Travel Blog

Yorkshire at CHRISTMAS

It’s what everyone longs for – the perfect Christmas. Just imagine a Christmas with wonderful gifts wrapped beautifully under a sparkling tree, a turkey cooked to perfection and a happy contented family enchanted with true Christmas spirit. This year it needn’t be a fantasy – visit Yorkshire in the run up to the festive season and it will be the most special Christmas ever. And for anyone who just wants to get away from all the chaos, we’ve got the perfect place for that too!

 

Wonderful Wrapping

If you want the best dressed presents go along to the ‘Preparing for Christmas Luncheon’ on December 1 at the Feversham Arms Hotel in Helmsley (£25 per person). You’ll be given inspirational ideas on wrapping and decoration, with demonstrations and top tips. And of course you’ll be treated to a beautiful three course lunch in the outstanding restaurant.

 

Why not spoil yourself and book a couple of nights at the hotel?  Based on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors the Feversham Arms Hotel is a luxury 17-bedroomed hideaway hotel with an excellent restaurant, chic design, leisure facilities, open fires and welcoming service. Double rooms from £130.

 

Delicious Dinner

If you’re going to have the perfect Christmas you’re going to need a fantastic Christmas dinner that everyone will remember.

 

Learn great cooking from celebrated TV chef Rosemary Shrager at the acclaimed Swinton Park Cookery School. The Festive Fare one day cookery course runs from December 1 – 4 and costs £125, including a three-course meal with wine. The school is based at the Swinton Park hotel in Masham North Yorkshire. Unwind after cooking up a storm by spending a night in this beautiful castle hotel (double rooms from £140 per night including breakfast).

 

Christmas Shopping

The festive period can be ruined by stressful shopping which leaves you exhausted. Turn a potential headache into a special memory by spending a weekend in Yorkshire. You’ll get everything you need, and you can sample the great accommodation on offer too.

 

Shopping in the region is funky and functional, trendy and traditional, a unique mix of time-honoured family emporiums and ultra modern designer shopping.

 

City Shopping

Leeds‘ status as a shopping Mecca was confirmed when Harvey Nichols opened its first northern branch in the elegant location of Briggate. Relax and let a personal shopper do the hard work for you as they search four floors to find not only the best gifts but also clothes for you to try on (by appointment).

 

The Victorian Quarter, which houses a wide selection of designer boutiques and pavement cafes has been dubbed ‘the Knightsbridge of the North’ and is perfect for classy Christmas shopping.

 

You’ll need a couple of days to get round all the shops in Leeds so why not stay in Malmaison Hotel, in the heart of the city centre? The hotel is a dramatic building full of character and individual style. Rooms are equipped with CD players, power showers, personal bars and great beds. Double rooms from £89 to £115 per room. The restaurant is pretty amazing too!

 

Christmas Fayres

 

For presents with a difference your family will truly treasure try one of Yorkshire’s festive fayres listed below:

• The Crafts for Christmas Fayre 05, Great Yorkshire Showground,  Harrogate. This huge venue, with warm carpeted pavilions, will really allow you to get all your shopping under one roof.

 

• Grimsby Christmas Market, Grimsby, 16 December. A traditional farmers Christmas market with entertainment during the event and a traditional Christmas carol service at lunchtime in St James’ Church.

 

• St Nicholas Fayre, York, November 24 – 27.  Boasting a wide range of markets across the city, ranging from gifts to medieval goods. Also in the city from November 18 – 20 is the Children’s Christmas Fayre.

 

• Winter Wonderland, Ripon, November 7 – January 8. A Christmas exhibition in a Victorian arcade with work from 50 British craft makers, all for sale and ideal for unusual Christmas gifts.   

 

Unique gifts

And for a gift with a truly personal touch head to The Chocolate Factory in Hutton le Hole at the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. See the traditional art of chocolate making, and smell and sample the delicious Belgian chocolates being made. Then hand pick a unique box of chocolates for your loved one – with only their favourites on offer they won’t know where to start!

 

Festivals and Family Fun

If this is going to be a really special Christmas kids need to be kept entertained and everyone will need to enter into the spirit of the season.

 

To bring back the magic and excitement of Christmas visit the Festival of Angels in York on December 10 – 11. The streets of York are turned into a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, snow, stalls, food and drink.

 

And to experience some of the tradition of Christmas head across the city on  December 10 for the ‘St Nicholas Tour’.  A fascinating Yuletide look in York Minster at the life and legends of St. Nicholas, the origin of Santa Klaus. (Adults £7.50 - £8, children £2). Also at the Minster is the hugely popular Carols by Candlelight on December 17 (tickets £10 per person).

 

The Dickensian Festival 2005, Grassington, in the Yorkshire Dales, will create a truly special memory for you and all the family. Running the three Saturdays before Christmas the festival sees shopkeepers and villagers dressed in Dickensian costumes in the beautifully decorated villages.

 

Or try the ‘Traditional Christmas Evening and Meal’ at the stunning Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire from December 9 – 11 for a really memorable evening. Christmas carols in the floodlit abbey will be followed by a traditional supper with family entertainment in the visitor centre restaurant. Santa will be making an appearance on his way to the North Pole with some treats for the children. (Adults £29, children £19.75)

 

 

Christmas Retreat

And if this year you want to escape the endless family gatherings and have an unforgettable Christmas with just the two of you Westwood Lodge in Ilkley Moor has a luxurious package on offer.

 

From Wednesday 21 – Wednesday 28 December stay in the romantic five-star apartment for £495. Enjoy the four-poster bed and spectacular views, with plenty of books and DVDs to enjoy.  Included in the price is a welcome hamper stuffed full of local produce, plus a bottle of Christmas mead, mince pies, Christmas pudding and Christmas decorations already in place.

 

For bad weather days there’s an exclusive sauna, spa, solarium and work out room too!

Add comment November 20th, 2006

I went to Padstow

Hi all

I just thought I would let you know that today I went to PADSTOW with my Mum, DAD and little boys.

We got there and waited. When I arranged this meet up I said to my dad “I WILL MEET YOU IN THE FIRST CAR PARK AS YOU DROP INTO THE TOWN”. I got there early and got my boys into thier winter cloths, it was bitter today.

11:00 was the meeting time and we were ready and waiting. 11:05 phone rang “WHERE ARE YOU?” We were in the first carpark, but not the right one!!

Any way, we fianlly met up and had a great day. We visited Rock on the ferry ( my lads just wanted to go there) We had a pub lunch, that was really good and filling. We then wondered around in the town for a while before we headed home.

Padstow is a great place for a visit. Rick Stein has helped make the town in recent years. He has made a difference although the towns folk may not agree. The food is great. The town is clean and the sea smell great.

Add comment November 18th, 2006

Tales Of The Warner Brothers

The four Warner Brothers, which included the womanizing Jack, the conservative Harry, the quiet Albert and the visionary Sam, had risen from obscurity with The Jazz Singer (1927) the first famous and financially successful talking movie ever made. Tragically, Sam Warner, the real brains behind the whole project, died of a brain tumor two days before The Jazz Singer’s debut. Jack was thrilled by the film’s success, but crushed by his brother’s death. He became difficult to deal with for the rest of his life. His older and more conservative brother Harry and he fought constantly over money and Jack’s womanizing ways. One time Harry chased Jack through the studio with a two by four threatening to kill him. The feud became so bitter that Jack opted to play tennis rather than attend Harry’s funeral in 1958. One time Jack met Albert Einstein,” Mr. Einstein, I have my own theory of relativity. Don’t hire them.”
Warner was fascinated by Einstein especially the physicists detailed descriptions of stars. After he left Jack told a staff member,” Sign this Betelgeuse guy to a contract. Einstein think he has potential.”
Despite or maybe because of his aborted singing career, Jack Warner seemed to resent similar ambitions in others. One day her was strolling through the studio lot when he heard a young man singing with a beautiful voice. It was coming from the security guard shack. Curious, the mogul walked up to question his startled employee.
“Young man, was that you singing?” “W-why yes Mr. Warner.” “Young man you have a beautiful voice.” “Oh thank you Mr. Warner.” “MM. Tell me, young man, what would you rather be? A security guard or a singer?” “Oh Mr. Warner, I dreamed of being a singer.” “Ok young man. You’re fired!”
Jack Warner treated all of his employees with derision, but none worse than the writers. Many of them although better paid at the studio than they ever were writing novels, resented the nine to five routine they were forced to adhere to at the Warner’s factory. Where the actors were free to leave the studio at lunch the writers had to be “chained” to their typewriter. One time Warner called a writer into the studio screening room for his suggestions on how to fix a weak script.” I’m sorry Mr. Warner. I have no ideas after five.”
Another time Jack called in a writer to his office. “Look pally, I got to fire you because I heard you were a communist. ” “Mr. Warner, please! I’m not a communist, I’m an anti-communist!” “I don’t care what kind of commie you are! You are out of here!”
Well after The Jazz Singer’s success, Jack remained sensitive to religious matters. When he hired a stage actor named Jules Garfield, he told him, “Ok, we have to change your name. How about James Garfield?” “Mr. Warner I don’t want to change my name. Anyhow James Garfield was a President. Why don’t you change my name to Abraham Lincoln?” “Forget it Garfield. Abraham’s too Jewish. We’re not going to give the wrong impression.” After much arguing they compromised with John Garfield.
Warner’s actors gave as well as they got. Humphrey Bogart called him a creep. Errol Flynn actually threatened to kill him. James Cagney, after driving down the road and seeing Pat O’Brian’s name billed above his on a movie marquee sued him for breach of contract and won. Betty Davis, constantly complaining about the films she was cast in, fled to England to perform on the stage only to have Warner track her down and legally compel her to return. But perhaps the toughest of all his battles was with actor George Raft. Raft, who hung out with gangsters like Bugsy Siegel in real life, was loath to be cast as a thug on the screen. He turned virtually every role he was offered. Finally, Jack decided to buy George out of his contract. “Will $10,000 do it?” He asked George wearily. To Jack’s astonishment, George pulled out his own checkbook, promptly paid his boss $10,000 and stormed out of the office!

Add comment November 18th, 2006

Busselton Western Australia

The first recorded mapping of what is now Geographe Bay and the eventual town of Busselton, was in 1801 by the French explorer Nicolas Baudin, from the ships the Geographe and Naturaliste.  The Bay was named after his ship whilst the river was named the Vasse after a sailor who went missing in mysterious circumstances.
The area was settled in 1832 when families from the Augusta area, led by John Garrett Bussell, travelled north to farm the areas around the Vasse River after they found the Cape Leeuwin area to be largely infertile and difficult to reach by sea.
A growing port serviced the settlers and the subsequent local industries that developed which included the exportation of horses to India and a developing trade in beef, dairy and timber (which continue to be major exports of the Busselton area to this day).  Construction of the Busselton jetty began in 1865 and by 1960 had reached out 2 kilometres from the shore.
Prior to white settlement, this area is the traditional land of the Noongar Aboriginal people with many Noongar names and travel routes still widely used today. The Noongar (which means “man”) people have occupied the south west area of Western Australia for around 38,000 years and their traditional stories tell of the Waagle (or Rainbow Serpent) giving life and sustenance to their people who in return were the caretakers of the land.
Enjoying a mild Mediterranean climate, the town and suburbs have grown along the shores of Geographe Bay and naturally enough water sports, tourism as well as a growing seafoods industry, feature highly in the local lifestyle and economy.
Located 232km south of Perth, Busselton has a population of over 25,000 and is one of Australia’s fastest growing centres with an average annual growth rate of 4.5%.
Western Australia is Australia’s largest state, comprising about one-third of Australia’s land mass and occupying over 2.5 million square kilometres in area. WA is divided into 10 regional areas - the South West, Mid West, North West, Peel, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, Goldfields-Esperance, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Kimberley.
The South West area of WA is one of the world’s great places to live, with a Mediterranean climate, sandy-white beaches, beautiful native forests and all the infrastructure expected of a modern western society.
Busselton is the tourism hub in WA’s “South West”, an area that is home to the Margaret River wine region and major coal, alumina and mineral sands industries; a region that boasts around 8,000 businesses and a GDP of over $5 billion. Presently it is about a 2.5 hour drive from Perth to Bunbury, but this will be reduced by 30 minutes on the completion of the recently announced Bunbury Highway or Peel Deviation.  Other Western Australian tourism towns in the South West are Bunbury, Margaret River, Donnybrook, Manjimup, Augusta, Pemberton, Collie, Harvey and Bridgetown.
Busselton is well known for its jetty (the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere) and its surrounding beach area.  The jetty was previously in 2 sections, the main jetty and the railway jetty that converged, but in 1978 the main jetty section was destroyed by Cyclone Alby.
Today there is an ornamental train service that will ferry passengers the length of the jetty to a new underwater observatory on the sea floor.  The underwater observatory is open 7 days and accommodates up to 40 persons.
The Busselton jetty is home to the world’s southernmost coral formations and host to over 300 individual marine species, being fed by the warm waters of the Leeuwin current from Indonesia.  Busselton is also home to the world’s last native Tuart forest, just north of the Busselton townsite at Wonnerup.
Another “underwater” feature is the HMAS Swan dive wreck, sunk in 30m waters off Point Piquet at Meelup in 1997.  The Swan was the first ship in the southern hemisphere to be sunk as a dive wreck and is now a living artificial reef and home to King George Whiting, Bullseyes, Samson Fish, Dhufish as well as various plant and corals that are attaching themselves to and around the wreck.
Back on land, there are numerous property choices in the Busselton area ranging from small cottages to traditional suburban family homes and from beach retreats to rural or semi-rural properties.
There is a wide variety of attractions, with Busselton the home of many historic and often majestic historic homes and public buildings.  One of these is Wonnerup House, at the south western end of the tuart forest.
Built by the pioneering Layman family from 1837 (the present Wonnerup House was built in 1859), George Layman, age 31, was killed after being speared by a local Aboriginal in 1841.  Today Wonnerup House is a living museum, operated by the National Trust of Australia.
Other Busselton landmarks and places of interest are the Old Courthouse and Jail complex in Queen Street, the historic Ballarat steam train at the town entrance, the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse, St Mary’s church, the Old Butter Factory, numerous craft centres and wineries and then the host of dazzling Busselton and Dunsborough beaches, coves and points.
There are 3 secondary schools in the Busselton area, several shopping centres, sporting grounds including great golf courses and a public hospital.
Shops are normally open 8.30am-5.30pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am-5.00pm Saturdays with late night shopping until 9pm on Thursday. Several shopping areas have extended trading hours 7 days a week. Banks only operate 10am - 4pm Monday through Thursday and until 5pm on Fridays, although credit and building societies normally also open on Saturday mornings. There are a host of automatic teller machines and bank agencies dotted in and around Busselton.
Many restaurants are open early and close late, with the remainder open in the evenings from around 6pm and for lunch around 12-2pm. There’s a bevy of fast-food options both within the city area and heading south towards Dunsborough and Margaret River.
To get around Busselton there are ample modern taxis, a public bus transport service but we’d recommend hiring your own vehicle as many of the attractions are out of town. The Cape Naturaliste Tourism Association’s main base in Peel Terrace, opposite the Ballarat steam engine, will also assist with additional maps and local knowledge.
There are several Busselton medical practices and we have a listing of emergency medical contacts on our “Contact” page.
The main Post Office is in the CBD area near Bi-Lo, and postage stamps can also be purchased at local newsagencies. Postage for a standard letter, anywhere in Australia, is 50c.
Free to Air TV channels in Busselton are the ABC, GWN, WIN and SBS but many homes also receive the Perth networks 7, 9 and 10. Foxtel pay TV is also available. The electricity supply in Busselton, like the rest of Australia, is 240v. While you are travelling you can be updated on Busselton, Dunsborough and the South West region by turning to Western Tourist Radio. In Busselton turn to 96.5FM and in Dunsborough 98.4FM.
City and suburban locations in the Busselton area include Dunsborough, Yallingup, Jarrahwood, Vasse, Carbanup, Wonnerup, Broadwater, Geographe, Eagle Bay, West Busselton, Abbey, Quindalup and Bovell. There is a full listing of Busselton real estate in our Busselton real estate guide.
The Busselton and Dunsborough areas are also a popular retirement centre and the south west area is also now home to a substantial expat community from the USA, Canada, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Our Busselton real estate guide is of obvious benefit to business migrants, retirees and the local Busselton community.
The Noongar Story in Busselton and the WA South West:
The Noongar people are the original human inhabitants of Busselton and the South West area of Western Australia. Today, as locals try to make sense of the established Western seasons, it is worthwhile examing the traditional Noongar seasons that divided the south west’s climate into 6 rather than 4 separate seasons.
In Noongar Aboriginal culture, Boojar (or land) is of the utmost importance. Each tribal group had their own kaleep or favoured camping locality, which held a special significence to them. The culture has a complex relationship to the land and pays respect to the seasons and the bountiful supply of food.
The Noongar year has six seasons, the first being from December to January. This season is called Birak where hot, easterly winds blow during the day and Noongar people used to burn sections of scrubland to force animals into the open to hunt.
>From February to March, during Bunuru, the dry weather conditions meant Noongars moved to estuaries where fish constituted a large proportion of the seasonal diet.
During Djeran, in April to May, the weather was becoming cooler with winds from the south west. Fishing continued and bulbs and seeds were collected for food.
During the coldest season, Makuru (june to July), Noongars moved inland to hunt areas once rains had replenished inland water resources.
In Djilba, as the weather was becoming warmer from August to September, roots were collected and emus, possums and kangaroo were hunted.
In Kambarang, when rain was decreasing during October to November, families moved towards the coast where frogs, totoises and freshwater crayfish were caught.
For more information on Busselton Western Australia please visit –

http://www.busseltononline.com

Add comment November 18th, 2006

The Costa Brava Insight

Starting at Blanes to the south and ending at Cadaques in the North, the Costa Brava offers purchasers natural beauty, proximity to the great city of Barcelona, historic medieval villages, world-famous restaurants like “El Bulli” at Roses, innumberable excellent sporting opportunities including world famous golf courses and ski-ing in the Pyrenees.
Girona/Costa Brava airport now has four flights a day from London Stansted. There are innumerable fights from almost everywhere in the UK to Barcelona, and local train services are excellent, as is the road network. English is widely spoken, but it is a big asset if you speak a little Spanish. No-one expects you to speak the local language – Catalan.
Although cooler in winter than the Costa del Sol further south, it is also cooler in summer with daytime temperatures around 30c. Lunch on the terrace is a year round option except perhaps in December and January. The atmosphere is also very different, more sophisticated. Incomers are of many nationalities, usually retired or soon-to-retire professionals. Generally they are well travelled, fairly well-off, and sociable, but there are no foreign “ghettos” as occurs further south, so no English restaurants, pubs and bars. Eating out locally is however an inexpensive, and therefore frequent, pleasure.
This is not a travel guide. Our aim in telling you about the main towns and resorts of the Costa Brava, is to try to give you a feel for what would be the right area for you. When making a buying decision, do make sure that you are clear about what you want. Some parts of the Costa Brava die out of season. That may not matter if you don’t plan on being here out of season, but can be soul-destroying otherwise.
You can find all information complementing this article at Costa Brava Homes (www.costa-brava-homes.com).
The original article is at http://www.costa-brava-homes.com/index/eng/costabrava.html.
Is highly recomended that you visit http://www.costa-brava-homes.com/index/eng/mapa.html, a page containing a map of the most importants towns and resorts in the Costa Brava.

Add comment November 13th, 2006

Fabulous Beach Vacations Appeal to the Whole Family

It’s time to plan the family vacation and you’re running into trouble again.  Just once you’d like to find something that everyone will love, but you don’t think you can find it; after all, you have the twins who are six years old, a terminally bored teenager, and a preteen daughter whose idea of the perfect vacation is a trip to the mall.  Your husband loves to golf, and your idea of a vacation, frankly, is anywhere you can just relax and take it easy for a change!
You could try asking the whole family where they’d like to go for a vacation, but you could get answers like this:

Somewhere I can go shopping for some really cool stuff!
The beach, so I can get some surfing in.
A golf resort would be nice – I’d like to improve my handicap.
Can we go someplace where there are rides?  And lots of games?
I think the kids should learn something on this trip; let’s go someplace cultural.

There’s no place that meets those standards anywhere in the world better than Mexico!  If you want to everyone to enjoy themselves and spend a week or two without ever hearing, “There’s nothing to do,” then Mexican beach vacations are the perfect choice!
Sun, sand and surf
Family beach vacations have always appealed to every generation, and for good reason.  There’s something universal about the pull of the ocean.  Warm, white sands that are soft under your feet and lapis blue waters that are crystal clear invoke relaxation and a sense of peace and renewal that can’t be found anywhere else.  Mexico has thousands of miles of soft white beaches that are family-friendly with miles of gorgeous surf.
While you relax with a Pina Colada and a good book and enjoy the sea breeze, the twins can be dashing in and out of the tide, collecting sea shells and admiring hermit crabs as they dart into their holes.   Your daughter can work on her tan or stroll over to one of the booths where locals wait to cornrow her hair.
And don’t forget the terminal case of boredom – he’s trying out a surfboard that he rented from the cabana at the hotel.   Tomorrow he plans to try his hand at windsurfing or parasailing.   Your husband is catching everything on film for later.
And when evening rolls around…
When night falls there’s still plenty to do on a beach vacation.  Most resorts offer a choice or restaurants from family-friendly pizza parlors to fine dining with a great wine cellar.  Or you can explore the local town for a sampling of local cuisine that’s sure to surprise and delight you and your children.  If you enjoy seafood, there’s nothing that beats finding a local seafood joint with seating on the beach for atmosphere and fun.
After the sun goes down, take a stroll on the beach at night and look for sea turtles if the season is right.  These magnificent creatures are an unforgettable experience for young and old alike.
If you head to the boardwalks that abound along most beaches, you’re sure to find games and rides for the whole family.  Your six year olds will be delighted with a Ferris wheel ride with a spectacular view of the ocean while your daughter gets her caricature done by a local artist.
When you step away from the beach, there’s still plenty to do
Beach vacations in Mexico don’t stop at the edge of the water.   All of those fabulous beach resorts are located near wonderful little resort towns that have colorful bazaars and market districts, so the shopping is fantastic!   Remember to do some holiday shopping, and look for a few colorful pieces of clothing to show off when you get back home!
Mexico is full of cultural and historical bounty, so don’t forget to visit some of the rich historical treasures of the area while you’re visiting.  Your family will be amazed by the impressive size and grandeur of Mayan ruins just miles from the beaches.  These ancient ruins are a reminder of the area’s rich heritage and shouldn’t be missed.
When visiting the ruins take the time to admire the villages and towns you pass through; Mexico is a rich mix of heritages.  Descendants of the Maya, Inca and Spanish settlers all make up the rich heritage of today’s Mexico.
Meanwhile, back on the beach…
After a few days of sightseeing, shopping, and golfing even the most energetic family members will want to relax, and that’s why beach vacations are the best thing going – total relaxation!
Close your eyes and think about the beach and you can almost feel yourself relax, can’t you?   Imagine your children building elaborate sand castles in toasted white sands and decorating them with delicate sea shells they’ve collected along the shore.  Picture your teenagers lazily swimming on the rolling waves, ducking under the crystal-clear blue of tropical waters to watch fish flicking about around their legs.
Beach vacations can also give you the opportunity to learn something new and exciting together.  Try parasailing – there’s nothing as exhilarating as sailing through the sea breezes as you look down on the coast from the air like a seagull!  If you’ve always wanted to try sailing, a beach vacation will give your whole family the opportunity to go out on a sailboat for the day.
There are so many tremendous opportunities to do things when your family takes a beach vacation to Mexico.  Whether you want to enjoy the sand and sun, try a little bit of adventure, sample great local foods and wines or make the kids squeal with laughter, you’ll find more than enough to fill every day on our fabulous Mexico beach vacation packages!
Finally, keep in mind that, since family vacations usually mean traveling in the summer months, a Mexico beach vacation can be a great bargain.  Since these months are considered “off season” in this area of the country, you’ll be surprised by just how affordable a really fabulous stay on a stretch of white sand beach in Mexico can be while your kids are on summer break.

About The Author

Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day.  Right now, she knows a little bit about almost everything, and a lot about beach vacations, family vacations, and mexico vacations.   Lori once led a Conga line to the tune, “Hot, Hot, Hot,” throughout an entire cruise ship sailing to Nassau.
www.beach-vacations-4u.com
(True story!)
cbmacgregor@shaw.ca

Add comment November 12th, 2006

Ten reasons to move to the Costa Brava

After France, Spain is Europe’s most popular holiday destination, and the apparent dominance of France is to a large extent due to visitors in transit elsewhere. In 1996 between 1.2 and 1.3 million European tourists visited Spain. It is therefore not surprising that many of them become interested in buying a home there. Spain’s property market generally has enjoyed strong growth, with the Costa Brava enjoying a particularly large rise in values. About 20% of foreign owners are more or less permanent residents of Spain, while the remaining 80% bought their property for either holidays or investment purposes.
The Costa Brava is particularly attractive because

Summer heat is less intense than further south,
Scenery is spectacular,
There are beautiful well-preserved mediaeval towns like Pals and Peratallada everywhere,
Catalonia is well run with good roads and railways
The A7 motorway is never more than a few minutes drive and connects to the French network
Barcelona is easily accessible
Golf courses are numerous and of the highest standard all year round
In winter, there is good skiing in the nearby Pyrenees
There are cheap flights to Girona/Costa Brave airport and to Barcelona and Perpignan.
Eating out is inexpensive and a real pleasure
The cost of living generally is reasonable.

That is an impressive catalogue of benefits. Add that attractive property is still fairly freely available and competitively priced and you will quickly understand the popularity of the region.
Many different nationalities settle here, but unlike further south they are all intermingled, with no “English” estates or “German” estates. The whole atmosphere is much more cosmopolitan. That does not suit everybody.
Before buying anything, do visit the area in and out of season. Resorts that are a buzz in summer often die completely in the winter. To most Catalonians, the Costa Brava is where they go for their summer holidays; they don’t live there, and they don’t even visit at week-ends out of season. If you are buying just for summer rentals and/or your own summer holidays, that does not matter, but if you are thinking of permanent residence, it is a critical factor. Never assume that you may be able to rent your property in winter. It is most unlikely.
If you are thinking of semi-permanent or even permanent residence, you may be concerned that you will find it hard to make friends here, and therefore be somewhat isolated. This is generally not so. Most residents are retired or semi-retired and it is fairly easy to meet new people, particularly of course if you play golf. Incomers tend to be of a similar age and background, even if from different countries. They too want to make new friends.
This may be an advantage or a disadvantage! You will also suddenly find that you have many friends in England wanting to visit you. Some of them may be friends that you thought of only as acquaintances. It can also be difficult for visitors to understand that you are not there just to entertain them, but have your own life to lead as well.
All in all though, the Costa Brava is a terrific place to holiday or live as long as you have thought through your purchase correctly. Our experience comes as part of the package, and our job is to make sure that you make the right decision for you. This is not the Costa del Sol either in terms of weather or life style, but it is culturally rich, welcoming, and offers a great life to those that respond to what it offers.
This article and more can be found at: Costa Brava Homes

Add comment November 11th, 2006

Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Arts

The Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow presents the very best in contemporary visual art, performance, film, music, spoken word, club nights and more.
CCA is an environment where everyone can encounter experimental art or just enjoy the creative atmosphere. Whether you come to see a new work or have a cup of coffee, we want to provide the best experience possible. We have the confidence to be different and we present work that takes chances.
CCA is committed to presenting a challenging and diverse artistic and educational programme across art forms. The programme focuses on three key areas: visual arts, contemporary music and film, while also remaining committed to presenting dance, performance and spoken word through ongoing partnerships with other organisations in the city and beyond.
With financial assistance from the SAC Lottery fund in October 2001, CCA relaunched after a £10.5 million building development programme to redevelop the site at 350 Sauchiehall Street. Building work commenced in June 1999 the new building opened to the public in October 2001. Since that date, CCA has received over half a million visitors.
The building incorporates:

five performance/exhibition spaces
an education space
two Cafe-bar / restaurant facilities
a bookshop
space for up to ten cultural tenants
Scotland’s Cultural Entrprise Office headquarters
a studio flat for visiting artists and speakers

The CCA was established in December 1992 at 350 Sauchiehall Street, retaining the premises as a valuable city centre location for cultural use. As one of only four such contemporary spaces in the U.K., including ICA, London, Arnolfini, Bristol and Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, as such CCA has a clearly stated national role within Scotland’s cultural infrastructure.
CCA is established and recognised as one of Europe’s leading contemporary galleries, and in addition works with a range of artforms including visual arts, performance, live art, dance, music, talks and events. Recent additions to CCA’s remit include a defined music policy centred around improvised, experimental and electronic music. CCA:film concentrate on screenings of experimental and independent arthouse film and documentary film and films you may not otherwise get to see in Glasgow.
By awarding CCA with Lottery funds, The Scottish Arts Council showed recognition of CCA’s contribution to Scottish culture, commitment to the young emerging Scottish artist, creation of opportunities locally, nationally and internationally for that sector.
Likewise Historic Scotland’s financial support of the project illustrates the value to Scotland of the premises in terms of architectural excellence and uniqueness. In addition, the restoration of this Grade A listed building, designed by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thompson, within the heart of the city, illustrates that, together with the Mackintosh buildings surrounding it, this quarter of the city is a focus of architectural interest and the cultural usage of these buildings has a unique cultural tourism attraction.

Add comment November 11th, 2006

The Pyramids of Giza

The most famous Egyptian pyramids to be built are the Great Pyramids of Giza, located in the outskirts of present-day Cairo. There are over 100 Egyptian pyramids of various sizes, and over 50 more in neighboring Sudan. However, the three Great Pyramids of Giza earn their fame by being the largest of these.
In the most popular pictures of the Pyramids of Giza, like the one shown below, the middle pyramid, that of Khafre (Chephren), appears larger due to the angle and because it was built on higher ground. The largest pyramid is actually the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), the one on the left.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu
Contrary to popular belief, not all the Great Pyramids of Giza are considered part of the Seven Wonders of the World. Only the largest, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, is a member, and is the only one of the Seven Wonders that still stands. Egypt was also home to another of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, which was destroyed long ago.
The Pyramid of Khufu has a height of 145 m (475 ft) and a base area of 52,400 sqm (562,500 sqft). That area is large enough to fit over 20 Olympic-size swimming pools! And for thousands of years, until the rise of modern-day skyscrapers, the pyramid was the tallest building in the world.
What makes the pyramid an architectural triumph and one of the Seven Wonders of the World is the fact that the rocks used in its construction each way more than 2 tons. And there are more than 2 million of those rocks.
Greek travelers to ancient Giza wrote that it took a hundred thousand slaves 20 years to construct the pyramid. However, since they visited Egypt more than 2 thousand years after the Egyptian pyramids were built, the truth of their accounts are suspect. Modern engineers estimate that it would likely take less people and less time to build the pyramid using technology that was available at that time.
Treasures of the Pharaoh
The Pyramid of Khufu was built by the Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) in the 4th Dynasty circa 2560 BC, making it over 4500 years old! It is widely accepted that the pyramid was built to bury Pharaoh Khufu when he died. However, many other conspiracy theories abound as to why the pyramids were built, ranging from astronomical observatories to alien artifacts.
Since Egyptian Pharaohs were noted for being buried with their great treasure, Arab conquerors attempted to gain entrance into the Pyramid of Khufu in order to plunder it.
They managed to find a few narrow passages that led both up into the center of the pyramid, and down beneath the massive structure. However, all they managed to find at the end of these passages were empty chambers. No mummies or treasure was found in the pyramid.
During the Arabs’ excavation of the Pyramid of Khufu, they encountered various boulders and slabs that were used to seal the passages and chambers within the pyramid. They also found hidden doors. This probably fueled the many myths about the Egyptian pyramids being booby-trapped, and where a grave robber who managed to get in would never get out alive.
A 17th century Englishman managed to uncover another shaft connecting the passages, but still no treasure was to be found.
Two conclusions can be derived from this. One, ancient tomb raiders have long since plundered all the treasure from the pyramid, leaving behind nothing but a few empty chambers. Or two, Khufu’s mummy and treasure is still cleverly hidden within (or beneath) the Great Pyramid.
For more information on the Pyramids, visit http://www.nekhebet.com/w_pyramids.html

About The Author

Steven maintains the informational website Wonders of Ancient Egypt at http://www.nekhebet.com. Do visit if you want to find out more about the wonders of Egypt such as the Pyramids and the Lighthouse; or mysteries such as mummifcation and conspiracy theories; or its religion and history.
webmaster@nekhebet.com

Add comment November 11th, 2006

The Intellijeune Factor Helps Relocation Decisions

Many people with a desire to live overseas have difficulty in deciding where to go and are sometimes in search of help in making their decisions. Cultural and other activities frequently play an important role in the decision making process. One useful parameter to consider when deciding on where to live and work, I term the “Intellijeune” factor.
Intellijeune is compounded from the English (or French) word ‘intelligent’ and the French word ‘jeune’. meaning youth or literally young person.
The intellijeune factor or ratio is the ratio between the number of university or college students and the total inhabitants. Whether you are thinking of moving within your own country or of living abroad, the intellijeune ratio can be a useful parameter to consider.
The availability of higher education facilities benefits a city and its area in many respects. Not only is the visitor more likely to be exposed to young people and be able to interact with them on a higher intellectual level, but the community benefits too. Cities with a high student population are more likely to offer lively and diverse nightlife and cultural events.
Some students will remain in the city after their studies, thus helping to ensure a more stable economic future for the area. It might be dangerous to equate higher education with financial acumen, but that is my assumption.
That in short is the intellijeune factor. Could it be important to you in your decision making on where to live and work?

Add comment November 11th, 2006