Newark Nottinghamshire Vacation of Dreams

Author: Matthew Coebr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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Palawan is an Island in the west of the Philippines. The capitol of this Island is Puerto Princesa.

Puerto Princesa is like most capitols you will find in the Philippines with not much going on for visitors. It is a town to get yourself sorted with essentials before you move around the island. There are a number of ATMs here and this is the only place on the island where you will find them so if you need cash get it here and make sure you have enough until you get back otherwise there are a very few places that will give you a cash advance usually with a commission of 10%.

From Puerto Princesa there are a couple of trips that you could do. One is to go to the open prison about 40min tricycle drive away where you can walk around the compound and talk with prisoners and if youre lucky like I was the prison guards allowed me to the fence of the maximum security fence to chat with the inmates. In the compound you will see the prisoners working on making all the lovely wood work that you will see for sale around town. This is how this prison makes it money to pay for staff and feed the prisoners as they are nearly self sufficient as they receive little money from the government.

On the way to the prison there is a wildlife park where they look after rescued animals from the region. (What out for the monkeys they are very aggressive!) There are tours about every hour in English and is worth the trip if you want to kill an afternoon.

South of Puerta Princesa you have got Sabang which is around a 3 hour drive away. This is a very small town with electricity running only 3 hours in the early evening. There is one thing to do here but it is worth it. Here you have the worlds longest underground river. This is actually a UNESCO world heritage site and you will see why. You can to get a boat round to the entrance of the river but these run frequently or there are two trails to the entrance of different distances. At the entrance you can usually see monitor lizards wondering around looking for any food that you may of brought with you with are amazing to see.

The river is obviously pitch black to you may well have the responsibility of holding the very powerful flashlight. I would advise to get to the river early in the morning as it can get busy and I think it would ruin the experience. When I went I was the first boat in and enjoyed all the river to myself until on the way back I must of passed at least 5 boats.

From Sabang you can either get a boat or a number of buses to El Nido – be warned of the roads. You get amazing views from both modes of transport but I recommend to get a boat one way and the bus the other. It is a great experience to travel on the bus. If youre up for it travel on the roof of the bus to get the best views but watch out for low branches and electricity cables!

El Nido is the gateway to Bacuit Bay the main reason for most people coming to Palawan. The town itself is sandwiched between two massive limestone cliffs with a white sand beach in the middle. There are a few restaurants in the town and also a few right on the beach where the table are on the sand with oil torches for light.

From your base in El Nido you can organise your trip around the bay. The bay is a mixture of Vietnams Ha Long Bay and Thailands Krabi. So image if you were to mix these you would get. Yes youre right, you get a paradise which only seems to be possible on postcards. You can get a white sand beach with turquoise sea and coral reef just for yourself here. For the day trips everyone offers the same for pretty much the same price. You have tour A, B, C and D choose which one sounds best all do them all if you have the time and money. I would suggest that you do the trip that takes you to the big and little lagoon as they are just beautiful.

You can hire a kayak to try and explore the islands yourself but you do have to be quite fit as the islands may look close but trust me from past experience that they are not.

The diving to be done here is just some of the worlds best and there are a couple of dive shops on the beach. When I was there it was $50 for 2 dives.

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pTaken from a target=_new href=http://wikidtravel.net rel=nofollowhttp://wikidtravel.net/a/pbr
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Author: Collin Budbr
Source: ezinearticles.combr
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When you choose a caravan to buy you have to take into consideration not only you needs and finances but also the type of your car. For the lightest caravans, which are about 450-500 kilos of weight, you will need a car with motor about 60-horse power minimum. For the heavier two-pivot caravans, which weigh more than a ton, you will need a car of 100-horse power or more. These requirements should be kept strictly if you do not want to travel with the speed of the turtle.

Picking the right caravan site is crucial, maybe you are wanting to stop at a a caravan site in France? If so book early to avoid disappointment One big disadvantage of the caravan is the fact you should keep it somewhere for 9 or 10 months in the year. If you do not have a garage that means you should use a guarded parking lot, which means more expenses for you. One option to settle this problem is to rent the caravan just for the summer months in which case you would save the expenses for the parking for the rest months in the year. There are plenty of places where you can store your caravans like for example if you like to visit France there are plenty of French caravan sites that offer storage facilities at reasonable costs.

Some additional equipment that you will need is to install a towbar to your car and to fit electric outlets and cables for the caravan lights.

With the credit crunch still playing on everyones minds, there seems to be a general belief that this summer will be a hard one. The news teams are continually spouting doom and gloom about economic downturn, and it can seem like there are few things to be grateful for. However, theres no need to think negatively about this summer: one thing that has emerged from the credit crunch is that there are now money saving deals around everywhere for you to take advantage of. If you are wise, you can grab some great deals and make this summer even better than the last.

If you feel like saving money on travel this summer and staying in the UK, you could be onto a great idea. With weathermen predicting an Indian summer it seems that the UK could be the place to be, and there are many deals around that can save you even more money. Have a look for cheap deals on quality UK holiday caravan parks.

There are many ways to save money on UK trips if you keep an eye out for them and use the caravan parking sites all around the UK.

Some parks have absolute beach frontage, they offer a Surf Club, restaurants and alfresco dining hubs. Again there are plenty of caravan sites that offer these facilities.

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pWritten by collin: To find out more information on a target=_new href=http://www.caravanineurope.co.uk rel=nofollowcaravan sites/a, caravan parks, caravan camping sites and caravan sites UK, please visit our website at a target=_new href=http://www.caravanineurope.co.uk rel=nofollowhttp://www.caravanineurope.co.uk/a/pbr
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Author: John Parksbr
Source: articlesbase.combr
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Marseille is the oldest city in France. Ancient cave paintings in the area suggest that humans have lived in the are for at least 20,000 years. Throughout history, Marseille’s location on the Mediterranean have made it an important maritime city and today it is the country’s largest commercial port. Marseille lies east of the Rhone delta and is the second largest city in France. A center for trade and industry, Marseille’s airport is the fourth largest in France. It is also a main tourist destination for millions of visitors each year. Visitors come to Marseille for its unique character and scenic beauty as well as its long and fascinating history. While in Marseille, travelers visit can museums, galleries, restaurants and shops throughout the city. Some of the most visited sites include: Abbey Saint Victor; Basilique St Victor: The foundations of this structure date back to early Christian times. The towers and turrets that tourists see today date from the 11th to the 14th centuries. Inside, there is an original chapel which houses a 13th century Black Madonna. Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde: The first thing a visitor to this site will notice is the stunning panoramic view. The limestone hill on which the Basilique is set was used as a lookout point for guards of the city. It also served as a relay station during the 15th century †the royal intelligence network sent smoke and light signals to their compatriots far away. Today it is a landmark which can be seen from land and sea. A gilded Madonna adorns the belfry. Château dIf: Located southwest of the city, this fortified rock island is a literary landmark made famous in the novel “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas. Built 1524, the one-time prison has a beautiful view of the Bay of Marseille. Old Harbor/Vieux Port: In the western part of the city, there is a charming port now used primarily for fishing and pleasure boats. A fish market and lively waterfront make this a prime stop for tourists. There are two fortresses at the entrance to the port. Palais Longchamp: Traveling east through the city, visitors will find the Palais Longchamp with its many museums and fountains. Build in the late 1860s, this is the site of Marseille’ natural History Museum and Zoological Garden. Quartier du Panier Quartier du Panier: This is a very old district with narrow streets and colorful homes. Overlooking the Old Port, this area was settled by ancient Phocaeans. Vieille Charite: Once a hospice for the poor, this architectural landmark was designed and built by Jean and Pierre Puget between 1671 and 1749. It is not a scientific and cultural center. Marseille, France is a city rich in history and culture and this list of sites and attractions are by no means complete. Within its borders and surrounding areas, visitors will find an endless array of sites that are significant for their history, natural beauty and fascinating culture. Combined with its mild Mediterranean climate, Marseille is a year-round travel destination for visitors from around the globe. For more information on Marseille, France visit http://marseillemicroblog.com and http://francemicroblog.combr
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Author: Dorothy Gauvinbr
Source: downloadbr
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Many people seem to feel a bit intimidated by art galleries. The private (commercial) kind, that is. Sure, in a big public art museum, you know to speak softly. You know not to eat, drink, or use a camera with a flash bulb. You must not touch the paintings. You should not get close enough to breathe on them. Still, you can feel safely un-noticed among the crowd. Even the museum guards seem benign, there simply to tell you how to find the elevators or the nearest restroom.
But a private gallery seems to raise all kinds of nervousness. Some people lurk in the doorway, ready to bolt if the gallery staff make a move in their direction. Some answer a Good Morning smile from the gallery person with an apologetic Im only looking. Sometimes the refrain is uttered in a defensive tone that clearly translates as Dont think you can pressure me into buying anything. Some folk, bless their hearts, ask Is there an admission charge?
You would not do any of those things in any other kind of shop. And no matter how lavish its furnishings, how celebrated its artists or rarefied their price tags, however chic and haughty its staff may seem – it is only a shop. Its business is to sell artworks, and you are a potential customer. If not today, then perhaps some future day. So, just relax and enjoy your visit. Looking costs you nothing. And any gallery person who comes on like The Dragon Lady is a fool, as well as rude.

Let me tell you a true story, with a happy ending, that shows the wisdom of the old saying: You cant judge a book by its cover. It happened on a Friday when a friend was visiting me at the gallery. We watched a chap hesitate in the doorway. I called out to let him know he was welcome to come in.
Im a bit grubby. Been working in the yard. He gestured at his clothing: battered baseball cap, well-worn tee shirt over mud-splattered denim shorts, rubber thongs. I told him that the paintings wouldnt even notice, then left him to browse until he made it clear he had some queries. For nearly an hour, I answered his intelligent questions, told him the stories behind each painting, and enjoyed discussing our shared interest in Australian history.
After he had left, my friend wore a bemused expression as he said: I will never know why you spend so much time on people like that. In reply to my question, he answered: Well, you know. Dressed like that. Obviously he cannot buy one of your paintings. This is a man who is innately kind and tolerant but is always trying to get me to take a more businesslike attitude.
A bit miffed, I countered that if I had to calculate whether a visitor was worth my spending time on, I would never be able to enjoy my day in the gallery. Anyway, I snapped, in my experience, artists could starve if they relied on the people who look as if they were buyers. In fact, they were the reason I stopped giving opening night galas in the days when I exhibited other artists.
They used to arrive loaded with gold chains and flashing their diamonds – and that was only the men! – breathlessly announcing the Volvo or Beamer (it was never just the car) was double- parked outside. They would stay long enough to make sure that the press photographer had snapped them and got their names right. Then they were off. To the next party, no doubt. I had found my real collectors are solid, self-made people who had earned their wealth and feel no need to impress others. They want quality and know it when they see it.
So, as you can imagine, it was hard for me to resist being smug when my friend returned later that day, to hear I had received a phone call from the wife of the grubby visitor. She said he had come home raving about one of the paintings and she wanted to buy it as a surprise for him. He would be flying out on business the next day, so the earliest she could come in to the gallery was 10am Monday, after she had seen him off. Was there any way I would hold the painting for her? I promised to put a red sticker on it right away.
At exactly 10am Monday, she was there with cheque book in hand. Only then did we discover that this unpretentious pair owned a multi-million dollar business that made headlines in the local newspaper when they had recently sold it.
? Dorothy Gauvin
Dorothy Gauvin is an internationally acclaimed Australian painter in oils who specialises in an epic theme of Australias pioneers.She is also the author of what may be the only novel ever published about Australias Secret Civil War of the 1890s,Travellers Luck, available online.
See images of her Life-Story portraits of fascinating and successful people,limited edition prints of Outback heroes and horsemen,plus tips and advice for aspiring artists and collectors on her website at http://www.gauvin.com.au.br
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Author: howcastmediabr
Source: articlesbase.combr
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Check out the video version of this guide on Howcast.com:How to Make a Leo Fall in Love With YouGet more great outdoor game and party ideas at Howcast.com:Astrology You Will Need: Flattery An uncritical nature Step 1: Admire them Admire them. Leos have a very healthy self-image, to say the least, so the first step to ingratiating yourself is to flatter them shamelessly. Trust us: You cannot overdo this. Step 2: Invite them to a pricey restaurant Invite them to a pricey restaurant � the more expensive and exclusive, the better. The only thing Leos love more than spending money on themselves is having someone else do it. Step 3: Let them talk Let them talk. And talk. And talk some more. Leos love to talk. So ask lots of questions and, above all, do not interrupt them. Never steal a Leo’s thunder in any way; they’ll resent you for it. Step 4: Make them laugh Make them laugh. Leos have a great sense of humor and love to laugh � as long as the joke is not on them. Expect dire consequences if you dare to make them the butt of a joke. Step 5: Give extravagant gifts Give them extravagant gifts, because Leos adore luxury. If you’re a cheapskate at heart, don’t even think about wooing a Leo. Airline tickets to faraway places and adventure travel packages make fine gifts for Leos, who love the exotic. Step 6: Throw them a party Throw them a party, especially if it’s to celebrate one of their accomplishments. Leos like nothing more than to be the center of attention, though they’d rather be in the spotlight for getting a big promotion than for turning 40. Step 7: Give them space Give them space. Leos need freedom and hate routine, so expecting them to meet you at the same place for sushi every Friday night is a quick way to alienate them. Step 8: Never let your guard down When it comes to massaging Leo’s ego, never let your guard down. A good-natured jibe about budding love handles will not be appreciated. Keep the flattery up and the criticism to yourself, and you have a good chance of winning Leo’s famed loyalty. Did you know? Madonna and Bill Clinton are both Leos. And Dan Evins, co-founder of Cracker Barrel.br
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Author: Simon Haughtone
Source: ezinearticles.com

The final seat that was created for the Unreformed House of Commons back in 1673, Newark is that location. In the Newark and Sherwood districts of the United Kingdom. Located on River Trent this town is rich in history.

A lovely location where you can find Castle ruins, Newark Castle, and others that were built back in the 12th century. In fact Newark Castle was said to have actually have some of the walls built as far back as 1068. If that doesn’t yell out history and the need to see it, what else could?

The market place in Newark has a fabulous Georgian town hall that you should see too. Each year in Newark there are antique fairs held, in fact six of them and something that people will travel from all over to see.

Don’t forget the air museum either, where you can see 65 aircraft and parts of cockpits. As far as food is concerned you shouldn’t ever run out of choices and all different varieties can be found around Newark.

And who can forget those famous past residents of this location, they include Robin Hood, Lord Byron, and Paul Smith. A location that is so rich in history that you will spend days learning different things about the area.

Plus a location in which many inventions came about, these include the following. Bramley Pie, MRI scanning, ibuprofen, HP sauce, shin guards, and Raleigh Chopper. As you can tell Newark is rich in current history and ancient history. Truly a location that one should visit if they have a chance. Also consider a wedding honeymoon in this location or close by, you can find many rentals such as holiday cottages. A fabulous location in the United Kingdom that many people should try and visit if they can arrange it.

Look for hotels in Malvern

Author: Ron S Lasorsa
Source: ezinearticles.com

People use restraining orders in order to protect themselves against certain conduct such as: violence, abuse, threats, stalking and even annoying behavior such as excessive contact via email, text message, telephone calls or in-person contact.

The process varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but as a general rule, an individual (1) Files paperwork requesting a restraining order; (2) The paperwork is reviewed by a Judge and if warranted; (3) it is granted on a temporary basis and a hearing is set – Typically no fees are charged for filing restraining orders to allow anyone in need of one the ability to file without worrying about expense.

At the hearing, the Judge will ask the parties if they are opposed to a permanent restraining order being issued. Due to the ramifications and stigma that restraining orders can inflict, people generally do not agree to them and opt for a fully evidentiary hearing (or trial) on the issues.

A temporary restraining order will be granted without assuming guilt until a trial can be scheduled. If it is proven that the conduct described actually occurred and one party should be restrained, a permanent restraining order will be granted for anywhere from several months to (5) years in some states.

Common Terms: “Protected party:” the one seeking a restraining order; “Restrained party:” the one against whom the restraining order is sought; “TRO:” Abbreviation for temporary restraining order. “Permanent restraining order:” One that is granted for a period of months to (5) years by agreement or after a full evidentiary hearing or trial. “Filing fee:” Fees charged by the county to file various family law documents.

Why our restraining orders a problem in divorce? First lets begin with the statement that violence should never be tolerated by anyone at anytime. If you are the victim of domestic violence you need to seek immediate help for yourself and your children.

For the remaining group of people however who have applied for restraining orders simply because they are angry with their soon to be ex-spouse, this paragraph is for YOU: Restraining orders are a problem when they are granted to people who really don’t need them because they become an inhibitor to normal communication.

A restraining order, whether temporary or permanent is not a document that the “protected party” gets to wield at the “restrained party.” Actually, they are mutual meaning that NEITHER party can contact, communicate with, harass, annoy or irritate the other. Even though you are the “protected party” you still may not call or text your ex-spouse if there is a restraining order unless the court has specifically allowed both of you to engage in certain contact, i.e. conveying an emergency message about the children.

Assume a temporary or permanent restraining order has been granted in the following scenarios which outline the problems that could arise there:

1. Going to the lawyers office to discuss divorce issues such as property division: You cannot simply meet and discuss your issues if doing so would violate the terms of the restraining order (such as maintaining a distance of 25 yards in a public place). While it would seem easy to simply agree that the restraining order does not apply to this scenario, it is not that simple. A court order is viewed with the utmost respect and severity. Most attorneys with any respect for the law will not allow a client or the opposing party to walk into that trap. It’s simple: At any time, the “protected party” can contact the authorities alleging a violation of the restraining order. And the simple truth is that if the “restrained” party is within 25 yards, for example it is a violation. Sure, it is an explainable violation once you go back to court, but it is a violation none the less.

2. Disposal of jointly owned property: Similar to the scenario above, there are times in a divorce when both parties must be present to handle the financial affairs of the divorce. Assume you are selling the family home and both spouses wish to be presents during the appraisal or a showing, restraining orders make this nearly impossible and expose the not-so-pleasant details of your divorce to outside parties. As I mentioned before, restraining orders carry a stigma; There is an automatic assumption that parties who need TRO’s have problems that most people simply do not want to deal with. Divorces can involve a number of “experts” such as: appraisers, real estate agents, accountants, attorneys, mediators, etc. all of whom will know at the end of the day, that you two have a restraining order in place.

3. Mediation classes for custody and visitation: In many counties, mediation is required before the granting of custody orders. However, if there is a restraining order in place, two parties typically cannot attend the same mediation. So, you’re thinking: “What’s the bid deal? We’ll attend separately?” The big deal is that the goal of mediation is to encourage a parenting plan that works for both parties which is best determined when parents can sit TOGETHER at the table with the mediator and craft an agreement that is in the best interest of the children.

4. Custody in general: Often a “restrained party” will have limited visitation with children during the restraining order period. The rationale is that if you are violent with “mother/father” you will be violent with “children.” In fact, spiteful parents have even filed Temporary Restraining Orders in order to maintain a custodial advantage. On the flip side, a parent who falsely accuses the other of domestic violence or sexual abuse can lose custody of children so clearly, falsely accusing someone of abuse is not only perjury but it carries severe consequences of which people are often unaware.

5. Custody and visitation exchanges/day care and children’s school: This is one of the most difficult areas to work around existing restraining orders. Imagine the hypothetical: Mom is to drop the children off with Dad at 5:00 p.m. on Friday night in the Macy’s parking lot. Dad cannot actually approach mother or he will violate the restraining order so mom must remain in the car and watch as the children travel across the parking lot with their suitcases in hand to dad’s car. This is not a huge problem unless the children are 6 months and two years old! Now, the court will often issue orders that lift the restraining order only during visitation exchanges – however if there is a real threat of violence, this “lift” could really put a parent in jeopardy AND the children might be exposed to domestic violence. As you can imagine, this also impacts day care and school for things like back-to-school night, parent-teacher meetings and other school functions. It also exposes the possibility of alerting school and day care personal to the details of your marital life which can lead to humiliation and embarrassment.

6. Common facilities such as: church, the gym, workplace. Often spouses worship together, belong to the same gym or other social outlet and even work together. Once these parties separate, these mutual locations are not split up in the divorce. Parties still need to be able to go to church, work and maintain as normal a life as possible and one that closely resembles the pre-separation days. When a TRO is thrown into the mix of things, the court can order a variety of solutions to maintain normalcy such as: order the parties to attend different church services for example or assign certain days of the week to husband and wife alike for the gym or golf club membership to avoid parties running into each other, hence violating orders.

The bottom line is that parties need to think things through before filing an application for a restraining order. Again, if you are the victim of domestic violence, there is no excuse to be abused by anyone at anytime for any reason. You must do what is necessary to protect yourself and your children. That being said, a TRO, while a court order is also still just a piece of paper and you should make sure to self-guard yourself beyond the document. But for those who have applied for a retraining order merely as a means of maintaining an advantage over or punishing the ex-spouse, the ramifications of such an order will apply to the protected party as well. Not only does it make the life of the “restrained” party more difficult, but the “protected party” has limitations, too which in the long run, may not justify the means.

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Author: Grant Carroll
Source: articleage.com

One of your main concerns as a parent raising a baby in the city is your baby’s safety. The city does a wonderful job of offering a wide spectrum of culture and experience that cannot be found anywhere else. However, with that wonderful experience comes a host of possible dangers. This is not meant to scare anyone away from the joys of city living, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Health hazards, transportation and public playgrounds present possible dangers that should be guarded against.
With such a large population, it’s no wonder that health hazards exist. Two big ones that affect your little city dweller are ozone and pollution. To protect your family from ozone, watch the news for ozone warnings. Usually, the danger time is from 1 to 5 p.m. so keep outside playtime in the morning and evening. Also watch for air pollution warnings and avoid outside play during danger times. You must also keep watch on the indoor air pollution. Try to keep the apartment ventilated and clean any window A/C units. Don’t smoke, and if your child has allergies, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. If you live in a building or home constructed before 1978, keep a lookout for the dangers of lead paint. For all info on lead risks, contact the EPA’s National Lead Information Center (www.epa.gov/lead/nlic.htm) . The last two problems are mold and pests. Mold is best controlled by controlling moisture. If problems do arise, notify your landlord and/or clean it immediately. For more info go to www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html. As for pests, everyone’s familiar with cockroaches, rats and mice. The best prevention for all pests is cleanliness. Clean up any food spills or messes and tightly store all pantry food in sturdy plastic bins.
Large cities have many forms of transportation from mass transit to taxi cabs, and it’s important to keep your baby safe while on the go. One big danger on the subway or bus is the presence of germs. Babies and toddlers love to touch everything, so try to keep them restrained and invest in some hand sanitizer. In case the train or bus makes a sudden stop, make sure your toddler is firmly seated at all times. If no seats are available, hold them as securely as you can, but usually people give up seats if they see you with children. As for taxis, be sure to bring something like a car seat or travel vest to strap in your little one. If you’ve ever ridden in a taxi, you understand how dangerous it can be for an infant or toddler. Also beware of intersections while walking as they are the most common place for tragic accidents.
As for playgrounds, also make an effort to inspect the equipment and surface even if it is owned by the city. Many playgrounds are not very safe for your toddler, so keep them closely supervised.
Grant Carroll proud father and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedbabies.com with Baby Clothes and Baby T-Shirts
Also visit Little Pampered Pets where you can find boutique quality Dog Clothes and Small Dog Sweaters

Author: Astrid Van Deursen
Source: ezinearticles.com

The Schuttersgalerij
Whereas the Historic Museum is paid entrance only, the Schuttersgalerij offers 15 amazing paintings for free. Walk inside to see Civic Guards from the Dutch Golden age.

Harbor Ferries
Connection the Northern part of the city to the Center, the Harbor Ferries are a free ride over the river IJ. A perfect way to enjoy the Amsterdam skyline, especially at night. The ferries leave at the Northern exit of Central Station so they are easy to find.

The Begijnhof
An oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city. You can see nicely painted houses from the middle ages while enjoying relative silence and small walk in around the place.

Lunchtime concerts
Free rehearsal concerts are weekly traditions in the Concertgebouw (Wednesday) and Muziektheater (Tuesday). Both start at 12:30 and end at 13:00 .

Koninklijk Palijs
The Royal Palace on Dam square is an eye catcher in between the center’s shopping area. Not only that, but did you know it stands on over 13 thousand wooden pilings driven into Amsterdam’s sandy soil?

1200 Bridges
Amsterdam has more bridges than Venice. At night the lighting makes them stand out from the rest of the canal view. Be sure to have a walk in the Jordaan to enjoy them.

Bicycles
Over 80% of the people own a bicycle in Amsterdam. That makes up to over 600 thousand bicycles. The perfect way to travel around. Not really free, but not expensive either and you get the experience of riding the bike and enjoying site seeing. Be careful of the traffic.

Astrid is a local in Amsterdam and has been living there for over 20 years. Next to publishing about her city she also publishes the latest news on lcd and plasma televisions at http://www.lcd-plasma-scherm.nl which helps people buy a flatscreen lcd tv.

Author: Dennis Siluk Ed.D.
Source: ezinearticles.com

Chick Evens and Tom Fortuna, stood still looked about the railroad yard.

“It’s all right,” Tom said.

“You mean the lousy brakeman’s gone-right,” Chick asked Tom.

“He’s nowhere insight,” remarked Tom.

Evens wiped his hands on his trousers, getting the dirt off of them, he looked down the tracks a-ways, could still see the lights of the caboose, it had left the Jackson Street Railroad Yard, had slowed down a mile away at the Mississippi Railroad Yard (where they were at now, near their homes), but was going in the opposite direction he and Tom wanted to go, wanted to catch a ride from St. Paul, to Chicago. They were both fifteen-years old, it was a Friday night, they figured they’d jump the train as it slowed down, and be in Chicago by morning, have breakfast and if their luck held out, be back in St. Paul by noon the next day for lunch.

The train was coming, he could feel the distinct power in its movement of the ground, unlike anything else, it woke him up-vibrated through his feet to his stomach and arms and throat and jaw and teeth, startled his inners, the sound was so loud and powerful, he could feel, if not sense, and was convinced the train would soon bear down upon him.

Chick touched the stepladder attached onto the freight car that ran parallel to him, as he ran and allowed the pull of the train to automatically lift and pull his body over and up onto its steel ladder-next to it, then he’d hang on with one hand, pull the rest of his body up and to the ladder bars, as Tom would do the same, was doing the same, and Chick noticed underneath the boxcar was a hobo or bum (a hobo being a traveling worker, and a bum being a bum), and in-between two boxcars (the one he was hanging onto, and the one Tom was hanging onto, next to his) was another vagrant; both he and Tom, hanging onto the side ladders, attached to the freight cars. He could hardly see them, but they were there, moving shadows nonetheless, and with the moon being their lamp, he could see their outlines.

The gravel and packed sand along side the tracks, extended beyond the rim of the steel tracks, and solid wooden row of timbers. In part He was about to do what the hobos were doing, riding the rods, that required skill and lots of courage, and it required a man to position himself under the freight car, hanging onto a rod, as Jack Dempsey did when he was sixteen, Evens at fifteen, but not to the extend Jack did. In those far-off days, folks had to go long distances to find work; this was an adventure trip, nothing more. Therefore, he simply, grabbed with one hand, and jumped with one foot landing on that ladder I mentioned, at the end of one freight car, and there he was. The metal ladder went to the roof of the car, he remained on its first step, held with two hands the third bar to the ladder, gripped the iron like bar in front of him with no breathing space between bar and fingers.

Chick was not what was called ‘a teenage-freight rider, riding the rails’ as many teenagers did during the depression years in the 1920s and 30s, on a regular bases, but from his perspective, and Tom’s, it was presumed simply, and attempted at simply, for its romanticism of the road, and in time, Chick Evens would travel the roads throughout the whole United States by car, trains and planes, then crisscross the world by planes. But today, for now, this evening, at this very moment, it was his first ride on a freight train, and his first, attempt at riding the rails, as they say; call it the spirit of adventure.

The boxcars started to speed up; there was acceleration, a rush inside of Chick, along with the trains forward thrust. Likewise, Tom was hanging on tight, heart-wrenching: it was a free ride, open air, exhilarating, and Evens tried to get another look at the traveler underneath the freight car on the car’s structural rods he got a glimpse of his hand hanging beyond the boxcar, and his elbow, his smudged and muddy boots, then he saw another man climbing a ladder beyond Tom’s boxcar, looking like he was going to ride the deck (on top of the railroad car), unless it was a guard. He thought maybe he should have tried an empty gondola car, that is, an unoccupied caboose, but that would have been too dangerous, once in it you’d not be able to escape easily, if someone put a spike in the door, and most of them were closed anyhow, so this was for the most part, safer, yet one needed to be mindful of the risk.

Four miles outside of St. Paul, the train started to slow down; Chick could see and feel the slower movement of the train. What he was hoping was there’d be no swaying trains, coming the opposite way, it could sweep him off the train into it, the one riding the rods were safer, they were confined in a smaller space, less detectable than he, who had to hang exposed, and hang on for dear life; whereas, those under him could roll out and off the train when he wanted to with no difficulty or move back farther in, plus he got only a little dust and cinders on him, whereas Evens got them all, even got dirt thrown in his face, and that got a little fearful for him, and the monotonous sound of the wheels, could lull a man to sleep, on the rails, and falling to sleep, meant falling to your death. Although one needed to be careful if he road the rods, because at road crossings, one could get their cloths caught in planks, and be pulled under the train itself, and cut in two. For some this kind of life, was a lifestyle, for Chick Evens, as already pointed out, it was an adventure, no more, and one that appeared to be ending sooner than expected.

Another three miles and then the train came to a dead stop. They were in some railroad yard, a junction, there was a highway to the left of them, and lights, from a restaurant, a gas station and a bar lit up the area he was in.

Chick stepped down off the ladder backwards, it was easier to pull his self off and then be facing forward in a comfortable option to take a second step, to catch oneself, and not get hurt. The same way he got onto the ladder, achieving solid footing. Then he looked straight ahead, the sign read: “New Port,” and he said to Tom: “Well, exactly where are we?”

(A man yelled from the top of the roof, ‘You kids get the hell out of here before…!”)

“Let’s get going,” said Tom.

“Where is New Port?” Chick asked Tom.

Tom a little embarrassed, remarked, “Seven miles from where we started out from, my older sister lives out here with her husband. And there isn’t any more trains going to Chicago, and only one leaving here at 2:00 a.m., to go back to the Jackson Street Yards, only slowing down at the Mississippi Yards.” (Tom had watched trains pretty much, knew about them, but as far as Chick was concerned: the blind was following the blind.)

“So now we got to walk seven miles back home, is that right Tom?” asked Evens, as if he didn’t know, nor needed any confirmation, but out of anger. Tom looked at Evens, smiled, Evens’ face was unhappy, said in a blunt way, “And we are only 393 miles from Chicago.”

Tom looked at his watch, “its 11:20 p.m., we should get back in a few hours if we keep a good stride.” He commented.

He looked at Tom, “Let’s sit down over by the embankment, rest, get our wind, and then head on back.”

And there they sat, blank like, looking off into emptiness, to nowhere, discouraged, but Evens came to the point after a minute or two of meditation: he got his ride, learned a few things along the way, and for now that would just have to do, it would have to be good enough, like it or not, and his composure showed it was-under the circumstances- showed that it was kosher.

“Let’s go Tom,” said Chick.

“Sure,” said Tom, droopy faced, not looking forward to the seven mile walk back along the tracks, “What’s the matter?” Asked Tom.

“I’m alright, just thinking it will be about 3:00 a.m., by the time we get back.”

“I don’t know, but that sounds about right,” said Tom.

“Come on; let’s get going then, no time to waste.”

It was 2:45 a.m., when Evens walked through the door of his home, everyone sleeping, and he went directly to the bathroom, which meant he had to go halfway into his mother’s bedroom, “Who’s that?” she said.

“Just me, Chick mom, went to the bathroom?”

“Oh, when did you get…?” and before she could finished her statement-question, and before Evens had to lie, she fell back to sleep.

June 1, 2009: No: 409./ds

See Dennis’ web site: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com