TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe AER Lingus are delighted to announce the introduction of five new Canadian destinations to their network in partnership with United Airlines, giving Irish passengers a seamless journey to some of Canada’s top cities. Flights to Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, via Chicago, are all now available to book in one single, low fare transaction on aerlingus.com.These five new Canadian routes are in addition to the extensive network already available to 35 U.S. cities in partnership with United Airlines. Fares to Calgary and Vancouver start at just €259 each way* and fares to Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton start at €279 each way. For full details on fares and schedules and to book visit www.aerlingus.com
Weekend Hotspot
As one of the oldest settlements in the USA and the largest city in New England, Boston has plenty of historic culture. Yet with over 50 colleges and universities situated in the greater Boston area there is a youthful vibrancy that adds a different dimension to the historic charm of the city. Boston refers to itself as the ‘Walking City’ and is a remarkably compact city that is centred on the country’s oldest public park, Boston Common. The Information Centre in Boston Common is the starting point for two of the city’s main attractions, which are in fact walking tours. The Freedom Trail explores the revolutionary past and the birth of the modern American Republic, while the Black Heritage Trail highlights Boston’s place in black American history and its role in anti-slavery. Boston is a blend of historic charm and modern conveniences with a busy street life and beautiful architecture, green parks and gardens, skyscrapers and modern freeways, museums, galleries and colonial churches. Boston is home to the first public library, the first public school and the first subway system; it is the site of the Boston Tea Party that started the Revolutionary War, and is the location of the Cheers bar, made famous by the popular TV sitcom Cheers. The Omni Parker House is the oldest Hotel in the USA & occupies a great site right smack bang in the centre of the city. The Hotel was built in 1855 & has had £15M spent on it in the last few years. It truly is beautiful with many original paintings, antiques & chandeliers. The Hotel boasts a few restaurants & bars, which are very good but often the best bars as usual
Living
■ Boston Sky
line.
■ Aer Lingus Airbus.
are in town. The rooms are small but very well equipped with great views of the city & the harbour. Over the years the city of Boston has emerged as one of the USA leading restaurant destinations. From 5-star dining rooms in luxury hotels to tiny neighbourhood restaurants and ethnic eateries, Boston has it all. The main neighborhoods— Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Downtown, the Seaport District, Fenway, the North End and the South End—are very accessible to each other. Each has a distinct character, but there is no real demarcation line between any of them. In the middle of all these neighborhoods are Boston Common and the Public Garden, two of the city’s best public spaces, separated only by Charles Street. The best way to get around town, other than your own two feet, is “The T,” short for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The T is America’s oldest subway line and the fourth largest in the country. It goes almost everywhere you’ll want to go. Boston attractions occur throughout the year and every season has its charms—spring brings the marathon and the Red Sox; summer holds the Boston Pops and the Fourth of July celebrations; fall has legendary New England foliage; and winter offers many celebrations, from holiday shows to ice skating to the country’s original First Night on New Year’s Eve. All just a few reasons to visit this charming US city. Aer Lingus fly to Boston direct from Dublin daily. www.aerlingus.com www.OmniHotels.com/Boston
Weekly Best Buy
The Festival do Atlántico takes place
Pet’s Corner...
in Madeira during June with music and a spectacular fireworks display every weekend. Sunworld has packages during the month with a week from €629, staying in the Hotel Raga. www.sunworld.ie. ■ Omni Parker House, Boston. Don’t miss out on the adventure of a lifetime, book your seat on the world’s most unique bus journey and arrive in Sydney just in time to celebrate the New Year! How Gillian Bowler – founder would you like to visit 17 countries on 3 of the legendary Budget different continents, over 12 weeks and Travel – has launched a arrive in to the stunning city of Sydney new Travel Company for just in time to celebrate the New Year? the Irish market. The new Oz-Bus has introduced a New Years Eve company - ClickandGo.com. Special - a bus which arrives in Sydney The company is offering a for New Years Eve. The New Years Eve range of holidays across special will depart from London on 26th Spain, Portugal, France, the September 2011. The Oz-Bus trip from Canaries and Madeira at London to Sydney costs £4399 + a flight prices which are on aversupplement of £590* (Total £4989). age 33% lower than prices www.oz-bus.com The latest winter for the same holidays ofcruise specials from American Holidays fered by other leading include 7 Night Far East Fly/Cruise ex travel companies in Ireland Dubai. Onboard Brilliance of the seas at present [33% lower per from €1199pp /£1079pp 23 Jan 2011. and person = €166 average sava 8 Night Western Caribbean Fly/Cruise ing per person. ClickandGo. ex Miami Onboard Liberty of The Seas. com is an online company Prices from €1299/ £1169pp 06th Nov. but customers can also www.americanholidays.com speak to a ClickandGo.com staff member by phone Robert Walshe is a freelance contribwith its office in Dublin utor / broadcaster and is guest travel which is open 7 days per writer for River Media newspaper tiweek. Continental Airlines tles across the island of Ireland launches its additional sum-
Home and Away Extra mer service from Shannon to its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport. The second daily service will operate four times per week throughout the summer months until 8th September 2010. The additional service brings the total number of weekly flights from Shannon to 11 during this period. The second service, CO67, departs Shannon at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrives in New York/Newark at 3:30 p.m. on the same days. The returning flight, CO66, departs New York/Newark for Shannon at 10:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and lands at 9:20 a.m. the following days. www.continental.com
with Kathleen Murray
Pedigree v. Mongrel – the choice with Kathleen Murray: Animal Behavioural Therapist
What is the right dog for me? What are the advantages of getting a pedigree dog and what are the advantages of getting a mongrel dog? If you buy a pedigree dog then you have a history of where the dog came from. The pedigree form has the names of several generations of your dogs relatives on it. You will know the mother and father, the grandparents etc. You will know if any of the dogs on the pedigree form have won anything at dog shows (if they are champions). Pedigree dogs are bred for specific purposes. Some are herding dogs, some are gun
dogs, some are “toy” dogs (lapdogs) etc. so you will know what the dog is most likely to be attracted to e.g. a springer spaniel like to run over to hedges and bark, a border collie likes to herd things even children, a husky likes to run, a terrier type dog likes to hunt mice etc. Dogs work with the instincts that their type is bred to work with. Some pedigree dogs are prone to certain types of medical problems. Please don’t ignore this fact as veterinary costs can be quite high. Money-wise alone, pedigree dogs can cost a lot of money. First you have to buy the dog, then you need to pay attention
to grooming. Some dogs need a lot of grooming and this is another frequent and regular bill for you to allow for. Pedigree dogs often develop behaviour problems as their owners think of them as more than a dog (because they paid a lot of money for it) and this can lead to trouble. Mongrel dogs have their ups and downs also. You can get beautiful cross breed (mongrel) dogs at dog shelters or dog pounds. Mongrels tend to have fewer medical problems than pedigree dogs. Because their blood lines are more hap-hazard they can go their whole lifetime with only the necessary trips (vac-
cinations and neutering etc.) to the vet. Mongrels can have any kind of behaviour as the breeding is unknown. This is not a bad thing. They tend to have friendly personalities and can be very intuitive and playful (if brought up properly, like any dog). I have a “Joe Soap” average looking collie (sheepdog). She is not a pedigree dog. She is 13 years old and that little dog has been the greatest companion anyone could want. She has worked her whole life to make life better for other dogs by demonstrating to farmers, children in schools, private individuals etc. what dogs are
capable of. She has never been sick in her life although her heart is weak now as she is older. She is in great form, sharp as a button and I wouldn’t part with her for anything. She will be a great loss when she goes. I also have pedigree dogs (given to me) which have cost a fortune over time in vets bills and in grooming care, so getting a
dog is a very personal thing. One is as good as the other if brought up the right way. No matter what dog you pick please make sure you get it neutered if you are not an above board, full time breeder, otherwise you risk adding to the population of unwanted dogs as your dog will breed with some “ship that passes in the night”... or day.