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Wandering Through Georgia ~ Journey From Yerevan, Armenia Through The Former Republic Of Georgia ~ by Dorothy Aksamit - Our Armenian guide, Gagik, had come to the Erebuni Hotel in Yerevan to see us off. The card of the gentleman he brought with him announced that he was a Pentecostal Pastor. The Pastor agreed to get us to Tbilisi, the capital of the Republic of Georgia for $100. This would include another payment at the border to another taxi driver who would deliver us to the Hotel Adjara in Tbilisi. June/04
 A
Long Way From Munster To Colima - Travel
And The Self ~ by Juergen Klemann - There have been a few people who
have shaped and influenced my values and convictions in the course of time.
Some of these people have shaped and influenced me when I was an adolescent.
Some of them have shaped and influenced me when I was already an adult.
The first person who fits the bill in this respect was my English teacher
at preparatory school. His name is Dietrich Buff. Unlike my other teachers,
he had not spent all his life as a teacher in Germany. Instead, he had
lived for quite a bunch of years in the United States. That made him stand
out of the crowd. Dec./03
Backpacking Aboard the Train to Djibouti: Rounding out the World as it is - Kirk Melcher and Maren Stoltenberg lived in Germany until about a year ago. They decided to put jobs on hold and see the world. This article finds them on a train in a very different land. They write, "This trip is not to find ourselves, or find the secrets of life. We just have the urge to experience something new and adventurous. The landscape in Djibouti was mostly barren and uninhabited. Once in a while, we would see a small village or a shepard with his goats. The houses were mostly made of piled up stones and thatched roofs like a thousand years ago. The whole train ride, Kirk did not really sleep, he was nervously watching the bags, especially where the laptop was. Every time we stopped, the local kids jumped onto the train. They seemed always interested in our bags. Maren was able to sleep for short sections of the trip. Evening, the train got pitch dark." Birth of a Freelance Travel Writer Abroad - Birth of a Freelance Travel Writer Abroad - Between train, plane, and car trips to all corners of Europe, Anika Scott is at her computer at her home in Central Germany. In this article Ms. Scott tells how she got started, how to get residency and work visa permits, and how she puts pen-to-paper (or keyboard-to-bytes), where she gets her ideas, and how she makes her income. Many resources are supplied to help anyone who has the insatiable need to tell the stay-at-homes about the ordinary and the extraordinary abroad. Black
Forest Magic ~ US$1
Equals 0.89 Euro ~ By Steenie Harvey - Nice article on traveling through
the Black Forest region of Germany. There are some great houses and vineyards
to see as well as waterfalls and spas. The Black Forest always brings all
kinds of images into people's minds and if that is something that you've
always wanted to explore, then a trip this summer to the Black Forest region
might be the trip to take. June/03
Castles For Sale In Eastern Germany -Castles For Sale In Eastern GermanyYou may have read my articles in the past about castles for sale in the eastern states of Germany which have been run down during the Communist era of East Germany. Well, it's some time since my last article appeared and since things change over time, an up-date is in order. Yes, these castles and manor houses are for the most part still a good buy if you compare them to prices charged for similar properties in other parts of Europe. Even if prices have gone up, and the low dollar too contributes further to a price increase, they still represent a good investment. If you always wanted to own a castle, then by all means you will be paying less if you buy a castle in this region of Germany. Jul/05 Castle Ruin to a Modern Gem - Castle Ruin to a Modern Gem - Just 45miles east of the vivid city of Hamburg and a short hours drive from the German capital Berlin, you can find this wonderful Castle. Built in 1822 by the famous Danish architect Joseph Christian Lillie for the wealthy Von Laffert family, Lehsen Castle was originally surrounded by more than a hundred hectares (about 250acres) of park like garden complete with orangerie, mausoleum, forest and farmland. April/06 Death Rattle for the 20th Century - Death Rattle for the 20th Century - The hallmark of the 20th century was the abandonment of private life for empty promises of mob politics. Hitler began by promising property and national pride. He then initiated campaigns to make life safer and healthier -- gun control and anti-smoking efforts were not born in America; they were products of Nazi Germany. Dresden,
Germany ~ The
Capital Of Saxony ~ by Jörg M. Unger - If you are interested in
German history, architecture, and art, you should decide for a journey
to Dresden, Saxony - a gem among the big towns in former East Germany.
The advantage of Dresden’s historic center is that all the well-known and
famous buildings and squares are in walking distance, thus giving you plenty
of time to visit the places of your personal interest. Sept./04
Drive-Cycle-Hiking Through The Alps ~ Summer Tour ~ by Jorg Unger - When your days at work or on weekends are very scheduled, you may either tend to plan your vacation, too, or spend these days without any detailed arrangements. Last summer, we preferred the latter method and just took a map of the Alps and marked some places, valleys and mountains which seemed to be of interest. Then I joined up the marks and ready was our route through the German-speaking regions of the Alps. To be independent of any bookings, places, times - and of course, not to overdraw our vacation budget - we put our mountain bikes, rucksacks, and some camping equipment into our van and drove to Füssen at the edge of Allgäu, Bavaria. Dec./05 Enjoying long-term rental in northern Europe - Enjoying long-term rental in northern Europe - Although I love living in Ireland, I have a bad case of wanderlust and a taste for foreign foods. I love to poke around markets when I travel, particularly if I have the use of a kitchen where I can cook local dishes. Renting is a good option, and I've always found that it ends up being much cheaper than a lengthy hotel stay. How To Buy A Castle In The Former East German States - How To Buy A Castle In The Former East German States - There are, however, incentives to restore such castles and manor houses. The states have funds which pay subsidies toward renovation. This can be as much as 30% to 40% of the cost of renovation. Grants are allowed and agreed to before renovation begins, but are paid after renovation is finished. Thus, an investor will have to invest his own capital before receiving the subsidies. An investor is also entitled to receive the 16% VAT tax (value-added tax) back he has paid for building supplies. This too has to be applied for, and is paid after renovation is finished. April/03 It Takes a Village Idiot - It Takes a Village Idiot - All of the countries that comprised the former Soviet Union called themselves democracies. They were not pure democracies, of course. Citizens could vote...but only for one candidate, usually someone no one really wanted. In America, by contrast, there are usually two candidates -- neither of whom anyone really wants. Twice as much of nothing. Life
In The Wild East ~ Adventures
And Opportunities In The Former East Germany ~ by Patricia Linderman
- Today, the former East Germany’s five “new states” are fully integrated
into the West and preparing for European Union expansion to the east. Like
the rest of Germany, these areas offer quaint villages, Renaissance market
squares, great (and inexpensive) beer, enticing bakeries and a healthy
lifestyle full of opportunities for walking, biking and hiking. Feb/04
One World, One Love, No Ice ~ Sprained in Berlin's Love Parade - The Love Parade - Keith O'Brien was backpacking through Europe when he first got the news of the upcomping Belin Love Parade. After 12 countries in seven weeks, Keith thought his whirlwind travel would pick up in this 12-hour EU outdoor rave. The whirlwind subsided to an air cast for a badly sprained ankle, but Keith didn't let that stop him. Party on.Berlin’s Love Parade can be more dangerous than the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Predictions for 2000 and beyond - Predictions for 2000 and beyond - Voters have already lost interest in the next presidential election -- and it is still 10 months away. They are bored with the candidates and tired of the whole numbskull process of electing them. Real Estate in Germany - Not For the Risk Averse - Real Estate in Germany - Not For the Risk Averse - There is much speculation in the property press at the moment about whether or not Germany property represents an excellent medium to long term investment commodity for those seeking capital appreciation and/or rental income. Those who are analyzing the market but have no direct experience of it seem to think that all the economic and political signals point to profitable times ahead for those who commit to investing in Germany property. Jun/06 Short Term Work Resources ~ Resources for Locating Jobs Abroad - Jobs Overseas - Transitions Abroad has collaborated with Escape from America Magazine to bring escape artists a broad and exhaustive compilation of job opportunities in over 30 countries all over the world, including a regional guide to the Mediterranean, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to that treasure, this page and the next offer sound leads to serving in a voluntary capacity, as well as teaching overseas at some of the world's most prestigious schools. In following issues of Escape from America Magazine, we will be adding to this valuable resource on a regular basis. We know how important our Jobs Overseas section of your magazine is, and we're doing something about it. Check it out. Some Thoughts On Capitalism And Investing - In 2004 ~ by Juergen Klemann - A little and more interesting and telling is the mindset of certain politicians and other public figures in Germany. They all seem to be shell shocked by the possibility that international banks may purchase one or another private German bank. When Deutsche Bank bought Bankers Trust, it was just fine or “good as gold” to use a New Zealand colloquialism. If an international bank is going to acquire a private German bank, of course it is not just fine. And it is definitely not “good as gold”. We might be tempted to use a phrase like economic provincialism here to describe that sort of mindset. Jan/04 Tax Savings with Offshore Companies ~ An Advantage for German Enterprises - Tax Savings - The abolition of the corporation tax imputation system by the Steuersenkungsgesetz (Tax Reduction Act) diminishes the degree of discrimination against foreign dividends. This means that internationalization could also become significant to small and medium-size enterprises. The author discusses the establishment and utilization of an offshore company (domiciliary company) in a tax haven. July/02.
Ghana: Real Estate Buying Process - Ghana: Real Estate Buying Process - Ghana is a nation that offers an investor an unrivalled wealth of choice and potential, and a property investor considering this emerging market will likely be overwhelmed by the weight of opportunity for profit and gain. But because the Ghanaian investment real estate sector is in its absolute infancy there are many critical factors that a property buyer must bear in mind before committing to purchase land or real estate; this is a guide to the property buying process in Ghana to assist foreign buyers. Jun/06 RETURNING HOME AIN’T EASY BUT IT SURE IS A BLESSING ~ Back To Ghana ~ by IMAHKÜS - Ahead of us loomed this enormous, foreboding structure. The sight caused me to tremble; I almost didn't want to go inside. The outer walls were chipped and a faded and moldy white exterior. The sea had eaten away some of the mortar. It was gray and dismal as we climbed the steep steps, following the sign leading to the reception area. When we entered the reception area of the Cape Coast Castle Dungeons a smallish man with a bright smiling face met us. Sept./04 Short Term Work Resources - Resources for Locating Jobs Abroad - Transitions Abroad has collaborated with Escape from America Magazine to bring escape artists a broad and exhaustive compilation of job opportunities in over 30 countries all over the world, including a regional guide to the Mediterranean, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to that treasure, this page and the next offer sound leads to serving in a voluntary capacity, as well as teaching overseas at some of the world's most prestigious schools. In following issues of Escape from America Magazine, we will be adding to this valuable resource on a regular basis. We know how important our Jobs Overseas section of your magazine is, and we're doing something about it. Check it out. The Gold Coast - Making Millions In Ghana - Investing in Ghana - Doug Casey always seems to write stuff that's fun to read. In this article he has us believing that we can make zillions in Ghana. As he puts it, "Making a zillion dollars in a country like Ghana is potentially much easier than making it in the U.S. That's because you (the reader) have unique experiences, connections, knowledge, and capital that - while they're commonplace in more advanced countries - go a long way in an less developed countries (like Ghana), where you're automatically a big fish in a little pond." ~
Britain
- Beyond
London ~ by Dawnelle Salant - When most people think of Britain, the
exciting and ever changing city of London immediately comes to mind. Don’t
get me wrong, I love London and all it has to offer. But everyone knows
what’s there. Even if you’ve never been to the island’s most popular city,
you’re likely familiar with the history, sights and activities that make
London one of the world’s most popular destinations. Even though Britain
is a small island, it has plenty to offer if you ever tire of the big city.
April/04
South Wales: a poetic retirement in the land of Camelot - Retire Overseas - Only 170 miles long and 60 miles wide, the Wales of mining and coal export has all but disappeared. Its valleys and streams are now cleaner and greener-and without the soot. The Welsh economy, and real-estate prices in particular, seems to lag behind that of the rest of Britain.Roving retirement correspondent David Dell reports that at a recent auction, properties sold from S8,800 to about S24,600. Here he details why this jewel in Great Britain's crown is worth investigating.
Anatomy Of An Ex-Pat - Thoughts On What It Is To Be An Ex-Pat ~ By Peter Lamb - Peter Lamb lives on Corfu and he knows what it is to be an ex-pat making his way through the world. In his article he asks some important questions about what it is to be an ex-pat and how does one truly understand the motivations behind an ex-pats thinking process. March/03 Buying Property In Corfu, Greece ~Looking For Paradise ~ by Janet Darbey - So you have decided to leave your current home and settle in another country.You have already packed up and left this country behind you in your favourite fantasy, and you can visualise the little chair on the balcony overlooking the beach, and the glass of local red wine, that is waiting there for you.............. Dec./04 Dodecanese Islands Of Greece ~ Halki And Tilos ~ by Richard Robinson - A fleck of limestone in the Aegean, a few miles off Rhodes, that’s Halki. It has a small town at one end, a monastery at the other and, snaking eight mountainous miles in between, the intriguing Tarpon Springs Boulevard. As our holiday drew near, I was beginning to think there wouldn’t be much to do. Better pack a couple of extra books. Take the laptop, catch up on some writing. Halki, though, exceeded expectations. In our first few days there we scaled the castle heights and located the coat-of-arms of the Grand Master; we bumped along the Boulevard on the back of a bread van and stayed the night in the monastery. In the course of a single memorable afternoon, I rediscovered the lost Temple of Apollo. Dec./04 Fire in the Kitchen - Living On A Greek Island - Living in Greece - A word about this nonuser friendly oven. Most kitchens on Spetses don't have the generous sized ovens we're used to in America. You know, the kind with the big old burners on top, which are great for heating soup and making Jiffy Pop. Then they have a cavernous area which I think you use for baking cookies and roasting things. All I know is, they're hell to clean. And I only know that because every time I moved to a new apartment, I had to clean one. Of course one cleaning was all they usually needed during my tenure, because those frozen pizzas don¹t make much of a mess. Greek
Blues ~ Journey
To Crete ~ by Steenie Harvey - “There is a land in the midst of the
wine-dark sea, rich and fair, washed around by waves, full of people in
ninety cities...” So rhapsodized Homer about Crete—though I’ve never understood
the “wine-dark” description. Under skies of pure Greek blue, the sea surrounding
this fabled island of soaring mountains and steep ravines shimmers like
a silvered mirror of turquoise. Aug/04
Hot, Cool And Curative ~ The Greek Spa Town Of Edipsos ~ by Dulcy Blattner - My husband and I love to soak in mineral spring pools and tubs. We have sought them out from Calistoga, California to the Dead Sea in Israel. But this was the first time we were able to stand in the sea, feel the hot thermal water under our feet, and experience it pouring over our shoulders – all at the same time. We can't claim to have "discovered" the thermal springs in the spa town of Edipsos on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Evia, since the hot curative waters were mentioned in Aristotle's writing! Oct./05 I am an American, can I live and work in Greece? - I am an American, can I live and work in Greece? ~ The procedure for getting employment in Greece is complex. But for those wishing to retire in Greece or simply enjoy what we believe to be a highly desirable lifestyle, there is indeed a fully legal way for an American to live permanently in Greece. And of course if you have an Internet-based business, you could still operate that from here! Oct./05 Island
Hopping In Greece - Mediterranean
Summer ~ by Dawnelle Salant - Perhaps one of the most celebrated cities
in the world, Athens is a frenzied mix of history, culture and myth. Many
tourists expect more from this ancient city and are disappointed with what
they find. But if you look at it the right way, you’ll see that Athens
has more character than many most cities. Yes, it’s big. Yes it’s busy,
noisy, polluted and overrun with traffic. (What city isn’t?) Athens’ uniqueness
comes from its history, its people and the fusion of its past with its
future. July/04
Living On A Greek Island - Not a Greek Myth - by Terry Lichtenstein "Once in Greece, all five senses are stretched to their limit. It’s something you want to experience again and again. It’s something you wish for everyday, consciously and subconsciously. It’s a feeling you never forget, and you never want to. It’s something that motivates you to continue to live and breathe and feel. It’s what is Greece." Living the Life on the Island of Rhodes ~ Driving you Crazy - Driving on Rhodes - Ron Ferguson says Greece supposedly has the highest rate of traffic fatalities of any European country. This article is about how to not become one of them and other driving related facts. To begin with you have to bear in mind that unless you understand the culture and thinking of Greek drivers you have little chance of anticipating their moves. So let's begin with some simple facts .... Sept/02 Meta Avrio on the Island of Rhodes ~ Learning to Go with the Flow ~ Bureaucracy can be annoying. In Greece, they have raised it to an art form - Greek bureaucracy - It will be sunny tomorrow on the Island of Rhodes. Great weather. Rhodes has over 300 days of sunshine per year. You want friendly people, reasonable prices, affordable housing, easy access, good health care, and minimum bureaucracy. "Rhodes has all of these except the last," says Ron Ron Ferguson who lived there for seven years. Nectar Of The Gods ~ Wine On Corfu ~ by Janet Darbey - The huge hornets, bright yellow and black striped minature helicopters, buzz around the huge black wooden vat outside the taverna. The air is thick with the smell of ripe fruit and the flowers in the pots that surround the car park area. The village atmosphere is one of happiness and celebration, hard work and old traditions that go back to ancient times. Jan/06 Paradise On A Budget ~ How To Visit Greece And Get The Best From Your Dollar ~ by Janet Darbey - Greece is a wonderful place to visit. It has everything from undiscovered remote islands that are akin to paradise, to a huge bustling city that is full of tiny marble pavements and archaeological sites. The people are as friendly as you will find anywhere in the world, and even in the city of Athens the pace of life is laid back and rejuvenating. Dec./05 Property Picks: A cottage in the Greek Islands…a 7-acre country estate in Costa Rica…a house on the Indian Ocean for $90,000 - My favorite Greek Island. Dazzlingly white-stucco villas and all those pretty traditional village houses with their sapphire-blue shutters are an indelible image of the Greek islands. It’s no wonder that visitors dream of living here. Yet the Greek islands aren’t at all overrun with foreign buyers. Why? There are two reasons: The first is the climate. Despite all those enticing picture-postcard images, the Aegean doesn’t enjoy endless summer. Come mid-November, many islanders set sail for the mainland. Those who haven’t left are battening down the hatches and preparing for four months of storms, rain, and disrupted ferry schedules. Entertainment is almost non-existent, and there’s very little to do except develop an Ouzo habit. by Steenie Harvey Short Term Work Resources ~ Resources for Locating Jobs Abroad - Jobs Abroad - Transitions Abroad has collaborated with Escape from America Magazine to bring escape artists a broad and exhaustive compilation of job opportunities in over 30 countries all over the world, including a regional guide to the Mediterranean, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to that treasure, this page and the next offer sound leads to serving in a voluntary capacity, as well as teaching overseas at some of the world's most prestigious schools. In following issues of Escape from America Magazine, we will be adding to this valuable resource on a regular basis. We know how important our Jobs Overseas section of your magazine is, and we're doing something about it. Check it out. Teaching English in the lazy paradise of Crete - Teaching in Greece -Escapeartist Christopher Deliso writes, "When I came to Crete to live I had no idea how different it would be from the rest of Greece. While I had traveled widely in Greece, and had many Greek friends, I had never met a Cretan. I was warned by the mainlander Greeks that Cretans were a little bit dangerous -- ornery, quarrelsome, vindictive and boorish. Happily, these stereotypes weren’t true at all -- rather, the people I met during the course of a year were, like my kindly hosts near Amari, very friendly, curious, and hospitable. The relaxed Cretan lifestyle is well-geared towards those who enjoy sipping coffee in an outdoor café as the hours lazily pass, or sleeping in the shade of a palm beach." The five best tavernas in Athens - Unique Travel to Greece - Whatever else you can say about Athens (that its apartment blocks are ugly and its streets choked with cars, pollution, and merciless sun), its tavernas are certainly some of the world’s best eateries. Once you have discovered these gems, the city suddenly becomes possible. The food is prepared very simply with the freshest ingredients. The wine is cheap and abundant. Soon, you find yourself saying things like, “You know, Athens isn’t that bad after all…” by David Chater The Fun Lovers Guide to IOS - One of the Rockin' Greek Isles - The beautiful Greek islands, synonymous with the pursuit of wisdom, the birthplace of democracy, the evolvement of language. It is a country drenched in historical profundity. Great builders, great thinkers, (great lamb!) . . . everything you'd ever want, and then there’s IOS. The village center in Chora, is where it all starts, and it doesn’t even get GOING until midnight where the remarkably peaceful and clean nucleus transforms into an all night rave filled with song and dance. The Ionian Islands - The Ionian Islands - The largest of the Ionian Islands is Kefalonia, the island of contrasts, which is well-known and appreciated for its tranquillity and unspoilt beauties such as its magnificent caves, its endless mountainous areas and breathtaking beaches which differ from north to south of the island, thus the reason for it being described as the ‘island of contrasts’. Jun/06 The
Island Of Crete - Dreaming
Of Crete ~ by Marialena Lioulia - Regarding the "Escape from America"
article about affordable vacation places, I was happy to see that Crete
is considered one of them! The family of my mother stems from Crete and
my grandma and aunts and cousins still live there, so I think I can tell
you more about this beautiful island. First of all is a very big place
combining both steep mountain sides and a huge coast line from north to
south. It is divided into four counties, which have four major cities as
capitals, each one with a character of its own. July/04
Thinking Of Moving To The Greek Islands? ~ Thoughts On 10 Years Of Experience Overseas ~ by Janet Darbey - Have you been visiting Corfu for years, feel sick of the rat race at home, and are contemplating buying your dream home in the sun? Do you revel in the warm spring sunshine, feel seduced by the laid back way of life and want to enjoy these pleasures for the rest of your life? Before you track down all the local Real Estate agents and pay a fortune for an old building that you intend to restore into your dream home on Paradise island, stop and think twice. Make yourself a frothy coffee, or something stronger, pull up your favourite armchair, plump up the cushions,settle down comfortably, and think about the following questions..... Nov./04 Traveling And Teaching On The Mediterranean - Mallorca, Sardinia and Rhodes ~ By Ron Jenkins - Traveling and teaching on the Mediterranean sounds like something from the Ancient world. That distinctive Mediterranean blue water mixed with rejuvenating Mediterranean air. It makes me think of a Chirico painting or a glass of retsina with a small plate of olive oil, tomato and feta. Jan/03 Traveling To North Western Greece ~ Discovering The Land Of Macedonia ~ by Marialena Lioulia - Since I’ve been living in the capital of Greece, Athens, for most of my life up until now, the chance of traveling to other parts of my country always seems like a good idea whenever I have the opportunity. The opportunity this time was the Greek Orthodox Easter Holiday at the end of April 2005: I wanted a first class getaway to the countryside. Jun/05
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