Archives: 2008 November

Wouldn’t you just love to get away to the perfect vacation spot? That spot just may be Benidorm, Spain.

Benidorm is the jewel of the Costa Blanca. It is near to Alicante Airport and to Altea and is within a short drive of Calpe, Javea and Denia. Get a rental car; you will enjoy driving through the whole Costa Blanca region because there is so much to see and do.

What makes Benidorm the perfect vacation spot? First of all is the climate: The region is surrounded by mountains so the winds and temperatures are moderate year round. You can spend the days soaking up the sun at the beach, or go to the mountains for some outdoor adventures, such as rock climbing or hiking.

Benidorm has two main beaches: The Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante. The latter is considered to be the quieter of the two, something to keep in mind in peak season.

If you prefer a little more activity, visit one of the area’s many theme parks. While there are many of these, Benidorm’s most popular are the Aqualandia water park, Mundomar and Terra Mitica. Your whole family, young and old, will have a great time on the rides and attractions here.

Golf enthusiasts will enjoy Bonalba Golf Club, the Bosque Golf and Country Club and the Alicante Golf Club. These are just a small sample of the great golf courses available. There are many others to discover.

The decision to get a backpacking trip overseas is a big one, and you are in for an amazing adventure. Backpacking in Europe or other external lands, with their ancient pasts, often brings surprises and breathtaking experiences. If you are fairly new to traveling overseas then there are some things you should be alert of so you can have a complete trip. The following list outlines some of the best advice for traveling abroad.

Experience applicable local and national laws. Make sure you understand the local laws and customs. This is important because the last thing you want is problem. There are places you can and cannot go. If there is any question, check with local bureaus. Many area require a license.

Have your papers in order. Make sure you have everything you need to travel overseas and get into the destination country. You should check with both countries to find out all of your paperwork is in order. Note that Americans require passports for Canada and Mexico visits now.

Make sure your map is up to date. You should check to make sure the map you are taking is up-to-date. You do not want to plan a backpacking trip in an area that has lately been converted from wild to a shopping at center.

Keep your family in the loop. Just as you would when backpacking at home, you need to fill in your family on all your plans. This is even more important when traveling. You never know what can happen and nobody there is going to realize you may be in trouble.

I’ve got to say I love the Holidays. The warm feeling of love that surrounds us all. The wonderful aroma of holiday food. The bright colors and decorations.

I also love to give and receive gifts. Do you ever wonder how the gift giving tradition started. There are many theories. Here are a few.

At some time in our ancient past, friends exchanged evergreen twigs and dried fruits as wishes for continuation and abundance of life in the coming year. Romans exchanged gifts at winter solstice as expressions of brotherhood and affection, giving coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one’s journey through life.

Santa Claus, evolved from St. Nicholas, an actual person who distributed his wealth to the needy through the giving of secret gifts. During the fourth century St. Nicholas had a reputation for his generosity and kindness, especially toward children. He was known for giving treats and small presents to them. St. Nicholas has evolved into the Santa Claus of today.

In our Christian culture, the giving of gifts at Christmas is said to symbolize the gifts the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus. The wise men brought three gifts with them to honor Jesus, which had prophetic meaning. Gold- a gift for a king, Incense- a gift for a priest and Myrrh- a burial ointment for one who would die