Travel Ideas

by: Ester Napoli

Do you envision your wedding in a tropical paradise? Perhaps you see yourself exchanging vows on the warm sand beside an aquamarine sea or sailing off into the sunset with ten of your dearest friends to enjoy a wedding feast and the spectacular scenery. If such a scenario appeals to you, a Bahamas wedding can make your dream come true.

In order to be eligible for a legal Bahamas wedding, you and your partner must spend one day in the Bahamas before submitting an application for a marriage license ($100). You must provide a photo ID. If you are widowed, you are required to provide the death certificate of your spouse; if you are divorced, you must provide a document proving that you are legally divorced. You will also need to have proof of your arrival date in the Bahamas (your Bahamas Embarkation Card will do). It is recommended that you obtain a copy of your wedding certificate before you leave the Bahamas. It can be mailed to you if time is an issue but delays and complications have been frequently encountered. Once you arrive home, you will need this marriage certificate in order to obtain other legal documents.

Wedding packages are offered at most hotels and resorts in the Bahamas. Prices vary. Here are a few examples:

• The Bluff House Beach Hotel located in Green Turtle Bay, Abaco, Bahamas, offers a wedding package that includes: a wedding coordinator, a wedding cake, a minister or administrator to perform the ceremony, a photographer, the bride?s bouquet and a bottle of champagne. They will also be happy to arrange for a live band and a buffet.
• Small Hope Bay Lodge located in Andros Island, Bahamas, is a smaller resort consisting of 20 cottages, one of which is a honeymoon cottage. It offers a simple wedding package for $500 which includes all the necessary paper work, a cake and champagne, a video and photos. At this resort you can get married on the beach or even underwater!
• Bahamas Wedding Paradise is an organization that offers several wedding packages. You can select one of their packages or design your own. Packages range in price from $360 to over $3000 (please note that Bahamas Wedding Paradise is not a hotel or a resort).

Make the wedding of your dreams a reality and start your married life in the tropical paradise of the Bahamas.

About The Author

Ester Napoli: They say if you want to be happy, you have to do something you are passionate about. One of my passions is traveling and the one place I fell in love with was the Bahamas; the white sand, clear waters, friendly environment. It is paradise on earth. I enjoy all aspects of the Bahamas; the culture, the history, the countless sports and activities to keep you busy, and of course, the fabulous weather. Website: Glorious Bahamas Real Estate (www.gloriousbahamas.com).
info@gloriousbahamas.com

Carnival in Salvador

by: Jason Blynn

Deemed by some as the wildest street party on the face of the planet, Carnival in Salvador, Bahia is the place to be during those five crazy days in February or March. Different from the more spectator-oriented Carnival in Rio, Carnival in Salvador puts you in the middle of the music, the dancing, and the rhythms of the some of the most energetic bands in the world.
Once the center of sugar cane production and accompanying slave trade, Salvador, Bahia is Brazil?s capital of African culture and Religion. Carnival is the time of year when this Afro-Brazilian culture truly shines, with every music group in the city, from traditional afro-percussion groups to more contemporary axe bands (axe is a modern mix of afoxe and other contemporary rhythms), performing day and night. Bands perform on enormous trucks (loaded with thousands of watts of sound) which crawl through one of three principal Carnival Routes. The trucks are called ?trios? because the first was a ?29 Ford which carried a driver and two musicians, Dod? and Osmar (today the original car is in the museum at the Lagoa da Abaet? in Itapoan). In the years following the first trio?s appearance in 1950, the bands stuck to the trio format, but have since evolved into a much more grandiose spectacle, complete with enormous bands, costumes, and dancing. All around the trucks is a roped off area called a ?bloco?, a type of VIP area with security and refreshments. Outside the cord, usually deemed quite a bit more dangerous on account of the petty thieves and pickpockets, is where the ?pipoca?, or popcorn (named for the synchronizing jumping of the crowd) dances and carries on. Another option is buying a ticket for one of the many ?camarotes?, which are VIP lounges in hotels and restaurants along the carnival routes.
The Music
Carnival in Salvador offers so many options for different types and music, it can be a bit daunting. If axe music is what you are interested in, check out Margareth Menezes, Ivete Sangalo, Daniela Mercury, Timbalada, or Chiclete com Banana. For more traditional afro-percussion groups, Olodum, Ara Ketu, Muzenza, and Il? Aiy? are great options. For a look at some traditional samba, check out Terra Samba, and for a not-so-surprise visit by Brazil?s Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil (also one of the most famous MPB artists and a leader in the Tropicalia movement), follow trio Expresso 2222.
Packages
DiscoverBrazil is proud to offer four different packages, each with different camarote and length of stay options. Please keep in mind that any of these packages can be customized to concord with your time and budget needs.

8 day/7 night or 6 day/ 5 night stay at the Tropical Hotel da Bahia - This hotel is located in Campo Grande, the Carnaval?s epicenter, and near Salvador?s best attractions - the Historic Center, the Pelourinho, churches, shopping mall, theaters, the Mercado Modelo, and Porto da Barra. 5 nights pass for the exclusive Hotel Camarote (Feb 3-8) included in both packages.
7 day/6 night stay at the Bahia Othon Palace Hotel. This hotel is located in Ondina, considered the best place to see the Bahian Carnaval parade. The Othon offers all the amenities of a five star hotel and an amazing ocean view. The only difference in these two packages is a choice of 4 or 6 nights in the Hotel Camarote.

An ?abada?, a specific shirt needed to enter into one of the many blocos, is also available for a separate price. Please inquire. Price quoted is based on double occupancy. Flights are not included, but if you are interested in quotes for international or domestic flights, please contact one of our travel agents.
For more information and price quotes, contact one of our expert travel consultants:

From North America, call toll free: 1-800-495-8211

From all other locations: (55) (71) 3113-4206

Or, send us an email at customersupport@discoverbrazil.com

www.discoverbrazil.com

About The Author

Jason is a recent graduate of Amherst College, where he received a degree in Music and Political Science. He is currently living in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, working for Discover Brazil and enjoying the wonderful music and culture Bahia and the rest of Brazil have to offer.
patricia@discoverbrazil.com.br

What to expect upon arriving in Jamaica and at your Sandals Resort

by: John Gall

What to expect upon arriving in Jamaica and at your Sandals Resort
When your plane touches down at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica you will have to get your bags and then clear customs. Once through customs there will be many people wanting to help you with your bags etc. I’d suggest just getting your own stuff over to the Sandals Tour desk. Here you’ll find a Sandals rep who will put stickers on your bags so they know which Sandals resort they should go to. A skycap in the red had will then load your bags and take them to the bus. Keep in mind these are not Sandals employees and they will expect a tip. I believe $2.00 USD per bag is customary. If you don’t want to tip, I’d suggest being upfront that you’ll take your own bags. Being that Jamaicans are very good hosts they will likely tell you to not worry and try and carry your stuff anyway. My advice is go with it and enjoy your vacation.
Once at your bus you will likely have to wait a bit for others to board etc. I’d suggest wandering down the parking lot and getting a couple Red Stripes. Whether headed to Negril or Ocho Rios you’re in for a long ride and you’ll feel better if your refreshed. You can even drink your strips on the bus.
If your headed to Negril expect a total trip time of 1.5 hours. You’ll stop at the Apple bar for Red Stripes and a potty break. Again just go with it, don’t be that guy on the bus complaining because we stopped.
If your headed to Dunn’s River or Ocho Rios you have a longer ride. Because the road is still under construction expect a two hour ride with the customary stop for drinks and jerk chicken.
At the resort you’ll be seated in the lobby. Men will be instructed to hang back to ensure all bags are accounted for. I’d suggest in advance making sure your man knows what your bags look like. (I didn’t) I just expected my wife to watch hers and I’d watch mine. When all bags are accounted for your man will join you in the lobby. Sometimes you will receive a damp towel and most times a glass of champagne. In Negril I like to hit the bar and get a real drink as its just steps from the lobby.
Soon after a host will collect your travel papers and return with a bag full of aloe lotion and suntan lotion as well as you room key. From here a bell hop will take your bags and you to the room. If you have any objections to your room now is the time to voice them. In our case our bell hop called the desk and we had a new room immediately.
From here, I’d suggest a drink and a walk around the resort. If your in time for the orientation get right in there it will help you get adjusted to what happens when. If not then try to hit that the next day. I know it sounds dumb but we would have been up to speed immediately had we gone our first visit.

About The Author

John Gall is a full time IT Manager and IT Consultant in Minnesota. He runs several websites as a hobby featuring content similar to that in this article.

http://www.gallconsulting.com

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