A vacation in Tucson, AZ means a vacation in a city unlike any other. Tucson blends a metropolitan city with a small town feel to make visitors feel as if they are as much a part of the community as any other. The rich heritage of the area brings together Mexican, Spanish, Native American, and Anglo-American influences to make the city as diverse as the individuals who visit it. As a part of the Sonoran Desert, there is much beauty around Tucson along with an unusually stable climate that brings 360 sunny days to the region each year. When visiting Tucson, you will find an abundance of places to visit, including museums, caverns, parks, golf courses, and fine restaurants.

If you are looking for an interesting museum, the Pima Air and Space Museum is a good place to start considering it is the largest of its kind in the Western United States. Here you can learn about the beauty of flight while touring 75 acres of planes in their facilities. You may need to make reservations for some of the tours and the whole experience usually takes from 3-4 hours, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid scheduling conflicts. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is also a good option if you are looking for a natural experience with a little more variety. This museum is a combination botanical garden, natural history museum, and zoo, which allows visitors to learn about the desert while also enjoying the plant and animal life in the re-created, but realistic-looking, landscapes.

A fairly short drive from Tucson but still a popular draw, the Kartchner Caverns are a great choice if you are interested in caves and the formations within them. In these particular caverns, you will find a variety of features including soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, and even helictites, which are formations that grow sideways. There are tours available year-round and you should plan on setting aside approximately two hours for the entire adventure.

The Saguaro National Park offers two ways to experience the natural beauty and wonder of the saguaro cactus and the Sonoran Desert. You can either take a leisurely drive around one of the loops through the park or, if you are feeling more adventurous and the need to explore is overwhelming, you can take a stroll or a hike on one of the paths throughout the park. There are easy walking paths for those who want an easy journey through the Sonoran Desert and then there are steep, difficult hikes into the Rincon Mountains, so choose the one that best suites your abilities and taste.

With its mild climate and top notch courses, Tucson is a major attraction for individuals looking for some of the best golf courses in the country. Whether you are looking for a traditional course, a course that integrates the desert into the game, or a course that was designed by some of the best architects in the country, including Robert Trent Jones Jr., Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus, you are sure to find the one that is right for you in Tucson. Two to consider are the Arizona National Golf Club (a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. course) and the Golf Club at Vistoso (a Tom Weiskopf design), which is the top public course in Tucson.

When searching for the right restaurant, try La Fuente to really experience an atmosphere that is reminiscent of a tiny Mexican village. La Fuente is a Mexican restaurant that has traditional and gourmet food for a reasonable price while also creating just the right ambiance with the live plants and Mariachi band strolling around. If you are looking for a more traditional dining experience, check out Anthony’s In the Catalinas with its award winning wine list and amazing continental cuisine that will leave you stuffed and satisfied.

There are a number of lodging options in Tucson and one that works really well for individuals with families or individuals who are planning on extended stays are Tucson vacation rentals. A Tucson rental allows you to enjoy all the comforts of home as you explore a new city and region during your vacation. Since many vacation rentals have amenities that you will not find in hotels, such as a washer and dryer and a dishwasher, you can truly relax during your trip with the knowledge that there are household items available in case something does not go as planned. If you are planning on visiting Tucson in the near future, consider searching for a greatrentals.com/vacation-rentals/Tucson-vacation-rentals.htm Tucson Condo
so you can have the relaxing and enjoyable vacation you deserve.

I have stayed in a couple of vacation rentals in the past couple of years and really enjoyed the experiences. I found a couple of sites particularly helpful, but I definitely think homeaway.com homeaway.com is the most comprehensive and complete resource for vacation rentals. Check out homeaway.com/USA/Arizona/Tucson/r6244.htm Tucson Condos if you are planning a visit to Tucson, AZ and want an alternative to the typical hotel.

South Mountain Park is one of the great recreational resources of the Valley.
With more than 50 miles of multiuse trails crisscrossing more than 16,000 acres of rugged desert beauty, the park is adored by hikers, bikers and horseback riders alike.

But there’s more – several splendid lookouts give even casual visitors an eagle’s-eye view of the Valley, while a couple of stables just outside the park allow weekend wranglers to indulge their inner cowpoke on park trails.

The park got its start in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge authorized the sale of 13,000 acres (the park has since grown) of federal land to the city of Phoenix. Price tag: $17,000. What a steal.

Today, with more than 3 million visitors a year, South Mountain Park is the second- most-visited park in all of Arizona, bested only by the Grand Canyon.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing, half-hour stroll or challenging daylong trek, an easy rolling mountain bike ride or options for road bikes, a scenic desert trail for a horseback ride or spectacularly scenic lookouts, you’ll find it at South Mountain Park.

Hiking
One of the great things about South Mountain Park – in addition to its sheer size, easy accessibility and wonderfully varied terrain – is its system of interconnected trails, which allows hikers to tailor treks to suit their fancies, as well as fitness levels.

Trails range from the short, easy, barrier-free Judith Tunell Accessible Trail to the grueling, 14.3-mile, cross-the-park National Trail.

Fat Man’s Pass: One of our favorites is the fun, family-friendly trek to Fat Man’s Pass. Kids love slithering through the foot-wide slot. So do adults. The 20-foot squeeze takes you between enormous, smooth granite boulders.

Where: Take the Summit Road to Buena Vista Lookout, then hike on the National Trail east-northeast about 1.5 miles to the signed junction to Hidden Valley. Fat Man’s Pass is just beyond.

Length: 3-mile round trip.

Difficulty: Easy.

Ranger Trail: For a harder hike, try the Ranger Trail. As you set out from the Five Tables Picnic Area (which, as you might expect, has five picnic tables), the ridgeline in front of you looks daunting. Not to worry – a series of long, fairly gentle switchbacks keep the ascent from becoming overwhelming.

The Ranger Trail ends at a junction with the National Trail, about 1.4 miles and a leisurely 45 minutes from the trailhead. For better views to the south, continue west along the National Trail about 100 yards.

Return to the trailhead the way you came.

Where: About a quarter mile beyond the park offices at the old entry station (or three-quarters of a mile beyond the new entry station), turn left at the sign to the equestrian area and proceed about a quarter mile to the Five Tables Picnic Area. (Don’t fret that the sign refers to the Three Tables area. This is where you turn.)
Length: 2.8-mile round trip.

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. The trail gains about 800 feet of elevation, but the gradient is reasonably gentle for most of the way.

Mountain biking
The Desert Classic Trail is the best route in the park for mountain biking. The long, rolling single track meanders across the bajada on the park’s southeastern section.

Although it’s often recommended for newbies, the Desert Classic dips in and out of several sandy washes, sometimes rather steeply. Although experienced mountain bikers will find it an outstanding ride, beginners will likely end up walking several stretches. Be sure to watch for hikers and horseback riders sharing this popular trail.

Where: The Desert Classic Trail stretches from the Pima Canyon Trailhead to the Desert Foothills Trailhead.

Length: 9.6 miles, one way.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate for experienced riders, moderate to difficult for novices.

You may spot a handful of hard-core cyclists grinding along the National Trail, which crosses the spine of the mountain range, all the way across the park. This is a genuinely tough ride, suitable for expert riders only.

Road biking
Used to be, cyclists could expect plenty of shake and rattle as they rolled along the potholed-pitted roads at South Mountain Park. No more. Last year’s paving project turned the bone-shaking roads into easy rolling pathways, great for road bikes.

San Juan Lookout: The road to the San Juan Lookout, closed until further notice to motorists (due to fire concerns), is an especially fine ride, a smooth, fast cruise across the scenic western end of the park. And with no motorists to watch out for, it’s more fun than ever.

Where: Many cyclists park at the gatehouse and ride the main road about two miles to San Juan Road. If you prefer, though, you can drive to San Juan Road and park in the large triangular area among the roads, then ride the rest of the way.

Length: About 4.5 miles, one way. Add two miles (each way) if you park at the gatehouse.
Difficulty: Easy.

Summit Road: Those looking for a challenge can test their skills on the Summit Road, which also was repaved last year. But it’s a tough grind, gaining well over a thousand feet of elevation. Keep in mind that the road is pretty narrow and, often, has virtually no shoulders.

Where: Park at the gatehouse or the beginning of the San Juan Road, as previous, and take the Summit Road to the Gila Valley Lookout.

Length: About six miles one way, if you start at San Juan Road. Add two miles (each way) if you start from the gatehouse.

Difficulty: Strenuous. Recommended for experienced, well-conditioned cyclists only.

Horseback riding
Saddle up and take a ride through the scenic desert foothills within South Mountain Park. There’s nothing like the steady clop-clop of hoof beats on a trail and the rhythmic motion of a horseback ride to give you a taste of the Old West.

Ponderosa Stables: For a guided ride, rent a horse at Ponderosa Stables, near the Central Avenue entrance to the park.

Picnicking
There are dozens of picnic tables and grills across the park, all within easy reach by car. Most are first come, first served, but the larger ramadas – some of which can handle up to 200 people – can be reserved by signing up, in person, at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center, up to six months in advance. All are free, except the Activity Complex, east of SMEEC, which has an industrial kitchen and can be leased for $20 an hour.

Petroglyphs
There are thousands of prehistoric petroglyphs scattered throughout the South Mountain region. Those ancient symbols include representations of geometric figures, lizards, snakes, bighorn sheep and eerie humanoids, but no one knows whether they were meant to convey practical information on the location of game and water sources, or played a role in religious rituals.

Among the best places to see petroglyphs are:

• Off the Telegraph Pass Trail on the south side of the park.

• About a quarter mile or so along the Holbert Trail behind the visitor center.

• Along the Judith Tunell Accessible Trail.

There’s also an inscription – almost certainly spurious – of Fray Marcos de Niza near the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Take the Desert Classic Trail south and follow the signs. The inscription is a couple of hundred yards from the trailhead, but the trail does go up several rough, rocky steps.

Although some historians think the Franciscan friar – who claimed to have seen the fabled Seven Golden Cities of Cibola in western New Mexico in 1539 – may have traveled through the Salt River Valley, the carving at South Mountain Park probably was created in the 1920s or 1930s.

Scenic overlooks
The Dobbins Lookout provides the best, most expansive views to the north. The popular, frequently crowded overlook features a stone resthouse, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a brass plaque pointing out about two dozen features in the distance, a couple of unshaded picnic tables and restrooms. (But those with delicate sensibilities may wish to find other facilities.)

Hikers can access the Holbert Trail from here.

Where: Take the Summit Road a little more than three miles to the signed turnoff to the lookout, which is about a quarter mile off the Summit Road.

Buena Vista Lookout also provides grand views to the north, but not quite as good as Dobbins. It is, however, considerably less crowded.

There’s a bench about 75 yards north of the parking area, to contemplate the sweeping views before you.

Hikers can take the National Trail east to Fat Man’s Pass and Hidden Valley from this lookout. No facilities.

Where: From the turnoff to Dobbins Lookout, continue about a mile and a half to Buena Vista.

Gila Valley Lookout is the highest point in the park accessible to visitors, only 30 feet or so below the antenna-clad summit of Mount Suppoa (2,690 feet).

Vistas to the south are breathtaking, with range upon range of mountains fading into the distance. You’ll also find good views of the Superstition Mountains to the east and the Sierra Estrellas to the west. No facilities.

Where: From the turnoff to Dobbins Lookout, continue about 2.5 miles to the Gila Valley Lookout.
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Below is the storey of Stambuli; community development is needed to help more street children like Stambuli. Safaris help to fund projects to rehabilitate these children. Ensure the company you choose for a safari in Tanzania help with community projects. Make tourism responsible.

Stambuli grew up on the streets of Arusha in northern Tanzania. From the age of eight he smoked marijuana and drank home brewed alcohol. To survive he became a thief, stealing papaya from neighbours trees when he was hungry; as he grew he moved on to stealing bicycles and even the odd spot of prostitution to get a good meal and a dry roof over his head for the night. When he had money he would play cards and gamble down by the village stream, and together with friends smoke and drink until the money was gone.

When money was needed again he would walk into town and steal a bicycle and as he got older and became a strong 15 year old standing 6 feeg1inch in his bare feet he became more adept and intimidating with his thievery. Eventually, at the age of 16 he began to work mornings at the bus terminal offering to carry bags and earn a few shillings for himself. He would sit in the dust at the side of the road, waiting with the other boys for the next bust to arrive; because of his size and growing up on the streets he managed to push his way to the front of the competition and get work.

Stambuli’s father had abandoned him whilst he was still in his mother womb. Stambuli would talk affectionately of his father who lived by the coast close to Tanga Bay. He had never seen his father but told his friends ‘one day I will travel and meet my father’.

Not all the money would go on drugs and booze. He would give to his mother who was a widow and was raising her granddaughter, Grace. Graces father was Stambuli’s brother. Graces father was a small time drug dealer. He had murdered a man and regularly beat his wife. This man was the main male role model in Stambuli’s life.

Stambuli’s brother was eventually arrested for the murder and put in prison. After a year in prison he committed suicide. Stambuli would visit his brother every week and remembers the day he arrived to be told his brother was dead and then given his brothers body. Grace the child to the marriage was then abandoned as the mother fled to Dar es Salaam.

Stambuli was left the contents of his brother’s house but he was not allowed to keep them. Elders of the village deemed Stambuli unfit to have anything of his own and they took the belongings from the house for themselves. All was taken from the house except for Grace; Stambuli took Grace to his Mother and she cared for the child and Stambuli went to work at the bus Station to earn money for food. There was no room for Stambuli and he would sleep next to the river or occasionally at a friend’s house.

On his seventeenth birthday disaster struck. Whilst at work at the busy bus terminal someone accused Stambuli of taking a passengers bag from a bus. He was arrested and sentenced to four months imprisonment.

Stambuli’s greatest fear was to go to prison where his brother had died.

As he started his sentence in the nearby prison he realised how alone he was. Abandoned by his friends his Mother visited him every two days. These visits were distressing for his mother plus as she couldn’t afford to take the bus; she must walk the eight miles every day. Stambuli told her, on her second visit, to please not visit and to save her money and strength to grow and sell spinach and to look after Grace.

Prison life is not easy in East Africa and here in this place Stambuli would reflect and face the future. The rest of this storey is told in the next article Stambuli’s Storey.

Community and cultural news and travel can be seen at betheladventure.co.uk betheladventure.co.uk and Information on Tanzania and Community projects can be sourced at tanzania-info.co.uk tanzania-info.co.uk – change peoples lives and choose to support responsible tourism.

Come explore the arts in the City of St. Petersburg! Home to six stunning museums, this city prides itself on its contribution to the arts. The Salvador Dali Museum has been opened since 1982 and is the world’s most comprehensive museum on the late 20th century surrealist’s paintings. Enjoy some of the largest Dali paintings in the world!

Great Explorations Hand on Museum, is a place where you not only look at art, but you touch it. Imaginations come alive just by walking through the facility and exploring. There are lots of exhibits and shows to get your mind and fingers moving!

The Florida Holocaust Museum is committed to providing public awareness, education and understanding of the influence of bigotry and prejudice that was demonstrated during the Holocaust. This time of tragic history is portrayed in a way that brings recognition of the events and alert people to the dangers of such ignorance.

The Florida International Museum is a non-profit museum that offers educational, cultural and historic exhibitions. It opened in 1995 and has offered such exhibits as the Titanic, John F. Kennedy, Treasure of the Czars, and Cuban Missile Crisis.

The Museum of Fine Arts has a collection of more than 4,000 objects from the past to today that enhance your understanding of art and culture. Take a class, view an exhibit or a film in order to get a more comprehensive knowledge of the art pieces shown at this alluring location.

St. Petersburg Museum of History collects and preserves pieces of St. Petersburg’s history to show people the beauty that this city has portrayed in the past and will portray in the future.

Many residents, visitors and students have viewed these sensational museums and learned for themselves what the city of St. Petersburg already knows. Supporting museums and the arts not only brings education and awareness to people but is a way to preserve the history and tell the story of our past.

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the lipplyrealestate.com Tampa Bay Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in lipplyrealestate.com/stpetersburg.php St. Petersburg Real Estate visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.

Rockhounding has become pretty popular in America. I would call it a safe bet that everyone at least knows a die hard rockhound – if they aren’t one
themselves. There is unquestionably something very special about gems that
you find yourself. Ever wonder where it all started for Us in the USA?
In 1820 tourmaline was discovered by Elijah Hamilin and Ezekiel Homes at
Mount Mica, Maine. By 1822 America had it’s first gemstone mine. It is hard to imagine another gem being so right to represent the avent of America’s love of gem hunting.

Having a hardness of 7.5, tourmaline makes easily workable gem faciting
material. It also comes in every color and hue imaginable. Many crystals
contain several colors within one stone, the “watermelon” stone with it’s pink
center and green outer layers being the most well known. Buergerite, elbaite,
schrol, utive, foitite dravite, povondravite, chromdravite, feruvite aliddicoatite,
olenite are all mineral species of tourmaline, making 11 mineral species in all.

Tourmaline produces some sizable crystals, the usual range falling from under
an inch long to over a foot long and several inches wide. Needless to say many
spectacular huge gems, a 400 carate pink/red stone, 256 carate blue/green, a
75 pound green/pink to name a just a few, have been cut from large tourmaline
crystals, and many of the large cut gems are flawless — and spectacular.
Cutting gemstones is not the only value of tourmaline, however. It is also used
to make a polarizing apparatus (tourmaline tongs), pressure measuring
equipment, and specialist microphones. Scientists can use tourmaline to gain
knowledge of the geological past for the area in which the crystals are found.

In the United States tourmaline can be found in abundance in southern
California, Connecticut, Maine, New York and Texas. It has also been found in
Idaho, South Dakota, North Carolina, and a few other states in lesser quantities.

Worldwide, tourmaline is found in Africa, Brazil, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar,
Namibia, Sri Lanka, and The Isle of Elba.

Identifying factors for those hunting tourmaline are:

Color – from transparent to black, often multi-colored
Luster – vitreous to resinous
Streak – uncolored
Cleavage – none
Fracture – variable
Specific Gravity – 3.0 – 3.2
Chemistry – SiO2 B, Al
Crystal System – hexagonal
Hardness – 7.0 – 7.5

Click the URL below to see some great examples of tourmaline crystals:

Tour operators are companies who offer tours and packages all over the world. Many tour operators in the United States are members of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) is a professional association representing the tour operator industryin the U.S.

When traveling to a country like China, it is wise to consult a tour operator to make sure that you are getting the most for your money, and to discover the activities that most closely match your interests. The tour operator will help book all accommodations and recommend popular structured escorted group tours with group leaders. The tour operator will handle everything from airfare to hotels, meals, tours, admission costs, and local transportation.

In China, you may choose the option of an unescorted package. While this may seem convenient, you usually end up paying. This package is purchased when you arrive in China. Therefore, any foreign tour operators you may purchase your package from are required to use Chinese state-registered travel agencies to act as local handlers. They usually quote very high rates, which become even higher when the tour operator adds the middleman fee. This is because Chinese travel agencies are controlled by CITS, (China International Travel Service) which keeps prices high. You can check with the China National Tourism Office for a list of registered Chinese agencies that can give you information on packages tours that includes choices of airlines, hotels and other hidden expenses. Try to avoid booking with a private Chinese tour agency or guide online because many are not licensed.

e-chinatours.com China Tours provides detailed information on China Bicycle Tours, China Great Wall Tours, China Guided Tours, China Tour Operators and more. China Tours is affiliated with i-ChinaTravel.com China Travel Services.

Here are some tips to take along with you to Vegas. Have a great time!

1. Tipping to get a better room? Try using the Twenty Dollar Trick. When you get to the front desk you can simply slip the front desk clerk a $20 bill along with your credit card. You then ask are there any complimentary upgrades available? The front desk clerk will then check and if there are none, they will return your $20.00. Well they should anyway. This trick is designed to get you a room upgrade at that moment when you check in by slipping the clerk a $20 bill. Remember: There is nothing wrong about offering a tip. However you do have some hotels who have a policy that may discourage employees from taking tips. Do you think many employees will take the $20? You will be surprised. This trick has been going on many years at Las Vegas Hotels. I have not heard any complaints yet.

2. Want to receive celebrity treatment? Visit the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino at their celebrity style salon. They have worked with Britney Spears, Jon Bon Jovi, Nikki Hilton and many others. The name of the salon is called Brannon Hair. You can get a fabulous personal salon treatment there. Yes, you will get the celebrity treatment.

3. Luxury pays every night. Book a room at a participating Marriott Hotel and Resort. If you pay with your American Express Card, you will receive reward cards valued at $50 for each night up to 5 nights. Yes up to $250 in reward cards. This expires in December 2007. Check into this.

4. Want to avoid a convention at Las Vegas Hotels? Check your bags when you arrive at the hotel. Then go to a pay phone or your cell mobile phone and call the hotel. Ask them to confirm your reservation. You will then give them your credit card number. This should help you avoid those convention check ins.

5. This great tip is an easy way to avoid any excess room charges. Don’t try to charge anything to your hotel room. You can save money by not paying for something you did not order if it was charged. A hotel can easily make this mistake. What most travelers do is just sign and pay without even looking at the list. Think about paying cash for room service. At least when you get the room bill, you will know that any extra charges for items is not yours. Easier control of your bill. Sometimes those room charges can be very confusing. Just making life a little easier.

Looking for the

We’ve all been in situations while we’re traveling where we have to wait longer than anticipated and feel like we’re starving. During times like those, we scope out our options in the airport or train station only to find that our healthy options are usually very limited (and generally overpriced as well). Then, you begin feeling desperate and the Cinnabon stand starts looking really good, even though you know you won’t feel good about that snack later. This article will help you plan ahead, keep your energy levels balanced when you travel, and stay healthy even while on the go.

These convenient snacks can travel with you so you’ll always have a healthy snack at your fingertips! When shopping for a healthy travel snack, look for foods that give you energy without a lot of sugar or caffeine. Snacks that are high in protein will keep you feeling full longer.

Healthy travel snacks that meet these criteria include:

Nuts – Just about any type of nuts are a good choice to keep your energy high (in moderation).
Trail mix – Trail mix generally includes a combination of nuts and dried fruits.
Travel-size peanut butter (Jif makes these in single-serve, disposable containers now)
Granola bars (just make sure they don’t have too much sugar)
Energy bars – There are a lot of these on the market now, choose energy bars with low sugar and good flavor such as:
Larabars – a “raw” energy bar that tastes amazing, all fruit & nuts, no added sugar, and come in flavors like “cherry pie”
Clif bars – Try the “chocolate chip” flavor. It tastes like a cross between a brownie and a chocolate chip cookie!
Luna bars – “Nutz over chocolate” is one of the best flavors in this brand.

Another consideration is the convenience factor. You want snacks that are easy to carry with you and don’t require refrigeration. Fruit is always a good snack, but can be difficult to transport and sometimes spoils easily.

A great alternative to fresh fruit is a “fruit leather.” These are made of 100% fruit (no added sugar) and can even be made from organic fruits. Fruit leathers look like a fruit roll-up, but are much healthier for you. They come in many flavors including: mango, apricot, blackberry, strawberry, grape, apple, cherry, and more. You can find them in Trader Joe’s, Henry’s Marketplace, and some Whole Foods-like stores.

Healthy fruit snacks include:

Fresh fruit – Including apple, banana, grapes, etc. if you can keep them from getting bruised.
Fruit leathers
Dried fruit (such as unsweetened banana chips)

Pack a few of these healthy snacks in your travel bags and make sure that you’re never left hungry and desperate in an airport or train station again!

Sheri Keyser is the Founder and CEO of gosightsee.com GoSightsee.com, a travel website that will save you time and money on your next vacation. Get insider travel tips and recommendations on sightseeing destinations, vacation planning resources, and travel deals.

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It now looks certain that Hurricane Katrina will push fuel prices – and air fares – up through the roof.

Hurricane Katrina has just killed hundreds of people, and it could well be thousands of people that we don’t know about already. But now the awful diseases we’ve all heard of in Third World countries – Cholera and Typhoid – look all set to hit flood affected areas in Alabama, Louisiana and the Mississippi.

Fuel costs are going to skyrocket…

The chances of the US getting their fuel production back to normal quickly now have disappeared. The US has two giant disasters to try and cope with. The Hurricane/Flood and it’s associated damage and public health dangers. And now a major interruption to the nation’s fuel supplies.

It might have taken a month to get fuel supplies in the US back to normal if Hurricane Katrina were a mere run-of-the mill disaster. But it wasn’t. Hurricane Katrina looks like she’s the biggest natural calamity the US has ever faced. There are hundreds of thousands of people displaced, and that’s mind-boggling.

Even with the vast wealth the United States has at its disposal, the world’s biggest military machine and some of the world’s top civil defense and rescue specialists, the US has a really tough road ahead to help the people of the affected southern states, and especially New Orleans and Biloxi.

The US still needs its fuel, so world fuel prices, and everyone else’s air fares are likely to hit heights we’ve never seen before… and heaven only knows how long fuel prices will stay high.

There are just too many factors in the big puzzle.

The immediate victims of Hurricane Katrina are the hundreds, maybe thousands, who have died already. But the displaced survivors now face an even bigger danger… from
water-borne disease.

Here we have people from the world’s richest country who have suddenly found themselves faced by a common Third World danger.

The survivors are in an environment with contaminated water. You can’t drink the water anymore because it’s contaminated by sewage, bodies and toxic chemicals. And with everything flooded, how will anyone boil water to make it safe to drink?

How will the Hurricane Katrina survivors maintain personal cleanliness (vital to keep off diseases) and how will they get safe food?

Electricity is down in thousands of homes, so many have no cooking, lighting, fuel or even communications… That is a disaster I don’t think the US has faced before.

Shelter and drinking water are the first priorities now for the survivors. (Most people don’t realize a healthy human being can last up to one whole month without any food at all.) It’s not fun and I don’t recommend it to anyone. But it is possible.

But you can only last two days without drinking water, and maybe less without shelter from the elements.

Katrina has been a disaster for the USA, and now it could well be an end to cheap fuel prices that we’ve taken for granted. You can expect air fares to start going up almost immediately as well.

If you’re thinking of air travel now, I don’t know if there are any cheap air fares left. Parhaps it’s the time to grab yours now.

David Harvey is a retired journalist who lives in Sydney Australia. He is the publisher of several websites including dirt-cheap-airline-tickets.info dirt-cheap-airline-tickets.info – a great source for the

Winchester is a beautiful cathedral city in the heart of southern England. Each year many tourists come to the city. Most just come for the day, but if you’re planning on staying longer then you’ll want to know about the various places to stay in Winchester.

Despite being a very genteel place, with many carefully tended parks, ancient buildings and pubs and restaurants, Winchester possesses many attractions that are of interest for all, be they young, old, single or families. Likewise, Winchester offers a broad range of accommodation that caters for all budgets and tastes.

Many young people and backpackers come each year to Winchester and some stay for more than a day or two. Cost is usually a factor for such tourists and despite appearances, accommodation can be found in or near Winchester itself. There used to be a hostel in Winchester, run by the YHA. It was housed in a restored and working watermill in the city centre. Sadly, the hostel part of the mill is now closed. The nearest YHA can now be found at Burley 23 miles, Salisbury 24 miles and Portsmouth 25 miles away. There is an excellent bus network connecting Winchester to all these towns – all of which are within one hour’s travel by bus.

Another good cheap option is camping. Morn Hill Caravan Club Site can be found on the outskirts of the town, so you can walk to the city centre from the site, or take a short bus journey. If you have your own transport, then you might consider one of the many campsites around Hampshire. There are many campsites in the New Forest. The Forest is one of England’s last remaining ancient woodlands and makes a great base to explore Winchester and the county.

On a slightly higher budget you could stay in one of Winchester’s bed and breakfasts or guest houses. They are numerous and can be found in the city centre, suburbs or just out of town at a price to suit everyone.

As might be expected, Winchester offers excellent hotel accommodation. In the centre of Winchester you can stay at The Winchester Royal hotel. It is a 75 bedroom establishment, oozing old-world charm and dates back to 1530. Also, in the centre of town you can lodge at The Winchester Hotel. This is a modern establishment that is very popular with the Business and Leisure traveller. The Macdonald Wessex Hotel was built in 1964, and is situated in the heart of Winchester City Centre. The hotel runs alongside the famous Winchester Cathedral and is within easy walking distance of the city centre shops. For those who can afford it, Lainston House Hotel is a lovely place to stay whilst visiting Winchester. The hotel is an elegant William and Mary house built in the seventeenth century. It is situated in Sparsholt on the outskirts of Winchester and is set in 63 acres of downland park. The Marwell Hotel is opposite Marwell Zoological Park and is styled as a colonial safari lodge. It has 68 rooms. The hotel is just 6 kms from Winchester.

For those who plan on staying longer than a few days in Winchester, a self-catering holiday staying in a country cottage might be the ideal choice. Hampshire is a quintessential English county and its cottages reflect this, with their thatched roofs, mellow brick walls, and rose adorned windows.

There are many places to stay in Winchester, offering accommodation to suit all travelers. During summer and other busy times of the year it is best to book ahead as Winchester can be very busy. Wherever you decide to stay in Winchester you’re sure to be enthralled by the beauty of the city.

Robin O’Brien lives and works in Winchester and is founder of winchester-tourist-information.com Winchester Tourist Information. You can find out more on winchester-tourist-information.com/winchester-accommodation.php places to stay in Winchester and book online and learn about winchester-tourist-information.com/winchester-attractions.php places to visit in Winchester.