air travel and how

"Air rage is caused by oxygen deprivation."--Diana Fairechild HOME | FREE | FAST | ABOUT | CONTACT | NEWSLETTER | RADIO | NONPROFIT | SEARCH EXPERT WITNESS | SPEAKING | CONSULTING | BOOKS | PRESS ROOM . AIR RAGE CAUSED BY OXYGEN DEPRIVATION By Diana Fairechild First Published by Reuters News Service in 7-98, then in the Jet Smart Newsletter on 12-28-98 "Diana Fairechild, who, having circled the planet more than a hundred times, is able to offer tips on everything from how to avoid blocked ears to how to get a freshly brewed cup of coffee." -GQ Magazine "Diana Fairechild is a natural born healer. She was put on Earth to help millions of people. I really truly feel that Diana's motivation is to educate us, the people who fly--who could die on airplanes." -Uri Geller, Psychic "Fairechild discusses all the hazards of air travel and how to protect yourself." -Andrew Weil, MD "Nobody should get on a plane without Jet Smarter. There is no other information out there on how to travel and protect your health at the same time. It's not available, I've checked. You must protect yourself... it's very serious. This book is indispensable. Don't travel without it." -Layna Berman ( radio ) "Fairechild's great sense of humor reduces anxiety. You become stronger by reading this book and able to protect yourself from the rigors of air travel." -George Hoffer, Frequent flyer "Jet Smarter is the Encyclopedia Britannica of air travel! Read it before you board an airplane -- then pack it in your carry-on. This book can save your health, maybe even your life! There are more dangers in flying than you ever dreamed of. It's all in Jet Smarter. The book is hard-hitting, in depth, comprehensive, full of solutions, entertaining, and often witty." -Arlene Ashe, reader "Diana Fairechild has been warning and advising frequent flyers about poor air quality in airplanes since her 1992 publication Jet Smart." -Frequent Flyer "The thing I enjoy only slightly less than a tooth extraction is flying... Fairechild, still perky after what amounts to 300 circumnavigations of the globe, said that the mostly non-lethal dangers of air travel amount to one of the great unexplored environmental health issues of the day...Considering how many of us this affects, this lone voice is well worth hearing." -John Bogert, Copley Newspapers "Diana Fairechild, a highly respected consumer advocate for the flying public, says there is 'no quick fix for all the symptoms of jetlag because of all the different causes -- shifts in time, alterations in magnetic fields, modifications in climate, and diversitites in cultures. Flying in commercial jets, we're deprived of air and humidity while exposed to recycled germs and chemicals, radiation, pesticides, and noise.'" -Ambassadair Travel Club "Fairechild has a bag of carry-on health tricks larger than fits in the overhead compartment, all included in her book, Jet Smarter." -American Bar Association Journal "Diana Fairechild, a former flight attendant who writes about and does consulting on the health risks of flying, says some frequent travelers often fail to connect the dots between their travels and chronic ailments." -Alina Tugend, The New York Times "Take the advice of Diana Fairechild." -Smart Money "Diana Fairechild is an aviation health and safety analyst." -Andrea Arceneau, CNN-TV "Diana Fairechild's book Jet Smart dropped a bomb in Washington and the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation changed policy." -Ed Randegger, Environ "Thank you so much Diana Fairechild for coming forward and saying what needs to be said about the airline industry. You are a real hero." -thepowerhour.com ALL AROUND THE WORLD, frequent flyers, territorial about armrests and fretful about footing, now secretly wonder if the person next to them is a business flyer or a berserk flyer! And they may have good reason to be apprehensive. Unruly behavior in the skies has been increasing at an astonishing rate in both numbers and levels of hostility. In well-publicized incidents, airline passengers have defecated on food carts, beaten up crew members, and even sexually assaulted their own seats! Here are some examples of "air rage." Passenger Mr. Finneran, a banker, was fined $50,000 by United Airlines after he assaulted an attendant and then defecated on a first-class food cart during a Buenos Aires-to-New York flight. Passenger Mr. Guzman-Hernandez removed his pants and then "simulated having sex with the back of his own seat." Passenger Mr. Misiak put his hands around the throat of a flight attendant and threatened her because she spilled a drink on him. A passenger named Ms. Pennix grabbed a flight attendant's finger and bent it backward. Pennix explained to authorities that she didn't like the way the flight attendant told her to put her tray and seat in an upright position before landing. Passenger Mrs. Levy grabbed a flight attendant by the arms and twisted her wrists. Levy was traveling with three children and explains that she lost her temper because her 20-month-old was crying, had wet pants, and there was no way to get to the bathroom. Passenger Mr. Okada from Japan "allegedly urinated on the seats" then punched another passenger who told him to stop. A group of drunken Irish tourists were apparently so unruly over the Atlantic that the crew enlisted the help of a wrestling team to restrain them. Airline crews have begun to take drastic measures which sometimes have disastrous consequences. In December 1998, an unruly passenger was aboard a Malov flight between Bangkok and Budapest. The crew and passengers tied the unruly man to his seat, then a doctor on board injected him with a tranquilizer. The passenger died--tied to his seat with airplane headset cords! Once the crew noticed that the unruly passenger had died, the plane made an unscheduled stop in Istanbul. Five witnesses (passengers) were detained by the Turkish police along with the doctor. After a 13-hour delay, the remaining 183 passengers winged away (and behaved themselves, in spite of their late arrivals and missed connections). An autopsy in Istanbul showed that the unruly passenger had died due to the mixture in his blood of the tranquilizer and some other drug or alcohol. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? The airlines must accept the major portion of the blame. Here's why, numbered 1 through 5: 1) Airline management is not responding to the need for in-flight security. Crews should not be in the position to be bouncers and bodyguards. Every flight attendant I know has been the brunt of temperamental travelers. When I was exhausted myself at times, my lack of training in this area did not give me the skills to handle these passengers as well as I could have. 2) One more cause of air rage is certainly the in-flight cabin environment--a place that is high in toxic chemicals and allergens, and low in air pressure and oxygen. Vincent Mark, M.D., an environmental physician in Santa Cruz, supports my theory. "Curtailment of fresh air in airplanes can be causing deficient oxygen in the brains of passengers, and this often makes people act belligerent, even crazy," said Dr. Mark in a telephone interview, adding "I'm positive about this, and it can be proven with a simple blood test." Rage bubbles up at high altitude just like soft drinks fizz over at high altitudes. The link between air rage and poor air quality deserves a closer look. To start with, passenger unruliness began to rise some 20 years ago, coinciding with the cost-cutting practice of using recycled air instead of fresh air in commercial jets. 3) Still another culprit, high on the list of irritants for airline passengers, is cramped "sardine seating." Airline seats are now as small as seats on subway trains, and with many flights lasting longer, passengers feel they are packed like sardines in a can, or chickens in crowded cages. Is it any wonder they peck peevishly at those around them? The last time I flew, I was in an aisle seat in economy. The passenger next to me was too large to fit in his seat, and his touching me all through the flight made me very uncomfortable. On the other side, everyone who passed, even the carts, bumped into me. Airline executives (who travel in first class) have, to date, only pointed to excess luggage as the cause for surly passenger behavior. In testimony before Congress, airline management blamed air rage on the number and size of bags passengers bring on the plane. Upon closer examination, it appears the airlines themselves have contributed to the luggage problem by removing coat closets, leaving little room for garment bags or heavy outer clothing. And with eight percent of all airline baggage lost or stolen , travelers are increasingly reluctant to check their luggage. 4) The difference between passenger expectations for comfort and service and the reality of what awaits them on board, especially in coach class, is no doubt another contributor to the increase of air rage. Airline ads still show flight attendants answering passengers' every wish. This is not possible because all the airlines have downsized to save money. 5) Alcohol and altitude don't mix. The inside of the airplane cabin is 8,000 feet. Passengers are afffected by alcohol more quickly than they realize at high altitudes. Drinking dehydrates people, and this can lead to irritability, fatigue and tunnel vision. Since alcohol also lowers inhibitions, why should we be surprised that it also magnifies the emotional reaction to the difficult flying environment? Most air rage incidents have been alcohol related. While "unruly" passengers have been a problem within the airline industry for many years, they are just now coming to the attention of the public, the press and Congress. Even flight attendants are speaking up--in spite of the gag orders most have signed with their respective airlines. Since passengers, not just crew, are being fondled and assaulted, Congress is investigating. But the chances of an effective response are slim considering the fact that minimal airplane air quality standards--debated in Congress since June 12, 1996--have yet to pass into law. HERE'S WHAT TO DO In case you find yourself on a flight with an air raged "unruly" passenger: --Rather than confront the offender directly, leave your seat and seek out the purser or senior flight attendant. The purser is usually found in first class, so bypass the flight attendants in coach. Give the purser the row and seat number of the unruly passenger. Remain calm and communicate clearly. --And if you have a tendency to be an unruly passenger, here's what you might consider. The airplane is a microcosm of humanity. There are high-techies next to hikers, politicians next to pilgrims, and business flyers next to bawdy kids. Keep in mind that the trip is a challenge for everyone on board. Tolerance and gestures of gentility could make your flights more pleasant--for you, and for everyone around you as well. --Please! Think what you can do to make it easier for others. Say "please." Be kind. Act on your compassion. FROM READERS "I am very much impressed with your work concerning health in flight. My findings concerning environmental anemia actually re-enforce your original insight that the lower air-pressure of the in -flight cabin can cause air rage. My own work on this subject delves into the physiology of the oxygen deprivation and my results back up your original thesis." --Dr. Ross Lee Graham, University of Linkoeping, Sweden .... "I think they should do away with drinking alcohol on flights just like they did cigarettes. It's a toxin, a drug, and a leading cause of violence."--Dee Pollock "To what extent, do you think, the no-smoking rule, on international flights, is contributing to the "air rage"? While I absolutely support the rule, my son-in-law, who smokes, became extremely irritable and aggressive on a flight to London last year. My daughter was ready to kill him. I can see how nicotine deprivation combined with alcohol could be a dangerous combination."--Evelyn Staus "I would suggest that the enraged passenger develops his/her rage at the plane or in the terminal in specific, direct, and immediate response to airline employee arrogance, incompetence, superciliousness, discourtesy, rudeness, ignorance, and disregard for normal courtesy, much less some things called professional standards and professional conduct and professional performance."--Thomas Ryan Nelson RELATED PAGES Radio Interviews on Air Rage Pilots Control the Cabin Air Fairechild's Passenger Bill of Rights FOR MORE DEPTH & INFORMATION, SEE DIANA'S BOOKS AND/OR WRITE TO DIANA . HOME | FREE | FAST | ABOUT | CONTACT | NEWSLETTER | RADIO | NONPROFIT | SEARCH EXPERT WITNESS | SPEAKING | CONSULTING | BOOKS | PRESS ROOM FLYANA.COM

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South America Vacations & Tourism, South America Hotels, South America Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase South America: Search Travel Travel > Guides > South America Email this page Print South America Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of South America Top Cities in South America Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Santiago Sao Paulo Bogota Lima Caracas Cartagena Quito Salvador Belo Horizonte Barranquilla San Andres Island Buzios San Carlos de Bariloche Countries in South America Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guiana Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Popular South America Cities Brazil Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo Salvador Belo Horizonte Buzios Venezuela Caracas Puerto La Cruz Porlamar Merida Maracaibo Peru Lima Cuzco Machu Picchu Arequipa Miraflores Bolivia La Paz Santa Cruz Cochabamba Huatajata Island Sucre Argentina Buenos Aires San Carlos de Bariloche Mar del Plata Mendoza Cordoba Ecuador Quito Guayaquil Cuenca Salinas Machala Chile Santiago Vina del Mar Easter Island Iquique Osorno Colombia Bogota Cartagena Barranquilla San Andres Island Medellin Related Information Popular Attractions in South America Cerro de Monserrate Corcovado Museo del Oro Machu Picchu Puerto Madero Ipanema Parque de la 93 Teleferico (El) Barrio La Candelaria Teatro Coln Popular Hotels in South America Copacabana Palace Hotel J W Marriott Hotel Quito Gran Melia Caracas Decameron San Luis Sofitel Hotel Santa Clara JW Marriott Hotel & Stellaris Casino Dann Carlton Hotel Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi Marriott Santiago Hotel Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Popular Cities in South America Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Santiago Sao Paulo Bogota Lima Caracas Cartagena Quito Salvador Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap airline tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

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About Weblogs: A Blogging Network on Personal Growth, Passions and Lifestyles. We are now a part of b5media.com . Watch out for updates and news on the merger . MAIN | Archives | Admin | Network Stats | Be a Blogger | Jump to navigation Web Media Category: Network Blogs Blog #28 on the network is Online Journalism by Connie Vivero Luayon. Connie is a long-time freelance writer both for the print and online media. Here's a brief description of the blog from Connie: Online Journalism is basically researching and writing for the online media. But there is more to just gathering information from web sites, writing an article based on information scraped from anywhere, and publishing them for everyone to read. Online Journalism requires skills in researching, editing, reporting and interviewing suited to the online media. Do say hello to Connie and enjoy her brand new blog! tags: online journalism , connie luayon 12/05/05 - 02:40:18 - Shai - 1 comment |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 7444 times. Changing Needles Category: News and Announcements Our former Crochet blog has just undergone two major changes: 1) Gwynne Lacey, the former blogger of The Crochet Blog , has now been replaced by the vivacious Adelle Tilton . Adelle is a long-time enthusiast in crocheting and knitting, on top of her other interests and expertise . 2) It has now expanded its coverage from simply crochet to knitting as well. So now, it is known as The Knitting and Crochet Blog. . Well, until it moves to its new home at b5media anyway. Read Adelle's intro regarding her latest AW/b5 blog. tags: crochet , knitting , aboutweblogs.com , b5media , adelle tilton 11/27/05 - 16:24:27 - Shai - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 9886 times. On Autism Category: Network Blogs Our latest blog to launch on the network is the Teenage and Adult Autism Blog . And, our blogger is the energetic Adelle Tilton. Adelle is also our blogger for Daily Quotations . She's currently About.com's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders . And, she is also the author of Adams Media's The Everything Parents Guide to Children with Autism . And, if you're counting, this is blog #27. Join Adelle and spread the word! tags: adelle tilton , autism , teenage adult autism 11/20/05 - 00:09:46 - Shai - 2 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 13595 times. Merger Stories: Behind The Scenes and More Category: General The past 48 hours here at About Weblogs has certainly been interesting, what with the announcement of the merger with b5media and all. I'm trying not to keep going on about this, but I've been receiving some questions from different people. And, as an avid blogger, I often prefer to go to my own blog when answering "official" questions - using my own words. At least, in this case, I think it's the way to go anyway. :-) In any case, one of the more "controversial" things that came out of the announcement is Scrivs's admission that his network is the one that first approached me and About Weblogs. So, what's the story behind that? [Read More!] 11/09/05 - 06:57:36 - Shai - 5 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 20382 times. About Weblogs Merges with b5media Category: News and Announcements Yes, it's true. Our network is merging with b5media . The official announcement is also posted at The Blog Herald . Some people might think that I hinted about this merger last month. Truth is, I was talking about a different merger that time. I wasn't even in contact with the b5 guys back then about the possibility of merging. Another network owner has approached me a couple of months ago about merging About Weblogs with their network. But, as I said in my post, things didn't quite work out. A week or so after I posted the entry on mergers, Jeremy contacted me for a Skype chat. What they had to offer sounded good, so I said I'd think about it and talk to my bloggers about the possibility of a deal. As soon as we entered in to negotiations, I received another possible offer for a merger. I couldn't respond to that, as I was already talking to the b5 guys and it didn't seem fair. After a couple of weeks of negotiations, we came to the final conclusion that About Weblogs and b5media are a good fit. So, we sealed the deal. And now, we're here. Excited about the possibilities of this new partnership. In Darren's post , he mentioned the following reasons as b5's reasons for choosing About Weblogs: International Flavour, Size and Diversity of Blogs , Gender (er, you have to read his post to understand this ), and Shais (yep, that's me ;-)) Experience and Expertise. But, of course, apart from us bringing something to b5's table, I believe that they're bringing something to us too. Darren, Duncan and Jeremy's experience and expertise combined is a lot more than my own as an individual. Running a network by myself has plenty of challenges and limitations. Now, I have three wonderful guys to work with - and that's fantastic. In terms of traffic, exposure, and resources - b5media considerably has more than what About Weblogs has got at this time. So, those are welcome additions too. I can probably go on, but I think I'll stop now, as I'm sure that there will be more about this merger in the next couple of weeks or so. What does this mean to About Weblogs and where do we go from here? 1) About Weblogs will cease as a blog network brand, as soon as the merger is complete. We will then be known as b5media. 2) Each About Weblogs blog will now have new designs and domains of their own. We will be announcing each one as they find and establish their new "homes". 3) Apart from the pre-approved blogs that we have prior to the merger, we won't be adding any more blogs to the About Weblogs brand from hereon. So, blogger applications will now be put on hold and re-directed to b5media. 4) I will become the fourth partner in the b5media core/admin group, together with Jeremy Wright ( ensight.org ), Darren Rowse ( problogger.net ), and Duncan Riley ( blogherald.com ). We're looking forward to all the changes that will be happening here. I hope you will be thrilled for us too. In any case, we'll be updating you with any other news and developments. So, stay tuned! tags: aboutweblogs.com , b5media , blog networks 11/07/05 - 02:43:34 - Shai - 4 comments |4 Trackbacks This post was displayed 21590 times. Blogs In The Oven Category: General I'm not usually one to announce pre-launch blogs. In fact, I normally wait until a blog has a few blog entries and it has been generally "ironed out" a bit, before I add them to our 'live' environment here at About Weblogs. But, I'm pre-empting some questions that might come my way. So, I can answer the possible queries in one blog entry, here's a list of soon-to-come blogs on the network. Blogs Awaiting Promotion to Live Environment: - Online Journalism Blogs Approved But Still Awaiting To Be Set-Up: (Bloggers are already available, but waiting) - Stitching - Cardiovascular Disease - Widow's Walk - Teenage/Adult Autism - now live There are also a couple of other blogs that are still under negotiations with respective bloggers. At the end of it, if all goes well, we'd have about 31 to 35 blogs in the network. tags: aboutweblogs.com , blogs 11/07/05 - 02:00:56 - Shai - 1 comment |1 Trackback This post was displayed 21209 times. Getting Quoted! Category: Network Blogs We're excited to present to you blog #26 on the network - the Daily Quotations blog by Adelle Tilton. But, mind you, it's not just about sharing the best quotations that you can find about various topics. There's a whole lot of other things to discover with the help of these quotes. Adelle is a professional writer who's currently the About.com Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders . She is also a published author with Adams Media. So, head on over to say hello and get your daily dose of inspiration! tags: aboutweblogs.com , network blogs , adelle tilton , quotations 11/06/05 - 01:59:38 - Shai - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 21322 times. Leadership Blog on Washington Post Category: General Uhhh... not quite! Jone Lewis of the Leadership Blog sent me the link to this Washington Post article . Nothing to shout about, as it's only a Technorati-based linkback. But, it's fun to see and to share this anyway! :-) tags: leadership blog , washington post 11/05/05 - 20:48:00 - Shai - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 21257 times. AboutWeblogs Down Time Category: News and Announcements First of all, our big apologies to everyone who's been trying to access our network in the last few hours. During the last couple of weeks, the About Weblogs Network has been receiving more visitors than ever. In fact, our traffic has increased more than 50% lately. And, it looks like we're not slowing down yet either. We're especially excited with all the Google-loving that we've been receiving. SEO work does pay off. :-) Unfortunately, we're not ready for our increased popularity. So, we exceeded our bandwidth allotment and our host had to take our weblogs down. A "happy problem" - but a problem nevertheless. So, after a little bit of hair-pulling for a few hours, we've sorted it out. And, thanks to some good folks who helped us out, we've now increased our bandwidth - and disk space. Thanks for all your patience and support! Here's to hoping for more happy problems ahead... Or, just plain happy times. ;-) tags: aboutweblogs.com , blog networks , blogging news 10/31/05 - 16:13:45 - Shai - No comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 22402 times. Accessorise It with Fashion Frills! Category: Network Blogs Writing of changes on the network , one of the latest things that we've got going on AboutWeblogs.com is The Fashion Accessories Blog . It is maintained by our former Stamping blogger, Nikki Katz. That's right. Nikki's bowing out of The Stamping Blog in order to focus on Blog #25 on our network instead. The Fashion Accessories Blog (aka "Fashion Frills") will be all about fun and funky fashion accessories - from bags to shoes to jewelry to hats. 'hope you enjoy it! To find out more about Nikki, visit her Blogger Profile . tags: fashion accessories , nikki katz , aboutweblogs.com , new blogs 10/25/05 - 07:50:46 - Shai - 2 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 24071 times. Winds of Change Category: News and Announcements So much is happening here at AboutWeblogs.com . Things are shifting, moving and changing. Scary stuff. Exciting stuff. Sad stuff. Great stuff. But, before I go on and on about our stuff... allow me to just share these things: Tammy has handed over The Birthday Blog to our beauty blogger, Christina . We've shared in the grief of our Philippine Culture blogger, Gloria when she lost her father recently. And, we wish her family well. If you've sent in an application to be an AboutWeblogs.com blogger and you still haven't heard back from anyone, please accept my apologies. Life's been really hectic and my email inbox has been really naughty. If you're still interested in pitching your ideas, please feel free to re-send your message. And, let me say thanks for your interest and support. Stay tuned for more news... and, er... stuff. tags: blog , networks , news , blog , news , bloggers 10/21/05 - 06:35:52 - Shai - No comments |1 Trackback This post was displayed 24720 times. Christina Jones: Network Blogger Profile Category: Blogger Profiles Christina Jones is our wild and wonderful blogger for The Beauty Blog . She studied Business Administration at Tusculum College. She's the author of the ebook, Nail Tech Secrets: A Step by Step Guide to Spa Manicures and Pedicures . And, she's been blogging with AboutWeblogs.com since July 2005. So, what kind of beauty expert have we got in Christina? I have been a nail tech for the last 18 years, during the first half of that time, I also worked as an aesthetician and makeup artist. I have been interested in beauty and fashion nearly all of my life. I can remember starting to work on the hair and makeup of friends and myself from about age 12. At age 18, I made it official, and began a career that I enjoyed so much. I love the people, I love the subject matter, I just love the beauty biz and all it entails! So, if she has 3 important tips to give regarding her topic, what would they be? 1. Moisturize everything that can be moisturized, you will not regret it! 2. Blend, blend, blend! 3. Do not think that you have to be Angelina Jolie or Pamela Anderson to be beautiful. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and it has a whole lot more to do with who you are inside than what you look like outside! [Read More!] 10/10/05 - 03:39:10 - Shai - No comments |1 Trackback This post was displayed 27967 times. On Blogging Network Mergers Category: Network Check-ups and Stories Okay, I'm breaking some of my rules today: 1) I'm writing a cryptic title and blog entry. (A general no-no.) 2) I'm engaging in a bit of blogosphere gossip. (I'm not a big fan of 'em. But then, this isn't comletely gossip, as it really happened.) 3) I'm posting something not too serious in this network blog for once. (A good thing, once in a while, methinks. ;-)) So, what am I talking about anyway? Well... Since I haven't posted any network news for a while now, I thought I'd share a "news that could've been" here at AboutWeblogs.com. You see, a few months back, a blogging network owner approached me with an idea: To merge AboutWeblogs.com with their then-growing (now, quite popular) weblog network. We were still to run as separate blog networks, but we would combine our strengths as two "fledgling" networks to create a bigger, more competitive blogging network. After all, what are the chances of little blog networks against the "big boys and girls of the blogosphere"? So yes, a merger sounded good. However, there were a couple of issues that needed to be addressed. I ran it past my wonderful network bloggers and most of them said that they'd support whatever my decision would be. It was a tough call because it definitely sounded like a great deal. I respected the network and the network owner. But, the issues were not addressed at the time, so I politely declined. I didn't hear back since. Not even a "That's okay. Maybe we can look at this again another time," kinda' email. So, I'm not sure how my decision affected that particular blogging relationship. Strangely enough, after I made that decision, that network made a policy change, which would've addressed one of the biggest issues that we were facing if we were to merge as a network. And, when that change took place, I asked myself: If that new policy was in place during our negotiations, would we have continued with merging our networks? And, with new blogging networks popping up like mushrooms everywhere, would blogging network mergers become a reality? And if so, how would blog network owners handle such mergers? Hmmm... Any guesses about which blog network AboutWeblogs.com would've merged with? ;-) tags: blog networks , blogging network , blogosphere , weblogs , bloggers 10/05/05 - 11:04:30 - Shai - 4 comments |2 Trackbacks This post was displayed 28898 times. Blogger Wanted: Skiing and Snowboarding Category: News and Announcements Due to personal circumstances, Melissa, our current blogger for Skiing and Snowboarding Mom decided to end her term. So, if you or someone you know would like to take over, please let me know. We can even change the blog title in to simply Skiing and Snowboarding , if you wish. Anyway, Melissa's still blogging over at Discount Travel Europe . So, make sure to say hello. tags: bloggers , skiing , snowboarding , network blogs 09/30/05 - 02:30:18 - Shai - 3 comments |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 30223 times. Writing From The Heart , The Mind and The Soul Category: Network Blogs We have a treat for people who are in to journals and diaries. You see, the newest blog on our network (#24!) is the Journal Writing Blog by Heather Goldsmith. Heather is a prolific writer based in Perth, Western Australia. And, she has been journalling for over a decade. She writes this about journal writing: The daily habit of journal writing has taken my writing to surprising places over the last thirteen years. While I originally picked up a pen and notebook to improve my writing skills, I did not expect to learn so much about myself, or find a place to rest my soul, or a place to work out the difficulties of life. The journal habit also led me to uncover ideas to use in short stories, articles, poetry and for several novels. So, go ahead and check out the Journal Writing Blog for ideas, prompts, tips, inspiration and more. 09/17/05 - 06:29:15 - Shai - 1 comment |No Trackbacks This post was displayed 32428 times. About This Blog Need a Blogging Consultant? Your Ad Here Member, AboutWeblogs.com About Weblogs is part of a network that offers personal views, tips, news, reviews and other resources about different niche topics. Our focus is on passions, personal growth and lifestyles. If you have any ideas, suggestions or questions, please feel free to contact us . Navigation Navigation MAIN Archives Network Stats Admin About Weblogs Categories Around The Network Blogger Profiles Credits and Thanks General Media Mentions / Press Coverage Network Blogs Network Check-ups and Stories News and Announcements Total Entries in This Blog: 69 Subscribe / Feed What's This? Receive Updates! Enter your email address below to subscribe to AboutWeblogs.com ! powered by Bloglet Search Login Username : Password : Shared Computer Latest Comments George says Best of luck Shai.But could... Mary Emma says Hi Connie,Welcome to the group. ... Drogba says That's why your network suceeds in... Mary Emma says Congratulations, Adelle, on the... Ron Iverson says Many skiers would be interested to... Chasity Moody says I am also interested in this... Ruth says this post makes me all the more... ABOUT WEBLOGS NETWORK AboutWeblogs.com Passions Jewelry & Beading Knitting & Crochet Performing Arts Quilting & Patchwork Scrapbooking Stamping Personal Growth Beauty Children's Books, Toys and Things Counselling/Self-Help Freelance Writing Journal Writing Leadership Make Money Online Parenting Teens Quotations Teenage and Adult Autism Lifestyles Asian Cuisine Asia Travel Birthday Discount Travel Europe Fashion Accessories Genetics & Public Health Housekeeping & Homemaking Online Journalism Philippine Culture Skiing & Snowboarding Weddings & Honeymoons AboutWeblogs.com Honour Roll Weblogs@About.com ChrysalisCreativity.com FreshWave.TV ShaiCoggins.com eWriteLife.com Technorati Profile About Weblogs (c)2005 AboutWeblogs.com & Respective Authors. All rights reserved worldwide. Do not copy, distribute, or print the contents of this site without permission. Graphics/Photographs: Photo Credits | Privacy Policy | Powered by Nucleus .

Germany Travel

Germany Vacations, Germany Travel, Germany Luxury Resorts, Germany Hotels Germany Luxury Vacations, Germany Cruises, and Germany Hotels Guide Germany Vacation Guide: Romantic Germany Weddings and Honeymoons Germany Vacations and Cruise Consultants Germany Luxury Vacation :Call 1 800 330 8820 to book your tour or cruise Other places in Germany Berlin Bernau Hamburg Konigs Wusterhausen Potsdam Strausberg River Cruises Other Places in Europe Albania Andorra Austria Belarus Belgium Bosnia-Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Vacation Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Monaco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Wales Mediterranean Guide Germany Vacation, Tours and Travel Guide In this section you will find great Germany luxury vacation hotels . Great romantic tours in Germany. Germany Cruises . The best historic tours of Germany. Wonderful European river cruises on the beautiful Danube River. Don't miss our Berlin vacation guide and Hamburg vacation guide ---Plus tons of enjoyable virtual tours and streaming videos---You will find everything here, all the insider's secrets. Germany is becoming ever more attractive to visitors from around the globe, above all because of a plethora of cultural events, which take place throughout the year Music-land Germany is the homeland of many of the world's greatest composers: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, Mendelssohn, Wagner, to name just a few, were born in Germany. Among Germany's traditional events and happenings, the Christmas Markets are a great attractions for attract visitors from near and far. Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Dresden, Leipzig, Cologne, Bremen, M?, Frankfurt are but a few of these magical markets, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. All major cities and most towns have Christmas markets during the Advent season. The new and modern Germany, its cities and their beautiful natural surroundings have become a favorite destination for people of all ages and diverse backgrounds. Berlin, the fascinating capital, with its great museums, theaters and restaurants, is one of the most sought-after metropolises in Europe. Great cities such as Munich, Hamburg and Dresden also offer extraordinary cultural and culinary fare. Last but not least, Germany's great tourist routes, among them the Romantic Road, the Castle Road and the Fairy Tale Road, make traveling in Germany an unforgettable, rewarding experience. Germany is historical, modern, busy, lazy, laid-back, quiet, musical, tasteful, dynamic, exhausting, hilly, flat, green, picturesque, sporty, poetic, beer-loving, wunderbar. Germany is a many-sided country. And the opportunities for vacationing in Germany are just as varied. Whether you are underway with family and friends, or on business, are seeking romanticism or planning a city trip, want to actively work out or just be healthily cosseted, take part in courses or seek out culture - all these different wishes can be ideally fulfilled in Germany. Germany's many modern cities stem from the time when it consisted of countless small states. The numerous kings, princes and bishops tried to outshine each other in fields like science, culture and architecture. These power politics were not restricted to the cornerstones for the diverse cityscapes. They were also responsible for the pulsating life in today's Germany. No other European country has as many shopping malls, cultural highlights, opera houses and theaters of world standard, universities, scientific and industrial centers, international airports, congress and trade fair centers distributed so evenly throughout the entire country. There is the old and new capital Berlin, speeding on its way to become a mega-metropolis. The 15 state capitals, the innumerable cultural gems, the business and commercial centers. German cities offer that which makes the whole country so appealing: endless variety. The first associations of Berlin in a nutshell: capital of Prussia, cultural metropolis of the twenties, Reichstag, Berlin wall, reunification, old and new capital. But Berlin is more than that, Today, it is also the gateway to eastern Europe. Berlin is culture. Only Berlin has three opera houses and two concert halls, 35 large and hundreds of independent theaters, numerous variety and musical theaters. Berlin is relaxation. Hardly any other capital has so many parks, forests and recreational lakes and such lovely surroundings for walking, cycling and resting. Berlin is nightlife. In 300 "in" places, 1500 bars and countless clubs and discos one can turn night into day without any threat of closing time. One can dance to techno and to pop and pub crawl from designer bars via beer gardens to quaint backyard pubs. Berlin is a museum. The many big and small galleries display from modern to ancient art. Different epochs of history and fields of interest can be viewed in 130 museums. The streets of Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Mitte and Prenzlauerberg invite you to take part in their cultural scene. Berlin is a market. No other city offers so many art, antique and flea markets, and weekly fruit & vegetable markets for culinary shopping pleasure. But despite its many superlatives, Berlin is still a regular city. The subway is sometimes late, the weather occasionally fickle and the people now and then irritable. But that's what makes Berlin sympathetic. Finding your way around Germany is pretty easy. Many Germans speak English and are pleased to help visitors. Still, there are a few things it is helpful to know before arriving here. Select exactly the components you want in your vacation. You choose your hotel, room category -from sea views to suites-, rental car, private transfers and customized sightseeing tours. We do it all! Our Virtuoso Travel and Cruise Consultants will create the Germany vacation you have always dreamed of. We always try to exceed your expectations! 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We are recommended, authorized Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, and can arrange every little detail to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree cruise experience at no extra charge! You may call our Virtuoso Vacation Specialists, but first, we'd really appreciate it if you complete our "Luxury Vacation Planner" so we have all your requirements beforehand and are prepared to present you with all your options and up-to-the-minute specials. Thank you very much! Call 1- 800 -330 -8820 to book your Europe vacation . Full Service, Worldwide Luxury Europe Tour Vacation Planner Click here to save money, time and stress planning, making reservations, or booking your luxury tour vacation with our full service Virtuoso Luxury Tour Consultants. We can arrange every little detail of your tour vacation, including air, and pre-tour and post-tour arrangements to make sure you have a wonderful, carefree vacation experience at no extra charge! 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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. 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