Monaco is opening a new facility for the upkeep and repairs of the world’s megayachts, and enhances Monaco’s already fabled image.

The shipyard, which has taken two years to build, will be the largest megayacht facility in the Mediterranean and is an impressive 35,000 square metres capable of taking fourteen 40 to 80 metre yachts.

Bearing in mind the size and weight of the yachts, the new facility can hoist and transfer one in half an hour.

The owners of the shipyard have invested 45 million Euros to make sure it is state of the art, and as well as major repairs can do painting and full servicing as part of its services.

The number of megayachts has increased dramatically in recent years, and Monaco has been quick to ensure that the wealthy owners, often nouveau riche, see her as in the same light as old money and the established European and US wealthy families, who frequent Monaco and the Monte Carlo casino.

Monaco ensured the attention of the yacht owners by cleverly staging the annual Monaco Yacht Show, the only one of its type, specialising in Megayachts, held in the principality each September.

As well as the legendary Monte Carlo casino, Monaco is a tax haven and home to the Monaco Grand Prix, F1’s most prestigious race in their calendar.

For a country with a long tradition of welcoming the wealthy, it comes as a surprise to many that Monaco is also in the forefront of the battle to save the environment.
Monaco Yact Show

The environment campaign began shortly after Prince Albert became Sovereign with the Monaco Yacht Show 2005, held each September, with the event successfully becoming carbon neutral. To encourage the thousands who commute to Monaco every day from neighbouring France and Italy the railway station is one of the best in Europe, with frequent and reliable services.

‘For those who work in Monte Carlo and travel in from Nice and her surrounding villages five days a week, it’s both cheaper and quicker to take the train – the trains are modern and comfortable and it’s rare for seats not to be available even during the rush hour’, claim a Monaco travel guide, ‘Once people are in Monaco the local transport service is equally quick and efficient. Virtually all routes are well planned and easy to understand, and the most you have to wait for a bus is ten minutes, often it’s just a couple of minutes – which isn’t exactly a hardship given the weather in Monte Carlo!’

With many major companies and the banks in Monaco also looking to see how they can improve their own environmental records the business community view the steps as prudent ones.

The routes are planned to incorporate tourist needs, with many passing by the Hotel de Paris in Casino Square and the Columbus in Fontvieille, two of the best known and popular Monaco hotels. Fares have been reduced to one Euro, making public transport in Monaco among the lowest priced, comfortable and frequent in Europe.

With the overall aim to increase bus usage by 20 per cent, the Principality is also funding five new duplex trains with a thirty per cent increase in train services, and in an innovative attempt to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home will provide free electric cycles at car park schemes.

‘The one time of year you might see fast cars being encouraged is of course for the Monaco Grand Prix in May’, conclude the guide for Monaco, ‘But overall it’s Prince Albert who will be able to claim the winners rostrum among European leaders for the environment.’

I am embarrassed to admit that I spent 45 minutes determining that Monte from US Cellular’s “Call Monte” ad is real. I’ve been tempted to call the phone number on the screen, 312-217-4183, to see if it actually goes to Monte or if it just connects to some prerecorded advertisement.  I decided to dig a little deeper to see if Monte is a real person or just a character created by USCC or their ad agency.

The premise of the ad is that Monte likes to videotape himself eating and posts the videos online.  He is on a quest to find the best sandwich in Chicago, and we are invited to call Monte and tell him our pick for best sandwich.  It is mentioned that every call Monte gets will cost him nothing, as incoming calls are free with US Cellular.

It looks like Monte is a real person.  I found his blog, “Off the Eatin’ Path with Monte.”  It started in 2007, but most of the food-related posts started in September.  How would a blogger get a commercial and appear on Channel 26 after only two months of food blogging?  That was the nagging question, so I kept digging.

Monte also has a website called Monteism.  I’ll spare the details, but the more stuff I found, the more it appeared Monte is a real person.  I’m a research machine; should’ve become a librarian or CIA analyst.  Anyway, Monte is actually a comedian.  I think that would explain how he ended up in an ad.

I might check out the Off the Eatin’ Path blog periodically, as it seems like a written, more down-to-earth version of Channel 11’s Check Please.  Sometimes Check Please gets too fancy for me.  I prefer to hear about food for regular people, not $60-a-head kind of stuff.

I suppose you could say USCC’s ad worked, by getting me to do so much research about it.  But I’m already a customer…

Next topic.  I got my new tires tonight.  Michelin Primacy MXV4.  They are rather pricey, but got good reviews fron Consumer Reports, and more importantly, other Prius owners.  When I ordered them last week, the guy at the tire place seemed surprised I was putting those tires on a Prius.  It’s a higher-end touring tire, but it has good traction and low rolling resistance.  I stuck my finger in the tread, and I have waaaay more tread depth now than I had on the OEM Goodyear Integrity tires that had 34,000 miles on them.  Hopefully my car will have an easier time going up hills than it did in last year’s snow.  When the Integrities were new, they did great in the snow.  Last year, they weren’t so hot.  Anyway, my next credit card bill is going to suck.

My first day back at work after my mini-vacation was OK.  Just two voicemails to reply to.  Surprisingly, no map requests or requests for data.  I figured out that I need to give myself GIS work to do instead of waiting for other people to tell me to do something.  I decided to delve into a few gigabytes of new data I received last week.  I need to ask myself what kind of map would be interesting to see, or what kind of analysis would be cool.  Give myself a project.  I used to give myself busywork all the time, but I kind of lost inspiration.  One of the curses of being skilled at a lot of things is that I get these feelings that I am working the wrong job.  Sometimes I want to be a photographer.  Sometimes I want to be a computer repair tech.  Sometimes I want to be a technology concierge.  Sometimes I want to be a graphic designer.  Sometimes I want to be a writer.  I do all these things, just not all the time, and not professionally.  I think I am having a hard time separating my hobbies from my work.  The soul searching will continue, but I think I will keep doing what I am doing.  I’ll toil away at my computer, messing with spreadsheets, databases, and maps.  All these other things I do will have to stay hobbies.  Once I try to make my hobbies my job, they won’t be fun anymore.

Enough putzing around on the computer.  Good night.  Or good morning, since it is 1AM.

Sembra proprio che il mite autunno ci abbia lasciato.

Oggi tira un vento fortissimo e piove a “secchiate“, segno che la Natura ha deciso di rispettare finalmente il calendario.

Certo non mi dispiaceva quel tepore dei giorni scorsi, quella bella luce e la possibilità di stare all’aria aperta ma in fondo dicembre è vicino, anzi vicinissimo e come sapete io all’arrivo di questo periodo ho un risveglio che definire “ormonale” è poco!

Sento il bisogno della neve, sento il bisogno di perdere lo sguardo su certi scenari, sento il bisogno di quel silenzio, di quel candore… ho già cominciato a navigare tra siti di metereologia e webcam varie aspettando il fatidico primo giorno, quando rimetterò piede sul/nel mio elemento preferito…

Oggi, nel mio vagabondare tra le montagne, ho rivisto l’amato “Nobile Scoglio” e un concorso a cui partecipa. Il Cervino è in finale per essere nominato una delle 7 nuove meraviglie della Natura.

Qui il link del concorso. Io ovviamente ho già votato!

CHALEEEEE!!!!

No livro de Êxodo, podemos ver como o Senhor é maravilhoso…

O Senhor livrou o seu povo das mãos dos egípcios, abriu o Mar Vermelho para o seu povo passar. Ele fez o

maná  para alimentar o seu povo e ainda fez com que a água saísse da rocha quando eles ainda estavam no deserto…

Mesmo quando o seu povo errava, o Senhor ainda teve amor e misericórdia pelo seu povo.

Podemos aprender no livro de Êxodo o quanto devemos ser obedientes ao Senhor, aprendemos também,

como o Senhor é poderoso.

Enfim, o Senhor é maravilhoso!

Eu aconselho a vocês que lessem o livro de Êxodo, que é uma excelente fonte de aprendizagem. Até mesmo

para os dias atuais.

No livro de Salmos, no capítulov 136:10-25, trata sobre esse evento.

“Àquele que feriu o Egito nos seus primogênitos, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;E tirou a Israel do meio deles, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Com mão poderosa e braço estendido, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Àquele que separou em duas partes o mar Vermelho, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

E por entre elas fez passar Israel, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Mas precipitou no mar Vermelho a Faraó e ao seu exército, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Àquele que conduziu o seu povo pelo deserto, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Àquele que feriu grandes reis, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

E tirou a vida a famosos reis, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

A Seom, rei dos amorreus, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

E a Ogue, rei de Basã, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Cujas terras deu em herança, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

Em herança a Israel, seu servo, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

A quem se lembrou de nós em nosso abatimento, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

E nos libertou dos nossos adversários, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre;

E dá alimento a toda carne, porque a sua misericórdia dura para sempre.”

Além disso, os Salmos 106, 105 e 78 também falam sobre esse evento na história. Mas, para entender melhor estes Salmos, leiam o livro de Êxodo.

Ler o livro de Êxodo é muito bom para os cristãos, e a história é muito cativante. É uma história que prende a nossa atenção!

Porém, para ler Êxodo, tem que ler primeiro Gênesis. Pois se não ler o livro de Gênesis, não entenderá o livro de Êxodo. Leiam, pois é muito interessante! Vai servir muito para nós que servimos ao Senhor, nosso Deus.

Desde la escuela de Monte, en el colegio público Eloy Villanueva , con Rubén y Juan como responsables, llegan las primeras fotos de sus entrenamientos.

Silversea Spirit

Silversea Silver Spirit Courtesy of Silversea Cruises and By Linda Garrison, About.com Guide to Cruises

BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF SILVER SPIRIT SEA TRIALS from Silversea on Vimeo.

foodwatch

ein “gesunder Drink” mit “wertvollem Traubenzucker”, geeignet als “Zwischenmahlzeit” – klingt toll, was die Firma Zott da von ihrem “Milchmischgetränk” Monte Drink behauptet. Ist aber leider eine richtig dreiste Täuschung. In Wahrheit steckt in Monte nämlich vor allem eins: Zucker. Umgerechnet 8 Stück Würfelzucker enthält ein Fläschchen Monte – mehr als die gleiche Menge Cola.

Warum weder der Traubenzucker noch das ganze aromatisierte Monte-Gemisch “wertvoll” sind und wie Zott Eltern eine Zuckerbombe als gesunde Zwischenmahlzeit unterjubelt lesen Sie jetzt auf abgespeist.de.
Beschweren Sie sich direkt bei Zott über diesen verantwortungslosen Etikettenschwindel! Jetzt beschweren »

Empezamos nuestra andadura en el turismo rural en Enero del 2008 y nos consideramos todavia unos novatos en este tema. El otro día hablando con un colega que lleva muchos años metido en este mundo, nos decía que cada vez se daba  mas cuenta del mucho desconocimiento que hay, sobre todo por parte de algunos que se dicen profesionales en la materia, entre ellos, algunos departamentos de organismo oficiales que llevan el turismo rural aquí en Castilla La Mancha.  Decía muy enfadado, que estaban  todavía en la edad de piedra diseñando costosas guias y folletos que no sirvan  para nada, en lugar de ver la realidad, por donde y hacía donde se movía el mercado,  Internet y Televisión. Insistía que lo que se necesitaba era gente cualificada e innovadora  que creara verdaderos planes para el desarrollo del  turismo rural en Castilla La Mancha.

The longer I live in Jozi the more I experience a two-fold and unfortunate truth. A) Most people here don’t actually want to live here. They are here to earn cash or an education and then plan on taking that ‘home’ to invest in lives and communities there. B) This naturally brings with it an uncertainty and even disdain for the natural charm of Jozi. Along with this comes a prevalence of fake charm in Johannesburg which means there are many themed restaurants/casinos/malls as well as contrived spots of charm, safety and character.

The other day I went with my friend Ellie to Montecasino in Fourways which is one such contrived spot of charm and character. What is Montecasino’s theme? A Tuscan village at sunrise/sunset/nighttime depending on which part you are in. What is it? A collection of shops, restaurants, a casino, theatre, cinema and hotel. Where is it? Characteristically far from the city, in the middle of the suburbs, away from anything that is ‘real’ about Jozi.

This is the fake romantic sunset over the fake village. If you look very closely you will see a fake heron sitting on the fake roof.

But I must confess, I actually like Montecasino. Not because it provides an escape from the stress of Joburg or because it is particularly classy. I like it because it’s funny to drive into a parking lot, ride an elevator, be frisked and then step onto the cobble stones of a Tuscan village. Monte (as I affectionately call it) is replete with Tuscan buildings, washing lines hanging between cottages, windows dressed with bottles of wine, pigeons, herons, waxy candles, a bicycle or two, busty ladies and laughing children. The streets are lined with trees in aumtumnal colours, a ‘Polizia’ car and fairy lights. And if you gaze up above the blue sky is dusted with clouds, which changes to sunset oranges, darkness, and then purply hues for sunrise as you walk through Monte. All as fake and contrived and laughable as a fake marriage, love affair or living and taking from a city which you would rather not live in.

This is someone fake’s fake washing hanging between their fake homes over the fake street being dried beneath the fake sky.

The patrons fakely enjoying the fake Tuscan village are sad gamblers (pokies are always sad), white teenagers with R100 each, tourists (because where else in this city could you take them to fakely appreciate it?) and me and whichever unlucky friend I have dragged along to join me in mocking Monte and enjoying the thai restaurant.

It’s all pretty sad really and makes me want to love the natural charm of Jozi even more than I already do and continue to be an apostle for enjoying all the wonderful, real things this city has to offer. Sure it’s hard, but that’s part of what makes it good. Stay tuned for my real guide to actually enjoying the real charm Jozi has to offer; sightseeing, living, eating, shopping. Tuscan not included.

If I can manage it I am going to get my hands on a bunch of stickers that I have heard architects tote and plaster them all over Monte; “Do crime, do drugs, just don’t do Tuscan”. Amen. If only more architects would stick to that mantra maybe we wouldn’t have the problem of so many fake Tuscan villages all over Jozi.

Ellie fake smiling on the fake cobblestones next to the fake tree.

jaja como bien se lo dije al kiro, eso pasa por modificar solamente el motor, dandole mas poder, i todo, pero los demas componentes donde qedan? son los de fabrica, i no estan hechos para resistir, mas para lo q fueron hechos

Ennesima tragedia annunciata… non è solo una frase fatta, purtroppo è realtà.

Ecco un raccolta di link da internet (i tg e i contenitori di news da ieri stanno effettuando ampi servizi in diretta da Casamicciola)

Ischia, il peggio è passato (la stampa)

Frana a Ischia, oggi scuole chiuse (ansa)

Frana ad Ischia: ancora quanti morti prima di dire basta all’abusivismo? (agoravox)

Le voci della disperazione (il mattino)

Attivo coordinamento soccorsi (ansa)

Photostory (ansa)

Una frana nazionale (affari italiani)

Foto, video e molto altro in diretta dall’isola (ischiablog   ultimora   ischiamondo)

Speriamo che tutto ciò porti finalmente a qualcosa di concreto… urgono provvedimenti seri

Y porqué lo llamo así, porque es MÍO, mío no en el sentido posesivo de la palabra, sino porque yo lo he soñado.

He leido libros, consultado en internet, he estudidado las plantas mas beneficiosas, las que iban mejor al terreno y al clima , las que más me gustaban. 

 He querido hacer un jardín natural yen armonía con el paisaje que lo rodeaba.

 Lo he diseñado, he cavado con una azada al principio que ni podía con ella (ahora ya si), he plantado, he regado, he hecho semilleros, he podado, bueno, en definitiva, todo lo que hace un jardinero.

 Le he dado contínuos cuidados y le he mimado y sobre todo lo he amado.

El me ha respondido generosamente regalándome todo su esplendor y sus fragantes aromas.

Por todo ello, es MÍO

 MÍO JARDÍN.

He estado leyendo varios comentarios sobre turismo rural. Me he reido mucho con algunos árticulos que  satirizan  este tipo de turismo y sobre todo me he sorprendido por el desconocimiento que hay. Hasta se  preguntaban jocosamente si el turismo rural era un invento.  

El turismo rural ¿un invento?. Por supuesto que nó. Hay muchas casas como la mía que estamos haciendo mucho esfuerzo en ofrecer un turismo rural diferente y de calidad. El trabajo es mucho y los apoyos muy pocos y ante todo lo más complicado es cómo dar a conocer nuestro producto diferenciado frente a la oferta existente, todas esas virtudes que no se aprecian en una foto y que están allí para que se valoren, se sientan  y se disfruten.

aehuaehueahuae qm dera =/

This is a recipe I learned from a cooking class. The recipe is so easy. The great thing about it is that it is small, but is very filling that you could barely eat the who sandwich! This is the most easy, affordable, and delicious snack i’ve ever made.

So here’s the recipe:

Monte Cristo

2 loaves of bread

1 slice of ham

1 slice of cheese

2 eggs

breadcrumbs

Start with a slice of bread, add the cheese and ham and layer it with the other slice of bread. Scramble your eggs in a bowl and lay your bread crumbs on a plate. Next, you are going to flatten out your sandwich so that it will hold together. Slice your bread in four. Then, dip you sandwich in the egg mixture and cover it up with bread crumbs. Heat up a skillet or a hollow pan with oil and deep fry your sandwich until golden brown. Finally, dab the sandwich pieces on a piece of tissue and serve.

   En el marco de  las 2ª Jornadas Micológicas de Castellón, programadas para este fin de semana, ayer viernes día 30 de octubre fuimos invitados a una salida al monte de los alrededores del Pico de Penyagolosa para comprobar sobre el propio terreno de forma práctica las distintas clases de setas que crecen en el paraje.

   En un espléndido día soleado, casi impropio de esta época anual, a la llegada el Santuario de Sant Joan de Penyagolosa nos repartimos los asistentes formando varios grupos reducidos que, acertadamente guiados por un entendido maestro, íbamos observando y diferenciando las setas que encontrábamos nuestro paso y recolectando las comestibles. A mi me tocó por suerte estar incluido en el Equipo “R” que con un lazo rojo de robellón, fuimos acompañados por la Srta. Dª. María Antonia Agut Monferrer de Adzaneta del Maestrazgo, la mejor profesora que cualquier alumno pueda imaginar tener para aprender en la vida y que con sus amplísimos conocimientos, iba explicando las cualidades de cada uno de los ejemplares encontrados a nuestro paso.

   De regreso, repusimos fuerzas en el Restaurante Casa Ramón de Adzaneta del Maestrazgo deleitando nuestros paladares con excelentísimos manjares, cual mejor, a base de setas, desde las ensaladas a los postres, para finalizar con una magistral explicación práctica, regalo personal de Dª. María Antonia Agut Monferrer sobre las características de cada tipo de las setas recolectadas.

Si, tan cerca y para algunos tan desconocidos. 

Me comentaba Bensai, en el blog de El Pais, que no nos damos cuenta de lo que tenemos hasta que lo perdemos o estamos muy lejos y es verdad.

Esta comarca de los Montes de Toledo tan bella es muy desconocida hasta para los propios de Toledo que están tan cerca. Tenemos un paraje extraordinario aquí en Las Navillas por donde transcurre la Real Cañada Segoviana, en San Pablo con los puertos del Robledillo y el Lanchar y en Ventas con su molino y sus artesanos de la piel. 

Todo un lujo por descubrir

En la provincia de Toledo, lindando con Ciudad Real, existe un ecosistema natural, “Los Montes de Toledo”, poco conocido hasta los propios de la provincia, a  tan solo cuarenta y cinco  minutos de Toledo y a hora y media de Madrid. Un lugar especial para recorrer a pie, bicicleta, caballo, 4X4 ……, donde puedes avistar multitud de especies de animales salvajes (ciervos, gamos, jabalies, conejos, liebres, zorros, perdiz, paloma, pato real, tórtola, zorzal, estornino,buitres, aguilar etc.), especies vegetales (encina, alcornoque, quejigo, mostajo, fresno, sauce, olmo, pino, acebo, tejo, acer madroño, rusco, cornicabra, espino, endrino, madreselva, esparraguera, jara, retama, tomillo, etc.) y animales domésticos (vacas, cabras, ovejas, perros, gatos).  Un lugar muy especial para respirar  y sentir los olores del campo y por las noches poder disfrutar de sus increibles cielos estrellados.

 Te lo imaginas, es sensacional.