After a 45-min boat ride, our BC Ferry docks at Otter Bay on Pender Island, or the “Penders,” as the locals say. The two Penders (north and south islands) were once joined by a wide neck of land known as the Indian Portage. A narrow canal was dredged in 1903 to benefit steamship travel through the Gulf Islands. The islands remained separated until a one-lane bridge was built in 1955.

The Penders have a mild climate, lots of parks and hiking trails, and almost forty beach access points. South Pender has about 10% of the population, has fewer roads and lots of natural unspoiled vegetation. North Pender has most of the population. There is no town center, but there is a small shopping area (Driftwood Centre) with a gas station, restaurants, grocery store, drug store, liquor store, bank, and bakery.

We drive the 15 km from Hope Bay to the Poet’s Cove Resort and Spa. We meet the super-friendly staff at the reception desk. “Why is the resort called Poet’s Cove?” I ask. Over the next two days, no one can give me an answer, but the stunning architecture, interior design, and the serenity of the resort make it easy to understand.

As we explore the resort, we find solid wood, granite, and soft colours blended together perfectly, making for an overall feeling of warmth and comfort. There are three types of accommodation at the resort: Villas, cottages, and Lodge rooms. Each of these is tastefully decorated with a view of the Marina and Bedwell Harbour. It’s easy to see why any poet worth her weight in salt would find this beautiful, romantic, and comfortable resort truly inspirational.

Going the extra mile is evident in every detail, from heated bathroom floors, solid wood doors, bedside fireplaces, granite counter tops, and private hot tubs, to welcome cards, chocolate truffles, bathroom toiletries, and folded towels. Our cottage has a deck heater, barbeque, and hot tub. It feels like someone really cares.

Our resort stay would not be a resort stay without a treatment at the Susurrus (“whispering sound”) Spa, so we book ourselves in for a massage and a pedicure. The Spa is spacious with six treatment rooms. Outside on the deck is a sandstone steam cave complete with a large waterfall and a Jacuzzi at the bottom. Service choices include facials, body wraps, manicures, pedicures, massage, and beauty treatments. When we emerge afterwards, we can see the contentment on each other’s face.

After a dip in our private hot tub, we spend a restful night in our cottage overlooking the marina. We awake the next morning and head for breakfast at the Aurora Restaurant, a luxurious dining room with an attentive staff. The breakfast is excellent, serving some of the best “bennies” on the west coast! Later that night we return for dinner. We follow our waiter Andres’ suggestions and are greatly rewarded. As we sit in front of a warm fire sipping red wine with Andres serving us excellent food, it’s easy to tell we were at a first class resort! Everything about Poets Cove is first class.

A visit to the activity centre surprises us with what is available. Whale watching, eco-tours, vineyard tours, fishing, sailing, scuba diving and kayaking. The resort has two swimming pools and a well-equipped fitness centre as well.

To complete our visit to the Penders, we visit a number of local businesses. The first is Blood Star Gallery. We’d noticed Susan Taylor’s artwork in the dining lounge at Poet’s Cove. Her gallery is on the south end of Pender Island and has incredible views of Mount Baker. Paintings, drawings, and folk art by Susan Taylor and Frank Ducote are inspired by the sea and island surroundings.

We check out Sahhali Oceanfront Luxury Bed and Breakfast and meet new owners Frank and Michelle Hiebert. They show us their newest renovations to their spectacular accommodations high on Oak Bluff!

Carol Hoffmann at Ferndale B&B is most gracious to show us her place even though she has a full house of guests. Spacious bedrooms and a comfy guest lounge are the highlights of this B&B.

A Place of Your Own B&B is operated by Ken and Jean Daley, very friendly hosts. They offer a private suite on the lower floor with a private entrance overlooking Navy Channel. It has a deck near the water for kayak or canoe storage. It’s a great place to kayak as it faces a protected channel where Mayne Island.

At Renaissance Gallery you can buy unique homemade jewelry and search for unusual antiques. Peter & Tessa Emmings’ Arcadia by the Sea has a heated pool, hot tub, tennis court, and a few small cabins. A great place for a family vacation. At Hope Bay Marina we find Pender Island Kayak. This is a great little protected spot to launch a kayak adventure.

After our day of exploring the Penders, we dine at the Islander Restaurant on North Pender near the Ferry Dock. This elegant restaurant is in a renovated house on the water and it serves exceptional food. Georgina, the owner, is a first-rate chef and superb hostess. During the off-season she makes a real effort to bring the community together. Some of her events include a “guest chef” night, “starving artist’s night”, and a pajama party. Visiting tourists are always welcome. Our meal is delicious and the deserts are divine.

The next day we head for the ferry dock to go back to Victoria. For years I’ve been hearing about the hamburgers served at “The Stand,” at the Ferry Dock. I try one. Believe me, I am not disappointed.

P.S. In case you don’t know, the west coast of Canada is often referred to (in jest) as the “left coast.”

We utilize the expression island hopping to portray the likelihood to stop at numerous islands on a round excursion or one route trip with a cruising yacht. Not at all like the enormous cruisers that stop at a couple of destinations, a cruising yacht can stop all around, particularly at a territory like the Cyclades islands of Greece where the quantity of islands provides for the guest numerous choices. On a week rental on a cruising yacht up to 7 islands (or destinations) can be visited without having amazingly long cruising legs every day. The options and possibilities can be found at the ‘itinerary’ section but a shipmate, or a crew with their skipper can also plan a custom schedule based to their wants and needs depending on the weather conditions.

What makes yacht charter in the Greek islands an interesting idea?

You don’t need to take after certain time plan according to ferry lines time schedule

You do not lose time packing and unpacking as all your things are unpacked inside your cabin. You only have to unpack ones upon arrival and pack again before you disembark.

You don’t need to stress over masterminding everything ahead of time and invest an excessive amount of energy in sorting out. You should simply discover the yacht that suits your requirements.

You don’t need to stress over after the planned arrangement on the off chance that the weather is awful, and there are no ship associations between the islands

You can conform your calendar as indicated by your requirements or the climate conditions.

In the event that you like an island more, you can stay for an additional night and skirt another.

On the cruising yacht you have a completely prepared kitchen and icebox with the goal that you can have the vast majority of the snacks on board evading extra expenses in snacks

The general expense of a contract (skippered charter) per individual is more than 2 times less than the cost of the same itinerary scheduled with ferry and hotel overnights.

On your way to the next island you can stop at any shoreline, secluded or jammed with a specific end goal to have a swim, or snorkel, unwind, or have a nibble or lunch.

There isn’t an impediment on your decisions, one day you can pick a super crowed shoreline and the following a totally separated one, just reachable by a watercraft. One day you can choose crowded island and the following visit the littlest and more settled port that you can discover at the zone. One night you can field at a port and the following remain focused safe haven; have a late night swim and a sentimental supper under the stars. Different day by day alternatives, distinctive island choices can consolidate a flawless cruising week.

Finishing the above reason of what makes ‘cruising in the Greek islands’ an incredible thought is the way that you can likewise have distinctive tastes each day.

Have you ever considered how far you walk with your dog? If you walk just 15 minutes a day you will have walked far enough in your dog’s lifetime to cross the United States. With all that walking ahead of you, aren’t you ready for a new place to take a hike with your dog in northern Virginia? Here are NOVA’s best trails to hike with your best friend…

1. Sky Meadows State Forest

When you place your park on the Blue Ridge Mountain mountain slopes far removed from eight-lane roads clogged with traffic you have to work hard not to be the best place to hike with your dog in Northern Virginia and Sky Meadows does not disappoint. The real star here are the meadows – your dog can’t hike through any better.

2. Mason Neck State Park

A half-dozen canine hiking options through an attractive oak/holly forest on paw-friendly soft dirt are pretty enough you will want to complete them all with your dog. If you have time after lingering on the best beach for your dog in Northern Virginia.

3. Prince William Forest Park

The many miles of wooded trails in the largest swath of protected land in the Washington DC metropolitan area are refreshingly uncrowded – always an attraction for canine hikers. The trails are wide enough for a pack of dogs to travel easily over and well-marked.

4. Great Falls Park

You may come for the spectacular views of the Falls of the Potomac but you’ll stay for the canine hiking on wide trails that take your dog through a variety of habitats and the ruins of a Colonial canal town. Hold the swimming for someplace else, however.

5. The Battlefields of Manassas

Two five-mile interpretive hikes examine the year-apart clashes of the North and South across this Civil War battlefield. For your dog these hikes offer the best mixture of open field and wooded trail hiking in Northern Virginia.

6. Claude Moore Park

This eastern Loudoun oasis serves up a pastiche of a dozen short trails that add up to more than ten miles of canine hiking. You get your choice of two trails that circle the park, both of which visit Little Stoney Mountain for long views at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland.

7. Fountainhead Regional Park

Fountainhead is a trail user’s park. there are trails set aside for horses and for bikes and the white-blazed pedestrian trail is a snaking, two-mile excursion around wide ravines and through airy woods. For real canine adventures you can set out on the 18-mile Bull Run-Occoquan Trail.

8. Leesylvania State Park

There are three loops to enjoy with your dog in Leesylvania – the star being the Lee’s Woods Trail. This canine hike packs history aplenty into its two sporty miles atop the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River. For easy hiking with your dog take the Potomac Trail as it weaves through the former waterside amusement park that was part of the gambling gambit. Plenty of beach and swimming time for your dog here too.

9. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Few places in America pack as much scenic wonder and historical importance into such a small area as Harpers Ferry National Historic Park where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers join forces. Your dog can sample hikes in three states here – up the mountain at Maryland Heights, through the town in West Virginia and across the Appalachian Trail in Virignia.

10. Mount Vernon

America’s most-visited home is dog-friendly to the core – the gate attendants provide a bowl of water for canine visitors. George Washingtn would have it no other way. The Father of Our Country is also the Father of the American Foxhound. He bred a new type of fox hunter with dogs from his friend Marquis de Lafayette and English hounds. The President favored silly names for his beloved dogs: Drunkard, Tipler, Tipsy.

1. Equity Point New York @ Times Square

The Equity Point New York, is set in Manhattan and close to Times Square, 47th – 50th Streets, the Rockefeller Centre Subway Station and Madison Square Gardens are just a 10 minute walk away.

Whilst the residence is a hostel, the Equity Point has a great bar and cafe, clean and tidy rooms and friendly helpful service, not to mention its great and convenient location.

2. Z New York Hotel

Z New York Hotel is situated in Long Island City. This four star hotel is near by the Grand Central Terminal and Queens Bridge Park. The hotel is not far from Roosevelt Island where you can get a cable car across to Manhattan or the hotel itself has a convenient shuttle service that runs hourly into Manhattan.

This boutique styled hotel offers a restaurant, bar, lounge and night club. Complimentary wireless internet connection is also available. The modern, comfortable rooms at the Z New York have city views and are air-conditioned.

The Z New York hotel, has friendly, helpful service, is very clean and modern, fantastic bar and has amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

3. Skyline Hotel

The Skyline Hotel is situated in midtown Manhattan, just a couple of blocks away, approximately a 10 – 20 minute walk from Times Square, the Broadway Theatre District and fantastic restaurants and night clubs.

The hotel has newly renovated guest rooms that are spacious and comfortable. Wireless internet connection is available in the hotel. An indoor swimming pool and fitness centre are also available.

This hotel is good value for money, clean and comfortable with very friendly and helpful service. Rooms surprisingly spacious and a good location for exploring Manhattan.

4. Hampton Inn & Suites Staten Island

Hampton Inn & Suites, Staten Island, New York is nestled in a 415-acre wildlife preserve. Here you can find peace and tranquility away from the city yet still be just minutes from downtown Manhattan and Newark Liberty International Airport.

The hotel offers guests comfortable rooms or suites and a free hot breakfast and if you do not have time to sit down for your morning meal, you can always take a breakfast bag out with you. Free tea and coffee are available to guests in the lobby and free hi- speed internet is also available.

The hotel also has a fitness centre and a heated indoor pool. Views can be enjoyed from the outdoor patio area.

The Hampton Inn & Suites have a free shuttle service to and from Newark airport and to the Stanton Island ferry where you can get a free trip over to Manhattan and take in fabulous views of the New York City skyline, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island along the way.

The hotel staff at the Hampton Inn & Suites are very friendly and helpful, the rooms are clean and tidy and the area is peaceful and scenic.

5. Hilton Garden Inn New York Staten Island

The Hilton Garden Inn is situated on Staten Island and is a 25 minute drive to Manhattan and the St. George Ferry Terminal, which is the launching point for the Staten Island Ferry. A complimentary shuttle to and from the airport can be arranged by bookings in advance.

This hotel has a 5 star restaurant featuring both Italian and Continental cuisine and there is a lively cabaret show on Saturday evenings. You can enjoy your brunch to the sound of Jazz on Sundays.

The Hilton Garden Inn also has a Spa Grotto where you can go to unwind with a massage or facial treatment or relax in the Spa tub. There is a 24 hour fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and bowling alley, or you can hire equipment and work out in the privacy of your own room.

The hotel also offers wireless hi-speed internet connection.

The Hilton Garden Inn hotel is in a great location and the rooms are very comfortable and clean with cosy beds. The food in the restaurant is great and the hotel’s entertainment is fun and much enjoyed by guests.

The Naples Riviera by Herbert M Vaughan is a travel book published in 1908. I read it recently during a trip to Naples, itself. When using old guide books in contemporary trips, it can happen that the traveler finds a must-see site has been demolished in the intervening years, but nowadays a cursory check via a search engine can avoid such embarrassment. But what can be gleaned from reading what are now historical accounts of travel is a sense of perspective that is almost always missing from much tourist literature. Yes, the historical fact is always available, but its interpretation is always a variable, and it is this variability that immediately enriches an experience of travel.

Vaughan describes Naples, Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri, Ischia and the nearby bays as seen at the start of the twentieth century. His account indicates that these descriptions were contemporary, but also that they not being experienced for the first time. This is clearly an experienced traveler. It is interesting to note that he regularly advises that certain areas have become overpopulated with foreigners, or regularly crowded with tourists, or more likely to serve an English Sunday lunch than any local speciality. Gone, perhaps, are the barefoot luggage carriers who are generally women and who apparently queue up near the ferry hoping to earn a living by carrying tourists’ suitcases up the hill on their heads. Gone also, perhaps, are the traditional dances, such as the tarantella, that Vaughan claims the locals strike up spontaneously at any time of day and in almost any place.

A surprising observation comes early in the text, when the author refers to the city of Naples, itself, as having been largely rebuilt, and thus containing predominantly modern buildings. The author immediately reveals his preference for a particular period of the city’s history, a preference that looks down on the baroque modernization of Gothic spaces, perhaps questionIng even that the Renaissance should ever have descended into mannerism.

There is mild surprise when the author lists the number of places in the Campania region where malaria is either still endemic or was endemic until just before the account was written. Vaughan then discusses the possible causes of the disease. A modern reader, when confronted with the apparent contradictions of contemporary mores, is perhaps gently surprised. When confronted with the author’s incredulity at the idea of malaria being spread by mosquitoes, one approaches the state of being flabbergasted. But the modern search engine can again come into his own to remind the contemporary traveler that it was less than a decade before the writing of Vaughan’s book that the causational link had been confirmed. One lives and one learns.

Sitting in the narrow and sometimes hectic overcrowding of the matrix of the Spanish quarter near Via Toledo, the contemporary traveler is often confronted with the rasping noise and the odour of unburnt two-stroke as motorbikes speed past on what seemed to be collision courses, both with one another and pedestrians alike. The largely unhelmeted riders remind one of the fact Naples that was a lucrative market for diagonally striped T-shirts when the wearing of seatbelts in cars became compulsory. One is also minded to speculate what the experience of Vaughan in the streets might have been without the noise of the internal combustion engine and the smell of unburnt fuel. Vaughan of course reminds us that before two wheels there were four legs and that these modes of transport used to leave different evidence of their passing, which also had effects on the nose.

When Vaughan visits Pompeii and Herculaneum, his descriptions are lyrical and vivid. But again the contemporary traveler realizes that it that the experience of these places in the early twentieth century was significantly much less than it is now, since much of the excavation and archaeological work has been done in the intervening century. Anyone who, like Vaughan, wants to contemplate what life might have been like in these ancient Roman towns with their single room shops and narrow streets need only pause for a while in Naples old town or in the Spanish quarter, where, apart from the motorbikes, life probably looks pretty similar to what might have been transacted along those ancient streets. From a distance the city even looks red and yellow, the same colors the decorated most of the dwellings in the two ruined cities.

Vaughan’s description of Naples Riviera comes across as surprisingly modern. It confirms that whenever and wherever we travel it is the experience that matters, the here and now, and crucially how that changes us, rather than confirms what we expected or anticipated when we decided to go there. In an age where we are told that travel experience can be bought as a package, it is interesting and instructive to travel through the eyes of another, both refreshing and enlightening to share another visitor’s insight from a different time as we explore a new any new experience of travel.

The Great Zoo breakout that never happened – Stephenie Carter

It’s an adventurous story of city zoo animals that plan to escape from the zoo as they believe that the grass would be greener outside the zoo. The curiosity to see the outside world leads a breakout in the zoo. What happens when the King of Beasts decides it’s time to escape from the City Zoo? Read this interesting storybook about the zoo animals and enjoy the zoo ride.

How the Raccoon got its mask – Tina Ferry

It’s a story about a curious little girl, Tina, who asks her mother how the raccoon got its mask. Tina’s mother tells her to go to a nearby pond and ask the first raccoon, she comes across. Amazingly, Mr. Raccoon pops his head up and responds to Tina with a fantastic story that solves the mystery! In the delightful and entertaining tale, How the Raccoon got its mask, readers, young and old, will follow Mr. Raccoon’s engaging story so very well illustrated with anticipation and wonder.

Sammi’s Coat: The Adventures of Sammi Snake – Glenn A Trevethan

It’s a charming children’s story about an outback snake that goes off in search of his missing coat. After a relaxing nap high in the forest canopy, Sammi Snake discovers that he has lost his coat! Join Sammi and his good friend Kirsty Koala as they search high and low in the wattle tree forest for Sammi’s missing coat. Along the way they encounter a wily crocodile named Clarence who offers to help, but intends to have them for dinner! Can Sammi and Kirsty escape the hungry crocodile or is it too late? Find out what happens in the Australian outback when a determined snake and his adventure-seeking koala friend will stop at nothing to find Sammi’s Coat. Sammi’s Coat is a new children’s book that takes place in a picturesque forest setting in the Australian outback.

Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve – Jannifer Powelson

Its one of the children’s book from the ‘Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk Series’. It is the last day of school before summer vacation and the students have one last presentation to do after lunchtime before they are free for summer. Rachel, Sammy and the other students in their science class present their final conservation projects. Before Rachel presents her project on trees, the class discusses what conservation means. This is a great opening for the various projects that follow including conserving soil and water. As the class makes their presentations, the reader will learn right along with the class many valuable lessons with regard to the environment and conserving natural resources.

The Quest through the Stars – Donna Brooks

It’s a children’s novella based on a little dragon named Flame, who is in search of his mother. This educational children’s book takes readers through the trials and tribulations the young dragon faces while on his journey through the constellations. There are creative references to the creation of Earth and the formation of the constellations and their relationship to one another. Flame’s journey through a wondrous and imaginative world is filled with friendly creatures that assist him in his search for his mother and his true identity. Children and parents alike will find the novella to be enlightening as well as engaging. The beautiful illustrations have turned the book into an excellent visual feed.

Happy Fourteen My Little- big family – Donna Brooks

Happy Fourteen is a delightful collection of ten journeys. With comforting simplicity and gentle rhythms, Donna Brooks, celebrates the unconditional love between children and little puppies. As the pages turn and the landscapes evolve from forest to the moon, this is an enchanting gift that will warm children’s hearts. This ten book collection of puppy tales is designed to make learning beautifully landscaped material entertaining for children.

All Cats go to Heaven – Valda Upenieks

All Cats go to Heaven is an illustrated storybook presenting fantasy world of Cats. Cats from heaven, with beautiful fairy wings. These cats travel to earth and what do they do? One morning, Minka notices a young cat running quickly through the doors of Cat Heaven and recognizes him immediately. He is Willie, a close neighborhood friend. Minka tells him about her desire to fly down to Earth to protect their friends. She convinces Willie to join her in her wish.

Jessica’s Garden – Jeanette Ann O’Donnell

Jessica’s Garden is a wonderful children’s story about the need every child has to go outside and play… and get dirty! Jessica wants so badly to play in the garden and get dirty like Katie, the little girl next door, but Jessica’s mummy doesn’t want her little girl to ruin her pretty clothes. Daddy tries to console Jessica, but everything changes when Nanny comes to visit.

The Best feeling in the world – Christopher Kaden

Its a story about a eight-year-old Simon would appear to have it all: his room painted like a comic book, all the latest video games on a big-screen TV, and Tommy the Robot to clean up after him, but Simon is not happy. He really wants his Mom and Dad to spend quality time with him, as he’s seen with his best friends, Thomas and Carlos. Two major events lead to a climax that forces his Mom and Dad to reevaluate family priorities and turn out to be the happiest ending of all and The Best Feeling in the World.

Dara and the Zinglefinners -Tadd Walton

A special little girl named Dara happens to be a master storyteller, who attracts audiences from around the world to hear her amazing fantasy tales. Her favorite and most popular story is about the Zinglefinners, who triumph over the mean and nasty Snools threatening to take over their land of Zinglefintopia. The Zinglefinners are a magical, loving, and peaceful race of creatures. The Snools are mean and nasty races that go about bullying and hating more peaceful creatures. Neblee the Zinglefinner and Silas the Silly Serpent assemble an army called The We Love You Crew to expel the Snools from Zinglefintopia forever. This tale of courage and self-determination captures the imagination, and shows that love and positivity can conquer all.

All the above listed children storybook not only entertain the reader with amazing illustration but also makes them to learn the values of friendship, love, courage, self-determination, etc. which will help them in their life. The storybook listed above features original illustrations by Kalpart.

My abode for my last two days in Detroit was the Inn on Ferry Street, a beautifully renovated complex of six historic buildings in the Midtown area of Detroit. It encompasses four mansions as well as two carriage houses that were each built for prominent Detroit families. After many years of languishing, these buildings have been re-functioned into 42 stunning guest rooms.

The East Ferry Avenue Historic District is a historic area in Midtown Detroit, which is also referred to as Detroit’s Cultural Centre. Well-preserved elegant mansions from the 1880s and 1890s line the streets and recall an era when these villas were owned by some of Detroit’s wealthiest citizens. This historic district represents one of the largest and least altered collections of Detroit’s leading architects of the late nineteenth century.

Midtown, the surrounding area, is also referred to as the “Cultural Center Historic District” because of its large concentration of museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Science Centre and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Wayne State University is located nearby, and a multitude of restaurants, galleries and nightlife venues make this area a popular destination.

I had a chance to sit down with Sue Mosey, the driving force behind the renovation of the six buildings that make up the Inn on Ferry Street. Sue is an urban planner and the President of theUniversity Cultural Center Association, a non-profit organization that has aided in planning and developing nearly $400 million in new residential projects in Detroit’s Midtown area.

Sue Mosey is one of Detroit’s most visionary and influential citizens. With more than 20 years of experience as an urban planner, Sue has dedicated her entire career to non-profit organizations that improve her city. She is the president of the University Cultural Center Association, a nonprofit community development group which promotes the revitalization and development of Detroit’s Midtown area. Detroit’s lack of strong city planners and developers has created a space for non-profit organizations and independent professionals who have been working hard to improve the city.

Under Sue Mosey’s leadership the Midtown area has attracted more than $400 million in new residential investments; roughly 2800 housing units have been created or are being planned. Projects include planning support, real estate development, attraction of retailers and businesses, beautification and public safety improvement programs, the organization of local festivals and events and much more. Most recently Sue is working on getting a two-mile greenway off the ground to provide Midtown residents with safe recreational opportunities for walking, jogging and cycling. One of her main goals is to attract more people and businesses to the Midtown area.

Around the turn of the last century Detroit became a powerhouse in automotive manufacturing: the Ford Motor Company was founded in 1904 and other automotive pioneers built extensive factories in Detroit. The success of Ford’s Model T made car ownership accessible to the masses and created a large demand for automobiles. Thousands of African-American former plantation workers migrated north to participate in the manufacturing boom and the new prosperity offered to assembly line workers.

The economic slowdown following the end of World War I and, from 1929 onwards, the Great Depression put a damper on these economic aspirations. As jobs dwindled, old racial prejudices resurfaced and race relations became severely strained during the 1920s. The 1930s were a period of bitter labour strife in Detroit.

During the 1940s the world’s first sunken expressway was constructed in Detroit, and World War II sparked demand for weapons and spurred industrial growth. Changing demographics and long-entrenched racism led to racial tensions between Detroit’s African-American and White populations which escalated into a full-scale riot in 1943 during which 34 people were killed and 600 injured.

During the 1950s and 1960s an extensive network of highways was constructed in Detroit which made it easier for people to commute and move into the suburbs. Poor housing conditions, economic factors and police prejudice against African-Americans led to another devastating race riot in 1967. This event together with school desegregation led to white flight, a demographic trend where working and middle-class white people moved into the suburbs. Large numbers of jobs also relocated into the outskirts, and as a result, Detroit’s tax base eroded and its population declined from about 1.8 million in 1950 to around 900,000 today. Large tracts of housing were simply abandoned as people moved away from the city.

The gasoline crisis of the 1970s also impacted the Detroit auto industry while the city was increasingly afflicted by the heroin and crack cocaine trade during the 1980s. Many of the abandoned houses had become crack houses and havens for drug dealers. The city responded by demolishing countless buildings, leaving behind large swaths of vacant land, often referred to as “urban prairies”. Demolitions are still continuing today and some parts of the city are marred by large numbers of abandoned buildings and empty lots.

However, from the 1990s and into the 2000s, Detroit started to experience a significant revival: the Comerica Tower was built in 1993; new state-of-the-art sports stadiums were constructed for the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers; three casinos opened inside the city. In recent years, several large-scale events have also added to the city’s renaissance: the 2005 MLB All-Star Game, the 2006 Super Bowl, the 2006 Word Series and WrestleMania in 2007 were all held in Detroit. In October of 2008, one of the most ambitious architectural restoration programs was unveiled when the historic Book Cadillac Hotel was reopened under the Westin flag after a $200 million investment and 24 years of abandonment.

Many revival initiatives have happened in Detroit over the years, and in the mid-town area many of them came together directly or indirectly because of the involvement of Sue Mosey and the University Cultural Center Association (UCCA). This non-profit organization is involved in the organization of special events, planning, transportation and public awareness campaigns. Sue added that since 2000 more than $2 billion have been invested in the Midtown area. Other areas of Detroit are also undergoing redevelopment as I witnessed myself during my walk through the historic Brush Park neighbourhood. Neighbourhoods like these are an interesting mix of shuttered buildings, vacant lots, recently restored historic buildings and brand-new real estate developments.

Sue Mosey does not want to want to dwell on the past, but looks forward to the things that remain to be done. Current initiatives at the University Cultural Center Association include a variety of beautification and maintenance projects, real estate developments including mixed lofts and the Midtown Loop Greenway trail, park redevelopments and streetscape enhancements. The UCCA also handles marketing for the Midtown area with a brand campaign, cultural events, a neighbourhood guide and a residential marketing program to promote living in Midtown Detroit.

The activities of the UCCA also extend to economic development and the attraction of new businesses and investment into the Midtown area. To this end the organization offers loan programs, development funds and grant programs for business and neighbourhood revitalization. Community events and the creation of a vibrant neighbourhood are also part of the UCCA’s mandate. Midtown flagship events such as the Detroit Festival of the Arts showcase art and entertainment provided by Cultural Center institutions and program. Another popular event organized by the UCCA is “Noel Night”, a holiday-themed community festival with live performances, crafts, demonstrations and art sales.

One of the key issues according to Sue Mosey is to create a better image of Detroit. Due to its economic and social problems over the last few decades, Detroit has been tarnished by negative news which have had a particularly strong effect on people from the surrounding suburban counties. The recent mayoral scandals added further fuel to the fire and created a negative perception of the city. Sue Mosey and the organizations she is involved with are working hard on initiatives that improve the public perception of the city. One of Sue Mosey’s goals is to bring the suburbanites back into the city by making Detroit a great place to live, work and play.

Important ingredients for this urban revitalization include improved public transit (a light rail rapid transit line along Woodward Avenue is currently being discussed). Quality of life issues such as green spaces and recreational trails, wider sidewalks and attractive streetscaping; an introduction of more small businesses and retailers into Detroit’s various neighbourhoods; public art installations and large-scale projects like the Detroit International Riverfront are all part of making Detroit a more attractive place to visit and to live in.

One of the practical examples of the activities of the University Center Cultural Association is the renovation of the Inn on Ferry Street. This complex of six historic buildings that today makes up the Inn on Ferry Street came under ownership by the Detroit Institute of Arts in the 1970s when the buildings were mostly used for music lessons and storage.

Finally plans were made to restore these unique buildings and to find a more appropriate use for them. A decision was made to turn these buildings into a 42-room boutique hotel. But renovating more than 40 rooms would be a tough economic challenge and required substantial amounts of money. In excess of $4 million of the project were funded through loans, and another $4+ million were raised through various grants. In total, more than twenty-four sources of finances were tapped into to put together the financing for this large-scale project.

Assistance for this project came from one of Detroit’s most fervent supporters. Mr. Richard Manoogian, the owner of Masco Corporation, a Fortune 500 corporation that manufactures and distributes building and home improvement products, made available deep discounts on building supplies and interior dcor products. The renovations on the six buildings that were to make up the Inn on Ferry Street started in 2000 and were finally completed in 2001. The property opened in November of 2001, just shortly after the 911 terrorist attacks had caused a severe downturn in the entire tourism industry. The next three years were very tough, but in 2004 finally occupancy rose to 74%.

Today the Inn on Ferry Street features 42 unique and gorgeously designed guest rooms, a large breakfast room (breakfast is included free of charge), a business centre with complimentary meeting space for guests and great common areas in all the buildings that allow the guests to socialize and relax.

The Inn on Ferry Street provides a great Midtown location with excellent amenities for leisure and business travellers. In addition to the business centre, it provides free wireless Internet access, a free shuttle service covering the Midtown and Downtown areas, valet service and room service. A big breakfast buffet is available every day from 6 am to 10 am at no extra charge, and coffees, teas and fresh fruit are available during the day.

The Rohm House finally was constructed in 1888 for the president of the Detroit Carriage Company. Nine guest bedrooms are located here and the popular second floor suite offers ultimate luxury with its Jacuzzi tub, private balcony and Asian influenced decor. The Inn on Ferry Street offers a great location in Detroit’s Cultural Center and is a prime example of some of the architectural rejuvenation that has been happening in various parts of the city.

Given its complicated history, Detroit today is a very fascinating city. Despite past and current problems, Detroit has many different vibrant communities, each driven by local urbanists who love their city and their neighbourhoods. Sue Mosey is one of Detroit’s foremost leaders of successful community redevelopment and has played a huge role in creating the new face of Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center. And the Inn on Ferry Street is a prime example of outstanding historic preservation and state-of-the-art refunctioning of properties that are definitely worth saving.

When it comes to retirement locations in the Philippines, one has many options – major urban cities, larger rural cities, beach resorts, mountain retreats. Each has its own unique and attractive features. The major advantage of retirement in a beach resort is are (i) exciting beach activities, (ii) ongoing “vacation” atmosphere, (iii) great entertainment and night life, (iv) continuous influx of foreign travelers, (v) numerous upscale hotels and related resort facilities, (vi) great airport accessibility, and (vi) yet small populations. In this category of retirement spots, the most popular are (i) Boracay Island, (ii) Mactan Island, (iii) Panglao Island, (iv) Subic Bay, (v) and Puerto Galera.

BORACAY ISLAND

This is the most famous of all the beach resort areas in the Philippines. There are many 5 star resorts on this island and numerous bars and restaurants owned by foreigners. The sand is some of the best in the whole world, and the night life is supreme. However, it is crowded and overdeveloped like Waikiki and Miami Beach. It has a small permanent population of around 15,000 but a large daily population of tourists from around the world. It attracts travelers of all sorts – international sophisticates, Manila urbanites getting away, serious water enthusiasts, backpackers, and late night party animals. The downside of Boracay is that housing costs tend to run on the high side, more like the costs of housing in Manila. However, for a retiree looking for beach resort action, Boracay Island is the place to be.

MACTAN ISLAND

This island is just adjacent to Cebu City, across a bridge, and in fact where the Cebu international and domestic airports are located. Like Boracay, Mactan too has sandy beaches, but not near the quality of those at Boracay. It also is packed with upscale 5 star hotels and resorts. Yet, whereas Boracay is more remote, accessibility is excellent and Mactan Island due to its proximity to Cebu. Additionally, there is a casino on Mactan Island for those who enjoy the addition of gambling to their retirement lifestyle.

Lliving on Mactan Island provides that resort atmosphere, due to all the resort hotels, yet it is close to great medical facilities and upscale shopping malls across the bridge in Cebu City. Housing costs are lower on Mactan than on Boracay.

PANGLAO ISLAND

This island is across a short bridge from the much larger island of Bohol, which is approximately a 1/12 hour fast-boat ferry ride from Cebu City, or a short airport ride from the Cebu domestic airport. Panglao Island has a population of around 60,000 and is generally associated with Alona Beach, a strip of resorts and dive centres on the southern side of the island. Diving is what draws tourists and retirees to Panglao Island.

There are many resorts and the cost of living is substantially less than on Mactan Island. On the down side of course is that the island is more remote and requires a boat or air trip to get to the medical and shopping facilities of Cebu City.

SUBIC BAY

This area has rapidly become a favorite retirement area, especially for retired US military personnel and for Koreans. Until 1992, Subic Bay was the base for the huge 7th Fleet of the US Navy. These days it is in the process of being remolded into a tax free foreign trade zone and a modern tourist destination. A modern new superhighway was completed in 2008 which has cut the travel time from Manila by an hour. This provides great access to all that Manila has to offer, yet permits retirement in a smaller resort oriented community with all that has to offer. The population is now in excess of 200,000. The presence of Koreans is largely due to the construction in 2006 in Subic Bay of a large Korean shipbuilding plant. Housing costs have risen considerably in 2008 and 2009, yet they are significantly below Manila costs. There are lots of retired military people living in this location.

PUERTO GALERA

Puerto Galera, located just a few hours drive south of Manila, has a small population of around 30,000, and is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. Divers especially visit there in droves. Diving is king at Puerto Galera, with drinking close second. Beaches are numerous, but they lack the real resort style white-sand. The area is known for its great diving and its great night life. Watering holes, music and all kinds of nightlife are everywhere in Puerto Galera. Cost of living and housing is on the low end in Puerto Galera, as compared to the other beach resort retirement areas.

Newport Beach, home to Newport Harbor and Balboa Island, is fifty miles from Los Angeles, fourteen miles from Disneyland in Anaheim and thirty miles from Catalina Island. It’s a great place to get away from it all but still have it all. It is a small, population approximately 72,000, affluent city surrounded by major attractions.

Rent a condo or villa, stay at an inexpensive motel, park your RV at the Newport Dunes Resort & Marina, check into a medium priced hotel or pamper yourself at a luxury hotel like the Balboa Bay Club & Resort which shares the same address as the Balboa Bay Club (“The Balboa Bay Club which boasts a star-studded history with a guest register bearing the signatures of luminaries, including John Wayne, Ronald and Nancy Regan, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood and many more.”), Four Seasons, Hyatt Regency, Mariott or the Balboa Inn.

Dine at one of the many excellent restaurants like the Newport Landing Restaurant (“Newport Landing is Newport Beach. Located on the Bay overlooking the historic Balboa Ferry with a panoramic view of Newport Harbor, Balboa Island, Newport Center, and the distant peaks of Saddleback.”), The Ritz Restaurant & Garden (“Synonymous with elegance, gracious service and award-winning cuisine.”), The Sol Restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach (Featuring World Island cuisine from the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico.), Woody’s Wharf (“Live entertainment Friday and Saturday night. Valet parking and quest slips available fo the boaters.”) or The Harborside Restaurant and Grand Ballroom (“Famous for its world-renowned cupola and illuminated by more than 1,400 white lights, the Balboa Pavilion has served as the beacon of Newport Beach for almost a century.”). These are but a few of the fine restaurants in Newport Beach.

Spend some time at the clean sandy beaches, cruise the large smooth water harbor while viewing the large yachts and multi million dollar homes, charter a sport fishing boat, rent a sail boat, have a party or get married on a chartered yacht, take a ride in a gondola, visit the Orange County Museum of Art, visit the many gift shops, art galleries and sidewalk cafes on Balboa Island, visit the boardwalk shops and restaurants at Newport Pier, visit or take a swim at Pirates Cove, which is best known for the filming of Gilligans Island, go hikeing, horseback riding, scuba diving or surfing at Crystal Cove State Park or catch a ride to Catalina Island.

If for some reason you need more to do, close by you will find Disneyland in Anaheim, Knott’s Berry Farm and Movieland Wax Museum in Buena Park and golf courses galore.

For more information about the city of Newport Beach, California see http://newportbeach.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Newport Beach, California guides and directories listing information, resources, services, things to do and places to go.

As the sun bakes down upon the glistening surface of Lake Malawi, three divers emerge close to the rocky outcrop of Masimbwe Island, a dive site off Likoma Island in Lake Malawi. Bursting with excitement they return to the boat, remove their kit and discuss the fish they spotted on the short journey back to shore. With unspoilt white beaches and pure blue water stretching as far as the eye can see, you continually remind yourself that you are not diving in the Caribbean, but in the 3rd largest lake in Africa. Together with over 1000 different species of Cichlid fish, as well as cat fish and even otters, it is no wonder Lake Malawi has been cited as one of the best fresh water diving locations in the world.

Malawi is a landlocked country in the Southern Region of Africa and is bordered by Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the west and Mozambique to the east and south. The landscape is dominated along its eastern side by the third largest Lake in Africa, and the ninth largest in the world. Lake Malawi is known as the Lake of Stars, due to its impressive ability to mirror the star’s constellations at night in its crystal clear fresh waters. The lake is of substantial importance to the country not only as a means of transport but also as a source of both food and water. As a Scuba diver, its significance lays in its remarkable abundance of different fish species- making it the most biologically diverse fresh water environment in the world.

Lake Malawi contains a greater variety of indigenous species (around 1000) of Cichlid fishes than any other lake. Researchers have identified over 500 species to date that are endemic to Lake Malawi, which is more than all of the freshwater species found in all the waters of both Europe and North America. The Cichlids of Lake Malawi, perhaps even more so than the Cichlids from the other two rift lakes, Victoria and Tanganyika, are brightly coloured and patterned. Cichlids have evolved from a single common species into the hundreds found today, coexisting within the lake ecosystem. The variable species have developed differential feeding techniques to maximise productivity. Some species have developed teeth specialized in scraping algae from the rocks, or aquatic plants. Others use a sand filtration technique to sieve aquatic animals or invertebrates from the sand. Also found are species specialised in snail, plant and fish consumption.

One of the most fascinating phenomena seen on dives is the protective nature of the mouthbreeders, made famous in the BBC documentary series ‘Planet Earth’. The Cichlids of Lake Malawi are among a relatively small number of fishes that look after and protect their offspring. The mothers carry their eggs and fry in their mouths until the juveniles are large enough to fend for themselves. Even at this stage, in many species, the baby fry remain close to their mother in a tight shoal when at the first sign of predatory danger, she opens her mouth and the whole brood are taken in for safety. In the case of many of the mouthbreeders, the males exhibit no parental care; after spawning, they move on to find another female. Often divers can see the males dig large spawning pits- large round craters – in the sand, at water depths of around 2-20 meters (6-65 feet), in order to attract further females.

Other species in Lake Malawi have developed some very unique hunting adaptations, which make them fun to observe whilst diving. At least two species lure small fish within range by feigning death and lying motionless in the sand! These have been given the nickname of “The play-dead fish.” One of the largest fish that can be seen whilst diving is the Kampango. Growing up to 2m in length, the Kampango is a large, territorial and predatory catfish endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring from the lower reaches of rivers to the deepest habitable parts of the lake. A nocturnal predator, it feeds largely on smaller cichlids. Juveniles mainly feed on eggs released by the female, and when slightly older, the male helps the young in searching for invertebrates in and around the nesting site, which both parents will defend. If you are lucky enough to find a catfish pair with babies, you will see perfectly formed miniature catfish – up to 80 of them in one nest! The Kampango is inquisitive and will approach divers entering its territory, particularly when breeding.

Lake Malawi is a fresh water environment; as a result there is no coral growth on the reefs. However, that doesn’t mean to say there is no plant life. Lake Malawi boasts an endemic genus and species of freshwater sponge, Malawispongia echinoides. This little colonial animal occurs nowhere else on earth.

About one third of the lakes’ coast is rocky, which is home to the vegetarian cichlids, the Mbuna, as well as the occasional fresh water eel. These underwater rock formations make for stunning dive sites including countless swim throughs and drop-off walls. The rest of the coastline is characterised by sandy beaches and bottoms. This is where the majority of the open-water piscivores (eat other fish), called Haps, dwell. A few Cichlid species inhabit the muddy and weed-strewn bottom where larger rivers flow into the lake.

Lake Malawi is unusual in that it does not have tides or significantly strong currents, making it a perfect environment for open water training. Diving is possible all year round. However, between August and November, the lake is at its calmest, with very little wind. Water temperatures can rise up to 30 Degrees Celsius during this time, with visibility as good as 20 metres. With these conditions, 3-5mm wetsuits with little or no weight systems are perfectly suitable in this freshwater paradise. Given that Lake Malawi sits at nearly 500m above sea level, special procedures are required when diving at altitude.

Night diving is certainly regarded as a unique experience in the lake. Dolphin fish, resembling nothing like their names sake, can be seen using the torch light of divers to facilitate an easy meal. Numerous different catfish can also be seen rising from the depths of their daytime lairs in search of food. In the shallower waters a plethora of blue crabs can be found on the sandy bottom, whilst a sharp eye can spot tiny fresh water shrimp located in and around the rocky boulders.

For those days that divers prefer to stay topside there is always something to do on Lake Malawi. Kaya Mawa, an award-winning lodge on Likoma Island, offers activities for its guests, such as sailing, kayaks, bicycles, waterskiing and wakeboarding, round island boat trips and quad bike tours. For the 2012 season, Malawi’s first Kite-surfing school has also opened. For those keen on birdwatching, Lake Malawi is a haven for hundreds of species. If you are lucky, you might spot the crimson-rumped waxbill, found only on Likoma Island, or the Majestic Fish Eagle, swooping down to catch it’s prey.

There are several international airlines that fly into Malawi, including South African Airways, Kenyan Airways, Air Malawi and Ethiopian Airways. Internal transport is possible by bus, taxi, rental car, internal flight companies (Ulendo Airlink) and the Ilala ferry, that travels a continuous route around the Lake.