My Skiing Vacation To Europe

Around a year ago, I went on a skiing vacation to France and had a great time by all accounts. The best part was that I went with all my friends, all of which had varied abilities, but were all eager to give it a go. Some of my friends compete in competitions and the like, whilst others have only been on the slopes a few times in their life. The fact is that we were all really looking forward to it, and we were all sure to enjoy ourselves whilst we were away. Unfortunately, we dont spend much time together, as we all go to different colleges, whilst others are trying to make it through the rat race.

When we decided to book the holiday I was delighted to hear that everybody was able to make it, and that everyone had promised to save up enough money to really enjoy themselves while we were away. The cost of booking the holiday worked out at around $300 for accommodation for the week as we were going to be staying at a backpackers location, and it was only going to cost $150 for return flights. We really felt like we had struck a bargain, and we were even more delighted when we heard that the cost of living would be really cheap when we got there. We had decided to save up $1000 each, which meant that we would have more than enough spending money for when we arrived.

I have to say, I never quite expected Europe to be such an excellent skiing destination for people like us with mixed abilities. Sure, there are the Alps, but I thought these were only the playground of the expert skiers. How wrong I was! There are simply loads of different places in Europe you can go, regardless of your skiing ability, and youre almost guaranteed to have a great time. Also, the facilities right on the resorts are out of this world. It really is a great place to go skiing.

We arrived in France, and we were firstly shocked at how laid-back it all seemed. It was some surrealist painting, except in motion, with strange, stereotypically French characters passing by. Regardless of this initial culture shock, we soon got our skis on and experienced the awesome slopes for ourselves. Trust me – France is a great place to go skiing with your friends, and a great place to go on a vacation if youre looking to have a good time.

We chose France for our vacation, but there are loads of great European ski resorts, and in fact, some people even say that Europe is the home of the sport, and it is easy to see why. If youre looking for a great time, go for Europe, to experience a wholly different way of life, and skiing that is simply second to none. Check out your travel agent for good deals, and remember that the more flexible you are, the cheaper your holiday. By booking up the flights at the last minute, you can end up saving loads with some of the budget airlines, and by being totally flexible, you can avoid peak times, which means you can avoid peak prices. Your vacation in Europe doesnt have to cost the earth, but it can be a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget.

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The Cons of Chartering a Private Yacht

Are you interested in chartering a private yacht for a family vacation, romantic getaway, honeymoon, or business trip? If you are, have you already made your reservations? If you have yet to do so, you may want to take a few minutes and thoroughly examine your decision to charter a private yacht. While there are an unlimited number of benefits or pros to chartering a private yacht, there are also a number of cons. These cons, which are also often referred to as disadvantages, are outlined below.

In the United States and all across the country, there are a large number of private yacht companies that can be found. When you actually think about it, private yacht chartering companies operate in a number of different areas, all around the world. After a close examination, you will see that many of these areas are also popular vacation destinations, such as Florida, the Caribbean, or the Bahamas. While this is good news, it might not be if you are looking to explore a relatively unknown area of the world or even just an unpopular one. If you are unable to find a private yacht available in the area that you would like to visit, you may have to change your destination.

In a way, the chartering of a private yacht is considered a service. In todays society, it is not uncommon to find scams that are centered on the purchase of an item or service. Although it is relatively uncommon to hear of a private yacht scam, they do exisit. Of course, being scammed can be considered a con or a disadvantage of trying to charter a private yacht, but it doesnt have to be. There are a number of things that you can do to decrease or completely eliminate your chances of being scammed by a yacht company. First, you will want to thoroughly examine or research that company. Be on the lookout for any negative feedback or bad reviews. It is also important that you be careful with how you pay. Most established yacht chartering companies will request that you pay a deposit upfront, but you shouldnt have to pay in full upfront.

Another one of the few cons, to chartering a private yacht, is availability. As it was previously mentioned, there are a large number of private yacht chartering companies that can be found all around the world, but many of those locations are also considered popular vacation destinations, like the Caribbean. Since these are popular vacation destinations, there will be an increased competition for the chartering of yachts. In these instances, it is also not uncommon to find individuals who want to charter or rent a yacht for only a day or two, instead of an extended time like most. As with many of the other yacht chartering cons, this con can easily be turned into a pro. If you would like to make sure that you get a reservation, you will just need to make your reservations in advance; the earlier the better.

It is also important to note the rules and restrictions that may exist. A large number of private yacht chartering companies have a number of rules, restrictions, and guidelines that their passengers must follow. The good news is that you should be made aware of these rules up front. Just a few of the many rules that you may find aboard a privately chartered yacht include the supervision of children at all times, the banning of pets onboard, as well as the proper training or certification before going scuba diving out in the ocean. In all honesty, the rules that are enforced will all depend on the yacht chartering company in question. If you are looking for the smallest number of rules and restrictions, you just need to find a yacht chartering company that is more lax on their rules. It may take you a little bit of time to do, but it is possible to find these types of companies.

As you can see, there are a number of different disadvantages or cons to chartering a private yacht. While there are quite a few cons, it is also important to remember that there are a number of pros. Just a few of these pros are the cost, the lack of work, and the activities that you can participate in on and off the yacht.

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History and Attractions of Boston Common

History and Attractions of Boston Common
Boston Common is the oldest city park in the United States. The eccentric William
Blaxton settled the land, all alone with his books, in the 1620s. In 1634 he sold the land
to English Puritan colonists for use as a shared cow and sheep pasture. Each household
contributed six shillings to the purchase. Eventually, the land was also used for military
training, sometimes by colonists and sometimes by their British occupiers. Until 1817,
the land was Bostons site for public hangings. Livestock grazing was banned in 1830.
In modern times, Boston Common serves mainly as a recreation center. It anchors
Bostons Emerald Necklace, a chain of parks that runs about seven miles through the
city. The park itself measures about forty-four acres.
As one of the nations oldest landmarks, Boston Common has become rich with items of
historical interest. The park is home to the Central Burying Ground, one of Bostons first
graveyards. Among those buried there are choral composer William Billings, portrait
artist Gilbert Stuart, and many casualties of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill.
Unfortunately, the subway tunneling of 1894 disturbed more than 900 (perhaps 2,000) of
the cemeterys deceased residents! They were later reburied, and a tablet marks the
location of the event.
Several monuments can be spotted throughout the Common. The Robert Gould Shaw
Memorial, for example, is a Civil War monument honoring the first free black regiment
in the Union Army. (Shaw commanded the all-volunteer regiment and is depicted in the
Hollywood film Glory.) Another impressive Civil War sculpture is The Soldiers and
Sailors Monument. Located atop the Commons Flagstaff Hill, this neoclassical work of
art rises an impressive 126 feet. Elsewhere, in the parks Parkman Plaza, statues pay
homage to the ideals of Industry, Learning, and Religion.
With so many acres of green space, the park has hosted many large public events. In 1713
a public riot broke out in response to a food shortage. Two hundred people were present,
and the lieutenant governor was shot during the chaos. A century and half later, in 1969,
a Vietnam protest drew 100,000 people. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Pope John Paul II
also drew large crowds for their speeches. The parks Parkman Bandstand holds smaller
crowds for plays and concerts.
Boston Common is full of longstanding attractions for people of all ages. The Public
Garden was established in 1837 as the nations oldest botanical garden. Prior to that time,
the land had been a salty swamp. The 24-acre garden is especially famous for its fleet of
swan-shaped boats. Weather permitting, visitors ride the boats from spring through
autumn.
The Frog Pond is another popular destination within the park. The Frog Pond is a popular
childrens wading pool in the summer. During the brisk Boston winters, it freezes into an
ice skating rink. When the Frog Pond first opened in 1848, school was closed for a day
just so children could play in the fountain! Today the Tadpole Playground is adjacent.
Boston Common is flanked by other points of interest, such as: the Massachusetts State
House, which stands to the north; Park Street Station Americas first subway station
in the eastern corner; and Boylston Street Station Americas second subway station to
the south. For those who prefer to walk, the Freedom Trail (a popular walking tour) also
starts to the south of Boston Common at the Visitor Center.
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