Marcy home gym, the power of good results

It is not easy to build a good reputation, but Marcy home gym did this thanks to good, reliable products, good prices and results. If you start looking on the internet for the best home gym equipment available, you will find soon that usually quality comes together with high prices.

I said usually because this is not always true. You will see that Marcy fitness equipment puts together great quality and reasonable prices for a great user experience.

When buying fitness equipment you should consider every available option unless you have money to throw out the window. Because I suspect you don't, since I don't have such money myself, I give you a practical advice: consider Marcy home gym as the equipment to have/buy. You will find that the money you pay for this equipment is well spent and never look back, which usually happens with other similar equipment, not necessarily because poor quality equipment but because expensive ones.

I personally looked around for a while, I had a previous equipment at my office place, and wanted one for myself. I know I travel a lot and because of this I try to stay home as much as possible when I am in my home city, thus I said such a fitness equipment should come handy in order to exercise and stay home at the same time.

So, if you are in the same situation, consider my advice when purchasing fitness or home gym equipment.

Cornwall Myth and Legend

If you're mystified by myth and legend, there's no better place to visit than Cornwall. Every town and village has its own fascinating folklore from Tintagel, the legendary birth place of King Arthur, to St. Michael's Mount's Jack the Giant Killer. Here's just a handful of the captivating stories behind some of Cornwall most popular holiday hotspots.

King Arthur and Tintagel Cornwall's best known legend is that of King Arthur, who is said to have been born at Tintagel Castle. Arthur is said to have defeated the Saxons at a dozen battles, with his last battle fought at Slaughterbridge, near Wadebridge.

Lost Land of Lyonesse The Lost Land of Lyonesse is said to have lied beyond Land's End. Legend has it that in the 11th century, the country was claimed by the sea following a massive storm. The Isles of Sicily are said to be Lyonesse's mountain peaks, all what remains of the country.

Mousehole Cat This legend tells the tale of a cat called Mowzer and her owner Tom. Severe winter storms had left the people of Mousehole starving as it was too dangerous for fisherman to go to sea. But courageous Mowzer and Tom risked their lives by braving the storms in search of fish. The pair came back heroes, bringing back one of the largest catches ever and saved the lives of the villagers.

The Mermaid of Zennor Surrounded by sea, the county has long between associated with mermaids. The best known tale is that of the mermaid of Zennor. The beautiful bench carvings of Zennor Church keep this myth alive. It's believed Matthew Trehella, a chorister from the village was lured to live with the captivating mermaid under the sea. It's said, if you listen closely, you can hear the pair's singing echoing from beneath the waves.

Jack the Giant Killer In the days of King Arthur, the Giant of St. Michael's Mount - called Comoran - was terrorising the people of West Cornwall. A reward was offered to anyone who could slay the terrible giant. Jack, a farmer's son, bravely took on the mission. Jack dug a massive pit near Morvah, which he disguised with sticks and straw. He then blew his horn to lure Comoran from the Mount. Comoran angrily rushed down the Mount and fell into the pit. Jack then killed the giant with his pick-axe , ending his reign of terror, and filled the pit with earth. Near Morvah Church there is a huge stone, said to mark the giant's grave and it's said voices can be heard from under it.

This was also a great place to ride horses in the past. Of course, without modern endurance saddle pads I guess it was not that easy, but still...

The Giant Bolster Comoran isn't the only giant famed in Cornish legend. Giants are said to have roamed the county, with Bolster being another of the best known terrorising titans. It's said Bolster could place one foot on Carn Brea (near Cambourne) and the other on the cliffs near St. Agnes, six miles away. The aggressive Bolster fell in love with the saintly St. Agnes and pursued her. Bored of his endless attention, St. Agnes told the giant to prove his love for her by filling up a hole in the cliffs at Chapel Porth with his blood. St. Agnes knew the hole was bottomless, leading to the sea below, and that the giant would bleed to death. Bolster accepted her challenge. He plunged a knife into his arm and waited for his blood to fill the hole. Bolster lost so much blood that he died, his terrorising had come to an end. The cliffs at Chapel Porth are still stained red today, said to show where Bolster's blood ran into the sea.

And don't forget to get scuba diving insurance!

Ten things to Do in Rwanda

Rwanda, the land of one thousand hills and "hundreds of attractions," is an extraordinary place where serene scenery and placid people greet you at every juncture. Rwanda is safe and secure with an overwhelming renaissance of Rwandese national pride and cultural reconstruction. It is full of sights and delights, waiting to be explored. If Rwanda is on your travel list, there is no better time to run away to Rwanda...visit today and you would want to stay!


The country is well known mostly because of its horrible recent history, and you might think that Rwanda should therefore be more the scope for no governmental organization than for travelers. Nowadays, nothing is less true. Rwanda has wonderful people, breathtaking beautiful lakes, challenging mountains, stunning scenery, perfect climate, rare species of apes, excellent roads, express buses, good and cheap food and beer, various accommodation options, fast internet, only few tourists outside the gorilla-homes; you will find it all in Rwanda, a safe and yet to be discovered backpacker's haven!

Because of its small size, Rwanda attractions are near each other and can be reached quite easily and safely.

1. KIGALI CITY: A NICE PLACE TO EXPERIENCE AN AFRICAN CAPITAL

Kigali is an interesting mix of rural and urban town overflowing on juxtaposed hilly terrain. New construction is everywhere and large mansions stand side by side with mud brick huts and lean roads. It has a peaceful feel and the center is located upon the hilltop expanse. It feels safe and getting around is easy on foot or minibuses...many and new. For a bit more, taxis can whiz you anywhere without breaking the bank. Kigali is a nice place to experience an African capital.
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2. KGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIALS CENTER IN GISOZI

During the genocide in Rwanda in 1994, over a million people were murdered. Some 250,000 perished on the streets and in the houses, churches and hospitals of Kigali alone. The Kigali Genocide Memorial Center contains ten mass graves--a site of burial for most victims, who were killed in the Kigali region. After the genocide, as mass graves were being discovered around the city, it was decided that a single monument/ burial place should be created where the victims could be laid to rest with dignity. This is now their final resting place. The memorial houses a children's section, a particularly powerful experience to read about the children--how they lived and how they died. Amongst other things, it traces how things came to be so bad, how the ideology of genocide emerged, how the tragedy could have been averted, and how the world ignored the signs and warnings repeatedly. Some of the survivors of the genocide have been trained as guides at the center. Open 10am to 5pm daily. Entrance is free but at the door there is a box for donation. The place is really heartbreaking!

4. MOUNTAIN GORILLAS TREKKING

A Mountain Gorilla Trekking is the pinnacle of all the wildlife experiences available in Africa, and Rwanda is with no doubt the best place for this. People are limited to spend only one hour with the gorillas and expect to hike for two to four hours to see them. These incredible primates are divided into four groups that have been habituated over the decades; it's a thing not to miss in Rwanda. Don't miss spending an hour with these magical creatures. It does require planning in advance and contacting the national park or a local tour operator to check what the latest system they have implemented with regards to how you get a permit - but it is all worthwhile. Also, don't be put off by the price - a high price is needed to ensure that protecting the gorillas is economically sustainable for the local area.

5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBING

The national park office offers guided climbs to the top of two volcanoes among the five of the Virunga chain, Visoke (3711m) and Karisimbi (4705m -the tallest). The climbs to the summits are not technical and can be done by fit hikers. The scenery is great! However, the trek to Karisimbi's summit is an overnight trek and should be prepared properly.

6. NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

This national park is a preserved part of the rain forest which houses 13 species in all, including humankind's closest living relative, the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L'Hoest's monkey and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola colombus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe harbors almost 300 bird species of which two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. Please come with your car or book a tour with a local tour operator, otherwise it is very hard to reach the place and get away. You can camp there and pitch a tent but you have to consider bringing all food and water with you, as facilities are limited. The entry fee has recently been increased, so check up the actual fares.

7. AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Akagera is the best national park of Rwanda - very helpful park-ranger help to find you all animals in the park - mainly, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, hippos and crocodiles.

8. RUSUMO FALLS

Rusumo is a marvelous and spectacular falls of the Akagera River, a part of the most distant headwaters of the river Nile. The waterfall is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda at the border with Tanzania. If you happen to cross the border with Tanzania at Rusumo, don't forget to see the Rusumo Falls.

9. THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE KIVU

The beautiful Lake Kivu is a large deposit of fresh water that marks the western border with DR Congo and one of the Great Lakes of Africa. The lake is in the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu empties into the Ruzizi River, which flows southwards into Lake Tanganyika. Beneath the lake lie vast reserves of approximately 55 billion cubic of dissolved methane gas, which have not been exploited. Lake Kivu is a tourist center, safe to swim (but just ask locally to be completely sure). There are nice beaches, gorgeous landscapes and the sunsets are regularly stunning. There are some excellent places to stay on the Lakeside, such as Kibuye and--especially--Gisenyi near the DR Congo border.

10. BUTARE CITY IN HUYE

The most popular tourist attraction in Butare is the superb National Museum, which houses perhaps the finest ethnographic collection in East Africa. The rooms are spacious, without the excessive clutter of distracting memorabilia. This makes the well-labeled exhibits easy to appreciate and enjoy. Absorbing displays of traditional artifacts are illuminated by a fascinating selection of turn-of-the-century monochrome photographs, providing insight not only into pre-colonial lifestyles, but also into the subsequent development of Rwanda as a modern African state. Here the Intore dancers can be commissioned to perform, but this is not a good deal for a single traveler. If a group is present the price would definitely be worthwhile as shows are few and far between.

Vacation and Holiday Apartment for Rent in Miami Beach

Why stay in a hotel when you can take advantage of a fully furnished holiday apartment for rent in Miami Beach for you and your family. They offer quality, space, location and most importantly a great price. With a wide range of holiday studios, one, two and three bedrooms, you can tailor to suit all your personal needs and requirements. Besides holiday apartments, you can choose among other vacation rentals, villas, luxury vacation homes, holiday house rentals, holiday villas and homes on the Internet.

Every day people of all ages are looking from condo rentals to luxury villas. Vacation rental consumers or corporate relocation renters would be delighted with the possibilities at hand in the Internet today.

Properties go from daily and weekly to monthly and seasonal and are located either in the city, the beaches or the Florida bay. Typically daily rentals are studio efficiency, hotel rooms, bed and breakfast and inns. But if you choose to stay on a weekly basis, then your choice can also be extended to apartments, beach houses, condominiums and apartment duplex. Finally, if you decide to treat yourself to a longer stay, you may also choose from modern condos to large houses and exquisite villas.

Join the thousands of people already using holiday apartments for rent in South Beach, and who choose to stay at private home rentals by owners for certain occasions and trips. They are offered more flexibility in terms of space, kitchen facilities, and amenities and also provided with a peaceful atmosphere and elegant professional decoration and designs. Rent or let one and feel the experience.

Some of the many features included are marinas, business centers, large balconies, swimming pool areas with pool side bars, covered parking garages and so on and on.

Floridians will be waiting for you to come to a holiday apartment for rent and enjoy a sunset by the beach, a drink by the pool with friends or a private business meeting to be sealed with champagne at one of the many well furnished and equipped condominiums and lofts.

Looking for a holiday apartment for rent!!! Your requirements will be met beyond your expectations.

From Buenos Aires visit Salta - Argentina Photo Gallery

Starting at the Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace and the 17th. century Church of San Francisco with its 19th. century tower, forming a group of outstanding beauty, from there the range of tourist sights spreads out in all directions. To the South, the Valle de Lerma leads to the Cabra Corral dam and reservoir, set among the mountains, a somewhat rare scene in the generally arid northern landscape. From there the river Las Conchas leads through a ravine, offering impressive spots to stop off, like the Amphitheater, the Devil's Throat and the Obelisk, all names of curious natural rock formations along the way to Cafayate. This is one of the typical Salta sceneries worth visiting, with the attraction of its vineyards on the mountainsides, making it the chief winemaking area of the North. Its history is displayed in the original Wine Museum, which organises guided visits from the Crafts Market to the nearby wineries that produce Salta's star, the Torrontes wine.

The next stage northwards, through the Quebrada (gorge) de la Flecha, with its stunning geological formations of reddish brown shades which are particularly outstanding at sunset, takes us to Cachi at 2280 meters altitude. The typical whitewashed adobe and narrow streets are like a dream for tourists from big cities, as is the 18th. century church of San Jose. The single nave has a vaulted roof of adobe and cardon, the plant providing the material for all the Jesuit buildings here, while the special historical value of the altar images contrasts poignantly with the simple setting.

With a privileged mountain climate, Cachi shines out in the zone with its whiteness and boasts the important archeological site La Paya nearby, surrounded by natural beauty not to be missed.

Heading back toward the city of Salta, the first landmark is Los Cardones National Park, at more than 2000 meters altitude, looking like a strange world to find oneself in, surrounded by those distinctive huge cactus plants with edible fruits. Then one enters another awesomely unreal scene in the Quebrada de escoipe and the stunning sight of the Cuesta del Obispo connecting the Valle de Lerma with the Alto Valle Calchaqui, a difference in altitude of 1200 meters up to the highest point at 3260 meters. To one side is the Valle Encantado, which is truly enchanting, as the clouds drift between captivating rocky sculptures and hidden caves conceal surprising rock-paintings.

The following day gives a more impressive view of the city, with its churches and museums and the great attraction of the Museo de Alta Montaña. The best view of the city is from the funicular station on cerro San Bernardo, dominating the scene of Salta's life. The city lies at 1200 meters altitude, from where the famous Tren a las Nubes departs, a whole day's round trip to San Antonio de los Cobres, along the winding and over breath-taking bridges. In Salta you will learn to eat the country's most famous empanadas and get caught up in the crafts market, but the really captivating spot to relax nearby is the Quebrada de San Lorenzo. Amidst the trees, birds, waterfalls, it is impossible not to feel you are in paradise only a few minutes from the city center.

Nyiragongo Volcano in Goma Congo

Nyiragongo volcano is located in Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, at around 19 kilometers of Goma, very close to Rwandan border, in a safe and easily accessible area. The Nyiragongo is one of Africa 's most dangerous and the most famous for its semi-permanent lava lake. The volcano is also known to the people of Congo as a sacred mountain where an angry spirit is trapped. The volcano is still active and it has erupted several times throwing lavas toward the town of Goma and other neighboring villages.

Anybody knows about how long the volcano has been erupting, but since 1882 it has erupted at least 34 times, including many periods where activity was continuous for years at a time, often in the form of a churning lava lake in the crater. The volcano partly overlaps with two older volcanoes, Baratu and Shaheru, and is also surrounded by hundreds of small volcanic cinder cones from flank eruptions.

Volcanism at Nyiragongo is caused by the rifting of the Earth's crust where two parts of the African Plate are breaking apart. A hot spot is probably also partly responsible for the great activity at Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira.

The lava emitted in eruptions at Nyiragongo is often unusually fluid. Nyiragongo's lavas are made of melilite nephelinite, an alkali-rich type of volcanic rock whose unusual chemical composition may be a factor in the unusual fluidity of the lavas there. Whereas most lava flows move rather slowly and rarely pose a danger to human life, Nyiragongo's lava flows may race downhill at up to 60 miles per hour (up to 100 km/h). This is because of the extremely low silica content. Hawaiian volcanic eruptions are also characterized by lavas with low silica content, but the Hawaiian volcanoes are broad, shallow-sloped shield volcanoes in contrast to the steep-sided cone of Nyiragongo, and the silica content is high enough to slow most Hawaiian flows to walking pace.

The last known eruption was in 2002. The volcano erupted and ejected a large cloud of smoke and ash high into the sky and spewed lava down three sides of the volcano. One river of lava flowed right through the center of Goma and into Lake Kivu, effectively bisecting the city. Hundreds of people were burnt to death. At least 400,000 people fled their homes when the lava swept down the flanks of Mount Nyiragongo and through Goma's main street before pouring into Lake Kivu on the Rwandan border. The thousands of displaced came back after three days and tried to rebuild their lives by erecting wooden huts on top of the lava. Somewhere beneath lay the remains of their homes.

The lava had set like concrete. It was impossible to dig trenches for water supplies and drainage. Even to sink a hole for the simple African drop toilet wasn't possible. The sharp irregular stones made walking difficult and slashed the tires of cars and motorbikes.

Lava dictated everything. It was the foundation for people's homes, their yards, the building blocks for yard walls and the surface of the roads. Buildings that had survived were submerged and set fast one story deep in it.

Even if the 2002 eruption was described by many Congolese as the worst, the 1977 was many times more than it. The difference is that the first didn't destroy houses like the last one, but it burnt many peoples. On 10 January 1977, the crater walls fractured, and the lava lake drained in less than an hour. The lava flowed down the flanks of the volcano at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour on the upper slopes, overwhelming villages and killing at least 2000 people. Some reports quote much higher figures of up to several thousand people. The hazards posed by eruptions like this are unique to Nyiragongo. Nowhere else in the world does such a steep-sided stratovolcano contain a lava lake containing such fluid lavas.

Efforts have been made to level the lava on the way to the lake so that it can be used as a road. "I visited several volcanoes with different grades of activity before, but never saw its destructive powers in a way like this. The landscapes that it created are amongst the most bizarre I've ever seen," says one traveler. Let's hope the people of Goma will finally reach a life without natural disasters and equally disastrous effects of political struggle!

Napa Wine Train offers taste of luxury

Next time you're in the Napa Valley, set aside a few hours to get a taste of elegant rail travel on the Napa Valley Wine Train.

The Napa experience is all about wine, of course, but it's also about enjoying the finer things in life. The typical Napa visitor will spend considerable time visiting several of the local wineries where each will offer up its special formulas and vintages - usually for ten to 15 bucks for a few sips - and there are few lodgings in Napa that are not upscale. Fine dining is also considered de rigueur for any serious visit to what is now the home base for hundreds of wineries.

It's fitting, therefore, that the Napa Valley Wine Train would be one of the most popular tourist attractions in a place that is the definition of elegance. Just like visitors taste expensive wines for a fraction of their cost, the visitor who boards the Wine Train gets a little taste of pampered rail travel - think Orient Express - for a fraction of what it would cost for the real thing.

We stayed the night before in San Francisco, but we were still able to make our way to the Wine Train's station in Napa by about 10:30 a.m. to board the lunch train. The Wine Train also offers a dinner excursion but that was fully booked when we called for reservations weeks ahead. The lunch train, though, has its advantages: the entire three-hour ride is in daylight no matter the time of year, and it costs a little less.

You'll want to plan on being patient during the boarding process. With hundreds of guests and passengers allocated to different dining areas and even, in some cases, different meals, it just takes a little time to get everyone signed in and out onto the train. But during the hour we waited for actual boarding, the Wine Train offered a lecture on Napa Valley wineries and - always a crowd-pleaser - a couple of glasses of wine to sample.

Once on board, it's clear that the Wine Train has pulled out all the stops to make this as luxurious as possible. We settled down into plush chairs facing one another with a table in between. Others in our car sat in comfortable over-stuffed swivel chairs positioned side by side so that guests could constantly view the passing scenery or easily chat with one another. This particular rail car was styled in red and gold with natural wood accents, giving a sense of luxury and feeling quite different from a typical passenger car on, say, Amtrak.

This is a historic rail car and, in fact, there is quite a history behind this train and railroad. The rail line was first built in 1864 by San Francisco's first millionaire, Samuel Brannan, and was used to take visitors to his new spa resort called "Calistoga." In 1885, Southern Pacific bought the Napa Valley Railroad, which provided regular passenger service to the Napa Valley until the 1930's. It was used for freight for awhile after that, but it was not until 1987 that a group of concerned citizens founded the Napa Valley Wine train and purchased locomotives and restored 1910-era Pullman rail cars to provide the new service.

During our three hours on board, we were treated to waves of meal and beverage service starting with wine (not included in your meal price, by the way), appetizers, salad, a main course - which during our trip was a choice between salmon and a beef entrée - and dessert. Everything was exquisitely prepared and the presentations rivaled what you would find at an expensive gourmet restaurant.

The trip took us part way up the valley to St. Helena and then back to Napa. Along the way we passed countless wineries, gorgeous vineyards and majestic views of the hills and mountains just beyond the valley. On weekends the Wine Train offers a variation of this lunch service that allows passengers to disembark and spend some time at a local winery before making the return trip to Napa.

We arrived back in Napa totally relaxed and decided to visit a few wineries before checking into our resort. The choices are endless and, in Napa, there are several major wineries that have put Big Money into their visitor centers. There are also a few smaller family-run wineries. They all want you to buy cases or bottles of wine to take back home but, in Napa, we've noticed a trend in recent years toward charging more for wine tasting. Or it may be a case of charging the same but getting less wine. Part of this, we're suspecting, has to do with how busy Napa is on weekends and is a way of reducing the line at the tasting bar.

One of the least expensive tastings is at V. Sattui Winery, where the gift shop and deli were buzzing with people, and lines were forming along the wine bar to taste the latest offerings for just $5 for four wines. Located in St. Helena, this is a great stop for visitors who want to grab a bottle of wine and picnic on the beautiful grounds. The winery even sets up a buffet line out on the grounds, offering barbecue for those who didn't bring their brown bags. Interestingly, V. Sattui does not sell its wine anyplace other than the winery, by mail order, or from the company web site.

While V. Sattui is typical of a relatively small family-run winery, the other end of the scale is Domaine Chandon, which we found in Yountville. With spectacular park grounds and a four-star gourmet restaurant just footsteps from where the wine is made, Domaine Chandon is an example of a winery owned by a large conglomerate that distributes its product world-wide. On a previous trip we took the 45-minute tour of this massive facility, which we thought was well worth the time. Small groups are taken step-by-step through the process of wine-making all the way from growing the grapes to bottling the product.

We concluded our busy first day in the Napa Valley with a short drive to our lodging for the evening, the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa. Like several other Napa Valley accommodations, the Silverado is steeped in luxury and offers a feast for the senses. Located adjacent to an 18-hole golf course, the Silverado is really a series of individual cottage suites which are reached by winding walkways through and alongside picturesque, colorful gardens, golf fairways, courtyards and ponds.

Each of the cottages at Silverado has a unique décor and ours felt like a small one-story vacation home with a complete kitchen and living room area, dining table, fireplace and separate bedroom. A wide-screen flat TV was in the living room, while just outside the sliding glass door was a patio and chairs where we could sit and watch the golfers just a few yards away.

The Silverado reminded us a little of Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., a favorite of ours is quite similar -- they're both village-style accommodations connected by paths that meander through the property with surprises at every turn. With 1,200 acres altogether, Silverado guests encounter many pleasant surprises on grounds that are lush with trees and vegetation and impeccably maintained.

Silverado was the perfect complement to our day on the Napa Valley Wine Train and another great example of the spirit of Napa Valley.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: The Napa Valley is about 45 miles northeast of San Francisco or about 60 miles southwest of Sacramento.

WHAT: The Napa Valley has become famous because of the grapes grown in this location. Grapes grown in different climates, soils and locations have different characteristics and Napa Valley grapes are judged to be some of the best in the world for making several varieties of fine wine. Accordingly, more than 300 wineries now have located in the Valley. Fine restaurants, lodging and shopping have also come to the Valley.

WHEN: Any time of year. A special bonus comes in August and September during the annual grape harvest. You can sometimes see first-hand how the grapes are crushed. Hint: Most of them don't do it like Lucy Ricardo did.

WHY: The Valley has an almost mystical ambiance that is hard to describe, but easy to discern.