Germany Travel

Germany Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Germany Germany Story-book charm, cultural clout and a whole lot of gravitas. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Germany Berlin Cologne Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanover Munich Stuttgart View Map Click here Feature Attraction Aachen Dom Aachen's main draw is its Dom, with Charlemagne's exquisite Pfalzkapelle (palace chapel) at its core. One of the best-preserved examples of Carolingian ... more Germany wears its riches well: elegant big-city charm, small picture-postcard towns, pagan-inspired harvest festivals, a wealth of art and culture and the perennial pleasures of huge tracts of forest, delightful castles and fine wine and beer are all there for the savouring. Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany has had a seminal impact on Continental history. From Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire to Otto von Bismarck's German Reich, Nazism and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, no other nation has moulded Europe the way Germany has - for better or worse. When To Go Germany is a fine destination year-round, but most people visit between May and September when sunny skies are most likely and much of life moves outdoors. Beer gardens and cafes bustle at all hours; outdoor events and festivals enliven cities and villages; and hiking, cycling and swimming are popular pursuits - at least as long as the weather plays along. Remember that rain is a possibility in any month. The flipside of summer travel is, of course, larger crowds at museums and other attractions. Accommodation needn't be hard to come by unless you're drawn to beach and mountain resorts popular with German holiday-makers. The shoulder seasons (from March to May and from October to early November) bring fewer tourists and often surprisingly pleasant weather. In April and May, when flowers and fruit trees are in bloom, it can be mild and sunny. Indian summers that stretch well into autumn are not uncommon. With the exception of winter sports, activities between November and early March are likely to focus more on culture and city life. In these months, skies tend to be gloomy and the mercury often drops below freezing. On the plus side, there are fewer visitors and shorter queues (except in the winter resorts). Just pack the right clothes and keep in mind that there are only six to eight hours of daylight. In December the sun (if there is any) sets around 15:30 . Factoid Smellpol When the files of the former East German secret service, the Stasi, were opened up, they were found to contain, among other things, cotton wool swabs of dissidents' body odour, kept in bottles for use by sniffer dogs. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

South America Travel

Central and South American Travel Schedule Travel Lifelong Learning UW Libraries Resources On Wisconsin Career Mentoring On the Road Founders' Day HOME GET CONNECTED LEARN & DISCOVER ALUMNI BENEFITS JOIN/RENEW ABOUT WAA UW-MADISON Central/South American Travel Schedule Get travel information sent to your home - with no obligation. Just check the box next to the trip(s) that interest you, then fill out the mailing information at the bottom of the page. A brochure for the indicated packages(s) will arrive shortly thereafter. Brochures are printed about eight months in advance. If you are interested in being added to our travel mailing list, but do not want any information at this time, click here . 2006 Jan. 27-Feb. 7 Cruise the Panama Canal March 9-19 Amazon March 27-April 9 Treasures of South America June 24-July 3 Galapagos Islands Voyage SOLD OUT July 19-28 Costa Rica Family Adventure Nov. 5-12 Mayan Splendor in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula To finish, just fill out the mailing information below, click the submit button, and WAA will send you more information on the indicated travel package(s). Asking for a brochure in no way obligates you to purchasing a travel package. IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive all the information you requested, please take a moment to make sure that all the trips you want information about are still properly checked. Mailing Information (please double check to make sure everything is correct) First name Last name Address City State/Province Zip/Postal code Country Phone E-mail address WAA Membership number (Can be found on your membership card or on the label of the most recent copy of On Wisconsin Magazine) Check this box if you are not interested in receiving specific trip information at this time, but would like to be added to the general WAA travel mailing list. To receive information on future tours related to particular areas of interest, check all that apply: Astronomy Adventure/Rafting Family Athletic Service/Volunteer Educational Young Alumni All Please make sure you provide a complete and up-to-date mailing address so that all materials arrive promptly. Schedules Full 2005 Calendar Full 2006 Calendar Family Travel Athletic Travel Adventure Travel Service and Learning Tours by Location United States/Canada Central/South America Europe Africa Asia Australia/New Zealand Request a Tour Brochure Other Links Frequently Asked Questions Travel Scrapbooks and Diaries Travel Insurance Our Travel Suppliers Athletic Travel Travel Tips WUD Travel Adventure Film Series Contact WAA Travel For more information about WAA's travel opportunities, contact Director of Alumni Travel Sheri Hicks by e-mail or call toll-free 888-WAA-TRAVEL. Personal Vacation Club Not seeing just the right tour? WAA is pleased to recommend additional travel options through the Personal Vacation Club . Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About uwalumni.com

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Russia Travel Guide: Russian Customs TRAVEL IN RUSSIA | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Russia Travel Tips | St. Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Peter and Paul Fortress Kanal Griboedova Kazan Cathedral Headquarters' Arch Michael's Castle Intro Russian Visa Russian Embassies Money Customs Things to Bring Laptop to Russia FAQ's Russia Customs Regulations Russian customs regulations are complicated and highly discretionary. 30% duty is required to export personal item(s) worth over US $10,000. Moreover, additional export duties apply to any items determined by customs officials to be of commercial use. Certain items, such as caviar, medications, jewelry, precious or semi-precious stones, or metals and fuel may be exported duty-free in limited amounts . As computers' hard-drives may be scanned by customs officials, it is recommended to present your laptops to customs at least 1,5 hours prior to you departure. The same goes for recordable storage media such as CDs, DVD-RWs, etc. Buying and Exporting Antiques All items which are of historical or cultural value - icons , antiques , paintings , coins , etc. - may be taken out of Russia only with prior written approval of the Ministry of Culture and payment of 100% duty. The process of getting the official approval may last from one to several weeks. When you are purchasing an antique item be sure to enquire from the retailer about the export status of your purchase. In all cases get an official receipt proving the fact of purchase and clearly indicating price, date and place of purchase. This receipt will later be handy when dealing with the customs official. Bear in mind that payment of the duty does not automatically make your goods eligible for export, and in most cases antique pieces may either be confiscated at the border or you may be asked to return them to your accompanying person. It is best to ask someone you know in Russia to accompany you to the airport. This way should your antique items not be allowed to be taken out of Russia you will be able to leave them with someone you know. This person may later try to get a refund from the unscrupulous retailer. Taking Money out of Russia You can bring as much money as you want to Russia. However, taking it out of the country can be tricky. You can take home only US $3,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) without any permission. For any amount over US $3,000 a special export permission is required. It can be obtained at any official currency exchange office unless you had the amount declared when entering Russia and can present your original signed declaration to the customs officer. A convenient way for taking money home is purchasing travelers' checks (like American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, etc.). Russian Customs Declaration When first entering Russia be sure to fill out a customs declaration form . You will need to declare the amount of currency you are bringing into the country, as well as all valuable items you carry (jewelry, icons, art collections, laptops, cell phones, etc.). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped and signed by a customs officer on entry to prevent difficulties when taking your currency and valuables after your travel to Russia is over. Remember that a signature by a customs official is not sufficient - you need to get a stamp on your declaration for it to be valid. Otherwise you will not be able to prove that you possessed that diamond ring or a cellular phone prior to your visit. Keep your stamped customs declaration for the entire duration of your stay in Russia - you will need it to prove how much money and what valuables you had with you when arriving in Russia. Additional Information For additional advice on Russian customs regulations, visit our Travel in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions section. Official website of the Russian Federal Customs Service : www.customs.ru/en/ Official capital of Russia Red Square Grand Kremlin Palace Ivan the Great Tower Christ the Savior Kremlin Towers 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES

Austria Travel

Austria Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Austria Austria Music, art and story-book scenery: Austria takes the sacher torte . At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Austria Salzburg Vienna View Map Click here Feature Attraction Krimml Falls These triple-level falls are an inspiring sight and attract hordes of visitors in summer. In winter, the slopes above Krimml village become a ski area, ... more Austria has few peers as a year-round holiday destination, with plenty of winter sports in the Alps, some of the most impressive and overblown architecture in Europe and an unrivalled musical tradition that even The Sound of Music couldn't sully. The cities have plenty to engage visitors. Vienna is the capital, hub of the country's musical life and littered with beautiful buildings. Music, art and architecture reach baroque perfection in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Innsbruck's snow-capped peaks frame its fascinating historic buildings. Factoid Men In Hats Perhaps the most unusual Austrian festival is Perchtenlaufen , held every January in Sazburger Land. The highlight is a street procession with men wearing heavy ornamental headdress, accompanied by younger men dressed as women. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

European Vacation" tour on

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION at HOLLYWOOD TEEN MOVIES National Lampoon's The "Vacation" films are available to buy from "Movies Unlimited". Click the movie titles below for details: Main Menu / About This Site / Email Tony / Survey / Guestbook / Buy a Movie / Links / Home Page 1950's / 60's / 70's / 80's / 90's / 2000 / Musicals / Action / Blockbusters / Disney / Elvis / Slashers A to Z List / Updates / Extras / Galleries / Pictorial History / Quizzes / Movie News / Actor / Actress Support Hollywood Teen Movies Visit our Sponsors: Hollywood Teen Movies Presents Teen Music Store 1 / Teen Music Store 2 / Blockbuster Music Store DVD Video Stores / Book Store / Poster Stores Above: The Griwold's in the first instalment "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983). The Legend of The Griswold Family The "VACATION" Players John Hughes (Writer) : Profile / Video Store Chevy Chase : Video Store Beverly D'Angelo : Video Store Randy Quaid: Video Store John Candy: Video Store Anthony Michael Hall : Video Store Wayne Newton: Video Store National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) VACATION The Traveling Griswold's, they've been everywhere from "Walley World" to "Europe" to "Vegas". They travel so much that on only one occasion did they have time to spend Christmas at home and what a disaster it was. This page is a tribute to Clark Wilhelm Griswold Jr., "The World's Greatest Family Man". Clark believes that the best way to keep his family together is to take them on "Vacation". One thing is for sure when the Griswold's go on "Vacation" anything and everything can happen. The legacy of this typical American family began in 1983 when Clark (Chevy Chase) and his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) decided to take their kids Rusty and Audrey on a cross-country summer vacation to a Disneyland type theme park known as Walley World. This was to be the Griswold's first big trip away from home. Clark left nothing to chance using his new wiz-bang home computer to streamline all the finer details to ensure nothing went wrong. The Griswold's had been planning this perfect summer vacation all year and they were determined to make the most of it, but as they say "nothing ever goes according to plan", especially for the Griswold's. What could possibly go wrong, everything! They lose their money, their new car gets wrecked and Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) insists that Clark takes old Aunt Edna with them cross-country. Well if you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Griswold's, your wrong, old Aunt Edna unexpectedly dies and thrown in for good measure just to distract Clark from all the madness is the mysterious blonde (Christie Brinkley) in the flashy red Ferrari. This first Griswold adventure "National Lampoon's Vacation" introduces us to Chevy Chase's hilarious portrayal of Clark W. Griswold. This fast, funny satire written by John Hughes was a big success at the American box office bringing in over $61 million. Look out for a special appearance by comedy genius John Candy in the film's finale. Outstanding performances, beautiful location scenery (Grand Canyon Arizona, Monument Valley Utah, Magic Mountain California ), a first rate soundtrack ("Holiday Road" and "Dancin' Cross The U.S.A" by Lindsey Buckingham, plus "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters) and extremely funny situations have all contributed to the success of this highly entertaining comedy. It was inevitable that sequels would follow. "For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America!" In this 1985 sequel, the Griswold's win a deluxe "European Vacation" tour on a primetime TV game show. When the disaster prone Griswold family pack their bags and go to Europe, anything goes. In fact Europe will never be the same again. Their promised 5 star accommodation is missing a few stars and the fun doesn't let up as Clark has a go at left-hand driving, Audrey eats herself silly, Rusty goes nightclubbing and Clark's sexy home video ends up in the hands of a sleazy porno filmmaker. The Griswold's literally bowl over Stonehenge as they wreak havoc on their journey across the European continent. Sadly in this episode Clark's gross-out Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) is absent, nevertheless "European Vacation" still brought in a neat $49.4 million at the US box office. Your vision of Christmas will never be the same again when the Griswold's decide to spend their Christmas holidays at home. In "Christmas Vacation" (1989) Clark wants to make sure his family enjoys Christmas the old-fashioned way, so the well-intentioned walking disaster zone invites the relatives and decides to light up his house like a Christmas tree. He gets 25,000 lights and covers the house from head to toe, but Clark is quickly driven insane when the lights refuse to switch on. The plot thickens when Clark discovers he has missed out on his Christmas bonus cheque that he was going to use to install a swimming pool in the backyard. Temperatures continue to rise when uninvited Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) turns up in his mobile home and when Clark kidnaps his boss in retaliation for not receiving his bonus cheque a SWAT team raids his house. "Christmas Vacation" was a smash hit and became the highest grossing of the four "Vacation" films bringing in over $71million at the US box office. Bumbling family man Clark Griswold is back in "Vegas Vacation" (1997), the fourth instalment of the "Vacation" series and as the movie poster says, "This time the Griswold's are on a roll." "Vegas Vacation" was a moderate hit at the US box office grossing $36.4 million. When Clark receives a work bonus for developing a food preservative, he spends the money in the only way he knows how, take the family on "Vacation". This time the Griswold's head off to the gambling capital of the world Las Vegas or as Clark would prefer to say "the new family entertainment capital of the world". The glitz and glamour of the Vegas casinos form the perfect backdrop for this Griswold family adventure. Randy Quaid is back as Clark's grubby goofball cousin Eddie and Mr.Las Vegas himself, crooner Wayne Newton adds to the atmosphere as he tries to romance Clark's wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo). To add to the hilarity, Clark nearly destroys the famous Hover Dam, takes part in a Siegfried and Roy disappearing trick and loses the family fortune to a shifty blackjack dealer, played with expertise by Wallace Shawn. Even old favourite Sid Caesar makes an unexpected but memorable appearance in the film's nail-bitting finale. "Vegas Vacation" has a fitting ending to a wonderful series of four films when it is revealed that Clark's son Rusty (Ethan Embry) has won 4 brand new vehicles during his round the clock gambling binge. In the final scene Clark, Ellen, Audrey and Rusty ride out of Vegas and onto the dusty desert highway leaving the audience with a smile on their faces and anxiously waiting for the fifth instalment. National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Vegas Vacation (1997) The "Vacation" Gallery The Vacation Video Collection Above: The fourth film in the series "Vegas Vacation" (1997), Clark and Ellen descide to renew their wedding vows. Above: Mr. Las Vegas himself, crooner Wayne Newton is a special guest star in "Vegas Vacation" (1997). Below: One of the most popular characters in the "Vacation" series is Clark's grubby goofball cousin Eddie played brilliantly by Randy Quaid. Right: Chevy Chase's wife, Ellen is played by the talented & beautiful Beverly D'Angelo. Above: The mysterious blonde (Christie Brinkley) in the flashy red Ferrari pops up in the first & fourth films of the series. Series Quote by Tony: "Hollywoood Teen Movies" Webmaster. "If you have never experienced a Chevy Chase "Vacation" film you are really missing out on something!" Right: Chevy Chase as Clark Wilhelm Griswold Jr. Chevy Chase Posters Now Avalible To Buy Click the posters below for purchasing details: This page was last updated February 18th 2003 Support Hollywood Teen Movies Main Menu Bars: National Lampoon's Vacation [DVD] (1983) DVD Join Chevy Chase and family on a madcap vacation trek through the U.S. On this trip, everything happens: cars go out of control, beautiful model Christie Brinkley shows up, along with John Candy, and relatives prove weirder than you'd ever think. Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid. 93 min. Standard; English soundtrack; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailer; scene access. National Lampoon's European Vacation [DVD] (1989) DVD The Griswold family is off on another hilarious holiday, and while America is safe, the Old World may never recover! Watch as Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and their kids raise havoc from London to Rome on a wacky continental comedy trip. 94 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English, French; Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai; audio commentary; theatrical trailer. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [DVD] (1989) DVD It's hilarious holiday havoc for Chevy Chase and his brood, as the Griswolds' plans for an old-fashioned family Christmas go up in smoke (just like their cat!) when a horde of boorish relatives descend upon their home. Comedic carol of calamities also stars Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Brian Doyle-Murray, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Juliette Lewis. 97 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English, French, Spanish; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailers; scene access. Vegas Vacation [DVD] (1997) DVD It's a sure bet for comical calamity when Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and their offspring pack up the car and head for the neon lights of Las Vegas. Once there, the Griswold kids get mixed up with mobsters and go-go dancers, D'Angelo is wooed by Wayne Newton, and Chevy winds up on stage with Siegfried and Roy. Randy Quaid also stars. 98 min. Standard; Soundtracks: English, French; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; theatrical trailer; production notes; scene access. National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) VHS National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) VHS National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) VHS Vegas Vacation (1997) VHS Vacation 4-Pack VHS What's cheaper than a family trip to Wally World and even more fun? How about this boxed collector's set featuring Chevy Chase starring in all four "Vacation" comedies? Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com Buy This Photo At AllPosters.com [ Sign my GuestBook ] - [ Read my GuestBook ] [Guestbook by theGuestbook.com ] FREE hit counter and Internet traffic statistics from freestats.com