Posts Tagged ‘Leisure’
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Unseen Academicals, Terry Pratchett
March 11, 2010
Best-selling author Terry Pratchett’s most recent (2009) novel Unseen Academicals is a satire on the phenomenon of European football (soccer), plus a number of other social activities that often go along with it. For that reason, the book may have a greater appeal to a UK audience than in America; especially since one of the main themes is football hooliganism, a distinct UK phenomenon.
But the book is really about much more than football (soccer). It’s about the many foibles and follies of human nature, which are Universal, European or American alike. It is also a novel about every conceivable variety of pie (and its connection to football); fashion super models (and their connections to football super stars); as well as about orcs and goblins (connection to football unknown).
In characteristic Terry Pratchett fashion, the Discworld is like a funhouse mirror image of our own world; exactly the same, only more so. Instead of human cheerleaders, there are naiads dancing on the sidelines of the football field, and cart-tail vendors take the place of tail-gate markets.
The book has many heroes, in particular a goblin-turned-orc by the name of Mr. Nutt. Because he’s one of only a handful of surviving orcs on the Discworld, two of the world’s most powerful leaders take him under their wings to help him save himself as well as his dying race.
It bears mentioning that the two leaders in question, Lord Vetinari and Lady Margolotta have been at this before. Their previous projects have included rock trolls, werewolves, golems, and vampires, all of which they assisted in becoming integrated and accepted members of human society.
Mr. Nutt gets sent from Lady Margolotta’s Uberwald to Lord Vetinari’s Ankh-Morpork and assigned the task to accumulate ‘worth’ in human society. In doing so, Nutt gains many loyal friends and admirers in his workplace, the Unseen University. Co-worker Trev Likely goes to any length to defend his orc friend, and the head mistress of the Night Kitchen, Miss Glenda Sugarbean (creator of the crusty onion pie) becomes a staunch admirer, which later leads to a budding romance.
After demonstrating his knack for strategic thinking to his superiors at Unseen University, Mr. Nutt gets appointed as coach for the school’s floundering football team. And so a string of events begins to unfold.
You don’t need to be a soccer fan to enjoy Unseen Academicals. It is also a parody on clothing fashion, food (in particular pies), and the general vagaries of human nature. So if you are into wearing clothes, eating food, or being human, then this book will provide you plenty of opportunities for laughter.
Mrs. Hellman resides in North Carolina with her husband and their three boys. A copywriter by profession, she writes book reviews as a hobby. Visit the website The Light Fantastic, where you can order Unseen Academicals and all the other 36 novels in the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
The Wrecker by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott
February 26, 2010
“The Isaac Bell Novels” is a new hit series by “one of the greatest adventure novelists of our time” (imdb), Clive Cussler. The Wrecker is the sequel to the successful first Isaac Bell novel, titled The Chase. (The next release in the series is scheduled for June 1, 2010.)
As with the first novel in the series, The Chase, the hero of The Wrecker is a detective named Isaac Bell who combines the sleuthing brilliance of Sherlock Holmes with the physical prowess and fearlessness of James Bond.
Conveniently, Isaac Bell is also independently wealthy, heir to a prominent Boston banking family. After disappointing his father by not following in his footsteps, Bell has pursued his detective work with a fervor that spells obsessive passion more than a way to make a living.
Isaac Bell gets hired by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company to find and stop a saboteur known as “The Wrecker,” who has targeted Southern Pacific construction sites throughout the West. If the sabotage continues in the midst of pressing deadlines to finish work on a major new track, it could cost Southern Pacific its good standing with its lenders, and rapidly lead to bankruptcy.
Unbeknownst to all until the very end of the book, The Wrecker is a regular member of the inner circles of Southern Pacific Railroad president Osgood Hennessy, even courting the railroad baron’s “unspeakably beautiful” daughter Lillian. He’s a formidable adversary, perhaps as brilliant as Isaac Bell himself.
The Wrecker’s agenda turns out to be the hostile takeover of not only the Southern Pacific Railroad but as a side effect gaining complete control of the entire United States railroad system, at a time in history when the wealthiest men in America were railroad barons such as Vanderbilt, Harriman and others.
As a story taking place in the early 1900′s, this book also offers a perfect opportunity for avid car enthusiast Clive Cussler to present some classic automobiles from the era when the experimental variety of styles was the greatest because few standards had yet been established.
Automobiles featured in The Wrecker include a Packard Grey Wolf, the 1907 Model 35 Thomas Flyer, winner of the New York to Paris race of 1908, Isaac Bell’s classic Locomobile, and a Bugatti Type 41 Royale.
Although Clive Cussler may be best known for his love of diving and sea exploration, both through his fictional stories and non-fictional enterprises, he obviously also cherishes the rugged landscapes of the American West. Why else would he have chosen to live in the mountains of Colorado, as far from the sea as you can get in the United States?
Through The Wrecker, we get a glimpse of this other side of Cussler, the one that loves the arid mountainous landscapes of the American West. And it’s an enthusiasm that shines through with unmitigated contagiousness. The new Isaac Bell series may well help give birth to a whole new generation of Western enthusiasts, as well as spark great excitement in many old ones. With all due respect to the previous Clive Cussler series, his Isaac Bell stories may top them all.
Britt Hellman resides in North Carolina with her husband and three sons, working as a professional copywriter. She writes book review as a hobby. Visit her site to order The Wrecker, or the latest Dirk Pitt adventure, Arctic Drift, Clive Cussler.
Beautiful Places in Formentera, Pine Islands
February 23, 2010
This article introduces you to come great places to visit if you go to Formentera: Ses Salines, Platja des Canyers, Cala Saona, and Espalmador.
Ses Salines is the name of the now defunct salt pans, and also of a beach that sits just behind them. The beach is worth a visit during the summer, and is far less busy than that of the nearby Llevant and resort of Es Pujols.
One of Formentera’s smaller beaches is Platja des Canyers, but it is eighty five meters of white sands and blue seas. It is notable because of the surrounding cliffs which are stunning. To get there just head to Es Pujols and turn off en route to Es Trucadors.
One of the best things about destinations in Formentera is the beautiful countryside that you have to travel through to get to them. That is certainly the case with Cala Saona where you cycle through fields of figs and forests of pine to get to one of the finest natural coves on the Balearic islands. It’s almost as beautiful as the journey.
Back in the sixteenth century the port of would have had 400 boats anchored at any one time. These were a mixture of trading and fishing vehicles. Today you can lie on the beach and try to imagine the scene all those years ago. But however noisy those young German tourists may be, it is hard to picture the place as a bustling port.
One of the perks of the area is the the nearby clifftop walks which you can enjoy. The most famous of these is Punta Rasa, which takes 30 minutes to get to, and delivers dramatic views as far as mainland Spain. Beneath the waters are a network of caves, so the area is popular with divers.
For the ultimate in convenience you can stay at thee hotel which is on top of the beach.
Espalmador is the island just north of Es Trucadors and is known for its sulphur mud baths. These do not have proven scientific benefit, but that doesn’t stop thousands of holidaymakers from rolling around in them naked. It is quite an amazing site to behold, and you may even see some mud wrestling.
If you are considering traveling to Ibiza then this website is fairly informative. Click: http://www.squidoo.com/Traveling-to-Ibiza
Mitjorn Beach Spain Guide
February 17, 2010
The Platja de Mitjorn is Formentera’s longest beach and runs along its southern coastline. Although Mitjorn means midday I would advise against sunbathing in Formentera’s midday sun, unless you have plenty of sunblock. Some say that the beach is five kilometers, others eight, it depends where you measure it from, but either way it is one of the longest on the Pine Islands. The most common measurement is from Es Pal Mas to Es Copinar. The strip is clear of buildings for the most part.
Since Platja de Mitjorn is such a long beach there are multiple access point to the sea. As you drive along the main highway that runs through Formentera’s Isthmus, the PM-820, you will see small paths and roads that connect to the ocean. Only those on bicycle and car get to travel down the narrow paths to the most secluded parts of the beach. Es Alrenals and Maryland at the Eastern end are the most developed part of the beach, with Riu Hotel, Es Arenals Hotel, and more.
If you twisted my arm and forced me to select one of Mitjorn’s areas as the best then I would recommend that you turn of at 8km. Actually it has nothing to do with the quality of sand or sea, and everything to do with food. You see the Italian restaurant Lucky is nestled away here, and it has some of the best fish on the island. After you have eaten you can pop across to see the hippies at Blue Bar.
As you head east you come to the beaches of Es Arenals and Maryland. These are resort-style hotels with tennis, table tennis, mini golf and swimming pools. They lack the authenticity of a farmhouse holiday, but have great facilities. To get to this part of Mitjorn you should turn off at the thirteen kilometer mark of the highway.
Tramuntana is another stunning beach that you can visit, and it is just the other side of Formentera’s Isthmus.
Formentera is the smallest of the amazing pine islands. To find our more about these amazing islands please visit the web site: http://hubpages.com/hub/Pine-Islands
All About Formentera Island History
February 15, 2010
People have been living on Formentera for more than 4,000 years, and there are archeological sited on the island that demonstrate this. Even without natural spring water Formentera attracted Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans. The Greek Stabo who died in 24AD referred to the island as Ophiusa, which means land of reptiles. When you walk along the paths today the geckos are still darting around 2,000 years later.
Romans farmed Formentera for wheat and figs, and this is reflected in the fact that they named it the island of wheat. Es Calo was a bustling port in Roman times, and carefully watched over by the fort of Castell Roma de Can Blai which is on a hill over Es Calo.
The Romans were followed by the Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, and Normans, but it wasn’t until the Catalans arrived that things really started to get organized. This was back in 1235 when the Catalan-Aragonese crown decided to occupy the island, and started by taking the unfortunate decision to kill most of the local Muslim population. They went on to form an administration, but the whole thing ended in disaster with the island being abandoned in the 1300s under endless pirate attacks and illness.
Formentera was occupied again in 1697 under the instruction of Carlos II of Spain, who sent explorer Marc Ferrer to get things going again. With the building of defense towers Formentera was better able to protect itself and by 1889 it was an independent municipality.
Until the twentieth century Formentera was sustained by farming of dry fruit trees and the manufacture of salt, but these days it is the tourism sector that makes the biggest contribution to the island. That is thanks to the hippies that came in the 1960s, from whom the word spread. Thanks to the hippies we have a great tourist destination to enjoy – thanks Bob Dylan!
From when you get to at Lasabina formentera port you are delighted by a great island. For further information visit: http://www.squidoo.com/Sabina-Formentera
Suspense Fiction Books: The Joys Of Imaginary Worlds Filled With Action And Adventure.
February 12, 2010
Suspense fiction books are in many respects the perfect choice for a book lover. Let’s face it: If you live out there in an average house in the average suburb, not much ever happens in your life. You go to work every day, come home, watch TV, eat, sleep, then go back to work. And Saturdays you work in the garden and watch the sports channel.
Reading a good suspense novel takes you right out of the rut of your day to day existence into a world of intrigue. A world of beautiful women, suave men and fast cars. It creates a fantasy world where things happen fast and where there is always betrayal and suspense around the next corner.
The spy story is one of the evergreen favorites of readers all over the world. We can’t all be super-spies, but with a good spy story we can all be part of that world for a few hours or days. Part of the appeal of a good spy novel lies in the exotic locations that form the backdrop for many of these stories. Even if you have never left your home in your lifetime, you can get to know the allure of places like Cairo and Rabat through the eyes of your hero or heroine.
The detective story is another favorite with millions of readers. The action might be taking place at a slower pace, but the excitement and suspense can be even more feverish. Usually there will be a gathering of rich and famous people. If everything could happen on a boat traveling down the Nile even better. Then there will be the inevitable murder. And the suspense really starts when the eccentric old detective appears on the scene…
For those of us with strong hearts there’s of course that very special type of suspense story, the thriller. Here anything goes. These stories abound with ghostly old houses, dark moors and visits from the other side. Beware: The axe murderers and haunted spirits found in many of these books are enough to give anyone sleepless nights, regardless of their age.
The alien invader is another niche in the suspense story genre. In these books creatures from outer space will visit earth with only one intention: to destroy our civilization and steal our natural resources. To make things really interesting, they very often look exactly like us, making it hard to know who is your friend and who is your enemy. As you can well imagine, this provides for many suspenseful moments.
It has been many decades since the first suspense fiction books were published. Ever since that day they’ve kept millions of humans glued to their seats for countless hours. And they are likely to do so for many years to come.
Learn more about suspense fiction books. Stop by Gerald Lindsay’s site where you can find out all about fiction and what it can do for you.
Introducing Es Trucadors Beach Formentera, Spain
February 7, 2010
The finest beaches on Formentera not on Es Pujols, but are to be found on the Trucador peninsula, which is a long stretch of flat land that reaches out from the north of Formentera. It is virtually connected to the neighboring island of Espalmador. It is made up of shallow warm waters that sparkle in the sun, and uninterrupted white beaches.
If you want to visit Es Trucadors it is an easy trip just out of Port de la Savina. You can either walk or rent a bicycle, and then head along Es Cavall d’en Borras. As you go up with see the Ses Salines saltworks on your right, and walk over the inlet that lets freshwater into Estany Pudent to keep it from getting too stinky. Once you get to the old mill of Moli des Carregador you are at the start of Es Trucadors.
Once you have got past Past Moli des Carregador you will walk along the peninsula’s western edge and discover a number of wonderful beaches, each with its own name: Es Moli de Sal, El Pirata, Big Sur, El Tiburon, Juan y Andrea and Es Ministere. These beaches look out onto the islets of Illa Tramuntana, Illa Rodona, and Illa des Pouet. It is these islets that give the western edge the name of Ses Illetes. The eastern edge is made up of a straight white beach called Llevant.
The LLevant beach is made up of Llevant Beach and Tanga Beach. As you look down the coastline the white sands are seemingly endless. There are no buildings to spoil the view and you can enjoy uninterrupted nature. This is one of the Mediterranean’s best beaches and if you follow it down south bound it leads to Ses Salines, Platja de Sa Roqueta and Platja des Canyers.
If you go right to the top of Es Trucadors then you reach a strip of sand around 30 meters in width that have the ocean on either side. You can’t beat a double beach! And just north of that is Es Pas – the stretch of water that separates Formentera from Espalmador.
If the eastern side of Es Trucadors is windy then you can just head over to the western side, and vice versa. Thanks to the geography of the island it is never the case that both sides are windy at the same time.
To get from La Savina to Es Trucadors you won’t need to worry about car rental formentera, but if you are going further on the island then you many find this resource helpful: http://www.squidoo.com/car-rental-formentera
Port La Savina Formentera: A Guide
February 3, 2010
When you arrive at the island of Formentera it will be at its port of La Savina. With no airport on the island this is where everyone arrives, and indeed leaves. The yachts that you see here are pretty fancy – there is some serious money sailing into the port during the summer. You can stay in La Savina for your vacation, for example at Hotel Savina, but there are also plenty of other options which we will discuss in this article.
Another place that you can stay is Hostal La Savina. Despite its name it is not a hostel, but more like a boutique hotel. It recently had new blinds and sunshades installed and it has a pretty decent menu. The food caters to German and Italian tastes. In terms of facilities it is pretty basic, but you get a hairdryer, fridge and satellite TV as standard. It has quite a high percentage of repeat guests as some people like to be near the ferry terminal.
Estany des Peix and Estany Pudent are just a short walk from the the port of La Savina. These natural saltwater lagoons have pathways running around them, and the wetlands are rich nature reserves. You can see all manner of birds here, and during the summer months there are even flamingos. One of the problems with the lagoons is that Estany Pudent can get quite smelly during the summer when its sulphur reserves bubble up.
When you arrive at La Savina you will see that there is a tourist information office right there at the ferry terminal. The staff inside are very friendly and will be able to answer all your questions. Most tourists just want to know how to hire a bike and get to Es Trucadors, and the Tourist Office will be able to set you up. In fact it only takes 20 minutes of cycling along the coastline of Es Cavall d’en Borras in order to reach the best beaches on the island.
The port of La Savina also has some cultural points of interest, including the old prisoner of was camp Es Campament. Hundreds were held here during the Spanish Civil War, and the area has an eerie feeling about it.
La Savina Formentera is the island’s port and you can find out more about it if you view this overview. It’s pretty useful http://hubpages.com/hub/Savina-Formentera
Formentera: Es Calo and Es Pujols
February 2, 2010
Es Calo is an old fishing port and Es Pujols is the modern mecca of resort entertainment. In this article we look at these contrasting Formentera locations. Whilst La Savina is the port these days it used to be Es Calo that was the main point of transportation for sandstone, charcoal and wood. People living in Pilar de La Mola found the location very handy as Es Calo is at the foot of Cami Roma. Today there are also some good fish restaurants in the village, which is to be expected given its heritage.
Es Calo has Ses Plagetes just up the road, which is one of the best beaches on the island, although it can get pretty windy in the afternoons. That is not an issue because you can just cross the PM-820 to Mitjorn beach anyway. Don’t forget to bring your snorkel as Es Calo is home to lots of marine life attracted by the rocks.
At just five minutes away from Es Calo Ses Plagetes is very convenient as it provides protection from the winds and you get a decent view of La Mola.
Unlike Es Calo, the resort of Es Pujols has lost much of the old fishing port character. Whilst there are still a few boat huts around, this place is more dedicated to jet skis than fishing boats. In fact you will see all sorts of water sports here, from divers popping out of the ocean, to kayaks bobbing on the waves. It’s everything that you would expect of a resort location.
No holiday resort would be complete without a good range of souvenirs to buy, and Es Pujols has a ton of market stalls along Passeig des Plameres (the high street) and Passeig des Plameres (the promenade along the beach. You will note that some of the sellers are aging hippies that stayed on after the 1960s.
If you are looking for an Ibiza-style wild night then you will not find it on Formentera, but the island does have some night clubs in Es Pujols.
For further information on Formentera life this site is pretty interesting. : http://www.infobarrel.com/Formentera_Life
Off to Beautiful Formentera, Spain
January 30, 2010
It’s an easy trip to Formentera, but you can’t get there by plane as there is no airport. There is a helipad, but you need to book well in advance to be able to use it. The most conventional route is to take a ferry from one of the mainland Spanish ports (Barcelona, Denia, Alicante) or from one of the Balearic Island ports of Ibiza Town or Palma. You will arrive at the port of La Savina, and if you are coming from Ibiza the crossing will only take you around thirty minutes.
The length of time that you decide to stay on Formentera will dictate where you decide to go. For example, most day trippers just head up to the stunning white beaches of the northern peninsula known as Es Trucadors. If you need some help planning your trip then you can pop into the Tourist Information Office, which is just opposite the ferry. There is also another one that is in the village of Sant Francesc.
The incredible stretch of white sand beaches, islets, coves, and turquoise waters that make up Es Trucadors has views out to S’Espalmador and Es Vedra. And that is not the only natural beauty on display as this part of the island is a hot spot for naturism. To get to the beaches is just a 15 minute cycle from the port of La Savina. Then you can roam free.
Book early! There are so few houses on Formentera, and a limited number of hotels, that you need to plan your vacation carefully. From the desolate farmhouses of El Pilar de la Mola to the frenetic resort hotels of Es Pujols, this small island has a lot to offer the visitor. Your choice should be dictated by the type of vacation you want, but do bear in mind that the island is just 82 kilometers in circumference so wherever you end up is in striking distance of the other attractions.
Es Pujols is the island’s only real resort so this is a popular choice. It has a frenetic pace relative to the other parts of the island, and there is a throng of young Italians and Germans teeming the streets at all hours of day and night. A more sedate, and central location would be the village of Sant Francesc, which is the island’s capital.
For more information on Formentera tourism this article is fairly useful, so visit http://hubpages.com/hub/formentera-tourism
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