Recently, I was invited to learn more about a province in Le Marche called Ascoli Piceno (As-koh-lee Pee-chay-noh) and its food and wine.  I

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White water rafting was the event du-jour and despite not knowing how to swim, I gamely joined in.

My two friends sat in front of the rubber raft, I sat with the chief guide at the back, while the other guide sat in the middle.

We were paddling along nicely, enjoying the view of the sheer cliff on both sides of the river.

After some time, I longed for some real action.

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South America is a continent that continues to be championed as the next great destination for holidays. However, whilst many people may flock to well known places such as Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Lima, countries such as Bolivia can be hidden nations with surprising quirks.

There are many unusual sights to behold in Bolivia, and flying to La Paz offers the chance to explore salt plains, bustling markets and extensive lakes. In La Paz, travellers will find the Witches Market, a place filled with curious souvenirs.

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Cinephiles looking to explore the locations of their favorite films have an obvious treasure trove in America and Japan, but what about Europe?

European cities feature frequently in high profile films, but usually as an anonymous substitute for American locations, leaving a cinematic ramble across Europe considerably harder to do.

With that in mind, here are the best European locations to re-live some of the most iconic moments in European film history.

An unlikely location and one not featured as a setting particularly often.

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This is a real story of a little village, high up in the Andalusian hills. Practically overnight the town was flooded in tourists, putting little Júzcar on the Spanish tourist map.

Who has ever heard of the tiny village of Júzcar besides its population of a measly 200? Nobody, until last spring. For such small town, you can imagine their surprise when more than 100,000 tourists showed up at their door in a single year, compared to the handful theyre used to hosting. What was their secret?

Last spring the townspeople painted their houses entirely in blue for the filming of the movie Smurfs in 3D, Los Pitufos in Spanish. Ever

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Turkey is developing fast not only as a cultural and historical tours destination but the country increasingly attracts religious tourists as well. Among the top attractions are Ephesus and Hagia Sophia Church.

Religious tourism or pilgrim tourism in Turkey is growing in popularity. These tours are perfect for people who want to trace back the history of their religion, visit Biblical places and hear the legends related to the apostles. Many luxurious or even cheap holidays in Turkey include the following hot spots of religious tourism.

Hagia Sophia Church, IstanbulLocated in Istanbul, it is a legacy made for both Christian and Muslim culture.

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This is that snazzy deal that lets you almost act like a human going through normal security you can leave you shoes on, your jacket on, your computer in its computer bag and just walk through a metal detector: You know, the way the rest of the world normally goes through security.

Currently, Delta offers the speedy check points in Atlanta, Detroit and Las Vegas. On Jan. 24, Minneapolis-St. Paul opens up the quick check point and Feb. 14 another will open at Salt Lake City.

To be a member of the fast traveler program does require someone to opt into the program and provide the TSA with additional information about yourself.

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Chief executive Alan Joyce admitted that the losses had “gotten worse” but stressed that the further decline had been expected, exacerbated by economic factors at home and overseas. “While we have a strong outbound travel market, the inbound market is flat and in particular, there is a softening of demand for travel out of the UK and Europe,” he said. But he forecast that cost-saving measures would “kick in” over the next six months to deliver “positive momentum” on its international routes. The same period Find more…

Chief executive Alan Joyce admitted that the losses had “gotten worse” but stressed that the further decline had been expected, exacerbated by economic factors at home and overseas. “While we have a strong outbound travel market, the inbound market is flat and in particular, there is a softening of demand for travel out of the UK and Europe,” he said. But he forecast that cost-saving measures would “kick in” over the next six months to deliver “positive momentum” on its international routes. The same period Find more…

On the second night, after an hour-long leisurely stroll along the Shihlin night market streets, we stopped to take a breather. I spotted a small kerb to rest my tired posterior.

My two sons joined me while my husband wandered off to buy some snacks. Then, out of nowhere, the air was filled with a horrible stench. I retched uncontrollably. By then, my two sons were also on their feet, covering their noses with expressions as contorted as mine.

Instinctively, I pulled my two teenaged sons aside and said: Watch out, boys!

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Restaurants, art galleries, boutique shopping, and picturesque harbors run along the waterfront offering breathtaking views of the Bay and her majestic city skyline.  And should you wish to meander a little further down Bridgeway, your path will lead you into the local zone.  Sushi Ran, CIBO cafe, Yoga of Sausalito, Green Apples, Studio 333, and many other local hangouts located on Caledonia Street and beyond will guarantee to make any visit to Sausalito a memorable one. 

Staying overnight or for the weekend?  Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa boasts an ideal location for ease of walking to all the perfectly romantic spots without having to get in a car.  This full-service hotel always offers spectacular getaway packages that can be found on their website or by calling 1.800.288.0502

When it comes to Italian food, I can never refuse a tasty salty pork product.  What would one do without a good pancetta or guanciale for pasta carbonara?  Or a Tuscan-style grilled pork chop with garlic and rosemary. And lets not forget proscuitto and all of the other salumi that marry perfectly with cheese and  glass of wine.  Pork = good.

One of my favorites, which hails from Italy, happens to be Porchetta, pronounced por-ket-ah. Its a type of pork roast, where a suckling pig is cleaned out and stuffed with garlic, salt, pepper, and a blend of herbs and spices like rosemary, fennel or sage, depending on the cook and the recipe. And

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Stay at the top of Nob Hill at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins

San Francisco is classy and quirky, so how do you decide which side to experience on your San Francisco vacation? With the packages offered by the InterContinental Mark Hopkins, you can cover it all.

The Experience the City by the Bay package includes two cable car passes per day, breakfast for two at the hotels famous Top of the Mark (except for Sunday, when breakfast will be served in the Nob Hill Restaurant), parking for one vehicle and late checkout at 2:00 p.m.

The Top of the Mark package includes a deluxe room upgrade, two world-famous martinis and preferred seating at the Top of the Mark, where you can enjoy amazing views of San Francisco.

The City Escape package includes a hand-selected room with a view and 2:00 p.m.

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Though Greece may have been in the news for all of the wrong reasons over the past year, holidaying in the country remains vibrant. With a great climate, huge amounts of culture to explore and a recent drop in prices, holidays to destinations such as Mykonos, Athens or Crete are safe, affordable and exciting.

Whilst there has been some unrest in Greece, holidaying in this country and exploring its ancient culture is still regarded as safe.

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Balis island location means many of its best adrenalin sports happen on or near the water. If you really want to get the blood pumping, then grab a board and hang ten at Kuta. The offshore winds make the waves powerful, but dont let that scare you. I

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