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Depart Edinburgh at 09.30 and travel north to South Queensferry. The town is named after the 11th century Queen Margaret who dedicated her life to changing the social welfare of the people, particularly the church, earning her the title 'Saint Margaret of Scotland'. North of Edinburgh there were two very important churches - St Andrews and Dunfermline, but getting from Edinburgh across the wide Firth of Forth was difficult, so Queen Margaret provided a free ferry for pilgrims, hence 'Queen's Ferry'. The ferry remained in existence until the opening of the Forth Road Bridge in 1964 by the present Queen. From Queensferry we drive up and onto the Forth Road Bridge, giving us a great view across to one of Scotland's greatest man-made landmarks - the Forth Rail Bridge. At over a mile and a half (2300m) long, the bridge was completed in 1890, and until recently was the longest Cantilever bridge in the world. It is a true testament of Scottish engineering. Once over the bridge we enter the Kingdom of Fife. Bounded to the south by the wide Firth of Forth, to the north by the Firth of Tay and to the east by the North Sea the area was once a sub-kingdom of the old Pictish realm, a natural peninsula almost cut off from the rest of Scotland, and so remained semi-independent for longer than other parts. Central Fife used to be very poor, until the discovery of coal, while the towns and villages along its coastline were rich from all the trade across the North sea, causing King James VI to describe the area as a 'Beggar's mantle fringed with gold'. The golden fringe he referred to was the East Neuk (or nook, meaning corner), Fife's easternmost stretch of coastline and home to a string of picturesque villages each with its own distinctive character and charm. One of these, Lower Largo, is best known as the birthplace of Alexander Selkirk the real-life Robinson Crusoe and inspiration for Daniel Defoe's novel whilst neighbouring Earlsferry is said to be where MacDuff hid from Shakespeare's Macbeth. We stop in the traditional fishing village of Anstruther (known as 'Enster' locally) where you can check out its old cobbled streets and network of little alleyways and wynds or take a walk along the seafront to the harbour. From Anstruther we continue north to the medieval town of St Andrews. St Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and according to legend his remains were washed up on the Fife coast. The shrine became a place of worship for Christian pilgrims from far and wide and the town developed into the religious capital of Scotland complete with a huge Norman Cathedral, the largest in all of Scotland. Founded in 1160 the Cathedral was devastated first by fire and later by zealous religious reformers but the ruins provide a fascinating insight into what it once must have been like. Today St Andrews attracts another type of pilgrim, being famous world-wide as the home of golf and the Mecca for all golfers - the 'Old Course'. The course, founded in 1754, is in beautiful condition and its emerald green grass contrasts with the golden sands of the beach nearby. St Andrews is also home to the oldest University in Scotland, at nearly 600 years old, and the third oldest in Britain behind Oxford and Cambridge. Also dating from this period is the town's once mighty castle which, perched on a rocky headland overhanging the sea, is a ruin with a violent and murderous past. Every street, every building is surrounded with history and we give you almost 3 hours to explore this amazing town. From St Andrews we take a pleasant drive through the rolling countryside of central Fife, with its small villages and patchwork of farms, to Falkland. Falkland Palace dominates this old village, and was one of the main residences of the old Royal family of Scotland, the Stewarts (Stuarts). Aside from the palace the village is simply one of the most beautiful in Scotland with an array of old cottages and narrow winding streets. You can take time to wander around the picturesque village or enjoy a drink in one of the village’s traditional pubs or tearooms. Leaving Falkland we cross the Lomond hills past Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned by her Protestant nobility. And then it is straight back to Edinburgh.
Sites Visited: Colosseum Arena Floor Roman Forum Palatine Hil Inclusions: No-wait entrance to the Colosseum via the Gladiator’s Gate Skip the line access at the Roman Forum & Palatine Hill Expert licensed tour guides Headsets for every guest Groups of 25 people or fewer Exclusions: Gratuities Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off Important Information: Gratuities to guides are appreciated but never obligatory. Please note that the tour meeting time is 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds or re-bookings can be provided for late arrivals or no shows after tour commencement or departure. Unfortunately the tour is unable to accommodate guests with mobility impairments, wheelchairs or strollers on this tour. NOTE: There is a new rule at the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill that only small backpacks and regular-size handbags are allowed inside. Guests with larger bags will not be allowed to enter (there are no storage facilities) and all guests must now pass through a security check before entering the Colosseum. The Colosseum is subject to occasional closures. The Colosseum administration is usually aware of this and informs us the day before or of a given closure. Please provide us with detailed contact information in the event that we need to reach you to reschedule your tour. Comfortable walking shoes recommended.
"Le Lido" ist Paris Das Lido, das mythische, weltberühmte Kabarett, verkörpert Pariser Chic und Glamour. Der 1946 auf den Champs-Elysées gegründete Veranstaltungsort ist geprägt von der Seele von "Miss Bluebell", der die Bluebell Girls- Refrainzeile erfand. Das Le Lido ist eine Kombination aus Tradition und Innovation und das unvergleichliche Symbol des Pariser Nachtlebens. Eine neue Show, erstellt und geleitet von Franco Dragone, dessen Arbeit bereits über 85 Millionen Menschen auf der ganzen Welt begeistert hat. Zu seinen Produktionen gehören "The House of Dancing Water" in Macao und "A New Day", Céline Dions Aufführungen in Las Vegas. Eine neue Show wird Träume anregen und Fantasien erwecken. Mit einer Reihe atemberaubender Sets, kostspieliger Kostüme und einer Flut von Strass, Federn und Pailletten werden die Zuschauer auf eine Reise entführt, die Augen funkeln lässt.
Ensemble de bouteilles de toilette taille de voyage
Enjoy a delightful short break with dinner on your first night and breakfast both mornings at Oulton Hall