It's that time again! On 9th and 10th December, and then from 16th December 2007 until 6th January 2008, Le Village du Père Noël opens its doors for the winter season. 11am to 5pm. Print $2 discount coupons from the website - your kids have to colour a picture and bring it. For all ages - allow 2 hours to visit all activities, minimum! Four hours is perfect for everyone to have an extra turn on a favourite activity. $10.50 (age 2 to 65) - free for under 2s.

It's that time again! On 9th and 10th December, and then from 16th December 2007 until 6th January 2008, Le Village du Père Noël opens its doors for the winter season. 11am to 5pm. Print $2 discount coupons from the website - your kids have to colour a picture and bring it. For all ages - allow 2 hours to visit all activities, minimum! Four hours is perfect for everyone to have an extra turn on a favourite activity. $10.50 (age 2 to 65) - free for under 2s.

So our run of sponging free accommodation off our long lost friends finally ran its course when we hit St Louis. We were finally obliged to pay for accommodation. Luckily we had a voucher for a free night’s stay so we only had to pay for one of the two nights that we spent here.

Anyway, we arrived at 8pm - which is quite respectable for us - and quickly found our way to the Metro which whisked us away to the airport and the awaiting car rental companies. Despite doing everything in their power to dissuade us from embarking in one of their vehicles (including “accidentally” spelling Tracy’s name wrong) we finally managed to hire a car. We were surprised to find that the smallest vehicle they could offer us was a SUV - a sign of the times perhaps - but at least they seemed to give us compact car rates.

So Trace hit the streets in an SUV for the fist time. Luckily (or perhaps, surprisingly) chaos did not ensue and we reached the hotel with little or no incident. Despite being a budget style hotel, the room was surprisingly luxurious and we spent a restful night there.

In the morning - yes, we did manage to get up before noon - we re-boarded the battle-bus and headed off to see what we could find. One of the things we did find was an IHOP (International House of Pancakes - for the uninitiated) which always goes down well! We also stopped by a sculpture park and spent and hour or so meandering through the acres of weird, wonderful and occasionally just plain strange art installations.

Next stop was the barracks. We had to stop a few times to find it, but eventually we found our way to the grave of Mr & Mrs E. Shepard. Section RR, number 494. The area looks nice in the red and orange foliage of a Missouri autumn. We weren’t sure if we would be able to leave any flowers or anything - so we didn’t bring anything, but if we had left any floral tribute I’m pretty sure that before long it would have been munched upon by the herds of deer who seem to roam the grounds with impugnity.

Next stop, Waterloo and a meet-up with the Hudgens side of the Shepard side of the Thompson side of our family. We met up with Ron, Judy, Chris, Susie and her kids. We all had a great time catching up - although the highlight of my evening has to be beating a 10 year-old girl in both a staring contest and the quiet game! I rule!

Today we have been roaming around St Louis like tourists. We’ve been to the St Louis gateway arch and the Cathedral Basilica of St Louis. We’re just on our way to Forest Park - but have been snagged by free internet!

Anyway, more will follow - probably from San Antonio, but for now, adios!

From Washington DC, we got a train to Alliance, Ohio. We arrived at 2am and were soon picked up by Mark. We were there to see Trace’s friend Beth (whom she met in 1995 when they both studied abroad in Scotland), her husband Mark and their three kids. We hadn’t seen each other since 1998, and we hadn’t met their kids: 5-year-old Cait, 3-year-old Aidan and 1-year-old Lia. So the visit was well overdue!

Mark took us to their home in Salem, Ohio. We got to stay there for three days, and we had the best time. Beth is a teacher, and we got to go along with her one afternoon to help tutor some of her 4th graders in math as well as talk to them about wildlife in Australia. It was such fun! We hung out a lot with the three kids, who are so cute. We had a ball. Sunday was Veterans Day, and Mark preached a very moving service at his Methodist Church. We were happy to be there for that and to see him at work! Afterwards, Chris was delighted to go with him and some kids to a Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburg Steelers football game. The horrible Steelers won, but Chris had a great time nonetheless (and shocked Trace by coming home with a souvenir Steelers towel — boooooooooo!).

One night we all went bowling, which was great fun. It confirmed that Trace is much better at bowling on the Wii than in real life!!! Beth won by a landslide, and we had a lovely dinner afterwards. Another night we went along to a dinner party for Beth’s mom. We had a great time there as well.

We were sad to leave them. Thanks for everything, you guys!!! Hopefully it won’t take another nine years for us to meet up again…

So from Allentown, Pennsylvania we got a bus to Philadelphia and then the train to Washington DC. DC rocked!!! I’d been there before when I was a child, and Chris had never been there. We were both pretty excited about getting there.

For three and a half days, we walked ourselves silly among the many monuments and museums DC has. The memorials for War World II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War were especially moving. The FDR memorial was unexpectedly moving; it contains several anti-war and pro-equality quotes he made which people would do well to take to heart. As for museums, the Air and Space museum was an unexpected treat; we could have spent lots more time there. We could have also spent more time in the National Archives and the National Gallery of Art. I was thrilled to visit the Smithsonian Natural History museum with its Hope Diamond and excellent dinosaur reconstructions.

One thing we were determined to do was see some Congressional stuff happening. We’ve observed parliament sessions in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. So we’ll try to do the same in each country we visit whenever possible. We had to get tickets for the Senate and House of Representatives, but it was easy to get them from the secretaries of a Texan Senator and Representative. (Seemed quite pointless to make us get tickets when the secretaries didn’t even ask us our names; they hand them out to anyone who asks.) We were to visit the Senate first and approached with much excitement; the government sessions we’d observed in other countries had been full of people arguing and booing and cheering. We were much surprised to find about three senators in the Senate chamber. BORING!!! We didn’t stay long. We went to the House of Representatives instead and saw about 25 Reps, which was better but still a very small percentage of the full number. We happened to be seated next to a few people with t-shirts on saying “Impeach Chaney!” They informed us that there’d be a vote on the very issue that day, but they didn’t know when it would happen. It was all pretty boring at that point, so we left and decided to return later on.

When we returned that afternoon, we were told it’d be a while before the House voted on anything, so we went to the Senate first. It was still dull as anything. We waited for a wee while in case anything exciting would happen, but nothing did. So we went to the House again. It was in chaos! Nearly every Rep was there, and they’d just taken a vote on a resolution. We asked about all the chaos, and we were told that it was now time for Reps to change their votes. In the space of about 15 minutes, the vote went from an overwhelming Aye to an overwhelming Nay. There were then two more voting sessions related to the first vote, but no one could tell us what on earth they were voting about. Iff happened to spot those anti-Chaney observers still in the gallery, so he went over to speak to them. It turned out it was indeed the motion to impeach Chaney that they’d been voting on and changing their votes and re-voting. In the end, they didn’t agree to impeach Chaney, but those people in the gallery seemed optimistic that the process had begun and would end in their favour soon. We shall see!

One of the highlights of our time in DC was food-oriented. We went to a place called Zed’s Ethiopian Cuisine, and it was gorgeous. We chose a couple veggie options, and it was served on a big slice of thin, spongy bread. We were given a bunch more of the spongy bread to eat the food with (rather than utensils). We ate it all up and had to waddle back to our hotel afterwards. It hurt but was so worth it!

I should note that all the museums and monuments we visited are free. I was so impressed with that. Thanks, DC…we’ll be back someday!

by Vinnie Apicella

While the Chinese government has kept its currency, the Yuan (RMB), virtually pegged to the U.S. dollar for the past decade, the U.S. and other trading partners say that the rate is too low and gives Chinese exporters an unfair price advantage. While this has been and remains a point of contention with the many global powers, in July 2005, China had taken steps to loosen this peg by tying it to a basket of foreign currencies and allowing it float, at least marginally. So while this may continue to plague global businesses, it does still benefit the cost-conscious consumer so long as the “Made in China” label continues to prevail. One dollar is now equal to approximately eight Yuan.

But progress continues to be made, if slow and steady. In April 2006, the Chinese government said it would allow companies and individuals to invest overseas for the first time. The decision to let foreign currency flow out of China could eventually reduce pressure on the government-controlled exchange rate of the Yuan and step further toward making it a freely convertible currency. Until now, China has required companies to sell the government most of their foreign earnings and obtain approval to invest overseas.

“To Get Rich is Glorious” -Deng Xiaoping (1978)

Well there you have it…and then the floodgates opened.

Astounding development can be seen in many Chinese cities, but to try to even come close to covering that much ground in a single report would require a mind-boggling amount of research and analysis and countless hours worth of travel time. It would be impractical and inefficient to say the least. China is a huge country, third behind only Canada and Russia in landmass, but first in total population, and in spite of possessing a sizeable amount of uninhabitable land, we can be assured that by focusing on such major cities as Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an, the overall effects of the country’s expanding markets and capitalistic intent will resonate outward from there and reach all of its 23 provinces in due course.

Chinese real estate has made headlines again and again the last several months. From one city to the next there is evidence of new building, from modern day public transport hubs to hundreds of new high rises. While Beijing and Shanghai, as China’s two largest cities, lead the way, there has been and will be a spillover effect as many additional cities expand and experience the effects of a population crunch from millions or rural Chinese seeking to relocate to improve their living conditions. And as that happens, we’ll be there to cover it. Not familiar yet with cities such as Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, or Wuxi? Odds are you will be soon enough.

While the country’s capital, Beijing, continues to undergo its own profound transformation to prepare for new residents, it has a vested interest on a global scale as it readies for the 2008 Olympic Games, among the most proud moments in the country’s storied history. Beijing’s leadership has committed to making the Olympic event a “Green Games” and as environmentally friendly as possible. While some 700 miles to the south is Shanghai, China’s version of Paris…or London or New York, with some 4,000 skyscrapers already erected and thousands more on the horizon…literally. And then there is the World Expo hosted by Shanghai in 2010 not to mention a couple of internationally renowned theme parks on the way. China has more than 170 cities with a population in excess of one million, so suffice it to say, the cities are simply trying to stay ahead of the race.

All this discussion about China’s transformation and future changes should in no way discount all that China, the country, has to offer and its supreme ranking as one of the world’s greatest natural and architectural achievements. For example, did you know that the biggest ancient building complex in the world is situated in Beijing? Or that the largest public square in the world is Beijing’s Tiananmen Square? What about the longest man-made architecture in the world…The Great Wall; or the earliest and longest man-made canal…the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. The oldest tree, the greatest canyon and the highest plateau in the world are all found in China.

China is indeed a country of natural splendor, from the majestic Himalayan Mountains to the mighty Yangtze River, the land is as broad and diverse as the culture that defines it. And there is no better place to experience the country’s magnificent traditions and the exciting evolution taking place than right there in the center of it all. The first step is essential. Book your flight, make like a tourist and see for yourself.

About the Author
Vinnie Apicella is a Columbia educated writer, editor, international traveler and investor. He has recently created Vinnie’s World, which offers business consulting and property sales in select emerging market locations, including China. For more information on Discover China, visit http://www.vinniesworld.com

Planning a wedding abroad is not a joke…that’s why in 1995 Fulvia Conforti started to help foreign wedding couples to marry in her country, Italy, and mainly in Tuscany where she worked with villa rentals.
If you are dreaming of having a memorable wedding, Tuscany is undoubtedly one of the most romantic wedding destinations with its beautiful cities full of art and history, the fascinating countryside, enchanting hamlets, old farms and delicious food and wines.
Forever Weddings in Italy it specializes in arranging weddings and events in Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Certaldo, Lucca, Pienza etc…They can assist you with every aspect of your wedding from the legal procedures of ceremony to the single services required for receptions such as flowers, music, transportation, photography etc…
They will help you choose the right venue and suppliers for your particular needs and budget but we will not take over your wedding; we offer tailor-made services and advise on all aspects of wedding etiquette and traditions. Their wedding coordinators will be present on the day to make sure that everything runs smoothly for you from beginning to end so that you can relax and enjoy your dream day.
Forever Weddings in Italy arranges civil and religious ceremonies, blessings, renewal of vows and family get-togethers. Imagine a ceremony in a romantic setting hidden in the Chianti area or in a marvellous Renaissance villa or again in a Medieval castle where you might also stay with your families and friends for a few days and feel like at home.
After a dozen years experience in planning and coordinating weddings they can say that attention to details, commitment to quality, the knowledge of the most beautiful ceremony and reception venues and the selection of top-class suppliers are important but the key of our success is the close work with our couples. We do not sell wedding packages, our services are custom fit, we offer our consultancy and expertise to meet the needs and expectations our couples have for their wedding day.

Hotels from the Maldives to Colorado made it onto Travel and Leisure’s list of 15 green hotels in the magazine’s November issue, which is devoted to “responsible tourism.”

The magazine worked with Conservation International to develop an assessment test to figure out which of the world’s hotels have high environmental standards for water and energy conservation, waste reduction and supporting local communities.

Properties on the list are:

1. Grenada’s Spice Island Beach Resort

2. The Maldives’ Soneva Fushi Resort and Six Senses Spa

3. Sri Lanka’s Heritance Kandalama

4. Australia’s Voyages Longitude 131, located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

5. Bahamas’ Tiamo, on the South Andros Island

6. Switzerland’s Whitepod, near Aigle in the Alps

7. Colorado’s Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash

8. The Philippines’ El Nido Resorts in El Nido, Palawan

9. Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar, Tanzania

10. Egypt’s Adrere Amellal in the Siwa Oasis, a Berber community in the desert

11. Kenya’s Campi Ya Kanzi a Masai-owned lodge in Chyulu Hills

12. Nicaragua’s Morgan’s Rock Hacienda and Ecolodge on Playa Ocotal, San Juan del Sur, on the Pacific Coast

13. Jamaica’s Hotel Mocking Bird Hill near Port Antonio

14. Tenuta di Spannocchia in Siena, Italy

15. England’s Strattons Hotel in the town of Swaffham in Norfolk

[Source from; usatoday.com]

Back for another season, Sons et Brioches at the Place des Arts! It's soooo popular that you should definitely book early. Then you have to arrive early on the day because there'll be a huge line-up for the coffee and pastries! They have enough food to feed 500 people, so you can just imagine the rest! Definitely worth a trip on a cold Sunday morning.

OK - so it’s late and I should really be asleep so we can get up for the bus tomorrow (8:30 - EEK!) but here’s a quick post from Allentown, PA.

We got the train to Philly and were picked up by uncle Chris Butler with a boot (or trunk - the rear compartment of the car let’s say) full of wine. Good man!

We spent four days here in total and in that time we got to go out to a marching band concert, a high school football game, Alice’s school play and (perhaps most importantly?) curry. Uncle Chris also took me to the local beer emporium called “Beer Heaven” where we found some St Peter’s Ale - the beer we had at Nick’s wedding. Rather nice it is too!

It’s a shame that we can’t stay longer, but we’ve booked a stay in DC and they won’t give us our money back if we cancel… Dig, Chris, Wills and Alice have made us feel very welcome here and we really must add them to our “pay them back when we get a chance” list. It’s been great to spend a few days kicking back and being thoroughly lazy - especially after the whirlwind of activity that was Boston.

Anyway, must get to bed - we’re up in 7 hours - but a quick, but nonetheless heartfelt online thanks to the - especially Bart the dog who had to share his room with us! We don’t mind his snoring if he doesn’t mind ours.