Austin's Travel Blog

Like most women, you probably have some anxieties about wearing bathing suits. If this is the case, you may find that the tankini, which is basically a tank top made of spandex/cotton or Lycra/nylon blends and a bikini bottom, is the answer to your worries. It is a fairly new breed of swimwear, which first hit the market in the late 1990’s, but it is fast gaining popularity because it combines the freedom of a bikini with the modest coverage of a one-piece bathing suit.

The top of a tankini usually covers part or most of the belly, which is great for women who want to keep most of their midsection hidden, or feel too modest to wear a bikini. For the more daring ones, shorter styles that bare the midriff are also available. Bottoms also come in different styles: traditional bikini, skirted, boy shorts, string and even thong.

Whatever your body type, there are styles to flatter your figure. If you are pear-shaped, go for strapless, bandeau or racer back styles that balance your upper and lower body by giving the illusion of wider shoulders and chest. If you are lucky enough to have an hourglass figure, you can wear almost any style of swimwear, but a tankini with shorter tops are especially flattering if you want to show off a trim waist.

Women with an inverted triangle body shape can either draw attention away from wide shoulders by wearing a halter top style, or show off shapely model shoulders with bandeau or strapless styles. A tankini with a deep v-neck or gathering and shirring at the sides and middle can also give the illusion of a waist for rectangle-shaped women, and trim down the midriff for apple-shaped women. Regarding colors and prints, a rule of thumb is to wear darker colors near problems areas, such as the waist and brighter colors, or prints to emphasize features such as toned arms and shoulders.

The choice of bottoms depends on the desired coverage. Another general rule is that dark colors and vertical stripes have a slimming effect, while bright colors and horizontal stripes do the opposite. Another thing to remember: high cut bottoms elongate thighs and legs, while boy shorts give an illusion of fullness in the bottom half of the body.

Like bikinis, the top doesn’t have to match the bottom. Users can mix and match patterns, so that it is possible to buy two tankini sets and create four different bathing suits. This versatility is another one of the reasons for the popularity of tankinis.

If you are a parent buying beachwear for your children, they will appreciate the more grown up style of the tankini and the relatively modest coverage will surely meet your approval. You can also wear this kind of style when doing athletic activities, such as rafting and playing volleyball, without worrying about losing or displacing your top. The two-piece design offers more freedom of movement than one-piece styles such as maillots.

Even if you have a less-than-perfect figure or have gone through mastectomy, the tankini allows you to wear a swimsuit with confidence. It is even suggested for women with gymnophobia or fear of nudity by partnering it with a sarong. Styles for pregnant women are also available, usually having tops that are split in the middle and exposing the navel.

There is no doubt that when you are looking for modest swimsuits, one of the top priorities to look at is a tankinis. These fashion swimsuits are growing more popular because of the styles and comfort they provide. For more information on finding quality swimwear see Jill Wilson and other resources.

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South America will host the Summer Olympic Games for the first time in 2016, as Rio De Janeiro, Brazil was awarded the honor on Friday. Rio beat out the US choice of Chicago, Illinois along with Tokyo, Japan and Madrid, Spain to earn the right to host the games. Despite a high pressure effort from the American power elite–ncluding President Barak Obama and TV gabfest queen Oprah Winfrey–Chicago was the first city eliminated from contention. Tokyo was the next to go, before Rio got the nod over Madrid in the final round of balloting.

Bookmakers offered odds on the host city choice, with Rio listed as second favorite at +200. Chicago had been the wagering favorite at most books, particularly after President Obama got involved personally in the US bid effort. Chicago was bet as high as a -300 favorite, while Madrid and Tokyo were priced in the +250 range. Some suggest that Tokyo didnt deserve to have such short odds, but was the beneficiary of regional pride from the notoriously enthusiastic betting population of Japan.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, got the better of his US counterpart with a passionate speech that stood in marked contrast to Obamas typically baleful collection of talking points;

“It is a time to address this imbalance. It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country.”

The Olympic committee was apparently swayed by this presentation and paid no mind to Rios many downsides. It is without a doubt the most dangerous of the finalist cities, where drug cartels and armed bands of thugs roam without impunity. Well do to Rio citizens are used to removing watches and jewelry before they drive anywhere lest they be targeted by carjacking brigands. Rios murder rate is also one of the highest in the world. Brazilian bid officials have stressed that security will be a priority at the games and it better be lest the Olympics turn into a bloodbath. For the time being, however, the mood in Rio was one of celebration with over 50,000 residents dancing and partying in the streets.

Some IOC members suggested that the summary dismissal of Chicagos bid was more of a rebuke of the notoriously corrupt USOC. The last two Olympics held in the US were tainted by crime and corruption. The’96 Atlanta Olympics were disrupted by a terrorist bombing, while the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games were marred by a well known bribery and corruption scandal.

Ross Everett is a freelance writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.

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Southern California’s Del Mar Racetrack has been is often overshadowed by East Coast venues like Churchill Downs and Belmont Park. The reality is that the 72 year old track has a history to rival their better known counterparts that includes the greatest horses and jockeys in the sport, as well as a healthy dose of show biz glitz. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and located 20 miles North of San Diego, its perhaps most famous for its iconic slogan: “Where The Surf Meets the Turf.”

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was founded by a group of well heeled enthusiasts in the mid’30s, and they immediately turned their attention to building a world class horse racing venue. The names that were instrumental in the creation of Del Mar include a whos who of American entertainment–most notably Bing Crosby, Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) and Jimmy Durante. At the time the facility opened thoroughbred horse racing was the second most popular sport in America behind major league baseball, and Del Mar quickly gained a reputation for being a player in the industry.

The show biz legends that have been Del Mar regulars could fill a book. Bing Crosby was one of catalysts behind the building of the facility, and he personally greeted guests on opening day. During the late 30’s/early 40’s it hosted stars such as W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Red Skelton, Ava Gardner and Paulette Goddard.

In’38, Del Mar hosted an internationally anticipated match race between Seabiscuit and Ligaroti. This event drew a record crowd and gained worldwide notoriety for the track. Seabiscuit won the $25,000 winner-take-all duel by a nose, and would forever be enshrined in the annals of American popular culture. Horse racing at Del Mar continued to be a smash until the facility went dark in’41 due to World War II. It would remain closed until’45, and for a time was used as a training facility by the military.

After the war Del Mar didn’t miss a beat, and reopened the day after Japan surrendered to Allied Forces in Tokyo Bay. That day drew over 21,000 fans to the park and set a new wagering record of over $950,000. The track flourished during the post war economic boom years, and improved transportation between the major urban centers in Southern California–along with a new crop of stars including Mickey Rooney, Jimmy Durante and Desi Arnez, Jr.–kept the track in the limelight.

Del Mar remains a viable part of the thoroughbred community to this day. Theyve updated their facility, with a state of the art grand stand and most recently a synthetic polytrack surface that was installed in 2007. The racing season at Del Mar begins in mid July, and hosts crowds of 20,000+ on a daily basis throughout.

Ross Everett is a widely published widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.

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With the market of travel insurance being so competitive and the costs regularly reviewed and improved, what has always been a necessity when travelling can now be viewed in a pleasant light and no longer considered as a burden for the average traveler and holiday-maker. If you can’t afford travel insurance then you can’t afford to travel and besides, it is far more liberating to know that, just in case you’re out of luck, most traumatic events while travelling can be remedied or assisted by the cover you purchase before you leave. This far outweighs the disappointment of wishing you had spent a little extra on travel insurance.

When buying travel insurance remember that the policy wording can be very involved and specific and underwriters are quick to refuse payment should your policy not cover even a single aspect of your insurance claim. There are certain precautions you need to take to ensure that any travel insurance claim you may have will be paid out and these are standard precautions that should keep you and your belongings safer in any case.

When buying travel insurance remember that the policy wording can be very involved and specific and underwriters are quick to refuse payment should your policy not cover even a single aspect of your insurance claim unless you know to what extent you are covered, in which case your policy wording is your best asset.

Remember, When buying travel insurance, that the policy wording can be very involved and specific and underwriters are quick to refuse payment should your policy not cover even a single aspect of your insurance claim unless you know to what extent you are covered, in which case your policy wording is your best asset.

Travel Insurance today is affordable and reassuring but the traveler must take time to understand what they have purchased. The potential risks encountered when travelling or leaving home for a length of time with only a few bags to hold your previous belongings can be daunting especially when you are surrounded by strangers who do not speak your language! Always consider buying travel insurance for your travels, whether international or domestic.

Before you purchase your cheap travel insurance online, check out our competitive and reliable travel insurance policies.

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