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Algiers is located on series of terraces that clamber up the hillsides from the sea, towered over by the ramparts of the medieval Casbah, the Old City. Full of flowers, beautiful villas and luxuriously green gardens, the geography of this Mediterranean city is best understood as a huge triangle.

The seaside European quarter is its wide base, which narrows as it ascends the close winding lanes to the Moorish quarter, eventually coming to a point at the city’s old fortress high above.

Island of the Gull.
The first settlers on the coast of Algiers, aside from the native Berber tribes, arrived around 400 BCE. These were Carthaginian merchants in search of a convenient harbour in the western Mediterranean. During the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, this settlement, known as Ikosim (”Island of the Gulls”) fell to the Roman Empire.

The most significant moment in the city’s history came with the conquest of the Late Roman Numidian Kingdom by the Muslim Arabs around 700 CE. The official founding of the city did not take place until 935 CE, when the Berber tribes (by then converted to Islam) named their harbour Al-Jazir (”White Island”). The city extended no further than what is today the Old City of Algiers, the Casbah.

A bastion for pirates.
After the Moors were driven out of Spain in the fifteenth century, Algiers was the launching point for numerous military expeditions to the Iberian Peninsula, but the Moors were never able to regain control of Spain. In fact, the Catholic Spaniards conquered Algiers instead, taking control of the city in 1509. The city suffered under Christian oppression for ten years before Ottoman Khaireddin Barbarossa recaptured Algiers in 1519 in a daring naval assault. The city and country would henceforth be part of the Ottoman Empire.

In the following years, Khaireddin Barbarossa built Algiers into one of the most powerful bastions on the Mediterranean. Up until his death 1546, he used it as the base for countless raids along the Mediterranean coast, besieging Spanish as well as Moorish cities, and bringing all of Algeria under his control. In Europe, the name Algiers became synonymous with a pirate’s den. In France, however, this was not the case. The French had long been in league with Khaireddin.

From allies to conquerors.
Although European nations tried again and again to recapture the city, all attempts failed miserably. Then, in the 19th century, the French gave it another try. Their conquest of Algeria began with the landing in 1830 at Sidi Fredj near Algiers. The final subjugation tool over fifty years.

After Algiers became a French colony in 1882, a huge influx of French companies and workers arrived and the city grew exponentially. The European residential areas built at that time still shape the cityscape of contemporary Algiers particularly at the base of the “triangle” along the 2-km-long boulevard along the harbour.

In the Casbah. The interplay between Berber pride, Ottoman organization and French sophistication lends Algiers a special charm. Visitors climbing from the French-influenced harbour district up to the Old City of the Casbah experience the city’s different cultures as well as its history.

Built around 1500 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, the Casbah is the old citadel of the Ottoman governors of Algiers. The higher one climbs, the more narrow and twisting the lanes become. The houses are crammed so close together that they nearly touch, and balconies are connected to one another above street level. Several important mosques are located in the midst of this confusion, including the Grand Mosque, the New Mosque and the Ketchaoua Mosque. All are renowned for their antiquity and architectural diversity.

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Adelaide’s CBD covers and area of just one square mile. Wherever you are in the city, it is within the heart of Adelaide. Festivals, food, arts, culture, shopping and sports, this is Adelaide. Whether you want to party or relax on your next holiday, South Australia’s capital has it all. With vibrant inner-city districts, sophisticated architecture and plush gardens, plenty of accommodation to select from, Adelaide is the perfect place for a wide variety of vacation activities.

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, located on the Torrens River and surrounded to the east by the ranges and to the west by the beach, it prides itself on its live music and arts scene, its historic building heritage and its central location to one of Australia’s best known wine grape growing regions, the Barossa Valley.

You might prefer to follow in the footsteps of sporting champions at the world-famous Adelaide Oval. Or retreat to the beachside suburbs of Henley Beach, Glenelg & Semaphore. As Adelaide is situated on the coast, its beaches are many. One can choose between city beaches or quieter out-of-town beaches about half an hour from the city centre.

Since Adelaide is situated in a gulf, the beaches are family-friendly and safe. For those who enjoy surfing, the open sea beaches are about one hour away. Since the beaches face west, one can enjoy the most magnificent sunsets.

There is no doubt that Adelaide Oval is indeed one of the most beautiful and photographed cricket grounds in the world. Australians take their sport extremely seriously, and Adelaide is without doubt an important element of the Australian sporting scene.

Residents of Adelaide can play or watch a number of sports including Aussie Rules Football, swimming, tennis, netball, soccer, hockey, cycling, horse racing and a variety of water sports. South Australians pride themselves on their level of involvement in sport and have a proud tradition of participation and winning in a wide variety of sports.

The mighty Murray River is an hour’s drive from Adelaide. It is a favorite aquatic spot for South Australians and provides many diverse leisure activities such as skiing, angling and swimming.

At the University of Adelaide the new Business School creates a stimulating multidisciplinary learning environment that fosters the pursuit of leadership and excellence in both research and education.

South Australia has over 78,000 small businesses. Of these an estimated 55,000 are located within the Adelaide metropolitan area. Almost 40% of these employ between 1 – 19 people making small business a major source of regional employment within Adelaide.

Adelaide offers a diversity of food, wine & culture, it offers a thriving sports scene and growing small business sector. When planning your next holiday destination or a new residential location take a close look at Adelaide. When in Adelaide don’t hesitate to use the Adelaide Locality Directory to find everything form community groups, hospitals, restaurants, accommodation, employment and much more.

Fun, sun and memories of a carefree beach holiday, these are ideal ingredients for a vacation of a lifetime when you visit Cairns and Far North Queensland.

Blessed with a holiday climate all year-round, featuring temperatures in the Summer months (October-April) of 29-33 degrees C, and Winter months (April-October) 25-29 degrees C, Cairns can offer some of the world’s most interesting natural tourist attractions, the reef, the rainforest and the Australian Outback, and they are all here awaiting your visit.

The very friendly residents of Tropical North Queensland will show you the kind of warm and courteous service that has become the standard to aspire to for other tourism destinations. Adventure tourism, night life, dining and shopping add to the charm and attraction of this unique place.

If you have been here before, welcome back. If you are here for the first time, bathe in our tourist offerings and enjoy your stay.

Queensland’s premier regional city, Cairns is the world’s entrance to Tropical North Queensland. It is a vibrant cosmopolitan place with warm, sunny tropical days tempered by cooling ocean breezes. Enjoy a stroll along the central Esplanade or satisfy your tastebuds in one of Cairns’ many multi-cultural, diverse and prize-winning eateries.

Cairns provides access to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests along with the Australian Outback. Cairns, with its international and domestic airport, is the first stop for many visitors who want to see the real Australia.

Relax on the sandy beaches, dive on the reef and experience the unique tropical rainforests that date back to when the continent was part of ancient Gondwanaland, thousands of eons ago.

Take a swim in the relaxing Cairns Esplanade lagoon, then look across the serene waters of Trinity Inlet and you will view coastal ranges and mangrove areas that have changed little since the site was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770.

The beautiful Esplanade Lagoon is the perfect place to spend a sultry day basking in the sun and wading in the lagoon’s cool and seductive water. There are many shady spots to escape from the sun in the heat of the day, as well as barbeque facilities. The boardwalk has unique displays of Cairns’s local history and has many exercise facilities for those keen on getting a bit more active.

Cairns is extremely well suited to walking, or travel by bicycle. Well trodden routes and dedicated walking tracks are abundant or a visit to the Cairns Botanical Gardens is not to be missed. 38 hectares of native Australian gardens are maintained to lush standards, and many plants found here cannot be seen elsewhere. Located among the plants is a coffee shop and restaurant, it is open every day for breakfast and lunch. Admission to the gardens is free.

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A tiny jewel set in the blue seas of the South Pacific, Norfolk Island is only 8 km (5 mi) long, and 1,600 km (994 mi) northeast of Sydney, Australia.

It is the biggest of a cluster of three islands on the Norfolk Ridge, fringed by coral reefs and crowned by pristine rainforest and some of the worlds tallest tree ferns.

On 10 October 1774, James Cook first landed on this beautiful little island and named it in honour of the then Duchess of Norfolk.

Convicts started to arrive 14 years later and over time it gained quite a harsh reputation, becoming known as hell in the Pacific.

Then in 1856, descendants of the Bounty mutineers with their Tahitian wives and children sailed for five weeks from Pitcairn Island to settle on Norfolk Island. These new settlers brought with them a unique culture and language, and many held mutineers names such as Adams, Buffett, Christian and McCoy. From that day, Norfolk Island began its steady climb out of hell and into heaven.

Once sustained by agriculture and fishing, visitors now keep the island alive. But traditional culture remains deep rooted with dancing, singing and a unique cuisine. Banana dumplings, fried fish and Hihi pie, concocted with periwinkles, can be sampled at one of the fine restaurants scattered across the island.

The blue waters around Norfolk Island are teeming with fish, and there are countless fishing charters and scuba-diving trips out to the reef to explore this kaleidoscope underwater world. In the sheltered waters of Emily Bay, you can also indulge in some lazy swimming and snorkeling, and endless relaxation.

Norfolk Island is favoured by well-heeled Australians and New Zealanders, and a few millionaires have migrated to this tax-free haven. There are over 70 low-tax shops and many eager customers. Yet the island seems to balance the old and the new perfectly honouring its Pitcairn people, its rich environment and its visitors.

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Lake Malaren is one of the largest lakes in Sweden, next to the town of Stockholm. The lakes area is 1,140 square km and its greatest depth is 64 metres. Its numerous islands contain an incredibly rich heritage, a breathtakingly lush historical landscape with palaces, old churches, rune stones, forty castles, and two World Heritage Sites – the Palace of Drottningholm on the island of Lovo and the Viking sites of Birka on Bjorkb and HovgArden on Adelso.

The Royal domain of Drottningliolm with its Chinese pavilion, timber theatre, and Baroque gardens is a stunning 17th century palace complex, modeled on Versailles and set in the pastoral landscape of Lovo. Birka, Swedens most ancient city, and one of its most famous ancient monuments, is situated on Bjorko — an island that today has a romantic, desolate air about it.

Birka was founded at the end of the 8th century and for nearly 200 years was at the centre of European trade In the late 10th century the build up of sediment made the lake too shallow for ships to negotiate and the city was abandoned.

Hovgarden, the kings farm on the neighbouring island of Adelso, remained in use until the late Middle Ages. Today these lovely islands are beautiful places in which to walk and cycle as well as see the incredibly kept Viking ruins.

The landscape of Lake Malaren was formed at the end of the lee Age when the land started to rise as a result of the gradual melting of the ice-cap lifting the tons of pressure that had been bearing down on it.

Quite apart from the cultural heritage contained in these islands, the moraine ridges and lush valleys are scenically lovely. They include rolling farmland dotted with oak trees, pine forest on cragy hills, and trees and grasses growing right down to the waters edge.

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Everyone is aware that Rhode Island, actually the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is the smallest state in the USA. But not everyone knows that the state and island that gives it a colloquially abbreviated name are not one and the same.

Indeed, the Rhode Island part of the longest state name in America is unofficially called Aquidneck Island to distinguish from the state as a whole.

Now thats cleared up, what of Rhode Island? It is the largest of several in Narragansett Bay, with its southern shore facing the Atlantic Ocean. The area of this well developed island is 117 sq km (45 sq ml) and it is connected to the mainland by three bridges.

The Newport Bridge goes to Jamestown on nearby Conanicut Island, and then on to the mainland on the western side of the bay. The Mount Hope Bridge in Portsmouth connects the northern side of the island with Bristol. The same area is served by the Sakonnet River Bridge over a narrow saltwater channel to Tiverton. The nearby Stone Bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Carol in 1954. The island is divided into three municipalities: Newport, Middleton and Portsmouth.

The islands population shrank by a fifth in the ten years after the US Navy reorganized its major base at Newport in 1973, but is growing again, with over half its area now built over as housing demand increases. But wetland and woodland still occupy a third of the island and there is an active preservation society trying to keep it that way.

After the naval base, the islands principal source of revenue is tourism. Narragansett Bay is a magnet for visitors and they come to Rhode Island mainly for the beaches and coastline, enjoying related water activities like sailing, kayaking, sailboarding, diving and fishing.

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Ranging from Bratislava to Korman in southwestern Slovakia, Zitny Ostrov (Rye Island) is Europes largest river island. It is so immense that most visitors are not aware of being on one. It lies between the Danube, and its slower flowing off-shoot the Little Danube, in the Danubian Plain.

Several rivers flow across it and the rich alluvial deposits make it the most fertile land in Slovakia. The island also contains central Europes largest storage of pristine drinking water and it has the warmest and driest climate in Slovakia.

A beautiful area of marshes, natural and man-made lakes and rich farmland, the south has been deemed a Protected Landscape. The calm waters of the Little Danube provide excellent recreational boating through the alluvial forests. While on the water, the controversial hydroelectric dam at Gabcikovo may also be visited.

Zitny Ostrov has two main towns, both of which have strong Hungarian cultural influences. DunajskA Streda has a majority Hungarian population, though the only reminder of a significant Jewish minority is a memorial erected in 1991. There is also evidence of Bronze Age settlement here.

In the late 1990s the town centre was rebuilt with unique white buildings capped by towers and elaborate tiled roofs. A large thermal park offers year-round swimming in geothermal heated water.

Komarno, Slovakias principal port, lies on the Hungarian border — a bridge leads into Hungarian Komarom, which used to be part of Komarno. Here 66% of the population speak Hungarian and the street signs are in two languages.

Europe Place is a large shopping and tourist centre built in a variety of European architectural styles. A native son of Komamo, Franz Lehar, is honoured with a biennial music festival, whilst the annual Komarno Days Festival celebrates Slovak and Hungarian culture.

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One of Mexicos largest islands, Cozumel, lies 20 km (12 miles) from the mainland, and 60 km (36 mi) south of Cancun. Its a flat, limestone formation shaped like a holster, and punctured by tens of cenotes (water-filled holes), many with their own marine life, which are an extra attraction for swimmers and marine biologists who come to explore the islands beautiful offshore reefs.

Jacques Cousteau first promoted Cozumel in 1960, when he fingered Palancar at the islands southern tip as one of the worlds best scuba-diving locations. He triggered an explosion of tourist development, only curtailed in with the establishment of the National Marine Park in 1996: but the reefs were badly damaged by the wharves built for cruise ships to bring new tourists.

Attitudes changed quickly. Cozumels new islanders (the 40,000 Maya who welcomed Herman (Stout) Cortes in 1519 were reduced to 30 by 1510, and Cozumel became uninhabited) realised the value, not just of their spectacular marine wealth, but also of the islands unspoilt centre.

Youll never get a better chance to appreciate Mayan culture so close to good beaches. The biggest Mayan site, San Gervasio (named much later), was for centuries sacred to lx Chel, the goddess of fertility, and one of the Yucatans most important sanctuaries. There are several others, recovered from jungle and swampy mangrove lagoons now teeming with cormorants, pelicans, primary-coloured tree frogs, iguanas and crocodiles.

These days, the duty of collective care is replacing the ecological mistakes of the 1970s. You can see 250 species in its clear waters, including the bright blue-and-yellow queen angelfish, the toad fish (unique to Cozumel), and enormous sponges like the barrel and elephant ear, which grows to 3.6 m (12 ft) across. Cozumel is fabulously pretty and exotic, and you should go there with someone you love and watch the sunsets.

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Dubai Profile According to official figures, 99 per cent of the residents of the small, once insular United Arab Emirates (UAE) reside in Dubai City. This makes the distinction between city and Emirate very small indeed.

Dubai is growing faster than any other city in the Persian Gulf region. New and luxurious hotel complexes, shopping centres and high-rise apartment buildings are being built daily. The face of this highly modern city with over a million inhabitants is constantly changing, yet always a bit eccentric. In addition to countless corporate headquarters, ultra-luxurious hotels and resorts, and high-end shopping malls, Dubai is also home to the largest indoor snow park in the world, fittingly called Ski Dubai, itself located inside a gargantuan shopping mall. Opened in December 2005, the temperature inside the facility at the edge of the Arabian Desert is a constant —1 °C, while the temperature outside soars to 40 °C under the merciless desert sun. It would seem that in the city of Dubai, anything is possible.

Oil — black gold of the Emirs.

Dubai has been governed for over 170 years by the Al-Maktoum clan. Under their leadership, and with substantial investment from Britain, the harbour of Dubai has become the most important commercial port in the Persian Gulf. The local inhabitants used to earn their living by diving for pearls. Their lifestyles changed drastically with the discovery of oil in 1966 and the economic boom that followed.

Persian Gulf tourist destination.

In addition to the oil industry, Dubais economy relies on tourism, banking and trade. Great efforts have been made to promote Dubai as a tourist destination. The most exclusive residential quarter of the Emirate now boasts a number of world-class luxury hotels, including the famous Burj At Arab, the Arab Tower. Designed to resemble the sail of a traditional Persian Gulf ship, the 54-storey hotel is 321 metres tall. It is the tallest, most expensive and most luxurious hotel in the world. Visitors can play tennis at a dizzying height on top of the helipad overlooking the Arabian Gulf 311 metres below. The Wild Wadi Water Park and Madinat Jumeirah shopping mall are located nearby in the suburb of Jumeirah. Then there are the Palm Islands, tear-shaped artificial land masses built in the shallow gulf waters. They provide additional land for vacation homes, villas and hotels. Several nearby Gulf islands await similar development.

The river that is not a river.

The wetlands known as Ras Al-Khor divide Dubai into northern and southern sections. Ras Al-Khor is not a river but a shallow inland bay. Small passenger ferries called abras carry people from one side to the other for a small fee, or traditional lateen sailboats can be rented for a more extensive tour. A protected national wildlife area, the Ras al-Khor is home to over 100 species of birds, including a resident population of 500 greater flamingos.

Tourism promotes restoration.

Most of the places of greatest interest to visitors in Dubais Old City are found along the Ras Al-Khor. Naturally, there are also many mosques in Islamic Dubai. The Great Mosque, built in 1998, is between the al-Fahidi Fort and Ras al-Khor. Al-Fahidi Fort was once the seat of the emirs of Dubai. Restored in 1970, it is now the National Museum. The Bastakia Quarter is one of the oldest parts of the city, making up the larger part of its historic centre. Having survived the twentieth-century building boom without sacrificing its ancient charm, the government now plans a complete restoration, including a museum, cultural centre, restaurants and art galleries. Houses in Bastakia are notable for their wind towers, a traditional means of air conditioning. Cool air currents are pulled into the centre of the house through vents and windows. The system is so cleverly designed that that even the smallest breeze circulates through the rooms below.

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I’ve just finished reading Ross Macmahon’s sales training book titled “40 Days to sales Excellence”.

Although not a light read, because is is so crammed full of useful information, there are some excellent tactics examined for seasoned professionals as well as sales rookies.

Topics include:

* Do The 2% challenge to double your results
* Become the “Lucky Salesman” to easily lift results
* Create Questions that get you closer to the sale
* Investigating and developing company, product and personal USP’s (Unique Selling Points).
* Creating ‘radio adverts’ (elevator pitches) for all parts of the sales presentation.
* Learn the secrets of the Lazy Salesman “Free Accelerators” – power techniques to quickly and easily lift results.
* Learn the importance of creating personal measure to get continuous improvement
* Performing proposals and how to create them
* Personal PR – How and why
* Breaking the Procrastination cycle to put more time in your day
* Partnership to success
* Performance presentations for the professional sales professional
* Getting your momentum back
* Qualification to enhance your selling by up to 10% or more
* First impressions – we can all do better
* Referrals and creating a program to make it happen
* The internal sale – is it your most important sale?

For more information, please visit the sales training book web site. You will be pleased you did. The accompanying sales training course is available here.