Lima's Historic Center

The historic center of Lima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. As one of the most storied of Latin America's cities it is certainly worthy of the designation. Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, and after the final defeat of the Inca Empire in Cusco, it quickly became the favored city of the conquistador, who took special interest in the planning of the city. Today, the buildings that are most representative of Lima's past are concentrated here. When touring through the historic center, travelers will notice a preponderance of balconies - more than 1,600 of them - built during the viceregal and republican eras.

The Plaza Mayor in the location of the city's founding. Originally, it was surrounded by stores and it served as a center for commercial activity and also as a stage for political theater, including the executions of the Inquisition. Throughout the years, the Plaza has retained its symbolic power, and in 1821, the Independence of Peru was declared here. Many government and religious building surround the Plaza, including the Palace of the Government, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace.

The Basilica Cathedral of Lima is one of the iconic buildings that surround the Plaza, and its construction began the same year as the city's founding. The Cathedral contains the tomb of Francisco Pizarro. Earthquakes have destroyed some of the Cathedral's structures, but restorations have preserved much of the original façade.

Also on the Plaza Mayor is the Archbishop's Palace, which still serves as the administrative center for the Catholic diocese in Lima. The outside façade is a typical example of baroque neo-colonial architecture and features 2 of the famed Lima balconies also in a neo-baroque style and crafted from cedar wood that recalls the Andalusian aspirations of Peru.

On block from the Plaza is San Francisco Monastery, whose construction began in 1673 and took over a century to complete, surviving through 2 earthquake in 1687 and 1746. Its architecture is an example of Spanish baroque and its interior Mudejar decoration also reflects the mixed Spanish-Moorish heritage of Peru's conquistadors. The convent houses an extensive library, including some rare holdings such as a Bible printed in 1571. Below the monastery are the catacombs with underground passageways that connect to the Cathedral and the Tribunal of the Inquisition. Although the exact number is not known, the catacombs are believed to hold over 70,000 burials.

In addition to churches and palaces, the historic center is filled with mansions that served as houses and administrative buildings.

Achieving Permanent Healthy Weight Loss: Your Self-Image Is the Key

Healthy weight loss success will not last unless you change your self-image, and this is why 95% of people who lose weight gain it right back.  There's a lot of good advice on the internet and in book stores about how to raise your metabolism and how to lose weight the healthy way, and still people all over the nation lose weight only to gain it back again. This is because many of these books don't include the essential steps required to change a person's self-image. How important is the self-image when it comes to achieving lasting weight loss results?

In this article, we'll be talking about how your self-image makes or breaks your ability to achieve healthy weight loss and to keep the results which you have achieved...

Your Self-Image Sets the Standard

People's consistent actions aren't determined by how talented they are or how motivated they are. Instead, their consistent actions are determined by their self-image.  Do you know anyone who is attractive but who doesn't believe it? Most likely, they don't act beautiful. The same is true with talent and with everything else that people possess. A person's self image determines what character traits and skills they consider to be a part of their identity and these are the character traits and skills that a person uses in their everyday life.

Sure, you can force yourself to behave in a way which is inconsistent with your self-image, but you can only keep this up for so long. Eventually, your self-image will subconsciously motivate you to start acting in a way which is consistent with the way you see yourself. This is how someone can be "motivated" to live healthy and keep it up for a while, only to give up and go back to their old habits. This is how someone can receive a raise or a promotion, and still be living paycheck to paycheck.

Attempting to force actions which aren't consistent with your self-image is like holding your breath under water. You can do it for a certain amount of time by sheer force of willpower, but eventually your body will force you to come to the surface...and when you do you'll be gasping for air. This is similar to how people go on crash diets, but start eating like crazy when they get off the diet...and of course you know what happens when.

So if you want to achieve healthy and lasting weight loss, you must strengthen your self-image and make it consistent with the actions and habits of a healthy lifestyle. This is the missing link when it comes to achieving healthy weight loss.

How to Retail to Your Customers

Retailing to customers correctly is a skill set that is very important to know to be able to sell products to your customers.

6 Important tips to retailing you should know:

1. Customer Service.

Ask your customer how you can help them in a timely manner.

You do not want to ask them as soon as they enter the premises unless they approach you straight away.

Give the customer 2-5 minute's to browse depending on how big your store is.

Let your customer know of any store offers or discounts

2. Know your product.

What are you selling?

How does it work?

How much does it cost?

3. Ask your customer if you can assist them with anything else today

4. If you don't know the answer to a question, let the customer know you will find someone who does know a promptly as possible.

5. Retailers are often the face of the store, the direct customer contact so its important to present yourself with a neat and tidy appearance at all times.

3. Always be courteous and friendly.

Even when a customer is angry or upset, do not take it personally and remain calm.

ask them for their name and what the problem is in relation to.

Let them know you will get a Manager or Supervisor to assist them.

4. Ask your customer if you can assist them with anything else today

5. If you don't know the answer to a question, let the customer know you will find someone who does know a promptly as possible.

6. Retailers are often the face of the store, the direct customer contact so its important to present yourself with a neat and tidy appearance at all times.

It is important to take care of yourself. Make sure you take your adequate breaks provided and if you have a long enough lunch break go for a walk outside. If you don't have a long enough break at least try and go outside to get some fresh air.

If you are on your feet most of the day be sure to have a seat in your breaks and relax while you can.

Top 5 Exercises to Do Outdoors As a Family

As a parent it can be a challenge to get your kids out and about and doing exercise. With the ever increasing availability of television, smartphones, the internet and games consoles, kids are spending more time in doors and less time in fresh air. Here are top 5 exercises you can do as a family to encourage a healthier, more active lifestyle.

1) Walking

Walking is one of the easiest and accessible activities to do as a family, and best of all its completely free! Getting your children out walking is a great way to get them away from the TV and computer, improving their fitness levels and keeping their weight under control. But whatever you do, don't suggest going for a walk! This is guaranteed to put children off the idea. Instead, make it into an adventure. Plan the day in advance- you could make it into a treasure hunt or I spy game, looking for animals, birds and leaves. You can also break the walk up with a homemade picnic. If you need even more of an incentive, team up with another family with young children and make the walk into a social event. But don't be surprised if teenagers lose interest in walking- they may take it up later in life.

2) Cycling

Cycling is another great way to get those lungs working, and small children are often eager to get out on their bikes. According to the British Medical Association, the health benefits of cycling outweigh risks by 20:1. It's healthier for a child to cycle than not to cycle. Busy roads may not be the best environment for a family cycle, so drive to quiet lanes and forest tracks for a more sociable and safe ride. Off-road tracks are ideal for children to develop bike handling skills, and it will be more interesting for them to learn. Buckle them up in a helmet, pack some snacks to keep up their morale, and take to the track! If their interest starts to wane, you can shake things up with some small jumps and bumpy ground. Above all, have fun with it- your child may be the next star cyclist!

3) Beach fun

If you are lucky enough to live near a beach, it is the perfect place for you to have some outdoor fun as a family. Bring a football, volleyball or Frisbee and take advantage of the huge space you have to run around in. Just throwing a Frisbee back and forth between players can be enough to keep children entertained for a good long while. Windy shore-side conditions also make for great kite flying. Have everyone in your family make a kite and then head outdoors for a kite-flying contest. The person who keeps his kite up longest wins. An obstacle course is another good way to get everyone active- make a course out of beach chairs, blankets and even sand toys and see who can complete it the quickest.

4) Games at Home

Now, the idea of this article is to get kids outdoors and active, but sometimes the weather just isn't conducive to a long wet and windy walk. But all is not lost! Think of your childhood- hide and seek, tag, skipping, ball games... all these can be played indoors or in the garden and will get you and your kids on their feet and moving. If it is sunny outside you could always set up a relay race or an obstacle course with garden furniture- with prizes for the winner of course! If you are worried about the safety of your family then consider investing in a family health insurance policy to give you extra peace of mind.

5) Trampolining

A trampoline could be the best piece of equipment you invest in for your family. Whether it is an enormous garden trampoline or a small fitness trampoline, your kids will love it. Have a competition to see who can leap the highest, or have a show for you to all display your finest moves. Trampolining to music can make the activity even more inviting- it will certainly become a hit at birthday parties. But not only will it be popular with the kids, but it will be keeping them healthy too- trampolining is great for the heart, lungs and your muscles. You might even find your children love it so much they want to take a class in it. Make sure you take any necessary safety measures to prevent any injuries, and go ahead and bounce your way into a healthy lifestyle.

Vacation in the Bavarian Forest - 2005

In August of 2005, myself and 16 other Americans embarked on one of the greatest vacations of all time. We arrived at Munich's Strauss Airport on a Monday morning.We took the U-Bahn to the Munich Train Station and from there we went on foot to see Karl's Tor the original gate of the old city.

Later that afternoon,we boarded the train, buying the Bayern Pass with which 5 persons may travel at the price of 1. Our destination was Passau the gateway to the Bavarian Forest. We arrived in Passau and rented several mini-vans. We drove to Bischofsreut,Bavaria admiring the beauty of the Bavarian Forest along the way. One kilometer north of Bischofsreut we arrived at Langreut and the Maercherenwald Hotel. Imagine our surprise to find a 5-Star Hotel in a hamlet of 20 people.

Officially it is only a 3 Star Hotel,but whoever made that rating was wrong.

Our rooms were spacious and included a kitchenette,a shower, and a King size bed. Our hosts the Berger Family were very gracious,Frau Berger was the cook and a most excellent cook. From the hotel, (with the help of Herr Berger and family).

We were able to take Bus trips to Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg, the Bus would arrive at 5 am, take us to these beautiful cities, and return us just in time for supper. Some people say Europe is too expensive, well, we paid only 30 Euros per person, and that included Breakfast, and Supper. Compare this to staying at a 5 star hotel south of Munich, where we were crammed into a small room, had to share a bathroom, and paid over 200 Euros per nite. By using our rooms at the Maerchenwald as our base, we spent 14 days exploring Eastern and Southern Europe. We also spent several days traveling on the Danube River, it was a 40 minute drive to Passau,and the Tour boats. If someone wanted to see Europe at a reasonable price, and stay safe in the process, nothing could beat our experience.

The Biology of Rooibos (South African Red Tea) - Climate Change And Health Effects

This article focuses on Rooibos, a plant used to produce a drink known as South African red tea, or just red tea, not to be confused with the Chinese term "red tea" which refers to what Westerners call "black tea". Rooibos also refers to a caffeine-free herbal tea made from the Aspalathus linearis plant.

Basics of Aspalathus linearis:

Aspalathus linearis, or rooibos, is a legume, meaning that it is in the same family as beans, peas, and locust trees. Like most legumes, this plant is a nitrogen fixer. This means that the Aspalathus linearis plant is able to take atmospheric nitrogen and transform it into a form that it and other plants are able to use. The plant does so by means of special nodules in its roots that create an oxygen-free environment, where anaerobic bacteria are able to convert the nitrogen from air into forms usable by living organisms. Nitrogen-fixing plants are essential in many ecosystems, as they represent the primary source through which nitrogen enters the ecosystem. These plants typically fix far more nitrogen than they are able to use themselves, and thus benefit numerous other plants.

Rooibos is native to a small region of South Africa's West Cape Province. This area has a semi-arid climate. Unfortunately, efforts to cultivate rooibos outside this region have so far proved unsuccessful. The plant seems to be dependent on the unique conditions in this region.

Rooibos and climate change:

Rooibos is among the commercial crops most threatened by climate change, primarily due to the particular range of conditions that the plant requires. Global climate change threatens not only to change the temperature worldwide and in this region, but to create other little-known and possibly unpredictable changes in climate in this region.

Rooibos and positive health effects:

Rooibos is used extensively in traditional medicine, but it is only beginning to be studied and understood scientifically. However, it shows promise of considerable positive effects on health. One chemical in rooibos, lutein, is a common chemical in numerous plants. Lutein is a carotenoid, a reddish pigment contributing to the red color of rooibos. It also functions as an antioxidant and radical scavenger, and is likely responsible for some of the observed effects of rooibos in animal studies, such as protecting against radiation poisoning. The same chemical which helps to protect the rooibos plant against the sun's ray's can also protect humans as well, when they drink the plant as an herbal tea. Rooibos is also used in skin products, and shows some evidence of sun-protective effects.

Rooibos also shows evidence of other positive health effects. One study in rats found evidence that it acts as a bronchodilator, helping to facilitate breathing, like many medications used to treat asthma.

In summary:

Rooibos is a nitrogen-fixing legume native to a small region of the West Cape Province of South Africa. Its production is limited to this area, and is vulnerable to climate change. Rooibos has numerous positive effects on health, which are only beginning to be thoroughly studied and understood by science, but the preliminary evidence suggests it protects against radiation and may help facilitate breathing as well.