Easy Travel

Situated in Mediterranean Europe, Italy has land frontiers with France in the north-west, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the north-east. The peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian Sea and the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east. Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino.

There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, although it is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines.The former extends over 600 miles from east to west. It consists of great massifs in the western sector, with peaks rising to over 14,000 feet, including Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc), Monte Rosa and Cervino (the Matterhorn). The the chain is lower in the eastern sector, although the mountains, the Dolomites, are still of extraordinary beauty.

At the foot of the Alpine arc stretches the vast Po Valley plain, cut down the middle by the course of the river Po, the longest in Italy (390 miles), which has its source in the Pian de Re (Monviso) and flows into the Adriatic through a magnificent delta.The Alpine foothills are characterized by large lakes: Lake Maggiore and the lakes of Como, Iseo and Garda. The Apennines form the backbone of the peninsula, stretching in a wide arc concave to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Corno Grande (Gran Sasso d’Italia) is the highest peak. A large part of central Italy is characterized by a green hilly landscape, through which the rivers Arno and Tevere (Tiber) run.

The southern section of the chain pushes out to the east forming the Gargano promontory and, sloping down further south, the Salentine peninsula. Itthen proceeds to the west with the Calabrian and Peloritano massif stretching across the Strait of Messina into Sicilia.The principal islands are Sicilia, rising up to the great volcanic cone of Etna (10,860 feet) and Sardegna. The main archipelagos are the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea, the Tuscan Archipelago, the Pontine Islands, the Aeolian Islands and the Egadi Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Sicilia.

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Via rail Canada routes & planning guide for adventure & business travel

Canada’s national railway is riding the wave of enthusiasm for train travelling that is sweeping railways worldwide. The Windsor Quebec City corridor, VIA Rail Canada’s oldest and busiest route, boasts high-speed service and the railroad’s first wifi network. Out west, recent developments include the acquisition of the historic Malahat Railway on Vancouver Island and the introduction of Snow Train Express ski trips from Edmonton to Jasper is a success.

VIA carries over 4-million passengers a year. Routes extend 7750-mi/12,500-km across eight Canadian Provinces. Trains serve over 450 stations and honor requests for “Special Stops” at random points along vast stretches of wilderness railway.

VIA’s reach extends to a number of popular destinations. High-speed Corridor trains connect Toronto, Montrèal, Ottawa, Quèbec City and Niagara Falls. Eastward, the Maritime-bound Ocean and Chaleur to Gaspe are among routes serving Quèbec and Atlantic Canada. Western routes include the sub-arctic Hudson Bay, the transcontinental Canadian and the Skeena’s Rocky Mountain adventure. Amtrak operates connecting services to Seattle, New York City and points across the USA.

This VIA Rail Canada Guide provides a quick overview of railroad services. It profiles individual routes including brief descriptions. Also covered are trip planning, fare options, and onboard classes and services as well as up-to-date information on requirements for crossing the Canada-USA border by train. The menu in the left column will get you started.

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The quick-paced melody driven by guitar, accordion, rasp and drum beat signals the arrival of the Dande group of traveling musicians each New Years in Aruba. The inhabitants of the house are at once joyful and expectant as the singer begins to spin his own variation of an age-old song bespeaking of both blessings and the promise of opportunities for the coming year.

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Yellowstone National Park delivers big when it comes to geysers and hot springs. In fact, Yellowstone is a super volcano with the world’s largest active geyser field, boasting more than 10,000 geysers, steam vents, mud pots (also known as a mud volcano) and hot springs. About 250-300 Yellowstone geysers erupt yearly — some faithfully and others unexpectedly.

Check out the following areas for Yellowstone geysers.

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WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced the expansion of its popular “Self-Select Lanes” to six additional airports by the end of April.

Salt Lake City International and Denver International Airports instituted the self-select lane process two weeks ago and have seen an overall increase in throughput and greatly increased customer satisfaction. The term “Black Diamond” comes from the signs used in skiing to denote skill level suggested for specific runs.

“In keeping with Secretary Chertoff’s instruction to examine our screening procedures, TSA is looking for ways to improve the passenger screening experience while increasing security,” said Kip Hawley, TSA administrator. “Simple yet effective, this program empowers passengers and gives federal security directors a way to create operational efficiencies at their checkpoints.”

Self-Select Lanes are comprised of a series of lanes designated by signage that directs passengers based on their travel needs and knowledge – Expert, for the business traveler who flies several times a month; Casual, for passengers that travel less frequently, but are familiar with the security process; and Family/Special Assistance, for passengers traveling with small children or strollers, elderly passengers and passengers who may need special assistance.

While expert travelers have experienced a significant reduction in wait times, TSA has also observed the family lane running much smoother as well. By giving families more time to prepare for screening, we are discovering many less prohibited items during the screening process.

“What we have seen is a calmer checkpoint, happier passengers and significantly lower wait times for the most experienced travelers,” said Salt Lake City Federal Security Director Earl Morris. “This is a win-win situation. Security is best served by a calm screening environment and the passengers get a less stressful, more efficient security experience.”

TSA is in the process of selecting additional airports based on input from our partners. Airport selection is based on a number of factors, including checkpoint configuration, stakeholder support and passenger population.

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27 passengers were arrested due to suspicious behavior or fraudulent travel documents

24 firearms found at checkpoints

20 incidents that involved a checkpoint closure, terminal evacuation or sterile area breach

22 disruptive passengers on flights

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Knowing how to pack a suitcase is essential to being a good traveler. Your top concern is how to make the most of the space while avoiding excessive wrinkling. This can be achieved in a number of ways, and you can even mix and match methods to find the one that works for you.

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Whenever you travel it’s always a good idea to read up on the TSa security requirements.  Nothing is worse than getting to the airport and having to throw your stuff away or mail it from some hit-or-miss mailbox.  The frustrations in the airport are many and the TSa security agents have heard it all before.  Keep in mind that you’re not the only person traveling and if you’re having truoble you aren’t the first nor are you likely to be the last.

Your best defense against getting harrassed or searched is to be prepared.  Be prepared to be searched.  Be vigilant in removing metal and in packing your carry-on.  Check the websites, there’s plenty out there for how to prepare for flying.  No one is obligated to anyone in anyway in an airport.  It’s all up in the air and is the equivalent of a benevolent military state.  Don’t be fooled into thinking you can pull the “customer” card when you’re there.

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