I asked what she did for a living. She said she was a software engineer working with SOA. I did not think about my plane ride much until I arrived in San Francisco to attend the SOA World Conference & Expo this past Monday and Tuesday. The first day of the conference as I walked into the hotel, guess who I saw? My friend who I met on the Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul. What a small world, isn't it? Her company was one of the sponsors of the event.

If you aren't yet ready to consider France heaven, it might be that you haven't sampled the right bottle of cognac. Writer Scott Rose here gives a primer on cognac culture and guidelines for finding the crème de la crème of cognacs.

The near mythical French Riviera coast lures sailors from all over the world because of the killer combo of naturally gorgeous landscapes and the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea while at the same time offering trendy, star-studded or traditional Provencal entertainment in the string of hot towns that litter this beautiful coastline. Sailing in your yacht along one of the most beautiful stretches of the Riviera, between Saint Tropez and Monaco the view from the water of the cliffs and craggy coves with the immense outline of the Alps to the east or the Estérel and Maures mountains to the west is breathtaking.

There's no place in the world that can compete with the glamour of the Côte d'Azur, and there's no better way to experience all it has to offer than from aboard a private yacht. That's why Ivana Trump has cruised there for more than 20 years, and describes it as 'heaven on earth.'

The Monaco Grand Prix is the crème de la crème of the Formula One circuit, when all of the glamour and prestige of the racing world is compressed into four glorious days in May - all within a tiny Riviera principality. Prime seating and hotels are sold out months in advance, and crowded balconies overflow with unlimited champagne and exclusive parties where the F1 drivers rub shoulders with celebrities and fans alike. What could be better?

Some of the best wines in Provence come from vineyards that are a stone's throw from the sea. As far as I'm concerned the beaches in Saint-Tropez are overrated, crammed with roasting German and Russian bodies with scarcely space to stretch your limbs. When I'm in Saint-Tropez I turn my back to the sand and head for the glorious, sprawling market that is the heart and core of this sun-baked city on the French Riviera.

With more business than sailing taking place at the most famous film festival in the world, private yachts serve not only as luxury quarters, but also as floating offices and entertainment centers that may never leave their berths.

Yacht charterers can now enjoy the best of both worlds - traveling to distant ports while maintaining a close connection with home or office. There are many advantages for crew as well.