Archive for July 8th, 2010

On unsettled waters

On unsettled waters
DULUTH, Minn. – Cathi Williams can see the change in use of the Boundary Waters over the years.”Defi …

Read more on Hutchinson News

Naturists and Naturalists – Vacations in Southern Crete

Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands, is sometimes described as a mass tourist resort. It is true that there are several north coast resorts on Crete that can be found in the brochures of practically every package tour company. But Crete is a very big island with many unspoilt holiday resorts for tourists who prefer a quieter vacation, enjoying beautiful scenery and glimpses of traditional Cretan culture.

Both of Crete’s international airports are situated on the north coast and two high mountain ranges running east-west, form a natural barrier to mass tourism reaching the south coast. In the southwest corner of the island, the highest mountains drop steeply to the coastal area, making any serious development of these remote communities impossible. Indeed, the mountains drop so steeply here that some of the villages can only be accessed by sea.

This area of Crete is known as the Sfakia region. It lays at the foot the White Mountain range. These mountains have more than a hundred peaks, with eighty reaching to over 6500 feet and the highest ones towering to nearly eight thousand feet. Europe’s longest gorge, the Samaria, can be found amongst them, along with several others that are less well known but are every bit as picturesque and dramatic to explore.

To get to the Sfakia region, most people fly to Chania airport and travel by road over a mountain pass to Chora Sfakion. However, my best travel tip is to check out the cost of flights to Nikos Kazantzakis Airport in Heraklion before deciding which airport to fly to. I have always found that it is possible to make substantial savings by flying there instead of to Chania and the road journey to Chora Sfakion is not really all that much further.

There are a couple of family run hotels, self catering apartments, studios and village rooms providing accommodations at competitive rates in and around Chora Sfakion but we have always stayed at the beautiful naturist hotel a mile to the east in Vritomartis. If you dare to bare this is one of the few places in Greece where nudity is officially allowed. The whole of the hotel grounds are clothes optional and the area around the pool is designated as naturist only. The nearest beach is only a five minute walk away and is also clothes optional. The area is so remote, that many guests don’t even bother dressing for the walk.

For naturalists the Sfakia region provides plenty of opportunities to spot unique Cretan flora and fauna which includes the Kri Kri, a species of wild goat, indigenous to and only found on Crete. Dolphins, whales and turtles can often be seen in the clear coastal waters whilst Bonelli’s Eagle and the Griffon Vulture may be seen circling in the blue skies above.

For walkers, the gorges and mountains provide challenges ranging from relaxing hikes to demanding treks. The most famous walk is of course the Samaria Gorge and although it is very much worth undertaking, you may be put off by the crowds of tourists that descend it nearly every day. They arrive by the coach-load from all over the island because the excursion is number one on every tour operators “must-sell” list. Its worth putting up with the crowds however because once you have hiked a few hundred metres from the start of the walk, you will find plenty of spaces between you and the other walkers for the remaining 16 kilometres. The scenery is magnificent all the way down to the shore of the Lybian sea at Agia Roumeli from where you get a boat back to Chora Sfakion.

The smaller gorges of Imbros and Aradena are much less likely to be afflicted by hoards of other tourists. Imbros is an easy half day hike and its finish is situated very near to Vritomartis, making it a good choice for naturists who want to put their shorts and hiking boots on just for a change. Aradena is more of a challenge but not much further away. A good head for heights is needed on one of the sections where a little scrambling is involved.

For history lovers, the region has much to reveal about the Battle for Crete during the second world war and it is definitely worth reading the book of this name by Nikos Kazantzakis as a prelude to your vacation. The mountain villages were famous for their fierce resistance fighters where you will find the occasional statue or monument erected in memory of a local hero.

So, if you are the sort of person who loves dramatic, picturesque scenery, secluded beaches with crystal clear waters, remote mountain villages where traditional culture still remains; this part of Crete is definitely for you. If you happen to be a naturist as well as a naturalist, my travel tip is to book your vacation at the Vritomartis hotel. If you prefer to hide some parts of your body from the hot Cretan sun, head for the accommodations in Chora Sfakion instead. If you want to stay somewhere that is even more remote, hop on a boat at Chora Sfakion to take you to the next coastal village which is called Loutro. Although there is no way of reaching Loutro by road, it does have some pretty holiday apartments, several secluded beaches that nestle in coves at the foot of cliffs and donkey tracks and paths that lead up into the mountains and along the coast.

Wherever you decide to stay in this region of southern Crete you will almost certainly enjoy good weather. However, a fierce wind, blowing from the north and known as the Meltemi, funnels down through the mountain gorges and hits the southern shores with some force. It is usually at its strongest from mid July to late August, making Europe’s most southerly sun seem a little cooler than it would otherwise be. If you don’t like being wind blasted, avoid this time of the year.

Best scuba diving

Florida has exceptional dive sites that have something to offer to scuba enthusiasts regardless of their level of ability. From shallow dives that offer plenty of bottom time to deeper more technical dives for the more experienced diver.

BLACKMAR’S REEF:

If you are looking for one location that will provide an entire week of diving, then Blackmar’s Reef might be just the place for you.

You will find Blackmar’s off the coast of Jacksonville. It’s a diverse scuba site that is both man-made and the work of nature. You will find five large wrecks that include airplanes, a super barge, a tug, and even a ferry boat.

To complement these, you will find natural limestone reefs with soft coral growth. Even though the reefs are not exceptionally large, it tends to be a magnet for a diverse range of  marine life. If you are interested in photography, this site is a must visit.

THE GATOR BOWL REEF:

If you are interested in a dive that is one of a kind, this site might be of interest to you. After being given a NFL franchise, someone in Jacksonville had the inspiring idea to drop the press boxes from the old stadium onto a group of small reefs.

Now they are a popular Florida diving site and the sprawling press boxes are home to huge schools of assorted game fish. Don’t forget your light, because there are plenty of caves to explore in the same area.

You will also discover that the gator bowl reef is a popular night diving spot.

COPPEDGE TUG:

As part of the Jacksonville artificial reef program, the Chippewa was sunk off the coast in 1988.

One advantage of this site is that it sits in only 75 feet of water. This makes it an excellent dive site for the beginner as the depth allows for plenty of bottom time.

You will find the tug sitting upright with it’s prop still in place. At first the wreck might be difficut to spot amongst the thousands and thousands of fish that occupy the reef.

THE HALSEY:

This world war II wreck can be found just offshore of Fort Pierce.

It may well be one of the state’s most interesting “natural” wrecks you will enounter.

It sits in the exact position it settled to the bottom after it was torpedoed. The bow, midships, and superstructure sit upright, but the stern settled upside down.

The ship is fairly intact, and is in about 90 feet of water.

Most likely the fish you will spot here will be of the large variety. That might include barcuda, nurse sharks, and big grouper.

If you look carefully at the sea bottom you may spot some extremely large lobster as well.

KINGFISH HOLE:

If your interests lean toward night diving, this site off the Treasure Coast might be just the dive for you.

It has the advantage of being quite shallow at 40 feet or so, and as a result you have the opportunity to spend lots of time on the bottom.

You’ll be able to observe lobsters, and large schools of snapper, and it you’re lucky, some nurse sharks having a nap under one of the many overhanging ledges.

THE PLAYGROUND:

This is for the more serious, experienced diver. The Playground is located in West Palm Beach and sits at 125 feet or so.

Pipes, and culverts are scattered across the sea bed. This provides an opportunity to see some very large, green moray eels. Barracuda are also in the neighborhood, as are some very big residents such as, eagle rays, whalesharks and even sunfish reaching weights over 500 pounds.

SAND KEY:

This tiny strip of land is located near the southwest of Key West. It has a huge variety of dive sites as the island that houses the Key Lighthouse is surrounded by reefs.

Off the South side, brilliant colored coral can be seen in every direction you look.

The area is simply teeming with fish and has interesting trenches that are fun to investigate.

As you venture further out, the bottom will begin to slope away. This is where you want to be sure and have a camera along as often eagle rays and huge morays can be spotted in the area.

Whatever your experience of interests when it comes to scuba, Florida is sure to have a site to make your next dive a memorable one.

Easily Become a Travel Agent for Huge Tax Write-Offs

How are most small business owners losing thousands of dollars every year? Eva Rosenberg, author of Small Business Taxes Made Easy notes, “Many small businesses are cheating themselves out of at least $2,000 to $3,000 worth of tax benefits a year by not knowing the deductions and credits available to them.” For travel agents, travel is a tax write-off — whether to an industrial center or an island resort! If a purpose is to discuss business with other travelers, have business appointments, or to attend a business-related seminar, you go tax free. Travel agents may also deduct their travel if it is simply for the purpose of familiarizing themselves with a resort, ship, tour, etc. This means that almost any travel an agent does can be a tax write-off! It is helpful if prior to the trip you can substantiate prior planning for familiarization or for making business contacts. Your spouse’s travel can even be deductible if the individual is part of your business or his or her presence is helpful in conducting your business. Transportation expenses include all those costs incurred getting to and from your destination: airfare, vehicle, on-the-road expenses such as lodging, meals, laundry, dry cleaning, and others. For fees under $75 it is not necessary to keep receipts. For example, if while traveling you pay $20 for dry cleaning, the IRS does not demand a receipt. The only exception is for lodging. If you stay overnight, you must get a receipt for your payment. If you drive your car, 300 miles per day is allowable tax free. For foreign travel, you can deduct all weekends and holidays that fall between business days and you can deduct on-the-road expenses for days in transit. In the case of cruise ships, you can claim it as a deduction if you can substantiate that you used the trip to familiarize yourself with this cruise package/ship. First and foremost, whether you’re in the travel business or some other, the IRS’s primary requirement is that you legitimately treat your home business as a business — not a hobby. That means regularly working your business. Hand out your business card, talk to people, all the time, everywhere you go about travel. Let them know you are a travel agent and would appreciate their business. When you’re out to lunch or dinner with other travel agents, prospects, or friends and you discuss “business”, your meal is 50 percent tax deductible. Some try to also write off trips to the theater, opera, or sports events because they’re “entertaining a possible client.” Be careful with this one. Entertainment expenses are generally non-deductible. If you try to claim deductions for sporting events, gala or social nights, concerts or other similar functions you’d better be able to substantiate that you were dealing with possible customers. If you definitely discuss business matters with a client or possible client while at the event, this does open the door to a possible deduction. Home to work travel is deductible in limited circumstances – for example, if you are engaged in itinerant work, but many independent travel agents have a home office. A home office deduction is available if a portion of your home is used as a principal place of business, you meet or deal with clients or customers, you use it to conduct administrative or management functions, or you store some sort of inventory or product samples. You should use your office at least three to four days per week or 10 to 12 hours per week. In regard to indirect business expenses, you can receive a deduction of approximately 12 to 16 percent based on the square footage or the number of rooms in your home. Home computers, fax machines, telephones, office supplies, and office furniture are tax deductible. But it’s important to have your home office on business cards, have business visitors sign a logbook, keep a work-activity log for time spent, or be able to demonstrate work you have accomplished online from your home office. It is wise to keep a separate “tax diary” of appointments, general transportation, meals, trips, business appointments, contacts. If the IRS ever questions your claims and you don’t have receipts for everything, this tax diary will be of great assistance. So what in heaven’s name are you waiting for? If you love travel and have some time to travel, becoming a travel agent is a no-brainer. It is easy and inexpensive to become an agent and between hugely discounted trips and the tax write-offs, the savings can be almost unlimited.

Top 7 Must-Visit Places in Dubai

Dubai is one of the United Arab Emirates. It’s a prosperous, advanced nation in a vigorously developing area of the world. Fantastic towers and brilliant ideas rise out of a desert which Omar Khyyam would have recognized and on a sea which has been the cradle of human history for thousands of years.

Your travel dollar will get real value in Dubai. Hotels in Dubai base their businesses on providing absolute top quality luxury accommodation, service and amenities for guests. The hotel packages are specifically designed to attract attention from experienced and highly selective travelers.

When you come to Dubai, you will experience the extraordinary and the unique on a daily basis. These are just some of the places you must see:

Dubai World

Dubai World is a range of artificial islands which form a map of the world. There are 300 islands with designer living as the keynote concept. The islands have facilities for visitors, shopping, Dubai World is the modern world’s answer to the great designer cities of the past, a triumph of civilization.

Dubai Underwater Hotel

The Dubai Underwater Hotel, under construction off Dubai, is huge and it’s dazzling. It’s 260 hectares in size, (about the size of London’s Hyde Park) and the bubble-shaped suites are 20 metres underwater. The twin domes rise out of the water giving a magnificent view of the Dubai skyline. It’s one of Dubai’s biggest tourist attractions.

Palm Islands

Dubai’s famous Palm Islands are the largest man-made islands ever built, and are being called “The Eighth Wonder of the World” by their admirers. They’re packed with features for tourists and great hotel packages. (If you don’t want to leave, everyone will understand.)

Dubai desert safari

The desert experience is a Don’t Miss adventure. You can travel by Hummer, camel, and sandboard, go dune bashing, experience the desert night, and learn about Arab Belly Dancing, all on one tour.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House (Museum)

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum was the ruler of Dubai between 1912 and 1958, and the father of the present ruler of Dubai. His house is a history of Dubai in microcosm. This is one of the great cultural features of Dubai, as well as a link to the past. Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House (Museum) is an example of the architectural heritage of Dubai, ahead of its own time and a good example of the local talent for creating opulent, spacious living.

Scenic Flying

Scenic flying is a tour of the city and countryside by hot air balloon. This is a tour of a wonderland, an overview of an incredible achievement. Dubai looks fantastic on the ground, but from the air it’s astonishing.

Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the gigantic tower synonymous with Dubai which stunned architects as much as the rest of the world when it was designed. This is tallest building in the world, twice the height of the Empire State Building. It’s a residential building, also housing corporate offices and hotels.

You will never forget Dubai. The more you see, the more you will want to see.