There’s just something about Lake Como. Perhaps it’s simply because it laps gently against Bellaggio, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Or perhaps it’s the cobblestone streets or the view of the glittering water from breathtaking terraces and cliffs.

It’s located a mere half hour from Milan, but it seems more like you’ve crossed the world. The frantic pace of Milan is quickly forgotten here, where the people are as mellow and calm as the landscape.

But Lake Como is more than views. It’s a place where you can lose yourself in the beauty and old-world charm that surround you in every espadrilled step. And, if you go at the right time, you can immerse yourself in an entirely different personality, completely appropriate for the surprisingly Mediterranean scene.

To the north of the Lake you’ll find Como’s sole island, Isola Comacina. The weekend after June 24, take the ferry over to the island to celebrate St. John’s Day. The celebration consists of a mass within the ruins of the S. Eufemia basilica, followed by a procession, party and fireworks where all who participate are rather elaborately costumed.

To the south, you’ll find Bellaggio, ‘la perla del lago,’ (the pearl of the lake.) This is a town filled with colorful, hidden corridors, cobblestone streets and amazing homes and villas lining the ridge of the lake. You’ll find plenty of shade here, but a ride on a boat docked just minutes from all accommodations will allow you to relax and bask happily as the sun rays coddle you gently as you rock gracefully in the warm waters of Lago di Como. This is especially peaceful at sunset, when you can watch the sun fall and meld into a haze before the sharp rise of night.

One of the best ways to explore Lake Como is by bicycle. The easy lakeside terrain allows an average of 25 miles per day, allowing you to stop along the way to sample real Italian ice cream (try Trese, located on the east side of Bellagio, for a real treat). Or, if you’re looking for a more challenging ride and hike, climb the imperical Mont Generoso, which is a difficult but extremely rewarding climb. The views lend themselves to an afternoon or evening of romance, but be warned: You’re not going to find food where you’re hiking. My suggestion is to pack a lunch or dinner with groceries from local markets in Bellaggio or Varenna and picnic above the water.

If you stop in Varenna to pick up food, look around: This is an area infamous for the public displays of affection by its lovers. The ferries come and go from Varenna’s local beach, bringing and taking people away but leaving plenty of time for quiet reflection. After the sunset (where you’ll find the beach filled with couples madly in love), take a stroll down the passerella (the lakeside walkway). There, you’ll find the path dotted with couples whispering passionately and lovingly as they scurry along, stopping occasionally for a grope and a desperate kiss.

Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or romance and a party, Lake Como as something for you. Daily activities also include minor water sports and trips along the old roads in cable cars. If you’re looking to escape it all, Lake Como can accommodate you.

Siena and the Palio horse race, Montalcino, Pienza, Saturnia, Porto Santo Stefano. The territory known as the Crete Senesi contains all of those things which we have come to associate with Tuscany”: a landscape of gently undulating hills, lined with cypress trees and covered by a patchwork of fields, olive groves, and vineyards; a place where to find tiny rural villages”’, fascinating hill top towns, and great cities of art.

Our journey starts in Siena. Within its Medieval perimeter walls, Siena conserves an incredible quantity of historic buildings and artistic treasures. The stunning Cathedral and Santa Maria della Scala survey the city from on high. In the city’s museums, masterpieces by artists such as Simone Martini, Jacopo della Quercia, Duccio da Buoninsegna and Pinturicchio can be admired. The streets of the historic center, lined by a succession of magnificent town houses, all converge in the immense Piazza del Campo: the pulsating heart of the city and the stage for Siena’s legendary Palio horse race, which takes place here twice a year (July 2nd and August 16th), filling the piazza with the colourful costumes and the passionate chants of the various contrada.

 The Crete Senesi commence just beyond the gates of the city, extending over some five hundred square kilometers of countryside characterised by the ochre-tinged soil used by Renaissance artists to create the famous Sienna yellow. One of the first towns to greet us on our journey southwards is that of Asciano, a town protected by a 14th century perimeter wall, within which we find the Museum of Sacred Art housing Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s painting of “St Michael slaying the dragon”. Rows of cypress trees shelter the nearby Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore: a Benedictine monastic complex which, with its beautiful frescoed cloisters, pays homage to the artistic revolution of the Italian Renaissance.

Travelling onwards through the Ombrone Valley, we make a detour so as to visit the Abbey of San Galgano, an abbey which, following the collapsing of its vaults, has remained roofless. Thus, the pavement has gradually been covered by grass, transformed in a soft green lawn from where the great columns reach, tree-like, up towards the open sky. The neighbouring Chapel of San Galgano contains a number of important frescoes by Lorenzetti. A seemingly infinite procession of grapevines accompanies us along the road leading to Montalcino. This Medieval hilltop town is famous for the production of one of the world’s most highly prized wines: the Brunello of Montalcino. Whilst in the vicinity of Montalcino, it is well worth making the short detour to see the superb Romanesque abbey of S.Antimo.

Continuing our journey through the Tuscan hillside, in no time at all we reach Pienza, a town which has maintained all its renaissance splendour. The town was built following the request of Pope Pio II (Silvio Enea Piccolomini) and designed by the architect Bernardo Rossellino. From the attractive streets of Via dell’Amore and Via del Bacio, a magnificent view encompassing the whole of the Orcia valley can be admired. Beyond the valley lies Bagno Vignoni, a tiny spa town known since ancient times for the beneficial properties of its thermal waters. A large bath, filled by a constant flow of warm spring water, is located right in the center of Bagno Vignoni. This is where one of the most captivating scenes of Andrej Tarkovsky’s film Nostaglia was filmed. As we approach Mount Amiata, the hills of the Crete Senesi give way to woods of chestnut trees and the towns of Radicofani, Santa Fiora, and Abbadia San Salvadore. Skirting the mountain, in the direction of Bolsena, we are greeted by the unmistakable profile of Pitigliano, a town perched on a great spur of tufo rock which offers a prime example of how Tuscany’s medieval settlements were transformed by the innovative spirit of the renaissance.

To visit: the Jewish ghetto and Palazzo degli Orsini. From Pitigliano we head towards the celebrated spa town of Saturnia and on as far as the Tuscan coast. Two great tongues of sand, the Feniglia and Giannella link the mainland with the Argentario, home to Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole: arguably Tuscany’s most fashionable seaside resorts. From here, the islands of Giannutri and Giglio are just a short boat ride away.

The colourful district of Florence which, with its eclectic mixture of artisans shops and medieval and renaissance masterpieces, never fails to enchant the visitor Florence’s Basilica of Santa Croce, located in the homonymous piazza, is among the world’s largest Franciscan churches and one of the finest examples of Italian Gothic architecture. The design of the Basilica is attributed to Arnolfo di Cambio, who supervised the building work which initiated in 1294. Although the construction of the edifice was completed some 90 years later, the consecration of the church did not occur until 1444. In 1966, the flooding of Florence resulted in serious damage to the basilica and to the many artworks housed within its walls, including a Crucifix by Cimabue, the remains of which are now conserved in the Museum of Santa Croce. Today, after decades of painstaking restoration work, the Basilica of Santa Croce has returned to all its former splendour. In 1865, to commemorate the 600 years since the birth of Dante, a monument was erected in honour of the great poet to the left of the sacristy. In Piazza Santa Croce, the signs of the center line used to divide the square during the games of football played here since the 16th century are still visible. Indeed, to this very day, each June, the square transforms in pitch where passionate matches of calcio fiorentino (Florentine football) are played.

Heading towards the center of Florence along Via Ghibellina we come to Casa Buonarroti, a 17th century palazzo transformed in museum entirely dedicated to the life and works of Michelangelo, the famous Florentine artist who once owned the property. Continuing past the numerous little shops selling leather goods and hand painted ceramics, we arrive at Florence’s late 19th century synagogue and the city’s Jewish Museum. In the nearby Borgo Pinti, lies the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena d’Pazzi, where to admire Pietro Peugino’s dramatically poignant fresco of the crucifixion. Other great works of art are housed in the Bargello Museum, the rooms of which are adorned with masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, Bernini, Verrocchio and Giambologna. Florence’s Piazza della Signoria is home to Palazzo Vecchio, the city’s magnificent town hall, in which to find works by Agnolo Bronzino, Michelangelo Bounarrotti and Giorgio Vasari. The Palazzo was originally known as Palazzo della Signoria, Signoria being the principal administrative body of the Florentine Republic. Over the years its name was changed, first to Palazzo dei Priori and then Palazzo Ducale, before assuming the name of Palazzo Vecchio or Old Palace in 1565, when the court of Duke Cosimo I moved to the ‘new’ Palazzo Pitti. The edifice was gradually enlarged to the East so as to quadruple its original dimensions. Vasari, man responsible for many of the artworks within the Palazzo, also designed the corridor linking Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, passing over the river Arno via the Ponte Vecchio. Cosimo I moved his governmental offices to the adjacent Uffizi, now one of the world’s most famous art galleries. Neri di Fioravante’s Ponte Vecchio has become another of the legendary symbol’s of Florence. The bridge, constructed in a point where the girth of the river Arno is at its narrowest, is famous for the exclusive jeweler’s shops which line either side.

Italy is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula, while Campione d’Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. Italy has been the home of many European cultures, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the universities and of the movement of the Renaissance, that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Italy’s capital Rome was for centuries the center of Western civilization; it also spawned the Baroque movement and seats the Catholic Church. Italy possessed a colonial empire from the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.

• TOTAL AREA: 674,843 sq km
• LAND AREA: 500,789 sq km
• WATER AREA: 174,497 sq km
• POPULATION: 65,444,215
• RELIGIONS: Christians 94%, Muslim 2%, Jewish 2%, other 2%
• LANGUAGES: Italian
• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Republic
• CAPITAL CITY: Rome
• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: Euro
• TIME ZONE: GMT +2

It may be hard for you to believe, but there is one good thing to come from the credit crunch that’s affecting those of us who live in the UK or Europe…moving to Marbella in Spain is now more affordable! It’s true, even the most sought after locations across Europe are now becoming more affordable and within reach for increasing numbers of us.

Property prices in Spain have been falling across pockets of the country for well over a year now, and one of the hardest hit locations is the Costa del Sol that was previously so oversold and overpriced that it was becoming increasingly overlooked. Well, now that prices are falling and the level of interest in Spanish investment property is waning too, it seems that the likes of marvellous Marbella are suddenly within reach!

Marbella is a stunning place to live – it has it all, it has glitz, glamour and chic, it has an old town and a new town, it has a marina, yachts, fabulously wealthy people, some of the best shopping in Spain, some of the best bars, restaurants, cafes and even some stunning views too. And it has a really good lifestyle side to it that fewer Brits were aware of as rapidly inflating prices were making the entire town a no go area even for consideration for those thinking about living in Spain.

Marbella offers the best of Spain. It has the climate, it has some stunning real estate, it has the beach, it has the laid back lifestyle, there are job opportunities there for Brits, the cost of living can be lower than in the UK in Marbella depending on where and how you shop…and what’s more, Marbella has rapidly ‘improving’ property prices. By ‘improving’ we of course mean falling in this instance! Marbella is in a pocket of Spain most harshly affected by the real estate readjustments occurring across the entire country. Prices became so high so quickly as demand soared, that Spanish property in Marbella actually became overpriced. Now that interest in Spanish investment real estate has dropped off significantly, this has had a sharp impact on prices in the resort.

There are those who are trying to sell up and get out because they cannot afford their mortgage costs, there are developers who have committed to projects who are now trying to offload their property stock…but there is far less demand than there was 18 months ago and there are bargains to be bagged. And now it’s time to let you in to a secret – the locations that boom first may be the ones to crash hardest, but they are also the locations that boom first again! So if you buy into a crashing Marbella today, chances are you will be buying into a location that will boom again and boom again soon.

Research shows that Spain has recently overtaken France as the holiday and relocation destination of choice for most Britons: this article looks at one of the most popular regions in Spain for expatriate relocation and discusses what it has to offer anyone in search of a new life abroad.

The Malaga province is located in south central Andalucia in Spain and is seemingly most famous as being the gateway to the Costa del Sol and for Malaga international airport – which often serves as people’s first entry point into Spain!
But the region offers far more than just popular beaches, shopping opportunities and an international airport!
The Malaga Province is one of the first and still most popular regions of Spain attracting expatriate retirees and those in search of a new life in the sun.

So what has the Malaga Province got to offer?
Firstly there’s Malaga itself – the provincial capital city is the second largest city in Andalucia and considered by many to be one of the most vibrant, atmospheric and historic cities in Spain. It is indeed a lively and exciting port city which offers its inhabitants and visitors an excellent quality of life, a city unspoilt by tourism and the passage of time.
The city boasts excellent shops, restaurants, bars and attractions such as Picasso’s birthplace and museum, La Manquita (the cathedral) together with beautiful tropical gardens and long stretches of sandy beach. It is a city steeped in history and a city which likes to celebrate its history – the festivals or fiestas in Malaga are famous throughout Andalucia and beyond – from the Feria de Malaga to the Three Kings Festival.
Apartment living is popular in the city and prices vary widely depending on the property’s proximity to the beach and other attractions. The city is a popular second home destination for those in search of a holiday home in the sun which is also suitable for letting.
Next there’s the Costa del Sol of course – which is basically a line of holiday resorts stretching from Malaga almost as far as Gibraltar – it was once a line of small fishing villages until a Spanish development drive began in the 1950’s to awaken the potential of the region. Now the Costa del Sol has been made famous through package holidays which brought waves of sun seekers to the expansive sandy beaches.
So, the nightlife and entertainment on offer are plentiful along the Costa de Sol but what else does the region have that has attracted so many expatriates to relocate to it?
Golf, sailing, water sports, incredible weather and an excellent expatriate network providing people with home from home support and familiarity which can ease even the most reticent expatriate into their new life abroad!
One of the most popular areas for both tourism and expatriate relocation on the Costa del Sol is Marbella. And what makes this resort so attractive is its cosmopolitan character. It is currently home to thousands of people from all around the globe and it is this mix of cultures, traditions, languages and people that makes Marbella a magical destination.
The people in Marbella are friendly, the atmosphere in and around the resort is peaceful and the destination is right for more and more property investors and expatriates.
The property market in Marbella and along the Costa del Sol is ever strong. With more golf resorts under development and more people drawn to the region the high property prices are expected to continue rising throughout 2005 and beyond.

Southwest of Marbella is Estepona – Estepona is a small fishing village with lots of character, an interesting history and is one of the few resorts in the Malaga Province to fully retain original charm and character, it really has not sacrificed its beauty and atmosphere for tourism.

This makes Estepona an incredibly desirable place – tourists want to visit it and sample the quality of life available and the beautiful year round sunny climate, and expatriates seeking a degree of exclusivity are drawn to the stunning (and pricey!) real estate options available in Estepona.
Heading away from the most popular coastal resorts towards, Axarquia, Antequera, Guadalhorce or Ronda you will find that the rich and diverse natural beauty of Spain abounds and stunning properties can be purchased at more acceptable prices. These areas are becoming more and more popular with expatriates looking for a different type of life in Spain – away from the bars and bustle of the traditional coastal resorts.

Axarquia – in terms of both tourism and ideal expatriate locations this area has only really been ‘discovered’ in the last ten years or so. It offers smooth rolling hills and beautiful mountain scenery, pretty traditional white villages and abundant wildlife set among a fairly wild and rugged landscape which is proving highly desirable and suitable for hiking and walking enthusiasts!
 

Antequera – This is one of the regions most attractive towns, it is located on the edge of a 540 metre high plain with rugged mountains to the east and south.
The town itself is a white walled busy market town and boasts well preserved buildings and site of outstanding natural interest.
 

Guadalhorce – affording visitors and residents some of the most incredible and wild natural scenery in Spain, Guadalhorce valley is framed by mountains adorned with fertile orchards, olive groves, almond trees, thickets and pretty traditional white villages.

Ronda – the beautiful Serrania de Ronda mountains lead to the historical town of Ronda which is perched over 100m above a sheer drop into the El Tajo gorge. While most visitors to this part of the region tend to stay for just half a day, those looking for unique and unspoilt Spain will be reluctant to leave. In fact, more and more expatriates are considering this region for their escape to the sun.

 
When you consider the wealth, depth and breadth of opportunity, scenery, attractions, excitement and quality of life available is it any wonder that the Malaga province is so attractive to both expatriates and holidaymakers year on year

Widely known for Flamenco music and dance, bull-fights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine, Spain has to offer much more than that. It is – and has been for thousands of years – one of the cultural centers of Europe. It has beautiful cities and towns, offering really old monuments as well as futuristic architecture. Its various regions are all different one to each other, geographically, climatically and even in personality. It is a fascinating country to know and to know more about it.
“Spain is different!”, Spaniards use to say. They don’t specify compared to what: to the rest of Europe, to the rest of the world, or even to itself ? We don’t know it either, but we do our best to supply you with loads of information so you can find the answer to this question and to many more by yourself.

I recently drove from Las Vegas Nevada to Death Valley California.  This is only a short drive of about 100 miles, but it takes you over the mountains and through the barren Sonoran Desert.  It turned out to be a very interesting excursion into the picturesque countryside of the still wild West.

I drove through the Amargosa Valley, a vast expanse of dry sand and rock strewn flats able to support only widely scattered brown shrubs and a few cactus.  The bare lifeless mountains that deliniated the sides of the valley were visible miles off to the side of Interstate 95.  In this country, you tend to watch your fuel gauge as towns, service stations and other signs of civilization are few and far between.

  I noticed the occassional dirt roads that extended straight across the valley floor for miles until they disappeared into the mountains.  They were guarded by wire fences with signs warning away visitors.  We were at the periphery of the Nevada Test Site, a government proving grounds for all the secret weaponry being developed far away from prying eyes.  This was also the proposed location of the controversial Yucca Mountain underground radioactive waste depository.  Across those mountains in the most inaccessable parts of this desert landscape lay Area 51, that top secret retreat where the US government had purportedly secreted captured alien spacecraft and the bodies of alien creatures.

At the turnoff to the Death Valley area, our map indicated a small town.  What we found was a few widely scattered mobile homes parked in the desert, one boaded up restaurant, and a combination service station, general store, diner and brothel. The convenience store part of the big dilapidated building had an array of nearly empty shelves, the restaurant in the back claimed to serve hamburgers, fries and sandwiches, but no waitress was anywhere to be found.  The old bearded man at the cash register was on the telephone the entire while we were there, and only bothered to glance up to take our money.  The nicest part of this desert waystation was the neatly painted double-wide mobile home in the back with its big bright sign proclaiming it to be the “Cherry Patch II” house of prostitution.

Route 373 went through more desolate landscape occasionally interspersed with an oasis of green mesquite trees and a few houses indicating a local supply of water.  Other than one modern casino inconguously located in this god-forsaken land at the end of the civilized world, there were no amenities such as service stations, restaurants or stores to be found. The road eventually brought us to Death Valley Junction, an almost ghost town at an isolated desert crossroads.

The Amargosa hotel was the most impressive building in this nearly deserted community.  A long low white adobe building with an inviting shaded veranda along its whole length was the only well maintained structure in the town.  The remaining cottages, stores, and industrial builings were in various states of disrepair and ruin.  We met Richard, self appointed mayor, sheriff and one third of the population of Death Valley Junction.  He explained how Marta Bennett, a ballet dancer from New York City had come to the deserted town in 1967 and decided to make it her home.  She refurbished the old theater and reopened it as the Amargosa Opera House. 

For over 40 years, Marta has produced theatrical productions in her opera house.  She constructed her own scenery and lighting, her own costumes and stage props.  She even painted the walls of the opera with elaborate murals of an appreciative audience.  Marta used to dance ballet, but at 80+ years of age, she now restricts herself to singing and acting.  Marta still lives in Death Valley Junction, and she still performs her show every Saturday evening to guests who come from around the world just to see this opera in the desert.  Marta is a unique character, but the desert seems to attract unique characters. 

Death Valley is a starkly beautiful but severe landscape with an extremely challenging environment.  The temperature reached 120 F (47 C) during the middle of the day.  The heat was oppressive, and I clung to the shelter of any bit of shade I could find.  The gleaming white salt flats nearly blinded me with sunlight reflected from its burning surface where temperatures were hot enough to fry an egg or bake a cake. 

I could easily understand why they named this place “Death Valley”.  I had more difficulty comprehending how prospectors and miners could ever have lived in such a severe environment.  The thirst for gold and for riches from the mineral deposits must have been very compelling for anyone to brave such conditions. 

On the way back to Las Vegas, I passed through the thriving desert community of Pahrump.  It has shopping malls, restaurants, casinos and even a bit of industrial development.  It is most famous for being one of the maverick communities that has permitted the legalization of prostitution.  Brothels are scattered around the outskirts of Pahrump. 

It is here that Heidi Fleis, the notorious Hollywood Madam who ran an escort service to provide prostitutes to movie stars and other famous movie executives until she was arrested, has taken up residence.  With plans to open a Brothel, named ”the Stud Farm” that catered to women customers, she took up residents in Pahrump and began a long feud with the existing Brothel owners and with the local authorities.  Heidi never opened her brothel, but she still lives in the local desert with dozens of parrots, Macaws and other tropical birds.  Another desert character.

In tales of the old times, the wild west was a very inhospitable place populated by many strange and interesting characters.  It hasn’t changed much. 
Published by Mike Leco

I recently returned from a short business trip to New York City.  I usually travel to the Big Apple at least two or three times a year, and I love it.  It is a huge vibrant metropolis with an immense selection of entertainment and cultural diversions. I like to attend one of the Broadway, or off-Broadway shows, to visit the museums or the other tourist attractions, to eat in one or more of the huge variety of restaurants and to just absorb the vibrant atmosphere of the city.  Like most US natives that do not live in New York City, I frequently say, “New York City is a great place to visit, but I would not wish to live there.”

The reason that I and many other non-New York residents, do not wish to live in the city is mainly due to the cost.  It is a very expensive place to live.  Houses, condominiums and apartments typically cost two or three times the price of similar accommodations in most other cities. The hotel rooms are typically double the price of similar accommodations in other cities.

It has always been a challenge to find decent accommodations at affordable prices in New York City.  After numerous visits to the Big Apple, I was finally able to find a few secret bargains at lesser known but nice hotels.  Every time I went there on a business trip, I stayed in those affordable hotels near the heart of the city in Manhattan.  Recently, it has become much more difficult to find such bargain accommodations.  Most of the inexpensive-but-nice hotels have either disappeared or have raised their prices to the point where they are no longer bargains.

The average price of decent hotel accommodations in New York is now about $300 per night.  There are still some Manhattan hotels in the $200 range but they are typically the less-desirable ones.  The under-$300 hotels are usually older, a bit more dilapidated and often in the inaccessible or insecure neighborhoods. 

For the past year or two, New York has been blessed with a healthy number of visitors vying for a limited supply of hotel rooms.  Most hotels filled up.  As their occupancy rates approached full capacity, the hotels began charging premium rates.  For the past few years there have been almost no “last minute” bargains.  The best prices were to be found only by booking well in advance.  Once any hotel neared full capacity, it usually began charging ”last minute gouge the customer” prices. That may now begin to change due to the current economic meltdown.

On recent trips to New York City, I have been forced to look in other areas for bargain hotel accommodations.  Here is what I found:

If you stay outside of Manhattan, it is a bit less convenient, but you can still find bargain accommocations.  When I drive to New York City, I usually stay at hotels in the Secaucus New Jersey area.  This unremarkable little community amidst the commercial and industrial suburbs in New Jersey offers a nice selection of hotels with spacious rooms, free parking, modest prices, and easy access into Manhattan.  Secaucus may not be beautiful, but the accommodations are affordable  and the neighborhood is relatively secure.

Another bargain area for accommodations is the neighbohood surrounding Newark NJ Liberty Airport.  This area is likewise not beautiful but is affordable with easy access into Manhattan.  The commute from Newark to Manhattan is a bit longer than it is from Secaucus. 

I have also stayed on the other side of the city in Brooklyn and Queens.  Most of the affordable hotels in Brooklyn are located in the vicinity of JFK Airport.  These hotel rooms are typically more spacious than those in Manhattan, they are significantly cheaper and parking is much less expensive, but the neighborhoods do not appear to be very secure after dark.

I prefer the accommodations in Queens which are mostly located near La Guardia Airport.  The hotels in this area are typically more spacious than in Manhattan, the parking is cheaper and the neighborhoods are a bit more secure.  A few weeks ago, I stayed at the Wingate Hotel in Flushing New York less than two miles from LaGuardia terminal.  The neighborhood is oriental with Chinese Restaurants, Korean Barbeques, Japanese Sushi Bars and Noodle Houses on every block.  It is a relatively safe neighborhood even after dark.  My room was spacious, clean and in excellent repair.  It cost only $139 and parking was a mere $14 per day.  A similar room would cost $300 in Manhattan with parking adding an additional $35 per day.

I ate dinner at Joe’s Shanghai Restaurant just two blocks from the hotel.  It was rated as the best restaurant in that area by Trip Advisor.  This modest establishment was crowded with local residents confirming it as one of the most popular restaurants in that area.  Wow!  It served some of the best Chinese food that I have ever tasted.

Published  by Mike Leco

The U.S.A., a big galoot of a country, has a little of almost everything, and lots and lots of a lot of wonderful things, from amber waves of grain to purple mountain majesties. Blessed with a hard-working, well-meaning population, it’s known for putting on a good show, from California to the New York Island, with 10,000 stops in between.

• TOTAL AREA: 9,631,420 sq km
• LAND AREA: 9,161,923 sq km
• WATER AREA: 469,497 sq km
• POPULATION: 298,444,215
• RELIGIONS: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10%
• LANGUAGES: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%
• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
• CAPITAL CITY: Washington, DC
• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: US dollar (USD)
• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC -5 (Eastern), GMT/UTC -6 (Central), GMT/UTC -7 (Mountain), GMT/UTC -8 (Pacific Standard)