Argentina

Location: Argentina is located on the southern tip of South America. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the East, Chile to the West, with Bolivia, Paraguay, and Urugay to the North.
Capital: Buenos Aires
Climate: As Argentina is located below the Equator, the seasons are opposite of those in the US and Europe. The climate is generally temperate but also experiences extremes- the subantartic southern region, the mild central plains, and the extreme heat in the north. January tends to be the warmest month, while June and July tend to be the coldest.
Time Zone: Argentina uses the GMT -3 time zone. (Florida is GMT -5) Currently, Argentina does not observe daylight savings time but makes the determination on a year-by-year basis.
Electricity: Argentina uses 220V (voltage), 50 Hz (frequency), and type C & I plugs.
Currency: The currency in Argentina is the peso which is divided into 100 cents. ATM's are very common and can be found readily. Travelers Checks are not widely accepted, so you must go to a bank or travel agent in order to cash them. If you are looking to exchange money in Argentina, it is best to go to a bank or Currency Exchange Center. Many hotels also will exchange currency. While credit cards are mostly accepted, due to a poor economy it is likely you will be charged a high surcharge. View Argentinian currency

Exchange Rate: 1 USD = 3.956 ARS, 1 ARS = .252781 USD.

Click here to view the current exchange rate.
Population: 41,343,201 (July 2010 est.)
Country Code: The telephone country code for Argentina is 54.
Languages: The official language of Argentina is Spanish. Other languages commonly spoken include Italian, English, German and French.
Government: The goverment is a republic. The Executive branch is headed by the President- who is the head of state and head of government. The Legislative branch is governed by the President and two chambers of Congress. The Judiciary is independent of the Executive and Legislative branches.
Communication: Telephone land lines, cell phones, broadcast media, and the Internet are all widely used forms of communication. If you are bringing a cell phone to Argentina, make sure you have voltage and frequency adaptors as well as to notify your carrier. When dialing from a cellular device, dial the country code followed by the city code, and then the local number. Tips for making phone calls in Argentina.
Transportation: Travellers may rent a car but it is often quite costly. The most popular mode of transportation are the colectivos or micro omnibus (bus). There are taxis and remise, a type of taxi. Remise are often cheaper as they price of the trip is agreed upon prior. If you are travelling around Buenos Aires, you may take the ''subte'' (metro or subway). If you would prefer quick and comfortable transportation between Argentina and Uruguay, there is a Ferry service which can be expensive.
Entry: U.S. citizens for tourism or business only need a valid US passport and may stay for up to 90 days without a visa. Visitors will be charged an Entry Fee of $140 USD. This fee is a reciprocal charge in line with costs incurred by Argentinians when travelling to the US. This fee allows US citizens unlimited entry for up to 10 years.

Things To Do - Places To See

Buenos Aires

Iguazu Falls

Ushuaia

Mendoza: This lovely metropolitan city is located in the foothills of the Andes in the northcentral high plains, just across the border from Santiago. It is most popular for wine enthusiasts and adventure travellers looking to climb Aconcagua (the highest mountain in the western hemisphere), ski, hike, horseback ride, and raft. Mendoza is the largest wine producing region in Latin America and is one of nine cities worldwide in the Great Capitals of Wine.

Jewish Heritage in Denmark

If you're headed to Denmark & would like to experience a bit of Jewish heritage while you're there, Visit Denmark's Jewish-themed travel site is an amazing resource! Jam-packed with information on useful facts, historical background, and suggestions for places to go and things to see, your trip just became that much easier to plan- and that much more exciting. In addition, you can read about and then experience a fairly comprehensive history of Jews in this lovely Scandinavian country.
The oldest Jewish community in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, & Denmark) resides in Denmark and dates back to the times of King Christian IV when he founed a city on the River Elbe called Gluckstadt near Hamburg, Germany (at the time, under Danish rule) in the 1600's. It was originally a safe haven for Sephardic Jewish merchants from many areas such as Spain, Portugal, & North Africa.
You can visit various sites on your own or join a tour specifically designed for travellers wishing to experience Danish Jewish hertiage first hand.

Sites that currently make the website's Top 5 points of interest are:

1. Danish Jewish Museum- this museum provides a great perspective on Jewish history in Denmark from the 17th century up until present day.
2. Jewish Copenhagen Walking Tour- This is the perfect combination of general points of interest around Copenhagen while also seeing & learning about Jewish history and culture.
3. The Museum of Danish Resistance 1940-1945 (Frihedsmuseet)- Opened in 1957 and inaugurated in 1995, this is a permanent exhibition aimed at telling the story of Danish resistance during Nazi occupation from 1940-1945.
4. The Great Synagogue of Copenhagen- This is the main synagogue of Jewish Danes in Copenhagen and boasts unique & beautiful architecture considered to be the masterwork of Gustav Friedrich.
5. The Rescue Route- While this may be seen through various modes of transportation, the most highly recommended is through a guided tour or specialized guide for the most engaging experience. On this route, originally travelled in 1943, you'll traverse through quaint and charming fishing villages.

View our guide to Scandinavia here!

Illustration of The Great Synagogue of Copenhagen from around 1899

Phyllis' Russian River Cruise

Last week, Sand & C's own Phyllis Glaser returned from leading a small group of clients on an incredible river cruise through Russia. (I am jealous... this is a trip I would love to take!) I have asked Phyllis to write a summary of her trip, and I am delighted to share it with you below. You can also see pictures from the trip on Facebook by clicking here. I enjoyed reading about her experiences, and hope that you will too!

If after reading Phyllis' summary you would like more information on Viking River Cruises, Russia, and/or river cruising, feel free to contact us!

Alan Rosen

President

Sand & C Travel

A Summary of Phyllis Glaser's Russian River Cruise

I have just returned from my Russian - Waterways of the Czars cruise on Viking River Cruises as a tour escort and would love to share this memorable experience with you. We were a group of 8 from Boynton Beach and Delray Beach. I was the only one who knew these people, but by the time we landed in St. Petersburg we were a most congenial and cohesive group. Only one couple and myself had cruised the European rivers before, and the others are now avid river cruisers after the fabulous experience with Viking River Cruises.

Our monumental 13 day itinerary was an epic journey through Russia's rich history.

Days 1-4- St. Petersburg included the legendary Hermitage Museum where you just marvel at the vast collection of art, antiques, and sculputres in 600 rooms. Then we visited Catherine's Palace, which is the elegant and rococo 18th century summer residence of the Russian Czars. In the town of Pushkin, 20 miles away on the Baltic sea, is Peterhof Palace- known as the Versailles by the Sea. It was built in 1721 and is known for its Grand Cascade of 64 fountains, waterfalls, and 37 statues in its sculptured gardens.

On a free time afternoon, the shuttle bus dropped us off at their downtown shopping area- Nevsky Prospect- to explore on our own. Just seeing the display of clothing, jewelry, and gifts was indeed a far cry from the former Soviet Union. Then there was a private tour of the Choral Synagogue, built in 1869. A very imposing building, it is once again becoming the cultural center for the St. Petersburg Jewish community.

In the evenings, Viking had arranged a ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet at the famous Alexdrinksy Theatre, with its 19th century opulence. Another evening, after dinner we just walked along the pier to Viking River's own tent to see a traditional Cossack folkloric show.

Being the ship was moored on the Neva River about 30 minutes from downtown, we got to see the new office and apartment buildings that have been built in the post Soviet years. They rival that of any USA city, except for one thing- no central air conditioning. In the office buildings, it is called 'air cooled' but in the apartments you could spot an occasional window air conditioner which was definitely needed in their hottest summer in 130 years.

Day 5-9 were spent cruising the 2 largest lakes in Europe- Lake Lodoga and Lake Onega to the Svir river stopping off at medieval villages that were walking tours:

Mandrogy- a model Russian community with all handmade crafts of the finest quality.

Kizhi- a UNESCO World Heritage Site- site of the Transfiguration Church, a fairy tale structure built in 1714 without a single nail.

Goritzy- arrived in this typical Russia village town after cruising along the Volga River, going through 7 of the locks on the way to Moscow. The tour of the Monastery included an Acapella concert by the monks.

Yarslavl- will be celebrating its Millennium Jubilee in September, it was founded in 1010 and is now a city of 500,000. We had a bus tour that included stopping off at an outdoor farmers market- a combination of The Boys and an outdoor Festival Flea market! It is perched on the river bank with a promenade 10 miles long.

Uglich- walking tour of this provincial village on a Sunday morning where we had another traditional choir performance.

Day 10-13 Moscow- scenic cruising along the Volga River, viewing the countryside, summer homes while sitting on the deck as if we were on a Caribbean cruise! Then all of the sudden there are the high rise apartment buildings coming into sight as we are moored on the Volga River in the suburbs of Moscow- 30 minutes from the Red Square and Kremlin. It was like being on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River viewing the New York skyline.

From here on out, it was non-stop bus and walking tours for 3 1/2 days. The first tour was experiencing a ride on the famous Metro. We rode for 4 stations that had paintings, sculptures, and not one item of graffiti. Then to the impressive Red Square. We had to pinch ourselves that we were really there! It's massive and highlighted by the GUM department store, and the 16th century St. Basil's Cathedral with its 21 onion shaped colorful domes. Viking arranged an early evening musical concert of young artists that was a delightful end to a busy day.

The Kremlin, which looks like a medieval fortress, is a category unto itself. It represents every era of Russian history for the past 700 years. Just going through security, seeing the former KGB building, and all of the other military items- cannons & bells- left us with an eery feeling, not believing that we were really witnessing modern Russian politics. The churches are all museums now. At 10:00pm, we all went on a Moscow by Night bus tour- it's most impressive from the GUM department store that looks like a lit up gingerbread castle to the crimson domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and the red stars on the Kremlin towers.

An optional private tour that I had arranged but was open to anyone, was a visit to the new Holocaust Museum with a synagogue that was just built in 1999. Located in Victory Park, it was an educational experience with our local guide translating from the curator. We viewed a war film and then saw displays of family artifacts that were centuries old. It was indeed a very moving experience. Then it was the final sightseeing trip- the Choral Synagogue of Moscow, a most impressive structure built in 1906.

In between all of this cultural sightseeing, onboard we had Russian language, history, and current affairs sessions. Not only was the brain fed, but Viking's chefs prepared gourmet meals with presentations that whet the palate at all times. All eight of us agree to that- so that is testimonial in and of itself.

Read our quick guide to Russia!

Monograms: Travel Made Easy

Don't you wish you could travel without lifting so much as a finger on logistics AND have someone available at your beck & call to help throughout? It's possible. And affordable. Here's how it works:

When & Where

You choose a destination and date. Are your travels taking you to Europe, North America, South America, Asia, or the South Pacific?

Where to Stay

In each location, at least one hotel has been preselected to ensure that the level of quality is up to par and the location is near where you need to be. You may choose from the list provided or opt for one not listed.

Getting There & Getting Around

Transportation- be it from a dock, airport, or rail service- is taken care of. You'll never have to worry about how you're going to get from point A to point B. Based on when you intend to travel, all flights will be booked to perfectly coordinate with your travel plans. You'll benefit from Monograms' partnership with airlines and receive low airfares.

Things to Do

In conjunction with your destination, a variety of activities, attractions, and tours can be chosen. This selection includes the must-see sights of the city as well as other interesting things to do and see.

Chow Down

A full buffet breakfast, the most important meal of the day, is provided. For lunch and dinner, enjoy exploring a little and get a taste of the local culture.

Personal Service

From the moment you decide to travel until the moment you return home, you'll have access to a knowledgeable and helpful travel expert or local host to help with any questions or concerns. Prior to traveling, a travel expert will help you to understand and personalize your trip. Once you arrive, you'll have access to a local host who is able to provide information about the city, helpful hints and recommendations, and ensure you have what you need to make the most of your holiday. You'll have a 24-hour Service On Call phone number should you need anything.

Why?

You're likely wondering 'What's the point of using this? I could figure this all out on my own.' Well, yes, you could. But why would you when instead of spending days and multiple resources finding the same information you can take 10 minutes to choose, personalize, and book your entire trip. With a site such as Expedia, it may be slightly less expensive (likely about 5%), but you won't have access to the local host, transfers from the airport to your hotel or hotel to train station, etc. Also, you can avoid an experience like this! (After booking her entire trip & receiving all confirmations, upon arrival at the airport she was told her tickets were nonexistent.)
Additionally, more hotels, activities, & excursions have been added and prices are lower. This service is ideal for first time travelers, baby boomers, honeymooners, girlfriend getaways, families, and cruisers.

Religious Travel

sAND & c TRAVEL Offers RELIGIOUS VACATIONS for groups

In response to the ever increasing Religious Travel Market,

Sand & C Travel offers new vacation options

Boynton Beach, FL– According to a recent Religious Travel Study conducted by Menlo Consulting Group, 4.5 million people have traveled internationally on a religious or faith-based vacation. That number is expected to increase exponentially in the next five years: The same study revealed that by 2012, an additional 9.7 million will have traveled internationally on religious journeys.

In order to meet this growing demand, Sand & C Travel has partnered with the world's leading escorted travel company Globus, which in recent years has emerged as an industry and educational leader for religious travel. This effort will serve to broaden and expand our current faith-based travel with providers such as Isram.

“We are very excited about the expansion of this market and look forward to assisting churches and religious groups to travel the world,” said Alan Rosen, the president and owner of Sand & C Travel. ”Our agency will provide an array of travel options for faith-based clients including religious tours, secular vacations, European river cruising, and much more. Sand & C Travel has a full-time group department with extensive experience in working with groups to take care of all the details!”

Highlights of some of our religious vacations include:

• Journey Through the Holy Land: Spiritual. Life changing. Profound and inspiring. There’s no other way to describe the experience of walking in the footsteps of those who started it all, in the land where it all began- Israel. Journey through the Holy Land and be a part of a once in a lifetime experience to trace the lives of those who inspired us all. Also available with a 4 night Jordan extension.
• The Ultimate Family & Bar/Bat Mitzvah Tour: Unique. Profound. Spiritual. This is an excellent way to connect with your faith while also emphasizing and experiencing the meaning and history behind this long standing tradition. Experience the rich culture and history of Israel. Travel to Jerusalem, visit the lowest spot on earth- the Dead Sea, see Tiberias, and Tel Aviv. Connect with current generations of Israelites, while soaking in the past.
• Footsteps of Apostle Paul: A unique way to experience your faith on this combination cruise and land journey. See the rich culture and history of Greece as you trace in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. Learn about the Seven Churches of Revelation and learn about the Apostle John and his contributions to the writing the last book of the New Testament.
• Jewish Heritage Tour: Travel through Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic and discover the more recent history behind your heritage. Visit various Jewish communities such as the former Jewish Ghetto as well as concentration camps to learn about and understand the people who lived, operated, and suffered there. Learn about the past, how it was that such a tragedy was allowed, how it has molded future generations, and what we can do to prevent such horrors from being repeated. Experience the beauty of these countries and the wonderful culture and contributions of the Jewish people.
• Marian Shrines of Europe: Reconnect with your faith as you visit the most treasured Marian Shrines, Lourdes and Fatima. For over a thousand years pilgrims have been walking the Camino Pilgrim’s Way and on this trip you will have a chance to experience a portion of this famous walk in Santiago de Compostela. A true life-changing experience.

Sand & C Travel is now taking bookings for the 2011 season. For more information or to book a trip (whether individually or for your church/group), contact Sand & C Travel at (561)736-3880.

About Sand & C Travel

Sand & C Travel® is one of the largest independent, full-service travel agencies in South Florida. Our philosophy is to combine the personal service of a family owned & operated travel agency, with the exceptional value of a national a retailer. We are able to provide this level of service, with discount pricing and value-added amenities, due to our buying power with the travel suppliers. Sand & C Travel® is among the top producing agencies in the nation for such trusted names as Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Tauck World Discovery, Globus Tours, Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises. We are also members of Vacation.com, the largest travel agency group in the United States, giving us access to special rates with hundreds of travel suppliers.

Sand & C Travel® takes pride in providing personal service in planning terrific vacations at the most competitive pricing and appreciates the support of our clients and travel suppliers that have lead to our growth over the last 18 years.

Contact:

Stephanie Hart

(561)736-3880

stephanieh@sandctravel.com

Facebook or Twitter

Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean recently debuted its new ship MS Oasis of the Seas, the first of the new Oasis class. She sails out of Fort Lauderdale, FL and has set a new record for carrying over 6,000 passengers as well as being the world's largest and longest passenger vessel!

On this ship, travelers can expect to find such amenities as two-story loft & luxury suites with balconies. There's 28 ultra modern loft suites and 2.700 spacious staterooms located throughout 16 decks. There is a zip-line, casino, karaoke and comedy clubs, multiple night clubs, bars and lounges, as well as five swimming pools, courts for volleyball and basketball, theme parks, and nurseries for children. There are seven distinct areas called "neighborhoods" in which activities and amenities are grouped. They are:

1. Central Park
2. Pool & Sports Zone
3. Spa & Fitness
4. the Boardwalk
5. Royal Promenade
6. Youth Zone
7. Entertainment Place

I snapped this photo shortly after this poster was put up. You can see the various pools, the courts, the two FlowRiders, the aqua theatre, the golf area, and the solarium among other features on this beautiful ship! From everything we have heard & seen, this will be an extraordinary ship to sail on for vacation! The itineraries are diverse and exciting as well. Let us know if you'd like to know more!

A message from Alan

The owner, Alan Rosen, recently returned from a trip from the South of France. He and his wife, Cathy, as well as his parents Chuck and Diane, took a river cruise with Avalon Waterways.

I thought I would share with you our latest travel experience.

My wife, Cathy and I just returned from a French River cruise with my father, Sand & C founder Chuck Rosen and his wife, Diane, on Avalon Waterways. This was our second trip on Avalon, and once again we were thrilled......it was a beautiful trip! What could be more relaxing than to sit on your ship and watch the French countryside go by?

Our trip started in Nice, with one night at a local hotel. The hotel itself was nothing special, but it was well located in the center of town about a block from the beach. Being the summer, Nice was bustling with young people vacationing.

From Nice, we had a 3 hour bus ride to Arles, to meet our ship. Arles is the capital of Provence and is most known for being the location that Vincent Van Gogh spent a very productive year painting the area. We then proceeded to Avignon, and began our tour through France's wine country with a trip to the Chateuneuf-du-Pape wine cellars for a wine tasting.

We learned a great deal about the different wines that are made in the region (southern France is known mostly for Rose, while as you go further north into the Burgundy region red wines dominate their production). We also received an education on how to properly taste wine and determine what we would enjoy!

Most of the next day was spent on the ship. I enjoyed sitting in the hot tub on the top deck, taking in the scenery and going through the locks. Life is tough!

The next major stop was in Vienne. This is a charming town surrounded by steep hills. Although we were not told in advance, our particular departure was a Jazz themed cruise. There were Jazz performers on board and they gave us tickets to that night's performance at the annual Jazz Festival in Vienne. This was an all night show. Cathy and I only stayed for the first two performances, a trio and a pianist. It was a wonderful experience, spending time with locals in the Roman amphitheatre and taking in the concert.

From Vienne, it was on to Lyon, France's third largest city and "gastronomic capital". Between the crepes, breads, potatoes Lyonnaise, kabobs, gelato, panini and wine, I thought I died and went to heaven. This was not the place to be for my diet!

Speaking of food and wine, the cuisine on the ship was excellent. There was always something tasty offered, and the wine flowed throughout dinner. For those who were not wine drinkers, such as my father, there was always complimentary soft drinks available with the meals. And the staff could not have been better, always making sure that we were pleased. In fact, Diane, my Step-Mother, has special dietary needs, and they always accommodated her with a delicious meal.
After Lyon, it was on to the Burgundy region for more beautiful countryside and wine tasting. Between the rolling hills with vineyards and sunflower fields, it was really gorgeous. The wine was great too!

It was then time to depart the Scenery, our Avalon river ship. While we did not want to dis-embark, the good news was that we still had 2 nights in Paris to go. We stayed at the LeMeridian. Having been to Paris before, we passed on the included city tour. Cathy took an optional excursion to Versailles, and enjoyed the magnificent palace and gardens. After her return, the two of us hopped on the Metro and made a quick obligatory visit to the Eiffel Tower. The area was bustling, as it turned out that it wasBastille Day, France's equivalent of July 4. People were preparing to party, and there were fireworks that night.

We did not get to spend much time watching the fireworks, as this was our last night in France and we took in dinner and a show at the Moulin Rouge. Although the food was fair, there was plenty of wine and champagne and a spectacular show. It felt like Vegas, with not only beautiful show girls, but amazing dancing and other acts, including an incredible juggler and a unique humorist ventriloquist that none of us will ever forget. The show was almost 2 hours, but it flew by.

It was then back to our hotel for an early morning departure for the airport. I think all four of us would agree, that it was a wonderful trip and very relaxing. We had just the right mix of touring, eating, drinking, sleeping, meeting new people and entertainment to take our minds off of our normal busy schedules. A river cruise really is a great way to see Europe!

You can see our pictures from our trip on facebook with this link. If you would like more information on river cruising with Avalon, contact your Sand & C Travel consultant.

Alan Rosen

President, Sand & C Travel

Cathy Rosen standing next to the Avalon Scenery

World's Best Snacks at Markets Around the World

For those of you traveling, here's an interesting article! Click on the title or this link to read it in full.

This article is perfect for anyone traveling near or far! They put the spotlight on over thirty cities around the world to provide information on one popular snack among the locals in each place along with a photo. The photo here is of a popular snack from Edinburgh.