Galway Advertiser 2004/2004_05_13/GA_1305_E1_030.pdf 

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30 F E A T U R E S

GALWAY ADVERTISER

May 13 2004

HOLIDAY SPECIALS
Discover the new EU countries
Aran Travel (091) 562595 has specials to Warsaw and Budapest to celebrate their joining the EU. Prices for Warsaw start at 339pp including flights and two nights accommodation in a 4-star hotel. Valid from May 31 until October. Trips to Budapest from June to August start from 219pp.

BREAK-AWAY
TRAVEL WITH JULIE TIERNEY

BYGONES
May 16--Feast day of St Brendan -- A sixth century founder of Irish monasteries, notably Clonfert in Galway. He is reputed to have put out to sea in a coracle and reached the "northern and western islands" after celebrating Mass on a whale's back. The story of his adventures was constantly retold, progressing to a seven-year voyage on the whale; but one such poem in the 12th century provoked a protest (preserved in a manuscript belonging to Lincoln College, Oxford) at the notion that a man who had cured 3,000 souls should abandon his duties to gallivant across the ocean, adding for good measure that the salvation of devils, which formed part of the tale, was contrary to the Catholic faith. May 19 -- Feastday of St Yves, the patron saint of lawyers and of Brittany. Yves Helory was a Breton lawyer from Kermartin who, having distinguished himself as a fair-minded and incorruptible judge maintained a keen interest in the plight of the poor, was ordained a priest in 1284 and put his legal mind at the disposal of his parishioners. Known as the Advocate of the Poor, he is also the patron saint of lawyers, a profession said to be very thinly represented in heaven. In one story it is said that Our Lord, having given strict orders that no lawyers be allowed enter the gates of Heaven, agreed to admit Yves, but only on condition that he served outside the gates as assistant to St Peter. May 22 -- This is bjornevak or bear-waking day in Norway to mark the day when it is believed the bear awakes from hibernation and leave his den. So Norwegian ramblers, beware. This is also National Maritime Day in the US. Instigated in 1933 by FD Roosevelt to commemorate the departure of the Savannah in 1849 which was the first transoceanic voyage by a steamer.

Spoil yourself with a relaxing and reviving spa break
When you've worked hard, played hard, and generally run yourself into the ground for some time it can be a good idea to get away from it all with a relaxing spa break. Fahy Travel looks at some of the treatments at three luxurious spas to wash your worries away while on holiday. Day of Delight, one day 609. Thalassotherapy programme includes a coconut rub and milk ritual float, facial, back massage, foot treatment, exotic hand ritual, sauna, hammam, healthy lunch and herbal tea. Time for You, three days 675.00, 3x Thalassotherapy programme includes: marine prelude, hot stone massage, facial, back massage, sauna, hammam, and herbal tea. The Opium Spa at The Elysium Beach Resort, Paphos, Cyprus has a feeling of openness and tranquillity with its stunning views over the sea. Typical pre-bookable packages available are the Aveda three day relaxation package, 413, which includes a hydroptherapy bath, salt glow, Aveda facial, Aveda hand treatment, Aveda foot treatment, aromatherapy body massage, and eye zone treatment. Total Body Revitalise, three days, 423. This package includes Affusion Vichy shower, jet treatment, hydrotherapy bath, Aveda detoxifying body masque,

Las Vegas and Mexican cruise
Visit Las Vegas during a week long Mexican cruise commencing September 5. Price from 1,095 includes return flights to Los Angeles ex Ireland with Delta Airlines; one precruise night accommodation at the Airport Hilton, Los Angeles; four nights full board on the Royal Caribbean 4-star Monarch; and two nights in the Las Vegas Boardwalk Hotel on September 10. Offer available from Martina Forde Travel (091) 566866.

Teresa Flannery.

Three fantastic cities
Visit Prague, Vienna, and Budapest on a 10 day escorted tour. Trip includes four nights in Prague, three nights in Vienna, and three nights in Budapest in 4-star accommodation throughout. Departure date is July 4 and cost is 1,195pps. For further details contact Eblana Travel on (091) 766802.

Le Spa at Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort, Cyprus is an award winning luxurious hotel set in a beautifully landscaped environment, featuring waterfalls, grottos, and an island lagoon. It offers four outdoor and three indoor seawater swimming pools, hamman, sauna, aromatherapy, and an algaeotherapy centre with 20 treatment rooms. A few of the many treatments available at Le Spa are: Thalassa Day -- one day 329.00. Thalassathoaerapy programme includes sauna, hammam, marine prelude cold marine facial, Healthy lunch and herbal tea.

Some health and beauty packages can be pre-booked and pre-paid prior to travel. detoxifying body massage, salt glow, Aveda back treatment. The Kempinski Resort Hotel, Estepona, Spain, is one of the most luxurious hotels on the Costa del Sol, situated directly on the beach with magnificent grounds and a spa centre to die for. The Polly Mar Beauty Spa & Wellness Centre caters for the figure conscious, using Polly's sauna wraps with six bandages using special herbal extracts and oils, followed by a sauna and a cold-warm shower gush and a purifying massage. Advice on diets is included in the course of treatments. The Kempinski Beauty Spa offers oxygen for face treatments and as an anti-stress with inhalation of oxygen. This hotel has the added benefit of flights from Knock. The above prices are for treatments only. Contact Karen or Orla at Fahy travel Worldchoice for further details at (091) 594747.

Saving money on health treatment abroad
If you're planning a holiday abroad this year, take a trip down to your local health centre to pick up Form E111 first and you could make significant savings on holiday travel insurance, according to ACCA Ireland. Since May 1 the 10 new accession states will now accept the E111 form, which entitles Irish travellers and families to free or reduced-cost emergency medical treatment while on holiday there. They are the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. The E111 form will make it easier for you to get medical care quickly and easily. Forms are available free of charge from local health centres and allow tourists to receive medical treatment on the same terms as nationals in the countries they are visiting. It is evidence that you are part of a health insurance scheme administered by another state in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. If you do not have the form, you are still entitled to medical care, but may have to pay for it on the spot and then claim for reimbursement at a later stage. "Holidaymakers planning to go abroad this summer can make significant savings if they remember to complete form E111," says Roger Acton, head of ACCA Ireland. "While it is important to remember that this does not entitle tourists to claim non-emergency treatment, it does provide peace of mind." E111 offers state-provided cover for you, your spouse, and dependent children up to the age of 16, or 19 if they are still in full time education, and also covers unmarried partners with children. Generally, private treatment will not be covered. The form has to be filled out by the applicant and then stamped by the health board. It is advisable to keep a photocopy of your E111 form with the original when travelling. Some countries will keep the photocopy if you receive treatment while other may keep the original. "Holidaymakers often forget that they already have healthcare cover in EU states and may be spending money unnecessarily when purchasing travel policies. Picking up forms from your local health board and completing them by providing your PPS number (same as PRSI number) will ultimately help keep travel costs to a minimum," says Acton.

Speaking of Prague..
.McDonagh Travel (091) 565931 has a special for June Bank Holiday weekend (June 4--7) which includes return flights departing Shannon/Knock; and three nights accommodation in either the 3-star Step Hotel from 499 or the 4-star Expo Hotel from 549.

WEATHER
THURSDAY
After a misty start, some bright or sunny spells will develop during the morning. However, there will be plenty of cloud. Gentle north-westerly winds. Max temp 15-18C (59-64F).

SATURDAY
Dry and fine with sunny spells.

High Tide in Galway

SUNDAY
Bright and dry with sunshine.

Clifden 10
17

Tuam
16 16

MONDAY
Staying dry and settled with sunny periods.

FRIDAY
A dry and settled day with sunny spells developing after a rather overcast and misty start. It will feel warm in the sunshine with a gentle westerly breeze. Max temp 15-18C (59-64F).
Information supplied by PA Weather Centre

10

GALWAY
16

Thursday May 13 Friday May 14 Saturday May 15 Sunday May 16 Monday May 17 Tuesday May 18 Wednesday May 19

01.13 02.26 03.21 04.06 04.46 05.24 06.02

14.19 15.16 15.58 16.36 17.11 17.46 18.20

Ballinasloe

Phases of the Moon
Wednesday May 19 -- New Moon

TUESDAY
Patchy cloud and sunny spells.

Galway ship movements

WEDNESDAY
Sunny with a threat of showers.

10
Noon Thursday

Four tankers will dock this week. The Allurity will dock today (Thursday); the Forth Fisher and Orahope on Friday; the Tees Fisher on Saturday and the Stella Lyra carrying bitumen will arrive on Saturday.