Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Operation G.I. Jingle: Connecting Military Families For T...

This Christmas, there’s a new kind of care package going out to the U.S. Military. Although they can’t eat, wear, or stow its' contents in their mess kits, it’s a little reminder of home that our troops can take along with them wherever they go. It’s called Operation G.I. Jingle -- and it’s a special way for military moms and dads to “visit” with their kids back home this holiday season.A G.I. . . .

How to Choose The Best Beach In Jamaica For Your Vacation

All your life you dreamed of taking a vacation and suddenly it is almost time! Now, the pressure to get the most out of it. We all have different ideas about vacations. And, this will be a special one. You have to realize your own special needs and wants and incorporate all this into a well structured fullfilling time. Consider Jamaica. It has a variety of beaches to choose from. Just know what. . .

Italian London

Italians have been coming to live in London for hundreds of years, including Canaletto, the famous Renaissance Artist whose works can be seen in the National Gallery and Buckingham Palace. In the first half of the 19th century, there was an influx of political refugees into London. By 1854 London's first Italian community of about 2000 was formed in Clerkenwell. Many opened businesses in the ca. . .

6 Tips for Paranoid Travelers

As fun as international travel may be there are always obstacles and hidden dangers. Some of them may hit the unsuspecting tourist by total surprise and can get you in alot of trouble when you are out of your familiar environment. But most can be avoided with the proper preparation.Passport & IDsThe proper document can save your life – or at least keep you out of trouble. Always carry your pass. . .

Greek Italy - Una Fazza Una Razza

Much of Southern Italy was colonised by Greeks 2500 years ago, and these areas form what we still know today as Magna Grecia (Greater Greece). As a result, Southern Italy became a centre of Greek culture, music, and language for hundreds of years. Greece has in the past also been occupied by Romans and Italians. To this day, we can see the Greek influence in Italy, and Italian influence in Gree. . .

To The East Is Quebec

Quebec is a province that is located east of Ontario; it is Canada’s biggest province and has the second most people living there. There are about 7,568,640 people living there (as of 2005). The province is French speaking, that is there office language but a lot of people speak English there as well. The provinces capital city is Quebec City and the largest city is Montreal. This province has . . .

Packing Tips

Packing is an art form in itself. Experienced travelers have perfected this art over the years so they cen carry just a small bag and still have all that they need on vacation. Here are ten tips to help you pack for your next vacation.1. Prepare a packing list in advance. One packing list for each traveler and a list of common things.Each list should be separated to a list of things you are goi. . .

Stay Healthy When You Travel

The concept of budget adventure travel includes a lot of wonderful experiences, but one adventure you definitely do not want to have when you travel is getting sick. Not only are you far from your family doctor or your mother’s trusty chicken soup recipe; the very fact that you are in a foreign locale exposes you to allergies, germs, food and water you have no immunity to. Here are a few health. . .

It’s Almost Here!! Spring Break Vacation Time Is Right A...

The time is almost here when you take that last exam, pack your bags, and head on spring break for the time of your life. Although it’s still a couple months away, you should already be planning your trip, which of the top destinations you are heading to, and learning as much as you can so you are safe but still have a great vacation.Hot bodies everywhere!! You're away from the parentals and r. . .

Whitsundays - Islands In The Sun

The Whitsunday islands lie in the coral sea midway along the Queensland coast. A group of over seventy islands make up the archipelago of treed islands and soft sandy beaches.The protected waters around the islands provide a haven for boaties. Be the captain of your own ship as you explore the endless passages with plenty of harbours and secluded sheltered bays to hide away in. Drop your ancho. . .

Short City Breaks In Amsterdam With Cheap Flights And Hot...

Plan your city break to Amsterdam, now whilst airfares are still low and the city remains unspoilt before the hoards of tourists and stags discover this latest new destination.With your next weekend break you must plan a holiday package to the Cultural Capital of Holland, Amsterdam. With its beautiful canals running through the city centre, Amsterdam earned itself the honorary name of "the Veni. . .

On the Texas Barbecue Trail

Among polite society, a few subjects are invariably touchy, threatening to flare into heated debate. Politics. Religion. And don't forget to add one more topic to that list if you’re in Texas: barbecue.Whether you spell it barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-que, or just bbq, one thing's for sure: barbecue is more than just a meal, it's a mantra. At last count, Texas boasted over 1,300 barbecue joints, r. . .

Saving Money on a Cruise

For many people, a cruise ship can be the ultimate budget travel destination. A cruise provides a great, one price, vacation, and one of the main attractions to booking a cruise is that just about everything is included in the price. As a matter of fact, in some cases the daily cost of a cruise can be less than the daily cost of a decent hotel room. When you consider that the price of the cr. . .

Slip Into Greece

If you're looking to travel, may I recommend Greece? Scanning through some picture on the internet today, I was amazed at just how much there is to see. The ruins, the culture, the landscape.... everything! It is a beautiful country, which fits well in beautiful Europe.There is something like 15,000 kilometers of coastline to view in Greece, which also includes numerous islands such as Rhodes, . . .

Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Hello from Barrie: Lots...

Our winter getaway over the last two days was supposed to include a couple of different activities: snow-tubing and outdoor skating. Well, our outdoor skating fell through, due to the extraordinarily warm conditions, however, we had a beautiful day yesterday on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, where we enjoyed some great outdoor time on frozen Lake Simcoe. Today, after our delicious filling breakfast . . .

The Saskatchewan Prairies

The province of Saskatchewan is located in the country of Canada and is between the provinces of Alberta and Manitoba; they call this province a prairie province because of its flat lands. Saskatchewan's economy is associated with agriculture, however increasing challenges has meant that agriculture, fishing, hunting and forestry together make up 6.8% of the province's GDP. Wheat is the most kn. . .

Mexico Vacation

For travel ideas, I highly recommend Mexico! Here are a few tips and facts to help you on your way to this vacation paradise. When you get back home and youre organizing all of your pictures and souvenirs and may think, wouldnt it be great if I could find a beautiful Mexican Flag to remember my vacation by that doesnt cost too much to add to my whole vacation experience? Well, Ive found a great. . .

How To Travel With Your Pet

It is unavoidable that you have to visit your friends or relative in urgent without much time for planning. But your only problem seems to be how you have to do you’re your pet. You can either leave it at your home or bring him with you. Traveling with your pet is easier than you think. You can bring your pet with you by using air travel services. These services fall into two categories, in-cab. . .

Caribbean Casinos

While visiting the Caribbean travelers will find a number of glitzy casinos and hotels and resorts with on-site gambling. The combination of sugar-sand beaches and tropical island ambiance with all the glamor and excitement of Las Vegas makes for an ideal vacation destination for many travelers. But unlike American and European casinos, the gambling atmosphere in the Caribbean is more relaxed,. . .

Presenting: Ottawa - Canada's Capital and An Exciting Tra...

In anticipation of my upcoming trip to Ottawa next weekend I have started to do some research and contacted Ottawa Tourism. Ottawa, as Canada's capital, is one of Canada's most popular travel destinations and it has a great variety destinations, activities and events to offer. I had an opportunity to talk with Jantine Van Kregten from Ottawa Tourism who was kind enough to give me a great genera. . .

World Marbles Championship 2006 - Represent Your Country!

Marble game -- is it only a game for kids or regular sport branch? Most people remember this game from their young years. But today there are many prestigious marble tournaments around the world every year. In this article I will take a look at some facts about marble tournaments and show you how can you represent your country in these very popular events. Please keep in mind that even thought . . .

The Charente Comes Out Favourite!

It appears that amongst Brits at least, the Charente is the favourite region to live in France. In a poll conducted by Boredeaux University, the Charente beat Aquitaine, Languedoc-Rousillon and Brittany as the preferred area to buy property, with many people opting for it as their main home.Of the many reasons why the Charente is such a popular place, environmental factors came out on top. This. . .

Fatima In Portugal Moves Mountains

Fatima, Portugal is one of the few places on earth that everyone, be they christians or not, associates with the word miracle and deep faith. It was once a poor village in the Beira region where the economy was in a profound depression and there was just enough to get by on and life was a big struggle. But one day the appearance of the Virgen Mary or as others have called them the Marian Appari. . .

Free Advertising for Vacation Rentals and Holiday

Do you have a vacation rental or holiday home that you want to allow someone else to stay in? If so, then this website, Arrange Your Vacation, has a special offer - free advertising of your vacation rental or holiday home. This offer comes with several advantages in order to allow you to advertise your rental and attract the right people to your property.Placing a free advertisement for vacatio. . .

Time To Visit Celebration In Florida

Market Street at Celebration hosts some of the world’s leading architects, visible in it’s quaint shops, restaurants, beautiful homes and buildings. When you visit this community you feel as if you are stepping back in time as everything is just perfect.It feels as if it is staged but it is not. Disney World may have originally built this community (please note it has now been bought over) but . . .

Iggy's Holiday T-Shirts

Earlier this week I was looking for some t-shirts to take away with me on holiday, I wanted something different with original designs, not the usual boring stuff. After looking around for a while I found a shop displaying a great selection of t-shirts, sporting some truly unique designs - they looked ideal, that was until I noticed the price tags. "These are all limited edition designs," said t. . .

The Old Man on the Mountain

I have written some travel related articles in the past and they are usually related to Disney. This is partially because I really enjoy my time there and partially because is a well-known vacation destination and most people can relate to it when discussing different travel related topics. However, being from New England I feel I am doing a disservice by not discussing some of the wonderful . . .

Castles, Raisins and Paella – Denia, Spain

I just love trips where I’m never bored. I mean, don’t you just hate to go to a destination where there’s really only one attraction? Only one type of architecture? One thing the place is known for? That’s why I love Denia, Spain, which sits on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s so… out of the ordinary. Denia can’t help but be out of the ordinary. Again, it does sit on the Mediterranean. And, take int. . .

Italy: a Visit To Civita di Bagnoregio

Between the Tevere River and Bolsena lake, in the green latium countryside, on the top of a clay hill, rises the small town "Civita di Bagnoregio".Civita appears isolated on a cliff spur to dominate the around valley and, thanks to this isolation, the town shows intact its medieval architectonical structure.Joined to Bagnoregio, and to the world, through only one bridge, Civita appears in an un. . .

Banff - Lake Louise: Stunning Beauty and Nature At Its Be...

For the first time ever, my husband and I are going to go skiing in the majestic Rocky Mountains: in March of 2006 we are going to go to stay a week in Banff, Alberta and we are also going to explore Lake Louise, the turquoise jewel of the Canadian Rockies. As we have never been to this region, I have started to do some research and contacted the official visitor information website for the com. . .

Presenting: Ottawa's Byward Market - Special Events, Cult...

Ottawa has a myriad of sights to visit and the ByWard Market is one of the major entertainment areas in Ottawa. It combines a great selection of restaurants and night spots, with funky boutiques and retailers, galleries and artsy places and a busy outdoor market. Throw in a good dose of special events and you've got yourself a happening place!I myself will be heading off to Ottawa on February 1. . .

Five New Rome Guided Tours that bring this Amazing City t...

Maybe until now you wouldn't know that I make part of my living by writing about the city of Rome, its people, passions, food, sport, history and culture. In fact, I own a web site called Lets-Travel-Rome.com, which kinda happened by happy accident after I visited this great city with my Wife - one anniversary, some time ago.This is a city where some of the best times can be found by just getti. . .

Service Fees, Domestic Flights And The Nuggets Of Gold Th...

If you've been shopping for cheap flights online, you have encountered hundreds if not thousands of sites selling airfares. These sites are made of Mega Online agencies, Airlines, Online Airfares Specialists, Traditional Brick and Mortar (B&M) Travel agencies. This presents a huge pool of resources to wade to find cheap domestic flights.What Is the Best Way To Find and Buy a Cheap Domestic Fl. . .

Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Bed and Breakfasting at...

Driving up to the Nicholyn Farms Bed and Breakfast you get welcomed by the hearty and healthy aroma of 2,200 organically raised pigs. This bed and breakfast was our destination for our quick winter getaway and as soon as we drove up the driveway we realized we had picked a great place.Bed and breakfasts are one of my favourite ways of travelling since every B&B is unique and usually offers a ve. . .

Cruising on Your Honeymoon

Taking a cruise for your honeymoon provides an opportunity for you to start your married life in a state of relaxation by exploring the unknown and enjoying all the amenities a cruise has to offer. Cruising presents the comfort of five star luxury accommodations and provides unending excitement, adventure, the opportunity to get to know each other and to make new friends aboard your sea adventu. . .

Cheap Hotels Can Make That Vacation More Affordable Than ...

The key to enjoying an affordable vacation is to finding inexpensive hotels to stay in. This is because accommodation costs are a significant chunk of the total vacation expenditure and by staying in a cheap hotel vacationers can afford to experience more of what a holiday destination has to offer. Families planning a vacation need to keep their eyes open for the best hotel deals on offer. The . . .

Great Website to Book Your Hotel In Advance

Have you ever taken a trip and booked a room in a hotel that you thought was sure to be luxurious, but it turned out to be a disappointment? Perhaps you made an early reservation and then arrived to discover that you had been “bumped” from the list of bookings. Or you may have asked for a non-smoking room but then scented the distinct lingering smell of tobacco after checking in. Whatever your . . .

South American Travel And Destinations

The continuous innovations in modes of travel and the growth of global awareness have incited an increase in the travel and tourist activities all over the world. With the hectic demanding, polluted city life a lot of travelers are in constant search for locations that are still environmentally healthy that will allow them to experience an unspoiled area of Nature. As the world's population kee. . .

The Benefits of Travel to Sacred Places

Visiting sacred places can have a profoundly positive impact on people’s lives. Earth is dotted with power centers where people have experienced visions, healings, prophecies, inspiration or insight into the meaning of their lives. Stonehenge in England, the Pyramids in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, Sedona in Arizona and Mount Shasta in California are among the world’s best known power sites, bu. . .

Vacation Apartments, The Good And The Bad

Strata titled holiday apartments on the east coast of Australia first came about well over a quarter of a century ago as a means of building holiday accommodation in large building complexes without the whole resort being owned by a single identity. A ten storey building could then be built with each seperate apartment sold off to the public and one of the apartments to a resident manager who. . .

Grill Burner Comparison: Cross Sections

All stainless steel burners are not created equal. When comparing burner systems, there are a few key points to look for. Most manufacturers use stainless steel sheet metal to make their burner systems. The downside of sheet metal burners is that they are prone to a process called burn-through. The manufacturer's warranty covers sheet metal burners against rust-through, but does not cover again. . .

Historical Hotels in Budapest, Hungary

What emanates from the heart of the city of Budapest is a deliberate steadfastness despite its momentous past. There is substantial authenticity in a city that houses an array of historical hotels that acknowledge past cultural influences, exhibit classical elegance, and demonstrate collaborative innovation. This verity can be witnessed in how these hotels have transformed themselves throughou. . .

Spain History: the Moors and Christians Festivals

Streets decked out like the Middle Ages, magnificent processions, exciting mock battles… You are in the middle of the festival of Moors and Christians: days filled with magic, legend and spectacle. For over four centuries, this festival has recreated the historic clash between two cultures in many places along the Spanish Mediterranean Coast. Come and get involved in this unique festival in whi. . .

Four Unmentioned Travel Tips

What Does the Subconscious Mind Have to do with Traveling?Much more than you think!Of all the travel tips I have heard and read, not one focused on the traveler's subconscious mind.If you think it's hard to get along well with someone close to you, try traveling with him or her. It can be miserable.Here are four tips on how to deal with travel anxiety, a great, often subconscious, source of st. . .

Lost About GPS? Here's Some Direction!

If you've been confounded by all the technical jargon and hype surrounding GPS, confusing what's turning out to be a very useful tool, allow me to shed a little light on your roadmap to deciding whether or not this technology is for you! Originally designed with military applications in mind, the technology was made available to mere mortals in hte 1980's for the many and varied uses we've foun. . .

Funchal Is Simple Sophisication

Not many places on earth get the opportunity to be discovered twice, but the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo have. These two islands together with Las Desertas and Las Selvagens islands make up what is called the Archipelago of Madeira. They are found 1000 kilometers southwest of Lisbon, Portugal and half that distance from the African continent. Since their discovery around 1419 and founded. . .

Volkswagons in the Shallows!

A Guide to Giant Bluefin Fishing - Morehead City, NCDecember, Cape Lookout Shoal: You break the inlet at 4:00am, hoping to get an early start and scout the area in the dark. The air is chilled and exhilarating this time of year in Morehead City. Anticipation is high, as these are no ordinary tuna you are hunting. The first baits are deployed in total darkness, as the captain carefully monitors . . .

Hawaii Golf Vacation - Tee It Up in Paradise!

A Hawaii golf vacation can be the trip of a lifetime, and with a little careful planning you can get in more great golf at more fantastic courses than you ever thought possible. Each island has it's own gems, and there are many incredible golf courses that have managed to fly under the radar but are nevertheless great values and spectacular golf. Here's a sampling of some of the awesome tracks . . .

Bordeaux – More than a Wine

Mention Bordeaux to most people and a smile will form on their faces. “Ah, yes,” they’ll say, “I just love a good Bordeaux. Why, I remember this lovely 1985 Margaux…” And, yes, while Bordeaux produces great wines (especially a 1985 Margaux), what most people are ignoring is the city of Bordeaux itself. While most people focus on the Bordeaux wine region, the city of Bordeaux has many sights tha. . .

The Beautiful Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s is a province that is located on the North Atlantic coast. It is one of Canada’s smallest provinces ranking number 2 on the smallest province scale. Halifax is the largest city in the province also being the capital city of the province. The provinces economy continues to use traditional industries such as, fishing, mining, forestry, and agriculture to support the province. Touri. . .