The Foreign Secretary was only installed in her high-profile job in May 2006. Margaret Beckett is supposed to be normal. She is happily married to Leo; she eats sweets in bed on Sunday mornings; and she likes caravanning holidays.
Presumably Margaret Beckett will be off on a caravanning holiday soon. Mrs. Beckett would be adhering to her traditional pattern of caravanning round France with her husband Leo for the summer now that parliament has broken up. The Foreign Secretary is to embark on a gastronomic tour of Europe in her caravan. Because she is now a player in international politics, for security reasons, the caravan will be escorted at all times by special branch officers on her caravan holiday to France although it is not clear whether they will be staying in the caravan.
It seems that the new Foreign Secretary has been forced to postpone her caravanning holiday around Europe with husband Leo, and it now looks politically impossible for her to take time off while the Middle East crisis rages on.
The Foreign Office is refusing to comment on reports that Mrs Beckett is postponing her caravan holiday while the crisis continues.
A spokesman said: "She is remaining engaged on this. She will go on holiday when she decides the time is right."
The Becketts are taking their holiday in France every year. But she insists: "We've been caravanning in Britain lots of times. We took the van to the party conference in Blackpool one year. It poured with rain, but one of the things we like about a caravan is that you can just pull into the side of the road when you want a cup of tea and, even if it's pouring, you're under shelter."
Margaret Beckett and her husband, Leo, recently bought a smart new van, with running water, a burglar alarm and very comfortable sleeping arrangements and Windsor Jacquard curtains. The minister says: "The new one has got a bigger sofa and a bigger fridge, reasonably plush fittings and very comfortable sleeping arrangements. We never say we go camping - we say we go caravanning, because I reckon when you've got a fridge, a shower, central heating, double glazing and a reasonable sized cooker, you can't say you're roughing it,", laughing.
Mrs. Beckett says it can take days for the caravanner to prepare for a trip. "There's always something broken and lots to restock." "But, once on the road, the caravan is liberation."
Visit Owners Exclusive at http://www.ownersexclusive.com for Caravan holiday home ownership at holiday parks throughout Britain
Introduction to holidays in the Algarve
The maritime province of the Algarve, often called the Garden of Portugal, is the south westernmost part of Europe. Its coastline stretches 160km (99 miles) from Henry the Navigator's Cape St. Vincent to the border town of Vila Real de Santo António, fronting once-hostile Spain. The varied coastline contains sluggish estuaries, sheltered lagoons, low-lying areas where clucking marsh hens nest, long sandy spits, and promontories jutting out into the white-capped aquamarine foam.
Called Al-Gharb by the Moors, the land south of the Serras (mountains) of Monchique and Caldeirão remains a spectacular anomaly that seems more like a transplanted section of the North African coastline than a piece of Europe. The temperature averages around 15°C (60°F) in winter and 23°C (74°F) in summer. The countryside abounds in vegetation: almonds, lemons, oranges, carobs, pomegranates and figs.
Most of the towns and villages of the Algarve are more than 240km (149 miles) from Lisbon. The great 1755 earthquake shook this area. Entire communities were wiped out; however, many Moorish and even Roman ruins remain. In the fret-cut chimneys, mosque like cupolas, and cubist houses, a distinct Oriental flavour prevails. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians all touched this land.
However, much of the historic flavour is gone forever, swallowed by a sea of dreary high-rise apartment blocks surrounding most towns. Years ago, Portuguese officials, looking in horror at what happened to Spain's Costa del Sol, promised more limited and controlled development so that they wouldn't make "Spain's mistake."
Algarvian beaches are some of the best in Portugal. Their quality has led to the tourist boom across the southern coastline, making it a formidable rival of Lisbon's Costa do Sol and Spain's Costa del Sol. There are literally hundreds of beaches, many with public showers and watersports equipment available for rent.
Since around 1965, vast stretches of coastal terrain have been bulldozed, landscaped, irrigated, and reconfigured into golf courses. Many are associated with real-estate developments or major resorts, such as the 800-hectare (1,976-acre) Quinta do Lago, where retirement villas nestle amid vegetation at the edges of the fairways. Most are open to qualified golfers who inquire in advance.
Many former fishing villages -- now summer resorts -- dot the Algarvian coast: Carvoeiro, Albufeira, Olhão, Portimão. The sea is the source of life, as it always has been. The village marketplaces sell esparto mats, copper, pottery, and almond and fig sweets, sometimes shaped like birds and fish. Through the narrow streets comes the fast sound of little accordions pumping out the rhythmical corridinho.
For motorists, the big news is that the final 62km (39-mile) stretch of A2 is open, linking Lisbon and the Algarve with more efficient access than ever. The road took a decade to complete and cost $375 million.
For more information about holidays to the Algarve and a great selection of Algarve villa rentals please visit www.jamesvillas.co.uk.
Enjoy A Weekend Break In Prague
Copyright 2006 Utopia Creative Solutions Ltd
Whether you want to spend your holidays in Prague, sample the Prague nightlife or hold your stag or hen party, you really could not go wrong with a Prague weekend break.
Prague in Czech Republic is a beautiful city filled with culture & diversity and the Prague nightlife is legendary with music and movie stars frequenting for the fun and lifestyle. There are many nightclubs and bars around and some recommended places are Club Mecca, Karlovy Lazne, Duplex, Stonx, Zlaty Strom Bar & Club, Roxy Dance Club and Radost FX in Wenceslas Square, at the city's centre.
Party the night away to Funky House, RnB, Hip Hop and whatever else takes your fancy, but be prepared to have fun and party the night away with people from across the world and enjoy the nightlife and party vibe of this wonderful city.
Eating out in Prague is a great experience and the standards are high with prices very good compared with the UK. Recommended are Club Mecca Restaurant, Radost FX's vegetarian restaurant and for something special try Palffy Palace Restaurant
Hotels in Prague can cater for all styles, taste and budget and amongst all the options available is the Hotel Duo Prague which is a large four star hotel with several bars and restaurants that will satisfy most tastes.
Prague entertainment really is second to none. Whether you want to shopping, sightseeing, party the night away, go to a shooting range or even take a trip on the river, you will be guaranteed an amazing experience in this popular destination.
Getting there is easy and if you book early you can easily get a cheap flight to Prague. You can fly to Prague with British Airways, Easyjet, Expedia, Opodo and many more travel companies and you'll discover why so many people come to this great European city.
Prague is also Europe's strip-capital and if your into lap dancing and strip clubs there are some very classy clubs that have a strict no-touch policy which is great for stag or hen parties which are a common occurrence in Prague all year round.
The currency in Prague is the Czech Crown (czk). The Czech Republic should be joining the Euro zone in 2010.
The Euro is accepted in some hotels and restaurants, along with certain international shops. However, we recommend holding Czech Crowns, as the majority of establishments will only accept the local currency.
All in all Prague is a fantastic destination and no matter if you are on a stag party, a romantic trip or on a leisure holiday, there is something for everyone on a weekend break in Prague. Prague is a city that remains beautiful and breathtaking not only during the summer, but throughout all the year long.
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Spend a weekend break in Prague with DJs, RnB, Hip Hop, Funky House Music, 4 star Hotel and great nightlife.
http://www.utopiadjs.com/events/prague/
