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People in Costa Rica love football!! This is not just a phrase; actually it has been a passion of crowds for many years. From the local championships to the international events like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, all are follow by many Costa Ricans, cheering Costa Rica´s team or just enjoying the adrenaline and passion that this sport aroused in thousands.

Art-Ritzli.jpg?width=300Costa Rica has a long-standing football culture and tradition. The first match with the national team took place in 1921 and from there many matches
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We have found some more tips how to sooth your skin if you have got sunburned. Cooling the skin also works as a great pain reliever and helps you and your skin to relax

 

Take an oatmeal bath:

Add two cups of oatmeal to the bottom of a nylon sock. Tie up the sock, and let warm water pour over the pouch. Leave pouch in tub as you bathe.

 

Another Sunburn Healing Bath:
Fill a handkerchief tied with string or a muslin teabag with the following:

1/4 cup rolled oats
1/8 cup whole milk powder
1 teaspoon tea

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Abu Dhabi: It Was HOT!

A three day holiday was declared in the UAE so people could celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Mary Ann and I decided it was our three day 4th of July holiday, albeit a few days early. Never look a gift holiday in the mouth I always say.

Three days obviously is not a long enough time to take an international trip, and with 3 or 4 of those planned to round out the year, we decided not fly anywhere.

We had never been to Abu Dhabi. It is the capitol of the UAE. AD is the largest Emir

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I have to confess I’m not a big fan of reality TV, but since all the buzz in our corner of San Diego is about MTV’s The Real World being filmed in Bird Rock – I chose that neighborhood for a long walk today.

Located at the south end of La Jolla, Bird Rock is divided by La Jolla Boulevard. On the east side of the thoroughfare, mid-price family homes predominate, but the ocean side has some stunning houses with fantastic coastal panoramas.

One of these stunners – at 5212 Chelsea Street – is where th

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The Appeal of Intimacy: B & B's  Make a Come Back

Not so long ago we reported on the study that most travelers avoided Bed and Breakfasts as a destination or place to stay.

The reasons primarily had to do with lack of familiarity with the B &B culture, and the apparent preference of younger travelers for the anonymity of a hotel as opposed to the intimacy of Bed and Breakfasts.

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One very savvy inn owner explained that younger people really don’t want to eat breakfasts with strangers and are uncomf
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Minus 5 Ice Bar: Chillin' in Las Vegas

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I know there are hardcore Vegas partiers out there who would snicker at the concept of an ice bar. I can hear them now: “It's a gimmick, why freeze when imbibing instead of kicking back at the poolside cabana?” or “I'm not going to pay a $25 cover for the privilege of sitting on a block of ice to toss back a vodka shot!” Before entering the Minus 5 Ice Bar at the Monte Carlo Hotel, I was even harboring some doubts....last winter was extra rough where I'm from in New England. Even now I'm nursing
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A Taste of Chile in New York City

After discovering Chilean olive oils, piscos, fruits, wines and gourmet products at Puro Chile’s Feria Supermarket in Manhattan’s SoHo district, I was eager to participate in the current wine seminar there.

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The event, hosted by Mauricio Banchieri Carter, CEO of Puro Chile, was held on July 7th and was the beginning of monthly tastings of wines exclusively from Chile.  Vicente Pina, certified wine educator and consultant for the Vin de Vin Wine Tasting & Collecting, opened the seminar by announci

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First Pocono Ironman Triathlon

A GUIDE FOR VIEWERS AND TRAVELERS

 

9008637273?profile=originalThe Ironman 70.3 Triathlon is coming to the Pocono Mountains on October 2, and this is a big deal for both athletes and onlookers. It will be the first Ironman triathlon in Pennsylvania, and because it takes place in and around the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, it features some of the most beautiful scenery in the Middle Atlantic region. Odds are the athletes won't really appreciate it – they'll be focusing on swimming 1.2 miles in the Delaware

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The "Avenue of Stars" in Kowloon, Hong Kong

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9008636454?profile=originalI have NEVER been a fan of Avenue of Stars and believe it or not the Avenue of Stars is the 2nd most visited attraction in Hong Kong (The Peak is no. 1) so I decided a more thorough visit on my part was warranted.

Guess what, I still have not changed my mind, I am still not a fan.

This time round I took a lot more pictures and actually walked the whole route which basically ends at the Bruce Lee statue.

So why don’t I like it...

  • Unless you are a fan of Chinese Cinema most
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IMG_8411.JPG?width=250In East Africa, bordered not just by Sudan to its north but also the Central African Republic, the Congo (the one that used to be Zaire), Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, this continent’s newly born 54th country and the world’s 258th is admittedly a hard case.  A largely black land of traditional religions, and some degree of Christianity, embroiled in civil war with the Sudan’s Muslim Arab rulers for most of the past half century, South Sudan has a population (thought to be around 8 million) that's

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The popularity of social networking sites and the proliferation of wireless hotspots around the world have created the perfect storm of communications technology: it really is possible to stay connected no matter where your travels take you. photo
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Traveling with a Smart Phone, Netbook, iPad or laptop allows you to plug into social media sites from your oceanfront cabana in Belize, a café in Perth, or hotel balcony in Bangkok. Before you’ve even returned from a vacation, friends and fa
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I began my Spanish courses at the Intercultura beach campus in Sámara, one of the most gorgeous places I’ve ever been.  I took part in the dance classes, cooking classes, took a few surfing lessons and walked the beach.  The one thing that I didn’t do my first week? Yoga.

 

So, I finally went.  Reluctantly.

 

Years of playing volleyball, lacrosse and running track made me quite competitive so yoga and all that stretching and that OOOM meditating business never appealed to me much.  Even so, my newf

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India has got a number of luxury trains. The Indian royals were for famous for their love of luxury trains. No sooner the luxury trains came in vogue with European royalty during the late 18th century, the Indian princes were not to be left behind. The train presents a superb chance to explore the fabulous royal destinations of Rajasthan. Savor the regal attractions of Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, etc, besides visiting the iconic Indian attraction of Taj Mahal.  The comforts abroad the t

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Wine Country Artist Retreat

There are all types of getaways.  The choices are limitless…from big adventure to soft adventure, romantic to family, glamping to camping.  The key to getting it right is understanding what your heart and soul needs.  Is it downtime you crave, or do want to lounge beside a pool drinking long cool drinks, or maybe you just need time to listen to your “creative” without distractions?  I call this last kind of getaway, Going Away To Go Within. If you’re an artist of any kind you’ll know exactly wha

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BUSES: There's several bus companies that offer all sorts of routes across NZ.  This is the cheapest option to see the most of the country the easiest.  The setbacks are its a set route and set schedule.  Its a fast paced, up at 8am, get places and go. They say you can come and go as you please, but the issue is during the peak seasons it maybe very hard to get your spot on the bus once you give it up to stay longer. Its not as flexible as they say unless your calling weeks in advance.  Its grea
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Reindeer Traffic Jam in Lapland

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Reindeer traffic jams are a common occurrence here in Kuusamo. When the weather is warm and the mosquitoes become unbearable in the forests, the reindeer seek respite on the wide open roads away from the damp, shady places that mosquitoes love.

In the video below, a mother reindeer loses her baby during one of these traffic jams and calls out to it, guiding it back to the group.

Read more about life in Lapland on www.rukakuusamo.com
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Vietnam Travel Tips

 

Things to remember

- It's in your best interests not to drink thetap water, especially after flooding!

- Avoid cyclo ride after dark

- Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites,etc.

- Leave your valuables behind before a night out on the town, or going to the beach.

- When crossing the road, especially in Ho Chi Minh city, always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly!

- Do not offer money directly to minority people -instead donate to a local char

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Climbing Mount Kenya

An eight year old can climb Mount Kenya is what they say. No eight year old that I ever want to babysit. 

First, we acclimatised at Mountain Rock's Bantu Lodge which reminded me of Picnic On Hanging Rock with it's sprawling gardens dappled by the shade of tall trees, beneath which a party of boarding school girls made merry at the end of a school trip. When we wandered a little too far round the back of the lodge, things turned just a teensy bit Texas Chainsaw Massacre as we stepped over a hoof,
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Reasons To Love Volunteering Abroad

“I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.” ~Tracy Chapman. For many people the drive to volunteer either in their home country or abroad is usually from a personal view point. It most likely stems from personal experiences which move the individual to want to give back or just help out those they see as less fortunate than themselves. Sometimes, just too help out in a community of people who are not necessarily worse off than you are. We also have s

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