Cycling Holidays in Provence – Heading South Easier than Ever for School Group Holidays

Zipping off to the southern reaches of France has become easier for school groups since the advent of daily flights from various airports around the UK to the likes of Lyons, Nimes, Nice and Marseilles.

The sunny and chic but one time elite Riviera is no longer just the preserve of the rich and famous.

While some high falutin’ types may bemoan the loss of its exclusivity, most of us celebrate the chance to parade the palm tree promenades of Nice, meander around the side streets of the casino capital Monte Carlo, take an hour or two to go celebrity spotting in Cannes or watch the world pass by in from the quiet of a tree-lined avenue in Aix-en-Provence.

Here, too, is chance to relish the rustic scenes which inspired great artists from Monet and Manet to Picasso and Degas, savour the food and wines which they savoured, take in the rustic scenes which so fired their imaginations, visit the one time ‘Papal kingdom’ of Avignon.

Museums and art galleries offer a glimpse of great artistic and historic works and a walk around in hillside village trails in the Alpes Maritimes and the Var valley provide an insight as to how the Impressionists found the inspiration to produce such masterpieces.

This is now a region where international businessmen, film moguls and stage and screen celebs come to play, or seal deals while enjoying the comfort of the sun on their backs. Gazing at the rows of gleaming luxury yachts moored in Mediterranean marinas is an activity in itself – one which defies ‘credit crunch’ headlines. Swish hotels and high priced restaurants are patronised by a designer suited clientelle. Flashy convertibles turn heads as they get caught up in France’s obligatory town centre traffic jams.

But dinted Renaults and standard model citroens also hold their own in the line. You do not have to ‘come from money’ to enjoy the infinite array of rich vistas here, nor to explore market plazas or village squares, to sit by an ancient sculptured fountain or dip your feet into cool river waters.

This is a holiday spot to be enjoyed by all – a delight for school parties, gap-life travellers, or groups of retirees.

For those whose pockets aren’t too deep, there are mouth-watering menus aplenty, terrace cafes affording ample opportunity to people watch at leisure, while savouring a mid-morning coffee or chilling out with a glass of wine. Accommodation choices range from family and school group camp sites to self-catering apartments, country gites for rent, and friendly family-run hotels.

High temperatures in summer make it a favourite for annual holidays, and budget airline services have now turned the Cote d’Azur, in particular, into a popular destination for weekend breaks.

Cannes, a short hop from Nice airport is centre of the media spotlight every year as it hosts the world’s most famous international film festival. Here you can stroll by the fashion houses and perfumeries of the Promenade La Croisette or catch a glimpse of who’s enjoying nouvelle cuisine at the famous Palme d’Or restaurant, visit venues frequented by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, pick up film festival memorabilia, take in a movie at a city cinema.

But it is not just Hollywood stars who are attracted to Cannes. Over the years it has been a port of call for artists of all generations – home to Picasso for ten years, a destination favoured by Renoir, Chagall and Matisse. More modern day artists now display their works at the weekly crafts and antiques markets near the town hall a stone’s throw from the old port marina. Tourists can board the quaint ‘little train’ for a city tour, discover hidden away historic churches, elegant boulevards, the Palais des Festivals, Palais Croisette, casino plazas and flower markets.

From the marina visitors can take a 15 minute ferry to two unspoiled islands across Cannes Bay – St Marguerite and St Honorat. With their ancient forts, chapels, Roman relics and museum pieces, they offer a green and secluded rest from the more mainstream tourist trail.

It is easy to get about along the southern coast, on foot, on bicycle, by, bus, coach or train.

Frequent local buses and trains offer the options for one, two or three centre trips, to explore vineyards, enjoy the local culture, take part in hiking or cycling holidays – or simply to discover secluded beach spots along the coast. Summer or winter, there is a rich choice of those.

Real Estate Is Hotter Than Ever In The Western Cape Of South Africa

Over the past decade, the Western Cape of South Africa has experienced significant real estate growth that registers on a global scale. The overall returns from investment in South African real estate show a 15.1% return in the year 2007. This is higher than sixteen other major countries and has established South Africa as a solid force in the international real estate market. As the most developed part of South Africa, the Western Cape of South Africa is in the middle of most of the success.

This is partially due to the neighborhoods of the Cape Town area, where residential real estate on the Western Cape of South Africa is particularly sought after. There are neighborhoods like Clifton, which is the center of local society and a highly sought after place in which to live. The high-end homes of Clifton are popular for their ocean views and proximity to the pure granite sand beaches of the Atlantic.

Clifton is only one of many desirable places to live on the Atlantic coast. There is also Camps Bay, another upscale neighborhood of Cape Town. With Palm-lined beaches and and exclusive shops and cafes, Clifton is also a popular destination for tourists during the winter months; when they flock to the Western Cape of South Africa.

Another Atlantic Seaboard neighborhood of interest if you are planning on living in Cape Town is the beach town of Llandudno. The truly wealthy live here, and like the fact that that it is secluded, has its own beach, and does not allow stores or restaurants in the area. The semi-private beach here is one of the nicest for sunbathing on the Western Cape of South Africa.

Of course, there is the residential real estate in Cape Town itself, which is a world away from the Atlantic Seaboard. The Newlands, a district famous for its rugby stadium, is a perfect place for families to purchase a home. Situated at the base of Table Mountain near the city bowl, this area of the Western Cape of South Africa receives more rain fall per year than any other and has been nicknamed the ‘green’ district.

Young professional singles prefer to live in De Waterkant, the trendiest neighborhood in the business district of Cape Town. Here, home buyers will find condos and townhomes, as well as the most upscale boutiques and restaurants in the entire Western Cape of South Africa. This is also an area of cobblestone streets and Cape Dutch style buildings.

To get entirely away from city life, many home buyers have found peace in the wine country or the Garden route of the Western Cape of South Africa. Properties here include newer homes, historic estates, and vacant land for building. The scenery is pastoral and the pace is slower here in the valley.

The Western Cape of South Africa has an immense variety of real estate to choose from for anyone who wants to live here. There are also many commercial properties and vacant land for those who want to have a custom-built home. The scenery is also so diverse on the Western Cape of South Africa that anyone interested in a home will be able to find the right location for the home of their dreams.

You Have More Support Than you Know

“God’s the kind of guy you can trust,” was my friend John’s advice on a particularly bleak autumn morning. At the time, I probably gave him one of those oh-please-do-you-think-this-is-going-to-help-me-pay-my-bills looks. Sure, he could trust the Universe. He had a beautiful wife and a great family. He lived in a glorious home and took exotic vacations. He drove a BMW— with a car seat. He did not roll his grocery cart down the aisle bypassing the artichokes because they were too expensive.

I looked at him with his picture-book-perfect life and my upper lip curled. I scanned my own life and felt like I was facing off against the Green Bay Packers wearing high heels and a dress. And I didn’t see any solution in sight. Those dang credit card bills were pummeling me so hard I was seeing double.

How could I even think of trusting in divinity? I had recently discovered that my husband was wildly unfaithful. On top of that, I had lost my business. I was living in someone else’s pool house, driving a beat up borrowed car with a shredded roof because I was far too broke to afford even the smallest car payment, and surviving on peanut butter to pay off Mr. Mastercard.

Sure John could trust the Big Guy upstairs. His life worked. Mine sucked. His GPS was functioning; mine was obviously on the fritz. The Higher Power assigned to him had coached him all the way to the Super Bowl. Mine had left me sitting on the bench.

Oh, It’s Easy for You to Say

Being a pretty sensitive guy, John picked up on my inner rant. He saw through the “crash and burn” of my circumstances and focused on all the good in my life. He reminded me, first and foremost, of my health and the wealth of people in my life who genuinely cared about me—like John himself and his wife, Gracie, for instance. I was fortunate to have such close friends during a tough time. Plus my ex-husband’s mom was actually loaning me a car. Oh, and yes, I had a small but lovely roof over my head. Don’t you hate it when people cut your complaining in half? I sure did.

I would look back on this time in my life and count it as a blessing, John assured me. A blessing! I looked at him like he was smoking crack. But he wouldn’t give up. I had the chance to be a phoenix, he said— that ancient mythical bird that rose from the ashes of its own funeral pyre, miraculously born anew. He and Gracie knew that in the midst of my

challenge was an opportunity for me to become a bigger and better person. Bigger and better person? Ha!

But from John’s viewpoint, my precarious situation was a noble quest. I had unwittingly put myself in the flames. Now the decision was mine: I could roll around in the soot of feeling sorry for myself, or I could start making choices to become a more magnificent being. When he reminded me that Spirit saw my goodness even if all I saw were the charred remains of what I had called my life, he struck a powerful, deep chord.

I thought of Cinderella and the ashes. As a little girl I always wanted to rush through the beginning when she was covered in cinders and wearing rags, and get to the part where she wore pretty clothes and got her Prince Charming. Even as a kid I was a sucker for a good tiara and a great dress. I sighed a deep breath and figured it was time to dust the ashes off and go find my ball gown.

John was right. If I had a shovel to dig myself out of my mess, the Universe had a backhoe (that’s one honking big digging machine). Regardless of what it looked like, maybe a Higher Power was supporting me. Trusting Spirit, however, was as foreign to me as football. I grew up playing with Barbie’s, for goodness sake.

Nothing so Refreshing Than, a Holiday in Jamaica

The Jamaica is certainly among the most visited Caribbean destinations. A holiday in Jamaica offers various pleasures that range from fish-filled coral reefs and white-sand beaches to cloudy rainforests and spectacular waterfalls.

The intoxicating music and the magnificent streets, Caribbean demography is one of the most diverse populations that include African, Chinese, Indian, British and German heritage. It is also the third largest island of the Caribbean, which consists of six main tourist regions. These regions are namely Montego Bay, Negril, Mandeville and South Coast, Ocho Rios, Kingston and Port Antonio.

There are various options to explore tranquility. The Blue Mountain Peak is a paradise for island mountain trekkers and the bird watchers can flock it for exploring more than 200 native species, which consists of around 25 species that are prevalent. A holiday in Jamaica can bring the nature lovers close to more than 3,000 species of flowering plants and around 720 of the rarest ones.

Further, Jamaica has a range of formal gardens that are Hope Botanical Gardens, Cranbrook Flower Forest, Shaw Park Gardens and Coyaba River Garden. Ocho Rios is another prime destination to cruise on ships. In addition, it boasts of bays and beaches lined up to make the visitors indulge in fun and frolic. The Runaway Bay and Discovery Bay are among the most visited ones.

Other attractions are Dunn’s River Falls, Green Grotto Caves, James Bond Beach, Marine Park and White River Valley. The Montego Bay is a prime spot for water sports including sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, underwater sports and glass-bottom boat excursions. A Holiday in Jamaica is also for the shoppers, as they can flock Gloucester Avenue for duty-free shops, souvenir arcades, exotic restaurants and bars.

The Negril has also become a nomadic delight for being an idyllic escape for the crowd. The small resorts snuggled into the cliffs are quite pleasant to stay in. Jamaica is certainly a holiday goer’s delight and offers so much to refresh the vacationers.

Why Does Utah Have More Division 1 College Basketball Teams Than Wisconsin?

Utah has 2.3 million people. Wisconsin has 5.6 million people, yet Utah has more Division 1 schools that Wisconsin. ( 5 for Utah, BYU, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, Weber State vs 4 for Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Marquette UW Green Bay & UW Milwaukee.
With such a population difference, how can this be?

Hawaii – Soon to Be Known For Much More Than Just Sun, Sea and Sand

During May and June, the term: ‘staycation’ was set to be the buzzword that defined the 2009 summer for UK holidaymakers. However, with the recent spell of wet weather and the arrival of the school holidays, the demand for last-minute or cheap cheap sun holidays has returned – and the popular holiday destination that are the Hawaiian Islands is climbing the popularity rankings fast. But the area may soon be considered a top destination for very different reasons.

In a report at timesonline.co.uk with data from Expedia, searches for holidays in Hawaii are up by 90 percent compared to last year – an increase beaten only by Croatia and Costa Dorada in Spain. With the arrival of some grim weather across the British Isles, families who had put off plans to travel abroad are quickly changing their mind – and hoping to snap-up any remaining competitive cheap deals.

Hawaii is a US state made up of hundreds of small isles and eight main islands located in the Pacific Ocean, south west of the Californian coast. The last few years have seen a major influx of tourists to the islands, drawn to the breathtaking landscape featuring black and golden beaches, as well as dormant and active volcanoes. The most populous island, Oahu, is home to state capital Honolulu with nearby access to Waikiki and Hanauma Bay. For somewhere a little more peaceful, Oahu also boasts the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park located amongst the green Ko’olau Mountains.

Due to its impressive growth in popularity, it has recently been reported by the Daily Mail et al. that the next step in the development of Hawaii’s tourism industry will be the construction of a spaceport. The aim is for the state to earmark $500,000 funding to make it one of the first places in the world that is accessible via space travel.

The intention is for the build to coincide with a similar construction in Japan, for instance, meaning that travel between the two places will clock in at just 45 minutes. At a cost of around $200,000 per person, the price would include pre-flight training, a week-long stay in Hawaii, concluding with a rocket launch to 40,000 feet and acceleration to more than 3,000 miles per hour before a return to earth. If the plans go through, Hawaii will be the eighth state in the US to be granted a spaceport license

The north coast of Dominican Republic : much more than what the “all inclusive” will show you

Cabrera and the Costa Verde

East of Cabarete, a famous tourist resort for kitesurfers, opens the Costa Verde. You enter via Gaspar Hernandez whose main street is constantly bubbling of life. The road continues through increasingly exuberant vegetation, remains of a thick forest untouched until the second half of the 19th century. Very soon small colored wooden cabins arise along the road, offering bags of local almonds.

A few kilometers away hides Playa Magante. A trail divides itself in two and leads to both ends of this beautiful grey sand beach. Few bungalows, right on the beach, welcome the tourist; you will sleep soothed by the murmur and eat fresh fish offered by the local restaurants.

Back on the main road, to Rio San Juan, the most famous town on the Costa Verde. Its Laguna Grigri is a must; boats slide in the mangrove to reach the sea or the cave of swallows and Playa Caleton.

Finally, comes Playa Grande, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. A magnificent 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones overlooks the beach and offers a stunning ocean view.

Before reaching Cabrera in the province of Maria Trinidad Sanchez, the road runs through Cabo Francés Viejo, a small national park of 1.5 km2. The white limestone cliff stands out in the background of Playa El Bretón.

Cabrera is a small city on the Atlantic coast, but also a province of 276 km2, offering numerous beautiful natural landscapes. Cabrera is located on a promontory of limestone terraces going down to the sea. In some places the land reaches the sea, while, in other, 400-meter cliffs overlook the ocean. The province of Cabrera offers a wealth of amazing sceneries and striking ocean views. Samana peninsula can even be seen from Cabrera on clear days.

There is a typical Dominican atmosphere in the little town. For a long time Cabrera was just a passage between the Amber Coast and the Samana Peninsula, and only a few foreigners were lucky enough to get a glimpse of its beauty and tranquility and built in their vacation or main residence in Cabrera.

The city is planted along a coastline carved by the centenary assault of waves. On stormy days, the landscape has something reminding of Britain or Ireland. Going either east or west you are not very far from beautiful beaches. Each one has its own style, between a hiden creek and a long stretch: Playa Bretón lying at the feet of limestone cliffs; Playa Caletón de Dario hidden behind a luxurious residence, Orchid Bay, where homes are caressed by the sea breeze; Playa Diamante, a small closed bay where the Ocean enters gently, bringing joy to the children with no fear of the deep sea; and Playa La Boca in the small fishing village of La Entrada. The latter, little known by tourist guides is a long stretch of fine sand. To access Playa La Boca take the royal alley lined with palms, alongside a river flowing into the sea. On their days off, Dominicans can enjoy either freshwater or saltwater, to the beat of tropical music. If the sea is generous, the inland is no less. On the outskirts of La Entrada, Laguna Doudou and the blue lake invite visitors in their green and blue, soft and fresh waters, a great way to escape the bite of the sun. Further up peaks and valleys succeed one another, as green as meadows in Normandy; from the heights you can enjoy the sea without growing tired. Nagua, where trade and agriculture dominate, is the exit door from the Costa Verde.

From Cabarete to Puerto Plata

East of Gaspar Hernandez begins Costa de Ambar (The Amber Coast), named from its large deposits of the fossil resin. Cabarete is a resort known worldwide for its strong winds (one of the top 10 world spots) for the enjoyment of kite windsurfers. It is also a pleasant place for swimmers with 3 miles of beach and a buoyant nightlife with its bars and restaurants right on the sand under the coconut trees. This is definitely an international spot! Further west lies the town of Sosúa, tourist mecca and melting pot. Dominicans and foreigners get to know each other in the district of El Batey (name formerly used only for the Haitian district), while other Dominicans stay in the Charamicos, the poorest district, however undeniably full of the joie de vivre of its inhabitants. The beautiful bay of Sosua, with its translucent green waters joins the two districts. Under the coconut and palm trees, small local shops display Haitian art, jewelry and local multicoloured pareos. You can also indulge yourself with a fresh fish and “tostones” (fried plantains) under the shade of a parasol, lying on a lounge chair.

Walking around in the district of El Batey you will discover the synagogue and the Jewish Museum. During the Second World War, the dictator Trujillo opened the doors of the country and offered to Jews in exodus to settle in what was then a village. The Jewish community established itself on this land and participated in the development of the town.

To get to Puerto Plata, the road runs through sugar cane fields. At the entrance of the city, the road is lined with the large hotel Playa Dorada lying along the long beach, which joins the “Malecón” (walk) in the city. There is a heavy traffic in the city: cars and motorcycles compete for the road, be careful and have eyes everywhere to avoid any accident.

The town is overlooked by the mountain Isabel de Torres, named by Christopher Columbus in 1492. You can climb by cable-car to admire – when the weather is clear – a magnificent panorama of the city and its bay, and a statue of Christ, more modest, though, than in Rio de Janeiro.

In the center one can still admire the ancient splendor of the city and its wooden Victorian houses, notably around “Parque Central” restored in spring 2008. You have to lose your way in the adjacent streets and get caught by the charm of this city rocked by the Atlantic Ocean; you have to sit down and start a discussion with a Dominican, they are always smiling and happy to share with you; you have to visit the museum of amber that tells the story of a marriage of the fauna and flora in the sap of the trees 30 million years ago; you have to enter the Fortress of San Felipe at the end of the “Malecón”, the oldest relic of the 16th century, which once defended the city against pirates’ attack, and housed prisoners at other times of his long history.

Puerto Plata to Monte Cristi

The exit of Puerto Plata towards the west is as lively as its entry; everything becomes more peaceful approaching the Bay of Cofresi named from the famous Puerto Rican pirate. Slightly aside from the beach, toward Imbert is a magical place, Damajagua falls. Go there light with your material well-packed in sealed bags to climb down natural water slides and plunge into the 27 waterfalls (“charcos”) of the river.

Further west you reach the Bay of Luperón offering boats a natura creek shielding them form the storms. It is a quiet place where lies a small fishing port. A few kilometers away, you arrive to what was the first city in the New World, La Isabela. The road is difficult but the landscape deserves the trip. On 10 December 1493, Christopher Columbus founded the small colony. Today, there are the ruins of the military section called “Castillo.” At short distance are Punta Rucia and its beautiful beach of la Enseñada. From here you can sail in a small boat to reach “Cayo Paraíso”, a small sandbar in the middle of the sea. You can swim surrounded by the fish.

The last guard before crossing the border with Haiti is Monte Cristi. The landscape gets drier, the vegetation tougher with a variety of cactus. It rains a little in this region. The city had its golden age with its natural port and its export of agricultural products, bananas and wood, to Europe. Today, poverty pervades the streets. The city does not lack of interest, however, with its salt marshes, the National Park El Morro, which encloses a spectacular rock dressed in a ochre ground, its Cayos Siete Hermanos (7 Brothers Keys) that beyond the corals used to offer a haven for pirates and bucaneers from another time.

For futher information about Dominican Republic, consult my website.

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