So, of course, not everything is politics, learning, philosophizing and studying languages. Life also has to include some fun. And Cubans, despite all the hardships, know how to have fun. They love to laugh, to dance, to make music, and they are very sensual people. The women in particular around he...

"I challenge anybody in their darkest moment to write what they`re grateful for, even stupid little things like green grass or a friendly conversation on the elevator. You start to realize how rich you are." - Jim Carrey

Over the years I`ve written several columns on ...

Spain, with its myriad of influences and epic history, is a country with a diverse gamut of sights and sounds to offer its 45 million tourists who visit every year. An area where this can be seen in particular is in its museums and galleries, a rich history of art and culture has left Spain a huge l...

For many people Andalucia is all that they imagine Spain to be. Great climate, sun, sea and beaches, bullfighting, sherry and flamenco. Covering over 33,000 square miles and running the length of mainland Spain`s southern coast it is the largest and most populous of the 17 autonomous regions of Spai...

Whenever you travel to a country, it is important to avoid the tourist traps and get to know the locals. Here are my impressions of Russia. Created in the 12th century, Russia was originally a much smaller country. Known as Muscovy, the country was formed in the golden ring area surrounding present ...

Somewhere on the Edge of Lake Trasimeno, Summer 2002 Elliot ran along the muddy shoreline with his lanky body bouncing up and down as he pulled his feet from the mud. It was his first time in Italy and his excitement had gotten the best of him. The suction on his feet slowed him down, but he could s...

Disney World Lodging and Best Lodging At the heart of Central Florida lies one of the most beloved family vacation spots, Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World is not only a theme park with legendary rides and characters, but it is a family vacation experience from the wonderful restaurants and exhau...

Another lively Andalucian city and capital of the popular Costa del Sol Málaga has, in its time, been inhabited by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Moors. Wide avenues and green spaces abound and, as with other major Spanish cities, it is truly steeped in history and culture. The Citadel or La Alca...

For the first time in 100 years, the island of West Caicos Reserve, The Protected Island will become an official destination in the Caribbean. The island was previously uninhabited, and is home to a 500 acre wildlife preserve, untouched white sand beaches, and brilliant azure waters. Pink Flamingos ...

You have lived on ground almost all your life so its about time to wake up to a new life on a boat. Houseboating has become a popular past time for both the young and old, especially attracted by the thrill of living on rivers and lakes and enjoying its green banks. Of late, housbeoating rental comp...

Dude ranches, as they are known today, first gained marked popularity in the 1920s, in large part due to the writings of Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt spent some time working as a ranchman, and herding cattle, and he urged Americans to explore for themselves. As more and more tourists started arriving ...

Being prepared for a trip gives you a better chance to enjoy your upcoming trip even before you head out the door. In most countries there are tourist information services that can provide you with guide books, as well as a great variety of planners, booklets, brochures, maps, and everything necessa...

Anguilla, also Snake Island, is one of the most northerly of all the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. An internally self-governing British overseas territory, Anguilla`s military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. Anguilla was First colonized by English settlers in 1650, and...

If you have a favorite vacation spot, you enjoy visiting; it is time to consider setting up a vacation home. There is a huge profit in Real-estate properties buying and selling properties is big business with huge returns if done right. Vacation rentals are also a nice way to have the best of both w...

Ahh the Wonderful Sounth of France. Blue and red parasols, sailing ships, a light breeze and a cloudless blue sky - the Cote d`Azure, or Azure Coast as it is literally translated, lives up to its name. It is a good idea to plan your trip to the South of France for early September to avoid the madnes...

Mexico does not have much in the way of flora or fauna that will kill you. Unlike Australia, where almost everything can kill you, Mexico is harmless?to a point. Mexico does have one of the most lethal scorpions in the world. "About 20 scorpion species worldwide also have venom potent enough to be c...

Taking time out from the everyday stresses and strains of life to visit an exotic place is something that everyone looks forward to. Cuba, with its notoriety brought upon by its government and the clamp down of the American government on its export and tourism, is a country known more for its cigar ...

One of the most beautiful places on the Earth, Sicily recently was associated only with mafia. Now the situation has completely changed. Mafia is almost defeated and the island has become travelers? paradise, very popular resort whose beauty is supplemented with the wide range of architectural and c...

There are many horror stories out there about people who have returned vehicles to a car rental location only to hear later that they are being accused of damage that they are not aware of. While many people think that the "car rental company is out to get them" when this happens, it is usually an u...

Nova Scotia?s is a province that is located on the North Atlantic coast. It is one of Canada?s smallest provinces ranking number 2 on the smallest province scale. Halifax is the largest city in the province also being the capital city of the province. The provinces economy continues to use tradition...

Is it possible for sophisticated travelers to really enjoy themselves in the land of Mickey Mouse? Absolutely! Walt Disney World has undergone a transformation much like that of Las Vegas, with an abundance of fantastic themed resorts and sumptuous dining choices. Maybe your image of Disney is of la...

England is a land steeped in history, tradition and legend. It boasts more than 1400 medieval castles across its countryside, many of which are said to be frequented by ghosts, specters and other supernatural occurrences. Here is a delightfully ghoulish list of three of the best ghostly castles to v...

The bed and breakfast experience is unique. You get the benefits of living at home with service that rivals the best hotels. If you travel to the biggest cities or the smallest towns, there is a good chance there is a Bed and Breakfast available to you. The best bed and breakfasts are small and pr...

The kindergarten class I was teaching was scheduled to perform a dramatic recitation. We needed several flower and bumblebee costumes. Since I have found that kids love making their own costumes, I wanted the class to be able to participate as much as possible in the process. Therefore, I came up ...

Despite the anguish being felt because of ultra high fuel prices, many airlines are still offering deep discounts on flights as the busy holiday travel season approaches. This is good news for consumers, but bad news for struggling carriers who absolutely cannot sustain this practice permanently. Co...

Celebrities sure do seem to have a great life. Their every day lives are ones filled with glamour, and their vacations are even more spectacular! But just because you aren?t rich and famous, doesn?t mean you can?t travel like a celebrity! Today, the Hollywood Elite, A-list Stars, musicians, politici...

It appears NASA?s studies of the future of air travel and air taxi concepts. By studying these possible futures we may find our selves ready to accept flying cars in everyone?s garage. Spoke and Hub and the future of Commercial Air Travel has changed drastically over the last two-decades. The proof ...

It seems strange that the taxi fare to the airport can cost more than the actual flight to a foreign land. Well that is what the low cost airlines have done to the flight trade over recent times. The business model was started in the USA by South West Airlines and now has pretty much been copied ove...

Compared to major cities in Europe, coffee culture is something that Cape Town seriously lacks. But perhaps only on the surface of things. For what do you call the hoards of good looking people who gather on trendy Kloof street on a daily basis, religously succumbing to that dark brown, aromatic caf...

During the cold war we had jet fighters which were called minute men which could go from starting the engine to 10,000 feet is right around six minutes. This protected our coastlines incase of attack from incoming Russian Long Range Bombers or ICBM missiles. This made sense at the time because the t...

We are American expatriates living in a town that not many Americans frequent--yet. Guanajuato, Guanajuato (I am not stuttering. It is the city of Guanajuato in the state of Guanajuato) is not your typical American tourist hangout. There are no beaches, there are no fantasy theme parks for the kids,...

If you are thinking of buying a second home or a vacation home, you should take into consideration the option of getting a condo-hotel unit. It is the latest trend in real estate investment and in travel accommodation terms. If you are still not convinced whether a condo-hotel unit would be a good i...

Carefully chosen walking shoes will make a world of difference on your vacation. Your feet are as unique as your personality so just any old shoes won`t do. Here are some tips to help you choose the right walking shoes for you. Find an athletic store that has qualified people who can evaluate y...

Travel connections with home are easier than ever. New calling cards, cell-phones, e-mail, satelite phones, and better phone lines everywhere are making it a smaller world. Here are some suggestions on how you can stay in touch - when you want to. E-Mail: The Travel Connections Champ Most librar...

A country with the biggest population on the Earth, a country closed for a several decades; nowadays China is becoming one of the most interesting tourist destinations in Asia. China is one of the oldest states in the world and the only, surviving till today. For visitors China offers variety ...

Air travel is such a common method of transportation today, we sometimes forget the practical tips to help us enjoy a flight. The following tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint. What to do before you arrive at the airport.

1. Do not pack or bring prohibited...

From August 27 to September 6 I had four visitors from Europe in town: my brother Ewald, his wife Anneliese and their two friends - my neighbours from my home town in Austria, Luis and Isabella. You may wonder why this is such a big deal that I need to write about it. For me this was a huge deal s...

The Staten Island Ferry is a fabulous institution. It is a huge ferry that departs from a very modern, glass enclosed terminal, holds several thousand people and in just about 20 minutes whisks you over to Staten Island, very close to the Statue of Liberty, and all this for free! One thing we really...

What a full day we had yesterday. We had a delightful breakfast in our bed and breakfast at about 8:30 am and shared some nice conversations with a young couple from Sweden and an older couple from Holland, the hostess was participating as well. This is one of my favourite things about bed and break...

Some people think that Manhattan and New York City are synonymous, but they are not. Everyone should get to see New York City in his or her lifetime, but this network of neighborhoods can be intimidating without guidance. Manhattan is only one of the five boroughs that make up New York City. Th...

Australian vacations are great for extended holidays and summer fun particularly if you like the warmer weather. In fact, since Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere a hot summer in the United States will be a nice winter in the land down under. You might even think about taking an Austral...

I was 37 years old before ever getting to the wonderful world of Walt Disney World. It has always been a dream for me to see the largest theme park in Florida. I was 9 years old when my family went to California to Disney Land where I was in "awe" over the creations and technology of the rides. My f...

Inexpensive travel can be accomplished in two basic ways. First, get the best deals on the specific things you want. This approach is very limited though. For example, if you find the lowest price on the best hotel in Honolulu at the height of the season, you`ll save money, but still have a very exp...

When arriving in one of the most exciting cities on the planet, Las Vegas, Nevada, I could not help but think about how interesting my Company?s meetings would be. I knew it was a time for serious decisions and keeping a focused mind, the meetings were a great success and it was now time to relax a...

There have been more travelers going to the Canadian Arctic region in recent years for both business and tourism. Adventure tourism companies are beginning to promote the Arctic as a unique destination to experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the north as well as the culture of the native I...

Traveling for business or vacationing always has one thing in common; you need a place to stay. Unfortunately, many individuals choose large hotel chains which have no personality and do nothing more than provide a place to sleep for their guests. However, when business and vacation travelers choose...

The city of Corinth is geographically located in a narrow land area, known as the Isthmus of Corinth, which connects the region of Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece. The Isthmus of Greece, which was formerly used for the transportation of ships, is nowadays cut by a canal which is used for the p...

Have you ever thought what it would be like to just relax quietly under the sun and at sea-no hustling or bustling, far away from the madding crowds in a casual attire and in clean air and just a small group of likeminded people as company? You are on a World Cruise- around the world, Australia and ...

What to expect upon arriving in Jamaica and at your Sandals Resort When your plane touches down at Sangster International Airport in Jamaica you will have to get your bags and then clear customs. Once through customs there will be many people wanting to help you with your bags etc. I`d suggest just...

Hawaiian Cruises are everyone*s dream cruise to the Hawaiian Islands on an exquisite ocean liner. Being pampered from dawn to dusk with exemplary cuisine, entertainment and fun for all that too for a moderate sum on a Hawaiian Cruise is definitely something out of the world. An increasing number of ...