Faint At Heart

What are your chances of getting the vacation of a lifetime without having to save for a lifetime?

Renting a timeshare may be the answer to your dream vacation without having to make a long-term commitment. Many individuals are willing to rent their allotted timeshare week to you. Because of an inconvenient date or some other personal reasons, many times owners are unable to use their timeshare and are willing to sell their time period to you. With a little research either on the Internet, local newspapers or even visiting with realtors, you may be able to step into a dream vacation. Exotic places wait for you and your loved ones.

Timeshare companies and timeshare owners offer an alternative to the overpriced hotel and motel rooms. Virtually every year the costs of hotels go up. You can usually control the price tag of your vacations by utilizing timeshare resort rentals. Timeshare owners normally charge a set price for their rentals, and they do not need to increase prices to pay for labor and other usual expenses incurred by hotels. This keeps the price of a vacation rental on a more consistent level each time it is rented.

Timeshare resorts are located in incredible destinations around the world. Where have you always longed to go, but thought, “Wow, it would be too expensive to stay in a place like that!”? Mexico? Hawaii? How about Europe? Sure, those destinations can be expensive, but with a timeshare rental, you can get into incredible resorts for a fraction of the costs of a hotel vacation.

In most cases, hotel and motel rooms are undersized, have few amenities, and cost more than a timeshare rental. Typically when you rent a timeshare unit, prices are for seven nights, not per person. The units can sleep anywhere from 2 to 10 people. You choose the type of room and amenities you want! Studio, 1, or 2 Bedroom with kitchen, dining and living area units are all available.

No matter how nice the Hotel or Bed & Breakfast….. it still is just one small room! Why spend one or more weeks on vacation in a cramped hotel room and have the extra expense of eating out for every meal. Enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of a completely furnished resort condominium and save money all at the same time! And you will not be required to attend a timeshare sales presentation.

Put your vacation plans into motion and start your search for the ultimate spot you’ve been dreaming about. Whether you have dreamed about walking barefoot on an island or skiing down a mountain in another country, there is a timeshare available to you at a more than reasonable price. It takes only a little time to put the details together and make your dream vacation become a reality.

Timeshares are a proven concept for vacationers in many countries, and holiday planning is one of the top growing segments of the leisure time industry all over the world today. Why not begin your search today by perusing newspapers and travel magazines, or logging onto the Internet and searching for “timeshare rentals?” Dare to dream!

© Copyright 2004 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

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Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com. A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory. Visit http://www.atimesharesz.com/getaways.htm for featured low-priced vacation getaways at popular destinations across the U.S.

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Mention Romania and people immediately think of Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from years of economic misery, Romania is quickly becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe.

Dracula v. Ceausescu

In pop culture, Romania is always equated with Count Dracula, Bran Castle and Transylvania. These assumptions are wrong. Vlad Tepes is widely regarded as the person on whom the Dracula character is based. Known as Vlad the Impaler, there is no disputing this was one nasty individual, but he wasn’t a vampire. On top of this, Vlad the man never resided in Bran Castle, a real castle and the home of the fictional Dracula. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there was a person arguably worse than Dracula or Vlad in Romania’s history.

Introducing Nicolae Ceausescu, the reigning worst dictator in the history of Europe. A pig on all counts, this man treated Romania as his personal fiefdom through much of the twentieth century. While leading the country into economic ruin, he built lavish estates for he and his wife. While Romanians starved on the streets, he and his wife spent money like Joan Collins at a plastic surgeon. When he was finally expelled from office, the people were so outraged by his excess that he and his wife were literally stoned to death.

Unfortunately, the country didn’t recover quickly. The last five years, however, have seen major advancements, and Romania is now a must visit location.

Bucharest

Once considered the Paris of the East, Bucharest suffered greatly during Ceausescu’s reign. Ancient buildings with French and Turkish influences were replaced with communist inspired concrete block buildings in redevelopment projects. Currently, the city is a microcosm of the lurching recovery of the country. Elegant neighborhoods border slums and there appears to be little or no middle class. There appears to be only the poor or rich. When visiting Romania, you will have to fly into Bucharest. Just don’t stay too long.

Brasov

Brasov is located in the hilly terrain of Transylvania and is a good place to visit. Located in the center of the country, Brasov is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city is a resounding example of old world Romania with an ancient center city square and little cafes throughout.

The real appeal of Brasov is the surrounding land. Unspoiled, the mountains surrounding Brasov are full of little villages and surrounding forests. In this area, you’ll find bears, wolves and other threatened animals roaming freely. On top of this, the land is ripe with outdoor activity opportunities such as skiing, hiking, camping, hunting, rock climbing and parachuting. While all of this exists in other travel destinations, there is no tourist trap feel in Brasov.

Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains are visually stunning. While there are attractions throughout the mountains, such as Bran Castle, don’t try to simply visit a particular place. Instead, rent a car in Brasov or hire a driver and just go for a ride. The scenery is so overwhelming it is hard to describe. You’ll drive down and up into gorges that seem endless, see rivers bombing down mountain sides and see animals only found in National Geographic documentaries. Go for this drive and I guarantee you will be blabbering about it for at least five days.

Romania is the hidden gem of Eastern Europe and you should definitely visit. You don’t even need to wear garlic.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about Romania and Adventure Travel.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. …Tenneva Jordan

There is a name that often has the same effect as soothing balm on a tender wound. Many can go through life saying she doesn’t matter, but it is the wounds of life that require the ministrations that only a mother can provide.

Surely you’ve had those moments when you desire the closeness of mom although you might indicate you’d rather not see her. We can all be grateful that moms see through our inner turmoil and willingly stand with us when the need is greatest.

The most selfless individuals on the planet are mothers. They are often the first ones up and the last to bed. They serve your needs without asking anything in return. They suffer through the abuse of adolescent children and willingly welcome us home when we come to our senses.

When the second Sunday in May rolls around it is the true essence of gratitude that brings us to the doorstep of mom’s house with gifts in hand, from hearts that have begun to catch a glimpse of thankfulness.

Mother’s Day gifts come in all sizes, fragrances, colors and styles. Most often these gifts are simple flower arrangements and gift cards. Moms will never respond unkindly, but perhaps it is time to consider a gift that is a thoughtful indicator of the love and appreciation you have for your mother. A gift of considerate choosing that takes your gratitude to a level that will surprise and delight the very one who gave you life.

Mothers spend a great deal of time in the kitchen and a unique kitchen gift or a gourmet gift of elegance and style will be remembered long after flowers fade, wither, and are summarily discarded.

Imagine a time in the future; your mother sits down for a cup of tea and traces her finger across the top of the European Glass Teapot she received as a gift from you. She remembers special long ago moments she was certain she had forgotten. A thoughtful, daily used gift can provide a personal ongoing connection between you and your mother. Best of all - her thoughts will be toward you - not the gift.

This in no way diminishes the effectiveness of the gift; it actually enhances the overall gift giving experience. You see, a well thought out Mother’s Day gift is as much for you as it is for her; useful and appreciated - with memories attached.

When the second Sunday in May rolls around, consider a kitchen gift or a gourmet gift that conveys to your mom that you believe Mother’s Day is more than a special occasion - the day is a moment of insistence that she be held in the highest esteem. It may even be a moment when strained relationships can be mended and old offenses forgotten.

The second Monday in May will find your mom back in her daily routine. Why not give her another reason to think of you each day.

She will, you know.

James Zeller writes for gift related websites and blogs. Here is a selection of unique gifts that he found, and a creative collection of culinary gourmet gifts.

When I was a little girl and would go over to my grandma’s house at Christmastime; she would always have this red plastic boot out by the fireplace. For some reason, all of us grandkids just loved this boot! We’d play with it and always look for it when we came over.

A couple of years ago I was shopping for the Holidays and found a bin full of red and clear plastic boots! I was so delighted because I immediately felt the love and laughter of being at my grandma’s house.

I bought two of them. One I kept for myself to bring out every Christmas as a reminder of grandma’s boot, and to fill my heart with warm memories. The other boot I sent to my sister encouraging her to set the boot out each Christmas and be filled with special memories as well.

Do you have a “red boot” in your Christmas memories? Something that triggers recollections of the past? You can bring that memory to your present day home and share it with your family. Form an image of a warm heritage in your children’s minds.
There is no better way to counteract the materialism that encompasses the Christmas Season than to show your children how much you value your family and weave them a legacy of love through the Holiday symbols that surround them.

Some day they will forget some of the gifts they received as a child; but certain sights and smells of the Season (like the red boot), will linger on forever.

~ Dionna Sanchez is enjoying her red boot this Christmas. She shares other heartfelt memories and ideas at http://www.EmphasisOnMoms.com/

Mother’s Day is a day to express to your mother how much you appreciate her. When we were children, Mother’s Day was much easier; our mothers didn’t expect too much. We would come home with a picture we made in school, a card still wet with glue or a dandelion picked from the neighbor’s yard. Our mothers were just happy to see that little bit of effort we put into it, and loved us just the same.

As we grew older, Mother’s Day became a little bit more complicated. With the money from our first job we would run to the nearest Hallmark store and pick up anything with the words Mother’s Day on it. Our mothers were still touched by the thought that we had spent our hard earned cash on them instead of blowing it all on things for ourselves. But then we hit adulthood and things got much tougher. We not only have our own mothers, but our mothers-in-law- a huge clink in the chain. We have spouses to consider as well as friends and other family members who are now mothers themselves. What is the solution? We can’t spend all of our time and money on this Hallmark holiday.

The solution is a Mother’s Day brunch. Our mothers will be touched that we took the time to select a restaurant that they would enjoy. Our spouses are covered because the brunch is for all of the mothers. Grace each mother with a corsage of a favorite flower or a color to match their outfits. Even if you don’t have the budget or time to create a brunch out, have it in your own home. At http: there are great gift and decoration ideas. Put together the favorite foods arranged on a beautifully set table. With the work load on you, the mothers are free to relax and enjoy their special day.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

ArrangeYourVacation, one of the most exclusive holiday homes and villa rentals company, has just released its 3 latest innovative and specialised online websites: Mexico-Holiday-Homes, Italy-Vacation-Homes and Greece-Holiday-Homes. Travelers seeking vacation information about the destinations of Mexico, Greece or Italy, can find extensive information at this 3 vacation rentals web sites.

Characteristic of all ArrangeYourVacation-web sites, those three are easy to use, with comprehensive information about private villas and activities at each destination. There are extensive high quality photographs and a vacation rentals navigation tool. “Vacation rentals and holiday homes are a great alternative for those who wish to have more privacy and space to maneuver, something that hotels don’t really have. Staying in a hotel involves tipping porters and valets; there is the added expense of dining out daily. Plus, if staying at a hotel for several days, it can be a bit tedious to stare at the same four walls and share a room with family members without a modicum of privacy. Just like there are hotels everywhere, there are vacation rentals and holiday homes all over the world ready to be booked.” said President and Founder of ArrangeYourVacation Milan Matchev. “From the initial dream of a vacation in a luxury villa, through the entire trip, every step should be stress free and enjoyable.”

Luxury vacation in holiday home have never been easier to plan. ArrangeYourVacation has over 100 hand-picked villas and a staff in each country, where it provides vacation rentals, that assures the finest in service.

“Our client satisfaction rate is extremely high due to our personal contact with each traveler. Our websites are an extension of our knowledgeable staff and offers our valued clients complete details for those seeking a luxury villa in Mexico, Italy or Greece,” added Matchev.

The new vacation rentals websites can be viewed at http://Mexico-Holiday-Homes.com, http://Italy-Vacation-Homes.com and http://Greece-Holiday-Homes.com. An e-newsletter sign-up is available on the sites which keeps past guests and potential customers informed about the latest villa news, last minute specials, events in those countries and real estate information. The owners of vacation rental properties in Mexico, Italy or Greece can advertise their homes on this new web sites for free. As a special bonus, there holiday home listings will be added to the database of ArrangeYourVacation ( http://arrangeyourvacation.com) also for free, to assure maximum exposures of each property listing.

It’s true. Travel Agents are treated differently than the rest of us. And the reason is simple: The travel industry is a 4 trillion dollar a year business!

With that kind of money being spent on travel, you can just imagine the competition. The travel industry will spend millions on advertising and they’ll do what ever it takes to get them their piece of the pie.

It’s a known fact; the travel industry survives on the business supplied to them by Travel Agents. And because so much of their business relies on Travel Agents, the travel industry treats these Travel Agents like royalty!

In all honesty, if a travel related business or vendor is not known and utilized by the country’s travel agents, their business will suffer tremendously. In other words, travel companies need Travel Agents to survive…their business depends on them!

And most people don’t know that becoming a travel agent is quick and easy if you know the secrets. In fact, with our exclusive insider information contained in the Travel Industry Secrets, you’ll actually become a licensed Travel Agent in about twenty minutes…it’s that quick and it’s that easy!

When you become a Travel Agent, new doors are opened and courtesies are extended to you, that everyday folks aren’t privy to. Like I said, travel companies need travel agents and when you become one of them, you’ll be showered with discounts and gratuities by way of deeply discounted and even free travel benefits.

Just imagine setting sail on a Caribbean cruise this winter while everyone back home is shoveling snow and staying indoors, trying to keep warm. And not only are you enjoying the balmy breezes of the Caribbean, you’re doing so for just $35 a day while the occupants in the cabin next to you are paying upwards of $200 each day for the same cabin, the same food, and the same service.

Or maybe you just want to fly home to visit your relatives. Instead of paying $600 to fly across the country like you did last year, your ticket is discounted to only $285. And just before you board, you hear your name over the airline’s loudspeaker, calling you to the ticket counter. As you approach, you are notified that your discounted coach ticket has just been upgraded to first class. Now, your $285 dollar coach ticket has a value of over $1,500 simply because you are a licensed Travel Agent.

So, you arrive at your destination and make your way to the rental car agency. Before you left, you booked a standard size vehicle for 50% off the published rate. Once at the counter, the rental agent advises you that you are entitled to a free upgrade and they ask if you’re interested….

These are just a few of the courtesies that you’ll find extended to you when traveling as a licensed Travel Agent. But they get even better.

You see, the travel vendors - airlines, hotels, tour operators, car rental agencies, cruise lines, etc. recognize the benefits of having travel agents being familiar with the products they are selling. Its for this very reason that in addition to favorable rates and discounts, these same vendors also offer free familiarization trips to resort destinations, free dinners, free shows, and free cocktail hours to learn about vendor offerings.

Just imagine…a couple weeks after receiving our priceless information, you get an invitation for you and a guest to spend an entire week at an all-inclusive resort, absolutely free. Normally, this experience would run a hefty $3,000 per couple. But this resort wants to pamper you and create an experience of a lifetime for one reason. So you, as a Travel Agent, will refer your “customers” back to them.

Do I Need to Sell Travel to get in on these incredible Discounts?

If you want to earn an extra income selling travel to friends, family members, or even customers, you’ll be licensed to do so.

Besides the extra income, there are a great many other benefits to being “in business” as well. There are also great tax advantages. For example, you can deduct such items as your computer, the space in you home from which you operate your business, your telephone line if you use it for business, and more.

In fact, just working part-time can make you a great second income…but its not required. When you become a licensed Travel Agent, no one knows how much, if any, travel you sell. Selling travel is not required to get in on the benefits.

Go and see the Ultimate Manual while it is legally available! http://travel.selfsecrets.com

The mountains in western North Carolina are among the most beautiful in the entire United States. Three mountain ranges — the Great Smoky Mountains, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Blue Ridge Mountains — converge in North Carolina, giving the area a charm unsurpassed in the rest of the country. These three mountain ranges provide the perfect backdrop for a fun and adventurous North Carolina mountain vacation.

There are a wide variety of attractions in the mountains of North Carolina. Visitors can go camping in the vast wilderness surrounding the mountains, stay in an historic cabin not unlike the dwellings of the area’s early settlers, or stay in a modern, state of the art resort. The Appalachian Trail, Nantahala National Forest, and the Western North Carolina Nature Center are just a few of the exciting places to visit in this region.

The Appalachian Trail is a footpath that stretches over 2000 miles from northern Georgia all the way to central Maine. This beautiful trail winds through some of the most stunning parts of the mountains in North Carolina. Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the trail, provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area. On a clear day, visitors can see up to 100 miles away.

Nantahala National Forest encompasses many of the peaks and valleys of the western North Carolina mountains. It includes the Tusquitee River. Another attraction of the Nantahala area is the river rafting. There are difficult class II and III rapids along with calmer waters more agreeable to families.

The Western North Carolina Nature Center offers a number of features for visitors. The Center has a petting zoo, gardens, a predator habitat, a nocturnal hall, and other interesting and educational attractions to lure visitors. The Center also serves as a sanctuary for injured or orphaned animals that could not survive in the wild.

A North Carolina mountain vacation is a great idea for a family, or as a romantic getaway. The beautiful scenery and fascinating attractions will please anyone.
Mountain Vacations Info provides detailed information on vacations in the Rocky, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky Mountains, as well as mountain biking vacations and mountain rental cabins in Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and other destinations. Mountain Vacations Info is the sister site of Dude Ranch Web.

Apparently, it’s time to turn the page on the original Seven Wonders of the World …

Since only one of them is left standing, and since most people can’t remember what the rest of them are, anyway, this is a good idea for someone who has too much time on their hands and the ability to raise money.

In this instance, that would narrow the candidates down to one Bernard Weber. He’s a Swiss idealist who is behind the New 7 Wonders Foundation, which he founded in 2000.

Weber’s motivation is simply to call attention to the marvels made possible when mankind applies positive energy. In fact, should his foundation actually generate profits, he intends to use at least a portion of them to rebuild lost marvels. Specifically, he cites the Bamiyan Buddha statue, a cultural masterpiece which dated to the Fifth Century AD and was senselessly destroyed as a blasphemous icon by the Taliban when their stilted act tyrannized Afghanistan.

The original Seven Wonders were so anointed by an ancient geek, Philon of Byzantium, and an ancient Greek, Antipater of Sidon. Those were the days before travel agents and tour guides, so perhaps each felt a need to fill the void. Whatever their inspiration, they were not the first to get the idea.

The concept of such a list was first mentioned by Herodotus in his seminal ‘The History’ in the Fifth Century BC. Later, around the Third Century BC, Callimachus of Cyrene, the top logster at the legendary Museum of Alexandria in ancient Egypt, wrote “A Collection of Wonders around the World.” These lists varied in content, but Philon’s prevailed, due in part to its mention in engravings by the Dutch artist Maerten van Heemskerck (1498-1574) and Johann Fischer von Erlach’s ‘History of Architecture.’

Here are Philon’s seven wonders:

1. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, although some historians believe they were an ancient urban legend and never really existed;

2. The Statue of Zeus, which honored the first Olympic games, was later moved to Constantinople and ultimately destroyed by fire;

3. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the largest known building in ancient times which took a century to build and was subsequently senselessly destroyed as a blasphemous icon by Christians when their intolerance tyrannized southern Turkey;

4. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which stood for 1500 years until the Maltese Knights of St John used its stones to build their own mega-castle nearby;

5. The Colossus of Rhodes, which towered 120 feet high at the city’s harbor entrance until it was destroyed in an earthquake, and which later served as the inspiration for French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi when he created the Statue of Liberty as a gift to the USA;

6. The Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, whose beacon had a range of 100 miles and which stood for 1500 years before falling victim to an earthquake in the 1300s; and

7. The Pyramids of Egypt, the lone wonder still standing.

Once Weber confirmed there was no official Seven Wonders of the World being sanctioned by any recognized bodies, he established a website, gathered an impressive list of professionals — architects, engineers and the like — and began the process of nominating structures worldwide as potential Wonders. During the subsequent years, visitors to his site answered his call to vote and the nominees were pared to 77.

Recently, these were winnowed to 21 — another multiple of seven, if you hadn’t noticed — with the voting set to continue throughout 2006. The new Seven Wonders will then be announced on New Year’s Day, 2007.

I’ve gone to Weber’s site, perused the finalists and did my cyber-duty by voting. All are truly worthy choices, but I didn’t find it difficult at all to quickly make my decisions:

- The Great Wall of China, where the term ‘breathtaking’ is an understatement;

- The Easter Island Statues, also known as Stone Clones Gone Wild;

- Petra in Jordan, for its mixture of intricacy and magnitude in its status as the world’s most spectacular city carved out of sandstone;

- Stonehenge, a Druidic version of the ultimate perpetual calendar with a timeless design;

- Neuschwanstein Castle in Fssen, Germany, because that’s the way castles are supposed to look;

- The Taj Mahal at Agra, India, because Richard Halliburton said so in one of my favorite childhood tomes, ‘The Book of Marvels,’ and his vivid description therein sold me on it forever; and

- The Hagia Sophia cathedral at Istanbul, because I think at least one Wonder should contain Viking graffiti, and Halfdan did the honors — which are still prominently visible — during his stint with Byzantium’s Varangian Guard.

One interesting twist to Weber’s foundation is that its home is cited as the Heidi Weber Museum in Zurich, which also happens to be a landmark structure designed by the Swiss architect and visual artist Charles Edouard Jeanneret, who became famous under his nom-d’art of Le Corbusier. This building was commissioned by Mrs Weber, to be named after its designer and to house various artworks created by him. It was completed and opened to the public in 1962. However, disputes arose between the two parties, and when Le Corbusier died, the entity which survived him took up the case against the Webers. Among other things, this resulted in a re-christening of the building to its current title and legal squabbling over everything from exclusivity for artwork sales rights to website domain names.

The Heidi Weber Museum is rarely open these days. The irony of its creative legacy and legal history compared to the mission statement of Bernard Weber’s New 7 Foundation is rich. Clearly, universal harmony in the recognition and preservation of famous structures is easier said than done.

Bloodspots on the windshield, racing is my heart, Darkness has enveloped me, my mind is falling apart. A few miles back I noticed a truck closing behind, Then headlights in my mirror making both my eyes go blind. The next thing I remember was a crashing at the rear, Just after that I lost the road, and somehow wound up here fallen angels. Then laughter from the darkness, through the glass I see a shape, I realize at once that I have no means of escape. A voice shouts from above me as I wrestle with my fears. A flashlight scours the window, then at once a face appears. With eyes born from the devil, they stare hauntingly at me, So cold yet fired with hatred, filled with pure insanity. I try to fire the engine that had just this moment died, A face bangs hard against the glass to find a way inside. I hear something move on the roof, then bang upon the door, I feel this is the end for me, the future is no more. How many of these freaks are waiting patiently outside, Illuminated victim, there is no where I can hide. All I see are spotlights that are shining on the car Manic voices taunt me and I don’t know who they are. What is going on here? what is in this crazy place? I know there’s someone watching, but I cannot see their face. Then I hear a scraping sound, then next, lost