travel insurance plans from

Travel Insurance - Compare Every Major Company - Instant Cover Travel Insurance Made Simple Compare over 100 travel insurance plans from the top providers and buy immediately or use our comprehensive research features. Our technology is tightly integrated with the insurance carriers featured on our site, allowing you to quickly purchase on-line with confidence or to thoroughly investigate every feature of every policy. SQM Rating™ System We use the unique SQM Rating™ System to allow you to easily find the policy that provides the best coverage for your particular requirements. Whether it’s medical, baggage, cancellation etc. we rate every single benefit within every single policy. Zero Complaint Policy We work on your behalf. If any one of our clients has a complaint against an insurance carrier that cannot be resolved to our satisfaction, we will remove the carrier from our site and no longer sell its products. travelers insurance - quotetravelinsurance.com is now powered by squaremouth.com . Click the button to the right to instantly quote and purchase from over 100 travel insurance products. Our unique system is the first and only website to rate every individual element within each policy against it's competitors. We are also the ONLY insurance agent to offer a zero complaint tolerance guarantee with every carrier on our site. Every purchase is in real time , you will immediately receive a policy number and full email confirmation of your purchase. We also send a hard copy by US Mail. © 2000 - 2005 squaremouth.com all rights reserved (2961765) Use this site to compare plans We are recommended by Frommers Budget Travel Magazine. What is Travel Insurance? Travel insurance protects a traveler's vacation cost against cancellation and interruption while also providing medical, lost or damaged property and travel delay coverage. Travelers are reimbursed if they have to cancel or interrupt their travel, they are also covered should the need arise for emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and a number of other situations. Travel insurance can be broken down into the following major categories: Trip Cancellation – Reimburses travelers unable to take their trip d ue to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Trip Interruption – Reimburses travelers if they have to cut short their trip due to Illness or death (of the traveler or a family member), weather, airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, becoming unemployed, jury duty or their home being rendered uninhabitable due to fire/flood etc. Medical/Health – Reimburses medical and emergency dental costs. Almost all travel insurance plans work by reimbursing the traveler after they have paid locally for treatment. Claims are usually paid within 7 to 10 days. Pre-Existing conditions are covered by most policies if the policy is purchased within (at the most) 21 days from the date the traveler made the first trip payment (deposit). Medical Evacuation – Provides emergency transportation to either a local hospital in the event the traveler is unable to get there by themselves or back to a hospital near the travelers home. If family members are covered on the same policy they can return home also. Accidental Death – This coverage is split into 3 parts – Air Flight Accident – Covers death or dismemberment during an air flight only. Usually provides the highest amount of coverage due to a lower risk. Common Carrier – Covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transport such as, plane, ferry, train, bus or taxi. Accidental Death – Covers death or dismemberment at any time on your trip. Usually provides the lowest amount of coverage due to a higher risk. Travel Delay – Reimburses travelers for hotel, food or clothing expenses in the event of a flight delay. Some plans also cover costs associated with catching up to a cruise should a delay cause the traveler to miss embarkation. Baggage Loss – Reimburses travelers for lost, stolen or damaged personal items. This coverage is usually for the duration of the trip and not confined to baggage damaged or lost by the airline. There are two policy limits, total claim and per item maximum. Some policies also place limits on the type of items that can be claimed for such as jewelry, laptops and sporting goods. Rental Car Damage – Reimburses travelers for damage or loss to a rental vehicle. It is designed to allow the traveler to decline CDW (collision damage waiver) coverage offered by the car rental companies. Liability coverage should still be purchased through the car rental company. Rental Car Damage coverage is also often included with the credit card used to pay for the car rental which is often identical to the coverage provided in the policy. Assistance Services – Provides a 24 hour collect call advice and assistance service to travelers. This service can be used anytime a traveler needs advice. More on this topic insurance_health_articles - contact us - about us - why buy - press_room - health quotes - links - site map - travel insurance news UK travel insurance for UK residents

Family Vacation One Cool

One Cool Programs - One Cool Family Vacation Wedding & Honeymoon Family Promotions Special Offers Specialized Vacations Special Offers One Cool Programs One Cool Adventure & Nightlife One Cool Culinary & Culture One Cool Family Vacation One Cool Golf & Spa One Cool Honeymoon Download the One Cool Programs PDF eBrochure Special Offers for Families with Kids 12 years & under Dates effective: April 01 - September 30 Only on Aruba does the entire island open up to your exploration, offering a holiday fit for the whole family. Aruba invites you to choose from among its extensive family-friendly activity and dining options, offered now with special discounts and offers. A One Cool Card, free upon hotel check-in and entitling you to over US$1,000 in savings, is your family’s passport to a perfectly unforgettable vacation. Aruba’s safe, friendly environment and proven great weather have made the island a natural choice for family vacations. The “One Cool Family Vacation” promotion offers discounts throughout the island for attractions, meals and shopping as well as a ‘kids-eat-free’ feature at many participating resorts. RESORT SPECIAL OFFERS : - A welcome gift - A cool welcome drink for the kids - Bed & breakfast free from kids menu in hotel restaurants - Daily free kids activities (some restrictions may apply) PARTICIPATING RESORTS: Allegro Aruba by Occidental Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort Aruba Grand Resort Aruba Marriott Resort Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort Aruba Renaissance Beach Resort Divi and Dutch Village Beach Resorts Divi and Tamarijn All Inclusive Resorts Holiday Inn SunSpree Aruba Beach Resort La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort Radisson Aruba Resort & Casino The Mill Resort & Suites Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino SPECIAL OFFERS INCLUDE: - Rancho Notorious: US$ 5 off on horseback riding tour for children 12 years and under - Red Sail Sports: One kid per parent free on Sailing & Snorkeling trips; US$10 discount on Bubble-Water program on Resort Course - Atlantis Adventure: Special offers for kids for a Submarine tour (4-16 years), Seaworld Explorer tour (11 years and under) or Aloe Factory Tour (11 years and under) - Jolly Pirates: Free t-shirt offer for kids 12 years and under - De Palm Tours: Free for kids 12 years and under on De Palm Pleasure Snorkel Adventure, De Palm Island and Island Sightseeing Tours - Pelican Adventures: Kids go for free on cruises (2 per family) or t-shirt - Aruba Adventures: Special offers on Tattoo-Party Boat, Mi Dushi – Sailing Adventure and Kukoo Kunuku –Paranda Party Bus - Moomba Beach Restaurant: 10% off on food only in restaurant - Aruba Experts: 10% off on the following trips: Private sailing, boating and fishing charters - Carlos’n Charlie’s: Free kids meal - one per family of four - Aruba Gastronomic Association: Special offers for kids at Amazonia, Cuba’s Cookin’, Old Cunucu House, Benihana, Texas de Brazil, Le Dome, Driftwood, French Steak House and Waterfont Crabhouse - Wix Tours: 10% off for the kid’s island tours and jeep safari - Crystal Theater: Family package of US$ 100 for 2 adults and 2 kids (12 years and under) on Let’s Go Latin show - Economy Car Rental: 20% off on cars and on weekends 20% off on 4x4 - Renaissance Mall & Marketplace: Discount card – redeemable at over 100 stores at mall and marketplace. Exclusive offers in shopping, dining and entertainment - Checkpoint Color: 50% off on all film development and printing and 10% off on any digital development - Tomato Charlie’s Pizza: 10% off on a large 14” pizza or kids get free ice cream, or order a large 14” pizza and get a medium 10” pizza free - Charanga: 10% off on any purchase. Exclusive children’s fashion from Spain - Thriller Aruba: 2 kids free per paying couple. A speed racing, open water thrill of a lifetime IMPORTANT NOTE : It is necessary to mention the promotion with every reservation and signed ID Card must be presented to receive offers. The One Cool Card is limited to visitors staying at any one of the participating resorts (maximum of two children per room). The Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association take no responsibility for modifications that may later be made to promotional offers. If you have any specific questions about Aruba Travel, Hotels, or Resorts please call us toll-free in the USA at 1-800-TO-ARUBA, or click here to contact us Home • About • What To Do • Where To Stay • Specialized Vacations • Book Now • Sitemap Produced by BCPictures.com • All Rights Reserved © 2005 Government of Aruba • Website Disclaimer

Disney Vacation

walt disney world vacation rentals,disney vacation homes, disney holiday villas, Florida Disney vacation rentals florida vacation homes Florida vacation rentals disney holiday villas -- Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Search Find Vacation Rentals: Location Search Amenities Search Advanced Search Search by Listing Number Show: Most Popular Rentals Newest Rental Listings Featured Vacation Rentals Property Owners: List Your Vacation Rental Owner Login Vacation Rental Search Florida Vacation Rentals Our Florida vacation rental listings include homes and condos nestled on the white sand beaches of the panhandle in popular cities such as Panama City Beach and Destin . You'll also find beautiful Florida vacation homes in the resort cities of central Florida such as Kissimmee and Orlando. Experience a change in latitude and head to south Florida where youll find the vacation homes and condos in the world-renowned Miami South Beach , or the relaxing Florida Keys ! Wherever you decide to travel, there will be perfect Florida vacation rental space for you! Lower Gulf ( Show All ) Anna Maria Island (6) Longboat Key (8) Bonita Springs (1) Madeira Beach (4) Cape Coral (7) Marco Island (15) Captiva Island (7) Naples (16) Clearwater Beach (5) Palm Island (1) Englewood (2) Punta Gorda (2) Estero (2) Rotonda West (5) Fort Myers (8) Sanibel Island (8) Fort Myers Beach (15) Sarasota (8) Indian Rocks Beach (10) Spring Hill (1) Indian Shores (8) Venice (3) Little Gasparilla Island (4) Florida Keys ( Show All ) Cudjoe Key (2) Key Largo (2) Islamorada (3) Key West (2) Jupiter Island (1) Longboat Key (8) Key Colony Beach (2) Upper Gulf ( Show All ) Anna Maria Island (6) Longboat Key (8) Bradenton (2) Madeira Beach (4) Cedar Key (1) Redington Beach (1) Clearwater (1) Sarasota (8) Clearwater Beach (5) Siesta Key (4) Indian Rocks Beach (10) St. Pete Beach (10) Indian Shores (8) St. Petersburg (3) Isla del sol (1) Treasure Island (2) Central Florida / Disney World ( Show All ) Celebration (1) Kissimmee (94) Clermont (10) Lake Berkley Resort (1) Crescent Lakes (1) Orlando (16) Davenport (27) Weeki Wachee (1) Haines City (3) Winter Garden (1) Inverness (1) East Coast ( Show All ) Boca Raton (2) Ocean Ridge (1) Cocoa Beach (7) Ormond By The Sea (2) Daytona Beach (14) Palm Coast (1) Flagler Beach (1) Pompano Beach (1) Ft. Lauderdale (3) Ponte Vedra Beach (2) Hialeah (1) Satellite Beach (1) Hollywood (2) St. Augustine (4) Jupiter (1) Sunny Isles Beach (1) Key Biscayne (1) Vero Beach (1) Miami Beach (1) West Palm Beach (13) New Smyrna Beach (3) Panhandle ( Show All ) Alligator Point (1) Panama City Beach (50) Cape San Blas (1) Pensacola Beach (1) Destin (27) Rosemary Beach (1) Fort Walton Beach (6) Santa Rosa Beach (2) Indian Pass (1) Seacrest Beach (4) Inlet Beach (1) Seagrove Beach (3) Mexico Beach (1) St. George Island (3) Navarre Beach (3) Other / Uncategorized ( Show All ) Daytona Beach (14) Naples (16) Kissimmee (94) Popular Florida Vacation Locations: If your location isn't listed, we'll add it when you list your rental ! Altamonte Springs - Alva - Amelia Island - Anclote Key - Anna Maria Island / Bradenton Beach - Apopka - Astor - Atlantic Beach - Avon Park - Belleair Beach - Big Pine - Blue Mountain Beach - Bonita Bay - Bonita Beach - Boynton Beach - Buena Ventura Lakes - Cape Canaveral - Cape Haze - Carillon Beach - Carrabelle - Carrabelle Beach - Cayo Costa Island - Charlotte Harbor - Clearwater Beach / Clearwater / Bailey's Bluff / Dunedin / Largo / Palm Harbor / Sand Key / Tarpon Springs - Clermont / Clear Creek / Glenbrook Resort / Greater Groves / Highgrove / Orange Tree / Weston Hills - Crystal Beach - Crystal River / Inglis - Davenport / Ashley Manor / Aylesbury / Briargrove / Bridgewater Crossing / Davenport Lakes / Esprit / Florida Pines / Grand Reserve / Highlands Reserve / Loma Vista / Ridgewood Lakes / Sanctuary / The Palms Lake Davenport / Tuscan Ridge / Vistapark Resort / Westridge - Daytona Beach / Daytona Beach Shores / Harbor Oaks / Holly Hill / Ormond Beach / Ormond By The Sea / Ponce Inlet / Port Orange - De Land - Deerfield Beach - DeFuniak Springs - Dekle Beach - Delray Beach - Don Pedro Island - Duck Key - Dune Allen Beach - Edgewater - Fernandina Beach - Fort Lauderdale - Fort Pierce - Frangista Beach - Freeport - Gainesville - Gasparilla Island - Grassy Key - Grayton Beach - Gulf Breeze - Gulfport - Hallandale - Hernando Beach - Highland Beach - Hillsboro Beach - Holiday - Homosassa - Hudson - Hutchinson Island - Indialantic - Indian Harbour Beach - Isles of Capri - Jacksonville Beach - Jensen Beach - Key Largo / Tavernier - Kissimmee / Chatham Park / Crescent Lakes / Cumbrian Lakes / Doral Woods / Eagle Pointe / Emerald Island Resort / Formosa Gardens / Grand Palms / Hamilton's Reserve / Hampton Lakes / Indian Creek / Indian Point / Indian Ridge / Indian Ridge Oaks / Indian Wells / Lake Berkley - Kissimmee / Liberty Village / Lindfields / Montego Bay / Oak Island Cove / Oak Island Harbour / Remington Golf Club / Rolling Hills / Sunridge Woods / Sunset Lakes / Terra Verde / The Oaks Golf Club / Venetian Bay Villages / Villas of Somerset / Vista del Lago / Windsor Hills / Windsor Palms / Windward Cay - Lady Lake/The Villages - Laguna Beach - Lake Buena Vista - Lake Helen - Lake Placid - Lake Weir - Lakeland - Leesburg - Lido Key - Little Torch Key - Long Key - Lower Matecumbe Key - Manasota Key - Marathon - Marco Island / Goodland - Melbourne - Melbourne Beach - Merritt Island - Milton - Miramar Beach - Mount Dora - New Port Richey - Niceville - North Bay Island - Ocala - Ochlockonee Bay - Okaloosa Island - Palm Bay - Palm Beach - Pensacola - Perdido Key - Perico Island - Pine Island - Pinnacle Port - Plant City - Plantation - Port Charlotte - Port St. Joe - Port St. Lucie - Ramrod Key - Redington Shores - Safety Harbor - Sandestin - Seaside - Sebring - Seminole - Shell Point - Singer Island - Sopchoppy - South Beach - St Augustine - St George Island - St Joe Beach - St Pete Beach - St Petersburg - Steinhatchee - Sugarloaf Key - Sugarloaf Shores - Summerfield - Summerland Key - Sunny Isles - Suwannee River - Tampa - Tavares - Titusville - Ventura Country Club - WaterColor - Welaka - Wewahitchka - Zephyrhills - © 2003 Terms Privacy Disclaimer VacationSpaces.com is one of the largest and easiest tools to find vacation lodging on the web.We hope to become the official source for vacation homes, villas, beach condos, and mountain cabins by owner for the independent traveler looking for low cost accommodations anywhere in the world. We'll help you find a vacation rental for your next trip today!

Europe Travel & Tourism

Internet Public Library: Europe Travel & Tourism The Internet Public Library This collection All of the IPL Advanced -- Subject Collections Arts & Humanities Archives & Records Management Culture Fine Arts History Language Libraries Literature Museum Studies Philosophy Religion Arts & Humanities News Fine Arts & Humanities Libraries History of Arts & Humanities Business Accounting Agriculture Banking Business Administration Business Directories Business & Economics News Commerce & Trade Consumer Issues & Services E-Commerce Economics Employment Entrepreneurship Finance History of Business & Economics Industry Insurance International Business Labor & Workplace Marketing & Advertising Non-Profit Organizations Real Estate Statistics Tax Computers Computer Hardware Computer Science Computer Software Cyberculture Internet Platforms Programming System Administration Computers & Internet News History of Computers & Internet Education Adult Education Alternative Education Early Childhood and Pre-school Education News Higher Education K-12 Education Special Education Teachers & Administrators Vocational Education Entertainment Arts & Crafts Books Entertainment & Leisure News Fashion Food Games History of Entertainment & Leisure Hobbies Home & Garden Movies Music Outdoor Recreation Paranormal Phenomena Pets Radio Sports Television Theater Travel & Tourism Health Alcohol, Drugs & Tobacco Alternative Medicine Anatomy & Physiology Consumer Information Disabilities Diseases, Disorders & Syndromes Donors & Transplants Exercise & Fitness First Aid General Medicine Geriatrics Health & Medical Sciences News Health Care Management & Policy History of Medicine Injuries Medical Technology Men's Health Mental Health Medications & Pharmaceuticals Nursing Nutrition & Diet Occupational Health & Safety Oral Health & Dentistry Pain Treatment & Management Pediatrics Preventive Medicine Professional Resources Sexuality Specializations Surgery Veterinary Medicine Women's Health Law & Government Law Law Enforcement Government Political Science History of Law, Government & Political Science Regional Africa Asia Australia Caribbean Europe Middle East North America South America South Pacific Science & Tech Agriculture & Aquaculture Astronomy Chemistry Communications Controversial Earth Sciences Electronics Energy Engineering Environmental Sciences & Ecology History of Science & Technology Horology (Time) Life Sciences Mathematics Paleontology Physics Science & Technology News Science & Technology Libraries Transportation Social Science Anthropology Archaeology Customs, Etiquette, Folklore Education Ethnicity, Culture & Race Gender & Sexuality Geography History History of Social Sciences People by Age Group Political Science Psychology Social Issues & Social Welfare Social Sciences News Sociology Ready Reference Almanacs Calendars Dictionaries English Non-English Translation More… Style & Writing Guides Quotations Telephone & Address Genealogy Biographies Encyclopedias Geography Reading Room Books Magazines Newspapers KidSpace TeenSpace Special Collections Blogs Literary Criticism Science Fair More… Associations on the Net Blogs Exhibits Literary Criticism Native American Authors POTUS Science Fair Searching Tools FARQs Pathfinders Search this Site Web Searching Accessibility Info About the IPL Teach with the IPL Ask a Question Contact Us Search YOU ARE HERE: Home » Subject Collections » Entertainment & Leisure » Travel & Tourism » Regional & Country Information » Europe » Europe Travel & Tourism SEE ALSO Magazines • Associations on the Net Sub-headings: Travel and Tourism Resources in this category: You can also view Magazines , Associations on the Net under this heading. -- All About Spain - Travel and Tourism :: http://www.red2000.com/spain/index.html Online virtual guidebook. Bratislava Guide :: http://www.bratislavaguide.com/ A guide to Bratislava, Slovakia, designed for visitors to the city. The authors are residents of the city and post information on arts and culture, news, dining, shopping, and other activities for tourists. Bruges Info :: http://www.brugesinfo.com/ Bruges, Belgium travel information guide, your travel resource to the Venice of the North. Explore over 500 photos of Bruges, weather and maps, Bruges hotel, and bed and breakfasts for accomodations Central Europe Online :: http://www.einnews.com/centraleurope "Produced daily, Central Europe Online contains a comprehensive mix of Daily News from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Slovenia with country home pages, special features, Travel and Cultural Information, and useful links to other sites." Chris De Witt's Berlin Wall Web Page :: http://www.appropriatesoftware.com/berlinwall/welcome.html Chris De Witt's Berlin Wall Web Pages are a great resource to students of history who want to learn more about Berlin's divided past. This web site guides visitors on a virtual tour of Berlin's past and present with loads of photos and essays about the city. The site provides its visitors a more intimate look into a city with a significant role in world history. The Cyber Cafes of Europe :: http://kiosek.com/eurocybercafes/ Complete, browsable directory of cyber cafés in Europe, browsable by country, with links to café homepages where available. Europe for Visitors :: http://europeforvisitors.com/ "More than 2,500 pages of European travel articles, photos, and links from Durant Imboden, author of Buying Travel Services on the Internet ." Germany Tourism :: http://www.germany-tourism.de/ This site about Germany promotes tourism throughout the country, providing information about destinations, upcoming events, travel tips, and an information center. Site visitors can also use a route planner, view 600 panoramic pictures of the country, and view several short videos. The German National Tourist Board oversees the site. Go To Georgia :: http://www.parliament.ge/gotogeorgia.htm Produced by Georgia's Parliament, this website provides information about the culture, economics, governance, tourism, sports, human rights protection, civic society, and other topics related to the country of Georgia. Guia Madrid Rural :: http://www.guiamadridrural.com/ Travel information for the Madrid area. Regional maps and guides to campsites, hotels, hostels, and rural homes. Includes information on outdoor activities and transportation in the area. In Spanish with limited English. Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel in Russia :: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/russia/ On-line publication of a published book by the originating company. Offers information about how to travel in as well as the history of Russia. Paris Net :: http://www.parisnet.net/ Guide to Paris including travel tips, shopping, fashion, business and personal contacts, Paris gastronomie, etc. Rail Europe :: http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm Information about train passes, flights, and car rental for travel in Europe, including trains in Britain and Russia. This is a commercial site and therefore you can order tickets here, including group travel arrangements but it also has alot of useful free information. The Budget Traveller's Guide to Sleeping In Airports :: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/airports.htm This useful website has compiled commentary from thousands of travellers on the experience of sleeping in particular airports. The site rates the best airports in which to sleep in terms of cleanliness, safety, comfort, etc. Search the site according to world region or by country. Over 600 airports around the world are included. The Spirit of Romania :: http://www.spirit.ro/ This site provides travel information for Romania with listings of popular sites, photo galleries, an interactive map of the country and a fact sheet about currency, health and other important travel facts. (Site may take a while to load, especially on a dial-up connection.) La Torre de Pisa :: http://torre.duomo.pisa.it/index_eng.html "The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the august of 1173 and continued (with two long interruptions) for about two hundred years, in full fidelity to the original project, whose architect is still uncertain." This site provides a history of the tower, short film and photo archives that allows you to "navigate between the orders (as the various floors are termed) of the Tower of Pisa.""One of the great landmarks and architectural icons of the Western world now has an official Internet home. View thousands of images on afloor-by-floor photographic tour, enjoy a 360-degree view from the belfry via Quicktime VR, or read about the history of the tower -- which began in 1173 and was under construction for about two hundred years, during which time it began to incline. Text in English and Italian describes contemporary efforts to safeguard and preserve this remarkable monument." Transport for London :: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/ "Transport for London provides detailed advice on using the various transport services in London, including Underground, Bus and River services. You will find information on our wide range of tickets, tube (subway) and bus maps to assist you in planning your journey along with useful tips for visitors to London." UK Orbit Shopping Directory :: http://www.ukorbit.com/ Tells you which shops accept your credit, debit, charge or store cards. Which shops offer free delivery, price matching, discounts or credit. Ultimate Italy :: http://ultimateitaly.com/ Ultimate Italy is a resource to discover Italy focusing on everything about the "best of Italy"; the cities, Italian piazzas, the latest picks of restaurants, pizzerias, bars and caffes, italian lifestyle, the nature from Italian national parks, Alps to the breathtaking Islands. You can find not only Italy travel & tourism information but an insight into the famous people of Italy, Italian fashion,the culture, history and arts. Virtual Finland :: http://virtual.finland.fi/ "Should you have any questions about Finland - any at all - the answer probably lies here, where you can get all sorts of information in several languages." VisitEurope.com :: http://www.visiteurope.com/ Comprehensive travel site for people planning to visit Europe. Each country has its own profile, highlighting popular places to visit, hotel and transportation information, trip planning, and news. The site also features tips for first time visitors, a trip planning guide, a calendar of events, and information for travelers with special interests. © 1995-2005 The Regents of the University of Michigan. All rights reserved.

vacation from the life

quiet american one-minute vacation S urely you can spare a minute to clean your ears? Take a one-minute vacation from the life you are living. One-minute vacations are unedited recordings of somewhere, somewhen. Sixty seconds of something else. Sixty seconds to be someone else. A new one-minute vacation will be added each week on Monday if I can manage it. T he first year's worth of vacations are archived here , the second here , the third here . You can also purchase compilations of the first two years' worth of vacations on CD; all profits go to charity. You can read more about the project here . Y our participation is encouraged. If you have a recording that you would like to share, here are instructions on how to submit it. If it's your birthday, this is your present. podcast , write me if you have comments. ' Let's go away for awhile, you and I, to a strange and distant land, where they speak no word of truth...' (Weezer) december 19, 2005 950 KB A second week of song: of today's vacation contributor Bradley Iverson-Long writes, 'This was recorded during the Celebration of the Angels concert in Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. The group on stage in a children's choir; you can hear a lot of the crowd as sadly I wasn't that close to the stage. Most people were there to see Sakis Rouvas, a pop singer, but I think the combination of the crowd mulling and the high voices singing "Little Drummer Boy" in Greek encapsulates the Christmas spirit.' december 12, 2005 1.4 MB 'Driving through the highlands of Michoacan in central Mexico, I heard the soft sound of a band in a distant field, and I asked my driver to help me find the source. A few minutes and a steep ride down a dirt road later, we joined a procession of two hundred people going to a wealthy bus drivers house for St. Jude's festival. When we arrived the friendly owner invited us with a big smile into the courtyard, where local women (at least the ones who were not cooking!) gathered on one side of the house singing a prayer, while men and the village band assembled on the other side. My recording documents the call-and-response between the singers and band that went on for over an hour. For me the charm of this music is in the off-key way the makeshift band started its performance — and that as the day went they jelled, so that by the prayer session's end, they sounded well-practiced. Recorded with an Edirol R1 and a cheap set of binaural microphones from Microphone Madness.' So writes today's contributor, Siamack Sioshansi . december 5, 2005 1.6 MB For today's vacation we thank contributor Kirke Godfrey , who writes, 'Sitting at a local cafe on the Rue Montiguile in the 2eme arrondissement of Paris on October 5, 2005. It's my first morning after the flight in from Sydney. The street is paved and partially blocked to traffic, so its really nice to sit there and simply watch the world (and gorgeous women) walk by. I don' speak enough French to understand the conversation at the table next to me; I hope it wasn't too personal! Recorded on a Sony TVR30 DV camera.' november 28, 2005 1.4 MB Winter is here, and with it: 'Sled-dog sounds from the 2005 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, an annual race from Duluth, Minnesota, to near the Canadian border and back. It's cold and crisp under clear blue skies at a beautiful pine-shrouded checkpoint where many sled dogs and mushers are catching a few hours' rest. One by one, the teams gather their strength for yet another leg in this grueling 390-mile marathon. The dogs are specifically bred and trained for this, so getting ready to run fires them up even when they're tired. I'm positioned about fifty yards down the trail from the place where the teams leave this remote checkpoint. The dogs bark excitedly until the moment they start down the trail... Recorded early in 2005 on a Sony TCD-D7 DAT recorder with a pair of Shure WL-183 microphones in an experimental head-like array.' The words of today's contributor, accomplished field recordist Curt Olson . november 21, 2005 1.2 MB For today's vacation we thank contributor Travis Nobles , who writes, 'This was recorded September 17th at the 2005 Ocean Air Show in Virginia Beach, Virginia, right before the Blue Angels [military aircraft] demonstration. You can hear the crowd's reactions to the show so far and the "wooshing" of the Blue Angels' engines as they taxi to the runway; part way through the MC's voice comes over the PA system. My recording equipment was the internal mic on my iRiver compact flash MP3 player, all I had in the moment.' [As we Americans gather for Thanksgiving this Thursday, I feel myself stirred anew by those immortal words from Team America : "America! F--k yeah!" -Ed.] november 14, 2005 1.4 MB Today's contributor, the enviably multitalented Rick Moody , tells us, 'This recording is of the jetty on the harbor near my little country house (where I write). I made it for a friend's "Exquisite Corpse" game last summer. The location is Silver Eel Pond, Fishers Island, NY; the voices are the African-American guys who come over to the island by ferry boat to fish on weekends.' [My birthday is this week, so this is my present! -Ed.] november 7, 2005 1.4 MB 'It was January 2005, during the Russian Orthodox Christmas, which we celebrate on the 6th and 7th every year. We have a place in Moscow called Kolomenskoe, it's a little nature reserve plus museum of architecture in the open air. That day there was a bell-ringer there dressed in old clothes: he looked like a monk really. Three rows of many different size bells he played on; it was a great sight and I think the sounds are amazing. I think they are worth your listening.' I think so too. For today's lovely vacation we thank contributor Elena M , who recorded this with her Samsung X600 phone. Elena adds that the sounds at the end are fireworks. october 31, 2005 715 KB Today's vacation comes to us from Laura Vitale , who writes, 'When I recorded this I was in Nanegal, a tiny village in the cloud forests northwest of Quito, Ecuador. There was a party in town that night and while walking home I could hear the band playing with the birds and the night bugs. Everything in the air felt festive... Recorded with an AKG cardiod mic and a Marantz PMD660 compact flash recorder.' october 24, 2005 950 KB 'Three in the morning in Bloomington, Indiana. The rain is pouring down onto my roof as I lay still in my bed. I can't ask for better sleeping conditions! Wait, I really want to record this before turning in for the night... but by the time I get out of bed, gather my equipment, and stumble onto the porch, the rain had ceased and all I have left to record is the fallen water running through my gutters. Recorded with a Sony MD (MZ-NH700) and Panasonic 61 Series Miniature Stereo Binaural Mics.' With that, today's contributor, Zak Rosen , who I had the pleasure of meeting in person this weekend, bids us goodnight. october 17, 2005 1.4 MB I learned my own love of field recording in Vietnam almost exactkly seven years ago, so it's with special pleasure that I share Tim Cabassi 's contribution today. About his recording Tim writes, 'This was recorded on a recent trip to Hoi An in Vietnam. I was riding my bicycle along one of the main streets of the town and heard a street vendor. Not sure what he was selling or advertising. If you listen closely you can hear the freewheel of the bike; and also near the end the attempts of a cyclo driver trying to drum up some business. Why he would choose someone already on a bicycle you would have to ask him! Recorded using a Sharp MD831 and an Audio Technica AT822 stereo microphone.' october 10, 2005 1.4 MB Autumn is in the air, so how about a new coat? You can get one in today's vacation, which comes to us courtesy of Waco Moore , who writes, 'August 6, 2004, on the sidewalk in SoHo: it is sunset and a whole family of hustlers has rolled a couple of garment racks of coats out onto the sidewalk on the corner of Broadway and Price or Spring (I can't remember now). They are barking in true carnival/street vandor fashion and people are swarming and taking the bait — it is a classic New York moment. Enjoy! Recorded with a Sony ECM-MS907 mic and an iRiver IHP-120 MP3 player.' october 3, 2005 1.4 MB Contributor Scott Langstaff writes of today's vacation, 'This recording was made in May, 2005, during my holiday to St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Sitting on the ground near the summit of Ruival on Hirta, it captures the sounds of the birds, the indistinct voices of other members of my walking group, the wind, and the noise of the sea below. It was recorded with a Sharp MT80 MD recorder and Soundman OKM II binaural mics.' september 26, 2005 1.4 MB For today's vacation we thank Ambrose Pottie who writes, 'I recorded this from my dining room table in Tepoztlan, Mexico, in March of 2003; the soundscape includes a banda playing outside at a barrio fiesta probably a mile away, as well as a solo female singer who is probably amplified and situated half a mile away herself — there was a Buddhist retreat center in the area and the woman is probably related to that. There are also a couple of loud firecracker explosions which occur regularly in Tepoztlan — every fiesta features them prominantly and as there is usually a fiesta in at least one of the many barrios every day, the fireworks are more or less constant! Geographically, Tepoztlan is situated in a canyon with craggy cliffs on all sides, so any sound is uniquly amplified...' september 19, 2005 1.6 MB Film photographer Arnaud Lemorillon writes of today's vacation, 'Last night, the 14th of July, it was Bastille Day in France, so there were fireworks in Paris. I made this recording at the end of the fireworks in the Champs de Mars, behind the Eiffel Tower; I hope the quality is not too bad; I just bought a Nagra V recorder and a couple of Schoeps MS microphones to make stereo recording three months ago since I'm interested by sound and field recording...' september 12, 2005 1.4 MB Of today's vacation contributor Greenmachine writes, 'I recorded this piece in Bavaria, Germany, directly after the performance of a symphonic orchestra in a huge old church. People were sharing their opinions all around — it created an interesting ambient noise, which I couldn't resist recording. Imagine yourself a part of this crowd for a minute... Recorded with miniature omnidirectional stereo microphones mounted to glasses and a Sony Hi-MD machine.' september 5, 2005 1.4 MB Labor Day in the US, and like many I celebrated it without a hint of labor. So for today's vacation, the sounds of revelry, for which we thank Kurt Tidmore , who writes, 'A regular Sunday evening sesson in traditional local pub on the north bank of the River Lee, in Cork, Ireland, where I live. The pub's called Siné, which in Irish means "there you have it" or "that's all there is." The musicians are mostly amateurs who gather here every weekend to drink and play together; the crowd is lively and the beer flows freely and the music can sometimes go on for five or six hours.' august 29, 2005 1.4 MB Today's vacation like the ANWR recording earlier this month features wildlife. It was contributed by gear-blessed Greg Weddig , who writes, 'This recording was made at a Brant's Cormorant "blind" in the abandoned Model Industry building on the west side of the Alcatraz. I made it the evening San Francisco's KFOG radio station presented their Kaboom fireworks. As the shells started bursting in air, Western Gulls were silhouetted against the sky fleeing from their nesting area on the east side of Alcatraz at the Parade ground. Strangely the many nesting pairs of cormorants just below the mics seemed more upset at the fleeing seagulls than the fireworks themselves. After the final shots rang out the cormorants continued their grunting, gracking, and growling, as if nothing had happened. Recorded with a Schoeps MK-21 ORTF pair, via a Grace Lunatec V3, into a MDP500 MD recorder.' august 22, 2005 700 KB For today's vacation we thank incoming Grinnell College (Iowa) student Chris Farstad who writes of his contribution, 'This is a recording of the organ inside St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It was visiting the city for the first time with my high school in October of 2004 and I was lucky to capture this unique sound environment during an organist's practice session; a fitting sound event for the space. Made on a Sharp 1-bit portable MD recorder with Sony binaural microphones. Enjoy!' august 15, 2005 1.5 MB Today's vacation excerpts a twenty-five minute soundscape made by Nature Recordists mailing list moderator Martyn Stewart , who wrote of his recording, 'I was in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in June and I recorded these magnificent ambient sounds there. Millions of songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds inhabit the tundra and costal plains; the ANWR is a vital breeding ground for many of our birds and is in danger of being destroyed: Congress opens this month and maybe in September they will vote to drill in the area. I intend to go to the various rallies that will be held in Washington DC on the 20th of September; I made this recording to make people aware of the beauty of this place. Please oppose drilling in the Refuge and lobby your congressional rep; I believe ANWR is not just for us but for our children and our children's children.' [Just so. -Aaron] august 8, 2005 1.2 MB For once, how about a really virtual destination for a virtual vacation? Of today's recording, contributor fluffy Pennyfeather writes, 'These are some virtual wind chimes — that is, they don't physically exist. In Second Life (an MMO -like virtual environment ), someone built physically-modeled wind chimes which behave like real-life ones, responding to the wind (also modeled with a simple weather simulation) and to other objects and players passing through them. Although the recording is technically artificial in nature, I did record it with my trusty Kenwood MD recorder (which I use for other field recordings); and it blurs the line between the natural and the artificial, as the sound you here was generated by random processes similar to those of nature... just not in the physical world. I realize this may not fit into the One-Minute Vacation project, but I feel that it's an interesting thought experiment nonetheless.' [Interesting enough to share today, while I'm on an electronica bender... and the date cries out for it! -Aaron] august 1, 2005 1.4 MB Today's vacation comes to us from Andreas Jonsson , who writes, 'I recorded this in a city centre slot machine and games arcade here in Glasgow, Scotland, in September, 2004. I happened to be walking past it recording sounds in the street and got drawn in by the sheer cacophony of bleeps, chirps and noise a place like this produces. The rather robotic calling out of bingo numbers only adds to the sterility and overload of such a place. Amusingly, with repeated listening the chaos becomes suprisingly similar in places to some contemporary electronica! Moments after this recording, a security guard forced me to leave the premises, as I apparently needed permission from the manager to record there. The relative quietness outside seemed deafening. Recorded with a Sony ECM-MS907 microphone and a Sony minidisc recorder.' july 25, 2005 1.4 MB Today's contributor, composer-with-sound Joseph Young , takes us into 'a thunderstorm in northern Italy captured on a recent family holiday. The environment around Lake Como is surprisingly lush and green given that temperatures are regularly up in the mid 30's [that's upper-90's for you ametrical Americans -Ed.] during the summer months. The greenery is comes from the heavy thunderstorms that occur on a regular (weekly?) basis. I recorded this one from the window of our flat in a small town called Lambrugo, when the storm was at its height, using Soundman OKM binaural microphones and a Sony MZ-N707 minidisc recorder.' july 18, 2005 1.7 MB Contributor Ari Noguchi writes of today's vacation, 'I caught this moment at a temple in Nara, a very old city in Japan, two years ago. It was very early morning, sunny but very chilly; the temple and environment were just about to wake up for the long day. I was trying to record the sounds of birds, but through the microphone I heard an old lady striking a bell and chanting in front of an offertory box. I could tell that she had been coming every morning for a long time and that this activity was a part of her life... While I was recording kids came to the temple on a school field trip, and a man who works for temple also tried to clean up the street with a broom; but the lady never stopped chanting. It was a very intense moment.' july 11, 2005 525 KB For today's vacation we thank Angela Femia , who writes: 'I caught this using my Fuji digital camera while travelling in France in September, 2003. We had just arrived in Reims and found a lovely place to eat outside in the main square. As we were enjoying our first real "French" experience a large group of young people walked together through the area singing and shouting at one another; they sounded like they were having a fun kind of argument, trying to out-sing and out-shout each other with their song... what a lovely way to argue! (Unfortunately I have no idea what they are saying!)' july 4, 2005 2.2 MB Today's vacation, a bit of Americana for the American Independence Day, comes to us from contributor Jerry Berrier , who writes, 'As my wife and my guide dog and I approached the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle in a late morning in April, 2005, I could hear the sound of a lone singer and his guitar. My wife told me later that he also had a harmonica in a holder on his neck and a tambourine placed where he could tap it with his foot. He could still be heard once we entered the store, in spite of the high noise level from customers, workers arranging and selling seafood, and what sounded like a fork lift. I had been told in advance that workers throw fairly large fish back and forth between them to entertain visitors; at the very end of this recording you can hear their banter as they toss a fresh specimen back and forth! Recorded with a Sony MZ-R70 MD recorder and a small Sony ECM-DS70P clip-on plug-in powered stereo microphone.' june 27, 2005 1.4 MB Today's vacation comes to us courtesy of Chris Owens , who writes: 'I recorded this on a Saturday afternoon in April just outside the local Town Hall in Reading, UK; as you will hear the recording was started just before three in the afternoon (British Summer Time for the purists out there). The focus of this piece, and the intention of my being there with a recorder, was the chimes of the town clock; it is getting increasingly rare to hear chimes like this as many have been silenced to avoid causing a nuisance. A couple of minutes before this snippet a large lorry thundered by the Town Hall — in my opinion that's a more serious annoyance!' june 20, 2005 1.4 MB Summertime, and the living is easy this week courtesy of contributor Robert Dodson , who writes, 'I recorded this in Fairfield, Connecticut. I was sitting on my front porch after dinner. You can hear a plane overhead, a car go by, some very peaceful birds, and my son practicing his saxophone. This is one of my first recordings on my new Edirol R1 compact flash recorder, using the built-in mics. Enjoy.' june 13, 2005 1.3 MB Multi-modal Swedish artist Wolgang Peter Menzel sets the scene for today's vacation: 'You are running in the streets — looking around and listening to the traffic, staring at people, you wonder where you are, all your senses are touched by new things, smells and impressions of a complete "differentness" compared to what you are used to; it overwhelms your person, this slowly getting into this condition of phenomenological basic behaviour. That is what happened to me there, at a street corner in the Chinese part of the former Portuguese colony Macau, at least — even the traffic light sound became something else. Recorded as usual with my Sharp MD recorder and a Sony stereo mic.' june 6, 2005 1.2 MB Today's vacation comes to us courtesy of Kevin T. Allen , who writes, 'The recording was done in downtown Calcutta in July 2004. I was looking for a film library in the center of town and got terribly lost. I passed a row of government buildings where I saw hundreds of people queued up outside; on the street were makeshift carts and stands, where people dictated to men using manual typewriters for their official paperwork. The sound of the manual typewriters tapping away outside in the context of the bustling city sidewalk struck me as beautifully surreal and Kafkaesque, so I pulled the mic out of my bag so only the tip showed and walked down the street. It was a real acoustic treat, especially on such a frustrating day! Recorded with a minidisc recorder and a top of the bottom of the line microphone.' may 30, 2005 1.4 MB This past Saturday some friends I met on a tour of Tibet were married in Vermont; I had the honor of composing their processional using sounds I recorded on that trip. Today I share one of the recordings I used: nuns chanting with one-handed self-beating drums at the annual single-day unveiling of a building-sized thanka down a cliff side in Gyantse, Tibet. For Kate and Zack, luminous travelers, who so patiently waited for me to record this and many other things... Recorded with Sonic Studios DSM-6/EH microphones and a Sony MD recorder. (Aaron) may 23, 2005 960 KB Of today's vacation, second-time contributing phonographer Mark Ragsdale writes, 'This recording was made on an outcropping of rock at Haeundae Beach in Busan, Korea, right outside the Westin Chosun Hotel. The recording was made on a moonlit night as I lay prone on a rock with my head in a giant crevasse, trying to capture the gurgling of the sea plunging rhythmically. Recorded with Sonic Studios DSM-6S/EH mics with WHB headband windscreen, running into MD. [The same gear I used to record most everything on this site! -Ed]' may 16, 2005 1.4 MB 'This track captures a war protest parade when it reached its end point at the Boston Commons on March 20th, 2005. The police helicopter hovering overhead set a tone of tension as the protesters were surrounded by police motor cops, paddywagons, and anti-riot police armed with clubs. A drum circle formed right next to the bench where I had been sitting and recording, and the sounds of drums, didgeridoos, and chants began to drown out the sounds of the helicopter... Recorded on a Sony MZ-R700 minidisc recorder with homemade binaural microphones.' So writes today's contributor, Boston-area experimental DJ, sound artist, phonographer, and theremin player Fred Yarm . may 9, 2005 1.2 MB Today's vacation (or rather, a vacation from a vacation, now our vacation...) comes to us from traveler Damon Nomad , who explains, 'This is a recording we made on our honeymoon: these are night sounds outside our window in the mountain village of Anogia, Greece. You can hear the bells of sheep and goats on the slopes below the village, as well as other sounds. Strangely enough, the lady at the car rental place in Iraklion vainly tried to talk us out of going there, asking, "why you want to go there? It is not much... just a traditional village." It ended up being just what we needed, a peaceful escape from the more touristy sections of Greece we'd already visited: a vacation from our vacation. Recorded on Sony MZ-R37 MD recorder with a Sony ECM MS907 microphone.' may 2, 2005 1.4 MB Nata Lukas writes of today's vacation, 'During the summer of 1997 my good friend James Adrian Stewart came to visit, so we did some camping on the Puget Sound. To entertain our selves Jim played his bag pipes and I played with my camcorder. In this moment recorded at Deception Pass, Jim was around a corner practicing his chops and I snuck up on him; I really dig how the sound of the waves gives way to his improvised chops! Recorded with my Sony CCD-TR3000 video camera (great zoom mics!). By the way, I ended up using this recording as part of an installation I did a couple years ago called If Only I Had a Seaworthy Vessel .' april 25, 2005 970 KB Of today's vacation, Argentine sound artist Anla Coutis writes, 'I was walking this afternoon in a street of Buenos Aires downtown and I heard some great birds; fortunately I had my minidisc with me and I decided to record them. So here is one minute of Buenos Aires Street Birds in Action, I hope you'll enjoy them! Recorded with an Aiwa AM-F5 MD recorder with an Aiwa stereo microphone.' april 18, 2005 595 KB Field recordist Rod Stasick writes of his contribution, 'I have an owl friend who lives in a magnolia tree just outside my studio here in Dallas, Texas. Owls have been in the neighborhood for the past few years and during various stretches of time will make their presence known. At close to the same time each day my friend calls to another owl nearby; if you listen closely, you can hear the other owl responding... This minute was recorded on March 3, 2005 at about 4:30 p.m., with an iAudio M3 digital audio recorder that I use for field recordings.' april 11, 2005 1.4 MB Contributor Marco Landn writes of today's vacation, 'I recorded this when I passed by a children's playground in a kindergarten in a back street in Cancun, Mexico. The kids, all Spanish-speaking and approximately 5 years of age, were playing on a big contraption toy with swings and slides and monkeybars. What truly captivated me was the unrestrained voices, the pitches of which differ greatly from children in Angloamerica; there is a very stacatto nature to the language, especially from the girls in the playground. Recorded using the built-in mic on my Apple iBook G3.' april 4, 2005 1.4 MB Of today's vacation, contributor Takahiro Kawaguchi writes, 'This minute was recorded in a Japanese temple at the moment 2004 became 2005 and was rung in with a gong: a happy New Year Japanese sound. The specific location was Shitennouji Temple, in Osaka, which you can learn more about here . My recording system is a Sony TCD-D8 DAT recorder and a Sony condenser mic. I hope you enjoy listening!' [Time of transition for time in transition: here in California we lost an hour to Daylight Savings this weekend! -Aaron] march 28, 2005 1.4 MB 'Here's a vacation, from my vacation: a recording I made last year while skiing here in Australia, as I went up the mountain on a chairlift. The mic was resting directly on the metal of the chair to capture the deep thrumming that I could hear when I pressed my ear to the chair. Occasionally other skiers can be heard in the background. Made on a Sony MZR-909 with an ECM-MS907 mic, at Thredbo, in the aptly named Snowy Mountains.' Fall arrives in the south, but with this recording from Ben Dixon we in the northern hemisphere bid farewell to winter. march 21, 2005 1.4 MB Biking to work today under silver clouds and through a heavy cool rain, I looked forward to posting today's vacation, which comes from enigmatic sound artist Ben Owen , who comments, 'One of the few moments that is taken to pause in the day is the onset of rain. It is when I stand by the back door of my apartment [in New York City] looking out over the yards and obstructed sky to watch and listen.' march 14, 2005 1.4 MB Repeat contributor John Tenney writes of this week's vacation, 'Saturday night at the Lucky Ju Ju in Alameda, California. Two dozen-plus vintage pinball machines — bright lights flashing, flippers whacking the balls madly, spinners spinning — and every one of them set to free play! Make a reasonable donation on entry and you can play as long as you want to — talk about bringing out the inner kid! Plus there's a good jukebox, though the 70's and 80's songs are decades younger than most of the machines. The place is a labor of love taken on by an obsessed collector looking to share his mania; alot of folks are more than willing. Recorded July 17, 2004, with a Sony MZR-50 MD recorded and RadioShack's late lamented 33-3028 stereo mics.' march 7, 2005 1.4 MB Of today's vacation, contributor Anders Östberg writes, 'A demonstration of steam engines in Eskilstuna, Sweden. Here on an islet the Faktoriet motor museum is situated: a museum of industry and the history of technology, including the first fire engine used in Sweden. On the first Sunday of every month (except in December and January) the air gets hot and humid when the steam engine demonstrations are running! Recorded to compact flash on February 6, 2005, with an Edirol R-1 24-bit WAV/MP3 recorder, using the internal stereo mic.' february 28, 2005 950 KB 'Recorded in Yerevan, Armenia, the night of November 13, 2003, with a video camera, in the well-kept standard-issue apartment of Rafik and Gohar, an elderly couple I stayed with for five days. Although they spoke no English, they welcomed occasional international visitors as a way to supplement their meager pensions. During this short clip from the eve of my departure from the country, they entertain my basic Russian phrases, all the while encouraging me to pick up bits of Armenian — a language of which they are fiercely proud and protective.' For this week's vacation, we thank contributor Peter Thiede . february 21, 2005 1.1 MB Today's vacation comes from Tim Cabassi , who writes: 'This particular snippet was recorded in January, 2004, from my third floor balcony in Momodani, an innercity suburb of Osaka, Japan. I am from Australia but I am currently living and working here with my girlfriend. Thanks to Justin Brown for clarifying that the sound is from a hot sweet potato (o-imo) van; o-imo and other vendors (such as yakitori, skewered grilled chicken usually sold in restaurants) randomly roam the streets around 10 p.m., which is the time most drunken salarymen are stumbling home and most in need of a quick bite... Recorded on a Sharp MD831 with an Audio Technica AT822 stereo microphone. Hope you like it.' february 14, 2005 1.4 MB I'm in New York this week, so how about a bit of local love for Valentine's, as recorded by today's contributor, Robert Van Heuman : 'The A Train in New York City, around Christmas 2004. I usually find it very hard to make recordings in subways as the low frequencies tend to distort the recording. This time, I experimented with the "Low Sensitivity" setting on the microphone input of my minidisc recorder and a really low recording volume. And it worked: I like the rhytmic quality of the announcer, the fact that he mentions Jersey City (where I used to live), the baby and the sounds of little childrens toys a Chinese women is demonstrating while walking through the carriage... Recorded with a Sony NH900 HiMD recorder (in uncompressed mode) with OKM II binaural in-ear microphones.' [Regular listeners will know that binaural means, use those headphones! -aaron] february 7, 2005 1.4 MB Of today's vacation, contributor Lonesomehank from Montreal, Quebec, writes: 'Recorded February 2nd, 2002, in Barcelona on a Sharp MT877 MD with Core Sound binaural mics....... around 8:30 at night...... heard the drone far off and came across four old men in some sort of burnt-out social centre....... watched them play through a little window...... they were drunk and lost in the sound of it all....... heartbreaking / beautiful......... was recorded outside from the street ...... didn't want to intrude...... the right channel craps out in a beautiful way when I walk off...... crappy mini-plug connector.......' january 31, 2005 1.6 MB 'Recorded in 2002: Banger racing season in Smeatharp in the county of Somerset, England, as gutted old saloon cars painted in lively colours roar round an oval dirt track, attempting to knock each other out of the race. Exhilarating stuff but the only means of recording it I have on hand is my mobile phone: so I send myself a race as an answering machine message.' For today's banger contribution we thank quick-thinkig Darren Giddings of colander.org . january 24, 2005 1.7 MB Today's vacation comes from sound artist Bill Thompson , who originally shared with the phonography mailing list on Yahoo! groups with these comments: 'Thought you'd like to hear this: it's a recording of 'hogmanay,' what the Scotish call New Year's. It's a bigger deal then any other holiday here, bigger then Christmas; that day everything closed at 4 p.m. and has been closed all weekend. The recording is of the boats out on the North Sea blowing their horns at midnight. Each horn is a different pitch and each boat is at a slightly different distance and location from the Aberdeen shore, where I was huddled in the drizzle trying not to move. I drove all the way back from Manchester (seven hours) just for that 5 minutes :) — and about 10 minutes into the recording I realized that I had just experienced the turning ot the new year alone, huddled by a rock in the rain. Ahhh, the romantic life of an artist... :)' The vacation is an excerpt from a five-minute MP3 can hear here ; if you like this, you might also like the vacation posted last year for September 22 archived here ... january 17, 2005 1.4 MB 'Recorded late summer 2001 up north in Quebec, at St-Michel des Saints: north enough, we saw aurorae borealis that summer! This is part of my first recordings, using an MZ-R90 [MD recorder] from Sony and binaural mics from sound professionals. It was maybe four or five in the morning, we had to kill that fire because the summer was really dry, dangerous for forest fires.. So this is it, water in fire, fire on logs, earth and life...' For this elemental recording, which ushers in the fourth year of the one-minute vacations project, we thank field recordist and sound artist Nicolas Kuzyk , who Montreal residents might know from his soundscape radio program Biophone. There are more: archives of the first , second , and third year. You can also purchase compilations on CD; all profits go to charity! podcast beta, write me if you have comments. Thanks to Annabelle Port for this LP