Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on October 10th, 2009
Located in a dream place, Castor Mountain Ski Resort is the most exclusive winter center of Argentina, located at the south hill of the Castor mountain, in Ushuaia, a place which is protected to the winds and its excellent snow can be compared to the snow in Moscu, Russia.
The ski tracks in Castor Mountain counts with the best preparation for winter, and from the 600 meters above the level of the sea, the ground is planted with grass to retain the snow when the defrost starts. In its 600 hectares, the ski resort has 24 ski runs and a snowpark, with a slope of 800 meters.
In Castor Mountain, everyone can learn the winter sports. It counts with a team of 60 instructors to teach ski and snowboard in individual or collective classes, or also more extreme styles, like ski off piste and mountain guides service, where the students will learn rescue techniques and risk management.
For children, Castor Mountain offers a Ski School until 12 years old. There are also a Snow Kindergarden for kids from 3 to 5 years old and an excellent nursery for babies from 2 months old to two years old, located in front of the ski runs.
Because of its features, Castor Mountain offers one of the longest ski season, going from june to the middle of octuber, with enough snow to practice ski and snowboard, always at -5 degrees to 5 degrees.
Castor Mountain is also the ski resort most visited by international ski teams, who train in its excellent ski tracks, with perfect snow. To guarantee this, the mountain counts with 10 canyons to generate artificial snow from the 480 meters to the base, so the thickness in the soil is always the ideal one.
It has the best ski lifts, with capacity to carry 2700 passengers, and the ski runs together have a length of 24 kilometers.
Castor Mountain also counts with Castor Ski Lodge, a wonderful lodging with 15 cabins, full equipped with services and amenities like bathrooms with hydro massage, living with chimney and satellital television, with different capacities depending on the number of passengers, from two to ten people.
In the mountain you can also enjoy of the exquisite gastronomy of Patagonia, with excellent restaurants such as Morada del Aguila, the place of the after ski, which is located in Villa Castor at the base of the mountain, with the patagonian lamb as its specialty. Snowbar is a coffee shop that is also in the base, with capacity for 80 people. Parador Cota 480 is distinguished by its delicious sweet preparations, buffet service and desserts and also its Sushi Bar. Parador La Barra is highest in the mountain, at 600 meters and exclusive for skiers.
Besides of these excellent services, Castor Mountain is located at just 26 kilometers away from Ushuaia, offering the possibility to visit the city and its lodgings, restaurant, artisan fairs and different activities. Discover Castor Mountain and the heights at the southernmost point of the world.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on September 13th, 2008
Who doesn’t like to travel? All of us do! In addition, when it comes to Overseas adventure travel, most people are thrilled with the excitement that comes along. The good news is that there are several options available for those who crave for Overseas adventure travel. Overseas adventure travel is about going to places that have never been traveled or less traveled. This further helps in facilitating the traveler to know a lot about different cultures. One can also have a look at the majestic wildlife that exists in the universe.
There are several companies online and offline that cater to Overseas adventure travel. They provide excellent services and top quality customer service to the people interested in travel. If you are looking forward to set out on a trip to Overseas adventure travel, you need to do some planning. Here are certain things that you need to keep in mind and follow:
a) The reason: Before planning for Overseas adventure travel, you must know what an Overseas adventure travel really signifies to you. Some people find it a way to bond with their family, some want to know about different cultures that exist across the globe and others want to explore many things. So, make sure you know what the trip really means to you and why you want to go out on such a travel prior to planning for it.
b) Planning: Plan a trip really well, knows exactly where you would be going, the number of days you would spend at a specific place and the amount of money you would be comfortable to shell out.
c) Preparation: When it comes to an Overseas adventure travel, you are expected to carry your own supplies. Good shoes are important for the trip. Do not forget a sunscreen, a hat and an effective insect repellent.
d) A budget: It is equally important to plan a budget and stick to it. Remember that a budget needs to be large when going on Overseas adventure travel. You may need to shop around and compare various package plans in order to determine whether the amount you spend is worth the cost.
e) Package: It is advisable to go for a travel package only after a lot of research. Evaluate the company’s authentification and whether it is giving you all the facilities for the money that you are spending. In addition, keep in mind that any trip that comes with a ‘cheap’ tag attached to it will have fewer amenities make sure you read reviews related to the price offerings and services of the company.
f) Analyze and act: Make doubly sure that you read all the terms and conditions of the fine print prior to agreeing and getting into a contract.
Overseas adventure travel is great fun especially if you love traveling. All you require to do is to do some research and a lot of planning prior to actually setting out on such a trip.
An adventure trip also works towards teaching you a lot.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on September 8th, 2008
Table Mountain is the considerable backdrop to the South African city of Cape Town. From the top of Table Mountain you have a fantastic view across the city, and by exploring the mountain once you are up there, you will be able to see the surrounding areas as well.
There are two ways to scale the heights of Table Mountain. One is by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and the other is the more traditional way of hiking.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway was originally built in 1929 and carries 800,000 passengers a year. It takes approximately ten minutes to reach the top. The views whilst you are in the cable car are superb as the floor of the cable cars rotates 360 degrees.
Alternatively, stretch your legs with a two to three hour hike up the mountain. You should always check on the weather conditions and forecast before setting out. Also, make sure you have a map and plenty of supplies to keep you hydrated and energised during the hike. The most popular route to scale the mountain is through a gorge known as Platteklip Gorge. Platteklip means flat stone in Afrikaans, however, the route is anything but flat. The hike has stone steps and is akin to using a stairmaster at the gym. Nevertheless, it is a wholly rewarding experience with spectacular views and the chance to catch a glimpse of some of Table Mountain’s unique flora and fauna.
Interestingly, Table Mountain has an incredibly diverse range of flora and is quite famous for this reason. With over 1500 species of plants on the mountain, you are certain to enjoy what is classed as the single richest floristic area in the world.
The fauna on Table Mountain is also rather diverse with a little-known creature called the dassie being one of the most abundant animals. Dassies look like rabbits; however, their closest genetic relative is an elephant! You may also see porcupines, snakes and mongooses in your travels atop Table Mountain.
Besides the hike up the mountain, the best way to see the views, flora and fauna is to take a walk once you are on top. There are three treks of varying difficulty that will allow you to see 360 degree views that include Cape Town, Cape Peninsula, Table Bay, Robben Island and the Cape Flats.
If you are planning your trip from the moment you arrive from your flights to Cape Town, then it is important to remember that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and the starting point for the Platteklip Gorge hike are about half an hour from the city centre; easily accessible by car, bus, taxi or tour bus. What’s more, as a major city there are plenty of accommodation options in Cape Town to suit every budget, which is good to know considering the current economic climate.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on March 27th, 2008
Someone has rightly said “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams”. And if your dreams revolve around adventure, then Rajasthan is the place for you. Offering a promise of adventure and excitement, the varied topography of this state beckons you to indulge in its several adventure sports.
To begin with, your adventure tour to this tourist destination is incomplete without a camel safari. Mount the ship of the desert and venture into the unknown sand dunes, which stretch for miles. The dramatic scenery of the sand dunes crafted by wind is truly captivating. Enjoy the mesmerizing sunsets and experience the life style of nomads by planning a stay at the camps organized in the desert. They offer a different experience to the travelers, adding loads of fun and adventure to their stay. The tents in the camps are fitted with good facilities and their interiors are beautifully decorated with royal paintings. Gorge on the traditional Rajasthani food in the camps and sleep under the star studded sky. You will surely love the experience!
Also take a plunge into the adventure sports like para sailing, hot air ballooning, rock climbing, river rafting, water skiing, angling and trekking at this fascinating tourist destinations. This land of Raja-Maharaja offers ample opportunities and facilities for a variety of adventure sports. Other exciting sports to indulge in or watch are golf, horse polo, camel polo, elephant polo and bicycle polo. The hot air balloon rides will take you to the different cities such as Pushkar, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Udaipur in an adventurous style. The best destinations for trekking in this region of India are the Mewar belt of Udaipur-Kumbhalgarh, Mount Abu and Sariska-Alwar-Amber belt.
If you wish to savor a royal taste of the erstwhile Raja-Maharajahs, then do visit the Vintage and Classic Car Collection Museum, which is located in the Garden hotel, Udaipur. The museum houses around 24 vehicles, which once served as the means of transport for the erstwhile kings. The views of the cars of different sizes and designs reflecting the royal choices of the Maharajahs are truly fascinating.
Besides adventure sports, a tour to Rajasthan will offer you an opportunity to experience the wild side of nature in its world famous Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. A wide variety of flora and fauna is present here. Ranthambhor National Park, Sariska National Park and Ghana National Park are the must-see wildlife destinations of the state.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on February 8th, 2008
Whether you fancy white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking or hiking, these are just some of the adventure holidays on offer in France, and with so many different activities on offer your holiday can range from the extreme sports to the more sedate, through to adult only adventures, what ever you decide this sort of holiday is never going to be boring, plus all the family can be involved together, which can also make for a great learning experience.
Complete package holidays are a good way of getting the holiday you want without the hassle and these can be catered specifically for your needs, yet you can also choose to book specific activities for a day here and there whilst on your holiday. And when booking your adventure holiday, you would normally be in a reasonably small, informal group of around three to five families, or a social group of around 15 to 30, which would be headed by a trained tour leader and representative. You will also find that this can be a great way to meet other like minded families and individuals, whilst enjoying yourselves and, of course, testing yourselves to the limits along the way.
There are some people that would think of white water rafting or sky diving as extreme adventure sport, whilst others would think of cycling to one place, then going on horse back to another as a great adventure. But the truth is, there is an adventure holiday available to suit all tastes and some are more strenuous than others, so please do always check the itinerary thoroughly and make sure it is going to be suitable everyone.
You can also choose from activities such as canoeing and rafting in the Ardeche, canyoning, tubing and mountaineering in the Alps, horse riding in Brittany, paragliding and climbing in the Pyrenees, or why not go to Chamonix which is a real mountain town, full of history and is popular for skiing holidays, but also provides amazing summer mountaineering and with the diverse terrain it is mostly suited to the experienced for some of the worlds best winter riding.
Why not visit the Gorge d’Ardeche is also known as the Grand Canyon of Europe and as the river winds its way past steep canyon walls and towering cliffs, this creates the ideal location for canoeing, climbing and walking both for the experienced and the novice alike.
The Alps Maritime is like discovering the true France and even though the Roya Valley is only around one hours drive from the Riviera, it is still very unspoilt, and the valley itself is renowned for its many canyons and with the fast flowing river and mountain scenery, this could be the perfect location for an exhilarating family adventure holiday with lots of different activities to choose from, so you could never become bored, just possibly exhausted!
Also, France has lots of lakes and miles of coastal water suitable for water skiing and other water sports, although the areas in the South of France are far warmer, which gives it an added advantage.
Also this country has some of the finest terrain for mountain biking, which is probably why France has been able to produce some the best mountain bikers in the World, but there are also lots of other adventures that might take your fancy, which could include pony trekking, kayaking, scuba diving, wind surfing, hiking, rope courses, caving, abseiling, thrilling jumps into pools, quad biking and much, much more.
Just make sure that whatever type of adventure holiday you are looking for, you think of everyone that is in your party, as some activities are not available for children under certain ages, so you do need to consider what will be appropriate, after all if you like cycling but have a heart condition, then mountain biking is not going to be beneficial!
There are some trips that will cater for the experienced, such as rafting down rapids or ice climbing for the experienced rock climber, whereas a novice or for instance someone that has never even been in a canoe or on a horse before, would need to look at having some tuition incorporated within their holiday before they could attempt some of the activities on offer.
Also, do confirm the equipment, if any, that you will need to take with you along with any specific clothing requirements, such as hiking boots or your own life jacket, just as we had to get a life jacket for our daughter due to her age, as there were not any available in very small sizes and the last thing you want is to get to your destination and realise you cannot participate in the activities you were so looking forward to.
So for anyone who is interested in outdoor adventure travel then this type of holiday can really show you the real France by taking you off the normal beaten track and into the heart of this remarkable country.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on September 6th, 2007
Meribel is in the heart of the Three Valleys skiing area in the French Alps. It’s Europe’s favourite skiing destination with stunning scenery and excellent snow conditions for a wonderful ski holiday. Travel to the ski slopes is now very convenient with budget airlines and trains offering their services from UK to the ski destinations in France.
But travelling with all your bulky winter clothes, accessories and the heavy, large bags of your ski equipment is not an easy thing. At the same time, buying ski equipment is not an option if you are only going for a season.
Also, ski gear is expensive and requires maintenance and care to keep it in top condition. With the constant upgrades and latest models available in skis, your gear can quickly become outdated. Another issue is that your ski gear needs to match the snow conditions at the ski resort. With your own equipment, you are stuck with equipment that’s not quite suited to the snow conditions at Meribel.
For all these reasons, many skiers prefer ski hire at Meribel. The advantages are many: its convenient- lighter and hassel free travel, cheaper than buying your own ski equipment. You are also assured that you will get ski gear that’s in excellent condition and just suited to the snow conditions and for your skiing level. The ski hire services at Meribel cater to all levels of skiers from beginners to advanced skiiers. Hiring ski equipment may also be a good idea for young children. They’ll outgrow their boots, if not their skis, in a season, sometimes quicker.
Here are tips on ways to save money when skiing, including purchasing equipment inexpensively in Meribel.
Start your search well before you plan to go on your ski holiday. The best place to start your search is the internet. There are many ski hire websites which offer their services for hiring skis and skiing equipment in the Meribel resort. You will find several cheap ski hire packages to match your requirements and your budget.
When you hire ski in time equipment online, you will have a range of options to choose ski equipment for your family or group based on their personal requirements.
Give all your details accurately: your height, weight, and ability level are the most important things that you will be asked while hiring ski equipment online. This information is important to get you the right equipment and also for setting the release weight (DIN setting) on your bindings.
Insurance recommended: Many shops will offer optional ‘insurance’ on top of normal rental. This will typically cover all of the costs should you lose your skis, damage them or have them stolen. Its important given the risk of unpredictable snow and weather conditions on the pistes.
Are discounted lift tickets available when you book your ski rental? If so, check out all the options (multi-day tickets, mid-week tickets, etc.) to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
These are some of the important things to bear in mind while hiring skis and ski equipment at Meribel. You can visit (website URL) for details, information and discount offers for ski hire at Meribel.
For further information log on to http://www.ski-hire-meribel.com
Key words:
ski hire meribel, ski hire meribel ski hire, ski rent meribel, ski hire services in meribel, ski hire in meribel, ski hire france
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on January 11th, 2007
Skiing and snowboarding holidays have grown in popularity in recent years. This has been made possible by the growth of the low cost airlines and the increase in the availability of holiday home rentals.There are now many ski chalets, self catering apartments, farmhouses and holiday villas to choose from all over Europe and the rest of the world.
France has become a very popular winter sports holiday destination. The explosion in the number of people snowboarding has led to tourists going to France on snowboarding weekends and also long weekend skiing holidays. The snowboarders like to stay in either self catering apartments or if they are in larger groups they rent one of the many fabulous ski chalets available in France. The ski chalets are also in great demand from family skiing holidays. They are close to the ski slopes and make for a great Alpine family skiing holiday in France.
The great thing about skiing holidays in France is that there are holiday home rentals available to suite all budgets. It is possible to have a cheap skiing weekend break staying in a small apartment or have a luxurious skiing holiday in Chamonix, staying in one of the superb holiday chalets in the Alps.
Norway is loved by cross country skiers and many families go there on skiing holidays and stay in a traditional chalet. Austria and Switzerland are also popular winter sports destination with people wanting to go snowboarding and on skiing holidays.
For people wanting to travel further afield, there is excellent skiing available in America and Canada. The Rockies is becoming popular with snow boarders and traditional skiing is still growing in numbers. In America there are some luxurious ski villas available to rent and some of them even come with their own swimming pools.
A skiing holiday is a great family vacation and families of all ages enjoy to ski. Age is no barrier to skiing as there are ski slopes for all skiing abilities. Most ski resorts have ski schools where skiers can learn to ski. As long as you are fairly fit and like to exert yourself, then a vacation to one of the world top ski resorts will provide you with a great family holiday.
For beginners to skiing or snowboarding, it can be a nervous experience the first time that you hit the ski slopes, but after a few falls, bumps and bruises you usually find yourself hooked on the sport. It is advisable to book lessons the first time that you go on vacation skiing or snow boarding. However don’t be put off if you have never been on a skiing vacation before as ski resorts cater for skiers of all abilities.
Skiing holidays have become popular in many mountainous countries around the world. Skiing is popular in France and the Alps provide excellent skiing conditions in hundreds of ski resorts across Europe. All now offer excellent self catering accommodation in apartments, chalets and villas.
Chamonix is best known around the world for its spectacular Alpine view of Mont Blanc and there are some luxurious skiing chalets available to rent in this location. Courcheval is a popular skiing destination with many designer shops and superb restaurants. Meribel and Morzine are also popular skiing resorts helping to make the French Alps one of the most popular winter sports destinations in the world.
Switzerland is another popular European winter sport destination with picture book wooden ski chalets. The Valais region is known around the world for its excellent skiing facilities and spectacular scenery. The Appenine mountains in Italy has good resorts at Le Marche and Abruzzo.
The one thing that renting skiing chalets, apartments or farmhouses from their owners have in common is that they provide the holiday makers with a great deal of freedom. They are able to sample the local way of life and get a true feel of the local culture of the country that they are staying in.
It is no wonder that many holiday makers on winter sports vacation return to the same country year after year. Whether it is a skiing weekend break, a snowboarding holiday to the Alps or a family skiing holiday to France, you are sure to have a great vacation.
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on September 12th, 2006
Because of its mists and clouds, natural scenery in the area changes beyond prediction. Xu Xiake, a noted Chinese geologist and traveler in Ming Dynasty, praised Huangshan Mountain as the best of all mountains
Yellow Mountain (Mt.Huangshan) in east China’s Anhui province is one of Chinas ten best-known scenic spots, It is characterized by the four wonders, namely, odd-shaped pines, grotesque rock formation, seas of clouds and crystal-clear hot springs.
Wu yue is the collective name given to China’s most important mountains, namely Mt. Taishan in Shandong Province, Mt. Huashan in Shaanxi Province, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi Province, Mt. Songshan in Henan Province and Mt. Hengshan in Hunan Province. It is said that you won’t want to visit any other mountains after seeing wu yue but you won’t wish to see even wu yue after returning from Mt. Huangshan. This saying may give you some idea of the beauty and uniqueness of Mt. Huangshan. Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Mt. Huangshan has become one of the great symbols of China.
Mount Huangshan extends 40 kilometers from south to north and 30 kilometers from east to west, covering an area of 1200 square kilometers, the highlights of which occupy 154 square kilometers.
Huangshan Mountain is a marvel: within an area of 154 square kilometers there is a crowd of peaks, 72 of which have names indicating the shapes they resemble. Lotus, Brightness Top and Celestial Capital are the three major ones, all rising above 1,800 meters above sea level. The mountains are a body of granite, often with vertical joints. Erosion and fracture contributed to shape the rocks into huge columns, giving rise to lofty peaks and deep ravines. When it is cloudy the pinnacles loom in mists as if they were illusionary, while the sun is shining they unfold in all their majesty and splendor. Huangshan Mountain change its color and appearance with the alternation of seasons. In spring blooming flowers decorate the slopes in a riot of color and fill the valleys with fragrance; in summer you see verdure peaks rising one upon another and hear springs gurgling merrily. Autumn dresses the mountains in red and purple as maples and some other trees are blazing-red; winter turns them into a world of frost and ice with silver boughs and rocks everywhere. Here in Huangshan, pines and rocks are intimately involved with each other, almost every rock has a pine tree growing out of the crevice, and every tree has tortuous and gnarled roots and branches.The still sea of snow-white cloud can suddenly begin to roll and toss, rise or fall, gather or disperse while the peaks emerge and disappear in the clouds like isles in the ocean. So from ancient times it has been frequented by tourists seeking their mystery and admiring their frequented by tourists seeking their mystery and admiring their scenery. They come to the conclusion that the fantastic pines, the grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs are the four major attractions of the Yellow Mountains. As a matter of fact there are marvels almost everywhere, especially in the following scenic areas: Wenquan (Hot Spring), Yupinglou (Jade Screen Tower), Xihai ( West Sea), Beihai (North Sea), Yungusi (Cloud Valley Temple) and Songgu’an (Pine Valley Nunnery).
There is plentiful rainfall in Huangshan Mountain. Therefore there are thick forests.Owing to the peculiar terrain, the Huangshan Mountain’s climate is marked by a vertical change, and the vertical distribution of vegetation is also distinctive: plants on the summit, on the middle levels and at the foot belong to the frigid, temperate and subtropical zones respectively. There are more than 1500 species of plants, of which trees comprise one third. So the Huangshan Mountain occupy an important place in China’s botanical research. Here you will find century-old pines, firs, ginkgoes, actinidia, Chinese torreyas and camphor woods, remnants of the glacial era. A number of trees are celebrated on account of their age, grotesque shape, or precipitously perched position. Mount Huangshan abound in flowering plants; many of them are rare ones, such as Huangshan Rhododendron, magnolia as well as azalea, camellia, plum, lily, orchid, and so on. It has a rich store of medicinal herbs; more than 300 kinds are found here; the notable ones being glossy ganoderma ginseng, Chinese gold thread rhizome and Chinese cinnamon. Maofeng tea of Huangshan is well known at home and abroad.
Huangshan Mountains also provide the natural habitat for a wide variety of fauna. Among the animals there are monkeys, goats, deer, pangolin and squirrels. There are rare birds such as the red-billed leiothrix, the silver pheasant, the octave-tone bird and the oriole, all good singers. The red-billed leiothrix (called “love birds” in Chinese) are so lovely that they have become favorites of foreign tourists and are exported by pairs. Besides, chukkar(stone frog) from the streams is good to make delicious dishes with.
Mt. Huangshan’s climate is mild and humid, neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter, the temperature is agreeable all the year round .
It is cool in summer, averaging 70 °F at the North Sea Area ( 1 ,630 meters above sea) and 80 °F at Hot Spring Area (630 meters above sea) in July (the hottest month). As clouds often shut out the sun, hot weather never stays long, and this makes Yellow Mountains an ideal summer resort.
Mt.Huangshan lies in subtropical zones, so it’s not quiet cold in winter, at least, not so cold as some people expected. The temperature ranges from 25 °F to 40 °F, but it’s enough to result in a fantastic snow scenery and a silver world with pines and precipitous peaks covered with snow and decorated with icicles .
Tickets:
CNY 200 (Mar. 1-Nov.30)
CNY 120 (Dec.1-Feb.28 the next year)
Opening Hours: 08:40 to 16:00
Pictures of Yellow Mountain (Mt.Huangshan):http://www.touring-china.com/china-pictures/245.html
Posted by admin | Destinations | Posted on August 18th, 2006
When planning a vacation, all-inclusive packages are still most popular. It is the easiest way not to worry about the finer details of planning a holiday. With the rise in the pre-arranged vacation packages, there are several resorts that are offering holidays where many of the facilities are clubbed together. If you are planning to hit the slopes on your vacation this time, ski packages will be the most affordable as well as fitting option for you.
There are big independent sellers of ski packages in North America and other places who will provide you with a total ski vacation and in some of the best resorts around the world. Skiers come from around the world to experience Colorado ski vacation both on and off the slopes. You can also book ski packages which have been tailored according to your requirements and budget. The tour arrangers will find some of the best ski packages deals and also offer a personalized service.
There are several ski resorts all across US including Colorado and you can plan an ideal ski trip. The ski package will include accommodation, airfare, airport transfers, car rentals, and sometimes the rent for the equipment. This will make tour ski vacation planning and travel efficient and easy.
There are a number of options to find a ski package. You can get in touch with travel agents, who are the best resource for getting even the unpublished deals. Make sure you work with a travel agent who has a good reputation and is also knowledgeable about ski resorts in Colorado so that you get the ski vacation package according to your preference.
The other option is to go online and search for ski packages or travel agents who are ski vacation specialists. They will help you create a vacation package to some of the best ski resorts in Colorado including Breckenridge, Winter Park Beaver Creek, Steamboat Vail and, Aspen.