​​When you go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras make the most of your trip by doing some exploring and see what else New Orleans has to offer. Bring your camera, comfy walking shoes, and your adventurous attitude.
 
Here are some of the must-see attractions in New Orleans. This is a little bit for everyone to enjoy, so here we go.
 
1.Jackson Square - French Quarter is the Place to Be
Without a doubt, the most famous spot in the city of New Orleans is the French Quarter. The French Quarter is home to many things that give this area some life such as bars, shops,  restaurants, and colorful and vibrant street performers. And of course, since you are coming to Mardi Gras, then you will most likely be spending a lot of time in this area. Explore the French Quarter before all the Mardi Gras festivities begin so you can totally take in the beauty of this area.
 
2.If You Love Jazz then Go to Tipitina's
Not much has changed at the famous Tipitina’s music venue from the 1970s. This music venue continues to draw in iconic acts who play well into the late hours of the night. Tipitina’s is a place that draws in a unique crowd who love live New Orleans music.
 
3.If You Are Into the Arts Go to Ogden Museum of Southern Art
New Orleans has one of the biggest art collections in the South at the Ogden Museum of Art. This is a must-see art museum for art aficionados and even for anyone with a small interest in art. It’s located within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and the French Quarter so it is something that you can’t miss out on. Keep warm and look at some beautiful art. 
 
4.If You are the Active Type go to New Orleans City Park
One of the biggest city parks in the country is New Orleans City Park. It is so diverse that you need to save a couple of hours to visit all the breathtaking gardens, old oak trees draped with Spanish moss that are 100’s of years old, waterways, tennis courts, the New Orleans Museum of Art can be found there too, and other outdoor attractions. If you are an active type of person then you will appreciate the bike and running paths. Don’t forget the camera for this spot so you can take pictures of the views!
 
5. If You Love Local Culture go to Magazine Street
Magazine Street goes from Uptown to the Lower Garden District. It is a six mile street that has many flea markets, shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars that you definitely want to miss out. It is recommended by locals for you to explore Magazine Street on foot as it can be difficult to find parking here. You can easily get there by taking the streetcar from the St. Charles Avenue station.
 
6.If You Love to Explore take a Streetcar
If you’ve got the time and aren’t a hurry to get anywhere or make it to dinner plans on time, then you definitely want to enjoy take a streetcar ride. It’s an inexpensive way for you to see the city. For just $1.25, you can enjoy and soak in the city in a relaxed atmosphere. There are a number of routes. Find a station near where you are staying for a map and schedule.
 
7.If You Are More Laid Back Go to The New Orleans Lakefront
A not so common touristy place is the New Orleans Lakefront. The Lakefront offers beautiful views of Lake Pontchartrain. It also has a number of laid-back restaurants that serves delicious and fresh seafood. Get there in the late afternoon time to enjoy some liquid libations during a happy hour and stay a bit later for a sunset stroll.
 
As you can see there is plenty for you to do in New Orleans besides enjoy Mardi Gras. Contact us today to plan your adventure in New Orleans 888.213.8505.
 
Hope you found this list to be helpful and you enjoy some of these fun places.
 
Don’t forget to take a picture or two to share online!

About the Country

Belgium is situated in the west of Europe. The land here mostly comprises of flat coastal plains in the northeast, and southeast is occupied by the Ardennes Forest. Dutch, Flemish, French and German are the official languages of Belgium, with Dutch being the widely spoken followed by French. The weather here is pretty predictable. Months from April to September are the warmest. Otherwise the weather is pretty humid and skies are gray, that explains why umbrellas and raincoats are a part of the dressing. So, if the visit is planned for holidays during the rainy season, one must not forget to carry sufficient cover for maximum protection, as this is a coastal region. In case of emergency call 100 or 112.

Culture

Belgians are English-friendly and will make every attempt to speak in English with a foreigner. Always remember to carry a small gift or at least flowers especially when invited over dinner. The dress to wear will be mentioned in the invitation, when invited for a party. Smoking in public is acceptable.

Shopping

Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges, Ostend, Namur, Mons, LiËge, Ghent and Mechelen are the main shopping centers. Belgium is famous for ceramics and hand-beaten copperware from Dinant, laces from Bruges, crystals from Val Saint Lambert, woodcarvings from Spa and Belgiumís finest chocolates. In jewelry, diamonds from Antwerp are on high demand. 

Eating Out

The specialty of most of the restaurants is horse and rabbit meat dishes. Although visitors can find a wide range of ethnic foods, but the most famous are frites and mayonnaise and mitraillette; mitraillette is a large bun filled with fries, donair meat and garlic sauce, the vegetarians can ask for a veg. substitute for the donair meat. While eating at a restaurant, tipping is considered customary along with the value-added tax. At the cinemas, leave a Ä0.50 tip for the attendant and Ä0.25 after using the public toilets.

Electricity

Voltage is 230 V and frequency is 50 Hz.

Travel

Delta Air Transport has inaugurated its new European airline SN Brussels Airlines recently. It flies to more than 58 destinations in Europe and as well as worldwide. The Brussels Zayentem airport is twelve km from the city and it takes 35 minutes to reach the city from the airport. The airport has facilities like duty free shops, car parking, taxi booking, car hiring, banks, post office, restaurants, and medical help. Internet and fax services are provided for the passengers. The Airport City Express train transports passengers to three main railway stations - Brussels North, Central and South. One can avail a bus which runs regularly from the airport, taxis can also be hired which wait outside the arrival hall. Tipping the taxi drivers is considered customary. Train runs every 15 minutes.

Another airport, Brussels South Charleroi, is 5 km away from Charleroi and 46 km from Brussels. Ryan air serves as the local airline here and has cheap deals for several European destinations to and from Charleroi. The facilities provided here are bus and train services, cafÈ, car hire, and duty free shops.

Ostend airport is 5 km away from the city and car parking, car hire, duty free shops, and restaurants are provided here.

Antwerp airport is just 2 km away from the city. Buses run to the Brussels Central Station every few minutes.

Liege is situated at a distance of 5 km away from the city. Buses run at regular interval here. 

The departure tax at Brussels Zayentem is Ä20.93, Brussels South Charleroi is Ä3.49, Ostend and Antwerp is Ä10, and at Liege is Ä7.

There is a network of high-speed trains, which are operated by Thalys, from Belgium to France, connecting Brussels with other destinations like Bordeaux, ChambÈry, Cannes, Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Valence Perpignan, and Rennes. Booking should be made in advance for these trains. The national railway operates through out the day providing service every few minutes to destinations such as Andorra, Austria, France, Czech, Germany, Italy, Poland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the UK and the Netherlands. Insiders can avail the Inter-Rail pass which allows visitors to travel almost 29 European Countries. This service is valid for residents who have been settled there for more than 6 months.

Duty Free Items

Visitors can carry alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, coffee and tea without getting customs duty levied on them, but only the goods should be limited. Check out for the limits before carrying such goods. Food items that are not preserved are better avoided. 

Now you are ready to book your trip to Belgium contact us 888.213.8505 or info@bluhorizontravel.com.

Just in time for our trip July 3-6, 2020

A visit to Costa Rica would simply be incomplete without taking the time to appreciate its thriving and unique cultural scene. Artists have long been inspired by Costa Rica’s beauty and vibrant culture, using its natural resources for inspiration and, occasionally, instrument.

If you like both art and adventure, check out the list below. Some places are off the beaten path and some are right in the heart of the city, but all of them are unforgettable.

The Museum of Stone Spheres
The Museum of Stone Spheres, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Diquís Delta, is home to more than 300 stone sculptures. Colloquially known as “Las Bolas”, these spheres – much like Stonehenge – are of nebulous origin and purpose, though archaeologists have dated them back to about the year 600. Their mysterious nature and historical significance have even inspired modern art.

Sarchí
The town of Sarchí is world-renowned for its woodwork, leather shops, and ceramics. Located at the base of the Central Valley Mountain Range, Sarchí is also famous for its oxcarts – brightly-painted, beautifully decorated symbols of Costa Rican tradition. The oxcarts line the shop-lined streets, where you can purchase and admire any manner of artisanal crafts and furniture.

Galería Namu
​This downtown San José gallery specializes in fair trade and indigenous art of Central America. It features hundreds of unique and exceptional pieces, from tribal masks to pottery. Namu prides itself on its mission statement – “to respect and celebrate the permanence and legacy of the first people” of Central America – and its commitment to paying artists quickly and fairly. They also have an online shop with both original and replicate items.

Monte Azul
The Monte Azul Boutique Hotel preserve sits at the base of Chirripó, Costa Rica’s highest mountain, and is surrounded by 125 acres of lush rainforest. Its living spaces are expertly and beautifully curated by the hotel’s artist-in-residence. Between the stunning natural environment and the luxurious and expansive accommodations, Monte Azul is truly an inspired experience.

The Museum of Costa Rican Art
An old airport in San José’s La Sabana Park is now the Costa Rican Art Museum, which features sculptures, paintings, photographs, and more. The museum hosts the works of Costa Rica’s most famous artist, Francisco Amighetti, a surrealist who specialized in showing the daily life of Costa Ricans.

Plan before you go: the museum offers complimentary admission on Sundays and is closed on Mondays.

Be sure to join us book today at https://traveljoy.com/bookings/BzXby83JNBSyvsaUWx5VpHdv

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Paris is sweet on the eye, sweet on the romance and sweet on the palette. It is a sugar lovers dream and the only problem you’ll have when it comes the delectible French deserts is which one to choose. To help you navigate that yummy last course we’ve broken down the top 10 must try deserts for your visit to France. And if you have to eat more than one a day just to get through them? Well, c’est la vie!

​10 Sweet Treats to Eat While Visiting Paris


The Tartes Aux Fruits – The tartes aux fruits are prepared with fresh fruit inside a buttery pastry.  The fruit sit atop a heavenly Chantilly cream.  You can enjoy these tartes in both miniature and pie sizes.
The Éclair – The éclair is a popular dessert in Paris.  The long French choux pastry can be filled with either a rich custard or pastry cream, and topped with a sweet fondant.  By definition, the term éclair means lightning in French.  Go figure!
The Paris Brest – This pastry was created to celebrate the Paris to Brest bicycle ride in 1891.  Naturally, its circular and contains praline flavored crème and choux pastry.
Macaron – Macarons are undeniably delectable.  There are so many flavors to choose from.  The base ingredients include an airy meringue and almonds.  Be sure to not confuse with coconut macaroons, in which the English added the -oon to the word in the 16th century. 
The Tarte Au Citron – Tarte Au Citron also known as the lemon tart are also very popular.  Donning a pastry crust and delicious lemon filling.  The filling, however, is not made with fruit.  The cream is a mixture containing lemon juice, lemon zest and of course, eggs and sugar. 
The Mille Feuille – This fluffy treat comes in a vanilla or custard slice and is comprised of several layers of puff pastry.  Between the puff pastry lies an additional two layers of pastry crème.  Another name for the Mille Feuill is the Napoleon. 
The Tarte Tatin – Named after the hotel that serves the dessert (Hotel Tatin), the tarte Tatin is a unique upside-down pastry.  Its ingredients include caramelized fruit prepared with sugar and butter.  It pairs famously with a bit of tart crème fraiche.  
The Choux à La Crème – These cream puffs are created using puff pastry as well.  They swell while cooking and are actually hollow.  The oozing center can be either whipped cream or custard.   Interestingly enough, once you add chocolate as your topping, it then becomes a profiterole.  There are various different toppings you can add to this pastry, from ice cream to fruit and even spun caramel.
Croissant – This buttery flaky wonder is a signature French pastry.  There are so many ways to top it; you can use fruit, chocolate, fondant or a compote of your choosing.  You will not be disappointed.
The Petits Four – Translated, petit four means small oven, and are also known as mignardises.  The fours are miniature bite-sized confections that can also be savory if you choose.  The sweet route includes a sugary glaze atop a crispy biscuit.  These pastries are perfect for tea parties. 

Why not try them ALL!

I'd love to help you plan your trip to Paris so be sure to pick up the phone and call me or send me an email.

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​Safe Travels