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Aldiola Country Resort is a beautiful hotel in the green mediterranean country side encircled by corks, holm-oaks and millenary olives.
It is situated up on the hill overlooking the Liscia lake, few kilometres far from Costa Smeralda. You find a swimming pool located in a suggestive position.
Some corners wrapped in the ancient quietness of cork trees and millenari olive and evergreen oak invite you to meditation.
The hotel reminds the typical Sardinian house “stazzo gallurese” with rooms disposed in characteristic small houses overlooking the lake.

The country side around the hotel is rich of extraordinary archaeological and natural elements.
Very closed a group of millenary olives and granite rocks sculpted by water and wind.
The monuments of archaeology “nuraghi” facing the time still intact. L’Aldiola is a starting point for sports and naturalistic itinerary of big suggestion.

The ALDIOLA’s restaurant , has large windows and o big fireplace, where you taste typical Sardinian flavours and international cuisine
The restaurant of the hotel proposes the best traditional dishes and refined recipes where the flavours are exalted by the ingredients of the island.

Tipical pieces of pottery add beauty to the elegant and confortable guest rooms. The rooms are equipped with cooling and heating systems, minibar, private bathrooms, satellite TV , safe and veranda
The furniture of the rooms are in Sardinian style, have an accurate choice of woods, textiles and pottery product by the best artisans of the island.

ALDIOLA Country Resort is located in a natural countryside scenario, it is also only 13 Km from the seaside and it’s very near Porto Cervo and the most renowned beaches of Costa Smeralda . It’s easily reachable from Olbia airport and port .

If you think that Aldiola Country Resort is not exactly what you are looking for, click here to visit our catalogue for Hotels in Italy, and make a search for another hotel in Sant’Antonio Di Gallura: we are pretty sure that you can easy find the Sant’Antonio Di Gallura accommodation that can best fit your need for a perfect stay in Italy.

As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mount Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. His first found him within 240 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. Three years later, Min Bahadur Sherchan, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Everest to finish what he had started.

The 77-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Mt Everest. With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Andrew Brash noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”

They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. Further, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Andrew Brash with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on Chomolungma or Mount Everest. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though Chomolungma is shared by two countries. Climber from Nepal, 74, oldest person to climb to the peak of Everest Min Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism.

“Mount Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.

Now that Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. However, he was all too aware of the potential dangers Chomolungma could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused Min Bahadur Sherchan returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Chomolungma or Mount Everest. Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Bahadur Sherchan returned a hero to Calgarians. More than 3096 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.

They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”

This season mountaineer Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for Mt Everest after reaching the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania earlier this year.

The Chinese were flying their airplanes over the Mount Everest and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. Sherchan just 9 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.

Public Pledge and Image

Associates of the Royal Family join in countless of community duties monthly, across Great Britain as properly documented in the Court Circular, to pay tribute, promote & hear about the triumphs or performances of individuals, institutions & businesses in a selection of areas of life. As representatives of the sovereign, they often join the British Nation in honouring recorded events, holidays, celebratory & catastrophic incidences & often also funds or joins in several generous, artistic & communal activities.

Their trips abroad on behalf of the United Kingdom (called State Appointments when the sovereign formally sees other state officials) brings public awareness to friendly communications within and between the Commonwealth & other nations, to British freight & trade, & to Britain as a historical, vacation, and day-tripper location. Their present tasks & time-honoured tasks adds up to the peak of a contemporary “royal court,” & offer a specifically British & historical pageantry to royal procedures (e.g. Trooping the Colour) & outlook to public events (I.e. Summer Parties, Ascot).

During their lives they get a huge amount of press coverage in the way of picture, online and radio commentary on the subject of their daily lives, family associations, means of passage, characters, garments, behaviour, & public tasks. For details about the English Royal Family, visit the Enjoy England website.

Royal Money

Monies that support the Queen in the implementation of her tasks as the head of state of the UK comes from the Civil List. This is a return of a small segment of the profits from the Crown Lands that are surrendered by the monarch to parliament at the beginning of every reign; all Crown Land being handled by The Crown Estates, a foundation that is completely liable to parliament. In the two thousand and three-four monetary year, the sum presented was ?176 million, where the Head of State’s costs was only thirty six million pounds. The Head of State’s overheads does not comprise the charge of safety.

For your timeout shopping in the City it’s a wise choice to note down some sort of inventory to secure that you won’t forget to visit any of the famous shopping avenues, centres & boutiques in London, as there are hundreds to visit.

London’s downtown regions which take account of places including Piccadilly Circus & Leicester Square presents oodles of native knick-knacks & collectables at the nearby shops & newsstands on the corners, simple stop by any one of the shopping carts placed near the train and bus stations for the day’s hot offers. Oxford Street is wonderful for outdoor shopping with practically every food store you might probably want on merely one street. When you are in the proper mood for some extensive retail activity & are in need to splash out, there are only really 2 shops that you certainly must call at. These are Harrods & Selfridges. If you’re planning a shopping day out in London then check out Time Out’s guide to London shopping.

Harrods is a must stop in Knightsbridge, standing tall in all it’s magnificence at 87 to 135 Brompton Rd, London. Harrods is the only actual department store where the extravagant hotel style service that comes hand-in-hand with excellent items & an amazing setting. The many floors & departments sell manufactured items from around the world. There are plenty of dissimilar restaurants & beauty shops and hairdressers within, this shop is only for quality and will not in any case stand for being anything but the greatest.

Selfridges is also wonderful nonetheless it’s considerably newer than Harrods is. What brings many people to stop at Selfridges is instantly having their window sales altered weekly they are always so well stocked and wonderfully themed to attract shoppers to new attractions that they may perhaps have within the shop. It’s just as pleasant inside the shop & when you go through the main door you will walk into the beauty hall which is packed with sardines with every brand of cosmetics you could possibly believe. There is also an eatery with a colossal collection of counters having everything from cheese, meat, fish, wine, spirits and dairy goods. There are marvellous book shops, technology halls, cigar and tobacco shops & every fashionable designer brand you could possibly desire. It may take you at least a day to get through both Harrods and Selfridges hence it is essential to make sure you leave some time to go to some of the City’s other popular shopping outlets.

Namibia is a largely arid country of stark rough-hewn beauty. The most vivid images are those of a haunting technicolor landscape of swirling orange dunes, shimmering mirages and treacherous dust devils. The apparent desolation is deceptive and plant and animal life and even man has adapted to this environment. The country is designed almost specially with the active and adventure seeker in mind. Timeless deserts, thorn bush savanna, desolate wind ravaged coastlines, majestic canyons, and sun-baked saltpans are the bounty that awaits the traveler.

Namibia’s top draw is the Etosha National Park, rated as one of Africa’s finest game sanctuaries. The birding experience in the country is truly superior. On a Namibia safari, the range of activities you can indulge in the unsurpassable physical environment is truly impressive. Ballooning over the desert, skydiving over land and sea, paragliding, whitewater rafting and sand skiing along coastal dunes are good activities for starters. More fun games to pick from include abseiling – that most spectacular of rock sports, coastal and fresh water angling, desert camel riding, scuba diving, 4×4 desert runs, hiking and mountaineering.

Namibia has four distinct geographical regions. In the north is Etosha Pan, a great area for wildlife and heart of Etosha National Park. The slender Caprivi Strip is nested between Zambia and Botswana and is a wet area of woodland blessed with a few rivers. Along the coast is the Namib Desert, which at the age of 80 million years old, is said to be the world’s oldest desert. At the coast, the icy cold Atlantic meets the blazing African desert, resulting in dense fogs. The well-watered central plateau runs north to south, and carries rugged mountains, magnificent canyons, rocky outcrops and expansive plains.

Namibia, one and half times the size of France, is very sparsely inhabited and carries only 1.8 million souls. The people are as unique as the land they live on. The most intriguing are the San, otherwise known as Bushmen. These most hardy of people have a highly advanced knowledge of their environment. It is a marvelous thing how well they are adapted to their difficult habitat. Just pause and think that these are the only people in the world who live with no permanent access to water. In the Kalahari Desert, one of their domiciles, surface water is not to be found. Tubers, melons, and other water bearing plants as well as underground sip wells supply their water requirements.

In Namibia today, Bushmen number about 50,000. Historians estimate that they have lived, mostly as hunters and gatherers, for at least 25,000 years in these parts of the world. Bushmen speak in a peculiar click language and are very gifted in the arts of storytelling, mimicry, and dance. Namibia’s other people, who are indigenous to the continent, are mostly of Bantu origin. They are thought to have arrived from western Africa from about 2,400 years ago. The African groups include the Owambo, Kavango, Caprivians, Herero, Himba, Damara, Nama and Tswana.

The Africans aside, other groups comprise about 15% of the population and have played an important role in the emergence of the modern nation. White Namibians amount to about 120,00 and are mainly of German and Afrikaner heritage. Germans arrived in significant numbers after 1884 when Bismarck declared the country a German Protectorate. Afrikaners, white farmers of Dutch origin, moved north from their Cape settlements, especially after the Dutch Cape Colony was ceded to the British in 1806. This strongly independent people, whose ancestors had lived in the Cape from 1652 resented British control.

Two other distinct groups complete the spectrum of Namibia’s people - Basters and Coloureds. Coloured in Namibia and southern Africa refers to people of mixed racial heritage, black- white for example. They have a separate identity and culture. This makes sense considering that Namibia was run by South Africa after the First World War. Even in pre-Apartheid South Africa, racial classification was a fine art. The Afrikaans-speaking Basters, descended from Hottentot women and Dutch settlers of the Cape. Alienated from both white and black communities, they trekked northwards, finally founding their own town Rehoboth, in 1871. Baster is actually derived from “bastard”, but it is not derogatory, and the Basters are indeed proud of it.

Namibia’s barren and unwelcoming coastlines served as a natural deterrent to the ambitions of European explorers. That was until 1884 when the German merchant Adolf Luderitz established a permanent settlement between the Namib Desert and the Atlantic seaboard that afterwards took his name. Bismarck subsequently declared the territory covered by Namibia a German colony and named it Sdwestafrika or South West Africa. As German settlers moved into the interior, conflict was inevitable with the inheritors of the land.

The German occupation was a particularly unhappy experience for the Herero. The Herero resented the German’s harsh and racist rule and the effect of the encroachment on their lands on their livelihood and way of life. On the first day of the year 1904, the Herero led by Chief Samuel Maharero, rose suddenly and unexpectedly in arms against their colonial overlords. The Nama joined the insurrection and the authorities did not regain control even after six months of trying. Over 100 German settlers and soldiers died in the uprising. Historians now consider events that followed to constitute the first genocide of the twentieth century.

Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha was furnished with a contingent of 14,000 soldiers and tasked to put down the rebellion. The governor general of the territory was then Rudolph Goering -the father of Herman Goering, Hitler’s right hand man. Lothar von Trotha was a generation ahead of his time and his kind of thinking was to become government policy under the Third Reich. He argued that the Herero must be destroyed as a people and he did not wince at the murder of women or children. At the end of it all, 100,000 Nama and Herero were killed. The survivors were herded in concentration camps where unspeakable things happened. The Herero fared very badly and 80% of her people perished. The population of the Nama diminished by 35-50%.

Windhoek, the capital of 165,000 people is the only true city in the country. For those traveling to more remote regions, this is where you settle practical matters. The positive aspects of the German period can be seen in the charming style of older buildings in the city. Places of interest in the city include the State Museum, State Archives, and the Namibia Crafts Centre. The Dan Viljoen Game Park lies 24 Km west of Windhoek on the gentle hills of Khoma Hochland. In this resort you find ostriches, baboons, zebras and over 200 species of birds. The Waterburg Plateau Park, located 230 km from Windhoek is popular with weekenders. This extensive mountain wilderness is home to cheetah, leopard, kudu, giraffe, and white rhino.

Etosha National Park is what brings wildlife lovers to Namibia. The park is comparable in size and diversity of species with the best in Africa. The unusual terrain of Etosha holds savanna grassland, dense brush and woodland. But it is the Etosha Pan, a depression that sometimes holds water and covers 5,000 sq km, that is the heart of park. The perennial springs around the pan, attract many birds and land animals in the dry winter months. The effect of this background is magical and some of the best wildlife photographs have been taken here.

There are 144 mammal species in the park and elephants are particularly abundant. Some other interesting wildlife here includes giraffe, leopard, cheetah, jackal, blue wildebeest, gemsbok and black rhino. The birding is great at Etosha and over 300 bird species have been recorded. You will get best value by spending at least three days here. There are excellent accommodation facilities at the three rest camps of Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. The best time to see animals is between May and September, when water draws them in huge numbers to the edge of the pan. Etosha is 400 km to the north of Windhoek by road.

The Fish River Canyon is unrivalled in Africa and only the Grand Canyon in the U.S in larger. The Canyon runs for 160 km and reaches a width of 27 km and depth of 550 m. But size alone does not explain the appeal of the canyon. You experience incredible views at various points along the rim. Adventure lovers do not merely come for the views. Hiking through the canyon is the ultimate endurance adventure for hikers. There is an established 90 km hiking trail that will take you 4-5 days to cover.

The trail ends at Ai-Ais hot spring resort where you can unwind. You are allowed to hike between early May and end of September. The hike is quite strenuous and needless to say, you must be physically fit. The authorities disbelieve the capacity of most people to undertake the hike and will actually insist on seeing a medical certificate of fitness before allowing you to start off. Fish River Canyon is 580 km to the south of Windhoek.

The Skeleton Coast has been the graveyard of seafarers and whales and deserves that morbid name. The problem is the dense fogs. And woe to the ship wreck survivor who expects respite onshore! Ahead is the Namib Desert, one of the driest and most unwelcoming places. Adventure travelers love trekking along the coastline as they enjoy the stark beauty of the area. To the south at Cape Cross, you find a seal colony carrying tens of thousands of seals. The Skeleton Coast Park covers 16,400 sq km and begins at 355 km northwest of Windhoek.

The Portuguese explorer Diego Cao reached this part of the world in the year 1486. He is probably one of the people whose experiences discouraged Europeans from venturing ashore until the arrival of the Germans 400 years later. Further south is the Namib-Naukluft National Park, a vast wilderness covering 50,000 sq km. The landscape is very diverse and covers mountain outcrops, majestic sand dunes, and deep cut gorges. For really spectacular dunes, the Sossusvlei area is unsurpassed. Here you have dunes rising to 300 m! The orange tint giants extend as far as the horizon and the area has an unreal, unforgettable atmosphere.

To the northeast of the country, the well-watered Kavango and Caprivi Strip region offers an unspoilt wilderness suitable for rugged game viewing and camping. The area also promises a feast for bird lovers. Game reserves in the area include: Kaudom, Caprivi, Mahango, Mudumu and Mamili. Poachers did great damage to wildlife during the years of the civil war in neighbouring Angola. Animal numbers are however building up rapidly. Some of the wildlife in the region includes leopard, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, lion and various antelope species. The Caprivi Reserve falls in an area of swamps and flood plains. Here you have an opportunity to partake fishing, hiking, game viewing safaris and river trips in traditional mokoro boats.

In Namibia you can enjoy up to 300 days of sunshine. The coast is temperate and thermometers run between 5C-25C. Inland, daytime temperatures range from 20C-34C, but can rise to 40C in the north and south of the country. Winter nights can be quite cold and frost occurs over large parts of the country. The rains inland fall in summer (November-April) and are heaviest in the Caprivi region. Rains do not much affect travel, but beware of flash floods in the vicinity of riverbeds. The best time to travel is over the dry months of March to October, when it is easier to see animals at waterholes. It is best to avoid the Namib Desert and Etosha between December and March when it can get unbearably hot.

You can get by wearing light cottons and linens in summer. Over winter nights and mornings, you need heavier cottons, warmer wraps and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as the ground gets very hot. Some useful stuff to pack includes: camera, binoculars, sunglasses, sun hats, sunscreen and mosquito repellant. Be ready for dusty conditions and carry your clothing, equipment and supplies in dust proof bags. Do not be tempted to buy items made of ivory. You may not be allowed to carry them through customs at home. And it also good that you do not encourage the trade in ivory products that keeps poachers busy.

Copyright © Africa Point

Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Namibia safari and tours at the website.

>From its beginnings as nothing more than a simple trading post
on the banks of the Missouri river, to its raucous heyday in the
1920’s and 30’s, Kansas City has retained the independent spirit
of its frontier beginnings. Even though an assortment of
colorful characters, cowboys, politicians, criminals, and even
wagon trains populate the history of Kansas City, you can forget
everything you’ve ever heard about it being a “cow town.” Today,
the outgrowth of that colorful history and frontier spirit
radiates energetically throughout the city and its populace.

Widely regarded as the birthplace of Jazz. KC’s early reputation
as a “wide-open, anything goes” city captivated and allured the
musical performers of the day. It’s central location and ease of
access via rail were the other components which induced this
musical migration. Kansas City became a haven for musicians and
fans alike.

The musicians, who interpreted their experiences in KC’s
permissive environment through their music, were also creating
the elastic techniques and musical license, which remain at the
heart of Jazz today. The hub of this development was the 18th
and Vine district. Many legendary musicians, Count Basie, Ella
Fitzgerald, Joe Turner and Charlie Parker to name a few, made
their way to Kansas City. Their connection to one another and to
the Kansas City “scene” brought about a unique musical expansion
which enriched the city’s history and initiated the genesis of
Jazz.

Kansas City’s affiliation with Jazz is celebrated daily at the
American Jazz Museum in the 18th and Vine District and nightly
at clubs and restaurants throughout the city. Live Jazz and
Blues are still an important part of the Kansas City
entertainment and nightlife scene.

Kansas City’s early sports history, specifically its affiliation
with Negro League Baseball, is showcased in detail at the Negro
League Baseball Museum.

Also located at the 18th and Vine District, the museum documents
the history of Negro League Baseball from its beginnings in the
mid 1800’s, to its demise in the 1960’s. If you are interested
in this facet of the histoy of baseball, a visit to this museum
is highly recommended.

A part-time writer and full-time webmaster, Joseph Patrick, can
usually be found managing his full service travel website,
http://www.Triptactics.com where you will find the resources to
book affordable trips to Kansas City as well as other exciting
vacation destinations.

Since so many people are discovering the amazing culture of Goa through the music scene, many people are wondering lately about getting discount flights to India. Airfare to that country can be quite expensive, so getting a good price is often challenging, but it helps to know a few of the tricks. First of all, Goa itself is a rather small area so there aren’t many international flights. It’s cheapest to fly into Mumbai and then take a local discount airline to Goa, or you can take the train from Mumbai for even less money. The problem with this Mumbai train idea is that it takes about 12 hours to get to Goa, and unless you reserve a good sleeper cabin on the train this can feel more like 12 days. The flights are more expensive, but if you factor in the whole day you spend on the train they really are a better alterative for most people. If you are coming to India from the east then flying into Delhi is usually your best bet. From there you can take a discount airline to Goa, but forget about the train because that takes almost two full days and it’s just not worth it.

You can come across different brands of lodging which our capital consists of. Many are of an identical calibre to the others, even so, they might have diverse services on offer, consequently you might have to be clear concerning what it is you’re specifically trying to find. Do you want to be spoilt, go out for a lovely tea in an establishment that is uncommon or perhaps to savour a smattering of rare days off and loll about in excess? Get all the latest hotel reviews with Time Out.

Younger people these days are searching for attractive establishments which are quite contemporary and different from the general establishment. Such places are generally called boutique residences and there’s various ambitious establishments which were acclaimed as some of the coolest hotels to hang out at in the metropolis.

The Pavilion’s a beautiful 30 bed place right in the city centre which is aimed at an intelligent, cultured clientele. The bedrooms present a newfangled & plushy image. One hotel is simply an accolade to the 70’s. The Casablanca Nights hotel is stationed near to Oxford St., so, if you find yourself on the hunt for painless routes to the center then this establishment is a sensational choice. The location is only several minutes amble from Paddington Stat., it is similarly conveniently direct from Heathrow Airport using the new swift train route & from Waterloo. The hotel rooms are crammed with offbeat eccentricities and all benefit from employing the must haves of up to date life, ensuite services, direct call telephones and furthermore sat. television. The Pavilion is famous with the music, the fashion & the media world. A varying collection of performers, entertainers and thespians have dropped by at the location.

An additional leading spot presently is known as The Beaufort Hotel. This establishment is located amidst the classy locale of Knightsbridge - a reprieve from the excitement of this phenomenal metropolis. When coming in, you will be surrounded by cosy, calm colours; you’ll see pleasing maple wood fixtures and furthermore an all embracing d©cor designed for enjoyment and extravagance. If you’re thinking of popping over to London, and you’re actually chasing a boutique location that provides lavishness, together with a dominant position and faultless decor then this establishment is surely your establishment.

Your very first impression is purely one of absolute enchantment as the scent of colourful bouquets fill the reception. Original art works embellish their walls & the contemporary styled drawing room exudes both relaxation and serenity. In their quarters one will see lovely carpets, bathrooms laid in fine Italian marble, and additionally all expected amenities. If one would require a discreet place for such things as private discussions, the establishment affords a business spot that is excellently matched for circumstances such as small audiences of roughly eight members.

Christmas ornaments may have had humble beginnings however this much loved and popular tradition of hanging Christmas ornaments has made people into multi millionairs today!

In the early 1800’s fruit (particularly apples) and nuts were the first Christmas ornaments used to decorate Christmas trees. Soon to follow Christmas ornaments of foil and paper streamers cut and made from the hands of family and friends were added. Among German families (who popularized the Christmas tree) they made Christmas ornaments out of gingerbread and other hard home-made cookies baked in the shape of fruit, stars, bells, angels and hearts. In other countries such as America, their first lot of Christmas ornament additions were long strands of cranberries or popcorn to circle their trees! They also added small intricately woven baskets that they nestled in the crooks of boughs. In the UK people started to show off their talents making creative Christmas ornaments from lace, paper and other materials. With all the Christmas ornaments displayed it was often noted that the Christmas trees themselves could be hardly seen!

It was not until the latter part of the 19th century that we saw mass produced Christmas ornaments being developed and sold which started in Germany. Particularly in Lauscha, Germany known for its glass making, they started by replicating fruit, nuts and other food items followed later by the manufacture of hearts, stars and popular shapes that came from the traditional cookie baked ornaments. Much later the glass blowers created moulds of saints, famous people and animals. The beautiful colored glass ornaments were adopted quickly and became a popular favorite for the Christmas tree. They became so popular that nearly everyone in the town was in some way involved in the creation of Christmas ornaments. All the ornaments were handmade by people who followed in the glassmaking traditions of generations of their families before them. Each ornament had a touch of individual craftsmanship and became unique and highly prized.

By the late 1800’s they were exported around the world. The famous Mr Woolworth is credited with part of his fortune being made from the importation and sales of German glass Christmas ornaments around the 1880’s to 1890’s when he sold more than $25 million worth of ornaments in his Five and Dime Stores.

The Famous Pickle Ornament!

There is a folk story that says for generations people were hiding a glass ornament (most likely from Lauscha) in the shape of a green pickle. The legend says that German parents started this tradition. The first one to spot the pickle ornament hidden in the Christmas tree got an extra present from St Nicholas at Christmas and were blessed with good luck!

Not far from the famous Christmas ornament glass blowers in Lauscha were the artisans in Dresden who introduced pressed and embossed paper ornaments featuring bright colors. They introduced new Christmas ornament shapes including birds and fish.

From the late 19th century the appearance of pressed tin with brightly colored lithographic surfaces appeared as ornaments. Thin foil strips were soon introduced (tinsel) and the German creators called it “angels’ hair”. Then came an abundance of varying materials including lace, wire and bead work which was often all used together to make one ornament.

After the war when American’s were coming out of the great depression the German ornament trade feared hostilities and so searched for a manufacturer who could make the ornaments in America itself. They got together with the Corning Company in New York who were then manufactures of light bulbs. By 1940 this company was making 300,000 ornaments a day compared to 600 for a skilled German glass blower. These ornaments were lacquered by machine and hand decorated.

Wonderful childhood memories of Christmas often revolve not only around presents but around the Christmas tree and its ornaments and other decorations. It was often a great event to dress in your best clothes and take the family to the big department stores to see the “Big Tree” with hundreds of fascinating ornaments on display. Highly reflective materials were most popular for ornaments and complexity and variety of ornaments were the driving factors for ornament sales. A popular legend said if you placed a reflective ornament on your tree it would repel an evil spirit trying to enter your home - they would see their reflection, then terrified they would withdraw! Later on electric trains and small villages were placed under the tree and miniature churches, stores and homes were the new ornaments placed on trees.

With the introduction of aluminum trees manufactures made special ornaments they assured us were fire proof and just as safe as the newly produced trees themselves. By the 1970’s there was the occasional popular culture figure, radio serial star or comic book hero, or even an occasional product ornament such as a Swift’s Premium Ham ornament. Then came the personalized ornament which became popular in modern times. Check out OrnamentShop.com a highly popular website for personalized and creative ornaments which are often purchased as a unique and personal Christmas gifts today.

Visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com for gifts, tips and tools for reviving the fun, magic and spirit of Christmas every day of the year. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-course with audio on how to enrich your Christmas experience today! Plus sign up for our sensational f*r*e*e Newsletter and become part of our world-wide Christmas family. Our Newsletter is fun and has great tips, tools and resources you’ll love throughout the year! By The HoHoHo Expert, Bernadette Dimitrov, author of The HoHoHo Factor! & Bluey, Santa’s New Recruit (ebooks and audio books).

Christmas is responsible for more waste and consumption than any other holiday. North American’s trash increases by 25% over Christmas - which equates to 25 million extra tons of garbage going to the landfill. By recognizing the incredible waste that is generated the urgency to do something becomes apparent. A truly useful or environment friendly gift is a better ecological choice. Here is a brief list of ideas to inspire you.

For the homeowner - thermostat control that automatically turns the heat down at night. A low flow shower head attachment. A draft cozy (placed in front of doors to prevent drafts) and tubes of caulking or weather stripping. Dimmer switches or compact fluorescent bulbs. Hot water tank and hot water pipe insulation kits.
For the gardener - subscription to an organic gardening magazine or a membership to a seed organization. Bird, bat and butterfly houses, baths and feeders - or the patterns to build them. A composting worm bin or a membership with an environmental group.
Tickets to a performance, restaurant gift certificates or services such as lawn care, diaper, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up or tire rotation services - all support local business.
Dehydrated, canned or preserved foods make excellent gifts. Frozen dishes are treasured by those that find cooking tasks cumbersome.
Brazil or cashew nuts as they promote a living tropical rainforest.
Books (i.e. Trash Talk).
A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans.
If you choose to purchase electronics, consider those powered by solar or rechargeable batteries.
For holiday photo memories using a digital camera and getting pictures put on CD’s reduces chemicals, paper and cost. Choosing 36 exposure film rolls reduces packaging and waste.
Consider a live tree. At the end of the season, donate it to individuals, the city, schools or parks. Plant it in your own yard for privacy, shade or erosion control.

– Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept of their new book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment, that offers useful solutions to reduce waste and better manage resources. (www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)