Review_6_2013

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With Czech Airlines to GUAM Fly from Prague to Guam at 18:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Fly back daily at 02:30.

Lively in the centre, peaceful in the south

G

uam is an exotic, tropical pearl of the Pacific, with unspoilt nature and beautiful, immaculate beaches, but this largest island of the Mariana archipelago in Micronesia (and a territory of the United States) also offers all the comforts of the modern world. Whether you are seeking sun and sand, sports, nightlife, shopping or memorable dining experiences, you will find it all here. A potted history

▾ Staré kamenné sloupy v parku Latte Stone v hlavním městě ostrova Hagatně. — The old stone pillars in Latte Stone Park in the island’s capital Hagatna. — Древние каменные столбы в Парке камней латте в столице Гуама Хагатне.

The history of Guam reflects its unique blend of several distinct cultures – the original inhabitants known as the Chamorros, over two hundred years of Spanish colonial rule, to more recent Asian and American influences. Spain surrendered the island to the United States after the Spanish-American War in 1898. Guam changed hands again in 1941 when it was conquered by Japanese troops, only to be recaptured by the Americans three years later. Were it not for all the shipwrecks in the ocean now explored by divers, and gun emplacements and trenches in the Pacific National Historical Park, it would be difficult to imagine that this Garden of Eden once used to be a bloody theatre of war. In fact, the island has not lost its strategic importance even today, and it is still home to U.S. military bases. These, however, lie in the north, away from the tourist areas. Otherwise, Guam is the embodiment of peace and tranquillity, where nothing will disturb your explorations of its breathtaking natural beauty and rich culture.

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Guam can be roughly divided into three parts – the virtually uninhabited north, the rural, traditional and mostly undeveloped south, and then the relatively densely populated central part of the island where most visitors also head to. Tumon Bay, which is reminiscent of Waikiki beach in Hawaii, is lined with luxury hotels and resorts. Of course, there is an abundance of restaurants, as well as a high concentration of shopping malls, duty free shops and boutiques, where goods of the most exclusive brands are on offer. The beach here is gorgeous and its surroundings offer all conceivable forms of entertainment. But if you would rather enjoy the feeling of being like Robinson Crusoe on a desert island, set out for the south, where there are magical secluded beaches, romantic waterfalls and only here and there a stone bridge, a church or a fortress from the times of Spanish rule. You are likely to run into a fiesta in the small Chamorro villages during weekends, when the days of various saints are celebrated with processions, dancing and feasts. A water sports and golf paradise

On an island surrounded by turquoise blue waters, where the sun shines all year round, most activities take place outdoors and many naturally have something to do with water. So whether you like sailing, parasailing, fishing, water skiing, snorkelling, scuba diving or simple lounging on a beach, Guam is the right place for you. Or would you rather go dolphin watching


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