Location:  In the Colorado Rockies, North central Colorado, along 1-70, 3 hours west of Denver and east of Grand Junction. 

Size:  Vail is one of The Unites States Largest Ski Resorts, with only 5000 permanent residents, and more than 750,000 visitors each year.  
Climate:  Temperatures average 31 degrees in the winter.  The town of Vail receives an average of 200 inches of snowfall per season.  In summer, the thermometer can reach the 80s, but more often hovers around the low to mid-70s. Combined with brisk mountain breezes, this makes summers refreshing and cool.

Time Zone:  Vail is located in the mountain time zone

Language:  English  

Currency:  The US Dollar

Transportation:  A Greyhound bus station is located in Vail. There is no train service.  Eagle County Airport offers daily connections to Denver and, during summer, Dallas-Fort Worth (TX). Connections to other nationwide hubs can be made at either airport.
Drinking Age:  The legal age for drinking and gambling is 21

Electricity:  Voltage is 110v

To take the shiver out of your saturday, we thought a taste of the Islands might bring some warmth to your day!  This recipe is courtesy of Executive Chef Frank (Boeli) Booi, Jr,  from Le Petit Cafe at the Playa Linda Beach Resort in Aruba.

Chef Booi has been cooking at Le Petit Café since 1986, honing his cooking skills through his experience and learning from other chefs.

Serves 10 people

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 green pepper
1/4 onion
1 tbsp lobster base
12 fish bouillon cubes
12 cups boiling water
16 oz peeled tomatoes
8 cloves garlic
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Black pepper to taste
1/2 cup white wine
Mixed seafood  

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Saute green pepper and onion with lobster base in olive oil. 
2.  Add shrimp, mussels, scallops, squid and fish 
3.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  
4.  Take peeled tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, black pepper, white wine, 12 cubes of fish bouillon and place in 12 cups of boiling water to prepare broth. 
5.  Combine tomato mixture with fish broth. 
6.  Simmer for 40-60 Minutes
7. When ready to serve soup, add 3 – 4 drops of Galliano (to add a touch of sweetness).

Location:  800 Miles Southeast of Miami, FL on the Island of    Hispaniola


Size:  The Island of Hispaniola is 48,482 Square Miles, the second largest island in the Caribbean

Climate:  Temperatures average 77 degrees, with only a slight difference in temperature from season to season.  With "Hot" season averaging 87 degrees.  

Language:  The official Language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish, however, most people in the tourism and hospitality industry also speak English.  

Currency:  The Peso is the official currency, however most places in the republic also accept the us dollar, and the US $1 bill is extremely popular for tipping.  There is a law on the island that requires visitors to exchange at least $100 USD into pesos.  Although the law is rarely enforced, it can be, without notice, therefore it is very important to save your receipts from the currency exchange.   

Electricity:  Voltage is 110v