Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Apr 19

Paraguay is not on the major tourists trail of South America. This might be ascribed to various factors. The fact remains: it is a very interesting country with a lot of things to see and do. If you plan to visit Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay a visit to Paraguay will not cost much extra and be be surprisingly enjoyable.

A large number of people’s first and only encounter with Paraguay is the city of Ciudad de Este. This is because they visit the Iguazu falls between Brazil and Paraguay and then visit the city on a quick day trip.

If you are a professional shopper, you will like Ciudad de Este. This loud and exuberant city is for all practical purposes one large shopping center. There are hundreds of shops, both wholesale and retail. Should you be a trader from one of the surrounding countries who is trying to find a fine jewelry wholesale distributor, you will find several in one of the large malls near the border.

You can also buy musical instruments of all colors and credentials. If you are looking for a cheap electronic keyboard from China, you will certainly find it. And if you want to buy a state of the art epiphone electric guitar there’s more than one shop offering this as well. Check prices for these items in your home country and on the Internet before going to Ciudad de Este, so that you will know when you are seeing a bargain.

For the family man, there’s a little bit of everything. You can buy lovely semi-precious jewelry for the wife at reasonable prices. For the children you will no doubt find something in one of the numerous stores selling toys and sports good. And for the baby, what about a brand new baby bath, maybe one of the new spa types where you can bathe your baby in the upright position?

Ciudad del Este is of course situated on the border with Brazil, so while you are there it’s easy to visit the Itaipu dam. This huge mass of water is the largest hydroelectric scheme in the world. Once you have paid for your tickets, you will first watch a very interesting movie about the history of the dam and how it was constructed.

For those brave enough: there is now a guided tour that goes right into the wall of the dam. It’s an awesome sight to stand next to one of the massive turbines (there are 20 of them) that each generates sufficient electricity to supply a city of 2 million people. If you are lucky enough they will open the sluices when you are there – in that case prepare for an amazing experience which includes getting wet!

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Feb 7

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Shopping for the holidays has come to be regarded by many as such a chore, rather than as an enjoyable giving experience. Keeping up with lists of present ideas for friends, family, and co-workers, as well as remembering where to get these presents, is what often makes the process so complicated. Idea Mapping is an alternative to traditional lists for managing holiday shopping that can make this process much simpler. With an Idea Map, you can make use of inherent visual associations to remember every present on their list, from the knit scarf for Mom, to the Waffle Maker for Carmen. Thus, Idea Mapping offers a creative and efficient way to manage and organize the entire holiday shopping process.

What is Idea Mapping?

Ideal Mapping is a means of organizing information using an Idea Map, which is a “colorful, single-page visual that captures [a person’s] thinking in key words and images.” Idea Mapping is widely believed to be a more effective means of conceptualizing information than traditional outlining, because it uses a spatial, rather than linear, approach to help define the information. When using an Idea Map, both hemispheres of the brain are engaged, allowing the brain to process information in a manner consistent with its natural functioning. The result is the ability to “plan, organize, communicate, remember, innovate, and learn” information quickly and efficiently.

Constructing a Holiday Shopping Idea Map

A shopper wants to get through her shopping list as quickly and efficiently as possible without forgetting anyone or anything on the list. She decides to use an Idea Map to organize the lists, and begins constructing the map by representing the main purpose of the map, her holiday shopping, in the center of the map. Next, she divides her map into the main categories of people she will shopping for, and attaches these categories to the central image via “branches”. She then proceeds to list each of the people she intends to shop for on “child branches”. Attached to these “child branches”, on “twigs”, are the presents she plans to buy each person and the stores where she plans to buy them. She completes her map by adding visuals and color associations, such as color-coding the stores, in order to make the map more visually stimulating and easy to recall. The example Map diagram illustrates what her Idea Map would look like when finished.

Idea Maps and Managing Holiday Shopping

As the attached example shows, the shopper was able to organize everything she needed to remember when shopping for presents in a clear, non-linear format. This snapshot document contains the equivalent of what might have been several pages of hard to read information, allowing her to quickly and efficiently access and conceptualize her shopping needs. In addition, the colors and visual associations, such as the colors associated with each store, give the shopper several points of reference, simplifying the process even further. With Idea Mapping, the shopper has, now turned her holiday shopping from a chore into a fun and enjoyable experience.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Nov 14

Are you wondering what to buy in Spain? If so, here are some souvenirs which will truly help you remember the great time you had while on holidays in Spain.

1. Spanish saffron – Grown in the plains of La Mancha, Spanish saffron is considered the world’s best saffron, and is therefore, sought after by all gourmet chefs. Even if you aren’t one, it’s still a good idea to bring home a bottle or two as a souvenir of your holidays in Spain. They’ll certainly make your spice rack the envy of everyone, too.

2. Sherry – True, sherry may not be as popular as red or white wine but it is definitely a treasure of its own – a treasure you’ll want to bring home from the town of Jerez. Like the Spanish saffron, sherry can be a great addition to your kitchen, if not to your own wine cupboard, since it can be used as a cooking ingredient, too.

3. Ceramics – While touring Spain, you’ll notice that many shops sell ceramics. This is because the Spanish ceramics industry is famous worldwide. Therefore, make it a point to buy a few colorful ceramic plates when you go shopping in Spain. You can buy tiles, too, or small pots from Majorca.

4. Leather goods – Leather is another product Spain is famous for, so make sure you buy a fine pair of shoes, a belt or a purse made of superior Spanish leather as tokens of your holidays in Spain.

5. Lace – Handmade lace products, particularly those made in Catalonia, are another item which should be on your list while shopping in Spain. You can buy a lace tablecloth for your dining table or simply a lace handkerchief to place in your purse. If you know someone about to get married, you can buy an exquisite lace veil as a present, too.

6. Hand fans – Finally, don’t forget to pick up some authentic Spanish hand fans. Whether wooden or made of ivory, simple or embroidered, hand fans are beautiful souvenirs and great gifts for all your friends. Even if it’s cold where you live, you can always use your hand fan as a prop when you dance the flamenco or simply hang it on your wall.

Now that you know what to buy as souvenirs of your holidays in Spain, don’t forget to stop by the local shops before you go home. Better yet, visit the flea markets so you can haggle for lower prices. The El Rastro flea market in Madrid is an especially good choice. Just make sure to watch your pockets and count your change before you leave.

Isabella Olsen is a travel writer who has toured major destinations worldwide, including Spain, by car. Zencarhire.com offer car hire from many locations throughout Spain, including, Car Hire Valladolid Airport. To book a cheap car rental Spain, or learn more about car hire worldwide, visit www.zencarhire.com