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Friday Confessions

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December Daily Foundation Pages

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Visitors to Frankfurt am Main, not to be confused with Frankfurt (Oder) a small city in northeastern Germany, will find its location ideal. Situated on both sides of the Main River, this hilly region is totally surrounded by rich forest; settlement in the area goes back to 1st Century Roman times.

Significantly, Charles I held a royal court in Frankfurt in the 800’s. During the Middle Ages, kings of the Holy Roman Empire were elected here, and, later on, emperors were crowned in Frankfurt. In the mid-1800’s, Germany’s new parliament first met here. Consequently, Frankfurt has been at the forefront of German and European change.

Currently, Frankfurt is at the heart of economic growth for the region. The European Central Bank, a number of major German banks, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange together have made this city a major financial center of the European Union. Many international companies call Frankfurt their home away from home.

Frankfurt has traditionally been known as a marketplace for meeting and exchanging goods. More than fifty trade fairs and exhibitions are still held in Frankfurt yearly. Most notably, the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid-October and the International Automobile Exhibition in September.

Frankfurt offers travelers varying means of transportation in, out of, and around the city. The Autobahn converges at the city. The Frankfurt Airport is considered one of Europe’s busiest. A train station is located at the airport as well, making intercity travel quite convenient. Within the city, public transportation includes buses, above ground trams and the S-Bahn and U-Bahn underground train lines. Additionally, bridges in Frankfurt connect the banks of the Main River. Most notably, the Eiserner Steg (Iron Bridge) has been open to walking traffic since 1869.

One of Frankfurt’s cultural attractions, the Museumsufer (Museum Embankment) contains a varying array of museums, located along the Main, with themes ranging from history, to art and architecture. An end of the summer cultural festival, Museumsuferfest, attracts over three million visitors every year to this area.

Numerous historical attractions entice visitors. The Romerberg area of old downtown was a series of houses that were acquired in the 14th Century from a wealthy merchant. The main house is the site of the city’s first town hall. The area was rebuilt to original specifications after the Second World War.

Saint Bartholomeus’ Cathedral is a gothic structure built during the 14th and 15th Centuries. It’s known as the main church of Frankfurt. In 1867, the cathedral was destroyed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt.

Saint Paul’s Church was established in 1789. Germany’s first parliament met here in 1848. The interior of the church was partially destroyed during the war, but was built up again with modern fixtures.

Visitors can also experience the Frankfurt Opera, site-see at the Saalburg, an old Roman fort, and become enlightened by activity at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University. Named after the celebrated writer and poet born in Frankfurt in 1749.

Frankfurt’s extensive history is preserved, but the city has been renewed in order to meet present-day needs. The ancient city’s marketplaces where trade and commerce took place have been updated. Frankfurt now promotes economic stability for the entire region. The city’s many skyscrapers reflect this while postulating the direction of Frankfurt’s further growth.

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If the hotel website does not have a better deal, call them and tell them the rate you found online and they will either match the rate, beat the rate, or match and give you an upgrade or special amenities like spa passes, meal vouchers, etc. Start a list of what each property offers, DO NOT BOOK ANYTHING YET! Wait until you have all of your information (research) and then make an informed decision on your home away from home. This is an important decision and should not be made quickly or without doing your research. A good or bad hotel experience can make or break your vacation that you have waited and worked for, believe me!

Another bit of research you can do before booking is to check out review of hotels online and see what people are saying about the property. I am hesitant to give this bit of advice because some of these reviews can be a bit skewed and you must keep this in mind when reading them. My idea of a moderate or superior property may be totally different than someone else’s. If you normally stay at the Lah Tee Dah Hotel and book something where the housekeeping staff does not come in every evening to lay out your slippers and fluff your pillow before bed, you might give a very nice property a bad review because it is not what you expected.

However, if you normally stay at the Roach Motel and stayed at this very same property, you would think it was the nicest, most upscale property in the world! I am exaggerating here, but hopefully you understand the point I am making. When you are reading reviews, take them with a grain of salt. If there are 80% good reviews, chances are, this is a decent property. If 20 different people are talking about bed bugs and dirty sheets, keep looking!

Another step I take in my researching process is to input the address of the hotel’s I am looking at into one of the internet map tools. Look to see where exactly you are going to be sleeping. Near the beach and on the beach are two different things. Downtown Seattle is totally different than an airport property in Seattle. Las Vegas downtown, Las Vegas strip and Las Vegas off strip properties are three totally different animals. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

Once you have finished your research and have found a property that you are happy with, book your airfare first (to make sure the deal you found is still available), then book your hotel. Make sure you understand your hotel’s cancellation, check-in, and check-out policies. If you are flying, go ahead and leave a credit card number to guarantee late check-in. You don’t want to have a delayed flight and go to check in to your hotel and find out that you lost your room because you didn’t arrive before 6:00 pm.

If you are not planning to rent a car, find out about hotel shuttle from the airport. I will pay a little extra for a property that offers a shuttle if it saves me $100.00 in cab fare when I arrive and depart. Know how the hotel works their shuttle system. Do you call from a courtesy phone upon arrival or are they waiting outside? Do they want you to take a cab that they will reimburse your for? Once again, do your research!

If you are planning for an early morning flight, ask the hotel if they are able to hold your luggage until check in. You don’t want to have to drag your luggage around for 6 hours while you wait for 3:00 check-in. This is research you do before you ever leave home, not when you arrive. If you leave your luggage with bell staff, remember to tip them $1-$2 per bag. These guys work hard for peanuts most of the time and rely heavily on tips. The peace of mind and convenience it gives you while you are free to explore your destination without luggage in tow is certainly worth the extra cash.

With airfare booked and hotel reserved you are now free to start on researching the “fun stuff” you will do on your vacation, meals and attractions, which I will cover in my next article. Start packing!

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Seeing all the typical New York City sights but by limo adds extra elements to your New York City experience. It adds class, sophistication, and comfort. But what shall you see? Here are just some of the sights you can visit and explore while you get around the city via limousine.

The Empire State Building is the ultimate New York City destination. Once the tallest building in the world, the building’s construction was completed in 1931. The building was the tallest until 1970. This building is 102 stories high and is designed in the style of art deco. Named one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the American Society of Civil Engineers, many of the spaces in the building were originally not rented out. Now, the building is filled to the brim with business offices and has observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors.

When sightseeing in a limo, it is absolutely necessary to see the sights along Broadway Avenue. More commonly known as simply Broadway, the most famous attractions along this route are the Broadway theatres. Some of the world’s best plays and musicals originate in the theatres that reside in this theatre district.

Macy’s Department store, Times Square (named for the New York Times’ former offices that were headquartered there), Greenwich Village, and Central Park can all be found along the path of Broadway, as well.

Central Park, open since 1859, is a beautiful place to explore while visiting in a limo. You can explore the park by either walking some trails or taking a carriage ride, or exploring it in the limo. But just make sure to do this before seven in the evening because automobile traffic is not allowed on the six miles of drives circling the park after that time.

Greenwich Village was once the center of bohemians, artists and their lifestyles. The rent there is now too expensive for the same crowd to currently reside. The Village is now inhabited by many celebrities and many artists that have already been established. A drive through this area will expose you to beautiful old houses, buildings, off-Broadway theatre troupes, many cute designer shops, smaller parks, and a sprinkling of some of the best universities in New York City.

The major intersection in New York City, Times Square, is second only Tokyo for its lighted advertising. Site of the now famous New Year’s Eve ball drop, Times Square is a sight to be seen if only for the visual stimulation it provides.

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• Chichen Itza

The most famous of the historic sites in the Cancun area of Mexico, Chichen Itza is a restored Mayan city, and contains a huge, spectacular temple among other attractions. This site is also home to the largest known Mayan ball court, and tours are given daily throughout the site or you can explore on your own. It is a day-long trip, as it is about 200 km from Cancun, but it is well worth the drive. You can either rent a car or take a bus. In fact, many hotels in the Cancun area offer guided bus tours to Chichen Itza. If you’re going to tour the site on your own, get there early to avoid the tour bus crowds.

• Coba Ruins

Also a famous ancient Mayan city, the Coba Ruins is the oldest of the Mayan sites in this area. This area is extremely remote, and only a few of the structures were uncovered and restored, leaving almost all of the six thousand buildings still covered by jungle. Here, you can see Mayan stone roads, as well as the tallest pyramid in the vicinity of Cancun. The Coba Ruins are also a bit of a drive from Cancun, but again, many Cancun hotels run tours to this destination via free or low-cost buses.

• Tulum Ruins

If you want to see some Mayan ruins without sacrificing an entire day to a tour, check out the Tulum Ruins, which are closer to Cancun. This location is unique because it is built along the coast, making the structures there almost lighthouse-like. A large wall surrounds the city, and the only way to explore inside is through one of the original tunnels. Be forewarned, however, that this historical spot is extremely popular for tourists and often quite crowded.

• La Destileria

One of the most traditional activities in Mexico is the making of tequila. La Destileria isn’t exactly a historic site like the ancient ruins listed above, but at this museum and restaurant you can explore the history of this liquor. Guided tours will teach you how tequila is made, and at the end you get to try samples of the tequila that they make right there at the restaurant.

• Xcaret

If you are traveling with people who are not as interested in seeing historical sites, you can consider a trip to Xcaret. This water park and activity center was once a place of Mayan ceremonies, and they have built a replica of a Mayan city to showcase the ancient culture. You will also be able to snorkel in the waterfalls, swim with the dolphins, and explore the environmental center in Xcaret. Don’t forget to stick around to watch descendants of the Mayans perform customary dances and musical shows.

• Mercado Coral Negro

Before you leave Cancun, you should also make plans to stop at one of the traditional Mexican markets. Mercado Coral Negro is a great choice. Like the tequila museum, this site in and of itself isn’t a place of ancient history, but here you can see (and buy) traditional craft items like embroidered clothing, hats, and decorative pieces. You can also find traditional Mayan food at these markets. Of course, there are the run-of-the-mill “Cancun” T-shirts for tourists as well, but this shopping opportunity is great for those wanting some historically significant items to take home without spending a fortune.

If you are interested in more great historical Cancun sites, your best bet is to ask the customer service representatives at your hotel for their opinions on local sites. You can also speak with taxi cab drivers and tour guides – providing they speak English or you speak Spanish! The best way to find historical spots off the beaten path is to talk to those who live and work in Cancun all year-round.

Cancun, and all of Mexico, is full of history. It is a wonderful place to experience modern beaches, water sports, and nightlife. While that part of Cancun can be great fun, make sure that you spend a bit of time exploring Cancun’s ancient ruins and other historical activities. You won’t be sorry!

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North Wildwood (“Anglesea”)

North Wildwood, or “Anglesea,” is an historic coastal section of the Wildwoods. Angelsea is rich with Wildwood history, being a part of the New Jersey Coastal Historical Trail as well as home of the Hereferd Inlet Lighthouse. This neighborhood offers the fully gamut of restaurants, beaches, and summer activities. Anglesea is also proud to host the yearly Anglesea Blues Festival as well as the largest Irish Festival on the East Coast.

Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach is the southernmost area of the Wildwoods. Being the most recently developed section of the Wildwood area, the properties at Diamond Beach offer unparalleled comfort in a peaceful, spacious, and clean atmosphere. The Diamond Beach area features a pristine white sand beach for visitor enjoyment.

West Wildwood

West Wildwood is located alongside the inland waterway, a complex spread of rivers extending in from the coast. West Wildwood offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and local events. Activities such as waterskiing, boating, and even whale watching are available in this Western neck of the Wildwoods.

Wildwood

Wildwood’s nearly two-mile boardwalk has been a popular attraction for over half a decade. Hugging the boardwalk are many dozens of attractions—from roller coasters to restaurants—right there in the sea breeze. This is central section of the Wildwoods, hosting a vast array of restaurants and attractions. Vacationing in Wildwood, you will be right in the middle of the action.

Wildwood Crest

Wildwood Crest is a historic, old-time beach town. In this nearly alcohol-free neighborhood, families can find a relaxing spot for the simple pleasures of fishing, swimming, eating, and everything else Americans have come to love about a classic beach vacation.

The Wildwoods are virtually brimming with vacation possibilities. With this great variety of atmospheres and attractions, you’re bound to find the beach vacation that’s right for you!

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South eastern Tuscany meets its smaller neighbour Umbria, on Umbria’s north eastern border. The border area of Tuscany and Umbria in Italy is a wonderful place to stay as the visitor is able to visit the many cities and towns of the two regions while staying in one of the most picturesque areas the world has to offer and enjoying one of its greatest cuisines. The area is largely rural, the main crops are sunflowers, maize, olives, vines and tobacco which is being phased out. Modernity has been slow to reach this area and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, many visitors feel as if they had stepped back in time 30 or 40 years. Staying in this area you are within 90% of UNESCOs world art treasures: Rome and Florence are within two hours drive and one must not forget the important art works of nearer towns such as Arezzo, Siena, Perugia and Assisi. Apart from their art treasures these towns are places everyone enjoys visiting. All have their own architectural delights and meandering lanes and interesting shops and restaurants. Also worth visiting are the Tuscan towns of ; Cortona and Sansepolcro and the Umbrian towns of Gubbio,Citta di Castello, Todi and Orvieto. Lovers of ceramics will also want to visit Deruta which produces some of the finest majolica.

Wine lovers are also in for a treat as many great wines are found in this area. Although Chianti is not strictly on the Tuscany Umbria border it is only a short drive. The brunellos of Montalcino and Vino Nobile of Montepulciano are found in this area.

There is a wide choice of accommodation available for those wishing to come to this area of Italy. “Agriturismi” offering either self-catering apartments or B&B type accommodation have sprung up everywhere. A popular choice for the visitor to this area of Tuscany and Umbria is to rent a self-catering villa, farmhouse or apartment through a rental agency. With a rental agency one can be sure that the house or apartment has been properly scrutinised and is priced fairly to reflect its quality, situation and accessibility. Farmhouses, villas and apartments with or without swimming pools are all available. If one wishes to stay in a country property in this area car hire is almost essential. Public transport in the rural areas of Tuscany and Umbria although reliable, is sparse. Most villages have a bus service once a day, relying upon this creates a lack of flexibility. Many of the farmhouses and villas for holiday rental are on hillsides a good walk from a main road. Often vacation rental houses in Tuscany and Umbria are reached along gravel roads or “strade bianche” . City inhabitants are often alarmed at these gravel roads but after the initial drive along them the nerves are soon overcome.
Please visit www.tuscanyumbria.com to find a rental property for your holiday in the Tuscany or Umbria regions of Italy.

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It is best known as the town where Mahatma Gandhi spent the early years of his life when his father was a Diwan or Prime Minister to the king of Saurashtra. Today Rajkot is a city vibrant with business activities and one of the major cities of Gujarat.

Places to see in Rajkot :

Kaba Gandhi No Delo
Kaba Gandhi No Delo is the house where Mahatma Gandhi grew up. It now holds a permanent exhibition of Gandhian items. It is within the old city on Ghee Kanta Road.

Race Course
Race course has various sports facilities like Olympic standard Indoor Stadium, International quality Cricket ground, Football, Hockey & Volleyball grounds, Gym and swimming pool etc. Because of all these attractions, Race Course is the most common place to be visited by the “Rajkotians”. One very interesting fact about Race Course is that it provides an extremely large sitting arrangement of cement benches embedded with the outer border of the ground throughout its periphery, which is rarely seen in any other cities.

Watson Museum and Library
Located in the Jubilee Gardens, the Watson Museum and Library is a memorial dedicated to Colonel James Watson, who was a political agent of Saurashtra from 1886-89. Two imperial lions flank the entrance of the museum. Among the exhibits are copies of artifacts from Mohenjodaro, 13th-century carvings, temple statues, natural history exhibits, and dioramas of local tribal costumes and housing styles.

Alfred School/Mohandas Gandhi Vidyalaya
When Gandhiji’s father shifted to Rajkot as Diwan of the local ruler, the young Gandhi was sent to Alfred School in the town, now known as Mohandas Gandhi Vidyalaya. The famous incident of Gandhi not copying the spelling of “kettle”, despite his class teacher repeatedly prompting him to do so during the visit of a school inspector, took place here.

Excursions of Rajkot
Five kilometers from Rajkot, is a perfect picnic spot known as Lal Pari Lake and Randerda. The Naulakha Darbagandh Palace famous for its unique architecture is situated forty kilometers from the city in Gondal. About fifty kilometers from the city is the Wankaner palace, which has been turned into a hotel now. Its roman-gothic architecture is very appealing and beautiful. Two-hundred-and-fifty kilometers from the city are Ahmedabad, the capital of the state of Gujarat. 70 KMS from the city, is Jetpur where textile traders from all over the world come into this bustling town for its quality and rates.

Shopping in Rajkot
Rajkot is not yet a major metropolis, but it is has a number of quality malls, where you get all the popular brands. The city has many bazaars exclusively for silverwares and textiles, which are offered at fairly reasonable prices. Make sure to check out the Bandhani sarees, which are made in the city, and are very striking.

Climate
The climate of Rajkot is generally pleasant. The summer season extends from March to June with daytime temperature reaching a high of around 42°C. The monsoons are from July to September. Winter season sets in during October and extends until February. In association with cyclonic storms or depressions in the Arabian Sea in the post-monsoon months, and to a lesser extent in May and June, Rajkot experiences strong winds and heavy rain.

Thunderstorms occur in June and July. In the cold season occasional fog occurs. The summer temperature ranges from 24°C to 42°C and winter temperature ranges from 10°C to 24°C. The average annual rainfall is around 276 mm.

How to get there:

By Air
Indian Airlines connects Rajkot with Bombay and Vayudoot connects Rajkot with Bombay and Kandla. East West Airlines also operate flight from Bombay-Rajkot.

By Rail
Rajkot is a junction on the Western Railway broad gauge line.

By Road
Rajkot to : Bombay 798 km, Ahmedabad 218 km, Junagadh 98 km, Jamnagar 86 km, Dwarka 238 km, Porbandar 178 km, Bhavnagar 165 km, Sasangir 155 km. Bus connect Rajkot to all major cities of state.

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London’s history is so rich and so vast, that the highest to the lowest level of history fan will be interested. While London acknowledges its first century Roman founding, it honors Boadicea with a statue near Parliament. Boadicea was the British queen who raised an army and fought back the Romans to London, where she burned the city. Those who find such violent female figures interesting will enjoy museums like Madame Tussauds, a very lifelike wax museum, and the London Dungeon, where the horrors and terrors of medieval London come to life, including a selection of Britain’s most infamous women throughout history. The Tower of London houses the crown jewels as well as tales of mysterious prisons for important prisoners. Fusing history and art, the National Portrait Gallery depicts portraits of Britain’s most famous people throughout the centuries. The British Museum has one of the largest and best archeological collections of worldwide artifacts, including the Rosetta stone and Lindow Man. Fortunately, while these museums give a good feel for London’s past, the visitor does not actually have to deal with the battles, plagues, and fires that London has survived.

And relishing the calm and beauty of today’s civilized London, the visitor can peacefully enjoy London’s aesthetic city center. A walk along Oxford Street brings out the consumer in all, while nearby Hyde Park still manages to provide the serenity of the countryside in a city setting. Except, of course, speaker’s corner, where people proclaim their message for the world to hear. Northeast of the park is Portobello Market, one of London’s many outdoor markets, selling the best in antiques. Between the parks and busy shopping streets are quaint streets of times past, leading to unexpected surprises like central London’s Covent Gardens, where flower girls still sell beautiful bouquets. Seeing all this from a bird’s eye view gives a comprehensive overview of what lies below, and the London eye shows just that from the center of the center. A free option offering a bird’s eye view is Primrose Hill, a small park in the north of London perched on a hill, overlooking the rest of the city. Hunger is bound to strike at some (or many) points of such jam-packed days, and the city’s flavors will suit all tastes. From traditional English fare to such exotics as Indian restaurants, which are quickly assimilating and becoming typical London fare, any array of food can be found in between. And what better time to plan the evening out than during mealtime, when feet are resting and stomachs are happy!

The day is done, the eve is planned, and as night approaches, day is just dawning for those that never sleep. A typical London night out will start at the pub with a group of friends, enjoying the local beers on tap and friendly conversations speckled with bursts of laughter. Of course, if it’s a football or rugby night, the atmosphere will be quite serious and concentrated till the winner is known. After whetting the whistle at the pub, many will go on to dance at one of London’s countless dance clubs. In such an international city, dancing will include every type of dancing, like techno, trance, hip-hop, Latin, ethnic, and raves. After the drinks and dancing, some late night chow down will soothe the stomach in the countless late night or fast food restaurants lighting up London’s night streets.

Experiencing the most of London in a few days is so enjoyable with London’s rich history, its delightful walks through its sophisticated and beautiful city center, and ever amazing transformation into a nightlong party. A world-class city aged 2000 years and still growing in popularity, London has aged better than a bottle of good wine. London never reached ‘a’ perfection – it continually recreates perfection for every generation that shares in its life, and that is why no one can ever forget this city.

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