European Vacation MyAccount |

Travel Stories - My European Vacation Home Hostels Tours InfoZone Community Home » Community » Travel Stories » My European Vacation MyAccount | Support Centre | Site Map In the Community... Community Home Travel Diaries Start a new Diary Travel Stories Travel Gurus Message Boards Log In Log in to your account to review past bookings, change your profile, become a travel guru and much more. Email: Password: Forgot your password? Not a member? Sign up here The ULTIMATE backpacker information exchange Travel Stories • Backpackers! Adventure Calling.. • The Shrimp Tax • Sleeping in Pamplona • Chile, the country and Santiag.. • Road to No Man's Land • Run Through the Jungle: • Andorra's Box • Mexico - 48 hours in Puerto Es.. • More Travel Stories Our Price Promise We offer you the best internet rate made available by the hostel. We do not mark up this rate so you can be confident that booking here is as cheap as it gets! close window lowest prices guaranteed Read Our Price Promise We accept the following cards Travel Stories My European Vacation By Denise Cassino I finally finished reading the last page of Micheners novel The Drifters, a story about six young people traveling through Europe in the late sixties. I closed the book and bit my bottom lip. I simply had to find a way to go to Europe. My heart ached with a yearning to see the world. I had been an English major/history minor in college and had studied the continent for years. Now I was determined to see them first hand. I contacted my old college roommate, Ellen, and set a plan I quit my job, borrowed $500 to supplement my savings and flew off to Europe for a six-week sojourn. We were nearing the end of a near perfect trip with only a week or so remaining before I would head for home. We had driven The Romantic Road through Germany, partaken in the revelry of Oktoberfest in Munich, woven our way through the high peaks of the Alps in a VW bus, ridden a Gondola across the Grand Canal in Venice, stared at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and even had a brief romance with two American brothers. Ellen had been forced by the powers that ruled her pocketbook to return home two weeks earlier than me, and now I was traveling with an affable Australian girl named Robyn who we had met in Venice and had previously been a solo traveler. Now, the two of us stood on the port side of the huge ship and gazed out from the top deck at the starlit sky above the Port of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. A statue of Cristobal Columbo (Christopher Columbus) peered down at us as we swore to sate our wanderlust ever after and reveled in our high adventure. We were on our way to the Balearic Islands, the island of Ibiza, to be exact, (pronounced Ibitha to the well-traveled tourist) and had secured a cabin on the ship for the nights trip. The ship and cabin were Spartan, and at first light, we disembarked and set foot on terra firma. The island, which had been touted as the happening spot for young people, was tiny and, aside from the ancient fortress and village around a small seaport, was mainly dry, brushy and agricultural. We wandered down the narrow, cobblestone streets amidst the tourists and the locals who were going about the business of daily living, baskets on their shoulders and bicycles laden with goods. The smiling proprietors of small cafes beckoned weary wayfarers like us to partake of their fine wine and vittles Hola, Senoritas! As the day wore on, our backpacks grew heavy and we stopped at a hand-painted sign offering a room. A dark Spanish woman, swarthy and a bit thick through the middle, took us through a door that opened directly off the street and then up a steep staircase. At the top was a small, Spartan foyer with four or five doors presumably leading to guest rooms. She opened a set of flimsy double doors, which didnt quite meet in the middle due to some sort of chopping at the space between them. The gap was now about three quarters of an inch wide and would have revealed to anyone who chose to look, the entire contents and characters within (along with the content of their characters, perhaps). To prevent just such chicanery a faded piece of cloth was hung on the inside of the door - a curtain, as it were. We surveyed the room with a jaded eye having already experienced the drill of expecting more from a room than we ever got during our extended tour of Europe. This one was a bargain at a buck and a half per night and was worth every peseta. The plaster was chipping and the chenille bedspreads were mismatched and worn. The curtains on the door that led to a small balcony overlooking the main street had seen better days, but we paid the small sum and dropped our packs to rest our travel-weary bodies while we sipped some local red wine. As evening approached our tummies rumbled so we changed into our other set of clothing and headed for the nearest restaurant for some more vino and una comida. Robin had discovered an interesting spot in Europe on $5 a day, so we located it and ventured in for dinner. A loaf of hot, homemade bread and a steaming bowl of succulent Paella filled with sumptuous shrimp, clams and rice were placed before us by a smiling Spanish waiter, and we ate with gusto, juice dripping down our chins. Soon after dinner, our explorations led us to an American style discotheque complete with black lights and flashing neon. We worked our way through the crowd looking for a seat and managed to squeeze into a spot near the bar to watch the tourists mingle with the locals. Scantily clad bodies gyrated to the beat of the outdated American tunes that blasted from the rickety jukebox. We Americans tourists stood out in a crowd with our sturdy walking shoes and nondescript clothing. I had packed two pairs of trousers, two sweaters, two tee-shirts, five pair of underpants, three pairs of socks and a down coat. My hair was cut as short as it had ever been for the ease of sink shampoos in cold water. Robyn looked like a Spaniard with thick, dark hair and tawny skin and a Rubenesque figure. Our apparel only seemed to draw attention to us, and we moved uneasily away from the gaze of more than one dark stranger who seemed to be assessing his prey. We mingled as only young twenty-something girls can do meeting an array of people ranging from strange to fascinating and by 2am or so my body begged for sleep. I said goodnight and left Robyn in the company of several young men and wandered back the short distance to the room (okay, maybe I staggered a little) and flopped into the lumpy bed for a deep doze enhanced by the abundance of red wine I had imbibed. Not long after, I was awakened suddenly by Robyns harsh Aussie whisper in my ear. Wake up! Wake up! Someones trying to break into our room! I jumped up rather unsteadily and approached the door with my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I beat against the door with my fist and hollered, Go away, get out of here! Who knows, in the heat of the moment, I may even have shouted Vamoose! Silence. We looked at one another and reluctantly crawled back into bed leaving the light on, hoping the would-be intruder had vanished into the night. But soon, I awoke to bloodcurdling screams coming from Robyn who sat bolt upright in her bed. I sat up and began screaming too, and saw a dark man turn and flee from the room leaving the two doors wide open and the curtain inside flapping between them. We continued to scream for a few more rounds until an Englishman arrived at our door dressed only in thin, cotton pants. What is the problem? he asked in his clipped British accent while rubbing his eyes. We saw . . . there was . . . someone tried . . . we panted breathlessly as we managed to reveal our plight and cause for such abject terror. He listened patiently and then said, It was probably just some Spaniard trying to rape you. Is that so terrible? We were stunned by his stiff upper lip approach to this whole scenario, but were deeply grateful when he offered to leave his two huge dogs with us for the remainder of the night. Stay, he said and they curled up between the two beds and went to sleep. However, we lay awake, eyes wide, contemplating who, why, when and where, terrified that the stranger would return to rape and pillage. We couldnt wait for morning when we quickly packed our belongings and departed. We ventured warily into the street, scanning each face wondering about the stranger who might recognize and be following us, but whom we would not recognize if we fell over him. We found some good American fellows we had met the night before and told them of our intruder. They quickly offered to share their room until the ship returned two days later, and we slept on the floor of their room, honest! Thoughts ran wildly through our minds as we relived the horrifying experience, but the only viable answer we found was that perhaps the man had followed Robyn from the disco thinking she was alone. When he burst into the room, hit the curtain and was assailed by two screaming banshees, he likely panicked and fled, forgetting his original intent. By the time the ship was ready to depart, we were exhausted and more than ready to say goodbye to the little island that had become little more than a frightening place. As I lay in my berth aboard ship that night chasing sleep, a tiny gnawing pain had begun to grow in the pit of my stomach. When we arrived in Barcelona, chills and fever had replaced the pain, but I persevered. We were anxious to board the overnight train to Paris but soon found ourselves sharing a small sleeping compartment with four other people of mixed race and gender. I was in the middle berth with my head near the door. As passengers entered the compartment, their faces were at my eyelevel, and I could smell their body odor and garlic breath, which only worsened my condition. I rotated from one end of the bed to the other where I could open the window and breathe a bit of fresh air. As the chills shook me, I donned all my clothing from my backpack only to quickly remove them as the fever and sweats returned. By the time we reached Paris, I had a full- blown case of the touristas, otherwise known as amoebic dysentery. Well, I wont go into the sordid details of the last few days of my trip. Lets just say, given the quality and texture of Parisian toilet paper, I was very glad when the morning came for me to board a train to Luxembourg for my flight home. I said goodbye to Robyn, descended the five flights of stairs at the Hotel Cluny on the left bank of the Seine and ventured out to hail a cab. I hailed and waved and shouted, but none stopped. Finally, I returned to the room where Robyn informed me that I must go to a cabstand, but now I had missed my train and, possibly, my flight home. My only choice was a plane. Low on funds, I borrowed the necessary amount for airfare from Robyn. Once aboard the transatlantic flight, I watched with empathy and pity a poor girl lying across three seats, literally green from her trip across the English Channel in a boat. With problems of my own, I dozed and dreamed of all the foods I couldnt wait to indulge in when I got back to the States, dysentery be damned. We played the food game with many of the Americans we met on our trip. Some wanted a grilled beefsteak with French fries; others craved bacon and eggs. I longed for my mothers juicy meatloaf and a crispy baked potato with butter. When my 8-hour flight finally landed, I was met by my mother and step-dad to whom I must have written at least two postcards during my six-week adventure. As we climbed in the car, my mom turned to me and said, I hope youre hungry. Ive got meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner. I sighed with pleasure and snuggled happily into the back seat, wondering if it was just a fluke or a classic case of mothers intuition. Book a hostel in Spain Back to Travel Stories About Us | Security | Privacy | Newsletter | Affiliates | Work With Us | Terms/Legal 1999 - 2005 Web Reservations International Limited Home | Hostels | Tours | Infozone | Community

France Travel Guidebooks The

France Travel Planning Essentials  You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors > Trip Planning Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search France for Visitors > Trip Planning Planning Your Trip to France Before you go to France, there are certain essentials you must know. Find out what to pack, which guide books are best, and other basic information for your trip. Be sure to scroll below the ad for more links. Subtopics FirstTimers Guide (8) Packing Tips (4) Maps (15) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Top France Travel Guidebooks The key to planning a great French trip is a great French travel book. It not only can help you establish an itinerary, but you can also decide on lodging, dining and attractions for while you are there. I never travel without a couple in my bag to help me decide what to do. Here are the most indispensable travel guides. France: Before You Go Before you go to France, find out all the basics about customs requirements, the culture, weather, currency and more. Also, get tips on when to go and where to go in France. Free Course: France Trip Planning 101 It is no easy task planning a trip to France. Even so, it's all worth it. But save yourself a lot of headache and stress by learning all the basics first with this free online e-course. How to Use the Toilets in France Using a toilet may sound like the simplest of tasks, but if you aren't used to France's plumbing it can be daunting. Find out what various forms the johns take here, how to flush, how much it will cost you and other secrets to using the restroom. Do you have to know French to visit France? Find the answer to the France Travel FAQ, "Do you have to know French to visit France?"        Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Headlines Lose Weight with the French Diet The French eat rich foods, drink lots of wine and Worst of France 2005 The year 2005 was a tough one for France, as Top Ski Resort Hotels in France France features some of the world's best skiing, be it New Year's Eve in Paris and Other French Cities The French really know how to celebrate New Year's, whether

South America Travel Help,

South America Travel Help | South America Travel Tips & Advice | Travellerspoint U sername: P assword: R emember Me Car Hire Travel Insurance Airport Parking UK Cheap Accommodation Hotel Bookings Travellerspoint Travel Community Forums Blogs Destinations Accommodation Travel Help Reunions Tools Links South America Travel Help, Advice & Tips Travel Help South America Travel Help Ask these Travel Helpers for information about the South America region or select a country to find a Travel Helper for that specific country. Please remember that these Travel Helpers provide information on a volunteer basis and when they take the time to help you that a thank you is highly appreciated! Argentina Bolivia Brazil Cayman Is. Chile Colombia Dominica Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Surinam Uruguay Venezuela aaron chan [abearc] User Profile Log in to ask aaron about South America I have worked as a guide in South America since 1995. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. Erica Keith [luvtravel] User Profile Log in to ask Erica about South America I am a travel agent and have sent many clients to South America. I am fluent in Spanish and am familiar with not only the tourism side of the continent, but also its customs, culture and history. Geoge Foster [georged1] User Profile Log in to ask Geoge about South America I am aformer south america tour leader (for over 5 years). I have traveled all around excepting venezuela and colombia (Wich I visited but never professionaly traveled) I still travel regularly to South America for business reasons... hope i can be of help Jackson Lima [Pluriacqua] User Profile Log in to ask Jackson about South America People planning to visit South America and need information I will always know something that can be of help to them like hotels, bus lines to wierd or far-away places mainly in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and border areas. Since I live on the border I have access to three countries. Would you like to go from Iguassu Falls to the Amazon by bus? Or to Patagonia, I can help with reservations, contacts and so on. jose bogado [calethai] User Profile Log in to ask jose about South America Living in Argentina. Used to work in a Tour Operator. Knowledgement of all southamerica. Joshua Feyen [findemundo] User Profile Log in to ask Joshua about South America I spend 12 months independent traveling throughout South America (NOT Brazil, Venezuela or Colombia). I speak Spanish and took several opportunities to get off the "Gringo Trail." Would like to help people interested in doing the same. Lindsay Simmonds [Loopy] User Profile Log in to ask Lindsay about South America living in bolivia since august 2004. very recent travels in la paz, lago titticaca, el choro trail, sorata to rurre by bike/boat, potosi, sucre, tarija, tupiza, trinidad, santa cruz. hablar un poco de espanol. Lucy Clitherow [Lucyc55] User Profile Log in to ask Lucy about South America I lived in South America for nearly 3 years, and worked for a travel agency. I can help especiially with Columbia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Brasil. Luz light [luz22] User Profile Log in to ask Luz about South America by living in buenos aires, argentina i can help you by telling you everything i know about beautiful latin america:)i d just like to be helpful, so if you have any questions, just ask me!!i ll be glad to answer them, it ll be my pleasure... have fun and be sure to enjoy your stay in south america!!!(note that i ve only been to argentina, brazil, chile, uruguay, columbia and paraguay.) marco meneses [marcomenes] User Profile Log in to ask marco about South America I am an experienced nutritionist and manager with a MPH and a Master in Training and Development with fifteen years experience working in emergency relief and strong computer and financial skills. I have worked in Somalia and Sudan (1993- 1994) supervising programs for child survival, water and sanitation, immunizations, and food for work. In Angola (1991- 1992) I trained traditional birth attendants and community health workers in nutrition and primary care and oversaw therapeutic and supplemental feeding programs. I also worked in West Africa ,Central America and Colombia with the U.N. (1985- 1991) supervising food for work programs and refugee camps management with a focus on accessing the most vulnerable populations. I speak Spanish, English and I am familiar with Portuguese and Arabic margarita van beusichem [margaritav] User Profile Log in to ask margarita about South America by giving advice, tips and suggestions Maria Jesus Reinafarje [mjreinafar] User Profile Log in to ask Maria Jesus about South America Telling you my experiences about my trips throughout this regions. Tips and more. Mikko Eerola [meerola] User Profile Log in to ask Mikko about South America I have lived in Cochabamba, Bolivia for a year in 1999-2000 and also during that time traveled in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and Perú. My wife is Peruvian and has also lived in Ecuador. Together we are happy to share what we know with all travellers interested in the region. We can be contacted in Finnish, English or Spanish. Unfortunately we are oftentimes quite busy with work and other duties, and the response can get delayed. Sorry for that! Please let us know in your question after which date you no longer need the response. Also, please don't request information on formalities such as visas etc. since you should always ask your local embassy or consulate for up-to-date information. Murillo Diniz [murillo] User Profile Log in to ask Murillo about South America I live in São Paulo, Brazil, and love traveling around. I'd love to help anyone who wanted to meet my country or others I've been before, like Bolívia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Paraguai, as well as others in Europe. Hope meeting someone, somewhere, sometime!!!! © 2002 - 2005 Travellerspoint Travel Community | Contact | FAQ | About | Terms | Site Map

Golf Vacation | Golf

Golf Schools: Golf School Vacations America's Favorite Golf Schools 2, 3 and 5 day Golf School Vacations Home | Brochure Request | Reservations | What's Included in our Golf Schools | Testimonials | Contact Us Questions?? Call us toll-free at 1-800-365-6640 Live and Stay with a Master Golf Teaching Professional GOLF SCHOOL LOCATIONS Arizona Arkansas California Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Illinois Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nevada New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia Wisconsin New! Seniors & All Military Personnel Receive 10% Discount off Schools! "The Game has Never Been Easier to Learn!" GOLF SCHOOL VACATIONS MAKE GREAT GIFTS! BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE CLICK HERE Welcome to America's Favorite Golf Schools, the #1 Choice in Golf School Vacations offering two, three and five day packages at over 50 locations across the United States. With thousands of graduates over 20 years, students return season after season to refine their playing skills, relax and enjoy the amenities our many locations have to offer. You can request a free hard copy version of this website (brochure), or quickly and easily make your reservations online to one of our golf schools, or call us toll free at 1-800-365-6640 . And now for a limited time, receive a free complimentary golf gift when you register for any class . Please request complementary gift when registering. Aside from being the most popular organization of golf school getaways, our continued success hinges on the fact that our teaching staff sincerely cares that you improve. Our relaxed teaching structure lets you work and have FUN at your own pace, whatever your age or level of ability! Beginners and intermediates are just as welcome as low handicappers. Subscribe to our Mailing List For those interested in learning more about upcoming golf school specials and tips for improving your game, please enter your e-mail address and press subscribe. You will be added to our mailing list and receive periodic updates from America's Favorite Golf Schools. FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA GOLF SCHOOL GET OUT OF THE COLD AND ENJOY A WARM GOLF SCHOOL VACATION IN BEAUTIFUL FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA. ONLY 15 MINUTES FROM THE BEACH, BONAVENTURE COUNTRY CLUB IS ONE OF OUR MORE POPULAR GOLF GETAWAY DESTINATION LOCATIONS. THEIR NATIONALLY FAMOUS #3 WATERFALL HOLE WAS RECENTLY VOTED ONE OF THE TOP EIGHTEEN HOLES IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AMERISUITES WESTON ACTS AS THE HOST HOTEL AND IS ONLY MINUTES FROM THE COURSE TRULY A GREAT PLACE TO WORK ON YOUR GAME! Learn More PHOENIX, ARIZONA GOLF SCHOOL THE SUN SHINES 350 DAYS A YEAR IN PHOENIX, AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY ENJOY A GREAT GOLF SCHOOL EXPERIENCE RIGHT HERE AT AHWATUKEE COUNTRY CLUB. OUR GOLF SCHOOL DIRECTOR & GOLF MAGAZINE TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEE DAVE SHAVER WILL IMPROVE ALL AREAS OF YOUR GAME USING THE EXCITING MODEL GOLF TEACHING SYSTEM. THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, HOSPITALITY AND UNMATCHED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM ENSURE YOU A FANTASTIC GOLFING VACATION. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. Learn More America's Favorite Golf Schools 1295 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd. Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 800-365-6640 772-335-3815 Fax 772-335-3822 info@afgs.com More About Our Golf Schools Buy a Gift Certificate View Our Video Request a Brochure What's Included in our Golf Schools Make Reservations View Current Specials Private Lessons Mini Golf Schools Golf Schools for Beginners Golf Schools for Women Golf Schools for Juniors Guidelines for Golf School Teaching Professionals Golf Schools as Family Vacations Other Golf Resources Contact Us View Our FREE Golf School Video Home | Brochure Request | Make Reservations | About Our Golf Schools | Testimonials | Contact Us | Link To Us | Site Map Golf Lesson | Golf Vacation | Golf Instruction | Golf School Information and Policies 2004 America's Favorite Golf Schools®

Spain Travel

TRAVEL IN SPAIN El primer portal en España para los ciudadanos extranjeros residentes Resi- Home Resi- News Resi- Shopping Resi- Travel Resi- Education Resi- Health Resi- Finance Resi- Club Resi- Links Weather Chats Forum Notice board SMS Free e-mail Euroservices Moving to Spain? TIPS FAQ'S Solidarity Inmigration (Reicaz) Advertising Blogging Messenger Fun International Clinics Spanish recipies Reasons for living in Spain :: Choose the best ways to travel from Europe to Spain and from Spain to all major European destinations. :: Use the detailed information to help you travel confidently around Spain and get to know this wonderful country better. :: Consult train, air and bus timetables all over Europe, plan your route using the latest information on the state of roads and weather in Spain and in other European countries. :: Book your plane, train and bus tickets or simply find out more about what is on offer and compare prices, timetables, availability and travel opportunites. :: Or simply browse through different holiday options available in Spain and around Europe. e a good trip! Hotels in Spain Restaurants in Spain Paradors in Spain Spanish fiestas Book your Spanish hotel here. Just choose a town and click search to discover Spain's best hotel deals. SPAIN: Loading........ travel in spain, air travel in spain, flights to spain, road travel in spain, travel by road in Spain, rail travel in Spain, travelling by rail in Spain, travelling by road in Spain, holiday in Spain, travelling in Spain, car hire in Spain, travel in Spain, trains in Spain © 2000 Euroresidentes | ItyIs Siglo XXI, Spain | Quiénes somos | Mapa del web