When you travel to Italy, or any other country where you do not understand the language well you need to make sure you can tell someone if you are having a medical emergency. If you have a known medical condition write that condition on an index card in both Italian and English. You need the English translation so you know what you are saying! Be sure to have a native speaker look at your card so you know that you have written everything correctly.

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george is pictured above. the horse i rode while on our latest vacation in costa rica. more specifically we were in the playa tortuga beach area. the sunsets were unreal (we didn’t view via horseback, but just a general statement).

we took a 2 1/2 hr ride through the rain forest and then ended up on the beach. it was a nice and easy ride, so it was good for everyone in the group, even if they weren’t very experienced. it was good to travel the rain forest on horseback b/c if you saw any scary creates (spiders, snakes, etc), you felt safer b/c you’re on a huge horse!

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you definitely feel like a cowboy riding in this dry state.  we rode at the hill country equestrian lodge, which has the most beautiful weather (if you love the sun) and a headquarters that is over 100 years old.  it’s an old cattle ranch that spans over 6,000 acres…perfect for horseback riding trails!

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Hilton Hotels Corporation recently announced short and long term goals and objectives towards building sustainability into the core fabric of its businesses worldwide. Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO, outlined directional targets for improvement in the company’s sustainability performance throughout the next five years within systemwide hotels globally. By 2014, goals for the Hilton Family of Hotels are to:

• Reduce energy consumption from direct operations by 20%
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The main train station in Florence, Italy is also known as Santa Maria Novella, I am assuming this is because it is located right behind the church of the same name.

The train station is located on the fringe of the historic center of the city. It is an easy walk to many of the hotels, however, if you are staying in a hotel near the Duomo, the Uffizi or the Ponte Vecchio and have luggage you may need to take a taxi. Without luggage you can easily walk to the Duomo and Uffizi. I find it difficult to roll luggage for a long distance on cobblestone streets.

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A wave of eco-consciousness has heightened demand for all things green - including travel. Consumers are looking for vacations that are not only fun, but also environmentally-friendly. Hotels boast everything from green cleaning products and energy-efficient light bulbs to water conservation programs and ecologically sustainable activities.

The Equus Hotel in Oahu Island, Hawaii uses earth-friendly bamboo materials heavily in its décor and emphasizes ecologically sustainable activities such as horseback tours, hiking the trails, canoeing and surfing. Closer to land, Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL was recently given Florida’s Green Lodging Designation in 2007 for its water conservation efforts, green cleaning products and ENERGY STAR appliances in all guest rooms. In Los Angeles, The Kyoto Grand is an active participant in the Green Lodging Program and has reached its "leadership" level. More and more resorts are taking notice and acting accordingly.

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i never thought this town was known for more than it’s great skiing mountain, but boy was i wrong.  it’s also the home of a therapeutic riding program for those of all ages and various conditions.  it not only involves horseback riding, but grounds management and and what skills are required in the stable/barn.

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did you know that one of the best beaches in this nation is in texas?  south padre island is home to some great sand and palm trees that make photographs ideal.  horseback through that scenery and it’s even better!

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if you’re lucky enough to be in new york during autumn, you’re in for a treat.  the fall foilage is amazing and the views are even more breath-taking on horseback then driving through the country roads at 60+ mph!  there’s plenty of streams to keep the horses hydrated and to make nice picnic stops along your ride.

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for our last vacation we went to turtle island, fiji.  we choose an all-inclusive resort which actually included fun things like snorkeling, scuba diving and horseback riding into their all-inclusive instead of just the food, drinks and float rentals!  this is an excellent way for beginners to give horseback riding a chance.

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