Spring Break University: Post-Rental Memories & Lessons 101

Spring Break University: Post-Rental Memories & Lessons 101

Spring break evokes fun-filled nights and days by young men and women coming from very far to change the rhythm of a sleepy beach town. Writing about spring break usually brings forth the major spring break destinations such as Florida, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Daytona Beach, Jamaica and other Caribbean hot spots. What many rental properties have not shared with the public is the amount of money and repairs that go on after the wild beer-laden and overcrowded parties are over. To get an idea of what went on at these rental houses, condos and hotel rooms, we have been talking to those who clean all the mess up. Yes, the cleaning people have a few good points to make about Spring Break. For them, it is not all fun. Many homeowners and rental managers end up losing sleep over the conditions in which their house is found.

It is not uncommon to spend thousands of dollar to repair some of these fancy beach houses. Anything that is supposed to go wrong can go wrong during these days where young men and women roam the beaches searching for the next alcohol fix and fun. If you leave a furnished house, you may find it empty with holes in the walls, towel racks yanked loose, cigarette burns, broken chairs, tables and plates. The bad part can be overflowing toilets. So real estate agents and housekeepers know that some slobs that live among us, the rest of human species. These people can turn your stomach due to their pools of vomit and antics of hiding blood-soaked towels, pillow in closet and between mattresses, tacking condoms on the wall, stacking every stick of furniture, ripping a ceiling fan down etc. Nights of alcohol have the distinct way of destroying rugs, busting doors and windows to say the least. Housekeepers clean puke in the porches and sinks. They have to clean up the garbage disposal and the refrigerator that is full with rotten foods and pizzas. Every Summer, beach towns all over the US, Mexico and Jamaica have to deal with Junebugs, these college and high school students who come to have fun. Yes, they bring the money, but the damage they cause can be huge. Owners are always surprised to see what these kids can do. They leave maggot-filled meat on the table and the counters. They also used feminine products in the restroom and bedroom. It is like a disaster area.

Importance of Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon & Yellowstone National Parks

Study Funded by National Park Service Departing Director Finds Significance and Influences on Nearby Communities

Buses laden with tourists from Germany, England, France, Canada, Belgium, Austria and elsewhere are heading up the mountain to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National parks. Most of them want to spend time and money at places such as Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite National park. They want to be intimate with one of the natural wonders of the world. The study found that the tourists who flocked to these local national wonders also pump money not only into Oakhurst, Three Rivers and Mariposa, but also into far-flung places such as Fresno, Clovis, Visalia and other surrounding business places. This study was commissioned amidst the proposed budget cuts in the millions of dollars this year. For sure, the National Park Service plays an important role in the economic vitality of many communities. Yosemite by itself pumps $371 million to nearby communities. For your information, it is ranked as no. 3 among national parks, monuments and historic parks. The study found that the Great Smoky Mountains National park in Tennessee and North Carolina and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona ranked first and second. It found Yellowstone comes in fourth place. The study gave examples of local businesses whose business depends largely on the park. Reimer's Candies in Three Rivers sells boxes of chocolates displayed in the front window showing a panoramic photograph of the High Sierra. Without Yosemite, this business would not exist for all these 57 years. Over the years, Oakhurst has become a major hub for art galleries. Many tourists buy paintings as souvenirs. Famous painters, artists have made Oakhurst their home in order to be close to their customers. From April to the beginning of the first snow fall, the mountain communities are abuzz with tourists who want to see the parks.

Farewell to Steve Irwin: Stingray Killed Crocodile Hunter

Quotations from Steve Irwin who was know as The Crocodile Hunter. He was killed Monday while filming a TV show about the dangers of the ocean. He was fatally stabbed in the chest by a stingray’s barb which appears to have pierced his heart.

I am optimistic globally. So many scientists are working frantically on the reparation of our planet.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter

I believe sustainable use is the greatest propaganda in wildlife conservation at the moment.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter

I believe our biggest issue is the same biggest issue that the whole world is facing, and that’s habitat destruction.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter

But I put my life on the line to save animals.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter

Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter

I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.
- Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter