Category: Gifts

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Extra Day in Tel Aviv? Here is a suggestion which will take you from your hotel room through parks, museums, historical sites and cultural centers. In the evening you will enjoy resting at one of Tel Aviv’s cafes.

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Enjoy starting the day with a relaxing breakfast by the sea, at the newly restored Tel-Aviv Port, which is now celebrating its 70th year. It is located at the meeting point between the Yarkon River and the sea- creating a beautiful view of the river flowing into the sea. In honor of the 70-year festivities, the city provides free, guided tours of the port and surrounding areas on Saturday mornings. For reservations call 03-681-6289.

After breakfast, you can take advantage of the cool morning weather at the Yarkon Park. Reminiscent of a miniature version of New York’s Central Park, you will find vast stretches of green lawns and gardens, an artificial lake with rental boats, bicycle paths, and an amphitheater for shows and concerts. Children can enjoy a train ride around the park and the playgrounds, featuring large wooden climbing frames. The park also features the Zapari Bird Park and the Meimadion Water Park.
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Once you have finished in the park, you can escape the late morning and afternoon heat in one of the many museums or galleries in Tel-Aviv. We particularly recommend the Jewish Diaspora Museum.
The Jewish Diaspora Museum, (Beith Hatefusoth, the Nahum Goldmann Museum of the Jewish Diaspora) is situated on the University of Tel- Aviv campus. The museum was designed to relate the story and history of the Jewish people throughout the last 2,500 years, from their expulsion from Israel until the present. The museum thematically relates Jewish history in the Diaspora by examining different aspects of Jewish life, such as culture, family life, community life, the return to Zion, and many others. One of the highlights of the museum is a huge database of more than 2,100,000 genealogies of Jewish families from all over the world. Visitors can conduct a search for their family name, and can also register their own family trees.
The museum is located at Klausner Street, Gate 2, Ramat Aviv. Tel: (03) 646-2020
If you happen to be in Tel-Aviv on a Tuesday or Friday, you should head over to the Nachalat Binyamin area after the museum. It is situated at Nachalat Binyamin St. and the corner of Allenby Rd. Both Nachalat Binyamin and the Shuk HaKarmel will give you a glimpse of the color and flavor of Tel-Aviv. The Shuk is a large open market with lots of fresh produce and bargains, and the vendors have the loud, slightly outrageous character that one only finds in Israel.

Nachalat Binyamin is the textile center of Tel-Aviv, which hosts an artisan’s fair twice a week. The street is packed with artists and vendors, selling handicrafts, jewelry, artwork and Judaica. There are street performers, musicians, fortune-tellers and portrait artists. You can catch a light bite to eat at one of the caf?s, and will certainly enjoy the vibrant, jubilant atmosphere of the fair.

The market is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 17:00.

You should then continue on to the Neve Tzedek area, which was the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside of Jaffa, at the beginning of 1887. This area of Tel-Aviv is lovely and quiet, featuring narrow, winding roads and unique architecture that has been beautifully restored. Over the years, Neve Tzedek has traditionally been the home of many famous artists and writers, including the Hebrew Nobel Literature prizewinning author, Shai Agnon, who resided in the neighborhood from 1909 to 1912.

There are a number of interesting art galleries in the area, including The Rokach House, located at 26 Simon Rokach St., the Nachum Gutman Museum, found at 21 Rokach St., and the Chlouche Gallery , located at 32 Shlush St . On Shabazi St. and the surrounding area there are many beautiful shops and boutiques, and if you have worked up an appetite from all of the legwork, there are plenty of excellent caf?s to choose from.

A nice way to end your tour of Neve Tzedek is to visit the Suzanne Dellal Center for Dance and Theatre, located at 6 Yehieli St. It is one of Tel Aviv’s most prominent theatrical and cultural centers, and is the home of the famous Bat-Sheva dance group. The center is surrounded by lovely gardens and features a beautiful piazza. You can call them beforehand (Tel: 03-510-5656) to find out the schedule of events, which is comprised of a wide range of performances and festivals, featuring many different styles of dance and music, suitable for children and adults.

If you don’t find an evening performance at the Suzanne Dellal center that appeals to you, you can head over to the Tayelet (promenade) along the beach, which comes to life after sunset. The Tayelet is packed with restaurants, bars and caf?s, each with a different personality and feel. You can find live dancing and music at the London Caf?, Jazz at Metzada, and live rock music and beer in the late hours at Mike’s Place. There are lots of restaurants to choose from as well.

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Sleepy Suffolk may not be a destination that comes to mind when you think about a week away, but you will be amazed to find out just how much there is to see and do. Its full of history and stunning scenery. Here are just a few things you should check out if you are planning a trip to this much over looked county

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Sleepy Suffolk may not be a destination that comes to mind when you think about a week away, but you will be amazed to find out just how much there is to see and do. Its full of history and stunning scenery. Here are just a few things you should check out if you are planning a trip to this much over looked county

Suffolk is nestled in East Anglia and neighbours Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
Suffolk is a place which offers up stunning rural countryside. It envelopes many quaint villages and has been an inspiration for no less than 2 famous painters,
John Constable and Thomas Gainsbourough.

The town of Newmarket is famous as the home of Horse (Flat) Racing.

If it is the sea that interests you Aldburgh, Southwold or Dunwich are the perfect English seaside locations to take in the natural beauty.

Quaint villages in Suffolk include:-

Lavenham, which attracts many visitors every year who are drawn by the display of half-timbered medieval cottages. Once described as “the most complete medieval town in Britain”, Lavenham shares a magnificent collection of medieval and Tudor architecture. Lavenhams older buildings are gathered around the market place. The National Trust owns the Guildhall which now displays a permanent local history exhibition.

Long Melford. Here you will find a host of antique shops excellent places to eat as well as historic buildings which include Long Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall.

Long Melford Hall has changed very little since 1578. It has managed to retain its original panelled banqueting hall which is where Queen Elizabeth I was often entertained. A small display of items connected with Beatrix Potter remind us that she was related to the family, The Hyde Parkers (former residents)

Kentwell Hall was built in the early 16th century by the Clopton family. It is surrounded by a moat which is very befitting of this stunning Tudor Manor. The exterior of Kentwell has changed little over the years, however this cannot be said of the interior though, as much has been done to renovate and refurbish it.

Kentwell Hall often has Tudor days and one can dress in the costumes of the time and truly experience life as it was all those years ago.

Framlingham is a twelfth century castle which consists of a continuous curtain-like wall that joins thirteen enormous towers.

Next we have Bury St Edmunds which has close associations with The Magna Carta and is also known as the cathedral town of Suffolk. Bury St Edmunds is steeped in history and offers up amazing architecture and a museum to share its secrets to anyone who is interested.

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk and of course home to its football club at Portman Road.

You cannot visit Suffolk without finding out about the great artists that it has produced in times gone by. Thomas Gainsborough’s house is now a museum, the only artist’s birthplace open to the public in the whole of Britain, which was established in 1961. Here visitors are able to see a large collection of the artist paintings.

John Constable, is arguably the greatest and most original of all British landscape artists. He is most famous for is his views of Flatford and the Stour Valley in Suffolk, Hampstead Heath and Salisbury Cathedral.

Flatford and the Bridge Cottage complex are both run by the National Trust and you can see the Constable exhibition here.

Halesworth was originally a roman settlement and is set in a lovely area. It hosts the yearly “gig in the park” in August.

The beautiful Orford Coastal village offers bird watching, a chance to go boating, a host of historic buildings and for the more energetic, sporting activities too.

Woodbridge also offer some pleasant surprises for the interested visitor such as Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon Ship Burial, Shire Hall stands in the middle of Market Hill, and has been the focal point of the town for over 400 years.

Last but by no means least, Snape now better known for Snape Maltings is no longer used commercially. It was converted into a tourist centre together with a concert hall that now hosts a major part of the annual Aldeburgh Festival.

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Don’t wait until Thanksgiving Day or Christmas to thank those that you love and those that have helped you.

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Do you wait until Thanksgiving Day or Christmas to thank those that you love and those that have helped you? It is important to spend time during these special holidays to be thankful. However, it shouldn’t be the only time you demonstrate your love and appreciation to others.

There are some great reasons to thank people throughout the year and not just during the holiday season.

1. Your appreciation may have more of an impact when it is done at an unexpected time. Giving thanks during the holidays can be somewhat expected. Surprise someone by showing your gratitude when it is least expected and it will be remembered for a long time.
2. It can be done immediately after an event you are most thankful for. That is when it will encourage others the most.
3. Your notes and thoughtful comments won’t get diluted by those from others trying to catch up for the past year on their thanks.
4. You can give more time and personalized attention when showing your gratitude. You will not have to do something for a large list of people in a short period of time.

You should have no problem thinking of ones to thank on a daily or weekly basis. If you need some ideas, here are some to get you thinking:

1. Family and friends that have done something for you (including being your friend)
2. The person that delivers your mail and newspaper
3. Teachers, teacher aides, and school staff
4. Church staff, teachers, and helpers
5. Business co-workers and clients
6. Community workers (including police, fire fighters, and government workers)
7. Medical professionals looking after your family’s health

What are some ways to thank those that have made a difference in your life? Try one of these ways or be creative with your own heartfelt method:

1. Send a handwritten note or letter that expresses your thankfulness.
2. Tell the person face-to-face how grateful you are for them being in your life.
3. Provide a simple gift to the person. Don’t give an extravagant gift or you run the risk of minimizing the actions of the other person.
4. Help the other person in a way that benefits him or her.

Giving thanks doesn’t just benefit the other person. You will receive benefits from doing it as well. You will begin to feel happier and more relaxed. In fact, it has been proven in studies that being grateful can have a positive effect on your health. It can reduce your stress and boost your immune system.

Why wouldn’t you look for every opportunity to show your thankfulness to others? Don’t wait for a holiday before you look for opportunities to show your gratitude. Give thanks on a regular basis throughout the year.

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You think Santa Claus and decorated trees when you think Christmas, right? The Jolly One probably comes first as the number one symbol of the holiday, but there’s no mistaking that Christmas trees are nearly just as important when it comes to celebrating the holiday right.

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You think Santa Claus and decorated trees when you think Christmas, right? The Jolly One probably comes first as the number one symbol of the holiday, but there’s no mistaking that Christmas trees are nearly just as important when it comes to celebrating the holiday right.

Santa Claus and Christmas trees are so intertwined, so connected, in how we celebrate, it makes one think that Santa maybe even invented the Christmas tree. After all, it’s Santa who places everyone’s presents underneath the tree. Maybe back in the old days, before trees, he used to place presents under children’s beds and in the bathtub. And maybe eventually he got tired of it, and instead invented Christmas trees as a convenient and fun place for him to leave presents. Makes sense, right?

Maybe, but Santa had little to do with the real reason that Christmas trees came about. Sorry to disappoint you folks, but it was actually German Christians who started the Christmas tree celebration, way back in the 1500s. And as for decorating these trees, the story goes that one of the top Christians of them all, Martin Luther, started decorating his family’s tree in the 1500s with lit candles. He got the idea one night walking home under the stars.

Then the idea really caught on in the mid-1800s, when the Queen of England and her children started decorating a tree for Christmas. Sketches of the royal family with their decorations got put in all the major newspapers, and soon every good Englishman was starting a new family tradition: decorating their house and home with colorful decorations and freshly smelling, beautifully green evergreen trees.

In America, however, we were a little bit slow, not just with decorating Christmas trees but with celebrating Santa Claus and anything else ‘extra’ in their Christmas festivities. That’s because up until the very end of the 1800s, Americans saw Christmas as a very religious holiday. There was no room for chubby men in red suits, or bright decorations and candles, and even a Christmas tree. All Americans did back then was go to church service. Period.

But then the Queen of England enjoyed her Christmas tree. And many immigrants to the United States, especially the German ones, celebrated December 25 with trees, lights, and holiday cheer. Eventually, the fun caught on. In true American fashion, though, Americans not only took on the tradition of Christmas trees and decorations, they improved on it. Every thing had to be bigger, better, and more festive!

For example, at the turn of the 20th century, Europeans tended to like their trees manageable, at only about the height of your typical sixth grader. But when Americans started catching on to the tree tradition, they decided they liked their trees big, so big that they touched the ceiling of their homes.

Then Americans took it one step further with the invention of electricity in homes. Trees were braided with strings of multicolored lights. Homes were covered with decorations of every color, blinking lights, and Santa Claus statues with his sleigh of reindeer. Even towns and cities started setting up Santa Claus displays around Town Hall, as well as Christmas trees that reached to the sky.

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St. Patrick’s Day is known as a day of celebration and festivities, especially in Ireland, but very few people know the true story of St. Patrick and who he really is.

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St. Patrick’s Day is known as a day of celebration and festivities, but very few people know the true story of St. Patrick and who he really is. By tradition, he is a patron saint of the Catholic religion because of the captivity that he went through, the time of solitude and his great faith, and eventually the number of people that were converted to know God through him. It is legend that he heard angels and they helped him in his decisions. All in all, he is known as the patron saint of good luck and blessings to the Catholics in that era up until the 21st century.

St. Patrick was a real live person born in the time around 400 AD in Roman Britian, when the British Isles were still under the domain of the Romans. He was born with the name Maewyn. His name wasn’t changed until he was in the monastery. His father was a soldier in the army, and Patrick also reports him to be a deacon, civil official, and a town councilor, who was a son of a Romano-British priest. The family was Christian, but they weren’t extremely religious, some historians even say Patrick was agnostic in his childhood.

According to his most famous work, the Confessio, Patrick was captured along with many others when his village was attacked, and he was taken to Ireland as a slave. Patrick was under the authority of a druid high priest and his family and here he learned the native Celtic language which he later used to communicate, and help those to be converted.

After 8 years in captivity, he escaped at the age of twenty-two, and legend has it that an angel directed him to spend twelve years in a monastery near Paris, France, where he adopted the name Patrick. It was during this time of captivity that Patrick found God and developed the habit of praying throughout the day to strengthen himself and to be closer to God. It is recorded in the Confessio that he would often pray up to 100 times a day. One night, while in the monastery, he said he heard many voices that were calling him back to Ireland to help the remaining slaves. At this time he was somewhere in his mid thirties and so he answered the callings. He became one of the first Christian missionaries in Ireland.

He was confident in the Lord, and he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming with untiring zeal. Indeed, Patrick was successful at converting Ireland to christianity . And he even made important converts even among the royal families. For 20 years he had travelled throughout Ireland, establishing monasteries, schools and churches, which would aid him in his conversions. He died on March 17th.

You can see how originally this was a Catholic holy day, but today St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday. Or, rather, ‘be Irish Day ‘. Speculation as to why this holiday is so popular could be the coming of spring that occurs within just a few days.

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The history of Christmas and in particular the reasons for the giving of gifts are not known for certain, but several things are known for a fact. The traditions of Santa Claus and giving presents at Christmas time began long before the birth of Jesus Christ, although it really depends on where in the world you live as to how you believe the whole tradition started.

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The history of Christmas and in particular the reasons for the giving of gifts are not known for certain, but several things are known for a fact. The traditions of Santa Claus and giving presents at Christmas time began long before the birth of Jesus Christ, although it really depends on where in the world you live as to how you believe the whole tradition started.

The giving of presents at Christmas time actually dates back over 4000 years to the Mesopotamians. They believed that every year in winter their primary god Marduk would do battle with the evil spirits of chaos. Upon Marduk’s return it was necessary for the king to then pledge his allegiance to the God and he would die at the end of the year. The Mesopotamians obviously cottoned on to the fact that they were going through kings quicker than they could produce them, so they would dress a convict up as the king and treat him as though he were a king for one day. At the end of the new year festival they would kill him.

On this day they would present gifts to one another to mark the beginning of the new year and the success that Marduk had yet again bestowed on them. This is where the giving of Christmas gifts began.

St Nicholas is believed to have been born around 300 A.D and lived in what is now Turkey. He was a widely revered and loved monk due to his overwhelming kindness. His most famous act of kindness was to save three sisters from slavery by providing them with a dowry in order that they could be married.

As such a popular character he soon became the patron saint of many different groups of people, eventually resting on children and sailors. Traditionally St. Nicholas day was celebrated and remembered on December 6th, although his role as patron saint of children has seen his special day moved to coincide with Christmas.

So one thing that is certain is that Santa Claus visits us on the wrong day every single year. Celebration of Saint Nicholas should in fact be on December 6th, although the moving of St. Nicholas day to the 25th was presumably done to combine his special day with the Christian festival. If the large superstores and toy manufacturers were given the choice I’m quite sure they would rather celebrate them separately, so be warned for next year.

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Traditionally, the December holiday season is the most important part of the year for many businesses, especially those in retail. But so far, predictions aren’t that rosy for this year’s profits. High gas prices, high cost of living, and low consumer confidence are expected to put a damper on the holiday shopping plans for many.

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Traditionally, the December holiday season is the most important part of the year for many businesses, especially those in retail. But so far, predictions aren’t that rosy for this year’s profits. High gas prices, high cost of living, and low consumer confidence are expected to put a damper on the holiday shopping plans for many.

But that’s not entirely true for everyone. You can expect online shopping to be bigger than ever. Why? Let me outline a few reasons why online retail sites like Amazon, to small home-based operations will be raking in the cash in the weeks ahead.

1. Very few are going to blow off the holidays, even if funds are low. And most people will buy cheaper gifts rather than cross some loved ones off their shopping list. When people don’t have a lot of disposable cash, they look for low prices. Suddenly bargain hunting becomes the order of the day.

Expect masses of North Americans to flock to online retail sites in ever greater numbers. The super-low overhead of online retail allows sites to offer wide selection at the lowest prices on Earth. After a decade of Internet shopping, millions of people are now fully aware of this truth. Expect a very large percentage of them to purchase some or all of their gifts online.

2. Gas is still high and may go even higher in the weeks ahead. This means wading through clogged streets filled with holiday shoppers is something most of our pocket books just don’t want to go through. High gas prices also mean paying for online purchases to be shipped to you is no longer an imposition. Many will be thinking “The 3 bucks for shipping is a lot less than the $20 I’ll spend driving all over town to the malls.”

3. People are working harder than ever. The demands of one, two, even three jobs while taking care of family is leaving millions of Americans will zero free time. This means they need to sandwich holiday shopping into their lunch break or even during a slow period at work. Yes, expect these folks to also do their shopping online in unprecedented numbers.

The bottom line is clear: if you’re a consumer, give yourself a needed break and do your holiday gift buying online. If you’re an online retailer, get ready for a holiday buying season you may not soon forget.

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A few reasons why Turkey is a great place to visit for a vacation.

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Why Turkey? That’s often the initial response from someone when they hear that you are going to Turkey on Holiday.

It’s a huge country littered with interesting artefacts and populated by some of the friendliest people on earth. Flowers seem to burst from every crevice, the sun shines endlessly, transport systems are efficient Scenery ranges from dull to mind-boggling, beaches are fair, prices are low and shopping is excellent, especially leatherware in Istanbul. Driving is suprisingly safe, apart from mad Istanbul taxi drivers and night driving.

Knocking at Europe’s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach.

Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans. In Turkey, you can also cruise along more than 1000km (620 miles) of Mediterranean coastline, past secluded coves, rocky headlands and pretty fishing villages, or explore a hinterland rich in the wonderfully preserved remains of Graeco-Roman cities such as Ephesus.

Turkey Villas are abundent all along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and many are luxurious, spacious and with pricate pools. The combination of a rental care and a beautiful Turkey Villas makes for a great Turkey Holiday.

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When we celebrate a day, we consider something special about that day. Or we would not be celebrating it.

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When we celebrate a day, we consider something special about that day. Or we would not be celebrating it. Am I correct? What message do we send by celebrating Womens Day? Why not also celebrate Mens Day?

What do we want to think about women? Ideally, they should be treated equally in all the fields. Ideally when one thinks of a woman, one should not think about them different in any respect to men. Except that they mother a child and shoulder different responsibility for a certain period, women should be thought of as equal to men in all respects. Why label them as weaker sex or any such thing. But this is happening. Who is responsible for this thought process, where women are considered different? Men? Women? Historical processes? Who? Let us examine more.

Does media discuss the matter, if a man reaches top of a giant corporation? No. But it does, if a woman occupies that position. Why? Is it only because women have traditionally not occupied such positions or that they are in some way considered inferior to men? So it is a surprise if a woman reaches the top of a giant organization? Why cannot the media ignore such occurrences and not call them as news at all? Does media announce – the sun rose today! No. It is taken as a way of life and nature. Why cannot the media take this fact as granted that women are equal to men in all the aspects and stop discussing any issues that talk of sex difference and ability?

Does Womens Day not do the same thing? Does it now somehow manage to project women as different then men in many ways? Going forward in the discussion, should we have different events for men and women in sports? With such categorization are we ourselves not treating men and women separately?

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In 1897 one little girl from Manhattan, at the urging of her father, took it upon herself to ask the New York Sun Newspaper once and for all if the man in the red suit was the real deal.

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He is a figure known the world over, an endorsement for gift giving, the winter holiday season and cookie eating. At times he is called Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas or Kris Kringle and is arguably the most famous heavyset celebrity – well at least to precede Elvis Presley. Yes, he is the loveable, enduring and jolly old chap we call Santa Claus. In 1897 one little girl from Manhattan, at the urging of her father, took it upon herself to ask the New York Sun Newspaper once and for all if the man in the red suit was the real deal.

Countless numbers of letters are written to newspapers all around the world each year, and few if any, will ever see a moment of fame beyond the readership of their respective dailies. However, over a hundred years ago a simple letter comprised of only the words, “I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so”. Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?” would go on to become one of the most enduring symbols of North America’s take on Christmas.

One day in September 1897 (historians speculate that the question arose not in December as one might expect, but in September, because this would have been shortly after the new school year had commenced and children would have already been turning their attention to Christmas) young Virginia O’Hanlon approached her father, Dr. Philip O’Hanlon (who worked for a coroner’s office), with the sort of innocence only the very young are able to possess. She likely asked in a small but inquisitive voice if the rumours of her school chums were correct, was Santa Claus fake? Now not knowing for sure how tense the air got in the room at that moment when Mr O’Hanlon’s only child asked him to debunk or concur with the tale of St. Nick, we can only assume that he did not have the heart to break the truth to her himself. And so the letter (and its reply) that would go to become almost as much a symbol of the Christmas season as Santa himself was born.

Off Virginia went to write a letter at her father’s suggestion, which she mailed herself, to the New York Sun newspaper where its answer was assigned to an ex-civil war correspondent turned newspaper editorial writer by the name of Francis Pharcellus Church. Story has it that Mr Church was not exactly jumping for joy at the assignment, but he took the child’s letter back to his desk and proceeded to write one of the most stirring tributes to Christmas that has ever graced the pages of any newspaper.

Perhaps it was the atrocities of war he had witnessed firsthand, perhaps it was his own desire to believe in Father Christmas, or perhaps it was exactly what he would have said had anyone asked him if Santa was real, but that day Francis Church wrote an earnest, dramatic and nearly poetic response to Miss O’Hanlon’s query. In no short terms he assured her that indeed Santa Claus, or at the very least the unshakable spirit and message of Saint Nicholas’s image were as real as anything else on earth.

Though at the time it ran in the New York Sun it was but the seventh editorial on its page, this candid, lively and touching response would go on to find its way into the hearts and Christmases of millions of people, spanning many generations since the 1890’s.
In fact both the letter and its answer are reprinted in oodles of newspapers around the globe every year, a modern tribute and testimony to Virginia’s, Francis Church’s and Santa Claus’s contribution to the timeless beauty, wonder and magic of Christmas.