Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourselves?

I am of Indian ethnicity but lived in America most of my life.  Currently I live in Stockholm, Sweden where I blog about the culture and dating rituals of the Swedes at Lost in Stockholm. I love traveling (duh), reading (OMG, Harry Potter!), and taking photos, available at www.flickr.com/photos/blacksapphire.

How long did you live in Berkeley?

Spent 8 years in the city everyone lovingly calls Berzerkly. First, attending university there and then putzing around and working for a few more years.

What did you like most about living in Berkeley?

Berkeley is 180 degrees off from the East Coast (where I was raised).  It’s crazy, wild, colorful, full of protests and pot.  I loved walking around the city and people watching.  There is every type of person and style trying to make their way in Berkeley.

Why should travelers visit Berkeley?

As a city that holds one of the nation’s greatest universities, Berkeley has a history that is well, different.  From the 1960s famous demonstrations to world leading research departments to the ecocenter of the food revolution via Alice Waters, there is something for everyone in Berkeley.  There’s a special spirit in the city you just don’t find in other places.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Berkeley?

Tourists really need to stop gawking at the locals.  Yes, there is the crazy guy in his undies standing on a podium and yes, the hat lady does not sell hats, but come to enjoy the idiosyncrasies of the town.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Berkeley?

Take a tour of UC Berkeley, a huge campus that offers a great view to San Francisco.  Go to the top of Campanile Bell Tower or to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, which is high up in the Berkeley hills.

Also visit Berkeley Bowl, one of the best grocery stores. Fresh produce and vegetable galore.  Plus get a super burrito from them, tasty stuff!

CheeseBoard Pizza on Shattuck Ave is a coop owned pizza place.  There’s only one type of pizza served everyday and it’s vegetarian, but it is superb.  A definite local spot and a must for any visitor.

Put your pin in our map

Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

Pet Airways, who only accepts pets as its passengers, will take to the skies for the first time on 14 July 2009.

The “pawsengers”, as the airline calls them, will fly in the main cabin and a pet attendant will check the comfort of all passengers every 15 minutes during the flight, according to Pet Airways.

Initially the airline offers to fly your pets to and from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C. and the service comes complete with a Pet Lounge, Potty Breaks and Pet Tracker.

I don’t keep pets, but the service sounds better than what many airlines are currently offering human beings. I hope someone is paying attention!

Check out Pet Airways web site for more information.

Advertisement: Hotel Riccione Find Hotels in the trendy city on the Adriatic Sea (Italy).

Briefly, please could you tell us a bit about yourselves?

My name is Gordon McClure and my wife’s name is Linda. We both retired in 2001 after 32 years with separate companies. Linda was an account manager with a large telephone company. I was a control systems sales engineer working in California, Arizona and Nevada. We both like computers, tech toys and outdoor activities like golf and day hiking.

How long have you lived in Palm Desert?

We purchased a week end getaway in 1989 and moved here full time upon retirement.

What do you like most about living in Palm Desert?

We like the resort life style during the winter and the solitude of the hot summers. We love the weather, very little rain and the skies are almost always clear. We love the panoramic views as we are surrounded by tall mountain peaks to the west and medium mountains on the the north and south. The low humidity makes it easy to pick out trees on the mountain ridges over 30 miles away to the west . The foothills to the north and east are almost completely barren. We love the dry desert heat. Even in the hottest months the mornings can be an absolute pleasure.

Is there anything you do not like about living in Palm Desert?

The crowds during major in season events can be a little irritating, and the long hot summers (occasionally above 50° C) can make you feel as if the heat will never end.

Why should travellers visit Palm Desert?

The weather is the real draw the winter months rarely have a day with a high temperature below 20° C.

You can enjoy the outdoors and scenic views. Relax by the pool and get a great tan. If you are into golf or tennis there are over 110 golf course and numerous tennis courts. On the week end there’s a Street Fair at the College of the Desert that is fun to go to.

Palm Desert has an upscale downtown shopping area on El Paseo Drive. It features art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. El Paseo is often compared to Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive.

There are all levels of accommodations from five star resorts to budget motels to match every budget. If you are planning on being in the valley during the in season events it is wise to book well in advance for the best choices.

For year round entertainment there are five Indian Casinos with in a ten mile radius of the valley center and the aerial tramway just west of Palm Springs can whisk you from the desert floor to the mountain snows in winter or a refreshing mountain meadow in summer.

Three major sporting events take place here every year: (1) Early January, “The Bob Hope Classic” golf tournament. (2) Mid March, the Pro Tennis event at the Indian Wells facility, and (3) “The Diana Shore” golf tournament in April.

The best weather conditions in Palm Desert is anytime between October to May.

What do you wish travellers would do or stop doing when they visit Palm Desert?

We wish everyone that spends time in the desert enjoys it as much as we do.

What are your top 3 insider tips for visitors to Palm Desert?

There are still a few original Palm Oasis left.  They can be seen north of Interstate 10. You can visit one by taking the Washington off ramp north to Thousand Palms Canyon Road making a right and driving an additional 3 miles.

Palm Desert has a wonderful zoo and gardens called The Living Desert that features exotic animals and plants.

After the spring rain, take a trip out to Joshua Tree national monument  for the Desert Wildflowers. It is awe inspiring to see the beauty of the flowers in the rugged desolate desert.

Put your pin in our map

Our View of a Local series consists of interviews with local people in various towns and cities in different countries.

For more information about how you can take part in our View of a Local series, please go to our View of a Local page >>

Travellers have been able to apply for travel authorization since August, but from 12 January 2009, you will no longer be allowed to travel to the US without authorization from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, if your travelling under the VWP.

For travellers from the VWP Expansion Countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia) an approved travel authorization became mandatory on 17 November 2008.

Where and How to Apply

You apply for travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website and the process is pretty straightforward.

During the 4 step application process you’ll be asked to provide the same information that travellers currently provide on the paper I94W Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure Form. In addition you’ll also be asked to provide your email and telephone details.

It is, at the time of writing, free to apply and you can apply at any time prior to your travel. However the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends applying at least 72 hours before you travel.

The Application Process – step by step

My partner successfully applied for travel authorization yesterday and so you can have the information ready, these were the steps:

How long is it valid?

If you receive travel authorization, it is valid for two years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that time period you can use the same travel authorization for further US visits simply by updating the flight and other relevant information.

In order to make the updates you’ll need to provide your application number, passport number and date of birth. Only the “Address while in the US”, the flight details, your email and telephone number can be updated on an existing travel authorization, any other updates requires a new application.

Further Information

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website, is the official website for all up-to-date information about US travel authorization. The website has a help section available in 16 languages.

You can also download an ESTA fact sheet (PDF) on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.

Best of luck with your application and remember, if you’re travelling with your family, everyone, including babies, must receive authorization!