German Castles 4 of the most incredible ones Part I

We have a long history here in Germany and very medieval castles also. Tens of thousands of tourists come to Germany day in and day out just to see and feel the charisma of our German castles.

I will explain you 4 of my favourites and a little bit of their history. If you plan to travel to Germany, you might like to know them and to feel its charisma too. ;-) These 4 castles are located in South Germany, so you do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres/miles to see each of them. By the way, most of our German castles are located in South Germany.

1. Heidelberg

The first one I describe to you is the Heidelberg castle. It is really big and has a secret stairway to walk up to it. Very few people know that way, most of the people go up by the 'hill train'. I mean, you can do that too, but imagine how incredible it is, when you walk up the more than 300 stairs (each stair has its number on it!) and see all the old houses around you, WOW!

Heidelberg itself has a strong history too and you see that on all the houses and the extremely expensive residential areas. Very famous people live in Heidelberg, such as Steffi Graf and famous Scientists. You should also walk through the, and now I'll give you a insider secret, 'Philosophenweg' (Way of Philosophs). You may ask the people out there where exactly this way is, but however when you walk up that way, you have an really awesome, and I mean really awesome view to the Heidelberg castle and Heidelberg itself and its river (Neckar).

2. Schwetzingen

Not far away from Heidelberg (approx. 10km) is a small town called Schwetzingen (yes, I live in this town and I love it!). The special thing here is, that this town has just 22,500 residents, but also a huge castle! When you visit German castles you will realize, that some of them not so big, but beautiful too. The castle of Schwetzingen is not just beautiful, it's awesome and huge! The city itself spends all of the entrance fees (only 2,50 EUR per day) into this incredible castle, and you see that at each corner stone, plant and bloom.

The Schwetzingen castle is almost as big as the city itself! :-)

Its history goes back to Baroque, Rococo and Classicism. It's still apparent today that the irregular complex of the Schwetzingen castle in essence dates back to a medieval castle altered in the Renaissance period.

At the end of your castle visit you absolutely must go to one of the irresistible cafs and restaurants in front of the castle - at the 'Schlossplatz' (castle place). There are seven (and much deeper in and around the city) of them and you will find people of all ages there, and you easily come in contact with them. They are really communicative. Most of the young people are able to speak English. More about this amazing town you'll find on www.smart-travel-germany.com/schwetzingen.html.
My site isn't perfect yet, but it grows day after day and I work really hard on it to give you the highest valuable free insider tips for your travel to Germany.

I hope you enjoyed the first part of my special report of 2 awesome German castles. Watch out for the second part with the other 2. I will post it shortly.

Also for further insider tips go to my website. I finished the creation of my monthly free special report. In this report I will describe the rest of our TOP 40 German castles and its histories. You can subscribe to it at www.smart-travel-germany.com/smart-travelogy-germ.html.

I appreciate you!

Marcus Hochstadt
www.smart-travel-germany.com

About the Author

Marcus Hochstadt travels extensively to countries, continents and Germany itself as a sales manager and entrepreneur since more than 14 years. He knows in almost each German city the points of REAL interest. Watch out for his free monthly special report with more valuable insider tips at www.smart-travel-germany.com/smart-travelogy-germ.html.

Hints and Tips for Your Peru Holiday

Peru is a country with a rich and varied cultural and architectural heritage. Facing the Pacific, it enjoys spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca, the world\'s highest navigable lake, and has a strong Inca and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the famous Lake Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, with its Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. It\'s a fantastic place for a holiday and in this article, we\'ll be looking at some hints and tips to make sure you can get the most out of your holiday in Peru!

Language

The primary language in Peru is Spanish. This is almost identical to the Castilian Spanish of Madrid, albeit with slightly different pronunciation and a few vocabulary changes. In the high Andes, particularly around Cuzco and Puno, many people still speak Aymara or Quechua (the language of the Incas) as a first language, although almost all will also speak Spanish. Some English is often spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and in staff of services that deal with international customers (eg: airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.

People

Peruvians are renowned even in South America for their friendliness and they are always keen to engage you in conversation. Even if they are hoping to sell you something they are still often curious to find out something about you and where you come from. The British are quite popular in Peru, although we still have something of a \'Victorian\' reputation; we are usually seen as very polite and efficient but somewhat lacking in passion and, of course, quite unable to dance! The Peruvian expression for being on time is \'A la hora ingles\' (English time) and if you try and explain about the current situation on British railways you are usually met with polite disbelief and an assumption that you are just being kind

Geography and Transport

Peru is split into 3 separate climatic zones: costa, sierra and selva (the coast, the mountains and the jungle). The character and culture of the three areas is remarkably distinct and can give your Peru holiday real variation although nowadays the country is inter-connected by a good road network, some amazing railway lines and excellent air services.

The coast mainly consists of a small fertile strip along the Pacific which merges slowly into the desert at the foothills of the Andes. In the very north and south of the country it is not unknown for it not to rain for years at a time but complex irrigation systems (some of which date back to Inca times) keep areas like the Pisco valley surprisingly fertile. The Panamerican highway travels the length of the coast, making travel within the coastal region both comfortable and speedy.

The Andes range covers the entire central region of Peru, from north to south. They offer some of the most spectacular views and some of the most interesting cultural experiences in the world. As mentioned above, in many areas you can still hear Quechua - the language of the Incas - spoken as a first language and the spiritual ideals of Inca culture remain strong. Today cities like Cusco combine stunning Inca and colonial architecture with thoroughly modern services but just a short distance away from the major urban areas, life carries on in a way which would be instantly recognisable to the Incas. The Andean areas are where most travellers spend the majority of their time while on holiday in Peru.

The Peruvian jungle is some of the most unspoilt rainforest in South America and much of it is protected under international law. The only access to large sections of the jungle (including the few cities) is by boat or plane and so it feels very different to the rest of the country - you get a real sense of arriving somewhere! The rainforest is home to a bewildering and spectacular array of wildlife, with more unique species being discovered every year!

Food and Drink

Peruvian cuisine is excellent and a real highlight of any Peru holiday, with all the regions having different specialities. Coastal dishes owe a lot to African and Spanish influences, tending to be quite rich and often reasonably spicy. Seafood is, unsurprisingly, excellent and anything with chicken is usually a good bet. The coast is also the birthplace of the national dish: ceviche. This is a selection of fish pieces marinated in lime juice and is absolutely stunning - we urge you to try it even if you\'re not usually too keen on fish! Good chicken dishes include aji de gallina - chicken in a spicy, creamy sauce.

Highland dishes tend to be more simple than coastal (and especially Limeo) cuisine, concentrating on the excellence of the ingredients, but is just as delicious! Particular favourites include rocoto relleno (stuffed Andean peppers). These are the size and shape of the peppers we eat in England but have a rather spicy edge to them. They are usually stuffed with small pieces of beef and vegetables, although most places will do them with just vegetables on request. We\'d also suggest that you try an alpaca steak at least once during your holiday in Peru: it\'s a kind of heavenly mix between pork and beef and has to be tasted to be believed. Of course, for the adventurous then nothing will do but the Arequipa speciality of cuy - roasted guinea pig! It\'s surprisingly good so long as you can deal with the guilt

Rainforest cuisine features a great deal of fresh fruit - both on its own and as part of main dishes. An unusual one to try is chirimoya (which you can also find in fruit juices and milkshakes outside the jungle). It looks a bit like an apple but tastes like strawberries and cream! Chicken dishes are popular in the jungle, as they are elsewhere in Peru but tend to be served with yucca (a kind of manioc) rather than the usual rice or chips.

Of course, if you\'re on holiday in Peru then you may well be wanting a couple of beers to unwind! Peru has several excellent national beers, probably the best of which is Cuzquea. All the beers are lagers but you can often get cerveza malta - a kind of dark, hoppy lager which is similar to an English Brown Ale. Peru is starting to make some good wines, particularly reds but is not as far down the road as Chile or Argentina in this respect. The country does, however, produce one of the great world brandies: Pisco. This is also the source for what must be one of the world\'s best cocktails: the Pisco Sour. Made from Pisco brandy, egg-white, cane sugar syrup and limes it is a great aperitif, although you may find yourself drinking more than just one

Also worth a mention is the fact that Peru is one of the only countries in the world where the local soft drink outsells Coke! The local \'Inka-Cola\' is bright green and very sweet but is very refreshing and 100% Real Peru! Apart from fizzy drinks, Peruvians love milkshakes (often known as yoghurt) and all kinds of fruit juices and these can often hit the spot when you fancy a break in a shady caf.

I hope all this information has given you some tips for your holiday in Peru, so why not find out some more at http://www.therealperu.co.uk and enjoy some really buenas vacaciones!

Dan Clarke is a founder of RealPeru (http://www.therealperu.co.uk) - the UK\'s specialist for holidays in Peru. He visits Peru every year to make sure their information is totally up-to-date so you can be sure you\'re getting the best tips for your Peru holiday!

Rajasthan Tourism Holidays in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, the name evokes myriad impressions ? an intricate tapestry of colour, sound and smell. Holidaying in Rajasthan brings one face to face with mammoth contradictions ? where royal grandeur is easily offset by rustic charm and lavish opulence belies ingenious survival. Geographically too, Rajasthan is a land of contrasts: dense forests give way to an arid landscape and lofty hills separate baking dunes from brimming lakes. And no Rajasthan holiday is complete without an experience of the spirited Rajputs, whose proud and haughty exterior conceals an inner friendliness and warm sense of hospitality.



Rajasthan, meaning the land of the kings, has a history dating back 5000 years. A Rajasthan holiday is the experience of a living tradition. Dotted with well-preserved architectural wonders echoing age-old legends, many of these, especially the ancient havelis are in use even today. Similarly, ancient temples in this mystic land have effortlessly spanned eons of worship by the devout as they resound even today with chanting and ringing of bells.



Holiday in Rajasthan! Follow in the footsteps of the ancient caravans as you travel through this ageless land by a camel safari or step into the shoes of kings, as you ride into palaces sitting atop an elephant. Track the tiger in wild Rajasthan or have a holiday adventure driving a jeep over sand dunes in a hip desert adventure.



Cultural Rajasthan



Rajasthan is dotted with the reminders of its ancient past, its forts ringing with ballads of the valour and romance of the Rajputs. But the tourist is not a visitor to dead relics showcased in a museum. A Rajasthan holiday is an enthralling ride through the living portals of history.



Bikaner: Located in North Rajasthan, Bikaner is desert country famous for its medieval spirit, its monuments and camels. Junagarh fort, Lalgarh palace, Jain Haveli and Bhandeswari are a feast for the holiday crowd.



Jaipur: Rajasthan\'s pink city offers a holiday with a refreshing blend of the traditional and the modern. Its attractions include the Hawa Mahal, Albert Hall, Jantar Mantar and the forts, Nahargarh, Jaigarh, Amber and Moti Dungri.



Jaisalmer: The magic of the desert is very alive in this legendary town famous for its havelis ? traditional mansions that are artistic expression with skilled craftsmanship, carvings and paintings. Other attractions include the breathtaking Jaisalmer Fort and the Tazia Towers.



Jodhpur: The ancient Marwar empire in the desert, this military town is also famous for the kingly sport of Polo. It is famous for its monuments including Umaid Bhawan Palace, Mehrangarh fort and Jaswant Thada.



Udaipur: Known for its lakes and palaces, this is the ultimate Rajasthan holiday. Udaipur epitomizes artistic endeavor from brilliant architecture and miniature painting to vibrant performing arts. Tourists are simply dazzled by the City Palace, Lake Palace, Crystal Gallery, Durbar Hall, Bagore-ki-haveli Dharohar, Jag Mandir, and Maharana Pratap Memorial.



Wild Rajasthan Holidays



Rajasthan is also a haven for some thrilling wildlife holidays, housing as it does some of the best National Parks and Sanctuaries in India.



Ranthambore National Park: Located at the junction of the Aravalis and the Vindhyas, Rajasthan\'s important hill ranges, this former hunting ground of the Maharajas is one of the best places in the world to see the tiger. Other wild life her includes sambar, chital, nilgai, hyena, caracal and panther.



Sariska National park: Situated among the rugged Aravali hills that dominate North West Rajasthan, Sariska\'s dry deciduous forests are home to a wealth of wildlife. Besides the tiger, a holiday here offers sambar, chital, chousingha, wildboar, langur, Rhesus macaque and a wealth of birds.



Keoladeo Ghana National Park: Originally the hunting preserve of the Maharaja of Bharatpur, this lovely bird sanctuary owes its existence to an artificial tank, which is home to a variety of birds, resident as well as migratory. The star attraction of a holiday in Bharatpur here is the Siberian Crane, a winter migrant that flies to Rajasthan all the way from Russia.



Feisty Rajasthan Holidays



Holiday in Rajasthan for its people who don\'t look for reasons to celebrate. Fond of colour, mirth and pageantry, the irrepressible spirit of Rajasthan finds expression in a number of feasts, fairs and festivals that mark the seasons, commemorate occasions or simply let off steam!



Desert Festival: Holidaying here in winter, tourists find the desert around Jaisalmer bursting in a riot of colour and music. Around January, the Desert Festival presents an extravagant fanfare of Rajasthani men and women displaying the cultural wealth of their state.



Camel Festival: Held in January, this festival is dedicated to the \'Ship of the Desert\', and lifeline to rural Rajasthan. Starting with a procession of decorated camels, it soon turns into jubilant festivity. Tourists are mesmerized by contests, acrobatics and dances put up by the well-trained camels.



Pushkar Fair: Tourists from around the world come to the town of Pushkar during mid November for this rural fair, which is essentially a pilgrimage to the lake here. The local people display their animals and livestock and nights is given up to music, dance and dramatics.



To know more about \Rajasthan Tourism\ visit this site: http://www.rajasthan-tourism-guide.net

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Yogesh is author and designer of the guide area of www.rajasthan-tourism-guide.net. The writer is focusing on tips about Rajasthan Tourism.

Israel Train Travel Tips

The Israeli railroads infrastructure has been upgraded significantly in the past 10 years. While until 1996 most of trains & railroads were bizarre collections of British \leftovers\ from the mandatory occupation that lasted until 1948, nowadays Israeli trains can take you almost anywhere in Israel and (almost) right on time.

Most of the train stations have been rebuilt, and the train cars themselves are made by top-of-the-line European train-car manufacturers. The ride itself is usually very smooth and comfortable and most on the trains do make it right on time (which is very rare, generally speaking in the middle east and Israel).

While prices and service are only fair, there are some important tips to remember when traveling Israel by train: some are trivial for every train rider while some are unique to Israel.

Try to avoid taking the train on Sunday - while most of the Israeli soldiers are using the trains as their preferred (and free) means of transportation, and are using them to return from their vacations you will find it literally impossible to find a free seat on the Sunday trains. Some of them are so packed that they do remind of third world country trains (by the way - in some aspects Israel is a third world country..) . Whatever you do try not to use Israeli trains on Sunday and if so - do it after rush hours and not before 15:00.

Bring your own food & drink - While there are no restaurant train cars on any of the lines, there are attendees who carry small trolleys with hot drinks, soft drinks, sandwiches and snacks. The only problem is that prices are extremely high, you might find yourself paying way too much for food and drink which you can buy at the train station for literally half the price.

Hotspot wireless internet - is available only in the main stations in Tel-Aviv, and the service is highly priced (by the hour or per day). If you want to catch up with your email - download them before boarding to the train, there is no wireless connection on the trains themselves.

Double deck trains - some of the trains have tow levels, it is very easy to recognize them - they are all painted in red. If you see one of these (they are fairly popular on the busy Tel-Aviv - Haifa lines) - try to get to the penthouse  the view is much better and there is much more sunlight.

Don\'t miss the ride to Jerusalem by train! - it is slow, not efficient, has very low frequency, and the central train station in Jerusalem is next to \Malcha Mall\ in the far end of the city, but after saying that: this is the most interesting train line in Israel which was re-opened only last year (2005). If you want to see Israel diverse landscape - don\'t miss this ride.

To sum things up - Israel train is lots of fun, especially if you are a tourist and not in a hurry to anywhere, you will find this means of transportation as comfortable and efficient. Don\'t hesitate to use it whenever you can, especially if you are on a budget.

Michal Moreno is the content editor for Israel Travel Tips- a travel guide all written by a native Israeli from the insider\'s point of view.

Horizons Dream Vacations

Switzerland

Switzerland, well known country in the heart of Europe.

Country Info

Famous for Alps and delicious chocolates, Switzerland is surrounded by many federal states in Europe - Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. The country supports a strong tradition of political and military neutrality along with international co-operation, and is home to many international organizations. Switzerland is famous for its natural beauty, earning it the epithet of \Playground of Europe\. Switzerland has varied temperatures at various different places.

Switzerland offers loads of activities for everyone starting from snowboarding to snow rafting, paragliding to hot air ballooning and water skiing to angling. This city smells sweet because of being the city of the world famous Swiss chocolates. Switzerland is the camping paradise alongside the wonderful Swiss lakes. Switzerland is the venue for major music events such as the music festivals in Montreux and Lucerne and the film festival in Locarno. This country possesses first-rate museums with collections of international arts, national and local arts and industrial developments, such as watches and textiles.

Major Cities

The cities of Switzerland display a range of architecture from the medieval to the modern period.

Zurich - Switzerland\'s most populous city is Zurich, which is famous for its financial institutions. Shops on \Bahnhofstrasse\- the excellent art galleries - just add stars to this lively and vibrant city. Lake Zurich offers endless opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking.

Geneva - it is indisputably one of Switzerland\'s most privileged cities on account of its extraordinary location. The luxurious mansions, the harbor and the fountain, will overwhelm you. View the sparkling shores of the lake, set against a backdrop of lush vegetation and wooded mountains. Rolling vineyards, castles, chalets, quaint villages and the beautiful city of Geneva surround Lake Geneva.

Lausanne - the beautiful town overlooks the splendid Lake Lausanne. The city has many streets and squares alive with beauty and action. At every nook and corner here, there are small packets of delight lined for your eyes.

Tourist Attractions

Jungfraujoch- One of the most beautiful destinations, it will give you the best views of the alpine peaks closely. The three famous giant peaks include the Eiger, Mnch and Jungfrau literally meaning ogre, monk and virgin respectively. The Jungfrau is the highest peak standing tall and majestic at 4158 m. The network of trains also culminates at the Jungfraujoch, which is the highest train station in Europe.

Schilthorn- this is a very famous restaurant located at a height of 2,970 meters. The revolving restaurant completes a turn in 55 minutes in which it provides you the scintillating view of massifs of mountains and spectacular scenery. The restaurant has caught the public fancy due to its unusual location and because of being featured in a James Bond movie, \ On Her Majesty\'s Secret Service\.

Mt. Titlis - The peak has a height of 3020 m. Mt. Titlis is a popular tourist destination providing an array of adventure sports. You can also take a ride in the cable car, going to the peaks of Mt. Titlis.

www.horizonsholidays.com

Our First Golf Trip to Scotland

It is difficult to play golf for any length of time without hearing about the famous golf courses around the world. Golf began its gradual spread late in the 1800s. But this only happened after an incubation period of three or four hundred years in Scotland.

During that time the rules of the game were formulated, the basic equipment was developed, and many of the ancient Scottish golf courses took on mythic status. And that is why, to this day, one of the dreams of most golfers is to visit the ancient golfing links of Scotland.

After a couple years of planning our own first golfing trip to Scotland became a reality in 2001. It was the result of a house swap that Judy and I arranged with an acquaintance who lived in Linlithgow, an historic town in the middle of the southern part of Scotland. Our Scottish contact would use our Florida house for two weeks in July, and we would reciprocate by using their house in Linlithgow. This sort of arrangement is very popular with people from England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Linlithgow trade sounded perfect. It is roughly 50 miles from St. Andrews, midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. We had done a fair bit of research and had already decided we wanted to be near enough to St. Andrews to visit. But what we really wanted to do was get a less sanitized feeling for the country by playing a few of the more obscure, remote courses further north in the Highlands.

As a focus for our trip we decided to visit Royal Dornoch three or so hours north of Edinburgh, and Machrihanish over on the Mull of Kintyre about as close to Ireland as you can get on mainland Scotland.

So we had booked a two night stay in the beautiful little town of Dornoch during our first week, and another two night stay at a quaint old bed and breakfast in Campbelltown about ten miles from Macrahanish.

Both of these towns have an interesting history going back hundreds of years. But of course, our primary interest was the golf courses that lay just outside of town. These are two ancient golf courses at opposite ends of Scotland, both with a well-deserved reputation for authenticity. Their remote locations almost guarantee they will not be overrun by masses of golfers.

We spent the first couple days at Linlithgow seeing the local sites. The first night there just happened to be a jousting match on the grounds of the Linlithgow Palace -- an historic ruin that was once the home of Mary Queen of Scots.

Before leaving for Dornoch on Wednesday we wanted to play at least one round in the south. Our host had recommended we go over to North Berwick just south of Muirfield on the east coast (the St. Andrews side).

So we played our first round of golf in Scotland at North Berwick. This was a fitting start to our trip, since North Berwick is considered a \primitive\ links course with quirky features such as blind shots and walls you have to shoot over. It is the home of the original \Redan\ par three -- which at the time seemed fairly unremarkable. Since then we have learned this hole has been copied by golf course designers more than any other in the world.

My own most memorable shot was the approach at #13, \The Pit\. I hit what I thought was a beautiful iron just over the stone wall onto the green (yes, there is a wall in front of the green!) When we got there it was down in the \pit\ behind the green and required a massive uphill putt, which turned into at least a four-putt before I got it down.

The next day we visited St. Andrews. Having played at North Berwick we were now accustomed to the \public\ nature of these courses. People are perfectly free to walk across the fairway to and from the beach. So this gave us the opportunity to walk parts of The Old Course. We walked out a couple holes along the beach side, then came back along the famous \Road Hole\ (17) and along the road to the even more famous Swilcan Bridge over the \burn\ on 18.

On Tuesay we played the local course at Linlithgow as a guest of our host. This offered an interesting taste of the other kind of course in Scotland -- an inland or parkland course -- more like what we Canadians are used to, but a bit more rugged.

Then on Wednesday we headed north to Dornoch for what was to be perhaps the most memorable part of our trip. Dornoch is a beautiful little town on the Dornoch Firth about 30 miles north of Inverness. The town itself is historically significant as one of the focal points for \the clearances\ that took place in the 1840s. This was when the Duke of Sutherland evicted his peasant farmers and replaced them with sheep. This event still forms part of the bitter undercurrent in the relationship between locals and nobles, peasants and gentry, Scottish and English. Dornoch is also the site of the last witch burning that took place in the Great Britain.

The golf course at Royal Dornoch is one of the most famous in the world. Its isolation makes it even more appealling for golf romantics like me. On Wednesday night we walked the course as darkness settled in (at around 11pm).

Then on Thursday I played my first round on the hallowed links. It was not one of my best rounds. I was a single sandwiched between two foursomes, playing an unknown course.

It was a memorable round nonetheless. Even if the shots were not particularly good, and the golfer was confused and somewhat at loose ends, the day was warm and pleasant, the course was strikingly beautiful, and I had played one of the world\'s best courses.

Later that day Judy and I played the Struie Course which is the 2nd course on the Dornoch links. It was then under development and not particularly outstanding. On our second visit in 2003 the Struie Course had been much improved and was well worth playing.

The next day we had the opportunity to explore some of the local points of interest. A trip up the coast to Dunrobin Castle at Golspie was well worth it. The falconry exhibit was outstanding.

In the afternoon we played the golf course at Brora, further up the coast another 15 miles or so. It was perfect Scottish golfing weather. The gusty wind was blowing in off the Firth bringing short bursts of light rain punctuated by sunny breaks.

This was one of those rounds you never forget. Brora is one of the few courses in the world where neighbouring sheep and cattle are free to roam the links and the greens are fenced off with electrical wire.

The course features lots of interesting shots over rugged grazing terrain. If you manage to survive with a fairly decent score, that can quickly be ruined by a miscalculation at 18. It\'s a longish par 3 (190) with a huge catchment area in front of the elevated green sitting right up beside the club house.

After a thoroughly enjoyable round we visited the dining room in the club house for an early dinner. Then we headed back to Linlithgow to prepare for the next leg of our journey -- our trip out past Loch Lomond and down the Kintyre peninsula that juts out into the Irish Sea.

Rick Hendershot publishes several golf travel websites Hotelkatalog - Hotelinformationen Hotelbilder Klimadate Florida Mortgages - Free CD and workbook.

Kilimanjaro Treks Machame Route

Machame route to the summit of Kilimanjaro is very special; it gives you a chance to really get to know this extraordinary mountain. The huts for this route are in a very poor state of repair and are used by the porters; tents are used on this route. All supplies and camping equipment are portered; with a baggage limit of 12 kg. The night before your climb is best spent in the Machame village from where your climb will begin. This allows your body to begin to adjust to the altitude affording a better chance of reaching the summit.

Many, overseas travel agents will use hotels in Moshi Town, which is at a lower altitude and at least an hours drive from the Kilimanjaro park gate. The usual reason for this is many hotels also double up as a mountaineering company. These hotels will give the pre-climb overnight and post-climb overnight as complimentary in order to secure the business of the Kilimanjaro climb; thereby reducing costs to the travel agents; this discount is not always passed onto the climbers. It is always preferable overnight in one of the small but good hotels in Machame. I must add that Moshi town, for me, is hot dusty and most uninteresting, with Machame or Marangu [depending on which route you use offering a more colorful first night.

The Machame itinerary is one of the most scenic routes by which to climb to the highest point in Africa; it is less used than the Marangu route and it may be said, all the better for it. This route will ascend from the western side of Kilimanjaro passing through tropical rainforest to the snows of Kilimanjaro, with views of the western face and the southern ice-fields and descend down the south face.

A typical itinerary would be to spend the first night in the Machame village set on the mountain and close to the park gate. The foothills of Kilimanjaro are cultivated; where subsistence farmers grow coffee and bananas. There are many pleasant walks around the village and time can be spent getting to know the local Chagga people.

Day 1: This is a 5 hour walk through dramatic forest up to Machame Hut at 3000m. Wildlife may be seen at these lower altitudes, including many species of forest birds.

Day 2: To Shira Cave, a walking time of 6 hours. The hike today starts off quite steeply to the top of the forest, then a couple of hours at a more gentle incline through the lower moorlands brings you to the top of a rocky bluff by about lunch time. From here descend 50 feet then start to trek westwards, a gradual ascent to Shira Cathedral and your camp at approx 3800m, on a plateau, with views of Mt.Meru and the Kenya plains.

Day 3: Walking time of 8 hours and the climbing is a fairly strenuous day, the altitude will begin to takes its toll, it is essential to take your climb slowly. From the Shira Cave climb slowly for about 5 km, through the ever increasingly bleak terrain. Head towards the cone of Kibo. Overnight camping at Barranco (3900m).

Day 4: Today starts with a steep hike up to Barranco Wall. There are some scree slopes and ridges to Karanga at an altitude of 4100m. There are breathtaking views here of the West Breach and the southern glacier. After the exerting start to the day arrive at the Karanga Valley for lunch and spend the rest of the day at this level. The time spent here affords more time for the body to adjust to the altitude and also reduces the distance of the next day\'s hike and the slower pace will considerably increases your chance of reaching the summit.

Day 5: To Continue the trek to Barafu ridge at 4600 meters above sea level [Barafu in Swahili means ice. Again this is an acclimatization day having a relatively short distance to hike before the big final ascent starting at midnight.

Day 6: Starting around midnight in preparation for the final ascent. It is imperative to dress warmly as temperatures often plummet to minus 20C The final days assault begins by torch light up the path to the crater\'s edge at Stella Point - this takes at least 7 hours - walking slowly with frequent rests; continue along the edge of the Crater after a short rest, to the highest point in Africa - Uhuru Peak at 5895m - with incredible views of glaciers and the plains of Africa stretched out below. Then the descent to Mweka, stopping for a short rest at Barafu, and arriving late afternoon at Mweka; which is on the edge of the rainforest. If anyone in party is showing any signs of altitude sickness you guide will descend fairly quickly to this camp. [See my article on altitude sickness.

Day 7: Descend to Mweka Village about 4 hours steady downhill walk to meet the transport to the hotel for a hot shower and to celebrate your achievement.

Day 8: I would now recommend a visit to one of the spiced islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago - see the article \'The Spiced islands of Zanzibar\'.

For further information on Machame and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and Zanzibar see http://www.parksadventure.com Using tourism to change lives.

Vacations Safe Air Travel

\Good afternoon sir. How are you today? I need to see your
boarding pass and ID please. Please remove your outermost
garment. You\'ll need to take your laptop out of the case and
place it separately in the bin. Sir, I would recommend removal
of your shoes. They look like they will set off the metal
detector. Yes, I would also recommend removing your belt, as
well. Do you have any other metal or foil in your pockets, sir?
Keys, cell phone, money clip, coins, gum wrappers, cold
medicine, batteries, lottery tickets, cigarettes? Sir, I\'ll need
you to place your newspaper and bagel in the bin please. No, I\'m
sorry cigarette lighters and Swiss army knives are prohibited
items. You will not be allowed to bring those on the aircraft.
You may voluntarily relinquish these items; you may return them
to your vehicle; give them to a non-traveling companion or mail
them home to yourself. Thank you, have a great flight, please
step through the metal detector now.\

If you\'ve flown the friendly skies since 9/11, you\'ll notice
some major changes at the airport checkpoints. At times you\'d
think you were stepping into a third world country with the
dozen or more federal security screeners herding you through the
process of merely getting to the gate prior to boarding the
aircraft. Due to heightened security, new safety measures were
implemented November 19, 2001. These measures should not be
looked upon as invasive or time consuming, but rather offer
peace of mind knowing all others on the aircraft are screened in
the thorough manner.

Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the
security checkpoint. Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to
the airport. Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop
computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to
the bottom of your laptop. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and
accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the
alarm on the metal detector. Avoid wearing shoes that contain
metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will
require additional screening even if the metal detector does not
alarm. Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your
carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will
damage undeveloped film. Checkpoint x-ray will not damage any
undeveloped film under 800 speeds. Declare firearms & ammunition
to your airline and place them in your checked baggage. If you
wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock. Do not
bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport. Do not pack
wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint.
Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA
may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

Most importantly arrive at least 60-90 minutes prior to the
departure of your flight to allow adequate time to check in and
to be screened. The screening process cannot be expedited. The
employees will do a thorough, consistent job regardless if your
flight leaves in an hour or in 3 minutes.

Following these simple tips will ensure a safe, peaceful flight.
Further information can be found at the tsa.gov website.

Choosing a Holistic Holiday That Will Relax Your Body and Refresh Your Spirit

Life seems to get ever more hectic and holidays can do too. It\'s all too easy to spend your time rushing from place to place sightseeing, shopping and eating. The result is that you are glad to get back to work for a rest!

As a result \Alternative\, \Holistic\ Holidays and retreats are becoming a popular way to have a real break which allows you to rest, reflect and recuperate from the pressures of 21st century life.

The choice of retreats is still fairly limited compared with more traditional holidays but it can still be a challenge to find the right type of experience for you so this article has been written to help you decide what it is that you want. Armed with this you can ask the right questions and find the right holiday.

Holiday Programme:
You probably want to start by considering what sort of retreat you want. Do you want to be able to fill your time learning new information or skills through a vaiety of workshops? Would you rather sit in the sun and do your own thing? Or would you prefer a mixture of both, perhaps one or two optional group sessions with lots of free time to relax, sunbathe, swim or pamper yourself with additional therapies.

Location:
Do you want to be beside the sea or would a quiet mountain location be preferable? Do you want a self contained complex or would you enjoy the freedom to go for walks into nature or into a nearby village.

Accomodation:
What standard of accomodation would you be happy with? Some places offer luxurious 4 star accomodation whilst others offer much more basic rooms with communal fascilites. Are you prepared to share? In our experience, many new and lasting friendships are made through room sharing on these types of holidays.

Group Size:
On some holistic holidays you may be joining a group of up to 80 people whilst at the other end of the spectrum you may be one of only six. What sort of group size would you prefer? Small groups offer the advantage of being able to get to know everybody well over the course of a week whilst large groups offer the ability to avoid people with whom you just don\'t get on. When we first went on this type of holiday we deliberately chose a big group for this very reason but now we find that small groups are preferable.

Holiday Themes:
The bigger holistic centres often offer multiple workshops on numerous themes including physical activities such as sailing, windsurfing or walking whilst others focus on one theme for the whole week. Be aware that the ones which offer the wides choice with multiple activities every day can, unless you are very single minded and decisive, lead to the same sort of rushing around, stress and choice fatigue that you are trying to avoid in the first place.

Flexibility:
Whatever type of holiday you choose, we recommend that you make sure that you are allowed to \opt out\ if you find it is all getting too intense, after all it is first and foremost a holiday! And if you do choose this path, you need to ensure that there are other things to do that are compatible with the themes of relaxation and renewal that you are seeking. Is there a swimming pool? Are there gardens to walk in freely? Can you get out into the surrounding countryside easily? Is there space to sit and just be? Can you spend a little extra and pamper yourself with treatments like massage, reflexology or reiki without having to travel for miles?

Food?
You should be aware that most retreats offer healthy and nutritious local food and may be mostly if not totally vegetarian. If you are vegetarian this may be one of the mainreasons for booking such a holiday but if you are not don\'t worry. I have discovered that I can survive quite happily for a week at a time with little or no meat as long as the food is tasty and well presented. Vegetarian based food can be surprisingly filling and enjoyable even to non vegetarians and the associated health and detoxificatio benefits should not be ignored.

Conclusion:
As long as you think through what you want in advance and ask apropriate questions, you will have a wonderful holiday that will leave you feeling happy healthy and ready to re engage with the \real world\.

To learn more about holistic retreats visit our website http://www.spanish-reflections.co.uk

Gavin Meikle

Brazil Travel

If you are thinking about going to Brazil, I think you are a
very smart person. Brazil is an exciting country with plenty to
see and do and a very warm people who love to receive and share
with whomever is receptive enough to make friends with them.

I would start by Rio of course. Rio is a very big city and just
like any other city around the world, you have to be careful.
Rio has many wonderful places that are sure to take the breath
away. Corcovado, Sugar Loaf, The Vista Chinesa, Tijuca Forest
and so on and so forth. The beaches in Rio are an experience for
the newcomer. In Ipanema beach, every day when the sun goes
down, everyone watches in silence and finally clap in awe of the
beauty of the scenery. The best place to go to the beach in Rio
depends on what kind of person you are.

If you are young and want to mingle and see interesting
brazilian youth exuding their charm and unbelievably beautiful
bodies, go to Posto 9 in Ipanema, where they play footvolley all
day, the boys and girls are golden and there\'s everything you
could possibly want on a beach day for you to enjoy. Vendors
walking by selling everything from popsicles to hammocks and sun
glasses to shrimp cabobs. The service is nice. Now, if you are a
family and you are looking to really just enjoy the sun and
beach on a weekday (weekdays are much better at the beach in
Rio), then I suggest you try the Barra da Tijuca beach. It is so
vast it never really seems to be that full (except on Sundays
when the so called \'suburbanos\' are there). But even then it\'s
nice.

Personally, I like the Botanical Gardens on Sundays. It\'s quiet
and nice and you can see a lot of very cool things, feed the
fish and pelicans on the pond and rest under a Pau Brasil tree.
The beach is way too full to be nice on the weekends. Or to take
a nice hike up the many hidden waterfalls that make you forget
entirely that you are right in one of the biggest cities in the
world. It feels more like a tropical jungle.

If you have plenty of time to really get to know Brazil, like 3
or 4 weeks, I suggest getting a Brazil pass, it\'s a ticket that
costs around $500 US and that it allows you to travel by air to
5 major brazilian cities. My suggestion goes as follows: Start
with Rio because it\'s the major hub but don\'t spend too much
time there. Just enjoy the beauty of it for a few days, take a
few of the escorted jeep tours around the forests of Rio, visit
Corcovado and Sugar Loaf, go to the beach and then move on. Next
stop, Salvador. This is one of the coolest places you are going
to be at in the world. It\'s a mixture of New Orleans, Kenya,
Jamaica and Paradise beaches, all with the Brazilian \tempero\ a
seasoning that only in Brazil you will find.

In Salvador, you will see Capoeira rodas, music in the streets
and art and life everwhere. It\'s a must. Since you are already
in Bahia, o Morro de Sao Paulo is not too far and neither is
Trancoso, these are classical beaches where you need not worry
about shoes. It\'s all sandy and it doesn\'t cost much to stay
there either. You will experience a level of warmth and service
that might make you want to forget the States and move there.
Visit both and then move on.

So, with 4 more air tickets to spend, I\'d do the following: Go
to the Amazon and take a jungle tour in Manaus. There is no
reason not to see the most beautiful rainforest in Brazil and
the world and it will enrich your life just to have been there
and be able to tell the stories.

Next, a stop in Minas to visit the old town of Ouro Preto which
seems like the entire town was sculpted by an artist and it\'s
fun and sweet. Not very dangerous either. Relax here and take
the time to enjoy the best brazilian cuisine you will find in
the entire country of Brazil.

After this, on your way back to Rio, go visit Buzios and make
sure you get souvenirs there and go walk on rua das Pedras. It\'s
classy and supposedly Brigitte Bardot (the French actress) used
to walk around topless there.

That\'s it for today. Please be sure to visit Brasil101.com for
more Brazilian Travel, Tourism in Brazil, Brazilian Business and
of Course, Brazilian Soccer info. http://www.brasil101.com

How to Choose a Bed and Breakfast

So you've decided to shun the neon-flashing motel chains and marble-foyered monsters and venture into the world of cozy, intimate bed and breakfasts? After all, you've heard how much more personal and romantic the b&b experience is, right? Well....usually that's the gospel truth. However, there are certain things to keep in mind and questions to ask yourself (and prospective innkeepers) before you make your final decision and turn over your credit card number.

The first thing to consider is the area of the country you will be visiting. Many towns across America offer the b&b experience but only have a handful of options for you to consider. On the other hand, if you visit our hometown of Fredericksburg, Texas (population 9,000) there are literally hundreds of b&b's, reportedly the largest number of b&b's per capita in the nation. Unfortunately for the unwary traveller, not all are created equal! When visiting such a popular bed and breakfast town, the research you do beforehand will greatly impact the quality of your stay.

These days it seems almost everyone makes their travel decisions and arrangements through the internet. In fact you are probably one of those individuals or you wouldn't be reading this article. You can always begin your search by typing in your destination city or town and ed and breakfast into your search engine to get an idea of the options you'll have. As you begin to view the properties, you should consider whether the b&b has the following amenities (assuming these are important to you): private bath, temperature control, full or continental breakfast, off-street parking, daily housekeeping and the ever-important factor....location.

Let's begin with location. Proximity to the center of action is often a plus for many travelers; however, it sometimes comes with a drawback...noise. In our town, many visitors want to be on Main Street, and to be sure it is a boon at the end of the day when carrying heavy shopping bags back to your room. However, guests are sometimes surprised at the street noise which lasts throughout the night (Main Street is, after all, Highway 290)! Some visitors prefer to be a few blocks off Main with a bit more privacy yet good access to Main Street. Still others prefer a place in the country.

Making this first decision will cut the number of properties you consider by as much as 2/3. A note of caution however; if location is a prime concern of yours be very detailed in your quest. For example, many Fredericksburg bed and breakfasts advertise Located on Main Street, but what they don't tell you is they are a mile and a half from the shopping district on the west end of town. In our town, the 100-300 blocks of East Main are considered the true shopping district. So if proximity to shopping is your goal, you would be better off with a cottage 3 blocks off of Main but within the 100-300 blocks than at the property a mile and a half from shopping that sounds so convenient. Remember the old addage, Buyer Beware.

Question number two could be whether to stay at an Inn or an individual cottage. Fredericksburg is unique in offering literally hundreds of one-couple, individual Sunday Houses or cottages in addition to numberous true multi-unit inns. One big distinction here other than the obvious over-all privacy issue is usually breakfast. In a private cottage you almost always receive a continental breakfast, left before you arrive. At a traditional Inn or bed and breakfast, you are often served a full gourmet breakfast at a pre-arranged time...along with other guests. So for many guests the choice comes down to continental with privacy or full-breakast served in a dining room. Either option offers lots of possibilities. But with so many different properties, there are no set rules; so check their website or ask!

One more common pitfall is something that sounds so basic but can really impact your experience: decor. Word on the street in b&b circles is that guests are increasingly looking for a magazine spread when they walk in the door. Nothing pleases me more than to open our guestbook and read, When we opened the door the beautiful room just took my breath away! Few people go to a bed and breakfast looking for the type decor they have at home...or worse, their granny's decor! However, many b&b owners are under the false impression that they can take an empty rent-house and hang out their shingle. They may stumble upon a few unsuspecting guests...but you don't want it to be you. Be sure and check the pictures on the website. I would never book a room that didn't at least show photos of the exterior of the cottage or inn and the bed. Webmasters tell me that these are the two photo's potential guests are most interested in. I would be very wary of a facility that wasn't proud to show its exterior and at least one photo of the inside of each room. Jacuzzi tubs, hot tubs, gas fireplaces, it's all out there for the taking...for those who do their homework. Spend a little extra time asking the right questions and you can have the most wonderful, relaxing getaway experience yet.

Tammy Jordan Sikes is a former trial attorney-turned bed and breakfast owner with several b&b's in Fredericksburg, Texas in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. See www.absolutecharm.com and www.inn-on-the-creek.com

tammy@tearosequilts.com

Kamthieng House The Lanna Legacy In Bangkok

Kamthieng House, a traditional Lanna home in the grounds of the Siam Society in Soi Asoke Bangkok, preserves the old Lanna architecture and culture from northern Thailand.

\A million rice fields\

The Lanna (a million rice fields) Kingdom is an old 13th century kingdom in northern Thailand, started by King Mengrai in 1259 who established his capital in Chiang Mai in 1291.

Captured by the Burmese in 1550s, retaken by King Taksin in 1774, Chiang Mai became a vassal of Thailand until the reign of King Rama V when it came under direct rule.

From this kingdom grew a society with a distinctive culture and language along with its own traditions and customs, rituals and festivals.

The family home on the Ping River

One such Lanna family steeped in these traditions were descendants of a prince from Yunnan in Southern China who migrated to northern Thailand. The matriarch Mae Nai Saed, a great granddaughter of the prince, built the original Kamthieng House in 1848 on the banks of the Ping River in Chiang Mai.

In a matriarchal society, the Lanna women are heads of households, own property and have rights of inheritance. The family home was owned by three generations of descendants, Mae Nai Thip, Mae Kamthieng and Mae Kim Haw who lived in the house till 1963.

Making of a museum

The timber house, with its characteristic \Kalae\ or \'V\' shaped wooden carving at the apex of the gable, is regarded as one of the rare examples of traditional Lanna architecture and art. To preserve Lanna culture for future generations, Mae Nai Haw donated the house to the Siam Society as an ethnological museum.

In memory of her mother Mae Kamthieng, the museum was named Kamthieng House.

It took two years to plan, dismantle and move the old house from Chiang Mai to be reassembled in the grounds of the Siam Society in Bangkok. The Asia Foundation and John D Rockefeller Foundation funded the project.

On 21 November 1966, His Majesty King Bhumipol Adulyadej officially opened Kamthieng House.

Lanna culture

A tour of Kamthieng House gives the visitor an insight to the Lanna lifestyle, rituals, beliefs, family life, culture, art and architecture.

Lanna society practices animism, a belief in the presence of spirits in natural objects and phenomena. Special rituals are performed to appease these spirits before any family or communal activity. The Naga serpent is symbolic of water vital for rice cultivation, the rice goddess influences the rice crop, a staple food and the buffalo spirit affects the beast of burden working the fields.

Being an agricultural society there\'s a deep respect for nature and the need to be in harmony with the elements. Ancestral worship is also practiced as seen from the family ancestral altar in the guest hall of the main house.

Weaving, a traditional Lanna craft is evident from the beautiful embroidered fabrics in the bedroom, where elaborately carved wooden lintels are installed above the doors to protect the occupants. Talismans and amulets are also popular forms of protection for individuals and homes.

The exhibits displayed reflect family and community life, combining traditional displays with film clips to illustrate cultural activities and recorded ritual chants in the background to simulate realism.

Kamthieng House is a museum dedicated to preserving a lifestyle from a culture that\'s almost 800 years old, providing an interesting study in a traditional society that\'s fast disappearing.

Kamthieng House is one of the historical treasures covered in Tour Bangkok Legacies a historical travel site on people, places and events that left their mark in the landscape of Bangkok. The author Eric Lim, a free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok Thailand.

Antwerp: A Quick Guide

The second biggest city in Belgium, Antwerp is located about 50km north of Brussels on the River Schelde, roughly 88km inland from the North Sea. Since the city lies within the Flemish part of Belgium, it is known unofficially as the capital of Flanders. This historical aspect of the local identity is taken quite seriously by the people of Antwerp.

Antwerp is a very old city, dating from the Gallo-Roman era. The name most likely derives from the Dutch \aan de werpe\, meaning \at the throw\, because of its location at the point where the river \'throws\', or deposits sand.

Because of its important location as a port city, Antwerp has an illustrious history as a centre of tradimg from all over the world. Trade brought a lot of distinction and wealth to the city. This is most evident in the fine churches and museums that can be seen throughout the downtown area. Today it is the world capital of the diamond trade with an estimated 70% of the world\'s diamonds having been traded through the city.

Some attractions for the visitor include \'Rubenshuis\', the house of the famous painter, Rubens, which contains a museum of his life and work. The Plantin Moretus Museum, which is the home of Christoffel Plantin, the 16th century printer and bookbinder. Antwerp Zoo, is one of the oldest in the world, with beautiful architecture from the 19th century and home to over 4,000 animals. The Fine Arts Museum, known locally as Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, has a great collection of paintings dating from the 15th century up to the present day. The museum is home to such masters as Rubens, Van Eyck, Van Dyke, Van Brueghels and Jordaens to name but a few.

There are also a number of scenic boat trips that can be taken in the city, particularly around the old port of Antwerp.

Ronan Menton is the webmaster for a number of travel related websites and has been for some time in Ireland, associated with search engine optimisation in the Irish travel industry. He spends two months a year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and now sees it as his second home. Among the many sites he is currently working on are the following: hotels in Brugge and hotels in Antwerp.

Clint Holmes in Las Vegas

Voted the \Best All Around Entertainer in Las Vegas,\ Clint
Holmes is a must see when you visit Las Vegas. The show is a
uniquely composed blend of vocal style, improvisation and
excitement. No other show in Las Vegas offers the fresh,
one-of-a-kind experience of Clint Holmes with a hand selected 12
piece band, including a five-piece horn section.



Clint Holmes is more than a singer. Like a painter with a blank
canvas, he makes every performance an original. Clint\'s magnetic
stage presence embraces the upbeat side of life. When Clint is
on stage, anything can happen. Holmes\' set-list includes tunes
that are far from the standard Las Vegas show fare.



Known for selecting songs everyone knows and loves, Holmes mixes
classics with today\'s groundbreaking hits. Both Holmes and
musical director Bill Fayne utilize their innate talents to
create original works of art with their own unique
arrangements.

Additional Information about this Las Vegas Entertainment is
located at http://www.lvindex.com

Travel to Spain Enjoy a Spring Day in Barcelona

One of the most fashionable and cosmopolitan European cities is Barcelona, the right place to enjoy a spring day walking through its magnificent streets, shopping or finding a Barcelona holiday apartment. Yes, after your arrival at this gorgeous city it is more likely you will want to stay, so finding an accommodation in Barcelona is a must.

On your next visit to Spain, check with your travel agent for possibilities in receiving both cheap international plane tickets and Barcelona apartment rental facilities, including home-stay with selected families of the best neighborhoods, or live in a fully equipped Barcelona holiday apartment.

For those who prefer home-stay, the packages usually include breakfast and dinner with the family, while the Barcelona apartment rental does not include any meal options. Cheap international plane tickets in addition to a home-stay in the city are usually marketed as \Student Packages\ but anyone can take these specials.

In fact, the advantage of an accommodation in Barcelona with a local family gives people the opportunity to learn Spanish and the regional culture. Either some packages include expressly a series of intensive Spanish Lessons at home-stay or local institutes groups per levels, and includes all course materials and Internet facilities.

From the perspective of a Barcelona holiday apartment, you can enjoy the historic treasures of the city, or simply relax after spending a spring day at any of the beaches nearby, such as Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella and Barceloneta, all around the Olympic village and marina undertaken for the 1992 Olympics, including its popular symbol \Naranjito\ (little orange)

An accommodation in Barcelona next to these installations include beautiful sights of the Mediterranean sea, but also the amenities of the beaches and facilities such as disabled access, sun beds, showers and lifeguards in season time. Locals have made an Olympic effort maintaining the pristine cleanliness of both sand and sea after the Olympics games.

Whichever your choice, booking in advance round cheap international plane tickets and Barcelona apartment rental, is a must since Barcelona is one of the most wanted tourist destinations in Spain, with a number of attractions ranging from the best museums and historical routes, to beaches excursions and water sports.

Pick up services at the city\'s airport on arrival and departure dates are usually included with your accommodation in Barcelona, with bilingual support wherever you go, and particularly if you are traveling to learn the language through a supervised program or at home-stay.

On your next visit to Spain, check with your travel agent for possibilities in receiving both cheap international plane tickets and Barcelona apartment rental facilities, including home-stay with selected families of the best neighborhoods, or live in a fully equipped Barcelona holiday apartment.

Voltage Converters Don't Fry Your Appliances!

Most of North and South America, the Caribbean and Japan use
110 volts at 60Hz while most European counties use 220 volts at
50Hz. This means you may need to use voltage converters to use
many of your electrical appliances. Plugging a 110 volt
electrical product into a 220 volt socket without a voltage
converter will damage or destroy the appliance.

To know if you need a power converter you should check any
electrical appliance as you pack them for your trip. Each
appliance will have a small rating plate which will tell you if
the product is single volt or dual volt (i.e. Use 110 or 220 or
both). If the rating plate says it is a dual volt appliance you
will not need a voltage converter, however, any single volt
appliance will need a travel converter. There are several
different kinds of travel voltage converters available. Small
electronics - like your electric razor or toothbrush - need a 50
watt converter while heating appliances like heating pads,
hairdryers and curling irons require a stronger ac power
converter (a 26 - 1875 watt converter is ideal). Dual voltage
source converters are available that can handle both the low and
high end electrical needs.

Almost all travel converters require the use of ac adapters (In
fact I have never seen a travel converter that did not require
the use of an AC adapter) so make sure you bring some along on
your trip. Most manufacturers of travel voltage converters sell
them in kits with power adapters.

European Cruise Never A Waste Of Money

A cruise along the European coastline, wouldn\'t that be just a
dream come true? If only you had the time and money to go on
board a cruise ship and visit all those ports in the
Mediterranean, to then go around the Iberian Peninsula to the
North Sea up, up, and away almost to Siberia. It\'s a dream,
isn\'t it? Wrong! If you are planning on traveling to Europe and
you think cruising is the most expensive way, you are making a
serious mistake.

There are many ways of getting to know Europe. You can go on
your own, stay at a Bed & Breakfast, rent a car, have lunch at
diners, and really spend serious money on overpriced European
goods. Traveling on your own apparently seems less expensive,
but if you write down everything you spend, you might be alarmed
at the expenses. Let\'s say you\'re walking around London and you
feel thirsty, wouldn\'t it be terrible to pay for bottled water
at a price three times what you pay at home? Paying a local tour
guide is almost always more expensive and not always do they
have understandable English. The best option for land traveling
is going on a package deal if you want to save on a travel guide
but that is about it. If you are going on a package deal you
might as well go on a cruise!

Think about the advantages of a European cruise. All your food
and drink is already paid for, so you won\'t pay European prices
on food and drink, you will pay what you would pay at home. When
the cruise arrives at a city, you have a tour guide with good
English. The only downside to cruises is the time limit for
exploring the cities ashore, but the advantages totally
overshadow this. If you take the total expense for cruising and
divide it by the total number of days you will be traveling, the
outcome might be much less expensive than land traveling.

So you should stop thinking that cruises are just for rich
people because they are not. It is just a question of class and
self-allowance. If you believe you can go on a cruise, you will
because it turns out less expensive than land traveling.

There are two main routes on European cruises. You can take the
cold Northern route, which is the Baltic Sea (Scandinavia and
Russia), Norwegian fjords, the Arctic Circle, and British Isles.
Make sure you take plenty of winter clothes, because out at sea
is much colder than on land. It is a beautiful cruise, although
it is more indoors. You can also take the Mediterranean course,
which is probably more appealing. You get to know Barcelona,
Southern France, Italy, and Greece. It is warm and pleasant
there and you can go to the pool on the cruise ship and enjoy
the outdoors. There are also possibilities of making a
connection between both courses and get to know the entire
European coastline.

It is just a matter of being wise with your money and knowing
how to save up. It is not impossible to go on a European cruise,
it is wor

Finding the Right Home Rental in Lake Tahoe

There are a few patterns to consider when looking for a Lake
Tahoe home rental. You\'ll pay more for the houses near the ski
areas in the winter time no matter the size and you\'ll always
pay more for lakefront properties no matter what time of year.
But if you can decide what you need (or want) and what you want
to spend there are a multitude of choices for house vacation
rentals in and around the beautiful lake.

High up on a hill, overlooking the western shores of Lake Tahoe
sits an 8,000 square foot home visited by presidents,
dignitaries and the merely wealthy. Built in the 1930s by a
noted steel magnate, the house is now available for rent,
ranging in price from $3,000 per night to $50,000 per month
depending upon the season. It comes fully equipped with a full
staff of cook, housekeeper, maid and butler, a choice of
automobiles to use, a pool and down on the lake, the private
boat dock with what can only be described as a \lake yacht\
complete with a skipper who will gladly ride you to any point on
the lake - all at no extra charge.

Or, if you prefer, stay in a beautiful, upscale neighborhood
where the lawns are neatly mowed, the kids play safely outside
on the sidewalks and the driveways all end with a basketball
hoop hanging from the garage. Houses like this are plentiful in
several areas around the lake and average in price from $300 per
night to $1200 per week for three, four or even five bedrooms.

You can call any one of a number of local real estate agents to
arrange a house vacation rental for you at a modest fee. Tell
them exactly the type of home you\'re looking to rent and they\'ll
will find it for you. If you\'re the more adventurous type, you
can get a bit more bang for your buck by researching the
numerous websites on the internet. And, if you\'ve got any
familiarity with the area, you\'ll likely find exactly what you
want without much trouble.

Learn The Local Language Before Taking Your Next Trip Abroad

Before going on your next vacation or business trip abroad, consider learning some of the language that is spoken where you\'re going. You can get started learning easily and relatively inexpensively. Learning the local language can enhance your travelling experience, sometimes in ways you never thought of.

You can begin with just a few greetings and phrases, progress to a more \'survival vocabulary\' level, or if you really like, you can go ahead and spend months studying the language in-depth. In any case, if you find you like speaking and learning the language, you can always expand on what you\'ve learned at first and further your study.

Why learn the language? For one thing, it is easier to deal with the local people if you speak even a little of their language. Don\'t assume everyone speaks English. Numbers, greetings, directions and simple questions are not very hard to learn and are very useful. The locals will appreciate the effort on your part, and in fact, you may receive slightly better treatment than you would otherwise. In a perfect world that wouldn\'t be true, but every little bit helps.

Improving communication with the locals is important. By learning some of the language, you reduce the possiblity of miscommunication. \Please,\ \Thank You,\ \How much is that?,\ and \Where is ...\ are all easy to learn and can go a long way toward friendly encounters. These phrases can be very handy for all the times you go to restaurants, buy something, take a taxi etc.

Travel is simply more fun when you speak the language. It\'s all part of the adventure. Learning the country, the people and the culture will expand your possibilities. By learning another language you can increase your social contacts and travel opportunities. Work, study and even retirement abroad all become more possible.

So, how do you go about starting to learn a new language? There are lots of different sources you can use to get started.

First is online. There are endless websites that can help you start learning a particular language. Travlang.com offers free online words and phrases with audio that you can use to pick up the basics. About.com is also an excellent source with some more in-depth tutorials for many languages. You can also do a search on any search engine for \learn spanish\ or \learning chinese\ or any other language, and you will find many sites with free tutorials.

There are also loads of commercial products to help you learn a language, many designed for the traveller. There are books, tapes, cd\'s, videos and software products. In some cases, there are combination packages that can be very comprehensive. The Pimsleur line of audio tapes and cd\'s are ideal for a simple, pain-free introduction to a language. The Living Language line of book and tape combo\'s are also relatively inexpensive and effective. RosetteStone, Teach Yourself, Transparent Language and many others provide products for whatever medium you are most comfortable with that can get you started learning a language.

Another possibility is a class or tutor. The personal interaction between people is what language is all about, so for many people, this is the best way to begin learning a foreign language. You can also go one step further and take a \'learning vacation.\' This is an immersion class or learning tour in the country you are going to.

Just about anywhere you go it will benefit you to learn the local language. Learning a language for travel will broaden your horizons and present you with a growing list of opportunities for your future. The bottom line is to enhance your travel and just have fun. Learning even a little of a new language will make travelling easier and more rewarding, with minimal risk on your part. You may even find it enjoyable enough to continue your study further. If you can improve your travelling experience, and add a valuable life-skill in the process, then why not do it?

Ron is a long-time language enthusiast, exploring Spanish, French, Swedish, Esperanto and others.Learn more about studying a language on your own at Language-Learning-Advisor.com This guide for self-study language learners has reviews and recommendations of language learning methods and products, links to online learning resources, learning tips to maximize your study time and effectiveness and articles on language learning.

Tips and Hints On Hiring a Car In Spain

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How Car Rental Agencies Can Make Your Trip That Much Easier

Car rental agencies, along with many other factors, have played a vital role in increasing the easiness of travelling by providing a service through which travelers can easily rent a car of their choice. One can rent a car of any color, shape and model at reasonable prices from these car rental agencies. A rented car, which has been rented from an office sited in one city, can be easily dropped at another office situated in a different city. Besides manual reservations, most car rental companies have developed interactive websites to assist in making online reservations and helping travelers.

Being able to rent a car is a service as the number of companies providing car rental services has greatly increased in the last few years. National car rental, Enterprise car rental, Budget car rental, Thrifty car rental, Alamo car rental, Cheap car rental and many others are all recognized for providing admirable amenities and services to their customers. Initially, many of these intended to capture the American market only, but now almost all have open sub-offices in many different countries of the world.

It really doesn't matter where in the world you're traveling to or from. You can easily rent a car to take care of your transportation needs. People even rent cars from the local car rental agency in their home town. Why? Possibly because their car isn't as late model as they would like, yet they still want to take some time and get away.

Be aware that some car rental companies have geographic restrictions on their cars. You'll need to know where you intend to go and make sure that your rental agreement allows that. Once you've dotted all the I's and crossed all the t's you can hit the road and really enjoy yourself.

Mike Yeager

Publisher

http://www.a1-vacations-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Go to Guatemala!

Does Mayan culture pique your interest? Do you want to see a live volcano? Does visiting a place called the Land of Eternal Spring interest you? If so, go to Guatemala!



Nestled in Central America, Guatemala is a land with an ancient history and an intriguing present. Long ruled by the Mayans, this people group suddenly died off well before the Spaniards conquered the land. Still, you see the Mayan look in the faces of many of the people.



Bright colors adorn much of the clothing, and villages are occupied by people who are hardworking and friendly. Because Catholicism is so strong, expect to see a huge cathedral in many of the larger towns.



Guatemala City is a modern, loud, noisy, and smelly place. Still, it is the seat of government for the nation and the place many tourists start their vacation. Tikal and other resorts are nearby and the one active volcano in the country is near Antigua, the ancient capitol of this Central American destination.



Why is it called the Land of the Eternal Spring? Well, this applies mostly to Guatemala City as its elevation of 4700 feet keeps it cool enough year round. Even in summer evenings you will reach for a sweater or jacket to ward off the chilly air. Contrast that with the coastal areas where year round heat and humidity is commonplace.



Here is an excellent site [Spanish that will tell you more about this wonderful country:



http://www.terra.com.gt/turismogt/

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Matt Keegan is The Article Writer covering topics as diverse as travel, business, advocacy and sports. Please visit his high performing site at www.thearticlewriter.com for more information.

Western US Retirement Picks

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

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

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

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

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

- Portland, Oregon area; especially Southern Washington

-Prescott, Arizona

-Northern Baja, Mexico

-Hilo, the big island of Hawaii

-Boise, Idaho

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tour de France Viewing in Person What to Expect (Part 1)

What does an HC (hors categorie, or \out of category\) or even a
Category 1 or Category 2 climb feel like? Can I do it, or would
I need to get off and walk? How much of the Tour de France will
I get to see if I go there on an organized tour? These are just
several of the many questions cyclists ask while they are
contemplating a trip to France to see the Tour.

Experiencing the Tour de France in person can be the fulfillment
of a lifetime dream for many cyclists. Seeing the colorful
peleton swoosh by, riding the famous mountains like the Alp
d\'Huez or Col du Galibier in the Alps, for example, are dreams
for many cyclists, both avid riders and weekenders. Watching the
Tour on OLN is not like being there, however, and those who have
the right expectations will get the most for their time and
their money.

How Much Will I See? One must first realize that being at
the side of the road for the Tour is not the same as watching
stages on TV. Television has great advantages, of course, due to
the cameras mounted on motorcycles and helicopters which follow
the riders. In that way one can follow the progress of specific
riders for several hours. When one is at the Tour in person,
however, the peleton goes by quickly, and many novices seem
almost perplexed by the obvious. Some say things like \Gee, that
was fast. I didn\'t get to see much at all.\ And this is true if
the location one watches from is on a flat area early in the
day\'s race. Even if there is a breakaway by then, one would see
only the small group of escapees and then the peleton zoom by
probably just a few minutes later.

View the Action At Climbs The best way to combat this
problem is to view stages at climbs. Getting to the route hours
before the riders arrive, one can ride a favorite climb, like
the Col du Tourmalet in the Pyrenees or the Alp d\'Huez, for
example. Expert cyclists can ride the whole climb, but novices
need only ride a portion so that they can get a taste of what it
is like for the pros. They can also pick out a good viewing
spot, although organized tours may stake out a spot for their
group. Some of the best spots are found after climbing several
switchbacks and locating yourself where you can look down the
hill and see the riders approaching from below. They will take a
while to reach you, and since the peleton is often spread out on
the climbs, your viewing time will be much longer, perhaps even
20-30 minutes on some stages. You will get a better look at the
individual riders as well, as they obviously move slower on the
upslopes. The frenzied mountain top finishes one sees on TV can
also be misleading for first time Tour viewers. Many of these
locations are not accessible on race days, and most of the
people who are on the side of the road at the top have been
camping there for several days or have hiked miles to see the
finish. They are only in a position to see one stage, so for
organized tours that wish to view several stages in succession,
this situation is not an option. If one is fortunate enough to
see a time trial stage, the whole problem is alleviated. Riders
pass by one at a time throughout the day, so the \vanishing
peleton\ problem is not an issue in that case.

The French Police The French police, called gendarmes,
provide security along the race routes, and they can be very
arbitrary. The roads upon which the Tour is held will be closed
by the police sometime before the Sponsor\'s Caravan arrives.
This colorful parade of vehicles precedes the riders typically
by an hour, and samples of various products are tossed from the
vehicles to the spectators. Most of the gendarmes are tolerant
of the tourists who ride bikes along the Tour race route before
the peleton arrives. Sometimes, however, if one is riding a bike
on the Tour route for the day, a gendarme might be strict and
will tell that person he cannot ride on the road any longer
because it is closed. The best course of action is to get off
the bike, walk along until the gendarme is no longer in view,
and then take off riding again to get to where you want to go.
This technique isn\'t always foolproof, however. On one stage of
the 2005 Tour de France our guests were riding on the Tour
route, and they returned rather quickly saying that a gendarme
would not let them continue on the road. I later rode my bike in
the same direction they did in order to investigate. I passed
quite a number of gendarmes along the way, and all they did was
to tell me to stay well to the side and be careful. At about 10
kilometers from the finish line a gendarme stopped me and asked
where I came from. I told him \the United States\. Somewhat
exasperated, he sputtered, \no, how far have you been riding on
the road, it\'s closed!\ I said I came from kilometer 3 and
passed many gendarmes, none of them stopped me and all just told
me to be careful. He said \well, they are not doing their jobs,
but I\'m doing mine!\ This was the archetypical Frenchman, king
of his little plot of turf. He made me go off on a side road for
awhile before finding the Tour road again closer to our viewing
position. Fortunately the vast majority of gendarmes are more
reasonable than this person, but they are responsible for public
safety and are doing a balancing act between that and letting
the tourists enjoy themselves. Of course when the Sponsor\'s
Caravan arrives, one has no choice but to stop, as the vehicles
zip by quickly and are somewhat reckless at times.

Cultural Tourism in a Responsible Way

Tanzania is the focus of this short report on the new wave in cultural tourism. Tanzania has something to offer everyone; many attractions have become a magnet for tourists. Kenya seems to running a poor second to Tanzania over the past two years. Tanzania is a peaceful paradise for the tourist, boasting no tribalism and a nation where hospitality is a tradition. Truly the Tanzanian culture is gentle and peace loving; welcoming visitors into their country and homes.

Many claims are made over destinations around the world being safe and friendly; however, I believe Tanzania is unique in Africa in being precisely what is claimed; a peace loving welcoming culture; a jewel in the crown of Africa.

The new wave in cultural tours has begin in Arusha - the north of the country. Here, many tourists want to see more than the animals. The culture and the people are the destination; they are what make Tanzania so special. Not the plastic, dull, staged cultural experience offered in a lukewarm attempt to get more business; but a true experience of life in Tanzania.

The ideal way to experience this is to spend a few days in a Town or village; away from the hotels. To stay in a Tanzania or an Ex-pat home and spend some time getting to know how life works in Tanzania. Many people are starting to do this and then from this home-stay base organizing a safari. To coordinate a safari from Arusha yourself is cheaper, safer and offers more flexibility. More time can be spent in Tanzania and at a relatively low cost.

If you have some time to take a long break then this is a great way to learn and understand another culture. There are a few organizations that are beginning to offer this help. Community focused organizations and even a few tour operators will offer these services.

Responsible tourism should be a two way learning experience. You the tourist will learn about the culture [and much about yourself and the culture you visit will benefit from your interaction. Friendships and bonds can reach far into the future. An American friend of mine visited the Usambara Mountains before her safari in 2001. This visit affected her so much she has returned to us after four years to come and live and work in Tanzania. She is busy organizing the building and staffing of a primary school.

This is an extreme case and certainly not the norm, however, to experience a genuine cultural safari then the home stay is the way to go. Other benefits of the home-stay will be to give you chance to organize a safari from within Tanzania at a cheaper rate than you would get from organizing it from outside the country. I would urge you to consider this as a way of getting to know Tanzania, being able to afford an extended time here and also helping in the communities of Northern Tanzania.

For more information on Tanzania Culture look at http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk and for safaris look at http://www.betheladventure.co.uk - Support responsible tourism and change lives.

How to Enjoy the Holidays With Your Relatives

Here are five simple things that will make the next holiday party enjoyable for everyone.



1) Leave Home Without It



Unless you visit like-minded people, leave your private cause at home. Cover the tattoo, remove the nose ring, take out the tongue stud. Similarly, avoid editorials, lectures, and sermons. Remember: it\'s a holiday party. No one comes to be offended.



2) Make Them Special



Let others talk. Be impressed (or at least interested) with what they say. Ask questions to encourage telling more. Find something to praise. Give your complete attention while listening. Appreciation is a gift that lasts a lifetime.



3) Detach



Let others be themselves. Accept what people say, regardless how outrageous. Avoid correcting, criticizing, or complaining. Ignore bait that lures you into arguments. Avoid taking things personally. Just say, \Ah, how interesting,\ and move on.



4) Talk Friendly



Offer compliments. Be positive. Be gracious. Be mature. Find diplomatic ways to express your ideas. Avoid negative words, especially \not,\ because negative ideas trigger a defensive response. Be a source of solutions instead of complications.



5) Behave



Avoid trick questions (\What kind of idiot would do this?\). Avoid punitive stories that contain hidden insults. Avoid baiting people into arguments. Spend time with people who enjoy your ideas. Realize it is always a bad idea to start an argument.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

- - -

Steve Kaye helps leaders hold effective meetings. He is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator, author, and speaker. His meeting facilitation and leadership workshops create success for everyone. Call 714-528-1300 for details. Visit www.stevekaye.com for a free report.

Party on a Boat in Lake Tahoe

If you love being on the water and water sports, you should plan
a trip to Lake Tahoe. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but
there is miles and miles of lake for you to speed around on in
your boat. Depending on what type of boat you have, you can do
all kinds of water sports with it. You can also fish if you want
to or just take a leisurely ride around the lake and get tan!

You can go skiing, wake boarding or parasailing in Lake Tahoe
but don't forget your life jacket! No matter how old you are,
it's always essential that you prepare for the unexpected. Even
if you're just riding on the boat, wear a life jacket at all
times in case there are big waves or unforeseeable currents that
are much stronger than you. You may feel silly wearing a life
jacket but trust me, they can and will save your life in an
emergency.

It's advised not to drink when you're driving your boat in Lake
Tahoe, but people tend to do it anyway. Think of it this way:
you wouldn't have 10 beers and then go drive your car, would
you? Hopefully the answer is no and you should give your boat,
the passengers in it and all the other people on the lake the
same courtesy. Your vision and motor skills are highly
distorted, even after just a few drinks, so appoint a designated
driver to keep everyone safe.

It's always fun to have a party on a boat in Lake Tahoe, so
think about having your next birthday or anniversary party
there. If you have a large enough boat, you can invite some
friends to swim, ski, fish or suntan with you on it. Make sure
you bring great food and music and everyone will have a great
time!