda and Fort Lauderdale before stops in the Caribbean and a transit through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean. From there, the ship will sail along the West Coast of Mexico to San Francisco and then cross the Pacific to Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia.

Additional calls will explore parts of Asia including Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam as well as Sri Lanka and the Seychelles. Following visits to South Africa and Namibia, the ship will head north to the Canary Islands before returning to Southampton.

Overnight stays are planned for San Francisco, Sydney, Hong Kong and Cape Town.

Cunard pioneered the concept of around-the-world voyages nearly a century ago and has offered dozens of the trips over the years.

The 2019 sailing will open for bookings on Tuesday with fares for the full trip starting at $17,579 per person, based on double occupancy. Fares for passengers who board the sailing in Fort Lauderdale start at $15,799.


Cunard recently announced that the Queen Victoria will undergo a significant makeover later this year.

Cunard's Queen Victoria to get a Makeover

The nine-year-old Queen Victoria will enter a dry dock in early May for a month-long, $40 million makeover that includes the addition of new Britannia Club cabins.

Already available on Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, Britannia Club cabins come with their own private restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They're considered a step up from the standard Britannia cabins that make up the largest segment of accommodations on Cunard ships.

The revamp of Queen Victoria will bring 43 of the new Britannia Club cabins. A new restaurant to serve passengers staying in the rooms will be added on Deck 2 in a space that currently houses the vessel's Chart Room bar.

As part of the makeover, a new Chart Room bar will be added on Deck 2 where the ship's Cafe Carinthia currently is located. The Chart Room will serve illy coffee, Godiva chocolate treats and light bites by day and cocktails by night.

Taking place at a Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Italy, the overhaul of Queen Victoria also will include a complete redesign of the ship's majestic Grand Suites and several Penthouses.


The Grand Suites, which carry the names Aquitania, Berengaria, Mauretania and Laconia suites, will boast a new color scheme with purple elements that ties to the line’s early history. Each of the suites will measure 1,436 square feet.

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In The News: New Dual Brand Hotel In Atlanta

Noble Breaks Ground: 
Marriott's dual-brand AC Hotels By Marriott and Moxy Hotel 

Marriott International and Noble Investment Group celebrated the groundbreaking of what will be Marriott's first-ever combination of an AC and Moxy under one roof. The $70 million, five-story hotel project will rise on a full city block in Midtown Atlanta, one of America's most dynamic business districts and a regional epicenter for music and arts. The hotel is expected to open in the middle of 2018.

With an entrance on 14th Street, the 133-room AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown will feature guestrooms and suites with modern and sophisticated design elements, plush seating and multi-functional workspaces. The 155-room Moxy Atlanta Midtown, which guests will enter on 13th Street, will feature stylish, tech-enabled bedrooms with optional mobile check-in and check-out; keyless entry; motion sensor lighting; internet TV in-room; USB outlets; and fast and free Wi-Fi for ultimate in communication and entertainment..

Both hotels will have distinct hospitality experiences inside and will share a deck-top amenity level that will contain shared meeting space with outdoor break-out space, health and fitness and a rooftop pool and bar with outdoor fire pits.

As part of this project, Noble will also help establish the missing link in an extensive pedestrian connector. To be called the Arts Walk, the ground-level path will provide direct access for hotel guests and local residents to walk from 14th Street to the lively Crescent Avenue entertainment and dining district, to the more than 20 million square feet of corporate office and the world-renowned Woodruff Arts Center along 15th Street. The connector will eventually stretch from the Woodruff Arts Center to high-speed public transportation at the 10th Street MARTA station.

The AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown will be Noble's second AC Hotel in Atlanta and the third in its portfolio. The company opened the AC Hotel Kansas City Westport in 2015, followed by the AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead at Phipps Plaza in 2016. The Moxy Atlanta Midtown will be Noble's second, after opening Moxy New Orleans in Downtown | French Quarter in 2016.

Midtown Atlanta is home to more than 24,000 students who attend Georgia Tech University, Savannah College of Arts and Design and Emory University Hospital. Midtown Atlanta attracts over 6.1 million tourists annually primarily driven by its arts and entertainment offerings and is home to 16 percent of the total jobs in Atlanta, 25 percent of the city's professional jobs and a fast-growing residential population that is 75 percent Gen X and Millennials.

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Off The Beaten Path: Iceland

Seljavallalaug Pool

Seljavallalaug Pool is a protected 75 foot outdoor pool in southern Iceland. The pool is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland and was built in 1923.

Seljavallalaug is located not far from Seljavellir. The construction was headed by Bjorn Andrésson Berjaneskoti, who received the Ungmennafélagið Eyfelling for the work. Courses in the pool were initiated as part of compulsory education in 1927. The pool is 75 feet long and 10 metres wide and was the largest pool in Iceland until 1936.

In 1990, a new pool about 1.2 miles closer to the valley was built, but people can still go swimming in the old pool free of charge, but at their own risk. The pool is cleaned once every summer. Prior to that, it is often covered with thick ice, requiring care.


The 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano filled Seljavallalaug with ash. In early summer 2011, a group of volunteers gathered to clean the pool using loaders and excavators.

Perhaps not as remote as it used to be – but still considered a hidden gem, is Seljavallalaug pool. Driving the South coast is popular amongst tourists but no bus tours take you to this place, yet.

Among the pools in Iceland that's still around, the Seljavallalaug pool is the oldest and still in pretty good shape. It even has a changing room, though there's no showers. There's no charge so just bring your swim suit and enjoy the quietness of nature. We don't want to spoil his hidden beauty so be sure to bring your respect and care as well.


The pool is situated between the famous waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and you can reach it either by drive there on your own or go with the only tour that takes you to Seljavallalaug (this tour is also currently the only tour goes to the DC Plane Wreck). When driving from Reykjavík, take a left towards Seljavellir just before you reach Skógafoss. Then there's a 15 minute easy walk to the pool.

Seljalandsfoss is Waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is one of the best known waterfalls in Iceland. Seljalandsfoss is located in the South Region in Iceland right by Route 1 and the road that leads to Þórsmörk Road 249. The waterfall is one of the most popular waterfalls and natural wonders in Iceland. The waterfall drops 197 feet and is part of the Seljalands River that has its origin in the volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. One of the interesting things about this waterfall is that visitors can walk behind it into a small cave.

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Culinary Travel: Wild Boar & Apple Sausages Recipe

If you think the taste of wild boar is similar to pork, guess again. Although the wild boar is related to the domestic pig, they do not taste the same. Wild boar tastes like a cross between pork and beef, with a unique juicy succulence. The meat is a bit darker, perhaps due to the healthy iron content.

Ingredients

    1.5 pounds frozen wild boar and apple sausages
    Yes you can substitute pork shouldr
    1/2 pound frozen apple mash
    2 ounces salted butter
    1/4 cup double cream
    9 ounces white onion
    ½ bulb garlic
    1/4 cup white wine
    8 ounces Bisto gravy 
    sprinkle of fresh thyme

Directions

Peel and finely slice the onion & garlic.

Fry the onion and garlic in oil until golden brown.

Add the white wine & thyme, reduce until almost all of the liquid is gone.

Add 2 cupsl of water, bring to the boil, whisk in the Bisto and simmer for 5 minutes. Check consistency and flavor.

Warm mash in microwave for 3 minutes, then add to a warm pan with the butter and cream. 

Beat vigorously.

Defrost the sausages overnight in the fridge. Roast the sausages in a pre-heated 425° Fahrenheit oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Place mash in center of the bowl, arrange sausages on top & spoon over onion gravy.

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Let Us Help You Travel In Style

Need to travel in style for business or leisure, Rawhide Travel and Tours will make it happen. We will arrange your flights, rail, hotel, car rentals and cruises. Let us assist you in planning your upcoming business trip. We're also available to help you plan that exciting vacation.

Want a small hotel or a luxury resort? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours customize the perfect spot just for you! We have many choices.  Let Us Help You Get Lost.

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Visit Iceland's Glacial River

Jökulsárlón; literally "glacial river lagoon" is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland, on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. Situated at the head of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, it developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the glaciers. It is now 0.93 miles away from the ocean's edge and covers an area of about 6.9 sq miles. It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 814 feet, as glacial retreat extended its boundaries. The size of the lake has increased fourfold since the 1970s. It is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland.

The lake can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. It appears as "a ghostly procession of luminous blue icebergs". Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: A View to a Kill, Die Another Day, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Batman Begins, as well as the "reality TV" series Amazing Race. In 1991 Iceland issued a postage stamp, with a face value of 26 kronur, depicting Jökulsárlón.

The Jökulsárlón lake provides outstanding views of the ice cap, a vast dome of ice that rises to a height of 3,000 feet. It spills to the lagoon 12 miles away from the jagged glacier hill to the edge of the water line. The lake developed only about 60 years ago (1948 is mentioned), when the entire area was less than 100 feet of glacier, which was only 250 yards from the Atlantic Ocean, and 2 miles away from Vatnajökull. Vatnajökull was at the shore line of the ocean and dropped icebergs into the ocean. However, it started drifting in land rapidly every year leaving deep gorges en route, which got filled with melted water and large chunks of ice. These icebergs gather at the mouth of the lake's shallow exit, melt down into smaller ice blocks and roll out into the sea. The lake is the lowest point in Iceland, with land at 660 feet below sea level[citation needed]. In summer, icebergs melt and roll down the channel into the sea. In winter the lake freezes and locks the icebergs in place. Ice water and soil make a unique ecological phenomenon[citation needed]. Jökulsárlón lake, the "glacier lake", is now reported to have doubled in size in the recent 15-year period. The huge blocks of ice that calve from the edge of Vatnajökull are about 98 feet high which fills the lagoon stocked with icebergs. Some icebergs appear naturally sculpted on account volcanic ashes from ancient eruptions that partly cover them.

Given the current retreat rate of Vatnajökull, it is anticipated that there will likely be a deep fjord where Jökulsárlón is now in the near future. This retreat is also posing a threat to the National Highway Route 1 of Iceland. The lagoon is 47 miles to the west of Höfn town and 37 miles east of Skaftafell. It is accessible by the ring road, Route 1, that goes across the lake, and where parking facilities have been provided for visitors. It is also known as the "Tourist Conveyor belt". While walking on the shore, isolated large blocks of icebergs can be seen on the black sand beach.

The tongue of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier is a major attraction for tourists.

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Eurostar Announces New High-Speed Bordeaux Line

Lovers of high speed train travel and fine claret wines will have something to raise their glasses to tomorrow as tickets go on sale for a new rail service to Bordeaux that will knock more than an hour off the current travelling time from London to this region of France so beloved of the British. 

The tickets, which will cost from $136 return, will be valid for travel from July 2, the date on which a new 188-mile high-speed line will open between Tours and Bordeaux, knocking some 70 minutes off the Paris-Bordeaux stretch (from 3 hours 15 mins, to 2 hours 5 mins).

Although the journey from London will involve a change of station in Paris – between the Gare du Nord and Montparnasse – the improvement in the link will mean that the total travelling time to Bordeaux will be reduced to just under six hours (5 hours 55 mins) – nice and speedy, but still leaving time enough to savour the passing French countryside. 

The British have been enjoying the choice wines of Bordeaux for centuries (a taste for which they speedily acquired during a three hundred period of English rule years up until 1453).  The addition last year of the first-rate La Cité du Vin (wine museum) in the city – described by Telegraph Travel’s Bordeaux expert Anthony Peregrine as “a hi-tech romp of huge imagination and charm” – has only added to the attraction for oenophiles.

But there are plenty of other reasons to visit the city that in 2007 was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and which was named by Lonely Planet as the best city in the world to visit in 2017.

In his comprehensive guide to Bordeaux, Peregrine says that in addition to its score of wonderful eating and drinking venues, Bordeaux can claim to have the “most graceful streets in France” and a centre that has “a grandiose 18th-century harmony unmatched in Europe”.

There is culture too – of a conventional kind in the Grand Theatre, and of a more contemporary twist in the bars and clubs of the St Pierre district. “Welcome to the Bordeaux nouveau,” declares Peregrine. “It offers the ancient dignity but with added zest and fruitiness. For immediate drinking.”

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Off The Beaten Path: Le Marché de Belleville and More

Visiting Paris soon? Take time to get off the beaten path when you can to visit where some locals might suggest a visit to the following locations.

Le Marché de Belleville

In The Belleville Market you are greeted by the smell: the spices, the fish, the oil and the strange edible roots, the stalls with yams and freshly roasted chicken.

The market in Belleville is one of the most popular and ethnically diverse in Paris, and can take you for a journey around the world in just one morning, when Chinese, Orthodox Jews, Middle Eastern and African women with wax printed head wraps buy groceries for the week, and a little bit of added bric-a-brac.

The customers in Belleville aren’t rich, in fact it is the poorest neighborhood in the city and as a result the prices are low. If you can shimmy your way through the crowd, you can find some really good bargains in Belleville.

The Musée Rodin

The Museum Rodin is without a doubt the loveliest museum dedicated to a single artist in Paris. It is crammed with the sculptor’s sensual and moving works such as The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell and The Burghers of Calais.

Auguste Rodin began drawing when he was ten-years-old, and his talent was so obvious that he was admitted to an art school at the tender age of 14. He became both celebrated and infamous at a relatively early stage of his career, and he was often thought of as a bit too advanced for his time.

You should go there on a sunny day, as the garden is an important part of the experience. Outside the museum you can find a series of Rodin’s masterpieces between wide lawns, shadowy avenues and 2,000 rose bushes.

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Culinary Travel: Croque-Monsieur Recipe

Most brasseries and cafés in Paris offer non-stop service, and a staple of their menu is the croque-monsieur, an oozy and crisp grilled ham and cheese sandwich usually moistened by a touch of Béchamel sauce. If you’re extra hungry, get the croque-madame, which adds a fried egg on top.

Good croque-monsieurs have a few things in common: a single layer of French ham and Gruyere pressed between two thin slices of bread. Some, like this one, are filled and topped with béchamel, which makes the whole thing creamier and better. The bread is brushed with butter, and the sandwich is cooked on a griddle or toasted under a broiler so that the cheese almost liquefies and the bits of ham and cheese hanging out the side fall limp and caramelize.

Savor Your Trip To Paris In Your Own Home

Ingredients

5 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon flour
⅔ cup milk
 Sea salt
 Freshly grated nutmeg
4 1/3-inch-thick slices country bread (not sourdough or whole wheat)
4 thin slices French ham
2 thin slices Gruyere cheese

Directions

Preheat a two-sided electric griddle on medium-high to high for about 20 minutes, or preheat the oven to 300 degrees and preheat a cast-iron skillet on top of the stove for about 5 minutes. Prepare a bechamel sauce: in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. When bubbles have subsided, add flour and whisk vigorously for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil, and cook until thick. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and nutmeg.

Spread two slices of bread generously with sauce. Lay two slices of ham on top of each, and top each with a slice of cheese; ham and cheese should slightly overlap edges of bread. Top each with a slice of bread.

In a small saucepan, melt remaining the 4 tablespoons butter. Brush the sandwiches on both sides with butter, making sure that the edges are well covered. If you're using a griddle, place cheese side down, close the griddle and cook until the bread is toasted dark and cheese is leaking out and bubbling. If you're using a skillet, place sandwiches cheese side down and cook on stove top until well browned, then turn and brown again. Transfer skillet to oven, and bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling.

Serve hot.

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Sail Away With Us This Spring

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers. Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little else. Our years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can arrange the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Rawhide Travel and Tours hopes you have a Beautiful Spring Day!

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In The News: Malta’s Azure Window Arch Collapses

The arch, which has been under threat of collapse for years due to natural erosion and disrespectful tourists alike, gave way under the strain of the gale force winds that were buffeting the island yesterday.  A local man told the Times of Malta, the arch suddenly collapsed into the ocean.

The iconic, landmark arch featured in films and television series including "Clash of the Titans," "The Odyssey," and "Game of Thrones," has collapsed. Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced the arch's collapse on Twitter on Tuesday, saying "I have just been informed that the beautiful Tieqa tad-Dwerja in #Gozo has collapsed. Updates soon."

Known as the Azure Window, the limestone arch stood on Malta's Gozo island and served as a picture frame for photographers wanting to capture the sunset over the waters of the Mediterranean. It was "easily the most photographed vista of the islands," according to visitmalta.com.

Steps had been taken by the government to preserve the arch, and visitors had been prohibited from climbing on the arch or swimming beneath it. According to Muscat, however, the landmark was always expected to be "hard hit by unavoidable natural corrosion." "That sad day arrived," Muscat tweeted.

Malta’s Famous Azure Window Rock Arch Collapses, Photographers Mourn

One of the best known photography locations in the world has disappeared. Malta’s famed Azure Window limestone arch on the island of Gozo collapsed into the sea yesterday, leaving a conspicuously, tragically empty space in its wake.

It’s not just the thin arch between the mainland and the massive stone column in the sea that went either—the whole arch, column and all, is just… gone.

Despite the temptation to blame the tourists seen walking along the formation Malta’s Environment Minister Jose Herrera says the collapse could not have been prevented. Humans might have hastened the inevitable, but the arch’s collapse was inevitable all the same.

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Getting Off The Beaten Path In Greece

Thessaloniki is a Perfect Place

Located on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, the awesome destination of Thessaloniki is a perfect place to do this. With a small population of just 300,000, it’s highly unlikely that many people you know will have travelled to this part of Greece. Enjoy time away from the crowds therefore by visiting the ancient squares, towers and fortresses of this old city. You can easily wander the streets for a few days, losing yourself in the history of it all and discovering a world few tourists learn about.

Catch a FERRY to an Island, Even if Planes an Option 
Okay, it’s most likely going to be a tiring, long and very claustrophobic journey on a ferry to the Greek Island of your choice, but it will be worth it! Boat journeys in Greece can be a key way to network and establish connections with other like-minded travellers and locals.

It’s also the old traditional way to journey in these parts and the unique perspective it brings will certainly feel different as well as genuine. Just make sure you hit the outside deck for some much-needed breathing time and have your camera ready to snap the amazing views when you approach land!

4 Islands
From our experience Naxos, Milos, Sifnos and Folegandros seem to tick the right boxes. Advice? There are 4 islands too much in 2 weeks knowing that first and last night might be in Athens? For a trip early July you need to book ferry tickets in advance so you can go directly to Rafina and buy the tickets there?

You could also try to avoid booking hotels in advance to get a feel of each place and adjust your trip based on your discoveries... if you can be very flexible. It is possible to get a nice place with a correct budget (100 euros/night - depends on season and local economy) once you arrive on the different islands? The tourism offices can help find a place?  Remember booking in advance is the only sure thing.

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Culinary Travel: Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki Sauce

Chicken Souvlaki features the fresh-tasting combination of lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil that is so prevalent in Greek cuisine. Serve it alongside a Greek salad of chunked tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and feta cheese. Tzatziki is a traditional Greek yogurt-based sauce flavored with lemon, garlic, and crisp cucumbers.

Ingredients

Souvlaki:

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into (1/2-inch-thick) slices
Cooking spray

Tzatziki Sauce:

1/2 cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and shredded
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced 

Directions

To prepare souvlaki, combine the first 5 ingredients in a zip-top plastic bag; seal and shake to combine. Add chicken to bag; seal and shake to coat. Marinate chicken in refrigerator for 30 minutes, turning once.

Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Thread the chicken and zucchini, alternately onto each of 4 (8-inch) skewers.

Heat a grill pan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add skewers; cook 8 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once.

To prepare tzatziki sauce, combine cucumber, yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1 garlic clove, stirring well. Serve the tzatziki sauce with souvlaki.

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Tourism In Greece

Tourism in Greece has been a key element of the economic activity in the country, and is one of the country's most important sectors. Greece has been a major tourist destination and attraction in Europe since antiquity, for its rich culture and history, which is reflected in large part by its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe and the world as well as for its long coastline, many islands and beaches. The Egremnoi sand beach in the Greek island of Lefkada, a popular tourist destination.

Greece has attracted 26.5 million visitors in 2015 and is projected to attract 30 million visitors in 2016, making Greece one of the most visited countries in Europe and the world and contributing 18% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product, with its capital city Athens, as well as Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu, Crete and Chalkidice being some of the country's major tourist destinations.

In recent years, Greece has also promoted the religious tourism and pilgrimages to regions with a significant historical religious presence, such as the monasteries in Meteora and Mount Athos, in cooperation with other countries.

Tourism in Greece traces its roots to ancient times. Cultural exchange took place between the Greek colonies of Magna Graeca and the young Roman Republic before Rome's rise to dominance of the Western Mediterranean. When Greece was annexed by the Roman Empire centuries later, the cultural exchange that started between the two civilization triggered as a result a large number of Romans visiting the famous centers of Greek philosophy and science, such as Athens, Corinth and Thebes, partly because Greece had become a province of the Roman Empire and Greeks were granted Roman citizenship.

Tourism in modern-day Greece started to flourish in the 1960s and 1970s, in what became known as mass tourism. During that time, large-scale construction projects for hotels and other such facilities were undertaken and the country saw an increase in international tourists over the years.[8] International events such as the 2004 Summer Olympic Games and the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, both held in Athens, greatly helped to boost tourism in the country, while large-scale nationally-funded cultural infrastructure such as the New Acropolis Museum also contributed to the flow of tourists in the country. Thessaloniki was the European Youth capital in 2014.

Spas and Thermal Springs

Greece has 752 thermosprings. Many have been classified as therapeutic by the National Institute for Geographical and Mineral Research. Several of them were known and exploited already since antiquity. Thermal or curative tourism was, after all, one of the earliest forms of tourism in the ancient world. In 1983 was founded the Hellenic Association of Municipalities with Thermal Springs  Some of these ancient "spa resorts" were situated in Aidipsos, known from the time of Aristotle, Loutraki, mentioned by Xenophon, Traianoupoli , founded by the emperor Trajan in the 2nd century A.D., whereas some others are attested in the Byzantine period, such as the Thermal baths of Langadas . In the late 19th and the beginning of the 20th century these hot springs were surrounded by cosmopolitan facilities, namely hotels and restaurants, whereas several prominent members of the society of both the Modern Greek State and the Ottoman State (for regions still incorporated in it) invested in touristic infrastructure and private estates. Thermal tourism became particularly widespread in the 1960s and 1970s, whereas in the 1980s it was widely supported by a social tourism program, which subsidized large part of the expenses for the elderly users of the facilities. Nowadays, however, there is an urgent need to refurbish, restore and elevate these spas to modern standards and create an international clientele. Visitors, however, can already find high-standard touristic facilities in Pozar, in Aidipsos and in Kamena Vourla [6], in Loutraki close to Corinth  as well as at Kaiafas, on the western shores of the Peloponnese . A detailed List of spa towns in Greece can give an insight in the inexorable richness of thermal springs of the country.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
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Where Will You Cruise?

Whether business or pleasure, Rawhide Travel and Tours delivers great experiences. 

Internet Travel sites list hotels and destinations, but offer little else. Our years of experience in the industry will help you design the perfect traveling experience. From romantic getaways to large events, our experienced agents will handle all the details. Traveling does not need to be stressful. You can count on us for great value and dependable service.

We arrange travel air, land and sea. We can arrange the perfect destination package including, resorts, conference rooms and meeting locations, special events, and attractions.

Is your family or group looking for a fantastic reunion cruise? Let Rawhide Travel and Tours be your headquarters.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
 rawhidetravel.com

In The News: Travel To Greece and Save

According to a report by the German Press Agency (DPA) and published in Deutsche Welle, German tour operators are recording another year of increased bookings, as 2016 events have not discouraged German holidaymakers from making plans to travel abroad. Greece is among the most popular destinations for travel this season, while Tunisia and Egypt seem to be recovering slowly but steadily from the crisis of recent years. According to German tourism professionals, only bookings for Turkey remain limited.

Bookings to Greece have doubled compared to 2016, according to tour operator DER Touristik, while a rise in demand is noticed for the Western Mediterranean countries of Italy, France and Spain. DER Touristik also sees Egypt making a comeback as a tourism destination this year.

This is a great time to travel to Greece. The financial crisis — while making life difficult for most Greeks — is a boon for budget travelers. Hotel prices are down, the normally warm Greek hospitality has ratcheted up a few notches, and roads outside of Athens are essentially traffic-free, as higher gas prices have caused locals to cut down on inessential driving. The downsides (shorter hours at sights, reduced long-distance bus service, occasional strikes) are noticeable, but not reason enough for you to postpone a trip. All the things you're looking for in a trip to Greece — mouthwatering food, deep-blue water, striking scenery, and the thrill of connecting with ancient history — are all here waiting for you...at a cheaper price.

Tour operator Alltours is also satisfied with the travel market ahead of summer, DPA underlined. The company has recorded a great demand for trips to Greece and a good interest for holidays in Spain.

Moreover, TUI sees a four percent increase in bookings for the coming summer season compared to last year. Meanwhile, Thomas Cook — owner of brands Neckermann Reisen and Last Minute — also sees a strong demand in the travel market that is expected to offset and surpass the losses from the drop in bookings to Turkey.

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

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Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
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Off The Beaten Path: English Countryside

If you take the time to look through these brochures you'll notice that the same British destinations come up over and over again; Stonehenge, Oxford, York, Chester, and so on. It seems that the tour companies have a limited number of options for the travelers they serve.

Now, consider a few of the large coach tours run by these tour companies, and enjoyed myself. The tours are well planned, professionally led, and generally fun. You will learn a lot, enjoy a glimpse of Britain you won't get in your armchair at home, and meet some interesting people.

But, and it is a big but, you will be limiting your experience of this most beautiful of lands. You will be missing real contact with the people who live here if you stay in the large hotels favored by the standard tours and are whisked about in the air conditioned comfort of your coach. I suggest that you break the mold and get off the beaten path.

There is a whole wonderful world waiting for you; the world of the British countryside, of lonely castle ruins that seldom see a horde of tourists, of beautiful villages far from the bright lights of the bigger centres, of small bed and breakfasts run by friendly hosts who truly care about your comfort and enjoyment of their particular corner of Britain.

Rent a car (yes you will learn to drive on the left), stay in self catering or bed and breakfasts, and spend more time exploring the small villages and towns that don't get as much tourist traffic as the more popular areas. Here is a recommendation - plan on doing some walking in the countryside.

Almost every village has a network of public footpaths to choose from, and many local Tourist Information Centres have free pamphlets with maps and details of a number of walks. You will also find that bed and breakfasts often stock a lot of these local maps and pamphlets.

By getting out of the car and tramping through the countryside, or simply around a village, you will gain a much greater appreciation for the history that shaped the land, and get more of a real feeling for the place. In short, you will enjoy your travels in Britain more, and isn't that the whole point?

Call us and start planning that special vacation or event today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com

Presented By:
Rawhide Travel and Tours Inc
6008 West Bell Rd # F105
Glendale, Arizona  85308-3793
(602) 843-5100
rawhidetravel.com