In-flight weddings: you cannot be serious

By Charles Starmer-Smith

Walking down the aisle might soon take on a new meaning after easyJet went down the shameless publicity-seeking route of its rival, Ryanair, by announcing that it may begin offering in-flight marriages. Yes, I know it is a credit crunch and yes, it could double up as a honeymoon trip, but this takes tacky weddings to a whole new level.

You can imagine the scene: it’s the biggest day of your life and the guests are arriving right on time – cue a mad scramble for seats (or perhaps the groom has stumped up for priority boarding?). Some 180 disgruntled holidaymakers squeeze into the cramped seats in the subtly-lit orange surroundings, ready for the service to begin.
A few pre-wedding nerves sees the groom queue for the lavatory, before the bride begins her nervous walk down the aisle, bashing elbows and dodging trolleys along the way. A nasal-sounding pilot then begins the vows, before the bride and groom return to their seats for a couple of in-flight announcements, before the long-awaited wedding breakfast: two limp ham sandwiches, two mini boxes of Pringles, a couple of quarter bottles of red, some fizzy water and coffees to finish. All for just under £24. A bargain.
Jeffery Husson, who is a captain at easyJet, thinks it is a great idea: “To officiate a wedding would be a special honour for me. It would be exciting if I could marry couples above the clouds,” he said this week. A few passengers might prefer him to focus on flying the plane.
However, the main obstacle to the future of in-flight weddings is whether Luton council will grant the airline a marriage license. Please do the decent thing.
The move marks a departure for the airline which has commendably refrained from the publicity stunts of airlines such as Ryanair and Virgin. Might this new tactic have something to do with the fact that the airline has posted an alarming £117 million loss in the last quarter, as Britons turn away from trips to Continental Europe due to the weakness of the pound?
But we should not be too harsh – easyJet is far from alone in desperately seeking publicity. Airline stunts range from the publicity-shy Sir Richard Branson claiming that couples flying on some Virgin flights would soon be legally allowed to join the “Mile High Club” in new padded and sound-proofed lavatories, to China Eastern Airlines announcing that it was going to limit passengers to just one lavatory visit per flight to save fuel.
And clearly the tactic is working: we have put together a round-up showing the lengths airlines will go to to make the headlines.

Touring the Five ’Stans

by Gordon Kilgore; Sharpsburg, GA
I became interested in Central Asia many years ago when reading about the Silk Road. Bukhara and Samarkand always seemed like mystical places to me. More recently, I read a book about Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford that made me, more than ever, want to pay a visit to the area.

Planning the trip

While on another trip, in 2009, I met a man and his wife who had recently completed a trip to Central Asia arranged by Irina Chugaev­skaya of Aba Sayyoh Tours (M. Usuf Street 52, office 6, Tashkent; phone +988 71 2671796) in Uzbekistan. This couple was most pleased with their experience, so I contacted Irina to see what she could arrange for my wife, Margaret, and me.
Initially, I was not sure exactly what I wanted, but I did know that I did not want to join a large group. While tour operators with groups of 12 to 36 people do provide a certain comfort level, traveling with them makes me feel like a tourist and not a traveler.

Originally, there were to be two other couples joining us, but they both backed out, so it was just Margaret and me with a car, a driver and an English-speaking guide. There were times, such as at airports and border crossings, where we were on our own, but it was only for a very short time.
The tour cost us a bit more than what it would have with six people, but what we gained was flexibility. As a photographer, it was important to me to be able to stop from time to time for photo opportunities. We were able to eat where and when we wanted, stay in small hotels and guest houses in great locations and have one-on-one conversations with our guide. Deviations from the planned itinerary could be arranged and questions asked at any time.
Other than breakfast, we never ate a meal in a hotel, choosing, instead, small places where the locals ate. We were able to visit homes and farms and see life as it really was.
Our trip was 18 days, but if I were to do it again I would make it a few days longer.

A smooth start

We began our trip on Sept. 9, 2010, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. As Irina promised, when we exited the baggage claim area at the airport there was someone holding a sign with our name on it. In short order, we were off to the Tashkent Palace Hotel. This was perhaps the most expensive of all of our lodgings on this trip, and it was an excellent choice from which to begin and end our tour.
The following day we toured part of Tashkent, then went to the airport for an afternoon flight to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, continuing the next day by car to Lake Issyk Kul in the northern Tian Shan mountains. Lake Issyk is about 113 miles long and 37 miles wide, making it the 10th-largest lake in the world by volume and the second-largest alpine lake.
After driving around the north and east sides of the lake, we spent the night at the Green Yard Guest House in Karakol. The Green Yard was a most delightful place, with excellent food served by a gracious host. I particularly liked the old Russian-style wooden houses in Karakol.
Completing our drive around the lake the following day, we then headed north to the Chong-Kemin Valley. Our destination was the village of Chong-Kemin and the Guest House Alpinist. Our room there was in the new addition, and all meals were included.
I spent a half day wandering the village, meeting and photographing some locals, our guide Vitaliya Timchenko doing the interpreting. It was harvesttime in the fields, and people were gathering potatoes and hay.
We departed the Chong-Kemin Valley and stopped at the Sarmysh Gorge to view ancient petroglyphs. Then we drove up into the Jety-Oguz Gorge for a night in a yurt.
A cold front had passed through that day, so it was much colder than we had expected. My thermometer read 36°F inside our yurt the next morning. Frost topped the yurt and covered the ground.
We both had so many quilts piled on top of us that we could barely move. At least there was a fire in the yurt, where breakfast was served.
After breakfast we loaded up and drove to the Kazakhstan border. Our guide and driver had been through this border crossing many times and knew the routine. Still, we had to walk across with our luggage and, on the opposite side, meet the car after it had passed through Customs too. This took about 1½ hours, due to the many people crossing with us.
It was late afternoon when we finally reached Almaty, Kazakhstan. We had just enough time remaining in the day for a city tour, since we were to fly back to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the morning. I would allow another day in and around Almaty should I visit again.

Returning to Uzbekistan

Back in Tashkent, we were met by Elena Azaranko, our Uzbekistan guide for the next six days. After seeing more sights in Tashkent and spending another night at the Tashkent Palace Hotel, we drove to Samarkand. Finally, we had arrived at one of the cities that had first enticed me to take this trip.

Samarkand is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan, and in the 14th century it was the capital of the empire of Timur. Samarkand was an important stop on the Silk Road between China and the West. Some wonderful monuments are preserved from that period of time.
The well-preserved and -restored Registan, a complex of three madrassas, was the ancient center of Samarkand.
We spent three nights in Samarkand at the very nice Malika Prime Hotel, which was within sight of Tamerlane’s mausoleum, the Gur-e Amir, and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
After two days of touring, we made a day trip to Tajikistan to visit the ancient ruined city of Panjakent. Our guide in Tajikistan was Hamrokul Mirzoev, an English teacher. With his help, this was the easiest and quickest border crossing of the entire trip.
I asked if it was possible to visit someone’s home, and Hamrokul said that he would go ask a farmer who lived nearby. It was about noon on a Sunday when we found Jaliloov Razshan in his yard. He readily agreed to show us his house and farm. He had a house full of relatives and the small kitchen was busy.
After we had toured his farm and house and met the family, Jaliloov asked Hamrokul if we would like some tea. We agreed. Removing our shoes, we sat down on quilts placed on the ground under the shade of nearby trees.
First, two kinds of home-baked bread appeared, followed by a plate of dried apricots, nuts, two kinds of cookies and candy. A dish was brought with brown butter that tasted like cheese.
Jaliloov then got a melon (somewhat like our honeydew but larger) out of the pond, where it had been placed to keep it cool. Our guide proceeded to slice the melon, which was very sweet and delicious — but we were not through. A watermelon was also sliced, and a towel was passed around with which to wipe our hands. (The towel was really needed when we were given a large tomato, which was eaten like an apple.)

Finally the tea was ready, served in handleless cups larger than our typical teacups, which we cradled with both hands.
That morning, Margaret and I had decided to skip lunch to allow extra time for touring. It was a good idea because Jaliloov’s wife brought each of us a big bowl of soup. Margaret decided to pour a little of the soup in her teacup to have a small sample. The soup, filled with vegetables and meatballs mixed with rice, was delicious — so good, in fact, that Margaret ate not only what was in her cup but the balance of the large bowl that was brought to her.
I had read that Tajik people were some of the friendliest in the world, and I can now say, without hesitation, that the members of this family certainly were. I could not help but wonder how many American families could have or would have produced such a spread on the spot without prior warning.
Another quick trip across the border and we were met again by Alina, our Uzbek guide. After spending the night in Samarkand, we made our way to Bukhara, only a few hours away by car.
“Wow!” was my reaction to this magical city. The historic center, which has been inhabited for about 2½ millennia, contains many mosques and madrassas. Some are still functioning, while others are well-preserved monuments. Many of the buildings are from the eighth to 17th centuries.
The historic walled city center is easily explored on foot in a couple of days.
I had thought that Samarkand was my favorite place… until I reached Bukhara. If I had only one place to visit in Central Asia, it would be this city.

Turkmenistan troubles

Next on our itinerary was Turkmenistan for four days. We drove to the Farab border to begin what was the worst border crossing of our entire journey.
First we had to exit Uzbekistan. We presented our passports before entering a building to fill out two Customs declaration forms. The completed forms were inspected and stamped.
After all of our bags were scanned, we walked to the next building, where our passports were checked again and information about us was listed in a book. Finally, our forms and passports were stamped by the exit officer.

A sign read, “Follow the arrows to the neutral zone.” We complied. Upon entering the neutral zone, we had one more passport inspection by an Uzbek border officer, who then pointed down the road in the direction that we were to proceed.
All we could see was a line of trucks waiting to enter Uzbekistan. Beyond that was bushy desert. That was it! Where was the Turkmenistan border? We discovered that it was over a mile away, so off we went, rolling our luggage.
Finally we reached a passport checkpoint. However, the Customs building was still another half mile away. Fortunately, there was a minivan that transported us the rest of the way for $1 — money well spent.
The van delivered us to the building and, after a passport check, we were allowed to enter. Someone handed us a Turkmen Customs declaration form. Once it was filled out and inspected, we proceeded to another area to obtain our visas.
To enter Turkmenistan, as for Russia, one must have a Letter of Invitation, which we had with us from our Uzbek travel agency. However, a Turkmen travel agency representative must show up with an Entry Travel Pass. As we later discovered, our Turkmen guide had the pass with him, but he was not allowed past the outside gate.
We explained to the agents that someone from Ashgabat Siyakhat Travel Agency was there to pick us up and should have the required documents. We had the travel agency’s telephone number, so the visa agents made a call to Ashgabat, about 384 miles away, and our guide was finally allowed to enter to produce the necessary documents.
Finally, everyone seemed satisfied and we each paid the required 55-dollar visa fee plus the entry fee ($12). With the visas finally in our passports, we ran our luggage through the scanner and our passports were checked again. Our Customs declaration form was stamped and collected and, with one final passport check, we were finally allowed to exit the building and enter Turkmenistan. The entire border crossing took almost two hours.

Sites of interest

Of the five countries we visited, Turkmenistan would be the one to which I would not want to return. There seems to be little interest in promoting tourism, perhaps partly because the country has vast natural gas riches. In a sense, I did not feel welcome.
Photography was restricted and access to certain areas was limited. There was almost no Internet access, and it seemed the government controlled everything. It reminded me of Russia before the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Over 70% of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert. Much of the remaining land is planted in cotton, which requires vast irrigation. One of the main roads running through the Karakum is paved with asphalt but was rutted much like a dirt road because the summer temperatures are well above 100 degrees, making the asphalt soft enough that heavy trucks create ruts.
I found four main things of interest for visitors. The first point of interest is the capital, Ashgabat. While it does not surpass Dubai in construction, I saw modern buildings in every direction. The city was full of parks, monuments and trees. Considering that it is a desert city, it boggles the mind to think how much irrigation it must take to keep all of the trees, plants and grass alive.
The streets were wide, with modern vehicles everywhere. There were many high-rise apartment buildings and shops selling Western-style clothing.
Turkmenistan does contain the ruins of two ancient cities. The ancient city of Merv, near the modern city of Mary in southeastern Turkmenistan, was an important stop on the Silk Route. Its archaeological ruins consist of a series of separate and adjacent walled cities, dating from the sixth century BC to the 15th century AD. Some of the walls were visible, as were the remains of a few buildings.
Another place of interest is Nisa, an ancient city located about ten miles northwest of Ashgabat. Excavations have revealed portions of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is said that Nisa was the first capital of the Parthians, around 250-211 BC. The city was destroyed by an earthquake during the first decade BC.

Kunya-Urgench

We departed Ashgabat in the early morning on a flight to Dashoguz. Turkmenistan Airlines is heavily subsidized, so flights are very cheap. (Ours cost less than $20 each.)
We were met by our guide Anna with a car and driver and taken to Kunya-Urgench, situated in northwestern Turkmenistan on the banks of the Amu Daria River. The origins of Kunya-Urgench go back to the sixth or fifth century BC.
The town was located on the crossing of two major trade routes and became an important trading center from the 10th to 14th centuries. Genghis Khan destroyed the city in 1221, but it was rebuilt with fine bazaars and impressive buildings. In the late 14th century the city was ravaged by Timurid troops.
This World Heritage Site has three main attractions: the ruined fortress of Khorezmbag, dating from the mid-19th century; the remains of the Kyrk Molla Fortress, from the fifth century BC, and the 60-meter-high Kutlug-Timur Minaret, the most visible landmark. There are also mausoleums, mosques and Muslim graveyards.
After touring Kunya-Urgench, we drove the short distance to the Turkmen-Uzbek border for our final border crossing of the trip. We encountered no problems there and it took less than an hour to complete. Our new Uzbek guide, Maria, and our driver took us to Khiva for our final two days in Uzbekistan.

Coming full circle

Khiva is an ancient desert oasis, bordered on the south by the Karakum Desert and on the northeast by the Kyzylkum Desert. It was the center of a notorious slave market from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Khiva is divided into two parts: the outer town, called Dichan Kala, which was once protected by a wall, and the inner city, or Itchan Kala, still enclosed by brick walls measuring 10 meters in height.

The Old Town contains historic monuments and old houses dating mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Some structures were begun as early as the 10th century and were rebuilt and modified over time. About 50,000 people live in the combined parts of Khiva, the city a photographer’s delight from dawn to dusk.
We took an evening flight to Tashkent, then an early-morning flight to Rome and on to Atlanta.
Excluding visas, the cost of our 18-day tour was $3,200 each, including a car and driver in each country, an English-speaking guide, all admission fees and hotels, lodges, guest houses and yurts, with daily breakfast.
A few of the out-of-the-way lodges and the yurts included all meals as well; otherwise, we paid for our own meals as we went. I do not recall paying more than the equivalent of about $7 for any meal, and many were $3-$4.
Our $3,200 also included four separate flights.
We had a total of six local guides. Five were excellent and we would gladly recommend them to others. (Our first Turkmenistan guide was substandard.) All of the vehicles were in excellent condition, with sufficient room for our gear and guide. All of our guides had cell phones. Excellent planning by Irina made things go very smoothly. I would definitely use Aba Sayyoh again.
Looking back, I would make a few changes should I take this trip again. I would add an extra day in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and an extra day at the end of the trip in Tashkent. Our late arrival in Tashkent that night and a 5:45 a.m. departure the next morning made for a very short night. I believe I would also like a couple of extra days in Tajikistan to visit the mountains.
Mid to late September was an excellent time to visit. Crops were being gathered in the fields and the temperatures were very pleasant. I think that spring would also be a good time for a Central Asia trip, but don’t go in the summer unless you enjoy 100°-plus daytime temperatures.

Dress For Success - On a flight?

By George Hobica

Airfarewatchdog.com

When a friend of mine checked in for a flight from San Francisco to Vancouver recently, he was surprised that the Air Canada gate agent handed him a first class boarding pass as he was about to get on his flight. What was so unusual about this? Several things. He had bought an economy class ticket, he rarely flies on Air Canada and thus has no frequent flyer status on the airline, and even more unusually, the flight was half empty so this wasn't an oversell upgrade situation. So why the extra love?

Because he was wearing a suit. Yep, my pal asked the gate agent why he was so blessed and she answered, "our station manager noticed how well dressed you were and told me to upgrade you."

I, too, was upgraded recently on a United p.s. flight from LA to New York's JFK, and I, too, was wearing a suit (if I'm going on a business trip, I wear my suit on the plane, in part because I don't want it to take up too much room in my carry on). I only have 80,000 lifetime miles in United's MileagePlus program, and no, before you say, "Yeah, but they know who you are" trust me, they don't. Not wanting to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, I didn't ask the gate agent why I was upgraded from a frequent flyer economy class seat all the way through business class and up to first class (in fact, when I heard my name over the PA system my heart skipped several beats because I assumed that the flight was oversold and I was being bumped, owing to my lack of status). But I'm going to guess it was because I was the only person in the waiting area who wasn't dressed like I was about to head off the to gym.

"You can't fly on Concorde! You're not wearing a tie!"

Think this is nonsense? Well, not really. For a couple of years in the 1980's just before they went belly up, I worked as a consultant for Eastern Airlines (remember them?). As such, each month I was given a stack of flight coupons. I'd just make a reservation and hand one of these coupons over at the ticket counter and I could fly anywhere in the Eastern system for free, in first class no less. One evening I was flying back to Boston, where I lived at the time, and was curious to see that the agent handed me a seat in economy. "Is first class full?" I meekly inquired. "The way you're dressed, you don't even deserve to fly at all," he scolded. What was my sin? I was wearing a suit and a nice pair of shoes, but had taken off my tie. Into economy I went.

Another time I was booked in business class on British Airways on a pass from Heathrow to New York. Due to an air traffic controller slow down, my flight and virtually all others were canceled, but I convinced the company to put me on the one flight that was still operating, which happened to be on the Concorde. I approached the ticket counter and explained that I was authorized to fly supersonic. "You can't fly on Concorde!" the agent barked at me. "You're not wearing a tie!" True story. Luckily, this time I had a tie in my carry on. "One sec," I replied. I ducked down behind the counter, quickly repaired my wardrobe malfunction, popped back up and said, "Can I have my boarding pass now?" And off I flew.

If we have to dress up, why don't the passengers?

You see, for many years airline employees were required to dress nicely if they were flying on a pass. Women were required to wear a skirt and a blouse, and men at least a sport coat and tie, or in some cases a suit. The rules were especially strict for first class travel. No jeans. No sneakers. No tie, no service. Although most airlines have relaxed these rules, there are a lot of employees who remember the old days. And perhaps they figure, if we had to dress well to fly, what's up with all the passengers who get to sit in first class dressed like Richard Simmons? (It's a bit ironic that these days when you fly first class on British Airways and many airlines, they give you a pair of pajamas to change into).

And although I don't recommend that you show up at the airport in your pj's, it's entirely up to you how you dress when you fly and I do understand that flying is often uncomfortable and many folks want to make the flight as pleasant as possible.

But, I'm just saying. Everything else being equal (same frequent flyer status, etc.) when a flight is oversold in economy and the airline needs to upgrade someone, are they going to choose the passenger in the tank top or the one wearing the nice dress or suit? You know the answer. (Of course, it doesn't hurt to be extra nice to any staff you should encounter.)

How do you dress when you fly? Have you ever been upgraded because you were well dressed?

Was Dubai A Disaster Waiting To Happen?

Posted by admin on Nov 30th, 2009 and filed under News, Photo Gallery, Travel Industry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Dubai has existed for many years as an important strategic post between the east and western worlds with its earliest ever mention thought to be in the “Book of Geography” dated 1095. More recently Dubai has flourished at an exceedingly fast rate.
2001 saw construction begin on the now world famous Palm Islands by Nakheel Properties, a UAE development company who hired Belgian and Dutch contractors to start dredging and reclaiming land to create the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and the Palm Deira. The 2,000 villas and townhouses on the Palm Islands sold out within a month when they went on sale in 2002. The one million pound properties were snapped up by footballers and film stars alike with David Beckham, Michael Owen, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie buying some of the much sought after beach side properties.
Thousands of people flocked to Dubai during these affluent times, many enticed by the tax free lifestyle. Property prices soared and by the end of 2007, rents skyrocketed as Dubai became hooked on its own success in seeming to have achieved the unachievable. But was this envied emirates bubble about to burst?
There was unrest among the natives, workers were becoming restless at their conditions and pay, constructing tower blocks in the mid day heat, without proper breaks and working for paltry wages that sometimes weren’t getting paid for months was causing unrest. They couldn’t leave as would most certainly lose the money they were owed and they simply could not afford this. Workers began to protest and the government was forced to intervene.
Nakheel Properties operate under the umbrella of Dubai World, who manage various businesses on behalf of the Dubai government and are responsible for a lot of the construction work that has gone on in Dubai over the last several years. They are currently working on The World and Universe Islands and have announced plans for the Nakheel Tower, which when built will be the world’s tallest skyscraper standing at over two thirds of a mile high, and at the centre of a vast development complex called the Nakheel Harbour and Tower. However all this has now come to a grinding halt.
Dubai’s government has tried to deny that they had any financial problems, however top of the range sports cars have been abandoned at the airport with credit cards still inside as people flea from the threat of imprisonment if they go bankrupt.
The Dubai government and its associates have more than $80 billion worth of debt and have already twice asked Abu Dhabi for funds to help bail them out. The Federal Government has already approved $15 billion in bonds, but the emirate is going to need much more if it is to avoid total financial meltdown. Has the greed of trying to build faster, bigger and better than anywhere else in the world, a dream that was seemingly coming true, turned into a very expensive nightmare? A nightmare which could leave this stretch of the Persian Gulf coastline looking like a very costly construction site?

CAN YOU BELIEVE YOUR EYES?

Can you believe your eyes? When it comes to these head-twisters, chances are you can't. Come around the globe with us on a tour of "Did you just see what I just saw?".

1. Fata Morgana, Antarctica
Way up north (or way down south) the clear and pure air brings distant objects into sharp focus. Depth perception becomes impossible and the world takes on a strangely two-dimensional aspect. On maps and charts the early explorers meticulously laid down islands, headlands and mountain ranges that were never seen again. An amusing example of the phenomenon involves a Swedish explorer who was completing a description in his notebook of a craggy headland with two unusual symmetrical valley glaciers; he was actually looking at a walrus! Fata Morganas are caused by reflections off water, ice and snow, and when combined with temperature inversions, create the illusion of solid, well-defined features where there are none.
Touring the Antarctic? Look for a company that's a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators; it means they're into responsible tourism.
2. St Elmo's Fire, Edinburgh, Scotland
Herman Melville called it "God's burning finger." Caesar saw it on the javelins of his troops the night before battle. This spectacular effect (cause by the discharge of electricity from storm clouds to the earth) has always conjured thoughts of omens and divine intervention. It's often seen on the masts of ships during a storm; sailors would welcome the sight, as it usually comes at the point where a storm is quieting down. St Elmo was a protector of sailors, and it was seen as his calling card. The effect is frequently seen on the heights of Edinburgh's Castle Rock.
You can't miss the Castle, towering over the town from its volcanic perch. The Royal Mile will take you there.
3. Polar lights, Alta, Norway
A space spectacular, the polar lights are a dazzling Arctic and Antarctic display, their colorful sheets of light transforming the endless winter nights into natural lava-lamps. The polar lights — aka aurora borealis and aurora australis — form when solar particles, thrown out by explosions on the sun, are drawn by the Earth's magnetic field toward the north and south poles, colliding with atmospheric gases to emit photons, or light particles. What results are brilliant sheets of green, red, white, purple or blue light.
With a latitude of 69 degrees north, the Norwegian town of Alta is renowned as an excellent base to see the lights.

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4. Brocken Spectre, Goslar, Germany
For thousands of years anyone lucky enough to witness this extraordinary optical phenomenon probably thought they were in the presence of God or undergoing their own spiritual rebirth. That's because the spectator is confronted with an image of their shadow surrounded by a halo of light, usually around the head. The phenomenon mostly occurs near mountain peaks when the air is moist and the sun is low. The name owes its provenance to the Brocken, which at 3,743 feet is the highest peak in the Harz Mountains straddling the German province of Saxony-Anhalt.
Berlin Linien Bus has a service to the Harz Mountain's gateway town of Goslar; the trip costs around €40 (about US$56).
5. Green Flash, St-Jean de Luz, France
A favorite of those with romantic imaginations, the Green Flash (or Green Ray) seems to capture something of the ineffable and transitory nature of existence. It's an effect seen at the end of the sunset, when a green spot or a green ray seems to shoot out of the sun. The causes of the illusion are complex and have to do with the refraction of light, the thickness of the atmosphere and the curvature of the Earth. Try for a glimpse of it in St-Jean de Luz, the town featured in Éric Rohmer's moody film "Le Rayon Vert."
St-Jean de Luz is on the Basque coast, south of Biarritz; try some of its famous seafood while you're waiting for sunset.

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6. New-growth conifers, Mt St Helens, Wash.
This is one for a spring day. As you approach Mt St Helens, in Washington state, you'll see that the new, pale-green growth sprouting on the dark-green conifers forms an eye-bending pattern, almost like an op-art painting. Spread across the scale of the forest, the effect is startling. Mt St Helens erupted spectacularly in 1980, causing its north face to collapse in a shower of rocks and releasing a massive ash cloud. Fifty-seven people were killed and the landscape was instantly turned into a featureless moonscape. Since then, the area has been protected and allowed to regenerate.
Visit the Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument website to check out the webcam and visitor details.
7. Magnetic Hill, Ladakh, India
A land of high snowy passes and ancient gompas on the borderlands of Tibet, Ladakh is the kind of place where your imagination can run away with you. Here you can encounter the phenomenon of a magnetic hill, also known as a gravity hill, where vehicles left out of gear appear to roll uphill. This astounding effect has led to stories about how the magnetic force pulls planes off course. But in fact this is just a powerful illusion — the slope is actually slightly downhill, but the shape of the surrounding landscape and mountainous horizon mean that our usual reference points are obscured.
The hill can be found 19 miles from the historic capital of Leh along the Leh-Kargil-Baltic highway and is marked by a large sign.
8. Desert mirage, Nullarbor, Australia
This is a commonly observed phenomenon — a heat haze that makes the air shimmer and can make roads look wet. It's a mean trick, really. For exhausted travelers in brutal heat, the appearance of an illusory lake in the distance cruelly raises and then dashes hopes. On the other hand, if you're cruising comfortably along in a car with a mineral water to hand, the hazy refractions of light just add to the atmosphere of your road trip. Australia's Nullarbor Desert (its name means "no trees") is the ultimate flat horizon. Driving along this seemingly endless road affords great opportunities for flirting with mirages.
Before attempting a Nullarbor crossing, make sure your vehicle is in excellent condition and you have plenty of water.
9. Paasselkä Devils, Lake Paasselkä, Finland
In England they're called will-o'-the-wisps or jack-o'-lanterns. In America they're called spook lights. The Scots call them spunkies. The phenomenon they're referring to is a light that appears at night, often in marshy ground. If followed it will back off; it can also appear to follow you. Most cultures have seen such lights as evil spirits, luring travelers to doom, or harbingers of disaster. Finland's deep Lake Paasselkä is famous for mysterious balls of light; they've even been caught on film! In Finnish folklore, the lights are believed to mark the sites of treasure.
Traditionally, the Finns believed that early autumn was the best time to go looking for strange lights and the treasure below them.

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10. Sun dogs, Timbuktu, Mali
A sun dog ("parhelion" when it's being posh) is an effect seen around the sun. It looks like bright spots of light (or "mock suns") sitting on either side of the sun itself. It can last for hours. In earlier times it was seen as a frightening omen of bad times ahead. But when you know it's just innocent ice crystals making prisms in the air it's a lot less threatening. You'll have the best chance of seeing one when the horizon is flat. Timbuktu's baked-sand vistas and ancient mud temples could make a good setting for a sighting.
In the dry season, battered 4WDs go from Mopti to Timbuktu almost every day. It will cost roughly US$20 for a seat.

B&B review: The Linen Shed, Boughton-under-Blean, Faversham

French and colonial style collide in this piece of vintage heaven – with gourmet food to match – near Whitstable

A little bit of France in Kent … at the Linen Shed
In a little over one hour I have exchanged east London for a Kent village, its main thoroughfare passing between medieval cottages that lean in as though whispering to one another across the street. Here's the Linen Shed. A grey wooden house with lace panels at the windows, it looms above a steeply terraced front garden. Someone's got a sense of humour – a metal letterbox says US Mail.
1. The Linen Shed
2. 104, The Street, Boughton-under-Blean,
3. Faversham
4. ME13 9AP
5. 01227 752271
6. thelinenshed.com
1. Doubles with shared bathroom from £75, with private bathroom from £80 B&B. Picnic hampers from £15
"It's a bit of an upside-down house," says Vickie Miles, taking me straight up a flight of wooden stairs to an airy room in which colonial and French style collide. Beneath a ceiling fan, trompe l'oeil garlanded panels have been painted on the walls in pale pastels. Bergère armchairs and a wooden sofa ("From Normandy, bought on eBay," says Vickie) add to the colonial feel. At the far end is an open-plan kitchen. There are loads of doors off this room, the heart of the house. Vickie's husband Graham appears in an Indian shirt of dazzling whiteness. Tea? Outside? Coming up. My room's at the front – it has an emperor bed with snowy White Company linen and just enough retro touches. The flatscreen TV seems incongruous somehow, and I tend to think that bedroom cupboards should be completely empty (rather than full of stationery), but I covet the large glass jar that says Rose Victor Vaissier Paris on the front. The shower room (so French with its floor-to-ceiling white brick tiles) is next door, and opposite is a smaller double room. This has a separate bathroom (which involves walking through the sitting room) and there is a third bedroom downstairs. Now I'm seated comfortably outside, on a wooden veranda, looking out at roses, lavender, hydrangeas and B&B cats Cecil and Mr Wilfred. Pink geraniums populate a small Victorian atrium, and a bird's nest is tucked into a rusting enamel washstand. Vintage heaven? Oh, I think so. This is going to be my first night in a Nissen hut – for that is what this has evolved from, the remaining one of three. Graham and Vickie moved here three and a half years ago from London. They looked in Whitstable (seven miles away – it celebrates its oyster festival this week) but knew the minute they set foot here they had found their house. "We sat outside in the car and put an offer in," says Graham. "Three minutes, it took." Vickie wants to know what I'd like for breakfast (I suspect because her list of specialities is extensive). Grilled vine tomatoes and Serrano ham. Rösti potato cake with fried eggs and smoked back bacon. Scotch pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. Creamed mushrooms on toasted brioche and, of course, full English. Everything comes from local farms, oh and she makes gourmet seafood and charcuterie picnics, or packs guests off to the beach with a single-ring burner and crab cakes. The phone rings constantly with bookings, this evening and the next morning (when I have dragged myself out of the blissful bed). Vickie talks with the authority of a true foodie to each caller about local restaurants (there is exceptional choice here). I tuck into potato rösti and eggs on the sunny veranda. "Would you like to borrow some sunglasses?" Vickie asks, returning with a secondhand pair by Vivienne Westwood (of course). Bread smells like bread ought, a little butter pat is decorated with lavender and tea comes in mismatched china. Oof, I'm stuffed. She reappears to whisk my plate away. Then she's off again, to answer the phone and talk someone else through the local dining options. • The Whitstable Oyster Festival (whitstableoysterfestival.com) runs from 23-29 July sally.shalam@guardian.co.uk

Airline Fees Have Their Benefits

By RICK SEANEY

July 13, 2011

Hate those airline fees? Join the club. Yet we pay and pay. Last year, the airlines earned a nifty $5.7 billion -- yes, billion -- on checked-bag fees and those infuriating "itinerary change" fees alone.
(Finding that "billions" part hard to believe? Keep reading to see how a single flier can add nearly $1,000 in fees to the price of his ticket.)
For more travel news and insights, view Rick's blog at farecompare.com
What do you get for your fees? You get an airline that can still fly you from point A to point B; without fees, some carriers would go out of business just as Skybus, Aloha and others did in the past decade. Right now, the high price of oil is the big problem and, as American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith points out, "Recently costs have exceeded revenues."
Smith notes that fees are a general revenue source and pay for whatever is needed.
OK, then; do fees get us anything else besides non-bankrupt airlines, bags that are not guaranteed to arrive when you do, some pre-fab food, an extra few inches of seating space, or a dog that needs a hydrant ASAP? Yes. You might get a cool new plane.

Matt Rourke/AP Photo

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The airlines have been on an aircraft spending spree of late. American Airlines is now reportedly looking to buy 250 new planes, which works out to about 40 percent of its fleet. Others doing some airplane shopping include Delta, Frontier, United/Continental and Southwest.
U.S. airline fleets are aging. According to a report issued by the Associated Press this spring, the average age of the planes in Delta's fleet is 16 years, while American and United are both 15 years; the average age of Southwest's fleet is close to 12, while Allegiant's is 21.5 years.
Remember that Southwest flight that had to make an emergency landing earlier this year because a hole ripped open in the fuselage? According to a recent media story, the National Transportation Safety Board probably won't have a final report on the incident until next year but preliminary findings indicated "fatigue cracks" and it has been noted by news organizations that the plane in question was 15 years old.
Passengers appreciate good planes; clean ones, anyway. Check out the 2011 J.D. Powers survey of airlines, in which the overall winner for low-cost carriers was JetBlue. It did well in many categories such as "aircraft experience," which noted whether interiors were sparkling or down-and-dirty. Of course, JetBlue has all those nice seat-back TVs on every plane, but they also have one of the youngest fleets (average age: 5.8 years, according to the AP).
Newer planes can pay off in other ways, too, such as a bigger bang for the jet-fuel buck, which, as previously noted, is a very big deal for the airlines. It's also a big deal for passengers because the cost is passed on to us in the form of higher ticket prices. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), new aircraft are 70 percent more fuel efficient than planes that were flying in the early 1970s, and 20 percent better than the planes in the air just 10 years ago.

Don't Pay the Fees

And when it comes to fuel savings, every little bit helps, which explains why American Airlines decided earlier this year to replace all 19,000 drink carts with new ones that are 12 pounds lighter. It saves money. Maybe they won't hurt as much when flight attendants whack you on the elbow with them, either.
But nothing hurts like those fees, right? Let's pretend a fellow called Rich Flyer takes a trip on United Airlines. He checks a 32-pound bag ($25 bag fee each-way) and a second that weighs 55 pounds ($35 bag fee each-way, $100 each-way for overweight charges). He also wants a premium seat and earlier boarding, so there's another $50 each-way, plus who could pass up that tasty grilled chicken spinach salad ($9.49 each-way)?
And since Rich believes no vacation is complete without the companionship of his faithful lab Midas, add another $250 each-way for the dog's cargo accommodations.

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Our mythical passenger has just paid $938.98 round-trip, a sum that doesn't even include his airfare. So, yeah, the idea that the airlines can rake in billions in fees is completely plausible.
But back to those new planes. There's a coolness factor, too. Same for old-but-jazzed-up planes: Delta, for instance, has just added full flatbed seats to nearly 40 planes. You'll have to pay extra though. These beds will only be available in the airline's Business Elite seating.
Maybe our buddy Rich Flyer will go for it. He reminds me of Mikey from that old TV commercial, but instead of eating anything, he'll pay anything.
If you don't have money to burn, don't pay the fees. You can start by using a carry-on every time you fly. I do, and even used a carry-on during a 10-day trip to Europe so I know it can be done. Think about that the next time you settle back into the seat of your (hopefully) brand new plane.
This work is the opinion of the columnist and does not reflect the opinion of ABC News.

Rick Seaney is one of the country's leading experts on airfare, giving interviews and analysis to news organizations that include ABC News, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, the Associated Press and Bloomberg News. His website, FareCompare.com, offers consumers free, new-generation software, combined with expert insider tips to find the best airline ticket deals.

World Cruising Basics Home > Cruise Styles > World Cruises > World Cruising Basics

World cruisers, I have discovered, fall into two groups: those who fill their days moaning about anything and everything -- and those who are fed up with the nit-pickers. On my voyage on P&O's Aurora, one of my tablemates at dinner fell into the latter category. "People who haven't been on a world cruise before get bored at this point, so they start to moan," she told me on my first evening onboard. It was her 52nd night since the ship sailed from Southampton. Like 1,100 others, she was following in the footsteps of that most famous of circumnavigators, Phileas Fogg, and sailing around the world in 80 days. I, on the other hand, was a world cruise virgin, doing a two-week sector between Hong Kong and Mumbai in India. My tablemate was only half right. Even practiced circumnavigators were starting to long for home by the time I got onboard, due mainly, I suspect, to the many consecutive sea days, which are trying for all but the saltiest seadogs. Aurora had just done six in a row when the ship got to Hong Kong and another five were looming after Mumbai. "They see the list of ports and don't realize how many sea days it takes to get between them," my world cruise expert advised knowingly. Lesson number one: Count the days in between those exotic-sounding ports. Coming into the middle of a world cruise was a bit like meeting the neighbors for the first time. By the time I arrived, these old hands had a ready stash of stories to tell -- what they thought of the food, the service, who said what to whom and how "they" (being P&O) rip you off for "this or that." Naturally both "this and that" changed depending on who you talked to. In addition to established complaints and stories, the world cruisers had also established a daily routine -- breakfast, time to rest and read, a lecture, lunch, time for another rest and read, then back to the cabin to get ready for pre-dinner drinks and the evening meal. Wives, I noticed, also made time for the laundry room, which was the best place to pick up on the gossip. Circumnavigators have a hard life. Here are some tips if you'd like to become one of them. Going All the Way Around If you have the time and money, cruising all the way around the globe is the ultimate travel experience. Would-be Phileas Foggs should pay close attention to itineraries as some world cruises don't quite go all the way around the world. Instead, they start in the U.S. and end in Europe or the U.K., or stay in one or other of the hemispheres. Most passengers traveling all the way around the world are regular cruisers and because of the time element -- ranging from 90 to 120 days -- they tend to be retired. However, families with tots and teens do make an appearance; on the world cruise I sampled, seven family groups were going all the way around. However, a surprising number dive straight in and book the full circumnavigation for their first vacation at sea. That's brave. A better idea might be to spend a week or two cruising in Europe or the Caribbean to see if you like traveling by ship. Cruising Segments World cruise segments can be anything from two weeks to a month or more and are a great way to get the world cruise experience if you are strapped for time and money. You might want to cruise from Los Angeles to Australia, or from Singapore back to L.A. East Coasters might prefer cruising from New York to South America or from Istanbul to Ft. Lauderdale. Alternately, you can fly out to Europe or Asia to do a middle segment of a world cruise and then fly back home afterward. The drawback for part-world cruisers comes when they have to fly, if only one way, because packing (see below) becomes more of a challenge due to the airline weight limitations. Some lines, such as P&O Cruises, allow passengers to disembark and leave luggage on the ship for a fee (as well as shipping costs from the port to your hometown). It's worth asking about this service if you can manage without parts of your wardrobe until the ship returns to its homeport. Alternately, look into your cruise line's luggage valet program and have your bags shipped directly between the ship and your home. How to Pick a Cruise Line Round-the-world cruising has become so popular that more and more cruise lines are adding a global jaunt to their schedules. That means hopeful circumnavigators can choose from a variety of itineraries, ships and prices. If you have a favorite line, check out its itineraries and prices; if you don't, look for one that offers your preferred style of cruising. Bear in mind, though, that if you do a full world cruise, you will be at sea for three or four months -- it's maybe not the best time to start experimenting with new lines. Princess Cruises launched its first round-the-world cruise in five years in 2008 and has two ships circumnavigating the globe in 2009. Holland America's Amsterdam is sailing round the world from Ft. Lauderdale in 2008, with the Rotterdam taking over world cruise duties in 2009 with a Los Angeles to New York itinerary. If all-inclusive luxury is more your thing, Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Silversea might be the best line for you. Or be patient and book a suite on Seabourn's first world cruise on new ship Seabourn Odyssey, departing in January 2010. Luxury line Crystal Cruises, which blends big-ship amenities with small-ship food and service, also offers traditional round-the-world cruising, with fixed dining and paid-for alcohol. Anglophiles may want to consider P&O Cruises, Cunard or Fred. Olsen for a traditional British onboard experience. Whatever style you prefer, it pays to decide early as you get the best deals -- and cabins -- as soon as bookings open, which is usually 18 months in advance. Make a Date When choosing your cruise, look carefully at the dates on the schedule. Cruise lines don't always list sea days so it might look as if you have a myriad of exotic ports, one after the other, when actually there's a week at sea in between them. Also check the ports of call carefully; it would be a shame to head off around the world and visit places you already know. On the other hand, a few repeat visits are great for discovering some new little gems. How to Pick a Cabin A lot depends on your budget for this one, but if you are going to be at sea for several months it's worth splurging on the biggest and best room you can afford. If nothing else, you need plenty of space to store all your clothes. A suite would be lovely but isn't necessary. You want at least a balcony cabin, so you have somewhere to hide away from your fellow globetrotters for those moments of "me" time. The usual rules apply if you are able to pick your specific cabin. The lower rooms in the center of the ship are the most stable if the sea turns nasty. If you can't bear being near the water line, choose a cabin higher up but still in the center of the ship. Conversely, cabins at the front and back take the brunt of the movement in a heavy swell, but those at the rear often have wonderful views over the ship's wake (and sometimes get bigger balconies -- check out the small print in the brochures if that appeals). Cabins near elevators can be noisy as people return to bed late at night. Staterooms at the back are handy for the self-service buffet on the top deck and the restaurants on the lower decks, which are invariably at the aft end of the ship. What to Pack You know how hard it is to decide what to take for a two-week vacation? Then pity the world cruiser, who has to pack for several months away, making sure to have something for warm, cold and wet weather, not to mention all those formal nights. This is where a little planning will pay dividends. Your cruise line can tell you how many formal, semi-formal and smart casual nights there will be, so start by selecting outfits for them, remembering that accessories are a wonderful way of giving clothes you have worn once a new lease on life. Then match the itinerary against weather charts for the time of year you'll be visiting. For example, in January, Europe could be chilly, the Caribbean will be pleasantly warm but not hot, and tropical countries such as Malaysia might be steaming but also in the midst of a rainy season -- so a light raincoat or umbrella might come in handy. Of course, if you live near a world-cruise departure port, such as Los Angeles or Ft. Lauderdale, you can pack as much as you want because you won't have to fly. But tempting as it might be to take the kitchen sink, remember you can always replenish your wardrobe as you sail around the world, especially in Asia, where you can pick up some real bargains. Remember also that all ships offer laundry service and many have do-it-yourself washing facilities (but check if you need to take your own detergent), so you can keep on top of your dirty laundry without paying a fortune. If you are on just a segment of a world cruise, with flights to or from the ship -- or both ways -- you will need to pack more carefully to stay inside your airline's weight limits. Again, if you are going to Asia, travel light so there's room to bring a few designer bargains back home. --by Jane Archer. Archer is a leading U.K. cruise journalist who writes regularly on the subject for the Telegraph newspaper and contributes to other specialist cruising publications.

Seven Fun Facts About Cruising

Cruise - 7 Fun Facts About Cruising by Bruce Pickett

More and more people are discovering the fun and value of cruising, but many more still have not heard the good news. Today more than ever, a luxury cruise is easily affordable and accessible to everyone. Don't believe it? Then read on for our list of seven important facts about cruising.

1. Cruising is a good value Some people don't consider taking a cruise because they think it is too expensive, but this is simply not the case. When you compare the cost of a cruise with the cost of comparable travel, accommodations, food and activities, you will quickly see that cruising offers great value for your vacation dollar.
2. Cruising is entertaining, fun and as active as you want If you think you might be bored while on a cruise, think again. There are so many options and activities that you probably won't be able to participate in them all. And don't worry about being in the close quarters of a ship; there really is plenty of space to move about so you're not likely to feel confined or claustrophobic.
   When it comes to nightlife, a cruise ship offers many options. Common choices include Broadway-style entertainment, dance bars, quiet piano lounges, casinos, movie theaters and arcade game rooms. There truly is something on board to suit every entertainment taste.
3. A cruise ship is not divided into different classes of service Long gone are the days of first, second and third class passengers, or the wealthy receiving better treatment than others on a cruise. While there are differences in the sizes and locations of staterooms, this is no different from a hotel that offers different types of rooms at different price levels.
   Regardless of the size or cost of your stateroom, you have full access to the ship's facilities and amenities, and the ship's crew will do everything in their power to make your experience exceptional. In return, it is accepted practice to tip those people, such as stewards and waiters, who have served you personally throughout the cruise. Note the policy of the cruise line for information about suggested tip amounts.
4. Most cruise passengers do not get seasick The motion of a cruise ship at sea is generally mild, so most people do not experience seasickness. If you are prone to motion sickness on other forms of transportation (cars, trains, airplanes, etc.), though, take the same precautions on a cruise as you do for other types of travel. There are several over the counter motion sickness medications, or your doctor may prescribe something stronger if needed. And if you do get onboard and find yourself feel nauseous, don't worry - the ship's medical staff will happily provide you with medication to help.
5. A cruise ship is a great family environment Nearly every cruise line offers special programs and accommodations to families, and some even specialize in entire cruises designed completely around the needs and wants of a family. On these family-focused cruise lines, you will find special supervised areas of the ship where your children can go to do age-appropriate activities while you enjoy adult time.
6. Each port is a new adventure Every port you visit is different, and each one will have excursions, activities and places to discover. Just as on board the ship, you will not be able to do everything there is to do at each port. You can choose a paid tour excursion or you can explore on your own. Many cruise lines have cooperative arrangements with hotels and resorts in the ports they visit so that cruise passengers can use hotel facilities like swimming pools, fitness rooms, spas and other amenities.
7. You don't have to buy a special wardrobe There is no need to buy fancy clothing or a tuxedo to go on a cruise, although some cruises do require formal dress in specific on board restaurants. Your general packing list does not need to be much different from any other vacation; simply include clothing that is appropriate for the climate and expected weather conditions. And don't worry about items like hair dryers, shavers, and other personal appliances - they all work just fine on board a luxury cruise ship!

About the Author

Bruce Pickett ACC is an award winning travel & cruise consultant, self taught, experienced, & motivated to help people find cruising value. He has authored articles on cruising to make it easy for people to create cruise holidays, quickly & without stress. Learn 7 essential facts to cruise value and get free weekly tips & be included in a free draw by visiting Five Star Cruising.

Reader Essential Experience of the Week

A Palatial Lunch in a Renaissance City

Florence, Italy

Posted by Michael Popescu

June 21, 2011

On a recent Ruby Princess cruise, we docked at Italy’s third-largest seaport, Livorno, which serves as a gateway to the cities of Florence (Firenze) and Pisa. 

Michael in front of the famed Ponte Vecchio

After a bus ride to the center of Florence we started our day in the heart of the city with a visit the main cathedral, Il Duomo – a symbol of the wealth and power of Florence in its golden age of the Renaissance.
Here we admired the graceful Campanile (or Bell Tower) and the Baptistery, decorated with white and green marble, and famed for the relief sculptures on its bronze doors.  A few blocks away was the Galleria dell’Academia museum where we spent the rest of the morning appreciating Michelangelo’s original statue of David.
However, the surprise of our day came at lunchtime as we discovered that we would dine in Palazzo Borghese, on Via Ghilbellina, today a restaurant-hotel and casino, in the heart of ancient Florence.  Just a few steps from Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Borghese is an important example of neoclassical architecture in Tuscany.  The last restoration in 1994 has brought back the palace to its ancient splendor.

The Florence cityscape with the main cathedral or "Duomo"

Even though its facade is very impressive, I almost did not notice it because the street is very narrow.  But the moment we entered the Palazzo, I was dazzled by its beauty and splendor.  The main stair brought us to the Sala Specchi (the Mirror Room), the ancient bedroom of Paolina Bonaparte.  The room is surrounded by 10 gold large mirrors, framed by golden stuccoes that reflect the light of a multitude of chandeliers, particularly the central one with its 150 torches.
From the Mirror Room, through the Red Room, the Apostle’s Room with an Impero Style fireplace and the Yellow Room, we reached the Galleria Monumentale, the real jewel of the palace.  Two hundred square meters of paintings, stuccos, bas-reliefs, statues and magnificent curtains.  From a central esedra start two wings with barrel vaults surrounded by small terraces where probably, during Paolina’s parties, the orchestra played.

One of the city's most popular attractions is Michaelangelo's statue of David.

All the rooms were finely furnished, each in a different color.  Corner sofas stuffed with flowered satin and elegant golden wooden consoles perfectly fit with the painted vaults of the rooms.  The Sala del Consiglio is characterized by the “Impero Style” with a fireplace and twelve chairs in the middle with a typical back, that reminded me of ancient meetings.
Our lunch was served in the Sala Specchi and consisted of Lasagna con Pesto, Osso Buco and Tiramisu for dessert, all washed down with Pellegrino and Tuscan red wine.
The lunch was a bit heavy, so it took some focusing on our afternoon visit to the Uffizi Gallery, the city’s renowned art museum, where we viewed a world-class collection, including Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus.”  Nearby is the Ponte Vechio, Florence’s most famous bridge, lined with jewelers.
Unfortunately I discovered halfway through the day that my camera stopped working, so although I did recover some of the images, I have to rely primarily on my memory to recapture the magnificent things we saw on this day in Italy’s finest Renaissance city.

Carnival Cruise Line: A Fiery Year in Review!

by

CruisingBrad

Published on 04-26-2011 09:16 AM

Carnival Cruise Line has been dubbed the largest in the world which comes as no surprise considering their twenty two ship fleet. They have been commended on their enormous value that their cruises uphold, but they have also been prone to negative criticisms for their cheap feeling and frequent issues. Their newest ship—the Carnival Dream—debuted in 2009 and their next one is slated to be released in May of 2011; so it would seem there isn’t much to say about Carnival’s year in review, but this is a mistake. On November 8, 2010, Carnival fulfilled one of the biggest fears of cruise lines, a total ship shutdown.

At approximately 6:00 a.m. Pacific time, the Carnival Splendor experienced an engine fire that shut down all electricity for the ship. Granted, none of the 4,500 passengers aboard the vessel were hurt, but the problems for Carnival were expansive. The crew was unable to restore power to the ship, which consequently meant that air conditioning and refrigeration were inhibited. The means of food then diminished quickly for many of the items were perishable. In order to provide for the antsy and stranded passengers, the U.S. Navy as well as the USS Ronald Reagan was used to transfer necessities to the dormant ship. Stranded at the Mexican Riviera, a tugboat was issued to pull the ship to the port of San Diego in California. On November 11th—three days after the incident began—the Carnival Splendor reached San Diego and the passengers finally could touch land and head home.

The media had a firestorm and news of the incident convoluted airways for nearly a week. Radio stations, television news, and print began to immediately pull apart Carnival for the mistake. Though the accident was one of the most trying and difficult than that in cruise history, people needed to be reminded it was an accident. Every cruise ship is susceptible to problems and many supporters found it unfortunate that Carnival received ignited criticisms for the matter. But it was not only Carnival that garnered negative opinions, but the whole idea of cruising. Many of the passengers swore they would never board a cruise ship ever again, and some of the public also agreed with the stance. This singular accident constituted questions of safety for potential tourists and cruise travelers, which many cruise activists believed was ridiculous.

The negative light shone on Carnival polluted their swift response to the matter and the things that passengers aboard that ship received. All of the passengers were given a full refund on their cruise, but furthermore they received a voucher for another cruise for free as well as the alleviation of every travel expense the passengers had. Though they had to live in an, as chief executive Gerry Cahill would say, ‘extremely trying situation,’ they left with more than they came with; and this was not commended in any sense. The media continued to pinpoint the problems that Carnival brought about and evidently tarnished some of Carnival’s reputation.

Whether or not it is justified is to the matter of the opinions of many; but one thing remains clear, the Carnival Splendor fire will remain one of the most interesting and detrimental times in all of cruising history.

Editor-In-Chief CruisingBrad (Brad Lenz)

Uncovering the Middle East

The Middle East is one of the most beautiful parts of the world, yet it remains one of the least visited. After years of reported unrest, tension and problems, many countries in the area are now seeking to move on, open their borders and usher in a new era of peace and friendship with neighbours. This new feeling of cordiality has meant that many areas of the Middle East are now offering amazing holidays to attract tourists to this unmistakably beautiful, ancient and culturally diverse area.
Listed below are five top destinations in the Middle East that are suited for a whole variety of vacations, from weekend breaks to all inclusive holidays lasting for a week or more:
1. Hurghada, Egypt
An international centre for water sports, such as kiting, sailing, swimming and snorkelling, Hurghada is one of the most beautiful and popular holiday destinations in the Middle East. A particularly popular destination for those who enjoy year-round sun and diving, the city has fast become one of the leading tourist hotspots in the Red Sea region.
Action activities are popular here with quad biking in the Sahara Desert, camel riding, jet skiing and more, all popular with visitors. Shopping is cheap and there are many excellent places to dine and enjoy a mix of cuisine from across the globe.
2. Amman, Jordan
No area in the Middle East has undergone a bigger transformation than Amman in recent years. The city has been redeveloped extensively to attract a new breed of tourist from both east and west and the result is a charming and elegant city that combines the best of its ancient history with amazing new technological developments, such as a vast range of shopping malls and many western restaurant outlets.
Many tourists head to the older area downtown, where the magnificent King Hussein Mosque is situated. Jabal Amman is the ancient heart of the city, containing many of its famous souks, ancient buildings and monuments, cultural sites and museums. For a city break, Amman is a perfect choice for those seeking something a little different to what the rest of Europe can offer.
3. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
If you are considering Egypt holidays for the family, then Sharm el-Sheikh is ideal. Located on the Sinai Peninsula, the resort has been specifically designed with outstanding hotels, shops, bars and restaurants situated in and around this picturesque city.
This warm and welcoming city is an ideal all-year-round holiday destination with very warm summers and mild winters. Its long stretches of natural beaches are a huge attraction and the area has been further developed with luxuries such as shops and golf courses, while the marina has been extensively redeveloped for yachts.
4. Tel Aviv, Israel
Known as ’The City That Never Sleeps’ Tel Aviv is a very popular tourist destination, boasting 1.6 million visitors a year. The city has been named as ’hottest city for 2011’ by Lonely Planet, while National Geographic rated Tel Aviv as the ninth-best city for beaches in the world.
Boasting an eclectic mix of modern resources and historic cultural sites, including a number of outstanding public parks, Tel Aviv is the perfect destination to investigate at your leisure, or to party the night away!
5. Luxor, Egypt
Flying into Luxor now is relatively simple and affords you the perfect base from which to see the incredible Valley of the Kings. This attraction, along with the many cruises along the River Nile, put Luxor on the map but the city also boasts many other outstanding attractions. Indeed, the city, built on the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, has been labelled as the world’s finest open-air museum.
The temples at Karnak, Luxor Museum, the Mummification Museum, Medinet Habu, Malkata, and the Tombs of the Nobles are all more than enough to keep any enthusiastic Egyptologist happy!
So next time you are considering where to go on your holidays, have a think about travelling slightly further afield to the Middle East; a beautiful, scenic part of the world that will not only exceed all your expectations, but will provide you with the perfect holiday at an outstanding price.

Jerusalem - Not just piety and prayer

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If you have never considered Jerusalem as a holiday destination, then prepare to cast away preconceptions.
Sure, Jerusalem the Golden is as religiously loaded as ever. The old city contains a staggering 37 denominations of Christianity, as well as Islam and Judaism and Lord knows what else, that fervently savour their own piece of the Holy Land.
Every inch of its landscape is crammed with monuments depicting all and sundry from around the world, including a copy of the Pizzi palace that houses the Ministry of Education.
For Jews the most precious is of course the Western Wall. Visit at its most joyful on a Thursday when Barmitzvahs fill the air with song while women stand on chairs straining to look over the partition.
For Christians the route Jesus walked, the Via Dolorosa, that leads to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as the Church of the Resurrection, believed to be the site of the Crucifixtion, is today an important pilgrimage site.
Muslims rever the city as the Islamic Dome of the Rock located on the Temple Mount is the site from where they say Mohammed ascended to heaven.
But it's not all piety and prayer. Feel free to raise an eyebrow but Jerusalem is becoming a hip destination and is successfully reframing its history and biblical roots as trendy.
During spring and summer food and music, and any excuse for, festivals are held almost weekly in the square by the Tower of David Citadel.
And as for the nightlife: you have to experience the area around the pedestrian promenade at Nahalat Shiva to believe it. This funky neighbourhood just outside the city walls is crammed with shops, cafés, night spots, restaurants and bars, one or two staying open 24 hours, where you can party the night away.
In fact, the Ministry of Tourism is now seeking to turn Jerusalem into a tourism hot spot aiming to attract 10 million visitors by 2020, massively more than the three and a half million who visited the entire country last year. And that was a record.
So, before you make up your mind, some tips:
● A view to die for
The best view over Jerusalem is at the terrace on top of Mount of Olives, where the Messiah is expected to turn up one day. It sits 830 metres above sea level in the Kidrom Valley beyond the city walls and faces the old city
of Jerusalem head-on making this a great spot to get snap-happy.
To avoid the crowds go in the morning to catch the early light or the dusky shades of early evening as they descend upon the ring of ivory grave stones including that of Chief Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits, Temple Mount, the valley of Hinnom and the Judean Desert in the distance.
The camel ride option has become an institution up there and provides a few minutes of cheesy entertainment.
● Pay moma a visit
The man behind the acclaimed MOMA museum in New York, James Snyder, has recreated the same success for the newly inaugurated Israel Museum.
The size of the museum is simply staggering and the contents more so.
But, if you only have time for one exhibition then be sure it is the Shrine of the Book. This is where you will see the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Bar Kochba letters and other archaeological artefacts from Qumran.
If you do have a few hours, ponder the model of Jerusalem outside first. It spreads over almost an acre and evokes the city at its ancient peak.
Inside, stroll through 5,000 years of archaeology and anthropology, take a journey through Jewish worlds, including fashion, jewellery and replicas of ancient synagogues, and feast on fine arts including examples from Picasso, Kadinsky, Van Gough and Andy Warhol as well as sculptures from the furthest corners of the world.
● Ancient relics
It took Dr Elie Borowski 50 years to amass a priceless collection of Ancient Near Eastern art and the Bible Museum is the only one in the world dedicated to the history of the bible in ancient lands, including Egypt and Babylon.
● Walls can speak
The Tower of David citadel has been standing at the entrance of the Old City for over 1,000 years and these restored walls reveal its secrets eloquently.
The museum is spread over the various guardrooms and showing Jerusalem's 4,000 years of history but the evening light show evokes the past in a way that only huge imagery and emotive music can do.
This is a mesmerising 45 minute film projected onto the citadel's huge fortress walls. It depicts Jerusalem's history from its creation and ends with the creation the State of Israel in 1948.
● Dine like our forefathers
The Eucalyptus restaurant has taken root in the artists quarters just across from the Old City walls close to Jaffa Gate. Its Iraqi born, pony-tailed chef and food historian Moshe Basson was knighted in Italy for his contribution to resurrecting the biblical kitchen and is winner of the International couscous festival in San Vito Lo Capo, Italy for the state of Israel.
He serves up gourmet entertainment with tales of the biblical herbs such as za'atar (hyssop), Jerusalem sage and spices used to marinate his dishes.
Go for the ludicrously plentiful tasting menu. The signature dish, the Maklouba, a combination of chicken, rice and potatoes, is heralded with a gong, and a diner is chosen to circle the pot a few times, make a wish and then the pot is turned over so that the chicken legs ends up on top of rice and vegetables.
● Humous has it
Probably the best humous in town can be sampled at Abu Shukri on Via Dolorosa between the fourth and fifth stations. It nestles amid touristy shops but don't worry that it looks likes a middle Eastern Joe's café - it's friendly and clean and ideal place for a lunchtime snack.
● Go shopping
Shuk shopping in the maze of narrow lanes in the Arab quarter is a perfect place to pick up souvenirs such as mother-of-pearl jewellery boxes, charms, jewellery and a melee of middle eastern oddities and genuine antiquities.
Unlike other countries, in Israel antiquities can be bought and sold privately but it is supervised. There are only 50 licensed dealers and Khader Baidun is one of them. His shop at 20 Via Dolorosa sells items dating from the Iron Age (or for the biblicaly minded from the time of the first temple). Feel free to haggle over a cup of tea.
For colour and a glimpse of local life Mahane Yehuda Market is worth shaking your shekels at. You may not be in the market for fruit and veg, spices or cheese, but can you resist a bag of gareenim, some chalva or perhaps a new Kiddush cup? This market straddles two major streets, Eitz Chaim, this section is covered, and Mahane Yehuda Street, which is the open-air section.
New to Jerusalem is the fashionable Mamilla Mall. This elegant pedestrianised stretch has been built using Jerusalem stone and is lined with various designer shops including Ronen Chen, one of Israel's top women's clothes designers. With the mall came Jerusalem's first underground car park - a real coup for this crowded city.
● Climb those walls
If you have the energy, Jerusalem's ramparts offer the opportunity to become a voyeur as you peak into gardens, courtyards and spy the comings and goings in the different quarters. Allow at least 40 minutes.
● A botanical path to the bible
Jerusalem has a sensational botanical garden. It is located in Nayot on the southeastern edge of the Givat ram campus of the Hebrew University. Over six thousand plant species from around the world are gathered and cared for in a fabulous arrangement. The Japanese garden has 150 bonsai trees, the largest concentrated collection of bonsai trees in the world.
Endangered floral species thrive here and of great interest is the 500-metre long "bible path" where 70 species that scientists have identfied as being mentioned in the bible
● Get away in 40 minutes
The story of the Jews who settled on Masada is so compelling they made a film about it starring Peter O' Toole showing how Jews sought refuge on Masada mountain in 73 BC, how the Romans took three years to infiltrate the fortress and how the community killed themselves rather than submit.
Masada, reached by cable car, is now an open air museum complete with ruins of Herod's palaces and archeological remains of community life.
Follow this with a visit to the lowest point on earth - the Dead Sea between the desert and Mohab Mountains.
The waters are spookily still since the saline concentration means nothing can survive yet the minerals and nutrient rich mud has outstanding healing properties. They say Cleopatra used the area as her own personal spa.