Peace, sport and rock-n-roll!

From sustainable means of transport, to local breweries, from flea markets, to jazz club, this article has been useful to many backpackers heading to Berlin! First of all we start suggesting other very useful tools (magazine) you need to get once in town: the 030 or the Zitty, Tip, Prinz or the main English language paper, the ExBerliner.
A funny way to cherish the urban life, as a citizen would do, is renting a bike. And don't worry, cycling in this City is a pleasure! For about 15Ђ per day or 50Ђ per week you can rent your bike at Berlin-by-bike in many Fahrradstation centres spreading all over Berlin. Visit the website of Fahrradstation or go to: Hackesche Hofe, Hof 7; Mon-Fri 8am-8pm; Sat and Sun 10 am-4pm; ph +49 (030) 28384848; or in Auguststr. 29A (Mitte) from Mon-Fri 8 am-8pm; Sat and Sun 10 am-4pm; ph +49 (030) 2859 9661; or in Leipziger Str. 56, from Mon- Fri 8 am-8 pm; Sat and Sun from 10am to 4pm; ph:+39 (030) 666 49 180; or at Bergmanstr. 9, Kreuzberg from Mon- Fri 8am-8pm; Sat and Sun from 10 am-4pm; ph +49 (030) 21515 66).
If you like the idea, you can count also on the silver CallBikes (+49/ 0700/ 05 22 55 22) available in different corners of the cities. Basically you can take the bike and leave it in every corner of the city simply using your mobile phone to connect to the central booking system! For as cheap as 0,06Ђ per minute or 15Ђ per day, all you need to do is call the company, give them credit card details and get a code to unlock the padlock. Better if you pre-register one week in advance. Then get cycling maps, information and assistance at Das Radlerzentrum (ADFC: Brunnenstrasse 28; ph: +49 (030) 448 4724; Mon- Fri 1200-8pm and Sat10am-4pm). With your bike now you can really reach every corner of West and East Berlin.
In springtime a good place to be is the Tiergarten Park. Get a beer at Cafй am Neuen See, a Bavarian beer house: it's the ideal place to cool down with fresh beverages and small appetizers close to the pond. You can also indulge on boat trips, for a romantic afternoon. (Lichtensteinallee, 2; ph. +49 (0) 30 254 4930; all days 10am-1pm). To end the light meal with something sweet, get a special cake at the park Cafй Buchwald, since 1852 an institution! (Bartningallee, 29; ph.+49 (0)30 391 5931; all days Mar-Oct 11am-11pm; Nov-Feb 11am-6.30pm)
For vintage second hand shopping don't miss the Flohmarkt am Ankonaplatz where you can get anything from 60's and 70's. (Prenzlauer Berg: U-Bahn Bernauer Strasse; Sun 11am-6pm) or the Flohmarkt Schцnenberg, right in front of the homonym Municipal hall (U- Bahn Rathaus Schцnenberg; Sat-Sun 8am-4pm).
If USSR still plays a role in your imagination, you'd better go to the small, students-run market at Boxhagener Platz (Friedrichshain; U/S Bahn Warschauer Str.; Sun 9am-4pm).
The evening is best spent in a Jazz club. Have a look at the berlinjazz where you can surely find a list of popular spots. Quasimodo is renowned among jazz lovers for sessions of jazz, blues, folk, funk, soul. You find it in KantstraЯe, 12 in Charlottenburg. Or at Quasimodo. It is open daily from 9pm; live music from 10pm.
If you want to combine dinner and music then you have to try Soultrane, the elegant side house of the A Trane: after dinner, first class jazz is being served. (Stilwerk, KantstraЯe 17, Charlottenburg; ph: +40 (0) 30 315 18 60).

I lived in Germany for five years, many moons ago, and as a result had the opportunity to travel around Europe quite a bit, visit lots of places, learn a little of three languages and have lots of fond memories. But since those golden days of yore I have been back twice with my fiancйe for a three week trip and one 18 day'er.

The first was completely planned with reservations for each night and was high intensity, high stress covering six countries and nearly 1800 miles. How else can you cover all the bases? Actually you can't and do it any justice at all.

And my friends that is lesson number one. For any trip to Europe lasting less than 3-4 months decide ahead of time and agree that you cannot see it all. There is so much not just the big cities but the countryside and small towns. That is where the heart of the country lies. You have to set priorities on what you want to see and stick to it. This requires quite a bit of advance planning on your part-or if you trust someone else a "Travel Agent".

And that is lesson number two.Find a travel agent who you can trust-one who's been there many times. Unless you have been to the country before you cannot possibly know all the nuances of foreign travel. Depending on your personality consider doing a tour first. Self guided trips to a foreign country can be very stressful and will perhaps ruin the trip

Lesson number three-Make an attempt to speak the local language. Even in France (with one exception) the locals appreciate you trying to speak the language. Depending on where you go for example most Beneulux countries, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and even northern Italy you can get by with German-and truth be told English if all else fails. But the locals really appreciate the effort and you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Lesson number four-Contrary to an international myth there are speed limits in Europe so watch the signs.

Lesson number five-Room sizes like bathrooms and bedrooms are without exception considerably smaller than what you are used to. So if you tend to be claustrophobic-beware. Also mealtimes are generally different from ours especially in Italy and France. The normal safety precautions should be taken for your room with a alarm door stop or a keep i for added security. Thieves live in Europe too.

Lesson number six-For the really adventurous forget all of the above and just wing it. There is no better thrill in traveling, to my way of thinking, than being able to turn left off the autostrada to go to Venice just because you feel like it.

Traveling to Europe requires much planning and careful preparation. Having a good travel agent that has been to Europe many times is almost an absolute necessity for a self guided tour. If you are with a group you needn't worry so much. But the most fun of all is doing it on your own without an itinerary.

If you're going to Europe, and planning on traveling, rather than staying in the one place for the duration of your vacation, and you don't want to spend a fortune, there's two or three alternative ways that you can travel throughout the continent.

The first option would be to take what you might call the "traditional" budget alternative, which would generally be backpacking and traveling by train. Nothing wrong with that at all, and by using a pass on the trains (known as a Eurailpass, and available in the USA from http://www.raileurope.com/eurorail/index.htm) you can certainly reduce your spending, whilst journeying widely throughout many countries.

There are, however, a couple of down sides to this traditional "budget" planning.

First, whilst it can often be exhilarating and exciting to meet and travel with strangers on a train, equally, sometimes, it's nice to have your own space to enjoy the journey, on your own.

Secondly, by definition, trains can only take you as far as the railway station, and railway stations are not always placed where you want them to be placed. In other words, if you have definite "target" places that you want to see, then you might end up having to take a train, then a bus or taxi (for who knows what distances) before arriving at your destination. This shouldn't be a problem if the place you so desperately want to visit is in the city, but what if it not?

And, of course, trains run to their timetable, not yours!

An alterative to trains are planes. Flying within Europe is now extremely cheap, and can be reasonably convenient, especially if you are visiting a country that it widely geared up for tourism.

For example, right now, it is possible to fly from the UK to beautiful Salzburg in Austria for GBP19 one way (approximately 35) or to Istanbul in Turkey for GBP31. See http://www.easyjet.com or http://www.ryanair.com for more information on availability of flights and fares.

Budget flying, however, carries with it many of the disadvantages of the trains - crammed into small seats next to someone you have never met before, the inevitable delays and so on.

So, here's my suggestion. If you are lucky enough to be planning an extended European adventure, (at least one month) then make it a real adventure of which you are in total control.

Travel by car. Then, you can go exactly where you want, when you want, you can choose your own company, and, basically, you're the boss. Maybe you are now thinking, nothing so revolutionary in that, car hire is not exactly a new idea, is it?

No,. it isn't, but I'm not suggesting that you use Hertz, Avis or any of the other global car rental companies.

I'm suggesting that you do what I did some years ago for a three month tour of Europe.

BUY a car - a used model, something relatively cheap that you can then resell at a later date, before you fly home. Make sure that it's a fairly basic model, something that is widely available throughout Europe (so that any required spare parts will be cheap and plentiful) and that it's mechanically straightforward - no turbochargers or superchargers - so that if anything does go wrong with it on your travels, repairs will be simple (i.e. inexpensive) as well.

In my case, I traveled to Europe, bought an estate car (a station wagon) in France for 750, drove some 10,000kms throughout France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and so on, and sold it for 650 three months later. Apart from a couple of minor repairs (a new battery) and the cost of the gasoline, I lost exactly 100 on the deal.

In the meantime, I had gone exactly where I wanted, when I wanted and done exactly what I wanted to when I got there! Truly, the freedom of the open road!

Yes, it was travel on a budget, but it was definitely not what I would think of as budget travel! To read more, http://webbiz99.com/eurotravel/index.php

Entertainment Coupon Book 2006 is a book with discount coupons that makes your life easier while you go for shopping, travel at different places, or go out for dining. You may think when we can buy any thing on the spot why to go for these discount coupons? Discount coupons bring you lot of savings on all your purchases and entertainment too while you go to hotels, movies, casinos etc.

Usually Entertainment discount coupon book is the easiest way to have these coupons but you can also purchase them through advertisement or borrow or even print them by downloading from the internet. You can also organize these coupons with the help of a coupon organizer where you can sort them as per genre or expiry date. Once you have the coupon you have to just present it before the concerned business and you could avail 15% to 20% discount margin. But you should check the availability of the coupons for the products you want to buy later.

Usually you can sit while you are free or watching movies and organize these coupons as per your needs and you don't need to waste extra time when you buy these discount coupons. Even if it happen that some coupons are expired you should keep it with them so that later if there is any sale or product clearance you can use them off.

There is an Entertainment book fundraiser that helps charitable organizations or other institutions to raise money for a noble cause from the fundraisers. Most of the coupons in the discount book are advertised after reviewing and recommendations from charitable organizations.

Visit our website entertainment-coupon-book-2006.info

Just to start, we can mention the Prague SPRING International Music Festival that is generally considered the most important music event in Prague. Everything started in 1948, so forth this year the Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary! Worthless to say, the program offer is incredible huge, including nearly 50 performances and social events among Opera and Symphony orchestras, instrumental and chamber music.
The Prague SPRING International Music Festival will take place from Monday 12 May to Wednesday 4 June for nearly one month of music and entertainment!!
The first venue will be conducted by the BRNO Philharmonic directed by Petr Altrichter whilst the Festival will end with the Budapest Festival Orchestra. All theatres of Prague will host alternatively performances, concerts and theatre venues.
To get a complete and detailed program of what you are going to listen and see, you can visit the event web site: festival.cz. This year, it has been introduced the new service M-TICKET for ticket sales by mobile phone. Visit Ticketpro.cz
For accommodations in Prague, there are many possibilities for many budgets! Worthless to say, online is very easy to find all kind of accommodations you might require. In general it depends on the number of people you are travelling with. A recent trend is to book apartments and Prague apartments owners are becoming very professional either on the selling methods, either in the offered comforts, services and atmosphere. They are usually very well refurbished, and newly appointed with colours and modern furniture. There are a few that we could recommend located all thru Prague historical centre and at very good rates.
Apartments Magicka Zahrada ( magic Garden) from 62 euros for a very nice atmosphere, Ikea style, so to say. Or the Old Town Apartment House, Hotel Apartments Wenceslas Square, Amazing Prague Apartments or some guest houses or pensions that can be quite comfy for families or small groups, like the pension Prague City, Euro Guest House or the travel Club Prague in a residential area of the city of Prague.

San Diego is one interesting area that should not be missed by visitors when going to California. This second largest city in California is a coastal area with long stretches of beaches and a mild climate. It lies north of the border with Mexico and is home to 16 military facilities such as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps.
San Diego has so much to offer visitors in terms of exciting tourist spots. Some of the popular places to visit there include the San Diego Zoo, Seaworld and Universal Studios. So what better way to tour this eighth largest U.S. city with the most convenience than to rent a van. Whether you're a couple, with a group of friends or with the whole family, vans make a perfect vehicle to go around the city. Various van rental agencies abound in San Diego that offer different types of vans ranging from the full size vans, 12-passenger vans and 15-passenger vans.
5 Star Rent-A-Van is a trusted van rental company in the Southern California region covering San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles County. In fact, it is one of the largest rental firms in Southern California. Since 1996, this family owned firm has provided travelers with excellent, friendly and personalized service to meet their needs. High quality vans and service are the trademarks of 5 Star Rent-A-Van. Sales representatives are very friendly while the vehicular staff can readily answer your queries concerning the technical aspect of the vehicles.
This San Diego Van Rental agency has quality vans for local and foreign clients. It has more than 50 vehicles including Ford, Dodge and GMC vans that guarantee a good running condition for travelers wherever they wish to go. Take note also that every vehicle for rent is considered a top of the line model so customers are guaranteed a smooth trip all the time. Most of 5 Star's vans can accommodate 15 people but the seats are removable if cargo requires more space.
As for its rates, they are actually very competitive because even students and budget travelers can well afford to rent this 5 Star's vans. Major credit cards are accepted but upon return of the van, renters may opt to pay in cash, check or credit card.
5 Star Rent-A-Van always makes sure that the needs of its customers are met for their full satisfaction. For travelers with driving licenses, they can just rent vans from 5 Star and tour San Diego, Orange County or L.A. by themselves. But for new visitors, they can opt to rent vans with drivers for a more memorable and comfortable trip. They can even avail of airport shuttle service vans upon their arrival should they so desire.
Another good news is that travelers wanting to avail of 5 Star Rent-A-Van vehicles can already book online in the comfort of their home or office. This makes the firm one of the few rental firms to use automated booking for their clients. Just visit www.5StarVans.com to book a van and there's absolutely no need to call.
So what are you waiting for? Enjoy your most comfortable trip in Southern California using vans from 5 Star Rent-A-Van.

With all the beaches to choose from on the two, long 100-mile shorelines of Eleuthera, which ones stand out and why? You have a choice of among 50 or so, and unless you are planning on spending three to six months on the island exploring all of the pock-marked rough roads that take you to each of the hidden beaches then you'll want to know which ones to make sure you get to. Here is a list of the beaches that are the "must-sees" during your week in paradise.

#5 Twin Bay (Rainbow Bay Subdivision) - these two charming beaches win the contest hands down for the most romantic. Set below a cliff, Twin Bay offers two cozy cave beaches with space so intimate that they're really only suitable for one couple lest you invade on another's privacy. You need to get up early to claim this beach first. Both beaches are side by side on the Atlantic side and are reached by climbing down a set of rock stairs carved out of a fallen boulder. They each offer shade in the sandy cave, some sun by the water's edge, and a lot of wave action due to the nearby breaker. It is possible to have a strong current. In high tides they will flood so be prepared in case the water levels rise. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch and grab a bottle of wine to enjoy the full day at these amazing little beaches.

Pluses: Seclusion, shade, interesting terrain due to the caves, good waves.

Minuses: They may already be occupied, strong current, not a lot of sun, a steep climb down rocky stairs.

#4 Ten Bay (Ten Bay Subdivision) - with only one private home on the beach and with Ѕ mile of gorgeous pink sand, Ten Bay has become a favorite for everyone, young and old alike. It offers a spectacular unobstructed view onto the horizon for picturesque sunsets. The landscape is dotted with tall palm and casuarina trees for shade especially around the middle of the beach. The water is usually very serene and quite shallow with no current. This is a good beach for sunning, wading, snorkeling, and bonefishing. This is an excellent beach for toddlers because of the soft cool sand and shallow waters. It tends to be more popular so you are likely to see a few visitors on the beach from time to time. It is also a good strolling beach, and there is usually an abundance of conch shells at its northern end.

Pluses: Sunsets, extremely clean, shallow calm water, good snorkeling around the sides of the bay, lots of sun, shelling.

Minuses: Other people on the beach, no waves, shallow water.

#3 Double Bay (Double Bay Subdivision) - this beach has it all and is one of the great wide Atlantic beaches of Eleuthera. Private houses are spread far and wide up its 2 mile coastline and they are largely hidden by dunes, and lush vegetation. The beach is quite wide by Eleutheran standards with plenty of sand between the dunes and the sea. A pretty landscape is dotted by several small cays, and the southern shore juts out convincingly separating Double Bay from Savannah Sound. The sand is firm and offers a great walk due to its length. There are small pockets of reef to snorkel on and at the southern end of the beach are two shipwrecks, one partially visible, and the second larger one much further out from shore offering a more daring snorkel and spear fishing. The water is delightful, and this is an excellent swimming spot due to how quickly it gets deep. This beach has awesome ambient sound as the small waves crashing to shore offer a delightful tone to complement the magnificent view.

Pluses: Swimming, lots of beach, shipwrecks for snorkeling, interesting landscape, good walking or running, easy roads and easy access.
Minuses: Very little shade, few access spots, many private houses, ship debris.

#2 Jack's Bay (near Cotton Bay) - a very pristine spot with very few houses. Because of its remoteness you are likely to have this beach to yourself. It is a sandy half moon bay on the Atlantic, which is protected by a strong breaker at the mouth of the bay. This has the benefit of providing great crashing waves that you can see and hear offshore while providing a protected swimming area close to shore. There is lots of sun and little shade on this beach. Snorkeling can be done along the northern shoreline, although the tides can make this quite shallow. The water in the bay tends to be shallow and calm due to how well protected it is. There are lots of baby conchs in the grassy areas off of the shoreline.

Pluses: Calm protected waters, wave sound at bay entrance, pretty half moon shape.

Minuses: Little shade, no waves, few shells, some debris, bumpy access road.

#1 Lighthouse Beach (Lighthouse Sound) - few beaches match the raw beauty of what is found at the Lighthouse. With large beaches on both the Caribbean and Atlantic separated by a natural limestone outcropping that can be climbed to where the old Lighthouse still stands, these beaches offer everything a vacationer could hope for including breathtaking panoramic views, interesting limestone caves, miles and miles of pristine beaches, and fabulous swimming on both sides and in both oceans. It is possible to swim from the Atlantic to the Caribbean using the channel that runs between the rocks and feel the power or two seas colliding. The best reefs are far offshore for snorkeling and currents can run strong where the oceans meet so be careful. Bring a kayak to reach the best offshore snorkeling spots.

Pluses: Elevated views, two beaches, two oceans, miles of sand and water, good snorkeling offshore, lots of shady spots, lots of sunny spots.

Minuses: Difficult to reach and rough road, no civilization nearby, likely to have other tourists because of its unique characteristics.

Honorable Mention
Papaw Bay, Winding Bay, Deep Creek, Club Med, Savannah Sound, Airport Beach, Rainbow Bay, Windermere Island (private).

Electric scooters are a surprisingly effective means of getting from A to B. Cheaper than a car or a motorbike, easier than a bicycle or roller-blades, they fill a need and they fill it well.

Essentially, scooters are mini-motorcycles with smaller engines. Historically, they have been petrol-powered, but the new generation of electric scooters has brought many advantages. Electric scooters are much less noisy than any other kind of motorcycle, and they require no fuel apart from being plugged in to the mains electricity. They don't pollute, and generally need far less maintenance.

Of course, the real reason that many people ride electric scooters is that they are cheap, and you often don't need a driving license to use one. These are such big upsides that people feel able to ignore the low speeds and distances that scooters can manage, seeing the scooter as a superior form of bicycle instead of an inferior form of motorbike. They are especially popular in Asia, where people have long travelled by bike in much greater numbers than in the rest of the world.

Scooters are often considered to be safer than motorbikes, as they don't go as fast and don't have so many moving parts exposed, and your feet can be safely tucked inside the bike. While they used to be considered quite dorky for this reason, modern scooters are often more than a match for motorbikes in terms of design and style. Still, scooter riders can feel unusual and excluded, and for this reason there are many scooter clubs around for scooter owners to join and meet each other. These clubs often hold events like races and cross-country rides, and are generally much more active than you would expect. While many will have retro or classic scooters, you will be more than welcome with a modern one, so why not go along?

If you'll be traveling to Europe this year, and especially if you are staying in a villa or apartment rental while doing so, it's likely that you'll notice some differences between European living and the typical "American" approach to life.

One of the biggest differences in regards to living space is energy conservation. In brief, Europeans are much more energy conscious than Americans. For example: here at Rentvillas.com, we often receive phone calls from distressed managers when their American visitors blow circuits on a daily basis. Other calls come from villa owners who return home to find that their American renters have left all of the outdoor lights turned on!

These are just small indicators of a lifestyle that is much more energy conscious than most Americans are accustomed to. In some cases, energy use is controlled by the provincial government, such as the start and end date for heating in the winter, but conservation of energy in Europe goes beyond simple regulation. Efficient energy use has become a cultural norm in Europe, perhaps because costs for gas, electricity, and water are much higher than they are in the US. Energy costs are not negligible, which means that Europeans remain conscious that every kilowatt is costing them money. A light left on in an empty room or a heater left running while the occupants are out of the house is simply a costly waste. And when you think about it, shouldn't we all feel this way?

Americans traveling to Europe should consider the repercussions of the energy-conscious mentality, because it often has a direct impact on their trip. For instance, if it is an unseasonably cold year, villa renters may have to request extra blankets and procure wood for the fireplace if the owner has not yet turned the heat on (generally from November 1 - April 15th). In the case of an especially warm season, European villa and apartment renters should not assume that all properties are equipped with air conditioning, even in higher-end accommodations. Air conditioning consumes a great deal of energy, and is therefore less commonly found.

How should Americans deal with these differences? As with all cultural differences, visitors should try to be courteous and creative about finding alternatives. Here are a few suggestions.

When in Rome, do as the Romans. When in Thailand, do as the Thaпs do. Nothing will endear you more to the local people in Thailand is knowing how to eat like they do.
This is something very simple but goes a long way in making friends in a foreign country. And since eating is the national sport of Thailand, doing it the right way will help you in fitting right in.
Most Thai meals consist of meat, rice and vegetables. I know this is a generalization but I am talking about most of the meals. For meals like this you will only be given two utensils, a spoon and a fork. There are also fried noodle dishes that are also eaten with spoon and fork.
The spoon is used to eat with and the fork is basically a shovel used to push food on the spoon. The meat will cut in bite size pieces so there is no need for a knife. Once you get used to it, it is a very easy way of eating.
A knife is only needed if you order something like a steak or have some bread that needs buttering. But, this is not Thai food.
Chopsticks are primarily used when eating soup. One of the Thai staples is noodle soup called gwet-ee-ow (your phonetics may differ from mine). This soup can be found on almost every corner in Thailand. It comes with a variety of vegetables, different sized noodles, and different meats. There will be different condiments that can be added; hot chili peppers, crushed peanuts, sugar, vinegar and more. The best thing to do is to add a little and give it a taste and see what else needs to be added. Of course, a spoon is also used to sample the broth.
You can also get back to basics and enjoy some Thai food with no utensils at all. You can call it Thai finger food. Sticky rice, fruits, and vegetables are sometimes easier to eat just by using your fingers. Your girl may peel, break, or share a bite with you and all she will use are her fingers and her teeth. It may not be the most sanitary, but it is delicious and a lot of fun.
And, if you are really brave, you can sample some of the Isaan, or northeast, snacks. You will see many bug carts in Bangkok and Pattaya displaying crickets, ants, beetles, silkworms and other delicacies. If you can down these, you will endear yourself to your Isaan friends forever.
So, as you can see, there are just a few things to learn to eat like the Thaпs do. Eat the local food and do it in the proper way and you will enjoy your holiday all the more.