The Circus

Erick Laseca asked:


While millions of tourists flock to Mexico every year by land and air, the country has also become the world’s top cruise destination, with cruises becoming more popular and lifestyle specific every year.

According to recent statistics released by Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), some 6.5 million passengers arrived to Mexico’s ports in 2005. The most popular port is by far on the island of Cozumel, located just south of Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean. According to Mexico’s Communications and Transportation Secretariat, 754 ships arrived to Cozumel in the first ten months of 2006, carrying some 1.5 million passengers. The second most popular port is Costa Maya on the Mexican Caribbean, which received 263 ships, carrying more than 500,000 in the first ten months of 2006.

Mexico boasts two dozen port cities. Apart from Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are the most popular ports along the Pacific coast, while Costa Maya in Quintana Roo State and Puerto Progreso in Yucatan State are the most popular on the Caribbean side. In addition to being bustling metropolises in their own right, offering the best in shopping, cultural activities and cuisine to the traveler, most ports are also located just a stone’s throw from the country’s leading archaeological treasures and other attractions. Part of the popularity of cruises can also be attributed to the traveling public’s desire to experience more destinations in one vacation, with most cruises offering stops in at least three or four different destinations.

According to Sectur, in the past two decades the number of cruise ships stopping in Mexican ports has increased dramatically, with most major cruise lines now serving the Gulf, Central Pacific and Caribbean, having incorporated these popular destinations into their itineraries. In 2005, the Mexican government invested more than US $7 million in the development of the Port of Chiapas, Mexico’s newest cruise destination. The port welcomed its first passenger vessel in February 2006.

As the number of cruise passengers increases, the demand for a variety of services and themes have also increased, what the cruise industry often refers to as lifestyle cruises.

Below are just some samples of new cruise offerings:

Sun salutations

The Radisson Seven Seas hosts several lifestyle cruises, among them a yoga cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Cozumel, featuring Michael Lechonczak and Robin Whitney Levine, a New York City-based husband and wife yoga team, who will bring the art and science of yoga to guests of the luxurious 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner. Their daily onboard program will offer a variety of options for men and women, yoga beginners and experts of all ages. Classes on meditation and aromatherapy will round out the mix.

Food & wine

The Radisson Seven Seas also offers a special Food & Wine spotlight cruise on the Mariner in March. The cruise, which sails from Los Angeles and stops in Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Huatulco in Oaxaca, features a Cordon Bleu cooking school and Sonoma Valley wines. Max McCalman, chef formageur from New York’s Picholine Restaurant will provide expert tips, instruction and 24/7 wine tasting.

Mickey on board

Disney Cruise Line is also increasing its presence to Mexico, offering a variety of cruises to Mexico including calls to Cozumel on the Caribbean side, as well as calls to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific side. Disney offers special programs for children, teens and as well as adults, offering something for the entire family. The Disney Magic ship to Mexico’s western ports has been enhanced by a 24-by14 foot jumbo LED screen for poolside movies and an expanded fitness and spa center for adults.

Low carbs and smart kids

Carnival’s Fun Ships will make more than 1,100 calls to Mexican ports in 2005, with Mexico being by far the most popular destination for Carnival. Carnival has also diversified its offerings by adding low carb meals to its menus and expanding its kids programs to focus on art, music, science, reading and physical fitness.

Gay travel

Atlantis (www.atlantisevents.com) is one of the largest *** travel tour operators offering cruise packages to Mexico. The Mexican Riviera cruise is one of the most popular, offering five Mexican destinations in eight days on the new Radiance of the Seas ship. Rated by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice as one of the best ships in the world, Radiance of the Seas offers among its many amenities a rock-climbing wall, two pools and an African-themed solarium complete with 17-foot high stone elephants and waterfalls. In Mexico, the ship will visit Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San

Lucas.

Clothing optional

For au naturel travelers, Bare Necessities offers a variety of clothing-optional cruises. And nudetravel.com also offers clothing optional packages including information on nudist resorts in Mexico.



Blind cruises

Damar Travel at 800-999-6101 offers cruises for the blind to Mexico.

Below are some of the many cruise lines that dock in Mexican ports as part of their regular routes:

Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, P&O Cruises

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

# # #

Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517

erick.laseca@bm.com

http://www.visiitmexicopress.com



HARLEY

Gregory DeVictor asked:


Rival Gaming is one of the newer software providers for the online gambling industry. Since it was founded, Rival Gaming has launched nearly 75 online casino games, including over 50 3-reel and 5-reel slots, progressive jackpots, and interactive i-Slots. Each Rival slot has its own unique theme, ranging from the 1980’s to ancient Egypt to American football. This article discusses Five Reel Circus, one of Rival Gaming’s 5-reel slots.

Five Reel Circus is a 5-reel, 15 pay-line bonus feature slot that has a circus theme.

Five Reel Circus has a betting range that will suit any pocket. It accepts coins from 1¢ to 25¢, and the maximum number of coins that you can bet per spin is 75 ($18.75). The top jackpot is 7,500 coins.

Five Reel Circus has 35 winning combinations, wilds (Tiger), scatters (Big Top Clowns), and 10 free spins.

Symbols on this 5-reel slot include Bear, Tiger, Lion, Elephant, Big Top Clowns, Ring Master, Bearded Lady, Acrobat, and Circus Wagon.

Rival Gaming has over a dozen online casinos including Sloto’Cash, Superior, Lion Slots, Absolute Slots, Club Vegas USA, Cocoa, DaVinci’s Gold, Mayan Fortune, Pantasia, Paradise 8, Slots of Fortune, and This Is Vegas. Players from the USA are welcome at all Rival Gaming online casinos.

So there you have it, an introduction to Five Reel Circus, one of Rival Gaming’s 5-reel video slots. Whether you play slot machines in Las Vegas or at your favorite online casino, gamble only with money you can afford to lose. Decide beforehand how much you want to spend during your gambling session and don’t exceed the spending limit should you lose. Finally, have fun and quit while you are ahead.



VICTOR

Jimmy Cox asked:


Parallel bars represent the most desirable apparatus for the aspiring gymnasts. It is easier to learn most of the fundamentals that are common to other apparatus on the Parallel bars. It is here that the fundamentals of tumbling are most easily applied to apparatus. Time spent on the Parallel bars is usually rewarding in terms of stunts learned and in terms of progress on other apparatus.

Description of Activities

Stunt (1): Riding Seat Mount

Prerequisites: General conditioning and familiarity with upper arm hang position.

Description: Roll back on the bars until the buttocks are above the bars; then place the hips on one bar and roll up to a sitting position on one bar.

Major Cues: Kick one leg up to facilitate lifting the hips. Roll on the bar to a sitting position.

Teaching Procedures: Assume upper arm hang (bars at armpits, arms along bars, elbows outside); kick one leg up and immediately follow it with the other leg. Roll back until the buttocks are above the bars; then shift the hips over to rest on the left bar.

As this is done, rotate the left hand to the outside of the bar so that it will be out from under the hips. At this point the body should be in a tight pike position. Now lower the feet quickly and, as the feet and legs are lowered, lift the head and sit upon the left bar. Now drop to the mat on the outside of the left bar.

Frequent Errors: Throwing legs over bar; not rolling to the pike position with the hips above the bars.

Safety Precautions: Caution students about landing when they drop off the bar.

Stunt (2): Straddle Mount

Prerequisites: Riding seat mount. General conditioning, and some instruction on kicking one leg to help elevate the hips.

Description: Roll back from the upper arm hang until the hips are above the bars, then spread the legs and roll forward to a straddle position above the bars.

Major Cues: Roll back and roll up; spread the legs wide.

Teaching Procedures: From an upper arm support position, kick one leg up and over the head. Follow it immediately with the other leg. Roll back by pressing down on the bars with the hands. When the hips are above the bars, spread the legs wide and place the finger tips under the hips; then lower the legs and lunge the head forward to roll forward to a sitting position astride both bars.

Frequent Errors: Not rolling back. Not spreading the legs wide. Failing to lunge the head forward to facilitate roll.

Safety Precautions: Warn the performer to fix the shoulders, thus eliminating a sagging support.

Stunt (3): Swing Forward and Dismount (To Left Side)

Prerequisites: Some practice swinging. Also practice dropping from the seat on one bar to the ground.

Description: Swing forward; lift the legs up and over one bar; then drop to the ground on that side. Hold on to the side bar for balance.

Major Cues: Push the bars away; bend the knees on alighting; change the hands on the bars and maintain contact with the apparatus.

Teaching Procedures: While swinging slightly less than the height of the bars, lift the legs by piking slightly; at the forward end of the swing push against the bars to the right and swing the legs over the left bar. As the body passes over the left bar, grasp the left bar with the right hand; release the bar with the left hand. Maintain contact with the right hand on the left bar to aid the balance upon landing.

Frequent Errors: Failing to keep contact with bar. Bending the knees as the feet pass over the bars. (This causes the feet to hit the bars.)

Safety Precautions: The spotter can stand behind the performer and catch under his outside arm. Small boys should try the stunt from the low bars.

Remember practice makes perfect on the parallel bars!



BOB