Navy Pier on New Years

Every year for New Years my family always plans something fun to do. Sometimes it's just during the day on January 1 and other times we spend the night places. Two years ago my family and I went to Chicago. We had a great time; we arrived on the 31st at the W hotel. I've talked about the W in New York previously, but had never stayed at a W hotel until Chicago The W, like the one in New York, has a very modern feel. I recommend staying at a W if you ever get the chance. My favorite part was the pool. It's heated indoor and has views overlooking Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. We didn't spend much time at the hotel because it was New Years and we were spending time around the city. 

For New Years Eve we went to Navy Pier. We walked around during the day and did a little shopping. At night there was a firework show. It was really neat the fireworks were set up in the sky over Lake Michigan and they even had music playing. It was just a fun night. It was nice because the W hotel is really close to Navy Pier so it was a quick walk home. The next day we did a little shopping around the Water Tower Mall, but mostly sight seeing around the town. It was a short trip to Chicago but very fun.

 

Road Trips

As the holidays are approaching us quickly, traveling is going to be on many peoples’ agendas. Whether it is traveling to a family member’s house for the holidays or going on a nice vacation, many people will be doing it. And thank goodness, the gas prices have been going down. With that being said, road trips are becoming much more popular for travelers than flying. Another reason, besides the gas, that is attracting more travelers to take a road trip is that the U.S. highways are safer than they’ve ever been. Highway- related fatalities are expected to reach a record low in 2008. This would mean that the number of fatalities would go down 10 percent. This is great news for the many travelers who’ll give in the price of flying these days for hours driving this holiday season!

Winter Only Hotels

Although there are a number of us who want to escape the cold during the holiday season and find a beautiful hotel in the tropics, there are some of us who want to enjoy the cold, winter season while it lasts. So, for those of you who enjoy the winter wonderland around the world, here are some great places that you can get away to and soak up the snowy, white season.

1. The Ice Hotel- This hotel is located in the village of Jukkasjarvi, which is just north of the Arctic Circle. Here, there is no need to worry about how out-dated the hotel is. Each year, artists and builders create this hotel by using water from a nearby river. Rooms and suites are created by fantastic artists and architects, which create extravagant settings. They feature things such as frozen whirlpools, ice sculptures, and translucent beds.

The way that this hotel is created every year is what makes it one of a kind. I would really recommend this hotel for a holiday get- away if you ever have the chance to go there. This place thrives on the cold, snow, and ice, so it is only available in the winter season. This year, they are building an addition of an Ice bar which gives guests the option of a glowing lounge that has icy booths covered in fur throws. You definitely cannot be afraid of the cold, or winter season to stay here, but it seems like it would be quite an amazing experience.

2. Hotel de Glace- This is America’s only ice hotel and it is absolutely breathtaking. Guests that stay have to be warned that by staying in an ice hotel, they will be spending the night on a bed made from a solid base of ice. But, there is no need to worry about sleeping here and freezing because the hotel provides their guests with an arctic-ready sleeping bag and a specially designed hotel bathroom that is heated. The Hotel de Glace also offers a Nordic relaxation area that has hot tubs and a dry sauna. The guests that come here usually only stay one night because that is enough to get the experience. However, if you would like to just see the only ice hotel in America, there are tours offered during the day. The hotel is only open from January through March because it also thrives off of the cold, winter season. I think this place would definitely be worth the visit, especially because it is the only one in America, but personally I don’t know if I could stay more than the one night that is recommended.

3. Hotel Garni Bel Ami- This hotel puts guests on the slopes of the Silvretta Galtur ski area that is tucked away in the Austrian Alps. Here would be a perfect ski vacation destination with absolutely breathtaking views. The rooms that they offer are all furnished with natural wood beds and armoires, which give a perfect winter-wonderland feel. They are moderately priced, but also include access to the hotel’s steam and sauna facilities. This is a winter only hotel, which means it is only open from December to April each year. They do offer really good deals that include lift tickets to the ski area that is right next to the hotel, with a seven day stay. This is another great opportunity to visit one of the highly recommended winter only hotels. It seems that this one would be better if you are up for a ski vacation, rather than to a winter hotel. Either way, this is another place that if you are ever able to visit, would be amazing.

4. Arlberg Hospiz Hotel- This hotel is also located in the Austrian Alps, but it is one that is much more historical. The St. Christophe hotel houses single, double, suite and apartment style rooms and offers an extravagant spa area with both Eastern and Western spa treatments available. Also, the Alberg Hotel has an indoor pool, fitness facilities, and plunge pools. The views of this hotel are of immense snowdrifts and steep slopes of the surrounding mountains. The hotel iteslf is upscale, with rates that usually hit 600 euros per night. If you are looking for an upscale hotel like this, I’d suggest that you are also into skiing. This is recommended for the intermediate or better skilled skiers because of its surrounding activities, but would be a great hotel if it fits your price range.

~Don't Get Upset~

Traveling can bring out the best and the worst in people. The main thing is to work through the problems and to enjoy where you are and the people you are with. If we let every little thing, that comes our way, get us down and frustrate us, then nothing would get done and life as we know it might as well just end. Don’t let your circumstances get you distracted from your main goal. When you travel, you will enjoy yourself much more if you take it all in. Try getting to know local people, places, and the culture. It never hurts to make connections with people that you may never see again; worst case scenario, you end up making a new friend. Take the plug and do things you don’t normally do, it is a vacation; you don’t get to go on them very often so make the most of every one. Good luck in your endeavors!

Top 10 Traditional Christmas Songs

Christmas songs can usually be heard the day after Thanksgiving up until Christmas. By the time it finally roles around the songs can be quite over played. It seems like they are always playing the same ones even though there are tons to choose from. Here is my list of the top 10 traditional Christmas songs (in no particular order).

1. White Christmas - Irving Berlin wrote this song but the 1940's but it wasn't until 1942 when Bing Crosby introduced it in the musical Holiday Inn. It was at the top of the music charts for eleven weeks in 1942. It became the only song in history that has had three different runs at the top spot on the music charts. 

2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - This song was originally written from the Santa Claus story about his reindeer. Harry Brannon first sang it, but Gene Autry recorded the version most played in 1949. This is one of those songs you learn when you are little but it stays with you and you are never old enough to sing along. 

3. Jingle Bell Rock - It was written by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe but was released by Bobby Helms in 1957. Jingle Bell Rock is often interpreted as a mix of Jingle Bells and Rock Around the Clock. This is also one of my favorite Christmas songs.

4. The Christmas Song - This song was written by Mel Torme and Bob Wells. Nat King Cole made the song popular in 1946 when they recorded it. They received a Grammy for the song in 1974 and since then is still a greatly played hit. 

5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - This song was first introduced in 1944 in the musical Meet Me In St. Louis. Hugh Martin originally wrote it, but it wasn't until Frank Sinatra recorded another version in 1957 that it really took off. Today Sinatra's version is the most widely heard. 

6. Jingle Bells - This is also one of my favorite Christmas songs. It's another one of the first Christmas songs for kids. James Lord Pierpont wrote it in 1857. The version today has been changed slightly but it still has the same meaning it did many years ago.

7. Winter Wonderland - Felix Bernard wrote this song in 1934. Today over 1,000 people have recorded their own versions of it. It is an oldie but still a favorite of many. This song always puts me in the mood for Christmas. I can just picture everything all Christmas like outside.

8. Let It Snow - Another one of those happy Christmas songs, I think it's best during the first snowfall of the year. It was written by Sammy Cahn in 1945. Frank Sinatra's version is most widely known and played during the Christmas season. 

9. Silver Bells - It's a very catchy song written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It was Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell that made the song popular in the movie The Lemon Drop Kid. It has also been recorded by a good number of other artists. It's a good song to get you in the mood for Christmas. 

10. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - It was first written by Charles Wesley. This song was a very popular caroling song. It reminds me of Christmas Eve church service. I've sung it every year ever since I was little. 

~My Three Favorite Comfort Foods For Winter ~

I love cooking, but rarely get the chance to. Winter is one of the few seasons that I actually get the chance to take the time to prepare food properly. My top three favorite comfort foods are ones that I always make every winter and I love sharing with my family.

Broccoli and Cheese Soup- I love this soup. My mom and I, when I was younger, loved to try out different recipes and see what we liked best. We found this recipe at AllRecipes.com. It wasn’t hard to follow the directions and all of the ingredients were easy to find in the local grocery store. We were surprised that it was quick and easy to make, it only took us about forty-five minutes to make it the first time, and now we know it so well that it takes even less time. I love how creamy the soup is and it really fills me up quickly. That just means there are plenty of leftovers.

Indulgent Macaroni and Cheese- I don’t mind Kraft Mac and Cheese, but anytime I get to make this indulgent macaroni and cheese I take it. Now Kraft has the easy mac, that gives you less preparation and cooking time that you have to worry about, but it lacks the cheesy goodness that homemade mac and cheese has. Yes, I will admit that there is a lot of cheese, butter, and cream but you don’t have to tell your doctor. Seriously every once and a while, I have to indulge myself with real macaroni and cheese, not something that comes out of a blue box.

Biscuits and Gravy – I love my dad’s biscuits and gravy… I don’t know how he does it, but he can make the best I have ever tasted. All I have ever seen him do is take the Pillsbury home style biscuits, pop them in the oven and then he makes his own special gravy sauce, which he won’t tell me how he does it, and some sausage. Every winter when I come home and he has time off of work, he will make them, but it’s so far and in between that it seems he never makes them anymore. I always love to see my dad in the kitchen in the mornings, but usually he kicks me out. They are still more fattening than most biscuits and gravy, but how can something that taste so good be bad?

Top Ten Christmas Toys 2008

Now, this list is going to be mostly for kids, hence the word toys. So parents if you can't think of anything to get your little ones, here is the top ten toys in 2008.

1) High School Musical Toys

Every little girl, and I'm sure some boys are going to be looking for anything containing the cast of High School Musical. The stores have everything from dolls or "action figures" to clothes, back packs, bags, video games, and pretty much anything you can think of with the cast on them. In 2006, it was the original High School Musical, Then in 2007 it was High School Musical 2, and in 2008 it was High School Musical 3:Senior Year. Over these three years, manufacturers have taken great advantage of what the little ones like.

2) Star Wars Toys

Star Wars has been popular since even before I was born. Everyone has taken advantage of making money off of Star Wars in many ways. From one of the six movies, to toys, clothes, and a lot of other things.

3) Bakugan Warrior toys

These are at the top of my 9 year old cousins list. This is all he has been talking about for the past month. Bakugan Battle Warriors is a Japanese anime series that aired on Cartoon Network in February of 2008. I am sure my cousin will have tons of these under the tree Christmas morning and they are cheap toys that you should look into buying for your young ones.

4) Ben 10 Toys

Ben 10 is a series on television that aired on Cartoon Network in 2005 and has wooed many kids since then. His Omnitrix is a watch-like alien device that transforms Ben 10 into the alien of his choice. This watch is the most famous toy on the shelfs for Ben 10. They also have action figures, cards, and games that all contain Ben 10 in some way.

5) Doll With a Musical Potty

For children who don't yet know about video games, computer games, or any games for that matter, you should deffinitly look into this. This doll made its debut in 1991. It crys, and goes to the bathroom on a special toilet. The newest version of the doll has its own light up, musical potty. It is expected to be the number one gift for 2008.

6) Nintendo DS Lite

This dual-screen handheld console has 2 LCD screens inside of the clamshell-like design. The top screen is a viewing screen while the lower screen acts as a touchscreen. This is every kids favorite toy. There are all sorts of games from cooking games for girls to Ben 10 and StarWars games for boys.

7) Sesame Street Toys

Sesame Street is the longest running childrens program and aired in 1969. Elmo Live is the newest Sesame Street Toy. Elmo Live dances and sings all by himself and he really gets the kids to dance and sing with him.

8) Cupcake Maker

This is your oportunity to get your children started cooking. It is fun, yet educational and every kid would love one. It will teach them to measure and cook, but they will also have fun by decorating their own creations and getting to eat them in the end.

9)Roary the Racing Car

With this new television show for kids, you can expand their imagination and get them the Roary the Race Car Silver Hatch Turbo Race Set, or you can get them their very own Roary the Race Car bicycle with sounds. The options are endless.

10) Dolls!

For any little girl, she would always love any type of doll. Anything from the new Barbie to Hannah Montana doll to The American Girl Doll. Any girl would take any kind of doll and be happy. When buying a doll for your little girl always make sure it is the latest version or the one that she has been looking at for a long time. Nothing is worse than having your little girl take her new doll to show off and her friend has a newer version than she has.

~Driving in Snow~

My senior year of high school I had one of those wonderful days gone down the drain. It was a Friday morning the week before finals and it had been snowing all night. My little brother and I were praying for school to be cancelled, we were both glued to the tv and we were trying to be patient as the bottom of the screen flashed all the other schools that had delays or cancellations. Time seemed to slow down as the schools flashed by and ours got closer. Finally, it came up…But we only had a two hour delay. Both of us were disappointed, but we tried to make the best of it. We reverted back to our childhood days of playing in the snow, we attempted to make a snow man, but the snow wasn’t sticking very well. We didn’t let that get in our way; we were just glad that we weren’t in school and continued to play.

My mom came outside and told us that breakfast was ready and that we should be getting ready to go to school. To our disappointment, the school had decided that the roads were clear enough for everyone to still go to school. My little brother and I ate our breakfast, got ready for school, hopped in my car, and we were off. My mom made us leave a bit earlier than we would have normally on a two-hour delay day because of the roads still being a bit icy and me not having much experience of driving to school in the snow.

I was driving a good thirty miles per hour, just to be safe and we were about half way there, when there was a truck coming at us. I thought that he would be just as careful as I was, oh boy was I wrong. The driver of the truck with his four wheel drive was going forty five in what is a thirty on a good day. He started to weave and gained control, but he was on my side of the road. I was freaking out and I could see that the other drive was too. The drive of the truck tried to get back on his side of the road, but he was still a bit on my side. I tried to move over more on my side of the road, but there was nothing there. I ended up jerking the wheel too much and then over compensated and ended up in a ditch, half way between home and school, and with no cell phone.

When I was calm enough to get myself together and after I made sure my little brother was ok, I got out of the car to see where the truck driver was. He was just driving along, on his way to where ever and didn’t stop to help us or see if we were ok. I was pissed off to say the least and my good morning turned into a really stressful day. One of my best guy friends from school was driving by and he stopped to help us. He had a jeep and a tow rope in the back of his jeep, so he hooked the tow rope up to my car and pulled me out right then and there. After he had pulled us out he helped me look at my car to see if we could make it to school or if I should drive it home. We both felt that it could make it to school and we had to get there soon otherwise, all of us would be late.

After school that day, I called my dad and told him what happened and of course he was furious, but glad we were alright. He came to school to make sure that we made it home safely and then he checked my car for any damage. Thankfully nothing had been damaged other than my nerves. Since then I have hated driving when there is snow on the roads, but I now take the proper steps to make sure that I can make it to where ever I am headed safely.

Don't Forget to Visit the Islands

Although Spain is a huge country and its mainland offers everything you could want from vast country crop fields to towering mountains for rock climbing, it has something more. I'm talking about the islands that are off its coast, these islands will for certain take your breath away with the exquisite views they offer, the beautiful beaches and hot sun that give you that perfect "toasty" color that we always want to have and a lot in entertainment. I've never been to any of them, in fact I've never been to Spain but I do know about the islands because recently my dad was offered a job at Ibiza so I had looked them up. There are two clusters of islands surrounding the coast of Spain, these are the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.


Balearic Islands: Just 85 km off the coast of Valencia, you will find this collection of islands. Much like Hawaii, it consists of separate tiny islands these being: Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The most famous of the four are Mallorca and Ibiza. Mallorca is quite known for its sightseeing such as the Museum of Mallorca and also diving at Drach and Arta, which are two natural underwater caves which offer a whole different view of the ocean world. Ibiza on the other hand is known a lot for its nightlife, the worlds most famous Dj's play there at some awesome clubs and people just dance the night away listening to pure techno and house. I definitely want to visit Ibiza in the future and enjoy a night of pure euphoria with Dj Tiesto and Paul van Dyke which are just two of my many favorites. Now Many people think that in a week they will be bored because its just a tiny island and the beach gets old after a while. Well for me the beach never gets old, but for those who want more than a suntan, don't think that these islands have nothing to offer. They have everything from museums, monuments, national parks and recreational entertainment. Like I already mentioned you will find the Museum of Mallorca, which is a museum focused a lot on archaeology. The museum is a 16th century mansion which is known as "Casa de la Crisitana" meaning "House of the Christian" which offers you to see a variety of pieces from the Talayotic to Moorish settlers. There is a vast collection of weapons and ornaments of religious symbolism from the islands first settlers. I have heard great feed back on this museum and its tours, I would definitely go because not only do you get to see beautiful art but at the same time you get a 101 history class of the island itself. Now if you want to get a little wet go to the Drach caves. Its an impressive view of nature, I just stared in wonder at the picutre, I find so cool and interesting that its something completely natural, nothing man made just all nature. Its actually a set of four caves linked together: the cave of the French, the White Cave and the Black cave and the Luis Salvador cave. The tour involved a complete look around the caves and also offers a classical music concert at Martel Lake. If you want to play a little sport and stay active during your vacay then come and play at one of the many golf courses. I looked into this because my dad is a golf fanatic so this would obviously be in his itinerary. There is the "Son Vida Golf Club" which sort of means "The Life" golf club. It offers a 18 hole course, its a coastal course so you will enjoy beautiful beach scenery and enjoy a cool island breeze. So get those handicaps ready for this 72 par golf course.


Canary Islands: Now the Canary Islands is a much bigger collection of islands, the seven main ones are: Tenerife, La Gomera, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, El Hierro and Ferteventura. Unlike the Balearic Islands which are located in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands are very close to Africa's border thus being in the Atlantic Ocean. What I love about these islands its their geography. In the past the islands faced a lot of volcanic activity so the scenery will range from sandy beaches to landscapes with craters, volcanic cones and rocks. Also the islands offer the spectacular view of Spains tallest mountain peak; Mount Teide stands at 3,718 meters which is about 12,198ft. During my visit at Gran Canaria I would visit "Casa de Colon" a museum that offers the complete history of Christopher Columbus and the islands relationship with the Americas. The museum is divided into five different sections relating to the discoveries of the New World. Now if you didn't know Spain is known a lot for its strong devotion to Catholicism, so the country hosts some of the most biggest and most decorated cathedrals. The Cathedral of San Cristobal at La Laguna, or "the Lagoon" was built on a hermitage back in 1511. Other pieces have been built over the next centuries and a reconstruction was already done in 1825. It was actually first a church, called the Church of Remedies, but then after the Canary Islands bishopric was separated from the Nivar diocese it was converted into the Cathedral that it is today. All of this history is explained to you upon your visit. Finally you have the beaches. Now I thought how the beaches would look like on an island with so much history of volcanic activity. Would they have sand or would they just be rocky cliffs? Don't worry about it. The beaches are beautiful! The beach of "The Teresas" is one where you will find fine golden warm sand. This one is actually a personal favorite for me since it was a two breakwaters and also a man made bar to shield away the strong waves and the traffic of the busy sailing life found at these islands. This makes it a great calm beach to take little kids and it offers snorkeling for entertainment as well. Advice that I do offer, is that you should check with your hotels to learn which are the topless beaches and which are not, I don't think you would want your little children to see what doesn't have to be seen.

As you have probably noticed I love the idea of visiting these islands in the future. It sounds like pure fun, great sights to visit and a lot of history to learn. Give it a try if you have the opportunity, you never know what you might be missing out on.

"Tapas"

The food that we taste here in America as “Spanish” is far from the authentic Spanish food. The food of their culture is full of hams, sausages, and cheeses. A common thing to do is to go for tapas. These are enjoyed in bars all over Spain. People normally eat tapas in the evening, either before or after an evening meal, but not as the main meal. Tapas are snacks that you eat while having a drink at the bar. Each bar specializes in its own unique snacks, or tapas, and it is usually worth going from bar to bar to sample each one. Even though they are now to be found in homes and professional restaurants, tapas have maintained an informal spirit through their name. If you ever plan a trip to Spain, I highly suggest to dip into the authentic cuisine of the Spanish culture. Try going to a local bar before dinner and enjoy a casual conversation while eating some tapas.

Travel into Holiday Giving

As the holidays are approaching, I figure a common motive for a lot of people is giving. This year, as were thinking of holiday travel, maybe we could add in a little extra time to travel outside of our norm and help others. Specifically, at college campuses, many students’ budgets are not necessarily high. Although we don’t all have the money to be giving, we can lend a hand in many other ways. A prime example of something that college kids could do is volunteer at local organizations. As young college students we have more energy and free time than we ever will (even though many students don’t believe so). Helping others without money incentive can help you learn a lot about yourself, and also can utilize your skills to impact another life. Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who organized retaliation efforts from Pearl Harbor, said, “nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” Here are some examples of opportunities for giving: YMCA, YWCA, work with a Humane Society or a local Zoo, or help organize Project Move Out, food drives, sponsor a child, or other events such as the Boiler Volunteer Network (BVN).

Spain Experiences

I have never been anywhere in Spain, however a few of my closest friends have been there and have absolutely loved it. I have had 4 guy friends, all 18 years old, and 2 girl friends, both 18 years old as well, that have traveled to parts of Spain. In fact, the reason they have gone there is either to visit the exchange student that we hosted in our hometown, or to be an exchange student there themselves.

The boys that went there could not get over how different the daily lifestyle is. They all said that, compared to the United States, it is much more lively. Everyone walks to where they want to go. In fact, one of my friends (who is very athletic to begin with) lost 10 pounds just from walking everywhere. Also, at night everyone gets together and parties in the streets of the city. The teenagers there act a lot older and do many more “adult activities” there than they do in the majority of the parts of the United States. One of the boy’s favorite nights was when everyone gathered along the beach in Madrid and there was a concert. He said that he couldn’t see the end of the people because there were so many within the crowd. In my opinion, that would be a really fun thing to see. Besides the concert and parties in the streets, here are some of the other favorite things they did:

Las Ventas Bullring: Here they went and saw authentic bullfighting. This place, called La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas was actually built in 1929 and the first bullfight was in 1931. This place holds a maximum capacity of 25,000 people. It is located in the east of Madrid. A lot of people, including them, usually get there by using the metro. In their opinion, it is sad to see the bulls get hurt, or worse yet the masters get hurt, but it is a real art and it is a tradition. From research, I found that the best time of year to go there and see a bullfight in Madrid is during the months of May and June. This is when San Isidro takes place, which is the worlds most famous bullfighting festival. In my opinion, it would be a little too gaudy for me to take in, but if you don’t mind that stuff then I think it would be a great thing to do to take in part of the culture in Spain.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: This stadium is known as Real Madrid’s home ground. It is an Elite Stadium that is known for hosting Spain’s premier football team. If you’re not at the stadium to watch an actual game, then there are tours that are given of the stadium because it is so magnificent. Besides the tours and the games, the stadium is also known for a stage ground. For example, Bruce Springsteen played in the stadium in the summer of 2007 and 2008. If you are not going there for a tour, then I would suggest buying tickets ahead of time because depending on who is entertaining for the day/night, they may sell out fast.

The Corral de la Morería: This is the oldest flameno show restaurant in Madrid. It has an air-conditioned premise that features a real Castilian style setting. They have a maximum capacity of 150 people so it would be best to make reservations before hand in order to make sure you have a seat. They have shows on Friday and Saturday and the cost of going is 36 euros. During the week, they also have featured shows but they only cost 34 euros. Both prices do not include dinner. Their show features 8 well known prestigious artists that perform for approximately one hour. The friends of mine that went were both females and they loved it.

Differences Spain vs. United States

When planning a trip to another country there is a lot to keep in mind. If you have never been out of your own country it can be quite different when you arrive somewhere else. Almost every country has differences from your own. It's a good idea to research about the place you plan to visit before you actually go there. 

Spain and the United States have a lot of differences. One of the major differences would have to be the spoken language. In Spain Spanish is the primary language and English is in the U.S. One tip I have is to purchase a book that can help with easy common phrases you might need. The Easy Spanish Phrase Book is a good choice. It offers 770 basic phrases for everyday use.

Currency is another difference between the countries. The euro is used in Spain while the dollar is used in the U.S. One euro is equivalent to a little over a dollar. A good suggestion is to use a currency converter before you go so you have an idea what you are paying for everything. The exchange rate is always changing so make sure you check right before you go to get the most accurate results. 

The time difference between the two countries can be quite hard to get use to. The time difference from Chicago, IL to Madrid, Spain is 7 hours. Other areas in the countries can give or take a few hours depending on where you may be. A tip I have is as soon as you arrive at your destination start going off the current time. This may mean you loose hours of sleep or have to try to sleep earlier than normal, but in the long run you will get adjusted more quickly.

There are plenty of other little differences between the two. Spain has a parliamentary monarchy while the U.S. has a federal democracy or in other words a constitution based federal republic. The U.S. is way bigger than Spain. Spain is only about twice of the size of the state of Oregon. There are even many more differences. These are just little things to keep in mind before planning your next big trip. With a little bit of research you will be on your way. 

SNOW!!

As everyone in the northwest has noticed, there has been a lot more snow, a lot earlier, than many people can remember. Some people look at snow and think one of two things, either I like snow lets go play and have fun, or I do not like the snow and how am I going to get to work/school. So I thought, why not tell people about fun things they can get their kids or friends to do in these wintery months.

Now I know when I was in high school, middle school, and elementary school, I would wake up in the morning and hope for a snow day as soon as I saw snow on the ground. This rarely happened as our school system would only call a snow day if there was a blizzard outside and it was impossible to get around in. But, those few times we did have a snow day we had a blast.

First of all, the funnest thing I think to do is building a snowman. Everyone knows how to do this and you don't really need anything to do this. All you really need is snow. We used to have a contest on our block about who could make the most creative snowman. We would use all sorts of things we could fing in the house. One year, when me and my brother were younger, we thought we would for sure win this year. So when the snow day came around, we were ready. All the kids on the block would run outside and start building their snowmen. My brother and I built our snowman so big we had to have all the other kids come help us put all the pieces of the snowman together. It was twice the size of me, not to mention I was only 7 years old and farely short. Next, we would run inside and get all of our stuff for the creative part of the snowman. We used chocolate for the eyes (we couldn't find any buttons), a carrot for the nose, and more chocolate for the mouth. Then, we found my mom's favorite scarf, which didn't make her very happy, my dad's old coat, a pair of old snowpants, and old boots. Then came the creative part of our snowman. We decided to build a little snow village. So, we built a couple tiny houses and a school and a few more tiny snowmen. Then it came time to when all the parents would judge the snowmen. When they came to ours they were a little confused about why we built the huge snowman and a tiny town. We simply explained to them that the big snowman was, in our mind, kind of like Godzilla and he was going to come around and stomp down the little town. As we were explaining this, me and my brother walked around the yard and stomped down all the little buildings and people to show how it worked in our minds.

We did not end up winning the contest because it was a contest on best snowman, not what you could build up around the snowman. I do not remember whose snowman actually won, I just remember our snowman and how silly it was that we thought our original old snowman would have actually won.

Another thing I remember from my childhood around Christmas time was building the gingerbread house. This is a tradition that my family and I do every year. I think all families should do this because it was always fun to do. There is a kit you can buy at the grocery store with all of the pieces that you need. It has the walls and roof made out of graham crackers and you put the pieces together with frosting, which was my favorite part. Then you used the frosting to stick on all the candy to the outside of the walls which looked like decorations on a real house. Then on Christmas Eve we would leave it out for Santa to eat and he would always leave half of it for us to eat on Christmas Day.

The third thing I remember from Christmas time is sledding. We would wake up in the morning and get our snow suits on and put our hats, gloves, and boots on and go grab the sleds from the garage. Then we would meet up with all the kids on the block and go down the street to the hill in our neighborhood where we would meet up with all of the other kids on our block. Then we would spend what seemed like the whole day sledding down the hill and then carrying our sleds back up to the top while we avoided getting hit by the kids coming down the hill still. We would eventually get too cold and all go back to our houses to drink hot chocolate and eat lunch.

Also, who could for get the snowball fights? I aways ended up running home crying because one of the kids would throw a hard snowball at me and I was always the youngest one on our block so, of course, I would always get hurt. But, every year I would at least attempt to have fun and would always get a few good hits in before I got hurt. We would build up bunkers all along the block for us to hide behind during the fight. Then, we would make a ton of snowballs and hide them behind the bunkers so we had a fresh supply when we needed them. Then the fight would begin and everyone was on their own. Noone ever ended up winning because it would either get too cold or too late and we all had to go home to get changed and warmed up.

These are just a few things that you could look forward to doing when the snow gets heavier or you can look online and there are multiple other ideas for fun things to do.

Top Ten Cities to Visit in Spain (6-10)

I had talked about the top five cities to visit in Spain a couple day ago. Here is the continued list of cities 6-10.


6) Valencia-

Valencia is the number three most populated city in Spain. But, it is very small for being so populated. Even though it is small, it has a lot of activitied to keep you entertained for a couple days. While you are here, don't forget to try the Paelle Valenciana. This is the dish that most people think of when they think of Spain, that is, if you come from the area or know the area well. This is because the dish was originated in Valencia. Valencia also hosted the America Cup in 2007 and the Formula 1 European Grand Prix in 2008.

7) Cordoba-

The mequita, or mosque, is the cities main attraction. But, the places around it are just as equally attractive. It also contains many religous architectures, civil and militay architectures, and archaelogical sitings.

8) Santiago de Compostela-

Most people come here to see the Camino de Santiago. Which is Santiago's main church, and is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Spain. The amazing, green countryside in Santiago is also well worth seeing.

9) San Sebastian-

San Sebastian is home to one of the most attractive beaches in Spain. It also is home to beautiful scenery, lively people, a diversity of entertainment, rich cultural activities, inovativ cuisines, major music and film festivals,

10) Salamanca-

Salamanca is located two and a half hours north-west of Madrid and is a beautiful university town.

2008 Best Christmas Gifts for Girls

The Christmas season is here once again. Before we even realize it, it will be days before Christmas and the panic will set in. This has happened to me many times; I procrastinate long enough to where I'm shopping on Christmas Eve with everyone and their brother. The thing I hate is searching for a present that is sold out in almost every store. This year I've asked all my family for the lists early and I plan to get everything done before the rush sets in. 

There are so many more toys out than there ever use to be. It can be overwhelming. Shopping for little kids can be the worst. A recommendation I have is to check out the Toy Retailers Association's (TRA) list of the predicted most popular gifts for kids each Christmas season. It helped me out a lot last year when I was trying to decide what new toy to get my little sister. The list is out for this year and there are plenty of things to choose from. Just a few from the list that I think sound pretty cool include:

Rescue Pets Swim to Me Puppy

This puppy is from the brand Rescue Pets; it's an adorable little dog that enjoys swimming. He's a plastic dog and as soon as you set him in water he begins to swim and doesn't stop. He comes with a towel, goggles, and an adoption certificate. This toy runs around $30.

Baby Born with Magic Potty

It's a great toy for little girls. This is a realistic baby that allows girls to pretend to be mothers. Each baby drinks, eats, pees/soils her diaper, cries, and moves her arms/legs. It's a great toy for girls to play with and mimic their moms. The price is around $30.

Barbie and the Diamond Castle Princess Liana Doll

Just like the High School Musical dolls, this doll sings song from the movie "Barbie and the Diamond Castle." Each doll comes with an ordinary dress that magically transforms into a fancy one for singing. Runs around $12.

Elmo Live

Elmo Live can be never endless fun. Elmo tells stories, jokes, sings, and dances. He is always doing something new. He is very realistic, his mouth moves as he talks, he waves his arms, and even crosses his legs. It's a little pricey, around $60, but I'm sure your girls will love it. 

Besides these toys there are many other to choose from. Some others worth checking out are Bratz Girlz Really Rock Dolls, Littlest Pet Shop VIPs, Chou Chou My First Tooth, and Fur Real Biscuit, My Lovin' Pup. 

~Activities For The Entire Family In Madrid~

I have wanted to go to Spain, but when I was younger, I didn’t even know what Spain was or even in what general direction it was in. Traveling places with children can be a chore no matter where you are going, the supermarket, Grandma and Grandpa’s house, or even out to dinner. Traveling with children to a whole new country is an entirely different leap of its own. I know that I wouldn’t be bored going to all of the monuments, exploring Spain on foot, and wining and dining in the magnificent restaurants. But for a child, these things can seem pointless and very tiresome. I realized that even though that might be my dream vacation, that isn’t the same for families with children that are a bit younger. Here are some activities that the whole family can enjoy without getting bored:

If your family isn’t too afraid of heights and your children are old enough to sit still for about fifteen minutes, then you might look into seeing Madrid at a bird’s eye view. Try taking the cable car (“el Teleférico”) that was built with the amusement park (Parque de Atracciones). You begin your journey in on the Paseo del Pintor Rosales street and it takes you over the River Manzanares and into the Casa de Campo Park. While you are up there, you can see many of the attractions and even take photos from several different angles. The cabins reach a maximum height of 40 meters off the groujd and the length of the ride is 2.5 kilometers which takes just over ten minutes from beginning to end. The Teleferico runs every day from April to September and weekends during the other months. Their website as much more details.

The second place is the Madrid Zoo and Parque de Atracciones (Amusement Park),and they are located in La Casa de Campo de Madrid . Along with the amusement park, there is a Zoo and it was merged with the Aquarium in 1995. Madrid Zoo and Aquarium is considered one of the most modern and important zoos in Europe. The Parque de Atracciones has six distinct adventure zones, filled with exciting adventures and activities. There's the Naturaleza or Nature zone, the Maquinismo or Automation zone, the Tranquilidad or Tranquility zone, the Infantil or Infant zone, the Gran Avenida or Grand Avenue zone, and the Trispace Virtual or Virtual World zone. This is one of the largest theme parks in Europe. It is open from mid-April to mid-September, opening every day at 12 noon. During the winter months of the year it is only open at weekends. It attracts 2.2 million visitors a year, employs 350 people, and has around 40 attractions. It would be fun for the whole family; honestly how many chances will you have to go to an amusement park in another country?

When traveling to Spain, make sure to the time to do activities that the entire family places that everyone can enjoy and spend time together as a family. For more ideas, you can visit Go Madrid and finding more activities for the family.