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France cycling and walking tours from France tour specialists where you save time and money. DISCOVER FRANCE FRANCE BICYCLE TOURS FRANCE WALKING TOURS FRANCE GETAWAYS PARIS TRIPS PARIS HOTELS Theme Travel » Honeymoons Family Trips Wine/Cooking Paris Packages His & Her Custom Travel Gay/Lesbian Promotions Group Travel Club Trips Info Languedoc -this winter Wine/Cuisine fr 984 Euros Happy Holidays! Oh, and between family gatherings - don't forget you can save by booking before Dec 31! Tour de France 2006 - The program is out and so are our tours, including Etape du Tour. See the programs here. Check out our New interactive Language Section! Latest Headlines on Cycling Millar to ride for Spanish team Armstrong faces defamation trial Cooke on road to Games recovery © 2006 Discover France (SM) Bienvenue! We are specialists in bicycle tours in France as well as hiking tours in France and specialty travel throughout France. Discover France offers a wide range of France travel services from Paris to the countryside. We are here to give you the best advice for a France vacation to remember! We are the leaders and specialists in active vacations in France for cycling tours and hiking/walking tours throughout France, with creative itineraries that feature the best of each region at the greatest possible value to you. On our bicycle tour and walking tour Web pages, you'll find more than 30 different self guided tour itineraries, lasting as few as four days or as many as 14 days. The physical demands of the tours range from easy to challenging - but all offer unique opportunities to discover French culture and lifestyle. Our bicycle tours and walking vacations offer you a great deal of independence yet provide support when you need it. This formula is the best value you will find with nearly all tours priced under $1500 with top quality hotels , and has made for very satisfied travelers! In addition to cycling and walking tour vacations in France, other out-of-the-ordinary experiences are available for the Tour de France , honeymooners, and we can handle custom groups and themes tours. We offer many France travel services that you can choose on an "a la carte" basis as well. Some sample France tours are cooking tours and wine theme tours, and of course for our mainstay bicycle tours and walking tours we can customize the itineraries as best we can to meet your travel needs. Our Paris Passes section offers Museum Passes , Paris hotels, Paris metro passes , Paris airport transfers, shows, Paris day tours, and just about everything else you may need for a complete Paris vacation. Latest News from Yahoo Henry brace fires resurgent Gunners (AFP) Head of Italian insurer Unipol resigns over takeover bids charges (AFP) German says Zarqawi behind her abduction (Reuters) Home | Cycling Classics | Pure Adventures | Bicycle Tours | Walking Tours | Media | Links Promotions | Travel Agents | FAQs | French Language | Newsletter | Group Travel | Privacy | Site Map

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

Japan Travel

Outdoor Japan - Your guide to travel and the outdoors in Japan Outdoor Japan Magazine is the only bilingual magazine about travel and the outdoors in Japan. Have fun, meet friends, plan trips, buy gear , get inspired and get out there! OUTDOOR JAPAN MAGAZINE - CURRENT ISSUE OUTDOOR STORE DIRECTORY OUTDOOR JAPAN CLASSIFIEDS OUTDOOR OPERATORS - EXCITING ACTIVITIES GREAT PLACES TO STAY AROUND JAPAN EVENT & RACE CALENDARS A search for my fathers birthplace brought me to the land of rising suns and falling pink blossoms. Locals dubbed me KintaroGolden Boyafter the legendary Japanese character, and so began Kintaros journey that would last more than four months and 3,000 kilometers with nothing but an old sketch as a clue... I t had been raining since the previous day, and I could feel the thick moisture spread through the air, falling through the crevices of tree branches that covered the sky above. My rain gear was completely wet with humidity and sweatwhat a messyet my heart was like a sunny day filled with joy, soaking in the precipitous scenery. Yakushima is rain. Subscribe & Win! Subscribe to Outdoor Japan Magazine in until Nov. 30 for a chance to win tickets to the Banff Film Festival, Kintaro DVDs and a Deluxe Room for two nights with breakfasts (up to 4 people) at the Hotel Grand Mer in Okinawa! 購読して、当てちゃおう！ １０月にアウトドアジャパンの雑誌を購読すると、バンフ・フィルムフェスティバルのチケット、「金太郎日本をゆく」のDVD、沖縄のグランドメールホテルのデラックスルームにて２泊（朝食付き）無料宿泊（最大４名様）のチャンス、いずれかが当たるよ！ * News & Notes: Tokyo Real Ale Festival - Marianas Cup Beach Volleyball Tournament - Shin Yokohama 2006 Ski Trips - Japan Underwater Explorers * OJ Feature Story in BEPAL Magazine * OJ booth at the Kudos Travel Fair 2005 * New Video section! * OJ / JA Monthly Hiking Trips * Listen to Outdoor Japan's Adam Clark on Kanaz@wee! Podcast The Vault [Past Features] Join the OJ Newsletter . It's free and a great way to keep up with what's going. Just type in your e-mail address below. CLICK FOR LATEST NEWSLETTER OUTDOOR JAPAN WINTER SPORTS SECTION INTRODUCTION AREA GUIDE RESORT SPOTLIGHTS FEATURE STORIES WINTER GIVEAWAY COMING SOON! LATEST FEATURES Traveling this summer, I walked into Forest Rhythms, a pottery studio deep in the woods of the North Eastern United States owned Steve Hodgkin. A narrow strip of road leads four hours northward from Jaipur, through the desert to the land of Shekhavati, to extraordinary frescoed mansions in the sand. The castle town of Mandawa serves as the ideal anchor for a visit to Shekavati. By now most of us here in Japan are enjoying a bit of a reprieve from the stifling heat and humidity of summer. HyakumeizanJapans 100 Famous Mountains: #82 Yarigatake Traveler's Tune: Ben Folds' Island Retreat With a careful eye for deserted mountain roads, a cool late summer morning in Iwate Prefecture brought about a sensational downhill longboard carving session. The Local Brew: The Fishmarket Taproom, Numazu, Shizuoka（静岡県沼津市） Eco Corner: Choices for Sustainable Lifestyles The North Face Tadpole 23-Convertible Made for Japans humid weather Trail Recipes: Tamago Oziya (Egg & Rice Soup) Spirit of Silence: Like most people, I love traveling. However, I explore a soundless worldas I was born deaf. The samurai warriors who were exiled to Hokkaido set the tone for the type of rugged individualists that became the Dosanko (children of Hokkaido) of today. Off the tourist trail is about about little-known places such as Omine-okugake Trail spanning Nara and Wakayama Prefectures. If you are looking for a quick escape with the family, look north to Saitamas Chichibu Youth Outdoor Activity Center. OJ Video Section See some fun video clips of great places and activities in Japan. Outdoor Japan Classifieds (Japan & Int'l) NEW OUTDOOR OPERATORS Westylife specializes in VW Westfalia Campers. Sales, repair and customization in Japan. Come to The Outpost and learn to snowboard in English in beautiful Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano. Great skiing and snowboarding in a traditional Japanese hot spring town. Skybus Sapporo is a great way to get to and from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo and where you are staying. Niseko, Furano & more. OkinawaAdventure in paradise! OAC is committed to providing the safest possible eco-friendly outdoor adventure experience that is also a lot of fun. NEW PLACES TO STAY Kanzanso is an onsen ryokan located in a quiet Oigami hot spring village in Gunma Prefecture. The Oigami area is surrounded by mountains rivers. Hotel Heights is located in Northern Nagano in the Shiga Kogen Ski Resort area, one of Japans most scenic and natural sites. Hotel Matsushima is the home of budget travelers in Tokyo, offering quality service and making life easy for foreigners, backpackers and travelers in Japan. Hotel Grand Mer brings you affordable luxury and impeccable style in the heart of Okinawa, Japan's tropical paradise. Fontana is a leading international real estate provider with over 800 furnished apartments and guesthouses conveniently located throughout Tokyo. BIGAIR Fukuoka Hakata, Fukuoka Studio Nada Ocean View Cottages Kashima, Ibaraki We welcome comments, suggestions, reviews and contributions. Enjoy! home ׀ write for oj ׀ send in a review ׀ advertise ׀ contact us All contents Outdoor Japan Y.K. All rights reserved.

Spain Travel

Madrid Spain Travel and Tourism Guide  You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Madrid Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Europe for Visitors > Spain and Portugal > Spain > Madrid Madrid: Guide to The Capital of Spain Madrid has been ignored as a tourist destination for quite some time, but residents of Madrid have built a lively city that doesn't seem to sleep--a great place for tapas, night life, and sleeping late. The Madrid Guide will help you find the best of Madrid. Subtopics Madrid Attractions (6) Madrid General Travel (9) Madrid Fiesta Guides (3) Madrid Lodging (7) Madrid Food and Restaurants (4) Madrid Transportation (6) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent The Best of Madrid Got some money burning a hole in your pocket and want to get some romance and luxury for it? Try Madrid for its good value. Madrid has some fine hotels and restaurants. Here are our picks for when you want to put on the Ritz. Madrid Pictures Four pictures of Madrid attractions by Ferne Arfin. Madrid Map Zoom in to Madrid, or enter a street address and be whisked to that place on this great Madrid map. Once you get close, you'll be able to see pictures of the individual buildings along the street you've selected. Cool way to find anything in Madrid.        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 Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...

South America Travel

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 .