Cool Consortium

Even considering the global downturn, skiing short breaks remain a fashionable pick amongst skiers.

With the advent of affordable flights, as well as the short transfer times of several mountain areas to international airports, chalet holidays are presently within the cost of more snowboarders.

It looks like snowboarders are loath to miss their annual ski holidays, but, are reluctant to take an entire week’s vacation, several preferred to opt for a skiing break instead.

Heading off on a Thursday after work entails you can enjoy 3 days skiing with only one day’s holiday.

A short ski break in the French Alps can be an exhilarating holiday, provided you ensure the particulars are right, in order that the group will enjoy your treasured weekend.

Due to the fact that many skiing companies curbing on capacity for the next winter season the cost of skiing trips is due to soar.

This will no doubt likewise affect the skiing short break market, which although healthy last season, could wobble were this the case.

Notwithstanding with the pound sterling rising versus the euro, and the fact that the majority of snowboarding short break packages are all inclusive, signifies there could be bargains for the taking.

Now might be a timely time to book that skiing holiday as there are a lot of first class early offers on hand, along with cheap flight tickets.

Rome is a reality. For Rome, more than for most cities, this always has been the central dilemma of city life:how to maintain its priceless heritage while improving the lot of its cheerfully inhabitants. Certainly the 2000 year Jubilee inspired efforts of recent years and have made a difference. Transport has been boosted, new museums have been opened and old ones renovated, and the long awaited Auditorium has opened to universal praise. The city hasn’t re-found the heady days of la dolce vita, but it’s looking good and it’s feeling better than it has for a long time.
Pride also informs much of the typical Roman character: romans are first and foremost Roman and only then italian.

In a country of unparalleled beauty, both natural and architectural, Rome remains the jewel in the crown. In no other city you can see so much in such a short space of time and yet merely scratch the surface. About 10 feet below ground level exists another world, with traces of other settlements deep still. In Rome every period has left a mark. In fact from the time when it was a caput mundi ( center of the world ), through the development of Christianity to the present day ( a period of more than 2.500 years ), Rome has become an unsurpassed anthropological and archaeological archive of Western culture. And it’s enough to wander the streets to see this.

The art of Michelangelo, the sculptures of Bernini, the palaces and the cobbled streets, the perfectly formed piazzas, Rome is all this. Nothing is hidden, it’s all there waiting for you much as it has been for hundreds of years.
Rome is yet the capital of the world:it’s a city of palaces and temples, more glorious than those which any city contains. And it’s also a duty of the Rome hotel owners to keep efficient this immense heritage.

Stefano Sandano is an archaeologist of Rome and is the owner of the website www.hotelsaroma.com where you can find more informations about Rome.

One of Europe’s most notable skiing mountains, Val d’Isre boasts 406 km of groomed pistes. The ski season commences in mid November and closes in mid May. The purpose built French village provides for all your needs. Val d’Isere stretches through the valley from La Daille as far as Le Fornet with the buzzing centre in Val Village. This clustering of attractive chalets contain smart dress shops nearly all of which have developed since the town was voted for the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Broken into 3 different areas the town has many slopes for all levels. With a great historical snow record, the domain is enormously fashionable amidst advanced skiers and motorway skiing intermediates, however you do not have to be particularly brave to relish what is on offer. It is easy to how come umpteen Brits are pulled in to the town, with its famous nightlife and the wide variety of entertainment on offer, moreover the near proximity of Tignes allows you to venture out to quieter areas if it all becomes a bit much.

Pros

A brilliant night-life in the Alps. Everyone understands English. Easy approach to Val d’Isre and Tignes known as the the Espace Killy skiing area which is perfect for skiing holidays. It has a lot of cars and though there are many buses during the day, dedicated party animmals had better aim to be within a short distance of the centre.

Cons

Pricy. Hectic and popular with English skiers, and so not for holiday makers seeking a classic French ski town to savour a relaxing holiday. Many lifts can close in inclement conditions. A few tricky blue and green slopes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There is a saying in Italy that goes ‘vedi Napoli e poi muori’. Translated, this means ’see Naples and die’. The actual meaning of this refers to being overwhelmed by what a beautiful and an incredible city Naples is. (although some may argue that what it really means that Naples is such a dangerous and chaotic city that it will kill you!)

Love it or hate it, Naples really is a city and a half. It is full of life and the life is full of passion. And yes, you may have heard some negative things about Naples, but there are so many more positive things about Naples, it would be a shame to make a judgement without ever having visited the place yourself. In my opinion, it is probably the most colourful, vibrant and magical city in Europe, if not the World.

True, Naples could be considered as chaotic, with cars and vespas racing around the city not paying attention to traffic lights -and in some cases, especially around the historical centre, there are no pavements, but long narrow roads in which to accommodate both traffic and people. It could also be considered as corrupt or dangerous by some, with gang warfare by the Camorra (Neapolitan Mafia) still operating here, and teenage street boys that mug people by snatching their bags while scooting past on vespas (Not to mention stories circulating such as a woman who went into a shop to buy some clothes, but never came out….when the police were alerted by her husband she was apparantly found in the old city ruins underneath the shop being smuggled to god knows where……)

But one thing that Naples could NEVER be considered is….BORING!

Yes there are some bad points, but there are considerably many more good points than bad. The whole point of Naples is that the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ contrast each other to such an extreme it is breathtaking. The long, narrow, dusty, cobbled roads that can be found, especially in the historical centre (centro storico) can be found filled with washing hanging from balconies and washing lines, vespas constantly beeping their horns and scooting around, street urchins (or ’scugnizzi’ as they are called) playing football in the street, stray dogs or cats rooting around the streets for food, and shady characters selling contraband cigarettes by the side of the road-but turn the corner or just happen to glance upwards from all the chaos and confusion and you could suddenly find yourself looking at the most beautiful church you have ever seen, or a view of the amazing Amalfi Coast and Vesuvious overlooking the sea.

You just never know with Naples. That is the beauty and the magic of it. Beautiful churches, museums and architecture are to be found all around the city, many forgotten about, because there are just simply so many. The city is full of history, culture and art. I once brought a friend to Naples, and she said she could ‘feel’ the history. This was such a great statement, as you really can feel the history; there is just so much art and culture around. Most of the buildings in the centro storico are the original buildings and palazzi which date back to the 12th or 13th century, with very high ceilings and original paintwork. Most original palazzi that used to belong to Neapolitan Aristocracy or Royalty are now just family homes or bed and breakfasts. There is also an underground city in Naples, (you can go on an organised tour) and some Greek ruins to be seen in Port’Alba (an area in Naples in centro storico that used to be frequented by poets and students, and is still quite bohemian), which there are still stories of people using this network for smuggling.

As mentioned before, it is the contrast of things which can sometimes be so amazing. For example shopping in the market in Via dei Tribunali which is deep in the historical centre, you notice the poverty, the chaos, the ‘dustiness’ of the city. Yet five minutes walk down the road you find yourself in Piazza Plebiscito; one of the most beautiful piazzas I have ever seen. Absolutely huge, with beautiful architecture, from which you can see the sea and 3 of the Italy’s most visited tourist destinations; Sorrento, Ischia and the beautiful island of Capri… It is also next to the very grand Gran Caffe`Gambrinus, a very famous bar and restaurant thats been open since the 1860’s, and used to be frequented by Oscar Wilde when he spent time in Naples in 1898 (he once had a vision of a ghost there ). It also marks the beginning of the Chiaia district which is one of the most desirable districts of central Naples, with designer shops, bars and restaurants.

Another contrast that is very apparant is the people themselves. Neapolitans are very passionate and expressive people, and can talk like there’s no tomorrow. They talk with their hands a lot and quite often raise their voices, which can be mistaken for arguing-but once you get to know the people, you will realise that what seems like an argument, is usually just a ‘discussion’! (about football, or how to cook a certain pasta dish). As Naples (and indeed in the rest of Italy as many other countries with warm weather) has an ‘outdoor’ culture, you will often see many people, teenagers and children just ‘hanging around’ or having a walk or passeggiata, talking about things. You might see people arguing one minute, and then people singing the next so don’t be alarmed!

Vedi Napoli e poi muori….discover for yourself!

Juliana de Angelis is a travel writer about Italy…read more articles, travel guides and information about Italy, its people and culture at her website: http://www.madaboutitaly.com/

Book flights, hotels and shop for Italian products at http://www.italianshopsonline.com/

Copyright © 2006 Juliana de Angelis – please inform author if using any articles.

These days, it seems like humans are everywhere. Finding an adventure is outright impossible. A visit to Alaska, however, will convince you there is still open space in the world.

Visiting Alaska – The Domain of Mother Nature

Make no mistake, the northern most state in the United States is the domain of Mother Nature. While there are pockets of civilization in Anchorage, Juneau and a few other spots, the vast majority of Alaska is untamed. With the exception of Siberia, this makes it one of the last great open spaces on our planets.

For pure beauty, it is hard to beat Alaska. Once you hit the open spaces, your appreciation of nature cannot help but increase dramatically. From soaring mountain ranges to wide open spaces that seem to go on forever, the state is candy for the eye. A trip to the areas with glaciers can be dangerous as mosquitoes tend to fly into your mouth since it is open in wonder all of the time. Unfortunately, the glacier areas are receding in many places do to increased temperatures on our planet, which means you should go sooner than later.

One of the best ways to experience Alaska is to undertake a fly in adventure. Fly in trips put you in very remote areas, ones that can only be accessed by plane. You can fly in for fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, rock climbing and skiing trips to mention only a few. Regardless of your choice, you will develop a new respect for the world around you after the plane has been gone for a couple days. It is truly amazing to think what the original explorers must have gone through.

An excellent way to experience Alaska is to take a ferry up and down the coast. The views in the bays are amazing. Of particular interest are areas where the glaciers are calving into the bays. If at all possible, you should rent kayaks and paddle up to them. The glistening ice and size of the glaciers is simply stunning.

When visiting Alaska, it is vitally important that you bring a good camera with lots of film or data storage for digital models. Inevitably, you will start clicking off pictures at an amazing rate.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com – makers of travel journals.

Opting for vacation rentals is one of the best ways to keep a handle on your family vacation. Vacation rentals, rental cottages or cabins can be a great way to stretch your vacation budget too!

Not only will a week’s vacation rental generally cost you less than the same time’s stay in a local hotel, you’ll save even more on meals because you have access to a kitchen.

Most major resort and vacation areas have dozens or even hundreds of short-term vacation rentals that are available throughout the tourist season, and sometimes year round. Choosing the right family vacation rental is a matter of figuring out what your family wants and finding a rental cottage or cabin that fits the bill. There are some particulars you should consider when looking for last minute vacation rentals.

Location
Where your vacation rental is will be nearly as important as what it is. Look for a rental cottage that’s close to major attractions, especially the ones that are important to you. Some vacation destinations will offer far more flexibility in this than others. If you’ve chosen a week on Cape Cod, for instance, and your main interest is lazing on the beach for hours, you can find suitable cottages in Wellfleet, Truro, Onset, Dennis, Brewster, Orleans or any one of a dozen other little towns with long stretches of beach and ocean.

If, on the other hand, you’re planning a family getaway with a particular destination in mind, you’ll want to be sure that everything you want to see is conveniently located. If you decide on a Disney vacation, for instance, you’ll find plenty of vacation rentals right in Orlando.

You’ll want to check a map to see just how far they are from the parks you want to visit so that you don’t waste precious vacation time stuck in traffic.

Space
Make sure there’s room for everyone in your vacation rental. While it’s not necessary – or even economical – to find a vacation rental with a private bedroom for each member of your family, you do want to be sure that there’s enough room for everyone to be comfortable. Most vacation rental cottages and homes are designed to sleep multiple people per room. Make sure that you know not only how many rooms, but how many beds are available.

Shop carefully and you can find bargains like a three bedroom vacation rental in Big Sur, a few blocks from the beach, for as little as $40 per night. One caution, though. Be sure to check the fine print for what’s included in the rental price. Cleaning and per person fees can quickly add up and spiral that bargain basement price out the roof.

On a longer vacation trip, you’ll want to be sure that certain amenities are included. Your budget will thank you if laundry and kitchen facilities are included in the rental home you choose. The money that you save on restaurant meals and laundromats could easily add up to the admission fee to a nearby water park or a day of shopping in town.

Jon runs site that caters to all last minute travelers, learn how to save money and time for any last minute vacations, and if you are in hurry, head down to his site to check a list of all inclusive last minute deals and also reviews of various travel sites offering last minute deals.

Every once in a while as you make your way across the UK and Europe you stumble across small cities that missed the train for the 21st century and the 20th before that. It happened in Spain when Toledo no longer was the capital, it happened to the Dutch inland fishing villages as the Zuider Zee was drained, it happened to the Cotswolds in England when they lost their export market for their wool. And in Belgium, it happened to Bruges when it’s harbor silted up.

Today tourists marvel at their Old World charm, preserved as they were because their local economies failed. The cities became so poor that no one had the money or drive to tear them down, so there they sat, neglected and becoming sleepy little forgotten towns. But now like Rip Van Winkle they are coming awake and enjoying the happy circumstance of being discovered by the tourism industry and enjoying a revitalization of their local prosperity.

Bruges (broozh) in French and English and Brugge (Broo-gha) in Flemish, used to be a trading center of great importance, particularly in the cloth market. By the 14th century, it had a population of 35,000, about on a par with London at that time. By the 16th century, silt clogged the harbor and killed the economy. Now the North Sea is about 20 minutes away by train at Ostende.

Today Bruges is a town of canals straight from a Renoir painting, architecture that seems mostly pointed and gilded and cafes that tempt you to stay a little longer. It has chocolate shops everywhere, mostly family run, with some of the world’s best chocolates, according to connoisseurs. The display windows of the chocolate shops are enough to make the coldest heart melt for some chocolate. Speaking of melting, the chocolate shops may close in the heat of midday sun, so if you are a chocoholic, hope that it is a cool day.

In the center of Bruges is the Market Square and on the Market Square is a belfry. This bell tower has stood since 1300 and if you climb the 366 steps you can look over the entire little city. Just below, a few steps down, is the carillon room, which plays short happy little tunes on every quarter hour, the 47 bells are played by a mechanical device, but it also has a manual keyboard for the carillonist to give concerts. It really bangs out the hour on the hour; plan not to be in the tower at that time! Patronize one of the Belgian frite stands in the square before you leave, it’s practically customary.

Being essentially Walloon and Catholic in character, there is a plethora of religious sites, relics, paintings, etc. in Bruges. The Basilica of the Holy Blood’s claim to fame is its relic of the blood of Christ brought to Bruges after the Second Crusade, circa 1150. The Church of Our Lady has a delicate Madonna and Child by Michelangelo, said to be the only statue of his to leave Italy in his lifetime. The Gruuthuse Museum has a collection of everything medieval from bedpans to a guillotine.

If by now you’ve had your fill of culture, try to join the tour at the Straffe Hendrik (Strong Henry) brewery, where they make the locals’ favorite beer. It’s a 45-minute fact filled tour conducted in at least four languages. Belgians consider themselves to be Europe’s beer experts and they boast of 350 different types of beer. Trappist is the dark home-brew style beer and Dentergems is made with orange peel and coriander.

If you are looking for a picnic, spot the four windmills that are strung out alongside a canal and take your ease in the grassy park with some famous Belgian frites with mayonnaise, a section of a local sausage, washed down with a little beer and followed by a Godiva chocolate (or two) for dessert. Maybe not Omar Khayam’s choice of picnic fare, but close enough.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Europe Vacation

Scotland’s geography has been integral to its political, social, economic and cultural development, discover more about the physical make-up of the country, together with some facts and figures about its people.

What makes Scotland so distinctive? There are some things that are uniquely Scottish but in truth, there’s no single element that defines the country. Rather, it’s a subtle blend of many different ingredients that have been added to the mix down through the centuries. Here, you can find a flavour of these – Scotland’s often turbulent past, her extraordinary people, the rich diversity of her arts and culture, and the many other features found around the country which have produced a nation that treasures its past and keenly anticipates its future.

So whether you opt for a dedicated city-break or use them as a base to explore the surrounding countryside, Scotland’s cities offer a truly memorable experience.

A nation’s artistic and cultural life says much about its people and the vibrancy and creativity we display across a wide range of artforms quickly dispels the myth of the dour, downbeat Scot. In successive generations, Scotland has produced writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, composers and dancers whose talents have received both national and international acclaim.

Some of these artforms – such as our traditional dance and music – are uniquely Scottish both in style and inspiration and are appreciated chiefly at home. Others – such as theatre, opera and painting – draw on and incorporate influences from elsewhere in the world and consequently receive wider recognition. All, however, have the power to enthrall, challenge, provoke and inspire.

Scotland’s position on the edge of the European continent with sea on three sides means that the weather is very varied. Records show that May and June are usually drier than July and August.

Generally speaking, the east coast tends to be cool and dry, the west coast milder and wetter. July and August are normally the warmest months, average temperature of 15-19oC/60-68oF.

Historically, Scotland has always been a popular destination for those seeking a truly romantic setting in which to make their wedding vows and several recent high profile weddings have served to highlight the reputation of Scotland as a great place to tie the knot. As a country, Scotland is famous for its beautiful and unspoilt scenery, its distinctive culture and its dramatic history. In addition it is renowned for the high standard of its cuisine and the quality of its accommodation which ranges from bed and breakfasts to magnificent castles. Perhaps most importantly though, Scotland is famed for its hospitality and the genuine warmth of its people.

So, whether you are planning to ‘run away’ to Gretna Green for a small intimate wedding or to do something on a much larger scale, be it in a hotel or castle or even on a canal boat, Scotland offers endless possibilities to make that special day truly memorable.

Edinburgh has a network of local bus services allowing frequent travel throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians making this a great – and cost effective – way of getting around the city. Local bus companies offer daily bus tickets, which allow you unlimited travel in and around Edinburgh. You buy these tickets, and single journey tickets, on board the bus from the driver – remember that no change is given, so you’ll need the exact fare.

If you’re heading further afield, you can buy your coach tickets for UK and Scottish travel from the bus station in St Andrew Square in advance. And if you’re heading to the airport a regular express service runs from Waverley Bridge to Edinburgh Airport, with pick up points along the way.

You can also take in the sights of the city on one of the many Edinburgh bus tours – City Bus Tour tickets can be bought in person at the Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre, 3 Princes Street or on Waverley Bridge, which is where the tours start.

The following companies can provide more information;

For travel in and around Edinburgh including Edinburgh Airport, city bus tours and night buses – Lothian Buses contact number – 0131 555 6363

For Travel in and around Edinburgh, Central and The Borders
First Buses contact number – 08708 72 72 71

Air travel-Scottish airlines or air operators servicing Scotland and/or Edinburgh include; BMI, Loch Lomond Seaplanes Scotland’s first commercial seaplane service, British Airways, Eastern Airways, EasyJet, Highland Airways and Loganair.

For more on Scotland please visit scotland travel or Fife information

Have you relished a vacation to Egypt?
Since time memorial Egypt is deemed to be the land of mysteries and myths. Surprisingly Egypt is not blessed with the charismatic aspect of Mother Nature but it is paradigm of manual work at its excellence.

The Egyptian pyramids and other monuments, their ambience, art and architecture have notched a distinguished place on earth. Egypt is also known for its archaic civilization, the unique Egyptian culture and heritage and for the simplicity of Egyptians.

This hot land of deserts has always been wooing countless visitors every year. It has nestled something for people of all age group and from any profession. While almost every historian is intrigued by the Egyptian history and civilization that is one of the greatest ancient civilizations in the world today, for the engineers to it is no less thrilling to explore the wonders of the world here. A trip to Egypt is quite informative for the kids too. This is because Egypt best instantiates or is a perfect mirror to its past. A stroll in the streets of Egyptian cities will acquaint you with the work and other remains of different dynasties that reigned here. It is a lifetime experience to visit the land that was the pride of eminent rulers such as Alexander, Napoleon and Mohammed Ali Pasha.

If we navigate through the Egyptian cities we find that Egypt’s capital Cairo is the largest metropolitan in Africa. It is an ideal amalgam of ethnicity and modernity. From the age-old cupolas and minarets, vibrant markets to skyscraping buildings and pulsating nightlife, Cairo has it all. A wonderful feature of Cairo is that the luxury as well as the budget travelers can have a great vacation here. For while on the one hand there are simple and inexpensive accommodations on the other Cairo has quite a few excellent luxury resorts and hotels.The temple city of Amen-Ra is also a place worth visiting in Egypt. It lies near the village of Karnak and is home to the great Luxor Museum. People also come to see the magnificent Temple Complex of Amen-Ra and the Temple of the Goddess Mut, the wife of Amen-Ra. If you desire to see the coveted 13.5 meters tall well-dressed limestone statue of Pharaoh wearing a weatherworn crown, make a visit to the ancient city of Memphis. Besides this statue of Colossus of Ramses II the other lures of Memphis include a small Open-air Museum, the beautiful Alabaster Sphinx and the Embalming Site of Apis. The Site of Apis is famous for the sacred animal of god Ptah, the Apis bull that was mummified here prior to its being buried.

Not to forget are the globally acclaimed spectacular pyramids of Giza. The pyramids lie to the west of Cairo and their construction can be traced back to middle of third millennium B.C. You can observe these pyramids on foot or via camel ride. Visitors can also delight in the swimming, coral reefs and other underwater wonders at the popular Sinai Peninsula. Aqua adventures can also be enjoyed at Hurghada that lies on the south of Suez Canal. Hurghada is famous for swimming and scuba diving.

Sid writes more on Egypt.