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Sightseeing in Havana - An Insider's Guide

If it’s your first holiday in Havana, head straight for the magnificently restored Old Havana (La Habana Vieja). Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, much of the area has been lovingly returned to its former grandeur. It’s a colonial marvel, a riot of colour and full of atmosphere, its quirky blend of architectural styles endlessly fascinating.

The area is a treasure to stroll around, and, along with Vedado, is the liveliest part of the city by day. It boasts four gorgeous 16th century plazas. Check out sleepy Plaza Vieja (right). There’s a wealth of museums and galleries in the area, and many of Havana’s most impressive sights.

An impressive crafts market, Fria de la Artesana, just behind Iglesia de Paula on Calle San Pedro, is not to be missed. It sells every Cuban craft imaginable, is equipped with a CADECA, fruit juice vendors, kiosks and a breezy seating area where you can relax with a drink and enjoy a view of the port (note, however, that it closes on Mondays).

Wander off the main drag, calle Obispo, and you’ll see an altogether different side of the Old Town: a well-established residential area that’s home to an estimated 70,000 people. Take a coffee break at Caf El Escorial on Plaza Vieja. Alternatively, avoid the tourists and head to La Barrita, in the impressive art deco Bacardi building on Avenida de los Misiones. On Parque Central, the busy main square, watch the world go by from the veranda at the Hotel Inglaterra. Pop into the little caf at Hotel Telgrafo, a quiet escape with a cascade fountain trickling over a colourful mosaic. Or enjoy one of Havana’s best mojitos at the NH Hotel. For culture, check out the Museo de Bellas Artes, Havana’s excellent inte wonderful rnational art museum, just off Parque Central and just yards from calle Obispo. Pop in to visit the room in the Hotel Ambos Mundos where Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his world-famous works of literature while standing up at his writing table.

Pay a visit to the colourful, offbeat Arte Corte, a barber shop that doubles as a museum-cum-art gallery. It features a lovely assortment of antiques, and some intriguing paintings by Cuban artists, including several by the owner, Pepito. Calle Aguiar #10, between Pena Pobre and Avenida de las Misiones.

If all the wandering around ignites your appetite, currently the best restaurant in the area for lunch is Caf del Oriente. It is a pleasant, well air-conditioned oasis with a swanky interior, and service to match. Calle Oficios #112, corner of calle Amargura. Tel. 860 6686.

Havana’s weather-beaten 8-km long seafront promenade is by far the city’s best loved hangout. Overlooking the expanse of water separating Cuba from Florida, the famous stretch is a place for dreamers, lovers and friends. It is the spiritual heart of the city and the nerve centre of its social life, a round-the-clock phenomenon. Most nights it is thronged with people taking the balmy sea air; during the day it’s a place for pause. One of the best views of the Malecn is from the elegant terrace garden at the Hotel Nacional.

If you fancy an impressive panoramic vista, check out La Torre. The view, from the 33rd floor of the tallest residential building in Havana, is breathtaking. What makes it so special is that you can walk right around the building, from the bar through the restaurant, and enjoy a 360-degree view of the bay and the city. Edificio FOCSA, calle 17, corner of calle M, Vedado. Tel. 832 2451.

The neighbourhood itself, Vedado, is perhaps Havana’s most fascinating. No holiday in Havana would be complete without paying it a visit. It is funky, diverse and alternative. You could easily miss out on the charms of its most vibrant avenue, Avenida 23, aka La Rampa, if you only see the rather bleak lower end that stretches from the Malecn to the picturesque Yara cinema. Perched on the city’s most cosmopolitan junction, the Yara is a Havana cultural institution.

La Rampa’s heart starts beating west of the Yara. Here, and on the streets just off it, you will find relatively few tourists-a welcome change from other parts of the city. The overall ambience is giddy 1970s. From the mulattas dressed all in white (exponents of the Afro-Caribbean Santera religion) to the reggaetn hustlers with their massive sunglasses, the area is a cornucopia of colour and personality. Watch the world go by along with the locals at the popular sidewalk bar, La Rampita.

On really hot days, Havana can feel like a pressure cooker. So instead of suffering in the dead downtown heat, head to the beach. Havana’s best beaches are Tropicoco (also known as Santa Mara del Mar) and neighbouring Megano. They are about 20km to the east of the city in the Playas Del Este (eastern beaches) area.

The area is immensely popular among locals and visitors alike for its turquoise Atlantic waters and friendly, chilled-out vibe. Tropicoco is the more touristy of the two. Megano is much more serene, with fewer people. At the Tropicoco branch of Club Nautico you can hire snorkelling gear, pedal and banana boats, kayaks and catamarans.

The charm of the area is that it’s still relatively undeveloped, apart from a seemingly random cluster of villas, austere Soviet-style hotels and cheap ‘n’ cheerful eateries. Just a few yards along the shoreline and you will always find your own little piece of sandy solitude.

It is a 30-minute taxi ride from the city centre. Pay no more than 20CUC, and agree the fare in advance. A special tourist bus service runs every 30 minutes from 9am till 7pm daily. It stops just opposite Hotel Inglaterra on Parque Central and takes passengers as far as Megano (there’s a choice of three stops at the beaches, with Tropicoco being the first). A return ticket costs 3CUC. Children under six travel for free.

Located in dusty Centro Habana, this is the spiritual home of Afro-Cuban culture in the capital. This little pedestrian street is where it’s at every Sunday, from noon till around 3pm. The feverish live music sessions provided free by leading rumba bands are increasingly popular. The event attracts huge crowds, and the all-in-white converts to Afro-Cuban (Santera) religion add an exotic splash of colour. The area itself is quirky and alternative-an urban art project with flamboyantly painted houses, eye-catching street murals, weird and wonderful shops, and striking sculptures made from scrap. Check out the beautifully coloured houses opposite the entrance. Calle San Lazaro, between calles Hospital and Aramburu.

Just a five-minute stroll from Parque Central, Havana’s domed Capitolio Nacional is a carbon copy of the Capitol in Washington. It is Havana’s most extravagant and extraordinary building. Resplendent with marble and gold, it was completed in 1929 by a building crew of 5,000 after more than three years’ work, supervised by Cuban dictator Gerardo Machado. The 11-metre bronze Statue of the Republic is the world’s third largest statue. At its feet is a diamond that marks kilometre zero, from which distances by highway from Havana to other parts of Cuba are measured. Admission is 3CUC.Corner of calle Industria and calle Barcelona, La Habana Vieja.

Havana’s most affluent suburb, Miramar, provides a fascinating glimpse into how upwardly mobile habaneros live. Fifth Avenue is the city’s most handsome (albeit traffic-filled) avenue, while the parallel Third Avenue is alluring for its quieter, cosy neighbourhood feel and relative lack of tourists. One of the most popular haunts for Havana’s burgeoning middle class is Centro de Negocios in Miramar.

A mixture of office buildings and shopping centre punctuated by outdoor tiled walkways, along with one of Havana’s few five-star hotels, the Mela Habana, it’s a very pleasant area to while away a few hours. Among the facilities are four caf/restaurants (all called ‘Amelia’), a cool new wine bar called ‘Halo’s', a supermarket, pharmacy, several boutiques and shops selling clothes, shoes, sports gear and jewellery. Around the corner at the smaller Comodoro Centre, the emphasis is primarily on clothes, as well as perfumes and jewellery.

The large swimming pool and salt water bathing area at the Hotel Copacabana in Miramar is something of a well-kept secret. On weekdays, it’s pleasantly quiet, with usually just a handful of tourists and their Cuban friends and/or lovers. On weekends, it’s packed with well-heeled Cubans and guests of the hotel.

Admission for non-residents is 10CUC. You get 8CUC credit that you spend at the poolside bar for food and/or drink. First Avenue, between calle 44 and calle 46, Miramar.

The University of Havana is a beautiful, shady daydream of a place that looms imperiously over the run-down streets below. Its grounds are surprisingly neglected by tourists, and are all the better for it. The library is comprised of a series of rooms. The main library, Rubn Martnez Villena, dates from 1936. It is a quaint place with long, chocolate brown reading desks and colourfully tiled floors.

Sit for a while by the window on a very hot day. Feel the breeze blow in and the leaves hiss, and you’re likely to wish you were a student again. (Just don’t ruin the experience by using the rather off-putting toilets!). Calle O, between Avenida 23 and calle 25, Vedado.

A Soviet-style asphalt square surrounded by mostly government buildings, Plaza de la Revolucin is the political nerve centre of Cuba. The best time to see this gauntly impressive place is by night, when its most striking feature-two bronze silhouettes of revolutionary icons Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos-are spectacularly illuminated. The other major attraction is the Memorial y Museo a Jos Mart, a tribute to Cuba’s seminal revolutionary. The northwest side of the Plaza is the home of El Teatro Nacional, Cuba’s National Theatre. In the same building is one of the city’s best loved live music venues, Caf Cantante Mi Habana. Corner of Avenidas Paseo and Carlos Manuel de Cspedes, Vedado.

What was, pre-Castro, the biggest Asian community in Latin America is now down to a small handful of streets in Centro Habana. This is El Barrio Chino: Chinatown. It’s deliciously incongruous, and only a few minutes’ walk from Parque Central. Lovers of Chinese food should check out Restaurant Tien-Tan on the pedestrianised calle Cuchillo, probably the best Asian restaurant in the area. And, if you have an especially sweet tooth, call into the dulceraon the corner of calle San Nicols and calle Zanja (Dragones) for a sample of some of the tastiest pastries in Havana.

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Yarra Valley Accommodations And The Place To Be

There are a lot of places to go to for accommodations, but choosing a specific place to suit your fancy is hard to do. For this, the various Yarra Valley accommodations have various lodgings that are a perfect fit for all kinds of people looking for a home away from home.

Some of the best Yarra Valley accommodations are easy to locate. Here’s a quick guide of where to place a reservation when looking for a place to stay.

- Ainsworth Estate

For that Special Celebration, Intimate Wedding or Important Function, this estate can host it for a perfect package with great food, wine and accommodations. For 365 days, their services are available and easily booked.

- Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa

This is the perfect place to distress with great service, great food and superb wine without having to worry about the environmental wastes of the resort they are staying in for the environmentalist wine connoisseur. They offer a holistic wine experience set in nature with your relaxation in an environmental first class resort.

Providing modern digs with their one bedroom spa suites, the famous award winning estate is also well know for their outstanding amenities and private balconies commanding magical valley views. Their estate is well known for the Vinotherapy and the exclusive Rasual Steam Temple signature treatments.

- The Burrow B&B

For the place to go to stay close to Nature but not too far to be so isolated from civilization, this Bed and Breakfast is a natural get away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday grind. The attraction to this B&B is the beautiful billabong the location provides which is the perfect view of relaxing with a serene waterscape.

This is just a quick glimpse of the various Yarra Valley accommodations but there are loads more that people can choose from. Explore the region when you can and don’t limit your holiday stay to these great offerings mainly. Whether you are alone, with your loved one, friends or coworkers just looking for a place to go to, everyone can place their trust in the offered Yarra Valley accommodations.

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Mosaic Floor Tiles - Get the Most Luxurious Results!

It isn’t just about simple home redecoration – Mosaic Floor Tiles remodeling is about bringing different style and atmosphere into your home design. The fact that these are nature-made panels open up countless remolding opportunities to match any interior/exterior decor. Looking for tips on how you can easily remodel any surface? Start reading this article.

Basic introduction

This easy to use tiling method is quite unique as Mosaic Floor Tiles redecoration is made of a set of similar looking flat stones that are mounted onto a standard size mesh backing. The seashores of S. East Asia are rich with these flat pebbles, and indeed most of these tiles are originated from that part of the world. This tiling method is commonly used for the following applications: Bathroom and kitchen walls, flooring, shower bases and backsplashes, patios, wine cellars, pools, and fireplaces.

Benefits

Let’s examine what is in it for us and how it can easily enable you to redesign any surface at home:

* Installation process is quick and takes only a few hours.

* It can easily be adjusted to very small / narrow surfaces where other fixed size tiles such as conventional ceramic tiles can’t.

* Can be used for virtually unlimited applications at home, in the office, in restaurants, hotels, etc.

Quick tips to go!

* To appreciate the beauty of these ‘Nature-Made’ panels, it is recommended on removing the excess grout with a wet sponge. After all, you want to expose as much of the stones as possible.

* Upon completion, it is important to wait the adhesive’s recommended drying time before you begin on grouting.

* Epoxy based grouts are considered stronger than conventional grout, however take in mind that they are less forgiving to the ignorant installer.

We could count other important benefits provided by this popular and easy home improvement alternative simply because it offers countless opportunities for professional and unprofessional installers whether they decorate at home or in the office.

Conclusions

This coating solution is mostly popular due to the fact that this Mosaic Floor Tiles technique requires almost no special technical knowledge on your side. Should it be your first time installation, it is recommended to keep the above advices once you are ready to start with the installation process.

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Teeth Whitening - Learn How to Teeth Whiten in Minutes

Unfortunately,over time not only pages of books, but teeth too turn to yellow. Therefore to whiten teeth is necessary for everyone. The process of yellowing is completely natural,but it spoils our smile and gives us an old age,which nobody wants to talk about. What is the matter then?

The point is that the glare is given to the teeth by enamel – the outer protective layer of the teeth. Over the time enamel becomes thinner, and through it a yellow dentin begins to exude – the inner substance of the teeth. Those who are excessively fond of sweets, they  should know that their teeth are prone to yellowing in the first place. Why?

Sugar is digested by bacteria that live in the mouth, as a result  it excretes acid that eating away the enamel, which in turn covers the teeth with  invisible to the eye tiny pores. And pigments of coffee, tea, berries, red wine, juices, colas, and other coloring products are trapped in these pores. Cigarettes and tartar leave very noticeable marks too.

Modern dentistry today offering a variety of services for whitening teeth that will help restore your smile with shiny and pristine whiteness.

There are several ways to whiten teeth:

1.Professional whitening (Technology ZOOM)

Professional teeth whitening is usually performed in dental clinics or specialty centers

2.Laser whitening

Laser teeth whitening resembles a professional whitening in the dental center.

3.Bleaching at home

There is also another way to whiten teeth at home, it is also called “night” bleach.

4.Folk Remedies

Those who do not trust modern medicine and tries to follow our grandmothers’ advices – may be advised to rub their teeth by lemon peel , or rinse the teeth with lemon juice.

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Florence Travel Guide

Florence is the capital city of Tuscany in Italy and is a draw for travelers from around the world. Packed with history and natural beauty it is known as the ‘cradle of the Renaissance’ and is a popular place for backpackers to explore.

Sights Florence is steeped in history with the medieval structure Ponte Vecchio, a covered bridge crossing the Arno, one of its most famous attractions along with the Medici Chapel in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.

A World Heritage Site, Florence is the home of inspiring Renaissance buildings such as the Duomo, or Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, which is free to enter, and the Fountain of Neptune outside Palazzo Vecchio.

A stroll past the Romanesque Baptistery and gothic Campanile illustrates perfectly to travelers the variety of historical eras encapsulated in the city.

Art Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are among the many artists with links to Florence. Walking tours can be an inexpensive way to re-create the early life of da Vinci, who was born in the region and lived there throughout his childhood.

It is easy to see why Florence inspires so many artists. Psychosomatic symptoms including dizziness and hallucination were recorded by Stendhal in 1817 when he observed the artistic treasures of the Uffizi Museum and is now a recognized condition called the Stendhal Syndrome. Travelers should be prepared to retreat to their Florence hostels should they be overcome!

The Bargello Palace was built by Michelangelo’s granddaughter and contains rare works by the famous artist.

Going Out Nightlife in Florence usually involves a relaxing walk through the square or an evening on the terraces of Florence hostels looking out onto the sights and sounds of people passing by.

A stroll across the Ponte Vecchio before stopping to sample some gelato, a traditional Italian ice cream, is a pleasant way to round off a day of sightseeing. Wine bars are plentiful in the city and some boast views across the Arno River for a truly intimate experience.

The buzzword when it comes to food in Florence is fusion, with international influences coming together to form hybrid restaurants serving a wide range of cuisines. More traditional Italian pasta parlors and pizzerias can be found and are often very reasonably priced.

Bars playing jazz, funk, blues and classical music make up a thriving entertainment scene. Backpackers watching their budget should take advantage of the aperitivo, which is popular in Florence and sees bars serving free food to customers at around 18:00 (local time).

Apart from eating, drinking and strolling, catching a game of Calcio Storico Fiorentino or Florentine football is a unique form of entertainment. Expect elbowing, choking and head-butting among the more unusual and perfectly legal tactics.

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It's Baby Shower Time!

Baby Shower invitations are sent out for, surprise, surprise, baby showers. All kidding outside, a lot of people, especially young people generate a puzzled look at the thought of an invitation to a baby shower. After all, why would everyone want to be invited to a baby shower? What’s so special about getting some soap and suds and getting clean in the shower? Funnily enough, a lot of young children think that’s what a baby shower is. In reality, a baby shower is a special party in which current parents or expectant parents receive a smattering of gifts for their newborn or expected child. It helps if ultra-sound has revealed the gender of the baby prior to the party. Otherwise, gifts could be mismatched to the gender. So, to be absolutely clear, it extremely closely related to a bridal shower and has nothing at all to do with washing babies. Baby showers also serve the purpose of reducing the budgetary requirements of the soon-to-be baby because other parents chip in and buy items for the baby like clothes. Some countries don’t celebrate until the baby is actually born, but it has a long and rich history in the United States of occurring prior to birth. Some believe that bad luck happens to those that host pre-birth baby showers and others believe it is a strictly private affair involving just the closest group of tight-knit relatives, colleagues, and confidantes. Whatever the practices revolving around it, America has a proud history and heritage of hosting them for mothers-to-be. Plus, it’s a way for the bride’s friends to be introduced to the husband of the bride in an informal setting away from a lot of his male friends – at home, in a natural mode.

Baby Shower invitations sometimes include a list of the activities to be performed like baby shower bingo, birth date or sex guessing, pregnant belly girth guessing, baby food flavor guessing, diaper throw games with treats and prizes to eat out of the (clean) diapers, opening the gifts in front of all the other guests, and serving the cake or beverages. It’s inadvisable, inappropriate, and downright irresponsible to bring alcohol – either in the form of champagne, beer, or even red wine. Alcohol is bad for the baby. Call it bad taste. Pun intended.

What do Baby Shower invitations look like and describe?

Baby Shower invitations give the name of the person to be honored, name of the occasion, and the day, date, time, location, and hosts’ names. Sometimes, it’s hosted by grandma, the husband, or a close friend.

Baby Showers can be a special time for moms to share tips, gifts, prospects for their children-to-be, and laughs too!

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Resveratrol Weight Loss - Why Are So Many Slender Mice Hanging Around Dr Sinclair's Lab?

Resveratrol(also called Rez-V) weight loss is a real possibility, just ask all the slim mice being used in Dr David Sinclair’s laboratory experiments. Dr Sinclair was made famous here in America after being interviewed by the iconic t.v. personality, Barbara Walters. It seems that the good doctor has discovered some amazing possibilities contained within this “muscle bound” micro nutrient. The question is, though, can it really promote weight loss?

Resveratrol Is Found In Red Wine- Should I Pour Another Glass?

Sure, go ahead. And than go ahead and pour another, and another, etc. You see, according to Dr. Sinclair, one would have to consume approximately 1000 bottles of wine to receive measurable benefits.

No Thanks, I’ll stick To A Six Pack Of Coors!

The most efficient way of taking of Rez-V is through red wine extract. It is in mega concentrated form, so you don’t have to be a 100 year old alcoholic.

What About All These Mice “Marathoners”?

Apparently, when Dr Sinclair and his colleagues gave mice resveratrol, they dramatically improved their stamina and endurance. The performance of the supplemented mice FAR exceeded the non supplemented mice.

Kind OF A Mouse Olympics!

OK, OK, What About Resveratrol Weight Loss?

This is where it gets good,(Oprah, are you listening?). A group of mice given Rez-V were fed continuously for several days.(oh, to be a mouse- what a life!)

NONE  of the over fed mice gained any weight!

Not ONE gram!!

Researchers believe that Resveratrol “re energizes” cells by restoring the ability of the mitochondria to create energy. The mitochondria loses this capacity as a result of the aging process.

Kind of super charges the ole metabolism. Nothing is certain, but human trials are underway.

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11 Heart Healthy Eating Tips That Could Add Years to Your Life

Here are 11 of the best healthy eating tips that will allow you to accomplish your weight loss goals and start living a healthier and happier lifestyle:

1. Eat 6 small meals per day (and be sure to eat smaller portion sizes)

2. Eat only whole grain carbs such as brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta, and avoid refined carbs such as WHITE flour, rice, pasta, and bread

3. Eat a complete breakfast – skim milk, oatmeal egg whites, fresh fruit, wheat bread, and reduced fat cheeses are all great options

4. Keep healthy snacks on hand at work. Salt-free nuts, granola, and veggies are great snacks and will save you a trip to the vending machine

5. Learning how to read a food label is a crucial step in eating healthier

6. Cut WAY back on the amount of sugar you’re eating. Choose sugar-free products and sweeteners such as Splenda instead and avoid foods with “high fructose corn syrup,” “dextrose,” and “sucrose”

7. Drinking red wine in moderation is good for your heart (but more than 1-2 glasses per day can have the opposite effect)

8. Eat more vegetables – try eating 3-4 servings a day for a week. You will be amazed by the results

9. Indulge occasionally. Treat yourself to a couple slices of pizza, a hamburger, or ice cream once per week.

10. If you’re eating out, check out the healthy menu options ahead of time at Healthy Dining Finder

11. Learn how to cook healthy food – use methods such as broiling, grilling, baking, poaching, steaming, stir frying, and microwaving.

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Marinating Red Meats in Alcohol May Cut the Cancer Risk Factor

Meat lovers have been told all too often that regularly eating large quantities of red or processed meats ups your cancer risk factor. This is why so many of us are trying to limit the amount of red meat we take in.

But if you love your steaks, is your only option banning them from your diet forever? Apparently not…

New research appearing in New Scientist magazine suggests that marinating steak in red wine or beer might cut down the number of cancer causing agents produced when these meats are grilled or fried.

The high temperatures associated with frying or grilling are known to change the natural sugars and amino acids in red meats into chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HAs for short).

Earlier work has shown that a marinade of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic cut HA levels in chicken by as much as 90%.

The Portuguese team from the University of Porto conducted this latest study (also published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry) to look at the effectiveness of an alcohol-based marinade. Both beer and red wine were used in the research.

The researchers found that after 6 hours marinating in either beer or wine, two types of HAs were decreased by up to 90%, compared to unmarinated steaks.

Beer worked better on a third type of HA, and cut levels of the substance in just four hours. Wine took 6 hours to achieve this same effect.

The team suspects that the key could be water-retaining sugars that are in the alcohol marinade. These sugars, more abundant in beer than wine, keep water soluble molecules in the steak from moving to the surface where the high heat converts them into HA’s.

In case you’re wondering, the testers preferred the beer marinated steak for smell, taste and overall appearance.

Scientists have actually identified 17 different HAs that come from the high temperature (350ºF or higher) cooking of meats.

Of the four things that influence HA formation, (type of food, cooking method, temperature and time), temperature is most important.

Other sources of protein (milk, eggs, tofu and organ meats) have very little or no HA naturally or when cooked.

Meats that were microwaved for 2 minutes before being cooked had a 90% decrease in HA content. Pouring off any liquid that comes during microwaving causes the final concentration of HA to be reduced.

The way you like your meat cooked is also related to cancer risk.

Another study showed a link between eating cooked meats and stomach cancer, but those who liked meat medium well or well done were three times more likely to have stomach cancer as those who preferred rare or medium rare beef.

Cancers of the bowel, pancreatic and breast cancer have also been associated with red meat.

Of course cancer experts warn against thinking marinades provide protection from the cancer risk in red meat.

Eating less of these meats overall is a good way to reduce your cancer risk factor, as well as being sure that your diet also contains plenty of fruits, veggies and fiber while limiting the amount of red meat and alcohol you take in.

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Where the Hell Do I Meet Someone to Date?

Are you unable to meet someone and are wondering where you can go to meet someone? First thing you have to do is get out of your house. Do you really think you are going to meet someone by sitting on the sofa watching TV all day.

Of course, the usual advice is to go to the laundromat, the gym, or church services. But what if you have your own washer and dryer, you hate working out, and you are afraid lightning might strike the church if you walk in? So now what do you do?

Go to places that you enjoy.

If you love sports, going to sporting events would be a good place, or even joining a co-ed sports team like softball or bowling.

If you are a dog owner, take him for a walk in a near-by park. Do this everyday. Dog’s can be real ice breakers.

Are you a reader? Go to your local library. Of course you are supposed to be quiet in a library but if you notice someone that interests you, asking them questions about some books is certainly allowed. You never know where this may lead to.

There are a ton of different clubs out there. Wine clubs, book clubs, travel clubs, and cooking clubs are just a few to mention. Try to find out when certain clubs are meeting and start going to some of them that interest you. But do not go to a club if you have no interest in what that club has to offer. For example, if you hate cooking, do not go to a cooking club. Remember, you are trying to meet someone who has the same interests as you, and you do not want to start a possible relationship off on a pretense.

There is always your local coffee shop or bookstore. Some people go to these places and will take their laptops or something to read and will hang out there all day. The opportunity to meet different people everyday is huge.

You can also try the bar scene. But not one that is just focused on drinking. A lot of bars nowadays have nights where they will do different things, like karaoke night, trivia night, or comedy night. Make sure it is the type of place that you would want to meet someone at.

There is also online date. Online dating is used by millions of people, yes, millions. There are so many online dating sites that it is impossible to give an exact count. The first thing you need to do is find an online dating site that you will use. There are a lot of online dating sites out there so you want to make sure you do some research on a variety of sites and then narrow it down to the one you would like to use. Most online dating sites do charge a fee, so keep that in mind also. Make sure you check the site out thoroughly before paying any fees.

Going to the supermarket or shopping are places that you can always strike up conversations. Say you are a man and you are grocery shopping, you see someone that interests you, simply act like you do not know anything about a certain product and ask the person a question about the product, try to keep the conversation going by asking some more questions, maybe about the best way to cook the product, or are there other products that are better than that one.

If you are a woman, try going to a sporting store or even the electronics section of a store. Once again, if you happen to notice someone that interests you, start asking them questions.

So get yourself out of the house and start meeting people. Stop the self-pity and the “Oh, I wish I could meet someone” and get out there and have fun!!!

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Party Ideas For Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day has been associated with parties and celebrations for centuries and the tradition continues today. This is one time of the year when school children look forward to a party in the class and a time to distribute Valentines to their friends. Adults host parties on this date as well and are often looking for unusual ideas to make their party one that is unique.

Hearts, candies, and flowers are symbols of Valentine’s Day as you can see in the designs of traditional greeting cards and Valentine’s e-cards sent on February 14. They are also an essential part of the decorations for your party. There are inexpensive candy treats that contain words and phrases for this occasion that you can use to fill candy dishes and place them around the room. Candy or paper hearts spread over the tablecloth can add a cute decorative touch to a sit down meal.

You may want to have a costume party to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Some hosts like to ask the couples they invite to come dressed as their favorite couple from history. You may want to go way back in history to the story of St. Valentine and have a party where all the guests wear togas reminiscent of Roman times when this saint was still alive. The costumes you choose can be that of a couple still living or even fictional characters, such as Romeo and Juliet or Mickey Mouse and Minnie.

When hosting a party on Valentine’s Day, you want to pay attention to the food you serve. What about food known for its aphrodisiac properties, such as oysters and champagne? You may want to food that is red or pink and of course you must have red wine. Even designing the dishes in the shape of hearts will be a hit and for dessert you can serve heart-shaped cookies or cake that has heart designs in the icing. Red colored punch, whether or not it contains any alcoholic beverages, is always a hit.

Once you know what your decorations, food, and drink will be, you want a way of inviting people to this fantastic party. Instead of spending hours contacting each one by phone or handwriting the invitations, you can accomplish this task quite quickly online be sending Valentine ecard invitations. All of the online sites featuring e-cards for all occasions also have e-vites or electronic invitations that are free to upload and use.

You can choose to send the image set for the invitations or upload your own image to personalize the Valentine e-card invitation. You simply enter the information about the time and date of the party and your address, of course, and you can even include a map for guests to use in finding your house or the location of the party. Write a personalized message giving any additional details guests may need to know and list the email addresses of the invitees. That’s all there is to it. You can also ask the guests to respond to your email address telling you whether or not they plan to attend.

If you plan on having a potluck meal for your party, you can even use this feature when sending your Valentine party e-vites. On the sites that have this feature, you can ask guests to bring some kind of dish to the party.

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Award Winning Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is famously known for the kinds of grapes and for the kind of wine it is able to produce. Cabernet Sauvignon is also known to the people as among the finest and most exquisite of red wines in the world, mainly because of its richness in flavor and the depth in the complexity. The other names these grapes and wines have are Petit Vidure, and Petit Cabernet.

Cabernet Sauvignon is abundantly grown across the world – Australia; Lebanon; NY; South America; Long Island, Northern California; and lastly, France. The grape that is used for these kinds of wines is really very durable and can adapt to different climatic conditions very well.

The Napa Valley wineries have for long been on the connoisseur’s list of delight. The Napa Valley wineries are known for the process they employ while making the wines. The people engaged in these wineries have been doing this for a long time and are experts in doing the right things so that the rich flavor and the rich aroma comes out of the wines.

The Napa Valley wine ratings have always been top notch. The Napa Valley wine has been scrupulously evaluated by the common people who drop by to have a good time and also the connoisseurs and the experts at wine culture who have given the wine a high rating. The Napa Valley wine ratings have been consistently high because it has received high ratings on many counts.

For example, the wine is rated on the production process, the ingredients used, the time taken to process the ingredients and the method of mixing the ingredients and lastly, the collection process.

Among all the wines that Napa Valley produces, the Napa Valley red wines have been the greatest and probably the tastiest that has wowed people from across the globe. The Napa Valley red wines are as much known for their taste and aroma as is known for their health values.

Cabernets can be both mild and mellow, and rich and hearty. Typically, Cabernets deep red colored and the main taste is like black currant. The other variants are usually mint and blackberry. Since the wine is traditionally oak aged, it tends to typically take a vanilla and oaky flavor.

On the other hand, the cabs of a higher quality can age very well (although they age somewhat slowly), and in the process tends to develop a sprinkling that has multiple flavors and tastes within the wines.

Hence the Cabernet variety of wine can really conjure up a magic as far as the tastes and the customer satisfaction go. People from all over the world have acknowledged the superiority of this variant and have given high ratings to this.

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Metabolic Syndrome/Syndrome X

An increase in weight, especially around the abdominal area. At risk are men with a waist 40 or above inches. Women with a waist above 35 or above inches.

If your blood pressure is 135/85 mmHg or higher.

If your fasting blood glucose is 110mg/dl or higher, that can cause insulin resistance.

If your plasma triglicerides is 150 mg/dl

If your fasting HDL (good cholesterol) is lower than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women.

As mentioned above, the 6th risk sign for syndrome X is angina (pains in chest).

Those individuals who have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol should be very aware of the possibility that they have or are prone to metabolic syndrome and should be checked by their healthcare provider.

Anyone with 3 of the above signs or symptoms is seriously at risk for future health risks. These are the signs that eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease. There are of course ancillary diseases that will become offshoots of these diseases, making the individual at risk for other diseases.

Examples of these ancillary diseases are:

Heart disease: Can lead to arteriosclerosis, pulmonary complications, kidney disease, heart bypass and Alzheimer’s disease.

High blood pressure: Can lead to stroke and paralysis.

Diabetes: The precursor of type 2 Diabetes is insulin resistance. The body normally manufactures insulin in the pancreas. It is used to transport sugar gotten from the food we eat to our muscles where it is used as fuel to supply the body’s energy needs. In insulin resistance the body does not recognize that the insulin is being produced and the result is, the body keeps on manufacturing an over-abundance of insulin. This results in an inflammatory condition of the arteries leading to such major problems as blindness or amputation.

High cholesterol: Can lead to atherosclerosis, whereby there is a build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries. Clogging of arteries that supply blood to the heart can lead to heart disease, heart bypass, and heart attack, Clogging of the arteries in the extremities can cause intermittent claudication, reducing the circulation and causing pain on walking. When arteries that supply the kidneys with blood become clogged, the result is impacting of the kidney function, and results in kidney disease.

High triglicerides: These are blood fats that act together with cholesterol and can cause the same conditions as those above in the high cholesterol conditions.

Any of the above ancillary conditions in turn can and usually does lead to many, many more conditions that can eventually cause life threatening diseases and conditions. Therefore, it is imperative that anyone displaying at least three of the above conditions sees their healthcare provider and be checked out, and have a diagnosis made. Treatment may have to be instituted when examination, blood tests, etc., show that the patient is at risk.

There are two other risks that are extremely important, even if they are not included in the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X categories. These are the risks I’m sure we are all aware of, but they do bear repeating.

SMOKING: For those who smoke, stopping is a must. There has been enough publicity to know that smoking leads to cancer, heart disease and circulatory problems. It also leads to insulin resistance making you prone to type-2 diabetes.

ALCOHOL: Heavy drinkers are prone to liver disease and many other diseases, such as heart disease, circulatory problems, type-2 diabetes and many other ancillary problems.

Alcohol is okay when used in moderation and can prove beneficial to ones’ health. Men should only drink 2 glasses of wine daily. Women should only drink one glass of wine daily. Men can metabolize alcohol at a greater rate than women, and that is why the ratio is 2 to 1.

It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to be aware of their physical condition. Should they become cognizant of any of the above symptoms, they must follow-up and bring this to the attention of their healthcare provider. They should also be aware of any changes that seem to affect the body in ways that haven’t been apparent before. Checking their blood pressure on a regular basis is almost mandatory. Blood pressure values of 135/85 mg/dl are now considered pre-hypertensive.

There are instruments that are available to each and every one of us. The wrist and the arm blood pressure units are very inexpensive and available to all. Blood pressure is a condition that will not alert the individual that this problem exits. Up to half of the population can be pre-hypertensive and not know it. Ethnic origins can be a risk factor in the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X factors.

Age is not a barrier for improvement of the metabolic syndrome/syndrome X factors. Living a sedentary lifestyle is the worst enemy for the individual who has it. Improvement is possible at any age starting with the diet. Losing those extra pounds is at the top of the list. Eating properly by including 5 fruits and at least 4 vegetables is a must. Red meat should be eaten only once or twice a month. Eat fish and chicken instead. Cut out saturated fats and reduce the portions you eat. A portion of fruits and vegetables are equal to one cup. A portion of fish, chicken or meat should be approximately the size of your hand.

In conjunction with diet improvement, the next step is to do away with your sedentary lifestyle. Finding and instituting an exercise program that you can live with is a must. Not only a must, but also a requirement. There are many suggestions you will hear about on exercising. Some will say, at least an hour 3 times weekly, or one half hour 5 times weekly. This goes on and on, with nothing definitive settled.

I have found that an exercise program that will give you a non-impact, total body workout that can be done in 15 to 20 minutes on a daily basis will totally help your physical condition. In addition, start moving more. Walk to near by shops, banks, etc., instead of driving. Walk and up down stairs whenever it is possible. If you live on a high floor, take the elevator up to the floor below and then walk up the rest of the way. Increase this slowly until reaching your limit. Reverse this procedure for going down. Do not sit for long periods at a time. Get up and move around, don’t stagnant. DONT BE A “COUCH POTATO”!

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Gift Baskets Make A Great Gift For Those Hard To Buy For

Sometimes, finding the just the right gift for someone can seem an impossible task. It may be that the person you’re shopping for is one of those people who “has everything,” or it may be that you’re shopping for someone that you don’t know very well. It can be difficult at times to find just the right birthday present for that cousin you don’t see very often, or to find an appropriate hostess gift for acquaintance who is throwing a holiday party.

No need to fret! You don’t need to worry at all about finding a gift that’s perfect for just about any occasion. Gift baskets are perfect for filling that spot when you just aren’t sure what’s right, be it for family or friends. Whatever the occasion, from baby shower to Christmas to anything in between, a beautiful basket is a great way to show you were thinking of them.

Gift Baskets for Your Friends

Oftentimes, finding a gift for a friend or acquaintance can be difficult simply because you may not know enough about the person to pick out a gift that they will truly love. However, if you’ve spent time with the person, you surely have picked up clues on their likes and activities.

A basket full of little things that speak to their favorite pastimes is a great way to show how much their friendship means to you. If you have favorite activities that you share together, absolutely include gifts that refer to those activities. For example, if you and your friend enjoy old movies, one with some favorite movies on DVD, a tin of gourmet popcorn and a bottle of wine would make a lovely and thoughtful gift. There are endless possibilities, and that’s what makes a these such a truly unique present.

Gift Baskets for Family Members

Gift baskets for family members are very similar to what you might make for friends, however, often for family you can include items that are of a more personal and intimate nature. A gift for a close family member would of course be more personal than one you might make for a friend or for a less closely related family member.

Generally though, we think of family as deserving the very best from us. There are many things you can include in a family arrangement other than things you’ve bought. An album of family pictures or a collection of family memorabilia make wonderful additions. It’s always fun to include things that you and your family member might remember from childhood, like baseball cards or packs of a favorite candy. Sometimes these little things that you might include can mean more to a family member than any big expensive gift.

So you can see that shopping for holidays or birthday gifts doesn’t have to as difficult as you might think. A little bit of your time and thoughtfulness can create a gift basket that will be special for any friend or family member. Whether the gift basket will include a few larger, more expensive gifts or several smaller gifts really depends upon your relationship and what you know about the person who is receiving the gift.

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Ideal Wedding Favors That Fit Your Dream Wedding

With so many major things you need to seriously consider, planning a wedding is not always easy. Fortunately, finding and purchasing the ideal wedding favors that fit your dream wedding is relatively easy and won’t really stress you out.

Wedding favors are like giveaways from children parties. They are traditionally given as tokens of appreciation and little thank you gifts for the guests who shared their precious time to help make the occasion complete.

By giving out wedding favors, you are providing your guests something that will keep reminded of your wedding day. These souvenirs are meant to not only thank the guests, but to commemorate a very special occasion as well. Although these little pieces need not be complicated, but there are some factors you need to take into account before you start shopping.

First thing first. Before shopping wedding favors, you need to consider the theme of your wedding. But if there’s none, then think of its totality or the type of the wedding itself. Many of today’s wedding follows different themes, and also give out matching themed wedding favors. There are plenty beach themed favors for couples who opt to get married at beach, and other seasonal themed favors for other season themed weddings. Also, there are individual themed weddings that calls for matching themed wedding favors. For example, if you opt to go Gothic, you have to find wedding favors that specialize on Gothics. Or, if you want to show off your love for environment, then green themed wedding favors are best for you, such as little potted plants, seed packets and the likes.

Traditional favors such as candles and edibles are something that never get outdated. These are actually practical suggestions for these day’s weddings. Since planning a wedding these can be very expensive, candles and edible treats can make an inexpensive option. Such favors can be either purchased or homemade. If you wish to save money on your wedding, making your own wedding favors is a wise idea. You can purchase several individual soaps out there, melt them down and mold them using shaped molders, of your choice. Package them with nice netting and matching ribbons. You can then add a personal touch by including tags you have printed using your computer and printer.

Alternatively, edible treat are also a delightful way of saying thank you to your guests. You can also make your edible favors at home. Among the most popular tasty treats you can make or assemble at home are jams, cookies, chocolates, candies, mints, Jordan almonds, wine, cocktail mixes, coffees and teas. You can use favor bags or boxes to package your chosen edibles, with style. Edible favors are probably the most easiest souvenirs you can make yourself.

Wedding favors are among the most creative details of your wedding. However, if taken lightly, they can break instead of make your wedding. Find some ideas online. There are plenty of online stores these days that offer different wedding supplies you need for your big day, from favors and other reception accessories, wedding gifts for groomsmen and bridesmaids to other things related to weddings.

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Luxury Packages Still Strong in Riviera Travel Industry

Despite the uncertain economic climate, there is still a strong appeal among well-to-do travelers for vacation packages that provide uncompromising luxury and style. This can be noted in the demand for luxury accommodations on round-the-world cruises, the appearance of new airlines specializing in Business Class and First Class seating and the occupancy rates of luxury hotels all over the world. So it’s not surprising that the South of France, a destination associated with travel elegance since the mid-1800′s, should remain popular with travel epicureans.

“Our bookings were very solid last year and we see the same strength in 2008,” observed Cecile Carletti, responsible for sales at the exclusive Chateau de la Chevre d’Or in Eze, France. The hotel and restaurant which has two Michelin stars and offers breath taking views of the Mediterranean Sea has three restaurants and each of its rooms and suites are individually decorated in fine, antique furniture. When asked about the weakness of the dollar against the euro Ms. Carletti shrugs her well tanned shoulders and replies, “Yes, we are aware of it of course but our guests don’t appear to be greatly affected.” Nor do the guests at another French Riviera landmark, the famous Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes.

Built in 1911, the Carlton is a historic monument of Belle Époque design and construction and was the backdrop for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 classic movie “To Catch a Thief” with Cary Grant and the soon to be Princess Grace of Monaco. But if the luxury hotels are crowded and the top restaurants all have long waiting lists, how can discriminating travelers organize their vacation in the South of France? To serve these demanding visitors, companies like Luxury Riviera Travel have pulled together special tours. These tours are usually limited to a small number of travelers and feature four star hotel accommodations.

For example, luxury tours generally feature basic programs that can be adapted to meet the needs and wants of its customers. These packages range from a gastronomic tour of Provence with stops in Michelin star properties and specially organized cooking classes by award winning chefs to packages that rent luxury yachts for a week and combines this with private on-shore visits to key points of interest. All the travelers’ needs are taken care of before they leave the States. Some programs are so all-inclusive that they include not only the top rooms in the top hotels, gourmet meals in Michelin restaurants that with drinks and wine but also private driver/guides that assure all ground transportation and excursions in luxury air-conditioned vehicles.

Another major advantage of ‘super deluxe’ packages is that clients are treated as V.I.P. guests in each property. There is no language problem and, as many packages are paid in advance in U.S. dollars, no hassle over exchange rates. However, should any problems arrive it’s good to select a travel packager that is on the spot and can immediately resolve any issues without having to call the States for instructions.

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Countertop Controversies - Carrying the Weight of Your Heaviest Kitchen Decision on Your Overburdene

Are you thinking about enrolling in a 12 Step Granite Recovery program? Know every granite pattern by first and last name? Memorized every vein? Color? Distributor? Froze your way through “slab walks” in unheated warehouses searching for one that spoke to you? Toured kitchen showrooms, city-wide house tours and realtor open houses looking for the very best the earth’s quarries have to offer?

You’re not alone. We have become a nation addicted to granite for our kitchen countertops. Real estate ads will boast of “stainless appliances and granite counters”; shelter magazines will give descriptions of the granite’s exact name (in a language we do not recognize); and designers will talk about it ad nauseam as if the very integrity of your kitchen depended on a heavily-granited presence.

Whatever happened to old-fashioned soapstone? Or limestone? Marble? And how does those humblest of countertop materials-tile and wood-work? Where does concrete fit into the countertop controversy? Or silestone? And where did the name Caesar Stone come from? (Could that be Caesar Augustus?) And what’s with Zodiaq with a “q”?

If you are in the middle of a kitchen remodeling job, you will undoubtedly find yourself smack dab in the middle of the countertop controversy for at least a few weeks before you make your final decision. You’ll be frantically calling every slab dealer in your state; have nightmares of spilt red wine on the Carrera marble you envision; toss and turn over the image of toddler’s climbing to snitch forbidden cookies onto your newly-installed limestone; and whig out at the thought of trying-to-be-helpful dinner guests chopping vegetables-without that necessary bamboo cutting board resting comfortably underneath those organic carrots-which set on top of your easily-scratched soapstone.

Selecting countertops for your kitchen will be the heaviest decision you’ll make for this room. And you’ll carry it on your overburdened shoulders until installation day…and beyond. Here’s the skinny on what you really need to consider:

Who will be working the room? You? Your spouse? Housekeeper? Teenage football player son? Grandmother? Personal chef? How much does this person know about the proper care and feeding of countertops?

Are you-or that special someone managing your kitchen-careful about chopping? Or do you generally forget to pull out the cutting board? Will those accidental scratches make you insanev Do you enjoy rolling out homemade dough? Like the idea of pressing butter-laden phyllo onto your countertop surface? Or will that oily stain drive you nuts?

Do you enjoy maintenance projects? Find the weekend ritual of cleaning and oiling your countertops to be particularly soothing? Or does the thought of adding mineral oil to preserve your soapstone inspire you to jog to the nearest laminate dealer?

Are you a color bug? Gotta have grey limestone to coordinate with that luscious Provence gold? Or cannot live without the thought of green?

Are you accident prone? Always breaking a glass full of red wine on the way to the sink? Like to catch falling knives for the thrill of it?

Your countertops will take a beating. They will support stuff and help you organize stuff. They will give you a surface on which to chop, wrap, measure and serve food. Think about your daily routines in your kitchen. And how you want to best nourish the stomachs and souls of those whom you serve there. And then release the weight of this decision onto the cabinets that will support them. Controversy over.