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From illuminating the city streets with a festive flavour to browsing enchanting traditional markets, Belfast has Christmas 2008 all wrapped up – check out our guide to the top events:

Viewed by many as the signal that the Christmas season has officially kicked off, the Belfast Christmas Lights Switch-on will bring throngs of shoppers and families to Belfast City Hall on Tuesday 18th November at 7.30pm.

Various celebrities and world figures have flicked the switch on the Christmas lights over the years including former US President Bill Clinton in 1995 while recent years have seen members of the pop music industry perform the ever important task.

As yet, we haven’t found out who will be taking to the podium for 2008 but the night promises to be jam packed with amusement and music to keep the large crowds entertained at City Hall while a special preview of the Christmas Continental Market can be enjoyed from 8.30pm until 10pm.

(2) Belfast Christmas Continental Market

The grounds of Belfast City Hall remain at the centre of the city’s Christmas celebrations as the Christmas Continental Market opens for business on Wednesday 19th November until Saturday 20th December 2008. Opening times of the market are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 8pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 10 pm while Sunday’s hours are from 1pm to 6pm.

Actually, if you go along to the Christmas Lights Switch-on (see above) on Tuesday 18th November you can get a sneak preview of what’s on offer so you can suss out a few market stalls in advance!

Each year the Christmas Continental Market attracts a vast array of stalls that sell everything from traditionally produced crafts, decorations and of course some mouth watering foods and warming beverages. This is a great place to spot a unique Christmas gift and even if you’re not shopping, we recommend you spend just a few hours wandering around the market to soak up that festive feeling.

(3) St. George’s Christmas Craft Fair

Another Christmas market that you should check out is St. George’s Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday 6th December and Sunday 7th December 2008. Opening hours on the Saturday are from 9am to 5pm while Sunday is from 10am to 5pm.

St. George’s Market is located on Lower May Street and is a bustling fruit, vegetable, meat and fish market (along with loads of other local produce) during the year but on these dates a whole host of Christmas craft stalls will peddle their wares to festive gift-seekers who can enjoy the live entertainment that is being laid on.

(4) Christmas Pantomimes

If you fancy catching a bit of Christmas entertainment in Belfast this year you will be spoilt for choice. Popular local favourite May McFettridge brings her unique comedy style to the Grand Opera House pantomime production of “Mother Goose” from Saturday 29th November 2008 to Saturday 17th January 2009.

And just across town at the Waterfront Hall, the much-loved panto figure Dan Gordon leads the cast of “Robin Hood” in a rousing pantomime that runs from Saturday 29th November 2009 until Saturday 10th January 2009. Come along and join in the fun and help Robin Hood, Maid Marion and the Girlz from the Wood stop the evil Sheriff Of Snottingham.

(5) Christmas Music Performances

The Waterfront Hall also stages what promises to be a magical performance of the music from the animated film “The Snowman”. There will be two shows on Saturday 6th December 2008, one at 2.30pm and one at 5pm – the conductor will be Christopher Bell.

Inspired by the children’s book by Raymond Briggs, young and old are sure to enjoy this classical feast of music and in particular the Christmas favourite “Walking In The Air”. So settle down as you join The Boy and The Snowman as they embark on their journey through that eventful Christmas Eve night bumping into a few familiar faces along the way!

And why not round off a day of fun and learning at the interactive W5 by attending “The Nutcracker And The King Of Mice” which runs from Friday 5th December 2008 until Sunday 4th January 2009. Here the classic tale is retold with an enchanting version so be sure to come along and enjoy the strains of the “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” as Clara and The Nutcracker travel to far off lands of magic.

By: Mairead Foley

Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website www.GoIreland.com

Check out GoIreland for quality approved Belfast hotels now and book one for your stay!

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A country that is so small, we just might miss it, if not for the wonderful sights and scenes that fill its boundaries. Situated in the north eastern part of South America, Guyana has a long coastline running along with the Atlantic ocean. The Land of many waters has rivers flowing through the narrow lanes, and birds of all colours and shapes flitting about.

A picturesque country, Guyana makes the visitors feel warm and at peace. They can do any activity that pleases them, and of course there are the hidden treasures to be undiscovered. When visiting Guyana, however, keep this list of five things to see, just to make sure you don’t miss out on the best parts.

If you think you’ve seen it all during your recent visit to the Niagara, you haven’t seen it yet. Come to Guyana and check out the Kaieteur Fall and get ready to be blown away. Nearly 30000 gallons of water comes gushing down the mountain side, down nearly 250 feet.

The falls are located in the midst of a jungle, giving it a mystical feel and making it very popular amidst visitors. There are some who are dare devils, who climb up the cliff and stand atop and gaze down. As you walk around the falls, you will be greeted by sights of birds with their nests tucked away.

The ruins of the Dutch Fortress, Kyk Over Al stand tall greeting the visitors. It was built around 1616 and is situated in the crossing of the two rivers of Mazuruni and Cuyuni. One can take a boat from here, and ride across to the Marshall Falls, a place for fun and wildlife sighting.

Ride the bus from Georgetown to Parika or take a water taxi to Bartica, either ways, the sight that greets you will have you grinning from ear to ear. The mining town is filled with people who have been around for decades and lead a quiet life. One can either laze around here, or ride down to the Kyk Over Al, or maybe to Marshall’s falls for some excitement and adventure.

A cluster of plains that are covered with Amerindian villages and wildlife is what makes Rupununi Savannas so lush. The rivers here have the world’s largest water lilies. The savannah stretches across thousands of acres, but the whole place has a warmth to it, which is probably from the people who live in these areas as a close knit community.

As the name suggests, Shell beach is one of the prized possessions of Guyana with the long stretches of white sands. It starts from near the Venezuelan border and goes all the way across the country. One can find up to eight turtle species on the beach, and nearly that many more varieties of hawksbills and leatherbacks. The turtles are today protected by the government and roam about freely on the beaches around here.

This article was written by Andrew Gibson

About the Author:

Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing on line holiday home rental websites.To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Direct holidays in Guyana

Why not combine your holiday in Guyana with the nearby Caribbean Island of Barbados, to find out all about this amazing island visit The Barbados Blog and Barbados Photo Blog.

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Situated in the south-east of Scotland, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is one of its largest cities, second only to Glasgow.

The seat of the Scottish Parliament, it has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and has a fantastic historic heritage. With over 4,500 listed building in the city, it is a beautiful place to visit, if purely for the history and photography only.

Split in to four districts - Old Town, New Town, South Side and Leith - Edinburgh has something to offer everyone. The Old Town offers medieval history with links to Edinburgh Castle, as well as a thriving market place, whilst the New Town provides Edinburgh’s main shopping districts, whilst not taking away from some fantastic Georgian buildings.

The South Side is mainly a residential area of the City, whilst Leith is a busy port, playing host to a number of world-wide cruise liners.

Whilst Edinburgh is visited all year round, it’s throughout the months of August when the City is booming. The Edinburgh Festival, which first began in 1947, is held, which is an umbrella term for various festivals which take place on an annual basis throughout the month. There are numerous festivals that are held throughout the month, with the most notable ones being:

1.Edinburgh Fringe - known as simply ‘The Fringe’, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest arts festival in the world. Playing home to a variety of performing arts, drama and music shows, The Fringe is massively popular amongst people of all ages and attracts thousands upon thousands of people every single year.

2.Edinburgh Comedy Festival - part of the Edinburgh Fringe, the Edinburgh Comedy Festival is the biggest comedy festival in the world, attracting some of the comedy circuit’s biggest names and plays host to some of the worlds best up and coming comedians. With around 250 comedy shows taking place under the collective ‘Edinburgh Comedy Festival’, there is a hilarious stage show to be seen, regardless of your comedy preference.

3.Edinburgh Military Tattoo - provided by the British Armed Forces, Commonwealth and international military bands, the Military Tattoo is one of the largest of its kind. Over 217,000 people watch the Tattoo live every year, with around 40% of the audience being from overseas (30% come from Scotland and 35% from the rest of the UK). Further to this, over 100 million watch the television broadcast. The main focus of the event is to raise money for charity, with over £5 million being raised throughout its time.

The festivals throughout August are without a doubt one of the most popular reasons to visit Edinburgh. During the Festival, the city is alive with music, plays, ballets and symphonies.; however they are definitely not the only ones. Edinburgh Castle is a fascinating historic monument which dominates the Edinburgh skyline, whilst the City is renowned for its extensive shopping. With so much to see and do, the best thing to do is to book into an Edinburgh hotel and begin to enjoy the wonders of the Scottish capital straight away.

This article was written by Rakesh Gaikwad

About the Author:
Open Roads has a variety of travel packages and offers on Edinburgh Hotels for you to enjoy a perfectly planned vacation. They also have a range of discounts and offers for other attractive travel destinations around the world.

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If you want uninhibited high energy night partying and don’t mind taking a bit of dangerous risk until the wee hours of the morning, New York is definitely the place for you.

Despite its reputation for being one of the most dangerous places to be in at night, New York still does not fail to seduce tourists from all over the world to celebrate and party all night in the myriad of bars and hubs to choose from.

New York has everything any tourist would wish to see in a place. People with varied interests will find themselves able to meet halfway with the night haunts that are available for the New York traveler.

For starters, one could visit the famous McSorley’s Ale House, a city landmark that is known for its quaint features and for serving its own ale. Their own beer has only two types: light or dark. While the rest of New York City evolved into cutting edge technology and neon designs, McSorley’s was able to preserve the very same look it had since it opened in 1854. Historical and homey in nature, this is definitely one place you would not want to miss visiting while you’re there.

If you wish to party with Latin beat, Copacabana is the way to go. This is miniature Havana in the midst of the multi-cultural and sinfully delicious New York nightlife. This is one of the best places to meet the most exciting people in New York. Salsa aficionados will find this to be a little paradise, with live bands and music to boot. If you’re lucky, there are even professional dancers who will offer you their services to learn the hottest salsa moves.

Most movies that shoot on New York feature the Brooklyn Bridge and with good reason. At night, this can be one of the best places for relaxation and bonding sessions with your friends. An evening walk is most perfect, especially if you have your trusty digital camera to capture those precious moments.

If you are not too claustrophobic and intend to maximize your adventure in New York, Cafe Wha is also one nightspot you may want to visit. Here is where various types of people and music go together. The atmosphere is friendly, and it is impossible for you not to meet new and interesting people when you go there. Best of all, you could come as you are because there is no dress code to keep you from dancing there all night.

This article was written by Ron Zvagelsky

About the Author:
Ron Zvagelsky has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Use PlanJam to find fun things to do and other date ideas.

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