The Paris Motor Show last September bought a moment of joy to VW owners around the globe, the return of the beloved people's sport car, the Volkswagen Scirocco, which hoped on sale by late 2007. But, for many north American VW enthusiasts, the origin came as a surprise, the VW AutoEuropa outside Setubal, Portugal. AutoEuropa currently builds the European market only the Sharan and Eos models. Beyond the new Scirocco, Setubal has a lot to be … [Read more...]
ALO’s guide to Morocco, Outpost of the Middle East
"Sure," I said, waving goodbye. I hadn't the heart to remind her that the film was shot on a Hollywood sound stage in the 1940s and that Rick's Cafe opened in Casablanca only three years ago. Nine short miles across the Straits of Gibraltar from the Southern Coast of Spain, Morocco, the world's westernmost Arab country, looks both ways'to its ancient roots in the Middle East and north to its European neighbors. Long an outpost of the Roman … [Read more...]
Wheelchair Accessible Travel in Paris
I. INTRODUCTION A passerelle is a pedestrian bridge, of which central Paris has two (see II. Wheeling Around, below). It seems appropriate for an article about being a pedestrian in a city bisected by a vibrant river, centered on a beautiful riverfront and connected by grand, functional and varied bridges. We hope this article will bridge any gaps in access information and inspire disabled travelers to establish connections with this … [Read more...]
Prince Albert of Monaco Goes To The North Pole
More used to Grand Prix cars than dog sleighs, Monaco's Prince Albert's forthcoming trek to the North Pole has been greeted with surprise by many. But the Prince is fairly accustomed to the cold, in contrast to the Mediterranean warmth of Monaco where he became ruler last July following the passing of his father Prince Rainier, who had ruled the tax haven for over 50 years. Albert represented Monaco at the last five Winter Olympic Games in … [Read more...]
The Land of Men with Flaming Orange Beards
As soon as we stepped out of the shiny terminal of Lahore International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan, my uncle Waheed and I were overcome by the smell of kerosene. I thought at first that there must be a spill nearby, because it was so strong. Eventually we found our ride among all the cabbies and rickshaw drivers, who were jostling among themselves for customers. It was a twenty or thirty minute slog to get into the city from the airport. It was … [Read more...]
Return to Ouvea
"Ouvea is everything you'd expect in a South Pacific island. Twenty kilometers of unbroken white sands border the lagoon on the west side of the island and extend far out from shore to give the water a turquoise hue. The wide western lagoon, protected by a string of coral islands and a barrier reef, is the only one of its kind in the Loyalties. On the ocean side are rocky cliffs, pounded by surf, but fine beaches may be found even here. At one … [Read more...]
Five Days in Vegas
Our plane touches down at eleven o'clock pm after a five hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My wife and I start our five day vacation in-famous Las Vegas. For fifty-nine years I have been meaning to pay a visit to the city where anything goes and finally I have made it thanks to a little incentive from Hurricane Ivan. We jump into a taxi and right away the happy-go-lucky driver wants to know if we want to take the freeway or the strip … [Read more...]
The Search for the Holy Grail
The Travelogue of a Writer My name is Philip Gardiner. You may or may not know of me, I am the author of several books, including my latest The Serpent Grail and another Gnosis: The Secret of Solomon's Temple Revealed. In these books we uncover the secrets of the ancients and reveal the true Holy Grail - an actual artifact within which was mixed the Elixir of Life. All this work didn't take an afternoon. In fact it took many years work and … [Read more...]
Iquitos, Peru – Attractions
We have visited or participated in the following attractions or experiences in Iquitos or the surrounding region. Amazon River - what can you say about the Amazon River except its the world's greatest river. Its mind boggling to think that it supplies nearly a quarter of all the world's freshwater! From the Atlantic Ocean in Brasil, vessels make the entire trip up the Amazon River to Iquitos (some 3,600 kilometers of navigable waterway). It … [Read more...]
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas is a large sprawling glitzy city situated in the middle of the high desert surrounded by stark high desert mountains. Words such as surreal, fast-paced and hyper-reality quickly come to mind when describing Las Vegas. Words such as subtle and quiet are not often associated with this city. Las Vegas used to be known as a gambling and casino city. Those who haven't visited in 20-30 years would be absolutely shocked to see what Las … [Read more...]