Why Alicante?
This is truly a vacation city. The couple next to me at the wharf-side café is British and has pretty much retired down here. It sounds like they return to England to babysit their grandchildren and then run back down here as soon as possible. And who can blame them. The weather here is beautiful. The Mediterranean breezes keep the temperature mild and pleasant pretty close to year round. It is a very clean city. They wash the streets down almost every morning. Late at night, they run a tractor along the large beautiful beach raking up anything but the soft clean sand so its ready for the next day’s crowd. The harbor is packed with yachts of all shapes and sizes. And there are promenades or walkways everywhere. Along the wharf, beach and entire waterfront for miles are clean, wide, tiled walkways that everyone takes advantage of.
The giant mountain, Mount Benacantil that rises about 500 ft from the beach, looks upon the city. On top with ancient stone walls running the hillside, sits the massive medieval castle de Santa Barbara. Archeological findings show artifacts dating to the Bronze Age. However, the fortress dates from the 9th century or the Moorish rule. You can access the castle from the beach by going through a 650 ft tunnel into the mountain and then riding an elevator that takes you near the top.
Unlike many of our beach vacation spots, the coast here is lined with condos instead of hotels. There is only one real major hotel and conference center (from which I get my free wireless access while sitting at the ocean – thanks) with a great location to the beach and wharf. The rest of the hotels are scattered within the city or just outside. I have been staying in a funky little one star hotel in the center of it all. I have a suite and the bed is pretty comfy for $38 a night. Tomorrow night I check out and head back to Cologne for injections and a flight home to embrace the family. Its beautiful here but I sure miss home and the family.
Doug on 04.30.07 @ 01:39 AM PST [link]
When I put this trip together, it seemed to make sense. In late April, Germany is still a little cold and so the cities are not quite as enjoyable. A round trip flight to the south of Spain could be had for about $125. Hotels on the Mediterranean coast were about ½ the price and the beaches are warm and inviting.
What a difference a month makes. Last visit to Cologne, I had to drive through a snowstorm. Today, it was sunbathers, bicyclists, and convertibles. Along my route into town, I could see several people sunbathing. More like sun worshiping. What is it with older European men and Speedos anyway? The temperature should reach 30 C today which converts (based on my memory of high school science F=9/5C+32) to 86 F!
Once again, I flew into Frankfurt and took the train to Cologne. This time I took the “regional” route north along the Rhine. It was a treat for me to watch the people activity happening along the river and to once again see the castles of the Rhine. I love the medieval history of Europe, beginning and ending with those castles.
Well, I did it! I got a black Audi TT convertible. Lots of research and watching cars on the Internet and I finally chose the TT. I had set a budget for myself so it required a purchase of a used car. But I really like it. We have a lot in common – a few years, a few miles and a couple of dings. 
This Monday I head back to Germany for my 5th treatment. After last month’s “party” trip, I have decided to seek a little R&R this time. With a week’s time between my blood draw and my injection, I usually look for something to do. I usually take a chance to see more of Europe and soak up the art, culture and cuisine.
Over the last half-year or so I have been thinking about trading in the station wagon for a convertible. You know, the kind of car you buy when you hit your 50’s, have a second or third car, and the kids are old enough to drive themselves around. Maybe it is a reaction to the panic that I may not make it to my 50’s. I feel like I never got to own that nice little sports car that brings back your youth. Like I am getting cheated out of my mid-life crisis.
I am not sure I buy the genetic argument as to why my two brothers and I are all threatened with colon cancer at an early age. No one in my family has ever had cancer. And if you have seen the three of us together, you would know that our genes are not that close. So I have been searching for something we all have in common or have been exposed to. We haven’t lived in the same house for 20 – 30 years. 
Around 60 billion cells die and are reborn each day in the average human adult. I’ve read that your liver can actually regenerate itself in two months. This orderly process is called apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD). Cells can also die a traumatic death called necrosis. Apoptosis requires a complicated series of processes and communications so that the body can safely dispose of the cell corpses and pieces. In contrast, without communications, the immune system is not sure of the location or what to do with cells that die via necrosis.
Well we know, we are supposed to avoid Trans Fatty Acids. So what is it and why is it bad for us? Also, did you know that they can label it several different ways? Trans fats are “manufactured” by pushing hydrogen into vegetable oil to make it a solid. That is why they are referred to as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. These then have a longer shelf life, which works great in our processed foods.
As you can see from the diagram, infrared falls between visible light and microwaves. They then divide infrared energy into three categories. The range between 0.076 – 1.5 microns is near infrared, 1.5 – 5.6 microns is middle infrared and 5.6 – 1000 microns is Far Infrared (FIR). About 80% of the sun's rays fall into the FIR range. These waves vibrate at the same frequency as all living matter (5.6 – 1000 microns) and thus allow the waves to penetrate deeper into the body than regular heat sources. Therefore, FIR rays are considered to be a sympathetic energy to organic matter and a safe form of energy.
Here is something I didn’t know. Fluoride is a neurotoxin industrial waste and doesn’t stop tooth decay at all. There are more than 500 peer reviewed studies showing adverse effects of fluoride ranging from cancer to brain damage. It damages the immune, digestive, and respiratory systems as well as the kidneys, liver and thyroid. There are numerous studies that have shown that fluoride causes genetic damage at concentrations as low as one part per million (1 PPM). That is exactly the concentration added to our drinking water. Former president of the AMA, Dr. Charles Gordon Heyd puts it this way, “I am appalled at the prospect of using water as a vehicle for drugs. Fluoride is a corrosive poison that will produce serious effects on a long range basis. Any attempt to use water this way is deplorable.” For this reason, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark, and Holland have all banned fluoridation of their water supplies.