All you need to know about the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB)

It’s once again the time of year where the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc Chamonix is about to take place. Not for the faint hearted, this ultra marathon runs for around 166 kilometres, with a total altitude gain of +9,600m. There are more than two thousand people who choose to run this race every year, making it an event that the entire area looks forward to. If you are thinking about trying this event in the future, or if you are just curious to know more about it, this guide will give you some key information that you need to know.

You need to qualify

If you think that you can just show up and run, you will be disappointed, as you need to qualify for this race in advance, gaining enough points by competing in other runs across the world. There are plenty to choose from, but it is important to plan early so that you can get enough points with time to spare before the Chamonix UTMB.

You can’t take much with you

Although you might think that you need a lot of equipment to run a race like this, you’re told to take as little as possible for safety reasons. This means that you’re not weighed down, and that your hands are free in case of accidents. There is however an obligatory kit list to ensure that you have everything you need to look after yourself in the mountains.

You will reach bases along the way

You will get plenty of help while racing, including food and drink spots every 12km or so. There are also bigger rest points that include somewhere to lie down and get a massage if you need to, though there are only four of these so you will need to plan to use them wisely.

The race fills up incredibly fast

Even though you have to qualify to get a space, previous years have seen spaces filled within just seven minutes. To make things fairer, places are now awarded in a draw, meaning that there is no real rush to enter as fast as you can – as you will still have as much chance of being given a place if you apply right on the deadline.

You won’t be given anything if you win

Although the majority of races come with some form of financial reward, this is not the case here. There is no prize money awarded at the end of the race, and those who run do so simply for their own personal achievements. Let’s face it – if you can see this race right to the very end, there is very little that you can’t do if you put your mind to it.

So, if you still think you like the idea of running this race, there is no better time to start training. Every ultra-runner had to start somewhere, and this means that you have just as much chance as everybody else of being able to complete the race in the future. If you’re looking for a way of gaining a huge amount of personal satisfaction, this could well be the race for you.

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Büyükada or Prigkipos: The Big Island Walk

The largest and most popular of the Princes’ Islands, Büyükada as it’s currently called in Turkish or Prigkipos as it has been called in Greek, is a charming place with lots of history and many delights for travellers in winter or summer to discover.

Because Büyükada is so large and because cars are absolutely forbidden on the island -except for those public service vehicles and come to think of it, motorized bikes, and I’m not sure how those were allowed -there are a few ways we would highly recommend getting around the island:

By bicycle: Charming and practical with the bonus of allowing you to choose where you go at high speeds.

By foot: Now this takes a while, but I know you like to walk. You will not just walk, you will hike Büyükada’s steep hills and forests if you choose this. Wear good shoes.

By fayton: Perfectly acceptable if you don’t want to sweat. Even locals will take faytons often to short distances when they have heavy things to carry.

Fortunately Büyükada’s central square, which you will see immediately after you step off the ferry, is the place for bicycle rentals and hiring a fayton. Start at the large clock tower, which has long been the center of the island’s commercial activities. If you want to see the old Istanbul town, you can book this tour package, Istanbul tour without accommodation. To your left you will see the main grocery stores, water front eateries, and various bakeries. I highly recommend picking up some of the “çekirdek simit” (wholewheat simit with sunflower seeds). In the square around the back left corner is the booth and queue for the faytons. Get in line and negotiate the price for a short or long journey. The long journey, despite its cost is what I would recommend. To the back right corner of the square you’ll see a small clothing boutique. The bicycle rental shops are there. I’ll take you on the tour from this point forward as if you are walking or biking with me and leave those who have opted for the horse and buggy to the guidance of the map.

Stand at the clock tower and take the road which is parallel to the sea on your right. Follow it to view the famous Hotel Splendid Palace and even further to peek at the gardens of the Cercle d’Orient Club from the outside. Unfortunately this illustrious club is members only. From the outside of the Club, continue on the steep path of Kadıyoran Caddesi. The landscape change quickly. The wooden mansions for which the island is famous in between smaller concrete multi-storey apartments will begin to disappear into the oncoming forest. Construction fever has not hit the island just yet, thank God. Your first stop after this, catch your breath, is a former Greek Orthodox Monastery. Once inhabited by priests and monastics, the property is now taken care of by the Patriarchate of Istanbul. By the way, you can look at this amazing Istanbul trip: Istanbul City Tour.

Continue further on your hike to the famous Monastery of St. George. You will notice that climb to this building is the worst on the island. For this there is a “lazy” solution: Leave your bike and pay to take a donkey ride to the top. Look at the ribbons and rags tied to the branches of the trees and shrubs as you climb. Each year on St. George’s Day, Turks climb up this hill and tie wish ribbons to the trees in the belief that the power of the monastery and the saint will help their hopes come true. When you arrive to the top, you’ll see a very modest but majestic church. Enjoy the full view of the island from this promontory and then come back down when you can handle it.

Further away is the monastery of St. Nicholas and the Greek Orthodox Cemetery of the island. The monastery church’s current building is a reconstruction from 1860, after it suffered harsh damage from a fire in 1853. The narthex, however, was built in 1873. At this point you’ll be tired. Luckily the Museum of the Princes’ Island (the St. Nicholas Hangar Museum site, closed on Mondays) is not too far away. Take a rest outside of the building before exploring the history of the Princes’ Islands.

Now that you’ve come so far and have tired yourself, walk or bike to the ferry port find a nice pastry shop around the clock tower to sit at, have a cup of tea or coffee and sweet, or sit down at one of the seaside restaurants for a whole meal. Alternatively, if you miss the height of St. George, go inside the ferry station building and find the stairs at the back right corner before the turnstiles. Walk up the steps to access the Beltur Cafe to people watch in the grand tradition of “Istanbullu” hobbies.

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Mistakes that Maryland first time home buyers should know

Are you planning to buy a new home in in Maryland? There's no surprise how difficult it can be, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer. Don't worry. Buying your first home is not a daunting task if you are prepared to face the difficulties in advance. There are millions of people who have done it before you, and they survived successfully.

It is important to learn about first time home buyer programs in Maryland. Programs such as these can help you tremendously on a home purchase. Similarly, you can also make a good deal just by knowing what to avoid.

1. Choosing an Ideal Housing Price out of nowhere

The house you can afford will depend on your current income, debt, average households expenses, and the interest on the mortgage. Therefore, you must take all these calculations into consideration before deciding on a price tag for the house. Most prospective homeowners pick a random number out of nowhere as their ideal home price. This is not good when you have to shop for a mortgage. Buying a house is a serious issue. Therefore, don't speculate your affordability.

2. Not Getting Prequalified for a Mortgage

Some home buyers are terrified of getting turned down for a mortgage, so they never go through the prequalification process for a housing loan. This is a big mistake. Getting prequalified for a mortgage is a good way to get a professional estimate of how expensive of a house you can afford. Also, it can expose potential weaknesses of your mortgage application in advance. Once you get approved, you can shop for a home. Don't do the latter without the former. Mortgage pre approval can potentially save your finances in the future.

3. Being Deceived by the Looks

Some first-time home buyers are too quick to get swept away by the looks of a property. If a house you go to look at has a heated swimming pool or a cool chandelier, for example, first time home buyers are likely to be swayed. Don't let the looks fool you. Do not make your decision based on decorative things that you can easily upgrade to with a little money later.

Judge the value of a property based on important things such as location, number of bedrooms, and overall value. Even if everything you want in a house is present, but the interior decoration is awful, always remember that you can change how the house looks. So, don't let this figure too highly in your decision to buy a house.

4. Failing to Inspect

Don't ever buy a house without inspecting it first, even if the house in question is brand new. Original owners and real estate agents can easily hide serious issues from buyers who don't inspect. Make sure everything the original owners claim is there. Make sure to hire a licensed home inspector to inspect all the necessary aspects, and also research the land the home is built on if possible. Read about the value of home inspections.

5. Not Considering Additional Expenses

Don't forget to consider all the expenses of being a homeowner when you calculate if you are able to afford a house. In addition to paying off the mortgage, home owners have to pay property taxes, maintenance fees, utility bills, and home insurance. All these expenses that you never had to worry about as a renter should go into your budget when deciding to buy a home.

You must expect the costs of property taxes and home insurance to go up each year along with inflation. They never come down. You should ask yourself if your budget can handle mounting expenses such as these when buying a home.

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Top 3 Tips for first time home buyer In Maryland

Buying a new house is a really exciting thing, but it may easily turn to a stressful thing, if you don't put into consideration being rational with the new bills that you now have as a homeowner. Especially in the first months when the money condition is tight, therefore if you're a Maryland first time home buyer, here's some tips to make the payments easier and make your experience as a Maryland first time home buyer easier and better.

1. You must make The Mortgage Bill your Priority.

This tip is the best one, not only because the mortgage bill is the one that provides the most trouble for new homeowners but also because it's the easiest tip and the simple one. So paying your mortgage immediately is the first thing to do, before anything else. And paying late must not be an option for you because late mortgage payments come with massive fees that make it very hard to pay the next bill of mortgage in full.

It's really a very slick downhill that can very well lead into foreclosure if the mortgage bills go unpaid for a long while, so you have to avoid starting down this dark road, that leads to failure every time. And might make your life miserable as a result. Make sure to make you mortgage payment on time each month.

2. Don't let Household Spending carry you away

Most couples buy new furnishings... new TVs, new furniture, couches, tables, wall art... after moving from a small apartment to finally purchasing their first large house. But what they should be sure to think of is that this is the time when it could get tough and it's the time where they must be rational as a Maryland first time home buyer and not make filling in the empty space in the home at the top of the to do list unless they have plenty money in the bank. It is best as a first time home buyer to in fact try and have six months of bill paying reserves in the bank at all times if possible. So a new house buyer may need to exercise some patience and not go on spending sprees to fill these extra rooms with furniture if they will be depleting their savings account. Learn to budget your home expenses.

These type of spending sprees and purchases could limit the budget for paying the mortgage and could eventually lead to paying a mortgage payment late. So you have to put a reasonable budget in place for new furniture and stick to a plan so there is going to be money for the bill of the mortgage. And as we said, paying the mortgage bill ON TIME is always the priority and is number one, ALWAYSI

3. Consider and calculate the New Housing Costs for The First Few Months.

After becoming a house buyer the first big change you're going to notice is the potential extra and massive expenses you aren't used to paying. This could surprise you and may cause you a problem if you didn't consider it from the beginning. ln some cases lawn care, power and water, maybe even internet and cable, air conditioning and heat, home maintenance, are all things that may have been included when you were renting, but as a homeowner you have the responsibility to pay it. So to prevent your budget from taking a surprising huge hit you got to expect these additional bills and fees.

As a first time home buyer you must be prepared for all the unexpected potential expenses that could arrive. Be wise budget you money and spending and you will be okay and enjoy your new achievement of home ownership.

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The 7 Must Do Things When on Holiday In Sydney

There is plenty of things to do when on holiday in Sydney. Situated on the eastern seaboard, state capital of New South Wales, Sydney is a vast metropolis that sprawls for miles inland. Sydney has grown to be one of the most important cities in Australia with much to see and do. Booking flights and accommodation to Sydney is made easier online through Expedia, Sydney Flights Accommodation and Bookings dot com. 

Here we explore 7 of the must do things when on holiday in Sydney.

1. Swim and Surf

If you’ve come all the way to Sydney and don’t dip your toe in the pacific then you have definitely had a wasted opportunity. Sydney has many fine beaches including Bondi, Manly, Coogee and Wattamolla which have been popular with tourists for decades and the swimming and surfing is heaps of fun for the whole family.

2. Take in the History.

Sydney has some major history and you would be doing yourself a disservice not to check it out. There are many museums and art galleries that showcase Sydney and Australia’s finest achievements over the years, there’s also the ANZAC War Memorial which is a tribute to the Australians who lost their lives in the first and second World Wars.

3. Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge is the second thing that many international tourists think of when they think of Sydney, the first being the Opera House. Taking a walk across this magnificent piece of engineering is critical to seeing Sydney, you can also climb up the bridge pylon to the bridge lookout, there is a fee but the view is fantastic.

4. Eat in Sydney

People who visit Sydney will not go hungry, if you’re wondering exactly what cuisine Australia is famous for then the many eating establishments that Sydney has to offer will satisfy your appetite nicely. The quality of take away food in Sydney is unbeatable and you can find all types of cuisines are available and some you may never have heard of before but you definitely need to try. Sydney is as delicious as it is beautiful and you may have gained a few pounds after your visit.

5. Drink in Sydney

After having a good meal, you will want something to wash it down. Australia is famous for its beer and wine and you can sample some of the country’s best alcoholic exports right here in Sydney. The drinking age in Australia is 18 but you don’t want to be drinking too much as there’s much more to Sydney than just its excellent nightlife.

6. Shopping in Sydney

If you’re a shopaholic then Sydney will feed your habit very well. There are many of the major international brands in Sydney and if you’re on the lookout for all the obvious stuff such as stuffed Koala bears and Kangaroos then you won’t be disappointed as that can be found in many of the stores.

7. Festivals in Sydney

There are many major festivals and Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney that happen all year round. Major ones such as the Sydney Festival and the Sydney Fringe Festival occur in January, feature an array of talent from the worlds of music, theatre and other performing arts and are not to be missed if you are in Sydney in January.

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Israeli Food in New York City

The Big Apple is probably the greatest city on the planet. Almost every other movie takes place in New York. Artists sing about those hypnotising streets. Legends are born on that pavement. Every New Yorker is proud to live in this wonderful city, and every tourist leaves this great place overwhelmed.

The Big Apple is a cultural blend- you can see New York’s Chinatown, Little Italy and other “national” districts in many movies, and hear about them in many songs. That is why New York is a great place to eat some delicious food- you can try a genuine Italian pizza, and just couple of blocks away grab a traditional made sushi or a greek souvlaki. New York is really a haven for taste buds.

Jews in The Big Apple

Jews also live in New York, since the early 17th century. Today, there are around two million Jews in New York city, so no wonder you can find many excellent places to try some properly cooked kosher food. Actually, the term “genuine Israeli food” is discutibile- Israel is a young country, 70 years old, so we can’t really talk about traditional Israeli food. We all know the horrible fate of the Jewish people. Forced to live in exile for two thousand years, until the state of Israel was founded after the WWII. Immigrants from all over the world went to their promised land, carrying bits of different cultures from their “temporary” domicile, to their new-old country. This resulted in a rather unique cuisine blend. Not exactly “traditional”, since it is fairly new, but certainly local, Israeli, since it developed on the territory of Israel.

Call it Israeli/Mediterranean, anyway you like, the food is simply outstanding. There is so much more you can learn about Israeli cuisine in New York.

Israeli Dishes You Must Try

Here are some great Israeli dishes you need to try, even if you are not in NYC. You have probably heard about some- most of the meals listed are common to other Eastern and Mediterranean cousins too. But Jews put their own stamp on it, and you can really feel the difference, so we advise you to try them again, in an Israeli restaurant. We have listed some recommendations too, to make it easier to pick a restaurant if you find yourself in NYC.

Falafel- these deep-fried round wanders are probably the most famous Israeli dish. Other nations claim falafel as their own, but Israelis make it in their own way, and this is why falafel is stated to be the national dish of Israel, and can be found in every Israeli restaurant around the world. Since it is so popular, and therefore common, you can eat a decent falafel in any Jewish restaurant in NYC, but we recommend Nish Nush and Taim.

Kebab- meat lovers love kebab. Everybody knows what kebab is- another common mediterranean dish. Israelis love it too, and it is an essential part of every weekend barbecue. It is almost always served in pita bread, alongside hummus and different salads. Try some yummy kebab at Taboon or Nur, you won’t regret it.

Hummus- also the pride of Israel. This dip is something else- when you read the ingredients, it doesn’t sound like much (beans, olive oil, tahina, put in pita), but the combination makes it unique. It is extremely popular in Israel, and you can find many hummus-only restaurants throughout the country. The Big Apple has many restaurants that serve hummus, but it is especially good in Bar Virage and of course in Hummus Market.

Shawarma- similar to kebab, doner kebab and gyros, shawarma is a special way of meat preparation where a chunk of meat is placed on a vertical spit and grilled for long hours, or even the whole day. The meat is then sawed off the block to portion sizes, and the rest keeps rotating to stay juicy and warm. We all know how delicious that rotating spit looks and smells. Try shawarma at Taboonette, Gila’s Nosh or The Hummus & Pita.

Sabich- this is something you probably haven’t heard about. Sabich is a Jewish sandwich. A pita filled with eggplant and eggs, it is something you can make easily at home, and it tastes wonderful. But, if you don’t want to do it yourself, try it in 12 Chairs or Chick P.

Shakshuka- this is a good option if you want to have an Israeli breakfast. You can’t go wrong with eggs with pepper, tomatoes and coriander, all prepared in a very unique way. Dizengoff NYC and Timna are excellent choices if you want to try some shakshuka to jumpstart your day.

Conclusion

Even without Israeli, or any other food, New York  is a must-visit, and should be on top of every single travel bucket-list. This magnetic city will suck you in, and you will feel intoxicated by its vibe, long after you leave it.

Food only adds to this feeling- a rich palette of flavors from all over the globe is a fiesta for all senses. Jewish food in NYC is no different. In this article we have explained few common Israeli meals, and gave our recommendations where you can try those foods, and expect them to taste excellent. Your only job is to visit the Big Apple, and find which one you like the most.

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Book Chauffeur Service or Rent a Limo in Dubai

A decent driver benefit Dubai will have a few escorts chipping away at their finance, and these are regularly exceptionally experienced and prepared escorts who know how to get around each alcove and corner of Dubai, notwithstanding being a win with the travelers of the extravagance autos . A decent escort benefit Dubai can represent the moment of truth an administration, as the driver is somebody who is dependably with the travelers of the autos, and this makes their activities obligated to either make them more joyful or hose their mind-sets, along these lines here are a portion of the qualities that a perfect driver benefit Dubai would have:

Knows How to Deal with People – A driver is somebody who knows how to deal with the travelers in the secondary lounge of his auto . He is somebody who is having the correct propriety all the time – knowing when to take part in a discussion and when to give it a chance to stay quiet with the goal that they can appreciate the ride. Somebody who could be to a great degree loquacious or to a great degree very will be excessively bothering and characterless, in this way the best escort benefit Dubai will strike an adjust.

Somebody who is readied: An escort is likewise somebody who is set up for the ride ahead, regardless of whether it is short or long. This implies the escort would envision certain things early, and would have the fundamental things within reach. He would have next to him, embellishments, for example, tissues, garments, umbrellas, and other fundamental reprieves. He would unquestionably have checked the working of the Climate Control so interior conditions are perfect for the travelers. This is the manner by which an escort benefit Dubai would work.

A quiet perspective: One thing that is sure is the way that every one of the travelers will be extraordinary and novel, and in this way just an escort who knows how to deal with these diverse identities will ever have the capacity to break through to them. There will be travelers will's identity irritating, some who yells, some who is wildly loquacious, et cetera, and it is up to the escort to explore them through the avenues of Dubai, while never estranging them, and at the same time settle on the correct choice which will make the excursion a protected and wonderful one for everybody. Rent stretch limo in dubai

  

Culminate Discretion: An escort in his line of obligation will be conscious of the individual existences of their travelers. The individuals who are in this line of obligation will require t have prudence when stood up to with the private existences of others. Regularly, the individuals who are situated in the back won't know about the way that there is another person there with them, and they would have produced a scene. It is in these minutes that a driver needs to demonstrate respectability and tact and handle the circumstance with expertise. This is the way an escort benefit Dubai will have its drivers working.

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