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25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Italian Villas

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After watching movies like Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat, Love Pray, I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and spend a couple of weeks in a villa in the countryside just focusing on myself. Maybe write that book I always wanted to write or paint, learn to speak Italian, read a novel, take a cooking class, or do nothing at all. With the hustle and bustle of our lives with all its stresses, obligations and commitments we have, it’s easy to lose ourselves and who we are. Sometimes we need to take some times and get to know ourselves again. And what better way to do than hanging out in the Italian countryside. So in honor of some of my favorite movies, here are some perfect villas for your get away.

They also make a great romantic getaway, just in case you have a different get away in mind.

Alchimsta BisSleeps 6 3 bedrooms / 2 baths
This stone cottage with private pool and garden is located in the hilltop village of Monterchi, which is known for La Madonna del Parto, a painting by Piero della Francesca.

This unique property combines the luxury of a

villa with private garden and pool with the charm and convenience of being in a small village with shops and restaurants nearby. In the village there is a bank, post office, grocery store, and several restaurants. Famous Tuscan and Umbria cities such as Arezzo, Firenze, Siena, Assisi, and Perugia are easily reachable from this location. Alchista B can be rented alone or with Villa Alchimista.

www.myitalianvacation.com

Diana B

Sleeps 2-4 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom

The Chianti Hills are known around the world for delicious red wine, rolling hills, and medieval villages. These beautifully restored stone farmhouses are located in the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany.

The famous Abbey of Badia a Coltibuono in Chianti is about 2 kilometers from this tranquil location. The Medieval towns of Gaiole and Radda are nearby as well (3 km and 7 km respectively). Diana A is a large farmhouse that sleeps 10/12. Diana B, an independent stone farmhouse that sleeps 2/4, is located nearby on the same Tuscan estate.

The farmhouses enjoy views of the surrounding countryside of vineyards and olive groves and share a large pool. Renting both together is an ideal location for a larger group. The entire property sleeps 12/16.

www.myitalianvacation.com

Isola Rossa

Situated on the unpopulated western coast of the Monte Argentario peninsula, this lovely stone farmhouse offers absolute tranquillity within a glorious setting. Rescued from ruin by a well-known Italian architect, it stands now as a simple but charming summer retreat, artistically decorated in a fresh, uncluttered style.

The restoration work provided the house with a good kitchen and three ensuite bathrooms, and reserved the entire top floor for an airy, loft-type master bedroom.

A path leads through the olive, orange and lemon trees that surround the house to a secluded pebble beach. Private pool with views over the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean before you, this is a perfect gem for a get-away-from-it-all holiday.

www.tuscanynow.com/Rentals/Villas/Isola_Rossa_CardID_5173.aspx

Casa Castagno

Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Renaissance painter and sculptor, was born at Caprese, an ancient cliff-top village in the beautiful hilly area between Arezzo and the Casentino Forest Reserve.

Casa Castagno, ‘Chestnut House’, is a delightful stone cottage nestled into a forested hillside near the village, the perfect retreat for a couple keen on walking and touring the area’s magnificent abbeys and lovely old villages.

The cottage has just been fully restored and equipped with new kitchen appliances and a modern bathroom, although its interior stone walls, high beamed ceilings and original terracotta floors were all preserved.

A private swimming pool, positioned for the best views, offers a relaxing alternative to sightseeing.

http://www.tuscanynow.com/Rentals/Villas/Casa_Castagno_CardID_4688.aspx

La Casella La Casella is 2 km south of Cetona, ideally located in south-east corner of Tuscany for touring central Italy. From here you can easily reach most of Tuscany and Umbria on day-trips. The A1 Autostrada is about 15 minute drive away, and in about 20 minutes in Chiusi is a main-line train station.

This is a scenic region with famous vineyards, historic hill-towns and large farming valleys with panoramic views. Here is the classic Tuscany of cypress lined roads and olive groves.

At La Casella you can enjoy outside dining al fresco and views over the countryside from two covered terraces, and from the chaise lounges on the sunny brick-paved pool side.

Dinners can also be cooked outdoors on the brick barbeque. From the garden you can pick sage, rosemary and thyme for your favorite recipes.
Nearby Tuscan towns include Montepulciano to the north, about 1 hour or less are Siena, Arezzo and Cortona. Florence you can reach in about 1.5 hours. On the Umbrian side are Perugia, Assisi, and Orvieto.
http://www.tuscanhouse.com/lacasella/villa.htm

Villino La VignaComfortably sleeping two people, with additional facilities for an extra two, this pretty country house with pool nestles in a privileged elevated position on a hillside facing out towards the sea.

Located nearby is the picturesque medieval village of Castelnuovo Magra, just on the border between Liguria and Tuscany.

This venue forms an ideal base for exploring the Cinque Terre fishing villages and nature reserve, as well as for accessing the local beaches.

http://www.seaandcountryvillas.com/scv3/villa.php?villa=vigna

RoutaHigh above the charming, picturesque little town of Greve in Chianti, a castle offers refuge in the form of holiday properties. Ruota is a charming, original holiday property with admirable views.

In the valley below, Greve in Chianti has a medieval square, weekly market and good shops selling a variety of Tuscan specialties. It is just 1 km away by foot (or for the intrepid driver on a very rough track!) or 11km by road.
The property retains its sense of privacy by means of a long unasphalted track. Siena, Florence and Arezzo are within reach for day trips.
All on first floor: Living/dining room/corner kitchen. 1 double bedroom. Shower room with toilet.

CH inc. Ceiling fans in bedrooms. Cot on request. Satellite TV. W/machine in shared laundry. Terrace. BBQ. Shared swimming pool (12 x 5m, depth 1.4m) available Apr-Oct.

Distance to Panzano 6km

Distance to Greve 50mNearest facilities 50m

Please Note: There is a 150 Euro security deposit poa.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Pool is shared and measures 12 x 5m; 1.4m deep. Pool is open from the end of March to the end of October. The housekeeper lives on site, there is a taxi service to town, cooking classes & wine tasting in nearby farms, tickets to museums in Florence on sale at reception as well as other tours in the area.

(Private cars & private drive or bus tours) This property is reached by 1.5km of unpaved road.

http://www.italianlife.co.uk/tts133/ruota-florence.aspx?propertyType=1&startDate=01/01/0001&flexibleDate=true&duration=
7&partySize=2&sleeps1=0&sleeps2=0&sleeps3Plus=0&lat=43.4529&long=
11.3159&zoom=8&criteria=&orderBy=SleepsASC&tab=list&page=4&type=
list&rand=576467&region=593&ListRegion=593

New Airline Rules Start Jan. 1

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The new airline rules start Jan. 1, 2012. No more bait and switch! Airlines can no longer quote you one price for a ticket and than when you get ready to pay for the ticket, pile a bunch of required taxes and fees on top of that price so you end up with an amount sometimes double the original price you were quoted.

Now airlines and travel agencies are required to quote you a price that includes the cost of the ticket plus all required taxes and fees.

Among the other protections:
• A ban on price increases after a ticket has been purchased
• A 24-hour window for passengers to hold or cancel a reservation without payment or penalty for reservations made a week or more before the departure date
• Required disclosure of baggage fees upon booking and on e-ticket confirmations
• Required prompt notification of delays of more than 30 minutes, cancellations and diversions
• The same baggage allowance and fees to apply throughout a passenger's trip

Disney's Ship Vandalized

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Disney's new ship the Fantasy which is being built in a shipyard in papenburg, Germany, was vandalized. The vandals caused $1.2 million in water damage to the ship.

Hopefully officals will catch these guys because we're not talking about a few dollars, its $1.2 MILLION. That's sad.

Security is being tightened around the shipyard but this is a serious lesson learned about the need for tight security.

Will Travel Agency's Get Sued Over the Costa Disaster

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Travel Agency's are worried they will dragged into law suits being files by passengers and family members of those who lost their lives on board the Concordia cruise ship. The question on every travel agent and agency's mind who booked a client on that cruise is will our agency get sued and what are the odds that we will be held liable and if we are sued and win would the plaintiffs have to pay our attorney's fees?

The odds of an agency being sued really depends on the plaintiffs attorney. Some attorneys automatically sue everyone and anyone they can that has any attachment to the case at all regardless if they can actually collect anything from them or not, rather than risk any statue of limitations from running out before the plaintiff realizes they want to sue a company they feel was some how also liable. Personal injury lawyers would focus on the agency in the states since Costa tickets state that if the cruise did not depart from, return to or visit a U.S. port, the passenger must sue the cruise line only in Genoa, Italy, not the U.S.

Even if Costa was sued in the states the plaintiffs could not get more than $70,000 in damages due to a treaty limitation of liability so it is likely the plaintiff wold try to get more money from the travel agency. Even if the agency wins the suit they would be out thousands of dollars in legal fees and in most cases the judge does not have the power to order the plaintiffs to reimburse you for legal fees.

Sadly with a creative lawyer a case could be made that Costa had a history of allowing their captains sail too close to islands for "salutes" and that travel agents and agency's should have known about this and warned clients about the possible danger before booking them on cruises. Which is a little far fetched. There is no "maybe or mabe not harmful actions but not illegal conduct list" that goes out to travel agency's.

It is being recommended that travel agency's ask clients to sign a "disclaimer of liability" when booking them on a cruise. Be VERY CAREFUL about signing anything that gives away your rights to file a law suit in the event something goes terrible wrong. There are things beyond your agents doing but there are things that aren't. I NEVER give up my legal rights. If they ask you to do so, go some place else. Because if they do something really, really wrong and something really bad happens, you just signed away your right to sue them. So don't do it.

Ca Country's Outstanding Traveller Guidelines To Get The Best Of Vacation Deals, Lodgings And Sights

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The Most Celebrated Beaches for Your California Vacations

The beaches of California are amazing. The dazzling, temperate and relaxing rays of the sun are perfect for surfboarding and for exploring the pristine water of California. There are a lot of glorious beaches in California appropriate for your summer California vacations. Walking on Santa Barbara's seashores is similar to a trip Hawaii. They have wide seashores and eye-catching sand wonderful for swimming, grilling, surfing, sailing and more. The Santa Monica beach is another tourist hot spot in California and is great for those who just love to lie around on the beach. The ambiance in Santa Monica is very modest and laid back. You can spend your time just sprawling around, sailing or chilling under a beach sunshade. Laguna Beach is also a fantastic exploratory beach. You'll enjoy seeing dolphins and sea lions as they promote fun and create some noise. San Diego beaches are also suggested. There are a lot of beaches here but you'll definitely find one that's ideal for you. Whether you want to stretch out under the sun, walk away, or just enjoy water activities like swimming, sailing, snorkeling, or kayaking. California beaches are forever there to outfit your California vacations and beach wishes.

Best Resorts for California Vacations

California is famous for its great resorts and to have California vacations is the best getaway that you could ever experience. In fact, several wonderful places in California welcome every visitor sincerely, thus, you have lots of brilliant choices to pick from anytime. A trip to such romantic spas and resorts in California is surely going to relax and refresh your spirit. You can always go online to check out great resorts for California vacations and for sure, you will find the perfect place that will suit your need. All California spa vacations are becoming more admired and adored by a lot of people because of the state's great weather conditions. California spa and resort vacation destinations might be luxurious for the fact that they offer the best hotels and spa resorts. Spending your vacation in a resort is a very refreshing experience. Each resort and spa in the state provides delight. In addition, the stunning state of California offers very relaxing mountain, desert, and Oceanside resort spas.

California Vacations: Kids Deserve It

Wonderful California vacations are what most kids love to experience during vacation breaks. The realm of California is a perfect location to spend ones breathtaking vacation break. Thus, if you want to give your kids a gift for this years school vacation, then a trip to California would be the best reward of all. Visitors will find hundreds of lovely places in California such as wonderful parks and museums. The La Brea Tar Pits, the Redwood National and State Parks, the Los Angeles County Art Museum, and the Hollywood, CA are just some of the California vacation spots that kids will enjoy. Another attraction your kids will love is Disneyland California; thus, do not ever miss the excitement. The scenery is remarkable and fantastic. Let your kids be supportive to the endangered species like the Stellers lions, Northern spotted owls, and bald eagle, found in the National Parks and State Parks. California is the place that kids deserve, whether for fun or for educational purposes.

Vacation Guide to California Vacations

If you want to have unforgettable vacation moments, then you should experience California vacations. California is certainly one of the most stunning places that one should visit and appreciate. For travelers who are looking for a fun experience, California vacations offer an opportunity to unwind and to enjoy a wide variety of destination choices. Such beautiful California destinations to pick from are San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Napa, Berkeley, and South Lake Tahoe. No matter which region of California you choose, still all of the destinations offer their very own beauty and glamor. They also render incredible holiday experiences for vacationers of all ages. In addition, California vacations are truly for all kids, adults, couples, honeymooners, groups, families, and individuals who want to experience a unique getaway. The Golden Gate Bridge, Japanese Tea Garden, Palm Springs, Alcatraz Island, Death Valley, Big Sur, and Sea World Adventure Park are just some of the many amazing attractions in California.

24 Haziran 2012 Pazar

The Great Divide

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As someone who writes, the thought of writing about a personal relationship has often scared me. The truth as its seen in my head has the power to hurt and create doubt in the mind of readers, without ever giving my partner the platform to say his piece. This sort of responsibility is not one that I take lightly but truth be told, writing has now become therapeutic and so today I break my long silence.

Being in an on-again off-again 7 year relationship has made me treasure the man I will always call my great love. Together, we begun as lust struck teenagers and grew well into the adult boots we have each individually picked out for ourselves.

These boots though, they don't match at all. Mine is thick soled and waterproof, for constantly being on the move while his is flat and dressy, perfect for that big corporate climb to the top. Somewhere along picking out our designated footwear, we parted ways at a crossroad without even knowing it. He went left and I went right.

I stomped my feet in my shiny new wellies, furious that he had not followed my lead and he stood strong, miles away, not willing to budge.We struggled for awhile, often calling out to each other but the distance between us had long swallowed our relationship whole.

Instead of taking steps backward, we've marched on, each in separate directions with a loose rope still attached to each other. On our journeys we would relive tales of adventures, injustices and joy to one another, each tempting the other to make the long trek back. But once we had each gotten a taste for the vast unknown that lay ahead, we both wanted to make footprints of our own in the sand.

Every now and then I turn around and squint my eyes for a glimpse of his lost silhouette but now it has completely disappeared. The sudden silence and independence is both terrifying and exhilarating.

I still think of his generous heart and kind smile, the kind I know he only reserved for me and it makes me sad that our journeys must be different but it also makes me smile because to know and feel a love like that, is priceless. Apart from showing me how to love, he brought out a love I didn't believe I had the capacity to extend and for that alone, I will be forever grateful.

I close my eyes and pray that he is well on his way to the end of the rainbow as I am too, clearly just to the opposite end of the exact same rainbow.

Never willing to undo, never willing to forget, never willing to say goodbye.