Ayahuasca and Plant Spirit Shamanism – Amazon Rainforest Retreat Peru

Ayahuasca & Plant Spirit Shamanism – Amazon Retreat

November 10th – 24th 2007 Optional Extension Week – November 25th – December 1st 2007

A dedicated programme in the Amazon rainforest, which is focussed on an inner and deep self-exploration and encounter with the power of the rainforest. This is an adventure into the magical world of the rainforest, and a transformative experience of the ancient mystical rituals of the plant spirit medicines. This programme will take place in the Mishana Private Retreat Centre. We have 57 Hectares (140 acres) of land with a lodge in the Allpahuayo Mishana Nature reserve.

Our lodge is located directly on the river which is part of a 58,070 hectare nature reserve. Due to a combination of geological factors and diverse soil types, the reserve supports a unique community of plant and animal species. It is the ‘jewel’ in the crown for bird-watchers and contains dozens of species which are unique to this area. The Reserve contains one of the highest biodiversities known in the Amazon basin. The Lodge is located directly on the Rio Nanay which is a tributary of the Amazon River. Our lodge is situated in-between two bends of the river giving an amazing panoramic view . We have our own boat so trips can be made to some interesting, and extraordinarily beautiful places along the river.

The lodge is a 2 hour river journey from Iquitos by power boat. We have the dedicated services of maestro shaman Artidoro Aro Cardenas. Included in the program are individual personal healing or consultative sessions based upon your personal needs by our shaman. The maestro will also provide experiential teachings about the fascinating medicinal and psycho-spiritual properties of the local plants. Participants can choose their plant medicine which will be made fresh for them. Our accommodation is in comfortable traditional cabins or tambos (dieting huts), a leaf roof supported by poles and with open sides (the most intimate way to sleep in the jungle). The beds benefit from a comfortable mattress and fly nets when necessary. The tambos are spread out to assure privacy and minimum disturbance from others.

Participants have a choice of using either the cabins in the ‘Casa Grande’ annex or tambos for their retreat. During the day when there are no activities, there will be hammocks to relax in, and you can read, or wander into the forest, or swim in the river (there is a small sandy beach). Our ceremonies and meeting will be held in either the Casa Grande with an open platform on stilts directly on the river with a magnificent view of the rainforest and star filled sky. or our maloca (ceremonial temple), a large circular tambo made of natural materials and shaped like a womb. We will eat our meals in the lodge, the traditional meeting place, where food is cooked on a wood fire.

Single Accommodation
One of the unique characteristics of this programme is that we offer single accommodation throughout both in the hotels in Lima, Iquitos, and at our Centre in Mishana. This ensures that participants can obtain the maximum benefit from their encounter with the plants. The Diet really needs to be taken in solitude and personal retreat without distractions. This is a defining characteristic of this programme. Typically other programmes do not offer this and dormitory / shared accommodation is usually the rule. Our Tambos (individual accommodation huts) are all different and are spread out, some with more isolation than others and we also have individual accommodation rooms in the wing of our Casa Grande for those who would prefer being close to the main facilities.

There are photos on the web or I can send pictures on request. Our intention in this journey is to provide the conditions and orientation to enable participants to follow a proper diet, and for it to be as near as possible to what indigenous people have done for thousands of years, (although we can avoid unnecessary hardship, in any case a diet is not a trial of endurance). The diet is a journey of self-exploration and the maestro is there to give support, It is more important that the shaman is an evolved and impeccable person, who will guide us to learn for ourselves and benefit from our experiences in safety.

Participants will undertake to ‘diet’ a plant for a full six to eight days, selecting their plant from a range of options which will be explained by the maestro and depend on individual requirements. Some plants are good for specific ailments as, for example Chuchahuasi for arthritis and other bone conditions, although there is always a magical world opened up by the plant spirit. Other plants have specific spiritual benefits. Chirisanango and Ushpahuasanango, for example, open up the heart and are healing to emotions. Guayusa works very curiously on one’s dreams, affording an experience of being conscious while in fact asleep or dreaming.

The plants used will all be compatible with Ayahuasca so that we can benefit from the plant diet during Ayahuasca ceremonies. There will be a programme of talks, exercises, individual sessions and group meetings without prejudicing the spirit of the diet. This is a way to learn from observation and intimate contact with nature, practical artistic exercises using local materials. We will participate in the gathering and preparation of Ayahuasca, a prolonged ritual in which power is invoked from the planta maestra. We will learn about healing plants and how to find them.

The Shamans
We are very delighted to have secured the services of some of the most experienced shamans in the region, during our Retreats we will work with one of the following shamans;, Artidoro Aro Cardenas, Javier Arevalo and Leoncio Garcia.

Artidoro Aro Cardenas
We have worked with Maestro Artidoro on our previous Amazon Retreat, and again we were greatly impressed with his knowledge of medicinal and power plants, and his compassion and support for the participants. Although Artidoro is Mestizo he has lived amongst the Ashaninka Indians for many years, and has learned their languages which result in that many of his chants come from a variety of indigenous groups including the Ashaninka, Cashibo, and Capanaua .He has started his own centre near Iquitos.

Javier Arevalo
We have worked with Javier many times on our Retreats, we also brought him to the UK for a special Amazonian Medicine camp in 2002. We are greatly impressed and moved by his dedication, and his commitment to the demanding rigours of an Amazonian shaman.It is fair to say that everybody who has worked with Javier has been touched by his kindness, compassion , humour, and spirit

Leoncio Garcia
The Shipibo maestro is now in his mid 70’s with the appearance of a man in his 50’s. He was born in the Shipibo community of San Francisco by Yarina Cocha (an oxbow lake near Pucullpa). On a number of occasions he has worked with medical doctors in various cities in Peru. Don Leoncio also founded a healing centre near Nina Rumi on the Rio Nanay.

Benjamin Ochavano
Is a traditional Shipibo (elder shaman). He is in his late seventies. His chants (icaros) sung in the Shipibo language are extraordinary, beautiful and powerful.

Vacation rentals all over the world

Which is the number one rule that we all obey, actually pretty enthusiastically, when we finally reach that period of the year when vacation comfortably settles in or when some blessed holiday gives us the occasion to relax for a short while? That rule tells us something which, rephrased, sounds like this: do it, but only do it as long as you have fun. In other words, with vacation knocking at your door, we can only think one thing: “I surely deserve some quality spare time which I can spend together with my family.” So why not spoil yourself with the relaxed, secure and comfortable experience of vacation rentals?

A holiday or a well-earned vacation is not supposed to cause you supplementary reasons to worry about booking rooms in expensive hotels, about the crowd which usually floods hotels or about minutely preparing all the equipment for what could turn out to be an uncomfortable camping trip. Instead, arranging such accommodations as vacation rentals might just realize your dream escape. The first, most important thing to do is to park yourself comfortably in front of your PC and start browsing the web for online holiday rentals or vacation rentals and related services providers. One good tip is to use the assistance of a specialized vacation rentals site, like http://www.arkadia.com, which will provide information about the best places which offer vacation rentals. After taking a look at the rich supply of holiday rentals or vacation rentals, the decision belongs to you. You can choose from the many vacation rentals as they are numerous and attractive.

It all depends on what holiday rentals your heart is set on. Would you like to visit far-off places, which you only heard about in movies or read about in books? Or would you rather spend your free time in a place eagerly recommended by some good friend or relative? Either way, vacation rentals are equal to safe, cosy, reliable accommodations which allow you to get to know new places while still guarding some of that precious, familiar atmosphere of an authentic home. A virtual holiday rentals provider, like Arkadia, will help you browse through a huge number of available vacation rentals throughout the world and find the best vacation rentals available.

Do you dream about visiting one of those famous tropical paradises set in the middle of an ocean? In that case, you may want to pick the vacation rentals offered by a country like the Seychelles. Situated North of Madagascar, the archipelago includes more than 100 islands, one more beautiful than the other. Islands like Mahe, Cousin Island or La Digue come among the top selections of tropical “wonderlands” fans. Holiday rentals are effortlessly obtainable on an island such as Mahe, the biggest one of the Seychelles, which displays an impressive number of almost seventy beaches bordering a dominating, interior mountain range. The island additionally combines the rough country of the mountains with the advantages offered by a civilized capital, Victoria, by the fact that the majority of the Seychelles population is settled on the Mahe Island. However, your thirst for rare beauty may certainly be quenched by the landscape offered by La Digue, an island untouched by the hand of progress for years and years and where tours in ox-carts will make you wonder at the unworldly exquisiteness of the surroundings and of houses built in a traditional manner. After a day’s sightseeing you and your family will return exhausted, speechless, but satisfied to one of the holiday rentals you chose, experiencing – for the extent of your vacation – how it actually feels to feel like home in the middle of tropical magnificence.

Yet there is excellence in other places as well. Instead of tropical paradises, you may be drawn to Europe’s displays of wonders (because there is spectacle within continental landscapes also). Vacation rentals are widely available in the Array of countries, cities and villages you can spend your vacation in. France, for example, will attract you with, of course, the dashing avenues of its capital, with expeditions to the renowned chateaux of Loire, with a mind-boggling number of kinds of cheese, with croissants and fine wines pairing off de la crème brulee. Just imagine choosing one of the holiday rentals which offer you the chance of living the French way, even if only for the period of your leisure time. Or maybe you feel like trying some of the German scenery: gothic churches, meticulously planned small villages, renowned medieval houses which will offer you strategic holiday rentals from where you can leave in the morning, after a hearty breakfast, and to where you can return in the evening as to your own home. After that, in the big cities, like Berlin, you can go out to take the pulse of night entertainment. Walk on Hohe Strasse in the multifarious Cologne, enjoy the intellectual, artistic, yet modern air of Dresden and give it a go to the errands dreamland and gorgeous castles of Munich, knowing that close by mountains and mountainous lakes form an incredible panorama. Moreover, crossing the Channel, you can go to England, select one of the holiday rentals there and then go see the cosmopolitan capital on the Thames. If you prefer smaller cities, after finding some holiday rentals there, you can see places like Cambridge or Brighton. One of the holiday rentals will wait you back like your own house.

Crossing the Atlantic, vacation rentals are numerous as well. Canada has amazingly natural sceneries in its Northern areas, in the middle of which your choice (out of the many holiday rentals) will retain the feeling of home. Still in Canada, Alberta, with its friendliness and openness surely has some vacation rentals on the map. Holiday rentals are many in French flavoured Quebec also. If the northern part of the American continent doesn’t satisfy you, there are holiday rentals in Central and South America as well. Arkadia Holidays lets you know that, for instance, Argentina may also offer holiday rentals. Enjoy Buenos Aires cosmopolitanism and nightlife, some specific Argentinean passion for soccer and imbue yourself with Buenos Aires elegance. Get ready to see one of them or more, if your free time is more generous, and get ready to find out about a greater number of countries you deserve to visit.

Lima is The Capital Of Peru

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillon, Rimac and Lurin rivers on a coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It forms a contiguous urban area with the seaport of Callao.

The word Lima comes from the word Rimac, which in quechua, the official language in the Inca empire, means hablador or talkative. The city was largely rebuilt after earthquakes in 1687 and 1746.

Lima is the main gateway to Peru, a major city bustling with living history and movement. It is an ethnic melting pot, featuring pre Hispanic, colonial and modern elements. The metropolis is also surrounded by every aspect of Nature the sea, islands, mountains, desert and plant life.

Its various quarters feature an active nightlife and well endowed cultural scene, as well as plentiful public transport and non stop activities, a city of more than 8 million souls.

Main attractions of the city include the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace are located around the square. Churches and Monasteries, these churches house the mortal remains of the local saints, gorgeous sculptures, wood carvings, and other pictorial work of inestimable value.

Museums and Mansions which some of these buildings exhibit beauty Colonial architecture. As a whole, the group gives the visitor a complete view of the history of this country, from Inca times to our days. These buildings also hold millenary pieces of pottery, textiles, gold and silver pre Hispanic work, Colonial and Republican work in silver.

Archaeological Sites, such as Huallamarca and Pucllana. District of Miraflores it is modern and has a daily intense commercial, cultural and artistic activity. Site where many discotheques, restaurants, and casinos are located. The Green Coast is a row of beaches that crosses six districts. Sea lovers, swimmers, surfers.

Lima is not the most attractive of cities and arriving at the airport to the sight of crowds of people outside offering taxi and hotel services can be a shock to most tourists who are expecting pretty little Andean villages and Inca ruins.

The climate doesnt help either, with Lima being covered in a blanket of low cloud except for the months of January and February when the sun shines. However Lima does have some redeeming features, notably its many interesting museums and excellent restaurants and cafes.

Lima also has a good selection of accommodation at prices to suit most budgets. See for yourself.

Secrets of Love Destination in Brazil

One of the best 25 best resorts of the whole world for an unforgettable romantic honeymmon. Ponta dos Ganchos Resort is located on a privately-owned peninsula that juts out from the southern Brazilian coast between picturesque fishing villages, making it one of the most exclusive beach resorts in Brazil.less than 2 hours from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, this romantic hideaway makes dreams a reality: 20 sophisticated and charming bungalows in perfect harmony with the breathtaking scenery. Here the waters of the Emerald coast meet the lush rainforest vegetation in a dazzling display of colour and light.
This privileged location guarantees our guests total privacy, while the luxurious bungalows provide them with the rest and comfort they deserve. The Relais & Chateaux seal is a testament to our impeccable facilities, the exquisite flavours of our cuisine and the quality of our services.

Ponta dos Ganchos offers a fitness centre, cinema, business centre, restaurant, bar, lounge, games room, tennis court, heated swimming pool, massage tents, SPA by Christian Dior and nature trails. Close to the resort is the best site for scuba diving in South Brazil, Arvoredo Island, in addition to excellent destinations for boat trips, such as Anhatomirim Island and the Baía dos Golfinhos.

Separete some day to be enchanted by the city of Florianopolis ….(Or Floripa for short), is famous for several things. First, it is one of three island capitals for Brazilian states. It is also famous for having 42 clean beaches. Furthermore, each beach has its own distinct personality. Some are for their great waves for surfing, such as Joaquina Beach , others are famous for their sophisticated hotels and restaurants (like Jurere Beach ), while Campeche and Solidao beaches boast a more rustic charm. There’s nothing finer than an exotic Brazilian beach! and see you in brazil can help you build your Romantic Honeymoon in Brazil.

If you are into history, you are going to love Floripa. The Portuguese from the Azores Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean were the first settlers. Floripa retains much of its fabulously intriguing history all the way back to the Azores settlers. This is seen through it preservation of old architecture, as well as some natives that speak in the Azores dialect. First class tours, with a private guide are available to witness this in authenticity. The old churches are gorgeous and the restaurants often exude old world charm. The seaside nightlife is full of personality with women making lace to sell street side.

The public market (Mercado Publico) is the main place where the great artists and intellects hang out. If you ‘re into that scene – don’t miss out on this historical site (built in 1889).

To sum it up, Florianopolis has a wonderful history, Exuberant nature, excellent beaches, luxury hotels and great restaurants. It is certainly a favorite among national and international tourists. One thing you may not realize about Floripa is that it has a large influence from Italian and German culture as well. The southern part of Brazil is Unique in that way from the rest of Brazil . Floripa is bubbling with unique culture and history you simply have to see for yourself.

We can put together come real Luxury tours and Luxury Packages of all kinds for you. You can stay at Exclusive Resorts or at one of many Luxury Hotels. Have yourself a Romantic Honeymoon at an opulent Brazilian Beach . Whatever your desire—from first class tours to Exclusive resorts, Florianopolis is for you!!

Come to Brazil , because whoever gets to know it becomes a fun.
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El Calafate, Land Of Glaciers In Argentina

El Calafate is the capital of Santa Cruz province in Andean Patagonia, Argentina and it’s located at the shores of Argentino Lake, becoming the central point of all the excursions in the zone, from Los Glaciares National Park, Chaltén and Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile. It has been named El Calafate by a bush with blue fruits that usually grows in this sector.

El Calafate is the closest urban zone to Los Glaciares National Park, who was named Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981, for its natural beauty. This is a wonderful place for adventure tourism and outdoor excursions like trekking, navigation, horseback riding and others. El Calafate is also the beginning of Patagonian Ice Fields and the first stage of the amazing glacier circuit.

Inside of El Calafate there is also Los Glaciares National Park Administrative Division, the starting point of every tour and excursion to Los Glaciares National Reserve, located at 80 kilometers away from the zone.

Inside of Los Glaciares National Park, the visitors will be amazed by the natural wonders like the worldly famous Perito Moreno glacier and its detachments, where impressive mass of ice falls into de water, catching the attention of many tourists who try to catch the exact moment of the fall.

The visitors can discover this wonderful argentinean park using the artificial footbridges created to watch de glaciers or navigating through the waters of the De Los Témpanos channel and Argentino and Viedma Lakes. This is the closest journey you can take to the glaciers, which allows to see them in all their magnificence.

Los Glaciares National Park counts with 47 impressive glaciers and some of the most important are Onelli, Upsala, Spegazzini and Seco.

Another attraction of El Calafate is the zone of El Chaltén, located at 200 kilometers away from it. Chaltén is called the trekking capital of Argentina because it has the famous Fitz Roy Mount, a difficult and attractive mountain that every year is visited for climbers of the entire world.

In El Calafate there is also adventurous tourism. The Santa Cruz river is perfect for rafting and fishing. In the waters of the zone you will find different species such as rainbow trout, salmon and lake’s trout.

Another interesting place of Santa Cruz is the famous “Hands Cave”, which is located in the rocks of Pinturas River. This is a cave with ancient paintings, representing scenes of hunting and superposed hands in some kind of magical ritual of the old natives of the zone.

El Calafate is also one of the best places to observe the flora and fauna of Patagonia, in the Natural Reserve of Nimes Lagoon, located at Solitaria Island in Argentino Lake. Here you will find animals like red fox, hare, condors, eagles, flamingos and swans in their natural environment.

El Calafate mixes in one place the most incredible nature and vegetation, besides the impressive beauty of the glaciers, making of it the perfect escape for the ones who look for adventure, to discover new places or simply rest and relax.

Unique Hotels Around the World

Though hotels are all similar in that they all have beds and other accommodations to make staying there much more homelike, there are some very unique hotels in various parts of the world that challenge the concept of the traditional hotel.

The unique treetop hotels in Costa Rica, Kenya and other parts of the world where the hotels are built with very large living trees making up a substantial part of the hotel structure. The treetop hotel in Kenya is built into the trees surrounding a watering hole for the many species of animals that forage there. When you leave the main dining room to go back to your room you are always accompanied by a guard for protection from wild predators. The Ariau Towers in Brazil, near the city of Manaus is in the middle of the Amazon on the Rio Negro and is a similar type of living tree hotel.
Ariau Amazon Towers is another unique hotel, located 35 miles from Manaus, Brazil where the Rio Negro and Ariau Creek meet. Built entirely at the level of the Rainforest Canopy, Ariau’s towers are linked together by 4 miles of strong wooden catwalks. This architectural wonder affords visitors a unique communion with the regions teeming plant and animal life while leaving the fragile eco-system completely undisturbed. Bill gates invested in the hotel and had modern telephone / internet connections installed.
Straight out of Neromancer, the Sci-Fi book by William Gibson, but only for the Japanese as of yet, the unique capsule hotels are an economy type of hotel with extremely high occupancy capabilities. Most capsule hotel compartments are only about 6 ½ feet by 4 feet by a little over 3 feet. These hotels are not recommended for large or very tall people. This amount of space certainly gives one enough room to read or sleep, but not much else. Of course if you’ve got wireless internet the possibilities are considerably expanded.
Capsule hotels are not necessarily frequented primarily by lower income people, but are used by many types of people for many different reasons. For about $25-34 per night, a tired working person who stayed out too late drinking and missed the last train can get a night’s rest. There are often discount rates for those wishing to nap for only a couple of hours during the day.
There are several cave hotels throughout the world in such places as Australia, Spain, Turkey, the United States and several other countries. Rooms in cave hotels typically have the entire walls or even two or three walls made out of the mountain or other hard sediment formation that the hotel is built into.
For instance there is the cave hotel in Southern Australia, an Underground hotel and casino, in Coober Pedy.
The Desert Cave Hotel allows you to experience dug-out style living, underground shops, bar and opal display areas. Sleeping underground is a very unique experience. Quiet, cool, dark and airy, the rooms seem spacious with their high ceilings.
The unique Desert Cave Hotel, famous as the only international rated underground hotel in the world, allows you to experience dug-out style living. It’s the experience to enjoy if you are in the area.
They have all of the amenities, fine dining, a pool, a beautiful spa and a well equipped gym.
There is one underwater hotel in the entire world that can be reached without the aid of scuba gear which is really a unique hotel. The Utter Inn located in Lake Malaren, Sweden features one large room and visitors can simply walk down into the hotel while viewing underwater. This same company also has an undersea lodge in Key Largo, Florida that does require scuba diving to reach.
The Utter (Otter) Inn in Sweden is a small floating house with a deck for sunning. Its uniqueness is that you descend the stairs into the lake. The bedroom is like an aquarium but you are the fish. There is an inflatable boat so that you can visit a near by un-inhabited island to swim and sun. You will have to buy the deluxe package to have dinner delivered to you (by boat, of course) in the evening.
These are the few totally different and unique hotels around the world. Be adventuresome and check one or two of the out.
Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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La diplomacia terrorista

JOSE BRECHNER

Entre las formas de acción del terrorismo está la diplomacia-con-dinero que despliegan sus emisarios. La idea de usar las relaciones internacionales como arma, surgió cuando Arafat se dio cuenta de que no podría vencer a Israel militarmente y optó por adquirir conciencias y votos de los corruptos del mundo. Es más barato comprar gente que armamento, y hay más personas influyentes en venta y a precios más económicos en los países tercermundistas, de ahí que los musulmanes estén penetrando con relativa facilidad en Latinoamérica.

La diplomacia terrorista tiene muchos adherentes entre las izquierdas europeas, que en concordancia con sus chuecos conceptos ayudan y protegen a quienes desean aniquilarlos. Francia fue tradicionalmente el gran favorecido de las relaciones con los árabes. Su mejor cliente era Saddam Hussein. Los franceses controlaban 22.5% de las importaciones iraquíes. Con el controvertido programa Alimentos por Petróleo se convirtió en el tercer beneficiario más grande y el mayor socio europeo de Irak. Aproximadamente 60 compañías francesas operaban en ese país. La compañía petrolera Total Fina, controlaba 25 por ciento de las reservas de crudo. Desde 1981 a 2001 de acuerdo al Instituto Internacional para la Investigación de La Paz de Estocolmo, Francia ha sido responsable por más del 13% de las importaciones de Irak. Tampoco hay que olvidar, que construyó sin importarle el resto del planeta, el reactor nuclear destruido por Israel en 1982, que de haber seguido en pié parte de Asia Menor y Europa ya hubiese desaparecido.

Inquietante es la estrecha relación del presidente Pervez Musharraf -aparentemente moderado- con la familia real Saudita. La textura religiosa de Pakistán está formada por 77 por ciento de Sunitas adoctrinados bajo la intolerante filosofía Wahhabi exportada por los saudíes a través de libros de texto, poniendo al mundo budista e hinduista en riesgo. India y Pakistán ambos con poderío nuclear, mantienen tensas relaciones debido precisamente al terrorismo islámico pakistaní. En Julio del 2000, el reporte de Petroleum Intelligence Weekly denunció que Arabia Saudita enviaba 150.000 barriles diarios de petróleo virtualmente libres de costo a Pakistán. Este abastecimiento continúa hasta hoy con un valor aproximado de $3.2 millardos anuales. El asunto se torna más alarmante con la alianza sino-pakistaní para la producción e intercambio de misiles y la proliferación de armas nucleares. China es el único país no democrático con asiento permanente en el Consejo de Seguridad. Su proceso de apertura y modernización no es garantía de paz para el mundo libre.

La diplomacia terrorista actúa en América Latina. En Ecuador en Julio del 2005, se desbarató un círculo de narcotraficantes que recaudaba dinero para Hizbollah. La red se manejaba desde un restaurante libanés en Quito. Tanto el dueño como otros seis sospechosos fueron arrestados. Provenían de Argelia, Ecuador, Líbano, Nigeria y Turquía. La investigación llamada Operación Damasco, llevó a 19 arrestos adicionales en Brasil y los Estados Unidos. La policía indicó que la cocaína provenía de Colombia y era enviada a Europa, el Oriente Medio y el resto de Sudamérica. La BBC transmitió que oficiales de los aeropuertos fueron coimeados para hacer la vista gorda. Cada cargamento valía un millón de dólares, que era enviado a Hizbollah al que entregaban 70 por ciento de sus ganancias.

En Argentina la diplomacia Iraní compró a Menem, a la Policía Federal y al corrupto andamiaje político para efectuar su infame ataque a la Embajada de Israel y a la AMIA. En Bolivia la OLP en la década de los 80 abrió una oficina representativa con apoyo del entonces vicepresidente Jaime Paz Zamora. Las fiestas para los parlamentarios, que financiaba el representante palestino, donde sobraba el whisky y las mujeres, eran motivo de húmedos comentarios en el Congreso Nacional. Hoy los vínculos de Evo Morales con Ghaddafi y Ahmadinejad no son secretos. Chávez exigió al gobierno boliviano designar un embajador en Irán y, aumenta cada día en La Paz la presencia de extraños y sinuosos personajes llegados del Medio Oriente

International Travel: Sights To See

Some of the world’s best places to see outside the USA are listed below.
First Australia is the global tourist’s favorite for its beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan cities, Great Barrier Reef, vast outback countryside, adventure sports and unique wildlife. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth are Australia’s largest cities, where most holiday makers arrive. In Australia, you can go scuba diving in the Indian or Pacific Oceans, watch cricket, play beach volleyball or go bungee jumping. Experience the wildlife of Australia like koalas and the ubiquitous kangaroo. On a trip to Australia you can learn about the native Aborigine people.

China is not be missed. Sights worth seeing are the historic palaces of the Forbidden City in Beijing, modern cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong, the sandy expanses of the Gobi Desert, the Terracotta Warriors of Xian and the Great Wall of China. Don’t miss the rare Giant Pandas in the forest, try delicious Chinese cuisine, and bargain for traditional Chinese silks, which were transported by camel caravan along the famous Silk Route from ancient India. Travel to Tibet, the rooftop of the world. [URL="http://www.etravelforum.com"]Travel Forum[/URL]

Thailand is one of the most visited tourist destinations in South Asia. Famous for its tropical beaches, pleasant climate, Buddhist pagodas, and friendly people, Thailand is a popular destination for honeymooners, surfers, and backpackers in search of an exotic holiday. The vibrant city of Bangkok, the beaches at Phuket, Pattaya and Ko Samui and the temples at Ayuthaya and Chiang Mai, are popular tourist destinations in Thailand. Thai Cuisine is another delicious attraction that draws tourists to this beach country.

Italy is famous for its art and architecture, its museums and historic cities, sunny Mediterranean climate and Italian food and wine. Italy has many attractions these include Vatican City; the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, churches, museums, cafes and restaurants in Rome; the canals and Piazza San Marco in Venice; the Renaissance art and architecture of Florence and Naples; the historic cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum; the fashion capital of Milan, and the scenic Amalfi coastline. Rome is a destination with many attractions for lovers of art, culture and beauty.

Argentina is a beautiful country in South America, with graceful colonial buildings, the rolling pampas grasslands, pleasant climate and warm people. Attractions of Argentina include the cobbled streets, restaurants and café’s of Buenos Aires, the colonial architecture of Cordoba, the beaches at Mar del Plata, the expansive pampas grasslands and the stunning Iguazu Waterfall surrounded by tropical rainforest.

The spectacular scenery of New Zealand includes lovely beaches, thick forest, rolling hills, steep fiords, bubbling geysers and volcanic mountain peaks. New Zealand’s unique wildlife such as the Kiwi, the native Maori culture and the opportunities for adventure sports makes New Zealand one of the world’s best travel destinations.

Kenya is located in East Africa, at the base of the horn of Africa. Its capital is Nairobi. It is known as the birthplace of humanity, Kenya is famous for its magnificent wildlife sanctuaries, ancient Swahili culture, beaches and coral reefs. Amboseli, Masai Mara, Tsavo and Mt Kenya National Parks are worth seeing on your trip to Kenya. The busy city of Nairobi, the Rift Valley landscape and Lake Magadi are a must on your travel itinerary. http://www.etravelforum.com

USA’s Famous Picturesque Drives

Ten of the United States’ greatest scenic drives and hiking trails can bring you and your family places to feast your eyes on. These gorgeous drives that symbolize the profundity of America’s vistas include Columbia River Highway, Maui 38 Hana Highway, Utah’s Highway 12 and New Mexico’s Turquoise Trail.

Save gas, chill out, exercise both body and mind. Some of the United States’ greatest scenic drives and hiking trails can bring you and your family places to feast your eyes on. These ten oh sooo delightful drives symbolize the profundity of United States’ landscapes and vistas.

1. Oregon’s Columbia River Highway or Highway 30

This spectacular historic roundabout freeway was the earliest paved road in the United States’ and the Northwest’s first picturesque road. The place is just splendid from January to December and seems to offer something fresh each time. Summer seasons offer you wildflowers and spring seasons flaunt cascading waterfalls. You can drive, you can bike, and you can hike through the Colombia River Hwy.

2. Maui, Hawaii’s 38 Hana Highway or Highway 360.

This highway is a sixty-mile expanse of road linking the Hana town to Maui. Hana Hwy is Aloha land’s most wonderful shoreline drive. This stunning road has wayside cascading falls, fifty four single traffic lane bridges, and breathtaking panorama. 38 The road makes its way into valleys and beaches all the way on top of a rocky, cliffy shoreline.

3. California’s Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 1

A day away by the side of the dreamlike Highway fulfills your City by the Bay journey. You can relish California, the lovely beaches, the thin boulevard stretches over the ocean, and rocketing redwood trees through Highway 1.

4. Utah’s Highway 12

This is amongst the most attractive roads in the entire North America. Highway 12 traverses southern Utah’s center and shows off the quintessence of southern Utah. It goes across Bryce Canyon National Park, Red Canyon, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

5. Florida’s Overseas Highway or Highway 1

This island-hopping freeway has a length of 205.2 kilometers. It bears the U.S. Route 1 all the way through the Florida Keys. Most portions of Overseas Highway were constructed on bridges left out of the Overseas Railroad that was wrecked by a storm. You can cross in the glamorous waters, marvelous diving activities, finest fishing, and slipshod island routine.

6. New Mexico’s Turquoise Trail or Highway 14

This marvelous drive connects Albuquerque and Santa Fe. It covers fifteen thousand square miles. It has idiosyncratic villages and the places of interests along Turquoise Trail are consist of the dazzling desert background and the Tinkertown, a miniature community. Journey through a dynamic scenery from Sandia Crest and steer back into what used to be the mining villages of Madrid, Cerrillos, and Golden.

7. Arkansas’ Pig Trail Byway or Highway 23

This gorgeous scenic drive is situated in the north side of Ozark town. It derived its name from the undomesticated boars who inscribed trails through forest growth, producing tracks espoused by early settlers soon after. Pig Trail Byway scales all the way through Ozark National Forest to the peaks and is decorated with wild lilies and Echinacea. This thoroughfare takes you to the gracious Eureka Springs City.

8. Delmarva Peninsula or Highway 50 and 13

This is an outsized peninsula on America’s East Coast. This is covered by sections of 3 states— Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland. These uninterrupted miles of unruffled bodies of water and everglades are far from the country’s eventful city passageways. The Eastern Shore of Virginia is lined with harbor communities where water folks live on the Chesapeake Bay.

9. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Parkway is 469 miles away from Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park to North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Traverse past foothill paddocks, valleys, and countless charming landscapes. Hues in autumn are just great while spring time offers thriving wildflower. The Parkway encompasses quite a lot of trails, leisure spots, camping grounds, eateries and inns.

10. Route 66

This is also billed as the Mother Road or Main Street of America. It commenced in Adams Street, Chicago. In Illinois, most of the highway is presented only in dispersed portions paralleling the interstate. Scenic wayside appeals are always present including maverick stopovers, restaurants, and pie stores.

The Dolomites Of Italy

Residents of the Alto Adige region of Italy will tell you that you cannot claim to be true lovers of the mountains if you have not seen the Dolomites. For while every mountain landscape is beautiful in its own way, the Dolomites are like the precious stones of an old family ring — they have something extra. Perhaps its their position in the heart of Europe, or it may be the pink hues of their sunsets caused by the fact that they were once coral formations that rose up from the seabed 25 million years ago. Maybe it is the host of stories and history they have played witness to, invasions and exodus, as the portal to and from Austria. The colors of the Dolomites make it akin to an enchanted garden: the fresh, verdant meadows framed by the darker greens of the woods, the pink hue of the mountains against the white of the glaciers at their peaks and the sky that resembles a cut canvas with the sharp outline of the peaks against blue sky and white cotton-candy clouds.

Merano is a geographic anomaly. Predominantly German-speaking, it seems to belong to neighboring Austria, but is 70 miles inside Italy, a consequence of the redrawing of borders after World War I. Many street and shop signs are bilingual, but to Germans and Austrians, Merano is still Meran. The architecture of the region is decidedly Tyrolean, with wrought-iron balconies making way for classic wooden carved ones characteristic of the Austrian and Swiss alps, a change in shape of church bell-towers that is almost Byzantine, and food that leans towards Italy’s northern neighbors rather than the traditional Italian dishes.

Bisected by the Passirio River, which pours into the Adige, the city of 32,000 residents combines red-roofed arcaded buildings, historic churches and flower-embroidered parks. Dominating the riverfront promenade is the Kurbad built in 1914, which will open in September 2005, offering a full Array of sulfur and radon baths, mudpacks, saunas and bathing pools.

Merano, which traces its history as a settlement some 2,000 years before Christ, is tucked into the intersection of four mountain valleys spilling down from lower Alpine ranges. Its protected location, about 1,000 feet above sea level and shielded from the north, east and west, has given Merano a climate mild enough to nurture vineyards as well as palm trees, oleander and fruit trees that blossom against a backdrop of snowy peaks.

Merano has been famous as far back as the1500s for its “milk cures” in the spring and “grape cures” in the fall for digestive disorders. These recuperative remedies kept a constant flow of tourism until the region, especially during the 1800s when “Sisi,” beloved empress of Austria, became enamored with these cures. Subsequently, Merano was ravaged by World War I and II and the tourism trade did not return until sometime in the 1960s. For me, the magic of Merano is the beauty of its historic piazza’s and pedestrian areas, including its café-lined river on one side and lush park on the other. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a complicated ice-cream dessert that was almost too beautiful to eat, while listening to the sound of the river and gazing at the 360-degree view of the mountains. Later attempted to shed a few well-earned calories by walking on the opposite side in the public park.

Among the many beautiful vacation accommodations is the beautiful Castello Schloss Labers situated on a hill looking down over the vineyards and up at the Alps. For a long time, the history of Schloss Labers remained shrouded in mystery. A castle built in the 11th century, it has been owned by the Stapf-Neubert family since 1885. During World War II, however, it was used by an SS Task Force to launder counterfeit British Pounds. “Operation Bernhard,” as it was called, was a scheme to enrich the Third Reich and undermine the British economy by a massive counterfeiting of the Pound Sterling and ultimately exchanging fake banknotes for real ones. At that time, the owners of the castle, the Stapf-Neubert family, were forced out. They took refuge with neighbors for the duration of the operation and were not permitted access to the castle. Then, as suddenly as they arrived, the SS Task Force disappeared in 1945. Apparently, Colonel Friedrich Schwend, the mastermind, was taken into custody by American counterintelligence and avoided prosecution by becoming an Allied informant. After one year in this role, he and his wife slipped out of Europe on false passports and settled in Lima, Peru, where he ultimately lived out his life in the open.

When the Stapf-Neubert family crept back in after the Nazi exodus, they knew not what they would find. It was not surprising that on further investigation it seemed that the Germans had managed to take just about everything. In the following years, the family engaged workers to dig through some of the basement walls of the castle, wondering if they might have hidden any of the counterfeit British pounds, or anything else that might shed light on this intriguing piece of history. Ultimately, all that they were able to find were two cards from a deck of cards, determined by archeologists to have been used recreationally by German troops.

The castle has been a hotel since 1885, surrounded by vineyards, and it was there that we ventured to enjoy a weekend in the Dolomiti (Dolomites). The stout front door opens to a large entrance hall with pikes and muskets on the wall and archways leading to a stone staircase with an iron balustrade. The dining-room is graced by a grand piano and classical music was wafting through the halls, along with the savory smells of dinner as we entered. Our room was “king-sized”, spacious enough to swallow up the large wooden beds, tables and armoire that might once have served knights and damsels, contrasted with a modern bath. The view was breath-taking. We looked out over the chapel, which was originally utilized as a chapel, then converted into a pool-room in 1890 and back again into a quaint Catholic chapel in 1990 used for services on Saturday night. Beyond it, was a view of the terrace, with its white umbrellas shading wrought iron tables and chairs with fluffy cushions. And beyond it further still is a spectacular view of the Alps, Val D’Ultimo and the Dolomites. Incredibly romantic and perfect for couples, the castle is also surprisingly “kid-friendly.” Our children loved playing chess in the dining room, right next to the Grand Piano and on Sunday had the opportunity to play tennis, ping pong, and billiards, before going on a hike on the Castle’s property.

The rest of Castello Schloss Labers’ 35 guest rooms and halls also retained a medieval air. There were vaulted ceilings, heavy exposed beams and rooms trimmed in pine and chestnut. The corridor floors creaked, and under the red carpet the wide staircase was of granite. Dinner that night was elegant. A princely atmosphere with vaulted mahogany ceilings that looked like an inverted Scandinavian ship, revealing the Stapf-Neubert family’s Danish roots and taste in ornamentation. We began with Lasagnette mit weissem spargel, Prager Schinken, or rather in Italian, Lasagnette con asparaghi bianchi, prosciutto di Praga, or if you prefer the English spelling, Lasagna with white asparagus and ham from Prague. We continued with Scampi with Curry and Pineapple, with roasted potatoes and cauliflower and finished with lemon sorbet. Our choices included other tasteful blends of Italian and Tyrolean cuisine, befitting the region. Dinner was accompanied by the Castle’s own label wine, Schiava di Merano, a product of their own vineyards that surround the property and are cultivated by the niece of owners Joerg and Beatrice Stapf.

Indeed, one of the notable advantages of this region is the plethora of fine wines. We sampled some of them at the Enoteca Claudia in the Piazza del Duomo: a delicate Chardonnay 2003, St. Michael-Eppan, a more robust Sudtirol-Alto Adige Eisacktaler Sylvaner 2004, and an equally tasty wine of the same grape by Muller Thurgau 2001. Then on to red wines, a Sudtirol St. Magdalener Classico 2004 and a Sudtiroler Lagrein Dunkel Grieser Reserve that was superb.

Our second dinner in Merano, a significant contrast from the first, was enjoyed at Kallmunz Restaurant right in the center of town at Piazza Rena. It is a combination of Italian and Japanese cuisine, completely uncharacteristic of the region, but surprisingly highly acclaimed by locals. Chief Luigi Ottaiano has teamed with three Japanese collaborators to produce a menu which combines the freshest of Italian ingredients with a decidedly Japanese flavor, and an elegant presentation in a modern, minimalist environment. We enjoyed Patè di asparagi con salsa Alicante e pan brioche agli asparagi , Taglierini di pane al sugo di quaglie e asparagi, Ravioli di piselli con ragù di seppie, Petto di faraona farcito alle erbe con lattuga romana brasata, and Boulangère di rombo alle erbe aromatiche con capperi e cipollotti. Our dinner was accompanied by a white wine, a Sauvignon Graf Von Meran, directly from the vineyards of Merano and it was splendid.

A more traditional alternative, also acclaimed by locals, but which we did not have opportunity to try, would be Leiter AmWaal in the neighboring town of Plars/Algund. A typical Tyrolean menu enjoyed in a historic dining room.

After you’ve relaxed in a local spa, finished with the pool at Castello Schloss Labers, and you’re ready for some adventure, get in the car and drive from Merano to Bolzano. There, by following signs to Canazei, then Arabba and ultimately Cortina D’Ampezzo, you will surround yourself with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Around every hair-pin turn, and there are many, another spectacular scene awaits. We shot no less than ten roles of film, and then only by showing incredible restraint. In May the foliage was literally exploding, green fields of grass, consumed by thousands of wild-flowers — yellows, purples and whites. Alpine chalet’s hanging precariously cliff-side as if they belonged more to the sky, than the earth; glacier-topped mountains in the background, pasture-land and vineyards in the foreground. Then, just past Arabba and onto Cortina, the pink-tinted Dolomites, still tinged with snow, stark and craggy cutting the blue sky. Locals will tell you that the drive is 2 ½ hours. Please count on 5. It’s a full day experience. Come armed with a picnic lunch. When you arrive in Cortina D’Ampezzo, have a gelato and look around at the shops. Try to show restraint as the prices are about as high as the mountain chain. Then make your way back to Merano by the quick northerly route that is mostly two lane “highway.” You’ll get back just in time for a shower and dinner.

Should you be lucky enough to have an extra day, a great educational experience for the kids involves visiting the “old dude,” as we affectionately nicknamed him. The old dude, better known as the “Ice Man,” is a 5,300-year-old mummy found in 1991 by German hikers on their honeymoon. They discovered him sticking out of a melting glacier high in the Tirol mountains. Scientists have yet to determine whether he was of Alpine origin or merely trying to cross the Alps. His equipment and one of his last meals seem to have come from lower-altitude valleys, nearer Verona. New forensic analysis in 2001 demonstrated that he was apparently shot in the shoulder with an arrow shortly before he died. Was he ambushed? Was it a hunting accident? War? The figure was accompanied by a flint dagger, a copper ax, a quiver with flint-tipped arrows, shoes, some remnants of his clothing and a bear-skin hat. It is a fascinating exhibit for the whole family, but children in particular, will be in awe of this magnificent find.

As family destinations go, Merano is clearly one of our favorites. There is something for every member of the family, regardless of energy level or mood. When you you’re surrounded by the Dolomite mountains, all other pleasures are secondary.

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