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Mention the word scooter to a Brit person of a certain age and they get misty eyed.  The Lambretta scooter was the transport of choice of many a young man back in the early to mid 1960s.  This was at the height of the Mods versus Rockers age.  The Mods listened to soul records, dressed in smart suits and drove scooters covered in mirrors.  This was so they could check on their perfectly groomed hair.  The rockers, on the other hand, rode motorbikes, listened to rock’n'roll and wore leathers or denim.  Many of them were in Hell’s Angel chapters.  Unfortunately these two groups would often clash.  Vacations became the traditional time when Mods and Rockers invaded beach cities, often taking part in punch-ups on the beach.

Any Mod deserving of the name would be the owner of a Vespa or Lambretta. He would polish the mirrors and cosset it as if he’d given birth to it.  Sometimes this would be a Vespa model.  It was quite respectable to have one of these but they were never as trendy as the Lambretta scooter.  This chapter of youth culture was brilliantly caught in the flick, Quadrophenia, starring Sting and based mostly on the songs of The Who.  There had been a Mod resurgence in the 1990s with bands such as Oasis and Blur wearing the old fur hooded parka’s and Noel Gallagher was photographed riding a Lambretta.  Suddenly, every fan wanted one.

There are Owners Clubs all around the world but the English one still has the highest number of members and holds a number of events.  The scooters are kept in pristine condition and are considered classics.  The original Lambretta scooter started life in Italy naturally, the 1st model being manufactured in 1947.  It was popular right away and solved the state’s transport problem at a point when they were recovering from World War Two.  Italy remains the land of the scooter, seen in numerous films including the iconic picture of a young Audrey Hepburn riding one in Roman vacation.  The last Lambretta scooter made in Italy was in 1972.  Models were made in other bits of the world, including India, which made the final range as lately as 1998.

Some vehicles become part of the culture, particularly those associated with young folks.  The Lambretta scooter was an inexpensive way of youths finding their independence but belonging to a shared identity.  We won’t see its likeness again.

For further articles on Lambretta’s and whatever click on the Bikes Cars & Boats website.

These days growing numbers tourists are seeking new vacation spots which afford something found nowhere else or, at the very least something different to the usual bar and beach vacation. Under the current economic conditions many folk are, unfortunately coming to the inevitable conclusion that they have severely reduced funds for buying a family holiday and are, annoyingly, forced to cutting corners to save money. One way of doing it is to seek out a less expensive destination. The following article introduces readers to Birmingham, a city in the UK. With the dollar and euro so strong against the British pound hotel accommodation in Birmingham far cheaper than in previous years.

You will find the city of Birmingham in the English county called the West Midlands  and the city’s residents are described as being “Brummies”. The accent of Birmingham is a strong northern English sounding dialect and it is rather difficult to comprehend what is being spoken a difficulty which is made even worst if if you are new to such dialects. Thankfully the vast majority of Brummies are helpful, polite and kind and do their utmost to explain clearly so if the need arises do not be afraid to engage in conversation about directions and help or guidance in finding  Birmingham bed and breakfast accommodation.

The city of Birmingham has  a superb collection of tourist attractions which include some highly interesting and informative museums and art galleries, such as the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the new Thinktank  which is in the Eastside. The city of Birmingham also features an incredible number of acres of woodland, parkland and open spaces, Sutton Park being the largest with 970 hectares it is also the largest urban nature reserve in the United Kingdom and even Europe.

The city has a vibrant and wide ranging night life with an excellent choice of restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and bars. You will discover many in one of Birmingham’s squares, Victoria Square, Centenary Square, St Martin’s Square, Rotunda Square, Chamberlain Square, the historic Old Square at Corporation Street and the Gas Street Basin. Gas Street Basin is the hub of Birmingham’s intricate canal systems. Birmingham has approximately 32 miles of canal waterways with between 8 canals which were created during the eighteenth century and continued being used until the 1970′s. These days the site has been renovated and regenerated and is now a pretty decent visitor attraction.

Rather than staying in a bed & breakfast why not consider staying in apartments in Birmingham. If you If you are currently planning a vacation in Birmingham you should be aware that the nearest airport is about eight miles east of the the city center just off the A45, near the M42. You will find that there is a respectable number of hotels close by the airport.

I recently came back from a weeks self catering Dorset.  We had decided that rather than inspecting the beaches of the Spanish coast, I would keep our cash, take a chance on the British atmospheric conditions and go to the pleasant sands of Dorset.  It seems as if I was not the only person because Bournemouth beach was full and with every thing the county of Dorset has on provide, it is no surprise.

Bournemouth and Poole are really interesting parts of Dorset to visit but the area has so a great deal more to offer.  There were a wide variety of sights and sounds and areas to visit.  My favourites of the various tourist destinations would have to be Compton Acres, Tower Park and Sandbanks beach.  I had such a pleasant time at all these destinations and would extremely recommend them to fellow travellers.

This was one of the reasons I made up one’s mind that my family and I would go on holiday in a holiday cottage in Dorset instead of a hotel.  This meant we were able to holiday in a house where we felt comfy and available to do what we wished.  The property was likewise a good base from which we were able journey to the localised holidaymaker sights easily.  We were lucky enough that our country cottage was positioned under 30mins away from all of these tourist destinations.

The Dorset cottage we remained in was adjacent to a traditional pub that we often attended, where we struck up a friendship with the landlord and his wife.  We found out from the pub landlord that cottages in Dorset were very popular in the area and that he often met travellers such as us that stay in them.  If you are thinking of taking a trip to Dorset then I would advocate staying in holiday cottages Dorset.  The welcome you will experience from the people is wonderful, it is a great deal cheaper than a vacation overseas and you will leave feeling laid-back and fresh.

Air travel is constantly on the increase and an astonishing  number of us wish to fly with our cats. For years  families have elected to take their family pet on camping holidays while leaving them at home when traveling internationally or when flying. As flights becomes more affordable the thought of taking our pet with us seems a possibility. The article below looks at Air Travel, Pets, concentrating on flights in England, Scotland and Wales.

Flights, Pets, and the Regulations and Rules

One of the imperative things to consider in connection with air travel and pets are the rules and regulations. In Great Britain there are a selection of laws which are applicable, for example the “Safe Air Travel for Animals Act” (2000).   In recent years there has been an increase in security and where you once may have been allowed to carry small pets with you on a flight this may no longer be the case. It is, obviously, of vital importance that you check the facts with the airline before booking your flight. Most airlines now state precisely that all small animals and pets must be carried in suitable containers in the cargo hold. This is clearly much safer than risking a pet becoming distressed and causing a nuisance.

Even though all pets or other small animals are now carried in the cargo hold some caring airlines will permit a passenger to watch the pet being transferred to and from the aeroplane. However it is vitally important that, booking your flight you seek further advice about it from the airline.

Other Important Considerations To Keep In Mind

1. The Container For Your Pet

It is most incredibly important that you choose a pet box of the correct type, weight and size for the animal that will be residing in it for the duration of the flight. There should always be sufficient extra space for the pet to be able to move about easilyall of the time. The longer the duration of the flight the greater the amount of surplus room needed.

2. Safety And Security Measures And Pet Air Travel

At all times your pet box should be easily identified by the airline workers to avoid loss, which is always possible with any air travel. All pet carriers should be labeled clearly with both the destination and a return address and full contact details. Furthermore it is advised strongly that you include the details of another person in case of emergencies when you can not be contacted. As well as applying labels on the outside also think about including some to the interior.  Furthermore go to some length to ensure that your pet has a close fitting collar with an identification tag or similar. The risk of loss is least during non-stop flights.

If it is affordable it also worthwhile considering having your pet fitted with an electronic tag which is inserted beneath the skin by a vetinary surgeon. As soon as you know when and the location you will be flying to make an appointment with the vet (or at least telephone) as he will be able to give important advice on what the requirements are when traveling to another area or country. Your pet may require inoculations and there may be other precautions or restrictions to consider.

Prior planning is always the wisest approach and the very fact that you are reading this article is a wise decision. By making sure you take in the pet air travel tips and hints in this article and by looking for further information online and from your vet, you can ensure that you pet flies securely and safely with the least amount of disturbance.

Inverness, known as the capital of the Highlands, was ceremoniously granted city status in the year 2001 and at this time is the the only city to be found in the region. Strangely Inverness has no statutory boundaries which causes problems for folk estimating population. The calculations are made less accurate because the population of the city is increasing at a dramatic rate, Inverness has the highest growth rate in the UK. One thing we know for certain is that the population of Inverness is fairly happy, in 2008 the Telegraph ranked the city of Inverness fifth out of 189 cities in the UK for its quality of life. Therefore, I think we can safely say that Inverness is a beautiful place in which to spend time and this is most probably one of the factors which make Inverness immensely popular with tourists. Luckily there is plenty of bed & breakfast accommodations in Inverness with the majority of it being available to book online.

Inverness is also referred to as being the gateway to the Highlands for the clear fact that it is best placed to make the most of the Highland public transport system and a large number of tourist attractions are relatively easy to get to. Possibly the best way to get to them is by using an organized bus tour or day trip. A small number of coach companies visiting places such as, Culloden, Urquart Castle or Loch Ness or for the adventurous tourist it is possible to visit Orkney or John O’Groats on a day trip. You can also go on a small selection of city tours, such as the Terror Tour.

A small number of visitors choose to stay in two locations in the Highlands for example Inverness then Fort William. Fort William is incredibly popular with people who enjoy sports especially ramblers, hill walkers and rock climbers who take their chances climbing Ben Nevis which is only a short distance from the town. In a similar way to Inverness Fort William bed and breakfast and rather like other bed and breakfast in Scotland it is always inexpensive, very good value for money and very comfortable, tidy and clean with world famous hospitality.

One important fact you should remember is that the nearest airport to Inverness is, about, seven miles away at Dalcross. It is easy to catch a bus or hail a cab to the small and busy airport which is fairly cheap. If you need a map of Inverness then you will find them free at the tourist office, which is on Castle Wynd. While you are staying in Inverness you should make a point to visit the ‘stone of tubs’ and Mercat Cross, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and Inverness Castle especially the Castle Garrison Encounter, an interactive experience which is great fun.

Sources close to the incoming president Barrack Obama have disclosed that he intends to play down Britain’s importance. It has been said that he considers the UK as ‘one of the crowd’ of countries with which America has a special relationship.

The tight links, formed between Britain and America under George W.Bush, are set to be weakened as Obama strives to establish and develop closer relations with a wider range of countries. Britain needs to be prepared for change as the new president establishes relations with world leaders previously shunned or ignored by president bush.

It is anticipated that president Obama’s first overseas visit is likely to be to a Muslim country as he embarks upon bridge-building with countries in Asia and the Middle east. In Europe it is anticipated that he will focus upon building stronger ties with France and Germany.

The UK prime minister, Gordon Brown, has said that the Barrack Obama presidency is expected to further strengthen the special relationship that has been built between the UK and the US. He has said that he thinks Obama “shares the values of liberty, democracy and fairness” and that “the special relationship will be one so strong, no power on earth can ever drive us apart.”

It’s looking unlikely that Obama will visit the UK before the G20 economic summit in April. It is expected that his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, will visit the UK before that time when she embarks on an international tour intended to re-build relationships with nations previously damaged by the Bush administration.

One major issue continues to be the widely criticised Guantanamo Bay detention camp. It is anticipated that Obama will respond to criticism and close this facility soon after taking office.

While there is some pessimism about the future of the special relationship between the UK and the US many are optimistic. President Obama is known to be far more open to hearing conflicting views than George W.Bush ever was and many people are optimistic that this will spell a future for open and frank debate.

For parking at London City Airport it is recommended that you compare airport parking charges and book online with Gosimply.com.

This article was written by Chris Laskett of Boston MA.

We’ve just returned from a family holiday to the United Kingdom, our third in the last few years and I thought that I’d mention a few of the amazing uk hotels that we stayed in during our travels. There is so much to see and do in the wonderful cities of the British Isles, each of them offers history and tradition going back centuries. Add in the other advantage that they converse in a language not unlike our own and that an art gallery or museum can be enjoyed whatever the weather and we have the ingredients of a truly awesome holiday. We’re certain that you will enjoy visiting the British Isles, but would always advise US citizens to check with the U.S. Department of State Advice to Travelers website before undertaking international travel.

Edinburgh, Scotland

You can be assured of a warm welcome in the historic city of Edinburgh. This friendly east coast city consists of the Old Town which includes the Royal Mile and the New Town, with the two halves separated by the line of Princes Street. Edinburgh University dates back to 1582 and its colleges, galleries and museums are scattered around the city. There are many exhibits open to the visitor, check their web site for opening times.

During the Summer Edinburgh opens its doors to thousands of tourists to its festivals. The Edinburgh International Festival runs for four weeks and features music, theatre, opera and dance. Running beside it is the famous “Fringe”, which typically offers over 25,000 performances in over 250 different venues all over the city. With over 1,800 widely varying shows to choose from (with a very high percentage of world premieres) including theatre, comedy, ballet, shows for the children and many musical concerts there is something for everyone. Edinburgh is also host to the Literary Festival, the Blues & Jazz Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival that run throughout the summer season.

Because we were only in Edinburgh for a couple of days we were determined to push the boat out and stay in one of Scotland’s most celebrated hotels, The Scotsman on North Bridge. This amazing old hotel can be found right in the middle of many of the city’s greatest buildings and venues such as The Royal Mile, Holyrood House, Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish National Gallery are all within easy walking distance. As I said earlier we had decided to spoil ourselves with a stay at this world famous hotel and everything that we could have expected became reality.

Birmingham, England

One of the main attractions of our recent visit to Britain was a planned visit to the Crufts Dog Show which takes place at the National Exhibition Center Arena in Birmingham. Spread over 4 days, it’s the most famous dog show in the world. Last Year 143,000 visitors admired over 25,000 dogs from 26 countries taking part. Another great attraction at the show is the section labelled “Discover Dogs” where examples from 190 different breeds of dog are there with their owners, giving visitors an opportunity to question the owners and find the breed that will be right for them. Because we were only going to the dog show, rather than going into the city of Birmingham we decided to stay at a hotel near to the NEC, Birmingham. On this occasion we weren’t looking for one of the world’s top hotels, but rather a place to get a good night’s sleep after an exhausting day walking around that vast complex admiring dogs of all shapes and sizes. We booked into the Crowne Plaza NEC which is situated within the grounds of the National Exhibition Centre. The hotel was precisely as expected, clean, bright and totally unexciting. There was nothing to complain about and we’d happily use it again when visiting concerts or exhibitions at the NEC.

London, England

Our final venue on our holiday was London. If you’ve never been there you honestly do need to comprehend the sheer size of the place. It has spread outwards over the years and it’s essential that you decide precisely what you want to see during your trip else you’ll be spending all of your time traveling on underground trains and buses and let me tell you, that’s not something to look forward to. Our plan for this final few days of our trip was to get in some retail therapy i.e. shopping. With this in mind we decided to stay in London’s Knightsbridge district with its huge numbers of chic, world renowned stores such as Harrods. We stayed in the Sheraton Park Tower in ultra-stylish Knightsbridge. The Sheraton Park Tower is one of London’s most famous hotels, famed for its “One-O-One” restaurant, London’s best fish restaurant.  The Sheraton Park Tower features tremendous views over the London skyline with many rooms overlooking Hyde Park Nearby attractions apart from the shopping include Hyde Park and many of the city’s world renowned landmarks and museums.