Surprising New Rules For Off-Season Travel in Europe

Off-season in Europe once meant a blissful stretch of months free from crowds, lower hotel prices and reasonably predictable weather. But with greater numbers of people on the move and warmer temperatures stretching peak season in certain countries well into fall, what’s a traveler to do to escape the hordes and lock in favorable hotel and airline rates? Here three travel experts give their take on the new rules for off-season travel: Anne Scully, president of McCabe World Travel a member of Virtuoso, the network of luxury travel advisers, who is on Travel +Leisure’s Advisory Board; Joyce Falcone, owner of Italian Concierge, specialists in custom itineraries in Italy, and listed since 2009 on Travel + Leisure’s A-List of the World’s Top Travel Advisers; and Kaya Ziegler, founder of Destination Europe, a member of Virtuoso.

. The off-season keeps shrinking.

. April is the new June.

. Warmer temperatures are extending peak season.

. Because summers have been hotter, September and October are becoming the new August.

. Cruise ships are staying in Europe longer.

. Travelers are taking more than one vacation a year, increasing demand for off-season travel.

. It’s not necessarily easier booking a pricey hotel.

. When a mega-star is in town for a concert, it might seem like high season even when it’s not.

. When best to visit a destination overrun with visitors like Venice.

. Some prime spots for off-season travel.

. Travelers are looking farther north during low season.

. Off-season in Europe is seeing warmer temperatures, but unpredictable and severe weather too, like torrential rains, unusual snowstorms and cold snaps.

. Travelers are also heading to the countryside.

A Day with Pikachu

A Day with Pikachu : one Lucky Day Figure by Funko

Pokemon fans have a lot to get excited about in the coming months thanks to a special collaboration between Pokemon Center and the collectible-creating experts at Funko . February 13, 2019, will bring the launch of A Day with Pikachu , a new line of figures available at Pokemon Center.com. Then, each month for an entire year, a new themed figure will debut on the site. Each of the 12 figures celebrates the changing of the months and seasons with a unique scene featuring Pikachu. Look for the following figures throughout this year and into 2020:

• A Day with Pikachu: One Lucky Day
• A Day with Pikachu: Rainy Day Pokémon
• A Day with Pikachu: Blooming Curiosity
• A Day with Pikachu: Sweet Days Are Here
• A Day with Pikachu: Sparking Up a Celebration
• A Day with Pikachu: Splashing Away Summer
• A Day with Pikachu: Charged Up for Game Day
• A Day with Pikachu: Surprises to Fall For
• A Day with Pikachu: Completely Thank-Full
• A Day with Pikachu: A Cool New Friend
• A Day with Pikachu: Ringing In the Fun
• A Day with Pikachu: Surprising Weather Ahead

Get Away for A Day with Pikachu!

Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo " Guzman is heading to prison

Drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán likely headed to Supermax prison, experts say

Bob Hood, a former Supermax penitentiary warden, suspects Guzmán will "never be allowed on the yard with other prisoners for the rest of his life."

Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán is heading to prison after his conviction Tuesday on 10 charges, including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and multiple counts of distributing tons of narcotics into the U.S.

Prosecutors announced they will ask for him to be sent to prison for life without a chance for parole when he is sentenced on June 25.

Given the Sinaloa cartel leader's resources, money and prior prison escapes, Guzmán, 61, is the perfect candidate for a Supermax penitentiary, in particular one called ADX Florence, according to Bob Hood, a former Supermax penitentiary warden.

"There’s no question in my mind that Guzmán will be going to the Supermax prison in Colorado," Hood told NBC News.

Known as the "Alcatraz of the Rockies," Colorado’s federal Supermax prison was created to be the most secure prison facility in the country.

Located in in mile-high desert south of Colorado Springs, Florence is home to more about 400 prisoners, including gang members, convicted terrorists and other criminals deemed too dangerous for less restrictive custody.

Some notable prisoners include Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the 1993 World Trade Center attacker, Ramzi Yousef. Even in this facility, Hood believes Guzmán will most likely be put under special administrative measures to revoke his visitation rights and limit his interaction with other prisoners. 
“He’s such a high-profile person that, in my opinion, he’ll never be allowed on the yard with other prisoners for the rest of his life," Hood said.
The typical cell at Florence is a 7-foot-by-12-foot concrete cell with a 4-inch window, leaving its occupants unable to see the sky. Prisoners there generally get only an hour outside a day in a small caged-in area, according to Hood. Florence's inmates may be able to read newspapers or watch television, but someone with a network the size of Guzmán's may only be allowed old publications or entertainment that isn't newsworthy. Such precautions are "designed to put a shield between you and the outside world," Hood said

Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra welcome 1st child together

"Pretty Woman" star Richard Gere and his wife, Alejandra Gere, have welcomed their first child together — a baby boy!

The newlyweds welcomed their son, whose name is unknown, in New York City several days ago. A rep for the 69-year-old actor confirmed the news to TODAY.

It's the second child for both Mom and Dad. Richard shares a 19-year-old son, Homer, with ex-wife Carey Lowell, while Alejandra shares a son, Albert, 6, with her ex-husband, businessman Govind Friedland.

Richard and Alejandra (formerly Silva) tied the knot in April 2018 after several years of dating. The couple revealed they were expecting last September when Alejandra shared a photo of the Dalai Lama blessing her baby bump.

"Just a few moments ago ... Getting blessings for our precious to come ... We couldn't announce it before telling HH Dalai Lama," she captioned the since-

deleted pic.

In December, the mom-to-be shared another photo of her baby bump, gushing, "I'm so happy."

Richard reportedly wooed his future bride by repeatedly sending her flowers until she agreed to a date.

"I’m the happiest man in the universe. How could I not be?" the actor gushed to Hola magazine last year shortly after the two said "I do."

"I’m married to a beautiful woman who is smart, sensitive, committed to helping people, who’s fun, patient, who knows how to forgive, who’s a great cook — and who makes the best salads in the world!" he added.

Congratulations, Richard and Alejandra, on your sweet new baby boy!

Blackpink stans, the Blinks, seize Twitter as K-pop idols come to America

Almost three years after its k-pop debut in August 2016, wildly popular girl group Blackpink is making back-to-back U.S debuts: first on late-night TV via The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Monday night, followed by daytime TV on Good Morning America Tuesday.

The TV appearances coincide with the social media announcement of the dates for the North American leg of their "2019 In Your Area" World tour, posted on the girl band's official Instagram and that of their label, YG Entertainment __ the Korean entertainment company that's also behind other big K-pop names like 2NE1 and Big Bang ( with whom they did a collaboration back in 2016).

The tour kicks off in Los Angeles on April 17, "in between the two weekends of Coachella, where they'll also be performing, " Billboard reports . "They will become the first K-pop idol group to appear during both weekends of Coachella 2019," the website notes in a separate report.

According to Billboard, the band will be performing in arenas and plans to release a new EP next month. The quartet's first U.S performance was at Universal Music's annual Grammy Artist Showcase last week.

Blackpink's members are Jisoo, Rose, Lisa, and Jennie ( who also made her solo debut last November and is the first korean female soloist to hit iTunes top 10 in the U.S.). Their songs include "Whistle," "Boombayah,"and "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du."(The video for the latter, released in June 2018, become the most watched music video by a Korean group on YouTube, now with over 660 million views as this writing.) Besides their singles, you might also be familiar with their collab with Dua Lipa, "Kiss and Make Up."

Tickets to all U.S. tour dates are rumored to go live on Feb. 20, and fans, who call themselves Blinks, are getting ready to shell out to see their K-pop idols. 

"Shut up and take my money" is pretty much what every Blink is saying now 

Blinks in the U.S. are very emotional about this announcement:

Some stans have already scoped out the venues and their respective capacities:

So far, only five dates have been announced in the U.S. (L.A.,Chicago, Newark, Atlanta, and Fort Worth)and one in Canada (Ontario). Blinks have yet to see weather the quarter will hear the clamor for more dates and venues. There seems to be a lot of fans begging for a South America tour leg, too:

YG Entertainment should consider the calls for more tour stops. Especially after Blackpink's late-night television performance of their hit single "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" naturally earned them more new fans, including @TheLateShow Twitter, which "is now a Blackpink stan account."

The Blinks blew up Twitter, expressing how "proud" they are to watch their favorite Korean female group on American television. "It's their first time performing in U.S. and they did so great," gushed @chichuchikin.

The Blinks are an organized fandom that can amke hashtags trend in the U.S. and worldwide-- like last night's #BlackPinkonLSSC. 
They're poised to make #BlackpinkonGMA trend any time now. 

Kartik Aaryan

Kartik Aaryan 

Kartik Tiwari Born on 22 November 1990 Is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films . Born and raised in Gwalior, he relacted to Navi Mumbai to pursue an engineering degree in biotechnology . He simultaneously dabbed in modelling and made attempts to start a career in film .

After struggling for three years, Aaryan made debut in 2011 with Pyaar Ka Punchnama ,Which was directed by Luv Ranjan and co-starred Nushrat Bharucha .

Aaryan went on to play the romantic interest of the lead female characters in Akaash Vani (2013) and Kaanchi: The Unbreakable (2014),but the films did nor perform well commercially . He subsequently collaborated with Ranjan and Bharucha in two more buddy films, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015) and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018), and where both financial successes.

The latter emerged as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of 2018 and proved to be a breakthrough for Aaryan 

In addition to acting in films, Aaryan is the brand ambassador for the cream  Emami Fair And Handsome and the body spray Envy 1000. In 2016 , he became a member of the All Stars Football Club, which organises football matches for charity . He participated with several other celebrities , including Ranbir Kapoor, for a tournament held in New Delhi this following year . Aaryan was scheduled to take part in the club's next tournament, held in Singapore in 2018 , but had to back out after dislocating his toe during practice . In 2018, Aaryan raised awareness on plastic pollution during World Environment Day, and also performed at the ceremony .

Chinese New Year 2019 - Year Of The Pig

Best of 2019

Things You Didn’t Know About Chinese New Year

1. Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival .

2. There's no set date for Chinese New Year .

3. It is a day for praying to gods and fighting off monsters .

4. The most fireworks are set off in the world that night 

5. It is the longest Chinese holiday .

6. The Spring Festival causes the largest human migration in the world .

7. Singles hire fake boy/girlfriends to take home .

8. No showering, sweeping or throwing out garbage allowed!

9. Children receive lucky money in red envelopes .

10. You eat dumplings for every meal, every day .

11. Chinese New Year desserts have special meanings .

12. There's wine specifically for the Spring Festival .

13. The Chinese decorate everything red for Chinese New Year .

14. Every year has a zodiac animal .

15. Your zodiac year is bad luck .

16. You grow 1 year older on the Spring Festival .

17. The New Year greeting in Chinese is “xin nian kuai le”

18. Chinese New Year ends with the Lantern Festival .

19. Chinese New Year is celebrated all around the world 

Make sure you go check out the parades, lion dances, lantern statues, fireworks and amazing food!

Valentines Day Best Gifts For Him 2019

Valentines Day Gifts & Top Deals 2019

# Valentines Day Gifts For Her 2019

Most Wished For Items

Purple Crystal Music Box Plays "You Are so Beautiful to Me"

Women Smart Watch, HR Activity Women Fitness Tracker with Blood Pressure Sleep Monitor Period Reminder Fitness Watch Step Calorie Counter SMS/Call Reminder 

Basket Set - Teddy Bear Plush, Mug, I Love you Flower Box, Love Red Shaped Photo Frame & V-Day Themed Gift Bag | For Her Wife Girlfriend Mother Daughter

Jewelry Set- Heart Pendant Necklace- Earrings Sets

MyCozyCups Valentine's Day Coffee Mug - You May Be an Asshole But You're My Asshole Mug - Funny Naughty Gag

Valentine's Day Care Package (40ct) - Snacks, Chocolates, Candy Gift Box - Assortment Variety Bundle Present

DEFAITH 24K Gold Rose Made from Real Fresh Long Stem Rose Flower

I Love you From Top to Bottom Printed Toilet Paper Gag Gift

Kylie Jenner most liked photo

Sorry Kylie Jenner, the Most-Liked Photo 

on Instagram is of an Egg