Will Rory McIlroy, Ireland’s new golf sensation be influenced by all of the pressure that is going to be brought to bear on him? Now that he has achieved one of golf’s most prestigious awards. Winning against Tiger Woods in Florida last month has put him in golf’s royalty class. Now everyone is going to try and take advantage of him, his name and his image. Let’s face it this post is no different. That’s exactly what we are doing without putting pressure on him directly. We are writing about what we think will happened to him and not trying to take advantage of his time and money. He is in the big leagues now and will have to surround himself with high quality people that he can trust.

Making Money off of Rory McIlroy

Everyone from people who make t-shirts to the Irish Belfast tourism bureau will get in on the act. They will want his time and money.  People making money off t-shirts is one thing. They will use his image. The rights to his image to print thousands if not millions of t-shirts, coffee mugs, pens and on and on. Rory McIlroy can try to police this somewhat. He can try to claim royalty awards from people who use his image. But the real question is the impact on his time.

For Rory McIlroy to remain at the top of the golf game, he needs to practice and focus on the game of golf just the way he did before he became famous. Now there will be all sorts of demands on his time. From people who want to advance their cause, to use him for advertising from sponsors and so on. Can he maintain the focus he needs  to get the job done?

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The Kaiser Grill in  Palm Springs has been remodeled and it is much better now. We liked it a lot before, because they served really great food and they served one of the best seafood pasta dishes that I have had in a long time. However we did not like their happy hour since it was dark inside and happy hour was served only at the bar, which was inside. We just did not like the decor at all, however it is much improved since it has been remodeled.

With the new remodeled interior, it is much better and they have a great happy hour as well. We sat at the bar. However we also could have been seated at one of several tables near the bar on high top chairs. We prefer the bar and we like to talk to other patrons at the bar. It is a great way to meet people and also to find out about other places that are good to go to as well. When you chat with one of the locals, they are happy to tell you all about Palm Springs. Also about the restaurant and interesting things to do in the city.

Kaiser Grill Palm Springs – Draft Beer

We ordered several draft beers at $3.50 a piece. The price was good, we have had better prices at other locations. But still this price is not bad at Kaiser grill in Palm Springs. We also ordered a chicken quesadia which was more than enough for two. It was excellent and came with six large pieces along with two side sauces.

Kaiser Grill is part of a chain of restaurants in the Palm Springs area. We enjoyed this restaurant very much and probably will go back to it sometime. If you want to go for dinner and it is a nice warm evening, sit outside on the patio to enjoy your dinner. You can people watch at the same time as they stroll along Palm Canyon Drive while enjoying a really good meal.

One of the best times to eat at this restaurant on the patio is Thursday night during the street fair. It is held every week on Thursdays. After you have spent some time walking along the street and mingling with the crowd, what could be better than enjoying dinner and a glass of wine. While you observe the folks walking along the street.

If you have been their for dinner or lunch , please leave a comment about your experience.

For more posts about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

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Visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the truly neat things to do. You really cannot capture the grandeur of the Grand Canyon in a picture. We have included a couple of pictures in this post to show what the grand canyon is really like.  If you have not made a visit to one of the 7 wonders of the world, it is high time you did. We have been there several times. We have also hiked part way down the side of the south rim of the grand canyon and it is actually only when you do this that you realize just how large it is.

The Grand Canyon – Ten Miles Wide!

When you visit the grand canyon on a clear day and stand at the edge on the south rim near the grand canyon village, you can see the other side which is more than ten miles away. In fact it so grand that there can be multiple storm systems along the north rim with blue sky in between each. On the day we arrived there were three such systems on the north rim. There was blue sky between them and all across the south rim making for a truly picturesque day. We could see the lightning striking the ground from each of the storms, however they were so far away that we could not hear the sound.

Walking Down the Trail

We walked down the trail for about a 1000 feet in elevation. The trail is approximately 7 to 10 feet wide and used by hikers of course, but also mules that carry tourists down to the bottom of the canyon. We were not too excited to be share the trail with a mule train, and I sure would not want to be on one when they got excited or missed a step! It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the sunny day and the short hike.

Note that if you plan to hike to the bottom of the trail, down to the Colorado river,  you need to plan to stay at the bottom of the canyon for the night and you must have reservations as well. There are a few camp sites and there are also is a building with bunk beds. Apparently reservations are needed almost a year in advance. We also need to advise you that unless you are in phenomenal shape, you cannot walk this trail in both directions in one day. It is just too much to try.

The Grand Canyon – Hiking the South Rim Trail

There is also a trail that runs about a mile along the edge of the South Rim that most people will find quite easy and the view is fantastic as well. It is paved so easy for wheel chairs etc to navigate along this trail while enjoying the view. The trail down to the river is of course a combination of gravel, rock and just plain dirt.

Time of Year

The south rim is approximately 6000 feet in elevation and does it get snow in the fall, winter and spring. Summers can be quite hot and of course down at the river, the temperatures rise to very high temperatures in the summer time. The water is still very cold due to its origins being snow melt in the mountains north and east of the grand canyon area.

Before you go, check with the park to find out what the typical temperatures are and remember that if you bring the extra clothes you can always take them off if it gets too hot. If you do not have them and your freezing, your going to continue freezing.

If you have been to the Grand Canyon, and would like to leave comments for our readers please do. A constructive helpful comment with a link is always helpful for our readers.

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Managing asthma and understanding asthma is a huge issue for many people. We have decided to do a few posts on this subject with the hope that we will help those people who have asthma as well as help people around asthma sufferers to understand their issues better. Understanding Asthma is important for many people.

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects many millions of Canadians and Americans as well as other people all around the world. Asthma affects your airways and when it does, symptoms usually include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightening and often a lot of coughing. the night time and early mornings are usually the worst for most people.

What causes Asthma to Get Worse?

A variety of outside as well as internal things will trigger an asthma attack. Everyone has a slightly different reaction to various stimulants and it is important for each person to become familiar with whatever triggers an asthma attack.

For many, it can be allergens in the air, pollutants from the industry as well as various smells in your home. It can also be triggered by someone smoking around you or even the stale smoke smell on a person’s clothes. Even your diet can have an effect on you. Many people will also sometimes trigger an attack from vigorous exercise. These triggers and symptoms can all be controlled with treatment. Athletes can run races and have tennis matches with no problem what so ever.  They need to take the proper precautions and manage their asthma with the appropriate medicine.

What Actually occurs when You have an Asthma Attack?

First of all your airways become red and swollen and will fill up with mucus leaving less space for the air to get in and out of your lungs. In severe cases, these airways can close up completely. Secondly, the muscles around your airways will squeeze and tighten making an already difficult situation worse. With little air able to get in and out, many people find it very uncomfortable. They will have little energy and will not be able to go about everyday activities without some sort of intervention.

Understanding Asthma – Treatment Plan for Asthma

There are a variety of drugs and inhalants on the market that work wonders for people with asthma. They all should be prescribed by a doctor. It is very important to be under doctors’ care before you take any of these drugs or change your dosage in any way.

These drugs work in various ways, however they tend to focus on relaxing the muscles around your airways as well as reducing the inflammation of your airways. Some treatment plans are based on reacting to an emergency. While others are to be taken at regular intervals every day. Your doctor will be the best judge of how often and when you should be taking these medications.

Always carry your puffer with you so that you can deal with any asthma attack anytime you begin to experience symptoms. Regular treatment is usually first thing in the morning and again in the evening. However, emergency puffers can also be used to react to symptoms as needed.

Whatever you do, do not let it linger. Seek a doctor’s assessment and treatment. Take the treatment when and how your doctor recommends.  There is no sense in allowing your life to be ruined because you did not take an inhaler when needed. Your life is just too important.

Comments are welcome. In fact, if you leave a genuine comment that is helpful to our readers, we are more than happy to approve a link as well. We also accept links from other sites as well that focus on a similar subject. For more information about Asthma, click here.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a fantastic place to visit, whether you are there for the view along the south rim of the canyon, to hike on one of the many trails or to go white water rafting down the Colorado river. This post will provide some information about Grand Canyon White Water Rafting.  Check out a previous post about the Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations World Wide for other locations you may be interested in. Whatever you decide to do, the Grand Canyon is well worth the time spent to visit this scenic wonder.

Rafting Trip – Grand Canyon from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek

Description–

The Grand Canyon is an amazing place to visit. Every year, thousands of visitors from around the world gather at the Canyon’s south rim to look down into its magnificent vastness. Many also travel through it, via the Colorado River observing subtle and dramatic changes as the canyon walls climb towards the sky illustrating untold years of geological history. Terrific side hikes are also possible for the more adventurous.

Visit Marble Canyon, the Inner Gorge, terrific side hikes and Indian ruins, crystalline creeks and waterfalls, cactus gardens and whitewater galore.

The two most noted of the Colorado’s rapids, Crystal and Lava Falls, are both rated a 10. The intensity of all rapids naturally depends on the water level, so readings for low and high water levels may vary slightly.

River Rating –

Depending on water flow Grand Canyon White water rafting rapids can be rated from 1 to 10. A 10 is the same as a Class IV on the standard river rafting scale. Check with a white water tour company for current conditions based on time of year and weather conditions. The two most noted of the Colorado’s white water rapids, Crystal and Lava Falls, are both rated a 10.

Number of Rapids –

There are 47 white water rapids rated 5 or higher on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, however this does vary by time of year as previously mentioned.

Minimum Age –

The minimum age varies by white water tour company, however many limited kids under 8 for motorized rafting trips and 12 years old for an oar powered trip.  In addition, you may also want to inquire about the rating of the rapids that you will be traversing to confirm age requirements and safety issues.

Departure Dates –

Rafting season typically runs from April to October depending on local conditions. check with a whitewater rafting tour company for specifics. We also recommend that you reserve in advance, particularly if you need specific dates.

Boat Type –

Boat types can be motorized or oar driven boats and they will vary by size. Each comes with a guide and the oar driven trips are usually longer since you drift with the current. A full trip can take 7 days for a motorized trip and as much as 18 days for the oar driven trip.

What to Bring –

Most tour companies will provide you with a complete list of what to bring on your white water rafting tour. You will need the essentials and you will need both warm and cool clothing due to the temperature extremes in the desert. Waterproof bags are ideal.  Here is a short list of possible things you may want to bring, however check with your tour company first:

Here is a quick list of items that you may want to consider for your next trip. If you are unsure of what you will need, speak to the organizer or guide for your white water trip to make sure that you are well prepared.

• Bags
• Padding and clothing
• Dry suits and wet suits
• Plastic Cases & Boxes
• Footwear
• Men’s & women’s casuals
• Insulation and Underwear
• Sunglasses
• Hats & Gloves
• Rain wear
• Kid’s Clothing
• Swimsuits

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Reviews – The best rapids for whitewater rafting are House Rock, Unkar, Horn Creek, Granite, Hermit, Crystal, Lava Falls. The length is 225 miles; 364 KM. There are also lots of hiking trails available that are easy as well as difficult. Some tour companies plan short hikes as well as part of their tours. Check with your tour company before you reserve.

Comments are appreciated, especially those people who have traveled the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. We will approve all constructive and helpful comments including a link to your site for those comments that meet our criteria.

Gas prices continue to rise, hitting $3.90 in the last week of March. for some reason the people in the United States are not saying much about it. although the news people dutifully report the daily increases, it does not seem to get much traction. There are just too many other stories around that have more interest than rising gas prices. Which has been going on now for over 3 months. All I know is that it has probably added $200 to the cost of my vacation this year! That is a direct cost since we tend to go on driving vacations.

Anyone traveling via plane will see a jump as well. Of course all of our food costs are going to increase as well. With all of the truckers on the road, and the cost of diesel going up, food prices are going to increase as well. So why is the US consumer not complaining more. Or have we just given up and are accepting what is going to be the inevitable. Higher prices for gasoline are here to stay!

Why is the US Consumer so Ambivalent

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We have had the opportunity to go to the Matchbox restaurant for happy hour as well as have dinner there. We have always enjoyed happy hour at the Matchbox Restaurant in Palm Springs. The menu is great, the food tastes great and the prices are very good as well for Happy hour. We can highly recommend this location with the exception of windy days because the wind sometimes will blow through the alleyway upstairs which can be unpleasant. Also, the afternoon sun shines on this particular patio and can be quite hot. They do have umbrellas, but until the sun sets behind the mountains the temperature can be very uncomfortable in the afternoons.

They provide heaters as well for those days that are on the cool side and there is a fire pit to keep you warm were you can sit and look out on the small courtyard and Palm Canyon Drive beyond. This is actually a great spot to sit if you like to people-watch. In addition, sometimes there is entertainment on the patio below which you can listen to.

Matchbox Restaurant Palm Springs – Not so Good

We also had dinner at the matchbox in the main restaurant and were less than pleased. Dinner was for nine people and we found that the service was not nearly what it is during happy hour. Whenever you have a group of people, the restaurant only wants to have one bill and they want to automatically add an 18% tip to the bill. This is fine if you receive excellent service.

We did not receive very good service at all, certainly not even close to justifying an 18% tip.  It is our fault for not complaining; however, we were with a large group and did not want to make a scene. I would simply suggest you not go there or negotiate service and tip prior to being served. Once you are in the place, they hold you to ransom and make you pay the full 18% for the tip regardless of the service level.

We would not recommend that you waste your money having dinner at the Matchbox. Actually, we have never really seen this restaurant very busy at all which probably means that other people find it the same way.

Happy hour, on the other hand, is fine and we think that most people will enjoy it very much. It does get busy during happy hour times so if you do decide to go, get there when happy hour begins to get the seat that you really would prefer.

For more information about Palm Springs Restaurants, click here.

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Dinner at the Spa Casino Palm Springs was not up to par as far as we are concerned. We recently had dinner at the buffet at the  Spa Casino in Palm Springs. We wanted to pass our thoughts on this buffet to our readers. For the original review of the casino in Palm Springs, click here.

The buffet on Saturday night is billed as a seafood buffet, costing $23.99 plus tax. Now if you have a slot card, they will reduce the cost of the buffet by 10%. As a result, two people save you almost $5.00. We were very disappointed with the buffet, especially the seafood part of it. There were several reasons for this disappointment. We will list them a bit later in this post. We had heard good things about the buffet at the Spa Casino. However, what people think of various restaurants is a matter of personal taste. I can tell you that we have tried many buffets at various casinos. Consequently, this one rates as one of the worst for us.

Spa Casino Buffet Palm Springs

Here is our list of reasons; you make your assessment or opinion on these items:

• No service for drinks; you pick up your own
• Limited seafood – crab legs, salmon, calamari, and shrimp
• Crab legs were very small, and the legs were filled with water and smelled very fishy
• Calamari was breaded and overcooked, so it wasn’t easy to chew
• Shrimp were very small
• Salmon was ok
• There was a large selection of standard items
• These food items were ok
• Desserts were very small

The bottom line was that we paid extra for a seafood buffet. Hence we were very disappointed in the items that were provided.

Now we should have caught on early before we paid. The time we entered the buffet was around 6 pm. Which was the typical time that many people would go for dinner. First of all, there was no line up to get in and no line up any time to get into the buffet. It was very slow, which for us was nice because there were not many people around. However, it means that people are voting with their feet and going elsewhere.

Not only was the food less than great, but the price was also high. There are many restaurants in Palm Springs, many with happy hour menus. Consequently, for $50, you can enjoy a lovely meal. As a result, we think the combination of high prices and poor food quality drives potential customers away in droves.

We would like to hear comments from readers about your experience at the Spa Casino in Palm Springs and what you think of the Spa Casino buffet.

Just visited Manhattan in the Desert Palm Springs for lunch. We arrive shortly after 12 and had to wait for maybe 10 minutes. This gave us lot’s of time to admire the really great looking deserts displayed in the show case near the entrance area. The deserts were truly fabulous looking and if we were not trying to watch our weight we would have had desert with our meal. Maybe next week we will go for coffee and desert!

Manhattan in the Desert Palm Springs – Fabulous Food

There were four of us and we were seated at a large table quite quickly and the service level was fine. We had among us a cob salad, a soup and salad and a sandwich and soup combo.  The soup was split pea soup and it was really quite good. Hot with some small amount of vegetables in it. Tasted great.

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We went to Bill’s Pizza in Palm Springs the other night for happy hour. A friend of ours told us about their happy hour all day on Monday’s and we were thinking of going.

We were walking along Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs during their weekly street fest and the owner was handing out small slices of their pizza. It was so good that it convinced us that we really had to go and why not on happy hour Monday’s?

Happy hour Monday’s means pizza at regular price and draft beer at 75 cents for a 16 oz glass of ice cold beer. Sitting outside on the patio sipping cold beer and eating great pizza is an experience you cannot beat. Add 75 cent beer and it is fantastic. This is for your first beer only, after that it is $2 which is still an excellent price.

Visit Bill’s Pizza Palm Springs

The place is not upscale. It is a pizza place, and frankly with a location on Indian Palm Canyon Drive, it is not in one of the best locations as far as pedestrian traffic is concerned. They have to work a little harder at advertising, but it is well worth the visit. This is a must visit for all pizza and beer lovers.

If you are trying to find Bill’s pizza, the address is 119 S. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA . They are across the street from Tylers restaurant.

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Northern Ireland Irish Golfer  – Rory McIlroy has become a house hold name. He is recognized virtually around the world now that he has beaten Tiger Woods in Florida. We decided to include this story about him on this blog because it shows just how far Ireland has come, particularly Northern Ireland.  Thirty years ago, with Ireland tied up in the troubles, it is unlikely that a guy like Rory McIlroy would ever have had the opportunity let alone the chance to play golf.

He was able to maintain his concentration and his consistency throughout the event. He beat Tiger by two strokes over all. This was the best final round of golf Tiger has shot since his marriage troubles. He shot a 62 on the final round, but that was not enough to beat Rory McIlroy who shot a 69 on the final round. That is what we mean by being consistent throughout the match. This is tantamount to the level of concentration that he was able to show.

Irish Golfer – Rory McIlroy – In the Limelight

He now gets to bask in the notoriety of being famous in the United States as well as in Ireland. With the prize money he has received from this match and the endorsements that will be coming his way, Rory McIlroy will become a very rich man if he is not already. In fact one of his friends indicated that he already has a million dollars in his account and adding more all of the time. He is 22 years old. Will he have the strength to retain his control. Or will he fall by the way side like so many other famous people with a lot of money?

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We recently visited Peabody’s restaurant in Palm Springs for breakfast the other day. Peabody’s is located at 134 South Palm Canyon Drive in the center of downtown Palm Springs.  It is a good location and when we walk past this particular restaurant in the mornings it is always busy. Some patrons will be enjoying a traditional breakfast, while others will have something fancy, and still, and others will be enjoying an early lunch with a cold beer. They have tables along the sidewalk against the building and also on the sidewalk close to the curb, so you can take your pick of where you want to sit.

Peabody’s Palm Springs – Great Breakfasts

Make no mistake it is a sidewalk cafe, with really great food and a nice atmosphere.  We decided to split the breakfast which most restaurants have no problem with. I ordered an extra coffee and the breakfast came with an extra plate. Everything was fine until breakfast arrived.

We like our eggs fully cooked with the yellow part just a bit runny and the white part firmly cooked. One egg was cooked perfectly, and of course, this is the one that I received. The other one still had runny egg white and this is the one my wife received. She is even pickier than I am when it comes to egg whites being well cooked. We explained to the waiter what the problem was and he said no problem and went off to order another egg.

Confusing Service

Meanwhile, my wife sat there while the toast got cold and the potatoes also got cold. The new egg finally came and it was cooked properly, but now everything else was cold. We tried to explain our frustration with this and to their credit they ordered an entirely new breakfast for us.

So while it was a bit frustrating at first with the food quality and the service,  the restaurant came through with both service and food. They were happy to help us and did their best to make sure that our meal was enjoyable and tasty!

Our Recommendation for Peabody’s Restaurant in Palm Springs

We would definitely recommend Peabody’s restaurant in Palm Springs for breakfast and based on the service we received, for any other meal as well although we have not tried other meals at this particular restaurant.

It is always crowded in the mornings around breakfast time and not so much later on, so obviously, other people besides ourselves feel that they serve great meals during this time. If you have been there, let us know what you think with your comments. We are looking for well-written comments and not just links with no information for our readers.

We have lots more reviews of Palm Springs Restaurants. click here.

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Canadians wining a jackpot in Canada do not have to pay tax on those winnings. However Slot Machine Jackpot Winnings over $1200 in the US, taxes are due and usually collected on the spot by the casino officials. The casino will prepare the appropriate tax slip for you to use in filing your income taxes. If you happen to be a Canadian, they will prepare a 1042-S foreign persons US source income subject to with holding form and deduct 30% of your winnings right on the spot! This comes as a surprise to many people and they are left wondering how or if they will get their money back. If you won a jackpot last year it is time to file your income tax claim and get some or maybe all of that money back that you won in the casino.

Our last post discussed Casino Slot Machine Win Loss Statements, why you need them and how to get them. Once you have them you can begin to get all of the tax forms and think about filing your tax forms. This particular post is focused on what Canadians need to do if you win a jackpot larger than $1200!

Slot Machine Jackpot Winnings – A bit Daunting at First

The list we have assembled below may seem a bit daunting at first, however if you follow the steps outlined below and you read all of the documentation, you should not have any problems. Remember that this approach is for non-residents, Canadians in particular. It is also a simplified approach and for gambling winnings only. If you have other sources of income then you may need a professional to assist you in completing the tax forms.

Step by Step Approach to Filing Income Tax Forms for Slot Machine Jackpot Winnings

Here is a short step by step approach, which we will expand on later in the post:

• Request win / loss statements from all casinos for the tax year in question
• Assemble all 1042-s Forms
• Download W-7 form and instructions from IRS website
• Read instructions for W-7
• Decide if you need to apply for an IRS ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)
• If so assemble approved identification papers and fill out form
• Download 1040NR US Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return & instructions
• Read instructions for 1040 NR
• Complete 1040NR and attached 1042-S documents and win / loss documents
• Make a copy of everything for your records
• Send the following into the IRS
  • Completed W-7
  • Identification documentation
  • Completed 1040NR
  • Copies of Win / Loss statements
  • All 1042-S forms

Once  you have done all of this you are ready to send your tax claim into the IRS and it will probably take a month or two before you hear back from them , hopefully with your tax rebate.

Documentation Certifying Your Identity

In our case we needed to have a passport copy made and certified that it was a true copy. The only people who can do this as far as the US government is concerned is the Canadian passport office. Turns out that the passport office does this for free and if you drop your request off and pick it up they can complete the request within 3 or 4 business days. Make sure you take your completed W-7 in with you to show that why you need the copy of your passport certified.

Of course you can mail it in as well, however it will take longer to process and return to you. When you send in the request, you will also need a simple letter stating the following:

• Date
• Subject
• To Whom it may concern
• Statement as to what you need and why
• Printed name and address
• Signature

That is what we have learned so far about Filing Income Tax Forms for Slot Machine Jackpot Winnings. We are currently waiting for a response and will add a new post when we get our money back. If you decide to go to a professional be prepared to hand over a significant chunk of your tax money that is returned. They do not work for free or cheaply.

We would like to hear from other folks that have gone through this process and anything they have learned about getting their money back. Well written comments that are helpful to our readers with links will be approved. We are looking for comments that are helpful and not just links to another site.

My daughter and I had the fantastic opportunity to take an adventure tour which included Donkey Riding in Puerto Vallarta and much more while in Puerto Vallarta and I just had to write about it. This was an all-day excursion and really was a lot of fun. If you happened to be in Puerto Vallarta, look up Adventure Tours. They have a lot of different tours you can take and based on the one we took it is definitely worth the money.

Tour Begins at the Marina

Our tour started at the marina in Puerto Vallarta near where the tour boats dock every day. We ordered the boat around 9:30 am and headed out into Banderas bay towards a village/beach called Mismaloya. This was a nice ride and it only took approximately 30 minutes to get there. Once we landed, we then got onto jungle trucks that take you up into the mountains above Mismaloya.

These are open canopy trucks that can navigate some of the more difficult roads as you head up the mountain. We drove for maybe half an hour past a tequila factory ( more on that later) until we stopped at the head end of the trail we were going to take further up the mountain on donkeys.

Donkey Riding in Puerto Vallarta

Now, this is where it really starts to get interesting.  There are about 10 of us altogether and we are each paired up with a donkey and then we head off further up the mountain. I ended up being the first one behind the trail leader and my daughter was at the back. Well, that did not last for long. The guides really liked her and got her donkey running up the trail, passed all of us including me, and of course, my donkey not to be outdone, raced after hers.

Well, all of this is ok, except that I cannot reach the stirrups so I am basically bouncing along on top of this donkey on a narrow trail feeling very precarious, on a trail that is maybe 3 feet wide with a steep drop on my right-hand side. I was really wondering if I was going to fall off the donkey and go sliding down the mountain! I did make it but only after holding on for dear life.

Zip Lining in Mexico

Next, we suited up to go zip lining. Basically, you slide a long cable that is tied to several trees on each end. The trees can be 300 feet apart across a ravine or perhaps down the side of a mountain into a pool of water at the base of a waterfall. We did all of this, it was really safe and when you plunge into the water it is exhilarating and cooling at the same time.

The first time you go zip lining it can be a bit scary, however, after the first one, it is really a lot of fun. We did 7 different lines and one was almost straight down into a pool of water! It was also really hot that day so we enjoyed landing in the water. What great fun!

Late Lunch Back at Base Camp

Once we have finished zip lining we headed back to the base camp for something to drink and to eat before heading off by jungle truck back to the marina. Lunch was nice and we got to chat with the guides and our fellow adventure partners.

Visiting a Tequila Factory

Of course on the way back we passed a tequila factory in the jungle and we talked our driver into stopping for a tour. I think this was all planned and expected. The owner of the tequila factory was all ready for us!

He showed us the agave plants and cut a piece from the plant for us to chew on. They are really sweet and really juicy.  Then we saw the fermentation tanks and he explained the entire process to us about making various kinds of tequila.  We also got to sample some tequila of different flavors.

They had 7 bottles of various flavors of tequila which we got to try.  After 7 shots we were all getting a bit tipsy. This is really what he wanted anyway because we were more inclined to purchase some tequila from him.

Interestingly the tequila factory owner had shot for shot with us and after each one he said, ” I love my job”. Not sure how many tours he had given that day, but he looked pretty sober to me!

After our visit to the factory, we headed back to the marina, which took us about an hour and a half by truck. All in all a great day and exciting to boot!

For more information about this beautiful vacation destination, click here.

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One of our readers asked the question about what the physical requirements for rafting were? I guess they were thinking about going white water rafting for the first time. They were perhaps a bit nervous about being able to stay in the raft, or perhaps paddling. They also perhaps worried about carrying a heavy load while portaging or just holding on while you navigate the rapids of any particular river. These are all valid concerns and most rafting guides will address these issues before ever embarking on your white water rafting trip.

What are the physical requirements for rafting?

Well the answer is that it depends. All rivers with rapids were rafting companies offer rafting trips are rated in terms of difficulty and physical requirements. If you want to read more about this rating system, go to White Water rafting river ratings or click here. This page will fill you in on the rating system and provide you with a broad gauge of what to expect for a river that is rated in each group.

Interview the Rafting Company

It also depends on the rafting company and the tour package they offer. Some trips are totally managed by the tour company and you go along for the ride, while others feel that the work of paddling and portaging, camping out is all part of the experience. Some people also look for this type of experience. So if you plan to go rafting, esquire with the tour company about the exact expectations of each participant before you sign up. A class II rapids is basically a floater with little or no experience needed. While a class IV is much more interesting with lots of rapids and most companies will require experience and some physical conditions.

Class I and II will often be able to support seniors and children to give them the experience of rafting without the danger of more challenging rapids in a class III or above kind of trip.

Time of Year

The time of year is also important. Early spring and late fall are going to be colder so you need to wear appropriate clothing. Always bring along an extra set of clothing for everyone. Chances are you will get a bit wet on most trips and drenched on class III or higher. Even on hot summer time days, the weather can be unpredictable and be quite cool along the river in the shade. If you are going on an over night trip, dry clothes in a water proof bag is a must. Unless your gear is being transported separately by car.

Finally spring runoff or storm runoff can change a normally tranquil class II into a raging Class III or IV in minutes. Before you sign up always check conditions. Talk it over with the operator to be sure that you have the physical requirements necessary to handle the conditions. This is especially true for children and seniors.

Rising Gas Prices Affecting Your Vacation Plans

For many of us we are thinking of our summer vacation coming up and wondering if high gas prices will have a negative impact on those plans. Gas prices have increased over 20% in the past few months and there are rumors that prices will go even higher. So how much will your vacation budget need to increase to handle the increase in prices for gasoline if you are going on a driving vacation?

Rising Gas Prices Affecting Your Vacation Plans – Impact on Your Vacation

Let’s assume you are going to drive a 1000 miles on your vacation. Half on the way to your destination and half on the way back. This represents a nice round number and may be short for some people and too long for others. Either way you can prorate the numbers to get a feel for your own cost. In order to understand the cost difference we have to make a number of additional assumptions. Each of these assumptions will be somewhat conservative and you may need to adjust them to match your own vehicle and the price of gasoline in your state.

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Last evening we went to a relatively new restaurant in Palm Springs called Lulu’s. This particular restaurant has been open for about a year now and every night the place seems to be crowded and busy with people having dinner or just out for an evening drink or two.

One of the big attractions is that they advertise that they have happy hour all day long as long as you are sitting at the bar or in the bar area at one of the high topped tables! Imagine happy hour all day long.  They are at 200 S. PALM CANYON DRIVE, in PALM SPRINGS. Apparently, there is also a sister restaurant in Palm Desert, however, we have not been to that one yet.

Sit Outside at Lulu’s Restaurant in Palm Springs

There are tables along the sidewalk as well as inside. There is also a second floor where you can dine privately or with a large group. All of the food that we have tried there so far has been great.

The happy hour menu lists all of the items available at the bar. Prices are generally a couple of dollars less expensive than if were to eat at a table, and you can also order off the regular menu as well while sitting at the bar, however, regular prices also apply. Draft beer was $4, so not a bad price.

We were there on a Sunday night around 8 pm and the place was packed. You know the restaurant serves good food when they can pack them in on a Sunday evening!

Kaiser Grill in Palm Springs

The picture on the left shows the corner they are on and the restaurant across the street from Lulus, which we have not yet tried. They are across the street from the Kaiser Grill which is another great restaurant. All three restaurants were pretty busy so there is lots of competition and reasonable prices. In fact, restaurants that are a bit further away from this particular corner have started offering more lucrative happy hour menus in an effort to stay competitive and attract customers. The Falls Restaurant and the Matchbox are two places that have recently expanded their happy hour menus.

We like going to happy hours and trying the menu out. The prices are correct, and you find out if you like the restaurant or not. Many people feel they do not get their money’s worth or are still hungry. We order another appetizer if we are still hungry. Some places, such as Lulu’s restaurant in Palm Springs, offer discounts on the drinks as well as the food, while in other places, it is only on the price of drinks. We have no preference as long as the food is good.

Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews in this area of Palm Springs. We will go back to Lulu’s restaurant in the future and recommend that you visit this particular restaurant if you are in the area. Your comments are welcome. We will approve linkbacks if you provide us with well-written informative comments about the Palm Springs area.

For lots more posts covering restaurants in Palm Springs, click here.

Last night we went to Zini Cafe Med iterrano in Palm Springs for happy hour. It was also the night that Palm Springs has their weekly Palm Springs street festival. They close South Palm Canyon drive down for about  six blocks and it is then filled with venders on both sides of the road with thousands of people strolling along and visiting all of these venders. This was an excellent time to go to the Zini Cafe Mediterrano. We sat a table along the sidewalk were we could watch the people strolling along and the venders with all of their products.

Happy Hour at the Zini Cafe Mediterrano in Palm Springs

Happy hour starts at 4pm and ends at 6pm, while the street fest begins at 5pm. We arrived sharp at 4 pm, because we wanted to have a choice in tables and we got just the right one for us in our opinion. We sat in a corner along the sidewalk were we could watch everyone, enjoy the scenery with the mountains in the background and also enjoy happy hour. The restaurant, Zini Cafe Mediterrano is located at 140 South Palm Canyon drive in Palm Springs.

Happy Hour Prices at Zini Cafe Med

We found that the prices for beer at $2 was among the best in the area for happy hour. Prices for wine was at $5 per glass which really was not that great a deal. The food was excellent, we had a number of happy hour meals and they were all excellent except for one.

They are all priced at $4 which is not too bad, however they are all relatively small so you really do not get much for $4 . One of the dishes we ordered was humus on crossini which is really just french bread or something like that. It did look nice when it arrived, however there were only two little pieces of bread with humus and a very small slide of cheese on the top.

I said to the waiter, that I could not believe it when he served it. He really looked embarrassed and I could tell he agreed with me. I told him for $4, I should have at least received 4 pieces of  bread with humus. He said he would tell the owner, but I really do not think anything will be done about it.

Location Counts

Overall we really enjoyed the evening. The restaurant was crowded for happy hour and then cleared out around 6pm when happy hour was over. I noticed that it was again crowded later on for dinner which speaks volumes for the restaurant. They have good food and the decor is nice as well. They have white table clothes and cloth napkins which puts it above many of the other restaurants in the area.

We plan to go back later this month for happy hour again. We enjoyed it very much. If you have also been to Zini Cafe Mediterrano, write a comment on this post or your experience at Zini Cafe Mediterrano.

We have lots more reviews of Palm Springs Restaurants. click here.

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Visiting the Fremont Street Experience is one of the must things to do in Las Vegas. It is free, and the best time to visit is in the evening to experience the light show and the entertainment. If you are staying somewhere on the strip in one of the strip hotels, take a taxi, or the bus or drive down to downtown Las Vegas and see the Fremont Street Experience. The best time to go is early evening, just before it gets dark. Park at the Golden Nugget Hotel parking lot. Get your parking stub stamped at the cashier’s cage in the Golden Nugget. Then head out to the street.

The picture above is showing one of the shows that is done in lights on the ceiling. Of course, you can play a little in the casino or have dinner there or in any of the other hotels. But the main reason we are suggesting you want to make the trip down is to visit Fremont Street and take in all of the action.

What is the Fremont Street Experience?

The entire street, which is the original downtown Las Vegas mecca is covered over by about six city blocks. On the ceiling every 30 minutes at night, they put on a sound and light show for all of the tourists. The lights from the casinos shown in the picture on the left are turned off, and the show begins with a fabulous light and music show that really will enthrall just about anyone. There are no street lights on this section of Fremont Street since the casinos generate more light than any street light ever would. The street is closed to auto traffic, and there are literally thousands of people strolling along and watching the show on the ceiling.

This picture shows what the street looks like during the daytime. Nothing special, but you can see the supporting columns that hold the ceiling up and support the prominent speakers that deliver fabulous sound. When the light show is not on, many other activities are also taking place. It changes all of the time, so if you do not see what we saw, I am sure you will see other things as well that are equally interesting.

Entertainment

For example, there were two dance bands at either end of the street. These bands, the singers, and the dancers were excellent and worth spending some time listening to. You can also zip lining along the street for several blocks as well. They have this set up above the street level, and four people can go simultaneously. Usually, groups have races to see who can get to the other end the quickest.

Many people will pose for a picture. There are cartoon characters as well as characters from various TV shows. Of course, there is always an Elvis or two. You can take your picture with one of these characters. Note that they will always have their hand out for a tip. This is how they make their living. Although they initially make it look like something they do for fun, they have their hands out for a tip. There was even a mini Elvis, as shown in the picture on the left. And, of course, he wanted his tip afterward.

If you have been to the Fremont Street Experience, write a comment or two about your experience. It is well worth spending the time to go there. Make sure you hold tight to your wallet or purse while watching the show.

We really enjoyed Wynn Hotel Promotions in Las Vegas. Well, we just spent another fabulous two days at the Wynn Casino Hotel in Las Vegas! We had a Wynn hotel promotion, and we use these every chance we get. This hotel, in our opinion, is the best hotel in the area, and we always try to stay here when we come to Las Vegas. When you are the best, you can also charge higher rates. The only way we can stay at the Wynn is by being there on a Wynn Hotel Promotions coupon, which we have received quite often lately.

Other hotels are charging less than one hundred dollars for the room. At the same time, the Wynn Hotel can charge over $200 per room per night. This is a basic room which is very elegant and well appointed. Our room faced onto the strip. We had a fantastic view of the strip, the mall, the western side of Vegas, and, of course, the mountains. At night, with all of the lights, we had a really fantastic view!

Wynn Hotel Promotions – Play Were You Want to Stay

Our motto has always been, play where you want to stay, and we always want to stay at the Wynn Hotel or its sister hotel, the Encore. We have full descriptions of each of these hotels on our website, but we just had to write this additional post because we just got back from staying at this fabulous hotel. The picture above was taken from across the street in front of the Fashion Show Mall, which is another place to visit while you are in Vegas.

Wynn Hotel Promotions are really valuable when you think about it. Not only are we staying in a room that they usually sell for $150 plus, but it is an extremely nice room, and they also gave us $150 in free play. I know some people get a lot more, but for us and the level of gambling we do, this is fabulous.

Visit the Wynn Casino – Get a slot Card.

If you are in Las Vegas and staying at some other hotel, at least walk through the casino, and I am sure you will be blown away. From the mountain out front with the waterfalls to the opulent shops on the promenade to the treeline walkway to the check-in and the bright red casino, there is something for everyone. They even have an eighteen-hole golf course at the back of the hotel, should you wish to play. We have not checked out the prices for a round of golf however I am sure they are expensive.

While you are there, sign up for a slot card and play for at least a little while. Depending on your amount of play, they may send you an invitation to stay at the hotel for reduced rates! For more information on Slot cards, check out our categories for more posts on this subject.

Always Tip the Waitress

You have to hand it to Steve Wynn. When you receive a Wynn Hotel Promotion inviting you to stay at their hotel and even give you free play, he knows you will spend money in his casino, in his restaurants, and maybe a show. You can do all of that easily and really enjoy yourself. Drinks while playing in the casino are free, and it would be easy to just take the drink and go on playing. We see lots of people doing just that. We believe that you should always tip the waitress. They have to make a living, too, and besides, once they know they are getting tips, you will have fantastic service.

We always tip a dollar, and although that is not a lot, we receive the best service and never lack a drink. Whether it is alcoholic, juice, coffee, or even hot chocolate, they can deliver almost whatever you offer. Just make sure you tip them each time.

Well, that sums up our trip to the Wynn Hotel this year on a Wynn Hotel Promotion card. We are looking forward to going again soon. If you like the Wynn as much as we do, let us know. Leave your comments, too.

We were hiking on the San Andreas fault line the other day as part of our Coachella Valley hike on the McCallum trail. This is something I have always wanted to do and I must admit that it was almost anti climatic. We were standing on what is known as the San Andreas fault. There was really nothing to distinguish the difference from any other area around us.

In fact we visited the welcome center in the background of this picture  at the trail head. I asked how close the fault line was. The answer I received surprised me. We were standing on it. The welcome center was built on top of the fault. But back to our hiking excursion. The welcome center is located in the middle of a stand of palms and is in fact made of palm logs, dating back to 1935.

Coachella Valley Hiking – San Andreas Fault Line

The San Andreas fault runs all the way from Mexico for 700 miles up to San Francisco. It then plunges into the ocean. There are many other known fault lines that run into and away from the San Andreas fault. I wonder when this one is going to give us a big shake?

This area is known as Pushwalla. There are about 10 trails to choose from for hiking all of which are pretty easy compared to some that I have been on. You can get a map and information about the trails at the welcome center. The distance and the difficulty of each are displayed on the map. For example this is just one of the areas in the Coachella Valley.

We selected the McCallum trail which is about 2 miles and runs from one oasis to a second one. There is an actual pond in the middle of the desert. In between is hot dry desert which in itself is interesting. How can there be two different well watered oasis with palm trees in the middle of the desert on top of the San Andreas fault line?

The picture above is taken from on top of a small hill about a mile from the oasis. Which you can see in the background of this picture. It is a nice cool moist area. However there was a suspicious gas bubbling up in the middle of the pond. Never did find out what that was. However the water was crystal clear, no algae at all and no plants growing in the pond. The palm trees were all clustered around the pond.

Hiking Trails

The trail starts off on a boardwalk through the ancient palm trees. Then up into the desert grasses and then finally into the desert proper. We walked 2 miles from one oasis to the other. However it did not feel like two miles at all and the walking was not strenuous what so ever. The temperature was about 75 degrees. Although not that hot, we perspired a lot and needed the water we were carrying.

For those of you who may not be into hiking or are afraid that hiking might be too much due to the difficulty this is an excellent one to take on. You can easily do this one without difficulty. However if you do get tired or you find the heat too much, just turn around and head back to the oasis to cool off.  Always take water with you as well.  This was a short hike and I took a full  bottle with me and found I needed all of it for this short hike. Hence always bring water with you for hiking and even a small snack to give you a bit of energy if needed.

We would lie to have your comments about hiking in this area of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. Please leave well written comments that will be interesting to our readers.

For more posts about hiking, click here.

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If you are the type of person to go to casino’s a lot, then you already know about winning streaks and first time winners. I think that I just finished a nice little Gambling Winning Streaks. Sure you say, why don’t you be more positive and think that you are going to continue winning. Well after 25 years of going to casinos, I can tell you that you have days were you cannot do anything wrong and you win at almost every slot machine. Sometimes this even extends into days or even several months. But then it all comes to an end and you cannot win anything no matter how hard you try! This is just the facts of life as far as casinos are concerned.

Several weeks ago I won a $3000 jack pot and then the same night I won several more small $200 dollar jack pots. What a night it was and we could not wait to go back the next day!  We went back a few days later and I  won again, nothing big but I was ahead of the casino. Small amounts and this has continued for several weeks. Anytime you are ahead of the casino it is a blessing and luck, believe me.

Gambling Winning Streaks – Gone

Then all of sudden, I had a losing night were not only did I not win over the night, I did not even win a jack pot, not even a small one. Hopefully this is not the end of my winning run, but these things seem to come in waves and I may be nearing the beginning of the trough again or so it seems that way.

First Time Winners

This is the situation were you take a friend to the casino for the first time and they play $20 and win a jack pot on that $20. Of course they are now hooked and may win a couple of times. It can be frustrating for anyone who plays a lot and goes through these losing streaks. They are excited and make it look so easy, but then a few nights or weeks later they find that they are now losing money and it is not so easy. Welcome to the club!

Play Conservatively and Enjoy Your Self

We play conservatively and try to limit ourselves to how much we will spend in a night. It is the only way to control your losses and also stay ahead of the casino. So now we will not go back to the casino for maybe a week and then we will see what happens. We have been going often, because when you win , you just want to keep going and win some more. Once you begin to lose, you really have to limit yourself.

If you have similar experiences, perhaps you can leave a comment and let us know. If anyone knows a way to beat the odds, of course we want to hear about these methods as well!

The Deauville condo’s in Palm Springs is one of the premier locations to stay at while in Palm Springs if you are looking for a condo to rent with all of the amenities that you need for a great vacation. We have been going to this location for many years now and thoroughly enjoy it.

There are 3 pools at this complex and the picture on the left is the main pool. surrounded by lush grounds, palm trees , lime trees, grapefruit trees and even the odd orange tree, you really cannot ask for more. The pool is heated to 85 degrees year round and there are lots of chairs to relax on to catch the sun’s rays. Palm Springs is in a valley surrounded by mountains. The temperatures are always 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the coast and there is usually blue skies as much as 350 days of the year.

Combine swimming, hot tubs,  tennis, workout room, surface and underground parking with close proximity to downtown and you have the perfect combination. There are also lots of things to do in the area. With 115 golf courses and loads of hiking trails there are lots to do in the area in addition to going to happy hour at the restaurants.

Restaurants and the Spa Casino

There are many restaurants in Palm Springs, several that we have covered on this web site within walking distance. Many offer happy hour from 5 to 6 or until 7 with half price on drinks and appetizers.  There is also the Spa Casino  in downtown Palm Springs within 1 block of the property and easy walking distance. We have spent many evenings at the Spa, playing the slots or just relaxing having a drink while watching sports in the sports bar. check out their Monday night football parties with cheap beer and unlimited buffet while the game is on.

Deauville Palm Springs

This second picture of the pool at the Palm Springs Deauville condos is taken facing west with the mountains in the back ground and the Palm Trees and club house in the foreground.  The depth of the pool is about 4 to 5 feet, perfect for swimming or wading for adults. Children need to be watched for obvious reasons. If you are concerned about too much time in the sun, there are lots of trees and areas you can get in the shade and still enjoy the ambiance of the pool. Last year there were lots of Canadians vacationing around the pool area as well as Americans. Most owners will use their condo at least once a year or more often.

Temperatures and Peak Season

Prime time or peak season for this property is from Jan to Mar. April to May and October to December is considered the shoulder months.  June through September are very warm with pretty much every day over 100 degrees. July and August it is usually 110 to 120 every day. Some people like it that hot while others have a difficult time with these hot temperatures.

The Palm Springs Area

There are 115 golf courses in the area. At least 10 casinos. There is shopping at high end stores as well as the outlets and everything in between. There is lots to do in the area. Palm Springs also has many hiking trails in the area . Some that are easy as well as those that are considered challenging. Take the Tram to the top of the mountain. Hike at 5000 feet elevation among the trees if you feel the need to get away from the heat and the desert.  The city of Palm springs is only at 400 feet elevation. It is sometimes nice to move to higher elevations in the summer time to cool off.

If you have been to Palm Springs or stayed at the Deauville in palm springs and want to leave a comment, please do so. For rental information, you can also rent a unit at the Deauville as well. Click here for more information. Our readers will appreciate it. If you leave a constructive well written comment, we will even approve the link back to your site!

For more things to do in the Palm Springs area, click here.

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Joining the Goodlife GYM

Well, I have been preaching on this web site about exercising and getting into a habit where you should watch your diet and exercise every day. I gained a little weight over the past few months and I thought it was time to practice what I preached. In our area, there are a number of gyms that we can join, however, Goodlife is close to us and really has an awesome gym with all of the equipment, spinning classes and programs that anyone would need regardless of what shape they are in.

My wife also goes to this gym so it is much easier to go with a partner as well rather than go to a separate gym somewhere else. They make it really easy to join and once you have signed up, they give you a brand new gym bag that says GoodLife on it of course and they also give you a one-hour consultation with an instructor as well. We will talk more about this a bit later, but I want to emphasize that this is something you should take advantage of and really listen to what they have to say. Following their advice can mean the difference between an effective workout vs. working out and not getting much for the effort you put in.

Why I joined the Goodlife Gym

I mentioned earlier that I gained a few pounds. This is true and since it is winter here where we really do not do a lot of outside activity, it is pretty easy to be a couch potato and put the pounds on.  The other reason was that I was sitting in my office trying thinking about topics for this blog and I thought why not talk about my own life and why I needed to join the gym. Practice what you preach and all of that.

It is so easy to do nothing. I am also the type that unless I motivated in some way, I probably will not work out. In my case once I joined the gym and I am paying money every two weeks for the membership, I feel I should get my monies worth out of it. Aside from wanting to lose a few pounds, I will go because I paid for it and do not want to pay for something that I do not lose.

My plans for Exercise

I mentioned earlier about taking advantage of the training session that comes with a new membership. This is something that I strongly recommend that you do. They are going to try to sell you more training sessions, however my advice there is to avoid this unless you really think you would benefit from this type of one on one kind of session. You can get the basics from the initial free first session.

In my case, the plan is the following:

• 40 min’s of cardio on the treadmill and the stair master machine each time.
• On alternating days work the arms and the shoulders, then work the legs and the torso
• Arms – Push-ups, chin-ups, and weight lifting
• Legs – Squats, lunges, and sit-ups along with some weights for the legs
• While lifting weights, you should do 8 reps with the last rep really challenging you to complete. In other words, use the right amount of weight that allows you to just complete 8 reps. Rest, then complete it 2 more times

Going with a Partner

We have talked about this suggestion in other posts, however, this is really important. If you need help to get motivated to go to the gym, then going with a partner is going to help you become more consistent in your workouts. We all have our downtime when we just do not feel like going to the gym. If a partner is also motivated to go, then they are going to encourage you to go and vice versa when they do not feel like it.

This is so important because most of us just lose touch with our plans from time to time and besides it is more fun to go with someone you know than going by yourself all of the time. Be positive and take turns driving or calling each other. If husband and wife are going together this can also work out really well too.

Well in subsequent posts, we will let you know how we do, both with going to the gym and also how much weight we are losing. My objective is to lose 20 pounds! For more information about exercise programs, click here.

Going white water rafting in Costa Rica offers an experience that many other locations in North America cannot offer. Rafting in a tropical environment when it is cold with winter back home is just plain special! The Sarapiqi river offers challenging whitewater conditions as well as abundant flora and fauna. When you are not battling the river, you are floating past a rainforest preserve and jungles filled with a variety of animals and plant life. check out the wildlife such as howler monkeys, iguanas, three toed sloths, a huge variety of frogs as well as a huge variety of plant life. don’t forget the colorful bird life which abounds everywhere. The toucans are almost too plentiful to count!

There are also butterfly sanctuary’s which can be visited as well with guided tours.  Costa Rica offers many other activities in addition to white water rafting including the beach of course, horseback riding, canopy tours and repelling in some areas. there are many activities, but since this web site is more about white water rafting we will provide some more specific information about this sport! For information on Costa Rica’s other activities, we suggest you check out other web sites for specific information on those activities.

White Water Rafting in Costa Rica on the Sarapiqi River

The Sarapiquí River winds through an area known as the land of “Eternal Spring,” which offers some of Costa Rica’s most exotic and lush tropical scenery. The free-flowing river originates from clear mountain streams that wash down through dense rain forests to join the crystal waters of the Sarapiquí river. Dense forests encroach on the river’s sunny banks.

This class III river is a narrow, low-volume river ideal for white-water beginners as well as families. It will be easy to enjoy its moderately flowing rapids interspersed with tranquil stretches. Bird-watchers and nature lovers can enjoy this river as well as you float down tranquil stretches. The river winds its way through lush vegetation providing a habitat for hummingbirds, toucans, woodpeckers and many other native bird species.

Typically guests will be picked up from their San José hotel in a minibus. They are driven approximately two and a half hours to the start of your rafting experience. Some will include a traditional breakfast served at a restaurant along the way. Some companies will include a lunch of sandwiches, fruits and desert on the banks of the river.

Sarapiquí River White-Water Rafting

• Typical Price per person: US$80
• price usually Includes: Transportation, equipment, breakfast and picnic lunch.
• Rafting Trip length: 9 Miles.
• Difficulty: Class III, easy-moderate.
• Minimum age: 8 years old.

This is a great activity to consider if you want to get away from the beaches. Also the crowds of tourists. Maybe you just want to do something different from the traditional beach – dinner – clubbing environment of San Jose.  Before you sign up with any of the white water companies, always confirm what you will receive and ensure that they follow typical safety precautions.  If this is your first time white water rafting, you probably should avoid anything higher than class III category rapids.

Our next post will be White Water Rafting in Mexico, so watch for that post in 2 weeks time!

We have been writing about Belfast and how dangerous it was during what they call the ‘troubles”. We thought it would be a good idea to also talk about what it was like for people working in Belfast at the time. This is based on a true story from a friend of mine. He lived and worked in Belfast for the telephone company. This was prior to emigrating to North America to a safer location for his wife and children. Life has improved a great deal since they left Belfast in the 70’s. But it is still interesting to remember what it was like. This is his story.

Belfast Work Conditions – Armed Guards

From the companies perspective, they had a lot to protect. There was the equipment, there was the service to the community and of course there were the employees and the customers that would visit the premises every day. There were constant threats and several other businesses that were bombed in the neighborhood. So no one was taking any chances at all with any of the assets both human assets and well as non human assets. It was a risky time.

Before going out into an alley which was gated and protected to get cable supplies, the guards would first go out and confirm that everything was safe. Then under their watchful eye the employees who needed to pick up cable or other supplies, would go out to the alley and get what they needed. They minimized the amount of time being outside. Items were brought inside immediately. Imagine working under those conditions and also worrying about your family all of the time.
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We came across a post that lists what the writer felt were the top 10 white water rafting locations in the world. We cannot vouch for these locations since we have never been to any of them. However perhaps readers will be able to comment on them and either agree or propose other locations. Hence please leave your comments.

Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

We included a brief summary for each and will follow-up with posts about each location.

• Grand Canyon National Park, United States
• Ottawa River, Canada
• Glacier National Park, United States
• Magpie River, Canada
• Pacuare River, Costa Rica
• Futaleufu River, Chile
• Apurimac River, Peru
• Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia
• White Nile, Uganda
• North Johnstone River, Australia

More Details – Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

1. Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Sign up for a single or multi-day excursion. On rivers that wind through America’s most astounding natural wonder – the Grand Canyon. Spend hours, days – even weeks – on a professionally guided tour of waterways that range from placid to downright wild. Start at Glen Canyon Dam at the northeast part of the gorge. From there, let your tour director be your guide.

2. Ottawa River, Canada

The Ottawa River does a lot more than distinguish the border between Quebec and Ontario. The behemoth waterway is also Canada’s most popular destination for rafting and kayaking. As a result luke-warm waters attract families. Also die-hard rafters each summer to steer through a valley thought to be more than 175 million years old. For example take the kids for a leisurely paddle. Or put on helmets with more competitive friends and race down the wondrous archipelago at top speed.

3. Glacier National Park, United States

Travelers aiming to combine whitewater rafting with other outdoor excursions need look no further.  The Flathead River in Montana’s Glacier National Park is one of th emost interesting rivers. More than a million acres of preserved ecosystem. Also 700 miles (1,126 km)of walkable trails make this nature lover’s paradise an ideal spot for hiking and, of course, rafting. For example pilot your inflatable vessel along the 158 miles of pure, unadulterated water, sourced directly from the Rocky Mountains.

4. Magpie River, Canada

It’ll take you eight days to steer the escalating rapids of Quebec’s Magpie River. Pitch a tent along this scenic stretch of river and savor its splendor, including the northern lights, in between day-long floats. Grade V rapids – the toughest classification recommended to raft – will greet you at the end of your week-long journey at Magpie Falls, a 125-foot vision of cascading water.

5. Pacuare River, Costa Rica

Also known as the Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica’s Pacuare River is a delightful escape with varying degrees of difficulty that last approximately 67 miles. Divided into the Upper Upper, Upper, and Lower sections, the river’s range of difficulty spans from Grade II to V – perfect for novice and veteran rafters alike. Surrounded completely by acres of lush rainforests, sailing down the Pacuare toward the Caribbean may mean introducing yourself to Costa Rica’s wildlife, like monkeys, exotic birds and jaguars.

6. Futaleufu River, Chile

Arguably the best river in the world for experienced rafters to tackle. Chile’s Futaleufu River offers both spectacular views and intense rapids. The stream, which cascades from lakes in the Los Alerces National Park and the Andes Mountains, is renowned for its deep-blue waters and Grade V drops. Hence it is recommended for skilled rafters with years of experience. The Futaleufu serves up long stretches of excitement at a time like the Wild Mile. There is a series of rapids that’ll keep any athlete on his or her toes – scratch that – seat.

7. Apurimac River, Peru

Earning bragging rights for rafting part of the world’s largest river is reason enough to fly to southern Peru for a rafting trip this year. The Apurimac River sources the Amazon. It provides kayakers and whitewater rafters a chance to see South America’s magnificent wilderness up close. Grade IV rapids – and a four-day commitment – attract skilled rafters with an appreciation for camping and the great outdoors.

8. Zambezi River, Zimbabwe and Zambia

Only expert rafters should attempt to tackle the intense swells and challenging rapids that the Zambezi River is so wildly famous for. It is separated into the upper and middle Zambezi by Victoria Falls. Which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the river is nearly 1,600 miles of nature at its finest. Look for hippopotamuses and crocodiles along calmer stretches of the river. Brace yourself for massive drops and death-defying rapids along the no-nonsense parts, including the Batoka Gorge.

9. White Nile, Uganda

Maneuvering a boat full of rafters along the Bujagali Falls near the mouth of Lake Victoria is an adventure you’ll never forget. The White Nile, a tributary of the actual Nile River, flows through Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Inexpensive rafting companies have set up shop near the most exciting part of the river in Uganda. Combining world-class rafting with an introduction to Africa’s astonishing landscape. Grade V rapids ease into harmonious currents, promising rafters both relaxation and thrills in a single afternoon.

10. North Johnstone River, Australia

The four or six-day expedition along the North Johnstone River in North Queensland’s World Heritage rain forests is considered one of the best travel adventures in the world. Ride a helicopter to the beginning of your unforgettable journey. Wind your way through Grade V rapids and truly amazing scenery. Not for the faint of heart, North Johnstone offers days on end of the most demanding – and rewarding – whitewater rafting out there.

Let us know what you think about these Top 10 White Water Rafting Locations

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila is synonymous with Mexico and Puerto Vallarta lives up to the reputation. Wherever you go, there seems to be tequila being served. So much so that we began to wonder if the Mexicans were trying to loosen up the gringo’s so we would spend more money.  The following are short stories about different places we drank tequila while we traveled around Puerto Vallarta. Tequila is made from the Agave plant shown in the picture to the left. If you have an opportunity to go to a Tequila factory, it is well worth the time. Be prepared you may have to drink some Tequila while taking the tour!

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila and Jewelry Stores

For example one day we followed a bunch of tourists into a jewelry store wondering what all the fuss was about. These were people who had come in on one of the pleasure cruse boats and had the day to explore. We followed them to the back of the store and sure enough we saw what all the interest was about. The store owner was pouring shots of tequila for all his patrons to sample! Loosen them up a bit and maybe they will have a story to tell about how they bought some silver jewelry while sipping tequila!

The Restaurants

The restaurants have a tradition almost, at least that is what it seems like. If you order a meal, it comes first with a shot of tequila. In fact one place we went to provided a bottle of tequila on the table which was about 1/3 full. It was free with the meal. Another offered a shot of tequila every time you ordered a beer. The shot was free, the beer cost a dollar! The food was pretty good too.

The Furniture Stores

Now I do not know if all of them do this, but one furniture store we went to one day sure does. I do not even remember the name of it, however it sells a lot of Mexican furniture and it across from the Starbucks coffee shop on the way downtown from the airport. It is a big store and we decided to go visit it after our morning coffee one day. We crossed the street and went inside after browsing some of the large pieces outside.

As I was looking around I happened to come across a shelf lined with various types of Tequila. One of the salesmen asked me if I would like to try some. He said that his grandfather makes it up in the hills in the jungle and that it was very good. It was 10 in the morning and I really did not feel like starting to drink at that time let alone something that was probably the equivalent of moon shine. I respectfully declined.

Another customer admonished me saying that he had tried it the day before and found it excellent and that there was nothing wrong with it. So at that point I really had no choice but to try a shot. Well it was some of the best tequila I had ever tried. Smooth , rich in flavor and not difficult to drink at all. I could have had another shot, but declined because after all it was only 10 am and I usually try to not drink until at least 12!

Puerto Vallarta – Tequila Factories

So drinking tequila in Mexico is the thing to do. There are many stores were you can buy brand names, however I have found that the restaurants and shops have very good tequila as well. Tequila is made from the Agave plants and I was fortunate enough to go to a tequila factory one day up in the jungles above Mismaloya.

We were given a small tour of the plant, the fermentation tanks and then we had an opportunity to try seven different tequila’s. Our guide drank right along with us and I don’t know how many tours he had given that day, but after seven shots I was feeling it and he must have been too. We all bought some tequila and then headed on our merry way. Fortunately I was not driving and the bus driver only had two shots. I counted !

The town of Tequila

I have never been to this town, however this town was named after the product or maybe the product was named after the town. It apparently is about 3 to 4 hours from Puerto Vallarta and is worth the trip although we ran out of time before we had to leave.

If you go to Puerto Vallarta, you really should take a tour to Tequila and sample some of the best tequila in Mexico.

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Exploding Gas Prices

Once again oil prices are on the rise just in time for the summer vacation in North America and Europe. It feels as if this is a plot against anyone who wants to take a driving vacation. Or fly somewhere for their summer vacation. Anyone who drives to work has already felt the pinch of gasoline prices. They have gone up as much as 20% in the last few months. We are currently on a driving trip across the country. I was wondering just how much the increasing gas prices were going to affect our trip.

Well it turns out that if you take the average price of gas at the time of writing this post as $3.63 and compare it to the price of gasoline at the pump at Christmas time, which was an average of $2.98; our trip is going to cost roughly $200 more in gasoline alone.

Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Our Standard of Living

While this amount is not as much as I expected for a 6000 mile trip, it still adds up when you take into account the other things that also go up at the same time due to increasing prices for gasoline and diesel. When you are travelling across country you begin to realize how large the country really is and also how many trucks there are on the roads. There are literally thousands of them on the road and you begin to realize that much of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy are carried by these trucks. When the cost of diesel goes up so do the prices of our vegetables, the products we purchase and virtually the cost of everything we consume is affected.

We all take a hit on our standard of living when gas prices increase. If you spend it more of your money on filling up the car, there is less money for other things. If everything is going up, inflation begins to raise it’s ugly head and we all fall further behind when it comes to enjoying the quality of life that we are used to. There really is no choice, you either get a raise or you cut back and guess what we have another recession!

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Road Side Check Points in Belfast – Our last post, Airport security in Dublin, talked about armed guards checking documents as you entered the airport building. We were amazed when this happened to us. I was telling this same story to a friend of mine who grew up in Northern Ireland in Belfast. He look at me quite seriously and asked, ” Have you ever had a gun pointed at your head?” This comment really took me by surprise!

I must admit I looked at him with an incredulous look! I really could not believe what he was saying and wondered if I had heard properly. This is a guy who I have known for 20 years. He seemed to be a mild mannered type of person who would never be involved in anything that would require a gun pointed at his head.  I asked him to repeat his question which was the same as he had previously asked. Of course I answered in the negative and wanted to know what he was talking about.

Road Side Check Points in Belfast

Turns out that back in the late 60’s, he was in a car with his wife and small child in the back seat driving somewhere in Belfast. There were all kinds of checkpoints set up by the army to try to control the movement of guns. Also to arrest specific people they were after. When you got to a check point, you rolled a window down in your car. A guard came over to your car and rested the muzzle of his gun on the window of your car pointed directly at your chest. The guard kept the gun pointed at you at all times while peppering you with questions! I guess this was their way of putting pressure on you to see how you would react and whether you would say something you shouldn’t.
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