Sure you can Google it, wouldn't it be better to see it for yourself? Join AFS Dec 1-8, 2005 and have more fun than a barrel of pretzels!

We all love our summer fun filled with activities but come fall we tend to get restless and more discontent. I love to fully experience the diverse seasons and as you know always include an annual winter wonderland vacation. Bavarians know that December is Germany's most spectacular time of year with the world renowned Christmas Markets. The entire country comes alive with the magical Advent events before the holidays begin.

It is not brutally cold as you may have imagined. Scattered among the cozy villages with bon fires are aglow throughout, and December is priced lower than any time of year! From September on, you can shop for incredibly low roundtrip air rates (around $400) to add to our $895 all inclusive land price to create an amazingly affordable getaway. Enjoy fine hotels such as Hilton with fun filled daily tours along the Castle Road to Nuremburg, Rodenthal, Rothenburg, Heildberg and more. Our group flies into Munich and out of Frankfort with no long motor coach rides in between.

Join us for neo-gothic architecture of cathedrals and castles, the museums, bell towers and famous Glockenspiel. Enjoy angel choirs, world's largest lit Xmas trees, sleigh rides, live nativity scenes and fantastic finds in the thousands of craft booths. Taste honey laced cookies, baked apples and nuts, potato pancakes with fresh sausages, deep fried fruit breads, mulled wines and local beers. (For men, come for the famous breweries and factory tours of BMW or Porsche.) Everyone will enjoy the festive Bavarian cellars with Polka and Pilsner.

We have 11 spaces open now and this won't be presented next year, so don't delay. This will sell out by September. Often our AFS trips exceed our clients' expectations and I'm confident this will too. Don't miss a storybook vacation you'll treasure forever.

NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa, officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean, then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.

"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park, told AFP.

"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.

"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.

"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.

"I've had my luggage lost before and though I did finally get reimbursed I assure you it was only after an arduous 18 month letter writing campaign and it wasn't nearly enough. That's why I now register my bags with Global Bag Tags." - Robert D.

Global Bag Tag offers worldwide 24 hour protection

• Update your details and travel plans online anytime anywhere
• Your name & address details are not openly displayed on your bags
• Peace of mind irrespective of which airline
• OVER 100,000 SOLD WORLDWIDE

Finding places that accept Traveler's Cheques is getting difficult, but it's not impossible. Terry & I have on more than one occasion had checks written to us to help a client with their cash shortage.

Traveler's Cheques are accepted in some hotels, (they get you on the exchange rate), American Express offices, if open, and some banks. Personally, I bring $200 in cash, use my credit card and depend on the omnipresent ATM's for the best rate.

American Express has a new check card that is accepted every where they take the credit card. They are also running a promotion at this time.

AMEX Offers Free Companion Air With Check Card

American Express will give you a certificate for a free companion airline ticket when you load at least $300 on an AMEX Travelers Cheque Card (or buy at least $1,000 in regular traveler's checks). To get the free fare, you must buy a roundtrip ticket for at least $349 for travel between Sept. 14 and Jan. 15 (or at least $379 from Jan. 16 to Sept. 14, 2006). Ask about it at your local American Express office.

I am going on India & Kenya with you. I don't have a lot of time. What is the easiest way for me to get these visas? - T. J.

First, simply follow the detailed instructions I send you and you should be fine. However, Passport Express is a visa specialty service that can make the process painless. They will double check your application and will answer all your questions. You can call them at 800-272-0125 and work your application together. They do charge for their service, but have given AFS clients a special price, be sure to give then code 11-716600 to get the discount.

• Located 3 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Free Shuttle Service to and from your car and your Airline's Curbside Check-in
• Complimentary Soft Drink for your Trip Home

Though not on the survey, how do you feel about Singapore with Vietnam, Rocky Mountain Rail Canada, Botswana and Peru, Machu Pichu with Lake Titicaca?

The survey results that were most surprising to me...

Read on and view the latest results...