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The teenage olive ridley sea turtle was just 15 years old as she waited 500 yards offshore in the warm, tropical eastern Pacific ocean off Ostional Beach in a small land that, more than 500 years earlier, Christopher Columbus had discovered and named “Costa Rica”, the “rich coast.”

The nearly daily afternoon tropical rains of November had slipped away as the marine turtle waited in anticipation. The moon was in its final quarter and, though she did not know why, it was having an effect on her.

As it has done for uncountable eons, the moon was gracing the earth with its timeless phases. Though she could not know it, it was drawing this olive ridley turtle ashore. She was not alone. At first, a few yards away, another Pacific sea turtle joined her, then a third, followed by a dozen, then hundreds, thousands, now tens of thousands of marine sea turtles. For more than 100,000,000 years it had been thus: vast migrations of ancient creatures, culminating when the moon was in this phase.

Life is always magical. Just a few months earlier, this turtle was foraging in the middle of the Pacific Ocean more than 2,500 miles away. And the tens of thousands now alongside her were scattered across several million square miles of ocean.

Although there was plenty of food far out in the Pacific, something had begun to stir within her. Hundreds of thousands of marine turtles felt the same timeless need to return to Costa Rica. They, and she, were all going back to where they had hatched.

Now, months later, she waited in the soft moonlight just a few hundred meters from her destination. She was ready. Over the thousands of miles she had traversed, she had encountered several different male olive ridley sea turtles in the clear tropical waters and bred with them in the deep ocean. Like her, they too were being affected by something unseen, a force nearly as old as life itself. It was something so compelling that her species had been going back to the same Costa Rica beach since the days of dinosaurs.

In the tropical night this olive ridley sea turtle was waiting. She had somehow returned to the very beach where she had hatched in 1995. We do not know how a Pacific marine turtle finds the exact beach where she started life. There are only a handful of nesting beaches on earth and they are not very big. In fact Ostional Beach is only a few hundred meters long. Now part of Costa Rica’s Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, it is almost certainly the most important olive ridley marine turtle nesting site on earth. Incredibly, in 1995, the year this turtle hatched, some half a million female olive pacific sea turtles had come ashore to nest here in huge waves. These massive invasions are called “arribadas.”

For fifteen years, the mother of this hundred pound marine turtle joined massive Costa Rica arribadas annually and she would have done so again except that she drowned in an illegal shrimping net just a few weeks before. Thousands more were killed by long line commercial fishermen. Even more died needlessly by swallowing plastic bags carelessly discarded. So many have been killed, the race is endangered.

Of course, the hundreds of thousands of olive ridleys just offshore know none of this. In the tropical pale moonlight, we can see them even though they are still half a mile away. There are now so many gathered that it almost seems one could walk on their backs for at least a mile and never get a wet foot. We can only gaze in wonder and awe as they gather silently. These ancient beings will never know that they were here long before there was a dinosaur walking the earth. They cannot appreciate our capacity for destruction or efforts at preservation. They only know that this little stretch of beach is where they’ve always come.

Then, though no one knows why, it happens. As quietly as they first appeared, as silently as they gathered, their patience has been rewarded and they begin to come ashore. A single olive ridley turtle followed by a second. Then there are hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands—even more than that—each intent on one task: bringing new life. All night they come. And all day, day after day. It is a wonder of magnificent Costa Rica and as timeless as the phases of the moon. It is the spectacular display of life called Arribada.

Who wouldn’t like Cancun’s lovely white beaches, historical sites, and a nightlife that can’t be beat? This is a great city for gays to visit and provides a lot of places for a gay tourist to go that are in operation solely to entertain gay visitors. No one should go to Cancun without sampling a bit of everything from the rich tradition of the Mayans.

Cancun offers both modern day fun in the busy city and historical, educational benefits in the ancient ruins nearby. Make sure you plan for at least a day to tour the Temple of Kukulcan. The place of prayer is worth seeing, however there is a valid excuse to come soon when one travels when it is Spring or Autumn Equinox.

While the sun moves slowly across the sky, the corner of the pyramid casts a shadow of the great plumed serpent Kukulcan. As day wears on and the sun moves, the shadow does also and the serpent begins to slither slowly down the pyramid side.

This beautiful city on the Yucatan Peninsula in an area referred to as the Mexican Caribbean, had only three residents, caretakers for a coconut plantation, until the building of the city in 1970. Until then, it contained the remnants of the Mayans, natural beauty and of course, coconut trees. Today, you’ll find the magic of the ancient mixed with a modern city whose oldest building came after 1970.

Cancun is appropiate place for those who like water and sun. While all the beaches in Cancun are beautiful, the white sand beaches across from Ruinas del Rey is a mainstay for the gay scene. A gay friendly location, Cancun offers fantastic places to meet a special someone, especially on the sandy, sunny beaches.

If you want to do more than bake under the rays or walk along the shoreline, there are plenty of more physical activities available. You want something different to do at night, enjoy you supper on the bow of a boat.

With all the activities of the day, take a nap after dinner to prepare for the nightlife. Nightlife doesn’t begin until 10:30 and then goes through the night to 5:00 in the morning.

There is a large diversity in the bar scene, but if you are looking to mesh with the gay scene, Karamba is the place to go. There’s entertainment to suite every taste in popular music. Get a seat early, because after midnight, the joint fills up with locals, but the place only holds 450 people.

Picante a gay bar in Cancun, and it is the oldest one in the city. Every night there’s a party here, but on special occasions, such as holidays, fantastic performances and fun costumes spice them up. Go on Thursday for Tequila night and free shots.

You can find a lot of gay friendly hotels and resorts like Hyatt Regency Cancun, Gran Melia Cancun, Presidente InterContinental and The Ritz-Carlton.

Traveling safely and comfortably with children can be a challenge, whether you are traveling by air, road, water or rail. Keeping the kids happy from the start and giving them a way to participate in the act of traveling is a good experience for the children and will reduce the stress level for the parents as well.

One of the great tips when traveling with children is to see that items that they need during travel are readily at hand. Childrens luggage is a great tool for active participation from the child that gives her or him a sense of responsibility and a measure of control over their own things. Pack the kids suitcases with items that they can get themselves when they need it, or at the very least, you can get child’s items from their own suitcase instead of having to dig through your own to find the right thing.

Childrens luggage comes in different colors and with different decorations, styles and sizes. There are compartments and pouches, inside and out, with zippers, snaps or velcro. Kids rolling luggage is an extremely popular item because it’s a lot like mommy and daddy’s rolling luggage, plus your child won’t have to bear the full weight of the luggage. Each child can bring their own suitcase, packed with the individual items they need to be entertained and comfortable on the trip. Be sure the size of any childrens luggage that will be used as a carry on on an airplane will fit under the seat in front of them so your child can reach it during the flight.

Make it easy on yourself when sight checking the family luggage by having personalized kids luggage for the kids. Their names emblazoned on their own luggage makes it easy to spot and avoids mix ups with other luggage. And if your kids don’t want a suitcase, or it’s bigger than they need, you can always get personalized kids backpacks. Easy to keep an eye on them, and a smaller number of things for your children to carry.

What to Look For in Kids Suitcases

The two main features of good childrens luggage should be 1) lightweight enough so that your child will still be able to carry and/or maneuver it when it is packed. And 2) durability and maintenance. Kids suitcases are for kids, so you need a size and weight that is appropriate for the age and size of the child using it. Handles, straps or wheels (on kids rolling luggage), need to be comfortable for them to grip, carry and maneuver. Durability is important because kids tend to be rougher with their things and you want this suitcase or backpack to last awhile. Ease of cleaning is also important to keep the kids suitcases looking bright and cheery for the next trip.

What your child will need for the vacation and during active travel will also be a consideration for the type of childrens luggage you purchase. Do you want them to carry their own clothes, or just their toys and entertainments and some comfort items during active travel? Lightweight kids rolling luggage has large compartments for storing clothes and other necessities and some have smaller, external pouches to make it easy to get something fast. There are also small versions of kids suitcases with multiple pouches, pockets and slots to hold lots of single items that you child just needs to be entertained during travel. Buy the type of luggage to suit the need.

Items to Include in Your Kids Suitcases

Think about the travel time first, and then think about what your child may need or want during that time. Think, also, about any needs, medical or comfort related, that may make traveling less stressful. So you might pack any medicines your child needs, a small pillow or a favorite stuffed toy, and a sweater or light blanket. How does your child entertain herself or himself at home? Pack their books and crayons, an MP3 player with their music, electronic games. Also think about healthy, non-refrigerated snacks like nuts, carrot sticks, cheese sticks, crackers or fruit. Depending on your mode of travel, water or juice boxes may be appropriate. And don’t forget some wet wipes to clean fingers, faces and spills and a plastic bag for the trash.

The goal is to have a great family experience together. The active travel part of any vacation or planned trip can be stressful or it can be smooth. Bringing familiar items along on the trip will help your children adjust to new surroundings. Allowing them to actively participate by having some control over their things will make the family experience an enjoyable and memorable one.

In ancient years, it was Xel-Ha that was quite important to all the Mayan people. It was where they would all come in order to offer respect to their various Mayan gods by doing rituals and many dances. Of course much has changed since those days.

These days, Xel-Ha is one of the biggest aquariums around and a marvelous snorkeling spot. Most people come here to snorkel because it offers such an amazing experience.

The popular Xel-Ha is a site that is archaeological and you’ll find it in Mexico, located on the Yucatan Peninsula. The area is extremely beautiful in a manner that is just about tropical paradise.

The sea has a lovely color of blue and green, enticing you to dive on in to the beautiful waters. Everyone would want a swim if all of the seas out there had this great look to them.

The city of Cancun is only about seventy five miles away to the south of Xel-Ha. If you want to go to Cancun, you can get there by car, you can take a taxi, or rid the bus. If you are going to take public transportation, the ride to the park is available for free. This way you don’t have to worry about trying to get the park on your own.

Some great water activities are available in Xel-Ha for kids and adults. These seas allow you to have a great time kayaking, or you can try out snorkeling, Sea Trek, Aquaventura, or even Snuba. Of course you don’t just have to stay in the water. A variety of great land activities exist too. Enjoy exploring caves, checking out coves, enjoying lagoons, and many other great land based activities too.

If you enjoy taking a walk, there are many paths and exciting bridges that will taken you around. Of course if you enjoy sitting back and relaxing, you can also go on the train ride that will ride you around so you can enjoy all the beautiful sights as well.

You’ll definitely be glad you came to visit as you get around to seeing all the city sites. You’ll enjoy the step back into long ago history when you are visiting Xel-Ha on vacation.

Interested in knowing a bit more about Xel-Ha and it’s past? Well, according to legend the city was first started at a time when the Mayan gods brought together shrewdness, love, and fantasies in order to make this place to bring together the beauty and greatness of nature. Supposedly this is the reason that the entire area is so amazingly beautiful, since it is thousands of years old. While some only think this is a myth, there are others that truly believe that this is true.

To get into this park, you will have to pay some kind of fee. The fees will differ depending on what you do, but they are not too pricey. Kids are cheaper than adults are. It’s definitely worth the price to enjoy the lovely park. With all the great sites available, you’ll be happy to pay to get in.

If you enjoy beauty and you love history, then you definitely will want to take the time to visit Xel-Ha. Make sure you have your camera too. You’ll want to take plenty of pictures to remember the beautiful area by.

Latin Hot Party is the very first great event dedicated to all GLBT in the world. Unlike many others meetings, this event has the enormous advantage of being perfectly organized and structured in order to make you have the best fun ever. The most beautiful beaches and the best gay hotels in Cancun.

These are very stressful times for all of us. Most of us have never experienced anything in our lives that even comes close to the fear and uncertainty that surrounds us these days. We are worried if we will have a job next week; if we will be able to keep a roof over our heads and put food on the table. All we hear from the media is how bad things are and that its likely to get worse. Who wouldnt be stressed?

Stress feels uncomfortable and is painful. Our natural instinct is to avoid anything that is painful. We run away from the pain as fast as we can. In the case of stress, we frequently turn to drugs or alcohol for relief. Escape also comes in the form of a vacation.

Yes, a vacation… thats what I need; a chance to get away from lifes stresses; to escape. We think, That way I can come home refreshed and ready to deal with lifes stresses with renewed vigor. A typical vacation can be a big help in dealing with stress. We get a chance to leave the worries behind us for a week or two, but do we really?

Unfortunately, a lot of our “vacation time” is wasted. The beginning of the vacation is spent “getting into vacation” mode. The end of the vacation is spent worrying about going home and all the stuff that is waiting for us to do when we get home. In the middle of the vacation, we do get a chance to relax a little.

When the vacation is over, we have to go back to all the stresses we left at home. We likely did not learn anything while on vacation to help us deal with the stresses of daily life. A typical gay vacation is only a quick and very temporary fix, like a drug. This is why Spirit Journeys is more important now in these stressful times.

Our personal experience has shown us that conscious gay travel with Spirit Journeys can be a life changing event. The introduction to new ways of thinking, the learning and practicing of techniques to handle stress or the building of a support network of friends, can all help us be less affected by lifes ups and downs; to be more confident as we move through our lives.

Also, at a Spirit Journeys event we get to meet and connect with people at a level simply not possible on an ordinary gay vacation. We are given the chance to learn new things and hear new ideas from the others in the group. The connections made on a Spirit Journey add immensely to the enjoyment of our time away. To be able to sit and have a real conversation with someone; for us to be listened to with genuine interest; for us to listen to others with our heart; the importance of these things cannot be measured and bring a deep sense of fulfillment. Yes, there is effort involved. We can’t just hide in our rooms. We will want to be “present”; we will want to be willing; we will want to be as open and honest as we can be.

But the effort we put out has unimaginable rewards. We know in our hearts that this kind of effort has the power to change us, and change us deeply. These kind of changes to our “way of being” in the world, can make everday feel like we’re on a vacation.

Written by Howie Holben, this is an article about the importance of spiritual gay travel in times of stress. You can learn more about gay vacations with purpose at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

Now that the spring season is in full swing and the sizzling summer sun is right around the corner, you are probably anxious to start planning your next vacation getaway.

One gay travel destination that is quickly gaining in popularity and will have you excited to explore for yourself is Puerto Vallarta. What makes Puerto Vallarta so special? To begin with, the place is incredible. Because of a perfect climate, a tropical jungle, a stunning ocean bay, beautiful beaches and mountains, Puerto Vallarta is the perfect place for weekend getaway.

Puerto Vallarta is a small city. But don’t be quick to judge it by its size. Despite its small size, the city is truly a delightful city devoted to serve its visitors. This small city boasts of infrastructures of a modern resort while still retaining its old school Mexican charm.

The city also is home to charming restaurants, excellent airports, up-to-date medical services, reliable drinking water supply, and of course, a safe environment to make the place perfect to be a paradise. So if you are the type who are looking for quaintness without sacrificing modern conveniences, then this is your place.

If the benefits mentioned about Puerto Vallarta havent gotten your attention, then perhaps Acapulco is a better choice for you. Acapulco is about clear waters, sunny beaches as well as rugged mountains. It is a scheduled stop for cruise ships, a spring break destination and the perfect destination for gay couples or singles.

Opposite to Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco is famous for its flamboyant gay bars and clubs. Its gay bars may not be that refined or upscale as most big city clubs, but that is what makes Acapulco a unique experience.

Last, but definitely not least, you may want to take a look at the terrific gay vacation destination of Cancun. There are many gay travelers that believe that there is no better vacation destination, which explains its popularity. Cancun is a haven for all tourists, especially the gay traveler.

The main attraction to Cancun is definitely the nightlife. The funky and upbeat gay clubs like the Picante bar and the Karamba will definitely light up the nights in Cancun.

Karamba bar is the largest gay disco in Cancun while Picante bar is their oldest gay club. Party under the night sky in Karamba’s open air disco to the tunes of both local and international djs. There are also nightly stage performances with drag queens lip-synching to Broadway tunes and impersonators dancing to the latest tunes. Parties start at the stroke of 10:30 pm and stretches well out into the wee hours of the morning.

Picante is a hot spot that has been cooking for 14 years. When you go to Picante you will see their Vegas showgirl style strippers, dancers, singers as well as the bar owner and emcee Mother Picante. If youre really lucky you might be able to catch the once a year beauty pageant that takes place during Carnival and be able to witness the crowning of The Queen.

Cancun is one place where you’ll never grow hungry. The city is teeming with restaurants of local and international flavors.

And top it all, to make your gay vacation totally unforgettable, Cancun offers its gay friendly hotels. The places to stay in would the luscious Hyatt Cancun Caribe. There is also the Melia Cancun, the Presidente Intercontinental and the Villas Tacul Boutique Hotel. Any way you want it, these hotels are perfect for you.

So pack those bags and get yourself a ticket to paradise. Whether the destination is Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, or Cancun, you’re sure to have a grand, gay time! Bon Voyage!

Come to my website if you want to know more about the very first great event dedicated to all GLBT in the world. It will be surrounded by an ambiance of exclusivity and privacy, showing a concept focused to gather the equity of gender. These will be your best gay vacations in Cancun. Come and let us prove it!

While there are more and more hotels and travel destinations that make it easy to plan and enjoy gay travel, the services of an agency can make planning easier. There are a number of groups and agencies that bring likeminded people together in order to provide travel with the best experience possible.

By planning a gay travel vacations or a shorter retreat to one of the many sacred sites that still remain, a person can experience personal insight, personal growth, self-awareness, spirituality and healing. There are many places that have a mysterious attraction to people all over the world and visiting these destinations can uplift the soul and rejuvenate the spirit.

Weekend retreats and getaways are popular destinations for people planning the perfect gay travel experience. There are retreats that are designed to rejuvenate both the body and the spirit. Workshops are available that will help to increase personal growth, self-awareness and spirituality. These workshops are available for couples to attend or can be attended by individuals. They are led by counselors that are experienced in many different areas.

There are a number of trips that provide an abundance of fun activities along with the spiritual aspect. One such gay travel trip that has been a long time favorite of travelers of all ages and genders is the Grand Canyon rafting trip. These trips usually last around seven days and include all the meals and camping gear that will be needed. There is plenty of time for hiking and relaxing. Most people that have had the pleasure of taking this journey describe the trip as being one of the most spiritual experiences of their life.

Another spectacular destination that fits well into gay travel planning that is both spiritually fulfilling and fun is a trip to Egypt. Just imagine being able to view the ancient Pyramids or cruise down the Nile River. A person could have the opportunity to view King Tut’s burial mask at the Cairo Egyptian Museum or stand in front of the ancient Sphinx. Travelers that have visited these ancient sites have reported life changing spiritual experiences.

Many people really enjoy taking gay travel trips as part of a group of likeminded people. They are able to share common interests and often form lifelong friendships as a result of one of these journeys. Don’t delay, make travel plans today.

Some gay travel experiences involve exploring ancient cultures. A pilgrimage is often the name given to this kind of travel. On a pilgrimage, the traveler learns the old traditions from the people and places visited. But it is not all serious, there is lots of time to relax and just sightsee.

Sacred places have held an attraction for millions of people since the dawn of time. This attraction is because these places are known for the healing of mind and body. They will continue to be honored and visited because they provide a way to learn about the old ways and can lead to personal healing and growth.

Howie Holben owns Spirit Journeys, a spiritual gay travel organization. His goal is to help others set themselves free. Learn more about gay travel with a purpose at www.SpiritJourneys.com.

A Costa Rica scientific fin and satellite tagging project recently got underway at Cocos Island studying its green sea turtle and hawksbill visitors.

Conservation organizations and marine researchers spent about 30 hours going to the island in their pursuit for more knowledge about these ancient marine animals.

They are engaged in a kind of scientific working Costa Rica vacation that they anticipate will contribute to preserving these marvelous reptilian mariners now endangered in much of their range.

Cocos Island was described by the famous seaman, Jacque Cousteau, as the most beautiful island he had ever encountered. The small island, just nine square miles in area, lies some 340 miles off the Pacific shoreline of Costa Rica, almost halfway to the Galapagos Islands.

It was not the tropical sunsets and beaches that captured the imagination of Captain Cousteau. Its beauty is just off its shores, under water, in a place that Costa Ricans have voted as one of the Seven Wonders of Costa Rica. It is there that one finds priceless treasure: vast schools of fish, porpoises, whales and turtles.

Since the days of dinosaurs sea turtles have swum the Seven Seas of the world.

The mighty Tyrannosaurus fed on them more than 200 million years ago as they paddled ashore to lay their eggs on ancient beaches.

These ancient beings roam all the planet’s seas except the frozen Antarctic and Arctic.

Sadly , no more. Today, our indiscriminate development of beaches and plundering of their nests have put them at risk. Millions have been in South America to make expensive shoes for Europeans.

Jacque Yves Cousteau presciently remarked that: “If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.” A being visiting from another galaxy might conclude that such a result would be just.

But, conservation organizations have not given up and are working to restore at least some turtle populations. Scientists are now tagging pelagic turtles like the green sea turtle in far-away places like Cocos Island. Some turtles are fitted with flipper tags while others bear satellite transmitters to help track their movements and it has been discovered that some species roam across thousands and thousands of miles of oceans, from tropical waters to the deep waters off Canada.

We cannot undo the past but the men and women who tag sea turtles know that we do not have to be doomed to repeat it.

The writer, Victor Krumm, lives in tropical Costa Rica. Follow his fun site Costa Rica Vacations and for info about great beaches check out Costa Rica Beaches

Seeing wildlife up close and personal and in their own habitat is hard to beat. Add wonderful scenery and it’s a memorable experience.

African safari vacations are extremely popular today that travel agencies and companies have packages designed to give tourists an African safari adventure. These tours have experts on board, of course.

Accommodation is usually in lodges and camps, equipped with hot showers. Meals and barbecues are prepared by the company cook.

Most of the African safari vacations are in Kenya, with a beach holiday possibly included in the package. Kenya is a country that boasts of 40 national parks and game reserves. The Kimana Game Sanctuary is one of the most popular and spectacular game reserves in Kenya. It is situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kenya National Parks and Masai Mara are two other popular Kenyan national parks. The former boasts of a rich rain forest while the latter has plains that stretch for hundreds of miles. If you’re headed to Kenya, you’ll be accompanied by a guide who will drive you and the others either in open back trucks, 4×4 vehicles or mini buses.

If you want to see the landscape from the air, you can opt for any one of the African safari fly/drive packages that will let you see the views from the air in a small light plane. Expect to see gazelles, leopards, giraffes, crocodiles, lions, zebra and hippos on your African safari vacation in Kenya.

If you want to see a variety of landscapes — wetlands, open grassland, semi-dessert, old forest — then an African safari vacation in South Africa is the perfect vacation package for you. If you want to explore on foot, car or light aircraft, go on an African safari vacation in South Africa’s Phinda region.

There are also African safari vacation packages that include exploring South Africa by boat. Expect to see lions, buffalo, rhinos, leopards and elephants. You’ll see packs of hyenas and wild dogs, leopards and elephants when you tour the Madikwe Game Reserve.

For a truly unique experience, there are companies that organise an African safari to Uganda and Rwanda. Uganda has a population of lowland gorillas and chimpanzees. There is also game in the savanna of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and the chance to see elephants, giraffes, antelope and birds.

To see the different bird species of Uganda, you can walk through the Mgahinga Volcanoes, a tropical rain forest, on foot. The Queen Elizabeth National Park has a great savanna wherein you can see giraffes, elephants, birds and antelopes. Another popular destination that can be reached by boat is the Murchisson Falls National Park. The waterfall is a sight to behold and you’ll see wildlife that includes zebras, baboons and warthogs.

Rwanda is famous for its mountain gorillas and there is said to be 350 of them in the tree lined slopes of the Parc National des Volcans. The Uganda and Rwanda region, with its volcanoes, falls, lakes and forests is a treasured area and offers the best chance of seeing gorillas in their natural surroundings.

Almost every culture around the world has some type of connection to the history of football/soccer. Such cultures as the Ancient Greeks, Persians, Vikings, The Chinese, Japanese, and much more, played a game that is much like todays football/soccer. For instance, The Chinese played “footballer” games dating as far back as about 3000 years ago. However, it was in England that soccer / football really began to grow in popularity. After becoming popular in England, soccer became a widely loved sport throughout the world. The celebrated FIFA World cup led the way to the rise of soccer stars, and conferred world soccer records holders such as the player who has scored the most goals in world cup soccer history.

Brazilian professional footballer Ronaldo Nazario de Lima has scored the most goals in Fifa World Cup history. Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima, more generally known as Ronaldo, was born in September 18, 1976. In 1993, Ronaldo began his professional soccer/footballer career playing for Cruzeiro. In his single year with Cruzeiro, he accumulated 12 goals in 14 games and led the team to win their first Copa do Brasil championship. After playing with Cruzeiro, in 1994, he joined with the Dutch football team PSV. In 1996, in his final year with PSV, Ronaldo aided the team to win the Dutch Cup.

Ronaldo is also an established national footballer for Brazil. He has played in 97 international games, accumulating 62 goals and standing 15 goals away from the Brazilian national scoring record. He was a member of the Brazilian team that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup soccer game, Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal. “The Phenomenon” in English, Ronaldo made the number 9 famous and made it tantamount with the position of center forward. During his footballer career in Europe, Ronaldo became one of the most celebrated strikers throughout the world after he won his first Ballon d’Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997, and then once more in 2002. He is also one of only two players to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times. In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by his fellow Brazilian soccer star, Pel.

To many contemporary footballers, Ronaldo is a living icon who has been credited with encouraging a stronger marketing interest in soccer throughout the world, particularly because of his relationship with Nike who had in the past spent their marketing resources and time primarily on Basketball.

The soccer that we know today was shaped during the 1960s. Increased media coverage and TV broadcasts has made the game more popular than ever. With soccer stars such as David Beckham in the spotlight, the popularity of soccer will continue to grow.