Archive for November 25th, 2008

Nov 25th 2008 Aspen, Colorado Night life and the Altitude

This text was provided by: Amsterdam Holiday

There is more to do in Aspen, Colorado than ski! The Aspen Night life is like nothing you will experience elsewhere. The warmth and camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the different lodges is quite special, and remarkable. You will have a good time in Aspen, CO, no matter what you choose to do, but there is one thing that you should be very aware of before you start your party – the altitude.

Aspen, Colorado sits about 8000 feet above sea level. Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will need to adjust to this altitude. You may find yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude Sickness is a serious problem, and if your symptoms become extreme, you should seek medical attention.

If you will be drinking, you need to know that the altitude will have a large impact on the way your body handles the alcohol. Many people who are not used to such a high altitude find that they become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very short period of time. It is best that you avoid drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted to the altitude.

It is also important to recognize the signs of both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of breath during exertion, increased urination, changed breathing patterns at night, strange dreams, and frequently waking from sleep during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness, dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping, confusion, and a staggering gait. 

As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after your arrival in the higher altitude. You should also seek medical attention if your symptoms last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be deadly if it is not treated. Also, don’t forget to ask about on line health insurance quotes.

Health care professionals suggest that you avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous activity for the first couple of days after arriving at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS immediately for treatment.

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Nov 25th 2008 The Wonder and Beauty of Costa Rica

Costa Rica is located in Central America. It’s part of the land mass which connects North America and South America. Costa Rica is bordered by Panama to the south, The Pacific Ocean to the west, Nicaragua to the north, and the Caribbean Sea is its eastern border.

Costa Rica has many miles of beaches- approximately 635 miles on the Pacific side, and 132 miles on the Caribbean side. Costa Rica is about 10 degrees above the equator, so the climate is mostly tropical.

Since Costa Rica seats between two oceans and two continents, it has a wide variety of plant and animal species. Some would name Costa Rica as one of Nature’s greatest gifts. The country is defined as extremely bio-diverse, and is home to a huge number of plant and fauna species. Unbelievably, the region has 20 national parks, 8 biological reserves, and many other protected areas, guaranteed to thrill the most devoted nature lover.

There are seven provinces in Costa Rica: Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Limon, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and San Jose. The ecotourism focus is evident in all these areas, as you experience a wide variety of natural formations, including rainforests, mountains, beaches, rivers and volcanoes. In addition, you can see more than 2000 kinds of trees, 200 species of mammals, 800 kinds of ferns, and 1,000 kinds of orchids. Clearly, there are many things to do in Costa Rica.

Five percent of all known animals live in Costa Rica. In fact, the land bridge that Costa Rica sits on is thought to be responsible for the diversity of animals within the country, as some traveled down from North America, and some traveled up from South America.

And the natural charm doesn’t stop there. As mentioned previously, Costa Rica has several hundred miles of coastline- and where there is coastline, there are beaches. The edge of the country has hundreds of miles of beaches, with the ones on the Pacific side being more secret, less developed, and smaller than those on the Caribbean side. The interior landscape of the country is defined by mountain ranges which run from north to south. The country’s capital, San Jose, is in the center of Costa Rica, and sits within a mountain valley.

Due to the presence of beaches and mountains, Costa Rica has a unique geographic environment. It has seven active volcanoes, along with several dormant ones. It also has a large network of rivers, in addition to the beaches and mountains we’ve already covered.

Yes, Costa Rica is a true paradise. Due to its location, temperatures are constant throughout the year, varying only a few degrees through the seasons. Since it is a tropical country, days are usually hot, but the nights bring with them a cool tropical breeze.

If you want to experience lounging at the beach, hiking in the mountains, and getting up close with all kinds of animals and plant species, you won’t find a better place to do this than Costa Rica.

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