The Gap of Dunloe in Ireland

The Gap of Dunloe lies to the east of Killarney, within the Killarney National Park. Killarney itself is the most visited tourist attraction in Ireland and is the main town from where visitors can explore the sights around the lakes, and walk, cycle or ride through the Gap of Dunloe. This area has been praised by visitors since the middle of the eighteenth century; the climate is benign, the heather-clad mountains are dramatic and there are ruined castles and churches and glorious views of lakes and islands to be seen.

From Killaney you can walk along a ridge that overlooks Lough Leane. This is the largest of the lakes of Killarney and it contains 30 small islands. On the largest of these islands, Innisfallen, you can see the ruins of a seventh-century abbey founded by St Finan Lobhar. As you walk on you will find Dunloe Castle. It has a group of Ogham stones in the grounds. Just before you reach the Gap of Dunloe, you pass Kate Kearney's Cottage. Now a bar, this was the home of a nineteenth-century beauty who sold illegally distilled whiskey, 'poteen', to passes by.

The gap itself was carved by glaciers and the route though it has extraordinarily views of the three small lakes within it and the boulder-strewn gorge that cuts between Purple Mountain and the MacGillycuddy Reeks - the highest mountain range in Ireland.

Lake Pichola, South Central Asia

This lake lies in the foothills of the Aravalli Hills in southern Rajasthan. It is most famous for the beautiful royal places that lie on its islands and around its shoreline. The chief town in the area is Udaipur, which is also known as the city of lakes, which was founded as a residence by Maharana Udai Singh on the advice of a hermit in 1559.

After his stronghold at Chittorgarh had been sacked by Mughal invaders he moved his capital. Among its highlights are the City Palace and Museum, the Sajjangarh Palace - which overlooks the lake from the top of a hill and was the summer palace where the royal family spent the monsoon season. There are also many smaller palaces and temples, as well as picturesque streets, fountains and gardens.

The most famous sights on the lake are the island palaces in particular Jag Niwas, which was built in the 1740s and made entirely of marble. This beautiful shining white building appears to float on the lake's clear blue waters. The Jag Mandir is a red sandstone complex on the island of the same name, with cool courtyards and a small museum. It was a refuge for Shah Jahan and is said to have provided inspiration for the Taj Mahal. The massive Jagdish Temple lies within its walls.

North-west of Udaipur is the craft village - Shilpgram - a center dedicated to preserving and enhancing the craft and folk heritage of western India.

Compiling our menu for our 4th of July picnic

Guest post written by Suzie Parks

There aren't that many things that I like to do a whole lot of planning for during the summer because I'm a teacher and get enough planning in during the rest of the year. Well, I've been planning my menu for our family's 4th of July picnic that we have every summer. Except this year, we've invited about four times the amount of people that we normally do. So it just won't do this year to slap together some hamburgers and hot dogs. It will be much more involved than that.

I was looking online to come up with some stuff and while I was doing that I saw the site hearingaidsreviews.com and after I read through ti some I decided to sign up for a hearing aid test to see if I actually needed them. But we'll just have to see the results of them.

I really think that our 4th picnic is going to work out really well. I have a whole stack of recipes, including some really great desserts taht I can't wait to whip up for the picnic!

Pestrum, Southern Europe

The three glorious temples at Paestrum are the most important Greek monuments south of Naples. The town was founded in the sixth century BC, and being near the coast, was named Poseidonia, in honour of Poseidon, the god of the sea. By the first century BC it had become an important Roman trading port, but was abandoned because of the decline of the Empire, Saracen raids and outbreaks of malaria. The temples were not rediscovered until the twentieth century, and today, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Temples of Ceres is the smallest, and the first you come to before strolling through the ruined city, which has several other buildings to explore. The Basilica, dedicated to the goddess Hera, is the oldest monument, with nine Doric columns along the front and 18 along the ides. The Temple of Neptune which dates from around 450 BC, is both the best preserved and the largest of the three temples, missing only its roof and some of its interior walls.

The museum contains many finds from both the town and the temples - bas-relief friezes, tomb paintings and treasures, including the diver's tomb, a marvelous example of fifth-century BC art. If you should find in southern Italy, make the effort to visit Paestrum for the rewards are great.