By: Edward Penza

The Mediterranean island of Malta is one of the major tourist destinations for many West-European countries and is gaining popularity outside of Europe as well.

About Malta

Malta is a small island state, with a population of around 400,000. The country’s official languages are Maltese but also English, which is a language most Maltese speak as a result of a period of British rule that ended in 1964. The Maltese are known as friendly (but temperamental) people and are renowned for their hospitality. The vast majority of the Maltese are Catholic and the Church plays an important role in Maltese culture.

Being one of the latest additions to the European Union, Malta is quickly developing into a top tourist resort and is competing with other South-European destinations for a larger share of tourists who seek out a holiday in the Mediterranean. Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Maltese economy and the island nation depends heavily on this sector. While investments are made to promote Malta in the rest of Europe, no single advertising slogan can bring across the benefit Malta offers over other Mediterranean destinations.

Accommodation: Plenty of choice

So what benefits are we talking about here? For starters, the various types of accommodation offered in Malta are suitable for different budgets and holiday experiences. There’s an abundance of 3- and 4-star hotels that are ideal for family holidays, being of good quality at very reasonable package prices. For travellers who prefer to enjoy luxury there are several high-class hotels available in Malta, with global appeal, such as Malta’s Hilton hotel and the Radisson hotels in St. Julian’s and Golden Bay. Lastly, for adventure travellers there are plenty of lodgings available that are ideal for overnight stays and excellent for budget travel.

Accommodation tips: For family holidays, consider Karanne Aparthotel in St. Paul’s Bay – very decent hotel at reasonable package prices, also offering self-catering hotel rooms. For the more high-quality accommodation, the Radisson Golden Sands Hotel at Golden Bay is highly recommended. It’s one of the latest additions to Malta’s high quality hotels and overlooks one of the most idyllic bays the island has to offer.

Malta’s beaches

Malta offers plenty of sandy beaches, which are clean, family-friendly, easy to reach and each offer a unique ambiance. Forget long stretches of flat beach and dunes and enjoy the amazing views that most beaches in Malta offer. Most bays are surrounded by hillsides, sometimes even towering cliffs and the splendour of it all is just marvellous and a beautiful sight while floating around in the summer sun.

Beach tips: Ghadira (pronounce: Adeera) is the largest sandy beach in Malta and is situated in the Northern part of the island, nearby the town of Mellieha. This beach is shallow and makes it an ideal beach outing for the family. The best tip is probably to ask the locals about the more secluded beaches. These might be a little bit more difficult to reach, but are less popular amongst fellow tourists and therefore much quieter. Ask for directions and you will be rewarded with a chance to view some of the more exotic beaches around.

A unique destination

Finally, one benefit that is unique to Malta is the fact that nowhere in the world there is such a high concentration of historical and culturally significant places of interest. Fascinating sites can be found lying literally minutes away from each other, and they all offer unique experiences and impressions of days gone by. Malta is soaked in history and shows many traces of the various cultures that were introduced to the Maltese by the various rulers that Malta has seen over the ages.

Sight-seeing tips: To start off with, a visit to the capital city of Valletta will offer you plenty of sight-seeing fun. As you enter through the city gates, Republic street stretches out in front of you and its side-streets are pathways to several historical sites and buildings. Look for: The Malta Experience, the Upper Barrakka and Fort St. Elmo. Another must-see is Mdina, the former capital city, which is surrounded by bastions and which has a unique ambiance that is hard to forget. Stepping into Mdina is almost like going back into time and recent renovations have given the village back its splendour and offers an experience not to be missed, and not just for those who are particularly interested in cultural trips. Finally, the site of the Neolithic temples at Hagar Qim is another interesting place to visit. The Hagar Qim temples are the oldest free-standing structures in the world and you’ll get a unique view of how the early inhabitants of Malta lived, what their culture was like and how religion was an important part of their life.

For more information about Malta, visit the Malta travel guide. Find out more about Malta, Maltese people, Maltese culture and various places of interest. The site also offers a selection of articles that give you a great impression of what Malta has to offer.

About the Author

Edward Penza is the owner of http://www.guidetomalta.net and has written several highly rated articles about Malta and the Maltese.

(ArticlesBase SC #181561)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Malta: the Mediterranean’s Best Kept Secret

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Weather Forecast: Week Monday 15th to Sunday 21st March 2010

This is a much better week with isolated rain showers possibly heavy and windy at times, over the central Mediterranean, Italy, the Balkans, Greece and Turkey from Monday to Wednesday with the eastern Mediterranean and northern Egypt being similarly affected on Thursday.

On the other hand, the western Mediterranean is expected to be mainly dry for most of the week. However, on Friday a system of bad weather moves in from the Atlantic and affects Spain with heavy rain showers possibly thundery at times. This bad weather then extends to the rest of the western Mediterranean and Italy over the weekend.

Temperatures are also expected to be warmer this week especially over the western Mediterranean with maximum temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius over southern Spain over the weekend.

More detailed weather information can be found on www.mediterraneanweather.com

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By: Hal Lewis

If you want to escape the everyday hassles of life but can't afford to go on a Mediterranean vacation, you could fix up your backyard with a Mediterranean garden to help you relax the night or weekend away!

Mediterranean gardens are very popular right now in some of the warmer parts of the United States and they are easy to have built by a professional garden company or to build yourself. It depends on your budgetary restrictions and what your taste is and how much time and effort you are willing to put into making your backyard a Mediterranean paradise.

The Mediterranean influences come from Italy, France, Spain and several other coastal places where the climate is dry and hot enough for various plant life. California is another Mediterranean area in which people have large Mediterranean gardens packed with olives, lavender, citrus and many other plants and flowers found through out the Mediterranean regions.

And the Mediterranean gardens are not only about the plants, although they play a major part in the design, it's also about the structure of the space. If you have an archway made of brick leading into the garden, this would be a wonderful place to have growing vines and flowers that are native to the Mediterranean area. There are fountains and pathways, walkways, statues and trees all covered with Mediterranean vegetation and rich, thick plant life and flowers. The smell of citrus and olives in addition to the wonderful fragrant flowers make the garden inviting to everyone, perfect for entertaining or just relaxing after a long, hard day.

If you have a pool or a pond or even a fountain, you can build up against it because the Mediterranean flowers and vegetation grows wild near the water for its dry climate needs water to survive. Building up a wall around the pool or pond then planting beautiful flowers that hang down over the mismatched brick wall will bring out the Mediterranean feel for the area in your garden. Building an archway will remind people of the olden places of Italy or Spain in which there are arched walkways every few feet.

If you can not hire a professional garden company to make your Mediterranean garden, then you can look through books at the library or countless sites on the Internet that will give you clean, step by step instructions on how to build a Mediterranean garden by yourself. And you will get exactly what you want in your garden. You will need some patience and a lot of hard work, but it can be done.

If you do hire a garden specialist, make sure you check out their references to be sure their former customers are happy ones. Then ask to see a 'floor plan' before they begin their work. You want to know what it will look like before they begin digging and building. Make sure they understand the difference between a Mediterranean garden and a regular flower garden or vegetable garden because you want what you pay for and you want to get what you want.

About the Author

Check out Rogers Gardens for a nice variety of Mediterranean Garden and Organic Garden accessories.

(ArticlesBase SC #408364)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Mediterranean Gardens - The Latest In Garden Escapes For Your Backyard

By: Mr.Andrew Caxton

When trying to create a Mediterranean style in the home, the right furniture is absolutely essential. Try and purchase Spanish or Moroccan furniture and that will help to give the best Mediterranean look possible.

If you are looking for Mediterranean style furniture then you mainly need to be looking at Spanish or Moroccan furniture. Originally the style is from Greece, Italy and Spain as well as some other countries situated in the North of the Mediterranean. However it is the Spanish and the Moroccan styles which do tend to be the most popular in Mediterranean style decorating.

One of the great things about Mediterranean style decorating is that it does not have to match. In fact part of the character of Mediterranean style decorating is that things should contrast each other on occasion. Also furniture can be slightly odd looking with some legs shorter than others and distressed wood being particularly common too. There is something to suit everyone too no matter whether you are looking to make just a few small changes or whether you want to redesign your whole home, it can all be done fairly easily. Various metals are used also to create a slight Mediterranean look and feel to the room and usually the metal is fairly thick and really sturdy.

What to Look For in Mediterranean Furniture

You will find that the Mediterranean theme includes lots of warm colors. Coors such as Lavender, deep blues and terracotta are really popular. The inspiration is taken from the warm climate and the natural setting of the Mediterranean and the furniture should also reflect this too. Generally Mediterranean furniture is covered with either leather or cloth and that makes it easy to blend it in with the rest of the room.

The main thing to look for when choosing Mediterranean style furniture is a couple of larger pieces such as a table and chairs. A nice area rug will also go really well in any room and even the smallest of rooms will benefit from one. Once you have the larger items, it is then that you can start adding smaller accessories too.

The accessories which you use can really help to complete the look and o it is important to choose the right ones for your home. Even if you want to achieve a fairly simplistic look which highlights the Mediterranean history, you will still need a few accessories to achieve the desired look you are after. Some accessories you can choose from include lamps, burnished bronzed urns, trinket boxes, wrought iron accessories and pottery.

All Mediterranean furniture is made from real wood, metal and leather so never opt for the fake option whenever possible if you want to achieve the right look for your home. The furniture is created using old techniques and that really helps to add to its character. Due to the fact that the furniture is handmade, each piece tends to be unique. So by purchasing traditional Mediterranean style furniture, you are ensuring that you are keeping your home unique and traditional at the same time. The furniture will also last for years because it is of a really high quality.

Overall Mediterranean furniture is definitely worth purchasing when you are trying to create a Mediterranean theme for your home. It lasts for years and it is hand made so the quality is unbeatable too.

About the Author

Andrew Caxton publishes articles for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . A website with tips on mediterranean style decorating, amongst many related topics.

(ArticlesBase SC #165653)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Mediterranean Style Decorating

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By: Rumble Romagnoli

For many people, the idea of Mediterranean boat charter represents the ultimate in dream holiday experiences.

However, given the fact that Mediterranean yacht rental is generally associated with extremely high-costs, most people believe that they will never be in the financial position to pursue their interest.

While it is true that areas such as the Cote d’Azur remain exclusive to all but the rich and famous, there are still many parts of the Mediterranean where charters for sailing boats remain affordable to those on more restricted budgets.

Three ways of Chartering Mediterranean Yachts

The first thing to realise when looking for good value is that there are in fact three different methods of securing yacht charter in the Mediterranean.

Fully Crewed Yachts

The first method is to charter a private yacht with a full crew. These boats tend to be larger and more luxurious than most hire boats, and prices tend to include all meals and occasionally drinks too. Unsurprisingly, this is the most expensive option for yacht charters in the Mediterranean, and even if you attempt to share costs by travelling with another family, you will still find this to be an expensive choice of holiday.

As an example a typical cost of hiring a crewed catamaran in the Mediterranean with 4 cabins and a capacity for 8 guests, is 18,600 euros per week during the high season and 15,500 euros per week during the low season.

Mediterranean Bareboat Yachting

The second method is to charter a bareboat for your Mediterranean cruise. This is undoubtedly the cheapest option as you do not have to pay for a crew, only the hire-cost of the boat itself. However, in order to qualify to hire a bareboat you have to prove that you have the relevant experience level for the area where you intend to sail.

Fortunately there are many Mediterranean destinations with a Level 1 rating, and you can qualify for this with as little as 5 days, or 100 miles, skippering experience.

As an example a typical cost for hiring a Mediterranean charter bareboat with 3 cabins and a capacity for 8 guests, is 2,400 euros per week during the high season and 1,800 euros per week during the low season.

Mediterranean Skippered Bareboat Yachting

If you are interested in Mediterranean sailboat charter but neither have the budget for a crew nor the experience to hire a bareboat, then the third option, hiring a skippered bareboat, may well be the right one for you. Although this option is clearly more expensive than hiring a crewless bareboat, it offers the advantage that under the tutelage of your skipper you can literally learn the ropes and gain the relevant experience that will allow you to charter a bareboat in the future. Should you wish, you can also upgrade your holiday experience by choosing to hire a host/hostess who will take care of cleaning duties.

Typical costs for hiring a skipper will begin at around 125 euros per day, while a hostess will cost a little over 100 euros per day. Although this seems to offer exceptional value, you should note that you will also have to factor in both their accommodation and living costs (i.e. food/drink) while aboard the boat. Generally, however, this remains a far more affordable option than hiring a fully crewed sailboat.

About the Author

Mediterranean Charters: Dolmen Yachts have a dedicated fleet of Mediterranean yachts available for yacht charters Mediterranean. Browse our prestigious super yachts for a luxury yacht charter in the Mediterranean.

(ArticlesBase SC #722067)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Luxury Yacht Charter in the Mediterranean - Chartering Sailboats

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Have you ever had to jump in the pool and get out faster because you just spotted a frog or even a snake enjoying a swim with you? Okay, that was just a worst-case scenario, but it could happen you know, especially if you don’t take proper care of your swimming pool. Pool negligence leads to the growth of algae and leaves floating around in the water. Unless you’re planning to breed an alligator in your pool, you have got to clean your pool before it is too late.

Although you might consider yourself lucky as owner of a pool in the first place, but when it comes to cleaning it, you may want to bang your head against a wall. The clean-up process could be very tedious. Hence, this task should never be taken lightly. One thing you should remember is that the frequency of using the pool has no relation to the pool maintenance. That’s simply because many natural factors contribute towards contaminating the pool, other than humans.

The first thing that you need to know is how to check the quality of the water; it is known as the pH level of the water. Testing the pool in the evening is highly recommended. Adding chlorine or bromine to the water sterilizes the water with immediate results. The next test should be done preferably in the morning before the pool is used by anyone for swimming. This way it will help you determine the cleanliness of the water and it assures you that the water is safe to be used for the day. A 7 - 7.5 is an ideal pH reading that you should get in order to ensure that the quality of the pool water is safe.

Chemicals like chlorine and bromine are known to kill any bacteria and algae present in the water. Using the skimmer basket is probably one of the best ways to keep your pool clean and fresh. It helps you remove leaves and even other floating matter from your pool effectively. Shock treatments help you get rid of the matter, specifically the chemical compounds that are formed by chlorine and other matter that helps to break them down and keep your pool sanitized. Apart from the weekly shock treatments, you should also add algaecide in the water in order to prevent the growth of algae, which has the reputation of staining the walls of your swimming pool. Adding metal out and clarifiers helps you to get rid of any foreign matter in the pool that may have escaped the earlier cleaning processes. Along with the above mentioned tips, it is also important to clean the walls of the pool by regularly brushing them as well as vacuuming the pool.

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In a nutshell, skin cancer is a very general term that is used to describe any malignant tumors on the skin itself.

Why is this general? Well, if you think about it, the skin isn’t just made up of one type of cell. Instead, it is a mix of many different types of cells, all with specific tasks and functions, working together to form what we know as ‘the skin’.

So, malignant cells could be of many different types.

Normally though, skin cancer is found in the epidermis, which is basically the top-most layer of the skin itself. Within the epidermis, there are three main types of cells, namely:

1. Squamous cells – the flat, scaly cells of the epidermis
2. Basal cells – their rounded counterparts, and
3. Melanocytes – the ‘color’ cells of the epidermis.

No surprise then that the three most common types of skin cancer are:

1. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
2. Basal Cell Carcinoma
3. Melanoma

Each type of cancer is linked to the corresponding cells that we just mentioned. Simple enough, right?

Now, you may not know this, but skin cancer is really very common. At least, it is the most common type of diagnosed cancer. Yes, that means that it is even more common than things like breast cancer or lung cancer.

So why aren’t people talking about it as much?

Well, that’s mostly because it isn’t nearly as fatal as those kinds of ‘internal’ cancers. Or rather, fewer people end up actually dying from it.

For the most part this is due to a number of reasons, but the fact that it is actually out there on the skin, and thus, easy to spot, definitely plays a role. When caught early, the chances of successfully dealing with cancer of any kind are greatly increased, and skin cancer is no different.

But as things stand, skin cancer cases are growing at a very alarming rate throughout the world. While there is a lot of speculation as to why this is so, there isn’t much by the way of general consensus.

As you’ll soon see, each of the common types of skin cancer vary in terms of how threatening they are, and how they manifest themselves. Each is unique, in its own way, but still, there is a lot of connection between them, especially in terms of the causes organs. That being said, when caught early before it gets the chance to spread, treatment is definitely possible.

But if left to its own devices, it will develop into a large mass and cause a lot of havoc.

Hi, we've had to make a few changes, but we should be back up and running properly soon.