My story: I had a challenge. I had to move to Mexico for my health and retire. Sure, I spoke English, a few words of French from high school, about 12 words of Spanish which might wind me up in fight or worse in a Mexxican jail, yeah - mostly curse words.I was in trouble and when I arrived in Mexico, I needed help.

Luckily, I met Reuben Varela, a well known Restauranteur at the Balneario Hot Springs in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico and Gerardo Tolentino, an English teacher who was teaching 1st year English.

Reuben pushed me to find ways of studying and practicing Spanish, and Gerardo help me create the Gringo Guide. I was the gringo — and I definitely had to have a guide to get me through the experience of living here in Mexico.

We searched the internet, and books on Spanish, and listened to conversations in the English speaking sections of restaurants in Ajijic and San Miguel de Allende where most of the gringos hang out.

We talked to them and asked them what they needed, and we listened to what they asked of the waiters, restaurant owners, etc. Later, then Gerardo accompanied me to doctors and we went to travel through Mexico.

By the time we were finished, so was the book and we had part of it recorded so that pronunciation would be no problem for anyone to learn. The book was finished and put up on our site, www.speedread.org

Now, everyone I know who visits Mexico, Spanish or anywhere else in Latin America - can speak like a expat that lives in Mexico. It’s that easy.

The electronic pdf will fit on pocket devices to help you communicate on the spot with electronic support. So, when someone says: Que quieres tomar?

So, when someone says: Que quieres tomar? You’ll immediately know the answer — una marguarita, por favor. Or, una coca, limonada, cerveza, or whatever you want!Fulfill all your needs to communicate in Spanish for Spain, Mexico or Latin America?

The book comes with a full guide, by sections to learn, use, and get answers to all your questions. It’s guaranteed to make your vacation — fantastic.

Vacationing in Mexico, South America, Spain, learn the Spanish you need to enjoy your trip like you were born there. Gringo Guide for Speaking SpanishPocket on digital guide with mp3 to learn sounds.

Betting on sports ‘futures’ is an enjoyable and potentially profitable way to wager, but there are several potential risks that can lead to losses. Here’s a rundown of things to avoid:

Don’t bet at the first place you look: In other words, shop around for the best price. This is essential to all aspects of sports betting, but especially important with futures wagers. You’ll find more disparity between prices from book to book on futures than any other betting proposition. From a theoretical standpoint, a little work can yield much better value. From a practical standpoint, that means a higher payout should you win. The reason for this is that individual sportsbooks’ aren’t as worried about what the other guys are doing as they are with most other bets. Once the futures “market” is set books move the lines almost exclusively on their own financial position. The market simply doesn’t respond as quickly to futures wagers as it does to individual game lines so it is essential to do the extra work to get the best price on your proposition.

Don’t try to pick the winner in a competitive marketplace: This may sound sort of counter intuitive since the general idea of betting on futures is to determine the actual winner but it’s really not. Like everything else, its essential to always be mindful of the value you’re getting. In a futures market with several legitimate contenders at the top the price offered is seldom high enough to properly compensate for the risk you’re assuming. Here’s an example: in a hypothetical NCAA hoops tournament Duke is +200 to win the national championship. They’ve certainly got a shot, but at a payback of only 2/1 its hard to justify a wager at this point with the potential for so many interceding events that can make a championship more problematic. Such events as injuries, a tough tournament draw or even just going into a slump at the wrong time can happen to any team but when you bet a higher priced team–a ‘dark horse mid major at 15/1 for example–you’re getting “compensation” for assuming the “risks” of betting on a proposition with so many unknown variables.

In mathematical terms, we’re simply not being offered odds on a favorite that offer a good value in comparison with the ‘true odds’ of the event occurring. Let’s say we bet Duke at +200 to win the NCAA tournament. If we could magically play the NCAA tournament over 100 times, would Duke come out on top more than 33 times? If not, they’re a poor value at the price. At a higher price, I might be interested but at +200 the value is simply not there.

Note that the more competitive the market, the more difficult it is to find good value on a favorite. In a smaller field, or in a field with one dominant competitor it can be easier. For example, say the UFC were to have a tournament involving heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and three male figure skaters. Even if Lesnar was slightly injured, or not at the top of his game he’d essentially have a 100% chance of beating the smaller, effeminate men who are untrained to fight. If a book installed Lesnar as a -1000 favorite in this spot, it could still be considered a good value. It’s never easy to risk a lot to win a little, but from strictly a mathematical standpoint it makes sense.

Don’t try to make a huge profit with little risk: Sports betting provides few opportunities to make a ‘big killing’. It may happen occasionally, but even the big payouts when it occurs doesn’t make chasing big longshots a good value. If you’re serious about sports betting it is crucial to maintain your focus on the underlying numbers and look for value at all times. If you want to take a longshot at a huge jackpot, play the lottery but don’t try to do it at a sportsbook.

On a more theoretical level, a big price alone is no way to justify a wager. The concept of value works the same at the bottom of the barrel as it does at the top: make sure the price you’re getting on an underdog accurately reflects their “true odds” of winning.

Don’t bet one sided props: Sometimes sports books will offer silly bets just to get publicity or in some cases just to be funny. While there may be life on other planets, the ‘true odds’ of a Martian being named to President Obama’s cabinet wouldn’t justify a +5000 line that it would occur.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Southern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

Flying commercially is not too bad if you can be flexible on times and travel dates, but when you are trying to fit in flight plans between business meetings it will become clear that the business traveler is merely at the mercy of the commercial airlines and their schedules which are subject to change at a moments notice, most commonly due to a flight that is not worth their effort to make simply because they have under booked it, hoping to get some last minute travelers to fill it up.

Sometimes flying for your business, or sending your employees on a business trip is an unavoidable situation. This is why may business owners have begun to rely on private jet charters, for all their air travel needs. Business utilize these charter planes just as much as they utilize limos for all their on ground travel needs.

With a private jet charter you are able to depart form a location that is convenient to you and at a time that fits into your schedule. The staff for your jet charter no only accommodate your travel time needs, but they also make sure you have all that you need while you are in flight, as well as provide transportation for you to and from the aircraft.

Traveling with a private jet charter allows to to feel like a real professional. It is a first class experience that you will soon not forget. When traveling with a private jet charter you will feel more like a star and less like part of a cattle herd.

Flights that are geared toward your own personal business schedule and the in flight service is geared completely towards your needs. It is the best way to fly for business or pleasure, because these tailor made trips are not only convenient, but they also wind up cutting a lot of time off your travel day. It is a wise expense for anyone in the business world, where time is money and money is time.

A jet charter will provide you with the opportunity to enjoy your flight without having to deal with the hustle and bustle of a commercial airline. To learn more about hiring a private jet log onto www.privatejetscharter.net.

The Kentucky Derby takes place every year on its traditional date of the first Saturday in May. This is a race that many people follow and try to handicap even if theyre not typically horse racing enthusiasts. Understanding race horses is hard work, and a discipline unto itself.

Despite the complexity of understanding horse racing, there are a few basic rules that can help the novice watch the Kentucky Derby with a greater degree of enjoyment. Until recently, the Derby was a race dominated by the favorite. In the 1970’s great horses like Secretariat and Seattle Slew blew away the field but since Spectacular Bid’s winning run in 1979 there have been only a couple of favorites to win the big race. While a serious horse player might not want to categorically dismiss the popular favorite, for the horse racing novice this is a helpful way to narrow down the field.

So why has the favorite done so poorly in recent years? One theory suggests that it is a by-product of the hype surrounding the race. Novice horse fans back the favorite, making it more of a popularity contest than anything else. The reality is that the horse with the most hype is not always the best horse.

Post position is also something that the horse racing neophyte should pay attention to. Obviously post position number 1 is an advantage relative to the outer ones, but it hasnt been a strong edge over the other inside positions. Twelve Derby winners have had the #1 position going into the race (the most of any position) but positions #4 and #5 have had ten winners each. In terms of percentages, positions #1 through #5 have yielded 49 winners (or just under 40%). On the other hand, the outermost positions (#11 through #20) have had just 16 winners (or just under 13%). It is important to note that theres not always that many horses in the race, which would obviously result in few higher posts winning. Still, concentrating on horses with favorable post positions is another way to pare down a field that you know little about.

A couple more factors to consider are the horse’s gender and breeding lineage. A couple of simple rules can be applied here–first of all, forget all horses that aren’t intact males (geldings and fillies). Over 90% of all Derby winners have been intact males. Then, eliminate any horse that wasn’t born in the state of Kentucky. This stipulation is starting to change, but for the time being is a good rule to apply for the novice. Over 80% of all Derby winners have been born in Kentucky.

Don’t forget to consider dosage index numbers. These are a complex mathematical formula that measures a horse’s breeding lineage plus his past performance. You want to look for horses with a dosage index of 4.00 or less–over half of Derby winners have met this criteria since dosage numbers came into common usage in the mid 1980’s.

If you want to learn about horse racing in more depth, there are countless books available to introduce you to the subject. For a recreational fan who just wants to have a better understanding of the Kentucky Derby, these rules can help.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer specializing in casino gambling, entertainment and sports betting. He has appeared on a number of TV and radio programs offering strategies for successful NFL football betting. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a pet llama. He is currently writing a biography of former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon.

A tourist with time in New Zealand should certainly consider train travel as a scenic way to pass through the country. Although the rail network is slow and aging, it passes through some fantastic countryside in the reasonably straight line it makes from point to point. The three main New Zealand train trips would be the TransCoastal, the Transalpine and — the topic of this article — the Overlander. Each journey is fairly priced and very enjoyable.

Flying from Auckland to Wellington takes under two hours; driving takes a mammoth 8 hours thanks to circutous roads (admittedly through amazing scenic routes). On the other hand, the Overlander train from Auckland to Wellington takes 12 hours! It’s not the fastest option by far but it is much more relaxing than driving and far more scenic that flying … on most days anyway.

The layout of the carriages highlight and enhance the tourism and sightseeing aspects of NZ train travel. The end carriage is a lounge area with large viewing windows and a semi-circular seating plan. This makes for good photographs and video opportunities (although you have to shoot through the sometimes dirty windows). Because train connections are generally too slow for business travellers, making the most of the tourism side of things makes great sense.

While both food and drink are available on all long-haul kiwi trains, you can also book your ticket in such a way to make use of stops (and real restaurants and hotels) along the way. The Overlander stops in small and interesting towns between Auckland and Wellington and, with a little forsight, can provide a great stop-over experience.

Friendly staff and fellow passengers are to be expected when travelling by train in New Zealand. Expect to see wonderful views … in a very slow fashion. Travelling New Zealand is a real treat, and journeys like the Overlander make it all that more special.

Learn more about the Overlander train. Stop by Indie Travel Podcast where you can find out all about independent travel and how you can travel more for cheaper.

Though not yet as popular as Costa del Sol, Madrid or Barcelona, Almeria is a rapidly developing holiday spot with enough choices of airlines and airports to get you there at a good price.

Airports: Belfast, Birmingham, Dublin, Gatwick, Leeds, Luton, Manchester, London Stansted.

Airlines:Monarch, Easyjet, Ryanair, Iberia

Fares to Aleneria are somewhat more expensive as there is not as much competition among airlines offering it as a destination. Fares can range from-9 up to 230 and more depending on your carrier. If you’re having difficulty finding a suitable flight to Almeria, consider a flight to Malaga as an alternative. Almeria is only a 2 hour drive from the Malaga Airport. You could also consider flying into Granada and catch the A-92 Autovia into Almeria.

Alemeria airport (LEI) is a small but modern airport and becomes busier each year. You can chose to hire a car, take the bus service or take a cab into the city.

Almeria is located at the eastern edge of Andalucia. Because the Almeria region and Costa Almeria are only now growing in popularity among holidaymakers, there is no defined busy season. You’ll be able to find a variety of activities and places of interest year-round. New resorts are springing up east and west of the city.

The city has a rich history and takes influence from the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors who all occupied the city before it was recaptured by Christian armies in the 15th century. As evidence, the imposing Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress, overlooks the town from its hilltop perch.

You’ll find a strong African influence here due to the large number of immigrant workers from Morocco, Tunisia and others. You can even take a ferry trip to North Africa from Almeria.

Choose from a good selection of galleries, museums and shops for diversion. The Olive Oil Museum, located in the city’s historical quarter in a’th century home, gives you the chance to taste a variety of olive oils. La Rambla is a long avenue of squares, street cafes and children’s play areas. For architecture buffs, the old city offers fascinating medieval examples with colonnades, archways and squares you can explore on foot.

There are seven golf courses in Almeria offering something for novice golfers as well as more experienced players.

Nature provides much to see in Almeria. Inland you’ll find an almost lunar-like landscape, chosen as a perfect backdrop for the “spaghetti westerns” of the’70s. Almeria is also known for its troglodyte villages - a community of cave dwellers who have fashioned extraordinary homes, complete with smart doors and puffing chimneys, in the soft rock.

Hikers, bird waters, and scuba divers find the Cabo del Gato-Nijar nature preserve a favorite attraction. Its desert landscape and rugged coastline doted with small coves provides adventure for nature lovers of all types.

You can find more tame entertainment choices at the tourist centers on the eastern coast of the province at Mojacar and on the southern coast, west of the city. Here are beaches, marinas, international restaurants, hotels and sports centers.

Susan is the marketing director for the UK’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes detailed information on Flights to Almeria

If you are interested in choosing a restaurant, there are many details to consider. Cost, convenience, and the quality of the food must all be examined. Also worth considering is occasion. Once these details are solved, food type must then be considered.

I will examine the many factors that go into choosing a place to eat. Additionally, I will examine the various different food types available.

Things to consider:

Occasion - Formal settings are appropriate for meals in which you are trying to impress a guest with. For large gatherings, family style establishments are appropriate. However, if you are by yourself, you might try a fast-food establishment.

Convenience - Choosing a service that is convenient can be an integral part of the decision making process. For example, perhaps the easiest transaction is to select delivery or take-out dining.

Quality - Overall quality can affect many details of your dining experience. The ingredients, nutritional value, and overall restaurant atmosphere can have varying degrees of quality.

Cost - Keeping in mind your budget for food is important when deciding on a restaurant. Always remember that price can affect your overall enjoyment of the food.

Types of food:

American - If you like cheeseburgers and fries washed down with a shake, you’ll love this type of place.

Mexican - Many people’s favorite ethnic food, Mexican dishes can vary greatly. Enjoy tacos, burritos, tamales, and more.

Asian - Great for a healthy lifestyle, Asian food is rich in protein and vegetables. Try your dish of rice with chicken or tofu.

Sushi - If you are concerned with healthy choices, try seaweed and fish with this prestigious selection.

South American - Offering well-respected steak from Argentina, as well as a diet rich in meat, potatoes and regional plants, this is a delicious option.

Southern - For the healthy-hearted, dig in to fried treats like chicken and catfish, or even things out with a plate of greens.

Italian - Pizza, pasta, and lasagna. Need I say more? Choose from the many variations of the above dishes.

French - Often times when people think of French food, they think of pastries. The choices I’m sure are endless.

Seafood - Choose a simple shellfish, or something more unique like swordfish or squid.

Types of restaurants:

Fast food - If you want food that is quick and filling, but murder on your health, this is the choice for you.

Order at counter - Order at the front, get your food relatively fast, don’t worry about the tip, and enjoy quality dishes. A great option.

Diner - Nostalgic places that offer simple classics like apple pie a la mode. Grab a seat at the counter, or a booth with your friends.

Sit down restaurant - Usually offering the best food, in a formal setting, with excellent atmosphere. This is the choice for special occasions.

Delivery - For a usually small fee and tip to the delivery person, have your food dropped off at home to by enjoyed without the hustle and bustle of big crowds.

The many options above go to show the various decisions that must be made when one chooses a restaurant. Hopefully this information has provided you with the insights on food choice necessary to come to a decision.

Trying to find the perfect Vancouver real estate agency? One of the main criteria for purchasing a home is location. Vancouver doctors and Vancouver restaurants must be closely located, so traveling distance will be minimized.

Greece is a country with numerous contributions to modern civilization, perhaps more than any country. It is the cradle of democracy, the birthplace of the Olympic Games and home to many of the most brilliant philosophers, scientists, writers and artists that the world has ever produced, such as Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Archimedes, Euclid, Euripedes and Praxiteles. True, most of these contributions may not be tangible. However, those that are can only be seen or best experienced when you visit Greece.

1. Ancient Monuments

The ancient city-state of Athens was one of the most powerful cities of its time and although Athens has changed a lot over the past centuries, it still has ruins of many ancient monuments that are reminders of its glorious age - which are all must-see attractions when you visit Greece. The most popular ones, of course, can be found on the Acropolis, like the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike, while other impressive ones, like the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Temple of Poseidon, the Kerameikos necropolis and the Theatre of Dionysius are scattered throughout the city.

If you are truly interested in archaeology, you shouldn’t stop at Athens, though, since there are many impressive sites and monuments in other cities, as well. In fact, some cities like Delphi, Delos and Olympia are archaeological sites in themselves. Some of the most remarkable monuments outside Athens include the Temple of Demeter at Naxos, the Temple of Epicurian Apollo at Vassae and the ruins of the Knossos Palace in Crete.

While most of these monuments are in ruins, you can see the artifacts, like the statues they originally contained at various archaeological museums in Greece. Most of these museums are located near or even on the site itself, although the finest and most important artifacts can be found in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, the largest in Greece.

2. Beaches

One of the reasons why Greece is considered to be such a romantic destination is because it has a long coastline dotted with idyllic beaches, most of which offer white sand and warm, crystal waters, while some are backed by dramatic cliffs and villas. Many of these are Blue Flag beaches, too, with the best ones found in Kefalonia and Zakynthos, while nudism is acceptable almost everywhere, but most particularly on Banana Beach in Skiathos and Eresos Beach in Lesvos. There are many great diving spots, too, and several sea caves to explore.

3. Gastronomy

Greek food is often described as healthy, so make sure you get your fill when you visit Greece. This is because olives and olive oil are widely used, most of which are grown and produced in Kalamata and Crete. There are many vegetable dishes, too, such as Greek Salad, baked beans and cabbage rolls, although meat dishes like oven-baked lamb, Gyros (roasted meat) and Souvlaki (skewered meat) are also popular. As for desserts, many are made with nuts and honey, the most popular one being Baklava, while wine is the most common drink. In fact, there are some that say wine originated in Greece.

4. Greece After Dark

Greece is a country that comes to life at night, as you will see when you visit Greece. This is especially true in Athens, Corfu, Skiathos and Mykonos, which have a large concentration of night clubs and bars that play all types of music - whether pop, rock, jazz, trance or the traditional music of the bouzouki - up until dawn or even seven in the morning. In the summer, you will find many seaside parties, too, which start right after sunset and go on until sunrise.

5. Movie Locations in Greece

With its beautiful scenery, it comes as no surprise that film crews and celebrities visit Greece to shoot their movies, and if you’re lucky, you might catch them in the middle of the filming. Don’t be upset if you don’t, though, since there are still many movie locations you can visit like the Aghia Triatha monastery at Meteora where scenes from the Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’ took place or Skopelos, where some scenes from ‘Mamma Mia!’ were filmed.

Isabella Olsen is a writer for various travel magazines who has been to global tourist destinations like Greece. To book your car rental Greece or learn more about car hire deals worldwide, visit Zencarhire.com.

Christmas is unavoidable, so coming up with a plan of action is a must. No sooner have the stores taken down their Halloween displays than they’re replacing them with huge icicles, gold stars and beaming Santas. Even those with a real love for Christmas can struggle to keep up with the pace for that long - there’s no escape.

Or is there? Maybe it’s time to start thinking outside the festive box.

It’s not necessary to forget about Christmas altogether, unless of course you want to; rather, it’s a case of having a different type of Christmas, one which takes a bit more imagination and planning, but one which you will forever remember.

How about, for example, a city break? Not only are they reasonably priced, but you get to have a break whilst still being back at home for the majority of the festive season. Prague, with its rich history and opulent beauty, is a firm favourite and the wonderful Christmas markets are open throughout the festive season, including Christmas Day itself. In Vienna, the Christkindlmarkt in the City Hall Square is famous the world over for its elaborately decorated trees, dozens of wooden huts selling gifts and food and, of course, welcome glasses of hot Gluhwein.

Curiously, although renowned as one of the most romantic and magical places in the world, Venice is comparatively overlooked when it comes to spending Christmas away from home. Gone are the souvenir stalls and sweltering August crowds, as the population seeps to just half of its summer size. Spending Christmas in Venice gives the visitor a chance to enjoy the real city, with its wonderful architecture fully on show and evening concerts in its vast, albeit chilly basilicas.

If it’s that traditional White Christmas you’re dreaming of, then the ski resorts of Switzerland, France and Austria are great places to head for. Sunshine on crisp snow, pine-covered mountains and crackling log fires all make for that perfect Christmas card scene. And, away from the slopes, a glass or two of hot punch always goes down well as the snow softly falls.

Then there is the ultimate Christmas experience - a visit to Lapland. What could be more perfect than spending your Christmas at the place that Mr. Christmas calls home. What could be better than watching, from within your snug log cabin, the snow fall outside as Reindeers run across the scenic landscape. For those of you with children, this can turn out to be the most memorable and magical trip of your lives.

We hope we’ve offered something for everyone in our variety of Christmas hotel breaks. So, before you dig out those fairy lights for another year, stop for a moment. Do you really want to spend another Christmas half asleep on the sofa with indigestion?

This Christmas, why not have a festive adventure away from home? Our Christmas hotel breaks guide offers a number of ideas for a wonderful Christmas spent at one of the worlds most festive destinations. Cheap Hotel Chains price compare all latest cheap hotel deals across the world.

Newcastle in the North East part of England is a favorite location for people looking for a short break. There are lots of different things to do and see as you would expect in most cities with a good selection of shopping, evening entertainment and eating places.

Newcastle has very good nightlife with ample clubs as well as a converted ferry which is now a night club providing seven areas of different types of music. There is a good choice of dining options providing outstanding food of different types ranging from the usual Indian and Italian to excellent small bistros. If you do not want to go clubbing there is normally other options either a large music or show event in the Metro Radio Arena or one of the other favorite venues.

Shopping in Newcastle city center is acceptable however nearly all serious shoppers will go to nearby Gateshead to the Gateshead Metrocentre, which is by far the largest shopping area in the region. You will discover all the usual major brand stores as well as many other local ones so you will not be short of options.

Traveling to Newcastle is simple as there are a number of alternatives to get you there. Bus is usually the best priced choice and will take you to the bus station in Newcastle center. Traveling by rail is also a possible choice however it tends to be more expensive than the bus. Traveling by train is non-stop from London and any other main rail station on the East Coast train line. The other option for a visit to Newcastle from within the UK is to travel by car. Newcastle is only around a three hours drive from Manchester and you can get there from Leeds in about two hours.

Getting to Newcastle by air is normally the quickest alternative and in many cases if you get a low-cost airline ticket it could in reality work out similar to the rail fare. This is subject to when you reserve your flights and the days when you travel.

There are lots of different accommodation alternatives in Newcastle and it is simple to find a great deal for a hotel in the heart of Newcastle providing you with access to all that Newcastle has to offer. Make the most of your trip and plan ahead you will not only save cash but you will have a better stay.

Make the most of your stay in Newcastle and find the best Newcastle flights and accommodation with tips from travel expert Brian Bain of travel web site Travel Bites