Portsmouth fishing fleet, UK by Roger H. Goun

How to keep occupied when on a low budget

There are many attractions in Portsmouth which don’t cost a single penny in order to enjoy them. Portsmouth has a very long seafront (approximately 4 kilometres) and two piers (Clarence and South Parade) are situated there as well. When walking, cycling or driving along the seafront, there are many events which are organised throughout the year, such as the bandstand which overlooks the seafront. During the summer months, a host of bands and artists perform at the bandstand and several styles of music can be enjoyed at no cost whatsoever.

Portsmouth is a city of culture

Unlike other towns and cities in the United Kingdom, Portsmouth’s cultural attractions have not suffered greatly because its many libraries are still open. Portsmouth has numerous museums which are still free to enter (although giving a donation is recommended). They are also open extensively throughout the year as well.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Despite being hugely developed over the past few hundred years, especially since the end of the Second World War, Portsmouth has many areas which have copious amounts of nature. Hilsea Lines is found in the north of the city and were originally built in the 19^th century in order to protect Portsmouth and its affluent residents from French and Spanish forces if an invasion took place. As the likelihood of this happening soon diminished, Hilsea Lines returned to civilian use and now houses a sanctuary which is host to much nature. Running through Hilsea Lines is a canal and this attracts an abundance of birdlife.

Just a few hundred yards away from Hilsea Lines is Farlington Marshes. With a path running through the top of it, many walkways are in Farlington Marshes which offers those who visit this picturesque area the opportunity to see many birds and animals. Free to enter, Farlington Marshes is a very popular destination, especially as there are many car parks throughout.

Home to the last remains of Henry VIII’s warship the Mary Rose and also both HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, Portsmouth continues to attract thousands of visitors every year. As the upmarket shopping complex Gunwharf Quays opened in 2001 and the hideous Tricorn Centre demolished in 2004, Portsmouth is a far more pleasant place to live and visit, especially as it regularly hosts events which attract people from around the world.

About the author: Russell Hill is a journalist and freelance writer. He loves green tourism and enjoys exploring cities rich in culture and heritage. He gives preference to staying in fully furnished corporate apartments rather than hotels. One company that inspired Russell was Executive Apartments, a fully furnished corporate apartment rentals provider in Washington, D.C.

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Flamingos on Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by rjime31

The Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is a beautiful and biodiverse ecosystem. There are more than 30 different species of birdlife that make their way to the lagoon every single year to breed. There are also countless priceless species of fauna that can be found only in the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. And of course while all these make visiting the lagoon a popular choice, it is the hundreds of thousands of pink flamingos that has attracted so many visitors over the years.

Today, thousands of newborn chicks see their first sunrise over the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. Thanks to help of more than 300 volunteers who monitor the flamingos as well as make sure that they are all healthy as possible. And while the pink flamingo can be seen throughout the year especially in the months between February and August, it is only during the middle of July that their eggs hatch.

It is important to point out, that the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon is not freshwater; but rather it is brackish. As a result, due to the amount of evaporation in the area, there is always a thin layer of salt crystals floating on the surface of the lagoon. As a result, some of the best photo picking opportunities imaginable will occur as assigned begins to set and its reflection can be seen across the surface of the lagoon as if there were a large perfectly smooth mirror.

Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, Spain by Tyk

It is simply amazing how far the pink flamingos travel here just to reach the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon. However it is not uncommon for the birds to travel more than 1000 kilometres every single year. And what is more, is that for centuries, the pink flamingo has chosen to breed in the waters of the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon over any other location in the world.

After breeding, a pair of flamingos will share the responsibility of rearing their chick. The female will lay only a single egg per year and for 29 days will painstakingly monitor and incubate the eggs until it hatches. It is simply amazing to not only watch the courtship dance between flamingos, but also the loving and nurturing that the two, mother and father flamingos, show to the newborn chick as they bring into the world and raise it to maturity.

When you choose to visit the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, you are choosing to take part in one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders that the world has ever known.

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