The Press Hacker

St. Petersburg is a city filled with old charm and renovated sophistication. You can still find brick paved streets that are shaded by enormous oak trees, and older, charming homes that have been updated with modern conveniences. It has a style that attracts residents and visitors to it. This city has homes to fit every lifestyle. From large estate style homes to small waterfront condominiums, St. Petersburg has it all!

Some of the most well known areas are the beautiful St. Petersburg Beaches. These white sandy beaches stretch for miles and provide a great getaway from it all. The beach is also home to the Don Cesar “Pink Castle” Resort. This landmark building has been providing guests a gorgeous place to stay while vacationing on this gorgeous beach. Ft. Desoto Park has been named one of the top 10 beaches in the United States. Visitors can use the campground, picnic pavilions, boat ramp and tour the gorgeous nature trails that lead to the historic fort that is located on this 900 acre park. Egmont Park is a state park that can only be accessed by water. This facility has a magnificent view of the Sunshine Sky Way that can be viewed from the large lighthouse on this island.

You will not want to miss the waterfront Renaissance Vinoy Resort. This historic hotel is the only resort on Florida’s West Coast that features a marina, 18 hole golf course, two heated pools, and a 12 court tennis complex. Located near the St. Petersburg Pier, it is minutes from sensational dining, shopping, and Bay Walk. This complex has storefronts, dining and entertainment. Whether you come for the day, or stay all night, Bay Walk is a fun hot spot.

If you enjoy the outdoors there are many great city parks with playgrounds, skate parks, dog parks, and fun for all ages. Sunken Gardens is a paradise for those who love flowers and natural beauty. This museum is 100 years old and has some of the oldest plants in the region. For those with young children, St. Petersburg is also home to the Ultimate Party and Play Zone. This large facility is a child’s dream come true with toys, inflatable objects and a host of other activities to get their imaginations going.

St. Petersburg is a city that prides itself on its assortment of art museums, annual city events, friendly neighbors, and preserved beauty. You won’t be disappointed!

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Bay Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in St. Petersburg Real Estate visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.

Easter is Sunday, March 27th! Don’t forget the flowers! Your spring celebration is the perfect setting for beautiful flowers! You can also have a lovely floral gift delivered to your loved ones for Easter!

A popular choice for Easter is the Easter lily. The Easter lily’s true name is Bermuda lily. For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, hope and lifethe spiritual essence of Easter. Your local florist can even add a festive basket & bow to your Potted Easter Lily. They are great as floral gifts for mom or grandma, or to decorate your home or office. They are grown from bulbs, and can be transplanted into your home garden after the blooms have died off. Then, they will bloom in your flower garden every spring!

As a sign of Spring, Tulips are in full bloom, making this a perfect time to send a beautiful vase of fresh colorful tulips as a gift! Many spring flowers are at their peak in the Spring. Your local florist can recommend the many colorful options available.

Centerpieces are a wonderful choice for Easter Brunch or Dinner. Your local florist can create a custom centerpiece in any size, color or style you prefer. They make a great gift for a host/hostess and can also be delivered to your recipient with a personalized Easter message!

Attending Easter Services this year? An elegant corsage or boutonnire’ will compliment your Easter attire!

The Easter Cactus, otherwise known as Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri, is a beautiful spring blooming plant similar to the Thanksgiving or Christmas Cactus. The obvious difference is that the Thanksgiving & Christmas cactus usually blooms at Thanksgiving and Christmas and the Easter cactus usually blooms at Easter. The vivid blooms arrive every Easter and put on a spectacular show! What a fantastic Easter Gift for your loved ones!

Finally, Easter Baskets aren’t just for kids! Send a delicious Gourmet Gift Basket or Fresh Fruit Basket to your loved ones for Easter. Gourmet Gift Baskets can contain many goodies; Jelly Beans, Chocolates, Cookies, Crackers, and other snack items. Beautifully designed Fresh Fruit Baskets offer a healthy option and can contain a variety of fresh citrus and other “in season” fruits. Your local florist can also create the “Ultimate” in Gift Baskets for young people! A Gift Basket full of Easter Chocolates, Jelly Beans and a Plush Easter Bunny anchoring a colorful balloon bouquet would delight any child this Easter! Ask your local florist for details. Happy Easter!

Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design.

Dundee is in an ideal location to visit Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Perth and the Highlands making it the superb base for numerous types of short breaks and holidays. Dundee is known as the “City of Discovery” and is situated on the banks of the River Tay on the east coast of Scotland.
Dundee is also a shopper’s paradise, where major department stores co-exist with specialist shops tucked away in side streets. The aroma from some of the finest bakers in the UK wafts out to tempt you to sample the delicious bridies, speciality pies, tempting butteries and the famous ‘Dundee Cake’.

Places of interest:

Within walking distance of Dundee city centre are Captain Scott’s Ship “The Discovery” and Discovery Point visitor attraction, Verdant Works, Sensation Science Centre, and the Dundee Repertory Theatre. Close to Dundee you can visit Glamis Castle, Scone Palace, Angus Folk Museum, J M Barrie’s Birthplace, Arbroath Abbey and many other local sites of historic interest.
Sensation Science Centre is a Science Centre with a difference. It takes the mechanics of the senses as a base from which to explore the world around us, using lots of interactive tools to keep the young and the young at heart happy.
McManus Galleries is a remarkable Gothic building housing one of Scotland’s most impressive collections of fine and decorative art.
Verdant Works takes you on a historical tour of the jute trade. The story of jute and the story of Dundee are inseparable. At its peak the industry employed 50,000 people in the city and satisfied much of the worlds demand for jute goods.
Discovery Point is the home of Captain Scott’s famous Royal Research Ship Discovery.

Things to do:

Give yourself plenty of time to absorb romantic castles and stunning formal gardens; experience top-quality visitor attractions that inform, inspire and entertain; and indulge in modern, 21st century, cosmopolitan city life, which combines shopping, art, theatre and culture.
Glamis Castle is the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne and has been a royal residence since 1372. Here you can celebrate the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Arbroath Abbey hosted the most significant event in Scottish history. On 6 April 1320 the Scottish Declaration of Independence was signed by the assembled Scottish nobility in Arbroath Abbey.
Barry Mill is an early 19th-century working mill. Here you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the splash of the water-wheel and the sound and smell of grinding grain.
Angus Folk Museum is one of Scotland’s finest folk museums and it is where to find out about life in rural Scotland during the past 200 years.
Scone place breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. It is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction to visitors from all over the world. Fifteen hundred years ago, it was the capital of the Pictish kingdom and the centre of the ancient Celtic church. It has housed the Stone of Destiny and been immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Dundee shopping is where visitors can enjoy state-of-the-art shopping at the glass fronted Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee, or take time to explore unique and individual designs created by gifted and talented crafts people in and around rural Angus.

Food & Drink:

Dundee has a variety of eateries, restaurants and pubs that will suit all tastes and budgets. You can savour the flavour all across Dundee’s city centre. The welcome throughout Dundee is warm and when it comes to eating, drinking and enjoying yourself the atmosphere is cosmopolitan.
The Italian on Commercial Street is where the chefs are Italian and their passion for fresh, quality food can be seen and tasted. Many of their ingredients are sourced from Italy; but they use the finest local produce where possible. All of their meat comes directly from a nearby traditional farm and their steaks are nothing but finest Aberdeen Angus. Their fish is all fresh and prefer to use local suppliers wherever possible.
Bon Appétit provides traditional and modern French cuisine in a classic brasserie atmosphere in Dundee’s Exchange Street. It prides itself in slow food, but fast service! All dishes are prepared on the premises so during your wait you can select a typical French aperitif, a Kir or a glass of champagne. There is a small, but good, cellar with house wine of good quality at a reasonable price at one end of the range as well as some big wines for that real celebration dinner at the top end of the range.
Het Theatercafe is located in the Dundee Repertory Theatre is the perfect place to relax with a drink or enjoy a sumptuous meal

Hotels & Accommodation:

Dundee offers a fully comprehensive range of quality accommodation from traditional family run bed and breakfast, guesthouses and hotels, to four star international hotels and resorts.
Longforgan Coaching Inn
Craigtay Hotel
Panmure Hotel
Swallow Dundee Hotel
Shaftesbury Hotel
DAYS INN DUNDEE
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa
Dundee East Premier Travel Inn
Dundee North Premier Travel Inn

Entertainment

Dundee has all the entertainment facilities you come to expect from a modern city. Theatre, Comedy and the latest films are all available.
Dundee Repertory Theatre is based at the heart of the city’s cultural quarter It is a unique organisation in the UK, providing the most comprehensive arts services in Scotland, offering audiences an all year round mix of theatre, dance, music, comedy and more. It is a major artistic community that is home to Scotland’s only full-time Ensemble Company, the Scottish Dance Theatre – Scotland’s principal modern dance company and the Education & Community Company one of the UK’s largest and most acclaimed Community Arts organisations.
Dundee’s Whitehall Theatre puts a huge mix of shows and talent under the spotlight. It is Dundee’s original ‘Music Hall’ and is situated within the centre of Dundee. The Theatre puts on a variety of shows including West End performers, TV stars, local Amateur Groups and shows specifically for children.
Cineworld is a multi-screen cinema located at the Camperdown Leisure Park and shows the latest films.

Dundee and the surrounding area is the ideal place to see the history of Scotland at close quarters. With so many historical sites your lust for information will be satisfied. If shopping is more your way of enjoying your leisure time then Dundee has a modern shopping centre to offer you and quick access to major cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
This Article may be freely copied as long as it is not modified and this resource box accompanies the article, together with working hyperlinks.

Biography
Name: Maria Williams
Website: www.sleepuk.com
Biography: Maria writes for Sleep UK
providers of discounted uk hotels

Visiting the islands of the Cyclades is an experience you’ll never forget. No matter what you’re looking for in a vacation, you’ll find it in one of these amazing islands!

Touring the Dodecanese Islands of Greece

In the southeasternmost parts of the Greek islands, the Dodecanese islands offer much in the way of tourism. From fancy restaurants to luxurious resorts, tourists find plenty to do at some of these islands. There are also some great beaches. A few of the Dodecanese islands are near Turkey; only a day-trip away!

Read below to learn about the different Dodecanese islands and what to expect during your visit:

Astypalia

Astypalia is actually two islands that are connected by an isthmus, with most of its visitors being Greeks. It resembles islands from the Cyclades more than it does the other Dodecanese islands because of its geometric houses, villages and a Venetian castle. There are some lovely beach coves. The island makes a great getaway if it’s peace and quiet you want.

Halki

The small island of Halki fits well into tourists packages as a place known for unspoiled territory. It’s difficult to find a hotel room, so you’ll want to plan in advance if you plan to stay.

Kalymnos

Kalymnos is where the spongefishermen go, and is a busy, working town. Its main port is called Pothia, which has many cafes and even a sponge museum. Resort beaches and other small towns and ports are around the island so you’ll have plenty to see and do during your visit. Several boats leave Pothia to visit neighboring islands such as Pserimos and Nera. From the town of Myrties, you can travel to Telendos by boat. Telendos offers taverns, beaches and rental rooms.

Karpathos

Karpathos is a traditional island with mountain villages and beautiful beaches. There is a line of mountains that separates the island down the middle, with one side of the island being green and fertile and the other side being rocky. There are some hotels and restaurants in the port town of Pigadia, the capital. Tourism is steady here, but it’s not over-crowded. The Olympus mountain village is a secluded village where Medieval crafts are made and customs are carried out. The island has an airport, and ferries that depart from Pireaus, and some that go to Crete, Santorini, Rhodes, Milos, Naxos, Paros, Kassos and Halki.

Kassos

If you enjoy walking, you’ll love the island of Kassos. You’ll be able to walk from village to village, enjoying the traditional Greek lifestyle in a quiet setting. Phry is the main village on the island. There are some beaches and two monasteries. Only two ferry boats come here per week usually, but the island has an airport with flights to Karpathos, Athens and Rhodes.

Kastellorizo

Kastellorizo is a very small island that’s famous for the film Mediterraneo. Another name for the island is Megisti. It has no beaches, but does have adorable rocky coves where tourists enjoy snorkeling. There are many historic features of the island, especially the fact that it was bombed severely during World War II. Many different types of people have lived here. The island offers ferry connections to Kos, Kalymnos, Rhodes, Tilos and Symi, and also has an airport.

Kos

Kos is an island with beaches, agriculture and archaeology. While on the island, you can explore items from the past at Venetian, Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic sites. If you enjoy riding your bike to explore, you can ride through the flat interior section of the island very easily. The island connects to other larger islands and also Bodrun in Turkey. There are flights to Athens as well.

Leros

Leros is a lovely green island with breathtaking beaches and bays. Those on sailing trips to and from Turkey and other nearby islands enjoy stopping by Leros. Laki is the main port of Leros. Here you can see a detailed example of art deco architecture. This port was designed by Mussilini’s architects in 1923. The capital was then moved to another village called Platanos in defiance to the dictator. Leros has an airport that will take you to Athens, and boats coming from Pireaus to other islands of the Dodekanese group.

Nisyros

Nisyros is a dormant volcano with rich fertile lands. A main port in Nisyros is Mandraki, where there is an ancient acropolis, a beach with black stones and a monastery. Loutra offers a thermal spa. Many tourists enjoy seeing the volcano and visiting the villages of Emboreios and Nikea. From these villages is a great view of the caldera. Walking is a great way to see the island’s landscapes and volcano. Ferry boats can take you from the island to Kalymnos, Rhodes, Tilos, Kos, Kastellorizo and Symi.

Patmos

The “Isle of Patmos” is known for the famous writings of Saint John the Divine, who wrote the book of Revelations in the Greek New Testament of the Holy Bible. He was exiled to this island after attempts on his life failed. Cruise ships often stop here, and the island has beaches and a beautiful landscape. Skala is the main town, which caters to cruise ship travellers. You can visit the monastery of Saint John above Skala, and the Monastery of the Apocalypse that was built around the cave where Saint John had his vision of end times. There are connections by ferry to Kos, Rhodes, Leros and Kalymnos, and a small boat to the island of Lipsi.

Rhodes

Rhodes is the most popular island in the Dodecanese group, and one of the most popular in Greece. The town of Rhodes has an ancient section with historical sites from Medieval times. There’s a walled city and a castle that was built by the Knights of Saint John. The island has fancy resorts, mountains, beaches and villages to keep you busy. The Valley of the Butterflies is a great place to visit while sightseeing on the island. Be sure to rent a car when you arrive so you’ll be able to tour the remote areas of the island. You can take ferry boat rides to nearby islands such as Tilos and Symi.

Symi

This island has pebbled beaches, restaurants and an inviting town. Among the island’s residents are many photographers, writers and astrologers in a co-operative called Symidream. They offer classes in photography, writing and other unique subjects. Connections are made by ferry boat several times a week to Kos, Kastellorizo, Tilos and Rhodes.

Tilos

If you enjoy walking as you explore a new area, Tilos is the place to go. There are deserted villages, a monastery, landscapes, a Medieval castle and also beaches that are not usually very crowded. Livadia offers many places to stay, and many tourists enjoy camping on the beach as well. You can see many different types of birds on the island since hunting was banned 16 years ago. You might even see some endangered birds! Ferry boat connections are made to Kos, Rhodes, Kalymnos and Kastellorizo.

When in Greece, be sure to visit one or several of the Dodecanese islands if you enjoy history, nature and pleasant scenery!

While in Greece you will want a cell phone for use and with the local GSM service you’ll be amazed at how much better the service is in Greece than back home. Virtually everywhere in Greece, yes even islands and mountains, is covered by superb GSM cell phone service. With a local service provider all your incoming calls are 100% free and calling the states is just $.84 / minute. Or, to be 100% sure, you can rent a satellite phone and as long as you can point it to the southern hemisphere you’ll get service across Europe. Free incoming calls day and night from every country on earth and only $1.99 to call any country, always. For more information on renting/buying these type of phones and getting this type of super low cost service take a look at http://www.planetomni.com or call 800-514-2984 inside the States or 925-686-9945 from outside. They ship worldwide and are based in California.

Cell phone use overseas. In 99% of the world the local cellular service standard is called GSM. We use this in the states as well. When combined with a SIM CARD (which usually goes under the battery of the phone) the phone is able to communicate and the SIM CARD also holds the telephone number and memory for pre-paid credit. Rates can be extremely low using this system. For example in 99% of all SIM CARDS incoming calls are free and calls to the states can cost a trifle. Such as, from the UK to the USA 7 cents/minute, from Israel 22 cents, from Australia 27 cents. Yes, USA Dollar cents! There are today even prepaid service providers in the USA offering rates of 10 cents per minute to call anywhere in the US to any type of phone. No contracts, no credit card checks, no bills. Pre-paid always means no minimums no contracts, no obligations. You only pay for the calls made. You’ll need an unlocked GSM tri-band or quadband UNLOCKED phone. You can buy factory unlocked phones and sim cards for more than 170 or the 193 countries on earth from http://www.planetomni.com Tel. #800-514-2984

Relationships have to have some nurturing sprinkled on them, and this can be done with a planned out date night. If you plan out a date night then that means dedicated time to spend on the relationship. What are some fun things to do on a date night? Put Put Golf is always fun. It is outdoors in the fresh air and you can get some exercise in. You could bring along your Acceletrim weight loss solution and use it for some extra energy to walk around the eighteen holes. It might not be as long of a walk as a real eighteen-hole golf course, but it is enough to burn off some fat calories. Put Put Golf give the two of you time to talk about your relationship while in an open and healthy area. This is highly recommended for a date night.

Another great date night activity is to go out dancing. Dancing is very active and can get the heart rate up and the romance going. It is recommended to pick a place that is for ballroom dancing, tango, or salsa, otherwise a place where you can be close to one another and look into each others eyes. Having a specific date night will keep the relationship going in the right direction because the time being spent together is healthy and productive for the both of you.

Dental Tourism is a budding concept for a planned vacation along with total Dental solution and care. Health problems and treatment are very costly in most of the European and American countries compared to this part of the world. We provide excellent package to meet your treatment expenditure and at the same time guide you to spend the vacation. You can enjoy your holidays and receive services related to Dentistry such as Dental Implants at a very affordable price.

A dentist can charge $300 to $400 for a Dental Filling in USA & Europe. It costs only $20 to $40 in India. A Root Canal is $1,500 in the West but only $100 to $200 in India. Dentures can cost $1000 overseas but only $200 in India.

Dentistry is a growing industry with 13,000 practicing dentists in the US. However, at the same time it is not affordable by average citizens due to the expensive Dental Care Services. Dental treatment is generally not reimbursed by the National Health Schemes of some countries and is too expensive.

The difference in charge of a Dentist from US to India is worth a thought. That is why India has recently become a major tourist hub of Dental Care Solutions. You can have your tooth fixed and make your holidays memorable at the same time or simply, enjoy the different hues of Mystic India and get the Dental treatment done without getting a hole in your pocket.

“Buying Expensive things make you feel bad once only, but the bitterness of poor quality lingers long, even after the sweetness of low cost is forgotten” – Dr. William Dickerson

In spite of low cost, you are still getting Quality Treatment in India primarily due to low labor cost as compared to any other region in world viz. Middle East, Western European Countries & United States of America.

Probably for this reason, it is possible to receive high quality Dental Treatment at Sahaj Dental Clinic, Allahabad & Gurgaon, India, up to 75% less than what you would pay at home for the same.

At Sahaj Dental Clinic, “Quality is First & Foremost”. That is why, in spite of being so cost-effective, we strictly adhere to the Quality Control of our Equipments & Facilities, Materials, Procedures practiced in Dentistry & the Professional competency of our Dentists & Lab Technicians.

Because, savings are only meaningful if the patient receives Quality Treatment, equal to or better than that available in their home country.

Courtesy : Dr Sandeep Singh
Visit us at : http://www.sahajdental.com

http://www.dentotourism.net

Dr Sandeep Singh
Director
A Complete Dental Care : Sahaj Dental Clinic
A – 105, Super Mart – I
DLF City, Phase – IV, Gurgaon – 122001
Haryana State, INDIA.
Call us at : 091-9810305132 / 091-9839051515
Mail us at : drsandeep@sahajdental.com / drsandeep13@hotmail.com

1) They don’t have their own domain.

If you knew that you were going to the primo networking event of the year, would you bring business cards printed with your neighbors telephone number? Heck no!

So why would you waste your time and energy building a reputable web site design firm, under somebody else’s domain? Somewhere down the road you’ll eventually get your own URL, so start your business the way you want to finish it.

It costs just $8.95 to register your own domain with GoDaddy.com for a year. Reliable hosting service can be had for less than $20 a month.

I gleefully pay $18.95 a month for my service, and they include all sorts of neat perks. That’s just 5 bucks a week, less than a dollar a day. If your biz isn’t worth a $1 a day investment, then you should be looking for an alternative line of work.

2) They don’t offer any indication of their price range.

Even if you don’t want to give up the entire farm, always give your sites visitors some sort of indication of what your prices are like. This way if your design skills match what they’re looking for, they have an idea on whether they can afford your services or not.

The best way to do this, is to simply give a price range on your ‘Request a Quote’ page. Here’s a brief blurb that you can use:

“Each web site we design has unique elements specific for that particular company. Therefore we do not have set prices. However, just to give you some indication, our rates for complete site design basically range from $250-$10,000, depending on the complexity of the job.

If you’d like a precise quote for your Web site, please fill out the following form.”

3) They use cool techie terms to motivate the prospect.

Let’s say I’m relatively new to the Net, and I’m looking for a decent site designer. Somehow I stumble across your little home on the web. Your site looks good and it loads fast.

Then I and click on the link that describes your services and you have something like this:

“We use Java, Javascript, CGI-BIN and Perl programming, Cold Fusion, and DHTML to build your site.”

Duh! I can barely figure out how to configure my e-mail filtering program, and now you’re giving me a cold rundown of your technical capabilities. Assuming I’m not a technophobe, you’re still bombarding me with too much techno-babble!

A better way to handle this situation is to tell me ‘why’ I’ll need all this razmatazz that you’re offering. Give me benefits on why Java is a good thing for my site, and not in my coffee cup. Tell me ‘how’ DHTML is going to make my life easier. Make believe I’m a client who has more than enough money to spend, but needs a little hand holding to understand all the technical terms.

Copyright 2005 Jennifer McGroary

Article by Jennifer McGroary

The ideas in this article are based on the e-book, “The Web Hosts and Designer’s Marketing Guide.” If you’d like to gain IMMEDIATE access to 100+ strategies and tactics for promoting your web site design or hosting business, get your copy today.

http://www.WebBizInfo.com

REMEMBER, successful marketing is the main ingredient in most profitable web service businesses.

Sorrento, sitting on the south shore of the Bay of Naples is about an hour’s drive from that city and makes a very good center of operations for a three or four day stop in this area. Amalfi is to the south, Pompeii to the east, and the Isle of Capri just to the west in the Bay.

So we start by taking a short ferry ride to Capri, a four by two mile island that has became a tourist zoo in July and August, it’s a tourist trap, plain and simple, during the height of summer. Early spring and again in late September the Island becomes enjoyable again. It originally became famous as the vacation home of the Emperors Augustus and Tiberius. There are a few Roman ruins about (name me a spot around here that doesn’t have Roman ruins!), and an eight hundred year old monastery inhabited by Carthusian monks, its chief attraction is its Blue Grotto.

The Blue Grotto – I hate to keep saying this because I know these people have to make a living – is a TOURIST trap big time. There are three ways to get there: by boat from the harbor, by bus up the road to Anacapri, and hiking up the Phoenician steps, all 800 of them! The bus is the best bet, and certainly a lot cheaper than going by boat. The bus stops quite a distance above the water, you descend the steps hewn into the rock down to where you pay. Did I say pay; you pay three times, once for the boat to the Grotto, again for the rowboat into the Grotto, and again for the entry fee. From mid June to mid September there’s usually a lineup for your turn in a rowboat. Twenty minutes, a half-hour tops to rowboat, visit, and return to your boat.

You need the rowboat because when you get up to the entrance, you have to get down on the floor of the boat, the oarsman grabs a chain along the wall and pulls the boat in. And, yes, it really is blue. If you’re on Capri or even in Sorrento, be sure to go. Just make up your mind to go with the flow, put up with the touristy stuff; and see the Grotto. ONCE, I would never go back.

Second day is a trip east to Pompeii. This is where Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, and as you explore the excavated ruins, you get a first hand look at what life was like in Roman times. It had a population of 20,000 when it was buried under thirty feet of hot mud and volcanic ash, but its best art has been removed to the Naples Archaeological Museum. It was a bustling city, with so much traffic that chariots were banned during shopping hours. You see the odd street sign picturing men carrying vases, apparently this meant “Pedestrians Only”.

Herculaneum, much smaller, less ruined than Pompeii, it has a small number of intact surviving buildings.

And then there’s Mount Vesuvius itself. Some 4,000 feet high. If you have a car you can drive up to the summit, there’s a kind of shuttle bus that trundles up and down all day, or if you’re in the chips take a taxi, but get a quote from several before choosing one. There’s a sort of trail you can follow if you want to hike around the rim. Vesuvius has been rumbling and shooting off steam since 1944, but is not considered really dangerous any more.

Third day is the highlight of this mini tour, the Amalfi Coast. For the money, the road from Sorrento through the towns of Positano and Amalfi to Salerno is one of the best bus rides in the world, and is not for the weak at heart. There are sheer drops of 4 to 500 feet off the side of the road down to the shoreline below. Grab a seat on the right side of the bus from Sorrento, and then a seat on the left for the ride back after a few stiff ones in Salerno for fortification of the spirit. There isn’t a level piece of land anywhere, yet both sides – up the hillside and down towards the water – there are hundreds of dwellings, hotels, villas and garages. Traffic along this road is so heavy in the summer that cars with even numbered licenses are allowed to drive one day, odd numbered the next. Buses and tourists who hunger for the ultimate thrill drive any day.

Enjoy the ride along the road, you probably won’t enjoy the towns along the way. Over-crowded, over-priced and out of reach for the most part of the beaches far below. Positano is the best bet if you want a stopover here. It’s on a short stretch of pebbly beach and has the obligatory expensive collection of women’s clothing stores and cafés. If you only had one day, you could take the morning bus from Sorrento to Positano and return on the afternoon ferry.

So there you have it, three delightful days in Southern Italy, fabulous scenery, lots of history, as usual, terrific Italian cooking, and did I mention the wine? Is it any wonder I love southern Italy.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Travel

Ok are you searching for a different mode to savour skiing? You are bored with the the routine, the snowboard cable car and then snowboard straight down the red run that every one is doing? You need begin heli-boarding. You will see virgin skiing expanses which few other skiers have a chance to snowboard and one can do it so close from Geneva Chamonix.

What is heliskiing? Heli-skiing is skiing, simply rather than catching a ski lift to climb up to the top of the piste, you fly up in chopper. Heliboarding affords fresh fresh fields for your skiing fun.

Normally heli-boarding sorties necessitate a modest band of snowboarders headed by a practized ski guide who recognises the area. Punters are ferried to the peak of the field to be tackled. {They get out of the helicopter and ski to the end of the run. At the finish one is greeted by the whirlybird to take some other run. They could do several runs on a good day. It is a pleasant and invigorating undertaking on which you will see view vistas and experience adventures few others can merely aspire to.

Heli boarding isn’t without perils. Because you’re skiing away from normal ski pistes there will always be concealed perils. You will likewise have a graver likelihood of avalanche. Fortuitously a lot of these perils can be cut back when you go heliboarding with a knowledgeable leader who recognises the mountain extremely well.

What should you do to find the best Paris accommodations to stay in on your next trip to Paris? Nobody, and especially not me, is saying that finding good accommodations for an overseas trip at a good price is easy, but it can be done. When traveling to Europe, you especially want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row so that there are no suprises, or so you are prepared if there are. There are a couple of places you should look in order to find the Paris accommodations that will suit you best. Travel websites online and your travel agent are your two best resources of which you should make use when seeking out your Paris Accommodations.

In order to get an idea of what good prices run at, I would advise that you first check the internet. With the number of travel sites now out on the internet, you should be able to find a large sampling of Paris accomodations pricing. I have always found it more productive to check out the big travel sites before the other ones. Sift through those to find three or four that you like and can navigate easily. Then, go to each site’s accommodations or hotel sections. Select the location in France where you want to stay, and assuming that the site works with international travel you will do fine. You will get a list of Paris accommodations, and with most of the sites you will also be able to research the ameneties of the hotels and their precise locations. It is a nice way to see multiple Paris accommodations side by side so that you can properly compare them to one another. Then, just write down or otherwise keep track of some of the prices to help you as you continue your reasearch.
The other resource that I find to be the most productive for Paris accommodations is a travel agent. For overseas trips especially, a travel agent will be extremely helpful in finding a place for you to stay at a good price. Travel agents have access to discounts and rebates that can actually help you get Paris accommodations through them for less than you would online or just calling around on your own. In addition, if you are using a travel agent to put together the rest of your tip, then why not see if he or she can include Paris accomodations as some sort of travel package that may even save you more money in the long run.

There is perhaps nothing more romantic or exciting than a trip to Paris. However, such a trip requirs a lot of planning and often times a large chunk of money. Therefore it is important to make sure you have everything planned thoroughly and that you are getting the best possible prices. With that in mind, make sure you do careful research on your Paris accommodations. Though you should first check the internet to get a feel for the pricing, you may be best off going with your travel agent since he or she may be able to put together a package of some sort for you. No matter how you go about booking your Paris accommodations, make sure you first do your research and then you can go foreward in your planning with confidence.

If you would like to view more of my articles on Paris Hotels, please feel free to visit my Travel Accomodations website!