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Rich in history, culture and passion, with a staggering 78 million foreign tourists visiting the
nation during 2006 alone, France is a fantastic country to visit, offering a broad range of activities to cater for all tastes.
France has many distinct regions to visit each with its own unique character, such as Normandy, Loire, and Cote d'Azur
to name but a few. Normandy of course is probably most famous for the D-Day landings made by the allies during World War 2
and has many interesting places to visit, such as the Caen War memorial and the towns of Bayeux and Mont-St-Michel. Cote d'Azur
region is home to Cannes and Monaco, the playgrounds of the rich and famous.
Perhaps you would prefer a stay in Paris,
the most romantic city in the world. Popular tourist attractions in Paris include the Eiffel Tower built between the years
1887-1889, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Musee Du Louvre featuring Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting the 'Mona Lisa'.
Or why not just enjoy a ride down the Champs-Elysees.
France is home to a number of popular theme parks, the most
notable being Futuroscope, Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix. Futuroscope amusement park is located near Poitiers (300km/180
Miles south west of Paris) and features many attractions and shows to dazzle the senses. There are numerous visual experiences
to enjoy on a giant IMAX screen, such as the Mystery of the Nile, Deep Sea 3D and Cyberworld. The park also features a 3D
cinema, simulator experiences, restaurants and shops. Futuroscope offers a unique experience and is an excellent day out for
all the family.
If you're a history fan (or even if you're not) you won't want to miss out on visiting some of the
fine Chateaux (Castles). With over 80 Chateaux you will surely be within easy travelling distance to some of them, whichever
region you choose to stay in.
Maybe you could catch the tour de France, one of the worlds most famous and difficult
cycling races, spanning over 2200 miles across many stages around the country. The 2007 Tour de France runs from Saturday
7th July to Sunday 29th July.
For cheese or wine connoisseurs then France really is your Mecca. France is one of the
biggest producers of cheese, with over 400 types to choose from and is famous for producing some the world's finest wines.
How does a wine tasting trip to Bordeaux or Burgundy sound?
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For vacation rentals in France and many other countries worldwide visit click4holidayhomes.com.
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In coffee shops throughout San Francisco each morning, diners read about the city's top chefs
in the same way people in other cities read about the achievements of professional athletes.
Executive chef George
Morrone's assignment as head chef at Redwood Park in the Transamerica Pyramid is treated as if he were an athlete being traded
to another team. "Morrone heads to the pyramid" a San Francisco Chronicle headline reads. Another Chronicle story tells of
Melissa Perello's ascent, at 24 years old, to become head chef at Charles Nob Hill restaurant. Even on local Internet sites,
you get the impression that dining is sport. Traci Des Jardins, owner-chef of Jardiniere is described on www.sanfranciscochefs.com
(a Web site that reports about San Francisco's top chefs) as exuding "the grace and peace of someone at the top of her game."
It's easy to understand from these descriptions why the San Francisco dining scene is the big leagues of American
cuisine. With 3,500 restaurants serving a population of 732,000, San Francisco has more restaurants per person of any city
in America and the most critical audience of diners in the country. Here, dining out isn't about convenience or indulgence.
It's part of the city's cultural pulse and lifestyle.
Other cities may claim one or two great chefs as local celebrities,
but in San Francisco greatness in the kitchen is legion. Countless restaurateurs here, the likes of Jeremiah Tower and Vic
Bergeron, have achieved mythic stature, but San Francisco's difference is that beyond the super-luminaries of its food scene,
a meteor shower of great chefs constantly sear across the City's culinary heavens.
However celebrity-chef-focused
or trendy dining in San Francisco may be, it is never about pretense. It's always about taste. You can't disguise ordinary
cooking or lesser ingredients with pomp or circumstance here. San Francisco's temperate climate and proximity to fertile growing
areas and the sea have set expectations that only the freshest produce, ripest fruit, tenderest meats and most succulent seafood
will be served. The City's multiethnic society has similarly encouraged culinary cross-fertilization and experimentation resulting
in unexpected combinations of flavors, textures and presentations, called fusion cuisine.
Surprising a San Franciscan's
palate has seemingly become an obligation of its chefs. Imagine the mountainous task of operating a Chinese restaurant in
a city full of them and with a population a quarter of which are Asian. Tommy Toy undertook that challenge at his restaurant
on Montgomery Street where diners enter a magical world that recreates the royal grandeur of the Empress Dowager's 19th-century
sitting room, creating the expectation that dining at Tommy Toy's will be an experience to remember. To meet those expectations,
Toy presents Chinese food in a French style with daring executions that take traditional dishes and elevate them to haute
dining in tantalizing fashion, such as his vanilla prawns or winter melon soup that unlike the traditional Chinese dish is
prepared in smaller melons to satisfy contemporary palates.
To be fair, Chinese cuisine was not Tommy Toy's invention.
That honor goes to another Californian, Wolfgang Puck, who at Spago's in West Hollywood invented the style in 1985. At the
time Puck made his breakthrough, "it was unheard of to open a Chinese restaurant if you weren't Chinese," says renowned Sacramento
chef David Soo Hoo who credits Toy for keeping the style fresh and evolving. Back then, he admits, one wouldn't have expected
a French-trained Austrian chef to be a master of Chinese cooking. Today in California, all those culinary limitations are
gone. You can be of Chinese ancestry, preparing a French-styled marinated chicken breast with Thai lemon grass and Mexican
chili peppers, as Toy does, and no one finds that unusual.
The unexpected has become the norm within California cuisine;
a style of cooking that has often been questioned if it truly exists. Unlike other regional styles, California cuisine cannot
be categorized by a specific flavor or technique. Though now copied worldwide, the style is still difficult to define. California
cuisine is perhaps best embodied by its inventive approach that emphasizes the use of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients in
light combinations. Taste, quality (often organic), freshness and innovation are hallmarks of the style. With its emphasis
on experimenting with taste, it was natural that California cuisine led to fusion cooking. This fusion trend has now existed
in San Francisco for nearly 20 years and has now evolved into combinations yet untried elsewhere.
In the recently
refitted Clift Hotel, Asia de Cuba chef Maria Manso combines her Cuban heritage with years of experience in Chinese cooking
in new concoctions designed for sharing, like Tunapica, a tuna tartare picadillo-style on wonton crisps. Aziza on Geary unites
chef Mourad Lahlou's refined Moroccan dishes with seasonal ingredients found in the Bay Area, creating a new statement that
is fresh and organic compared to the often-overcooked style associated with Moroccan cooking. Absinthe Brasserie and Bar on
Hayes St. brings together Southern French and Italian fare from executive chef Ross Browne such as his golden chanterelles
and braised chestnuts with poached leeks and stuffed artichoke. At Arlequin, Provence meets the Mediterranean with everything
house-made from the cranberry bean with marscarpone soup to basil sorbet. Chaya Brasserie on the Embarcadero combines French
and Japanese cooking in the Pacific Rim style. Nuevo Latino cooking, updated versions of traditional recipes, are presented
by Johnny Alamilla at Alma in the Mission District and by Richard Sandoval at Maya on Second Street, south of Market, who
transports American palates from culinary stereotypes of Mexican food to artfully presented delicacies, such as his delicate
sopa de elote, a creamy roasted corn soup with a huitlacoche (a corn "truffle" with a sweet, smoky flavor) dumpling or pipian
de puerco, pork tenderloin marinated in tamarind vinaigrette served with a flavorful roasted corn puree and traditional pumpkin
seed sauce.
As limitless as the number of inventive dishes concocted in San Francisco's thousands of restaurants,
so too are the number of chefs trained here each year. Many of the City's chefs begin their training at one of dozens of exceptional
cooking schools in the area. Included among them are the California Culinary Academy, Tante Marie's Cooking School, the Culinary
Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena and the recently opened COPIA, Robert Mondavi's celebrated American Center
for Wine, Food and the Arts in Napa, but undoubtedly the runaway bargain in culinary education in the area is also the granddaddy
of San Francisco's culinary arts schools... the hotel and restaurant program at City College of San Francisco. At $2,000 for
tuition, books, uniforms and tools, it's a fraction of the $25,000 plus a cooking student may pay at any of the area's private
schools and its distinguished alumni are a who's who of executive chefs, pastry chefs and restaurateurs.
To the new
graduates of programs such as City College's, fusion still reigns, but now in more subdued ways. The whole-world menus of
some San Francisco restaurants have become so fused that it's impossible to define what type of food is being served. Begin
with Japanese sushi, dine on a Thai entree, complemented with an Italian side dish and end your dinner with an updated version
of traditional American strawberry shortcake. The one trend that is consistent about San Francisco dining is that if it's
"hip" and "happening" on the dining scene, San Francisco will be tasting it.
Food as show is always popular, though
at Foreign Cinema, one of San Francisco's most popular restaurants, theater is platform for food. A stylish indoor dining
room with large fireplace looks out on an outdoor courtyard with communal dining tables where foreign classics and independent
features are screened nightly as diners enjoy appetizers like house-cured sardines with roasted peppers, steamed Alaskan halibut
in tomato saffron broth with onions, fennel, potatoes and aioli and grilled broccoli rabe with olio agrumato. What! No popcorn
with the movie?! Not to worry, the film is mostly for background effect and considering the economy, dinner and a movie seems
a bargain.
In response to economic downsizing, San Francisco restaurateurs have pared down menus to keep people dining
out and invented a new trend, called "affordable dining." At Joe Jack and A. J. Gilbert's Luna Park on Valencia Street, though
the food is remarkable the prices aren't. Nothing on Luna Park's inventive menu costs over $13.95. Diners line up to enjoy
warm goat cheese fondue, pot au feu, mussels with French fries and gourmet S'mores (a traditional American camping dessert
upgraded with fondue-styled dark chocolate, a ramekin of toasted marshmallow and flaky, house-made graham crackers). Andalu,
a tapas-styled bar and restaurant at 16th and Guerrero, continues the less is more trend. The portions are modest here, but
so are the prices. Andalu even goes so far as to divide its menu into two sizes of plates, small and smaller. Try spicy cashews
at $3 (a smaller item) or Ahi Tartar Tacos with Chili and Lime complemented with Mango Salsa. (a small plate item for $10).
Who says you have to pay a lot to dine well?
One of the best dining deals in the City by the Bay are the "Taste Of
San Francisco" charity events. There, for a single donation, you can walk from booth to booth and taste the specialties of
various restaurants across the City. Or, visit the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market at the foot of Green Street on any Saturday
from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Up to 100 farmers display organic produce and sell their homemade items at food stands. There certainly
isn't a week (let alone a day) that goes by in San Francisco without some food or wine event occurring. From farmer's markets,
to tastings, to food festivals, to behind-the-scenes dinners with chefs, San Francisco is a foodie's paradise. A thorough
list of these events as well as a primer on wine paring, recipes and other food guidance is found at www.sfvisitor.org in
the "Special Programs" section.
With so much fine food being prepared each evening, one might worry that a lot of
it might go to waste, but leave it to a San Franciscan to let no food go uneaten. Local foodie Mary Risley founded Food Runners,
delivers prepared and perishable dishes from San Francisco restaurants and hotels to agencies feeding the hungry. Like the
true San Franciscan and appreciator of food that she is, Risley, says "We should not call ourselves a civilized society or
take pride in being a prosperous country until every man, woman and child has enough to eat."
Given the City's love
of fine dining and the social responsibility of its restaurants, having enough to eat doesn't seem to be a problem for San
Franciscans, where dining is more than a three meals a day experience. It's a way of life.
========
John
Poimiroo is a travel writer, editor and photographer who focuses on all things about California. Find more at http://www.californiafun.us
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Bird Flu Vaccine Approved
A bird flu vaccine has been approved for use for the first time in the United States -- read more to find out about the study and how it will be distributed.
For more breaking science and medical news by e-mail
every weekday, subscribe to ArcaMax's free Science & Technology ezine.
Sign up for Science & Technology instantly.
Find out more before subscribing.
-- From the ArcaMax editors
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Just what goes into a good camping guide, anyway? The first thing that crosses many peoples' minds
are locations to camp at in an area they're interested in. While that's a good start, I think there should be more to a camping
guide than just campsite locations and how to get to them.
Survival Shelters
A good camping guide will
provide you with at least a basic overview of different survival shelters that you can build out of materials found in nature.
If you get lost on a hike and need a place to sleep for the night while waiting for rescuers to find you, you're going to
need to find yourself a shelter somehow. More often than not natural shelter isn't going to be easily found, so setting up
a lean-to out of branches or a poncho and some rope can work just as well.
First Aid
While you should
certainly stay up to date on the latest in First Aid, a good camping guide should tell you at least the basics involved in
diagnosing and temporarily treating injuries and minor wounds. This information should by no means take the place of professional
medical assistance! But if you are out in the wild with no access to professional medical attention, you have to be able to
take care of injuries long enough to seek medical aid, and a good camping guide can help you.
Supplies
A
camping guide can help make sure you are prepared for your trip by offering lists of things you can bring with you to make
your trip more comfortable and/or safer. From lists of food supplies, to camping gear and right down to what you should usually
find in your first aid kit, a decent guide can help make sure you don't forget anything important.
Basic Survival
Planning on roughing it for a few days? With a camping guide you can have access to how to catch wild game, in areas
where it's allowable, how to cut it so the meat stays fresh and safe, and how to cook it for a healthy meal. A good camping
guide can also show you what animals various tracks belong to, how to survive in harsh weather conditions, what to look for
in the ideal camping spot, and how to start a campfire with no modern luxuries.
In addition to providing you with
information on game hunting and cooking, your camping guide should also make available at least a little information on the
local flora so you know what plants are safe to eat in areas where it's allowed to forage off the land, and what plants are
poisonous and should be avoided. Most camping guides will even provide information on how to purify small amounts of local
water resources, making it safe to drink so you can stay hydrated.
So, while it's a great thing to have a guide that
tells you how to get to a certain camp site, how much it will be and what the park hours are, I think the best camping guides
are the ones that give you the information you need to survive outside of civilization for more than just a few days. As always,
better safe than sorry, right?
========
You can find great camping tips and articles at http://camping.every1loves2travel.com as well as helpful camping resources about summer camps, camping recipes, and much more.
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Read "The Adventures of Sherlock Homes" Free!
Sit down with a classic mystery, courtesy of the ArcaMax Book Club. Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is just one of more than 600 free books you can read online, either on the site or a chapter a day by e-mail.
If
you're looking for more, visit the Book Club, join a discussion in the Book Club Community, or sign up for the weekly Book Club ezine to keep up with our featured authors and newest available books.
Subscribe to "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" instantly.
Subscribe to the free New Books ezine instantly.
View the full list of books.
-- From the ArcaMax editors
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This year marks the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first English settlement in the New
World.
It was on May 14, 1607, that three English sailing ships -- the Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed -- approached
the banks of the James River in what would become Virginia, and disembarked 105 Englishmen who would establish Jamestown.
It was some 13 years before the Pilgrim Fathers founded Plymouth in Massachusetts.
To commemorate the event, East
England -- birthplace of many of America's founding fathers -- is offering a yearlong series of special events and itineraries
designed to allow travelers to explore America's English roots. Even if you're not of English descent, these fascinating adventures
into history will entertain and educate.
There are several suggested journeys, each emphasizing a different aspect
of our nation's past. For example, a trip through Kent and Lincolnshire retraces the founding fathers' footsteps.
At
Penshurst Place and Gardens, the picturesque country estate of the Sidney family since 1552, discover why Hampden-Sydney College
in Virginia, established in 1776, is named after Penshurst's own Algernon Sidney and how, with William Penn, Algernon drafted
Pennsylvania's Constitution, which soon became the basis of the US Constitution.
Nearby, Leeds Castle is the ancestral
home of Sir Thomas Culpeper (governor of Virginia from 1677-83). Culpeper's 5 million acres in Virginia, granted to the family
by Charles II, were eventually passed to Lord Fairfax, a later Virginia governor, who was a friend of young George Washington.
Leeds Castle was bought during the 1920s by American heiress Lady Baillie, who devoted her life to restoring it.
Maidstone's
medieval All Saint's Church has a 17th century memorial to Lawrence Washington (George's ancestor), showing a family coat
of arms that suggests America's Stars and Stripes.
The burial place of Pocahontas, famous daughter of Powhatan, chief
of the Algonquin Indians of tidewater Virginia, is at Gravesend's St. George's Church. Learn how she saved a man's life, married
John Rolfe in 1614 and traveled with him to England. Returning to Virginia in 1617, she fell ill and died onboard the ship
at age 22. The church has a stained-glass memorial window and replica of the statue of Pocahontas at Jamestown.
Travel
north through Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town, on your way to Harwich, birthplace of Capt. Christopher Newport,
the commander in charge of the vessels and passengers on the 1606 Jamestown expedition. It's also the birthplace of Christopher
Jones, master of the Mayflower, the vessel that carried the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620.
Then there's Otley
Hall, birthplace of Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, the principal promoter and vice admiral leader of the 1606 expedition, and
the man in charge of establishing the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown. Gosnold reputedly planned his New World
voyages in Otley Hall's Great Hall.
At Bury St. Edmunds, the Cathedral's Treasury is dedicated to the original Jamestown
settlers.
On to Heacham, a small village on the Norfolk coast where John Rolfe was raised. The village church has
a memorial to Pocahontas, and she's also commemorated on the village's sign.
In Lincolnshire, Willoughby is the home
of Capt. John Smith, who helped found Jamestown. Smith attended school in the picturesque village of Alford, which was also
the home of Anne Hutchinson, who championed women's rights and freedom of worship in America. Smith continued his education
at the market town of Louth.
The town of Boston, location of the Mayflower's Pilgrims' first failed attempt to flee
England, was home to preacher John Cotton, who inspired the founding of Boston, Mass.
At Lincoln, the Norman Castle,
which houses one of the four surviving originals of the Magna Carta, is where some of the Pilgrims were tried following their
failed attempt to flee England.
Last stop in Lincolnshire is Grimsthorpe Castle, home of the Willoughby de Eresby
family. John Smith toured the continent with Lord Willoughby's son.
Smith was buried in 1631 at London's St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate
Church, which commemorates him with a stained glass window. On the River Thames, the Virginia Quay Monument marks the place
from which the Susan Constant, Discovery and Godspeed set sail on Dec. 20, 1606.
For further information about this,
other itineraries and events designed to commemorate the founding of Jamestown, visit www.beginyouradventure.co.uk.
========
To find out more about Jennifer Merin and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit
the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2007 Creators Syndicate Inc.
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Plan a summer trip to Jamestown
Take part in Jamestown's 400th anniversary celebration with a family vacation to Virginia -- ArcaMax
will help you plan it! Choose a hotel, find great historical restaurants, and more.
If you can't travel this summer, you can still read free books about Jamestown or play fun interactive games and quizzes.
Visit the Jamestown special feature.
-- From the ArcaMax editors
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Jet lag is most probably the most common woe travelers experience when flying
across numerous time zones in a matter of hours. We feel the lag in different ways. For some, jet lag comes in the form of
dizziness, grogginess and disorientation. Some travelers feel it in the form of headaches and sinus irritation. Other jet-lagged
travelers complain of nausea, lack of appetite and dehydration. Most frequently, jet lag shows in the traveler's tiredness
after the flight and the inability to sleep properly.
Why do we have jet lag? We have jet lag simply because our bodies
are made to function according to something called a circadian rhythm, otherwise known as the body clock. Our bodies are programmed
to be alert in daytime and to sleep at night. When this is disrupted, as is always the case when we zoom across time zones,
the body clock gets skewed, causing fatigue and other irritations in the body. When the body's circadian rhythm finally adjusts
itself to the new pattern of the body's environment, then jet lag goes away.
Chronic jet lag, however, is another
matter, and is a concern for people who frequently travel across time zones. Eventually, it causes not just fatigue, but also
burnout, depression, obesity and cardiac problems, among other things. We should, therefore, not take the constant disruption
of our circadian rhythm lightly.
So how do we deal with jet lag? Some doctors prescribe taking sleeping pills after
the flight, with emphasis on the word after, since a traveler is supposed to walk around in long-haul flights so as not to
disrupt blood circulation and prevent blood clotting. The mere mention of the words "sleeping pill," however, is enough to
give some people the jitters, so it probably will not work.
On the other hand, there are doctors who prescribe taking
melatonin and shifting the body's rhythm at least three days before the flight. The procedure involves taking a very small
dose of melatonin five hours before the traveler's usual sleep time, starting three days before the flight, then going to
bed one hour earlier than usual. On the second time, the person is to go to sleep an hour earlier than he did the previous
night, and the same goes for the third night. In that way, the body would have been adequately prepared for the crossing of
time zones.
But the best way yet does not involve taking drugs, but taking care of yourself in general. Get into a
regular exercise program, eat right and observe proper sleeping patterns. An ounce of prevention is still the best way to
go.
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Anna Lynn C. Sibal has worked with traveling business executives for the past seven years,
providing them with close personal and administrative assistance. Along with her innate interest in travel, this experience
has given her many insights on how traveling executives think and what they need. Anne is a journalism graduate from the University
of the Philippines, the leading state university of that country, as well as one of the premier academic institutions in Southeast
Asia. Aside from travel, Anne also displays a keen interst in literature, the cinema and the Internet. She has written and
contributed actively to various student publications and has managed an in-house publication for a real estate association
in the Philippines. She has also won an award for her screenplay from the Film Development Foundation of the Philippines in
2001. Read her blog at
Paris. What more can be said about the beautiful City of Light? We all know
about its romantic atmosphere and countless museums and galleries that will sweep you away to another time and place. But
around every corner and along its grand boulevards, there is a Paris that is specifically tailored towards your interests,
preferences, and curiosity; and all you need to do is wander its streets to discover what you have been missing all this time.
While you so desperately want to discover the hidden treasures of this city, if it is your first visit there are a
couple of sights that absolutely have to be at the top of your itinerary. Of course, standing beneath the Eiffel Tower and
riding up to its landings for the breathtaking, panoramic views is bound to be your first adventure, while the Louvre and
its spectacular art collection, complete with the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, will probably be a close second. Other
classic favorites that will definitely occupy your first couple of days in the city include Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe,
and the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.
After wandering the Louvre for hours or soaking in the unparalleled beauty of Notre-Dame,
your senses are bound to be overloaded, downright exhausted, and in need of less demanding pursuits. Although this is most
likely in complete contrast to what you imagined before arrival-trekking from one sight to another, checking off dozens of
attractions from your must-see list seemed so reasonable back then-this weary feeling as actually for the best since now you
can truly experience Paris instead of having it rush by as you hit up attraction after attraction. So what then should you
do for the ultimate Paris vacation? Quite possibly less than you ever imagined...
Depending on your particular interests,
there is a touristy Paris, a historical Paris, a laid-back Paris, and a fashionable Paris to ensure that you have the most
memorable and enjoyable vacation possible. Shoppers and tourists alike will appreciate the elegance of one of the world's
most famous promenades, the Champs-Elysees, where they can dine on exquisite cuisine, shop to their heart's content, and relax
in a cafe and simply watch the endless parade of people down its cobblestone street. With the Arc de Triomphe at one end and
historic restaurants such as Laurent and Ledoyen scattered throughout, you could easily lose an entire day enjoying the ambiance
of this one-of-kind avenue.
Although history-buffs will be hard-pressed to find a city with more amazing museums (consider
the Musee Jacquemart-Andre, the Musee d'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou after the Louvre) at its beck and call, there is more
to Paris' past than strolling down a corridor and looking at your 180th oil painting. By resisting the pull of the French
Impressionists and making time for the cobbled and historic streets of Montmarte and the picturesque Latin Quarter, which
rests over the Seine, you can create a more personal and memorable experience than all of the museums combined. Exploring
hidden alleyways and wandering without a final destination, you can discover history, beauty, and something special to only
you, all while getting a little lost in the process.
While it is easy to only think of all of the excitement you plan
to pursue during the day, the City of Light certainly lives up to its name when night falls on its charming streets. The first
couple of days during your trip you may be exhausted from hitting up all the popular attractions, but after you have gotten
into the groove of your own getaway, be sure to spend a few evenings living it up with the Parisians. With the high quality
and quantity of bars, nightclubs, music halls, wine bars, jazz dives, and cabarets, there is bound to be at least a couple
of places that suit your taste.
Now that you have your days and evenings stuffed to the gills with entertainment,
you need to find somewhere to rest your weary head after a long day in Paris. Beyond your typical hotel, one excellent option
that offers all the luxuries of home and proximity to all your favorite attractions is a Paris apartment rental. While other
accommodations are simply a place where you can rejuvenate your body before another day in the city, Paris vacation rentals
surround you with amazing views and feature a cozy, lived-in atmosphere that makes you feel welcome in the city the moment
you arrive. Even if Paris isn't exactly off the beaten path, you can make this trip more personalized than you ever imagined
by selecting a vacation rental that perfectly meets all of your individual needs.
We all know that drinking and driving is a combination of danger; driving
under the influence is a cardinal sin of the road. We've listened to the warnings, we've read the statistics, we've watched
the after-school specials. We know it's a bad thing to do and yet, some of us do it anyway.
Unfortunately, those who
drink and drive often go unpunished: they simply don't get pulled over or noticed by law enforcement. But, those who do get
pulled over, who cause an accident, or who are involved in any kind of automobile incident, often get noticed...in hand cuffs.
In the US, the punishment a person receives for drinking and driving is contingent on several factors. Included in
this is the state where the offense occurred. While all 50 states have two statutory offenses - driving under the influence
and driving with a blood alcohol level of at least .08 - some states charge people for driving with a blood alcohol level
of .05. Some states also make it illegal to have open containers in an automobile, where some do not. Most US states take
into account the level of intoxication as well as the number of offenses. Based on these factors, some people do jail time,
some people lose their license, and some people get off with a fine.
Other countries have different laws than the
US. Some are more lenient, and some are harsher. In Australia, the blood alcohol content is .05, and lower (.02) for those
with learner's permits or new drivers. The punishment for drinking and driving in Australia includes fines, suspension of
license, imprisonment, and medical assessment before a driver's license is reinstated.
In certain countries, drinking
and driving is punishable by death. A first time offense in El Salvador leads to execution by firing squad, while a second
offense in Bulgaria also leads to execution.
In France, drinking and driving is punishable by a 1,000 dollar fine,
imprisonment for one year, and loss of license for three years. Finland and Sweden, along France's lines, also automatically
sentence drunk drivers to one year jail sentences including hard labor. In Norway, a drunk driver is jailed for three weeks
with hard labor and loses their license for a year. If they do it again, they lose their license forever. In South Africa,
drinking and driving results in a ten year prison sentence or a 10,000 fine and, in some cases, both.
In Canada, the
first drinking and driving offense warrants loss of license for one year and a 600 dollars fine. The second offense warrants
two weeks in jail and loss of license for two years. The third offense warrants three months in jail and loss of license for
three years. After the fourth, they might just send you to America.
In England, a drunk driver pays a 250 dollar fine,
spends a year in jail, and then loses their license for one year. In Russia, drunk drivers simply lose their license for life.
Yes, even Russia has laws against drinking and driving.
Some countries are more creative in their attempts to keep
the inebriated off the road. Turkey, for example, punishes drunk drivers by taking them 20 miles from their town and making
them walk back with a police escort. In Poland, drunk drivers are subject to jail, fine, and, even worse, mandatory attendance
at political lectures. In Malaya, if a man is caught driving drunk he is jailed. If he is married, his wife is jailed too.
In Costa Rica, the license plates are removed immediately from the cars of those who drink and drive.
Drinking and
driving can cost a lot of money, a lot of freedom, and, in worst cases, a lot of lives. In our world of available transportation
drinking and driving has no place. Instead of driving drunk, simply take a bus, take a cab, take a subway, or rent a limo.
I would say don't even drink, but let's aim for something more feasible.
Visit the Highlands Scotland and you are at the north and west of the highland
boundaries which are very mountainous. Typically Gaelic speaking, Highlands Scotland has been the area in which this Scottish
distinction is profound for over a hundred years. But of course Scottish English is also spoken here so you will be in the
loop and not out of sync. The city of Iverness is generally regarded to be the capital of the Highlands.
Beauty surrounds
the Scottish Highlands with ruggedness thats astounding. The population here is not quite as extensive as in other parts of
Scotland because of the mountainous regions in this part of Highlands Scotland. As few as 250,000 people live here are spread
out across the area. Nevertheless, if you are looking for Scottish Culture then the Highlands is one of the best places to
visit. Their communities share a very strong heritage and can be very distinctive when compared to their lowland Scottish
countrymen.
Inverness the largest city in the Scottish Highlands is dotted by many smaller towns and villages as well
as a few islands. Folk craft is a natural byproduct in the smaller villages and many a Scottish treasure can be found there.
Climate comparisons are quite different between the highlands and lowlands and the highland habitat produces a range of wildlife
that has made this region their home.
Don't be put off by the highlands because of its ruggedness. Much fun can be
had there by exploring the many castles, gardens, museums, and journeying around by boat trips and train rides. Touring by
car should not be discounted either. The famous Loch Ness Lake is situated in the highlands and the many ancient ancient monuments
are a treasure all in themselves. For the adventurous, walking, hiking, cycling, kayaking, skiing and sailing, all provide
for a very interesting the Scottish Highlands.
Even though Highands Scotland might not be the first place on your
list for a romantic destination, its splendour and mystic beauty can easily make it into an unbelievable romantic destination
many a doting couple will never forget.
A dinner for two can be enjoyed throughout Scotland wheer you can dine on
seafood, virtually every type of meat available as well as many traditional dishes. Don't let that discourage you as there
are many tasty alternatives available too.
Every romantic's dream is to cuddle in front of a warm fire. Highlands
Scotland provide many a majestic countryside place in which to do just that.
Trevelling to the Scottish Highlands
can be an adventure of a lifetime. Plan your next trip there or better still, even that romantic getaway for an experience
of a lifetime.
Cruises are becoming an increasingly popular vacation choice for families.
There are many cruise lines that cater to families. They offer child care for the little ones, clubs filled with activities
to keep school age children occupied all day long, and teen lounges where older kids can play on gaming systems, use the Internet,
listen to music and watch movies to their heart's delight.
With all of these amenities specifically geared for kids,
it would seem that parents shouldn't need to worry much about bringing anything more than a few changes of clothing for their
children. However, the child care rooms, kid's clubs and teen lounges aren't open 24/7, and kids do end up spending down time
in their rooms with their families. When packing for kids on a cruise, there are many things that parents need to remember
to bring in addition to their clothing.
For Infants and Toddlers:
* Diapers, swim diapers and wipes (pack
more than you think you'll need - you may be able to purchase them in the cruise ship's store, but you'll pay a hefty premium)
* Pacifiers - bring a few extra
* Ziploc type bags to dispose of diapers - the trash in your room is only disposed
of once a day
* Plastic bottles/sippy cups
* Hand sanitizing lotion
* Port a crib; booster seat for dining; stroller
for on board or off board excursions - the cruise line may provide these or rent them, find out before hand
* Night light
* Disposable bibs
* Sun hat
* Children's sunscreen
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Band-Aids and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite stuffed animals, books, coloring books, crayons and toys
* Inflatable
swim aids
* One or two more outfits than you think you'll need
* Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies
For Grade School Children - At this age, children should have a hand in the packing of their own entertainment items:
* Night light
* Sun hat
* Sunglasses
* Children's sunscreen
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Bandaids and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite stuffed animals, books, coloring books, crayons
and toys
* Travel board games
* Inflatable swim aids
* One or two more outfits than you think you'll need
*
Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies
* Portable gaming systems such as Game Boys or PSP's
* Portable music
devices such as MP3 players or CD players
* A disposable camera or two to allow kids to take pictures of whatever they
want
* A journal
For Teenagers - At this age, teens should handle the responsibility of packing for themselves.
Help them to make a packing list so they don't forget anything important and check their bags once they are packed:
*
Protective sunscreen
* Sunglasses
* Prescription and over the counter medications
* Thermometer
* Bandaids
and antibacterial ointment
* Favorite books and travel board games
* Portable dvd player, extra batteries, and movies
* Portable gaming systems such as Game Boys or PSP's
* Portable music devices such as MP3 players or CD players
*
A digital or disposable camera to allow teens to take pictures of whatever they want
* A journal
* Cell phone - especially
if you will be going on excursions off the ship
Making sure that you have these extras will ensure that you have supplies
in case of an emergency, protection from the sun, and plenty to entertain your kids on the ship.
It used to be that when you were considering cruise alternatives, you'd begin
by calling the cruise lines to request brochures. Then you'd pore over the brochures, checking text, policy and pictures to
see which line and which ship seemed to best fit your lifestyle and aspirations.
You'd ask friends, family and trusted
travel agents for their recommendations, and scour Sunday travel sections for reviews that would lead you to the best (pre-tested)
experience.
Now, there's the Internet. With a single click you can gain access to commentaries about all the cruise
lines, ships and cruise itineraries in the wide world of vacations at sea.
In general, online cruise forums are populated
by a community of avid and experienced cruisers. They're people who have strong opinions and fierce loyalties, and seem to
have some cruise savvy that may benefit those who are newcomers to the cruise game.
At cruise-addicts.com, for example,
you'll find forums where frequent cruisers drop comments about each of the cruise lines and specific ships. A click on the
Princess Cruises forum will lead you to a discussion about, among other topics, "coffee cards." This ongoing and sometimes
heated debate reveals to you that Princess Cruises charges $27 for a card that buys 15 cups of specialty coffee (which is
brewed fresh from ground beans) -- a charge that seems exorbitant to those who are accustomed to and/or expect free and unlimited
coffee while aboard a ship, but seems quite reasonable to those who favor specialty coffee and will gladly pay for access
to it while away from home.
Similarly, there's a discussion about the value of Princess' specialty restaurants. Sabatinis,
some say, isn't worth a $27 surcharge for dinner, while others say their Sabatinis meal was a highlight of their trip.
The
specifics of issues under consideration -- specialty dining and coffee cards, in the case of Princess Cruises -- seem less
informative than several other aspects of the discussion: First, the comments reveal that extra charges are of concern to
Princess passengers and, if you choose that line, you must budget for them; and second, the ways the posts are written and
presented are a very good indication of what your fellow passengers onboard are likely to be like.
It should be no
surprise that sites with cruise forums also have a lot of cruise advertising. Cruisecritics.com, with a home page entitled
"For Resources and Information on Cruises and Princess Cruises," seems to be not much more than a series of links to advertisers,
including a "subscribe now" page (for $27 per year) for Consumer Reports (which rates cruise lines and ships) and other links
to Travelocity -- not of much worth to those seeking third-party opinions and perspectives.
Another site, cruisecrazies.com,
features three forums: cruise discussion, cruise reviews and roll call (for groups of people cruising together). The cruise
discussion forum currently has a series of comments regarding difficulties in getting traditional assigned dinner seating
on Princess Cruises (my, they do seem to be provoking a lot of debate), and roll call posts shout-outs to fellow travelers
on specific cruises, and sometimes offers discounted group fares. This site seems most intent upon building and serving the
cruise community.
Additional cruise forums can be found by searching Google.com for cruise forums. Cruiseclues.com/message_boards.htm
has a very thorough list of links to them, as well. It's best to browse several before deciding which to follow most closely.
Of course, cruise forums feature advertising and other biased material. And, you can never be sure the person praising
a particular ship isn't really a cruise line marketer posing as a casual blogger.
Forums are monitored by editors,
who screen posts for abusive language and content rather than for accuracy and honesty. To discern whether a blogger's comments
are trustworthy, pose some specific questions with verifiable answers -- such as "Do you really have to pay for coffee on
Princess Cruises?" Then, check responses for accuracy. If the respondents provide you with correct answers, you know they're
probably trustworthy and can ask them more probing questions regarding opinions about shipboard service, ambience and other
matters that can make a cruise vacation a dream come true or a nightmare.
Today's travelers are savvy and money-conscious, which explains why they are
flocking to the Net like never before to research, compare and book airfare. As they have found, bypassing travel agents and
opting for online shopping for cheap airline tickets saves time, money and frustration - all the while ensuring they get exactly
what they want and when they want it.
In fact, according to Juniper Research, 37% of online airfare travel consumers
visit three or more Web sites per travel product. A further 20% of online airfare travel consumers report feeling empowered
by researching flights online, although they only visit one or two Web sites to research airfares.
With tight budgets
and little leisure time to look around, net shoppers are enjoying the many benefits provided to them when they purchase airline
tickets online.
Of course, if online airfare shoppers can be flexible with their travel dates (just by a day or two)
or even their airports (flying in a mere 20 miles from their final destination), they can save even more money, allowing their
hard-earned dollars to be used for downtime and not airtime.
Additionally, there are other ways you can shop online
for discount airfare and stretch your buck even further.
Plan Ahead
For instance, have you ever noticed
that the closer you get to your actual travel date, the more you have to pay? Rest assured, that's no coincidence. Instead,
that stems from the fact that the brass behind the airlines know that many business travelers must fly on short notice and
take full advantage of this, charging more for booking those last-minute flights.
Sure, this may make traveling more
expensive for the executive who has to make a meeting in a neighboring state or another country, but it doesn't have to be
more expensive for you.
All you have to do is plan ahead. For the best travel airfare, plan in advance enough so that
you can book your flight 21 days in advance.
Keep in mind that if you just can't get your travel plans together that
far in advance, you will see significant discounts for booking 14 days ahead. After that, you will want to research and compare,
because the price for your flight is sure to go up - sky-high, in fact.
But Not Too Far Ahead
Keep
in mind that it pays to be patient and if you are trying to book a flight months in advance and the prices are more than you
bargained for, worry not. Airfares fluctuate and you may be able to book your flight at the fare you are willing to pay (and
not a penny more) if you just wait.
Sure, airfares may also rise. So, the best strategy is for you to compare fares
over a period of time to see what's happening with rates. By doing this, you're sure to know a good deal when you see it.
Remain Flexible
Be flexible in scheduling your flight. By booking on different days, you may be able
to save even more money, allowing you to get really cheap plane tickets.
For instance, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
are typically the cheapest days to fly. This means that by booking a flight on a Monday with a return trip on a Monday will
typically raise the costs.
Also, late-night flights and very early morning flights are times when not as many people
want to fly, which can provide you with another cheaper alternative - such as further discounted airline tickets.
In
short, for cheap air travel, remain flexible
Think About Flying ON Holidays
OK, so you don't want to
fly on Christmas Day, but if you would consider planning your holiday trip around a flight on one of the slowest travel days
of the year, you might save big bucks.
Likewise, plan your family vacation to Disneyland or Las Vegas after Thanksgiving
and before Christmas. This way, you'll save lots of money on airfare and you and your family will enjoy the shorter lines
at the theme park, too.
Location, Location, Location
As mentioned above, think about flying in to a
neighboring airport. This short 20-mile drive may save you a few hundred dollars. How's that for a little extra pocket change
when you're on vacation?
Scour Off-Line, Too
You will save money when your book your airfare online,
but to get an accurate idea of how much you should pay and how much you are saving, keep an eye on airfare prices off-line.
Check your local and national newspaper and keep and your eyes open for fluctuations and even special airline deals, then
hit the Net.
Perhaps the dragon that has had the most influence on Westernized Christian
thought is the red dragon that dominates the last book of the New Testament. The author of this book, who simply identified
himself as John, had been exiled to the Isle of Patmos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, where he received a brilliant
vision in which he was welcomed into the heavens to witness all things which were to come. In the vision he was shown a book
with seven sealed portions. He was allowed to see the contents of each sealed portion in turn and then commanded to write
what he saw. It is at the very end of the seventh portion that we find the story of the red dragon.
The story begins
when John sees a beautiful woman in childbirth. This is no ordinary woman; she is clothed in the sun, with the moon under
her feet, and wears a crown of twelve stars. As she struggles to give birth, a great red dragon comes into view. He is as
terrible as the woman is resplendent, a serpentine creature with seven heads and ten horns, and a crown on each head. With
his mighty tail he draws away a third of the stars of heaven and violently throws them down to the earth. Thus announcing
himself, he alights menacingly before the woman, threatening to devour her child as soon as it is born.
But the woman
is able to save her newborn son, who is mysteriously secreted away to the throne of God, the dragon's arch-enemy. God has
a special interest in this baby, for it has been prophesied that he will one day become the ruler of all nations. The woman,
thus assured that her child is protected, flees into the wilderness, where a refuge has been prepared for her.
Meanwhile
God sends his angels, led by the valiant archangel Michael, to battle against the red dragon. The dragon is fierce, assisted
by his own legion of demons, but eventually they are beaten and evicted from heaven.
On earth, the vengeful dragon
seeks out the woman to torment her, but using two great eagle wings given her, she escapes; however, the red dragon possesses
great powers, and even controls the weather. From his mouth he creates a flood to drown her. But the earth opens its gaping
mouth and swallows the flood, aiding the woman in her escape. Frustrated, the dragon then turns his attention to the woman's
other children, who fill the earth. Hungry for revenge, the red dragon seeks help.
He doesn't have to wait long before
a hideous beast rises out of the sea. This beast also has seven heads and ten horns, but his body is that of a leopard, while
his feet are those of a bear, and his mouth is that of a lion. The dragon, finding a worthy accomplice, grants the beast power
and authority. While the inhabitants of the world watch, the beast reveals a deadly wound on one of its heads. As if by magic,
the wound heals itself. Awe-struck, many people flock to the dragon and the beast, worshipping them and turning against God.
With their new army behind them, the beast and the dragon wage war against the inhabitants of the earth still faithful
to god, overcoming them and taking many captives. And although the beast dies, he is replaced by another beast with two horns
like a lamb. This second beast controls fire, making it fall from the sky. Like the dragon, he is also very wicked and teaches
the people to worship the first beast. Indeed, he teaches them that they should kill anybody who won't worship the first beast.
Caught in this wicked fervor, the people began to mark their bodies, so that they can tell who worships the beast and who
doesn't.
Back in the heavens, the angels tell God about all that is happening on the earth with the dragon and the
beasts. Enraged, God vows to punish any who has received the mark of the beast. From a cloud, the grown son of the woman descends,
wearing a golden crown and carrying a sharp sickle in his hand. Calling the angels to his side, the armies of God prepare
to visit the earth. Seven mighty angels appear, each bearing a terrible plague and a golden vial containing the wrath of God.
God's army is prepared to face the dragon in a final battle.
One by one the angels pour their vials out upon the beast-worshipers,
inflicting them with sores, death, heat, darkness, hunger, and drought. Before the last angel pours the contents of his vial
out, three magical frogs are pulled out of the mouths of the dragon and the beast, revealing how the evil creatures had received
their powers. When the last vial is poured out, the ground begins to shake. Great hailstones fall from heaven. The mountains
are flattened and the islands fall into the sea. All those who have marked themselves are overtaken and, along with the beast
are thrown into a lake of fire. Finally, the son of the woman, who now sits upon the throne, rewards all the people who have
remained faithful to God. Even those who have been killed are brought back to life. Beaten, the dragon is bound and shut in
a bottomless pit where he can no longer deceive the nations for a thousand years.
Tourists are grumbling that travel isn't what it used to be. Some are even
saying dissatisfaction with the airlines and airport milieu is making them think twice about taking trips.
"My wife
wants to return to Maui, where we honeymooned 20 years ago," says Paul Ryan, from St. Louis. "But I travel for business, and
the thought of dealing with security and flying in a crowded plane with unpleasant flight attendants when I don't have to
is too much for me. My wife stays home while I travel, so she doesn't experience the lines, rudeness, discomfort and lack
of service. I'm not just thinking about myself, either, when I say I don't want to go -- she has quite a temper, and I'm afraid
she'd pretty much explode if they confiscated her perfume."
Perfume? What about bottled water?
Susan Bealner
from Atlanta: "That's something I'll never get. The bottle of water's sealed, it's see-through and you're willing to open
it and take a nice big long swig in front of their very eyes. But nuh-uh, not allowed," she says. "TSA's either very stupid,
or they've found a way to boost sales of water for 'captive' prices -- I paid $3 per bottle in the kiosks past security. If
they prevent you from bringing water from home or they take it away from you, they should at least sell you some at the regular
price. It's a small thing, but I find it infuriating."
Others claim the abuse begins before they even get to the airport.
"I feel like I'm beginning a bad trip when I first contact the airline to make reservations," says Karen Johnston, an Australian
who lives in New York. "I'm put off by extra charges they make for taking reservations over the phone. Who ever heard of a
business charging you money to pay them money? It's ridiculous."
But it's a fact: When you call American Airlines,
a saccharin voice informs you that if you book flights over the phone, there's a $10 fee for each electronic ticket you purchase,
regardless of class of service, or a $15 fee for redeeming award miles -- nonnegotiable. And, the fee is higher -- $15 per
ticket -- if you show up to buy it at the ticket counter in town or at the airport -- nonnegotiable.
"They're even
charging you to redeem vouchers they've given to make up for their failure to provide service -- like if you're bumped. I
was amazed I had to pay to use the free ticket they gave me to make me happy and win my loyalty back because they screwed
up," says San Diegan Carlos Rodriguez. "I used to travel whenever I could -- but not now. They have the power to charge whatever
they want, but I find the way they do business a real turn off."
Peggy Wallace from Las Vegas says she's given up
her frequent-flyer program. "It felt like a divorce," she says, "After so many years and so many miles of flying one airline,
I had to stop traveling for a few months because of an illness in my family, and I lost my status. Then, less than 100 miles
short of a free ticket, the airline informed me that my miles were going to expire unless I purchased a ticket or some frequent-flyer
miles to keep the account active until I wanted to use the award ticket. I was so livid I began to yell at the agent who,
after about 40 minutes of no-ing me, finally told me all I needed to do was register for points.com on the Internet and that
registering would give me nine frequent-flyer points, which was enough to keep my account active. Forty minutes of arguing!
Why didn't she just tell me that up front? I hate to be cynical, but it was probably because she gets a bonus for selling
me miles!"
The bottom line is that all the little charges and inconveniences seem to be adding up to a big anti-travel
attitude that could cost the airlines a lot more than their extras bring in. But, even with passenger rights a major topic
of discussion, it's probably not going to get any better.
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