Virginia Beach Hotels | "FIVE LESSONS I LEARNED FROM THE VIRGINIA LIFESTYLE "

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Posted By : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


There is some truth to the saying that we Americans “Live to Work” and Europeans “Work to Live.” This became very evident during my family ‘s Spring break trip to Paris this year when we all noticed significant differences between how we live in the America and how the Parisians approach the joys of everyday living.

My family was fortunate enough to have my mother’s home in central Paris as a base during our nine-day visit. This granted us a local perspective as we went about our days in the City of Light.

The French are by no means perfect. However, their approach to life seems more focused, or shall I say, less cluttered, than the lives we live in the states. It became my mission during this trip to identify some of the variances in our lifestyle;
 from the way the Parisians dress to the manner they enjoy meals.

Joie de Vivre – The French strive to live a very passionate life. They have a keen focus on what’s important to them and they manage to turn even the smallest things – such as where to get the best cup of espresso – into an event. In conversation, they are more interested in your personal interests, such as the books you’re reading or your lifelong passions, rather than what you do and where you live. They find great gratification in the art of discovery in a big city.

Honor Thy Baguette and Cheese –Each morning, my wife and I walked to the end of the street where my mother’s street intersects with rue Montrogueil, the culinary heart of the 2nd arrondissment. Our first ritual is to grab our cups of café crème at one of the several cafes we love on the street. We would join the line at Boulangerie Les Petits Carreaux for two crispy baguettes and several pain au chocolat for the kids; then walk down the street to Le Fermette for our cheese and meat selections of the day. There were a couple of mornings when we ventured off to Bastille and Bellville markets for some fresh fruit to compliment our breakfast.

We’d set the table as soon as we get home and allow the aromas of the breads and cheeses to wake the kids up. Waking up to a warm baguette and an array of French cheeses is the one ritual my family value the most. It signified that we have arrived in Paris and that every morning will be celebrated at the dining table (and not in a car or on the go).

It’s Better To Look Your Best Daily – In America, we save our best attires for the most special of occasions. The French, on the other hand, savor on wearing their best for the “ordinary” days – whether it is to stroll along the banks of the Seine or take in the warmth of the sun on a bench in Place des Vosges in the Marais. It is all about quality over quantity.

I was having breakfast at Café du Centre with my hairdresser friend, Sin, when he pointed out that Parisian women “were packaged perfectly.” Sin added, “Their hairstyles (women) were done naturally without spending so much time on primping and styling. “ The Parisians were not as consumed about spending so much time “on getting ready” as Americans.

Converse During Meals – Meals are considered sacred in France; whether it’s in a Michelin star restaurant or dinner at home. It’s an event where each bite is to be relished, and more importantly, one’s time is to be focused on each other. Texting or talking on the phone during meals is considered rude and it was noticeably observed.

My wife and I made it a ritual to enjoy “happy hour” at one of the bars on rue Montorgueil before taking the family out to dinner. We observed that the younger workers, even during this post workday practice, did not divulge in technology distractions, and mainly focused on the conversation at hand.

Enjoying the Simple Pleasures – I couldn’t wait to spread creamy, salted French country butter on a baguette on my first morning in Paris. I can say that the French find true pleasure in simple things most of us take for granted. In Jardin du Luxembourg, Parisians took advantage of the spring weather to bathe in the warm sunshine during their lunch break. Elderly Parisians gathered on one end of the park for a game of boules. Lovers sneak a kiss beyond the shadows of the Medici Fountain. Parisians walk a lot, both out of necessity and the sheer enjoyment of discovering the best of everything – from macaroons at Luduree to the hot chocolate at Fauchon.

Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Celebrate A Beer Holiday Directly In The Virginia"

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Category :   Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Beach Hotel
Posted By : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Calling for all beer lovers! The last August weekend (31. August - 1. September) is definitely a date to highlight in your diary. For nearly two centuries the Plzen-residents (Pilsner) have celebrated their world famous beer with an annual festival and celebrated the Gambrinus and Pilsner Urquell beer during the two-day festival.

Celebrate a Beer Holiday

Last year almost 42.000 people visited the Pilsner Fest and drank more than 650 hectolitres of beer. The Pilsner Urquell brewery will be hosting the two-day festival with live music, competitions and giveaways for all attendants. The well-planned musical line-up will serve as the perfect soundtrack to your Pilsner Fest 2012! In the courtyard of the brewery there will be two stages with musical performances of famous musicians such as David Koller or Tatabojs. This is also your chance to experience special tours through the Pilsner Brewery Museum . The final of the event will be marked by a beautiful firework as the perfect accompaniment to the musical entertainment spectacle.

Come and enjoy a perfect weekend at the Pilsner Fest, listen to some great music and taste the world-famous Czech beer! Take advantage of your special package  and stay at the angelo Hotel Pilsen, which is situated just opposite the famous Pilsner Urquell brewery.

This entry was posted in Czech Republic, Travel Tips, Events, Cultur and tagged with Pilsen, Pilsner Urquell, Gambrinus, Beer, Beer Fest, Pilsner Fest, brewery .

Weather For Surfing | "Weather For Surfing In Virginia Beach"

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Category :  Weather For Surfing
By             :  Beach Hotel
Posted By : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Classic example of average East Coast pier surf, warts and all. More rights than lefts on both sides because the winter nor'easters provide a right breaking back towards the pier on the south side. Any W in the wind for offshore conditions plus the side/onshore protection offered by the pylons on the rare occasions you can surf near the pier.

Mad summer crowds compound restrictions like no surfing between 10am-5pm or within 300ft of a pier full of trigger-happy fisherman. Fight for a meter to park. Highly consistent in its averageness.

Weather For Surfing

Vacation In Beach Hotel | "The Beach: Health Benefits of Going To The Shore"

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Category :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
By             :  Beach Hotel
Posted By : Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

Vacation In Beach Hotel

We all love going to the beach and relaxing, but did you know that the beach provides countless health benefits too? Help acne, skin smoothness, dandruff, brain strength, and more simply by throwing on a swim suit and driving to the shore. Whether you’re looking at the salt water, the sand, the sun, the sea weed, or the sea food, going to the beach is practically like going to a spa, if you know what to do, that is. Also, what better way to enjoy the beach than with a delicious cool smoothie? If you want some delicious smoothie recipes, including Nutella Smoothie and Healthy Avocado Smoothie, click here.

The Salt Water

Many of us have been told that sea water is good for us. We have been told to “take our troubles to the water.” But what does the ocean really do for our health.

Well, let’s start off with the basics. All of us are made up of sea water. Our bodies are about two thirds water, and the only mineral that we can ingest is salt. All of us have elements of sea water within our systems, so how does swimming in the ocean help us?

First of all, sea water is a miracle treatment for acne and semi-permanent scars. Salt is an excellent curing, clearing, and cleansing agent. Why do you think we cure pork with salt? The sodium chloride helps to cleanse the skin and is often affective for mild acne. Instead of using harsh chemicals that can damage pores and cause scarring, try taking a trip to the waves instead.

Salt water heals cuts and sores. Have you ever been told to go into the ocean for your scrapes? Salt water has been used as a cleanser for thousands of years. It rids the skin of foreign toxins and cures the cuts. That’s why it is often recommended that we gargle with salt water. The salt also dries out any pus that is in wounds. It may sting when you first touch the water, but when you come out, it should be much less painful than before you went in.

Salt water also acts as a natural shampoo. Have you noticed that your hair is extremely dry after coming out of the water? This is because the salt in the ocean cleanses all the oils from your hair. If you have a particularly greasy scalp, then salt water is an excellent way to strip those unnecessary oils from your hair. Bathing in sea water also adds volume to your hair, especially if you use many products. The salt gets rid of the built up chemicals, whether it be conditioners, hair spray, gels, or etc, and thus your hair isn’t nearly as weighed down. The water even gets rid of dandruff because, especially when the salt particles are larger rather than smaller, it acts as an exfoliant to your scalp.

It clears your nasal passage ways. If you’ve ever gone into the water with a stuffed nose, you know that the second salt water enters your nose, tons of goop comes seeping out. Gross right? If you’ve ever had an overly stuffed nose, you may have had to get a little tea-pot shaped thing from your doctor. Doctors often prescribe mixing salt and water and then pouring it into one nostril, thus filtering out the built-up mucus from the other nostril. Why use a nose tea-pot when you can just go for a swim. Don’t worry, what ever falls into the water gets cleansed by the ocean’s natural janitors, the algae and sea plants.

Finally, swimming in sea water hels you stay fit. This is perhaps the most conventional of the benefits of the beach. When you are swimming, you use muscles in your shoulders, arms, and legs which aren’t used in any other activity. That’s why swimming is often recommended as a great way to exercise. Even treading water at a fast pace will burn 590 callories an hour if you weigh less than 130 lbs. If you weigh more, that it burns even more calories.

The Sand

Obviously, at the beach, sand is everywhere. We walk in it, we burry ourselves in it, we even play with it. But what do these little grains of rock contribute to our beach spa?

Perhaps most importantly, sand is a natural exfoliant. Have you ever noticed that after leaving the beach,the soles of your feet are really soft? This is because you’ve been walking around on sand all day! The finer the sand, the better the exfoliation. Although I do not recommend using sand on your face because it can be harsh, for your legs, feet, arms, or torso, the grains make for an extremely healthier alternative to the chemical-rich retail exfoliants. It is important to exfoliate your body because you are simultaneously stripping away dead skin cells, thereby making your skin soft to the touch, and also allowing your pores to breathe better, making it less likely for you to get break outs. It is recommended that you exfoliate twice a week, so now you have an excuse to head over to the beach!

Walking in sand also helps you stay fit. Do you ever notice that walking on the beach takes so much more effort than walking on the ground? This is because of the dunes in the sand and the inconsistent, and constantly changing location of the grains underneath your feet. You burn up to fifty percent more calories walking on sand, plus since your muscles are trying so hard to get traction, they get toned a lot faster. Now you know why those beach joggers are so fit.

Finally, have you ever buried yourself in sand? You might have thought this was just a fun thing to do, but it turns out that sand burial actually is good for you too. It increases your body’s overall resitance and also raises your circulation and metabolism. Your body works a lot harder with all that extra weight on it. This is similar to the effect of being bigger than other people. It’s pretty obvious to see that the more you weigh, the harder it is for you to do activities. This is why it is often easier for people who are especially thin to do exercise rather than someone who is of normal weight. By burying yourself in sand, you give your body the impression that you weigh that much more, and thus increase your heart rate, and consequently your metabolism.

The Sun and Heat

We all love to bathe in the sun’s warm rays, but this delicious relaxing activity can also help your body and mind.

It is a well known fact that human being should stay in the sun. Ideally, you should spend at least half an hour in full sun daily. Most people know that light from the sun stimulates the Vitamin D production in your body. But what does Vitamin D actually do? Well, in scientific terms, Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin, or a sterior hormone. Basically, it goes into the nucleus of cells in your body and either turns them on or off. Another example of a steroid hormone is testosterone. Vitamin D helps to reduce your risk of heart attacks, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, and depression while also boosting your immune system, reducing acne, and combating type Ii Diabetes. Perhaps most importantly in this day and age, Vitamin D helps to dramatically reduce your risk of cancer. Vitamin D levels are at an all time low in human beings, especially in America and other First World countries due to the growing dependency on cubicles and offices rather than agriculture. So go to the beach, slap on some sun screen and stay a while. Don’t forget to put on sunscreen of at least SPF 15, because this way you will still get Vitamin D and a tan while not getting skin cancer. For more tips about the summer and staying in the sun, check out this hub here.

It turns out that staying in the sun also makes you happier. People who don’t spend at least half an hour daily in the sun are nine times as likely to develop depression. So keep that smile going strong by staying in the sun at the beach.

The sun also makes you look great. This one is obvious, but I had to include it because it’s one of my main reasons for going to the beach. Sunlight stimulates the production of melanin in your skin, AKA, makes you tan and gorgeous. It also lightens hair, giving us natural and lustrous streaks. Don’t forget to use a shampoo that has SPF 15 because your hair can get damaged from strong sun, learn more about it here.

    Finally, the sun (and consequently the heat0 also makes you perspire which, as it turn out, raises your level of circulation and your metabolism. Sweating is very healthy, it helps your body rid itself of excess toxins while also helping it cool off. The stimulation of perspiration makes your heart rate increase and also increases our metabolism, so don’t be afraid to let out the sweat!

Seaweed and Sea Food

Seaweed is one of the most revolutionary and extraordinary natural health agents of all time. Especially according to recent studies conducted by Dr. Haengwoo Lee, a biochemist now living in Seattle Washington, the benefits of seaweed are staggering. Sea food, such as crabs, oysters, lobsters, and salmon, while being delicious also are wonderful for you brain and heart.

Seaweed contains an anti-oxidant which is up to 100 times more effective than the traditional antioxidants Vitamins C and E. This “super-antioxidant” has wondrous health benefits. Studies show that taking a seaweed supplement for only six weeks can: reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol while increase HDL (good) cholesterol, increase elasticity and openness of arteries, improve memory, boost circulation, enhance mental sharpness, and even help you sleep better. It would take me ten million years to explain and type out the bio and chemistry behind this, so if you would like to read it for yourself, click here.

Seafood, especially salmon, tuna, and catfish, contain Omega 3 fatty acids. Normally our bodies get bombarded by Omega 6 fatty acids, these fats are found usually in chips or other packaged products. However, over seventy percent of humans lack omega 3 fatty acids because they are so hard to find. Among the few foods that have omega 3s besides seafood are nuts and avocados. But fish and fish oil is undoubtedly the most plentiful supply of these healthy fats. Omega 3 not only regulates your triglycerides in the blood, but also reduces blood clotting, inflammation, risk of heart disease, risk of stroke, and is vital in the production of brain and eye tissue. So important in fact that it is often added to baby formula. I’m not telling you to go ahead and eat the fish you sea in the ocean because that would be highly disturbing and extremely repulsive, but around beaches, there are always seafood buffets and restaurants. So after your day of spa treatments at the beach, get some of the other benefits from the ocean while also filling up your belly. Same goes for the seaweed, go have some sushi!