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Bird Of Paradise Cottage
Available for reservations through April 2019
Bird of Paradise Cottage is located on Maui island, ranked #1 Best Luxury Destination in the USA and #2 Best Beaches in the USA by U.S News & World Report published April 19, 2018! Maui island was also voted #2 Best Island in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards published on October 17, 2017. And for the seventh year in a row in 2018, Maui earned the coveted top spot as the #1 Hawaiian Island from Travel and Leisure's esteemed readers!
Bird of Paradise Cottage - overlooking the Wailea and Kihei coastlines with ocean views, is a legal Maui-County permitted Bed and Breakfast vacation rental cottage. The permit number is BBKM2009/0008.
Enjoy "Your Own Private Paradise" in this upscale free-standing single family cottage home, and also receive fresh fruit and starter breakfast items for a late night snack or for your first breakfast for the morning after arrival.
Bird of Paradise Cottage is a contemporary-styled affordable petite home that is conveniently located on a gently sloping hillside nestled between Wailea Resort and Kihei Town. Guests will immediately notice the sweeping views which include a panorama of off-shore islands and sunsets (seasonal).
In Fall of 2016, Bird of Paradise Cottage received a loving re-fresh to include a brand new washer/dryer, larger TV in master bedroom, new kitchen goods, new toss pillows, new bath accessories, new bed and bath linens, and many other new and improved details throughout. Private Paradise Villas is now providing the housekeeping service for Bird of Paradise Cottage, for an enhanced and improved guest experience.
The interior of Bird of Paradise Cottage has two bedrooms (one king and two twins or a second king bed), two bathrooms, an open kitchen with center island and a comfortable living area. Just outside the front door is a small patio with lounging furniture, outdoor dining, and a BBQ grill. Inside, the decor is an attractive blend of bamboo pieces mixed with contemporary and tropical furnishings.
Other good quality details include cotton waffle weave bathrobes, down pillows and duvets, all cotton linens, central air conditioning, a new 32 inch flat screen HDMI TV with HDMI DVD and HD digital cable, Bose stereo, iPod dock, telescope, high speed wired and wireless internet, and a library of DVD and CD entertainment. The kitchen is very well equipped with an abundance of useful cooking and dining supplies.
The master bedroom has a four-poster canopied bed in a natural bamboo finish, ceiling fan, flat panel wall mounted TV, and direct access to the outdoor patio. The second bedroom has a garden view, television with DVD and VCR, and a small private patio.
An outdoor patio is complete with chaise lounge chairs and seating for four for outdoor dining.
At Bird of Paradise guests are welcome to use the 40 foot long solar-heated swimming pool and hot tub until 10pm nightly. Please note the pool and hot tub are located in the front yard of the owner's primary home. The gracious and sensitive hosts provide guests with all of the privacy they may prefer. The swimming pool has distant ocean and sunset (seasonal) views, a diving board, and a full outdoor kitchen that includes a Jenn-Air gas grill with dual-side burner, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, two sinks, ice-maker, powder room, shower room and covered dining.
Payment by credit card is accepted at no additional cost!
Wailea Resort is just minutes away. Nearby are many beautiful sandy beaches, world class golf, tennis, fabulous fine dining, a beachfront walking promenade, and excellent shopping. The Shops at Wailea is a multi-level indoor/outdoor plaza anchored by many fine shops such as Chanel, Coach, Tiffany, Gap and Banana Republic, and Louis Vuitton. Stores created for visitors feature island-made silk clothing, original art, fine koa wood furniture, freshly made ice cream, sandals, jewelry, and unique keepsakes. Dining options within The Shops at Wailea include Cheeseburger In Paradise (started on Maui), Tommy Bahamas, Longhi's (from Lahaina), and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. Other great nearby independent eateries are Joe's Bar and Grill and Capische.
The town of Kihei is just 5 minutes away. Kihei offers many more good options for shopping, dining al-fresco, an open-air farmer's market, an olympic size outdoor heated swimming pool (free!), fitness gyms, movie theatre, in-line skate park, artificial wave pool, restaurants such as Roy's, Cafe O Lei, Outback Steakhouse, Sansei, and "local" cafes.
An abundance of ocean recreation is nearby including sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking. Don't forget spas for pampering of which there are nearly a dozen within minutes offering all types of massage and pampering therapies.
Our very own exclusive in-house Concierge will assist you with all of your vacation planning needs. Private Paradise Villas of Hawaii employs several professionals who were formerly Chief Concierge at Four Seasons Hotels in Seattle, Beverly Hills, Tokyo, and Maui. Private Paradise Villas was the first Hawaii vacation rental agency to provide bona-fide Personal Concierge Service for guests of luxury private vacation homes. Your Personal Concierge will arrange for tour and adventure reservations, auto rentals, catered meals or private in-villa chef service, sailing, snorkeling, fishing and helicopter charters, advance reservations for the Old Lahaina Luau, family portrait photos, star-lit massages, vow renewal ceremonies, golf tee-times and other pleasures to enhance your vacation on Maui.
Provided at no additional charge are high speed internet service, parking, local phone calls, tropical bath treats. Unlike at many nearby hotels there are no extra "Resort Fees" charged!
Private Paradise Villas provides all guests with a distinctive and innovative series of private services and amenities including our complimentary no-charge "Four Seasons Hotel" quality "Personal Concierge Service", a resourceful and gracious guide to getting the most out of your Maui vacation.
Your Personal Concierge is available for complimentary assistance to assemble a Custom Concierge Itinerary prior to your arrival, including assistance with golf tee-times, dining reservations, child care, private boat charters, jet charters, sailing, snorkeling, or scuba dive excursions, swimming or surfing lessons, tours and sightseeing, exclusive helicopter tours, in-villa massage and spa pampering, portrait photographs, and any and all other special needs.
Private Paradise Villas, based on Maui Island, was chosen by a handful of discerning owners to serve as their meticulous and conscientious independent rental and management representative. Private Paradise Villas is the direct and exclusive source for reservations for this accommodation. We will be personally responsible for your comfort and enjoyment during your vacation.
Irene Ann Aroner, Owner of Private Paradise Villas, was named as a Villa Rental Specialist for Hawaii by Conde' Nast Traveler Magazine for many successive years. Private Paradise Villas was named as a Silver Award winner in Travel Weekly`s 2012 Magellan Awards...one of only two villa rental agencies worldwide to be named in the those awards, and the only villa agency award recipient in Hawaii.
In 2018, Private Paradise Villas celebrates 23 years of exceeding customer expectations!
A recent guest had this to say about our service..."Private Paradise Villas is the real deal - a genuine dream team of vacation experts for anyone wanting a spectacular holiday! I want to send this message of thanks and appreciation to all of the other behind-the-scenes staff at Private Paradise Villas. This has been a wonderful holiday for our family which would not have been possible without your help in guiding us towards this gorgeous villa. You have been efficient, kind, organized, conscientious, insightful, and a model of integrity. Many, many thanks to you all, and our best wishes for continued success with clients on both sides of the ledger - the ones who own the villas and the ones who rent them. You do a great job balancing the equation for all parties." The F Family. May, 2014
|Overlooking the Wailea and Kihei coastlines with ocean views.
|Distant Ocean View
Rates are subject to the following Hawaii state taxes:
These rates are valid as of the current date. Rates are subject to change until reserved with a signed Rental Application & Agreement and payment of the initial amount due.
Infants and toddlers under two (2) years of age are not included in the total guest count. Toddlers and children age two (2) and above are included in the total guest count.
Occupancy is granted for the maximum number of guests noted above. Excess occupancy is not allowed and may also be regulated by resort and/or local County of Maui ordinance.
Just a few of the inclusive complimentary benefits provided are Personal Concierge Service, parking for the number of vehicles stated in the property highlights on-line, high speed internet, local phone calls, tropical bath treats, and personalized arrival greeting and orientation.
Security deposit plus credit card guarantee is requested for this property, plus a separate incidentals deposit for guest requested special services. The security deposit may be reduced for repeat guests on subsequent visits.
|Maximum Occupancy Including Children
|4 persons including children over 2 years of age.
Christmas & New Year Rate
See Calendar
Click this link to transfer to the Christmas and New Years page to view all properties available over Christmas and New Years
|Initial Reservation Payment
|50% of the total rent and taxes, and the reservations service fee is due with a signed rental agreement to hold your choice of dates.
|Final Reservation Payment
|The balance of 50% of the rent and taxes, 100% of the out-cleaning and security deposit is due 60 days prior to arrival. Due 90 days prior to arrival for Christmas and New Years season reservations.
|Housekeeping Services Provided
Our villas are extremely well stocked with an abundant supply of towels, blankets and extra bed linens. There is plenty of inventory to suffice for several days. Within the villa there is a laundry room with a washer/dryer, laundry supplies, iron and board.
A reservation over Christmas and New Years will include a complimentary mid-stay housekeeping service for each 7 nights reserved, that includes a change of bed sheets and towels, wipe out bathrooms, replace supplies, take out trash, dusting, vacuuming, floor cleaning, and outdoor touch up. Personal laundry and grill cleaning is not performed during this service.
|Extra Housekeeping Cost
|Additional a la carte housekeeping service is $40 per hour per housekeeper plus 4.166% GE tax with a 3 hour minimum.. Advance notice is requested. Subject to availability.
|Check In Time
|After 3pm
|Check Out Time
|Before 11am
|Beach & Ocean Access
|Sandy swimming beaches are just a few miles away. Most beach parks have free public parking, showers, restrooms, and some picnic facilities. Several beach parks in nearby Kihei have lifeguards. There are more than a dozen sandy beaches along the Kihei-Wailea-Makena coastline.
|YES! Guests are welcome to use the pool and spa located above the Bird of Paradise Cottage located in the front yard of the owner's home. The 40 foot, solar-heated swimming pool has a diving board, and an outdoor kitchen that includes Jenn-Air gas grill with dual-side burner, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, two sinks, ice-maker, powder room, shower room and covered dining. Dish Network satellite TV is provided pool-side. Use of the pool and spa is available until 10pm nightly.
|Outdoor Spa
|YES! See above notes regarding pool/spa use.
|Air Conditioning
|The cottage has central air conditioning.
|A private BBQ grill is provided for the cottage. There is also an outdoor poolside kitchen with Jenn-Air Gas Grill, wet bar, microwave, fridge/freezer, ice maker, dishwasher.
|The living room has a new 32" HDMI flat panel television with digital HD cable, in addition to a Bose CD Stereo System, and iPod dock
|Bar Stools are provided at the kitchen island for indoor dining. Off the living room of the cottage is an outdoor dining and lounging patio that is shaded by a large market umbrella. There is also an outdoor BBQ grill.
|Approx Interior Size
|Approximately 700 square feet
|Approx Lot Size
The property owners live in a private home located upslope from the cottage. They do not see into the cottage area and usually provide guests with privacy. Guests are welcome to use the pool and spa located above the Bird of Paradise Cottage in the front yard of the owner's home nightly until 10pm.
The washer/dryer is located on the side of the cottage - this is not unusual for cottage homes in Hawai'i. There are two indoor bathrooms, both with showers, and there is a third outdoor shower for use after the beach.
SPECIFIC RENTAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS STIPULATED BY MAUI COUNTY AS A CONDITION FOR GRANTING THIS PROPERTY A SHORT-TERM (Vacation) RENTAL PERMIT/LICENSE:
|+View Bedroom Details
|Master Bed Type
|California King Bed with Bamboo 4-Poster Frame
|Master Bed View
|Garden and Distant Ocean View!
|Master Bed Bathroom
|Private Shower Bath
|Master Bed Floor
|Ground Level
|Master Bed Closet(s)
|Master Bed Patio/Lanai
|Direct access to outdoor patio
|Master Bed Electronics & Entertainment
|Wall mounted flat panel television, CD Alarm Clock Radio
|Master Bed AC
|Central air conditioning with ceiling fans
|Bed #2 Type
|2 Twin Beds - can also be made up as a King Bed
|Bed #2 View
|Garden View
|Bed #2 Bathroom
|Private Shower Bath
|Bed #2 Floor
|Ground Level
|Bed #2 Closet(s)
|Bed #2 Patio/Lanai
|Direct access to outdoor patio
|Bed #2 Electronics & Entertainment
|TV with VCR, DVD and CD Alarm Clock Radio
|Bed #2 AC
|Central air conditioning with ceiling fans
|Bed #3 Type
|Bed #3 View
|Bed #3 Bathroom
|Bed #3 Floor
|Bed #3 Closet(s)
|Bed #3 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #3 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #3 AC
|Bed #4 Type
|Bed #4 View
|Bed #4 Bathroom
|Bed #4 Floor
|Bed #4 Closet(s)
|Bed #4 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #4 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #4 AC
|Bed #5 Type
|Bed #5 View
|Bed #5 Bathroom
|Bed #5 Floor
|Bed #5 Closet(s)
|Bed #5 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #5 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #5 AC
|Bed #6 Type
|Bed #6 View
|Bed #6 Bathroom
|Bed #6 Floor
|Bed #6 Closet(s)
|Bed #6 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #6 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #6 AC
|Bed #7 Type
|Bed #7 View
|Bed #7 Bathroom
|Bed #7 Floor
|Bed #7 Closet(s)
|Bed #7 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #7 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #7 AC
|Bed #8 Type
|Bed #8 View
|Bed #8 Bathroom
|Bed #8 Floor
|Bed #8 Closet(s)
|Bed #8 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #8 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #8 AC
|Bed #9 Type
|Bed #9 View
|Bed #9 Bathroom
|Bed #9 Floor
|Bed #9 Closet(s)
|Bed #9 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #9 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #9 AC
|Bed #10 Type
|Bed #10 View
|Bed #10 Bathroom
|Bed #10 Floor
|Bed #10 Closet(s)
|Bed #10 Patio/Lanai
|Bed #10 Electronics & Entertainment
|Bed #10 AC
|Personal Safe
|Provided in the living room and second bedroom
|Billiard Table
|Internet Connection
|High-speed wireless access around cottage, pool and pool bar.
|Fax Machine and Printer/Copier are provided
|Wine Fridge
|Tiki Torches
|Tiki torches decorate the perimeter of the upper swimming pool
|Other Non-Standard Amenities Provided in this Villa
|Ceiling Fans, Central Air Conditioning, Outdoor Hot/Cold Shower, Reverse Osmosis Water Purification System, Private Washer/Dryer, Personal BBQ grill, Bose Stereo, iPod dock, HD Television service, HDMI DVD, Well Equipped Kitchen, Separate Parking Space, High-Speed Wireless Internet Service available at no charge, Fax Machine.


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NOTE: While new carpeting is being installed at the Oshtemo Branch Library, access to some materials may be unavailable. Thank you for your patience.
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On the Menu a Day there is a meal Broccoli Chicken casserole with a list of ingredients but no recipe. Where is the recipe?
I'm glad you're enjoying our menus! When developing the menus, we tried to tie in recipes currently in our database that use common ingredients but we also wanted to provide variety over the 30-day Menu A Day period. We don't currently have a Brocolli and Chicken Casarole but you might also like this tasty Roasted Squash and Eggplant Casserole with Chicken. Enjoy!


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NEW YORK, N.Y. - Some of Yale's greatest female Track and Cross Country Athletes were on hand February 7 at the Yale Club of New York City, as the Yale Track Association honored the 1986 Cross Country, 1987 Track and Field and 1987 Cross Country Heps Championship teams. Many of the former greats on hand were actually part of all three of these championships within one calendar year! Like the 2006 dinner, over 100 Friends of Yale Track and Field gathered to reconnect with each other and the program, and to honor these great female track and cross country stars. 5 decades of track alums were in attendance, along with current Yale track athletes, parents, coaches, and friends of Yale Track and Field.
Kim Ford (track and field captain '87) told some entertaining stories of the camaraderie of the "old days", accompanied by Kelly Vanasse-Groteke (cross country captain '87). Coach Mark Young '68 related several stories about his former champions, and presented each with a nice keepsake award featuring framed team pictures from Yale Athletics archives.
The dinner was followed by lively socializing in the second floor lounge that continued well into the evening. This was a truly special evening, enjoyed by all in attendance. We hope to see you there in the future!
To view pictures from the dinner, check out the Yale Track Association website, at: www.yalebulldogs.com
Members of the championship teams and their teammates in attendance included:
- Jane Buchan (Driscoll) `86
- Kim Ford `87
- Louisa Garry (Gerritz) `87
- Sarah Gerritz (Smith) `89
- Laura Hastings `86
- Lisa Jones `89
- Donna Lesch `89
- Anne Maitland `86
- Ifeoma Okoronkwo `87
- Meredith Remigino (Gordon) `89
- Carolyn Wasserman (Ballan) `87


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Author Notes: My husband's favorite pie is apple and he is always asking me to make one for him. By combining different types of apples you get a delicious blend of flavors and textures - some that break down when cooked and others that maintain their structure. Pre-thickening the filling guarantees a perfect slice every time! - HeritageCook —HeritageCook
Food52 Review: I would definitely make this recipe again. I loved the texture of the filling, and the cider added a deeper apple flavor than I've had in most pies before. The recipe method calls for adding sugar to the filling, but doesn't list an amount so I used four tablespoons of turbinado sugar, and that seemed to work well. I would add a bit more lemon juice for contrast next time, but other than that, the pie worked beautifully for me—and my mother and brother concurred. (My brother claims this is the perfect pie to eat with ice cream.) - queenie_nyc —The Editors
Serves: about 8
Dough for a 9-inch double crust pie, chilled
large egg whites
teaspoons water
4 to 5
medium sweet apples such as Fuji, Braeburn, Gala, or Jonathan
2 to 3
tart apples such as Granny Smith or Pippin
tablespoons cornstarch
tablespoon all-purpose flour
teaspoon ground cinnamon
teaspoon ground nutmeg
teaspoon salt
cup apple juice or apple cider
teaspoon vanilla
teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, optional
Coarse sugar such as Turbinado, Raw, or Demerara
- Set oven rack to lowest position and preheat to 400°F.
- On a well-floured surface, roll out half of dough to a circle about 15-inches in diameter and about 1/8-inch thick, and ease into 9-inch glass* pie pan. Do not stretch the dough. Leave edges unfinished at this point. Place pie on a foil-lined baking sheet with sides. In a small bowl beat egg whites with water (this is an egg wash). Brush bottom crust and sides with the egg wash. You won't use all of it. (It helps keep the filling from soaking through the bottom crust.) Set aside while you make the filling.
- Peel and core all the apples. Cut the sweet apples into larger chunks (they will get very soft and cook faster), and thinly slice the tart apples (they will hold their shape and take longer to cook.) Set aside.
- In a bowl combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Stir until evenly blended. Transfer to a 3-quart saucepan and add apple juice, vanilla, and lemon juice (if using). Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Cook until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat.
- Stir the apples into the thickened apple juice and toss until evenly distributed. Set to the side to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, roll out second half of dough to make the top crust. Pour filling into bottom crust and gently transfer top crust to pie. Brush the edges of the bottom crust with water or additional egg wash and press the top and bottom crusts together. Trim so there is about 1/4-inch overhang beyond the edge of the pie pan. Flute the edge of pie crust. Brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with the coarse sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut several vents in the top to allow steam to escape during baking. You can decorate with extra pieces of dough if desired, securing them with egg wash or water.
- Transfer pie on the baking sheet to the hot oven. Bake until both the top and bottom crusts are golden brown and the juices are bubbling in the center of the pie, about 60 to 75 minutes. You should be able to hear the pie bubbling. If the pie is browning on top too quickly, tent it with a piece of tin foil.
- Let pie cool at least 1 to 2 and preferably 3 hours before slicing. The apples will reabsorb some of the juices while the pie rests and your slices will be picture perfect.
- * Using a glass pie pan will allow you to see when the bottom crust is cooked all the way through. Raw dough will have a grey'ish color. The main mistake people make is under-cooking their pies.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Autumn Pie
More Great Recipes:
Pie|Apple|Apple Juice|Fruit|Lemon Juice|Nutmeg|Fall|Rosh Hashanah|Thanksgiving|Dessert


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Sundown Vibrant Thermal Curtain Rod Pocket Panel Pairs
Instantly update any room with one of these room darkening window panel pairs! Their delightful style gives your space a new look with vibrant colors and amazing texture. Making your space more energy-efficient while blocking out light, they help contribute to a fabulous mid-day nap or a restful night's sleep. These stylish panels inspire the perfect comfortable environment for sweet dreams while adding a splash of color to your home.
- Includes 2 panels
- Noise-reducing
- Room-darkening
- We offer a wide selection of curtain rods to pair with your new panel, (sold separately)
- 84"L x 26"W (each)
- Material: 100% Polyester
- True Color: Blue
- Machine washable
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For return terms, see our full Returns Policy.
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Clan: Season 3, Episode 4. Calum's Agent
The English know Calum and the fishermen stole the warship. Now the two heavily armed frigates are under full sail and in pursuit of the little merchant ship.
There is no escape, the frigates will be in cannon range miles before the highlanders reach Inverness.
Calum has found his true love, but the warships will be upon them before he can realize it.
Big John has one last desperate plan. A plan that will surely kill them all.
Product Details
|Leigh Barker
|Publication date:
|Clan - Season 3
|Sold by:
|NOOK Book
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About the Author
I write about heroes... so am I a hero? I would be if I had to be... honest! I once saved a cat from a tree - okay, it was a small tree, an apple tree in fact, but everyone knows size doesn't matter. I've been a Merchant Navy sparks, and a salesman (I was hopeless), but mostly I've been a fiction writer (but that doesn't make me a bad person). Being a sparks was cool – Radio Officers are…err.. officers. I was on a cargo/passenger ship and got to wear a white uniform and have huge dinners with the passengers. The really good thing was that the sparks goes off duty the moment the ship picks up the Pilot, whose job it is to steer the ship through dangerous waters or into harbour. We went to the Far East (Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Burma, Indonesia... the Far East then), and the Pilot was needed for the whole time we were there. So I was off duty for a month, and got to see all these places for free! Okay, got robbed in Hong Kong, but that was my fault for not paying attention - oh and got robbed in Manila, but he was armed with a really big gun, so that was okay. I had to leave, because I was getting fat (apparently fat is bad). Back home, I had to earn a living - as all the money-for-nothing slots had been taken by z-list celebs. I became a salesman. Why in God's name, I know not. I went through a one-year intensive training program and was let loose, selling electronics to industry. I was absolutely useless at it - I couldn't handle the rejection, and wanted people to like me. Neither of which fit well with a sales role. I ran away. And now I'm a fiction writer. I have over 65 stories (novels and short story series). At first I wrote 'regular' novels; Eden's Last Hero, Winterwood, and A Whisper of Armageddon, and they were very successful (yippee!) - but we're all changing the way we read so my latest stories reflect that change. Clan, The Hellfire Legacy, Soldiers, and Requiem for Eden are all released as one-hour Bitesize Reads. They're complete Episodes, with a start a middle and an end. And every episode ends with a huge cliffhanger, just like a Saturday Matinee! Do readers like this format? Yes, yes! Since releasing Season 1 of Clan, tens of thousands of readers have bought it, people who enjoy a great adventure just like I do. And the same is happening with Season 1 of both The Hellfire Legacy, Soldiers, Requiem for Eden…and to Clan Season 2. It looks like there's a lot of people out there who want to read adventures, but don't have time to read a 500-page novel, yet still want a complete story. Me too! And I'm loving writing these, so thanks to all my readers. I really appreciate being in the company of people who love real Saturday Matinee cliff-hangers that keep you on the edge of your seat! Yes, I write about heroes who are larger than life and great fun.
Customer Reviews
Average Review


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Registration Deadline: Monday, February 26, 2018
The StrongWomen/Growing Stronger program is a safe, effective strength-training and nutrition program for individuals who have been active or sedentary for the past few years and are interested in improving their health.
Mon. & Wed., Feb. 26 - Apr. 25, 2018 (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Mathewson Park Apartments6 Maple St.Factoryville, PA 18419
Based on research conducted by Dr. Miriam Nelson and her colleagues at Tufts University, we know that women from age 35 on can start to lose 1/4 to 1/3 pound of muscle each year and gain that much or more in fat. Over time the loss of 2% of strength per year results in weak muscles and difficulty moving. When this happens, physical activity slows, which leads to more loss of muscle mass and a sedentary, dependent lifestyle.
The classes, which meet twice a week, consist of a nutrition lesson and 8-12 strength training exercises that help improve strength, balance, and flexibility. Make a commitment to becoming healthier and feeling better about yourself. Join a StrongWomen program sponsored by Penn State Extension. You can remain vital throughout your lifetime through healthy eating and exercise. Individuals who have participated in the program have become stronger, more active, and energized.
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Cvent Online Event Registration Software | Copyright © 2000-2019 Cvent, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Realtor Directory
Build Your Business on Walk2Shul.com
Whether you currently have listings or not, getting published on our Realtor Directory is a great way to advertise yourself, your services and help build your real estate business.
Walk2Shul's Realtor Directory lets visitors, sellers and buyers easily find Realtors in their local area. Visitors can use the easily accessible Realtor Search form and search for Realtors by Name, Company, Country and/or City.
Our Realtor Directory shows a thumbnail image of your agent photo, your name, your brokerage name, city and country. If you have listings on Walk2Shul, an orange number will show the number of listings you currently have on Walk2Shul.com
When you sign up and pay for your Realtor Directory listing, you will also receive your very own "Seller's Page". Visitors arrive at your Seller's Page when they click on your name on the Realtor Directory.
The Seller's Page provides visitors the opportunity to conveniently see all your current listings on Walk2Shul.com on one page. They'll see your account details, including your agent photo, your brokerage name and location. An "About Me" section allows you to promote yourself, your services and specialties to potential clients.
Lastly, a contact form allows visitors the opportunity to directly contact you via our internal messaging system. When a prospect fills out the form, an email will be sent to your account's email address.
See for yourself by going to the Realtor Directory and clicking on one of the listed Realtors.
Another feature included with your Realtor Directory listing is your own personal web address on Walk2Shul. It will look like: www.walk2shul.com/DenaKatzRealtor/ ... where "DenaKatzRealtor" can be your name, username or whatever you like. You create this personal web address when you first register on Walk2Shul as a "Realtor".
You can then use your personal Walk2Shul web address in all your marketing, sending people directly to your Seller's Page, where people can learn more about you and see all your listings in one place. This is a great way to market yourself to homeowners in your area.
Getting listed on our Realtor Directory is easy and affordable. At $87 per year, this is a great deal. But for a limited time only, you can lock in your spot for only $47 per year.
As long as you keep your subscription active, you'll only pay $47 a year, even if we change to a higher price. So act now and get yourself listed on our Directory today.
- 1. If you haven't already, please REGISTER. Be sure to select "Realtor" as the Account Type.
- 2. Come back to this page and click the "Buy Now" button below.
- 3. Place your order and pay for the Directory listing. Please use the same email that you used to register on our website.
- 4. Once we receive your order, we will activate you on the Realtor Directory and email you a confirmation.


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So, things are generally going well right now, no?
When we last spoke, right before the Yankees series, things were looking up as well. Then a couple of unspeakable seventh innings occured and things looked meh once again. However, over the last ten games, the Tigers are 6-4 and are currently sitting in first place at 17-13. For twenty-six innings against the Indians, the Tigers allowed only ONE solitary run to score. And only three altogether after Fernando's rough ninth inning. Also, Friday night, this happened:


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When I upgraded from Ubuntu 8.4.0 to Ubuntu 8.4.1 and then to Ubuntu 8.10, I spent a great deal of time wailing and gnashing my teeth over earlier versions of VMware Workstation (6.0.3, 6.0.4, and 6.05) and patches. For example, VMware complained that the gcc C compiler delivered with Ubuntu 8.4.1 did not match the one used to compile that kernel. Other combinations of Ubuntu/VMware/patches did not compile for me. One combination compiled and appeared to install correctly but then complained that the number of the vmmon module expected did natch the vmmon module available, so VMware would not open my virtual machine. Groan.
However, I found that VMware Workstation 6.5 installed and worked with no problems, no need for patches, on Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex), kernel version 2.6.27 (32-bit).
I pass this experience along for those (like me) who were apprehensive about upgrading: make the big leap; forget the small, cautious steps.
Hope this helps,
Kathleen Callaway


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We Help You Fuel Exceptional Customer Experiences
We are a full-service Customer Experience consultancy focused on helping you build lasting relationships with your customers. From strategy and technology selection to management and measurement, our end-to-end services support you in every area of CX, including:
CX Strategy
CX Strategy
Stand out from your competition by delivering effective Customer Experiences.
Technology Implementation
Technology Implementation
Streamline the implementation of CX supporting technologies.
Technology Innovation
Technology Innovation
Solve your unique business challenges through innovative use of technology.
Managed Services
Managed Services
Reduce your IT headache with troubleshooting, management and support.
Your Partner in Customer Experience
When a customer's overall experience with your brand has the potential to make or break you, getting it right is vital. From single interactions with customer support agents to the ongoing relationship you build with your customers, the experience you offer must be both effective and impactful.
We are your partner for CX strategy and technology.
Setting the Scene for CX Success
A single customer interaction can have a far-reaching impact on your business. With careful planning, precise execution, and an ongoing commitment to getting it right, you can set the scene for CX success. We help you create positive experiences your customers will remember and share. Find out how we've helped companies just like yours, check out our case studies.
Traveling with kids can be a nightmare.
Recently, my nightmare turned into a dream. After struggling to find a flight for my family, I reached out to the airline through its website chat portal. The agent, Becca, was great. She quickly made me feel like a valuable customer by listening to the concerns I had over traveling with my young sons. She walked me through the available flight options and helped me choose the best itinerary for our schedule and budget. Becca even told me about the airline's mobile application that offers tips on traveling with little ones. She made the process of purchasing the flight and planning for our trip so easy. What a relief.
Becca's help was instrumental in our first family vacation. I've told all my friends with kids about the airline's willingness to help.
Laura K.
Customer Experience
From training Becca to establishing the communication channels Laura used, the airline's carefully mapped out CX strategy set the foundation for a successful interaction.
Contact Center
Looking for help, Laura engages the airline through its website chat portal. She is automatically connected to Becca, a service representative with experience helping parents book flights.
Customer Engagement
Laura's information is automatically gathered from the airline's CRM database and displayed in the same interface window as the chat. This allows Becca to quickly assess Laura's history with the airline and her current needs.
Business Productivity
Flight schedules and pricing information on the airline's intranet portal allow Becca to select travel times and flights accommodating for young children while working within Laura's budget.
App Development
The airline's mobile application serves as another interaction channel between Laura and the airline. Through this channel, the airline continues to support Laura after her purchase, and fosters a continued relationship with her.
I recently dealt with a pretty serious illness.
I was lucky to be treated by a healthcare provider that offered a number of tools and communications channels to keep my treatment on track. Throughout my treatment, I regularly received personalized reminders of upcoming appointments via phone and text messages. Whenever I called to ask a question, they always seemed to know exactly who I was and what I was dealing with. Their patient web portal made it easy for me to view test results, schedule appointments and refill prescriptions. The doctors and nurses did a great job of communicating with each other regarding my treatment plan, which helped to streamline my care across departments.
In the end, their attention to detail was very comforting. I'd recommend the clinic to any of my friends or family members.
Rodney N.
Customer Experience
The clinic's investment into planning its CX strategies allowed for the identification and optimization of key points of interaction. These include the clinic's contact center, patient web portal and in-person appointments.
Contact Center
The clinic's automatic dialer allowed contact center agents to place calls reminding Rodney of future appointments. CRM platform integration gave agents detailed information about Rodney's appointment history and upcoming visits.
Customer Engagement
The clinic's CRM platform maintains detailed records of Rodney's care history. Key data, including contact information, appointment history, and active medications is stored in the CRM and is easily accessed by contact center agents assisting Rodney.
Business Productivity
Collaboration between doctors and nurses and between the clinic and other care providers is vital to the quality of care offered to Rodney. This is achieved with digital communication tools including Skype for Business and custom employee portals.
App Development
A custom-developed application downloads and saves Rodney's medical records to the clinic's Electronic Medical Records (EMR) database. This gives Rodney access to his full medical history through the online patient portal.
Last year, our home was damaged during a severe storm.
Thankfully, our homeowners insurance company was incredibly helpful. They made filing a claim as painless as possible. When I called, rather than being forced to wait on hold for an agent, I was able to schedule a call back using their interactive menu. Minutes later, Brian called to discuss my claim. Even before calling, Brian was up to speed on my insurance account. He did a great job of helping me understand the coverage I carried and the steps involved in the claims process. He even helped me take pictures of the damage using the company's mobile app. In minutes, he had my claim underway. I tracked the claim online and was surprised at how quickly each step in the claims process was completed.
They turned a truly difficult experience into something almost enjoyable. I'll never forget that.
John S.
Customer Experience
Insurance providers face unique challenges in supporting customers, including legal and emotional concerns. The CX strategies focused on process optimization, employee collaboration, and account access portals helped make John's journey quick and easy.
Contact Center
The insurance company's Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menu allows John to request a return call from an agent. John's call request is automatically added to the contact center's queue and handled by the next available agent.
Customer Engagement
The agent accesses the company's CRM platform to view information on John's insurance coverage. With the information on hand, Brian calls John and helps him file his claim. Brian updates the CRM with additional information gathered for future access by claims adjusters.
Business Productivity
Adjusters can communicate in real-time, share documents and collaborate on necessary forms with tools such as Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, and SharePoint. This helps to drive the claims process forward as efficiently as possible.
App Development
The cost of field agents and documenting evidence is reduced with the mobile claims application. John takes pictures of the damage, initiates the claim and the information is uploaded to his account profile for agent and adjuster review.
After nearly 10 years, it was time to purchase a new grill.
I've been very happy with my old grill and decided to purchase the same brand. After getting the new grill home, assembled and fired up, I realized that it worked much differently than my old one. I couldn't get the hang of it, so I called the company helpline. Their automated menu offered great information including the web address of an online product forum containing helpful information from the company and other people using my grill. I like to help myself whenever I can, so I went in search of answers on the forum. Within minutes, I had created an account and located the information I needed. They even offered a place for users to share recipes and tips for grilling great meals. Finding answers was fast and easy.
I'd already loved their products, but this interaction has earned the company a loyal customer for life.
George D.
Customer Experience
Empowering customers requires a comprehensive CX strategy. The interaction was successful thanks to the manufacturer's knowledge of customer communication preferences and strategic investment into technology.
Contact Center
George calls the manufacturer's helpline and is offered an automated menu with a variety of option. Multiple interaction choices empower George to find his own answers while demonstrating agent support is also available.
Customer Engagement
The manufacturer's CRM system stores George's account information, including the model of his grill. The company can use multiple channels to offer George personalized information and George can log in when he wants.
Business Productivity
The grill manufacturer leveraged SharePoint to create an extranet portal. With this rich user-friendly repository of information, employees and customers can create and share content and interact with one another.
App Development
A personalized user experience is possible with a custom middleware application that reads and writes data from SharePoint to CRM. The application captures and employs user data to tailor the delivery of content and enrich the overall experience.
Last month, I visited my best friend Sarah in San Diego for her birthday.
I called my hotel ahead of time to ask for advice on places to take Sarah for a special birthday dinner. Their automated menu gave me several options, including to speak to someone about attractions and dining in the area. The option connected me directly to Lu, the hotel's concierge. Without me even telling her, Lu knew the details of my trip, including my check-in date and the type of room I had booked. She offered some great ideas about where to go for dinner, and things we could do while I was in town. Lu even helped me make a reservation with a great Italian place right on our call.
Lu was such a sweetheart. In minutes, she made me feel like one of her children. I'll happily give my business to any company that hires and supports people like her.
Beth I.
Customer Experience
Effective employee training and employee empowerment encourages consistency in brand messaging at all points of contact. The hotel's CX strategy offered dedicated training to Lu and armed her with useful tools leading to an unforgettable experience for Beth.
Contact Center
The hotel's automated menu system streamlines interactions by guiding callers to the agent best equipped to help. This ensures Beth is quickly connected to the person with the training and information to assist her.
Customer Engagement
Using caller ID tracking, the CRM system locates Beth's reservation information and quickly presents it to Lu via the Contact Center interface. The integration between the hotel's CRM and the contact center platform allows Lu the information necessary to assist Beth.
Business Productivity
Through SharePoint, the hotel maintains an intranet portal that offers employees information regarding local restaurants, events and attractions. This portal, combined with Lu's knowledge of the San Diego area, makes it easy for her to help Beth find the perfect restaurant.
App Development
Lu relies on the hotel's custom application to schedule reservations and purchase tickets for guests. The hotel's partnerships with area restaurants and venues lets Lu make Beth's reservation directly through the application.
Success Stories
See some of the results we've achieved for our clients, and let us do the same for you.


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10 Gloriously Green St. Patrick's Day Foods
Everyone knows that St. Patrick's Day is the one day out of the year when we're all Irish. And, apparently that translates into wearing anything green and silly we can get our hands on and having as much to drink as we can carry at one time. But, there's another strange tradition that has developed in celebration of this day. We can't explain it. Are Irish people really that into unnaturally green food?


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Turkey Federation Banquet Saturday, February 23
- Details
- Category: Community
- Published on 21 February 2013
- Written by Mount Vernon Optic-Herald
The National Wild Turkey Federation's Sixth Annual Hunting Heritage Banquet is Saturday, Feb. 23
at 6 p.m. at Purley Gates Retreat. The event will include a silent auction and a drawing featuring the 2013 NWTF gun of the year, prints and sculptures. For more information, see the Feb. 21 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald.


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This year's theme of World Water Week held from August 17-23, 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden was "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World" with a special focus on sanitation.
This recognizes the declaration by the United Nations of 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation (IYS). World Water Week in Stockholm brings together more than 1000 people to promote and exchange views and experiences between scientific, business, policy and civil society communities across the globe, advancing the water agenda. The event focuses on the environmental and health crisis caused by the more than 200 million tonnes of human waste that ends up untreated in water systems, fouling the environment and exposing millions of people to disease.
IUCN and the Global Environmental Flows Network co-convened a seminar during World Water Week on environmental flows and human well-being in partnership with USAID (US Agency for International Development), the Swedish Water House, WWF, The Nature Conservancy, DIVERSITAS, Global Water Systems Project, UNESCO IHP and Wetlands International. The seminar aimed to explore the improvement of human health by safeguarding and restoring aquatic ecosystems. Environmental Flows (eFlows) refers to water provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people.
Speakers addressed the latest research findings on the links between ecosystem services and the components of human well-being such as food provision and drought regulation. Specific case studies from Australia, China and India were shared as examples of the connection between eFlows and climate change, livelihoods and human health. Cutting-edge approaches were also presented to assess the necessary environmental flow choices and how to integrate these choices into the global development agenda.
The conclusion of the seminar is that more knowledge is needed to explicitly understand the direct linkages between ensuring healthy flows in rivers and human well being. This connection is a crucial step forward in influencing decision-makers on the need to maintain healthy flows for the environment and people.
IUCN staff members took part in a number of other events during Water Week. This ranged from a side event on local water governance in the Middle East ("Improving Local Water Governance and the Access of the Poor to Water: Experiences from Egypt, Jordan and Palestine") to a full day workshop on water reuse ("Options for Facilitating Multi-Level Stakeholder Participation in Transboundary Water Management: Experiences from the Volta Water Governance Project"). In addition, IUCN co-sponsored two booths: Water and Climate Change, in partnership with the Cooperative Programme on Water and Climate, the World Water Council and Netherlands Union of Waterboards. The Environmental Flows booth was sponsored by members of the Global Environmental Flows Network, which includes IUCN.
About World Water Week in Stockholm
World Water Week is the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development.
For more information and full programme agenda, please visit: www.worldwaterweek.org
About the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
Created in 1948, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) brings together 83 States, 110 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.
More information can be found at www.iucn.org/water
Notes to editors
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Claire Warmenbol, Tel: +41 22 999 0188, [email protected]
Katharine Cross, In Stockholm, Mob: +41 79 737 8714, [email protected]
Interviews: Photos and Bios of IUCN experts present at World Water Week are available online: http://cms.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/water/wp_contacts/index.cfm


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[Illinois] CNST 2012: Imparting Electrical Connectivity into 3D Micro/Nanostructures with Additive Nanomanufacturing
Licensed according to this deed.
Published on
CNST Workshop 2012
May 2–3, 2012
Showcasing University of Illinois research in bionanotechnology/nanomedicine, nanoelectronics/nanophotonics, and nanomaterials/nanomanufacturing, leading to cross-campus and industry collaborations
National Center for Supercomputing Applications Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Workshop Premise
The broad objective of the University of Illinois Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) workshop is to showcase University of Illinois research in bionanotechnology/ nanomedicine, nanoelectronics/nanophotonics, nanomaterials/nanomanufacturing, and computational nanotechnology/nanomechanics.
The general framework of the nanotechnology workshop is similar to those held on campus since 2003; which were all well attended by industry and academia. Some of those interactions have since then led to industry and cross-campus collaborations. The CNST-led forums and workshops have contributed tremendously toward the formation of multidisciplinary teams leading to the establishment of multimillion dollar new nanotechnology centers on-campus. The workshop will provide a forum for industry interactions and collaborations. The workshop brings together campus community (faculty, graduate and undergraduates, administration) from UIUC and other academic institutions, and industry engaged in cutting-edge research. A workshop panel will discuss the roadmap to future direction of research and development in nanotechnology and regional partnerships.
Established in 2001–02, the University of Illinois Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) is the premier center for nanotechnology research, education and training, and entrepreneurial and outreach activities.
CNST draws its strength from working as a collaboratory involving the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, Coordinated Science Laboratory,Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, Institute for Genomic Biology, Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Center for Nanoscale Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing Systems, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the Schools of Chemical Sciences and of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and other multidisciplinary centers.
It brings together nanoscale research from across the campus, drawing faculty from engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, neuroscience, agriculture, medicine, and other areas. The center envisions seamless integration of research from materials to devices to systems and applications. CNST is uniquely located to harness the entrepreneurial and technical spirit in downstate Illinois, with ongoing linkages with the University Research Park, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the State legislature. Industrial and international linkages have also been initiated through multidisciplinary centers. In addition, CNST has embarked on developing a curriculum for nanotechnology education, which will transcend a number of campus departments and units. Exceptional students with interest in nanotechnology projects have been awarded fellowships, as the center prepares the next generation workforce. CNST-led efforts have led to leveraging of existing nanotechnology research labs into also hands-on training sites for molecular and cellular biology, mechanobiology, micro and nanofabrication, and enabling technologies, and tissue engineering.
Workshop Sponsored by:
The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory
National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
Coordinated Science Laboratory
Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory
Institute for Genomic Biology
NSF STC Center on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS, co-location)
NSF Nano-CEMMS
Network for Computational Nanotechnology/NanoHub at Illinois
Nanotechnology Community of Scholars at ACES
Min-Feng Yu, Mechanical Science and Engineering, Illinois
Min-Feng Yu joined the School of Aerospace Engineering in the Georgia Institute of Technology as a Full Professor in July 2012. Prior to that, he had been an Associate Professor of Mechanical Science and Engineering since 2008 and an Assistant Professor since 2002 in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests span from understanding basic mechanics and physics of materials to the nanomanufacturing of related microscale/nanoscale devices and systems. Prof. Yu pioneered the development of nanoscale mechanical measurement methods in electron microscope that accelerated the fundamental study of nanomaterials, and the introduction of novel concepts in nanomanufacturing that enabled practical freeform 3-D fabrication of electronic nanostructures. He has published extensively in those research areas in scientific journals, such as Science, Physical Review Letters, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters and many others, which have been featured in mass media such as New York Times, The Economist, Chicago Tribune, New Scientist, MIT Technology Review and highlighted as scientific advances in Science, Nature, Nature Nanotechnology and C&EN of ACS. His studies have been widely cited over 5000 times by peers in scientific journals by year 2012 and he has over 13 issued and pending patent applications. He is a member of ASME, APS, MRS and IEEE, and serves as a reviewer for many scientific journals including Nature journals, Physical Review Letters, Advanced Materials and Nano Letters.
From Dr. Yu's faculty page
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
NCSA Auditorium, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign


text: Decorate the paper dolls and outfits, then dress three fashionable friends in your colorful creations! Skirts, tops, dresses, shoes and bags look stunning when colored in with your unique Blendy Pens color blends in this set of markers for kids. Simply choose two colors, mix them in the Fusion Chamber, then use them just like markers as the colors shift and change. It's arts & crafts meets make-believe meets fabulous fashion design! The set includes three paper dolls, 28 fashion pieces and 28 holographic stickers, plus four Fusion Chambers and eight Blendy Pens colors to mix and blend.


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Vintage Perpetual Calendars
There's something about perpetual calendars that's at once comforting and unnerving. Maybe it's the physical representation of time continuing to move forward, in the words of David Byrne, "same as it ever was." When you look at a calendar that's been counting the days for fifty years or more, you really feel the march of time...
This pseudo-philosophical intro might not seem like the best pitch for buying vintage, but the longevity of old objects adds to their complexity. In an piece designed to mark time, we see the continuity between past and present as a plus. Good, long-lasting design has many layers.
• 1 Perpetual Calendar from Sweetshorn, $34
• 2 Perpetual Calendar from Sweetshorn, $38
• 3 Perpetual Desk Calendar from 26 Olive Street, $42
• 4 Perpetual Desk Calendar from This Old House Dress, $14
• 5 50-Year Perpetual Calendar (1980 - 2030) from Modish Vintage, $20
• 6 Gold-Toned Perpetual Calendar from Finding Fabulous, $36
• 7 Tin Perpetual Calendar from Ruby Lane, $25
• 8 Faux Bois Perpetual Desk Calendar from Vintage Avocado, $24
• 9 Wooden Perpetual Calendar from Vintage Suburbia, $16
• 10 Apple Perpetual Calendar Blocks from the Cottage Cheese, $24
• Search for "Vintage Perpetual Calendar" on Etsy
• Search for "Perpetual Calendar" at Ruby Lane
• Search for "Perpetual Calendar" at Three Potato Four
• How To: Make a Perpetual Photo Wall Calendar
• Roundup: Perpetual Calendars
posted originally from: AT:Chicago


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WARNING: Iraq is presently a war zone. Traveling there is extremely unsafe and strongly discouraged. All foreigners are in danger of kidnapping, murder, and general armed violence. Tourism visas for Iraq are not granted at the moment.
Although the northeast provinces which comprise Iraqi Kurdistan can be considered safe for foreigners, the margins for errors are small. While no foreign deaths have occurred in the province since the 2003 Iraq invasion, many foreign deaths have occurred elsewhere in Iraq. Note that citizens of Iraqi Kurdistan themselves generally do not leave the province, as their lives are also in danger (although citizens of Kirkuk are an exception).
If it is necessary to visit, then remain cautious at all times, and consult your embassy before you leave. For further information, see war zone safety.
The bottom line: do your research and be careful.
Iraq (Arabic: العراق Al-Irāq) is a country in the Middle East. It lies at the north end of the Persian Gulf and has a small (58 km) coastline in the southeast of the country. It is surrounded by Iran to the east, Kuwait to the south, Saudi Arabia to the southwest, Jordan to the west, Syria to the northwest, and Turkey to the north.
Iraq is the birthplace of many of the Earth's oldest civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Assyrians. A part of the Ottoman Empire from 1534, the Treaty of Sèvres brought the area under British control in 1918. Iraq gained independence in 1932. On 14 July 1958, the long-time Hachemite monarchy was overthrown in a coup led by Abdul Kassem that paved way to radical political reforms, including the legalisation of political parties such as the Ba'ath and the Communist Party, both key players in the coup (also called the 14 July Revolution). Following the Revolution, the Soviet Union gradually became its main arms and commercial supplier.
In February 1963, Kassem was overthrown and killed in a second coup that brought the Ba'ath Party into power. Internal divisions would follow for the next five years, until another coup on 17 July 1968 led by Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr (with Communist support) stabilised the party. Relations between the Communists and the Ba'athists ranged from mutual cooperation to violent mistrust, culminating in the purge of Communists from the army and the government by 1978, causing a temporary rift with the Soviet Union. On 16 July 1979, Bakr resigned and was succeded by right-hand man Saddam Hussein, who carefully purged his enemies and became a dictator almost overnight.
The next twenty-five years took a grinding toll on the country. A long war with neighboring Iran in the 1980s cost hundreds of thousands of lives and billions of dollars. The invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and subsequent Gulf War caused further casualties, followed by civil war inside the country and a decade of international sanctions.
Iraq was invaded in 2003 by a U.S/U.K.-led coalition of forces, who removed Saddam Hussein from power. Although some transfer of power to an Iraqi interim government has occurred, the country remains occupied by 140,000 US and UK soldiers. Rebuilding on a massive scale inside larger cites has occurred.
Most of Iraq has a hot arid climate. Summer temperatures average above 40°C (104°F) for most of the country and frequently exceed 48°C(118°F). Winter temperatures infrequently exceed 21°C (70°F) with maximums roughly 15 to 16 °C (59 to 61 °F) and night-time lows occasionally below freezing. Typically precipitation is low, most places receive less than 250mm (10 in) annually, with maximum rainfall during the months of November to April. Rainfall during the summer is extremely rare except in the very north of the country.
All visitors to Iraq, require a visa for entry. Currently, contract and military personnel working for the U.S. Department of Defense are exempt from this visa policy, as long as they present a valid Common Access Card (CAC card) issued by the Department of Defense. This only holds true if you are flying into the military side of BIAP by Gryphon Air or on a military flight. If you fly into Baghdad International without an entry or working visa you will be deported.
For those entering the country without a visa, one can be purchased at most border crossings for US$80. The border crossing from Turkey to Iraq (Silopi/Zakho) did not charge for a visa as of March 2007. Total crossing time is around 1 hour for individuals. If you intend to acquire a visa at your port of entry, be prepared for long waits, and bring plenty of documentation about who you are and what your business in Iraq is. Letters on company or government letterhead are preferred.
Obtaining a travel visa to Iraq is complicated and time consuming. You can obtain an application at the Embassy of Iraq in Washington, D.C.. However, all applications are vetted in Baghdad. Even if you do obtain a visa, you may still be refused entry into Iraq once you arrive. Visas can be acquired in advance at the Iraqi embassies in London, Paris, and Washington, D.C..
Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) (formerly known as Saddam International Airport) (IATA: BGW; ICAO: ORBS, now ORBI) is about 16 km from the center of Baghdad.
The civilian side of BIAP continues to grow rapidly every week.
Currently, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) operates two roundtrip flights daily from their base at the Queen Alia International Airport (IATA: AMM) in Amman.
Internet booking has recently become possible for RJA flights to Baghdad, and Iraq has now been effectively opened to the public.
After the 2003 invasion, some of Iraqi Airways Aircraft were retrieved from storage in Syria and Jordan and are now flying again under the Iraqi Airways name. Iraqi has recently begun computerised operations, and tickets for future European routes are now theoretically available for reservation online via the IA website. Although IA does not yet hold an FAA airworthiness certificate, they operate from London to Arbil/(Erbil) using various charter flight providers, tickets for this slightly disorganised system are available from Iraqi's appointed agent "You Should Travel" - Royal Jordanian (RJA) is advisable over Iraqi for the time being, as its schedule is much more comprehensive.
In addition to Iraqi Airways, Turkish Airways has begun operating flights between Istanbul (IATA: IST) and BIAP several times per week.
Diplomats, private military contractors, and intelligence agents can use Gryphon Airlines. Gryphon offers flights between the military side of BIAP and Kuwait City.
Additional Services to the city of Van, Turkey are offered by Turkish airlines from most western cities via Istanbul, from here a taxi will take you to the border for the equivelant of $35 - $200 depending on your bargaining skills (note that Turkish drivers will only usually accept Lira, Euros or Pounds Sterling)
For those working for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Iraq, there are two charter airlines operating into BIAP. Skylink and AirServ operate frequent flights. Travel on either of these services requires sponsorship by your NGO to get you onto an approved traveller list maintained by each. Schedules and services can be irregular, and change frequently.
The civilian side of the airport is under control of the Iraqi government. The military side is still controlled by the U.S. military, as well as all Iraqi airspace above FL100. Take-offs and landings at BIAP are controlled by the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation, under the advisement of the U.S. military. Several critical pieces of Air Traffic Control gear have not been turned on, and the result of this is that BIAP can only accommodate Visual Flight Rule (VFR) landings, not instrument landings. Because of this, the frequent sandstorms that hit the area can obscure visibility and cause flights to be turned away. It is not unusual for commercial flights to make it all the way to BIAP, and then turn around and return to their origin due to limited visibility on the runway. To protect against the extreme danger of ground-based attacks, incoming civilian flights descend from cruising altitudes in a tight spiral within protected BIAP airspace.
When departing at BIAP, be prepared for long, disorderly, and excessively slow lines wherever you go. If you are not working in Iraq on a government contract, your entrance to the airport grounds about three or four miles from the airport terminal will require you and your vehicle to wait in line to be searched. These security checkpoints can take from two to three hours to process through. The best strategy is to find accommodations somewhere within the BIAP area of control on the day prior to your flight so that you aren't subjected to the long wait and end up missing your flight.
All airlines operating services at BIAP have a 100% bag matching policy. All bags, whether carry-ons or checked luggage, are lined up on the tarmac next to the aircraft. Each individual passenger must physically touch and claim their bags before a baggage handler and security personnel will match it and then load it into the hold. Any bags left on the tarmac after the boarding process is complete are not loaded and are taken away from the terminal area to a secure facility for disposal.
Flights into the Kurdish region in northern Iraq arrive at Erbil International Airport. International carriers include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Etihad and Viking Airways which flies to Sweden. The Kurdish Region, being relatively safer than the rest of Iraq, has seen enormous growth and investment since 2003, making Erbil a convenience destination for business in the region.
After twenty years of non-service, a once-weekly passenger train has recently been put in service between Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey and Mosul, crossing a short strip of Syrian territory. It departs 9PM every Thursday from Gaziantep and arrives in Mosul 2PM next day, costing €25 pp. This is the only way of arriving in Iraq by rail for the time being. (Update, Aug 2010. Due to a request by Iraqi Railways, Gaziantep–Mosul service has been suspended until further notice. Website of Turkish State Railways still list the train—with a note that it is temporarily not in service—which means it is likely that the train will be back in service in the future.)
Cars can be the most dangerous method of travel into the country. On reaching the border it is advisable to leave your taxi/rental car, for an armored 4x4, these are available for hire, with an armed guard if required, from the British security company GENRIC for £300 ($460) approx.
Driving in from Turkey is the best method of entry into the Northern part of the country. This area of the country is relatively safe, at least compared to the rest of the country. Border police and locals will advise you which cities are safe to travel in (Zakho, Dohuk, Erbil, As-Sulaymaniyah etc.), and will warn you away from specific cities (such as Mosul or Baghdad).
From Diyarbakir, Turkey you will drive south east to Zakho, Iraq. It is possible to take a previously arranged taxi, the average cost of this taxi ride is $150 American dollars and most of the drivers only speak Kurdish or Arabic. You will often switch taxis in Silopi about five minutes from the Iraqi border, or you will change cars about 70km from the border and continue on from there. The taxi driver will then take care of all your paperwork at the border. This involves your driver running from building to building getting paperwork stamped and approved. You must have a photocopy of your passport for the Turkish section of the border, which they require that you leave with them (the photocopy, not your passport).
A much less expensive option is to take a bus from Diyarbakir directly to Silopi. This won't cost more than about 20 YTL. From the Silopi otogar (bus station), it's easy to get a taxi to Zakho. A good taxi driver can handle all of the photocopying and paperwork for the Turkish side.
At this point you will finish driving across the border crossing into Iraq. Your taxi driver will then take you to the Iraqi immigration and customs section. All persons and vehicles entering Iraq must be searched for contraband by the customs officers, and their vehicles are registered and pay some sort of stamp tax, however, occasionally, searches are not conducted. Without this stamp tax, it is illegal for a non-Iraqi vehicle to purchase gas at any of the state-run gas stations all over the country. After paying any import duties to customs and receiving the vehicle stamp, the immigration officers will check your passport and stamp it if you have a visa. Additionally, at some land border crossings, your fingerprint and/or photo will be taken. As of July 2008, there was no visa fee at this border crossing.
At this point, you will be at the border taxi stand, a few kilometers outside of the city of Zakho, and may need to hire another taxi to get to Zakho's city center (5,000-10,000 Dinars). For the taxi ride from the Turkish city where you changed cars to Zakho, it's about $40 US dollars. This is a safe place to meet your friends or to charter a taxi into another part of the country. Enjoy some tea while waiting.
For land crossings from Jordan, be prepared for a long ride. The trip through the eastern Jordanian desert is much like a moonscape. The journey from Amman to Baghdad can take anywhere from 10-15 hours. You will depart Amman between 5AM and 10AM, and arrive at the border crossing about four hours later. The border crossing can take anywhere from an hour and a half (on a very good day) to more than five or six hours. Entering Iraq usually takes about half as much time as leaving Iraq. The Jordanian immigration and customs officers are very finicky about whom they will let in, and they will often shut their side of the border and not allow anyone to enter for unspecified reasons.
The trip from the border to Baghdad is VERY dangerous. The route is full of highway bandits and gangs of thieves that prey upon unprotected travellers. Travelling this route without adequate communications gear or weapons of any kind is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. Do not make any stops along this route, if traffic becomes stalled for any reason on the highway (other than a possible IED), then it is best to make circles until traffic flows again. Vehicles, especially those that may be occupied by westerners, are subject to attack at any time. Carry extra fuel and plenty of food, and utilize U.S. military checkpoints to rest or stretch your legs.
Travelling from the Kuwaiti border is just as difficult as crossing from Jordan. The Kuwaiti crossing is complicated even more by the fact that Kuwaiti immigration and customs officers are even more strict than the Jordanians and anything at all can cause them to arbitrarily block your entry or exit. Sneaking into a military convoy is not advised as your vehicle might be mistaken for a suicide attacker by the turrent gunners in the convoy.
Cars can be purchased relativity cheaply at the Kuwaiti border. Reliable but inconspicuous transportation is a must in Iraq. It is probably best to buy a vehicle that blends in with the other cars on the road. Renaults and Kias along with less familiar Eastern European and Asian brands are common. The majority of Iraqi cars are actually privately owned taxis that are painted orange on the fenders and white everywhere else. BMWs and Mercedes are also seen in Iraq but are less common, especially nice ones, which usually have the steering wheel on the right side. A feasible option for the determined tourist would be to purchase a used BMW with a good engine, beat up the exterior, paint it orange and white, beat it again, scuff it up to produce a slight amount of rust, and one would have a very close approximation of an Iraqi vehicle. Again the key is to blend in, not stick out.
It is possible to enter Iraq from Jordan by taking a bus from Amman. Other countries may have bus service to Iraq. Third party nationals can also gain entry into Iraq for work purposes; these buses usually depart from Kuwait.
Driving at night may be a safer alternative to daytime driving, but a few rules to follow:
The past 40 years of disastrous government and devastating wars has taken its toll on Iraq's travel industry. After the fall of the Saddam Hussein government, which was virulently hostile to the Shia religion, religious pilgrims, mostly from the Middle East, Iran, and Central Asia, have returned in large numbers to the holy sites of southern Iraq, especially to the spiritual home of Shia Islam in Karbala. Religious pilgrimage remains quite unsafe, but there is a greater degree of safety in numbers, and in being familiar with the Arab region. And of course, pilgrimage is a more urgent reason for travel than sightseeing!
One can only hope that this great and ancient region soon sees increased security and stability, for it makes a fascinating travel destination for anyone interested in history, be it in ancient history 4,000 years old, medieval Islamic and later Ottoman history, or the modern history of the early 21st century. The aforementioned conflicts and misgovernment have not been kind to Iraq's ruins, especially in terms of the massive rebuilding done on ancient Babylon by the Hussein government and later negligence by foreign military presence. But the pull of such ancient cities as the Babylonian capital Babylon; the ancient city of Ur, of mankind's first great civilizations, Sumeria; major Parthian cities at magnificent Hatra and the capital Ctesiphon; and the Assyrian capital of Ashur, remains great enough to overlook the damage done.
The holiest sites of Shia Islam outside of Saudi Arabia are in Iraq's fertile heartland of Lower Mesopotamia. The Shia-Sunni split in Islam occurred over a dispute in the mid-seventh century C.E. as to the true successor of the Prophet Muhammad, with the Shiites supporting Ali ibn Abi Talib, who would become the first Imam, and whose Caliphate capital was located in the medieval city of Kufa. Ali's tomb is found in present day Najaf at the Imam Ali Mosque, one of Shia Islam's most holy sites. The third Imam, grandson of the Prophet, Husayn ibn Ali, is widely revered as one of Shia Islam's greatest martyrs, and the two grand mosques of Karbala, Al Abbas Mosque and Imam Husayn Shrine (which stands on his grave) are the sites of the Shiites' most important pilgrimage, to observe the Ashura, the day of mourning for Imam Husayn. Samarra is home to another one of the most important Shia mosques, Al-Askari Mosque, which serves as the tomb of Imams 'Ali al-Hadi and Hassan al-'Askari. Tragically, this mosque is badly damaged, suffering explosions in sectarian violence in 2006, destroying the dome, minarets, and clock tower. Lastly, Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Kadhimiya is revered, as it is the burial place of the seventh and ninth Imams, Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad at-Taqi. Also buried within this mosque are the famous historical scholars, Shaykh Mufid and Shaykh Nasir ad-Din Tusi. Iraq is also home to significant holy sites of Sunni Islam, especially Baghdad's Abu Hanifa Mosque, built around the tomb of Abu Hanifah an-Nu'man, the founder of the Ḥanafī school of Islamic religious jurisprudence.
In terms of modern attractions, most are the big modernist sculptures and palaces of the Saddam Hussein government, located primarily in Baghdad (or on top of some of the world's most important heritage sites...). Given the warfare, external and internal, and government atrocities committed against its own people over the past 40 years, one can only expect that the future will see widespread construction of memorials to those who suffered. But such developments may have to wait until the nation's turbulent present settles down. In the meantime, it is possible (albeit often dangerous) to visit the cities and sites of battles that have become household names throughout the world in the most recent conflict.
Arabic is the national language of Iraq, but English is so commonly spoken there that most travelers will get by in the various shops, markets and cafes. The downside is that speaking English will immediately identify you as an outsider. This is dangerous because of the strong underground network of Iraqis who inform attackers of possible target opportunities.
Kurdish is spoken in the Kurdistan region, in one of two varieties: Kurmanji and Sorani. Kurmanji is spoken in and around Dohuk while Sorani is spoken in and around Arbil (Hewlar) and Sulaymaniyah. These two varieties are mutually unintelligible. However, Arabic is also widely spoken, and the number of speakers of English is on the rise.
Iraqi dinar is the official currency, however you will also be able to spend Euros € and US Dollars $ almost everywhere. Be aware that most people do not like to make change for large bills. Also note that any defects in the bills (creases, ink stamps from banks, tears, etc.) will raise suspicion that you are a counterfeiter. Don't bring old bills with you, either. Carry mostly small bills in the form of Iraqi dinars for daily spending cash. Since the introduction of the new Iraqi dinar, its widespread acceptance and confidence has reduced the prominence of the USD, and many shopkeepers are now refusing to accept them. However, most people will still pay large hotel bills or rent payments using USD or EUR due to the sheer volume of notes required to pay with dinars. The conversion rate fluctuates from day to day and from town to town, but is around 1175 dinar to US$1. Inflation used to be relative high (65% a year since 2003) but in recent years it is much lower than before (11% in 2008), which makes the Iraqi dinar becomes an attractive target for investors, unlike the Vietnamese dong.
Learn the security features of the new dinar and dollar notes; the former Iraqi government was known to be making passable $20, $10, and $5 U.S. notes, and these counterfeiters are apparently still in business.
Alcohol is legal in Iraq and Street vendors can usually get alcohol if you really need it, but again this is just asking to be identified as an outsider. Furthermore, while Alcohol is legal many insurgent groups in Iraq have targeted Alcohol vendors and users.
Sleep in the hot summer months can be difficult. Sleeping outside and near flowing water is the most comfortable setting one can find outside of air conditioning.
In Iraqi Kurdistan, there are plenty of hotels and although they are hard to find in any travel guide, anyone on the street will direct you to a nearby place. There's no shortage in Zakho, Dohuk or Arbil. Rates run about 15 USD to 25 USD per night for a single room with bathroom.
Work in Iraq pays very well. Typical foreign contractors can make up to $100k per year for security and admin work.
Even people who have always lived in Iraq and who are uninvolved with political issues are often subject to kidnapping-for-profit (also often used for political reasons), which can be fatal if a ransom is not paid. The ransom price is very high and few governments will pay it.
Iraq is beset with numerous problems that make travelling risky and difficult. The security situation is perilous in just about any area of the country, and continues to deteriorate under continuing terrorist attacks. Resistance to continuing military occupation, U.S. and U.K. forces, and Iraqi military, police or anyone associated with the Iraqi government, as well as increasing factional and sectarian conflict makes street warfare, bombings, and other acts of armed violence daily occurrences.
The central third of the country is the most volatile; the southern ports are less dangerous, but only relatively so. However, northern Iraq, or Kurdistan is safe and has suffered from very little violence since 2003. Major cities, including Baghdad, are fertile grounds for political upheavals, kidnappings, and other underground activity, so tread lightly. The Kurdish peshmerga (military) is over 100,000 strong and every road, town, city and even village has checkpoints going in and out. All non-Kurds are searched thoroughly and occasionally followed by the internal secret police. However fear not, this is why there is almost no chance of terrorism in the North. The police are friendly and everyone is happy to meet foreigners, especially Americans.
Traveling alone makes you an easy kidnapping target, and is best avoided – if possible travel with a translator/guard. There are comprehensive private and state security services available for your personal protection - you are strongly advised to use the available options for your own safety. If employed in Iraq, consult your employer on how to handle your personal safety. Independent contractors will usually have security provided by their clients, if no security is provided you should seriously consider not traveling to Iraq, if you must go you should hire armed security and get proper training in appropriate protective gear, survival, and weapons.
Be aware that Iraq, like any war zone, has minefields everywhere, do not walk into fields, especially marked ones unless you're absolutely sure that it's safe. In short, do not go anywhere without escort from the Iraqi army.
It is not safe for short term visitors to drink the water anywhere in Iraq. It is best to always drink bottled water, preferably made by a Western or Jordanian company. It will usually be sold at vendors and large stores, and will be easy to find. Most Iraqi water companies pump their water directly from the Tigris or Euphrates rivers, treat it with ozone, and then filter it into bottles. The taste is often not very good, and those with sensitive systems should not drink it. Many street vendors will offer drinks such as water with a lemon twist, which should be presumed unsafe for foreign visitors.
Those with experience in Iraq should use their discretion and past experience when purchasing drinks.
Drinking the local tea (chai) can be safe for some people since it is brought to a boil before serving, but when in doubt, insist that bottled water be used. Many kinds of water-borne disease, pollution, and infectious agents are not affected by boiling of water, and are still present in the water after boiling.
As a walk past an Iraqi butcher shop will demonstrate, food preparation standards are not the same as in Western countries, and consumption of local food can make a visitor ill. Try to bring your own. As tap water is generally not potable, you should especially avoid uncooked foods.
Should you find your body in the uncomfortable position of rejecting food and water due to something you shouldn't have drunk, immediately find someone who speaks Arabic and send them to a local pharmacist and request a product known locally as "InterStop" (similar to co-phenotrope/Lomotil). This works better than any well-known western brands.
Never show the soles of your feet to others. This may be considered very disrespectful by most Iraqis, unless you are in the company of friends. When in the company of friends, it's still best to excuse yourself before putting your feet up in the air with the soles of your feet in the direction of any person.
Don't spit in public or in the direction of others, even when obviously done without malice.