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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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Lake Louise Ski Resort Banff, Canada - Ski Vacations, Packages, Holidays Reservations & Vacation Information 1.877.754.5462 Please Choose Snow Report Mountain Cam Recent Photos Terrain Parks Vacations Summer Louise Cards Weather Mountain Stats Trail Maps Tickets & Passes Ski/Board School Rentals Employment Photo Gallery Resort Events Getting Here Daycare Contact Us Lake Louise Inn • 1 nights lodging • 1 day tri-area lift ticket From CAD $89 / USD $79 Ptarmigan Inn • 3 nights lodging • 3 day tri-area lift ticket • Shuttle to ski areas From CAD $329 / USD $289 Jan 13 Celebrity Sport Invitational Jan 26 Australia Day Jan 28 Kokanee Freeride Feb 14 Valentine's Day > VIEW ALL EVENTS Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- WINTER SKI VACATION HOLIDAYS Majestic scenery and outdoor adventure. A great way to spend your winter holiday! Check out our vacation specials or create a package that is right for you. -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- 2005/2006 PASS SALE Season passes are on sale now. Join us in the mountains this winter! -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a guided night ride back down the mountain. -- Torchlight Dinner Gourmet food, live entertainment, fun and a run down from the mid-mountain lodge. An experience you won't forget! -- LAST 24HRS 3cm 1" SNOW DEPTH 141 cm 56 " FORECAST: High of -3 sunny periods with flurries later today Last Update: 12/28/2005 > VIEW -- LOUISE IMAGES • Webcams • Recent Photos - Dec 18, 2005 Sign up for snow reports, vacation deals, newsletters and more. Banff Lake Louise Ski Vacation Hotel and Lodging Packages. Build your custom vacation package online featuring Air, Transfers, Accommodation, Tickets, Rentals, Ski School and more. SITE MAP © RCR 2005

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Panama, Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information  You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Panama Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Panama Panama, Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information A selection of online travel related resources to the country of Panama, Central America, with information on accommodations, attractions, history, culture, geography and more. Panama Travel Tourism Vacation Information for Visitors. Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Panama Canal Take a memorable cruise through the Panama Canal - the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Find out more information here. Eco Travels in Panama Learn about Panama's ecotourism opportunities. Includes information on bird-watching, tropical hikes and other attractions. Focus Panama - Panama City Panama City is one of Central America's most vibrant cities. This site provides a good description of Panama City and includes suggestions on what to do and see there. Panama - Consular Information Sheet This official U.S. State Department site provides useful travel advice and warnings for visitors to Panama. Also lists U.S. consulate addresses in Panama. Panama Travel Obtain some good general advice for touring in Panama. Also, get answers to frequently asked questions about Panama. Panama Visitors Info This site tells you what you need to bring with you on a trip to Panama. It also has maps of Panama and information on the people and climate. Recommendations on what to see in Panama and some safety tips are also offered. Panama Canal Zone Read an interesting account of a family's recent trip to the Panama canal. Some excellent photos are included on the site. Travel Panama Panama is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. This site provides information on the history, environment and culture found in the San Blas Archipelago, Darien Jungle, Canal Zone, Pacific Lost Coast and the Bocas Archipelago areas.        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 Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Headlines Top 6 Travel Books for Mexico and Central America There are many travel guidebooks devoted to Mexico and to... Health Information for Visitors to Mexico and Central America This article provides a summary of the more important health... Safety Considerations for Travelers to Mexico and Central America Travel to Mexico and Central America is not significantly less... Acapulco, Mexico Once a favorite destination of honeymooners, celebrities and the...

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Argentina Travel Help | Argentina Travel Tips & Advice | Travellerspoint U sername: P assword: R emember Me Car Hire Argentina Travel Insurance Airport Parking UK Cheap Accommodation Hotel Bookings Travellerspoint Travel Community Forums Blogs Destinations Accommodation Travel Help Reunions Tools Links Argentina Travel Help, Advice & Tips Travel Help > South America > Argentina Travel Help Ask these Travel Helpers for information about Argentina. Please remember that the Travel Helpers provide information on a volunteer basis and when they take the time to help you that a thank you is highly appreciated! aaron chan [abearc] User Profile Log in to ask aaron about Argentina I know mostly about Las Lenas and the other ski centers in Argentina Aitor U [aitor] User Profile Log in to ask Aitor about Argentina Travelled there in 2002 anna negrin [annanegrin] User Profile Log in to ask anna about Argentina All u want to know about Argentina Argo Pandis [rgo] User Profile Log in to ask Argo about Argentina Landed in Buenos Aires and from there spent loads of time in buses on the way to north :) Carla Horton [carhorton] User Profile Log in to ask Carla about Argentina I run a homestay in Buenos Aires I will be gald to assit anyone interested in immersing in the local culture.I can offer useful tips and recommendation on cultural life sightseeing , education ( I work as a Teaching assitant at Universidad de Buenos Aires). valuable information for those willing to mix with the local people and lifestyle Carolina Salas [carolina77] User Profile Log in to ask Carolina about Argentina Hi everybody! My name is Carolina and I own a Hosteria at CALAFATE-PATAGONIA (www.hosteriapsanjulian.com.ar). IF you need assistance or any question about what to do or where to stay. I´ll be happy to help! good luck.Carolina Ester Carrizo [Macachae] User Profile Log in to ask Ester about Argentina I´m and Spanish teacher, I speak also English and hebrew... I can help you with the language ,trips and acommodation... Federico Roldan [fedelelok] User Profile Log in to ask Federico about Argentina I've travel across Argentina many times. I've also travel to the north of Chile, South of Brazil. Flavia Vegezzi [flaviavc] User Profile Log in to ask Flavia about Argentina If you are planning to visit Argentina and you are looking for information about my country, feel free to contact me and I can help you to find the best place for you. Jathan Sanchez [MEXTREKKER] User Profile Log in to ask Jathan about Argentina Buenos Aires is such an amazing place to visit, don't miss it in your future travel plans. I'm Tango dancer, and knows very much about the Tango circuit in Buenos Aires. jiri janku [jirka] User Profile Log in to ask jiri about Argentina Patagonia Juan Carlos Dima [juanka] User Profile Log in to ask Juan Carlos about Argentina I run an small homestay in Buenos Aires. In last 9 years I have provided accommodation for foreigners and helping my guests to better know my city and it's people, with with up-to-date info about what to do/see in the city, to get cheap ways to improve weekends orto travel to other regions, and with tips to teach English, learn Spanish, or take cheap tango/salsa dance lessons...You can see my page at http://lodging.4all.cc Karl Fredrickson [kfredson] User Profile Log in to ask Karl about Argentina Salta is my home away from home. It has inspired me to run a very unofficial website extolling its virtues and giving some travel tips. I hope it's useful: www.saltatravel.com Leonardo Barragán [Leo_arg] User Profile Log in to ask Leonardo about Argentina Will (try to...) provide any info. Leonardo Kessler [Leonardok] User Profile Log in to ask Leonardo about Argentina How are you all?I am Leonardo Kessler. I am 30. I live in Buenos Aires.I would like to advice travellers when they come to my come to my country.I would also like to meet you here. You will absolutely have a friend here, who will give you a hand.My emails: leonardo_kessler@yahoo.com.ar lorena secchi [loreaparts] User Profile Log in to ask lorena about Argentina lodging alojamiento Luz light [luz22] User Profile Log in to ask Luz about Argentina by living in buenos aires, argentina i can help you by telling you everything i know about my beautiful city and country, from the weather to the best clubs to go dancing at night. though i probably know more about the latter...:)i d just like to be helpful, so if you have any questions, just ask me!!i ll be glad to answer them, it ll be my pleasure... have fun and be sure to enjoy your stay in argentina!!! Marco Baudoir [sinfronter] User Profile Log in to ask Marco about Argentina Advice on the Lake District and Patagonia Maria Isabel [helper] User Profile Log in to ask Maria about Argentina I can answer questions you need to know before coming i.e. distances, hotels, b&b, excursions, etc. Recommend the things I would do myself or I would recommend to my old friends. I work as a guide in the city trying to make you feel safe and comfortable.Contact you with the agencies you like and try to get a better price if it is possible.I am a teacher of English and I have taught Spanish to foreigners. I run a short and intensive course part of it given in a class setting and the rest during the visits around the city. maria... isabel [milla] User Profile Log in to ask maria... about Argentina Any trip is better if the travellers know beforehand sth about the place they are going to visit.The "where to go", the "what to see", the "how to do it" are the typical questions difficult to answer when this is their first trip. This is our commitment, to help the newcomers to have a hazzle free stay and to make them enjoy the trip since they arrive. maria... isabel [milla] User Profile Log in to ask maria... about Argentina as a first step:feel free to ask questionswe are ready to answer themmilla/ARGENTINA Niels - Amsterdam [bentivogli] User Profile Log in to ask Niels about Argentina all information about tango in Buenos Aires; private/group classes, milongas, events, websites, organisations in Europe, etc. Rob Blue [viking2000] User Profile Log in to ask Rob about Argentina Hola,I visit Buenos Aires Quite frequently and have had some amazing experiences, I’m willing assist anyone in finding some good accommodation to suggesting some great places to eat. or just some basic insight to their Culture. Any help I can offer on Buenos Aires or Patagonia let me know, Chau! Sasha Galitzki [sgalitzki] User Profile Log in to ask Sasha about Argentina I lived and studied in Buenos Aires for about half a year and completely fell in love with the city and country. I have a lot of knowledge about visiting or living in BA and about tourism country-wide. Sher Khann [SherKhann] User Profile Log in to ask Sher about Argentina Hello there. This is Sher Khann (male) from Buenos Aires - Argentina. I am a University graduate of the University of Buenos Aires. I speak English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. In addition, I like meeting new people and new cultures.I would like to offer my services as a tour guide and provide you with information about the City of Buenos Aires from historical, social, political, cultural and economic perspectives. I also provide tours throughout off-beat (non-touristic) places and sites. My goal is to make the traveller feel comfortable, entertained and free for the tours I provide are completely flexible. I consider a guided tour a meeting of minds for there has to be an agreement between the traveller and the tour guide to carry out the desired activities.Should you require more information about myself or about the guided tours I provide, please do not hesitate to contact me at the following email:sherkhann@online.ieYours faithfully,Sher Khann Silvina Ramos [seramos] User Profile Log in to ask Silvina about Argentina I have lived in BA all my life, so my perspective is that one of a typical inhabitant that works downtown and tries to live on a budget. I speak several languages and teach Spanish to foreigners, with a strong background in Financial & business analysis too. Valeria Micou [valemicou] User Profile Log in to ask Valeria about Argentina I live in Buenos Aires and have travelled around some places of my country. I can help with budgets and general info. Alternatively, you can also post a new thread in our active travel forums . If you specify Argentina when posting your new topic, all Travel Helpers for Argentina will be notified. For general travel information about Argentina, have a look at our Argentina Travel Guide with basic information, quick facts, members comments, photography, accommodation and Argentina links. © 2002 - 2005 Travellerspoint Travel Community | Contact | FAQ | About | Terms | Site Map