All about relationship

LIKE everything else you, wish to succeed in, relationships requires effort and investment.

How is the health status of your relationship account? When you start an account, you always start off with such enthusiasm and with goals to grow it into a healthy, strong one that will give you a happy future.

The thing is, most people open their relationship accounts with eagerness, only to get lazy and procrastinate over time, leading the relationship onto an unhealthy path.

Laziness will always set you up for failure, including your relationship. As a relationship matures and gets older, a couple tends to get lazy.

You get so comfortable with each other that you no longer bother to invest the time and effort you did at the beginning. People often believe that if they are comfortable in their relationship, then everything is okay and/or will work itself out. Being comfortable, however, does not always mean your relationship is healthy.

Being comfortable could simply means that you and your partner are used to being together and the way the relationship is – even if the relationship is lacking important things that could make it better.

This happens so gradually that sometimes a couple often does not know where things started going wrong and all they know is that their relationship has gone downhill and things do not feel the same any longer.

The excitement is gone, the passion has faded and the communication has gone from strong to weak, making it difficult for a couple to work together when they do realize that their relationship is in trouble.

The following are some things you and your partner need to constantly invest in your relationship account if you want to maintain a healthy and loving relationship:

Honesty: You have probably, heard the famous saying - honesty is the best policy. Well, it really is! While the truth may not always be pleasant, it is always better to let your partner know what you are thinking and how you are feeling, rather than keeping it all inside of you and expecting your partner to read your mind.

You also need to be open and accepting of the truth your partner shares with you about yourself and the relationship over all. If you are not willing to hear the truth(and the truth can be painful sometimes), then you are not willing to fully experience the relationship as a whole but instead choose to blind yourself from certain things because it makes life easier for you (or at least it will look that way to you). So invest honesty in your relationship every day throughout the whole year, being always honest with your partner and yourself.

Respect: - You and your partner can have extremely strong feelings for each other and may claim to love each other dearly and more than anything. Without respect, however, that love will get lost in the big shadow of disrespect that will take over your relationship. Respect may seem like something that is only natural for you and your partner to have for each other and that if you love each other then it will be very difficult to disrespect each other.

This may be true in the beginning when things are new between you, but in time things change and may require maintenance. As a relationship matures and you and your partner spend more time together, you will experience different things and will learn new things about each other.

Though the love you have for each other may be something you have in common, you two are still individual human beings with different habits, views, routines, interests and so on. You may not always like or agree with the way your partner handles things, believes things and says things but you will have to accept and respect that this is who he/she is.

If you cannot respect your partner and your partner does not respect you, then your relationship will not last. Even if it does, it will grow into an unhappy relationship that will invite many other stressful and painful issues.

Invest respect daily into your relationship and do not allow yourself to cross that line and enter the territory of disrespect. If you do so, you and your partner will not see each other the same way.

Expressions of love: You may see this one as a given, but it is not. People tend to get a little too comfortable as time goes by in a relationship and become less concerned with expressing their love and admiration for their partner.

This, most of the time, is not intentional, but it does happen, regardless of being intentional or not. People do this because they become too confident. They know they love their partners and that their partners love them and use that as their security. While knowing that your love for each other is great and powerful, it will not be enough to make your relationship last in a happy way.

People need to know that they are loved and cherished and that they are not being taken for granted. Laziness is a person's worst enemy and it will cost you your relationship if you do not take the time to let your partner know that he/she is special and the love. If your life.

Tell your partner how much he/she means to you, write something thoughtful in a card and give it to him/her, set a date to take him/her out a place you know you two will truly enjoy and feel like a successful romantic couple.

It does not require anything fancy to express your love to your partner and keep him/her satisfied, but the rewards for doing so will be wonderful and extremely beneficial to your relationship. Also remember - if your partner is not investing his/her share of efforts in showing you how much you mean to him/her, then you need to observe your relationship closely and give it a check up to see how healthy or unhealthy it really is.

Talk to your partner about how you feel and give him/her time to make positive changes and improvements that will please you. If they lack to do so even after your honest communication, then you will need to ask yourself if you think you are with the right person. After all, you deserve to be with someone who will tmly care about how you feel and will never want to disappoint or hurt you if he/she knows he/she holds the power to make things different.

Freedom: Give your partner freedom? Yes! Not the kind of freedom where you both are allowed to just go off and behave recklessly towards the relationship but freedom in a way that lets both you and your partner continue to be individuals.

Things to do while you're alive

1. See a broadway show, front-row center

2. Celebrate Carnival in Rio

3. Drink a mint julep at the Kentucky Derby

4. Build a house

5. Perfect a foreign accent

6. Attempt to break a world record

7. Invent Something

8. Climb Mount Everest

9. Celebrate the Fourth of July outside the U.S

10. Visit Taj Mahal

11. See cherry blossoms in D.C

12. Save a life

13. Learn to survive in the wilderness

14. Stand on the equator

15. Ride a boat through a fjord

16. Visit all 50 states 

17. Become financially independent

18. Watch a meteor shower

19. Tour MoMa with a personal guide

20. See the NFL draft live

21. Play Pinehurst No. 2

You can't have a favorite place until you've seen them all.

Suspect Abuse ? How You Can Help.

The only way to know for sure if someone you know is being abused is to ask. One of the common myths about battered women is that they don't want to talk about their victimization. While many do make efforts to hide the battering, they often do so because they fear being embarrassed, their partner finding out, being blamed, not being believed, or being pressured to do something they're not ready or able to do.

What you should do:

Believe her.

And let her know that you do. If you know her partner, remember that batterers most often behave differently in public than they do in private.

Listen to what she tells you.

If you actively listen, ask clarifying questions and avoid making judgments and giving advice. You will most likely learn directly from her what it is she needs.

Build on her strengths.

Actively identify the ways in which she has developed coping strategies, solved problems and exhibited courage and determination, even if her efforts have not been completely successful. Help her to build on these strengths.

Validate her feelings.

It is common for women to have conflicting feelings—love and fear; guilt and anger; hope and sadness. Let her know that her feelings are normal and reasonable.

Avoid victim-blaming.

Tell her that the abuse is not her fault. Reinforce that the abuse is her partner's problem and his responsibility. However, refrain from "bad-mouthing" him.

Take her fears seriously.

If you are concerned about her safety, express your concern without judgment. Simply say, "Your situation sounds dangerous and I'm concerned about your safety."

Offer help.

When it's appropriate, offer specific forms of help and information. If she asks you to do something you're willing and able to do, do it. If you can't or don't want to, say so and help her identify other ways to have that need met.

Be an active, creative partner in her safety-planning effort.

The key to planning is to take the problem, consider the full range of available options, evaluate the risks and benefits of different options, and identify ways to reduce the risks.

Support her decisions.

Remember that there are risks attached to every decision a battered woman makes. If you truly want to be helpful, be patient and respectful of her decisions.

What you should not do:

If you think a woman you know is being abused, don't wait for her to come to you. If she does confide in you, don't judge or blame her or her decisions—even if you don't agree with them. Don't pressure her into acting if she's not ready. Don't offer advice if it's not appropriate, and don't put conditions on your support of her.

Domestic Abuse Safety Plan

Safety planning for someone involved in an abusive relationship is a necessary and important step. Planning can begin while you're still with your abuser or after the relationship has ended. While still in an abusive relationship, your safety is of primary importance.

Keep these tips in mind when planning to leave an abusive partner:

Before you leave…

Get help to make a plan.

Create a code word.

Document your abuse.

Pack an emergency bag.

Document your abuse by…

Keeping a journal.

Seeing a doctor.

Filing a police report.

Taking photos.

Pack an emergency bag with…

Money

Your checkbook and bank info

Credit cards

Identification for you and your children

Car keys

Court papers

Medications

After you leave…

Tell family and friends.

Get an order of protection.

Put emergency call on speed dial.

Change your cell phone number.

Change your daily routine.

Avoid being alone.

Find a safe place to stay.

Abusive Men : The Red Flags

List of Red Flags:

1. He pushes too far, too fast, planning your future together right away.

2. He hates his mother and is nasty to her.

3. He wants your undivided attention.

4. He must always be in charge.

5. He always has to win.

6. He breaks promises all the time.

7. He can't take criticism and always justifies his actions.

8. He blames someone else for anything that goes wrong.

9. He's jealous of your close friends, family members, and all other men.

10. He always asks you where you went and whom you saw.

11. He has extreme highs and lows that are unpredictable.

12. He has a mean temper.

13. He often says you don't know what you're talking about.

14. He makes you feel like you're not good enough.

15. He withdraws his love or approval as punishment.

16. He pushes you to do things that make you feel uneasy, like taking the day off from work or even breaking the law.

Verbal Abuse: How To Save Yourself

How to save yourself from a bad guy ?

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How many women think of that schoolyard rhyme while reeling from a partner's put-downs or angry outbursts? The rhyme's a lie. Cruel words can do worse than break bones: They can break your spirit, cripple your confidence, even make you physically ill.

"This can happen to any woman, with any family background or career." 

"It's happened to psychologists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, Web designers, mommies—even the director of a women's shelter." A woman falls into the trap because the abuse takes her by surprise. "He isn't abusive while he's courting you." 

But once he gets you, he switches—and you have no idea why."

Why Is This Happening—What to Do?

How can his voice drown out your inner knowing? 

1. The abuse only happens when you're alone with him. Friends and coworkers might think he's a prince, so you doubt your own perceptions or believe his anger must be your fault.

2. Verbal abuse escalates gradually; you adapt. (The abuse might also become physical.) He's Jekyll and Hyde, with just enough sweet times to keep you hoping the relationship will improve.

3. Assuming he's rational (aren't all men?) and wants what you want (loving mutuality), you strain to make sense of what he says. But it's nonsense, designed to confuse you. The shocking truth is, he seeks control, not intimacy.

Yet you can save your spirit. 

1. Recognize that the abuse has nothing to do with you or your actions or qualities.

2. Stop trying to explain and defend yourself. Instead, start setting limits: "Cut that out!" or "I don't want to hear that."

3. Listen carefully to your feelings. Believe them, not him.

4. Get support from a counselor or therapist. Make sure she understands that this isn't just a "conflict" or an "argument."

5. Keep in mind that an abuser might be able to change himself if he really wants to—but you can't change him. You can honor and nurture yourself.

Seven Signs You're In A Verbally Abusive Relationship

A checklist from the book that woke me up :

1. He seems irritated or angry with you several times a week. When you ask why he's mad, he either denies it or tells you it's in some way your fault.

2. When you feel hurt and try to talk with him, the issues never get resolved. He might refuse to discuss your upset feelings by saying "You're just trying to start an argument!" or claiming he has no idea what you're talking about.

3. You frequently feel frustrated because you can't get him to understand your intentions.

4. You're upset—not so much about concrete issues like how much time to spend together, but about communication: what he thinks you said and what you heard him say.

5. You sometimes think, "What's wrong with me? I shouldn't feel so bad."

6. He seems to take the opposite view from you on almost everything, and his opinion isn't stated as "I think," but as if you're wrong and he's right.

7. You can't recall saying "Cut it out!" or "Stop it!"

Adapted from The Verbally Abusive Relationship © 1992, 1996 by Patricia Evans. 

Expert Advice on Surviving Abuse

How to Know If Your Husband Has Truly Changed

If you are in an emotionally abusive relationship, Dr. Steven Stosny explains, you have no doubt experienced "honeymoon" periods in the past when, driven by remorse, he seemed to change and everything was fine. The following will help you know that your partner is in the process of permanent change. You will feel that he consistently (every day):

1. Values and appreciates you—you are important to him;

2. Listens to you;

3. Shows compassion—cares how you feel, even when you disagree with him;

4. Respects you as an equal and doesn't try to control you or dismiss your opinions;

5. Shows affection without always expecting sex;

6. Regulates his guilt, shame, anxiety, resentment or anger, without blaming them on you.

Look for Compassion and Support, Not Remorse and Control

Most abusers feel guilt and remorse, at least in the first years of the abuse. Far from encouraging signs, guilt and remorse can actually lead to more abuse, as they:

1. Focus his attention on how bad hefeels;

2. Make him insist that you "get over it" so he can feel better.

In contrast, compassion:

1. Focuses attention on how youfeel;

2. Makes him want to help you feel better.

It is easy to confuse control with support, especially for men (and parents, for that matter) who feel protective. Here are some pointers to help you tell the difference. If he's trying to control you, he:

1. Tells you what to do and punishes you in some way if you don't do it;

2. Implies that you're not competent, smart or resourceful enough to do it on your own;

3. Makes it clear that your perspective isn't important.

If he's trying to support you, he:

1. Helps you find what is best for you to do and stands by you if what you decide doesn't work;

2. Respects your competence, intelligence, creativity and resourcefulness;

3. Values your opinions, even if he disagrees.

Tips for Husbands to Reconnect

If you've been in an emotionally abusive relationship, Dr. Steven Stosny explains, you almost certainly have developed habits of emotional disconnection. For instance, touch and eye contact are usually the first things to go in distressed relationships.

Because your husband has to overcome a nagging sense of relationship inadequacy, he should initiate all of the following for the first months of recovery.

Establish a daily routine of brief but consistent moments of emotional connection with your wife:

1. Hug at least six times a day and hold each hug for at least six seconds. (Hold them that long to overcome any initial awkwardness.)

2. Take at least six seconds six times a day to appreciate her

3. Have a weekly date night with just the two of you. (Inexpensive activities or just going for a walk alone together will do the trick.) This has to be as important as an appointment with your boss;

4. Adopt a brief daily ritual that expresses your wife's importance to you. For example, offer a single flower or a flower petal, light a candle, write a note or hum a few bars of a song you both like;

5. Imagine a permanent lifeline—like the kind the astronauts use in outer space—connecting you emotionally, no matter how far apart you are;

6. Take six seconds six times a day to think positively about her when you are not with her. This will make you behave more positively toward her when you are with her.

Steven Stosny, Ph.D.

Founder, CompassionPower

www.compassionpower.com

Books referenced:

Manual of the Core Value Workshop

The Powerful Self: A Workbook of Therapeutic Self-Empowerment

What verbal and emotional abuse is

What Is Domestic Violence ?

Recognizing what behaviors are part of domestic violence is not always easy, even for victims themselves. 

This is, in part, because domestic violence is much more than physical abuse. In fact, many battered women who are controlled by their partners and who live in danger and fear have never been physically assaulted.

Understanding what domestic violence is means being aware of the many different things abusers do to control their partners. The following checklist of behaviors may help you decide if you or someone you know is being abused.

Does your partner…

Use emotional and psychological control?

Call you names, yell, put you down, make racial or homophobic slurs, or constantly criticize or undermine you and your abilities as a wife, partner or mother?

Behave in an overprotective way or become extremely jealous?

Make it difficult for you to see family and friends, or "bad-mouth" your family and friends?

Prevent you from going where you want to, when you want to, and with whomever you want to?

Humiliate or embarrass you in front of other people?

Use economic control?

Deny you access to family assets like bank accounts, credit cards or a car?

Control all the finances, force you to account for what you spend or take your money?

Prevent you from getting or keeping a job or from going to school?

Limit your access to health, prescription and/or dental insurance?

Make threats?

Threaten to report you to the authorities (the police, courts or child protective services) for something you didn't do?

Threaten to harm or kidnap the children?

Make you afraid by using looks, actions or gestures?

Display weapons as a way of making you afraid or directly threaten you with weapons?

Use anger or "loss of temper" as a threat to get you to do what he wants?

Threaten to expose your sexual orientation to friends, family or employer, if you are gay or lesbian?

Threaten to report you to INS or immigration?

Commit acts of physical violence?

Carry out threats to hurt you, your children, pets, family members, friends or himself?

Destroy personal property or throw things around?

Grab, push, hit, punch, slap, kick, choke or bite you?

Force you to have sex when you don't want to or to engage in sexual acts that you don't want to do?

Prevent you from taking medications or getting medical care?

Deny you access to food, fluids or sleep?

These are some of the most common tactics used by abusers to control their partners, they are but certainly not the only ones. If your partner does things that restrict your personal freedom or make you afraid, you may be a victim of domestic violence.

De - Stress After Divorce

1. Stop, take a deep breath, think. Make sure you act, not react. Try to acknowledge your emotions without always acting on them. This will go a long way to avoiding the turmoil so many face when going through a divorce. If you feel out of control, don't be ashamed to get professional help.

2. Don't be afraid to explore the evolution and the demise of your relationship. You can gain valuable insight into your selection process, expectations of marriage, and reasons for the divorce. Understanding what attracted you to this person in the first place may provide you with some surprising answers.

3. Just as in the case of the death of a loved one, you will need to recognize and work through the stages of grief and loss. You are likely to experience shock and denial, bargaining, depression, anger, resignation, and finally, acceptance.

4. Allow yourself to feel the pain, because without this part of the process you may very well end up feeling numb, which is much worse.

5. Find ways to express your anger and frustration in constructive, not destructive ways. Anger that takes on the form of revenge, rage, blame, violence, or feeling out of control keeps you stuck in the past and connected to your ex in unhealthy ways.

6. Do what you need to do to regain control over your life. Seeking professional help, going back to school, learning new skills, or going to a support group are all positive ways to not only nurture yourself, but begin to build a new life.

7. Turn negative thoughts and attitudes into positive actions. Try to concentrate on what you have, not what you have lost.

8. Create an atmosphere of good will and good faith. Take the high road whenever possible because this will help to rebuild your self-esteem. Hang out with healthy people and learn from them.

9. Set realistic goals for yourself. Make a determined effort to get through one day at a time. Don't be surprised when you have momentary setbacks, you wouldn't be human if you didn't experience remorse. You may even have moments when you're not sure you've made the right decision(s). Be a friend to yourself and realize that no one has all the answers.

10. Make sure to reward yourself throughout the process. Indulge you senses. Choose nurturing, constructive rewards. You deserve it. Congratulate yourself for all your hard work, because dealing with divorce in a grown up fashion is one of the most difficult things you will ever do.

4 Steps to Forgiveness

Step 1: Pain and Hurt

The first step to forgiveness is acknowledging what happened. 

Talk to someone you trust and open up about how hurt, sad or angry you may feel. Let your emotions out and don't apologize for them.

Don't withdraw or isolate yourself. Stay connected and feel the pain, even though it hurts. With someone there to listen, the pain is more bearable.

Step 2: Reliving and Reflecting

Once you've had the chance to vent, you are ready to appeal to your rational side.

Ask yourself: What do you want this pain to turn into?

Look for the hook. The hook is what is holding you back—it's the portion of the misdeed that is causing you to hold on to your anger and resentment.

Empathize with the person who hurt you.

Remember that forgiveness is not the service of condoning. It's a service to yourself—free yourself from the poison of hatred.

Step 3: Working It Out

This step is difficult, but you need to analyze your anger and put your life back into perspective.

Flatten the hook and rid yourself of the anger that is keeping you from forgiveness. Praying and mediating can help.

Take inventory and give thanks for all the things you do have.

You can imagine vengeance—just don't act on it.

Think of your future. Know that you and your loved ones will be better off once you have rid yourself of any vengeful thinking.

Step 4: Renounce Your Anger and Resentment

Uses the word "renounce" because your resentful feelings may never permanently go away. 

Acknowledge that your anger can come back.

If your anger does comes back, go through the process again and flatten the hook to keep moving forward.

Try to teach others the skill of forgiveness in an empathetic way.

Read an excerpt from Dare to Forgive by Dr. Ned Hallowell

A Happier You

The greatest goal you can set this year is to make peace with your life, no matter your circumstances. These 10 powerful insights from Eckhart Tolle will get you started.

Don't seek happiness. If you seek it, you won't find it, because seeking is the antithesis of happiness. Happiness is ever elusive, but freedom from unhappiness is attainable now, by facing what is rather than making up stories about it.

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have 50 cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering.

See if you can catch the voice in your head, perhaps in the very moment it complains about something, and recognize it for what it is: the voice of the ego, no more than a thought. Whenever you notice that voice, you will also realize that you are not the voice, but the one who is aware of it. In fact, you are the awareness that is aware of the voice. In the background, there is the awareness. In the foreground, there is the voice, the thinker. In this way you are becoming free of the ego, free of the unobserved mind.

Wherever you look, there is plenty of circumstantial evidence for the reality of time—a rotting apple, your face in the bathroom mirror compared with your face in a photo taken 30 years ago—yet you never find any direct evidence, you never experience time itself. You only ever experience the present moment.

Why do anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important. One small error, one misperception, creates a world of suffering.

People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.

The more shared past there is in a relationship, the more present you need to be; otherwise, you will be forced to relive the past again and again.

Equating the physical body with "I," the body that is destined to grow old, wither, and die, always leads to suffering. To refrain from identifying with the body doesn't mean that you no longer care for it. If it is strong, beautiful, or vigorous, you can appreciate those attributes—while they last. You can also improve the body's condition through nutrition and exercise. If you don't equate the body with who you are, when beauty fades, vigor diminishes, or the body becomes incapacitated, this will not affect your sense of worth or identity in any way. In fact, as the body begins to weaken, the light of consciousness can shine more easily.

You do not become good by trying to be good, but by finding the goodness that is already within you and allowing that goodness to emerge.

If peace is really what you want, then you will choose peace.

Exerpted from Oneness with All Life by Eckhart Tolle. Published by arrangement with Dutton, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. Copywright © 2008 by Eckhart Tolle

Getting Started With Meditation

How do I do it?

Sit comfortably, with your back erect. It is fine to sit in a chair or on an arrangement of cushions on the floor. If necessary, you can lie down. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, feeling the breath as it enters your nostrils and fills your chest and abdomen; then release it. Allow the breath to become natural, without forcing it or controlling it. Let your attention rest on one breath at a time.

What if my mind wanders?

If your mind wanders, don't be concerned. Notice whatever has captured your attention, then let go of the thought or feeling, and return to the awareness of the breath. In this way, meditation teaches us gentleness and an ability to forgive our mistakes in life and to go on.

How do I find the time?

If you can pick a set time and place to meditate each day, it will enhance the sense of sacredness. But if you're not able to sit regularly, you can still benefit. Even the ordinary activities of daily life can be times of meditation when you free yourself from the strictures of habit and the tendency to be only half-alive.

What will happen to me when I'm meditating? What will I experience?

Sometimes you will tap into a wellspring of peace. Other times you might feel waves of sleepiness, boredom, anxiety, anger, or sadness. Images may arise, old songs might replay, long-buried memories can surface. Success in meditation is measured not in terms of whatever may be happening but rather how we are relating to what is happening. If you feel overwhelmed by thoughts or feelings, use awareness of your breath to anchor your attention to your body.

What do I do when my thoughts just won't stop?

Some people have a mistaken idea that through meditation all thoughts disappear and we enter a state of blankness. There certainly are times of great tranquility when concentration is strong and we have few, if any, thoughts. But other times, we can be flooded with memories, plans, or random thinking. It's important not to blame yourself. Notice that you don't invite your thoughts. You haven't said, "At 6:15 I'd like to be ruminating about the past." Thoughts come and go without our volition, but we don't have to be ruled by them.

Can meditation help me deal with physical pain?

What you learn about pain in formal meditation can help you relate to it in your daily life. In meditation, one of the first things you may notice about pain is that when you start to feel it in one part of your body, the rest of your body tenses up. This can increase the pain. Consciously take a deep breath and relax your muscles. As you relax physically, you will discover greater ease of mind.

Can meditation help depression?

Depression has many causes. While it is important to investigate its possible biochemical basis and seek out psychotherapeutic help if necessary, meditation may also be useful. Dedicating some time to meditation is a meaningful expression of caring for yourself that can help you move through the mire of feeling unworthy of recovery. As your mind grows quieter and more spacious, you can begin to see self-defeating thought patterns for what they are, and open up to other, more positive options.

How do I know if I'm doing it right? Do I need a teacher?

There are many different ways to practice meditation; it's good to experiment until you find one that seems to suit you. If you feel confused about the techniques, it's useful to consult a teacher, speak with more experienced meditators, read a book, or listen to a tape.

5 Quotes to Open Your Heart

Five little bites of inspiration. Memorize now, mull over as needed.

"Those who are willing to be vulnerable move among mysteries." 

— Theodore Roethke

"Every beginning, after all, is nothing but a sequel, and the book of events is always open in the middle." 

— Wislawa Szymborska

"Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." 

— Rumi

"Behind all this, some great happiness is hiding." 

— Yehuda Amichai

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You are not a painter,' then by all means paint…and that voice will be silenced." 

— Vincent Van Gogh

What do you know for sure

l asked my self, "What do you know for sure?" and I got all flustered and started stuttering and couldn't come up with an answer, I've never stopped asking myself that question. And every month I must find yet another answer
I looked back and came up with "what I know for sure" :

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what.

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough.

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession.

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always."

Why Women Date "Bad Boys"

Why does a guy who doesn't know how to commit, is narcissistic, self-absorbed and only concerned about himself in bed seem like a good boyfriend? why "bad boys" seem sexy, why women date them and what they should do instead.

What makes bad boys so attractive to women?

1.They're different. "

Bad boys are interesting, they're nonconventional, they're iconoclastic and a breath of fresh air," After a woman has dated a lot of guys, they may all be a blur—then this guy comes along, and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about him.

2.They're dynamic. 

Men are attracted to women's passivity, but women hate being placed in a passive state. "Women love men who bring them out by making them laugh, being dynamic and exciting". "Bad boys are confident, rebellious—they just reek belief in themselves."

3.They need rescuing. 

Some women have a "messiah complex"—they want to be the person who can rescue the bad boy. "They think, 'Only I see he's a diamond in the rough. Everyone else sees him as a bad boy, but I know the tender heart he has'"."When you are the only one who can rescue the guy, you're special, unique. You immediately have a special relationship with him that no other woman has because only you can help him."

4.The women are not in it for a commitment. Some women are passive commitment-phobes. Active commitment-phobes get uncomfortable the longer a relationship goes on and start trying to find faults in order to end it. A passive commitment-phobic woman dates bad boys from the outset, thereby sabotaging the relationship so it can never develop.

What's the solution?

1.Consider "nice guys." 

"Women need to finally find goodness and kindness to be interesting". "It's not only rebellious behavior that is interesting. Nice guys deserve a shot."

2.Realize who bad boys really are. Bad boys don't have real confidence. "A person who's overly aggressive with their personality, who's an attention seeker—it's because they're insecure. "Really deep down, there's this broken little boy who needs to rebel or who needs to bed women to feel good about himself."

3.Have some self-respect. Don't be with a guy who's going to treat you like dirt. "Every doormat says 'Welcome.' You're not a doormat."

"Women who love bad boys suffer from a 'messiah complex'—only I can save him, only I see that he's a diamond in the rough. Better to rescue a good man from his loneliness than a bad boy from his misogyny."

The Truth About Love

On Valentine's Day, love can mean hearts, flowers and chocolates. Yet love can also be so much more.

Whether you're spending this Valentine's Day with your spouse, your children, your neighbors or your friends, reminds that the foundation for real love means loving YOURSELF FIRST.

Maybe you are pining after a lost lover. Or the spark in your current relationship has disappeared. Perhaps you feel alone and beaten down by love. Or maybe you're head-over-heels in love with the man or woman of your dreams. No matter what your situation may be, you must love the one you're with first: YOU. "Even if you have an awesome romantic love connection, a deep mature relationship with another human being, you still have to have the foundation of self love,"

Cautions us not to get too caught up in the familiar trappings of the holiday, like expensive lingerie and candlelit dinners. "Before you spend your money or your time, or loan your heart out to someone else for love, make sure you're loving the one you're with, which is YOU,"

Romantic love changes over time, and self love is one of the key ingredients to making it last and thrive. "If it's grounded and rooted in something that is real and if your own sense of respect and self love and dignity is in place, then that romantic love transforms itself and it grows itself into something that is authentically lasting, that is fulfilling, that is meaningful and that can carry you the distance," 

Uncovering Your Shadow Beliefs

A "Shadow Belief" is an unconscious belief that influences our entire lives, tells us what we can and can not do, and drives our behaviors.

More About Shadow Beliefs :

Shadow beliefs are what hold you back in life—and you may not even have known they were doing it !

Some of your shadow beliefs are preventing you from getting what you want in life.

Most people know they have these beliefs, but are taught to hide them because we are ashamed and embarrassed. But you can overcome them and live your best life ! There's nobody in the world smarter about you than you !

Do you believe any of the following statements ?

There is something wrong with me.

I cannot trust anyone.

I'm not lovable.

I don't deserve to have what I want.

Love does not last.

I am worthless.

I am never going to be successful.

If you've checked off any of the previous statements, you have shadow beliefs that need your attention. Uncover your shadow beliefs !

How to Get Started

Follow these three steps to uncover your shadow beliefs.

We can all find what is holding us back in life. Start with these three steps and simple exercises.

"To go deeper, you have to be radically honest with yourself. All of your emotions are there to guide you." 

Step One: Get in touch with your pain and emotions. "You can't heal if you can't feel."

Step Two: Once you're feeling that pain or emotion, try and connect it to your past to uncover where that pattern of pain began. 

Step Three: Embark on a healing ritual that will help you surrender that pain and anger once and for all.

If you're hurt by another person's behavior, try these exercises to see what you might uncover about yourself !

Exercises to Uncover Your Shadow Beliefs :

Shadow beliefs cause us to make the same mistakes over and over again. Try these simple exercises for uncovering these beliefs.

Exercise One

For one week, whenever you find yourself overreacting to another person's behavior, ask yourself: What traits in that person are you trying to disown in yourself?

Exercise Two

Also, make a list of the advice you give others and ask yourself if the advice is appropriate for your life. 

"We often teach what we need to learn."

Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Life

Do you wonder about your life's purpose? How do you become happy? How do you find inner peace?

Step One: Discover your soul and its path. 

Align your personality with your soul. Until that happens, you won't be able to give the gifts you were meant to. Remind yourself daily of the following:

You are a soul first and a personality second.

You are worthy. You are not on this Earth by accident. You have a reason to be here. There's a difference between accepting that in your mind and accepting in your heart.

It's not an "it" that you're looking for—it's your life that you're living.

You are here to create an authentically empowered life. There is no guarantee you will do it. It's up to you.

Step Two: Open Your Heart to Feelings

Be aware of what you're feeling, because your feelings are the force field of your soul. Use the following techniques to embrace your feelings:

Experience everything you are feeling, even when it's anger, sadness or jealousy. Underneath anger, for example, if you stay with it long enough you will find pain. If you feel it, you can deal with it!

Let the feelings go, but use your will consciously. When you feel depressed, jealous, sad or angry, understand that these are the things that you must heal in order to go where your wholeness is calling you to go.

Step Three: Conquer Your Fears

Allow yourself to consider this possibility: There is no tragedy in life, and there are no victims. In this consideration lies your own empowerment.

How can there not be tragedies?

In many ways, your enemies can teach you much more than your friends. You can't have control over what happens to you in this moment, but you do have control over your response to it, and over the context in which you put it. In the case of rape, there are many people who will go through traumas and see themselves as victims. And others who will find compassion and understand that anyone who is doing violence is hurting very much.

Step Four: The Four Things Every Soul Needs

1. Harmony. The perception of power as external that separates nations is the same that exists between individuals. The love, clarity and compassion that emerges within the person that aligns themselves with the soul is the same that will bring harmony to other people's lives.

2. Cooperation. We are together because we want to be together, not because we have to be. Realizing together, co-creations emerge.

3. Sharing. Share what is important to you—not possessions. Give yourself.

4. Reverence for Life. Reverence is a level of protection and honor about the process of life so that while a person is maturing toward the journey and through the journey of authentic empowerment, he or she harms nothing

How to heal the pain of a divorce

Divorce is not an easy situation to be in, no matter if it is your first, second or whatever. Going through the stages of divorce is in some ways a failure that you are facing. It is not a pretty way to look at it, but essentially that is what it is. Thinking back on the day when the two of you met and then dated and eventually married always seems so great during a divorce. So many people sit and ponder on what could have been if only......

Instead of looking at all the great times and feeling sorry for yourself think about why it ended. If it was not your decision then it can be even harder to understand. Although it can also help you to realize that it was NOT your fault and you are not to blame. Your spouse was the one who gave up. No matter how it ended the thing is, its over and you need to move on, no matter how hard it seems it is doable!

Each person handles situations differently and will go through different emotions as well. No matter how strong or weak you feel, realize that there this a light at the end of the tunnel and you will get through it! Here are some helpful tips to help yourself through the grieving process of divorce.

* Have a support system behind you *

Surround yourself with family and friends who are there emotionally for you. Having someone to talk to through the process you are going though is vital for anyone. We all need to know we have people around us that care about us and are there for us. When you need someone to talk to make sure it is someone you trust and rely on. Do not talk to your children and expect them to be your counselor, they are going through their own grieving process. You want to stay as positive as you can with your children and never say bad things about your ex no matter how bad you are hurting. If you do not have anyone to talk to join a support group in your area. That is a great way to talk to people that are going through te same things that you are at the time.

* Allow yourself to feel your emotions *

Do not suppress the emotions that you are feeling. You need to let them out and allow yourself to grieve. If you are worried about how others will react wait until you are alone and allow yourself to have a good cry to release your emotions. Write down your feelings in a journal to help yourself be able to express yourself. Even simply writing is a great activity to let your feelings out.

* Get out with family and friends *

Getting out of the house and the same old routine can help you realize that you are still alive and able to have fun. Just because you are going out it does not mean that you are looking for a new spouse already, you can just go out to have fun with friends or family members. Just going to the movies, out to dinner, the mall anywhere that you like and getting out of the rut you may be in is helpful. Going out with others also gives you a time to focus on something else rather then moping around thinking about the divorce constantly. There is more to life after a divorce then the grief you may be feeling.

* Give yourself time *

Allow yourself time to feel the way you feel and don't get down on yourself for having the feelings that you do. Make sure that you are patient with yourself and deal with things now. If you suppress the feelings now they will creep up on you later on and you will go through this over and over. Deal with things now and give yourself as much time as you need without isolating yourself from the rest of the world. Make sure you talk to someone and write in a journal to help let your feelings out.

Each person is different and will heal at different speeds. It is important to realize you are only human after all and divorce is a hard thing to deal with. Facing the problem head on is crucial in healing your wounds. If you feel that you are having a difficult time with no light ahead, then maybe it is time to talk to a professional. Don't feel ashamed in any way! Take the steps to properly take care of yourself so that you heal all the way and you don't leave open wounds to take out on anyone else you may meet.

Don't forget to smile, it really can make you feel better!

THE END OF MY STORY

How to heal the pain of a divorce

One of the most painful emotional experiences is the loss of a relationship whether through a divorce of marriage or just breakup of a relationship that was promising. In divorce, you feel so much pain and grief. The pain comes from not only a great sense of loss (losing the most important person in your life), but there is also the pain of seeing your hopes and aspirations of a future life together destroyed as well. If you do not handle the situation well, you may go into a severe depression. World wide, divorce is named as one of the major causes of severe depression, especially amongst women. But with determination and the resolve to survive, the pain of divorce can be healed.

How to heal the pains
The first thing to do is to tell yourself that you can and will get through this whole unfortunate situation. It is possible that much of the pain is coming from identity crisis; not knowing who you are any more without your partner. This may not necessarily be because you didn't have your own identity while in the relationship, but that your relationship had become part of that identity. Assure yourself that this will change and that you will feel secure in yourself again.

Second: Sort your feelings It is important that you try to separate your feelings, beliefs and responses. Recognize the feelings that belong to the present circumstance and the ones coming from past experiences. This is hard to do when you are feeling overwhelmed, but you have to do it as a process of healing your pain.

Third: Don't lose faith in yourself Try not to fall back into gloom each time you feel better. Grief comes in waves up and down. Sometimes letting go happens after you've allowed yourself to grieve and rage. At other times you have to deliberately and consciously focus on letting go. Telling yourself that you are letting go of your ex- spouse can be helpful in healing the pain of divorce.

Fourth: Don't deny the pain: The true road to emotional freedom is to feel the pain of his or her absence and work through the pain, then come out healed and strong, facing the realities of the divorce.

Fifth: Fill your life with activities that you enjoy Do not get stuck thinking or talking about him or her. Redirect your focus to something else. Do some creative, playful, sociable and soulful activities. These are ways to nurture yourself back to health.

Six: Realize that there is life and a future after divorce Do not desperately cling to a hope of restoration. You need to understand that desperate clinging behavior causes most people to distance themselves even further.

Seven: Create a firewall ritual to formalize the end of the relationship When someone dies we have a formal funeral and after that we begin to heal and forget. But when a loved one leaves we have no such comforting ritual. Well, you can create your own. That might help to heal the pains. Get rid of love letters, pictures, keepsakes and souvenirs.

Eight: Treat and indulge yourself Do things that give you pleasure. Go to the gym, visit friends, go running and skipping.

Nine: Each day, count your blessings: Think of all that you have to be grateful for. Make a list of all the things that are great about you and enjoy ruminating over them.

Ten: Develop yourself Go on a personal development workshop that will boost your positive self image. Surround yourself with people who give you hope rather than drag you back or down. Consistently keep a positive perspective and be enthusiastic about the life you are living. You will just find yourself enthusiastically enjoying life leaving the pain of divorce behind you

Happy New Year Wish

My Happy New Year wish for you

Is for your best year yet,

A year where life is peaceful,

And what you want, you get.

A year in which you cherish

The past year’s memories,

And live your life each new day

Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a holiday

With happiness galore;

And when it’s done,

I wish you

Happy New Year, and many more

Shopping in Canada

From haute couture to beaver pelts and gold nuggets, the variety of shopping in Canada will suite anyone's taste.

Robson Street in downtown Vancouver, BC has a long tradition of shopping history. Named after John Robson, B.C. Premier from 1889-1892, Robson Street shops started to spring up after the train tracks were laid along it in 1895. Post World War II, Robson Street became known as “Robsonsstrasse”, as a result of the many European pastry shops, delis and boutiques that opened.

Today, Robson hosts some of the hippest shopping in Canada, from top-end vintage to fresh-off-the-runway. A large number of international students now populate the surrounding areas, and the influences are easily seen. Korean barbeques and Japanese noodle shops are numerous on the street, even more so as one walks west towards English Bay.

Perhaps the most famous of Canadian shopping is in West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. Much more than just a mall, West Edmonton Mall is also an amusement park, ice skating rink, movie theatre, concert hall and much more. There are over 800 stores and services, 100 choices for getting a bite to eat, plus eight top-notch attractions. This is arguably the most impressive of Canada shopping, spanning the equivalent of 48 city blocks. When it's cold out in Edmonton, the West Edmonton Mall is a warm mini-city of fun and shopping.

You may be surprised to know that the world's largest and longest underground shopping complex is in Toronto, Ontario. Famed for entertainment, the Toronto Entertainment District is also famous for spectacular shopping in Canada. Called PATH, this underground shopping complex holds more than 1,200 shops and services. It's even in the Guinness Book of World Records! PATH stretches out 10 kilometers (6.5 miles) and holds a hotel, one-of-a-kind shops, games, restaurants and entertainment. Canada shopping all in one long, underground stretch, this is what PATH offers.

For very unique Canadian shopping, head up to the Yukon to the Log Skyscraper Trading Post. Located in Whitehorse, Yukon, the Log Skyscraper is a four-storey log building located in the downtown district. The actual trading post is a two-storey log structure, right in from of the Skyscraper. Martin Berrigan, a Yukon pioneer in the 1940's built both structures. They are now designated as a Municipal Historic Site and are the most photographed building in the Yukon Territory.

At the Trading Post, shoppers can buy anything from a Klondike gold nugget to a lynx fur. Local handicrafts, Northern books and candy can also be purchased.

Things To Do in Vancouver

Where the blue ocean waters meet the majestic mountains is where Vancouver, one of the world’s most spectacular cities lies. The combination of urban sophistication and natural beauty enables visitors a fantastic range of exciting activities combined with beautiful backdrops.

Granville Island

When planning things to do in Vancouver one of the best attractions of this diverse city is Granville Island. Step out from your Vancouver hotel to the island that encompasses many of the things to do in Vancouver including fresh foods at the well-known market, many quaint shops to browse in, artist’s workshops and restaurants to name a few and is found underneath the south end of Granville Street Bridge on False Creek.

Stanley Park

Less than a mile away from downtown visitors will find Stanley Park, the oldest park in Vancouver history, which offers a wealth of things to do in Vancouver. Stanley Park has 1000 acres of green space with abundant flora and fauna amongst beautiful settings and offers lots of things to do in Vancouver. There are of events and holidays hosted in the park all year, especially in spring and summer so be sure to check the calendar of events. Take a one mile walk to the unforgettable Capilano Suspension Bridge just through the park and over Lions Gate Bridge.

Neighborhood Tours

When in Vancouver things to do include exploring the different districts and neighborhoods which is the best way to see the city. City transport includes SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express, B-Line, and Community Shuttle services which makes taking advantage of Vancouver’s great neighborhoods fun and easy. Take a walk through Little India or Chinatown, a Shanghai-like district. Tour the trendy beachfront area of Kitsilano which overlooks Stanley Park and provides breathtaking views of the North Shore Mountains. When in the downtown area don’t miss the Vancouver Aquarium.

Shopping

If you’ve got the shopping bug or are looking for a special souvenir in Vancouver things to do for retail therapy would be to head to a Vancouver shopping district. Head to Robson Street and take a look through some of its trendy shops and designer boutiques. Yaletown is an exceptionally modern urban neighborhood where old buildings have been renovated into unique galleries and storefronts and ethnic restaurants, bakeries, coffeehouse and nightclubs abound.

Historic Gastown

The historic district of Gastown is where the true origins of Vancouver can be found along cobblestone streets. Some of the city’s finest hotels and restaurants can be found here as well as more funky venues such as cafes, tapas bars, art galleries, antique stores and jazz halls. Gastown, Vancouver things to do are plenty and a day and evening spent in Gastown can be really fun. Downtown’s West End English Bay is one of Vancouver’s most diverse neighborhoods. Gift shops, bookstores, and clothiers along with other specialty and trendy shops can be found here among many eclectic eateries and great restaurants, many with fantastic views.

Outdoor Activities

Things to do in Vancouver along the shores of the ocean can be happily executed at Jericho Beach found between the North Walls and Discovery Street. Natural sandy beaches combined with numerous activities makes this beach a great place to spend the day. If winter sports are your thing than definitely visit one of the mountains located just outside of Vancouver for an unbeatable skiing experience. Try out Cypress Mountain found just 20 minutes outside of the city, or Grouse Mountain a mere 15 minutes from downtown! Or take a trip to Whistler and experience some of the best conditions in Canada.

Vancouver Festivals

Festivals are some of the most fun things to do in Vancouver and include the International Children’s Festival, Shakespeare Festival, Jazz Festival, Caribbean Days Festival and the Film Festival. Check the city’s calendar of events for things to do in Vancouver BC and for specific event dates. Things to do in Vancouver run the gamut from year round outdoor activities to shopping, dining and sightseeing and define Vancouver as one of the most exciting cities in Canada.

Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia is a rare blend of big-city lifestyle and outdoor adventure. Where else can a person ski, sail, and dance the night away, all in one single day? Vancouver Canada attractions are set in a blessed location with mountains, ocean, islands and even farmland within short reach. A new city in many ways, Vancouver is still changing and growing. Being such a desirable place to live, this will inevitably continue as more people discover the gem of Western Canada.

Vancouver is a city of immigrants. It’s rare to find someone who was actually born in the city. Walking on Vancouver streets, dozens of languages can be heard. Not only are non-Canadians moving to Vancouver, many Canadians from other provinces come to Vancouver for its laid-back lifestyle.

Because of its mild climate, Vancouver tourism is up and running year round. Spring through fall are the most appealing times to visit, when the rain has tapered off a bit.

The best way to learn about Vancouver is through its many attractions. Vancouver travel presents a limitless number of options for outdoor exploration and cultural discovery. It is difficult to narrow down the attractions, so finding a Vancouver tourism book may help you in creating an itinerary.

One activity that is very Vancouver Canada is walking (or biking, rollerblading, running) along the seawall in Stanley Park. Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world, and offers some magnificent ocean views. While in Stanley Park, you can also see First Nations totem poles, a rose garden, or take a carriage ride.

During July and August the HSBC Celebration of Light festival brings out the whole city for a magnificent fireworks competition. A float is set up in the middle of English Bay where the fireworks are shot off and can be seen from the beaches of English Bay all the way to Jericho Beach.

For a bit of history and culture, make a visit to Chinatown. Markets full of fresh produce, seafood and barbeque pork line the streets. Famous Chinese Vancouver BC restaurants are located here, a great way to fill up after shopping in the many quaint and unusual Chinese shops.

Vancouver travel is not complete without visiting Granville Island. Located on False Creek, this marketplace delivers some of the best produce, European meats and cheeses that Vancouver has to offer. There are also dozens of artsy shops and galleries to peruse, as well as some Vancouver BC restaurants, with beautiful water views.

Vancouver tourism will often point you to Gastown, one of the oldest and most historical parts of town. The cobblestone streets and brick buildings of Gastown will remind you that Vancouver is not as new as the other parts of the city would lead you to believe. There are plenty more shops and restaurants here in which to pass the time. A bonus: panoramic views of the North Shore mountains and Coal Harbor.

Speaking of the North Shore, this is another highlight of Vancouver that is not always mentioned in your Vancouver Tourism book. Just cross a bridge and you’re in the wilderness (or close to it, anyway!). There are hundreds of trails in the North Shore for hiking and walking. With the great outdoors being so close to Vancouver, it’s easy to surround yourself with trees for an afternoon.

Another great highlight are the Vancouver BC restaurants. Take your pick of ethnicity and atmosphere, and you’ve got a meal to remember. Watch the sunset over the bay in your choice of Kitsilano, Yaletown, Cole Harbour or English Bay restaurants. Try a trendy bistro on South Granville or Robson Street. Take a quick drive to Richmond and sample some of the best Chinese cuisine in the world. Or, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the view at Lighthouse Park on the North Shore.

With the many flights to Vancouver, there is no excuse not to get out and see what everyone is talking about.

The best time to travel in Canada depends on what you plan to do there. Summertime brings the most pleasant weather, and therefore is the most popular time to visit. If you plan to go to the far north of Canada or to camp, July and August are pretty much the only months guaranteed to be warm enough. If your Canada vacation includes outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and boating, spring through fall is the best time to go. In general, summer begins in late May and lasts until mid-September. Fall begins mid-September until around mid-November. Winter lasts from mid-November until mid-March, and spring goes from mid-March until late May. Tourism in Canada is at its highest mid-June until mid-September. During these months, prices go up considerably and accommodations are often booked up. If you are planning a Canadian vacation during this time, book early to get the best selection. Another disadvantage of Canadian travel during the summertime is that bugs are at their worst, so don't forget your bug repellent-especially if you plan on being in the woods.

During the summer months, Canada is buzzing with an excitement that the warm weather brings. Outdoor festivals, parades, fairs and carnivals celebrate the short time when days are long and nights are warm. If you don't mind the crowds and the price-hikes, summertime may be a good time for you to take your Canadian vacation.

The shoulder season during spring and fall is often a pleasant alternative to the prices and crowds of the summer months. If you are looking for cheap Canada vacation packages, it is advisable to book during this time. The months of April, May, September and October are often just as enjoyable as the summer months, especially in the milder coastal areas and the big cities. Keep in mind though, that spring can be pretty muddy in places where snow has just melted.

If you decide to travel in Canada because you want to find some great skiing, winter is the obvious season to go. December through February are the best months to find perfect snow conditions. Though most festivals take place during the summer months, the Quebec Winter Carnival and other ski/ snowboard themed events are held during the winter. Tourism in Canada may be quiet elsewhere in Canada during the winter, but on the ski hills, it's a different story. You may not find cheap Canada vacation packages at the ski resorts during the heart of ski season, but come February, prices start to go down.

Though it is generally true that the weather gets warmer during the summer months, not all areas of Canada have summer-like conditions. It is important to remember that some of the Canadian provinces are huge, and weather and temperature can vary greatly within each province. As an example, the province of Québec reaches all the way from the chilly Arctic to the mild south, and the weather varies accordingly. For this reason, Canadian travel is a unique and exciting experience, no matter what time of year you go.

Architects and Architecture of Greater Vancouver

Some say that any work of human hands in Vancouver's setting detracts from its natural splendor. But these opinions run in cycles. Captain George Vancouver, upon seeing Burrard Inlet in 1792, thought that it "requires only to be enriched by the industry of man with villages, mansions, cottages, and other buildings to render it the most lovely country that can be imagined ..."

The dust jacket of Alan Morfey's Vancouver, from Milltown to Metropolis, published in 1961 to commemorate the city's 75th birthday, shows a painting of Captain Vancouver's statue at city hall in which the captain is pointing toward the city's latest landmark, one of the most ambitious buildings attempted in Vancouver up to then, the three-year-old Main post Office. It appears to loom at the north end of the old Cambie Bridge, a rickety timber structure with a swinging centre span.

With the Downtown peninsula's tallest structure in 1961 being the B.C. Hydro Building, the North Shore was almost entirely visible from city hall. Of course this cover was meant to depict the metropolis of the book's title. Yet the entire middle ground, False Creek, was still an industrial sewer lined with mills. Vancouver may have been a metropolis, but it was also still a milltown in 1961.

Vancouver did not change much from the eve of World War I to 1966. "In 1913," Morley wrote, "a photograph taken at Hastings and Granville Streets, looking south on Granville, was scarcely distinguishable in its main features from one taken today . . ."

Only 25 years later the same scene had been utterly transformed. In 1986 the north shore of False Creek was the site of Expo 86. If anything, Vancouver has only changed more rapidly since then.

Four building booms, two before World War I and two during the past 30 years, account for the Vancouver depicted on the cover of Morley's book--and the city that, during the early 1990s, was the fastest-growing on the continent outside of the Sun Belt.

The most recent of these booms is the post-Expo 86 Downtown residential boom that continues to fill the empty spaces around the edges of Vancouver's Downtown peninsula and marches northward from False Creek through Yaletown to Chinatown. It will replace the core's onetime industrial areas with highly designed condominium towers that will house many of the 40,000 newcomers flooding into Greater Vancouver annually during the early 1990s.

Each boom had its outstanding architects--more often than not commercial architects working in well-established styles mastered elsewhere and brought with them to a place still under construction. While it was possible to say, as Morley did in 1961, that "Vancouver is the work of one human lifetime," it is also true that it took that long for distinctive architecture to emerge in Vancouver.

That year, 1961, was the turning point. The history of Vancouver architecture consists of everything before Arthur Erickson and everything after. In 1961 Erickson and Woodrow Wilson "Bud" Wood were teaching a more design-oriented architectural approach at the University of Oregon. Erickson was already designing houses in Vancouver that he regarded as experiments; one, for example, entirely out of concrete blocks. Wood became perhaps the most important design mentor at the University of British Columbia's architecture school over three decades.

Ron Thom, the outstanding designer in Vancouver before Erickson, was off to Toronto that year to build Massey College and thus become the first local architect with a national practice. Thom was a protégé of the most influential architect ever to work in Vancouver, C.E. "Ned" Pratt whose firm, Thompson Berwick Pratt & Partners, had by then become the dominant office in the city.

The founders of many of today's important firms were either working for Pratt or about to work for Erickson in 1961. Five years later Simon Fraser University, the "instant university" designed by Erickson and his partner Geoff Massey on Burnaby Mountain, would for the first time utilize many of the city's talents under the umbrella of Erickson's innovative competition-winning scheme for SFU.

Erickson is the supreme cultural personality ever to emerge in this city. Such a figure is usually the culmination of a slow, time-consuming process of gradual development.

The first generation of Vancouver architects built Gastown and its immediate surroundings in the styles of the time, with the fire-resistant materials mandated by most North American cities. They consisted of load-bearing masonry walls--usually cut stone but brick when available--with heavy timbers used as interior columns and rafters. Most often the style was Italianate with hand-cut lintels and thresholds and elaborate cornices. The Vancouver master of this style was Nathaniel Stonestreet Hoffar, who held two degrees from Washington's Georgetown University. Hoffar was the city's first important architect. He built much of the 300-block of East Cordova (including the Army & Navy Store and the Home Block) and the Yale Hotel on Granville. Like subsequent key architects of major booms, Hoffar rode the one that ended in 1894 to considerable personal wealth. His descendants owned the shipyard on Coal Harbour where Vancouver's first airplane, the H-I flying boat, was built. During the 1920s the shipyard became Boeing of Canada.

The next boom, "Vancouver's Golden Years of Growth," lasted from 1907 fo 1913. In those six years the financial district along West Hastings that persisted into the 1970s was largely completed. Toward the end of that boom, buildings constructed only blocks from each other successively claimed to be the tallest in the British Empire: first J.S. Helyer's idiosyncratic 13- storey Dominion Trust Building at Hastings and Cambie and then W.T. Whiteway's 17-storey World Building of 1911-12 (now Sun Tower) at Beatty and Pender, financed by Louis D. Taylor, publisher of the World and, the city's longest-serving mayor.

Whiteway, from Newfoundland, was an important early century architect in Vancouver. Among his works is The Landing, formerly the Kelly Building, begun in 1905 and rehabilitated by Soren Rasmussen in 1988.

As is still the case it helps for an architect to have steady work from a developer J.E. Parr & Thomas Fee, the most prolific architects of the pre-World War I boom, built The Orillia (1903, demolished 1985); the Manhattan Apartments on Thurlow at Robson (1907); the first reinforced- concrete structure in Vancouver, the Europe Hotel (1908); the Vancouver Block at 736 Granville (1910) and many other white-tiled buildings along Granville Street. Their patron was W. Lamont Tait, a lumber wholesaler, for whom Parr & Fee did one of the first mansions in Shaughnessy Heights, "Glen Brae" (1911), now the Canuck Place Children's Hospice (renovated 1993-95 by Downs-Archambeault) .

Even then, when architects in a city that saw itself as a future Liverpool of the Pacific were imitating Europe, there were the beginnings of a local--or at least regional--style. Carl F. Gould was a Seattle architect who had mastered that city's terracotta material--glazed tiles formed into classical details with weather-resistant qualities appropriate to this climate. When the worldwide collapse of lumber prices in 1910 ended Seattle's boom, Gould and other architects travelled the short distance north to Vancouver where higher prices persisted because of B.C.'s access to British markets. Gould's Rogers Building (1911-12) at 470 Granville is one sumptuous example of what architects from a more sophisticated city could do in booming Vancouver.

The foremost talent to come north--indeed the supreme talent of Vancouver's pre-war boom--was Woodruff Marbury Somervell. Somervell came to Seattle from New York in 1904 to supervise construction of a cathedral, stayed to build several hospitals and a dozen-odd homes on the U.S. Register of Historic Places, then brought his romantic Mediterranean styles to Vancouver in 1910. Sugar king B.T. Rogers' mansion, "Shannon" (1912-15); the terracotta Birks Building (1912-13, demolished 1974); and the elegant pair of buildings at Abbott and West Hastings, the Merchant's Bank and the B.C. Electric Railway Company edifice, are Somervell's forgotten legacy. He also left behind the blueprints for the Toronto-Dominion Bank at Hastings and Seymour (built as the Union Bank in 1920) when he went off to World War I.

Somervell's only rival at the height of the 1907-13 boom was Thomas Hooper, whose masterwork is the Winch Building of 1908-09 (now part of Sinclair Centre on Hastings at Granville), the kind of well-financed commercial building that only appears toward the end of a boom. Many feel that Hooper's south facade of Francis Rattenbury's courthouse of 1906-12 (now the featured elevation of Arthur Erickson's Vancouver Art Gallery) is superior to Rattenbury's grander Georgia Street side.

But the pre-World War I boom's most lasting legacy, aside from the buildings, was a firm of architects formed in 1908 that persisted for nearly 80 years. Charles Joseph Thompson was the firm's businessman and George Lister Thornton Sharp its designer-draftsman. Both were capable architects, Thompson the nuts-and-bolts chap and Sharp the artist. Sharp and Thompson's future was guaranteed when they won a competition to design the University of British Columbia in 1912. Such civic landmarks as the Vancouver Club (1912-14), the Cenotaph at Victory Square (1924)--on the site of the original courthouse by N.S. Hoffar--and the galleries of the Burrard Bridge (1930-32) all testify to Sharp & Thompson's ability to get work and execute it in a variety of styles.

Sharp and Thompson's first use of concrete as a structural material was for the clergy-house of St. James Anglican parish in 1927; their association with Sir Adrian Gilbert Scott on the parish's third church at Gore and Cordova Streets produced, in Arthur Erickson's estimation, the finest building in Vancouver.

Ned Pratt, a bronze medal winner in pairs rowing at the 1932 Olympics and an engineering student at the University of Toronto, would take the firm to new heights after meeting Thompson in 1937 while courting his daughter Esme. He met his future partner Bob Berwick, also at U of T, at the Thompson tennis court and Berwick persuaded Pratt to switch to architecture.

After a war spent building air force installations along the B.C. coast, Pratt returned to a city little changed from the pre-World War I Vancouver. Sharp & Thompson's great rivals were Townley and Matheson, the leading civic architects, and McCarter and Nairne, the foremost designers of highrise office buildings.

Townley and Matheson, both of whom studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, became the city's finest practitioners of the Deco Moderne style, which they applied to the second Stock Exchange Building (1928-29) and Vancouver City Hall (1935-36). They built much of the former Vancouver General Hospital, including its exquisite Children's Health Centre (1944) and its Centennial Pavilion (1956-58) as well as the regrettable Public Safety Building on Main Street.

McCarter Nairne and Partners gave the city its foremost deco skyscrapers, the Marine Building (1931) and the Medical-Dental Building (1929, demolished 1989) on Georgia Street. The new Main Post Office that Capt. Vancouver's statue points to on the cover of Alan Morley's 1961 book was an impressive technical achievement in 1958 (project architect: Bill Leithead), and the firm survived into the 1980s working with distinguished outsiders, such as Victor Gruen of Los Angeles on Pacific Centre (1969-76), the most ambitious construction project undertaken in Vancouver up to that time.

Sharp and Thompson evolved into Thompson Berwick Pratt and Partners, a multi-disciplinary firm that outlasted both of its rivals by producing two generations of great designers who rode the post-war institutional boom in schools, banks, hospitals and transportation facilities. Ned Pratt's TBP&P became known as the West Coast graduate school of architecture, a finishing course for all but a few of the finest architects of Vancouver's last quarter-century.

A few of the "graduates" who founded other major firms include Ron Bain and Ken Burroughs (False Creek South and Lethbridge University for Erickson/Massey); Barry Downs and Richard Archambault (Carnegie Centre, Canada Place); Norman Hotson, Joost Bakker and Mike Geary (Granville Island, 2211 West Fourth); Geoff Massey and Arthur Erickson; and Joe Wai (Sun Yat-sen Chinese Classical Garden).

Among the important TBP&P partners were administrative partner John Dayton, who did Bank of Montreal branches ("Oh, about 150 anyway"); Roy Jessiman (Buchanan Building, UBC); engineer Otto Safir, whom Pratt calls the real author of the B.C. Hydro Building; and Zoltan Kiss (Vancouver International Airport, 1968).

There is a direct line of design influence from Pratt through Ron Thom to Paul Merrick, who developed his own variation of Thom's gothic style, and Brian Hemingway who, with Merrick, won a Governor General's Award for their Officer Training School at CFB Chilliwack. Oddly enough Pratt, one of the first champions of modern architecture in provincial post-war Vancouver, begat a line of romantic architects whose primary design influences, aside from Frank Lloyd Wright, were medieval cathedrals.

Pratt was instrumental in launching the modern era in house design by doing the drawings for artist B,C. Binnings' largely self-designed West Vancouver house in 1940. Pratt's own work is highlighted by the War Memorial Gymnasium at UBC (1947, with Fred Lasserre) and the Dal Grauer Substation on Burrard Street (1954, with Jim White).

Ron Thom was the culmination of the pre-Arthur Erickson era in Vancouver architecture. Many architects are failed artists. Thom was an exceptional artist who turned to architecture--the first of the arts to fully mature in Canada, historian Alan Gowans says--after meeting Richard Neutra during the Los Angeles architect's visit to Vancouver in 1947. Though fundamentally a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright and an apprentice of Ned Pratt's until 1958, Thom had by then already succeeded in marrying the horizontal Wright house with the West Coast climate to move B.C. residential design into a league of its own. Although Erickson had designed a few houses already, he only began turning out houses incorporating his own ideas around 1961.

By then Ron Thom was off to Toronto. It was as if there had been some symbolic handoff of design leadership. Each architect would extend the ideas he has explored in house design to bigger and bigger projects; Thom in Ontario, Erickson here. The pressure of such projects as Trent University took their toll on Thom, who drank his way from marriage to marriage and partner to partner. Meanwhile Erickson organized around himself a design and planning talent greenhouse capable of such challenges as the complex that includes Robson Square and Vancouver's new courthouse.

It was Erickson who became the most famous native of Vancouver until Bryan Adams. It was Erickson who completed the process of devising an architecture that was so specific to the city's climate that it could be said to be a Vancouver architecture. Concrete is Erickson's marble, partly because he believes Vancouver's grey climate cannot take bright colors. Glass canopies are an Erickson trademark for the same reason. Feature staircases are Erickson's response to building on slopes, although he covered much of the Robson Square, an essentially horizontal composition, with stairs to give public access to what became, in 1976, Vancouver's central town square. One local masterpiece incorporating these ideas is the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (1973-76).

If, as with Ned Pratt, we calculate Erickson's output as more than buildings, we can foresee his direct influence continuing well into the next century Its outlines are already apparent. Expo 86 was the turning point for Vancouver as a home for international investment and Erickson's first and second major disciples made significant contributions to that epochal fair.

Bruno Freschi was Expo's planner; with engineer Bogue Babicki, who came up with the basic concept, he designed its generic pavilion and left what is now Vancouver's Science Centre as its keynote building. Bing Thom, Erickson's project architect on the Robson Square complex, designed five pavilions (including the award-winning Northwest Territories' entry) for Expo.

Expo was a terrible disappointment for Erickson. His proposal for a retractable-roof theatre at mid-site, with its stage overlooking False Creek, was supplanted by Waisman Dewar Grout's $54 million B.C. Pavilion. After a post-Expo adventure in Los Angeles doing that city's huge Bunker Hill development, Erickson returned for a second career in his hometown, which appropriately included more major buildings for the SFU campus he originated 30 years before.

The architect who rode the 1966-82 boom to commercial success was Frank Musson, whose Musson Cattell Mackey (MCM) firm reoriented Downtown Vancouver from its east-west Georgia Street axis to north-south along Burrard. This change was envisioned by C.B.K, Van Norman, who began the move to that street with his Burrard Building (completed 1957) while simultaneously pushing for the relocation of the Central Library to Burrard. (He lost the commission to Vancouver's finest International Style designers, Semmens and Simpson). A staff architect from England with Semmens and Simpson and the Bentall family's Dominion Construction firm, Musson and his partner Terry Cattell were natural choices to build Bentall Centre (1966-82), four towers that formed the biggest superblock development in Western Canada. MCM were involved in almost every development from West Georgia to the waterfront, including the Governor General's Award-winning 888 West Hastings (1980); that boom's outstanding commercial building, Park Place (1982); and Canada Place (1985, designed by Toronto's Zeidler-Roberts Partnership with Downs-Archambault).

Vancouver's two biggest firms in 1995 were Aitken-Wreglesworth Associates (AWA) and Waisman Dewar Grout Carter, both founded by Winnipeggers, both numbering at their peaks, 50-odd employees. Winnipeg has long exported the cream of its architects to Vancouver. Both firms did innovative, clean work soon after arriving (AWA's Seimens Building, SFU's Downtown campus; Waisman's Martello Tower apartments in the West End) but lost their edge as their founders became more interested in self-improvement and corporate management programs. In a bid to strengthen its design side AWA engaged Erickson as a consultant and got work at both Lower Mainland universities, including a massive consolidation of UBC's library facilities. But Erickson was not enough to save the big firm. In 1995 Waisman and AWA merged and became Architectura with Clive Grout as chief designer.

The most celebrated pure designer in Vancouver at the time of the mid-nineties slowdown was Richard Henriquez, another ex-Winnipegger. Henriquez, originally from the West Indies, had done innovative work for Rhone & Iredale (Sedgewick Library, UBC, 1971-72) and blossomed on his own with several highly celebrated projects. They included the consolidation of four Downtown heritage buildings into Sinclair Centre (1983-86, with Toby, Russell, Buckwell & Partners); the Sylvia Hotel Extension (1987) and, more recently, a Student Activities Centre gymnasium at UBC, paid for by the students themselves. It sits across a field from Ned Pratt's War Memorial Gym, on an architecturally mediocre campus, as a kind of summary of Vancouver architecture since World War II--and ample evidence that good architecture begets more of the same.

Welcome to Vancouver Island - British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver Island

Greater Victoria:

Almost half of Vancouver Island's population of 700,000 lives in and around the provincial capital of Victoria, at the southern end of Vancouver Island. There is a rich diversity of landscapes within the cool Mediterranean climate of the region, ranging from the Douglas-fir forests along the coast to the drier, exposed conditions of the higher, rockier elevations which support Arbutus and Garry Oak forests. Flowers bloom year-round in Victoria, which makes exploring the outdoors here enjoyable in any season. Thousands of migrating birds, ducks, geese, and swans make the Victoria region a semi-annual stop-over point.

Victorians display their love for the natural world by cultivating flower gardens at every turn. As you'd imagine in a region where a large urban population interacts with such a delightful natural tableau, a vast network of walking, hiking and biking routes leads through the many parks with which the city is blessed.

Although the mountainscape on the southern end of Vancouver Island is not as rugged as the North Shore mountains that rise above Vancouver, this actually mitigates in favour of hiking, as the physical demands for reaching viewpoints is not as great. On the other hand, the views are as panoramic and breathtaking as anywhere in the province. It's easy to imagine how sweet life was for Native Canadians who once had this all to themselves. Beacon Hill Park in downtown Victoria was the site of a village that had been inhabited for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the colonial settlers in the 1840s. A tangled web of events since then has displaced the original dwellers, but their history is evident in the petroglyphs that adorn the shoreline and in the middens of seashells mounded up beside the beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Totem poles new and old stand as proud reminders of this heritage.

To gain a fresh appreciation for the talents and skills of First Nations people, combine a visit to the outdoors around Victoria with a stop at the Royal British Columbia Museum, a world-class repository of native artifacts. With the enriched perspective that such a visit will bring, you'll look at the landscape with new interest and appreciation. The figures on the totems will no longer be static representations from a mythological age. Instead, combined with the presence of killer whales, seals, eagles, ravens, salmon, and other species that are as vibrant in the landscape today as they were in the past, you'll enter a timeless real and, in the process, discover a new place in nature for yourself.

South Island:

The exposed waters of Vancouver Island's southwestern coast quickly dispel any notion that an ocean is an ocean is an ocean. The true personality of the Pacific is revealed as you traverse the slopes of San Juan Ridge as the Strait of Juan de Fuca makes its entrance from the open water of the Pacific. Conditions shift dramatically from the sheltered, rain-shadowed waterways of the Strait of Georgia with its gaggle of tranquil islands. Here you face the open ocean, where nothing breaks the rolling swells or deflects the sting of winter storms. For those who listen for the force of the West Coast, here it begins to speak up, way up.

Many a dark chapter has been written about ships and crews that perished in the violent storms that rake the raw shoreline. This is the Pacific's Davy Jones's Locker. Thrown up on the beach, survivors considered themselves blessed if they could reach the West Coast Lifesaving Trail. As harsh today as then, less-endangered people willingly subject themselves to this legendary trail's test of endurance. Such a reputation adds a wild spice to adventuring here. Venture with care and you'll come away with wonderful memories of your time spent by the shoreline, where many creatures live in splendid harmony with the ocean's deep rhythms.

Southern Vancouver Island covers the country between Port Renfrew and Bamfield on the west coast and Malahat and Nanaimo on the east side. Most of the population lives along the east coast, where farming in the lush, rolling Cowichan and Chemainus Valleys has gone hand in hand with logging since Vancouver Island was an independent Crown Colony. The heart of agriculture lies south of Nanaimo, the Hub City, and this pastoral atmosphere persists as you make your way north to Parksville in central island. However, it's hard to ignore the slopes of the Vancouver Island Mountains that begin to nudge travellers closer to the coastline for wont of wide valley bottoms.

Most roads west peter out quickly in the face of this granite tour de force. The exception is the cross-island melange of paved highway and gravel logging roads that link the sheltered Cowichan Valley with the storm-battered community of Bamfield on the west coast. A greater contrast is hard to find, which is what makes exploring this region so fascinating. There's plenty of easygoing adventuring to be found by sticking to the main routes, although everyone should treat themselves to a backroad or two where the valleys meet the Strait of Georgia. There are beaches here the likes of which are found nowhere else on the coast, with views that engender intimacy with the landscape, yet emphasize its isolation.

Central Island:

As you drive the Island Highway, it's always a treat to look across the Strait of Georgia at landmarks on the mainland as spires of the Coast Mountains rise on the eastern horizon. The farther north you head towards Courtenay and Campbell River, however, the more the peaks and glaciers of Vancouver Island's ranges, principally the imposing Comox Glacier, Forbidden Plateau, and Mount Washington, rise in the west and vie for equal attention.

As the highway winds past well-kept farms, this is a serenely rural part of the journey. Flowers abound in the gardens that front many of the homes along the way. Small rivers such as the Little Qualicum and the Englishman, as well as the mightier ones such as the Puntledge and the Campbell, empty into the strait. From the highway you catch glimpses of quiet green forest settings on the banks that line each river's course. Come late summer, these streams teem with spawning salmon.

For much of the way between Courtenay and Campbell River the Island Highway runs beside Qualicum Bay, an area rich in seafood. Pullouts beside the road give easy access to the bay's sand and pebble beaches. At several places you can buy fresh seafood, brought to the docks daily from local waters.

The mountains and islands of central Vancouver Island have a mysterious sense about them, as if they're always trying to hide some secret. It's true: you do have to travel farther afield here in order to penetrate its cloud-laced valleys and coastal rain forest. Take your time as you meander through this laid-back region. Its rhythms are subtle, but with gentle probing they reveal themselves, showing greater complexity than first meets the eye.

Pacific Rim:

In the decades before the Pacific Rim National Park was born in 1970, this moss-laden landscape of mist and surf was a little-known outpost, a world apart. If adventurers managed to coax a vehicle across the tortuous road that led west from Port Alberni to the isolated ports of Tofino and Ucluelet, finding a bed was a simple matter at one of the few local inns. The alternative was constructing a driftwood shelter on one of the fabulous beaches nearby.

One million visitors a year now make this same journey on black-topped Highway 4 (Pacific Rim Highway) to experience the romantic isolation of the region. It's a tribute to the scale of this environment that so many travellers can be absorbed into it and still leave it so (apparently) empty. The open ocean stretches off unbroken and vacant, while the elemental forces at play here - the winds and the tide, the sun and the rain - excite within visitors a deep-seated resonance, a sense of belonging to this place.

Undoubtedly, the same chaos that reigns in winter during gale-force storms mimics, on a microcosmic scale at least, the fury of the Big Bang. And on eternal summer evenings, when a magenta sunset ignites the ocean's summer evenings, there's a peace so prevalent that you could almost bottle it and call it salvation. Take your pick of moods; they're both soul-satisfying.

North Island:

Most of Vancouver Island once looked as the north island still does today. Much of the remaining wilderness, such as Brooks Peninsula, a stubby 14-km long projection on the northwest coast of the island, has now been preserved. Other places are sheltered by the elements from the preying eye of industry, like Cape Scott Provincial Park, one of the wildest, windiest, most woebegone locales in the province for human habitation. Journeying to Brooks Peninsula or Cape Scott is only for those whose mettle has been tested by the repeated exposure to the bellows and blast-furnace of nature in the raw.

Some of this landscape's mysteries lie tucked away inside the vaulted domes of underground caverns. Afloat in a sea kayak on the open Nootka or Quatsino Sounds, or deep inside the Quatsino cave system, be prepared to experience a blend of connectedness and jubilation, isolation and terror, when adventuring here. One thing is guaranteed: at the end of the day, you'll sleep well.

Gentler conditions prevail in the sheltered waters of Johnstone Strait, where the kwakwaka'wakw First Nations are the traditional gatekeepers. To experience a tranquility that passes all description, paddle these waters where whales rub and salmon run in summer months.

The Gulf and Discovery Islands

Southern Gulf Islands:

Snug in the Georgia Strait, between the mainland and the eastern side of Vancouver Island, are the Gulf Islands. Each of these islands seems to be a world unto itself; each has its own history, culture and colourful characters. There are seven major islands in the southern half of the Strait of Georgia. Each island has its distinctive charm, and deserves at least a day or two for exploring. A good way to do so is by bicycle, stopping at campgrounds or bed and breakfasts along the way.

Roadways and trails take you on a tour of natural beauty, leading you to hilltops for fabulous views and down to the beach for an afternoon swim. Around each corner is an artisan's gallery or a cafe, a row of unique little shops or a quiet marina. There's also camping, hiking, fishing, boating, all in beautiful surroundings and a friendly, relaxing atmosphere - truly what holiday memories are made of.

Saltspring Island is Canada's arts and crafts island. Because of its mild climate, mellow pace, beautiful landscapes and island isolation, artists and crafts people are drawn from all over the world. Although Saltspring is well known to boaters and may be reached by three ferries and scheduled air flights, it remains a quiet lesser-known paradise for most travellers. On Saturday mornings in the summer, the spirit of Saltspring can be caught in the local Market in Ganges, the biggest town in the Gulfs.

Rolling orchards and warm rock-strewn beaches abound on Mayne Island, a rustic 13 square-km spot. It's small enough for a day trip, but pretty enough for a lifetime. Drop by the lighthouse, watch the frantic activity as fishermen wait till the last minute to get out of the ferry's way in Active Pass, or stroll up the top of Mayne's mountains for a view of the Strait of Georgia - and you'll begin to discover what Mayne is all about.

Saturna Island is tucked away at the southern end of the island chain. Rural, sparsely populated, and difficult to reach, Saturna Island is easily the least spoilt of the Gulf islands. The Pender Islands are known as the 'Friendly Islands' and the 'Islands of Hidden Coves' - with over 20 public ocean access spots to visit along the beaches and coves. The mild climate and pristine wilderness make the Penders perfect for family holidays, romantic retreats, golfing, hiking, biking and nature-watching.

Galiano Island has always enjoyed the reputation of being the most welcoming to visitors. This is due in large part to the limited amount of farmland on Galiano in comparison to other islands. Of necessity, early settlers here opened their homes to tourists as a way of earning a living. Today, Galiano is a hub for sea-kayak trips and the site of the Montague Harbour Provincial Marine park, one of the largest provincial marine parks on any of the islands. This isn't to say that residents of the other islands won't be just as pleased to see you disembark at the dock. Indeed, tourism is important to the livelihood and economic well-being of most of the Gulf Islands, although some are better prepared for it than others.

Gabriola Island, the most accessible of the chain, features three provincial parks, quiet beaches and sensational ocean views. Perhaps the most interesting limestone formations on the Gulf Islands are located at Gabriola Sands Provincial Park. Explore the amazing cave-like sandstone formations called the Malaspina Galleries.

Decide in advance which island best suits your purposes, then consult a BC Ferries schedule to see if you can manage the connections in the course of a day's visit, or whether you'll have to seek overnight accommodation. Except in summer months, ferry service to many islands is restricted to one or two sailings a day. You may find that in order to catch a ride, you'll have to start your day well before dawn and return home late in the evening. The trade-off is that you'll find far fewer visitors sharing the roads, waterways and parks with you as you travel at off-peak times.

Northern Gulf Islands/Discovery Islands:

These islands, part of a chain of 6,000 islands that shelter the British Columbia coastline between Washington and Alaska, lie beyond the quick-access range of Vancouver and Victoria. The wonderful silence that envelops these islands is characteristic of the ambience in remote central coast locales.

It wasn't always this way. In the heyday of fishing and logging camps, the population on the more isolated islands was surprisingly higher than it is today. Evidence of this can be seen in the abandoned cabins, ancient villages, and overgrown logging roads. Explore by car, kayak, mountain bike or on foot. Find a location that appeals to you, and within this microcosm, experience the wonder and magic that pervades life here.

Quadra Island is a 10-minute ferry ride from Campbell River. Resident artists and craftspeople make the island a fine place to sleuth around for pottery and other wares. The Kwagiulth Museum and Cultural Centre contains an outstanding collection of authentic artifacts. Tranquil and bucolic, Denman Island and Hornby Island sits just off the east coast of Vancouver Island. Denman, the larger of the two is known for its pastoral farmlands and its population of talented artisans.

After going to the effort to reach Cortes Island, with its placid lakes, beaches rich in shellfish, and rugged gorges - your reward is finding a campsite on the southwestern corner at Smelt Bay Provincial Park, a heavenly setting on this picturesque island. Texada Island, originally home to a whaling station, is now the site of a working limestone quarry.

Hop aboard the foot passenger ferry from French Creek and cruise across the Strait of Georgia to Lasqueti Island. Largely undeveloped, Lasqueti is a worthwhile destination for a day trip or longer - not only for its natural beauty, but it is so distant from the mainstream. The fleet of BC Ferries that services the Northern Gulf Islands is not as large nor are the sailings as frequent. Others can only be reached by private transportation such as water taxis, kayaks, canoes, or powerboats and, occasionally, airplanes. Visitors will find that the further north in the Strait of Georgia that they explore, the fewer fellow travellers they'll encounter.

Hola, Best of Barcelona

Catalonia's seaside capital is enjoying its reign in Spain. High art, fashion, and high-end hotels add up to one cosmopolitan city.

Several years ago I spent one of the happiest days of my life in Barcelona, and nothing happened. I saw nobody. I spoke to nobody. I went nowhere farther than my feet could take me, and I felt more intensely connected to urban life than I have anywhere else in the world. I spent the day as I did as an undergraduate touring Europe for the first time—I walked the streets from early morning until late at night, stopping only to eat or enter whatever buildings I could. I had more energy at midnight than in the morning, because in Barcelona energy builds, in lilting stages, throughout the day, as the city becomes more a part of one's inner being.


Barcelona is a city where architecture and urbanism are one. Everyone knows about Antonio Gaudí, the brilliant Catalan whose passion, at once religious and aesthetic, yielded buildings of extraordinary sensuousness, a kind of melted, lyrical art nouveau with hints of Gothic. Gaudí set the tone for the city, for the way its physical forms, too strong to be backdrops, influence your emotions. I began my day at the Templo de la Sagrada Familia, surely the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages. Gaudí started it in 1884, designing as he went until killed when struck by a tram in 1926; the place should have been left as a dazzling ruin, but instead work continues—a pseudo-Gaudí architecture rising in mistaken homage to the master. Most of what is there is still Gaudí's own, but that may not be true in another generation.

Although it has an enviable Mediterranean climate and seaside setting, Barcelona was for decades a faded port town that better served as a backdrop to a Jean Genet novel than a holiday destination. Apart from the design cognoscenti, who braved the seedy streets in search of decorating treasures, many viewed the city as a mere pit stop en route to Ibiza. Then the 1992 Olympic games came to town, bringing worldwide exposure and setting off a chain reaction that transformed Barcelona and continues to reverberate: witness the recent explosion of fashionable hotels, bold fusion restaurants, and cutting-edge boutiques and furniture shops. Despite—or, perhaps, because of—all the modernization, natives proudly cling to their traditional Catalan tongue rather than speaking Spanish, while rebellious youths just want to learn the hip-hop lingo of Eminem.

Not surprisingly, these changes have lured a new generation of artists. Director Pedro Almodóvar's Oscar-winning film All About My Mother portrayed the city as a breezy antidote to manic Madrid. In 2001, the zeitgeist-defining Madonna kicked off her world tour at the castle-like Sant Jordi arena. And last fall, the MTV Europe Music Awards (a music-industry Olympics with more-stylish competitors) endorsed the city's position as a global style capital. The event was capped with parties attended by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Alicia Keys, and designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. "It reminds us of Italian cities by the sea, like Palermo and Naples," Gabbana says. "But it's extremely cosmopolitan, with a sensibility for the arts—and the people have fabulous taste in fashion." An inspired Catalan poet characterized Barcelona as "the great enchantress." Seductress is more like it. To quote P. Diddy: "I don't think it gets sexier than this."

Happening Neighborhoods

Barri Gòtic A Roman wall once protected this quarter, the hexagon-shaped heart of Barcelona. With its intimidating tangle of narrow old streets and alleyways, the area resembles Venice without canals. By day, the looming 14th-century Gothic cathedral lures a steady stream of visitors, but come sundown, they head for Plaça Reial, where, it is believed, Ferdinand and Isabella greeted Columbus after his maiden voyage to America. Ironically, the square, filled with towering palm trees and Gaudí-designed lampposts, is often the first place that visiting Americans discover. Gold-painted human "statues" provide free dinner theater at the countless outdoor restaurants.

El Raval In the 1930's, a considerably less wholesome type of entertainment drew crowds to El Raval, west of the Barri Gòtic. The place for petty crime, brothels, and drag clubs, it was a cross between the Moulin Rouge and the pre-Giuliani Times Square. Although sanitized in recent years, the streets around the port are still frequented by transvestites and pickpockets late at night. But as shops and cafés continue to open, El Raval seems poised to become the city's hottest district.

La Ribera In the area north of the Barri Gòtic there's an array of medieval palaces, five of which house the Museu Picasso. As the impressive residences and their courtyards suggest, La Ribera was once—during its golden age in the 12th century—considered an A-list address. Ribera means "waterfront," and although the actual shoreline has long since disappeared, the area is still an urban oasis, thanks to the grand Parc de la Ciutadella—miles of grassy paths, a lake with rowboats for rental, and a zoo inhabited by Snowflake, a rare albino gorilla.

El Born The name of Barcelona's liveliest neighborhood, east of La Ribera, meant "joust" back in the Middle Ages, but the only jousting that occurs here now is between fevered shopaholics who elbow one another while combing the racks at the tiny boutiques. Barcelona's answer to SoHo, the ancient city's original marketplace is once again abuzz with art galleries, hair salons, and cool bars. All of the shiny establishments pale in comparison, though, with the stained-glass rose window of the Gothic church Santa Maria del Mar.

Barceloneta Formerly a fishermen's village, the area south of El Born was transformed for the 1992 Olympics and has become the address of choice, as well as a hub for seafood restaurants.

Diagonal Mar Next summer the city will play host to Forum Barcelona 2004, a gathering of globally minded architects, politicians, artists, and urban planners. Almost 150 days of events relating to such themes as cultural diversity and world peace are scheduled to take place in the northeast end of the city near the Besòs River. In the works: an esplanade, a convention center, and additional beachfront and parkland, as well as skyscrapers and hotels.

Where to Stay

Top Hotels The only beachfront address in Barcelona—not to mention the first Ritz-Carlton in Europe—the Hotel Arts (19-21 Carrer de la Marina; www.ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $485) is a tower of blue glass and steel that rises 44 stories in Vila Olímpica (the Olympic Port). Some Catalonians find American architect Bruce Graham's ambitious design a bit too, well, American for their tastes, but visitors will welcome the many amenities, notably the efficient check-in, unparalleled in this service-challenged city. The lobby affords an always-entertaining scene, as do the pool and alfresco restaurant, which have impressive views of both sea and skyline. There's also a well-equipped gym, a feature that cannot be found in other hotels (perhaps because chain-smoking remains this city's favorite form of exercise).

In the posh north end of town is the Hotel Claris (150 Pau Claris; www.slh.com; doubles from $277). The highlight here is not the service (if you check out during prime time, you may learn a few Catalan obscenities from the harried staff)—rather, inexplicably, it's a second-floor museum of Egyptian artifacts. A small but sleek rooftop pool proves more popular with guests than does the downstairs broom-closet-sized "business center." The even smaller, glass-enclosed "gymnasium" is simply a stair-climber and two exercise bikes. On the bright side, the rooms are filled with original artwork and unexpected accents of rich color, such as deep-purple bedspreads and matching curtains.

The year-old Grand Marina Hotel (Moll de Barcelona; 34-93/603-9000; www.grandmarinahotel.com; doubles from $381) is now attracting the business clientele that once favored the Ritz (668 Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes; www.ritz-barcelona.com; doubles from $416) and Le Méridien (111 La Rambla; www.meridienbarcelona.com; doubles from $381), two of the classier, but surprisingly musty, establishments. The 273-room Grand Marina, which from a distance resembles the side view of a yacht, is just one part of a vast complex of multinational office spaces, located on what planners hope will become the MVP (most valuable port) of the Mediterranean. Nearby is the world's widest drawbridge and Barcelona Head, a 64-foot-high concrete-and-ceramic 1992 sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein. In the port, commercial traffic has been replaced by shops, restaurants, and even an IMAX theater.

Boutique Properties When the Arts gets booked up, its reservations clerk suggests the Hotel Banys Orientals (37 Carrer Argenteria; 34-93/268-8460 www.hotelbanysorientals.com; doubles from $93), in an ideal Born location. The 43 rooms may not be spacious, but they are spotless and have perfect feng shui—all angular furniture, shapely bathroom fixtures, and Asian-inspired touches. When its spa opens next year, a massage and facial will make a fitting finale to a shopping spree in the Born.

Farther away from the city center, but worth the pricey taxi ride for its stunning view, is the hillside Relais d'Orsa (35 Carrer Mont d'Orso; 34-93/406-9411; www.relaisdorsa.com; doubles from $234). The turn-of-the-century mansion has been converted into a five-room hotel with perks like L'Occitane beauty products in the bathrooms and high-thread-count bed linens.

Until recently, picturesque Mount Tibidabo was best known for its Deco-style train station (as glam as a tram gets) and a jaw-dropping view (on a clear day, you can see Majorca). Now the big attraction is the reincarnated Gran Hotel La Florida (www.hotellaflorida.com; doubles from $337), which exudes old-school glamour with latter-day luxuries like a spa, a beauty center, a Turkish bath, and a pool with a retractable roof. Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Stewart checked in during the hotel's heyday (it opened in 1925 but closed down in 1973). La Florida is once again bound to bring in A-listers who would welcome a little privacy up, up, and away from all the nonstop action of downtown.

SHOPPING

Barcelona's ritzy Passeig de Gràcia and Avenida Diagonal may not be on a par with New York's Fifth Avenue (more DKNY than Donna Karan). But the locals' inherently stylish tendencies are evidenced in the innovative furniture and clothes on display in shops around town.

Clothing Label queens unite at Jean-Pierre Bua (469 Avda. Diagonal; 34-93/439-7100), a well-edited boutique for men and women that's stocked with the greatest runway hits from the European brands that Zara (Spain's fashion chain of choice) knocks off so seamlessly. You'll find Dolce & Gabbana, Stella McCartney, and Jean-Paul Gaultier—as well as big-name sunglasses and accessories.

Following the success of his tourist-jammed El Born boutique, designer Custo Dalmau (see his tips, below) opened a second shop, Custo Barcelona (36 Carrer Ferran; 34-93/342-6698), in the Barri Gòtic. Both carry his flamboyant men's and women's lines and, at nearly 100 euros, the most expensive T-shirts in town.

Another local favorite, Antonio Miró (349-351 Carrer Consell de Cent; 34-93/487-0670), may be best known for his luxe treatment of such materials as poplin, rayon, and lightweight wool in impeccably tailored men's suits. This store—which carries his men's, women's, and jeans lines—proves that even denim can be a cut above.

So_da (24 Carrer Avinyó; 34-93/412-2776) might consider changing its name to the more appropriate Te_quila. The shop features an in-store bar (and a DJ booth), but the cute selection of urban gear can give as much of a buzz as downing shots en route to the fitting rooms. At least your hangover will be gone by the time the credit card bill arrives.

To paraphrase U2, Noténom (159 Carrer Pau Claris; 34-93/487-6084) is where the shop has no name (noténom means "no name")—unlike all the edgy designer brands represented here, among them Helmut Lang, D2, and Miriam Ocariz, who hails from Bilbao. The no-attitude store caters to men and women, the street-smart and the sophisticated. Yohji Yamamoto Adidas sneakers are on display alongside seductive stilettos made by Barcelona-based shoe designer Juan Antonio López, who has been hailed as "the new Blahnik."

Mireya Ruiz’s cozy boutique Bad Habits (261 Carrer Valencia; 34-93/487-2259) is certainly not a place where serial spenders can hope to reform their wicked ways. Her tailored separates-sleeveless shirts, miniskirts, and trousers in figure-flattering stripes, her signature motif-may prove irresistible.

Accessories The decidedly funky footwear from Muxart (230 Carrer Rosselló; 34-93/488-1064) and Camper (El Triangle, 13-37 Carrer Pelai; 34-93/302-4124) are not for everyone, but they are sure to stand out on the street.

True shoe fetishists should make a beeline for the high-heel haven Le Shoe (6 Carrer Tenor Viñas; 34-93/241-1012), where stylists seek out designs by such biggies as Alessandro dell’Acqua and Marc Jacobs for fashion-magazine shoots. If that Spanish heat brings out your inner sex kitten, unleash it at Janina (94 Rambla Catalunya; 34-93/215-0421), a boutique filled with frills galore from La Perla and D&G, in addition to the owner's ultra-feminine line of floral-print lingerie, sleepwear, and bikinis. Think of it as Janina's Secret-sorry, Victoria, but we can't keep this one to ourselves.

Zen-like Glamoor (10 Carrer Calders; 34-93/310-3992) serves up more than just glamour. With its marble floors and soothing fountains, the décor provides a peaceful change of pace from the typical Born boutique-not to mention the best selection of Italian and French designer eyewear and handbags.

Interiors What the Virgin Megastore is to music, Vinçon (96 Passeig de Gràcia; 34-93/215-6050) is to the house. Design aficionados act like kids in a two-floor candy store packed with whimsical goodies for every room, except the bedroom-that's around the corner at spin-off shop TinÇon (246 Carrer Rosselló; 34-93/215-6050). The Vinçon store itself is a sight to behold-it's the former apartment of Modernista painter Ramón Casas. Even the bags here are works of art, printed with the slogan I SHOP THEREFORE I AM, courtesy of conceptual artist Barbara Kruger.

Rah, rah, rah for Ras (10 Carrer Doctor Dou; 34-93/412-7199), an experimental bookstore-all polished concrete and cast iron-that looks every bit as slick as the titles it carries. Ras's shelves are lined with the latest coffee-table books from international photographers, as well as tomes on art and architecture. The store doubles as an exhibition space.

Pilé 43 (4 Carrer Aglà; 34-93/317-3902) is the swinging-sixties design equivalent of So_da, down to the cozy bar. Everything in this Austin Powers-esque emporium is up for grabs: the low-hanging steel lamps, the orange plastic cocktail tables, even the groovy wineglasses. To score an outfit to match the retro furnishings, hit Pilé’s vintage clothing store, Recicla Recicla (13 Carrer Riera Baixa; 34-93/443-1815).

SIDE TRIP

The public beaches in Barcelona are cleaner than they used to be, but that's not saying much-there's an ashtray quality to the sand, and although locals pack the shore on weekends, they're reluctant to get their feet wet in the less-than-sparkling sea.

Fortunately, the comparatively pristine resort area of Sitges is a quick cab ride away (less than half an hour by train). Picasso once soaked up the sun in this former fishing village, where winding streets lined with charming shops and cafés lead to a waterfront that attracts a young Euro crowd.

Aside from placid water, other highlights in Sitges include the Hotel Romàntic (33 Carrer Sant Isidre; 34-93/894-8375), a restored 19th-century hacienda, and the Museu Cau Ferrat (Carrer Fonollar; 34-93/894-0364), a must-see for shade-seeking day-trippers. Once the residence of artist Santiago Rusiñol, it's now an intimate museum full of paintings by Rusiñol, El Greco, and Picasso.


CULTURE

Barcelona's attractions come in all shapes and volume levels, and their appeal largely depends on your age and eardrum sensitivity. • In June, the city welcomes the Sónar music festival (www.sonar.es), where top DJ's and musicians play for thousands of Catalan club kids. • Even louder is the all-ages Festival of Sant Joan on June 23—the most explosive night of the year. Locals set off handmade fireworks in the streets. • For those who prefer their culture on the calm side, there's the Museu Picasso (15-23 Carrer Montcada; 34-93/319-6310), filled with portraits by the artist as a young man; it's worth the long wait to get in. • Since last year was the 150th anniversary of Gaudí's birth, the lines have been just as long at La Sagrada Familia, his unfinished symphony of Modernista high notes. • On the hill of Montjuïc is the minimalist Fundació Joan Miró (Parc de Montjuïc; 34-93/329-1908), the design of which the artist personally oversaw. • Raval's futuristic, all-white Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (1 Plaça dels Angels; 34-93/412-0810), created by Richard Meier, looks like something out of The Jetsons and contains a world-class collection of art created in the past 50 years. • The Grand Teatre del Liceu (51-59 La Rambla; 34-93/485-9900), the principal theater for opera, concerts, and dance, reopened in 1999 after a major fire. • A more low-brow spectacle awaits at the Font Màgica de Montjuïc (Plaça d'Espanya), a rainbow-hued dancing fountain that spritzes to the beat of cheesy pop songs. • Fans of fragrance will want to get a whiff of the Museu del Perfum (39 Passeig de Gràcia; 34-93/215-7238), which holds hundreds of antique perfume bottles, including one designed by Salvador Dalí. • To see other works by Dalí, take a train two hours from Barcelona to Teatre-Museu Dalí (Plaça Gala Salvador Dalí; 34-972/677-500 ) in his birthplace of Figueres. The egg-shaped monument atop Torre Galatea, his Surrealist house next door, suggests that Dalí was sniffing something stronger than perfume.


NIGHTLIFE

In this city, there's no shortage of clubs, and even restaurants and boutiques feel the need to multitask. Come the midnight hour, a mirror ball descends from the ceiling, a DJ starts spinning, and—faster than you can say, "Hey, it's gettin' hot in herre"—the place has been transformed into a disco inferno. • The club of the moment is Danzatoria (61 Avda. Tibidabo, Torre 1; 34-93/268-7430), a sprawling hacienda overflowing with pretty young things—and the people who buy them drinks. Like all of the señoritas in attendance, the grounds are flawlessly manicured. • Stefano Gabbana celebrated his birthday at the glass-walled bar Mirabé (Carrer Manel Arnœs; 34-93/418-5667), with a crowd that included Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys, who later skipped out and danced the night away in the mountaintop "Gypsy caves" with flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortés. • At the century-old dance hall La Paloma (27 Carrer Tigre; 34-93/301-6897), you almost expect to see Nicole Kidman doing the cancan under the massive wooden chandelier (especially since lines snake around the block). • On the other end of Barcelona's nightlife spectrum, Lupino (33 Carrer Carme; 34-93/412-3697) is a one-stop fiesta: a bar-lounge (with dancing on weekends) and fusion restaurant. Lights on the wall panels, reminiscent of an airport runway, shift in skin-flattering hues, from soft white to just peachy.


FASHIONISTA’S HIT LIST

"Barcelona is a city where people enjoy life," says designer Custo Dalmau. Here, he shares his favorite places, which are as vibrant as his wildly patterned clothing line, Custo Barcelona.
SHOPS "I buy techno and house music at Discos Castelló [7 Carrer Tallers; 34-93/302-5946], which I first visited when I was sixteen. Gotham [7 Carrer Cervantes; 34-93/412-4647] carries vintage furniture from the thirties, fifties, and sixties."
HOTELS "The nicest hotel is the Arts, but I like the Majestic [68 Passeig de Gràcia; 34-93/488-1717]. The exterior is classic but the décor and service are very modern."
NIGHTLIFE "The Café Royale [3 Carrer Nou de Zurbano; 34-93/317-6124] bar doesn't get busy till two a.m., and even later on weekends. During the week, I go to La Reina [3 Carrer Sant Antoni dels Sombrerers; 34-93/319-5371], a small French-Catalan restaurant next to Santa Maria church. After dinner, it becomes a dance bar that plays house music."

Auckland Destinations

Auckland is often described as being a collection of villages. It is divided into seven administrative areas, each with their own attractions and unique activities. Auckland's Hauraki Gulf is dotted with holiday islands easily accessible by ferry, including Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island.

Auckland City

Auckland City, including 65 islands in the Hauraki Gulf, covers the largest land area (63,174 hectares) of the region's four cities. It is governed by Auckland City Council.

Auckland City is well-known for its tranquil outdoors oases as well as its bustling inner city. Close to the CBD and Auckland University is the Auckland Domain, which is also home to one of the country's best attractions, the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Not far from the domain is Dove-Myer Robinson Park, also known as the Parnell Rose Gardens. Cornwall Park, surrounding volcanic One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), is the largest urban park and has picturesque volcanic stone walls, avenues of oak trees, a kauri plantation and dozens of walkways.

A string of beaches are accessible from the central city along Tamaki Drive. You can hire skates or a bike to cruise the cycle path leading to Okahu Bay, Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St. Heliers

For more information about Auckland City, visit www.aucklandcity.govt.nz or www.hotcity.co.nz

Manukau City

Manukau City, to the south of Auckland City, is where New Zealand welcomes the world. It is New Zealand's third largest city, is host to Auckland International Airport and home to more than 150 ethnic communities.

Manukau has an appealing blend of urban and rural spaces, plus 300 kilometres of picturesque coastline. The rolling fields of the Clevedon Valley are home to the national polo grounds and a collection of vineyards, and near the airport is the new Villa Maria Estate complex. There are nine golf courses.

Some of Auckland's most well-preserved archaeological sites are located in Manukau City, while the colonial era is re-enacted at the Howick Historical Village. Families are also attracted to attractions such as Rainbow's End and Butterfly Creek.

For more information about Manukau, visit www.welcome2manukau.com or www.manukau.govt.nz.

North Shore City

The North Shore of Auckland epitomises the lifestyle that Aucklanders cherish – easy access to urban luxuries, beautiful beaches and proximity to the sea and native bush.

A stroll from the ferry wharf in Devonport leads visitors to Mount Victoria for spectacular harbour views. Nearby extinct volcano North Head is riddled with World War II fortifications (bring a torch so you can explore the tunnels).

Near Takapuna, peaceful Lake Pupuke is a deep freshwater lake in the crater of a dormant volcano and a regular venue for rowing, sailing and canoeing. Water activities are also accessible from the North Shore's dozens of sandy beaches fronting the Waitemata Harbour and Hauraki Gulf.

Follow the Harbourside Art Trail around Birkenhead and Northcote to combine some café stops with visits to artists in their own studios.

For more information about North Shore City, visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz.

Waitakere City

Waitakere City is famous for its wild west coast, its rainforested Waitakere Ranges and the tranquil bays along its harbourside coastlines.

A large chunk of the ranges is protected as a regional park. It is laced by 250 kilometres of walking tracks.

The Arataki Visitor Centre in Scenic Drive has information on all of the walks. The centre itself boasts impressive carvings by local Maori, breathtaking views and a short, 1.6 km nature trail introducing the native species endemic to the area. A tramline and narrow gauge railway are operated in the ranges on weekends.

Waitakere City's natural attractions have made it a magnet for artists and there are arts hubs in Titirangi (centred on Lopdell House) and Henderson (the Corban Estate Arts Centre).

For more information about Waitakere City, visit www.waitakere.govt.nz or www.destination-waitakere.com.

Rodney District

Rodney district promotes itself as Auckland's playground. With its neighbour Waitakere City, Rodney has a rugged western coastline famous for its surf breaks and a rare on-shore gannet colony at Muriwai Beach. Its east coast, by contrast, has safe swimming beaches and a string of iconic parks such as the Goat Island Marine Reserve, where friendly fish meet snorkellers and scuba divers.

The village and surrounding countryside at Matakana has a fast-growing reputation for its classic red wines and organic produce. Its Saturday morning farmers’ market is a popular destination for city dwellers on a day out.

For more information about Rodney district, visit www.rodney.govt.nz.

Papakura District

Papakura district is the interface between urban Auckland and the rural communities to the south. It includes a busy commercial centre as well as the forest-covered Hunua foothills, rolling pasture and large horticultural holdings. It is well known to the thoroughbred horse industry, with an extensive sales complex at Karaka and a training track at Takanini. Papakura also has one of the country’s busiest airports, at Ardmore, which is home to the New Zealand Warbirds Association and its DC-3 flightseeing operation.

For more information about Papakura district, visit: www.pdc.govt.nz.

Franklin District

Franklin district is Auckland's southern gateway. Its scenic highlights include the isolated Awhitu Peninsula to the west, the Hunua Ranges and the Seabird Coast on its eastern side, at the edge of the Firth of Thames.

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway and adjacent farm park offers children and steam train enthusiasts a great day out.

For more information about Franklin district, visit www.franklin.govt.nz

Auckland - Cosmopolitan and Cultural

Auckland has perfected the style of cuisine called “Pacific Rim”, blending Asian and Pacific flavours. Seafood features prominently on Auckland restaurant menus. Try New Zealand greenlipped mussels, succulent Clevedon Coast oysters or the local lamb or venison. The historic inner city suburbs of Ponsonby, Herne Bay and Parnell offer dozens of dining options, or try a waterfront restaurant in the Viaduct Harbour or Mission Bay. A steaming parcel of fish and chips is best eaten at a peaceful beach or bay. Another quick picnic idea is some fresh bread and a selection of cheese from the Puhoi Valley, north of the city.

To go with the food, Auckland produces a number of award-winning wines from its 80-plus vineyards. Wine making has thrived in Auckland since the early 1900s. Waiheke Island is famous for its reds, the west and north-west of Auckland is home to some of New Zealand’s oldest wineries, while Clevedon to the south and Matakana to the north are newer grape-growing districts attracting attention. Look for admired Auckland labels such as Kumeu River, Stonyridge and Matua Valley. Some of the larger vineyards have very good restaurants offering dining among the grapes.

After dinner, there are plenty of options for enjoying Auckland’s nightlife. Lively bars and pubs – many of which also serve food - can be found all over the central city, while the big dance clubs are centred on Karangahape Road, known locally as K Rd. The city’s casino is located in the Sky City complex, which also has bars, restaurants and a hotel. Live music and theatre can be found in large venues such as the Aotea Centre, the Bruce Mason Theatre and Sky City Theatre. The Civic Theatre in Queen St has recently been restored to its art nouveau glory. Another historic venue is The Pumphouse, an old brick water pumphouse constructed in 1894 on the edge of Lake Pupuke on the North Shore. Other smaller theatres are scattered through the central city and outer suburbs.

Visual arts are on show at the city’s numerous galleries, the largest of which are the Auckland Art Gallery and its neighbour the New Gallery, which focuses on modern art. There are numerous private galleries in the city centre. Artists enclaves, where you can visit the artists in their home studios, can be found in places such as Waiheke Island, Titirangi and Devonport. Follow the Harbourside Art Trail around Birkenhead and Northcote, which combines visits to artists in their own studios with a chance to relax in local cafes.

All of New Zealand’s top fashion designers, many of which are gaining international reputations, have stores in Auckland. Real bargain-hunters can head to the Dress-Smart mall for factory and outlet stores. Unique Pacific-flavoured crafts, including tapa cloths and carvings, are also readily available in specialty stores and souvenir shops near the waterfront.

About Auckland

Auckland's waterside location has fostered the locals' love affair with the sea, earning this place the nickname "City of Sails".

Auckland sprawls over a narrow isthmus between the sparkling waters of the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours. A cloak of rainforest covers the surrounding hills, dozens of dormant volcanic cones dot the landscape and enchanting holiday islands are scattered throughout the vast Hauraki Gulf. Two of the best island getaways are Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island.

Auckland's heart beats to a Polynesian rhythm, its people a melting pot of South Pacific and Asian cultures and a strong indigenous Maori heritage. This diversity brings with it an abundance of unique dining and shopping experiences.

Auckland's temperate climate, easy access to the coast and variety of activities earn the city consistent top five rankings in international lifestyle surveys. Discover for yourself why it is one of New Zealand's best destinations.

History and Culture

Tamaki Makau Rau


Auckland has been captivating to passing travellers for 800 years.

New Zealand's indigenous people, the Maori, called this land "Tamaki Makau Rau", a maiden with 100 lovers. It was a place desired by many and fought over for its riches, including its forested hills, productive volcanic soils and harbours full of seafood.

The first sailors to settle here were the Maori, and in later years migrants from the Pacific Islands have contributed to the Polynesian population. You can take a walk through the city with a guide from the local iwi (tribe), visit the Auckland Museum, or wander through the weekend markets at Otara and Avondale for the flavours, sounds and sights of the South Pacific. In the city centre, Auckland’s recent popularity has an international education destination has seen an explosion of ethnic shops, especially Asian-style eateries.


People and Personalities

Modern day Auckland stretches from the town of Wellsford in the north, to the rolling Bombay Hills in the south. It is surrounded by three harbours – the Waitemata, the Manukau and the Kaipara, New Zealand’s largest. Administratively, it is divided into four cities (Auckland, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere) and three districts (Franklin, Rodney and Papakura).

From the first Maori waka and colonial ships, Auckland has attracted immigrants. By the 1890s, it had a cosmopolitan flavour, with dozens of languages heard in the bustling streets and new inhabitants from Europe, China and India. This theme continued throughout the 20th century, particularly in the 1950s when the population was boosted by the post war ‘baby boom’. Many European immigrants were attracted from countries such as Hungary, Holland and Yugoslavia; bringing Auckland more cosmopolitan tastes and its first proper restaurants. Many rural people relocated to seek work in the ‘bright lights’ of the city, and large numbers of Maori migrated to Auckland.

Today, Auckland is the world’s largest Polynesian city. Around 63% of its residents are of European descent, 11% are Maori, 13% are of Pacific Island descent and there is a growing Asian population of around 12%. In the city centre, Auckland’s growing popularity as an international education destination has seen an explosion of ethnic restaurants and shops.


The Great Outdoors

Nature and Scenery


There are spectacular views from many of Auckland's natural and man-made landmarks.

The region is dotted by 48 volcanic cones, with easy access to the summits of Maungawhau (Mt Eden), Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill), and Rangitoto Island. In the heart of the CBD, you can't miss the imposing Sky Tower, which at 328 metres is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. You can also climb to the apex of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and the more adventurous can bungy jump from it.

The region is surrounded by rainforested hills, such as the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges. They offer dozens of bush walks for all abilities. The Waitakere Ranges are also the gateway to the wild west coast, where surf pounds black-sand beaches, all just a 40 minute drive from downtown.

Wherever you stay in Auckland, you're never far from breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, invigorating walks, idyllic holiday islands, outstanding food and wine, great shopping and exciting nightlife.

The Youngest Country - New Zealand

Legend has it that New Zealand was fished from the sea. Fact has it that New Zealand was the last land mass on earth to be discovered, making New Zealand the youngest country on earth.

Nation of Migrants

The first New Zealanders, the Maori, migrated here from their ancestral Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. This was followed about 800 years later by extensive European migration. The influence of Pacific Island and Asian immigrants during the 20th century has helped shape New Zealand into an even more vibrant and diverse multicultural society.

From Hawaiki to Aotearoa

Maori first landed in Aotearoa (New Zealand — literally ‘Land of the Long White Cloud) on waka hourua (voyaging canoes) from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki probably over 1,000 years ago. They settled throughout the land, surviving by farming and hunting. By 1800 there were believed to be over 100,000 Maori in New Zealand.

European Migration

Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand, but it was after Captain James Cook began his circumnavigation of the country in 1769 that European migration began. The first European migrants were whalers and missionaries.

One Nation

In 1839 there were only about 2000 Pakeha ( Europeans) in New Zealand. However the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, which saw New Zealand become a British colony, had an enormous effect on the New Zealand population. British migrants were offered a paid passage to New Zealand, and 40,000 arrived here between 1840 and 1860. By 1858 the Maori and Pakeha populations were nearly equal. The South Island gold rush of the 1860s saw even more migrants flood in from around the world, including English, Scots, Irish and Chinese. A labour shortage here in the late 19th century saw even more migrants from the British Isles and Europe come to New Zealand. Most came with assistance from the New Zealand Government.

Wine and Gum

From the 1890s over 5000 migrants from Dalmatia (now in Croatia) settled in the far north. Most Dalmatians worked in the gumfields, digging for gum from the giant kauri tree. When gumdigging ceased, many Dalmatians become involved with farming, intermarrying with locals and becoming part of the rural community. Dalmatian immigrants also established vineyards in West Auckland in the early 1900s. Today, some of New Zealand’s best-known wines, including Babich and Pleasant Valley, come from vineyards established by Dalmatians in this area.

Kilt Country

During the mid and late 1800s a large number of Scottish migrants settled in New Zealand, especially in the South Island provinces of Otago and Southland. Dunedin (from Dun Edin, the old Celtic name for Edinburgh) is the capital of Otago. It was designed as a city for members of the Free Church of Scotland, which broke away from the Church of Scotland in 1843. The Scottish influence can still be seen throughout the city’s architecture, particularly in the University and Medical School. Pipes bands, Scottish country dancing, and the sport of curling are all pastimes originally brought to New Zealand by Scottish migrants, but now firmly part of the New Zealand way of life.

Golden Migrants

As well as bringing in large numbers of miners from Europe, Australia, and America, the Otago gold rush attracted many male migrants from China. In the country they called ‘New Gold Hill’, many Chinese migrants suffered hardship, discrimination and loneliness. Many of the descendants of these miners, and subsequent Chinese migrants, became market gardeners. During World War II, Chinese market gardeners heroically contributed to the war effort, producing massive amounts of food for troops.

Dutch Migration

Abel Tasman, who sighted New Zealand in 1642, was the first Dutchman to visit New Zealand. In the 1950s an agreement between the Dutch and New Zealand governments saw a large number of Dutch migrants settle throughout New Zealand. Dutch migrants brought many skills with them, and made a major contribution to the development of the New Zealand restaurant, horticulture (particularly flower growing), building design, and fashion industries. Today, about 100,000 New Zealanders can claim Dutch descent. Thanks to Dutch migrants, New Zealand currently exports tulip bulbs to the Netherlands !

Pacific Friends

During the 1960s and 70s New Zealand faced a severe labour shortage. This led to a large number of migrants from the Pacific Islands arriving in New Zealand, especially in Auckland. Pacific Islanders now make up more than 5 percent of the New Zealand population, and Auckland is now the largest Polynesian city in the world. While Pacific Islanders were originally employed in factories and lesser-skilled jobs, a growing number are now entering the professions, and making a major contribution to professional sport, fashion, popular music, television, and the arts in New Zealand. The influence of Pacific Island food, fashion, and arts can be seen on the streets of most New Zealand cities.

Asian Migration

The last 15 years have seen considerable migration to New Zealand from Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, and Japan. These Asian migrants have greatly contributed to the New Zealand economy, particularly in the areas of business and the professions. Most New Zealand cities now have many Asian restaurants and shops

KIA ORA !!! Welcome to New Zealand

New Zealand is a lot closer than you think. Leave tonight and you could be here by morning.

New Zealand is the new Eden. The bountiful two-island nation in the southern Pacific offers much to lure visitors: breathtaking landscape with extremes both lonesome-shepherd-pastoral and Southern-Alps-dramatic ; lodging that ranges comfortably between cozy sheepstation inns and stark glass-box hotels perched on coastal cliffs. You'll also enjoy New Zealand's booming food and wine culture, ambitious and inventive, and benefitting from a seemingly infinite variety of local produce. Bungee-jumping ? Hiking ? Winery visits ? Volcanic hot springs spas ? Name your activity or just relax and take in the otherworldly beauty

Treaty of Waitangi


New Zealand’s Founding Document

Signed in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi is an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It established British law in New Zealand, while at the same time guaranteeing Maori authority over their land and culture. The Treaty is considered New Zealand’s founding document.

Declaration of Independence

After Captain Cook’s exploration of New Zealand in the late 18th century, an increasing number of settlers came to New Zealand. By 1839, there were an estimated 2,000 Pakeha (Europeans) living in New Zealand. In 1833, after increasing lawlessness amongst traders and settlers, the British government appointed James Busby as British Resident to protect British trading interests and counter the growing lawlessness.

In 1835, the French were looking to trade and settle in New Zealand and had started to buy land. In response to this, the British Crown signed a Declaration of Independence with 34 northern Maori Chiefs. This declared New Zealand an independent state under British rule. It also stated that ‘no claim could be made on New Zealand without Maori agreement’.
Despite Busby’s presence, lawlessness, and the number of dubious land sales to Pakeha, increased. The British Government decided there was a need for some effective rule in New Zealand. In 1840, they sent Captain William Hobson there as Lieutenant-Governor. His mission was to acquire the Sovereignty of New Zealand, by way of a treaty with the native Maori Chiefs.

Treaty of Waitangi

A treaty was drawn up and translated. After a day of debate, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. Forty-three Northland Chiefs signed the treaty on that day. Over 500 Maori Chiefs signed it as it was taken around the country during the next eight months.

The grounds and building where the treaty was signed have been preserved. Today, the Waitangi Historic Reserve is a popular tourist attraction. There is a large Maori meeting house, the colonial mission house, an historic flagstaff, as well as a very long waka taua (Maori war canoe).

Open to Interpretation

While most treaties and contracts signed by Britain and her colonies during these times have been forgotten, the Treaty of Waitangi remains central to New Zealand law and society. It is considered by many to be the country’s founding document. However, ever since its signing, the Treaty of Waitangi has presented many problems of interpretation.

The English and Maori versions of the treaty both contain three articles. However, as the Treaty was written and translated by people with little or no legal experience, the Maori translation differs widely in interpretation from the English version.

The first article covers sovereignty. The English version states that Maori give up their ‘kawanatanga’ (governorship or sovereignty) to the British Crown. However, while the English version describes a complete transference of power to the Crown, the Maori version implies a sharing of power.

The second article concerns ‘tino rangatiratanga’ or chieftainship. The Maori version promises much broader rights for Maori in regard to possession of their existing ‘taonga’ (treasures). The English version gives Maori control over their lands, forests, fisheries, and other properties. But the Maori version, with its use of the word ‘taonga’, implies possession and protection of things such as language and culture. The third Article promises Maori the rights of all British subjects, while protecting traditional and customary rights.

The Waitangi Tribunal

Although it is referred to as New Zealand’s ‘founding document’, many of the rights guaranteed to Maori in the document have been ignored. Despite the protection offered in the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori lost considerable amounts of land through the 19th and 20th centuries. The manner in which the land was lost was often questionable, and led to considerable protest from Maori.

In 1975, the government established the Waitangi Tribunal. This tribunal was established to honour the treaty as a relevant and living document. Since then, the Waitangi Tribunal has ruled on a number of claims brought by Maori iwi (tribes). In many cases, compensation, often in the form of financial payments and land, has been granted. In the last ten years, some particularly large settlements have been made between the Government and major iwi, including Tainui of the Waikato, and Ngai Tahu of the South Island. Much of the compensation has been invested in order to provide educational and health services for members of the iwi.

Which translation of the Treaty of Waitangi is the right one? Both. Because both versions are signed, the Waitangi Tribunal is instructed to have regard to both texts when making decisions.

All Eyes on London

New York and Berlin may be hot on its heels, but in the art world of the moment, Britannia rules.

When one of the two battling collectors finally conceded defeat, the gavel banged and the victor bagged Peter Doig's colorful painting White Canoe for $11.3 million. Not only did it sell for more than five times the Sotheby's estimate, the painting also set a new record for the work of a living European artist. The biggest surprise, however, was that it was sold not in New York but in London.

Followers of the American art market are accustomed to seeing prices skyrocket at the Manhattan auctions, but until very recently such coups were unheard of in England. Times have changed. White Canoe wasn't the only record-breaking work in London's most recent round of modern and contemporary art sales. Highs were set for more than 40 artists. The oil painting Study for a Portrait II, by Francis Bacon, was sold for $27.5 million. Andreas Gursky's 99 Cent II, Diptych went for $3.3 million, promptly becoming the world's most expensive photograph.

Once considered a backwater of crusty Old Master dealers, London is now a contemporary art powerhouse, with more creative and commercial clout than anywhere outside New York. British artists are the new household names. The world's most influential art dealers—like Gagosian in New York, and Zurich's Hauser & Wirth—have opened galleries in the capital. Dozens of new spaces have surfaced in edgy East London. Every October international collectors flood the city for the Frieze Art Fair, organized by the London-based international art journal Frieze.

Even if they're not one of the heavweight collectors on Larry Gagosian's speed dial, art enthusiasts are quickly pulled into the whirl. "London has everything—great museums, great galleries, and great artists," says Matthew Slotover, copublisher of Frieze and co­director of the art fair. "There's an amazing range of shows on at any one time."

There are more Dalís in "Surreal Things," the Victoria and Albert Museum's survey of surrealism and design. "Renoir's Landscapes" is on at the National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery mounts photography shows, including "Four Corners," a look into London's cultural diversity. And if you're curious to see how 16th-century Virginia looked to intrepid English explorers, there's the exhibition of John White's watercolors of Native Americans at the British Museum.

Comparably diverse exhibitions are on view at smaller public art institutions. The Hayward Gallery is presenting a show devoted to one of Britain's most popular contemporary sculptors, Antony Gormley. The films of the Dutch-Brazilian artist Pablo Pijnappel, exploring the boundaries between fact and fiction, are showing at the Whitechapel Gallery.

Then there are the latest additions to the London art scene: the commercial galleries. Andreas Gursky's work is the focus of two shows this month: one in the new gallery opened by the German dealers Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers, in an 18th-century building on Grafton Street in Mayfair; the other nearby at White Cube's new space, a glass box in the middle of Mason's Yard. At Coppermill, its cavernous project space in East London, Hauser & Wirth is presenting an ambitious show of new works by the Turner Prize-winning British conceptual artist Martin Creed.

A decade ago, it would have been inconceivable that all this might be happening in a single month in London. "Things were very different in the early 1990's," reminisces New York-born Maureen Paley, who moved to London in 1977 and is now one of its leading gallerists. "There was no contemporary art scene as such." The city has long had great museums with imposing historic collections and scholarly exhibitions, but the avant-garde was relegated to publicly funded exhibition spaces like the Whitechapel, Serpentine, and Hayward galleries. There were very few commercial galleries, very few contemporary art collectors, and certainly no world-class contemporary art fair.

Even during the last global art boom, in the 1980's, the advertising mogul Charles Saatchi was the only London collector of note with an interest in contemporary art. In 1991, the Saatchi Gallery had organized the first show in its Young British Artists (YBA) series, three years after YBA poster boy Damien Hirst introduced himself and his colleagues in the student exhibition, "Freeze." Later in the decade, at the Royal Academy of Art and then at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the exhibition "Sensation," drawn from Saatchi's collection of YBA's, caused a public and media furor—not least because Hirst's tiger shark suspended in formaldehyde and Chris Ofili's Madonna-and-dung painting incurred the fury of then New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Throughout the 1990's, small galleries opened in East London to represent these artists. Hirst and fellow provocateur Tracey Emin joined Jay Jopling's White Cube gallery, which started out in a second-floor walk-up borrowed from Christie's. Painters Ofili and Doig were taken on by the Victoria Miro Gallery, sculptor Sarah Lucas by Sadie Coles HQ, and photographer and video artist Gillian Wearing by Paley.The market expanded through the 90's as new collectors appeared, although at that time London risked being eclipsed by Berlin, which after Germany's reunification had emerged as an inexpensive base for young artists.

The year 2000 marked a decisive turning point, as hundreds of international artists, curators, collectors, and gallery directors arrived for the debut of the Tate Modern museum. "It was an amazing week—the whole art world came to London for the opening," recalls Slotover. "It was the first time that had happened, and we thought: 'Well, why wouldn't they want to come back again?'" (In 2003, he and Amanda Sharp, his copublisher at Frieze, launched the Frieze Art Fair.)

Tate Modern's extraordinary success demonstrated the public's newfound appetite for contemporary art, and that London was prime for international galleries. (Today, both Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth own multiple exhibition spaces in different parts of the city.)

More British collectors began buying contemporary art, as did many wealthy foreign residents who have been moving to London in recent years, to work in the booming financial markets. But the city's most important role is as a bridge between America and Europe: it's the place where U.S. collectors come to buy European art and where Europeans shop for new work by British and American artists.

Today, there are two distinct gallery districts in London: the plush West End, once the preserve of the Old Master dealers, and the rapidly gentrifying East End. Neither is as concentrated geographically as, say, Chelsea in New York, but together they can easily be covered in a day. White Cube, Gagosian, Sadie Coles, Hauser & Wirth, Sprüth Magers, and the rest of the "new establishment" have set up shop in Piccadilly and Mayfair in the West End, close to Bond Street's designer stores and fashionable restaurants like Scott's and the Wolseley. The smaller, more experimental galleries—and a few big ones too—are camped in abandoned factories and warehouses in the East End, mostly clustered around Hoxton Square and Herald and Vyner streets. Here, the atmosphere has a sharper edge, with artists' bars, traditional pubs like the Golden Heart on Commercial Street and George & Dragon on Hackney Road, and nightclubs such as Hoxton Square's BoomBox, a favorite of the fashionable "new rave" music scene.

"There's now a very wide spectrum within the commercial gallery circuit," says Iwona Blazwick, director of the Whitechapel. "You have the scale and ambition of White Cube, Gagosian, Victoria Miro, and Hauser & Wirth at one end, and then the laboratories of dodgy, experimental spaces in East London. One of the big differences between London and New York is the level of experimentation. The market is still smaller here, so people are less afraid of failure and more willing to take risks."

Another difference is that the London art scene is livelier and more rambunctious than New York's. Artists like Hirst and Lucas played an important role in London's rise during the late 1980's by organizing their own shows. Art students are omnipresent too, as most of the leading British art schools are in central London.

The scene is also much more cosmopolitan than that of any other European cultural center and arguably even New York. "The main change I've noticed is that the art scene has opened up to become more international," notes Ralph Rugoff, a New Yorker who lived in London as an art critic during the 1990's and returned last year, after a stint running the Wattis Institute in San Francisco, to become director of the Hayward Gallery. "Every five years the Hayward organizes the British Art Show. In the last one, in 2006, more than half of the 50 artists were born in other countries." Last year the prestigious Turner Prize (awarded annually by Tate Britain to encourage interest in contemporary art), went to the German painter Tomma Abts.

For some collectors, the current frenzy of the contemporary art world has prompted a surprising turn, and some observers sniff a trend. Last summer at Sotheby's in London, well-known art collector Gunther Sachs, the German industrialist, paid a record $9.5 million for The Procession to Calvary by Pieter Brueghel the Younger. It was one of 20 records set at an auction of 15th- to 18th-century works. Even the Old Masters are basking in the white heat of the London art scene.

LONDON

Summer is officially over, time to book your Christmas knees-up !!!

City of seeming contradictions—hip and snooty, youthful and ancient, traditional but home to one of Europe’s most exciting nightlife and restaurant scenes.

Cultural Destinations in London

South Bank

Between Westminster and Waterloo Bridges, on the south bank of the River Thames is an explosion of cultural venues and attractions. Above the London Aquarium and next to the BA London Eye, County Hall is home to Dali Universe, which also includes a display of works by Picasso. A stone's throw away, in the Southbank Centre is the Hayward Gallery, which has an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions.

Also part of the Southbank Centre are the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room and the Royal Festival Hall. These performance venues showcase work by world-class dancers, musicians and orchestras. There are also three theatres in this same small stretch of riverbank : the Royal National Theatre, the Old Vic (where Kevin Spacey is Artistic Director) and the Young Vic. But if you prefer film, the BFI London Imax Cinema gives you a high-tech 3D cinema experience, while by Waterloo Bridge you'll find the British Film Institute, which screens art-house, international and classic films.

Trafalgar Square

In 2003, traffic was stopped from driving all the way around Trafalgar Square ; now the area is a glorious pedestrianised piazza, with the vast National Gallery as its crowning glory. Just around the corner is the National Portrait Gallery, with its fantastic roof-top restaurant that gives you a bird's-eye view of Nelson's Column.

If you get your timing right, you can enjoy a classical lunchtime or evening concert at St Martin's in the Fields Church. Just north of Trafalgar Square, is Leicester Square; the gateway to London's Theatreland. Visit the tkts booth in Leicester Square for half-price tickets to top West End shows.

Greenwich

One of the most picturesque and oldest parts of London, Greenwich is a worth a visit just to experience Greenwich Market and the village atmosphere. It's also where you'll find the Cutty Sark (closed for refurbishment until the end of 2008), the Royal Observatory, home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Meridian, the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House. Catch a performance at Greenwich Theatre or Laban and take the time to enjoy the local delicacy of whitebait at the Trafalgar Tavern. This historic pub was one of Charles Dickens' regular haunts.

Bankside

Just a few decades ago, Bankside was home to a disused power station (now Tate Modern), and derelict Victorian wharf buildings (now Pickfords Wharf, which is teaming with restaurants and eateries). Today the area is a cultural hotspot, with most visitors making their pilgrimage to Tate Modern, London's cathedral to modern art. But while in the area, don't miss Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Vinopolis (a homage to wine), Clink Prison (London's oldest jail) and everyone's favourite horror attraction, London Dungeon

South Kensington

London is a big city, and getting around all its attractions can take some time. But not so when visiting three of London's big museums! The Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Natural History Museum are all within easy reach of each other and all are free to enter, which makes for a joyfully convenient day out.
Just north of the museums lies the Royal Albert Hall, the ultimate London concert venue. Cross over the road, into Hyde Park to take in the Victorian splendour of the Albert Memorial - and after a short five minute walk you'll be rewarded with a look around one of London's most popular contemporary art spaces, the Serpentine Gallery.

Three Roman Hideaways

Luxury Amenities at Villa Spalletti Trivelli Roma

Luxury Bathroom at Villa Spalletti Trivelli Roma

Suite Room at Villa Spalletti Trivelli Roma

Villa Spalletti Trivelli Roma

At this trio of diminutive hotels you can pick your style: fashionable luxury, über-exclusivity, or postcard-perfect charm

1. Portrait Suites

Location
A four-story palazzo at the corner of Via Bocca di Leone and the storied Via Condotti, above the Ferragamo flagship store. Portrait Suites is part of the Lungarno Hotels group, owned by the Ferragamo family.

First Impressions
A smiling concierge posted at the discreet street-level entrance whisks guests up to a second-floor reception lounge, where an equally amiable duty manager checks them in. Refreshments are proffered while documents are processed; an Italian couple on their second stay laughed incredulously when the concierge greeted them by name and added, “Cappuccino for you, sir, and a chilled apple juice for you, madam, if I remember correctly?” The interiors, by house designer Michele Bönan, are chic and sexy in extremis: heathered ice-blue flannel chairs and headboards echo the silver-blue silk curtains, lined in a vermilion satin printed with the Ferragamo logo. Walls are black-stained French oak; framed photos and sketches from the Ferragamos’ private collection line the staircase. The roof terrace is all teak furniture and Zen-style potted grasses—a perfect foil for the dizzying Baroque splendor it overlooks. (It’s also the only public space in the hotel for lolling about; there’s no lobby or lounge, and breakfast is served in-suite.)

Rooms

All 14 have walk-in closets and fully stocked kitchenettes (espresso machines; bone china; Boffi fridges packed with milk, juice, Sicilian cookies, and wine). In the bathrooms, mirror-lined swing doors separate the toilet and bidet from the sink and shower area; slate-gray pure marble floors invite barefoot traipsing. A standard double somehow has space for a small sitting area, a three-way standing mirror, a little desk, and a 42-inch wall-hung plasma TV.

Sore Spot
The room’s stock starts to slide after the third or fourth time one has rolled into the crack between two twin mattresses masquerading as a king-size bed. It’s 2007; surely these are available in Italy by now?

Six-star turndown service, with classical music on the Tivoli sound system, his-and-hers slippers, a cashmere blanket laid at the end of the bed, a breakfast menu next to the phone, and a plate of biscotti from Moriondo & Gariglio. And the staff: knowledgeable, fast, and friendly without being overfamiliar or obsequious.

23 Via Bocca di Leone; 39-06/6938-0742; www.lungarnohotels.com; doubles from $490.

2. The Inn at the Roman Forum

Location
You'll find this ivy-draped building in the crook of a tiny lane between the busy Via Nazionale and the Forum.

First Impressions
The 12-room hotel’s considerable charms reveal themselves slowly over the course of a visit. The cramped reception area doesn’t dazzle at first, but a peek into the cavernous, 2,000-year-old crypt on which the 17th-century building stands (accessed via a glass door behind the concierge desk) does. A marble staircase spirals up four floors to what was once the attic and is now a cozy lounge-breakfast room made elegant with black-and-gold-striped wallpaper, terrazzo floors, and leather- and suede-upholstered chairs and sofas grouped into intimate sitting areas.

Rooms
Even classic doubles are spacious by Roman standards. The interiors are fitfully, rather than uniformly, tasteful—certain lampshades resemble English ladies’ hats, and some of the beds are festooned a little too enthusiastically with swaths of metallic silk. But the building’s bones are flawless: high coffered ceilings in the doubles, pitched oak timber ones in the two top-floor garden suites, and richly patinated terra-cotta flooring throughout. Bathrooms feature raincan showerheads nine inches in diameter, massive granite basin sinks, and jewel-toned Etro toiletries. Closets are stocked with hair dryers, curling irons, and straighteners—in extravagant contrast to the absence of a full-length mirror anywhere, an oversight that needs immediate correcting. Every room has a wall-mounted flat-screen TV (the new standard, it seems).

Sore Spot
It’s such a great little place—a pity it’s almost impossible to find. Say “Via degli Ibernesi” to your cab driver and you’re met with a blank stare and a shrug. During our stay, one couple was left on the Via Nazionale, walking up and down with their bags, searching for the hotel for half an hour. Some printable directions on the Web site would be welcome—or, considering the circumstances, a decrease in the $70 airport-transfer rate.

Trump Cards
The miniscule shady walled garden on the top floor is perfect for afternoon reading or Negroni-sipping. The intimate terrace, with its warm pink walls visible beneath trellises of jasmine, gives on to a view of the top reaches of the imperial Forum, the 19th-century Vittorio Emanuele monument, and a vast sky dotted with kiting seagulls.

30 Via degli Ibernesi; 39-06/6919-0970; www.theinnattheromanforum.com; doubles from $470.

3. Villa Spalletti Trivelli

Location
An early-20th-century villa with Neoclassical overtones on a side street on patrician Quirinal Hill. A small brass plaque and bell, and the subtle glow of a recent $4 million-plus restoration, are all that distinguish this house from the others around it. First Impressions There’s the involuntary urge to straighten one’s shirt, smooth one’s hair, and generally make oneself a bit more presentable. The villa is the former private home of the Spalletti-Trivelli family, titled since 1667, and many of its appointments and furnishings—from the library (a collection protected by the Ministry of National Heritage) to the colored Piranesi print in the stairwell (circa 1765, very rare)—were once their property. Oak and walnut floors, bookshelves, and moldings gleam with good care; 15-foot tapestries are suspended on butter-yellow walls; overstuffed chenille sofas are arranged in twos in the echoey sitting rooms. Signed photos show various Spalletti-Trivellis attending weddings and coronations and tennis parties. Even the andirons look like a Sotheby’s auction lot. The family coat of arms is everywhere—on the silverware and the Richard Ginori breakfast china, on the towels and the correspondence paper, on the enormous medallion attached to each room key. All of this, plus a gracious and capable staff, makes good on the hotel’s proclaimed mandate: affording guests the opportunity to experience what home life for a Roman nobleman was like (apparently, very hushed).

Rooms
Big—a double is about 17 feet square, with a foyer and a large closet, and suites are the size of a proper one-bedroom apartment. The rooms on the top floor interconnect and can be booked as a single private unit. The interiors are refined (if not particularly adventurous), with color-coordinated damasks on the beds and armchairs and fine wood tables (some antique, some reproduction) mixed with Lucite ones. The winning touches: exquisite bed linens (making the bed has been elevated to an art here); monumental framed antique maps and prints (each room has at least one); and state-of- the-art marble bathrooms that look as if they were designed according to guidelines submitted by the Association of Persnickety American Travelers.

Sore Spots
The glaring overhead lighting in the rooms doesn’t aid the cause of creating ambience. And breakfast is surprisingly uneven: 12 gorgeous homemade jams, organic yogurt from Calabria in tiny jars—and bad, Tang-y canned orange juice, with a rather meager side of strawberries.

Trump Cards
The beautiful, fully stocked, totally complimentary bars and fridges in each room. And the undeniable exclusivity of the experience; whether or not it’s your thing (or your price point), the Villa Spalletti Trivelli is unique in the Eternal City.

4 Via Piacenza; 39-06/4890-7934; www.villaspalletti.it; doubles from $1,069.

Caribbean Summer { endless escapes }

Summertime in the Caribbean is anything you want it to be. With fewer crowds and more deals, it's and ideal time to visit the wondrous islands that make up the region. Some luxury resort even offer value-added package, and airfares tend to be lower as well, during one of the Caribbean's most alluring seasons.

Spend your summer vacation enjoying the pure white powder beaches or diving into the world that lies within the Caribbean Sea. Get active and see a part of the Caribbean so few experience with a hike through a rain forest or just slow journey by river raft. The golf greens beckon and the region's cultural history finds expression in museums, historic sites, and festivals of the season.

Water, Water, Water !!!

In the Caribbean, it's all about the beach, where pearly sands meet the shimmering seawater and azure the sky. Even if you never step foot on the sand or in the sea, you'll likely get the chance to at least gaze at the soft white powder and clear aquamarine colors of the water. If you make beach-going a primary part of your trip, you'll discover sands and surfs of varying personalities. The key is to know where to go to find the right beach for you.

Magens Bay, one of the more than 40 beaches on St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands (U.S.V.I), offers pure beauty and plenty of water-sport fun. Neighboring St. John's Trunk Bay, one of the most often photographed beaches, is set within the Virgin islands National park, Cinnamon Bay, also within the Park, offers a host of activities from kayaking to mountain biking.

The white sand beaches of Jamaica offer a host of activities from water sports to nature watching to beach combing. One of the best known is Seven Mile Beach on Negril on the island's west coast. Protected by a reef, its calm water make for great swimming and snorkeling. Favorite nesting spots for turtles dot the secluded areas of Reggae Vibes Beach, east of Ocho Rios.

On Curacao, you'll find more than 40 public and private beaches. The western part of the island has calm, clear waters and secluded coves. Spend a full day at Playa PortoMari and you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, diving, and nearby nature trail.

Puerto Rico's 272 miles of coastlines boast hundreds of beaches. Choose your pleasure, from the white sands of one of the top windsurfing spots, Shacks, in the west to the black volcanic sands of the southeast coast near Punta Santiago.

Grand Cayman's own Seven Mile Beach fronts most of the island's top resorts. Here you'll also find water-sport centers, where you can play with such fun "toys" as ocean kayaks, windsurfing boards, hobie cats, wave runners, aqua trikes, view boards, paddle cats, and paddle boats. Windsurfing is big at Grand Cayman's East End, North Sound, and West Coast.

Head for the quiet North Side of the island to Rum Point for a day of swimming, snorkeling, or lying in a hammock. Sister islands Cayman Brac and Little Cayman also offer visitors a host of secluded places in the sand.

The Baths, on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands (B.V.I) are must for any visit there. Beautiful beaches line these special pools and grottos formed by giant boulders.

One of the best ways to explore the Caribbean Islands is by boat, taking in the coastline and sea's beauty Tortola, also in the B.V.I., is one of the top areas in the Caribbean for yachting. Spend your entire vacation abroad a crewed yacht for pure luxury, or just charter one for the day. You'll find in the B.V.I. alone. Another exciting way to explore the waters is by canoeing or kayaking to the inlets and barrier islands.

Dive In !!!

The Cayman Island's reputation as one of the world's top dive destinations is well established. These islands boast more than 200 dive site marked with moorings, 100-foot-plus visibility, and amazing marine life, luring divers from around the globe. The waters surrounding all three islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman - are excellent spots for beginners to advanced divers.

If you snorkel, you can find wonders close to shore on all three islands, or opt for a half-day or daylong boat trip. A boat ride to the famed Stingray City and the nearby Sand Bar in North Sound on Grand Cayman is a must for any first-time visitor.

Curacao, has more than 100 dive sites with visibility ranging from 60 - 150 feet. The Curacao Underwater park is a 12.5-mile coral reef that has been protected as a National Park.

Puerto Rico is just emerging as a dive destination, with such underwater treats as marine-life-filled reefs, walls, caverns, cays, and mangroves to explore.Off Humacao on the eastern side of the island, you can find more than 30 dive sites within a five-mile radius. A 20-mile-long underwater wall abundant with marine life parallels Cabo Rojo to Guanica in the Southwest.

In the U.S.V.I., the 700-acre Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix is an underwater delight for snorkeling ; here you'll encounter tropical fish, coral reefs, flora, and fauna. If you dive, you can discover underwater caves, tunnels, and pinnacles at St. Croix's north shore well. A number of sunken treasures make for popular wreck dives in the waters of Pillsbury Sound, between St. Thomas and St. John. While on St. John, check out the uninhabited Carvel Rock and Congo Cay dives sites.

No matter where you stay on Jamaica, you're likely to find great diving. Among many sites, Airport Reef off Montego Bay has coral caves, tunnels, and steep canyons to explore, while shipwrecks and some of the island's best reefs await discover off Port Royal, near Kingston Airport.

The Western Hemisphere's largest barrier reef, and the second largest in the world, stretches 185 miles of Belize's eastern coast. Divers heading to Belize will discover 70 types of hard corals, more than 400 species of fish, three of the Caribbean's four atolls, seven aquatic World Heritage sites, and close to 200 offshore cays.

Nature's Path !!!

Thought the Caribbean is home to some of the most beautiful and luxurious resorts in the world, most of the area is undeveloped and protected as national parkland. Here you can explore a part of the Caribbean where lush flora and fauna lie undisturbed, as they have for centuries.

Catch a glimpse of Cayman's wild interior, one of the last remaining examples of the Caribbean's dry, subtropical forest, in Grand Cayman's Mastic Reserve, which is protected by the National Trust Guided walks along the two-mile-long Mastic Trail take about two and a half to three hours.

Curacao's 4,500-acre Christoffel Park is protected wildlife preserve and garden. Here you can find a vast array of activities to choose from based on your own adventurous spirit. Options include guided walking tours, cave exploration, moonlight tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, and jeep and four-wheel drive rentals. You might spot prickly pear cactus, divi divi trees, exotic flowers, neon-blue iguanas, rabbits, donkeys, birds, and the protected white-tail Curacao deer.

Puerto Rico's well-known El Yunque Rain Forest outside San Juan is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. National Forest Service. Guided tours offer a chance to see the lush plants and exotic flower created by the more than 100 billion gallons of annual rainfall. El Yunque is also home to birds and wildlife only found in the rain forest.

Head of Holywell, 21 miles outside Kingston, Jamaica, for an exploration of 120 acres of protected forest and the birds, trees, and wildflowers that call it home. Four nature trails start at Holywell and lead into the blue Mountains, winding past tropical rain forests, valleys, coffee farms, waterfalls, streams and a number of scenic lookout points.

National parkland cloaks the island of St. John in lush, wild beauty. Almost two-thirds of this island's 19 square miles is protected as the Virgin Islands National Park. This more than 12,000-acre park offers natural beauty on land and sea. Twenty self-guided hiking trails will take you to ancient petroglyphs, dense forests, plantation ruins, and lush foliage.

If you're on a quest for magnificent views, be sure to head for St. Thomas's Paradise Peak, a winding quarter-mile nature trail that provides overlooks of the island.

If birding is your passion, you can find plenty of opportunities for your favorite activity while exploring the island's natural attractions on foot. Jamaica has 252 bird species alone, of which 27 are unique to the island. Head for the water in the B.V.I., where the bird sanctuaries found on West Dog, Great Tobago, Little Tobago, and Diamond Cay are accessible only by boat.

Gorgeous Greens !!!

The Caribbean has become a major destination for golf, with beautiful courses lining the sea. George and Tom Fazio designed St. Thomas's Mahogany Run, a par 70, 18-hole championship course. Its 13th, 14th, and 15th holes are nicknamed the Devil's Triangle, as golfers are challenged by the Caribbean Sea that lies between the tee and the green. The 18-holes championship Carambola Golf Course on St. Croix was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and has been the site of many professional tournaments.

The Buccaneer Resort, also on St. Croix, features and 18-hole, par-70 course.

Jamaica has 12 golf courses, with 13th-the par 72 San San Golf & Country Club-currently slated for renovation in Port Antonio. The Island is the side of a number of major tournaments during the year. Play in the footsteps of golf greats in Montego Bay at the 18-hole, par-71 Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, design by Robert Von Hagge and Rick Baril. Or head to the long, par-72 Half Moon Golf Course, with a layout by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Other course choices in Jamaica include the par-71 Sandals Golf & Country Club in Ocho Rios.

The list of designers of Puerto Rico's 23 golf courses (and the six more being built) real like a who's who in the world of golf. The Hyatt Dorado Beach Resort gives guests two courses to choose from, both designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Both the East and West courses are 18-hole, par-72 layouts. The 18-hole, par-72 Wyndham El Conquistador Golf Course is an Arthur hills design overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and El Yunque Rain Forest.

The 18-hole, par -71 Links at Safehaven on Grand Cayman lies along the North Sound Coast. The Britannia at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman is a Jack Nicklaus design.

A Cultural Tour !!!

Despite being part of a common region and sharing some similarities, each of the islands in the Caribbean has a unique history and culture. More and more of the individual islands are beginning to showcase their heritage in museums and other major visitors' sites. There are good place to begin an understanding of the island's current standing in the world today.

Jamaica's many historic sites include the Seville Great House and Heritage Park on the north coast. Tainos, Jamaica's first inhabitants, established their largest town here. Another way to understand Jamaica's culture is through its Meet-the-People program. When you participate, you're matched up with a Jamaican host and may meet a family ; talk to a musician, businessman, teacher, or artist ; shop at local market ; or tour the countryside as part of the program's goal of introducing its guest to real Jamaica.

Puerto Rico's history comes to life during a walk through Old San Juan, with its narrow cobblestone streets and colonial buildings, a number of which have been declared National Historic Sites by the National Historic Preservation Office. Highlights include four fortresses from the Spanish Colonial Empire, historic sites and buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and La Muralla, the city wall was built mostly between 11539 and 1641, and was completed in 1782.

The Cayman Islands National Museum in the restored Old Courts Building in George Town on Grand Cayman houses more than 4,000 items in a variety of exhibits. It focuses on the country's cultural and natural history and its seafaring past. See a 14- foot traditional handmade catboat, old coins, rare documents, and a 10-minutes audiovisual presentation.

The Virgin Islands Museum, outlining the Islands' history, is set within St. Thomas's historic Fort Christian, built in 1672. This U.S national landmark is the oldest standing structure in the Virgin Islands. On St. Croix, a 72-mile self guided Heritage Trail driving tour takes in numerous historic and cultural sites. Demonstrations of cultural traditions, such as basket weaving, music, and dance, bring St. John's history to life at the Annaberg Ruins, a former sugar plantation.

Set in a traditional West Indian building, the V.I. Folk Museum on Tartola, B.V.I., features many artifacts from the island's Taino, plantation, and slavery eras, as well as pieces from the famed RMS Rhone wreck For a less formal glimpse into the heritage of the B.v.I., check out the "Wall," a long and colorful mural along Tortola's Ridge Road.

Explore Curacao's past, present, and future at its Maritime Museum. Among the offerings are video presentations, multimedia displays, antique miniatures. 17th-century ship models and maps, and even ferry tours of the harbor.

Where to Stay ???

The Caribbean teems with diverse accomodations, from budget hotels to luxurious resorts.

Couple Resorts, Jamaica

(800-268-7537 ; http://www.couples.com/)

Couples sets itself apart from its competition by overing a "boutique-style collection of unique resorts," all within the 200 room range. Couples Ocho Rios, Couples Sweet Away, and Couples Negril, all located on Jamaica, offer excellent service, luxurious accomodations, unlimited premium-brand drinks, gourmet dining, and host of and on off-site activities. A laid-back, natural setting pervades there resorts, dedicated to offering a romantic time for couples.

Half Moon, Montego Bay, Jamaica

(800-626-05292 ; http://www.halfmoon.com.jm/)

Guests can stay in one of 47 guest rooms, 174 suites, and 32 villas during their stay at this 400-acre property. Relaxation choices include a two-mile-long beach, 50 freshwater pools (mostly assigned to private cottage), a spa, Robert Trent Jones, Sr,- designed 18-hole golf course, and choice of restaurants.

La Samanna, St. Martin

(800-854-2252 ; http://www.lasamanna.com/)

An Orient-Express Hotel, and a memberof The Leading Hotels of the World, La Samanna offers its guests all the luxurious amenities associated with those two names. The 81-suite, 55-acre beachfront property caters to the discriminating guest with seclusion, fine dining, and personalized service. Its extensive wine cellar and cuisine include provisions flown in from France each day.

Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Asscociation

(787-725-2901;http://www.prhta.org/;http://www.puertoricoisfun.com/http://www.puertoricoisfun.com/)

Hotels, resorts, and small properties throughtout Puerto Rico are part of the "Puerto Rico is Fun" package program from this member organization. Package inclussions can range from free night (based on minimum stay) and room upgrades to daily breakfast, car rental discounts, and more.

Sandals

(888-SANDALS ; http://www.sandals.com/)

The collection of 12 beachfront, all-inclusive resort on Antigua, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and St. Lucia was designed with couples in mind. The ultra-inclusive rate includes land and water sports such as golf and sucba diving ; beer, wine, and premium liquor ; hotel taxes ; airport transfers ; all meals and snacks ; and all gratuities.

Sheraton

(800-325-3535 ; http://www.sheraton.com/)

Sheraton's properties in the Caribbean offer a top hotel experience and include the newly opened 240-rooms Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, Puerto Rico, and 477-room Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort, Grand Bahama Island, which is part of a 372-acre resort complex.

Independence

On July 4th, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations.

Happy Birthday, America !!!

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming ???

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming ???

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ???

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses ???

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream :

'T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave !!!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more ???

Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave :

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,

Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation ;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation !!!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave !!!

Neigborhoods Washington, DC

New life comes to once gritty capital streets, as shops, restaurants, galleries,clubs, and scenesters take up residence.

As D.C.'s inner city blossoms, roughly six contiguous areas north of downtown are being grouped as MidCity. At its heart, Logan Circle 9a genteel Victorian residential quarter in its day) and the U Street Corridor (a creative hub once hailed as Black Broadway, where hometown hero Duke Ellington grew up) have been among the city's most embattled neighborhoods. Now there's an influx of artists, students, and professionals, and business are opening in a collaborative spirit - with one eye toward the global village and the other very much on the local scene - showing what can happen when fashion, art, and food mix with politics.

WHAT TO SEE : Half of the artist represented by :

1. Nevin Kelly Gallery
(1517 U St. NW; 202/232-3464; www.nevinkellygallery.com)
Live in Poland, the rest are in D.C.: A delightful hybrid of old-world skillfulness and new-world dash. Founded by a Georgetown University professor.

2. Irvine Contemporary
(1412 14th St. NW; 202/332-8767; www.irvinecontemporary.com)
Exhibits work by well known early - and mid - career artists - such as mixed media dreams capes by Robert Gutierres. At bi-level

3. Project 4
(903 U St. Nw; 202/232-4340; www.project4gallery.com)
Guest curators organize shows of works from D.C. (photography, sculpture, site-specific installations.


WHERE TO EAT :

4. Busboys and Poets
(2021 14th St. NW; 202/387-7638; lunch for two $27)
Is a cafe, performance space, and bookstore to a diverse clientele that favors the individual pizzas and well-pulled espressos as much as the readings by the likes of Barbara Ehrenreich and Amiri Baraka. On Sundays, the brunch crowd hits.

5. Creme
(1322 U St. NW; 202/234-1884; brunch for two $25)
For chef Terrel Danley's nouveau-soul cooking : think crispy fried chicken on fluffy Belgian waffles, doused with maple syrup. Since 1958

6. Ben's Chili Bowl
(1213 U St. Nw; 202/667-0909; lunch for two $ 17)
A survivor of historic riots and economic depression, has satisfied fans with irresistible hot dogs and chili cheese fries, Local-farm champion Barton Seaver's

7. Cafe Saint-Ex
(1847 14th St. Nw; 202/265-7839; dinner for two $55)
Is package night and day for such specialities as fried green tomato BL T's At

8. Viridian
(1515 14th St. NW; 202/234-1400; dinner for two $64)
MidCity's most sophisticated restaurant, Antonio Burrell also buys locally for his clean-flavored dishes, like tofu-and-mushroom terrine with red-pepper jam. Owned by two brothers.

9. Etete
(1942 Ninth St. NW; 202/232-7600; dinner for two $36)
Wins in a crowded field of Ethiopian restaurants; try the chicken with fresh ginger and hot pepper.

SHOP the owner of :

10. Muleh
(1831 14th St. NW; 202/667-3440)
Scouts fine contemporary furniture from Asia and Europe (he was one of the first to carry 3.1 Phillip Lim). On the airy second floor of a row house.

11. Nana
(1528 U St. Nw; 202/667 -6955)
Delivers stylish, affordable fashion from up-and-coming designers. Look for Holly Aiken's striking "vegan-friendly" vinyl bags.

12. Wild Women Wear Red
(1512 U St. NW; 202/387-5700)
Sells sexy but practical shoes, such as puzzle patterned suede boots by Camper and Lisa Nading loafers with kittenish heels. At the cave like

13. Carbon
(1203 U St. NW; 202/986-2679)
Limited edition mod Chelsea boots from Italy and deconstructed, rubber-soled wing tips by Blackstone attract professionals who don't take themselves too seriously.

14. Lettie Gooch
(1911 Ninth St Nw; 202/332-4242)
Has polished, slightly offbeat clothes and accessories, including herringbone pencil skirts with flirty back pleats from Black Halo, and delicate roller-paper-and silver strand necklaces by local designer Ayanna.

15. Candida's World of Book
(1541 14th St. NW; 202/667-4811)
Leaves bookstores travel sections far behind, and stocks cookbooks, coffee-table tomes, and fiction in 15 languages from 40-plus countries. Even the kid's section is multilingual.

WHERE TO GO OUT : Hipsters and politicos with down time head to :

16. Gate 54
(1847 14th St. Nw; 202/265-7839)
A moody lounge with a speakeasy vibe. DJ's spin nightly, and on iPod evenings, locals plug in their own collections. Named for 1987 House resolution honoring jazz, the nonprofit.

17. HR-57
(1610 14th St. Nw; 202/667-3700)
Is dedicated to preserving the groove in an area once thick with clubs headlining such luminaries as Miles David and Sarah Vaughan. On Wednesdays and Fridays HR-57 host the city's hottest jam sessions. The Duke would be proud.

FLIGHT CONNECTIONS

The communications revolution gets ready for takeoff.

There was a time when the aircraft cabin was a sanctuary for the business traveller, a sky-high haven from the office where you could remain incommunicado. No longer. As broadband Internet, instant messaging, multimedia entertainment, and even mobile-phone calls make their way onto airlines 'list of in flight amenities, we can all look forward to an era when, even at an altitude of 11,000 meters, we're still connected to be ground.

"Passengers want access to the same sort of technological applications and experiences in the air that they enjoy on the ground" say Julie Ask, a senior analyst at New York-based communications research firm Jupiter Research. "Anecdotal evidence suggests that travelers are now switching flights based on wireless availability"

United and Virgin Atlantic were among the first airlines to offer e-mail services on select routes, and Lufthansa pioneered in flight Internet access last year with the introduction of its dedicated portal FlyNet. But that is only the tip of the technology iceberg as carriers scramble to keep up with the competition. From June, if you fly Singapore Airlines between Singapore and London, you can look forward to real-time broadband Internet with access to four live TV news channels-a world first-through your own wireless-enabled laptop. At 25 cents a minute or US$ 30 for unlimited access, it's an affordable extra that "brings us one step closer to a vision of a cyber-cabin, where passengers can continue to stay in touch while they're flying" says Raja Segran, general manager of the airline's U.K.operations.

Helping to spread head innovation in this are is Boeing's Connexion service, which enables fliers to surf in real time. Its system acts as an aerial Internet service provider (ISP), sending electronic signals from planes to orbiting satellites, as well as turning the cabin environment into one big broadband WiFi (wireless fidelity) hot spot. JAL and Korean Air are already in various stages of rolling out this service.

However, not every airline is jumping on the tech band wagon ; some are choosing instead to take a wait-and-see approach. "Broadband is still very expensive so whilst the technology is there, it may not be economically feasible to exploit it yet" says Sarah Blomfield at Cathay Pacific.

And what of mobile-phones use in flight ? Prohibitions in the United States have set the tone worldwide. The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) banned phones on flights 15 years ago, concerned that they would interfere with phone networks on the ground, while the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has prohibited the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices because or potential interference with aircraft navigation systems.

But change is in the air, thanks to new technology. One solution is to bring base stations, which mobile phones normally communicate with on the ground, into the cabin.They are called pico cells and are the size of a laptop computer. They can pick up on board phone calls at much lower frequencies than the current standard and send them directly to the relevant satellites. This, coupled with fine mesh of radio-frequency shielding around and airplane's fuselage. should prevent any "leakage" that might affect ground stations. Better still, because the signal required for a mobile phone to connect with a pico cell is so weak, interference with navigational systems is also, in theory, unlikely.

On Air, a Geneva-based solutions provider, has joined up with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus to offer this service on the new A380 super-jumbo.

"The A380 is likely to be the first airliner delivered with a full suite of passanger communications services" predicts George Cooper, CEO of On Air. "By the middle of 2006, passengers may be able to use their own handsets to make and receive phone calls and text messages during the flights"

This, of course, will depend largely upon future rulings by civil aviation and communication authorities. At press time, the FCC had begun taking public comment about the possibility of dropping its ban on mobile phones. The FAA, meanwhile is looking into whether the latest technology in our handsets is less likely to interfere with planes' navigational systems. But even should the bans be repealed, debate still rages as to who will use these services and what they would be willing to pay fro them. Remember those phone embedded in the arm of your seats with the built -in credit-card reader ? When was the last time you actually saw someone use one ?

"When looking at the seat-back phones, they were not at a price point the market was willing to pay," says Terrance Scott, director of communications at Boeing's Connexion. "There were also social issues associated with them. Back when they were first introduced, most people preferred to have conversations in private. That was probably a deterrent to passenger acceptance at the time"

And perhaps it still is. Although research shows that there is growing demand for in-flight cellular communication, the nation of a cabin filed with phone chatter doesn't appeal to everyone. "I do not want mobile phones in-flight. It is haven, that is my time, it is my space", says Anthony Lassman, founder of Note Bene travel guides.

Scott, however, maintains that in-flight phone use won't be nearly as annoying and intrusive as some people think. "Much of what (the media reports on this issues) is based on lack of knowledge of the technology involved and what types o controls airlines will likely have toward protecting the passenger experiences," he says.

According to Scott, airlines would choose when they want passengers to use their phones, and when they want them to switch them off, such a during mealtimes or when the cabin lights are turn off. Cabin crews would implement these quiet periods by turning the pico cell off likely be limits as to how many passengers can use phones simultaneously. One pico cell can cope with a maximum of six or seven calls at a time ; how many of these cells a plane might carry will depend upon weight and power restrictions as well as cost. So in the meantime, enjoy the in-flight technology revolution. It probably won't be too noisy a ride for time to come.

Source : Nick Easen - Update Files

4 HOURS IN NEW YORK

Manhattan

Explore the Meatpacking District, between Chelsea and the West Village, one of New York's hottest neighbourhoods, dotted with ultra hip boutiques and trendy restaurants.

1. Jeffrey

It might seem an unlikely spot for one of Manhattan's most exclusive clothing stores, but it's there that you'll find Jeffrey (449 W 14Th Street at Tenth Ave). Looking for that perfect suit by Prada or Jil Sander ? Jeffrey is the spot downtown for designer duds for men and women. It's also known for its fabulous selection shoes and accessories. Although prices are, well. pricey, staff here are actually helpful and wonderfully without attitude.

2. Stella McCartney

For fun and sexy women's fashion, check out Stella McCartney (429 W 14Th Street). Yes she is the daughter of Paul and a pal of Madonna (who's been known to swing by), but she's also a talented and trendsetting clothing designer. If the price are beyond your budget, don't worry - it's a trip to simply window-shop here.

3. White Columns

This modern art gallery is New York's oldest alternative art space (founded in 1969) and is open for public, free of charge, eleven months per year (320 W 13Th Street) Every six months the museum present new exhibitions in a variety of media, dedicated to emerging artists.

4. Spice Market

For tasty Southeast Asian Cuisine in an ultra hip atmosphere, head over to celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's hot new restaurant, Spice Market (W 13Th Street, corner of Ninth Ave and 13th Street). Housed in a 139 square-metre former warehouse in the heart of the Meatpacking District, the decor is exotic Southeast Asian, with teak pagodas and sexy lighting. Try the lobster with garlic and chilli, crisp squid and curried duck with lemongrass, and don't be surprise if you see a celeb or two.

Lunch, Mon-Fri noon-14.30, Sat and Sun noon-16.00, Dinner daily 18.00-midnight.

5. Vitra

This is Vitra's flagship store (29Th Ninth Ave between 13Th and 14Th Streets), and it's also home to gallery and showroom. Modern furnishing from likes of Eames, Gehry, Vac and George Nelson, as well as books, games and silk pillows, are all sold at the sleek shop.

6. Yoyamart

This whimsical children's toy and clothing store (15 Gansevoort Street between Hudson and 4th Street) features a variety of goods from Asia, Australia and France, such as designer clothing, Anime toys from Japan, educational books and cool kid's furniture.

7. Chelsea Market

This former cookies factory (75 Ninth Ave between 15Th and 16Th Streets) now houses a delectable variety of bakeries, cafes, restaurants and shops. Its enormous rugged brick interior is worth checking out itself, complete with massive stone benches and a waterfall. But once inside, you're sure to be captivated by the sights and scents - you can smell bread baking and watch the bakers prepare the loaves through big glass walls. Be sure to hit the Lobster Place, where the locals come for fresh fish and seafood. And a few steps away Goupil and DeCarlo Patisserie is an excellent spot for a cappuccino and European-style treats and pastries.

8. Maritime Hotel

You can't miss this white, strangely nautical-looking building, with its rows of porthole windows. Build by Albert Ledner in 1966, it's now one of the hippest hotel in the Big Apple (363 W 16Th Street, tel +1 212 242 4300). The bustling patio is a nice place to grab a cocktail, with its hanging Japanese lanterns, blue-and-white-stripes awnings, trees and potted plants.

When the weather is cooler, head inside to Matsuri, the two-level subterranean Japanese restaurant and bar, for a refreshing cocktail and tasty cuisine, or La Bottega, the lively and chic Italian eatery.

How To Avoid Sea Sickness On A Cruise

The pleasure of cruising along on open water with the sea breeze blowing at tropical temperatures is one that every person should be able to experience without the unpleasant side effect of nausea. I suffer from motion sickness from a variety of different sources. Even movement on a television screen makes me sick. Or when someone who is sitting nearby nervously shakes their leg. Elevator rides make me nauseous and horse back riding too.

I have been sick to my stomach on a small fishing vessel that I paid a fortune to charter so when my brother suggested a cruise years ago I thought to myself that I may have more fun jumping off the Eiffel tower. At least it would end. I have since traveled on many cruises without the troublesome problem of sea sickness. I want to share what I have learned so that you too can enjoying cruising as much I do.

The easiest and most economical way to stop sea sickness is to walk. This is what is meant by getting your sea legs. When you walk around a moving ship the fluid in your inner ear learns the motion of the ship in a controlled way. When you feel sea sickness coming on walk,walk,walk. The worst thing you can do is take to your bed. Lying down will make your nausea worse. Once your body becomes accustomed to the motion you will no longer feel ill and will be able to sit and lie down when you want to.

Another drug free way to curb your motion sickness is by wearing a Sea Bands bracelet. The bracelet has a small bead on the inside that puts pressure on the inside of your wrist. This is a pressure point that will reduce nausea. Children and pregnant women can use Sea Bands as there are no side effects to this method. They are available at most drug stores. Buy these before you leave home and put it on before boarding the ship to be safe.

The use of ginger can help to reduce the nausea part of sea sickness but not the dizziness. Other herbal remedies have been tried but not scientifically proven to work. Staying above deck and getting fresh air will go a long way to normalizing your inner ear.

Cabin location can also be a factor in how much motion you feel while trying to sleep. Select a cabin that is in the middle of the ship both horizontally and vertically. If you pick a middle deck you will feel less motion from the sea and if you are close to the center of that deck you will feel less vibration from the engines and under workings of the ship.

Sail on a ship that has stabilizers. All of the newest mega liners have stabilizers that help minimize the rolling of the ship back and forth. Consider sailing on a ship that uses the Azipod propulsion system. All of the Carnival Cruise Lines ships have them. This system pushes rather than pulls the ship through the water which reduces motion and creates much less vibration. It also has the added benefit of allowing sharper turns for the ship without causing a lean.

Medications such as Dramamine or Gravol decrease nausea. You don't have to buy these at home as they are available on the ship at the pursers desk where they are usually given out free of charge. Unfortunately these drugs can make some people drowsy which does not make for an exciting cruise experience.

Ear patches work wonders to get rid of sea sickness. The trans dermal scopolamine patch is about the size of a dime and is worn behind the ear. It's effects last about 72 hours. This patch must be applied 8 hours before boarding the ship or you'll be playing catch up later. The trans dermal patch does have side effects ranging from drowsiness to dry mouth.

Even the astronauts from NASA have problems with motion sickness so you are not alone now are you weak and frail. Go on and book your cruise with peace of mind because now you'll be like me and everyone else who is openly addicted to cruising.

Top 5 Most Luxurious Hotels and Resorts

So you want to take the holiday of your life, and to make that even more special you decided that there will be no expenses spared. If you still don't know where to go, here are 5 places that will surely rock your boat !!!

1. Altamer Resorts (Anguilla)
- the 3 exclusive villas in the Altamer Resort are some of the finest in the world. Well, at $80,000 a night (this price was charged in December 2006 through January 2007, and is the most expensive) it really should be that way !

Each villa has its own private swimming pool, hot tub, fitness center, home theater, an office with high speed internet access and wireless connection in the villa.

You also get a personal butler and 8 dedicated staff, including a chef if the meal plan was selected.

There are also 2 tennis courts that double as basketball courts and a volleyball court that are common for the 3 villas. If that won't satisfy you, the pristine beaches of Shoal Bay West will be what you are looking for.

2. Burj Al Arab (Dubai) - if you're visiting the United Arab Emirates this is the only place to stay ! At around $4,000 for a 2 bedroom, 3605 square feet suite, it is not as expensive as other accommodations but it isn't exactly cheap either.

Each suite has an office area complete with laptop, internet access, private fax, printer and copier. Some of the advanced technologies that are at your disposal in a Burj Al Arab: lighting, curtains and air-conditioning at the touch of a button; 42 inch plasma screen, video on demand, DVD and a wide variety of cable channels.

3. Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows (Kohala Coast, Kona) - this AAA 5 Diamond Award Winner is located on the big island's Kohala Coast, Hawaii's sunniest coastline.

The only way you can benefit the full Mauna Lani experience is to take a tour of the island by helicopter: search for active lava flows, lush rain forests, deep valleys and waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, whales, hidden beaches and much more.

The top of the line in accommodation is the 3 bedroom villa that features a master bedroom/bath suite and 2 guest rooms for up to 6 people. It includes daily housekeeping service, spacious private lanai and state of the art kitchen, fully equipped laundry facility and a designated parking stall. The Prime Villa goes at $1,920 per day plus tax with a minimum stay of 3 days.

4. Le Meridien Bora Bora (Bora Bora, French Polynesia) - this tropical paradise can be one of the most romantic escapes for couples in love, especially with Le Meridien's offer: a Premium Overwater Bungalow will set you back a little bit over $1,000 a day.

You might wonder why the bungalows are called "Overwater". Well, that's because they are... over water. Imagine being in a room that has a glass floor (it's a thick pane of glass, don't worry) that gives you a clear view of the clear turquoise water below.

Plus, a ladder even lets you take a swim in the lagoon's warm water !

5. Dromoland Castle Hotel (County Clare, Ireland) - sometimes the beaches and white sands become a little too, dare I say it, boring. A change of scenery, from the beaches to the greenest grass, from the ocean to the mountains, add a little variety and spice to life.

Dromoland Castle is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Blending old world elegance with modern day comforts, it is one of Europe's most desired destinations.

A one bedroom suite will offer its 2 guests all the amenities that one expects from a $1,350 per night service: internet connection, cable TV, audio system, movie service, messaging services, 24 hour room service and a lot more !

These are only 5 out of hundreds of dream locations that you can visit and then say that you had the vacation of a life time. Still, next time you are planning a trip, take another look at this list and consider visiting a place that will forever be with you !!!

Lefkada Island in Greece

Egremni Beach

Egremni Beach

Kathisma Beach

Porto Katsiki Beach

There are many reasons to visit Greece and one of them is certainly Lefkada. One of the most beautiful islands in the Ionian Sea, Lefkada has to show only nature's beauty.It is located in the western part of Greece and it's a province of Eptanisa (this word means "7 islands" in Greek).It has many beautiful and isolated beaches to enjoy and explore. Some of them are Agiofili, Agios Nikitas, Egremni, Kathisma, Mikros Gialos, Mylos (Ag. Nikitas), Mylos (Gyra), Porto Katsiki and Vasiliki.

Bloody Rain

Absolutely know reason for this post other than it is pouring with rain outside and it is very depressing so I thought I would share the love !!!

Just need to keep thinking that some day that rain will turn into whisky !!!

I love the rain, but for more than one reason. There are things you can gain, and things that have no reason. I love the rain because, you could kiss in it and feel the rain splashing down on our faces. All you here is the rain, and the beating of your hearts. You could walk in the rain, and just feel every raindropp hit, like it's washing away your pain !!! Or you could cry in the rain, so no one can see your tears !!!

Beautiful river, down from the sky

Beauty, as the clouds do cry

The sacred bringer of all life

Water does calm all strife

Rain, quencher of the flame

Rain, Rain, I shout they name

Rain Rain, Beautiful rain..............

Good Morning

A gentle rain is falling this morning. It is so refreshing, and much needed. I can imagine the grass, and other plants, with a big smile on their faces, as they soak in the rain. Not so unlike my dog, Villa, when she rolls over for her morning belly rub. I got some sleep and had a good work out this morning, hopefully I am back in the game.

FRIENDS.......

L'amour dans L'amitie

Elle stimule la joie

Elle adoucit la peine

Il n'est rien de meilleur......

que Dieu puisse nous donner

Friendship isn't always easily described. The Eskimos, they say, have a hundred different words for snow. Unfortunately, the English language isn't quite as innovative, though it has vast opportunities to differentiate meaning. Certainly, Love is one of those opportunities. And so, too, is Friendship.

Instead of different words, however, we're stuck with simple adjectives. Close friend. Best friend. Childhood friend. Intimate friend. Trusted friend. Beloved friend. But whether you use adjectives or different words, few could deny the nearly infinite meaning in such a simple word.

Friends are special people. We can't pick our family, and we're sorely limited in the number of them at any rate. Society and mores (and often our own conscience) dictate we select a single mate. But our friends can be as diverse and infinite as the adjectives we choose. Our friends, in a very real sense, reflect the choices we make in life.

A friend is someone who is always there
A friend is someone who will always care
A friend is someone you can call on day or night
Whether days delight, or nights freight.

A friend is someone who may miss seasons passed
A friend is someone who will last, and last, and last
A friend is someone who lasts the years
No matter the difference in careers.

A friend will lie to keep you happy
A friend will tell you the truth when things go crappy
A friend is someone who helps you through the troubles of this earth
And helps you remembers the gifts you were given at birth.

A friend will always be
A friend can always see
A friend will always be a friend to me
I’d like to thank my friends for being friends to me !!!

A friend is someone who is concerned with everything you do.
A friend is someone to call upon during good and bad times.
A friend is someone who understands whatever you do.
A friend is someone who tells you the truth about yourself
A friend is someone who knows what your going through at all times.
A friend is someone who doesnt compete with you.
A friend is someone who is genuinelly happy with you when all goes well.
A friend is someone who tries to cheer you up when all goes wrong.
A friend is an extension of yourself without which, your not complete.

Friendship is
The union of spirits
A marriage of hearts
And the bond thereof virtue

Way To Paradise

My Dream - My Paradise

Infinite horizon

Covered with a multicolor sky

Vibrant by the sunset

Shining over the splendid ocean.

A soft wind

Coming from the seashore

Trembling the trees on the mound

As they start dancing with the wind.

Ocean edging the summer-dry hill

Forming fantastic velvet rocks with its tide

As it hits the sand, making it muddy

By the beach, the water flows on the rock's sill.

My fragrant wooden house on top of the moundIn the melodious walls,

windows are sighting

This wondrous scene down the hill

As I pen my poetry with the sound of the peaceful ocean

WELCOME HOME

HOME

Home is pictures of memories on the wall.
Home is sleeping in my own bed.
Home is waking up to the smell of mom's cooking.
Home is sharing the holidays with family.
Home is playing the piano in the living room.
Home is a warm place to be.
Home is sweet.
Home is the place for me.
Home is filled with love.
Home is blessed from heaven above.
Home is where my heart is.
Home has a strong foundation.
It can weather any storm.
Home is where I belong.
When I go away,
I know I can come back to stay.
Home is a beautiful place.


Home is your comfort space.
Home is where you spend time in.
Home is a place of meeting.
Home is other people's home.
Home is a safe place.
No matter what,
Home is your home.

Home is...
Hugs and laughter;
But not everything,
Is happily ever after.

Home is...
Surrounded with love,
It will never run out,
There is always enough.

Home is...
Shelter from the rain,
Even if it feels like
Everyone is going insane.

Home is...
Memories and sorrows;
But never to forget,
Our possible tomorrows.

Home is...
Pain and tears;
A place we can go,
To face our fears.

Home is...
Daisies and butterflies,
With just the right mixture,
Of the foolish and the wise.

Home is...
Welcoming and warm,
Out in the open,
On a fourty acre farm.

Home To Me ------

You feel like home to me,
Like a comfortable easy chair.
A place where I can be myself,
Where I can go to be free.
You feel like home to me,
Like a warm cozy bed,
On a dark Winter's night,
Protecting me during sleep.
You feel like home to me,
A warm aromatic kitchen
To feed my constant hunger,
Filling me until I'm satisfied.
You feel like home to me,
A place where love grows,
A place I can call mine,
A place where I can grow old.

Home is not where you were born,
Home is not where you have lived most,
Or all of your life.
Home is in your heart,
Home is when you feel that you are,
where you always wanted to be.

Home, sweet home, it is
Finest of luxuries away from it
Tastiest of foodstuff you may have
Longest you stay away from it
The utmost you feel to return to it
Home, sweet home, indeed it is.





Dear Traveller - - Welcome Home, Sweet Home !!!

Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1856, holds a choice position in the musical world having been led by guest conductors such as Arturo Toscanini, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Bruno Walter, Richard Strauss, Victor de Sabata, Sir Thomas Beecham, Kiril Kondrachin, Raphael Kubelik, Leopold Stokowski, Charles Munch, Sir John Barbirolli, and Eugene Jochum. More recently Leonard Bernstein, Eric Kleiber, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Zubin Mehta, Sir Georg Solti and Lorin Maazel have been regular guests.

In January 1999 Marek Janowski was appointed Artistic Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director/Chief Conductor as of July 2000. Past Music Directors have included Louis Fremaux, Paul Paray, Edouard van Remoortel, Igor Markevitch, Lovro von Matacic, Lawrence Foster, and James DePreist. In addition to the concert season the Philharmonic Orchestra also regularly accompanies the Opera and the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Its rich history includes the premieres of ballets of Serge Diaghilev and operas of Berlioz, Puccini, Ravel and Massenet, among others. The Philharmonic Orchestra has always played a significant role in the creation of contemporary symphonic music as well, premiering works by Henri Dutilleux, Marcel Lansowski, Arvo Pärt and Krysztof Penderecki, among others.

Its rich discography is a testimony to its musical diversity. Many of the orchestra's recordings have won recognition with French and international awards. Under the presidency of H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover and with the continued support of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III and the Government, the Philharmonic Orchestra looks forward to a rich and dynamic future as it embarks on a new and exciting artistic adventure.

For further information:
Atrium du Casino de Monte-Carlo
Phone: (+377) 92 16 22 99
Fax: (+377) 92 16 38 37
Web site: www.opmc.mc
E-mail: info@opmc.mc

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo

In 1985, H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover recreated a new company in the Principality, a project initiated by her mother, H.S.H. Princess Grace de Monaco, and became the President of the company, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

Since the first performance of Serge de Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in Monaco in 1911, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo became the first official company of the Principality of Monaco, performing throughout the year at the Opera de Monte-Carlo as well as in the most famous theaters and venues abroad. Determined to keep this ballet company at the highest professional level, and to enrich the repertoire with creations and contemporary works, the President of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo offered the direction to Jean-Christophe Maillot in 1993.

The programs performed by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in Monaco and on tour include Jean-Christophe Maillot's creations as well as a large repertoire including ballets by major choreographers such as Karole Armitage, George Balanchine, Lucinda Childs, Nacho Duato, Willliam Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, John Neumeier, Twyla Tharp... always keeping in mind the aim to reinforce and explore the potential of classic dance vocabulary and technique.

The Ballets de Monte-Carlo will be celebrating
their 20th anniversary throughout the season.

Four mayour productions will be featured in the Principality of Monaco:

Le Songe: Premiere: December 27, 2005 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, choreographed and staged by Jean-Christophe Maillot, performed by the Ballets de Monte-Carlo, set to music by Felix Mendelsohn, Daniel Teruggi and Bertrand Maillot, with the participation of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicolas Brochot, and the Monte-Carlo Opera chorus. As with many of Jean-Christophe Maillot’s creations, Le Songe has brought together an exceptional artistic team: Nicolas Lormeau of the Comédie-Française (who will assist with the staging), Ernest Pignon-Ernest (scenographer), Philippe Guillotel (costume designer) and Dominique Drillot (lighting designer).

- Performances : December 28, 29, 30, 31, 2005 -

An evening of Balanchine-Kylian-Bejart: Premiere: January 3, 2006 at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. As a tribute to great dance masters, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo is reconstructing George Balanchine’s Les quatre temperaments, and will present for the first time « Sinfonietta, » by Jiri Kylian, as well as Maurice Béjart’s Boléro. The company is one of the few companies performing this major work today; Béjart has given the leading role The Melody to the troupe’s étoile Bernice Coppieters.

- Performances : January 4 and 5, 2006 -

Chasse-Croise Two Different Creations in Tandem by Maillot Cherkaoui: Premiere: April 19, 2006 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, invited by the Printemps des Arts Festival, 2006.
Jean-Christophe Maillot, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui: Two choreographers will produce two unique creations in their distinct styles, sharing the musical score as a common denominator, chosen within the music program of the Printemps des Arts (artistic director
Marc Monnet). For both creations the costumes are being designed by Karl Lagerfeld.

- Performances : April 20, 21, 22, 23 April, 2006 -

For more information or reservations:

Les Ballets de Monte-CarloPhone : (+377) 92 16 24 20
Web site: www.balletsdemontecarlo.com
E-mail: bmc@mcn.mc

Monte-Carlo Opera

By the end of the nineteenth century, Charles Garnier was hired to build Monaco's Opera House. The famous architect had gained recognition from his work for the Paris Opera House.
Sarah Bernhard inaugurated the new Salle Garnier in 1879. Between 1893 and 1951, Raoul Gunsbourg directed the Opera and built fame and prestige for Monaco's Opera House. Among the best internationally, Monaco's Opera hosted great voices such as Patti, Tamagno, Melba, Caruso, Chaliapine, Garden, Schipa, Dalla Rizza, Gigli, Lubin, Muzio, Thill, and Pons.

The Opera is also the home of creative work, including, Franck's "Hulda" (1894) and "Ghisele" (1896), Bizet's "Don Procopio" (1906), Massenet's "Cleopatre" (1914) and "Amadis" (1922), or more recently Rendine's "Un Segreto d'importanza" (1992) and Lowell Liebermann's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1996). Chaliapan created the title role in Massenet's Don Quixote in Monaco in 1910.

For further information or reservations:

The Opera House Reservation Desk
Phone : (+377) 92 16 22 99
Fax : (+377) 92 16 38 38 37
Web site : www.opera.mc
E-mail : contact@opera.mc

Casino Gardens and Terraces

Place du Casino

Description
Opposite the casino are magnificent flowerbeds and carefully tended lawns interspersed with ponds in which reeds and water lilies grow. The gardens slope gently upwards in the direction of the shopping street of the town, forming a perspective admired by visitors from all over the world.

The back of the Casino, facing the sea, is bordered by sunny terraces. A striking multicolored geometrical work by Vasarely decorates the roof of the Convention Center and Auditorium.

Monte-Carlo Casino

Place du Casino
MC 98000, Monaco
Tel.: (+377) 92 16 20 00
Fax: (+377) 92 16 38 62
Web site: http://www.casino-monte-carlo.com/

Description
Charles Garnier, the architect of the opera house in Paris, built the Casino in 1878.
The “atrium”, paved in marble, is surrounded by 28 Ionic columns in onyx. It leads into the auditorium of the opera, called the “Salle Garnier”, which is decorated in red and gold, with a profusion of bas-reliefs, frescoes and sculptures. Here, for more than a century, outstanding international performances of opera, ballet and concerts have been staged.
The “gaming rooms” comprise a succession of numerous rooms featuring stained glass windows, admirable decorations and sculptures, allegorical paintings and bronze lamps.


General Information

1. Open daily
2. Persons under 18 not admitted
3. ID obligatory
4. Dress code: Jacket and tie for men
5. Duration of visit: 30 to 40 minutes
6. European Rooms :
   Slot machines : Monday to Friday : after 2:00PM / Saturday and Sunday : after 12:00PM
   Roulette, Trente et Quarante : after 12:00PM
   Rate (per person) : 10€
   
7. Private Rooms :
   European and English Roulette, Trente et Quarante, Chemin de Fer, Black Jack, Craps : From November to May : after 3:00PM / From June to October :- From Monday to Friday after 4:00P - From Saturday to Sunday after 3:00PM
   Double sided table at 5:00PM and 10:30PM
   Punto Banco after 10:00PM
   Rate (per person): 10€
   
8. English Club:
   Black Jack, English Roulette after 10:00PM
   
   
   
   

Tours In & Around Monaco

Monaco and its surroundings offer marvelous landscapes and sea views unique to the South of France. Enjoy a guided, driven tour to secluded gems or indulge in a helicopter tour for beautiful views of Monaco and the Riviera. Alternatively, rent your own car or embark on the Azur Express for a picturesque tour of all the sites in Monaco.

Design & Architecture Tour

Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera House, created on a grand scale. His pièce de résistance in Monaco is the astonishing Grand Casino, with its rococo turrets, green copper cupolas and gold chandeliers. Catch the gorgeous Little Africa floral display in the Casino Gardens. And from the Terrace, you'll get a good view of Victor Vasarely's startling multicolored Hexa Grace. The Terrasses du Soleil, behind the Casino, are a delight for taking the sun – and Le Bar du Soleil, a pleasant place for a mid-morning cappuccino.

Join the glitterati and inspect the Casino. The atrium leading to the Salle Garnier Opera House is paved in marble, with 28 Ionic columns in onyx. Why not lunch - now - at Le Saint Benoît where the seafood is highly recommended, or amidst spectacular views at the one Michelin star-rated Le Vistamar in the Hôtel Hermitage or Le Côté Jardin in the Hôtel de Paris.

And then off to a fantasy, again courtesy of Garnier. It's the National Museum and Collection of Dolls and Automats of Yesteryear housed in a 19th-century villa. Enjoy the automatons like Pierrot and cigar-smoking Bill Cody. See the mechanical dolls come to life. Let it all sink in as you sip a cocktail on the terrace at Le Méridien Beach Plaza.

Restaurants

Monaco has everything from Tex-Mex to Japanese, from sublime dining in the Louis XV to portside cafés. Be sure to try some of the Monégasque specialties like barbagiuan, a delicious tidbit of rice, spinach, leek and cheese, served as an appetizer.

Current favorites for “lite snack” sandwiches are toasted paninis, focaccia, and open faced bruschettas found in the Old Town.

The following list caters to every taste. The prices include tax, service but not drinks. Best values are the lunch menus. Just choose. Bon Appetit !!!

Select type of cuisine
Asian

Bistro

Continental

Exotic Cuisine

Fish & Seafood

Haute Cuisine

Italian

Grill

Monégasque

Pizzeria

Tex-Mex Cuisine

Entertainment

The cultural climate of the Principality developed rapidly in the seventeenth century with the encouragement of Prince Honoré III. Under Prince Pierre of Monaco during the first half of the twentieth century, Monaco was a meeting place for all the greatest artists of the time.

Following this lengthy art patronage tradition, H.S.H. Prince Rainier III includes culture and arts as one of his principal concerns. For over fifty years of His reign, H.S.H. Prince Rainier III has encouraged all forms of arts from music to literature.

Under His auspices, Monaco's Music Academy was founded in 1956. The National Philharmonic Orchestra initiated summer performances in the Palace's Courtyard of Honor. In memory of His Father, Prince Pierre de Monaco, H.S.H. Prince Rainier III instituted the Foundation Prince Pierre, which assigns the Prince Pierre Literary Prize (since 1951), the Musical Composition Prize (since 1960), and the Contemporary Art International Prize (since 1983). His H.S.H. Prince Rainier III created the Directorate of Cultural Affairs in 1966, responsible for coordinating and encouraging all cultural activities of the Principality including the Spring Arts Festival, the Baroque Music Week, and the International Circus Festival.
Under His direction, Monaco's cultural institutions have also gained international prestige. The Little Singers of Monaco went on their first tour around the world in 1973.

The Prince receives support from His family in His interest in the arts. The late Princess Grace was at the origin of many developments, such as The Princess Grace Irish Library. In 1964, the Princess Grace of Monaco Foundation was created to support the performing arts. The Dance Academy Princess Grace, directed by Marika Besobrasova, is an offshoot of this foundation.
H.S.H. the Princess of Hanover reformed the academy in 1985 to launch the Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. The Princess also presides over the Spring Arts Festival.

For a detailed calendar of events, you can visit our page "Calendar of Events". To order the brochure of events for the year 2006, please call the Monaco Government Tourist Office at (800) 753-9696.

Today, Monaco counts several major cultural ambassadors:

The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
The first permanent orchestra established in 1863 came into its own with the opening of the Garnier Palace in 1879. In 1953 it became known as the National Orchestra of the Monte-Carlo Opera, and it was renamed the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1979. Many great conductors of this century, from Richard Strauss to Toscanini and Leonard Berstein to Lorin Maazel, have led the orchestra in concert. The Orchestra's Music Directors have included Paul Paray, Louis Fremaux, Igor Markevitch, Lovro von Matacic, Laurence Foster and James DePreist. Today, the Artistic Director and Conductor in chief of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is Marek Janowski.

Opera of Monte-Carlo
Since its creation in 1879, the Opera of Monte-Carlo has gained international fame, playing a key role in promoting the most beautiful voices to the rest of Europe. The Opera of Monte-Carlo secured a reputation for artistic innovation. Authors such as Bizet, Franck or Massenet wrote some of their works for the Monéguasque Opera. Regularly, the Opera goes on tours to play works of its repertoire.

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
After founding the Academy, which bears her name, Princess Grace wished to revive an old tradition by inviting George Balanchine, Serge Lifar and J.B. Cerrone, a Monégasque who directed the "Harkness Ballet" and founded the "Houston Ballet". Remembering her mother's wishes, H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover created the new Monte-Carlo Ballet, the management of which she first entrusted to Ghislaine Thesmar and Pierre Lacotte. Today Jean-Marc Genestie is responsible for the Administrative Direction and Jean-Christophe Maillot is the Choreographer. With enthusiasm and competence, they are striving together to raise the Company to the highest international level.

The Little Singers of Monaco
These young voices carry on a tradition from the reign of Prince Antoine I in the early eighteenth century, when an ensemble of children's voices sang the liturgies in the Palatine Chapel. In 1973, the Government of the Principality asked the late Philippe Debat, whose son Pierre is the current Chapel Master, to carry out a musical mission in every country of the world with a choir of children's voices only. Prince Rainier III affectionately calls this choir of 26 boys "My Little Singing Ambassadors".

Museums & Attractions

Top Sites

Monte-Carlo Casino (SBM)
Fort Antoine Theater
Louis II Stadium
Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium

Gardens

Casino Gardens & Terraces
Exotic Garden
Observatory Caves
Fontvieille Park
Princess Grace Rose Garden
Japanese Garden
Zoological Terraces

Museums

Exhibition of H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco's Private Collection of Classic Cars
Museum of the Chapel of Visitation
Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collection of the Palace's Historic Archives
Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology
Museum of Stamps and Coins
National Museum: Automatons and Dolls of Yesteryear
Naval Museum
Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium
Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco

Royal & Historic

Condamine Market
Monte-Carlo Opera House
Monte-Carlo Story: The Story of a Dynasty
Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collection of the Palace's Historic Archives
Old Town
Prince's Palace
Place du Palais
Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco

Churches & Religious Sites

Chapel of Mercy
Church of Saint-Charles
Church of Sainte-Devote
Monaco Cathedral
Museum of the Chapel of Visitation

Tourist Train & Aquarium Boats

Azur Express Tourist Train
Aquavision: Boat Trips With Underwater Vision

Galleries

Marlborough Gallery

Other

Café de Paris
Le Sporting Monte-Carlo
Sun Casino

Getting Around

Monaco Buses

Five Regular Routes:1 - Monaco Ville, Monte-Carlo, Saint Roman and return 2 - Monaco Ville, Monte-Carlo, Exotic Garden and return 3 - Railway station, Monte-Carlo, Larvotto beaches and return 4 - Railway station, Fontvieille, Hospital and return6 - Larvotto beaches, Fontvieille and return
Web site: www.cam.mc

Public Elevators

Seven are currently in use :

1- between the Place des Moulins and the beaches
2- between the Princess Grace Hospital Center and the Exotic Garden
3- between the harbor and the Avenue de la Costa
4- between the Place St. Dévote and the area of Monéghetti
5- between the Terraces of the Casino, the Congress Centre Auditorium and the Boulevard Louis II
6- between the Avenue des Citronniers and the Avenue Grande-Bretagne
7- between the highway and the Larvotto Boulevard.

Taxis

Two main taxi stands are in operation round the clock at the Avenue de Monte-Carlo (near the Casino) and the railway station. Four supplementary taxi stands: Place des Moulins, Avenue de la Costa, Fontvieille, Beach Plaza.

Tel.: (+377) 93 50 56 28

Radio Tel.: (+377) 93 15 01 01

Parking Lots

The Chemin des Pêcheurs parking lot, built to serve Monaco-Ville, is located under the Oceanographic Museum; it can hold 55 busses and 750 private cars.

With the permanent development of the new area of Fontvieille, more than 2,700 places for private cars and 180 places for camping cars are also available. The other main car parks are located in the Condamine on the Place St. Dévote, in Monte-Carlo under the Boulingrins Gardens, Avenue Princesse Grace (Larvotto and Portier), Boulevard de Belgique, Avenue St. Charles, Avenue des Spélugues (the Metropole gallery), Boulevard Louis II, Avenue de la Costa and Place des Moulins.

Sample of rates

1 hour or less: Free
More than 1 hour and up to 2 hours: 2,80 Euros
3 hours: 3,70 E
4 hours: 4,50 E
5 hours: 5,20 E
6 hours: 5,90 E
7 hours: 6,50 E
8 hours: 7,10 E
9 hours: 7,70 E
10 hours: 8,80 E

After 7:00PM till 8:00AM the rate is 80 cents per hour.
For more parking information, please call: (+377) 93 15 88 27

Azur Express Tourist Train

These little trains in the national Monegasque colors make daily journeys with commentary in English, Italian, German and French. During the trip you will discover the Monaco Port, Monte-Carlo and its Palaces, the famous Casino and its gardens, before returning to the Old Town with its City Hall and finally the magnificent Prince’s Palace.

Tel.: (+377) 92 05 64 38
Fax: (+377) 92 05 64 38

Hotels

4 STAR DELUXE HOTELS
Hôtel de Paris
Hôtel Hermitage
Fairmont Monte Carlo
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo
Port Palace

4 STAR HOTELS
Hôtel Mirabeau
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort new

Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel
Le Méridien Beach Plaza

3 STAR DELUXE HOTELS
Columbus Monaco

3 STAR HOTELS
Hôtel Alexandra
Hôtel Ambassador Monaco

Hôtel Balmoral
Hôtel Miramar

Tulip Inn Monaco Terminus

2 STAR HOTELS
Hôtel de France
Hôtel Helvetia
Hôtel Le Versailles

VILLA RENTALS & OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS

Villa La Vigie

Le Castel Residence

Cruises

Cruising the Mediterranean – visit the storybook destination of Monaco, at once romantic and captivating, it boasts an unparalleled tradition of luxury and refinement.

Cruise Monaco and experience the Principality in all its glory. Monaco’s treasures are easily discovered. Historic attractions, world-class cultural events, endless entertainment, shopping, and gourmet dining are all part of the ultimate vacation experience, and just steps from Port Hercule.

Making the most of your cruise
Discover the exceptional benefits of a Classic Le Club Diamant Rouge membership* and enjoy a helicopter transfer to or from Nice, complimentary entrance to museums and the famed Casino de Monte-Carlo, VIP treatment at selected boutiques and restaurants, and much more…. Our Prelude membership is perfect for those cruise passengers visiting for the day.

Getting There

By Airplane
The Nice Côte d’Azur Int’l Airport (www.nice.aeroport.fr/), 15 miles from Monaco, links the Principality with all the major cities of the world in the shortest possible time.



Preferred Air Line
SWISS International Air Lines is the preferred air carrier from North America to Monaco (Nice Int’l Airport). With service from eight North American gateways, it is easier than ever to visit the Principality. For information and reservations, please call 1-877-FLY-SWISS or visit http://www.swiss.com/. SWISS is a partner in the American Airlines AAdvantage program



By Helicopter
Daily flights depart every 20 minutes between Nice Côte d’Azur Int’l Airport and the Principality of Monaco. The heliport's mini-van shuttle links the heliport to the hotels in the Principality. For further information or to make a reservation, visit the website http://www.heliairmonaco.com/, call (+377) 92 05 00 50 or fax (+377) 92 05 00 51.
Flight time: approximately 7 minutes
Average rate: 75 € one-way, per person



By Bus
Regular daily connections by highway: Departure from terminal 1 and 2 every hour, from 9:00AM to 9:00PM.
Journey time: approximately 45 minutes
Fare is 13 € for one-way, 21.5 € roundtrip

Stops in Monaco
Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel
Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hôtel
Hôtel Mirabeau
Monte Carlo Grand Hotel
Monaco Tourism Office
Pont Sainte-Devote
Moneghetti
For further information, visit the website Rapide Côte d'Azur (www.rca.tm.fr/) or contact them by phone at (+33) 4 97 00 97 00


By Taxi
Journey time: approximately 35 minutes
Average rate: 70 €



By Train
All international trains stop at Monaco/Monte-Carlo Station located at Avenue Prince Pierre: IC-The "Ligure" (Marseille-Milan);
The "Train Bleu" (Paris-Ventimiglia);
The "T.G.V." (Paris-Nice-Monaco).
The "Metrazur" offers regular connections to Saint-Raphael-Ventimiglia in summer.
For information on Trains in Europe, dial 1-800-4-EURAIL or visit "Europe on Rail"'s website at http://www.europeonrail.com/. You can also visit the website of French Railway Company SNCF at http://www.sncf.com/ (select France and type in "Monaco" when selecting the city).

By Car
The Principality is linked to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and even Great Britain by the network of European highways (coming from Italy, take the "Monaco-Roquebrune" exit; from France, take the "56 Monaco" exit).
In addition, between Nice and Monaco, three major roads - called "Basse", "Moyenne", and "Grande" Corniche respectively - are particularly attractive scenic routes for tourists. To plan your trip and get details about your itinerary, visit the ITI website at www.maporama.com.

By Cruise
Monaco cotinuous to be a glamorous port of call for those visiting Europe by Sea. Arriving at the newly built Port Hercule major attractions are a mere 15 minutes away by bus. Local Monaco buses run frequently from the Port Hercule to downtown Monte Carlo, and to Old Town with the Princely Palace and Oceanographic Museum (elevators from the Fort Antoine areas also allows for access to Old Town). The Exotic Gardens and Fontvieille District are 20 minutes by bus.

Weather

Situated in the heart of Mediterranean Europe, the Principality of Monaco enjoys a particularly mild climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine per year. In winter, temperatures average between 48 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit with sunny days and cool nights. In the springtime, "Le Mistral" wind creates crystal clear skies with temperatures in the 50s-60s. Most summers are in the 80s with hot spells for a week or so in July and August. Sea breezes cool down the evenings. One of the loveliest times to be in Monaco is Fall. With temperatures in the 60s to 70s, people are still sun tanning on the beach until mid-October.

Monégasque Christmas

Monaco offers special cultural events and gala dinners throughout the Principality on Christmas Eve and on New Year’s Eve, including parades, concerts and activities for children. Monaco's hotels and restaurants offer special packages. On New Year's Eve at the stroke of midnight, revelers convene in the magnificent Casino Square to ring in the New Year.

In Monaco, Christmas Eve was the occasion when all the members of a family would gather at their home to perform, as a preliminary act to the evening meal, the rite of the olive branch. Before sitting down, the youngest of the guests, or the oldest, soaked an olive branch in a glass of old wine. He approached the fireplace where a great fire of pine and laurel branches burned and with his little branch traced the sign of the Cross while pronouncing a few words on the virtues of the olive tree, a source of all kinds of good things. After this, everybody in turn would wet his lips in the glass of wine serving as an aperitif.

Dinner traditionally consists of an enormous "brandamincium", a Monégasque dish of salt cod pounded with garlic, oil and cream, surrounded by "cardu", cardoon in white sauce; "barba-giuan", literally "Uncle John", stuffed fritters and "fougasses" flat crunchy biscuits sprinkled with sugared aniseed colored red and white, flavored with several drops of rum and orange-flower water.

On the table covered with a splendid cloth lay a round loaf of bread "u pan de Natale" (the Christmas loaf) on which four walnuts formed a Cross surrounded by several olive twigs.

During Christmastime today in Monaco, one can still find "barba-giuan", "fougasses" and "u pan de Natale" at some of the bakeries in the Principality. In addition, many Monégasques enjoy Midnight Mass at the Cathedrale.

Monégasque National Holiday

Faithful to a tradition which goes back to 1857, the Monégasque National Holiday is now celebrated on November 19th (Saint Rainier"s Day), the Saint Day of H.S.H. Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Previously, the Festival of Saint Dévote was observed as the National Holiday.

Typical National Day festivities include: a Thanksgiving Mass with a program of choice music, the conferring of honors and decorations at the Palace, a gala evening at the Opera House, treats for children and elderly people and a grand evening firework display over the harbor which all contribute to make this day of gaiety the great Festival of the Monégasque people.

Numerous traditions, which, though lapsed today but perhaps only temporarily forgotten, bore witness right up to the last century to both the religious spirit and joy of living of the Monégasques.

The Traditions of Saint Blaise, very popular among country people: the peasants came in procession, often on the backs of donkeys, from the plain of the Condamine or its neighboring hills, to have the seeds of their future crops blessed together with several handfuls of figs; these latter had the power of curing tonsillitis and seasonal colds.

The Tradition of the "Mays" with, from the first to the last of this month marking the height of Spring, dances ("farandoles") round a Maypole, decorated with flowers and red and white ribbons - the Monégasque colors - set up in the very center of the Palace Square.

The Tradition of the "Pignata" Ball, organized on the first Sunday of Lent, which takes its name from the cooking pot which members of the crowd, their eyes blindfolded, tried to break at intervals with heavy blows of their sticks.

The Tradition of the "Ciaraviyù" (the Monégasque form of the French word "charivari" meaning "racket") that consisted of providing the most unharmonious serenade possible, continuing all night long, under the windows of newlyweds when they formed a far too disparate couple.

Plus many others which the National Committee of Monégasque Traditions, established in 1924, is trying to revive. It has already revived the tradition of Saint Nicolas, the patron saint of good children, which takes place on December 8.

Saint Roman

After Saint Dévote, Saint Roman is the most popular and most venerated saint in the Principality.

The veneration by the Monégasques of this Roman legionary, who suffered martyrdom on August 9, 258 in the reign of the Emperor Valerian, goes back to the sixteenth century when a relic of Saint Roman was entrusted to the Terrazzani family who had a chapel built in which to lay it.

For several centuries, the Feast of Saint Roman took place at the hamlet of les Moulins ("the Mills") near the old chapel.

Around 1880, the festivities moved to Monaco-Ville. Today, with the support of the Committee of the Feasts of Saint Roman, people still dance and enjoy cool drinks in the month of August under the foliage of the hundred-year-old trees of the Saint Martin gardens.

Saint John

On the eve of Saint John's day, June 23rd, when the gardens of Monaco are ablaze under the setting sun, Monégasques mindful of the customs of their country assemble on the Palace Square.

There are folk groups, surrounding the Palladienne, Monaco's own folk group, a dynamic gathering of young people wearing the costumes of the past, singing, dancing and playing the mandolin charmingly. Groups come from France, Italy and Spain to take part in the Monégasques' Saint John festival.

In the Palace chapel, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist himself, the Prince's Family attend a service which is also attended by several privileged people such as the Presidents of the Tradition Associations, together with their flags.

At the end of this ceremony, two footmen of the Sovereign' s Household, each dressed in fine livery and carrying a burning torch, set alight a bonfire in the center of the Square. The people in the crowd applaud with all their hearts. Airs of bygone times accompany farandoles around the flames over which the boldest leap with a single bound.

On June 24, Saint John's Day, the Feast moves from Monaco-Ville to Monte-Carlo. A procession forms up on the Place des Moulins (Mill Square) where the old olive presses used to operate.

The folk groups form a guard of honor around "Little Saint John" and his lamb. The procession, accompanied by music of its own making reaches the Church of Saint Charles in the parish of Monte-Carlo.

After a religious service, the procession returns to the Place des Moulins. A bonfire is set up, the Monégasque national anthem is played and then, the popular and religious feast combined, the great ball of Saint John commences in the open air and continues until late at night.

Holy Week Processions

The origin of the religious traditions of Holy Week can be traced back to the time of the Crusades, when survivors of these distant expeditions to the Holy Land introduced the Christians of the West to the rites of their brothers of the East. Accounts of the first Good Friday Processions can be found in Monaco from the thirteenth century. This ceremony, however, did not take on its full significance until the foundation by Prince Honoré II in 1639 of the Venerable Brotherhood of the Black Penitents of Mercy.

Since that time, this Brotherhood, whose members are Monégasques of all ages and conditions, brought together in the spirit of serene piety and disinterested love of one's neighbors, organizes each year on the evening of Good Friday, the Procession of the Dead Christ, a traveling evocation complete with all the characters, real or imaginary, of the main Stations of the Cross.

Carnival

The tradition of the carnival in Monaco most likely dates back to the fifteenth century. The carnival, the period between the Sunday of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, was the opportunity for people to enjoy themselves before the long and austere period of Lent.

Young people would disguise themselves as best they could in old clothes. They would form processions, exchangedbawdy cat calls and, holding a large piece of cloth by the corners, throw up into the air an ungainly dummy figure stuffed with straw and rags.

Fights with projectiles, which were often far from harmless - rotten eggs, chickpeas, gravel, oranges and lemons - enlivened the passing of the procession, which usually finished with the burning of the dummy amid general merriment. After this, weather permitting, there was dancing at the corner of the streets or in the fields to the shrill sound of makeshift instruments.

The tradition of the Carnival has been revived over the last thirty years or so with "Sciaratù". Organized by the Roca-Club, this comic procession with its floats, disguises, enormous dummy heads, fights with confetti and dancing in the open air, which rounds off the evening, takes place in the height of summer to the delight of tourists in search of local color.

Saint Dévote

Once upon a time ... right at the beginning of the 4th century ... there was, on the Island of Corsica, then a Roman province, a cruel governor who persecuted Christians. It was under these circumstances that Dévote, who had vowed her life to the service of God, was arrested, imprisoned and tortured. She died without denying her faith and her martyred corpse was placed by pious hands in a boat leaving for Africa where she would find, they believed, Christian burial.

But in the very early hours of the crossing, a storm arose. And from the mouth of Saint Dévote a dove made its appearance. The storm then abated. The dove guided the boat right up to the coast of Monaco where it ran aground at the entrance to the little valley of the Gaumates ... on a bush bearing early blossoms.

The body of Dévote was piously received by the small Christian community, which lived in the neighborhood. It is on this day, the sixth of the calends of February - for us, January 27th of the year 312 of our era, that Saint Dévote took Monaco and its inhabitants under her protection. A rustic oratory marked the place of her tomb. The faithful residents and sailors passing through Monaco went there in greater and greater numbers to venerate the relics of the Saint ... and the first miracles took place.

It was then that an evil idea took possession in the mind of an unscrupulous man who, in the dead of night, stole the relics of the Saint with the intention of taking them beyond the seas and selling their powers.

The intended sacrilege was cut short as Providence was watching. A group of fishermen witnessed the robbery and with a few strokes of their oars, made much more powerful by their anger, overtook the thief and his precious plunder. Brought back on to the beach, the thief's boat was burnt as an expiatory sacrifice. During the sieges, which Monaco underwent in the sixteenth century, the Italian Wars and the Wars of Religion, the relics of the Saint were exposed on the ramparts, inspiring the defenders and spreading terror among the besiegers.

That heroic age has now passed away. However, the cult of Saint Dévote still remains strong in the Principality.

Positive proof of this can be seen by attending the ceremonies and events which take place, as soon as night falls, in and around the St. Dévote Church, which was constructed during the reign of Prince Charles III on the site of the original oratory.

Every year on this date, there is a torchlight procession, a religious ceremony and blessing followed by the setting on fire of a boat on a pyre decorated with olive, pine and laurel branches; a picturesque symbolic copy of the boat which the Monégasques burnt in the past to efface all trace of an unpardonable crime ! The evening finishes with a firework display over the Monaco harbor.

The life of Saint Dévote was superbly sung by the Monégasque poet Louis Notari (1879-1961). His poem "The Legend of Saint Dévote" was the starting-point, now more than half a century ago, of a sort of rebirth of the Monégasque tongue. This dialect, with its full-flavored intonations and its amazingly rich vocabulary, has since then been the subject of university theses both in France and elsewhere. It is included in the syllabus of the various schools of the Principality.

Traditions

Religious and civil traditions have been upheld for centuries in the Principality of Monaco. They are sometimes linked; rites and ceremonies being accompanied by popular festivities, but the former are more firmly anchored in the collective memory of Monégasques than the latter. They are an integral and exclusive part of the social, cultural and moral heritage of the Principality.

• Saint Devote (January 27)
• Carnival (February/March)
• Holy Week Processions (March/April)
• Saint John's Day (June 24)
• Saint Roman (August 9)
• Monégasque National Holiday (November 19)
• Monégasque Christmas (December 25)

The Grimaldi Family

In 1997, the Principality of Monaco celebrated the 700 year reign of the Grimaldi dynasty. It all began on January 8, 1297 when the Guelf François Grimaldi dressed as a Franciscan monk, seized the fortress protecting the famous rock of Monaco and the port of Hercules.

Surmounting the trials and tribulations of history and throughout the dark periods of foreign domination, the Principality has managed to affirm its identity and preserve its independence throughout the centuries due to the wise guidance of its Princes.

The Grimaldi dynasty has bequeathed Lords and then Princes to the Principality, illustrious in their many domains, who wrote the