So you’ve been living the city life and you need a real escape, then the answer is Fiji. Fiji is not a difficult place to party, it is known for rejuvenation and relaxation of the soul. The whole place has a sense of peace and harmony that money cannot buy. The people of Fiji are well known throughout the world for being the happiest and most easy-going people.

Resorts in Fiji are great, and at the same time, they are known to be expensive. However, if you feel comfortable moving away from the tourist centers and into the smaller town or city areas, you will find the depth of culture.

Fijian culture gives you this sense of peace, happiness with nature and life that most places in the world cannot provide.

The entire island is tourist friendly and is also known to be a safe place.

Now the reason most people go to Fiji is to experience the beautiful exotic beaches, coral life, fishing, culture and coastal lifestyle. The quality of most of Fiji’s beaches is truly the best. Visit the link at the bottom for a review guide to some well known islands.

On your journey home, you should feel more centered and rejuvenated with energy, happiness, and a sense of peace.

Fiji is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is just above New Zealand and northeast of Sydney, Australia. From Sydney, the flight averages 3-4 hours one way.

There are a couple of well-known cities that fly into Fiji, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Auckland, and many more.

There are more than 332 islands and most of them are inhabited by people. The main cities or towns in Fiji are Nadi, Lautoka, Suva, Nasinu and Labasa. Don’t think of them as big cities like Los Angeles or Sydney, but much smaller in size and density.

The islands are known to be volcanic and the native vegetation consists mainly of tropical forests. There are periods of heavy rain between December and March. Since the island group lies close to the equator, you will most of the time find a tropical climate, which means sunny on most occasions, and sometimes it suddenly changes to rainy weather.

As beautiful as Fiji is, you want to go prepared. Read reviews from Trip Advisor and other travel blogs about Fiji. There have been cases of lost or opened luggage, so have a lock and locks that leave a message when your bags have been opened.

Also, once you move away from the mainland, the prices also increase suddenly. To better prepare yourself, purchase alcohol, sunscreen, summer clothing, water, snacks, and food and basic necessities before entering Fiji.

Making it the most loved experience is a skill to do. It requires not only a “to do list” but a special mindset to enjoy anything. It’s like watching a movie preview, the consequence is that you already know the best and worst parts of the movie even before you watch it. So what you want to do is assume it’s going to be a great time, but you don’t know how or what or why.

Are you looking for a truly unique way to ring in the New Year? Why not take a trip to witness the magnificent Northern Lights? Iceland is one of the best destinations to see this fantastic natural spectacle, and the locals are famous for ringing in the New Year in their own inimitable style. It’s a party to end all parties.

New Year and Northern Lights

Flying into Reykjavik and then spending a few nights at Hotel Ranga is a fabulous way to start your trip, giving you the best chance of experiencing the famous Northern Lights. Iceland is one of the Nordic countries famous for its light sightings (other countries include Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia). This magnificent natural display is unlike any other on Earth and you will be mesmerized by the intensity of its beauty, its scale and the glorious spectrum of colours. The hotel’s dramatically isolated location makes it the perfect place to experience the phenomenon.

exciting volcanoes

During the build up to the New Year, you will have the opportunity to join fabulous local tours. The volcano and glacier tour is a real highlight and will take you exhilaratingly close to the crater of the famous volcano, Eyiafjallajokull, which erupted just four years ago. You will be escorted by a guide and driven in a jeep over lava fields past a myriad of magnificent volcanic features, some old and some very new. These so-called Superjeeps are geared up for off-road driving, and you’ll be able to experience them in action as you head across the glaciers towards the top of the volcano. From here you can hike up to the volcano, which is definitely worth the effort for the incredible panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

picturesque waterfalls

If volcanoes aren’t your thing, the Golden Circle tour can be an exciting alternative. This tour is all about the dramatic and breathtaking landscapes for which the country is so famous. A 4×4 vehicle will take you around the Golden Circle, visiting Gullfoss waterfall, a constantly erupting geyser, and Haifoss, one of the best known (and highest) waterfalls in the country. The Golden Circle tour is a wonderful introduction to the landscape of a country that is wild and raw in every way, serving to put a little humiliation on any visitor who honors its presence.

new year celebrations

At New Years, the country’s capital, Reykjavik, hosts its own Northern Lights display! Iceland celebrates the New Year in style and it is a very exciting and fun time to be in the city. After exploring the city’s museums, shops and quaint harbor, you can enjoy an impressive fireworks display from the comfort of one of the country’s most eclectic restaurants, Perlan. You’ll experience the incredible cuisine and wine of this renowned restaurant, and have one of the best vantage points in the city to watch the fireworks. In a peculiar turn of events, you’ll be interrupted after your main course to be taken on a tour of the many bonfires lit throughout the city. Accompanied by raucous and joyous celebrations, these bonfires are the locals’ way of ringing in the New Year. You can then head back to the restaurant for dessert, more fireworks, and dancing the night away.

To experience a unique taste of science, geography, culture, New Years celebrations, and the Northern Lights, Iceland is the ultimate destination.

Stand-up paddle boarding, also known as stand-up paddle boarding or SUP, is a relatively new water sport and continues to grow in popularity. It is, as the name implies, an activity in which you stand on a surfboard and use a long paddle to move on the water. It can be practiced in calm water, challenging waves and everything in between. Read on to find out more about what this action camera should look like and what equipment you need to make it.

The development of stand up paddle boarding

Stand-up paddleboarding began in the 1960s in Hawaii. Wanting to supervise and take pictures of their surf students and needing a high angle to do so, the “Beach Boys” decided to stand on their surfboards and use their canoe paddles to glide across the water.

Moving forward from the 1960s, SUP has been embraced by athletes looking for a good core workout. During the low swell, the surfers also found it a good training activity and ended up enjoying it so much that they participated in sport-specific events and competitions. Some surfers have converted to stand up paddle boarding because it is easier for them to see incoming waves. This leads them to actively catch more waves, and how can that be a bad thing? Today’s cyclists looking for a challenge even take up the sport on rushing rivers, navigating rapids and other obstacles.

For average people, SUP has gained popularity as it is much easier to learn than traditional surfing. A quick lesson will get them on their feet and they will stay there. An interesting fact to keep in mind: women tend to find this sport easier due to their lower center of gravity.

SUP for beginners can be a great sport on the lake or flat water as it elevates the rider’s vantage point making it easier to see sights such as wildlife and the beautiful seascape.

stand up paddle boarding equipment

The main piece of equipment required for stand up paddle boarding is the board itself. It is possible to use a regular surfboard, but it is recommended to get your hands on a board made specifically for SUP. These boards tend to be longer, wider and offer more stability. They usually have a foam core, surrounded by an epoxy resin. More recently, even inflatable boards have appeared on the scene.

Next you need a palette. Most oars are made of carbon, fiberglass, or wood and consist of a handle and blade shaft. When choosing a paddle, look for one that is about 6 inches taller than you are.

If you’re just getting started in stand-up paddleboarding, you’ll probably want to rent your equipment. Entry level boards can cost around $600 and higher end boards go up to $2000. A decent paddle will run you around $100.

For your next travel destination, head to the island of Puerto Rico, where you will simply enjoy the many tours that are available there for your sightseeing pleasures. There is so much to see and do while you spend your time having fun with all the Puerto Rico tours.

You can just relax as you float on the ocean on a calm catamaran sailing to Icacos, which is located just south of San Juan. There you will see many kilometers of white sand beaches with beautiful blue waters. During a tour, you’ll be able to search the island, sunbathe, collect shells, or if you’d like, just swim off the shores.

You can also see underwater water wonders where you will find living coral reefs. You will be offered a picnic lunch along with a pina colada, which will be served to you on the boat by crew members. The tour will take you sailing on a catamaran to the uninhabited island of Icacos.

Luquillo beach is a very large crescent of white sand fringed with coconut palms along with the view of El Yunque mountain as a backdrop. You will tour the cool mountainous rainforest, which is home to the unique preservation of plant and animal life.

On the coast of Luquillo beach you can see a lot of marine life and many tropical fish as well. Luquillo beach is located on the northeast coast and is known as the best on the island with a popular public stretch of very calm waters along with golden colored sand.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Bacardi Building, known as the largest rum distillery in the world. There you can try the products and even take some liquid souvenirs with you. From there you will be able to visit some preserved Spanish colonial cities.

The entire city of San Juan is known as a historic site which is something you won’t want to miss seeing. While visiting the old city, you can stroll through the old cobbled streets and visit the museums, forts and churches that make San Juan a wonderful attraction.

If you love the depths of the sea, you will simply enjoy the experience in some of the best sport fishing waters in the world. You can take a full day or half day deep sea fishing charter where you will be ready for a luxury cruise and also the chance to catch and fish for a Sailfish, Tuna, Dorado or even a Blue Marlin.

A trip to Puerto Rico simply isn’t complete without touring the depths of an ancient cave known to be a million years old. You will visit the Park of the Caves of the Camuy River. This tour will take you directly from San Juan to the third largest underground cavern in the world.

You will certainly enjoy a tour of the wonders of sinkholes to cavern-like cathedrals and then you can see a mysterious river with its aeons – ancient stalactites and also its stalagmites. You will find this tour quite interesting.

For your next trip, consider a visit to Puerto Rico to see some of the many fascinating and interesting places you will never see during the many tours that the beautiful island has to offer.

“Being the richest man in the graveyard doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.” -Steve Jobs

With the breakneck technological innovations of this millennium, it opened its doors to several new business ideas. Over the past few decades, we’ve heard and read stories about various startups founded by young people who are already magicians in their own right. We consider them modern day heroes who helped shape the world into what we now see it to be today. One of these guys is Steve Jobs. His name is already synonymous with charisma and inspiration.

He was the Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Apple Inc., which is a leading manufacturer of electronic devices such as the Macintosh Computer (MAC), iPod, iPhone, and the music and video software called iTunes. Jobs is considered by many to be an intense creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and his fierce drive revolutionized six industries. These include personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablets, and digital publishing. Known as a business and sales wizard, he is credited with many of Apple’s now-patented electronic inventions. He was also CEO of Pixar Animation Studios until it was acquired by Disney in 2006.

He was born Steven Paul Jobs in San Francisco, the son of Joanne Carole Schieble and Syrian Abdulfattah John Jandali, but was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs. He attended Cupertino High School and then High School at Homestead HS in the same city of Cupertino. He spent his childhood in the South Bay area, later to be known as Silicon Valley. During high school, he had a summer job at the Hewlett-Packard Company in Palo Alto. While attending conferences and working at HP, he met Steven Wozniak, whom he later co-founded Apple with.

Like every other dot-com billionaire, Steve Jobs dropped out of college. He attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon for about six months. When he returned to California in 1974, he began attending meetings at the Homebrew Computer Club with his friend Wozniak. At that time, he took a job at Atari and discovered that a popular whistle can emulate the tones needed to make long-distance phone calls with AT&T. That idea led him to convince Wozniak to do business with him to create “blue boxes,” a device for making free long-distance phone calls.

Later, he continued to work with Wozniak on other projects and one of them is a computer that Wozniak had built for himself. On April 1, 1976, they founded Apple Inc., which began with printed circuit boards. His first personal computer is called the Apple I and it sold for $666.66. It was followed by the Apple II, which is a huge success for their business and they began selling stock in December 1980.

In 1984, they introduced the Macintosh, which later became a huge success. It is the first personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI) in which people can interact with the elements on the screen. As Apple grew further, Jobs experienced tension with the board that led to his leaving Apple in May 1985.

In 1986, Steve Jobs founded the company called NeXT, a company designed around aesthetic interpersonal computing. He later he focused more on software development. This company has an important role in the development of electronic mail and the world wide web. In 1996, Apple acquired NeXT and reinstated Jobs as CEO.

Many remember Jobs for his work ethic. Such a feature has helped develop Apple into a very successful company that it is today. The jobs also help the company avoid bankruptcy in the 1990s. He is also instrumental in establishing the new electronics divisions, as well as creating the iPod, iPhone, and other personal devices. On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs died after complications with pancreatic cancer.

When was the World Cup Italy vs France? Where was it played?

Two years and one month ago, in July 2006, Italy against France competed for the world cup title. It was held in Berlin, Germany. Billions of fans and soccer fanatics have been a part of this most anticipated soccer championship.

It had been Fabio Grosso’s fifth and decisive penalty kick that led to the Italian championship. The penalty was caused by a headbutt by French player Zinedine Zidane, who also ended his football career with a red card for this shameful act. Accompanying Italy’s sweet success is Zidane’s charge against Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest in the second half of extra time. The Italian defender then fell to the ground, instantly drawing furious reactions from his teammates. This event will surely leave a significant mark in the history of football.

There have been rumors of bribery and favoritism, which is a common atmosphere during gaming tournaments. Despite all the ongoing rumors, Italy won the championship and emerged victorious against their opponent – France. Football fans and fans of the champion team have had a very good reason to celebrate and celebrate.

Italy won the world cup in 1934, 1938 and 1982. But the 2006 world cup would be a sweet success for the players and the team as well.

The Soccer World Cup of Italy against France would leave a significant mark in the history of soccer.

Dinosaur-themed activities inspire young children to learn about science

A child’s fascination with dinosaurs and all things prehistoric helps motivate and inspire students in many schools. With the advent of a more creative curriculum, teachers and teaching assistants are using children’s love of dinosaurs to help get them excited about science subjects and exploring concepts such as developing and testing theories.

Described as using a “Triceratops as a Trojan Horse,” students are able to explore scientific concepts and methodologies using a variety of activities that allow for differentiation in the classroom setting and provide prepared opportunities for supported learning and extension activities. With a new species of dinosaur being named every twenty to thirty days and something like 1,200 genera of dinosaurs already described, these prehistoric animals always seem to have a high profile in the media. This can help teachers write inspiring lesson plans based on these long extinct reptiles.

teach by example

An example would be working with children studying key stage two of the national curriculum (children aged 7-9, typically in years 3-5 of primary school). The concept of “deep time” can be explained using a time line they build showing when dinosaurs lived in relation to people the children may have already studied as part of the previous quarter’s topics: the Romans, the ancient Greeks, etc By drawing a line to scale showing how many millions of years dinosaurs have existed, students, under the supervision of faculty, can construct a line diagram showing when dinosaurs lived and linking this time to the time of Ancient Rome, Greek civilization and such With a one centimeter time scale representing a million years, children can place events in the correct time periods, a goal set within the teaching objectives of the national curriculum. By placing individual dinosaurs in the correct geologic period, Apatosaurus within the Jurassic and tyrannosaurus rex Within the Cretaceous, students can appreciate which dinosaurs lived when and which other prehistoric animals lived at the same time. Secondary resources can then be used for children to learn more about individual dinosaurs and this leads to extension activities such as each child researching, drawing and writing about their own prehistoric animal.

Using timelines to explore deep geologic time

When making my own timeline with school-age children, my advice would be to use a scale of one centimeter equals one million years and trace the history of life on Earth from the present to 250 million years ago, the beginning. of the Triassic geological period. and just before dinosaurs rose to prominence in terms of land animal populations on Earth. This means that a timeline of about 2.5 meters in length can be created, which can easily be placed along a classroom wall for display purposes.

Working with very young children at school

With children under the age of three beginning to learn and display knowledge about these long-extinct reptiles, the Dinosauria lend themselves to working with children of reception/foundation age. When consulting on Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) teaching, it is important to help children understand the nature of materials and the world around them. The EYFS framework has recently been revised and remains the legal framework for required teaching standards for early years providers. This teaching framework helps prepare children of reception/foundation age for school and ensures that children acquire the necessary skills to help them progress through their academic studies in the future. Several teachers are making “Dinosaurs” the theme for the first quarter kids find, fossils and models can help them explore the properties of different materials and even different dinosaur toys can help them learn about different parts of the body. Simple selection and counting games such as choosing all the models of prehistoric animals that have four legs, counting the number of green ones and the like can be encouraged. These types of activities also lend themselves to a number of extension activities, such as grouping together animals that share the same and similar characteristics.

Key Stage Three alumni

When working with older children, a simple math lesson can be made more challenging and fun by creating a dinosaur path out of make-believe dinosaur footprints. Children can learn to measure and calculate using these simple but imaginative accessories. In one school, a principal was asked to step in and lead a one-hour math class with a group of 7-year-olds (Key Stage 3 ages 11-12). Borrowing some footprint drawings, she placed a series of dinosaur footprints in the school hallway and then, dividing the class into groups, challenged them to use rulers and tape measures to get as much information as possible about the animal they were looking for. left traces. He was able to develop this lesson plan by introducing the concept of scale drawings and average measurements (the arithmetic mean). It was certainly a memorable and rewarding math-based lesson that helped familiarize students with simple science concepts like mapping and graphing, as well as introducing simple equations and using arithmetic.

The Dinosauria is a very useful term topic or partial term topic for elementary and middle school students. This theme has proven especially helpful in encouraging reading-averse children to become more enthusiastic about reading and using books as reference material for further study.

Helping Teaching and Teaching Assistants

Teachers and teaching assistants can use children’s interest in prehistoric animals to help them learn about the world around them and simple scientific principles. Find out who the dinosaurs were, where they lived, what they ate, when they lived, how big they were, etc. All can help teachers to ensure that national curriculum objectives are met. Importantly, it also means that imaginative and inspiring lesson plans are being designed, plans that will allow for a lot of differentiation and extension, as well as accommodate different learners’ needs and learning styles.

It seems that Triceratops is becoming a “Trojan Horse” to help young children learn about scientific subjects through creative and imaginative teaching schemes.

If you’ve ever heard Warren Buffett talk about investing, you’ve heard him mention the idea of ​​a company moat. The moat is a simple way to describe a company’s competitive advantages. Companies with a strong competitive advantage have large moats and therefore higher profit margins. And investors should always worry about profit margins.

This article discusses a methodology called Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. In his book Competitive Strategy, Harvard professor Michael Porter describes five forces that affect the profitability of companies. These are the five forces he pointed out:

1. Intensity of rivalry among existing competitors
2. Threat of entry of new competitors
3. Substitute product pressure
4. Bargaining power of buyers (customers)
5. The power of provider’s negociation

These five forces, taken together, give us an idea of ​​a company’s competitive position and profitability.

rivals

Rivals are competitors within an industry. Rivalry in the industry can be weak, with few competitors not competing very aggressively. Or it can be intense, with many competitors fighting in a cutthroat environment.

The factors that affect the intensity of the rivalry are:

• Number of companies: More companies will lead to more competition.
• Fixed costs: With high fixed costs as a percentage of total cost, companies must sell more products to cover those costs, increasing competition in the marketplace.
• Product Differentiation: Products that are relatively the same will compete on the basis of price. Brand identification can reduce rivalry.

New entries

One of the defining characteristics of competitive advantage is the industry’s barrier to entry. Industries with high barriers to entry are often too expensive for new companies to enter. Industries with low barriers to entry are relatively cheap for new firms to enter.

The threat of new entrants increases as the barrier to entry into a market is lowered. As more companies enter a market, you will see rivalry increase and profitability drop (theoretically) to the point where there is no incentive for new companies to enter the industry.

Here are some common barriers to entry:

• Patents – Patented technology can be a huge barrier preventing other companies from joining the market.
• High cost of entry – The more it will cost to get started in an industry, the higher the barrier to entry will be.
• Brand Loyalty – When brand loyalty is strong within an industry, it can be difficult and expensive to enter the market with a new product.

alternate products

This is probably the most overlooked and therefore most damaging element of strategic decision making. It is imperative that business owners (us) not only look at what the company’s direct competitors are doing, but also at what other types of products people might buy instead.

When switching costs (the costs a customer incurs to switch to a new product) are low, the threat of substitutes is high. As is the case when it comes to new entrants, companies can aggressively price their products to keep people from switching. When the threat of substitutes is high, profit margins will tend to be low.

buyer power

There are two types of buying power. The first is related to the customer’s price sensitivity. If each brand of a product is similar to all the others, then the buyer will base his purchase decision primarily on price. This will increase competitive rivalry, resulting in lower prices and lower profitability.

The other type of buying power is related to bargaining power. Larger buyers tend to have more influence with the company and can negotiate lower prices. When there are many small buyers of a product, all else being equal, the company supplying the product will have higher prices and higher margins. Conversely, if a company sells to a few major buyers, those buyers will have significant leverage in negotiating better prices.

Some factors that affect buyer power are:

• Buyer size: Larger buyers will have more power over suppliers.
• Number of Buyers – When there are a small number of buyers, they tend to have more power over suppliers. The Department of Defense is an example of a single buyer with a lot of power over suppliers.
• Purchase Quantity: When a customer purchases a large quantity of a supplier’s output, they will exercise more power over the supplier.

Provider Power

Buying power analyzes the relative power that a company’s customers have over it. When several suppliers produce a basic product, the company will make its purchasing decision based mainly on price, which tends to reduce costs. On the other hand, if a single supplier is producing something that the company must have, the company will have little influence in negotiating a better price.

Size also plays a factor here. If the company is much larger than its suppliers and buys in large quantities, the supplier will have very little bargaining power. Using Wal-Mart as an example, we find that suppliers are powerless because Wal-Mart buys in such large quantities.

Some factors that determine provider power include:

• Supplier Concentration: The fewer the number of suppliers for a given product, the more power they have over the company.
• Switching costs: Providers become more powerful as the cost of switching to another provider increases.
• Product uniqueness: Vendors that make products specifically for a company will have more power than commodity vendors.

It is important to analyze these five forces and their effect on the companies in which we want to invest. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis will give you a good explanation of the profitability of an industry and the companies that comprise it. If you want to know why a company may or may not make a decent profit, this is the first analysis to do.

Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands is heavenly. It is a place where tranquility meets natural beauty. The white sand of this beach makes it look not only beautiful but also a place worth going to. Although the beach is just under a mile long, its beauty makes it famous throughout the world.

Seven Mile Beach is located near Georgetown, which is located on Grand Cayman, the capital of the Cayman Islands. It is located 480 miles away from the south of Miami. In fact, Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands that includes Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. It is a coral island and therefore has an abundance of tropical fish. This makes it a paradise for tourists cruising the Caribbean shores.

You have many Seven Mile Beach resorts as it is a major tourist spot. They all trade in US dollars and you get a lot of bars too. Plus, you get a plethora of Grand Cayman Islands resorts that serve up multi-cuisine dishes with a Caribbean twist.

Alternatively, you can try vacation rentals in the Cayman Islands. These are like personalized vacation plans that you and your family can enjoy. If you are vacationing there with your family, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the butterfly farm. Children usually enjoy it more as they sometimes get the pleasure of watching a cocoon transform into a butterfly. Also, the colorful little bugs are sure to impress kids who can’t dive and snorkel.

There are so many things you can do while you’re at Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands. He can go snorkeling, scuba diving, then he can also go rowing and windsurfing. In other words it can be said that it is a place full of water sports and exciting things.

Now you may be wondering where you can find the information on tourism in Seven Mile Beach. The answer is that you can go to a tourism agency for further help. But yes, the problem is that they will sell you something that makes it easier for them other than that you take your comfort into account. So you can surf the net and get all the relevant information regarding ticketing, hotels and sightseeing in detail.

In summary, what can be said is that it is perfect to do nothing in the middle of all these installations. You can just relax and do nothing at all. Just relax on the beach strolling. The serenity of the place attracts tourists from all over the world. This makes Seven Mile Beach Cayman Islands a special place.

Many of Victoria’s oldest restaurants and lodgings, and even the Royal Victoria Golf Course, have ghost stories. Guests at Abigail’s Hotel often ask about the ghost story, and the incredibly accommodating staff would love to tell you one. Unfortunately, the ghosts have not appeared.

Abigail’s Hotel is located on the edge of downtown Victoria, a stone’s throw from the Inner Harbor and is truly one of Victoria’s best kept secrets. Well no more! I’m letting the cat out of the bag! I have lived here for over 20 years and have driven by countless times, each time wondering what it was like. I have been to several majestic hotels and they were all nice but often disappointing. Not so with Abigail’s.

As we pass through the hotel entrance, we immediately notice the well-kept English gardens. Passing between the Coach House and the Inn, both buildings look very similar. At first glance, we couldn’t tell that they were built 50 years apart. We parked and immediately greeted by Tomas, the super friendly front desk attendant. He guides us to our room and fully informs us about the hotel and services. Breakfast in bed sounds appealing, but we opted to have breakfast with the other guests.

Our room is spacious and adorned with almost every amenity we could wish for. Is it the delicious welcome cookies, the comfortable sofa in front of the fireplace, the four-poster bed or the marble bathroom with Jacuzzi and rain shower? Our room is decorated with luxurious rustic furniture, goose feather duvets and pillows, silk bedspreads and elegant cushions. It is luxurious and very comfortable.

The library in the main building is a meeting place and between 5 and 7 in the morning, complimentary refreshments and canapés are offered. In a short time, we meet friendly people from Louisiana, Nevada, Ontario and Alberta. Tomas is on hand looking after us very well.

For dinner, we take a short walk downtown, no more than 3 or 4 short blocks. We visit the very popular Noodle House to find out what all the fuss is about. Well not what we expected but rather a unique experience and very tasty food! I didn’t expect to indulge my wife with chopsticks and a cardboard takeaway box, but nothing is too good for my Queen!

In the morning, we sat down to an excellent gourmet breakfast. A large table accommodates most of the guests. Arriving late, we were seated at a table for four and soon joined by a young couple from Oregon. Abigail’s is designed and operated so that people can easily interact with one another, adding to the enjoyment of the visit. If you come for privacy, the spacious rooms can be your private hideaway and you can order your breakfast in bed.

After breakfast, Marion Hansen (General Manager) takes us on a tour of the hotel. Each room is unique, but they all have the same special touches that make Abigail’s one of a kind. All the staff from marketing, administration, cleaning and dining room are very friendly and helpful. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would stay anywhere else.

You can tell how much they care, especially when Marion tells us how they invited some of the neighbors over for Christmas dinner. The owner’s philosophy is certainly deeply rooted in all the staff and is manifested in the care and attention to detail both in the design and style of the hotel and in the service provided to guests.

When we check out, we are presented with a small gift bag containing two bottles of water, gifts and a guide to other “select accommodations”. Working in tourism makes me very appreciative of companies that take it seriously. This business has really earned its “five stars”.

So now it’s time to play tourist! Our choice for the day is to visit the Victoria Art Gallery. The Art Gallery is just minutes from Abigail’s and is located within the historic Spencer Mansion in the Rockland neighborhood. We go there because there is an exhibition of the art of Takao Tanabe, an artist born in Seal Cove, British Columbia. The artist has received several important awards and is internationally recognized. His art offers a unique view of the land, sea, and sky that manifests itself in his expansive and beautiful landscape paintings. The formidable size of his paintings present an impressive vision of Canada and, in particular, the West Coast.

We continue our exploration by heading to Sydney by the Sea for lunch. Since we have hit most of the local restaurants we are looking for a new experience. A friend had mentioned the Dakota restaurant at the Victoria Flying Club so we checked it out! From our table, we can see the runway, so throughout lunch a variety of planes taxied pretty close.

We heard that the breakfasts were award winning and found out that they serve breakfast on weekends all day. We make our selection and enjoy a very good lunch.

After lunch, we explore Sydney and do some shopping and touring.

On the way home, I reflect on our fabulous stay at Abigail’s. I’m thinking of ghost stories she could make up for curious minds. The fact is that they simply do not need a ghost. Abigail sells herself!

Thoughts on Abigail’s: Peaceful, quiet, comfortable, luxurious but not ostentatious, friendly, gathering place, charming, romantic, very special. The best accommodation in Victoria!