Author: checkin

What is kosher food?

Kosher foods are those that are allowed according to Levitical law (Leviticus 11) and prepared according to kashrut. Not only are certain foods prohibited, but how those foods are prepared either makes them kosher or not. Chinese food, Mexican food, or “good old all-American home-style family southern” food can all be prepared as kosher. Although the specific details of kashrut are extensive, the laws all originate from a few straightforward guidlines.

In restaurants, deli establishments, and grocery stores we often stumble across the “kosher” section right next to international foods. There is a significant misconception, though, about what is and is not kosher? What is kosher food? Is it merely Jewish food, another international cuisine, or is there more to it? Simply put, kosher food is food allowed by Levitical law and prepared in accordance with Jewish religious tradition.

“Kashrut” is the group of laws dealing with Jewish food law, what foods are acceptable and how they must be prepared to be considered “kosher,” fit, proper, or correct. The term kosher means that something is being used in accordance with proper Jewish culture and tradition. There is actually no such thing as “kosher style” cooking or food. It is not a book of recipes passed down from Jewish grandmothers to their daughters and granddaughters. Kosher foods are those that are in agreement with Biblical, Levitical law and Jewish traditional preparation.

Although the blessing of food is part of Jewish tradition, the rabbi does not “bless food” to make it kosher, nor does the family make it kosher when blessing it prior to consumption. If food is advertised as kosher in restaurants or grocery stores, the probability is high that it is not. What this usually means is that it is traditional Jewish food, but not necessarily prepared according to “Kashrut.” There is no such thing as kosher-style food. Any food can be kosher if it is prepared in accordance with Jewish ritual or law and it is an acceptable item for Jewish consumption.

Some believe that Judaic food laws found in the Old Testament, the Jewish Septuagint, exist for health purposes, and there are some truth to this. Many of these food laws do parallel what modern food science and medicine have discovered to be healthful. Improperly cooked pork, for instance, can contain the trichinosis parasite that if ingested by humans can be fatal. Animals that eat plants and chew their cud, like cattle, are acceptable

Cheap Flights Travel to Asia

 

If you want to visit a place with a difference, plan some travel to Asia. There are plenty of flights destined to Asian countries that are within your reach. Cheap flights to Asia will provide you with an incredible experience to a mystic destination without hurting your wallet.

Some of the major Asian locations you can visit by availing cheap flights to Asia can be the countries like India, Indonesia, Thailand, China and Japan. Apart from that, you can also find cheap flights to the other Asian countries like Vietnam, Philippines, Korea, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila etc.

There are plenty of cheap flights to Asia available, which serve as major links between the different countries. Among airline companies that have a steady hold over the Asia flights market, Jetstar’s name has to come up. After it started its operations in Australia, the company opened an Asia wing too. You know this wing now as Jetstar Asia Airways. If you’re traveling from one country to another, Jetstar cheap flights are readily available to fly you. The airline has hubs at Myanmar, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and even Macau. The company is now planning to open new hubs- across airports through China and Vietnam.

To find cheap flights to Asia, you can also take help from the airline consolidators. Some of the airlines consolidators provide seasonal discounts and offers, and booking early in the season may help you in getting the best deal. You can find the best Jetstar deals across the Internet. All you need to do is search through the most reliable travel sites and before long you’ll find the Jetstar flight of your choice.

 

Airports In Andalucia Spain

Six aiports exist in Andalucia, Spain. Regular flights are available for holidaymakers and business travellers. Making travelling by air a much easier and enjoyable option.

Almeria

Called Aeropuerto de Almeria in Spanish, the Almeria airport is the nearest airport to several popular towns and resorts including Roquetas de Mar, Garrucha, Almerimar, Mojacar, Aguadulce, Vera and the City of Almeria. The airport also serves as a gateway to other holiday hotspots including Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Melilla and Madrid. For travellers between Almeria and the UK there are regular scheduled flights between Aeropuerto de Almeria and Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Gatwick and Luton. This three-storied airport building has an outstanding rooftop cafe that bonafide travellers can avail of after having gone through their security checks.

Cordoba

Located on the north bank of the River Guadalquivir, 6 kilometres west of the city, Cordoba airport is in effect an aerodrome that handles all national traffic and only international traffic that arrives and departs from Schengen signatory countries. In the absence of any Customs and Passport clearance facilities, the airport is unable to offer passport clearance for passengers arriving from non-Schengen countries. Most of the traffic at Cordoba airport comprises of charter passenger flights, military flights, aerial photography and parachuting schools besides other assorted aerial works. The airport is also used for crop spraying by agricultural treatment companies as well as for transfers of organs to and from the transplant centre at the Riena Sofia hospital in the city.

Granada Airport

The Federico Garcia Lorca Granada-Jaen Airport is situated in the district of La Vega del Genil, 17 kilometres from the city of Granada. Besides the Alhambra Palace and the City of Granada, this interesting airport is the gateway to Europe’s southernmost ski resort in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as well as the Costa Tropical towns including Salobrena, Motril, La Herradura and Almunecar. The Granada airport mainly handles scheduled flights to and from Madrid and Barcelona, thus having a vital role in the socio-economic development of Granada.

Jerez Airport

Modern, compact and smart, the Jerez airport, known as Aeroporto de Jerez in Spanish, is one of the key axes for tourism development in the Cadiz region. The airport handles international flights from the UK and Germany as well as domestic flights from Madrid Airport, Barcelona Airport and Palma Airport. Jerez airport also serves as a primary gateway to Costa de La Luz and travellers can easily get transfers to popular hotspots including Marbella, Cadiz, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Chiclana, Tarifa and Sevilla. Though small, it has tremendous tourism value and has grown at tremendous speed with passenger traffic going from 300,000 in 1992 to almost 1,381,560 in 2006.

Malaga

Located 8 kilometres southwest of Malaga City, Aeropuerto de Malaga is the main airport in Southern Spain. Regular flights are available from most airports including Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona, Melila to name but a few. Also flights from the UK and Ireland are numerous and have a short flying time of about 2.5 – 3 hours. Malaga airport is the fourth busiest airport in Spain with passenger numbers increasing every year. The airport is 6 kilometres from the main city and less than an hour’s drive away from the city of Costa del Sol as well as all Malaga golf courses. There are several direct flights for internal travel to Sevilla Airport, Almeria Airport and Jerez Airport. Current building work on the airport includes a new passenger terminal, a new car park and eventually a second runway.

Sevilla Airport

Designed by architect Rafael Moneo, the Sevilla airport building incorporates three traditional components of Sevillian culture including orange trees, the palace and the mosque, offering arriving passengers a delightfully unique welcome. Presently most of the traffic passing through this airport is domestic traffic. Five main car hire companies that operate out of Sevilla airport will drive passengers down to Marbella on the Costa del Sol in about 3 hours. Driving down to Jerez takes under one hour and driving down to Faro in Portugal takes around 2.5 hours.

Cuisine as community: How food practices influence how we relate to one another

When it comes to food rituals, modern man has not changed very much from his caveman ancestors when it comes to eating in groups. After chasing down their protein choice of the day, he relaxed around a fire and shared his spoils with family and friends.

Our caveman might have gotten a little testy, though, if someone else took too big a piece of meat off of the communal fire spit. Protests may have erupted, clubs grabbed for power, and a pecking order for food consumption quickly established.

Well, perhaps we have not evolved as much one might think. Is there anyone who has not seen people push and shove their way toward a buffet as though it was their last meal?

In our modern world, where food is plentiful, there is no need for a pecking order, but passing food around the table family style can produce noisy results. Positive or negative comments on specific dishes may be given to the cook who may refute or accept the critique. If the recipients are enjoying the meal, conversation is encouraged as their pleasure level rises in satisfaction.

Perhaps the most significant change in American food rituals is that our families often do not eat together at all. This trend has been viewed by many as having a very negative impact on the American family unit. When do they really get a chance to talk, or share the events of their day, face-to-face?

When families do manage to get together for a meal, and if children are in the group, the ritual becomes one of encouragement as “I don’t like that” becomes a repetitive mantra. Mom tries to remember what “Dr. Phil” said about encouraging kids to try new food, or eat any food for that matter, that is not white, fried or sweet.

Dad may remember that kids use food drama as a form of control in their limited world where they control very little. He may be losing patience as the tone of his voice escalates to LOUD and resulting tears drip into the peas. If this same family had been eating buffet style, the kids would have picked what they wanted to eat and this food ritual controversy may have had a happier ending.

Mothers, in many cultures, use food to bond with their family, especially if they do not work outside the home. For these women food has come to represent love. The more of her food her loved ones eat, the more SHE feels loved. Italian mothers are well known for pushing food on family and friends with such passion that to refuse could be viewed as a personal insult. Other women use food to enhance their self esteem, and in some cases, to control their children.

Different cultures and religions use food rituals to keep followers bonded. In Christianity, Jesus used the ritual of transubstantiation (changing) of bread and wine into the body and blood that has become the sacred ritual of communion. Christ used two very basic food items in his lesson knowing that the ritual had instant meaning and would deeply bond his followers.

While the food ritual may be different in Judaism, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, the end result is the same. People sharing a belief also want to share food together in a symbolic way to enhance their spiritual experience.

Good food and the community of food preparation that elevates a social dining experience will always play an important role in how people relate to each other. In families, in business, and in social settings, food rituals inspire and continue to bond us together.

The proper gear for the thrifty fly fisherman

LEARNING TO FLY CAST IS LIKE CHILD’S PLAY

Fly fishing is my favorite. I don’t write about it much, because it doesn’t have wide appeal. And, to be quite candid, I don’t write about it for the fly fishing publications because they get esoterically ridiculous and pompously poignant. Most fly fishermen today are not snobs, but the magazines dedicated to them still carry that air.

There is, nonetheless, something special about this form of fishing. It predates baitcasting and spin-fishing by hundreds of years. It is the only form of fishing in which you actually hold onto the line, giving you a direct connection to the fish. The long, limber and sensitive rods telegraph every movement of a hooked fish so well that even small fish are a treat. And, more than any other form of fishing, the casting is a big part of the fun.

“It looks like too much work to me,” is what I’ve heard often over the years from people who have never tried it, or who have tried it without any idea of how to cast and failed miserably.

Truth is, fly casting is a lot less work than cranking a big-lipped crankbait or jerking a Rogue. It’s no more work than casting and retrieving a spinnerbait. But it does require more effort than fishing a plastic worm or tight-lining for catfish.

The casting is not difficult, either. It’s just different.

Years ago I taught fly fishing classes four nights a week. The easiest students were those who had never fished in any manner because they hadn’t developed any casting habits. Women and children learned to cast well in just an hour or so. In fact, I found it easier to teach a youngster how to cast a fly rod than it was to teach him or her the thumb-timing necessary to use a close-faced “Snoopy” reel.

Fly casting does require some level of hand-eye coordination and timing. But so does other forms of casting. The problem is that other forms of casting fit more easily into how we develop motor skills during other activities. From the time we are small, we learn to push and throw forward, and we can see what’s happening in front of us. The key to fly casting, however, is in the pull of the backcast. I used to tell my students all the time: “If you take care of your backcastit will take care of your forward cast.”

Since we can’t see what is happening behind us, I often had those who were having trouble turn their heads to watch what was happening during their backcast. This helped many because it taught them to redirect their concentration to the rear.

But the more experienced fishermen seemed to have their minds already set in one direction. The guys with a lot of experience with baitcasting or spinning equipment were the ones who found fly casting most difficult. It was hard to get them to cast with their arm instead of their wrist.

Now, there is a little more to it than that. I can’t teach you how to fly cast in this short article. There are some good, heavily-illustrated books available. But the best way to learn is with hand-on instructions from a good caster.

An excellent source is through a local fly fishing club. Nearly every major metropolitan area in the nation has such a club, and fly fishing courses are offered at many community colleges and even at some sporting good stores that specialize in fly fishing equipment.

Another great source of information is through the Federation of Fly Fishers, a national organization with affiliate clubs in every state. You can find them at www.fedflyfisher.org, or by writing The Federation of Fly Fishers, PO Box 1595, Bozeman, MT 59771.

Car Hire Spain – Car Rental Spain – Cheap Car Hire – Golf Courses in Spain

Spain is so crammed full of things, that there are no words to describe, what you really need is to rent a car to enjoy real Spain by leaving the holiday cost as.
Car Hire Spain helps you make the best use of your car rental time whilst travelling through the Spanish countryside and towns. We have rental outlets for discount car hire in all Spain’s cities, towns and airports. We are one of the leading companies in the leisure car industry, offers you the best car rental rates in Spain offers all the guarantees of major international companies in your car hire. We also have one of the most modern and versatile fleet of cars so you can truly enjoy your car hire in Spain during your holidays.
Visit On-line Car hire in Spain and Discover our special on-line Car hire offers in Spain. We have a splendid relationship with Alamo, Hertz, Budget and the rest, which allows us to shop round on your behalf .Our car hire rates, are very attractive and our service is first rate. We have a dedicated team of professionals waiting to make your car hire as smooth as possible. Book your car before coming to Spain and take advantage of our prices.
We are specialising in providing all information on car rentals for all of our partners by putting them infront of you. Thus helping you to book your car hire or rent a car at any of our worldwide locations.
Spain uses some international traffic regulations and road signs, and some additional local regulations. please refer to our” Driving Regulations” for new driver.
We provide car hire| car hire spain to both our business travellers and leisure customers. We negotiate with the world’s best car rental companies to provide our customers with low cost fully inclusive rates, and with really good conditions and extras.Our extensive car hire coverage of Spain ranges from major cities in the North,such as Asturias and Cantabria to Madrid and Extermadura in the Central regions,to Andalucia and Murcia in the Southern parts of Spain. Different rental suppliers are used who can offer better rates, regardless where you pick up or drop off the vehicle within Spain. The advantage of our site is some rental suppliers specialise in certain areas within Spain so when one supplier may not be able to offer you a hire car at a certain location, another probably can. Our networking capacity puts us on top of that.
We offer instant online quotes and booking capabilities for all inclusive cheap hire car rentals with an online discount of 10 – 15%. We also offer through our website one way rentals throughout the whole of the Spain which include city and airport locations. Our exceptional customer service and Beat Rate Guarantee assure the best savings and quality of service on your car hire in Spain. Book car hire online today.
We will help you find the perfect hotel, motel or bed and breakfast accommodation in Spain. You can stay Barcelona, Canary Islands, Granada, Ibiza, Madrid and Malaga. Our world wide network of holiday service agencies can do a lot to smooth your travel. We have outlets, airports hire counters and offices throughout Spain, and we’ve set up arrangements with hire operators located in every tourist and holiday region. Our site also has a section covering the Golf area attractions – use this to carefully plan your holidays. Spain has a fine selection of golf courses in the popular areas like Andalucia, Balaeric Islands, Canary Islands, Catalunya, and Comunidad Valencia. For those of you wanting to arrange a golfing holiday you will find a detailed list of the Golf courses close to your vacation. Book your holiday car hire in a wide range of popular worldwide destinations for cheap car hire and budget car hire rental in Spain.
There are various attractions in Spain to visit and spent long holidays and spain car hire can help you in making holiday too happy.

Holidays With Children in Barcelona – Arriving in Barcelona, Getting Around Barcelona, Barcelona Family Attractions and Parks, Play Areas and Beaches

In recent years, Barcelona has established itself as one of Europe´s most popular tourist destinations, and it is not difficult to understand why. With its balmy all-year climate, its avant-garde architecture, its burgeoning gastronomy, its fabulous beaches, proximity to the Costa Brava & ski-slopes as well as its eclectic mix of shops, Catalunya´s capital can be justly proud of what it has to offer visitors. Transformed by the 1992 Olympics, the city has attracted millions of curious independent travellers and, in the last few years, it has become increasingly popular as a family destination. The website mumabroad.com, a local site written by parents living in Barcelona with recommendations from local mums, shows you why the city has so much to offer kids, from its child-friendly accommodation and restaurants to its numerous outdoor activities and day-trips.

Arriving in Barcelona with the kids

Nowadays there are many airlines who operate in and out of Barcelona and not surprisingly most visitors arrive by air. Below we have listed a few options on how to reach the city centre. The most popular option is the Airport Bus due to its frequency and ease of access from the airport. Taxis can be expensive and most won´t have car seats although Spanish law requires that all children under three years of age must use a child seat. Failure to do so will result in a fine of 90 euros.

Barcelona Taxis

Just outside the arrivals hall you will find the Barcelona Airport taxi rank. Fares to Barcelona cost approximately 25 Euros and the journey time is around 30 minutes.

Barcelona Airport Bus

The Barcelona Airport Bus stops in front of Terminals A, B (Arrivals) and C and takes passengers to the centre of Barcelona (Plaza Catalunya). Departures from Mondays to Saturdays from the airport are from 6am to 1am; and from Plaza de Catalunya from 5:30am to 12:15am. Buses run every 7 to 15 minutes. Single Fare: 3.90 euros

Barcelona Airport Train

The Barcelona Airport train station is located opposite the arrivals and departure halls. The Line C10 goes to Barcelona Sants and takes around 30 minutes and costs 2.50 euros. The first train from the airport is at 6am and the trains run at 30 minute intervals until 11.44pm. From Barcelona Sants it is likely you will need to take the metro or a taxi as it is not in the centre of town.

Getting Around Barcelona with the kids

Barcelona By Metro

The Barcelona Metro is not such a popular choice for young families visiting the city, due to the fact that there are a limited amount of lifts for buggies, which means accessing the trains can be a real chore. Travel is cheap however and you can purchase a book of 10 tickets for around 7 euros. The ticket is valid for any journey on the metro although if you need a new ticket for journeys on the same day. For many, taxis are the transport of choice (see below). However if you are visiting Barcelona with older kids or if you decide to brave the system anyway, the timetable is below:

Mondays -Thursdays, Sundays & Holidays: 5am to 12am.

Fridays: 5am to 2am

Saturdays: Non-stop service

Barcelona By Taxi

For many families, taxis are the transport of choice as they are relatively cheap and even ones without car seats will accept young babies and toddlers for short journeys. You can flag them down (green light means they are empty) or many hotels will also call a taxi on your behalf. Be warned though English is not widely spoken amongst taxi drivers in Barcelona so it is a good idea to write down your destination on a piece of paper.

Barcelona By Tourist Bus

The open top double-decker Barcelona Bus Turístic is a fantastic way to get around Barcelona with little ones (children under 4 travel for free). You can hop off or hop on at any of the 44 stops. You will receive an information guide about each of the enroute attractions as well as a discount voucher booklet. The buses go between every 5-25 minutes and the timetable is at each of the 44 stops. First buses call at most stops between 9am and 9.30am A one day ticket for adults costs 20 euros and for children (4-12) 12 euros. You can buy tickets on the bus or at any of the tourist offices in Barcleona. The service operates daily apart from 25th December and 1st January.

Family Attractions in Barcelona

Nou Camp Tour

An absolute must for all football-mad kids. The guided tour of the third biggest football stadium in the world includes visiting the stadium,tunnel & pitch area. Admission: 11,50 euros adults 9,20 euros for children under 13 years.

Av. Aristides Maillo 12-18 Metro Collblanc, Les Corts, Badal or Maria Christina

Barcelona Zoo

Zoos aren´t everyone´s cup of tea, but Barcelona Zoo has a lot to offer children. As well as big cats, penguins, gorillas, hippos, bears etc there is a twice daily dolphin show at and a children´s farm with pigs, horses, rabbits & guinea pigs.The play area in the centre of the zoo is excellent, including a mini absail area and climbing frames. On the downside drinks & snacks are quite expensive and it gets very crowded at weekends. Open from 10am until 7pm in summer and until 6pm in the winter.

Parc Zoologic de Barcelona S.A, Parc de la Ciutadela s/n, 08003 Barcelona Metro Arc de Trionfo or Barceloneta (+34) 932256780 www.zoobarcelona.com

Barcelona Aquarium

This is the largest aquarium in Europe and includes an interactive space called Explora. Admission: Adults 13 euros. Children 4-12 years 9 euros. Under 4s free. Worth it just for walking in the vast transparent shark tunnel! There is a really good interactive children´s area. You are also among the shops and restaurants of the Maremagnum – a good place for lunch. Open 9.30am – 9pm.

Moll d’Espanya, Port Vell. Metro Drassanes (+34) 932217474

Tours of Barcelona

If you come to Barcelona with your children, fear not! Organised tours take place in the old town which can be enjoyed by parents and children alike. The idea is to include visits, games and stories to keep the attention of the younger ones (and the odd easily-distracted adults). These might include an artisanal sweet shop where they can see how the candies are made, an original toy workshop, an old-fashioned milk bar where they can indulge in a creamy traditional milkshake, guessing games in the food market, and more.With the little ones occupied, there is time to explain to the grown-ups of the group the anecdotes on the history, culture, cuisine and associated tales of the city.

Poble Espanyol

This is a mini-disneyland with every Spanish region in cameo and it provides great day out for children. Entry is 8 euros for adults and 5 euros for kids. Family ticket 16 euros (with children between 7 and 12 years). Opening times Monday 9am – 8pm Tuesday to Thursday 9am – 2am Friday 9am – 4am Saturday 9am – 5am Sunday 9am -midnight

Metro Espanya. Buses 55, 13. Tourist Bus Stop:Poble Espanyol (+34) 935086300 www.poble-espanyol.com

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Mix of fun rides and state-of-the-art attractions including a multimedia experience which allows children become part of a cartoon. There is also a mechanical Puppet museum dating back to 1899. Entrance fee: adults 15 euros, children under 110cm height 4 euros. Unlimited use of rides and attractions. Open every day from 11am apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day

3-4 Plaza del Tibidabo By Train: Get FGC from Plaza Catalunya to Avenida Tibidabo then follow signposts to the Tramvia Blau at the end of Balmes in Placa John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Take the Tramvia to the Mirablau and then the Funicular to the top of the Mountain. By Bus: Take the Tibibus from Plaza Catalunya

Port Aventura Theme Park

Hugely popular theme park around an hour outside Barcelona. You can be flung around eight inverted loops on Dragon Khan (supposedly the largest roller-coaster in Europe) or get soaked on Tutuki Splash. There are also shows with bubbles, birds of paradise, Mexican and Chinese themes.

Located near Salou/La Pineda, off A7. Buses go from from Passeig de Sant Joan and for trains from Passeig de Gracia. Look for trains on the Salou line and you need to get off at Port Aventura. The park also has areas designated for small children such as play areas, small rides, children´s swimming pools and the hotels offer special services for children such as menus, entertainment and monitor led activities. There are many baby changing facilities at the park and you are also able to rent prams.

Chocolate Museum

Located in an ancient convent in Calle Comerc (number 36) in el Borne, children can learn everything about chocolate including its medicinal, nutritional and aphrodisiac qualities. There are also some fantastic chocolate sculputures and workshops to teach you how to make chocolate. Best of all you can sample the goods! Admission 3,6 euros

Las Golondrinas

Double decker pleasureboats take you from the harbour to the breakwater. Good fun, good value with some great views of the city. Every half hour leaving from the bottom of Las Ramblas until 7pm. Adults 5 euros children up to 12 years 2,50 euros

Montserrat

Half the fun is getting there. The cog railway up the mountain is a must for children and railway enthusiasts alike .Once there, children will be awestruck by the wacky shaped rocks and for the more active there are numerous walking tracks, caves. Montserrat is of course famous for being the home of Our Lady of Montserrat and a Benedictine monastery.

Trains (R5) go from Placa d’Espanya metro.You can either get a train and cable car ride or just the train (and rack railway). Journey is approx one hour and they leave at a quarter to the hour. Get out at Montserrat Aeri Station if you have chosen the cable car or in Monistrol de Montserrat station to change to the Rack railway.

Magic Fountains of Montjuic (Font Magica)

This is a great stop for some evening entertainment for the children. The Font Magica is a colourful water and classical music extravaganza held each night. Thurs-Sun 9pm, 9.30pm, 10pm, 10.30pm, 11pm. From October to April just Fridays and Saturdays 7pm, 7.30pm, 8pm and 8.30pm

La plaza de Carles Buïgas, just above the Avenida de Maria Cristina. Metro Espanya .Walk towards the MNAC between the two large towers at Placa Espanya

Beaches, Parks and Play Areas for Kids in Barcelona

Park Güell

Probably the world´s most enchanting public park created by Barcelona´s most famous son, Antón Gaudí. Loosely based on Hampstead Heath in London, the park boasts sparkling mosaic stairways, multicoloured buildings and fairytale fountains. It is pure fantasty and kids will love it.

How to get there: Bus 24 from Plaza Catalunya stops right outside the main entrance. Metro Vallcarca (walk out the metro down Avenida Militar for 4 blocks, turn left at Baixada de La Gloria and take the outdoor escalators to the Park entrance. It is signposted).

Ciutadella Park & Play area

The Ciutudella Park is Barcelona´s most centrally located green space, sandwiched between the districts of Poble Nou, Barceloneta and San Pere. For families, there are a huge amount of facilities and activities including the Zoo, the Geology Museum, the Hivernacle (currenlty being renovated) and the boating lake. You can also rent out bikes at the main entrance (www.bicing.com). Located at the top end of the lake, twice daily toddlers can enjoy free toys and games in addition to the permanent swings and slides.There is even a sprinkler in the summer which the kids love! 11am-2pm every day and 4.30pm-6.30/7pm from mid september to mid June. 5.30pm-8.30pm from mid June to mid September

Mar Bella & Base Nautica

Mar Bella beach is about a 20 minute walk north of the Port Olimpic (left facing the water) and probably the most child-friendly of all of Barcelona´s beaches. It is clean and quiet and you can find a children´s play-area, lifeguards, sunbed hire, showers and a beach restaurant (chiringuito). The Base Nautica is can also based here, where you can hire small sailing boats, canoes and kayaks.

Parc de Collserola

Often overlooked but this Natural Park is literally a breath of fresh air and so close to the centre of town. The park is huge (22 times the size of New York´s Central Park) – the largest city park in the world. The information centre provides numerous walking guides and hikes to Tibidabo, the Torre de Collserola or the town of Vallvidrera.

Take train to Baixador de Vallvidrera from Plaza Catalunya and you arrive right in it.

Barceloneta

Barceloneta beach is popular with families due to its proximity with a huge choice of restaurants and the pedestrian walkway along Passeig Maritim, where you can also cycle. The beach gets very crowded in summer but is regularly cleaned. Likewise the water – for a city beach – is suprisingly clean. We suggest you don´t plonk yourself on the nearest available space but walk a little further on towards the Olympic Port where it gets much less crowded.

Metro Barceloneta or any Passeig Maritim bus route. For daily information on the city´s beaches call (+34) 934810053

Parc del Laberint d’Horta

This 17 acre park really warrants a short trip from town. It is a fairytale park with its pretty walkways, canal, romantic gardens, cascade and of course, the maze which kids will love. Entrance fee 1,90 euros

Pg Castanyers 1. Directly behind the Velodrome. Metro Mundet.

How to Find Last Minute Cheap Flight Tickets for Los Angeles

If you plan to get your cheap airline ticket in last minute from Los Angeles will be the cheapest on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday. Mondays is well known for business travelers and weekends are key dates for vacationers -so avoid these dates.

Another tip for money-saving tip is to look for flights that go through main cities are often considerably cheaper than flights to smaller cities. Since there are large number of flights – and competition – from these cities on low price airlines, you can keep money over flying non-stop to your destination.

Another tip for saving-money as per my knowledge most of the airlines must sell tickets to their lights to offset the cost of the flights since no matter how many or how few people are on the flight it must run and they must spend the money. As the flight gets closer, the airline will lower the price of their airline tickets to get the plane to fill up. They know that they cannot get full price so they keep lowering it a bit every day until the take off. The closer to the flight that you are willing to book it the cheaper you will get the airline ticket. The last minute airline ticket websites communicate with the airline and know how low they will go. Since I do not trust, the sites I get the number form them and present my offer to the airline. It really does work.

The most expensive air tickets from Los Angeles are found during peak holidays travel time, such as the Independence Day, New Year’s Day, X-Max holidays. Also, be aware of events or festivals, which can cause limited availability and ticket fares are on peak.

• Look for flights that go through large cities, with many flights

• Check out carriers besides the national airline – they may undercut the monopolistic competition.

Lastly, a fair deal found at the time of writing. The last minute cheap flight tickets from Eros Travel, Los Angeles is the best place I have found to get my cheap airline ticket. I promise that if your try it out you will be get it. Besides, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying it but you will miss some great airline deals if you do not try it. I suggest you search few best Last Minute Cheap Flight Ticket providers website as I found while searching on Google. These are Airtkt.com, Cheapfareguru.com, Erostours.com, Latinfare.com

Happy Traveling

Problems Some Have with the Law of Attraction

The Law of Attraction seems so easy for some. Others try and try and have no success. They wonder why this should be true. There are some very good reasons why people have problems using the Law of Attraction.

The most obvious answer to the question of why it isn’t working is that you might be expecting to instantaneously have what you ask for. You have to realize that you are simply sending out positive energy surrounding a subject. You must trust Law of
Attraction to send it back to you in its time.

When trying to use the Law of Attraction, you may find that you are always tapping your foot and asking when it’s going to happen for you. If you do, it may mean that you are not really coming into it believing in anything. You are just testing the waters and not willing to commit to anything.

You might also be expecting the answer to your demands to come by a certain method. For example, you might ask for money. You are hoping someone will just give it to you. This may be your idea of the Law of Attraction. However, if you are alert to the universe around you, you may come across another means.

An idea might come to you that would bring you the money you desire. It might involve some work, but the end result would be the same. If your energy is positive, you will look upon this circumstance with gratitude and joy. By the Law of Attraction, this can only multiply the good in your life.

Another mistake people make in using the Law of Attraction is to put too much emphasis on the evidence they see. When they see things that seem to prove that the Law of Attraction is not working, they quit believing. They get frustrated and become a mass of negative vibrations. This will bring more of the same.

The truth is that if they really understand the Law of Attraction and the science behind it, external evidence will have little effect on them. This is because they will have total belief and trust that the Law of Attraction has been working all along. What is happening in the beginning is only a manifestation of earlier bad energy.

Their new positive, focused thoughts, without doubt, will come to fruition in the future. This is the outlook of a person who has mastered the use of the Law of Attraction. That person will believe in the outcome because he/she believes in the process.

A person might also have problems fully using the Law of Attraction because their past outlook has been so limited. They have strong emotions about things they consider too hard to conquer or too much or too big to have.

When these emotions come up, it changes the energy you are sending out. Lecturers and writers of the Law of Attraction have developed ways to release such emotions. These methods allow the person to fully use the Law of Attraction.

If you properly use the Law of Attraction, you will have what you want. It is and isn’t easy. You only need to change the way you think and feel about things. If you can come to understand the Law of Attraction fully, you can make it work for you.

How to Arrange Family Ski Vacations Like a Pro

One of the popular winter holiday vacation ideas is family ski vacations. If you love winter activities these vacations can be a lot of fun.

You can enjoy different winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, tubing and sledding if you opt for any of the ski vacations this winter during the winter holiday vacation. If you have not been much into winter activities, it is a great time to learn it as well! You can also teach these sports to your kids as they learn faster during their childhood.

Ski vacations with the family are not just limited to sports. This is a great time to enjoy the snow and have fun with your kids.

Why would you want to plan your family ski vacation during the Christmas holidays? Because, with the onset of the winter, many people experience the winter blues. The best antidote for these blues is sitting down and coming up with some great Christmas vacation ideas.

Family ski vacations during your Christmas holidays can be great therapy, and can give you the chance to recharge your batteries for the coming months ahead. Another practical reason for planning family ski trips during the Christmas holidays is that during these vacations, you get enough time off, no matter which walk of life you come from. School-going kids get a long holiday during this period. The more time you get to stay away holidaying, the fresher you will feel. Also, this will give you more time to learn and hone your skiing skills.

Planning the Ideal Family Ski Vacation

While family ski vacations may be great Christmas vacation ideas, the next thing to do after deciding to take one is to plan for it.

The first step in planning such a vacation is to identify a good ski resort in a scenic locality, a place that is child-friendly and has good accommodations. All ski resorts may not be suitable for families and skiers who are at the beginners’ level. While some resorts may have lovely accommodations, the skiing slopes may not be suitable for beginners. However, it will not be difficult for you to find such a resort, as there are plenty of resorts that are great for new skiers.

Once you have identified a few such resorts, you now need to look at which of these offers the best holiday package. Your idea behind a skiing vacation is to pack in skiing with having fun with the rest of the family as well, and the resort you choose should fulfill that objective.

If any of your family members are beginning to learn skiing, opt for a resort with all amenities for beginners. The ski resorts should have beginners slope so that learners can come back to top easily. All skiing gear such as boots, skis, etc should be available at the hotels for the beginners as well as the experts. The winter vacation resort should also be well equipped with poles and training sessions that make learning to ski an easy task for the whole family.

What Makes a Good Ski Resort?

Today, ski resorts are enormously profitable ventures. Now days, there are numerous ski resorts, all of which provide custom or specially-designed slopes and facilities for profit in their business, by providing their customers good facilities. There are numerous ski resorts offering free tickets for kids. There are other incentives as well – some offer free tickets and free lodging while buying a ticket for you.

Again, some of them have childcare facilities, also. They take special care of those children who are raw in this sport and easily get tired on the slopes.

It does not matter if you are a beginner at skiing or have brought your children for first family ski vacations , you can make your Christmas memorable, if you find a perfect ski resorts with the help of some research!