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It's the final countdown to the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece! Actually, the torch preamble has been underway for about a month, but now the "big tent" is about to open. Are you going? Already there? Observing from afar? Ambivalent? All answers are acceptable, except perhaps the last. You don't have to be a sports maniac to get excited about this summer's Olympic Games. Nor do you have to relish the commercial feeding frenzy which recent Olympics create. But you should try to appreciate the symmetry, the appropriateness of a "homecoming" Olympiad. Back in Greece! Delphi's mayor, Panagiotis Kaltsis, waxes optimistic if slightly melodramatic: "From the Navel of the Earth and the cradle of the universal heritage of civilization we send a message of hope. We send the rose of Greece to the peoples of the world. The Olympic Games are a festival of the citizens of civilization." Wow! I would be seriously remiss if I didn't open this e-Marginalia newsletter with a link to the official website of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games where you can access just about everything you could possibly need or want. Of course, it's probably a little too late to jump on an airplane and join in the excitement firsthand (if you haven't already booked accommodations, that is), but this website definitely will improve your long distance Olympic experience. From torch relay updates and event schedules to history and weather, this is the virtual "place to be" as the world turns their eyes to this timeless tradition. And speaking of history, I have a gift for you. That's right, I recently received a gift from The Teaching Company that I would like to pass on to you. Between now and August 31, The Teaching Company is giving away (that's right, you pay nothing!) two 30-minute audio lectures called "The Olympics: From Ancient Greece to Athens, Parts 1 and 2" as their way of celebrating the 2004 Olympics while thanking their regulars (me) and inviting new people (you) to try out their amazing service. This two part mini course is not only well composed and richly informative, it's also thoroughly engaging and a joy to listen to. It was prepared and delivered by Dr. Jeremy McInerney, a Greek history scholar in the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the Graduate Group in the Art and Archaeology of the Mediterranean World. You'll soon discover why he is such a popular professor at U. Penn. and at The Teaching Company. But wait, is this some sort of slick promo where you have to agree to join, buy or at least surrender all of your personal vital information? No. Simply put, this is a gift. No strings. Two 30-minute lectures from Dr. McInerney on the history of the Olympic Games. You may listen to them by streaming them over your Internet connection, or you may download them to listen without being attached to the Internet. And, if you download them, you may even burn them onto a CD or transfer them to your mp3 player to enjoy while jogging or on your commute to work. And there's more... Whether or not you are lucky enough to be in Athens for the XXVIII Olympiad, you should visit NBC Universal to see the awesome bounty of Official Athens 2004 merchandise they are offering. Plenty of cool gear to celebrate the Olympic Games' return to their birthplace. Okay, enough Olympics hype, but I just wanted to share a little reminder that as US politics descends into vitriol and the media streams fear, xenophobia and a "world at war" messages into our lives, there is another point of reference, a counterpoint for balance and reassurance that we can celebrate global diversity. We can pit foe against foe in the fiercest of competitions without abandoning civility. We can compete aggressively yet diplomatically. We can experience the Olympics as a glimmer of hope, "a festival of the citizens of civilization" as Mr. Kaltsis so dramatically enthused. I invite you to encourage and cultivate it. Best, George Davis, e-Marginalia Editor e-marginalia@e-margaux.com PS: You are welcome and encouraged to forward this email to a friend who may be interested in downloading the complementary audio lecture. Cheers! PPS: If you are the angling sort, check out Marc Malkin's article, "Baja’s Cabo San Lucas and East Cape: Two Different Versions of Angler’s Paradise", at Boater's World for a good, information packed story. And how about whipping up your own fishing story and submitting it to e-Marginalia for publication? ------------------------------------------------------------- ~ FEATURE STORIES :: Read these Inspiring Travel Stories Timeless Tuscany, Nancy DiDio Ever since my first visit to Italy many years ago, I’ve been fascinated by the Italian lifestyle. In comparison to our frenetic lives, they take things at a slower pace, and it seems to me that theirs is a simpler and happier existence... Click Here for Story: http://www.e-margaux.com/en/story/tuscan-farm/01.htm New Year's in Vienna, by Gloria Schramm New Year’s is one of the few holidays the whole world celebrates together within a 24-hour period. My husband, Fred, and I, embarked on an unusual and offbeat travel adventure to greet the new year in Vienna, Austria. Click Here for Story: http://www.e-margaux.com/en/story/new-years-in-vienna/01.htm Nobody Warned Me About the Gypsies, by Karen Wolfgang Embarking on any kind of journey is always an adventure, whether or not you have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into. However (un)prepared you are, what you expect isn’t what you’re going to get. Far from being a deterrent to travel, however, this is actually one of the best incentives to go for it. There’s opportunity in the unplanned. In fact, there’s a kind of beauty in it. Click Here for Story: http://www.e-margaux.com/en/story/gypsies/01.htm ------------------------------------------------------------- ~ NEW VACATION RENTALS :: Check out these New Listings! Creme de la Creme :: Paris, France Superb apartment, recently used in a fashion photo-shot for Vogue magazine, located just a minute away from Rue Montorgueil, Paris's most famous market street... 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Click Here to Visit: http://www.e-margaux.com/en/vr/the-stonehouse/index.htm St. Lawrence River Condo :: Montreal, Canada New condo on Montreal's Saint Lawrence River offers large rooms with river views and a large balcony overlooking river. Situated only 15 minutes to downtown Montreal... Click Here to Visit: http://www.e-margaux.com/en/vr/st-lawrence-river-condo/index.htm ------------------------------------------------------------- ~ AMAZING DEALS :: Check out these Travel Promotions Athens Audio Lectures :: Two Complementary 30-Minute Lectures! The Teaching Company is giving away (that's right, you pay nothing!) "The Olympics: From Ancient Greece to Athens, Parts 1 and 2" as their way of celebrating the 2004 Olympics. This two part audio mini course can be streamed online, downloaded to your hard drive, burned to a CD or recorded on your mp3 player. Price: $00.00 (You pay nothing!) Click Here: http://urltrak.com/?285:040801-OlympicsFreeLect Athens 2004 Olympic Merchandise :: Great Deals Won't Last Long! Whether or not you are lucky enough to be in Athens for the XXVIII Olympiad, you should visit NBC Universal to see the awesome bounty of Official Athens 2004 merchandise they are offering. Plenty of cool gear to celebrate the Olympic even though you couldn't make it to Greece this August. These will soon be collector's items as eBay history proves. Price: Starting at $7.00 Click Here: http://urltrak.com/?285:040801-Athens2004NBC Paris Blowout! :: 3 Nights Hotel+Breakfast and Air from $645 This would be a great deal for summer flights alone. Add the Opera Cadet's 85 sophisticated guest rooms, located just steps from the Grand Boulevards of Paris and Paris' magnificent Opera, and you have the deal of a lifetime! Start each day with a stylish breakfast amid the greenery of the patio garden, then explore the neighborhood's delightful specialty shops and charming cafes. Relax with a cocktail in the conservatory, cozy up to the corner bar, or unwind in the airy lobby lounge. Price: Starting at $645.00 Click Here: http://urltrak.com/?285:040801-ParisVacationOutle Photo Prints :: 15 FREE 4x6 Prints from Shutterfly Shutterfly's Summer Sale (extended due to popularity) is almost too good to be true! New members get 15 FREE prints (no obligations). Free prints are limited to 4" x 6" print size only. To be eligible for this offer, simply complete the registration process at the link provided below. Your free prints will be credited as soon as your account is opened. Price: $00.00 (You pay nothing!) Click Here: http://urltrak.com/?285:Shutterfly-15-FREE-Prints Summer Hotel Sale :: Great Rates at Over 50 Hot Spots Planning to get away before this summer turns into autumn? Time's running out, but there are still some amazing "last minute" deals to be had here. Wherever you want to go—the city, the mountains, the beach, the theme parks, even Europe—you can save on already low hotel rates. Plus, you'll save even more when you book your flight and hotel together! Travel now through September 6, 2004 Price: Deep Discounts! Click Here: http://urltrak.com/?285:Expedia-Summer-Hotel-Sale ------------------------------------------------------------- ~ e-MARGAUX LITE :: Quotations, Anecdotes and Humour "From the Navel of the Earth and the cradle of the universal heritage of civilization we send a message of hope. We send the rose of Greece to the peoples of the world. The Olympic Games are a festival of the citizens of civilization." Panagiotis Kaltsis, mayor of Delphi, Phocis, Greece ------------------------------------------------------------- NEWSLETTER SENT BY PERMISSION ONLY. 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