Yungas Road (Highway of death in Bolivia)

Yungas Road is one of the most dangerous roads of all world. It is placed in Bolivia, between La Paz and Coroico cities. Since this region is called as Yungas, naturally this road is named as Yungas Road.

This road is used by heavy trucks, buses and lorries. Naturally, if you go to there,you can see the wreckages of many lorries and buses. In last years, it is also preferred by cyclists and motorcyclists. ”Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking” is one of the extreme sports made by on this road. Every month, more than 200 people die on Yungas Road. Annual death toll is more than 3000.

Guoliang Tunnel Road (China)

Guoliang Road is one of the most well-known killer roads .It was built by the villagers living in Guoliang region. Total length of the road is almost 1200 meters. It is located in Taihang mountains in China. To finish complete road took 5 years of villagers. On the road, there are tunnels with 5 meters height and 4 meters width. This road is known as death machine.

Pasubio Road (Italy)

Pasubio Road was constructed in Vicenza, Northern Italy. Once upon a time, it was really a dead machine. Currently, it is only used for motorcycling activities.On the road, there are hairpin turns and tunnels. The existence of the roads twisting into tunnels and hairpin turns makes this road interesting.

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This site compares all ticket pricing with results from practically every airline around the world. In regards to some of the features that presented Kayak as being the number one travel search engine are various ways of distribution and time schedule elements that reflect on changes made in the recommendations.

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Like the above site of Kayak, Farecast is also very efficient with finding tickets from all airlines, but it focuses very highly on time-scheduling. The bonus using this site is a continuous follow up after changes have been made concerning flight rates and recommendations on bookings. Approximately a third of the recommendations are accurate.

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Different reviews from net surfers and experts in the field concerning hundreds of airports all around the world, make this site a highly reliable one. Up to 288,000 comparisons and reviews on the site are in regards to the different scale-parameter, where you will find such topics as the quality of seats, service on the plane, among other such features that may help you decide which airline is best to fly with and what route is economically viable to take.

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This site offers you 75 different airline companies to order and buy tickets from, and is considered one of the more dependable sites to find cheaper tickets, especially in and around Europe. According to some magazine reviews, Wegolo has managed to become one of the more successful sites, compared to other competitive sites, when trying to find the cheapest routes. The site also offers different hotel options and comparisons as well as the preference of renting a car.

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This site is the main ring of the 1,001 most expensive and luxurious hotels around the world, which also includes individual villas and suites, as well as lavish rooms on-board grand cruise ships. Magazine editors recommend however to be patient when going about booking through LuxuryLink as waiting may sometimes save you up to 50% on the cost for accommodation.

However, summer isn't the only time of year when things happen there. The Island doesn't hibernate all winter just waiting for the next season to begin, well not completely anyway. Some of the months there, outside of the normal tourist season, are still warm and sunny, especially November, March and April. The latter is our springtime when a vast numbers of wild flowers, such as, the Campanula versicolor and the Wild Orchid, Ophrys tenthredinifera are plentiful and blanket this exquisite isle in a myriad of color.

The winter months of December, January and February are particularly cold and rainy but can still boast the occasional sunny and warm day. I have found myself sitting in a friend's garden, enjoying a local beer in nothing but a T-shirt and jeans in the middle of January. You wouldn't catch me going for a swim though. The temperature of the surrounding sea drops quite a bit and even on the warmest of days can be very chill. There are some, however, who are not put off by the chill.

In the year of 2006 the small historic town of Lixouri, on Kefalonia's western peninsula hosted Greece's, 2nd most popular, winter, open-sea swimming event. Mentor is a 5km marathon from the harbor of Lixouri across the gulf to the Theodore lighthouse in Lassi and back again. The event itself was the brainchild of local government and is sponsored by many local businesses. It was introduced as a means of bringing people from different nations together and to promote the Island itself.

In its 3rd year, Mentor sparked interest from swimmers all over the world, including Hungary, America and Turkey and this year also boasted the first female contenders. So, on January 6th 2006, at 9.30am, 19 swimmers decided to throw themselves into the chill waters (at 13C) to test their endurance. On this day also falls Epiphany (Holy Light), a religious Greek Orthodox celebration, where a small group of young men also decide to throw themselves into the chill waters in order to catch a holy cross thrown from on high by one the local Priests.

The day itself was cold and cloudy with the occasional peep of sunshine and the very real threat of rain from the dark Cumulo Nimbus clouds circulating around the top of Mount Enos (our highest peak). Needless to say, because of the cold conditions a number of support boats accompanied all the swimmers throughout the duration of the event and warm blankets and drinks were on hand for them on their return. The harbour side was filled with spectators, local dignitaries, journalists, photographers and ET1, one of Greece's national TV stations. All had come to watch the Mentor swimmers make their first jump into the chill harbor waters. The cold proved too much for 3 contenders who were rescued by 1 of the 2 safety boats on call that day.

The first to finish was America's World Champion, Jay Benner, in a time of 1 hr 20 mins, second was the lone Hungarian entrant (who won last years event) and third, Aristo Lassus from Larissa. The first female to finish came in sixth. All in all 16 out of the 19 entrants finished, the last few, unfortunately being caught in the sudden downpour as the heavens finally decided to open. The rain continued to fall for the rest of the afternoon as rivers of water flowed down the streets, at least the rental car had a good clean, which was well overdue.

We all met up for lunch at the Apolafsi Hotel and Restaurant, just outside of town and very close to, Lepeda, one of Lixouri's finest beaches and it was here that I managed to catch up with the winner, Jay Benner. From Tacoma in Washington State where he lives with his wife and little girl, Jay started swimming competitively from the age of 10 and spent 8 years on the World Champion Pool Racing Circuit, which is where he gained his World Champion title. It wasn't until 1993 that Jay decided to move his swimming from the pool to the open sea. He has visited Greece 9 times for summer racing events, including the 30km marathon across the Messinian gulf at Kalamata, which he has taken part in 4 times.

Mentor, however, was the first winter event he had taken part in and marked his 10th visit here and his return to swimming. To have a World Champion like Jay Benner and also entrants from neighbouring Turkey (whose relations with

Greece have had there problems in the past) come to Kefalonia and take part in Mentor has given the Island and the people here a real boost.

There are other celebrations that take place before May, when the main tourism season starts. Greek Independence Day, which falls on the 25th March, is one. One this day there is music and festivities all over the Island, the biggest of which, happen in Argostoli and Lixouri, the two main towns. Each town has a Parade in celebration of this day, which all the children take part in.

Easter is another and probably the biggest event of all but often prior to this religious celebration is the Carnival. All the surrounding villages take part; each has their own themed float and all participants are in fancy dress. This tradition arose from the period when the Turks occupied the Island. The Greeks were banned from conducting these celebrations during this time and so any religious festivities had to be celebrated in secret. Because the locals were driven under cover they were forced to disguise themselves, lest they be recognized. And so fancy dress became a part of the custom and tradition of many Greek events. It is a wonderful event with children and adults all dressed in a variety of colors, there's music and traditional dancing and generally an air of excitement and joy, a must to witness for any visitor.

The 23rd April is another important day in the Greek calendar and elsewhere. This is St George's Day but also happens to be the National day of Greece. Again there are celebrations, music and small marches to commemorate this day.

So, as you see, life after tourism does exist on this somewhat sleepy Island and it is still possible to get here during the winter. Ok, so it means taking 2 flights, one to Athens and then a hopper to Kefalonia but with the price of Easy Jet flights these days, this can be done for about the same money you would pay in the summer.

The other alternative of course is the 1 flight option to Athens, then a 3-hour coach drive to Patra, a 3-hour ferry ride to Sami (on Kefalonia's East coast) and then no more then an hours coach drive to any part of the Island you may choose. A long haul you may think, but I have made this journey and it's not as bad as it may sound, it's much cheaper for a start. The coach, plus ferry fare is about 32 euros one-way and at least this way you get to see some of Athens and its surrounding towns and countryside.

The ferry is also very comfortable, with good, large couches to lounge on and food and drinks available from the café-bar on board. You get to see some of the wonderful small islets that abound the Ionian Sea and coming to Kefalonia out of season can give you a much better insight into the lives and culture of the people here. Life on a sleepy winter Island can be a wonderful experience. Kefalonia is an Island to be enjoyed at any time of year.

First, we will start with The WinterFest at the Henderson Events Plaza, this is a great place to take your kids. The official tree lighting ceremony is the biggest event, this is a free event so don't forget to stop by!

Next, make a stop at the Holiday Lights Tour. The City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department is hosting tours of the community's holiday lights in December. Registration is required, and can be made at any city recreation center or online at cityofhenderson.com/parks. Buses depart promptly at 6:30 p.m. from Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive. Passengers are asked to arrive at the recreation center by 6:15 p.m., and hot chocolate will be served. Many of the stops on the tour include homes and businesses participating in the Henderson Commemorative Beautification Commission's annual holiday decorating contest. This tour makes it easy for passengers to enjoy all the city lights have to offer. For additional information, call 267-5850.

Also, make a stop at the best holiday light display in town at 1054 Desert Olive Ct Henderson, Nevada 89015. This family goes all out on their house to give visitor a special experience. They have over 34,000 lights synchronized to music, via six computer controllers and transmitting on FM 94.9 as you drive by! Their website offers a sneak peak at what is to come, ‘With the 2007 Christmas Season quickly approaching, work has been underway to prepare our display for the 2007 season. This holiday season, we will be adding more colors to our display. Last year, the 2006 display primarily used multi and blue colored mini-lights. For 2007, we are going to remove the multi lights and add red and green along with more blues. Adding three separate colors allows us to make several different color patterns and provides more flexibility with color changes and effects.'

There will also be a huge GRS Holiday display at the Nevada Power Company's main lobby located at 6226 West Saraha Ave. This event is open to the public and free for everyone. It is completely indoors so drop by and brose around this huge indoor lighted display.

As you can tell there are plenty of holiday lights to see and you don't have to do it all in one night you have the whole month of December to look around! Enjoy you light display viewing!

My wife informed me that this little incident had convinced her our two weeks in Scotland would either make or break our marriage. Knowing me as she did, she'd immediately become resigned to a fortnight of lurching from one minor disaster to another. I tried to reassure her. We had in prospect a highly enjoyable tour around the most spectacular parts of the British Isles. The weather was glorious, the car had just been serviced, all B & B bookings were confirmed - what could possibly go wrong?

To me it seemed a reasonable point of view as we gazed down at the brown trout languidly making their way along the River Bladnoch near Wigtown. Next day, having moved on to Base Camp 2 at Helensburgh, we were more adventurous and decided on a swim in Gare Loch, undaunted by the nuclear submarine base only a mile away. Upon returning to the layby we were confronted with the sight of a locked car, with the keys smirking at us from the rear parcel shelf.

I swear that the pied wagtail observing my increasingly violent efforts to open the small, hinged window (the car was an Austin 1300, built in 1969) had an amused, “Another silly Sassenach tourist” look about him. At least the sun was still shining.

The window succumbed, miraculously without the glass breaking. We motored on, eager to reach Loch Oich and our first shared experience of camping. We'd planned about four nights under canvas to reduce costs. Forgetting the tent pegs was no problem, I assured my long-suffering partner - there were plenty of screwdrivers in the tool box. I was looking forward to exploring the path of the old Fort William to Invergarry railway at the side of the loch.

The ravages of both time and the Forestry Commission had obliterated all signs of the railway, which I later found had closed just before World War One. “Never mind, dear,” I consoled Avril, “let's go for a drink. There's a hotel just up the road.”

It was during this four-mile walk that we saw the first of very few wild animals of the holiday. The young deer lay at the side of the road, sightless eyes accusingly fixed on us. We offered a silent apology on behalf of our car-worshiping species and continued on our way. Avril was understandably thirsty when we reached the hotel, so I treated her to a pint of keg heavy (apparently the Scots term for bitter). She insisted we sat outside.

One of the few pleasures to compare with sipping beer al fresco on a warm summer evening in Scotland, is emerging from a tent the next morning and washing yourself in an icy-cold loch in brilliant sunshine. The sense of freedom is total. Birmingham, our home city, seemed light-years away. Even the noise from the R.A.F. Tornadoes racing down the Great Glen only gave a momentary sense of the end of the world. We struck camp and headed west.

The Isle of Skye has been eulogised so much there seems little to add. Suffice to say that a visit should be the aim of everyone who calls himself a discerning traveller. Few other places seem to provide such a deep sense of peace, tranquillity and escape from the pressures of everyday life. What induces this feeling is hard to fathom. Unlike Iona, Skye has little direct spiritual significance. It undeniably has far more visitors that most Hebridean islands, which can make some areas uncomfortably crowded. Since the opening of the bridge linking it with the mainland, it is no longer even an island.

Perhaps Skye's appeal lies solely in its sheer beauty, or the romantic association it has with Bonnie Prince Charlie. At any event, it was significant that during our three days in this gem of a place nothing whatsoever went wrong. Even the sun kept shining - until we drove onto the ferry back to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Week Two was far more typical of Scottish holidays. It was as if the rain, having been unavoidably detained, was intent on redoubling its efforts to ensure we didn't go home with a false impression. The damp began to affect the car, resulting in most of a morning being devoted to working under the bonnet in our landlady's garage. At one point I looked up to glimpse a pine marten watching me with a quizzical gaze. Or was it a stoat? It chose not to tarry - a rapid shake of whiskers, dislodging a sparkling shower of droplets, and it was gone.

That evening the rain paused awhile and we made the short trip to the shore of Loch Carron. The sun was sinking behind the mountains of Wester Ross. A gentle breeze rippled the surface of the loch. The last train of the day rattled by on the opposite bank, heading for Inverness. I switched on the car radio, hoping to find a local station playing suitable music to enhance the mood. It was, however, tuned to Radio One, which was playing "Pretty Vacant" by the Sex Pistols. The scene abruptly became decidedly less idyllic.

Our remaining time north of Hadrian's Wall passed quickly, and was becoming an anticlimax. Further nights camping were out of the question; we spent a fortune telephoning landladies, desperately arranging extra nights' accommodation. We covered most of the country, resulting in much of our experience of Scotland being through the car windscreen - not, of course, an ideal way to see anywhere.

Ironically in a land full of natural wonders, the fortnight culminated in the crossing of the River Forth. First-time drivers should proceed with caution at low speed. Not that the road bridge is unsafe - far from it, but your first view of the neighbouring cantilever structure (THE Forth Bridge) genuinely takes the breath away. Observation is best from the walkway of the road bridge - it's well worth stopping in North (or South) Queensferry and walking halfway across, lingering to let the scale of the thing wash over you. Is it its sheer size? Or the intrinsic beauty of those three colossal steel diamonds laid end to end? Or the ghosts of the 57 men who died building it? Whatever it is, I defy anyone with a trace of a soul to be unmoved. The Forth Bridge seems to sum up both Man's ingenuity and the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

These musings were suddenly interrupted by my sunglasses, which I was absently twirling as one does, slipping from my grasp and tumbling gracefully into the Forth 160 feet below. It seemed fitting to end the holiday much as it had begun. Avril just looked at me. “Hasn't been TOO bad, has it?” she said. It hadn't. what's more, our marriage is still going strong 30 years later.

Hard Rock Cafes, Beach bars, Banging Nightclubs, Irish Bars just every type of themed and intriguing pub and club you could think off!! Paceville neighbours Party Village Bay Street. This newly built Party Complex is a must for all party goers, live mixes, roaring nightclubs, busy restaurants, and a jam packed beach is the daily scene here. The Cinema Complex and Bowling alley making this area Heaven in many people's eyes. The newly built shopping arcade itself is a reason to visit this area.

And then you travel just 10 minutes down the road, finding amazing family orientated night scenes baring karaoke bars and games rooms to entertain the younger tourists whilst the older tourists can relax and have a refreshing drink. Maltese laws state that Children under the age of 16 are allowed to stay in bars, most clubs and restaurants till closing hours. This being an advantage as there is nothing restricting the family from having as much fun as possible whilst on the Islands. A big family resort area in Malta is Buggibba, Buggibba is ideal for all families for numerous reasons. To start off, Buggibba is situated near the sea-literally 20m away from most hotels in the area. The beaches are both sandy and rocky in the area, to tend to Everybody's needs. There are also many shops in the area, from local souvenir shops to clothes shops, jewellers and mini markets! All of these open till past 10pm daily.

The area is inundated with restaurants of all types, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Maltese anything you desire. Many restaurants are made with children in mind, having games rooms, and child play areas. Then other restaurants are adult orientated. Games Arenas are scattered throughout Buggibba, featuring Pool Tables, Air Hockey Machines, and many Arcade games, All are supervised, and many have their own bars. The Pubs in Buggibba are Great places to meet new people or just have a quiet Drink. With or without Children. Music is always playing, many times being live acts. There is still the Nightclub scene in Buggibba, open till the early hours of the morning. Yet again appealing to all natures of audiences. Cinema Complexes and Bowling Alleys are situated 5mins away from the promenade. The Great advantage with this Town is that it is right next to Gozo, and numerous boat trips leave from Buggibba to Gozo, Comino, and St Pauls Island. These all being must do expeditions for the area. The area is ideal for walking, large pavements, for safety, pedestrian only areas. The People in Buggibba and throughout Malta in general always make you feel happy and welcome.-They do not understand the meaning of the word rude, or impolite.

For the More mature people there are towns like Sliema and St Julians. Quieter holiday resorts, still packed with everything you could need to have an amazing night out, just quieter, more relaxing, and the cherry on the cake being that this harbour town overlooks the capital city, and at both day and night, this stunning view itself, is one of a kind. St Julians is home to the Portomaso Resort, -The Hilton Malta. This is the home to numerous celebrities including Paul Scholes.

A new Complex that has been Built in Malta is the Malta Waterfront. This stunning complex is a restored Victorian fish Market, on the outskirts of the capital city home to many amazing new Restaurants and Bars including the Hard Rock Bar ,a quiet, elegant, yet moderately priced complex, walking the waterfront is yet again another beautiful view in itself. This area is where a hovercraft departs Daily for Trips to and from Sicily, taking you on excursions(if you wish) to Places like mount Etna, and the city of Taormina.-Which from my personal experience I can tell you are beautiful.

Maybe it isn't a drink that you want? Maybe you are looking for a game of bingo to play? Or some activities on the beach to finish of an amazing day? These are all typical activities taking place on nearly all beaches in Malta on a Daily basis. On every beach you will find numerous beach bars and open restaurants. These venues offer entertainment every night. And let's be Blunt, it's Cheap!!!! Not all children like playing Bingo though, and sometimes children just want to stand up, run around, play football; basically just entertain themselves in their own way .That's why beach bars are amazing. Long Golden stretches of sand, loads of space for children to entertain themselves, under your watchful eye, whilst enjoying the game of bingo, or the local performances put up for your entertainment. The beaches themselves have many events running, for example barbecues and beach sports. Sometimes local village groups organise barbecues on the beach that everyone can go to for a small fee in the range of £4 per person. Another experience lovely to be a part of on your holiday to Malta.

The amazing thing about all these resorts is that they are all different, this is a few of them only. There are tons, including Mellieha, St Pauls Bay, Bahar ic-Caq and Qawra. Some people want to relax on holiday, and get sleep at night, in Malta you can, without Vibrations through your Bed from the Nightclubs. The loud Party areas are divided away from the quieter resort areas, and the local villages; comfort always comes first in Malta.
For more information about Malta, please check out my other articles, regarding different aspects of Malta, from History, to beautiful beaches themselves.

Located at the Heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is one of this Earths most precious Jewels. Situated just south of Sicily (Italy's sister island) Malta offers unimaginable views that no words could possibly describe. This pretty little island is home to around 350,000 people. The Main Language spoke in Malta is Maltese, but a lot of the Maltese people have a strong grasp and understanding of English and Italian as these are the 2 main languages that Maltese is based upon.

With 7,000 years of history, the Maltese Islands are steeped in culture and heritage. The Islands went through a golden Neolithic period, the remains of which are the mysterious megalithic temples dedicated to the goddess of fertility. Later on, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Byzantines, all left their traces on the Islands.

One of the most amazing temples that I can write about whilst living in Malta is the Hypogeum, an underground temple, with the same layout as the megalithic temples. All of these temples are open for public viewing. Charges for these museums cost little to nothing. But booking with a travel operator might be a good idea as entrance to these temples is always difficult due to high demands with customers, who all book months in advance to visit these stunning temples.

Christianity was brought to Malta by St. Paul. He was on his way to Rome when his boat shipwrecked in Malta. These days St Paul is seen as one of Malta's Patron Saints, with the 10th of February being a bank holiday in order celebrate this Saints work on the island. Nowadays traditional boat trips can be taken from Buggibba, one of Malta's more lively towns taking you to the actually spot where St Paul's Boat shipwrecked, showing you a monument of the Saint, then taking you on a Tour of local water caves hidden around the island with amazing corals which can be seen through the crystal clear waters. Many of these tours continue into Gozo and Comino-Malta's sister islands.(more about those in Part 2)

Many of Malta's towns and villages were built to be protected from enemies in battles throughout the Islands history. They were built up thanks to the nights of St John. Building fortresses and massive walls around many of the outer cities to protect them from attack. These protective barriers were so strong that they helped in protecting Malta in the World War 2. Many areas of Malta have been so well conserved. All of these pieces that build up Malta are still in a good state.

Many Cathedrals were also built in this time. All of these having an amazing history behind them. For example the Mosta Dome. It's as the 4rd Biggest Dome in Europe. During mass in World War 2, enemies bombed through the ceiling of the church. This bomb miraculously never went off. And till this present day, the actual bomb that was dropped on the church is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Entry into all churches and Cathedrals is Free.

The World's Largest Cannon is Found in Malta, and amazingly is still fired once a year, sending vibrations around the country. The massive 100-ton gun used as a coastal battery, was designed to become the world's largest cannon.

The gun, still on show at Fort Rinella, has a barrel almost 10-metres long and could fire a one-ton shell about three miles. Animated tours of the Fort, and the cannon itself happen daily by Maltese heritage volunteers, dressed as Victorian soldiers. Entrance to this Fort is again little to nothing.

This is a brief insight into Maltas history. The document would continue going on forever. In following parts I will be talking about Malta's Entertainment, Shopping, Traditions and Clubbing.

Thank You.

I had never been down south before so it wasn't as hard as it now sounds.

I was heading to Cozumel, Mexico with very little expectation for anything other than a little warm water diving and way too many cold beer, chased with even more tequila.

Although I was correct about the beer and tequila, I found something I did not expect and there seemed to be no way to turn back once I was on the course. This unexpected finding has followed me to this very day and I am certain that it will follow me for the rest of my days.

Over the next several years I took lots of trip to the Caribbean, not only to Cozumel, also to many other destinations as well, until I finally landed in the place that I now consider to be the most life changing and enchanting location on the planet.

THE DISCOVERY

San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize is the place my soul fells completely at peace and my mind seems to wander to several times a day all year long. This stunningly beautiful and personally haunting paradise seems to engulf the emotions and capture the mind with a simple carefree attitude. This is most obvious when you realize that everywhere on the island you go nobody, except the newly arrived tourists, are wearing shoes. I know that when you read this it seems like such a small thing, however, I can assure you the first time you have a surf & turf meal at a nice restaurant and the waitress is bare foot on the sand floor, this becomes an awakening of the spirit that I could never fully explain.

GETTING TO PARADISE

Being a SCUBA diver and traveling the tropical climates of the world for that purpose it was inevitable that I would eventually come to find San Pedro, as it's located directly on the second largest barrier reef in the entire world and was also made famous by the world renowned underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau during his exploration of the Great Blue Hole of Belize. This is one of the worlds best dive locations and has a great attraction to all who love the underwater universe. Also Madonna sang about San Pedro and Ambergris Caye in the song "La Isla Bonita” and so it would seem that destiny alone would bring me to her.

Originally it was planned for me to travel there with the same to friends that had accompanied me to Cozumel and all of the other destinations that I had been for the years since that first awakening, however, one of them was forced to cancel at the last minute due to unforeseen business problems and it was down to just Kevin and I for the trip.

I was disappointed at losing one of the group since we always had a great time together, but I was also very exited for this vacation.

And so it was that Kevin and I boarded the plane in Toronto and stopped in Houston TX as the there are no direct flights to Belize from Toronto or most other North American cities for that matter, and there we transferred to the flight that would land at Phillip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) on the mainland. It would require another flight from there to get us to San Pedro and we chose Tropic Air as the means to get us there.

The flight was on a 10 seat Cessna Caravan and the pilot was very competent and professional for the 15 min commute.

OTHER OPTIONS

Although the travel method we selected was the fastest and most direct means of getting to the island it was not the most inexpensive or, for that matter, the most scenic.

If you are looking to get to Belize you will need to fly in from one of a small group of Cities in the U.S. or you can choose an option that will not only save you money, but will also provide an exiting addition to the trip for those who seek a little extra adventure.

For this you would fly into Cancun MX where you will then board a coach bus that will travel to Chetumal where you can fly or take a boat to the Island. Click here for details.

Either way the best stuff will hit you once you arrive in San Pedro.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We chose the SPINDRIFT hotel as our base of operations for the week. It was centrally located and also right on the beach and that was very appealing to us. The great thing about being located at a hotel with a pier is that all the tour operators on the Island will pick you up at the pier out front of the hotel for every excursion you plan.

Other locations on the island can be viewed here in order of price category. This will be useful as there are dozens of places to choose from and you can go as inexpensive are as high end as you would like. We chose the Spindrift for a combination of location and price. We love to stay in a hotel as opposed to a resort and this was the best we could find for the price we could afford.

I am happy to report that the staff was excellent and the accommodations were perfect for us.

GETTING AROUND

The most striking thing about transportation on Ambergris Caye is that most people walk if they are in town. If you need some sort of vehicle the most popular on Ambergris Caye is the electric golf cart. Traveler can rent these by the day, week or even the month at several locations and you can, if you like, make arrangements ahead of time for you needs. Although I would caution that time really does have a different meaning when you get here so you may want to just play it by ear and get the rental when you get there if you still want to drive around. You can check out prices here.

THINGS TO DO

If you are interested in doing more than sunning on the beach there are more options then I can count for day trips and tours ranging from local diving or crocodile watching to off island excursions to the mainland or other dive locations. There are dozens of tour operators and some times you can find better deals when you look around on the island but I would always caution that the reputable operators are the safest bet, as with anywhere else in the world.

A list of things to do will help you to find your best interests; some of my recommendations are as follows:

• SCUBA diving is the #1 thing for me to do
• Fishing is world class
• Cave tubing on the mainland is fun for the whole family or group

There are so many more options but I always find that I am far more interested in strolling down the sand streets or along the beach for an afternoon then rushing around from one event to another.

RESTAURANTS

The cuisine on this island would be considered fine dinning in any location in Canada or the United States, and would be out of the per meal price range of the greater majority of people if they were trying to find a location to get it in their home towns. The unfortunate part for those who could afford such meals is that, I believe, there is not one place in these countries where you could even find such cuisine.

The prices are very good and the portions will fill even the heartiest appetite, additionally the service and atmosphere of every restaurant in San Pedro and the rest of Ambergris Caye would shame the very best of the worlds dinning establishments.

The atmosphere is always fun and inviting, smiles are all that you will see on the face of any server you encounter and this attitude will most definitely rub off on anyone who enters, having the effect of creating a desire to sit all night and have drink with everyone who comes in.

The service along with being friendly and warm is traditional Caribbean service. This means that meals will be served to the table on island time but you won't be aware of how long it has been because you will be having so much fun just taking it all in. As well as the best cuisine and atmosphere you will also be able to find any dish you heart desires with the only exception being, chain restaurants and fast food.

TIME TO LEAVE PARADISE

When the sad event of leaving comes around it will feel all too soon and you will be left with a strong desire to return in the (unrealistically near) future. My next visit was an eternal 7 months later and this time was with a much larger group of travelers and I can assure it will not be my last.

It is required for you to contact the island airport the day before you leave to confirm your flight back to the mainland, no doubt because so many people have changed their mind about leaving by this time, but most resorts and some hotels can make this call for you the day before.

It is with a great deal of joy that I write this review of my experience in San Pedro town Ambergris Caye, Belize because I believe that this destination needs to be given the credit it is due for the outstanding work it does to not only treat every person who is there with the utmost care and respect, but to also keep the natural beauty of the island in place for future generations to experience.

There are the classic Santas that look like they have just dropped in from the North Pole and there are funny Santas that make us laugh with that good old fashioned holiday spirit. There are dress-up Santas where everyone from cats and dogs, kids, a lizard and sexy babes put on that festive red pointy hat to get in the spirit of Christmas.

Then there is the weird stuff. There are Santa clones, Santa weirdos, crazy Santa toys, and some funny, strange, and alternative festive Santa Claus pictures and decorations that are not your every day Santa. Is he getting a little crazier every year, or maybe just a little weird? And what about that house full of elves?

OK, let's not get into all of the details but it is important to share this special tribute with the lady behind the man - we'll throw in something special to give due credit to the lady that makes her home with this celeb the other 364 days of the year - Mrs. Claus.

Yep, Santa is one of those stars that won't go away, he comes back every year and just seems to get hotter and hotter. The kind of guy that makes even the North Pole sound cool. So enjoy this Santa Claus extraordinaire, and get yourself into the holiday spirit.

Classic Santa Look

OK, we will at least start off with a few great shots of the classic Santa Claus, that jolly old man with a furry beard that blows in from the North Pole once every year on Christmas Eve.

Santa Christmas Pets

It seems that it only takes a red pointy hat placed on the head of our favorite pet to get us into the holiday frame of mind, although again, everyone has their own idea of what that holiday spirit is exactly...

OMG Santa, Is That You?

Santa is on his way, although once he gets here, he may look a little bit different than you remember him. Is that really the Santa Claus we know?

Is Santa Getting Weirder or What?

Maybe it is the long nights at the North Pole, maybe it is the isolation from mankind, or maybe it is that crazy band of elves he keeps around him, but it seems like Santa Claus has picked up a few crazy quirks and peculiarities along the way.

Everybody Wants to Be Santa Claus

In spite of what anyone may think, Santa Claus is still a very famous person, and everyone wants to be him. Some are a little more suited for becoming Santa impersonators than others, but every year, it seems that even more want to try on that famous costume.

Santa Claus is Cool

Like any other massive celebrity, Santa gets to hang out with the cool folks, and it seems that he is becoming hipper with every coming year.

A Tribute to Mrs. Claus

One of the reasons that we may have not considered for Santa's self imposed isolation on the North Pole is the fact that his wife Mrs. Claus is one hot babe, and Santa has a hard time leaving - knowing that he is leaving this lady home at night.

Crazy Santa Toys

Some of these are cute, some of these are a little bit unique, and a few of these are some of the weirdest Santa toys around.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!