Horse Guards Parade (Beach Volleyball), London 2012, UK by Adam Care

In 2012, London hosted the Games for a record third time, and many would argue that the choice of individual event venues was perhaps the finest and most iconic of all time. As well as the spectacular Olympic Stadium itself, there are several brand new locations, but it’s the temporary and pre-existing sites which have really captured the imagination. Here are four of the venues that have made London 2012 so special.

Horse Guards Parade (Beach Volleyball)

The construction of a temporary stadium in the very heart of the city was an inspired choice. Beach Volleyball was unlikely to be an overly popular event in the UK, but placing the action just a short walk from Downing Street, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square gave spectators a unique opportunity to enjoy a little sport and to soak up some of the culture of one of the world’s most iconic cities.

Lord’s Cricket Ground (Archery)

The home of world cricket and one of the finest sports arenas in Britain, Lord’s is located in leafy St John’s Wood, a suburb in the north-west of the city. The hallowed turf has hosted some other sports in the past, but only on an infrequent basis. Archery can be an exciting sport, especially when the action is in full flow, and the thousands of fortunate spectators enjoyed an excellent vantage point from the stands.

Brands Hatch (Road Cycling)

The former host circuit for the British Formula One Grand Prix, Brands Hatch is one of the world’s finest race tracks. It’s located close to Swanley in Kent, and previous GP winners include Nigel Mansell, Niki Lauda, Jack Brabham and the great Jim Clark. In recent years, cycling has become something of an obsession in the United Kingdom, so it’s only right that organisers chose such an impressive venue.

Wimbledon (Tennis)

It’s perhaps fitting that the tennis tournament was held in the most famous venue of its kind in the world. The All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club has hosted the celebrated Grand Slam event for more than a hundred years, and is accustomed to handling huge numbers of spectators. The grass surface is ideal for fast-paced play.

David Showell was born in London and is a big sports fan. He works for a company that provides affordable ferry tickets to the general public.

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Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia by Mark Heard

Imagine lush green forests contrasted by the white sand of the Golden Horn of Croatia which changes shape depending on the wind and sea currents.

If you are a person who gets bored of going to the same beach every day then Zlatni Rat will make you feel as if you are visiting a different beach every time you go. The 580 meter long pebble beach can barely accommodate the influx of thousands tourists that arrive all summer long. Most of them are surfers searching for the Maestral, a summer wind that makes this beach the finest windsurfing destination of the whole sea. The Golden Horn is a great vacation destination for the whole family. They offer a wide array of water sports: scuba diving, parachute rides, beach volleyball, jet-skiing and many more fun activities. But if sitting and relaxing the day away is your thing, then the pine forests offers a cool retreat from the sun’s warm rays too.

It is an island with a fascinating history under ever changing political rule. In the 4th century, the Greeks colonized many of the Adriatic islands and along the shore but none of them on Island Brac. They visited the island and traded with the tribes that were there. Brac lay on the crossroads of many trade routes between Salona (today Solin) to Issa (today Vis) and the Po River. The Romans conquered Dalmatia in 9 AD. Salona was made the capital but was overrun by Avar and Slavic tribes.

After this, Brac became a refuge for many citizens of the shore. From AD 1268 to AD 1357, the island was under the supreme rule of the Republic of Venice and after that, under the Kingdom of Hungary, and then in the summer of 1390 they were under the rule of the Bosnian Kin Tvrtko Kotromanic who died soon thereafter. Throughout this whole period, the island was able to keep their basic autonomy and old structures. The island was never considered rich or interesting enough to justify any deliberate intervention so they basically remained untouched. The population of the island decreased in the 20th century due largely in part to heavy emigration, mostly to Latin America, Chile, and Argentina but people also left to go to New Zealand and Australia.

So as you can see, the Island Brac has a rich history coupled with an absolutely breathtaking landscape. It’s not hard to imagine yourself scaling Mount St. Vid to photograph The Golden Horn or relaxing on the white sands and in the crystal blue water.

So what are you waiting for? This is a guest post from – www.travel-croatia.de/en/holiday-apartments

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Photo by hungarospa.hu

Healing water has 75°C and contains salt, iodine, bromine, fluoride and many other solutes. It is suitable for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, skin diseases or chronic gynecological problems. It is also good during recovery after injuries and operations.

The spa resort features 13 outdoor pools, including one reserved for children, as well as water park with several slides, and play-ground for beach volleyball or tennis and other sports. Accommodation capacity in the city is huge, you can choose from several hotels, guest houses, camping sites and private accommodation.

A popular area for hiking trips is adjacent Hortobágy National Park with its unique flora and fauna. It is the largest protected area in the country. Twenty-minute ride by car will take you to Debrecen, the oldest center of education, the center of the Hungarian Reformation. The town has many historical and cultural monuments and it is a place of a large number of cultural events, providing an excellent program for those looking for intellectual pleasures.

For further information visit www.hungarospa.hu

View Hajdúszoboszló – great thermal aquapark and spa resort in Hungary in a larger map

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Lago di Garda, Italy by Elliott Brown

Beauty hurts, or is more expensive than the sea
Lago di Garda enjoys a large tourist popularity. This corresponds to a number of first-class hotels and guesthouses. With the mark of prestige, prices are higher here than in other Italian resorts (apartments for around €20, campings for €10).

Even lake queen would not have to be ashamed of the lake – 346 meters depth is really impressive. Glacier Lake Garda was founded thanks to the global warming about 10 thousand years ago. Receding Alpine glaciers created this beautiful water world. The upper part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by great rock massifs. Towards the south, the lake opens up and allows visitors easier access. The lake lies at an altitude of 65 meters. Its maximum depth is 346 meters and if you would like to walk it all around, you have to prepare to about 160 kilometre-long way.

The right place for more demanding tourists and adventure lovers is the northern part of Lake Garda. Biking, hiking, rock climbing is just a fraction of what the area offers. Lake Garda is ideal for active holidays. You find here hundreds of kilometres of marked cycling and hiking trails that lead deep into the mountains, on the water you can enjoy boating, scooters or just play a beach volleyball.

Lago di Garda Italy by Robert Wirrmann

If you decide to go on a proper mountain hike, do not forget the map. It can be obtained in tourist centers or hotels. Losing here is really not hard at all. The ideal starting point for tours is the town of Riva del Garda, where you can go either west or east. The western side offers steep rock walls, suitable more for hiking. The eastern hills are a paradise for passionate cyclists. (You can rent bikes and all the amenities from some of many rental services here, but prices are often quite high).

In addition to alpine tours and resting at blue lake you can also go for culture or rich night life, which is characteristic for Italy and its inhabitants. Visit a town of Riva del Garda. This place is ideal for lovers of history.

Lake Garda, Italy by Marjolein Knuit

In the southern part of the lake, you can visit a spa town Sirmione, known as the “Pearl of Lake Garda.” The Romans built here two castles, ports, and a whopping villa of Grotte di Catullo. On the ruins of one of the ports you can now visit the castle Scaligeri Rocca, which is one of the landmarks of Sirmione.

Glacier Lake Garda is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy. It is suitable for everybody – hikers, adventurers, historians…

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