Balkan Tours and Travels

Archive for October, 2008

Greece is a country located in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula with over two thousand islands under their name. Many people say you can never finish seeing all of the islands in one lifetime, but I know once you visit the Greek Islands, you’ll want to keep exploring them and going back over and over.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Greece from northern Europe is flying. Most people think that taking land travel would be a cheaper alternative but scheduled flights are so competitively priced these days that its not worth the time hunting for anything more.

If there’s one island in the top list of “must visits”, it’ll be Santorini… And the best way to visit this beautiful island would be by ferry. There’s much debate whether you should take it during the morning for the sunrise or in the evening for the sunset as you sail into a giant volcanic caldera that promises you dramatic entrance and start to your holiday.

Another great island to visit would be Mykonos which is actually pretty accessible. Flights from Athens depart multiple times a day to Mykonos or if you prefer the scenic route take a ferry from Pireaus or Rafina. Be warned though the boat ride is about 5hours long, but that more than makes up for it with stops in Tinos and Syros, letting you cover multiple islands in that day trip. If you’re already in Santorini there’re options available from there to Mykonos as well so don’t worry about having to go all the way back to Athens.

For the longer boat rides (10 – 15) hours, get a cabin so you can relax and dine in luxury. It probably costs the same as a flight to that island but with all the comfort and amenities you get on board its worth the splurge.

You’ll have to be careful when you plan to do some island hopping in Greece. Not every island is accessible to another so plan your route well in advance and if you’re ever in doubt, travel agents there will more than be happy to help you out, even if it’s a last minute thing. Oh and if you’re going to Greece in August I suggest you avoid taking the ferries on the days before and after Easter unless you’ve already book your tickets well in advanced as you probably wont be able to get a spot on the ferry.

Caffeinated Content

How do you decide whether to do a water line replacement or just a water line repair? Thousands of property owners are faced with that question every year when a water main requires repairs. There are sensible guidelines to follow and sound advice as well.

The Three Factors Needed To Make A Wise Decision:
The material the existing water main is made out of. The age of the existing water main. The price difference between a water line repair and a water line replacement.

Water Main Materials

There are three materials generally legal for a water service lines. They are copper, brass, and ductile iron pipe. For water service lines up to 2″, which includes the vast majority of water service lines throughout NYC, K copper is used. For a larger water main, such as for a fire sprinkler main or for an apartment building, ductile iron pipe is generally used. Brass is usually only used for 2 1/2″ service lines, or on special request.

In many municipalities is not legal to do a repair on a lead or galvanized water main regardless of the condition or age of the water main. So right off the bat, if the line is lead or galvanized pipe a repair is eliminated from being one of your options. Typically galvanized water services provide very low water pressure and performing a repair on such a service will not solve a water pressure problem.

The Age Of The Existing Service Line

The useful life of a typical water service line is around 50 years. Therefore any water service line over 50 years old is not a candidate for a water line repair and a full replacement should be the only option. Lead and galvanized pipe has not been used in approximately 60 years or more; another reason to never consider a repair of these materials. Another thing to consider is that metal become brittle as they age, and connecting to an existing water service is always a chancy proposition. For the above reasons a water line replacement is typically the job of choice unless the water line is only a few years old.

The Cost Comparisons

An important thing to consider is that many of the costs in performing either a water line repair or a water line replacement are set. Permit fees, restoration costs, much of the labor, tools and equipment are all required regardless of the scope of work. material costs comprise only around 20% or so of the cost of a water main job. Therefore there is typically not a tremendous difference in the cost of a water line repair and a water line replacement.

A general rule of thumb is that if a repair costs 50% or more of the cost of a replacement, just do the replacement. This rule of thumb can be applied to other purchasing decisions such as when deciding whether to buy “new” or “used”. Most licensed and reputable plumbing firms would agree that an educated and knowledgeable Client is their very best customer. Doing the right job should always be the priority, not just “making a sale”. And knowing when doing a plumbing repair job is unwise and a waste of money is vital information for property owners and plumbers alike.

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