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© 2023 by Jordan Summers
NIC CHAPTERS 1-3
Mindy MacDougal stopped her car next to the curb. Celina Gibson opened the passenger door and handed her the pepperoni pizza, then climbed in.
The aroma of tomato sauce, oregano, and sausage filled the small cab, making Mindy's stomach growl.
"I don't know if I can wait until we get to the house to have a slice," Mindy said.
Celina buckled her seatbelt, then reached for the warm box. "If I can wait, you can wait." She glanced at Mindy. "Isn't that Izzy's shirt?"
Mindy grinned. "Yep!"
"Can't believe she let you wear it. I tried to borrow it one time and she threatened to break my fingers."
"Yeah, Izzy is weird about sharing things. She never wants anyone to wear her clothes or use her stuff. Said it made them smell funny." Mindy laughed and put her blinker on, then pulled away from the curb. "If she didn't want me to wear her clothes then she shouldn't have left them in the closet when she moved out."
"I still can't believe she's gone," Celina said.
Mindy squeezed her hand. "I know you miss her, too."
Celina and Isabel had been best friends for a few years, then this last year Izzy pulled away. It was a pattern she repeated when anyone got too close. To soothe Celina's hurt feelings, Mindy had stepped in as a surrogate for her sister. She wasn't as good company as Izzy, but she did her best.
"She was always threatening to move. I just didn't think she'd go through with it. I mean, where else is she going to get such a sweet setup?" Celina asked.
"What do you mean?" Mindy glanced at her.
"You paid her rent. You did her laundry. You bought all the food. Isabel never had to do anything while you were around." Bitterness tinged her tone.
Mindy's face heated. "It was my choice. She never asked me to do any of those things."
"She never had to," Celina retorted. "Wish I had a younger sister like you."
Mindy sighed. How could she explain in a way that Celina would understand?
She hadn't always been the responsible one. There was a time when she and Izzy had been footloose and carefree. That was before Izzy's penchant for outlandish storytelling took a dark turn, before the expensive psychiatrists, before the psych meds, before all the experimental treatments.
Nothing their parents tried could eliminate Izzy's "visions" or quell her talk of monsters. To this day, her sister was utterly convinced of their existence.
The treatments did succeed in one area. They successfully changed Mindy and Izzy's relationship. Her role in the family dynamic evolved from close ally to her sister's keeper.
The change hadn't been easy for Mindy. At first, she'd chafed at carrying so much responsibility. She missed her freedom. She missed having fun. But there was only room for one bad girl at the table and Izzy had claimed the spot.
Now that Izzy was gone and Mindy was finally free, she didn't know quite what to do with herself.
Celina chewed on her bottom lip. "Did she at least say goodbye before she left?"
She did her best to hide her pain, but Mindy didn't think she was successful. "You know my sister. Goodbyes are so...responsible. She called you, though, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but she didn't tell me that she'd moved out," Celina said.
"Then what did she say?" Mindy asked.
"She told me to watch out for the monsters," she said.
Mindy rolled her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Celina shrugged and looked away, but not before Mindy saw fear in her eyes.
"Don't let her freak you out," she said.
"You know, this might turn out to be a good thing in disguise," Celina said. "You've been taking care of your sister for years. Izzy could do with a serious dose of reality."
Mindy knew she was right, but it would take some time to adjust to all the changes.
"She's your big sister. It's past time that she acts like it," Celina said.
"We're only a year apart," Mindy said. "Not exactly a huge gap."
"Doesn't matter. She's still older," Celina said. "Have you heard from her since she left?"
"She called Wednesday night, but I was at school," Mindy said.
"Did she at least leave a message?"
Mindy hesitated. "Yeah, sort of."
"Uh-oh. What did she say?" Celina asked.
Mindy sighed. "Maybe you can make sense of her message. She said the winds told her it was time to move on. That there was darkness coming."
Celina's perfectly shaped brow shot up. "The winds? Darkness? Last time I checked, wind didn't talk. And darkness"—she looked out the window—"comes every night. Did she tell you anything useful? Like where she was going?"
The question surprised Mindy. She thought for sure Izzy would've told her best friend where she was going. But one look at Celina's face made it clear that she hadn't. Weird. Should she tell her? She couldn't see any harm in letting her know.
"Apparently, the winds gave my sister directions to New Orleans." She laughed.
Celina gasped.
"What is it?" Mindy asked.
"Nothing," Celina said.
"I just always wanted to go there. Izzy and I talked about it a lot. She said we'd run away there one day." Celina grew quiet. "Guess that won't be happening now. She'll fit right in down there."
That was what worried Mindy. What if Izzy didn't come back? What if there was no room in her 'new' life for her sister?
"I hope she's okay," Mindy said.
"You need to stop worrying about her," Celina said. There was sternness in her voice that hadn't been there a moment ago.
She was right, but the saying about old habits dying hard was true. "It's what sisters do," Mindy said quietly. She was surprised Celina wasn't more concerned given how much she knew about Izzy, but maybe she was in shock about New Orleans.
"I know you love her, but your sister is a flake. You have to live your own life now," Celina said. "It's past time Izzy learns to stand on her own two feet."
Mindy didn't want to think about Izzy anymore. It would mean examining her own sorry life. "So what's on the agenda tonight?" she asked.
"I thought we'd go for a Ryan double feature." Celina reached into her purse and pulled out two DVDs. "Dibs on Gosling."
"Man," Mindy said. "That's not fair."
Celina laughed. "Like settling for Reynolds is such a hardship."
Mindy glanced at her and smiled. "True. I wouldn't exactly kick him out of my bed."
"No woman with a brain in her head would."
Lights faded away as they drove out of town and made a right onto a back road that would eventually lead to Mindy's home.
Thick woods on both sides of the road swallowed what little light came from the headlights. Mindy cranked the radio and pressed on the accelerator. The miles rolled by.
Celina was doing her best pop princess impersonation when Mindy spotted the entrance to a long drive.
"Hey." She nudged Celina. "Is that the road you take to get to that club you're always talking about? Pits or something."
Celina stopped singing and looked out the window. "Yeah, that's it," she said reluctantly. "The place is called Sticks." She crossed her arms over her chest and sank down in her seat. "Izzy never really liked it. She said the place made her feel uncomfortable. She only went there a few times."
"Really?" Mindy asked. "I was always under the impression that Izzy liked it. Well, as much as she liked anyplace."
"No!" Celina said. "The only time she ever wanted to go there was when she had the urge to dance."
Dancing was one of the few passions she and her sister shared these days, but they rarely indulged in the activity at the same time.
"Can't believe that I've driven by the entrance so many times and never noticed it before," Mindy said. "For some reason, I could've sworn that you and Izzy told me it was on the east side." She was positive they had.
Celina laughed off her comment, then shifted in her seat. "You aren't exactly Ms. Observant," she remarked.
It was common knowledge around the animal clinic that Mindy was driven and focused, but only on work and school. What little time remained had gone toward caring for Izzy and protecting her.
Mindy stared at the entrance through her side mirror until it faded into the night. "Now that I know where it is I'll have to go," she said.
Celina cleared her throat and picked at the edge of the pizza box. "I'm not sure Sticks is your kind of place." She stared out the window as she spoke.
Mindy frowned. "What do you mean? You said it was fun. You told me there were tons of good-looking men. I know you've been going there just about every weekend with your friend Erin. Izzy went with you last week." She took a breath. "In fact, you've gone there with everyone but me."
"Isabel didn't have a good time," Celina said softly. "She hated it so much that she made me promise not to take you there."
Why would her sister do that? Mindy vaguely remembered Izzy coming home freaked out, but since that wasn't unusual, she hadn't been concerned at the time. Now she was.
Though she'd never shown it, Mindy's feelings had been hurt that Celina had never invited her to go with them to the bar. Had she asked, Mindy may have very well declined the invitation, but Celina had never bothered.
"Why would Izzy ask you to make that promise?"
"Why does Izzy say or do anything?" Celina asked, smoothly deflecting the question. "To find out the answer, you'd have to ask your sister."
They both knew that would never happen.
"Did anything unusual happen the last night you guys were there?" Mindy asked.
Celina readjusted the pizza box on her lap. "Not that I recall. It was a blast like always."
"Then I don't get why you and Izzy think I should avoid it," Mindy said.
"I can't speak for your crazy sister," Celina said. "But knowing you and knowing Sticks the way I do, I can honestly tell you it's not your type of place."
Why is Sticks great for Celina, but not for me?
Appearance-wise, they were polar opposites. Celina was tall, had long, dark hair, sun-kissed skin, a stunning face, and a trim figure that models would kill for.
Mindy had learned to live with being vertically challenged. Her curvy body was made for a different era—an era that didn't give side-eye to a woman who enjoyed eating a whole sandwich and a side of chips.
"Don't think you're going to get away with that answer without explaining yourself," Mindy said.
"You know what I mean," Celina said.
Mindy shook her head. "No, I don't. What exactly is mytype of place?" She immediately pictured a library and rolled her eyes. How long had Celina and her sister been conspiring behind her back? It made her angry that between them they'd decided what was and wasn't good for her. How dare they after everything she'd done! She was the poster child for responsible behavior.
Celina's face pinched.
"Spill it!" Mindy wasn't about to let her off the hook.
Celina sighed. "You're more of a coffee bar kind of girl. Sticks is wild. Most nights it's a free-for-all."
Mindy's heart sank. "Are you saying I'm not any fun?" Celina wouldn't be the first one of her friends to imply she didn't know how to have a good time. Being her sister's keeper had left little time for a social life. The added responsibility had cost Mindy a lot of friendships over the years.
There were times, though—in the dead of night—that Mindy wondered if her sacrifice had been worth it. Wondered what would've happened if, just once, she had shrugged off her responsibilities and kicked up her heels.
Celina's brown eyes widened. "I didn't say you weren't fun," she insisted.
"No, you implied it." Mindy frowned as childhood taunts of "Monotonous Mindy" echoed in her head. She wasn't monotonous. Not anymore. She could have fun. There was no one to hold her back now. Tears unexpectedly made her eyes burn. She blinked them away before Celina noticed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Celina said. "It's just that Sticks isn't your typical bar. It's really rowdy. Fights are common. Most of the guys that go there are...different. You're used to hipsters, not the kind of chest-beating, blue-collar he-men that frequent Sticks."
Mindy glowered. "I like he-men. I just haven't met many in real life." Try never.
She wasn't lying about being attracted to those types of guys. Or anytype of guy, for that matter. It had been a long time since Mindy had dated. Her dry spell now resembled the Mohave. She was willing to try anything at this point.
"And I enjoy going to wild places on occasion," she said.
Celina snorted. "Name one wild place you've gone to. Seriously, just one. Before you answer, I want the dates, too, because I can't remember the last time you went to a rowdy bar," she said. "For as long as I've known you, you've planned your 'impulsive' moments."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is," Celina said.
Heat spread up Mindy's neck and into her face. She took her eyes off the road. "Perhaps if you'd invited me to go along with you just once, we wouldn't be having this argument." Her voice cracked.
Celina patted her arm. "I told you that Izzy didn't want me to. She made me promise."
"Well, Izzy isn't here anymore. This isn't about her. This is mylife we're talking about, not my sister's," Mindy grumbled.
Maybe Celina and Izzy were right. Maybe she wasn't any fun. Maybe her sister had inherited all the fun genes in the family. That would explain why Celina always took her other friends to Sticks and left her at home.
Celina glanced out the windshield and slammed her hands against the dashboard. "Mindy, look out!"
They were going to die! And it was all because she didn't get invited to a bar. The black mass lying halfway in her lane grew larger and larger as she bore down upon it.
Mindy screamed and jerked the wheel to the right, missing the object by inches. Her tires screeched and her heart did its best to crack her ribs. She hit the brakes and the car skidded dangerously before coming to a stop in the center of the road.
She pressed a hand to her chest and looked in her rearview mirror to make sure no one was behind them. Darkness met her.
"What was that?" Mindy asked. She hadn't gotten a good look at it. She'd been too busy trying not to hit it.
"Not sure. A bear, maybe?" Celina slowly released the dash. "That was close." She looked over her shoulder. "Turn around so your headlights illuminate it. I want to get another look at it."
With shaky hands, Mindy managed a three-point turn. The massive animal came into view. "I think you're right about it being a bear." Nothing else outside the zoo could be that large. She couldn't see the beast's face, but its crumpled body was almost as tall as the hood of her compact car.
"No, it's the wrong shape." Celina squinted. "We need to get more light on it."
Mindy hit her high beams, illuminating the road and more of the animal.
They both gasped.
Whatever it was, it was massive. Really massive. "It has to be a bear. A grizzly from the size of it. There's nothing else in the wild around here that big," Mindy said.
"Buffalos are," Celina said.
"That isn't a buffalo," Mindy said.
"I know," Celina said. "Only one way to find out for sure."
Mindy squinted at the animal through her bug-stained windshield. "Do you think it's dead? It looks dead."
"Yeah," Celina said. "I think it's dead. We need to get it off the road."
Mindy glanced at her. "Have you been lifting weights without telling me? There's no way we're going to be able to move it, unless we cut it up."
Celina scrunched her nose. "Ew! I'm not cutting anything up. If need be, we'll hook your tow chain around it and pull it off the road. If we leave it there, someone's going to hit it and total their car."
"Looks like it's already been hit." Mindy checked the deserted road to see if there was a car lying in the ditch. "I don't see any wreckage." She also didn't spot any broken glass. "Maybe someone shot it."
Celina paled. "Let's hope not," she said. "That wouldn't be good for anyone involved."
It might not be good, but it was common for the area. Mindy pulled over to the side of the road and parked. She flipped on her hazards and kept her headlights trained on the animal.
Celina unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. Mindy walked to her trunk and popped it open, then grabbed two pairs of latex gloves. She pulled a pair on, then handed the other set to Celina.
"I don't see a lot of blood." Celina moved closer to examine the animal. "Holy crap! It's still breathing."
The news startled Mindy. She'd thought for sure the animal was dead. "Get away from it," she said. "It might attack out of fear and pain."
Celina glowered at her. "I've been working at the animal clinic longer than you have. I may not be a veterinary student, but I know what I'm doing."
Mindy sighed. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just don't want you to get hurt."
School was a sore subject for Celina. She'd had to go to work to help support her parents and had never managed to finish high school. After they died, she'd eventually gotten her GED, but the achievement had done little to ease her insecurities.
Mindy had encouraged her to continue her education, but Celina had balked. She'd claimed that if Izzy didn't need a degree, then neither did she.
As excuses went, it was pretty sad. But not nearly as sad as the real reason Celina had no interest in going back to school.
The real reason she hadn't bothered to better her life was because Celina was waiting for a knight in shining armor to come and sweep her off her feet. It was a fantasy she clung to and it was just as real to her as monsters were to Izzy. Celina wanted that knight more than anything and wouldn't settle for less.
Years of looking after Izzy had taught Mindy that you couldn't change someone, especially once they'd made up their minds.
"I'm going to move in closer to see if it has any other obvious injuries," Celina said.
"Are you sure it's alive?" Mindy couldn't see any movement. Maybe what Celina had witnessed was the body settling after death.
"I just saw its chest rise again," Celina said. "I'm pretty sure that means it's alive."
Mindy took a deep breath. She wanted to point out that she was the one with the medical training, but didn't want to upset Celina any more than she already had. "Is it a bear?"
"No," Celina said. "It's canine."
"That's not possible," Mindy said. "It's too large."
Celina tore her gaze away. "Pretty sure the animal in the road is definitive proof that you're wrong."
Mindy ignored her sarcasm. "I don't have the instruments or equipment with me to tend its wounds and I don't have pain meds to ease its suffering."
"I know," Celina said. "Help me get it into the car."
Mindy glanced at the animal and then at her compact car. "There's no way it's going to fit," she said.
"It'll fit." Celina sounded so confident.
Too bad Mindy didn't feel the same. She hesitated.
"If we can get it to the clinic, then Dr. Fields might be able to save it or at least make sure it doesn't suffer more," Celina said.
Her friend was determined to save the animal. Mindy appreciated her tenacity, but found it odd since Celina had always kept her distance from all the animals that were brought into the clinic.
Up until tonight, Mindy was the only one who'd regularly rallied to save the animal kingdom. Maybe her passion was finally rubbing off on Celina.
Mindy approached cautiously. The animal was larger up close. Celina had to be wrong about the species. A quick cursory examination proved otherwise. What kind of canine grew to this size?
"Celina, I really don't think he's going to fit."
"He'll fit. Trust me."
She didn't think so, but Celina was right—they couldn't leave the creature here for someone to hit. Who knows how long it had been suffering. Mindy couldn't bear to see any animal injured and in pain.
"I'll move the seats forward." Celina raced to the car and adjusted the seats.
Mindy stared at the animal. She'd never seen anything quite like it. Its head was wide, wider than a typical canine, and it had a mouthful of sharp teeth. Sable fur covered its broad body. She glanced at its paws. They were canine in shape, but its claws looked like something more suited for a grizzly bear.
"I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I can't identify this animal." Mindy hadn't grown up in the area, so she wasn't familiar with every species, but thanks to school she had a pretty good grasp of the natural habitats of predators. "It sort of looks like a wolf, but it's too big and its head isn't the right shape."
The biggest wolf Mindy had ever seen had weighed 175 pounds. This one was much larger.
"Have you ever seen anything like it?" she asked.
Celina's gaze skittered away. "You grab the back end, I'll lift its head."
Mindy watched in horror as Celina whispered something in the creature's ear. The animal shuddered.
"Seriously, be careful," Mindy said. "I know you're trying to soothe it, but an injured animal this size can do a lot of damage." She glanced at her car. "I wish I would've thought to carry a muzzle."
"I doubt it would fit, even if you had brought one," Celina said.
Mindy glanced at the creature's mouth. No, she thought. Probably not.
After thirty minutes of grunting, dragging, and shoving, they got the injured canine in the backseat of Mindy's car. Surprisingly, it fit, when everything about its body said it shouldn't have. Maybe its size was deceptive due to the thick fur? At one point, Mindy could've sworn the animal was helping them, but it was just wishful thinking on her part.
Celina's knees touched the dash and the cold pizza box was crushed to her chest, as Mindy raced to the animal clinic in Breakbend, Oregon. Fifteen minutes outside of town, she dug her phone out of her purse and tossed it to Celina.
"Call Dr. Fields and tell him we're on our way," she said.
Celina punched in the number. "You know he's going to ask you to assist," she said.
Mindy glanced at her, afraid to take her eyes off the road for long at this speed. "Of course, that's my job. It's what I'm training to do."
Breakbend's lights twinkled in the darkness, illuminating the western facades covering the businesses on the main drag.
Mindy slowed when they came into town, but they still reached the clinic in record time. Celina pried herself out of the car and tossed the pizza onto her vacated seat. She was digging for the keys to the front door when Dr. Fields showed up.
"What do we have, Mindy?" he asked.
"Canine of some kind," she said. "Looks like it's been hit by a car, but it could've been shot. I haven't located any entrance or exit wounds, but won't know for sure until it's been X-rayed. We found him lying on the side of the road. We got out to move it and discovered he was still alive."
Dr. Fields poked his head into the car to take a look. His brow slowly furrowed. "Not a lot of visible blood, but no doubt there are internal injuries. Where did you say you were when you found it?"
"Off the highway. On the back road between Breakbend and Carson, not far from Telegraph Road. We were headed to my house."
"I'm surprised it fit in the car," he said.
"You and me both," Mindy said.
Celina came out of the clinic with a gurney.
"Help me get it on the table," Dr. Fields said. "Be careful. We don't want to do more damage."
Once again Celina and Mindy grabbed a section of the canine and lifted, then helped the doctor wheel it into the operating room.
After a quick set of X-rays ruled out a gunshot wound, Mindy pulled scrubs on over her clothes and administered the anesthetic under the vet's supervision.
"He's under," she said, monitoring its vitals, before making sure the animal received enough oxygen.
The doctor's frown deepened as he analyzed the X-rays for other injuries. "That's odd. Only one bone appears to be broken. Given its lethargic state, I expected the damage to be much worse."
"That's good, right?" Mindy asked.
"No, that means it's in shock. That can kill it just as effectively as an untreated injury. I'll have to open him up to be sure we're not missing anything vital."
Dr. Fields made the incision, then carefully repaired a couple of minor tears on one of the organs. After a thorough search to make sure he hadn't missed any other trauma, he closed the animal up and aligned the bone, then put a cast on the leg.
"Is he going to be okay?" Mindy asked.
"He should be, but I simply cannot explain his condition. With these minor injuries, the animal should've been up and moving around," he said, his expression troubled. "Albeit slowly."
"Do you know what it is?" Mindy asked.
"A mystery," he said.
"I mean, do you know what kind of animal it is?" she asked.
He pulled his bloody gloves off and tossed them into the HAZMAT container. "I'm not entirely certain," he said. "I've never seen anything quite like him, especially in the lupine family. It's almost as if someone bred a Russian wolf with a Caucasian Mountain dog, which would be hard to do without the wolf trying to kill the dog. But then again, those dogs are tough."
"I'm not familiar with that breed," Mindy said.
"It's also known as the Russian Bear dog for obvious reasons. The males can grow to be over two hundred pounds. They make perfect guard dogs."
"I can see why. I wouldn't want to take one on," Mindy said. "But this isn't Russia."
"No, but people have all kinds of exotic pets that they shouldn't own," he said. "I've pulled some of its blood for a DNA check. We'll know more once we get the results. In the meantime, let's get him into recovery. I think we have one cage big enough in the back."
"If he fit in my backseat, we can get him into the bear cage," Mindy said.
Celina watched through the small window in the door as Mindy and Dr. Fields wheeled the massive wolf toward the back room. She'd been eavesdropping on their conversation, so she'd heard the doctor order the DNA test.
She couldn't let them see the results when they came in. Celina had to get to them first, so she could switch them out with another canine. Since she received all the paperwork and documentation coming into the office, it should be simple enough to do.
The doctor and Mindy were baffled by the unique discovery, but Celina wasn't. She'd immediately identified the creature they'd found on the side of the road.
Sure, the animal looked a little different from the others. Less wolf, more monster, perhaps. Celina hadn't recognized it immediately, but once she'd gotten closer, she'd known.
She peered at it one last time before it disappeared into the recovery room. Its body was bigger and its head a few inches wider than the others of its kind. Its teeth looked longer and sharper, too. The only really surprising thing about the whole situation was that the animal was injured at all.
Celina had seen them in their other form many times. Watched them fight until they were bloody and almost unrecognizable. Each and every time they'd risen like nothing had happened. She'd always assumed they were invincible or close to it. The news that they weren't came as a relief.
No, there was no mistaking the massive animal lying on the table, but Celina couldn't exactly go in and tell them that they'd found a werewolf. A real, honest-to-goodness werewolf.
A thrill shot through her and Celina clasped her hands together. Today was her lucky day. She had prayed for an opportunity like this. Hoped it would occur. But deep down, never thought it would happen. Yet here it was laid out in front of her like a gift from above. It was a sign. The sign she'd been waiting for.
Izzy's warning floated in her head. If you don't stay away from the monsters, they're going to end up killing you.
Her best friend was wrong. Unlike Izzy, Celina wasn't afraid of these creatures. She understood them. They weren't all that different from humans. There were both good and bad ones. It was a distinction Izzy rarely made. She loved her best friend, but Celina wasn't about to pass up this chance.
It was the perfect opportunity to spend more than a single night with one of the Moonlight Kin. Be more than a chew toy that they nibbled on, rutted in, then passed around for others to sample.
Contrary to what those Weresbelieved, Celina wasn't anyone's plaything.
She tugged her shirt down to cover the scratches she'd received last week from her date. Marco had been a particularly energetic lover, but like the others, he hadn't bothered to call her after she'd gotten him off.
Celina had really thought that he liked her, until she saw him around town with another woman. Their eyes met, but Marco hadn't acknowledged her. She'd thought about confronting him, but Weres never responded well to aggression. Celina wouldn't have to worry about Marco after tonight.
A plan formulated in her head as she waited for Mindy to finish up. She'd nurse this one back to health and imprint her scent on it. All Celina needed to do was prove to the Were that she could care for it, make the creature feel indebted to her, then she would get him to claim her as his mate.
Mindy helped Dr. Fields get the animal into the cage. She stroked its head and cooed softly to it, to reassure the canine that it was safe.
"It won't wake up for a while," Dr. Fields said.
"I know," she said. "I just like to believe that it can hear me and knows that we're taking care of it."
He gave her a tired smile. "You have a good heart, Mindy, but I do worry about this job being too hard on you."
"I'm tougher than I look," Mindy said. A tongue brushed against the back of her hand. "He licked me."
Dr. Fields looked in the cage. "He couldn't have. He's still asleep and will be for a few more hours. You probably just brushed against his mouth."
Mindy frowned and looked at the snoring canine. She knew the difference between a lick and a brush. It had definitely been a lick. But since that type of thing wasn't worth arguing over, she let it go.
"I'm going to head home now."
Dr. Fields yawned. "Me too. See you in the afternoon."
Mindy glanced at her watch and winced. She was going to be a zombie in class tomorrow if she didn't get some sleep. The Ryans would have to wait for another girls' night. She looked at the animal and gave him one last pet, then turned off the lights.
"Goodnight, puppy," she murmured and left the room.
Mindy didn't see the black wolf raise its head. She didn't see its eyes begin to glow. She didn't see it lick its lips so it could taste her skin again. And she didn't hear it sniff the air, locking in her scent, so it would be able to find her again.
Gravel crunched under Nic La Croix's truck tires as he turned onto the long driveway. Trees and dense underbrush lined the road, leading him deeper into the woods. He ran his hand through his shaggy hair and the tension in his muscles released as wilderness surrounded him.
Nic didn't have long to enjoy the feeling. The tightness came right back as a steady thump, thump, thump reached his ears. So much for convening with nature. After a quarter-mile, the trees parted to reveal a crude gravel parking lot.
On the far side of the lot, a large wooden structure squatted like a toad against the tree-line. The roof slanted to the left and looked to be under imminent threat of collapse. Chipped red paint covered the front of the building, while ignoring the sides. The splash of color did little to disguise the building's deteriorated condition.
A flashing pink neon sign hung above the entrance to the bar. The first "T" and the last "S" of its name were burned out. Instead of spelling "Sticks", the sign now read "Sick."
The new name is more fitting for the shifter bar, Nic thought.
He stared at the crowded lot, debating whether to leave. The only parking spots left bordered the trees and were nowhere near the entrance. Not that it was a problem. The position would make it easier to get out when the time came. Nic looked at his watch. Not yet six o'clock and already packed. It would only get worse.
After a hard day's work, he wanted a beer, but Nic wasn't sure fighting the crowd would be worth it this close to the full moon. He glanced up at the sky. The sun hadn't set yet and the moon was already rising. Its pregnant appearance made all wolves anxious, but was especially difficult for the younger ones, who thought they had something to prove.
Restlessness snaked its way through Nic's body, leaving him edgy. The feeling was happening more and more lately, but had nothing to do with the moon and everything to do with not being bondmated.
Nic listened to the steady beat of the music and heard a crowd roar. The sound quickly morphed into howls. Blood simmered in his veins as he fought the urge to join in.
It had been two months since he'd moved off Aidan Fortier's estate and away from the pack. Two months since he'd sworn off fickle human females.
He'd always fallen too hard and too fast for his own good. It had gotten him hurt on more than one occasion, but this time had been the worst because he'd fallen for his Alpha's mate.
Nic couldn't bear to be around Aidan's mate, Jenna Dane, feeling the way he felt about her. Every day he watched her belly ripen with Aidan's child, and he couldn't help thinking what if...
It didn't matter that it was the man in him that wanted her, not the wolf. Pain was pain.
Next month Jenna would give birth, thanks to shifters' short gestation periods. Pregnancy wouldn't be possible if she wasn't truly Aidan's bondmate, but seeing her expectant, glowing, and happy only compounded his loneliness.
Maybe someday he'd get used to sleeping alone, but Nic had his doubts.
Once a pack animal, always a pack animal.
Being homesick for his pack was why he found himself at Sticks and not home at the little house he'd rented outside of town. The desire for a beer and to be around his own kind was a temptation he couldn't resist. Nic drove to the tree line and threw the truck into park, then climbed out. One beer, then he'd leave. Okay, maybe one and a half. It would take a lot more than that to impair a Were.
The music pumped hard, vibrating his chest as he strode toward the bar. There wasn't a cover charge for shifters, only humans. Not that many humans came out to this place or even knew about it. And the ones that did, knew the score going in.
Weres had groupies, just like rock bands. Their animalistic, insatiable nature drew them from hundreds of miles away. The humans who partied at Sticks came here for one reason and one reason only—to hook up with a shifter.
Nic wasn't looking for company, and he certainly wasn't looking for a fight, but he did want a beer. A nice cold one. For that, he'd put up with the loud music and the boisterous crowd.
"Hey, Derek," Nic said. "How's it going?"
The burly doorman grinned, flashing long canines. "Different day, same shit."
"I hear you. Lucien Bellard working tonight?" Nic asked.
His best friend bartended most nights, but he did get off work on occasion. When that happened, he didn't show up here. He took off for the mountains.
"Yep, he's behind the bar, keeping a close eye on the pups," Derek said. "A bunch of them came in earlier itching to test their claws. Remember when you were that young?"
Nic laughed. "Hell no! I was never that young."
Derek chuckled. "Me neither."
It was common for young Weres to come to Sticks. The place allowed them to blow off steam and test their skills. Pack life was all about hierarchy. Young wolves were constantly looking for ways to better their positions. Nic didn't have to worry about that anymore. He'd earned his spot in Aidan's west coast pack through blood, brains, and brute strength.
Nic leaned forward and waited for Derek to sniff him. It didn't matter who or what you were, everyone got sniffed on their way into Sticks. It was a surefire way to keep out the troublemakers and to identify the humans. If you weren't pack, you got your hand stamped with a wolf paw. It was an inside joke that only regulars recognized.
"You're good to go." Derek hiked his thumb over his shoulder. "You came on the right night. The band's supposed to be good tonight."
"Probably won't stay that long," Nic said. "Just here for a beer."
The bouncer shrugged, then gave him a look that said "suit yourself."
The inside of the bar was even more crowded than the parking lot. Most of the worn tables were already occupied, and the only stool available sat at the end of the long, polished oak bar. Weres lined the bar three deep. They kicked up sawdust beneath their feet as they waited to get served.
Nic made his way to the end of the bar and scanned the crowd. He didn't think many from Aidan's compound would be there, but it didn't hurt to check. He wouldn't mind shooting the breeze with a familiar face.
A dark head popped up above the crowd. Lucien waved to him, his green eyes glittering mischievously.
Nic nodded in acknowledgment. It had been a while since he and Lucien had had a chance to catch up, but it didn't look like that would change tonight.
Two pups knocked younger Weres aside as they pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Nic didn't recognize them, which didn't mean much since the west coast Moonlight Kin were spread out over several states, but he did recognize the type.
Impatience oozed from their pores. Some pups naturally fell into their pack position. Others fought for purchase. These two fell into the latter camp. Their stance screamed aggression. In a shifter bar, that was a good way to get your ass kicked.
Nic watched dispassionately as they stopped at the bar and waved money in front of Lucien's face. I wouldn't do that if I were you,he thought. His best friend didn't have a lot of patience for assholes.
Lucien's lip curled and a growl rumbled out of his wide chest. The Celtic tattoos that started at his neck and encased both arms rippled as he tensed. Smart pups took a step back to give Lucien space. The two with the money in their hands didn't move.
Some pups just had to learn the hard way.
A claw came out and speared the money, yanking the bills from the closest pup's hand. Lucien tossed the money into a tip jar, then yelled, "Next!"
The startled pup opened his mouth to complain, but must've got a look at Lucien's expression and changed his mind.
Nic sighed. He wasn't in the mood to put up with this kind of crap tonight. He turned to leave, but before he could go, a beer slid down the bar and stopped in front of him.
He looked over in time to see Lucien grin, then his friend went back to filling orders. The two pups who'd been flashing money glared at him. Nic raised his pint glass in salute, then took a deep swig. The cold, crisp flavor of hops and barley exploded on his tongue. He leaned his back against the edge of the bar and scanned the crowd.
Several groupies had already snagged a table near the front, close to the band. The location put them in the position to be seen by everyone, which Nic supposed was the point.
The band was still setting up their equipment. He couldn't tell if they were human or not. He spotted a few wolf paw stamps in the crowd, but not many. Nic made a mental note to avoid them and went back to enjoying his beer.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the bar. Nic turned to find Lucien smiling at him.
"You look miserable as ever," Nic said.
His friend had a perpetual smile on his face and took delight in the little things, especially if those things came in the form of aggravating a friend. But there was more to Lucien than that. Every once in a while the mask would slip and Nic would glimpse the darkness he kept hidden from the world.
Nic had never asked what caused the shadows. He figured if Lucien wanted to let him know, he would. Until then, he'd be there whenever his friend needed him and would continue to keep up pretenses.
"You're the one lurking at the end of the bar, my friend. How do you expect to meet anyone with that sour expression on your face?" Lucien asked.
"I don't," Nic said. "I'm just here for the beer and your stellar company."
Lucien laughed. "Then you're in luck, because tonight I am in rare form."
"I can see that." Nic indicated to the pups jockeying for position.
Lucien followed his gaze, and his green eyes glittered with deadly intent. "The problems they present can be easily solved with a quick trip around back."
"Is that what you plan to do later?" Nic asked, eyeing his friend.
"Ah, mon ami, I'm a lover, not a fighter. You know that." Lucien winked.
Nic snorted. Lucien was definitely a lover. He lovedwomen. Nic had seen him with an endless string of ladies. One look from the dark-haired, green-eyed Frenchman and women fell to their knees. None of them stayed long, and that suited Lucien just fine. In that respect, they were polar opposites. Nic wanted nothing more than to have a mate to go home to at the end of the day.
As for not being a fighter, there was no way in hell his friend could ever convince him that was the case. The darkness in his green gaze was no illusion. He hadn't come by it from anything other than pain.
"What do you have to do to get a drink around here?" someone shouted.
The muscles in Lucien's arms flexed and his hands tightened on the bar. Lucien's nails lengthened, burrowing into the grainy fibers. Nic heard the wood groan under the pressure.
"You'd better get going, Lover Boy, before the crowd turns on you," Nic said.
Lucien glanced at him. "It wouldn't be the first time." His smile returned, but with a touch of melancholy. "Au revoir, mon ami."
Mindy stared at the lights in the distance and debated whether to turn her car around. Coming here had seemed like a good idea.
She'd told Celina that she knew how to have fun. It still irked her that Izzy had made Celina promise never to bring her here. Despite her irritation with the women, it had still taken Mindy two weeks to work up the courage to come.
Not that it mattered anymore. Izzy was gone and Celina no longer cared what Mindy did. She was too preoccupied with her new boyfriend, Slade. They'd been dating for a little over a week, which was positively long term for Celina. Every time Mindy saw them together, which wasn't often, they appeared to be joined at the tongue.
She was genuinely happy that Celina had finally found a steady guy, who liked her for who she was, but it also drove home the fact that Mindy went home to an empty house every night.
Mindy stared out the window. The only parking spaces left were by the woods far away from the entrance. Not the safest of locations. She should just go. This was insane.
No one in their right mind went to a bar alone, especially a woman. Wasn't she always telling Celina that? Yet here she sat outside of Sticks, considering whether to go inside.
Mindy tried to remember the last time she'd hit the bars. Between college classes and work, there hadn't been a lot of time to socialize.
If her calculations were correct—and they were—then it had been a year since she'd painted the town red. Okay, mauve. With her sister gone, she couldn't use Izzy as an excuse for not having a social life anymore. The music thumped and her body automatically swayed in her seat.
Just one dance, a little voice in her head whispered. One dance won't hurt anyone.
Neither Celina nor Izzy would ever know that she'd been there. Especially if she didn't stay long.
The music called out to her with its siren song. Mindy wanted to be the fun person she used to be before everything changed. She wanted to experience that kind of freedom again, if only for one night. Was that so much to ask?
She parked her car and climbed out. Gravel crunched under her shoes. Mindy glanced at her vintage pumps. They weren't made for traversing rock, but she saw no other way to get to the bar, unless she suddenly sprouted wings. Mindy apologized to her favorite pair of shoes, then toddled to the entrance.
Her footsteps faltered when she caught sight of the man checking IDs at the door. Barrel chested with arms the size of telephone poles, the man wore faded blue jeans and a ripped T-shirt that had some kind of biker emblem on it that she didn't recognize.
When his gaze landed on her, his light green eyes appeared to glow in the dark. The illusion only lasted a moment, but it was long enough for Mindy. Stories of monsters flooded her mind. She wanted to turn tail and run, but she wasn't dressed for sprinting. Mindy's knees locked in place.
How many years had she put her own wishes aside to cater to her sister's whims? How many lies had she told on her behalf? Mindy couldn't allow Izzy's dark fantasies to prevent her from living her life. Not anymore.
Instead of running, she forced herself to focus on her clothes. Mindy tugged at the skirt of her vintage red dress, though it already dropped below her knees. The nice outfit usually made her feel pretty and confident. But right now she'd willingly trade the dress and her favorite shoes for a comfy pair of jeans.
The doorman came out of the shadowed entryway and slowly approached.
Mindy quaked in her pumps and craned her neck to look at him.
"You lost?" he asked.
It took her a moment to find her voice. "N-n-no. A friend told me about this place. She thought I-I-I'd like it."
One dark brow rose as he stared at her clothing. He didn't believe her. "What exactly did your friend tell you?"
Mindy's confidence wavered. Sweat laced her palms. She rubbed her hands along her skirt and swallowed hard. "Just that Sticks was a fun place." Her voice cracked.
He stared for a moment more, then shrugged. "Let me see your ID."
Mindy retrieved her license from her purse. Her fingers shook as she handed it to him. He sniffed, then returned her ID. The man settled back onto his stool and took out a stamp.
"How much is the cover charge?" she asked.
"Hold out your hand," he said.
She did as he asked.
He stamped a glowing wolf paw beneath her knuckles. "Have fun." The cheerful sentiment was ruined by his anxious expression.
"Thank you." Mindy put her license in her purse and stepped through the door. Her legs quivered when she saw the worn tables scattered around the room and sawdust on the floor. On the other side of the dance floor, a band was setting up their equipment.
Mindy tugged at her skirt again and waited for someone to greet her. After a minute, it was obvious no one was coming to show her to a table.
The music was louder now. It pumped out of the speakers, occupying the crowd until the live band started. The beat called to her, trying to lure her to the dance floor.
Mindy glanced around the bar. The place was packed and exactlylike Celina described it. There were at least ten men for every woman in the bar, and most were exceedingly good-looking, especially the dark-haired, tattooed Adonis behind the bar. He was so gorgeous that he bordered on being pretty.
He smiled at Mindy and her knees went weak. She'd never be able to handle a man like him. Not in her wildest dreams, but flirting with the bartender never hurt.
She took a step forward and several heads turned in her direction. Mindy looked behind her, but there was no one there. The men sniffed in unison. She resisted the urge to do the same. She'd showered after work and put on a little perfume, but not too much. Or at least she'd thought so until she came in here.
Two guys broke away from the pack. Mindy giggled nervously at the metaphor, though it was fitting given the large group. They quickly approached her.
"Hello," the brown-haired one said. "My name's Marco. Marco Faretti. This here is Emmett."
"Hi. I'm Mindy." Every eye in the place was focused on them.
"You look like you could use a drink," Marco said.
Her hands trembled as she smoothed her dress. "Yes, I could." Mindy let them drag her to the bar. She had no intention of staying there long. Not with the music calling to her.
They passed a man with sandy brown hair and haunting dark blue eyes that she hadn't noticed when she'd first walked in. Though how she could've missed him was a mystery. He leaned against the bar casually watching everyone around him, including her.
Like the doorman and bartender, the man was big and unusually tall. His rugged good looks were understated, but striking.
The man smiled at her. The act transformed his face and stole the breath from her lungs. Marco and Emmett faded away, along with the rest of the bar. Mindy smiled back, hoping her nerves didn't show.
Outwardly the man appeared to be having a good time, but Mindy recognized lonely when she saw it. After all, it stared back at her every time she looked in the mirror.
His gaze stole across her, leaving heat in its wake.
Mindy's heart raced. It had been a long time since she'd experienced that kind of attraction to a man.
Emmett put his arm around her.
The move shocked Mindy, breaking the spell between them. She casually shifted until his arm dropped. Maybe he wouldn't notice.
Undeterred, Emmett did it again.
This time Mindy looked at him before lifting his hand and removing his arm from around her shoulders. She didn't want the man at the end of the bar to get the wrong impression, and she didn't want to encourage Emmett.
Just because he and Marco had approached her first didn't mean that they had dibs on her. No one had dibs on her. Mindy wanted to make that clear upfront. She was grateful that they'd been so nice, but her gratitude only went so far.
The man at the end of the bar continued to watch her. Without warning, he suddenly came to his feet and rounded the bar. His gaze never wavered as he made his way toward her.
Mindy took a deep breath to calm her nerves. In her mind, she ran through a dozen ways of how to say hello. Before she could put any of them into practice, his footsteps faltered and he stopped. His disarming smile slowly faded and he returned to his spot at the end of the bar.
What just happened? Had I inadvertently done something? Had Emmett's clumsy attempt to hit on me dissuaded the man?
The disappointment swirling inside surprised Mindy. She glanced at her clothes and wished once more that she'd worn something casual. This wouldn't have happened to Celina or Isabel. They both had the ability to wrap men around their fingers.
Game playing of any kind gave Mindy hives. She'd always been a "what you see is what you get" kind of girl, and she'd been okay with that until tonight. Now Mindy wished just once that she were someone different. The kind of woman that the man at the end of the bar wouldn't be able to resist. The kind of woman who was brave enough to approach him without throwing up on his shoes.
If only I were that kind of woman... Mindy sighed.
The music changed to a more up-tempo beat. Mindy slipped away from Marco and Emmett, away from the man at the end of the bar, and away from her troubles.
She strolled out onto the dance floor, where a few other girls were already dancing. Mindy allowed the music to seep inside her, until she could feel every note pulsing in her bones. Her body swayed gently at first, then found the rhythm.
When was the last time she felt this free?
Mindy couldn't remember. Didn't care. She let the music wash over her and move her body. Her hips swayed and she ran her hands down her sides as she rocked to the beat.
Nic couldn't tear his gaze away from the woman in red as she swayed provocatively on the dance floor. That vintage dress she wore accentuated her voluptuous curves and fair skin, making her appear luminous in the low lighting. Her fluid movements hinted at the passion she kept buttoned up behind that high collar.
She looked young—innocent, but he'd never been good at guessing anyone's true age. The woman rolled her hips and ran her hands over her body.
Drool formed in his mouth. Nic had to swallow hard to keep from embarrassing himself. Every muscle in his body tightened and his skin burned. He reminded himself again that this woman was human and not one of the Kin.
Nic watched her dance until the song ended. He was awash with disappointment when she slowly strolled back to the bar, back to the pups who'd been nipping at her cute kitten heels.
Mindy made her way back to the bar and ordered a wine spritzer.
"Nice dance," the striking bartender said, then grinned.
"Thanks," she said, but Mindy hadn't danced for him or anyone else. That dance had been for her.
The bartender quickly made her drink, then placed the cocktail in front of her. "If you need anything else, just ask for Lucien," he said.
She smiled and gave him a quick nod.
A moment later, Lucien added five more drinks to go with the first.
"I didn't order these," she said.
He looked at her, his green eyes mesmerizing. "I know, jolie femme. They did." Lucien indicated to the men behind her.
"Oh." Mindy reached into her purse for her money.
Lucien stopped her with a light touch to her hand. "It's already covered."
A growl came from the end of the bar. Mindy turned to see who'd made the odd noise, and so did everyone else at the bar. The sandy-haired man she'd been attracted to earlier was staring at the bartender's hand with a mutinous expression on his face.
"Well now, that is interesting," the bartender said, slowly removing his hand from hers.
"Did he just growl?" Mindy asked. She couldn't have heard him correctly. People didn't growl.
The bartender blinked. It was the only indication she got that let her know that she'd surprised him with the question.
"I mean no offense when I say this," Lucien said. "But I think perhaps you're in the wrong establishment."
Mindy thought the same thing, but stubbornness kept her rooted in place. Isabel wasn't the only one in her family capable of having a good time. She was determined to prove to her sister, to Celina, and to herself that some part of the "real" Mindy still existed. All she needed was the chance.
"I wish people would stop saying that," she murmured.
Why did everyone think they knew what was best for me?She wasn't a child. She was twenty-five years old.
With a grim expression on his lovely face, he gave her a slight bow. "As you wish."
Nic watched the woman order a drink. Sparks flew as she and Lucien spoke. The attraction between them was undeniable. Almost as strong as what they'd experienced before he discovered what she was. Lucien touched her lightly. Nic's wolf grumbled before he could stop it.
Everyone turned to look at him with shocked expressions on their faces. Everyone but Lucien. His best friend was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
Lucien said something to the woman, then walked to the end of the bar where Nic stood. "It's nice to know that there's still some life in you, mon ami. I was beginning to wonder." Speculation replaced some of his amusement.
"Funny," Nic said. "What can you tell me about her?"
Why had he asked? He didn't want to know her, didn't want anything to do with her. He wasn't looking to hook up with a human, even one as delectable as her.
Lucien cocked his hip against the bar. "Not much," he said. "Just that she doesn't belong here."
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You are here: Home > Namibia
Travelling Namibia's quiet desert roads between its famous dunes and Atlantic coastline is an unbeatable road trip, taking in a surprising range of terrain. From the Namib Desert's towering dunes and sense of space to the Skeleton Coast's miles of empty beaches, the country offers Africa's greatest mix of desert landscapes. Then there is the central plateau, with its thorn bush savannah and rugged mountains, rising abruptly from the plains. This gives way in the south to the majestic Fish River Canyon, which leads to the great Orange River flowing through the mountain desert of /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfronteir Park. In the north of Namibia, landscapes range from the open plains of the great Etosha Pan, to woodland savannah and lush vegetation. While Namibia's awe-inspiring wildernesses attract attention, they also provide a canvas for a range of experiences - including Swakopmund's extreme sports, Lüderitz's German architecture, and fascinating local peoples including the Herero and Himba.
Namibia shares borders with Angola to the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and - in the Caprivi Strip, a narrow panhandle of Namibian territory jutting from the northeast corner of the country - with Zambia and Zimbabwe. Namibia is a peaceful country, which is economically prosperous as a result of its mining, fishing, tourism and agricultural industries.
CAPITAL: Windhoek
AIRPORTS: Hosea Kutako International Airport, 42km east of Windhoek; Eros Airport, Windhoek; Katima Mulilo Airport, Caprivi Strip; Keetmanshoop Airport, Southern Namibia; Lüderitz Airport; Ondangwa Airport, Northern Namibia; Rundu Airport, Northern Namibia; Walvis Bay Airport
AREA: 824292km²; 68% the size of South Africa, slightly smaller than Venezuela
POPULATION: 2.21 million
LANGUAGES: Owambo, Kavango, Herero, Caprivian languages, Khoisan languages, Afrikaans, English, German, Portuguese
CURRENCY: Namibian dollar (N$), divided into 100 cents. Fixed to the rand, which is accepted throughout Namibia
Seeing big cats, elephants, giraffes and endangered black rhinos and black-faced impalas in the vast saline pan of Etosha National Park
Tackling the multiday hike through the wilderness of the immense Fish River Canyon
Starting a day in the desert atop the unique, colour-changing dune system of Sossusvlei
Swakopmund, the adrenaline-pumping activities centre between the Atlantic and the Namib Desert, offering everything from sandboarding to skydiving
Venturing into the remote wilderness of the Skeleton Coast, where 4WD tracks lead through the desert to fog-shrouded, shipwreck-dotted beaches
Meeting the Damara people and ochre-haired Himba in their desert homes of Damaraland and the Kaokoveld
Exploring the sand-filled houses at the ghostly abandoned mining town of Kolmanskop, near German-influenced Lüderitz
The Namib Desert is the world's oldest, having existed for around 43 million years. Covering western Namibia, and sprawling across the border to southern Angola and South Africa's Northern Cape province, the desert includes dune types from coastal crescent-shaped dunes to Sossusvlei's towering horseshoe of sand. The Namib Desert has remained more or less unchanged for the last two million years. The rock art of Brandberg and Twylfontein shows the presence here of early San hunters in the Stone Age.
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Illustration "Tarantino" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Woody Allen" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "La Concha" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.29,7 x 42 cms reproduction (A3) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Podcast" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Donostiako Gauak" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Relax Time" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Jatetxea" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Albert Einstein" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Huckleberry Finn" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Anna Karenina" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Dame aux camélias" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "The great Gatsby" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Oz" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Paris en automne" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Contracorriente" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Dubliners" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.29,7 x 42 cms reproduction (A3) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "El libro de la selva" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.29,7 x 42 cms reproduction (A3) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Freddie Mercury" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.14,8 X 21 cm reproduction (A5) in 230 gr Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Frankie and Pierre" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Aperitivo" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Siesta en la biblioteca" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Goonies" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.
Illustration "Félix" by the illustrator Mikel Casal.21 x 29,7 cms reproduction (A4) in 250 grs Fine Art paper.Signed and dated by the author.


The monument is the remains of a stone circle, cairn and cist, dating from the Bronze Age (between 2500BC and 800BC). It is visible as an arc of five stones measuring about 13m in diameter, surrounded by the fragmentary remains of a bank and ditch. A cist survives in the interior. When excavated in the 19th century, the interior was covered by a layer of rounded stones, likely the remnants of an overlying cairn. The cist lay below this layer and contained fragments of a decorated urn, pieces of burnt bone, teeth and charcoal. The monument is located on level ground overlooking Cambuscurrie Bay, about 20m above sea level.
The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling extends up to but excludes the post and wire fence to the southwest. The monument was first scheduled in 1970 and the documentation does not conform to current standards; the present amendment rectifies this.
This monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular the nature of ritual and burial practices and their significance in Bronze Age society. It is a good example of a complex ceremonial site with few exact parallels elsewhere, which largely retains its overall form and structural footprint. The monument can significantly expand our understanding of the nature of Bronze Age belief systems, ceremonial and burial practices, as well as society and economy. The monument's importance is enhanced by its association with a wider cluster of later prehistoric remains. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the meaning and importance of ceremony and ritual, death and burial in the Bronze Age and the placing of such monuments within the landscape.
Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 14642 (accessed on 29/02/2016).
The Highland Council Historic Environment Record references are MHG8593 and MHG45035.
Bradley, R. (2011). Stages and screens: an investigation of four henge monuments in northern and north-eastern Scotland. Edinburgh.
Joass, J M. (1870). Note of five kists found under a tumulus on the glebe of the parish of Eddertoun, Ross, and of a kist within a circle of standing stones in the same neighbourhood, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. 7, 1866-8, 269.
Tait, L. (1870). Notes of the opening of a stone circle at Craigmore in Strathfleet, Sutherland, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. 7, 1866-8.
RCAHMS. (1979). The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of Easter Ross, Ross and Cromarty District, Highland Region, The archaeological sites and monuments of Scotland series no 6. Edinburgh, 16, No. 115.
RCAHMS. (1942-3). Emergency Survey of archaeological monuments in military training areas, 1981, 2v. Typescripts, 68.
ScARF (2012). Downes, J. (ed) Calcolithic and Bronze Age Scotland: ScARF Panel Report, Scottish Archaeological Research Framework: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Available online at http://tinyurl.com/clxgf5s.


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In search of love in the old GPO
I loved the old GPO. It was a post office like none other in Singapore. Its main hall, which you entered after a climb up a short flight of stairs, was grand and airy. Stretching almost the entire length of the building, the hall was also where the long postal counter was found. That ran along the hall's length and held the distinction of being the longest in the world. Like all old buildings, the GPO – now the Fullerton Hotel has its collection of stories, including ones that tell of romantic liaisons.
In search of romance – a civil servant, played by Isabelle Chiam, gets everyone at the Minsitry of Finance involved.
An opportunity to discover the romances of the past, and also the building's colourful history – in a fun and amusing way – presents itself with "A Fullerton Love Story Tour". Led by a resident tour guide, participants are taken on a search for romance – not of their own – but between a love struck postman at the GPO, played by Edward Choy, and his love interest – a civil servant with the Ministry of Finance housed in the same building – played by Isabelle Chiam. Participants also become part of the story as they move through various historic spots that include the Singapore Club, Fullerton Square, the Presidential Suite and the location of the Fullerton Building's former lighthouse.
The love struck postman, played by Edward Choy.
View from the lighthouse towards what used to be the harbour.
Tours, which will be held from 8pm to 9.30 pm on 29 April, 6 May and 13 May 2017, are available for booking at http://afullertonlovestorytour.peatix.com. Priced at $78 nett for adults and $58 nett for children between 6 to 11, the tours will be followed by desserts at The Courtyard crafted by Executive Pastry Chef, Enrico Pezzelato.
The resident tour guide.
Besides the tour, which is being held in conjunction with the Singapore Heritage Festival 2017, the Fullerton Hotel is also bring back the TENG Ensemble for a showcase of brand new Singapore-inspired works. The showcase, "Where the River Always Flows II", will include songs by P. Ramlee and Zubir Said and two East-West pieces specially commissioned by the Fullerton Heritage. Tickets for the concert, which will be held at the East Garden on 29 April 2017 at 7 pm, are available at $3 each at http://wheretheriveralwaysflows2.peatix.com. More information on the concert and the tour can be found at the Fullerton Heritage's website.
Enchanted Garden – one of five desserts guests on the tour will get to choose from.
Tags: A Fullerton Love Story Tour, Desserts, Events, Fullerton Building, Fullerton Heritage, Fullerton Hotel, General Post Office, GPO, Heritage, History, Love and Romance, National Monuments, Photography, Previews, Singapore, Singapore Heritage Festival, TENG Ensemble, What to Do, What to do in Singapore, Where the River Always Flows II
Categories : Entertainment, Event Previews, Events, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore
The lost waterfront
The former waterfront at Collyer Quay is certainly one place which exemplifies how Singapore has transformed over the years, discarding much of what made Singapore a Singapore which was full of character and flavour, to the sea of glass, steel and concrete Singapore has become today.
The waterfront we inherited from our colonial masters was one of wonderfully designed buildings which might have rivaled Shanghai's Bund. Even in 1971 after the Overseas Union Shopping Centre (see image above) did spoil some of that flavour, it still retained much of its original character. Then, the three "skyscrapers" that came up in the 1950s: the modern looking 15 storey Shell House (1959); the Bank of China Building (1954); and the Asia Insurance Building (1954) (out of picture), still dominated. It was however the grand looking edifices – several of them attributed to architecture firm Swan and MacLaren which designed many notable buildings from our past, which would have been noticed. This included the Maritime Building (former Union Building) with its tower and the HongKong Bank Chambers (1924) next to it. The Fullerton Building (1928) which housed the General Post Office also wouldn't have been missed.
The beginning of the end for the old waterfront came at the end of the decade with the demolition of the HongKong Bank building notable not just for its English Renaissance style design, but also for its stained glass skylight over its main banking hall and huge bronze entrance doors, in 1979. The Maritime Building, built originally for the Union Insurance Society of Canton and which once housed the Far East headquarters of the Royal Air Force, soon followed in the early 1980s. What we do see today is a towering skyline of glass and steel against which the surviving "skyscrapers" of the 1950s are now dwarfed. The buildings along old waterfront which did survive are the Fullerton Building (Fullerton Hotel), Clifford Pier (part of Fullerton Bay Hotel), Bank of China Building, Customs House, and the Asia Insurance Building (Ascott Raffles Place).
Tags: 1971, Bund, Clifford Pier, Collyer Quay, Fullerton Building, GPO, HongKong Bank Building, HongKong Bank Chambers, Lost Buildings, Lost Places, Marina Bay, Maritime Building, Old Harbour, Old Waterfront, Overseas Union Shopping Centre, Photography, Shell House, Singapore, Skyline, Swan and MacLaren, Union Building, Waterfront
Categories : Architecture, Architecture, Collyer Quay, Forgotten Buildings, Forgotten Places, Marina Bay, New Singapore, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore
Yesterday Once More at the GPO
Take a stroll through a Singapore we have forgotten about through a series of postcards on display at The Fullerton Hotel. The postcards are part of a collection of 500 that were donated to the Singapore Philatelic Museum in July 2006 by renowned philatelist, Professor Cheah Jin Seng. The postcards date back to the pre-war years and go as far back as to 1893. The exhibition, Yesterday Once More, was officially opened yesterday by Mr. Sam Tan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
A photo of one of the postcards on display showing the former Orchard Road Market (where Orchard Point is today) in its early days before an extension at the front took away the little square and fountain. The fountain can now be found at Raffles Hotel.
Yesterday Once More which is being held as part of The Fullerton Heritage's Art in the City Programme. Yesterday Once More and is organised in collaboration with The Singapore Philatelic Museum, not only takes one back in time but also provides an appreciation of the transformation Singapore has seen through the last century. The highlights are the parts of the collection which show how much areas such as Orchard Road and the area around the old waterfront where The Fullerton is located has changed.
Detail of another postcard showing an aerial view of the city. The present National Museum can be seen in the foreground as well as the old YMCA Building.
Postcards which were first used as an economical and convenient means to communicate, evolved to the picture postcards which in the days before the advent of the internet, served to document the tales of travellers. In time, these also served to archive places, faces and events. It is probably appropriate that the exhibition is also held at The Fullerton, which older Singaporeans fondly remember as the General Post Office or GPO – a special guest at the launch was Mr Subramaniam, independent Singapore's very first Postmaster General, who is in his 90s. He was a treat to speak to, having many tales of his time first as the Director of the Post Office, and after separation, as the Postmaster General, to share.
Singapore's first Postmaster General, Mr. Subramaniam who is in his 90s.
Yesterday Once More runs until 30 April 2013 and is being held at The Fullerton's East Garden Foyer.
More photos from the launch:
Tags: Art in the City Programme, Exhibition, First Postmaster General, General Post Office, GPO, Mr Subramaniam, Mr. Sam Tan, Old Postcards, Old Singapore, Postcards, Singapore, Singapore Philatelic Museum, The Fullerton Heritage, The Fullerton Hotel, Yesterday Once More
Categories : Events, Forgotten Places, Marina Bay, Reminders of Yesterday, Singapore


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LA City Council Pointlessly Exaggerates Gun Deaths Since Columbine
Daniel Guss
@THE GUSS REPORT-Leave it to politicians, such as Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, to take tragic statistics about the enormous number of American gun deaths since the 1999 massacre at Colorado's Columbine High School and bastardize them for dramatic effect as he did last Friday, the 19thanniversary of the incident.
The not-so-truthful statement from Krekorian went as follows:
"…in the 19 years since Columbine, 570,000 Americans have died from gun violence…."
Followed by his patently untruthful next words:
"More than World War II, World War I and the Civil War combined, since Columbine."
As Huell Howser used to say, "Oh boy!"
Tens of millions of people died in World War II alone, leading me to ponder how Krekorian sourced and/or parsed this declaration. I reached out to his Communications Director Ian Thompson who provided a link to the PolitiFact article from which the 570,000 gun death statistic was drawn.
But since the article was from 2015, it requires extrapolation of the number of gun deaths in the years since. When asked, Thompson wrote in an email "with 30,000 additional gun deaths each year, 2015, 2016 and 2017."
That's a nice, neat figure, which was also patently untrue.
PolitiFactdoesn't support Krekorian's claim, and neither does this more recent BBC piece citing Gun Violence Archive, "13,286 people were killed in the US by firearms in 2015."
Make no mistake, each of those deaths was pointless, as was Krekorian's and Thompson's 126% exaggeration of them.
PolitiFactfurther contradicted Krekorian's claim, showing that 750,000 died in the Civil War alone; 32% higher than the Councilman's dubious 570,000 post-Columbine figure, and that doesn't even count WW1 and WW2.
Thompson kept hurling explanations for Krekorian, like this doozy:
"The numbers he cited were not incorrect. And the statement was made during announcements after the end of official Council business. In addition, the Civil War numbers you cite are misleading. The vast majority of all deaths in that war were non-combat related and caused by disease."
So, let's parse:
Thompson: "And the statement was made during announcements after the end of official Council business."
So, since Krekorian made these claims after City Council's agenda was completed, it shouldn't be scrutinized for accuracy?
Thompson: "the Civil War numbers you cite are misleading."
They are PolitiFact;the source Thompson himself provided to me on Krekorian's behalf!
Thompson: "The vast majority of all deaths in that war were non-combat related and caused by disease."
I asked Thompson to then provide a source which does have gun-related deaths in those battles, which he did not, admitting, "the stat was never about gun deaths only. It has always been American deaths on battlefields (whatever the cause) in wars."
Thompson kept shoveling until he acknowledged several hours later, "it was a misstatement for the Councilman to say that that number is more than the deaths in WWs I, II and the Civil War."
Which brings me back to the question I repeatedly asked Thompson: Knowing that Krekorian "misstated" the facts during the City Council meeting broadcast, will he correct it when they are back in session on Tuesday?"
That remains to be seen. It's important because Krekorian is an extremely articulate, highly educated official with a law degree (though he has been ineligible to practice law in the State of California for several years due to a license suspension) because, as Chair of the city's Budget and Finance Committee, as Chair of the Jobs Creation Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Board of Referred Powers, and of the Housing Committee, the things he says matter greatly and, some believe, have greater consequences than those of most of his colleagues. The numbers he quotes matter, too, because he can promote or stop laws based on them.
Thompson wrote that questions about Krekorian's statement were "quibbling."
There is a gun violence problem in the United States, worse than virtually everywhere else in the civilized world. Where Americans disagree is on its causes and what to do about them. But in order to deal with the issue, we have to be able to rely on government officials seeing the problem clearly, talking about them truthfully, and openly correcting mistakes when they are made.
The NRA has been asked for comment.
Note: I do not own a gun, and never have.
Krekorian's statement, made in the context of the city's gun buy-back program, can be seen here, if you nudge the cursor ahead to the 2 hour 41 minute mark. It is a worthwhile sentiment, but factually untrue.
(Daniel Guss, MBA, is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and has contributed to CityWatch, KFI AM-640, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, Movieline Magazine, Emmy Magazine, Los Angeles Business Journal and elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter @TheGussReport. Verifiable tips and story ideas can be sent to him at [email protected]. His opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of CityWatch.)


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Key Achievements of Fine Gael in Government March 2019
Economic & Social Overview May 2018
Economic & Social Overview March 2018
Economic & Social Overview Dec 2016
'Growing a Strong Economy to Support a Fair Society' Key Achievements of the Partnership Government
Supporting Local Communities – Co. Carlow
Economic Overview June 2016
Economic Overview March 2016
Economic Overview February 2016
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€1m in funding to reduce the cost of school books in DEIS school
Additional funding of €1m to reduce the cost of books for primary school pupils […]
Local radio in Carlow to benefit from broadcasting commission
REGIONAL and local radio stations will benefit immensely from a newly proposed commission on […]
Significant Funding announced for IT Carlow
A major announcement of €750,000 of capital grant funding for IT Carlow has been […]
New funding for IT Carlow from the Government's Regional Technology Clustering Fund
Carlow Fine Gael TD has confirmed that €377,520.00 in funding has been allocated to […]
Deering asks if local FF councillors will back landmark investment in Carlow and support rural broadband?
Fianna Fáil councillors on Carlow County Council are set to come under pressure to show […]
COVENEY COMPLETES PACKAGE FOR 2015 BASIC PAYMENT SCHEME
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today announced his decision that the value of entitlements held by farmers in 2014 will form the basis for the calculation of the value of their entitlements under the new Basic Payment Scheme in 2015.
The decision completes the package of the three 'reference points' that will determine eligibility and value under the new Scheme and provides farmers with a clear picture of how the transition from the Single Payment Scheme to the Basic Payment Scheme will be achieved. The Minister has previously announced that only those farmers who receive a direct payment in 2013 have an automatic 'allocation right' to receive entitlements in 2015 while the number of entitlements to be allocated to a farmer will be based on the lesser of the hectares declared by a farmer in 2013 and 2015. Today's decision clarifies the calculation of the value of entitlements in 2015.
The Minister said: "I understand that it is a complicated situation but my reasoning for making the decision to use the value of Entitlements rather than the value of Payments is to ensure that reductions applied to farmers' payments as a result of the ongoing review of land parcels will not be carried forward into the new Scheme. "
In addition, the decision significantly reduces the demand for land in 2014 and should make it easier for those who traditionally lease in land to continue to do so. As the calculation will not be based on the 'payment' received by the farmer in 2014, there is less need for farmers to maximise their payment in 2014 by ensuring that all their entitlements are covered by an eligible hectare. The value of all entitlements held by a farmer in 2014 will be taken into account, even where the farmer does not draw down payment on all such entitlements.
The decision also clarifies the status of entitlements that are partially leased out in 2014 where the lessor was also paid in his/her own right in 2013 and therefore has an allocation right. T
he value of such leased entitlements will be attributed to the lessor rather than to the lessee. However in such cases, the lessor and lessee may enter into a Private Contract Clause (PCC) arrangement whereby the lessor may lease out together with the holding or part of it the corresponding payment entitlements that will be allocated in 2015. Such Private Contract Clause would have the effect of recognising a lease entered into under the Single Payment Scheme and carries it forward into the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015.
However persons who have leased out their entire holding and all entitlements for a period which includes 2013 do not have an automatic 'allocation right' and are not eligible to establish entitlements in their own right nor enter into a PCC to transfer entitlements to the lessee. The value of such 100% leased entitlements may be lost to both lessor and lessee unless action is taken. Persons in this situation may avoid the loss of the value of their leased entitlements by entering into a permanent transfer of the leased entitlements under the 2014 scheme year before the 15 May 2014. The Department will write to all persons who find themselves in this position to advise them of their options.
The Minister concluded: "I am confident that the measures I have put in place will ensure a smooth transition from the Single Payment Scheme to the Basic Payment Scheme in the new CAP. Of course, I would also encourage famers to talk in detail with their adviser or consultant to ensure that they understand the transition into the new CAP. In this regard the Department is providing training sessions for both Teagasc and private farm consultants starting next week.
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New childcare scheme means Carlow families receive subsidies quickly
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This season in the Superettan (Sweden), Örgryte IS stats show they are performing Excellent overall, currently placing them at 2/16 in the Superettan Table, winning 75% of matches.
On average Örgryte score 2 goals and concede 0.75 goals per match. 75% of this Örgryte's matches end with both teams scoring and their average total goals per match is 2.75.
• Örgryte has scored a total of 8 goals this season.
• Örgryte has conceded a total of 3 goals this season.
Today Norrby host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Dalkurd in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Degerfors in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Syrianska host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Brommapojkarna in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today GAIS host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Brage in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Trelleborg in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Jönköpings Södra host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Öster host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Mjällby in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Västerås SK host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Halmstad in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Varberg host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Frej host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Öster in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Brommapojkarna host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host GAIS in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Brage host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Syrianska in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Dalkurd host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Trelleborg host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Varberg in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Jönköpings Södra in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Mjällby host Örgryte in the Superettan from Sweden.
Today Örgryte host Västerås SK in the Superettan from Sweden.
in the Superettan from Sweden.
Over 7.5 ~ 13.5 Corners are calculated from total corners in a match that Örgryte IS has participated in the 2019 season of Superettan.
Örgryte IS's stats indicate that ?% of their matches accumulated over 9.5 total corners. While 2019 season of Superettan has an average of ?% for over 9.5.
?% of Örgryte IS's matches had over 3.5 cards. Compared to this, Superettan has an average of ?% for over 3.5 cards.
Over 2.5 ~ 8.5 Corners For are calculated from corners that Örgryte IS has won during a match.
Örgryte IS has won over 4.5 corners in ?% of their matches.
Over 0.5 ~ 6.5 Cards Received are calculated from cards that Örgryte IS has received during a match.
Örgryte IS received over 2.5 cards in ?% of their matches.
Over 2.5 ~ 8.5 Corners Against are calculated from corners that Örgryte IS's opponent has won during a match.
Over 0.5 ~ 6.5 Cards Opponent are calculated from cards that Örgryte IS's opponent has received during a match.


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Come spend your dream holidays in Costa Verde.
This is one of the most exciting and best selling motorbike tours in Portugal. An experience you will want to repeat and experience with your friends. Known as the "Enduro Capital", Costa Verde offers a wide range of trails making for a memorable off road experience. The question is not what you will find in this tour, it is rather what you won't find in this tour, because this tour caters for every palate: mud tracks, gravel, rock, fast or slow, exhilarating or soothing to take in the amazing landscape.
The first challenge presents itself just as you leave Basecamp, through quite technical trails, up river beds and streams. Three days on the move, making the most of the different terrains, through breathtaking sceneries, along age old historic trails and coming across heritage sites hidden in the mountains.
You will have the chance to be up and close to local wildlife, such as the wild horses, discover the most picturesque villages in the Minho region and obviously taste local delicacies.
Regardless of how experienced you are you will never forget the endless adrenaline highs you will get riding your 2019 KTM motorbike, as well as the time spent at Basecamp, chilling around the swimming pool, socializing with other riders or with your family, or simply taking in the surrounding landscape and all its rich culture and nature.
An unforgettable adventure tour, and possibly one of the best off road experiences in Portugal, combining great bikes, great trails, stunning nature landscapes and local culture.


This Honey, I Shrunk the Superhero shirt features the ant-sized crime fighter on the front. Scott Lang uses his special suit to shrink himself and fight his enemies from a much different perspective. It is certainly reminiscent of Rick Moranis' character Wayne Szalinski in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.


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ZENIT St-Petersburg
The pride and love of St. Petersburg, FC ZENIT is the only main club of the city. The passion of its fans can be seen at the infamous Petrovskiy Stadium on match days, and around the whole city when the team isn't even playing. Blue, white, and sky blue are the colors of the club, and the fans walk around the city with these scarves and hats on to support their club. In the past few years, Zenit has experienced great success in the Russian league and the European leagues. The influx of money can be found by its' main sponsor, Gazprom. The oil and gas giant recently became the club's sponsor shortly after the turn of the millennium.
Zenit's history started in the early 20th century as a loosely organized amateur club, but its true history started during 1944, when the club won the USSR Cup against CSKA. This started the success and legend of Zenit St. Petersburg for the city. Although the club was named Zenit Leningrad throughout the Soviet Union era, the club was often placed in the middle part of the league, as Moscow clubs such as Spartak, CSKA, and Dynamo Moskva took most of the honors, as well as the most successful club in the Soviet era, Dynamo Kyiv. The club won bronze in 1980, won the Soviet Cup Final and the league in 1984, and in 1985, Zenit won the Soviet Super Cup.
The post Soviet era saw Zenit performing in the second league until the late 1990's. Zenit saw its first cup victory under the name of Zenit St. Petersburg in 2003. Then in 2007, Zenit won the Russian Premier League title and allowed the club to make its first ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League. But before taking part in the Champions League, Zenit made history in the UEFA Cup, by destroying Bayern Munich in the semi-finals 5-1 on aggregate. It was a huge shock for all of Europe, and the biggest shock came next, as the club defeated Rangers of Glasgow 2-0 in the final. It was the first European trophy won by the club, and the UEFA Super Cup came shortly after as Zenit defeated Manchester United 2-1.
The recent success of Zenit has made the passion and belief in its fans to be at an all time high. The club means so much for the city and its fans, which its fame will not be going away anytime soon.
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Irfan Mehraj is an independent journalist and researcher based in downtown Srinagar in India controlled Kashmir. He recently completed his masters in Mass Communication and Journalism at University of Kashmir and has a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, History and Political Science. For past few years, Irfan has worked as journalist in Kashmir where his work has focused on human rights issues, education and culture. He has also worked as a researcher where his focus was on investigating the present patterns of land-use in Kashmir. His interest as a researcher and writer is to draw focus on the cultural life of Kashmiris who have lived under political subjugation for several centuries and continue to be severely restricted in expressing their cultural identity and independence.
Irfan has previously worked as a staff writer with Authint Mail (which is now Authint News www.authintnews.com), an online news website based in Kashmir. He has also worked with a weekly news magazine 'Kashmir Life', where he wrote book and film reviews and reported on culture. He also had a brief stint as a reporter with Kashmir Reader (www.kashmirreader.com) , a daily newspaper based in Kashmir.