T For Travel

There are ways to save money on a summer trip. The easiest way is to narrow your expectations of places to travel on the US map and stay closer to home.

There are probably many places worth seeing in your state that you have never had the time or inclination to explore. Become a tourist in your own state, it may completely change the way you see your state.

Another way to save money and still find relaxation is to do a staycation of sorts. Contact your local resorts and hotels and see if they are running any summer specials. A resort is a great way to escape your everyday life and still not incur as many travel costs. Resorts normally have discounted services in their spa as well, so you can treat yourself to something that normally would be out of your budget.

Going to a state nearby is also a great way to still take a summer trip and not break the bank. Find attractions in states near you that are easily accessible by car.

Camping is always a good option when it comes to vacations. It is a cheap option because you do not have to pay a lot for accommodations.

If you aren’t really a camping type you may want to explore places in your own town. Take time to go to some museums that may be right near you or go online to find restaurants that are recommended that you never get around to going to. You can use the money you saved to buy yourself that nice dinner for the USA map.

No matter what you do with your time off, even if you stay home there are ways to still feel like you got a little vacation in. Just create a budget for yourself and see how far your money can go in a variety of places on the United States map.

American journalist Roxana Saberi was released from a Tehran, Iran prison this month.  After spending over four months in one of the perhaps most notoriously unfair prison systems on the map of the world, the Northwestern University graduate will return to the United States map as soon as possible according to her lawyers.

Her original eight year sentence was trimmed down to a two year suspended sentence.  A suspended sentence means that if she commits another crime her record will be updated.

Saberi was charged with collecting and passing on information to U.S. intelligence officials.  After her arrest she was interrogated for weeks and convicted after only an hour long trial. Her sentence has been reduced, but the espionage charge still stands in her conviction. She was detained initially not for her alleged espionage charges, but for buying alcohol, which is prohibited in Iran.

The appellate court ruled that the Iran Court applied the wrong article of the penal court, that plus the political pressure most likely led to the sentence being reduced.

Saberi is now free to leave the country and return to the US map, the turnaround of decision from the court was said to be abrupt.

This case has become a diplomatic turning point for talks between Iran and the United States. The move to release Saberi was seen as good public relations for both parties involved.

This is not the first American Iran has detained. In October a California State University at Northridge student was detained for being part of a women’s rights campaign. Her charges were later dropped, but she, Esha Momeni, is still not allowed to leave Iran.

One has to wonder why Saberi got the preferential treatment, most likely because she is a journalist. It has to be disheartening for Momeni to still be unable to leave Iran,( while Saberi does.