family cruise vacation ideas

Rickshaw Slots Contest – Win India!

Filed under: cruise — Tags: contest, india, rickshaw, slots, win — libertees @ 7:58 am January 9, 2010

GamingZion is excited to announce a free online contest that will send the winner and their best friend flying off to India to take part in the 2010 Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge.

The Mumbai Xpress Rickshaw Challenge is a two-week (July 30 – Aug 12, 2010), 1900 kilometer trek that sees teams of participants from all corners of the globe racing across India in an epic adventure motor rally. Teams drive autorickshaws – small motorized 3-wheeled vehicles – and participate in various challenges along the way, earning points as they go.

The adventure begins in the buzzing metropolis of Chennai, then heads east across the Indian subcontinent to the coastal city of Mangalore. From there, the route heads northwards up the coast to Ratnagiri. After making a quick detour east to Pune, it returns to the western coast, finally ending in Mumbai. The route crosses every imaginable landscape, from endless beaches and picturesque hills to rural villages and modern metropolises.

During the rally, participants are encouraged to take part in projects put together by a charity called Round Table India. Through this organization’s “Freedom through Education” program, teams can contribute to bettering primary education facilities in rural areas throughout India. Round Table India works to build new schools and to improve existing schools by providing much-needed supplies and infrastructure.

The Rickshaw Slots Contest is free to enter and easy to win. Early Bird Registration begins on Thursday, January 7. The organizers have put together a bundle of official Rickshaw Challenge t-shirts for the first 100 people who register for the contest. The shirts will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The competition will take place between February 1st and April 30th at popular online casino endorsed by GamingZion. Everyone who signs up for the contest will get a stack of free casino chips to use on one of the casino’s slot games. The goal is to try to win as much as possible with the allotted budget. Whoever increases their balance the most will be declared the winner!

The first place prize is a massive package that includes round-trip airfare to India, free entry to the rally, and even hotel accommodation during the entire event. This is an endurance rally, designed to push participants to the max. While it’s not for everyone, there is simply no better way to experience the raw power of India.

Complete details on the event, along with instructions on how to participate, can be found on the GamingZion website. GamingZion is a global gambling directory designed to help people around the world learn about their local internet gambling laws and find places to play online.

http://gamingzion.com/about/michael-f

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/rickshaw-slots-contest-win-india-1686073.html

Best day trips to UK

Filed under: cruise — Tags: best, day, trips, uk — libertees @ 7:58 am

Transportation links from London to the suburbs, the countryside and even other nearby cities are easy, fast and reasonably priced which are best day trips UK. If you are looking for an alternative to London’s hustle and bustle and a chance to see England from a different perspective, these quick “away days” may be just the ticket. They’re all reachable in about an hour by public transportation too.

Visiting London is often the start or end of a vacation in England. Some travellers to the UK may spend their entire vacation in London. What a great idea for a guidebook, then, to pick out the 25 best day trips to be had from London, almost all of which can be done by bus, train or by car. The only real exception is the furthest day trip, to York, which the authors admit is probably that bit too far from London to take the bus (5 hours each way). It would be a long drive too, at almost four hours, but it can be done easily by train at only 2 hours each way.

One of the best features of this guide is the very useful practical information it provides on getting to and from the featured best day trips. It includes not only journey times for train and bus but frequency of service and the cost, along with a contact number to confirm up-to-date information (the book was published in 2008). For going to Stratford-upon-Avon by train, the authors point out that it can be cheaper to buy two single tickets than a return ticket on this particular route.

The Best Day Trips UK does include all the places visitors are most likely to want to see, that are easily combined with a London vacation. York might have been excluded as being that bit too far for an easy day trip, and somewhere like Chichester, Ely or Gloucester included instead, but it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that anyone planning a London holiday should buy this as well as a good London guidebook. England is a small country and there’s so much to see on these easy day trips from London.

The best in sightseeing & days out, one night trips, weekend & short breaks…

http://brillianttrips.co.uk/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/best-day-trips-to-uk-1686080.html

See the sky in flames – the Night of San Juan

Filed under: cruise — Tags: flames, juan, night, san, see, sky — libertees @ 7:58 am

June 24th is St John’s Day [San Juan] and at midnight becomes the “night of fire”.  Visit the squares and streets before nightfall and witness huge piles of wood and as soon as dusk falls they burst into flames, lighting up the night sky and turns the atmosphere into something quite magical.

The background to this ritual is the idea that on this night, nature unfolds its special powers and for 1 day in the year, the sun is the power behind all existence and for 1 night of the year, all evil spirits are without protection due to the fact that the period of darkness is so short.

Like many festivals, San Juan, has its roots in heathen custom, and have been held in Mallorca by Romans, Phoenicians, Moors and Jews.  The church, having to accept that people were going to celebrate this night whatever happened, had to invent a church holiday to make the whole event acceptable.  John the Baptist, had his birthday on 24 June and this festival therefore became the Night of Saint John – La Noche de San Juan.

The highlight of this festival is a ritual in which homage is paid to the sun with fireworks and drums.  During the 24 hour festival, there is also a lot to be done to prepare for the rest of the year.  In Manacor in Mallorca, for example, children who are 1 year of age or less are presented to the village on the eve of the celebration between the split branches of a tree called vimer, not without some deafening crying or screaming, as can be imagined.

If you take a bath in the sea at sunrise, it is said that you will be free from illness for the entire year.  Also is you pick an handful of St John’s wort shortly before dawn on this day and place them in a bottle together with water or olive oil, it will help as a remedy for cuts and wounds.  Women to have planted 13 chick peas before midsummer’s day will see how many years they will have to wait for their suitor, or if they already have one, how many children they will bear.

Gail works for, and writes articles on behalf of Corona Holidays who specialise in Canary Islands Holidays and Balearic Islands Holidays – although they also offer worldwide hotels, flights and car hire.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/see-the-sky-in-flames-the-night-of-san-juan-1686184.html

Have Fun In Boston For Free

Filed under: cruise — Tags: boston, free, fun — libertees @ 7:58 am

If you go on holiday anywhere in the world you can expect to spend some money while you are away. It’s part of what holidays are all about.

But not everything costs money, and this is perfectly true of Boston. The city offers plenty of activities, venues and sights to see which don’t require you to part with a single cent. So if your holiday budget is rapidly running down, why not try out some of the following activities to ease the strain on your wallet?

One of the most famous free sights in all of Boston is the Bunker Hill Monument. It may not look much from the outside – although at more than 220 feet tall you can see it from a fair distance away – but if you tackle the climb you will be glad you did.

There is no charge to climb the stairs which go up inside the monument; although with nearly three hundred of them to tackle you might wonder if they should pay you! Needless to say the view from the very top of the monument is well worth putting all that effort in for.

If you enjoy visiting this monument then you will be interested to know that it is one of the points laid out on the Freedom Trail. This is a walking tour you can take to discover many of the historic points of interest in Boston itself.

As well as the Bunker Hill Monument you can see a statue of Ben Franklin – one of America’s founding fathers – the Paul Revere House and no less than three separate burying grounds. You will need to pay to enter the Paul Revere House, but if you want to go in the fee is only two or three dollars.

You could also grab a place on a tour of the State House if you book ahead of time. This will reveal more about the State Capitol and as such you can learn a lot about Boston and how things are done with regard to legislature.

Another location in Boston you might want to visit is Newbury Fine Arts. This art gallery is well known in the area for its exhibitions and you can explore the many and varied paintings and artworks on the walls. This is a welcoming gallery and if you aren’t used to visiting such places you will certainly enjoy this one.

There are plenty of other things you can do for free in Boston, so keep an eye out for museums, parks and other venues that don’t charge any entrance fee. No matter which of the Boston hotels you stay in, you shouldn’t be too far from one or more activities that won’t tax your wallet.

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/have-fun-in-boston-for-free-1686224.html

I Love Italian Travel – February Attractions Of Central Italy

Filed under: cruise — Tags: attractions, central, february, italian, italy, love, travel — libertees @ 7:58 am

So you are planning a visit to central Italy in February, but just aren’t sure what to see and what to do. Don’t despair; there are lots and lots of special events that simply aren’t available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; February is right around the corner. We start our virtual counterclockwise tour in Latium. Then it’s east to Abruzzi, northwest to Tuscany, and finally northwest to Umbria.

At the beginning of February, the small hilltop town of Fiuggi, Latium honors Saint Biagio. The townsmen transport “stuzze” (big) tree trunks from the forest on their shoulders and lighting them in the main square. The first Sunday of the month the village of Cineto Romano honors its patron saint, Saint Dorothy. This celebration is accompanied by the “Sagra della Polenta” honoring the popular, and I am told delicious, cornmeal dish by that name. You will definitely enjoy the music and other festivities even if you don’t indulge in polenta.

The Abruzzi village of Taranta Peligna also celebrates Saint Biagio’s Day. Saint Biagio is known as the protector of the throat; according to tradition he saved a child who had a thorn in his throat. A major feature of this solemn commemoration is the local specialty called “panicelle”, small hand shaped rolls that transported to the ovens by a procession of traditionally dressed young girls. The freshly baked rolls are blessed and freely distributed to the waiting crowd.

Then it’s on to the famous region of Tuscany. The little town of Vernio is host to a Chestnut Polenta Festival at the end of February or the beginning of March. This “Festa della Polenta” or “Pulendina” commemorates the 1512 famine, which ended when the local count distributed chestnut polenta, cod, and herring to the people. If you sleep in you will miss the medieval pageant of more that 500 participants who parade along the town streets starting at 9 in the morning. And don’t forget that Tuscany is home to some fine wines including Chianti, Brunello di Montalchino, and Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. But not at 9 in the morning.

The Umbrian town of Terni celebrates their patron saint, Valentino, with a jewelry exhibition and contest and a torchlight parade. Can you guess the day of the month? On the third Sunday in February the city of Spello hosts an Olive and Bruschetta Festival. Then February celebrations end with the Norcia Fair devoted to the Norcia Black Truffle and typical specialties from the surrounding area. In addition to the food you’ll like the music, dancing, crafts, folklore, and sports events.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but prefers drinking fine French wine with by the right foods. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/i-love-italian-travel-february-attractions-of-central-italy-1686358.html

Celebrity Shopping and Robertson Blvd

Filed under: cruise — Tags: blvd, celebrity, robertson, shopping — libertees @ 7:58 am

What do dozens of movies stars, socialites and singing sensations fleeing from the paparazzi have in common? Aside from their fame, many have the same preferred shopping district in Los Angeles. They are all shopping regulars on Robertson Blvd. Situated on the between Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Los Angeles, Robertson Blvd has become known all over the world for its shopping and is dotted with only the most upscale boutique shops offering the latest in high end fashions.

Robertson Blvd’s shopping area begins at the intersection of Melrose Ave and extends all the way down to Wilshire Blvd. Maple trees line most of Robertson Blvd and as the street is narrow the trees provide a constant shade over the sidewalks and blvd itself. The majority of the stores along Robertson are all boutiques whose locations along Robertson are their only location aside from London, Paris or New York. The majority of the stores along Robertson are owned by independent fashion stylist who began their careers in the London, New York or Milan fashion scenes designing for the biggest names in apparel. The stores reflect their own personal design talents and tastes as they seek to differentiate themselves from the original designer’s names they once designed for. Most of the stores along Robertson are very upscale and expensive and compete with the line up found on Rodeo Drive. The stores on Robertson offer high end fashion lines and accessories that cater more to women than to men and most are designed to be worn at both social and professional events. Robertson is different than Melrose Ave in that Melrose caters to the more edgy and hip crowd.

Recently Robertson Blvd has become acelebrity hangout with names including Victoria Beckham, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton (to name only a few) as Robertson regulars. It has not been unusual for those that consume celebrity gossip sites (such as TMZ or Perez Hilton) and magazines to see a constant flow of photographs of the stars shopping on the stretch of Robertson between Beverly and Wilshire. In addition to stores catering to fashion, Robertson has also seen a rise in retail merchants specializing in home remodeling and decorating. The stores often feature gigantic show rooms that showcase the latest in floors, drapery, counter tops, kitchens and bathrooms. The main clientele for these stores come from the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills area.

Power shopping is not the only lure of Robertson Blvd. The Ivy Restaurant is as famous as the celebrities who shop on Robertson and dine at this famous establishment. The restaurant stands out along Robertson with its characteristic white picket fence. On any given day the outdoor patio is a swarm of celebrities, agents, producers and the LA wannabe crowd. Often paparazzi camp out on the curb across the street looking for the next big shot.

See more info on shopping on Robertson Blvd as part of a complete visiting Los Angeles Travel Guide.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/celebrity-shopping-and-robertson-blvd-1686603.html

“Spanish in the Dominican Republic”

Filed under: cruise — Tags: dominican, republic, spanish — libertees @ 7:58 am

The language of the Dominican Republic is a very fast spoken Spanish. I have known of Spanish speakers from other Latin countries who struggled trying to understand the Spanish spoken in the Dominican Republic largely because it is spoken so quickly.

Elements are shared with the Caribbean

The Spanish spoken in the Dominican Republic is considered multi-layered. The Dominicans share some common elements of their Spanish with the Caribbean while keeping for themselves their own distinctive features. There is a wide variety of regional accents. Experts have stated that the accents derived from the Andalusian strain of Spanish.

African Influences

There is clear African influence in the Dominican Republic which contributes some of its own characteristics to Spanish. A number of words can be traced back to African Languages. The legacy of now extinct tribe of Tainos on the island has also influenced many words which the Dominicans use.

The Tainos’

Many words reflect the Tainos’ beliefs and lifestyle. Numerous places in the Dominican Republic date back to times before the island was discovered by Columbus.

English is not the Main Language in the Dominican Republic

English is spoken in the Dominican Republic but it is not the most popular language and you should not expect it to be by any means. It is always useful to be able to say at least a few phrases in Spanish.

Foods are Adapted from English Influences

Some of the local foods have their names adapted from English. These may not be entirely obvious at first hearing because of the accent but if you pay attention you will notice obvious English influence.

Spanish Influence

The Spanish influence came primarily from the Canary Islands and Galicia Islands which are the regions in Spain. The immigrants who came over from Spain brought their languages with them. A number of words can may be seen as archaic in Spain but are still being utilized in the Dominican Republic.

You can learn more about Spanish Dialects in the Dominican Republic as well as a plethora of other helpful information about this country in the Caribbean by visiting the Dominican Republic Real Estate Blog.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/spanish-in-the-dominican-republic-1687074.html

3 Basic Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Backpacking Stove

Filed under: cruise — Tags: backpacking, basic, choosing, consider, factors, right, stove — libertees @ 7:58 am

In choosing which backpacking stove to bring, consider the size, portability, fuel to be use, and the design.

Camping is not complete without the food. To make hot and fresh meals possible, you need the perfect stove to bring during your backpacking experience. Here are some guidelines to consider when choosing the right backpacking stove to bring.

Size and portability

Before choosing the desired backpacking stove, think on which kind of trip you are planning to go to. Try to estimate where would you most likely be cooking your meals and for how many people you will be cooking for. Also take note on the level of difficulty of the dishes to be prepared. Backpacking stove are available in different sizes fit for various occasions from lightweight stoves to multi-burner platforms. If you are going on a rugged hiking trip, better bring a compact and easy to carry stoves. For a short backpacking trip, you can consider bringing the larger stoves. For convenience during the whole trip choose a stove that is easy to store and can be disconnected from the fuel supply. Also consider the ones that needs assembling or collapsible for easily storage in the vehicle and while hiking.

Fuel to be used

Focus also on the different fuels used for backpacking stoves. Propane and Butane gases are clean-burning and easily ignited. Flames produced can be adjusted easily but are more expensive than other fuel types. Kerosene are cheaper and easier to find than Propane gases. It yields a higher temperature output however it emits gaseous odor that might affect the taste and smell of you dish. White gas is another fuel that burns easily, it’s clean and the spilled fuel evaporates quickly. It’s effect for any weather conditions, but it not always easily available in contrast to Kerosene and Propane. Denatured alcohol is a renewable fuel source which has low volatility. It burns silently and steadily but has minimal heat production and cooking time make longer requiring more fuel. It’s environment-friendly but it’s not recommended when cooking for many.

Design

For convenience, also select which design is the most comfortable for you. Once you’ve decided on the size and fuel type to be used consider the features of the stove. Take into consideration the difficulty of it’s set-up. Check for the durability of the design whether it can endure any type of location. Pay attention on the knobs and switch whether they are easy to use or cannot be easily broken. Choose also the ones that are easily to clean and has basic maintenance procedures that you can do by yourself.

On a camping trip, always go for efficiency and practicality in choosing what to bring. With that, you can avoid minor problems while enjoying your camping experience.

To check for different camping stoves online, please visit Summit Camping Gear and choose from a wide variety of models.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/3-basic-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-the-right-backpacking-stove-1687743.html

Enjoy Shows While Visiting Las Vegas

Filed under: cruise — Tags: enjoy, las, shows, vegas, visiting, while — libertees @ 7:58 am

There are not many cities around the world where show business features such a wide variety of performers, the next time you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas, be sure to set aside a little extra money and try to take advantage of the many fabulous shows that are there.

Vegas is one of the few places where you can find such a large selection of shows and performances .Year-round, there are stage performances from some of the best-known professional dancers, singers and theatre artists in the world. Some of these shows have been thrilling audiences for more than two and a half decades. Musicals, theater shows, magic shows, male reviews, topless reviews, burlesque shows, female reviews, impersonators, and of course shows that are great for the children and the whole family. The cost of single tickets for some shows can range anywhere from $35 up to $500. For a major recording artist or performer, tickets are a little pricier. There are also local bands that perform nightly and have their own fan following. The shows generally start in the evening, but many venues present afternoon shows as well. There are also facilities available for special shows and events, as well as exclusive shows for VIPs.

If you have spent a little more than you would have liked to, there are free shows to enjoy. One of the best places to watch free shows in Las Vegas is right in the lounge of your hotel. Although the headliners of these shows are not as famous as the ones in the shows that charge for tickets, you may be surprised to find good talent. TI offers The Sirens of TI on a daily basis for free; Circus Circus also has a big top show that goes on every day from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. There are free clown shows every hour from noon – 6 p.m. Fremont Street is located in the downtown Las Vegas area and hosts the Fremont Street Experience. It is all contained under a lighted canopy that stretches around 5 blocks; it contains more than 12 million LED lamps to light up its existence and is the location of attractions such as the free nightly light and sound shows for your entertainment pleasure. These free shows take place each night at dusk and there is usually a variety of different shows to see.

This article is provided by EarlyVegas.com – Check our Fantasy Promotions.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/enjoy-shows-while-visiting-las-vegas-1689358.html

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