Citius, Altius, Fortius, the Olympic motto (faster, higher, stronger) is on again after four years. The Athens 2004 Olympic Games start today! For all the information, visit the official website here .

Citius, Altius, Fortius (Mas lejos, mas alto, mas fuerte),el eslogan de los Juegos Olimpicos se activa hoy de nuevo despues de cuatro anios. Los Juegos Olimpicos de Atenas 2004 empiezan hoy! Para mas informacion, visitad la pagina web oficial aqui .

The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy and Windy
20C
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Wind: From the West Southwest at 30 mph
Dew Point: 16C
Humidity: 74%
Visibility: 10 miles
Barometer: 1,006.1 mb

We will probably visit the JFK Space Centre in Florida, too. So here it is the website : Kennedy Space Center , where you can take the usual tour or, if feeling like having that 'extra bit', you can fork out $225 and train as an astronaut for a day. Or maybe you feel like having lunch with an astronaut. Or maybe see a real launch...there so much to see!
What's a little worrying is all this surfing for info for our holidays in Florida in December (and we don't have the flights yet!) ..while we have not done any research at all for our September holiday in Italy (and we have bought fligths and car rental)! I am just wondering if we should just go somewhere else, as we are not showing any interest at all in Rome?


Probablemente visitaremos el JFK Space Centre en Florida. Asi que anoto la pagina web : Kennedy Space Center , donde puedes reservar el tour clasico o, si te ha tocado la loteria y te sientes con animos, puedes pagar $225 y participar en un dia de entrenamiento para astronautas. O almorzar con un astronauta, o bien ver un lanzamiento en vivo y en directo...hay tanto que ver!
Por otro lado, empieza a preocuparme esto de buscar informacion sobre Florida para las vacaciones de Diciembre, cuando ni siquiera hemos comprado los vuelos...y en cambio, tenemos vuelos y coche de alquiler para Italia en Septiembre, y ni me he preocupado en reservar hotel en Roma ni buscar informacion sobre museos y lugares de interes. Poco interes tengo en Roma, pues...


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 2 Low
Wind: From the South Southwest at 17 mph
Dew Point: 15C
Humidity: 77%
Visibility: 10 miles
Barometer: 1,001.0 mb

I note here a couple of useful websites in case we succumb to the Disney lure and decide to visit Walt Disney World in our trip to Florida in December.
All Ears.Net and Mousesavers.com . Both provide detailed information on the WDW theme parks with tips and tricks to make the most of your visit to the magic lands of uncle Walt...


Anoto aqui un par de paginas web de utilidad si, finalmente, sucumbimos al encanto de Disney y decidimos visitar Walt Disney World cuando viajemos a Florida en Diciembre.
All Ears.Net y Mousesavers.com (ambas en ingles). Estas dos paginas web dan informacion detallada sobre los parques tematicos WDW con trucos y consejos para sacarle todo el jugo a tu visita al mundo magico del tio Walt...


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 2 Low
Wind: From the East Southeast at 8 mph
Dew Point: 15C
Humidity: 77%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,007.5 mb

A useful website : Tourism Offices Worlwide Directory . It's always a good idea to visit the Tourism Office when you arrive to your holiday destination. You will get maps, brochures and directions for free, there. I especially like the little hotel coupon/discount booklets found in US Tourism Offices, you can also find them on the internet, for instance : Room Saver . However, we'd rather visit the Tourism Office, as there you get the whole brochure and there is no hasle printing coupon by coupon. There is a monthly different brochure for each state, listing most of the hotels/motels which offer discounts for rooms in walk-in basis, without previous booking but not only that, there are accurate directions to each motel, so if you have some cash to spend, you will never find yourself without accommodation. Even in the most remote area there is always a motel in the US. Even if the Tourism Office is closed, there will be boxes outside stocking these brochures. So there is no excuse! let the good times roll and drive on!


Una pagina web bien util : Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory (en ingles, Directorio Internacional de Oficinas de Turismo). Siempre es una buena idea visitar la Oficina de Turismo al llegar a la zona donde vas a pasar las vacaciones. En la mayoria te proporcionaran mapas, informacion y catalogos gratis. Me gustan especialmente los catalogos de descuentos y ofertas para moteles/hoteles que se encuentran en las Oficinas de Turismo de los USA, que tambien se pueden encontrar por internet, como: Room Saver . Sin embargo, esto de imprimir los cupones da un poco de pereza. La visita a la Oficina de Turismo me los da todos en el catalogo! Hay un catalogo diferente para cada estado y se publican mensualmente, con una lista de alojamientos que ofrecen descuentos cuando te presentas en recepcion directamente, sin reserva previa. Y no solo eso, sino que hay indicaciones precisas sobre como llegar al hotel/motel, asi que si tienes algun dinerillo, nunca te encontraras sin alojamiento en los USA. Hay moteles en todas partes. Y si la Oficina de Turismo esta cerrada, no hay problema. Los catalogos de descuentos se encuentran en cajas de plastico en el exterior. Asi que no hay excusa : a pillar el volante y a hacer kilometros, que hay mucho que ver!


The weather today:
Partly Cloudy
22C
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Wind: From the West at 15 mph
Dew Point: 16C
Humidity: 68%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,007.8 mb

Being a gardener is not that simple. Take the pests, for instance. Months ago, I killed all the snails and slugs in our garden. By picking them by hand and sending them to a long, very long trip abroad, all expenses paid. Or by using slug pellets when the situation got out of hand (all snails wanted a free trip abroad!). Then I saw red spider mites. SD said they were only vulgar little spiders. I am sure they were red spider mites, which is far far worse, as they damage the plants. Anyway, I didn't have to do anything in this case. Suddenly our garden got full of ladybirds. They did the job for me. I love ladybirds. Unfortunately, they are not big enough to solve the new problem : caterpillars. There are fat, hairy and black caterpillars eating our primroses. The biological control here would be to wait for birds to eat them, but birds in our area do not seem very interested in caterpillars. I've read about Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacteria which targets caterpillars, but I cannot find any supplier in the UK. I'll go for the classical bug killer spray, then. I am not going to touch those furry caterpillars, aaaarrghh! Being a gardener is NOT that easy! I'd better not start writing about the weeds. It could take me a couple of weeks of frustrated posts...


Esto de tener un jardin no es nada sencillo. Parasitos e insectos son un ejemplo. Hace meses, mate todos los caracoles y babosas de nuestro jardin. Recogiendolos uno a uno y enviandolos a un largo, pero que muy largo viaje al extranjero, con todos los gastos pagados. Cuando la situacion se descontrolo (todos querian viajar gratis), use la alternativa quimica, pastillitas azules de veneno. Mas adelante vi que habia acaros rojos. SD dijo que nooo, que eran vulgares aranias. Narices! Eran acaros rojos y danian las plantas. Antes de que me diera tiempo a ir a comprar un insecticida, aparecio una colonia de mariquitas que me soluciono el problema. Se zamparon todos los acaros en un santiamen. Adoro las mariquitas! Y ahora han llegado las orugas. Que seran mariposas en un futuro, pero mientras tanto, se estan cargando mis plantas y son gordas, peludas y feas. Los pajaros tendrian que comerselas, pero parece que los pajaros de nuestra ciudad tienen paladares mas delicados. He leido sobre una alternativa natural, la bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, que mata orugas. Sin embargo, no esta a la venta en el Reino Unido. Asi que no me queda otro remedio que irme al garden center y comprar el tipico insecticida para orugas. Porque a mi no me vais a ver recogiendo orugas peludas, eso seguro, ajjjjj, que ascooo! Lo dicho. Esto de tener un jardin no es pan comido, precisamente. Y porque no he empezado a hablar de las malas hierbas, que si lo hago, me teneis aqui durante una semana, despotricando sin cesar!


The weather today:
Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 1 Low
Wind: From the Southwest at 7 mph
Dew Point: 17C
Humidity: 84%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,005.8 mb

I think if there is something that makes our inner child terribly sad is seeing an old abandoned and closed theme park. I would not cry if my old school were to be demolished (oh no! on the contrary, I would cheer and arrange for a display of fireworks!) but seeing one of this old-fashioned theme parks, paint peeling on the rides, pavement cracking and weeds growing on it, empty of children and about to close, makes me feel very very sad. So with mixed feelings I have enjoyed this website: Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions . Because I feel curious to know about those lost pre-Disney theme parks (attraction parks, we used to call them!) and although I never rode in those rides or saw the alligators when I was a child, I still feel a bit of sadness when reading of their sad endings.

Creo que si hay algo que entristece a ese ninio que todos escondemos dentro es ver un parque de atracciones cerrado y abandonado. No lloraria en absoluto si mi antiguo colegio fuera demolido (que vaaa! por el contrario, organizaria una fiesta con fuegos artificiales! todos/as invitados!) pero, en cambio, ver uno de esos parques de atracciones pasados de moda, con las atracciones de pintura pelada y deslucida, grietas en el pavimento de los caminitos y malas hierbas en las esquinas, vacio, sin ninios y sin gritos de alegria, a punto de cerrar... ah eso si que me encoge el corazon. Asi que con una mezcla extrania de sentimientos, he disfrutado de esta pagina web : Florida's Lost Tourist Attractions (las atracciones turisticas perdidas de Florida, en ingles). Porque, por una parte, sentia curiosidad por leer sobre esos parques tematicos (de atracciones, los llamabamos entonces) de la era pre-Disney. Y por otro lado, aunque nunca subi en ninguna de esas atracciones ni vi ningun alligator de Florida en mi niniez, aun asi siento una gran tristeza cuando leo sobre los tristes finales de estos parques de atracciones.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
19C
UV Index: 2 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 15 mph
Dew Point: 16C
Humidity: 81%
Visibility: Unlimited
Barometer: 1,014.6 mb

I would love to rent a house like the one above for a week in January. It is located in Alligator Point (the Forgotten Coast) in Florida. As the name of the coast indicates, it is mostly in the middle of nowhere and there are no tourist resorts, high-rise condominiums nor big shopping malls. Just beach, sea-shells and endless Gulf sea views from the windows. So if you thought Florida is only theme parks, resorts and tourists in shorts and sandals, and that was stopping you from visiting, try the Forgotten Coast. We may in January! I've been having a look at properties in that area (also called Panhandle) using this website : Gulf Coast Rentals .


Me encantaria alquilar una casa como la de la foto de arriba por una semana en Enero. Esta situada en Alligator Point (la Costa Olvidada) en Florida. Como el nombre indica, se encuentra alli donde Cristo perdio la sandalia. No hay resorts turisticos, ni enormes hoteles ni grandes centros comerciales. Eso si, hay playas interminables, caracoles de mar y conchas e imponentes vistas al Golfo desde las ventanas. Asi que si pensabais que Florida era tan solo una sucesion de parques de atracciones, resorts y turistas en pantalon corto y eso era, precisamente, lo que os ha hecho rechazar el visitar este estado, ahora ya no teneis excusa. Id a la Costa Olvidada. Quien sabe, quiza nosotros vayamos en Enero! He estado mirando casas en esta zona (tambien conocida como Panhandle) en esta pagina web : Gulf Coast Rentals .


The weather today:
Cloudy
23C
UV Index: 1 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 10 mph
Dew Point: 18C
Humidity: 71%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,010.5 mb

I've spent a couple of hours surfing the net looking for cheap car hire for our next trip to the US in December-January. I have now realised that up to two weeks the prices are more or less bearable but more than that, the car rental companies charge you A LOT! We booked flight+car with Expedia the last time we went to the US. The price was quite reasonable. I've tried Expedia again but I dont' get any availability for any US city at all! Now that is strange. Anyway, see below some prices I've been finding for a 19 day car rental in Dec-Jan...

Lastminute.com :
Economy car 2dr auto a/c.....419 GBP
Compact 2dr auto a/c.........476.87 GBP
Intermediate 2dr auto a/c....527 GBP
All prices fully inclusive unlimited mileage, third party insurance, cdw, theft waiver, surcharge, bail bonds and all local taxes.

All States Car Hire :
Compact 2dr.........414 GBP
Intermediate 2dr....462 GBP
Full Size 2dr.......504 GBP
Included in Silver package: Unlimited mileage, minimum state liability insurance, loss damage waiver, suppl.liability insurance, uninsured motorist protection, local taxes, airport fees and 1 extra driver free of charge.

Holyday Autos :
Economy 2dr auto a/c.......419 GBP
Compact 2dr auto a/c.......476.87 GBP
Intermediate 2dr auto a/c..527 GBP
All prices fully inclusive of unlimited mileage, loss damage waiver, suppl. liability insurance, handling fees, local taxes, airport fees and environmental taxes
You will get the same prices if you check at CarHire Express.co.uk, as it is also Holiday Autos.

Car Rentals:
Economy 2dr auto ac......419 GBP
Compact 2dr auto a/c.....476.87 GBP
Intermediate 2dr auto a/c...527 GBP
It includes the same as Holiday Autos. In fact, I have the suspicion it is Holiday Autos with another name, as they have exactly the SAME prices!

I have also checked Yes Car Hire which gives me a Compact 2dr car fro 419 GBP with the Silver inclusive package, which is not that bad. And Secure UK Car Rental which offers a Compact 2dr car for 567.10 GBP. I have also checked the major rental companies, but the prices are very very expensive. I won't bother writing them down here.

Conclusion! There is no real competition as you can see when you compare the prices quoted by the different companies. Some companies seem cheaper , like All States, but I think it is because, for them, an 'Economy' car is a 'Compact'. So you think you are getting a better car but you are not. It is just a question of changing the categories' names. So I keep looking for a cheap and wonderful car...


Me he pasado un par de horas surfeando la net buscando coche de alquiler barato para nuestro proximo viaje a los USA en Diciembre-Enero. Me he dado cuenta de que los precios son razonables si alquilas por un periodo de hasta 2 semanas. A la que se pasa de 2 semanas, los precios son exhorbitantes. La ultima vez que estuvimos en USA contratamos el vuelo y el coche de alquiler con Expedia y nos salio bastante barato. Esta vez, Expedia no me da opcion de alquilar coche a ninguna ciudad de USA. Que raro! Asi que he buscado otras empresas y ya veis los precios arriba, para 19 dias de alquiler de coche en Diciembre-Enero.

Ademas de los de arriba, tambien he buscado en Yes Car Hire que ofrece un Compact 2 puertas automatico por 419 GBP con la cobertura Silver, que no esta mal. Y Secure UK Car Rental , que ofrece el mismo tipo de coche por 567.10 GBP. No me he olvidado de buscar precio en las principales empresas de alquiler de coches, pero ni los menciono porque daban miedo.

En conclusion : No hay competicion autentica entre las empresas de alquiler de coches. Ya veis que los precios son muy muy parecidos. En algunos casos son exactamente los mismos precios! Y si aparece algo que parece un chollo, como All States, resulta que es porque el coche de categoria 'Economy' han decidido llamarlo 'Compact', asi que parece que te esten dando un coche superior pero es solo una cuestion de cambiar los nombres de las categorias. Asi que sigo buscando...



Partly Cloudy
27C
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Wind: From the South Southwest at 6 mph
Dew Point: 14C
Humidity: 45%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,010.8 mb

As I will be visiting my parents at the end of August and then will not see them in Xmas - we are planning to go to the US again -, I will have to give them my Xmas presents at the end of August. Fortunately enough, the sales have been on for a couple of weeks. Yes, I have been shopping for Xmas presents during the summer sales. Try it, it's fun!.


Ya que visitaremos a mis padres a finales de agosto y despues no les veremos en Navidades - queremos ir a los USA de nuevo -, tendre que darles mis regalos de Navidad a finales de agosto. Afortunadamente, hace dos semanas que tenemos las rebajas de verano. Si, he estado comprando regalos de Navidad en las rebajas de verano. Probadlo, es el mundo al reves!.


The weather today:
Haze
22C
UV Index: 2 Low
Wind: From the West Southwest at 14 mph
Dew Point: 18C
Humidity: 80%
Visibility: 2 miles
Barometer: 1,009.1 mb

Warning for the faint-hearted...you may find this is a cruel post!

We bought a live lobster this weekend. SD's instinctive method for boiling the lobster exactly matches what professional cooks recommend (plunge lobster head first in pot of boiling water and kill instantly to avoid burns from the trashing tail) in About.com. According to this website, "research indicates the lobster has no central nervous system or cerebral cortex to register stimuli, thus mostly likely can feel no pain". Other methods I have just learned from this website are "putting the lobster in the freezer an hour before cooking or (careful here...) plunge the tip of a sharp knife straigth down right behind the lobsters eyes. For those who do not wish to wrestle with a thrashing lobster to cut the spinal cord, place the lobster in a large pot in the sink. Begin filling with cold tap water and gradually increase the heat factor of the tap water until it is hot. This will desensitize the creature so you can cut the cord and put it into the pot or cut it in half for further cooking".

I am very much inclined for the method we used this weekend. Steam it. Head first to a pot with a couple of centimetres of boiling water and that's it. At least it's quick. However, I cannot really believe that lobster don't feel any pain because they don't have a central nervous system. I mean, really! if they were not to feel any pain, those would be Super-Lobsters, I just don't know how we would stop them if they were to decide to unite themselves and conquer the oceans. No. I think we are told lobsters don't feel pain so we don't feel guilty for plunging them into boiling water. Curiously enough, most of the people who do not have any remorse for killing clams, cockles or mussels, say they feel remorse when killing a lobster, as the lobster has a 'face'. And cockles don't, of course. Same people who don't have any remorse when eating a beef steak, as steaks don't have a 'face'!...there you are, how well put! But the best argument I heard for not eating lamb chops came like this : "When I see a lamb chop then I imagine a little white wooly lamb going baaah baaaah... and then I feel sooo sad and I cannot eat the lamb chop!" So I asked this girl what was the situation with fish. To my amazement, this girl answered she would not eat fish either. "But that's not because they are white and wooly and go baaah baaaah, is it?" I asked her. "Noooo!"- she said - "It's because when I see a fish it reminds me of Nemo and then I feel sooo saaad I cannot eat it!". No comment here.


Aviso para las 'almas sensibles'...podria ser que este post os pareciera cruel!
Este fin de semana compramos una langosta viva. El metodo empleado por SD para matarla y cocinarla fue exactamente el recomendado por los profesionales de la cocina. Es decir, sumergir la langosta de cabeza en una olla de agua hirviendo, para lograr una muerte instantanea y que los movimientos de la cola no nos salpiquen de agua hirviendo. Segun la pagina web About.com : "las investigaciones cientificas indican que la langosta no tiene sistema nervioso central o cortex cerebral que registre estimulos, por lo cual no siente dolor". Otros metodos que he leido en esta pagina son "colocar la langosta en el frigorifico durante una hora o (cuidado con esta, si sois facilmente impresionables)clavar la punta de un cuchillo afilado directamente detras de los ojos de la langosta. Para los que no deseen luchar con la langosta al realizar esta operacion, colocar la langosta en una olla grande debajo del grifo. Empezar a llenar la olla con agua fria y, gradualmente, abrir el grifo del agua caliente hasta que salga hirviendo. Este metodo desensitizara a la langosta de manera que podremos cortarle la espina dorsal y ponerla a hervir o bien cortarla por la mitada y continuar cocinando".

Yo, francamente, me inclino por el metodo que usamos este fin de semana. Al vapor. De cabeza a la olla con un par de centimetros de agua hirviendo y se acabo. Es rapido, al menos. Sin embargo, no me acabo de creer que las langostas no sientan dolor al no tener sistema nervioso central. Pues bien que estaria, serian super-langostas y no se que las detendria si decidieran unirse y conquistar los mares. No, mas bien me parece que se nos dice que no sienten dolor para que no tengamos remordimientos al matarlas. Curiosamente, la mayoria de gente que no siente ninguna pena al cocer almejas o mejillones siente pena al cocinar langosta. Porque, dicen, los mejillones no tienen 'cara' y las langostas si. Mientras tanto, no tienen ninguna pena en zamparse unos buenos bistecs de ternera, porque, claro, como el bistec no tiene 'cara'... lo que hay que oir. Pero lo mejor de lo mejor es el argumento que oi para no comer cordero. 'Es que cuando veo una costilla de cordero me imagino un corderito balando, con su lanita blanca, y me da taaaanta penaaa.." me dijo una chica. A la pregunta de si le pasaba lo mismo con el pescado, me dijo que tampoco comia pescado. "No sera porque balan y la lanita blanca, no? pregunte yo. "Nooo, que vaaaa"- dijo la chica - " es que me recuerdan a Nemo y me dan taaaanta penaaa!".... sin comentarios!.


The weather today:
Mostly Cloudy
28C
UV Index: 4 Moderate
Wind: From the East at 8 mph
Dew Point: 17C
Humidity: 51%
Visibility: 6 miles
Barometer: 1,013.9 mb