Travel and Vacation Abodes: 2010

The London Eye

The London Eye which is also commonly known as the Millenium Wheel from Merlin Entertainments is a giant 135-metre (443 ft) tallFerris Wheel located on the banks of the River Thames in the British capital. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and the most popular tourist attraction in United Kingdom, but this ride is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Some interesting Facts about the London Eye

The circumference of the wheel is 424m (1.392ft) - meaning that if it were unraveled, it would be 1.75 times longer than the UK's tallest building One Canada Square.Each rotation takes about 30 minutes, meaning a capsule travels at a stately 26cm per second, or 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting; allowing passengers to step on and off without the wheel having to stop.

The London Eye carries 3.5 million customers every year. You would need 6,680 fully booked British Airways Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets to move that number of fliers!

The Merlin Entertainments London Eye opens daily except on Christmas Day (25 December) and during its annual maintenance period from 8th January to 21st January 2011 inclusive.

The first flight takes place at 10.00 am.

source and images: LondonEye

A Tuscan Villa with Lovely Outdoors

This is a wonderful Tuscan Villa in Montisi, Italy. The outdoor spaces of the villa is what makes this villa so special, just look at the panoramic views that surrounds this property and you will immediately feel relaxed and calm.

A beautifully renovated tower with the main large area room being under ground on one side meaning it is always cool -with open gorgeous views of rolling Tuscany countryside. The 3 bedroom villa is tastefully and stylishly furnished giving it a feel of luxury. Escape the Tuscan sun with a swim in the pool, or by relaxing on one of the terraces with a good book. - Boutique Homes

An Authentic Tuscan Villa

This is Fiesol Vacation Villa which is one of the authentic Tuscan villas you can find in Florence, Italy. It has a very beautiful outdoor spaces where guests can relax on the infinity swimming pool, relax on the wonderful gardens, gather and dine on the Pergola with Tuscan fireplace, dining table and seating area or just simply enjoy the lovely landscapes. The interiors of the villa is as lovely as its outdoors.

This authentic Tuscan villa is ideally situated 15 minutes from Florence and provides easy access to Tuscany. It has 4 spacious centrally air conditioned bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, an infinity swimming pool with a large deck area and Barlow Tyrie lounge furniture, a pergola with a Tuscan fireplace containing a dining table and separate seating area, an expansively proportioned open living/dining area with seating for 14 at the dining table, modern kitchen with marble counter tops and a Miele dishwasher, a library with a television, desk top computer, stereo system and an extensive collection of art and touring books, and a new washer/dryer, as well as wireless Internet access. The villa has contemporary furnishings throughout blending warmth and elegance, and spectacular panoramic views. It sits gracefully on 3 acres of property with a fruit orchard, extensive landscaping and olive trees. Daily maid service is provided, and an outstanding Italian chef is available on request. - Home Away

The Famous Ice Hotel of Sweden

The world famous Ice Hotel of Sweden is a hotel built of ice and snow, and if that is not amazing enough it is also considered a work of art that is built yearly during winter. As winter begins, snow builders, architects, designers and artists from around the world would gather in the little Swedish Town of Jukkasjärvi far north of the Arctic Circle to create each year's design and version of the ICEHOTEL. Only the frozen water from the Torne River is used. It would really be nice to sleep in a bed made of ice inside a room with walls and floors made of ice and snow at least once in a lifetime, a truly amazing travel experience.