Gambling Beach

AMSTERDAM

Area: Netherlands

Location: In N Holland province, 33 miles NE of The Hague, 38 miles N of Rotterdam; 9 miles NE of Schiphol Airport with frequent trains to Amsterdam Central Station.

Telephone code from UK: 31 20

Website: http://www.visitamsterdam.nl

Position: Built on 90 islands on the S side of the River Ij at its confluence with the River Amstel, forming a long inlet at the SW corner of Ijsselmeer (inland sea). Connected to the North Sea by ship canal.

Description: This major port must be one of the most interesting cities in the world. It has over 7,000 protected buildings _ many of them elegant 17th-century merchants’ houses _ and 40 museums, combined with a unique and lively nightlife. Criss-crossed with canals which have more than 1,000 bridges, it has a very attractive, compact centre and an atmosphere more like that of a provincial town. In the early 13th century, Giesebrecht II and III of Amstel built a castle near this former fishing hamlet and dammed up the sea _ hence its name. By the 17th century it was the source of Dutch commercial and naval power, the centre of the Dutch East India (1602) and West India (1621) companies and Europe’s richest city. It was connected by a 17-mile canal to the North Sea in 1875. An ancient tax on the width of buildings explains the tall, narrow constructions. Some even slant forwards to allow furniture to be hoisted up. The city’s 700,000 inhabitants have a famously liberal attitude to drugs and sex. Prostitutes, who pay taxes, can be seen openly in shop windows, and “coffee shops” (take note if you just want a cappuccino) sell marijuana legally. Do not be put off by these aspects if they do not interest you; they are easily avoided and Amsterdam is a very safe and friendly city. The focal point of the city is Dam Square. Leidseplein is another bustling square of shops, restaurants and bars _ not dissimilar to London’s Leicester Square _ which attracts plenty of tourists. The Jordaan district is particularly good for exploring, with its narrow shopping streets and charming courtyards. Reminders of the days of the Golden Age are everywhere _ in the layout of the city, its unique architecture, extensive canal system and masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.

Suitability: Younger crowds may enjoy the relaxed laws; art-lovers for the museums and galleries; couples for the sheer romance. Particularly attracts English and American visitors.

Accommodation: Full range from luxurious to modest, from old-world charm to modern sophistication. Reservations advisable at any time, especially in tulip season (March_June). You will generally pay more for a canalside spot.

Shopping: Excellent, with convenience and variety. Fashionable PC Hooftstraat; popular pedestrianised de Kalverstraat; lanes with innumerable small speciality stores; Cuypstraat, the oldest street market. Flower market. Magna Plaza is a pleasant shopping mall _ one of the few in the city. De Bijenkorf on the Dam is a hundred-year-old department store. Upmarket shops at Museumkwartier and Spiegelkwartier.

Entertainments: Daytime: famous museums: Rijks (Dutch masters), Van Gogh and Stedelijk (modern art) are all in or near Museumplein square. Rembrandt’s house, Anne Frank’s house, Historische Museum. Royal palace, canal trips, diamond-polishing factories, Heineken brewery. Singel Canal’s floating flower market. Spring and autumn flower shows. Walking tours (guide books from tourist office). Erotic museum and tours of red-light district. Madame Tussaud’s. Nightlife: walks or boat trips along flood-lit canals. Rich offering of theatres (32), some with shows in English, cinemas (30) and concert halls (12) especially Concertgebouw and Muziektheater. Numerous clubs, discos and a thriving music scene. Bars, cabarets, famous red-light district and casino. More than 1,000 Bruine (brown) cafes _ traditional Dutch pubs.

Eating: The Dutch are not known for their food, except perhaps pancakes. Fish features heavily on menus, and cheese or cabbage soup are local specialities. Over 700 restaurants, which tend to be intimate and characterful. A large number of Indonesian restaurants and Argentinian steakhouses. Chinese, tapas, Turkish, Lebanese, sushi and some international options. A particularly good selection in the Jordaan district. For a delicious, cheap snack have a falafel with serve-yourself salad like the locals.

Public-transport: Excellent network of trams and buses, though the city is best explored on foot. Circle tram 20 stops at all the main tourist attractions. A pass allows unlimited travel on bus, tram and metro (four lines) for 1 to 9 days. Many locals ride bicycles, and these are widely available for hire _ although cycling on the roads can be dangerous. Water and regular taxis. Four ferry boats.

Local-excursions: Half day: Edam and windmills; tulip fields (in season); Volendam and Marken. Full day: Aalmeer flower auction; The Hague and Delft; Alkmaar cheese market; Brussels and Antwerp.

blissholidays.co.uk for Quality Holidays

Book online for package holidays, city breaks, short breaks and family holidays at low , low prices.

San Diego is the southernmost city of California. On the west coast of San Deigo lies the Pacific Ocean while huge mountains dominate its eastern part. Due to the Pacific Ocean the climate of the place is warm, dry and pleasant all round the year.

San Diego is a famous and coveted tourist destination. It hosts more than 30 million tourists every year! The place is blessed with divinely beauty and other attractions. San Diego is worth visiting for young as well as the old. The countless water sports and such activities are a treat to the adults whereas the zoos and other parks are meant to lure kids.

San Diego is quite popular for its Balboa Park. The park is spread in 1200 acres and nestles the globally acclaimed Zoo and some wonderful and eminent museums. Balboa Park is also the cultural center of the city. It parades an incredible variety of flora that mesmerizes each and every visitor. The zoo in the park is a home for more than 4000 animals of various species. It is a habitat for some of the most exclusive or rare species of birds and animals on earth. Besides this the Balboa Park is swarming with people because of its fantastic museums. These museums are variously devoted to San Diego’s history, science, art, cars, railroads, mankind etc. For instance the San Diego Mueseum of Art is the largest museum of San Diego that displays the magnum opus of great artists. While the San Diego Natural history museum presents an exclusive collection of environmental habitats such as desert, ocean and shore habitats. Beautiful and sparkling gems and minerals can also be seen here. Apart from these a visit to the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center and the San Diego Aerospace Museum in the Balboa Park is also extremely informative.

For all the aqua lovers the Mission Bay area near the Pacific Ocean is an ideal place. The bay includes 27 miles of Bay Shore beaches and 17 miles of ocean front beaches. It is an amazing picnic spot for the residents as well as the visitors. But the most exciting place in the Mission Bay area is the SeaWorld. The SeaWorld San Diego is a mind-boggling joint. At SeaWorld a person not just gets the opportunity to confront beautiful dolphins and ferocious sharks but also touch and feed them. California’s gray whales, also known as killer whales can be watched at the San Diego harbor Excursion Whale Watching center.

If you want to relish San Diego’s nightlife and shopping there are certain ideal joints to hit. The Room “La Jolla’s Exclusive Dance Lounge”, the Cannibal Bar-Catamaran Resort Hotel and the Have a Nice Day Café are some of the top centers to enjoy a thrilling nightlife. While Rio Vista Shopping Center, Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter etc. are amongst San Diego’s awesome shopping hubs.

Choose your restaurant in Rome

Choosing a restaurant in Rome can be not so easy, filled as the Eternal City is with hundreds of excellent places. The good news is that it’s rare to get bad food. The even better news is that we’ve narrowed down your choices. Our restaurant il secchio has a wide range of flavours of the roman food.
Rome is not only the capital of culture, history, art and charme: Rome is also the home of Italy’s most delicious ingredients.

Roman meals normally include at least three separate courses: pasta, a main course (usually a meat dish with vegetables or salad), and dessert. Meats, though tasty, are definitely secondary to the pasta dishes, which are generous and filling. The wine is so excellent (especially the white Frascati that comes from the nearby Castelli Romani) and affordable that you might want to do as the Romans do and have it with both lunch and dinner.

In addition to the restaurants located around your hotel in Rome, consider visiting our restaurant in rome that cooks the original roman cooking called ” cucina romana”.

Despite a sudden rise in prices after the adoption of the euro, Rome’s dining tabs are still generally reasonable. One important tip: Check before if your restaurant in rome is open, because days off and vacations can spoil your dinner in Rome.

And remember that family-run trattorias are an extension of the home table. Do not forget to enjoy with your family a very intimate atmosphere tasting the roman food in my restaurant in Rome.
Visit our website at http://www.secchiorestaurant.it and write us at info@secchiorestaurant.it

ORESTE LAGLIA is the owner of the restaurant in Rome called IL SECCHIO and is running this nice restaurant since 1979 with his wife and his daughter.
Visit his website at www.secchiorestaurant.it and write him to info@secchiorestaurant.it to have very good recipes with the ingredients of the roman cooking.

Our web community of business flight attendants is always thinking of ways to make traveling easier. You have to when your job takes you away from home base for several weeks at a time! The following tips are for business as well as leisure travelers.

1. Ring Around the Collar Dirty neck rings around shirt or blouse collars can be removed by putting shampoo on them. Rub the
shampoo in as if you were washing your hair. Shampoo is specifically made to remove body oils the “ingredient” of neck rings.

2. Removing Gum You can pick up just about anything on the soles of your shoes. Removing gum can seem like one of the most difficult things to do. The solution? Rub ice on the gum to harden it and then use a dull knife to remove the gum. The gum will come right off without damaging your soles.

3. Killing Flies Are there flying insects in your hotel room? Hair spray will kill flies and most other insects.

4. Drying Out Wet Magazines or Books Place paper towels on both sides of a wet page to absorb the moisture and prevent wrinkling.

5. Lingering Onion or Fish Smells on Hands Can’t get rid of onion or fish smells on your hands? Wet them, sprinkle them generously with salt, and rinse.

Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It has been more than ten years since making my last international trip. I now have a renewed sympathy for non-English speaking visitors and residents in the United States.

I didn’t have it as bad as it could have been. Many of the businesses that I visited spoke English as a second language. What amazed me was how patient and helpful those that couldn’t speak English were to me. I was able to go where I wanted and get what I needed with relative ease. It didn’t matter if we spoke different languages because we worked out other ways to communicate. Contrast that to some experiences I have witnessed in the United States. I have watched non-English speaking people intentionally ignored or dealt with without any patience. I have also heard people say they shouldn’t be in the United States if they can’t speak English.

Do you want to make the world a better place by doing even little things? My recent trip to Germany was proof that you don’t have to speak the same language to help others. The next time you see someone that may be visiting from another country, go out of your way to smile and greet him or her. Spend time finding a way to help them if they appear to need something. I am confident you will make their day better and yours as well.

Roger Carr is the founder of Everyday Giving. His life purpose is to help people help others. To learn more ways to give and sign up for the Everyday Giving ezine, go to www.everydaygiving.com/ezine.htm.

Gites In France

A visit to France can be one of those dream-come-true vacations. What if you need to travel on a bit of a budget? Are there any ways to see France and not break the bank?

The answers to those questions are, “Yes!” A French gite will provide you with a charming and relatively inexpensive place to stay. There are many merits to a self-catering holiday in France.

Merits to a self-catering holiday is France begin with a wonderful selection of gites. There are hundreds if not thousands to choose from. You can stay in a French gite in the beautiful countryside.

Merits to a self-catering holiday in France include a less expensive vacation. You will be able to find just the right French gite. You can stay in a lovely location and enjoy the all the sights that France are famous for and not completely deflate your pocketbook.

Merits to a self-catering holiday in France also include a wide choice of sightseeing options. Gites are located all over France providing you with the opportunity to see so much of the country.

A self-catering holiday in France will provide you with amazing experiences and you can share these adventures with one person or many. There are gites available for small groups of travelers but large groups can also be accommodated. The gites on a self-catering holiday in France may be small and quaint or large and luxurious. The merits of a self-catering holiday in France may include staying at a gite that has a breathtaking view, a swimming pool or gorgeous gardens.

On a self-catering tour of France you can plan your own itinerary. This way you can see the country at your own pace.

The merits of a self-catering tour in France are many and varied. You can check out rental gites online or talk to a travel agent. Look through travel books and brochures and find the best holiday options for you.

For more ideas and destinations visit http://www.gites-rental.co.uk

About the Author

The wonderful joys of the French countryside are often forgotten. The freedom of a self catering holiday in a French gite is a special experience for a family holiday and I am providing ideas and destinations for those that wish to explore rural France

Drakensberg Diaries. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir.

Travelling to South Africa? Well, you’re going to Cape Town, right? And you want to see if you can get the Big 5? Here’s something that’s better than Cape Town. Better than the Big 5. And it’s the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. There aren’t that many things that are unique or world class in South Africa, but the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is one of them.

Thirty-six years ago, the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir was born. The dream was of a multi-racial, multi-cultural Choir School to rival the Vienna Boys. Not in the middle of a history-rich, ancient European city. But in the boondocks. In a beautiful, rural, sparsely populated valley in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The first and only one of its kind on the continent.

Doors opened in 1965 to the first 20 pupils, after John Tungay persuaded his parents, Ronald and Gwen, to dedicate 100 acres of their farm to his proposed school. Today the annual intake is 100 boys between 9 and 15, and auditions are held nation-wide.

Can you think of anything more sublime than crisp, mountain air, majestic mountains, azure skies and natural beauty as far as the eye can see, complemented by the pure tones of counter-tenor harmony?

The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir tours overseas every year and is internationally recognized as one of the best in the world. And they aren’t just holier that thou brats either – after hours they’re into rapids tubing, abseiling and Drakensberg hiking. They work hard and play hard.

Be prepared for diversity. If you like a good dirge, stay away. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir has very catholic tastes. The first half of the concert is classical. You might hear Bach or Beethoven or Mozart. The second half can be anything. It could be Queen sung in rounds by groups of immaculately trained 12-year old tenor and bass vocalists. (Freddie Mercury would have loved it). Or folk, or jazz, or sacred music. Or African harmonies you’ve never heard before that will bring tears to your eyes.

Come with tissues. And a jersey, for the goosebumps. But whatever you do, BE THERE. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performs most Wednesdays during term time at 3.30 p.m. There is a world class auditorium on campus.

If you’re in the area on a Wednesday, you’ve got time for an early lunch (or a late breakfast) and a scenic drive along Route R600. Its not called the Champagne Valley for nothing. Or if you’re planning on December, go to the Drakensberg Festive Celebration, a four-day extravaganza of music, with lots of guest artists, Xmas music, and stalls for shopping.

So if you’re coming to South Africa – sure Cape Town’s good and you need the Big 5. But the Drakensberg is good too. And you really shouldn’t miss this.
About the Author

Brian & Janette Kemp own and run an award winning Drakensberg accommodation establishment. Halls Country House is a 4-star country retreat in the foothills of the Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

When I have some extra time on my hands, and I feel like going outside and getting some nice fresh air, there is nothing else that I like more that not take a nice long walk on the water front. The place that I like to go to is just a few blocks down the street from my house, so the walk is not too far. When I am walking down toward the water I can start to smell the salty smell of the harbor water. Once down at the docks you can see the hundreds of sail boats, yachts, powerboats, and other types of water vessels. Strolling down the docks feels nice, like I am another world. The ocean and shore is a beautiful andgorgeousplace which is teeming with life. I imagine what it would be like to be on one of those sail boats, wind blowing though my hair. Out on the water you havea sense of freedom, like you can anywhere the wind will take you. You are the master and commandeer of your own world. You’re the captain.

Back on land, as I stroll past the docks I head to the beach. Down at the beach you can discover all types of fun stuff. Flip over a rock or two and see what kind of critters will scurry about. You can have you pick of thousands of sea shells or sand dollars. Starfish are always fun to find. Once when I was down at the beach, the tide was out much further than normal. I saw a little girl running and throwing things in the water. As I got closer i saw that they were starfish. There were hundreds of tiny starfish all over the beach. She was picking up the star fish and tossing them into water. I asked her why are you doing that, you cant save them all. What difference does it make. She said “To this one it does, to this one it does.” What a lesson to learn from a little girl. She was right. It did matter, she saved some starfish’s lives that day.

You are the owner of a timeshare and have decided the time has come to part ways. You may be interested in another timeshare or have decided a timeshare isn’t for you. Whatever your reason may be, a timeshare is a piece of real estate and you should place as much thought and planning into selling a timeshare as you would any other piece of real estate. Many agencies exist that will assist you in selling your timeshare or buy it outright. However, just as any situation where money is involved, there are many agencies that will successfully take your money and your timeshare, leaving you with a small percent of your profit. Of course, legitimate agencies exist that will assist you selling your timeshare in a completely professional manner. Weeding the legitimate agencies from the scam artists will save you a lot of time, frustration, and money.

The best scam detector you have in your arsenal is your common sense. Before placing your money and property in someone else’s hands, it would be a good idea to do some research on that agency. Ask questions, check out their references, and contact the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the agency. Remember the golden rule of buying and selling: if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is! Do not decide on a whim. Spontaneity may be a good quality in other aspects of life, but not when dealing with anything to do with money. Your goal isn’t to line someone else’s pockets. Your goal is to sell your timeshare for its full market value. Beware of companies who require a fee before the sale of your timeshare has transpired. Even if they claim this fee is refundable once the sale is made, the best thing to do is turn on your heels and leave. Remember the basic relationship between a company and a client. Pay only after the desired result is achieved. Once the agency has your money, you have taken away their incentive to work.

Selling a timeshare can be a difficult task since there are many factors that are involved. Not only are you selling a specific time during the year, you are also selling a location and a resort. These factors make finding a buyer a bit more difficult, since someone may be interested in the time and location, but not the resort or vice versa. In order to provide the buyer with the best timeshare option, you need to price the timeshare realistically. Find out the going market value for other timeshares in your area or during your allotted time. To find this information, contact the resort for their current selling prices or check out the real estate records for your area. Another way to obtain a price is through an appraisal of your timeshare. An appraisal company will charge a fee for their service and can readily be found in the telephone book or by contacting an appraiser’s association, such as the Appraisal Foundation.

Keep in mind, your goal is to sell your timeshare. Making a profit on your timeshare is a totally different matter. Remember, the key word to pricing is “realistic.” The realistic pricing for your timeshare may be considerably less than the original selling price. Keep in mind, you have used the timeshare for the length of your ownership and probably have fond memories attached to your time on vacation. If the price is less than you were hoping for, remember these good times and think of the difference in price as vacation costs.

After pricing your timeshare appropriately, you can choose an agent to sell your timeshare or sell it yourself. If you opt to sell your timeshare yourself, start by advertising. Take advantage of any local newspapers where your timeshare is based. A great tool is the Timeshare User’s Group at www.tug2.net. This website has great information on owning and selling a timeshare and is an excellent resource. Also check into advertising at the resort itself. Many resorts have publications, newsletters, or bulletin boards.

To learn more about selling your timeshare, just log on to the Internet and visit locations such as http://www.atimesharesz.com/sellingtimeshares to do a thorough search. However you choose to sell your timeshare, making well-planned decisions will ensure you will succeed in selling your timeshare and having the best possible experience.

© Copyright 2005 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com. A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory.

FRANCIS DRAKE: – It is my perspective that history has had secrets which Royal Families like the Stuart Bees needed to keep close to their vest; and that these secrets are still kept by our supposed ‘experts’ in history, to this day. The English claim to ownership in the Americas has been made on the basis of John Cabot who may never have reached the area of Canada and that Venetian half witted mariner was laughing-stock among his contemporaries. If our history allows that other nations would have given credit and rights based on his story – then almost any kind of secret agreement can be imagined. It must have involved the Holy Alliance which continued in such later acts as The Treaty of Verona between the Romano-Bruttii of Rome and England in 1822.

The Toronto Star has a book review on Sunday August 10, 2003 which allows us to explore these secrets involving beaus and illegitimate children of Queen Elizabeth. Bacon, Raleigh and Francis Bacon are all implicated spies and machinators paramount or paramour in the real history.

“History
The Pirate Explorer…

If Samuel Bawlf has his way, it could turn out that the best-kept secret of the 16th century (and since) is that legendary sea-dog, Sir Francis Drake, discovered Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait and points north up to Alaska.

Bawlf, a former minister in the B. C. government and a geographer by training, lays out his theory in The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake, 1577-1580. With a cast of supporting characters ranging from Queen Elizabeth I to her spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, and her astrologer and one-man think tank, the Elizabethan magus, John Dee, {Who at a very early age studied with Mercator and was awarded the highest honors. He also knew the Rosicrucian Earth Energy Grid. I have found Masonic crafted building in the area along with trepanned skulls such as the Merovingian King Dagobert had. This esoteric act allowed greater spiritual attunement but the archaeological record I found it in has no knowledge of these things and considers it merely mysterious. That record and those artifacts are pre-Christian but no where near as old as genetic tracking shows that Vancouver Island (near an enormous gold source) has human habitation – 75,000 years. That is according to CBC radio and its excellent show IDEAS. Walsingham was later replaced by Bacon who may have been Elizabeth’s son but had to maintain a Catholic image to some degree which allowed another interesting deal to allow James Stuart to become King of England. We all know his half brother Lord Boswell was a great esotericist who he feared greatly while he killed scribes who would not write the Bible as he saw fit; and killed witches galore due to his own belief [fear is belief in this case] in their power.} The Secret Voyage of Sir Francis Drake is a tale of maritime adventure, state secrets and cover-ups which even a practised conspiracy theorist might be hard-pressed to improve upon…

As evidence of a cover-up, Bawlf draws on his knowledge as a geographer to analyze a couple of contemporary maps and accounts of Drake’s voyage which really do bear an uncanny resemblance to the coast of the Pacific Northwest and Vancouver Island – only the geography is placed at 10 degrees of latitude further south… and with a gag-order amounting to a 16th-century version of the Official Secrets Act.

Why the cover-up? Well, for one thing, this was a time when maps were as jealously guarded as atom-bomb secrets in the last century and hi-tech innovations in this…
For another, England was in a cold war with the Catholic powers (chiefly Spain). As the premier Protestant power, England was providing military aid to Dutch Calvinist insurgents against their Spanish overlords, and destabilizing the realm of France with financial aid to the Huguenots (more Calvinists)…

{But these so-called Calvinists were headed by Hibernian Troubadour types like the Cathars. I have also found them involved in Illuminati escapades with the likes of Goethe and Carlyle. Goethe and William of Hesse or Mayer Rothschild founded the Weishaupt Illuminati along with a few others I have dealt with.}

In 1954, an Alaskan prospector found a metal plate inscribed in Latin, naming Drake and claiming the land for Queen Elizabeth.” (27)

About the Author

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine
Guest ‘expert’ at World-Mysteries.com