Fuerteventura may be famed for its white-sand beaches, clear waters and dramatic volcanic scenery, but beyond the packed resorts an abandoned leisure complex paints a far darker picture.
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PROTESTS have spread across Europe with cities like Milan and Rome affected – and with more strikes on the horizon, is it still safe to travel to?
Here’s everything you need to know right now about travelling to Italy right now.
Following the unrest in France, around 100,000 people in more than 40 cities across Italy took part in a demonstration called “No Meloni Day” last Friday.
Some of the destinations most affected include Rome, Bologna, Milan and Turin.
The strikes have been around the rising costs of living, a new government budget plan and students are protesting over school conditions.
Over the weekend, protests in Milan descended into violence with clashes with police, vandalism and looting.
Italy has said as a result, it will introduce stricter anti-riot laws. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: “Demonstrating is a right, but destroying our cities is not.”
The new law will impact anyone joining a group of at least five people and will endanger public safety during protests with penalties up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of €20,000 (£16,759).
It’s not just demonstrations – there are strikes across the country for the next few months affecting public transport and air travel.
Ground handling staff at Bologna Airport have confirmed a four-hour walkout listed for October 29 between 12pm to 16pm, according to Italy’s transport ministry strike register.
The largest strike however is scheduled for October 30 which is a 24-hour walkout by workers in many public sectors across the country.
This includes ENIT/ENAV air traffic control and local aviation services at airports such as in Tuscany, Pisa and Florence.
Rail staff will also walkout affecting services on the Metro, on the motorways, staff and toll services are set to strike too.
Dockworkers and port staff are also set to strike and on the day there could be closures at attractions like museums.
The FCDO recently updated its advice: “Recent demonstrations across northern Italian cities have led to violent riots and looting.
“There is an increased presence of police and military personnel in Milan. Further demonstrations may take place in major cities. See Political demonstrations.
“A national strike is planned for 30 October and is expected to affect transport systems. Check with your travel provider for the latest information.”
However, Italy still remains a safe place to travel.
Currently flights are still going to and from Italy. But there could be problems in the coming days.
Wizz Air has warned its customers that flights to or from Italian airports could face delays because protests and road blockades are disrupting fuel supplies for several airports.
The airline added: “Our operational teams are closely coordinating with airports and fuel suppliers and reviewing alternative arrangements to minimize the impact on our customers, while maintaining safety as our highest priority.”
It’s advising customers to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
On October 30, the planned strikes are scheduled to start at 12am until 11.59pm.
Passengers flying to or from Italy should check their airline’s flight status and monitor updates before travelling.
The FCDO has advised caution for anyone travelling to Italy, but a ‘do not travel’ warning has not been issued.
Holidaymakers can still visit Italy, and travel insurance should remain valid, but check your policy details.
If you decide not to go on a booked holiday, operators won’t have to give a refund because travel advice says it is still safe for travel.
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
It may be known in some regions as Vijayadashami and in parts of southern India, it is known as Dasara. Other regional spellings include Dashera and Dussera.
As this is a ten day festival based on a lunar date with many important days and also because it has many different names in the various regions on India, it is difficult to determine when each region has a holiday. On this site, we show the date of the tenth day and you can assume that most regions will observe this a public holiday.
In India, the festival of Dussehra symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
The festival traditionally represents the legend of Rama and Ravana.
Ravana, the demon king, abducted the beloved Princess of India, Sita.
The Lord Rama rescued the Princess, proving victorious over the powerful and evil King Ravana.
SYDNEY Sweeney has stunned in a sexy ad for her Syrn holiday line, wearing sultry lingerie and wrapping her boobs in a bow.
The actress is gearing up for the holiday season with several fresh pieces from her lingerie brand, and she modeled them all in her new campaign.
Sydney, 29, shared the video ad on Wednesday via Instagram, which captured the Euphoria star curled up on a cozy chair, dressed in a loose-fitting white sweater, no pants, and matching knee-high socks.
She wore her blonde hair in loose waves as she tucked a bright red napkin into her sweater neckline while digging into a giant bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.
The model then pointed a remote at a retro TV box screen as she settled into the chair – a recreation of an iconic scene from the Christmas classic, Home Alone – to watch footage of herself dressed in various holiday-themed outfits inspired by other holiday films.
It started with a clip of Sydney seemingly playing Cindy Lou Who from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as she mimicked the character’s wild, sky-high, braided hairstyle.
Sydney struggled to carry a stack of wrapped presents in front of a brightly decorated Christmas tree, donning a plunging ensemble and a furry pink coverup draped over her shoulders.
She also sported a red-and-white-checkered pajama set while screwing in light bulbs for her outside decorations.
The clip then transitions to Sydney rocking a darker look: sultry black lingerie, leather gloves, pin-straight hair, and heavy makeup, resembling Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The footage continued with Sydney in other provocative attire, including a tight red lingerie set that looked like she’d wrapped herself in a bow, paired with a white veil.
Sydney also modeled a baby blue lace lingerie set while waving a massive white feathered fan, and another all-white set while lounging on a bed.
“Welcome to the @syrn holiday shop officially open on october 27th,” The Housemaid star wrote in her caption.
This is the first holiday line for Syrn, which Sydney launched in January.
Sydney regularly models in the brand’s ad campaigns, showcasing her curvy figure in the revealing pieces.
The Handmaid’s Tale star sparked controversy last month when she posed completely naked in an ad for the sports betting app, Novig.
Photos showed Sydney wearing no clothes and concealing her breasts and private parts with various sports equipment.
The pics ignited massive discourse online, especially from female athletes, who accused Sydney of sexualizing women’s sports.
However, Sydney was unbothered by the backlash and is focused on leveling up in her career, a source told The U.S. Sun exclusively.
“Sydney’s goal is to become a billionaire mogul and ‘boss lady’ as soon as possible.
“She wants to do things entirely on her own terms, confident that her unique talent and beauty give her an edge, and she doesn’t care if people dislike her,” the insider said.
“Sydney is on the fast track to becoming an icon and an elite businesswoman, like Madonna, who she sees as the benchmark for combining sex appeal with massive entrepreneurial success.”
An unruly rabble bursts on to the street: a noisy eruption, bubbling towards us. This isn’t closing time on the Croisette in Cannes. A flock of sheep bustles past our cottage towards the shade of a huge chestnut tree, driven by three generations of herders and their dogs. The waterlike cacophony of their bells slows until only the odd tink tink punctuates the cicadas’ hum. The sheep graze, the shepherds doze off, and the mountain hamlet is still again.
My partner and I had set off by Eurostar less than 24 hours before, yet this place felt a world away from the ad agency where I work.
We’d booked cheap tickets to Paris months ago, intending to plan a trip on from there by train. As our departure approached, Instagram seemed to be full of aspirational, yet similar, holiday photos, and almost every other TikTok post I flicked past offered the promise of a hidden destination … discovered.
I find ratings, reviews and recommendations just as reassuring as the next person, especially when faced with a limited holiday allowance. The safety of the search bar helps to give me the confidence that I’m spending my hard earned money as wisely as possible. I work in a world that runs on data and optimisation and I love it, but I wondered whether I’d optimised the adventure out of my own holidays.
So, we tried a simple experiment. We closed down the tabs and opened a map of western Europe. Embracing a bit of low-tech randomness, we chose to let chance decide our trip.
I shut my eyes and we promised to go wherever my finger landed. I waved my hand like a magic wand and pointed, then took a deep breath, eyes still closed. What if we ended up in some industrial wasteland? But we were in luck. My finger landed upon the commune of Saint-Hilaire-de-Lavit in Cévennes, a place we’d never heard of and almost certainly would never have found by searching “places to go in France”.
After overnighting in Paris, a three-hour fast train zipped us down to Montpellier, where we hired a car. We stopped for provisions in a Lidl on the edge of town, stocking up for the whole trip – we weren’t expecting to find any shops at our journey’s end. A short drive inland, and the roads began to get narrower and more sparsely populated. As they climbed and zigzagged into this south-east corner of the Massif Central, we entered a south of France far removed from the honeypots served up by algorithms.
We pulled into a grassy layby on a high mountain pass where there was one other car parked. Had we arrived? We’d followed the cottage owner’s directions as there was no signal here for Google Maps, so it was hard to tell. Stretching our legs in the fresh, cool air, the first thing we noticed was the quiet. No traffic, no tourists. Just stillness. But the languid buzz of big insects flying by and the whirring chorus of cicadas told us this place was alive.
Squinting into the low sun, we saw someone waving. Our host, Guilaine, had appeared as if by magic and was beckoning us to the cottage a little farther down the road. We had found the hamlet of Les Ayres: a cluster of maybe 10 stone buildings, 800 metres above sea level. The rough-walled dwellings huddled either side of the narrow road, making the most of the tiny strand of level ground before the mountain’s spine fell away into steep forest. A long wooden awning and some outdoor tables suggested a cafe opposite our cottage, but the building was shuttered, and Les Ayres’ only potential customers seemed to be ourselves and Guilaine. She took us to the back of our accommodation, to a veranda that looked out over chestnut and pine-clad mountains rolling into the horizon. It’s a landscape that appears wild but has actually been shaped by farming, forestry and the seasonal movement of livestock for thousands of years.
The next morning, as I watched the sheep and their guardians settle down in the shade, I felt the ancientness of the place. Shepherds must have moved their flocks along the same path and most likely slept under the same chestnut trees for centuries. Traditional farming practices endure here in part because the area is veined with crystal-clear mountain streams, meaning animals traversing the paths are never too far from a drink. So rather than opening the internet, we let these ancient tracks, known as drailles, guide our hikes.
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We took sweaty, daylong expeditions without seeing another human or hearing the sound of cars. The forests protected us from the worst of the sun’s blaze but, on our first trek, the real treat came when we rounded a corner to find that what we thought was the sound of wind in the pines was actually water gushing through a narrow gorge below us. Another couple of switchbacks and we arrived at a deep, clear pool created as the stream carved a corner into the rock. Dappled sunlight filtered down through trees clinging to the steep-sided valley, creating spotlights for damselflies to dart through. We stopped for a picnic and a swim in the freezing mountain water, picking wild strawberries from the bank for dessert.
We discovered that these shady, secluded river pools were waiting for us on all the paths that led down from our cottage. As well as being the ultimate pit stops for mid-hike refreshment, they were teeming with wildlife – tadpoles wriggled in the shallows, fish flickered in the depths and a huge variety of butterflies, dragonflies and other insects skimmed the surface. We even saw a snake swimming across water we’d been submerged in just minutes before.
We spent our last afternoon reading on a rock, summoning the energy to walk back up the mountain (one drawback of staying high up on a pass). We watched the sun swing over the water and the light change as the day wore on. When the air began to cool, we worked our way back towards the cottage. As the path turned into an empty, single-track road, a car approached – a big event after so much seclusion. It was Guilaine – the only person apart from the shepherds we’d encountered.
In the evening, as the light faded, the sound of brass band practice drifted towards our veranda. Later, owls called to each other and a distant wild boar screeched into the quiet night. None of this had appeared in my search results. There was no review promising unexpected trumpeting, no listicle recommending the best pool for swimming among tadpoles, and no algorithm that could have told me where the sheep would pass on that first morning. We hadn’t looked at our phones for days – maybe that was the real discovery.
Wednesday 21 October President Ndadaye’s Day in Burundi
Melchoir Ndadaye was the first democratically elected and the first Hutu president of Burundi.
In 1993, in the first free elections after 26 years of military rule, Ndadaye won, polling around 66% of the vote. He survived a coup attempt on July 3rd and was sworn in as President of Burundi on July 10th of that year.
Aged just 40, he was assassinated on October 21st 1993 during a failed military coup led by former president Jean-Baptiste Bagaza and Army Chief of Staff Col. Jean Bikomagu.
Ndadaye’s assassination was the spark that led to a decade-long civil war between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups.
Today Ndadaye is remembered as the founding father of the country’s democracy and remains a symbol of unity and reconciliation.
Robert Way
Best Buy (BBY) announced the launch of its Best Buy Gamers hub in beta. The free online hub was highlighted as putting gaming content, gear, special offers, sweepstakes, and events all in one place, with the goal to save gamers from checking several sites for
A student abandoned Jet2 package holiday after claiming she was “bitten 100 times”(Image: Kennedy News/Mobina Atashi)
A student who says she was left too scared to sleep after finding something crawling in her hotel bed has described how she first thought she had “chickenpox”. A dirty room is enough to ruin a holiday, but discovering you may be sharing your bed with blood-sucking insects is the stuff of nightmares.
Law student Mobina Atashi, 22, claims that’s what happened when she flew out on July 12 for a seven-night Jet2 break near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast — and ended up leaving early.
Mobina says she didn’t want to kick up a fuss when she first noticed the room was dirty, as she’d arrived late and planned to report it later. But she claims she was soon woken up by intense itching.
In shock, she claims she spotted bed bugs in her bedding and soon noticed angry red welts spreading across her skin — which she documented. Mobina says she was moved to a different room, but claims that one was also grubby.
Mobina claims staff downplayed what happened, insisting the bites looked like an allergic reaction rather than bed bugs.
She says she was left with no choice but to leave early, ending her holiday after two nights and paying an extra £40 to get back to the UK. On her return, Mobina says she complained to Jet2 and asked for a refund, but claims she was told there wasn’t enough evidence to link the bites to the accommodation.
Jet2 said they take concerns such as these “very seriously” and are looking into the matter further. Mobina, from Manchester, said: “I arrived after midnight. The room was very dirty but I decided to sort it out in the morning, it had hair everywhere. After a few hours of sleeping, my body was itching and I was confused. I turned the lights on and there were so many bugs.
“My whole body had red bumps and it got worse after a few days. They were on my breast area, neck, chin, behind my ears, legs and arms. There were at least 20 on my arms, probably 100 in total. It was like I had chickenpox, it was painful and mostly itchy. I made a mistake not to check properly before getting in bed but I was so tired.
“I ran downstairs at 5am and told them to please clean my room as soon as possible. I showed them videos. One of the ladies said they would change my room and gave me a new key. The new room was also dirty. There was hair and yellow stains on the bed.
“There were no bed bugs but I was so scared to sleep that night, after that, I decided I could not stay at the hotel.
She says she reached out to Jet2 on live chat in a bid to get support, only to be directed back to the hotel to resolve it. Mobina said: “I tried to talk to Jet2 through the live chat and they told me I had to talk to the resort.
“The receptionist said it looked like an allergy and that she didn’t think it was bed bugs, but it is. When I got home, I made several complaints for a refund and I didn’t get a response. They replied after three months and called me, they said all they can do is apologise.
“They said they can’t prove the bugs were caused by the accommodation and that my bites could have been caused by something else. I wanted to go on a relaxing holiday because I have anxiety and wanted to relax by myself. I never expected this. I’m traumatised because I’m scared of insects and spiders. If I see a spider, I cry, it’s my worst fear.”
Now claiming the ordeal has left her “scared at night”, Mobina has sworn off booking holidays through Jet2 in future. Mobina said: “I said they need to at least compensate me, but they said there is no evidence. I am so scared of travelling, I will never go solo travelling again.
“I’m scared at night. If my body itches, I think it is a bug. It is so traumatic. I’m never using Jet2 in the future, especially not package holidays.”
A Jet2 spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Ms Atashi’s experience. We take concerns like these very seriously and we are investigating in further detail. We will contact Ms Atashi directly once this investigation is complete.”
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In 1929 the economic ravages of the Great Depression were being felt worldwide, including Central America. It caused high levels of unemployment and unrest in Guatemala.
To stop the country descending into chaos, the Guatemalan authorities needed someone to take control and give strong leadership. They looked to Jorge Ubico, who had earned a hardman reputation as a provincial governor. Ubico won the 1931 elections, which wasn’t a great shock to the pollsters given he was the only candidate.
Ubico set about his task of improving the country’s economic fortunes and imposed an over-zealous and punitive set of labour laws.
He effectively militarised the country, by making each provincial governor a general and putting military officers in charge of many government posts.
During the second world war, he gave support to the Americans (mainly to annoy Mexico) but that didn’t stop him openly admiring the achievements of European fascists such as Franco in Spain and Mussolini in Italy.
Napoleon Complex
It’s not known what posters if any, the teenage Ubico had on his bedroom wall, but Napoleon would have been a safe bet as he was like a dog with a Bonaparte when it came to Napoleon. Ubico considered himself to be “another Napoleon”. He surrounded himself with statues and paintings of Napoleon, regularly commenting on the similarities between their appearances. Though he wasn’t particularly short – but then neither was Napoleon, despite what British propaganda might have us believe.
10:00, 19 Oct 2026
Passengers will stop off at Samarkand in Uzbekistan(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
National Geographic’s new private jet trip is the most expensive holiday I’ve ever seen, and possibly the most ridiculous.
The 23-day private jet trip is a wildlife adventure through Asia and Africa, starting with a welcome dinner in Singapore. You’ll then fly to Borneo to meet orangutans and sun bears before cruising the Kinabatangan River. In India, the journey continues to Jaipur, then Ranthambore National Park to search for tigers.
Next come safaris in Sri Lanka’s Yala and Bundala parks, then the Maldives, and jetting on to Madagascar where Nosy Be offers lemurs, chameleons and snorkelling. In South Africa, Phinda Private Game Reserve brings Big Five safaris, and in Rwanda, guests trek to see mountain gorillas. The trip concludes in Rome before guests are jetted back home.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
And all of that for the low, low price of $144,995 (£108,700) per person, or $6,304 (£4,726) a day. As well as needing more disposable cash than most people will enjoy in a lifetime, there is another big issue with the trip – which is one of five private jet itineraries Nat Geo offers.
Each passenger onboard the chartered Boeing 757, which has been modified to cut the standard 233 seats to 80 business class spots, is responsible for 7,851 kg CO2e (calculated using the Travel Impact Model). By some calculations, the annual “carbon budget” is as low as 700kg CO2e per year. The average Brit produces 8,000kg of CO2e over a year.
As this record-breaking hot and dry summer has made abundantly clear, the Earth is in a perilous position. We’re not just edging but moving closer, rapidly, to breaching and then going well past the 1.5C global warming level set out by the Paris Agreement. This doesn’t mean hot summers on the beach; it means climate breakdown, droughts, famines and heat deaths.
As the UN warns: “Exceeding 1.5°C could also trigger multiple climate tipping points, such as breakdowns of major ocean circulation systems, abrupt thawing of boreal permafrost, and collapse of tropical coral reef systems, with abrupt, irreversible, and dangerous impacts for humanity.”
The Nat Geo trip appears at odds with the company’s own corporate responsibility policy, which states: National Geographic activities, products, and services should be designed in such a way as to minimise negative environmental impacts and optimise positive environmental impacts. This commitment is reflected in the “Sustainability Guidelines” set forth in the Brand Standards Guidelines.
National Geographic did not respond to requests for comment.
Flying is a particular problem, as currently, most people don’t fly. 80% of people have never flown. As the world gets richer and more people step aboard a plane, emissions will soar. As other sectors decarbonise, aviation keeps growing and polluting more.
The independent Climate Change Committee projected that aviation’s proportion of UK greenhouse gas emissions will increase from 7% in 2022 to 9% in 2025, 11% in 2030 and 16% in 2035.
Katie Thompson, CEO and founder of environmental aviation charity Bumprints, is a former commercial jet pilot and private jet industry worker who now refuses to fly.
“I started looking at climate and everything changed. No one talks about it in the aviation industry; it’s a complete elephant in the departure lounge. You study a lot to be a pilot, but the whole time, climate was never mentioned. You know a lot about weather, but the whole topic of climate change is completely absent,” Katie told the Mirror. “It’s easier not to talk about it. You fall in love with the world by travelling in it, but then you have to protect it.”
Katie argues that the National Geographic private jet trip is at odds with the organisation’s ethos. “If you really care about wildlife, you need to think about what’s happening to their habitats. It’s 100% human-induced warming that’s causing devastation and the sixth mass extinction. Then you connect the dots between your life choices and what’s happening. If you added up the carbon of just that trip, it would blow through hundreds of people’s annual budgets,” she said.
“Booking this kind of holiday is so completely out of line with that. It’s really hard to justify this. I am jealous because I want to go on this trip, but I couldn’t. Some people are still living as if we’re in the 1970s and this felt like a future problem.”
Katie urged people to be more conscious passengers, in part by checking the predicted emissions of different services on Google Flights. These can vary considerably on the same route, with some three times lower than others.
While the country was under Spanish rule, a military parade was held whenever a new governor-general took office in Santiago. The First Government Junta’s formal inauguration took place in the city on September 19th 1810, as the first military parade of the new nation.
The National Army of Chile was created on December 2nd 1810, by order of the First National Government Junta.
The Day of the Glories of the Chilean Army was established in 1915. On September 28th 1819, a parade with all the nation’s army units was held to celebrate the victory in the Chilean War of Independence.
President Joaquin Prieto ordered a military exercise on La Pampilla fields in 1831, and President Manuel Bulnes obtained lands in the Pampilla area for annual military parades in 1842, leading to its transformation into a military installation in 1845. This land became O’Higgins Park in 1873 following the efforts of Luis Cousiño, who was inspired by European parks and decided to infuse a similar design with Chilean features. He commissioned Manuel Arana to design it, and Arana included the Field of Mars that has been used in the annual military parades since.
The purpose of this holiday is to remember all those who have fought in Chilean battles, in which the country has been victorious or defeated; the courage and courage of those who protected the country and its inhabitants are remembered.
The Chilean Army is one of the most technologically advanced and professional armies in the Americas.
Note that the Chilean Navy has its own public holiday. The Day of the Glories of the Chilean Navy is observed on May 21st and marks the date of the battle of Iquique on that day in 1879.
lucigerma/iStock via Getty Images
U.S. holiday airfares are heading toward their highest levels in at least a decade, according to travel-booking company Hopper, as airlines raise prices to offset escalating fuel expenses. Average domestic round-trip fares for Thanksgiving are running 31% above last year’s levels, while Christmas tickets are up
SANTA VISITS, festive pantomimes, bauble making and parties every day – these holiday parks offer the ultimate Christmas experience without the price tag.
Parkdean is opening a number of its resorts over the festive season and a whole family can stay for less than £150.
Parkdean Resorts has officially opened its bookings for Christmas with festive getaways available across eight UK holiday parks.
These are:
Each of the holiday parks will be open throughout December including Christmas and the New Year with a whole host of activities.
Winter Wonderland which will have over 30 Christmassy activities is available at Camber Sands, Cayton Bay, Trecco Bay, Ty Mawr, Warmwell and Vauxhall.
White Cross Bay and Fallbarrow will be open during the festive period – but these won’t hold the Winter Wonderland programme.
But for the ones that choose to enjoy Winter Wonderland, the events vary from park-to-park and some will have Search for Santa where youngsters are invited to help the elves find Santa with clues and songs.
There will be creative activities too like bauble and Christmas card making as well as festive pot painting.
Family-friendly pantomime performances will take to the stage with some famous faces like Jenny Ryan from The Chase.
There will be ice skating, Christmas parties and sing-alongs – for those there on Christmas Eve, there will be a special show to countdown to the big day.
Along with the Christmas activities, the holiday parks will also have their usual offerings like swimming, adventure activities and live entertainment.
One writer visited the Vauxhall holiday park in Great Yarmouth which recently underwent a £5million makeover.
Here, he watched entertainment like a knife-throwing magician, a Taylor Swift tribute act, karaoke, bingo and stand-up comedy.
Other activities at Vauxhall include the high and low ropes course, Bear Grylls escape rooms, an inflatable bounce park, a swimming-pool obstacle course, pottery painting, off-road rangers and an adventure playground.
He added: “We’ve taken our children to Dubai, Turkey, the Netherlands and Disneyland, to name a few — but they feel they’ve hit the jackpot on this quintessential Great British caravan-park holiday here in Norfolk.”
A four-night stay at Vauxhall holiday park from December 7 in a Sandpiper/Buzzard Apartment which sleeps up to six starts from £159 – or £6.62pppn.
If you want to stay for five-nights from December 23 in a Goose Apartment which sleeps four, this starts from £599 or £29.95pppn.
Trecco Bay in Porthcawl is the UK’s largest holiday park which has over 2,000 lodges and caravans.
It has Pirate Crazy Golf, a high ropes course, splash pad, archery, hoover boards and bumper zorbs.
There’s also a bowling alley and the Next Level Gaming Arena which has over 25 consoles including PS5 and Xbox.
Four-night breaks from December 14 in a Bronze Caravan which sleeps up to six starts from £159 – or £6.62pppn.
The six holiday parks with the Winter Wonderland programme have all-inclusive add-ons on certain dates, so there won’t be hidden surprises.
It includes three meals a day which are served directly to the table so there are no queues either – there’s also unlimited drinks and Costa Coffee.
This starts from £100 per adult and £40 per child (under 12) per break.
Anthony Reilly, Marketing Director at Parkdean Resorts, said: “We know that the festive period can be a stressful time for families looking to plan a getaway that’s great value, feel-good and has something for everyone.
“That’s why we’re so excited to bring back festive breaks, bigger and better than ever. Booking early means families can relax knowing they have secured their festive tradition for 2026, leaving the Christmas stress behind – and start unwrapping the excitement now.”
THE spooks and the ghouls are gathering, and this half-term is gearing up to be spine-chillingly fang-tastic.
Superb Halloween events for all the family are being held across the UK, including in city centres, holiday parks, castles and lots of amazing attractions.
Here, Trisha Harbord shares her selection of 13 of the most magical and monstrous activities taking place in the coming weeks.
DO you have teenage monsters? They’ll love screaming their way through horror mazes at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The attraction’s Journey To Hell features three new mazes: Eternal Abyss, a network of tunnels; The Veil, a house steeped in grief; and Deadline, with its nightmarish corridors.
Other frightening encounters include riding ICON: Into The Void blindfolded, and a ghost train.
Journey To Hell tickets, including mazes, start from £50. See blackpoolpleasurebeach.com.
Screamfest at Staffordshire’s National Forest Adventure Farm is celebrating 15 years with its most terrifying attraction. Cortex 17 is a psychic trial set in a 1960s hospital, featuring 20 weird actors.
It’s among seven chilling experiences with thrill rides and roaming characters until October 31, from £34pp. See screamfest.co.uk.
HOLIDAY parks across the UK have cut-price half-term deals. Butlin’s Spooktober is landing at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, with discounted three-night breaks from £66 per person.
Fairgrounds have become scaregrounds and there are special Halloween shows, eerie silent discos and crafts as well as Splash Waterworld, TV’s The Masked Singer and Maximum Pro Wrestling. See butlins.com.
If you’re in Scotland or the north of England, Verdant Parks has 11 sites in beautiful coastal and countryside locations where Halloween is being celebrated, with three-night family stays from £259.
You could choose Riverside, on the banks of Wooler Water in Northumberland, which has a pool, wellness area, soft play, arcade, entertainment, bar and restaurant.
Kids can get involved in pumpkin carving and zombie battles. See verdantparks.co.uk.
MANCHESTER’s MCR Monsters are back for their tenth anniversary. The giant, inflatable creatures will appear on famous buildings and landmarks such as The Royal Exchange and Corn Exchange from October 24 to 31.
On the first weekend, the free event features real-life characters roaming the streets, plus party games and DJs.
There’s also a new Paul Horror-wood Monster Bake-Off on New Cathedral Street, where you can win a “handshake” and pick up free party bags of sweets. Kids will love the spooky storytelling at the monsters’ library in the Arndale, too.
Dancing puppets, stilt walkers and a brass band will lead a procession to the city centre for a spectacular anniversary party.
All week, the Science And Industry Museum is holding interactive activities about Halloween aliens. See halloweenmcr.com.
GET your wellies on and hitch a ride on a tractor-trailer to pick your own pumpkin. This year, Stockeld Park near Wetherby, Yorkshire, has grown their own to add to their half-term activities from October 24 to November 1.
Enter Halloween fancy dress competitions, complete a forest trail with the help of woodland witches who will share their mischievous skills, explore the Mummy Maze, with a few surprises along the way, and battle it out in the Laser Zombie Experience.
Stockeld also has six playgrounds, a multi-storey playhouse and tree climbing. Tickets from £28pp. See stockeldpark.co.uk.
Still not had enough? There are pumpkins galore – hundreds of thousands to be precise – to be collected at Rougham Estate near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. You’ll also find food trucks, face painting, pedal tractors and ice cream, too! See roughamestate.com.
HALLOWEEN comes with a sweet twist at Cadbury World. The Birmingham attraction has a new gameshow-style challenge where visitors must guess the characters hiding behind a Trick Or Treat door.
And there’s Freddo’s Spooktacular, with games, songs, magic and chilling surprises, as well as chocolate pumpkins and afternoon tea. Explore 14 zones with activities and a 4D movie. Runs until November 1, tickets from £24. See cadburyworld.co.uk.
Until November 1 at Sea Life Birmingham, sea witch Serafina asks kids to become ocean defenders by following a spellbinding trail. They will tackle challenges, solve puzzles and complete Serafina’s missions to discover life under the sea.
Walk through the UK’s only 360-degree ocean tunnel to see turtles, sharks, rays and hundreds of tropical fish. From £19. See visitsealife.com.
TEENS’ hearts will be racing when they get to ride their favourite rollercoasters after dark at Alton Towers.
And new scare maze Final Exhibit will have visitors running for their lives to avoid becoming part of a creepy display.
Younger thrill-seekers will prefer a visit to Trick O’ Treat Town and Amigos In The Afterlife, where they’ll meet friendlier characters.
Scarefest runs until November 1 on selected dates, and tickets cost from £37 for day entry or £80 including all four scare mazes. See altontowers.com.
If after-dark thrills are more your thing, Thorpe Park is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Fright Nights with more spine tingles than ever before. Its new scare maze Tenement will have adrenaline junkies looking for the exit in the pitch black. Entry from £39. See thorpepark.com.
GET your best Halloween togs on and you could win a year of magical adventures.
The show caves at Wookey Hole, near Wells in Somerset, have been transformed into a spellbinding world of pumpkins, monsters, magic and family fun.
Every family in fancy dress who take a photo there will be entered into a draw to win a year’s membership to the attraction, including access to the new Winter Wonderland.
The Halloween event, which runs until November 1, includes a journey through the caves, where immersive projections bring the story of the Witch of Wookey Hall to life.
Vampires and monsters are taking over the circus, there’s a spooky 4D film, a pumpkin trail and surprises. Adult tickets cost from £24.64, child tickets from £19.54. See wookey.co.uk.
STAY in a castle and seek out characters from Horrible Histories. Performers will bring the gruesome stories from the kids’ books to life at Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Kent, until November 1.
Follow a ghost-getter’s trail, uncovering tales of royal spirits, witch trials and strange superstitions. Two nights’ B&B for a family of four in a castle bedroom costs £500, including tickets and free evening meals for kids. See leeds-castle.com.
Warwick Castle will also be full of family frights, including haunted hollows and lurking goblins from October 24 to November 1. But on selected nights, the scares are turned up a notch – with spine-tingling sleepovers including three terrifying ghostly experiences, circus acts and a silent disco. B&B and tickets cost from £85pp. See warwick-castle.com.
WANNABE Harry Potters can learn spells and meet some owls at The Welsh School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry.
It can be found at the British Bird Of Prey Centre, in Carmarthenshire, which has been transformed for a week of mischief from October 26.
Kids are encouraged to wear magical costumes for classes including wand-making, creating potions and spells. Then, they can try being a falconer and fly an owl or a red kite.
Tickets cost from £14 per adult and £8.50 per child. Flying sessions are from £10. See british birdofpreycentre.co.uk.
If you’re further south, a wizard school is also being held at Southampton’s Tudor House on October 26 and 27, costing £8. The house has a free Halloween open day on October 30, with crafts, facepainting, haunted tales and guided ghost tours. See visitsouthampton.co.uk.
THINGS aren’t just going bump in the night down at BeWILDerwood outdoor family adventure parks in Norfolk, Cheshire and the Lake District.
There’s a whole host of spooky events in the daytime, too. The woodland attractions are asking young visitors to don their scariest outfits to enjoy the play trails and whoosh along zipwires.
There’s also a Twig Or Treat trail until November 1 – where youngsters will be tasked with uncovering characters and collecting letters to discover the scrambled word and claim their prize.
Then, stick around until nightfall to see the Glowing Light Trail twinkle. Tickets cost from £26.50 per adult and £24.50 per child over 92cm.
Families can bag 12.5 per cent off when they book online in advance. See bewilderwood.co.uk.
LONDON is crawling with creepies this half-term. Halloween characters, including the stilt-wearing Peculiar Sisters, are trailing around spookily-decorated shops and houses on Kensington High Street from October 23 to 31.
And on the last day, Holland Park will be transformed into The Playful Park Of Peculiar with live entertainment. See highstreetkensington.co.uk.
London Dungeon has the three-part immersive show Curse Of The Mummy until November 1. From £29 per adult and £23.50 per child. See thedungeons.com.
The dungeon is included in National Rail’s discounted entries to attractions, saving a third off the price. Other offers include Ghosts And Legends at the Tower of London and the Haunted Halls Of Hampton Court Palace. See daysoutguide.co.uk.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in Birmingham and Manchester have been overtaken by minifigure monsters this Halloween.
Until November 1, budding builders can join creative workshops, bringing their own creations to the Brick Or Treat mosaic boards and testing their skills with glow-in-the-dark Lego bricks.
There are also scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving and dance parties. Tickets cost £19pp or £51 per family of four. See legolanddiscoverycentre.com.
And at Legoland Windsor, half-term sees Lord Vampyre’s Creepy Crypt Trail promising treats across the park, as well as new a harbour show, Monster Rocker’s Pumpkin Trail and the Haunted House Halloween Monster Party. Tickets from £39pp at legoland.co.uk.
GRAB yourselves a bit of luxury. Kids under 13 can stay at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales, for free.
It costs from £123 per night for a family of four, Monday to Thursday, until October 31 – and that includes use of the health club and spa. There are free Halloween crafts and games, while other activities, such as pottery painting and cupcake decorating, can be booked.
If you’re not into spooks, kids are still entertained – there’s archery, laser combat, high ropes, adventure golf, axe-throwing and swimming. And there’s lots of space for biking or walking. The resort has 2,000 acres of grounds and woodland trails.
Larger families can book self-catering Hunter Lodges, with hot tubs and saunas, sleeping up to eight adults and two children. See celtic-manor.com.
On September 18th 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence. The Spanish had ruled Chile since the middle of the 16th Century. The movement to independence had been driven by other South American countries revolting against colonial rule, the French and Spanish warring in Europe and the appointment of an unpopular Governor in 1808.
While Chileans celebrate their independence on September 18th, their declaration in 1810 was the start of a long struggle and the Chilean war of Independence lasted for eight years before Chile could officially proclaim independence on February 12th 1818. Indeed, it wasn’t until 1826 when the last Spanish troops holding out on a remote island finally surrendered to Chilean forces.
At 7,500 feet, (2,286 metres) above sea level, Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth.
With Independence Day being immediately followed by another public holiday (Day of the Glories of the Chilean Army), the whole week around these two days tends to be a period of celebration. Many schools and some companies will declare a week-long holiday.
The events around the struggle for Independence are remembered with the ‘Fiestas Patrias’ (national parties). These fiestas include parades (often including ‘huasos’, the traditional Chilean cowboys), dancing, partying, traditional Chilean food, and displays of national pride.
Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala was born on September 17th 1985.
The prince became the heir apparent to the throne in 2012 when his father, King Tupou VI, ascended to the throne.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho married in July 2012. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tukuʻaho have four children. A son, Prince Taufaʻahau Manumataongo, born 10 May in 2013; and three daughters Princess Halaevalu Mataʻaho, born on 12 July 2014, Princess Nanasipau’u born 20 March 2018, and Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu, born 25 February 2021.
Tonga is the only sovereign indigenous monarchy in Oceania.
In Tongan mythology, the Polynesian Sun god, Tangaloa, pulled the islands of Tonga from the sea using a tortoiseshell and a whalebone fishhook. During the god’s expedition, the shell and hook ripped an opening in the islands of Naupapu. This fishing line snapped, causing pieces of the island to fall into the sea, leaving Tonga as it is today.
EVERY parent knows that taking a toddler on holiday often feels less relaxing getaway and more like a parenting shift in a different location.
Don’t worry – we’ve found the ultimate cheap holiday for parents with under 5’s where everything’s taken care of for you – plus the kids even eat for free.
Parkdean Resorts are running Tots Breaks packages, four-night stays starting from £99.
If you’re visiting as a family of four, that works out to a tiny £6.19pp per night.
These action-packed breaks are bursting with free activities and entertainment that’s sure to keep the little ones smiling.
However, the best part may just be the food. On a Tots Break, kids eat completely free for the entire duration of your stay.
Read more on holiday parks
That means hot breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are totally sorted, saving a family up to £70 on their holiday dining.
Fussy eaters are well-catered for with the Starland Krew Menu, with kid-friendly classics like tomato pasta, beef burgers, and chicken strips with chips.
You won’t need to constantly dip into your wallet to keep them entertained, either. These breaks are packed with free activities tailored specifically to young children.
Kids can burn off energy at the Tots Adventure Playground, get stuck into messy play, or enjoy the musical Tots & Tunes sessions.
Plus there’s even adorable ‘Mini Olympics’, mini archery, and mini fencing classes.
And if your kids are completely obsessed with their favourite TV characters, you’re in luck.
Parkdean Resorts host Milkshake! Mornings packed with stories and singing, plus the chance to meet PAW Patrol legends like Chase and Marshall in the flesh (well, in the fur).
The fun is perfectly timed for early bedtimes, too. Early evening entertainment includes toddler discos, ‘kideoke’ sing-alongs, and even a fun ‘Sparkle Like a Princess’ event.
When it’s finally time to crash, the accommodation is set up for families.
The standard Bronze caravans are spacious, featuring stylish cream-coloured interiors, fully equipped modern kitchens, and TVs for a chilled movie once the kids are asleep.
Tots Breaks are available across dozens of Parkdean Resorts locations nationwide throughout the year.
Participating parks include Sandford in Dorset, a peaceful woodland park close to Poole and Bournemouth, and Trecco Bay in Wales, which is one of Europe’s largest holiday parks.
If you have older children, they may enjoy a Parkdean Resorts’ Nickelodeon Weekender instead.
These breaks start at £163 for three nights, working out to £13.58pp per night for a family of four.
Nickelodeon-themed entertainment includes ‘Mighty Missions’ set by PAW Patrol’s Ryder, learning the Pup Pup Boogie dance, and meeting the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Families can even enjoy a ‘Movie with the Stars’, where you’ll sit down to a movie night alongside the actual characters from the film.
Prices correct at the time of publication.
ONE Roman city in the UK has made its way onto the list of the best places to visit in the WORLD next year.
Chichester in West Sussex is a must-see spot in amongst places in California, Canada, Italy and even Australia.
Expedia has revealed the trending hotspots for next year, which have seen a boom in searches.
Chichester has seen an increased interest of up to 30 per cent, the city itself dates back almost 2,000 years – and its main attraction dates back to 1075.
Chichester Cathedral sits right in the heart of the city and has done for over 900 years.
At 277 feet high, it’s the only medieval cathedral in England that can be seen from the sea.
Other popular spots for visitors include Fishbourne Roman Palace, the biggest Roman house in the UK, and the open-air Weald and Downland Living Museum.
Hopefully visitors will bump into friendly locals too as the city was voted the happiest place to live by The Guardian last year.
The location of the city means that it’s less than half an hour away from some of Britain’s beaches.
West Wittering Beach is a mere seven miles away from Chichester city centre and still in the district of Chichester.
The pretty beach has Blue Flag status and is backed by colourful beach huts, and the village itself is home to huge celebrities including Keith Richards and Kate Winslet.
Other nearby coastal spots include Selsey Beach and Bognor Regis – both of which are home to popular holiday parks like Seal Bay Resort and Butlin’s.
There is waterfront nearer to the city however as Chichester has its own harbour with sailing clubs, marinas and thousands of moorings.
One popular spot for visitors to enjoy lunch is The Boathouse in the marina which has indoor and outdoor seating.
Chichester also has lots of green spaces too as the area surrounding the city is part of the South Downs National Park.
For those who want to visit, Chichester has its own railway station with direct trains to London Victoria – these take around an hour and a half.
Also in Chichester is Bosham, a tiny village compared to Venice which is home to England’s best B&B.
It is even in the famous Bayeux Tapestry, as it was where King Harold lived.
Other locals say it looks like an ‘old fishing village‘ found in Devon or Cornwall.
Talking about Unpack ’27, Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin explained: “In 2027, travellers are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them.
“We’re making it easier to discover, plan, and book the right trip, so travellers can spend less time managing the details and more time enjoying the moments that matter.”
The next closest spot for Brits, and the perfect destination for a holiday is Perugia in the Umbria region of Italy.
Flights with Ryanair are direct from London Stansted and start from as little as £20.
Found on the hilltop, the Umbria capital is one for the foodies, being famous for its chocolate (and annual chocolate festival).
There are also jazz festivals, historic fortresses and beautiful architecture to explore as well.
South Lake Tahoe, California
Hyogo, Japan
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sedona, Arizona, USA
Busan, South Korea
Holbox, Mexico
Perugia, Italy
The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Chichester, UK
It commemorates 16 September 1963, when the former British colony of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, joined the Federation of Malaya to create the Malaysian Federation.
Singapore only remained in the federation for two years, leaving on 9 August 1965.
Originally this date was planned for 1 June 1963, but it was delayed twice; once to 31 August to make it coincide with an older national day, and then delayed again to allow referendums to take place in certain regions.
Malaysia Day has only been a national holiday since 2010. On announcing this holiday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the day would involve activities that would foster the Malaysia spirit and would be celebrated with formal events such as a parade to commemorate the historical moment. He added that it should remind the Malaysian people about their struggle in achieving independence.
On 31 August, Malaysians celebrate Independence Day (Merdeka Day), so it is unusual for a country to effectively have two independence day holidays.
A STATE of emergency has been declared on the Greek island of Rhodes after flash floods swept cars into the sea and claimed the life of a hotel worker.
A Mediterranean autumn storm system has moved across the region, bringing torrential downpours and high winds.
Greek authorities have ordered British holidaymakers to restrict all but essential travel – here’s everything you need to know.
Rhodes’ eastern coastline bore the brunt of the weather, with the area around Stegna beach near Archangelos suffering flash flooding.
A 62-year-old hotel worker was caught in a torrent of water while retrieving his car near the beach.
Coastguard officers later recovered his body after four vehicles were swept into the sea.
Dozens of cars were submerged or abandoned across the island’s road network as drainage systems struggled to contain the rainwater.
Data from the National Observatory of Athens confirmed that Rhodes recorded 264mm of rain, 202mm of which fell in just six-and-a-half hours.
That’s a month’s worth of typical rainfall in a single morning.
Conditions across Rhodes have begun to calm as the worst of the storm front moves east.
The UK Met Office and the Hellenic National Meteorological Service both forecast drier conditions for the region on Thursday October 15, with sunny spells for the remainder of the day.
Temperatures are expected to peak at 23C, with moderate northwesterly winds between 12 and 16mph.
Though the forecast points toward calmer conditions, forecasters and officials stress that the danger has not fully cleared.
Because the island’s terrain is saturated, more rain could present a risk of further localised flooding and mudslides.
Tomorrow (October 16) is expected to stay largely dry and sunny, but an unsettled Atlantic front is forecast to push across the Aegean Sea over the weekend.
This is expected to bring a renewed chance of showers by Saturday.
Elsewhere in Greece, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service has issued yellow “Be Aware” alerts for Crete and the South Aegean.
Thousands of UK tourists visit the region every year for late-season sunshine.
With 112 emergency alerts remaining active, tourists are advised to limit their movements to absolutely necessary journeys.
Several key bridges and roads across Ialysos, Faliraki, Afandou, and Rhodes Town are submerged or damaged by mud.
Authorities have suspended multiple transport routes, including the key Rhodes–Faliraki tourist corridor and services to and from Akandia port.
Greek emergency services recommend that all travellers monitor local weather warnings through the Hellenic National Meteorological Service and follow instructions via the official @112Greece Twitter/X channel.
Never attempt to drive or walk through standing or flowing water, as road surfaces may have collapsed underneath.
Keep an eye on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice pages for Greece regarding sudden disruptions.
SPAIN has long reigned as the most popular holiday destination for Brits – but a cheaper alternative is set to rival it, according to easyJet.
Destinations across North Africa are seeing a huge boom in bookings, as holidaymakers look for better value holidays.
North African holiday destinations include Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia – which all offer great winter sun options as well.
EasyJet holidays CEO Garry Wilson said at the recent ABTA convention in Madeira: “When we look at demand for next year, places like North Africa, we will see that continue to grow in popularity.
“Spain has been a bit overheated and we will see capacity demand slow down a bit.”
Luxury five star hotels are much cheaper across North Africa compared to mainland Europe.
For example, a five-star, all-inclusive week in Egypt can be found for under £450 each in November with loveholidays – the same in Spain is over £1,000.
Tunisia is even cheaper, with five star, all inclusive breaks just £249pp each in November for seven nights, while Morocco is around £509pp.
The Sun’s Head of Travel Lisa Minot explained further: “Holidaymakers looking for the best value this winter and into next summer should be honing in on the emerging – and wallet-friendly – North African destinations of Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt.
“With the number of flights from the UK more than doubling since 2019, they have become a serious contender to our traditional Spanish favourites.
“Now tour operators are joining the fray with easyJet Holidays, TUI and the UK’s largest tour operator Jet2 all offering even greater choice – at very competitive prices.”
She added that Brits are “recognising the value they offer as the cost of living crisis continues to hit family budgets,” which is despite the conflict in the Middle East.
Lisa continued: “I saw for myself the premium offering in Marsa Alam on a trip in February and holiday prices for this winter to the Red Sea resort are lower than before the escalating tensions.”
Egypt recently announced they had welcomed a record 14.4million international tourists in 2026, an increase of four per cent compared to last year.
With a target of 30million by 2030, hotel capacity is set to double, with plans for 35,000 extra hotel rooms.
When it comes to Morocco, not only was Fez named a trending destination for 2027 by Skyscanner, but Rabat was named a top place to go next year by Lonely Planet.
EasyJet, Ryanair and TUI have all launched new flights to Morocco this year too.
And a new study by TravelSupermarket found that Tunisia holidays have dropped in price compared to last year.
Jet2 is launching more holiday packages to Tunisia next year, after restarting routes from the UK this summer.
The territory of modern Guatemala was once the heart of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica.
Most of the country was conquered by the Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in the first half of the 16th century, becoming part of the viceroyalty of New Spain.
Guatemala was the original source for potatoes, corn, chili peppers, and avocados.
In the first decade of the nineteenth century, Spain had been weakened by its involvement in the Peninsular War in Europe and local juntas had been created as local Spanish had revolted against the rule of King Joseph, Napoleon’s brother who was installed as ruler of Spain by the French in 1808.
This taste for independent rule persisted after King Ferdinand came to the Spanish throne and on September 15th 1821, the Act of Independence of Central America was declared by the Province of Guatemala.
Following independence and despite opposition from El Salvador, the regions became part of the Mexican Empire, until they ceded to become the Federal Republic of Central America in 1823.
