Aegean Airlines is a well established Airline Company with a fast growing international presence. This full service airline operates between Greece and European destinations alongside some additional neighboring countries. Aegean has a well developed network with regular flights to 12 international destinations and 17 Greek airports. As a regional partner of Lufthansa they can also provide access to the Lufthansa global network and so expand their flight paths mutually.
With a strengthening bond between Aegean Airlines, Air One and TAP Air Portugal the company has been able to create a strong positive relationship and provide a more dominant presence in the Italian and Portuguese sector.
Aegean Airlines is a well established air operation and was founded in 1987 under the name Aegean Aviation and has been going from strength to strength ever since with three new destinations opening up in November 2003 to Chios, Kos and Milan through to ordering six more A320’s in September 2007.
The company also takes pride in its environmental concerns and received the ISO 14001 certification for environmental protection in September 2008.

Services of Aegean Airlines
Aegean Airlines was originally a dedicated VIP/Business operator providing specialized executive services which has been the pride of the Greek airline service worldwide since 1994.
Now available to the public this luxury airline provider offers web chick-in services so you can check in where ever you are for one or more flights with ease and comfort. You can select your preferred seat for the journey and cut down on your checking in time dramatically. Simply check in online and go straight to the departure gate.
Thanks to their association with Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines have now included a frequent flyer program called “Miles & Bonus”. This innovative program was specially designed to offer a high quality service with unique frequent flyer privileges every time you fly with Aegean. You can earn more miles for your journey’s and spend them either on reward flights or on car rental services at your destination. Furthermore, this offer extends over both companies so you can earn more miles by traveling with Lufthansa or Aegean Airlines.
The company also offers various e-services available online where you can search for flights and trace your baggage or cargo. You can also dive into their magazine Blue on your journey and read up on the arts, culture and entertainment in many Aegean destinations, the background story of Feta and the celebration of Feta as a registered Greek trademark, a guide to some of the most exquisite Aegean Monasteries and latest hot new fashions. You can even have a quick look through their Shop on Board? magazine with a sumptuous collection of items for sale on board. It’s no wonder Aegean Airlines won the ERA Gold award for Airline of the year 08/09.

Travel and Tourism in Oman

Travel And Tourism in Oman report offers a comprehensive guide to the market at a national level. It looks at travel accommodation, transportation, car rental, tourist attractions and retail travel. It identifies the leading companies and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market, including background information on disposable income, annual leave and holiday taking habits.
Why buy this report
* Get insight into trends in market performance
* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change
* Identify market and brand leaders and understand the competitive environment
Product coverage
Car rental; Demand factors; Health and wellness tourism; Tourism flows domestic; Tourism flows inbound; Tourism flows outbound; Tourism receipts and expenditure; Tourist attractions; Transportation; Travel accommodation; Travel retail
Executive summary
Oman’s travel and tourism industry: halfway through achieving Vision 2020
Oman’s travel and tourism industry is now halfway towards achieving its Vision 2020. The latter revolves around five areas of focus establishing Oman as a regional travel and tourism hub, increasing the contribution of the market to GDP to not less than 3%, increasing the participation of the private sector and activating its role in the development of various tourism activities, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and increasing the Omanisation (the replacement of expatriate workers with local ones) percentage of the market to 80%. The healthy growth of travel and tourism in 2008 along with the investment initiatives underway and the growing worldwide awareness of Oman’s tourism potential are just some of the indicators that the sultanate is on track with its Vision 2020.
The crisis takes its toll on Oman
As the global financial crisis struck in the second half of 2008, Oman was not immune. On the macroeconomic level, the government has released its approved 2009 budget highlighting a deficit of OR0.8 billion or around US$2.1 billion. In addition, Oman’s economic growth is expected to decline to three percent in 2009 as the crisis weighs. The travel and tourism industry posted lower growth in 2008; however, this decline does not fully capture the full effect on Oman, given the fact that Oman’s high season of arrivals – Muscat Festival and Khareef Salalah Festival – ended before the financial crisis took its toll on arrivals.

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This tholos tomb with stone dome, the largest known, was plundered in antiquity. An access passage (dromos), bordered by a peudo-isodome wall, leads to a fa?ade 10.5 metres (34 feet) high. The door opens on to a rotunda, 14.6 metres (48 feet) in diameter and 13.5 metres (44 feet) high, with a masonry domed vault of 33 regular courses; some blocks bore a metal decoration, probably of ‘patera’ form. This door has a pyramidal shape which is also found in Egypt, and which reappears in classical architecture. The lintel is made up of two enormous blocks; the inner one weighs about 120 tons. The void triangle above it is characteristic of Mycenaean architecture: it serves to deflect the thrusts of the upper part of the building on to the supports of the door. No other Mycenaean building can boast such exact stone cutting, nor such refined proportions; not for another 1,000 years in Greece was such technical perfection put at the service of such a grandiose architectural design.

Olympia is one of my favorite’s archaeological sites in all of Greece. You can almost feel the magic of the ancient Olympic Games and service as you stroll around the ruins.

The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC and reached their height of popularity in 576 BC. The festival was open to only Greek born men but latery Romans were allowed to compete most likely because they were running the country by then. Slaves and women were not even allowed to be spectators and women caught sneaking in were thrown off a cliff. The events included foot races, wrestling, discus, javelin, long-jump, horse and chariot racing, and a type of boxing called pancratium. There were not only athletic events but also writing, poetry and history readings, plus business transactions and treaties were made between leaders of city-states.

Meteora is an area in Thessaly (Central Greece) and Kalampaka is the city under

the rock towers of Meteora. The thing that makes Meteora so special is the monasteries on the top of the rock towers. The monasteries, the amound of peaks to climb and the paths for hiking brings in Meteora the whole year many tourists.

The Delphi Museum is situated right next to the ancient site of Delphi, and is a fascinating museum, filled with truly remarkable artifacts, statues and findings from excavations that have taken place in the site of Delphi. The main building of the museum is a shining white marble structure that is very modern, considering the ancient site next door that dates back thousands of years.

On approaching the museum from the walk from the entrance/exit of the archaeological site, you will follow a small path that passes through several relics and tombs located outside of the museum.

Rhodes (Rhodos or Rodos in Greek), lies between Crete and the near East in the Aegean ocean. Rhodes is the biggest of the Dodecanese islands. Named the sun island or island of light there are hardly any days when the sun doesn’t shine. With its subtropical climate and over 3.000 hours of sun per year you can be guaranteed a good tan on your holiday. Rhodes is one of the most popular holiday

islands in Greece – even Greeks themselves come to Rhodes for a holiday from the mainland.

For More Information: http://www.right-travel.com

Until recently, global temperatures were more than a degree Fahrenheit warmer when compared to the overall 20th Century mean. From August of 2007 through February of 2008, the Earth’s mean reading dropped to near the 200-year average temperature of 57 degrees.

We, Cliff Harris and Randy Mann, believe that the warming and even the cooling of global temperatures are the result of long-term climatic cycles, solar activity, sea-surface temperature patterns and more. However, Mankind’s activities of the burning of fossil fuels, massive deforestations, the replacing of grassy surfaces with asphalt and concrete, the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect,’ are making conditions ‘worse’ and this will ultimately enhance the Earth’s warming process down the meteorological roadway in the next several decades.

From the late 1940s through the early 1970s, a climate research organization called the Weather Science Foundation of Crystal Lake, Illinois, determined that the planet’s warm, cold, wet and dry periods were the result of alternating short-term and long-term climatic cycles. These researchers and scientists also concluded that the Earth’s ever-changing climate likewise has influenced global and regional economies, human and animal migrations, science, religion and the arts as well as shifting forms of government and strength of leadership.

Much of this data was based upon thousands of hours of research done by Dr. Raymond H. Wheeler and his associates during the 1930s and 1940s at Kansas State University. Dr. Wheeler was well-known for his discovery of various climate cycles, including his highly-regarded ‘510-Year Drought Clock’ that he detailed at the end of the ‘Dust Bowl’ era in the late 1930s.

During the early 1970s, our planet was in the midst of a colder and drier weather cycle. Inflationary recessions and oil shortages led to rationing and long gas lines at service stations worldwide. The situation at that time was far worse than it is now, at least for the time being.

The Weather Science Foundation also predicted, based on these various climate cycles, that our planet would turn much warmer and wetter by the early 2000s, resulting in general global prosperity. They also said that we would be seeing at this time widespread weather ‘extremes.’ There’s little doubt that most of their early predictions came true.

Our recent decline in the Earth’s temperature may be a combination of both long-term and short-term climate cycles, decreased solar activity and the development of a strong long-lasting La Nina, the current cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event in the south-central Pacific Ocean. Sunspot activity in the past 18 months has decreased the lowest levels since ‘The Little Ice Age’ ended in the mid-to late 1800s. This “cool spell,” though, may only be a brief interruption to the Earth’s overall warming trend. Only time will tell.

Based on these predictions, it appears that much warmer readings may be expected for Planet Earth, especially by the 2030s, that will eventually top 1998’s global highest reading of 58.3 degrees. It’s quite possible we could see an average temperature in the low 60s. Until then, this ‘cooling period’ may last from just a few months to as long as several years, especially if sunspot activity remains very low.

We at Harris-Mann Climatology, www.LongRangeWeather.com, believe that our prolonged cycle of wide weather ‘extremes,’ the worst in at least 1,000 years, will continue and perhaps become even more severe, especially by the mid 2010s. We should see more powerful storms, including major hurricanes and increasing deadly tornadoes. There will likewise be widespread flooding, crop-destroying droughts and freezes and violent weather of all types including ice storms, large-sized hail and torrential downpours.

We are already seeing on virtually every continent an almost Biblical weather scenario of increasing droughts and floods. In both the southwestern and southeastern corners of the U.S, there are severe water shortage problems associated with chronic long-term dryness. In some cases, the water deficits are the worst in at least 400 years.

Dr. Wheeler also discovered that approximately every 102 years, a much warmer and drier climatic cycle affects our planet. The last such ‘warm and dry’ peak occurred in 1936, at the end of the infamous ‘Dust Bowl’ period. During that time, extreme heat and dryness, combined with a multitude of problems during the ‘Great Depression,’ made living conditions practically intolerable.

The next ‘warm and dry’ climatic phase is scheduled to arrive in the early 2030s, probably peaking around 2038. It is expected to produce even hotter and drier weather patterns than we saw during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But, we should remember, that the Earth’s coldest periods have usually followed excessive warmth. Such was the case when our planet moved from the Medieval Warm Period between 900 and 1300 A.D. to the sudden ‘Little Ice Age,’ which peaked in the 17th Century.

By the end of this 21st Century, a big cool down may occur that could ultimately lead to expanding glaciers worldwide, even in the mid-latitudes. We could possibly see even a new Great Ice Age. Based on long-term climatic data, these major ice ages have recurred about every 11,500 years. Well, you guessed it. The last extensive ice age was approximately 11,500 years ago, so we may be due. Again, only time will tell.

Not quite long this July, 2008 I set out on a journey to Republic De Benin to satisfy my curiosity because so many interesting things have been said about the country particularly on how organized that society is and how sweet roads in Benin are compared to what exists in our sleeping giant of Africa called Nigeria. I had been motivated by the saying by my father which that “if a child decides to remain in his farm he would think his father’s farm is the biggest of all farms in existence”.

By the way, Benin officially referred to, as “Republic De Benin” is a country in West Africa. This country is bordered to the west by Togo, to the east by Nigeria, to the north by Burkina Faso and Niger while the seat of government of this country is cotonou, its capital is Porto Novo. Until recently (in 1975) Benin was officially known as Dahomey. Part of the official history of Benin claims that the name ‘Benin’ has no proper connection to Benin City or Benin Empire now situated in modern day Nigeria, still certain aspects of the history of the old Benin Empire asserts or seeks to establish that the modern name of the country owes its origin to this once great empire because the influence of the empire extended to country (Benin).

Perhaps someday Historians may have to work towards this aspect of African history to establish the claim and counter claim to help us gain more insightful knowledge on how the people of these two countries related much beyond biases as each aspect of the history of these two countries are trying to justify its own. History can never be rewritten. Any attempt to do this will therefore amount to an attempt adjust the hand of clock either by trying to move it forward or backward. History remains history having been occasioned by either the activities of man or nature itself. We are told the name ‘Benin’ was picked as a neutral name in replacement of ‘Dahomey’ but where the origin of the name or word derives should also be of essence to historians who will now seek to establish whether a link exists with the Benin of Nigeria or not.

Anyway this article will work outside the history of Benin instead will dwell on the social organization of this very society. In other words, how the people of this country do things compared to other bigger countries such as Nigeria with all our revenues derived from our much-publicized oil will be discussed here. Oil may not be all that a country needs to better the lives of its citizens after all. This is what the present situation of Nigeria tells us judging from our experiences in the country today. Only a Nigerian living in the country and not a wealthy politician or government contractor will adequately understand the real situation of the country and what the common man is going through.

Once I set out to discover Republic De Benin like Mongo Park and Lander Brothers in July 2008, the road leading to this country from Nigeria was indeed a rough one with very serious traffic jam. At Okomaiko bus stop, passengers awaiting vehicle stood in the rain waiting with utmost patience to board a vehicle. Nothing would have deterred us not even the rain because we are all used to it. There was simply no cover at these bus stop. Buses attempting to stop and convey these teeming passengers were often scared away by the presence of the law enforcement engagements most of whom were also threateningly running in pursuit of these commercial vehicles even in the rain. Some of these vehicles could even render one’s ‘Christmas clothes’ torn. We soon managed to catch a bus after standing in the rain for about 45 minutes without any visible shades at the bus stop.

The journey though was a quiet and peaceful one with only the police occasionally stopping us to exchange the usual ‘Nigerian greetings’ with the driver of our bus whom seemed to understand every intricacy connected with driving to this country. He must be an experienced man indeed. We soon arrived Benin after about two hours drive. After the usual procedures at the Seme Border between these two countries, we caught another bus heading for Missebo. Much to my surprise, the people of this country working at the border could communicate in both French and English, and I thought it a deliberate action from the government of Benin to ensure that communication was readily available to the citizens of both countries. Even the commercial motor drivers, petty traders, and money exchangers were not left out.

This is a gain over their Nigerian counterparts whose citizens have never in any way been encouraged to understand or learn French by the Nigerian education system to become advantageously armed their citizens with the two international languages. It was also amazing to discover that road and notice boards in the country also existed in French and English languages, a development I very much admired because it gave us the English speakers unlimited knowledge of activities in that country. Excitingly too some of the citizens of this country could at least passably communicate in English and I started to wonder if the knowledge was gained from the education sector in that country or as result of the relationship with Nigerians in the country majority of whom were Ibo. There was really no time to ascertain from any of them how they are able to do this.

At first sight, you are complimented with ‘bonjour’ but when you respond with ‘good morning or good afternoon’ in English you have set off a conversation with them in English. One Nigerian was at business center to make a call, when she attempted to correct the telephone attendant grammatically the response of the attendant was that she should try and understand French too. We all reasoned with her.

If the education sector of this country achieved this then it’s so surprising because it is easier for camel to pass the eye of a needle than for a Nigerian student to speak French because he/she learnt it Nigerian school. Benin must have some wonderful schools too.  

Benin I must comment presents some of the finest roads in West Africa and Nigeria cannot in anyway rank with this country. Road signs were completely visible starting from Seme border. Streetlights were never missing. At my age I cannot remember the last time I saw the streets of Lagos lit up with streetlights much less other parts of the country like Aiyetoro, Ogun state, Ibusa, Delta state, Etinan, Akwa-Ibom state, Ihievbe, Edo state, Obiangwu, Imo state, Ihiala, Anambra state and indeed other parts of northern Nigeria. Nigeria’s stranger (traffic lights) were also on mounted in all parts of Benin instead of the regular traffic wardens usually accosting us on Nigerian roads. It is unnecessary to state here that motorists and cyclists diligently complied with the instructions of these traffic lights. The last time I saw a functional traffic lights in Nigeria was in 1981 in Festac town. Though I have been told that there are about two or so at Marina Road of Lagos Island, in Lagos.

Have you ever seen a kind of vehicles responsible for the cleaning of roads? If you are a Nigerian in Nigeria and have not, you need to take a quick trip to Republic De Benin and see one before it is too late to do so. I cannot tell how often these vehicles clean these fine roads but these roads present mats or sorts of beds to lie. If these kinds of vehicles exist in Nigeria, will Lagos and some other Nigerians have to carry out the monthly environmental sanitation exercise? Again which particular ministry in Nigeria is responsible for this exercise? Why will an oil rich Nigeria expect its citizens to come out en masse on monthly basis for cleaning exercise when certain vehicles can do it? The last time I saw these vehicles at work in Nigeria was also in Festac town, Lagos and in 1979. Again I bet that a Nigerian living in the rural Jesse, delta state would argue that no such vehicle exists.

My enquiry at the Immigration office of that country in Cotonou showed that the staff go on break at 11.30 am during which nobody is ever attended to not even the bigwig politicians only to resume around 3.00pm. Bribes (‘settlements’) are never obtained to encourage private attendance to anyone. We have a lot to learn from these people of Benin.

On our way back to Nigeria at about 5.15 pm, we had an easy ride all through the territory of Benin and received warmth farewell from the security operatives in that country with very easy passage made possible by good roads and free flow of traffic encouraged by the police who were always by the side of the roads observing developments on the roads with their whistles intact in their mouths with absolute readiness to carry out their duties. At Seme border, the Benin side of the border absolute orderliness allowed us free departure from this beautiful and well-organized country into our own very ‘Naija’ (Nigeria)

The first enquiry I received from my Nigerian security man at the border was whether I was a Nigerian which though was not a bad one because I assumed he actually wanted to determine my identity which he was ignorant of but when after every proof I presented to him failed to properly identify me as a Nigerian I knew there was much more to it than met the eyes. The Beninese cyclist trying to convey me across, a little inside Nigerian side of the border became enraged and in an emotional outburst told the security man that I was his brother. By the way I could not determine whether this man was a policeman, immigration officer, customs officer, road safety official or even Agbero (tout) because he was appeared in musty. I was soon angered when he responded to the Beninese cyclist that I was not his brother.

“So you would deny me, a Nigerian for no good reasons? I queried. “If you desire some money tell me and I will readily grant your request but not to deny me your Nigerian brother” After I tipped him with some money he became apologetic. I had told him that he had no reason to deny me completely in the presence of a foreigner. “What if I were in danger would you have readily denied me giving away to my predators just because of money? He pleaded more and more with me and I soon left him alone.

Back in Nigeria, I was woken from my sleep inside the vehicle I boarded by profuse heat occasioned by the heavy traffic jam that welcomed us back into the country but some for patriotic reasons I too would have denied the country as my own but I soon accepted it as a fate presented to me against my personal wishes and will by my leaders in the country. Amazingly, we counted up to 22 police, customs and immigration check points from the border to Badagry, not to mention many more existing after Badagry with stern looking security men armed to the teeth all of who frequently halted our vehicle and doing their usual Nigerian businesses much to our discomfort. One Cameroonian sitting by me inside the vehicle inquired from me if Nigeria was under war and I laughed aloud not knowing what to answer but another Nigerian passenger who all along had appeared more patriotic than the rest us but with occasional criticism of our leaders was to tell him that it was the culture in the country.

This impediment to our movement continued until I set down at Agboju and the mother of all battles being power failure welcomed us. The whole city was in darkness and no one recognized the other in darkness. As I hoped to hear children scream  ‘up NEPA’ I soon fell asleep still worried in my sleep as I wondered on when things will take shape in Nigeria and when the country will compare with other tinier countries in the same region.