Cryptic by Simon Hamilton

Fly-Drive and Touring Holidays in the USA

2007-11-20T03:26:00.001-08:00

Fly-drive holidays can be an exciting and rewarding manner to travel. They offer you the freedom to travel at your ain pace, allowing you the agency to command every facet of your holiday. All you necessitate to make is program an path and set up a hire car. The remainder of the vacation is down to you. If you bask drive and you love the freedom of the unfastened road, then a fly-drive vacation is definitely something for you to consider.

If you prefer more than of a laid-back holiday, or the thought of driving abroad is not your idea of a good time, then the escorted circuit could be a better option. A structured programme will be arranged, where sightseeing, adjustment and repasts will be all planned out for you. All you have got to make is board the manager and bask the view.

A popular finish for touring vacations is North America. The sheer size and diverseness of the state do it an obvious choice, with its first-class roads, great-value auto hire and reasonably-priced fuel prices, when compared to the UK.

The unbelievable size of North United States do planning a journeying quite a task. Deciding where to get can be the greatest problem. Luckily, there are many companies out there that tin organise all this for you.

To see all of what North United States have to offer, the best path to take is the legendary Path 66, which runs from Windy City through to Los Angeles, a sum of 2,448 miles. Path 66 no longer officially exists, as it was deemed no longer relevant in 1985 and was subsequently removed from the main road system. It have gradually returned to maps under the name of "Historic Path 66".

The followers is an illustration of a popular Path 66 itinerary, taking a sum of 16 nighttimes to complete:

Chicago

2 nighttimes

Windy City - Springfield, Prairie State (200 miles)

1 nighttime

Capital Of Illinois - St Joe Joe Joe Louis (98 miles)

1 nighttime

St Louis - Springfield, Show Me State (217 miles)

1 nighttime

St Louis - Tulsa/Broken Arrow (396 miles)

1 nighttime

Tulsa/Broken Arrow - Amarillo (366 miles)

1 nighttime

Amarillo - Santa Iron (280 miles)

2 nighttimes

Santa Iron - Albuquerque (63 miles)

1 nighttime

Albuquerque - Holbrook (232 miles)

1 night

Holbrook - Flagstaff (90 miles)

1 nighttime

Flagstaff - Las Vegas (251 miles)

2 nighttimes

Las Vegas - Santa Monica (286 miles)

2 nights

Whether you make up one's mind take an escorted circuit or "go it alone", there is no uncertainty that a fly-drive vacation is one of the best ways to undergo America.

Parisians As They Are

2007-11-16T10:49:00.001-08:00

People always have got stereotypes about other nations. There are certain stereotypes (as well as prejudices) about the French, especially about the most refined and even "spoilt" Gallic - the Parisians. Let's have got a near expression at the working capital citizens and seek to understand their fictional character and their manner of life.

In fact, the sentiment about the spoilt Parisians appeared owed to the fact that they are good Judges of life: they like good things, bask meeting with friends and co-workers in cafes, love to travel to nice restaurants, regularly see films and maintain up with the up-to-the-minute theater gap nights. And of course of study they can't conceive of their life without good shopping.

Some people state the Gallic are reserved and even haughty. But the visual aspects are deceitful. In fact, the Parisians are nice and friendly. Just smile to them and state "bonjour"- you'll see how good-humored they can be. The Gallic are existent patriots, they deeply esteem their language, civilization and traditions. So if you will set in some Gallic words while talking to the indigens you'll ran into with existent cordiality. Don't be abashed because of your speech pattern - they will happen it sweet and charming.

The Gallic greet each other with four busses on the cheek. It is a mark of friendship. But it is possible lone among stopping point friends. If you don't desire to look excessively familiar, just agitate custody when greeting or thanking person (e.g. A tradesman if he or she was particularly considerate). Another distinctive feature of the Gallic is complete neglect to traffic rules. Pedestrians should be very careful when crossing the street: it's necessary to watch out for cars, motorbikes, water scooters and even rollerbladers, as the norm Parisian be given not to take route safety seriously. Look both ways before crossing the road, and do certain you respect, unlike some drivers, the zebra crossings and traffic lights. Be careful if you drive too. The Gallic often traverse the route at last second, so don't travel too fast.

The Gallic can't be called workaholics, trim clip is very of import for them. Many stores are closed at Sunday. The bulk of them are unfastened from 9am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Some littler stores may fold over lunch period between noon and 2pm, or all twenty-four hours on Monday. Sundays and public vacations are the usual shutting days, although there are some exceptions... During the week, the section supplies all have got one late-night opening day, known as a "nocturne" until 9pm. Supermarkets are unfastened at different modern times depending on the neighbourhood, every twenty-four hours except Sunday, until 8, 9 or 10pm.

The Gallic are considered to be great gourmets. Well, that's not just a stereotype. The very look haute culinary art come ups from France. The top pick is that of cheeses and wines. The Gallic say there's 365 sorts of cheese in the country, just like the years in the year. In fact there's much more. Interesting to observe that an norm Frenchwoman eats about 30 kilogram of cheese per year. The Gallic adore cheese. There's level a memorial to the cheese inventor.

The other thing is that the people are very trendy. They always maintain up with the up-to-the-minute manner and essence tendencies. Parisians are by right considered to be trendsetters. Don't waver to come up to the state and acquire acquainted with the French!

Seville Hotels - Renovated And Are Centrally Located

2007-11-12T07:18:00.001-08:00

Being the state working capital of Andalusia, Sevilla is a very of import and celebrated city. There is a fabrication that Seville originated from the Tartessian civilisation and was brought into being by the mythological Grecian graven image Hercules. Initially, the topographic point was known as Hispalis among the Romans and the Moors called it the Isbiliya. Being one of the most of import historical hubs of Europe, Sevilla is dotted with tourer attractive forces and beautiful locations. To call a few best put to see we have got the Cathedral which is the greatest of its sort in Christendom, Lanthanum Giralda minaret, Casa Delaware Pilatos, the Town Hall, Torre del Oro, and the Alcazar among others. Besides topographic points to visit, the part is also outstanding for gypsy dancing professional dancers and bullfighters. The nightlife of Sevilla is awfully electrifying. Be it pubs, lounges, parallel bars or dull discoes you will happen it all here. During summertimes when it acquires extremely muggy, parallel bars are put in the unfastened and at the river side. These out-of-door parallel bars are a antic manner to have got a good clip under the stars. Among the oral cavity lacrimation indefinite assortment of nutrient available in Seville, the celebrated tappas is a must have.

During the yearly festival of Feria Delaware Abril, the metropolis of Sevilla is in its best spirit. This is the clip when the Sevillians are in their best element. The revelry widens to one whole hebdomad that includes drinking, dance and feeding in the tents. From start to complete of this festival you will descry work force riding on their Equus caballuses during the carnival and the women donning lurid Gypsy costumes. Post Feria Delaware Abril festival come ups the Holy Place Week which is also called Semana Santa. Being a spiritual event a procession is taken out that pulls many visitants from all over the world.

If you are a nature lover then what is better than disbursement 1s clip sauntering around the verdant populace Parks of Seville. Dotted with some of the best Parks in Europe, the parkland of Sevilla soothes the senses of its visitors. Some of the celebrated Parks of Sevilla include the Walk Delaware Colon, the Parque Delaware Mare Luisa and the Plaza Delaware España. Type A quiet promenade in these Parks offerings a batch of peace of head to its visitors.

For fine art lovers as well, Sevilla offers a batch of surprises. Very well dotted with fine art galleries, Sevilla is very outstanding in the field of arts. The imposing Museo Delaware Bellas Artes have a huge aggregation of awe-inspiring paintings by celebrated artists. Other fine art galleries include Centro Andaluz Delaware Arte Contemporáneo, Genus Galleria Full Art and Galeria Nuevoarte among others.

As for accommodation, from five star epicurean hotels to low cost budget hotels, Sevilla hotels autumn in all categories. During the festivals of the April Feria and Semana Santa it firmly advisable that you do progress reserve well before time.

Many of the Sevilla hotels have got been recently renovated and are centrally located. And almost every hotel in Sevilla is located in the locality of San Pablo International Airport and the celebrated historical Centre of Sevilla City. These hotels supply many of import installations and services for your holiday trip and concern work like conference room, cyberspace installation and facsimile among others

So Visit Sevilla and bask your trip.

Make Your Vacation Memorable With Hotels In Vienna Austria

2007-11-07T13:08:00.001-08:00

A bustling city, Austrian Capital is traditional in its ways but modern in its outlook. High on music and java culture, here you would happen people extremely polite and warm. And this is what do Austrian Capital a topographic point so beautiful.

Finding adjustment in Austrian Capital is never a problem. Hotels in Austrian Capital Republic Of Austria falls in many classes varying from inexpensive hotels Austrian Capital to extravagance Austrian Capital hotel. The installations and services offered are human race social class and the cordial reception is excellent.

The glorious metropolis of Austrian Capital observes festivals and event all through the year. To call a few celebrated 1 we have:

New Year's Eve in Austrian Capital Being the greatest jubilation of the year, the Austrian Capital New Year's Eve is something to look out for. From music shows to dance festivals everything is covered in this celebration. Every pub, discotheque, fine art gallery, eating house and all in between is decked to tag this large fête.

Vienna Movie Festival on the Rathausplatz Type A Movie Festival that advances operas, this summertime festival is held in the Austrian Capital City Hall. With a different film played each night, delightful menu and no entranceway fee charged the merriment duplicates all the more.

Vienna City Marathon Starting off from the UNO building, the Austrian Capital City Marathon paths through the best of Austrian Capital locations and attractions. Partaken by many people, international and national, this 42km long endurance contest or phone call it a walking tour, do for an interesting rubber-necking trip.

Interesting Places to Visit in Vienna

Karlskirche Located to the North of Alps, the Karlskirche is the greatest Baroque cathedral built by the designer Bernhard Hans Fischer von Erlach. The insides of the Cathedral is done up very beautifully with keen pictures and murals.

Secession Building Designed by designer Josef Mare Olbrich in the twelvemonth 1897, this Jugendstil architectural wonderment was originally erected as an fine art gallery in the spirit of Sezession artistic society. The most dramatic characteristic of this construction is its attic which looks like a aureate eyeball and is locally called "Krauthappel".

The Summer Cypress Once the summertime abode of Savoy's Prince Eugene, today the castle of Summer Cypress functions as an Austrian fine art gallery. From Austrian Capital mulct fine art to international art, this gallery show windows some of the insurance premium fine humanistic discipline from the full human race over. A fine-looking building with beautiful garden... Summer Cypress is one of its kinds.

The Naschmarkt One of the greatest marketplace topographic point of Vienna, the Naschmarkt offers a batch to the visitants and tourists. From collecting knick bents to gorging on assorted culinary arts at the cosy restaurants, there is a batch make and see in this full of joie de vivre bazaar.

To call a few Hotels in Republic Of Austria we have:

Intercontinental Hotel Austrian Capital The Intercontinental Hotel is located in the bosom of Austrian Capital stopping point to many tourer places. Being one of the high-grade extravagance hotels, the Intercontinental houses 453 broad suite which include three Baseball Club floors, 60 en suites and every other comfortableness you can believe of.

Hotel Royal Austrian Capital Positioned in the stopping point propinquity of many interesting places, Hotel Royal pull many tourer throughout the year. Well equipped with modern installations and comforts you will have got the most comfy stay here.

So Visit Austrian Capital and delight in its splendor.

Cost to travel by air increases thanks to rising oil prices - Naples Daily News

2007-11-03T22:08:00.001-07:00

Friday, November 2, 2007

A twenty-four hours after American Airlines announced it was adding $20 to the cost of round-trip tickets in the U.S., travellers at Southwest Sunshine State International Airport seemed largely unfazed.

The menu addition was prompted by the rise cost of petroleum oil, which briefly touched more than than $96 a gun barrel for the first clip ever on Thursday. Most major bearers immediately followed suit.

Fuel terms are based on oil hereafters â" contracts for purchase not always immediately reflected in consumer pricing.

Tim Smith, spokesman for American Airlines, said the $20 addition is a necessary measure in keeping the air hose viable.

âSince August alone, the terms of petroleum oil have gone up $14 a barrel,â Ian Smith said, noting that a $1-a-barrel addition translates to about $80 million in added combustible costs for American Airlines each year. âPeople certainly acknowledge whatâs going on at the gas pumps, so to set it in those terms, American Airlines draws up to the pump about 120,000 modern times a month, and weâre not just putting $20 in the tank. Itâs A painful experience for us, just as it is for motorists.â

Smith said jet-fuel costs now consist the airlineâs No. One expenditure.

âIn old age past it was wage and benefits, but now combustible costs have got moved into the top spot,â Ian Smith said, adding that the air hose passes nearly $7 billion a twelvemonth on jet plane fuel. âRight now it accounts for 31 percentage of our budget, and I have got a intuition that it will be even more than when the fourth-quarter numbers come up out.â

The $20 addition didnât look to concern Virgin Mary Fran Buth, who was relaxing in the terminus before taking off with her husband, Steve, to catch this weekendâs Michigan-Michigan State football game game.

âWith the terms of combustible being what it is, I believe itâs OK,â the Napoli occupant said. âDonât acquire me wrong. I believe the combustible costs are ridiculous, but I believe theyâll eventually come up down just like the lodging marketplace did.â

Steve Buth, who first met Virgin Mary Fran while the two were undergraduates at Wolverine State State â" agreed with his wife.

âThe menus probably wonât hold because of the economy,â helium said. âItâs not on the upswing â" itâs going down â" and I donât believe people have got the money to pass right now.â

Rose Landry of New Jersey have owned a place on Sanibel Island for 17 years. In her mind, the increased menus are simply par for the course of study in this twenty-four hours and age.

âEverybodyâs raising prices, itâs just a fact of life,â Landry said. âIâm planning to wing to South Carolina for a few years after Christmas, and if the menus are $500 or $600 Iâm not going to go, but as long as they remain reasonable, I will.â

April Wiese of Gopher State was in Sunshine State for the first clip to see a friend. Wiese said she wings about three or four modern times a year. The menu addition is best looked at with a philosophical eye, she said.

âWhat is to be, shall be,â the sharply dressed Wiese said. âItâs not really going to impact me all that much. I donât like the terms being this high, but Iâm also not one to kick about it. I make hope they come up down in the future.â

Elaine and Jim Shanley of Garrison Myers visit Southwest Sunshine State International Airport on a regular footing â" usually to pick up one of their 10 children.

âI told the children when we moved down here that theyâd have got to come up visit us â" we werenât going up there,â said a riant Elaine Shanley, who relocated to Sunshine State from Pennsylvania. âAs far as the menu addition goes, I believe that everybody utilizes gas and that jackstones the terms up, so Iâm not surprised that the menus are going up, too.â

Wisely continuing the subject of the day, Jim Shanley, too, agreed with his wife. Then he took it one measure further.

âThe rates have got got to travel up because the air hoses have got to do their money,â helium said. âOtherwise, weâll have got the authorities subsidizing them, and then the rates will travel up in the long run, anyway. People who utilize things should pay for what they use, and not anticipate those who donât utilize those things to subsidise them.â

Tips for determination low-cost airfare

-- If you happen a flight you desire on a engagement engine (Orbitz/Travelocity), you can check up on to see if the same flight is offered on the airlineâs ain Web land site (usually at $6 less).

-- Check airfare terms from three nearest airports. Most land sites have got an option to allow you check up on nearby airdromes â" different airdrome combinations can give very different prices.

-- Check different years and times. If your traveling years of the month are flexible, bank check out the Orbitz flight matrix to see what days have got the best deals. Once you cognize which dates are cheaper, seek those combinations on the other sites.

-- Itâs A good thought to check up on airfares often (up to three modern times per day) because terms fluctuate all the time. You might also desire to unclutter your cookies to do certain youâre getting new results.

Frequently Asked Questions

-- Whatâs the best clip of twenty-four hours to book a flight?

Mornings are sometimes better. Airlines will change their terms according to demand and also in response to what their rivals are doing.

-- What are the best years of the hebdomad to check up on flights?

Saturday and Wednesday morns are often good modern times to check up on airfare prices. The air hoses be given to let go of new menus around these times. Saturday morns are also good modern times to happen âblooper prices,â which are mistakes by the air hoses which sometimes ensue in really inexpensive airfare. Donât acquire too excited, though -- it doesnât go on very often. Also, since engagement is often busier right after payday, it might be better to book after the 7th of the month.

-- Why make I necessitate to check up on so many Web sites?

There is no single-best Web land land site every clip owed to the sheer figure of variables involved: specific airlines, availability, specials, modern times of day, clip of twenty-four hours information is fed to the site, booking date, traveling date, reaching airport, going airport, connecting flight availability, etc.

Source: www.airportexplorer.com/cheap-flights

Contact Toilet John Osborne at johnaosborne@hotmail.com.

Bahamas Golf Vacation Offers You The Best Holiday Experience

2007-10-29T19:11:00.001-07:00

When was the last clip you took off with your household for a vacation? Chances are that you have got done this a long clip ago and if this is true, you necessitate to do contiguous programs for a vacation. Today everyone is slogging it out at the workplace in their pursuit to climb up up the corporate ladder and go successful. This have increased the emphasis level, which is taking a toll on the professional and personal life of individuals. Life is all about enjoying the little pleasances and felicity and when we go so engrossed with work, we make not even recognize that we are missing out on all these beautiful aspects. Taking a vacation, in a quiet topographic point away from all the concerns and tensions, with your household or all alone is the best manner to wind off and bask life. Now deciding on a finish for the vacation is not hard when you have got the option of going on a Commonwealth Of The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf game vacation.

The scenic beauty of Bahamas is fantastic and when you travel there for the vacation, remainder assured that you will bask the best holiday of your life. You can indulge in different types of out-of-door activities to loosen up your mind. Snorkeling, aqualung diving, skiing and surfing are some of the activities that you can indulge in. If you go on to be a golf game game enthusiast, a Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf holiday is something that you must not lose out on at any cost. There are respective circuit operators that offering Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf game vacation to people who desire to travel there on a holiday. The web is the perfect topographic point for you to happen out a Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf game holiday trade from respective of the circuit operators offering the package. In fact, you can also happen a price reduction Commonwealth Of The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas holiday bundle if you are a small short of finance.

A Bahamas golf game holiday is just perfect for a busy professional who desires to loosen up during the holiday by teeing off. If you are taking your household along with you on the vacation, you necessitate to take attention of many things. First you will have got to do agreement for a topographic point where your household can remain during the vacation. If your household dwells of children, you necessitate to set up for a topographic point where they can indulge in a batch of activities and have got a fantastic time. At times, employers wages their employees with a holiday and if your Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf game holiday is portion of an inducement from your employer then you will not have got to worry about making the arrangements. They will all be taken attention of.

The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas are a fantastic tourer destination; so opportunities are that this topographic point will be crowded with tourers most of the clip during a year. However, there are certain off seasons in a twelvemonth and during that clip you can travel for your Commonwealth Of The Bahamas golf game vacation. If you like to travel to a topographic point where you can relax, sofa and have got a good time, the Commonwealth Of The Bahamas Island is the topographic point you must go.

Touring Holidays in Egypt

2007-09-10T12:11:00.001-07:00

Egypt is a state with a rich history and a colourful present. This is a land that everyone should see at least once in their lifespan - fortunately it's never been so accessible.

The state looks to have got followed in the footfalls of Republic Of Tunisia and Kingdom Of Morocco in becoming a very popular location for bundle holidays. Many choose to come up to Arab Republic Of Egypt for the fantastic beach vacation spots and the glorious hot weather. In some senses, it must be said that those who see the state purely to pass clip on the beach are missing out. There are plenty of vacation vacation spots around the human race that are great if you simply desire to acquire a suntan and have got a dip in the sea.

To see Arab Republic Of Egypt solely for such as a intent looks to be lacking the point - there is much more than to this state than modern hotels, farinaceous beaches and sunshine. The great history of the Egyptians is well documented and it would look to be a shame to see the state and not take the clip to seek out the great historical sights and monuments.

There may well be great beaches in plentifulness of locations around the human race but Arab Republic Of Egypt is the lone state that tin boasting the Pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is land sites such as as this that are portion of the existent Egypt. If you're interested in making the most of your clip in Arab Republic Of Egypt then it is undoubtedly deserving travelling as portion of a guided tour. These often compound local cognition with an English-speaking guide who can take your way.

Many escorted touring vacations of Arab Republic Of Egypt will let you to take in all of the major sights. Cairo, Luxor, the Red Sea and a sail down the celebrated River Nile River should all constitute portion of any such as experience. Arab Republic Of Egypt is about much more than than modern vacation vacation spots - do certain that you do the most of your visit.

Culture Tips for Dubai Travel

2007-09-06T11:33:00.001-07:00

There is a batch of confusing and deceptive information when it come ups to what is and what is not culturally acceptable in Dubai. Dubai is a vivacious cosmopolite metropolis with over 100 nationalities living together in harmony. Millions of tourers flock to Dubai every twelvemonth and the metropolis is truly a cultural crossroads. The local population is quite little (estimated around 15%), but Emiratis in general are warm, welcoming, and very tolerant of foreign visitants and residents. In return, it is greatly appreciated if those who go to Dubai take a small clip to larn about the local customs duty and culture.

The UAE is a Moslem country. The civilization is based on a deeply rooted belief in Islamism and centres on the family. Mosques are dotted throughout the landscape of Dubai and five modern times a twenty-four hours the tuneful supplication phone call or "adhan" will be heard. The functionary weekend is Friday, although authorities business offices and certain transnational companies are also closed on Saturday. Mosques on Fridays around twelve noon will be overflowing as believers garner to listen to a sermon. On Fridays most supplies unfastened around 2PM although certain big retail mercantile establishments such as as Intersection and most big grocery store supplies are unfastened as normal. Arabic Language Language is the functionary language; however English is widely spoken by almost everyone and all the street marks are in both English and Arabic.

There is no specific frock codification in Dubai, and you will see both ends of the spectrum from women who cover themselves from caput to toe to those who take to barely cover themselves at all. At the beach women are welcome to have on two-pieces and work force can wear swimming shorts. Away from the beach it is more than culturally acceptable for work force to avoid wearing short pants or going shirtless and for women to avoid mini-skirts, midriff baring tops, and shorts. T-shirts Oregon blice and mid-length hedges or Capri trousers for women are considered quite appropriate. Moslem women from the Gulf States typically get dressed in a long achromatic robe known as the "abaya". The "abaya" itself is not an Muslim requirement, but rather a cultural custom. Islamism necessitates ladies to cover their caputs and to have on long loose clothing covering their weaponry and legs. Gulf work force have on a loose, typically achromatic robe called a "dishdasha" along with a achromatic or reddish checkered headgear known as the "gutra". The gutra is held in topographic point with a achromatic cord called an "agal".

Arabs are one of the most hospitable people in the world, but visitants still should take short letter of a few cultural musts when interacting with locals. It is best to inquire permission of local women before taking their exposure and most likely you will be told no. Visitors should also be aware that some Moslem women and work force will avoid shaking custody with members of the antonym sexual activity as per Islamic tradition. This should not be taken as an discourtesy and it is simply best to wait and see if the other individual widens their manus in greeting first. Local work force will typically greet other local work force by touching olfactory organs or kissing cheeks. Populace shows of affectionateness between members of the antonym sexual activity are highly frowned upon, although you will see work force (typically Asiatic expats) retention custody with other work force when walking. This is a cultural norm and merely an look of friendship. If you are invited to bask a coffee, tea or traditional repast with a local household there are a few guidelines to maintain in mind. Before entering a place place should be removed. When sitting, take attention to avoid pointing the soles of your feet in anyone's way as this is considered ill-mannered in Arabian Moslem culture. Food and drink (and there will be a batch of it!) should be taken with one's right hand, as the left manus is reserved for "unclean" patterns such as as lavation after using the bathroom. Your host will most likely maintain offering you more than than and more nutrient and drink. It is acceptable to take a 2nd helping but not necessarily a 3rd or fourth! You will have got to be relentless and it might take a spot of polite "back and forth" between you and your host before your host admits that you are actually finished!

Much confusion environments the Holy Place Calendar Month of Ramadan and how it refers to visitors. Ramadan is a calendar calendar month of fasting and the 9th month of the Moslem calendar. Islamic calendar months are based on the lunar calendar which is shorter than the Gregorian (Western) calendar. Thus, based on sightings of the moon, Islamic calendar months move forward each twelvemonth by about 11 days. This agency Ramadan may be in fall, summer, springtime or wintertime as the lunar calendar goes on to revolve forward by 11 years each year. Muslims will lift before dawning to have got a visible light pre-fast repast called "Suhoor". They will then pass the twenty-four hours refraining from eating, drinking, or smoke as well as trying to forbear from negative behaviours while piquant more than in supplication and reflection. At sundown the fast is broken - this is called "Iftar". Fast is obligatory for all grownup Muslims and is a manner for them to pull near to their faith and to appreciate all that they have. Charity to the mediocre is also very of import at this time.

During the Holy Place Month, non-Muslims inch Dubai are also expected (by law) to forbear from eating, imbibing or smoke in public. A spot of discretion and regard for the host civilization is really all that is called for. If a visitant accidentally do a error and eats, drinks, or smokes in public, the worst that is likely to go on is that person will gently remind you of the clip of twelvemonth and inquire you to stop. Although most eating houses will be closed during the twenty-four hours (or offering take-away only), many promenades now have got nutrient mercantile establishments that are screened off from the public and unfastened during the twenty-four hours in Ramadan for non-Muslims. It is also perfectly acceptable for non-Muslims to eat and drink in the privateness of their places or hotel suite during the day. Most hotel eating houses will stay unfastened (with screened-off areas) for hotel invitees and grocery store supplies also stay unfastened all twenty-four hours long. It is greatly appreciated during Ramadan if women are a spot more conservative in their frock - simply avoiding short hedges or sleeveless tops. All unrecorded musical and dance public presentations are suspended during Ramadan but public houses will open up after sunset. Time looks to travel a small slower during Ramadan and by law Moslem employees have got shortened work days. In general visitants make demand to be more than culturally sensitive during the Holy Place Month, but after the breakage of the fast each twenty-four hours the metropolis come ups alive and it is an ideal clip to see if you are looking to undergo cultural flavor.

While Dubai is most celebrated for its shopping, visitants should take advantage of their trip to the United Arabian Emirates to also larn about the local culture. The Dubai Museum, built in an old traditional fort, is a must-see for all ages and includes exhibits of weapons, national costumes, and shows of the desert as well as the pearl diving event industry on which Dubai was originally founded. The Heritage and Diving Village characteristics shows of Dubai's maritime past times and includes quaint stores and restaurants. Finally, The Sheik Muhammad Center for Cultural Understanding offerings cultural consciousness programs, recruiting immature UAE subjects to talk to visitants and occupants about Dubai civilization and history, as well as offering other activities throughout the twelvemonth including masjid circuits and Arabic Language classes.

Where to Dance Tango in Buenos Aires

2007-08-27T16:18:00.001-07:00

From the very beginning, Buenos Aires and the tango have got been inseparable.

It was in the whorehouses of this burgeoning South American port metropolis that, around the bend of the century, Italian immigrant manual laborers first invented the dance. By the 1920s and 30s, with these whorehouse beginnings largely relegated to the past, tango reached its aureate age, a clip of huge popularity for both the dance and the music alike. During those old age tango could be heard, in both its sung and its orchestral versions, on the radiocommunication and in dance hallways around the world.

Tango, of course, stays popular to this day. And Buenos Aires is still the best topographic point in the human race to dance the tango or see it performed on the stage.

Tango dance hallways are called "milongas." Even the uninitiated are welcome at a "milonga" – which is to state that anyone is free to take a social class or to watch from the tabular arrays which encircle the dance floor. But those with small experience should be aware that in the late evening, when the "milonga" is in session, you are expected to be a highly adept professional dancer before you should believe about selecting a spouse (Ladies, don't even believe about it! According to the tango code, only work force may make the asking). Stepping on toes is not appreciated and anyone who makes so will not be asked to dance again. "Tangueros", as tango professional dancers are known, are not a forgiving lot.

"Milongas" don't get until 10:00 or 11:00 in the eventide and normally will not stop before 4:00 or 5:00 am., so do certain you have got a siesta the twenty-four hours before.

A listing of some of the nicest "classic" milongas in Buenos Aires includes:

Bien Pulenta

Lanthanum Confiteria Ideal

Salon Canning

Elevation Niño Bien

All of these are traditional dance halls, with marble or hardwood floors, pendant lighting, aureate ceilings and achromatic jacket servers – put that are imbued with no little amount of class, and perhaps an even bigger amount of snobbery. Many of these milongas will offer mini-shows with celebrated dancers, usually at 1:00 or 2:00 am, as a interruption in the center of the dance session – bank check with the show's organisers beforehand. Most of the same dance hallways will also offer classes, normally in the early eventide hours before the "milonga" begins.

Contact information for these and other "milongas" can be establish on the functionary Government of Buenos Aires site: www.tangodata.gov.ar

For those who don't yet have got the accomplishments to take on Buenos Aires' best dancers, or who are looking for a more than than relaxed or more vernal atmosphere, the "practica" or pattern session have recently been gaining in popularity on the traditional classic "milonga". A assortment of these less formal, even "underground", dance hallways have got risen up to the undertaking of providing immature Argentines and foreign visitants with a topographic point to dance where they won't be beholden to the changeless pressure levels of tango-world snobbery. Some of these "milongas", like the more than traditional dance halls, also have got shows. Amongst these places, you'll find:

Tango Cool! (in Baseball Club Pancho Villa Malcolm)

Lanthanum Viruta (in The Centro Cultural Armenia)

Catedral

Finally, for tourers and for tourers only (most Argentines could scarcely afford the ticket price), a figure of topographic points in Buenos Aires offering dinner - show combinations. The nutrient is mostly forgettable, and the shows are of the Saint Andrew Harold Lloyd Webber variety, with flimsily constructed plotlines, a random choice of music, unfunny gags told by garrulous MCs, and plentifulness of spectacle and particular personal effects – in one of the shows, a unrecorded Equus caballus is brought onto the phase every night! The professional dancers are, however, true people and, especially when more than than one couple is dancing together on stage, the spectacle is truly amazing. For that alone it may be deserving paying the entry fee. The terms for these shows is, however, extremely steep, especially by local standards. Expect to pay around one hundred United States dollars for dinner and a show – more than if rising prices goes on its current course of study of eroding away the nest egg that tourers used to see from the devalued peso.

The best of the tango dinner/shows include:

La Esquina Delaware Carlos Gardel

Señor Tango

Elevation Querandi

In Africa It Is Expected That You Bargain

2007-08-21T12:17:00.001-07:00

Recently friends of mine traveled to Masai Mara in Republic Of Kenya and on completing their safari, they told me the campaign was great but they hadn't bought a single keepsake because everything was too expensive. On inquiring additional i realised that these friends of mine had been offered keepsakes at $5000 the same keepsakes that i could easily acquire for $5!

For most people especially from developed countries, bargaining is not something they are used to. I intend believe about it?

How often make you walk into Wal-Mart and deal for your shopping? The closest most people acquire to bargaining these years in eBay.

In Africa bargaining is a manner of life and in fact for most little scale of measurement Sellers selling their wares. It is a common pattern to begin high expecting the purchaser to dicker with you.

Bargaining therefore is an of import accomplishment to learn, since every clip you pay that 'special' terms you are not only getting a bad deal, but you are also making things more expensive for tourers after you who will happen it harder to convey down inflated prices.

Bargaining when done properly can be a batch of fun!

Just retrieve that when you are bargaining you are not begging the marketer to sell it to you at a less terms you are simply saying that the point is not deserving the terms quoted.

The aureate regulation to retrieve is NOT TO get EMOTIONAL.

Also

Know your bounds – If you have got an thought how much an point costs before manus it will usually assist because then you can offer to purchase the point at the criterion marketplace price. A small research by asking locals would help. In most topographic points you as a tourer will be expected to pay higher but even so there are terms that locals will often happen a just terms for you as a tourist.

Dress and Act as a Local – The longer you pass in a topographic point the more than you wise up to what is a rake off and what is not. Also if you can get the hang a few words in the local linguistic communication you may be surprised how utile it can be when bargaining. Words like 'Hello' and 'too expensive' when said in the local linguistic communication travels a long manner not only to affect but also make the feeling that you cognize your stuff. The less you act and expression like a tourer the easier it will be for you to acquire a nice terms for the commodity you are buying.(Avoid those campaign clothes and chapeaus that locals may happen cockamamie or even swimming costumes and two-pieces )

Indifference - This perhaps combined with a small appeal (and accomplishment ) could acquire you just about anything. If the marketer cognizes you are hooked onto something it goes very hard to convey the terms of the point down. If you like it don't demo it.

Bluff - Some of the best traders are also the best at bluffing. If the terms is high and the marketer won't travel down and you cognize the criterion terms of an point you can bluff by telling the marketer that you cognize a topographic point where you can acquire it for, then cite the criterion terms or even cheaper. Another thing you can make is, give thanks the marketer for his time, acquire up and start walking away. Most modern times than not if you have got offered a sensible terms for the item, the marketer will sell you the point at that price. Should it not work or should the point be alone then you can always go back the adjacent day.

Buy Majority – Dramatic a good trade is often easier when you are buying a lot.

Show me the money! - No 1 desires to go forth cash. It's easier for a marketer to presume that you were not going to purchase it anyway when you walk away than it is to see you walk away with money, especially if you were offering to purchase at a considerable price. bargaining tourist

Touring Northern Italy

2007-08-16T07:40:00.001-07:00

For those wanting to undergo Italian Republic without the crowds and the sometimes unendurable summertime heat, a circuit of the North have plenty that appeals. Let's return a expression at some must-see highlights.

The rise of budget air hoses have meant that it have never been easier to happen a inexpensive flight to northern Italy. Both Milano and Verona have got busy international airports, with flights from most major European cities. Verona is served by regular flights from Greater London Gatwick, making it a perfect starting point for any tour.

If you can't happen a suitably priced flight from Verona, then you might also see Bologna as a practicable alternative.

Lake Garda is within easy range of both airports. This expansive lake have a quite fantastic location, with a mountainous background and a coastal feel. Lined by pretty small towns and towns, Lake Garda is a natural focal point for any circuit of northern Italy.

The country here is well known for its mulct culinary art - eating out in Italian Republic is not to be missed!

Verona itself, as well as providing an first-class alkali from which to research the encompassing countryside, have a rich history. This is a metropolis that was first brought to the attending of the English by no lesser figure than William Shakespeare.

The Dolomites, the mighty mounts of the region, supply some dramatic positions and fantastic musca volitans to enjoy. The popular towns of Vipiteno, Brunico and Bolzano are all well deserving a visit.

Finally, no circuit of this portion of Italian Republic would be complete without visiting the medieval walled impressiveness of Trento.

A circuit of northern Italian Republic affects some of the most beautiful towns, small towns and countryside that this state have to offer - it is not to be missed.

Travel Tips - Booking a Cheap Orlando Vacation

2007-08-11T10:48:00.001-07:00

Orlando, Sunshine State is a vacationer's paradise. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have got got to have children to bask the subject Parks and attractive forces in Orlando, which include Walt Walt Disney World, Universal Joint Studios, Epcot Center, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the Disney-MGM Studios. Indeed, Orlando is a wonderful, charming topographic point - and a finish you'll certainly desire to see more than than once.

One of the challenges that many people confront is finding a inexpensive Orlando vacation. After all, airfare, hotel accommodations, meals, and subject parkland entranceway fees can take a large bite out of your pocketbook. Here are some tips on engagement an Orlando holiday at a deal price....

1. Purchase a Package

Although some people are purpose upon buying airfare, hotel accommodations, and parkland go throughs separately, the truth is that you'll acquire a much better trade if you purchase an Orlando holiday package. Those who sell Orlando holiday bundles acquire deeply discounted rates, and can go through those nest egg on to you. Although you may surmise that some bundles are too good to be true, once you check up on out the repute of the sellers, you are likely to happen that the offerings are legitimate.

2. Be Flexible in Your Travel Dates

The more than than flexible you are in your traveling dates, the more likely you are to happen a inexpensive Orlando holiday package. If you're insistent upon traveling during extremum periods, you're going to pay insurance premium prices. If, on the other hand, you are able to go in the non-peak season, you'll happen a nimiety of deals from which to choose.

3. Look for the Extras in Accommodations

Travel bundles change widely in the types and length of adjustments offered, as well as the tickets that are included. It pays to make your research and happen the bundle that offerings you the greatest knock for your bucks. You may, for example, happen a inexpensive Orlando holiday for lone $249 per person, dual occupancy. It could include such as characteristics as four nighttimes of hotel adjustments near the Walt Disney Main Gate plus two nighttimes of hotel adjustments in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

4. Look for the Extras in Tickets

Some Orlando holiday bundles offering an astonishing array of tickets and passes, so be certain to happen the 1 that best lawsuits your involvements and needs. For example, you may happen a bundle that's discounted 65% from what you'd normally pay, and that still includes two one-day passings to Walt Disney or Universal, two Jack Kennedy Space Center tickets, Sterling Casino Day Cruise tickets, dinner theatre tickets, and so forth.

5. See a Timeshare

If you love all that Orlando have to offer, see buying a timeshare in the area. A timeshare supplies you with entree to all of Orlando's attractive forces while giving you a topographic point to name "home." As those who have got timeshares can attest, it's a great feeling to cognize that you have a topographic point to remain while you're in Orlando - particularly if that topographic point is a resort. For those who are looking for a inexpensive Orlando holiday and who don't ain a timeshare, there are vacation spot companies that offering incredibly inexpensive Orlando holidays in exchange for hearing to a gross sales presentation. You really can't beat out the terms when all you have got to make in tax return is give up an hr or two of your time.

Don't allow cost maintain you from visiting one of the most charming topographic points in the United States. Find a inexpensive Orlando holiday and bask all that the Sunlight State have to offer!

I Love Touring Italy - Genoa

2007-08-06T12:47:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a European tourer destination, see the Liguria part of northern Italy, commonly known as the Italian Riviera. This thin strip of land lies on the Ligurian Sea, not far from Principality Of Monaco and the Gallic Riviera. While Liguria is by no agency undiscovered, its crowds are much littler than those adjacent door. This beautiful part is place to many small towns or villages, and the international port metropolis of Genova almost smack dab in the centre of the coast. This sometimes beautiful, sometimes ugly metropolis of about six hundred thousand phone calls itself Lanthanum Superba (the Proud). Read this article and you'll see why. Be certain to read the other articles in this series: eastern Liguria, western Liguria, and Five Terre, five small seaboard small towns that just might steal your heart.

Given its first-class location and great harbor, the metropolis of Genova have been around for one thousands of years. Historians once believed that it was founded by the Celts more than four thousand old age ago but now believe it that it was founded considerably later, perhaps by the Etruscans. Over its long history Genova was destroyed on respective occasions. Early in the Eleventh Century the metropolis Genova became the Democracy of Genoa, an independent city-state. At its high point this democracy controlled Liguria, Piedmont, Sardinia, and Corsica. Genova was a major participant in the Crusades, and established settlements in the Center East, in the Aegean, in Sicily, and Northern Africa. Genoese Crusaders brought place a greenish glass goblet from the Levant, which many Genoese see to be the Holy Place Grail.

Times changed and by the Seventeenth Century Genova was no longer a major power. In 1797 Napoleon I conquered Genova and it was annexed to French Republic a few old age later. Genova is proud to have got liberated itself from Gallic rule, but before long it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Sardinia. Another proud minute in Genovese and Italian history occurred in 1860 when Giuseppe Giuseppe Garibaldi put out from Genova with over a thousand military volunteers to establish his successful political campaign for a united Italy.

Genoa have so many attractive forces that we show a list, grouped by general area. Check off what you desire to see and then with a map program your ain itinerary. We are regrouping the land sites into three locations, south, north, and the port country plus our starting point. When we state south we intend south of Caruggi, Genoa's medieval center, the biggest such as territory in all Europe. Its bantam cobblestoned streets are a-maze-ing. Walk around for a few hours; you won't be disappointed. One of the nearby sights is the Sixteenth Century Loggia dei Mercanti O di Banchi (Merchants and Bankers Row) that incorporates stores selling a assortment of goods. It was the land site of the first Italian Stock Exchange.

The Twelfth Century San Matteo Church just south of Caruggi incorporates the grave of Andrea Doria, Genoa's 2nd most celebrated crewman whose household ruled the country for respective centuries manner back when. The Plaza San Matteo was their stomping ground. The chief castle was given as a gift to Andrea Doria for being such as a good sailor, defeating many enemies.

You should see visiting respective other Christian churches south of Caruggi. The Twelfth Century Duomo (Cathedral) San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) is deserving seeing both for the Christian church itself and its Museo del Tesoro di San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo Treasury Museum) place to a medieval Ag and gold collection. Sant'Agostino (St. Augustine) is a Thirteenth Century Gothic Christian church with a museum that characteristics medieval architecture and frescoes. Most of its monastery was destroyed during World War II. The Twelfth Century Church of San Donato was an first-class specimen of Genovese Romanesque architecture that have been poorly restored. Take a good expression at its brilliant bell tower. The Seventh Century Santa Mare di Castello is one of Genoa's oldest Christian churches and an exceeding illustration of Romanesque architecture. Be certain to see the next Convent of Santa Mare di Castello.

The Twelfth Century twin towers known as Orifice Soprana grade the topographic point where an ancient Roman route entered the city. According to fable Saint Christopher Columbus's father was a doorkeeper there. His alleged boyhood place is nearby. Some claim that it's a Reconstruction and only deserving a few proceedings of your time, if at all. But you should see the towers.

The Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa's opera house, was originally built in the Nineteenth Century. Even though the celebrated opera composer Giuseppe Verdi spent some 40 wintertimes in Genoa, he had small connexion with this building. He declined to compose an opera for the 1892 memorialization of Columbus's first ocean trip to America, saying that at age the of nearly 80 he was too old. This ground sounds good to me except that during the followers twelvemonth his very successful amusing opera Sir John Falstaff first opened. Every twelvemonth the Niccolo Niccolo Paganini Violin Contest is held in this opera house.

The Accademia della Belle Arti (Academy of Fine Arts) is right nearby. This school incorporates a aggregation of Sixteenth to Nineteenth Century paintings, focusing on Genova artists. The Sixteenth Century Palazzo Ducale (Duke's Palace) on a neighbour foursquare have go a cultural center.

Now we travel north of Caruggi, Genoa's medieval center. We'll begin in the same manner as our southern circuit ended, by looking at palaces. Via Giuseppe Garibaldi is a street just loaded with palaces; I counted fourteen but I may have got missed some small ones. Let's expression at three of them. The Sixteenth Century Palazzo Doria Tursi is the biggest castle on the street. Constructed for a Genovese banker it later belonged to the Doria household before becoming the town hall. The Sixteenth Century Palazzo Bianco (White Palace) was given to the metropolis of Genova in 1894 on status that it go an fine art gallery. It incorporates quite a aggregation of Twelfth to Eighteenth Century European painters including Peter Paul Rubens and Avant Garde Dyck. The edifice was completely restored only a few old age ago. The neighbour Seventeenth Century Palazzo Rosso (Red Palace) have also travel an fine art museum hosting plant by Titian, Avant Garde Dyck, and many others.

If you go northwest not far from the port you'll see two more than palaces. The Seventeenth Century Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) was once place to the House of Savoy. It too have go an fine art museum with tons of pictures by Avant Garde Dyck. Why is he all over the place? It looks that Antony Avant Garde Dyck lived and worked in Genova for six old age starting in 1621. Enjoy the Palace's formal gardens with its position of the port. Our concluding palace, Palazzo dell'Università is place to one of Italy's oldest universities. Commiseration the mediocre technology students. They are housed in former barracks in Savona about 30 statute miles (45 kilometers) West of Genoa.

Since we are in a museum mood, albeit broken by a speedy halt at the University, let's see a few others. The Genus Galleria Nazionale (National Gallery) is located about halfway between Caruggi and those three castles on Via Garibaldi. Can you think what it used to be? Its name was Palazzo Spinola. This gallery's most celebrated work is Ecce Homosexual by the Sicilian Early Renaissance Painter Antonello district attorney Messina. Yes, it also have pictures by Avant Garde Dyck. For a alteration of gait travel to the Museo d'Arte Orientale Chiossone (Chiossone Asian Art Museum) that shows 1 of Europe's best aggregations of Chinese, Japanese, and Tai art. It is located northeast of Caruggi. We'll go back to this portion of town just before visiting the port area. But first, it's been a small while since we've seen a church. Here are some of North end of town offerings.

San Siro, Genoa's oldest church, was its cathedral from the Fourth to the Ninth Centuries. As befits its age it's dark inside. The Sixteenth Century Baroque Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato (The Bascilica of the Most Holy Place Saint Annunziata) was built outside the metropolis walls hence the name del Vastato that come ups from the Latin term for safety belt. It have a beautiful attic and tons and tons of great frescoes.

Genoa is proud of respective typical transportation system methods that you might take just for the views, each alone in its ain way. The Ferrovia Genova-Casella (Genova-Casella Railway) travels from the northeasterly Plaza Manin metropolis centre through the hilly, rugged and scenic countryside surrounding the metropolis to the small town of Casella, population about three thousand, some nine statute miles (fourteen kilometers) to the northeast. Genoa's three different cablegram railway (cable car) systems each offering great positions of the hills that environ the city.

To the nor'-east is the Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno (Staglieno Monumental Cemetery) that depicts itself as an geographic expedition of man's battle with death, transcendence, redemption and mortality. It's so large and there's so much to see that some propose allocating one-half a day. Among its many commemoration edifices is the Pantheon. You might look for the grave of Caterina Campodonico, who earned her life merchandising nuts and canestrelli (a local pastry) and saved money all her life to pay for a grandiose funeral monument.

And now for the port. Even if you are not into visiting ports, you really should see Genoa's harbor. It's the biggest in Italy, handling a full 10% of all port traffic within the country. It's fairly safe, especially if you don't swan around deserted countries at night. Since the 1992 jubilation of Saint Christopher Columbus's initial trip to United States (he certainly didn't detect this hardly uninhabited portion of the world) it have go a major cultural center. In October the Salone Nautico Internationale (International Boat Show) Europe's greatest takes place. We'll do a few Michigan to see some of the foregrounds starting with Illinois Bigo West of Caruggi and work our manner north.

Il Bigo is a typical memorial built for the 1992 Capital Of Ohio commemoration. Take the Ascensore Panoramico Bigo (Bigo Bird'S-Eye Elevator) for an exceeding position of Genova and its surroundings. If you so desire, you can water ice skate in wintertime at the skating rink next door.

The Acquario Delaware Genova (Genoa Aquarium) is the greatest in Europe and 2nd in the world, after Osaka, Japan. This is one of the most visited museums in all Italy. Its immense army tanks reproduce the environment of the Mediterranean Sea Sea and the oceans and incorporate over six hundred species. There's level a hummingbird room; I don't understand the human relationship between hummingbirds and the sea or ocean but why not?

The Galata Museo del Mare (Galata Sea Museum) demoes the development of the port and the metropolis starting from the late Medieval time period to the present. In its Sala della Tempesta (Tempest Room) a ship simulator allows visitants experience the bang of navigating a little boat through a heavy storm.

What about food? Liguria is most celebrated for its pesto, claimed to be the best in the world. It's simple to make, take a howitzer and stamp and compound basil, olive oil, long nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Don't interrupt a Ligurian's heart, don't do it in a blender. Serve with fresh pasta. And don't bury the wine.

Let's propose a sample menu, one of many. Start with Zuppa di Acciughe (Anchovy Soup). Then seek Cima alla genovese (Cold Stuffed Breast of Veal.) For dessert indulge yourself with Amaretti (Almond Cookies.) Be certain to increase your dining pleasance by including local vinoes with your meal.

We'll reason with a speedy expression at Liguria wine. Liguria doesn't have got a batch of room for vino grapes. It ranks 19th among the 20 Italian parts for the land area devoted to vino grapes and for entire yearly vino production. About 34% of its vino is reddish or rosé, leaving 66% white. The part bring forths eight doctor wines. doctor stand ups for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. About 14% of Ligurian vino transports the doctor designation.

Val Polcevera doctor is the lone doctor vino in the Genova area. It looks to be a catch bag classification; there are eight different styles many of which have got subdivisions. Red, white, rosé; dry, sweet; still, fizzy, sparkling, you name it they have got it. But you have got to travel to Liguria or perhaps neighbour parts of Italian Republic to savor any of them. To state the truth, there are many better grounds for visiting this lovely area.

Paris is Never More Enjoyable than on Bastille Day

2007-07-29T11:51:00.001-07:00

As one of Europe's most abiding romanticist and historical cities, City Of Light have continued to capture the attending of travelers from around the human race for centuries. British People holiday-makers inch peculiar have got enjoyed a long human relationship with Paris, partly as a consequence of its stopping point propinquity but also owed to its sophisticated allure. But if you've been to City Of Light many modern times before and you're looking for something new to bask in France's dramatic working capital city, do certain to see in July when Bastille Day jubilations take over.

Bastille Day, or Fête Nationale, is held every twelvemonth on July 14th and is France's most of import national holiday. In itself, Bastille Day doesn't be to retrieve the storming of the Bastille in 1789 - an event that's long been held up as a symbol of the birth of the modern Gallic state - but rather is a memorialization of the Fête Delaware lanthanum Fédération which took topographic point a twelvemonth later. The Fête Delaware lanthanum Fédération was essentially a immense banquet that was held to observe the rebellion of the constitutional monarchy in France, which many people see to be the grade of the end of the Gallic Revolution.

Today, Bastille Day sees jubilations take topographic point all over French Republic and in City Of Light in particular. One of Bastille Day's primary characteristics in City Of Light is a immense military parade that takes topographic point on the Champs-Elysées. Here, you'll happen the President prima the parade, with blue jets flying operating expense in formation, as the March moves from the Discharge Delaware Triomphe to the Topographic Point de la Concorde while the fire brigade conveys up the rear.

In fact, the fire brigade plays a big portion in Paris' Bastille Day celebrations. The nighttime before Bastille Day sees a scope of balls and political parties being held all across the capital, and firemen are at the Centre of these bals diethylstilbestrol pompiers. Bastille Square is also a popular locale for dance on the Eve of the Fête Nationale and there's a large out-of-door Cheery Ball for people who fancy a slightly more than ostentatious celebration.

After the Bastille Day armed forces parade, the partying in City Of Light goes on in thrilling style. Crowds of people congregate at the Champ-de-Mars to watch the pyrotechnics at the Trocadéro; most parallel bars and baseball clubs will also present their ain celebrations, so if you don't acquire a good position of the fireworks, you won't experience left out. If you're in French Republic on Bastille Day but can't do it through to Paris, there's no demand to fret, every town and small town in French Republic have its ain alone manner of celebrating Bastille Day.

Finding Perfect Wilderness Accommodation and Garden Route Accommodation in the Western Cape

2007-07-25T20:37:00.001-07:00

The Garden Path Wilderness is a beautiful piece of South Africa, encouraging freedom, a topographic point to stretch along your body, being and simply be. Staying at Wilderness adjustment and Garden Path adjustment will let you to rest, relax, take long walkings on the beautiful beaches, bask arresting scenes and partake in many activities and athletics – if that is your wish.

Wilderness boundary lines on George, and is on the human race celebrated Garden Route. Determination Wilderness adjustment or Garden Path accommodation, you will be ideally located within a stopping point propinquity to a nature reserve, where you will be able to bask the sensitive eco-system, copiousness of bird life and plentiful more.

The Wilderness and the Garden Path are renowned for being perfect vacation finishes for all ages, all phases and all fitness levels. Whether you are looking for a remainder or some serious entertainment, this is the topographic point for which you have got always looked.

Wilderness and Garden Path are aptly named to adequately depict their beautiful and luscious environments – wild and garden-like. These countries are surrounded by nature, greenery, gardens, lakes, mountains, broad unfastened spaces, wildlife, nature and much more. It is a pleasance to see and a dainty for your self. Of course, allow us not bury to advert the astonishing ocean available in this portion of the human race too – just to really encompass the idealistic vacation destination. Can you even believe of a more than perfect topographic point to visit?

If this is still not enough, there are ample sporting chances to fill up your days. You're your Wilderness adjustment or Garden Path adjustment and do a difference to your world.

Amazing Ways To Recharge Yourself

2007-07-16T13:45:00.001-07:00

Are you tired and Federal up? Bash you desire to allow your hair down, acquire away from it all and have got some fun, or make you simply desire to loosen up because you are feeling the construct up of pressure level and stress? We all feel like this from clip to clip and this is when we necessitate to down tools and take a break.

If you are the stay at place sort of individual and are fortunate to have got got a swimming pool and garden, then bingo, you have yourself an blink of an eye holiday! On the other hand, if you work from home, it's possible you necessitate to acquire away to get away telephone phone calls and interruptions. If you love to go and finances allow, there is a whole human race out there waiting to be explored. There are so many types of vacations it can be hard to make up one's mind where to travel and what to make sometimes.

You can bask the epinephrine haste on the roller coasters at Disneyland, visit Las Vegas, experience Equus caballus horseback riding in the cowpuncher state in Thousand Canyon State or take an stimulating flight over the Grand Canyon.

You could research the tropical rainforests and detect relics of mystifying civilisations in South United States or maybe even tramp along the Inca trail, past temple ruinations and through heavy cloud woods to Machu Picchu, which is located above the Urubamba Valley in Peru. On the other hand, you could simply loosen up on the beautiful beaches in Rio De Janeiro Delaware Janeiro.

If you're looking for escapade you may take to detect Borneo's luxuriant landscapes, its astonishing show of alien works life and ran into the indigen tribes. Hike to Metric Ton Kinabalu's bouldery summit, drive the rapids down the Padas River and take on the slippery Bario Loop.

To go deep into the heartland of Republic Of India on the trail of the brilliant Bengal tiger and visit the Taj Mahal and all its luster or store 'til you drop in Hong Kong could be amazing.

Australia have so much to offer their visitors. Fraser Island have incredible exuberant rainforests and the antic chance to bask whale-watching at Hervey Bay or travel scuba-diving in the Great Barrier Reef, which can actually be seen from outer space and is known to be the world's biggest single construction made by life organisms.

So, whether you bask a field day by the Alexandre Gustave Eiffel tower, be serenaded on a gondola car in Venice, Drive the Greater London oculus or millennium observation wheel or flight to a restful speculation retreat to completely unwind, I'm sure you will come up back recharged, refreshed and ready to take on the world!

Praia Da Rocha

2007-07-12T08:13:00.001-07:00

Praia District Attorney Rocha started life in the 1930's as a quiet and elegant resort. However with the gap of inexpensive flights by air hoses in the 1970's coincident with the roar in flats being built, the creative activity of the Algarves 2nd biggest vacation spot was complete.

So, what conveys people back to Cidade De Praia District Attorney Rocha twelvemonth after year? Could it be that the Algarve only averages out 17 years of rainfall per year? Maybe it's the 2km long beach of Cidade De Praia District Attorney Rocha that people love to promenade along of an evening! Or maybe it's the many stone formations along the coastline which actually gives Cidade De Praia District Attorney Rocha its name significance "Rock Beach"

Well, during the calendar month of January we had the Lisbon-Dakar Rally passing play by during the weekend of 6-7th. During February we had Carnival Week. Schools like to observe this and everybody frocks up and some bigger towns have got large parades through the streets.

Events to come:

26th - 29th April Gymnastics - Rhythmic- figure World Cup Series - Portimao Arena

F1 PowerBoar World Championships. River Arade, Portimao 12-13 May

UIM Motorboat P1 World Championships - 29th - 30th September

For Golf lovers the Algarve is a very popular topographic point regardless of what vacation spot you are based in, all in all there are over 30 top social class golf game courses of study in the Algarve.

For those wanting a spot more action you can travel "off roading" with one of the many local circuit operators. This takes you off the conquered path up into the Monchique Range. The local fishing ports of Alvor, Portimao and Rocha itself have got many boats offering to take you fishing at sensible prices. You can also acquire a 1 hr boat drive from Portimao Marina which will take you into the historical town of Silves. They will usually give you 2 hours in the town before bringing you back to your driblet off point.

For those with households and maybe wanting a spot more fn for the children you have got ZOOMARINE which as you can think is full of animate being amusement for the kids. Then you have got slide AND splash which is a large H2O parkland with plentifulness to make which will maintain you busy all day.

Why Choose Kyrenia North Cyprus for Your Summer Holiday?

2007-07-08T17:17:00.001-07:00

As you sit down by the pretty Venetian harbour, watching boats British shilling on the clear Waters of the Mediterranean Sea Sea Sea, you'll be glad you chose Kyrenia in North Republic Of Republic Of Cyprus for your summertime holiday!

North Cyprus is the unspoilt human face of the Mediterranean, a state where the sun radiances for 300 years a twelvemonth and the local people are genuinely pleased to welcome you to their homeland. In North Republic Of Cyprus you can bask the peace and quiet of arresting beaches or exalted mountains, ancient ruinations or medieval cites, or bask the bang of watersports, aqualung diving event or even paragliding. Choose the town of Kyrenia as your base, and you'll be staying in the prettiest town in North Cyprus, and it's an ideal alkali for exploring this absorbing and beautiful country.

Kyrenia, or Girne as the locals name it, is centred around its almost impossibly perfect Venetian harbour. During the day, café and eating house servers ask for you to sit down and loosen up over a java and baklava, or a easy luncheon of fish, fresh from the sea that laps the seaport walls. After an afternoon of browsing the stores in the medieval streets that Pb away from the seaport into the old town, you'll probably desire to go back here for a well-earned dinner too. Try the Carob Restaurant, an old 19th century carob edible bean bean storage warehouses now converted into an elegant restaurant. Dining on their rooftop patio is an absolute must for romantics and lovers of great sunsets!

Explore the streets and you'll detect the local eating houses that offering first-class Turkish Cypriote menus at less terms than you'll happen around the harbour. The proprietors of the celebrated Niazi's Restaurant in Kyrenia claim to have got created the 'full kebeb', a belly-busting repast of assorted wood coal broiled kabobs with attendant meze dishes. Turkish Cypriots think it takes a really hungry individual to actually complete a kabob repast at Niazi's!

Luckily, Kyrenia is such as an interesting town, you'll soon work up an appetency for all this good food! Kyrenia palace stand ups guard over the harbour, and the positions from its crenelations are well deserving the ascent through its fortified Gates and ramps. The palace also houses the absorbing Shipwreck Museum, containing one of the oldest shipwrecks ever recovered. Ascent up the hill and away from the sea, and you may here the phone calls to supplication from the Djafer Pasa mosque, built in 1570. Here you are literally walking on history; under your feet the land is honeycombed with statute miles of catacombs, cut from the limestone rock

Shopping in the labyrinth of streets behind the seaport is rewarding, simply because you never cognize quite what you might find! North Republic Of Cyprus is known for its alone and historical lacework, basketware – and first-class brandy. It's worth seeking out the Lusignan Art and Cafe Bar, where you can purchase delicate Cypriote wood carvings in the fine art gallery, or quench your thirst with a bracing lemonade made by the owner's female parent on the premises.

Kyrenia is surrounded by some of the best beaches in North Cyprus, where aureate littoral dip into shallow waters, ideal for sunworshippers and watersport fans alike. From Kyrenia, you can easily see some of North Cyprus' most celebrated sights. Just a short thrust away is the beautiful small town of Bellapais and its celebrated ruined Austin Friar abbey, immortalized in the writer Lawrence Durrell's book "Bitter Lemons". The small town foursquare is a lovely topographic point to halt and bask the peaceful atmosphere, but don't sit down for too long under the Tree of Idleness or you may never acquire up again!

Choose Kyrenia in North Republic Of Cyprus for your summertime vacation and you'll bask the best the Mediterranean Sea have to offer, without the hassle, high costs or high-rise augmentings of other summertime sunlight resorts!

Hawaii Vacation Homes

2007-07-03T07:44:00.001-07:00

Hawaii holiday homes are available for those invitees who desire to be in a more than private place while visiting Hawaii. If you experience like you desire to be in a place where you can make anything you desire without following the rules of a hotel you can lease a house and enjoy
a private space for you and your family.

Prices might change depending on the number of rooms, comforts and location of the house. You can get houses with more than than than 8 rooms, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, lawn tennis court, ocean presence location and more. The terms for a house like this could be a small spot expensive around $6000 per night, but you can also happen large houses like this but with a cheaper price. There are also houses with just 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms, pool, beach front, washer and drier and other comforts from $200 up to $1000 United States per night.

There are a batch of options for all the different needs of every visitor. Some people enjoy the environment of hotels where everything is ready for you and the employees handle you just perfect. Person make your bed and you have got got got always a clean place to come up back to.

There are other people who prefer to remain in a rented home to have more than privateness even when they have to do their duties by their ain such as as cleansing the kitchen, washing the clothes, making the beds, etc. That's wherefore there is always something that volition tantrum your needs.

Some times it could be cheaper to lease a house than stay in a hotel depending on how many people are going on the trip and the terms of the house. You can happen good deals in house rentals so you might see that option as well. Renting a house and being able to cook your ain nutrient can salvage you a batch of money, so depending of what sort of holiday you are planning you can happen rooms, bungalows, condoes or houses.

Hello from Montreal - A Chat with Andre Giroux - Owner of Ca Roule Bicycle Rentals

2007-06-29T07:43:00.001-07:00

I had thoroughly enjoyed my guided bicycle tour with Ça Roule and Bruno, a licensed city guide from Guidatour, really introduced Montreal up close to us. And my own independent explorations of the bicyle trail along the Lachine Canal introduced me to a side of Montreal I had never been exposed to. After returning my bike after a full day of exercise I wanted to find out a bit more about who is behind this operation, Ça Roule, or Montreal on Wheels, as it is known in English.

Montreal, by the way, is a fabulous city to explore by bicycle. The Old Port area, the bicycle path network along the Lachine Canal and alongside the St. Lawrence River, as well as the islands of Ile St. Hélène and Parc Jean Drapeau in the St. Lawrence are eminently bikeable. Of course the trail network on Mont Royal also adds some interesting terrain for cycling enthusiasts and many of Montreal's quaint neighbourhoods lend themselves perfectly to be discovered en vélo. Montreal was actually voted the number 1 city for bicyclists in 1999 by Bicycling magazine.

Ça Roule is a Bicycle Rental and Touring Shop located on the harbourfront boulevard at 27 De La Commune Est. André Giroux, the owner, created this company 12 years ago. He originally studied law and spent 7 years as a lawyer, specialized in litigation and legal consulting for large real estate developers. As an avid sports person, André plays hockey and tennis and he really enjoys cycling and in 1994 he decided to open a small rental store that initially focused on renting roller blades, a big craze in the mid 1990s. His original stable of equipment also included 12 bicycles. In the meantime his fleet has grown to more than 70 bicycles which include touring bikes, tandems, trail bikes, electric bikes and electric scooters. His store also rents kids trailers and child carriers.

I asked him what the name "Ça Roule" actually means and he explained that this French phrase literally means "it's rolling", but is generally understood as "it's going well", "it's running well". He explained that his store specializes in customer service, his staff is knowledgeable, and they are available to provide advice on all sorts of biking activities in and around Montreal. Everyone gets outfitted with a city-wide cycling map and a free bottle of water is included in every tour.

His customers come from all over the world including the USA, the rest of Canada and a wide variety of European countries. Even Australian, Korean and Japanese travelers rent muscle-powered equipment from him and many of his clients are referred by hotels and the Montreal Tourist Office. In addition he also offers bicycle repairs and some of his repair clients are part of the 3500 permanent residents that now live in Old Montreal, or employees that work in Old Montreal and commute there by bicycle.

Ça Rule has six staff members: two bicycle repair technicians and four tour leaders. Recently he has started to collaborate with Guidatour and both companies combined have developed an Official City Tour By Bike that is led by a licensed tour guide. This morning I participated in this official city tour and in my opinion exploring a city by bike has to be one of the best ways of discovering a new place.

In any northern country, the bicycling business is seasonal, and the high season at Ça Roule goes from May to October, sometimes stretching into November, depending on the weather. During the winter André works on updating the website and preparing the strategies for the next business years and last year he had a chance to go to Florida for 3 weeks. During the summer the shop is very busy and André and his staff members work very had, but he tries to go out bicycling himself in the evenings between 7 and 8 pm. He loves to cycle over to Montreal's islands: Ile St. Hélène and Jean Drapeau Park.

André also pointed out that Ça Roule is able to offer customized bicycle tours. One time a group of people asked to start a tour on top of Mont Royal. So he rented a cargo van and carted several bikes up to the top of the mountain so the tour group could start their ride at their intended starting point. All sorts of special assignments can be done, they might just require a bit of notice to organize.

With all this exercise I was ready for a very solid dinner, so I thanked André for his time and for putting on the Official Guide City Tour, one of the best ways of getting to know the city and continued my explorations of Montreal on this Canada Day.

Working In Spain Is An Easy Goal As The Temporary And Full Time Job Market Is Now Rather Promising

2007-06-25T09:11:00.001-07:00

Before beginning a job search in Spain, you should know that the wages are typically lower than those in other parts of Europe, such as the northern cities. Despite lower wages, the cost of living is also reduced, which helps to promote better overall living in Spain.

When looking to qualify for work in Spain, most qualifications obtained anywhere else in the European Union are acceptable. While foreigners are accepted into the workforce in Spain, those who come from outside of the European Union must obtain a Spanish work permit in order to gain employment. Sometimes, getting a work permit is rather difficult, as many Spanish employers refrain from hiring someone that does not have an existing work permit. This often causes confusion and frustration, as work permits are difficult to obtain without proving guaranteed employment awaits your arrival.

Once you have secured employment, many workers will receive a contract of at least six months from their employer. This is a guarantee that a foreign worker will be given the same rights as other Spanish employees. It is especially important to carefully review any contracts and when needed, taking documents to a translator if you do not speak Spanish. Usually, temporary contracts are offered for 3-, 6-, or 9 months. Once a contract expires, your employer must offer a new agreement with a longer term. In Spain, it is against policy to keep assigning short-term contracts.

Working in Spain also differs than in other countries because the workday includes what is called a "siesta." In the afternoon, workers customarily take a break that lasts about 2 to 3 hours long. At this time, most businesses shut down and reopen during the evening (when the weather is cooler).

A Trip to Hungary - Budapest

2007-06-20T14:11:00.001-07:00

Have you ever heard about the country where people could save their traditions about any foreign interference? Have you ever heard about the city that includes the past, the present and the future at the same time? And what about people? Have you ever heard about the nation that hadn't allowed any foreign influence to change their thoughts, traditions, their way of life? I think that you've heard about such countries, and of course you have many examples to prove your answer. Certainly, there are many such countries. One of the examples are Asian countries. Well, but what about Europe? There is a country in the Central Europe that was under the occupation of different countries but it hasn't changed. It's Hungary. It's a small country.

Budapest is its capital. Budapest stands on the bank of the river Danube. There are many wonderful European cities that stand on the banks of this river but only Budapest is known as a pearl of Danube. I think many people would like to visit this city where nothing reminds you about bustling world we live in. The streets are very small and silent in Budapest. They are very similar to each other. So, without a map you can do nothing here, cause it's very easy to be lost. Budapest was formed from three towns and the contrast between these towns is very visible. On the right bank of the river stands Buda with its ancient monuments. On the opposite side stands Pest with its modern buildings, colorful shop windows that reflect different fashion styles. They say that these shop windows are similar with those in Paris. Examining the architecture of the city I was impressed by the architects' work that could combine modern technologies with ancient buildings. Although not only the architect of the city impressed me much. Besides, I think you'll find out this information in any guide-book without effort. What was interesting? It was absolutely another thing. Hungarians impressed me much. I admired the thing how they could carry through the centuries the part of their history, their traditions, their folk songs and dances without any influence.

Wandering about the city I was looking for a drugstore. I peered into buildings with a signboard with a name. I thought that the name had to be clear to everyone, something international, that everyone could understand it. But my searches haven't met with success. I haven't found any drugstore. Later I found that, certainly, drugstores in Budapest exist but their names are quite different from the names which we used to hear. So the name of the drugstore in Budapest is GYOGUSERTA'R.

If it happened so that you've lost don't ask citizens for a help. They won't help you. Moreover they can go away. It doesn't mean that Hungarians aren't hospitable or that don't study any foreign language at schools. Hungarians don't accept any foreign things. Well, they are friendly and cheerful people. They are able to allocate the time for job and for fun. Speaking about their attitude for job Hungarians are very similar to Germans. They are very responsible and concern to the orders with due scrupulousness.

Nevertheless Budapest is a city that you have to visit. If you arrive here in spring you'll find yourself on a festival. You'll have a lot of fun spending time with your friends drinking famous Hungarian wine and eating famous Hungarian goulash. By the way, if you decide to go into a restaurant and have dinner won't be in a hurry to reserve both the first and the second course at once. Why? Because portions in the Budapest's restaurants are huge and you can overeat. In addition, there is one thing that can make you happy. Budapest is a very cheap city.

So, if you are tired of the crowed, busy streets and expensive restaurants you have to visit Budapest. You can have a rest both for your soul and for your body. In conclusion, the main thing is that you'll receive a great pleasure from this rest without any notice of passing time.

Accommodation in Sweden - Splendor Unearthed

2007-06-14T13:38:00.001-07:00

Full of opportunities of cultural and outdoor activities, magnanimous natural wealth, and fabulous modern developments put Sweden in the category of one of the best tourist destinations in the world. You would not desire for anything when you are served with vast forests, 90000 lakes, marvelous countryside and a magnificent sea where you can spend a quality time. And for relishing all such amenities, you have a home away from home in form of fabulous accommodation in Sweden. Sweden accommodation is in wide range and serves the purpose of offering complete satisfaction, comfort and relaxation. After a hectic sightseeing schedule, you get a perfect environment for relaxing your mind, body and soul.

Sweden cities have cosmopolitan look and feel and each of them has superb amenities in terms of accommodation, entertainment centers and quality eateries. The glorious past and wonderful ancient heritages make it highly worth visiting cities. 90000 lakes, mountains, and vast forests have imparted utmost splendor to the country. Swedish people have developed their own assets of design, paintings and traditionalistic architectures. You will have some good experiences of seeing some wonderful architecture in the cities such as Stockholm, Linkoping and Gothenburg. Accommodation in Sweden also possesses interesting features in respect of architectural design.

If you are in Stockholm, never miss out on having a trip on the steaming boat across the Gota Kanal that connects Stockholm with Gothenburg. You can choose to board on any of the two means, private boat or a cruise. Passing through the central plains and valley of Sweden gives you a fair idea about the glorious medieval history and modern history of aviation and electronics. When you move to the south, Gothenburg with its industrial assets welcomes you. The city is known for its large international airport. Diverse and unspoiled nature has imparted an indelible beauty to the country. The southern region features beautiful sandy beaches. The central part is dominated by thousands of small islands.

Fun and Sun in Florida - 10 Best Beach Picks

2007-06-10T19:07:00.001-07:00

If you're looking for a holiday with lots of sun, sea and sand, Florida is the perfect destination. With more than 1,100 miles of beaches along its sultry coasts, Florida has something for everyone. But which are the best Florida beaches and what can you expect to find there?

Here are ten best beach picks:

1. Panama City Beach, also known as PCB, is consistently listed among the best Florida beaches, featuring shimmering white quartz sand, which is beautiful to look at and soft enough for children to play in. More than 25 miles in length, it borders on the Gulf of Mexico, ensuring warm, clear water for swimming.

2. Daytona Beach, as seen on MTV, has hard packed sand, which is great for sports and dancing. A former racing venue, much of it is still accessible to cars. Daytona Beach is a popular location for bodysurfing and is an excellent place to swim. Its gently sloping shoreline means you are less likely to unexpectedly find yourself out of your depth.

3. St Joseph Peninsula offers a beautiful, sugary white beach with all the benefits of a National Park. Its tall dunes offer beautiful views out across St Joseph Bay. This is a popular location for fans of canoeing and kayaking, and fishing is available just offshore. St Joseph is often rated among the top 10 Florida beaches for those who enjoy activity vacations.

4. Cocoa Beach is positioned just minutes away from the Kennedy Space Center, so if you time your trip right, you can lie back on the soft sand and watch a shuttle take off. Cocoa Beach is a great place for surfing and there is always a party atmosphere around the pier.

5. South Beach is popular with international celebrities and those looking forward to luxury holidays where they can be seen by the right people. South Beach bars and restaurants are priced accordingly, but his is a great place to hang out if you enjoy looking chic.

6. Clearwater Beach is always bustling with activity. With artistic and cultural activities to enjoy, it also features free concerts at night down by Pier 60. And children will enjoy visiting the nearby aquarium. Kids often declare this to be one of the best Florida beaches.

7. Fort Walton Beach is a great place to go to relax, especially for families, with plenty of space for kids to play and lifeguards to watch out for them. Dolphins play in the bay just offshore and you can take a boat ride if you want to go and meet them.

8. Captiva Beach, out on Captiva Island, is a popular destination for young couples as well as for older holidaymakers. Its miles of glittering sand are laced with exotic shells. Captiva Beach is situated near the Bahia Honda Channel, with its stunning reefs, which makes it a great place to go snorkeling.

9. Fort Lauderdale offers 23 miles of stunning beaches between its wayward waterways and the open sea. Here you can watch manatees at play or simply walk out into the water to explore the reef. Often listed among the top 10 Florida beaches, its enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to charm visitors from all different backgrounds.

10. Sanibel Island Beach is undoubtedly one of the best Florida beaches, and also one of the state's best-kept secrets. Though it's a popular location for marriages, it's still largely undiscovered, and its quiet atmosphere attracts wildlife such as sea turtles. It's a great place to find shells and is popular with windsurfers.

Take a Break, American Idol Style!

2007-06-05T11:41:00.001-07:00

Like most people I sang in front of the mirror with a hairbrush as a microphone and always harboured that dream of being a popstar. And, like most people, I couldn't, and still can't sing a note. My singing is reserved for the shower nowadays and I believed there it would stay. That was, however, until I heard about singing holidays.

Singing vacations give holidaymakers the chance to tune up their voice while enjoying a break, usually at a luxurious country house (with no neighbours to hear your attempts at Whitney or Mariah).

The break features tuition from top singing teachers and you can choose exactly what type of singing you want to perfect.

Try a jazz singing holiday for instance. You can usually bring your own favourite songs and with the help of the experts turn them into a show-stopping performance.

Or go for a musical break where you will learn how to put on your very own stage show and perform the masterpiece at the end of your stay.

Most singing holiday providers also feature seasonal breaks. A Christmas music break gives guests the opportunity to carol sing like a professional and learn different vocal arrangements to some classic Christmas songs.

Singing holidays are also great social occasions. After learning to sing together and performing as a group you get the chance to relax with a meal and a few drinks and get to know your fellow budding singers.

A singing holiday is ideal for amateur singers who want to brush up on their skills and enjoy a spot of luxury while they're at it. Now I'm off to get my hairbrush out and book my trip…

Mombasa Kenya Diani Hotels-Top Private Beach Hotels Diani Kenya

2007-05-31T08:09:00.001-07:00

Diani House is a coastal taste of colonial Kenya located about halfway along Diani, this pleasant home with grassy slopes rolling down to the beach is a nostalgic reminder of what the Kenyan coast was like before the mushrooming of resort hotels. Sitting on the cool veranda with dogs at your feet, you feel transported back in time.

When you stay at Diani house you are hosted by Annelise (lulu) Archer and John Clark. This lively young couple helps you to feel completely relaxed and at home, and they will organize activities or outings to suit. They have a boat for fishing, snorkeling, or visiting nearby islands. You can also windsurf. Side trips to the Shimba Hills National Reserve for game viewing or into Mombasa for shopping or sight seeing can easily be arranged.

Safari journal-last late evening

"At dinner there were candles, music wafting out of the living room, and a selection of wines. There was a pleasant breeze, a bush baby ran along the edge of the veranda and we could sense the ocean through the night. Conversation flowed. Could have spent a week just talking to John and Lulu, to hear more about their wonderful and diverse experiences growing up in Kenya-from game safaris to movie sets".

Diani House can accommodate a maximum of eight guests. The bedrooms are spacious and simple. Lulu has decorated them individually using Kenyan furniture, fabrics and crafts to make them colorful and attractive. There are bookshelves piled with books and scattered rugs-the ambience is casual and homey rather than luxurious. There are fans (no air conditioning) and each bedroom has a large bathroom ensuite. In place of glass, there is dark meshing over windows, but from the veranda outside there are nice views down over the garden towards the ocean.

The almost five hectares in size grounds are impressive with palms, baobabs and bougainvillea is also a refuge for all manner of birds and small wildlife. There are colobus monkeys in the trees, a bush baby helps itself from a feeder, and every where there are birds.

Fresh home-cooked food is served with an emphasis on the wonderful seafood and tropical fruits available. Meals are casual and usually enjoyed alfresco on the long veranda.

Golden Beach

This is a huge concrete high-rise with 138 rooms. There is little charm and loud décor-more like a convention center. Although the beach front is extensive, the buildings are from the beach. There are many sports activities, a big pool and gardens. The hotel is frequented mainly by German tour groups.

Robinson Baobab Club

Built in 1974, this is one of the oldest hotels on the beach. It can accommodate 300 people. The clientele is predominantly German, and bookings are made in Frankfurt. The hotel has a magnificent site high on a rocky promontory, well-treed, and with views down over the ocean. There are some nice touches-a waterfall by the lobby, interesting Lamu furniture, dining tables next to big open windows with sea views.

Southern Palms Beach Resort

This is a new beach resort going up near the northern end of Diani Beach. Southern Palms will have 180 rooms in three stories. There is to be a large pool, sports and conference facilities and nightly entertainment. Rooms will have Swahili-style décor and balconies facing the sea. They will also have air conditioning, mosquito nets and large double beds. An extra Lamu-style divan will add to the Swahili theme.

Scotland's Beautiful Appin - The Playground Of The British Stewart Kings

2007-05-27T12:47:00.001-07:00

There is a little bay and hamlet on the West coast of Scotland called Kentallen, beautiful and quiet, it must have been quite a centre in the ancient days because of its location. Look up the hill from there and you can see the cleft in the rock where Charles Stewart, the local clan leader hid from the forces of the government who were set on killing him. To-day the little cottages are most likely to be let to visitors as holiday cottages. Yet they are surrounded by history.

The longest unbroken line of British Kings and Queens was formed in Scotland. This one Scottish family, the Stewarts, lasted in power for over 400 years. There is even a Stewart pretender to the British throne to-day. Appin was their land.

And one of the smaller areas of the West coast of Scotland, renowned for its stunning beauty, was their family playground. Visitors from around the world to-day bask in its glorious mountains, they fish in its streams and they watch its wildlife in wonder.

When Walter the High Steward married Robert the Bruce's daughter Marjory in the 14th century, little did they know that their descendants would take the crowns of Scotland and England for the next 400 years ending with Queen Anne in 1714. The words, High Steward become corrupted to Stuart, or Stewart over the years.

They were some of the most famous names in European history. They included the tragic but beautiful Mary Queen of Scots, who was beheaded under the orders of her cousin Queen Elizabeth of England. Her son became James the 1st of England as well as the King of Scots. The British Parliament committed regicide by executing another Stewart King, Charles 1st. The final Stewart monarch, Queen Anne, reigned during the political Union of Scotland and England in the early 18th century.

All of them knew about the Stewart homelands in Appin. James IV often visited his cousin in Stalker Castle in the 15th century for hunting and fishing. Then, as now, the East of Scotland was the seat of government and Appin was a playground

There was uproar in Appin with the revolt of Bonnie Prince Charlie - Charles Edward Stewart - the whole clan turned out for him at Culloden Field in 1745. The clanslost and the repercussions were awful. The banner of the Stewart Clan was hidden after the battle and is now in Edinburgh.

The visitors to-day just enjoy the beaches and the forest walks. They walk around Appin and occasionally wonder what the big stone is doing in he middle of the field. It was put there by the megalithic people, 3,000 years ago. Few of the passers by realise that.

John

Top Beaches in California - Six Must-See Shorelines

2007-05-23T16:44:00.001-07:00

When it comes to fun in the sun, southern California has it all. With its year-round tropical climate, year-round average water temperature of 78 degrees, perfect waves, excellent dining, and numerous oceanfront resorts, this earthly paradise also boasts picturesque harbors and a shimmering coastline filled with sand, surf and sun.

Not only is it home to millions of people but it beckons millions more each year from all over the globe. Whether you are a California resident headed to the beach to soak up the sun for a day, or you are planning a family vacation that your kids will remember for a long time to come, you'll find some beaches to add to your itinerary here.

Here are six of the top beaches in California, including nice, quiet beaches as well as a few beaches that are particularly nice for visiting families.

1. Santa Monica Beach. The West Coast's answer to Coney Island, this magnificent stretch of wide, sandy beach located in the seat of Los Angeles County features the famous Santa Monica Pier which houses its own amusement park atop one of the oldest wooden piers on the west coast. The site has also appeared in dozens of movies and television shows. Take a ride at sunset on the Ferris wheel for a spectacular ocean view. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the many different eateries in the area and be sure to check out the nearby attractions, which include Venice Beach and Palisades Park. This is one place that's sure to make a splash with the entire family.

2. Newport Beach. A fascinating and trendy bit of real estate located in Orange County, Newport Beach offers locals and tourists a variety of activities. Stroll on a scenic walkway, embark on a refreshing harbor cruise, or go boating, scuba diving, or bodysurfing Dining at most restaurants includes panoramic views of the harbors. Make sure to check out the Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion.

3. Cardiff State Beach. Located in San Diego County, this recreational facility features lifeguards, restrooms and a smoothly sloping beach for sunbathing, fishing, swimming, surfing and kayaking. People love Cardiff State Beach for its quiet beach, casual atmosphere, fewer crowds and excellent restaurants. Nearby points of interest include Restaurant Row, which features savory seafood and Mexican fare; San Elijo Lagoon, which boasts great bird watching; and the Seaside Market where you can purchase a wide variety of healthy foods and snacks.

4. La Jolla. If your preference is sheltered coves and unique landscapes, then visiting these beaches in San Diego County should definitely be listed on your itinerary. The versatility of La Jolla's beaches makes for intriguing and enchanting getaways or they can be loads of fun for the entire family. Investigate the underwater marine life while snorkeling or simply walk the shoreline barefoot. Nearby attractions include The Scripps Institute of Oceanography and The Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum.

5. Oceanside City Beach. Tropical palm trees stretch along the shores of this tranquil and eloquent beach located in northern San Diego County. Take a leisurely walk, ride your bicycle or roller-blade down what is called "The Strand" (the main street alongside the beach) or spend some time fishing off the pier at Oceanside. Nearby Cape Cod Village offers lots of great restaurants and the beach has lifeguards and restrooms.

6. Coronado Beach. If you're in San Diego, you'll love the wide expanse of Coronado Beach with plenty of room for the family to spread out. While the kids are playing volleyball, soccer or tag, or tossing Frisbees, flying kites or building sand castles, you and your spouse can kick back and enjoy the surf, the sand and the seagulls.

This enchanting locale is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado and is just a short ferry ride away from San Diego Bay. Or you can opt to pack everything you'll need for a day at the beach and drive across the Bay Bridge. No food is sold at the beach so be sure to bring along sandwiches, soft drinks and other snacks. There is free parking on Ocean Avenue but it gets crowded quickly so try to get there early.

It's interesting to note that the entire California coastline is constantly changing due to tides, currents and weather conditions. Beaches erode and new ones form when sediment washes in from the Pacific Ocean.

With all its coves, cliffs and inlets, islands and harbors, jetties and piers, it would take eons to fully explore this magnificent geographical location. That's why many people return year after year to experience its magic and appreciate its treasures.

Alaska, A Box Car, A Luxury Vacation? Surely Not!

2007-05-20T08:44:00.001-07:00

When you're off on holiday, you don't really pay attention to the transport. The plane, ship, or train is just a means to get you to where you want to go. But that's not the case at the Aurora-Express hotel in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Aurora-Express consists of seven Railroad cars converted into a luxury hotel. The Cars have views of the Tenana River, the Alaskan Mountain Range and the City of Fairbanks.

The hotel has a large outdoor deck for where guests can enjoy barbecues or relax in the warm summer evenings and a Diner car where breakfast is served at 8am daily.

The Railroad cars have been decorated elegantly and many of the rooms have their own theme. The National Domain car has been renovated into four suites featuring queen-sized beds and private baths and entrances.

The CanCan room has a 10-foot ceiling, crystal chandeliers, and antiques. It is decorated with costumes, paintings, fabrics, colours and fixtures reminiscent of the period in which the CanCan was first performed.

The Arlene car is a private 85–foot car with two bedrooms including a queen size bed and two twin beds. This car also features a private bath, kitchen and living room with a T.V.

Fairbanks is the second largest city in the state of Alaska. It is 45 minutes from Anchorage by air and three hours from Seattle.

A stay at the Aurora Express hotel and you'll never look at transport in the same way again!

The Abcs Of Booking Cheap Airline Tickets Online

2007-05-16T13:42:00.001-07:00

Travel has changed and fierce competition among airline carriers has ensured that the savvy customer benefits. Unlike earlier tickets on a flight are not sold at a fixed rate. Most airlines have an elaborate grading system in place. For example:

• In Y class the airline may choose to sell say 10 of tickets at USD 100 each.

• In X class they may allocate 50 seats at USD 110.

• In S class they may want to sell 75 seats at USD150 each.

• In C class the airline may choose to sell say 5 tickets at USD 300.

So at any given time when you try and buy tickets you would come up with different rates depending on the number of tickets you wish to buy. As a traveler you need to log on to websites that sell discounted or cheap airline tickets at different times of the day or night and check whether you strike gold.

Here are a few tips that may help you get the cheapest airline tickets:

1. Get familiar with the workings of major plane ticket search engines and web directories. Examples are Expedia, Hotwire, and 1888airlinetickets.com . Most tend to release new discount tickets quotas on Wednesdays. So the best time to buy the cheapest tickets would be Wednesday night from midnight to around 5 am.

2. If you are planning a trip for the whole family then aim for off season travel. Ticket prices are lowest just before and after major holidays and in fall. According to experts the best time slots would be say mid-January to end February, April through May, and mid-September to mid-December.

3. Try not to buy tickets last minute the prices are the highest from 14 days before departure date. So either book around 21 days in advance or take a chance that a plane may be empty and book just before departure. Many airlines give away unsold tickets at bargain prices around half hour before departure.

4. In case you just have to travel during holidays. Choose the day itself and not the day before. Experts have found that planes go empty on Xmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving days while they are chock-a-block the day before and after.

5. To get the most benefits you must comparison shop. Log on to several travel sites and compare prices for the sector you want to fly on.

The airlines and travel websites offer greater discounts for tickets booked online because it saves them overhead costs. One-way tickets are more expensive than two way so, book a round trip and reap the many benefits. Similarly tickets are much cheaper mid-week than weekends.

Try and collect loyalty reward points by flying the same airline each time. That way you will benefit more and you can also choose to club credit card reward points with flying miles. If you are traveling constantly then sign up for email notifications of discounts, promotions, and change in prices.

Traveling by plane now has so many aspects that a traveler needs to keep abreast with changes in the system and new innovations. The World Wide Web has changed air travel by offering so many conveniences online.

Take a Touring Ride Though Florida

2007-05-12T18:47:00.001-07:00

There are some beautiful places to ride in every state of the union. Florida, however, with its mild winters and helmet optional law, is a very popular state for motorcycle vacations – especially around Daytona's Bike Week or Biketoberfest.

You'll find some really great spots to ride from the Panhandle to Key West. Along the way, you'll run into lots of other motorcycle enthusiasts to share the road with.

· Let's begin in the northwestern portion of the Panhandle of Florida. Panama City and Pensacola are both great beach rides. Pamana City offers "The Miracle Mile" right on the beach where everyone, bikers or not, slowly cruises to see the sight of the neon night.

· Crossing Interstate 10 over to Jacksonville, you'll find Jacksonville to be a great spot for nightlife and beaches as well. All the fun of a big city combine with the peaceful beaches to make Jax, as it is commonly called, a perfect stop on your Florida trip.

· Turn down Interstate 95 from Jacksonville and you'll find St. Augustine just an hour's right south. Head toward the beach through this quaint little town to find the historic section where the Spaniards first established themselves in this country. Tour the fort, take a horse and buggy ride, visit the old drug store and oldest school house in the U.S. and much more.

· From St. Augustine, you can head south again and, around Ormond Beach, head over to U.S. 1 for your ride into Daytona Beach. At the Speedway, turn east and head for Boothill Saloon, the Iron Horse, and all the beach spots. Come prepared to party because Daytona is a fun beach town. Stop at Daddy Rat's and other unique beach shops and ride "The Loop" which is a well-known run beginning north at the Granada Bridge on John Anderson Drive in Ormond Beach. Continue north to Highbridge Road, turn left and go over the Inter-Coastal Waterway, the Halifax River by any other name. Enjoy the winding turns until you approach Walter Boardman Road where you turn left to Old Dixie Highway. Take another left and you'll be heading south into Ormond Beach. This 22 miles of Florida's beauty is a traditional run for Bike Week or Biketoberfest participants.

· Back on I-95, or if you prefer the scenic route, going south on U.S. 1, you'll come to Titusville, Florida where you'll want to stop and tour Kennedy Space Center. Nearby Cocoa Beach makes a great overnight stop or camp at the Great Outdoor right in Titusville.

· Continue south on I-95 and you'll find yourself in the Florida Keys after a few hours. Be sure to miss the Miami traffic and stay on I-95 South. Miami isn't a fun ride due to the crowds! If you do want to stop in Miami, take a tour through South Beach. Once you enter the Florida Keys, you'll see a whole different side of Florida. The life is slow and easy in the keys. The Seven-Mile Bridge really is seven miles long. At the end of the road, Key West awaits! See the sunset at the southern most point and do the Duvall Crawl with the other parties, but remember to drink responsibly.

· Heading back up from the Florida Keys, take the Florida Turnpike into Orlando for a day of fun with Mickey Mouse or one of the other theme parks in Orlando.

· From Orlando, Interstate-4 will head you right back to Daytona for another day or another week of fun in the sun. If you prefer, you can cruise the back roads of the west coast of Florida for a trip you'll remember. But you won't find places like Daytona Beach on that trip.

Most importantly, no matter where you decide to travel in Florida, remember that the helmet laws is a helmet-optional, but you only have the option if you carry $100,000 medical coverage on your motorcycle policy. If you are riding with minimum coverage and get stopped, the fines can be high. Also, remember that even though Florida has rescinded the helmet law, it certainly hasn't improved those cage drivers watching for bikers! Keep a close watch on them because anything can happen when a northern tourist in a cage sees a pretty palm tree!

You'll find Florida bikers are friendly, helpful people, always ready to share with you the next great campground on the road or the next biker-friendly bar or restraint or the next good bike mechanic. Enjoy your ride through the Sunshine State!

Cheap Bahamas Vacation Package Gives All The Pleasure Of Holidaying

2007-05-08T12:49:00.001-07:00

Bahamas is a beautiful island situated in the northern most region of United States.
This Island is recognized as one of the popular destinations among tourists. The island is full of natural beauty and a nature lover would definitely love to visit this place. It's a wonderful place for holidaying and vacationing, one can experience full enjoyment in a place like Bahamas. You can also get cheap Bahamas vacation package if you want to visit this destination. After visiting this place, you can find long and wide deserted clean-white beaches, hotels, night time entertainment clubs, scuba diving facilities. Apart from this, you can also find various water sports and a water lover would definitely like to spend his maximum time.

This island has many peaceful and picturesque locations on either side of the beaches. You will gather a wonderful experience during tour to this island. It will attract you many more times and you will also like to visit again after your first visit. Before planning for your holiday to Bahamas, get all the information about the location through various sources. This will help you to have a better time in a new place and you can enjoy your holiday in a peaceful mode. You can search on web to know about various packages that is available with a tour operator. You can take cheap Bahamas vacation package and visit there to get a break from daily work schedule. The tour will refresh your mind and soul thus making your vacation a memorable one.

One can find numerous hotels, villas and resorts in Bahamas that are available at very reasonable prices. You can consider any of the means for staying depending on the extent of your budget. Different people have different vision of leading their life and so is the reason that some people prefer for rented villas while others stay in hotels to spend their vacation. Whatever is the mode of staying considering the size of your budget, be sure to make all the vacation preparation well in advance. Getting a cheap Bahamas vacation package during peak holiday season will surely let you have an unforgettable vacation. You can do anything that you want to enjoy your holiday. Any water sports with the calm and peaceful atmosphere is really soothing and you get mingled with such awesome things.

A cheap Bahamas vacation package consists of every feature that you want. You will not have to bother much about it. The tour operator or an online tour service provider will make your vacation arrangement. The package includes everything right from journey to staying. From sight seeing to experiencing all the luxuries and leisure's there. For those who are fascinated about traveling, Bahamas is the perfect destination to roam around and one can shack all his tensions and worry. You will have all the fun and experience the tremendous pleasures of life. This is an ideal place for a vacation with family and friends and can have all the fun you desire. A destination like Bahamas is a delight for visitors who love playing with water sports like snorkeling, diving, fishing. You can pamper around such activities that you desire.

Bed and Breakfast Cambridge

2007-05-05T04:44:00.001-07:00

Cambridge is a fantastic place to stay at any time of the year but during the Summer it really springs into life. The scenery and the attractions available are second to none. Combine that with the tradition and atmosphere surrounding the city and you really do have a perfect holiday combination.

The great news is that holidaying in Cambridge does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. Most of the attractions are a nominal cost, if not free, and you can easily Bed and Breakfast Cambridge without a problem.

There is an abundance of B&B's scattered all the way up Newmarket Rd which is the main thoroughfare into town. If you are staying up the top end of the road a walk into the town centre and the colleges should take you no more than 20 minutes. This is a great walk as you can cut across Parkers Piece where the students like to hang out and play football in between studying and sample the true Cambridge atmosphere.

If you are a bit further out it's not a problem as there are good bus connections all the way into the city form the Park and Ride on Newmarket Rd. If you are feeling really lazy you can always get a taxi which shouldn't cost you more than £5-6 (€8-10).

There are also a lot of B&B's concentrated in the South of the city which is ideal for visiting the backs and enjoying the great Cambridge tradition of punting up the River Cam.

If you do decide to Bed and Breakfast Cambridge then just check with the owner that the rooms cater for all your needs, particularly if you are travelling with small children or people with special dietary requirements.

Most B&B's are very flexible when it comes to these things but if you are planning a long stay it is always prudent to check and make sure there are no last minute hiccups that may ruin your holiday.

Nearly all of them will offer a choice of a European style breakfast consisting of Croissants and cereal, as well as the less healthy (but certainly more tasty) traditional English breakfast. This usually consists of a combination of a fry up including Sausage, Egg, Bacon Tomato, Mushrooms and if you are lucky – fried bread. It's a dieticians nightmare but there is nothing better to set you up for a long days sightseeing!

Now that your mouth is watering, click below to find a B&B in Cambridge:

Bed and Breakfast Cambridge

Ecotourism Presents Old World In A New Light

2007-04-30T20:42:00.001-07:00

Ecotourism or ecological tourism is a trend towards preservation that has in recent years taken on global proportions. It's a relatively recent form of tourism typified by being both socially and ecologically conscious, according to Wikipedia. Focusing on many factors including regional plant and wildlife, and native culture, ecotourism is a growing trend. This new form of travel seeks to protect, inform and educate as much as it does to profile or display.

For example: in most countries, it is illegal to remove "found" treasures of ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Greece or the Roman Empire. In other instances, the protection of underwater habitats is promoted so that coral is not removed (or in some cases, not even stepped upon).

For Prince Edward Island, ecotourism seeks to preserve a natural heritage and a legacy that has endured for tens of thousands of years. With multicolored beaches of white, champagne, pink and red sand, island dunes are home and host to a fragile ecosystem resplendent with plant and animal life. Preservation of dunes means preservation of a rich, natural heritage.

For seaside wildlife so abundantly alive on the island, preservation extends to bird colonies and to protecting the endangered Piping Plover. A North American shorebird, the Piping Plover's light, sandy colored feathers blend into context with sandy beaches and shorelines, its primary habitat.

Ecotourism on Prince Edward Island extends to preservation of its heritage as with Lennox Island, home to a community of Mi'Kmaq people, the original inhabitants of the island. Featuring a community museum and the opportunity to sample traditional native food Lennox Island is an excellent place to see ecotourism in action.

Beyond the sites and sounds of the ocean, the seafood and the golf, Prince Edward Island is steeped in rich heritage. This gentle island awaits your discovery and it deserves the respect and preservation that ecotourism initiatives provide.

Discover How a Maui Vacation Condo Can Make Your Vacation Dream a Reality

2007-04-27T12:42:00.001-07:00

When the going gets tough in the real world, you probably dream about a tropical vacation just like anybody else does. Along side with the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, and even Mexico Maui vacations are quite the popular package when it comes to visiting a travel agent. On your Maui vacation, condos are an option for you when it comes to stylish accommodations and you can't get luxuries like that just anywhere. On your Maui vacation, condo rentals can help you achieve your home away from home type of feel but they are not the only option you have when it comes to staying in Maui. Kihei is the busiest tourist town on the western end of Maui, and for that reason many people choose to get hotel rooms, motel rooms, or even vacation condos right near that area. The reason why is that all of the things that are geared for people to have fun take place in the more touristy areas.

Consider the different types of things that you look for in a vacation condo in Maui. Of course you want it to be clean and close to things to see and do in Maui and in Kihei in particular. Many people want a spectacular ocean view free of obstruction by cruise ships or ocean liners and in a nice safe area at that. Taking a vacation is not always the safest thing to do as tourists are targets for thieves. But making sure that your vacation condo is in a good area with secure locks on windows and doors is just one step in making sure that you are safe while on vacation.
Most of the Maui vacation condos in Kihei are situated right near town, which is the prime location for people who want to get in a little shopping on their vacation. it is very easy to spend a whole lot of money on Maui on things you just don't need, or pass the time looking at people or visiting the sights and sounds. Luckily the island of Maui is an island unto itself, so it is rather hard to be too far away from anything.

If you are in the market for a Maui vacation condo, you have to give yourself plenty of time for the search. If you re going to rush into finding these accommodations, it is best that you go ahead and get a regular hotel room for your Maui vacation, as short notices on vacation condos normally don't go over well. When you are looking at a particular condo rental for your Maui vacation, keep in mind that pictures do not always tell the truth. Some photographers are skilled at making rooms look larger, making decks look larger and making ocean views look a lot cleaner and closer than they actually are. It is easy to get duped by looking at pictures of a beautiful ocean view that may or may not be a mile away.

If you are in the market for a Maui vacation condo, whether it be for a timeshare, a week long rental or a Maui vacation condo that you can buy and use for the whole family for years to come, you should definitely talk to a real estate agent while the market is hot for these vacation condos and you might be able to get a good deal. Stop worrying about having your hotel room ready when you want to take your next Maui vacation and check into a condo for yourself. You will be happy that you did.

Have Fun With An Aruba Timeshare

2007-04-24T03:38:00.001-07:00

Aruba is a great location for anyone who enjoys being in the sun, relaxing on the beach, splashing in the water, ore great entertainment. A timeshare can be the perfect way to be able to enjoy such a vacation at a very affordable price. There are many hotels in the area but you will end up paying more for them than a timeshare package.

Aruba is a very popular vacation spot that you will want to visit again and again. Having a timeshare gives you the opportunity to do so. You will also be able to stay where you are familiar. You will find yourself surrounding by a variety of affluent and moderate travelers with many great attractions. This is the place to be if you enjoy the sun and surf.

There are many different Aruba timeshares that you can choose from. It is great to have a built in vacation spot you can enjoy each year. The environment is very lush and tropical and you can dine in fine restaurants on fresh seafood. The beach is a popular attraction too and you will find yourself looking forward to your trip to Aruba each year.

There are many different attractions in Aruba for the entire family to enjoy. Some of the favorites include a submarine adventure that allows you to explore the depths of the ocean. A sailing trip with the Jolly Pirates can be fun too. Many people like to try their skills at windsurfing with the delicate breezes that are known in Aruba.

A timeshare in Aruba is a get option if you enjoy the sun and the water. The people who reside there are very friendly and there is plenty of entertainment and great food to enjoy. You won't regret your decision to vacation there.

Barbados - Caribbean Cruise Ship Hub

2007-04-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

All activity at Barbados' cruise ship terminal was at a standstill, along with the eery silence of Bridgetown's streets.

Where were last night's party-goers in St. Lawrence Gap, the "hip" nightclub strip? Where were yesterday's colorful beach vendors and spirited sports enthusiasts?

"Why is it so quiet everywhere?" I asked the hostess who welcomed my sister and me to the cruise ship terminal to board our Wind Surf cruise ship.

"In Barbados we take Sunday's seriously," she said with a smile. None of the terminal's shops will open today. Everyone is either resting, eating a family meal at home, or in church."

Barbados' cruise terminal is one of the Caribbean's finest and (six days a week) busiest port facilities. It was recently renovated to re-create a brilliant island street scene of storefronts and the traditional chattel houses of plantation workers.
The easternmost Caribbean island, Barbados is home to many contrasts. Its West and South Coasts are calm and palm-fringed with warm waters that gently lap onto the golden sands.

On the East Coast, huge Atlantic waves crash along the rugged shore of white sand beaches and limestone cliffs. At Bathsheba Beach, the "Soup Bowl" is the surfers' choice. Crane Beach, with powder pink soft sand and dunes was named by "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" as "one of the ten best beaches in the world". It is not safe to swim there, however, due to the strong currents.

Another of Barbados' unique and famous attractions is Harrison's Cave, a magnificent underground cave of stalactites, waterfalls and pools illuminated by colored lights. Visitors of all ages are fascinated as an electric tram carries them underground.

Meadows of golden sugar cane and historic plantation houses are a short walk away from the bustling port of Bridgetown.

Tours of these houses provide an excellent insight into the life of the island's early European settlers, who established tobacco, cotton and sugar cane plantations.

For an"off-the-beaten" path Island Safari , hop onto a 4x4 Land Rover to form a unique jeep convoy. Then, hang onto your seats all day to see spots inaccessible to tour buses.

Or, rent a taxi to explore the island's natural wonders in air-conditioned comfort. Our expert taxi driver, Patrick Clarke, negotiated the complex network of back roads to places others often miss: spectacular flower gardens; Welchman Hall Gully, a national park that is a birdwatcher's paradise; breathtaking views from the top of Cherry Tree Hill and Gun Hill Signal Station.

While soaking up the views, we had our first taste of flying fish, a delicious national dish and island emblem which can be sampled at almost any Barbadian restaurant.

Some visitors prefer to check out other adventures by discovering Barbados' secrets on horse-back, mountain bikes or on foot.

"Flightseeing" in a helicopter also offers a unique full circuit perspective of the 166-square mile island.

Barbados was a British colony until 1966, when it gained full independence, although it is still a member of the Commonwealth. A great deal of the island's charm comes from that relationship.

For example, cricket is its national sport, with major social significance. You can catch a game of cricket almost anytime–an international match, a friendly game on the beach, in an open pasture or village field. At the end of the match, hang around to join in the celebration!

Since Barbados is a flat coral island, unlike its steep-sided volcanic neighbors, for scuba divers it offers fringes and reefs blossom with healthy sponges, coral and plant life. Wrecks form fascinating habitats for marine life and Barbados has several excellent sites for wreck diving.

You can also swim with the turtles as they feed among the coral. If you are in Barbados at the right time you may even take a moonlight tour to see turtles nesting. Pregnant turtle lay their eggs in the soft sand along the shore. When the baby turtles hatch, they emerge from the sand and quickly make their way to the safety of the sea.

Bubble Adventure is an innovative new dive company that focuses on giving children (including those with disabilities) an opportunity to explore the underwater world either in their own hotel's swimming pool or in the sea.

Many hotels offer other water sports activities including waterskiing, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing and sport fishing.

The Atlantis submarine adventure is another underwater adventure that reveals a kaleidoscope of exotic fish and marine life.

For golfers, Barbados offers several luxurious golf courses. The first championship public golf course opened in June 2000 and the five-star Sandy Lane Hotel added two 18-hole courses in 2001 for a total of 45 holes of championship golf.

The island's single greatest natural resource is its warm and friendly people. The Barbadians (also known as "Bajans") are proud and eager to share their rich cultural heritage, inherent in the spontaneity of their music and laughter.

For More Information

Call 1-800-221-9831 or visit http://www.barbados.org

Finding The Right Canopy Carport

2007-04-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a cost effective way to protect your car, truck, motorbike, or RV from the harsh elements, then you can choose a canopy carport to make your life easier. When you buy a canopy carport you will be choosing great quality, heavy duty material that will last a long time to protect your vehicle.

The canopy carports can also come in different sizes and shapes, with awnings or without, and you can find them just about anywhere. These canopy carports are also very easy to assemble and they are light weight so they can be taken on vacation if needed.

You can find a canopy carport in just about any color you like and you can even get the exact color to match your car. These colors can be red, yellow, white, blue, green, striped, black, and much more.

The canopy carports will also come with all of the accessories and extra bits and pieces that are needed to assemble it like the poles which are made from sturdy aluminum or steel, pegs, pads, and fittings.

Depending on the area that you live in, you may want more from your canopy than other people. Or example you may live in a very rainy , stormy are prone to rain, in which case you will need a canopy carport that has extra side coverage and even doors that will be zipped up.

The canopy carports material is heavy duty and is usually made from canvas or tarpaulin. This canopy carport will also offer UV ray protection is heat protection as they will not hold in the heat like a metal carport would. They are also waterproof and weather resistant.

This type of carport is great for people that are hopeless with construction or even ordinary do it yourself jobs, because you will need no tools to put a canopy carport together. You will get instructions that tell you which leg goes where, where the ball bungies should fit and there you have it, your very own canopy carport.

These are so simple to set up that you can also have some for your employee's cars at the office. This will make them feel a whole lot better knowing that their cars are well taken care of. With a canopy carport structure like this, you can even use it as a tent for parties or weddings. You can host garden luncheons by the pool and have lots of fun.

So, there you have it; canopy carports are the best way of protecting your vehicle and having your own portable entertainment area in one. It costs next to nothing and is very easy to assemble.

You can find a canopy carport at many online stores and carport companies who also offer to set it up for you and will give you advice if needed on designing your own carport. Take a look at a few of these sites before you decide. Make sure that the company is reputable and that they offer a guarantee on the canopy carports that they sell.

Scuba Dive Destination In South Africa - Rocky Bay

2007-04-11T14:10:00.001-07:00

One of South Africa's best kept secrets, this group of reefs lies between two and four kilometers offshore and at a depth of twenty to forty meters it is for advanced divers. Only 10 minutes drive south of Umkomaas/Aliwal Shoal.

Landers Reef:

Average Depth 21 - 32 Meters : Big pinnacle, large boulders, crevices and huge gullies with small sand patches in between the reefs, caves and overhangs

Finger Reef :

Average depth 22 - 35meters: Simply the best, untouched, unspoilt reef around!

Butchers Reef:

Average Depth 18 -25 Meters : Boulders, rocks with big crevices and gullies are characteristic of this reef north of Landers. The reef has a wall like formation that is approximately 6 meters high. Tropical fish like Trumpetfish, Geometric Moray Eel, Natal sea catfish, speckled shrimpfish, Batfish and False stonefish are just some of the species found here. There is a resident Loggerhead turtle that sleeps in one of the many caves and overhangs. This reef is also known as the Juvenile Nursery. Many species of hard and soft coral.

Cowry Reef:

Average Depth 19 - 25 Meters : Big boulders scattered around with sand patches in between and ledges with overhangs and small holes in the reef where Triggerfish hide. There are quite a number of different species of Cowry shells on this reef sitting next to or on the big sea sponges. Coral life consists of soft coral like Dead-man's finger, various colors of Polyp coral swinging in the surge, Black coral trees as well as Green Fern coral with clouds of Goldies swimming around it. Also be on the look out for Nudibranchs; various colors and sizes. Hard coral consists of Smooth horned coral and Leather coral.

Outside Landers:

Average Depth 20 - 28 Meters: A wall of reef that run from North to South. On the ledge you can find Pinnacles that form an enclosure for marine life. The boulders create nice swim through's and gullies. Most of the common tropical fish species seen here although this is one of the deeper dives and there tend to be thermo clines here and there. Batfish, Fusiliers, Ragged Tooth Sharks, Nudibranchs and Rock Lobsters are a common sight amongst the many coral species.

Umzamai wall:

Average Depth 23 - 39 Meters: Huge boulders, with big crevices, scattered rocks and gullies to swim through. On the inshore side there is a wall almost 20 meters high with ledges and a cave on the northern side. Large black coral trees, Polyp coral, White and Pink Thistle coral, Green Fern coral and lots more to be seen on this untouched reef. The fish in this area are inquisitive and not used to divers. Big Moorish Idols, Snappers, Triggerfish, Model Tobies, & Boxy's.

The Historical Rhein Valley In Germany

2007-04-08T04:48:00.001-07:00

The Middle Rhein Valley consists of a 65-km stretch of magnificence castles and vineyards continuously amazing people. It has served as one of the most important transport routes in Europe for two millennia and continues to exchange between the Mediterranean region and the north.

In the Upper Middle Rhein Valley the physical beauty consists of the steep hillsides that vault up from the river, the dense forests, and near the southern end of the landscape lays Lorelei. The combination of the history, architecture, water traffic and beautiful physicality and view of the River make it a place that appeals to everybody.

When many people hear about the Rhein Valley, the first thing that comes to mind is Lorelei. Lorelei is a 435-foot-high slate rock that vaults out of the river marking one of the narrowest and most difficult sections to see. Because of where the area it is located, in history it has been regarded as a treacherous part of the river.

The legend is that there was once a beautiful young woman named Lorelei. She threw herself from the top of the Rhein Valley into the river in despair over a faithless lover. Upon her death she was transformed into a siren and from that time on has been heard singing on the rock along the River, near St. Goar.

Her singing drew sailors' eyes up to hear her enchanting songs during crucial times. The ending result was many boats crashing and men dying because of the very rock that lies on the southern end of the Upper Middle Rhein Valley. It is because of this legend that the rock of Lorelei has become so feared yet so historical over time.

On a brighter note, one of the most beautiful parts is the vineyards that owe their existence to the Rhein River. The vineyards flow past the wide fertile valley of the Baden vineyards, and produce some of the finest quality wine and grapes in the world. Aside from the wine and grapes that are produced, the vineyards put a sense of ease to the soul and provide an enchanting and peaceful feel to the overall essence of the Rhein Valley.

While there are a number of tourist attractions in Germany because of the hundreds of castles that lie throughout, the Rhein Valley has much to offer in a small stretch. From the castles to the historical towns, the Lorelei to the amazing vineyards, this amazing destination has every bit to offer you plus some.

Celebrities In Panama

2007-04-04T07:09:00.001-07:00

In January, Brad Pitt and wife Angelina Jolie visited Panama to see the construction site and scale model of the building to be inaugurated in 2008 as the Biodiversity Museum, designed by Frank O. Ghery. The Pitts enjoyed lunch and studied the scale model for over an hour, appreciating the different views the building will soon have. Brad and Angelina also explored the Casco Viejo, wandering among the spectacular colonial buildings, and then set off to spend the night in the Anton Valley, located in the country's interior about a two hour drive from Panama City. The national press speculated that Pitt and Jolie considered investing in Panama real estate while touring the country.

In March, Mel Gibson visited Panama, presumably to scout locations for production of his next film. During his five days in Panama, he explored various hotel properties, including Gamboa, Villa Camilla in Azueros, Bocas del Toro, Darien and Playa Bonita, each beach locations or in close proximity to the ocean. It has been rumored that Mel Gibson had a meeting with a real estate agent in Panama, though we cannot say for sure what transpired.

Miguel Bose, the Panamanian born Spanish singer, recently visited and bought a condominium in a luxurious building located in the interior of Panama. The condominium is on the beach and possesses a spectacular ocean view. However, we are not sure if he bought the condo as an investment or for personal use.

Without a doubt, the first months of the year have been interesting for Panama. Though the country is small, in a couple of years it may be more likely to spot a celebrity here than on the streets of Hollywood.

Learn more about Panama Real Estate on Latin America Real Estate TV!

The History Of East Germany A.K.A. The German Democratic Republic

2007-03-31T19:09:00.001-07:00

In 1949 the constitution formally established a democratic federal republic and created the states chamber and the people's chamber. The third Party Congress in July of 1950 began to emphasize the industrial progress. The industrial sector had employed 40% of the working population, and was subjected to further nationalization, which formed the People's Enterprises.

In March of 1953 Stalin died and in June of 1953 the SED announced the New Course, which was to help give workers an improved standard of living. The policy was initiated by Soviet Unions Georgi Malenkov, who stressed a shift in investment toward light industry and trade and greater availability of consumer goods. There were still high quotas though, despite the increase in consumer goods workers could get.

By 1961 the socialist sector produced 90% of East Germany's agricultural products. However, the annual industrial growth rate was declining steadily after 1959. To help this cause, the Soviet Union recommended that East Germany implement the reforms of economist Evsei Liberman. In 1963 Liberman's theories of the New Economic System (NES) were adapted and introduced. The NES was aimed at creating an efficient economic system and transforming East Germany into a leading industrial nation.

The main task in 1971 was introduced by Honecker to help formulate domestic policy. The program helped re-emphasize Marxism-Leninism and the international class struggle. The main task restated the economic goal of industrial progress and was aimed at achieving the context of centralized state planning. Consumer socialism was the new program that was featured in the main task, which was an effort to magnify the appeal of socialism

From the mid-1970's, East Germany remained poised between the East and the West. The 1974 amendment to the Constitution designated East Germany as a socialist nation-state of workers and peasants. Détente helped strengthen the ties between the two Germany's and 5 to 7 million West Germans and West Berliners visited East Germany each year. Personal ties between the two Germany's were becoming restored and East German citizens had more direct contact with West German politics and consumer goods.

The growing international debts of the GDR lead to an international debt crisis within a year or two. With continuous debt problems going into the 1980's, the end of East Germany followed the March 1990 elections, as there was a financial collapse in the months up to reunification.

Top 10 Summer Getaways

2007-03-28T07:06:00.001-07:00

London, England : London is definitely one of the best summer vacation destinations, but it is also not the cheapest. Though London is one of the most expensive cities in the World, if you can afford to vacation there then maybe you should consider doing so. And unlike France where you can sample some of the World's best cuisine, London is not famous for fine food. And neither is vacationing there cheap. But if you are a history buff, then London is one of the best vacation destinations you can ever visit.

Russia : Known for its cold and frigid winters, summer is possibly the best time of the year to visit this beautiful land, once home to the Tsars. And Russia is one of the most fascinating countries on the planet that has a lot to offer to any type of visitor - from fun loving college teenagers to serious history professors.

Capri : Your first impressions of this island may be way off the ground reality. While many travelers to Capri, Italy may be somewhat put off by all the glitz and commercialism, if you only care to look deeper and get to know what the island is really about, then you may start to get to like Capri a lot. If you are looking for a place filled with romance where you can have a very special time with your significant other, then Capri is one place you might not want to miss.

Alaska : While Alaska with her imposing snow covered mountains and glaciers may be at her majestic best in the winter, going to Alaska in summer may be a very delightfully pleasant experience. Coastal areas in particular may be very agreeable as the summers are relatively mild there compared to inland areas where the temperatures may reach the 90's.

Greek Islands : Greece has had a very big impact on the Western Civilization and in case you plan to visit the Greek Islands, then you might want to set aside a few days just to tour the fabulous historic sites that are so numerous. But history is not all that Greece has to offer. Blessed with spectacular natural beauty, endless beaches, crystal clear waters, lush vegetation, abundant sunshine and a vibrant nightlife, the beauty of the Greek Islands can charm even the hardest to please tourist.

New England : If you have lived in a city all your life and long to experience the pleasant charms a picture perfect village has to offer, then you might want to consider taking a summer vacation to New England. Pretty villages, beautiful beaches, picture perfect sunrises ... the quaint rustic charm of New England is something you will want to experience at least once.

Wind River Range, Wyo : Ask any outdoors enthusiast who has been to the Rocky Mountains which is the prettiest range in all of Rocky Mountains, and the most possible answer would be the Wind River Range. The Wind River Range makes up of much of the 2.5 million acre Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming. Thousands of miles of hiking and biking trails, snowmobiling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, skiing and more - all in pristine and very beautiful surroundings make this almost irresistible to first timers and the professionals alike.

Iceland : If you are an outdoor enthusiast who loves sparsely populated vast open spaces with lots and lots of peace and quiet, then Iceland may be one place you may not want to miss going to. Contrary to what most people may believe, a large part of Iceland is not covered with snow and ice and but very colorful flowers. And the weather in Iceland can be surprisingly pleasant and agreeable too. Bubbling mud flats, Lava fields, volcanic craters, crystal clear blue lakes, abundant bird life, hot springs, waterfalls and more make an Iceland vacation an experience like no other.

Scandinavia and Northern Europe : While Scandinavia can be literally freezing in winter, it can be very pleasant and inviting in the summer. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland make up Scandinavia and each of these countries has some very unique attractions to offer to even the most discerning vacationer. While you do not necessarily have to be an outdoors enthusiast to enjoy all that Scandinavia has to offer, it does help if you are one though. While Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki are full of lively and interesting people and sights, the natural beauty of the region - the fjords, glaciers, mountains and valleys are mainly in the more remote areas and you would not want to miss them.

Calgary, Canada : Located less than an hour's drive from the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies, Calgary is a modern city set amidst rolling hills and pristine natural surroundings. Its moderate climate and sunny skies make Calgary an year round tourist destination. It is certainly one of Canada's foremost tourist destinations and not surprisingly, an estimated five million visitors flock to the place every year to experience Calgary's delights.

Travel Adventure in Peru - Ten Gallons of Diesel Fuel Please

2007-03-24T19:49:00.001-07:00

When I go to Oyolo, I always take some extra gasoline with me in a gas can. It is only 120 miles roundtrip but there are NO gas stations between Cotahuasi and Oyolo, and also none in Oyolo. If for any reason I need to do any extra driving (like when I had to go looking for the team from Florida last time) I want to have enough extra gas to get home. Unfortunately I didn't think of suggesting this to the team that came this time.

They had filled up at Marcabamba, the last available fuel before Oyolo (they were coming from Pausa) and then did some extra driving to visit another village before I met them. I had driven my car to Oyolo, left it there and then hiked about 3 hours to meet the team to guide them across the high plains. After they picked me up and we were heading up the switchbacks to the high plains, I realized that they didn't have enough fuel to get to Oyolo and back. I had extra gasoline for my car, but their pickup was a diesel so that was no help. We took a quick vote and decided to keep going and try to have someone deliver fuel to us in Oyolo, as it would have put us way behind schedule to go back and get some.

Then I got us lost as the road looked very different going to Oyolo than it did when I came from there the last time. That was a good reminder to me to turn around and look behind me as well, when I am trying to learn a new route. Our unplanned side trip of course used up more of our scarce fuel, but fortunately we still had enough to get to Oyolo. I figured we could call Cotahuasi and see if a supply truck was coming and have them bring some or order some from Marcabamba and have it delivered by a pack animal. When we got to Oyolo, I talked to Mariluz, who is a sister of Theresa and Isabel. Theresa has a restaurant where we often eat and Isabel is a teacher, who has invited us to talk to her students in the school. Mariluz often takes burros back and forth on the foot trail, from Oyolo to the end of the road at CCahuanamarca.

She brings supplies for Theresa's restaurant and for Isabel, who also has a small store. She said she could radio to Marcabamba and have the fuel sent by truck or combi (minivan bus) to CCahuanamarca and she would pick it up there and bring it back by burro. They have some kind of an arrangement where they can transfer money by radio, like we would make a wire transfer. We paid her for the fuel and transportation to CCahuanamarca and we were supposed to have 10 gallons of diesel by Thursday morning, when the team planned on leaving Oyolo. Wednesday afternoon, I saw her leaving with a burro and two 5-gallon cans but about an hour later she came back without the burro! She explained that she had sent someone else and that he would pick up the fuel when it was delivered in the late afternoon and leave early Thursday morning to bring it to Oyolo. However when I checked Thursday morning, we found out that the combi was too full so they didn't have room to bring the fuel, so he left the burro there and returned alone.

Mariluz said the fuel should arrive there in the afternoon and then someone would bring it to Oyolo by 8:00 pm. When we went to bed at about 10:00, there was still no fuel. In the meantime a truck had come from Cotahuasi with supplies and he agreed to sell us 10 gallons of his fuel, if ours didn't arrive in the morning. The team had a one-day "cushion" in their schedule but had to leave on Friday to get back to Lima in time to catch their return flight to the U.S. That night when I went to bed, I prayed again (as we had been doing all day) that the fuel would be there in the morning. A few minutes later, at 11:30, I heard some pack animals passing through the plaza in front of our hostel.

They had made the whole trip in the dark on a narrow mountain trail. I threw my clothes on and went to check, there were no fuel cans on their animals. I decided to ask if they knew anything about our fuel and they said someone was delivering it to Mariluz! I went back to the hostel and went to sleep, thanking God for answering our prayers. In the morning, Mariluz brought the fuel and with the help of a 2-liter soda bottle made into a funnel, the truck was fueled and ready to go. We drove together up to the high plain, I showed them where their road to Pausa was and I went the other direction to Cotahuasi. Another successful travel adventure in Peru.

Malmo - One Of Sweden's Most Exciting Cities

2007-03-21T05:10:00.001-07:00

As the third largest city in Sweden, Malmo is a popular place to visit in Scandinavia. The city is one of the region's earliest industrial towns; however, the age of post-industrialism has seen Malmo transformed from a hub of manufacturing into a large university town which boasts an impressive world of arts, education and culture.

If you're visiting Malmo and you want to see the city's most interesting sights, why not visit Malmohus Castle? Located to the west of Malmo's old city, this building was first built in 1437 by Erik of Pomerania, before being inhabited by the kings of Denmark in the 1500s and used as a prison until 1914. Today, it is a history and art museum, as well as an aquarium and a terrarium that attracts a range of visitors.

Additionally, when you're in Malmo, make sure you visit the Mollevangstorget Square, located south of the city centre and which plays host to an open-air market every weekend. Malmo's newest landmark - the Turning Torso - is well worth a visit too. Completed in 2005, Malmo's Turning Torso is, at 190m tall, the tallest building in Scandinavia and is visible from almost any part of the city. It even has a waterfront promenade and a state-of-the-art skate park.

Malmo's cultural attractions will also be of interest to any tourist in the city, whether you pride yourself on being an active culture vulture or you're merely looking for interesting things to do in Malmo. The Municipal Theatre, for instance, was inaugurated in 1944 and began as a repertory; however, during the 1950s, legendary Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman became its Director and Chief Stage Director and made the institution the site of one of the most important art scenes in the whole of Sweden. Today, the theatre showcases all forms of stage performance, from ballet to opera, and musical recitals to diverse theatrical experiments.

Furthermore, since the 1970s Malmo has also played host to a diversity of musical scenes and talents. Malmo has a long history of rock, dance and dub music, and recent musicians to have played in the city include the likes of B.B. King, Morrissey and Australian signer-songwriter Nick Cave.

If you're planning to visit Malmo, you'll find plenty of hotels in Malmo, from which you'll be able to enjoy all that this exciting city has to offer. Take a trip to Malmo for a Scandinavian city adventure with a difference - you won't be disappointed!

Finding Work in Spain

2007-03-17T10:11:00.001-07:00

Finding work in Spain is not easy, especially outside the major
cities where unemployment can sometimes be quite high. If you are a member
of an EC country then you have an automatic right to live and work
in Spain but if not then you may find obtaining your residence card
time-consuming and frustrating. It is also necessary for non-Europeans
to have their employment approved by the Spanish Ministry of
Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo) and obtain a visa before entering
the country.

Work In Spain-Seasonal Jobs

There is normally quite alot of work to be had in the major tourist
resorts from the beginning of May until the end of September.naturally enough
this mostly consists of work in the hotel and catering industry with
plenty of casual bar work normally available in English run bars. This
type of work is notoriously poorly paid, although you can improve
your wages with tips, but has the advantage that it is quite easy
to get and it is not always a requirement that you speak Spanish. So if you
just want to work in Spain for the summer then this type of work may
suit you best.

You probably will not be able to arrange it without being in the country
though and just approaching bar owners or scouring the job vacancy
ads. in the local English press.

Couriers and Tour Reps.

If you speak Spanish then you may be able to get seasonal work
in Spain as a courier,tour guide or sports instructors, approach
some of the larger holiday companies such at Thompson Holidays to see
what they have on offer.

Competition for jobs is fierce and Spanish fluency is usually necessary, even for
employment with foreign tour operators. Most companies also have age
requirements, the minimum being 21, although many companies prefer
employees to be older. To find out which companies operate in
the part of Spain you are interested in check the brochures in
your local travel agency or search online but be sure to send in your application
well before the season starts.

Timeshare.

A quick glance in the local English language newspapers, will show
you that 75% of the jobs available are in the timeshare industry. However don't
be immediately put off,because although there are plenty of sharks and scams,
there are also several reputable time share companies that have
many years of success behind them and provide contracts, good
commission rates and opportunities for promotion to their staff.
However, all timeshare companies offer the hard sell approach to
prospective buyers and if you are uncomfortable with this then
it is not for you.

Semi and Permanent Jobs in Spain-Teaching English

English schools are mushrooming all over Spain and offer very good work
opportunities for native English speakers. However it is normally
required that you have some formal qualifications, the most widely accepted being
The TEFL certificate, (teaching English as a Foreign language.)
For a fairly small investment of around 1,000 euros you can obtain
this certificate by attending a one month intensive course and you will then be qualified
to not only work in Spain but also at many other destinations world wide.

Foreign language schools in Spain are generally well run and the wages
are reasonable, they often provide accommodation for their teachers too
so it can be a good way to live and work in Spain.

Details of foreign language schools can be obtained by contacting.
Centros de Enseñanzza de Idiomas, Calle Sagasta, 27, 28004 Madrid.

Private Tuition

There is a high demand for private English teachers here and many
teachers employed at local language academies supplement their
income by giving private lessons. You can advertise in local
schools, universities and retail outlets and, once you're
established, additional students can usually be found through word
of mouth, particularly for children who have failed their end of
year English examinations!

Au Pairs

Both men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible for a
job as an au pair. The au pair system provides young people with a
great opportunity to travel, improve their Spanish and generally
broaden their education by living and working in Andalucia.
However, the main aim of the au pair system is to give young people
the opportunity to learn a foreign language in a typical family
environment . Au pairs are usually contracted to work for a minimum
of six months and a maximum of a year. Most families require an au
pair for at least the whole school year, from September to June.
The best time to look for an au pair position therefore is before
the beginning of the school year in September. Au pair agencies in
Britain are listed in the Au Pair and Nanny's Guide to Working
Abroad by Susan Griffith.

Construction Industry

Many parts of Spain have seen a building boom in recent years and
the construction industry employs many foreign nationals. However
as most of the building sites are Spanish run it will be necessary for you
to have a basic understanding of the language in order to be able to
get and hold down a job.

Self- Employment.

Many people turn to running their own business in Spain as the best
way to make a living in Spain.However for the un-prepared this road can
be a minefield of headaches and problems.The best advice I can give is to do your homework and remember the old adage,"by failing to prepare, you prepare to fail." Get good advice from a reputable professional about
the legal requirements for your particular business, opening licences,
tax declarations etc. It is a good idea to talk to other people
who have started there own business and thereby learn by their mistakes.

Rightly or wrongly there are alot of foreigners resident in Spain who
prefer to employ English speaking people so there are plenty of opportunities
for builders, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, cleaners, hairdressers, beauticians
etc. and anyone determined enough to work through the red tape and get established
should end up with a good business.

For any sort of work in Spain you will need to obtain your N.I.E.
(numero de identificacion de extranjero) which you can do through the
Oficina de Extranjeros, ( foreigners office) at your local police station.

Illegal Employment

Illegal employment thrives in Spain where it has been estimated that as much as 25% of the officail GNP is due to the black economy with real unemployment being at least 10% below the official government figure.

Many unscrupulous employers use illegal labour as a means to avoid the paying the high social security contributions and to be able to pay low wages for long hours and poor working conditions. Heavy fines are often imposed when offenders, which includes both the employee as well as the employer, are prosecuted so be warned!

The Best Campground Cooking

2007-03-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

When you are getting ready for your camping trip, packing your cooking supplies takes on a whole new meaning. Not only will your environment be different, but the very nature of a natural setting will affect how you cook as well as what you eat.

You should plan on preparing simple, but still tasty meals, that are easy to clean up when everyone is finished eating. The majority of adults and children like having hamburgers, hot dogs or other simple foods when on a vacation. Foods such as these, are ready to roast over a grill or wood, burning fire.

To round out your meal, you can serve a salad, fresh fruits, nuts, chips or other convenient foods as side dishes. As long as you keep the number of personal utensils and plates down to a minimum, you will not need as many items to eat with, to pack or to clean afterwards.

To keep your cold beverages chilled, perishable foods fresh, or leftovers okay for the next day, you will want to pack a cooler. Be sure it is large enough for the number of people that are traveling with you, or take more than one to handle all your food and drinks.

Your cooler can easily maintain a cold temperature, if you simply change the ice about every other day. Many campgrounds have ice machines, but you might want to check, before completing your reservation.

Salads are a good alternative for an extra side dish, that if prepared ahead of time, can not only save you time, but also let you bring items that you may already have on hand, eliminating the need to buy more items for your camping trip.

You can even make a chuck box, to save more time and storage space. This box can be made of plastic or cardboard, as long as it is sturdy and can be sealed. This container will hold your entire set of plates, personal utensils, pans, pots, and cooking utensils. During your camping trip, this will help you stay organized and since it only has enough space for you to take essential things, helps to give you less to carry.

Many cabins in our modern time, supply the pots, pans, and plates for the entire party of campers. If cabins are in your camping plans, be sure to call ahead and find out all the features available.

By following the simple suggestions above, your campground cooking preparation, can be space efficient, easy to use in the campground setting and can help to provide you with tasty menus, without much clean up to boot!

A Walk in the Woods

2007-03-09T04:41:00.001-08:00

If you think you know all about camping here is an adventure that is sure to open your eyes.

This curiously revealing psyche test will reveal more about yourself than 3 years in therapy, very curious and extremely revealing, try it on your friends...

This simple tale about a walk in the woods uses archetypal images to explain our subconscious beliefs about some of the core issues we all face in life. Try it for yourself, and remember it is a dream so you can do or respond in whatever way or however you want.

Make a note of each thing you encounter, taking time to briefly describe it and how you feel about it, the more detail the more your understanding at the end of this story

You find yourself in a dream, walking through the woods or the forest, whichever is closest to your heart, and as in a dream you can do whatever or respond however you want.

1. You come to a house, what type of house is it?

2. You leave the house and come to a wall what is it made of, high or low, any doors or openings, what do you do next?

3. You continue walking and notice a snake moving on your path, what do you do?

4. A creature you know to be good comes out of the woods and starts a conversation with you, describe the creature and the feeling you experience and what you are talking about.

5. You come to a tree in the middle of the path, what type of tree is it and what do you do.

6. You come to the end of the path and there is a water in front of you, describe it and what you do.

Here are the answers and meanings to each of the things you encountered in this dream walk...

1. house=family

2. wall=obstacles, problems

3. snake=sex

4. creature of goodness=your spirit guide

5. tree=god

6. water=death.

Hope this made you think and thank you for all the entries to the most stupid fishing and camping stories competition. The ones about lighting the fire inside the swag tent and the possum chocolate cake adventure were probably the most talked about.

The Days of the Chhuk-Chhuk: Even in India, Old Steam Trains Bring Out the Crowds

2007-03-05T17:49:00.001-08:00

India's steam train heritage still brings out hoards of people. In Delhi, from babes in arms to ancient one-time signalmen, last week they literally piled onto the tracks where they grappled with television cameras from at least four broadcast stations. In a challenge to every health and safety regulation ever to fill 100 bound files in the archives of Brussels, people tumbled from the green plastic grass and red carpet onto the rails without obstruction.

The Heritage Parade of Steam Locomotives celebrated the end of Railway Heritage Month. Shri Lalu Prasad, the Honourable Minister for Railways, was the Most Distinguished Guest. Second was Sir Mark Tully, the former BBC Delhi correspondent and Vice-President of the Indian Railway Society (IRS). Mark is a guru in his own right.

After most of 40 years in India (and indeed he was born in Calcutta where his father was then stationed), he is a kind of Grand Old Man, regarded with approximately equal emotions of awe and affection appropriate to his Saddhu-like status. Being seen with him attracts more attention than a formal promenade with Tony Blair would.

This is not exaggeration. When Sir Mark once walked up the steps of Government House in Delhi with our Honourable PM, the crowd were in raptures but it wasn't Tony Blair who had caught their attention. They were shouting in Hindi for Mark Tully.

There are several other dignitaries present: the Mayor of Delhi, members of the Railway Board, the President of the IRS and a whole row of very smart and important looking people. They are seated on the platform in beautifully presented upholstered chairs covered in white and set upon plastic grass. On the opposite platform, a whole tableau of Indian history is taking place with children waving colourful flags and an historical account of Indian railways in full swing as men run up and down behind boards bearing the trains moving.

No one is paying very much attention. In spite of the valuable collection of not just VIPs but VVIPs and the war on terror, security is conspicuously absent bar the presence of a delightful chocolate brown Labrador led by a soldier along the seating, his tail wagging enthusiastically.

It is very Indian that into this pageant the normal scheduled train, its 24 battered green and cream bogeys so familiar to the 13 million people who travel on Indian railways every day, disgorges its passengers. In fact not once but twice, passenger cargo is offloaded into the melee. People are moved towards the exit, not pleased to be denied the occasion. Street theatre like this is part of Delhi life and commands an instant audience.

Now coolies tidy the trailing edges adorning the front line of comfortable settees designated Railway Board. The compere seeks silence in various languages. "Please sit down everyone." No one pays the slightest attention. Someone screams gutturally into a microphone, part in Hindi, alternated with regular "hello, hello, hello, testing, testing, testing" and loads of reverberating feedback.

The flowers and water bottles are now in place for the VVIPs who are presumably more than merely VI. Even the Railway Board have not so far been treated to such magnificence. Here comes the sniffer dog again, obediently sniffing along our feet. An Argentinean gentleman introduces himself and his wife and makes interested conversation. He is curious to know what a white west-European female is doing here.

The greeting party is beginning to assemble, guarded by soldiers and sundry hangers-on. Mark arrives looking very dapper in lemon shirt and burgundy herringbone waistcoat. Suddenly there is total silence. The Minister welcomes everyone; the cameras capture the moment from the middle of the tracks and like media everywhere in the world, practically trample each other to death in their determination to get the best shot. There are babies crying, children running up and down the VIP chairs and clearly many people who are not either media or guests here but who have found their way in without obstacle.

The bottom of a female soldier is literally in my face. A settee is relocated to make room for the broadcasting fray and the bottom shifts a few inches but ever increasing numbers of media take to the tracks although whether deliberately or by force of gravity is difficult to say.

We are now being roped in, literally. I am not altogether sure whether this is to keep us away from mauling Mark Tully or from trying to get a free ride on the Fairy Queen, the oldest locomotive still track-worthy, built in 1855 in Leeds, and the pride of the Indian Railway Society.

This piece de resistence (my respects to cross-cultural relationships) chuk-chuks along the platform in its green and gold livery, at once dignified and friendly. Brightly dressed children waving flags and blowing on plastic whistles add to the sense that we have all slipped back in time to a more romantic, less threatening era when children could be children and railways were elegant, grand and somehow symbolic of all that was best in the newly industrialised world of the mid-19th century.

More follows…..

The Fairy Queen

A Guinness World Record holder, this engine is the pride of Indian Railways. It is the world's oldest locomotive in working condition. Built in 1855 by Kitson Thompson and Hewitson of Leeds, this engine has once again been pressed into service on popular demand since 27 September 1997 and has been periodically hauling tourist trains between Delhi and Alwar. This engine was the first exhibit to be brought to the National Railway Museum in Delhi at the time of the laying of its foundation stone in 1971. This locomotive is said to have hauled troop trains to Raniganj during the 1857 War of Independence in India. The engine weighs 26 tonnes, has a gauge of 5 feet 6 inches, coal capacity of approximately 2 tonnes, wheel arrangement with 2-2-2T WT and Stephenson valve gear.

The other steam trains on parade:

XE-3634

Built by Vulcan Foundry Company Ltd in England in 1930, this engine was commissioned by Indian Railways in 1931 at GIP Railway, now Central Railway. The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Board in Korba purchased the engine in 1979. The gauge is 5 feet 6 inches, weight is 196.42 tonnes and it is almost 79 feet long. Its wheel arrangement is 2-8-2, piston stroke is 30 feet, water capacity is 6000 gallons and coal capacity 14 tonnes.

WAR CLASS AWE-22907

This engine is one of the war design locomotives procured in large numbers during the early 1940s and was used for both passenger and goods services. Built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, in 1943, it was owned by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. The Maker's number 69703, GIP No 6128 and CR No 22907, identify the engine. It weights 183 tonnes, has Walshaets valve gear, two outside cylinders, gauge 5 feet 6 inches and the wheel arrangement is 2-8-2

WL-15005

Given the majestic name of Shere-e-Punjan, this engine had the privilege of hauling the last broad gauge steam train on Indian Railways. This historic run took place between Firozpur and Jallandhar on 6 December 1995. It usually hauled mail/express trains and was allotted to the Southern Railway and was based at the Shonanur Shed. Later it was transferred to Northern Railway where it was initially based at Bhatinda shed. From there, it was moved to Ludhiana and finally to Firozpur from where it retired. The engine was brought to the National Rail Museum in January 1996. Built in 1955 by the Vulcan Foundry, it has a 5 feet 6 inch gauge, a wheel arrangement of 4-6-2 and is now based at the Steam Centre at Rewari.

More follows….

WP-7200

The bullet nosed WP locomotives were the mainstay of broad gauge passenger train operations on Indian Railways for a very long time until the last steam engine retired in 1995. This exhibit identified by the number WP-7200 is one of the 16 prototypes that were received from the USA before their production was started at Chittaranjan Locomotive works. This engine was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, in 1947 and was owned by GIP Railway (later Central Railway). It has a 5 feet 6 inch gauge, weighs 102.4 tonnes and has a wheel arrangement of 4-6-2. It was retired from service in May 1987.

East African Kenya Beaches- Kenya Coast Attractions, Activities & Budget hotels

2007-03-02T08:15:00.001-08:00

Bamburi Beach- Kenya Africa

The next beach heading north is Bamburi, which has huge hotels, boisterous nightclubs and some good restaurants. Offshore is the Mombasa Marine Park which has impressive marine life, although it cops some pollution from industry in the area. On land, Bamburi is dominated by the Bamburi Cement Company.

The beach hotels begin just north of the junction between Links Rd and the main highway north from Mombasa. There is branch of Barclays bank next to white sands Hotel.

The most popular public beach is Kenyatta Beach, besides the infamous pirates Disco. Loads of Kenyans come here, and while you won't escape the attentions of the beach boys and hawkers, it's usually a fun atmosphere when it's busy. Glass bottomed boats to the marine park cost around Kshs 3,000 per boat (negotiable) for a 2 ½ hour trip, not including a park fees.

Beach Sights, activities & attractions

Founded in the 1950's to process coral limestone, the cement Company were a derelict eyesore until the creation of this ingenious complex of nature trails and wildlife sanctuaries at Baobab adventure. It was a huge undertaking, involving bringing in tons of topsoil before anything could even be planted.

The main attraction is Haller Park, which includes a wildlife sanctuary, crocodile farm, fish farm, and reptile park and drive-through giraffe compound. Giraffes are fed at 11 am and 3pm; hippos at 4pm. You can also meet local celebrity Owen, a baby hippo orphaned by the 2004 tsunami who was brought here to recover and hit the head-lines thanks to his unusual friendship with the park's 100 year old giant tortoise.

Also here are the Bamburi Forest Trails, a network of walking and cycling trails through reforested cement workings with a butterfly pavilion displaying many coastal species and a terrace to catch the sunset. North of the main cement plant is Nguuni Wildlife Sanctuary, where herds of ostriches, elands and Oryxes are farmed. Tours here must be booked in advance.

The various parts of the Baobab Adventure are well signposted from the highway north from Mombasa and have well-marked bus stops.

Accommodation in Mombasa Bamburi beach

Budget and Midrange Beach Hotels

There are no budget choices here at all, but groups in particular can find some reasonable accommodation for a moderate price.

Bamburi Beach resort

This tidy little complex has direct access to the beach and a choice of appealing bamboo-finished hotel rooms and self catering rooms (with outdoor kitchens). There is a nice beach front bar with a big shaggy makuti thatch. Prices of accommodation in Mombasa Bamburi beach resort are from US$ 20-90

Accommodation in Mombasa Bamburi beach

Fontana

While the rooms are thoroughly liveable, the highlight of this small German owned establishment is the big thatched lobby restaurant (mains Kshs 420-700), which resembles a musty safari lodge stuffed with a huge job lot of Africana. The beach is 100m beyond the compound. Prices of accommodation in Mombasa Fontana beach resort are from d low season/high season. Kshs 2,500/3,000

Accommodation in Mombasa Bamburi beach

Camper's Haven and Jamboree

A large slightly bumpy camping ground on the beach. The four person tents are Ksh1500; room prices include breakfast in low season and half board in high season. If you're wondering where jamboree comes into, wait until the evening-with disco nights Wednesday to Sunday and local stars the Utamaduni band playing every Sunday afternoon, peace and quiet isn't high on the agenda! Camping fees of accommodation in Mombasa camper's haven include, campsites per tent Kshs 500,

Accommodation in Mombasa Bamburi beach

Cheap Hot Tubs But High Quality Hot Tubs

2007-02-26T15:16:00.001-08:00

The internet is now an ideal place to find companies that are able to offer you competently priced hot tubs due to their overheads being a lot less as many of them do not have showrooms.

The internet can be a perfect place to purchase a cheap hot tub instead of from a hot tub dealer's showroom, but be careful with internet hot tub retailers as they might not be genuine, they could be selling poor quality hot tubs or not be around in the future to support you with warranty problems or spare parts like filters. The best way to find a genuine and reliable hot tub dealer is to see if they are part of BISHTA (British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association), this is a hot tub association that makes sure all hot tub dealers are keeping to the correct laws and make sure they are providing customers with safe information as well as good service to their customers.

With regards to hot tubs, there are many companies out there trying to get you to buy their tubs with prices ranging for £1,000 up to £15,000 and the price you pay does affect the quality of the product slightly, as the more expensive ones will be a lot larger tub as well as having additional accessories like, TV, and sound systems built in.
Many people would love a sound system in the hot tub as well TV but many can not afforded these luxuries and therefore looking for a cheap hot tubs. Cheap hot tub does not mean they are poor quality they will just not have all the luxury extra item with them.

A big expensive of a hot tub is the time and cost of manufacturing the actual hot tub shell, many of these are make from acrylic and fibre glass, but there are now a new and much cheaper way of manufacturing a hot tub shell by using rotational moulding, this is a much quicker process and therefore being down the manufacturing costs of hot tubs, therefore manufactures can sell cheap hot tubs. . Even thought these hot tub are cheap they still using the same quality parts as the expensive manufactures put in there hot tubs.

When comparing hot tubs it is recommended to ask the hot tub dealer what the name of the parts manufacture as there are only a few manufacture of good quality hot tubs parts. If they are able to tell you what parts are in the hot tub they should be good quality and a reliable hot tub parts manufacture. If there is dealer does not know the name of what parts are used in their hot tub or it's a name you have not heard of it best to keep clear of their particular tubs.
So if you see a hot tub with the same parts in the tub but with a difference price tag it just means that the dealer is making more money usually.

Some hot tub can seem like they are very cheap to purchase but its always recommend to find out what the running costs are as its better to get a well insulated hot tub with more efficient parts which will save you money in the long run. It is also worth inquiring on what type of insulation they have as some cheap hot tub will have none, and therefore cost more to run but some other cheap hot tubs are well insulated and will be cheaper to run.

A perfect opportunity to pick up a hot tub bargain is during the sales. Many hot tub dealers will have a Hot tub sale at the end of the year and also a Hot tub sale beginning of the year; this is to clear old models before the new stock arrives,

A Proud Family Tradition... Casa Santiago: Rugweavers in Toetitlan del Valle, Oaxaca

2007-02-23T07:14:00.001-08:00

Porfirio Santiago is at his loom, diligently weaving a massive 2 x 3 meter rug with traditional designs, from memory, with respresentations of Zapotec diamonds, rainfall, maize and mountains…just as his father Tomás, grandfather Ildefonso and great grandfather before him. Wife Gloria is carding a mix of white and caramel colored raw wool. Behind them, hanging over the black wrought iron banister overlooking the sunny open courtyard are drying batches of spun wool in tones of green, brown, red and blue, byproducts of the use of natural dyes from the añil or indigo plant, seed pods, mosses, pecan, pomegranate zest, and of course the cochineal bug.

Such ritual in Teotitlán del Valle, an ancient tribal town about a half hour's drive from Oaxaca, has been played out continuously on a daily basis since about 1535, when Dominican bishop Juan López de Zárate arrived in the village and introduced borregos (caprine sheeplike animals yielding wool) and the first loom, shipped from Spain across the Atlantic. The use of natural dyes and weaving predate the conquest, but it was the European invasion which jump-started a cottage industry producing serapes, blankets and tapetes (rugs).

Over generations the village grew, and began specializing in solely rugs, initially used as trade and sale items within a commercial network of towns in other parts of the state, and to a lesser extent other regions of the country. With the completion of the pan-American highway connecting Oaxaca with Mexico City in the late 1940's, the market opened up. By the 1950's air travel had begun to facilitate greater export as well as a tourist industry which quickly took notice of a broad range of handcrafted items from foreign lands.

Artesanias Casa Santiago is comprised of a single extended family whose main
production facility, showroom and homestead has been on the town's main street since 1966. Then Porfirio occupied most of his working hours as a campesino in the fields, with rug production as a sideline. Over the decades he began spending fewer days working the land and more producing tapetes of both traditional Zapotec designs, and more recently based upon consumer demand, of modern patterns, reproducing themes from the masters of modern art and accepting custom orders such as the recent request for a wall hanging promoting Pentax cameras.

Illustrative of the depth of this family tradition, five of Porfirio's six siblings and their families are weavers, the other a pre-school teacher. On Gloria's side, while her siblings are members of a large well-known musical band which plays at municipal fiestas, weddings, quince años and other rites of passage, they too are trade artisans, although more on a part-time basis. All of Porfirio and Gloria's children work in the industry, as do their spouses. Three of four sons and their wives live on premises and work at all phases of production, with the fourth having his own taller just up the street. One son, Omar, is an architect, but is nevertheless an integral contributor to all aspects of the family business. One daughter and her husband work at the main facility, another is employed at her in-laws' workshop and restaurant a couple of blocks away, and the last and her husband have their own home and rug business. Each child completed high school, deciding to thereafter keep the family tradition alive to the extent possible. As has been repeating for generations, the grandchildren, now 17 in number, while watching their parents and grandparents from infancy, begin learning in earnest at about 10 years of age, and by roughly 20 are proficient at all aspects of the operation. In terms of the division of labor, years ago women tended to dye, card and spin, while the men were the weavers. Nowadays, at least in this family, each is fully capable of performing all tasks, although it's exclusively men who work the largest looms requiring the greater strength and stamina.

Another family convention has been the performing of important administrative duties for the town without monetary compensation, an aspect of voluntary community labor known as tequio. In 1931, Porfirio's grandfather was mayor of the village, and more recently between 1996 and 1998, Porfirio himself was el presidente municipal. By then the job had become a three year unpaid post, nevertheless requiring a full-time commitment, necessitating doing the farming, raising family and maintaining a rug business in the early morning hours or after dark. Yet the pride and sense of responsibility in serving one's community took priority over concerns about being able to get all the work done in 24 hours that had to be completed. Even today, Porfirio on a seasonal basis splits his time between making and selling woolen products, and working the fields to supply the family with corn for making tortillas and tamales.

Despite being one of the most personable families one could ever hope to happen upon in the Valley of Oaxaca, Don Porfirio et. al. don't get the large tour buses stopping by their shop for exhibitions. Perhaps it's the personalities of the family members which clearly doesn't lend to the formality of onlookers seated in a gallery for a demonstration, followed by a hard sell. María Luísa and husband Jose Luís, Tomás, Hugo, and the rest of the family on hand seem to have learned from their parents to be more relaxed and engaging within a congenial informal setting. They'll take you to see whatever galvanized metal, plastic or clay pots happen to be in use for dyeing, and bring over a simple cardboard box to show you a half dozen or so natural substances used for coloring the wool. If Gloria isn't available to card and spin, perhaps a daughter-in-law will shyly say that she'll do it, smiling as she admits she'll not as good at is as her suegra. It's a more real and honest attempt to demonstrate the way things are actually done in the Santiago family, not at all contrived, and absent any pretension whatsoever. It's what drew me and my wife to Casa Santiago in 1993, for the purchase of our first tapete which even today continues to enhance our living-room floor. It draws us back time and again for a visit, often with a spur-of-the-moment offer of a little mezcal with a botana, either alone, with friends and family visiting from Canada and the US, or with touring clients.

While Casa Santiago has over time succeeded in adapting to changing domestic and international trends in terms of color tones and combinations, designs and diversity of product (now also offering handbags, wall hangings, pillow covers and more),
it's the longstanding, proud Zapotec custom of producing tightly woven, high quality traditional rugs which will live on through Porfirio, Gloria and their lineage.

Desire to Travel Somewhere New

2007-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

Rich Person you ever noticed that human race travelers look to have got an easier clip affording their trips than people who are going on vacation? Think about it. You've been economy for months, maybe years, for that trip to Hawaii. The cat next door just got back from Singapore, and he's headed to Commonwealth of Australia in a few weeks. Why is that? To salvage money, you need to be flexible. If you have got your bosom set on a peculiar finish at a peculiar time, you've given away your flexibility, and you'll pay more than for the privilege to get exactly what you want, when you desire it.

On the other hand, if you just desire to travel somewhere new, you have got the advantage. You can travel wherever the low fares take you. Just about everyone is familiar with discount fare sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Price line. What most people don't recognize is that the six bequest carriers--United, U.S. Airways, American, Delta, Northwest, and Continental--offer a assortment of particular fares on a regular footing exclusively through their own Web sites. (To be accurate, Alaska Air is also a bequest carrier, but its specialized market plant differently; we're only talking about the six listed above.)

One type of discount is the last-minute discount. The biggest cost of flying an airplane is the fuel that it takes to get it off the land and maintain it there. Flights don't get cancelled because they're under booked, but every empty place is lost gross for the airline. Its break to have got a place filled than to have one empty, so airlines cut fares on seating that would otherwise be empty to get people in them. But there's a twist. If a flight is popular, then getting a ticket at the last minute costs more than usual. And the airlines don't cognize whether a flight will be popular or not until a few years before it's scheduled to leave. So, every week--usually on Tuesdays--airlines print last-minute discount fares for the week. Last-minute discounts are always based on beginning and destination. To see where you might be able to go, just look up the airdrome or airdromes out which you may be able to fly. Be certain to read the terms.

Last-minute fare specials are nonrefundable and generally necessitate you to go forth and tax return on specific years (though not at specific times). A typical domestic last-minute fare will necessitate a Saturday going with tax return on Lord’s Day or Monday. International last-minute fares may run Thursday to Monday or Friday to Tuesday. Airlines also offer promotional discounts on rates that they desire to pull attention. If an airline just added an exciting new path or hub, a particular fare offer is a good manner to get the word out. Promotional fares also assist airlines fill up seating to finishes that are out of season. For instance, United almost always offers wintertime fare specials to Germany, but warm-weather destinations are discounted in the summer.

The restrictions on promotional fares change but be given to be more than flexible than last-minute fares. There's always a demand to purchase by a certain day of the month and travel within a certain period. Most promotional fares outside of the U.S. have got a minimum stay required at the finish (ranging from a Saturday nighttime for Europe to as much as a hebdomad for Asiatic destinations). And, of course, these are nonrefundable fares. Determination particular fares can be a spot clip consuming. The specials are published on the airlines' own Web sites, which intends you need to see each 1 in bend to see all of the options. You can cut that back a spot by focusing on airlines that have got major presence at your local airport, but then you might lose a really good deal. For travelers looking to see the world, though--especially busy people traveling one weekend at a time--discount fares set your flexibleness to its best use, introducing you to new topographic points that you may never have got thought worth seeing until you took the chance to see them. Whether we're talking about fares or destinations, retrieve that some of the best things in life are relatively obscure.

History of Cryptography

2007-02-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

Secret communication is nil new. Books on the history of cryptography uncover that hidden messages day of the month to as far back as there are records. After millennia of attempts to conceal messages, one mightiness believes that every conceivable cryptographic technique was tried long ago and is now widely known. "Not so," according to Morten St. George, writer of a book on cryptic thinking. St. George keeps that forty-two of the Nostradamus prophecies use an alone type of cryptography that until now have never been identified, catalogued, or reused.

Moreover, St. George claims that it may be the most powerful word form of cryptography ever devised. Surprisingly, however, its techniques are extremely simple; it uses no complex mathematical codifications or anything like that. As St. George sets it: "Its tremendous strength lies in deception. If you don't cognize that cryptographic techniques are being employed, if you don't surmise that there is a hidden communication underneath, and then you look no additional than what's on the surface and the existent significance forever hedges you." St. George names it "deception cryptography."

Volaris A New Mexican Airline

2007-02-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Mexico is getting a new airline and if the carrier runs into all outlooks it will travel a long manner in helping Mexican air traffic double over just the adjacent three years. Volaris Airlines, started by Mexican billionaires Carlos Slender and Emilio Azcarraga, is expecting to take its first flight on March 13th.

Volaris may impact the airline industry well beyond Mexico especially if its aggressive enlargement programs work out. With the Mexican authorities in the procedure of divesting its interest in two airlines, Aero Mexico and Mexican Airlines, start up carriers are poised to leap in and supply service as menus driblet and demand surges. Up to now, the highly controlled Mexican airline industry have got set a damper on client demand as artificially high terms and a restricted market have kept clients away.

Volaris Airlines, along with competing start up airline, Interjet, are expected to quickly reshape the Mexican airline industry beginning this year. Volaris is planning to function at least six Mexican cities and eventually supply service between Mexican and U.S. destinations. No word how all of these volition impact aspirants begin up Mexus Airlines, currently operating as a “paper carrier” with no concrete programs [or funding] to start flying. Volaris plans on flying 16 A319 aircraft and have an option on 40 A320 aircraft. TACA International Airlines, based in Elevation Salvador, will throw a minority interest in the airline.

Fly the Business Class

2006-12-09T03:16:00.000-08:00

Economic conditions dictate that most air travelers will have to fly economy, as business and first class tickets are simply out of range price-wise. Only the flying ‘elite’ get to travel up front.

There will always be a demand from corporate travelers and wealthier individuals for these higher priced premium air tickets. In fact this high revenue group is the lifeblood for many an international airline.

There are tips and techniques which can get you flying in the premium cabins much cheaper than you ever thought possible.

1. Book a ticket on one of the more off-beat carriers.

2. You should join up with 1 or 2 frequent flyer program and try to attain elite status. There are clever ways of getting top status within a few weeks if you know how and this will help you greatly in your quest for first class flying. And be careful how you spend those miles as most travelers end up using them in the most inefficient ways

3. Do research on internet and know about discounts and rewards and try to plan your trips during that time as some affluent airlines give these.

So you think that you will never be able to enjoy the trappings of international first class air travel? Well, all is not necessarily lost…

Blue River Wonder Destination for The Tourists.

2006-10-08T23:21:00.000-07:00

The Blue River surrounded by mountains on the east and west, is situated in the Columbia Mountain System known as North Thompson River Valley which is flanked by Monashee Mountains on the east and Cariboo mountains on the west.

Rivers, streams and forests create that special charm of this place. Many interesting and adventurous outdoor activities are there to do. This part of Canada is thriving on the tourism industry and forestry.

A nice combination of tradition and modernization pervades the entire Blue River. As for the entertainment, one can resort to many outdoor activities like mountain biking on the miles long trails. North Thompson River is perfect for water rafting. Blue River is also a paradise for skiers. And Eleanor lake right in the center of town offers wonderful opportunities of swimming, fishing in summer and cross-country skiing in winter.

Both winter and summer are favorable time for visiting this place.

Try Online for Cheap Air Tickets

2006-08-02T02:42:00.000-07:00

Cutting out the middlemen means you should avoid approaching the travel agents to get cheap airfares.

Cheap air fares with deals

You should find cheap air tickets online. There are plenty of online travel companies offering cheap air tickets, cheap airline flights and discount tickets. Some of the online traveling companies offer cheap airfares also offer special deals on hotels, cars and insurance.

There are several sites listed below that offer cheap airline tickets. http://airfare.bootsnall.com is a site which will serve as a valuable tool. In this site, you will find cheap airline ticket as well as access loads of additional products and services. This site also provides information articles and newsletters relating to travel.

http://www.cheaptickets.com is a great place to start your search for great value cheap airfares. www.expedia.com is an excellent resource for getting cheap airline ticket. The options such as flight & hotel, flight & car hire or flight only.

http://www.hotwire.com/index.jsp can help you to get cheap air tickets for flights, cheap hotels, cheap car-hire, and cheap insurance. http://www.smarterliving.com is the smart way to find lucrative travel deals without having to worry about any compromise on quality or comfort. You will find offers and deals on hotels, cars, cruises and packages as well as on cheap tickets.

Cryptic regret

2006-06-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

I've realized that identifying bad decisions from the good is not my problem; my problem is that I will normally make the bad decision anyway.

Ever been playing pool, when you see your ball at the end of the table, and before you even put your hand down to take the shot you just know your going to pot the white as well? And then do you take the shot anyway?

Let me put it another way: ever make a decision so bad and embarrass yourself so completely, that every time you think about it, your stomach flips like as if your on a rollercoaster? Is it made twice as bad because you saw it coming hurtling toward you with the inevitability of a train wreck?

2004-11-29T03:31:00.000-08:00

Chapter 20

Deep-down, Raoul was a romantic. His early photos were atmospheric, subtle and moody, and all, without exception, rejected: “Not enough blue sky” they said. Readers don’t want reality.
Two years of resentful unemployment followed. Then the penny dropped, or didn’t: he had no money. “If that’s what they want, let them have it.” And the infinite variety of lacewing mist transformed itself into garish butterflies of vulgar obviousness. But they sold. A rainbow for every cloud.
For years, he wandered across the globe taking memorable photos of snow-capped mountains, forests of gold and umber, and shimmering fields bedecked with buttercup and daisy.
Now, he was beginning to saturate. On his returns to civilisation, he called on old friends and colleagues, inquiring, without realising it, into other fields: satisfaction, money, openings...
And Marco was happy to foist off the icy blonde the agency sent round. He was too busy anyway, his hands were full with an Italian starlet of liquid eyes and staggering cleavage.
So while Marco was out splashing around in fountains. Raoul stayed and photographed. Then they had lunch together.
He was amazed: so easy! And so well paid.

The change that came over his studio was miraculous. The backdrops hanging feebly from the ceiling were ripped down in a flurry of dust. Fresh ones were put up. The galoshes, anoraks, umbrellas and hats were tidied away and the walls repainted. It needed it.
When William turned up, his astonishment was shared between the glistening newness and a life-size blow-up on the wall. It was the same photo as in the magazine.
“Well, Raoul, I see you’ve forsaken the unscalable heights of rugged outcrop for somewhat more accessible topographical features.”
Raoul laughed. He loved William’s way of turning a straightforward comment into a flight of pedantic word-mongering.
“Pretty girl, isn’t she?”
“She is indeed, and how long’s this been going on for? Noticed it in one of Amie’s magazines.”
Raoul put some coffee on and told his long and sorry tale of gradual disenchantment.
“You’re not going to stop completely, are you? I’ve got a beautiful project I want to do with you.” To answer the “What’s that?”, William told him about a contact he’d made with somebody from the Regional Tourist Boards, “I mean, have you seen the stuff they produce? You do the landscapes, and I’ll do the wildlife”.
“Maybe. Nothing’s decided yet so I just don’t know. Listen, why don’t you go on ahead and if the worst comes to the worst, we can always use some of my old ones. Got millions of the bloody things.”
“Yes, but the whole point of it all is offering photos especially taken for them by two well-known ‘artists’.”
Raoul looked at him for a minute, pensively, then the shape of a smile escaped the furrowed lines of thought. “They were,” he stated bluntly.
William began to smile too. “Hmm, I see what you mean...”
“Quite honestly,” said Raoul, “if I have to take one more filtered facsimile of a landscape, I’ll go mad.”
“Alright, let’s forget it for the moment, I’ll do the necessary and get back to you on it.”
“OK. And what sort of prices are we talking about anyway? Because I don’t know whether you realise it but I’m getting paid more than twice for this than I ever got for my bloody picture postcards.”
“Umm, see what you mean.”
“Surprises me you’ve never done it yourself, it’s right down your street.”
“Never mix business with pleasure, old boy.”
William had, in fact, been proposed glamour on more than one occasion. He always turned it down. It was not because he couldn’t, he could, and did it well. It was a question of involvement, he didn’t like the artificial relationship between model and photographer. Everything seemed so stiff and strained. For him, it had to be real. The photos he took meant something to him, each one. For him, there was only one moment for doing nudes: afterwards, when they were both relaxed. Again, for his private collection, the photos were in black and white and taken in subdued lighting: not the sort of thing to go down well in the gynaecologicals. So he left the bees where they were and stuck to the birds and beasts.
“Yes,” continued Raoul, “I must admit it wasn’t easy concentrating on the job but then, judging by Marco, I suppose you get used to it.”
“Good God, I hope not!”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, ’course I do. Come on then, let’s have a look at what else you’ve done.”
As they flipped through the pages of his newly-begun book, Raoul commented thoughtfully: “Beautiful, isn’t she? And she’s not even a pro, only does it for pin-money.”
“Really?”
“Yes, she’s a student from Norway, very serious girl she is too, working her way through a Ph.D. on something to do with Norwegian influence on French courtly love or whatnot.”
“Well, give her my telephone number, I have a little influence myself I might be able to use.”
“Yeah,” Raoul smiled back, “and you can keep your grimy mitts off, mate, she’s mine.”
“Oh? Already?...”
“Well...”
“It’s alright, I’m only pulling your leg.”
“I know you are, but I’ve got another job coming up with her soon...”
“Aha!”
“Yup, they make various products so they want a range of positions.”
“Range of positions, eh! Very interesting... Well if you, er, need any help, just give me a call, I’d be perfectly willing to lend a hand.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you would, you dirty bastard, but don’t you worry about me, I can do perfectly well on my own, thank you.”
Upon which, with a friendly grin from each side, William departed.

William was glum. Another of his hare-brained schemes had fallen flat on its face. And with it went a very good excuse for an all-expenses-paid holiday to Africa. He’d spent two weeks doing nothing but read up on it and all the while a vital fact had been staring him in the face: Passion was dead.
Still, some of the stuff he’d read was food for thought, there might be a way out yet. One book he read said that cannibalism was normal in 138 different species. But then perch, damselflies and slugs could hardly be called crowd-pullers.
What about praying mantises? They’re newsworthy little beggars. While he’s slipping the ring on, she’s already at the wedding breakfast. Could easily sell that to one of the women’s weeklies, just the sort of thing they’d like, put it next to the recipes.
No, it’s got to be something with a bit more pizzazz. And it’s got to happen fairly often, you can’t hang about for months on end, so that ruled out gorillas and baboons, and the chimpanzees again. Leopards? No, too solitary. Maybe the lions? Trouble with them is they’ve got such inscrutable expressions compared to the apes.
“Penny for your thoughts.”
“Huh?”
“I said a penny for your thoughts.”
“No, much more than a penny. Fancy a trip to Africa?”
“Not tonight, darling, you promised to take me out.”
He was in one of his moods. Generally, Anne-Marie just left him to get on with it and waited until it blew over or a triumphant look of satisfaction gave the all-clear. But she was getting hungry.
“Well come on, let’s go and eat then you can tell me all about it. And I would like to go to Africa.” Apart from three sweltering days interpreting in Abidjan, she’d never been there.
There was a very interesting-looking Crozes-Hermitages on the wine list. That woke him up a bit and shook off the silent rumination.
“So, where are you thinking of?”
“Not really sure, somewhere in east Africa probably, but I don’t even know whether it’ll work.”
“Whether what will work, my darling? Do you realise you’ve been sulking for three quarters of an hour and I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“I wasn’t sulking, I was excogitating matters of great intellectual import.”
“She must be very pretty.”
William eyed her in exasperation.
“Sweet child, if you seriously think my attentions are drawn to the great apes, you do yourself no flattery at all. Remember that chimpanzee I told you about?”
“The one that ate babies?”
“Yes, well she’s dead.”
“Good thing too by the sound of it.”
“Well, maybe it is, but it buggers my plans up completely.”
Anne-Marie wasn’t entirely displeased. Going to Africa was one thing, watching animals kill other apart was another.
“I was wondering whether I could do something on lions...”
“Bit dangerous, isn’t it?”
“Maybe, but I’m not sure anyway, it lacks the human element. Just big lions killing little lions and no Greek chorus-line screaming in the background. Can’t see it myself...” He trailed off and sunk into thought again. He wasn’t even concentrating on his food. That was a bad sign. “Damn, it’s such a bloody nuisance, it would have been perfect for my book.”
“Yes, but you don’t want to make it too gruesome, do you?”
“No, I know, but it was the psychological aspect. I mean, I can’t remember the exact words, but when Passion gave birth to her daughter, Pom, Goodall described her maternal behaviour as extraordinarily inefficient and indifferent.”
“Maybe it was, but being a bad mother doesn’t automatically mean you’ll end up being a cannibal.”
“Of course not, no. But... You know that thing I told you about the infant macaque deprived of its mother and being totally incompetent at rearing her own offspring later on. Well, the first thing that struck me about this was that Passion herself must have been rejected by her own mother at a very early age.”
“Oh come on! How on earth can you be so sure?”
“I’m not sure at all, but you could infer it from the macaque’s behaviour. Happens in humans too. The point I’m trying to make is it seems to me that Passion learned to identify babies or the state of being a baby with something violently negative.”
“Well why didn’t she eat her own then?”
“Mm, good point... Hadn’t thought of that. No idea. Maybe she did before the study got going, don’t know. Anyway, the whole thing is pure speculation on my part. Goodall spoke about it as meat-eating behaviour.”
There was silence once again as each of them ate. William continued mulling things over.
“Damn, damn, damn!”
“What’s the matter now?”
“There’s something about it I just can’t figure out. When she attacked the mothers to get the baby, there was all hell let loose and then, as soon as it was over, you know what one of the mothers did? She approached the killers while they were eating her own infant and Passion reached out and embraced her.”
“Crikey, that does sound weird. I know what I’d do if anyone even tried anything like that on me.”
“I can believe you... But the whole thing’s a bit complicated. She was only once seen doing it when there were males around, and then they did get angry with her, but it’s possible they saw her doing it at other times and didn’t. I mean, she wasn’t ostracised or attacked, things just went on more or less as normal.”
“And?...”
“Well, it’s the reactions.”
“What about them?”
It was exactly that the problem: he didn’t know. Since his last blitz on the bookshop, he’d been devouring data on serial killers to see how it applied to Passion. Apart from oddbods like the Bundy groupies and suchlike, serial killers are universally frowned upon. Passion was not. Serial killing is not considered normal, bus she did not seem to be treated as abnormal. But maybe it depends on how you define ‘normal’. In certain tribes of human, cannibalism was normal. Cannibalism was stated as normal for those 138 species. You could hardly accuse a crow of being abnormal for protecting its next year’s territory and getting a meal into the bargain. Domestic pigs might be questionable, they have more than enough food, but who knows what goes on inside a sow’s mind? So where do you draw the line? Between humans and the rest? Too easy. A thousand years ago, rape, pillage and hatchet-work were worth a 2.1 in sociology. What will people think about us eating live oysters a hundred years from now?
“Now what are you thinking about? I wish you’d pay a little attention to me once in a while.”
“I’m sorry, my Plum, I’m not quite with it this evening.”
“I noticed...”
‘Not quite with it’ was right. He knew he was not thinking clearly. There was something wrong somewhere. What logical flaw had he committed? He paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
“Got it! Remember that cheese we ate in Sardinia, the Casu Marzu?”
“What, that disgusting thing with maggots in it? You ate, you mean. I wouldn’t go near it with a barge pole.”
“Yes, it was rather strong.”
“Strong’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Exactly, but you eat live oysters, live whelks, live sea urchins...”
“I know, but maggots! Revolting! Horrible squirmy...”
“That’s it! You’re not used to them, that’s all, if you’d been brought up in Sardinia, you’d love ’em.”
“Well, I’m not sure about that...”
“Anyway, forget that. You know what it is? It’s not a question of normality at all, its acceptability, current norms of social acceptability. Passion’s cannibalism was accepted for the wrong reasons: the general act was ‘normal’ and socially acceptable, but her specific act - in which I suspect the meat-eating was incidental and secondarily triggered by ‘normal’ cues - would not have been acceptable if the underlying reasons were perceived.”
“Could you write that down for me?”
“She was a serial killer.”
“I’ll take you word for it.”
“Don’t. Never believe somebody who’s trying to prove something.”
“Especially you?”
“Especially me.”
“Well, now you’ve got that sorted out, what are you going to do, deprive another infant of its mother and wait for thirty years?”
William burst out laughing.
“God knows!”
“Why don’t you do something on serial killers then, if you’re so obsessed with them?”
“I am not obsessed with serial killers. What interests me is the question of normality and social acceptability, and sanity.”
“Sanity? You’re not going to tell me your serial killers aren’t insane, I hope.”
“I wish you’d stop referring to them as mine. By getting caught, they come into the public domain. And they are not all mad.”
“How can you say they’re not mad? They kill people.”
“Gets back to definitions again. How do you define mad? It’s a bit of a blanket-term at the best of times and, at worst, it’s too easy. What about butterfly collectors? Nobody calls them mad, but look at it: the behaviour borders on the obsessive. I mean, discounting the killing aspect, what do you do with a collected butterfly? Look at it? Line it up with others? Count them? And I suspect they’re less numerous than murderers, so it can probably be classed as statistically abnormal.”
“You’re splitting hairs.”
“I know, but seriously, I don’t think that people like Kemper or Bartsch or Gacy and others were mad. They had an understandable logic of revenge, and revenge is a very common human trait.”
“Maybe it is.”
“And there’s another thing too. Everything that’s known is based on those who got caught. What about the ones that didn’t?” William’s brain knee-jerked. “Now, that would make an interesting topic: the one that got away.”
“Wonderful! And how do you propose finding them? Put an ad in Le Monde?”
William smiled. “Yeah, why not? ‘Wanted: unapprehended serial killer to take part in a photo-documentary for worldwide publication, victims provided. Phone Anne-Marie on 42 67...’.”
“No, I think it would be best you use your own phone number, darling, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh go on, be a sport! You’d make excellent bait! And I’d be there to take the photos so you wouldn’t be alone.”
“Delightful! Very kind of you to offer me instant fame but no thanks, you can find somebody else to do your dirty work!”
“Ah, but not as lovely as you, you have that pure feminine radiance, that glamorous, sensual, animal magnetism...”
Anne-Marie listened to his voice as it gradually softened to a deep murmuring caress. She looked into his eyes and, with the faintest of smiles, said “That’s right, lay it on thick... I’m sure that with your charm and power of persuasion you could find someone willing to play the part, couldn’t you, my love? Handsome boy like you...”
Oh God, she’s off again. “Actually, you’re right about the fame bit. I’m convinced that many of them would leap at the opportunity. Anyway, the point is academic. Think of it: a) you’ve got to find somebody willing, and b) present it in such a way as to protect his identity. The whole thing is impossible, completely and utterly impossible.”
“Impossible is not French.”
“Maybe it’s not, but you’d be the first to wish it were if one of them knocked on your door.”
“I’m sure I would, but that’s hardly likely, is it?”
“Aha! You see?”
“Point taken. OK, so if you’ve got no rendezvous intime with an urban werewolf and no little bushbabies waiting for you to point your grubby lens at, what about some of that animal magnetism you mentioned earlier?”

2004-11-28T01:54:00.000-08:00

Chapter 19

Inga was wearing a long black dress and a smile. A long, clingy, black dress, with rivers of blond hair pouring down her shoulders and a smile of childish delight.
Xavier opened his mouth.
Three more days to go. Her suitcase was packed and ready. It told her she was going home. Next to it was large carrier-bag crammed with picture books and furry toys. She was so happy. She was ready for anything.
And stared.
To some people, extreme beauty is terrifying, it’s the top of an ivory tower, something so ideal it’s perfectly unattainable. Behind it, there’s always a human being.
“Er, Xavier?...”
And all he could say was: “You’re not going like that are you?”
Nothing could do justice to the emotional shock he felt just looking at her. Her bright blue eyes were speckled with tiny fragments of grey and green and her…
“I thought we were going out to eat first.”

By the time they got to the restaurant, things had settled down.
They sat and sipped chilled Côtes de Provence.
“When’s your flight?
“Saturday morning, be back home by six.”
“Looking forward to it?” Xavier knew it was a stupid question. He was just hoping she might have one tiny reason for feeling a twinge of sorrow at leaving. But any regrets she may have had were swamped by the happiness she felt at seeing her family again, Sven, her Mum and Dad, her friends, and being able to talk without having to think about each word before she pronounced it.
“But you speak very good French. What do you mean?”
She did. In the short amount of time she’d been in Paris, her childhood memories had all come back. Her intonation was a bit too sing-song, but the overall effect was very convincing.
“It’s just that I feel I have to prepare everything before I open my mouth, I can’t be spontaneous and I don’t always understand what people are saying.”
“Yeah, but even so... How much did you know before you arrived?”
“Well, in fact, my mother’s French, but she stopped speaking it to me years ago...” Inga’s voice trailed off. Why did she? It was something she never knew, something her mother didn’t like talking about either.
For a while, they sat in silence. The food arrived, and Xavier brought her back to the present.
“What are you going to do when you get back?”
“Go to college and do a course in nursing.”
“Nursing! You’d look nice in a uniform.”
“No, not that sort: looking after handicapped children.”
She said it without thinking. She hadn’t got the faintest idea of what she was going to do five minutes ago, just go home and be at home. Then it sort of came to her in a flash. It was so obvious. She knew it was the only possible thing for her to do. She smiled.
“Yeah, been thinking of it for years, time I got started.”
“Why handicapped children?”
“There’s so much pain and suffering in the world and it’s always the children that get it in the neck. And then they grow up and pass it onto the next generation and on it goes. I mean, I can’t save the world, but I can do my bit. Handicapped children just have that little extra reason for getting hurt.”
Xavier gazed at her with a sad-happy look in his eyes. She was different. Maybe... Age-old struggles of hope and negativity dragged themselves out of the bogs of despondency, slipped back in and lurched forwards again. He’d never met anyone like her, and an inconceivable scenario began to detach itself from the gloom of his past. Maybe...
“Shall we go then?”
“Uh? Where?”
“To the catacombs! You’re the one’s wanting to drag me down there!”

Xavier no longer knew where to take her. Like a snake, the feeling had been creeping up on him unawares. He was in love. Everything was different now. The fantasy collapsed and lost its meaning. He wanted her. And she loved him too, he knew it. The little signs of friendship or empathy were transformed into meaningful signals of love. But where to now? His plans had changed but he still had to make sure she didn’t meet anybody else.
They were sitting on a massive block of stone somewhere beneath an old convent and Xavier was explaining all about the cloches de fontis, bell-shaped hollow domes caused by subsidence, when he heard the distant crunch of feet.
“Come on then, there’s one not far from here I could show you.”
Inga wasn’t deaf and she wasn’t a complete fool either. Something was up.
“The woman I was working for told me she’d seen a programme about the catacombs and how dangerous it was. She said you get gangs of yobs marching about with baseball bats and knives and things.”
“Rubbish! She must be talking about the thing they made for the telly. Paid people to come down and look frightening to keep people away. Bloody government propaganda. What made her tell you that anyway?”
“I made up a story for the brats one day and they told their father and he told her and she told me off for filling their heads with nonsense. Not nonsense at all, I told her, I knew somebody who goes down there.” And one of her delicious peals of laughter echoed and sparkled around the vaulted cellars. “Know what she said? Said you’re probably one of them!”
Xavier didn’t find it very funny.
And then neither did Inga. Maybe they did exist, maybe he wasn’t so sure either, or maybe he was and wanted to keep out of sight just in case, maybe...
“Hey, just slip in here and turn your light off for a sec.”
After a few minutes, a group of four traipsed past. Berets and bobble-hats, knapsacks and acetylene lamps, a very faint odour of beer, and no baseball bats at all.
“See!”

For two hours they wandered about the rambling passageways, through vaults and hidden mazes, going deeper and deeper then climbing sudden stairs. There were carvings, fossils, pictures engraved in the wall, an altar, a miniature fountain, stalactites… At the bottom of one shaft was something like a lake, and when they shone their torches into it the reflection was a stunning emerald green. At the beginning Inga was impressed, Xavier did know the place well, but now she was beginning to feel hemmed in and claustrophobic. And every time they stopped, Xavier seemed to draw too close. It was neither one thing nor the other. He didn’t actually do anything so there was no way she could make things clear.
Xavier noticed she was getting edgier. Her speech was sharper, almost snappy, and he misinterpreted it completely.
“Are we nearly there, yet?”
“Not far now.”
“You said that half an hour ago.”
Xavier was getting desperate. He refused to understand that all she wanted was to go back up. It was him. She didn’t like him, she never had. And yet, it was his last chance. If he took her out, that would be the end of it, she’d go away and they’d never see each other again. He had to make her want to stay.
For Inga, at last it had clicked, what it was she couldn’t understand about him. It wasn’t his moods or anything, it was his eyes. They were begging eyes, like a dog’s. He looked at her in expectation, she was the one who had to make the first move. He just stood there gawping and waiting. Well he can bloody well wait.
Why the hell hadn’t she realised before? That was why he’d been so helpful, not out of kindness but to make her want to be nice and thank him, or maybe to need him. And I can do without your need too. If that’s what you think a relationship’s based on, no wonder you’ve got no girlfriend.
Her knees were hurting, too. His famous ‘secret passageway’ indeed. Crawling along on all fours for fifteen minutes to show me a heap of bones: great! What next? Christ Almighty! you’ve got to be morbid to like that sort of stuff.
On they went to yet another weird bloody cellar that was damp and dark and daubed with illiterate graffiti. And it was always “on the way”.
The whole thing was hopeless. Xavier’s love was crumbling around his ears and still he persisted in dragging her on. He was shambles of indecision. Maybe she was annoyed because he hadn’t kissed her, because he hadn’t taken her in his arms and told her he loved her. Yet every time he approached her, she became stiff or shone her bloody head-torch into his eyes. No, she hated him. Who the hell did he think he was anyway? She was just being polite, condescending.
As he walked in front, his frustration turned into anger; anger at her, anger at him and anger at the whole fucking world. The resentment was building up nastily. Who do you think you are anyway, you’re no better than anyone else. And whenever they stopped, it evaporated into thin air. Then the silence came down and he didn’t know what to say. Jesus, he wanted her. Didn’t she understand? Paralysed by doubt, he stared and raged inside. He’d had enough.
“Alright then, if you promise it’s the last one.”
Promise? “I promise.” Alright, if that’s the way you want it, that’s the way you’ll get it. Last one coming up, I promise. He stormed forwards and Inga was forced almost to run to keep up with him. “Damn!” she thought, “well, he’s got what he wanted now, I do need him.” At the beginning, she’d made mental notes of the turns they’d taken, but she knew she was completely lost now. Nobody could find their way out of this maze without help. She realised she was entirely in his hands and liked it less and less. When she got out, she was going to find a hotel for the last two nights and that’s an end to it.
He headed north-west, thundering through the mire, kicking up splashes of dirty water. Not bloody good enough for you, am I? Well, we’ll soon see about that. Bitterly, he realised what a bloody fool he’d been, believing she could even like him in the first place.
The ceilings dropped lower and lower. At first, they walked leaning their heads to one side. Then they had to bend their knees. Inga scraped her head on the roof and swore. She tripped on some uneven ground hidden in the mud, then banged her head seriously. It certainly didn’t improve her humour.
Hearing the pained and exhausted “Ow” behind him, Xavier felt maliciously pleased. Serves you right, bitch. Teach you to look down on me.
It was dry again and the ceilings were a reasonable height. Xavier counted ... thirteen.
“Right, we’re there now, last one.”
He climbed up and crawled swiftly along. “You could at least wait for me,” she mumbled to herself as she struggled to wedge her slippery trainers into the uneven stirrup-holes. Muttering something about “getting the whole thing over and done with as quickly as possible”, Inga finally pulled herself up. But when she got to the end of the tunnel, Xavier had disappeared.
It was Guy now.

2004-11-27T01:54:00.000-08:00

Chapter 18

Suzannah had never met her grand-father, he was a sort of mythical family figure. In the seventies, news filtered through from the other side. He was coming over. He’d found a way out. He never arrived and nobody heard of him again. In the West. In the East, he was crossed off a list of suspected defectors.
She was pretty sure he’d been in the SS too, but no-one talked about it. So much silence. No-one talked about the war either. They studied Nazism at school, and although the time was one of coming to terms with the past, she and many of her friends still had horrible feelings of guilt.
When she was twenty-five, she left Germany to see the world. In Paris, she saw commemorative plaques to Jewish deportees and civilians gunned down in the street.
In a métro station, there was an exhibition on the capture and execution of the resistance fighter Colonel Fabien. He seemed so good and we so bad.
Somebody started speaking to her, something about typical French logic, putting it here when there’s a station named after the man four stops away. She began to feel uncomfortable, caught in the act.
The conversation got off to an uneasy start. She mentioned the plaques she’d seen in the Marais that afternoon.
“Think of it: a country whose glorious past has been crushed and trampled on had to do something to blot out the humiliation. They’re a statement: This is France! Land of heroes, a way of wallpapering over the 50 million letters of denunciation they sent to the Gestapo.”
“What? 50 million!”
“Well, I think that’s the figure, but it doesn’t matter, any country would do the same, or something equally despicable. War does things to people.”
“I know, I’m German...”
“Have you heard the Mayflower story?”
“No, what’s that?”
“America. If the boat actually held all the ancestors that people claimed, it would have sunk before leaving the port. Same thing for the French resistance.”
“Well, maybe, but they did exist.”
“Yes of course they did, could even show you where they used to meet if you like.”
“Dunno, where are they?”
“Underground, there’s the Wine Museum, old quarries they used to use. Then again, if you’re really interested, I could show you some much better places.”
“Like what?”
“Dozens! There’s the underground shelter beneath the Rue des Feuillantines, there’s the...”
Suzannah was only half listening. “My grand-father...” She didn’t know what she wanted to say.
“What about him?”
“Nothing...”
“It’s alright, I’m not from the police!”
She laughed. “Yeah, no, it’s nothing but...” saddening again, “well, we think he died trying to escape.”
“Over the Wall?”
“Under. But I just don’t know. It must have been horrible.”
“Dying is rarely nice.”
“Yes, but no, not that, the crawling about in dark tunnels and being trapped like a rat.”
“Crawling? No, they’re like normal corridors. OK, now and again, you have to get down on your hands and knees, but if Berlin’s anything like Paris...”
“Maybe, it’s just I’ve got this picture of him digging his way through the earth, you know, in the dark with a candle, and suffocating or something.”
“Digging, I doubt. Almost every main city has its own catacombs, Rome, Athens, you name it. There are even whole towns underground in Turkey. Have you ever been down one?”
“No.”
“Well look, I go down quite a lot, doing archaeological digs into Paris’s Roman history. Going down later on. Come and have a look. We’re working on a mosaic at the moment, so there’s quite a few of us.”
“Really? A mosaic…”
“And it’s beautiful too… Listen, here’s my number, if you feel like coming, give me a call or just meet me there at seven.”
“Seven?...”
“Some people do have jobs you know!”

Since his last fiasco, he’d had some thinking to do. He had to find something that sounded perfectly plausible, and he thought he had. Since he couldn’t use the car, he had a wider choice of manhole covers. The one he chose was half hidden behind the buttress to a convent. Anyone looking down the alley would see nothing. It was good, but still not enough. He called in at a silk-screen printer and had a poster made, a one metre square of tarpaulin. Printed in official red and blue, it gave the name of the archaeological association, its telephone and registered number, the Numéro d’Autorisation issued by the Paris Town Hall, and a range of prettily invented icons.
He didn’t plan on using it often, but needed a trial run to make sure it worked.
At six fifty, he removed the cover, tacked the poster to the wall, and hung some lamps down the shaft. It looked very good.

Suzannah arrived.
“Hi!” he said, “you’re the last one, everyone else is there already.”
She looked down. At the bottom, a radio was playing.
Oh well, in for a penny, in for a pound. “If my mother could see me now, climbing down drains in the middle of the night!”
“It is not a drain, thank you. Do you seriously think I make a habit of enticing beautiful women into the sewers?”
She laughed as well and they both clambered down.
Ladies first. Guy folded the tarpaulin up and put it away, then closed the cover.

The radio was a good idea, it hid the silence. Guy set himself on autowaffle but didn’t really need it, for a first-time visitor the catacombs are staggering.
“Here look!” He pointed to some graffiti. It was dated 1754.
Then they saw a broken seashell embedded in the limestone.
Then they spotted an old coin in a corner: “1883! Amazing! Can I keep it?”
Of course you can my pretty little thing.
“Right, here we are, I’ll go first.”
Without realising it, Suzannah had no option.
Guy was waiting for her. He wrenched off her head-torch and threw her into the water.
She came up screaming: “You bastard!”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say.” He kicked her fingers off the rim then pushed her head down hard. She came up gasping, but it was short-lived. He forced her under a second time then jumped on top of her and clamped his thighs around her neck.
There was nothing she could grab, the walls were smooth and slippery, she punched, but hit nothing. The legs around her throat squeezed harder, tighter, it was suffocate or drown. In her struggling, writhing, kicking panic, the last minutes of her life were the most intense she ever lived, but they were short.
Then came the convulsive jerks Guy knew so well, then silence. He let her go. Slowly, her body sunk.

It took a while to pump the water out. Eventually, the trickle ceased, and he laid her on the bench.
Guy looked at the naked corpse waiting for him. He was fed up. He didn’t even want her, fucking slut, let the rats have her.
He was exhausted. He felt utterly drained and tired of everything. A drip caught his ear. The girl’s face was still wet, water dripping off her hair. He watched the slow progress as droplets slid down the hair and fell to the floor.
He sat and watched the naked, immobile body. He stood up and fetched his knife, then looked back at the body glistening with water in the pale light. Naked, immobile and glistening. Glistening with water in the pale light. He watched, transfixed.
He was gone.
The blade was seven inches long. He stabbed. The first went in to the hilt. The second hit the stone beneath. The third got stuck in the backbone. The fourth... the fifth, the sixth... and on and on and on and no matter how much he clawed and bit and spat and screamed the past was always there to kick him in the face and slide its razor fingers beneath the skin.
He plunged, biting furiously, burying his face into her guts. Face smeared with lifeless gore, he spewed and bit again.

Hours passed. She was cold, he was cold.
He stared at the black water, then bent down and washed his face and arms. His body sagged and pulled him down. The dark surface of the water was smooth, unruffled and inviting. Black water, night, everlasting night. The emptiness and longing bruised his chest in a dull and mindless hugging pain. He wheezed and his lungs hurt. His mind was numb, just the smooth boulder of despair weighing massively on his chest.
He closed his eyes and swung round, dipping his feet into the cool water. He knew he couldn’t go on. Every day a day of lies. He was a sham, he knew it. There was nothing real about his life, nothing but shadow and secret, lies, make-believe and pretence. And futile, empty craving. He knew what he was. Was: will be no longer. He slipped in.
But he couldn’t open his mouth to breathe in the cup of death.
He got out and stood up, dark stains dripping down his body, somebody else’s life-stream. He was bewildered, he couldn’t bring himself to turn round and look at her. She was gone. He couldn’t bring her back to life. It was finished. She was dead. Dead and taken the love she never had for him with her.
Guy snuffed out the candle and gathered up his things in the dark. Outside, dawn was breaking.

Nightmares, sweat-drenched awakenings and hour after hour of loathing.
He went to his favourite oak in a wood outside Paris and sat high among the leaves listening to the sounds of nature. A jogger ran past, twice. He could have taken her. So what? He climbed down and walked off, not too sure of his restraint. All afternoon, he wandered aimlessly through the bracken. People have been trampled to death by wild boars. When evening came, he lay down on the ground and breathed in a forgotten past of freedom. He saw Figeac, pipe gripped between his uneven teeth, tramping placidly among the ferns, hunting. Both barrels went off and shredded his face.
Guy was tired but couldn’t, wouldn’t, sleep. Trees creaked softly in the wind, branches wove tapestries with the stars and all around he heard the timeless rustle of leaves. As long as he didn’t sleep.
Slowly, he stood up and started walking again. Reaching a road, he turned left and strode off. He needed to walk.
At Pigalle, he went into one of the sleazier bars open at that time of night and had a beer at the counter. He looked around him, sickened by the debris of wasted life. Should have stayed in the woods. Converting hops into belch and flatulence: this can’t be life. He went out.
Neon rainbows, tourists, loners and all the empty hearts of mistranslated yearning.
He went into an all-night cinema. On the screen, tired erections and sagging breasts groped and grunted in the dark. It the audience, strange hands and faces played the relentless game of checkers.
It didn’t take long. As the boy bent down for lunch, Guy’s hands clamped over mouth and face like a vice, twisted sharply and broke his neck. People come and go in cinemas like that. Nobody noticed him leaving.

He decided to go away. He needed some air. At Nice airport, he hired a car and drove along the coast to the hotel he’d stayed at years before. A couple of days of paid servility put him back into reasonably good spirits. He picked up a transient - an opportunist whore - on the Croisette and took her for a meal in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. He could see her evaluating the leather seats, fat as his wallet...
Over the meal, he realised how much he’d changed too. Still the same old Guy, but more suave, more worldly and no longer able to be intimidated. Even by the little blue-eyed beauty opposite.
Later that evening, afterwards, he ate her kidneys. It was so simple, why did he have to get out of control so?
Afternoons on the beach, evenings on the terrasse, and breakfast in bed. Peace. He strangled a hitch-hiker going to Saint Raphaël, just to see. Nothing. So he went home.

2004-11-25T01:55:00.001-08:00

Chapter 16

He’d been using his room for three weeks when strange things started happening. The first time, he dismissed it as absent-mindedness, but the second, he almost panicked. Somebody had found him. They must have followed him and now they were spying on him. Somebody had come in while he was out and stolen his food.
He was livid. His sanctuary had been violated. He was going to find the bastards, no matter who they were. The first and obvious place to look was by the well. It was the only way in. He shone the torch on the floor, looking for tracks, but saw nothing. It was impossible.
Then he spotted them, and a glint of evil pleasure spread over his face. He took his catapult, crept backwards and hid in the shadows. Patience.
The ball bearing flashed across the room and buried into the soft body of a rat. Guy laughed at his paranoid stupidity for not realising immediately. He could breathe again. It even strengthened his conviction that no-one, no-one at all, knew about his room.
When he returned a week later, the rat was gone. His childhood experiments in suggested why, but he wanted proof. He came back a few days later with a chunk of meat on the bone, set it on the floor and waited. After a couple of hours, the first rat appeared, whiskers twitching. It climbed down from the heap of the rubble and approached the meat cautiously, stopping now and then to sniff. Another poked its head out, from lower down, and crept out. Then a third. Soon, the hunk of meat was smothered in a mass of writhing fur.
Next day, the bone was picked clean; not a single scrap of meat, not a drop of blood left on it. Perfect.
He knew he was near the métro, and that, in theory, meant an unlimited supply of little one-way-ticketers. A little training and he could become a regular Pied Piper.
Guy felt very pleased with himself. He decided to go and see a film.

He arrived five minutes late. As he came out, an unlikely reflection caught his eye: long blond hair! And alone... very unusual. Then again, single girl, late-night projection... Chances were against him. Didn’t even know what she looked like. Soon see about that.
“Great film that, one of my favourites!”
“Huh? Oh yes...” then a screeched “my bus!” and off she raced to catch the 21.
“Damn,” he thought, then “No.” He hailed a taxi and spoke the magic words: “Follow that bus!”
He hadn’t done this in ages, and started tapping the William Tell overture on his knees. Following people was a habit he’d kicked many moons ago. Parisian girls, sweet and lovely though they may be, are at home. They do not have the brake pads removed like holiday-makers do. They know people, make quick telephone calls, and can always suggest why not next week? Tourists don’t.
Originally, it was a spinoff from his woodland games. Then he found it could have a real purpose to it. The first time he put it to serious practice, surprise, surprise, was with a pretty girl he was too shy to approach. All he ended up with was a big brother threatening him with GBH. His techniques needed refining. Cities were not the same as forests.
He started working on dull, nondescript men. It made it harder, he had to stalk more, and better. Using men, sex kept its ugly head out of the way and allowed him to concentrate.
It also appealed to his hunting instincts: know your game.
At the beginning, he made a lot of mistakes, generally for being too careful. But he was soon amazed how inattentive most people are. Once, he held a door open for the same person three times on the same day. Not once did they notice. He remained close but discreet.
Following a girl saved lots of time. He found out where she lived and worked, the routes she took, discovered whether she had a boyfriend or not, topics of interest, and it gave him an idea of the best moment for meeting her.
The key factor was regularity, this determined a lot of his victim’s lives. Too irregular and he wasted too much time; too regular, then terminal boredom had set in and anything impromptu would be rejected. As usual, it needed the happy medium: regularity plus spontaneity. His favourite was the girl he watched standing outside the railings by the Tuileries fairground. It was so tempting... Would she go in?... Beautiful. Such childlike impetuosity!

He followed her home.
Lights went on on the fifth floor. Excellent. He found a place to watch from by the Square des Batignolles. Three quarters of an hour later, two windows darkened and two others lit up on the corner, then dimmed to what he assumed was a bedside-lamp. Nothing changed over the next ten minutes or so. He wandered around and checked out the area. There was even a café right next to her front door.
He was there at eight next morning with a book, patience and a clear view of anybody leaving of the building.
It was two in the afternoon before she came out. She got on the 53 and went into town. With Guy tailing close behind, she went into the Fnac.
She didn’t seem to know what she was looking for, flicking through books in the film section, then in the music and fine art department. Still hadn’t picked up anything or asked the assistants any questions. Vaguely carried along by the thick crowd, she arrived at the literature section, and stopped. A cover caught her eye and she picked it up, leafed through it and continued browsing. Guy took a copy too: The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abé. Read that tonight. When he looked up, she had a second volume under the first and he couldn’t see the title.
However, with a glance at her watch and a startled jerk, she was off. And so was he.
The Utopia in Rue Champollion was having a week of Kurosawa. Business with pleasure.
They started talking the next day while waiting for Throne of Blood. She recognised him.
“Yes, I only went to see it because it’s a remake of Yojimbo.”
“And, which is rare, an improvement on the original.”
“What! You must be joking. OK, it wasn’t bad, but it had nothing of Kurosawa’s subtlety at all.”
“Yeah, maybe, but...”
They paid and went in.
“We’ll continue afterwards.”

In a café, they sat and exchanged views on Japan. Both were Kurosawa fans and had seen nearly all his films. Guy settled back in his chair and emptied his pockets to dig out his cigarettes.
“You reading that?!”
“What? Abé? Yes, why?” A flat plop on the table “I can’t believe it! That’s really amazing! How far have you got?”
“Just started it, and you?”
“Nearly finished, excellent stuff, magnificently written. Actually, I’d never heard of him before last week, it’s a friend of mine, Japanese guy, who recommended it... What about you?”
Oh me, I just really like Japan. No idea why, but the place fascinates me, everything: the films, the books, nô theatre, art... Here, watch!” And in seven quick folds, she turned the bill into a tiny duck.
Guy laughed. The waiter squinted suspiciously.
“Learnt that in Japanese art classes.”
“You ought to meet my friend.”
“Who’s that?”
“Tokumei, Japanese guy, he’s a painter. Actually, he’s also a trifle weird, sixty-eight years old and paints exactly the same picture time and again.”
“Oh yes... the quest for ultimate perfection?”
“Mmm, remember the scene in Redbeard where the young doctor is getting married?... He’s doing the flower. That’s all. Done it with brushes, bamboo quills, pens and God knows what else. Says he’s trying to capture what he wasn’t able to do in the film.”
“What do you mean?”
“He worked on it, he was the person who arranged the flower. Known Kurosawa for years.”
“Really?”
“Could take you round to meet him if you like, but you’re not going to believe it...”
“What?”
“He paints in a cellar in the dark.”
“What do you mean: in the dark?”
“Exactly that: in the dark, pitch black. It’s all part of his discipline, total sensory awareness of the body through the body, no looking. Bit like Japanese archery when there’s a sheet of paper hanging between you and the target, you can only aim when you’ve walked round, touched it and incorporated your movements into your spatial awareness. Not easy, I can tell you.”
“Why, have you done it then?”
“Kyudo? A bit, yes. Best result was missing my foot!” he grinned.
She laughed, “you’re pulling my leg!”
“Not at all, I promise. Tokumei is a kyudo expert, and I’ve been with him a couple of times. He didn’t even want me to shoot the damn thing, just hold it! Called me... what was it?... can’t remember now, something to do with immature bulrushes.”
“Crikey, sounds a bit heavy to me.”
“Yeah but he’s not. His painting and archery he takes very very seriously but outside that, couple of sakés down his neck and he’s great company. Knows everything about Kurosawa’s films, worked on twelve of them at least: archery advisor in Ran, and God knows what else.”
“How did you get to know him, then?”
“Well... it’s rather embarrassing really...” He smiled broadly, expelling short bursts of air through his nostrils, then paused for a second or two. “Tell you what, like to come and meet him? He could tell you better than I, it’s quite funny, in fact.”
“Love to, when?”
He looked at his watch. “No time like the present, why not now?”
“Now? Isn’t it a bit late?”
“Told you: discipline: in a cellar, in the dark, and at night.”
“Yes but if he’s working, won’t we disturb him?”
“No, ’course not, he’ll grumble a bit, always does, but I think he actually likes being disturbed... And anyway, I think he’ll like you.”

Two things went wrong: somebody had parked over his manhole cover so he had to drive to the next one, and that meant an extra quarter of an hour’s walk underground. But that was trivial. Guy had forgotten the obvious: no matter how spontaneous or adventurous, what girl in her right mind would climb through a hole in a total stranger’s car to go down a manhole cover?
“What on earth is all this?” she exclaimed as he started lifting the second one up.
“Told you already, he works in a cellar, it’s down here. Says the one in his block of flats is too noisy, can hear the traffic rumbling. Down there, twenty-seven metres below the cars, lorries and drunken Carusos: perfect silence. It all fits.”
“You’re joking.” Then she caught a look in his eye she didn’t like at all. “No, I think we’ll make it another time…”
His hand moved towards the glove compartment. She saw that too.
She was very lucky. An interest in Japan does not mean ikebana only. She was almost a brown-belt at karate, but it was enough. Her right hand bent into a ridge of knuckles and “ha!” piled into his wind-pipe.
She was out and running. Guy doubled up in pain, hit his head on the steering-wheel and choked. Even so, coughing and gagging, he threw the car in to gear and drove off.

Three in the morning.
The door opened and a man came out with a dog. Guy sat up. They walked round the block, the dog did, then they went back in again. Guy placed a book at the bottom of the door to stop it closing. In ten minutes he could go up.
He slid the thin tube beneath the door and slowly poured a litre of petrol through a funnel. There was a window in the stairwell and another one opposite. Probably the kitchen. He lobbed the damp piece of knotted rag and saw a burst of red. There was a whump, then quiet again, and the soft sound of crackling. Quietly too, he went downstairs.
He watched from the Square des Batignolles until the ambulance arrived. By then, there was a minor crowd. She was dead.

He still had a nasty bruise.

2004-11-25T01:55:00.000-08:00

Chapter 17

William yawned and stretched. “Wonder what time it is?” he mumbled groggily. Even focused as best they could, his eyes could still do no better than 11:24. Since he’d already given himself ‘just another ten minutes’ two hour ago, he decided he ought to get up.
It was Anne-Marie’s birthday and he wanted to buy her a present. He’d seen exactly the thing: a silk chemise, beautiful design, beautiful colour and, last but certainly not least, transparent. “Better get her something else, too,” he thought, “you can never tell.” She might fall for it like he did or she just accuse him of having a one-track mind and give him a clout on the ear.
What else? Perfume? Got gallons of the stuff. Music don’t even think of it… Aha! Got it! A weekend on the coast. Next weekend, she had, for want of a better expression, nothing on.
At thirty-two, Anne-Marie was getting broody. She’d told him twice she wanted children before it was too late, as if the magical age of forty meant the inescapable production of monsters. The first time, he’d vaguely agreed, in a very non-committal sort of way. The second, he suggested she find a father; he was not interested.
William’s reactions had always been fast. Here, they saved him from a faceful of fingernails. They had a row and didn’t see each other for three months. If nothing else, it convinced William he wasn’t cut out for monogamy.
Their relationship was snug. They liked the same things: food, wine, cinema, the country, swimming and suchlike. Why on earth did they need babies waking them up in the middle of the night? She had her flat, he had his, and he was convinced that as soon as they moved in together, they’d end up with ‘his’ and ‘hers’ embroidered on the bloody soap. She didn’t like his bathroom, too stark, too bright; he didn’t like hers, too pastel, too cluttered. Trying to get at the toothpaste was like wading through a jungle of dominos. The slightest touch and a dozen tubes fell on the floor. In his own flat, he’d put up a cabinet especially for her, “to keep your things in”, and spent half his time repatriating pots and powders. Concession leads to catastrophe.
Perhaps without being aware, the choice of presents was a message. The chemise, epitome of sexuality, and the two nights in a hotel were gifts of youth and now. If he’d wanted marital blisters, he’d have given her fluffy slippers.
For him, it was plain and simple. He liked her, she was sexually, intellectually and emotionally satisfying. And that was all he wanted.
Anne-Marie knew they’d never get married and settle down. She wasn’t blind and didn’t need to be a detective to know he saw other women. She just hoped that one day he’d grow up.

William ran up the stairs two by two. And one by one between the fourth and fifth to get his breath back. Hiding the presents behind a corner, he rang the bell. “Happy birthday!” he sang out and flourished a dozen roses under her nose.
“Ah, thank you!” she replied, kissing him on the cheek and eyeing him suspiciously. No, both hands in front; nothing else. “Make yourself at home, I’ll be back in a minute.” That meant half an hour at least.
She went to the bathroom to get ready and William slipped out to retrieve the gifts. Give her a bit of time to get cool and offish... “Lovers’ quarrels are the renewal of love” and all that, and went into the kitchen. Smells were oozing out of casseroles and a pile of glistening fat oysters waited on the table. Three bottles of wine were dribbling beads of condensation down the glass. He went over to inspect: “Aha! Grand Vin de l’Etoile,” he read. “Lovely girl!”

“A bunch of bloody flowers! After all the work I’ve put in, he has the cheek to turn up with a bunch of bloody flowers! Right, that’s it!”

William sat on the sofa and flicked through magazines. Suddenly, he stopped, and his eye caught sight of a familiar name. “Good God, Raoul! What the hell’s he doing photographing fashion?”
He was still wondering about Raoul’s change of direction when Anne-Marie came out of the bathroom.
“Pretty, is she?”
“No, er, I mean yes... no, what am I talking about, look, it’s Raoul.”
“Strange name for a girl...” (Cor blimey, she can be so sarcastic sometimes.)
“No, not her, the photographer, it’s Raoul. Just the man I need.”
Anne-Marie was not even listening. She grabbed the parcel laying on the dining-table and tore it apart, flinging paper and bow all over the place. “Oh! It’s lovely!” Holding it up to get a better view, she let out a gasp of feigned disbelief. “But William, it’s absolutely transparent! I could never wear that!”
“I’d better take it back to the shop then.”
“Oh no, it’s too lovely! But how on earth could I wear it, I mean, it’s so...”
“Revealing?...” and a goatish grin splattered across his face.
“Ooh you swine, you lovely dirty-minded pig of a gorgeous evil lecherous old man you!” Undoing her bathrobe in a flamboyant gesture of Pigalle promise, she knelt down and drowned him in soft warm breasts, then slithered down and kissed him furiously.
“Listen, they won’t be here for another hour...”

“Anne-Marie, hello! You are looking well; been away?”
With William standing behind and poking his fingers all over the place, it was hard to keep a straight face.
“Come in, come in,” and hellos all round. “Isabelle, François, put your coats in the bedroom, I’ve got something in the kitchen.”
She’d asked William to put some coat-hooks up for her at least three times but with him the slightest mention of screwing...
Isabelle and Anne-Marie were old friends. The two of them were French-English interpreters and often worked together. François was something in computers. Excellent company as long as you kept him off networks.
They spoke in French. François was too proud to speak English with Isabelle around, and William had lived in France for years.
“Fix you a drink?”
Drinks were served and Anne-Marie left her blanquette de veau to simmer. The conversation wandered haphazardly around work, films and news. Anne-Marie kept nipping in and out of the kitchen and at last came back with a huge platter of oysters.
A chorus of “Oohs” and “Aahs” followed it to the table.
“Amie,” said William, “have a look in the fridge would you.”
“What for?”
William smiled at her and she rushed off.
“Champagne! You lovely boy, thanks.” She kissed him on the cheek then pressed the ice-cold bottle on the back of his neck.
“Aagh!” jerking forward.
“Serves you right for playing tricks on me.
The bubbles burst and the froth frizzled down, tiny streams of crystal balls curved upwards and traced patterns on the surface. William lifted his glass.
“Happy birthday!”
“Oh, your present!” shrieked Isabelle, “completely forgotten it!” She zipped into the bedroom and came back with a little parcel. “Happy birthday!” they all chimed in.
“Mind if I open it later?” she asked, nodding at the food.
After the oysters, the blanquette de veau. “An English recipe” William chauvinistically insisted on calling it. They humoured him.

“You working on anything at the moment, William?”
“Yes, got a couple of things in mind. Oh, that reminds me!” He turned to address Anne-Marie. “You remember what I was talking about when you started giving me some of you lip?”
She smiled archly.
“It’s Raoul. D’you remember him?”
“Name rings a bell, describe him to me.”
“Uses a six by seven.”
“Typical!” she sighed, calling the others to witness the cross she had to bear. “Every time I ask him to describe somebody, he starts with the camera. Any other distinguishing-marks?”
“Tall guy, slightly cross-eyed, how he manages to focus I don’t know...”
“Oh yes, I know the one, what about him?”
“Remember that project for the Regional Tourist Boards I told you about?”
She didn’t, but nodded, he had so many ideas buzzing around his head, she’d given up trying to keep track.
“He’s just the man I want for the landscapes.”
The photo his name was attached to did not even remotely suggest the countryside.
“Oh yes? I know you...”
William burst out laughing. “Yes, I see what you mean! No, it’s not that at all, in fact, he’s an excellent and recognised landscape photographer, we use the same agency. What the hell he’s doing fashion for, I don’t know.”
Anne-Marie’s eyes narrowed just a teeny bit. “But you will find out, of course, won’t you darling?”
“Of course, my cherub, if you wish...”
Time to change the subject.
“Yes I am indeed. Heard of Jane Goodall?”
“Isn’t she the one got involved with a gorilla and killed?”
“No, that’s Dian Fossey, and she did not get “involved with a gorilla” as you so libellously suggest, she was researching their behaviour in Rwanda. Rumoured she was set up, something about preventing people selling baby gorillas.”
“Oh, that’s horrible!”
“Even worse when you consider the enormous number you have to kill to get one baby. You have to massacre the entire family first to get one, and only one in five or ten survive.”
“Jesus!”
“Yes, pretty grim, better get out there myself before they’re all extinct. Won’t be long... Anyway, it’s not that. No, Jane Goodall is Hugo van Lawick’s ex, the guy who did those amazing photos of cape hunting dogs.”
“Might have guessed,” Anne-Marie interrupted.
“She wrote a book called The Chimpanzees of Gombe where she talks about killer apes. There’s this female and her daughter, called Passion and Pom, who killed and ate three infants and might have been involved in the disappearance of seven or eight more.”
“What? Baby chimpanzees? That’s cannibalism.”
“You’d better believe it,” said Baloo the bear, “and you’re gonna to love the way they tickle.”
“Oh stop it, you’re revolting.”
“Sorry, yes I know, it is pretty foul, but animals are no worse than us, just a little less efficient. You know the first thing lions do when they take over a pride? No? Kill all the cubs under a certain age so the females come on heat again. Nice eh? Lord of the beasts... Actually, when you think of it, it’s quite a fitting description.”
“Nonsense, animals don’t do things like that.”
“Can give you the references if you like, check for yourself.”
Anne-Marie did not press further, William usually got his facts right, even if he did tend to exaggerate at times.
“Anyway, back to Goodall, what she depicted struck me as the first-ever example of serial killing in animals and I was thinking of doing something on it.”
“You can keep your serial killers, they give me the creeps.”
“Oh, there not all nasty. What about Erzebeth Báthory? Countess Dracula, walled up alive in her castle for killing some six hundred young girls.”
“Six hundred!”
“The quest for eternal youth, ladies! Used their blood as an anti-ageing lotion.”
“Oh, that’s gross!”
“Virgins of course...”
“Of course,” said Anne-Marie, “trust you to get back to sex.”
“I’m only reporting what any layman with basic Hungarian can read in the official court records.”
“Yes my darling of course you are would you like some cheese?” she intoned in a soothing padded-cell monotone.
“Not straight away, what about you two? Oh, I know, open your present, let’s see what you’ve got.”
“Ooh yes!” ... “Oh it’s beautiful! Exactly what I wanted. How on earth did you know? It’s lovely, thank you (Mmm”, big kiss on the cheek for Isabelle, “Mmm”, ... for François).
“What else did you get?”
Anne-Marie pulled a face of mock prudery and went into the bedroom.
“Wow wow wow wow wow!” François glanced over at William and raised an eyebrow. “Try it on, go on, let’s have a see!”
“Certainly not!”
Isabelle and Anne-Marie examined the portable peep-show and William went to fetch the cheese. François followed him out.
“Nice piece of schmutter; when’s she going to wear it? I’d like to be around!”
“Aha! I have my plans.”
“Come on, you dirty bugger, out with it.”
“Got us booked into a hotel at Deauville next weekend and on Saturday night they’re having a fancy-dress ball. She’s going as a red-light district.”
Lewd laughter bounced out of the kitchen.
“What are you two up to?”
“Nothing darling,” they both replied, innocently, my foot.
“Doesn’t know yet, so keep it quiet.”
They came back in, William carrying the cheese, both of them sharing the Cheshire.

2004-11-24T01:56:00.000-08:00

Chapter 15

It was a Tuesday morning.
Guy was at home, reading. The day wore on lazily, he drank a coffee or two, and generally slummed around doing nothing. At eleven, he decided to go out to buy some cigarettes and have a wander about, see what’s happening.
He reached the newsagent’s and stopped in his tracks. In the window there was an advertising poster, a copy of the front cover of a woman’s magazine.
Guy was no longer young (32) nor, he thought, impressionable, but the sight of the girl hit him in the heart like a pile-driver. It was the Perfect Woman.
For a while, he stood there mesmerised. He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life. Maybe it was the pose, the torrent of blond hair cascading down her arms, the flattering swimsuit and smooth, smooth curves. Her eyes were dark, very dark hazel, mocking and slutty. And the lips... he could feel the softness, the magically delicate baby-soft contours, the centre of the upper lip suggesting the minutest of pouts, as if she were blowing out an ultrafine wisp of invisible smoke. In the middle of one breast, there was the slightest of shadow. It was impossible to tell whether a nipple was sticking out its cheeky tongue or darkroom deceit had painted another trompe-lèvres.

Guy had a thing about models. Beautiful imaginary creatures that stare blankly out of glossy magazines with their look of unattainable perfection, discreet smile playing on finely-contoured lips that kiss no-one. Hours of preparation, make-up artists, hairdressers and assistants all fussing around to make her feel important and blossom for one hour. He especially had a thing about swimwear. Everything is smoothness, no bird’s-nest pattern of pubic hair traced on the fabric, no crack between the unnameable lips, perfect smoothness, dry, smooth, rounded, smooth, smooth, smooth.
And, above all, non-existent.
An image never says no. An image takes reality and grooms it to a stage beyond perfection, each feature inflated and polished till it shines. Legs are longer, breasts are fuller, and the face becomes a mask of exquisite surgical precision.
He knew it was all lies, he’d seen one or two of the haggard, lanky anorexics before they went in. They rarely lived up to expectations. It was the silent image that attracted him, the façade.
This one was different.

Guy had an uneasy week of it. Wherever he went, her gaze was there: bored, sarcastic and unspeakably lovely. On every street corner, from the window of every newsagent, in bars, restaurants and launderettes, replicated a thousand times across the streets of Paris, and probably every town in France, her hazel eyes followed him past.
In one café, somebody had burned a hole between her lips with a cigarette.
“How dare they!”
He could hardly stay at home, he kept on going out to look at her beckoning, beautiful gaze.
He knew it had to end. He had one week before the clamour for the new replaced her with another.
There was only one thing to do. He went far from his own quartier and slipped into a newsagent’s. And out again, other people were there. He went in one after the other before finding a deserted front. Just a grey old woman fussing with her returns. He bought the magazine. Maybe she’d think he was buying it for his wife. She was probably too old and silly to imagine he was a pervert. A disgusting, dirty old man who drooled over pictures - pictures! - of girls.
Inside, glorious technicolour: fluorescent green, zebra stripes, blazing pink, thick syrupy yellow, blues and, obviously, white. One swimsuit was an open invitation. Dark bordeaux with a single broad black band of material in the centre, starting between the rich breasts and descending in a smooth, willowy line to the honey-guide curve between her legs.
He put it in a smooth manila envelope and filed it away. And now he had a name too: Fenella. He could find her. He would be very careful, very, very careful. It would have to be planned with the utmost precaution.

Two months later, he found exactly what he was looking for. Everything was fitting into place.
From his manhole cover, he could climb down the eighty-two rungs and get there in seven minutes flat. He was 99% certain no-one else used the shaft. Not everyone had a car like his and most people preferred the reassuring faces and handshaking near the main entrance.
Weeks went by and no-one came anywhere near. It was well off the beaten track.
He was exploring again and came across a series of dead-ends, a sort of beginners’ course in labyrinth design. Spaced at regular intervals, fifteen passages led off to the right as you go north-west, and they were all cul de sacs. Right at the end of number thirteen, there were four stirrup-holes on the left-hand wall, not the sort of thing you’d notice when you’re expecting yet another dead-end. Guy nearly missed it too. He preferred the head-torch to the acetylene burner (blinds people better) and the directional beam picked out something odd. He decided to investigate. What he found was above his wildest dreams.
Climbing up the wall, he found himself at the entrance to a low tunnel. Almost at the end and virtually blocked off by a pile of rubble, was another leading off to a shallow pit on the right. He called it the crow’s nest. In case of surprise visit (noises travel well), it gave him time and place to hide and watch. The main tunnel carried on and led him to a cave-like room.
Apart from the isolation, the cave had no particular advantage. The only thing of interest was a strange, man-made well. It was just a hole in the ground. From its carefully rounded rim, the walls descended a foot or so into a pool of black water. The level seemed to be maintained by the plop that echoed dully around the walls.
It wasn’t right, but he liked it. Here, he was alone, perfectly alone with only the occasional drop of water to shatter the silence.
It was disposing of the bodies that remained a problem. Even as isolated as this, his age-old enemy was still there: chance.
Ironically, the solution was an accident. His knife fell in the water.
“Shit,” he thought, “bloody good knife that.” Which meant going in for it. He took some nylon rope from his knapsack and tied a weight to the end. About ten yards, he could do that.
He stripped, tied his belt and torch around his waist, and dropped in. A few strokes later, his hand touched the bottom, sending up a cloud of fine sand. He found the knife quickly enough but that was trivial compared to what else he saw: a tunnel. Air was becoming short. With one push, he shot up to the surface.
His heart was racing with excitement. After the miles and miles of never-ending passages, a tunnel was like a magic door. For the moment, Guy could do nothing, he was too excited. He lay back and listened to the plopping of the water.
Within a few minutes, he was calm again. Time to prepare himself. It could be any length, there could be obstructions. He was not going to get trapped.
Slowly, he ventilated his lungs, saturating his blood for the hour-long minutes to come. Taking in a final half-lungful, he leaned forwards and slipped in.
Reaching the tunnel, he shone the light into its hollow belly and looked in. How far it went, he couldn’t tell. He put his head in and pulled himself along the walls, advancing in slow, leisurely movements.
The end was not that far. He twisted round and rose to the surface. With a sharp thrust of his arms, he threw himself out of the water and stood up.
He took his torch and shone it round. Against the far wall was a mass of fallen rock. Above it, the remains of wooden beams stuck out at all angles. Surrounding it, four bare stone walls gouged out of the bedrock. The only unusual feature was a long bench-like projection about a yard square running the length of one of the walls, and a dead body. Or what was left of it. Guy shone a light into its face, highlighting the empty sockets and ghastly smile.
“Charming company,” he mused. The clothing was in tatters and tore, or fell off, at the slightest touch. With unnecessary precaution, he pulled off the rags to look at the bones. A couple of coins fell to the floor. Nothing broken bar a few ribs.

Martin Morin died of starvation in 1886. The collapse had been extensive; more than thirty workers had perished. Morin was crossed off the list three weeks too soon, and the planned reservoir was moved to another location.

The coins told Guy that nobody had been in here for over a hundred years.
He was home at last.
What it was meant for, the room, the weird shafts and interconnecting tunnel, he had no idea. It was of no importance. He had discovered the most secret place he could ever have imagined. Nobody, not a soul, would find it. He was perfectly alone.
In here, he was total master.

It was time to move on to the next stage. It was going to be a major turning in his life. He even started thinking about marriage.
He realised he’d idealised her totally, that as a person she was a total figment of his imagination. He understood he’d have to forget everything he’d invested her with and start anew. Who was she? The obviously professional name was there to add glitter to a probably dull background, Miss Beautiful but Boring Blogs of thirty-three Acacia Avenue. The little girl next door so fucking lovely nobody ever contradicted her. Being desired gives you existence. When everyone desires you, begging you for a smile, you become god.
She could be anybody, and he hated her making him feel those disgusting feelings of gut-wrenching sogginess. He hated her for the feeling of insignificance she gave him. Yet he wanted her, very badly.
Whatever she was in reality, she was also a template. People change, they develop and grow, moulded by their environment. The only genuine obstacle would be her being stupid. It was certainly possible. Ideas were already forming as to how to cope with this, or a number of other situations; ideas which passed fleetingly through his mind, half-remembered the following day, yet building up the invisible web of impressions, sensations, thoughts and flashes of inspiration, the raw materials of intuitive knowledge that fuels the gut reaction.
Guy believed in his intuitions and gut reactions. He knew it would work out, in one way or another.

2004-11-23T01:57:00.000-08:00

Chapter 13

William liked women. He was a lucky man: they liked him too. When he caught a woman’s eye, his face lit up and smiled. She would usually look away but the continued presence of his persistent stare almost inevitably made her look back again. The smile would broaden and spread: from him to her.
After the smile, the spiel. With his clear voice and relaxed, open manner, the ensuing good-humoured ‘interrogation’ was easier to go along with than ignore, especially when, by some curious coincidence, he happened to get off at the same station.
In front of the Sorbonne, there’s a row of cafés. Throughout the summer months, the parasols are besieged by tourists, students, loafers and, of course, the odd Casanova like William.
She didn’t exactly walk, she glade or glied or whatever the past participle is. Like some feather-light Balkan dancer, she wove her way between the tables and sat down facing the musicians in the square. Her name was Sophie. She was from the south of France, in Paris looking for a job.
She was beautiful. She had a book. She didn’t look at her watch. She didn’t take her cellphone out. The signs were good.
William changed places.
“Boccherini!” The voice behind sounded as if it were trying to tempt her with a strange variety of Italian ice-cream. She turned and looked into a pair of dark eyes, handsome dark eyes with the corners pulled back in a smile. The look he gave was solid and unwavering. Then he smiled again: “It’s one of the opus 2 string quartets, but,” he nodded towards the musicians, “they’ve dropped a violin and the viola of course.”
She looked at him uncertainly. “Of course...”
He smiled. “I’m cheating! They were explaining just before you arrived.” The last thing he needed was to come over as a know-all.
“Aah!” She exclaimed, relieved, and pulled a wry, clever-clogs smirk on him.
“What’s that you’re reading?” he said, and picked up her book. “Africa? Amazing place! You going there?” Travel is always a good place to start, people like travelling. Sophie wasn’t going anywhere yet, but it’s nice to dream, and William had the charm and stories that dreams were made of.
“May I?” he asked, and moved to her table.
It was a beautiful afternoon, warm and lazy, and it was nice to forget about jobs for a while. William played with his words, making her laugh, thoughtful, comfortable, then laugh again. And on they talked. But, no, Sophie did not like Paris.
“What?” he burst out. And William decided it was time to show her around. “You come with me.”
Chatting, arguing, smiling, they ambled up past the Panthéon, wandering in and out of side-streets, joking, pointing out courtyards, strange windows. It didn’t really matter where. They passed a baker’s where Cartier Bresson (“Oh, so you’re a photographer are you?”) took one of his famous pictures. And then they saw the painted sign of a porpoise and a boy.
“I’m hungry, will you eat with me?”

Bald and lanky, Ares comes out of the kitchen in a maze of mispronunciation and smiles “Aah! Bonsoir! Comment allez-vous, Monsieur? Et la belle demoiselle?” Thirty years in France had still not put a dent in his Cretan accent.
A crafty wink and conniving eyebrow. His eyes dance with delight as he bustles around the table, whisking off old tablecloths, laying knives, forks and glasses in a warm, enveloping welcome.
William feels good here, comfortable in the knowledge of how much it will cost and, even if the rest of the evening turns out a failure, certain of an excellent meal.
Ares never saw the same girl twice. William flitted from one to the next with the compulsion of a butterfly. And if the blossom did not yield its precious nectar, he would simply move on, the meadow was rich.
They sat beneath the cobalt poster of Crete. Saturated skies and immense dark seas. Cliffs of white-washed buildings perched on top of the other.
“Now that’s somewhere I’d love to go.”
“Mmm!”
“Nearest I’ve got to that is the south of France in the middle of summer... place is swarming with bloody tourists!”
“Not everywhere; at least, not where I come from.”
“Oh? Where’s that?”
“Sète.”
“I know, that’s close to Béziers, isn’t it?”
“Umm, not far...”
“Well? Go on, tell me more! Here I am, jabbering away for hours on end and I know nothing about you at all. What do you do?” And his eyebrows crept up as if to say “now we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty”.
“There’s not really much to say really.”
He groaned, smiled a disparaging smile and shook his head in pity.
“How old are you?” He looked at her face, did a quick calculation and took off five for safety. “About twenty-three, twenty-four? And you say ‘nothing much!’ Do you really expect me to believe that?”
She laughed.
“Wait a minute, let me do it, I’ll tell you, give me your hand!”
“What on earth for?” she said, and a wary now-what’s-he-up-to? expression crept across her face.
“Don’t argue, just give me your hand, your right one.”
Sophie moved her hand between the bottle and glasses.
“Let me see if I can penetrate the mysteries of your past,” he uttered in a gruff, deep-throated stage-rumble. “Hmm, so your mother was a trapeze artiste was she?…”
Sophie laughed. “No she was not! She was a perfectly ordinary mother and housewife who...”
“Yes! That’s what they all say...”
“Utter rubbish!”
“Let me continue!” And he stroked her palm with his thumb, following the lines and playing his finger-tips across her warm pink hand. She looked at him with mixed feelings, part aware he was having her on, and part unsure about what his game of palmistry (chiromancing?) really concealed... but enjoying the ambiguous flirting, the game of subtle seduction. He did have beautiful eyes: dark brown with an ever so slightly rascally glint, but the pupil was fathomless, bathed in jet black reflections, an inviting pool into which you just lay back and floated, soft, warm, comforting, and sensual, so sensual.
“Let me continue,” he repeated softly, and told her a future of fabulous wealth, foreign countries and five children…
“Five!” she laughed, regretfully pulling her hand away, delighted by his nonsense. “Where on earth do you dig it all up?”
“Sorry, I get a bit carried away sometimes. Maybe I should have been an actor, that’s what I’d have really liked to be.” He paused. “You know, it’s strange, but the more I look at you, the more I feel I’ve seen you somewhere before...”
“Oh yes?...” she quizzed, expecting another outburst of unlikely gibberish.
“No, seriously! There’s something about you... Ah! I know. There’s a painting in the Musée d’Orsay of an extraordinarily beautiful woman called I can’t remember what. You look just like her, especially the eyes. And the...” he stopped and looked intently into her face.
“Go on, flattery will get you everywhere!” Spoken as a jest, it belied her inner nervousness. The passage from gangly school-girl to the fullness of adult femininity had not been accompanied by total self-assurance.
He muttered something under his breath, “... remarkably beautiful...”
Her face warmed. They sat in silence for a few moments.
He smiled gently at her. Across the table, Sophie toyed with her glass. She sipped, and William watched her lower lip press against the rim. She replaced the glass on the table and dabbed her mouth with the napkin. She was aware of his eyes on her lips.
Again she studied his face. He was handsome, in an unusual sort of way. At times, his face would cloud over and a furrow would set in between the eyebrows. Then his eyes lit up again and the furrow and two lines on his forehead vanished. He had a multitude of expressions.
“Umm,” she mused, “he would make a good actor.” And she believed in this as apart from his immediate behaviour. She liked him. Behind all his claptrap, she discerned a profoundly human person. He was somebody she felt she could trust, his jokes were so obviously jokes, his humour so utterly shareable, that the complicity she felt seemed perfectly natural. She looked at his hands, they were...
“You’re dreaming!” he called out in a soft sing-song voice.
“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about...” But did not finish. William had made an abrupt movement with his head. Sophie turned round. Malinka and her little sister had arrived, two delicious gypsy girls of about eleven and eight all dressed up in their brightly-coloured rags and finery. He always spoiled them. If he was unaccompanied when they came in, he bought them ice-cream or one of Ares’s delicious honey-yoghurts. Malinka would tease him for being alone and flirt outrageously. She was a very intelligent and quick-witted girl, what they call ‘street-wise’, only in her case, the epithet fit. She did not mix business with pleasure.
She approached William with a little-girl smile.
“Buy a beautiful rose for the beautiful lady, Monsieur.”
“Hmm...” He glanced cursorily over the flowers, then looked into Sophie’s eyes as she tried to shake her head and look elsewhere. “Let me see.” And Malinka moved up closer to the table. She peered timidly at the beautiful lady, her big eyes full of wonder (and strongly resenting her own lack of breasts). William was leaning over, sniffing delicately at the half-opened buds.
He sat back and his eyes darted from Sophie to the flowers and back again, looking at her lips, her dress, her neck and the soft gulley in the middle, comparing the colours with those of the roses. At last, he picked out three and held them to his nose. He closed his eyelids, and his nostrils quivered. Then his face relaxed and a smile of satisfaction creased the corners of his eyes.
“This one, how much?” he demanded.
“Two euros, Monsieur” came the meek reply.
“Two euros!” he cried, “for this?”
Sophie started. Her face fell, she was flabbergasted. The last thing she would have imagined was him being mean, and here he was arguing over a miserable rose with a child who ought to be in bed at that time of night. She was furious.
“Alright,” said the little gypsy girl, “three.”
She must have misheard.
“No, you’re going to have to do better than that,” he ordered.
Sophie still couldn’t work out what was going on. Why on earth did he insist on embarrassing her with this miserly haggling?
“OK, you asked for it: five!”
“Ah! That’s better! Five it is then.” And the whole charade dawned on her. She breathed a more than obvious sigh of relief.
William slipped a folded-up note into the girl’s fist.
“Merci, Monsieur!” she exclaimed in a somewhat exaggerated tone, then impishly stuck the tip of her tongue out of the corner of her mouth, a closing riposte, and was off, dragging her sister behind.
“You little witch!” he thought, “I’ll get you for that!” then smiled and raised his eyes to Sophie’s.
“You bastard!” she hissed, “you utter bastard, doing that to me, I’ve never felt so... oooh...” and let out the steam.
A huge smirk was plastered all over his face. He simply sat there, gently twirling the rose over his lips as he basked in the glow of a highly successful baiting session.
“Finished?” he asked, eyebrows aloft. Sophie’s face was a mixture of livid delight tinged with reluctant admiration. He raised the rose once more and took a final sniff. He leaned forward over the table and beckoned her with his finger. She moved forward cautiously. He beckoned a second time and their faces came within a foot of each other. Holding the rose by the top of the stem, he began softly rubbing the tips of the petals against her neck, below the ear. Sophie took in a deep breath through her nose. His fingers barely touching, he drew her chin a few inches nearer, leaned over and searched out the scent. Too little. He pulled back a petal, let his forefinger slip in and squeezed it, rubbing the dark pink surface. Still touching her chin, he placed his fingertip on the spot he’d been stroking with the rose, and massaged a small area of skin. This time, when he smelled, he let his nose touch. Sophie closed her eyes for a second.
Sitting back and watching her closely, he started snapping off thorns from the middle of the stem, standing them on the table one by one like a column of sharks closing in on their prey. He placed the rose lengthways in front of her lips. She parted her teeth in a gleaming flamenco smile, and bit.

“Shall we go?” He got up and went to the counter to settle the bill and avoid the ugly undertones of payment, then fetched her jacket. As he wrapped it round her shoulders, he bent down and placed his head near her neck. “You smell nice.”
Sophie did not reply. Be cool.
They stepped out into the evening air. The street was lit and shop-windows bathed them in a friendly glow of warmth. They walked down the road in silence. At the corner, he stopped and took her by the arm. They stood facing one another. Sophie was uneasy, she glanced down at her feet. His hand rose and lifted her head. He smiled softly, almost sadly. Once more, the glint in his eye appeared and he leaned over and kissed her on the temple, then lifted a wisp of hair and stroked it behind her ear. She smiled sheepishly, momentarily distraught by the indecisiveness of the situation, longing to throw her arms around his neck, hold and be held.
He fixed his gaze on her, searching her face; his eyebrows knitted slightly and a questioning frown formed for a second or two. Sophie watched his eyes as they moved over her face, flickering from eyes to lips, from forehead to chin, to her cheeks and back into her own gaze. He placed his hands on either side of her head and gently drew her to him, kissing her on the lips, pressing the soft flesh to his own, feeling the delicate pressure where the upper lip meets the skin above, sensing the unsteady movements from within.

The next morning, he kissed her one last time, and said good-bye. She never saw him again.

2004-11-23T01:56:00.000-08:00

Chapter 14

For his twenty-first birthday, since nobody else thought of doing it, William bought himself a camera. He spent the rest of the summer wandering about the countryside photographing birds.
He soon found that bird photography was not simply a question of taking dozens of pictures and selecting the ones with a volatile in the middle. It requires immense patience, the ability to remain still for hours on end, and quick reactions.
Over the years, he built up a large collection of beautiful photos. They ranged from a pair of common or garden sparrows whipping up a cloud of dust (he lay flat on his belly for thirty minutes for this one, the dewy lights flickering on the spider’s web in the background were a lucky bonus), to hordes of crimson-white flamingos taking off in fright at a charge of white horses on the Camargue. And a lot in between. The horses moved him on to other animals. He bought more cameras and lenses.
His personal all-time-favourite was the hippos. It was a turning-point in his life. About five years after buying his first camera he went on a photographic safari to Botswana. For photographers, for naturalists, for anyone, the Okavango Delta is paradise.
Night comes down fast in the tropics and night in the bush means dark. During the day, a herd of hippos wallowed up to their eyes in the middle of the river. The occasional yawn or petty bickering was all he’d seen all afternoon: lots of big teeth, but not much else. At night, things livened up. As darkness fell, some of the females lumbered up the bank to browse on a clump of plants. He just had to wait a few days and the moon would be perfect.
They couldn’t have done it better were they pros. As the mother waddled up, the ‘little one’ trotted beside. The first whirr of the camera rooted her in her tracks, while the young, oblivious, nuzzled up to his dam’s hindquarters and tucked in. The moon was round and bright like a porcelain saucer. A stream of light flickered across the blue-black water. The picture was perfect. It was also the first he sold. And, as he later found out, quite a scoop, hippos usually suckle underwater. When he saw it featured in the ‘Magic Moments’ section of a nature magazine, it was not the money but the wonderful feeling of pride that made him decide on wildlife photography as a profession.
He took his slides round to agencies specialising in nature. On first inspection, they seemed interested. Later, they were delighted; he was a natural. Photo after photo was sold. He appeared in magazines, adverts, holiday brochures, almost anything. Then the assignments started coming in. He spent three months one summer in Madagascar photographing lemurs for an all-colour guide to monkeys. With the help of some zoologists working up at Nosy Bé, he even managed to take some very rare photos of the aye-aye.
The book was a success. He started planning and selling his own projects. One he wanted to do was on the tarsiers. He’d been in touch with various wildlife organisations and they were interested. Tarsiers are primitive monkeys, small nocturnal animals with big eyes. Other than an owl-like ability to rotate their heads through a hundred and eighty degrees, they are also in great demand. Their tears are said to be aphrodisiac, and there’s nothing simpler than making a tarsier cry. You stick a bar of red-hot iron in front of its eyes. Then count the drops and convert them into dollars, yen, rupees or whatever currency you will.
Of all of man’s barbarian practices, this was the one which disgusted him most.
Not everything he did was as gory as this, nor was he a crusader. A lot of it was standard stuff on ‘nice’ topics: furry animals, and cute, emotionally-pleasing behaviour. In a way, he was lucky, he loved his work.

He also loved his leisure. And record shops were good places to meet women. That’s where he first met Anne-Marie. They met up again at the cash-desk and she apologised for telling him to mind his own business. William nearly made an unchivalrous comment, but thought better of it. Anne-Marie made no attempt to hide the lousy Mozart recording she’d bought. She had nothing against him as a person, she just didn’t like people telling her what to do. He wasn’t telling her what to do, he was merely suggesting. Perhaps he was, but it didn’t sound like it. Well, judging by the sort of thing she listened to, no wonder she misunderstood people. That was very funny. It was meant to be a joke. What made him so sure anyway? He’d listened to it, it was terrible. And who was he to...
It took about five or six hours before they got round to kissing.
Three years later, he still hadn’t changed his mind. His version was better than hers, full stop. The interpretation was better, the colour was richer, and the trebles! Perfect! Nothing less than delicious! Their tiny tongues pierced the massive wall of bass and baritone in a way no sopranos could do. The sort of voices to give you a serious interest in little boys.

Today, he had work to do. The girls in the bookshop knew him fairly well, partly because he was such an incorrigible flirt, but mainly because of the hours he made them spend hunting through catalogues for books that were long out of print.
Little by little, over the years since embarking seriously on his career of wildlife photographer, he had grown increasingly attracted to writing. Twice, he’d had a series of photographs accepted by magazines, along with an article he’d written himself. Both of them were rather provocative. William loved stirring things up.
Something which annoyed him considerably was inconsistency. The reason for his trip to the bookshop was information on farm animals, facts and figures: living conditions, killing-methods, psychological stress of veal calves, psychotic disorders among battery chickens, self-destructive behaviour in pigs, and so on.
The article was to follow on from the first two on fox-hunting and bull-fighting. He had a book in mind. Its title was going to be Human Rights and Animals’ Lives. It was all a long way off, and so involved it was fast becoming a mammoth task, far bigger than he’d imagined. He had to read an enormous amount, especially things which diametrically disagreed with him. They have their reasons, and demanded a great deal of good-will to understand. But it was as necessary as reading texts he agreed with, if not more.
And it wasn’t going to be enjoyable either. He even thought of trying to get a job in a processing-plant or slaughterhouse. Not surprisingly, they had greeted his suggestion of coming in to take photos with undisguised animosity. If anything, it heightened his curiosity.
Man’s relationship to animals was typical of human ambiguity. As far as the quarry is concerned, fox-hunting is like most other forms of pack-hunting. It was the dual standards that irritated him. Both the fox and the lamb are “poor little things” and while both have their lives bloodily cut short, only the fox lives free and has a chance of escaping… One is branded as cruel, the other swept under a carpet of woolly justification.
The defensive arguments for the consumption of table animals were a tribute to naivety: “They’re reared for it” (O death, where is thy sting?); “If we didn’t eat them, we’d be overrun” (a license for cannibalism to solve human over-crowding?); “We’re omnivores!” (Are we? Why cow not horse? Why snail not slug?), etc.
It was the whining sentimentality while eating the Sunday capon that infuriated him.
Accept it. We do kill millions of animals every year. We pay somebody else to do the dirty work and cut the throat, and we choose to do so. No animal is immortal.
What is wrong is how we condone the abominable conditions they are forced to live under. What do we do? We sit on our arses like impotent dogs, feel sorry, and vociferate loudly at fox-hunters, i.e. somebody else.
The second article, a ‘defence’ of bull-fighting, apart from a nice fat cheque, brought him a varied selection of hysterical hate mail, all of it anonymous of course.
It was a thorny issue. Presumably the bull does finish up on a plate, presumably bulls in pre-agricultural societies were similarly harassed by mobs of hungry humans or other animals. Whatever its historical raison d’être, it has nevertheless turned into a nice afternoon’s sport culminating in the so-called moment of truth. And people enjoy it: watch the faces.
Alongside the photos of bulls being tormented, stabbed and otherwise dressed for dinner were ones of the crowd. Admittedly, he had not been completely honest here, intentionally. The three crowd photos were all shot in Madrid, for the sake of comparison, but only one was a bull-fight crowd. The other two were football and boxing. And what do you see? The same grimacing, gesticulating jubilation, the same expressions of violent exultation.
It was not a jab at Spain, he had similar series of photos from other countries. Bull-fighting is just more colourful and sells well. He had a laugh when the letters to the editor came in. The gory cover of the well-respected magazine had certainly boost the readership, and the “I was shocked to see...” letters clearly indicated the writers and gone out and bought it.
The uncomfortable part was the slippery dividing-line between them and us. The three crowd scenes - which William took pains to avoid elucidating in so short an article; this was reserved for later - were a first coat for the human fresco he wished to paint. One and the same manifestation for three shades of human enjoyment, all depending on winning and losing. Spectatorship was watching the symbolic us beat the symbolic them, rejoicing in their defeat or bewailing our own with adequate excuses. The sporting exchange is forgotten. At best, it is a pretence allowing people to gang up and hoot, today’s palliative for the loss of public hangings.

He placed his various orders and had a grumble about his book on Saxon and Viking art still not arriving, then went for a rummage in the paperbacks. There was something else on his mind which, not surprisingly, provoked a certain amount of odd looks and ribaldry: sex and murther! Annette dug up a couple of suitably blood-curdling titles from the ‘true crime’ section and mentioned others he might find in the French section. Off he trotted. He left the shop at about six o’clock, arms laden with some forty hours’ reading, and went home wondering how he could steer Anne-Marie’s ‘choice’ onto a film he wanted to see.

2004-11-22T01:57:00.000-08:00

Chapter 12

A letter home.
Dear Mum and Dad,
How are you? Glad to hear everything turned out alright. I only hope they don’t start all over again. Always did think old Mrs. Skurhink was a bit odd!
Guess what? I’ve found a new job! Do you remember Lena from orienteering? Well, her sister Lisa’s here and we met up and she’s got a friend who’s working on a yacht in Cannes and she says they’re always looking for people (Lisa did it for two months herself). So, I gave him a ring and he asked his boss and if all goes well I can start in August. Still, nothing’s settled definitely yet, but he says there’ll be no problem at all.
Thanks for the photo too, but it wasn’t the one I meant. The one I wanted was the picture of him when we went to Kalmar and he got caught by the tide and started picking up all that seaweed. It’s the one when he was holding it up like a prize fish. Still, it doesn’t matter.
Paris is really lovely! I must have walked miles visiting things! Notre Dame was beau-ti-ful! I climbed all the way up to the top (402 steps!) and the view is lovely, you can see for miles. Next weekend, a friend and me are going to visit Chartres. Went to see the Rodin museum and Versailles. They’re both really nice, wouldn’t mind swapping my room for one of theirs! I’ve bought loads of postcards to show you when I get back.
That reminds me, I sent one to Uncle Ragnar but think I forgot to put a stamp on it. Do you know whether he got it? It was a picture of the Luxembourg gardens.
I’ve made lots of friends here so don’t go worrying about me being lonely.
Got to go, have to pick up the brats from their music lessons.
Will write again soon,
Love, Inga
P.S. There’s a letter for Sven too, give him a big kiss and a hug for me.

Lies, all lies. Inga was feeling miserable as hell, and very lonely. She felt so totally out of place. Nobody knew her. To her ‘family’, she was just a bimbo, a foreigner to look after the children. She was nothing more than a badly-paid maid, a skivvy. Outside, it was even worse. She was so strikingly blond, so obviously Scandinavian, she was stared, whistled and leered at all the time.
At home, she was Inga, it meant something, being known, existing as her, fitting in. She had her own known personality. Here, all she had were external appearances. She grimaced to herself in distaste. Then smiled as she looked at the photo. At home she had Sven. He was so real.

Dearest Cuddlebugs,
How are you, my favourite brother of all? Thanks for the lovely drawing! I’ve put it up on the wall next to your photograph. It looks really nice there. Now I can see it next to your big smile every time I come back.
Those naughty pigeons are getting worse and worse! Since I started giving them bread they come round every morning cooing and begging and not once have any of them knocked on the window to say thank you! I think pigeons are so rude, don’t you?
I miss you very much and think about you every day. Can you do me another picture? I’ll write to you every week.
All my love, your favourite sister, Inglums!

That was the worst, she just couldn’t tell him how much she loved him, how much she missed him. He was... Sven. Heavy, clumsy, delicate, affectionate, maddening, and smiles, Sven lived completely. He was perhaps the only person she knew she believed she really knew. Her heart felt heavy thinking about him. He must miss her. So she added a postscript: “And since I can’t do it myself, give yourself a big kiss on the nose!” That would have him stretching his lips in front of the mirror for ages! Lovely Sven. Why couldn’t everyone be like him?

Friends she said. What friends? Xavier? At least he wasn’t the wolf-whistling type. Far too timid. He did have nice eyes, a bit too obvious what you could read in them sometimes, but he could be quite attractive if he stopped being so shy and nervous.
They had coffee together at the café across the road.
“So what do you do in life?”
“Nothing much, this and that...”
“Mm...”
The conversation was not going well. Xavier tried to get back to their trip to the country, but Inga was non-committal. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea.
“Have you found your passageway yet?”
Xavier’s eyes lit up. “No, not yet. Won’t be long though. I think I’ve found something, bit of a roundabout way, going to check it out this weekend.”
A little impatiently, Inga could see him struggling with the obvious question. She put him out of his misery.
“I’m going to Chartres this weekend.”
Again, the conversation fizzled down to silence.

A couple of weeks later, Inga was getting ready to go out when a letter was slipped under her door. She tore it open. Another drawing from Sven: his rabbit, she’d recognise it anywhere. Nobody else might, but she knew the artist.
She went over to her picture gallery and found a vacant space. That was the seventh she had now.
Did she really want to go down to the south of France? Still hadn’t heard anything from Lisa’s friend. Should she phone again? “Oh, dammit, why couldn’t he just give a straight answer instead of buggering around?” It infuriated her, all this hanging about. Why didn’t she just do something herself instead of relying on other people all the time? She felt like chucking the whole thing in and going home. She’d had just about enough…
She was just about to open the door when the interphone rang: “Ah, Inga, I’m so glad I’ve caught you…”
“Damn,” she thought afterwards. This was the third time she’d let herself be pressurised into extra work and was not happy at all.
As usual, Henri and Mathilde were being their objectionable selves: politely offensive. They could sense her annoyance, and the jug of fresh orange juice crashed to the floor. Henri looked at Mathilde and Mathilde looked at Henri. The restrained smirks turned into stifled giggles, then outright laughter.
“That’s not funny, why can’t you be more careful?” she snapped. The mother came in while she was on her hands and knees clearing up the mess. Only Mathilde saw her expression of long-suffering martyrdom, and discreetly pointed the accusing finger. The mother’s expression changed to one of repressed irritation. She waited till Inga had finished, then scolded her severely, informing her in no uncertain terms that oranges do not grow on trees.
Inga was about to reply when the mother cut her short.
“Mademoiselle, if you don’t want this job, that’s fine, but I will not have you talking back.”
God she hated this woman. How dare she speak to her like that!
The mother pecked her little darlings on the cheek, and left. Inga stormed into the lounge and sat down. The brats could make any damned mess they liked, she wasn’t going to clear it up.
The children were bickering with each other and she let them. What sounded like another crash on the floor was followed by a scream, then crying. Mathilde came rushing into the room and buried herself in Inga’s arms. She melted instantly. Poor bloody kids, not their fault they’re so spiteful, brought up so strictly and indifferently. All that seemed to matter was their being polite, smartly dressed and cloned into middle-class robotry. She thought of Sven again. “Sod the job, sod Cannes, I’m going home.” Suddenly, everything was clear and simple. That’s all it took: a decision. She did not like the parents, her living conditions, her loneliness, being away from Sven, so what was she doing here? She picked up the phone and dialled a happy number.
“Hello Dad, how are you?”
“Hello Pet! What are you doing phoning up at this time of the morning?”
“I’m coming home.”
“What, now?”
“No, I’m giving in my notice today and’ll come back as soon as it’s finished.”
“What about your job in Cannes?”
“Don’t want it, I want to come home.” There was a tremble in her voice. Her father noticed it immediately.
“Inga?... Are you alright?” But all he could hear were the exhausted sobs of his lonely little daughter. His face blurred. Nineteen. Fifteen? Thirteen? Five? She was still a baby. Her whole life was included in his love of her, she was ageless, a little girl and a woman. “Inga, my little love, don’t you worry, you come home, we’re all longing to see you again, and Sven will be over the moon, I promise you. D’you know, he walks around all day long holding your postcards in his grubby little mitts and if you could see the state they’re in now! Inga... Can you hear me? Are you OK?”
“It’s alright Dad, I just felt so homesick all of a sudden. I miss you all so much.”
“And so do we, Pet. Don’t you worry, you give your notice in and if there’s anything at all, just give us a ring.”
“OK Dad. Is Sven there?”
“’Fraid you’ve missed him, he’s out shopping with your Mum, they’ll be back in a while.”
“Oh. Mum OK?”
“She’s fine, we’re all fine, you just look after yourself and get back here as soon as you can.”
“Yes, I will, I’ll get it sorted out this afternoon. I’d better go, it’s not my phone.”
“OK love, bye then, see you soon.”
“Bye Dad.”
“Hey, Inga?”
“Yes?”
“How many broken hearts will you leave behind?”
She laughed, “I’ll have to get my calculator out! You know I’m no good with numbers!”
“That’s my girl. Go on, enjoy the rest of your stay!”
“Yeah, bye then.”
“Bye-bye.”

The mother was furious. “Well in that case you can leave right now.”
Inga hadn’t thought about that.
She went back upstairs to pack, cursing. It didn’t take long to pack, but thinking what to do did. Where the hell could she go? She’d have to find a hotel, dammit.
Someone walked past her room.
“Xavier?”
Inga explained her predicament. The solution was easier than she expected. He went to the next room and unlocked the door. “Would this do?” The room had been empty for years so he’d simply ‘up-graded’ the lock, and reopened the communicating door. “You can still close it,” he added, “but if anyone asks, say you’re staying with me.”

Inga moved out and in. Xavier was really helpful and friendly. Everything was sorting itself out. Her flight was on Saturday so she had one week to enjoy herself in Paris. She spent her days wandering about and shopping for presents. For Sven, she bought a big fluffy Eiffel Tower; he’d like that.
On the Wednesday morning, Xavier knocked on the door in an unusually high state of agitation: “I’ve found it!”
“What?”
“The passageway! It was so easy! It was staring me right in the face!”
“Congratulations!”
“Listen, I’ve got loads to do today so I can’t stay long, but would you do me a favour? Come with me. I’m dying to show you it.”
His patently good mood and delight were infectious, and she did owe him one. Who knows, it might even be interesting.
“Alright then! When?”
“Tonight?”
“Tonight it is.”
“That’s great! Look, gotta rush, be back about seven o’clock. OK?”
“That’s fine, yes.”
“Perhaps we could go for a meal beforehand?...”
Inga smiled, “why not?” In for a penny...
Xavier rushed off, leaving Inga rather amused by all his secret passageway nonsense. It was strange the way his mood changed so quickly, nervous one minute and perfectly natural the next. “Still, he’s harmless enough in his own way, I suppose.”

2004-11-21T01:58:00.000-08:00

Chapter 11

Figeac slammed down the phone and drove round as fast as he could. As he wrenched the door open, the flood of light hit Guy in the eyes like a splash of ammonia. He gagged out a howl of confused pain. Figeac rushed forward then froze. Guy’s face was covered in caked-up blood, his clothes were filthy and coated with sick.
“Quick,” he ordered, “phone an ambulance!”
“Are you sure that’s necess...”
“I said call a bloody ambulance!” he yelled.
The commotion, light, and hated voice sent Guy’s battered mind into another convulsion of fear.
Figeac was lost. He tried to pick him up. Guy struck out wildly and he let go. This time, he grabbed him firmly by the arms and lifted him up. Guy kicked him in the shin, making him slip and loose his hold. Guy’s body buckled to the floor, hitting his head on the flower-pots. He passed out.
Forgetting about the ambulance, Figeac picked the boy, ran to his car and deposited him on the back seat.
Thirty-five minutes later, Guy was in emergencies. His face and hand had been bathed clean. The damage looked worse than it actually was, all he had was a short but deep gash beneath the cheek-bone and a few lacerations to the palm.
Figeac was hovering about the door when the doctor came to find him. There was not a lot he could say. Mme Cavaillon…
The doctor jotted down her number and went to the desk to phone. The conversation was short. Unfortunately, the doctor could believe his ears.
So Figeac was forced to fill in some of the details.
“Nothing wrong with it!” he concluded defensively, “My old man used to take the strap to me… deserved it, makes a man out of you.”
The doctor listened to the lame excuses with infinite fatigue. How many times had he heard it all before?
“OK, don’t worry. If it’s just a question of not eating, he’ll be fine in a day or so. We’ll do a couple of tests to make sure.”
Figeac left his telephone number and went off with a sack of discomfort sitting on his shoulders.

Guy eventually came to, feeling very hungry. A nurse was opening the curtains.
“Ah, Guy, you’ve woken up have you,” she said brightly, “how are you feeling this morning?”
He didn’t answer. The nurse ignored his silence and kept up a gay chatter to him and the other two patients.
“What a lovely morning! Did you sleep well, Monsieur Vignaud? I said: did you sleep well?” She looked at Guy and smiled: “Deaf as a doorpost!” she mouthed. Coming over to his bed, she fluffed up the pillows and straightened the sheets. “Breakfast will be along soon and Doctor will be on his rounds at eight-thirty.” And she was gone.
Guy had not taken his eyes off her for one second since she came in.
“Pretty girl, eh?”
Guy looked at his neighbour who winked conspiratorially. Guy felt his face go red.
In a short while, the nurse was back with the breakfast trolley. She helped him sit up straight, then brought his tray over and placed it on the table.
Next to the bowl of cornflakes going soggy in their warm milk there was an unappetising-looking croissant and a bowl of pale brown coffee.
“Now,” she urged, “eat slowly.”
Why slowly, Guy could not fathom. He started on the cornflakes and pulled a face. The nurse looked anxiously at him. “Are you alright?”
“Can I have some sugar, please?”
“Ah! At last, I thought you were sulking at me.”
Guy lowered his head.
“Typical!” said his neighbour, “soon as there’s a good-lookin’ young chap in, she starts putting on the charm and we old’uns get completely ignored!”
“Ooh, that’s not fair, you get spoiled rotten and you know you do! And Guy’s just come in and’s not well at all. Are you? Poor boy.”
“It’s alright, I’m only teasing!” Leaning over to Guy, he stage-whispered: “Lovely little girl is our Ghislaine, but watch it, she’s got a temper on her!”
“You take no notice of him, Guy, he’s just jealous.”
Guy didn’t know where to look. He concentrated on his food, trying to avoid looking at the nurse. He could see outlines of underwear beneath her uniform.
Despite her telling him to slow down, he was famished and shovelled in his food: cornflakes, croissant and coffee. He sat back and let out a discreet burp.
“Oops, sorry...”
Gigi, as she was called for short, was ready for it. Her practised hand swung the kidney-shaped dish under his chin just as the undigested remains spewed out.
With routine efficiency, she wiped him clean and listened to her sixth sense for more. Satisfied, she removed the bowl.
“See, I told you not to eat so fast,” and left the room.
In ten minutes, she was back.
“This time, I’m going to do it; no more of your galloping about.” And she hand-fed him spoonful by slow spoonful. Despite his embarrassment at being treated like a baby, Guy enjoyed the attention, and his neighbour was right, she was very pretty.

The doctor arrived, drew the curtain round the bed, and sat down on the edge. “Well, young man, how are you this morning?”
“My stomach hurts.”
“That’s no surprise from what I gather! So, what have you been up to?”
“Nothing,” he said, on automatic guilt.
“Well,” he said, pointing to his cheek, “you could tell me how you got that, for starters.”
Guy raised his hand and felt his face. He winced. His expression changed to one of dumb surprise.
“Don’t know.”
“Oh... where have you been then?”
“... was in the woods...”
“Mmm... and you, er, ‘disappeared’ I hear?”
Guy looked abashed, and the doctor laughed.
“Here,” he said, drawing nearer, “I’ll tell you a secret, but promise not to tell anyone, especially the nurses. They’re fiendish they are, without pity! When I was fifteen, I got myself into a right old mess. Got it into my head I’d go to the Amazon and collect animals...” And went into a complicated story about his botched attempt at running away. “Did I get a bollocking next day!” The doctor burst out laughing at the memory and Guy joined in half-heartedly. “Felt a right bloody fool, I tell you!”
There was silence for a short while, both aware of the flimsy curtain and flimsier privacy.
“What happened afterwards?” Guy asked, half politely.
“Oh, nothing, it all blew over in a couple of days. In fact, I think the teacher was given the old one-two for negligence. If he wasn’t, he should have been. Hated the little turd.”
Guy laughed, he could identify with that.
“Anyway,” he went on, “doesn’t really matter, all that. You’re always getting into scrapes at that age.”
There was a pause.
“So,” he smiled encouragingly, “you went for walk in the woods...”
Somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-odd, the doctor was at a half-way sort of age, neither child nor ‘grown up’. There was something about him Guy liked, something he couldn’t exactly define, the only word he could think of was ‘clean’. He wanted to talk, but didn’t really know how, or even what he wanted to say.
“I don’t want to go back,” he blurted out, then regretted it immediately.
“Back home? Mmm, life’s not always easy, is it?”
“I hate her!”
“Your... grandmother?” he prompted. “Well, I must admit, had a little chat with her on the phone; didn’t quite strike me as a particularly accommodating sort of woman...”
“She’s a vicious old bitch.”
At this, the doctor laughed. “Not exactly the term I would have used,” he grinned, “but you’d certainly know better than I.”
Another very long pause. Damn, he thought. “I remember my old gran, right cantankerous old what-not she was! Dead now of course.” A smile crept across his face and another story, involving dentures, came out. It was not to the credit of medical student ethics, but that was not the point.
Guy listened to the doctor with amusement, watching his face intently. He still wanted to talk, but listening was so much simpler. The doctor had a feeling the boy wouldn’t open up easily. And he wasn’t entirely sure he was going about it the right way either. It was a strange situation. He sensed a connection while he was talking, but as soon as he stopped he just clammed up.

Guy’s stay in hospital was an unusual period of his life. The rules were totally upside down. The nurses were friendly, Gigi especially, she flirted with him and he even stopped going bright red whenever she came in. Albert, his neighbour, taught him card games.
Try as he might, the doctor could get nothing out of him. Either he didn’t want to talk or, equally possible, genuinely did not remember. When he mentioned the marks on his back, Guy closed up again.
He tried the social services department, but they were powerless. Unless there was any verbal or conclusive physical evidence the boy had been ill-treated, there was nothing they could do.
Even so, he didn’t like the idea of sending him back. He knew he’d gone through something pretty awful, but Guy wasn’t an infant and he couldn’t keep him in hospital forever.
“Listen, when do you go back to school?”
“On the 29th.”
Eventually, he stayed in for another week of ‘observation’. After that, he had three days at home before flying back to England.

A week later, Guy made his rather stiff and formal goodbyes and was driven home in an ambulance. The cut on his face had healed nicely, leaving only a tiny scar on the outside.
Winter came and went. Guy studied hard, spending long hours in the library. He had a new interest, a topic he’d never been interested in before: chemistry.
During the holidays, his mood changed. Polite, obedient and very docile, he mowed the lawn, took the rubbish out, kept his room tidy and always came back from the woods before dark.
Up in his tree-house, Guy started keeping animals, feeding them carefully. Occasionally, one would die. He adjusted the diet and after a while everything was going well. Diets are important, you have to understand eating-habits very well if you want to take care of living things.
Summer term began and life carried on as usual. Matches were won and lost, lessons and free-time followed one another with boring repetition.
One morning, Guy was summoned to the headmaster’s study. “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. Your grandmother has passed away. I understand she has not been well for a while, giddiness and so on, and she fell downstairs. At her age...”
Guy bore the news with stoicism.
“If you call in on Secretary on your way out, she’s organising your flight to Bordeaux.”
Guy did not particularly relish the idea of going back, but he had one or two things to do, some tidying up, get rid of any remaining marzipan and so on. And a few days off school were not to be snorted at.

Five years later, his grandfather died, in a nursing-home. He took the train down to Bordeaux to see the lawyers and organise selling the house. The place had changed since he was last there: the paintwork was cracking, the windows were dirty and the lawn overgrown.
Everything had changed in fact. The smells in the forest were different, even the noises had changed, it seemed. He walked along the once-familiar woodland tracks to visit his tree-house, his real home. It had all gone and a stand of saplings was growing in its place. Everything seemed so distant.
Back in the house, he sat in his grandfather’s armchair and thought. He felt no sadness at his death. It was as if he’d never been there, he was so self-effacing, so absent. The house was his grandmother. He sat there for hours, numbed by the pain. And as his chest tightened with the growing feeling of injustice, his anger turned to rage. But everything burned inside, not a sign on his face. Fire was needed.
He went through the house pulling out the things that stank of her, carrying or dragging them to the bottom of the garden: paintings, carpets, chairs, lamps, the dressing-table, the bed, the curtains, her clothes. As he came down the garden steps looking for last odds and ends, he noticed the cellar. It was locked. He shuddered and remembered, now he remembered. As he stood and watched, the hatred came back, flooding through his veins like black poison. For five years, he had not had the slightest notion of why he’d been in hospital. Nobody talked about it, the whole thing had been sealed with a giant padlock.
He went to fetch the axe. With one blow the lock flew off. But it wasn’t enough. Turning to the door with savage fixity, he hacked it to splinters.
Inside, nothing had moved. The broken bottles lay on the floor next to the watering-can. The hose was still coiled around its wooden hook.
He picked up a bottle and wiped the label on his trouser-leg. The wording was hard to decipher but finally managed to read: Château d’Yquem 1942. He rushed over to the wine rack and gently removed the others one by one: the same. Everything fitted into place. This was the famous half-dozen they’d laid down for their golden wedding and couldn’t remember where. No wonder it was good! Carefully, two by two, he carried them into the kitchen. The deposit, little flecks of dark, revolved slowly around the moonbeam water.
Nice and slowly, he decanted the bottle. Glug-glug. It was music. He pulled a side-table and dining-room chair from the pile and sat down. Holding the thick yellow liquid up to the afternoon light, he swirled it around then sniffed. “Aaaah!” he murmured, “beautiful!” stringing out the words in a long-drawn caress.
The flames took easily and the fire was soon raging. Guy sat back and watched, smashing her entire collection of ‘precious’ Limoges porcelain one by one. The bitch was on the stake at last and he sipped the wine with gladness in his heart.
It was dark when the embers settled down to a dull glow.
He went into town and found a hotel for the night. After a leisurely meal, he went for a walk. He was a year early, but had one more thing to do.
By the time he reached the cemetery, things were getting urgent. He scrambled over the wall and found his way to the plot.
“Ici repose Georgette Cavaillon, épouse bien-aimée et regrettée...”
Standing astride the grave, he unzipped and urinated. The arc of urine went back and forth along the carcase; tits, face, guts, cunt and arse.
“Here’s your golden fucking wedding present, you filthy shit-faced bitch. May you rot in hell.” Throwing himself in the air in a wild, savage leap, he landed on top, stamping and kicking to crush her crumbling bones to powder. Now she was dead.
His mother lay alongside, naked bones beneath their fat cover of earth. As he stared at the grave, he felt a knot in his stomach.
He turned and fled.

2004-11-19T02:02:00.001-08:00

Chapter 9

Edouard Cavaillon was finished. His vitality had gone. Forty-five years of loveless marriage to a woman he didn’t even like, for it to end like this? Was it worth it?
Her rigid abhorrence of all things physical had converted his once genuine desire into the trappings of a satyr. Even the marriage was arranged at “the right time” to get the unpleasantness out of the way as quickly as possible. But the blood and brutish thrusting of the first night were still a shock and the matrimonial essentials discharged with unconcealed aversion.
After six years of tetanic, sheet-gripping duty, she finally conceived, and that was that. By then, Edouard was as relieved as Georgette.
And now, after five years of relentless silence, dead-ends and dead-letters, a dead body. What a wasted life. All that remained was to wait for the end.
The only point he remained firm on was the boy. No orphanage, no adoption. That, at least, was out of the question. He had the same dark eyes as Béatrice. He was all that remained of her.
Georgette knew his weaknesses, at work he might rule, but at home it was her. All right, the boy stays, but under my conditions.

Mme Cavaillon looked at Guy with the sneer of blank destruction reserved for cockroaches, something filthy to be squashed underfoot. Guy, the “illegitimate bastard”, was to learn the deep meaning of the word “disgusting”.
The world of bludgeoned emotions and confusion was left behind, the kaleidoscope insecurity was over. Now, there was no doubt, he was purely and simply despicable.

He called his grandparents Monsieur and Madame. He thanked them in his prayers for feeding and clothing him, for taking him in and giving him shelter. He was lucky, he didn’t realise how lucky he was.
He learned to be good: not to cry, not to make any noise, not to be wilful, disobedient or answer back, not to run, play or smile, and never to laugh out loud. “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better”; Ecclesiastes 7:3.
In a sense, life became more straightforward. His murdered soul expressed nothing. Chest out, shoulders back, he locked himself in, felt nothing, desired nothing and got nothing in exchange.
In the woods, alone, he put stones into the little cawing beaks of nestlings, bit their heads off or poked their eyes out with sticks. He stole eggs and smashed them on rocks, he shook branches and watched the helpless chicks plummet to the ground.
In the woods, he lived by himself, talking to no-one. He was not allowed to play with other children.

For three years, Georgette choked on shame: the Cavaillon bastard. The solution was better for all. He was sent back to England to boarding-school.
School was a release. The bullying and beating were trivial compared to what he was used to, and when they learned the slow and calculated revenge he was capable of, it stopped.
At the beginning, his social isolation left him way behind the others. Later, he became average. By senior school, he discovered the superiority the top boys gained over others and realised the power of knowledge, and once or twice came top, then learned the even greater value of anonymity.
He seemed average in the rifle range too. His shots were wide off the mark. But never random. If he hit somewhere outside the target, it was because that was where he aimed: 7 o’clock, four-fifths from centre.
Above all, school meant being away from his grandmother. Holidays were hell, and punishment a part of life. She was inventive, but the only one with any lasting effect was the crop. Pain was real.
These days, he almost lived in the woods, it suited both of them. He spent his time hunting, tracking, trapping, and using his catapult to shoot animals - squirrels, hares, larks, wood pigeon - more or less anything that moved. He also learnt the art of hiding, and silence.
But he had to be back by five, and it was now seven o’clock.

He knew what was coming. Up in his tree-house, he concocted wild, sixteen-year-old dreams of revenge.
“I’ll bloody show her…”
But there was nothing he could show her. She always had the upper hand.
Night came and with it Guy’s resolve. He was in for a serious thrashing so he might as well make it worthwhile.
Next morning, he realised he was in deep trouble. He’d never stayed out all night. This meant... God knows what it meant. And his mind was buffeted between going back immediately and taking the consequences, or staying a bit longer. Since he didn’t make a decision, he stayed, first a second night, then a third. With each morning came the increasingly terrifying prospect of what was waiting for him when he went back. He no longer knew what to do.
When he woke on the fourth morning, the forest was strangely quiet, and the air had an unusual quality about it. Aptly, a storm was brewing. Through the morning, the wind began to blow in sudden sharp gusts, then tailed off, gaining strength each time. By mid-afternoon, it was a full-blown gale. All around him, trees were straining and complaining. Cracks split the air as branches were ripped from trunks. The forest was a cacophony of groaning wood. Pine cones hit him and the wind was charged with needles. The noise was getting louder and louder. As the evening sun disappeared into a purple-black cloud of thunder, the first bolt of lightening exploded. Guy was exhilarated. This was life: the elements screaming out their hatred of humanity. And he joined in, standing up and gripping hard onto the branches, he emptied his lungs in victorious retaliation through a thick cloak of noise that hid his own.
He was ready to go home now. He was ready for anything. Just let her try. Just let her lay one finger on him.
A familiar noise struck his ears: a dog, very far away. His mind spun to attention. Another bark. A few minutes later, everything was clear. It had to be a search-party. He smiled to himself. “So, they want to play follow-my-leader, do they? Well, why not a little bit of blindman’s buff?”
From the sound of the barking, he estimated about ten to twenty minutes head start. He slithered down the tree and headed off towards the Vieille Gemmière. It meant crossing the main road but he could follow the Mouinatéou where it flowed under the bridge. The water would snooker them. He knew all the rivers and ditches. He could lose them easily.
At last he reached the house. Except for a light in the front room, it was in total darkness. He slipped round the back and shimmied up the drain-pipe.
The shutters were locked. He sometimes wondered whether she knew about his escape route. It wouldn’t surprise him: she was a good card-player and always kept a nice little trump till the end to trounce her opponents. It wouldn’t surprise him at all. Time to find a new one. Still, locking the shutter just made opening the window a bit more difficult. It used to be easy, but he was growing fast. As he forced his fingers through the slats, he caught a knuckle on the wood and ripped a piece of skin. He swore.
The latch gave and he pulled his hand out. His finger was bleeding copious red drops; he put it in his mouth and sucked in the warm blood. Suddenly, the wind tore the shutter away and crashed it against the wall. His heart thudded. Lowering himself onto the narrow ledge, he stopped and listened, straining his ears, ready to jump to the garden and run like hell. Getting caught up here would not be a good idea. A few minutes passed and nothing happened, but nobody could have heard anyway, not with the wind hurtling through the trees in ever-increasing blasts as the storm grew in fury.
He climbed in through the open window and tiptoed to the bathroom. There, he slowly turned the tap and rinsed his finger in cold running water. Red, then pink drops dripped onto the white china sink. Little by little, they ceased. He waited a while to make doubly sure, then stole up to bed with a smug expression on his face.

In the front room, his grandmother’s hand dropped at last. Her sharp hearing had kept her aware of Guy’s comings and goings for years.
“Not a word!” she hissed.
“But Georgette, we’ve got to warn the hunters out looking for him.”
“Not a word, I said. I’ll deal with it in the morning.”
“In the mor...?”
Georgette glared at him with her icy stare. Edouard was too old to fight.
Erect in her stiff-backed wooden chair, she sat and meditated. A nice little chat with him would be in order, early in the morning. Outside, a branch snapped in the howling wind and she thought about the local hunters searching the woods for the boy. When they learned he’d crept back home and spent the night snug in bed without even giving a sign of life to his poor, long-suffering guardians, there would be hell to pay.
The storm increased in tempo. On the radio, the weather report quietly droned out its bulletin: force eight, gusting nine. They would be delighted about this little wild-goose chase.
Guy slept soundly, exhausted from his escapade; Georgette sat and read Deuteronomy; Edouard smoked his pipe and fretted.

He was awakened by a leather fly-swatter slapped across his cheek.
“Where do you think you’ve been?”
“I got lost...”
“Don’t you lie to me, boy. And how long have you been lying there while we’ve been worried sick?”
“I got back a little while ago and didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Disturb us, disturb us!” she screamed, spitting out the words, “do you seriously think that you disappearing for three whole days and having the whole town scouring the countryside for you is not disturbing? Well? Answer me, boy.”
“I...” and he pulled the covers up for protection.
“I thought as much. Show me your hand.” Lamely, Guy extended his right hand. In the night, the wound had re-opened, and clotted blood clung to his knuckle.
“So you got back ‘a little while ago’ did you?”
He replied with an unsteady ‘yes’.
She stood there stiff and unbending as a gibbet.
“Then perhaps you would be good enough to explain why there happen to be perfectly dry bloodstains on the bathroom floor?”
Guy said nothing.
“Will you answer me. I asked you a question.”
“Don’t know.”
“Don’t know! Don’t know!” she screamed. “How dare you ‘don’t know’ me. How dare you be so impudent. Do you realise that over thirty people have spent all night in the worst storm in living memory looking for you, and you, you miserable, you evil child, have the downright cheek to say ‘don’t know’! Get up immediately and go straight down to the scullery.”

2004-11-19T02:02:00.000-08:00

Chapter 10

Guy was ready. This time the tables were going to turn. He dressed and went downstairs, ready for battle.
His grandmother was waiting, riding-crop in her hand.
“Stand at the table and bend over.” She ordered.
“No.”
His blunt refusal was a shock to both of them. They stared at each other. For the first time, Guy saw his grandmother as she was: an old woman. He smiled. She was not so prepared. The premeditation disappeared and raw anger flared up again.
“Will you bend over this instant or do I have to make you?” she screamed, her face crimson with rage.
“Well, you could always try...” he smirked. He was beginning to enjoy the situation. Then somebody rapped at the door.
It was Figeac, coming to report on the night’s fiasco. Through the window, he saw Guy and stared with astonishment. Three pairs of eyes flashed from one to another. His grandmother pursed her lips with satisfaction. The hatred between Figeac and Guy was nobody’s secret. Everything would soon be back to normal.
Figeac stepped in and looked from the crop in Mme Cavaillon’s hand to Guy’s crossed arms and now uneasy expression.
Something was going on.
“Good morning Bernard. We were just discussing Guy’s return in the early hours of the morning without his condescending to advise anybody.”
“What?” he growled, “we’ve been out all bloody night and the sod’s been here all the time?”
“That, in effect, is what I suspect, but he’s being rather stubborn.” She cracked the whip sharply on the table. Both boy and man started. “Perhaps you could assist me?”
Figeac moved his hand to his belt. He’d been wanting to give the brat a good hiding for years.
Mme Cavaillon hesitated. No, she had a better idea.
“Guy, follow me.”
Guy hesitated too. Things were not going the way he expected.
“You heard what the missus said, get a move on.”
She nodded at Figeac and backed through the door to the alleyway. Guy looked from her to Figeac to the garden. He had no choice. Mme Cavaillon opened the cellar door.

Guy was furious: he’d been had, led to the slaughter like a bloody lamb. The whole plan had fallen to pieces. Instead of humbling her, he was now a bloody prisoner.
It was dark. The only light came from three small air holes near the top of the door and a flat sliver of light at ground level. It took a long time for his eyes to adjust to the dark, but then time was something he had.
“Right,” he thought, with all the dramatics of his sixteen years, “if she wants a showdown, she’s going to get one!”
First, he needed a weapon. Where? He groped his way around the wall: flower-pots, bulbs, packets of seeds and a hose. Useless. So he paced up and down.
Midday came and went and the three shafts of light moved across the room, casting a temporary glow over each brick they passed on their slow journey. Evening came and he heard footsteps.
“At bloody last,” he thought. He was getting very hungry. The footsteps stopped. For a while, neither of them spoke, each waiting on their respective sides of the door.
“Well?” she inquired harshly.
“Well what?”
“You can stop talking to me in that tone of voice. Have you changed your mind yet?”
“No.”
“Then you shall stay there until you have.” The footsteps trailed off into the house.
Although pleased with his new-found self-assertion, he was beginning to feel wary. Once again, she held the trump card.
A fresh wave of fury burst over him and he decided he was going to get out and leave the bloody place for good. With a single-mindedness born of desperation, he began to search every square inch of the cellar with his hands. The biggest haul came from the wall opposite the door. Behind a stack of torn and smelly deck-chairs was a small wine rack with half a dozen mouldy bottles. At last he struck lucky: the trowel.
Next, he ran his finger over the door. The verticals were held in place by two horizontal beams and one diagonal. It would be pointless trying to wrench them off, even if he could get the trowel in between. He tried anyway, but there was no play at all. He probed the wood for screws. All on the outside of course. The only possibility was the two massive hinges. He inserted the tip of the trowel into the screw head and turned. The trowel simply twisted.
Although one side was serrated, there was nowhere he could get a proper angle of attack to use it as a saw, and it was too blunt anyway. So he started jabbing blindly at the door. Then discovered he could actually dig splinters of wood out. All he needed to do was gouge a channel around the lock. It was against the grain and slow work too, but at last he was getting somewhere. Until the handle broke off.
He swore and sat down to rest. He was tired and hungry and getting thirstier by the hour. As he settled down to get comfortable, his knee touched the watering-can. He picked it up and sniffed. Not a pretty smell, but he’d tasted worse. Pulling off the rose, he put the spout into his mouth and poured. The first gulp revived him, then suddenly he gagged and spat, working his tongue around his mouth, and spat again, and again. Eventually, the agitated, crawling insect was spat out too. He wiped his tongue on the back of his hand in disgust.
Outside was pitch black and silent. He had no idea of the time. He fell asleep.
Next morning, he woke shivering with cold and hungrier than ever. His mouth was dry and gooey. Picking up the can, he held it up to the holes to see if there were any more insects, but couldn’t tell, so pulled his shirt out, covered the spout with a makeshift filter and sucked. That was better. Not knowing how long he was in for, he drank little, rationing his meagre reserves.
The water did him good. He set about the door with renewed vigour.

He was getting nowhere. The trowel was totally blunt and increasingly painful to hold. He wrapped his shirt around the broken end but both palms were now too sore. He smashed a flower-pot and tried using that against. Another waste of time.
His blood was boiling. He paced up and down, impatiently stamping and kicking. Then he ran at the door, barged it angrily and hurt his elbow. He didn’t hear her coming.
“Have you had enough, boy?”
Guy sobered up immediately. His spate of fury burnt itself out and he became cold and calculating. He said nothing.
“Are you going to answer me; I asked you a question?”
Silence.
“I shall count to ten.”
The magic sentence. Just hearing it made him stiffen. He could feel her cold stare as she counted the numbers and stroked the crop across her fingers. His old reflex took over: hands sweating, nails digging into his palms. Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped. There was nothing she could do!
“... seven, eight...” the words hardened, became more threatening, “ni...ne, Ten!”
“Eleven, twelve, thirteen! Unlucky!” Guy burst into uncontrollable laughter.
The old woman smashed the crop against the door with such violence, it snapped. She stormed off to the house with Guy’s laughter ringing in her ears.

Rumbling noises from his stomach reminded him he was famished. He reckoned he hadn’t eaten for almost forty hours. It was unbelievable! How long was the fucking cow going to keep him locked up?
He picked up a bulb, pulled off the outer skin and took a bite. Then spat it out. Jesus that was bitter. He rinsed his mouth out.
The day passed very slowly. He’d given up on the door as a waste of time. The only thing he could do was wait, dammit. “Well, if that’s her bloody game, I will wait!” he exploded. He’d out-wait her! She was going to be the one to beg him to come out. On her hands and fucking knees she’d have to beg before he came out!
But of course she didn’t. Nobody and nothing came except the dark and the cold. And the stench was getting unbearable. He’d hung on as long as he could but eventually had had to squat in the corner. He covered it with a flower-pot, but the smell lingered heavily.
And now there was no water left either, except for the pint or so lurking at the bottom of the hose-pipe coils, and Guy hadn’t thought about that.
He took one of the bottles of wine and broke its neck off with the trowel. Swirling a quarter or so of it around the bottom of the watering-can, he rinsed it out and poured the dregs into the corner.
As the liquid poured into his mouth, he knew it was not ‘just’ wine. His entire mouth tingled with indescribable pleasure. It was exquisite. He sucked and sucked, slaking his thirst as he drank the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted. Lost, almost non-existent memories swam in with the cool sweet fluid. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes, then slid down to a crouching position and swallowed another mouthful. The wine went straight to his head and he sighed in happiness. It was a feeling of such intense joy, it was almost sexual. He was warm now and glowing. His two days of imprisonment became laughable nonsense. He could stay here for as long as he liked, he had everything he needed, everything in the world. All that existed was this feeling of total fulfilment. He picked up the bottle and held it under his nose, inhaling the fragrance, then cradled it in his arms, moaning softly, half-dazed by the wonderful sensations he was experiencing. His head started nodding.
As his head fell forward, he impaled his cheek on the jagged edge of the neck and woke with a start. His left cheek was warm. Blood was trickling over his chin and down his neck. He didn’t care, he didn’t even feel any pain. Leaning his head against the wall, eyes closed, he opened his mouth and let out a wild-western “Yaaaah-Hoo!” then staggered up to get another bottle. Unsteadily, he ‘sabred’ this one too and poured it gurgling into the watering-can. With another whoop, he carried his spoils back to his seat and drank it greedily, as if unable to swallow fast enough and still impregnate his mouth with its unbelievable siren beauty.
In his increasingly drunken condition, the injustice of his fate changed his mood. He started muttering what his teenage maudlin called dark imprecations on his grandmother’s head. He tried to get up but his legs were too shaky.
“You fucking bitch, I’m going to kill you!” he shouted from the depths of his lungs. And a stream of obscenities in English followed. The outburst lasted some five to ten minutes, interrupted at regular intervals for refuelling, then gradually died out and stopped. The watering-can fell from his hands and toppled over, spilling its precious contents on the floor. Guy was asleep.
Mme Cavaillon had been asleep too. She was awoken by the first war-whoop and had listened intently to all the goings on. Assuming he was doing it on purpose to annoy her, she was on the point of going down to sluice a bucket of water under the door when the noise stopped. She got back into bed and slept soundly until morning.

“Right, I shall ask you one more time. Are you going to come out and obey me?”
No answer.
“I’m warning you, the longer this goes on, the worse it will be.”
Still no answer.
Counting up to ten, to herself this time, she spun round and went back inside.
“Don’t you think...”
“No,” she cut him short, “he will stay there until he has learned his lesson. I will not tolerate such behaviour.”
Figeac realised he was wasting his time trying to convince her to let him deal with it, so he left.
Two hours later, Guy woke up and was violently sick. He couldn’t move. Another spasm of nausea shook him. Covered in vomit, he rolled over and fell back to sleep.
In his sleep, dark, confused figures danced in front of his eyes. He couldn’t recognise them, it was all too far away. Faces leered at him, mouths whispered together, somebody picked him up then put him down in disgust when their hands touched the diarrhoea oozing from his shorts and dribbling down his legs. Strange voices, pity and cynicism, lurid comments, flashlights, then men grabbing her roughly and taking her away, and the sound of his own desperate screaming. Nobody heard the little French boy as his mother’s putrefying corpse was taken away. Nobody knew he’d been there, locked in for three whole days watching her discoloured, immobile body. Nobody. And the nightmare started slashing his face with the razor-blade of memory.
Panic gripped him and he started to sweat and tremble. A pain - gnawing, chewing, stabbing and punching his insides - tore at his chest. His breathing faltered and, within seconds, he was wheezing loudly. His head pounded, pounded, pounded and he leaned over and heaved up another trickle of green bile. He was cold, freezing, and his teeth chattered wildly as he panted and groaned and choked.
He struggled to get away, to escape the racking pain. Whimpering as he tried to block out the awful sight, whimpers that shed tears, tears that burned his face, that ripped his mind apart. Clawing at the floor and digging in with the heels, he grovelled backwards. His hand landed on the broken bottle-neck and tore into his flesh. He screamed in agony.
Something snapped inside. Covering his eyes in his hands and smearing the other cheek with blood, he threw back his head and screamed again and again. The noise hit his ears, panic-ridden sobs and screams echoed round and round and smashed his face.
“No no no no no no no no no!” he yelled in an endless litany of terror. The screams went on and on.
Hallucinating hideously, faces twisted out of shape and merged into one another, the riding-crop rained down on him blow after stinging blow, slaps and beatings pummelled his head, his neck, his legs, his arms, his ears, his bottom, his belly, his sides, his hands, and he screamed and screamed and screamed.

2004-11-19T01:58:00.001-08:00