SAHCO Aviation

Summer in Paris: Beyond Bastille Day

SS-TRAVEL-A_1 — Thu, 06 May 2021 09:28:51 +0000

Summer in Paris: Beyond Bastille Day

Celebrated July 14, French National Day, or Bastille Day, commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. Celebrations are held all over France, but thousands line up along the Champs-Elysees in Paris to watch the oldest and largest military parade in Europe. These annual festivities aren’t limited to the ground, either; locals and tourists can also look high above the crowds to see the Patrouille de France aerobatics team in action.

But Bastille Day isn’t the only thing tourists should add to their agendas when visiting the French capital in the summer. Here’s a quick list of five fun summertime experiences you don’t want to miss when vacationing in Paris.

1. Work on Your Tan at Paris Plages (‘Beaches’)

Yes, Paris is a landlocked city, but that doesn’t stop it from transforming into a beach town from mid-July to mid-August. Take a stroll along the banks of the Seine to see a full-fledged beach with sand, games, chairs and umbrellas. Sip on a cocktail from one of the open-air bars while you work on your tan. These makeshift beaches are located from Rotonde de Ledoux to Rue de Crimee and from the Louvre to Pont de Sully, a favorite spot with a great view of Notre Dame. Insider’s tip: It’s not uncommon for friends and family to congregate along the river around dusk. Bring a bottle of Bordeaux, some duck pate and artisanal cheese — you’ll fit right in.

2. Return to Your Zen State at These Green Spaces

In addition to the Seine, Parisians take advantage of their parks and green spaces to unwind and relax with friends and family. And if you’re a visitor, you should, too. The City of Light has more than 30 gardens and parks perfect for strolling, playing soccer or people-watching as locals and tourists pass by. Enjoy some of our favorite places to “park it,” such as the Jardin du Palais Royal, Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg and Parc du Champ de Mars.

3. Witness the Adrenaline Rush of the Tour de France

Cheer on cyclists as they wrap up the final stage of one of the largest sporting events in the world, the Tour de France. Competitors pedal the last 85 miles in Paris to finish this 23-day race, which covers more than 2,000 miles of open road with teams of up to nine bikers. Get up early to camp out along the Champs-Elysees or near the Place de la Concorde to watch the cyclists whiz by and cross the finish line. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss!

Where to Go for Kenya Beaches

SS-TRAVEL-A_1 — Thu, 06 May 2021 09:24:03 +0000

1. South Coast

Kenya’s South Coast is renowned for palm-fringed white sand beaches such as ever-popular Diani Beach as well as accessible coral reefs. The scuba diving – in particular at Kisite Marine Reserve – is excellent and there are many wreck dives to entice advanced divers. There’s a hassle-free atmosphere on the South Coast which together with a wide range of accommodation, kids’ entertainment clubs and golf courses make for matchless family beach holidays.

For a far quieter South Coast experience, six kilometres of beautiful beach awaits at Msambweni, 25 kms south of Diani. There’s excellent snorkelling and diving nearby as well as an 18-hole course and plenty of opportunities for sailing, fishing and watersports.

2. Mombasa Region

Mombasa’s lively atmosphere has long attracted beach-lovers seeking a classic sun and sea vacation. This is where you’ll find the larger hotel resorts and popular beaches, so – for a more relaxing break – we’d recommend a selection of hand-picked boutique hotels on the quieter Diani Beach, set 30 kilometres south of Mombasa.

Shimba Hills National Reserve, a small national park situated 56 km south of Mombasa and directly inland from Diani Beach, is a great option for visitors on a beach holiday but who want to fit in a game drive or two. Wildlife highlights of Shimba’s forested hills and grasslands are elephants, leopards and sable antelope plus many bird and rare plant species – and it’s easy to build a visit into your itinerary.

3. Malindi region

North of Mombasa lies ever-popular Malindi, a town at the centre of some of the finest tropical beaches and beach resorts in Africa. Blessed with enormously long, clean beaches, Malindi is also the place in Kenya for deep-sea fishing as well as some excellent diving and snorkelling at the Malindi Marine National Park.

Cool Off in London

SS-TRAVEL-A_1 — Thu, 06 May 2021 08:35:34 +0000

Cool Off in London

London comes alive when the sun comes out: Bright-striped deck chairs line parks, cafe tables cram pavements and people drape themselves on monuments to get a lunch-hour tan. But the city can also get hot … and sticky. Fortunately, London is home to more than a few outdoor swimming areas. Many of these “lidos,” as Londoners call them, date back to the 1930s and are still in use. The fun doesn’t end there, either. Along with swimming pools, London has ponds, fountains and paddling pools. Check out our top picks for adults and kids alike to cool down in London — and chill out.

Hyde Park
This oasis in the heart of London is hugely popular with students, tourists, mothers and people on their lunch break. For a moderate fee, you can jump in and out of the 110-yard Serpentine Lido, sunbathe on the grass and watch your kids play in the sandpit, paddling pool and playground that adjoin the main pool. Another place for dipping your feet is the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. Designed by American-born landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, this isn’t a traditional fountain — more like a large, oval ring of stone in which water runs in unpredictable directions over granite features. In the summer, the grassy area around the fountain is lined with sunbathers or toddlers and children splashing about, although it’s best not to walk or run in it.

Brockwell Lido
Popular during the week with freelance media types and trendy mothers, this Olympic-size 1,640-foot outdoor pool in south London is fondly known as Brixton Beach. It has a laid-back vibe and the pool is large enough for a game of handball without disturbing the serious swimmers doing lengths. It was first opened in 1937, and the changing rooms are in an Art Deco building. But there’s nothing old about the facilities: Inside you’ll find a hydrotherapy pool, a gym, sauna, steam room and exercise studio offering a range of classes (try the yoga to feel really chilled out). Outside the complex is an expanse of parkland that you can picnic in when you tire of the water.

Hampstead Heath
This large green expanse in north London contains 3 natural ponds that are suitable for swimming — one for men, one for women and one coed. All are deep, natural freshwater ponds surrounded by trees without a shallow end, so children under 8 are not allowed. You can hang onto strategically placed rubber rings in each pond when you want a break, but you can only get in and out at one end — so you should be a confident swimmer. For a more traditional swimming experience, head to the 197-foot Parliament Hill Lido at the Gospel Oak entrance of the park, where you can do laps and children can paddle in the shallow end.

Coram Fields
This 5-acre playground is a good place to know about if you’re coming to London with children in the summer. Located in the central London area of Bloomsbury, it is a child-only zone ( adults can only access the grounds if accompanied by a child!). The playground is a great reward if your kids have obediently trailed around the nearby British Museum, looking at the objects that detail 2 million years of history. After all that learning, they’ll welcome the chance to run around the large grassy area, slide down the slides, scramble up the climbing frames, build castles in the sandpit and splash about in the paddling pool. And when they are thoroughly worn out, they can visit Coram’s Fields’ city farm, where they can pet the resident goats, sheep, guinea pigs and rabbits.

And Don’t Miss …
You’ll also find splashes of cool water in unlikely places around London. Trafalgar Square boasts 2 huge fountains. Plus, there are dozens of elegant water jets in the courtyard of Somerset House (home to the small art museum, The Courtauld Gallery). Appearing Walls, outside of the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, is an interactive water installation designed by Danish artist Jeppe Hein, where changing water jets surround you in a wall of water. No matter how hot London gets, these attractions will offer welcome refreshment.