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Europe's New Grand Tour
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Europe's New Grand Tour

Frederike Helwig At the Kolkovna beer hall in Prague.
Europe's New Grand Tour
Frederike Helwig At the Kolkovna beer hall in Prague.
European rail travel has changed since you simply tossed a Kurt Vonnegut novel into a backpack and took off. Peter Jon Lindberg retraces his footloose adventures in high(er) style.

It was the stupidest, most brilliant thing I'd ever done. I was barely 20, by all measures still a kid, though I'd have chafed at the term back then. Two weeks before my junior year of college, in the fall of 1990, I'd applied for a one-year leave of absence. That my request was promptly granted, without a demand for explanation, came as a shock; I had no plan but to travel for a year in Europe. Remarkably, there was no qualifying exam—I could just board a plane and be off.

I spent the next 11 months Eurailing across the Continent, tending bar in a London pub, and then backpacking some more. Europe was brimming with hope and chaos then—the Berlin Wall had fallen and the East was fitfully thawing; Ceausescu had been deposed but Milosevic was on the rise; war in the Persian Gulf loomed. Across Central Europe, the second-class trains overflowed with Romanian and Albanian refugees. Each week the newspapers carried accounts of more protests: miners' strikes in Bucharest, independence rallies in Ljubljana, anti-Soviet riots in Vilnius, anti-Bush-the-first demonstrations in Brussels and London and Rome.

For the first time, I felt connected to something larger than a 12 x 8 dorm room. The same was true of everyone I met on the road, and I met more people that year than I had in high school and college combined: North Americans, South Africans, Israelis, and Koreans, to say nothing of Europeans. We were thrown together by hostel managers ("Room 21, upper bunk"), train conductors ("Compartment 43"), and Let's Go blurbs ("Cheap ouzo is the draw at this 18th-century taverna"). Most relationships we formed were like those with the places we saw: immediate, intense, and gone by Tuesday. But David Yocum in London, Fan Bao in Oslo, Catherine Lipsetz in Zurich, Anna Stahl in Seville, Dane Drago in Umbria, Jörg Wevers in Stockholm...these were friends I'd remember, if not keep, for life. Wevers and I locked paths for all of 26 hours, riding from Sweden to Montreux for a Van Morrison show, during which time he tried to teach me his native tongue by translating lyrics from Astral Weeks. I can still sing most of "Sweet Thing" in German.

Along with the instant friendships (add rail pass; stir), it was the impulsiveness of rail travel that thrilled me. The dumb luck of arriving in Madrid, finding no place to stay, and hopping a midnight local to Zaragoza just to catch five hours of sleep...then falling in love with Zaragoza. Or wandering Budapest without a map (they cost 90 forints!) only to stumble upon a jazz club I'm still trying to remember the name of.

Now I'm at an age where every journey is plotted like a corporate takeover. Rarely do I see something without planning to. I found myself missing the wide-open feeling of riding the rails, not just for the places I'd been but for the person I'd been: swooning along the Ku'damm, the Strøget, and the Champs-Élysées, unfettered and alive, as the song goes.

So last spring, I bought myself a Eurailpass. Being way past 26, I was obliged to buy a first-class pass. This was fine by me. I would trade my backpack for a Tumi rollaway, my Smiths T-shirt for a Paul Smith suit, my notepad for a PowerBook. I would forgo hostels for hotels. Otherwise, I would have no firm commitments. But I hoped to check in on some old college friends: the Hungarian National Gallery, the Alpine village of Gimmelwald, the Musée Picasso in Paris, and that park bench in Barcelona where I once spent the night—awake, for nine hours, talking to a sweet-eyed Danish girl.

I also hoped to trace the ways in which Europe and Eurailing have changed. It turned out to be harder to find ways they haven't. Most significantly, in the 5,000 days since my last grand tour, the world has been reduced to ones and zeros. Poste restante mail drops have been replaced by Internet cafés; traveler's checks by ATM's. The entire European train schedule now fits inside a Palm. Postcards seem quaint when you can instantly e-mail a digital photo to everyone back home. As late as 1990, much of the Continent felt like the Third World: provincial and outmoded, like the squat toilets that were all too common in Mediterranean bathrooms. Pay phones carried 11 steps of instructions and never worked anyway. Credit cards were seldom accepted. Exchanging currency involved extortionate rates and fees—and you had to change money at every stop.

Since then, of course, Europe has arguably outpaced the United States in the realms of technology and travel. Mobile phones are far more advanced, Wi-Fi networks are widely available and often free, a pack of gum can be paid for with a Visa card, and trains, as ever, function at an infinitely higher level.

These are a few reasons why riding the rails now appeals to an older generation as well.But some of the intensity has been lost. I loathed those inscrutable Czech pay phones, yet they were the kinds of things that made Europe seem refreshingly foreign. Which it still was, then, at least in parts. Returning to the rails, I realized (with a mixture of envy and disappointment) how seamless and undemanding a Eurail trip could be for today's backpacker.Now she books a hostel on-line, carries one currency through a dozen countries, and dials home on her Treo, all while listening to her 7,000 MP3's.

Then again, some things hadn't changed: the dollar at a record low; Metallica graffiti on every train station wall; and a President Bush terribly unpopular with Europeans.

But was the feeling still the same?I intended to find out.

John Malkovich sat two rows ahead of me in the first-class carrozza of the Eurostar from Rome to Venice. He looked surly but comfortable. As we floated across the countryside I drew up an agenda for Venice. On a breakneck tour it's essential to set manageable goals for each destination, like "Have pint of Budvar in Prague." Travel of this sort is about small yet meaningful connections—the little details that stand in for the whole. My own goals ranged from the sybaritic (sample jamón ibérico in Barcelona) to the pragmatic (buy my wife a pair of Falke tights in Berlin). Anything else would be icing.

I checked into the DD.724, a mod boutique hotel in Dorsoduro. It was a glorious May day. Wisteria hung like laundry from every balcony. Lozenge-green canals sparkled in the sun. Funky Dorsoduro was the perfect antidote to the crush of San Marco: the back streets were blissfully quiet, save for the lapping of canals, the echo of accordion music, and the click of my footsteps. At a café on Santa Margherita Square, I amused myself with people-watching: Gay or Italian (or both)?Hoochie-chic or actual hoochie?When I tired of playing count-the-Barbour-jackets (I was up to 29), I wandered over to the Guggenheim. This was how to do Venice: languorously and without purpose.

That evening, riding the vaporetto back to my hotel after dinner at Fiaschetteria Toscana in Cannaregio, I noticed an ancient palazzo that was rotting into the Grand Canal, its lower levels boarded up and flooded. On the very top floor, an elegant and very old woman stood on her lamplit balcony, chin held high like the captain of a sinking ship.

The next night I bid farewell to Venice over a flute of Prosecco and set off to catch a 20:42 to Budapest. I'd like to say I slept like a baby in my luxurious Eurostar cabin and woke up on the Danube. But I never even got to the cabin. When I arrived at Venezia Santa Lucia, a sign read SCIOPERO DEGLI OPERAI—TRENI ANNULLATI. A labor strike. All trains canceled.

Ah, the labor strike. One of Europe's lasting contributions to rail travel, along with the TGV and the fold-down couchette. Even now, hardly a week goes by without a work stoppage somewhere in Italy or France. Maybe it was the Prosecco, but I felt surprisingly mellow as I realized I had no way of leaving town. A hundred stranded passengers milled about the station. Two backpackers considered their next move. "Why don't we just hitchhike to Bologna?" she proposed. "Hello?" he replied. "We're in Venice. Do you see any f—ing roads here?"

Thankfully, I had a cell phone. I called my travel agent in New York, who was not on strike. A flight to Budapest, on an airline whose name she couldn't pronounce, would have cost $2,873. But for $300, I could catch a morning flight to Prague. I booked it. The important thing was to keep moving.

The next morning I woke to an air-raid siren—only it wasn't an air raid, it was a flood. A storm had pounded the city all night. Now the sidewalks were under 10 inches of water. Still, I had a plane to catch. So I rolled up my suit trousers, put on a pair of flip-flops, and waded into the pond while balancing a 60-pound rollaway on my head. I sloshed across ankle-deep piazzas to the water-taxi stand. Then I dropped my suitcase into the canal.

Luckily the pilot was able to snag the case before it sank. With a smirk he handed it over—sodden, reeking of diesel and brine—took my fare, and hit the gas. Crossing Venice's storm-tossed lagoon was like a scene from Master and Commander; 50 minutes later my suitcase and I were flung onto the airport pier.

Did I mention I hate flying?How uncivilized, I thought, as we nose-dived into Prague in a lashing rainstorm. Had I been on a train, I'd have found this weather romantic; in a prop plane, it was terrifying. I realized what I love about rail travel: the smooth transitions, the convenience of arriving in the center of town, and the feeling that you're part of the scenery, not plunging into it.

In November 1990, I'd arrived at Holesovice Station with no guidebook (some jerk in Vienna had nicked mine). So I simply rode the subway to where the most lines intersected, which turned out to be Wenceslas Square. I emerged in the center of a cheering mob of bohemians. (This being Prague, they may have been actual Bohemians.) A young Czech student named Alexandr explained that it was the first anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. I joined the rally with my rucksack still strapped to my back. Alexandr quoted Havel poems in their entirety and spoke matter-of-factly about being jailed overnight in 1989 for tossing eggs at the cops. Havel! Jail! Eggs! Real consequences. I'd felt soft and sheltered by comparison, but Alexandr and I hit it off, and I stayed on his futon for five nights.

How odd, then, to return to Prague in a chauffeur-driven Mercedes stocked with chilled Evian and hot towels. After strikes, floods, and near-suitcase-drownings, I'd decided to book myself into the Four Seasons Prague. Surely they could rescue my mood. My top-floor room was a start—it had a smashing view of Charles Bridge. And housekeeping assured me that the waterlogged contents of my suitcase, which now smelled like a fish market, would be laundered overnight. That this service would cost $293—a sum that would have kept the 20-year-old me fed for a month—did little to dent my good feeling.

Indeed, it was tempting to spend the day lounging around my hotel room, ordering room service and reading the (complimentary) Herald Tribune. Such are the perks of traveling as an adult with money—a mode I've grown entirely accustomed to, for better or worse. My first, long-ago encounter with Europe had been an unguarded one. There were fewer walls between me and the places I'd come to see—and sometimes there were no walls at all, as when I spent the night in a Copenhagen phone booth. Diving in was obligatory. Youth hostels would literally lock you out during daylight hours ("for cleaning"), so you were forced to hit the streets. Hotels, by contrast, encourage you to stay in, maybe hit the sauna. As comfortable as a room at the Four Seasons may be, it also confers an isolation and insularity that backpacking never did.

So I left the confines of my room and hit the Old Town without a map. There are no parallel streets in Prague's medieval quarter; every block is a heptagon or pentagon. Despite this, I found my way to an old favorite, the Kolkovna beer hall. It was 4 p.m. on a Wednesday, and the vaulted cellar was already full of whooping Czechs hoisting ceramic mugs of dark Kozel beer. Barmaids brought platters of roast pork and "Moravian sparrow" (beef, potato dumplings, and sauerkraut). But there were also quesadillas on the menu and a stereo blasting "Trenchtown Rock." This, I realized, was as authentic as Prague gets nowadays. And why not?Young Czechs are as cosmopolitan as Londoners or New Yorkers.

I saw billboards for T-Mobile looming over cobbled lanes. Benetton displays injected bright pastels into the city's sober palette of rust and ocher. The so-called Old Town was occupied by falafel stands, Smart cars, even a tony restaurant called Ocean Drive. Czechs, too, seemed different. Back in 1990 you could tell Eastern Europeans from Westerners by their footwear or the cut of their jeans. No longer. Outside a KFC stood a posse of young Americans in Eminem garb. I asked where they were from. "Odpustit mne?" one replied ("Excuse me?"). My mistake: they were Czech.

That evening I strolled over to Prague's main square. Rounding the corner I heard the chanting of a crowd. My heart leaped. Student demonstrations?No—a hockey game. The world championships were being held in Prague that week. Forty-foot TV screens had been erected around the square, and a thousand inebriated fans were cheering every outsized play. Is sports the new politics?

For all the gloss of downtown, some things hadn't changed. Holesovice Station was still a urine-stained concrete shed. At 7 a.m., when I arrived to catch a train to Berlin, the terminal was so empty that an old guy in a tracksuit was jogging through it, smoking a cigarette. Years ago, Holesovice had served as my bleak introduction to Eastern Europe. I was half-relieved to find its lack of charm intact.

Then the train pulled in, and I was thrust into another world. In the plush dining car were linen-covered tables and vases of tulips. A steward in a bow tie fixed me a frothy cappuccino and some chive scrambled eggs. This was infinitely better than flying. Who cared if it took an extra four hours?I gazed out at van Gogh-yellow fields, swirling in the breeze like lakes of butter. During the five-hour ride to Berlin I rarely spotted a highway, let alone a tour bus. We were cutting through Europe's in-between zones—past quarries, sheep farms, riverbank shipyards, rail stations, Soviet-era golf courses.

When we crossed the border a text message suddenly appeared on my cell phone: WELCOME TO GERMANY! HAVE A NICE STAY! Now that's service.

When I last visited Berlin, it was a strange time: the wall had come down the year before, but East and West remained night and day. In East Berlin, riot police with water cannons stared down squatters. My journal described Potsdamer Platz as "a hole, a muddy swamp of backhoes and idle cranes. Everything is abandoned, broken, or under renovation."

Flash forward 14 years, and Potsdamer Platz has bloomed. A Ritz-Carlton opened in 2004, and Sony, Toshiba, and Citibank are firmly entrenched. In my absence, Berlin's entire geography has shifted. What once was East is now Mitte, or "middle"; what used to be the center is now the far west side.

Meanwhile, a new generation is recasting Cold War iconography as "cool." A local company now offers "Trabi Safaris"—driving tours of East Berlin in puny, Soviet-era Trabant cars. I tried one that afternoon, and I can report that riding in a Trabi is like being pummeled by a water cannon. But the "Wild East" tour was terrific. We took in the former hinterlands of Prenzl'berg, which previously might as well have been Ukraine. Today it's one of Berlin's trendiest neighborhoods. We drove down Unter den Linden, the famous "Boulevard Under the Trees," lined with glittering cafés and galleries. And we visited Alexanderplatz, where I'd encountered the riot cops. The surrounding streets now recalled New York's Lower East Side; skrunky shops sold used vinyl and vintage Russian-made sneakers. That night I dined at a Parisian-style brasserie near the train station. I liked the idea of ordering poulet rôti in Berlin; it seemed appropriate on a whirlwind tour.

While waiting at Zoo Station for my overnight to Interlaken, I was approached by a ponytailed Australian who struggled under the weight of a five-foot-tall backpack. But his mood was amiable. "Hey there!" he called to me, a fellow solo traveler. Greg was simply following the backpacker rule of etiquette: Talk to anyone you see. And I was eager for conversation. So we chatted about his travels—trekking in Nepal, ashram stay in Goa, three months on the Continent, the usual Aussie route. Tonight he was off to Switzerland to go paragliding. Greg was 22, and not unlike me at his age; in another time we might have become fast friends. Now, as the conductor whistled us on, we parted on the platform—Greg to the back of the train, me to the front.

The Swiss-German City Night Line trains are among the best in Europe. My deluxe sleeper cabin had a twin bed and a surprisingly hot shower. There was also a telephone to summon Thomas, the cheerful attendant, who delivered champagne to my door as we glided out of the station. My God, what a change. Remember sleeping six to a cabin on vinyl couchettes?Remember knotting your bags to the luggage rack to ensure that they wouldn't be stolen?Now I had a mattress swathed in soft linens, a safe, an electronic key card for my cabin door—and, in the next car, a bar open to all passengers. There, I ran into Greg again, sharing a pilsner with some Swiss girl he'd just met.

Why Switzerland?For a Eurailer, the answer is obvious. When you've spent weeks mainlining museums and historic sites, Switzerland's appeal is its utter lack of them. Midway through my first grand tour, I'd stayed for two weeks in the Berner Oberland, still the loveliest mountain landscape I've ever seen.

Back then I stayed at a hostel with coin-op showers and a snoring Yugoslavian bunkmate. This time I checked into the Victoria-Jungfrau, Interlaken's grandest resort. It was a sort of homecoming: one evening in 1990, the Yugoslavian and I had crashed the Victoria's candlelit bar, where a single whiskey cost more than a night at the hostel. I seem to remember emptying bowls of cashews into my rucksack. Now I was back, perusing the spa brochure.

It was a damp, muted, Proustian day, rotten for hiking but ideal for waxing nostalgic. I pulled on a sweater and took a walk through town. As ever, Interlaken was as shiny as a new car—but more grown-up than the hokey village I'd known. I'd never noticed the Prada and Ferragamo outlets. Still, lilacs bloom on every corner, and the center is still a broad, unkempt meadow complete with grazing sheep.

But it wasn't Interlaken I was here for. I'd come back for Gimmelwald.

It was Geoff Grahl who'd sold me on Gimmelwald. Geoff was from Australia. We met in Sicily, in October 1990, in a semi-active volcano. I was hiking along the rim when I spotted him: deep inside the smoldering caldera, leaping over steam vents like a madman. I remember thinking, Anyone that crazy must be pretty cool, so I scrambled into the crater and introduced myself. For 10 days we were inseparable, blitzing through Rome, Florence, and the Cinque Terre.

We met up again in Switzerland. Geoff had heard about Gimmelwald through a friend and persuaded me to join him. We hitched the 20 miles from Interlaken to Stechelberg, then caught a cable car. Gimmelwald hung on the edge of a 4,500-foot cliff; no cars went there, only the gondola and a ridiculously steep mule trail. The population consisted of 132 dairy farmers, who might offer you a jar of milk when you passed by. Gimmelwald was the only place in Switzerland where you never saw a clock. The bank opened only on Thursdays. There was a single hotel in town that everyone called Walter's, after the chap who ran it. But backpackers stayed at the rickety Mountain Hostel, which for my money—all $6-a-night of it—had a better location than any place I've stayed since. Through drafty windows that rattled in the wind, you gazed across a pine-green valley and up the frosty slopes of the 13,000-foot Jungfrau.

Geoff and I spent two weeks in the parallel universe we called GimmelWorld. I became convinced the place was magical, like Brigadoon, and wanted desperately to protect it. Later, when I was back at Harvard editing the Let's Go guides, I tried to remove all mention of Gimmelwald to ensure we didn't spoil the place.

The crowds kept coming, of course. Gimmelwald now gets 20,000 visitors a year. When I returned to the village last May, the Mountain Hostel had been outfitted with indoor showers and a spiffy new bar. Two Swedish girls were checking their e-mail on the house PC's. What used to be utterly remote had been plugged into the proverbial grid.

But the sleeping loft hadn't changed. Those rattling windows, that soul-stirring view—still intact.

That night I wrapped myself in Frette linens at the Victoria resort and watched movies on my Bang & Olufsen TV. I had tropical hardwoods on the floor and whirlpool jets in the bath. Al Gore, in town to address the Swiss Economic Forum, was staying down the hall. But I missed that drafty loft in GimmelWorld.

I had a five-hour stopover in Paris en route to Spain. I took the city like an army paratrooper, dropped in with a kit bag and a mission. Mine was to revisit the Musée Picasso, which I intended to compare to the Museu Picasso in Barcelona. I also hoped to have a bowl of bouillabaisse and to listen to Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris" while crossing the Pont Neuf. In the end I did all three—no more and no less—and got out before addiction could set in. I had visited Paris at least a dozen times before, but this was as easy and enjoyable an afternoon as I'd spent there. I could say more, but I have a train to catch.

Where was I again?Oh, right—Spain. I'd spoken five languages in a week, mixing up my grazie's, danke's, and merci's. Twenty-seven minutes after alighting, I was at a breakfast counter in the sun-dappled Boqueria market, savoring jamón ibérico and café con leche. All around me, stalls overflowed with pickled pigs' trotters, sheep's heads, and rams' testicles.

My plan had been to visit both Picasso museums within 24 hours. I made it with an hour to spare. Paris's, I decided, was more comprehensive. But Barcelona's had the better location—a cluster of louche old villas in the moody El Born district—and, like Barcelona itself, its collection was quirkier, including Picasso's cartoonish ceramics and, best of all, his adolescent paintings, back when he could do Caravaggio as deftly as Caravaggio. How thrilling to trace that early arc, as he mimicked and toyed with countless styles. Then you round a corner and come face-to-face with the Blue Period—and suddenly he's Picasso. Turning that corner had shocked me at age 20, and no less at 34.

Eurailing is a great way to see Europe for the first time, but it's also an ideal way to rediscover Europe for the fifth or fifteenth. You may return often to Venice or Berlin or Barcelona, but you probably don't visit all three on the same trip. A multicountry tour throws the differences between cultures—and the increasing similarities—into high relief. Certain icons keep reappearing (tabloids with topless centerfolds, Fruitella candies, Campari and soda, the 24-hour clock), and the essential Europeness of Europe becomes all the more evident. You see the Continent for what it's grudgingly becoming: a single entity, united by a passion for football, Eurovision song contests, tobacco, and labor strikes. Last May, as I began my journey, 15 more countries joined the European Union, in the EU's biggest expansion ever. Suddenly, Hungary and the Czech Republic had been deemed fiscally sound, respectable adults. I suppose I'd become one, too.

On my final night in Barcelona, I went back to find the bench where I'd met Lena, the Danish girl. It was still there, next to a bird-seller's kiosk on Passeig de Gracia. Lena wasn't a romantic thing. It wasn't even a friendship—I never got her last name, never saw her again. It was just a connection, lasting all of nine hours. But you can't tell me nine hours doesn't count for something. Hell, I've seen entire countries in less time.

PETER JON LINDBERG is an editor-at-large for Travel + Leisure.

The Eurailpass was introduced in March 1959; it covered 13 countries for two months, for $125. Many elements of the experience have changed, including some of its touchstones.

Guidebook of choice
1960 Frommer's Europe on $5 a Day
1975 Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
1990 Rick Steves's Europe Through the Back Door

Sound track
1960 Unwashed creep in same compartment, on acoustic guitar
1975 The Stones, on hassock-sized Ampex cassette player
1990 Stone Roses, on Sony Discman
TODAY Everything ever recorded, on iPod

Method of (sporadic) contact home
1960 No. 2 pencil, flimsy airmail stationery
1975 40-lb. pay phone, 2 lbs. of strange coins
1990 20-lb. pay phone, AT&T Worldnet Phone Card
TODAY BlackBerry

Determined to meet
1960 Henry Miller
1975 Jim Morrison (even after his "death")
1990 Vaclav Havel
TODAY Audrey Tautou

Chief complaint
1960 The French squat toilets
1975 The French transit system
1990 The French labor strikes
TODAY The French

European trains are exceptionally comfortable and well designed. Many first-class cabins have en suite toilets and showers, laptop power ports, and butler service. Intercity trains are fast enough to compete with planes when you factor in lengthy airport transfers and waits in security and baggage claim. Then there are rides like Switzerland's Golden Pass Line (via the Brünig Pass) that feature exhilarating scenery. And rail travel remains a terrific value, even with the dollar at record lows. You don't have to blitz the whole continent to make a pass pay off—there are more than 30 variations, ranging from $52 to more than $1,000 (see Rail Europe, below).

A splendid new boutique hotel smack between the Accademia and the Guggenheim. DOUBLES FROM $290. DORSODURO 724; 39-041/277-0262;

Fiaschetteria Toscana
The risotto ai frutti di mare is legendary, but almost everything at this classic candlelit room deserves praise. DINNER FOR TWO $145. CANNAREGIO 5719; 39-041/528-5281

Four Seasons Hotel Prague
The best luxury option in Prague, for its location: on the Vltava River in the Old Town, overlooking Charles Bridge. DOUBLES FROM $260. 2A VELESLAVINOVA; 420-2/2142-7000;

The knedliky (dumplings) and sausages are perfectly matched by hearty beers from the Pilsner Urquell brewery. LUNCH FOR TWO $50. 8 V KOLKOVNE; 420-2/2481-9701;

Trabi Safari
Driving tours of Berlin in a GDR-era Trabant. 49-30/2759-2273;

Café im Literaturhaus
The café in one of West Berlin's prettiest gardens is a haunt for fashionistas and literary types. 23 FASANENSTRASSE; 49-30/882-5414

Paris Bar
A first-rate bistro serving white-asparagus soup and duck confit under the sepia glow of antique lamps. DINNER FOR TWO $130. 152 KANTSTRASSE; 49-30/313-8052

You could take a fast direct train from Zurich to Interlaken via Bern, but then you'd miss the incredible scenery. Instead, go from Zurich to Lucerne, then switch to the Golden Pass Line (

Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel
A mix of venerable, traditional, and cutting-edge. The Espa spa is the finest in Interlaken. DOUBLES FROM $480. 41 HÖHEWEG, INTERLAKEN; 800/223-6800 (IN U.S.A.) OR 41-33/828-2828;

Im Gade
Rustic, hearty Swiss food in a cozy, if slightly corny, setting. But this is Interlaken, so you take the cheese with the cheese. DINNER FOR TWO $110. HOTEL DU NORD, INTERLAKEN; 41-33/827-5050

Musée Picasso
HOTEL SALÉ, 5 RUE DE THORIGNY; 33-1/42-71-25-21;

Hotel Banys Orientals
Location is this hip boutique hotel's trump card—you're right on the edge of El Born, Barcelona's trendiest neighborhood, and within walking distance of dozens of fantastic bars, shops, and restaurants. DOUBLES FROM $125. 37 CARRER ARGENTERIA, EL BORN; 34-93/268-8460;

Cal Pep
A landmark tapas bar where a devoted crowd gathers over plates of sardines and garlicky mussels at the cramped lunch counter. LUNCH FOR TWO $105. 8 PLAÇA DE LES OLLES, EL BORN; 34-93/310-7961

Museu Picasso
15-23 CARRER MONTCADA, EL BORN; 34-93/319-6310;

Rail Europe
The top source for European rail passes. Reps can book individual reservations and advise on the best routes. 800/438-7245;
The German rail system's Web site is an invaluable resource for trip planning, listing current schedules for nearly every route throughout Europe.

Frommer's Europe by Rail
Basically an 880-page European guide, but with extensive chapters on rail trips. A good all-in-one book.

Cognoscenti Maps
These slick new city maps pack in a wealth of up-to-date listings, with all locations marked clearly.

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The flight time from Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan is:

2 hours, 4 minutes

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Flying time from Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan

The total flight duration from Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan is 2 hours, 4 minutes.

This assumes an average flight speed for a commercial airliner of 500 mph, which is equivalent to 805 km/h or 434 knots. It also adds an extra 30 minutes for take-off and landing. Your exact time may vary depending on wind speeds.

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The calculation of flight time is based on the straight line flight distance from Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan ("as the crow flies"), which is about 780 miles or 1 256 kilometers.

Your trip begins in Kyrgyzstan.
It ends in Afghanistan.

Your flight direction from Kyrgyzstan to Afghanistan is Southwest (-132 degrees from North).

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Continent: Asia
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Valletta Shopping

55 reviews, 5 travel blogs, 8 photos and videos about 2 shopping malls or boutiques in Valletta with an average rating of 4 of 5.

You'll also find some useful ratings and information so that you can get all of the unbiased information you need before filling your next trip with lots of fun things to do.


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Hotel Kasbah Ouzina

Address: 58 km from Erg Chebbi-Merzoug to the South-Est by Taouz, Merzouga, 52450, Morocco | Lodge
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*Prices above are provided by partners for one room, double occupancy and do not include all taxes and fees. Please see our partners for full details.

This lodge, located on 58 km from Erg Chebbi-Merzoug to the South-Est by Taouz, Merzouga, is near Merzouga Dunes.
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          TripAdvisor Reviews Hotel Kasbah Ouzina Merzouga

          5.00 of 5 stars Outstanding

          Travel Blogs from Merzouga

          Erg Chebi Sahara dunes and camels and overnight

          A travel blog entry by howardstein on Oct 18, 2015

          4 photos

          ... the sand dunes we met our camel guide, a Touareg named Ibrahim. We were helped to climb onto the camels and shown how to sit. The camel ride was quite the unique and special experience. It was pretty scary when the camel first stood up! Riding through the dunes was quite magical - the 4 of us were in a caravan, led by Ibrahim on foot with the camels all being led attached by a blue nylon rope. Completely quiet with no one else around. The only problem was it was very windy ...

          The Camel Incident

          A travel blog entry by burkeys on May 27, 2015

          8 comments, 31 photos

          We stopped briefly in the town of Rissani in South - East Morocco to find a supermarket which the nearer to the desert we drove were becoming more scarce. Every now and again it’s necessary to stock up in a Carrefour but in the east there was no such option either. We usually buy fruit, vegetables, bread and meat in the souks the (not to be missed) essence of Morocco and an eye opener for us wimpy Europeans. The souk (market place) is where the ...

          Visit to fossil factory and berber visit

          A travel blog entry by plimmerton on Feb 06, 2015

          26 photos

          ... in silence. Later we discussed this and found that this would be in formal situations, not amongst friends. That was relieving to hear, as there was lots of laughter and discussion through the lunch. The food was great. Ahmed's wife did not join us and stayed in the kitchen. We tried our best to eat with one hand. Our poor eating skills were obvious and they very patiently showed us the right way, much to ...

          Merzouga and the Desert trip!

          A travel blog entry by victoriacronk on Dec 06, 2014

          2 comments, 17 photos

          ... thanked them for having us and embarked on our journey. Thankfully though we had only been travelling for a few hours when we stopped for lunch in another Berber village. This place obviously catered to tourists and we met a couple of really interesting people who were doing the same sort of thing. They served us a Berber pizza, which we saw being prepared which was really cool. The man cooked it using and upturned tin which he had made a fire on that cooked the ...

          Morocco part 2: the Sahara

          A travel blog entry by ngyixian1 on Jul 11, 2014

          2 comments, 9 photos

          ... plodding along to the Berber tent camp we were staying for the night, Mohammad heard the call announcing the break of fasting for the day, and dropped down to start eating. Between gulps of food, he told us it was 15hrs since he last ate or drank. We were pretty ashamed that we had enlisted the services of a starving man as old as our fathers to guide us around the desert for 25euros each. After we got to the tent, he made us some tea and spoke to us. Like most Moroccans, ...


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The Round Up

Jamiecaroline's Traveler Profile

I have traveled to 16 countries, posted 437 pictures and written 106 entries in 1 travel blog
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Aug 6, 2007

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  • Partying away in BA - Jul 1, 2008

    We were a little peeved that we couldn´t go sking in Mendoza as it was just going to be too expensive so we decided to make the most of Buenos Aires and party as hard as we could. We stayed in Tang...

  • The Round Up - Jul 4, 2008

    Well it is the end of our 10 month adventure round the world. We have successfully visited Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia (only briefly), Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Arge...

  • Up in the northeastern corner is a little point of Argentina with a gigantic waterfall. We had the perfect day to explore Iguazu falls and the park around it. I was particularly excited about seein...

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Hell on Earth

Trip Start Feb 17, 2012
Trip End Apr 28, 2012

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Jormand Hotel Apartments Dubai
Read my review - 1/5 stars

Flag of United Arab Emirates  ,
Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Dubai - wow. For a place that likes to list itself in the same line as Paris, London, NY - what a let down. Not. Even. Close.

Whilst there are a few worthwhile site in Dubai to see, they are few and far between. And by far (you can't start a sentence with and) I mean far. Dubai is a a stretch of city that is about 50kms long. With only one metro line that goes down the strip, be prepared for some walking. The metro pretty much just connects the shopping centres. Sounds easy right, not so much fun in 37 degree weather. Anything else worth seeing is about 15 - 20kms apart.

I'm also staying in what can only be described as a shithole, see the review for details. As there is no real complaints department, hopefully I can sway other travellers not to stay here. Paybacks a bitch, motherfucker. I've had a pretty good run with places I've stayed throughout the tour, no real rotten eggs, but that luck had to run out at some point.

I think if you were living the 7 star life over here, you'd rate this place highly (or anyplace in fact). But in reality, for a lot of sizzle, there is not much sausage. It's dirty, dusty, hotter than hell and the majority of people are foreign pimps and thieves.

Let me be clear, the Emraties are lovely people, well educated and very well spoken. Unfortunately for them, they are a minority. Although, before you feel too sorry for them, its worth nothing the average, Emratie net worth is 15 million AUD. Average that is. Not bad eh?!

Head down to the Dubai mall around 9pm on a Thursday night (note the weekend is Friday/Saturday here) and check out the valet parking. Its an endless line of Bentleys, BMW, Masaratti, Lamborgini, Ferrari, Porsche, Hummer, etc - some more pimped then others. As it's not really a boozing culture, the Dubai Mall is the current scene to be seen.

Oil makes the world go round, they'll be building this place for the next 20 years or so at least.
Unfortunately, the 85% of the remaining residents, the vast majority of people here are from a country (that shall remain nameless) that have basically shat all over their home state and are keen to repeat the process here. Net worth being several zero's less and attitudes to work being vastly different.

As such, its difficult to buy into the culture here and get a feel for Arabian way of life. The best part about Dubai, is getting out of the city itself and heading out to the desert for some dune bashing and belly dancing (no, not me you idiot). Was also able to get tinnies out there, so was happy watching the sun go down, sinking cans, smoking the shisha.

The heat, god it takes it out of you. It's like feeling hungover without the party - tired, lethargic, forgetful - that or I've been bogged down with Alzheimers.
Is it worth leaving the airport for an overnighter - yes, probably once in your life. But for me, both Abu Dhabi & Dubai are in the 'been there, done that' category. Didn't really do alot for me. Highlight being that Mosque in Abu Dhabi, now that was worth an overnighter.

As this is the end of the road, I don't really want to go out on a low so thats enough of Dubai.

It's been a hell of a 10 weeks, (Russia, Paris, Iceland being the top 3) I've certainly seen some sights (where do I even start ?! too many to list, see previous entries for details) and met some great cat's along the way.

That's very clever. Thanks. How's that working out for you ? What ? Being clever. It's working out great, thanks for asking.

Keep it up then, right up.Now a question of ettiquete, as I pass do I give you the ass or the crotch.

Oh, and a final apology for the (un)lucky individual I happen to be sitting next to on flight EY5115. Don't be fooled by the nerdish glasses and book combination. Unbeknown to them, I've got a 14 hour drink-a-thon planned. They are going to need a wheelchair at Kingsford Smith to get me off.

What, no more of these boring, bullshit rants left.
Oh and a free plug to Icebreaker gear. Those clothes must be made of kevlar as they are bullet proof. Very warm in cold conditions, stink proof and tough as nails. Highly recommended, icebreaker.com for details.
I'll throw in one more entry, a best of type awards list. I've had alot of downtime, the mind does wander into some strange, unexplainable places.
No, thats a wrap. Unless you want to go on holidays again and annoy us all ? Sure, as soon as I figure out how to get paid for this. Big thanks to everyone I've met along the way.
Don't we all. Indeed. And then I woke up.
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Quick update Argentina

Trip Start Jun 30, 2009
Trip End Oct 16, 2009

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hotel condor pass

Flag of Argentina  ,
Saturday, August 22, 2009

 Hi having trouble uploading photos so sorry for lack if insomnia cures. We travelled via San pedro in Chile to argentina jusf under a week ago then after a couple of days of eating giant steaks  we decided to hire a car and we have just arrived  back from our roadtrip of the Northeast of Argentina gorgeous mountains and lovely people  more steep dirt track roads and terrible drivers in the city so we fit in really well there!  will try to get more photos up soon  thanks for all you lovely messages

Off to Mendoza and Buenos Aires then crossing to Brazil via Iguazu falls next week, we are really having a ball but both a bit scared of going to Brazil .....heard a few stories but it will be good practice for Columbia

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Jamaica Sex

Jamaica Sex Write review

Horny single Jamaican girls offer themselves for erotic dates with illicit nudes on Friendfinders adult singles database. Kingston girls wanna get laid for free in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Jamaica Sex Write review

News article about a legal dispute over a local Jamaica brothel. The Jamaican prostitutes from Kingston claimed they were working as such at their free will and were not forced into prostitution. Nothing conclusive expected.

Jamaica Sex, Sex Vacations Write review

A beautifull beach resort known for it's liberal settings allowing for lewd swinger and couple swapping parties. Possibly, a perfect spot for female sex tourists visiting this hot Caribbean island.

Recreational Resources of the World


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Home > Rehab > Kansas

Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment in Kansas

Kansas offers addicts and alcoholics every drug and alcohol detox program needed to begin a new life in recovery. From inpatient treatment centers to sober living homes, your treatment needs can be found in Treatment 4 Addiction's vast archive of recovery services. Choose a new life free from dependence and addiction in Kansas today.
Top U.S. Drug Rehab Centers

The Discovery House
75450 Fairway dr
Indian Wells, California 92210
Browse Drug Rehabs in Your Local Area

Kansas Drug Rehabs

Farm Inc
1709 West 7th Street
Chanute, Kansas 66720
Atchison Valley Hope Treatment Center
1816 North 2nd Street
Atchison, Kansas 66002
Central Kansas Foundation
1805 S. Ohio
Salina, Kansas 67401
Deborah Ellsbury LSCSW
1101 N. West
Wichita, Kansas 67203
Deborah Ellsbury LSCSW
1101 N. West St
Wichita, Kansas 67203

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Home > Rehab > Virginia> Windsor> Psychologist

Psychological Therapists in Windsor

Need help with mental health disorders including addiction and depression? Locate a top local psychologist in Windsor, Virginia for counseling.

Browse Psychologists in Your Local Area

Top U.S. Drug Rehab Centers

The Discovery House
75450 Fairway dr
Indian Wells, California 92210

Drug Rehab Articles
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©2016 Treatment4Addiction.com


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Antarctica: Exploring a Fragile Eden

In Antarctica: Exploring a Fragile Eden (2007, Collins), award-winning wildlife photographers Jonathan and Angela Scott have assembled more than 130 breathtaking photographs and drawings that underscore the breadth and beauty of our southernmost continent.

Click below the fold for more images from the newly released book—a pictorial requiem for what we are in terrible danger of losing forever. ::The Guardian

Chinstrap penguins on an ice floe

Crabeater seals live on pack ice all around the Antarctic circle

An ice cave

Ross ice shelf, the largest ice shelf in the world

Tags: Antarctica | Biodiversity | Conservation

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Dazed & Confused Shows 'The Ultimate' Robot Woman

By: Ayman - May 25, 2009   Updated: May 19 2011
References: dazeddigital
Dazed & Confused Magazine celebrates out-of-this-world Fall/Winter 2009 fashion in the editorial 'The Ultimate' for their June 2009 issue.

Shot by photographer Mark Pillai, the stylish editorial explains, â€œThe ultimate robot woman is invincible in the Armour of the Autumn/Winter collections.â€

The editorial features outlandish pieces such as the Nasir Mazhar galaxy hat that Lady Gaga recently wore on Ellen and robotic creations by Thierry Mugler.

Implications - The editorial features works by Gareth Pugh who made custom-made masks for the photo shoot. The masks were made to mold around the models' face and distort "the human form into protective armour, ready for war." Unique fashion styles include one-piece suits, dresses with geometric patterns and puffy coats that drape down to the floor.


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The LeMond Fitness Revolution is Ideal for Snowed-In Cyclists

By: Michael Hines - Feb 25, 2011
References: lemondfitness & wired
Serious cyclists are definitely going to want to check out the LeMond Fitness Revolution. Developed by three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, the Fitness Revolution transforms your racing bike into a stationary bike.

Simply take off the back wheel from your bicycle and attach it onto the LeMond Fitness Revolution and you'll be set to exercise. I'm not a cyclist, but even I can see the value in being able to turn a bicycle to a piece of exercise equipment when the weather turns bad.


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The 'MakeupText' App is for People Who Regret Sending Break-up Texts

By: Alyson Wyers - Aug 12, 2013
References: & ohgizmo
The 'MakeupText' app developed by Jake Levine lets you craft the perfect make-up text. If you used the Breakup Text app by the same company, and you've since changed your mind, this is the ideal fix to get you back together.

While it’s generally frowned upon to break up with a romantic partner via text messaging, this hilarious program will hopefully help mend mistakes and broken hearts. While the apology might not be sincere or heartfelt, it will be humorous. The perfectly crafted SMS or iMessage includes options like "something shiny caught my eye" and "kidnapped by Russians." It also includes propositions like "I want another chance" and "I love you more than anything."


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Tokyomilk Dark Flirts With Your Sinister Side

By: Susan Keefe - Jan 3, 2012
References: loveandtoast & thedieline
Designer Margot Elena recently unveiled her latest work, which she created to house the fragrance company Tokyomilk's new line Tokyomilk Dark. As the name suggests, this intriguing collection of scents flirts with the macabre, sporting such sinister names as 'Arsenic,' 'Bulletproof' and 'Crushed'. One title even playfully references the 80s classic 'Tainted Love'.

The bottles themselves are sleek and simplistic. The solid black containers are a clean rectangular shaped topped with a jet-black cap devoid of any excessive flourish. The labels are silk-screened with white prints of a variety of insects, an octopus, or a feather. The sharp contrast between the color of the container and the stark, shadeless renderings of the figures makes this packaging intriguingly foreboding.

Catch a tantalizing whiff of the dark side with the wide variety of scents available from Tokyomilk Dark.


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The 'True Blue' Contributor Magazine Spread Puts a Fun Spin on the Past

By: Tiana Reid - Jun 13, 2010   Updated: Jul 11 2011
References: contributormagazine & fashiongonerogue
The 'True Blue' Contributor Magazine editorial is an upbeat take on an even more upbeat era. Named after Madonna's third album, the influence of the pop queen is undeniable in this spread shot by Eric Ray Davidson.

Joseph Episco styled model Diana Moldovan in eighties attire of colored, tissue paper-like veils, statement jewels, red leopard prints, a choppy blond bob, big ghetto hoop earrings, bold eyebrows and fun florals.

Implications - Consumers in today's society are likely to be drawn to products through which they can share a connection or close relation to an adored iconic personality. Consumers who look up to a particular public figure will be attracted a product that embodies similar traits, qualities and characteristics.


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Ronald Reagan Was Right Then and He is Right Today

Submitted by on February 5, 2013 – 4:21 pm ESTNo Comment

Twenty seven years later, this statement remains exactly true as Putin’s Russian Federation seeks to revive and expand the Soviet Union.

Thanks to my friend Christian Gomez.

Christian and I at the grave of the great Senator Joseph McCarthy, Appleton Wisconsin, October 2012.

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  • Orca Men's Perform Triathlon Singlet

Orca Men's Perform Triathlon Singlet

$98.99 $48.99
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Product Description

Perfect for those short course triathletes who prefer a two-piece race suit, the Perform Tri Singlet uses Orca's tight knit, breathable and water resistant AquaGlide fabric, making it ideal for use during the swim, bike and run. The singlet has a race back fit through the shoulders for increased range of motion and comfort, while the Hydroseal hems keep the singlet in place and reduce chafing. The Perform Tri Singlet is ideally matched with the Perform Tri Pant.

  • Race back fit through shoulders: comfort / range of motion
  • Flat lock stitched seam
  • Twin needle armhole and neck opening
  • Hydroseal hem: comfort / anti-abrasion / performance
  • Silicone back neck size label: comfort / low irritationorcamensapparel.jpg

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My tribe

AC Milan coach Ancelotti admits Shevchenko, Ronaldinho are "challenges"

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admits he sees Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko as "challenges".

The pair sat out last night's victory over Reggina and Ancelotti said: "I like challenges, I have accepted this, just as I accepted even Ronaldinho and Shevchenko, and hope to overcome it.

"The exclusions of Ronaldinho and Shevchenko are related only to the conditions of the players. It's crazy to think that Ronaldinho is not important for the Milan."

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My tribe

Pablo Hernandez: I want to win Cup for Swansea fans

Swansea City midfielder Pablo Hernandez wants to win the Capital One Cup final today for the fans.

Hernandez is already in love with the Swans support.

"For the Swans to win a title would be unbelievable, and for me as well," he told the Mail on Sunday.

"People say the Swans are favourites because Bradford are in League Two - but they've beaten Aston Villa, Arsenal and Wigan. It will be difficult.

"I know how much this means to the people of the city. I like hearing about the history of Swansea. It is beautiful to think that they have come this."

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Tribal Football Staff

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My tribe

West Brom hand two youngsters new deals

West Bromwich Albion have handed two youngsters new contracts.

Defender/midfielder Liam O'Neil has been rewarded for his progress by signing his first professional contract and defender Cameron Gayle has been handed a one-year extension.

Both players' new deals mean they will remain at The Hawthorns until June 2013, with a further year's option in the club's favour.

However, the Baggies have informed Paul Downing they will not be activating their one-year option on him. He has therefore been released.

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In Case of Inclement or Extreme Weather

In the Event of Inclement Weather
The Commencement ceremony will be held rain or shine on the Quadrangle. Graduates are free to wear rain gear over their gowns. High heels are not recommended. Guests should come prepared for all weather conditions, including rain or hot sun.

In the Event of Extreme Weather

In the event of extreme weather conditions that threaten personal safety (such as a severe thunderstorm), the Commencement ceremony may be held in the Koeppel Community Sports Center. In the unlikely event that the ceremony must beheld in the Koeppel Community Sports Center, seating will be limited to four guest tickets per graduate. Extreme weather tickets will be distributed at Senior Salute scheduled for Tuesday, March 29, 2016. IDP, master's, spring semester study away, and December completers' extreme weather tickets will be mailed to their preferred address.

If changes are required due to extreme weather, details will be communicated by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday in the
following manner:
The following locations will be available for friends and family members who do not have extreme weather tickets to view the ceremony:
  • Boyer Auditorium, Jacob Life Sciences Center
  • Cinestudio, Clement Chemistry Building
  • Goodwin Theater, Austin Arts Center
  •  McCook Auditorium, McCook Academic Building
  •  Vernon Social, 114 Vernon Street
  •  Washington Room, Mather Hall

Please note: a live video of the Commencement ceremony will be available beginning at 10:30 a.m.


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Trine professor offers easy ways
to safeguard against cyber woes

ANGOLA, Ind. – Take a minute to think about these facts: Each year, the identities of 500,000 children are stolen; children age 8 to 18 spend seven hours and 38 minutes per day online; it is impossible to predict when a cyber incident will occur.

Those facts highlight the need for caution when going online and using social media. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month so it's a good time to mull those facts from the Department of Homeland Security and to take action.

"The biggest issues today are with people posting too much information via social media," said Bill Barge, chair of the Trine University Department of Mathematics & Informatics. "It is too easy for someone to know you are not home or to learn your habits."

Barge also cautions Internet users to be wary of using free wireless internet, or WiFi. "I am always warning people about accessing email, accessing bank sites and making online purchases on the free WiFi at restaurants and coffee shops. I know too well what information someone with the right tools can pull out of the air," he said.

For more cyber security tips, visit


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  • Member since December 2011
  • Gabriel Morris
  • From Vancouver, Canada
  • Lives in Kapaa, Hawaii

40ish world traveler, travel writer, movie maker, photographer and author of "Following My Thumb: A Decade of Unabashed Wanderlust", a collection of 26 travel stories from Europe, the western U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and India. More on my adventure travel website at gabrieltraveler.com

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Favorite Destinations
Greece, Egypt, Turkey, India, Nepal
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Iceland, Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand
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USA, Canada, U.K., Ireland, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, India, Nepal, Thailand, Egypt, Turkey, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore

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Triple Peak and the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Triple Peak Lodge

Snowmobiling in the Wyoming Range

We offer lodging for hunters

Horseback Riding
We offer horseback pack trips and fishing trips into the Forest
Home Page
Lodging for hunters

Triple Peak Web Cam
LIVE! Triple Peak Webcam

Triple Peak
A year-round Bed & Breakfast
in western Wyoming

There are four elk feedgrounds within 15 miles of the Lodge

Come enjoy the real West in Wyoming!
Triple Peak Lodge

Triple Peak Lodge near the Wyoming Range.

There are a variety of summer activities here at Triple Peak. If you are interested in horseback riding, we offer trail rides or pack trips up in the forest. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery, see lots of wildlife and breath that fresh mountain air. If fishing is high on your priority list we have great fishing opportunities all around us. If you would like a guided fishing trips or lessons in fly fishing, we offer that too. Hiking, photography, star gazing, cook-outs are only a few of the activities you can enjoy while staying with us. We have 8 guest rooms at the lodge where you can stay and participate in all these activities. If you want a more rugged experience then you might want to stay at our forest camp, we provide a cook and guide to keep you well entertained while you are there.

Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Viewing Wildlife
All this is waiting for you at Triple Peak!

Get out of the rat race. Relax and enjoy a slower pace of life in beautiful western Wyoming.

We provide Lodging & Meals, you have fun!

For more complete information
Visit our Summer Activites

One of the Guest Rooms in the Lodge

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • 8 guest rooms - up to 16 guests
  • Meals served family style
  • Groups welcome
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Driving tours

Triple Peak is a Bed & Breakfast with a history flavor, open year-round for comfortable lodging and meals. We are located near the Wyoming Range mountains and Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. We offer Guests a year-round base camp for their excursions into the mountains for fishing, hiking, photography trips, fall hunting and winter snowmobiling. Our lodge is available for retreats, meetings, conferences and small family reunions. We do not take drop ins. Reservations must be made in advance. Please see our Rates page for pricing information.

Guests can walk from their rooms down to South Cottonwood Creek and fish for trout on our property or a mile stretch of the adjacent school section. We are not far from the Green River, New Fork River and the Greys River.

Triple Peak offers
Year-Round Fun!
| Snowmobiling | Hunting |
| Summer |

  • Lodging & Meals Open year-round. We do not take drop-ins. Reservations must be made in advance.
  • We're remote! Escape the crowds and enjoy Wyoming fresh air, peace and quiet.
  • Snowmobiling Accommodations for snowmobilers who want to be close to the Wyoming Range snowmobile trails. We're close to miles of groomed and ungroomed trails.
  • Hunters Lodging & meals for self-guided hunters who want to be near their hunt areas in the Wyoming Range to get an early start on their hunts.
  • Fishing We are close to fishing in the Green River, New Fork River and Greys River. There are also many lakes and smaller streams that are uncrowded and receive light fishing pressure. South Cottonwood Creek is on our property and there is over a mile of stream just a short walking distance from our Lodge.
  • Summer Activities We are open year-round and summer offers many activities including hiking, photography tours, wildlife viewing, and expeditions to area historic sites.

Triple Peak

Did you know we are located within 15 miles of 4 elk feedgrounds that feed over 1,500 elk each winter? Sublette County has 13 elk feedgrounds which feed over 6,000 elk each year. Eleven of the 13 feedgrounds are on the Pinedale District of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, all within a 50 mile radius of our Triple Peak Lodge.

We are located near the following Hunt Areas:
Elk: 92 & 94
Moose: 24 & 25
Deer: 142 & 143
88, 89, 90, 91 & 93

Triple Peak Lodge

Triple Peak

HCR 3000, Big Piney, WY 83113

Triple Peak
A year-round Bed & Breakfast in western Wyoming

307-276-3408 or 307-260-8669
HCR 3000, Big Piney, WY 83113

| HOME | Lodging | Snowmobiling | Hunting | Summer Activities | Rates |


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Colony Collapse Disorder and Honeybee Death Linked with Pesticide Use

The ongoing debate about the cause of colony collapse disorder has finally ended. Mongabay recently reported that “Harvard researchers have re-created the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in several honeybee hives simply by giving them small doses of a popular pesticide, imidacloprid.”

Bayer pesticide linked with bee death

Imidacloprid is manufactured by Bayer and the company even released a statement to say that the chemical has no effect on colony collapse. However, the Harvard research conclusively shows that the opposite is true.

The cause for colony collapse has been eluding scientists for many years. However, two studies that came out in Science showed a close link between neonicotinoid pesticides, of which imidacloprid is one. According to Mongabay:

Past research has shown that neonicotinoid pesticides, which target insects’ central nervous system, do not instantly kill bees. However, to test the effect of even small amounts of these pesticides on western honeybees (Apis mellifera), Harvard researchers treated 16 hives with different levels of imidacloprid, leaving four hives untreated. After 12 weeks, the bees in all twenty hives—treated and untreated—were alive, though those treated with the highest does of imidacloprid appeared weaker. But by 23 weeks everything had changed: 15 out of the 16 hives (94 percent) treated with imidacloprid underwent classic Colony Collapse Disorder: hives were largely empty with only a few young bees surviving. The adults had simply vanished. The hives that received the highest doses of imidacloprid collapsed first. Meanwhile the five untreated hives were healthy.

Harvard study links pesticide use with colony collapse

Scientists in the past have been cautious about the connection between pesticides and honey bee collapse. However, lead author of the Harvard report, Chensheng (Alex) Lu has dismissed all caution and has made it clear that:

There is no question that neonicotinoids put a huge stress on the survival of honey bees in the environment. The evidence is clear that imidacloprid is likely the culprit for Colony Collapse Disorder via a very unique mechanism that has not been reported until our study.

Beekeepers started feeding bees with high fructose corn syrup and this did not have an effect on bees until 2004-2005 when US corn crop began to be sprayed with imidacloprid. The first recorded outbreak of colony collapse occurred a year later.  According to Lu even, small amounts like 20 ppb of the chemical was enough to lead to full blown CCD within 6 months.

Studies from UK and France support Harvard study’s conclusion

Just before the Harvard study was released, two studies from the UK and France also linked neonicotinoid pesticides to CCD. The UK study exposed bumblebees to small doses of imidacloprid and places the bees in an enclosed natural setting. After six weeks, the team found that the nests of the exposed bees weighed less than that the control group. The French team glued microchips to free-ranging honeybees and discovered that the bees that were exposed to pesticide were three times more likely not to return from foraging. This proved that the chemical also interfered with the bees’ homing abilities.

Policy change needed to prevent honeybee extinction

Although the pesticide does not kill bees instantly, it does cause colony collapse over time. In fact, it is more dangerous because it does not kill instantly as there is no way of estimating exactly how many bees are affected. Bees are a vital cog in the economy, and the economic value of honeybees in the US alone is said to be $8-12 billion. Policy makers need to now examine the effect of pesticides more carefully and look at long-term effects rather than just short-term to protect the honeybee from extinction.

Image Credit: Honeybee sucking nectar, Severnjc, Wikimedia Commons

Akhila is the Founding Director of GreenDen Consultancy which is dedicated to offering business analysis, reporting and marketing solutions powered by sustainability and social responsibility. Based in the US, Europe, and India, the GreenDen's consultants share the best practices and innovation from around the globe to achieve real results. She has previously written about CSR and ethical consumption for Justmeans and hopes to put a fresh spin on things for this column. As an IEMA certified CSR practitioner, she hopes to highlight a new way of doing business. She believes that consumers have the immense power to change 'business as usual' through their choices. She is a Graduate in Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow, UK and in Environmental Management and Law. In her free-time she is a voracious reader and enjoys photography, yoga, travelling and the great outdoors. She can be contacted via Twitter @aksvi and also

10 responses

  1. Compelling research, but apparently no conclusive just yet. Something for which to keep watch.

  2.  Corn has been poisoned through genetic engineering. Corn was genetically modified to produce its own insecticide, and sprayed on corn that was only used on animal feed. But through cross-fertilization is spread to almost all the corn on the planet, though rare genetic transfer between species. In a few decades may make any plant, that doesn’t rely on helpful insects, more insect resistant to them.

    It is giving Mexicans who survive on mostly corn allergies. Sick bees fly away from the hive to avoid spreading infection, but farmers feed bees corn syrup when there are not enough flowers around.. Urban bees can find spilled soda, and if they get back to the hive before feeling a little sick, start poisoning the hive. One black hole created by the Large Haddon Collider shouldn’t alarm us because without enough gravity to react with other mater for millions of years unless the LHC is creating millions of them slowly drifting toward each other at the center of the planet

    Everyone is missing the horror. Don’t bother to buy organic vegetables unless grown from 10 year old seeds in an airtight greenhouse.

    From Richard Kane

    1. Your comment was largely indecipherable. And what does the Large Hadron Collider have to do with this?

      1. You scared him away, damnit. He was about to let us in on the secret of LHC. Don’t you remember the X-Files?? There were bees there, too. LHC, Bees, and Aliens. That’s the truth.

  3. Sorry, Akhila Vijayaraghavan, and
    Tawster about the rush.

    All corn is genetically modified to
    contain insecticide because of cross-pollination,

    Apparent sick bees staying away from
    the hive seems to be an overwhelming trait even if born sick. If this
    changes commercial hives, with a lot of antibiotics and bee doctors
    around, this would be a manageable problem. But what about wild bees
    that like to sip on soda pop? It is a potential time bomb, if sick
    bees start retuning to the hive. This should remind us that there are
    other areas where certain hopefully only potential, mistakes may
    never be corrected. One theory that is very credible rather than only
    believed by a few researchers is that there may be a micro black hole
    in most stellar objects that are so inert as that almost all of them
    won’t consume that stellar object before it is destroyed some other

    By the way I read about this bee
    problem at Reader Supported News that removed it from its front page
    as old news, and can be reached only if the link memory is already on
    ones computer,

  4. They treated the hives!!???  If this is accurate then this is a poor scientific study ….  indeed, not a scientific study at all.

  5. Dear authors – would you please cite your sources to the original research articles.  I’d like to read them for myself.

    1. See:, or other hits that come up when searching for “colony collapse disorder update 2012”

  6. That evidence points to pesticides should not surprise any of us. We developed a fondness for pesticides, herbicides, etc. primarily for the convenience they gave us over more labor-intensive food production methods. “The magic of chemical solutions” seemed impressive. Besides, a rapidly developing post-WW2 chemical industry needed markets. Advertising reassured us – this stuff “used as directed of course” will never, ever, “come back to bite us”. I’m pretty sure in the early days even the developers/marketers believed this. Now, (generally in the world of chemical marketers, including for-human pharmaceuticals) we eventually discover a trail of emails and internal company documents that suggest marketing trumps good and scrupulously honest science – every time.

Comments are closed.


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• Live Chat

High Performance: The Legacy of the Triumph Rocket III

Originally developed by Triumph Engineering at Meriden as a high performance, smooth vibration engine, the BSA Rocket 3 and Triumph Trident featured Triumph’s first inline triple. The motorcycle press immediately labeled it “the World’s First Superbike” upon its 1968 American debut.

Developed by Bert Hopwood and Doug Hele, the Rocket 3 was created to surpass the performance of Triumph’s race-winning 650cc parallel twins. Prior to their collaboration. Hopwood, the protégé of Triumph general manager Edward Turner, aided in the development of the influential Triumph Speed Twin. Hele was one of the masterminds behind the Manx Norton single-cylinder racing motorcycles that won world championships in the early 1950s. Together, they created a racing machine that dominated U.S. and European competitions throughout the 1970s.

The bike debuted in the US and immediately swept the top three qualifying spots for the 1970 Daytona 200. In the 1971 event, BSA/Triumph competitors swept the podium. Paul Smart took the pole position on a Triumph, Dick Mann won on a Rocket 3, Gene Romero finished second on a Trident, and Don Emde took third on another Rocket 3.

In Europe, perhaps the most famous racing bike of the day, known as ‘Slippery Sam,’ was a Triumph Trident that won five consecutive production class Isle of Man TT races from 1971-1975.

While the original Rocket 3 prototypes had the traditional Triumph tear drop tank, Ogle Design, an avant-garde firm, was commissioned to create the production motorcycle and delivered a controversial square tank. BSA’s U.S. Vice President Don Brown, was convinced the motorcycle needed a different look to succeed in America and commissioned Craig Vetter to customize the Rocket 3 in the summer of 1969. Vetter created the Triumph X-75 Hurricane, one of the most noted and recognized Triumph’s in history.

After a 33 year hiatus, the Rocket reappeared in 2004 with a 2,300cc inline triple engine that is the world’s largest production motorcycle engine. According to Ultimate Motorcycling the Rocket III “accelerates with more authority than any production motorcycle. Its muscularity is exhilarating and liberating.”

In 2012, Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo set a class land-speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats on the Rocket III, with an average speed of nearly 175mph. Following that effort, aerodynamicist Matt Markstaller, engine builder Bob Carpenter, and DiSalvo assembled a team to restore Triumph’s legacy in landspeed racing.

The 2013 Castrol Rocket features Carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines that produce a combined 1,000+ HP.

Watch Triumph’s introduction to the world’s most advanced streamlined motorcycle, the Castrol Rocket.

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1969 Triumph Bonneville T100 ‘Buttercup’ | Photo Gallery

Los Angeles denizen Rage Stewart has 12 bikes and says they are like 12 wives. He recently purchased this fine 1969 Triumph 500cc T100, and noted that he bought it like this but it needed a lot of “cleaning up.”

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Triumph on Film: Mechanic: Resurrection

The summer’s next Hollywood blockbuster featuring a Triumph motorcycle is set to hit the big screen later this month. Jason Statham stars in Mechanic: Resurrection along with fellow megastars Jessica Alba and Tommy Lee Jones. Statham’s character rides a pristine 1966 Triumph Bonneville T120 TT in the film (which you can catch a glimpse of 35 seconds into the trailer). Statham is a big Triumph fan and took to his Facebook page back in February to thank Triumph and private collector Dick Shepherd for providing two bikes for the shoot. The movie hits theaters on August 26, so don’t miss it.

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Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources - Conversation Between diablo13 and purplemuffin
Conversation Between diablo13 and purplemuffin
Showing Visitor Messages 1 to 4 of 4
  1. purplemuffin
    11-28-2011 01:40 AM - permalink
    LOL.. Yeah. We like fiesty critters, but they aren't for everyone. Don't look into getting a tokay gecko either ;)

    There are some very docile tarantulas out there though, some that are very gorgeous!
  2. diablo13
    11-26-2011 07:38 PM - permalink
    I just googled them, I'm sorta scared right now 0.0 thanks for responding, but I don't think I'll be getting it 0.0 lol, Orange Bitey Thing......
  3. purplemuffin
    11-26-2011 07:16 PM - permalink
    Orange baboons are one of the hardiest tarantulas out there. Like, you'd have to try to kill one. BUT they are mean! Often nicknamed 'orange bitey things'

    a look-don't-touch animal, but a strong beginner tarantula. Make sure you have an escape proof cage of course and all that, and a cup to hold the T while cleaning the cage, you won't want to pick this one up with your bare hands
  4. diablo13
    11-26-2011 06:40 PM - permalink
    Hey Muffin, I Know you know allot about tarantulas, do you know what a Usambara Orange Baboon Tarantula is? I saw one at my LFS, and am curious to it's care.
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Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources

Tropical Fish Keeping - Aquarium fish care and resources (
-   Beginner Freshwater Aquarium (
-   -   what to do-not my fist setup (

whiteslate 01-07-2012 05:21 PM

what to do-not my fist setup
just to let you all know before you read this is not my first tank and my dad kept a 30m gallon salt and a brakish tank for many years. anyway, my brother informed me this tues that his marine biology teacher had a tank with some freshwater fish in it that had a leak and all her tanks at home were saltwater. i have had a 37 show siting with plants and a half dozen ghost shrimp and a bunch of plants that are doing well. he showed me a picture and i could tell that there were 2 zebra danios, 2 giant danios, and what looks like 2 fancy tetras (my dad said he thinks they are skirts) and a pleco.they are happy and doing well so im ready for some more fish. i am looking for fish and have no idea what to get i know i can get every fish in the profiles. i want color but fear that a fish like a gorami would hurt the little danios. i heard that because my giants are both 4in and the "tetras" are close to 3in with tails the goramis would not be violent? i have ph of 6.3 but i am slowly raising up to 6.5, hardness is around 8dgh. all questions you have will be welcomed. so let me know if you need more info. only community fish. thanks.

Geomancer 01-07-2012 06:00 PM

I would take a look at the profiles for those fish, all of them (except the pleco) are schooling so you should really consider getting more of them so they can be nice and happy in a school.

The pleco is really too large of a fish for a 30g. They get very large (upwards of 20", sometimes longer) and are also high waste fish (like goldfish). They start out small... but they do grow! Stores mistakenly say they are good for algae eating, but they only eat algae when small, they'll need different food as they mature and will no longer go for algae.

The profiles will also give you some suggestions for good tank mates for the danios and tetras =)

Byron 01-08-2012 12:56 PM

Agree, browse the profiles; you want soft slightly acidic water fish, and there are many in the characins, cyprinids, catfish categories. Note the compatibility comments for each, and some have issues.

And on that, I would shy away from gourami, as you have tetra that tend to nip fins of sedate fish like gourami, and danio are active swimmers quite the opposite of slow gourami.

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College of Education

Troy University

There’s no getting around it, education is the heart of Troy University’s College of Education. In preparing future educators, counselors, administrators and sign-language interpreters, the COE stresses the importance of learning with an academic experience that spans well beyond the classroom.

The outstanding faculty members in the COE provide real-world experience that makes classroom learning come alive to students. These dedicated faculty care about individual students and work hard to ensure their success.

Whether you are just starting your college career or looking to take the next step in academia, the COE has a place for you. If teaching is the route you choose for your future career path, TROY offers a variety of education programs.

From elementary, secondary, and adult education, Troy University offers a variety of academic programs to prepare the future educator.

Even those who are already educators looking to advance their careers can find a place in one of the College of Education’s Master of Science in Education programs.

Students interested in entering the counseling or psychology profession can find a home in the COE’s undergraduate psychology program or one of the graduate Master of Science in Counseling programs. Those interested in learning American Sign Language and becoming interpreters for the deaf/hard of hearing can find their home in the COE’s interpreter training program. If the COE is your college of choice, you can be certain to receive a hands-on educational experience that will prepare you for whatever your next step may be.

College of Education Programs

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2008 Ford Escape Hybrid - First Look

Brandan Gillogly
Apr 8, 2008
Photographers: Brandan Gillogly
Photo 2/5   |   2008 Ford Escape Hybrid right View
When we first got our Escape Hybrid, nobody fought to get the keys for it. We all liked the updated grille, which is a much better fit with Ford's truck and SUV lineup. The all-new interior, minus a few gripes, was well-received. We even liked the color. Unfortunately, we all had the same preconceived notion that since it was a hybrid, it would accelerate like a slug and be absolutely no fun to drive. We were mistaken.
Senior Editor Dan Ward was first behind the wheel, and after driving it for a day, called me on his cell phone to remark on the fuel mileage he was able to coax out of the Escape. Dan's driving style, which consists of lead-footed acceleration to Southern California highway cruising speeds, is often reflected in the fuel mileage of some test vehicles. Dan got 29 mpg out of the Escape. He figured that my driving style, which he considers geriatric by comparison, should yield much higher mileage.
Photo 3/5   |   2008 Ford Escape Hybrid interior View
Once I was behind the wheel, I was able to get the average mileage to 31.5 mpg in mixed city and highway driving, but after a few hundred miles of highway-only driving in hilly conditions at 70+mph, the average dropped down to 29.5. I was paying attention to the fuel mileage meter in the center display, and would have had better results at 60-65mph, but keeping up with traffic dictated otherwise.
The performance is on par with a compact V-6 SUV, with just the slightest bit of lag when going from a dead stop to full-on acceleration. In other words, there are virtually zero compromises with respects to the powertrain. The only noticeable difference is in handling, as the Hybrid is heavier than a normal Escape, and it's slightly less like a go-cart.
Photo 4/5   |   2008 Ford Escape Hybrid dash View
Besides the powertrain, there were other things to like about the Escape. The size and packaging proved to be a good compromise. It fit five adults and a decent amount of luggage comfortably, and its size made it easy to park and navigate in congested areas. We feel comfortable driving a fullsize crew-cab truck, so the Escape felt nimble by comparison, which was good for a change. The new interior with contrasting dash panels and compact center console was both attractive and space efficient. Some of the controls on the center stack, however, were less than intuitive. The digital display at the top of the center stack displayed the time, date, and exterior temperature, which was fine by us, but it also displayed the temperature for the climate control. It was easy to get used to, but the dials for changing the HVAC settings were at the bottom of the stack where we expected to also find some indication of how cold or how hot we had just set it. It would have also been useful to have the upper display list artists and song titles from the satellite radio, as we were too busy toggling back and forth between navigation and the powertrain display to ever keep the radio display up for long.
Photo 5/5   |   2008 Ford Escape Hybrid left View
Aside from these few minor complaints, we were very impressed with the updates for '08. We're probably not going to see a lot of lowered Escape Hybrids with custom interiors and paint, but the improvements should make it even more popular than it has been with suburban commuters and style-conscious buyers.
2008 Ford Escape HYBRID FWD
Price (as tested)
2.3L I-4 Atkinson Cycle
133hp at 6,000 rpm SAE
Torque (lb-ft)
124 at 4,250 rpm SAE
Permanent Magnet AC
94hp at 5,000 rpm
330-volt Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery
Electronically controlled, continuously variable
Independent MacPherson struts (front), multi-link with trailing arms (rear)
Four-wheel disc, ABS with regenerative braking.
103.1 in
81.3 in
Curb Weight
3,792 lbs
Maximum Payload
29.5 (as tested)

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Some guys just get it more than others, and Mike Skyles of Clermont, Florida, is one of them. Mike knows that the simple formula of a clean truck plus huge wheels plus a frame-laying stance equals instant attention. No fancy graphics or stuffed-animal displays are necessary to draw a show crowd to Mikes 98 Ford F-150. Stopping people dead in their tracks is exactly what his red sport truck does.

Mikes laid-back philosophy is this: I built my truck because I have a good time working on it, and I like going to shows. Thats an easygoing philosophy, but one that is not as simple to practice as it sounds. Proof that this simple formula is working for Mike is that we had featured his truck once before, and we shot it again after he bagged it.

In fact, Mike has kept it so uncomplicated that the majority of changes to his truck, beyond the chassis mods, could be done in a single afternoon. Exterior upgrades are limited to a pair of Trenz inserts and some color matching up front, and a pair of APC Euro taillights and a CVD roll pan in the rear. The interior mods were also kept pretty basic with an APC Speedglo gauge panel and an Alpine head unit.

Mike saved the sophisticated stuff for underneath his truck. Under the front, Mike used a pair of Chassis Tech 2-inch dropped A-arms and Firestone bags. Out back are more pieces from Chassis Tech including a flip-kit, hangers, and shackles used in conjunction with a custom fabbed C-notch by Michael Page of Clermont, Florida, and another pair of Firestone bags. The 10/12-drop slides down nicely over Mikes set of chrome Niche Pultec 20-inchers and 245/40ZR20 Michelin Pilots.

Next time you think a cool truck takes years to build, with 45 body mods, full custom paint and interior, and thousands of dollars stuffed under the hood, remember Mike Skyles formula and keep it simple.


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Monitor Audio Silver RX6 AV12 - Centre, Rears and Subwoofer

By Danny Phillips

  • Recommended by TR
Monitor Audio Silver RX6 AV12

Our Score:

User Score:

Inside the bulky RX Centre are the same drivers, but arranged in a different way to account for its horizontal orientation. The versatile RXFX rear speakers offer a bipole mode for people who like their effects direct, and a dipole mode for those who prefer a more diffuse sound. You can flick between them using a switch on the back of each speaker. They’re designed to be mounted flush on side or rear walls, which helps to spread effects around the room.

The RX Centre

The RXW-12 sub is surprisingly heavy for such a compact unit, but that’s due to the robustly built MDF enclosure and the amount of heavy duty tech packed inside. This includes a newly designed 12in C-CAM cone, a two-magnet motor system and 3in voice coil – not to mention the 500W Class D amp.

Opt for Bipole or Dipole modes with the RXFX rears

No matter where you install the RXW-12, it’s easy to make adjustments thanks to the panel of controls conveniently located on top. These include a volume dial and a couple of buttons that let you switch between two EQ presets. EQ1 is the 'standard' setting, delivering the best overall balance for music and movies, but EQ2 injects an extra 4dB at 21Hz, which helps deliver movie soundtracks with a little more welly.

The heavy RXW-12 subwoofer with controls on top and at the rear

On the back of the sub are more controls and sockets. These include a dial for setting the crossover frequency between 40 and 60Hz, although this can be bypassed by flicking the Low Pass Filter switch if your AV receiver handles the crossover. There’s also a switch to flip the phase 180 degrees plus phono inputs and outputs for passing the signals on to an additional sub.

July 23, 2010, 12:34 pm

I have an RS6 set up (albeit in stereo only) and absolutely love it - so never really doubted the replacement models would impress.

The black gloss would have gone perfect with my living room too - maybe time to talk to the missus?...

Not sure about the look of the book shelf speakers though

July 23, 2010, 3:37 pm

The black gloss finish is sexy :)

July 23, 2010, 4:40 pm

I have to say that every MA speaker just gets better and and better. Unlike most other companies (who seem to be forgetting their bread and butter and going off in search of the holy grail), MA put a lot of eefort into making the speakers look and sound better and better. The RX series is brilliant and I am just on the verge of buying this very AV package. Thanks MA for amazing speakers!

Rob Needham

July 24, 2010, 4:53 am

agree with everything said here.

I have this set in Walnut and they are brilliant. took a couple on months to get to full potential.

Emmanuel Walter

July 24, 2010, 8:16 am

How about the RX8 as speaker instead of RX^. I heart they are better for music and not much more expensive than RX6?

Scott Korek

June 2, 2013, 10:12 am

I have a pair of Monitor Audio Gold Series (floor standing} speakers that I purchased 10 years ago. They were by far the best speakers I auditioned for listening to music at low/ moderate to very loud volume levels. Many speakers are way short on proper bass when being played at lower volume levels. I was certain I was going to buy the B&W speakers until I auditioned the Monitor Audio speakers - and the B&W's retailed for $1000.00 more. The Monitor Audio speakers were all around better sounding at every volume level. I have had no problems at all and have played them loud and long for 10 years. The quality and build of the new models look at least as good as what I purchased - perhaps better. I'd have to listen. I highly recommend their product. Note: I also purchased a Musical Fidelity NuVista Integrated Amplifier ant the NuVista Xray CD player at the same time. Over priced perhaps, but the sound cold not be much better. So, I also highly recommend an audition of Musical Fidelity components. Ten years of great sound with heavy play and no problems = great components.

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