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“The poetry of earth is ceasing never:
On a lone winter evening, when the frost
Has wrought a silence, from the stove there shrills
The Cricket's song, in warmth increasing ever”
-John Keats

It’s snowing. It’s cold. Trees and streets are covered with snow. The days are short and cold and nights, chilly and stormy.  Folks, it’s winter out there.

Portrayed mostly as a season of miseries and monotony, winter is usually coupled with some merciless metaphors in literature: Winter’s frosty hair, weird winter, bleak, pale, foggy, dreary... The bards seldom liked winter.

But the heavens seem to love it. Jesus Christ and Buddha came to the earth in winter. Santa Claus arrives every winter, flashing his fluffy snowy white beard and squirting snow all around as he moves past.  It’s the season of starry nights and snowy days, and days fit for feasts and fiesta.

Those times are gone when people curled up in thick woollens by the fire. Now winter is just like any other season to get around. Its unexplored charm and beauty are sure to excite you. If you missed it this year, there’s always next time!

Winter Vignettes

' But the heavens seem to love it. Jesus Christ and Buddha came to the earth in winter. Santa Claus arrives every winter, flashing his fluffy snowy white beard and squirting snow all around as he moves past. It’s the season of starry nights and snowy days, and days fit for feasts and fiesta. 'Many in cold countries venture out to tropical regions to escape winter. Europe would be chilly and hibernating during the season.  But it’s time of opera and in-house cultural fete. The Opera houses and Symphony halls will see people flocking in daring the extreme weather. Winter sports fans have more reason to get out in the frosty snow.

Get off at Spain, the land of bull fights, to catch the Spanish sun. There are number of sea side resorts in the southern Spain. Shed all your winter apprehensions and enjoy at Conil, a fishing village with sandy beaches. Dry sherry and fish restaurants add charm to this old town. Spain's Andalucian trio of Seville, Cordoba and Granada are best visited in winter.

Naples and Pompeii are best Italian bets in winter. Ramble through the streets of Naples, watch a performance at the Opera house, take your seat in a cosy café and just watch how the people welcome an icy evening while you sip a steaming cup of coffee.

Back-pack to the Caribbean islands and view what difference winter has done to the secluded beaches of Tobago and Trinidad. Vibrant with coral reefs and abundant flora and fauna, these Caribbean islands are hardly explored during winter. 

A Winter Outing in Africa

An African alternative would be amazing during winter. Pay a visit to Tunisia and walk around the amphitheatre and ancient baths built by Romans before the onslaught of vandals. A leisurely walk through the Olive trees in the interiors of this African country will be unique for tourists from Europe and Canada. Bordered by Dorsale mountain ranges, African deserts lay bare for adventures. Blue skies, sunny days, alluring sea waves… It’s winter at Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. Coral reefs, leaping fishes and sparkling clear waters make it a perfect spot for snorkelling. But the deserts in Egypt are colder than the coastal areas. Cold winds followed by showers can be expected in the night. Average temperature in December is 22 degrees in day time and at night it usually dips to10 degrees. Stone walls inside the ancient temples are invitingly cold and nostalgic

The Great Indian Winter Surprise

'Charm of the Illuminated Mumbai city can be enjoyed from the Chowpatty beach in the winter evenings. Further south, Goa is waiting with its sensuous beaches 'The Winter Solstice is the time of the shortest day and longest night. This unique day happens when the North Pole is furthest from the Sun. This is the shortest day of the year. From then on, the days take the command and the nights grow shorter. Winter solstice occurs around third week of December.

Trekking and tiger trails under the hot sun when the rest of the continent is in a hibernation mode are really a nice feeling. India offers different winter experiences as you go down south. Its commercial capital, Mumbai is bustling with life as the winter day progresses. Wading through the street vendors who sell anything under the sun is not an easy task. The make-shift tea and ‘Bhelpuri’ shops by the streets make a hefty business in winter as people love to have more cups of steaming ‘masala chai’ to ward off the cold wave. Charm of Illuminated Mumbai city can be enjoyed from the Chowpatty beach in the winter evenings. Further south, Goa is waiting with its sensuous beaches. Continued.....

© travelbird