Great European Skiing Destinations

When it comes to skiing and winter sports, Europe has more than its fair share of amazing resorts.  From the greatly priced, to the more than reasonable, Europe has it all, and has so much to offer any skier.  If you’ve never been to Europe on a skiing holiday, or if you’re looking to expand your experience, you’ll find something that catches your eye without too much research, and you might just end up joining the legions of skiing fans that wouldn’t go anywhere else in the world for their vacation.

On mainland Europe, you have such a varied selection.  From the world famous French skiing resorts to Austria, Switzerland and the tiny principality of Andorra, you’ve got such a wide range of skiing to choose from.  France is known the world over as the true home of skiing, and the French really know how to do a quality vacation.  With naturally amazing resources, and scenery that can take your breath away, France is an ideal location for a skiing trip.  Why not try the Courchevel resort, which has four different ski resorts within one, providing the perfect blend of quality and affordability in a skiing trip.  From the grossly overpriced 1850 resort, the playground of Europe’s film stars and playboys, to the seemingly remote 1350 at the bottom of the hill, you have so much to choose from in Europe’s finest skiing country.  With the kids or with your friends, France is truly a destination that will make for a memorable skiing vacation.

Or how about some of the Italian resorts?  Italy, famous for being the cheaper way to ski, also benefits from a diverse range of resorts, like the tiny Alba resort, as well as some larger, more sizeable areas to ski.  Famous for passion and a depth of culture, Italy is the ideal place to take a skiing break in Europe, and the weather’s good too!  Or how about Italy’s neighbor, Croatia?  A rising European nation, you’ll find a Croatian holiday outrageously good value for money, not to mention top quality.  From the international standard ski resorts to their world class restaurants, Croatia is certainly a country on the up, and its skiing facilities can only improve as more and more tourists flock to their slopes each year.  Additionally, Bulgaria is an excellent skiing destination to take the kids.  With open arms, you will be welcomed by the Bulgarian people, who are more than eager to tell you about their rich and deep past, and welcome you as part of their future.  In these expanding and developing European nations, you will come to appreciate the value of tourism, and the quality of treatment and service they are prepared to offer for your investment.

How about Austria for your skiing trip?  When we think of skiing, we often imagine the Alpine ideal, with breathtaking scenery and fresh, clean air.  Well, it simply doesn’t come much better than Austria, and if you’re looking for a skiing destination that has it all, why not try Austria for that touch of class with your skiing.  Or why not pop over to Switzerland for their Alps experience?  Skiing the alps in the home of chocolate and cuckoo clocks, you will be amazed at how picturesque this modern nation has managed to be, whilst still becoming a world leader in financial industry.

Skiing in Europe is the ideal way to spend your vacation.  If you love skiing, you are guaranteed to find a great resort somewhere, within your budget that meets your needs, and caters for your ability.  With most resorts also boasting strong training academies, you can also work to improve your skills while you are there, ensuring that your skiing trip is both useful and memorable.  Whatever you are looking for, choose Europe as your number one skiing destination, for that perfect blend of quality, tradition and culture, and for a holiday that is truly breathtaking.

Branding for People! Check Out

Indeed, almost everything we do is influenced by brand names. Virtually everyone, it seems, is brand conscious, and even professional success is sometimes attributed to “personal branding.”

Your personal brand is your promise of value. It helps you stand apart from your competitors, your colleagues, and your peers. Personal branding is not just about framing a unique, artificial picture for the outside world, it is about portraying the distinct amalgamation of cogent and poignant features that you possess. All these features, including your strengths, talents, values, and obsessions, are used to differentiate you and to guide your career decisions.

Your Name Matters

“What’s in a name?” some say, but they ignore the value of names at their own peril. Our names have a grand value in our lives. Treating another person’s name with dignity will make him feel gratified and encourage him to treasure his name as his most valued possession. Treat his name with respect and you will gain his respect, and vice versa.

The Keys to Successful Personal Branding

1. Visualize your brand. “To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act,” says French novelist Anatole France. Create your brand framework. Envision your goals. Then begin the assessment process and build up your brand.

2. Identify yourself. Authenticity is critical to establishing a booming personal brand. For better branding, get to know yourself better. If you are innovative, vibrant, and extroverted, you will not win by communicating the traits of being conventional, dull, and quiet.

3. Identify your competitors. You cannot be prominent if you do not know who your colleagues or rivals are. Find out if your competitors are at your present workplace or within your industry. Consider both your own goals and your competition. If you are planning major career changes, then your present colleagues are not your competitors. If you are aiming for a senior post in your current company, identifying competitors and their brand features should be fairly uncomplicated.

4. Focus on your target audience. Identifying the traits of your target audience helps you craft your communication accordingly, helping you to understand how and where you can reach your audience.

5. Convey yourself. Describe the essence of your brand while creating a personal brand profile. List your brand features, prepare a brand statement, and create a personal brand tagline.

6. Blend well. You can discover the ultimate arrangement of communications tools that get in touch with your audience effectively, only when you become acquainted with yourself, your competitors, and your goals. All possible communications tools must be evaluated, and the right combination must be selected to reach your target audience.

7. Connect your brand to everything. Remember never to leave your brand behind, not even when you are participating in a meeting, writing a report, giving a presentation, or going on a business trip.

8. Eat your brand, drink your brand. Give yourself a period of at least two weeks to become accustomed to your brand. Check to see if everything that you do during that period — the clothes you wear, the food you eat, the articles you use during the day, etc. — is consistent with your brand.

9. Assess and progress. Once your brand becomes recognized, and the communication skills needed to reach your target audience are developed, start measuring your brand’s success.

All strong brands grow with the passage of time, proving the brands’ continued relevance to their target audiences.

So, go on, mold yourself into a brand and feel the difference.

- MarketingCrossing

How many calories should you eat

Well, how much do you move? How fast is your metabolism? Are you pregnant? Cycling the Tour de France this week? Getting over a cold? Are you growing (and I mean in height, not in circumference)? Or would you rather shrink a little (and now I do mean circumference)?

Surely the answer to how many calories you should eat is a clear “it depends”. If there ever was an instance where one size does not fit all, it’s the ominous question of caloric intake. I have never seen a single issue so hotly debated, with each single person completely convinced that their calculation is correct.

Generally speaking, you should take into account your level of activity, your age, your stage of development, your environment, your health and your plans for the near future. All easy variables to take into consideration. Which, once you do, gives you a ballpark figure of anywhere between let’s say 1000-4000 kcal per day. Very exact science, I know.

What about the types of calories you’re eating, is that perhaps a bit easier to work out?

Well, not really. If you’re cycling the Tour de France you’d want to make sure you get plenty of your calories from carbohydrates, or else your legs might not take you to the top of the Alps as quickly as desired. If you’re planning an expedition to the North Pole in the next few months perhaps you would like that extra insulating layer and would prefer your calories came from something containing lots of fatty acids. If you’re pregnant, well, then you’d better ask your doctor (I’m really not qualified to make recommendations at this stage.)

So instead of worrying about how many calories you should eat, how about worrying about why you’re worrying about it. Or even better, taking a step back, a deep breathe and telling yourself, I’m alive, life’s too short to count calories and if you dig into that chocolate cake, just remember to get off the bus a stop earlier and walk a little bit more.

Holiday To Spain – Great Tips For Finding Culture And History

In the Southern region of Europe you will find the beautiful country of Spain. It is bordered by France, Andorra, Portugal, Gibraltar and Morocco. Every year millions of people come to Spain for beach vacations and to take in the culture and history of the country if they wish. Spain is a beautiful country with a lot of historical cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, beautiful countryside, mountains, scenic coast and art treasures. Holidays to Spain will leave you with grand memories for a lifetime.

Going on a Trip to Barcelona

The culture and history of the diverse city of Barcelona can be experienced as you walk down the famous street mall, La Rambla. La Rambla is that place where you can experience the local culture through traditional Spanish cafes. As you walk down La Rambla, you can freely meet local artists and visit local shops in central Barcelona. Beauty lines the street. In fact, you can admire several great works of Antoni Gaudi, the outstanding 19th century architect. Among the beautiful buildings he designed that can be visited here are the Casa Mila, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Battlo, Parc Guell, Palau Guell, and Casa Vicens. Don’t forget to visit the fountain that is well-established for its legend that all of those who take a drink there will come back some day to the drop-dead gorgeous city of Barcelona.

However there are plenty of places beyond La Rambla where you will experience this great history of Barcelona during your trip to Spain. Barcelona is full of thrilling museums. These museums depict the rich art and Barcelona’s history. Make sure you do not miss out on the local tapas bar and restaurant scenes while you are on holiday in Spain. Barcelona features many opportunities to delight the typical varieties of Spanish cuisine in the traditional Spanish eating places.

Taking a Holiday in Madrid

The Spanish capital city is Madrid. Travelers regularly include Madrid in their travel plan when they take holidays in Spain. Because of its higher elevation in central Spain, Madrid has a unique climate amongst the other cities of Spain. A must see in Madrid for any tourist is the monument of Puerta de Alcala situated in the central part of Madrid. Close to this highlight you can relax in the beautiful Parque del Buen Retiro or visit the Prado Museum. There is too much historic beauty in Madrid for any culture lover or art lover to not be awed by the rich history that can be experienced in Madrid.

Seeing the Rest of Spain

In other parts of Spain you can also find many historical places and ancient works issued. When going to Spain vacations, it is easy to move from one city to another, by bus or by train. To have more control over your travel plan taking a rental car is the most preferred way of travel for many people. Take out a map and tourist guide to enjoy your own great trip to Spain.

Two book reviews: Spain: A Culinary Road Trip and In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto – Part 1

Spain: A Culinary Road Trip

Part history lesson and part travel diary, Spain: A Culinary Road Trip is a delightful afternoon read full of mouth-watering recipes and gorgeous pictures. The adventures of chef Mario Batali and his friends, journalist Mark Bittman, and actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Claudia Bassols give an inviting look at the culture and tastes of Spain as they travel throughout the various regions of the country. Batali expertly characterizes the unique cuisine and people of each region. He introduces the reader to the people he meets and the places he visits. The group meets some of the country’s top chefs, in addition to a few of the best regional cooks in Spain.

They begin their journey in Madrid, but over several weeks make their way all across Spain. Most of the regions have some similarities in their cuisine, such as olive oil, ham, and cheese. But many of the regions have their own specialties. The coastal regions of Spain have abundant supplies of fish and seafood. These ingredients are incorporated into a number of flavorful dishes, including Fideos with Seafood and Paella.

In the mountainous region of Asturias in northwest Spain, Batali had the regional dish of Fabada, a bean and pork stew. He then met a local woman, Pilar Sanchez, who cooked a meal with ingredients (chicken, apples and chestnuts) from her small farm. In Madrid, Batali meets Matilde Amaya, the “matriarch of la cocina gitana” (gypsy cooking). She shows Batali the techniques of gypsy cooking with Gypsy Potage, a Christmastime stew, and Gypsy Salad.

From Galicia to Barcelona, and Granada to Mallorca, Batali and friends have a grand adventure full of food, friends, history and beauty. Spain: A Culinary Road Trip will have you ready to try the cuisine of Spain and learn more about the history. If the recipes included in the book are not enough, experience for yourself the excitement of Spain.

In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

With In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, Michael Pollan has again turned the world of food on its head. In The Omnivore’s Dilemma Pollan challenged the “conventional” idea of food with a more sustainable way of eating. Now in his latest book, Pollan has taken on the nutritionists and the Western diet and thrown years of “nutritional information” out the window.

When each new research study negates the results of the previous best way to eat, one begins to wonder if the nutritionists

Denia In Spain And Its Enchantments

Denia, on the Costa Blanca of Spain has always been strategically located on the skirt of the Montgo hills, dominated by a castle which was once an Arab fortress, right on the Mediterranean Sea. Dianium was its first name given to it by the Romans owing to the fact that there was a temple nearby which had been dedicated to Diana. The Greeks seem to be the first tourists in 6 B.C. and staying for a while because of its climate, very similar to that of Greece, giving it the name of Hemeroscopeion. But as we have seen in many other places in Spain, the Arabs were the ones who stayed the longest and who really populated the area, converting it in the capital of the region of the Caliph of Cordoba. After the expulsion of the Moors, this city suffered terribly both economically and in population. But it made its comeback with the production and exportation of raisins, mainly to England. But unfortunately this has decreased considerably both in Denia ( http://www.alicante-spain.com/denia.html ) as well as in Javea. But a city does not die out that easily and it has made itself into an important tourist area.

Dianium, better known as Denia

Other than having been renovated and made into a modern city dealing with a large number of tourists who are looking for cheap flights and good hotels, Denia has still conserved its old quarters and neighbourhoods such as Les Roques found at the bottom of the castle, The Baix la Mar ( down near the sea) located in the fishermen’s neighbourhood or the Cross Square ( Plaza de la Creu) where you can rest for awhile to have a snack , lunch or dinner while you glance at the Mediterranean Sea. Along the Cervantes Promenade you can find terraced cafeterias or restaurantes where it is very typical to eat ‘tapas’ or small portions of seafood, ham or different omelettes and refresh your dry mouth with cold Spanish beer or delicious wines. You can even try typical dishes from other cities or surrounding towns like Torrevieja, Altea, Murcia and Calpe. But being as these places are not very far away, and the scenery is quite nice, it would be recommendable to do a car hire and go for seeing is believing.

Back to the old quarters where the Mayor and Loreto streets are, you will see pretty neolassical buildings which belong to the upper Valencian class people. The Town Hall dates to the 17th century, the Saint Mary Assumption Church on Vila Vella street goes back to the 16th c. There are also two museums- The Archaeological Museum which has a great number of remains of all the different cultures which has invaded this area and can be seen at the same time as you acquire your entrance ticket to the castle. It is open from 10 to 1′30 and from 5 til 8, closed on Thursdays. And the Ethnological Museum on Cavallers Street no. 1 which deals with the times when the raisin business was at its best. It is open from 10′30 to 1 and from 4 until 7, closing on Mondays and Sunday afternoons.

Fun in the Sun in Denia

One of the most looked for characteristics of this big town is its beaches and coves. Heading towards the south to a rocky coastal area called Les Rotes, there is a group of small coves where scuba-diving and fishing fans hang out. To the north of the town, the there are sandy beaches like Els Palmars or las Marinas and not very deep waters- ideal for family outings. Other than the well known Fallas, also done in denia and the Moor and Christian parade, Denia has a very original feast honouring its patron saint ( Santisima Sangre ) the first 15 days in July called ‘ Bulls into the water’. Where else can you become a bullfighter overnight? Denia like many other coastal towns can give you full satisfaction with all your holidays needs.

Book reviews: Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert

I know what you’re thinking. Enough “Eat, Pray, Love” already. Everywhere I go – subway, airport, bakery – someone is reading it. By someone, I mean the entire American female population.

Which leads me to my thesis about this book: popular does not equal trite. This book has had the power to change many lives, including my friends and my own. In fact, I actually know a man that read it. And liked it. (Though, admittedly, he did not read it in public for fear of being mocked by others).

But let’s take a look at the universality of this piece. Elizabeth Gilbert, at 31, realizes the American dream (husband, suburbs, children) is not what she wants. A faint internal voice murmurs this reality until it gets so loud that the voice is screaming and she ends up on the bathroom floor wailing one evening, knowing that change is mandatory.

Subsequent chapters describe her journey through Italy, India and Indonesia in an effort to challenge herself into finding some inner truth.

Let’s back up to the bathroom floor part. I can guarantee with 100% certainty that 95% of the women I know have found themselves on the bathroom floor in a similar fetal position, bemoaning some aspect of their lives that is no longer tolerable. The other 5% are in denial.

This fact is what makes the book so inspiring and yes, popular.

In my view, the book’s popularity has only had positive repercussions. Women practicing yoga is at an all-time high. Gilbert’s book signings and readings are often sold out. I even wrote to her to let her know how the book changed my life and she wrote back personally, mentioning that the hundreds of letters she’s received have given her great comfort by sharing her truth.

Rarely will I post two entries a day, but many of you asked me to report back on “Eat, Pray, Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert’s speaking event held tonight in Chicago.

Two nights ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Gilbert speak in Chicago. What’s interesting about the event was that it inspired me take down the Elizabeth Gilbert Statue of Worship that lived in my mind. Guess what? She’s just like us. A normal, funny person that went through normal stuff. Not a biblical figure who transformed the spiritual landscape for all of woman kind (I prefer the word ‘human’). I think it’s easy to miss that when it’s all wrapped up in a book, with a clear starting point and conclusion.

She doesn’t get up at 4:30, meditate for two hours and do yoga for the next three. And, not everything after “Eat, Pray, Love” was easy. She recounted many hard times that followed.

Actually, she told us that some days she doesn’t do much, but simply looks forward to the glass of wine she has with her husband and cat at the end of the day.

Hey, wow, that’s just like plain, old, vanilla, regular life. It’s being content.

What’s the Secret? There’s no secret. She doesn’t claim to be a spiritual visionary. All she said was that for her, it was about being more aware, paying attention to her intuition and minimizing the second-guessing. That’s it.

Gay Travel in Spain Can be a Culinary Delight

 

If you do not try out some places where you can savour some local delights, you tend to miss out on the very essence of a vacation. We have a selection of the best food destinations for you. The places are as much about savouring food, as they are about a quiet romantic getaway. There can be a lot of such places, but what’s better than a serene Spanish food adventure. One might ask why Spain, when there are other destinations all around. Well if you want the aphrodisiac in your blood stream, you have to come to this country and have the food here. Sensuousness oozes out of its preparations.

 

At the heart of Spain is where you can start your vacation, Madrid. The city is not gay friendly as a whole, but the gay community has carved out its niche in the city. The place is called Chueca. Chueca is packed with shops, gay restaurants, gay bars, gay pubs and gay clubs. Following the trend of any hip city stopover, the otherwise gay bars and gay clubs attract the non-gay crowd as well. The place has many gay hotels in and around Chueca, so there is no problem of a stay in Madrid. You can find gay hotels of all prices here. People display the Gay Pride flag all around Chueca as a sign of acceptance.

 

Some of the best places to get a taste of your culinary delights are in this area. To start with we have, Arce which is run by a charismatic chef named Iñaki Camba. Its not unusual for him to approach his customers with a grim expression and ask absurd question like “Are you hungry?”, before serving them their favorite meal prepared by his very own hands! He specializes in his own versions of traditional Basque recipes using fresh fish and wild game. He has put his own stamp on the decor of this small and cosy restaurant, as well. Then another joint, which is well frequented, is Carmencita. A long-established eatery that has been in business since 1850, Carmencita began with serving typical Madrid specialties, but today it is more of a bistro producing homemade Basque cuisine.

 

Once you have had enough of the capital, you should move down south. The beauty about Spain is its diversity. Malaga can seem at first to be an uninviting town, but that’s not really true. The gay area is called Plaza de la Merced. This square represents the cradle of liberties, and an obelisk in the center here is devoted to the recollection of general Torrijos who was a free spirit and was executed at this place on La Termica beach, for defending civil rights. This is also where Picasso was born, and they say that he loved playing with the pigeons here. To come to Málaga and not eat fresh anchovies is a mortal sin.

 

Once in Spain you can never stop; other wonderful places to go are, Seville, Valencia and Mallorca. Spain can never be enough for the romantic traveler.

Where To Eat In Murcia

Spain is well known for its many tasty contributions to the global cookbook. Among the traditional epicurean delights available to those enjoying luxury holidays in Spain are paella, chorizo, Manchego cheese, olives, empanadas, turron, paprika, patatas bravas, rioja wine and of course lots of seafood.

Those who have been on family holidays to Murcia will already be aware that the cuisine in this region of Spain is second to none – however, they may not be aware that much of what they have eaten in Murcia has strong associations with the south-eastern region of Spain.

Paprika, capers, cheese, rice and apricots all have a distinct link with Murcia – Market Uno notes that capers have been a crucial part of Murcian cooking since the 16th century. Those who wish to try out the tantalising flavours of Murcian fare while they are on a villa holiday in Spain may wish to visit some of the following Murcia eateries.

A great thing about eating in Murcia is that much of the food is grown locally, so you can look forward to fat juicy red tomatoes in your salad. A great cafe to visit if you would like a view while you dine is Cafeteria Catedral in the city centre. Described as “lovely” by Viva Murcia, you can enjoy your typically Spanish lunch while observing the daily comings and goings of life in the square outside the entrance to the cathedral.

However – Spanish food is not all that is on offer in Murcia, with the Italian-style Il Caffe Di Roma serving up Mediterranean cuisine from both Spain and Italy. Family holidays in Spain would hardly be complete without some traditional tapas meals and those on family holidays in Murcia are all the more fortunate in this sense.

“Spanish chefs in the know acknowledge that Murcia is home to Spain’s best tapas, a result of the city’s location between some of the country’s richest arable land and the Mediterranean,” the Guardian recently claimed. The publication made note of the mussels at La Mejillonera, opposite the Episcopal palace, which come with cumin and chilli “like you’d find in Morocco” and a “lovely” lemon sauce.

Other tapas restaurants that are likely to tickle your tastebuds in the best possible way in Murcia include Los Zagales – which, according to the newspaper, not only serves a tasty crunchy Russian salad but comes complete with friendly locals. If you want to eat in typical Spanish style then make a night of your evening meal and hop from bar to bar trying a different plate of tapas at each one.

Recommended bars in Murcia include Plaza de las Flores, El Bolito, La Tapa, Las Viandas, Las Mulas, Pepico del Tio Gines and Casa Perela – which serves wild mushrooms sauteed in olive oil and garlic shoots, suckling pig and of course paella. However, if moving around between courses is not your style and you wish to eat at one restaurant, then Murcia has many beautiful bistros to choose from.

For quick service, the Spanish Airport Guide recommends Rincon de Pepe, famous for its Paparajotes dessert – made with the leaves of lemon trees. If you are enjoying a luxury holiday in Spain then the guide suggests a trip to the 17th century wine bodega turned restaurant Palacete Rural La Seda for a modern meal made with local ingredients.

Finally, Murcia is famous for its regional wine and so do make sure to try some during your Spanish holiday. The Airport Guide notes that Restaurante El Sordo in the Murcian valley of Ricote offers traditional and creative cuisine served in “very generous” portions, which can be washed down with locally made house wine.

Best restaurants & brew pubs in Keystone, Colorado

If you’re looking for beautiful scenery and enjoy the snow the Keystone, Colorado is the place for you. After spending all day on the slopes you will probably be looking for a great place to relax and soak up some of that Keystone atmosphere while having some great food and drinks. There are many restaurants all over Keystone but I found a few that are sure-fire winners with even the most discernable appetites.

Frtiz Alpine Bistro is a must visit on any trip to Keystone. It’s located at the bottom of the mountain in river run village and visiting this little bistro won’t leave you disappointed. The European inspired French mountain food consists of mostly soups, sandwiches and stews, which make it a great place to lunch after hitting the slopes. The staff is always friendly and the owners are usually behind the bar cooking and fixing drinks. You can’t go wrong with Fritz’s Alpine Bistro.

Maybe what your looking for is something a little different and a little more expensive then the Der Fondue Chessel would defiantly be the place for you. Warning this restaurant is not for the faint of wallet as the usual meal for four will run you a couple hundred dollars but if you have the time and the money this is a not to be missed unique experience. The enclosed gondolas are amazing and fondue is to die for. Defiantly worth visiting if you’re in Keystone.

Looking for a little romance among the beautiful mountains and breathtaking scenery then Soda Creek Valley is the ultimate romance lovers fantasy. A horse drawn sleigh whisks you away to an authentic homestead while a cozy little cabin beckons you in from the crisp night air. Along the way are not only the beautiful scenery but also wonderful stories about the history of Keystone. The price is a little expensive but the authentic rocky mountain sleigh ride experience is well worth the price and the authentic cowboy dinner is defiantly a treat.

If your looking to put a little more of the adult life into your Keystone experience you won’t be disappointed. A lot of the restaurants offer wine tastings but for a brew pub the Great Northern Tavern can’t be beat. Offering a selection of pilsners, stouts, ambers and Canadian pale ale along with friendly staff and excellent food ranging from chops to steaks to seafood this is a winner in my book.

With so many restaurants and brewpubs in Keystone you are sure to find the right fit for you. The relaxed Bavarian atmosphere of most of the restaurants makes them a prefect way to relax after a long day on the slopes. No matter what you are looking for in Keystone you are sure to find it among the great Rocky Mountains.

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