Is Now the Time to Buy Barcelona Real Estate?

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Ask any real estate agent this question and they will invariably answer “Now is the best time to buy”. Of course this is self-serving as now is always the best time to get a commission cheque. Barcelona real estate has taken a hit since the heady days of 2007 but is now the time to buy?

In December 2007 (the market peak) most people were saying “It doesn’t get any better than this!” They were right. It could only get worse.

So is now the time to buy? You have to ask yourself the question “Do you think the majority of people think the market will go down? If so, now is the time the buy. It sounds counter-intuitive but this is the crux of contrarian thinking. When the majority of people think the market will go down it means that those people have already sold. With all the sellers out of the market, prices have nowhere to go but up.

Remember the old adage “Buy low, sell high”. Most people embrace the latter but have trouble with the former. Many people buy high and hope to sell higher. The time to buy is when prices are low.

I will be visiting Barcelona in April 2013 for three days before I embark on a Mediterranean cruise. I am looking forward to checking out the real estate market. I may even put my money where my mouth is.

- J. Paul

 

Take a Second Look at Swimsuits for 2013

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Take a Second Look at Bathing Suits for 2013

Unlike books (except for Kindle), bathing suits are at the top of my list when thinking about my cruise. Here is what I’ve found out about this season’s top ten swim suits for 2013 from online with The Hollywood Reporter’s top ten list of heady or rather head turning sassy swimwear. They title the article Ten: Strange New Swimsuits. Strange is a strong statement. Strangely they listed eleven, maybe that’s what makes it strange. However, you be the judge. It’s my bet that these swim suits with their straps, gaps and corset looks will make you want to bookmark this site. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/new-swimsuits-bikinis-2013-miami-show-dolores-cortez-364381#1 

 1 / 11

The trend now is moving away from the low cut bikini to a High Panty Waist. Hey, the convincing factor with this trend is the Spanx effect.

2 / 11

I call this stylistic trend sassy. “Straps gaps and corset looks”, the type of swimwear that will turn anybody’s head. The Hollywood Reporter  labeled their number two as a “bondage –inspired, strapped one-piece bathing suit. No mention in the notes of how to keep this hair style on the beach with this sky high beehive hair do. Any ideas?

3 / 11

Separate like, but together looking bustier and bottom bikini (in the traditional way). Bustier bikinis are hot and trending.

4 / 11

This elegant low cut one piece is a classic that has sheers to the elbows and it is dazzling. The Hollywood Reporter writes that these wisps of fabric off the shoulder are designed to “disguise bothersome upper arm issues”. Would I wear this without upper arm issues?- Yes.

5 / 11

Mini skirts as swimwear, why not? Number five shows a Bustier and miniskirt that reminds the author of the prohibition era? It is a noticeable look because of the print design.

6 / 11

Number six is the best of all. The Hollywood reporter says “ This high-waisted, black two piece by Lisa Bluelooks like something Lady Gaga either has worn or will wear.”  The high waist black strappy is predicted to become a number one  favourite in the list of ten.  No worries about messing up my sky high beehive with this head dress architecture. The bustier has semi transparent cups for a window like look.

 

7 / 11

Number seven got a harsh rating but I rather like it. The author calls it stringy I say it’s another great version of stappy. Another new trend might be the Bikini and hat. The matching hat is nice enough to take to the beach and much more practical.

8 / 11

This beach swim wear is called surfing gear. It is less a bikini and more of a low-rise legging with matching bikini top….. in the traditional style.

9 / 11

Number nine is described by the Hollywood Reporter as an Enlistment poster. The medals on the bikini brief  over the “cropped army  t-shirt were a dive.

10 / 11

Number ten shows this trend that includes a long flowing chiffon over a skimpy bikini. This was considered impractical by the author. Compared with some of the others, it seems like it might become rather trend setting. Less likely to be practical are the matching high heels. They might prove to be tricky in the sand.

Check it out http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/new-swimsuits-bikinis-2013-miami-show-dolores-cortez-364381#2

 

 

List of Cruise Lines

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For a hot linked list click on this Wikipedia link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cruise_lines 
Name Status Headquarters Notes
American Classic Voyages Defunct  USA Bankruptcy
AIDA Cruises Operational  Germany Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
American Cruise Lines Operational  USA
Azamara Club Cruises Operational  USA Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Baltic Shipping Company Defunct  Soviet Union
Birka Cruises Operational  Finland
Carnival Cruise Lines Operational  USA Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
CDF Croisières de France Operational  France Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Celebration Cruise Line Operational  USA
Celebrity Cruises Operational  USA Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Chandris Cruises Defunct  Greece Was merged and re-branded into Celebrity Cruises in 1988
Classic International Cruises Operational  Portugal
Club Cruise No longer operates cruise ships  Netherlands Continues to charter cruise ships to other companies
Commodore Cruise Line Defunct  USA
Costa Cruises Operational  Italy Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Crown Cruise Line Defunct Unknown
Cruise West Defunct  USA Ceased operations September 18, 2010
Cruise & Maritime Voyages Operational  UK Started by Cruise & Maritime Services International, after German based Transocean Tours (for whom they were the UK representative) filed for Bankruptcy.
Crystal Cruises Operational  Japan
Cunard Line Operational  United Kingdom Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Disney Cruise Line Operational  USA
Dolphin Cruise Line Defunct  Greece Merged into Premier Cruise Line
EasyCruise Operational  Greece No ships are in operation.
Effoa Defunct  Finland
Far East Shipping Company No longer operates cruise ships  Soviet Union
Festival Cruises Defunct  Greece
Finnlines No longer operates cruise ships  Finland
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Operational  United Kingdom
G.A.P Adventures Operational  Canada
Hamburg Atlantic Line
German Atlantic Line
Hanseatic Tours		 Defunct  Germany Merged into Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd Operational  Germany
Holland America Line Operational  USA (originally  Netherlands) Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Home Lines Defunct  Italy Merged into Holland America Line
Hurtigruten Operational  Norway Also marketed as Norwegian Coastal Express
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line Defunct  USA Became Celebration Cruise Line in 2009.
Iberocruceros Operational  Spain Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc and Orizonia Corporation
Island Cruises Operational  United Kingdom
Italian Line / Italian Cruises Defunct  Italy
Kristina Cruises Operational  Finland
Louis Cruises Operational  Cyprus
Majesty Cruise Line Defunct Unknown Merged into Norwegian Cruise Line
MSC Cruises Operational  Switzerland (originally  Italy) Previously Lauro Lines, Starlauro Cruises
Norwegian America Line Defunct  Norway Merged into Cunard Line
Norwegian Capricorn Line Defunct  Australia Merged into Star Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line Operational  USA (originally  Norway) Partially owned by Star Cruises
Ocean Star Cruises No longer operates cruise ships  Mexico
Ocean Village Defunct  United Kingdom Operations ceased in 2010.
Oceania Cruises Operational  USA
Orient Lines Defunct  USA
Orion Expedition Cruises Operational  Australia
P&O Cruises Operational  United Kingdom Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
P&O Cruises Australia Operational  Australia Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Peter Deilmann Cruises Operational  Germany
Phoenix Reisen Operational  Germany
Polar Star Expeditions Operational  Canada
Premier Cruise Line Defunct  USA
Princess Cruises Operational  USA Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Pullmantur Cruises Operational  Spain Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
R Family Vacations Operational  USA Caters to Gay & Lesbian families / Owned by Rosie & Kelli O’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Operational  USA Previously Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
Renaissance Cruises Defunct  USA
Royal Caribbean International Operational  USA (originally  Norway) Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Viking Line Defunct  Norway Merged into Cunard Line
Sally Cruise Defunct  Finland Merged into Silja Line
Seabourn Cruise Line Operational  USA Owned by Carnival Corporation & plc
Shaw, Savill & Albion Line Defunct  United Kingdom
Silversea Cruises Operational  USA/ Italy
Sitmar Cruises Defunct  Italy Merged into P&O Cruises/Princess Cruises
Silja Line No longer operates cruise ships  Finland
Star Cruises Operational  Malaysia Owned by Genting Group
Swan Hellenic Operational  United Kingdom
Swedish American Line Defunct  Sweden
Thomson Cruises Operational  United Kingdom
Transocean Tours Operational  Germany
TUI Cruises Operational  Germany Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Uniworld River Cruises Operational  USA
Van Gogh Cruises Defunct  United Kingdom
Viking Line Operational  Finland A ferry company that has also operated cruises.
White Star Line Defunct  United Kingdom Merged with Cunard Line
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Defunct.[citation needed]  USA
Windstar Cruises Operational  USA

Books, Cruises and Why not WIFI

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I am planning for my first cruise. Normally when I plan for anything I turn to the web or I turn to books to get the information I need but, I am beginning to see that with a cruise I will need to re work my strategy.

First thoughts are that I will be visiting several countries and I’ll need to get out and about and communicate in several languages. That means carrying multiple phrase books, at least one for each language.

My next thought is that I will be experiencing both historic sites and modern buildings. That means multiple tour books, at least one for each country. It’s getting “Heavy”, I’m already feeling the weight of things to come.

For sure, I will take tons of photographs at each port of call and with each building I see. Thank goodness for digital cameras, computers and memory card technology, they can make them really light but seriously, how will I deal with my temptation to share these photos with my family and friends online? I hear that accessing the web can be very costly while on a cruise, I’ve heard it said “almost limb amputating” and that most people just wait until their feet are firmly planted ashore and then they hike or race to the nearest internet cafe to access their email and communicate with friends and family.

This makes me think about using a Kindle e-reader. I know that I can use a Kindle to replace having to carry multiple books while out and about and on the boat. A Kindle is perfect for that. The Kindles with the audio feature means that I can practice phrases in different languages better,  or maybe, I might even let the Kindle audio feature speak a few phrases for me and on my behalf with phrases I choose from the language book I’ve downloaded before my departure. On second thought that might scare the locals, ….or maybe it just might make me into a better tourist.

I recently spent some time on this idea and while researching Kindles on the web I recently found out some really great news. It is that some Kindles have internet! …and that’s the one for me!

I figure that I can take advantage of the wifi internet available now in many of the historic sites and modern buildings in each country that I will visit. If I use the wifi from each country’s historic sites and modern buildings I won’t be fighting with my fellow cruisers for a seat at the internet cafe. I would like to hear from both inexperienced and experienced cruisers. They are not as costly as they used to be, and maybe a really good investment for a cruise or otherwise.

Signing off for now,……Alabaster Whimsey, Toronto ON. Canada