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Parador Arcos De La Frontera by Gary Bumpas

Arcos De La Frontera is one of those typical white towns of Andalucia where you feel as if you have stumbled into another epoch. Arcos was controlled by the Moors up until 1264 and still retains the feel of those times.

The Parador Arcos De La Frontera stands high above the Río Guadalete with nearly a shear drop-off on one side. This dramatic location is reminiscent of Ronda, but Arcos is much less touristed than that city and the ambience far more relaxed.

Parador Arcos De La Frontera is flanked by castle walls and the large Gothic-Mudéjar church of Santa María de la Asunción. From here you get incredible views to the river valley far below. The town is a mix of fine Moorish and Renaissance buildings. At the center is the Plaza del Cabildo which fronts the Arcos Parador.

Arcos is a town for meandering. Wander up and down the steep streets. You'll delight in making your own discoveries here - no guidebooks necessary!

If you visit in early August, you'll be enchanted by the late-night concerts on the main plaza during the Fiesta de la Virgen de las Nieves. Stay on until September and you might have become 'local' enough to participate in their especially wild version of the running of the bulls!

Be sure and dine in the exceptional restaurant at the Parador. The wood-beamed dining room has a very nice feel, and views that are panoramic. This is one of the finest restaurants you will find for trying some of Andalucia's traditional dishes.


Interesting in-town excursions from the Arcos De La Frontera Parador:

- The wonderful Castillo de los Duques.

- The Basilica-Paroquia de Santa Maria.

- The Convento de la Encarnacion.

- The Iglesia de San Pedro.

- The Palacio Mayorazgo.


Interesting day trips include:

- Jerez de la Frontera - Try to see the incredible Andalusian horses dancing and jumping to the music of Beethoven at the Real Escuela Andaluz del Arte Ecuestre. A tour of one of the Sherry Bodegas is always fun - especially the free tastings!

- Sevilla - One of the 'must see' cities in Spain.

- Ronda - Set in an breathtaking situation on top of the most awesome gorge in all Spain.

- Cadiz - The oldest city in Europe. Cadiz has an altogether pleasant ramshackle quality that draws travelers back again and again.

The Arcos De La Frontera Parador literally oozes the character of Andalucia. The town of Arcos combines a near-perfect mix of spectacular natural surroundings and historically interesting cultural sites. Being centrally located between the great cities of Sevilla, Ronda, Cadiz and Jerez, it makes a great base from which to fan out and visit the best of western Andalucia.

For more on all of Spain's wonderful Paradors, go to: Spain Paradors For more information, and images of Parador Arcos De La Frontera, click here: Parador Arcos

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Even Small Business Owners Have Assets To Protect by Connacht Cash -

If you’re a small business owner, you have assets to protect. Usually associated with high income individuals and medical professionals, asset protection planning is just as necessary for owners of start-ups and small businesses.

Unfortunately, asset protection is often ignored or lost in the long list of things to do when starting or building your business. This mistake can cost you and your family when you least expect it.

What’s Involved in Protecting Your Assets?

Asset protection planning is a simple concept. First you catalogue all of your personal and business assets, such as bank and brokerage accounts, personal property and real estate, etc. Next you identify possible financial threats and then you insulate yourself from threats using a combination of different legal entities (trusts, corporations, limited liability companies, etc.) and insurance.

Properly done, this will help protect your current and future assets from loss due to the hazards of everyday life, such as lawsuits, business failures, and creditor claims.

To create an asset protection plan, you’ll need to review your potential exposure to financial loss, assess the different types of protection available, evaluate potential tax issues involved and analyze your ongoing personal financial needs, such as qualifying for mortgages and easily accessing assets when required. You should work with competent financial and legal advisors who are familiar with asset protection strategies.

Small Business Owners Beware

As a small business owner, there are several areas that warrant your concern. The first is to take financial liability issues into account when you choose the type of legal structure within which you’ll run your business (corporation, limited liability company, etc.). Once established, take care to follow the legal requirements of the entity you choose, so that you don’t jeopardize your personal assets. Some examples of this are not mixing business and personal expenses, not treating your business bank accounts as personal piggybanks, keeping necessary records, having the proper corporate officers and establishing a Board of Directors in corporations.

Personal guarantees are another common source of financial exposure. Lenders, landlords and leasing companies often ask for a personal guarantee from the owner of a small business. This means exactly what it says; you are providing a personal guarantee of repayment. If your business can’t make the payments the creditor can and will go after you and your personal assets.

Many entrepreneurs use personal credit cards and credit lines to get started. This may give you the credit you need, but it is ultimately a personal obligation. So if your business doesn’t have the cash flow to pay the bill, you’ll have to deal with these credit balances yourself. And the hefty finance charges can add up fast. Use extreme caution when leveraging personal credit for business use.

And then there is insurance. Small businesses often underinsure to keep overhead expenses low. This is risky. Losses do happen and they can quickly put an under-protected company out of business or hamper it severely. Be realistic when evaluating the type (liability, property, malpractice, etc.) and the amount of insurance you carry.

Be Safe, Not Sorry – Protect Your Assets

Depending on your individual situation, there are a variety of asset protection tools from which to choose ranging from the relatively straightforward, such as insurance, to the extremely complex involving off-shore trusts and multiple legal entities.

Seek the advice of financial planners and attorneys who specialize in this area. It is an investment in your financial security. Once you are on the wrong side of a lawsuit, it is too late to protect your assets.

Connacht Cash is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Author and Virtual Chief Financial Officer who mentors entrepreneurs in starting and building their businesses. Visit her website http://www.BalancingActOnline.com to sign up for Balancing Act’s free newsletter.

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Happy Birthday Cards by Bakhru

Birthdays are signified in a variety of ways in different parts of the world. While verbally wishing the person joy and good wishes for the coming year are a part of the birthday ritual there is also the sending of happy birthday cards to convey the best wishes of family members and friends who are not present.

These happy birthday cards don’t have to be given only if you are not present to wish the person a happy birthday. These cards are given by family members who are with you as well. There are many different types and designs of birthday cards that you can look at before you choose one to buy. The look of the card can vary depending on what you want to say.

Since many people are now sending happy birthday cards to everyone that they are acquainted with the cards are available in many languages including Braille form for those who are visually disabled. You will find that these birthday cards come in the singing form, a three dimensional look and there are even pop-up birthday cards.

You will have a choice of happy birthday cards that say outrageous things to whomever you are giving the card. These types of birthday cards will be in bright colors and have pictures that look like cartoon figures.

You will of course find the traditional birthday cards with their sentimental sayings that most people are familiar with reading and looking at. These happy birthday cards are the ones that we receive from family members who feel that these cards will be more appreciated because they say what is in the heart.

There are lots of different cards that now loudly celebrate the passing of the years with a humorous look at life. You will generally find these milestone cards as you begin to approach your middle ages. The range of people to whom these types of happy birthday cards can be sent to is wide.

The different happy birthday cards that you buy can also be received in the form of E-mail. These electronic birthday cards come in many different looks as well, and they have the added benefit of being sent to the birthday person quicker. No matter what form that you happy birthday cards take they all have the same function.

This function is mainly to convey our best wishes for the coming year. Therefore when you are selecting happy birthday cards you should make sure that your choice lets the person know that you care about them and that you are wishing them a very happy birthday!

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