Month: September 2018
A Gypsy Caravan Holiday is an adventure!
It’s an escape from the busy every-day life: imagine living in a Gypsy caravan for a few days, handling a horse and driving through an unspoiled, idyllic countryside.
You can spend a holiday like this for example in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hungary with different horse breeds and a vardos in variations.
How can I book, how does it work?
There are hire-companies and travel agencies that offer you a trip with a fully fitted and very practical Gypsy caravan for the holiday together with usually one horse, sometimes two.
Bow top wagons, made out of wood and stretched canvas are used preferably. These vehicles are about 5m long (without horse) and approx. 2m wide. They can weigh up to 750kg. In most places Irish Cobs or Gypsy draft horses are used, as they are very well tempered, calm and very good with children. In a lot of cases a collar harness is used.
What, if I haven’t got any experience with horses?
Everyone gets an initial thorough introduction into functionality of the vardo and handling and caring for the horse. It will be explained to you how to harness up and put the horse onto the caravan, how to feed and water it, how to groom and how to look after hooves and hoof shoes.
What do I need to bring with me?
Space is limited in a vardo, therefore you need to bring practical clothing and only gear you really need and dont forget the wet wear, as in some areas weather can be quiet unpredictable even during the summer: spells of rain can occur at any time. Most hire companies give you bedding, but ask you to bring your own towels. A good idea is also to bring your own sleeping bag. Take also a book or two and some games for the children. A mobile phone for emergencies is a good idea. Also, Bank facilities and ATM’s are usually not passed during the trip (the routes are quite well selected and you will travel on calm, more remote roads.)
You will drive along a fix route and check in at selected over night stops, where you will find grazing for the horse, electricity, shower and toilet facilities.
When is the best time to travel? How much does it cost approximately?
Gypsy caravan holiday operations are open from April to October, with a main season in the summer months July – August.
Prices in 2007 were around 500 (600 in high season) per week and caravan and they will usually ask for approx.10 – 15 % deposit. There will be surcharges for the compulsory over night stops, which might be between 15-20 per caravan. You can book short trips over 2 or 3 days or longer ones over 4 or 6 days. If you enjoy it very much, trips can be prolonged in most cases.
A Gypsy caravan holiday is certainly an adventurous vacation and you will experience life from a totally different point of view, in a slower pace. You might even want to take a longer break and organize your tour through different countries with your own vardo and horse/s.
If December means a calendar fool of obligations then this article is for you. Making it through the holiday season in one semi sane piece isn’t easy, but with these holiday tips you’ll be sashaying from party to party effortlessly and stress free.
Pack Light: While we all know the advantages of having a nice big purse to lug around everything you may ever need at any given time, during the holiday festivities its just not practical. Before the holiday party season gets underway, you should either clean out your over packed purse or buy a cute, compact wallet size clutch that you can carry only the essentials in. What are the essentials you ask? Limit the contents of your purse to some lipstick or gloss, keys, cell phone, and a few other fashion emergency items like clear nail polish and a needle and thread.
Think Ahead: The average adult spends most of the day on the go. Between work, errands, family, and personal needs, there is barely enough time to breath let alone figure out what to wear. The key to lowering the stress often brought on by busy holiday schedules is to plan well in advance. Planning doesnt necessarily mean that you have to try the outfit on weeks in advance, but it does mean you should start piecing together outfits and make lists in your head so you have a point of reference when you hit the stores.
Dress for the Occasion: Are you going to a party inside or outside? Is it a short get together or an all day affair? By asking yourself these questions you should be able to rule out what not to wear to your holiday get together. If youre going to be standing around for several hours, you may want to live the super high ultra skinny heels at home and look for something a little more practical and comfortable. If youre going to be at a party held out doors or in less than cozy conditions, make sure you dress warm and leave your strapless cocktail dress at home on the hanger.
Bring a Gift: If youre going to a gathering at someones house and you are basically enjoying a night of entertainment, food, and beverages all on the hosts bank account, its a good idea to bring a small token of thanks. It doesnt need to be elaborate or expensive. A small bottle of wine or a Christmas decoration is just fine.
Mingle: Holiday parties are a great time to chat with people you don’t normally get a chance to see. When you get to the party, say hello to the host/s, chat with them a bit, and then move on. Not only do you need to make your way around the room, but the individual/s responsible for the party have a million things to do, including speaking to guests. Save the deep discussions for later on in the party when the party has calmed down a bit and your host has time to have a conversation.
Life seems to compress as the holiday’s get closer, and this shows us in no uncertain terms how “intense” our lives have become. Holidays put normal life into hyper-speed, but really our lives in general are now in hyper-speed anyway, which can make the holiday’s seem almost unmanageable. However, there is hope, if we can understand the problem.
Research indicating that change is stressful, even good change, explains why the holidays are so stressful, as we are taken out of normal routines and challenged to “perform” in new and abnormal ways during holidays. Furthermore, modern life in general is changing at a mind-numbing pace. So, how do we adapt to change more healthfully? T’ai Chi / Qigong (Chi Kung) tips for loosening your grip on the holidays, and on life in general, include “remembering to breathe.”
So, right now, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, and then think of relaxing your torso open from the bottom abdominal area to allow the lower lungs to fill with air, observing as they fill up through the top as the upper chest inflates. Good. Now, on the sighing exhale observe your body “relaxing” the breath out from the top of your lungs all the way down to the bottom as your abdominal muscles relax back in . . . fully expending the air from the bottom of the lungs. Repeat this allowing the lungs to fill from the bottom all the way up to the top, and then relaxing the air out of the body from the top of the chest down to the upper pelvic muscles.
Although at first it seem as though the torso muscles work to expand the torso open for air, and then forcing the air out, little by little as you relax open to the breath, every atom of your being relaxes open to be breathed effortlessly. Every muscle in your head, face, shoulders, and torso . . . begins to let go, as though the breath were breathing you, and all you need to do is let go a little more with each sighing exhale.
The tip of the tongue placed on the roof of the mouth allows the breath in more gradually, rather than in one big open throated gush. Studies show this slow, gradual, inhale and exhale oxygenates the body much more effectively. As you breathe in the full breaths with the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, your entire being relaxes open to the lightness of air, even the bones, organs, brain and heart. Then as you exhale every atom of your being can “let go” of everything it holds onto to release the loads and burdens of the mind, heart, and body to be exhaled into a healing lightness. You actually expand open with this lightness as an airy feeling of “effortlessness” permeates every tissue and field within and around your body.
This openness feels almost like the wind can blow right through you. Close your eyes so that you can feel internally the deep letting go as the bones themselves begin to release their grip on issues and tensions they may have unconsciously gripped. You will always find the more you let go, the more you can let go. As you approach the holidays or life beyond the holidays, allow your mind to release its expectations and obsessions as they come up. Let the world to flow to you and through you, rather than “reaching out” for outcome, and “holding on” to expectations. Often better opportunities are coming at us if we can let go of our grip on the past or illusions of the future.
By being “open” we may dream a much greater reality as it occurs, for the holidays and for our lives. By using holiday stress as a catalyst to breathe life and healing light into our clenching bodies, we can carry the promise of the holidays into our greater lives, breathing open to the goodness that waits to fill every aspect of our year and our lives.
You can experience a “Daily Dose of Bliss” by visiting www.worldtaichiday.org and clicking on Free Online Lessons then Sitting Qigong.
Self-catering holidays are more popular than they have ever been in the UK at least this is the case, the biggest market utilising such a holiday are parents and their accompanying offspring – so families essentially. Choosing self-catering options over traditional all inclusive options helps to reduce the overall cost of a holiday and gives the holiday maker complete control and flexibility with meal times and indeed meal choices – thus self-catering holidays are an advantageous solution if you are looking to budget for your next holiday, regardless of whether it is a family affair, a couple or a lone holiday – you can still save a packet!
Focusing on the self-catering accommodation means that you could well eat at any number of different restaurants, take away and cafes – alternatively you could prepare and cook food in the kitchen of your self-catering accommodation. This is what I meant by flexibility, consider that if you have any special dietary requirements such as high fibre or gluten free you can rest assured and consume your regular foods and drinks without having to make any special requests or worry if they even cater for you in the first place.
It’s likely that most places will have an alternative menu item for certain dietary needs and certainly vegetarian alternatives to choose from. The cost saving of not eating out every night is enormous – in some instances you might save the same amount as your daily accommodation rate and have just as good meal. Consider also that inclusive will generally mean you are confined to eating in the same set place day in day out, no variety and if you don’t like the food well you will end up spending more in the long term anyway.
Personally I hate doing the washing up after eating so if I go self-catering I ensure there is a dishwasher to pop dirty dishes in, little things like this just make the whole self-catering holiday experience an enjoyable break from the normal. Did you know that there are self-catering properties out there which now come with a chef or other service staff to assist you when on holiday? Amazingly you could have your meals prepared in the comfort of your own self-catering holiday home. Though I don’t imagine there will be too much cost savings here from staying in inclusive accommodation – flexibility is still provided though.
The self-catering holiday market has had an explosion in growth in recent years throughout the world. Self-catering provides an unrivalled level of independence, control and flexibility over all aspects of your holiday including location, budget, activities, timing and the things you eat and drink. If it’s not something you have considered before – I would certainly recommend trying it out, after all what have you to lose?
If you are looking for holiday apartments, Barcelona has a lot to offer. A city of breathtaking natural beauty and diverse culture, Spains most famous city gives visitors the chance to escape lifes little monotonies for fun in the sun and festive celebration. Holiday apartments in Barcelona allow you to enjoy the comforts of home and hidden luxuries that you just dont have the time or money for during a weekly work week.
Before signing up for holiday apartments in Barcelona, visitors want to make sure that what they are getting will aide in the ultimate weekend or weeklong getaway. The best way to know for sure that youre getting your moneys worth is to start by considering “the three Ps” (proximity, price, and place).
Proximity is one very important asset of luxury holiday apartments Barcelona visitors require. Each year, the city offers a wealth of festivities ranging from specialty film festivals to concerts and art exhibitions. Many come to the city for these events alone, while others would prefer to spend all day and all night on the crystal clear beaches or stay in beach apartments in Barcelona. Whatever your preference, it is important that your final choices for holiday apartments in Barcelona put you close to the action for added time savings and convenient access.
Price is another consideration with luxury holiday apartments Barcelona renters find of interest. Family vacations can be more expensive as costs are not often shared by every member of the group. However, family groups or friend gatherings can benefit from sharing costs, enabling visitors to get the very best in luxury from their stay. Before signing up, it is important to know how many in your group will be sharing the costs, and what amenities, such as pools, tennis courts, and health club access are vital to the trip.
Place is the final quality that renters look for when attaining an apartment for their annual holiday or mini-getaway. How well-maintained a facility is goes a long way in happiness and overall comfort. Even the sparsest of add-ons can be overcome when properties are well taken care of and residents receive prompt and skilled customer service. For holiday apartments Barcelona, visitors consider these “three Ps” make-or-break.