Morning wakeup at InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden is akin to being above the world. You are on top of a small mountain in Germany’s only alpine national park, Berchtesgaden.
If you are facing west, say in duplex suite 347, named Watzmann, you are indeed looking out at that mountain, all of 2,713 metres to its peak, snow-capped even in Summer. And between, if you are as lucky as we were, the valley will be shrouded in early-morning clouds. Add finishing touches that include a clear blue sky and you feel in heaven.
We had arrived at the 138-room resort the previous night after a two-hour drive from Munich (next time I shall fly into nearby Salzburg). Because of meticulous environmental planning you barely see the horseshoe-shaped resort until the car climbs to the front door. Inside the building, which is give-or-take three floors - you will see, soon, what I mean by this - you immediately sense space, the locale, a sense of fun and oodles of style. In front of you as you enter you look through a lounge area with, even in summer, a central real-look log fire under a ceiling-hanging canopy. Beyond is the neat grass of the centre of the horseshow. Either side of this vista, back near you, are walls seven metres high formed of natural rough-cut Stainzergneiss stone. Hanging overhead are three giant - well, three metres high - cream fabric lampshades.
Floors are polished hardwood, from this forested area. Colors are neutral, or orange. The only lasting burst of arrogant color is an over-green oil landscape in the Presidential Suite, but there are also sometimes colorful masks hanging in the main lobby, or little sculptures on 1.5-metre posts, all graduation projects from the nearby wood-carving school, which apparently is renowned.
We were offered a choice of cold herbal teas from named carafes. 347 is one of the highly desirable two-floor suites set alternately, with normal rooms, on the inside facets of the horseshoe arms on the top floor of the building. The total 154 sq metres consists of a main floor office with big desk, a day bed and a half-bathroom. You climb 18 polished wood stairs to an upper level rising from the building’s roof. Here you have double-width, as this part extends over your neighbour who only has the normal room mentioned above. Facing outwards, your upper level has an airy parlor with easy-work gas-fuelled fire and a spacious bedroom with pale calf leather headboard: these two adjacent rooms look out to your private rooftop garden, all 100 sq metres of it. In all you have three Philips flatscreens, plus a minibar and hot beverage gear. Next to the bedroom is a walk-in closet with safe, and then comes the toilet. Facing inwards is the Dolomite limestone-clad bathroom, with oval tub, big shower area, electric towel rail, two sinks and Molton Brown. It is very sexy - you can see across the horseshoe into others’ rooftop bathrooms, just - and very sensible (bathroom blinds are electronically closed).
I got online instantly, using InterContinental’s worldwide broadband connector (public areas are wireless). I rushed down to the basement level, looking out into wildflower pastures below the lobby, to try the 24-hour gym and the two swimming pools, one indoors and lined with mother-of-pearl tiles and the other indoor-outdoor, and beautifully hot. Then it was cocktail time, for me a glass of wine, which produced a carafe and delicate Schott glass, and for my companion the one Bavarian whisky out of the 400 beautifully listed and described in the leather-bound menu in Rocks American Bar.
Le Ciel, the finest restaurant, was fully booked by a Toyota party, so we made eyes at the glass-walled in-cellar winery dining area, but since that seats up to 14 it would have been a bit over-the-top for two. We tried the white asparagus menu on the terrace outside the 360-degrees all-day dining, and honestly I ate so much of the delicious bread, from a baker back down in town, I barely needed anything else.
The breakfast buffet has terribly-addictive yoghurt and more breads than you thought existed, and freshest juice and great coffee. Yes, after a good night’s sleep I was hungry, and also ready to go. While my companion did two rounds of the nine-hole golf course (oh so steep, he exclaimed with joy, pointing out that it is a ski slope by winder) I borrowed one of the hotel bikes - Scott Scale Concept 40, naturally, for a place with such style - and pedalled furiously up, for a full 135 minutes nonstop, to Ahornbüchsenkopf, a full 1,600 metres above sea level. The chief concierge, Alexander Koenig, who came from the Side in Hamburg, later told me he had a full spectrum of similar rides for my next visit.
But it was time for the spa, run by Peter Droessel, whom many say is the best in Germany - he came here from Brenner’s Park, Baden-Baden. There is a big La Prairie center, and Clarissa Albert, a most beautiful person born in Colombia, gave me truly memorable care. There is also, being Germany, a massive sauna area but I really do not like sweating it out with masses of nude people, regardless of gender. I went for another swim instead.
There are so many wow features. A satellite copy of your favorite newspaper back home is ‘no trouble’, my maid from Hong Kong was Miss Speed personified, and yet she still had time to replace details. The books in the library beckon for many hours’ reading, the wild flowers around are simply glorious. I liked seeing local Bavarian artistocrats in dirndls and lederhosen at Sunday brunch, and the way that General Manager Tom Bauer bowed deeply and kissed my hand when we were first introduced, in the elevator (I also liked having well-signed and immaculately clean fire staircases as alternatives to the elevators). This place has style.
June 23rd, 2007
Wow! There are some fantastic cheap cruise options around and lots of people who’ve never cruised before are now dipping their toe in the ocean and finding out that the water’s very warm indeed. In some cases, a cheap cruise can be less expensive than the same length of time in a hotel in a resort town when you consider the cost of meals, accommodation, transportation, entertainment and sundry expenses. Once you’re on board the ship, your budget is very easy to manage. You’ve paid for nearly everything up front and you can economize as much or as little as you want.
Thus, the draw of exotic locations and pampering at sea is becoming more of a reality for people who never considered a cruise before as a vacation possibility. Booking a cheap cruise doesn’t mean stowing away in a dormitory-style, sub-ocean type accommodation. It doesn’t mean feeling like one of the herd crowded into claustrophobic cabins and watching “C-grade” entertainment to while away the hours at sea. You’d be surprised at the standard of living on cruises, and the ports of call that are available for affordable prices. Here is a sample of cheap cruise options that are currently available through various companies. Be aware that the prices shown are for off-peak travel. But, would you mind traveling to beautiful, temperate Mexico in January?
3-Night Baja Mexico cruise (January) – from $219
Interior: $219; Oceanview: $249
Departs from Los Angeles, CA
Ports of Call: Los Angeles, CA and Ensenada, Mexico
This beautiful vessel features a five-story shopping lobby with specialist boutiques plus a Champagne bar and entertainment that parallels that found in New York and Las Vegas.
7-Night Bahamas cruise (April) – from $829
Interior: $829; Oceanview: $999
Departs from New York City and visits Port Canaveral, FL; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas and Key West, FL.
This ship features 10 restaurants, 13 bars and lounges, a bowling alley, two swimming pools, six hot tubs, a day spa and a fitness center.
8-Night Bermuda cruise (April) – from $899
Interior: $899; Oceanview: $949
Departs from New York City and visits Kings Wharf, Bermuda; Road Town, Tortola, B.V.I. and St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Passengers also receive free travel insurance, a free gift and up to $150 of on-board credit per cabin.
11-night Southern Caribbean cruise (February) – from $949
Interior: $949; Oceanview: $1,199
Departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico and visits Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia; Bridgetown, Barbados; Margarita Island, Venezuela; Willemstad, Curacao and Oranjestad, Aruba.
Free travel insurance and a free gift are included. Imagine 11 glorious nights visiting some of the most stunning locations and never having to unpack your suitcase more than once!
At the prices shown above, a cheap cruise is an affordable option for a wedding gift, or a special surprise for a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary. The low prices mean that families can go on vacation together and be happy in the knowledge that the financials are taken care of.
Start planning what you will do for your next vacation. Consider taking a cheap cruise. You can go away sooner and enjoy yourself more when you go.
June 18th, 2007
There is no shortage of travel resources on the internet. There are two enormous sites dedicated to flight and auto bookings at www.expedia.net and www.travelocity.net. For purposes of exploring the cheapest way to fly from point A to point B, these two options are the best. They will show every flight available, with no bias toward advertisers or major airlines. They will also take a regional approach, and give you the cheapest flight to your destination from all locations in metro areas that have multiple airports. You can retrieve flight information to Boston, for example from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose - all airports within a fifty mile radius of one another and easily reached via public transit.
You can also book car reservations through these sites, if you are so inclined. Occasionally the auto rental agencies will have bargain rates for online rentals. Both Travelocity and Expedia have hotel packages to match up with your flight destination but those are basically promotional deals and have little to do with enhancing your travel experience.
IF you are interested in some online feedback on hotels and attractions in various locations, www.tripadvisor.com is a good resource. The site has its share of advertising for hotels and other services, but it also has a rating system based on consumer feedback. For San Francisco, the site has a list of the 234 most popular hotels in the city, based on published reviews and opinions submitted by people who have used their site. There is also information on tourist attractions and public transportation for vacation destinations,
You can search the site by destination and retrieve a list of hotels ranked by popularity, by price and by availability. They also provide a list of attractions and dining options, also ranked by popularity and including pricing information. There is a section for maps and an area for forums that will contain commentary on your chosen destination.
Prominent on the page are advertisements for other websites that offer travel packages and deals. There are clickable sections for discount hotels and listings of travel packages that are not advertisers on the site. It’s a thorough resource and very informative about destinations and attractions as well as how to get there and where to stay.
You’ll find an interesting approach at www.vacationidea.com. Choose from a menu of concepts: beach vacations, weekenders, health spas, romantic getaways, family destinations, golf vacations, low cost choices, etc. The site will give you options in your chosen category that are both near and far, with a range of prices. At www.vacationplanning.net, you can click on any of the fifty states on a map of the U.S.A. Your choice will provide you with a list of popular tourist destinations for the state. Click on a destination within the state, and you’ll get details on the location, popular attractions there and links to more local information such as the local chamber of commerce or tourism bureau.
If you do an online search on a destination you’ve chosen, you’ll get lots of sites from local promotional organizations and even governmental sites, such as the Costa Rica Visitors Bureau. There are also United States regional sites to assist in planning touring vacations to some of the countries most scenic or historical areas. After all, there’s no rule you have to confine your vacation to a single state.
One of the better ones is http://www.abbington.com/ which is dedicated to planning a vacation in New England. It is a nicely done site, addressing the vacation opportunities for the various seasons in the region. There is a section dedicated to the winter sports, the fall foliage, and a great page for children’s attractions at their New England for Kids Page: http://www.abbington.com/kids.html.
These are a few quality selections; the internet is a rich resource for planning vacations. If you opt for a travel package however, be sure to check with the BBB and sources in the travel industry on the reliability of the firm you’ve chosen.
April 12th, 2007
Writing a cover letter to send with your résumé can be both confusing and frustrating. What exactly should you say? Are you saying too much? Are you only speaking about your needs vs. the company’s needs? Oh, what to do! In this “short” piece, I will list some ideas on how to craft your cover letter. I have also provided some important links — for additional assistance — particularly if you find yourself still needing outside help.
Basics
* Make sure you use exactly the same type of paper you use for your résumé. White with white is best, business paper is strongly advised, especially paper containing 100% cotton. Cheap 20 lb. copier paper is a terrible idea!
* A matching business envelope {#10} is acceptable. Tri-fold your copies separately; when you place the cover letter inside the envelope, make sure that the letter is shown first [when you lift the flap of the envelope up] followed by your résumé. Fold it so that your name and contact information is the first thing the recruiter sees. If you choose to use a kraft envelope make sure that is no smaller than 9×12 or bigger than 10×13. Place an attractive computer generated label on it with your return address shown appropriately. If you must write on it, PRINT your information and do not be fancy. Remember: you want the post office and the company’s mailroom to be able to read what you wrote! Otherwise, important time may be lost in the process.
* If you are emailing your information make sure that the job listing stipulates that attachments are okay. If not, don’t you dare send attachments! Instead, within the body of an email message you can write your cover letter [a brief introduction] and then cut and paste your résumé. I cannot tell you how many files never get read when the person does not do as instructed. You can also follow up and mail in a hard [paper] copy if an address is provided.
Beginnings
* Match the header on your résumé with the header on your cover letter. They can and do get separated! An example header should look like this:
Jane Doe
14 Star Lane
Smithville, NC 27777 USA
Telephone: 919-555-1212
Cell Phone: 919-555-1213
Email: jdoe@nc.rrs.com
* Include your personal website address only if that information is valuable. If you host a site that is weird, inflammatory, adult oriented, or otherwise controversial, simply do not expect any response from the company.
* Put today’s date on the cover letter.
* Next, include your contact’s information, which can include:
Ms. Ellen Snow
Human Resources Coordinator
FlyByNight Aviation, Inc.
1234 Orville Wright Lane
Serendipity, NC 27776
* Your salutation comes next and should look like this
– Dear Ms. Snow:
Body
* Keep in mind that your cover letter must not be lengthy. You can say all that must be said in no more than three, maybe four, brief paragraphs.
* Here is a sample:
Attached, please find a copy of my résumé for your review. I am interested in the position of corporate flight attendant listed online at www.flybynight.com.
I believe my three years of international flying experience along with my culinary background and language skills makes me the ideal candidate to serve FlyByNight’s distinguished clientele. Currently, I work as an independent contractor and have flown to top destinations in Europe as well as throughout the U.S. and Canada. FlyByNight’s need for a dependable, trained, and highly experienced team player is exactly the type of position I desire.
I look forward to meeting with you in person to discuss your particular needs and how I can help FlyByNight successfully carry out its mission as the best operator of private jets in the world. Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience; I can be reached at 919-555-1212 or by on cell phone at 919-555-1213.
Byes
* Sincerely,
Jane Doe
Leave 3-4 lines from your “Sincerely” to your name. Your closing shouldn’t include other words including Regards [too plain], Cheers! [too British], Love [too personal], etc. Remember, this is a business letter.
In summation, keep it short and specific. Have three or four main points you can emphasize about your strengths, particularly, those points which match with the points listed by the company in their job details. In this particular case the candidate emphasized her culinary, language, and international travel experience, as well as her availability. All four points were stressed in the company’s job listing which read:
“…international jet operator is searching for an experienced cabin attendant. This position involves serving our on demand charter clients from east coast locations to destinations in the U.S. and abroad. Must have exceptional food service skills. Current training with FACTS, FlightSafety or similar training vendor; French or Spanish language skills: a plus…
You cannot avoid talking about yourself, but you can control how you talk about yourself.
Do not…
1. …beg for an interview.
2. …mention money or benefits. If the job listing “demands” that you list your salary requirements, simply state that salary is negotiable.
3. …overly boast about your skills: think about what the company’s needs are, do you think they care that you were the recipient of an NBAA scholarship? It is, however, okay to list scholarship awards on your résumé.
4. …name drop. Unless, you already come highly recommended by someone they know and like. Your mentor may be well known in this industry, but not universally liked. You can use them on your list of references, however.
Tying it all together, this is what your cover letter could look like:
Jane Doe
14 Star Lane
Smithville, NC 27777 USA
Telephone: 919-555-1212
Cell Phone: 919-555-1213
Email: jdoe@nc.rrs.com
March 21, 2005
Ms. Ellen Snow
Human Resources Coordinator
FlyByNight Aviation, Inc.
1234 Orville Wright Lane
Serendipity, NC 27776
Re: Corporate Flight Attendant Opening [this is optional, but it can be helpful especially if the company has multiple openings available.]
Dear Ms. Snow:
Attached, please find a copy of my résumé for your review. I am interested in the position of corporate flight attendant listed online at www.flybynight.com.
I believe my three years of international flying experience along with my culinary background and language skills makes me the ideal candidate to serve FlyByNight’s distinguished clientele. Currently, I work as an independent contractor and have flown to top destinations in Europe as well as throughout the U.S. and Canada. FlyByNight’s need for a dependable, trained, and highly experienced team player is exactly the type of position I desire.
I look forward to meeting with you in person to discuss your particular needs and how I can help FlyByNight successfully carry out its mission as the best operator of private jets in the world. Feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience; I can be reached at 919-555-1212 or by on cell phone at 919-555-1213.
Sincerely,
Jane Doe
April 11th, 2007
A trip to Windsor Locks, Connecticut simply wouldn’t be complete without a stop at one of its most exciting attractions, the ’simulcast’ Bradley Teletheater. A first class facility where tourists and locals can watch and bet on jai-alai, as well as thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, The Bradley Teletheater is sure to offer a thrilling experience for fervent racing fans as well as first-time spectators. The off-track theatre, which holds 1,200 seats in grandstand arrangement, features a state-of-the-art race book and top-notch restaurants such as the Winner’s Circle Lounge and the Turf Club. And, of course, the venue features ’simulcast’ viewing and betting, which means that wagering is allowed at multiple sites.
The Bradley Teletheater is just across the street from the local airport in Windsor Locks; as a result, the venue makes for a particularly popular business meeting point. In fact, Bradley Teletheater hosts a number of social events - from parties to conferences; events include free parking, admission and programs, and the venue even offers a range of catering packages to accommodate any group.
While in Windsor Locks, visitors can take advantage of a number of other intriguing attractions, such as the Connecticut Convention Center in nearby Hartford; science buffs may be interested to know that the state-of-the-art convention center - which happens to be the largest venue of its kind between Boston and New York - also holds the Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration. The Noden-Reed Park Museum, a 22-acre historical park, is another area of interest in Windsor Locks, as is the New England Air Museum, the largest aviation museum in northeast United States.
As Windsor Locks is located halfway between Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield Massachusetts,an excursion to these two cities is not hard to undertake. Visit Connecticut’s capital, which is also known as ‘the insurance capital of the world,’ then take a drive over to Springfield, which, interestingly enough, stands as the very first ‘Springfield’ among 34 in the United States; it is also home to the renowned Basketball Hall of Fame.
If you’re planning a trip to Windsor Locks, you’ll find that there are a number of fantastic hotel accommodation options to consider; Hilton Doubletree Hotel, for example, is right next to the airport - not to mention conveniently close to the Bradley Teletheater. So whether you’re travelling on business or for leisure, you’ll always have time to visit the teletheater; after all, a visit to Windsor Locks simply wouldn’t be complete without it.
April 11th, 2007
The namesake of a mythological goddess and revered as the mecca of modern western culture, there are more than three thousand years worth of things to know about Athens history.
Athens was named after the Greek goddess of civilization and wisdom, adeptly called Athena. Athens is the capital city of Greece. It is also the most heavily populated. In 2006, approximately six million residents called Athens home with 3.1 million living in Athens urban area, which consist of just the city, and 3.7 million inhabitants populating the entire metropolitan area. One of the interesting things about Athens is that the distinction of Greece’s largest population is putting the city on the brink of a position of dominance in Eastern European business.
Athens is one of the world’s senior cities. Ancient Athens history spans nearly three thousand years. The days of the ancient city provide various interesting facts about Athens’ history and the society that it would become. Ancient Athens was a Greek city-state world-famous during the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Athens was particular prideful of it’s educational excellence, as demonstrated by the illustrious Plato Academy and Lyceum by another respected scholar, Aristotle. The founder of the democratic process, Ancient Athens is considered on the forefront of introducing key elements of Western civilization, including education, athletics, and culture. The first Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.
A number of epic works of art and landmarks were born during the reign of Ancient Athens. The two most famous of those paramount monuments are the Parthenon and the the Acropolis. The Parthenon is considered the finest structure of Greek architecture. Built as a temple to the goddess Athena, Parthenon, with it’s descriptive sculptures, was constructed in the fifth century B.C at the insistence of Athens general, Pericles. The Acropolis, otherwise known as the “Sacred Rock,” is a rock structure raising five hundred twelve feet into the air and characterized by a flat-top. The Acropolis is located on a plain of Attica, a Greek subdivision. The Ancient Athenian darling contains a sturdy layer of blue and green limestone that protects the construction from water damage. Ancient Athens is presently situated atop a rocky hill near the Acropolis.
The Plaka tops the charts of interesting Athens’ attractions. The Plaka is the oldest neighborhood in Athens. It is located just under the Acropolis, with Kydatheneon and Adrianou, featuring the Monastiraki Flea Market, as the two main streets. The Plaka served as the vibrant nightlife district of Athens before the local government banned amplified music in the community in the seventies in an effort to drive traffic out of the neighborhood. The tactic worked, turning The Plaka into a community of tourism wonders. Jewelry retailers, tourist shops, and cafes are abundant here. Coral, a tourists destination located on the corner of Voulis and Apollonos, specializes in the sale of antiques, knick-knacks featuring hand paintings, and wood carvings. Gold retailers thrive in this community of Athens-cheap Greek labor makes the metal inexpensive. Various streets in The Plaka are closed to automobile traffic, making way for street vendors, flower merchants, and local musicians.
Many people immediately charge out the Islands when they visit Greece. While the islands are tremendous, spending a few days in Athens is worth the time.
April 11th, 2007
A few years ago I have had the experience of being a flight attendant for El-Al Israeli Airlines. It was a great experience that had taught me much about life and the human (and especially Israeli) nature, and one of the most important things I had learnt was how to manage your flight as a passenger and make it as convenient as you can. Following are some tips I believe can make a more comfortable flight:
- Head start - Make sure to be one of the first passengers to check into the flight, this way you can have better seats to chose from.
- Choosing a seat - I think that unless you are suffering from prostate problems the window seats are the best you can get. The front rows of the airplane have much less turbulence than the rear ones.
- Carry on Luggage - Make your carry on luggage as small as you can, but be sure to pack one set of underwear, a couple of books, a pen (for those landing forms) and a toothbrush.
- Toilet - the best times to visit the toilet is right after take-off, and between meals.
- Drinking - Drink as much water as you can. It will make you use the toilets more often and make more walks as well as prevent you from dehydrating.
- Alcohol -Although some airlines serve free alcohol, it is not recommended to drink any alcohol during the flight since the airplane air is thin and dry, if you add some alcohol to that you’re on your way to dehydration if not blood poisoning. Trust me, I’ve seen in happen.
- Sleeping pills - If you decide to take some sleeping pills during the flight, take a low dosage – sleeping pills have a much stronger effect on you when you’re up 20,000 feet in the air. From my experience passengers who have taken a larger dosage just kept on sleeping after the flight had finished.
- Travel pillows - a good travel pillow will help you through your flight. The best travel pillows are the bigger and thicker ones, the simple travel pillows you are better off without.
- Your relationship with the flight crew - Be nice to the flight crew, respect them and politely ask for whatever it is you want. Do not command the flight attendants or demand things off them, or you will get to their bad side. Flight attendants (like any other person) cooperate better when you talk to their hearts and make them empathize with you.
- After landing - do not stand up until the “fasten seatbelt” sign has been turned off. Passengers who do stand up end up being crammed by other passengers who didi the same with no ability to get back to their seats for as long as the airplane hauling takes, and that may take up to 15-30 minutes!
Enjoy your flight!
April 11th, 2007
What else is there but amateur competition and games like the Olympics?
Believe it or not, there are many other uses of gymnastics for your child besides amateur competition and the Olympic games. Unlike some other sports, such as football or hockey, which may only get him or her into a college on a scholarship on an off chance, gymnastics has much more of a future to offer those who are capable. Professional gymnastics, gymnastics coaching, performances, and theater are only a few of the options beyond the aforementioned — quite literally, the sky is the limit.
Professional gymnastics
In terms of professional gymnastics there are quite literally dozens of substyles to choose from, all of which stem either from rhythmic gymnastics or artistic gymnastics. Dancing, juggling, tumbling, rolling, vaulting, horse and beams can be involved in a professional competition. Even the rings, which are limited only to men, are offered. Lucrative and fun for your gymnast, the professional sport is typically reserved for those who are extremely well-qualified. Lots of gymnasts who participate, though, are fresh out of school. No rule states that one must be an Olympic champion in order to enter a contest for money. Obviously, the gymnast must be prepared both physically and mentally. Of course, if your gymnast is the best in his or her local or state division, then he or she may want to go for a prize purse. Typically, those who do have already won a few amateur titles. If you want to see your son or daughter have the option of professional gymnastics, keep this in mind… Every country that participates in the Olympics, practically, has its own professional tournaments and divisions. The possibilities are wide.
Gymnastics coaching
Coaching for gymnastics may also be a viable suggestion for your gymnast. After they have tired of competing with other gymnasts, they can put their skills and their mettle to the test by coaching young, up-and-coming gymnasts in their quests for gold. This, usually, is a step left for the far future, but it is always an option for the accomplished gymnastics student, with some common sense and some intuition, to teach the next generation. Olympic and professional athletes could not get to where they are today, after all, if they did not have the proper coaching.
Performances
This is perhaps the most diverse category yet of ‘other’ gymnastics. While many types of performing art may seem unrelated to gymnastics, keep in mind that gymnastics can be modified creatively.
The most obvious addition to this category would be dance. Dance performances, no matter what type they may be (ballet, ballroom, what have you), are inherently gymnastic in their motion. This is why gymnastics students always have a leg up (no pun intended) on some of the more outrageous maneuvers like splits or high kicks or leaps than those who have never had any experience with gymnastic art.
Before you laugh at the idea…Circuses are a relatively respectable use of gymnastics as well–and we don’t just mean Barnum and Bailey’s, either. Artistic circuses such as the Cirque du Soleil are famous for their contortionists and for their high-flying acrobatic and gymnastic shows of skill; in fact, the Cirque itself has international renown. It is indeed a thought!
Theatrical performances routinely involve gymnastics, sometimes in the form of displays of flexibility, other times in the form of creative dance. Performances of this sort are not only limited to the Broadway, off-Broadway, or off-off-Broadway shows you might be thinking of. In fact, if your gymnast also has an inclination toward ice skating, there is an entirely new world of opportunity right at their fingertips, so to speak. Shows that are on ice - musicals, dramas, or what have you - are always filled with outrageous and wonderful moves that your skilled gymnast can surely identify with.
And finally, there is the idea of gymnastics on the big screen–or the small screen. Hollywood is always looking for people with gymnastic skill to perform as stunt doubles or stars. In fact, so too are some television shows, believe it or not.
Indeed, with your young gymnast’s abilities, they can go anywhere their minds take them — and indeed, the way you encourage them will play a large part in their continuing gymnastic career. There is always something out there. One needs only look!
By Murray Hughes
Gymnastics Secrets Revealed ”The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read”
http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/professional-gymnastics.htm
April 10th, 2007
When most of us think of the words cruise ship, we envision the Love Boat or the Titanic. Well, not all the time, but often that’s the first thing that comes to mind. Actually, a cruise ship doesn’t have to be that big, and many countries have their own cruise ship lines. A cruise ship is also called a luxury ship, but that doesn’t mean that only rich people can sail on her. You may not find Gopher or Doc on board, but a cruise ship offers a unique way to travel at a slower pace so that you get to know your fellow passengers and are able to intermingle at various venues provided by cruise ship activity and entertainment directors. Airline or train travel doesn’t allow for such pleasures, nor does driving. For anyone who hasn’t been on a cruise ship, adventure awaits!
A cruise ship is also called a passenger ship and is used for those seeking a pleasure voyage to various destinations around the world, from Tahiti to Rio, to the Canary Islands and Hong Kong. Today, a cruise ship line offers the best in travel comforts and perks. With a cruise ship, the entertainment on board is as important as the ultimate destination, and most cruise ship lines will make sure to schedule exciting events that will entertain various age groups.
The very first cruise ship built expressly for the purpose of transporting vacationers from Point A to Point B was called the Prinzessin Victoria Luise. She was built in 1900. So began the age of transatlantic transportation that hit a rough spot after the sinking of the Titanic. Following that accident, Albert Ballin, the manager of Hamburg-America Line, made it a point to send his cruise ship captains across the North Atlantic is the worst winter weather to prove that the ill-fated sinking of the queen of all liners was not the norm, but rather an isolated incident. He succeeded, and other shipping lines followed his example.
A cruise ship is equipped to withstand bad weather and is capable of sailing great distances to exotic ports of call or down your country’s coastline. One of the most popular cruise ship destinations for world travelers is the Alaskan cruise, which offers delighted passengers sights and sounds that can’t be seen anywhere else.
There are many different kinds of cruise ship, and some are large, which others are only moderately so. Most come with affordable small to medium sized cabins, and a cruise ticket will generally include all the food and entertainment on board as well as tickets to events or locations listed on the ships port of call sightseeing lists. A cruise ship offers hotel style living, fine dining and even theatrical entertainment all in one place. Some cruise lines offer a cruise ship geared more toward the younger crowd, like Disney, while others offer nothing but exquisite elegance. Which cruise ship you choose will not only depend on your tastes, but your pocket book as well.
April 10th, 2007
In 1959 Boston authorities made a tough decision when figuring out what to do with the overflow of traffic moving to, from, and through the city. Their solution was to erect a 6 lane elevated superhighway, one that would slice the city in half. The Central Artery, as it was called, displaced 20,000 residents from their homes, and severed Boston’s Waterfront and the North End from the rest of the city. The ability for these neighborhoods to economically compete in the city’s commerce were cruelly diminished. 25 years later, when the volume of traffic on the Central Artery began creating over 10 hours of congested traffic per day, and as the severed neighborhoods were still harboring their grudges, a solution was planned once again. This time it was called “The Big Dig”.
The Big Dig broke ground in 1991 with a mission to remove the entire Central Artery, replacing it with an 8-10 lane expressway below the surface. It would require huge connector ramps on either side of the tunnel, and as an added bonus, the Ted Williams Tunnel would be constructed to connect Logan Airport in East Boston to South Boston, thus creating an alternate route for travelers approaching from the South and West. When it was all said and done, the Big Dig disrupted 7.8 miles of highway. If each lane of those highways were laid down one after the other, it would stretch out for more then 161 miles. The project is currently in its final stages, 15 years later.
Although the finishing touches still need to be applied, Boston residents are already realizing the effects of the Big Dig. The North End and the Waterfront are once again a part of the city, whereby residents can easily stroll from one neighborhood to the other. The sound of traffic is buried beneath the streets, and the once poisoned property along the Central Artery is busting with construction and realizing a growing volume of commerce. Besides bringing the city back together, the Big Dig is responsible for the creation of more then 260 acres of open land. Where the old artery once stood stretching through the city, a strip of parks, art centers, and recreational facilities are being built. The Rose Kennedy Greenway, as the strip will be termed, is being lined with new hotels, restaurants, shops, galleries, an arboretum within, and several new luxurious condominium residences. Rowes Wharf and the Boston Harbor Hotel have had the pleasure of watching the entire Greenway laid out in front of them. Other condo buildings, either new construction or recent conversions, have recently opened their doors in time to take full advantage of the areas new atmosphere. These include Greenway Place, Folio Boston, Broadluxe, and the Residences at the Intercontinental. There are several residential communities planned for the future, including Russia Wharf, which will position itself should-to-shoulder with The Intercontinental.
The Greenway represents something brand new for a city whose streets and neighborhoods have already fathered so much history. Being a Boston resident affords each individual the ability to observe and contribute to this exciting era. Living along the Greenway and among all its integral surroundings offers a promise of something novel and unique in a city where that is often rare. The Rose Kennedy Greenway will be a hub of anticipation, of activity, of fresh character, and of exhilaration.
April 10th, 2007
Previous Posts