Choosing Your Vacation Walking Shoes

Carefully chosen walking shoes will make a world of difference on your vacation. Your feet are as unique as your personality so just any old shoes won't do.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right walking shoes for you.

Find an athletic store that has qualified people who can evaluate your walking gait. They can then point you toward a shoe that will match your style.

Your feet will swell on a walk. So pick a walking shoe that is about a size bigger than you usually would buy. Or, if possible, try on your shoes after a long walk.

Fit your shoes while wearing the same socks that you will be wearing on your vacation.

Consider the type of walking you will be doing. Hiking boots are good for poorly maintained trails, off trail or cross country hikes. But they are heavy and stiff. Stick with walking or running shoes for walks on paved or maintained trails.

Make sure there is room at the toes and the sides. Even a small amount of rubbing will produce blisters.

Cushioned shoes provide comfort and are great for non rugged walking surfaces. They usually have a little less support.

Lightweight is important when you are walking all day. You can afford to give up a little support for light weight when you are walking on pavement or maintained trails.

Avoid flared soles and heels that are more than an inch higher than the sole in front. These types of shoes are not good for a walker's gait.

You want a flexible shoe that will twist and bend at the ball of the foot.

If you have wide or narrow feet make sure that you get a shoe that is sized for you. Don't settle for a standard width shoe. You will regret it.

The success of your vacation can depend on having a comfortable pair of shoes to walk in. Take the time to find the right one. It is worth it.

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Peter Shannon is the owner of www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Hawaii Vacations: 7 Great 4-Star Hotels

Here’s several 4-Star Hawaiian hotels that offer first-class accommodations and beach front views.

Sheraton Moana Surfrider – This historic hotel has been lovingly restored and maintains it’s circa 1901 charm. Located on Waikiki beach, it offers high tea and sunset buffets.

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa – Located right across the street from Waikiki beach. It’s also within walking distance to attractions such as: Diamond Head, Kapiolani Park, Honolulu Zoo, and Waikiki Aquarium. Features a restaurant with live Hawaiian music and a health spa.
The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach – Right in the middle of Waikiki Beach, it’s close to restaurants, shops, and entertainment activities. Has high-speed Internet access and art by Hawaiian artists.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa – Beachfront hotel featuring lush tropical gardens, ponds, waterfalls, health spa, restaurants, an underwater exploration submarine, Friday fireworks, and a variety of nightly entertainment.

Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki – Features rooms with floor to ceiling windows and overlooks the boats of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor. Stroll to Ala Moana Beach Park. Shuttle to 27 hole championship golf course.

Royal Hawaiian – This hotel’s nickname is the Pink Palace of the Pacific for it’s pink color scheme. Enjoy a private beach and the Royal Hawaiian shopping center nearby. Features boating, surfing and an oceanfront luau.

Kahala Mandarin Oriental – Tucked away on a secluded beach, this resort is popular with celebrities. Features spa rooms, soaking baths, private gardens and lots of pampering.

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Donna Monday
Cruise the beautiful Hawaiian Islands – even if you’re on a budget
http://www.last-minute-hawaii-cruise.com

Tips for Better Vacation Photos

Here are a few tips that will improve the quality of your vacation pictures.

Modern cameras allow are now all point and shoot. But there is one thing that we do have complete control of and that is the composition of the photo.

Good composition can be achieved by anyone. Before you click, take a second to think about three things.

What is the center of interest in the picture? It may be a building, person, animal, or a landscape feature. Whatever it is, stop and get a mental focus on it.

What is the best viewpoint? Maybe you should move to the left or right, back up or get closer, zoom in or out. Each spot will present a slightly different background and foreground. Try to eliminate distractions, things that intrude unnecessarily into the picture.

An easy way to estimate the composition is to make a viewfinder with your hands. Put the tips of your thumbs together, hands flat. Make a square using both thumbs and forefingers. Hold the square up in front of you so that your subject is visible through it.

What makes an effective background? You don't want the background to contain objects that are irrelevant to the center of focus. A good background will not immediately draw attention away from the foreground by being too powerful.

What makes an effective foreground? Ideally the foreground should catch the eye and lead it to the center of interest. Or it can serve to frame the picture as long as it adds interest and doesn't become too overpowering.

When taking long shots, don't let the sky dominate. Look for ways to introduce perspective in the foreground. A road, path, or other objects with strong lines can lead the eye deep into the picture.

A long shot is fine if you are specifically trying to include something in the background. But often it's difficult to recognize who is in the photo. Don't be afraid to get in close when the subject is a person. Closeups can get yield some great facial expressions, especially if the shot is unplanned.
Using a digital camera? Go crazy and take a million shots. That way you are sure to have plenty of good pictures and just delete the ones you don't want.

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Peter Shannon is the owner of www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Tips for Keeping Your Money Safe While on Vacation

When it comes to spending money on vacation you have three main choices. Credit cards, cash, or traveler's checks.

Credit cards are the safest way to pay for your vacation. If they are stolen you have limited liability and they are easily replaced. The ability to dispute the charges with the credit card company give you protection against poor merchandise or service.

Many transactions such as hotel reservations and car rentals are impossible without a credit card. When traveling overseas you can usually get the best exchange rates using your plastic but beware. The credit card companies have been charging high fees for the privilege and usually don't tell you ahead of time.

The downside to credit cards is they can be unreliable, especially overseas. You can be in for a real hassle if your card is declined by the merchant or a foreign ATM machine. The chances of this happening are real and increase dramatically when traveling to second and third world countries.

When you use your credit card, don't let it out of your sight even if it means following your waiter to the register. Before you put the card back in your wallet make sure that it belongs to you.

Cash is the most reliable way to carry money but of course, it is the least safe. American cash is accepted everywhere and you can often haggle for better prices with cash.

But there are many dangers when carrying cash. The most obvious is that it makes you a target for thieves. Don't flash it around.

Hide your cash on your person but not in a waist money belt. Find or make a pocket on the inside of your clothing where it is difficult to get at. Then keep a small amount in a spare wallet for your walking around cash. You can keep one credit card in with the cash and it doesn't hurt to throw in some other expendable junk to make it look good. This is what you hand over if you are robbed.

Don't keep all your cash on your person. Hide some in your personal belongings. Be inventive about finding good hiding places. The hotel safe is a good place to stash a portion. If you spread it around then you won't be cleaned out in one shot.

Travelers checks are arguably the best way form of money for your vacation with. You can use them almost as readily as cash and they can be easily replaced.

The best way to handle your vacation money is with a combination of all three methods.

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Peter Shannon is the owner of www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Tips for Vacationing on a Budget

Looking for some vacation money saving ideas? There’s nothing wrong with vacationing on a budget. Hey, we all can’t travel like the rich and famous.

You save all year to get the money for a well earned vacation. You want to stretch your vacation budget but still enjoy yourself. Sounds like a good plan. To help you out I’ve together some vacation money saving ideas that I hope you will find useful.

If you have a particular destination in mind it pays to plan ahead. Research the attractions and facilities. Find out what specials or discounts they may have going. Look for other things to do or see nearby so that you can make good use of your time and cut down on the running from place to place.

Plan your vacation for the off season. You can usually get better deals on lots of things like plane tickets, hotels, car rentals, cruises and lots of other things.

If you have friends or relatives nearby your destination consider asking them if you can stay with them. Don’t be a freeloader though. Even though you help pay for the groceries and other expenses your host incurs, it’s still a good vacation money saving idea.

If you are flying try to plan your trip for when tickets are traditionally cheapest. That would be Feb thru May and September thru December (except the week before Thanksgiving and the two week period before Christmas). Try to avoid flying on Friday afternoons as this is often the busiest time of the week for airlines.

Meals can be expensive at restaurants so you can save some money by packing food for the road.

When eating out try to avoid the places that obviously cater to tourists. Find out where the locals eat. Ask around. The smaller family owned places usually have better food at better prices. You may have to go a little out of your way but it is usually worth it for some vacation money savings.

Hotels are typically more expensive the closer you get to a major attraction. With a little planning you can find a good balance between price and distance.

When picking hotels don’t just go by the ratings. Compare the amenities they offer. Often you will find that you really don’t need everything offered by that 4 star hotel and you can do very nicely at the 3 star…with a better price!

Consider buying or renting an RV. You travel at your own pace. Cooking and bathrooms are always close by. You can meet a lot of other friendly RVers who will usually be glad to point out the best places to go.

When traveling by car you can save fuel by renting a smaller fuel efficient model. Packing light, reducing your speed and maintaining proper tire air pressure will also cut the gas costs.

Make sure that your car is ready for the trip. Good tires, oil change, tune-up and all that good stuff. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper and more convenient to deal with these things before you go rather than on the road somewhere.

Check out the local transportation system of buses, trains or trolleys. These can be considerably cheaper than using taxis.

Camping is a great vacation money saving idea. There are lots of campgrounds around. They are cheap and you may end up with an experience that outshines anything you can get a fancy hotel.

Plan activities that don’t require a lot of money. Hiking, and swimming are good ones. Local Museums and historical sites are often very reasonably priced as well as being quite educational and fun. The big theme parks have their appeal but you can really go through the cash at those places.

Plan picnics. These can be excellent vacation money saving opportunities as well as a chance to really relax and enjoy the local area.

Avoid buying souvenirs. It’s easy to get caught up and blow a bundle on these overpriced goodies. Set some mental rules ahead of time about how much you will spend on souvenirs and it will be easier to stick to it when the time comes.

I hope that you find some of these vacation money saving ideas helpful. Make a plan and stick to it. There’s no reason why you can’t have a great vacation without emptying the bank account.

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Peter Shannon is the owner of www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

What to Bring While Vacation Hiking and Walking

Here are some suggestions for your walking - hiking vacation equipment. This is not intended as a complete list, just a guide to get you thinking.

The most important item to bring is a quality comfortable daypack or backpack to carry your goodies in. There are few things to keep in mind when choosing the right pack. Wider shoulder straps are more comfortable than narrow ones. Look for extra padding. These two things can save you a good deal of discomfort.

You can also look for packs that have an attached belt that goes around the waist. This can help tremendously to support the weight of the pack.

Make sure you get a pack that is big enough to carry the items you have chosen to bring. This will vary from person to person so try to plan ahead before you purchase your day/back pack.
Look for a pack with quality material that will hold the shape. Multiple compartments can be useful for finding things quickly.

If on a guided tour, keep in mind that the company will probably be moving the big baggage for you.

Water is not an optional item. You should carry enough water to last for the whole duration of your walk. Unfortunately water is fairly heavy and bulky. This is another reason to get a quality comfortable pack that has room enough to hold your water bottles.

The Food that you bring will depend on your individual tastes and the nature of the walk you are planning. High energy snack foods are popular because they are light and carry well in the pack. Others are salty foods, trail mix, hard candy and electrolyte powder or drink.

When it comes to clothing - be prepared for anything.

The key is layers so that you can adjust easily to changes in weather and temperature. For the inner layer, avoid cotton as it absorbs moisture thereby keeping it close to your body. Best are man-made "poly" type fibers. These will wick moisture away from the body.

This includes your socks. A thin inner poly layer can be covered with a thicker layer of another material for cushioning.

The outermost layer should be wind resistant and don't forget a raincoat. If you are properly prepared walk in the rain can be a wonderful experience.

Make one of your optional layers a heavy wool sweater along with warm wool hat. These can be extremely useful when "sunny and cool" suddenly turns to "cloudy, damp, and cold".

You can never count on fair weather. Plan for the worst. But don't let a little bad weather discourage you. Think of it as "atmosphere". A little wind and rain will make the next pub stop that much cozier.

Invest in a good pair walking, running or hiking shoes that do not bind either at the toes or on the sides. Be sure to break them in before using them on the extended distances.

A hat, preferably with a wide brim, will help keep you cool and protect you from the sun. A bandana is good head protection and is an all around useful item to have.

Sunglasses with polarized lenses are essential eye protection.

For skin protection you will need +30PF or higher sunscreen.
Walking Stick
Moleskin or molefoam for blisters
Insect repellent
Map
First-aid kit
Flashlight (make sure the batteries are fresh)

Camera, film
Notebook and pen
Binoculars
Compass
GPS
Pedometer
Electrical outlet converter (depending where you travel)

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Peter Shannon is the owner of www.1001-vacation-ideas.com. Here you will find a large collection of vacation and getaway ideas for travelers searchable by theme and location.

Riviera Maya, Mexico – Paradise Defined

The Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast was a secret getaway to paradise for many years. No longer. Now it is considered one of the finest beach areas in the world.

Riviera Maya

Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, the Riviera Maya is jaw dropping beautiful. Although the area was only known to a select few for years, the last 10 years has seen a boom in tourism and resorts. Depending on your personal views, this is or isn’t a good development.

The best-known destination in the area is the beach town of Cancun. From Cancun, you can travel to the south down the beaches. Since the Riviera is not a defined area, it is generally agreed the town of Tulum is the southernmost point. Regardless of how you definite it, the beaches along the coast have something for everyone.

Top Locations

Although everyone has different views, Cancun is as good a place to start as anywhere. If you want to cram as much as possible into your vacation, this is the place. From loafing on the beach to snorkeling and jet skiing, your beach needs will be satisfied. If you prefer an adventure, you can head inland to see Mayan ruins or take jungle tours. The downside of Cancun, on the other hand, is it tends to be a bit crowded and lacks the “authentic Mexican feel.”

To get a better feel for the local culture, you should consider heading down the coast to explore the little towns dotting the coast. In places such as Tulum and Xpu-Ha, you can experience the laid back Mexican culture while staying in cheap cabanas. It’s a slow life, but truly amazing. Have you seen Corona Beer commercials showing people on the beach on thought, “Where is that?” This is the place.

The Riviera Maya is an incredibly beautiful collection of beaches. Next time you get a hankering for a beach vacation, check out this paradise.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are perfect travel accessories.

Budapest, Hungary – The Paris of Eastern Europe

Located in Eastern Europe, Hungary is diverse and beautiful country. The undisputed treasure of the country is Budapest.

Budapest – A Tale of Three Cities

Over 2,000 years old, Budapest is a large city containing traces of the various forces that have ruled it over time. Romans, Turks, Goths and many others have conquered the city. Somehow, the various influences work in such a way as to make the city sparkle.

In a bit of trivia, Budapest was historically considered three cities. The three cities were Pest, Obuda and Buda. Although grouped together, the cities were naturally divided by the Danube River which forks in the middle of the city. In 1873, the three cities were combined into one and given the Budapest name.

Although Budapest has more attractions than could possible be covered in one article, here are a few must see locations.

Buda Castle

Sitting on top of a hill and towering over the Danube, the Buda Castle is stunning. Construction started under the guidance of King Bela IV in the 14th century and was expanded upon by later rulers. Medieval times, however, saw the castle burned, looted, demolished, bombed with cannon balls and ransacked. Each time, new rulers rebuilt.

Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the renaissance. The Castle is adorned with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can’t be described with words.

Spas

Budapest sits over a tectonic plate fault line, which usually is a bad thing. In this case, however, the location of the city corresponds with a plethora of hot mineral springs. Enterprising Hungarians have build spas on the springs and are open for business. The spas are “over the top” with an opera house feel. Floating around peacefully, one feels like European royalty.
If you are traveling to Europe, plan on devoting a week to Budapest. For those in love with Prague, one visit to Budapest may change your mind.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories.

Budapest – Health Resort Spas

Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any.

Budapest Spas

Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proliferation of mineral water spas in the city. Here are a few highlights.

The Gellert Spa Hotel is located in the center of Budapest on the eastern shore of the Danube River. From the front, the hotel looks like a classic renaissance building you would find in Paris or Vienna. The entrance to the hotel opens onto an indoor pool that looks like something out of ancient Rome. The square pool is surrounded by baroque columns and covered by a glass roof two stories above the water. Palms, plants and relaxing Hungarians are everywhere. It is staggeringly impressive.

For roughly ten dollars, you can have the full Gellert experience. There is on mixed sex indoor pool and two sections reserved for just men and women. In these reserved sections, one can get massage services, but keep in mind these are vigorous Turkish style massages. Put another way, you will be getting slapped around a bit instead of nearly falling asleep.

At the rear of the Gellert, there is an outdoor area that rivals any Las Vegas hotel. Unlike Vegas hotels with themes, this pool area is truly historic. The area comes with marble steps, ceramic tile mosaics and lush landscape. One tends to feel a bit like you are taking a bath in the Vatican.

Other Spas

Frankly, there are spas all over the place in Budapest. Although I didn’t personally visit it, I was told very good things about the Kiraly Baths. Kiraly was apparently built during Turkish rule and the spa experience is entirely Turkish.

If you get the chance to visit Budapest, make sure you drop by one of the spas. Prices are relatively cheap and the experience is definitely worth it.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories.

Budapest, Hungary – The Castle District

Towering a couple hundred feet above the Danube River, the Castle District in Budapest is a special place. Surrounded by gothic churches with stain glass, a visit to the Castle District is like stepping back into the renaissance.

Castle District

Situated in the Buda section of Budapest, the Castle District sits on the eastern side of the Danube. Positioned a couple hundred feet above the Danube, the entire city of Budapest can be seen from the numerous vantage points. The view is so amazing, the Italians coined a saying, “Europe has three gems – Venice on the water, Florence in the plains and Buda in the hills.” The Italians definitely got it right.

Buda Castle

Visiting Buda Castle is like stepping back into the heights of the renaissance. The Castle is adorned with red marble stairways, gothic facades, bastions and epic statutes overlooking the Danube. The fountains around the Castle simply can’t be described with words.

Holy Trinity Square

Just to the south of Buda Castle lies holy trinity square. The Church of the Holy Lady, which is also known as Matthias Church, dominates the square. The church has served as the location where Hungarian Kings undertook their rule and many famous figures are interred on the grounds.

Behind Matthias Church is the rather interesting Fishermen’s Bastion. This Roman bastion has the appearance of a mini-castle at Disneyland. The views from the parapets are amazing as you take in the Danube River as it cuts through Budapest. Just outside of Bastion, however, you have to keep your eye out for something amazing.

Hungarians historically have been some of the best horsemen in the world. As part of the tradition, the horseman carried bullwhips instead of ropes. Big bull whips. And they like to crack them just outside of the bastion. If you aren’t paying attention when this occurs, the world’s loudest snap will send scare the “you know what” out of you. The only thing I can equate it to is the sound of rolling thunder, but without the rolling. When it happens, drinks, food and cameras go flying.

If you’re visiting Budapest, the Castle District is definitely worth a visit. In fact, the District is a good reason to go to Budapest.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories.

Waddesdon Manor and Garden, Buckinghamshire

A popular tour when visiting the south of England is to Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild created Waddesdon Manor in 1874. His love of France and French art is instantly obvious by the startling sight, confronted by first time visitors to Waddesdon, of an extravagantly turreted chateau in the French Renaissance style sitting on a hilltop in rural Buckinghamshire. However it is not only the exterior of Waddesdon Manor that is stunning. The Rothschilds were the greatest collectors of the 19th century and inside the house you can see one of the finest collections of French 18th century decorative arts in the world.

Going round the house you get a glimpse of a way of life most of us can only dream of. Waddesdon was always intended as a venue to entertain and give pleasure to friends during ‘Saturday to Monday’ parties. Highlights of which would be tours of the house and the garden both of which reflect the personality of the Baron and his penchant for gimmicks and novelties. The number of rooms open to the public is one of the best things about visiting this house. Unlike some stately homes where you can only visit 3 or 4 rooms, at Waddesdon you can really let the imagination run riot and entertain thoughts of how it would be to be a guest of Baron Ferdinand as large parts of the house are open to view The only disappointment, to my mind, is that there are no kitchens open as I always find the kitchens a fascinating part of the history of a house.

You really do need a full day to visit Waddesdon Manor because as well as the house, which takes a good two hours plus to do justice there are many features to view outdoors. When Baron Rothschild arrived at Waddesdon the site was totally bare, in his own words, “There was not a bush to be seen, nor was there a bird to be heard” This is hard to believe now as six years later it had been completely transformed. Although a French Landscape architect, Elie Laine, helped him in the layout of the hard landscaping many of the planting schemes were designed by Ferdinand. This results in an intriguing mixture of French formality and English romantic parkland. On arriving at Waddesdon, as you walk up the hill toward the Manor, carefully sited gaps in the planting reveal glimpses of the lovely Buckinghamshire countryside. Even in the garden Ferdinand’s love of object d’art is reflected in his collection of sculptures, which are placed throughout the garden. Ferdinand built the cast iron Aviary before 1889 to house his collection of exotic birds, from all over the world, including ibises, flamingos and African cranes. This Aviary was restored in 2003 and now houses a breeding pair of Rothschild Mynahs, a species that became extinct in the wild as recently as 2004.

No visit to Waddesdon would be complete with a visit to the Stables restaurant, which boasts a menu, which is not vast but includes a regularly changing selection of well-cooked meals.
As well as all this, Waddesdon also host special monthly events such as a Fine Food and Wine fare in May where 25 producers from across the country sell the highest quality food, wines and spirits in the Old Coach House at the Stables. There are regular wine tasting days where Waddesdon’s own Master of Wine uses 6 wines to introduce guests to the pleasure of wine tasting. For those hardy enough to get up for a 6.30 a.m. start there are regular early morning wildlife walks where you can enjoy a peaceful walk through the grounds looking for Waddesdon Wildlife before returning to the Manor Restaurant for breakfast.

Waddesdon Manor is a gem and well worth a visit if touring England in the area around Buckinghamshire.

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Susan Robson provides catered accommodation and personal tours to stately homes and gardens in the south central area of England. (www.hopecottagetours.co.uk)

How To Start Your Own Business and Travel First Class For Free

Have you always dreamed of owning your own business, having the time and money to visit exotic locations and being able to fly first class?

If you love traveling, live in or near a city with a large national or international airport, and you have the kind of lifestyle that lets you pick up and go on a moment's notice, then you might want to think about starting your own business as an "air courier".

What is an air courier? It's a person who is hired to transport a specific item from one destination to another, within a specified deadline.

And, before you start imagining sinister men in trench coats carrying guns with silencers, and beautiful foreign women transporting secret microchips, let me reassure you that traveling as an air courier is 100% legal and aboveboard!

What you are asked to transport varies tremendously -- it can be almost anything -- legal documents such as letters or business contracts, children going from one country to another, medicine that was forgotten during a vacation, reports, computer disks, product prototypes -- the list is endless.

In fact, because of the "instant gratification" mindset today where we are used to information and communication that travels faster than the speed of light, air courier companies have seen their businesses grow tremendously over the last ten years. What that means for you is increased opportunities for free travel.

Who can become an air travel courier? Anyone who is over 18, holds a valid passport and who is in good health. It also helps if you're flexible and can pick up and travel on very short notice.
Why is this a wonderful opportunity?

When sending a package by air, the shipper has two options -- the first is to send the package as "cargo." Cargo travels alone (especially since the tragedy of 9/11), is shipped in bulk in large containers that usually aren't sent until the container is full, in order to maximize revenues for the airlines.

In addition, especially when cargo is sent overseas, there are sometimes long delays getting the package through customs, there are endless regulations that must be followed, inspections that must be passed, etc.

For the air courier companies, who have to make sure the package is not only delivered, but reaches the intended recipient as quickly as possible, these delays are unthinkable. (If they don't make their deadlines, then their competitors will. Think of the slogan from one such company..."when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight...")

On the other hand, if the same item is considered "personal baggage" and is carried with a ticketed passenger, it arrives with the passenger, and generally passes through customs quickly, without all the delays.

Plus, a person can book a ticket for a specific flight arriving at their destination at a specific time - not so for cargo. Which means that a shipment that could take days or weeks if it's classified as cargo, can take hours instead because it's classified as baggage.

Because very few of the air courier companies have the resources to employ full-time couriers, the industry itself has come to rely on freelance air couriers, which, even when having to pay someone to travel, and covering the cost of their airfare, is still a better ROI when compared against the paying full-time wages, holiday and sick pay, insurance and all of the other costs involved with having employees.

This is where you come in.

As an air courier, you are providing a valuable service in a growing market. And from the traveler's point of view, you might find yourself flying to Paris one day, and Hong Kong a week later!

Once you've been hired, the process is pretty simple: the company contacts you, to check your availability. When you confirm, they book the flight and let you know when to be at the airport. You're met at the airport by a representative, who gives you your ticket, a list of item or items you're transporting, and your baggage claim tickets. They'll usually even have checked you in, saving you many hassles. You get to sit in first class, and enjoy the flight. That's it. You don't have to contact the recipient in the city you're flying to, actually pick up the package on your way to the airport, or do anything other than be responsible for it going from one airport to another.

At your destination, you'll be met by another company representative, who will take the baggage claim tickets, and give you your return ticket.

How long do you get to stay? That depends on you and the air courier company. Sometimes your schedule will be tight -- you may only get hours between flights. Other times, you'll have a day or two. Obviously, as your reputation increases and the companies you work for know that they can rely on you, you have more room for negotiating.

There are several ways to get started. There are actually companies who recruit air couriers, and the fees for joining are usually nominal. The benefits of going through a certified company can be many. For example, they often provide information that it could take you a long time to figure out on your own. They also offer forums, newsletters and other resources to help you succeed. Because they have built a reputation, you might find it easier to get started in the business by working for one of them at first.

But, you can also find the information completely on your own, and start off freelancing. Look in the yellow pages for air couriers that are located near your local airport. Figure out where you'd like to travel to, and make a list of the locations they serve. Because there are companies who transport items both internationally or just within the states, where you travel is largely going to be a matter of personal choice.

Also, make sure that you investigate each company before applying with them. You want to make sure that they are a solid business, with a good reputation. Once you've narrowed down your choices, get on the phone, and find out what their application process is. Many companies today prefer that you apply online. Whatever the process is, make sure that you provide them with all the information they request.

Timely tip: After submitting your application, follow up with a thank-you letter, on your new "company" letterhead. Remind them of your availability, that you can accept short or no notice flights. Find a way to position yourself above that of the other couriers.

Once you've gone through the process the first time, you'll have a much better idea about which other companies you want to apply to and how to hone your interview skills. (So don't make your first application with the biggest company that you want to work for the most.) Obviously, if you limit yourself to one or two companies, you'll also be limiting the amount of work you'll get and the locations you can travel to.

Timely Tip: Put together a database of the companies you've applied to, the date you applied, and contact information. Follow up with the company regularly, but don't be a pest.

Once you've been hired, don't be surprised if you start getting calls within the first couple of weeks. There is a growing need for professional, responsible air couriers.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you start working:

1. Be professional. Remember that while shorts and flip flops may be comfortable for vacationers, you're working and representing the air courier company.

2. Often the only baggage you get to take with you is hand carried. Invest in microfiber clothing in basic colors, and learn to pack essentials only. If you do get to stay for longer than a few days, you can always pick up some essentials once you're there.

3. Give your own business card to the company representative in the country you travel to, and make sure that your email and voice mail information is included.

4. Apply to all the companies you've decided you want to work for, and then follow up with the ones that haven't contacted you regularly -- perhaps a polite letter or even a one-page newsletter that lists the latest on industry related news.

5. Stay organized. Don't over commit yourself, and try never to have to cancel a trip.

Being an air courier is a great way to make money and see the world. Bon Voyage!

NOTE: You have full permission to reprint this article within your website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully intact and include the "About The Author" resource box. Thanks!

________________
Nial Robbins owns the work at home directory website located at: http://www.NDR-HomeBiz.com.

Holiday in Paphos, Cyprus

ABOUT PAPHOS

Situated in the South-west of Cyprus, Paphos has an interesting harbour with lots of fishing and pleasure boats and the Saturday market in the old town should not be missed. Just inland are three championship golf courses, where slightly cooler temperatures mean that you can tee off comfortably throughout the year. Other sights include the Tomb of the Kings and the Paphos mosaics. A few kilometres to the north, Coral Bay has an excellent beach, while Peyia is a firm favourite with many visitors. For a quiet, low-key holiday you could head a little further north to the Akamas peninsula, famous for its turtles, and the very pleasant fishing village of Latchi.

KATO PAPHOS - HARBOUR AREA

Situated 2 miles south of Paphos town, Kato Paphos was an important port during the 4th Century BC. The whole area is scattered with remains of the past and is an archaeological paradise for any visitor. The tourist area of Kato Paphos stretches along a shoreline boulevard from the large hotels to the east of the resort to the harbour, and then from the harbour along the coast on the Kings Road to the Tomb of the Kings. The distance from one end to the other takes just over an hour to walk, which has resulted in the formation of two distinguishable tourist areas namely the harbour area and the Tomb of the Kings area.

The majority of the holiday accommodation in the harbour area is situated in Universal Gardens, a 10-15 minute walk inland. There is a beach within walking distance of the harbour and Universal Gardens.

Places of Interest

The Harbour
Full of colourful fishing boats and yachts from all over Europe.

St Paul’s Pillar
Situated to the west of Ayia Kyriaki Church, the pillars were named after St Pauls visit to Paphos in 45 AD

Paphos Museum
Attractive collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Paphos area, dating from the Neolithic Age to 1700 AD.

The Mosaics of Paphos
House of Dionysos, House of Theseus and the recently excavated House of Aion. The amazing mosaic floors, of these 3rd century AD noblemen's villas, are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mostly depict scenes from Greek mythology and are beautifully executed.

Paphos Medieval Castle
Originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour, it was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13th century, then dismantled by the Venetians in 1570, who found themselves unable to defend it against the Ottomans, who in their turn restored and strengthened it after they captured the island.

Paphos Odeon
A small 2nd century Odeon entirely built of limestone blocks. It was uncovered by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities in 1973 and is now regularly used for musical and theatrical performances.

Theoskepasti Church
Theoskepasti means 'Veiled by God' and according to tradition, God sent down a fog to protect the original church during the Arab raids. The modern church was built in 1923.

Restaurant Recommendations
Pavarotti’s
Close to the Alexander the Great Hotel. This is probably the best restaurant in Pafos and you must book in advance. It is the ideal place for a special occasion and prices are similar to top restaurants in the UK. Tel: 00357 26912588

Grazie
Situated opposite Theoskepastis church, just off Bar Street. A quality Italian restaurant with good service.

Apomero
One of the best meze houses and great food at reasonable prices. They also offer all of the local main courses as starters so it is a great place to experiment. Closed on Monday and only open in the evenings.

Demokritos
A traditional Cypriot restaurant with Greek dancers. The 18-course meze is very good value and food from the grill is also good. Opposite the Robin Hood on Bar Street.

Koh-I-Noor
A quality curry house opposite the Alexander the Great Hotel

Eidleweiss
A traditional Cypriot restaurant with friendly service

Plaka
varied menu with reasonable prices. Near the Amathus Beach hotel

Napoleon
Excellent French restaurant but can be expensive. Near the Avanti hotel

Rendezvous
Varied menu and often have 3-course offers. Near the Avanti hotel

Gabor
Classy French restaurant but expensive. Near the Amathus Beach hotel

Oleastra
Classy modern European. Near the Amathus Beach hotel

Deep Blue
Excellent fish restaurant

La Spaghetteria
A popular Italian Restaurant with a varied selection of dishes

Chloe’s
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Paphos. Same road as Alexander the Great on left from harbour.

KATO PAPHOS - TOMB OF THE KINGS AREA

Situated 2 miles south of Paphos town, Kato Paphos was an important port during the 4th Century BC. The whole area is scattered with remains of the past and is an archaeological paradise for any visitor. The tourist area of Kato Paphos stretches along a shoreline boulevard from the large hotels to the east of the resort to the harbour, and then from the harbour along the coast on the Kings Road to the Tomb of the Kings. The distance from one end to the other takes just over an hour to walk, which has resulted in the formation of two distinguishable tourist areas namely the harbour area and the Tomb of the Kings area.

Stretching for two miles from the Catacombs to the Tomb of the Kings the holiday accommodation is on either side of the costal road. Walking distance to the harbour is from 15-30 minutes and this area is very close to the beach.

Places of Interest

Tombs of the Kings
Wide area containing underground tombs carved out of solid rock dating to 4th century BC, many decorated with Doric pillars. Whether Kings were buried here or not, the magnificence of the tombs gave the locality its name.

Restaurant Recommendations

Fat Mama’s
The fillet steak is superb and the portions are massive. The restaurant offers “entertainment” throughout your meal. You can’t book so just turn up.

Peach Blossom
Excellent Chinese/Japanese/Thai Restaurant. One of the best in Paphos. Opposite Fat Mamas

Phukett
Another excellent Chinese restaurant

Alteo
Classy modern European restaurant

Sisyfos
Offers local and international cuisine and is reasonably priced

CORAL BAY

Coral Bay is 10km from Kato Paphos and has developed into a tourist area and holiday village with houses owned by locals as well as many British, who have established a well organised community. There are a number of tavernas and restaurants and the sandy beaches are some of the best in the area. The water is very shallow so it is ideal for young children and non-swimmers and there is a wealth of water sports facilities on the beach.

Places of Interest

Maa-Paleokastro
An early bronze age settlement which was fortified and believed to be a major disembarkation point for the first Greek settlers to the island.

Restaurant Recommendations

Coral King
Situated in the heart of Coral Bay this restaurant offer a lovely setting with efficient, friendly waiter service

Viklari
Located near Avakas Gorge. In the summer you can sit out in the sun on the top of a mountain with a cool breeze blowing through the vines. Viklari is made out of the remains of an old castle (The Last Castle) with grape vines hanging above your head. The grapes are served as a desert if you want them. The food is mainly Cypriot salads and BBQ'S-absolutely delicious! A very nice restaurant! It is advisable to try to get here with an off-road vehicle. Open in season, but probably best to telephone first on 26 991088 or 99 489000.

Phideas Tavern

Is a must for any visit to Coral Bay. Your host will be Phideas, an evenings entertainment in himself. As you will see when you walk through his door, he has a collection of tea towels from around the world, so if you are coming pack a tea towel with some sort of local design in your suitcase, he will get you to personally sign it before hanging it with the hundreds of others he has in his collection. The food is meze, which means he will bring you various Cypriot dishes one after another until you tell him to stop, you get everything from salads, cheeses, grilled meats, sausages, it's truly an experience to remember!!

PEYIA

The picturesque village of Peyia tumbles down a hillside overlooking the sea. The village has a church and some interesting little houses and is of Byzantine origin. Most of the accommodation in Peyia are villas situated between the village and Coral Bay.

Places of Interest

Jail Pub

Situated in the village and used to be a regional prison in Ottoman times

Restaurant Recommendations

Kyrenia

Serves a good fixed meze

Peyia
Generous-portioned appetizers and nearly always full

YEROSKIPOU

The village of Yeroskipou is 2km from Kato Paphos. The worship of Aphrodite brought great importance to this village where her Holy Gardens (Yieros Kipos) was where pilgrims stopped to relax before continuing there journey to the Holy Temple of Paleapaphos. The village square, with cafes and souvenir shops, is always busy with people.

Places of Interest

Folk Art Museum

The name of the village comes from the Greek word "Hieroskepos", the sacred Garden of Aphrodite. Fascinating collection of Cyprus folk arts and crafts gathered together in the house known as Hadjismith.

Ayia Paraskevi Church

One of the most interesting and attractive Byzantine Churches on the island, dating to the 10th century, with a vaulted basilica, a nave and two aisles surmounted by five domes, with later frescoes dating to the 15th century.

Restaurant Recommendations

Seven St Georges Tavern

Experience a truly authentic Cypriot evening (closed Monday)

CHLORAKAS

The village is 5km from Kato Paphos and is where ancient tombs were found. It is located just off the coastal road to Coral Bay. Many properties in the village have sea views.

Places of Interest

Panayia Khryseleousa Church

Dating back to the 13th century and one of the rarest of its type in Cyprus
Restaurant Recommendations

Petros
Petros the owner also cooks and waits. Very pleasant service which opens from breakfast till late into the night. A few tables situated outside on the small balcony. Menu is typical Cypriot but you can also pop in there during the day to make a special request or ask Mrs.Petros to make a vegetarian dish. Very reasonably priced and good village wine.

Railway Tavern
Good British pub food

KISSONERGA
The village is 7km from Kato Paphos and was built in the middle ages as an agricultural estate, although remains have been found of even earlier civilisations. It is a centre for banana plantations and similar to Chlorakas, is just off the coastal road with sea views.

Places of Interest

Banana plantation

Stretching along the coastline between the village and the sea

Restaurant Recommendations

The Pithary
In the village with an extensive international menu

Apothiki (The Old Barn Tavern)
a rustic-looking place, but good food, including a fantastic meze

Tweedie's
Lovely food and atmosphere. Booking is essential

EMBA
The village is 6km from Kato Paphos and in the spring the countryside around the village is full of wild flowers and cyclamen. Many properties in the village have sea views.

Places of Interest

Church of Panagia Chrydeleousa

Dating back to the 12th century contains wall paintings of the 12th to 16th century

Restaurant Recommendations

Big Brother Tavern
Traditional food in a friendly environment

LATCHI

Latchi a picturesque fishing village situated on the North West Coast. Before tourism had discovered Latchi its main industry apart from fishing was the exportation of sea sponges. The main focal point of Latchi is the fishing harbour sporting fishing boats bobbing gently on the clear waters weighed down with nets, wicker baskets and the catch of the day. Fresh fish can be sampled in one of the many small stone build tavernas surrounding the harbour; a popular eating place for the locals. Sun worshippers and beach goers will appreciate the sandy/pebbly beaches nestling on the Akamas National Park. Cool waters and gentle summer breezes. By night Latchi becomes a hive of activity with night cruises, local discothèque and a selection of bars and restaurants to choose from.

Places of Interest

Baths of Aphrodite
A small semi-cave draped with cool vegetation. Water drips from a spring at the top into a pool of water. It is believed that bathing in the pool would bestow eternal youth, but unfortunately it is not permitted to enter the water

Latchi Harbour
Populated with small fishing boats this is slowly becoming one of the most important attractions of the Paphos district

Restaurant Recommendations

Yangos and Peter's
The oldest restaurant in Latchi serving fresh seafood

Periyali
Traditional Cypriot restaurant

Finikas
Traditional Cypriot restaurant in Polis old town

Akhontariki
Traditional Cypriot restaurant in Polis old town

POLIS
This country town derives its name from the Greek word for city, and is the shortened version of Polis Chrysohou, which translated, means “the City of the Golden Land” thus named for the fertile land surrounding the river Chrysochou. There are no large hotels so travellers can step into a world away from the usual tourist attractions and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this small but attractive village. The main feature of Polis has to be the village square boasting cobbled streets, souvenir shops, banks, jewellers, chemists and bars where thirsty travellers can sample locally made wines, including Command aria a sweet dessert wine favoured by “Richard the Lion Heart” and used as a holy communion wine. Traditional restaurants surrounding the square offer tantalising home baked cuisine. Ice cream parlours, tiny coffee shops are a few of the delights on offer in Polis. Walking enthusiasts will love the many walks available in the area.
Places of Interest

The Archaeological Museum
Two galleries worth of grave finds from nearby Marion and Arsine

Adios Andronicus
A little sixteenth century church

Restaurant Recommendations

Mystery
A family tavern offering good maze

Moustakallis Tavern
For a good Souvla off the Polis Square just say the word Moustakallis and you're there!

Mylos Tavern
Mylos Restaurant in Pano Gialia welcomes you to a traditional Cyprus Taverna. Mylos is one of those hidden tavernas you must discover and visit in your quest for the real Cyprus

Savvas Bar
For a good breakfast try this restaurant in Polis square. Savvas and Demetris offer various local, continental and of course for the shy, English breakfast.

NEO CHORIO
Situated 1500m from Latchi, the inland turning leads to a hillside village dotted with luxury villas. The village is famous for its Easter Sunday Festival.

Places of Interest

Petratis Gorge
Famous for its bat cave (one of two caverns here) filmed by David Attenborough in 1985

Restaurant Recommendations

Prangos
The Stone Tavern
Assorted oven dishes, roasts and meze

ARGAKA
Situated on the coast 7km north of Polis Argaka is a small traditional Cypriot farming village with a church and a few tavernas. The nearest beach is a short walk from all of our properties and the popular resorts of Latchi and Polis are a short drive away

Places of Interest

Ayios Merkourios Monastery
Agia Harbour

Restaurant Recommendations

Lizas Place Tavern
This tavern is only 500meters from the villas offering local Cuisine in a nice atmosphere.

GOLF
Cyprus is the new jewel in the crown for golfers seeking golfing breaks in the warmth of the eastern Mediterranean. It offers golfers challenging world-class championship courses, top quality hotels, safety, warm hospitality and almost year round sunshine. There are currently three golf courses within a short drive of Paphos.

Aphrodite Hills Golf Club

This spectacular Resort Course designed by Cabell Robinson really puts Cyprus on the golfing map. It is located on two stunning plateaus with views of the Med. Its fantastic condition provides for a great golfing experience. Must play course when in Cyprus - on a par with top resort courses in Europe. 20km from Kato Paphos.

Par: 71, Yardage: 6815, Maximum handicap: 28

Tsada Golf Club
Founded in 1994 on the hills of Tsada, the Tsada Golf Club is set in the grounds of a 12th century monastery, in a gentle valley. Situated on the outskirts of Paphos on an altitude of 550m above sea level, it ensures cool breezes during the summer months. From the 7th tee a monk can often be seen in the garden of the monastery. The course, designed by Donald Steel in two loops of nine, reveals the subtle hand of a man who always allows a course to blend into its natural surroundings. 10km from Paphos.

Par: 72, Yardage: 6060, Maximum handicap: 28

Secret Valley Golf Club
It lies in a scenic valley with grand trees adding to the course`s maturity and the beautiful scalped natural rock formations offer panoramic views to the golfer. It`s believed that the course lies by "Petra tou Romiou" the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.
The front nine offers four holes for warming up, two birdie opportunities and a dog leg. The back nine plays longer than the first nine and the challenge starts immediately - no warm-up holes on this side. 18km from Paphos.

Par: 72, Yardage: 6120, Maximum handicap: 28

SCUBA DIVING
Paphos makes a good destination for divers and Paphos Lettings recommends leading dive centre Cydive. Cydive has been established in Paphos for over 25 years and was the first dive centre in Cyprus to achieve PADI IDC five-star accreditation.

Cydive offer a wide range of dives, training courses and packages including diving for children. They visit over 50 dive sites throughout the year and at any one time they have 24 unique sites in their fortnightly timetable.

Cyprus is a good place to learn to dive with some basic sites on offer, as well as progression onto the simple wrecks then onto the more adventurous wreck, cave and tunnel and night dives. Most dive sites are only a few minutes boat journey and there are a number of shore dives available. The Zenobia is one of the best wreck dives in the world and the wreck is worth a trip to Cyprus for alone. There are also sites where artefacts such as Roman pottery can be found on the seabed.

Please call us on 08700 429147 or email at address below to receive a 5% discount and a representative from Cydive will contact you.

SKIING
It has to rate as one of the strangest places to find a ski run, but Mt Olympos, the highest point on Cyprus, boasts not one but four pistes. In addition, there are three T-bar ski lifts, a ski school, a shop hiring out skis and boots and a restaurant. Nobody comes to Cyprus specifically to ski, but if you are here at the right time of year (December to February) and fancy a quick slalom in between the islands more traditional sights, it is certainly a unique place in which to strap on the skis.
Hera - 350m long - Beginner
Aphrodite - 150m long - Beginner
Hermes - 150m long - Intermediate
Zeus - 500m long - Advanced

At both the North Face (Zeus lift) and especially the Sun Valley area of the resort, there is ski equipment rental via the Cyprus Ski Club. It pays to get there early as the rental equipment ranges from excellent high quality latest models to mediocre relics of 20+ years ago, and on busy weekends they all go pretty fast!

A daily ski-pass costs around CY£13, Lessons CY£11 and equipment hire CY£10

WATER PARK
Located close to the sea front within the tourist area of Kato Paphos. Nestling amidst 3500sqm of landscaped grounds, it allows comfortable spread of its wide range of attractions, facilities and food & beverage outlets. Perfect engineering and the latest technology guarantees a high level of safety and water hygiene. There are all types of water slides, shutes and even kamikaze style slides for those who enjoy speed. If you prefer taking life at a more leisurely pace, that is equally possible on the `Lazy River` and as water fun is hungry work, there are plenty of places to enjoy a snack and cool drink before going on your favourite ride - just one more time…

WALKING
Paphos offers a number of walks the most popular of which are as follows:
The Aphrodite Trail – 7.5km – 3 hours duration
Starts at the Baths of Aphrodite with views of Polis and the Paphos Forest.
The Adonis Trail - 7.5km – 3 hours duration
Starts at the Baths of Aphrodite with views of Lara, Tzioni and Karavopetres beaches.
The Smigies Trail - 2.5km – 1-hour duration or 5km – 2-hour duration
Starts at Neo Chorio with views east of Polis Chrysochous Bay, Latchi, Pachyammos and Paphos Forest.
Pissouromouttis Trail – 3km – 1.5 hours duration
Starts at Neo Chorio with views of Polis Bay and the beaches of the Akamas.
Kathikas Trail - 2km - 1-hour duration
Starts near Kathikas and passes a stone-built fountain and the chapel at Agia Marina
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (Tel 020 7569 8800) publish a guide called Nature Trails which lists a number of other trails on the island.

KARTING
There is karting in Kato Paphos (near the water park) and in Coral bay.

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Colin Hall is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Paphos Lettings who are experts in arranging tailor-made accommodation in Paphos, Cyprus
For more information on Paphos, Cyprus or to book holiday accommodation visit our website: http://www.villas-paphos.com/

EQ: Tracel Etiquette for Your Tour Abroad

I coach internationally, so I hear the stereotypes about “Americans” up-close and personal. In one tele-session, with coaches on the call from Bermuda, China, and Canada as well as the US, when I began the legal part, I was interrupted with laughter.

“You Americans,” the Bermudian said. “Someone’s always suing someone. Down here we just have to cope with ineptness.” Note to self: Get with it multiculturally!

Yes, we have more lawyers per capita than anywhere in the world: In 2000, we had 281/100,000; Britain had 94/100,000; France; 33/100,000; and Japan, a piddling 7/100,000. (By 2003, we were at 361/100,000.)

The rest of the world is very different from us (the US), and not just because they have less lawyers per capita!

1. WE ARE COMPARATIVELY MORE AFFLUENT THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

I remember queuing up for massages on a Russian river cruise where the doctor was also the masseuse, and the massages, it turned out, were US$20 for an hour. “Hey Madge,” someone yelled, “It’s so cheap I can have two a day!” Imagine how this sounded to any Russians within hearing distance, to whom US$20 could be a week’s salary.

2. SOME THINGS ARE SACRED.

Don’t forget those churches aren’t “tourist sites,” they’re where people worship. Don’t wear shorts, and if you’re female, bring a shawl or head-covering, and act respectful.

The same applies to statues. Before you climb up on the lap of Peter the Great for a photo, make sure you see some Russian school kids doing it first. You never know what’s acceptable in another country. Keep your eyes and ears open, and don’t be on the leading edge.

3. BELIEVE IT.

We were warned repeatedly by our Russian tour guides about the gypsies, and to stay with the group. “They will steal from you,” we were told, “and they’re very adept at it.”

Now, we in American don’t like to hear that sort of thing.

However, those who didn’t listen, were robbed and beaten. By the gypsies. What a surprise. And how do you recognize a “gypsy”? Well, that’s the person who robbed you, while you watched their precious child playing a violin.

In addition to your safety, those who were robbed will go back and tell others it’s unsafe to travel in Moscow, which it is not, if you play by the rules. How safe would it be to get off the beaten path in New York City?

4. BUY TRAVELER’S INSURANCE & PRAY.

My friend who broke her ankle on a defective motor scooter in Mexico learned she wasn’t in Kansas any more. One is not innocent until proven guilty (she paid for the scooter damage – remember the lawyer thing?) and the ER wouldn’t see her without a US credit card. Insurance meant nothing (but can be haggled stateside).

Check to see if your insurance covers travel abroad and international waters, and portage stateside, unless you fancy surgery in San Juan de Bad News. If not, buy travel insurance.
Put all prescription medication in one place and keep it with you, either in purse, wallet, clothing, backpack or carryon.

5. BLEND.

The stereotypical American tourist is loud, disrespectful, poorly dressed, and obvious. Learn the art of blending and you’ll experience more and enjoy it more. Adjust to the rhythms, pace and style of the country you’re in, and leave the worst of “you” at home. It isn’t going to kill you to drink tepid soda with a 9 pm dinner. Flaunting your diamonds and Rolodex won’t impress anyone except thieves, who will be grateful for such an easy mark.

6. EVERY PLACE LOVES AND HATES ITS TOURISTS.

I would know, since I live in San Antonio which has its tourist invasion, just like Dauphin Island, Atlantic City, and Hilton Head Island. We love the tourists for feeding our economy, and we hate them for their loudness, drunkenness, wreckless driving, the congestion they create, the “I’ll never see these people again” behavior, and negative criticisms. We live here after all. Yeah it’s hot here in August and our downtown looks like it was laid out by a drunk engineer, but if you wanted “home,” why didn’t you stay there? That sort of thing.

This applies uber when you travel abroad. One of the reasons travel is broadening is because you appreciate what you take for granted – like clean toilets, phones that work, orderly queuing up, people who understand your language, and familiar food. Be surprised, feel silly, be amazed at how different things are, but don’t complain. You’re basically a guest in someone else’s home.

7. WHERE YOU’RE FROM.

The fun comes when they ask you where you’re from. Now in my case, being from Texas, I not only have to fight the “cowboy boots” thing, but also must claim Bush and whatever he means to the person I’m talking with, which, being on vacation, I’m not always interested in hearing about. So sometimes I’m from another city. And in St. Petersburg, Russia, I certainly didn’t proclaim my German heritage. Those things die hard.

8. SORE POINTS.

I recall on a city tour of Seattle where our maverick female bus driver arbitrarily decided we should see the “slums” as part of our “education.”

Every city, every country has its problems, and they are not the personal responsibility of anyone present at the time. A tour guide may feel personally attacked, as ours did in Russia, by someone’s political diatribes, or “aghastness” at the living conditions. Is it appropriate to shout from the back of the bus, “How do you feel about Stalin?” I think not. How do you think the Russians feel about Stalin?

9. IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU.

The same goes for one-upmanship, and showing off. Men are particularly bad about this. Retired professors love to travel, and I’m sorry, but they’re the worst. You know a lot, which under different circumstances we’d appreciate, and are used to having the floor but, ladies and gentlemen, the venue is wrong. We pull up in front of a church, and some engineer is monopolizing the tour guide naddering on about how locks are built and it’s rude. We came to see the country and hear the tour guide, not you. Save it.

10. TRAVEL ETIQUETTE.

You’re an ambassador for the US wherever you are, and if you think it has no impact, think of the one person you met from Fargo and what you would now say about “North Dakotans”. Even though you know better.

You’re also a part of a group, if you’re touring. We want to see the country and people, learn about them, and enjoy ourselves. This was hardly possible on our tour bus back from Tijuana, where half the people on the bus were drunk and throwing up. Please.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Learn some phrases in the language and some history. The rest of the world knows English, knows our currency and time zones, can talk centigrade, pounds and ounces. It’s the least you can do. And you don’t want to be asking the Russian doctor slash masseuse to touch your feet, or to be tipping or counting your change in Japan, do you? (google it!)

_____________________
Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandun.cc. Providing coaching, Internet courses and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your personal and professional success. I train and certify EQ coaches internationally. Email for info on this fast, affordable, comprehensive, no-residency program. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free EQ ezine.

What Makes Zambia Safari Unique?

Zambia is Africa's best kept secret. It is the sleeping giant of African safari. It's also the friendly people and the peace the country safeguards and continues to enjoy. That's what makes the country a haven of peace for refuges from civil strive. …And Zambia is the hub of African travel.

Zambia is located in south central Africa with eight neighbouring countries. There are 19 national parks and 34 game management areas. Thus a whopping 30 percent of the country's 752,614 sq kms. The country has the largest water resources in southern Africa. There are large empty tracts of land in pristine state and a large wildlife estate. Zambia's unique natural resources include minerals such as copper, precious stones and lumber; both native hard wood and soft exotic pinewood timber.

The National Parks

Of the 19 national parks South Luangwa is Zambia's premier game reserve. The South Luangwa National Park has probably the largest variety and concentration of game in Africa and perhaps in the world. Experts in wildlife safari consider the 9,990 sq kms park has some of the finest viewing areas. It is rated one of the top game reserves in the world with a unique profusion of wildlife. Some animals are rare and only found in the park. An example is the Thornicraft giraffe.

Another game reserve is the Kafue National Park. The sprawling 22,400 sq kms is the second largest national park in the world and is about the size of Wales in Britain and twice the size of Yellowstone National Park in the USA. The park is located in the central-western Zambia and boasts excellent game viewing, bird watching and fishing.

The park has two unique wetlands. The Busanga Floodplain in the northern sector is special. The emerald green Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers crisscross it. Here are found multi-species of animals and birds. The Busanga plain is an antelope country. The endemic lechwe fill its plains. The park's southern limit also breaks into another wetland the Nanzhila Plains. The plains are next to Zambia's newest lake at the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam.

Copper and Gemstone Reserves

Apart from the fauna and flora estate the country holds 6 percent of the worlds copper reserves. In addition Zambia is the leading producer of precious and semi-precious gemstones including the rare beauty, the green emerald. Amethyst, garnet, tourmaline, citrine and their verities are also found in Zambia. Most of the finished and semi-finished gemstone products are exported worldwide.

Tracts of Land and the Wilderness

The population to land ratio is one of the lowest in Africa. At less than 15 people per sq km it is one of the lowest in the world. The sparse population has left a large portion of Zambia unspoiled and in its natural state.

You get to see teeming wildlife in pristine wilderness. The wildlife is completely ‘wild and untamed.' Some of the animals have had little or no contact with humans. So the national parks present wildlife in its natural habitat, the very same way nature has always wanted it to be.

The Rivers and Lakes of Zambia

Zambia's major rivers, lakes and wetlands are considered to hold the largest component of water resources in Southern Africa. There are four major rivers. The Zambezi covers the largest part of Zambia from northwest through southern to southeastern. The Kafue cuts the country in the middle. The Luangwa nearly cuts off the eastern part of the country. But the Chambeshi that discharge into Lake Bangweulu in north-central Zambia has suffered name changes along its course. After leaving Bangweulu it changes its name to Luapula River. It becomes the Congo River on leaving Lake Mweru and entering the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the south is Lake Kariba on the Zambezi. It was the largest man-made lake until the Aswan and the Cobara Bassa were dammed. Lake Kariba is the latest destination for safari investment besides the Victoria Falls. Another is Lake Bangweulu surrounded by white sand beaches and by the tenth largest wetland in Africa. The wetland is the home of the endemic lechwe antelopes and the rare shoebill stork. The third is Lake Mweru on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo. And Lake Tanganyika Africa's deepest lake has its southern tip extending into northern Zambia.

The Wild Zambezi River

One river that deserves mentioning is the Zambezi River after which the country is named. From its source near Kaleni Hills in the northwestern corner of the country the Zambezi cuts a lying down “S” shape as it flows through its course a total of 3,450 kms before discharging into the Indian Ocean. Its entrance at the ocean is dramatic for it ends in many river channels called a delta.

The Zambezi passes through changing landscapes and environment. From the rapids in the notrhwest through the wide river and the site of the “Likumbi Lya Mize” ceremony of the Luvale people. It then passes through the Zambezi floodplain where the Ku-omboka ceremony of the Lozi people takes place. Later the river traverses a hilly area and becomes wide and tranquil. Suddenly the river breaks into the world's most spectacular waterfall. This is the mystic and awe-inspiring Victoria Falls.

Before the waterfall the Zambezi passes through a point near Kazungula where four countries meet; Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Nowhere else do countries converge on one point in a manner such as this.

Down stream of the waterfall the Zambezi collects into a lake at Kariba Dam. Down stream it is joined firstly by the Kafue, Zambia's second largest river and secondly by the Luangwa River at a confluence where three countries meet: Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. …And before its mouth at the Indian Ocean the Zambezi River forms the second and larger lake at Cobara-Basa Dam in Mozambique.

The Beautiful Victoria Falls

Now the Victoria Falls is something worth talking about. Its awesome, beautiful and a world heritage site. The Toka-Leya people of Chief Mukuni who have always lived there have built many shrines for their deities and ceremonies. Because of the continuous thunder from the largest curtain of falling water and the accompanying mist that plumes from the bottom of the gorge they have called the waterfall “Mosi-Oa-Tunya” meaning the “smoke that thunders”. But I like the other name. “Shungu wa Mutitima.”

Little wonder Dr David Lingstone the famous Scottish missionary doctor and explorer could not resist to write in his dairy, “…scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” Because the beauty is awesome. Dr Livingstone was the first European to see the waterfall on November 16, 1855. He named it after Queen Victoria.

At the bottom of the falls are red Kalahari sands. Opposite the waterfall it rains 24 hours a day 7 days a week (24/7). This mist rain nurtures a small rainforest. And two rain bows too. One is seen during the day and the second occurs at night on a full moon. These are the popular solar and lunar rainbows of Victoria Falls …but then that's another story!

Adventure Centre and the Safaris

After the Victoria Falls the Zambezi River passes through nine gorges it has cut down 122 metres deep. The nine gorges are in fact former waterfalls at different stages of the development and migration of the falls up stream. This migration covers the past 150 million years!

Now the gorges are a spectacular sight. They also form part of the area where adrenaline pumping adventures take place – whitewater rafting over 22 rapids, bungi jumping through 122 metres, gorge swinging, abseiling, river boarding, jet boating, etc. It is for this reason that Livingstone town near the Victoria Falls is now recognized as the Southern Africa Adventure Centre.

If you have a daredevil spirit take to the air in a microlight flight. Fly over the Victoria Falls, watch animals in the nearby Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park…and get really close to the cascading water of the world's largest curtain of falling water. But if you would rather like mundane pastime then you might want to enjoy the “Flight of Angels.” Hire a helicopter or indeed a rigid wing airplane. Even this choice will be your life's memorable experience.

Where to Stay

The banks of the Zambezi River are dotted with many lodges and camping sites. A visit to the Zambezi Waterfront might be what you want. More interesting though is the theme designs of most lodges. They have a strong African architectural style.

The Sun International resort is the latest inclusion and is built closest to the Victoria Falls. The resort is a combo of two hotels: one, the Zambezi Sun is a three star hotel only minutes from the Victoria Falls and the other the Royal Livingstone is a five star royal opulence.

The red walls of the Zambezi Sun depict decorative symbols of prehistoric times. The colour of these African drawings is similar to the Kalahari sands found at the bottom of the falls. But the luxury of the Royal Livingstone is all very different. The ever present butlers and staff wear uniforms reminiscent of the dress of Dr Livingstone at the time he discovered the waterfalls one and half centuries ago. He named the waterfalls in honour of Victoria, then queen of England.
Next to the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park is another new hotel. Chrismar Hotel has just been completed near the 60 sq km national game park. It's as if the hotels and lodges are ‘popping' up everyday!

In Lusaka the capital city of Zambia you'll find other exciting hotels and lodges; the 5 star Taj Pamodzi, the 5 star Hotel Intercontinental, Holiday Inn and other fine hotels.

The private game lodges are all within fifty kms. Popular ones are the Lilayi Lodge, the Protea Safari Lodge, and Chaminuka. But Siavonga at Lake Kariba has exciting lakeshore lodges. It's only a two-hour drive from Lusaka. My advice…you'll enjoy the hospitality of Zambia!

How to Get to Zambia

The choice is wide. You can choose to arrive by air and land at any of the four international airports that have full custom and immigration facilities. Mfuwe International Airport is on the boundary with the Zambian premier game reserve, the South Laungwa National Park. Another is at Ndola on the Copperbelt of Zambia. And yet another is the Lusaka International Airport 22 kms from the capital city of Zambia. But Livingstone International Airport is special. Only 8 kms from the Victoria Falls whose first sighting you get from the air on approach to landing.

And then you may choose to arrive by road from any of the eight neighbouring countries but mainly from Bostwana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Get on a plane or car and come to Zambia …And you'll leave without ever forgetting Zambia safari!

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Enestle Zimba a geologist for over twenty years manages Zambia African Safari (ZAS) part time. Enestle promotes safaris and tourism in Zambia...and conservation is his great passion.
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Chips My Eye – Food in Tanzania What to Expect

When on safari in Tanzania, or climbing Kilimanjaro or simply relaxing on the tropical coast or Zanzibar Island what is the local food like? Bellow are a few of the local dishes you may find.
Chips-my-eye [Chips ] is a traditional dish here in Tanzania. It is egg and chips – but not your north of England two fried eggs and a side order of chips – no – it is a chip omelet. Chips are placed into a shallow frying pan and then as they sizzle away two beaten eggs are pored over the top, this is then cooked into a solid omelet stuffed with chips and very nice it is too. It is not so healthy but give it a try when you visit Tanzania it is nicer than it sounds.

Katchubari: a traditional salad sliced tomato and onion [sometimes cabbage or cucumber may be added] with lime juice and a little crushed bell pepper to give it a kick. The bell peppers are called pilipili mbuzi in Swahili, which is a translated goat pepper.

Japati: or elsewhere roti. These are eaten with coffee or tea for breakfast and sometimes they accompany main meals. Tanzanian cooking can unadventurous and not very appealing to a westerner but luckily, over the last few centuries the Indian influence [especially on the Swahili coast] has introduced some wonderful dishes. There is a place on the north coast of Dar es Salaam that makes a wonderful Japati stuffed with fresh tuna and a little green pepper and spiced with local garlic and fresh ginger.

Chai tangaweizi: This is a milky tea spiced with ginger; the milk, ginger and local tea leaves being boiled together in one pan. Give it a try it is very good and is best sweetened. There are many variations of spiced tea, as spices are readily available and not expensive thanks to Zanzibar and Pemba Islands. Black tea is great in the hot afternoons when spiced with local spices or lemon grass.

Samaki wakupaka: One of many dishes using coconut milk. This is fish coated in coconut milk – this is a coastal or Zanzibarian dish. Also Kuku wakupaka which is chicken coated in coconut sauce

Marahagwe: dried beans boiled in a tomato sauce. Tastes very nice when coconut milk is added during cooking. Many dishes add coconut milk or peanut flour to make the food taste richer.

Matoki: or green cooking bananas or plantain. There are many varieties of bananas; in fact north of Arusha town there is a cultural walk, which winds through several banana plantations with over thirty varieties of banana! The Matoki variety comes from Uganda and is often served mashed. It is softer and more yellow than most variants. In my opinion also the best.

Ugali: this has many names throughout Africa and here in East Africa it is Ugali. This is maze flour cooked with water into a stiff porridge – a little thicker than mashed potatoes. This is staple diet for many Tanzanian’s. It is eaten with your right hand and squashed into a ball and then eaten with food [Especially nice with Mchicha – see bellow] with foods cooked in a sauce once you have your ball of Ugali the thumb is pushed into the center of the ball to form a spoon with which you can scoop up your food.

Mchicha: this is a local spinach there are many many verities of spinach available in Tanzania. Some of them require a little longer to cook that the western varieties but they all have an excellent taste from the very bitter to sweet. Mchicha is one of the most popular spinaches and has small oval leaves and thin stems very good with Ugali.

Most hotels are now serving a selection of traditional dishes. However, if you find yourself on the coast or in Zanzibar – speak to the local people and see where they eat. Even in the towns, there are excellent restaurants that serve the local as well as international foods.

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Ian Williamson
We are a non-profit organization using tourism to change lives http://www.betheladventure.co.uk we build schools and create groups to help with the sick. This can be done because of tourism. You just have to enjoy the safari and know that you are also helping to save and improve lives in Tanzania – East Africa.

A Cruising Honeymoon

Today more than ever newly married couples of all ages are opting for cruise honeymoons. What could be better after months and months of high-stress and preparation of the wedding than for the couple to be able to lay back, relax and not have to think of anything other than each other? No cares about anything. It's all been done for you. Along with being a carefree vacation choice cruises are generally very affordable. Lodging, entertainment, food and all shipboard activities included in the price.

Some cruise ships even offer romantic honeymoon packages. Imagine a private oasis for the two of you. Arriving in your room to find a bottle of champagne, flowers and gourmet nibbles. Make time to have a romantic massage for two, how about the honeymoon table specially set aside in the dining room? How about a pampering facial, manicure and pedicure for the bride? Most cruise ships also offer complimentary sessions for hair and make up, depending on the package you choose.

The most difficult decision about the cruise could be one that takes place months before the cruise itself. It's the decision of which cruise to take. This would depend of course on the couple and their interests. The Caribbean is a very popular honeymoon cruse destination, along with Hawaii and Mexico. What could be more romantic than walking hand in hand with sweet warm tropical breezes blowing and a full moon shining overhead?

Cruises are the ultimate all inclusive honeymoon. You unpack one time, and have six or seven or even more days of cruising from port to port shopping and exploring each one. You can take the excursions offered by the cruise line or do some exploring on your own. Your time is your own, and this is the true beauty of a cruise. You have no where in particular to go, and all day to get there. You can sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, relax by the pool all day and go dancing into the wee hours of the night.

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Hana Lee
This article courtesy of http://www.cruise-buyers-guide.com.

Destination Discount!

Fly Discount Airlines And Save Money

In the last decade or two, discount airlines have revolutionized the workings of the airline industry. While their main priority has always been to get customers to their destinations without the conventional features of regular travel, security has never been compromised with. Jet Blue and Southwest, which offer their customers low prices and fly to a large number of important domestic destinations, are good examples of discount airlines.

In the past, discount airlines saved money by skimping on the unneeded details. For instance, instead of receiving a full dinner, you might just get a drink and a small bag of peanuts. Rather than offering movies on long flights, you would have to find ways to entertain yourself, and legroom was much less of a concern than it was for major airlines. However, these days, discount airlines are investing more in entertainment systems, and they are paying more attention to customer comfort.

This change in attitude is because they have to compete with major airlines that often offer discount prices to attract customers. When the major airlines offer comparable rates, the discount airlines have to match the frills to retain their customers. Consequently, customers find cheap tickets on discount and regular flights by searching online discount ticket retailers like Hotwire and Priceline.

If your planned destination is a sunny vacation town, discount airlines are usually still significantly cheaper than traditional companies. Many of the discount airlines focus their flights on destinations with agreeable climates. This gives them the corner on the vacation travel market, and it helps them save money by having to deal less with bad weather and the delays and maintenance costs associated with colder climates.

Many discount airlines specialize in cross-country flights and make most of their profits by flying just a few specific routes. Not wanting to lose the profitable business of cross-country travelers, major airlines have also begun to match discount prices. Needless to say, it's the customer who is the real gainer.

If you can be flexible in your destination while planning a trip and researching prices, you can save a lot. Since many discount airlines fly to certain cities, you can save hundreds of dollars by slightly modifying your plans. For instance, if your destination is Austin TX, a small airport, it makes more sense to fly a discount airline to San Antonio and drive down to Austin.
Some discount airlines conduct flights only to small airports where fees are comparatively lesser than prominent airports. If may also prove profitable if you fly into a smaller airport using one such flight and then drive to your destination. The added advantage of flying into a smaller hassle-free airport is better than getting a discount. You not only get a good parking, you also get a good ticket price.

Whatever your destination, discount airlines can save you money. So, do some comparison shopping before you book your next flight. You'll save hundreds of dollars by simply checking a few different airlines and some different airports. A little bit of research can go a long way in saving money on reaching your destination and you'll have more cash in hand once you are there.

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Flache Sieraum is the creator of Fly Dc Airline which is a expert source for airline assistance. For more advice, come and see us at: http://www.flydcairline.com.

Skiing Vacations For the Heart, Body and Soul!

Skiing Trip Activities

Ski trip destinations can be found in the United States, Europe, Scandinavia and even Australia and all of these destinations are widely popular destinations for travelers. The Alps, located in Europe, is one of the most celebrated and well-known ski areas in the world. In the United States just about everyone wants to visit Colorado at least once. Scandinavia - well is just Scandinivia and Australia - with the hot , hot outback has some of the finest slopes you shall ever see during winter.

There is more to a Ski Trip than just skiing. You can enjoy snowboarding or snowmobiling as well. Ski Vacations can be a romantic getaway any time of the year. There are honeymoon packages that include a ski trip for two, a romantic candlelight dinner, a spa in your room big enough for two and also hot chocolate by the fire. Packages can be customized to fit any lifestyle.
When planning a skiing vacation, you might want to consider taking part in other activities such as dog sledding or tobogganing. There's nothing more exhilarating than hearing the howling of the dogs as they anticipate the excitement of beginning their run. After they are off, all is quiet except for the sound of their feet hitting the snow and the slide being pulled behind. Or if you prefer, you can experience the thrill of sliding downhill on a toboggan.

This is a great way to start a vacation. Wake up to play all day in the snow. Remember times past as a child, play to your heart's content. But, in the evening, you'll want to come inside for those warm and cozy feelings. After a romantic candlelight dinner, cozy up by the fire.

One of the best ways to plan your skiing vacation is to book a snow ski package. Rather than needing to contact individual companies for an air fair, lift tickets, car rental, and accommodations, you can book with one company who can offer one all inclusive package. These companies can even make arrangements for off-slope activities that you are interested in such as tours of local places, skiing lessons and health spa bookings. These inclusive packages make vacationing easy, convenient, affordable, and fun.

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Brock Vanstantz is the manager of Me Skiing Group a company dedicated to providing the best resources for skiing. For more information and articles, visit http://www.meskiing.com.

4 Top City Museums In Spain

Spain, with its myriad of influences and epic history, is a country with a diverse gamut of sights and sounds to offer its 45 million tourists who visit every year. An area where this can be seen in particular is in its museums and galleries, a rich history of art and culture has left Spain a huge legacy in this department with names such as Dali, Picasso and Miro leading the list:

Guggenheim, Bilbao:

Now one of the most easily recognised buildings in Europe, the Guggenheim in Bilbao is a work of art itself. Opened in 1997 and designed by American architect Frank O. Gehry, the museum has been a lynchpin for the city’s redevelopment programme and in many ways the museum symbolises the new, modern Bilbao.

Standing right in the city centre alongside the river the museum offers 11,000 sqm of exhibition space over three galleries. The museum has a body of permanent work always on display as well as large exhibitions which run for months at a time. Currently on View is the “Aztec Empire” comprising of a huge body of work from the pre-columbian civilization. Previous exhibitions have encompassed an eclectic blend of art with work from the likes of Matisse, Michelangelo, Reubens and Warhol having graced its corridors.

Dali Theatre-Museum, Figueres

Located in Figueres, the Dali Theatre-Museum is the broadest collection of his work in the world tracing his first artistic forays, the surrealist period and even including some of the last works painted before his death. Figueres also happens to be Dali’s hometown and the decision to build the museum from the ruins of the town’s Spanish civil war-damaged theatre, didn’t seem like a difficult one. Indeed, it was here as a boy where Dali first had the chance to display his work so is a fitting place to exhibit the cream of his life’s work. Dali himself supervised the building and creation of the museum turning it into a huge surrealist playground. Dali also created some works specifically for the museum itself – the “Mae West Room”, the “Wind Palace Room” and the “Monument to Francesc Pujols and the Rainy Cadillac” are larger than life and superb examples of Dali’s fertile imagination.

Reina Sofia, Madrid

One of Madrid’s most celebrated museums, the Reina Sofia houses a huge collection of contemporary art. Once the city’s San Carlos hospital, the museum was originally founded in 1986 but underwent a serious revamp in 1990 at the hands of British architect, Ian Ritchie. They envisioned creating something to rival the Tate in London and the Pompidou centre in Paris, and, with 36,000 sqm of exhibition space, it’s one of the world’s largest museums and an extremely impressive place. The most famous painting housed there is undoubtedly Picasso’s Guernica, an immense cubist work and war protest and probably the great painter’s most famous work. Visitors can also see the many preliminary sketches that he made for the work. Other great Spanish artists on display are Dali, Miro and Orteiz to name but a few as well as Spain’s most important artists of the last 20 years.

Fundacio Joan Miro, Barcelona

One of Spain’s most important artists and often overlooked due to the lure of Picasso and Dali, the Fundacio Joan Miro in the Montjuic area of Barcelona is well worth a visit. Spacious and set in its own grounds, the museum is a step away from the regular metropolitan museums and galleries – the white building built around an internal courtyard is typically Mediterranean. Huge amounts of natural light help to bring Miro’s surrealist works to life and the museum also houses some of his sculptures and ceramic works as well as the paintings he’s more famous for.
The museum also has a permanent exhibition space in which the foundation gives special attention to Spain’s more experimental artists – not everyone’s cup of tea, granted, but worth a look if you’re visiting the museum.

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Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currenlty working to provide additional content for http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America.
This work is licensed by a creative commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/

A Guide To Spain's Quirkier Festivals

Spaniards seem rarely to need much of a reason for a fiesta or festival of some sort and you can pretty much guarantee that wherever you are in Spain there will be some merrymaking going on somewhere in honour of a patron saint – I’ve decided to look at some of Spain’s quirkier, slightly less known festivals and enlighten readers as to some of the stranger practices which take place at various times around the country.

Our journey begins in the east of the country in the town of Bunol in the Valencia region where a week long festival in honour of the town’s patron saint, San Luis Bertran, ends in the famous “Tomatina”, a two hour tomato fight where lorries bring in 120,000 kg of tomatoes for the locals to pelt each other with. It’s all a bit of a free-for-all and it’s usually girls pitted against boys for two hours of madness from 11am to 1pm. Participants can expect to get extremely messy and it’s advisable to wear something old, and preferably red, if you don’t want the stains to show up. Despite the “Tomatina” clearly being the highlight, there are many other facets of the festival to be enjoyed throughout the week with fireworks, parades and a paella cook-off amongst the most notable.

Not so far away in the city of Valencia, townsfolk revel for a week in the festivities of “Las Fallas”, another one of Spain’s more unique festivals. The raucous week of celebration takes place in March and is most notable for “Las Fallas” which are huge papier-mâché figures up to 60 feet in height. Built in the streets, the figures often have a satirical edge; Tony Blair and George Bush’s effigies graced last year’s festival. The culmination of the merry-making comes on the “Night of Fire” when all 700 of “Las fallas” are burnt to a cinder turning many of the city’s streets into huge bonfires. Undoubtedly the local fire services busiest evening of the year and certainly one not to be missed by visitors to the region.

Next stop is Catalonia and the town of Valls located about 100km south west of Barcelona, where every year townsfolk gather for the legendary “Calcotada”. A celebration of food and in particular the “calcot” (similar to a spring onion) with road side bbq’s char grilling piles of them for locals to eat. There’s even a hug pot of dipping sauce on hand to spice things up a bit. The main event is the eating competition as burly local champions from all over the region line up to see how many onions they can put away in 45 minutes, apparently it’s not uncommon for the victor to eat in excess of 300! After a winner has been decided the town decamps to huge local cafeterias where for a small fee the “calcots” are served in plentiful numbers alongside grilled meats and washed down with as much red wine as you can drink. It’s certainly off the beaten track a little bit and for that reason you won’t see many tourists but expect a warm welcome from the locals who will, undoubtedly, be in high spirits.

29th June, the day of San Pedro and we’re deep in Spain’s wine producing heartland, La Rioja, where for one day every year the medieval town of Haro is host to the famous “Batalla de Vino” (literally “Wine Battle”). Apparently the battle’s origins lie in an ancient dispute with between Haro and its neighbours. These days the fight is pretty good natured with thousands of gallons of wine being hurled around the battleground (a hillside overlooking Haro). Like the Tomatina, this is going to be a messy one and I’d suggest coming prepared with some ammunition of your own, the locals have been doing this for years so expect to take a few shots early on.

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Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currenlty working to provide additional content for http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America.
This work is licensed by a creative commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/

Spain’s Other Languages

Despite Castilian (Or Español) being the main language of Spain there are also a number of other languages spoken throughout Spain – many are now recognised officially by the government and regulated by governing bodies to ensure that they remain a part of Spain’s history and diversity.

Euskara Batua (unified Basque)

Definitely the most interesting language in Spain, Euskara is widely spoken throughout the Basque region of Northern Spain. The majority of Basque speakers live in Spain with a smaller percentage living over the border in Pyrenean France. The Basques are a fiercely proud people and have an extremely developed sense of regional identity. Despite having a large amount of political and cultural autonomy, there is still a strong movement for complete independence from Spain and the terrorist group ETA have been terrorising the nation for 30 years in the hunt for complete self rule for the Basque country. The language itself has 600,000 speakers on both sides of the Franco-Spanish border with about 75% of those hailing from the Spanish side. The language has always proved to be something of a mystery to linguists as it has not been proven to be related to any other language. Euskara bears no relationship to the indo-European family of languages which includes all of the other languages of Europe. Some linguists have started to propagate the theory that the language bears a similarity to the Georgian language from the Caucasus region but conclusive proof has yet to be uncovered. The language itself has been standardised over the past couple of decades – being mainly a rural language, Euskara is subject to several regional variations, however a standardised version, Euskara Batua, has been established for use in the media and in schools.

Catalan

A romance language, Catalan is spoken not only in Spain but also in parts of Andorra (where it is the national language), and also in isolated areas of France and Sardinia. There are roughly 4 million speakers worldwide who use it as their first language and probably about the same amount who use it as a second language. As a language it is often said to resemble a cross between French and Spanish, although linguists point out that the language bears more in common with Italian in terms of grammar and syntax. Obviously spoken throughout Catalonia there are also several other dialects of Catalan, most notably Valencian. Many in the “Pai Valencia” still claim it is a separate language and this has been the source of much political and linguistic debate over recent years.

Galician

Lying in the extreme north western tip of Spain, Galicia is one of Spain’s more isolated regions. Yet to be penetrated by mass tourism, the region is subject to some of Spain’s worst weather and is also home to its third largest language. Galician is spoken by 3 million Spaniards in Galicia itself and also in the neighbouring regions of Asturias and Castille-Léon. The language bears strong similarities to Portuguese, a factor that is explained by the close proximity of the region to Portugal. The Portuguese language did in fact develop originally in Galicia and Northern Portugal, before a political split in the 14th century separated the two areas allowing the languages to develop and grow independently of each other. The native Galician will be able to understand most Portuguese - similar vocabulary and word order can be seen across both languages and there is fierce debate once more as to whether they are languages in their own right, or dialects of the same language. Again much of it has to do with the perceived independence of the region that is, in many ways, symbolised by its language. Like Catalan and Euskara, Galician now has an official status and is taught in schools adding weight to the strong social movement to protect and preserve the language.

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Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currenlty working to provide additional content for http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America.
This work is licensed by a creative commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/

The Best Time To Go To Disney World

When deciding on the best time for you and your family to visit Disney World, the main issue is usually the crowds. When visiting any major theme park, you are going to experience large crowds; And since Disney World is the most popular theme park in the world, there is hardly a day at the park without large crowds. If you do your research, you can find certain times of the year, January and September for example, that are less busy at Disney World. Even though you may enjoy shorter lines during these times, there are downsides to going at these less busy times of the year. For one, Disney has more festivities planned during certain times of the year like Christmas and New Years. For many people, it is worth fighting the crowds to be at Disney World during these times of major festivities.

Crowds are not the only factor when deciding on the best time to visit Disney World. It is also a good idea to take the weather into account. Many people assume that any time of the year is perfect weather in Florida but that is definitely not the case. The summer time can bring extreme heat and severe thunderstorms to the Orlando area that can ruin your day at Disney World. The brief showers are usually a great time to go inside and take a break. Some of the best weather at Disney World comes in the evening with mild temperatures so make sure to rest up during the day so you’re ready to go out at night.

Other tips to keep in mind when planning a trip to Disney World:

- If you are ok with taking your kids out of school for a trip, do it! Any time other kids are at school is a great time to go to Disney World because you can expect smaller crowds and shorter lines

- Keep a close eye on park opening and closing times so you can take advantage of late nights and early starts

- Two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to go to Disney World because the crowds are minimal and the Christmas decorations are already up.

So when is the best time to go to Disney World? When it’s called the happiest place on Earth, every day of the year is the best time to go.

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Ryan Bowman is the webmaster for http://www.world-of-disney.com, your portal for everything Disney on the internet. Going to Disney World?

Fishing Vacation 101

Universally, the term “gone fishing” is associated with vacations. In that case planning a fishing vacation should be nothing more then a natural choice. Fishing combines sport, relaxation, communing with nature and free food and hence qualifies as the perfect vacation. From a weekend trip to the closest lake front camping ground to an adventurous and long packaged tour to the best fishing locales of the world, one has plenty of choices that could be made.
While planning a long fishing vacation, there are a couple of obvious choices to be made. First one being what type of fishing is most appealing. The most basic breakdown here is a choice between freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Fishing vacations come in various sizes and forms. They can be started with loading your car with fishing rods and sleeping bags or calling a travel agent or professional fishng guide.
These trips can be taken all the year round. Although the first thought is generally to catch the bass biting at the very onset of spring or the blues running in autumn. Trips can be made absolutely anytime of the year, even in the dead of the winter, just in case he angler has no aversions to cutting holes in the ice.

A properly planned vacation can be fun for all, irrespective of whether you are a novice or a very serious sportsman. The only essential purchase required is the fishing license, rest all can be rented. Rods and reels, boats and crews, which can even cater lunch, can be rented out.
It can be a way for families to spend time together while simultaneously enjoying the outdoors. Although the idea of skewering worms onto hooks may sound gross yet the vacation can be fun for the entire family. Fishing is a leisurely pastime and you don’t have to excel at it to enjoy, and a total beginner might be just as good or even more than a seasoned pro.

Just because you are vegetarian, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while fishing. One may use catch and release techniques for the fun of the sport.

While as said earlier, their can be several ways of going for fishing, however packaged tours certainly has some advantages. Best part here being that all the essentials are included right in the price. One need not carry all the equipment around, and thus the trip becomes more fun. Along with the trip, the vacationer also gets the expertise of the trip provider. Thus one need not hunt around for the best ‘fishing hole’ and thus the chances of returning empty handed are considerably reduced. Also at fairly reasonable prices one may also get lunch included in the package deal.

Toughest decision to be made while planning a trip is, where to go. Think globally as ther are plenty of scenic fishing spots which are a real treat for anyone interested. British Columbia in Canada boasts of beautiful wilderness and streams filled with great number of fishes of an ample of species.

There are also the less exotic but easier on the pocket destination which can be good value for money. Prices for accommodations may range from 100$ to 300$. One may also like to make it a learning experience, by opting for a Fishing School package. It generally includes hands-on and personal tutoring regarding the ins and outs of fishing. All the equipment is provided by the school. Prices may be around 300$ per session , travel expenses excluded.

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Mansi Gupta writes about fishing vacation. Learn more at http://www.uniquefishingvacations.com.

How To Pack For Your Cruise Vacation

What to take. The best thing to do is make a list. Talk to your friends who've been on a cruise and get their ideas. Keep this list nearby you so that you can update it when you think of something else. Then, make sure you have this list when you actually pack. You're bound to forget something small, but don't sweat it, you'll be able to pick most things up along the way.

Don't forget to take your passport, driver's license, and medical insurance card. Depending on your cruise destination you may require a visa. Check with your cruise line. Don't forget credit cards, some cash and travelers checks. Travelers checks are very convenient and accepted almost anywhere. They're easily replaced if lost or stolen. Make sure you take contact numbers with you in case your credit cards are lost or stolen. Keep these numbers in a safe place away from the credit cards and travelers checks. Also it's a good idea to check to see if you can use a calling card for making long distance calls. Call your cell phone provider to see if you have service and check to see what types of rates they can offer if you are out of your service area.

Of course you'll decide on your clothing needs based on the type of cruise you'll be taking. Generally a few weeks before your cruise you will receive an itinerary from the cruise line outlining activities on board, and available shore excursions. You can always use the internet to check to see what the forecast is in the area you'll be visiting.

Although casual is the theme for most cruises, generally there is at least one dress up dinner per cruise. A woman will need a nice long dress and strappy dressy shoes. A gentleman will need a nice pair of pants and button down shirt, no tie.

What type of shipboard activities will you be partaking in? Using the gym? Take work out clothing. Playing tennis? Take your whites. Using the pool? Take several swimsuits. At the end of each day you can wash one out in the sink in your cabin.

Then there are all the other personal effects to be considered, your medications, eyeglasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, a small first aid kit, a small sewing kit. Toothpaste, toothbrush, make up, shampoo, hair dryer, the list goes on and on. One thing I do before a vacation is actually list what I use in a routine shower in the morning and put these things on my travel list.

Remember to leave enough room in your suitcase for souvenirs!

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Simon Harris
This article provided courtesy of http://www.cruise-bus.com.

Xcaret, Mexico – Back To Nature or Maybe Not

Xcaret is located roughly 45 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico. The park is advertised as an ecological and archaeological Disneyland. While there is a definite back to nature feel to the place, it is expensive and crowded with more than a slight overtone of commercialism.

Xcaret

Pronounced “esh…car..it”, Xcaret is an extremely popular tourist resort, perhaps the biggest one in Mexico. At first glance, the overall impression is extremely impressive. The park contains beaches, snorkeling areas, hiking areas, horseback riding, botanical gardens, captive dolphins and so on. The park is essentially a jungle and beach play area for adults and kids.

Unlike Disneyland, a must see at Xcaret is the re-enactment of Mayan games. In a game resembling basketball, “Mayan” park staff plays Pok-Ta-Pok for visitors. For some reason, the park staff fails to take the game to its historic conclusion which involved the losers being killed. So much for authenticity!

Commercialism

My biggest gripe with Xcaret is it to similar to Disneyland. First, you can’t walk five feet in Cancun without someone sticking a brochure in your hand. Once you cave in and go to the park, you can expect to pay $40 to get in. After that, the giving just keeps on going. You can expect to pay for practically everything. Want to go snorkeling? You better have your own gear with you or be ready to pay. Need a beach chair? That will cost you. Horseback riding? Well, you get the idea.

Should You Go

Deciding whether to go to Xcaret is a personal decision. If commercialism bothers you, Xcaret may be a place to pass on. One visit was good enough for me. My bank account can’t take another!

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are perfect travel accessories.

Siberia, Russia, The Trans-Siberian Railway

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip leaving the train station in Khabarovsk.

A Train To Nowhere?

In deciding to travel to Chita, Siberia, I had originally estimated a travel time of three days. Okay, maybe three at the outside figuring time changes and such.

As day 4 of the trip headed into the afternoon, I was finally on the train that would take me to Chita and figured I would be there in a day or so. I would finally get to see the beautiful and extreme landscape of Russia. To make things even better, I would get to brag to my friends about riding on the famous Trans-Siberian railway. This was going to be great. As is often the case with anticipated events, reality threw an ugly wrench in the proceedings.

Stop…Go…Stop…Go

In California, there are two types of trains you can take. The first is an express train that pretty much takes you from point A to point B with few stops in between. For those traveling shorter distances, there is a “slow train” that stops at every little town and station. In Russia, we were clearly on the slow train.

As we pulled out of the train station in Khabarovsk, anticipation was in the air. The train slowly gained speed. We stared out the window as the city started to pass at an increasing pace. After about 5 minutes, we stared out the window as the city started to pass at a DECREASING pace. After a few more minutes, we stopped at another train station.

Ah, there are probably two big stations in the city and it makes sense to pick up everyone for the trip across the country. Soon enough, the whistle blew and off we went again. Smiles spread across our face. These disappeared roughly 5 minutes later as we stopped again.

My god, how many train stations are there in this city? I can tell you there are at least 5 since we stopped at that many. With time spent sitting in each little train station, an hour had passed and we weren’t even out of the city!

As I stood at a window in the hall, a Russian man heard me muttering and decided to practice his English. We chatted. I remarked on the number of stops. He grimaced and told me the trip to Chita would take 3 plus days. I grimaced. And nearly cried like a small child. Three days in a train compartment no bigger than a closet. Oh, my.

Then he told me the food car on the train was closed for the trip. Since this is a clean web site, I can’t print the words I uttered at that moment. Just picture the reaction of Homer Simpson on learning there is no more beer in Springfield.

My new Russian friend smiled and said, “What does that word mean? We never learned that.”
Read more of this Russian Travelogue at NomadJournalTrips.com.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories.

Siberia, Russia, The Slow Train

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The Horror

As my new Russian friend walked down the hall, I reflected on the information he had provided me with a grimace. The train ride from Khabarovsk to my destination, Chita, was going to take three days. I had already been traveling for four days and the thought of 3 days on a train made me…unhappy.

While reflecting on this development, I had an opportunity to take a look at my new neighbors, err…fellow passengers. They were moving in. Literally. Pillows, sheets, bags full of food. The general impression was we were going to be on the train for a long, long time.

As we actually cleared the city, I told myself to look at it as an adventure. An adventure? Oh, yes.

Of Crackers and Grape Juice

Nutrition is an odd thing. Like many, I try to eat a healthy diet with vegetables and so on. Of course, a stressful day at work has led to more than a few fast food meals. On the Trans-Siberian Railway, I would’ve killed for fast food.

Contrary to what another passenger had told me, the food car on the train was open for business. The woman in charge of our car told me this in limited English and an exasperated look on her face. Well, she didn’t lie. The food car was open. Unfortunately, the only thing it was selling were boxes of crackers and grape juice.

I’m not a big cracker fan, but I’ll eat them. I happen to like grape juice…or I did. For the next 48 hours, Grae, a fellow traveler, and I munched crackers and drank juice. Then we drank juice and munched crackers. Then we crushed crackers and put them in the juice. Then we made feverish declarations to never eat crackers or drink juice again. Ever.

The Funny Part

After 48 hours of crackers and juice, I was more than willing to starve. I kept having nightmares about the horrible things happening in my stomach. Grae apparently had arrived at the same opinion. Cinching up his pants, he went to hit up our fellow travel companions for some real food.
Part of the fun of traveling is realizing how foolish you really are. When you are in a country where you don’t speak the language, you are going to eat a pretty hefty amount of humble pie. What the hey, we were hungry.

After five minutes, Grae returned to our compartment with one of those looks on his face. We had lived on crackers and grape juice for no reason. Yes, we could buy food at every stop the train made by just walking into the train station. And we stopped a lot.

As we pulled into a little town, Grae and I were hanging from the doors of the train. We ran into the station and…all they had were crackers and grape juice. Just kidding. I am not sure what we bought, but it was the best food I’ve ever had.

Next stop…Chita!

Read more of this Russian Travelogue at NomadJournalTrips.com

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories.

Cancun, Mexico – A Little Something For Everyone

A sleepy island area in the 1970s, Cancun has been transformed into a mega tourist destination. Located on the Caribbean side of Mexico, this resort area has something for everyone.

Cancun

Make no mistake, Cancun is a very tourist friendly destination. Located on the Yucatan peninsula, Cancun is populated with mega resorts and over 20,000 hotel rooms. The economy is based on tourism and the people go out of their way to show tourists a good time.

Cancun proper is actually two distinct areas. Cancun City is located on the mainland and Cancun Island is just off the coast. The island is the stuff of legend.

Cancun Island the classic example of Caribbean beach paradise. Incredibly blue water laps slowly onto insanely white beaches. Light breezes roll in off the water as you lounge on a beach chair and contemplate important things like what you will eat for lunch.

One of the slight downsides of Cancun involves beachfront hotels. They tend to be a bit possessive about the sand in front of them. Put another way, you better be staying at the hotel if you intend to plop down in front of it. Hey, it can’t all be great!

Getting To Cancun

As with any mega resort area, getting to Cancun is very easy. Most major airlines fly into Cancun City and the airport is very modern. You are required to have a passport and must fill out a tourist card at customs. The customs agents are easy going and I’ve never heard of anyone having any problems with them.

If you want to experience a beach vacation in Mexico, you can do worse than Cancun. You will not get much feel for the local culture, but you will definitely enjoy yourself.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are perfect travel accessories.

Isla Mujeres, Mexico – The Island of Women

Isla Mujeres in Mexico is a great way to escape the tourist crush in Cancun. Roughly 9 miles offshore, the island contains the Mexican beach culture of a bygone era. Oh, and the name translates to “The Island of Women.”

Isla Mujeres

First things first, the Island of Women is not populated with more, different or any other classification of women than you would normally find in Mexico. Okay, there is a Bay of Women, but don’t go there. Instead, Isla Mujeres is simply a stunningly beautiful island.

Snorkeling and Diving

El Garrafon National Underwater Park is located on the southwest end of the Island. If you’re interested in underwater fun, this park provides tremendous visibility in warm water.

Unfortunately, a private company now runs the park. This, of course, means you have to pay to enter and the tranquil area has a definite touristy feel with kayaks and other water toys for rent. Still, the park is very large and your experience shouldn’t be overly impacted.

If you’re looking for more of a beach town feel, the northern tip of the island should be your destination. Playa Norte’ offers nice beaches, restaurants, hotels and more or less everything you could need. Head out on Zacil Ha road and you can find some fairly isolated beaches.

If total isolation is your thing, there are plenty of remote beach areas on the island. Walk south from Playa Pescador and you’ll leave humanity behind. The same is true if you head north from Playa Lancheros. Just grab a map of the island or ask a local for directions.

Getting There

Isla Mujeres has an airport, but traveling by boat from Cancun is cheaper. There are numerous public ferries traveling to the island. Getting back and forth is no problem. Just make sure you check the schedule for return trips.

Although Isla Mujeres doesn’t live up to its name, there is definite beauty to be found. If you vacation in Cancun, make sure you visit the island for a one-day getaway.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are perfect travel accessories.

Siberia, Russia, Chita

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the last stage of the seven-day trip to get there.

Siberia As Seen From A Train

In preparing for my trip, I had actually done some preparation. As a common man, I know most of you female readers will find this hard to believe, but I swear it was so. Yep, I had read up on books, rented movies and so on. I was familiar with the tundra, the forest and the perma-frost of Siberia. And I was going to see it all during the three-day train ride across Siberia. Au Contraire!

Apparently, the untamed wilds of Siberia are a bit farther north than where the Trans-Siberian Railway runs. During our train ride, we saw no forests, no mountains and pretty much nothing. It was like taking a really slow train ride across Kansas. There just wasn’t much of anything to see. I wish I could tell you differently.

End of the Road

As I went to sleep on the evening of the sixth day of the trip, I was developing a firm conviction that I would never see Chita. Instead, it was clear that I was in some type of bizarre reality television series based on travelers being driven slowly insane. Amazing Race? Give me a break. As with oh so many things, I was wrong.

The Seventh Day

Brooms scratch. Particularly when handled by the Russian woman in charge of our car. As I shot up out of my bunk, I realized she was talking loudly and pointing more than a bit. The train was slowing down, but I couldn’t see much out the window because we were in trees and there was too much sun. Upon awaking Grae with a few whacks and a laugh, I finally recognized her saying, “Chita”.

We had arrived. After three flights, one angry customs official, a few embarrassing moments, way too many crackers and seven total days of travel, we had indeed arrived. At 5:30 in the morning.

Jumping out of bed, we each stuffed our belongings into our bags. Staggered out into the hall. Realized we both badly needed showers.

And stepped off the train into Chita. Siberia. Russia.

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Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.

The Historic Town Of León

León is a town highly rich in traditions and historical past, and is widely known throughout the entire country due to it, although it is a quiet and tranquil spot most of the year. This town is located towards the central area of Spain, within the region known as Castilla y León, and borders with Asturias, Galicia, Zamora and Palencia.

The history of the province of León can be traced back to many centuries ago when Celtic tribes would inhabit in this area. Some remains from such period of time have been found within the region of León, being a clear sign of their pass through it. From that époque on, this town has left many different objects, constructions, and art works from many different periods and historical events, many of them still available for visitors to meet them.

The Templar Knights are among the most interesting inhabitants the town of León has had. This inhabitants have left their mark spread throughout the city through several interesting constructions such as fortifications and castles. Nowadays, many of these fortifications and castles built by the Templar Knights during the Middle Ages can be still visited and observed, being among the main attractions of León.

Another interesting attraction this town offers is the chance of fishing trout. Every year people from many different spots approach León in order to fish trout since it is widely known due to the important amount of these fish that can be found in this area and the propitious spots the town offers for practicing this activity. This way, fishing is another fact by which León is widely known throughout the region of León and Castilla as well as in other regions.

Despite the interesting characteristics and the variety of attractions León offers, it has managed to remain a quiet place without receiving important amounts of tourists and without becoming crowded at any time of the year. This characteristic can turn this destination into an especially attractive one for those who enjoy quiet spots where they could relax and walk around while enjoying the typical environment that every local inhabitant would perceive.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/spain.php if you're planning a trip to Spain.

La Macarena in Sevilla

La Macarena is a typical Spanish neighborhood, full of traditional spots and characteristics which turn it into a very attractive place for tourists. This neighborhood is located towards the northern area of Sevilla, one of the most attractive regions of the country. This spot is among the main ones tourists should try to visit while being in Sevilla.

One of the most interesting things to see in La Macarena is the Old Walls. The Old Walls of La Macarena date from as long ago as the year 1136 and, until the XIX century, they would surround the entire city turning Sevilla into a fortified town. Nowadays just a part of these walls remain unchanged and they are an iconic spot of the town.

Near by the Old Walls, there is another interesting attraction in this neighborhood: La Macarena de la Esperanza. La Macarena de la Esperanza is one of the main religious icons of Sevilla. Near the Macarena de la Esperanza there also are several churches and other religious constructions which could be very interesting not only to those attracted by the religion but also to those who enjoy observing buildings from an architectonic point of view.

La Alameda is another one of the main attractions this neighborhood offers its visitors and is one of the central spots of the area, surrounded by many restaurants, shops, pubs and discos among others. The Alameda, built in 1575, is a popular area surrounded by trees and showing some unique Roman columns along with statues of Hercules and Caesar.

The Monasterio de San Clemente is one of the main spots visitors who enjoy interesting constructions or antique art works should meet since it exhibits different pieces such as frescoes from the XVI century. Also, the Iglesia de San Marcos or San Marcos Church should not be missed since it shows a unique appearance and a typical Gothic style can be observed in it. The Convento de Santa Paula is another antique construction tourists can meet in La Macarena, and even visit its interior since, most of the times, it opens its doors to those who wish to enter.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/spain.php if you're planning a trip to Spain.

Why You Should Sail Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

A cruise is considered the ultimate in luxury vacations. For many people, the idea of sailing on a ship to a wonderful and exotic destination is their perfect vacation. Cruise lines offer a variety of cruises for the average consumer. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is one of many cruise lines that offer great vacations and lots of options. Their reputation is very good and the amenities onboard the ships are first-rate.

With a name like Royal Caribbean, you might think that this cruise line sails only to the Caribbean. This could not be further from the truth. Royal Caribbean cruises to many different locations. They sail to Alaska, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada and New England, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, the Panama Canal, and transatlantic cruises, as well. They also have some great cruise tours that consist of an escorted land tour that occurs either before or after your cruise. The escorted land tour is done by deluxe motor coach or train, and is a great option for those wanting to see more of the country to which they have traveled.
Cruises are actually very budget-friendly. This is because nearly everything onboard the ship is included in the price of the cruise. The accommodations, all meals, snacks activities, entertainment and even 24-hour room service are all part of the package. For those that want to save money, they can book an inside room and choose one of the less expensive meal plans. This does not mean that their food will be inferior, however. Cruises price themselves on providing sumptuous gourmet meals to all their customers. They also give you guidelines for gratuities so that you know how much to tip the various staff members that serve you during your cruise.

The things that are not included in the package price are things like alcoholic beverages, shore excursions, phone calls, and both onboard and off-board purchases. These are things that a person needs to plan to have extra money for. Even then, the shore excursions can be booked in advance to get a better price and to make sure that the consumer gets the shore excursions they want, as the good ones fill up quickly.

Booking a cruise is also simple. It can be done online through one of the many travel sites, or it can be done at the official Royal Caribbean Cruise Line site. A travel agent can also be another alternative, and sometimes they are able to get very good cruise deals for their customers. Even if you decide to go on a cruise at the last minute, there are often cheap deals and amazing specials designed to fill up empty spaces on the ship. So whether a person decides to book early or book late, great deals on cruises to a variety of locations are always available.

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Bob Hett offers great tips and advice regarding all aspects of Cruise Lines. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.caribbeancruisescenter.info.

Things To Remember When You Travel

Traveling can be a lot of fun, but sometimes people are limited in their traveling options because of a budget. Here are some ways that you can save money when you traveling… which will let you bring home more gifts for your loved ones!

1. Shop around. Different travel agencies may offer different promotions, so making a few phone calls may help uncover those hidden deals.

2. Be willing to travel in the off-season. Hotels are expensive and overbooked during the busy season, but during the off-season you'll find great deals on rooms and car rentals when you need them, and hospitality staff who are more relaxed and attentive to you.

3. Travel in a group. Many hotels and airlines offer group discounts so if you and nine of your closest friends can arrange your schedules to travel at once, you will enjoy significant discounts.

4. Be willing to travel at the last minute. If you have a job that allows you to drop everything for a vacation, you may be able to travel at a great rate if you enjoy flying by the seat of your pants. For example, if you contact a travel agent and an airline and asked them about last-minute deals a day or two before the weekend, you may be able to find an affordable travel package that is much less than you would pay if you had booked far in advance. This is because of cancellations. For some reason, other people have not been able to go on the vacation the book, so the hotel or airline or resort wants to fill those seats with another paying customer.

5. Look for package deals. Often, companies in the travel and hospitality industry will partner together to offer great holiday packages. Look for these packages which make traveling much more affordable than simply putting together the pieces on your own. And much easier too!
Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you have to stay home. Traveling is possible with a limited budget. With a little legwork and the willingness to be spontaneous, you'll be able to find and enjoy affordable vacations.

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Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.my-cheap-flights.info and http://www.my-cheap-airfare.info websites providing information on Travel.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort located in Marne la Vallée about 30 kilometers from Paris. This place is one of the most visited spots of France, not only by children but by adults as well. Disneyland Paris is a complex resort, which counts with several different attractions and areas besides the Park itself.

There is a variety of ways to access this area and tourists always find a convenient one. One of the most efficient ways to reach Disneyland Paris is by train, due to the fact that there are several train lines and combinations which go through this area, coming from several different places of France as well as from other countries such as Belgium and England. Also, tourists can opt for going to the Resort by bus or renting a car, both of them very convenient as well.
Disneyland Paris' entertainment park started working at beginnings of 1992 under the name of Euro Disney. During its opening and its first months of existence, this park did not have as much success as it was expected to have, but this started to change at 1994, when its name and some of its characteristics changed.

Since 1994, the former Euro Disney became Disneyland Paris and an overall change in the park structure accompanied the new name as well. Since then, the Park started receiving a much higher amount of visitors and with them it started becoming more profitable as well.

Disneyland Paris consists on several areas which turn it into a very complete and convenient entertainment resort. The main spot of this resort is its Disneyland Park, which counts on five different areas based on different themes as well as a central beautiful castle. Another area within this resort is the Walt Disney Studios Park, very attractive for adults, as well as the area of Disney Village which counts with a central shopping complex. Surrounding these areas, there are several hotels, known as the Disneyland Resort Hotels, allowing visitors to choose one which properly suits their needs without having to travel from another point every day for visiting the Park.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

The Excellent French Wine

There are many reasons why French wine is considered to be among the most excellent wines throughout the entire world. France has been producing wine through its entire history, and has developed techniques and dedicated such a great amount of time in order to found fertile spots which are able to produce several different wines of a quality that could never be equaled at other places of the globe.

Wine is part of the French culture and France cuisine would not be the same without this drink. Drinking wine with meals is a common French tradition and is possible to see families enjoying their dinners accompanied by a glass of wine at most French regions.

Those tourists who visit France and are looking for experiencing the French culture and traditions in the best possible way should make sure of enjoying a French meal accompanied by a French wine. A good combination of a French wine with a typical dish can be a great and unique experience which visitors should not miss.

There are around 365 different types of French wine from different origins. This number can easily show the important bond existing between French culture and wine, and the important amount of work, experience, and time employed in order to produce this product.

Starting from the main varieties of red wine, rose wine, white wine, and sparkling, a broad range of subcategories and different wines can be found in the French production. This amazing amount of different wines turns the task of choosing one into a much harder goal to accomplish than many people would expect, and it is often recommended to follow what the instincts tell in such cases.

French wine offers a very wide range of different tastes to choose from. Many wine experts would need an important amount of time in order to taste them all and be able to decipher each one of them, since the difference from one the other might be almost imperceptible sometimes. Wine is among the most important elements of not only French cuisine but of the French culture and traditions as well.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Singapore, Introduction To Asia

To understand Singapore you need to realize that it is the extension of one man's intelligence, dream and drive. And that man is Lee Kuan Yew, the original prime minister of the Republic of Singapore. Yes, it is true he was aided in his task by the people of Singapore. It is interesting to ponder on what would have happened to Singapore if Lee Kuan Yew, one of the remarkable men of his century, had not been present.

Lee Kuan Yew is a nonya. That is he can claim both Malay and Chinese heritage. He was born in 1923 and was prime minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. And during his rule, as a simple statement of fact, Singapore went from being something of a backwater to becoming the most prosperous nation in Southeast Asia.

Lee Kuan Yew went to Cambridge University where he got a double starred first which is not something that is given out with the rations. He became a lawyer and was admitted to the English bar but returned to Singapore to work, as a committed socialist, with the unions.
In 1963 Lee took Singapore into the newly created Federation of Malaysia.

This created all sorts of problems. In Singapore 75 percent of the members of the PAP were Chinese and there was much tension between Chinese and Malays. There was communal rioting in Singapore and in 1965 Lee Kuan Yew was told by his Malaysian colleagues in the federal government that Singapore must leave the federation.

Singapore had to secede and it then became a sovereign state with Lee Kuan Yew as its first prime minister.

It is fair to say that in return for a mildly authoritarian style of government that sometimes infringed on civil liberties Lee Kuan Yew brought Singapore honest and efficient administration and spectacular prosperity.

Lee Kuan Yew resigned the office of prime minister in November 1990.

It is, perhaps, sad that such a great man who did not believe in inherited power has appointed his children in just such a manner. Does not affect the tourist. Possibly affects the future of Singapore.

Singapore is not a big place. It sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula 137 km north of the Equator. The main part is Singapore Island and there are also about 60 very small islands.
The main island is connected to Peninsular Malaysia by a road and rail causeway which bridges the Johor Strait.

Singapore does not depend on tourism for a living. It is the largest port in Southeast Asia and one of the busiest in the world.

Singapore is not just a small island. It is also a very flat island. Most of it is less than 15m above sea level and its highest point is Timah Hill which soars to 162m.

Climate

Singapore is near the equator and in the monsoon region. The average monthly temperature varies from about 27 degrees C in June to 25 degrees C in January and the difference is not noticeable. The wettest time of the year is November-March and the period with the least amount is May to September. Not that it makes very much difference.

Rain falls somewhere on the island every day of the year. Which is why it is very green. Do not let the rain worry you. In the constant warm temperature you very quickly dry out.

There is not much left of the original Singapore. There is a fragment of evergreen rain forest preserved around catchment areas and some mangrove vegetation survives in the Kranji area on the northwest side of the island but otherwise it is all cultivated in one way or another.

The city is in the south of the island but, in truth, most of the island of Singapore has now been built up and over. At one time it looked as though every old building in Singapore would be knocked down and replaced with a new and shining skyscraper. Eventually the penny dropped and the government decided that refurbishing rather than demolishing the once-common Chinese shop-house would not be a bad idea. And keeping the Raffles hotel operating in its old premises but with a new style was part of the campaign.

Nevertheless the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has changed forever the face of Singapore and has housed a staggering four-fifths of the population high-rise HDB flats located in housing estates and new towns.

Language

About three quarters of the population of Singapore is Chinese with Malays next and Indians the third.

But it does not break down as easily as that. Nearly half of the Chinese originate from Fukien province and speak Amoy; a third is from Swatow and speaks Teochew and most of the rest are Cantonese. That is three different dialects which are not understandable by all although, of course, written Chinese is a unifying force.

The Malays are pretty much one group although some of them speak Indonesian dialects which although very similar to Malay have some vocabulary differences. The Indians are the biggest mixture of them all. The majority are Tamils but there are also Malayalis and Sikhs as well as Pakistanis and Sinhalese.

There are four official languages - English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. And there is a fifth which although not recognized officially, is distinct enough to be the subject of several learned papers. This is Singaporean which is Singapore's very own version of the English language.

It contains words and grammatical from all the languages of Singapore. Therefore "Must be, lah" is an affirmative declaration while, "What to do now, lah?" is an expression of helplessness in the face of fate. It is a lovely and expressive language based totally on English. If you speak English you will never have language problems in Singapore.

Singapore is a singularly pleasant place to visit. It is the ideal destination for someone making their first foray into Asia.

The chances of your being robbed in Singapore are pretty close to nil. And if you are, the local constabulary will move heaven and earth to fang the wretched miscreant and return your goods.

The roads are spotlessly clean - drop a bus ticket and you will very probably be fined. The road crossings are safe - go jaywalking and once again your wallet will be lightened. The roadside food stalls are the cleanest in the world. No one gets gippy tummy in Singapore.

The developers are something else again. Sadly, like developers all over the world their motto is 'nothing exceeds like excess'. Almost everything that was old and worthwhile and interesting came under the wrecker's ball.

Singapore eventually saw the folly of this and you can still find parts of the old Singapore.
The Tourist Promotion Board maintains a flood, a deluge, an inundation of brochures telling of the wonders of the city state. But it bridles madly at the sign of any criticism.

Despite this nonsense Singapore is a most attractive place to visit - for one reason. The people. Singaporeans are joyous, intelligent, friendly. In the restaurants you are served with pleasure.
Singapore need never run a politeness campaign. Its people are the politest and the warmest in Asia. Partially this has something to do with the racial mix. Within Singapore, Malays, Chinese of several varieties, Tamils and Europeans get on in the most amazing racial harmony.

This harmony spills over to the visitor. In Singapore, I promise you, the people positively love having you as an honored guest.

Pretty much all of the attractions in Singapore are man-made and of relatively recent origin. It is astounding that on this flat little island so much has been created to keep the visitor entertained.

What are the main attractions of Singapore? This is my list. Yours will almost certainly be very different.

Food. You can eat yourself silly with 100 different cuisines and still not have scratched the surface in Singapore.

My own view, formed after spending a lifetime in the area, is that the food in Singapore – because of its wide range of styles - is arguably the best in Asia.

You can eat very cheaply by sticking to the open air restaurants that abound. They are all squeaky clean and serve ambrosia at discount prices. The first place to try is the Satay Club on Elizabeth Walk and then make your own discoveries.

The Jurong Bird Park. When I have business in Singapore I make it a point to keep half a day clear to go and sit on my own in the Jurong Bird Park. This has the largest aviary in the world. What they have done is net off a valley so that there is a waterfall inside the aviary. It brings balm to the soul.

Visit The Off-Shore Islands. It is easy to think that Singapore is just one diamond shaped island for that is the way that it appears on most maps. In fact there are several smaller islands that you can visit.

Boats can be hired from Clifford Pier which is just across the road from Change Alley. On the islands you will find an older, more peaceful Singapore. One where Stamford Raffles - the man who founded the place - would feel very much at home.

Visit The Tiger Balm Gardens. This place is truly a nonsense - but a most enjoyable nonsense. Full of statues and grottoes and buildings all garishly painted. They are, as I understand it, intended to give you an idea how heaven and hell look in the Taoist religion. Incidentally, Tiger Balm ointment, which provided the funds to build this place, does cure what ails you.

Wallow In The Luxury Of An Up-Market Hotel. My theory is that the local towkays - the millionaires - have all tried to one-up each other in the construction of hotels. The result is that in Singapore you can stay in a hotel with appointments and service you could simply not afford anywhere else in the world.

Spend Time In One Of The Many Gardens. My favorite is the Japanese Garden, again in Jurong. A well-designed Japanese garden always gives me a special sense of peace. This is almost certainly the best Japanese garden outside Japan.

And so it goes. The average visitor spends 3.7 days in Singapore which is enough time to get the feel of the place, to go shopping, to eat yourself stupid and to make instant but lasting friendships with the local Singaporeans.

Then you can nip across the causeway to Malaysia. This is where the real Asia begins. Singapore is but a foretaste. For the first time visitor it is difficult to think of a better introduction.

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Gareth Powell
This article is by Gareth Powell who runs www.travelhopefully.com. It can be edited, cut, localized, and given a different heading. Just keep the link to the site intact. Gareth Powell has been travel editor of two metropolitan newspapers, has written (and had published) eleven books and has published many travel magazines.

Cheap Airfares – Ways To Secure It

Frequent travelers and executives are among the masses that get a lot of discount in the airfare. It is easy to get discount airfare for them since they travel very frequently.

Cheap air tickets for Corporate

Some of the corporate also get cheap air tickets because they tie up with some of the airlines for a certain period based on the discount and services they get from the airlines. Corporate plans are clubbed with other services through some agencies to provide better service for their staff.

Promotional discount airfare

Some countries like Malaysia and Singapore promote trading for foreign visitors during some part of the year. During this period, they offer cheap air tickets to their country on certain flights. If you can check with the other airlines during this period, you may get excellent discount airfare, which may even surprise you.

Other ways to get discount airline tickets

You can become members of certain clubs and associations for which you will discount airfare for select destinations. You may even get a flat discount of some percent of the airfare during all the time of the year. Without all these, you can also get cheap air tickets if you can plan your trip very early. Some airlines provide you discounts of up to 85% if you book your air ticket before two or three months. If you are certain of your trip, you can book your air ticket like this. Midnight travel on some airlines will have very low fare since not many people travel during those hours.

Vacation packages

If you are planning a vacation and if you plan it a little earlier, you are sure to get cheap airfares. Since a vacation package combine different components like flight booking, hotel booking, car booking etc., you get an excellent discount and cheap airfare for these packages. If you book each component of your vacation separately you will end in a fare this is costly. Moreover, if you book vacation packages for a group of persons you can further reduce the cost. Usually vacation package booked earlier than two weeks fetch you a decent discount in airfares.

Cheap airfare for children and students

Discount airline tickets are available for the student community. Children also get discount airfare for their travel. You have to check with the agency or the airline for such offers.

Searching for cheap airfare through websites

You can search for cheap airfare through websites like www.lowestfare.com, www.cheaptickets.com, and www.cheapseats.com. There are many other sites from different travel agencies that provide services online. These sites provide you the feature to search for cheap airfares through an easy to use interface.

____________________
David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.cheapairfaresinfocenter.com and http://www.cheapairticketsinfocenter.com
For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: http://www.stockmarketgenie.com

Cheap Airfares – Ways To Secure It

Frequent travelers and executives are among the masses that get a lot of discount in the airfare. It is easy to get discount airfare for them since they travel very frequently.

Cheap air tickets for Corporate

Some of the corporate also get cheap air tickets because they tie up with some of the airlines for a certain period based on the discount and services they get from the airlines. Corporate plans are clubbed with other services through some agencies to provide better service for their staff.

Promotional discount airfare

Some countries like Malaysia and Singapore promote trading for foreign visitors during some part of the year. During this period, they offer cheap air tickets to their country on certain flights. If you can check with the other airlines during this period, you may get excellent discount airfare, which may even surprise you.

Other ways to get discount airline tickets

You can become members of certain clubs and associations for which you will discount airfare for select destinations. You may even get a flat discount of some percent of the airfare during all the time of the year. Without all these, you can also get cheap air tickets if you can plan your trip very early. Some airlines provide you discounts of up to 85% if you book your air ticket before two or three months. If you are certain of your trip, you can book your air ticket like this. Midnight travel on some airlines will have very low fare since not many people travel during those hours.

Vacation packages

If you are planning a vacation and if you plan it a little earlier, you are sure to get cheap airfares. Since a vacation package combine different components like flight booking, hotel booking, car booking etc., you get an excellent discount and cheap airfare for these packages. If you book each component of your vacation separately you will end in a fare this is costly. Moreover, if you book vacation packages for a group of persons you can further reduce the cost. Usually vacation package booked earlier than two weeks fetch you a decent discount in airfares.

Cheap airfare for children and students

Discount airline tickets are available for the student community. Children also get discount airfare for their travel. You have to check with the agency or the airline for such offers.

Searching for cheap airfare through websites

You can search for cheap airfare through websites like www.lowestfare.com, www.cheaptickets.com, and www.cheapseats.com. There are many other sites from different travel agencies that provide services online. These sites provide you the feature to search for cheap airfares through an easy to use interface.

____________________
David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.cheapairfaresinfocenter.com and http://www.cheapairticketsinfocenter.com
For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course: "What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: http://www.stockmarketgenie.com

The Colorful Cahors

The town of Cahors is probably the most colorful spot in the region of Perigord, due to the amazing amount and incredible beauty of flowers and green areas it has. This town has inspired many artists and photographers and still, to the date, is found to be a great source of beautiful images and pictures.

Cahors is located in the south western area of France, on the Lot River. Although its amazing vegetation and beautiful gardens are among the main attractions of this town, they are not the only ones, due to the fact that this town also offers tourists the chance to meet an important amount of highly interesting constructions.

Tourists are very important for the town of Cahors due to the fact that it receives an important and constant amount of them which have become a main source of income to the town. In order to preserve the gardens and green areas from being damaged by the important amount of visits they receive, this city has created a path which goes through the main gardens in such a way that visitors can enjoy them and observe each one of the most interesting spots without interfering with they growth.

One of the main spots of great architectural appealing and interest is he Valentre Bridge. The Valentre Bridge was constructed during the XIV century, and shows a unique and charming appearance and structure which anyone who enjoys architecture related elements would love to meet. This bride has been listed as a World Heritage Site, and is without any doubt one of the main spots tourists should visit while being in Cahors.

Another very interesting construction tourists can meet in the town of Cahors is the main Cathedral. The Cathedral of Cahors is a very interesting and antique construction which dates from the XI century and still contains many of its original structural and ornamental elements. This Cathedral and its cloister are among the most interesting places to visit in Cahors.

Within the surroundings of Cahors thee is another small town or village called Puy L'Eveque which tourists should try to visit while being in this area. Puy L'Eveque is a very charming spot, which has antique houses and shows an overall magical appearance, and which from the distance causes its visitors to think it might be built on the water.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Finding a Great Orlando Hotel

Orlando Florida is one of the best vacation spots for a family to visit. Orlando is home to Walt Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios Orlando. With the popularity of these theme parks it is a good idea to find an Orlando hotel conveniently located nearby. You will also want an Orlando hotel that caters to children.

A great Orlando hotel you might consider is the Hilton Walt Disney World Hotel Orlando. This is the official Disney World Hotel. All of the Disney theme parks are between 5 and 10 miles away. Down town Disney is actually 1 block away! Seaworld is located just 5 miles away. The hotel sits on 23 acres. It has 2 heated pools and a wading pool for the children. All rooms come with a mini bar and are nicely priced between $135 and $189. The hotel also has a ballroom that can occupy over 2000 people and over 70000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Another Orlando Hotel you may consider is the Wyndham Palace Resort. This hotel is located on a 27 acre separate island. It has 3 heated pools, a sauna, hot tubs, 2 playgrounds, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a hair salon, and a 24 hour fitness center. It is conveniently located within walking distance of Downtown Disney. It has competitive pricing between $89 and $99 and kids get to stay for free.

A very popular Orlando hotel is called the Westlakes resort. This is a 4 star hotel located on 110 acres with over a mile of lakefront. They offer 1 to 4 bedroom suites. Each suite comes with its own kitchen, whirlpool tub, washer and dryer, screened porch, and balcony. This hotel has several pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, Jacuzzis, shuffle board, and a top of the line gym. They even have a 10,000 square foot health spa and 6 restaurants to serve you. Staying here will cost you between $78 and $325.

The last Orlando hotel you might enjoy is the Clarion Hotel Universal. It is located half a mile from Universal Studios Orlando. They offer a free shuttle to Universal Studios Orlando and to Seaworld. All rooms come with a free security safe and coffee. The prices vary by season so you will have to check periodically.

Finding the perfect Orlando hotel can be a tricky endeavor. The above listed hotels are said to be the best and are all conveniently located near world famous attractions. Before choosing which hotel you stay at, try to decide which one offers you the most convenience for the attractions you wish too see. Also decide which amenities are the most interesting for you. If you have kids, be sure to pick a hotel that will be fun for them. With a little thought and a little patience, you will find the perfect Orlando hotel.

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Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.cheaphotelsoffers.info a blog focusing on the Hotel, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Hotel. For more info on Hotel visit: http://www.cheaphotelsoffers.info.

The Champs Elysées

The Champs Elysées is one of the most famous areas of not only France but Europe and the entire world as well. This area can be visited through the Champs Elysées Avenue, which goes from the Arc of Triumph to the Place de la Concorde. This is one of the main spots which tourists who visit Paris could not miss, due not only to its beauty but also to its historic past.

The Champs Elysées Avenue contains several theaters, shops, cafes, restaurants and cinemas at its sides towards the western area, and the Jardins des Champs Elysées towards the area of the Place de la Concorde. This way, there is a wide range of different activities available to those visitors who might walk from one end of this Avenue to the other, so many that they might need more than one day to fully explore them.

The Jardins des Champs Elysées is a very beautiful place to visit, especially for those visitors who enjoy nature. This place contains amazing gardens, highly cared and carefully arranged combined with fountains, and providing an overall image of a healthy and cared open space.
The Champs Elysées Avenue is the first choice for any important celebration in Paris. During celebrations such as New Year's Eve, this area receives an amazing amount of people who congregate at it. Also, national events such as the commemoration of historical events are held on the Champs Elysées Avenue and the surrounding area.

The Champs Elysées Avenue became such in the 1600's after the Medicis decided to create a path surrounded by trees in the area. Before that, this area consisted on fields and gardens, and it was not until much later that it did take the form of Avenue which nowadays has.

In 1994, the Champs Elysées Avenue area was redesigned and had a few changes which made it have a slightly different appearance. Among the main changes visitors could observe, there is the addition of more trees and the creation of pedestrian zones at the side lanes, very convenient for tourists who wish to observe the area while walking.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Preparing To Travel

The world has changed a lot in the past century. Thanks to the invention of airplanes and high-speed trains, today's world is wide open to travel. In a day's time, we can travel to the other side of the world without using our entire life's savings. We also have a number of options open to us to help us plan our travels, and choosing wisely can help save time and money.

1. Travel Agents. Many people have the misconception that using a travel agent entails paying a fee. Nonsense. In actuality, most travel agents receive commissions from the vendors (airlines, hotels, tour agencies); they are the ones paying the fee, not you. A travel agent has access to deals that often are not available anywhere else. He or she can help take the headache out of planning, allowing you to sit back and relax while the logistics are plotted out. Another bonus is that travel agents often include travel insurance in their packages, to ensure that you are getting what you paid for.

2. Internet. With the widespread use of the world wide web, travel prices have gone down considerably. Using travel sites like Orbitz, Expedia, and Travelocity, buyers can find lower rates than ever before for airfares, hotels, and package deals. The downside? Truly finding the best travel deals often requires a lot of time and patience as you compare rates with other sites and with direct booking. Another downfall is that you can't always find availability at these lower rates, but it is nice to plan right at home.

3. Guidebooks. Tried and true, travel guidebooks are a traveler's best friend. Seasoned travel writers research and compile guidebooks based on their own experiences, and who better to give advice than someone who's been there, done that? Depending on your preferred level of luxury, you are sure to find a guidebook to meet your needs. Best of all, travel guidebooks are often available at your local library-for free!

4. Booking Direct. Sometimes travel companies will offer special deals to customers who book directly. This is especially true with tour and cruise companies who advertise travel deals to repeat customers. You can often find rates as low as half-price (or lower) if you book at the last minute. If you have the flexibility and the determination, this may be the way to go.
In any case, travel opens up our eyes to worlds our forefathers never could have dreamed of visiting. Whether you travel around the globe or just a city away, a little careful planning and an open mind can allow for an experience of a lifetime. Happy travels!

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Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.lowest-airfares.info website providing information on Travel.

Dijon - Burgundy's Capital

Dijon, the capital of the region of Burgundy, is a great city full of interesting things to do and places to meet. This city usually takes several days for visitors to fully explore it and meet all its historically interesting spots, since its origins date from 2500 years ago and therefore it contains constructions and elements from many different époques. It is very recommendable to ask for guidance and information on which places to visit at a local tourism information centre in order to avoid missing any of the most interesting spots of the city.

Art has an important role within Dijon, and therefore the offer of art related activities is very wide. Among the main art related spots this city has there is the Art Sacée museum, the Vie Bourginonne museum and the Musée des Beaux Arts. Each one of these main museums allows visitors to meet different types of art as well as meet some interesting architectural elements of their buildings.

There are many entertainment related activities available or visitors in Dijon. Those tourists who wish to enjoy a typical dinner from Burgundy could easily fulfill their wishes at several restaurants in the town. Besides this, tourists can also visit cafes, go to the movies, go to the theater, drink a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop or observe interesting objects in a local museum.

While being at the centre of Dijon, there are some main areas containing several attractive spots to visit. One of these areas is the one which surrounds Rue de la Choutte. This area is located near the Cathedral Notre Dame and is mainly characterized by containing interesting shops, most of them of antique construction. Besides these shops, while being in this area of Dijon visitors would be able to meet some of the most elegant restaurants and cafes of the city.

Another very attractive spot within Dijon is the area of Rue de Liberte. Rue de Liberte and some of the secondary streets near it contain many fashion stores and shops selling several different products. This way, Rue de Liberte is known as the main street for shopping as well as for meeting some of the latest designer's clothes and products in general.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Visiting a Nature Park In The Camargue

The Camargue is a very interesting French destination where visitors can find a wide variety of different activities to do and spots to meet. This area is located on the Mediterranean coast, and it is highly recommendable for those who enjoy water and beach related activities to visit it.

One of the main places visitors can meet while being at The Camargue is Camargue Parc Naturel or Camargue's natural park. This park is of a great size and includs several different spots within its area. One of these areas is St. Maries de la Mer, a very interesting town offering several attractive spots to visit as well as amazing landscapes to observe. This town is famous due to its folkloric music which attracts people from all places all year around that come wishing to enjoy from close this unique art expression method.

In this area, visitors could also meet French ranches and observe how horses and bulls are bred in them. These ranches are locally known as manades always welcome visitors and allow them to observe from close this activity that is typical of The Comargue and its surroundings.

As it could be expected in an area famous by its natural park, the fauna and flora of it is very attractive and might be very interesting for visitors to observe. The Comargue contains several amazing ponds and plains, ideal for visitors to walk around and enjoy of the fresh air and beautiful natural environment while meeting them. The Launes Pond and the Port Gardian are examples of these natural spots which visitors should not miss.

There also are several other interesting places to meet and things to do while being at the Comargue. This area offers a great quantity of activities available to visitors, such as horseback riding, mountain biking, bull fights, races, sunbathing at beaches, practicing several different water sports, and going to discos, to theatres and to music shows as well. Among the places visitors should try to visit while being in this area there is the Baroncelli Museum, the Romanesque church, the Pioch Badet Tzigane Museum, Giraud and the Ornithological Park.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

An Approach To French Art

France has been among the main pioneers in many artistic expression forms throughout the country's history. France and art are both strongly attached to each other and it would not be possible to think of world art without thinking of France or think or Frances main characteristics without thinking of art. French art has had a very important influence not only in the French culture but also in the rest of the world.

The importance of art in France can be easily reflected through the great amount of museums and art exhibitions spread throughout the country. This great list would include, among the main ones, the Musee du Louvre, one of the greatest museums of the world. Also in this list we can find the Musee National du Moyen Age exhibiting a collection of medieval art works, and the Centre Pompidou, exhibiting art from the XX century.

Also among the most important museums and exhibition spots, there is the Musee d'Orsay, where visitors can observe a collection of French art from the XIX century, and the Musee Picasso, exhibiting amazing art works from this outstanding artist. The Musee Rodin is another great place to visit in order to enjoy French art and observe some amazing sculptures from this artist.

The Petit Palais and the Grand Palais are two places within France which change expositions and always show something interesting to observe. The Musee Carnavalet exhibits art works and provides information related to Paris in the XVII century. The list of French Museums and exhibition spots could go on for many paragraphs more, and is one of the most amazing lists of its kind which could be created.

The relation between France and art can be traced back to as long ago as the Paleolithic age. Many art works dating from such period of time were found within this country providing unique information and discoveries to the culture and art of the world. In France, each different age and period of time was strongly attached to art and had its typical art expression forms and characteristics which would have an important bond with each stage of the French history and culture.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

What To Do In Morlaix

Morlaix is a French town world wide famous due to its important port, although it also has several other interesting characteristics. This port has been famous through the pass of time and, even several centuries ago it already had a great prestige and received an important amount of traffic in a daily basis.

Although its port is a great attraction, Morlaix also offers several other interesting spots to meet. One of these spots is Queen Annes House or Maison de la Reine Anne. The Maison de la Reine Anne is a building which dates from the early 1600s and, nowadays, is a museum worthwhile to be visited by those who enjoy historic objects as well as interesting architectural structures.

Another interesting place to visit while being in Morlaix is the Church of St. Melanie. St. Melanie Church was built as a Benedictine abbey around the year 1150. Since the époque in which it was built, this church has lost some of its original features and gained some new ones, as well as even a bomb has caused its effects on it after what an important part had to be restored. This way, due to all this, this church has turned to be a very peculiar construction in which many different historical moments can be noticed.

The Museum of the Jacobins is one of the most interesting spots visitors could find within the area of Morlaix. Originally, during the 13th century, this museum was a convent which to the date still shows some of the architectural elements it had when it was just built. Visitors who are planning their visit to this museum according to a schedule should have in mind that usually, it opens from 10 am to noon and then from 2 pm to 6 pm.

The oldest area of Morlaix, and maybe the most interesting from the historic point of view, is the Saint Mathieu Quarter. This quarter is located towards the southern side of the town and is one of the most charming spots visitors could meet within this region. Saint Mathieu offers an appearance typical from the oldest French towns and those who enjoy meeting ancient constructions should not miss it.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France

The Paris District Of Le Marais

Le Marais is one of the most famous neighborhoods of Paris, and it owes an important amount of its fame to its nightlife and the energy which can be always felt while being in it. This area is also known as the district of creativity and innovation, offering visitors the chance to observe unique elements as well as the latest trends in fashion and arts.

This neighborhood or district is located at a very convenient spot, near the Louvre and the Sorbonne. Actually, visitors can walk from the Louvre or the Sorbonne to it as well as from other spots such as The Seine or Notre Dame since it is located at a rather central area. Visitors who go to Le Marais would find themselves in a very colorful and cheerful place, and can actually be very contrasting with other local attractions which might be more formal and calm, such as the Louvre or the Sorbonne.

The French term "le marais" means swamp and that name was given to this neighborhood due to the appearance it had at its origins. Nowadays, this district has a very charming appearance which transmits the magic and the essence of a very particular and unique Paris area, where people from different cultures and lifestyles live together in harmony and tourists are always welcome.

Le Marais started becoming a neighborhood in the 12th century, when religious institutions where built in it. After that, it started gaining an important amount of population when Henry the IV built La Place Royale within this area and made the Hotel Saint Pol his new home by leaving the Louvre. Since that time, Le Marais started becoming a very important spot of Paris, highly populated and full of activities.

Although Le Marais lost part of its beauty and attractive in the 17th century, it gained it back in the 19th. During the 1960's, some of Le Marais historical places were destroyed, although an important amount of others were left, and the district was given a new appearance since it received new buildings and attracted many artists to the area.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Hollywood - From Its Very Beginning To What It Is Today

History

On January 22, 1947, the first commercial TV station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, began operating in Hollywood. In December of that year, the first Hollywood movie production was made for TV, The Public Prosecutor. In addition, in the 1950s, music recording studios and offices began moving into Hollywood. Other businesses, however, continued to migrate to different parts of Los Angeles, primarily to Burbank, California. A lot of the movie industry remained in the area, although the district's outward appearance changed.

The famous Capitol Records building on Vine Street just north of Hollywood Boulevard was built in 1956. It is a recording studio not open to the public, but its unique circular design looks like a stack of old 45rpm vinyl records.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame was created in 1958 and the first star was placed in 1960 as a tribute to artists working in the entertainment industry. Honorees receive a star based on career and lifetime achievements in motion pictures, live theatre, radio, television, and/or music, as well as their charitable and civic contributions.

Progress

In 1985, the Hollywood Boulevard commercial and entertainment district was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places protecting important buildings and seeing to it that the significance of Hollywood's past would always be a part of its future.

In June 1999, the long-awaited Hollywood extension of the Metro Red Line subway opened, running from Downtown Los Angeles to the Valley, with stops on Hollywood Boulevard at Western Avenue, at Vine Street and at Highland Avenue.

The Kodak Theatre, which opened in 2001 on Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue, where the historic Hollywood Hotel once stood, has become the new home of the Oscars.

In 2002, a number of Hollywood citizens began a campaign for the district to secede from Los Angeles and become its own incorporated city. Secession supporters argued that the leaders of Los Angeles were ignoring the needs of their community. In June, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors placed secession referendums for both Hollywood and the Valley on the ballots for a "citywide election." To pass, they required the approval of a majority of voters from all over Los Angeles. In the November election, the referendums failed to receive the required percentage of votes by a wide margin.

Modern day Hollywood is a diverse, vital, and active community striving to preserve the elegant buildings from its past.

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David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.hollywoodinfohelp.com.

Choosing The Right Hotel

Whenever you book a vacation, choosing a hotel is key to your level of enjoyment. Hotels are usually rated with a star system, and this generally correlates with the hotels' price. When choosing a place to stay, ask yourself the following questions: How much time will I spend in the hotel? What amenities are most important to me? Am I looking for a home away from home or just a place to lay my head for the night? Knowing your own expectations can make choosing among hotels a lot easier.

Five-star hotels generally are the most expensive. You are paying for luxury. These hotels usually offer butler service, large bathrooms with soaking tubs, spa-inspired bath products, and high-end bed linens. Lobbies in five-star hotels are laden with marble and fresh flowers. Service is impeccable.

Still quite elegant are four-star hotels. Usually the difference is slight. Maybe the rooms are a bit smaller, the linens a slightly lower thread count, and the shampoos less expensive. The biggest difference seems to be in the price.

Three-star hotels offer clean and comfortable accommodations but may not offer the same amenities as their pricier cousins. Guest rooms are less elegant, but comfortable nevertheless. Bathrooms are generally pretty standard. (If you're looking for a rain shower, you probably won't find it here.) Service is fine, though the staff doesn't bow at your feet quite the same way. Many guests find this level of service more comfortable; others miss being treated like royalty.

Down in the two-star range you will find hotels that serve as a bed for the night but offer little else in the way of comfort. These hotels are good for driving trips where you only plan to spend a limited amount of time and then hit the road again. Count on “plain.” No fancy sheets or down comforters, probably a stall shower instead of a big bathtub, and definitely no champagne and strawberries. Room service? Maybe, but it's probably more likely that you'll ask the lobby for the local pizza joint's menu.

One-star hotels are best for budget travelers who aren't too picky about where they sleep as long as it's cheap. Not usually the cleanest or most updated places, these are meant for those guests who don't plan to spend a whole lot of time in their hotel room. If you're far more interested in the sightseeing than the size of your pillow, these hotels might suit you just fine.
If you've chosen to stay in hotels during your travels, choose wisely based on your own personal needs. As long as you're willing to pay a price equal to your expectations, you won't be disappointed.

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Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.my-cheap-hotels.info and http://www.my-hotel-deals.info websites providing information on finding a hotel.

The Elegant Chaillot Quarter

Chaillot Quarter originally was a village which was not counted as a Paris neighborhood until the 1800's. From that time on, Chaillot Quarter became a very important part of Paris and one of the most visited ones. This neighborhood is one of the most elegant of the entire city and one which contains some of the most luxurious and biggest mansions as well.

While being in the area of Chaillot Quarters, visitors could meet many interesting places, such as for example, the area of the Trocadero Plaza which contains spots such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Marine's Museum, among others. Chaillot Quarter's museums are among the most amazing museums of not only Paris but all France as well.

Places such as the Arch of Triumph and the Champs Elysées are within the Chaillot Quarter's area as well, being the base of the beauty and attraction of this neighborhood along with its museums and mansions. Due to all the attractive spots and buildings it contains, this Quarter or neighborhood is one of the most visited areas of Paris.

Chaillot Quarter is located at a Paris' central spot which turns it into an ideal place from which to visit other interesting areas. Places such as the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, the Avenue Montaigne and many others can be easily reached by visiting Chaillot Quarter. Avenue Montaigne might be particularly interesting for those who enjoy fashion and going to important designers’ shops since it is surrounded by several great shops selling products created by some of the most famous actual designers such as, for example, Dior, Lancel, Estrada, Cartier and YSL among many others.

Chaillot Quarter and its surroundings can be easily accessed due to the variety of transport options visitors can count on. This area can be accessed by bus, subway, taxi, car, and by walking. Although it might not be the most comfortable option, visiting Chaillot quarter by walking might be the ideal one since it allows observing every building and every spot of the area while going from one spot to the other.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Tarp Shelters For Lightweight Backpackers

Why use tarp shelters? The biggest reason ultralight backpackers use them is to reduce pack weight. The lightest tent you can find will be close to three pounds. Some of the newest ultralight tarps weigh just seven ounces.

Weight isn't the only advantage of tarp shelters, though. They also give you room to move, and you can easily look around. You can quickly take them down when you're ready to go. If it's wet, just shake it off and it will fit in an outside pocket of your backpack. Even if they were the same weight, I'd still prefer a tarp over a tent for most trips.

The lightest of my own tarp shelters weighs 16 ounces with all the strings. That seems heavy now, when I look at the new ultralight tarps out there. Integral Designs Sil Tarp 5' x 8', for example, weighs just 7 ounces.

The Bozeman Mountain Works Stealth 0 Catenary Ridgeline Ulralight Backpacking Tarp weighs an amazing 5.7 ounces. With a name like that, you know it has to be expensive. Of course, almost any backpacking tarp will be lighter - and cheaper - than the lightest tents out there.
How To Use Tarp Shelters

You'll probably need a bigger tarp than you think. A seven-foot roof may seem like it will cover your six-foot body well enough, until a blowing rain soaks your feet. Proper use is even more important than size, though.

Pitch the low side into the wind. Keep all sides low if a storm is coming. Evenly tighten guy lines. Use rocks, trees, trekking poles and whatever else helps. Pitch the tarp tightly, to keep it from flapping in the wind too much, which can loosen the strings or cause the tarp to tear.

If you haven't used tarp shelters before, experiment until you can quickly set up in several different enviroments. Bring lightweight stakes, until you learn how to use sticks and trees and rocks. No stakes means less weight to carry. I've always found something to use, even up high on the tundra.

You might have to treat the seams with a sealant occasionally, or at least when you first buy your tarp. Buy seam-sealer anyplace that sells tarps and tents. You'll need string or cord of some sort for tie-downs. I put varying lengths around the tarp, so I can untie and use the long ones where I need them. Sometimes that tree will be a little too far away.

I use 4' by 7' pieces of plastic for groundsheets. They're opened-up giant garbage bags that weigh 2 ounces. They're disposable, but I've used one for a week in the Rockies, and they're cheap and easy to replace. Whatever you use, lay your bag on it, to be sure you'll have room. You don't want to be touching the wet ground just because you moved a little. On the other hand, if it's too big it will catch rain out near the edge of the tarp, and funnel it back to you.
Mosquitos keep a lot of ultralight backpackers from using tarp shelters. Repellant is a partial solution, as is using the tarp only when it isn't too buggy. A headnet helps, but keeping the rest of your body covered when it's warm isn't pleasant. Pitch camp in a high, breezy place and you'll have fewer bug problems.

There are also mesh shelters you can pitch under your tarp. The lightest I've seen weighs 1 pound, 7 ounces. With a 7-ounce tarp, you'd be under 2 pounds for a shelter, and it comes with a floor, so you don't have to bring a groundsheet. Ultralight tarps and tarp shelters, by the way, weigh less than 20 ounces, a standard I just invented, but it seems reasonable.

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Steve Gillman is a long-time backpacker, and advocate of lightweight backpacking. His advice, stories and tarp recommendations can be found at http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com.

Spanish Beaches - A Perfect Place For Relaxing

Spain has important extensions of coast lines along the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. These coast lines offer a great variety of different spots and beautiful beaches, some of them visited year around by people from many different spots of the world.

One of the most visited coast line areas in Spain is the Costa del Sol, meaning the sun coast. Costa del Sol contains a group of amazing beaches which go from the southern area of Spain to Gibraltar. This area offers beaches of soft sand and warm waters and is propitious weather year around. Among the most famous tourism spots of Costa del Sol there is Torremolinos, Nerja, and Marbella.

Another great coast line area of Spain is the Costa de la Luz, meaning coast of light. Costa de la Luz is an area located towards the south western region of Andalucia, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, and which offers some of the bluest waters of the country. Besides enjoying the great beaches, visitors who approach this area could also visit some amazing cities, full of entertainment and interesting spots to meet.

Costa Brava is a coast line area which offers rocky beaches with a wilder appearance than other Spain summer spots. This area is ideal for those visitors who wish to meet more adventurous places which are less conventional and less crowded than others. Costa Brava beaches do not offer the typical landscapes full of sand and quiet environments but it does offer several rocky spots with wilder waters.

Towards the Spanish city of Valencia there is another great coast line called Costa Blanca. Costa Blanca is one of the most famous tourism spots among tourists from the entire world and mainly among Europeans. This area offers a unique type of green bluish waters combined with beautiful and soft sands surrounded by a very enjoyable environment and, most of the times, a great weather as well.

The Balearic Islands is another spot containing some of the most attractive beaches in Spain. This area is located near the coast of Catalonia, and consists on a archipelago which offers many different beaches and a great variety of activities and entertainment. This area ensures those who love the beach and beach related activities of spending a great time.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/spain.php if you're planning a trip to Spain.

Castres - An Industrial Town

Castres is recognized by being an industrial town located in a rural region. The town of Castres is situated towards the south western area of France, within the region of Languedoc Roussillon, and has a population of about 62,000 inhabitants, being among the largest industrial spots of the surroundings.

The town of Castres is the capital of a region in the department of Tarn, within the Midi Pyrenees. Some centuries ago, between 1791 and 1798, this town was named prefecture of Tarn, gaining popularity throughout the region and the country by it. During the last centuries, it has gained a high fame and reputation within all France due to the different created within its industries.

There are several industries by which Castres is widely known. Among Castres' industries we can find, for example, several electrical engineering and mechanical related ones. The town of Castres produces and sells a wide range of products which might comprehend chemicals, pharmaceuticals, granite, textile, fur clothing, leather clothing, machine tools, and wooden furniture among many others.

Castres was originally called Castrum, a word which in Latin refers to a fortified area. This town is very antique, with origins that can be traced back to the year 648 AD, and therefore it has a great amount of ancient constructions and historic spots for tourists to meet. Since then, this town has gone through a great amount of different periods, historical moments, and events which have left their mark on it. Visiting this town can be as meeting several different historic moments by simply walking around.

There are several characteristics by which Castres is very popular and world wide known, although one of the main ones is the fact that it is one of the main stops on the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela. This town has a very antique and interesting church which dates from as long ago as the IX century, and which is among the main places to meet for the Santiago de Compostela's pilgrims. This way, there are several different reasons making this town a very interesting and attractive one for tourists to meet.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

The Town Of Cognac

Cognac is located in the region of Poitou Charentes, towards the western area of France. This town is bordered by the River Charentes which provides it with very fertile and rich lands from which most of the city's prosperity is born. This area is among the most productive and fertile ones of France, and is very appealing for tourists who wish to meet spots offering a variety of different things to do and places to visit.

The history and past of Cognac is very interesting and is one of its most attractive features. During the Renaissance, within the XII century, this town was considered to be part of Angouleme. During this époque, Cognac became a central spot for arts and literature due to the fact that many artists, writers and people who enjoyed literature would meet and gather within this area.

During the XVI century, the town went through the Wars of Religion. During the period of time in which this war took place, Cognac became strongly affected by it, and an important amount of its population moved to another area. These confrontations finished once an agreement from both sides could be reach, and peace was re-established.

Towards the XVIII century, the town of Cognac received an important amount of immigrants who arrived in order to establish their homes within this town. These immigrants were mainly Irish and British, and had an important influence in the actual traditions and culture of this town.

During the XIX century, this town saw an important increasing in its amount of inhabitants, and with this, the entire structure of it changed as well. During this period of time, an important amount of new buildings and constructions were added to Cognac, as well as its economy grew from an augment in the town's trading of wine and other products.

World War I caused a decreasing in cognac's population and the town's economy became strongly affected by it. But despite all these problems and obstacles, this city molded to its new situation and slowly gained back its prosperity, as it had already done in other moments of its past.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Montpelier - The Capital of Languedoc Roussillon

Montpellier is the capital city of the French region of Languedoc Roussillon and the administrative capital of the department of Herault. This city has a population of about 245,000 inhabitants and shows a population growth of about 1.7% per year, and is constantly receiving visitors and students who approach for studying at its famous medicine university.

Montpellier shows the peculiarity of being among a very small amount of French cities which do not have a Roman background in their past. Besides this, there also are several other interesting facts, as well as many historical events and constructions by which Montpellier is among the most visited towns of the region.

The city of Montpellier is also famous by being home of one of the best medicine universities of Europe. This university was created by William VII of Montpellier around 1180, and since its construction the town started gaining popularity and becoming known throughout all France and the rest of Europe.

The Saint Pierre Cathedral is another one of the main attractions of Montpellier. This cathedral was built in the XIV century, and can be visited after meeting the botanical garden due to their closeness. Also, near the botanical garden and the Saint Pierre Cathedral there is the triumphal arc called Porte du Peyrou. This triumphal arc was built around the year 1690 and is very interesting due to its shape and its art work.

The botanical garden is another spot tourists should make sure of visiting while being in Montpellier. This botanical garden was constructed around 1595, and was the first of its kind to be created in France. It is very recommendable for those who enjoy meeting places full of green and natural elements.

Many famous people were born in the town of Montpellier. Among these people, we can name, for example, Alexandre Cabanel, Auguste Comte, Antoine Jerome Balard, Frederic Bazille, Charles Bernard Renouvier, Emile Saisset, Leo Malet, Guillaume Mathieu, Nostradamus, and Francois Rabelais. It is also interesting to remark that many famous scientists, some of them from the mentioned list, such as for example Nostradamus and Rebelais, went to the University of Montpellier for their education.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Visit Zambia 2005 and Zambia Safari “Carnival”

This is the ultimate, the finale of the campaign “Visit Zambia 2005.” But again it’s the beginning of the more exciting times for Zambia safari.

What will happen?

An estimated 40,000 international visitors and safari enthusiasts will arrive in Livingstone, Zambia in November 2005. They will be here to commemorate a number of centenaries and the sighting of the Victoria Falls.

1 - Livingstone City was established in April 1905,

2 - The Victoria Falls Bridge was completed in April and commissioned in September 1905,

3 - The Seventh Day Adventist church was established in Zambia in April of 1905,

4 - The Jesuit Fathers of the Catholic church established two missionaries: Chikuni in Monze and Kasisi in Lusaka in August of 1905.

5 - The Baptist Church union was established in Zambia in August 1905.

6 - The day for the late Secretary General of the United Nations, Dag Hammerskjeold, who died in a plane crash at Ndola, Zambia on September 18, 1961.

7 - and the 150 years since Dr David Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls.

Wow… and that’s quite a few centennials!

The Livingstone Events Organisation (LEO) has set up activities that will culminate into the grand finale of the “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign on November 16, the day Dr Livingstone sighted the world wonder, the Victoria Falls, 150 years ago!

Zambia is taking special interest in this event. The world has been invited to celebrate with Zambian. The visitors will include the grand children and the great-grand children of Dr Livingstone. Now that’s a lot of ‘grands’ the “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign will take on board.
So far two of Dr Livingstone's great grand children Dr David Livingstone Wilson and Dierdre Nyasa Rolf Livingstone have accepted to come to Zambia.

According to the Livingstone Centenary Celebrations 2005, the 150 years anniversary celebrations of Dr Livingstone’s sighting of the Victoria Falls would be held on 15th and 16th November in Livingstone, a town closest to the Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Where is the safari carnival taking place in Africa? What is Zambia safari carnival celebration of a few centenaries and 150 years since the Victoria Falls was discovered...

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Enestle Zimba a geologist for over twenty years manages Zambia African Safari (ZAS) part time. Enestle promotes safaris and tourism in Zambia...and conservation is his great passion.
Subscribe to “Africa’s Best Kept Secret” newsletter. Discover the gems of Zambia safari. Click below to sent a blank e-mail subscription request.
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Get seven Zambia African Safari reports by sending a blank e-mail to zimbaen@freeautobot.com.

Why We Build Cities on Swamps

One man’s single-minded determination built this city on a swamp, on territory claimed by the enemy. Years later, Hitler decreed it should be wiped off the face of the earth. The name of the city? St. Petersburg, Russia's Window on Europe, Venice of the North, City of Light, is quite simply the most beautiful city I've ever seen. It overwhelms the eye, and the soul.

It was conceived in the mind of Peter the Great, aptly named, as he stood 7'2" tall and cast an even longer shadow, and born by his will, built, as they say, with the bones of thousands of serfs, and built where no city could or should be built.

"The history of the city," writes the BBC, "is a story of the triumph of human will over the elements." It was the Russian winter, after all, that finally defeated Napoleon, and St. Petersburg is nearly parallel to Helsinki.

It is said that one day the tsar of Russia, who, determined to make Russia a country in its own right, not the colony of one of the super powers busy at the time dividing the world amongst them, single-handedly dragged his country into the appropriate century, galloped across the swamp to where the Neva River meets the Gulf of Finland, dismounted, plunged his saber into the mire, and declared, "Here shall be a city."

Not only was it built on a swamp, it was built on a swamp that Russia didn't own. Perennially at war with Sweden, the land was at the time claimed by the Swedes. Early settlers immediately experienced floods, and it was considered inhabitable … none of which mattered to Peter.
Or perhaps it did. The man had a vision and a statement to make, and it was a politically strategic location.

Peter’s mission was to drag the Russian people, kicking and screaming, into the modern world. For what's a city with no people in it? Peter commanded the boyars to move from Moscow to St. Petersburg, to dress and behave like Westerners, and to shave their beards. In the Russian Orthodox religion, the longer one's beard, the greater the likelihood he would enter heaven. Peter the Great didn't care.

St. Petersburg was a political statement, and so was its reconstruction for its 300th anniversary two years ago. With roads and houses in disrepair, the people watched as hundreds of millions of dollars were poured into reconstruction of the presidential palace and other cultural treasures. The total for renovation was said to be $2 billion.

Of the restoration, Bob Parsos, BBC, wrote: "The people of this, the most European of Russian cities, are proud of the city's cultural heritage...But the hundreds of pensioners whose country cottages and gardens were razed to the ground to make way for the restoration of the Konstantinovsky Palace are seething with rage." It was done without their input or consent, so as not to be an embarrassment when dignitaries visited for the celebration.

Like most of us, about many things, they were "grudgingly happy" with the outcome. Shall we say ambivalent?

Does the city, does the world, need The State Hermitage, one of the world’s great museum, which is comprised of six buildings and sprawls along the Neva in the heart of the city?

The city has its history. Stalin's purges in the 1920s included as many as a quarter of the city's inhabitants, and more than a million died while the Germans held siege to the city for 900 days during World War II. That's three years.

Standing inside the Hermitage, we saw pictures of the devastation. On the Hermitage website, you can read an excerpt from the instructions of Hitler’s high command on the destruction of Leningrad, dated September 29, 1941:

"...2. The Fuehrer has decided to wipe the city of St Petersburg from the face of the earth. We have no interest in the preservation of even a part of the population of that city.

4. It is proposed to tightly encircle the city and by shelling from artillery of all calibres and constant aerial bombing to raze it to the ground..."

Nearly two million civilians, including about 400,000 children, plus troops were trapped inside the city. According to “The History of St. Petersburg,” on petersburgcity.com:

“Food and fuel supplies were very limited (enough for 1 or 2 months only). All public transportation has stopped. By the winter of 1941-42 there was no heating, no water supply, almost no electricity and very little food. In January 1942, in the middle of an unusually cold winter, the lowest food rations in the city were only 125 grams (about 1/4 of a pound)…”
Just down from the Heritage is the Peter and Paul Fortress, the first stones Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, laid. We toured this as well. Over the years it housed Russia's most famous political prisoners.

We human beings are not reasonable creatures. If we were, half the wonderful things in the world would not exist. But we are capable of being reasonable. If we were not, the tilting at windmills would have broken us eons ago.

It requires the wisdom of Solomon to know and be both, and to choose when and in what proportion.

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him, "wrote George Bernard Shaw. "The unreasonable man adapts surroundings to himself. All progress depends on the unreasonable man."

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Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc. Providing coaching, Internet courses and ebooks around emotional intelligence for your persona and professional success. I train and certify EQ coaches.

Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for information on this innovative, affordable, no-residency program.

Galapagos Island of Africa: Udzungwa Mountains Tanzania

The draw to this wonderful park is the diversity of flora and fauna and the remote almost inaccessible forests. There are no roads in the park, you have to be prepared to do lots of hard hiking, and indeed this is a hiker’s paradise.

It is remarkable that these forests have remained untouched before they received National Park status. This is due largely to traditional taboos and beliefs that kept the local people from destroying and clearing these forests. There are important natural caves in the park – which are of a significant cultural importance. There are many plant species found nowhere else in the world including over 160 medical plant varieties.

The Udzungwa hosts animals that are found in most Tanzanian parks including elephants, buffaloes, lion and leopard; also including the African wild dog, which is only found in Southern Tanzania. However, most of these are not present in large numbers and visitors will have a hard time spotting these game animals in this Park. A park ranger and/or guide must accompany all hikers.

There are ten species of primates found only in this park, these include the sanje mangabey, the red colobus monkeys and the nocturnal Matundu Galago, discovered in 1996.

Udzungwa has the richest forest bird habitat in all of Tanzania. Several species peculiar to this park have recently been discovered - including a new species of francolin and the Rufus-winged sun bird. Many regard the Udzungwa forests to be among highest-ranking destinations for bird watching in Africa.

The Park was created primarily for the plant life and the rainforests are a big attraction in this park. The park has stunning scenery especially in the rainforest and wooded grassland that include many rivers and waterfalls. The Sanje waterfalls has three tiers to its spectacular drop starting at a height of 200m, to 160m and then to 130m before finally crashing down to the bottom.

The lowland rainforest are 250 meters above sea level and reach up to moist cloud forest at around 2000 meters above sea level. With Mount Mwaniahana rising to 2700 meters above the forests. This mature [Parinari Excelsa] rainforest is well the adventure of getting there. The hiking in the park is quite hard and a low pace is recommended.

The Lumemo Trail is sugested for hiking in this park and a description can be found in my article The Lumemo Trail: A Tanzanian Wilderness Experience for the Practiced Hiker.

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Ian Williamson
Bethel Adventures is using tourism to fund Community Initiatives in Northern Tanzania. We are busy at present building a nursery school in Arusha. http://www.betheladventure.co.uk Using tourism to change lives.

The City of Rennes

Rennes, located at 300 kilometers southwest of Paris, towards the northwestern area of France, is the municipal capital of the region of Brittany and one of the most interesting towns of it as well. There are several interesting characteristics about this city, such as, for example, its history and its constructions, some of them among the most ancient of the region.

Rennes economy is based on its agriculture as well as some industrial products. It produces an important amount of agricultural products which are consumed within the region as well as throughout several other places. Besides this, Rennes also produces farm equipment, railroad related products and cars among others.

At its origins, Rennes was the main city of the Celtic Redones. After that, this town became part of the Romans domains, and the next important historic fact happened during the XX century, when it was named capital of Brittany. this way, this city has had an important role in many époques as well as it has gone through several important changes.

During the XVIII century, around the year 1720, Rennes went through a disastrous fire which caused it to lose many of its original buildings and caused its general appearance to change. Later, during World War II, Rennes became again badly affected, this time for bombing, which again caused it to loose some of its constructions.

Although many of its original buildings and constructions disappeared, many others still remain almost unchanged. Among these constructions there are, for example, the Duchesne Tower from the XV century, the Palais Saint Georges from the XVII century, the Opera from the XIX century, many mansions from the XVII century and others from the XIX century, and several squares from the XVIII century among others.

The Chapel of Saint Yves is another great construction located in Rennes and which still shows many of its original characteristics unchanged. This building was constructed during the XV century, and is an amazing inheritance from the past. Besides the construction itself, those who approach the Cathedral of Saint Yves can also visit permanent exhibitions which take place within its walls.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

The Cóte d'Or

The Cóte d'Or is one of the most famous regions of France, recognized in the entire world due to its high quality wines. Its location is very particular since it comprehends an area framed by three important water sources: one given by the Saóne River and the Rhóne River, a second one given by the Seine River, and a third one given by the Loire River.

This region's climate is averagely template and usually homogeneous throughout the region, although some times it might vary from one area to another. Due to the important geographical extension this region comprehends, it might happen sometimes that weather is nice and sunny in one spot while it is rainy and colder in another.

The Cóte d'Or region is characterized by the variety of landscapes it shows, as well as the great colors, tastes and smells which can be enjoyed while visiting it. This area is full of attractive lands, vineyards, rivers, and many other beautiful natural elements which combine together providing the region with a very attractive appearance. This way, the region’s name can be easily adjudicated to its nature and appearance, being a clear referent of the landscapes that can be expected from it.

This region of Burgundy can be easily accessed from many different points by different transportation methods. One of the easiest ways to reach the region of Cóte d'Or is by train. There is a high speed train which would go from Paris to Burgundy within a short period of time. Also, visitors who wish to arrive from other places or even from other countries might find a variety of options as well, such as, for example, London- Burgundy flights.

The main characteristic of this region is the wine production. This wine production comprehends lands and fields which might mainly go from the southern area of Dijon to the area of Cote the Nuits. Another important activity of the region is farming. Although less known, farming is an important source of income and employment within the region of Cóte d'Or, and its products are distributed within a wide area.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

The Algarve – Playground of Portugal

The Algarve area of Portugal, which covers the southern-most part of the country, is an incredibly diverse region. Any holidaymaker can find an enjoyable way of filling their holiday hours. Add in a warm, sunny climate almost year round, and it’s hardly surprising that the Algarve region is the major tourist area in Portugal.

With all that sunshine, naturally many holidaymakers come in search of beaches, and they’re not disappointed. With around 270km of coastline, including everything from wide sandy beaches to secluded inlets, there’s something for everyone. Add to that a wide variety of accommodation with luxury resorts near bustling towns to quiet villages, and there’s no doubt everyone is catered for.

The easiest way to travel to the Algarve from overseas is via airplane to Faro. This is the region’s main town and commercial hub, but is still a pleasant place to visit. Most of the town was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, but even so, there are interesting buildings dotted around the town that are worth visiting. There is also a small remnant of the old town, Cidade Velha, and a walking tour through this area is fascinating.

The towns of Tavira and Silves are also highlights of the Algarve region for those with an historic interest. Tavira encompasses everything from castle ruins, churches from a range of architectural periods and elegant houses from various centuries. Silves was once the Mooorish capital of the Algarve, and its main claim to fame is the magnificent red stone castle which overlooks the town today.

For those who like more modern entertainment and a slightly faster pace, there is plenty of nightlife to be found in either Lagos or Albuferira. Even better, there are plenty of sandy beaches where you can lie back and recover! Lagos also suffered terribly in the 1755 earthquake, with very little surviving apart from the old town wall.

If you’d rather spend your time being entertained by mother nature, then the Algarve can deliver. Close to Faro is the Parque Natural da Ria Formosa. This is basically an extensive lagoon system which is home to an enormous number of wetland birds, as well as forming a vital link in the migration chain. The park’s visitor centre is excellent.

You can also head further west, and watch the coastline become more rugged. Cabo de São Vicente (Cape St Vincent) is Europe’s most southwesterly point. Barren and majestic, it’s certainly an awe inspiring place to visit – but be prepared to face the strong winds that often batter the Cape.

The western coast of the Algarve is home to the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. This narrow strip of park was created in 1995 to amalgamate a number of smaller parks, in the hope of protecting the ecosystem from rampant development. The area is also home to many birds.

There are plenty of places to stay along the west coast of the Algarve, as well as beaches, however the Atlantic is a little rougher on this side and in places can be quite dangerous. Keen surfers are often to be found in this region.

It’s worth visiting the inland part of the Algarve as well. There are a number of mountain ranges, with the Serra de Monchique being the most popular.

And if all else fails – the Algarve is home to a large number of golf courses, including 7 of Europe’s top 100 courses.

The Algarve is an incredibly diverse region, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could possibly visit without finding something of interest to see or do. So make sure you schedule a visit there soon.

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Felicity Walker
Travelling is a much loved past time for the author. To find out more, check out www.travelportugalinfozone.com for more information.

The Bahamas - An Exotic Tropical Paradise

Find Your Tropical Paradise in the Bahamas

The Bahamas are your picture perfect solution when you are seeking a tropical paradise vacation, far removed from the humdrum of everyday life. The Bahamas are a stunning kaleidoscope of many beautiful islands that are just 50 miles off of the Florida coast. This proximity to the mainland, easy accessibility and tropical location makes it the perfect getaway.
The Bahamas are a delight to the connoisseur of water sports. Sailing is one of the most popular warm water activities offered at the islands. Numerous sailing regattas and festivals draw large a large number of water sports lovers to these islands. Additionally, water sports such as wind surfing, parasailing and kayaking are readily on offer.

There is an amazing undersea world in these lovely waters. They are home to reefs and colorful fish, and are protected. You won't be able to hold back from snorkeling and scuba diving once you see what there is on offer. About 5% of the world's reefs are in this region. You won't believe all the colorful fish species swimming around you.

The people of the Bahamas are a friendly bunch and are happy to share their culture, history, and life style with visitors. Many people have stories of Caribbean islands filled with inhospitable locals who seem annoyed with the presence of tourists. You won't find that in the Bahamas since the people are known for their wonderful hospitality.

You will find a rich and varied marine life, complete with the whales and dolphins calling this place home. The wildlife on land is also exciting and diverse. You're sure to find a tour that's just right for you, where you'll learn all about the animals and plants inhabiting these islands. The Bahamas offer sensual delights to everyone who visits.

The islands offer numerous activities even for those who prefer the terra firma. While cricket is very popular in Nassau, many resorts organize cricket matches for their guests. If you do not wish to play, then just relax and soak in the sun while watching a few games.

Of course golf and tennis are big on the islands, thanks to the perfect climate. World class tournaments are played here each year. You can watch, or if you prefer, you can play on the incredible courses and courts. It won't matter if you're a beginner or an expert. You'll find the place just right for your level of expertise.

If high energy activities aren't your thing there is no shortage of beautiful white sand and even pink sand beaches. Soak up the sun year round underneath swaying palms to the sound of the turquoise waters lapping the sands. Just don't forget the sunscreen! Many people have inadvertently been burned by the hot Caribbean sun.

Do you love shopping? No worries, as you'll find plenty of shops. They don't all sell tacky souvenirs either. There are plenty of high-end stores. The prices make it well worth your while to spend your Bahamian dollars.

Dining on the local Bahamian cuisine is a pleasure that you don't want to miss. The seafood offerings are particularly outstanding, as they are perfectly seasoned. Spicy but not too much so. Check out the conch meat, as its preparation is a specialty of the islands.

The Bahamas make a wonderful vacation destination where you can do just about anything your heart desires. The weather is almost always perfect and the water warm and pleasant. Contact your travel agent and ask about the many special packages and deals these beautiful islands have to offer. A trip to the Bahamas can be budget or luxury

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Randy Cranbrooke is your host at About the Bahamas, a fantastic website to visit when you are searching for the latest knowledge, accurate up to date advice and commentary about the Bahamas. For more articles on the Bahamas why not visit: http://www.abahamas.com/articles http://www.abahamas.com.

Western US Retirement Picks

I am pursuing my final career – and I am quite comfortable working a 40-hour schedule for the first time in my life. I take my time and pick my clients carefully.

I get to take a day off here and there for golf, and I travel around the western states every couple of months. Over the past two years I have been keeping an eye out for the perfect spot to retire in the Western US.

I now live in a small community near the Bay Area in Northern California. I’ve lived here for 20+ years, and it has been great. The Bay Area is vibrant, has a good climate, and is home to some of the most creative people on the planet. But it certainly isn’t paradise.

It is an expensive place to live. The highways are congested. The boarders of the US are out of control and that has hit California hard. The government is dysfunctional, and we pay a premium for that. While we have good weather, it is great half the year and somewhat over-rated the other half. My business has changed over the past five years. I can do about 80% - 90% of it from anywhere. That’s the beauty of information and communication technology.

Let me share with you what I have found as I looked for better working/ retirement locations in the western US.

Portland, Oregon area; especially Southern Washington

Prescott, Arizona

Northern Baja, Mexico

Hilo, the big island of Hawaii

Boise, Idaho

Southern Washington: I recently visited a friend who built his dream house on a few acres in Southern Washington, about 30 minutes from Portland. His 2,500 square foot house cost about the same as a ¼ acre lot in the Bay Area. He is within easy drive of a good airport and Oregon has no sales tax. He can explore the Cascades and reach ocean or skiing in a few hours. Yep – it rains a lot, but not as much as Seattle.

Prescott, Arizona: This gem is home to 30,000 people, who enjoy mountain vistas and a temperate, sunny, four-season climate thanks to its mile-high elevation. If you aren’t real fussy, you can find a nice house for $350k. If you are a little fussy or want some land, expect to pay $500k or better. Prescott is an old, established town with historic buildings and strong family culture. It’s true that absentee Californians have snapped up a good bit of the real estate up. But they have been are running around most of the west buying spare homes and putting them in the “bank” for future use

Northern Baja, Mexico: Don’t write this one off too fast, especially if you are in So Cal. and want a second home near the beach. It is not as crazy as it sounds You can live near the beach in Rosarito and get an absolutely great ocean view or ocean front house for a fraction of the price of a house located two hours north in San Diego county. South of the Border property even has financing available from this side of the border.

Hilo Area on the Big Island: One of the best deals in the United States has been discovered and land prices are climbing rapidly, but guess what? Land in Hilo is still inexpensive. If you are looking for a slow pace, it doesn’t get any slower than Hilo. This area is absolutely beautiful yet not a prime location for vacation resorts and condos. Condos on Kauai, Maui, and the other side of the big island run $500 - $750k, yet a Hilo acre lot can be purchased for $40 to $75k, and houses for $150k. If you want some privacy, like to garden, and have dreamed of building a hideaway on an tropical island, there is still time to do it in the USA. It rains almost daily in Hilo but showers are short and the 75 to 80 degrees temperatures makes the showers and lush green growth a real delight.

Boise is rated as the second best city to do business in the US by Forbes Magazine. It has a population of about 400,000, and median house prices around $165,000. Boise is an excellent gateway to the natural beauty of the Northern Rockies. For those of you not quite ready to hang it up, but looking for an interesting, affordable small city environment, Boise deserves your serious consideration.

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John A Thomas is an author, mentor, and business consultant who works exclusively with entrepreneurs and owners of small and mid-size businesses. He provides advice on web site promotion at TrafficistheKey.com/

Paimpol Town And Its Surroundings

The town of Paimpol has historically had an important influence within the region of Brittany due to its port and its sea related activities in general. One of the main activities by which this town owes its importance is the commercialization of oysters facilitated by its oyster beds.
Tourists who visit the town of Paimpol and wish to learn about its past and its history should visit the Musée de la Mer. This museum is located in rue Labenne and usually opens its doors to the public between March and September, allowing them to meet many historical facts and data about Paimpol and observe some objects related to such matters as well.

Besides the Musée de la Mer, visitors can also visit the Musée du Costume. The Musée du Costume exhibits costumes which belong to the region's traditions and its history as well as many other interesting related objects. It is recommendable to find accurate information regarding when these museums open before going since they might change they schedules. Besides this, it is also recommended to ask for information at a tourism centre about the town’s history before meeting it in order to make sure not to miss any important spot of it while visiting it.

The abbey of Beauport is another spot recommended for tourists not to miss while being in Paimpol. This abbey was built during the XIII century and still has most of its original structural and architectural elements in great condition. This way, visitors who approach Beauport abbey could observe a very interesting construction, typical from the époque in which was built almost as if they were back to that date.

Another interesting activity offered to visitors within the area of Paimpol is its boat trips. There are different boat trips available for tourists who wish to meet the area from a different point of view as well as easily reach some spots they hardly could otherwise. Visitors could make a boat trip by being on board of a typical boat and even learn how to sail from it if they wish as well.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Skiing in Val d'Isere

Val d'Isere is often known as the main skiing resort of France and one of the most appealing ones of the world. This way, this area constantly receives visitors from all over the world who approach looking for skiing and having fun while being in a spot which offers all the facilities and comfort relates elements they might need.

This skiing area is ideal for skiing beginners as well as for experienced ones due to the fact that there are several different types of spots which would adapt to every different level of skill. Thos skiers who are just taking their first steps on this sport could find a professional instructor willing to help them and guide them in their learning experience; and those skiers who are very experienced would be able to find challenging areas and have a lot of fun in them.

There are various different spots within Val d'Isere ideal for different ages, preferences and skills levels. There is even a small village, located at the spot known as Rond Point des Pistes, and thought for children ranging between 3 years old to 13 years old. This way, n matter the ages and skills levels of the visitors Val d'Isere receives, there will surely be a spot appropriate for them and suitable to their needs.

Val d'Isere offers over 150 kilometers of skiing area distributed in 70 different pistes. These pistes are divided in several different categories: there are 21 green pistes, 25 blue pistes, 18 red pistes, and 6 black pistes, as well as a half pipe stadium, and a snowboard park. Guidance and instructors are always available, and beginners could learn the basic notions on this sport within 6 days of lessons.

There also are other activities available at Val d'Isere besides skiing, although this surely is the central one. This area offers many other snow and ice related activities such as, for example, snow driving and ice skating among many others. Besides those related to snow and ice, there also are several other activities such as a cinema, some pubs, and nightclubs among others.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Lisbon – The Forgotten Gem of Europe

For many centuries, Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, was regarded as one of the most magnificent cities in Europe. With its long history, Moorish influences, stunning location and vast riches from India and Brazil, it was a trading hub for hundreds of years. But a devastating earthquake in 1755, followed by fire and a tidal wave, reduced it to ruins and obscurity.

In recent years, however, Lisbon has begun to return to some of its former glory. It was the European City of Culture in 1994, hosted Expo 98, and was the major host city for the huge soccer event, Euro2004. More people are discovering its fascinating blend of old and new. Even better, it still remains relatively affordable by European standards.

Located on 7 hills beside the Rio Tejo (River Tagus), Lisbon is best explored on foot, as driving and parking are difficult, to say the least. Some of the hills can be taxing to climb, but in most cases a funicular or tram is available. Much of the appeal of the city is to be found wandering up and down the streets. Examples of both Moorish and art nouveau architecture are common, as well as beautiful mosaic pavements.

One of the highlights of Lisbon is the Castelo de São Jorge, perched high above the city, and yet quite close by. Originally built in the 5th century, it has undergone many extensions, and modifications. It has been used as everything from a royal residence to a prison. The panoramic views are magnificent.

If your tastes are a little more upbeat, then the area to visit is Bairro Alto. This area has long had the reputation for containing the best restaurants and nightclubs in Lisbon. Alternatively, if you want to go upmarket, then the shopping district for you is Chiado.

Lisbon also contains a number of excellent museums. The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian contains what was originally a private collection of classical and oriental art. The very generous benefactor left his collection to the people of Portugal, along with a very generous charitable foundation. It’s very easy to spend a day strolling around the gallery, even though only about a quarter of the collection can be displayed at any one time.

Depending on your interests, you can also spend time in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (National Museum of Ancient Art), or the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (azulejo are the hand painted tiles which adorn so many of Portugal’s buildings). If you prefer something a little more modern, there’s also the Centro de Arte Moderna (Modern Art Centre).

Eventually, if you reach the point where you’re completely saturated with art, tiles and gorgeous buildings, you can always spend some time in the Parque das Nações, or the Nations Park. It was the site for Expo 98, and now contains gardens, various family attractions, restaurants and bars. It even contains Europe’s largest Oceanarium.

Lisbon is the type of city that you can try to sample in a day, but it takes much longer to truly appreciate all of its many and varied delights. Allow yourself plenty of time to do just that, and your visit to Lisbon will remain amongst your most treasured memories.

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Felicity Walker
Travelling is a much loved past time for the author. To find out more, check out www.travelportugalinfozone.com or www.travelportugalinfozone.com/lisbon/ for more information.

Some Recommendations to Immigrate to Canada

"I Hate Hearing Stories About Families Who Return To Their Original Country After Unsuccessfully Attempting To Settle In Canada."

Don’t Be One Of Them... Information Is Power, And Being Prepared For The Immigration Process Will Increase Your Chances Of Successfully Settling In Canada...

"I want to start a new life. I want to sell everything I have, go to the airport, take the first flight to Canada and start a new life."

Sounds familiar?

While it may sound very easy, it is not as simple as that. One of the most disappointing facts about Canadian Immigration is to hear the stories of families who return to their original country after unsuccessfully attempting to settle in Canada.

One of the main reasons for these failures is that the principal visa applicant that supports everyone financially is unable to obtain an employment in his or her profession.

However, being prepared and educated about a process makes it simpler and less stressful.
Moving to another country is not easy. It is crucial, however, to be organized and prepared for this "once in a lifetime" process which, if it is done correctly, can change your life forever.

I have constant communication with thousands of potential immigrants all over the world, and I keep listening the same questions about moving to Canada, such as:

Where do I start? What do I need to do first?

Will I get a job in Canada?

Can I bring my family with me?

Which documents do I need to attach to my application?

How long does the whole process take?

What do I need to do after I send my visa application file?

Well, information is power. The more you know about the process, the easier it will be to be a Canadian Permanent Resident and fulfill your dream of living in one of the best countries in the world.

Let me give you some suggestions...

1 - Set short and long term goals - It is very important that you decide important factors such as : When do you want to move? Which Canadian city do you prefer? Do you need to quit your job? when?

2 - Prepare your visa application - Remember, it is very important to fill these application forms correctly if you want to increase your changes of getting the Permanent Residence visa.

3 - Prepare the supporting documentation - This is probably the most important part of the immigration process, since the way you gather and prepare these documents will determine to a high extent if your visa will be approved.

4 - Send your file - Once you have your forms and documents ready, you need to send your file to the Canadian Visa Office that is responsible for analysing your case. It is very important that you send your file the way it is specified by each Visa Office.

5 - Start looking for a job - Since the visa application process may take a few months (depending on your country of residence), you should start contacting companies in Canada while your documents are being processed by the Visa Office.

6 - Follow the instructions - You should follow the instructions received by the Visa Office after you have sent your file (you might have to attend an interview or medical examination).

7 - Plan your trip - If your visa is approved, you should plan the date of arrival to Canada. It is very important to contact Real Estate companies in Canada before you move; so that they can help you find a place to live in this beautiful country.

8 - Pack your bags! - Get your bags ready and move to Canada!

Remember, the process can be very difficult, or extremely simple, depending on your willingness to understand and prepare for the visa application process.

It is not impossible, thousands of people from all over the world move to Canada every year!
No more excuses... Start planning your goals, start preparing the application forms and gathering the supporting documents. The best moment to start is NOW...

See you in Canada my friend!

If you want to start preparing your Canadian Visa Application in a few minutes, the downloadable guide Step by Step Immigration to Canada will be extremely useful. One of the 4 guides you will receive contains links to Headhunters and Job Recruiting companies in Canada (it will help you start looking for a job in this beautiful country while your visa is being processed) - To order now, visit http://www.stepbystepimmigrationcanada.com/order.htm

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Alex Berez is a specialist in Canadian Immigration. He helps thousands of people from all over the world to achieve their dream: moving to Canada.
Step by Step Immigration to Canada Download your free Canadian Immigration Mini Course from: http://www.stepbystepimmigrationcanada.com

Italy Cruise - Expert Guide

History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people and stunning views - an Italy cruise has it all! You can visit the main sites of Italy on a European cruise or a Mediterranean cruise, but to really experience Italy - to really taste it - you need to immerse yourself in everything that Italy has to offer by taking an Italy cruise...

Italy cruises depart from several ports around the country. Many depart from Civitavecchia - the gateway port to Rome. However, to get the full Italy experience it is recommended that an Italy cruise be embarked upon from the ports of Savona or Genoa on the Ligurian Peninsula and taken all the way round to Venice, or vice-versa. This way, you'll discover that there's a lot more to Italy than a cruise departing from Civitavecchia would be able to show you!

So, what delights await in this classical land? The Ligurian Peninsula is a true paradise. Largely undiscovered by mass tourism, quaint Italian villages line the coastline in this spectacular part of Italy. Beautiful sandy beaches alternate with rocky headlands, and magnificent coastal villages shine like beacons on the shore...

In Genoa you can discover the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and marvel at the city's stunning Gothic architecture. A little further to the south Livorno is a port of call worth spending a little time at. Here, you will be able to arrange shore excursions to see the famous leaning tower of Pisa, as well as visit the grand Renaissance city of Florence - home to Dante, Michaelangelo and the Medicis...

The Colosseum at Rome, Mount Vesuvius and the ancient city that it buried - Pompeii - are essential attractions to visit when on an Italy cruise, as is Rimini on the Adriatic Sea. From Rimini you can take a shore excursion to visit the enclave of San Marino, which is less than an hour's drive from Rimini port...

Finally, irresistible Venice awaits as the final stop at the end of your cruise. Venice is a true waterworld, consisting of more than 120 islands through which a network of waterways can be explored by gondola. Renaissance-style architecture is everywhere in this city, and you'll be able to take a shore excursion that takes in the famous Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs...
So, whether you want to discover what it felt like to be a gladiator in Rome's Colosseum, peer into the gigantic crater of Mt Vesuvius or navigate your way around Venice's canal system, an Italy cruise is a special adventure that you'll never forget.

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John Metcalfe is the author and web publisher of A to Z Cruises your #1 source for cruise information. For more expert guides to cruising visit http://www.azcruises.com/newsletter-articles/.

The Town of Chambéry

Chambéry is located within the Alps, in France, and is one of the most famous and attractive towns of the region. From this town, visitors could have an amazing view of the Alps which is said to be unique due to the way in which the sight is clear towards almost every point a person might wish to look.

At the north area of Chambéry there is the main natural lake of France, the Lac du Bourget, famous due to its beauty and charm. Besides its lake and landscapes, Chambéry also offers visitors the chance to explore amazing buildings as well as relax at a local café or a restaurant.
Those visitors who enjoy sports would also be able to find something fun to do while being in Chambéry due to the fact that this town offers the chance to practice several different sports. Among the different sports available within the area of Chambéry there is, for example, skiing, sailing, and rock climbing among others.

Due to the fact that Chambéry is not a very big town and it is full of peculiar spots to meet, it is recommended to walk in order to explore it or rent a bicycle instead of translating from one point to another by car. This way, by walking around the city, visitors would be able to pay attention to any detail they might find attractive and explore the town as precisely as they might wish.

The Chambéry street called Rue Basse du Chateau is one of the most unique and charming spots within the town and it is highly recommended that visitors take their time to explore it in detail, although in 2001 a fire destroyed an important part of it. Another interesting place to visit in Chambéry is the Chateau of Chambéry, which was the main residence of the Ducs de Savoie and offers a very appealing architectural structure to observe.

There also are several other interesting places to visit within the town of Chambéry. Among these spots there is the Cathedral de Chambéry, the Place du Palais de Justice, the Place St. Leger, the Croix du Nivolet, the Elephants Fountain, the local Museum, and Mont Garnier among others.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Discover Buca di Beppo In Pasadena California

Do you like hearty Southern Italian food served in hugh portions? Do you like to eat untill you are stuffed and still have a ton of leftovers to take home? Do you like to eat where everything is delicious, fresh and well prepared? Do you like thick aromatic sauses on your spaghetti and other pastas and meats? Do you like a highly varied menu? Do you like a noisy, brightly lit family style restaurant where it seems like one big constant party? Do you like restaurant employees, servers and supervisors that treat you like a member of the family? Do you want to go where you can dress casual or dressy and not stand out either way? Do you want a restaurant where they love kids and want everyone to enjoy themselves? If the foregoing sounds good, then you will love the Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant in Old Town, Pasadena, California. By the way, the management are very attentive and if you become unhappy about anything let them know and they will do their best to make things right.

I normally prefer small quiet dimly lit restaurants where I can relax and have a quiet conversation with my wife and or guests, however the food and service are so good at this Buca di Beppo that anytime I crave Southern Italian food, this is the place that I pick. Additionally, my wife and I can invite two to serveral guests, treat and not break the bank. At first glance portion prices seem fairly high, however each portion can feed two to three people with plenty of food left over for our guests to take home. Our biggest problem is deciding which entrees to order. They are all so good. Note: This is an extremely good place to hold a birthday party or office function.

If there are just two of you, you may wish to try eating on their rather small patio and do some people watching, or you may want to eat at their kitchen table which holds up to six people, which of course is in the kitchen. This is a very popular table and it is almost impossible to obtain without a reservation.

This restaurant is located at 80 West Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91105 on the corner of DeLacy and Green streets, kitty corner from the Twin Palms Restaurant and at the edge of the Pasadena Old Town district. There is not much in the way of street parking but there is a large parking garage on Delacy between the Twin Palms and the JJ Steak House Restaurants. Reservations are not required for regular seating but this place is extremely popular and reservations are a good idea. Buca's telephone number is (626) 792-7272.

After eating you might find it a good idea to walk off some of that food by taking a stroll through Old Town. The Old Town district has plenty to see and do. Visit the boutiques and shops, check out an art gallery, take in a movie, go dancing at one of the night spots, watch everyone else or if you manage to walk off some calories have coffee and a pastry at one of the sidewalk restaurants or bakeries.

For a directory of restaurants and restaurant reviews in the city of Pasadena, California see http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com/restaurants.html, a directory listing Pasadena restaurants alphabetically and by category or type with reviews written by restaurant customers.

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David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including http://www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.

10 Things to Experience On Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island

1) Mountaintop and seaside hiking trails. The Cape Breton Highlands National Park has both easy and rugged trails for both the casual and ambitious hikers. You can hire a hiking tour or just strike out on your own to enjoy the serene and beautiful scenery of the region.

2) Sea Kayaking - hiring a tour guide can provide you with equipment and experience to better encounter the wildlife and rugged scenery of the coast of Cape Breton Island. Depending on where you hire your tour, you can see bald eagles, cormorants, guillemots, pilot whales, a minke. You can find sea kayaking tours from Cheticamp, Cape North, Baddeck, Ingonish, or Louisbourg and places in between.

3) Spend an afternoon in Baddeck, at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum overlooking scenic Bras d' Or Lake. Mr. Bell made his summer home in Baddeck, and the museum houses many of his lesser known, but highly intriguing projects. His hydrofoil, his fascination with tetrahedrons, and many other intriguing things are in the world-class museum for you to discover.

4) Dust off your kilt and don your dancing shoes. Cape Breton is full of Celtic colors and tunes. If you're driving through town and see home-made signs that say "Ceili Tonight" it might be worth stopping for a spontaneous sampling of Celtic culture. Otherwise, you can also plan your Ceili (pronounced Kay-Lee) experience by checking local tourist bureaus for feature events. In October, the entire island is abuzz with the Celtic Colours International Festival, the largest celebration of its kind in North American, but you'll also find smaller events at other times of the year.

5) Scuba diving around Cape Breton Island. Literally hundreds of shipwrecks litter the ocean floor along Cape Breton Island. In fact, since 1597, more than one thousand shipwrecks have been recorded along Cape Breton Island's coast. For the most rewarding diving, consider St. Ann’s Bay to St. Paul Island.

6) Descend down into a coal mine beneath the ocean floor in an underground tour of the Ocean Deeps Colliery Your guides for the underground excursion are retired coal miners who will help you imagine making your daily living in dark quarters beneath the ocean floor. Located about one mile from downtown Glace Bay on Cape Breton Island.

7) Hit the beach and bum around. The beaches of Cape Breton Island can be small and isolated, or large and packed with people - or any combination in between. If you've seen on Cape Breton beach, you have NOT seen them all. So, if beaches are one of your interests, you may want to consider a sampling of Cape Breton's beaches and find out which ones suit you the best for your vacationing state of mind, and your personal travelling style.

8) Visit the Fortress Louisbourg. Spend your time wandering freely through a wonderfully restored centuries-old Acadian village. Staff at the fortress are dressed in clothing from the period, and restaurants on site serve food from the era. It's a delightful step-back in time at North America’s LIVE largest historic reconstruction on the east coast of Cape Breton Island.
9) Hit the road (or the mountains) on your bicycle. Cape Breton's scenery has been embraced by bikers worldwide, and Cape Breton Island officials have greeted them with arms wide open.
Several wonderful biking trails (cycling and mountain biking) are available across the entire Cape Breton Island. Local chambers of commerce should have ample information about their specific locales trail system and related service providers.

10) Whale watching tours from Cape Breton Island will not only give you a chance to see the large graceful creatures, but you'll also likely have a fair shot at seeing white dolphins, seals, leatherback turtles, and native birds. On portion of Cape Breton boasts a 95% success rate in whale sightings, and some tours will give you a certificate for another free excursion if you a whale isn't sighted (or perhaps that's just in Tiverton). Some tours use Zodiac boats, others use schooners, and some are via kayak. Cape Breton has plenty of options for the aspiring whale watcher.

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C.S. Deam and his wife fell in love with Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island on their first vacation to the region in 2001. Since then they've grown to be avid promoters of the scenery and lifestyle enjoyed by Nova Scotia residents and vacationers. Their website www.Vacation-Nova-Scotia-Tourism.com is a visual treat.

Kashmir... Paradise on Earth

Kashmir is the principal region in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, the other two supplementary units being Jammu and Ladakh.

Srinagar, the state capital, is situated at an altitude of 1,730 meters above sea level. It is connected by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways flights directly to Jammu and New Delhi, and hence to every part of the national network. Srinagar is connected by an all-weather road to Jammu which in turn is connected to many parts of North India. Srinagar's nearest railhead is Jammu which in turn connects all parts of the country including Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Kanyakumari.

Kashmir's other three most popular resorts are:

Pahalgam located at an altitude of 2,130 meters above sea level, 96 kms from Srinagar.

Gulmarg located at an altitude of 2,730 meters above sea level, 56 kms from Srinagar.

Sonamarg located at an altitude of 3,000 meters above sea level, 87 kms from Srinagar.

Al1 these resorts can only be visited by road from Srinagar, as they are not connected to each other directly. While the summer (June-August) temperatures of Srinagar are between 25oC and 35oC, temperatures in the hill resorts are considerably lower. In the evenings, light woolens are required for Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, but not for Srinagar.

Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are cold. With minimum temperatures plunging down to 7oC, woolens are necessary. On the plus side, these are Kashmir's most picturesque seasons; off-season discounts are given and all houseboats and hotels have ingenious central heating. Winter (December-February) has snow in all three resorts and frequently in Srinagar, with temperatures sometimes reaching -10oC. Heavy woolens are required. Winter is off-season in Srinagar, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, but peak season in Gulmarg.

Kashmir receives most of its rainfall in spring.

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Aadil Mukhtar www.ilovekashmir.blogspot.com

All copyrights of the article are reserved the author Aadil Mukhtar. Republication, reprinting is allowed but the author's name and site url should remain intact.

aadil.mukhtar@gmail.com

Chicago – The Windy City

Chicago was founded in the early 1800s and served as a connection between the developed East Coast and the enlarged Wild West. On the shores of Lake Michigan, the development of suburbia and skyscrapers was low but persistent. Though the devastating fire of 1871 grounded Chicago, it came back again and this time growth took pace every decade. By 1900, it crossed the mark of two million people.

Chicago is now the third largest city in the United States next to New York City and Los Angeles, California. Not only being the third largest city in the U.S, Chicago also ranks among the world's leading industrial and transportation centers

From what I have read, Chicago is nicknamed the windy city for different reasons. The first reason is that the Mayor of Chicago boasted so much about Chicago hosting the worlds fair, which implied the Mayor was windy. Another reason was that the politicians in the Chicago are full of hot air therefore implying the windy city. The last reason is that the editor of a newspaper was trying to promote Chicago as a summer resort and used Lake Michigan's summer breeze as a selling point. I do not know which of the reasons above gave Chicago its nickname the windy city but they all seem to make sense to me.

Chicago is also renowned for its excellent art institutions and museums, great food and great jazz music. If you have an appetite for sports, Chicago has the legendary Bulls, Bears, and Cubs, which are well known all over the world.

Chicago is a wonderful place to visit. The fever of Chicago will impress you.

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David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.chicagoinfocenter.com.

Fuerteventura - The Undiscovered Gem Of The Canary Islands

Fuerteventura – blessed with over 150 beaches - is one of the least spoiled and the least discovered of the Canary Islands.

With a dramatic volcanic landscape, little rainfall and all year round warm temperatures, the desert landscape is unique and large areas of the island are protected parks.

Visit Fuerteventura and you are stepping back to the way Spain was perhaps 30 years ago – no high rise buildings and a relaxed and gentle way of life, clean streets and beaches.

Unlike its more touristic and built-up neighbours of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura is a place to come to relax, unwind and step back in time. No dusk-to-dawn open air discos, no Club 18-30 …

The island, the closest of the Canaries to Africa, has an embarrassment of beaches – some are in deserted coves and little fishing villages, others down little dirt tracks - but the most popular ones can be reached from the main roads.

Not that main roads resemble those found in mainland Spain or the UK. Yes, they are well maintained and mostly straight but the lack of traffic is the first thing you notice. And the lack of traffic lights. So far I’ve found one on the island - and that has never worked!

Travelling is easy … buses and ferries are cheap, run to time and integrate with each other so you can get from, say, Caleta de Fuste to Corralejo with ease.

Caleta de Fuste is very much an up-and-coming resort geared to families. You can find restaurants of all nationalities to suit all tastes and all pockets.

There are shops and bars where you can choose to have a quiet drink and watch the world go by. Entertainment can be found – everything from live groups and cabarets to karaoke, quizzes and bingo – but it is not as “in your face” as Benindorm or the Costa del Sol. There are even places open to the early hours – but you won’t be disturbed if you want a quiet night.Even the airport here turns off the runway lights and locks up at night time!

Caleta has a golden sandy beach set in a bay shaped like a horse shoe. The gently sloping shore makes for very safe bathing and this beach is the one most holidaymakers head for. But there is a south beach – reclaimed from the sea and landscaped into small bays which are dotted with small circular brick structures to provide some privacy.

Fuerteventura (Fuerte – strong: Ventura – happiness) has been described as “the land that time forgot”. It is the second largest of the Canary Islands and coming here really is like stepping back in time! Many people mistakenly believe the name of the island stands for “Strong Wind” and although there is often a steady, pleasing breeze, this is usually a welcome relief that makes the hot temperatures a pleasure.

It also makes Fuerteventura a water sport paradise – windsurfing, surfing and kite surfing take place all over the island.

Landing at the airport, the first thing you are struck by is the stark, lunar-like landscape. But explore beyond that and you find vast sweeping sand dunes, lagoons, little fishing villages and isolated sandy coves.

Caleta de Fuste is an ideal base for exploring this island being midway between north and south.
Head north to Corralejo where the first few self catering apartments appeared all those years ago. Now, it is a bustling resort and the holiday industry has taken off in a big way.

Approaching Corralejo the landscape gives way to miles of immense shimmering sand dunes reminiscent of Saharan Morocco, just 60 miles to the east. The famous dunes are now a protected national park.

Corralejo town itself still retains some of the charm of it's early days especially around the old harbour area. From here you can see spectacular views of Lanzarote and the Isle of Lobos – well worth a visit if you find even the pace of life on Fuerteventura a little too much!

Also in the north of the island is El Cotillo, a paradise for surfers. This lovely relaxed village has some great beaches, interesting lagoons and some good restaurants and bars. As you head into the village you will come across the new harbour. To the left are vast golden beaches and to the right, lagoons.

On the left of the village is the Forteleza del Toston, a round stone fort built in 1790 to defend against pirates.

The beaches are made for water sports lovers and many experienced surfers head to the stretches of sand between El Cotillo and Corralejo. The lagoon area is much calmer and peaceful – white beaches with crystal clear waters.

This fishing village is a shrine to the Virgin de Buen Viaje (good travel) and these words can be seen painted on the cliffs overlooking the old harbour.

Heading from Caleta de Fuste to the south of the island are the beaches of the Jandia Peninsula, almost 20kms of vast white beaches some over 1kms wide.

This huge area includes golden white shores which vary from pretty coves backed by low cliffs at the Costa Calma end to huge dunes, vast desert-like areas and lagoons. It also includes the beach immortalised on thousands of postcards. The Playa de Sotavento is probably one of the most photographed beaches in Europe. It is also a spot where surfers flock to. The PWA world windsurfing speed and slalom event draws the best windsurfers every year and the world kite surfing championship was held in 2005.

At the southern end of the Jandia Peninsula is Morro Jable, another well developed resort with golden beaches and one which is well loved by German package tour operators. So loved, in fact, that even many road signs here are in Spanish and German. With so many beaches, not surprising naturists also love the island. But Fuerteventura is not just about beaches. It is also about sightseeing. One of the most awesome sights on the island is the shipwreck of The American Star – a huge ocean-going liner which ran aground in a deserted cove several years ago under mysterious circumstances.

How this huge ship – once the biggest of its class in the world – came to rest there is another story and a controversial one but the sight of this towering wreck lying just yards off shore in a deserted cove just outside Ajuy is a very eerie and haunting sight. It is not easy to find but again, the Holiday_Fuerteventura site has instructions. From here, take the mountain road to Betancuria – former capital of the island – and you will be rewarded with some truly spectacular views and the town itself is well worth spending a couple of hours in.

Or try visiting Cofete - hard to reach but the beach runs for about 5kms, is white and sandy and has plenty of room and at the southern tip lies Cofete village – isolated and used mostly as a weekend retreat.

Giniginamar is ideal if you are seeking peace and quiet. The beach, bordered by palm trees, is of black volcanic sand and in the village itself you can find local tapas and on the outskirts, some rather exclusive properties.

Arts and crafts are well catered for – Fuerteventura is not known as the “island of sculptures” for nothing! On almost every roundabout on the island, you will find a sculpture of some form!
There are a number of museums – the craft centre at Antigua whcih is based around a converted windmill and the arts centre at La Olivia which has beautifully landscaped gardens and which features many works by the Canarian artist Alberto Manrique. Or La Alcogida, a living museum based around a village which shows you the way Canarians lived years ago.

There are many other parts of Fuerteventura that lie hidden from the mass tourism market – long may it remain that way!

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Alan Hayes is a businessman who discovered Fuerteventura – and stayed there! He set up Fuerteventura Holidays and Homes, a property management and holiday rental company which lets villas, apartments and houses to holidaymakers. Visit http://www.geocities.com/fuerteventuraholidayhomes/.
fuerteventuraholidayhomes@yahoo.co.uk

Like Jazz? Love the Monterey Jazz Festival!

The Monterey Jazz Festival is the world's longest running annual celebration of all that's great about jazz. Held in Monterey, California every year in mid-September the festival attracts jazz followers from around the globe. All the big names in the world of Jazz are represented - the 2005 program includes performances from Mavis Staples, Madeleine Peyroux and the Christian McBride Situation.

Make a date with Monterey

Tickets for the Monterey Jazz Festival can be purchased in advance. In fact, purchase of tickets at least a month before the festival begins is encouraged as there's only so many to go around!
But the Monterey Jazz Festival is not just for jazz buffs. The three-day event, which is set within the breathtaking 20-acre Monterey Fairground - a giant oak-filled park in the city - offers plenty of fun for all the family. Aside from the magnificent setting, a whole host of side activities can be enjoyed, as well as displays of international cuisine and opportunities to shop from marquees and stalls.

Outside the park, activities in the city of Monterey abound too. Not to be missed is a walk along the coastal trail and a visit to one of the many beautiful beaches that line the peninsula.

Getting to Monterey

Monterey has its own airport. International travelers may fly direct into Monterey (airport code MRY) or connect to the airport via an internal flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco.

For more information on the Monterey Jazz Festival and for admission tickets visit http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org

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Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com.

New Years Eve in Vienna

A magical city that draws millions to its attractions throughout the year, Vienna's allure is simply irresistible come the festive season. In the days and nights leading up to New Year's Eve few places in the world can match the Austrian capital for its elegance and uncompromising indulgence that harks back to an era when Vienna was the world's music powerhouse.

Christmas lights, festive spirits and the traditional covering of snow and ice beneath foot all add to the ambience of Vienna on New Year's Eve itself. But, in a city renowned for its music culture, there really is only one place to be and to be seen on New Year's Eve - and that's the Imperial Ball!

The Imperial Ball

The Imperial Ball in Vienna (also known as the Kaiserball) is one of the highlights of the Viennese calendar. Held in the halls of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the ball is a music and dance extravaganza taking in the Viennese Waltz and operatic melodies. The program includes a 4-course gala banquet, as well as an after-midnight operetta show.

The Kaiserball is an all-ticket event. Tickets for the ball should be purchased in advance. Several ticket providers offer packages that include the gala banquet and accommodation at some of Vienna's most prestigious hotels. The Kaiserball is strictly black-tie. Guests are invited to dress appropriately for the evening and be prepared to dance the night away.

Getting to the Imperial Ball

International travelers should elect to fly direct to Vienna International Airport.

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Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com

The Fiji Islands

The Fiji Islands, are one of the most desirable destinations in South Pacific area. They are known for their climate, beauty, and culture and hundreds of thousands travel there every year to sample just a few days of paradise. With thousands of miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches, coral reefs, and emerald lagoons, the Fiji Islands fulfill everyone's idea of the perfect tropical paradise. Add to that dream a few waterfalls, a rainforest, and deep, lush valleys and the Fiji islands soar are simply insurmountable as a tourism destination.

the Fiji Islands are a unique setting with some of the friendlist people in the world as its residents. You will experience the unique blend of old and new not found in other locales. Here you can relax and enjoy what you will surely call your own paradise.

Whatever your interest may be, there is something on the Fiji Islands for everybody. Many visitors take the time to experience local markets and villages while others merely like to lie on the beach and read a book. Most sporting activities are geared for daylight hours, but the larger cities have evening movies and some have independent restaurants and nightclubs. Dances and festivals may be held on weekends, holidays or other special occasions.

The Fiji Islands are unparalleled in their range of water and outdoors activities and for the water lover, the Fiji Islands are shjeer heaven. Scuba diving and snorkeling are available year round to allow people to explore the safe but exotic marine life. Wind and body surfing, sailing of all types, kayaking and water skiing are just a few of the many other activities for visitors to enjoy the warm tropical waters.

For those less inclined to have fun on the water, land lovers may prefer to explore the rainforest, caves or archeological sites. In addition, back-packing, biking, golf, tennis, horse back riding and bird watching are other activities that are readily available.

The Fiji Islands offer all of the customary lodgings, but the small intimate resorts with their unique bungalow style accommodations are an experience not to be missed. These bungalows otherwise known as bure can be simple or world class, depending on your budget. You will find them to be the perfect place for your dream wedding or honeymoon, family vacation, and even that lengthy business trip. These resorts usually offer all inclusive packages, providing rooms, meals, activities and entertainment.

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Figi Lesole is the owner of Fiji which is a premier resource for fiji information. For more information, go to http://www.fijicom.com.

Mallorca, Spain - A Jewel In The Sun

Mallorca – the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands – offers a wide range of scenery, from fertile plains to mountain peaks plus culture. Great shopping and gorgeous beaches complete the picture. It is easy to see why it is such a very popular European holiday destination. Mallorca airport is modern, efficient and huge – it is a long way from the gate to the baggage claim!

So how do you get away from the typical tourist bustle and enjoy a quiet relaxing time, yet be close to the center of things in Mallorca? – Stay at the Bon Sol Hotel. This hotel, highly recommended by close friends, is located in Illetas just five kilometers from downtown Palma. Illetas was once a small town on it’s own but has now been enveloped by growing Palma urbanization. The hotel is spread into many sections over seven levels that are serviced by pretty pathways and an excellent system of elevators. The common areas are endless and outstanding with unique eclectic decorations that date from medieval to modern times and provide a warm and friendly environment that effectively encourages relaxation. There are several Knights in Armor posted at strategic locations on guard for the guests.

The hotel is family owned and run by Lorraine and Martin Xamena, who represent the second generation. They are hands on managers and are always guiding the hotel with friendly efficiency, complemented by an attentive staff, most of who have been at the Bon Sol for many years. The web site is located at: http://www.ila-chateau.com/bon_sol/

The Bon Sol is nestled into a hillside in a small cove giving it wonderful privacy with a very small but cozy private beach. The beach is complemented by four pools at various levels from the beach to the main hotel. There is also more than adequate sun worshipping equipment and tons of shade for those who prefer it. The architecture is best appreciated from the sea and gently blends the hotel into its landscape without attempting to dominate it.

There are two active bars and two restaurants – one pair by the beach and one up the hill at the main hotel level. The food is excellent and there is lots of it! We chose the modified American plan – breakfast is buffet style with an excellent egg station, plenty of fruit and a good selection of breads and pastries. Dinner offers a different menu each night and they will accommodate your wishes if you prefer ordering off the menu.

The 92 rooms are each unique, but all are large, have good bathrooms, excellent views, with a balcony or terrace. There are 28 villas for families or more extended stays.

Most of the guests are frequent visitors – in fact, the opening line when you meet someone new in one of the elevators, or in line for a breakfast omelet is ‘Have you been here before?” The answer is usually yes. This is the best recommendation of all!

For something completely different take a drive into the mountains – the roads are good and the views are outstanding. Visit Valldemosa, Deia, Port de Soller and Andratx – it is a fun and easy day trip.

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Matthew Crist
Visit http://seat23.com for more travel information.

Jimmy Buffett Slept Here – Why Caribbean Villas Are So Darn Popular

You’re ready to book that trip to the Caribbean that you’ve been talking about for so long. You go online to get your airline tickets. Easy.

But here’s the hard part… where to stay? So many choices. You could book a hotel, a condo complex, or a vacation villa. How do you decide which one is right for you and your family or group?

Well, the best place to start is by asking what amenities and services you’re looking for. What are the most important options to consider before laying down your hard-earned cash on a deposit?

Space? Convenience? Privacy? Cost? Let’s look at all four features.

SPACE

Generally, hotel rooms and condos don’t afford you a lot of space unless you’ve booked the penthouse suite. Many people justify this by saying they won’t be spending much time in their rooms anyway. But unexpected bad weather can change that forecast quickly. And perhaps one of the reasons they’re not spending much time in the room is because there’s no room for the whole group to gather! Many people choose a villa vacation because of that reason alone. Typically there’s a living area or family room where everyone congregates for drinks and conversation… if they’re not outside on the pool deck. And sometimes the size of one villa bedroom can be as large as an entire hotel room. (Tip: If space is important to you, always check out the square footage of your accommodations before you book!)

CONVENIENCE

Let’s face it, there’s a lot to be said about the convenience of staying at a hotel and typically having a store, activities, concierge, and restaurants right on the premises. However, unless it’s an all-inclusive (which many find is the way to go, especially with kids), you’re paying for all those meals and it adds up after a while. Because condos and villas have kitchen facilities, they give you the option of buying food at the local grocery store and preparing meals back at your place…whether light snacks or full blown dinners. Many villas also have the advantage of providing or arranging for island chefs to be brought in so you don’t have to worry about the cooking chores. Most villas also have gas barbeque grills for the outdoor chef in your family or group.

PRIVACY

If fighting the crowds is not your idea of a vacation, then a villa rental may be the way to go. Unless you travel in the off-season, you may spend more time trying to find a lounge chair by the pool than actually relaxing in the sun. Some people don’t mind sharing their vacation with strangers, but others see this as a time to spend exclusively with family or friends. Add to that the fact that many villas are located on or next to secluded beaches, and vacation houses win at privacy hands down. One trade off may be that generally villas don’t put out lounge chairs on the sand for their guests; however many provide beach chairs to borrow.

COST

This is a hard one to calculate because there are such wide ranges of prices and services from island to island. At first blush, anyone looking at a villa rental may shy away because of the prices. But usually, once you break it down, you can rent a four bedroom villa for about the same price as two standard rooms at a hotel or condo, everything being equal. Compare apples to apples and see how the cost works out for the places you are considering… chances are you’ll actually be paying the same price but getting a lot more space and privacy by renting a villa! (Tip: Be sure and check what is included in the quoted rate. In many Caribbean countries the hotels, condos, and villas must collect a government accommodations tax. Some hotels and condos also add a service fee, which altogether could tack another 20% onto your bill. Ouch!)
So… villa, condo, or hotel? You can see that where you stay in the Caribbean requires a little bit of planning. The first step is to decide what features are most important when you’re looking for your slice of paradise. For an increasing number of groups, couples, and families, a Caribbean villa rental provides the comfort, privacy and space they desire.

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Bob Bouknight is a vacation rental owner on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. To find out more about the island and his oceanfront Caribbean house rental, go to www.SunsetPointVilla.com.
Copyright 2005 Omega Properties Ltd.
bob@SunsetPointVilla.com

Surfing Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is fast becoming one of the hippest spots on the backpack merry-go-round. It’s a surfer’s paradise in Central America’s most laid-back holiday spot. Areas such as the Nicoya peninsula and Dominical further to the south are the real hotspots where the beaches are sublime and trees and rocks tumble down the meet the fine, white sand – Costa Rica has a reputation for its magnificent flora and fauna and there’s nothing to be disappointed about on that score here. Pelicans and frigate birds wheel overhead as the booming calls of howler monkeys resound from the nearby rainforests. For those not satisfied by the ocean alone there are also numerous hikes in the region and due to Costa Rica’s relatively small size you are never far away from the eco-tourism centres further inland.

Sticking out like a spare limb into the temperate waters of the Pacific, Nicoya has a myriad of unspoiled beaches where the breakers roll in consistently offering great surfing for all levels of ability whether you’re a pale rookie paddling out for the first time or a sun-gnarled veteran. It is this variety that makes the area perfect for one of the world’s fastest growing sports and the region has had a fantastic reputation in the worldwide surfing community. A few years ago villages such as Santa Teresa were no more than a few fishing huts clustered together but with the boom of tourism in the area numerous services are now provided by locals offering the dusty streets a ramshackle charm – a perfect setting for the laid-back surfers and the ever-growing community of young visitors. For those just wishing to hang out then there a numerous beach restaurants and beer shacks where laid back tunes and chilled cerveza set the tone for the after hours entertainment.

Further to the South lies Dominical, probably Costa Rica’s most famous surfing grounds. It’s slightly less isolated than the Nicoya region offering easy access to the surrounding national parks and also the nation’s capital, San José. The area is famed for its “surf camps” where surfing, accommodation food and activities are all included in the package and is a great way for beginners to get into the sport and even for experienced surfers who get the chance for tips from local instructors. The region has begun to develop but by no means to the extent that we are used to in big European resorts, eco-lodges are the typical accommodation here and the focus is on preserving an area of immense natural beauty. Whether surfing Dominical’s famous breaks or just chilling on the beach you’ll find the area is as close to paradise as you’re likely to get in Costa Rica.

It’s also worth noting that it’s not just surfing that’s on the activities list on Costa Rica’s pacific coast, the whole area is a huge aquatic playground; waters teeming with fish and other life mean great scuba diving and yes, you guessed it, great fishing with many local boats taking tourists out on the hunt for tuna, wahoo, marlin and other big game.

There are even language schools opening to cater for the influx of young travellers – no longer solely the domain of evening classes in the UK, learning a second language these days is all about cultural immersion. The message is “why not learn Spanish whilst you’re learning to surf or dive?” and with much of Central and South America now more open to tourism there’s no better time to learn the skills to make yourself understood whilst enjoying the more obvious pursuits open to travellers.

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Mike McDougall has five years experience working as a travel writer and marketeer. He is currenlty working to provide additional content for http://www.babylon-idiomas.com/, a Spanish language school with an excellent presence in Spain and Latin America.
This work is licensed by a creative commons licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/uk/
mikeemc13@yahoo.co.uk

Palma—Alluring Spanish Isle For Travelers

Summer time brings a Philippe Starck-designed hotel bringing Palma’s Old Town back into the limelight. The capital of the Spanish island of Majorca it now overshadows the beach resorts. Palma ranks among most sought-after European weekend destinations partly due to the affordable renaissance flights from Europe.

Palma’s resurgence is credited to the revival of the historic center with cobbled streets, stone palaces, quaint plazas and Gothic cathedral. From a no man’s land of dive bars the Old Town’s evolution features swanky rooms, restaurants and shops.

Bargains-seekers in the historic center have the Hotel Born, originally a mansion. A gigantic wooden door leads to a lobby with a majestic arched ceiling, marble floors and a lush courtyard. Clean and basic, the best rooms face the courtyard. Inclusive of breakfast, double rooms start at $106.

The Portixol Hotel with its ship décor goes back six years and is a 20-minute stroll from the city center of the Portixol village. Its poolside terrace attracts tourists and locals alike for cocktails, dinner and seaside views of Palma. Doubles inclusive of breakfast cost upwards of $237.50.

Centrally located, Bar Bosch scores over similar tapas set-ups as the toast of the local intellectuals for its exceptional grilled sandwiches. Also recommended is tortilla with “lomo y queso” or pork loin and cheese sandwich. Lunch on the terrace averages $19 for two.

Santa Catalina lies west of the old city walls. Recently mushrooming cafes and restaurants have created a foodie’s paradise. High on chic is the restaurant Living, Calle Cotoner with innovative organic embellishments. Menu specials include roasted duck with barley, radicchio, wild mushrooms and basil foam and dorada with crispy squid-ink rice, bok choy and preserved lemon froth. A six-course meal for one costs $50.

Day-time delights begin with the city’s art scene, revitalized with Es Baluard, Placa Porta de Santa Catalina, a modern and contemporary art museum. Miro, Picasso and other Spanish artists justify the $7.50 admission, along with the terrace restaurant, spectacular sights and Majorcan cuisine. Impressive architecture of modern glass and concrete is dramatically offset by Renaissance fortress walls.

Unmissable is the ancient cathedral La Seu towering over the Placa de l’Almoina and the harbor. Restoration of interiors initiated by Antonio Gaudi in the early 20th century continues, as does a mural of the creation saga being crafted by Miquel Barcelo since 2001 for completion next year. However public viewing is restricted to the cathedral and its museum.

European tourists and party-loving locals favor cocktails in the all-white bar and lounge of the Puro Hotel in the Old Town, a subsidiary of PuroBeach. If serene sunsets and wines are preferred, head to the just-opened modern Minimar tapas bar, Calle Vicario Joaquin Fuster on the waterside near the Portixol hotel.

Post-dinner pleasures include the Garito Café, Darsena de Can Barbara, in the shadow of the Passeiq Maritim in the little Can Barbara port. Open all nights, its superb combination of music ranges from jazz to electronica.

Palma’s attractions lie an hour and 15 minutes of flying time from Madrid or Barcelona’s 45 minute flight by Iberia or Spanair. The city center is 20 minutes by taxi from Son Sant Juan, Majorca’s airport for under $20.

The key to Palma’s unhurried island experience is to take it slow and easy whatever you choose to do.

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Loreal Oliver is an adventurous traveler and the editor of several travel websites such as http://www.adventuretraveltips.com. He travels extensively around the world since the age of 17 and never gets tired. There are few places unexplored by him and he is always ready for another adventure.
articles@adventuretraveltips.com

What To See In Loches

Loches is a very interesting town located within the region of Loire Valley, in France. This town is very attractive due to the several different antique buildings it has and the richness of its historical past. By walking around the central area of the town as well as by its surrounding country lands, those tourists who enjoy historical constructions would be able to have a nice time while meeting several of them.

One of the most attractive ancient buildings visitors could meet within the region of Loches is its Fortress. This fortress shows a very unique and impressing appearance, due to its magnificence and incredible size which reaches heights of as much as 40 meters. Different kings, such as Louis XI and Louis XII used this feudal fortress as a prison for their enemies. This way, this building can be seen as one which had strong incidence within the history of France.

Another very important construction located within the area of Loches is the Royal Home. Most of the Royal Home was built during the XV century, although another part of it was not built until one century later. This construction shows a unique combination of architectural elements from the Renaissance mixed with elements from the medieval époque, and within its interior some Gothic ornaments can be observed as well.

Saint Bear Church is another interesting Loches' building. This church is located near the Fortress and both these buildings share one same rock foundations. The Saint Bear Church was originally built during the V century as an oratory. Later, the building was extended and became a monastery. This church’s architecture is very beautiful and shows an incredible mixture of different styles, mixing elements from many different époques between the V century and the XV century.

Besides the above mentioned important buildings, Loches and its surroundings have many other different historical constructions and beautiful buildings from several antique époques. Among these constructions there are many interesting monuments, such as, for example, the Cordeliers' Door. The Cordelier's Door is recognized as the city's Main Door and is one of the main spots visitors should make sure of meeting while being in Loches.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit it if you're planning a trip to France.

The Town Of Tours

Tours is a French town located within the area of Loire Valley, surrounded by the Cher River and the Loire River, at about 65 miles from Orleans and 125 miles southwest from Paris. This town is the capital city of the French department Indre et Loire, and is particularly famous throughout the region by its great cuisine and excellent wine.

The town of Tours owes its name to a tribe which had been the main inhabitants of the area several decades BC. This tribe was called the Turons, lost their establishment in the area after the Romans époque, and this town went through several different situations and denominations, until it was finally recognized as tours.

During the III century, the town of Tours was known Caesar's Hill. Around this époque, this town became highly known throughout the region by being home of a recognized bishopric. From that moment, tours started becoming more popular and known around the rest of the region as well as started receiving more new inhabitants than it would before.

In the decade of 370, the town of Tours was named capital of Lyonaise. Lyonaise was an important province to which several other recognized cities were part of, such as for example, Maine, Anjou and Touraine. During this époque, the town of tours as well as the surrounding region was mainly known due to the Christian community established in it.

During the V century, Tours changed its former name to City of the Tourones. This was the last name known before the actual one, tours, since it actually was the denomination which gave birth to it. During that same century the town went through some dramatic moments, such as for example, being invaded by the Visigoths.

Nowadays, the town of Tours is not only very rich in history but also in architecture, ornaments, arts, and antique constructions. There are buildings dating from many of the different historic stages this town has gone through, and walking around it can be a great way to learn about the past and the architectural styles which would characterize each different ancient époque.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Langeais - Home Of An Antique Chateau

Langeais is famous by its interesting Chateau and the history existing within its walls. This Chateau constantly attracts visitors from all points of the world, who approach willing to observe its architectural structure, its artistic ornaments, and learn about its history while walking by around its rooms.

The Chateau of Langeais, built during the XV century, is one of the oldest of its kind within the entire region of Loire Valley. This way, it is a must for those tourists who enjoy meeting antique constructions due not only to its age but also to the great shape in which it is conserved to the date. Besides the construction itself, this Chateau also allows tourists to observe several art related elements from the Renaissance and other antique époques as well as other elements such as, for example, furniture pieces.

The Langeais castle shows an appearance of strength and militarily designed structure mixed with a few delicate ornaments. It has a draw bridge typical from the époque in which was built, and the overall external appearance is of simplicity rather than counting with much ornaments or being over charged any other elements.

Within its interior, Langeais Chateau shows a different style than its exterior does. Within the interior of this castle, there are many structural elements and ornaments typical from the Renaissance as well as many furniture pieces dating from as long ago as the XVI century as well. This way, meeting this castle's interior and walking around its rooms can be very interesting and allows tourists to almost feel like being back into the époque in which these objects where created.

Among the different elements and objects visitors can see while being in Langeais Chateu, some of the most interesting ones are its paintings and tapestries. Most of the paintings available for tourists to observe were created by Luini, and show some typical elements of the style predominant at the époque when they were created. The tapestries are exhibited within the walls in such a way the castle visitors could even touch them if they wanted, allowing them to observe them from very close.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

The History Of Chinon In Brief

Chinon is an old French town located in the area of Val de Loire. This town is surrounded by two rivers, the Vienne and the Loire, as well as by an important extension of country land. Besides its geographical attributes, and strongly related to them, this area produces excellent wine which causes it to be world wide famous.

The surrounding country lands are one of Chinon's main attractions due not only to their natural beauty but to the antique buildings located within them as well. This way, it is a must to visit these country land spots and learn where the main different constructions are in order to make sure of heading towards them as well.

Chinon started gaining importance within the region of Loire Valley in the middle Ages while Henry II was king of England. During this period of time, this castle was re arranged and often inhabited by king Henry II since it had become one of his favorite residences. This way, within the next years since first discovered by Henry II, Chinon castle and the entire region received a constant attention and was always looking as beautiful as possible due to the king’s orders.

At beginnings of the 13th century, the town of Chinon became part of the Royal Estates which belonged to the French crown. Then, during the hundred years’ war, the town of Chinon gained importance again due to the fact that Charles VII started visiting this town very often and even inhabit in it for important periods of time.

Charles VII and his court made this area very famous within the region and the entire France as well, attracting people to it in a constant basis. Towards the last years of the 1420's, Joan of Arc could also be seen among the visitors of this area since she would come to see Charles VII along with other people.

During the 16th century, the town of Chinon lost its last royal inhabitants. After that, during the 17th century, Chinon became part of Duke Richelieu estates, and due to the lack of attention the main Castle received in that period, it started loosing the charm and importance it had made it famous during the precedent centuries.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France

BEIJING

Though Beijing is an ancient city, used as the capital by many warlords, yet its modern history as a capital begins in the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) under Kublai Khan, the great grandson of Chengis Khan. Beijing was built for inspiration- to awe the populace with the emperor's strength. Beijing meant for the occasions and ceremonies, which were performed to balance the Mandate of heaven as well as a safeguard of defense.

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, located in the Huabei (North China) Plain. With a population of more than 13.8 million, Beijing covers an area of 16,800 square kilometers.

BEIJING RESOURCES

Beijing comprises of plains, mountains, as well as hills. Inadequate water supply, poor quality of the soil and huge areas of rocky mountains does not favor farming and agriculture at all.

Minerals such as iron and limestone are mined. The forest areas of Beijing are also reducing day by day- but the Beijing tourism is very prosperous.

BEIJING ECONOMY

Beijing, being the main centre of the political and cultural activity, Beijing is economically quite well developed. The per capital G.D.P. sums up to around 22,000 Yuan.

BEIJING LIFESTYLE

According to statistics, there are 6.14 million employees compared to 4.54 million workers. The education level is also quite high with 95% of the students, graduating from junior high school, entering senior high school.

BEIJING POPULATION-

Beijing is one of the biggest cities in China, and has a total population of more than 13.83 million, most of who reside in the plain areas. The Beijing population in the hilly areas is quite less, compared to the plain area. Even the population density in Beijing is the highest.
To sum up, Beijing is a magnificent place. The local residents of Beijing are hard working and they drop their sweat to earn their livelihood.

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David Chandler
For more information, visit http://www.BeijingInfoCenter.com

Yellowstone Camping In The Fall

Soon, the busy summer tourist season will be over in Yellowstone National Park. If you are interested in enjoying one of the world's most unique geological wonders without the traffic, and crowds, it is time to start planning a trip.

Fall in Yellowstone is a very special time with light frosts on chilly nights, and pleasant warm days where you can breathe in the earthy scents of the Park. Bugling Elk, roaming herds of Buffalo, and lazy days spent touring the spectacular thermal features make fall one of the best times to visit Yellowstone.

Normally, you have to make a reservation at one of the five major campgrounds well in advance of arrival. After Labor Day you probably will not need a reservation, but it is wise to call ahead.
There are five major reservation only campgrounds: Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison campgrounds. The first-come, first served campgrounds will be far more accessible after Labor Day and include: Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall campsites.

While in Yellowstone National Park, you will be inside the caldera of the largest active volcano in the world. There are more thermal features in Yellowstone than the rest of the world combined. There are over 15 miles of boardwalk for visitors to keep them safe from the dangerous thermal sites, and to minimize the inevitable human damage caused to the area. The park is a singularly impressive place and most of it resides above 7,500 feet elevation.

Wildlife viewing is superb to say the least with buffalo, elk, and black-tail deer sightings a common occurrence. Moose, bear, coyote, and wolves are spotted less frequently. We enjoyed filming a giant moose scraping the felt from his antlers late one evening near the south entrance of Yellowstone.

Hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and touring the spectacular thermal features are a few of the many things to enjoy in Yellowstone. The beauty of the landscape is breathtaking and the clean smell of sage permeates the clear air.

One of the unadvertised features of Yellowstone is the night sky. A few of us old-timers remember the rich texture of the night sky from our youth. Reflected light effectively blocks clear viewing of the night sky in much of the United States, but at night in Yellowstone, the stars are displayed in their full majesty in the rich, dark sky.

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William Smith has lived and traveled full-time in an RV for over twelve years. For more information about Yellowstone Camping visit HappyVagabonds.com.

Vacationing In Charleston

One of the best holiday spots in the southeast United States is Charleston. It's an ideal holiday spot with its splendid beaches, a host of art galleries, ritzy restaurants, lovely carriage rides and the rich heritage of the Charleston history.

Trudge down the lanes of history on a trip to Charleston. Charleston is replete with places that are of historical importance. There are historical tours on many aspects of history that it has been through. There are tours focusing on Civil War, patriots, slavery, and even pirates. The "Gone With the Wind" Charleston Tour is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Visit the splendid plantations dating back to several hundred years in time. Take a ghost tour to have fun. You can also take a walking tour to the city where you can discover the spirit of the city while walking. Take a carriage ride and experience the scenic beauty of Charleston.

There is a host of other activities that you can enjoy in Charleston. Witness a fine performance at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest orchestras. Watch the elegant act of the ballerinas at the ballet at the Dock Street Theater, a place famous for its performing arts.
Charleston is a gourmet's delight with the scrumptious seafood it offers. Don't miss out on the she-crab soup and crab cakes, a favourite with everyone visiting the city. The entire city is filled with options of fine dining in an equally attractively done ambience. And it's a bet that the aroma and the taste of the food at Charleston will linger on for years.

In the midst of all the activity that Charleston offers, you'll find a secluded spot on the beach where you can relax when you feel tired. You can spend the day relaxing on the beach while you sip on fine Charleston lemonade as vendors of various kinds make it easy for you to get what you want. However, if you want a little more beach excitement, you can always try hang gliding over the ocean or go out on a shrimp boat.

Charleston offers a host of activities that the tourists can enjoy. The lush green gardens, the historical sites, the lovely beaches, everything will make you fall in love with the place. Next year again, it will be Charleston calling. For more information about the adventure and activities awaiting you at Charleston, check out charlestontours.net.

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Charleston De Sorriso is the administrator and delegate of At Charleston, Inc. THE site for everything happening in Charleston. For more information please visit: http://www.atcharleston.com

Artic Tours

Take an Arctic Tour by flying north of Fairbanks to Dead Horse, on the northern edge of Alaska's North Slope. This unreserved wilderness area, stretching to an indescribable horizon at the Arctic Ocean, is home to caribou, grizzly bear, musk oxen, and so many more species of mammals. A great place to start is with an orientation to the region, then moving on to a tour of the shores of the Arctic Ocean, finishing up with an overnight stay in Dead Horse at the Arctic Caribou Inn.

Start early to get a morning view of the waterfowl and other tundra life. You will find the scenery is conquered by the rugged and majestic Brooks Range, the domain of traveling packs of wolves, Dall sheep, lone wolverines, arctic hare, lemmings, and other wilderness-dependent species. The affluent procession of wildlife found within this region includes more than 160 bird species, 36 kinds of land mammals, nine marine mammal species, and 36 types of fish.

Explore historic mining roads above the community of Wiseman Hike within the border of the Gates of the Arctic National Park. Then enjoy a scenic float on the Hammond or Koyukuk Rivers.

By crossing over the Arctic Circle, some tour companies will give you an official Arctic Circle Adventure Certificate. Have a picnic at the mighty Yukon River. Be in awe of the beauty of the northland's most famous waterway and learn of the rivers storied past. Visit the Arctic Circle Trading Post situated in the rural community of Joy, Alaska.

While traveling to the very end of the Dalton Highway, the Brooks Mountain Range, the oilfield of Prudhoe Bay, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge an the Arctic Ocean, you will see tundra, an historic mining camp, and have a good chance of viewing lots of wildlife.

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David Chandler
For more information, visit these sites: http://www.Arctic-Ocean-Tours.com or http://www.AdventureToursInfo.com.

One Year In An Amazing Continent

On Sunday December 15th 2002, I set off on a journey. It would become my first real journey in my life. I was leaving my home, my town, my country, my continent, crossing a sea and embarking on another continent: Africa.

A bit less than six months before I had finished my secondary school. While closing the school gate behind me I had a great plan in mind: I would go to Africa, and no one or nothing would stop me. Differently from most students, I wasn't planning to join any high school or university. I first wanted to do something else. I wanted to live out the restlessness I had felt during those often boring years at school.

Yes, Africa was definitely my plan!

I needed some money to realize my plan. So the months before my departure I spent working in factories. Initially I worked in a factory processing animal fodder. I remember one very funny moment during my time there.

At a given moment I had told my colleagues that I was planning to travel to Ethiopia, to which one of them replied in his coarse Flemish dialect ''you poor lad, you will be the fattest over there!'' It was a spontaneous and humorous reaction that brought about a lot of great merriment. During my long stay in Africa I often remembered that quote.

Later I worked in a pork factory, a very unpleasant job, but I was only interested in the money. The evening I quit, a colleague was teasing me about me missing the factory soon and weeping because of homesickness. It made me laugh heartily. I couldn't imagine that I would miss a factory or that I would miss Belgium.

The days and weeks and months went by. Finally there was that Sunday the 15th of December, the day of departure, an emotional goodbye for my parents and myself at the airport. That day I took a plane. My destination was Nairobi. It was the very beginning of my one-year journey in Africa.

Now, more then one year later I have returned to my home, my town, my country and to my continent. I don't know yet how much this journey will have changed my life. I don't know yet how much it has changed me.

But I do know I will never ever regret it. Not even a fraction of a second. I will always cherish my memories and they will be always a part of me.

Deep in my heart I wish I were still there. I hope it won't run away, Africa. If all is well...one day I will go back.

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Maarten De Boeck documents his breathtaking one year adventure with vivid stories and excellent pictures in his websites- http://www.oneyearafrica.com/ .He now knows a lot about African people and culture. He can be contacted at- maarten@OneYearAfrica.com if you want stories or excellent pictures about Africa.
maarten_deboeck@yahoo.com

How to Become a Travel Agent in 24 Hours

The travel industry has been going through some significant changes over the last few years. Mom and Pop travel agencies are quickly being replaced by online booking engines like Orbitz or Travelocity.

But there is one problem: 80% of all vacations are taken at the recommendation of a friend. Now of course this is a good thing, except that Orbitz and Travelocity don't have very many friends.
The travel industry came up with a good hybrid solution: give the consumer a chance to partner with these big booking engines and become a travel agent themselves, with all the benefits and none of the drawbacks, so they can refer their friends and family and everyone wins. This new type of travel agent is known as an Associate Travel Agent, or ATA for short.

ATA's get all the benefits of a normal travel agent, such as commissions, free upgrades and discounts, and FAM Trips (more on FAM Trips in a minute, they're fabulous!). But ATA's don't work at a traditional travel agency, don't work set hours, and don't have to go to years of expensive schooling to get their credentials. You can literally become an ATA in a single day, and you still get the same IATA and CLIA ID card that gets you all the same benefits.

There are lots of books and websites on how to become a travel agent, and they are well worth looking into. The benefits are absolutely incredible, not the least of which are lots of vacations and a good income.

I'm going to start with my favorite benefit: FAM Trips. These are "familiarization trips" that are hosted and subsidized by tour operators, government tourist boards, and private resorts at a fraction of the normal cost. They want you to come on the trip and have such a good time that you go home raving about it and send all of your friends, family, and clients back at the normal rate (remember, 80% of all travel occurs exactly that way).

In a word, FAM Trips are unbelievable. Consider this one from FAM News: 10 days in China, including all accommodations, transfers, flights, an english speaking guide, most meals, and the royal treatment, all for $666! The airfare alone costs over $1,000. And because they want you to send your friends and clients on the same trip, it isn't a stripped down, no frills excursion at rat-infested motels. They pull out all the stops to make sure you have a great time and get back home raving about it to all your friends.

There are thousands of FAM's going on at any given time, all over the world. Some are simple, like a weekend ski trip in Colorado including 2 days of skiing and rentals, a 2 hour lesson, meals, 3 nights in a nice lodge, and entertainment for only $199, and some go all out, like 11 days in Morrocco for $1,400.

FAM Trips aren't the only benefit of being a travel agent. You can also earn big commissions on travel that you book, and you're given a website to send people to so that when they order their travel you get the same commission as if you'd booked it yourself. You can also refer someone who can become an ATA themselves and you earn a $40 bonus, and can earn bonuses and commissions on what they produce, kind of like building your own virtual travel agency.

Everyone who likes to travel and could use a little more money should look into the opportunity of becoming an Associate Travel Agent provides. For many people its the ideal lifestyle, combining the perfect blend of freedom and travel with money and business.

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Brian Allen is an Associate Travel Agent living in St. George, Utah. He helps others learn about becoming a travel agent and offers consulting and free tools for maximum success as a travel agent. He can be reached at http://www.TravelAgentToday.com.

Tours in Myanmar - Asia's Best Kept Secret

Of the Southeast Asian nations, Myanmar attracts fewer tourists than the more ‘trendy’ spots such as Thailand, Malaysia and recently Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. But a country that is known by two names evokes its own cloud of mystery and is sure to pique the interest of adventure seekers and the more intrepid traveler.

Burma was a British colony until independence was granted in 1948. In 1990 the country’s name was changed to Myanmar (which means all national races) to better reflect all the diversity of ethnic groups. It has affectionately been called the ‘Land of Ten Thousand Pagodas’ and the ‘Golden Land’: both names are apt. In some cities temples can be found on nearly every corner and – while this may not differ from nearby countries – many of these highlight the extraordinary relationship that the Burmese have between their beliefs and the land.

Myanmar has approximately 45 million people who are divided into over 165 recognised ethnic groups. It shares its borders with Bangladesh, Laos, China, Thailand and the Bay of Bengal. The country is rich in natural resources – it has lovely pearls, rubies and gems – and its landscape includes pristine beaches, lowland plains and snow –capped mountains.

Unlike other neighboring nations, Myanmar has had little foreign investment: it is one of a handful of countries that remain unscarred by globalised food chains. As a result, traveling in this land induces images of ancient Asia and provides an opportunity for complete immersion in a culture untainted by westernisation.

No trip to Myanmar is complete without visiting some of the following: Mt Popa, the Pindaya Caves, Kyaiktiyo, Bagan, The Thanbode Temple, Mandalay, Inle Lake and the capital Yangon.
Mt Popa in the eastern part of the country is an amazing geographical and man-made spectacle. The mountain is an extinct volcano that because of its sheer-sidedness resembles an inverted bowl; however, it is the Monastery built on the plateau that catches the eye. At 1518 metres it can be seen from all directions and its white walls and golden trimmings resemble a fairytale castle.

Nearby the Pindaya Caves are another example of a remarkable union between nature and mankind. Situated behind the main attraction (the Shweu {Golden Cave} pagoda) tunnel-like limestone caves snake into the mountain. Within this maze, 6000 Buddha images flicker in the candlelight creating a surreal effect that will be sure to leave the visitor more enlightened.

Not to be outdone by these two attractions is the remarkable Kyaikhtiyo pagoda. It sits upon a golden rock that balances atop Mt Kyaiktiyo. The large golden boulder can actually be rocked back and forth and is said to balance because of a precisely placed Buddha hair. The legend is that 2500 years ago a hermit was given a hair by the Buddha and sought an appropriate place for such a sacred object. He found a rock that resembled the Buddha’s head and secured the hair in a pagoda on top. Many villagers make the pilgrimage to the 1100 metre high site, which, having survived several earthquakes, is truly one of the world’s wonders.

Also in the eastern mountains at 700 metres above seas level is Inle Lake, a gentle body of water bound by reeds and canals. Two hundred villages surround the lake and many houses rise out of the water on stilts. The lake is an important resource of the 150,000 people of the Shan state, providing for their main activities: fishing and weaving. It also serves as a marketplace where canoes are used as stalls and people paddle through the flotilla browsing and buying all types of wares.

The Ayeyarwady River splits Myanmar down the middle, running from China to the Bay of Bengal through Mandalay and alongside the capital Yangon. Both these cities are dotted with temples and pagodas, most notable are; the Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay, famous for its marble writings from the Buddha cannon; and the pristine, 2500 year old Shwedagon in Yangon with a spire that towers 100 metres.

The Mandalay region was the last Kingdom of the Myanmar dynasty before the English took control. Now the city remains the cultural center of Myanmar and offers tourists a trip back in time…….. by the river water buffalo teams can still be seen bringing in logs! A boat trip up the Ayeyarwady also reveals an insightful look into village life and an opportunity to mix with the hardworking and friendly locals. If you are still interested in pagodas, they line the banks!
Myanmar is also home to two of the largest abandoned cities in the world: Bagan and Mrak U.
An ancient capital between 1044 and 1287 AD, Bagan is thought to be the birthplace of the Myanmar civilization. Today it’s a very popular tourist destination; the city is clean and spacious and provides a base to visit the 2000 or so temples built on the 16 square kilometer site. In contrast, Mrak U is only accessible by a five-hour boat ride out of the small village of Sittwe and at present many of its temples are being restored.

The giant temple of Thanbode is one temple that must be visited. Situated just outside of Monywa it was built between 1939 and 1952 and is home to 582,257 Buddha images: possibly the largest single collection of Buddha statues in the world. Two white elephants, that symbolize fertility and knowledge, guard the collection.

The Burmese people are very friendly and almost tribal in nature. Their family and friends are extremely important in their life and they extend this friendship to foreigners: often seeking them out and initiating conversations. With such a fusion of cultures this makes for an exceptional travel experience unlikely to be replicated elsewhere.

In 1898 Rudyard Kipling wrote, “this is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you will know.” This statement rings true today as Myanmar remains a rare gem; the people, culture and scenery combining to make it a unique experience in an ever-shrinking world.

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Tony Jones
Explore-Myanmar is one of the premier tour companies operating in Myanmar, guaranteeing all our customers a truly wonderful holiday experience. For more info please check out our web site. http://www.explore-myanmar.com
info@explore-myanmar.com

My History of Walt Disney World

I was 37 years old before ever getting to the wonderful world of Walt Disney World. It has always been a dream for me to see the largest theme park in Florida. I was 9 years old when my family went to California to Disney Land where I was in "awe" over the creations and technology of the rides. My favorite ride would have to be at that time was the Haunted Mansion. I had never seen anything like it before. Back then in the 70's you would never had thought there would be anything better!

After I began my family I also wanted my children to experience WDW like there was no better place to vacation. At 37 years old I finally got to drive with my husband and children to Walt Disney World in Florida. I actually think my husband and I enjoyed it more than my children. Although they had come down with a terrible cold we suffered through it. My legs felt like they would fall off by the end of the day but nothing was going to stop me from seeing as much as I could. We only had two week to see all four parks. At this time Animal Kingdom was the newest park. We still weren't able to see all that WDW had to offer.

We stayed at the Pop Century Resort. At that time I thought "WOW" we don't even have to drive to the parks due to the special transportation that they had to provide. We took every advantage of using them! I still remember walking down main street USA and I have to say the Walt Disney Magic Kingdom is my favorite. I notice that things where much different than I could remember from when I was 9 years old at Disney Land and the parks seemed so much bigger. It was then my goal to see Mickey, Minnie and friends. My daughter at my side we began our excursion. I have to laugh because ever time we saw a character we ran to try to get in line first. Boy, that's a real chore.

My second favorite I would have to say would be Epcot. "O My God"! what great food! The countries are just fabulous and once again I could not find enough time to see all that I wanted to see. I remember watching Illumination The Reflections Of Earth at Epcot and could not ever remember seeing something so beautiful in my life (exceptions of my children's birth). I could have stayed at that time for ever! The sky just lit up with fireworks and the world that revolves in the water is nothing I'd ever seen before.

When your at Walt Disney World you are able to forget about everything you have back home. Isn't that life! You become a child again and the feelings of laughter and smiles on everyone's face. What could be better?

After getting home from our visit in February my husband and I decided to return in May 2005 for our 15 year anniversary. We went without the children this time. We stayed at the Contemporary resort which was just fantastic as you were able to ride the monorail to the parks take the boats or even walk. We were able to walk to the Magic Kingdom in 5 minutes and also could walk to MGM and Epcot if we wanted to. We took the time to visit as many resorts as we could to try to figure out which resort would be our next return. Wow! that is a hard task to figure out. They all have such a unique style to them and so beautiful with different themes for each resort. I then told my husband that we will start researching for deals, discounts, cheap flights, codes and the history of WDW. My husband has become Mr. Disney as we call him at home. He spends most of his time on weekends and after work looking for special deals. This has become a special event for both of us and a hobby. We plan to return to WDW ever year and then some if possible. Plans are to return soon this winter.

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Christine M. Corbin
I was 37 years old before ever getting to the wonderful world of Walt Disney World. It has always been a dream for me to see the largest theme park in Florida.
dinseydiscounts.net@gmail.com

Le Havre, a Fishing Village

Le Havre is famous, not only within the region of Normandy but through France and the rest of Europe as well due to the fact that it has one of the largest and most important sea ports of France. This way, it is easy to imagine the importance of fishing related activities for this town and the way in which its people and their traditions have a strong bond with the sea.

The town of Le Havre is located at about 130 miles from Paris, 40 miles from Rouen and 40 miles from Caen, in the French Department of Seine Maritime. It can be found towards the right side of the Seine River and facing the coast of the English Channel in such a way that the landscapes it offers are one of the main attractions of the area.

During the XVI century, Le Havre went through some important changes and historical events. Around the year 1516, a port was built in Le Havre under the orders of the French royalty. After that, during the Religious Wars within first years of the decade of 1560, the town went through critical moments and became under the control of the English, although the town's people and the architecture weren't hardly damaged and a year after it the French gained the control over this town back.

The port was partially re constructed during the XVII century under the orders of the main minister of Louis XIII, Richelieu. After that, and within the XIX century, some of the port areas were re constructed again under the orders of Napoleon, but it always kept its main characteristics unchanged and nowadays visitors can observe most of its features as they were when it originally was.

Besides this port, there also are several other interesting spots and constructions to meet in Le Havre. One of these constructions is the Church of Notre dame de Bonsecours. This church was built during the XVI century, after what, during the XVII century it also received a few changes and new ornaments. Among a few others, this building is one of the constructions which visitors should not miss while being in Le Havre.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Houlgate And Its Beaches

Houlgate is a sea resort town situated at the back of a hill, within the region of Normandy, in France. Due to its great beaches and charming general appearance, this town attracts visitors from many different spots, not only within France but many other places of the world as well. This place offers a wide range of activities of many different kinds in such a way that all visitors would surely find something suitable to them and their wishes fulfilled.

One first look at this town would show streets bordered by trees and leading to the beach located at the lower area. In general, a sight of this town would transmit peacefulness, fun, and relaxation combined with the sound of trees leafs slowly moving from the effect of a calm breeze and the sound of the sea.

One of the main characteristics of Houlgate and by which it differentiates from most other sea towns in the region is the fact that it maintains its antique constructions and its general original appearance almost untouched and without the addition of modern buildings. This way, by visiting this town, tourists can enjoy a typical French sea resort which shows an urban architecture that has not been affected by modern trends.

There is a wide variety of different spots and buildings throughout the town of Houlgate. Tourists who approach this town can meet from medieval buildings and Swiss chalets, to typical rococo constructions. It is interesting to remark that some of these constructions have become hotels and spots open for visitors to stay while being in the town.

Through the pass of centuries, many different people of historical importance have been at this town and even lived in it for some periods of time. Among these people, we can name, for example, Saint Saens, Sacha Guitry, Napoleon III, among many others before them. Nowadays, this spot offers a great combination of quiet spots such as its beaches and historical buildings mixed with other exciting places such as discos and pubs in such a way that there is something suitable to all different preferences.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Granville, a Great Summer Resort

Granville is often described as one of the most attractive summer resorts of northern France. This town, located in the region of Normandy, is constantly receiving visitors from the entire world as well as from France since it is ideal for relaxing and spending a great vacation.

The town of Granville has been considered a great summer resort and tourism spot since the XIX century. Although it always has been seen as a very beautiful spot and has received visitors from several different regions, it was not until two centuries ago that Granville started becoming the popular place it is to the date.

Besides than being famous as a tourism spot, Granville is also widely known as a fishing area. This way, the main resources of this town are based on sea related activities, and most of its incomes are based on the visitors its beaches attract and fishing activities.

One of the most attractive times of the year for visiting Granville might probably be during its Mardi Gras Carnival. Granville's Mardi Gras Carnival is a festivity which has been traditional to the town for more than a century. This way, during this festivity the town receives an important amount of visitors who approach attracted by it as well as by the beaches and many other natural characteristics of the town.

The Mardi Gras Carnival of Granville has been celebrated every year since 1872, and it is, nowadays, an activity typical of the area. Originally, this festivity was based on the preparation fisherman would have to go through before going into the sea, and, although nowadays the festivity is much broader and includes several different activities, those roots are still at the base of the celebration.

Granville's Mardi Gras festival is usually celebrated during the month of February. One of the most interesting and fun activities of this celebration are the one known as "the day of intrigue". During the day of intrigue, the town inhabitants, as well as many visitors, wear masks in order to intrigue and trick the others while meeting or walking around the town.

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Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com. Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Vacation New York City – A Bite Of The Big Apple

From epic skyscrapers to electrically charged ambience, initial experience of New York City can leave you utterly overwhelmed. Romance radiates from every street corner as film sets burst into life. New York is the city of the future.

Originally named New Amsterdam by Dutch colonists, it wasn’t until British occupation in 1664 it became recognized as present day New York. The creation of the Erie Canal in 1825 was the mechanism for trade and industrial growth that bought about the thriving city of today.

For visitors travelling via boat, opening port of call is the majestic Statue of Liberty. This illustrious emblem of the American Dream was designed by Gustave Eiffel – he of Eiffel Tower notoriety – and erected in 1886. For security purposes the Statue no longer offers public admission, however access to Liberty Island is still permitted, providing an exceptional picture of the elegant lady.

Opposite the Statue rests Ellis Island, an immigration station until the midpoint of last century. Formerly used by the English for disciplining buccaneers, Ellis Island supervised the influx of millions of European immigrants during the first half of the twentieth-century. The museum – open daily with free admission – is well worth a couple of hours of your time.

Straddling East River, Brooklyn Bridge is recognizable to anyone who has been to the movies. Affording some of the most breathtaking sights of Manhattan, Brooklyn Bridge was constructed in 1883, and at time of completion was the worlds biggest suspension bridge and earliest to utilize steel cables.

Off 42nd Street sits the vast, cathedral-like Grand Central Station. At one hundred and fifty feet tall, the stylishly decorated starry sky ceiling is a magnificent spectacle to behold. You may explore the station yourself, however best alternative is to seize advantage of the frequent free tours. If seafood is your thing, the Oyster Bar is a must, offering exceptional cuisine and a cool view.

In the heart of Manhattan lies Central Park, providing immense contrast to demanding urban life. Conceived in 1876, a recreational area was developed to afford the citizens a respite from modern living. By now New York was a flourishing town and authorities felt individuals required a contrast to bricks and mortar. Central Park Zoo is continually popular, as is the Wollman Rink, a delight in winter. Shakespeare in the Park – an admirable production – is located at the Delacorte Theatre and is free, however obtain your tickets in advance.

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Steven Cronin writes articles, poetry and short stories predominantly concerning travel as well as issues that influence the world in which we live. For further literature visit http://www.sargas.co.uk/
sargas@blueyonder.co.uk