A website to find out which countries you can travel to without a visa and the duration of your stay

It may take only a few months for the holiday season, summer, which means you need to plan for your next vacation. If you are considering a holiday abroad, it is necessary to begin with a visa check to visit different countries. Visit the Doyouneedvisa website, which will enable you to find out about visas for travel to any country.

This service not only provides you visa policy in different countries but also enables you to know the level of your passport, its credibility and its importance in the world. This assessment is calculated based on the number of countries you can visit without a visa, as well as the country's population,

The countries that you can visit without the need for a visa and the duration of the visit allowed, to find out which countries you need to click "Passport Information" on the home page. You can also search and select the country from the drop down menu:

On the other hand, you can also know the citizens of other countries who are allowed to visit your country without a visa, as well as those who must obtain a visa.

If you want to know more information, simply click the country name on the same page. You will be taken to another section where you can find out the phone, postal address, and location of the embassy or consulate required.

The link to the website: 

http://www.doyouneedvisa.com

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Visiting Turkey - Tips and Advice

The bus is still in Turkey the main form of transportation. Every town, every area in Turkey can be reached from the bus station, the *otogar*. Otogar is a word combination, ("Oto" means car, "Gar" comes from the French word Gare for station). Go there and you'll find all bus companies - tickets can be obtained right here. A confusing picture sometimes as there are so many agencies - so do decide on a serious company. And specially in summertime do book in time.

All buses have good comfort and air conditioning and a stop on the way for having a meal is always arranged

The Dolmus (dolmush) is typically Turkish and can be found everywhere. These are mainly minibuses traveling relatively short distances. A dolmus usually waits and starts in the bus station () until it is full and then leaves. You can board a dolmus anywhere on its route by signaling it to stop for you. Similarly you can get off at a convenient point anywhere along the route. The destination of the dolmus is posted in the windscreen. This kind of public transport is cheap and efficient and works very well all over Turkey.

Money Matters

Turkish currency is the Lira (TL) and the inflation rate still is very high (between 70 and 80%.) So prices in this country change quickly. Don't change at home, change in Turkey! The rate is a lot better here. Unless you've just won the lottery! Check your money and receipt before leaving the bank Get used to the color and denomination of the Turkish Lira (TL) before going out to spend them. Spread them out somewhere and have a good look (and a small gloat at the millions!). Calculate an exchange rate to fit each note, and round up or down so you can remember it. E.g.: 1,000,000TL (1 Million) is about half a pound - something like that. When you buy something, make sure you understand how many TL are needed, shopkeepers often write the sum down to avoid confusion, and count your notes out carefully. Anyhow many of the restaurant owners or shop keepers are used to western currencies.

National holidays

Official holidays are:

January 1st - New Year's Day

April 23rd - Children's Day

May 19th - Day of youth and sport

MIA 27th - Day of constitution

August 30th Victory Day.

October 29th Republic Day

Religious holidays

In Islam there are two big religious festivals. During the fasting time (Ramadan or Ramadan), Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke or have sexual intercourse between sunrise and sunset. Armada marks God's revelation of the Koran, Islam's holy book to the Prophet Mohammed. This 4 weeks fasting time is followed by the Sugar Fete (Seker Bayrami), when people visit each other and offering sweets.

About two months later Kurban Bayrami is celebrated - 'The Festival of Sacrifice', which is Turkey's longest religious and also secular holiday. This festival commemorates Abraham's near sacrifice of his son Isaac (Koran Rura 37).

Word Count:

1004

Summary:

General advice and tip on travelling in Turkey

Keywords:

villa turkey, turkey villas, 

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What to see in a week in Suffolk, England

Sleepy Suffolk may not be a destination that comes to mind when you think about a week away, but you will be amazed to find out just how much there is to see and do. Its full of history and stunning scenery. Here are just a few things you should check out if you are planning a trip to this much over looked county  

Suffolk is nestled in East Anglia and neighbours Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Suffolk is a place which offers up stunning rural countryside. It envelopes many quaint villages and has been an inspiration for no less than 2 famous painters, 

John Constable and Thomas Gainsbourough. 

The town of Newmarket is famous as the home of Horse (Flat) Racing. 

If it is the sea that interests you Aldburgh, Southwold or Dunwich are the perfect English seaside locations to take in the natural beauty.

Quaint villages in Suffolk include:-

Lavenham, which attracts many visitors every year who are drawn by the display of half-timbered medieval cottages. Once described as "the most complete medieval town in Britain", Lavenham shares a magnificent collection of medieval and Tudor architecture. Lavenhams older buildings are gathered around the market place. The National Trust owns the Guildhall which now displays a permanent local history exhibition.

Long Melford. Here you will find a host of antique shops excellent places to eat as well as  historic buildings which include Long Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall.

Long Melford Hall has changed very little since 1578. It has managed to retain its original panelled banqueting hall which is where Queen Elizabeth I was often entertained. A small display of items connected with Beatrix Potter remind us that she was related to the family, The Hyde Parkers (former residents) 

Kentwell Hall was built in the early 16th century by the Clopton family. It is surrounded by a moat which is very befitting of this stunning Tudor Manor. The exterior of Kentwell has changed little over the years, however this cannot be said of the interior though, as much has been done to renovate and refurbish it.

Kentwell Hall often has Tudor days and one can dress in the costumes of the time and truly experience life as it was all those years ago. 

Framlingham is a twelfth century castle which consists of a continuous curtain-like wall that joins thirteen enormous towers.

Next we have Bury St Edmunds which has close associations with The Magna Carta and is also known as the cathedral town of Suffolk. Bury St Edmunds is steeped in history and offers up amazing architecture and a museum to share its secrets to anyone who is interested.

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and of course home to its football club at Portman Road. 

You cannot visit Suffolk without finding out about the great artists that it has produced in times gone by. Thomas Gainsborough’s house is now a museum, the only artist's birthplace open to the public in the whole of Britain, which was established in 1961. Here visitors are able to see a large collection of the artist paintings.

John Constable, is arguably the greatest and most original of all British landscape artists. He is most famous for is his views of Flatford and the Stour Valley in Suffolk, Hampstead Heath and Salisbury Cathedral.

Flatford and the Bridge Cottage complex are both run by the National Trust and you can see the Constable exhibition here.

Halesworth was originally a roman settlement and is set in a lovely area. It hosts the yearly “gig in the park” in August.

The beautiful Orford Coastal village offers bird watching, a chance to go boating, a host of historic buildings and for the more energetic, sporting activities too.

Woodbridge also offer some pleasant surprises for the interested visitor such as Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Ship Burial, Shire Hall stands in the middle of Market Hill, and has been the focal point of the town for over 400 years.

Last but by no means least, Snape now better known for Snape Maltings is no longer used commercially. It was  converted into a tourist centre together with a concert hall that now hosts a major part of the annual Aldeburgh Festival.

Word Count:

696

Summary:

Sleepy Suffolk may not be a destination that comes to mind when you think about a week away, but you will be amazed to find out just how much there is to see and do. Its full of history and stunning scenery. Here are just a few things you should check out if you are planning a trip to this much over looked county

Keywords:

holiday, cottages, in suffolk 

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Why Visit Turkey?

Why Turkey? That's often the initial response from someone when they hear that you are going to Turkey on Holiday.

It's a huge country littered with interesting artefacts and populated by some of the friendliest people on earth. Flowers seem to burst from every crevice, the sun shines endlessly, transport systems are efficient Scenery ranges from dull to mind-boggling, beaches are fair, prices are low and shopping is excellent, especially leatherware in Istanbul. Driving is suprisingly safe, apart from mad Istanbul taxi drivers and night driving.

Knocking at Europe’s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach. 

Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans. In Turkey, you can also cruise along more than 1000km (620 miles) of Mediterranean coastline, past secluded coves, rocky headlands and pretty fishing villages, or explore a hinterland rich in the wonderfully preserved remains of Graeco-Roman cities such as Ephesus. 

Turkey Villas are abundent all along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and many are luxurious, spacious and with pricate pools.  The combination of a rental care and a beautiful Turkey Villas makes for a great Turkey Holiday.

Word Count:

255

Summary:

A few reasons why Turkey is a great place to visit for a vacation.

Keywords:

villas turkey, turkey villa, holiday, vacation

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A Treat For Bowls Enthusiasts

People today are busier than ever, working long and often unsociable hours, juggling family life with work commitments and rushing around from one thing to the next. Yet many people still manage to squeeze into what ‘spare time’ they do have a hobby or activity that they really love. 

There is an incredible range of activities people enjoy, from hugely energetic five-a-side football often played on weekday evening to rambling in the beautiful countryside on a Sunday afternoon. Some activities tend to have a male/female bias – take rugby versus aerobics – while others are perfect for both sexes and also ages. 

Indoor bowling is a very popular sport across the UK. A game of skill, patience and tactics, there are in excess of 330 indoor bowling clubs in England with a combined membership of 110,000 men and 54,000 women. And forget that this is a sport for older people – these clubs welcome members from as young as 7 to 80 years plus! 

Many enjoy a game during the week along with the social aspects of club membership while there is sometimes the opportunity to take part in tournaments on the weekend. Bowls is not a sport to be hurried, so the idea of a week or two week holiday that combines sport with sun, sea and sand definitely sounds like a break not to be missed. 

A company offering that perfect combination is Potters Holidays. A well-established family-run business with a wonderful 5-star UK holiday resort in Norfolk, Potters Holidays offer fantastic Bowls Festival Weeks in the warm and beautiful setting of Cyprus. 

Nestled on the West Coast of Cyprus, guests on a Potters Bowls Festival Week will arrive at the old town of Paphos, with its delightful harbour, shops and bars. This great location is home to an excellent, carefully selected 4-star hotel. The Athena Beach Hotel combines luxury and style, with its stunning landscaped gardens, three outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and mini-golf. 

The Potters family pride themselves on offering high standards of service at their UK-based resort and the Cyprus experience is no different. A member of the Potters family will host the week, while members of the team will be on hand to ensure you have an extra special holiday. 

The bowling breaks include a guaranteed number of Round Robin games playing in teams of four plus roll ups and spoon drives in the evenings under floodlights. In addition there is also an exclusive bowling tournament to take part in, which are optional, free to enter and offer great prizes, organised by Mark Hedges and the Anglia Bowls Team.

This Cyprus holiday is about more than just bowls. During the stay at the hotel there is both daytime and evening entertainment. Cabaret acts and top performers are flown in from the UK exclusively for the Bowling breaks to ensure you entertained by some of the best in the business. 

The Festival weeks can be extended to a two or even three-week stay with special breaks available such as the Celebrity Bowls Festival in association with Bowls International Magazine. There is also the opportunity to organise group bookings for ten people or more – perfect for a bowling break for a club.

Word Count:

529

Summary:

A company offering that perfect combination is Potters Holidays. A well-established family-run business with a wonderful 5-star UK holiday resort in Norfolk, Potters Holidays offer fantastic Bowls Festival Weeks in the warm and beautiful setting of Cyprus.

Keywords:

bowls. Bowling, bowling holiday, cyprus bowling

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Celebrating 100 Years Of The British Holiday Camp!

Imagine choosing between a guest house with a set of strict rules – and a landlady ready to enforce them, or a holiday camp with tents and daily chores to complete. Doesn’t sound like much of a choice, yet these were the accommodation options for those holidaying in Great Britain’s seaside resorts in the 1900s. 

Given these were the only options, the ‘freedom’ offered by the holiday camp was instantly appealing and holidaymakers were welcomed at the UK’s first holiday camp in 1906 at Caistor-on-Sea, Norfolk. By today’s standards the camp was incredibly basic and certainly had no luxury accommodation on offer! Yet it paved the way for a holiday genre that has been thriving for more than 100 years. 

Holiday camps continued to make steady progression and 1924 saw the arrival of a holiday camp in Hopton-on-Sea which boasted brick chalets, running water and electric lights – some of the ultimate facilities. However, global events were to have a serious impact on holidays with two World Wars, and the take over of holiday camps to be used as military bases in the Second World War. 

Holiday camps really came into their own with a glorious golden era during the 1950s and 60s after the end of WWII. People hadn’t been on holiday for many years and many children had never seen the sea. Life had been incredibly hard and the public were in need of fun and entertainment. The holiday camp could provide all this and more. With swimming pools on site, entertainment in the evenings, competitions including ‘Glamorous Granny’ and ‘Knobbly Knees’ plus plentiful food the camps offered all the right ingredients for an fun and affordable family holiday. 

While the offer of cheap sea and sun holidays drew many people to destinations such as Spain in the 1970s, UK holiday resorts such as Great Yarmouth have seen a resurgence of visitors in recent years. As the cost of living continues to soar and with the need to consider ‘greener’ ways to travel, a Great British seaside holiday – with glorious beaches, strolls along the pier and ice cream – is an attractive proposition. 

And where better to stay than a holiday village? A far cry from their 20th Century counterparts, Great Yarmouth is home to some of the UK’s best including some with 5-star ratings. With the promise of modern accommodation, a huge range of indoor and outside entertainment for children and adults and onsite eateries, it’s the ideal choice for families. 

Great Yarmouth has invested more than £25 million in redeveloping the seafront, creating a stunning new promenade area for visitors to stroll along, and a beautifully lit pedestrianised walkway linking the seafront to the town centre. The town’s rich maritime heritage is evident all around, with a heritage quarter rich in history to explore. The many holiday parks and villages along this part of the coastline expect a bumper year in 2008.

Word Count:

486

Summary:

The article covers the history of the holiday camp in Norfolk, particularly in the Greater Yarmouth region. Holiday parks are still a popular accommodation choice with Great Yarmouth home to many.

Keywords:

Norfolk seaside holiday, UK seaside resort, holiday parks Norfolk

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Explore Norfolk As Part Of Your Great Yarmouth Holiday

Norfolk is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations, with an excellent array of places to visit and things to do and see, welcoming visitors of all ages. 

For holidaymakers staying in Great Yarmouth, the resort is well positioned to explore some of best bits of the county, including the stunning Norfolk Broads, the unspoilt beaches and the many, varied attractions.

If you’re holidaying with small children Norfolk has a good selection of places to visit that are both fun and educational. The attractions range from searching for dinosaurs through woodland to learning about Shire horses, along with play barns and animal farms for really young children. 

For older children and teenagers Norfolk also has something to offer with a good range of activities, such as adrenaline fuelled rides at amusement parks, shopping, cinemas and mountain biking. Yet, if it rains during your visit then the county is fully prepared for the unpredictable British weather too with good indoor attractions including the Sealife Centre in Great Yarmouth, and great family activities such as swimming and bowling.

Alongside the attractions and outdoor adventure activities the county has a wealth of museums and historic houses that bring the area’s history to life. Nestled in the beautiful countryside, majestic stately homes and parkland, including picturesque Somerleyton Hall and Blickling Hall, owned by the National Trust, are waiting to be discovered. The historical seaside towns of Great Yarmouth and Cromer also have a great range of museums that document Norfolk’s maritime history.

Make the most of today and the past with a day out in the historic city of Norwich. For shopping, sightseeing or just simply exploring, the city is just 20 miles from Great Yarmouth and is definitely worth a visit. Now one of the top ten places to shop in the UK with not one but two shopping centres, plus a Norman Cathedral and impressive castle, museums, art galleries, and much more, there’s plenty for everyone to do whatever their passion or interest.

Out of the town and into the countryside, there are numerous ways to explore Norfolk with the county having some fantastic steam railways, cycle routes and walks. The best of these include the North Norfolk Railway, based on the coast in Sheringham, and the Peddars Way and Coast Path that are part of the National Trails network. And of course with the Norfolk Broads, there are opportunities to take to the water either on a cruise or by hiring a boat.

Not surprisingly the varying habitats in Norfolk are a haven for nature and birds of all sorts, so birdwatchers and nature lovers should definitely bring their binoculars. The long stretch of Norfolk coastline is home to some of the most protected habitats in the UK, with fragile ecosystems such as heathland, salt marshes and tidal wetland. An internationally recognised stretch of coastline, it is home to some of the UK’s most important bird reserves, including the RSPB site at Titchwell, which gets over 100,000 visitors a year. Further down the coast it is possible to either walk, a good 4 miles over shingle, or catch a boat from the village of Morston, to see the seal colony at the end of Blakeney Point.

So whatever you want from your holiday Norfolk has a great range of attractions to offer to all age groups and audiences – with Great Yarmouth providing an ideal base from which to explore.

Word Count:

571

Summary:

The article summarises the attractions and things to do in Norfolk, including the attractions for children and teenagers, Norwich, countryside and birdwatching/nature.

Keywords:

Norfolk is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations, with an excellent array of places to visit and things to do and see, welcoming visitors of all ages.   For holidaymakers staying in Great Yarmo

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Holidays, time of sea and comfort

Sand and crystal clear water whether our holiday is on our coasts in Italy or we are among the lucky few who reach beautiful island for a fabulous stay, certainly not want disfigure in terms of clothing. 

So to spend hours lying  to sunbathe between a dip and another, the choice of new costume must follow the new fashion trends beach becomes obliged. For a woman we find new bikini lines by strong colours, to create a "rainbow" on the beach, flanked by modern semi-one-pice costumes that play to see and not to see until to come to the simple clothes with tight strep, with necklines on the back to wear even for walks or evening to fully enjoy the sea breeze. 

Even for a man strong colours for the costumes tand shorts by sea for all tastes, Hawaiian patterns beaches that attract foreign but also more sober colors for lovers of classical style. 

There is the known pareo, convenient for her but also used by him, perhaps in dyed with the costume, the garment is becoming faster and convenient for the beach and other. 

The desire for sea and want to stay comfortable, even when walking and then how not to use simple flip-flop, comfortable even on the shore of the beach but very appreciated also to walk in the streets of the city, from the most Spartan, rubber and plastic until most elegant, perfect for the evening, with rhinestones, finishing in silver and gold, together with light summer dress, complete the dress perfectly. 

Convenient since the departure until the arrival on the beach and practice even during our shopping in the city centre, can not miss the bag, our hand luggage that gives us the air a little 'nomadic and chic that contains everything that we need in an entire day, from morning to evening; 

When we are lying on the beach and want a nice cushion enough to fill a little 'and the canvas bag will also practice in this! 

The fashion this year really satisfied anyone and who don't love the flip-flop also in the evening, but doesn't want hight-helled sandals and doesn't love the wedge-helled shose, these are the sandals  by metallic style the flt sandals are the accessory most used in this summer. Many models for the convenience of all, the important thing is these are sparkling like gold and silver. 

So feel like holiday and siutable dresses and this year the offer satisfied all from accessories, such as glasses, perhaps with ebony and ivory frame that recall a precious style , to the simplicity colored flip-flop in rubber appreciated even by ' man for their comfort. 

Towels with a thousand colors to sunbathe in joy but also lighter clothes and elegant evening for evenings outdoors. For the holiday of her and him the choice for comfortable clothes, simple and summer sure is much.

Word Count:

479

Summary:

Summer, time of holidays and the preferential destination is the sea.

Keywords:

bikini

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Seniors Can Now Slow Down And Go On A Vacation by Jack Blacksmith

Getting Started

Determining what your choices will be is the foremost step if you wish to locate the perfect holiday travel insurance for senior citizens. Companies that offer the usual kinds of insurance are different from the ones which provide holiday senior citizen travel insurance, therefore knowing about the actual options available for you is necessary for you. This was beneficial to my parents who were able to insure the car they hired for driving in Murcia.

Being long enough in the business and having under their belt fabulous amount of knowledge and experience, Essential Travel are a specialist travel insurance company and without hesitation can be ranked as one of the top options. Regulated as well as authorized by the Financial Services Authority it is over five years they have been established.

Designed exclusively these travel insurance policies are offered only for senior citizens, therefore all of the variations and options required by you is also known to you. With any kind of questions that you may want to ask or have about travel insurance policy prior to agreeing for a senior citizen holiday you can contact to get help from the fabulous customer service center these companies also have.

Utopia is another good choice that you have, as on yearly multi trip policies till 70 years fantastic rates are offered by this company and customers till 85 years going on single trips are also covered. In their field they are certainly those companies which are considered one of the most well established and well respected and for 2 or more people traveling together even additional special rated discounts can be covered by them for you which are also specially customized.

In case you are searching for holiday senior citizen travel insurance policies AIS Direct is also great which the Financial Services Authority regulates and greatest quality travel protection is provided by them and during traveling if any unexpected events take place the travelers get help to protect themselves from their assistance services.

So, as you know that you would be protected by the proper travel insurance, in case God forbid, anything unfortunate incident happened during travel, you can relax and rest during your travels.

About the Author:

Jack Blacksmith frequently publishes informative papers on topics similar to murcia airport car rental and car hire san javier airport. One can discover his comments on car hire san javier airport and car hire in murcia here.

Word Count:

416

Summary:

The process will be slightly different while searching for travel insurance in case you are a senior citizen. Different factors and things are needed to be taken into consideration after all, nevertheless it must be kept in mind that after locating the perfect travel insurance policy for senior citizen the effort and the time spent for it will seem well worth for.

Keywords:

travel tips

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Alone for the Holidays?

Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?

The key phrase here is SHARE LOVE. Too often people think in terms of getting love rather than giving and sharing their love. They don’t realize that it is the act of giving their love that is so very fulfilling.

Gail had grown up very lonely in an emotionally distant family, with parents who did not freely give their love and relatives who were also cold and distant. She had married an emotionally distant man, and after 7 years of more loneliness, had decided to leave him. This was her first holiday season alone.

Gail decided that she was not going to be alone and lonely again this holiday season. She did some research on service agencies that needed volunteers and discovered a women’s shelter in her area for women and their children who were hiding from physically abusive husbands. The shelter was badly in need of funds for food, which Gail didn’t have. What she did have was the time to help gather food. Each day, after her job as a secretary, Gail went around to the markets in her area until she found some willing to donate Thanksgiving dinners for the mothers and their children. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, she spent her time at the shelter cooking, decorating, serving, and having Thanksgiving dinner with these brave women who had left their abusive husbands to save themselves and their children. It was the best Thanksgiving she ever had! By choosing to share her love with people who needed her, she felt filled with love.

Gail had such a fulfilling experience that she found a small part-time job in addition to her regular job so that she could afford to buy presents for the children at the shelter for Christmas. She had such fun buying presents for the children and watching their joyous little faces as they opened them on Christmas day! Gail felt anything but alone and lonely.

Gary was in a similar situation to Gail. He was single, had been an only child to parents who were no longer alive, and had no close relatives. His janitorial business did not give him much opportunity to make friends. Gary had spent many lonely holidays feeling isolated and depressed, and decided a few years ago to do something about it.

Gary loved animals. As a child, his dog had been his main connection with love. After some research, Gary discovered that there was a wonderful animal shelter within a half-hour of his home – a shelter that loved and cared for animals and didn’t euthanize them. Gary started to volunteer one day a week on the weekends – cleaning, feeding, playing with puppies and kittens, helping to interview people who wanted to adopt a pet, and getting to know the other volunteers. He found that he really connected with the people who volunteered there. Many of them were loving people who were deeply devoted to caring for animals. As his friendships developed, he found he had a new sense of family centered around the shelter. Thanksgiving and Christmas were now sometimes spent with the other volunteers who did not have families, and sometimes with the families of some of the volunteers. Gary’s life had become full and fulfilling. The last I heard, he was dating a woman who also volunteered at the animal shelter.

No matter what your life situation is, you can always share your love with others. Instead of feeling alone and lonely this holiday season, open your heart to giving. There are many people and animals out there who would welcome your love.

Word Count:

671

Summary:

Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?

Keywords:

holidays, lonliness, being alone, self help, self improvement, coaching

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10 Things Must-Do's When In Brussels

At the hub of European politics – Brussels is the cosmopolitan capital of bureaucracy. But when freed from the shackles of red tape, this compact capital of Belgium is a fascinating fusion of profound historical curiosity and contemporary living.

1. The Grand-Place

Brussels’ central square is the focal point of activity for locals and tourists alike. The heaving markets are bursting with souvenir-seeking bargain hunters. Look out for the town hall (Hotel de Ville), a magnificent example of 15th century architecture.

2. Manneken Pis

This sacred 17th century bronze statue of the small boy urinating is a Brussels landmark. Several legends exist as to the origins of this statue. One says it depicts a young boy urinating on a burning charge destined to blow up the city walls when under siege from a foreign army, thus saving the city from invasion. Whatever the truth, he is undeniable cute and has over 500 outfits, one for every occasion.

3. St Nicholas Church

Constructed in the 11th century, this fine example of medieval architecture is the oldest church in Brussels. If you are lucky, you may even catch one of the occasional services given in English.

4. Royales Galeries Sint-Hubert

Europe’s oldest glass arcade was designed by JP Cluysenaer and built in 1847. Home to fashionable boutiques and cool cafes, it was renovated and reopened in 2000. The arcade is worth visiting if only to experience the magnificent architecture.

5. Belgian Chocolate

No visit to Brussels is complete without experiencing the world famous Belgian chocolate. It has a quality all of its own and is the obvious choice for gifts to take back home.

6. Avenue Louise

If you crave a shopping fix then the Avenue Louise is the place to be. Designer shops aplenty provide ample opportunity to flex your spending power. Popular purchases include diamonds and antiques.

7. Waterzooi

This local Belgian speciality is a kind of fish stew and very popular with the locals. Other appetising native dishes include mussels, waffles, and sweetbreads.

8. Pistes de Lancement

If you are travelling with children, be sure to catch this clown festival during March. The Saint-Gilles region is awash with circus acts entertaining children and adults alike.

9. Flower Carpet

Throughout August, the Grand’ Place is subjected to a sea of colour as thousands of flowers are laid out in stunning patterns.

10. Christmas Market

The festive period is a flurry of activity as traditional Christmas stalls suddenly emerge. The effervescent displays keep you entertained between purchases as jugglers and musicians perform amongst the festive shoppers.

****Word Count:
412

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