Congratulations Valencia Spain
For many years, Valencia Spain has been struggling to be
recognized as the third most important city after Madrid, its
capital and Barcelona. It has long been notorious for its
Valencia Fallas Festival but now, after having been chosen for
the Americas Cup host city and having opened its latest building
in the impressive 'City of the Arts and Sciences', Valencia is
becoming well-known world-wide. Sail along with Valencia Spain
On November 26th, 2003, Valencia was proclaimed the official
welcoming city for the upcoming Americas Cup 2007. The Swiss
team ' Alinghi', the winner of the America's Cup 2003, had the
chance to choose the headquarters for the following competition
because Switzerland was obviously at a loss without a sea or
ocean and Valencia among others was a good option. The main
priority was that the host city had to have excellent weather
conditions not forgetting all the other services that would go
along with size event. The weather in Valencia is quite warm in
summer with mild winters and a nice long coast line with great
sports ports in many of the neighbouring cities like Denia,
Javea and Alicante. So, on January 23rd, 2003 the ACM (
America's Cup Management ), the only organization responsible
for this event, published its document 'Terms of Challenge' and
on January 27th, 2003 it opened its door for inscription.
For the first time in 152 years, this encounter will be one
lasting four years with various races, each one being called An
Act, leading up to the climax race of Louis Vuitton Cup in 2007.
The points that each team get in Act 1 being celebrated in
Marseilles will count towards the lining up for the main race.
This is the first time that these teams are going to use this
format in this particular event. There is going to be an
interesting mixture of fleet racing ( group of sailboats) and
match-race ( one on one) to produce an exciting visual show,
guaranteeing good entertainment. Marseilles to Start Valencia to
Continue On September 5th, 2004, Act One of the America's Cup
started, exactly from pier J4, where large TV screens were set
up so that the interested public could actively participate in
this fantastic happening. The reason why Marseille was chosen
was because it had a lot of
Sock Puppets And Cupcakes
Mike Pesca was a reporter for <em>Day to Day</em> from the beginning. He covered sock puppets, cupcakes and the occasional piece of actual news. He's back with a quirky Pescian farewell to listeners and <em>Day to Day</em> staff.
Goodbyes From Listeners: Phil Mariage
Phil Mariage has been doing contracting work with his father since the 1960s. These days, at age 85, his dad is a bit unsteady on the ladder, but he's still working hard. Yet the promise of a final farewell looms.
Six Years Of Change
<em>Day to Day</em> premiered on NPR on July 28, 2003. As you can imagine, quite a few things have changed since then, including our military presence in Iraq, housing prices, gas prices ... and the list goes on.
places from where the race could be
watched first hand. The new concept that the organizers want to
push is the idea of getting the public as close to the
competitors as possible so that every feels the warmth and
emotion. In Act One there were only five teams signed up: The
defender 'Alinghi', and the challengers BMW Oracle Racing, Le
Defi from France, K-Challenge and the South African Shosoloza.
Act Two and Three were held 'at home' in Valencia which let the
teams get familiar with their new landscape and weather
conditions such as the wind and waters of the Valencian coast.
After Act Three was finalized in October, there was a champion
for 2004 with the accumulation of the points from the three acts.
When the inscription date expired on April 29th, 2005 there were
a total of eleven challenging teams signed up; BMW Oracle from
U.S.A., +39 Challenge, Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team and Luna
Rossa all from Italy, Team Shosholoza from South Africa,
Emirates Team from New Zealand, K-Challenge from France, Victory
Challenge from Sweden, United Internet Team Germany from
Germany, China Team from China and last but not least the
Desafio Espanol from Spain. Now, after Nine Louis Vuitton Acts,
it is time to slow the engines a little and get some strength
back. We will see the beginning of three new Acts in May 2006 (
http://www.valencia-information.com/spain/americas-cup.html
). Valencia, the Most Lively City Thanks to all its innovative
tourist attractions, and with the up coming Americas Cup,
Valencia airport is busier than ever with new flight expansion
plans for easier travel to and from this bubbling city. Some of
the best hotels like the Silken Puerta Valencia, built right
near the port area or the Posadas de Espana in the industrial
and Fairgrounds area will make your stay quite pleasurable when
in Valencia Spain.
About the author:
Peter Wilson has been writing every since he settled in the Valencia Spain
region with his family. He wants to bring us closer to Spain at
his website http://www.valencia-in
formation.com.
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