Russia Travel Guide @

russia travel vacation Russia Tourism Home World Tourism AfghanistanTourism - Albania Tourism - AlgeriaTourism - Andorra Tourism - AngolaTourism - Antigua and Barbuda Tourism - ArgentinaTourism - Armenia Tourism - AustraliaTourism - Austria Tourism - AzerbaijanTourism - Bahamas Tourism - BahrainTourism - Bangladesh Tourism - BarbadosTourism - Belarus Tourism - BelgiumTourism - Belize Tourism - BhutanTourism - Bolivia Tourism - Bosniaand Herzegovina Tourism - BotswanaTourism - Brazil Tourism - BritishVirgin Islands Tourism - BulgariaTourism - Cambodia Tourism - Canada Tourism - CaymanIslands Tourism - Chad Tourism - ChileTourism - China Tourism - ColombiaTourism - Comoros Tourism - CroatiaTourism - Cuba Tourism - CyprusTourism - Czech Republic Tourism - DominicaTourism - Dominican Republic Tourism - DenmarkTourism - Ecuador Tourism - EgyptTourism - El Salvador Tourism - EstoniaTourism - Ethiopia Tourism - FijiTourism - Finland Tourism - FranceTourism - Georgia Tourism - GermanyTourism - Ghana Tourism - GreeceTourism - Grenada Tourism - GuyanaTourism - Haiti Tourism - HondurasTourism - Hungary Tourism - IcelandTourism - India Tourism - IndonesiaTourism - Iraq Tourism - IranTourism - Ireland Tourism - IsraelTourism - Italy Tourism - IvoryCoast Tourism - JamaicaTourism - Japan Tourism - Jordan Tourism - KazakstanTourism - Kuwait Tourism - KyrgyzstanTourism - Laos Tourism - LatviaTourism - Lebanon Tourism - LibyaTourism - Lithuania Tourism - LuxembourgTourism - Madagascar Tourism - MaldivesTourism - Mauritania Tourism - MauritiusTourism - Mexico Tourism - MoldovaTourism - Mongolia Tourism - NepalTourism - Netherlands Tourism - NewZealand Tourism - Nicaragua Tourism - NigeriaTourism - North Korea Tourism - NorwayTourism - Oman Tourism - PakistanTourism - Panama Tourism - PapuaNew Guinea Tourism - Paraguay Tourism - PeruTourism - Philippines Tourism - PolandTourism - Portugal Tourism - QatarTourism - Romania Tourism - RussiaTourism - Saudi Arabia Tourism - SerbiaTourism - Seychelles Tourism - SingaporeTourism - Slovakia Tourism - SloveniaTourism - Somalia Tourism - SouthAfrica Tourism - South KoreaTourism - Spain Tourism - Sri Lanka Tourism - St.Kitts and Nevis Tourism - St. LuciaTourism - Sudan Tourism - Sweden Tourism - SwitzerlandTourism - Syria Tourism - TajikistanTourism - Thailand Tourism - Trinidadand Tobago Tourism - Turkey Tourism - TurkmenistanTourism - Turks and Caicos IslandsTourism - Uganda Tourism - United Arab Emirates Tourism - UnitedKingdom Tourism - United StatesTourism - Uruguay Tourism - Uzbekistan Tourism - VenezuelaTourism - Vietnam Tourism Due to the nature of the topic and the wide range of information available, in order to cover only a tiny bit of it properly, some of the websites included here may have a commercial element in addition to the excellent information they provide. Such inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of product or service by archaeolink.com. Sites are included for information value only. The number of sites available online for this topic is enormous. This site can not and does not index all travel resources for a country. These "tourism" pages are basically designed as a supplement to the Russia Social Studies links rather than for the avid business or pleasure traveler. For those of you for whom this "supplementary" material is not enough, the following does provide some idea of what is available online and will hopefully be a good starting point for a more serious search. IgoUgo: Russia Tourism, Things To Do In Russia __ You will find a series of journals written by real travelers giving their impressions and recommendations. - illustrated - From igougo.com - http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalRegion.asp?LocationID=269 Russia __ "Russia's political icons and ideologies may have tumbled but Churchill's 'riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' remains an apt descriptive chestnut. Outsiders still have only a hazy grasp of daily life in Russia, and the unfolding effects of a deregulated market economy are surrounded by rumours of rampant crime and prostitution, relentless drug-trafficking, mile-long queues for nonexistent food and a general end-of-the-world aura." History, culture, statistics and more. - illustrated - From Lonely Planet - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/russia/ Russia __ You will find important travel information for planning a trip to Russia. - From US Department of State - http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1006.html Russia tourism - Russia vacation reviews __ Wide ranging general interest page about Russian tourism including hotel recommendations, sights to see and things to do. - illustrated - From tripadvisor.com - http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294459-Russia-Vacations.html Russia Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org __ "...Russia, and its former union of soviet socialist republics, is still coming out of the cold. Find out more about Russia." - From TravelNotes.org - http://www.travelnotes.org/Europe/russia.htm The Russia Travel Official Guide __ You will find all you need to plan a business trip or vacation in Russia. - illustrated - From russia-travel.com - http://www.russia-travel.com/ Welcome to Russia __ Official travel guide to Russia. All you need to know to plan a trip to Russia for business or pleasure. From visa requirements till the time you wave good-by. - illustrated - From Russiatravel.com - http://www.russia-travel.com/ Web archaeolink.com Top of Page

Vacation homes, condos, villas,

Vacation Rentals - Vacation Homes, Condos, Cabins by Owner Vacation Rentals by Owner Thousands of vacation rentals directly from their owner(s)/manager(s). Vacation homes, condos, villas, cabins, and more ... Help Vacation Rentals by Owner Advanced Search Search State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Timeshare City (optional) Lodging Type (optional) Bed and Breakfast Condominium Cottage/Cabin Home/Villa Hotels/Inns Studios/Penthouses Timeshare Townhome Farm/Ranch Listing Number (optional) Click here for our Advanced Search Popular Vacation States Florida Georgia California Tennessee Hawaii Pennsylvania North Carolina New Hampshire South Carolina Vermont Colorado Virginia Arizona New York Massachusetts Texas Maine Washington Michigan New Jersey Community Find Vacation Rentals Help Compare Us vs Hotels Website Announcements Vacation Rental Comparison Site Map Link Exchange Owner's Special Listing Englewood, FL Finding a perfect vacation rental has never been easier! We offer thousands of vacation rentals for rent in every major vacation spot directly from their owner or manager. FindVacationRentals.com offers an array of vacation homes, condos, villas, and cabins to meet your vacation needs. Whether you are looking for a vacation condo rental along the beaches of Myrtle Beach, a cabin rental in Breckenridge, Colorado or a villa rental near Orlando or Disney, FindVacationRentals.com can accommodate you! Select a destination below, find the vacation home of your choice, and book it directly through the owner! Click here to view Cities Current Promotion Featured Vacation Listing Winter Park, CO Featured Vacation Listing Okemo, VT Recently Added Stunning Ocean Views, Litchfield Retreat Condo, Free Interne Litchfield , SC Treasure Cay, Bahamas Beach Villa - 2 Bedrroms / 2 Baths Treasure Cay , Bahamas Newton Fork Ranch - A Magical Hideaway Black Hills , SD North Conway Station- 8 bedroom family vacation home North Conway , NH Hot Vacation Spots Anna Maria Island Depoe Bay Albrightsville Bethany Beach Big Bear Black Hills Blairsville Blue Ridge Breckenridge Bryson City Cape Coral Clermont Corolla Davenport Daytona Beach Destin Dillsboro Ellijay Ft. Myers Beach Gold Beach Gulf Shores Hilton Head Island Incline Village Indian Shores Islamorada Isle of Palms Kailua Kaneohe Key Largo Key West Kiawah Island Kissimmee Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Mission Beach Myrtle Beach Naples New Orleans New Smyrna Beach North Myrtle Beach Oceanside Orange Beach Orlando Palm Springs Panama City Beach Park City Phoenix Pigeon Forge Princeville Rotonda West San Diego Sanibel Island Santa Barbara Sarasota Scottsdale Seagrove Beach Sedona Snowshoe South Lake Tahoe St. Augustine Beach St. Pete Beach Steamboat Springs Sunriver Vail Venice Waianae Waikiki Winter Park Wintergreen 2005 FindVacationRentals.com . All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer of Use

France Travel

France Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore France France Douce France taught the world just how sweet life should be. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within France Bordeaux Corsica Lille Marseille Nice Paris Toulouse View Map Click here Feature Attraction Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris This is the heart of the city, a French Gothic masterpiece and the focus of Catholic Paris for seven centuries. Built on a site occupied by earlier churches ... more The French wrote the book on la vie en rose and gave the world champagne and camembert, de Beauvoir and Debussy, the Tour de France and the Tour Eiffel. There's a term for their seductive lifestyle - Douce France (Sweet France) and you'll find yourself using it often. Although the ubiquity of Levis and Le Big Mac flusters the country's cultural purists, anything from a year in Provence to a weekend in Paris will explain why half the world grows dreamy over stalking Cyrano's streets or picnicking Manet-style sur l'herbe . When To Go Spring offers the best weather to visitors, with beach tourism picking up in May. Temperatures aren't too bad in autumn, although the short days mean limited sunlight and the cold starts to make itself felt towards the end of the season, even along the Côte d'Azur. Winter means playing in the snow in France's Alps and Pyrenees, though the Christmas school holidays send hordes of tadpoles in uniform scurrying for the slopes. Mid-July through to the end of August is when most city dwellers take their annual five weeks' vacation to the coasts and mountains, and the half-desolate cities tend to shut down a bit accordingly. The same happens during February and March. Factoid Dirty Pretty Two possibly contradictory statistics about the French: 1. Only 47% of French people bathe or shower every day. 2. French men and women buy more beauty products (creams, masks, etc) than any other people on earth. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › On the Road Discover Le Panier, an old girl with a kick in her step. Read it › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

Japan Travel International Travel

Metropolis - Tokyo Japan Travel: God speed JAPAN TODAY | METROPOLIS | CLASSIFIEDS | PERSONALS | JOBS Issue Index Original Features Features Mini Features Cultural Features Life in Japan Big in Japan Rant & Rave Cars & Bikes Health & Beauty Interiors Practical Jobfinder Money Talks Tokyo Tech Web Watch Food & Drink Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Bar Reviews Word of Mouth Travel Travel Features Japan Travel International Travel Travelogue Style Art Artifacts Fashion Tokyo Talk In Store Buyline Music Japan Beat CD Reviews In Person Concerts Clubbing JAPAN TRAVEL Photos by Mary King The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine is the spiritual home of the Japanese nation. Mary King takes a pilgrimage. D own the ages various rumors and tales have circulated about the sacred mirror of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. It was once said that whoever laid eyes on the mirror would immediately be struck blind, a possible deterrent for would-be thieves. Others have claimed to have seen the mirror and reported that it is inscribed with ancient Hebrew lettering, reading “eheyeh asher eheyeh,” the name of the Judaic-Christian God written in Exodus 3:14 and meaning “I AM THAT I AM.” Heavenly abode Japan’s sacred mirror, one of three items of the Imperial Regalia, is kept in the Inner Shrine (Naiku) at Ise Grand Shrine, a sanctuary that many visitors to the Mie Prefecture city of Ise are astonished to discover they are not allowed to enter or even see. Ise Jingu, popularly known as “O-Ise-san,” or officially “Jingu,” holds the most honored position among the more than 100,000 Shinto shrines that are scattered throughout the breadth of Japan. The site of the nation’s most Holy of Holies, and boasting some of the world’s greatest architectural monuments, Jingu is also home to some of the simplest and most mysterious structures. Described as the “starting point for all journeys in Japan,” Ise is regarded as the spiritual home of the Japanese, a place to which most wish to make at least one pilgrimage to in their lives. In fact, more than six million pilgrims and worshipers come to Jingu each year, crossing the Uji Bridge spanning the sacred Isuzu River to symbolically leave behind the temporal world and enter a “pure world” of kami (gods and spirits) and the ancient mythology of the land. Odyssey Passing through the second huge torii at the end of Uji Bridge, a long gravel approach leads you through a natural cathedral of towering cryptomeria. Pilgrim and tourist alike are taken on a divine journey toward the Naiku and Geku, where Amaterasu and Toyouke (God of Abundant Food) are respectively worshipped. It is an unforgettable odyssey, one that spirits you back to the country’s earliest recorded “history” that tells of the “Age of Kami,” the creation of Japan and the origins of its people right through to the Imperial line and succeeding generations of emperors and empresses. The auxiliary shrines resemble ancient granaries The Geku (Outer Shrine) was dedicated to the grain deity Toyouke, possibly in a bid to bolster the new imperial cult that started, according to the myth, when Amaterasu sent her grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, down to earth to rule. The Sun Goddess handed her grandson the mirror that had lured her out of her cave, along with Susano’s sword, and a curved jewel. The mirror (yata no kagami), along with the jewel and sword, remain the Three Imperial Regalia, symbols of divine authority, and to this day the emperor conducts rites to ensure a bountiful harvest as well as secret rituals in which he symbolically mates with the Sun Goddess. The high priestess of Ise, meanwhile, has traditionally been an Imperial princess, reflecting the nation’s early history of shamanesses, priestesses and ruling empresses. Having passed through large open grounds and crossed over a small bridge (hiyokebashi), you gradually move towards the more sacred area of the Naiku. To the right of the main pilgrimage path is located a font for the ablutions made by pilgrims prior to proceeding toward the main sanctuary grounds. Beyond the daiichi torii (first sacred gateway) are steps that lead to the Isuzu River, where since ancient times pilgrims have purified their body and mind by washing their hands in, and rinsing their mouths with, the waters of this sacred river. According to Shinto thought, one’s pure mind and body given by the kami must be ritually cleansed so as to return to a state of purity. Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined in the main sanctuary building, the Goshoden, of the inner sanctum of Naiku, in which the august mirror, her symbol or goshintai, is kept and worshipped. As they are considered most sacred, pilgrims or other visitors may see neither the mirror nor the main sanctuary. In fact, the only people allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, according to my guide, are members of the Imperial Family, although on one occasion, it is rumored, Queen Elizabeth was invited in. Restoration Except for the exalted mirror, all of Jingu’s other sacred shrines and objects must be reconstructed in synch with each 20-year Shikinen Sengyo cycle. The elaborate transference procession and ceremony involves the remaking of some 491 holy treasures, 1600 accessories and 125 kinds of sacred apparel that are then put in their proscribed places by the priests. Formerly used objects are kept in the nearby Jingu History Museum, which is open to the public. It is possible to find two absolutely identical Naiku and Geku standing side by side-one old, one new. In time the older one will be deconstructed and its wooden parts, now forever consecrated, recycled as repair pieces for other shrines around Japan. The newer one-once the transference of holy objects has been consummated-hence replaces the old as a locus of veneration. The shrines themselves are thought to resemble ancient granaries or storehouses and are built from Japanese cypress (hinoki) from the Kiso forestry preserves extending between the Gifu and Nagano Prefectures. Befitting the reverence accorded to these sanctified building blocks, death, loss of a limb, or imprisonment have, over the centuries, been the penalties for felling these jewels. A visit to the majestic Ise shrine allows one to understand why. Where to stay: Oaken, tel: 059-622-2589; Hinodekan, Tel: 059-628-2954; Saekikan, tel: 059-628-2017; Okubun, tel: 059-628-2231. Ise City Tourist Information, tel: 059-623-9655. TRAVELOGUE WORLD TRAVEL TRAVEL FEATURES JAPAN TRAVEL: SEPTEMBER 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine AUGUST 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet JULY 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes JUNE 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan MAY 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group APRIL 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain MARCH 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave FEBRUARY 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- TOP

Chicago Vacation Packages Hotels

VirtualTourist.com - Vacation Deals and Specials - Chicago Vacation Deals and Specials around the world. Check prices and availibility from a selection of the best providers. member log in | join for free! | help Home Travel Guides Hotels Flights NEW! "Deals NEW! Members Meetings & Events Do It Yourself Guides Forums Vacation Deals and Specials - Chicago Travel Guide | Hotels | Flights | Forum | Top 5 Pages | Deals | Members | Meetings & Events Home » North America » United States of America » Illinois » Chicago Vacation Packages Hotels | Flights | Cars | Cruises | Vacations Top 5 Results for 'Chicago Vacation Packages' Chicago Vacation Package Special Travel Rates on Air, Hotels & More - Book Your Vacation Today! Chicago Travel Package Choose from Over 760 Destinations Vacation Package Savings-Hotels.com Marriott Chicago Hotels Official Site. Downtown, suburb & OHare Airport location. Book direct Build your Dream Vacation Select your Flight, Hotel & Extras Book with Expedia and Save! Special Vacation Package Visit Atlantis, Paradise Island - a unique resort experience. More Results for 'Chicago Vacation Packages' Chicago Vacation Packages Shop and Compare Vacation Packages. Save up to 40% more at Priceline. The Belden-Stratford Chicago Lincoln Park landmark hotel packages currently available. Chicago Vacation Package Last Minute Vacations on Sale. Book Air, Hotel & Travel and Save. Find Vacation Deals Fly From: (city or airport code) Fly To: (city or airport code) Stay In This City: (optional) Departure Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening MIDNIGHT 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM NOON 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Return Date: Anytime Morning Afternoon Evening MIDNIGHT 01:00 AM 02:00 AM 03:00 AM 04:00 AM 05:00 AM 06:00 AM 07:00 AM 08:00 AM 09:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM NOON 01:00 PM 02:00 PM 03:00 PM 04:00 PM 05:00 PM 06:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM 09:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Travelers: 1 2 3 4 Vacation Search by OneTime.com Find: Destinations Members Keywords Matching: Advanced About VT | Contact Us | Site Tour | Advertising | Merchant Login | Travel Tools | VT Chat | VT Gear | Help User Agreement | Privacy Statement Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2005 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.