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Send Flowers to Frenchay, Bristol with Clare Florist Our florists love making bouquets and arrangements for UK flower delivery, and we can send flowers to Frenchay, Bristol for you. We have a wide range of Roses, Freesia flower bouquets, and Lilies, as well as Classic Bouquets and our Colourful flower Bouquets, and our range of Flowers under £21.00. Our home page provides more information on our extensive range of next-day flower delivery services, all of which are available for next day UK flower delivery to Frenchay, Bristol, Or indeed anywhere in the UK! Flowers Delivered to Frenchay, Bristol Giving someone a bouquet of flowers during their birthday or on a special occasion s a wonderful gesture. And when you want to send flowers to Frenchay, Bristol, we can help you out. You can choose from our collection of bouquets that are perfect for occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, Mother's Day and even days when you just want to make someone smile. We also offer next-day delivery service so if you want to take advantage of that, make sure to order flowers for delivery to Frenchay, Bristol as early as possible. Tweet Most Popular Flowers Sent to Frenchay, Bristol This Month Clare Florist Reviews If you need to send flowers to Frenchay, Bristol for delivery today, we have a range of flowers on our Same Day Flowers page. Flower Delivery to Frenchay with Clare Florist Frenchay, Gloucestershire is now a Bristol suburb to the north east of the city. It was once a village in its own right and still has many of the period houses and properties throughout. Most Famous Landmarks in Frenchay If you know about World War I, you have likely heard of the most famous landmark in the village. It was the home of Frenchay Hospital, which was expanded during the Great War by the U.S. Army. This was the place that soldiers were brought for treatment after the D-Day landings. It remained as functioning hospital throughout the decades, until it’s A&E closure in 2014. Despite all hopes of keeping the major burns unit open, it merged with a local hospital and the building is likely to be torn down. Other landmarks include St. John the Baptist Anglican Church and the Quaker Meeting House, which is the oldest religious building in the area. Home of a Chocolate Manufacturer When you think of British chocolate, there are chances you consider Cadbury’s. However, Frenchay is the home of the company that made the first ever commercial chocolate bar throughout the world: J S Fry & Sons. Joseph Storrs Fry was one of the Quaker merchants from Bristol, who made a home in Frenchay. Moving to the area in the 1800s, he helped to replace the old Quaker Meeting House with the one that still stands today. The founder of Bristol blue glass manufacturing company Wadham, Ricketts & Co also moved to the area. John Wadham lived in Frenchay Manor House, another building that still exists. We deliver all types of flowers to Frenchay, Gloucestershire, making your loved ones happy to know you thought of them. Get in touch to place your order today and send flowers to Frenchay with ease. Flower delivery information for Frenchay, Bristol. Our flowers delivery services in Frenchay, Bristol are usually made by DPD or Royal Mail Special Delivery. 99.9% of our flowers are delivered by 5pm on the requested day - (more commonly before noon), except UK Public Holidays. We also offer a range of next-day flower delivery options in Frenchay, Bristol - specific information is available during checkout. At appropriate times of year we can also deliver Valentine's Day flowers, Easter Flowers, Mother's Day flowers, and Christmas Flowers to Frenchay, Bristol. There is no small print! When you order flowers for delivery in Frenchay, Bristol with Clare Florist, that's exactly what you get - flowers delivered in Frenchay, Bristol, without any fuss.

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Welcome to Ohio, center of the restaurant universe LinkedIn Google+ Cleveland, City of Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland It feels like Ohio is the center of the restaurant universe — at least on the website of trade publication Nation's Restaurant News.The Penton Media property includes Melt Bar & Grilled and two Columbus-based chains — Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Piada Italian Street Food — in its list of 50 breakout brands for 2013.Melt, profiled here, is singled out for “breakout factors” that include a “distinctive beverage program,” an “innovative approach to food/operations” and premium products. The Lakewood chain, started by Matt Fish, has four restaurants now and plans a Columbus eatery next year.The profile of Jeni's, which has a store in Chagrin Falls and has made its products widely available in Northeast Ohio grocery stores, is here.Piada, profiled here, has restaurants in South Euclid and Canton.In addition, Nation's Restaurant Business announced that Cleveland chef Jonathon Sawyer has been named the MenuMasters Innovator for 2013.The awards are produced by Nation's Restaurant News and sponsored by Ventura Foods. They honor outstanding menu development plus excellence in foodservice research and development.Publisher Randall Friedman said Mr. Sawyer “is truly a trailblazer in culinary innovation and never rests on his latest success.”Mr. Sawyer's restaurant properties include The Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat in downtown Cleveland.Let it (not) snow Enjoying our relatively snow-free winters of late? You're not alone.Bloomberg looks at how the lack of snow has helped budgets in many northern cities, including Cleveland.The story notes that Cleveland had 67% of normal snowfall in 2012, resulting in $1.2 million unused in its $3 million salt account.The extra money went back into the general fund, says Michael Cox, the city's director of public works, who has worked for the city for 40 years and tells Bloomberg he has never seen the weather so mild. “Every little bit helps,” Mr. Cox says.There might be a downside, though.Bloomberg notes that Chicago's murder rate spiked 66% in the first quarter of 2012, when temperatures were 30% above normal and snowfall was 30% below average. Unseasonably mild weather sends more people outdoors, helping to trigger more violence, says police superintendent Garry McCarthy.“The opportunity is limited when you have a foot of snow,” he says. “There's not a causal relationship with weather and crime. It's merely an influencer.”Flatlining Has the world whipped inflation?That's the question posed in this Businessweek.com column, which draws on data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.Charles Kenny, a fellow at the Center for Global Development and the New America Foundation, writes that in most of the world, pro-monetary stimulus has led to “result (that) have been unexpected: Despite the aggressive measures taken by central banks to revive major economies, actual inflation around the world has continued to remain at historic lows.:The Cleveland Fed, he writes, suggests the markets think inflation in the United State over the next 10 years will remain below 1.5%, down from expectations of closer to 5% in the early 1980s.Around the world, Mr. Kenny notes, the International Monetary Fund forecast released this month project inflation of below 2% in advanced economies and around 6% in emerging markets for the next couple of years.So what accounts for growing price stability worldwide over the past 20 years?Mr. Kenny writes that an analysis by two Bank of England economists suggests the industrialized world has benefited from at least one bit of good luck — the lack of an external shock like the oil price rises of the 1970s. But they also note that better policymaking at the country level has been an important factor in reducing inflation volatility, Mr. Kenny writes.An additional factor in keeping inflation low may be explicit inflation targeting by reserve banks in the developing world, an approach that international institutions such as the IMF long advocated, he concludes.Finding his place Do yourself a favor and read this charming essay, in The Chronicle of Higher Education, by Sam Thomas, who teaches history at University School.Mr. Thomas writes about his decision to get off the tenure track — in his case, at the University of Alabama at Huntsville — in favor of something that would help him “recover the sense of community that I so sorely missed.”His verdict on the switch to secondary-school teaching?“It's the best move I've ever made, and given the glut of Ph.D.'s in the humanities, prep-school teaching is an option more people should consider,” Mr. Thomas writes.“My students are bright, curious, and motivated,” he continues. “In high school, there are no majors and thus no general-education requirements. Nobody has told them, 'You are a business major, so history doesn't matter. Just get a 'C' and move on!' In addition, my students write really well, better than many college freshmen I'd taught. (There is a good reason for this: At the lower school students write constantly, so by the time they get to the upper school, they know their way around a sentence.)”He also enjoys “the luxury of working with them on more difficult questions: What is the best use of historical evidence? How should they structure their arguments to be more convincing? And I do that knowing that with three or four more years of training, they will arrive at college far better prepared then many of their peers. I go to work knowing that I am making a difference in my students' lives, and that is no small thing.”Mr. Thomas writes that the “one real regret I felt at the prospect of leaving academe was leaving behind my research on the history of midwifery in 17th-century England.”But he has found an outlet for that by turning to fiction. Mr. Thomas has just published his first novel, "The Midwife's Tale", an historical mystery.You also can follow me on Twitter for more news about business and Northeast Ohio.

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Beaches, bombs and gangsters -- Corsica's dilemma By LORI HINNANT, Associated Press AJACCIO, Corsica (AP) — The bombs exploded across hundreds of miles (kilometers) of Corsican coastline, gutting two dozen villas nearly simultaneously on some of Europe’s most beautiful — and valuable — land. Elsewhere on the same French island off the Mediterranean coast, a young man was shot to death in his car, his stepson wounded beside him. The night of violence in early December epitomized the problems of Napoleon’s native island today: Organized crime is gaining ground, spreading beyond the usual vices on the mainland to real estate, tourism and politics back home. And separatists, who extinguished themselves in a spasm of deadly infighting in the late 1990s, have come back with a vengeance, as they wage a desperate battle to prevent mob-dominated mass tourism from dooming their dreams of self-rule. Corsican coastal land prices have risen as much as five times in as many years, and the number of tourists also has shot up as a once-exclusive haven for the wealthy and their yachts and private vacation homes became a destination for cruise ships and budget flights. Corsican mobsters — infamous in mainland France and the United States for their ties to gambling, nightclubs and drugs — saw a killing to be made back home. Gang warfare over Corsican spoils and the separatist bombing campaign have created a climate of lawlessness, although the combatants have been careful not to turn the violence on the tourists themselves. “The state has completely failed,” said Dominique Bianchi, a former nationalist leader who recently stepped down as mayor of the southern village of Villanova. “In this world, there’s only one thing that counts: how to divide the loot.” Shaken by the bombings, and the recent assassinations of a defense lawyer and community leader, the Paris government is making new promises to clean things up on an island where separatist sentiment has simmered ever since France officially took charge in 1769. Corsica has emerged as a jewel of French mass tourism only recently: More than 4.2 million tourists visited the island last year, compared to 2.4 million in 1992. The 2013 Tour de France, the world’s premier cycling competition, will begin here — adding to the sense that Corsica has joined the big leagues as a top travel destination. Complicating the challenge for France is what mainland officials describe as a code of silence — known as `’omerta” — that also runs through areas of mafia-plagued southern Italy. Locals say it’s fear, not omerta, that keeps people silent. Of the 85 gangland killings and attempted assassinations in Corsica in the past eight years, only one case — a plot against a former nationalist turned president of Corsica’s biggest soccer team — has ended in conviction. Both the mob violence and the bombings claimed by militant nationalists have the same root, Corsicans say: the land. Three-quarters of the coastline is untouched, the beaches and Mediterranean views achingly empty of a human presence just a 90-minute flight from Paris — as developers were scared off by gangland warfare and separatist militancy. “Where else could you go and have this kind of virgin land? It doesn’t exist anymore,” said Dominique Yvon, who is part of an anti-corruption group on Corsica. Through the 1990s, the island was rocked by more than 1,000 separatist bombings of vacation homes and construction sites. For mainstream investors, France’s Cote d’Azur, much more stable despite its own mob presence, was the place to be. Then the separatists imploded in the late 1990s. And organized crime came home, seeing an opening to make new profits laundering drug money, much of it during three decades of heroin sales in the United States — spearheading the so-called “French Connection” drug ring — and on the Cote d’Azur, according to Thierry Colombie, who has written a book about the Corsican mob. Most of the tourists who stayed overnight on the island in 2012 stayed in villas, many of them suspected of links to mob money, that popped up on the coastline when the bombing wave of the 1980s and 1990s finally ended. The number of cruise ship day visitors has also risen from 298,000 in 2001 to 1.1 million in 2011; they spend money in stores, restaurants and clubs before returning to their ships. Each summer, the population of Corsica doubles from its 300,000 residents. Visitors pay a premium for ocean views and spend money in restaurants and nightclubs. They fly in by plane or sail into harbors like Ajaccio, outfitted for yachts and cruise ships. They come despite a murder rate about eight times higher than the rest of France, largely thanks to the fact that no tourists have been killed in Corsican gangland or separatist violence. For most of the 20th century, the French government’s driving focus was on ending nationalist sentiment, even as Corsica’s problem with feeding the global criminal underworld grew. The “French Connection” brought hundreds of millions of dollars worth of heroin into the United States. And Corsican mobsters dominated the gambling and prostitution houses of Paris. When the latest wave of gangland killings started, in 2006, the French government looked the other way, hoping the criminals would implode the way the nationalists had. Then, at the end of 2012, when score-settling reached beyond established criminals to Corsica’s mainstream political class, the government began to pay serious attention. First, a prominent defense lawyer was killed as he made his usual stop at a gas station on his way to work in Ajaccio. Next, a former nationalist with a uniquely powerful post as head of the chamber of commerce was shot as he closed up shop. As president of the chamber of commerce, Jacques Nacer was in charge of the air- and seaports that are the island’s link to the outside world, and the government money that keeps both up and running. Authorities have not said why they think he was gunned down, beyond noting that it was a professional killing. More than 15 years ago, the chamber’s president used the airport as a helicopter base for drug running between Africa and Europe. His successor was convicted in a fraud scheme involving government contracts. The slain defense lawyer, Antoine Sollacaro, was best known for representing the nationalist who killed the island’s highest ranking official, prefect Claude Erignac, in 1998. Police have offered no theories on his death, beyond noting that it had the same professional hallmarks as all of Corsica’s gangland murders. These killings finally caught the attention of France’s top security and justice officials, who stood before the cameras to vow that this time, things would be different. “In Corsica, those who give the orders are known. Everyone knows and no one speaks,” said French Interior Minister Manuel Valls. Of course they don’t speak, counters Raphael Vallet, a police investigator in Corsica. Most people can offer only rumors, and those who might know more can’t look to the state’s shield in France — which, unlike Italy and the United States, has no robust witness protection program for mobster turncoats. “If you’re dealing with someone who is capable of killing you at any moment and we say `we can’t protect you,’ would you talk?” said Vallet. “Corsicans are no less brave than anyone else.” The Corsican city of Ajaccio was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, who left the island as a youth after deciding that greatness couldn’t be attained there. Many others have made similar bets about their future on an island with few resources beyond its natural beauty. Among them, a preferred path has been criminal empire. French government policy was — and remains — that Corsica is an integral part of the nation. Islanders, meanwhile, call the rest of France “the continent” and proudly speak their own Italian-inflected language that the Paris government once tried unsuccessfully to wipe out. The bombings of Dec. 7 struck at 31 villas, all of them with absentee homeowners away on “the continent.” The nationalist FLNC, which announced its resurrection in a theatrical news conference in July complete with masks and guns, claimed responsibility on Dec. 19 and denied any collusion with organized crime, saying gangsters had “prospered in the shadow of the French state for decades.” The explosions appeared to have no links to the hit on the young man, whose death is believed to be the latest professional killing to go unsolved. Bianchi, the former mayor, was once jailed for his links to the group and has since publicly renounced violence. But he, like many Corsicans, couldn’t bring himself to condemn the bombings in a place they consider their homeland. “Even if I don’t approve, I understand. I understand because in the current climate of Corsica, where there is enormous land speculation, there is a revolt,” he said. “We don’t want their country ... to become a place just for rich retirees in the next 10 or 15 years. We don’t want it to become another Cote d’Azur.”

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Print Page; Gander Mountain Coming To Monroeville ST. PAUL, MN, October 5, 2015 --- Springtime will bring a new and exciting retail opportunity for outdoors enthusiasts in western Pennsylvania. Gander Mountain, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing network of outdoor specialty stores, announced today it will open another Pennsylvania location in Monroeville in the spring of 2016. “We have been a part of the state’s retail scene for many years, so people in Pennsylvania know Gander Mountain is the place to go for outdoors enthusiasts who are seeking the best selection, service and value,” said David Pratt, Gander Mountain’s Chief Executive Officer. “We are happy to bring a new Gander Mountain store to Monroeville and greater Pittsburgh, where outdoors traditions run deep and are passed down from generation to generation. We’re looking forward to giving more people the chance to experience all that Gander Mountain offers.” The newest Gander Mountain store will be located in an existing 80,000-square-foot facility at 4680 Old William Penn Highway, in the Monroeville Plaza shopping center, just west of the junction of William Penn Highway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It will be the 12th Gander Mountain location in Pennsylvania, joining existing stores in Chambersburg, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Moon Township, Scranton, Washington, Williamsport and York, and a recently-announced store in Warrington Township also slated to open in the spring of 2016. “We are excited to have a renowned company like Gander Mountain coming to Monroeville and we look forward to the new retail opportunity,” said Gregory Erosenko, mayor of Monroeville. “On behalf of the people of Monroeville, we welcome the new business, revenue and jobs that Gander Mountain will bring to the region, and we know this will be a great fit for our community.” “We appreciate the warm welcome we have received from the people in Monroeville and look forward to the grand opening of another new Pennsylvania store in the spring,” said Eric Jacobsen, Gander Mountain’s Executive Vice President and Director of Real Estate. Gander Mountain’s newest store will feature one of the largest selections of new and used firearms in Pennsylvania, together with the best selection of gear and accessories for hunting, fishing, camping, boating and archery. The store will offer an extensive selection of men’s and women’s active performance outdoor and casual apparel featuring exciting brands like Under Armour, The North Face, GSX, Columbia, Carhartt, Guide Series and Kühl, and a wide variety of men’s and women’s active footwear featuring brands like Asics, Carhartt, Ariat, Much, Gander Mountain, Merrell, Rocky, Reebok, Reef, Keen, Irish Setter, Teva, New Balance, Timberland, LaCrosse, Skechers, Saucony and Under Armour. Customers will enjoy easy access to Gander Mountain’s unmatched selection of new and used firearms from around the country, whether the firearms are located at other stores, in central distribution facilities or on Gander Mountain’s market-leading online store. Customers have access to all of Gander Mountain’s firearms, equipment, merchandise, apparel and footwear by using simple online order kiosks with easy delivery and pick-up at their favorite Gander Mountain store. Gander Mountain also features the outdoor retail industry’s first system-wide free Online Order Pick Up system, enabling customers to purchase products on-line and pick them up in-store the same day. Additional details on special events, activities and promotions that will be a part of the new store grand opening celebration will be available at www.GanderMountain.com. The new Warrington store is the most recent location announced in a sizeable expansion. In 2012 and 2013 new Gander Mountain stores opened in: In 2014 Gander Mountain opened 23 new stores: Mt. Juliet, TN West Houston, TX For 2015, Gander Mountain has announced or opened stores for: Marion, IL Tulsa Hills, OK Killeen, TX More new store announcements are expected soon. Those interested in careers with Gander Mountain can explore current opportunities and submit an application on-line at http://careers.gandermountain.com/ About Gander Mountain Company Gander Mountain Company headquartered in St. Paul, MN, is the nation's largest retail network of outdoor specialty stores for hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services. Since 1960, Gander Mountain has offered the best selection of outdoor equipment, technical apparel, active casual wear, and footwear featuring national, regional and specialty brands at competitive prices. Focused on a "We Live Outdoors®" culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories. There are currently 127 conveniently located Gander Mountain outdoor lifestyle stores in 24 states. For the nearest store location call 800-282-5993 or visit www.GanderMountain.com. Gander Mountain is also the parent company of Overton's (www.overtons.com), a leading catalog and Internet based retailer of products for boating and other water sports enthusiasts.

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HomeRestaurants Nozomi founder interview The founder of Nozomi, Marios George, talks to Time Out about food, lifestyle and rival restaurants Daisy Carrington 30 November 2009 So you’re opening another fancy Japanese restaurant in Dubai. Do we need another knock-off Nobu?Strangely enough, the first thing I was discussing was that it will be difficult not to draw comparisons to Nobu and other Japanese restaurants. We all do contemporary Japanese cuisine, and we all interpret it in a similar fashion. And a lot of chefs that work for me and the other companies have been in and out of the same kitchens. The real difference is that we don’t focus on food so much as the dining and lifestyle experience.Can you explain exactly what that means?People who dine at Nozomi make a big effort to dress correctly. They want to see like-minded people. Our restaurant has a club feel to it. It’s a night out. It’s not just about arriving for dinner, paying the bill and moving on to somewhere else.But is it really that different? Okku and Zuma both have a club feel.I’m not too confident to talk about Okku. I visited and wasn’t too impressed. Zuma I have respect for. It’s a major player. It’s curious to see how they’ve converted from being mainly a restaurant at the London location to becoming a half-restaurant, half-bar here in Dubai. I think they’ve taken a small leaf out of Nozomi’s book.After starting out in London, are you changing the concept to fit the Middle East?To be honest, not really, simply because if you refer back to the London business, 90 per cent of our clientele is international anyway, and neatly divided between Europe and the Middle East. What we do here will be a mirror of what we do in London.So will you, too, have black cod on the menu?Of course. If you envisage any contemporary Japanese menu, we all follow a very similar route. That said, in terms of our signature dishes, you’ll just have to watch this space. I’ve got first-class, world-class chefs who’ve worked for Nobu and Zuma, and I’ve told them to create their own signature dishes. They’re very innovative. I want originality. Let’s not just plagiarise.Nozomi opens on December 4 at the Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa (04 399 4221). The Long Lunch at McGettigan’s Madinat Jumeirah Previous Article Festive recipe to try In the first in our seasonal series, Ruth’s Chris Steak House whips up a traditional American Christmas treat Best business lunches in Dubai Looking to impress a client, or just want to escape the office? We’ve got lunch covered

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The Most Famous Religious Places In India The religious places of India reflect the diversity of region, rituals, people and religions. India is home to many religions of different faiths and considered as the most religiously diverse nations in the world. If you are spiritually inclined visitor and expect to shower yourself with the spiritual experience during the journey, then this Hindu pilgrimage tour in India is the best choice for you. Though you might be going for a Hindu pilgrimage tour in India be certain not to miss out on visiting top five popular Hindu religious places in India. The cave of Amarnath is considered to be most famous and holiest shrines of great God, Lord Shiva in Hinduism. Amarnath Temple cave situated at an altitude 3,888 m (12,756 ft) near Srinagar and surrounded by snowy mountains. An ice stalagmite Lingam formed annually in the caves due to freezing of water during the month of sharavan. Dwarka is India’s one of the oldest city. It has significant importance due to religious places in the city. It is also included in the list of seven most holy places of India for Hindu followers. There are various temples situated in the city like Rukmini Temple, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Famous Temple in India, Sri Dwarkanath and others. Badarinath temple the main attraction of Badrinath is considered as one of the most important and sacred pilgrimage centre situated in the lofty Himalayan heights of Uttarakhand at the height of 3133 m (10248 feet) above sea level. This Vishnu temple is built 50ft tall built of stone with a small cupola on top covered with a gold glit roof and arched windows, intricate carvings inside the garbha or main shrine with 15 idols present in the temple complex resembling a Buddhist vihara temple. Kedarnath Temple, the most sacred Hindu shrine located in the great Himalayas, and one of the twelve Jyotirlinga or Shiva temples in the country is a picturesque spot situated against the scenery of the magnificent lofty snow covered Kedarnath range. Venkateswara The world famous Tirumala Venkateswara Temple or Tirupati Balaji is a Hindu temple dedicated to god Vishnu. Tirupati Balaji temple is the richest pilgrimage center in India followed by Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Vaishno Devi and Shirdi Sai Baba. Brahmotsavam festival is best time to visit Lord Venkateswara Temple the celebration attracts pilgrims from all over the world.For more best travel guides, please visit here: http://www.buggl.com/ @rahulbehal The Beautiful Photographs of Romantic Lovers 3D Chalk Art Creatively Interacts With Its Surroundings The Most Incredible Places To Paraglide Photographer Is Changing Maternity Photography With His Underwater Mermaid Moms 6 Considerable Things in Facial Moisturizers for Acne Prone Skin 10 Most Stunning Wedding Photos of All Time

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August 29, 2016 by afrikayaleisuretravel Paarl History OUR DIVERSE CULTURE Paarl is the third oldest European Settlement in South Africa and is home to a culturally diverse community – the product of a unique history. The people of Paarl are descendants of the Khoisan, slaves from African and Asia, Dutch settlers, French Huguenots, Jewish immigrants, Italian Prisoners of War, and Xhosa migrant labourers. The Khoikhoi The Khoikhoi and San were the first people to utilize the area and original San rock art can still be seen at nearby Wemmershoek and Bainskloof. Originally, Paarl Mountain was named “Tortoise Mountain” by the Khoikhoi. The Berg River Valley formed the traditional border between the Peninsular Khoikhoi (the Gorachoqua and the Goringhaiqua) and the Cochoqua. The latter group moved their cattle around the various grazing areas of the Berg River and Drakenstein valleys. The approximately 18 000-strong Cochoqua was one of the richest and strongest of the Khoi tribes, but they were eventually defeated during the second war between the colonists and Khoikhoi and most of their livestock looted. On the death of their leaders, the tribe dispersed, with some trekking towards the Orange River, while others were in the service of colonists. EUROPEAN SETTLERS The original purpose of the Dutch settlement in the vicinity of latter day Cape Town, was to provide fresh food and water to the ships of the Dutch East India Company, on their way to the East. Founder of Cape Town, Jan van Riebeeck, built up fresh meat stock by bartering livestock from the local Khoikhoi. In 1657, Abraham Gabbema led an expedition to find more Khoi groups to barter with and to search for the legendary treasures of Monomotapa. On the day that they arrived in the Berg River Valley, the granite boulders, towards the west side of our town, glistened in the sun and this inspired Gabbema to name this mountain “the Diamond and Pearl Mountain” from which the name Paarl was later derived. In October 1687, thirty years after the Gabbema expedition, Governor Simon van der Stel granted the first farms to Free Burghers. Twenty-one of these farms were in Drakenstein (Paarl), and five were on the foothills of Paarl Mountain. When the French Huguenots arrived in the Cape in 1688, some were granted land in the Drakenstein area. Their intimate knowledge of the wine industry would be instrumental in establishing the now internationally-renowned wine industry of South Africa. The headquarters of the South African wine industry, the KWV, is situated in Paarl, on one of the earliest farms (La Concorde, as it is known today) to be granted by Governor Simon van der Stel. The traditional European practice of private land ownership soon clashed with the communal land use of the Khoikhoi. Land was now granted to the French Huguenots and this meant that water was limited and the wild animals that were hunted by the Khoisan, systematically disappeared from the area. European diseases, such as small pox, further decimated the indigenous peoples. Many of the Khoisan were forced to move to the interior or became labourers for the colonists. The Slaves Between 1658 and 1808, some 63 000 slaves were brought to South Africa from different parts of the world, to sow, harvest, and thresh the wheat and also to load wagons, weed the owner’s fields, and look after the livestock. On wine farms they harvested and pressed grapes. Women did housework and in some cases acted as wet nurses for their owner’s children. Het Gesticht (a small unbaked brick church) was built in 1813 to provide slaves with a place of worship. From 1820, onwards it became known as the Zion Church and is the fourth oldest church building in South Africa. After being emancipated in 1834, slaves in Paarl were awarded property in the vicinity of modern-day Berg Street and School Street. Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleTumblrBloggerLinkedInWordpress-AfrikayaMorePinterestLike this:Like Loading... This entry was posted in adventure, african safaris, afrikaya, afrikaya leisure travel, afrikaya tours, big 5, bushmen, busman, cape town, castle of good hope, forgotten history, great trek, group tours, historical buildings, history, Holidays, jan van riebeeck, national parks in south africa, nelson mandela, paarl history, Safaris, self drives, small group tours, South Africa, south africa history, south africa safaris, Southern Africa, tailor made tours, the holistic expedition of africa, voortrekkers, western cape and tagged adventure, africa, afrikaya, big 5, bushman, culture, facts, group tours, guiding, historical buildings, history, history south africa, holidays, holistic expedition of africa, safaris, self-drives, south africa, southern africa, southern africa history, the holistic expedition of africa, tourism, tours, travel. Bookmark the permalink. ← Republic Day South-Africa Chief Albert John Luthuli →

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Donaucity Bernhard Vogl Copyright: Bernhard Vogl More About Vienna The World : Europe : Austria : Lower Austria : Vienna Overview and HistoryThe history of Vienna is synonymous with that of Europe's biggest empire, so hang on to your weiner schnitzel.Vienna was named "Vindomina" by Celtic tribesmen around 500 B.C. The Romans called it "Vindobona", which means "good wine," and some remains from the Roman garrison there can be found at Hoher Market. Since it was on the outskirts of the Roman Empire, it suffered much chaos and destruction during Volkerwanderung (AKA "let's pillage").Throughout the later Middle Ages Vienna lived under the rule of the Babenberg family. They steadfastly warded off those persistent Mongolian raiders who keep popping up just when you least expect them.During the third great Crusade (1192 A.D), Richard the Lionhearted was captured near Vienna and held for a ransom most foul which amounted to eleven tons of silver! This tidy sum was collected from England and used for the creation of a mint and city walls, major steps in Vienna's ascension to proper city status.Good old kidnapping, who can get enough of it? You can still see remains of these city walls in the metro stop at Stubentor.1278 A.D. marked the beginning of Hapsburg rule over the Austrian lands, snatched from the clutches of Bohemian King Otokar II. This reign would last almost seven centuries and grow to be Europe's largest empire.Vienna twice defended against Ottoman attackers in the 16th and 17th centuries. As the story goes, the Viennese strained coffee technique traces its roots back to these Turks, who left sacks of coffee beans in the wake of their hasty retreat.Emperor Josef II granted freedom of religious expression in 1781, immediately attracting the likes of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. These composers created masterpieces of western music in service of the blossoming Viennese opera houses and concert halls.Vienna officially became capital of the Austrian Empire in 1804, of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after 1867, and capital of First Austrian Republic after WWI. The Hapsburg dynasty ended in 1918 with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, which launched WWI.Between the two World Wars, Austria experienced a revolution (the February Uprising) and autocratic government. Austria was captured by Germany and then Russia during WWII, but emerged as a sovereign nation again at the end of the war. However, it remained a divided and occupied city for another ten years, a period when international espionage cloaked more than a dagger or two within its four bristling regions.In recent history Vienna has become like a second capital of Europe after Brussels. In the 1970's Vienna built the Vienna International Center, a complex to house one of the four United Nations offices. Along with the UN, this complex houses OPEC headquarters, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Test Ban Organization, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Did you know that OSCE is the world's largest intergovernmental organization?I wonder what Sigmund Freud would say?Getting ThereVienna International Airport is connected to the city by a sixteen minute train ride on the CAT system. Eight Euros and you're there! TransportationVienna has a smooth, well-built public transportation system. Like Prague, the city layout is organized by numbered districts which begin in the center and radiate outwards.You can get around here on buses, trams, trains and the underground metro. Don't forget to stamp your ticket in the blue machine!People and CultureWell, the border guards still check passports even though Austria is part of the "borderless" Schengen zone. In other words, Austria is a lot more formal than neighboring Slovakia and Czech Republic. Be advised.Food to sniff around for:wiener schnitzel -- pounded flat veal, breaded and sauteed in clarified butter.Eat it with dumplings, chase it with apple strudel, remember it over your palatschinken the next morning (these are like crepes).And of course, about every forty-five minutes you should be visiting a cafe for another magic coffee. Austrian caffeine addiction is legendary.Vienna is also one of the world's few capital cities which still has its own vineyards. Go for a Riesling tasting next time you're in town.Things to do & RecommendationsFirst off, location is everything. You can get to Vienna by bicycle on the greenway bike path, how cool!Opera, baby! We didn't really get into detail, but Vienna's opera houses and theaters are some of the best in all of Europe. Visit the Burgtheater, Volkstheater Wien and Theater in der Josefstadt, at the very least.Across the Danube you should take a stroll through the Karmeliter district, which has a cool art scene and lots of bars. You know how art makes you thirsty.For late night munchers, head to the area around Naschmarkt, maybe Cafe Drechsler or Grafin vom Naschmarkt, serving traditional Austrian chow for longer than anyone can remember.If that's not enough, you can throw pretzels in the world's oldest zoo, or maybe even at the Vienna boy's choir, but not in any of the 100+ art museums.And of course we are skipping all the obvious stuff such as Maria Theresien Platz, the residences of Beethoven, Mozart's grave... the list goes on. Seven centuries of royalty will accumulate quite a bit of architecture and noteworthy collections. Have fun!Text by Steve Smith.

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Historic Temple Brochure Temple Historic Markers Home > Visitor > Temple Historic Marker Program Temple Historic Marker Program Thank you for your interest in the Temple Historic Marker Program! This program is a project of the Temple Historic Preservation Committee. The Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Parks & Leisure Services Advisory Board, created this program in order to recognize Temple's many historic landmarks and to instill a sense of community pride among Temple's residents. Since its establishment in 1881, Temple has been a fast growing, progressive city. Its citizens, however, have kept a firm grasp on their roots and have worked diligently to preserve the history of the city for generations to come. Throughout the city, remnants of the past can be seen in many historically significant structures. From the downtown area to the medical district, the town is rich in these beautiful historic landmarks. The Historic Marker Program was designed to give these historic treasures the recognition they deserve, while preserving their stories for future generations. To view our most current Historic Marker recipients, visit our Facebook page by clicking here. Click here to view our current Historic Temple Brochure. The Temple Historic Preservation Committee requires that certain criteria be met in order to receive approval for a Temple Historic Marker. All of the criteria are outlined in the Marker Application, which can be downloaded here or picked up at the Temple Visitor Center. Keep in mind when filling out the application that the purpose of this program is not to be burdensome to the applicant, but to identify and preserve as much information as possible about the history of our city for future generations. It is also important to note that the Temple Historic Marker Program is separate from the federal inventory of historic properties (National Register of Historic Places) and separate from the state marker program (Official Texas Historic Markers). Information about the federal marker program, as well as the state marker program may be obtained by contacting the National Register Programs Office of the Texas Historical Commission. Several downloadable resources are available to help you while completing your application: Researching Historic Properties in Temple Resource Books Available "My experience was very pleasant and exciting at the same time. I feel honored that my home is on the City of Temple Historic Marker Program. I think this program helps to restore the elegance and history of our city. History must not be lost to future generations." -Dr. Gary Gosney For more information about the Temple Historic Marker Program or to pick up an application, contact... Sennett Farias Temple Visitor Center 315 W Ave. Temple, TX 76501 For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. Special thanks to Concentus Media Group for the donation of their services in creating the historic marker emblem! 2 North Main StreetTemple, TX 76501Phone: (254) 298-5561

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FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE LAUNCHES STAR COACH, NEW HOSPITALITY TRAINING APP FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE LAUNCHES STAR COACH, NEW HOSPITALITY TRAINING APP USING INNOVATIVE VOICE ANALYSIS TO HELP IMPROVE GUEST EXPERIENCE Forbes Travel Guide, the global authority on luxury hospitality, has launched Star Coach, a mobile application for Android and iOS providing a behavioral simulator that helps hospitality staff enhance their interpersonal skills to improve the guest service and experience. Utilizing proprietary and proven voice analysis technology, the smartphone and tablet-based training tool analyzes interactions with virtual guests to determine the service provider’s emotional effectiveness, mindset and confidence. Star Coach is designed to ensure the role-playing is highly engaging. The app presents short videos in which a virtual guest expresses a complaint, compliment or request. After viewing the video, the hospitality service provider responds to them by speaking into the phone or tablet. The technology analyzes the fractal patterns in the voice that reveal the user’s confidence, level of emotional involvement, effort to connect to the guest and overall stress. The training tool provides instantaneous feedback and guidance on best-practice behaviors. With this immediate feedback and through repetition, the service provider is able to improve their guest interaction and ultimately provide a better guest experience. The technology behind Star Coach is based on more than a decade of research. “Just as Forbes Travel Guide created the five star rating system, now a global standard rating luxury properties in 29 countries, we are pioneering the next level of service training with Star Coach. There is nothing like it in the hospitality industry. It is not only effective, but also efficient, and can be easily scaled to the entire hospitality team,” said Gerard J. Inzerillo, Chief Executive Officer, Forbes Travel Guide. “As a company, we strive to provide the resources and tools that foster exceptional service levels. Our development of Star Coach underscores this commitment to our community.” Available for iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets, Star Coach features a starter kit of over 50 realistic scenarios that are tailored for front-line employees in a variety of departments, including front desk, food and beverage, and concierge. Star Coach is available to all interested hospitality organizations, not just hotels that have achieved a Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating. The app complements Forbes Travel Guide’s comprehensive and unique in-person training, but can also serve as a stand-alone development tool. Forbes Travel Guide can also work with hotels to create customized videos, featuring their own situations and property-specific settings. “I love this new approach to learning,” said Patrick Fernandes, Operations Director at Faena Hotel Miami Beach. “It is short, simple and quick — this works in the hospitality world where training time and resources can sometimes be difficult to find.” HOW STAR COACH WORKS The technology behind Star Coach is owned by Sharecare, a leading digital health and wellness company, and has proven to be an effective training tool for more than five years in fields such as pharmaceutical sales and helping people understand their actual stress and mindset. The voice analysis algorithm detects the user’s “emotional fingerprint” with proven accuracy and validated the ability to improve real-world connections. In the same way that brain wave patterns are correlated with specific emotional states, patterns in the voice also reveal the emotions behind our words. These patterns are very stable across cultures, languages, and age groups. Case studies have shown that short practice sessions – 10 to 15 minutes just three times a week – are effective at changing behavior. Forbes Travel Guide is applying these key learnings to Star Coach with over 50 years of leadership in luxury hospitality, to help the global hospitality industry deliver the best possible guest experience. ABOUT FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE Forbes Travel Guide is the originator of the prestigious Five-Star Rating system, and has provided the travel industry’s most comprehensive ratings and reviews of hotels, restaurants and spas since 1958. Forbes Travel Guide has a team of expert inspectors who anonymously evaluate properties against up to 800 rigorous and objective standards in 162 destinations across 29 countries. Forbes Travel Guide is the most prestigious standard for luxury hospitality worldwide. For more information about Forbes Travel Guide, visit www.forbestravelguide.com Sharecare is a health and wellness engagement solution providing people with personalized resources to help them live their healthiest lives. Nearly 41 million people have shared more than 6 billion data points about their health status and habits with Sharecare, which uses that information to create a comprehensive health profile allowing users to access all of their health resources in one place, and dynamically connect to the knowledge, evidence-based programs and health professionals they need. 2017-01-11T00:26:46+00:00 By Hospitality21| About the Author: Hospitality21 Get Social With Us!

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Airlines & Airports / Travel News / Travel Tools What We Know (And Still Don’t Know) about American Airlines Merger Posted by PeterGreenberg.com on June 12, 2013 at 11:02 am Share on: By now, we’re all aware that American Airlines has merged with US Airways. This will be the world’s largest airline, but for how long? We’ve seen airlines absorb each other and merge together in the past, but if history is any guide, it won’t be long until they start downsizing. Right now, we starting to have a good idea of what the new airline will look like. After filing for bankruptcy, AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, was granted court approval to merge with US Airways Group. American is also starting to emerge from bankruptcy. A federal bankruptcy judge granted AMR Corp., approval to be able to send creditors solicitation material on June 20. The creditors will vote before July 29 with a hearing set for August 15, where AMR will be able to exit from Chapter 11 protection. The merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013, so long as no extenuating circumstances come up. Though insiders recently leaked that the airlines won’t know if the merger passes U.S. antitrust review until August, after American’s bankruptcy reorganization is confirmed. The new management for the merged airline has been announced. AMR’s former CEO, Tom Horton, will continue as Chairman of the Board of the new American Airlines until the first meeting of the new board next year. Doug Parker, CEO at US Airways, is CEO of the new American Airlines, and will also be a member of the Board of Directors. Dan Garton, President and CEO of American Eagle Airlines, will step down from his position later this year once his replacement has been named. Other positions within the new company have been divided from the two airlines. From US Airways: Scott Kirby, President Elise Eberwein, Executive Vice President, People and Communications Robert Isom, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Johnson, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs Derek Kerr, Chief Financial Officer From American Airlines: Beverly Goulet, Chief Integration Officer Maya Leibman, Chief Information Officer William Ris, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs The corporate headquarters will remain in Dallas-Fort Worth, but the two airlines are going to continue business acting as two separate companies. Since the two airlines are going to act like they didn’t merge, their mileage and loyalty rewards programs are going to stay the same. But the long-term goal is to merge the two, and make it easier to gain rewards with even more companies. All that aside, there’s a lot that we don’t know…. Like food. American Airlines is known for providing the most food, while US Airways has a reputation for giving out the least amount of food. It’s not clear yet how this will work itself out on the flights, but it’s a sticky subject that makes a big difference to passengers. It’s also not clear when the full changes are going into effect. The merger has been made, the top executives and board members have been hand-picked, but now all the other details that make travelers loyal passengers need to be ironed out. Right now, the new American Airlines can easily boast that they will pass United (which is currently #1) for carrying the most passengers. But in this case, size isn’t necessarily a good thing. As Wall Street Journal travel writer Scott McCartney noted in an NPR interview, “Today, American has about 44 percent of the traffic between Miami and Philadelphia. U.S. Air has about 54 percent. Put them together and you get the 98 percent.” And with that monopoly on a route comes an increase in airfares. Right now, American Airlines has stated that they will have more flight options in their major hubs. But this hasn’t been true in the past. Take St. Louis as the classic example of airline consolidation. The St. Louis airport was once a major hub for TWA, and nothing but growth was projected. In 2000 the airport built an additional runway to handle the expected traffic, but then TWA was absorbed by American Airlines. They began to downsize in 2004, and now the extra runway is barely used and Southwest is the main carrier. Between 2007 and 2012, U.S. carriers cut domestic flights by about 14 percent. Delta has just announced that it will drop Memphis as its major hub in the fall, and airports in other midsized American cities are also worried about their air service. For more information on the merger history: What an American Airlines Merger Means for You Find out the industry’s reaction when American Airlines filed for bankruptcy See Peter’s CBS segment on the proposed American Airlines-US Airways merger Check out the behind-the-scenes report of American’s rebranding efforts By Stephanie Ervin for PeterGreenberg.com What the American Airlines-US Airways Merger Means for You Travel Detective Blog: US Airways American Airlines Merger Update & More What a US Airways & American Airlines Merger Would Mean New Trouble with American Airlines: A CBS This Morning Report Tags: Stephanie Ervin

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Morocco GEOGRAPHY Morocco (Arabic name pronunciation: almagrib) borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea on the southern edge of the Strait of Gibraltar. The country is located between Algeria and the Western Sahara on the northwestern coast of Africa. Morocco has a total land area of 446,550 sq km (172,413 sq miles), an area slightly larger than the state of California. Morocco as a Mediterranean climate that becomes hotter further inland, toward the Sahara Desert. Winters along the coast are generally mild, although temperatures can reach the low 10s C (40s F). Summers are usually hot and humid in the capital city of Rabat, with temperatures regularly approaching 40 C (100 F). Temperatures are typically much cooler in the Atlas Mountains and warmer toward the Western Sahara and the Sahara Desert. Much of the country is mountainous along the coast and further inland there are plateaus and mountain valleys which gradually become the Sahara Desert. Due to the extremes of mountainous land and desert, only about 17% of Morocco’s land is arable. Morocco currently faces several environmental problems. Overgrazing, soil erosion, and unsustainable farming techniques have contributed to the process of desertification which threatens to remove much of Morocco’s arable land. Drinking water has also been limited by pollution from improperly managed sewage and oil spills along the coast. In response, the National Office of Potable Water (ONEP) has conducted several feasibility studies to select the best equipment which can be used to treat incoming water and prevent further contamination. This office has also begun looking into seawater desalination facilities to compliment this effort. In 2010, Morocco also announced the implementation of a National Charter for Environmental and Sustainable Development, the first African nation to do so. The Charter outlined a blueprint to convert at least half of Morocco’s energy production to sustainable sources by 2020. Geography Resources Morocco's Water Problems Morocco's Charter for Sustainability National Office of Electricity and Potable Water - Water Branch (French) HISTORY & GOVERNMENT Morocco’s location at the entrance to the Mediterranean has made the land country critically important throughout the history of North Africa and southern Europe. The seafaring Phoenicians expanded their influence and trade networks to the western end of the Mediterranean by the 12th century BCE. This development brought the indigenous Berber population of Morocco into greater contact with the larger Mediterranean cultural network. The Phoenicians established a few small outposts at Chellah, Lixus, and Mogador across modern-day Morocco. By the 5th century BCE, the Carthaginian Empire, centered in modern day Tunisia, had taken control of the coastal regions of much of North Africa including Morocco. Following the fall of the Carthaginian Empire, the Romans annexed the territory in 40 CE and maintained nominal control over the coast until 429, when it was lost to the Germanic Vandal tribe. The conquest of the region by the Arabs in the 7th century began the conversion of the indigenous Berber people (self-identified as Amazigh, the free people) to Islam. The Islamic Empire appointed governors for its conquered territories throughout the Middle East, and the Amazigh populations in Morocco faced high taxes and tribute demands as a result. The people grew increasingly frustrated with this treatment and launched a revolt in 740. The revolt successfully expelled the Arab leaders, but the region unraveled into a series of small, independent Berber states. In the 900s, the Shia Fatimid dynasty rose to power in North Africa and successfully invaded Morocco, but quickly abandoned its hold on the western end of the Mediterranean to establish a new capital in Cairo, Egypt. The Amazigh once again regained control of the land and established strong dynasties including the Almoravids, Almohads, Marinids, and Wattasids, that commanded the area until the 1550s. Unlike most countries in the Middle East, Morocco never came under the direct control of the Ottoman Turks. The Moroccans and Ottomans jointly expelled a Portuguese occupying force in 1578 at the Battle of Ksar El-Kebir, and Ahmad al-Mansur became the Sultan of the Arab Saadi dynasty which had established its dominance in 1549. Ahmad al-Mansur brought unprecedented prosperity to the region, but his dynasty was divided among his sons following his death in 1603. In 1669, Moulay al-Rashid overthrew the last Saadi ruler in Morocco and united the country by founding the Arab Alaouite dynasty, which remains the current dynasty of the Kingdom of Morocco. In the mid-1800s, Morocco became increasingly influenced by European powers, specifically the French and Spanish. Neighboring Algeria became an official province of France in 1848, and small-scale battles with Spain in 1859 further weakened the ability of Morocco to resist European encroachment. Morocco’s independence was guaranteed during the Conference of Madrid in 1880, but the French and Spanish continued to sway Morocco’s politics in their favor. In the early 1900s, France attempted to create a protectorate status with Morocco, while Germany sought to increase its economic interests in the region. Germany and France engaged in a heated diplomatic battle over the status of Morocco, and the result was the Algeciras Conference of 1906. The conference allowed for joint control over Morocco between France and Spain. The Treaty of Fez in 1912 further established the country as a protectorate of France, and gave the Spanish control over much of the northern coastline along the Strait of Gibraltar. Read MoreThough the Alaouite dynasty continued as the official rulers of the country, joint French and Spanish administration would endure with considerable difficulties until 1956. One such problem occurred in September 1921 when a separatist group in Spanish Morocco led by Abd el-Krim declared its independence from the Spanish and the Sultan, establishing the Republic of the Rif. The Spanish and French spent several years in violent conflict with the Rif separatists and finally put down the rebellion in May 1926. Moroccans then became increasingly nationalistic during the interwar years, especially following Moroccan support for the Allied victory in World War II. When France exiled the popular Sultan Mohammad V from Morocco in 1953, waves of protests broke out in Morocco and put significant pressure on France and Spain to end their involvement in the country. Mohammed V and supporters of Moroccan independence negotiated with the French and Spanish through 1955, and ultimately agreed upon a deal which would restore Mohammed V to the throne and expel the two European powers from the majority of Moroccan territory. Following acceptance of the French-Moroccan Agreement, France relinquished its protectorate status from Morocco in April 1956 and Spain began retreating from the country following similar agreements in 1956 and 1958. Despite these gains for Morocco, the Spanish did not relinquish control of the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in northern Morocco, and continue to administer these cities as a part of Spain today. Mohammad V was declared king of the newly independent Morocco in 1957 and continued to rule the country until his death in 1961, establishing the country as a constitutional monarchy. He was succeeded by his son Hassan II, whose rule faced significant unpopularity and unrest due to allegations of corruption and repression of dissent. One of the most significant events of Hassan II’s reign was a conflict involving the territory to the south of Morocco known then as Spanish Sahara. Morocco had claimed the region for centuries, but it remained part of a Spanish protectorate after Moroccan independence. In 1975, the United Nations determined through a national referendum that the vast majority of the Saharan people desired independence, and Spain met with representatives from Morocco, Mauritania and the Algerian-supported Saharan independence movement known as the Polisario Front. Spain ceded the northern area of what would be called Western Sahara to Morocco, and gave the southern third of the country to Mauritania in 1976. This decision fractured the Polisario as some leaders supported Moroccan control of the region, while the remaining Polisario members dissented and quickly declared the region to be the independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The Polisario battled both Mauritania and Morocco until Mauritania relinquished its claim to the southern region of the Western Sahara in 1979. Morocco then annexed the entire Western Sahara and a cease-fire between the Polisario and Morocco went into effect in 1991. Morocco continues to administer the Western Sahara and negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario have stalled while the dispute remains unresolved. When Hassan II died in 1999, his son Mohammad VI became king of Morocco. In the past decade, he has helped reform the government and has improved the country’s record on human rights. One of the more recent issues facing the government is the growing threat of terrorism from Islamic extremists and groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Several bombings in Casablanca in 2003 and 2007 have been blamed on extremists, and two Moroccan men were arrested in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Morocco also underwent mild political unrest associated with the Arab Spring movement in 2011 as protesters demanded restrictions on the power of the king. In response, Mohammed VI announced the creation of a new constitution which was passed by a referendum vote in July 2011. The constitution shifted some of the powers of the king such as the appointment of government officials to the appointed prime minister and executive branch. Today, Moroccan government is a constitutional monarchy with a multi-party parliament consisting of two elected legislative bodies, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councilors. Morocco’s current prime minister is Abdelilah Benkirane and he serves as the head of government. The king still holds considerable power in the country and has the ability to appoint or remove the prime minister. He also appoints judges to the country’s Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in Morocco. History & Government Resources The History Learning Site: The Algeciras Conference of 1906 CCTV NEWS Faces of Africa: King Hassan II, Building Morocco The 2011 Constitution of the Royal Kingdom of Morocco Biography of King Mohammed VI 1912 Treaty of Fez Gives French Treaty of Fez a Protectorate over Morocco INTERNATIONAL & REGIONAL ISSUES Morocco currently claims and administers the Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved, resulting in a large refugee population. The Polisario Front continues to claim the region as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and is still supported by Algeria with its headquarters in Tindouf, Algeria. Many nations reject Moroccan administration of the Western Sahara and 41 nations including Mauritania, Mali, Algeria, Mexico and Venezuela recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, represented by the Polisario. Most of the 102,000 Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria; the Polisario administers these camps. Morocco protests Spain’s control over the northern coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, though this dispute has remained subordinate to the otherwise strong relationship between Morocco and Spain. Algeria’s border with Morocco remains a problem for bilateral relations, as each nation accuses the other of harboring militants and fostering complacency towards arms smuggling. Algeria closed its border with Morocco following the outbreak of the Algerian civil war in 1994 and the border has since remained closed. Nevertheless, Morocco and Algeria have maintained diplomatic relations since resolving some of their issues over the status of the Western Sahara in 1988. With a high unemployment rate of 10%, nearly 20% for those under 24, and high poverty rates particularly in rural areas, Morocco, like other countries in the Middle East, has a large and under-served youth population. That, coupled with its proximity to war-torn Libya, where the emergence of the Islamic State in North Africa has bred further chaos, could portend future threats to Morocco’s relative stability. The country has been affected by intermittent terrorist attacks; Casablanca was bombed in 2003 while Djema El Fna square in Marrakesh was heavily damaged in 2011. International & Regional Issues Resources May 2016: Western Sahara Independence Leader Dies, Morocco Continues to Stay the Course Regarding Territorial Claim NPR All Things Considered: The Fences Where Spain and Africa Morocco and the Threats of Terrorism PEOPLE & LANGUAGE An Example of Tamazight Language Writing Throughout history, different ethnic groups have inhabited Morocco. These include the indigenous Amazigh population (popularly referred to as Berbers), Arabs, Romans, Portuguese, Spaniards, Turks, Phoenicians, and the French. Nearly the entirely population (99%) is a mix of either Arab or Berber ethnic groups. Morocco’s estimated population is 33,322,699 as of 2015, and is growing at a rate of about 1.04% each year. The average life expectancy is 74 years for men and 80 for women. Arabic and Tamazight (a dialect of Berber) are the official languages of Morocco; French is often used in business, government, and diplomatic settings. English is also a popular language in schools and among young populations. Average Life Expectancy (Men)Average Life Expectancy (Women) Despite reforms in education in 2004 such as the National Literacy and Non-formal Education Strategy, the quality of education in Morocco is lacking according to the Human Development Index (HDI). This index measures life expectancy, education and income for the United Nations Development Program and Morocco is ranked 129 of 186. The literacy rate in Morocco is 79% for men and 59% for women. The Moroccan government has been working with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to improve its educational system. Education in Morocco is divided into primary and secondary stages. Primary school is free and compulsory for nine years from the ages of 7 to 15. The compulsory requirement is often not enforceable in remote areas of the Atlas Mountains, but the completion rate of primary school has risen to 80% in 2005 from 47% in 1991, according to data from UNESCO. Secondary school is also free, but not compulsory, and lasts for an additional three years following primary school. Higher education, also known as the tertiary level, can be pursued at any of Morocco’s 14 public universities and many other private universities, vocational schools, and technical schools. Among the most distinguished universities are the Mohammed V University in Rabat, the American-style university Al-Akhawayn in Ifrane, and the University of Al Karaouine in Fez, considered by UNESCO to be the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Healthcare in Morocco suffers from dated practices and equipment, as well as limited accessibility. In more remote areas in the Atlas Mountains, access to medical facilities is extremely poor. According to Health Ministry figures from other North African countries, Morocco has one doctor per 1,600 inhabitants, compared with one for every 800 people in Tunisia and one for every 600 in Algeria. Nearly a third of Moroccans also have little or no access to proper sanitation, putting them at risk of illnesses such as gastrointestinal infections, typhoid, malaria, and trachoma. Tuberculosis also remains widespread, with 26,000 cases reported in 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Moroccan Ministry of Health is working with the WHO to implement a universal healthcare system, as currently only about half of the population can afford either private or public insurance. People & Language Resources Mohammad V University Primary School Completion Rates Morocco's Health Care System in Distress (The New York Times, 2013) Kingdom of Morocco Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training The Moroccan constitution proclaims Islam as the state religion and it is practiced by 99% of Moroccans. Almost all Muslims in Morocco follow the Sunni branch of Islam and King Mohammed VI claims to be a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammad. About 1% of the population practices Christianity, which expanded first under Roman rule and again during Spanish and French colonization. The CIA World FactBook also estimates that the country has about 6,000 Jews who are predominantly descendants of those who migrated to the region following the destruction of the Second Jewish temple in the Roman province of Palestine in 70 CE. Jewish quarters, known as Mellah, once thrived in numerous cities but the majority of Morocco’s Jews have emigrated to Israel. Moroccans are free to practice any religion they choose, although it is illegal for Muslims to renounce Islam or for anyone to proselytize religions other than Islam. Religion Resources Tinghir-Jerusalem: Documentary Reveals Morocco's Jewish Heritage, and Israel's Moroccan Influence NYT: In Morocco, Exploring Remnants of Jewish History Moroccan culture is influenced by Arab, Islamic, African, Berber and European traditions. Its mix of Sufi-like spirituality, more relaxed and open Maliki school of Islam, African and Berber legacies, and European style of administration is unlike any other country. Beginning in the 1940s, Paul Bowles and other Beat artists like William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg were drawn to the country for its heterogeneous and underground culture. These writers brought attention to the country through their literary works and collaborations with Moroccan artists. Port city, Tangier, was a particularly popular destination. As a result, one can find a surplus of literature and musical production on the country. The standard article of clothing in Morocco for both men and women is known as the djellaba. Men wear this loose-fitting robe in muted colors of brown, gray, and green. The djellaba has long sleeves and a hood. Men may be seen wearing the small red cap known as a tarboosh, or fez, on special occasions but more often adorn the kufi skullcap. Brimless hats are common in the region as they are less likely than brimmed hats to interfere with the bowing associated with daily prayers. Women often wear their own version of the djellaba. These are typically more colorful and decorative than their male counterparts, and sometimes feature silk thread and gold embroidery. Women also occasionally wear a haik, a cloak of fine white cloth worn around the head and body. The haik is often found in rural areas away from the metropolitan lifestyle of the city. Moroccan cuisine is quite distinct from typical Levantine Middle Eastern food like hummus, falafel, or shwarma. A large variety of spices from the Mediterranean region are used such as cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, and coriander in Moroccan dishes. Couscous is a traditional Moroccan Berber dish featuring tiny balls of pasta served with stewed meat, vegetables and a flavorful broth. Chicken, lamb, and seafood dishes featuring kabobs are also popular. In Morocco, these are referred to as kefta or brochettes; sausages are also common. The Moroccan national dish is called tagine, named for the large clay pot in which it is cooked. The dish is a spiced stew which includes vegetables and beef, lamb, or chicken. A common tagine is one made with preserved lemons and green olives. Moroccan flat bread is served with almost every meal and often is used to scoop food in place of utensils. Morocco is known for its pastries but at homes, families generally eat fresh fruits, like citrus and melons, for dessert. Moroccan mint tea is the most ubiquitous beverage throughout the country. Using Chinese gunpowder tea, fresh spearmint, and copious amounts of sugar, the drink is boiled several times to maximize the flavors. It is served at every occasion. Morocco’s location in Africa, adjacent to Europe, and on many trade routes from the east, meant that its culture and cuisine reflect a fascinating amalgamation that its people have perfected over time into unmistakably Moroccan traditions. Culture Resources Moroccan Culture Moroccan Cuisine Video: How to Make Chicken Tagine US State Dept Blog - Morocco: Arab or Berber by Identity; Jewish by Culture Morocco has a rich history of artistic expression. Colorful artistic patters adorn the walls of mosques and shops throughout the country and often utilize repetitions of simple shapes and designs to form complex mosaics. One such design is known as zillij. Zillij is an Islamic tile artwork that was designed to inspire meditation while adhering to Islamic restrictions on visual depictions of representational art. Artists chisel a single colored tile into a precise shape and then replicate this process hundreds of times to create intricate patterns and tessellations. Carpet weaving is also a popular form of art in Morocco and an important source of income for some families. Traditional Berber carpets are often woven together from camel hair or sheep wool and use saffron, mint or pomegranate to add vibrant colors to the yarn. Designs depict daily life but may also feature local tribal motifs. Travelers can often buy these colorful woven carpets and prayer rugs in souks (marketplaces), which are a common site in Moroccan cities. The process of selecting a carpet and negotiating its price with the carpet sellers is an art form in and of itself. The country is also home to several museums which feature displays of historical relics and artwork from leading Moroccan artists. The Museum of Antiquities, located in Tangier, once served as the kitchen for the Sultan’s palace and today houses numerous artifacts from the time of the Romans. One such artifact is a model of a Carthaginian tomb in one of the museum’s main rooms. The Marrakech Museum also features architecture and mosaics from all periods of Moroccan history. These exhibits occupy the Dar Menebhi Palace, which was built in the 19th century and was converted into a museum in 1997. The interior walls of the palace are lavishly decorated with mosaics and works of Islamic calligraphy and the site is known as the “jewel of Marrakech.” Buttressing Morocco’s reputation as a source of creativity and artistic production, the city of Asilah, on the northwest coast, invites Moroccan and international artists to decorate its white walls each year with bright and elaborate murals. The annual festival attracts visitors from around the world and has gained significant interest in contemporary arts media and communities. Examples of Damascene Metal Work Berber Carpet Weaving Morocco's Art Galleries Morocco Museum of Antiquities Watch Moroccan Zellij Tile Mosaics Shaped by Hand Moroccan Wood Craft Video Morocco is home to many popular sites which highlight the diverse history and geography of the region. These vary from religious sites to natural landscapes and architectural wonders. Mausoleums of venerated religious and national leaders are common destinations in Morocco. One such site is the Mausoleum of Mohammad V, completed in 1971, in the capital city of Rabat. This is the final resting place for King Mohammed V and his sons. It features ornate marble carvings of Islamic calligraphy and zillij tile mosaics. The mausoleum was constructed on the site of an unfinished mosque and some relics, like the unfinished Hassan minaret, still adorn the scenery around the mausoleum. One of the most exquisite displays of natural beauty is the Menara Gardens just west of Marrakech. Located on the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, these gardens were designed and built in the 12th century during the rule of the Almohads. The orchards of the garden feature olive, cypress, and fruit trees and the site holds a large reservoir at its center for irrigation. Morocco is also home to many prominent mosques, including the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. Completed in 1993, this mosque is the largest mosque in Morocco and it is the 7th largest in the world, and features the tallest minaret which stands at 210 meters (689 ft). The building and surrounding courtyard can accommodate up to 105,000 worshippers, and much of the structure extends into the Atlantic Ocean. Morocco also holds an important site in the early history of the United States as Morocco was the first country to recognize the newly independent American colonies in 1777. In 1821, Sultan Moulay Suleiman of Morocco gave the country its first diplomatic property in Tangier, which became America’s first public property in another country. The building stood as the American consulate until 1956 and was converted into a library and education center that houses the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies. The institute serves as a museum and a cultural center with artifacts from the long history of U.S.-Moroccan relations. Sites Resources Mohammed V Mausoleum Menara Gardens Hassan II Mosque Tangier American Legation Museum Moroccans generate several diverse musical styles which highlight the country’s historical complexity. The Berber musical style is community oriented and is performed in open air village squares. This music features flutes and drums and is usually played at large ceremonies such as weddings or festivals. Another traditional style of music is milhun, a type of classical poetry that is sung and typically associated with traders and artisans. The lyrics feature popular folk poems or Islamic verses. This music is traditionally accompanied by an orchestra which utilizes the stringed oud, different varieties of flutes, and several types of cymbals. A popular musical style which mixes rural and urban folk music is known as chaabi. Chaabi music is often see in communities along the Atlantic coast, and is sometimes performed during private and public celebrations. This music features both a male and female lead singer with a violin and backup vocal accompaniment. Today, this style has incorporated modern musical technology by adding keyboards and electric guitars. Although more commonly found in Algeria, the rai musical style also enjoys some popularity in Morocco. This hip-hop style has spread throughout North Africa, and is commonly enjoyed among the younger populations of the region. Its lyrics often mention social issues such as the negative influences of the European world on Morocco and governmental abuses of power. Gnaoua (Gnawa) music is unique to Morocco though its popularity has spread to surrounding countries and the Diaspora. Heavily influenced by African traditions and instruments, the mystical style was developed among former sub-Saharan African slave communities in Morocco. Consisting of ancient African Islamic spiritual songs, the genre is characterized by its use of repetition and castanets. Groups are led by masters, known as “maâlems”, and consist of several members who clap, dance, and accompany their leader vocally and instrumentally. Gnaouan musicians can often be identified by their dress, typically appearing in matching djellaba and ornate caps with tassels. An example can be seen in the left image above. The style is very popular among Moroccans and what was once a spiritual experience has become more profane. The tradition is highlighted each summer year in the southern coastal town of Essaouira at the Gnaoua World Music Festival. The festival provides a platform for exchanges and a meeting point of music and dialogue between foreign artists and the mystical Gnaoua. In this celebration of musical fusion, the Gnaoua masters invite players of jazz, pop, rock and contemporary world music to explore new avenues of collaboration. The festival attracts up to 500,000 visitors every year over four days. Le Festival des Musiques Sacrées du Monde (World Sacred Music Festival) is a week-long annual event featuring international spiritual, religious and folk music in the ancient city of Fes. The festival began in 1994 and celebrated its 22nd occurrence in 2016. Music Resources Video of Traditional Berber Music Chaabi Musical Selections Fes Sacred Music Festival Musical Styles in Morocco 2016 Gnaoua World Music Festival Popular Moroccan sports including soccer, skiing, and golf. Morocco also boasts some of the best hiking in the world. Many hiking trips navigate the grand peaks of the Atlas Mountains, while others explore the vast expanses of the Sahara Desert along the eastern border. Some expeditions combine both hiking and skiing for a unique outdoor adventure. Morocco’s diverse topography also contributes to its distinct wildlife; birdwatching is a popular activity, for example. The country also features several prominent golf courses near Marrakech and along the Atlantic coastline. Some of these courses like the Al Maaden and Samanah courses feature beautiful views of the Atlas Mountains. Morocco has been successful in several Olympic competitions. The country has competed in almost every summer Olympics since 1960 and has won a total of twenty-two medals. Moroccans have excelled in particular in track and field; distance runner, Hicham el Gherrouj is the current holder of the 1500 metres, mile and outdoor 2000 metres world records, as well as a double Olympic gold medalist. Morocco has also sent athletes to several winter Olympic competitions in 1984, 1988, 1992, 2010, and 2014, but has not won an Olympic medal in those games. The Moroccan national football (soccer in the U.S.) team is known as the “Lions of the Atlas.” Morocco’s team has competed four times in the FIFA World Cup. Their best performance was in 1986 when the team advanced to the second round. The Lions of the Atlas have also won the Africa Cup once in 1976 and the Arab Nations Cup in 2012. Marrakech hosted the 2014 Club World Cup. Sports Resources Sports in Morocco Hiking in Morocco Golfing in Morocco FIFA on Morocco Morocco at the Olympics Hicham El Guerrouj Sets World Record in the Mile LATEST NEWS & COMMENTARY ON MOROCCO Scholarly essays, commentary and forums on the Kingdom of Morocco News about Morocco, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times. MOROCCAN NEWS OUTLETS Morocco World News Western Sahara News Morocco Photo gallery of images from Morocco Tourism in Morocco A video about the growth of tourism in Morocco’s rural areas Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace: Morocco This site gives information about Morocco and highlights news stories.

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Destinations • South America • Peru • Inca Culture Inca Culture Peru Overview Airlines to Peru Peru Cities Peru Hotels Arequipa Hotels Cusco Hostels Cusco Hotels Ica Hotels Iquitos Hotels Lima Hotels Machu Picchu Hotels Miraflores Hotels Trujillo Hotels Lake Titicaca Hotels Casa Andina Hotel Peru Destinations Andes Mountains Choquequirao Colca Canyon Inca Trail Machu Picchu Tours Cell Phone Rentals The Inca Empire was easily one of the most impressive civilizations to ever rise in the Americas. Beginning as a tribe roughly around the year 1200 AD, the Inca culture would flourish in the Andes Mountains, extending its reach throughout the mountains of Peru, and into the present day countries of Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile. The 1532 Battle of Cajamarca essentially marked an end to the short-lived Inca Empire, but the impact they made in that small window of time continues to be one of Peru’s most enduring attractions. From their ruins, to the Peru museums that house their artifacts, visitors can gain an appreciation of how advanced the Inca were. Their modern-day descendants, many of whom speak the Inca Quechua language and live much like their forefathers, are among the most interesting native peoples in the world, if not the friendliest. Their handcrafted wares make for some of the best Peru souvenirs, and their music inspires a most magical Andes Mountains soundtrack. The history of the Inca begins in myth with the arrival of the first Inca king, Manco Capac, who was borne from the sun god, Inti, on an island in Lake Titicaca. Manco Capac would found the Inca Civilization in Cusco, and the city would remain the all important capital of this great civilization. 11 Inca rulers would follow Manco Capac, among them Pachacutec, who is generally credited for founding the actual Inca Empire. Pachacutec began to vastly expand the Inca Empire in and around the year 1438. By this point, the original Inca tribe had grown into pre-Columbian America’s largest empire. In Cusco, you can see ruins from the palaces that were built for the sixth and eight Inca rulers, and remnants from the reigning period of Pachacutec include the Qoricancha in Cusco, the Ollantaytambo and Pisac fortresses, and Machu Picchu. These ruins are all found in and around the Sacred Valley, which was an area of the Andes Mountains that the Inca especially revered, due in part to its beauty and its climate. In the early 1500"s, the Inca Empire had come to cover most of civilized South America, but when the Inca ruler, Huayna Capac, died before naming a successor, his sons, Huascar and Atahualpa commenced a civil war of sorts. Also during this time, smallpox had reached the empire from Central America, and those who brought it, The Spanish Conquistadors, weren’t far behind. Francisco Pizarro, a most significant name when it comes to the history of the Incas, first reached Inca territory in the year 1526, and upon his return to Spain in 1529, he received permission from the crown to return and conquer the Inca regions. By 1532 AD, Atahualpa had succeeded in effectively conquering his brother, and his base was the northern Peru highlands city of Cajamarca. The 1532 Battle of Cajamarca, which saw Pizarro and his men overwhelm the Inca forces, is one of the most notable moments in South American history, let alone the history of the Inca. Atahualpa, who refused to convert to Christianity, was imprisoned in Cajamarca. After the Spanish seized his gold and silver, he was killed. The Inca Empire was essentially over, and Atahualpa’s brother, Manco Inca Yupanqui, made a failed attempt to re-seize Cusco in 1536. Manco Inca did manage to successfully hold off the Spanish after retreating to the Ollantaytambo fortress. His 1536 stand marks the most successful Inca defense against Spanish forces. Peru Map The Inca culture permeates Peru to the present day, and it is impossible to visit Peru and not notice how attached the country is to its Inca roots. The Inca ruins of Peru are perhaps most responsible for attracting curious visitors, most of whom come to see majestic Machu Picchu. The Sacred Valley, with the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, is a place rich with Inca ruins, and the Sun Temple of Machu Picchu displays their reverence for the sun. The sun was the basis for the Inca religion, and among the top Peru festivals, Inti Raymi, is dedicated to the sun god, Inti. Inca ruins aren’t only found in and around Cusco however. In Cajamarca, you can visit Inca ruins, and in nearby Tucume Peru, you can join one of the tours that visits the Inca pyramids. According to some, the Tucume Inca pyramids comprise the most interesting excavation site in the Americas, though that designation is surely up for debate. While brushing up on the history of the Incas is a good idea before getting to Peru, you will have plenty of chances to learn all about it when you get there. Chances are you will be just as fascinated with Inca culture as are the proud Peruvians. Compare Travel Sites and Save! Many visitors to South America choose Andes Mountains Peru vacations as thei... Some destinations in Peru may require you to first consider when to go, name... It seems that there are many nice museums in Peru wherever you choose to go.... Peru Map New lodge opening in Peru The travel operator Explora is opening a new property in the Sacred Valley of the Incas on July 1... Petting Llamas If you haven’t spent time in the company of a llama before, you should when going to Peru. It&#... Boleto Touristico If you weren't aware of it, there is a tourist pass called Boleto Turisto which you can buy ...

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Page 1 2 3 4 5 Dedicated Volunteers The Redford Theatre has loads of personality, thanks to the committed volunteers whose labors of love have helped the theater survive. They do almost everything, from ticket sales to selling popcorn to announcing upcoming shows from the stage. Much of the Redford's appeal is the friendly familiarity of these volunteers. In the outer lobby, you'll often hear animated conversations about the old days in Detroit, or the cultural ripples of that weekend's movie. You'll almost feel like you're among family, in a home-like setting that through the years has accumulated many personal touches. That personal touch has included visits by many film personalities, like Shirley Jones (The Music Man), Tippi Hedren (The Birds), Mary Badham (To Kill a Mockingbird), Peter Ostrum (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), and Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu in It's a Wonderful Life). These guests interact with the audience in question-and-answer sessions and autograph signings. The Redford has helped its neighborhood survive through all of the challenges of life in the city of Detroit. Redford patrons often stop for a snack at the nearby Sweet Potato Sensations bakery or the Motor City Java House coffee shop. You can get a good haircut at a reasonable price at Paul's barbershop at the corner by the parking lot. The Redford makes a special appeal to United States patriotism, with patrons standing respectfully for a singing of the Star Spangled Banner before each film. If you're looking for a fun group activity, the Redford can accommodate you. Social clubs often include the Redford on their calendar of events. Buses drop off patrons in front of the theater, including residents from assisted living facilities. Crowds of children often gather around the Barton organ; special holiday displays; or the concession stand with its many snacks and treats. Next Page: Imaginative Atmosphere

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The Great Global Game Page 2 By Kim Kavin Simply putting the pieces together over the course of a week, it quickly became clear that LeGrand’s vision may be right: The charter business just might be ready for its largest leap in history.“As more and more boats are built, the harbors are full,” he continues. “It’s spreading out. For instance, another main area needs to be developed for August. China has some very interesting possibilities.”Fraser is not the only company thinking globally; firms such as Nigel Burgess and Camper & Nicholsons are always scouting out the next great horizon. Some of their top people say off the record that they have ideas similar to LeGrand’s, but that the challenges this worldwide vision includes are formidable. For starters, there is the lack of infrastructure in many parts of the world--things such as marinas, restaurants, food and fuel provisioning, Western-style waterfronts where charter guests can find things to do. There is also the matter of piracy, especially in places like the South China Sea.Some even say new markets will never emerge because many people charter yachts precisely because they want to see and be seen in hot spots such as St. Tropez and St. Bart’s. This is where LeGrand stands out, quibbling with the concept like a bright young executive in a roomful of staid, old-money conservatives. “Wealthy people want to be seen where their culture pays attention,” he argues. As more and more money is made in places like Russia, China, and India, he reasons, those nation’s richest superstars will want to dock their yachts in the Black Sea, the port of Shanghai, and the Bay of Bengal. To “get away from it all,” people on that side of the world will want to visit islands in the South Pacific, not fly halfway around the globe to the Caribbean.And once a fair number of high-end boats are positioned in these new places, LeGrand’s logic goes, the more adventurous Western clients who have been to the Caribbean and Mediterranean countless times will begin to book charters in the up-and-coming locations. Money flowing into those areas will lead to ever-improving infrastructure, which will lead to more yachts being built and kept there, and so on until charter-yacht havens are nearly as ubiquitous as cruise ship terminals around the world.LeGrand says his perspective was shaped, in part, by the opportunity he had a few years ago to manage the 193-foot Senses, the $31-million “Hummer of the seas” built to cruise and charter anywhere. The yacht’s owner, LeGrand says, opened his eyes to the notion of expanding ideas and the investments required to make those ideas reality. LeGrand has since begun looking to hire Fraser employees who speak languages other than French and English, who know potential markets in unlikely places, and who can help to develop infrastructures wherever the charter market demands them.He’s also keeping a keen eye on the offices that Fraser recently contracted to open in New Zealand and in Casa de Campo, part of the increasingly popular La Romana region of the Dominican Republic. He’s adding a fifth broker to Fraser’s operations on the U.S. West Coast when other major companies don’t even have one, and he’s making personal trips to Asia to scout out possible marina locations and more.“We’ll have to talk more about this,” he says as he gets up to leave the Hatteras’ skylounge and move on to other business. His stride is confident, and his eyes are focused.It’s as if he might step off the yacht and into the future of charter itself. ‹ The Great Global Game This article originally appeared in the October 2006 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.

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HomeTourism Policy East Asia and the PacificSouth Korea Pledges Policy of Tourism Support for Developing Countries South Korea Pledges Policy of Tourism Support for Developing Countries The 19th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly opened yesterday in South Korea. The Korea Times reported that Choe Kwang-shik, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that his country has and will continue to lend support to poor nations to help them fight poverty through generating larger tourism revenue. “We will provide financial, technical know-how and other assistance to developing nations, particularly those in Africa, to help them promote their tourism sector as a tool to create jobs and generate income. This year, we are expected to attract a record-high 10 million foreign tourists. This shows we know how to develop and promote the tourism industry,” Choe said. The minister noted that Korea was once one of the poorest nations in the world and had to rebuild itself from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War. “Over the past six decades, we have emerged as one of the world’s major economies. By joining the OECD Development Assistance Committee, Korea has become the first country to transform itself from an aid recipient to a donor.” Link to this post! East Asia and the Pacific, Tourism Policy South Korea, UNWTO General Assembly Namibia Policy Puts Former Poachers in Charge of Wildlife One Percent Sales Tax Earns Myrtle Beach +$25 Million for Tourism

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 Blue Lagoon Coron Island near Manila Practical info Manila, Philippines The roads in Manila are notorious for heavy smog and traffic congestion, especially at peak hours. Public transport is inexpensive and plentiful, including the elevated light rail system (LRT) and the Metrostar that has helped to alleviate some of the congestion, but public transport can also be dangerous in the Philippines and travellers should be wary. The elevated light rail system, travelling above the chaos, is a good option as it is fast, clean and efficient, although very crowded during the evening rush hour. There are numerous bus companies that comprehensively service the city, as well as local jeepneys (brightly coloured minibuses) that can be hailed anywhere. Buses and jeepneys are the cheapest form of transport for areas not covered by the LRT. Taxis are also inexpensive and convenient, but always agree on a fare before setting off. There are also calesas (horse-drawn carriages) used by tourists for short trips, and tricycle pedicabs available for hire. GMT +8. Electrical current is 220 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat blade attachments and two-pin round plugs are used. The currency of the Philippines is the Peso (PHP), which is divided into 100 centavos. Major credit cards are widely accepted in the cities and tourist destinations. ATMs are available in the major cities. US dollars are widely accepted in Manila and other tourist areas and are the easiest currency to exchange; otherwise euros and pounds sterling can also be exchanged in banks and hotels. Banks open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, but their ATMs are open 24 hours. It is best to carry pesos when travelling outside of major centres. The international access code for the Philippines is +63. Major towns, cities and popular tourist spots are covered by GSM 900 and 1800 mobile phone networks with limited 3G coverage. Internet cafes are available in major cities and tourist resorts. Emergencies: 117 (Police) or 112/911 from a cell phone. People Power Revolution Day of Valour Heros Day Bonifacio Day Rizal Day Manila has hot, humid weather all year round and the city's proximity to the equator ensures that the temperature range is small, rarely dropping below 68°F (20°C) and seldom rising above 100°F (38°C). It is a little cooler between November and February and the hottest month is May, when the temperature averages 83ºF (28ºC). The rainy season is between June and October, although some precipitation is possible all through the year. The driest period is between December and May. During the rainy season rain tends to come in heavy, short downpours and in between there is still plenty of sunshine; some travellers insist that a visit during the rainy season is ideal because it is cheaper and less crowded, and the downpours are refreshing. Between June and September typhoons can hit the city and these storms sometimes cause flooding. The hot weather and humidity is pleasantly tempered by sea breezes for much of the year. Manila suffers from high levels of air pollution and smog is very common. The most popular time to visit Manila is between January and May, when it is at its driest, but it is essentially a year-round travel destination. Tourists should be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen whatever time of year they visit. www.miaa.gov.ph The Metro-Rail Transit station at Baclaran is nearby the airport, and trains run regularly; there is an airport shuttle that operates between the airport and the station. There's also a city bus service that leaves from outside the arrivals areas of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Car rental is available from Europcar, Avis, Hertz and National desks, among others. Yellow metered taxi cabs leave from the stands outside each terminal. There is a free airport shuttle bus between terminals for passengers catching connecting flights; otherwise, travellers need to pay a fee to use the HMG transport shuttle. Passenger services at Manila airport include shops, restaurants and bars, ATMs, banks with currency exchange, left-luggage and postal services. Short-term parking is available in front of international Terminal 1 and 2. Long-term parking is available in front of the domestic terminal. Wifi is available at the airport.

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Boston Visitors' Guide A vivid trace of black history By Keith Reed Beacon Hill is one of the city's most exclusive, expensive neighborhoods, but 200 years ago it was the hub of black Boston. The 1.5-mile Black Heritage Trail takes visitors back to that era: down narrow, dank alleyways that once served as the Underground Railroad, helping runaway slaves elude bands of Southern slave-catchers; past unassuming brick homes that were once protected day and night by abolitionist militiamen; and to the places of worship and learning of one of the nation's first communities of free, middle-class black residents.Start at the Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial on Boston Common. In the shadow of the Massachusetts State House, the reverse side of the bas-relief monument carries the names of 62 black Civil War soldiers who died in a heroic assault on the Confederate city of Charleston, S.C. Stop by at the right time and you might find a bunch of withered roses laid on the iron horse carrying Shaw. Be sure to peer behind the horse, so as not to miss the soldiers sculpted behind Shaw, bringing extra realism to the piece.Next are several private residences of historic significance. The small, two-level George Middleton house is the oldest residence built by blacks on Beacon Hill. The home of John J. Smith, a free 19th-century black manwho served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, is next, followed by the homes of John Coburn and Lewis and Harriet Hayden, prominent black abolitionists of the time. At the Hayden house, get close enough to peer into the vestibule, where Lewis Hayden claimed to keep kegs of gunpowder stored under the porch. If slave-catchers came knocking, he'd answer holding a candle, which he threatened to drop onto the explosive if they didn't leave. Many of the homes still have their original brick facades, though most have been rehabbed into condos or other residences. Though the redevelopment probably kept them from decaying, the interiors are not open to tourists.Between these private residences are stops at the old Phillips School, one of Boston's first interracial schools (now condos), and the Charles Street Meeting House, which was the home until 1939 of the large black population of the Charles Street AME Church. But it's the end of the trail that holds the real treats, starting with the Abiel Smith School, a welcome stop for weary feet and restless imaginations. While the monuments and homes give walkers plenty of chances to reflect on what life must have been like for black Bostonians in centuries past, the Smith School will give them some-thing to actually do. Dedicated in 1835, the Smith School was the first building in the United States constructed for the sole purpose of housing a black public school; when the state outlawed public school segregation 20 years later, it closed. In the 1990s it was renovated and now houses the Museum of Afro-American History. The school is now equal parts modern, with interactive exhibits that teach about the education of African-Americans in the early 20th century, and retro, with classrooms set up to closely resemble the ones used in the mid-19th century. It's difficult to imagine how pupils sitting on wooden pedestals rising only a foot off the ground, instead of at desks, were able to concentrate. And how, exactly, did they manage to learn to read in what must have been a dimly lit space before the era of widespread electricity?That the vaulted brick African Meeting House is now at the end of the Black Heritage Trail is perhaps fitting. It was built in 1806 as a religious refuge for black Christians who preferred to worship without being relegated to balconies. The building would eventually be the center of black political life as well, serving as a recruiting station for the 54th Regiment, and as de facto town hall for Boston's African-American community, earning it the nickname "the black Faneuil Hall."

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Greenway Technology to Enter $65 Billion Alternative Lifestyle Tourism Market Billions to Be Spent Worldwide on Gay Marriage Tourism LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwire) -- 11/16/12 -- GREENWAY TECHNOLOGY (the "Company") (PINKSHEETS: GWYT) today announced that it, through its wholly owned subsidiary Andalusian Resort, will enter the $65 billion Gay and Lesbian tourism market. Bernard Fried, President and CEO of Greenway Technology said: "For our guests, Andalusian Resorts is dedicated to supporting the rights of the Gay community and providing the Gay traveler with the highest degree of comfort and service in all of our resorts. For our shareholders, our dedication and support of the Gay traveler is not without reason." Information in a report from Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI) shows that "gay men and lesbians travel more, own more homes and cars, spend more on electronics, and have the largest amount of disposable income of any niche market." Mr. Fried continues: "More disposable income will equate to more available dollars for vacation and travel." Based on the Department of Commerce tourism statistics, CMI estimates that gay and lesbian tourism generates more than $65 billion a year in the U.S. alone. In addition, CMI says when choosing a destination Gay travelers are primarily motivated by recommendations from friends, unique attractions, and destinations known for their gay-friendliness. We are confident that Gay travelers will find Andalusian Resorts meeting all of their requirements. We are developing the Andalusian Resort chain as a place for Gay couples to come to relax and have fun in an environment that promotes Peace and Harmony. We have already announced that we are in final negotiations with hotels in Palm Springs, California and Las Vegas, Nevada; we will soon be announcing our entry into the Orlando, Florida market, all among the top destinations for Gay travelers. In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the location of our first Gentlemen's club. Andalusian is the place for Gay couples. Additionally, the present White House Administration will continue to have a positive impact on the Gay community and on the future of projects such as Andalusian Resort. The Administration's support of full marriage equality, the Respect for Marriage Act, and the Passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act have created a better environment for Gay couples than ever before. Aided by this support and advocacy, fourteen states, including the recent additions of Maine, Maryland, and Washington, have passed laws allowing Gay couples to marry. Married couples take honeymoons and soon will be able to travel to a new a destination, the Andalusian Resort. In a speech last year marking the upcoming Human Rights Day and reported by CNN World, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton challenged nations around the world to recognize that "gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights," building on an order by President Barack Obama directing all U.S. agencies to "promote and protect" the rights of gay people. Clinton called the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people "universal" and criticized nations that criminalize gay behavior or tolerate abuse of gay, bisexual or transgendered people. At the same time, Obama announced a presidential directive to use U.S. foreign aid to promote rights for gays and lesbians abroad, including combating attempts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality and making treatment of gays a factor in awarding foreign aid. Please visit us at www.arsproud.com or www.andalusianresort.com to learn more about us. Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those relating to our ability to acquire resort properties, rehabilitate the same to the extent necessary and obtain financing necessary to do so, as well as many other factors which may or may not be beyond our control. Greenway Technology Bernard A. Fried (702) 605-4301 [email protected] Investor Relations Published Nov. 16, 2012— Reads 608 Copyright © 2012 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.

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One easy ticket to the five sites forming the Florence Cathedral complex! Florence Milan Naples Rome Sicily Siena Turin Venice Need assistance? » Museums & Monuments » Churches and Religious Sites » Combo Ticket Great Museum Cathedral of Florence Combo Ticket Great Museum Cathedral of Florence The Florence Cathedral Complex includes magnificent works of art and architecture - access all 5 sites with one easy ticket! From € 3.00 Five magnificent experiences in the heart of Florence Technical organization Opera di S. M. del Fiore di Firenze Provided by Opera di S. M. del Fiore di Firenze Prices Full Price Tickets Reduced Price Tickets: FAI members Children from 6 to 11 years of age * Please note: there are random controls regarding reduced price tickets Free Admission (ONLY DIRECTLY AT THE TICKET OFFICE): Children under 6 years of age 1 free ticket for the teacher or group leader of school groups, per 10 students 1 free ticket for the group leader of groups, per 20 people Police, accessing for specific service reasons Journalists with membership card of the foreign press in Italy, Italian National Order of Journalists or authorized by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore Persons with disabilities (for their companions only in case their presence is indispensable) ICOM/ICOMOS members Florence official tourist guides Priests, monks, and nuns If you wish the assistance of our operators (available from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 7pm, Italy time), send us an e-mail.: 1. Choose a date Prices Detail IMPORTANT WARNING: Access WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to those who present themselves without the TICKET we send. The confirmation of payment from the bank IS NOT A VALID TICKET and will not allow you to gain access. Online pre-purchase of the combo ticket that allows entry to all the sites of the Great Museum of the Cathedral of Florence – the Monumental Complex of Santa Maria del Fiore. Combo Ticket includes access to: Galleria dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) Brunelleschi's Dome Giotto's Bell Tower Baptistery of San Giovanni Ruins of Santa Reparata Discover the treasures of the Cathedral of Florence at one of the most important church museums in Italy. Marvel at the Dome of the Cathedral of Florence, masterpiece of architecture by Filippo Brunelleschi. Climb Giotto's Bell Tower, considered the most beautiful in Italy. Visit the “eight-sided wonder of Florence,” the Baptistery of San Giovanni. Travel back in time as you explore the archaeological site of Santa Reparata, the ancient early Christian Basilica of Florence. Pre-purchased ticket allows one entry to each site of the Great Museum of the Cathedral of Florence. Ticket does not allow two entries to the same monument. Pre-purchase does not include priority admission to any monument. The time booking for the Dome, the Bell Tower and the Museum, free of charge and subject to availability, can be made later, a ticket at a time. As of November 1, 2016, it is mandatory to book the visit to access Brunelleschi's Dome. The reservation to access the Bell Tower and the Museum is optional, but recommended. The time indicated on the booking form refers only to the first opening hour. Ticket must be used within midnight of the sixth day from the date selected at the moment of the purchase, and is valid for 48 hours from entering the first monument. IMPORTANT: Any errors on the selection of the date of visit will not be refunded Ticket contains a barcode readable by the turnstiles at the entrances of the various sites. The use of the tablet is not advised for reading difficulties of the bar code at the entrance. Customers with ticket must go directly to the entrance line of each monument, without going through the cashier/ticketing line. Your ticket is personal and nontransferable. ** ATTENTION GROUPS: for proper generation of tickets, the maximum number of tickets per order is 10. For groups of more than 10 persons it is therefore necessary to place an order for every 10 persons or additional fraction of that number of people.** PLEASE NOTE: Immediately after submitting an order, you will receive a confirmation email with links to the tickets. Please make sure that your anti-spam filter does not block automatic emails from us. Tickets CANNOT be cancelled and are NOT refundable. Weekend in Italy will only refund the entire cost of your ticket(s) including the service fee if the monuments remain closed during the entire period of validity of the ticket(s). IMPORTANT – Code of Conduct The monumental complex of Santa Maria del Fiore is above all a place of worship. Visitors are asked to respect some simple rules. Your pre-purchased ticket DOES NOT guarantee access or the possibility to stay inside the monument. You may be asked to leave if you choose not to respect the following: Appropriate clothing is required – no bare arms/shoulders or bare legs. Special attention to this point; access to the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Crypt will be denied without an appropriate attire Please respect the silence Please turn your mobile phones and other electronic devices off Do not eat nor drink Works of art must not be touched No flash photography or tripod Entrance not allowed with large suitcases Wardrobe not present Galleria dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore The Galleria dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (Museum of the Works of the Cathedral) hosts many of the original works of art originally created for the Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral (Duomo) of Florence, and must be considered one of the most important church museums in Italy. The Museo dell'Opera del Duomo was inaugurated in 1891, based on the design of architect Luigi del Moro. It was renovated after the 1966 flood. Today's layout dates from December 1999. The present palazzo was built over a previous construction purchased in 1400. Since the end of the 1800s, the Museum has received an uninterrupted flow of works of art removed from their outdoor location at Santa Maria del Fiore, the Baptistery, and the Campanile for reasons of conservation. The collection is therefore the most tangible testimony of a typically Florentine tradition of the plastic arts, a tradition that was formed during the various construction phases of Santa Maria del Fiore, and continued evolving for centuries. A typical example is the first façade, which remained in place until 1587, until the Grand Duke - advised by Bernardo Buontalenti as part of new town-planning program - had it demolished and replaced with a more modern project, which was to reach its definitive version only in 1871. This development excluded the use of the original sculptures - therefore these are still in the Museum. On the ground floor, you will find the original statues by Arnolfo di Cambio for the first partial façade of the Cathedral, as well as Ghiberti’s now restored original panels for the doors of the Baptistery. You will also see the room with the gold background paintings and the Relics Chapel, which includes the famous Reliquary with St. Paul’s Book. Climbing up the monumental staircase, you will come face to face with the Museum’s jewel: the second of the three Pietas by Michelangelo. On the second level, the Room of the Cantorias by Luca Della Robbia and Donatello, moved here from inside the Duomo, is among the most significant moments of Renaissance sculpture from both architectural and sculptural points of view. Here, you will also have the opportunity to take a close look at the magnificent originals of the statues for the niches of the Campanile. The adjoining room exhibits the hexagonal and lozenge-shaped panels of Giotto’s Campanile by Andrea Pisano, Alberto Arnoldi, Luca Della Robbia, and others. The sixteenth and seventeenth-century sculptures of the Tuscan school are also part of the Museum collection, bearing witness to the interest in continuing the development and building of the Duomo. The new adjoining rooms exhibit the various wooden models of the cupola, as well as the tools Filippo Brunelleschi used to build it. Next to the Room of the Cantorias, you will find the room of the Duomo’s treasure: liturgical furnishings, including a series of reliquaries from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century, a processional cross, perhaps enameled by Luca Della Robbia, and several sixteenth-century gold-embroidered tapestries. Donatello’s wooden Magdalene stands out in the center of the room. The splendid Altar of San Giovanni, a masterpiece of Florentine goldsmith's work (1366-1480), realized by artists like Michelozzo, Verrocchio, Antonio del Pollaiolo, and Bernardo Cennini. Both the Altar and the Cross by Pollaiolo above it were created for the Baptistery. Very important are the three Antiphonaries and a Gradual with sixteenth-century miniatures. These are four of the 58 codices that survived the 1966 flood. For the upper floor, a learning center for the blind is planned with a privileged route allowing touching the statues. A learning area for children is planned for the future. The use of the space in this new museum is, however, temporary. A new Museum will indeed be born thanks to the recent acquisition of the adjoining building, the former Teatro degli Intrepidi, also known to Florentines as the “Downtown Garage.” It offers approximately two thousand square meters of exhibition space that will serve to organize a detailed learning trail through these “living stones” of Florence. Thanks to the tireless work of its marble workers and stonemasons, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, custodian and guarantor of these treasures, attends to the care and maintenance of the sacred complex formed by the Duomo, Baptistery, and Campanile. The Dome by Brunelleschi Formed by two interconnected domes, the octagonal cupola was built from 1418 to 1434 based on the project Filippo Brunelleschi presented at the 1418 competition. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flower), the temple consecrated on March 25, 1436 is still the largest dome ever built with bricks. The Duomo is a wonder of the world of architecture, and its execution is in many regards still a mystery. With its octagonal dome higher and wider than any ever been built, with no external buttresses to keep it from spreading and falling under its own weight, the technical difficulties were some of the greatest ever faced – and overcome - in the history of architecture. During your visit, you will be able to admire the details of this work, created by the genius of Filippo Brunelleschi. Take the walkways, corridors, and the spiral staircases that lead to the top of the panoramic terrace (92 meters/301 feet), and travel back in time.
The cupola is 45.5 meters (1,492 feet) in diameter, equalling the entire Baptistery. Brunelleschi’s astonishing innovation was that of vaulting the cupola without a skeleton by using a double vault separated by an air space. The bricks of the internal vault (two meters/six feet thick), laid in a herring-bone pattern, are self-supporting, while the external vault is only a covering.
At the top of the cupola rises the lantern with its cone-shaped covering after a design by Brunelleschi, realized after the artist’s death (1446). Verrocchio's gilded copper ball with cross containing holy relics was set in place in 1466. The fresco decoration covering over three thousand square meters of Brunelleschi’s cupola was created between 1572 and 1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari. With depictions of the Last Judgment, it shares the iconographic theme with the Baptistery. The frescoes in the cupola were completely restored between 1978 and 1994. Giotto’s magnificent bell tower is one of the four principal components of Florence's Piazza del Duomo. Richly decorated with sculptures, reliefs, and polychrome marble, it is the most eloquent testimony of fourteenth-century Florentine Gothic architecture. The slender tower rises on a square plan with a side of 14.45 meters (47.41ft). It rises to a height of 84.7 meters (277.9ft) sustained by four polygonal buttresses at the corners.These four vertical lines are crossed by four horizontal lines, dividing the tower into five levels. Faced with white, red, and green marble like the Cathedral, the majestic bell tower, probably created as a decorative rather than a functional element and considered the most beautiful in Italy, was begun by Giotto in 1334.
By the time of his death in 1337, Giotto had only seen the realization of the first part of the project. It was continued by Andrea Pisano who completed the first two levels according to Giotto’s project. The rich decorative apparatus of the hexagonal and lozenge panels shows the concept of universal order and the story of Redemption. The reliefs begin with the Creation of Man and continue with the representation of his activities, the planets that regulate the course of his existence, the Virtues that strengthen him, the Liberal Arts that educate him, and the Sacraments. Most panels are attributed to Andrea Pisano, some to his son Nino Pisano, and to assistants of Andrea Pisano. Six panels on the north side are attributed to Luca della Robbia. The statues merit separate mention. On the second level, instead of bas-reliefs, Andrea Pisano inserted sixteen niches destined to contain figures of Kings and Sibyls and statues of the Patriarchs and Prophets. Nanni di Banco and Donatello created some of the latter, including the beautiful sculptural group of the Sacrifice of Isaac. This work represents one of the foremost examples of fifteenth-century naturalism in sculpture. For conservation reasons, the originals of all of the sculptures are now in the Museo dell’Opera. Work on the Campanile was halted for two years by the terrible Black Death pandemic, from 1348 to 1350. But in 1359, the Campanile was completed by Francesco Talenti, the ingenious creator of the large windows of the upper level. A motif borrowed from the Siena campanile, the double mullioned windows and the large triple lancet windows open the building to the light, making the construction elegantly Gothic while maintaining the classical composition of the whole. A large terrace situated at the top of more than 400 stairs and projecting outwards is the last element we owe to Talenti who rejected Giotto’s project for a spire roof. This panoramic rooftop terrace offers unparalleled views of Florence and the surrounding hills. The Baptistery of San Giovanni Architecture and Exterior The Baptistery of San Giovanni is famous for its octagonal shape. The unusual structure is entirely faced with white and green marble from Prato. A cupola with eight segments, which rest on the perimetric walls surmounts the Baptistery. This cupola was masked from the outside by raising the walls over the arches of the second level, and by a roof with a flattened pyramidal form. This fascinating and extremely complex structure has created a challenge for scholars seeking to date it. In the Middle Ages, the Florentines believed the Baptistery to be an ancient pagan temple transformed into a church, dating back to the city’s Roman period. In fact, a good portion of the Baptistery’s marble facing, along with numerous fragments and ancient inscriptions, as well as the large columns supporting the lintels over the doors inside, come from the ruins of the Roman Florentia (precursor of Florence), perhaps from some pagan building. The Baptistery we see today is a much larger version of a primitive Baptistery dating to the 4th-5th century. Excavations of the past century have revealed the remains of Roman constructions under both the Baptistery and the Duomo. Several grilles on the floor light a subterranean area showing the remains of a Roman house with its geometric mosaic floors. In the early 1100s, San Giovanni was faced with splendid green and white marble, which took the place of the previous sandstone. The third order with marble bays and the pyramidal roof with the lantern were probably added in the middle to late 12th century. In 1202, the ancient semicircular apse was replaced with today’s rectangular “scarsella,” the small rectangular apsis that protrudes from the western facade. The building is one of the very fine examples of Romanesque architecture in the city. Interior of the Baptistery In the second half of the 11th century, the interior was lined with marble. This fact, together with the monolithic columns and two sarcophagi, evokes the “gravitas” of the Roman Pantheon. The floor with its oriental-style marble intarsia abounds in elegant decorative motifs with zodiacal signs in bold relief, and resembles a precious oriental rug. On the right wall of the apse, you will notice the sarcophagus of Bishop Ranieri, which bears an inscription in Leonine hexameters from 1113. On the right of the apse, you will notice a precious work created by Donatello and Michelozzo in 1421-27 - the sepulcher of Baldassarre Cossa, the anti-pope John XXIII. Pairs of holy water fonts on small spiral columns, a Gothic candelabrum attributed to a follower of Arnolfo, and a late fourteenth-century baptismal font attributed to a follower of Andrea Pisano complete the interior decoration. Most of the original Baptistery furnishings, including Donatello’s Magdalene, are today housed in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. The magnificent mosaic decoration of the interior was begun in the 13th century, lining the scarsella and the entire cupola. It reflects the byzantine traditions in a most splendid way. Many craftsmen worked on the creation of this moving and expressive masterpiece - including unnamed Venetian artists, as well as Jacopo Torriti and, perhaps, representatives of the new Florentine pictorial school, such as Cimabue and Coppo di Marcovaldo. The mosaics are dominated by a large majestic Christ figure (over 26 feet high!) in the center. Scenes of the Last Judgment occupy three of the eight segments of the cupola. The upper horizontal registers of the five remaining segments depict the stories of Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence, and stories of Christ and Mary, Joseph, and the Genesis. The highest register in the center of the cupola shows depictions of the angelic hierarchies. The Bronze Doors Under the patronage of the wealthy Calimala Guild (woolworkers), the Baptistery was also embellished with three beautiful bronze doors. The Baptistery owes much of its fame to these – and rightfully so, as they form an unsurpassed high point of Gothic and Renaissance sculpture in Italy. The oldest door, the one facing south, was originally situated in the east. It was successively replaced with the one created by Lorenzo Ghiberti, known as the “Door of Paradise.” It was originally commissioned from sculptor Andrea Pisano who created it between 1330 and 1336. Its twenty upper bays show episodes from the life of John the Baptist, while the remaining eight portray the Christian Virtues. The frieze that frames them was sculpted in the mid fifteenth century by Vittorio Ghiberti, son of Lorenzo Ghiberti. The bronze sculptural group on the lintel representing John the Baptist, his execution, and Salome, is by Vincenzo Danti (1570). The north door was the next to be realized. It served as a testbed for the competition of 1401, which was won by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and resulted in the defeat of various artists, including Brunelleschi and Jacopo della Quercia. Substantially laid out like the south door, the twenty upper panels depict scenes of the New Testament, while the eight lower panels show the Evangelists and the four Fathers of the Church. The wings, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, are decorated with stories from the life of Christ, while the lintel depicts John the Baptist Preaching by Giovan Francesco Rustici. The coat of arms of the Calimala guild is depicted above the window - the Calimala eagle holding the bolt of cloth. The east door is the fully Renaissance masterpiece by Ghiberti and his assistants, including Luca della Robbia. Michelangelo said of it that it could well be the door of Paradise – and it has since then be called by that name. Ghiberti and his workshop obtained the commission for the door without competition. It was made differently from the other two and has only ten large panels. These illustrate scenes of the Old Testament and are no longer framed by a Gothic border. Ghiberti and his assistants proposed instead new solutions in perspective, and used Donatello’s “stiacciato” style (minimally raised relief). The sculptures over the door, dated 1502, are by Andrea Sansovino and Innocenzo Spinazzi. On either side of the Door of Paradise are two porphyry columns donated to the Florentines by the Pisans for the military help given in 1117 against Lucca. The Pisan fleet had at the time been engaged in the Balearic Islands against Muslim piracy. The archaeological site of the crypt of Santa Reparata A major excavation campaign beneath the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore conducted between 1965 and 1972 brought to light the remains of the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata, the most concrete testimony of early Christianity in Florence. Evidence found before that time includes the excavations of Santa Felicita, some notes about the cathedral of San Lorenzo, and some tombstones and sarcophagi, but little else. Today, the ancient early Christian basilica of Florence, which was restored several times, and also used for the meetings of the Parliament of the Republic before the construction of the Palazzo Vecchio is accessible to the public. Santa Reparata was among the largest early Christian complexes of Tuscia, the historical region that comprised the southern territories under Etruscan influence, including the whole Region of Tuscany, a great part of Umbria and the northern parts of Lazio. Santa Reparata is positioned in front of the Baptistery, eight meters/twenty-six feet forward with respect to the present Cathedral. The first Santa Reparata must have been open and luminous, with elegant arches and marble columns, similar to San Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. It had a nave and two aisles. Colonnades delimited the nave, and an enclosure separated the apsidal choir and area of worship from the area for the public. The center walkway was extended for the distribution of the communion. It was probably built to celebrate the Christian victory over Ostrogoth king Radagasius in approximately 405 AD. Santa Reparata was later reconstructed during the Carolingian epoch after having suffered damage in the Gothic-Byzantine war. Santa Reparata maintained its previous layout with the addition of two lateral chapels in the apse area, a small crypt, and a new floor, and can be imagined similar to the abbey of Pomposa in Ferrara of the same period. The years 1050-1106 mark the construction of a new raised choir and a new crypt where the body of Saint Zenobius was transferred from the old cathedral of San Lorenzo in the 9th century. It was kept there until the 1440s when it was moved inside the new Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore.
Successive maintenance renovations kept Santa Reparata alive until 1379 when it was definitively demolished to make way for the new Cathedral. An image of Santa Reparata in this period can be seen today in the fresco in the Museo del Bigallo della Madonna della Misericordia.
There is now archeological proof that the remains of four churches lie beneath today’s Duomo: the original plus three reconstructions. Between the first and second pilasters on the right side of the nave inside the Duomo, are the stairs that descend to the excavations of the ancient Cathedral. The vast area, open to the public in 1974, contains numerous remains of the walls and floors of houses of the Roman “Florentia”. The floor bears the names of the fourteen donors of Latin origin who financed the construction.
The floor is formed by a beautiful polychrome mosaic with geometric decorations, including the motif of the cross, not dissimilar from the mosaic floors inside the Duomo of Aquileia. Also worthy of note is a beautiful peacock, symbol of immortality, one of the few remaining figurative elements.
A 14th century Florentine fresco that decorated the semicircular wall of the apse on the right leads us to believe that Santa Reparata was still dear to the Florentines.
This work of a Giottesque painter of the mid 1300s was added to Santa Reparata though the church was condemned to destruction and already inserted into the new Cathedral. The numerous tombstones include the very beautiful stone of Lando di Giano, chaplain of Santa Reparata, who died in 1353, the stone of Niccolò Squarcialupi of 1313, as well as that of Giovanni Di Alamanno de’ Medici who died in 1352. Santa Reparata may perhaps even house the tombs of two popes: Stephen IX and also Nicholas II, Bishop of Florence in 1058. In the course of the excavation campaign, the tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi was also found, while no trace remains of the tombs of Giotto, Arnolfo di Cambio, or Andrea Pisano who, according to tradition, were also buried here. The Dr. Vranjes store is located in Via della Spada 9/r, at the center of Florence's quadrangular shopping area, close to the most prestigious brands of fashion and a few steps from the luxurious Via Tornabuoni. The store has become a window into the Dr. Vranjes universe, in which customers from all over the world recognize themselves. Every client presenting a WEEKEND in ITALY voucher will be given- a complimentary scented bookmark, regardless of purchase- a free Dr. Vranjes Shea Lip-balm for a purchase minimum of € 30.00- a free fragrance spray 25 ml for a purchase minimum of € 100.00Dr. VranjesVia della Spada 9r - FirenzeVia San Gallo 63r - FirenzeBorgo la Croce 44r - FirenzeVia Fiori Chiari 24 - Milano Dante Cardini Since 1888, Dante Cardini is one of the landmark jewelers on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. You will find brands such as CHIMENTO jewelry, Roberto Poggiali and BARAKA, with contemporary design, as well as the exclusive DANTE CARDINI creations for the more traditional taste.Owners Massimo and Elisabetta will welcome you in the elegant but informal atmosphere of the store, and guide you in a unique and unforgettable experience for a visit to the terraces from which you will enjoy the beautiful view over the Arno River and the city of Florence.Clients presenting a WEEKEND in ITALY voucher will be offered a 10% discount on their purchase. Gioielleria Cardini - Ponte Vecchio 34/R - Florence Fratelli Peruzzi Argentieri Founded in 1860, Fratelli Peruzzi Argentieri is one of the oldest companies in the silversmithing industry of Florence.Gianna and her sister-in-law Laura are the fourth generation of a family of silversmiths to carry on the tradition that Giuseppe Peruzzi started over 150 years ago.Dedicated to craftsmanship, we’ll take any request and fulfill the client’s wishes. In addition to being engaged in the research and trade of silver and gold, we proudly display the prestigious brand identification “FI 114,“ among the oldest in Florence.The production of those items that created the renown of Fratelli Peruzzi over the course of all these years passionately continues in our workshop behind the boutique.A dream that continues into reality. Hard Rock Café FREE COLLECTIBLE GIFT!Present your voucher and receive a complimentary Hard Rock Cafe gift.Valid with Euro 25 purchase in the Cafe or Rock Shop. Valid till 30th of Dec. 2015. Not valid with other offers.One per person per visit. Valid only at Florence location WARNING: Admission to booked sight will be denied without the presentation of the voucher or the ticket. Presenting a copy of the order form does by not give you the right to be admitted. No exceptions can be made to this rule. Tweet Museums & Monuments Churches and Religious Sites Basilica of Santa Croce Combo Ticket Great Museum Cathedral of Florence Santa Maria Novella with Video Tablet Guide The Basilica of San Lorenzo with Multimedia Guide The Brancacci Chapel with Tablet Video Guide + Salvatore Romano Foundation Palazzo Vecchio Tickets Parks, Monuments and Historic Houses State Museums

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by Purvis Wed Aug 22 2001 at 18:41:26 The correct definition of the Arctic Circle is the northernmost latitude that features direct sunlight at sea level in every 24 hour period within a year. In other words, a point on the Arctic Circle has a sunrise and sunset every day of the year, but just barely on the solstices. It lies at 66 degrees 30 minutes of north latitude. As one travels away from the Equator, the difference in the amount of daylight between the Winter and Summer solsitces becomes greater. North of the Arctic Circle, there is at least one day where the sun doesn't set at all, and at least one day when it doesn't rise, and by the time one reaches the pole, the sun only rises and sets once a year, a perversely prolonged solstice. I have been to the Arctic Circle along the Dalton Highway in Alaska. At that point it is slightly above the tree line and passes through the marshy taiga. However, around the world the Circle passes through a variety of climates and terrains. In Greenland and the islands of eastern Arctic Canada, it is well above the tree line and passes through tundra. In western Canada it is below the tree line in places and can actually lie within forest. In Siberia and the Scandanavian countries it passes through both forrested terrain and taiga. As a constant, winters at the Arctic Circle are ridiculously cold, and summers are brief and can be warm or even hot in certain places like Siberia and Alaska. by Chattering Magpie Wed Aug 22 2001 at 20:19:40 Founded in 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Arctic Circle Restaurants, Inc. is a chain of fast food restaurants with 83 outlets in 8 western states, serving burgers, sandwiches, fries, ice cream products, and other fast-food fare. Arctic Circle was the first fast food chain to offer kids' meals. Recently Arctic Circle restaurants began serving Black Angus burgers exclusively, in a marketing move designed to associate Arctic Circle with a higher level of quality than had previously been associated with the Utah-based chain. The roots of Arctic Circle go back to 1924, when Don Carlos Edwards of Logan, Utah opened a refreshment stand to serve patrons of a local Pioneer Day celebration. The family business grew slowly but steadily and in 1950 the Edwards family opened its first Arctic Circle restaurant in Salt Lake City. Don J. Edwards, son of Don Carlos and founder of the AC chain, franchised both the Arctic Circle name and its products, notably the french fry sauce, dipped ice cream cones and Lime Squeezes. Edwards also manufactured the equipment installed in the restaurants. In the late 1970's, Arctic Circle opened the Minit-Lube chain of lube and oil service franchises. Fast growth in this area of fast service attracted the attention of oil industry giant Quaker State Oil, which purchases Arctic Circle Restaurants in 1985. A few years later two former officers and shareholders formed a partnership with restaurant management to purchase back the fast food arm of Arctic Circle. Subsequent restaurant growth was focused in the Utah and Idaho area. In 1997 the company’s re-directed its marketing focus to target children, adding 750 to 1,000 square foot, two story, indoor Kids PlayZones. In a market with more children per-capita than any other in the nation, this was successful move, resulting in dramatic sales increases in stores with the new PlayZones. In its 26 company-owned stores (the remainder being franchises), Arctic Circle is updating its interiors and kitchens, aimed at improving the customer experience and turnaround time. Although it does not have the high profile of McDonald's or Burger King, Arctic Circle nonetheless is focused on community involvement. As part of its community activities, Arctic Circle: has raised money for the Utah March of Dimes is a sponsor for the Utah Winter Games co-sponsors a program honoring charitable individuals, inspired by the CBS television show "Touched by an Angel" partners with local PTAs, providing ice-cream treats for school events sponsors Utah Special Olympics Camp in conjunction with the Nike Utah Golf Tour< co-sponsors the Junior Jazz summer recreational basketball program in conjunction with the Utah Jazz, an NBA basketball team We had an Arctic Circle in my hometown when I was growing up, but it is there no longer. We used to call it "Acey Greasey" and "Arsenic Circle". It wasn't as good as the Dairy Queen. Source: Arctic Circle Restaurants, Inc., www.arcticcirclerest.com Antarctic Circle A place where the sun never sets dark season Equatorial sundial oogruk The Men of Old The Extreme The Most Remote Town in the United States Everybody likes flowers Two Against the Ice Andrei Nikolishin Everything2 ™ is brought to you by Everything2 Media, LLC. All content copyright © original author unless stated otherwise.Monkey! Bat! Robot Hat!

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Network | Oh, say you can see: Geocache through history SOURCE: HamptonRoads.com 3-16-10 Oh, say you can see: Geocache through history Breaking News ...The Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail combines an activity called geocaching (pronounced GEO-cashing) with the upcoming 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Designed by three organizations, each with slightly differing motives, the geotrail encircles the Chesapeake Bay and, at one point, pops out to Tangier Island. Basically, here's how it works: Someone hides a cache in a location significant in the War of 1812. The coordinates of said cache are posted online, along with a few clues such as size, level of difficulty and ease of access. A handheld GPS unit will get players within about 10 feet of it, and then they have to hunt. After they find it, depending on what kind of cache it is, they sign the logbook inside it, take a trinket, leave a trinket, photograph themselves at the site, and announce their success to the world. Coordinates for all the caches on the Star-Spangled Banner Geotrail were posted at the same time, and dedicated hobbyists were waiting for them. Scott Anders of Virginia Beach was the first to find the stash at Hoffler Creek, early in the morning, and he beat by only a few minutes a team known as "Eddie and Eddie." Others have followed in the days since. Organizers hope that, while they were there, they read the historical marker titled "The Battle of Craney Island": "On the morning of June 22, 1813, during the War of 1812, British naval and marine forces... landed here at Hoffler Creek. American armed militia... blocked the British advance.... Norfolk, Portsmouth and the Gosport Navy Yard, now the Norfolk Navy Yard, were saved from capture." "It was a big victory for the U.S. forces," said Eleanor Mahoney, a spokesperson for the geotrail. "In this region, all over the place, everywhere you look, the British were there, especially along the rivers and communities along the Bay. Because we have the Civil War that was so prominent in Virginia and Maryland, people forget that this other conflict took place. It's really a fascinating story."... Read entire article at HamptonRoads.com

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YodelOut! TravelTravel Around The World Home > Spain > Alhambra – Walls And TowersAlhambra – Walls And Towers The fortress of the Alhambra is a walled circuit about half a mile long and seven hundred feet wide. The walls rise to the height of about thirty feet and are five feet thick. At intervals there are towers, to the number of twelve or more, of which the entrance tower of the Gate of Justice and the “Siete Suelos,” or seven stories, out of which Boabdil passed to exile, have already been mentioned. Some of these are well worth a visit, both on account of their situation, their exquisite interiors, and their legendary history. The Torre de la Vela, which is near the palace, and the last one on the southern point of the promontory, offers the best view from the Alhambra. It contains a bell, which rings to announce to the peasants how long they can use the waters of the river for the irrigation of their fields. This has been a custom from the days of the Moors. On this tower the standard of the Christian conquerors was first raised, and a cross carved in the wall marks the place of the symbol of victory. On the anniversary of this conquest, the second of January, a fete is held in the Alhambra, the fountains play in the Court of the Lions, and the fortress is full of peasants. There is a superstition connected with the festival that any maiden who ascends the Torre de la Vela, and strikes the bell, will be married within the year, and the harder she strikes, the better will be the husband. Mr. Finck, who was at the Alhambra on January second a year or two since, says that from the noise made on this day it has been inferred that marriage is not regarded as a failure by the unmarried women of Spain. Visitors who stay long at Granada come often to this outlook for the sunset views, which are extremely beautiful. We copy the description of the view from “Studies in Local Color,” by the artist to whom allusion has just been made. “Below lies the Alhambra, so unpromising in its exterior, so fairylike in its interior, and beyond, to the right, are the Spanish Alps, the Sierra Nevada, powdered with snow, and rising twelve thousand feet into the air. On the other side lies the city of Granada, grouped about its giant religious guardian, the cathedral, and along the hill to the right can be seen the habitations of the gypsies, dug into the mountain side. Beyond the city, almost as far as the eye can reach, extends the fertile green plain, studded with villages, gardens, orchards, and farms. . . . Nothing could be more fascinating than sitting here and reading the story of Granada, with a bird’s-eye view of the real battlegrounds before him in place of a map. But when the sun begins to sink the book must be shut, for then the aesthetic sense claims a monopoly of the attention. The snow of a sudden assumes a delicate rose tint, like the Swiss Alpyuhen, while the lower mountain chain on the opposite side, behind which the sun is slowly disappearing, looks like a coalblack silhouette, contrasting vividly with the green sunset sky. For a quarter of an hour this scene may be enjoyed, when all at once the rosy blush on the Sierras disappears, leaving the snow more deadly pale than it had seemed before.” The Torre de las Infantas, which is the scene of Irving’s legend of the three beautiful princesses, has been carefully repaired; its elaborate decorations, delicate tracery, and machicolated roof are restored to their pristine loveliness. A portico leads into a central hall with a marble fountain, lofty arches, and elegant dome. A pretty gallery runs around the central court, and exquisitely graceful arched windows light the rooms and afford superb prospects. “This,” said my companion, “shall be the model for our summer residence; on a Berkshire hill, or in an Ad.irondack glen, we will build a tower just like this. It will be perfectly lovely!” We agreed about it then, but after looking at the Berkshire hill I do not think the Spanish tower would be a suitable structure for the place, and I fear that a log-cabin in the Adirondacks will be the only outcome of the Torre en Espana. This tower was the reputed residence of the daughters of the Moorish kings, and the legend is that three princesses were once shut up in the tower by their father, a tyrant of Granada, being only permitted to ride out at night about the hills, and that no one was allowed to come near them upon pain of death. In spite of the tyrant’s vigilance, the princesses were seen by some Christian knights, and the flame of love burned equally in the hearts of men and maidens. Under such conditions there was nothing to be thought of but escape, and by the aid of a faithful or unfaithful servant (according to the standpoint), two of the princesses succeeded in descend.ing from the lofty windows and fleeing upon swift horses with their lovers. The courage of the third sister failed at the critical moment. Mourning her lack of courage, she died young, and was buried beneath the tower. According to the account of Irving’s little old fairy queen, “occasionally when the moon is full, the princesses may be seen riding in lonely places along the mountain side, on palfreys richly caparisoned and sparkling with jewels, but they vanish on being spoken to.” The “Tower of the Captive” has a more veritable history. There is little doubt that it was for some time the residence of the Dona Isabel de Solis, who became the favorite wife of Abu Hassan. He called her Zoraya, “the Morning Star.”It is said to have derived its name, however, from a Christian captive, who was carried off by Abul Walid Ismael from Algeciras, a century before. This captive maiden, when she found no other means of escaping from the design of the king to make her his sultana, threw herself from the tower window into the ravine below, where her lifeless form was discovered by the knight, who had arrived too late to rescue her. The interior of this tower has been repaired where needful. Its slender arches, glistening tiles, wonderful arabesque, and inscriptions from the Koran are well preserved, or have been conscientiously restored. One of its most beautiful double-arched windows, divided by a slender column, looks across the deep moat or ravine to the tower of the princesses; the thickness of the wall forms a deep window-recess, whose sides and ceilings are elaborately covered with the finest kind of stucco work, gilded and painted, and wainscoted from the floor up -with ancient azuelos. We spent hours in this and a few of the other towers, never tiring of the varied beauties of the interior, and of the charming pictures of landscape, and ruined wall overgrown with vines and herbage, and distant hills and lofty mountains, which were framed in the unglazed windows and came out clear and well defined in the beautiful atmosphere of Granada. Every tower has its legend or cluster of legends. The Siete Suelos, besides the story which makes it the scene of Boabdil’s exit, has the tale, so often told, that beneath its romantic ruins two Moors sit guarding a heavy chest full of gold and jewels. As the tower is close to the hotel, and a part of its wall is used for store-rooms of tools and water-pots and other agricultural implements, I am quite sure that the Moors and their treasures, if they were ever there, have long since passed away. My window looked out upon this tower, and I am prepared to testify that its lower story is anything but a treasurehouse of gold or romance, and that the only Moor who guards the treasures in that neighborhood now sits in the office, and makes out the bills of travellers who eat the rissotto and drink the Malaga wine at his comfortable hotel.

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Exploring Sarawak from the waterfront of Kuching Kuching is the capital of Sarawak. From here, many daytrips can be made to National Parks, Semengoh orang-utan rehabilitation center, and a cultural village. But Kuching itself has also much to offer, like a lovely waterfront. The boat trip to Kuching brings us from the Rejang river to the sea, before we move through the sluice-gate back up the Sarawak river, and on to Kuching. From the boat we are led into a minivan and a little later we are in the middle of the capital of Sarawak. Since the only backpacker hostel in Kuching is full, we have to divert to one of the budget hotels, which are expensive for Southeast Asian standards. When we are finally settled, we go out to fall in love with Kuching.Kuching has the most beautiful boulevard we ever saw. A nice park where we can walk along the river, with benches to relax and stalls for food and drinks. On the other side of the river, the fort is standing in the spotlights at night, and so is the palace of the sultan. On the other side of the road is the bazaar, a shopping street full of souvenir shops with antiques and woodcuttings. This is a place where we can relax for a while.Our first full day in Kuching we take it slow. We pay a visit to the Kuching museum, with stuffed animals of Borneo on the first floor, and all kinds of artefacts of the different tribes of Borneo on the second. There are also scale models of the different types of longhouses, and a lot of information about the wooden masks, statues and totem poles. These served an animistic religious purpose in the old days, but have more value for souvenir shops nowadays. To the fortFrom Kuching, we make a visit to Semengoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. Back in Kuching we take one of the sampan boats to take us to fort Margerita, on the other side of the Sarawak river. The boatsman uses crossed oars first, but after 5 meters he pulls a chord to activate the engine. It ruins the setting a bit, but fortunately it's a silent engine.On the other side of the river we walk through this part of Kuching, which is actually more like a small village. Then we climb the hill to reach the fort, where a military museum is housed. We are especially interested in the former prison, with the torture attributes. But unfortunately, the museum is closed and we will have to settle with watching the exterior of the fort and with the military vehicles exposed there.A little disappointed we return, passing the terrain of the local police, where a festival tent is being built. When we ask what the occasion is, they tell us that it is the end of the harvest celebrations (Gawai). Tonight there will be a lot of important visitors, like the minister of cultivation, to watch some performances. Over 1000 visitors are expected, and we are invited as well.Gawai festivalThat night, after having dinner at the waterfront, we decide to have it a go to watch the Gawai celebrations. We take a sampan again and once on the other side of the river we enter the terrain of the festivities, and walk to the longhouse they were building this afternoon. There is a crowd surrounding a stage in the middle, but to enter that we have to cross the red carpet, used for leading the officials to the entrance of the longhouse. When we pass the carpet, however, people invite us to come inside the longhouse, too, instead of joining the crowd. A little hesitant we let them lead us inside, where a commotion starts about taking a picture. We try to make room, but it appears that they want us in the picture as well. All of a sudden, we seem to be important guests.While on stage formal speeches are given, we are asked to sit on the floor with the other people. Ladies in the traditional dresses of the different tribes of Sarawak are serving different dishes on the floor, and everybody starts eating. We ate already, so we merely stick to the lemonade and tuak, fermented rice wine. But we take some of the food as well, in order not to seem impolite. The official program continues with a speech from a man who made a chat with us before. To our surprise he changes in English since there are some "foreign guests". Does he mean us? We don't see other white people. Then, the minister is put to work. He is wearing traditional clothes and in a ceremonial dance he has the cut some presents from a tree with a huge sword. When he is done, the official part is over.Since a lame band starts playing, we decide to leave the festival. On our way out, however, we are stopped by almost everybody to have a chat and drink with them. And when we finally reach the exit, traditional dances are being performed on stage. So we stay some more, watch the beautiful dances, chat some more, and have more drinks. In the end, we leave after midnight, but not before half of the police squad has been on a picture with us. They also wake up the boats man for us to bring us back, so the police really is our best friend here in Kuching.Sarawak Cultural VillageAfter we spent two days in Bako National Park we take a day tour to the cultural village, a living museum showing the cultural heritage of the different ethnic groups in Sarawak. The village is difficult to reach, though. We have to take a shuttle bus from Holiday Inn hotel. For a while, we seem to be the only ones in the mini-van, but it passes different other fancy hotels like the Hilton and Continental to pick-up tourists first. And so we find ourselves between the luxurious types of tourists.The cultural village is very nice. Longhouses of the different tribes in Sarawak are built here: the Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu. The latter is a general term meaning river people, used for many smaller tribes. There is also a village of the nomadic Penang tribe, and traditional houses of the other population groups: the Malay, the Melanau, and the Chinese. Every longhouse offers us a welcoming dance, and we see the people in their traditional clothes making or working with traditional tools.Around noon there is a show of traditional dances on a large central stage. There are not many visitors in the park, and there seem to be more performers than viewers. Yet, the performance is great. Highlight is the volunteer from the audience (a tourist from our mini-van) who gets to shoot at a balloon with a blowpipe. Everybody takes cover at her three attempts, since the darts fly in all directions.Cat MuseumKuching is the Malay word for Cat. And thus we walk to all the cat statues in town. And we also pay a visit to the Cat Museum, the only one in the world. A lot of drawings, pictures, statues, and stories about cats are on display here. But unfortunately no explanation why the city is called Kuching.The food in Kuching is very divers. We ate a lot of Roti Chanai for breakfast, a soft kind of bread with tasty curry. There are also many Chinese restaurants, catering especially the Chinese themselves, scaring others away with their spitting and loud eating noises. And there are also many western eateries, more expensive and of varying quality.Kuching is a great city. It offers different possibilities to see the cultural heritage of the different tribes of Sarawak, without having to make a trip to the hinterlands. The proximity to Bako national park and Semingoh orangutan rehabilitation center is also an asset. But we mostly enjoyed the terrific waterfront. Follow our World Journey!! Next Stop: SemengohReturn from Kuching to Southeast AsiaReturn from Kuching to Adventure Travel Tales and Tips

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Call us for information or reservation at: 800 669 8165 7 Night deluxe Paris/Loire Valley package $2,199pp Your 7 Night-Deluxe Paris/Loire Valley Package includes: Hotel Victoria Palace***** or similar 1 hour cruise on the Seine river Invitation to a French fashion show 1st class train ticket from Paris to Tours by TGV In The Loire Valley Deluxe Chateau de La Tortiniere**** or similar Car rental In The Loire Valley Renault Megane or similar with air conditionning and unlimited mileage Return 1st class TGV train ticket from Tours to Paris Last night in Paris Hotel Victoria Palace**** or similar Transfer back to the airport on departure date. 7 Nights Package Price $2,199pp Based on 2 people Loire Valley (French: Vallée de la Loire) is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. It is also noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular for its world-famous castles, such as the Châteaux d'Amboise, Château de Villandry and Chenonceau. The landscape of the Loire Valley, and more particularly its many cultural monuments, illustrate to an exceptional degree the ideals of the Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment on western European thought and design. The Loire Valley is an outstanding cultural landscape of great beauty, containing historic towns and villages, great architectural monuments, its many châteaux, and fine wines. On December 2, 2000, UNESCO added the central part of the Loire River valley, between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire, to its prestigious list of World Heritage Sites. In choosing this area that includes the French départements of Loiret, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, and Maine-et-Loire, the committee said that the Loire Valley is: "an exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty, comprised of historic cities and villages, great architectural monuments - the Châteaux - and lands that have been cultivated and shaped by centuries of interaction between local populations and their physical environment, in particular the Loire itself." From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia here to see our

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Home > Travel the Silk Road with Jonathan Tucker Travel the Silk Road with Jonathan Tucker This spring we are delighted to be releasing over two volumes – The Silk Road: Central Asia and The Silk Road: China and the Karakorum Highway – a portable version of Jonathan Tucker's acclaimed The Silk Road: Art and History, with new forewords by Paul Theroux. Replete with fascinating details of the main historical sites, works of art, accounts by ancient and modern travelers, legends, poetry and other literary references, this will be essential reading for all those interested in or planning to travel the ancient Silk Road. ‘This book is a Silk Road 'bible', a well constructed and beautiful collation of a mass of information and knowledge on a truly fascinating corner of the world. But be warned: read The Silk Road and you'll want to experience it for yourself’Geographical The Silk Road - China and the Karakorum Highway: A Travel CompanionJonathan Tucker | Foreword by: Paul TherouxPaperback£14.99 | $25.00 Paul Theroux on The Silk Road I wish I’d had Jonathan Tucker's The Silk Road 33 years ago when I was first in China, and on subsequent trips, when I was trying to understand the scattered remnants and tumbled walls of the ancient city of Turfan in remote Xinjiang, and the caves at Dunhuang and the (then vandalised) Buddhas in the Yungang caves outside Datong. As for the monumental Buddhas hewn from rock at Bamiyan, ‘among the greatest artistic creations of the earth’, Tucker does those full justice, though they have been destroyed by fanatics. Many of the towns and cities still exist, yet some of what remains of the Silk Road befits the hubris of Ozymandias. I am thinking of Turfan and the Peshawar valley, and the dusty foundations of Merv, in present-day Turkmenistan, an enormous set of interlocked cities, now little more than an elegant crater. Since the Silk Road was not one road, but many, it represented a series of suggestive directions, taking in – not cities, since cities are a recent phenomenon on earth – but a multitude of bazaars. Many of the bazaars still f lourish, the Tolkuchka Bazaar – just outside Ashgabat in Turkmenistan – is a desert encampment retailing camels and carpets and silver, and the Silk Road Bokhara remains a venerable and busy town, and Xian (resurgent Changan) is a metropolis once more. The presence of mosques, synagogues, temples and Christian churches in such places demonstrates the complexity of belief on the road. Jewish travellers from the Levant found their way to Changan and Luoyang, and not only became involved in the production of silk, but their Chinese descendents, the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng, are still living in Henan province. There may be Nestorians in China too. Nestorians found their way to China when they expanded to the East – the Silk Road was thick with schismatics. Recognising this back-and-forth of believers and thinkers, Tucker makes one of his shrewdest judgements when he describes the arrival of Buddhism in China along the ancient routes: ‘one of many instances of the passage of ideas (one of the Silk Road’s most important commodities)’. We take for granted objects, sculptures, terracotta, textiles, instruments, weapons and finery, and the excesses of Qin Shi Huangdi in his desire for immortality; but it was the exchange of ideas – faiths, beliefs, and songs and poems too – that gave the Silk Road its vitality. The Silk Road is a good companion in all respects, a history that is readable, a guide for the traveller that is invaluable, a handbook for the seeker of antiquities, an essential vademecum for the puzzled and bewildered tourist; and for the chair-bound person who does not wish to experience first-hand the howling Taklamakan Desert, or the upsets of Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan, or the exotic cuisines en route, it is a wonderful reference book and an enlightening journey in itself. ■

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40 Berkeley 617-375-2524EmailWebsite40 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116Make a Reservation +Save to My Trips6 people saved this The building that we now call home is the former YWCA Residence for Women. It was purchased in 2010 by a South End couple with years of real estate experience who transformed the building into the hip place it is today. By partnering with the non-profit organization, FOCUS: For Our Communities, we've ensured that the remaining long term residents of the YWCA would be able to stay in the home they had come to love. At 40 Berkeley, our goal is to provide guests with New England's hippest and most affordable place to stay. Located in Boston's historic, chic South End, and a few short blocks from Copley Square, Back Bay, and Downtown Boston, 40 Berkeley offers unbeatable value and convenience for all travelers. Boston's South End is the trendiest spot in town. Home to the recently named "Restaurant Row," the South End boasts the best in art, music, entertainment, food, and night life. 40 Berkeley is just around the corner from the stages and theatres of Boston Center for the Arts, the fun and jazzy Beehive Jazz Club, and dozens of the best bars, restaurants, and nightspots in town. 40 Berkeley is a short distance away from popular spots and attractions such as the Freedom Trail, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts, Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, and much more! Of Note: Amenities: Accessible Facilities, Pet Friendly, Restaurant

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Philly restaurants well-repped on James Beard Award semifinalists list Rikard Larma/Metro. Marc Vetri – seen here serving food to Philly students last year – garnered the most local nominations. The James Beard Foundation today released a list of this year's restaurant and chef semifinalists for the organization's prestigious annual culinary awards, described by many as "the Oscars of the food world." Philadelphia was well represented among the potential winners. Marc Vetri raked in the most nominations – he's up for "Outstanding Chef," his flagship restaurant Vetri is nominated for "Outstanding Service" and Brad Spence of the Vetri-owned Amis is up for "Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic." His competitors include Bibou's Pierre Calmels, Konstantinos Pitsillides of Kanella, Sylva Senat of Tashan, Fond's Lee Styer and Marcie Turney of Barbuzzo. Le Virtu chef Joe Cicala is a contender for the coveted "Rising Star Chef of the Year." He'll be competing against Christopher Kearse of Philly's Will BYOB for the honor. Other local nominations include Vernick Food & Drink for "Best New Restaurant," Franklin Mortgage and Investment Company for "Outstanding Bar Program" and the Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel for "Outstanding Service." Andre Chin and Amanda Eap of Artisan Boulanger Patissier are up for the "Outstanding Pastry Chef" award, Tom Peters of Monk’s Cafe is nominated for "Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional" and Stephen Starr is a semifinalist for "Outstanding Restaurateur." Five finalists in each category will on March 18 be selected by an independent 600-judge volunteer panel, and the winners will be announced at a May 4 awards ceremony at New York's Lincoln Center. Sid Rosenberg: World Baseball Classic a good idea on paperOn Monday, the fourth installment of the World Baseball Classic will kick off in Seoul, South Korea. The tournament which likens itself to soccer’s World Cup features 16 teams divided into four pools and plays in six different cities across the globe. The defending champion is a star-studded team from the Dominican Republic that is looking to defend its 2013 title, but there is expected to be some strong competition from the United States, Japanese and Venezuelan squads. The idea of the World... Top subscription boxes every foodie needs to have 2017 Fantasy Baseball sleepers: Dansby Swanson, Jarrod DysonIn recent years, the amount of publicly available information about baseball has increased substantially in both quantity and quality. As a result, it’s become more difficult to identify fantasy sleepers, or even to agree on whether the term means much of anything anymore. If your league is competitive, chances are you’re not surprising anyone in the room with most of the names on your draft board. Arguably better terms, going forward, are “value” or “bargain.” These are less subjective and... Sterling Baca gears up to perform in 'Le Corsaire'Sterling Baca grew up in Colorado playing sports and doing musical theatre — not discovering his passion for ballet until his parents pushed him to try class at age 11. Within a few years, he found himself performing with the renowned American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in New York City, dancing alongside stars like Misty Copeland. In 2016, however, Baca traded the Big Apple for Philly for an opportunity to dance with the Pennsylvania Ballet. In their upcoming production of "Le Corsaire," Baca... 4PhotosUm, why is Brad Pitt bothering Jennifer Aniston now?Now that the bonds of Brangelina has been broken, Brad Pitt is searching for a familiar sort of comfort in the lean, tanned bosom of his ex wife. That’s right, I’m talking about Jennifer Aniston. According to Us Weekly, the 53-year old has been texting with his ex and I can’t even. Related: Are Brad Pitt and Kate Hudson dating? Apparently, Pitt no longer had Aniston’s digits, and went through the laborious effort of tracking them down, just so he could wish her a happy birthday. They’ve been... When does March Madness - NCAA college basketball tournament start? The first full day of the 2017 NCAA men's basketball tournament will take place on Thursday, March 16 and March Madness will conclude on Monday, April 3 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. As always, the best days to play hooky are the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament - which this year will coincide with St. Patrick's Day on Friday, March 17. Here are a look at the key dates for college basketball's shining moments. Tuesday, March 14 Play-in games at Dayton, Ohio... Spring's peaks: A guide to the upcoming ski seasonMy wife questioned my appearance last Friday afternoon when I threw on a pair of khaki shorts. After all, the temperature had reached an abnormal 70 degrees in the Boston area. ’Tis the season … or something like that. But even that shift in the weather did not sway her from changing out of her woolen sweater with matching scarf rolled around her collar. “It’s still February,” she reasoned with me. Like I needed that reminder. Yet, in like a lamb comes March with the skier’s apprehension... Former Red Bull Jan Gunnar Solli weighs in on potential Norwegian signingRecent reports indicate that Frederik Gulbrandsen could well be headed to the New York Red Bulls on a loan deal as the Norwegian international appears to currently be out of favor with sister club Red Bull Salzburg. And there is no one better to give a scouting report on the newest possible Red Bull than the last Norwegian to play for the team. Jan Gunnar Solli spent two seasons in New York with the Red Bulls, the former Norwegian international proving to be a versatile midfielder and outside... Most Commented

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Mountain rescue Stephen Coan Johannri Engelbrecht is an experienced hiker who knows the Drakensberg. “I’ve been hiking there for years,” says the Johannesburg-based psychologist. On July 4 even experience wasn’t going to prevent an accident. Engelbrecht was a member of a party of seven doing a five-day traverse along the escarpment from the Amphitheatre to Cathedral Peak. “It was during a very, very cold spell and there was a lot of snow in the Berg,” she recalls. “We were coming down Umlambonja Pass when it happened.” “I’m not sure if I slipped or my foot came down the wrong way on some boulders,” says Engelbrecht. “But I knew I had broken my ankle because I heard it crack as I was falling.” It was just after midday. Engelbrecht’s partner Aubrey Blecher together with Kobus du Preez, a friend and leader of the hike, stayed with her while the others walked down the mountain to where they could get cellphone reception and call for help. Andy Wood, a rescue organiser with the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) KwaZulu-Natal section, was contacted at about 4 pm. “That gave us about half an hour before dark to do anything,” he recalls, “so we organised a local helicopter from the Cathedral Peak Hotel to drop them some supplies and decided to effect the rescue in the morning.” In the morning, the MCSA rescue team and a provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) paramedic would be picked up at Oribi Airport and flown in by a South African Air Force (SAAF) 15 Squadron Oryx helicopter. Meanwhile, Engelbrecht and her two companions spent the night in freezing conditions. “The water froze in the water bottles and we couldn’t pitch a tent because it was so steep. But we were equipped to keep warm, with good sleeping bags and thermal clothing gear.” Thanks to the hotel helicopter they had food — “so we didn’t have to prepare anything to eat. They were really very kind and helped to make our night easier” — and painkillers. “I took the painkillers plus I have a high pain threshold, but it was still sore,” Engelbrecht remembers. The Mountain Club’s main function is as a recreational organisation, says Gavin Raubenheimer, a professional mountaineer and the club’s rescue team convener. There are 13 sections of the MCSA although not all have rescue teams. “The main one is in Cape Town,” says Raubenheimer. “Then there is a combined Johannesburg and Pretoria team for the Magaliesberg, a small contingent in the Eastern Cape and us.” Of the 340 members of the MCSA KZN section, 30 belong to the rescue team. “Members of the team are social climbers who have got rope skills and mountaineering skills, which are skills that easily transfer to rescue. We try not to be medical people. The provincial Emergency Medical Rescue Services supply paramedics.” According to Wood, who is the public relations officer at Hilton College, the ideal candidate for the rescue team is an active, competent mountaineer, “people with enough expertise on the high Drakensberg on vertical cliffs in bad weather and who can take care of themselves.” Rescue team members get further training on how to raise and lower a stretcher from an aircraft plus assorted skills involving getting into and out of planes and helicopters. Skills are maintained with a rescue practice every six weeks and occasional forays into the Berg to practise with the SAAF. On average the rescue team is called out eight times a year. “Then there are stand-bys and alerts that come to nothing,” says Raubenheimer. “The heavy times are the Easter and Christmas weekends,” he says, “the times when people are up in the Berg. And when the weather changes — especially if a cold front arrives halfway through a weekend or a long weekend. If it arrives on a Friday people hear about it and nobody goes up, but if it arrives halfway through they are already in the Berg.” The great percentage of rescues are low-key affairs, says Raubenheimer. “The bad situations are the minority. But when they are bad, they are bad.” People who want to join the rescue team are advised that “in some cases members have to work with extremely gory injuries or corpses. Volunteers must be mentally able to cope with such scenes.” Wood says a relatively low proportion of serious climbers get injured. “Day walkers going up the Tugela Gorge — that’s our bread and butter. We are also rescuing an increasing number of foreign tourists.” As rescue convener, Raubenheimer makes sure that over long weekends there is a rescue organiser available. There are three in all, along with assistant organisers, the main rescue team and a technical team. “Typically, if something happens, an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife ranger speaks to the provincial emergency control room in Natalia and they telephone one of us. We then speak to the ranger to get better information. Then we set up a three-way link with the control room to see what is the best thing to do.” Only the provincial control room can request air force assistance or, if that is not available, a South African Police Services helicopter. All of this costs money which comes from an emergency rescue fund. “Every time you enter a game reserve, R1 of the fee goes into this fund,” says Raubenheimer. So when Engelbrecht entered the Royal Natal National Park a few days earlier, she contributed to her rescue. “They came at first light,” recalls Engelbrecht. When the Oryx helicopter from SAAF 15 Squadron flew in, landing was not an option. “Because of the nature of the ground in this part of the Berg — steep, grassy slopes — there was nowhere to land,” says Wood, “so the rescue team were lowered with a stretcher and the Oryx flew out until we were ready.” The paramedic, Malcom Pillay, stabilised Engelbrecht and then the rescue team strapped her to a stretcher. “What was really exceptional was the way they talked me through the process very carefully,” she says. “You knew exactly what to expect. They check you psychologically — to see if you are freaked out — and physically. It was the right combination of practicality and making you feel okay.” Once everything was ready Wood called in the helicopter. “The medic was winched up first, then the patient, then the team,” he says. They went to a soccer field near the Cathedral Peak Hotel where Englebrecht was transferred to an air ambulance that took her to St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. The SAAF helicopter returned to Umlambonja Pass and picked up the remaining pair. Engelbrecht made a full recovery and has since returned to hike in the Berg. DO’s and DONT’S in the Berg “In the mountains you are responsible for your own safety,” says Andy Wood, rescue organiser with the Mountain Club of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal section rescue team. “Remember the basics: never walk alone and be prepared,” he says. “We are not sitting in the fire station itching for the opportunity to come and rescue you.” Do sign the mountain register and fill it out properly, he emphasises. “Many people just fill it in half-heartedly or tongue-in-cheek,” says Wood, “and we end up trying to organise a rescue on the basis of a joke.” Also make sure you know the rescue number 0800 005 133. If you have to call indicate that it is a mountain rescue that is being requested.

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trodel What other country can feel like the middle of nowhere and the top of the world, while simultaneously being the wealthiest and most peaceful nation in the world? Does such a place even exist? In Norway, ja! Natural elements run extreme in this small country – a land of the world’s largest fjords, waterfalls, and coral reefs and the most dazzling of skies in the winter or early spring months – but a cool quiet embraces the landscape. Perhaps it is the dramatic brilliance of the land that brings its silence – go for a late-night to early morning drive in Lofoten when you can see the sun saturate the mountains and waters as it sinks, slumbers for a few hours, and awakens to fill the sky with a light brighter than before. In its towns, however, Norway’s quiet gives way to an explosion of art, literature, music, history, and cuisine. Head to Hamaroy for Hamsun Days, a week-long literary festival celebrating Hamsun (rumored to have the most extensive Norwegian vocabularies of all time – talk about a man of words!); stroll through the Vigeland Park sculpture garden and Viking Ship museum in Oslo; check into Norway’s burgeoning jazz, rock, black metal or pop music scene. Those who prefer the small-town feel can ferry-hop from village to village, spend the night in a lighthouse (Hellisoy Fyr, Fedje) and catch themselves breakfast! For such a tiny country, Norway has something for everyone, whether you’re avid skier, indie rock aficionado, or inspired poet…go fish! Regions in Norway One of the premier wildernesses of Europe, this is a region to visit if you love the great outdoors. From its Olympic ski conditions on snow-capped mountains to the glaciers in its national parks, expect high-adrenaline... read more Middle Norway For a close encounter with nature, little changed over the centuries, come to this incredible land created by the last Ice Age. Other Scandinavian countries, especially Denmark, but also Sweden, just can't... read more Northern Norway. The name itself can give you a chill, conjuring up thoughts of polar bears, the summer midnight sun, and arctic winters of total darkness. It is an eerie and fascinating land of deep fjords,... read more Oslofjord The fjord towns within easy striking distance of Oslo are filled with history and rich in the lore of the area's Viking past. You can explore the east or west side of the Oslofjord. With time for only one,... read more The Norwegians themselves go to the south in summer for their vacations, as this part of the country gets more sunshine than any other. Norwegians refer to this vacation spot as Sørlandet, a land of valleys,... read more No place in all of Norway holds the enchantment of the fjord country, the single most intriguing region in all of the Scandinavia countries. National Geographic did us one better, citing the Norwegian fjords... read more

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Skydeck Chicago - The Ledge Step out and enjoy a view like you’ve never experienced before at Skydeck Chicago’s The Ledge. Located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the Ledge’s glass boxes jut out from the side of the skyscraper, offering unparalleled views of Chicago and four neighboring states. CITY: Chicago Strap a mask and flippers onto your imagination and chart a course to Shedd Aquarium. Have you ever seen eye-to-eye with a dolphin? Said hello to a penguin on a stroll to the South Pole? Immersed yourself in a flooded Amazon forest? Or met a friendly beluga whale? You can do it all at Shedd! Photo courtesy of the John G. Shedd Aquarium In the heart of the city you’ll find a state-of-the-art park designed for the new millennium. Discover the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture, the multimedia Crown Fountain and the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, all with Chicago’s stunning architecture as a backdrop. The park is also host to many free cultural programs, concerts and family activities. Plus, there's alfresco dining in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. A world of discovery awaits at the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. Explore more than 800 exhibits, including the legendary U-505, a German submarine captured on the high seas during World War II; take off on a Boeing 727 airplane for a simulated cross-country flight; descend down a mineshaft for a tour of a realistic coal mine; and witness robots at work in a toy factory. Take a seat at the museum’s Omnimax Theater and watch awesome 3D flicks on a giant screen. Discover Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found! At the Field Museum you can also get a bug's-eye view in the Underground Adventure, descend into an Egyptian tomb, be dazzled in the Hall of Gems, come nose to nose with the infamous man-eating lions of Tsavo, and walk among dinosaurs in Evolving Planet. CITY: Chicago Kayak Chicago Kayak through canyons of skyscrapers and architectural wonders, or explore the waters just off beautiful Lake Michigan. Kayak Chicago is Chicago’s premier full-service outfitter, offering a variety of tours with certified instructors and guides. It’s a truly unique way to experience the urban landscape. CITY: Chicago Broadway In Chicago presents the hottest shows in Chicago's bustling Downtown Theater District. On the stages of the Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Bank of America Theatre, Auditorium Theatre and Broadway Playhouse, you will discover theater productions direct from Broadway, along with world premieres. CITY: Chicago The second-largest art museum in the United States is home to more than 300,000 works of art, including “American Gothic” by Grant Wood, Edward Hopper's “Nighthawks” and more. Renowned for its rare master works, at The Art Institute visitors can experience one of the world’s most notable collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. With the addition of its Modern Wing, the museum now features an impressive showcase for its contemporary artworks. Chicago's First Lady Cruises Join us on Chicago's #1 architecture tour! Only the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago's First Lady Cruises can showcase Chicago's world renowned city architecture with style, class and comfort. Learn about the architecture and design of over 50 buildings as described by CAF-certified Volunteer Docents/Guides. Don't settle for imitations, look for the CAF logo. Cruises depart daily. Open-air and air-conditioned seating is available. Full Service Bar onboard each vessel. Cruising April - November. Visit our website for full schedule. For a truly unique CAF Cruise experience, join us for our specialty river cruise experiences, including: Capture Chicago Photography Cruise, summer Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9am; Twilight Cruise, summer Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings at 7:30pm; American Girl Dinner + River Cruise, select summer afternoon and evenings. For more information, visit www.cruisechicago.com/architecture_tours and view our "NEW for 2014" tab. Tall Ship Windy Navy Pier's resident 148-foot, four-masted schooner pays tribute to the Great Lakes' rich maritime heritage during a variety of cruises each day. Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. We operate Chicago’s premier Hop On Hop Off ® city sightseeing tours in the classic red & green Trolleys and fun-filled Double Decker buses. We also offer private group transportation for special events such as weddings, parties, and corporate outings. For 19 years the Hop On Hop Off® sightseeing tour has been the gold standard for entertaining and informative tours. Covering 13 miles and 14 stops, the Signature Tour is an eye-popping adventure through the heart of Chicago, giving you the option of Hopping On and Off at your choice of stops to visit the hottest retail, cultural, and family attractions. Summer tours include neighborhood tours and night tours. CITY: Chicago John Hancock Observatory The John Hancock Observatory offers Chicago's best view (as voted by the Chicago Tribune), spanning 80 miles and four states. Don't miss the sweeping panoramas, interactive telescopes, multimedia Sky Tour, bird's-eye view of Navy Pier's fireworks, or the open-air Sky Walk for an exhilarating sky-high experience. Visitors can enjoy a dazzling music, light and water show at the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the largest fountains in the world. Located at Columbus Drive, shows runs from dusk to 11pm every hour and lasts for 20 minutes. Operates April through mid-October. Chicago Music Tour Chicago Music Tour, Inc. specializes in guided bus tours of Chicago music history, including jazz, rock, blues, classical & soul. Tours feature a soundtrack of songs for each sight or stop. Open since 2011, the tours have received widespread acclaim. Tours include the Chicago Bound Blues Tour, Chicago Rocks 1980-2005, The Chicago Music Tour, Raised in Chicago Jazz Tour, Michigan Avenue Serenade Soul Tour, & Chicago Rock Stars tour. Tours run on weekends, but are available for private events. Chicago Pedway Tour The Chicago Pedway Tour will lead you through the Pedway, the backdrop for an amusing and enlightening tour of some of the hot-spots (or a least warm-spots) of downtown Chicago. The tour focuses on interesting anecdotes and tales about some of the great buildings downtown, but it’s also a study of the city underneath the city. The Pedway is a strange and wonderful place and adds so much to the city’s personality. These are great tours for Chicagoans who want to learn more about the city and for tourists who want a full Chicago experience without ever going outside. The tour is 90 minutes and is $20. Monday/Thursday/Saturday at 10:30 am. Please note: the start location for the Monday and Thursday tour is at 40 W. Lake St. in the “Gallery of Shops.” The start location for the Saturday tour is at start at Block 37 – 108 N. State St. Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier Hands-on exhibits and daily-changing activities make every visit unique for young children and adults, too. Dig deep into the Dinosaur Expedition, try to stay dry in WaterWays, make a masterpiece in the KraftArtabounds Studio, and climb up to the crow's nest on the Kovler Family Climbing Schooner. Toddlers can have fun in Kids Town and Treehouse Trails. CITY: Chicago

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My Garage Museum Collection Showcasing classic and one-of-a-kind Corvettes and memorabilia, My Garage Museum is a must-see attraction for any car enthusiast. Corvettes on display include Indy pace cars, racing machines, the last C-4 and the first 21st century model. CITY: Effingham Effingham County Veteran's Memorial The Effingham County Veteran's Memorial wall is dedicated to all the men and women who served from all five branches of the armed forces. The names on the walls for from past and present. Every year they add more names to the wall. CITY: Effingham Dr. Charles Wright House Built in 1889 by Dr. C.M. Wright, this stately Renaissance Revival home holds three generations of Wright family furnishings, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Altamont Living Museum Used today as a theater for live music and dance performances, as well as fine art exhibits, this 1912 church gives you a taste of "old-time religion" with its luminous stained-glass windows, curved oak pews and great acoustics. Ben Winter Museum This museum's fascinating collection of memorabilia includes scale model locomotives and stationary industrial engines. Take a trip on the miniature train that travels through the surrounding orchards. Cross at the Crossroads Soaring nearly 200 feet into the Midwestern sky, the Cross is a landmark for the more than 19 million travelers who pass through Effingham each year along Interstates 57 and 70. Other features of the site include a visitor center, chapel and a 10 Commandments display. National Road Covered Bridge The Embarras River, near Greenup, was the site of a covered bridge built by Abe and Thomas Lincoln and Dennis Hanks. The original bridge was 200 feet long. The reconstructed bridge was dedicated in 2000. CITY: Greenup Clay County Museum Housed in the old county jail, this museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. CITY: Louisville Effingham County Courthouse The courthouse was built in 1871 after Effingham was named the county seat. The courhouse retains a pristine exterior and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also features a museum inside. The museum displays two rooms devoted to the military, which gets changed throughout the year. It also has a room dedicated to the railroads in Effingham County. The Effingham County Courthouse is open Tuesday and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CITY: Effingham Illinois Oilfield Museum & Resource Center One of only seven of its kind in the nation, this museum at Oblong Park highlights an industry that revolutionized the country. CITY: Oblong Heart Theatre The Heart Theatre is located across the street from the Effingham County Courthouse. The theatre is one of the two examples in Effingham of the Art Deco style that was popular from 1920 to 1940. CITY: Effingham Teutopolis Monastery Museum See displays of early life in this German Catholic community, founded in 1838. The first Franciscans arrived in October 1858, and the three priests and six brothers quickly set about building a parish and friary. CITY: Teutopolis

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Fort de Chartres State Historic Site This former French military stronghold has been partially rebuilt and turned into a museum. Regular living history events shed light on colonial life in Illinois, and include 18th-century crafts, food, music, hundreds of historically dressed participants, flintlock rifle and musket contests, cannon and mortar competitions, traders and much more. There are also guided tours of the 1800 Creole House, which was designed in the French-American Transitional Architecture style. CITY: Prairie du Rocher National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows The Shrine has 200 beautifully landscaped acres of gardens and devotional areas, including the Outdoor Amphitheatre, Shrine Church, Lourdes Grotto, Stations of the Cross, Millennium Spire, the Visitors Center with a restaurant and gift shop, and the Shrine Hotel. Rex's Museum A Lionel train set shares space with a Li'l Abner Dogpatch Band windup toy and British toy soldiers. Antique collectibles, clothing, glassware, a mule deer antler chandelier, and many more unusual items fill the 2,000 sq. ft. "extra room" added onto the house. CITY: Waterloo The History Museum of Monroe County Anchored by items gifted by Col. Edd & Violet Kueker, this collection represents the settlement of the West, numerous U.S. wars and early transportation. There is even a display of items from the Stone Age retrieved during a local archaeological dig. Changing displays and Special Exhibits from the Museum collection and "on loan" items provide awesome journeys through the pages of history. Labor & Industry Museum The Labor & Industry Museum is the only public institution devoted to the history of the labor and industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinois. The centerpiece is Jumbo, a 19th-century steam engine along with coal mining, carpentry, and stove-making exhibits. Creole House This Lower Mississippi-style house was built in the early 1800s, and has been completely restored to reflect life during this period. The Creole House The house, built in 1800, is an example of French and American architecture. Jarrot Mansion The subject of intensive historical interest, the Mansion is probably the oldest brick house in the state of Illinois. It was built in 1810 by Nicholas Jarrot, who was a native Frenchman and landowner in Cahokia. CITY: Cahokia St. Clair County Historical Society Museum This Victorian adaptation of a Greek Revival home was built in the early 1800s. In addition to period furniture and vintage clothing, artifacts, and quilts, the museum contains an extensive research library and gift shop. Emma Kunz House Visitors are invited to walk through this home, considered to be the oldest Greek Revival-style home in Illinois. Rieso Farm Museum & Antiques There is a large collection of machinery and primitives dating back to the 1800s. CITY: New Athens Bellefontaine House Meriwether Lewis is reported to have stayed here. It is home to some of the earliest settlers in Illinois (1782) and was named by the French for a spring located on the beautiful site. Kaskaskia Bell Shrine and the Liberty Bell of the West Known as the Liberty Bell of the West, the Kaskaskia Bell was rung as the island was captured from the British during the Revolutionary War. CITY: Ellis Grove Peterstown House Built in 1830, this is the only stagecoach stop still intact along the 60-mile Kaskaskia-Cahokia trail. Greater Saint Louis Air and Space Museum Learn about the history of aviation in the St. Louis area. The Museum is located at the St. Louis Downtown Parks Airport and has Gus Grissom's flight suit, a collection of TWA artifacts, and a 1941 Meyers O.T.W. Bi-plane on exhibit. Pierre Menard Home (TEMPORARILY CLOSED beginning 10/08 except for special events.) Pierre Menard, an important political figure in 1818, built this home. It is furnished with many of the Menard family's personal possessions and other period pieces. The surrounding grounds and outbuildings include an herb garden, smokehouse, springhouse, and adjoining kitchen. Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site (TEMPORARILY CLOSED beginning 10/08 except for special events.) This site preserves what is left of the old fort-one of the first built on the Mississipi River. A scenic overlook offers views of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers, and of Old Kaskaskia. Rock Mill and Museum The entire village of Maeystown is on the historic register with much of the history preserved in the museum. CITY: Maeystown Martin/Boismenue House Built in the 1790s, the house is designed in the French vertical-log style rather than the more familiar horizontal-log style. This is the oldest known residence in Illinois. CITY: East Carondelet St. Louis Air & Space Museum Learn about the history of aviation in the St. Louis area. The entire 150-year-old German settlement is on the National Historic Register. Restoration includes a church from 1867, a one-lane stone arched bridge, Corner George Inn, general store, sweet shops, museum, and a visitor's center. Garrison Hill Cemetery The cemetery was created when graves were moved from Kaskaskia Island in the 1890s after a flood. According to one account, 3,000 boxes were moved, some containing entire families. Nashville Roadside Chapel One of the smallest country chapels in the world was built in Nashville in the late 1980s. Thousands of travelers from all over the globe have stopped to visit this miniature chapel. Martin-Boismenue House This traditional one-story French Creole residence, built circa 1790, is considered to be one of the oldest surviving residences in Illinois.

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KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort KeyLime Cove, the official resort of nearby Six Flags Great America, offers a year round tropical resort experience. The massive indoor water park features a wave pool, body and tube slides, a lazy river, waterfalls and whirlpools. Besides the splashy fun, KeyLime Cove offers a variety of restaurants and entertainment options geared to both kids and parents. Grab a little "me" time and indulge in the luxurious Paradise Mist Spa, or pamper your princess at The Enchanted Lagoon Kids Spa. The Chicago Botanic Garden opened a little more than 40 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world's great living museums and conservation science centers. Each year, nearly one million people visit the Garden's 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres of land on and around nine islands. Six miles of shoreline extend along 81 acres of water, including the Great Basin, North Lake, and Skokie River Corridor. The Garden also has a renowned Bonsai Collection. Step inside LEGOLAND® Discovery Center and it's like you have just jumped into the biggest box of LEGO® bricks ever! Journey through a medieval castle on the Dragon Ride and pedal to the skies on the Technicycle, feel a part of the story in the 4D cinema, learn top LEGO® building secrets from the Master Model Builder, see iconic landmarks in "Miniland" and much more! CITY: Schaumburg Jump America, LLC We have over 16,000 square feet of trampolines including two dodgeball courts, a foam jumping pit, kids zone, and more! Plenty of parking, convenient location. This awesome facility designed for kids from age 4 and up. Jump America is great for adults too. It's a great place for birthdays, parties, day camps, schools, civic and community gatherings and corporate events. Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center Fall: festival with haunted house, corn maze, farm animals, and more. Spring/Summer: large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, trees, shrubs, aquatic plants, roses, planters, and gourmet food items. Admission is free - cost for some activities. CITY: South Barrington The Water Works is an indoor water park located in the Schaumburg Park District Community Recreation center. It features three water slides, rapid water channel, water playground, diving pool, lap pool, gradual beachlike entry pool, whirlpool, family changing room and a nursery. Grosse Point Lighthouse Built on the shores of Lake Michigan by the United States Government in 1873 after several shipwrecks demonstrated its need, this was the lead lighthouse marking the approach to Chicago. In 1999, Grosse Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service; the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes to carry that status. The Garden Club on Evanston maintains wildflower and butterfly gardens on its property. CITY: Evanston Wagner Farm A visit to Wagner Farm affords you the opportunity to take part in and experience first-hand the workings of a genuine American farm. Wagner Farm is an 18.6 acre farm preserved for the educational and recreational enjoyment for all. See how bread was made in a wood cook stove, hear the rooster making time with his crow or milk one of the farm’s many cows. Explore the world of agriculture and rural life as it existed in 1920-1950’s. Exploritorium Named “Chicagoland’s Best Rainy Day Activity Site” by Chicago Magazine, the Exploritorium is much more than an indoor playground. It is a place where children and adults can come and explore together through interactive play. Make-believe in our costumed dress-up area, run your fingers through our water play area, make music, play with trains, and experience new heights in the two-and-a-half story maze of tubes and tunnels. Richardson Adventure Farm & Corn Maze Richardson Adventure Farm offers 5 mazes with 33 acres of maze fields. For example, there is the Finger Fortune Trail for a quick maze that only takes 10 minutes. On another adventure, the Quiz Maze, answer fun quiz questions to guide you through and if you have the wrong answers, you'll go the wrong way! Family fun at every turn in the World's Largest Corn Maze, pumpkin patch, & Christmas trees. Fans of the board game, Clue, will instantly recognize the similarity to our maze game, FSI Farm Scene Investigation. Also enjoy the 50' tall observation tower, a Zip Line that is 30' high and 700' long, the ZORB Ride, beautiful wooded picnic area, free campfires, 3 wooden bridges in the corn maze, pedal carts and trikes, feed the goats, corn cabin, concessions for sale and free wagon ride to the five acre maze (weekends). CITY: Spring Grove North Branch Bicycle Trail Bicyclists and hikers can travel this trail that runs from Caldwell and Devon Avenues in Chicago, to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. The 20-mile trail winds along the Chicago River past the Skokie Lagoons and through forest preserves. CITY: Niles Lambs Farm Lambs Farm features a farmyard with a petting area and a variety of attractions like mini-golf, a mini-train ride, cow bounce house and an Old World carousel. There is also a pet shop, the Country Inn Restaurant, a thrift shop, and a country store and bakery that benefit programs for people with developmental disabilities. The annual Lake County Fair runs for five days beginning the last Wednesday in July. The Expo Building is available for rent for meetings, shows, weddings, and events year-round. Monthly events including Antique Shows, Swap Meet, Crafts Shows, Dog and Horse Shows, and much more. Visit the website for event schedule. CITY: Grayslake Wildlife Discovery Center The Wildlife Discovery Center is a special place offering programs for people of all ages who have an interest in wildlife and their habitat. Children's classes, adult programs, and school field trips focus on wildlife conservation, field biology, and ecology. The Center also offers self-guided nature hikes, workshops, eco-based summer camps, wildlife ecology trips, group presentations, traveling animal exhibits and exciting volunteer opportunities. You can visit eye-to-eye with over 150 animals including a bobcat, raptors, Kookaburras, and an assortment of venomous and non-venomous reptiles like crocodilians, snakes, turtles and tortoises. The Wildlife Discovery Center is home to one of the largest public exhibits of rattlesnakes in North America, including four species that are native to Illinois. Indoor exhibits hours are Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The outdoor exhibits and walking trails are open year round. CITY: Lake Forest The Tempel Lipizzans Home of the famous Lipizzan stallions known for their beauty, strength and intelligence. The beautiful rolling hills of Tempel Farms have been home to the Tempel Lipizzan for more than 50 years. For the past 27 years, the farm setting has been backdrop for the 90-minute performances in the tradition of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Performances chronicle the horses’ training from the youngest foals to the most highly trained stallions all performing to musical accompaniment. Performances are held on the one Sunday a month July through September and one Saturday night a month July through September. Saturday night performances include a self-guided tour where complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer will be served as the sun sets. CITY: Wadsworth Glencoe Beach Want to relive Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Then visit this North Shore beach that was featured in the hit flick.

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The Uffizi Gallery The Uffizi Palace is one of the most loved monuments of Florence. Commissioned by Cosimo I, it was designed by Giorgio Vasari around the middle of the 16th century. In order to realize the project, Vasari had some of the buildings surrounding the area demolished. The intention of Cosimo I was to build a palace that could host the thirteen administrative and judicial Magistrature or Uffizi, from which the palace will get its name. When Vasari died, the construction of the Uffizi was handed over to Buontalenti and to Alfonso Parigi. Buontalenti projected the Teatro Mediceo according to the will of Francesco I, the son of Cosimo I, in 1586. When Florence was the capital of Italy the theatre was the seat of the Senate. The building has the unusual and singular horseshoe shape, also called U shape, which opens towards the Arno River. The two bodies of the building are parallel and conjoined by a connecting corridor that has six big arched windows that open over the courtyard of the palace and over the Arno River. The two floors of the building, divided by stringcourses, stand over a portico that runs along the whole length of the palace and is sustained by pillars. In the niches of the portico are the statues of the Florentines who distinguished themselves from the middle Ages until the 19th century. At the present day the Palazzo degli Uffizi hosts one of the most admired and visited museums in the world for the quality of its artworks and the history that accompanies them from the 13th century to the 18th century: the Uffizi Gallery. In 1993 the Palace was involved in the bombing attack at the Accademia dei Gergofili undergoing damages and loses of inestimable value; another act of vandalism against a patrimony of the world that managed to resist and to win returning, after a long restoration work, to its original splendour. The Uffizi Gallery, founded by Francesco de' Medici to delight himself during his walks, has become through the centuries one of the most famous and admired museums in the world. It was Francesco I de' Medici who created an art Gallery on the second floor of the Palazzo degli Uffizi to delight himself, during his walks, with the collection of paintings, sculptures and arrases belonging to the Medici family. Thanks to Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici the Gallery became a "public and inalienable good": the Duchess, in fact, handed it over to the Lorena family providing that it would remain open to the public. At the present day the Uffizi Gallery is one of the most famous and celebrated museums in the world, the symbol of the vocation for collecting and to patronage. An interesting group is represented by the artworks commissioned by the corporations of arts and trades thanks to their economical, cultural and artistic exchanges, Florence has become the world capital of art and, especially a meeting and exchanging landmark for the most important Italian and foreign artists. Other artworks come from private donations, from diplomatic exchanges, from antique convents and dynastic inheritance. Currently 2,000 works of art are on display, while another 1,800 pieces lie in storage. The entrance is located the beginning of the east loggia. On the ground floor, in the rooms originally forming the church of S. Pier Scheraggio, which was incorporated into the palazzo by Vasari, is the series of frescoes of Famous Men by Andrea del Castagno as well as an Annunciation by Botticelli (1481), a fresco detached from the church of S. Martino alla Scala. A large staircase, built by Vasari, leads to the second floor, were the Medici theatre once stood. This area now contains the Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe, exceptional graphic collection comprising more than 100,000 sheets, from the 14th to the 20th c. If you continue along the large staircase you will reach the third floor, where there are two vestibules, which lead into the gallery and which contain a collection of busts of grand dukes and Roman statues. The visit begins with a walk through the corridors that correspond to the three wings of the buildings. First corridor In the first corridor the examples of sacred art, of the Renaissance and the artworks by Flemish artists narrate a nostalgic and enlightened past through the alliance between art and spirituality. The entrance hall to the Uffizi Gallery hosts Roman age sculptures belonging to the Medicean collection: plaster moulds and copies which serve as an anti-room to the museum. The first museum serves as an access to the rooms that expose artworks belonging to the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Along the perimeter of the corridor is the Medicean collection of head moulds and sculptures placed at regular intervals with one statue and two head moulds. On the vaults are frescoes that represent animals, imaginary monsters, satyrs and feats and Medicean achievements. Under the vaults are the portraits of famous men and rulers from all over the world. The first rooms are dedicated to the art of the 13th and 14th centuries. Here we find examples of sacred art among which the Madonna d'Ognissanti by Giotto, the Maestà di Santa Trinita by Cimabue and the Maestà by Duccio di Buoninsegna. From the 14th century in Florence and Siena the Triptych of San Matteo by Andrea di Cione, the Polyptych of San Pancrazio by Bernardo Daddi and the Presentation to the Temple by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (rooms 3-4). The rooms 5-6 are dedicated to the international Gothic: by Lorenzo Monaco the Adoration of the Magi. Among the artworks of the early Renaissance the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin by Beato Angelico, the Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello, Portrait of the Dukes of Urbino by Piero della Francesca (room 7). In the rooms 8 and 9 are the artworks by artists such as Filippo Lippi: the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, the Adoration of the Magi, by Antonio del Pollaiolo A Female Portrait, Hercules and Antes. Followed by the masterpieces by Botticelli: La calunnia, Primavera, the Birth of Venus, Adoration of the Magi, Madonna della Melagrana, and Coronation of the Blessed Virgin. The Renaissance is celebrated by the paintings by Leonardo among which l'Adorazione dei Magi and the Annunciation and by Perugino la Pietà, (room 15). In the Tribune is the 16th century in Florence with Medicean portraits by Pontormo, By Rosso Fiorentino ‘l'Angiolino musicante’ and by Andrea del Sarto ‘la Dama col Petrarchino’. In a series of adjoining rooms are the works belonging to German art of the 15th and 16th century and paintings from Lombardia and Emilia that evoke mythological tales and detailed Flemish landscapes (rooms 19 -23). Among them you can admire: Adam and Eve by Lukas Cranack, Adoration of the Magi by Andrea Mantegna and the Blessed Virgin adoring the Child by Correggio. Second Corridor In the second corridor, with wide windows, is disclosed an impressive foreshortened view over the city which narrates itself through art. The second corridor, also called 'midday corridor', is certainly one of the most enthralling places of the whole Palazzo degli Uffizi. It's the connecting corridor between the two wings or structures which give the palace its unusual horse-shape. The impressiveness derives from its long windows that enlighten it and from which you can catch a glimpse at some views of Florence: the Ponte Vecchio, the Vasari Corridor, the Arno River, the hills: live postcards flow under the enthusiast eyes of those observing the harmony of the hilly landscapes and the serene gayness of the streets and of the elegant bridges of Florence. On the vaults are the precious grotesque frescoes: among them a painting representing a pergola with birds, flowers and plants and the Virtues of the Medicean Grand Dukes by Nasini. Only the Miniature Cabinet opens on this corridor, originally called Camera degli Idoli (the Room of the Idols) and afterwards Camera di Madama (the Madam Room) since at first it hosted a collection of bronze statues and then the jewels of Cristina di Lorena. On the vault you can admire the Allegory of fame by Filippo Lucci. In the oval room is kept the collection of miniature portraits most of which come from the collection of Leopoldo de' Medici. Very characteristic is the marble pavement. The inlaid marble creates an image of a big carpet. Along the entire corridor, under the frescoed vaults, are the portraits of the rulers from all over the world. Among the sculptures is a Roman copy of Love and Psiche and numerous sculptures from the Roman age: flexuous female bodies and the powerful muscles of heroes and divinities. Third Corridor The 16th century artworks by artists famous worldwide such as Michelangelo, Raffaello Sanzio and Rosso Fiorentino open the collections of the third corridor. Like the two previous ones, the third corridor has grotesque frescoed vaults which depict animals, famous personalities and Medicean achievements. Here as well there are the portraits of the 'Jovian series' with the royalties from all around the world and the Roman statues. The museum's pathway starts again with the rooms 25- 27, which host the Florentine painters of the 16th century: by Michelangelo Buonarroti the Tondo Doni or Sacra Famiglia con San Giovannino; by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio la Coperta di ritratto; by Raffaello Sanzio la Madonna del cardellino; by Andrea del Sarto la Madonna delle Arpie; by Pontormo Cena in Emmaus and by Rosso Fiorentino la Madonna col Bambino e Santi. In room 28 you can admire Tiziano which is represented as the most illustrious exponent of 16th century Venetian art: by the artist there's la Venere d'Urbino, Flora. Among the examples of Italian painting in Europe in the 16th century (rooms 29-34): by Tintoretto Leda e il cigno (Leda and the swan), by Parmigianino Madonna dal collo lungo (Blessed Mary with a long neck), by Giorgio Vasari La fucina di Vulcano (the furnace of Volcano). Other examples from the 17th century: Rubens with the portrait of Isabella Brandt and Diego Velasquez with Filippo IV of Spain riding a horse. Followed by the room named after the queen Niobe: sculptures based on a mythological theme portraying the woman trying to protect her children from the deadly rage of Apollo and Diana who are shooting fatal arrows against them (room 42). Following there are the 17th century collections through the examples of the Bacchus, The sacrifice of Isaac and Medusa by Caravaggio; by Rembrandt the Juvenile self-portrait and the Venetian foreshortenings and views by Canaletto (room 44). Next to this last room is located the entrance to the bar and to the terrace of the Gallery where you can admire the architectural masterpieces of the city such as the Tower by Arnolfo di Cambio which towers over Palazzo Vecchio and the Cupola by Brunelleschi. For any information: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6 (055 2388651). Open 8.15am-6.50pm. Closed on Mon. Admission: 6,50 euro. Advance booking: Firenze Musei (055 294883).

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see all pilgrimages Pilgrimage Tours Grand Cathedrals of Spain Madrid, Salamanca, Leon, Santiago de Compostela, Oviedo, Burgos, Zaragoza & Barcelona This is one of our sample pilgrimage itineraries. These itineraries require a minimum of 10 passengers. To arrange a pilgrimage like this for your church or group, to this or many other destinations, please call us or email . We'd be happy to put together an itinerary that's just right for your group, including international flights from your home city. Itinerary at a GlanceGrand Cathedrals of Spain Depart USA Madrid, Avila, Alba de Tormes & Salamanca Salamanca & Leon Leon & Santiago de Compostela Santiago de Compostela & Oviedo Oviedo & Burgos 10 Burgos & Zaragoza Zaragoza, Montserrat & Barcelona Barcelona/USA St. James Cathedral in Santiago, Burgos Cathedral, Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza, Montserrat Monastery, Sacred Family Cathedral in Barcelona 11 nights First Class or Deluxe hotel accommodations27 meals, including 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners and welcome dinnerSunday Mass in Santiago de Compostela (additional masses as per group's request)Comprehensive touring program including entrance feesProfessional English-speaking tour manager throughout, with local guides in major cities One cannot truly appreciate the power of the Catholic faith until one has visited Spain. The devotion and the struggles of the faithful have left indelible marks in all corners of this sun-drenched country, from some of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals to ancient pilgrimage routes. Delve into the culture and history of Catholic Spain on this remarkable journey. Explore the awe-inspiring churches of Madrid, Salamanca, Oviedo, Zaragoza, and Barcelona. Learn about the lives of St. Teresa and St. James. Visit the most important towns on the Road to Santiago, including Leon, Santiago de Compostela, and Burgos. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking landscapes, some of the world's best wines, and a variety of excellent regional cuisines. You will also have plenty of time to explore Spain’s great art museums and admire the architecture of Antoni Gaudí—all at a price that can’t be resisted. Day 1, Monday: Depart USA. Your exhilarating journey begins this evening as you depart on your flight to Madrid. Day 2, Tuesday: Madrid. Welcome to Madrid, the capital of Spain and one of the grandest cities in the Old World. After customs, transfer to your centrally located hotel for check-in. Relax from your journey, then spend a few hours exploring the city on your own. In the evening, meet other members of your group for a welcome dinner. (D) Day 3, Wednesday: Madrid. Wake up this morning in one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and the former center of the Spanish Empire. Enormous cathedrals and churches are plentiful in Madrid, as well as medieval architecture. A tour will take in the sights of Plaza Espana, Plaza Mayor, Gran Via and Puerta del Sol. You will also visit the majestic Royal Palace and, directly across from it, the stately Almudena Cathedral, only completed in 1993. Afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit the Museo del Prado, home to one of the finest art collections in the world and the best collection of classical art in Madrid, including works by El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, and Caravaggio. Be sure to walk along Paseo del Prado, a pedestrian walkway full of fountains and trees near the museum. Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Center houses Madrid's best collection of modern art, including Picasso's masterpiece Guernica, as well as works by Miró, Kandinsky, Dalí, Bacon, and more. Sample the excellent local cuisine as you enjoy dinner on your own. Breakfast provided. Day 4, Thursday: Madrid, Avila, Alba de Tormes & Salamanca. After breakfast depart for Ávila, the city of Song and Saints and hometown of Saint Teresa of Ávila. Also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, she was a prominent Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian. Saint Teresa was also a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be, along with John of the Cross, a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. You will visit several of the city’s beautiful Romanesque and gothic churches, as well as its medieval city walls. After lunch in local restaurant, travel to Alba de Tormes to visit St. Teresa's tomb in the Carmelite Convent of the Anunciación, which she founded in 1570. Continue to Salamanca for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Our journeys today will cover 160 miles and take approximately 3¼ hours. Day 5, Friday: Salamanca & Leon. Known for its beautiful buildings and charming urban environment, Salamanca's Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Admire the Old Cathedral, built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style, and the much larger Gothic New Cathedral, completed in 18th century. Enjoy the lively atmosphere created by the University of Salamanca, the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest in the Western world. Your tour will also include Capilla de la Vera Cruz, a baroque church that houses countless works of art and serves as headquarters for the five-hundred-year-old Brotherhood of the Vera Cruz of Salamanca. After lunch proceed to Leon for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Our journeys today will cover 140 miles and take approximately 3 hours. Day 6, Saturday: Leon & Santiago de Compostela. The last major city on the Road to Santiago before it climbs into the mountains, Leon is distinguished by a remarkable Cathedral, whose enormous stained-glass windows evoke reverence. Explore the Old Quarter of this graceful historic city, which served as a bastion of Christian resistance to the Moorish conquest of Spain and Portugal. In addition to the Cathedral, your tour will include Roman and medieval ruins, the fascinating Basilica of San Isidoro, and the Casa de Botines, one of only three buildings by Antoni Gaudí outside Catalonia. Leon is also a gastronomic center, as you will discover when you sample tapas and local wine during lunch. In the afternoon travel to Santiago de Compostela. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Day 7, Sunday: Santiago de Compostela. Celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime Sunday Mass at St. James Cathedral, which marks the end of one of the most important medieval pilgrimage routes, the Way of St. James. Legend has it that in 813, the light of a bright star guided a shepherd who was watching his flock at night to the burial site of the apostle James. The legend became a rallying symbol for the Catholic faithful during the Christian crusades against the Moors, and the cathedral was erected on the spot where St. James’ remains were said to have been found. Today, over 100,000 pilgrims travel to Santiago de Compostela each year. After Mass, discover the charms of this well-preserved city on your own. Breakfast & dinner provided. Day 8, Monday: Santiago de Compostela & Oviedo. After breakfast travel through the countryside and along the scenic Costa Verde on the Atlantic coast. Sightseeing and lunch en route. Arrive in Oviedo, one of the oldest cities in Spain and an important spiritual and intellectual center. Visit the Cathedral of Oviedo, the city's most distinctive building, which makes an immediate impact on anyone who sees it. Catch a glimpse of the enormous statue of Christ that overlooks the city from a nearby mountain. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Day 9, Tuesday: Oviedo & Burgos. After breakfast travel inland towards Burgos. Sightseeing and lunch en route. A principal stop on the Road to Santiago and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Burgos is rich in ancient churches and convents. You will have a chance to see the most notable ones, including the impressive gothic Cathedral, the monastery of Las Huelgas, and the Carthusian monastery of Miraflores. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Day 10, Wednesday: Burgos & Zaragoza. This morning travel east towards Zaragoza, considered to be the birthplace of Christianity in Spain. Pilgrims who have journeyed here for centuries to worship at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, reputed to be the first church in history dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The cathedral takes its name from the pillar on the banks of the River Ebro where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. James and commanded him to build a church. Your tour will feature Our Lady of the Pillar, as well as the magnificent La Seo Cathedral, which displays a wide range of architectural styles, and Aljaferia Palace, the most important Moorish landmark in northern Spain and the setting for Giuseppe Verdi's The Troubadour. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Our journeys today will cover 200 miles and take approximately 3¾ hours. Day 11, Thursday: Zaragoza, Montserrat & Barcelona. After breakfast travel to Montserrat Monastery, built on a rugged mountain not far from Barcelona, and home to one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in Spain: the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat. Since the 12th century, pilgrims have been drawn to the mountain to venerate the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna (La Moreneta). According to Catholic tradition, the statue was carved by St. Luke around 50 AD and then brought to Spain. It was later hidden from the Moors in a cave on the mountain, the Holy Grotto, and rediscovered in 880. In 1881, the Black Madonna was proclaimed patron saint of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII. The Monastery of Montserrat, located near the top of the 4,000-foot mountain, is home to about 80 monks, who welcome visitors and invite them to participate in their daily celebrations of Mass and recitations of the Liturgy of the Hours. Continue to Barcelona for dinner and overnight. Breakfast, lunch & dinner provided. Day 12, Friday: Barcelona. Your last full day in Spain is dedicated to one of the most marvelous and exciting cities in the world, Barcelona. Explore Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter), filled with remarkable medieval architecture, including La Seu Cathedral. Visit the most striking examples of modernista architecture, including the still unfinished basilica of the Sagrada Família, designed by Antoni Gaudí, which has been under construction since 1882. The rest of the day is yours to explore this fascinating city on your own. Consider viewing some more works by Gaudí, or maybe visiting one of Barcelona's extraordinary museums: The National Museum of Art of Catalonia, the Joan Miró Foundation, or the Picasso Museum. Dinner is on your own; enjoy some delicious Catalan cuisine, amongst the best in the Mediterranean. Breakfast provided. Day 12, Friday: Barcelona /USA. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Breakfast provided.

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Finance Competency Center back to Travel Home FLY AMERICA ACT Federal Regulation requires the use of US carriers for travel that will be reimbursed from Federal grants and contracts. Exclusions: Travel that is being reimbursed from federal grants and contracts must be booked through US carriers except in the below instances: When the use of U.S. carrier service would extend travel time by 24 hours or more When the costs of transportation are reimbursed in full by a third party, such as a foreign government or an international agency When U.S. carriers do not offer nonstop or direct service between origin and destination. However, a U.S. carrier must be used on every portion of the route where it provides service unless, when compared to using a foreign air carrier, such use would: Increase the number of aircraft changes outside the United States by two or more Extend travel time by at least six hours or more Require a connecting time of four hours or more at an overseas interchange point. When an Open Skies agreement is in place between the United States (U.S.) government and the government of foreign country. Under the Open Skies agreement, the use of a foreign carrier is allowable when that airline is a member state carrier, transportation is between the U.S. and any point in the member state or between two points outside the U.S. provided that: No City-Pair fare exists. Funding is not provided by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department. Note: When one or more of the above circumstances apply, an explanation indicating the appropriate exception must be provided submitted with your reimbursement request. Code-sharing agreements with foreign air carriers, whereby American carriers purchase or have the right to sell a block of tickets on a foreign carrier, comply with the Fly America Act Regulations. The ticket, or documentation for an electronic ticket, must identify the U.S. carrier's designator code and flight number. (Note: Some funding sources may not recognize code-sharing as being compliant with Fly America Act regulations. When fund source policy is more restrictive than Temple Univesity's travel policy, the more restrictive policy applies.) Controller's Office Main Campus 1805 N. Broad Street (038-17) Philadelphia, PA 19129 (215) 204-7366 (voice) Controller's Office TASB 1852 N. 10th Street (038-11) Copyright © This page uses Javascript. Your browser either doesn't support Javascript or you have it turned off. However the contents of this script will not affect your browsing experience. To see the contents of the script, please use a Javascript enabled browser. , Temple University. All rights reserved. Designed and Developed by Web Communications

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Tourism ministers to attend ATM 2012 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) have revealed that Middle East tourism ministers will come together at ATM 2012 for a special session that will focus on driving the region’s tourism agenda. The meeting which will take place for the first time is scheduled to take place from April 30 to May 3, 2012, a statement from the exhibition organisers said. The first day of the forum will pick up on feedback from regional tourism leaders, which highlighted increased co-operation and the expansion of tourism products as key drivers for future tourism growth. “The ongoing changes in the Middle East and North Africa bring enormous opportunities,” said UNWTO secretary-general, Taleb Rifai. “Rule of law and democracy will empower local communities, opening the door for these to be better engaged in the process of tourism development. There will surely be a more transparent business environment, increased support for smaller businesses as well as stronger regional integration and cooperation,” he said. “Our decision to invite the region’s tourism ministers was spurred not only by the wave of positive sentiment felt across the industry as the first signs of post Arab Spring democracy have emerged, but by the points raised at the UNWTO/ATM session at the World Trade Market,” said Mark Walsh, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions. Misperception was highlighted as one of the most pressing challenges with participants stressing that the Middle East should not be viewed as a single block, but rather as different countries with different realities and definitions. For Egypt, where tourism numbers this year are expected to have fallen by between 20 to 25 per cent compared to 2010, Minister of Tourism, Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour, said the country was committed to tourism as an industry which contributed 12 per cent to national GDP. “In order to execute our development plans, we need to diversify source markets as well as add new products such as rehabilitation and wellness tourism, desert and adventure tourism,” he said. “We expect that the UNWTO and ATM forum will have a significant and positive effect on regional collaboration to sustain growth in the travel and tourism sector here,” added Walsh. Rifai said despite the setback in visitor arrival figures due to the ongoing events of the Arab Spring, with a nine per cent decrease in tourism growth in the Middle East year-to-date, the UNWTO was forecasting the resumption of growth in the medium and long term. “Tourism in the Middle East and Africa has been a success story – rising from just 18 million visitors in 1990 to more than 70 million last year. Looking to the future, we believe that this figure will grow to 195 million visitors by 2030, with the new political climate bringing tourism closer to the people as well as creating a healthier business environment and fostering regional integration which is an important element to promote sustainable tourism,” he said. “The Arab Spring has had an effect on the whole world of travel, and while we are passing through difficult times, they are also exciting times as tourism is the oil that never runs out,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service Tags: UAE | Dubai | Arabian Travel Market | World Tourism Organisation | Arab Spring | More Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Stories

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Home >> World Map >> North America >> United States or U.S. States >> Florida >> Port of Key West Port of Key WestCruising and Travel The City of Key West is a unique and beautiful place to live and visit. Real estate in the Port of Key West dates to the Spanish Kings. Today's palm-lined streets are lined with gingerbread mansions and tin-roofed conch homes. They have also been home to famous Americans like Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and John Audubon. They have also hosted visitors like Harry Truman, Lou Gehrig, and Thomas Edison. Located near many shipwrecks, the Port of Key West houses the treasures of the 17th Century Atocha that sank in 1622. The Port of Key West is also home to a thriving community of established and struggling artists. The Port of Key West has a tropical climate like many Caribbean islands. It may be the only city in the continental United States that has never had frost, ice, sleet, or snow. Weather is moderated by the Gulf of Mexico, and temperatures rarely fall below 10°C (50°F). The easterly tradewinds and sea breezes make summer temperatures much more comfortable that the US' southern states. The Port of Key West has wet and dry seasons. From November through April, sunshine dominates. From May through October, rain falls almost every day in showers and thunderstorms. Still, the Port of Key West is Florida's driest city! Temperatures range from an average high of 32°C (89°F) in July and August to an average low of 18°C (65°F) in January. One of the most popular places to go in the Port of Key West is the Shipwreck Museum. From the observation tower, you'll get a breath-taking panoramic view of the whole island. The Museum focuses on the era of the "wreckers," the salvage operators who made the Port of Key West the richest city in the United States for a time. Visitors will be informed and entertained by actors, artifacts, and films about the rediscovery of the 1856 wrecked Isaac Allerton. Master wrecker Asa Tift and his crew tell you the story of the salvage industry and the Port of Key West's early pioneers. Visitors can also get a great view of the island from the 1847 Key West Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters Museum. Built to help ships navigate the reefs of the lower Keys, the original tower was 14 meters (46 feet) tall with 15 oil lamps powered by 15-inch reflectors. In 1894, the tower was extended to 26.2 meters (86 feet). Today, visitors climb its 88 iron steps to the observation deck. The tower and Keeper's Quarters are restored and maintained as they were. The Keeper's Quarters, a clapboard bungalow, recreates a turn-of-the-century style, complete with furnishings and photographs that describe the life of the Port of Key West. The Port of Key West Lighthouse is the 15th oldest lighthouse in the United States. Families will love the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, located at the Truman Annex Waterfront in the Port of Key West. In its over 557 square meters (six thousand square feet), the Center contains a big theater, marvelous photographs, and touch screens that provide entertaining learning focused on reef and mangrove habitats. The new Living Reef Exhibit boasts a 2500-gallon reef aquarium. Marine art depicts deep-sea, coral reef, and mangrove shoreline. Exhibits explain the ecology of the island's habitats from upland pinelands to seagrass flats to coral reef. Best of all, admission is free when the Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm. Taking the ferry 113 kilometers (70 miles) west of the Port of Key West, visitors go to a cluster of seven islands that include coral reefs and beautiful sand. The Dry Tortugas National Park offers a variety of marine and bird life as well as a military history and legends of sunken gold and pirates. Fort Jefferson was built in the mid-1800s as a large military fortress to protect the busy shipping channel. At Garden Key, a lighthouse was built in 1825 to warn vessels of the dangerous reefs. Later in 1958, a brick-tower lighthouse was added on Loggerhead Key for the same reason. To protect the resources in the park, there are a small number of commercial services available to campers: fishing trip guides, dive/snorkeling trips, wildlife viewing, and sailing charters. There are also two ferry operators and a seaplane operator who provide access to the park each day. On Whitehead Street, visitors will find the Ernest Hemingway House. Open every day from 9am to 5pm, descendants of the extra-toed cats he raised still roam the grounds. Hemingway wrote here for over a decade and, sportsman extraordinaire, developed his love for deep-sea fishing. Tour guides share details about the Hemingways and answer questions as they lead visitors through the rooms and gardens. The house contains the original Hemingway furniture, and the famous polydactyl cats that he loved. Since 1958, the Conch Tour Train sightseeing tour takes visitors through the historic Old Town area, including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Hemingway House, and the historic Port of Key West. Over 15 million people have taken the tour to return to the days when Cuban cigar-makers produced millions of hand-rolled cigars, when the old village was called Cayo Hueso, and when Mel Fisher finally found the $450 million treasures on the Nuestra Senora de Atocha that sank in 1622. The Port of Key West Conch Train Tour will also preview the stores and shops in Key West for later exploration. Diving the reefs near the Port of Key West is one of the most popular activities. The Key West Dive Center offers modern diving vessels with showers, restrooms, big dive platforms and ladders, and plenty of storage space. Divers can get scuba certification, go snorkeling, take a dolphin tour, and learn to snuba. The Morning Wreck and Reef trip goes to the Newly Sunk Vandenberg, a 158.5-meter (520-foot) US missle-tracking ship and a dive in the outer reef to a depth of up to 18.3 meters (60 feet). Divers can rent full equipment or just tanks and weights. Great for families with both divers and snorkelers, the Afternoon Dual Reef Dive visits the living coral reef at depths that range from 4.6 meters (15 feet) to 12.2 meters (40 feet). The popular Dive in a Day Resort Course is perfect for divers who want to try scuba but can't invest three or four days for certification. The first lesson is in the pool. After that, participants take two one-hour dives at the coral reef. Snorkeling and diving are available from the same boat. Visitors who believe (or want to believe) in ghosts should take the 90-minute walking tour of Old Key West where they'll get the most historically-correct versions of ghostlore in the Port of Key West. The Ghosts and Legends tour visits the shadows while the tour guide tells the popular ghost stories and legends about pirates, voodoo rituals, haunted mansions, and a very strange Count who lived with his beloved's dead body. Sebago Watersports, in the Port of Key West's waterfront area, features reef snorkeling, sails at sunset, and all kinds of water-related entertainment. Great crews take good care of visitors on Sebago trips that include sunset sails, all-day adventures, parasailing, and wild dolphin charters to name a few. Key West Kayak Fishing and Eco Tours offers charters, guides, and information about fishing around the Port of Key West. Travelers who want to visit the Port of Key West by cruise ship can find a calendar on the city's website or by searching for "Key West" at the Cruise Compete website. Review and History Port Commerce Cruising and Travel Satellite Map Contact Information United StatesUS State ListFloridaPort of Key WestReview and HistoryPort CommerceCruising and TravelSatellite MapContact InformationPort of CallWaterwaysForeign TradeVideos

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Visita Iglesia UAE 2011: St.Michael's Church Sharjah rosspisvena Visita Iglesia UAE 2011: St.Michael's Church Sharjah Visita Iglesia (Spanish for "Church Visit") is a Holy Week devotion among Filipino Roman Catholics of visiting seven or fourteen churches in order to pray and meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ. It commences in the late afternoon or early evening of Holy Thursday after the Mass of the Last Supper when the Blessed Sacrament is already reserved at the Altar of Repose for adoration inside the Church until midnight when it is concluded without solemnity since liturgically, the day of the Lord's Passion has already begun. Sourse: http://prieststuff.blogspot.com/2011/02/visita-iglesia-history-tradition-and.html. Copyright: Rosspisvena Tags: visita iglesia; st.mary's church dubai; good friday; couples for christ More About Dubai The World : Asia : Middle East : United Arab Emirates : Dubai Overview and HistoryDubai is one of the seven Arab Emirates and has the highest population in the UAE. Unfortunately for western historians, the pre-Islamic culture used an oral tradition for recordkeeping of its stories and legends, so there isn't much to go on from library sources.But the area around Dubai has been occupied for thousands of years, with many trading centers between the east and west. The earliest mention of Dubai recorded in writing dates to 1095, and it was known as a source of rich pearls to merchants of Venice.Dubai was dependent of Abu Dhabi during the 19th century; it became a protectorate of the UK as of 1892, and engaged in border disputes with Abu Dhabi after WWII. As of 1971 Dubai became part of the United Arab Emirates.From here onwards let the theme of this essay be,"Dubai goes BIG!"There's booming construction going on in Dubai right now, as in, almost 25% of its economy is based on building!Dubai has the capital and initiative to set up some really exciting projects, like Dubai Internet City. It's a free trade zone in a technology park created to attract large companies by offering special tax breaks within its economic zone. So far players like Microsoft, HP, Nokia, IBM and Oracle have moved in with their regional offices... not bad. DIC is now a strategic hub connecting two billion people across the Middle East, Africa and India.Spin around in the Heritage Village area and check out all the construction cranes on the horizon.Getting ThereThe Dubai International Airport has one of the best duty-free shopping malls in the world, which is an attraction all by itself.The airport offers a wide range of world-class services. Transportation service will be car rental or taxi, with buses to appease the traffic problem.TransportationDubai has an extensive taxi system made up of both private and government-operated cabs. The city was planned to hold 600,000 people and it population is now 1.5 million -- you figure out what that means in terms of traffic...Currently there's a $4 billion construction project underway to build a Metro system, expected to be complete in 2012.If you want to have some real fun, take an abras to find the world's most amazing spice market here, at Spice Souk Abra Station. Abras are little wooden boats you take to cross the Dubai canal. It costs about 27cent USD for the trip, you get them at Abra station and ride them between the gold/spice market on one side and the textile market on the other.This is a great way to see old Dubai too, by traveling the Dubai creek. Also, don't forget that the National Bank building reflects the surface of the water and looks like a giant TV.People and CultureChoosing the right season to visit Dubai is of critical importance. Temperatures range from 10C in winter to 48C in the summer. Tourist season starts in October and gets cranking in November.The local currency is the dirham. Carry small change with you for taxi drivers and things, otherwise you will end up giving a bigger tip than you meant to.They drive on the right in Dubai and there is a car accident, on average, every three minutes. Be advised and keep your eyes peeled.Dubai has a zero tolerance drug policy. ZERO. Don't mess around.Things to do, RecommendationsDubai is as ancient as it is modern. See the Chamber of Commerce and Bastakiya for just two of the myriad examples. Bastakiya is a completely-restored neighborhood from an old merchants' settlement. A really popular historic destination to visit is one of the of three watchtowers guarding the city of Burj-Nahar in Deira.Dubai is the upscale shopping capital of the world, but its charming old markets (souks) are where it all comes from. If you're not from around here, get ready to learn about bargaining...Here's the old market called Souk Bur Dubai, take a look at your shopping schedule and dive in!Al-Sabkha is one of the smaller communities in Dubai but it's got tons of markets to poke through.Clubbing: Dubai has strict liquor laws (and pork laws) so most of the nightclubs are located inside hotels, where they already have some sort of liquor license. Check out Zinc, Planetarium, Kandy Club, and Peppermint to get your dose of bass.Well, you can't exactly climb up this one, but here's the clock tower.Just wait until the Burj Dubai is finished, then you'll REALLY have something to get a view from! The Burj Dubai will be the world's tallest structure when it's done. Office space is set for about $4,000 per square foot, ready to go in September 2009. Cheap! It's part of a development that when finished will host thirty thousand homes, nine hotels, seven acres of parkland, and the Dubai Mall -- slated to be the largest mall in the world.Dubai is going big! Get there and have a look for yourself.Text by Steve Smith.

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Granada Kennington Kennington Road, Granada Theatres Bertie Crewe, Henry G. Kay Regal Cinema Kennington Picture Palace Ideal Cinema Electric Theatre Located on the corner of Kennington Road and Black Prince Road. The Regal Cinema was opened on 17th November 1937 with Ruby Keeler in "Ready, Willing and Able" and Ralph Reader in "The Gang Show". It was built for and operated by an independent operator, Arthur O'Connor Cinemas. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels, and it was equipped with a 2Manual Le Fluer (Hammond electronic) organ, which was opened by organist Stanley Miller. It was closed in the early part of World War II in Autumn 1940, due to the heavy bombing on London. It was re-opened on 18th May 1941. The Regal Cinema was taken over by the Granada Theatres Ltd. chain from May 1948. It was re-named Granada on 3rd January 1949. The Granada was closed on 15th July 1961 with Kenneth More in "Genevieve" and Dirk Bogarde in "Doctor At Large". From October 1961, it was converted into a Granada Bingo Club, with wrestling on some nights a week, later going to full time bingo. In May 1961 it became a Gala Bingo Club which was closed on 9th March 1997. The building was added to a local conservation area, and was taken over by a church in 1998. They moved out of the building in around 2003, as planning permission had been granted in October 2001, to demolish the auditorium and build a block of 62 flats on the site, retaining the original cinema entrance and facade. It was demolished in July-October 2004. Some photographs and more details on the Regal Cinema/Granada: http://www.urban75.org/brixton/history/regal.html KitGreen The entrance area is now used as a Tesco Express supermarket.

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3-Day Royal Edinburgh, Loch Ness & Highlands Tour Available: Mon, Tue, Wed Depart from: London, United Kingdom From USD$508.24 Highlights: Take the train to Edinburgh, Fort William, Inverness, Pitlochry to spend 3 days exploring Scotland! Child (Age 5-11): This tour is not suitable for children under the age of 5 years. Child price applies to those who are 5-11 years old. Day 1 London - Edinburgh(629 km) Day 2 Edinburgh(520 km) Day 3 Edinburgh - London(628 km) 0 Adult1 Adult2 Adults 0 Children(5-11 yrs)1 Children(5-11 yrs)2 Children(5-11 yrs) Kings Cross Station - London Guests should meet the tour guide at Kings Cross Station in London at 6:30am. We will then board a train bound for Edinburgh, Scotland. Upon arrival, we will take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of the city that passes places like the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Bobby, and Holyrood Palace. Then, we will visit Edinburgh Castle to explore the amazing castle grounds. Afterwards, we will head to the hotel for the night. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, to the north of England in the United Kingdom. Learn about the area’s proud history at the National Museum of Scotland, and tour the Royal Yacht Britannia and Arthur’s Seat. This historic and famous castle sits atop the Castle Rock precipice in the city of Edinburgh. Human occupation of the area that is now the fortress dates back to the second century AD or possibly even earlier. Greyfriars Bobby Statue This statue of a Skye Terrier pays homage to the legend of a dog named Greyfriars Bobby that is said to have sat at the grave of his deceased master for 14 years, until he died himself. Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official Scottish residence of the royal family and has been since the 1500s. The structures on the palace ground dated back even further, to the founding of Hollyrood Abbey in 1128. Today, we will take a tour of the Scottish countryside to places like Glen Coe, Fort William,Urquhart Castle, and, of course, Loch Ness itself. Other stops over the course of our day will include Glen Garry, Inverness, and Pitlochry. At the end of the day, we will return to Edinburgh. Fort William, UNITED KINGDOM This town in the Scottish highlands is a popular tourist spot due to its picturesque location on Loche Linnhe as well as the abundance of outdoor activities, such as hiking and mountain biking, it offers to visitors. Glen Coe This popular tourist spot is widely considered to be the most beautiful area of Scotland. The glen, a sharp impression between two towering mountains, is thought to have been formed by a glacier during the Ice Age. Inverness, located in the Scottish Highlands, is the northernmost city in the UK and administrative center of the region. The Gaelic king MacBethad, popularized in Shakespeare's Macbeth, held a castle in this city during the 11th century. One of the world's most famous lakes, Loch Ness is best known for the mythological creature said to be hidden in its waters. The legend is spurred on by the extreme murkiness of the water and depth of the lake. This 13th-century castle on the shores of the famous Loch Ness has played an important role in Scottish history. The castle was partially destroyed and then abandoned in the middle of the 17th century, but today is being preserved. Pitlochry, UNITED KINGDOM Located in the Perth and Kinross region of Scotland, Pitlochry is a popular tourist destination known for scenic views of the nearby Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion mountains. The town has retained much of its Victorian era charm with architecture dating back to the mid-1800s. Today, guests will be able to explore Edinburgh at their own leisure and should be sure to return to the train stations about 45 minutes prior to the train?s departure time. Please see "Departure and Return" for more detailed information. Location: London, LND Address: Euston Road, London, LND N19AL (Kings Cross Station - London) Departure: 6:30am Return: 10:20pm Inclusions & Exclusions Stay two nights in a centrally located 3-star hotel, bed and breakfast. Day Tour to Loch Ness & the Highlands Round-trip train tickets to Edinburgh with reserved seats Sightseeing open-top tour of Edinburgh Entrance to Edinburgh Castle A free city map and information guide Meal not included Gratuities to driver All purchases are subject to re-confirmation within 1-2 business days after booking. Please do not book the airline tickets until you received the confirmation. You will receive an confirmation email (e-ticket) after your order was received. Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Email (e-ticket). When you reserve your attractions and services you will be asked to print e-tickets to present when you arrive at your destination. You must print the e-tickets and take them along on your trip; they are your proof of purchase. Currency Fluctuations: All tour prices are current at the time of publication and are susceptible to currency fluctuations. We reserve the right to alter the tour price in accordance with changes in foreign exchanges rates and changes in prices for services. The rate that you pay when you reserve your tour will protect you against future currency fluctuations; on the other hand, no price adjust (refund) will be made based upon change in tour prices. All purchases are subject to re-confirmation within one business day. Standard Cancellation and Refund policy (please read before booking) Prices may vary subject to availability/season/weekend/holiday. We reserve right to cancel a schedule to fully refund affected customers although we will make every effort to maintain the regular operation. Customer reviews(0)

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Leaving city behind for a bright light, water view By Rhonda J. Miller PBN Staff Writer The mystique of being a lighthouse keeper settled into Nick Korstad’s dreams when he was 7 years old and visited a lighthouse on the Oregon coast. The vision grew clearer a few years later when his family moved from Portland to the town of Sequim, Wash., and he went on a tour of a nearby lighthouse. His first visit turned into hundreds of lighthouse visits. TOURISM Leaving city behind for a bright light, water view LIGHT FARE: Tim Swigor, of Marblehead, Mass., has made Rose Island lighthouse-keeping a family vacation tradition. COURTESY CHAD SWIGOR Print Saturday, May 10, 2014 12:05 am By Rhonda J. Miller PBN Staff Writer When the Borden Flats Lighthouse, a mere 900 feet offshore in Fall River, at the mouth of the Taunton River, was put up for sale by the U.S. General Services Administration, he jumped at the chance to own it. Korstad paid $56,000 in a 2010 public auction for the cast-iron, caisson-style lighthouse built in 1881. With his new piece of water-based real estate, he did what any passionate lighthouse lover would do – he built on his 12 years of working in hospitality with Marriott, developed a plan to restore the lighthouse to make it available as lodging for overnight visitors, and took a leap. “I quit my job, sold everything and came here to run the lighthouse,” said Korstad. “I rented a condo onshore. For me it works perfectly. I like working for myself and this is what I wanted to do. It provides enough money for me to live on and keep up the lighthouse. They’re very expensive to maintain.” It took him three years to get the Borden Flats Lighthouse in shape for overnight guests. He spends the night there himself about four days a month to make sure everything is working. He designed and maintains his own website and doesn’t need to advertise. “Lighthouses attract a lot of people,” he said. Tours are available by appointment from May through October for $20 a person. Summer 2013 was the trial season for overnight visitors, with the cost ranging from $299 to $375 per night, with weekends and holidays at the higher end. The bedroom is on the fifth level, closest to the light. There are levels for relaxing or watching TV. One level is a kitchen. Borden Flats Lighthouse, hospitality & tourism, hospitality, tourism, lighthouses, Rose Island Lighthouse, natural resources, environment, aquaculture, , 29~06, issue051214export.pbn Next Page

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Platinum Club visits Columbus, MS Spring had made its appearance on March 23 when 30 Simpson County travelers arrived in Columbus for a day in the historic east Mississippi city. The trip was sponsored by Peoples Bank Platinum Club. The first stop was the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center for the City of Columbus. This restored Victorian residence was the first home of the Pulitzer-winning playwright who wrote Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and a number of other dramas that reflect his southern heritage. After orientation to the city’s history and attractions, a tour of two of the city’s many antebellum homes followed. Columbus is unique in that most of its 650 historic homes are occupied by their owners, rather than being museum homes used only for public tours and events. The owners of both the stately Whitehall, a Greek Revival townhouse, and Rosedale, spoke to the group about living in the historic mansions. Rosedale’s owner personally escorted the tour group through that Italianate mansion, built c. 1856. It contains what is considered some of the finest examples of period antiques in the country. Though the home’s private spaces have been adapted for modern living, its public spaces have been restored as nearly as possible to their pre-Civil War appearance. Lunch at Harvey’s Restaurant gave the Simpson County group time to visit with the step-on guide for the day, a Columbus native who is an expert on the history of this city whose site on the Tombigbee River was first mentioned in the writings of Hernando de Soto in 1540. The group learned that during the Civil War, Columbus maintained an arsenal that made gunpowder and weapons and was known as a hospital city for wounded troops. For those reasons, it was strongly defended by General Nathan Bedford Forrest. As a result, most of the city’s antebellum homes were spared, and Columbus boasts a collection of homes second only to Natchez in size. Rounding out the day, the group made a driving tour of well-known city sites such as Friendship Cemetery, where Memorial Day began; MUW, the first public college for women in America; and Historic Downtown Columbus, a premier example of the Main Street Mississippi program. Peoples Bank Platinum club’s next trip is a seven-day motorcoach adventure to Washington, D. C., and Williamsburg, Va., departing from Magee on May 10 and returning May 16. For information on the trip, Platinum Club membership or activities, contact Oliver McLean, Platinum Club director, at 601-832-1732 or Abbie Patrick at Peoples Bank, 601-849-2210. Peoples Bank Website peoplesbank-ms.com Peoples BankPromote Your Page Too From September 16, 2011 Peoples Bank © 2010 Design by New WP Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premiumbloggertemplates.com Free Host | new york lasik surgery | cpa website design

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Specific Type: B&M Wingcoaster Seating: 7 rows of 4, two on each side of the track Height: 210' Drop: 135' Speed: 61 MPH Drops: 3 Inversions: 4 Curves: 4 Crossovers: 2 Length: 3127' Duration: 2:22 Cost: 20,000,000 USD Designer: B&M Manufacturer: B&M Color Scheme: Blue track w/ tan supports ​Official Debut: March 2012​​ Dollywood is a very well-known park, but only has 5 coasters running around the park. How does this happen? Because Dollywood is one of those parks that strives for quality over quantity. Way back in 1978, the park opened its first coaster, Blazing Fury. This ride was more like a dark-ride than a coaster, but its theming and sudden drops at the end of its course puts it above more of the genre. The ride was also a clone of Fire in the Hole at Dollywood’s sister park in Branson, Missouri, Silver Dollar City.Twelve years later, the park finally opened its second coaster, the relocated River King Mine Train from Six Flags St. Louis. It was renamed to Thunder Express, and was built right next to Blazing Fury. The ride only lasted until 1998, and was relocated to Magic Springs and Crystal Falls were it has operated as Big Bad John to this day.Dollywood’s first real coaster opened in 1999, right after the park sold Thunder Express. Tennessee Tornado was a very unique looping coaster from Arrow Dynamics, and was the second to last custom looping coaster that Arrow built. Its uniqueness was caused by its compatibility to the terrain, which made the ride seem smaller than it actually was. The height of the ride was 163’, but its drop was only at 128’. Tennessee Tornado was an instant success, and paved the way for future installments.Dollywood added three more coasters in the first decade of the new millennium. The first was Thunderhead, one of the most twisted wooden coasters built in the world. Next was the miniature VeggieTales Sideshow Spin. Last was Mystery Mine, a heavily themed Euro Fighter by Gerstlaur. All of these coasters helped put Dollywood on the map. But nobody knew what was coming next.In early 2011, Dollywood leaked that a new steel coaster would be built, with a top height of 11’. Enthusiasts immediately thought to coasters like Nemesis at Alton Towers or Black Mamba at Phantasialand, very small inverted coasters that used the terrain to its advantage. Half of the blessing came when B&M track showed up in a lot near Thunderhead. But it was not an inverted coaster. Later, someone got a picture of the shipping crates, with the acronym WI on the label. This confirmed that Dollywood would be building a B&M Wingcoaster. But would it deliver with only a height of 11’?It eventually was realized that the 11’ height was a hoax. The real height was announced, along with all of the other statistics. The height was 210’, with a drop of 135’ (similar to Tennessee Tornado). The top speed would be 61 MPH over a course of 3127’ and a duration time of two minutes and twenty-two seconds. Also, there would be four inversions, a loop, zero-g roll, an Immelmann, and a final wing over.And on top of that, the name was announced: Wild Eagle. The ride was well-received by enthusiasts, much more than the other B&M Wingcoasters for 2012: X-Flight at Six Flags Great America and Swarm at Thorpe Park.The ride starts off with a quick left-hand turn out of the station, immediately up into the 210’ lift built into the terrain. Once at the apex, riders get a big glimpse of what they are about to experience. Then they fly down the 135’ drop and straight into a vertical loop. With a slight turn to the left at the bottom of the loop, riders soar into a zero-g roll. Without taking a breath, Wild Eagle zooms up into an immelmann. Riders barely have time to think as they are thrown back towards the lift in a wing over. The inversions are done, but the intensity sure isn’t, as the train speeds over a small bunny hop and turns to the left under the lift. After dipping below the bunny hop and a final turn to the right, riders finally get a chance to recover in the final brake run.

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The Fairy-Tale Road Travel Guide Kassel Travel Guide The Fairy-Tale Road Photo: (c) Serrnovik | Dreamstime.com The Brothers Grimm lived in Kassel, their mother's hometown, as teenagers, and also worked there as librarians at the court of the king of Westphalia, Jerome Bonaparte (Napoléon's youngest brother), and for the elector of Kassel. In researching their stories and legends, their best source was not books but storyteller Dorothea Viehmann, who was born in the Knallhütte tavern, which is still in business in nearby Baunatal. Much of Kassel was destroyed in World War II, and the city was rebuilt with little regard for its architectural past. The city's museums and the beautiful Schloss Wilhelmshöhe and Schlosspark, however, are well worth a day or two of exploration. Explore Kassel Elsewhere In The Fairy-Tale Road Popular with holidaymakers in mobile homes and trailers, who park up on the banks of the Weser directly across from its historic center, Bad... A visit to the site of the infamous prisoner of war and concentration camp where Anne Frank, along with tens of thousands of others, perished... The charming Weser town of Bodenwerder is the home of the Lügenbaron (Lying Baron) von Münchhausen (1720–97), who was known as a teller of whoppers... See All Places In The Fairy-Tale Road STAYAWAYCATION 10 FASCINATING PLACES YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT Think the world is your oyster? Think again! Learn German Phrases before or while you're on the go!

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PLANNED PARTIES ABOUT NICK’S MEDITERRANEAN INFLUENCED CUISINE COMBINED WITH HAWAIIAN FLAVORS IN AN UNFORGETTABLE SETTING ­ About Nick’sWendy2016-07-13T09:25:26+00:00 HOURS OF OPERATION Happy Hour 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm nightly Dinner 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm nightly NICK’S FISHMARKET IN FAIRMONT KEA LANI MAUI The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui Resort 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr If you are interested in applying for a position with Nick’s Fishmarket Maui, please email your resume and cover letter to Douglas Mossman. Aaron Placourakis Geno Sarmiento Don Abernathy Doug Mossman Founder/CEO Aaron Placourakis was raised around great food. And like all Greeks, he was instilled with the belief that family isn’t just limited to close relatives but to anyone who’s gathered around the table. It’s an approach that’s been perfected by his team who greet you at the door as a friend, not as a customer. This uncompromising style has been the key to the success of his restaurants for 35 years. Executive Chef, Geno Sarmiento, began his career with Nicholas Nickolas in 1995 in the kitchen pantry. He quickly worked his way up to head line cook. In 1998, Chef Geno relocated to Maui to open Nick’s Fishmarket. Under the leadership of Chef George Gomes, Jr., Chef Geno then opened Sarento’s on the Beach followed by Son’z Steakhouse. Chef Geno oversees all three Tri-Star restaurants. He is married to Kim with whom he has three daughters. Don has spent his entire restaurant career with Tri-Star Restaurant Group, beginning at an entry level position in Honolulu in 1993. He worked his way up to captain before accepting a position as dining room manager for Nick’s Fishmarket Maui, and was eventually promoted to director of operations in 2004. Don is married and has twin girls and a son. When not in the restaurants, Don spends his time surfing with the family and paddling Hawaii’s beautiful waters. Doug joined Tri Star Restaurant Group in 1991 and worked his way up through the ranks at Nicholas Nickolas Restaurant in Honolulu. After graduating from the University of Hawaii, he re-located to Maui in 2001 and became Dining Room Manager of Nick’s Fishmarket and Wine Director for Tri Star Restaurant Group. Doug was named General Manager of Nick’s Fishmarket Maui in 2004. Doug is married to his wife Jacqui and is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He is also a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers as of 2006. FIND US Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Wailea, Maui, Hawaii 96753HOURS 5:00 – 7:00pm nightly Dinner 5:30 – 9:30pm nightly Party Size Copyright 2010 - Tri-Star Restaurants

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OMVS Engineers New Online Travel Marketing Push TAMPA, Fla. --(Business Wire)-- On the Move Systems Corp. (OTCBB: OMVS), a fast-growing provider of online transportation options, announced today that it's in talks with joint venture partner the Naples Connection to offer weekly travel deals to customers via direct e-mail marketing. The Naples Connection is a Florida-based travel agency that delivers online deals on flights, cruises, hotels and travel. OMVS signed a business development agreement with the company last October to market the Naples Connection's services on its online portal now in development in exchange for a share of the revenues. Now, the partners are working on a plan to market exclusive travel deals to OMVS' growing network of subscribers through e-mail marketing. "In discussing ways to begin generating joint revenues, e-mail keeps coming up," said OMVS CEO Robert Wilson. "E-mail marketing has the highest return on investment on the Web, and we think it's time to move forward with expanding our subscriber base ahead of the portal site launch by offering amazing deals on cruises, hotels, airfare and more." Last year, a third of all travel sales around the globe were forecast to be booked online, according to a report by the travel research company PoCusWright. OMVS is hard at work developing the innovative ISTx platform that will be key to the company's plans to market and develop new solutions for the $300 billion online travel market, where it plans to compete alongside Priceline.com (OTCBB: PCLN), TripAdvisor.com (OTCBB: TRIP) and Expedia (News - Alert).com (OTCBB: EXPE). For more information on On the Move Systems' bold new direction, please visit www.onthemovesystems.com. About On the Move Systems Corp. On the Move Systems Corp. (OTCBB: OMVS) is focused on the development of cutting-edge technology across a broad spectrum of industries. The company is currently exploring new online tools to reduce costs and increase convenience in the tourism and transportation industry. For more information, please visit our website at www.onthemovesystems.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof.

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SOUNDS LOCAL Search within Parachute � Rich Reid Photography.com by MapQuest Editorial | Contributor | January 10, 2012 Explore 175 Miles of Undeveloped Coastline Consisting of five islands located off the coast of Southern California in the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands National Park is reachable only by park concessioner boat or plane, or private boats. To visit the park is to visit Southern California as it once was -- the islands maintain and protect a massive amount of natural and cultural resources, animals and plants that can be found nowhere else on earth. Activities in Channel Islands National Park Channel Islands National Park is one of the least-visited national parks, which contributes to the islands' vibe of solitude. The park is only accessible by boat or by small commercial flights. Island Packers is the park's official boat concessionaire. It offers transportation to each of the islands and also offers island boat tours, a popular visitor activity. Island Packers also offers whale watching tours around Anacapa and Santa CruzIslands. During the summer, more than 10 percent of the world's whale population gathers in channel water, making the park home to the largest gathering of blue whales in the world. Whale watching can also be done on private boat tours, but boaters should be advised that island coasts provide no anchorage locations. Santa Barbara, Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands provide spectacular kelp forests, sea caves and coves that are best explored by diving and snorkeling. There are no lifeguards on duty throughout the park, so the park recommends that divers always use the buddy system, and always leave an itinerary with someone on shore before going underwater. Another popular park activity is seal and sea lion viewing. This requires a 15-mile roundtrip hike to Point Bennet, located on the western tip of San Miguel Island. The Rookeries on San Miguel Island provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to view a colony of thousands of elephant seals. This viewing spot is considered one of the best in the world: more seal species are spotted here than anywhere else. Visiting Channel Islands National Park The park is open year round, and there is no fee to enter the park. The park can only be accessed by boat or plane. It is advised that visitors make transportation reservations. Flight reservations can be made through Channel Islands Aviation, which departs from the Camarillo Airport. If visitors plan to arrive by boat, reservations can be made through Island Packers. Advanced camping reservations are required for both frontcountry and backcountry camping. Reservations can be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service. Reservations can be made up to five months in advance. Confirmation notices must be presented to an island ranger upon arrival. Camping costs $15 per night. Wildlife in Channel Islands National Park There are more endangered species living within Channel Islands National Park than any other national park unit. The island is home to only four native mammals: the island fox, deer mouse, the harvest mouse and spotted skunk. The island fox only lives in the Channel Islands. Because of the park's remoteness, the park is home to fewer native species than similar mainland habitats. Some species, like the deer mouse and island fox, have evolved into distinct subspecies. Many terrestrial species reached the island by flight, or by floating on debris and other material. The islands are rich with marine life. Dolphin sightings are common, as well as sea lion and whale sightings. Birds are also very common. The islands are considered an important nesting ground for many species of marine birds, including pelicans, gulls and cormorants. History of Channel Islands National Park The islands hold more than 12,000 years of human history. For thousands of years, the islands were inhabited by the native Chumash peoples. Europeans first arrived on the islands in 1542, when explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo reached San Miguel Island. For nearly 200 years, hunters and traders visited the islands for the oil and pelts of seals, sea lions and otters. These early Europeans contributed greatly to the decline of not only the islands' marine resources, but also of the native peoples of the island, who suffered from the introduction of foreign diseases. Originally claimed by Spain, the islands fell under Mexican control by 1821, where they remained until California became a state in 1850. The islands were used for sheep and cattle ranching for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. Starting in the 1930s, the U.S. began using the islands for military coastal defense, building light towers, light stations and military bases. It wasn't until 1980 that the islands were established as a national park. Other key dates in Channel Islands National Park history 1938 - Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands are established as a National Monument. 1976 - The park is declared an International Biosphere Reserve. 1999 - Sheep were finally removed from the island to prevent overgrazing and encourage plant regrowth. Winter Adventure Parachute by MapQuest About MapQuest More MapQuest Find Place or Address Custom Content Solutions Follow MapQuest MapQuest Apps More Apps from MapQuest

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Bric a Brac - Shop 2 - Panorama 4 Pro Created by Jeffrey Martin Bric a Brac is an amazing antique shop near old town square in Prague. There are two locations, about 50 meters apart. This is the smaller of the two shops. Copyright: Jeffrey Martin Tags: antique; shop; prague Basen I Fitzroy and Lagunas Sheraton Luxor View Chorrillo del Salto Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities Autel du bas-côté du chœur dans l'église d'Isle-Saint-Georges - France Mark Fink Quarrymans Museum Opus 40 Saugerties Ny Jan Koehn Ferris wheel - Gondola 1 More About Prague 世界 : Europe : Czech Republic : Prague Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, has long attracted artists and wandering spirits, although it was originally inhabited by prehistoric fish. Their inland sea filled the basin contained by the Tatras and Carpathian mountains, but when it eventually dried up they were forced to yield the terrain to dinosaurs, wooly mammoths and Neanderthals. In human times the Celtic tribes came to reside here, leaving remains dating back to the 4th Century B.C. Their tribal name, Boii, gives the root of the word "Bohemia". The three separate territories of Bohemia, Silesia and Moravia now make up the modern Czech Republic, which split from Slovakia in the 1993 "Velvet Divorce." Thanks to its enigmatic founder, the city of Prague derives a magnetic appeal for visionaries, scientists and astronomers. The historical figure credited with the launch of Prague is Princess Libuse, a visionary prophet and warrior who once stood atop the hill at Vysehrad and made the prophecy as follows, "I see a vast city, whose glory will touch the stars!" This indeed came to pass after she took Otokar Premysl to be her husband and King, launching the Premyslid dynasty, and leaving it to rule for the first four hundred years of Czech history. When the last Premyslid king, Wenceslas III, died without producing a male heir, the fourteen year-old John of Luxembourg came to take the throne of the Czech lands. Hot-headed John died in battle, but his diplomatic son Charles IV inherited the throne and, through keen multi-lingual savvy, managed to both keep it and earn the title "Father of the Czech Nation." Charles IV was the first of the Holy Roman Emperors here; he ruled during the height of Prague's elegance and splendour. This is the man to know if you want to understand Prague's layout. He sponsored the construction of such landmarks as the Charles Bridge, the Hunger Wall and St. Vitus' Cathedral, as well as personally designing the neighborhood called New Town (Nove Mesto) which has for its center Karlovo Namesti or Charles Square. The city displays every branch of architecture across the last thousand years, including Cubism, a style which you will be hard-pressed to find applied to buildings anywhere else in the world. Beyond the stunning visual makeup of the city, there is a wealth of nightlife and entertainment, beginning with the legendary concert halls including the Rudolfinum, National Theater, Estates Theater and the Municipal House. After investigating the Castle and Bridge, which are the most heavily-trafficked tourist areas, take a look around Zizkov and Letna, two of the cooler neighborhoods for bars and restaurants. However quiet it may seem after ten PM, Prague is alive and throbbing in an endless array of basement bars, pubs, clubs, discos and pool halls waiting to be discovered by the intrepid subterranean adventurer. To get an idea of what lies in store, check out the panoramas for Chateau and Palac Akropolis and when you're out and about, make sure you look for the stairs down to the cellar. Apart from shopping, eating, drinking and wearing out your digital camera, delve into the rich green carpet of Prague's parks, many of which lie only walking-minutes from the city center.Text by Steve Smith.

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Shoot: Big Ben from South Bank Join David Hobby for an in-depth discussion in this video Shoot: Big Ben from South Bank, part of The Traveling Photographer: London. - London, while not cheap, is a great city to visit…as a first foreign destination.…It's equal parts different and familiar.…The language is the same, but you're definitely…not in Kansas anymore.…Every time I visit London, the first place I head…with my camera is to the south bank of the temps,…down toward Westminster Bridge for the view…of Big Ben across the river.…So that's where we're going tonight.…I got trips to Victoria Peak in Hong Kong,…and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.…You can feel the gravitas of a world class…iconic view that is right in front of your lens.… - Ok so I've been to London a lot of times,…and I've come down here a lot of times…but this is my first time this trip.…We're on the south bank of the temps,…we're looking across at Big Ben…and I never get tired of that.…The light just came on for the clock.…I'm gonna sit here tonight…and I'm just gonna shoot Big Ben.…It's kind of like variations on a theme,…and rather than just shooting a mix light picture,…I wanna shoot before mix light and play with that.… Resume Transcript Auto-Scroll Welcome to London, the Strobist's favorite city. This vignette aims to make London more accessible, productive, and enjoyable to the first-time photo traveler. David Hobby, founder of the popular photography blog Strobist.com, explores London from the perspectives of both photographer and traveler, ensuring the optimum balance between shooting and simply experiencing the city. He covers logistics for the photographer on the move, and tips for photographing sites such as Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and Greenwich, home of the prime meridian. Find more courses in the series, including the vital first installment, The Traveling Photographer: Fundamentals, on David's author page. The Traveling Photographer: Fundamentals with David Hobby The Traveling Photographer: Hong Kong The Traveling Photographer: Paris The Traveling Photographer: New York 1. Starting Out: Logistics Getting there and knowing where to stay The three food groups: Cell service, data access, and money Chat with a local: What to shoot Chat with a local: The tripod police 2. Experiencing and Shooting Shoot: Trafalgar Square Pro tip: Leave your knife behind Shoot: Side trip to Greenwich Experience: Eating in London Shoot: The best skyline view in London Shoot: The Shard from Tower Bridge Experience: The world's most amazing Nikon store Pro tip: Use buses as photo platforms Light table: Along London's South Bank Parting thoughts about London Video: Shoot: Big Ben from South Bank

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Flights to Denmark Compare the best Denmark flights With a delectable food scene, family-friendly adventures, maritime and Viking heritage and more than a sprinkling of fairy-tale magic, those booking flights to Denmark are in for a real treat of a holiday. Whether you are taking the kids to the home of Lego or yourselves off for a romantic short break, we can find you a cheap flight to Denmark... Denmark is located in Northern Europe, where the cool vibes of Scandinavia infiltrate everyday life in the most delightful ways. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries and it has long and ragged coastline as well as a huge collection of islands. It’s easy to find cheap flights to Denmark, especially when you use the price-comparison knowhow of TravelSupermarket. Denmark can be an expensive place to sleep, eat, drink and get around, but fear not - you can use our guide to find out how to get to and from the airport and how to get the lowest rates on hotel rooms. So where will you go? The obvious choice for many is Copenhagen, a capital city draped in history and oozing style. The Danish fairy-tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen, is celebrated here – see the statue of the Little Mermaid on the waterfront for starters. Talking of starters, save room for main course and dessert in Copenhagen as a local boom in gastronomic flair has put two of the city’s hippest eateries on a list of the world’s best restaurants. You don’t have to go to Copenhagen when you fly to Denmark. Billund is a popular entrance point to the nation and the kids will squeal in delight as the multi-coloured bricks of LEGOLAND come into view. Read on to discover more about Denmark flights, plus how to get to and from the airport and where to find the best hotels in Denmark. When you’ve learned everything you need to know, simply use the search tool on TravelSupermarket to compare prices on flights, hotels, car hire and a range of other travel extras. How to get there Denmark has frequent flights from the UK, with most arriving in the nation’s capital of Copenhagen... Flights take from one and a half to two hours to cross the North Sea from the UK and land in Denmark. British Airways offer several services each day to Copenhagen from London Heathrow as do SAS, the Scandinavian carrier who also flies daily from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Copenhagen can also be reached with Norwegian, who fly from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh to the city and Ryanair also offer low cost services from London Luton and the Scottish capital. easyJet jopines the fray with daily services from London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted in addition to flights from Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester. Jet 2 have flights ideal for city breaks from Leeds Bradford and Newcastle. Billund, home to Lego has flights from Stansted with Ryanair and also with British Airways from Manchester and London City airport. Aalborg in the north of the country can be reached on flights with Ryanair from Stansted plus SAS from Heathrow. Finally the coastal city of Esbjerg has direct flights from Aberdeen with bmi. To reach any of the additional airports in Denmark or fly from other regional; UK airports you can fly via London or other Northern European hubs such as Paris, Amsterdam and Dusseldorf. The plane has touched down so it’s time to get your adventure started. Thankfully, getting around in Denmark is quite straightforward... Most travellers arrive at Copenhagen Airport (CPH), which is located just south of the city on the island of Zealand (the main peninsula of Denmark is called Jutland). Buses and trains run frequently into the city centre from the airport, while a taxi fare between the two will cost around 200 Danish krone (about £21). The nation’s other major airports, all located in Jutland, are also served by taxis and public transport. These airports are Billund (BLL), Aarhus (AAR), Aalborg (AAL), and Karup (KRP). Car hire is a great investment wherever you land. Confident drivers will have no issues getting around here, making car hire in Denmark a fantastic way to explore the country. You can rent a car from one of the airports and drive yourself to your destination, or pick up a rental in a downtown location. To make the biggest savings, pre-book car hire with TravelSupermarket now. Where to stay? There are many accommodation options in Denmark, whether you are looking for a quirky stopover, a family hotel or a romantic hideaway... It’s worth splashing out on central hotels in Copenhagen to stay within walking distance of the main attractions (including Tivoli Gardens and the harbour of Nyhavn). Hotels in Tivoli, which is at the heart of Copenhagen, are very popular and cater to a range of budgets. Other areas to look for hotels include the official city centre, Vesterbro, Nyhavn and Christianshavn. Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark, and it too has a great mix of hotel types. The architecture in this striking city ranges from traditional to ultra-modern, so there is bound to be a hotel to suit your personal style. Wherever you choose to base your break in Denmark, it pays to book hotels well in advance to secure a great rate. The summer months and the weeks leading up to Christmas (Denmark puts on some incredible festive markets) are very busy for hotels in Denmark, so it is particularly important to book in advance for a stay during these peak periods. If you can arrange a visit in spring or autumn, on the other hand, you should also book early to take advantage of keenly priced hotels in most destinations. Use the search tool on TravelSupermarket to find low rates on the best hotels in Denmark. Denmark flights

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Availability Search for (2) The Speyside Way (2) The Speyside Way Mixture of back roads and forest trails, hilly at times. The Speyside Way runs from Spey Bay to Aviemore. Bikes are allowed on much of it as far as Ballindalloch. Beyond this there are a number of back road alternatives. The National Cycle Network Route 1 also runs by Spey Bay and this might be included in a longer trip. The Speyside Way is surprisingly quiet but very varied. Some sections are on the old Strathspey Railway, other parts are in forest, these are quite hilly. The route also uses riverside paths and minor roads. The nearest railway stations are at Elgin and Keith, there are bus services which call at various points on the way. They don't take bikes, but might be very useful for returning you to your car at the end of a trip. The local ranger service issue an annual newsletter, called The Speyside Wayfarer, this gives information updates on the state of The Way, and is full of advertisments for B&Bs, hotels, places to eat and places to buy food. The phone number of the ranger service is 01340 881266. Route Description Fochabers is an attractive small town with plenty of places to eat (Quaich Cafe, Tart & Pie Shop, and plenty of shops). This section is hillier, particularly around Ben Aigan. Leave the town by continuing east along the main street (A96) the turn right (south) just before a school. Do not continue to the A98/A96 junction. After a climb pass Slorachs Wood. There is a scenic picnic spot on the opposite side of the road. One of the entry points to Forestry Commission mountain-bike routes is here. After this there is a steep descent with a tight bend at the bottom, followed by a fierce climb. Following on there is a long descent, gradual at first, to Boat o' Brig, with fine views of the River Spey below. At Boat o' Brig, we cross the B9103 - this can be busy. Turn right, then immediately left up steps by a house with a portico to leave the public road. Climbing steadily now, turn left at farm buildings, and follow an electricity line into the forest. Turn right uphill again at a gun club sign. The track dips into Ben Aigan Forest, then skirts it giving good views of the Spey valley. After this it enters the forest, and climbs steeply to a forest road. Turn right here. There is an initial drop, a further climb, turn right at the forest road junctions. Finally there is a fast descent to leave the forest at a mountain biking sign. Turn left on to the public road and descend further; turn right at the A95 to enter Craigellachie. The ranger's office is at Craigellachie. You can camp here free of charge - an attractive site by the river. There are toilets with cold water only, and no other facilities. Craigellachie has a Spar food shop, there is a friendly pub with a riverside garden and a good hotel and a choice of B&Bs. Type of Ride Related items of interest

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Availability Search for Castle Sween Castle Sween By Lochgilphead Discover the impressive remains of this once great castle believed to be one of the oldest in Scotland. Located on the eastern shore of Loch Sween, this imposing ruin is thought to be one of the earliest stone castles built in Scotland. Dating from the late 12th century, it was built by Suibhne, later anglicised as Sween, the grandson of Hugh the splendid O’Neill. In the 13th century Clan MacSween presided over a territory that extended as far north as Loch Awe and as far south as Loch Fyne. But by the time of the Wars of Independence, the MacSween’s had become adversaries of Robert the Bruce who lay siege to the castle. Their fortunes floundered soon afterwards and over the subsequent centuries the castle was passed from rival clan to clan. The castle also featured in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms when it was attacked burnt by Alasdair MacColla and is Irish confederate forces in 1647. Show More Contact Details View telephone number+44 (0)131 668 8800 Achnamara,By Lochgilphead,Argyll,PA31 8PT

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Family Vacations: Assateague Island National Seashore by the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide Adventure | Coastal and Lake Vacations NEXT PAGENEXT Assateague Island's wild ponies share the beautiful beaches and pine forests with silka deer and other wildlife. Assateague Island National Seashore lies on a long, narrow barrier island that straddles the coasts of Virginia and Maryland. The island is a peaceful, windswept sanctuary to many species of wildlife, none more famous than the wild pony population. According to legend, these shaggy, sturdy animals survived the shipwreck of a Spanish galleon in the 1600s and then swam ashore to Assateague. Other stories relate that colonial farmers turned their livestock out to graze on the island to avoid livestock tariffs. The ponies now share Assateague with an assortment of wildlife, including the unusual sika deer that makes its home in the island's pine forests. The island is also known for its lovely beaches and hiking trails that allow for plenty of exploring. Travel the World: Hawaii Beach Pictures Old Point Loma Lighthouse Cape Flattery Lighthouse St. George Reef Lighthouse Assateague Island National Seashore Address: 8586 Beach Rd., Chincoteague, VA Hours of Operation: Jan. - Mar. and Nov. - Dec., 6 a.m. - 6 p.m., Apr. and Oct. 6 a.m. - 8 p.m., May - Sept. 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. Admission: $10 per vehicle Learn more about family vacations: Family Vacations: Learn about hundreds of family vacations in destinations all over North America.Virginia State Guide: Virginia is just a short trip from Washington, D.C. Learn more about the many attractions in Virginia.Scenic Drives:For those who think that getting there is half the fun, we have compiled more than 100 of the most scenic drives throughout the country. The Ultimate Stunt Vacation Quiz The Ultimate Keeping Kids Safe at Theme Parks Quiz Travel the World: Australia South Dakota Scenic Drives Travel the World: China

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New General Managers Take the Helm at One Ski Hill Place, A RockResort, and the Village at Breckenridge Douglas “Chip” Nelson and Shannon Best have taken the helm as general managers of One Ski Hill Place, A RockResort, and the Village at Breckenridge respectively. In their new roles, they will oversee all facets of operations and management of the two lodging properties, helping to deliver an experience of a lifetime for guests and owners. Vail Resorts Announces Sale, Management Agreement and Rebranding of The Inn at Keystone to Hyatt Place Keystone Vail Resorts announced today the sale of the Inn at Keystone to Dallas-based Realty Capital Partners (RCP). Vail Resorts will continue to manage the property under a management agreement with RCP. The property will be rebranded to Hyatt Place Keystone in summer 2017 following a significant renovation and repositioning. Help Colorado Mountain Express Fill the Van on Saturday, Nov. 12 Colorado Mountain Express (CME) will host its 19th Annual “Fill the Van” food drive on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., when thousands of pounds of food will be collected for food banks across Colorado’s mountain communities. CME vans will be parked outside of grocery stores throughout Summit County, Eagle County and the Roaring Fork Valley accepting food donations. Vail Resorts Recognized with Six Condé Nast Traveler 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 29th annual Readers’ Choice Awards with six Vail Resorts properties – including four RockResorts properties – recognized among the best of the best in travel. Vail Resorts Elevates the Guest Experience with $100 Million in Resort Improvements for 2016-17 Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) continues to raise the bar for skiers and riders as the Company invests approximately $100 million in the guest experience for the upcoming winter across its resorts, bringing its five-year, industry-leading resort investment total to more than $500 million across the Company. Vail Resorts to Manage New Zalanta Luxury Condominiums at the Base of the Heavenly Mountain Gondola Vail Resorts will assume management of Zalanta Resort at the Village, a new luxury condominium property, just steps away from the Heavenly Mountain Gondola, shops, dining, and in close proximity to showrooms, casinos, beaches and world-class golf. The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort, Wins 2016 Sunset Travel Award, Declared Best Mountain Resort in the West by the Editors of Sunset The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort in Vail, Colo. has been declared the Best Mountain Resort in the West by Time Inc.’s (NYSE: TIME) Sunset, the premier guide to living in the West. The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort is one of 20 winners of the 2016 Sunset Travel Awards, which honor the West’s top destinations in lodging, dining, cultural tourism, outdoor adventure, attractions, and more. The Lodge at Vail Introduces Yoga at 10,150 feet to Vail The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort, in partnership with Vail Mountain, is offering yoga at 10,150 feet every Friday and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. through Sept. 3. The class takes place in the Mid-Vail area at the top of Vail’s Gondola One and is complimentary to all guests with a lift ticket or current season pass. Those who are feeling extra ambitious can hike to Mid-Vail free of charge. A limited number of yoga mats are available to use onsite and participants will receive discount cards to be used on services at the RockResorts Spa at The Lodge at Vail.

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Section Navigation Map SearchAdvanced SearchMinor AmendmentsDownload Listing DataNon-Listed SitesAbout The ListEnrich the ListUnderstanding List Entries TOWNELEY HALL This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage for its special historic interest. Name: TOWNELEY HALL The garden or other land may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: Lancashire District: Burnley Parish: County: Lancashire Parish: Cliviger Date first registered: 01-Apr-1986 Legacy System: Parks and Gardens UID: 1952 Summary of Garden SUMMARY OF HISTORIC INTERESTGardens and pleasure grounds which were formed largely in the mid to late C18 incorporating some C17 and early C18 features. The park incorporates an avenue of late C17 origin within landscaped grounds of the later C18 and early C19 laid out by Charles Towneley.HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTThe Towneley family has owned land in the area since at least c 1200 and it is thought that the family settled on the site in the time of Richard de Towneley in 1295 (Bourne 1984). Charles Towneley (1737-1805), a noted connoisseur and collector, whose collection of classical sculpture was bought for the nation after his death, inherited the estate in 1758 and undertook alterations to the Hall and grounds. Ownership passed to the female line in 1885 and the Hall and park were bought from Lady O'Hagan by Burnley Corporation in 1902.DESCRIPTION LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING Towneley Hall is situated on land which slopes down gently northwards to the banks of the River Calder. The c 85ha site is situated on the south-east edge of Burnley, immediately south of the Fulledge area. Apart from some housing on the Todmorden Road to the west, the park is set in open land. There is farmland to the south and east and the land to the north is used for a variety of recreational uses and includes a c 100ha area to the north and north-east which was part of a deer park shown on Yates' county map of 1786.ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES The principal entrance to the site enters 1.4km north-west of the Hall off Todmorden Road. The entrance is marked by a lodge and gateway called Hanbrig Castle or Handbridge House (1797-8 and 1857, listed grade II) from which a drive runs south-east to the Hall, as shown on an estate map of 1807. A separate vehicular entrance was formed c 40m south of the lodge in the C20. The other main entrance is from Brunshaw Road. On the 2nd edition OS map published 1912, Deer Park Road ran south-west towards the Hall from the road through the former deer park, but the northern part of it has been diverted northwards through a late C20 housing estate. This approach appears to have originated as an avenue leading to a lodge in the deer park which was aligned with the front of the Hall and situated c 1.3km to the north-east of it. The lodge and avenue are shown on the 1786 county map, and the lodge is shown, with a drive in place of the avenue, on the 1st edition OS map surveyed 1844. Deer Park Road extends south-west to a bridge over the Calder situated 500m north-east of the Hall and the route continues southwards from this point as a double avenue (called The Avenue) which is aligned with the north-east front of the Hall. An avenue in approximately this position is shown on an estate map of 1661 map when it curved slightly to the north. It is shown running straight and aligned with Deer Park Road on subsequent maps from c 1735.A secondary entrance on Todmorden Road lies c 700m north-west of the Hall, c 900m south of the Hanbrig Lodge. This entrance was referred to as Causeway End on an 1834 estate map and leads to a drive called the Causeway which runs south-eastwards to the Hall. There is a suggestion of a drive in this general position on both the 1661 estate map and a map of c 1735. As implied by its name, this drive has the appearance of a causeway and the land drops immediately to the north of it. There is another entrance 1km south-east of the Hall, at the north end of Park Road in Cliviger, to the east. This is gated and was the site of a lodge called Low Lodge on the 1844 OS map. A path leads north-west from it across a field called Broad Ing, continuing north-west where it joins The Avenue entrance drive 400m north-east of the Hall. All the entrances and drives, with the exception of the Brunshaw Road entrance, are shown on Greenwood?s county map of 1818.PRINCIPAL BUILDING Towneley Hall (listed grade I) dates from the C15 and by c 1500 it was a courtyard house. Successive alterations were made over the years which followed, including the demolition of the north-east courtyard range c 1700. A phase of restructuring took place in the 1720s and a further major phase of work was undertaken during the years 1812-19 when Jeffrey Wyatt remodelled the exterior and parts of the interior.Some 50m north of the Hall is part of a stable building of late C18 date (listed grade II) which has been converted to a cafe. Some 20m to the north-west of the Hall is a C18 brewhouse (listed grade II) used as a museum.GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS There are formal gardens on the north and east sides of the Hall and wooded pleasure grounds on the south, south-west and south-east sides. On the north-eastern, principal front of the Hall there is a circular raised bed immediately in front of the main entrance. Gravel paths lead to the entrance from Hanbrig Drive and continue around the Hall, branching through the gardens in various directions. Aligned with the front of the Hall, c 70m to the north-east, there is a lawn with a rectangular pond with apsidal ends. This feature appears in this form on a map of c 1735 (copy held at Towneley Hall) and it is shown on the 1807 map. On the eastern side of the garden mature trees screen a triangular area edged with clipped hedges, with a war memorial sculpture of 1926 by Walter Gilbert which is situated c 70m east of the Hall.On the south-eastern side of the Hall is the Italian Garden which was probably laid out in the early C20. It consists of a parterre with curved and circular beds surrounded by a low clipped hedge. On the east side of this, immediately beyond a border, there is a lime walk running parallel to the Hall, which is shown on the 1834 estate map. On the south-west side of the Hall there is an open lawn crossed by gravel walks and fringed by woodland. This area is shown as an enclosed garden on the 1661 estate map. The general layout of the gardens and paths around the Hall accords with what is shown on the 1834 estate map. An estate document dated March 1741/2 mentions 'the little green before the hall door...gravil walks' and 'hedges and greens', suggesting a formal garden around the Hall (Towneley Papers). In 1798 a letter from the gardener James Veitch to Charles Towneley mentions newly planted shrubberies round the Hall. A ha-ha runs from a point where there is a gated entrance from the main Hanbrig drive, c 100m north-east of the Hall, in front of the Hall and pond. This is shown in a painting of 1799 by J M W Turner (guidebook). The ha-ha continues south-eastwards along the edge of woodland called Thanet Lee Wood. This section was described as a ?proposed new sunk fence? in a letter from Charles Towneley dated May 1800 (Towneley Papers). The letter is accompanied by a plan of the proposed line which accords approximately with the present position of the ha-ha.On the north-west side of the Hall, along the line of Causeway Drive, the land drops away sharply along the edge of the pleasure grounds. The drive leads through woodland called Causeway End Wood which is shown on the estate map of 1834. On the north side of the drive, c 120m north-west of the Hall, there is a brick icehouse (listed grade II) in a mound of earth. South of Causeway End Wood, c 200m west of the Hall, there is a grassed flat-topped hillock which is used as a miniature golf course. The 1834 estate map shows this as a larger area of open land fringed by woodland. Some 40m from the south-west side of the Hall a ride is cut through the woodland. It runs south-west and terminates with Foldys Cross (listed grade II), a medieval cross which was moved to this position in 1911. This vista is shown on a painting of c 1777 by George Barret Snr but not on the c 1735 map. The woodland on either side of the ride is called the Wilderness on the 1844 OS map, and is shown as a wooded area on the 1661 estate map.On the east side of the pleasure grounds, in Thanet Lee Wood, the ruinous remains of a decorative well head are situated c 500m south-east of the Hall. The woods are threaded with paths and there are bridges over streams which cross the site. There are a number of features which were introduced in the years following the acquisition of the park by Burnley Corporation. These include the remains of an amphitheatre and bandstand on the southern edge of the miniature golf course, c 200m west of the Hall, simple stone shelters, and a range of bowling greens and tennis courts immediately south of the Causeway End entrance. The woodland of the pleasure grounds includes mature specimens of ornamental trees and underplanting of ornamental shrubs. It is known that Charles Towneley planted large numbers of trees and shrubs in the pleasure grounds and park in the period 1798-1803 (Towneley Papers) and it seems likely that he was responsible for augmenting and replanting the core of woodland shown south of the Hall on the 1661 estate map over a period of many years.PARK An area of parkland extends on the north, north-west and north-east sides of the Hall. The double avenue aligned with the north-east front of the Hall is the one formal element within a landscape which consists of open grassland with scattered trees. The parkland on the east side of The Avenue is used as playing fields and there is a sports pavilion in this area, c 400m north-east of the Hall. Some 400m south-east of The Avenue a fence divides the sports fields from a field called Broad Ing which is used for grazing. On the west side of Hanbrig Drive the parkland is part of a golf course. There are tree belts along the southern part of Hanbrig Drive and along the River Calder on the north side of the site. A tree belt with rhododendron underplanting on the north side of the Calder, on the north-east border, is called West Marl Wood, and along the eastern border there is another belt with rhododendron underplanting which is called Oak Plantation on the 1844 OS map. This landscape accords generally in character with what is shown in the 1777 painting. Charles Towneley planted large numbers of trees in the late C18. A letter from his gardener James Veitch dated 1799 (Towneley Papers) details the acquisition and planting of almost 4000 trees of five to six feet in height. In correspondence of 1800 with his steward, Thomas Forshaw, Charles Towneley specifies that 'handsome' individual trees and clumps should be retained when fences were being levelled, and orders that individual scattered trees in the park should not be felled (Towneley Papers).Planting continued after Charles Towneley's death; estate papers record the creation of new plantations and replanting of existing ones. More than 8000 trees were planted in the period 1812-13 (Towneley Papers).KITCHEN GARDEN The kitchen garden is situated c 100m south-east of the Hall and is reached by a path running between the Italian Garden and the war memorial. The sub-rectangular garden is walled with red bricks and contains a bowling green with an early C20 pavilion in the southern corner and late C20 buildings housing a nature interpretation centre on the site of glasshouses which are shown on the 1960 OS map. The garden is shown on the 1834 estate map when it was smaller, occupying just over half the present area. It was extended to the south and is shown in its present form on the 2nd edition OS map published 1912. It is partially on the site of a larger enclosed orchard shown on the 1661 estate map. A kitchen garden and a 'green walk' within it is mentioned in an estate document of 1741-2 (Towneley Papers). Another estate document dated 1749 orders the construction of 'a good plane brick wall for fruit? to run ?from ye garden shed to ye fence of the Chappell Lee', and the north wall of the garden may be formed from this since the area called Chapel Lee is situated immediately to the east of the garden.REFERENCES The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire 6, (1911), pp 461-3 N Pevsner, The Buildings of England: North Lancashire (1969), pp 82-4 S Bourne, Introduction to the Architecture of Towneley Hall, guidebook (Burnley Borough Council 1979) S Bourne, Towneley Hall Burnley, guidebook (Burnley Borough Council 1984)Maps W Yates, The County Palatine of Lancaster, 1786 C Greenwood, The County Palatine of Lancaster, 1818Copies of the following estate maps are held at Towneley Hall: James Hamilton, 1661 Map showing part of the estate, c 1735 A Rough Plan of the Meadow Lands at Towneley, 1807 Estate map, 1834OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1844 2nd edition published 1912-13 OS 1:2500: 1960 editionArchival items Copies of selected estate papers (Towneley Papers) from the Lancashire Record Office (DDTo) are held at Towneley Hall including:8 March 1741/2 Agreement between Cecilia Towneley and Ralph Raynels 1 March 1749/50 Letter from C. Towneley to Mr Craven. 23 April 1798 Letter from JamesVeitch to Charles Towneley 29 March 1799 Letter from James Veitch to Charles Towneley4 March 1800 Letter to Thomas Forshaw from Charles Towneley 15 May 1800 Letter to Thomas Forshaw from Charles Towneley 23 March 1803 account of trees and shrubs valued at 16.15.8d brought from ManchesterDescription written: August 1997 Register Inspector: CEH Edited: March 1999

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NewsWorldEurope Exclusive: The dark side of the Magic Kingdom? Fairytale may be over for Disneyland Paris Christian Sylt Disney's Paris park compares negatively to its US operations which have a 'can-do' reputation Getty Images Disneyland Paris launched its Christmas season with a light show that wrapped its castle in wintry images earlier this month. But behind the scenes, there was a far less warm and fuzzy atmosphere.At the end of October, the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (Unsa), a French confederation of trade unions, wrote to the chief executive of Disneyland Paris demanding an improvement in working conditions following the attempted suicide of a staff member, The Independent can disclose.The incident took place earlier in the month when a worker in the horticulture department tried to kill himself after receiving a notification to attend an interview with his supervisors.“He emptied a barrel of petrol over his head and took a lighter to set fire...but a colleague jumped on him at the last moment, preventing him from committing the irreparable,” said Patrick Maldidier, a Unsa representative.A spokesman for Disneyland Paris said the park was “saddened” by the actions of the employee, who survived the attempt on his own life and is still being closely monitored. The spokesman added: “Several investigations are being conducted by independent experts to understand this incident. The employee has received counselling and is now back at work.”But Unsa has opened its own investigation “to understand the reasons” for the suicide attempt, and said they are planning to file a complaint against Disneyland Paris.In the letter to theme park officials, it warned of a “ deterioration of the social climate which is noticed by us as well as the employees within the company”.It added: “We believe that this deterioration is related to changes in working conditions. This deterioration of the social climate is also accentuated by an absence of dialogue and a sharp increase in disciplinary sanctions.”The letter, which was sent on 28 October, continued: “The behaviour of the management and the human resources administrators is in this sense significant. Therefore we ask you to kindly take these findings into consideration in order to find sustainable sensitive solutions to ease the current tensions which only increase the psychosocial risks just about everywhere at Disneyland Paris.”Disneyland Paris declined to respond to union’s claims when approached by The Independent, but the attempted suicide is not the first incident of its kind involving park staff. Two chefs took their own lives in 2010. A Disney staff and management health committee investigation found no evidence of work harassment after the first suicide, and Disneyland Paris directors denied that the second suicide was work-related.It followed a strike inside the Disney theme park just before Christmas 2009 when the daily parade was replaced with staff marching in protest at a pay freeze. A spokesman for Disney said there was no connection between “that minor workforce disruption involving less than 2 per cent of staff” and the tragedies of 2010.The travails of Disneyland Paris stand in stark contrast to the “ service with a smile” the staff at Disney’s US parks are renowned for. This has not been lost on theme park fans.In September, a petition demanding higher standards at Disneyland Paris signed by 5,000 disenchanted fans was sent to Bob Iger, chief executive of the California-based Walt Disney Company. It was triggered by the cancellation of four shows and the closure of multiple attractions. Since the petition was sent it has remained open to new signatures and the tally now stands at just over 7,500. Disney declined to comment on whether any action has been taken as a result.Unlike its parks in the United States, Disney’s outpost in Paris is not wholly-owned by the Walt Disney Company. It has a 39.8 per cent stake in it with 50.2 per cent floated on the stock exchange in Paris and 10 per cent in the hands of Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed who saved Disneyland Paris from bankruptcy by injecting $350m into its parent company Euro Disney in 1994.Over the past six months alone it has lost 8.4 per cent of its share price, which closed on Tuesday at €4.52, giving it a market value of €176.2m. Since Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, it has made a loss 14 times and the dark clouds still haven’t cleared. In the year to 30 September 2013 revenue fell by 1 per cent to €1.3bn as the economic downturn continued.“We felt this in theme park attendance and hotel occupancy, notably with fewer guests coming from France and southern Europe,” said Euro Disney’s chief executive Philippe Gas, who was paid €688,746 in 2012 and granted Walt Disney Company stock and options with a value of €699,593. Since he took over in September 2008, Euro Disney has made total net losses of €350.5m. Its red ink has been driven by financing charges on the €1.7bn of debt which was used to fund construction of the resort and had still not been paid back.The interest and repayments on the debt have left Euro Disney with little money to invest in new attractions which in turn has limited its potential to grow revenues, although a spokesman for Disney maintained that considerable investment continues: “Disney has recently renovated two guest hotels with a third refurbishment up next. In 2014 we will launch the first attraction based on the movie Ratatouille, which follows the launch of the successful Disney Dreams in 2012 and Toy Story Playland in 2010.” He added that Disneyland Paris had maintained its employment levels since 2009 “while many employers have significantly reduced their workforces”, and pointed out that staff salaries had increased by an average of 10% between 2008 and 2012.Last year, the Walt Disney Company finally waved its magic wand and took over the bank loans in a refinancing which reduced the interest rate, saving Euro Disney €45m over the next five years.The effect of this was felt in its recent results as its financial expenses were reduced by €24.9m to €51.6m. However, it still wasn’t enough to bring a sparkle to Euro Disney’s finances and it made another net loss – this time finishing €78.2m in the red. A happy ending still seems far, far away.* Some supplementary comments from Disney’s spokesman were added to this article after its initial publication. More about: Loans And Lending Market The Super-Rich

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Chanukah to Light Up JerusalemThe largest Menorah in the world, whose wax is made from more than 5,000 candles, will light up Jerusalem Sunday night, the first evening of the eight-day Festival of Lights. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 26/12/05 16:01 | updated: 14:39 The menorah will be lit at Pisgat Ze'ev, in the northern part of the capital, and is housed in an elevator, enabling it to be seen from miles around to fulfill the mitzvah of publicizing the miracle of Chanukah, which occurred 2,170 years ago. The holiday recalls both the miraculous victory of the minority of Jews over the ruling Greeks, and the miracle of the burning of holy olive oil for eight days. After the military victory, the priests at that time searched the desecrated Temple and found one container of olive oil that was fit to light the holy Menorah. The oil was enough for only 24 hours, but lasted eight days, during which time the priests were able to prepare new oil. The menorah used today to commemorate the holiday has eight branches, one more than that which was used in the holy Temple, and which is forbidden to use until the completion of the Third Temple.In addition to the huge menorah, thousands of menorahs distributed by the city will be lit in stores and offices throughout the capital, providing a widespread sign of the holiday. The city is offering free tours along the route of the lit menorahs between 6 and 8 p.m. every night

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Open daily: 10am to 5pm • More Info › Get ZooMail Rentals & Accessibility Rainforest of the Americas Elephants of Asia Animal Management Programs TOMS Animal Initiative Appeal Giving Name an Animal Safari Society Beastly Ball Business Partners Program School and Group Programs ZooCamp Duttenhaver Conservation Field Study Program Streets to Streams 2014 Reciprocal List Zoo Publications Membership Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Member Tours Sign up for Zoo Mail LA Zoo History Zoo Commission AAZK/LA Chapter Seal, Harbor Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina Fast Fact: Harbor seal pups are born able to swim and only after a few days, they are able to dive for up to two minutes. Harbor seals are part of the “true seal” family, characterized by their lack of external ears as well as limited locomotion on land due to small forelimbs. STATUS: The harbor seal is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). HABITAT: Harbor seals make their homes in temperate coastal habitats including beaches and rocky outcrops on the coasts of North America (from Baja California to the Arctic on the west coast and from New England to the Arctic on the east coast). DIET: The typical diet of a harbor seal includes fish, crabs, shrimp, squid, and has even been known to include some kinds of seabirds. Even though they typically feed on whatever they can find in the shallow waters off the coast, harbor seals can also dive up to 500 meters, greatly extending their meal options. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Harbor seals are typically 5.5 to 6.5 feet in length and weight about 245 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females overall. Even though the colors of harbor seals vary between individuals, they typically range from blue to a grey-black with a light underside and dark spots throughout. They have short snouts and round heads, with short forelimbs and long hind limbs. As is common with “true seals,” the harbor seal has no visible ear flaps (called pinna), however they do have distinct ear canals visible behind the eye. Seal or Sea Lion Because of their similar look and overlapping habitat, seals and their relatives, the sea lions, are often confused with one another. There are multiple differences between these two species that will help you distinguish between these similar marine delights and here are a few noticeable ones: First, seals are part of the “true seal” family that characteristically has no earflaps, but rather earholes located behind the eyes. Sea lions, on the other hand, are part of the eared seals and, true to their name, have visible earflaps on the sides of their head. Second, seals have short forelimbs and are unable to walk sturdily on land. Sea lions, though, have large forelimbs that they are able to tuck underneath their bodies when on land, allowing them to walk on all fours. Third, seals use a powerful hind flipper to power themselves through the water while only using its forelimbs for steering. The sea lion, on the other hand, uses its large forelimbs to propel and maneuver itself through the water (similar to how a bird uses its wings to fly). Whenever you see a marine mammal come pay a visit on a shore near you, you will be able to use these definite differences distinguish whether the beauty you are looking at is a “true seal” or its close relative, the sea lion. Botanical Gardens Frequently Asked Questions Botanical Background Botanical Highlights The Gottlieb Center Animal Health Education Animal Health Care Volunteers Suzanne and Robert J. Gottlieb ©2014 Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 - (323) 644-4200 The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens is owned, operated, and maintained by the City of Los Angeles. The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the official support arm of the Zoo. Back to Top

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Your Community News Opinions Columns A & E Eating Out Classifieds Real Estate Contact Us Features « Pā‘ia Meditation Ode to Order» Wailuku Coffee Company Opens And Maui bids farewell to Café Marc Aurel. May 27, 2010 Paul Janes-Brown Save | Post a comment | The European-style restaurant located on Market Street in Wailuku featured wine tastings, art exhibits and a much-needed venue for live, late-night music. Some of Maui’s best musicians, such as Gene Argel, Sal Godinez, Renata Cordiero, the Ha‘ikü Hillbillies and Dr. Nat, to name a few, were regulars for years at the Wailuku night spot. “We just haven’t been able to make ends meet with the tough economy,” said café General Manager Rose Fernandes. “Our evenings have slowly turned into a ghost town. Furlough Fridays have affected our business as well.” Fernandes revealed that although Café Marc Aurel is gone, Wailuku Coffee Company, a new business owned by the same hui that owned the café, will open on Tuesday, June 1. The grand opening party will be held during the Wailuku First Friday event on June 4. Article Photos Café Marc Aurel closed on May 15, and Wailuku Coffee Company will hold its grand opening during Wailuku First Friday on June 4. The tables and chairs are piled unceremoniously where, for ten years, Maui people sipped wine, savored cheeses and listened to some of the best non-tourist music on the island at Café Marc Aurel. Wailuku Coffee Company will officially open on June 1. The Wailuku Coffee Company—now hiring. The new business will offer fresh salads, made-to-order sandwiches, soup and pastries. Wailuku Coffee Company will also host monthly art exhibits and remain open late for First Fridays with live entertainment supporting the Arts Education for Children Group. “We look forward to a successful future supporting the Wailuku community,” said Fernandes. “Hopefully in the future we will be able to open for dinner as well. But at this time, Wailuku is just too slow in the evening.” She thanked the community for supporting “Marc’s passion.” “Café Marc Aurel was a definite bright spot in the ongoing revitalization of Wailuku,” said Jocelyn Perreira, executive director of the Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center. She said that the café, which provided a place for after-hours meetings and social gatherings, and was frequented by locals, businesses and visitors, will be missed. “Unfortunately, we are currently facing the challenge of tough economic times.” Artist and gallery owner Pat Masumoto echoed Perreira’s sentiments. “Café Marc Aurel served a purpose—especially after work in mid-week. The atmosphere was such that I could pop in and enjoy the familiarity of friendship. Seeing artist-types, business people, others in politics… I’m going to miss that.” “I like it as a lunch spot, but think it might make sense for it to close in the evening,” said mayoral candidate Orion Koppelman. “Whenever I’ve frequented the café, it’s always been to enjoy the outdoor setting during lunchtime.” Godinez, a well-known Maui musician, said that that the loss of Café Marc Aurel leaves a hole in Maui’s music scene. “I think Fred Turner, former chair and CEO of McDonald’s, put it the best when talking about Café Marc Aurel: ‘… I come in here and I feel like I’m in a club back in Chicago or New York. Small, intimate and great music.’ He is coming back this summer and I know he is going to be surprised that there is no more music there.” Former Planning Director Chris Hart, a businessperson and an announced mayoral candidate who lives and works in Wailuku, said, “It’s a loss to Market Street and to Wailuku. I am an advocate for the revitalization of Wailuku. It’s great that the same group of people is going to be running it. The café started out as a coffee shop. It was a very nice place to go to have a fine glass of wine.” “The closing of Cafë Marc Aurel feels a little like losing an old friend,” said Deidre Tegarden, coordinator of the Maui County Office of Economic Development. “It’s long been a hub of activity in Wailuku. On the bright side, it’s with great excitement that we look forward to the opening of the Wailuku Coffee Company and believe that it will continue the legacy of Marc Aurel in bringing the community together while showcasing the unique charm and ambiance of Wailuku Town. One thing’s for certain—due to its grand opening on June 4, it’ll be a First Friday event not to be missed.” “As a unique gathering place in Wailuku Town, Café Marc Aurel has been a wonderful place that offered music and poetry readings in the warm ambiance of a café,” said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “Its promotion of the arts enriched historic Wailuku Town throughout the years and their endeavors have added to the vitality of the area. I look forward to the re-opening and wish the new proprietors great success.” Save | Post a comment | I am looking for:

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Hello, thank you for visiting my site. Mearns.org.uk was originaly registered when to do so was free, back in the days before Nominet and web any formal regulation. On this site I have information related to the North of Scotland, as well including personel interests. Please have a look around, the history section is pretty popular, and now (December 2008) that I am back in the UK after living overseas for nearly 8 years, I look forward to being more proactive in the web update, additions and maintenance. I have links to Stonehaven and the mearns villages and, since moving here in July 2007,the village of Torphins and surounding area. Torphins is a very pleasant village in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and lies on the Beltie Burn. With a population of about 2000 it is one of the larger villages in Deeside, but still with a pleasant quite country air and well served for travel to and from Aberdeen, Aboyne or Banchory. The Learney Arms is set in the centre of the village, the independent Platform 22 cafe - gallery is close by, and Torphins has it's own Town Hall.The village has many other facilities including a primary school, large park with play area, pleasant 9 hole golf course, tennis courts, a bowling green, a curling rink, a doctors surgery and a variety of shops including a superb butcher, a baker, a hairdressers, a furniture maker, a Co-operative grocer, chemist and a car dealership. There is a Church of Scotland, which is part of the Mid Deeside United Churches with Kincardine O'Neil and Lumphanan. Torphins Gala Day Pipers 2008 Torphins is about 20 miles by the A980 road west of Aberdeen on what was once the 19th Century Great North of Scotland railway, set in a pleasant valley and was home to a War Memorial Maternity Hospital, and as a result, many notable people from Deeside have been born in Torphins. The building however has recently become a GP clinic, and no longer offers maternity facilities. Torphins

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Venice Beach Marina del Rey Luxury Yacht in Marina Del Ray Palawan Way, 90292 Los Angeles, United States 4UB63D1K James Contact James here Show original version. Located in the Marina Del Ray, just off of Venice Beach in the Santa Monica district of Los Angeles, is this stunning luxury yacht. Cruises are available to guests on request for the discounted fee of $290 per hour.The yacht can accommodate up to 7 guests in 2 bedrooms with queen-size beds, while a 3rd bedroom holds 2 futons and a sleeping sofa. Guests can enjoy flat-screen TVs with DVD players and surround sound in most rooms, a movie theatre room with a large projection screen and surround sound, and free Wi-Fi throughout. There are 2 bathrooms with showers on board and toiletries are provided. The kitchen is fully fitted with all standard equipment and includes a coffee maker. A concierge service and housekeeping are available. Parking facilities are available for one car. Bike rental may be possible on request.Please note that events and get togethers are not permitted when the yacht is docked. Los Angeles residents may only book cruises with the captain and crew at a rate of $300 per hour. Overnight stays are not available for local residents. No pets.No drugs.No children under the age of 12 years.Parties may be permitted on advance request.Charters (cruising) can be made available at a discount rate of $290 per hour. Additional concierge services are also available. Toilet paper should not be flushed down the toilets. A fee will be charged from the security deposit if this rule is broken. There are external private restrooms on site. Guests should not touch the yacht mechanics or electronics, and are not permitted to attempt to drive the yacht. The yacht should be left in the same condition as it was at the time of check-in. Please treat the yacht with respect, as you would your own home. More information What a fantastic way to spend a few days in the LA area. James' 'houseboat' is comfortable, spacious and located on a perfect quiet spot. Nevertheless, Venice Beach is as close as half a mile and good restaurants and shops are nearby. James did everything to make us feel at home. We'd love to come again! evgeniya все понравилось. прекрасный хозяин.

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Floating Low to Lofoten By Martin Edge This is the story of a trip to the Norwegian Arctic aboard my 27ft yacht. In 2008 we crossed the North Sea from the Firth of Forth, then cruised north to the Lofoten Islands and back. Most of the journey was sailed solo.It's a tale about a perfectly ordinary journey through some of the most stunning scenery - and easiest cruising waters - in the world. More “Floating Low to Lofoten” is the story of a trip to the Norwegian Arctic aboard my 27ft yacht. In 2008 we crossed the North Sea from the Firth of Forth, then I cruised northwards, above the Arctic Circle to north of the Lofoten Islands. Most, but by no means all of this journey, was sailed solo.Having decided to explore the west coast of Norway a friend asked me how far up I intended to go. Without having bothered to look at a map I replied casually that I’d probably just nip up to the Lofotens. He seemed surprised. So was I when I took a quick look at a chart and saw how far up they were.This is not, as I’m sure you can tell, a tale of conquering the savage seas against all odds. Neither does it claim to be a pilot book or sailing directions. It’s just the story of a holiday in a wee boat that went a bit further than most people manage in a summer cruise.The whole of the landscape of the Atlantic coast of Norway is fantastically scenic, but the further north you go the more stunning it gets and I’ve tried to give a sense of that in this volume. The verdant hills, populous towns and thriving economy of rural Norway, even way up beyond the Arctic Circle, offer lessons for our barren glens and depopulated communities in Scotland.Cruising alone in this marvellous, sheltered environment could be said to heighten the critical faculties. It could also be said to cause me to rant a lot. This is not the kind of detailed sailing log that documents the minutest of wind shifts and the colour of that morning’s ‘Y’-fronts. As well as the story of a sailing cruise it’s a series of observations about the nature, culture, people, economy and boats of the places I passed through.This is the second in a series of cruising ‘logs’ about Zophiel’s voyages. “Skagerrak and Back” is the tale of a North Sea circuit, “A Gigantic Whinge on the Celtic Fringe” is the story of our circumnavigation of Ireland and "Bobbing to the Baltic" describes a trip from Edinburgh to the Russian border. Recently some of the people who have been slandered in these tales have suggested that they should be used for kindling. I’ve taken these kind words to heart and published them first for Kindle and now for other e-readers.Soon I'll be publishing two volumes about some land-based travels, entitled "Travels with my Rant" and "The Front of Beyond". These are gripping tales about nipping over dodgy borders in places like Nicaragua and Burma and being kidnapped, after a fashion, in East Timor.This volume contains a lot of colour photographs. If you’re struggling with grainy black and white on an e-reader, there’s more sailing tales and the full set of colour photos from this volume at www.edge.me.uk/Sailinghome.htm Available ebook formats: Nonfiction » Travel » By region » Europe » Norway Published: Jan. 03, 2012 Words: 50,070 trollfjord henningsvaer svartisen About Martin Edge "Travels with my Rant"Most of my writing is about my travels. Mostly very slow travels. For some years now I've been plodding round the seas of northern Europe aboard a small sailing boat. To date I've published three accounts of these trips.For years I poked around in some of the more obscure parts of some developing countries, hitch-hiking and travelling by boat, train and bus. Some of the buses were slower than my boat. The record was 12 hours to go 11 miles in the Shan State in northern Burma. I'll soon be publishing two volumes entitled "Travels with my Rant" and "The Front of Beyond". These will include tales about hopping across dodgy borders in places like East Timor and Nicaragua.Whilst travel may broaden some minds and narrow others, travelling slowly and alone changes your perspective on the world around you. I like to think it hones the senses and heightens the critical faculties. Others have agreed that yes, it does make me rant on and on about everything.My travel writings are not gripping tales of derring-do and one man's survival in a savage wilderness against all the odds. I am, in fact, something of a wimp. Neither do they consciously seek to maintain the mythology and exoticism of travel to far flung parts.The fact is that more or less everywhere on earth people wear jeans and ride scooters. The documentary makers must have a hell of a job editing the world so that it's full of tribal head-dresses and loin cloths. Culture shock isn't all it's cracked up to be and nowhere on the planet is as alien as it appears to be from a distance. Except Manchester of course.I've tried to give a flavour of the places I've visited and to discuss those aspects of their landscape, environment, people, culture, economy and politics which make them interesting.In 2014 I published a sort of pilot book entitled "105 Rocks and Other Stuff to Tie your Boat to in Eastern Sweden and Finland". It's full of photos, maps, descriptions and waypoints for, as the name suggests, 105 Scandinavian rocks and other harbours. It's available FREE of charge at my website (www.edge.me.uk) as a web file and as a pdf. There's yet more stuff on my web page at http://www.edge.me.uk/index.htm. This includes a pile of more academic papers written while I was Head of Research of the Architecture School in Aberdeen. Tweet North Sea Dolphins I took this footage of dolphins playing around the bow on our return journey across the North Sea. Take a look at 'Bristol Channel Dolphins' and 'Welsh Dolphins' associated with my other books or on YouTube. They are both probably a bit better than this ons. (Why do I still call digital pictures 'footage') Also by This Author Readers of This Book Also Read Reviews

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Disney should run Titanic Belfast, says Northern Ireland economist Professor Mike Smyth warns public sector involvement will limit success of Titanic Belfast as tourist venue The Titanic leaving Southampton on 10 April, 1912, at the start of her ill-fated Atlantic voyage. Photograph: AP Henry McDonald, Ireland correspondent Friday 23 March 2012 13.05 EDT First published on Friday 23 March 2012 13.05 EDT Disney should have been asked to run Belfast's new Titanic attraction, one of Northern Ireland's leading economists has said, warning that the project could become "another white elephant". As the city prepares for the opening of Titanic Belfast, the £100m visitor centre built on the slipway where the ship was launched 100 years ago, Prof Mike Smyth expressed concern that public sector involvement in running the complex would hamper its development of as a tourist magnet. Ahead of the doors opening on 31 March, Smyth, who is also an economic adviser to the EU, said: "I really, really wish the new Titanic project well but I think, to excuse the pun, we are in danger of missing the boat." The University of Ulster economics lecturer continued: "Civil servants and the public sector in Northern Ireland are too risk averse. They are too concerned with ticking boxes and keeping a bureaucracy going that clogs up enterprise. "It would have been far better to hand over the day-to-day running of the Titanic centre as a tourism venue to the people who know how to get bums on seats. "They should have negotiated with the Disney organisation or the company that runs, say Alton Towers, in order to ensure that year in, year out the tourists keep coming to this part of Belfast. Having a public sector input will tie the hands of enterprising individuals who have to do the hard sell." Titanic Belfast stresses that it has brought together a host of stakeholders from the public and private sector including the attraction's designers Event Communications, whose other projects have included the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Imperial War Museum North and the Roman Baths in Bath. "Operationally the team at Titanic Belfast includes senior personnel who have a track record of successfully running large public venues such as Belfast's Waterfront Hall," a spokesperson for the company said. Smyth pointed to the example of golf and a £100m golf resort a mile from the Giant's Causeway on the North Antrim coast as a warning about how developments can get clogged up by "do-gooders and box tickers. "Even though the minister of environment, Alex Attwood, finally approved the scheme this month we may have missed out. People talk about our great golfers, our world-beaters like Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke and how we can capitalise on golf tourism as a result. "But look at the record – it took a decade to get permission to build that world-class resort on the North Antrim coast. And our record in bringing in golf tourist revenue has to be put in perspective. According to the figures golf tourism in Northern Ireland brought in around £15m in 2009. Yet the Open in somewhere like St Andrews or Troon just across the sea will bring in £100m of tourist revenue. In total, Scotland golf tourism brings in around £1bn per year," he said.

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Home > Regions > Gippsland > Kilcunda The small community of Kilcunda is situated on the pristine and rugged South Gippsland coastline between Phillip Island and Wonthaggi. The commercial centre of Kilcunda is situated along the northern side of the Bass Highway and includes a hotel, general store and a small selection of other shops. Across the road is a coastal reserve perched above the beach on the clifftop, consisting of a caravan park, BBQ shelter and picnic areas, all offering scenic views towards the ocean. There are three distinct beach areas in Kilcunda. The main town beach across the road from the shops and below the caravan park consists of wide stretches of sand with steep cliff backdrops and rocky platforms with shallow rock pools that extend into the sea. Shelley Beach is a secluded sandy beach bounded by two rocky headlands, accessed from either the Bass Highway west of Kilcunda Ridge Road or by walking around the western headland from the main beach. Past the eastern headland at the main beach is the town's surf beach, popular with anglers and surfers. Here, the rocky cliffs give way to a backdrop of large sand dunes and wide expanses of sand. One of Kilcunda's best kept secrets is the Powlett River, accessed from the Mouth Of Powlett Road, 3 kilometres east of town on the Bass Highway. Fishermen frequent the area around the river crossing and also further along the river where it swells into what resembles a large lake. Safe, sheltered swimming and boating can be enjoyed in the river's shallow waters as it approaches the ocean at the Kilcunda-Harmers Haven Coastal Reserve. Sand dunes rise high above the river mouth, offering scenic views back along the river and of the wind-swept ocean beach. The Bass Coast Rail Trail follows the route of the former railway line which connected Nyora with the coal mine at Wonthaggi. One of the best known features along this walking and cycling track is the railway trestle bridge over Bourne Creek which was built in 1910 and offers a spectacular vantage point, providing views of the surf beach below and to the hilly inland grazing areas. Another scenic track is the 7 kilometre long George Bass Coastal Walk which offers panoramic coastal views from a narrow winding path as it follows the coastline from the end of Punch Bowl Road in San Remo to the Kilcunda foreshore. A drive several kilometres northwards along the unsealed Kilcunda Ridge Road takes visitors into the surrounding rolling hills where picturesque views of the coast from surrounding grazing land can be enjoyed.

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CASA VeneracionRecipe Index Home » Life & Leisure » Taiwan is hotTaiwan is hot Like Tweet +1 Pin Reddit Yummly Not warm, not lukewarm – but hot. And I mean that literally and figuratively. I was in Taiwan for four days and four nights with some press people upon the invitation of the Taiwanese government as part of its tourism program. We flew to Taipei on Wednesday and was back in Manila on Sunday. Quite unfortunately, two of the four days that we were there were the hottest in 21 years. At over 37 degrees on Friday and over 38 degrees on Saturday, one would think it shouldn’t be a big deal for a Filipino who was born and raised in the Philippines. But humidity in Taiwan is a totally different story. The trip was a learning experience. The first lesson is that you don’t really want to go to Taiwan in July – July and August being the summer months. Your best bet would be around January when the weather is friendlier. That will give you a better chance of appreciating what Taiwan has to offer – and it has a lot to offer. Second, one ought to stop thinking that Taipei is all there is to Taiwan. Personally, apart from the thrill of taking photos from the 89th floor of Taipei 101, currently the world’s tallest building, I was least excited by Taipei. Still, one has to be impressed with Taipei 101’s high speed elevator which did things to my ears that I nevertheless ignored because I was much too entertained by the images of stars and constellations on its ceiling. As of July 21, 2007, the still unfinished Burj Dubai is already taller than Taipei 101 but until it is completed, Taipei 101 holds the world record. The view from Taipei 101’s Observatory on the 89th floor The Taipei 101 Observatory on the 89th floor. The glass windows offered a 360-degree view of Taipei and the surrounding county. Above, a busy Taipei street. Below, a football field. Above, a shopping mall. On the foreground below, bridges spanning the Keelung River; on the background, Taipei county. Furthermore, I felt great entering Taipei 101’s shopping mall area with no security guards poking through my bag nor berating me for taking photos. Gosh, until that moment, I never realized just how much of a hassle – and a violation – those security guards in our shopping malls represent. They inspect your bags, feel you up as though they can spot an explosive device with their token inspections – as though they even know what a bomb looks like, the imbecile fools. They’re more likely to find a snake inside my bag than anything that explodes. Even my cell phone occasionally gets lost in the mess. But, anyway… When in Taiwan, the third lesson is to think food. There is simply no point in visiting a country and eating only in those Western fast food chains – and they were everywhere. But you just have to ignore them because Taiwanese food is just heavenly. Fourth, you have to see the countrysides. Under the scorching sun at Yehliu Geo Park The main attraction of the Yehliu GeoPark is the rock formations along the coastline. Limestones carved by wind and water have transformed in shapes that resemble mushrooms, candles, ginger and even a woman’s head. Unfortunately for us, we arrived at Yehliu at mid-morning and we had to go through the obligatory video presentation. It wasn’t until late in the morning that we explored the rock formations to take photos. By that time, the sun was directly overhead — not exactly the most ideal lighting for taking nature photos. So, if the colors appear too saturated, you know why. Between the parking lot and the entrance to the park were stalls selling dried fish and seafood. Not surprising. Yehliu Geo Park is located along a fishing coastline. The rock formations… the candle rocks The ginger rocks The honeycomb rocks King Kong rock The famous Queen’s Head rock A foot bridge… …and some sightseers… I’m just glad I survived the heat. There are quaint shops in the countrysides that offer interesting items like bracelets with preserved insects. No, it isn’t yucky at all. They are beautiful, actually. I bought two for my daughters and despite their aversion to bugs, they love the bracelets. I would have bought two more for Manila Standard editor-in-chief Jojo Robles and associate editor Chin Wong but, after careful consideration, I concluded that their wrists wouldn’t do justice to the bracelets. It was the countrysides that I found so captivating. We spent some time at the Sun Moon Lake area, a three-hour drive from Taipei, and it was grand. We stayed at the Hotel Del Lago right on the waterfront where the dining area extended to a veranda overlooking the marina. If the day hadn’t been too darned hot and humid, and if the schedule hadn’t been too tight, I would have spent hours lolling there, sipping coffee, gazing at the clouds that descended on the hills across the lake and taking photos of the ever changing scenery. Of course, we did more than sit on the veranda and gaze dreamily at the clouds. We went around Sun Moon Lake on a boat, embarked on a spot and climbed all of 150 steps to a temple where the view of the lake was even more breathtaking. Okay, I won’t sugarcoat this part. The climb was terrible. I was carrying a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens attached to it and a handbag with another lens inside and I thought I would collapse right there. The vegetation in the area was very dense and, naturally, until we reached the clearing near the temple, there was very little breeze to relieve the suffocating heat. When the climb was finally over, I just plopped on the temple steps and waited for the perspiration to stop. It didn’t. But, after a few minutes, I was ready to put the bad climb behind me. If you’re a photography buff, the punishing climb is not that hard to forget once you start framing every part of the scenery. It was awesome. Across the lake was an aboriginal village with more quaint shops and unforgettable food. We had a “fruit dinner” at one of the restaurants in the village the night before the boat ride and the experience was one for the books. Outdoor tables under canopies (some with large umbrellas) with crystal chandeliers and centerpieces made of fresh fruits… but more on that in the to-be-written Taiwan food trip article. From the Sun Moon Lake area, we drove to the town of Puli, famous for its wine. I was expecting a tour of the winery itself, not just the exhibit area but we never saw the inside of the winery. The only consolation was the array of food stalls where one could eat the equivalent of an entire meal with the free samples. I was especially thrilled by the Taiwanese version of the local cream puffs with its flakier crust and lighter custard filling. Visit a night market I was sorry to leave the countryside to go back to Taipei. But there was the train ride to look worward to. Travelling at a maximum speed of 300 kilometers, the train ride did things to my ears the way the high speed elevator at Taipei 101 did. We arrived at the central station in Taipei an hour later, switched to the MRT that plied the city and got off at the station beside the Shilin Night Market. From day one, I had been pestering the tour guide to bring us to the night market which wasn’t on the official itinerary. But I figured that if I was going to get any shopping done at all – at prices I wouldn’t feel sorry about later – it would be at the night market. And I wanted to have my taste of street food – not just the pricey restaurant food but the kind that the average residents enjoyed. So, the trip to the night market was, to my mind, going to be the highlight of the Taipei part of the trip. It’s not like we weren’t warned. The tour guide did say it would be crowded because it was a Friday evening. But having lived in Metro Manila all my life until we moved to the suburb six years ago, and being such a veteran of places like Divisoria, I thought I could breeze through the Taipei night market scene. I was wrong. Think Divisoria in Decmber and you’ll get a good picture of Shilin Night Market on a Friday evening. Pay attention to what goes on around you Scooters are like a national mode of transportation in Taiwan — they actually outnumber cars by a ratio of 1:3. We were on our way to Yehliu in northeast Taiwan when we stopped at an intersection to give way to a funeral procession. We crowded in front of the bus and started taking photos through the windshield. Of course, the costumed figures stood out. I asked the tour guide what they represented and she said each figure represented one concubine. There are five figures visible and another is partly hidden between those with green and orange flowers on their heads. I commented that that was a lot of concubines and the tour guide said it was a rich man’s funeral. So, the number of concubines was proportional to a man’s wealth? I didn’t ask anymore. I’ve long ago learned that cultures will always differ and it isn’t wise to judge another based on the standards of one’s own culture. I used to smirk when I read about widows in India setting themselves on fire after their husband’s death but I don’t anymore. I mean, it’s not like monogamy — imposed by Christianity — guarantees the best and most stable society. So, live and let live. The crowds and the heat notwithstanding, Taipei is not without its charms. Although I felt that it lacked the bustle of a real metropolis, Taipei is a modern city where zoning and traffic laws are strictly followed. What our tour guide called the after-five rush hour traffic was milder than the 10.00 a.m. or 2.00 p.m. traffic in Metro Manila. It was amazing how pedestrians only crossed the streets at designated areas even with no traffic cops in sight. That most private vehicles appeared to be in good condition must have something to do with the fact that there were no potholes in Taipei. I read that Taipei has its version of our tricycle and I was on the lookout for them. I saw none though and it was a such a pleasure not to hear the croak of motorcycles with two-stroke engines. And although there was the occasional food hawker on street corners, sidewalks were largely places where pedestrians walked rather than a venue for the makeshift shops of unregistered businesses. There is so much about Taiwan and the Taiwanese that we can learn from, and vice versa. The language barrier is a serious issue for sure but I can’t say that it’s a total hindrance to communication. I speak no Chinese dialect whatsoever and most Taiwanese speak no English. But the times I went out on my own to buy food, drinks and toiletries, we managed to understand one another. Like Tweet +1 Pin Reddit Yummly Except for those clearly labeled as stock photos and screen grabs, please do not use our images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe / article, please re-write it in your own words (copy / paste is not re-writing), or simply link back to this post. Thank you. Published on 07/24/2007 in Life & Leisure, Taiwan, TravelRecommended For YouHow the British addiction to tea shaped Hong KongPak Loh Chiu Chow at the HK International Airport4 lawyers’ Hong Kong food trip, part 2: Disneyland good and bad eats4 lawyers’ Hong Kong food trip, part 1: Food Republic and Federal PalaceManila Hotel, patrimony and heritageLegends about how the Chocolate Hills were formedAbout the Author Hello, my name is Connie Veneracion. I cook, I shoot, I write. But I don't do the laundry. I don't like housekeeping very much either... (more) More ... Seafood Fiesta! More ... Not So Fine Print Author ♥ Cooks ♥ Privacy & TOS ♥ Disclaimer ♥ E-mail Except for quotes, public domain videos, stock images and screen grabs, all text and photos © Connie, Speedy, Sam & Alex Veneracion. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No reproduction without prior written permission.

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What to see? You are here: Featured monuments Featured monuments Discover the top México DF attractions. Don't miss the best places to visit in the city. Alameda Central The oldest park in Mexico City, it gets its name from the poplar (álamo) trees first planted on it, now replaced by willow and ash trees. So as to highlight the city's beauty and to create a space intended exclusively for walking, its layout was enhanced with sculptures, fountains and monuments. After a lengthy remodelling, the park was reopened in late 2012 and can once more be enjoyed by pedestrians. Source: www.zonaturistica.com How to get to: Alameda Central Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe This important basilica in Mexico City is officially called Insigne y Nacional Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe. This shrine is devoted entirely to the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe (mystical allusion to gifts, appearances or attributes of the Virgin Mary), which makes it an important site in Christendom. The basilica is visited by over 12 million pilgrims a year. As a result, the basilica is regarded as the second most visited church in the world after St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Source: turismo.org How to get to: Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe This palace is atop the hill in the Bosque de Chapultepec. It was built during Spanish colonial times for religious purposes until Maximilian of Habsburg and his wife Carlota moved in. It then became the headquarters of the Military Academy during the American invasion. Over time it was transformed into the official residency of Mexico's president, and now it houses the National History Museum. How to get to: Castillo de Chapultepec The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City is located in the Plaza de la Constitución. It is one of the biggest and most beautiful examples of colonial architecture found in the capital. Dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, construction was started in 1524 with stones that had been used in the Great Temple of Tenochtitlán. The cathedral has 16 side chapels and five naves, and is the largest in Latin America. Source: turismo.org How to get to: Catedral Metropolitana Monumento a la Independencia The Monument to Independence, popularly known as El Ángel, is in the roundabout where the Paseo de la Reforma, Río Tiber and Florencia streets meet. Inaugurated in 1910 by then-president Porfirio Díaz to commemorate the centenary of Mexico's independence, it is one of the city's most emblematic monuments. This cultural icon of Mexico City is a place of both national celebrations and demonstrations. How to get to: Monumento a la Independencia Museo Frida Kahlo The Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as Casa Azul (Blue House), is the place where the artist was born, lived and died. Located in Coyoacán, the mansion was turned into a museum in 1958, four years after the painter's death. It's also the place where the intimate possessions of the most widely recognised Latin American female artist are housed. There, we can find some of her most important works like Viva la vida (1954), Frida y la cesárea (1931), and Retrato de mi padre Wilhem Kahlo (1952). How to get to: Museo Frida Kahlo The Palace of Fine Arts is on Avenida Juárez in Mexico City and is emblematic of Mexican culture and art, with incredible architecture that perfectly combines two different styles, Art Deco and Art Nouveau, in elegance and harmony. Built based on a design by architect Adamo Boeri, construction began in 1904, the idea being to build a theatre to commemorate the country's 100 years of independence, one that would be among the world's largest and almost rival the likes of the Paris Opera. The Palace of Fine Arts is home to two museums: the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts and the National Architecture Museum. Source: turismo.org How to get to: Palacio de Bellas Artes Plaza de la Constitución The Plaza de la Constitución, also known as El Zócalo, is the city's and the country's main square. The name Zócalo originated in 1843, when Antonio López de Santa Anna held a competition to see who would build a monument to commemorate Mexico's independence, with the winner being Lorenzo de la Hidalga. Unfortunately, financial problems impeded the completion of the project, and only the base of the monument, "zócalo" in Spanish, was built, standing in the square for many years. The icon represents the silhouette of the Mexican national coat of arms. How to get to: Plaza de la Constitución Plaza Garibaldi Garibaldi Plaza is famous for its Mariachi bands, groups from the north, romantic trios and groups that play music from Veracruz. They gather in the plaza dressed in their typical attire to play their musical instruments. For many years it's been the destination of choice to book a Mariachi band to sing or accompany a serenade, for a quinceañera party or for birthdays, Mexican nights and other festivities. How to get to: Plaza Garibaldi

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Tweet Mitford Castle Add LocationMitford, Morpeth, Northumberland NE61 3PY, UKIncorrect location? Construction statusBuilt in January2005 32% profile completeness Our community will be more intelligent and beautiful. References Built / France, Metz Centre Pompidou-Metz by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines Built / Tanzania, Palo Alto Tanzanian Hotel by WOW Architects Pte Ltd Built / Italy, Rome Jubilee Church China, Beijing The National Grand Theatre of China! Estimated completion / United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel Built / Switzerland, Renens Rolex Learning Centre by SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates), Kazuyo Sejima & Associates, Yumiko Yamada, Rikiya Yamamoto, Osamu Kato, Naoto Noguchi, Mizuko Kaji, Takayuki Hasegawa and Louis-Antoine Grego Built / Switzerland, Ramosch Haus Presenhuber by Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler Architekten and Andreas Fuhrimann + Gabrielle Hachler China, Shanghai UAE Pavillion Shanghai Expo 2010 Estimated completion / Ras Al-Khaimah Emirates Complex by Snøhetta Built / Brazil, Brasilia Osler house by Renata Tilli, StudioMK27 – Marcio Kogan, Oswaldo Pessano, Renata Fulanetto, Lair Reis, Samanta Cafardo, Carolina Castroviejo, Eduardo Glycerio, Maria Cristina Motta, Mariana Simas and Gabriel Kogan Mitford_Castle.jpg Source en.wikipedia.org Copyright: Pat Pierpoint View original sizeReport Mitford Castle is an English castle dating from the end of the 11th century and located at Mitford, Northumberland. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building, enlisted on 20 October 1969. The castle is also officially on the Buildings at Risk Register. The Norman motte and bailey castle stands on a small prominence, a somewhat elliptical mound, above the River Wansbeck. The selected building site allowed for it be to natural hill scarped and ditched, producing the motte. Mitford Castle was the first of three seats for the main line of the Mitford family constructed on manor lands. Following the destruction of Mitford Castle, Mitford Old Manor House (nearby and to the northwest) was used from the 16th century until the construction of Mitford Hall in 1828. Mitford Hall stands in an 85-acre (340,000 m 2) park to the west of the castle ruins. History Prior to the 1066 Norman conquest, the castle was held by Sir John de Mitford, whose only daughter and heiress, Sybilla Mitford, was given in marriage by William the Conqueror to the Norman knight, Richard Bertram. In the late 11th century, it was an earthwork fortress of the Bertram family, and of record as William Bertram's oppidum in 1138. In 1215, it was seized by John de Balliol, King of Scotland's troops. In 1264, the castle was held by the third Roger Bertram, but in that year, it was seized from him and committed to the custody of William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, King Henry's half-brother. It was held by Alexander de Balliol, the son of John de Balliol and the elder brother of King John, in 1275. During the rebellion in Northumberland set in the 1310s, Mitford Castle was seized from the Valence family by Sir Gilbert de Middleton. In 1315, Mitford Castle was used by Sir Gilbert for kidnappings and as a prisoner hold, when Ralph de Greystock seized de Middleton for treason. There are conflicting accounts over the castle's destruction. One theory is of a fire during Middleton's rebellion. Another theory is that it was destroyed by the Scots in May 1318 during Middleton's imprisonment in the Tower of London. It was certainly destroyed by 1323 as records of an inquest held that year after the death of Sir Aymer de Valence state Mitford Castle to be " entirely destroyed and burnt." At the time of his death in 1335, Mitford Castle had been seized from its then holder, David de Strathbogie, 12th Earl of Athol, 2nd baron. The estate, including the castle, was purchased by the Bruce Shepherd family in 1993 from the Mitford family. English Heritage grants in the 2000s were offered towards repairs, restoration and preservation, and some of the work has been completed. Architecture The castle ruins are ashlar quality squared stone construction. The inner ward was built in the early 12th century. The western section of the inner ward is on a stepped plinth and includes a large rounded archway. The eastern section of the inner ward wall has a rounded round arch to the outer ward of 19th century reconstruction. The inner ward contains an unusual pentagonal keep that stands to the first floor and dates from the early 13th century. The keep was built on the highest point at the northern most area of the castle with each of its five sides being of a different dimension, and its internal area measuring approximately 22 sq ft (2.0 m 2). The triangular outer ward to the south and east was built in the late 12th century. The divided basement contains two barrel-vaulted chambers that may have been used as cisterns. The chapel, built in the mid 12th century and largely destroyed in the early 19th century, is also of squared stone. A sanctuary or chancel arch remain. A cemetery was uncovered in 1939 north of the chapel with headstones dating to the 12th century. At least one stone was moved to the Mitford churchyard with others removed or vandalized. Remains of a 12-13th century east curtain wall of squared stone include a gateway to a barmkin, mural chambers, garderobe, and a round arch. This east curtain wall area is flanked by a semicircular breastwork; the strongest part of the building. The west curtain wall and structures are also of the 12-13th century and squared stone, with different builds and masonry types found across three different sections. An inner courtyard used as a garden and orchard measured approximately 340 ft (100 m) by 340 ft (100 m). Read more » Media 2 photos 04skf7s Source en.wikipedia.org Copyright: Pat Pierpoint View original sizeReport 0 media more Building Activity

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The Weekly Peruvian Food Festival In Lima's Plaza Italia For the visitor to Lima, the humble Plaza Italia, just a few short blocks from Lima's bustling Central Market and Chinatown, may not seem like much.Yet, like much of colonial Lima, it has had a storied history that belies its current circumstances.More importantly, for lovers of traditional Peruvian food, every Sunday there is a Peruvian food festival that is set up in the Plaza Italia, offering a smorgasbord of traditional dishes to be eaten at small tables while watching passers-by traipse through what is one of Lima's most ancient public squares.The Plaza Italia is located between Jirón Junín and Jirón Huallaga, at the intersection of Jirón Huanta.Photo: Plaza Italia.I confess I do not recall where I obtained this photo;if it's yours, let me know .Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, where the Plaza Italia is now located was the site of a very important huaca, or ceremonial temple, which housed an oracle, second in importance in the region only after Pachacámac.This oracle was so beloved by the local people, the Spanish felt they had to destroy it and build a plaza in its stead. The new plaza was shaped like a trapezoid, in keeping with pre-Columbian design, which is why today's Plaza Italia is unlike other colonial plazas in Peru, which tend to be square or rectangular.The huaca was also an important pre-Columbian crossroads, with the Inca highway to the Andes passing through the vicinity of what is now the Plaza Italia.During the early colonial period, this plaza was also one of the boundaries of Lima.Photo: Plaza Santa Ana, 1800s.Universidad Nacional de San Marcos.By 1550, a church named after Saint Anne was built on a corner of the plaza. The Iglesia de Santa Ana still stands to this day, although it has long lost its colonial glory. For centuries the plaza was known as Plaza de Santa Ana.In 1550, one of the first hospitals in colonial Peru, the Real Hospital de Santa Ana, or Royal Santa Ana Hospital, was moved to a location facing the plaza. During the colonial period, this hospital only treated indigenous people, but at Independence in 1821, it became a general hospital. Eventually, the hospital was moved a few blocks away, where the current Hospital de Maternidad, or Maternity Hospital, still stands.In 1811, the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of San Fernando, Colegio de Medicina y Cirugía de San Fernando, also opened its doors facing the plaza.Photo: Plaza Santa Ana, 1800s.Biblioteca Nacional del Perú.The Plaza de Santa Ana was also the site of some of the earliest movie theaters in Lima, now long-abandoned and converted into parking lots or evangelical churches. The two theaters that functioned well into the 1980s were the Francisco Pizarro and the Mazzi.During the early 1900s (I've been trying to find the exact date to no avail), the Plaza Santa Ana was renamed Plaza Italia, in honor of the many Italian immigrants who arrived in Peru from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.In particular, it was meant to honor Milan-born Antonio Raimondi, who became a prominent geographer and scientist in his adopted homeland.Photo: Antonio Raimondi, Wikipedia.Antonio Raimondi emigrated to Peru in 1850 and became a professor of natural history. Later, he became one of the founding professors of the medical school at the University of San Marcos.Throughout his career, he displayed a passion for all things Peruvian. He undertook no less than 18 extensive journeys to all regions of the country, studying the nation's geography, geology, botany, zoology, ethnography, and archaeology.In 1875, he collected his findings in the massive tome he called simply, El Perú. There is a statue in honor of Antonio Raimondi in the Plaza Italia.Photo: El Perú by Antonio Raimondi, Wikipedia.But, as often happens, I digress. This is a blog about Peruvian food; so, let me whet your appetites with some photos I took the last time I was in Lima of the Feria de Comida Criolla held every Sunday in Plaza de Italia.Arroz con pato, duck in seasoned rice.Cuy with frejoles and rice.A view of the vendors, nice ladies from the neighborhood who cook early in the morning and serve all day.Ají de gallina, chicken in a spicy creamy sauce.(Gracias por la correción.)Seco de res, beef in a cilantro-based sauce.A pot of bubbling frejoles, Peruvian beans.Juanes from the Amazon, similar to a tamal, stuffed with rice and chicken.Cecina from the Amazon, salted beef served with tacacho, a banana-based accompaniment.Chicha de jora, an ancient corn-based frothy drink.Estofado de carnero, lamb stew.Another view of the friendly ladies at the Feria de la Cocina Criolla.Chanfainita, a spicy pork and potato dish.(Gracias por la aclaración.)Chicharrón de chancho, fried pork served with salad and potatoes.A word of caution: This is a very busy area in central Lima and care should be exercised. Also, the Plaza Italia should be the boundary of a tourist's visit to the Barrios Altos, the district where Plaza Italia is located. Sadly, going beyond the Plaza Italia (away from central Lima), the area becomes dangerous. Please do not go beyond Jirón Huanta. The plaza itself is safe, since there is a police station which abuts [email protected] here for the Peru Food main page.TAGS: Peru, Peruvian, food, cooking, cuisine, cocina, comida, gastronomía, peruana Everything looks delicious, clean and well done. I don't get to see this kind of presentation in the US but in very expensive restaurants. This food festival must be very popular! Felicitaciones por el artìculo! ... y al solo ver los platos me da hambre!! Ciao de Italia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beautful pictures! I'm hungry ... So glad that you all liked this post! Come again! The Weekly Peruvian Food Festival In Lima's Plaza ... One Year Old: Happy Birthday Peru Food!!! Trujillo Sweets: Sweets For The Sweet Washington D.C. Area Peruvian Gastronomic Festival... Dance: The National Marinera Competition In Truji... La Casa de Don Cucho in Pachacámac, Part Three: Th... La Casa de Don Cucho in Pachacámac, Part Two: The ... La Casa De Don Cucho in Pachacámac, Part One: The ... Food & Wine Magazine: Peruvian Food Among Top 100 ... Peruvian Potatoes Celebrated At Madrid Fusión 472 Years Old: Happy Birthday Lima Juanito Bodega Bar in Barranco Mangos! Peru At Madrid Fusión: January 15 - 18 Is Huacatay The Same As Epazote? Summer, Verano: Winter, Invierno Peru Food Books Photos: Amazonian Street Food Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

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North Carolina ranks high in beach water quality according to new report TweetShareGoogle+Email By George Olsen Listen Listening... North Carolina ranks high in beach water quality according to new report New Bern, NC – The Natural Resources Defense Council has recently issued its 21st annual guide to water quality at vacation beaches with North Carolina ranking in the top 25% of statewide reports. "Our report Testing the Waters for 2010 found that 4% of water samples for N-C exceeded national standards in 2010 which compares very favorably to an 8% rate of exceedance on average nationally. That places N-C 7th out of 30 states that we covered, so N-C did pretty well last year." David Beckman is the Water Program Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit international environmental advocacy group. The sampling is looking for pathogens that can either sicken people or increase the likelihood of getting sick. While the state compared favorably to the national average, the report wasn't all good news. There were 495 days where alerts and advisories were posted for possible exceedance of bacterial standards more than double 2009's total of 233 and nearly triple 2008's 168 alert and advisory days. Those rising numbers aren't generating too much concern with David Beckman at least not yet. "I'm always hesitant to draw too many hard and fast conclusions from a year's data or a year's change compared to the previous year. I think you have to see a number of years of a trend before we can really say something unusual is going on so I think we can say for now it was a notable change but its hard to draw a particularly strong conclusion from the data we have just about last year." Part of the reason for his lack of current concern might be the weather. Beckman says a lot of the alert and advisory days are driven by weather particularly heavy rainfall. In fact the report mentions 15-to-20 inches of rain that fell last September in the southeastern portion of the state and prompted a blanket beach advisory for the region. And heavy rain is the forerunner to the leading cause of beach advisories in North Carolina. "One is stormwater run-off. Many places across the country, run-off from our cities is not treated at all before its discharged at the beach and that's a significant source of beach water contamination. So for example of the closing and advisory days in N-C where beaches were either closed or the public was warned of a potential health risk, 70% were related to stormwater run-off, about 345 days." Beckman's biggest concern may not be the number of advisories but the speed in which the public receives them. He says right now the state of the art puts a minimum of 24-to-48 hours between taking a water sample and getting a result. "We're still using general standards and test approaches that in some cases are 10-20 years old and we're in the process of updating nationally with a focus on, not only the accuracy, but the rapidity of the results so that if you're out there with your children on a Saturday morning it does you no good to know Monday that you shouldn't have gone in the water. You need to know in a timely way, and these beach managers need to be able to test the water and then be able to get information soon enough to be effective managers of the resource." Beckman says the Environmental Protection Agency is currently working on a "rapid results" test that might get a test drive this summer and next that could alleviate that problem. In the interim those most at risk including children and the elderly might want to avoid going into the water for a 48-to-72 hour period after a heavy rainfall. David Beckman is the Water Program Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. I'm George Olsen. TweetShareGoogle+Email © 2017 Public Radio East

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Free Things to Do in New York City Free Things to Do in New York New York City Guide More Free City Guides A view of New York City's bustling theater district, Times Square Photograph by Dan Westergren, National Geographic Finding free activities to fill your day in the City That Never Sleeps is easier than you might think. With countless cultural attractions and a large city parks system, there's plenty to do that won't cost you a cent.Art/MusicSkip the $25 ticket price when the Museum of Modern Art opens its doors, gratis, each Friday between 4 and 8 p.m. Kids 16 and under always get in free. And each morning from 9:30 to 10:15, the museum’s sculpture garden is open for a free peek.On select Friday and Saturday nights from September to May, the Brooklyn Academy of Music opens up its BAMcafé free to the public. Jazz, world beat, and experimental artists keep the crowd rocking.Admire the work of self-taught artists from around the country at the American Folk Art Museum. Past exhibitions have focused on quilt masterworks from the museum’s own collection and the lost art of tinsel painting.Marvel at ancient Egyptian artifacts or Renaissance masterpieces at the highly regarded and diverse Brooklyn Museum, free every first Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. The evenings also feature live music, lectures, and hands-on art activities.Numerous performing groups of every stripe appear on Central Park's Summer Stage during the warmer months of the year. Almost all of the performances are free and open to the public. Check their website regularly for an updated list of events.If it's free blues you're after, you can't do any better than the gratis nightly shows at Lucille's, a bar within the B.B. King Blues Club and Grill. The catch? A $10 minimum bar tab. Showtimes vary; get there early for good seats.Visit the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City, Queens, where local sculptors present various installations against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. Open every day from 10 a.m. to sunset; always free.On Saturday evenings from 5:45 to 7:45, the Guggenheim hosts Pay What You Wish, which offers admission by donation. Arrive a little early so you can admire the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building.Admission is free at the Studio Museum of Harlem on the first Sunday of each month. Programming includes gallery tours and hands-on art inspired by the current exhibition.AttractionsWhen walking around the city, don't miss the Empire State Building or the Chrysler Building, classic examples of art deco architecture. The hustle and bustle of Grand Central is worth seeing, as are the skaters at Rockefeller Center in winter.New York has its fair share of impressive churches. Admire the 16th-century Flemish windows at Riverside Church, which is modeled after the Gothic cathedral in Chartres, France. Tour the gardens of uptown's Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, or enjoy the Gothic architecture of St. Patrick's Cathedral.Get lost in a high-tech wonderland when you visit the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Talk to robots, watch movies on massive HD displays, or challenge the latest PlayStation games. Admission is free but reservations are a must. Book at least seven days in advance.Watch lions in their habitat or meet a western gorilla when you visit the Bronx Zoo, free to the public—or pay what you wish—every Wednesday.Enjoy a relaxing break among the orchids at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This greenhouse is free all day on Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and weekdays from November to February. Or explore the 250-acre grounds at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. It's free on Wednesdays and from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturdays.At Federal Hall, stand on the spot where George Washington was sworn in as the United States' first President. Explore numerous exhibits tracing New York's role as America's capital, always free at this national park.Remember that favorite TV show from your childhood? Well, you can probably find an episode at the Museum of the Moving Image, which offers free admission to its galleries from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays.Admire indigenous art from across the Americas at the National Museum of the American Indian, a branch of the Smithsonian. Tapestries, cave paintings, and artifacts, all thousands of years old, make up some of the displays at this free museum.Culture Explore New York's unique neighborhoods with a Big Apple Greeter. These cheerful and informed locals offer free tours of their neighborhoods for visitors. Be sure to schedule early, as they stay busy.Books and beaux-arts architecture aren't the only things you can find at the New York Public Library. Regular events, including visual arts exhibits and music and dance performances, at the different branch locations are always free.The Hispanic Society of America museum displays art and artifacts from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, including fragments from a tunic worn by Prince Philip of Castile circa 1274 and Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida’s celebrated 1908 oil painting “After the Bath.”Check out photography, ancient artifacts, and modern artwork produced by Jewish artists from across the globe at the Jewish Museum, free on Saturdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. The permanent exhibition features 800 works—from archaeological objects to interactive media—that trace the Jewish journey over 4,000 years.Filled with exhibits showcasing African-American art, literature, and achievement, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture hosts many free music performances, lectures, and conversations (such as between funk musician George Clinton and Roots drummer Questlove). Reservations are usually required.Several groups offer neighborhood tours at no cost. The Union Square Partnership every Saturday at 2 p.m. (meet at the Abraham Lincoln statue) and the Village Alliance offer a variety of themed self-guided tours, like traveling in the footsteps of the Beat Generation.The Queens Library regularly hosts free cultural events open to the public. Check their website for listings of poetry readings, concerts, and performances.Recently renovated, Wave Hill is known as one of New York's premier gardens and cultural centers. Weekly poetry performances and notable author readings are set among the scenic botanical gardens. Admission is free Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.KidsThe Brooklyn Children's Museum offers free admission on Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and every third Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. Exhibits let children don wizard costumes, observe residents of the Animal Outpost, or examine insects from the wildlife collection. Very young visitors will enjoy the Totally Tots area. Enjoy a free concert during the series in June and July.Free your children's inner Picasso when you bring them to the Children's Museum of the Arts, where they can learn how to paint, sculpt, or appreciate all different kinds of art. Entrance is by donation only on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.The Staten Island Children's Museum offers daily free programs (admission to the museum is $6, except for Cool School Holidays, when it’s free. Grandparents get in free on Wednesdays). Kids can learn how to be a chef at Kidz Cook, or create collages at Crafty Kids.Food/DrinkThere are more than 50 green markets throughout the city. One of the liveliest, at Union Square on Saturdays, features cooking demonstrations (and tastings) by New York’s hottest chefs.Wine connoisseurs will enjoy free wine tastings at any number of wine shops in the city, including Big Nose Full Body in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The store offers free tastings on Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m., with a different theme each week.OutdoorsSunbathe, rock climb, or drop your fishing line in Harlem Meer Pond in Central Park. This vast urban green space offers almost every outdoor amenity. Keep an eye out for one of the many free concerts or plays performed primarily during the warmer months.Enjoy a breath of fresh air by the shore at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, located on the edge of Staten Island. Explore artifacts left by the Leni Lenape Indians, or learn about local ecology on a nature walk.Enjoy some sandy fun just outside the city at Jones Beach State Park. Bring your rod for some surf fishing, or head inside the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center ($4 admission) to learn about the challenges facing the local environment. The free park is open during daylight hours.For a scenic maritime tour of the New York Bay, hop aboard the free Staten Island Ferry. The ship's route offers views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.Stroll along the Hudson in Riverside Park, which stretches for four miles between 72nd and 158th streets. Summer programming includes free kayak paddling instruction, yoga, and Pilates.Admire the Statue of Liberty from the scenic vistas inside of Castle Clinton National Monument, or learn about the park's important military history from costumed park rangers.TheaterFrom June to August, check out Bryant Park for a free outdoor movie screening. Movies are shown weekly on Mondays between 8 and 9 p.m. The movies are generally old classics, but the genres ranges weekly. Be sure to get there early, as the park fills up quickly with avid moviegoers.Theater buffs start lining up at 6 a.m. for tickets to Free Shakespeare in the Park, presented free each summer. Tickets are distributed at 1 p.m. the day of the show at either the Delacorte Theater in Central Park or the Public Theater in the East Village. There are two productions each summer, five weeks per year.Free Events InformationSchedule of events in Central ParkVisitor information and event calendarsFrequently updated list of local eventsDepartment of Cultural Affairs calendar Weekend Photo Workshop: New York City

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In search of an alternative Palestine - Al Jazeera English In search of an alternative Palestine Tourists are increasingly being offered the chance to experience a Palestine not seen on the Holy Land tour bus circuit. The Jerusalem Desert [Gail Simmons] Sheikh Ali al-Rashayda is the owner of a bedouin tent where you can spend the night while walking on the Masar Ibrahim [Gail Simmons] A baby camel waiting for its mother to come back from grazing [Gail Simmons] Sunset over the Jerusalem Desert [Gail Simmons] A flock of goats in the desert [Gail Simmons] This home and souvenir shop in Bethlehem is surrounded on three sides by the separation wall [Gail Simmons] People from all over the world come to spray graffiti on the wall [Gail Simmons] A new section of the wall near Bethlehem [Gail Simmons] A bulldozer clears olive groves around a new section of the separation wall [Gail Simmons] Ancient olive groves have been cleared to make way for the new section of the separation wall [Gail Simmons] By Gail SimmonsIt is a hot May morning in Palestine and I am hiking in the Jerusalem Desert, a landscape virtually unchanged in 2,000 years. The delicate green veneer of spring has faded, and the desert is already a deep, burnished bronze. My guide, George Rishmawi, points out the ruins of an abandoned early Christian monastery, now crumbling back into the wilderness. "Nobody is taking care of these minor historic sites," George says. And he begins to talk of his hopes that this new hiking trail, the Masar Ibrahim al-Khalil, will bring more people to rural Palestine, and create an awareness of its heritage beyond the Holy Land hot-spots of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho. As we walk George, a Palestinian Christian, tells me about the problems they face in getting tourists to come and spend time – and money – in his country. "When tourists visiting Israel come to Bethlehem, the coaches stop at the shops on the Israeli side so they buy all their souvenirs, like our olive wood crafts, from there," he says. I had witnessed this myself a few days earlier, watching scores of people step from the coaches to queue for the Church of the Nativity, then afterwards hop straight back on before driving away. But according to George, who travels to the US each year for work, some visitors to Israel do not even make it as far as Bethlehem. "I've met Americans who say that, when they went to Israel, they were told they shouldn't come to the place where Jesus was born because there is too much danger if they go to the Palestinian side. They are told that the Palestinians are all terrorists." George believes he knows why foreigners are advised against visiting his country. "The Israelis want to take all the money from tourists for themselves," he says. "But by walking in this landscape, and staying with Palestinian families, people can see that we are not terrorists." The Masar Ibrahim is just one of the many new tourism initiatives that Palestinians are creating to provide employment in impoverished rural areas and, by encouraging tourists to interact with ordinary Palestinians, challenge assumptions about a region that receives much negative press in the mainstream media. Keen to experience some of this so-called 'cultural tourism' for myself, I had spent the previous night in a village on the Masar Ibrahim's route, sharing the host family's evening meal and chatting to the animated, English-speaking teenagers of the house about such universal topics as Facebook. Private companies and non-profit enterprises alike are increasingly offering tourists such opportunities to experience a Palestine not seen on the Holy Land tour bus circuit. Some, like the Siraj Centre for Holy Land Studies, invite visitors to engage in celebrations of Palestinian culture, learn some Arabic, and volunteer with community organisations. Siraj's clients can also take part in the annual olive harvest, and learn from the local women about traditional crafts and cuisine. Other organisations, such as the Palestine Farm Project, provide farm stays in exchange for working in the fields, helping to build bonds between Palestinian hosts and their international guests. And increasingly, tour companies from outside the region are responding to demand from their clientele for this style of tourism venture. Fiyaz Mughal, the London-based director of Middle East Journeys which operates trips to the region, says he aims to give his clients a more authentic view of Palestinian culture. "We try to avoid the usual mass tourism experience, where people are driven around for a few hours for a 'snapshot' view of the country," he explains. "Instead, we encourage visitors to stay with local families, get an understanding of the issues affecting them, and really enjoy living with Palestinians." As well as seeing the everyday problems faced by a people under long-term occupation, travellers this year are learning about the economic challenges caused by the recent uprisings in Arab countries, which has meant fewer tourists – and less work. Anas Halaiqa, a young accountant who works part-time for the Siraj Centre, knows all about the employment problems facing his contemporaries – and not just in tourism. "Over 50,000 graduates applied to the education ministry for just 1,000 teaching posts this year," he tells me. For many young, talented graduates like Anas, tourism can provide an invaluable financial lifeline. But, it seems, not even tourism work is enough to make ends meet nowadays and most people who work in the industry, as in other sectors, have to find alternative income streams. "Life is very expensive here, very difficult," says George Rishmawi. "We have three, sometimes four jobs, just to make a living." As a result, many of his contemporaries are emigrating: to the US, to Europe, to South America. But not George. "I want to stay," he says. "I love my country and I want to die here." Back in Bethlehem after my hike I meet Mazin Qumsiyeh, a professor of biology at Bethlehem University and a human rights activist who takes visitors on political tours around the separation wall. For him, tourism has a large part to play in showing the outside world what is happening in Palestine. "Almost every day I take an international delegation around the wall so they can see the situation for themselves," he says. "And as a biologist I'm also involved in eco-tourism, bringing people into the countryside to discover the impact of the occupation on the nature and the environment." For those who may be sceptical about tourism's role in the resistance, Qumsiyeh has a ready answer. "Tourism makes a huge impact in changing people's perceptions," he argues. "It's important that they see for themselves what is happening here. Some tourists who come on these short visits end up committing their lives to activism." But for Fiyaz Mughal in London, it is not about the politics – or even just the heritage – of Palestine. "Of course, people love the antiquities and historical sites," he says. "But really, it's about the people. Under all the duress they are facing, these are people who are not only resilient, but always willing to give. For me, this is what makes visiting Palestine a unique experience."

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Caribbean Star Airlines Gets Approval For Trinidad-Tobago Air Bridge The Government of Trinidad and Tobago made an historic decision recently, in granting a provisional license to Caribbean Star Airlines to operate nine flights daily between Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Crown Point International Airport in Tobago. Undoubtedly, this decision will ease the problems experienced by commuters between the two islands, while at the same time stimulate tourism, particularly in Tobago. The service is expected to commence towards the end of September with two early morning round trip flights and two evening flights, with one connecting service to Barbados, which will allow seamless connections with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air Jamaica. According to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Star Airlines, Paul Moreira, “We are pleased to be given the opportunity to be of service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago and more so, to be in a position to assist in improving the tourism product in Tobago. We would like to thank the people of Trinidad and Tobago for their support over the past 20 months and the phenomenal growth in passengers carried; and we look forward to working closely with the hoteliers, the business community and the Tobago House of Assembly to assist in Tobago’s continued economic development.” Judging from the flood of enquiries into Caribbean Star’s Reservations Department and at travel agencies, the news has been well-received by both Trinidad and Tobago travelers and the wider region. Caribbean Star Airlines continues to play a very vital role in regional aviation and with this latest move, the airline has reinforced its commitment to provide high quality and affordable service throughout the Caribbean. Caribbean travelers can also look forward to newer and more exciting routes in the fourth quarter of 2002. For more information on air bridge fares between Trinidad and Tobago and other fares throughout the Caribbean, call the toll-free number 1-800-744-STAR or log on to www.flycaribbeanstar.com. ——- Older The Body Holiday with LeSport, St. Lucia Air France Toll-Free Number: 0 800 240 260

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Chincoteague Island News Chincoteague Island's "Christmas By The Sea" ...because even a cool day at the beach beats a day at work! In an effort to attract more visitors to Chincoteague Island during the "off-season" local business owners and organizations have teamed up to sponsor the annual Christmas By The Sea. Beginning with the official lighting of the Town's Christmas tree on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, then all the way to the Polar Pony Plunge on New Years Day, the Christmas season in Chincoteague is chock full of family fun! Most events are free to any and all who care to join in! It’s casual an you are encouraged to come as you are. The Christmas season is a great time of year to visit Chincoteague Island. The average air temperature in December is 50 degrees with sunny skies. For more details: Visit www.chincoteaguechristmas.com. Chincoteague Sunsets Chincoteague is a great place to experience beautiful sunsets. Some of the most gorgeous sunsets anywhere happen right here on our small resort Island. We recommend finding a spot along bayfront on South Main Street to take in the sunset. The picture below was taken from South Main Street. We post sunsets pictures regularly to the Chincoteague.com facebook page! For more details: Visit https://www.facebook.com/chincoteagueisland. Cruise to Benefit Chincoteague Island Library Tickets are now on sale for the 20th Anniversary Luncheon Cruise to benefit the Chincoteague Island Library aboard the “Martha Lou” with Captain Carlton Leonard. Everyone is invited to have a great day on the water and support the Library as it continues to serve the residents and guests of Chincoteague and the Eastern Shore. The cruise departs from Curtis Merritt Harbor on Wednesday, July 1 at 11:00 AM returning to port at 1:00 PM. (Boarding by 10:45 AM.) Lunch of sandwiches, soft drinks, snacks, and desert will be served. Tickets for this event are $40 a person and may be purchased at the Chincoteague Island Library or Sundial Books on Main Street in Chincoteague. Captain Carlton has generously donated his time and the “Martha Lou” for this event. All proceeds will benefit the Chincoteague Island Library programs and services. For more details please call the Library at 757-336 3460. Residents of Chincoteague, the Eastern Shore, visitors and guests are invited to support the Chincoteague Island Library and enjoy this memorable cruise with Captain Carlton on the “Martha Lou” while enjoying this unique view of the Island. For more details: Call 757-336-3460. Email [email protected]. Visit www.chincoteagueislandlibrary.com. The 90th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim is July 29, 2015 The Saltwater Cowboys will swim the Famous Wild Ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island for the 90th consecutive year on Wednesday, July 29th, 2015. The swim will take place at "slack tide" which is the time between tides when no current is moving. The time of slack tide varies each year. However, the swim generally takes place some time between 7am and 1pm. The specific time will be announced at the carnival grounds the week of the swim. After the swim, the ponies rest for about 45 minutes. Then the Saltwater Cowboys will “parade” the ponies down Main Street, to the carnival grounds where the auction will be held the following day. For all the details on events taking place all that week check out the Pony Swim Guide. For more details: Visit www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html. Wallops Flight Facility 70th Anniversary June 27, 2015, marks the 70th Anniversary of the first launch ever from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Since then, the men and women of Wallops have launched literally thousands of rockets, hundreds of scientific balloons, and have logged thousands of flight hours in support of scientific investigations around the world. Wallops, its commercial partners, and the Eastern Shore community will celebrate the facility's 70th Anniversary with an Open House, free and open to the public, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 27. For more details: Visit www.nasa.gov/content/wallops-flight-facility-70th-anniversary. Great White Shark spending time near Assateague A 16 foot, 3,456 lb. Great White Shark named "Mary Lee" has been spending near the coastline of Assateague Island. The shark is being track by OCEARCH. She was tagged with a transmitter near Cape Cod on September 17, 2012. When Mary Lee's dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water the transmitter transmits a signal to a satellite overhead. The satellite then sends back an estimated geo-location. Mary Lee was named after OCEARCH expedition leader Chris Fischer's mother. "My parents have done so much. I was waiting and waiting for a special shark to name after her and this is truly the most historic and legendary fish I have ever been a part of and it set the tone for Cape Cod," says Chris. Mary Lee has been tracking off the Assateague Coastline since early May. For more details: Visit www.ocearch.org/profile/mary_lee/. Flounder are biting in Chincoteague Spring is the best time of year to fish for flounder in Chincoteague and this year is no exception. With the warm, sunny weather on the Island lately the flounder action has been picking up significantly. Anglers are catching them in all of the traditional spots,including Four Mouths, Queen Sound, and Assateague Channel. Don't have a boat? No problem. There are plenty of experienced Charter Boat Guides that you can go with for a very reasonable price. Check out the 'Activities' web page on Chincoteague.com for Charter Boats and Bait and Tackle Shops. For more details: Visit www.chincoteague.com/activities.html. Chincoteague Finishes #2 Coolest Small Town Chincoteague was a top 15 finalist in Budget Travel's 2015 'America's Coolest Small Town' contest. Voting for the top spot was so close that the contest was extended several weeks. In the end Grand Marais, MN took the title. Chincoteague finished a close second. Thanks to all who voted for us! Winter Hits Chincoteague Hard The month of February brought heavy snow and below freezing temperatures to Chincoteague Island. We are into March now and looking forward to Spring! Cold weather hits Chincoteague Cold weather hit Chincoteague in mid-February, with wind chill temps below zero! There is a lot of ice in the Chincoteague Channel. We are looking forward to Spring! Update on Library Repairs The Chincoteague Island Library remains closed for repairs. Unfortunately, the reopening date has been changed to Thursday, February 19th. If all goes according to this new schedule, the books, furniture, and computers will be returned to their places and the Chincoteague Island Library will re-open on Thursday, February 19 at 1:00 PM. Please check the Chincoteague Island Library Facebook page for updates and more info. (If you have books that need to be returned, please use the book drop on the handicapped ramp). For more details: Visit www.chincoteagueislandlibrary.org. Chincoteague Island Library Remains Closed For Repairs The Chincoteague Island Library remains closed for repairs. The contractors have been hard at work and good progress is being made. The floors will be refinished soon and, if all goes according to schedule, the books, furniture, and computers will be returned to their places and the Chincoteague Island Library will re-open on Friday, February 13 at 10:00 AM. We thank everyone for their patience during this process. Check the Chincoteague Island Facebook page for updates and more info. CIAO Film Producer's Club at The Island Theatre 7 week course for beginner to intermediate film makers, ages 16 - 86. Tuesdays 7 - 9pm. Course runs from 2/10 - 3/24 (excluding 3/17). Course fee: $120. To register, visit ciarts.org. For more details: Visit ciarts.org. Chincoteague is in the running for "America's Coolest Small Town" Chincoteague is a top 15 finalist for "America's Coolest Small Town 2015", a title awarded annually by Budget Travel. The winner is crowned based on online voting results. Voting in this, the 10th annual, contest ends at midnight on February 25. Last year's contest winner was nearby Berlin, MD. Help make Chincoteague this year winner! You can vote once per day per IP address. For more details: Visit www.budgettravel.com/contest/vote-for-americas-coolest-small-town-2015,18/. Chincoteague Island Library Announces Expanded Hours Visitors to the Chincoteague Island Library can now enjoy the library a few extra hours each week. As part of the 20th Anniversary year celebration that kicked off on January 1, the Library will now open at 10:00 AM on Saturdays instead of the previous opening time of 1:00 PM. The expansion of the Library’s operating hours is part of the Library’s continuing effort to serve the needs of the Chincoteague Island community by offering hours of operation that are convenient to residents and visitors. Linda Ryan, President of the Chincoteague Island Library Board of Directors said, “Expanding the Saturday hours of operation made perfect sense. We saw the need and as we celebrate 20 years of serving the community we decided it was the right time. The expanded Saturday hours offers more opportunity to work on our mission to promote reading, a love of books, and literacy, and to preserve the history of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands.” New hours at the Chincoteague Island Library will be Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 8 PM. For more details: Call 757-336-3460. Visit www.chincoteagueislandlibrary.org. Chincoteague Island Library 20th Anniversary The Chincoteague Island Library will be marking 20 years of serving the local community on July 4, 2015. They are planning to celebrate the 20th Anniversary with special events throughout all of 2015! For more details: Visit www.chincoteague.com/chincoteagueislandlibrary/anniversary.html. August 2014 Beach Access Newsletter The Town of Chincoteague released its August 2014 Beach Access Newsletter. The Newsletter outlines the Town's concerns about the US Fish & Wildlife's plan to move the Recreational Beach to the north, under Alternative B of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). For more details: Visit www.chincoteague.com/pdfs/beach-access-news-aug-2014.pdf. PONY SWIM PICS 4099 Bradley Lane

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A Great Cruise Despite Mishaps!: Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review by rmartin1286 A Great Cruise Despite Mishaps!: Norwegian Pearl Cruise Review by rmartin1286 Norwegian Pearl Show Norwegian Pearl Prices Norwegian Pearl rmartin1286 1 Review A Great Cruise Despite Mishaps! Miami This was my second cruise on Norwegian since the Wind in 2003. I enjoyed my cruise on the Wind a lot because the freestyle dining really stood out in my mind as being one of the most carefree cruise experiences I ever had. I like the formality of other cruise line's dining, but it's also nice to be able to amble on down to a dining room or a pay-for restaurant whenever you feel like it. We've been looking at this itinerary since early 2009. We booked our cruise for 2009 in May on the Carnival Valor and were disappointed a few months later when this itinerary on the Pearl had been dropped to $299 a person. So this year we checked out a few cruise deals early in the year but basically held out booking because we were hoping that the Pearl's sailing prices would drop, and they did so we grabbed it up! We got $100 OBC and a free bottle of wine for booking with the travel agency I use for cruising, not a bad perk at all! We drove to Miami the day before the cruise and More stayed at the La Quinta Inn Miami Airport East. This is the second year in a row we've stayed at this hotel and left our car there for a week and again we were extremely satisfied with this hotel. Wonderful room, great service, and a nice quiet atmosphere added to the free parking and free bus to the port make this hotel our choice for staying at in Miami before we cruise. The price of the hotel is very reasonable, we only paid $75 for our room. If you think about the $20 a day you'll spend to park at the port and the aggravation of being from a small town and trying to navigate the downtown Miami streets, it's an excellent deal. We swam in the pool, ordered a pizza to our room from a local restaurant, and relaxed, a great start to our vacation! We were on the 10:30 bus to the port, and upon arrival we gave our two suitcases to the porters and then headed to the terminal for embarkation. Our embarkation process was very smooth. Since we arrived so early we were able to show our tickets and birth certificates, go through the metal detectors, and go to the check-in desk to get our room cards and sit down in the waiting area to wait for the ship to be cleared for boarding all in under 10 minutes. That's why I love going to the port early even though you can't get in your room until later, I'd much rather spend my time waiting in a bar or lounge than standing in a long line holding all my carry-on items. We were among the first allowed on the ship (for regular passengers) and after walking around for a little bit we went up to the Garden Cafe for that awesome first meal that lets you know you've arrived and your vacation is finally starting! The first afternoon on the ship we knew something was wrong as the day wore on and we still hadn't gotten our luggage. Finally at 6:30 I asked our assistant cabin steward whether or not we should be alarmed that we hadn't gotten our luggage yet, and he told us they were done passing the luggage out. So we went to the guest relations desk to see if maybe they had confiscated it (we had rum runners in our large rolling suit case, but why keep both of them if that was the case?) but they didn't have either of them. So they told us to come back in about an hour or so and they would have a better idea of where it was, because they said the porters may have forgotten to put the sorting tags on them. So we went to Indigo to eat dinner and then came back to the Reception desk to check on our luggage. The girl went back into the offices behind the desk area for about five minutes, and then she came back out and proceeded to tell us that she was very sorry to inform us that our luggage WAS ON THE NORWEGIAN DAWN that had been parked next to us in port. Well, as you can imagine, I FREAKED OUT. I mean, I wasn't like hysterical or causing a scene or anything, but I was crying, as you can imagine. She continued to tell us that for our troubles that Norwegian was offering us an on-board credit of $100 a person and that they would try to get our luggage to us at one of the ports that happened to be closest to the Dawn. I was very disappointed with this woman's attitude, she said all this like it was no big deal, kind of like she was giving someone directions or ordering something at the drive through, it was very disrespectful. So I told her that what they were offering us was completely unacceptable and that I wanted to speak to a supervisor immediately. We went and sat on the couch in the lobby area in front of the reception area and waited for the supervisor to come. When she did come, she apologized and told us that at the pier there had been a mix up with some of the luggage and it had somehow gotten to the Dawn and that we weren't the only ones it had happened to. She assured us that they had confirmed they definitely had our luggage with our tags on it and that it would be kept safe. She then offered us a high sum of on-board credit and some toiletry bags with toothpaste and a comb and mouthwash and some other things like that and a couple of T-shirts. She also told us that they were doing all they could to get our stuff to us Wednesday at Saint Thomas, but that she would have to get back to us in the morning. We left in shock, realizing that we had nothing with us but the clothes on our back, our electronic stuff, and our snorkel gear. Thank god I keep a purse stocked with all kinds of necessities or we really would have been in trouble. After we left the reception area, we went to the on-board stores and spent $230 on two tee shirts, two beach dresses, a pair of khaki shorts, two pairs of flip flops, a pair of men's swimming shorts, and a bottle of 2 in 1 Pantene Pro-V shampoo. It was sickening how much everything costs in the shops, but we had to have clothes to wear. They also gave us express laundry free for the duration of our cruise too, so that was pretty nice of them. So on Monday we awaited Charlin's (the supervisor from guest relations we were dealing with) phone call. Around 4:00 she called and said that we had two options: they couldn't get the luggage to us in Saint Thomas, but they MAY be able to get it to us in Tortola, but it would be a very long shot since we only stay there a short time. We could either take the chance of getting it that day and if they missed us they would have to ship it back to our address instead, or we could take another high sum of on-board credit and 50% off the purchase of a future cruise with Norwegian and just have it wait for us at the pier in Miami. Since we are going to Tampa for several days after our cruise, we decided not to take the chance of having to go to Tampa with nothing and just took the on-board credit. It was hard to make a decision like that but the way we looked at it, we got a pretty good deal. Sure, we wouldn't have any nice clothes to wear to dinner (or makeup or hair products for me, or nice shoes, or a razor blade, or anything other than a few tee-shirts and the blue jeans we wore on the ship) but we got a lot of on-board credit and the half off a future cruise wasn't that bad either. We ended up using some of the OBC we got to buy a future cruise credit, so our cruise for next year is almost already paid for! Food: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Why does everyone hate on Norwegian's food in the MDRs? Everything I had was delicious! At home we eat very modestly to stay healthier, so to be able to indulge in things we normally don't get to eat for a week, let's just say it surpassed my expectations! Fixed Menus (things served every day): For the fixed menus, a lot of the dishes stood out in my mind as being outstanding. For instance, the strip steak was the best piece of meat I've had in a cruise MDR since the old days of filet mignon being served as a menu option. It was a great cut of meat, perfectly cooked to my liking, and was very flavorful! The rosemary roasted chicken was good too, and the vegetarian lasagna. My husband enjoyed the salmon also, but I didn't try it as I don't eat any kind of fish. As far as the appetizers went, I LOVED the cheese and mushroom quesadilla and got it so often I was tired of it by the last night. The cream of broccoli soup was good, as was the fried calamari. I'm a big Caesar salad fan, so I had one every night with my meal. My husband liked the French onion soup, I however was not such a big fan of it. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was ok, but it was a tad too strong for my tastes. My husband also liked the lamb shank, he said they cooked it perfectly. Daily-Changing Menu: The side of the menu that changed daily had some great stuff too. Of course, they served Lobster, which I don't eat but my husband enjoyed. He was not a fan of the fish served with the lobster, though, he said it was dry. I loved the manicotti, it was excellent. I also liked the Lamb Stew served on the last night, it was something different I had never tried. The appetizers on the changing side of the menu were great! The spring roll and the goat cheese and sweet pepper tartee were amazing! I wanted to ask the waiter to bring me seconds but never remembered either time these were served, but I could have eaten them the entire cruise! The goat cheese and Portobello mushroom that was served in the MDR for lunch was excellent too, we both enjoyed those. There were several different salads on the changing menu that I found to be exceptional, the pear and goat cheese (everything I liked had goat cheese in it...hmmm.) salad stood out in my mind, I believe that was served the last night of the cruise. There were more but that one was really great! Buffet: We didn't eat much in the buffet, only the first day of the cruise for lunch and then again maybe two more times if that. It's not that I didn't like the food, we just had other options that we liked better. But I did enjoy the variety of food available. There were always new things to try and the grill was much better than Carnival's, in my opinion. Blue Lagoon: The place we did eat lunch at almost every day was Blue Lagoon. What a great addition to any cruise! They serve food "comfort" food 24 hours a day up on the 8th floor beside Mambo's. I was a big fan of the hot wings, mozzarella cheese sticks, spinach and artichoke dip, southern chicken tenders, and the panini. My husband liked the veggie lasagna. He found the fish and chips to be too bready for his tastes. Pay-For Restaurants: The pay-for restaurants menu's did not appeal to me all that much. We were excited about La Cuchina before we got on the ship, but upon looking at the menu we couldn't find anything that stood out to us, and the same went for Le Bistro. Mamba's had a few things I wouldn't have minded trying but my husband didn't want to eat there because we have lots of Mexican restaurants in our town that have similar food and we wanted to try something different. We are big sushi/Japanese food people, so the Sushi bar was something we knew we were going to try anyway, but we weren't sure if we were going to do Teppanyaki or not. We made up our minds to do it the first sea day after seeing the show through the glass windows outside the restaurant. Our Teppanyaki experience began when we arrived a few minutes early to the Lotus Garden and were led through the restaurant back to the private feeling hibachi room set up off to the side. We were at a table with two grills, one for one set of eight people on one side and eight people on the other side with a different chef for each grill. We normally don't like sitting at a table with people we don't know (sorry, just a personal preference from past experiences!) but the group we were with was very enjoyable. We were served Miso soup before our meal, which we both thought wasn't all that great. Our chef put on the normal show found at any Japanese steakhouse which always includes him throwing pieces of food into people's mouths with his spatula (I have to admit, it's my favorite part of the meal!), making a show of chopping up food and seasoning it, forming the rice into a shape (ours was a heart), etc. While I truly did enjoy the show, I found the food to be not as good as other Japanese steakhouses I've been too. I had the filet mignon and shrimp, and while my meat was very good, I thought the rice was chewy and on the bland side. My husband had the seafood mix and enjoyed his entrEe as well, but like me he thought the rice wasn't very flavorful. Also, they only give you a small amount of dipping sauces and never refill them (or at least no one did for us) and I ran out halfway through my meal. The fee for eating at Teppanyaki was $25 a person. To me, it was not worth the $50 we spent for both of us to eat there. The show and atmosphere were very nice, but the quality of the food was such that we agreed the money would have been better spent at a local Japanese steakhouse. The day we went to Tortola we decided to try the sushi. We were seated at the sushi bar in Lotus Garden right in front of the chefs making the rolls, which turned out to be nice because we got to talk to them about sushi-making techniques (we make our own rolls at home) and they were awesome guys! We were served miso soup before our rolls were done and again, meh, I could take it or leave it. I ordered the California roll and the shrimp tempura roll, and my husband got the dragon roll and the godzilla roll. He also got some sashimi. Everything was delicious and very well made, I highly recommend this for sushi buffs, you won't find any cream cheese in this sushi bar :) The price was $15 a person. We could have gotten it at lunch time on a sea day for $10 a person, but we wanted to eat this of the evening so we went for dinner instead at the higher price. I probably would eat here again on another Norwegian ship if it were available. The Chocoholic buffet was disappointing in that they had it at 10:00 at night! I wasn't hungry and sat there while my husband ate and lamented that they should have had it earlier in the day. On the Wind in 2003 they served the buffet after lunch and that was a much better time of day in my opinion. But other than that, the food looked SO GOOD and my husband said the desserts were really tasty! Our Cabin: We were originally in an inside cabin on the fifth floor. I'm not a fan of inside cabins because I enjoy waking up and seeing the ports in the morning and also because I'm a tad claustrophobic, but it was all we could afford when we booked our cabin originally. We watched the prices and about a week and a half before our cruise I upgraded to a port hole cabin, room 4588, on the fourth floor for about $20 more a person, not bad at all in my opinion. This was the smallest cabin I've ever had on a cruise ship. The bed took up 80% of the room, and the other 20% was oddly arranged for space conservation. I ended up rearranging the tables and chairs and even pushing the bed up against the far left side of our cabin each day (because the cabin steward always moved it back) and this made it better. The small size of the cabin didn't bother us that much because we weren't in the cabin, but if I were an older person who spends the majority of my time in the cabin I probably would want a bit more space. The bathroom was nice, I loved the sliding glass doors to both the shower and toilet even though it took up room that could have been used in the other parts of the cabin. The closet space was more than adequate (Well, I imagined it would have been. It certainly was with no clothes or luggage in the room!) and the safe was easy to use. As for the port hole, I was disappointed that it was a recessed port hole. I had a recessed window on the first port hole I ever had, and it really takes away from what you can see as far as peripheral vision goes. From the pictures of the placement of the cabin it looked like it wouldn't be recessed, but when I got in the cabin I realized it was. Still, we were able to see out and that's what matters. The Ship: Small ships are my cup of tea and the Pearl was exactly the size I enjoy. The Valor last year had about 600 more people than this ship, which only holds about 2400 passengers. We spent a lot of time in the Spinnaker Lounge, which is at the front of the ship on the Deck 13. It had funky chairs and even beds and loungers to lay on during the day and seating for shows at night. I did feel that this lounge was too small for the nighttime shows that were held in it like the comedy shows, because there wasn't nearly enough seating to go around. To get a seat in the front row you had to arrive about an hour early or more, depending on the type of show. The Bliss lounge was nice, it had a great Asian feel to it and it also had a few lounges in it. The bowling alley looked really fun even though we didn't get to use it. The pools and waterslide were big enough for everyone, in fact, I hardly ever saw anyone in the pools but maybe that was just because we weren't out here a lot. The one time we got a lounge chair by the pool we got outside early and there were lots of them still available. As for the waterslide...it was designed for children only, something I learned when I got on it and promptly stopped sliding and had to turn myself around and slide arms first to get to the bottom. It was an interesting experience though :) One thing I did not like about the ship was that lots of space was used up by the pay-for restaurants and I felt some of that space could have been used for more public areas. The atrium was nice but I'm used to the larger atriums where they take up several floors. However it was a lovely area with the trees and icicles hanging from the ceiling. The on-board shops were small but they used the atrium at night to sell jewelry and Bijoux Terner items. We bought a few bottles of liquor, some Bijoux Terner stuff as gifts, and a few jewelry items from the shops. I wanted a ship's model (we always get one) but they mysteriously didn't have any and the shop worker I asked about them didn't seem to know how I could get one. The library had lots of good books and we enjoyed getting the sudoku and cross word puzzles in the morning from here. Room Stewards and other Crew Members: Our room stewards were very nice as far as the whole luggage situation, they were constantly asking us about whether or not we had heard anything about when we were going to get it. They cleaned the room well and we were never in want for anything, but I was VERY disappointed with one aspect of their service. On our last night on the ship my husband and I saw both Second City shows in the Spinnaker lounge. While we were gone they cleaned our room and threw away the souvenir beer bottles we always make a point of saving to put with our collection at home. I wouldn't have been so upset if these items had been on the floor or somewhere else where it would have appeared that we didn't want them, but they were up on the top shelf above the TV in our cabin the whole week by our souvenir Norwegian glasses from the bars. To me it felt like they were basically already preparing the room for the next week's guest by trying to get rid of as much "trash" as they could before the day they prepared the cabin again. And I know we aren't the only people who collect beer bottles from other countries, I know many friends and family of mine do this every vacation they go on. What made me the saddest about this is that these are items that can only be bought in the countries we visited and can't be ordered off the internet, I already checked. Another complaint we had was that even though we told the woman seating people in Summer Palace that the pair of khaki shorts was all my husband had in the way of nice clothes, she still turned us away from the door in front of a large group of people and told us we could come back "when we had the proper attire on". To me, this is completely unacceptable and I made that fact known at the Guest Relations desk. I could understand if we had a suitcase full of clothes back in our room, but I felt like they could have made an exception especially since he had worn them in the dining room a few days before and they said nothing about it then! The only reasoning I can come up with is that they were very crowded that night and were looking for reasons to turn people away, but I feel very strongly that she should have let us come in under the circumstances. Still, this is a small-ish matter and I didn't let it ruin my evening. Other than that, the crew was very nice! Every time you walked past a crew member they were always smiling and wishing you a good day or evening. The hand sanitizing crew members in the buffet can be a little...overwhelming I suppose you would say, but I always let them spray my hands. We didn't like Andy the cruise director at first, but he grew on us as the week wore on. Jorge' the hotel director was nice too, we ended up buying a future cruise credit from him to put with the cruise credits the ship gave us for our luggage loss. Captain Lars was awesome! He was the most involved with the passengers of any ship captain I've ever seen, always cracking jokes over the loud speaker or taking pictures with us around the ship. I enjoyed his "View from the Top" show that we watched in the Stardust Theater on Friday. Activities On-Board: I have to give it to Norwegian for their entertainment, I loved every single show I saw! The entertainers on this ship were spectacular! I especially have to give special attention to the Second City performers, who were excellent performers! We saw every single one of their shows except for the early seating of their first night's performance and went to both their workshops in the Stardust Theater. We actually got to get up on stage and do improv with them at the second workshop! For the first thing we did in the workshop we were divided into three groups onstage and were told to make up a commercial for an item that the audience chose for us. Then we volunteered to do a part onstage where five people were telling parts of a story and picking up where each other left off when we were pointed at to continue. It was so much fun and is definitely something we will never forget! As for the shows the Second City cast members did, their first night's show was a series of skits performed in the Stardust Theater. The shows on the last night we were on the ship were Improv, a family-themed show for the first and a more adult oriented program for the second performance. We enjoyed them all and I hope to see all of these guys again someday at a real Second City show! Oh What a Night was a group of guys singing Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons songs and doing comedy in between numbers. I enjoyed the show but by the end I was glad it was over as it seemed to last a little long. Still a good show though, and I'm glad we got to see it. Sharkbait was GREAT. These are two hysterical guys doing acrobatics and comedy and it's very high energy. I enjoyed their back-and-forth banter as well as the juggling, balancing (the guy with the mohawk balanced an extension ladder on his chin!) and other acrobatic stunts. I would love to see them again sometime! Rod Long was the comedian onboard, he did two nights worth of shows and we enjoyed each of them, but not as much as we did the Second City performers or Sharkbait. I also liked seeing him on the game show panels, he did the What's My Line show and he was really funny! The only one of the dance shows we went to see was Garden of the Geisha, which I thought was a little uneventful but still interesting to watch, and the music was beautiful (most of the songs were taken from the Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack, I wonder if anyone else noticed that?). I had no clue why the differently dressed ninjas didn't like each other, but it was still visually stunning. We missed the first night's dance show because we were trying to find out where our luggage was, and the other show we just really weren't interested in seeing so we skipped it. We went to see the Newlywed Game show, always a welcome comedy show on any ship and we went to the Quest game show too but we ended up giving our seats away to some of those standing around us because it didn't seem like something we were going to enjoy. We were invited to the Past Guest party that was held on Monday, and we attended that. It was the typical past guest function, free drinks, pictures with the captain, an introduction of some of the higher up crew members, a talk from Andy the cruise director and Jorge' the hotel director, and a speech about why we should buy a future cruise credit. We did end up purchasing one on the last day of our cruise, and with the on-board credit we received we didn't even have to pay for it! Ports of Call: Samana: We expected not to be able to go to Samana because of the hurricane, but the day we were set to arrive nothing was said about it and we got on the tender boat when the ship was cleared. Being on the fourth floor where they load the tender boats and disembark at the ports is nice because we just waited in our room until the tenders were cleared and then walked the fifty or so feet to where they were disembarking. We got on one of the first tenders for Samana at around 10:00. The weather was overcast in most areas, but there was sun peaking through the clouds and blue skies in some parts of the sky. We got together with two other couples from the ship and took an island tour with our tour guide, Pedro, for $20. He took one of the couples to the local Internet cafe for about half an hour and the rest of us walked around the downtown area with him. When the couple were done at the internet cafe, we drove out to El Limon and hiked up the hillside to go see it. Our group opted not to walk down to the waterfall but just to take a picture with it as a backdrop. We had a few beers and stood around talking to our tour guide and other people who were visiting the falls and then we hiked back. It was VERY muddy and everyone had to wash their feet and shoes off when we got back to the road. Then Pedro took us to an overlook that was gorgeous and you could see for miles across the bay. After that he took us to a beach right near the pier, the rock said Playa Hoez but I'm not sure if that's really the beach's name or not. We swam in the water for a few minutes, not long because the water was murky from the storms. When we were done we headed back up to the ship. The shopping here was very disappointing, I only saw a few things for sale and none of it was near the tender dock. Saint Thomas: In Saint Thomas we needed to do some shopping for some of the essentials we couldn't buy on the ship, so we went shopping for the first part of the morning. We went to the straw market first off and I bought a "Coach" bag and a few pieces of jewelry and my husband bought a few local beers. We took a taxi back over to the K-Mart I visited with my parents a few years ago to pick up some essentials. Dennis also bought liquor here too, which is weird to me. I mean, buying liquor at K-Mart? Surreal. Anyway, we took our stuff back to the ship and then we took a taxi over to Coki Beach to do some snorkeling. The snorkeling here was excellent! For a $9 taxi ride, you can't beat it. There were exotic fish everywhere and we really enjoyed watching them swim around with us. There were beach chairs and umbrellas for rent, but we just laid our towels out. The drinks here were really expensive, they wanted $8 for a minuscule blended drink at the bar. Actually, I thought that this beach was much smaller than I had imagined it would be like. The way it's described in the travel books makes it sound bigger than it really is, but I still enjoyed it very much and we'll probably go back in the future! Tortola: We had done our research beforehand and had decided that instead of taking a ship's tour to Virgin Gorda to see the Baths we were going to take a ferry over ourselves. We were cleared for going ashore at around 7:15 and by that time we were already up, dressed, and had eaten breakfast and were ready to go. We got off the ship and walked to the end of the gate where there were some market tents set up. I got a magnet and a bracelet and then we went over to find Speedy's Ferry service, which true to what we had read on the internet was almost right next to the dock when you turn to the left at the main street. A 7-10 minute walk was all it took to reach the ferry dock...only to discover that the first ferry didn't run until 9:00, and the latest ferry we could take back was at 12:30. We bought our tickets ($38 a person for the ferry ride to Virgin Gorda and then a taxi both ways to take you to and from the Baths verses the ship's price of $89 a person, and they used the exact same ferry service because we saw the ship's excursion coming back on a Speedy's ferry that left about 10 minutes before our return ferry did!) and walked around for a few minutes and then chilled on a bench beside the ferry dock for awhile. When it was time for us to board we got up on the top deck and took a seat in the back of the ship where it was open air. The ride takes about 45 minutes and that ferry left VERY promptly, but more on that later. When we reached the dock at Virgin Gorda after a very pleasant sunny ride over, we got off and went through the main gates at the ferry dock and got on the Speedy taxi, about a 7 minute ride. It took us straight into the Bath's park and after paying the $3 per person entrance fee we were on our way down the path! The path down to the Bath's was rocky, but nothing terrible. When we got to the Bath's beach my husband insisted that we go to Devil's Bay, even though it was beautiful at the other beach. So we started our trek through caves, crevices, over large boulders, through VERY tight and small spaces, and basically like a mean obstacle course. By the time we reached Devil's Bay I was about ready to throw in the towel. We didn't have water shoes and we were carrying our backpack, all our clothes (because some of the way through the caves and around the boulders requires you go through water) and were barefooted, so it was really hard to make it without dropping my digital camera in the water. But once we were on the other side, it more than made up for the hike, because it was so beautiful! This is the nicest beach I've ever been on, the water so clear and beautiful and the big menacing boulders sticking up everywhere. There were caves all over the beach front too, we got to go in a few of them. The snorkeling was great, not like Coki Beach but there were schools of beautiful tropical fish meandering around in most places. Since we had to be back at the Bath's entrance at 12:00 to meet Speedy's taxi we only got to stay about an hour and forty five minutes, which was definitely not enough to explore even the surface of what this beautiful park had to offer. We got stuck behind a group of extremely loud slow moving folks on our way back up the Devil's Bay side of the path, and when we reached the top the first Speedy taxi had already left. Us and another couple and two guys who had come over with us waited nervously for the second Speedy taxi to come (apparently the first guy said he would send someone or would come back, I'm still not sure which) and finally he did show up and we got back to the dock with only about 5-ish minutes to spare. When our ferry pulled up, they loaded on some cargo they were transporting from Virgin Gorda to Tortola and then we got on, and that ferry wasn't there but about three minutes. It was actually quite scary, I was SO glad we were paying attention to the time because if we had been even four or five minutes late we wouldn't have caught the only Speedy ferry that came back to Tortola before the boat left (I believe the next one was at 4:00 but I could be mistaken) and would have had to pay a lot extra to catch a different ferry service that didn't even leave Virgin Gorda before 2:30 and our boat sailed at 3:00, so we probably wouldn't have made it anyway. But we did get back in time, and after walking around the shopping tents for awhile we went back to the ship. Great Stirrup Cay The captain decided it was too dangerous to try to tender to GSC because of the high swells, so we ended up having another sea day. I wasn't too disappointed because after all, I imagined we would miss Samana and perhaps some of the other ports, so the fact that we didn't more than made up for not going to the private island. I was really looking forward to snorkeling here, but perhaps on our next Norwegian cruise we'll try it again. Disembarkation: Sunday morning we left our room around 7:00. We decided to skip breakfast because they had already cleared the ship for disembarking, so we just decided to take our stuff and get off early so we could get to Tampa earlier (Busch Gardens...yay!). Charlin was waiting for us outside at the glass walkways where you walk back down into the terminal, and she took us down to the terminal office and our luggage was brought out to us safe and sound with nothing out of place. The whole process took about twenty minutes and after a cab ride back to the La Quinta we were off for Tampa and the rest of our vacation! As far as how we were affected by not having our luggage for the duration of our vacation, while it was inconvenient to not be able to dress up for dinner and not having all the toiletries a woman requires, we honestly weren't affected all that much by not having our stuff with us. I had my camera, memory cards, batteries, battery charger, laptop & cords, etc with us in our carry on, and I was extremely grateful to have those things with us. I would have been lost without my camera! But it taught us a valuable lesson about how you really don't need all the stuff you THINK you have to have when you're packing. Next time we go we plan on taking only a duffel bag, a small garment bag, and a backpack. We were very satisfied with the compensation we received as far as on-board credits and the half off the future cruise certificates we received, and we felt Norwegian did all they could do to ensure we had a good vacation. And we have to honestly say that we had a GREAT time!!! We will definitely be cruising with Norwegian again and I'm looking forward to using our cruise credits! Less Published 11/30/10 Thank rmartin1286 Cabin review: OF4588 Mid-Ship Oceanview Porthole Window Cabin 4588 was in a very quiet location other than the times when the boat was moving slowly, and then the slosh of the water against the side of the ship was so loud we thought there was a leak either in the cabins beside us or on the floor above us. I never heard anyone in the hallways after a certain time of night, and even in the daytime it was very quiet. We had a port hole, but it was recessed back in the wall of the ship about a foot and it made it hard to see anything to the right and left or up and down, basically you could only see out the window what was right in front of the port hole window. The window itself was a lot smaller than I had imagined it would be, I was disappointed that it wasn't larger. Our cabin was mid-ship and on the bottom floor (for passengers) and was perfect for those who might experience motion sickness as I tend to do from time to time. The cabin itself was the smallest I've ever been in, but the bathroom was the biggest. In fact, we felt the bathroom took up too much space that could have been better used in the open area of the cabin. The closet space was sufficient, and the safe was very easy to use. Read All Mid-Ship Oceanview Porthole Window (OF) Reviews >> Read more Norwegian Pearl cruise reviews >> Read Cruise Critic's Norwegian Pearl Review >> Compare Prices on Norwegian Pearl Eastern Caribbean Cruises Find a Cruise rmartin1286 1 Review Ship facilities were too small... Grand Turk Oasis is amazing! More Norwegian Pearl Reviews Good value, but nothing specta... Charter cruise == Walker Stalk... Cruiser Beware More Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews Freestyle NOT! Very Disappointing - Disembark... A Mixed Bag - But An Average C... Sponsored Links Norwegian Pearl Cruise Reviews Norwegian (NCL) Cruise Deals See Norwegian Pearl deals up to 82% off: 7 Night Alaska Cruise See all Norwegian Pearl Deals >> See Norwegian Pearl Deals up to 82% off

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Waterfall Walks in Northern Ir...17 Things to Do in Northern Ir...Free Things to Do in Northern ...10 Things to do in Belfast for...Weekend Wanders in the Sperrin...Festive Family Fun in Northern... Tickets now available for selected highlights of Enniskillen Beckett Festival19 August Tickets are on sale from today for selected highlights of the HAPPY DAYS - Enniskillen International Beckett Festival, which runs from 23 to 27 August. The programme will present a diverse mix of international theatre, music, art, comedy and conversation from world class Irish, UK and international artists and writers. The full HAPPY DAYS programme will be announced in June 2012. Early highlights include four projects that are part of the London 2012 Festival, the spectacular 12-week UK-wide celebration running from 21 June until 9 September bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK. The London 2012 Festival events are the UK and Irish Premiere of Robert Wilson directing and starring in Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape; Britain’s favourite living composer, Gavin Bryars with his Ensemble performing The Sinking of the Titanic, alongside the World Premiere of the HAPPY DAYS commission, The Beckett Songbook; Antony Gormley’s Godot Tree, unveiled for the first time in the Grand Yard at the National Trust’s Castle Coole; and film-maker Atom Egoyan, nominated for two Palme D’Or Awards and two Academy Awards, presenting his installation Steenbeckett (2002), a work from The Artangel Collection that is premiering in Ireland prior to its accession by the Tate.To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Castle Coole being in the care of the National Trust, Antony Gormley’s Godot Tree will be in place for 60 days from 2 July and throughout the HAPPY DAYS Festival. Other highlights include the Vienna Piano Trio performing some of Beckett’s favourite composers; Perrier Award-winner and Bafta-nominated comedian, Stuart Silver; Tenor Ian Bostridge singing Schubert’s Winterreise accompanied by pianist Julius Drake; and Lyr Williams performing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. Castle Coole, built in 1789, the year of the French Revolution, will also be the venue for the closing recital of French song and opera arias by mezzo soprano Ruby Philogene MBE, accompanied by Julius Drake, in honour Beckett’s adopted homeland. Writers and poets discussing their relationships with Beckett and the lasting influence of his work will include Edna O’Brien, Lady Antonia Fraser, and John Banville amongst others. Edna O’Brien will open the Festival’s programme on Thursday 23 August at the Ardhowen Theatre, with an in-conversation event with William Crawley. HAPPY DAYS, based in Enniskillen at the heart of the beautiful Fermanagh Lakelands, is the world’s first annual festival dedicated to Nobel Prize-winning writer, Samuel Beckett. The festival will celebrate Beckett’s work and influences and present some of the many international artists, writers, musicians and performers he has inspired. Samuel Beckett, like Oscar Wilde before him, spent his formative years at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Some of Northern Ireland’s most extraordinary landmarks will host HAPPY DAYS, including Enniskillen Castle, Castle Coole, Portora Royal School, Mount Lourdes School, Blakes of the Hollow, St Michael’s Church and St Macartin’s Cathedral. HAPPY DAYS is funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Arts Council Northern Ireland, the London 2012 Festival and Fermanagh District Council. Tickets for selected highlights from the programme are now available from www.happy-days-enniskillen.com. | < Back to Cycling homepage < Back To Groups & Schools < Back To Homepage Top Things to See & Do Immerse yourself in the Ultimate Shopping Experience, from shopping centres and high streets filled with designer brands to village studios selling the wares of local craftspeople, Northern Ireland is a great place for shopping. Take a road trip, pack up your golf bags and discover all that is great about Northern Ireland Golf and take a well-earned Stay and Play Golf Break. Discover the the amazing city of Derry~Londonderry and learn all about the cultural city steeped in history and enjoy many of its culinary delights on offer. Explore the spectacular Causeway Coast and be part of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2017 (6 - 9 July), hosted by the Rory Foundation at Porstewart Golf Club. Visit the world's leading tourist attraction Titanic Belfast and and enjoy an authentic maritime visitor experience. Step into Seamus Heaney HomePlace and begin your journey through the life and literature of the poet and Nobel Laureate. ').appendTo('.mainImageTitle'); ').appendTo('.mainImageTitle');

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Northern Ireland Travel Guide Florence Court Travel Guide Florence Court When it comes to Early Irish Georgian houses, there are few as magical as Florence Court. In 2014, 15 km (9 miles) of signposted walking and biking trails were opened in the grounds, ranging from short walks to three-hour hikes. The longer ones link up with the Ulster Way and Cuilcagh Way long-distance routes. Explore Florence Court Elsewhere In Northern Ireland The spiritual capital of Ireland for 5,000 years, and the seat of both Protestant and Catholic archbishops, Armagh is the most venerated of... Ballycastle is the main resort at the northern end of the Glens of Antrim. People flock here in summer, but apart from peak season, this is... Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster... See All Places In Northern Ireland

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www.hotelcrocini.com Booking online Check in: Near Lungarno and Santa Maria Novella Station In Corso Italia, one km from Santa Maria Novella trains station, 100 meters from the prestigious Theater for Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Teatro Comunale) and Lungarno Vespucci, in a very quiet residential area of the historic center, stands Hotel Crocini. It is one of the best 2 star hotels in Florence due to its peacefulness and convenient location, and is excellent for pleasure or business travelers. Situated in a mid 19th century building, with a pretty garden in the interior, the hotel is well connected by public transportation to the heart of Florence: minibus lines A, B and D run along Via Magenta (a stop is located a few meters from the hotel) and the neighboring streets and take 5 minutes to reach the Church of Santa Maria Novella, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria and all the main museums and sights of the city. A pretty twenty minute stroll along Lungarno Vespucci or the internal streets leads to Santa Trinita and Via Tornabuoni; it takes half an hour on foot to get to Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. But even in a 10 minute walk from the hotel you'll find some gems to start discovering the many masterpieces which, like in a great museum, pervade Florence and make it unique: the refectory of the Church of Ognissanti, overlooking a square of the same name, contains a wonderful Last Supper fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio from 1488, and a Sant’Agostino in the study, an early work by Sandro Botticelli. By plane and trainFrom Florence's airport: bus (6 euro) to Santa Maria Novella train station or take a TAXI to the Hotel, a taxi takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs between 20 and 25 euro, depending on the traffic.From Pisa's airport: train or bus to Florence's SMN train station, the trip takes 60 minutes. There are three ways of getting to the hotel from Santa Maria Novella train station: on foot, by bus or taxi. It is about a 15 minute walk, leave the station from the RIGHT exit (with your back to the train tracks), go down the stairs, cross the street and go RIGHT until the first corner and LEFT on VIA DEGLI ORTI ORICELLARI, as you continue straight on this street it changes names, first VIA SANTA LUCIA then VIA CURTATONE: at the end of this street go RIGHT before you reach the river on CORSO ITALIA, Hotel Crocini is at number 28. To take a cab leave the station from the main exit (in front of you with your back to the tracks) and you'll find a taxi stand; the trip takes around 4 minutes and costs 10-12 euro. From the Santa Maria Novella Station exit on the right, go down the stairs and there take the tramway T1, direction "Villa Costanza", leaving at "PORTA AL PRATO-LEOPOLDA (Parco della Musica)" that is the very first stop. Once left the tram go straigh in the same direction of the tramway and after Hotel Michelangelo and Hotel NH Firenze turn left in Corso Italia, at number 28 you find us. Tickets for the tram cost Euro 1.20 per person and are sold at newsstands and tobacco stands or at the authomatic machine at the stop.By car a word of warning...driving in Florence is very complicated due to one way streets and all parking is paid, but it is not impossible... These are the directions for getting to the hotel by car: - from the NORTH on Autostrada A1 exit at FIRENZE NORD, or if coming from A11 at the end of the freeway. After paying the toll head for FIRENZE - AEROPORTO and the bypass that leads into the city. As soon as the bypass ends follow the signs for CENTRO. Then follow the signs for VIALI DI CIRCONVALLAZIONE - PORTA AL PRATO - PONTE DELLA VITTORIA. Once you reach the square around Porta al Prato the easiest thing to do is to go straight, under the underpass and over the bridge, Ponte della Vittoria, once on the opposite side of the river go completely around (360°) the traffic circle and go back over the bridge, when you get to the end of the bridge turn IMMEDIATELY RIGHT on Lungarno Vespucci, then go under the Telepass and take the first left VIA MAGENTA, then left again on CORSO ITALIA, the hotel and parking lot are located at number 28. - From the SOUTH the best exit from A1 is FIRENZE IMPRUNETA, after paying the toll go around the traffic circle and head for FIRENZE when you get to PORTA ROMANA follow the signs for PONTE DELLA VITTORIA, at the end of the bridge turn IMMEDIATELY RIGHT on Lungarno Vespucci, then go under the Telepass and take the first left VIA MAGENTA, then left again on CORSO ITALIA, the hotel and parking lot are located at number 28. Maggio Musicale Fiorentino One of the most prestigious classical music festivals in Europe and the world, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is performed at the Teatro Comunale in Florence, at no. 16 Corso Italia, 100 meters from Hotel Crocini. This large theater with seats for more than 2000, organizes the program of concerts and operas for the renown Maggio Musicale, performed and directed by the best musicians, singers and directors on the international scene. Started in 1933, its mission is to highlight the visual aspects in opera (the greatest directors as well as artists and costume designers have taken part in the festival) and the personal involvement of 20th century musicians and directors who have actively taken part in Maggio Fiorentimo as authors and performers. Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has witnessed the following performers and directors over the years: Vittorio Gui, Bruno Walter, Zubin Mehta (main Director of Maggio Fiorentino since 1985), von Karajan and Muti, Maria Callas, Pietro Mascagni and Richard Strauss, Bela Bartòk and Igor Stravinsky, Luigi Nono, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Luciano Berio; set designers and directors include Max Reinhardt and Gustav Gründgens, Luchino Visconti and Franco Zeffirelli, Luca Ronconi and Bob Wilson, Giorgio De Chirico and Oskar Kokoschka, just to name a few. The Festival is held in May and June each year and is a not to be missed occasion to listen to excellent classical music and see the most modern trends in opera. Hotel Crocini Holyguest sas Corso Italia 28 50123 Firenze, Italia Fax +39 055210171 [email protected] Hotel Hotel Crocini © 2000-2017 Follow www.hotelcrocini.com on:

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Still breathtaking, still grand: The Grand Canyon Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas come in many forms: There are Grand Canyon helicopter tours, Grand Canyon airplane tours ... heck, for all we know, there are Grand Canyon yak tours. So, whether it's by land, air, or yak, our time-tested advice is to get out and explore the region. more...The reason all of these tours exist, though, is obvious: The Grand Canyon is amazing. If you can find one person who wasn't awestruck, slack-jawed and just plain dumbfounded at first sight of the thing, well ... that would be amazing, too.We, though, will do our best to describe it here.Vast and majestic, colorful and beautiful, the Grand Canyon is one of this country's - and the world's - most recognizable landmarks. It stretches 277 miles from end to end. Red, rocky walls descend more than a mile to the canyon's floor, where a majestic Colorado River carves out a raging southwest course.Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe it.Most ground tours take you to the Grand Canyon's main entrance on the South Rim, while others will take you to the North Rim. Its western edge, home to Havasupai Falls and the town of Supai, is also accessible via roads on the Hualapai Indian Reservation.President and fabled outdoorsman Teddy Roosevelt visited the Grand Canyon in 1903. A fervent conservationist before it was cool, he established the Grand Canyon Game Preserve on November 28, 1906. Roosevelt added adjacent national forest lands and redesignated the preserve a U.S. national monument in 1908. Though initially opposed by land and mining claim holders, the Grand Canyon National Park was finally established as the 17th U.S. National Park by an act of Congress signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.These days, about 5 million people see the mile-deep canyon every year, many of them on guided tours, and Grand Canyon National Park has established itself as one of the world's greatest natural attractions. The South Rim is open all year-round, weather permitting. The North Rim is generally open mid-May to mid-October. Keyword A Grand Canyon Air Tour & Discovery Tour Type: Airplane,Bus Location: Grand Canyon A Grand Canyon Combo - Drive, Fly & Float Type: Boat or Jet Ski,Helicopter Location: Colorado River,Grand Canyon A Grand Canyon South Rim Adventure A Grand Canyon West Rim & Lunch A Skywalk Express Tour with Limo Type: Helicopter,Limousine Ace of Adventure Type: Helicopter All American with Limo Canyon Dream Location: Colorado River,Grand Canyon,Hoover Dam,Valley Of Fire Location: Grand Canyon,Hoover Dam,Las Vegas Strip 5 Star Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours provide breathtaking aerial views of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Bypass Bridge and the fabulous neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip. Our ... More

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LitSite Alaska Land Sea Air Dog Mushing Trails and Rails Search Peer Work Only > Digital Archives > Land Sea Air > Dog Mushing The Serum Run of 1925 By Jennifer Houdek Page 1 of 2 Next » Readers across the country eagerly followed the headlines that January of 1925. The "Great Race of Mercy" held their rapt attention. Children were dying in Nome, Alaska, and the diphtheria epidemic would surely kill the entire population without the necessary antitoxin to save them. The nation held its breath as 20 Alaskan mushers and their dog teams relayed the lifesaving serum across 674 miles of the vast, frozen territory. It was heroism at its best. The only available diphtheria antitoxin was in Anchorage, more than a thousand miles away, and dogsled was the surest means of transportation to get the serum to Nome. Many of the 150 dogs lost their lives and several mushers succumbed to frostbite as the medicine traveled to Nome in a record-breaking five and a half days. The mushers, most of them Native Alaskans, were motivated by the urgency of saving lives and preventing the disease from spreading to surrounding villages. They had recently witnessed the devastation of the 1918-19 Spanish influenza pandemic that had ravaged every Native village. A detailed history of the serum run is retold by Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury in The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race against an Epidemic. In the winter of 1924-25, Dr. Curtis Welch was the only doctor in Nome and the outlying communities. He had noticed the first case of diphtheria in December, although at first he dismissed it as tonsillitis, since no other symptoms of the highly contagious disease had been reported in town. However, after the deaths of two Iñupiaq children and an unusually large number of tonsillitis cases in town, Welch suspected something worse. In January, a month after the first fatality, Welch saw signs of diphtheria in three-year old Billy Barnett, who suffered from a high fever and weakness. He also noted a membrane that, in diphtheria cases, typically grows in mucous membranes in the throat and nasal passages, making breathing difficult and then impossible. Welch had 8,000 units of diphtheria antitoxin on hand, but it had expired the previous summer. He had ordered a new supply from the health commissioner in Juneau; however, the port closed for the winter before the serum arrived. Welch, not willing to risk using expired antitoxin, refused to treat the boy. Billy Barnett died the next day, and another child fell ill. That seven-year-old died the same day she was diagnosed, even though Welch did treat her with 6,000 units of the expired serum. At an emergency town council meeting that night, leaders called for a quarantine. Desperate, Welch sent a radio telegram to all the major Alaska towns, to territorial Governor Scott Bone in Juneau, and to the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington D.C. He wrote to the Health Service: An epidemic of diphtheria is almost inevitable here. Stop. I am in urgent need of one million units of diphtheria antitoxin, stop, mail is only form of transportation. Stop. I have made application to Commissioner of Health of the Territories for antitoxin already. Stop. There are about 3000 (sic) white natives in the district. By the end of January, Welch had 20 more confirmed cases and 50 more at risk. He knew the inevitable: without the antitoxin, the disease would kill the area's entire population of about 10,000 people. Mark Summer, superintendent of the territorial Board of Health, proposed the idea of using two of the fastest dog teams to get the antitoxin to Nome. Leonhard Seppala, a famed musher, who, with his lead dog Togo had won the All-Alaska Sweepstakes three times, was suggested as one of the teams. Many opposed the idea of using dog teams and pushed to fly the serum to Nome. Carl Ben Eielson had completed the first airmail flight in Alaska on February 21, 1924, flying from Fairbanks to McGrath, but winter flight was still viewed as experimental, and Nome was a long way from Fairbanks. The only available aircraft were water-cooled World War I planes that were not reliable in cold weather. In the end, the dogsled relay was voted in and Seppala was contacted. The original plan involved only two mushers: one from Nome and one from Nenana. They would rendezvous at Nulato and pass the serum. Governor Bone believed he had a better plan: a relay of mail-carrier mushers along the trail. Although Seppala was already up to the challenge of doing the lengthy run on his own, the extra mushers would allow for rest. However, Seppala would still run the most dangerous part, crossing Norton Sound twice. The governor contacted Edward Wetzler, the U.S. Post Office inspector, and arranged the use of his best mail carriers and their teams for the relay. The Northern Commercial Company already had a network of telephones and telegraph stations in roadhouses along many trails, so the drivers would be contacted through the roadhouses. The mushers were told to wait at an assigned roadhouse for their turn in the relay. By then, however, Seppala had already left Nome, unaware of Governor Bone's decision to add extra mushers to the relay. He drove his team toward Nulato, still following the first plan to rendezvous with a Nenana-to-Nulato musher. In another setback, his route bypassed the villages with telephone and telegraph systems, so he didn't know that he was supposed to stop at Shaktoolik and wait there. The only hope was for the driver from the north to catch Seppala on the trail. Although a million units of the serum were located in Seattle, it would take more than a week to ship the medicine to Nome. Fortunately, chief surgeon Dr. John Beeson found 300,000 units at the Alaska Railroad Hospital in Anchorage. To keep the serum from freezing, it was wrapped in a quilt for insulation and packed in a cylinder. The serum was given to the conductor of the train, Frank Knight, and began its first leg of the relay, from Anchorage to Nenana by train. The first musher in the relay was William "Wild Bill" Shannon, who met the train in Nenana. Shannon and his lead dog Blackie left Nenana on January 27 at 9:00 p.m. in frigid temperatures - as low as -62° F. Although Shannon ran next to the sled to keep warm, he developed hypothermia and parts of his face were frostbitten. Shannon stopped and built a fire in Minto and, after a four-hour break, set off again for Tolovana. There he passed the serum to the next musher, Edgar Kallands, who drove it to Manley Hot Springs. The serum continued its journey to Nome, passing from one musher to the next in intervals roughly thirty miles apart. Charlie Evans at Bishop Mountain received the serum by the third day. Evans arrived in Nulato carrying two lead dogs in his sled, dead from exposure. He passed the serum to Tommy Patsy there, and onward it went to Kaltag, where a man known as "Jackscrew" received the serum. He carried it to Victor Anagick, who took it from Old Woman Shelter to Myles Gonangnan at Unalakleet. Gonangnan, noticing a storm over the Norton Sound, decided against crossing the Sound, even though it was shorter, and instead traveled around it. It was -70° F and whiteout conditions in Shaktoolik when he arrived at 3:00 p.m. on January 31. He next passed the serum to Henry Ivanoff, who had been waiting in Shaktoolik just in case Seppala didn't arrive. Seppala wasn't far off. Leaving Nome for Nulato on January 27, he had traveled 170 miles by January 31 was on the other side of the same storm that Myles Gonangnan had encountered over Norton Sound. However, unlike Gonangnan, Seppala chose to attempt the shortcut across the Sound. Racing to get across before the storm hit, Seppala didn't see Henry Ivanoff at first. The musher had paused alongside the trail outside Shaktoolik. He was straightening out his team, which had gotten tangled after an encounter with a reindeer. Ivanoff shouted at Seppala as he was passing. "The serum! The serum! I have it here!" With Togo in lead, Seppala grabbed the bundle and headed back across Norton Sound. They did not rest, but pressed on into the darkness. Togo was an exceptional leader already famous throughout the region for numerous wins in the All-Alaska Sweepstakes and other Nome Kennel Club races. Togo took Seppala in a straight line across the Sound, in the dark and across ice floes, arriving at the Isaac's Point roadhouse at 8:00 p.m. Seppala and his tired dogs had traveled 84 miles in addition to the 170 they had undertaken before obtaining the serum. They took a short rest and left again at 2:00 a.m. on February 1, heading into another fierce storm. After following the shoreline and ascending the 5,000 feet of Little McKinley Mountain, Seppala arrived in Golovin. There Charlie Olson was waiting to take the package further down the trail. Meanwhile, despite attempts to quarantine the sick, diphtheria continued to spread through Nome. The number of cases rose as the storm worsened. The need for the serum was urgent, but Dr. Welch, not willing to risk losing the serum, ordered a break from the relay. Olson acquired frostbite while traveling in -70° F temperatures. He struggled into Bluff on February 1 at 7:00 p.m. The next musher, Gunnar Kaasen, waited three hours for the storm to subside before departing. In lead for Kaasen was a dog named Balto, who was part of the Seppala kennel and on loan to Kaasen. The storm grew steadily worse and Kaasen relied heavily on Balto to make out the trail. In whiteout conditions and with limited visibility, Kaasen passed the next stop, Solomon, without realizing it. The winds were so powerful that his sled was blown over and the serum was knocked out. Digging in the snow with his bare hands, Kaasen suffered frostbite to his fingers. Forging ahead, Kaasan reached Point Safety on February 3 at 3:00 a.m. Kaasen had covered the trail in good time, and when he arrived, he found Ed Rohn asleep, as he was expecting Kaasen much later. Estimating the time it would take for Rohn to suit up and prepare his team, Kaasen decided to carry the serum onward himself for the remaining 25 miles to Nome. Snowblind and tired, Kaasen and his team reached Front Street in Nome on February 2 at 5:30 a.m. Remarkably, after Welch thawed the serum, it was still viable and after injecting most of the Nome residents, he lifted the quarantine on February 21. Recognizing the bravery and tenacity of the drivers and dogs, President Calvin Coolidge rewarded each man with a gold medal, and the territory of Alaska gave them each $25. The serum run received national press through radio and headlines in the United States and Alaska, both during and after the run. And the diphtheria outbreak in Nome was a catalyst in spurring an inoculation campaign in the United States that reduced the further spread of diseases. Although Seppala and Togo covered the greatest number of miles, Gunnar Kaasen and Balto were the team that actually delivered the serum into Nome, lending them much glory and prestige. Balto became the famous dog of the serum run, although many - including Leonhard Seppala, who owned both Balto and Togo - felt that Togo, who was 12 years old at the time of the run, should have received more credit. In December 1925, a statue of Balto was erected in New York City's Central Park. At this, Seppala commented: "It was almost more than I could bear when the ‘newspaper dog' Balto received a statue for his ‘glorious achievements.'" Balto spent a few years touring with sideshow entertainers, then found a permanent home in the Cleveland Zoo. After his death at 11 in 1933, he was mounted and placed on display in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. After Togo's death in 1929, at the age of 16, his body was mounted and is currently part of the museum collection at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Headquarters in Wasilla, Alaska. Seppala spent many more years working with sled dogs, racing and breeding champions. He died at the age of 90 in 1967 and was buried in Nome, long before Balto was honored again in children's books and even in a feature-length cartoon produced by Steven Spielberg. Today, another Balto statue stands in downtown Anchorage, only a few blocks from the Alaska Railroad Station and near the starting line of the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In the same year as the serum run, 1925, the Kelly Act was signed into law as well. This bill allowed private aviation companies to bid on mail delivery contracts; however, a decade later, technology had improved and air mail routes were established throughout all of Alaska. With the invention of the snowmachine in the 1960s, the use of sled dogs as a sole means of transportation was obsolete. In the last half of the 20th century, dog mushing regained popularity, especially as a recreational sport. A reenactment of the serum run was held in 1975 to mark the 50th anniversary of the "Great Race of Mercy," and participants included descendants of many of the original mushers. A decade later, President Ronald Reagan sent a letter of recognition to each surviving musher of the 1925 serum run: Charlie Evans, Edgar Nollner and Bill McCarty. On January 18, 1999, the last survivor, Nollner, died of a heart attack. Beginning in 1997, the great explorer and adventurer Colonel Norman Vaughan instituted an annual run from Nenana to Nome, an estimated 776 miles, calling the first one the Commemorative Norman Vaughan Serum Run of 1925 Expedition. While the modern Serum Run "25" recognizes the achievements of the serum run mushers, the "race" includes participants on snowmachines as well as dogsleds, and includes stops at villages along the way to promote childhood inoculations. The Serum Run Mushers of 1925 Musher Leg of Serum Run Miles "Wild Bill" Shannon Nenana to Tolovana 52 Edgar Kalland to Manley Hot Springs 31 Dan Green to Fish Lake 28 Johnny Folger to Tanana 26 Sam Joseph to Kallands 34 Titus Nickoli to Nine Mile Cabin 24 Dave Corning to Kokrines 30 Harry Pitka to Ruby 30 Billy McCarty to Whiskey Creek 28 Edgar Nollner to Galena 24 George Nollner to Bishop Mountain 18 Charlie Evans to Nulato 30 Tommy Patson to Kaltag 36 Jack Screw to Old Woman 40 Victor Anagick to Unalakleet 34 Myles Gonangnan to Shaktoolik 40 Henry Ivanoff to meeting with Seppala - Leonhard Seppala* to Golovin 91 Charlie Olson to Bluff 25 Gunnar Kaasen to Nome 53 * Seppala set out from Nome, met Ivanoff outside of Shaktoolik, turned around, and carried the serum onward to Golovin, 91 miles away. With Togo, he traveled a total of 260 miles. Listen to Audio IBM Text to Speech IBM Text to Speech Related Articles » Togo and Balto, Dog Heroes The Heroine of Wrangel Island 51 Hours and 19 Minutes Mushing Legend "Scotty" Allan Gallery of Images Togo, Leonhard Seppala's team leader Leonhard Seppala Gunnar Kaasen and Balto in their race to Nome Alaska Railroad Hospital at Anchorage The first Nome-to-Candle race of 1908 Click here for all 11 photos in this gallery. Next page: Related Material 2 Top of Page | Return to Listing LitSite Alaska, Copyright © 2000 - 2017. All rights reserved. University of Alaska Anchorage.

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Third Texas Park Joins Yogi Bear’s Franchise March 24, 2010 by Justin Leighty - () Leave a Comment Welcome, North Texas Jellystone Park! Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of five news releases about new members of the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort campground chain. In less than 10 years, Ronnie Bowyer has transformed a barren piece of property near Miller Creek in Burleson, Texas, into a beautifully landscaped RV resort with hundreds of oak, pecan and pine trees. But despite recently doubling the size of the resort to 248 sites, adding 37 fully furnished luxury cabins, two swimming pools, various recreation buildings and creating a steady roster of weekend activities and special events, marketing the park to families in Texas and across the country has been challenging, particularly when there are hundreds of parks competing for the same business. A few months ago, however, Bowyer and his staff came up with a new strategy: Join the Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts chain. The 75-unit franchise network is the second largest campground chain in the country and is widely known for having quality parks and staff. “We think joining Jellystone will help put us on the map,” said Steve Stafford, park manager at Rustic Creek Ranch. “We’ll also be able to tap into their 41 years of experience serving families across the country.” The Jellystone Park chain has two other locations in Texas – one in Waller and another in Canyon Lake. Stafford added that the Burleson location, which will be marketed as the North Texas Jellystone Park, plans to invest in additional amenities over the next year including a pedal kart track, arcade and laser tag. A waterpark and sprayground are expected to open by the summer of 2011. The park is also investing in inflatable climbing structures for children and is ramping up its slate of campground activities to include daily craft classes, family games and hayrides as well as rides on the park’s fire truck, which the park recently purchased. Of course, all these activities have an extra element of fun with Yogi Bear participating. Yogi will be on site daily to greet campers, pose for photo ops and take part in events. The park will also offer Karaoke and movie nights. “The franchisor, Leisure Systems Inc., has already sent staff to our park for onsite training and guidance,” Stafford said, adding that the park will be hiring additional staff for the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Filed Under: Industry NewsTagged: Leisure Systems Inc., North Texas Jellystone Park, Rustic Creek Ranch, Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts Comments

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Log in to Bautrip Log in with Facebook! Register to Bautrip By registering you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Finish registration We have sent you a mail to confirm your registration. If it's not in your inbox it may be in the spam folder. AlicanteTravel Guide Europe - Spain - Alicante What to visit Food Alicante is one of the most engaging coastal areas of Spain. The city and the surrounding villages are along the Mediterranean Sea and the amount of beaches and coastal corners are endless. This is why every year the European Union categorizes these natural landscapes with blue flags, standing for an international coast reputation. Surely this is one of the reasons why throughout the year, but especially in the summer... season, thousands of tourists travel to Valencia for a swim in those blue waters or to visit the villages around.The alicantinas villas are like those drawn in stories, white, small and with flowers on each balcony. A contrast to those skyscrapers along the shore. This city has the tallest buildings of the area and throughout the country. But what distinguishes Alicante doesn’t end here. The culinary tradition of tapas and dishes is a delight and makes more than one person ask for the recipe, but besides... Did you know that is the second most mountainous province in Spain? Although the mountains are not very high, the region is full of valleys and rugged areas which also allows for a great getaway from the sea. And of course, as of birth, the alicantinos are open and friendly. They are folks of the Mediterranean, land of sun and quality life. Friendly, achievers but also funny, always true to their traditions and their customs and great defenders of their land.Alicante and their surroundings surely includes everything that a sun lover, beach and good life are looking for. If you like movement, beaches, good weather, popular festivals and tapas, this is the place for you. You need to be registered in Bautrip in order to save or like an article. Join us!Are you a member of Bautrip? Log in Alicante Overview Spanish is the most widely spoken language among the population, although in Alicante and the community of Valencia, Valencian is also spoken, the Romance language related to Catalan and Balearic. Among those working in the tourism sector it’s likely to also speak some English and French and the younger generation increasingly have more knowledge of English. Alicante has an arid Mediterranean climate with mild winters and very hot and dry summers. Throughout the whole year the average temperature is about 18ºC (64.4ºF) but in summer it can get to pass the 35ºC (95ºF). The rainiest months are September and October and during this period there may be some flooding. Still, for most of the year the sun is the star during the day. Euro (EUR). The euro is the official currency as in the rest of Spain. At the airport you can easily change your money at currency exchange offices and in the Alicante city there are ATMs and banks which also also exchange currency. Big establishments tend to accept credit card although small businesses or low value purchases do not accept it. Spring, late summer or early autumn. During spring it’s when temperatures are more pleasant. The sun begins to warm more and is a good time to start visiting the beach. Late summer -september- and early autumn is also a good time. The heat it’s not as suffocating and water and temperatures still allow to take a dip in the water. For Alicante 1 day and 5 to explore the surroundings. Alicante is a relatively small city and could be explored in one day. It has some interesting sights but the most attractive parts of the city are the surroundings. Alicante is on the Mediterranean Sea, has dreamy coastal landscapes, and belongs to the community of Valencia. It’s best to take a few days to explore the Costa Blanca or the coast of Valencia. Biar (inland town with a castle and a pedestrian historical center)Banyeres de Mariola (inland town with a castle and a lovely historical center)Cocentaina (village of 40,000 years old with interesting buildings)Ibi (town known for the toy museum and sculpture of the Magi, one of the few in the world)Orihuela (municipality with the old town declared a Historical Site)Murcia (city)Elche (municipality with Iberian remains) The alicantinas stores usually open around 10:00 and close at 20:00. Small businesses tend to have a lunch break at noon (from 14:00 to 17:00) and larger or franchised businesses often have a continued schedule. But depending on the area, times may change a little. Airport Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC) Barcelona is one of Spain's most varied cities. A destination that must be visited at leas... Alicante is one of the most engaging coastal areas of Spain. The city and the surrounding ... Canada is one of the countries with the most spectacular landscapes in the world, known be... Costa Rica is a Caribbean paradise. Costa Rica not only has dreamlike beaches, it also has... Known for its canals and coffee shops, Amsterdam has become one of the most popular Europe... © bautrip.com | Legal Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

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> Portfolio > Hotels > Tryp by Wyndham Bad Bramstedt TRYP by Wyndham Bad Bramstedt North Germany's largest event centre The four-star wellness and business hotel TRYP by Wyndham Bad Bramstedt has been rated the largest event centre in North Germany. An area measuring a total of 1,400 square metres is available for hostingevents for up to 800 people. Alongside the 134 rooms, this hotel,situated in a spa resort in the Auenland region of Schleswig-Holstein,features two restaurants, a bar and a generous spa area. Parking places are available free of charge. More about this hotel Make a reservation Rooms & Amenities Balcony rooms 103 double rooms, 19 triple rooms and 11 single rooms measuring between 16 and 32 square metres areavailable at the TRYP by Wyndham Bad Bramstedt. All 134 rooms are equipped with WiFi access and SKY Cinema, and most also feature a spacious balcony. On the 12th floor of the establishment, there is a 50-square-metre suite with water bed and panoramic views over the spa resort. Regional cuisine in the Deichgraf restaurant Regional specialities from Schleswig-Holstein and international cuisine are served in the Restaurant & Bar Köhlerhof Stube and the Restaurant Galerie. In the summer months, the terrace offers seating for 20 guests. Cocktails, coffee and drinks can be savoured in the roaring-twenties-style bar of Köhlerhof Stube restaurant. The light-flooded Restaurant Galerie is also used for lunches and conferences as well as evening meals for half-board guests. Video Rooms + Meetings & Conferences, fairs and balls for up to 800 guests With a total of 15 events rooms, the TRYP by Wyndham Hotel Bad Bramstedt can cater for events of all types and sizes. Whether it be a conference, presentation, fair or gala, for five people or 800 - the rooms of varying sizesoffer considerable flexibility when planning events. The main hall measures 520 square metres. For private functions, such as birthdays, family parties and anniversaries, the "Das Boot" event room, with dance floor, DJ console and bar, is more than suitable. Extensive wellness and entertainment offers Guests at the TRYP by Wyndham Bad Bramstedt can relax in the light-flooded spa area, equipped with a swimming pool, whirlpools, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath, a fitness room and sunbeds. Wellness and beauty treatments, such as massages, can be booked at the Beauty-Vital-Studio. One nine-pin andtwo ten-pin bowling alleys and a billiard table provide entertainment. There are plenty of opportunities for Nordic walking in the surrounding spa gardens. Am Köhlerhof 4 24576 Bad Bramstedt, Deutschland +49 4192 505 0 Spa resort in the proximity of Hamburg The hotel is situated in the spa resort of Bad Bramstedt, around 45 minutes outside Hamburg and right in the middle of the triangle of cities formed by Hamburg, Kiel and Lübeck. With a population of 14,000, Bad Bramstedt in the Auenland area of Schleswig-Holstein serves as an ideal base for day trips to the surrounding area, to both the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, as well as to the north German cities of Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck and Neumünster.The A7 motorway is a mere four kilometres away. map.toolbar.mobile.poi-option.label Airport Relaxation for body and soul In the spa resort and the area surrounding the hotel, the main emphasis is on relaxation and physical fitness: directly nearby, there is a Kneipp facility with a total of four themed gardens grouped together under the heading "Gardens of the senses". Golf clubs and tennis courts can be found within a one-kilometre radius. The North Sea and the Baltic Sea lie within an hour and a half's drive of the resort.

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Plymouth’s Barbican is a heady mix of history, hedonism and hordes of holidaymakers. It’s a unique place and you’d have to be hard of heart to resist its countless charms. If you can find the strength to fight your way through the masses chomping on their takeaway fish and chips, the bare bellied proudly flaunting their pallid beer guts and the drunken weekend revellers then you’ll find a quite magical world which Disney himself would be hard-pushed to recreate. Mercifully, the Barbican escaped Hitler’s bombs (which were targeted at the naval base on the other side of the city) and survives to this day to tell a tantalising tale straight out of the history books. It’s a tale chock full of some of history’s most colourful characters – Sir Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, Captain Cook and Charles Darwin to name but a few. Drake, who was born in Tavistock, and his second cousin Sir John Hawkins (bold pioneers or pernicious pirates depending on your historical perspective) left their footprints here before setting sail on their voyages of discovery. Raleigh, whose family owned an estate on the edge of Dartmoor, also walked these cobbled streets before obeying his queen’s command to go forth in search of “remote, heathen and barbarous lands and territories not possessed by any Christian princes.” "Discovering" America and Australia! In 1768 James Cook sailed out into Plymouth Sound on a voyage which led to the “discovery” of Australia. Many reluctant men and women followed in his wake as convicts aboard the transport ships bound for the new colony. Charles Darwin’s five-year voyage aboard HMS Beagle started in nearby Devonport but he undoubtedly strolled the streets of the Barbican during the two months he lived in the city while waiting to sail. Many historic events are recorded on the plaques at the Mayflower Steps which mark the incredible journey made by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. The original steps no longer exist but a memorial stone and archway serve as a reminder of that momentous adventure undertaken by a 102-strong band of men, women and children. They crossed the Atlantic in 66 days, facing unimaginable hardship and peril in their mission to start a new life – and a new Plymouth – in those “vast and unpeopled countries of America…where there are only savages and brutish men, just like wild beasts.” Having your photo taken at the Mayflower Steps is an absolute must for first time visitors (even though historical research suggests the site of the actual steps was somewhere beneath the Admiral MacBride pub just over the road!). Look out to sea and imagine yourself in the shoes of that brave band of Puritans - if you’ve got any soul, you’re bound to get a shiver down your spine. Inspiring world renowned artists Back in the 21st century, the Barbican is a bustling tourist honeypot awash with eateries of all kinds, bars aplenty, ice cream parlours and tea rooms. Southside Street (the main street into the Barbican down to the quayside) and the narrow, cobbled side streets leading off it are awash with art galleries, craft and gifts shops. Some are heavenly, others are decidedly tacky. This is the place to pick up a Beryl Cook or Lenkiewicz painting – two great artists who have left their very different marks all over the Barbican. Both took inspiration from the drunken antics of revellers who spill out onto the Barbican’s ancient streets on Friday and Saturday nights (Lenkiewicz dubbed the tiny street alongside his studio “piss and puke alley”). Southside Street is home to the Plymouth Gin Distillery – a fascinating building where the Pilgrim Fathers reputedly spent their last night before setting sail. Parts of it date back to the early 15th century and it’s now the oldest working gin distillery in England. You can take a guided tour, sample some smooth tasting Plymouth gin in the Refectory Bar or enjoy a meal in the excellent Barbican Kitchen (run by the truly talented Tanner brothers). Fish-tastic! From seafood restaurants to the national aquarium There’s a huge choice of restaurants on the Barbican – from chip shops and Chinese through to stylish brasseries and of course plenty of good seafood restaurants serving the fresh catch of the day. We used to love the “good old days” when you could order cheap fish and chips in Platters on the quayside knowing the fish had come straight off the boat that morning at the old Victorian fish market right outside the restaurant. Platters is still one of our favourite haunts but the fish market has now moved across the water and made way for the Barbican Glassworks - great for gift hunting but we still pine for the old fish market! The fish market was relocated in 1993, the same year that the lock was built so ending the years of flooding which plagued the Barbican’s quayside businesses. You can’t miss the lock gate because it’s marked by a 33-feet high sculpture, dubbed the “Plymouth Prawn” by detractors. It’s meant to be a mythical sea monster representing the Barbican’s rich maritime history and the wide variety of fish landed here – well, that’s what the artist had in mind anyway! You can love it or hate it, but you certainly can’t ignore it. Use the lock gate to cross the water and visit the Barbican Leisure Centre at Coxside – it’s a 10 minute walk and light years away from the Barbican’s historic heart. This is a purpose-built modern entertainment complex unashamedly devoted to the god of pleasure seekers – you’ll find Tenpin bowling, the 15-screen Vue cinema, a games centre, the Nuffield Health and Fitness Club, Oceana night club and all the usual popular franchised restaurants (Nando’s, Pizza Hut, Frankie and Benny’s etc). Sleep with the sharks You also use the lock gate to visit the National Marine Aquarium where you can take a tour of the world’s oceans from Plymouth Sound to the coral reefs of the tropics. It’s the biggest aquarium in the UK with more than 70 sharks and a Great Barrier Reef exhibit with more than 700 species of fish. The aquarium’s “sleeping with the sharks” events make a perfect birthday treat for the kids. While you’re on this side of the water, you might want to take a stroll round to the China House – a popular pub and restaurant with great views over Sutton Harbour from the outdoor decking. It’s a Grade II listed building dating back to the mid-17th century. Lapped by water on three sides, it was used as a naval warehouse before William Cookworthy, who pioneered the manufacture of porcelain in England, used it to process the clay brought in from the pits in Cornwall. You can get a decent meal at the China House and many other good eateries which pepper the waterfront all around Sutton Harbour. If you’re a biker you’ll want to make a beeline for the best-known burger joint in town – Cap’n Jasper’s on Whitehouse Pier. It started life as a tiny DIY plywood hut in the late ‘70s and is now one of Plymouth’s most popular takeaways, attracting tourists (especially the leather-clad variety) from far and wide. You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to Barbican watering holes but if you’re on the hunt for a touch of authenticity then head to the Dolphin – an unpretentious “spit and sawdust” kind of old-fashioned pub where you’re most likely to find a few of the locals. They don’t serve food…but neither do they mind you bringing in your own fish and chips! The Tolpuddle Martyrs, deported to Australia in 1834 for their trade union protests, spent a few nights here after they received a full pardon. Visit an Elizabethan sea captain's Tudor home For a fascinating insight into what life must have been like in Drake’s day, take a peek inside the 16th century Elizabethan House in New Street. Plymouth flourished during Elizabethan times and as you take a tour through the panelled hallways, up spiralled staircases and along creaking oak floors you’ll get a real feel for what it was it to live as a wealthy Elizabethan merchant or sea captain. Bizarrely, you'll find a curry house in the Tudor building next door! Pick up guide books, a free map and a stack of visitor information at the Tourist Information Centre, across the street from the Mayflower Steps. Right beside the visitor centre you’ll find an inviting flight of narrow stone steps which take you up to one of Plymouth’s hidden gems – the B-Bar and Barbican Theatre which play host to the annual Barbican Jazz and Blues Festival (definitely a highlight of the city’s social calendar). Plymouth's Barbican - where Captain Cook meets Beryl Where to go in Plymouth Our Top 10 Favourites Plymouth's city centre Plymouth Hoe Tinside Lido

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Travels in Tahiti By Jennifer Lane “In gulfs enchanted, where the siren sings and coral reefs lie bare” --The Chambered Nautilus, Charles Darwin once called Tahiti “The island to which every traveler has offered up his tribute of admiration.” It is difficult to disagree. Hailed for centuries as a place of legendary beauty, Tahiti’s verdant peaks and turquoise lagoons have inspired generations of visitors, from historical luminaries like Darwin and Captain James Cook to modern-day tourists and honeymooners. They have admired it not only for its sublime scenery, but also for its vibrant culture and fascinating natural history. Stories about Tahiti had long evoked my own curiosity. The thought of seeing the place where Captain Cook observed the transit of Venus, the coral reefs and mountains of black volcanic rock that inspired Darwin’s second-most-famous theory, piqued my interest in history; especially the history of science. I wanted to experience it for myself, and was lucky enough to have the opportunity when a friend suggested a vacation there in summer 2006. Our arrival in Tahiti’s Faa’a airport was an opportunity to experience local culture. Despite the unlikely hour (4 a.m. local time), a band of ukulele players was there to greet us, as women with baskets handed out fragrant tiare blooms—a species of gardenia—to all the passengers. Then, at the taxi stand outside the airport, leis were duly handed out, until every newly-arrived visitor was covered in flowers. It all may seem a bit touristy in this day and age, but it demonstrates the genuine friendliness inherent in Tahitian culture. In some ways, modern-day Tahiti is rather industrialized and businesslike. There are shopping malls with fast-food restaurants and Carrefour supermarkets, busy highways with trucks barreling back and forth, and on weekday mornings, traffic jams (especially in downtown Papeete, the capital). It’s sad to see signs of smog and pollution in this once-idyllic island paradise. Happily, measures are now being taken to protect the local environment, although progress along these lines has been slow. Most of the tourist infrastructure must now conform to strict guidelines to limit pollution of the lagoons, and many schools and other community programs sponsor cleanup efforts. Hopefully, growing awareness will help to turn around some of the damage that industrialization has caused. Environmental issues aside, downtown Papeete is a thriving urban center, and interesting to walk around. The most common businesses are pearl shops, reflecting the fact that, after tourism, pearl culture is the largest industry in French Polynesia. The biggest seller is (not surprisingly) the Tahitian black pearl, which comes from the oyster Pinctada margaritifera and is generally not black, but more often a luminous eggplant shade. The majority of pearls are farmed on outlying islands, especially the Tuamotus and the Gambier Archipelago, and then shipped to Tahiti, and internationally, for sale. One of the most interesting sights in the capital is the Marché de Papeete (Papeete Market). Outside, it’s not much to look at, but inside it’s a colorful place – large, airy, and somehow evocative of both a Victorian greenhouse and Paris’ Centre Pompidou (maybe it’s the glass ceiling and the many painted iron staircases). The vast, warehouse-like interior is lined with tables full of all sorts of merchandise—flowers and myriad tropical fruits, straw baskets, perfumes and monoi (coconut oil scented with sandalwood or tiare), jewelry carved from pearl oyster shells. Toward the back of the building are the fishmongers, hefting the day’s catch for prospective buyers. The market has remained on its current site for 250 years, and was once rebuilt after being destroyed in WWII. Go to Tahiti page Website designed by Lisa Breslof and Jay Holmes Copyright 2008 John Burroughs Association, All Rights Reserved Content Specialist: Lisa Breslof Webmaster: Jay Holmes

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News of the project "Wooden Castle" Lietuviškai По-русски CASTLES OF LITHUANIA The castle of Voruta was one of the most important castles during the reign of the first and the only crowned King of Lithuania Mindaugas (1238–1263). Here Mindaugas defended himself in 1251, in time of the internal war. Later Voruta disappeared and its location became a matter of dispute among historians. The hillfort of Šeimyniškėliai near Anykščiai (which was called Varutė Hill by the local people) is the most reliable site of the castle of Voruta. The archaeological investigations of the hillfort started in 1990 (chief – Gintautas Zabiela). In 1997 the mayor of the Anykščiai region Saulius Nefas suggested an idea of building a wooden castle on the Šeimyniškėliai (Voruta) hillfort. It was supported by a large number of representatives of intelligentsia not only in Anykščiai, but also in the whole of Lithuania. After long discussions with both the community and experts of cultural heritage protection, the construction of the castle on the entirely excavated hillfort was approved. On February 26, 1999, in the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania a declaration concerning the construction of the wooden castle was signed. In 2000, the Šeimyniškėliai hillfort became the most widely investigated hillfort of Lithuania because of the sheer size of the investigated area. In 2001 the first element of the castle – a bridge on the rivulet Varelis was constructed. You’ll find here more information on the history of the castle of Voruta, the project of the construction of the wooden castle and investigations of the Šeimyniškėliai hillfort. Tomas Baranauskas The main castles of East Lithuania during the reign of Mindaugas (according to Gintautas Zabiela; map from the CD “Lithuania before Mindaugas” © Electronic Publishing House). Castles of Lithuania History of Voruta History

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Home > National Historic Sites > Fort Langley National Historic Site > Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures > History Fort Langley National Historic Site Visitor InformationActivitiesNatural Wonders & Cultural Treasures Natural HeritageHistory Learning ExperiencesSite ManagementPartnersHow to Reach Us Fort Langley National Historic Site of CanadaHistory See PDF text-only version of history The Hudson's Bay Company established the original Fort Langley in 1827. It served as part of a network of fur trade forts operating in the New Caledonia and Columbia Districts (now British Columbia and northern Washington). The fort maintained a good and peaceful trade in furs, salmon, and even cranberries with the local native inhabitants. Because of its strategic position on the Fraser River the post developed into a regional depot and forwarding centre. European trade goods and supplies destined for the interior were received from the arriving steamers, re-packaged and sent inland from this fort and the District's outgoing fur, fish, and cranberry exports were prepared for overseas shipment. Langley also blazed the first useable all-Canadian route from the coast to the interior and with its sister posts helped preserve British interests west of the Rockies. Fur brigade routes, 1848-1849© Parks CanadaClick on the map for a larger version (larger than 450 pixels, 77kb) British Interests on the Pacific Slope The first British interest was sparked by the rich supply of sea otter pelts brought back by mariners working the Pacific coast about 1793 and the abundance of fur collected by the North West Company in its exploration of the inland trade of the Pacific Slope from 1811. The Coast Salish had some control over the maritime fur trade, as it was a reciprocal relationship. Both the natives and the fur traders agreed upon price and goods traded. Each group's satisfaction ensured the continuation of the trading relationship. See the BC Archives for more information on First Nations in BC and the BC Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs Historical References : a dateline for First Nations historical-political events. After the union of the North West and Hudson's Bay companies in 1821, a Royal Licence was issued to the reconstituted Hudson's Bay Company, giving it a monopoly on trade west of the Rockies. The Hudson's Bay Company thus became Britain's custodian of the Pacific Northwest. This monopoly, however, could not exclude American competition. The Pacific region, then known as the Columbia District or the Oregon territory, had been jointly occupied by Britain and the United States since 1818, and commerce between latitudes 40' and 54'40' was open by international treaty. Although British traders dominated the interior, furs often found their way to American ships, which controlled the coast. See the Hudson's Bay Company website in "related links" section of this website for more information about the company. The new Fort Langley is builtPeak Production at Fort LangleyThe Proclamation of British Columbia

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Poland Overview Poland Map Poland Photos Poland Books Poland Sacred Sites Poland Destinations Krakow Frommer's Poland DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Poland Insight Guide Poland Traveller's History of Poland Rick Steves' Eastern Europe Lonely Planet Poland Lonely Planet Eastern Europe Lonely Planet Central Europe Rough Guide to Poland 7 Poland Sacred Destinations Jasna Gora Monastery, Częstochowa The Monastery of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa, Poland, is the third-largest Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. Home to the beloved miraculous icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the monastery is also the national shrine of Poland and the center of Polish Catholicism. advertisement History of Jasna Gora Monastery According to tradition, the icon of Jasna Góra was painted by Luke the Evangelist on a tabletop built by Jesus himself, and the icon was discovered by St. Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine and collector of Christian relics in the Holy Land. The icon was then enshrined in the imperial city of Constantinople, according to the legend, where it remained for the next 500 years. In 803, the painting is said to have been given as a wedding gift from the Byzantine emperor to a Greek princess, who married a Ruthenian nobleman. The image was then placed in the royal palace at Belz, where it remained for nearly 600 years. History first combines with tradition upon the icon's arrival in Poland in 1382 with a Polish army fleeing the Tartars, who had struck it with an arrow. Legend has it that during the looting of Belz, a mysterious cloud enveloped the chapel containing the image. A monastery was founded in Częstochowa to enshrine the icon in 1386, and soon King Jagiello built a cathedral around the chapel containing the icon. However, the image soon came under attack once again. In 1430, Hussites (pre-Reformation reformers) attacked the monastery, slashed the Virgin's face with a sword, and left it desecrated in a puddle of blood and mud. It is said that when the monks pulled the icon from the mud, a miraculous fountain appeared, which they used to clean the painting. The icon was repainted in Krakow, but both the arrow mark and the gashes from the sword were left and remain clearly visible today. The miracle for which the Black Madonna of Częstochowa is most famous occurred in 1655, when Swedish troops were about to invade Częstochowa. A group of Polish soldiers prayed fervently before the icon for deliverance, and the enemy retreated. In 1656, King John Casimir declared Our Lady of Częstochowa "Queen of Poland" and made the city the spiritual capital of the nation. The Virgin again came to the aid of her people in 1920, when the Soviet Russian Red Army gathered on the banks of the Vistula River, preparing to attack Warsaw. The citizens and soldiers fervently prayed to Our Lady of Częstochowa, and on September 15, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, she appeared in the clouds above Warsaw. The Russians were defeated in a series of battles later dubbed the "Miracle at the Vistula." During Nazi occupation, Hilter prohibited pilgrimages to Jasna Góra, but many still secretly made the journey. In 1945, after Poland was liberated, half a million pilgrims journeyed to Częstochowa to express their gratitude. On September 8, 1946, 1.5 million people gathered at the shrine to rededicate the entire nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. During the Cold War, Jasna Góra was a center of anti-Communist resistance. Pope John Paul II, a native of Poland, was a fervent devotee of the Virgin Mary and of her icon at Częstochowa. As pope, he made pilgrimages to pray before the Black Madonna in 1979, 1983, 1991, and 1997. In 1991, he held his Sixth World Youth Day at Czetochowa, which was attended by 350,000 young people from across Europe. Other popes have honored the "Queen of Poland" as well. Pope Clement XI officially recognized the miraculous nature of the image in 1717 and in 1925 Pope Pius XI designated May 3 a feast day in her honor. Pope Benedict XVI visited the shrine on May 26, 2006. What to See at Jasna Gora Monastery The large baroque monastery of Jasna Góra dominates a hilltop in Częstochowa and is always bustling with pilgrims and worshippers. As pilgrims approach the monastery, the most striking sight is the 106-meter belltower, reconstructed in 1906 (the bottom part dates from 1714). The second level contains four clocks, one on each side, that mark the passage of each 15 minutes with Marian melodies. Inside the third level are statues of St. Paul the Hermit, St. Florian, St. Casimir and the Saint-Queen Hedvig; the fifth level has statues of the church fathers St. Leo the Great, St. Gregory, St. Augustine and St. Ambrose. The focus of pilgrims to Jasna Góra is not the monastery, but the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, which is displayed in a altar in the Chapel of the Black Madonna. The icon shows a serious Mary holding the infant Jesus on her left arm and gesturing towards him with her right hand. The Virgin's gaze is intense —pilgrims are moved by the way she seems to look right at them. The Virgin's robe and mantle are decorated with lilies, the symbol of the Hungarian royal family. The infant Jesus is dressed in a red tunic and holds a Bible in his left hand and makes a gesture of blessing with his right. The Virgin and Child are dressed in bejeweled velvet robes and gold crowns for special occasions. The image has been placed in a gold frame decorated with hundreds of precious jewels, and stands on an altar of ebony and silver donated by the Grand Chancellor George Ossoliński in 1650. The altar with the icon is separated from the rest of the Chapel of the Black Madonna with a floor-to-ceiling iron screen. The large Gothic chapel includes five other altars, the most notable of which is the Altar of the Crucifix, to the right of the icon. Its cross dates from 1400. The walls of the chapel are full of ex-votos left by grateful pilgrims. Attached to the Chapel of the Black Madonna is the baroque basilica, named the Church of the Holy Cross and Nativity of Mary. Rebuilt between 1692 and 1695, it has three aisles and ceilings decorated with accounts of the miracles of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The main altar was designed by the Italian artist Giacomo Antonio Buzzini between 1725 and 1728. The monastery's treasury is a rich storehouse of votive offerings given to the Black Madonna over the centuries, from the 14th century to the present. Gifts range from swords and scepters to rosaries made of dried bread in concentration camps. Kings, queens and popes have donated a vast array of precious objects, such as King Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki and the Archduchess Eleanor of Austria on the occasion of their wedding in Jasna Góra in 1670. Also donated to the Virgin are tear-gas cylinders used by the Communists against Solidarity protestors in the 1980s, and the Nobel Peace Prize won by Lech Walesa in 1983. There is also a richly decorated library housing precious manuscripts. Since 1920, the library has hosted the meetings of the Polish Episcopal Conference. Around the perimeter of the basilica, where the moat once was, are the 14 Stations of the Cross represented by bronze statues sculpted by Pius Weloński in 1913. Nearly every pilgrim group prays at the Stations of the Cross; some move from one station to the next on their knees. Pilgrimages and Festivals Every day, from early in the morning to late in the evening, a stready stream of pilgrims approaches the shrine of Częstochowa via the tree-lined main avenue. The groups leave a few hundred feet in between them, so as not to disturb the others as they pray the rosary and sing hymns. Young men carry batteries and speakers to lead the singing. Pilgrims wear badges with the name of their town and a number showing how many times they have come on pilgrimage to Częstochowa — many have come every year for decades. After venerating the icon in the Chapel of the Black Madonna, pilgrims usually pin their badges to the walls as a votive offering. As the national shrine of Poland, Częstochowa attracts delegations from all walks of life. Government leaders visit regularly; and students, veterans, miners, actors, former Stalinist prisoners, and factory workers arrive on organized pilgrimages. The preferred days to make the pilgrimage to Częstochowa are Marian feast days, especially the Feast of the Assumption on August 15. On this day, up to 500,000 people crowd the city. Since 1711, a pilgrimage has left Warsaw and 32 other towns and walked in procession to Częstochowa for up to 21 days. Four other national pilgrimage days bring throngs of visitors: the Feast of Mary, Queen of Poland (May 3); the Feast of Our Lady of Częstochowa (August 26); the Feast of the Nativity of Mary (September 8); and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8). Getting There Częstochowa is located in south central Poland and is easily accessible from major cities. There are about six daily fast trains from Warsaw and Krakow, hourly departures from Katowice, and several daily trains from Lodz, Opole and Wroclaw. From the train station, you can take a bus or taxi to the shrine. By car from Krakow, take 4/E40 west to Katowice, and 1/E75 north to Częstochowa; from Warsaw, take 8/E67 then 1/E75 south to Częstochowa. Quick Facts on Jasna Gora Monastery Names:Jasna Góra Monastery · Jasnogorskie Categories:shrines; monasteries Address:Ul. O.A. Kordeckiego 2Częstochowa, Poland42-225 Phone:034/365-38-88 Website:www.jasnagora.pl Lodging:View hotels near Jasna Gora Monastery Official Website of Jasna Góra Norbert C. Brockman, Encyclopedia of Sacred Places (Oxford University Press, 1998), 125-27. Kevin J. Wright, Catholic Shrines of Central and Eastern Europe (Liguori, 1999), 212-19. More Information The Glories of Częstochowa and Jasna Góra: Miracles Attributed to Our Lady's Intercession (Marian Press, 2004). Zbigiew Bania et al, Jasna Góra (1986). Caroline Peters, The Black Madonna (1962). Gerard Sherry, The Catholic Shrines of Europe (1986). Jasna Gora Monastery, Częstochowa - Go Historic Photos of Jasna Gora Monastery - here on Sacred Destinations © Marcin View over the basilica. © Haidi Strong gates at the four corners of the monastery serve as reminders of its violent history. © Unknown 2005 saw the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the "Miraculous Defense." © Unknown Statue of Pope John Paul II at Jasna Góra. © GFDL Pope Benedict XVI at Częstochowa on May 26, 2006. © GFDL © wetwebwork The Chapel of the Black Madonna. © dfb Basilica interior. © Aldo G Ex-votos left in honor of the Virgin. © Unknown Map of Jasna Gora Monastery, Częstochowa Below is a location map and aerial view of Jasna Gora Monastery. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

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John Conway's Weekly "Sullivan EMS Scene Sizeup" James Vooght's Biweekly The uppermost cataract of the seven-level Sonoma Falls in Morsston illustrates the beauty to be found throughout the 150-acre property. The falls and other scenic locations will soon be available to the hiking and riding public. Cider mill at center of new tourist attraction MORSSTON — In a hamlet known only by an exit sign off Route 17, Elwin “Woody” Wood and Jerry Turco are planning to build one of Sullivan County’s premier tourist attractions. Make that “are building” – come October 3, the Sonoma Falls Cider Mill and Country Market should be open for business, marking the return of an apple-pressing enterprise to the area. “We wanted to do something out of the norm,” said Wood, a Roscoe businessman and county legislator. And something that recalled the kind of family fun he once had at the former North Branch Cider Mill. Located in the tiny dot on the map called Morsston, the mill and market are only a half-mile from Route 17’s Exit 97, yet the sounds of the falls drown out the noise of speeding traffic. And what spectacular falls they are – no less than seven gorgeous cataracts, cascading down 75 feet of Catskill mountainside, swirling right past the 150-year-old barn that will house both the cider mill and the store. Indeed, the day after the business partners walked the 150-acre property, they bought it, closing in November of last year. Wood and Turco, a developer with projects from the Hamptons to Idaho’s Sun Valley, envision a full-featured attraction, with something for every age and interest, employing between 9 and 12 people. “It was called Sonoma Falls Campground,” Wood recalled. “This is a way to develop it back into a tourism spot.” The primary attractions will be the cider mill (using equipment from a former mill on Lake Ontario’s shore), market (featuring fruits, vegetables, cheeses, gifts and more) and the falls (which will be accessible at every level via hiking trails on both sides). They will be open Friday-Sunday through approximately December 20 this year. But with 150 acres, the duo are already working on planting an apple orchard, raising native brook trout in on-site ponds, clearing old logging roads to use as horseback and ATV/snowmobile trails, and restoring the former O&W railroad bed, which serves as the attraction’s entrance. Long-range goals include returning an old waterwheel to a spot halfway up the falls, which used to – and may yet again – provide hydroelectricity to the barn. In another month or so, they hope to have converted the former VFW hall near the Route 17 entrance ramp into a year-round cafe, and by this time next year, their plan is to have several log cabins available for rental along their mile-long frontage on the Little Beaverkill – which is indeed open for fishing. “The agritourism business is up and growing in Sullivan County,” explained Wood, “and we want to capture the beauty of the property.” The entrepreneurial spirit of Wood and Turco is already locally evident, with both men running Roscoe businesses (Wood’s The Little Store and Turco’s Live Bait Bar and Grill among them) and jointly owning the firm that is building their mill: Twin Rivers Land Development. That partnership has enabled them to hire their own carpenters, plumbers, electricians and contractors, keeping the development costs close to about a million dollars of private capital – no bank loans, no government assistance. The speed with which they’re proceeding in this final month of construction means cider may not be actually being pressed on opening day, but it will be available at the market, which will sit directly underneath the apple press. And when it reopens next April, Wood and Turco plan to incorporate visitors’ suggestions. “Let the people who come here tell us what they want,” Wood explained. Still, the partners are already very confident they’ve got magic in the making in Morsston. Just look at what’s already there, they point out: mountains rising 300 feet above the meadowed valley, crystal-clear ponds and streams, abundant wildlife, easy highway access, even full cellphone service. “We’ve got the spot,” said Turco. “It’s real and it’s going and we’re opening.”

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FLORIDA Perception vs. Reality An economic tale of two cities in Florida Orlando and St. Petersburg embody the Florida challenge: Creating a new economic reality in the shadow of enduring stereotypes. Lilly Rockwell | 5/4/2012 More Than the Mouse Tourism will always shape central Florida's image, but a very real, very modern economy also has emerged. Old: Disney's arrival forever stamped central Florida as a tourism haven ... New: ... But simulation and tech businesses have gained critical mass. [photographs: Florida Photographic Collection left; Naval Air Warfare Center right] In March, Golf Channel commentators broke from chattering about Tiger Woods' and Ernie Els' performances in the Tavistock Cup at Orlando's Lake Nona Golf & Country Club to gush about a nearby complex of research labs, education facilities and hospitals that make up Orlando's new "Medical City." Over piney treetops, viewers got a long look at the biotech hub, which includes Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and UCF's medical school. The spotlight on Medical City was a rare glimpse at a part of the region's economy that is usually defined in terms mouse ears, roller coasters and performing killer whales. Orlando's non-tourism economy had been evolving toward critical mass for more than a decade when the events of Sept. 11, 2001 — and the subsequent collapse of tourism — turbocharged the effort to diversify the region's economy. A local economic development agency commissioned a study to examine the city's non-tourism assets and to develop a plan to promote them. The strength of the area's technology sector, with a backbone in both simulation and digital media, surprised even some local officials. Today, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission's marketing materials focus on the region's tech sector. Tourism takes a back seat. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer held his state of the city speech in February at UCF's College of Medicine at Medical City. Word is getting out. Former President Bill Clinton cited Orlando's success in the simulation industry as something other cities should mimic. Clinton referred to Orlando as a "prosperity center" and home of the "computer simulation boom," boasting the city has 100 computer simulation companies during an interview last fall on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" news program. "They are doing great," Clinton says. For their part, local economic developers say they're happy with the visibility that tourism provides for the area — but they now feel confident they've got a lot more to sell. "All we are doing now is building on that great brand identity and really creating a brand platform that Orlando is also a great place to do business," says Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. Politics & Law, Banking & Finance, Government/Politics & Law Also on FloridaTrend.com Florida's Best Companies to Work For

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Like it or not, change is in the air at KCI As more than 300,000 travelers pass through Kansas City International Airport this holiday week, they might take a moment to appreciate the airport’s unique three-terminal design because its days are numbered. Until now, any plans for a new airport have seemed nowhere near takeoff. But like it or not, support for a new, one-terminal design is gaining momentum. By LYNN HORSLEY As more than 300,000 travelers pass through Kansas City International Airport this holiday week, they might take a moment to appreciate the airport’s unique three-terminal design. Because its days are numbered. Until now, any plans for a new airport have seemed stalled, grounded, nowhere near takeoff. But like it or not — and many Kansas Citians love their hometown airport just the way it is — support for a new, one-terminal design is gaining momentum. In fact, if proponents have their way, construction on a replacement terminal could begin in five years and be finished in eight. The city has to pick up the pace on this, aviation officials say. “The situation with the three terminals is getting worse,” city aviation director Mark VanLoh said in an interview. “It’s a mess.” That would be news to Chris DeWeese, who lives in Trimble, near Smithville, and frequently flies out of KCI for his job fixing medical equipment. “It’s very quick and efficient, and the crowds are small,” DeWeese said, contrasting that with the airports for Atlanta and Minneapolis “where you stand in line with 5,000 people.” Travelers such as DeWeese worry that a one-terminal airport would have worse bottlenecks at security checkpoints, longer treks to gates and hassles retrieving their luggage. They fear they won’t be able to drop off people as close to their gates or meet arriving relatives as easily as now. But there are so many factors the public doesn’t realize, VanLoh says. Airline mergers have resulted in one crowded terminal at KCI and two that are half-empty. Multiple security checkpoints require nearly 500 screeners, hundreds more than other airports need. Environmental contamination and antiquated heating and cooling systems can’t be fixed without new construction. When people ask whether a new terminal is the best way, VanLoh responds, “It’s the only way. We’ve tried. We’ve remodeled.” The airport will be 40 years old next year and would be close to 50 by the time supporters hope the new terminal opens. VanLoh says Kansas City can learn from the mistakes of new terminals in other cities. Security checkpoints will be configured to avoid long lines, he says, and moving walkways will carry people quickly to their gates. And there will be plenty of close-in parking, he says. The City Council this month unanimously approved a $4.4 million contract to figure out, in general terms, what the new terminal would look like and how to pay for it. The study, funded primarily by federal aviation money, will take about 18 months. Councilman Ed Ford, who voted against the 2008 airport master plan for a single-terminal layout, now supports moving forward. Ford said he was against the plan three years ago because his constituents told him in church, at the grocery store and wherever he went that they hated the one-terminal idea. “I had more people come up to me unsolicited about this issue than any other issue I had dealt with,” he said. “It was upsetting a lot of people. It seemed stupid to proceed if you weren’t going to pull the trigger in the near future.” But he says it’s now time to fire away. He’s traveled enough to realize KCI’s shortcomings. “It’s going to happen regardless of whether our citizens want it to happen,” he said, adding that the city is “going to have to work overtime to explain the logic behind it.” VanLoh cites one common misconception the city must overcome: People think Kansas City will have to raise taxes to pay for a new terminal. It will not. The money for the new facility — costing $1 billion to $2 billion — would come from federal aviation dollars, the airlines themselves, and taxes and fees paid by airline customers. And it’s not as if Kansas City passengers haven’t helped pay for other airports. When people tell VanLoh, “We don’t want to pay for this,” he responds, “You already are. You paid for the Denver airport. You paid for the new Sacramento airport. Every time you fly, that ticket tax you pay to the federal government goes into a big pot of money.” The point VanLoh wants to make to Kansas City residents: “It’s our turn. We send so much money to Washington. It’s Kansas City’s turn to put people to work.” Terminal shortcomings It’s not as if KCI hasn’t had plenty of improvements since 2000. Between 2001 and 2004, the three terminals got a $258 million makeover, complete with expanded passenger holding and baggage screening areas, new concessions, improved flight information equipment, bigger windows and the distinctive blue terrazzo flooring. New long-term parking areas opened in 2004 at a cost of $62 million. And a $90 million consolidated rental car facility was finished in 2007. But VanLoh says it’s becoming increasingly difficult to adapt to aviation industry changes with the current configuration. In the past two years, the airport has dropped from 10 major carriers to six. Terminal B has almost two-thirds of departing passengers and is so crowded that the airport is losing Southwest flights to other cities because it can’t fit any more into that space. Alaska Airlines, which is coming in March, also has to go into Terminal B because Delta will handle its baggage. Meanwhile, Terminals A and C sometimes resemble ghost towns. There’s no doubt KCI has lost ground since its passenger numbers peaked at nearly 12 million in 2000. Annual totals have fluctuated from 9 million to 11 million since. KCI today handles about 195 daily departures, down from 283 in 2000. It provides nonstop flights to 48 destinations, compared with 70 in 2007. Councilman Russ Johnson, who chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says the terminal design prevents the airport from offering customers a full range of non-stop and international options, whether those customers realize it or not. “It’s an obstacle to airlines providing more flight choices to Kansas Citians,” he said. “That is the No. 1 concern.” Mayor Sly James also is concerned about the drop in direct flights, particularly for business travel. “If it wasn’t for Southwest, we’d really be in trouble,” he said. James also thinks the federal government wants KCI to go to one terminal, particularly because of security concerns. A single terminal also works better for the airlines. VanLoh has tried to adapt the airport to recent changes. This year, he wanted to move United Airlines to Terminal C and close Terminal A to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in utilities and staffing costs. But United resisted, so instead, Continental is moving from C to A, meaning C will just have American and Frontier. “We call it the three-ring circus for a reason,” VanLoh told the City Council at a recent briefing, citing all the mergers, changes and shuttered areas. At one point recently, the airport opened a shop across from an airline check-in area, only to see the airline relocate a month later, leaving the shop without customers. The same thing has happened with airport restaurants. VanLoh insists a new airport can be convenient for passengers but still capitalize on plenty of vacant land, good geographic location, two 10,000-foot runways and generally decent weather. “This is the perfect place to have it,” he says. “If Chicago can do it, why can’t we?” KCI of the future Supporters tick off the advantages they say a new terminal would bring: • Closer to most local travelers. The new terminal would be built south of the existing airport on land the city owns, with a new interchange off Missouri 152 and new roads to the terminal, paid for with state and Aviation Department money. Because 50 percent of KCI’s passengers live in Kansas, and many Missouri passengers are from south of the Missouri River, that’s four miles closer each way for vehicles. • Smaller footprint. The airport itself could drop from about 1.2 million square feet to about 700,000 square feet, with big savings on utilities, while still accommodating 15 million passengers or more per year. New designs allow for common-use gates, so airlines can switch in and out at a moment’s notice. Lobby areas probably would be smaller and mostly automated, as is already happening in Europe, because many passengers check in online. Moving walkways would get people from lobby to gate, and new baggage-handling systems would get suitcases to carousels faster. The new terminal also could have separate levels for departing and arriving passengers, something KCI doesn’t currently have but most airports do. “We won’t have three separate buildings to worry about,” VanLoh said. “We’ll have one generic facility where we can move things around inside.” • Streamlined security. The airport of the future probably will have different screening lines for different passenger types: the frequent traveler; the occasional traveler and families; and the unknown traveler, such as one with a one-way ticket paid for in cash. VanLoh says the current airport’s narrow concourses would make such a layout difficult. • No more buses. The terminal would have an 18,500-space centralized parking garage serving all customers, including rental car customers, and getting rid of the red and blue buses. Aviation officials also envision a bag drop-off area in the parking garage. • Environmental benefits. A man-made lake at KCI holds runoff from de-icer fluid that is used on airplane wings in wintry weather. But VanLoh concedes the airport collects only 30 percent of that chemical contamination, and it’s becoming a more critical issue with the Environmental Protection Agency. A new airport would capture all chemical runoff and drain it to a processing plant. The new airport also could have wind- and solar-powered elements. Once the terminal planning study is done, VanLoh says, it could take up to two years to select an architect and another two years to begin construction. The project likely would employ 3,000 people in all types of construction trades. The good news is all that construction could occur on new ground while the existing airport keeps on humming. And when the new terminal opens, KCI’s existing terminals could be used by trucking or freight companies or other businesses needing ample parking and airport access. VanLoh cites the example of VML Advertising, which has offices in the old downtown airport terminal. “I’m not all about tearing it down right away,” he said. Tough sell The new terminal could still be a hard sell for travelers who consistently give KCI high marks. In 2007 and again in 2010, J.D. Power and Associates ranked KCI highest among medium-sized airports in its North America Airport Satisfaction surveys. In the 2010 survey, KCI performed particularly well in three of six factors: airport accessibility, check-in/baggage check and security checks. It also got high ratings for its terminals and baggage claim access. It ranked below average only in food and retail. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, Terminal B was bustling while terminals A and C were much quieter. But even in B, passengers compared KCI favorably with other airports. “I love this airport,” said Greg Ryan of Pasadena, Calif., who was waiting at KCI for a relative flying in from Pasadena. “I think it’s easy to get in and out of.” Ryan said it’s particularly convenient compared with Los Angeles International Airport, where the lines seem so long and the gates far apart. When told that the federal government is helping pay for a study to convert to a one-terminal airport, Ryan responded, “Tell the feds no.” Shannon Mariner was waiting with her 11-month-old son, Jaden, to catch a Southwest flight to see relatives in Utah, going through Denver. She also said she likes KCI. “It doesn’t seem as overwhelming as somewhere else, like Denver,” she said. “It seems so much smaller.” Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, whose district includes KCI, is also a fan of the current configuration. He said he’s concerned that any change could compromise passenger satisfaction. “Kansas City is one of the most convenient airports in the nation,” Graves said. He also appreciates the multiple gates and security checkpoints. “It may not be that efficient to some, but it’s safer as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “You have more security and more checking, where you don’t fatigue those security screeners.” Graves has introduced legislation in Congress that would require all airports to consider customer convenience in their master plans, along with security, land use and other factors. The measure, in an FAA reauthorization bill that awaits final passage, would not prevent Kansas City from building a new airport. But it would mean airport planners would have to take customer satisfaction into account. While KCI gets high marks from some, it doesn’t always get such favorable reaction from out-of-town businessmen or tourists. Aviation officials recently shared ridiculing tweets and email with the City Council, with choice barbs such as “worst layout e-v-e-r,” “the most horribly designed/bizarre airport I’ve ever been in” and “horrible location, outdated, and just generally very very bad.” Anita English, of Benton, Ky., accompanied her husband on a business trip from the Nashville, Tenn., airport to Kansas City in late October. In an email to aviation officials, she wrote that she was “shocked” at KCI’s layout. “It looks like after 9/11 the whole area where passengers must wait for their flight was a complete afterthought,” she wrote. “The kiosks to purchase beverages or food were like some street vendors you would find on the streets of New York City.” After waiting 15 minutes to use the two-stall women’s restroom, she finally went into the corridor to find a larger restroom and then had to go through security again to get back to her gate. In a subsequent phone interview, English said she found Kansas City’s close-in baggage claim area “phenomenal” but was unimpressed with the rest of the airport. As she told the aviation department, “I hope I don’t ever have to fly to, from or through KC ever again. Not a great experience.” Falling behind U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, said that when he was mayor in the 1990s he knew how much people wanted to keep the airport as it was. “The problem is that other cities are not keeping theirs,” Cleaver said. “So we have clearly fallen behind with our airport. Look at Denver, Charlotte (N.C.), Minneapolis. They’re all moving far ahead of us.” Airports have become vibrant economic activity centers and “glamorous ports of entry into a community,” he said. By that standard, Kansas City’s airport is a friendly but unsophisticated country bumpkin. Kansas City can’t afford not to move forward, Cleaver warned, or “we’re going to be left in the dust by every major city around us.” When the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce visited Charlotte this fall, that city’s airport director was asked for his impression of KCI. “Take a picture of it if you like it so much,” Jerry Orr told the Kansas City gathering. “And then get rid of it.” Orr admitted in a recent interview that he’s never been to KCI. But he’s familiar with its national reputation as the place “where hubs go to die.” Charlotte is about the same size as Kansas City, but its airport serves nearly 40 million passengers annually. It has a huge retail presence, generating enough revenue to help keep fares low. A hub for U.S. Airways, the airport has 17 daily flights to New York, plus daily flights to London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Frankfurt, Germany. Orr said the airport’s non-stop and international flights are among the top reasons corporations such as Goodrich and Bank of America located in Charlotte. Orr says Kansas City isn’t a likely candidate for a big hub, but with a new terminal it “absolutely can get more direct flights and international service.” VanLoh notes KCI currently averages 300 people per day who travel to Europe. But because they come to all three terminals and aren’t concentrated in one area, it’s difficult to schedule direct international flights. He envisions a time when planes could go direct to London or Frankfurt. Still, council members don’t want the aviation department to focus so much on grand plans that they neglect what locals already appreciate about KCI. The key question, Councilman John Sharp told VanLoh, is, “For city residents, how will this be as good or better than what I think is a very convenient airport?” VanLoh agreed that’s the challenge for planners and architects. “We basically say, ‘We’ve got a pretty good thing here in Kansas City,’ ” VanLoh told Sharp. “ ‘Don’t screw it up.’ ” Police identify man found dead Monday in Kansas City street Two MU students accused of harassing Jewish student with anti-Semitic notes Disappearance of Overland Park woman remains a heart-wrenching mystery, 40 years later Deep Background: On firefighters, soot, cancer and the courts New Arts and Heritage Center to host Theatre in the Park tryouts

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THE MARINE LOG FEATURES CALENDAR FOR 2003 Royal Caribbean and Masa-Yards plan 3,600 passenger "Ultra Voyager" The cruise ship newbuilding market could soon come back to life. Before year's end Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Kvaerner Masa-Yards hope to ink an agreement for up to two 3,600 passenger, 160,000 gt "Ultra Voyagers" The two companies announced today that they had developed the design and had signed an agreement that could lead to a firm order. The agreement anticipates that the cruise line and the yard could enter into construction contracts for Ultra-Voyager, provided that certain conditions, such as the euro-dollar exchange rate, move to a more favorable position. Today's conditional agreement anticipates one newbuilding, deliverable in 2006, and one option, for delivery in 2007 or 2008. The Ultra-Voyager would be a larger and more spacious version of Royal Caribbean's widely popular Voyager-class ships, currently the largest cruise ships in service in the world. The new Ultra-Voyager would be roughly 15 percent larger in space and in passenger capacity carrying 3,600 guests (double-occupancy), 500 more than its predecessors. At just under 160,000 gross registered tons, the Ultra-Voyager would provide even more room for passenger facilities and amenities and would provide even greater economies of scale than her predecessors. A key factor affecting whether today's agreement leads to a firm contract is how much the current euro-dollar exchange rate improves. Royal Caribbean hopes that circumstances will allow it to finalize the order later this year and that these new berths will enjoy a lower capital and operating cost than earlier Voyager-class ships. The company may activate the agreement up to August 31, 2003, or under certain terms up to December 31, 2003. "We are pleased that Royal Caribbean continues to place its faith in Kvaerner Masa-Yards and hope that conditions will allow us to proceed with our mutual plans," said Jorma Eloranta, president and chief executive officer of Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc. "We will work hard to improve our cost efficiency even further, without compromising our high quality standards." "We are nearing the completion of an aggressive shipbuilding program unprecedented in our history," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean. "That program has allowed us to develop some of the most innovative ships in the world and has greatly improved our economies of scale. We are operating in a different environment today, and we anticipate that the company's future fleet expansion will proceed at a more measured pace in terms of capacity, but not in terms of innovation." Royal Caribbean has three ships under construction in Finland and in Germany. In addition, it has options for two Radiance-class ships in Germany. Fleet capacity has grown 77 percent in the last four years, the height of the company's growth spurt, or more than 15 percent annually. Adding an Ultra- Voyager in 2006 would increase capacity by 3.0 percent in 2006 and 2.9 percent in 2007. If the decision is made to build an Ultra-Voyager, there would be a two-year gap between the last of the current newbuildings and the first of the Ultra-Voyagers. Tell a friend:

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Must-See Astoria Photo: Marley White Adam Kuban (Updated 12/18/2015) Astoria was named for millionaire merchant John Jacob Astor, in the hopes that America's then-richest man might bestow some of his fortune on this part of northwestern Queens. He eventually invested $500 in the area but reportedly never set foot there. His loss. Today, Astoria is one of New York City's most culturally diverse neighborhoods and home to arts institutions, food destinations and shopping that make a visit eminently worth the 20-minute subway ride from Times Square. Known primarily as the City's traditionally Greek neighborhood, Astoria is also home to a significant number of residents of Italian, Brazilian, Baltic, Irish and Egyptian descent, as well as a new set of émigrés—younger, hip, creative types drawn to the neighborhood's affordable housing, inexpensive amenities and short commute to Manhattan. There's much to enjoy here. Astoria encompasses a large section of northwestern Queens. For visitors, it's best to think of it as a collection of smaller neighborhoods centered on each of five thoroughfares (36th Avenue; Broadway; 30th Avenue; Ditmars Boulevard running east-west; and Steinway Street running north-south) and to concentrate on one or two of them at a time. To explore more, check out our interactive map of neighborhood attractions, and book a hotel so you can stay right near the action. Museum of the Moving Image. Photo: Marley White Museums and Sculpture Astoria is home to three venues that draw arts and culture lovers from throughout the City. The Museum of the Moving Image is the only institution in the country dedicated to the art, technology and social impact of film, television and digital media. It is home to the largest collection of moving-image artifacts in the US and features hundreds of screenings a year. Astoria is an apt place for it, too; the neighborhood was one of America's early centers of filmmaking and is home to Kaufman Astoria Studios, located next door to the museum, which dates to 1920. In fact, the museum and the studio sit squarely within the recently designated Kaufman Arts District. Within walking distance (about 20 minutes, nearby bordering neighborhood Long Island City) is the Noguchi Museum, which celebrates the life and work of sculptor and artist Isamu Noguchi. Time your visit to take advantage of the free 2pm tour that the museum offers every day it's open (Wednesday through Sunday). After visiting the Noguchi, take a stroll though nearby Socrates Sculpture Park, which is practically across the street. Created by sculptor Mark di Suvero in 1986, the park is a 4-acre outdoor museum with a pleasant view of the East River and Roosevelt Island. Curators organize several large-scale exhibitions here each year as well as educational programs and community events like outdoor movie screenings and farmers' markets in the summer. Astoria Park. Photo: Marley White Outdoor Astoria One of the neighborhood's gems is leafy 60-acre Astoria Park. Perched partially on a gently sloping hill that affords sweeping views up and down the East River, the park is home to the City's oldest and largest swimming pool—which was used for qualifying events for the 1936 and 1964 Olympics—as well as bocce courts, playgrounds, a running track and a skate park. Another of the neighborhood's beloved outdoor spaces is Athens Square Park, which the park association revamped in 1990 to “create a little bit of Athens in Astoria.” Sculptures of Socrates, Aristotle and Athena surround an amphitheater that in July and August plays host to Greek Night (Tuesdays, 7:30–9pm) as well as Italian Night (Wednesdays); both events entail music and dancing. Rainey Park, on Vernon Boulevard and 34th Avenue, is also popular (and packed on weekends) and has a riverfront promenade with views of Roosevelt Island. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. Photo: Clayton Cotterell Dating back to 1910, Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden is the granddaddy of NYC beer gardens. Until just a short while ago it was the last of a dying breed. But even though numerous biergarten have sprung up throughout the City in recent years, Bohemian remains one of the best and most sprawling. Grab a cold pitcher of Czech or German beer—or one of the craft brews on the menu—and, in clement weather, spend the day with friends at a sun-dappled picnic table under the trees. The Garden at Studio Square, a more recent upstart, is just as expansive as Bohemian and features DJs, live music, karaoke, sports viewing and 20 beers on tap. For a more intimate, beer-centric experience, try Astoria's SingleCut Beersmiths,which was among the first of Queens's burgeoning number of local breweries. Hit the taproom (Wednesdays through Sundays) to grab a pint or sample a tasting flight of brews. Not content to simply drink beer? Get all you need to make your own at Astoria Beer & Brew, a craft-beer and wine bar that doubles as a home-brew equipment store. Ovelia. Photo: Marley White If there's one thing most New Yorkers know Astoria for, it's the neighborhood's Greek culture—especially its cuisine. A mainstay of the 30th Avenue dining scene, Ovelia is a neighborhood favorite and is perfect for brunch if you're visiting in the late morning or early afternoon. Don't-miss dishes include the house-made loukaniko, a Greek sausage, and the tiropita toast, the restaurant's feta sandwich. On the northern end of Astoria in the Ditmars Boulevard area you'll find Taverna Kyclades, which is renowned citywide for its traditional seafood dishes and draws crowds of destination diners. Try the grilled calamari or branzino and the lemon potatoes. The wait can be long; fortunately, the portions are large, so you can satisfy an appetite that's had time to ripen. For vegetarians or those after lighter fare, the mixed vegetable plate at nearby Telly’s Taverna is a great option—and for dessert every night except Saturday, the restaurant serves free loukoumades (essentially fried doughnuts, drizzled with honey). The Greek food in Astoria ranges from classic to contemporary reinterpretations of the cuisine. The gyro is an iconic dish in this panoply, and BZ Grill serves what many consider to be the best in the City. BZ's version is made from cuts of marinated pork stacked high on a rotating spit, which slowly roasts the meat, leaving it crisp and juicy. Bridging the gap between traditional Greek fare and the changing tastes of the neighborhood is MP Taverna, where chef Michael Psilakis serves simple-seeming dishes that are packed with flavor. The Greek meatballs, grilled octopus with chickpea salad and smashed fries have developed a following among locals. Tufino Pizzeria Napoletana. Photo: Joe Buglewicz ...And Every Other Cuisine Astoria is rich in diversity, and that's reflected in its non-Greek dining scene. Along 36th Avenue, you'll find a concentration of Brazilian shops and restaurants, where Malagueta is a standout. The acarajé (a fritter of mashed black-eyed peas) is particularly good. Pão de Queijo serves an over-the-top Brazilian sandwich known as the “X Tudo”—a hamburger with ham, cheese, bacon, egg, calabresa sausage, corn, potato sticks, lettuce, tomato and mayo. Along Steinway Street, with its immigrants from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Yemen and Algeria, you'll find a number of hookah cafés and some of the best Middle Eastern food in the City. Kabab Cafe is a destination among the City's knowing food-lovers, who praise it for the inventive food being cooked up by owner Ali El Sayed. Be forewarned: the food at Kabab Café is only half the experience. El Sayed is the other half, as much entertainer and intellectual as chef, and prone to conversation with his guests. You're better off letting him cook you what he wants rather than going by the menu. For a less involved meal, try Duzan Mediterranean Grill, a small Palestinian restaurant that makes some terrific hummus, falafel and chicken shawarma. The last few years have seen ramen shops open in the Ditmars and 30th Avenue areas—Hinomaru and Okidoki, respectively—and an excellent small Thai spot called Pye Boat Noodle that specializes in the kind of dishes commonly sold from floating markets in Thailand. Italian is another mainstay of Astoria dining. Toward the higher end, Trattoria L’Incontro is a must-visit—the ravioli and risotto dishes are excellent. Astorians tend to make L'Incontro a special night out, so dress accordingly (and be sure to make a reservation). Nearby and more casual—but just as delicious—is Ornella, known for its chestnut-flour pasta and more adventurous, seasonal specials like sanguinaccio (blood-and-chocolate pudding). Tufino Pizzeria Napoletana makes some of the best Neapolitan-style wood-oven pizza in the neighborhood. Head to Ukus for Bosnian fare like burek or cevapi sausages stuffed in pita. Loveday 31. Photo: Christine Cluff Astoria is largely residential but does offer some unique shopping experiences. Among them is recently opened Lockwood, which stocks chic decor items; locally made clothing, food and accessories; and kitchen gear. For more shopping nearby, Loveday 31 specializes in vintage clothing and jewelry from local designers. Astoria has always been family friendly but is experiencing a baby boom of late. Getting back to food, two must-see grocery destinations are Titan Foods, a Greek grocery store so beloved that regional expats arrange tour buses to visit the shop and stock up on food, and Muncan Food Corp., a charcuterie that initially specialized in Eastern European sausages but soon began re-creating the cured meats of other countries in response to the culinary leanings of Astoria's pan-ethnic population. Alongside its original Serbo-Croatian sausages are chorizo, made at the request of Muncan's Mexican employees, and pork-free products, for the neighborhood's Muslim residents. Mac ‘n cheese at The Queens Kickshaw. Photo: Joe Buglewicz In Astoria, Change Is Constant The influx of younger, creative types attracted to Astoria's lower rent and cost of living has had a significant influence on the neighborhood in recent years. With the new arrivals have come restaurants and bars that, five years ago, would have been more likely to be found in parts of Brooklyn. Among them are the Queens Kickshaw, which made a name for itself with its inventive grilled cheese sandwiches when it first opened but has expanded its reach to include dishes like brussels sprout okonomiyaki (grilled pancake) as well as a renowned cider and mead menu. Neighborhood pizza favorite Milkflower looks toward both Naples and Brooklyn for inspiration, combining the two into a pleasing package. Favorite bars among this set include Sweet Afton, where bartenders mix cocktails-with-a-twist (such as the Rye Root Beer) and the Sparrow Tavern, known for its laid-back vibe and late-night menu that includes fare transcending that of any 24-hour diner.

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Travel|Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism? Travel | Heads Up | Poverty Tours Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism? By ERIC WEINERMARCH 9, 2008 Marcelo Armstrong, pointing, founder of Favela Tour, takes visitors through Rio’s Vila Canoas slum. His company has spawned several imitators. John Maier for The New York Times MICHAEL CRONIN’s job as a college admissions officer took him to India two or three times a year, so he had already seen the usual sites — temples, monuments, markets — when one day he happened across a flier advertising “slum tours.”“It just resonated with me immediately,” said Mr. Cronin, who was staying at a posh Taj Hotel in Mumbai where, he noted, a bottle of Champagne cost the equivalent of two years’ salary for many Indians. “But I didn’t know what to expect.”Soon, Mr. Cronin, 41, found himself skirting open sewers and ducking to avoid exposed electrical wires as he toured the sprawling Dharavi slum, home to more than a million. He joined a cricket game and saw the small-scale industry, from embroidery to tannery, that quietly thrives in the slum. “Nothing is considered garbage there,” he said. “Everything is used again.”Mr. Cronin was briefly shaken when a man, “obviously drunk,” rifled through his pockets, but the two-and-a-half-hour tour changed his image of India. “Everybody in the slum wants to work, and everybody wants to make themselves better,” he said. Continue reading the main story Slum tourism, or “poorism,” as some call it, is catching on. From the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to the townships of Johannesburg to the garbage dumps of Mexico, tourists are forsaking, at least for a while, beaches and museums for crowded, dirty — and in many ways surprising — slums. When a British man named Chris Way founded Reality Tours and Travel in Mumbai two years ago, he could barely muster enough customers for one tour a day. Now, he’s running two or three a day and recently expanded to rural areas. Slum tourism isn’t for everyone. Critics charge that ogling the poorest of the poor isn’t tourism at all. It’s voyeurism. The tours are exploitative, these critics say, and have no place on an ethical traveler’s itinerary.“Would you want people stopping outside of your front door every day, or maybe twice a day, snapping a few pictures of you and making some observations about your lifestyle?” asked David Fennell, a professor of tourism and environment at Brock University in Ontario. Slum tourism, he says, is just another example of tourism’s finding a new niche to exploit. The real purpose, he believes, is to make Westerners feel better about their station in life. “It affirms in my mind how lucky I am — or how unlucky they are,” he said.Not so fast, proponents of slum tourism say. Ignoring poverty won’t make it go away. “Tourism is one of the few ways that you or I are ever going to understand what poverty means,” said Harold Goodwin, director of the International Center for Responsible Tourism in Leeds, England. “To just kind of turn a blind eye and pretend the poverty doesn’t exist seems to me a very denial of our humanity.” The crucial question, Mr. Goodwin and other experts say, is not whether slum tours should exist but how they are conducted. Do they limit the excursions to small groups, interacting respectfully with residents? Or do they travel in buses, snapping photos from the windows as if on safari?Many tour organizers are sensitive to charges of exploitation. Some encourage — and in at least one case require — participants to play an active role in helping residents. A church group in Mazatlán, Mexico, runs tours of the local garbage dump, where scavengers earn a living picking through trash, some of it from nearby luxury resorts. The group doesn’t charge anything but asks participants to help make sandwiches and fill bottles with filtered water. The tours have proven so popular that during high season the church group has to turn people away. “We see ourselves as a bridge to connect the tourists to the real world,” said Fred Collom, the minister who runs the tours. By most accounts, slum tourism began in Brazil 16 years ago, when a young man named Marcelo Armstrong took a few tourists into Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela, or shantytown. His company, Favela Tour, grew and spawned half a dozen imitators. Today, on any given day in Rio, dozens of tourists hop in minivans, then motorcycles and venture into places even Brazil’s police dare not tread. Organizers insist the tours are safe, though they routinely check security conditions. Luiz Fantozzi, founder of the Rio-based Be a Local Tours, says that about once a year he cancels a tour for security reasons. The tours may be safe, but they can be tense. Rajika Bhasin, a lawyer from New York, recalls how, at one point during a favela tour, the guide told everyone to stop taking pictures. A young man approached the group, smiling and holding a cocked gun. Ms. Bhasin said she didn’t exactly feel threatened, “just very aware of my surroundings, and aware of the fact that I was on this guy’s turf.”Still, she said, the experience, which included visiting galleries featuring the work of local artists, was positive. “Honestly, I would say it was a life-changing experience,” Ms. Bhasin said. Saying she understood the objections, she parried, “It has everything to do with who you are and why you’re going.” Chuck Geyer, of Reston, Va., arrived for a tour in Mumbai armed with hand sanitizer and the expectation of human misery incarnate. He left with a changed mind. Instead of being solicited by beggars, Mr. Geyer found himself the recipient of gifts: fruit, and dye to smear on his hands and face, as people celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi. “I was shocked at how friendly and gracious these people were,” Mr. Geyer said. Proponents of slum tourism say that’s the point: to change the reputation of the slums one tourist at a time. Tour organizers say they provide employment for local guides and a chance to sell souvenirs. Chris Way has vowed to put 80 percent of his profits back into the Dharavi slum. The catch, though, is that Mr. Way’s company has yet to earn a profit on the tours, for which he charges 300 rupees (around $7.50). After receiving flak from the Indian press (“a fair criticism,” Mr. Way concedes), he used his own money to open a community center in the slum. It offers English classes, and Mr. Way himself mentors a chess club. Many of those running favela tours in Brazil also channel a portion of their profits into the slums. Luiz Fantozzi contributes to a school and day-care center.But slum tourism isn’t just about charity, its proponents say; it also fosters an entrepreneurial spirit. “At first, the tourists were besieged by beggars, but not anymore,” said Kevin Outterson, a law professor from Boston who has taken several favela tours. Mr. Fantozzi has taught people, Mr. Outterson said, “that you’re not going to get anything from my people by begging, but if you make something, people are going to buy it.” Even critics of slum tourism concede it allows a few dollars to trickle into the shantytowns, but say that’s no substitute for development programs. Mr. Fennell, the professor of tourism in Ontario, wonders whether the relatively minuscule tourist revenue can make a difference. “If you’re so concerned about helping these people, then write a check,” he said. ERIC WEINER is author of “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World.” A version of this article appears in print on , on Page TR3 of the New York edition with the headline: Slum Visits: Tourism or Voyeurism?. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe Letter: Helping the Poor

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Trade mission to Australia helps promote the tourism and appeal of Southeastern Connecticut Published November 10. 2013 12:01AM By TONY SHERIDAN A successful trade mission to Australia has opened doors of opportunity for eastern Connecticut tourism and the state's defense and aerospace industries. The recent trip to the land of one of America's most prominent allies has helped create a wealth of goodwill that no doubt will translate into positive economic results for many interests throughout our region, as well as the rest of Connecticut.From a tourism standpoint, the mission put eastern Connecticut, including Mystic Country, on the map for Australians, including more than 80 group tour operators. The largest tour group, Scenic Tours, now plans a two-day stopover in the Mystic region starting next year.A highlight of the trip was a well-attended exposition titled "The Taste and Sights of Connecticut." It took place at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney. Clearly, a foundation has been established to encourage tourists to visit eastern Connecticut. An Australian publication, "Out and About with Kids," will feature the destination for families as they plan their vacations.Promotional brochures and other literature were presented to tour operators and follow-up meetings were arranged.From a defense industry standpoint, an example of the mission's success is that the Mystic area has been chosen as the site for the first International Aerospace and Defense Summit that has been organized by the Connecticut District Export Council, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Congressman Joe Courtney. Participating in the conference will be companies from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France.Twenty people, including myself, comprised the delegation to Australia. Among those attending were officials from General Dynamics Electric Boat and Mystic Aquarium.Representing the 1,600 member businesses of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut and the Greater Mystic Visitor's Bureau, I was able to describe the beauty of our region as well as its many attractions, including destinations in Mystic Country. I traveled to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Newcastle and Wollongong.The trade mission was initiated by Congressman Courtney and organized by Anne Evans, district director of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The U.S. Consulate Commercial offices in Sydney also supported the initiative.Australians welcomed us with open arms. I discovered that in the "land down under," there is a natural fondness for Americans, an ally in times of both peace and war. I was pleased to learn that large numbers of Australians have a yearning to visit the United States and I am confident we made a compelling case that Connecticut would be a highlight of any visit to our country.From the defense and aerospace perspective, there is a realization that essential American products are in demand worldwide due to their innovation and quality. Representatives of the defense industry made contacts that undoubtedly will pay dividends down the road in terms of exporting both product and knowledge. The Department of Commerce arranged both group and one-on-one meetings for those of similar interests in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Newcastle.I was pleased to see that those in the Connecticut food and beverage business had opportunities to make their menu items available to tour managers and others. Among those were Jake's Wayback Burgers, Munson's Chocolates, the Connecticut Maple Syrup Producers Association, as well as local wineries.Also, representatives of Mystic Aquarium had the opportunity to visit three Australian aquariums with the goal of selling the JASON Learning Project, which is headquartered in Mystic.All and all, I consider the trade mission to have been a rousing success. Our delegation made essential contacts in both formal and informal settings. We consider the Australian people to be our friends and it's pleasing to see that they view us the same way. Only good can come from that.Tony Sheridan is president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut.

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Travelling exhibition based on locals' memories of Windermere set to launch A TRAVELLING exhibition based on an oral history of lakes in the Lake District is set to launch this month. The Clear Waters project saw volunteers interview more than 40 Windermere people about their memories of the area from as far back as the 1940s. Interviewees included anglers, wildlife enthusiasts, boaters, tourists, business owners, wardens, and scientists who worked and lived within the Windermere catchment. Project Officer Gary Rushworth said: “We were able to combine the memories and thoughts of the general public with scientific information and opinion. “For example, the views of anglers, fisheries officers, and ecologists provided valued insights into changes in fish populations within Windermere. “Some memories gave a new perspective to contemporary issues such as boat speed limits within Windermere. “Other memories shed light upon historic events such as Windermere’s contribution to the war effort during World War II.” Clear Waters was managed by the Freshwater Biological Association and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Full versions of the Clear Waters interviews along with typed transcriptions will be archived and stored by the Freshwater Biological Association, and the Ambleside Oral History Group. A travelling exhibit (May 2014 to May 2015) and a website (released in early July 2014) will illustrate some of the key changes in Windermere using audio-clips of interviews, and historic and contemporary photographs. The exhibition will launch at an invitation-only event at Abbot Hall Art Gallery on May 21, which will be attended by Clear Waters interviewees and local organisations including Cumbria Wildlife Trust and United Utilities.

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23/02/2015 19:27 Its name betrays its Roman origin; it was Augusta Vindelicorum in the Rhaetia province founded in the year 15 of our era by Drusus and Tiberius by Emperor Augustus order. It was free imperial city linked to the Holy Roman Empire for five hundred years. It is the third oldest city in modern Germany after Neuss and Trier and is also the third most populous city in Bavaria after Munich and Nuremberg. Here the religious Martin Luther schism took shape in the Augustana Confessio, first official exposition of the principles of religious Protestantism and major schism of Christianity presented in writing by the Diet of the city to the Holy Roman Emperor, then, 25 June 1530, Charles V, I in Spain. But beyond religious matters and relating to chrematistic issues, Augsburg, remained along the free city period grew under the business related to the two most powerful families, the Fugger and the Welser, who had interests in banking, mining and commerce on which exercised an almost absolute monopoly. Their ties reached the Republic of Venice and the Vatican. Like their admired Florence prosperity attracted artists seeking patrons. Here was born and worked the family of Holbein painters, Hans the Old and Sigismund in the first generation and Hans the Younger and Ambrosius in the next. The Fugger family created the first public housing complex in the world and it’s still in use. Jakob Fugger, his nickname was the Rich, founded in 1516 the so called Fuggerei as a place where anyone in need of shelter could be accommodated. The conditions to access to one of them were to have been in the city for at least the last two years, being Catholic and having reached poverty without leaving debts. The rent was sought was an annual Florin. Today is equivalent to 88 euro cents. The site had its own church and four doors that still are closing at ten in the evening. They are the entry to the eight streets where there are currently 147 apartments spread over 67 houses. The free city ceased in 1806 when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved and Augsburg became dependent from Bavaria. Several medieval times channels mainly Äußerer Stadtgraben, surround the path of the old walls, others slip between houses, flower beds and covered verandas that overlook the water. At the downtown epicentre the Rathausplatz hosts the Renaissance town hall, designed and built in 1624 by the Stadtbaumeister, master architect, Elias Holl. At the top of its facade, between the two hexagonal towers, displays the Reichsadler, emblazoned with the imperial eagle of the Holy Roman Empire. In the same square the Perlachturm, a slender tower 230 feet high which was originally built as a watchtower, is now part of the city hall and beside where Peterskirche church rises. The road that crosses the square is Maximilianstraße, it cross the square and most of the old town from the Sainte Mary Cathedral, here called Marie Dom or Hoher Dom, to the church of St. Ulrich going through Merkurbrunnen, the Mercury fountain and that of Hercules too, this later work of Adrian de Vries, both are monumental. South of Augsburg, and at the foot of the Alps, Garmisch Partenkirschen is a town famous for its famous skiing jumping contest broadcasted every New Year on TV. In early June it is difficult to recognize among the splendour of the grass the same white slopes seen in television.

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Home > WATER SPORTS > Scuba Diving > Palm Beach, Pittwater Palm Beach, Pittwater New South Wales Australia BOOKING REQUEST ABOUT THE SPOT Scuba Diving in Palm Beach, Pittwater, New South Wales Australia Maximum Depth: 15m/49.2ft Palm Beach is a beach-side suburb in northern Sydney, at about 41 km/25 mi in the north of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). It is considered to be the jewel of Sydney's northern peninsula, that offers a plethora of activities, such as surfing, fishing, diving and sailing. A beautiful beach holiday location that provides with many accommodation options, stylish cafes and good restaurants. Park at the end of Ocean Park road, cross the beach and dive to the southeast. The average depth of this location is at 12 m/39 ft and the maximum at 15 m/49 ft. It is appropriate for divers of all levels. The visibility of the spot is quite good and enables to have a look at the vegetation and the fish that hide in there. Divers may come across with weedy sea dragon, clown fish and sea horse. Also, there’s a few small swim throughs to explore. This is not a dive site that will take the whole day to explore but still it worth while. It is best to book an organized dive, if you are visiting for the first time, due to the weather condition. WEATHER / Palm Beach, Pittwater / Palm Beach, Pittwater C F % OF PRECIPITATION0.14% RELATED SPOTS / Scuba Diving ADD COMMENT The Steps, Kurnell New South Wales Australia Kurnell is a suburb in southern Sydney, at about 22 km/14 mi in the south of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Kurnell is on the southern headland of Botany Bay, just opposite the suburb of La Perouse. Kurnell boasts some of Sydney’s top dive sites. How to go The Wreck of RMS Rhone, Salt Island British Virgin Islands Salt Island belongs to the British Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea. It is standing in the eastern side of Puerto Rico and in the southern of Tortola, the largest island of the British Virgin Islands. Road Town is the island complex capital and is situated in Tortola. Zanoni Shipwreck, Ardrossan South Australia Australia The Zanoni Shipwreck, located at 10 nautical miles off the coast of Ardrossan, is one of the well preserved shipwrecks in Australia and one of the most complete 19th century's shipwrecks in South Australia. Dive Flag, Saint Thomas US Virgin Islands The Virgin Islands of the United States, or the U.S. Virgin Islands lie in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico. This group of islands consist of the main islands of Saint Thomas, which is home to the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint John, Saint Croix, Water Island and other surrounding minor islands.The climate here is classified as tropical savanna climate, mostly affected by moderate trade winds. Vilamoura, Faro Algarve Portugal Vilamoura is a tourist destination, located on the Algarve coast, specifically laid in the municipality of Loule in the Algarve. It is approximately 24.5 km/15 mi away from Faro, the southernmost city in Portugal. You can find art galleries, roman ruins, museums such as Cerro da Vila. You can also come close to the nature and the lushness of deep forest with pine trees. Willyama, Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula South Australia Australia Willyama is a thrilling spot with a wreck for scuba diving, located in Marion Bay, Yorke Peninsula. This 2705 tons of steamer met its fate in 1897 at Rhino's Head Marion Bay. A mast sticks out of the water and the rest of the wreck lies scattered around the bottom. Pittwater / Sydney / Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing ADD COMMENT Long Reef Beach, Dee Why New South Wales Australia Dee Why is a suburb of northern Sydney, at about 18 km/11 mi in the north-east of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Dee Why caters for a variety of dining and accommodation options to suit different needs and budgets. Long Reef beach is an ideal surf site, as it is partly protected by an offshore reef, providing with the right conditions for kite-surf. Wakeboarding ADD COMMENT Port Hacking River, Sydney New South Wales Australia Port Hacking is located in southern Sydney, at about 30 km/19 mi south of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). The area to the north of Port Hacking is more developed than the area to the south, which forms the northern boundary of the Royal National Park. It is south of Cronulla and northeast of Bundeena. Surfing ADD COMMENT Merewether Beach, Merewether New South Wales Australia Merewether Beach is located in Merewether, a Newcastle's suburb, in New South Wales. Cronulla Pools, Cronulla New South Wales Australia Cronulla is a beach-side suburb in southern Sydney, at about 26 km/16 mi in the south of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). Cronulla lies on a peninsula, between Botany Bay to the north and Port Hacking to the south. Cronulla is a popular tourist location and attracts many beach enthusiasts. How to go South Bondi Beach, Sydney New South Wales Australia Bondi beach is the widest and most famous beach in the Sydney region. It is located in the suburb of Bondi, at just 7 km/4 mi from the center of Sydney. This spot is a combination of great surf with good food and idyllic atmosphere. Avalon Beach, Avalon New South Wales Australia Avalon is a suburb in northern Sydney, at about 35 km/114 ft north of Sydney's CBD (Central Business District). According to myths, Avalon was the final resting place of the legendary King Arthur. Snorkeling ADD COMMENT Fairlight, Manly New South Wales Australia Manly is a suburb in northern Sydney. On the harbor side of Manly, snorkelers will have the opportunity to witness an amazing marine life. Freshwater Beach, Freshwater New South Wales Australia Freshwater, also known as Harbord, is a suburb of northern Sydney. Freshwater beach is a sheltered beach break between Curl Curl and Queenscliff. How to go

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Rooms • Rentals & Shares The 10 Airbnb Super-Hosts That Rule New York City Jason Clampet, Skift - Feb 13, 2014 2:30 pm @jasonclampet This Airbnb host has 29 properties listed across New York City. SkiftPhoto: Skift Share Airbnb is in an interesting position: These super hosts provide a good experience to guests, but they present problems when it comes to local regulations and the brand’s sharing-economy-is-good-for-little-guy narrative. — Jason Clampet Editor’s Note: This is second in a series of data dives into Airbnb’s listings in New York City. We believe Airbnb vs NYC is the defining fight of the sharing economy, and some understanding of how the platform’s being used will help clear up the laws as they change. Part one here. These are the hosts that Airbnb would rather not talk about, and the New York State Attorney General may like to have a chat with. They’re the hosts that don’t appear in Airbnb case studies, or show up on marketing materials from the Peers lobbying group. They don’t fit the narrative of the sharing economy, mainly because they operate on Airbnb like entrepreneurs. These 10 people run 313 units in the city. That’s a drop in the bucket when you consider that there are over 19,000 listings in New York City. But hosts who have more than one listing in New York on Airbnb represent 30% of the total inventory on the site, according to data collected for Skift by Connotate, a data extraction and monitoring firm. [Update April 22: Airbnb removed 8 of the 10 hosts from the site prior to a hearing before a judge who would rule whether Airbnb must honor a subpoena from the state Attorney General for some user records in New York City.] Some of these hosts rent multiple units in the same apartment building, some have rentals spread throughout Manhattan, and one even has a (possibly) legal hotel. It should be noted that these hosts often market their listings on other websites — like Craigslist, Yelp, and TripAdvisor — and are not exclusive to Airbnb. And while their multiple listings may go against the narrative that Airbnb has driven home about its users, they aren’t necessarily breaking the law in New York, although it appears many of their listings wouldn’t pass muster in a hearing with the city’s Environmental Control Board. NY Furnished Rentals Upper East Side and Midtown Eran Ray & Russ Bushwick and Bed-Stuy John and Lucy Lower East Side and Chinatown Metro Apartment NY, Inc Upper East to Lower East Side Dana in Brooklyn may be a host that both critics and proponents can agree on. He uses Airbnb as a marketing platform for The Box House Hotel in the Greenpoint neighborhood. Unlike other users that call their converted homes “guest houses” or “hotels,” the Box House is classified as a hotel by the Department of Finance, and the certificate of occupancy confirms this. The hotel did not respond to questions from Skift. But Dana is in the minority here. What the Hosts Look Like NY Furnished Rentals, which has 80 listings, states on its profile that it provides furnished rentals for 30 days or more, but it’s possible to book for fewer days. The sheer volume of user reviews is a sign of how active the host’s listings are. Metro Apartment NY, Inc states on its profile page that all of its units are legal. Photos and user feedback point to this being a residential building on 46th St where multiple units have been converted for transient use. There are numerous notes on the listings that photos are representative of the type of accommodations available in the building. Ray & Russ are operating a hostel in Bushwick. With rooms priced under $29 it’s popular with students who don’t mind sharing a room with a few other budget travelers. Users praise it for being cheap, and also complain about it being dirty. Considering the challenges required to set up a hostel in New York City, and the lack of a listing on Hostelworld, it’s likely that they are not permitted to operate in the city. Eran lists 20 properties in Manhattan from the Upper East to the Lower East sides. Like a mini-Toshi, he’s more real estate agent than host. And from the wealth of positive user reviews he appears to be doing a good job. “I needed to find a temporary apartment for a few weeks upon moving to New York,” reads on guest’s review. “Eran was an excellent host, arranging for someone to meet me upon my arrival in Manhattan from the airport.” John and Lucy have a similar business. They have 29 properties in Manhattan and an enviable 890 user reviews that praise the hosts for their attention to detail and prompt replies to problems. “John and Lucy were great at responding to my emails and telling me about the whole process. Everything went smoothly from check-in to check-out,” one review reads. The other hosts have similar types of listings, from lofts that have been subdivided into private rooms to multiple studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartments spread throughout the city. Yesterday, Airbnb responded to a list of questions from Skift about its users with the statement “87 percent of Airbnb hosts in New York share only the home in which they live.” A Note About Numbers Airbnb’s main New York City page says it has 34,020 listings spread between 60 neighborhoods. This is different than our total of under 20,000 listings. It appears that this discrepancy is due to Airbnb counting listings twice that are in overlapping neighborhoods. For instance, on the site all locations in the South Street Seaport area are also listed in the Financial District. Read More: Airbnb in NYC: The Real Numbers Behind the Sharing Story Tags: airbnb, nyc, sharing Share

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