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Friday, December 31, 2010
Ten Thousand Waves footpath...
.... to my massage and spa ....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Samsun - Turkey
About Samsun :
Samsun is a modern city, provincial capital, important Black Sea port and transportation center, but has few sights to detain you. Although it's very old, Genoese raiders burnt it to the ground in the 1400s, so there's not much left of old Samsun (SAHM-soon, pop. 340,000). It was in Samsun that Kemal Atatürk came ashore on May 19, 1919 to rally the people against Allied occupation and to begin the Turkish War of Independence; but a booming economy has covered that quaint old 19th-century Samsun with modern high-rise buildings. The Archeological and Ethnographic Museum and, right next door, the Atatürk Museum, are worth a look. Samsun also has numerous decent hotels and restaurants. Otherwise, you'll probably find yourself heading west to Sinop or east to Giresun and Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, or south to Amasya, all of which are more interesting towns. For details, see my Recommended Itineraries, particularly the one for Eastern Turkey. Bus service is frequent and convenient to Samsun, especially with the Ulusoy company. The few trains from Sivas via Amasya take twice as long and are not as comfortable. Turkish Airlines has daily flights from Istanbul to Samsun.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Great Sphinx - Egypt
About Great Sphinx :
In a depression to the south of Chephren's pyramid sits a creature with a human head and a lion's body. The name 'sphinx' which means 'strangler' was first given by the Greeks to a fabulous creature which had the head of a woman and the body of a lion and the wings of a bird. The sphinx appears to have started in Egypt in the form of a sun god. The Egyptian sphinx is usually a head of a king wearing his headdress and the body of a lion . There are, however, sphinxes with ram heads that are associated with the god Amun. The Great Sphinx is to the northeast of Chephren's Valley Temple. Where it sits was once a quarry. Chephren's workers shaped the stone into the lion and gave it their king's face over 4,500 years ago. The sphinx faces the rising sun with a temple to the front which resembles the sun temples which were built later by the kings of the 5th Dynasty. The figure was buried for most of its life in the sand. King Thutmose IV (1425 - 1417 BC) placed a stela between the front paws of the figure. It describes when Thutmose, while still a prince, had gone hunting and fell asleep in the shade of the sphinx. During a dream, the sphinx spoke to Thutmose and told him to clear away the sand because it was choking the sphinx. The sphinx told him that if he did this, he would be rewarded with a kingship. Thutmose carried out this request and the sphinx held up his end of the deal. The sphinx is built of soft sandstone and would have disappeared long ago had it not been buried for so long. The body is 200 feet (60m) in length and 65 feet (20m) tall. The face of the sphinx is 13 feet (4m) wide and its eyes are 6 feet (2m) high. Part of the uraeus (sacred cobra), the nose and the ritual beard are now missing. . The beard from the sphinx is displayed in the British Museum. The statue is crumbling today because of the wind, humidity and the smog from Cairo. Attempts to restore it have often caused more harm than good. No one can be certain who the figure is to personify. It is possible that it is Chephren. If that is so, it would then be the oldest known royal portrait in such large scale. Some say that it was built after the pyramid of Chephren was complete. It may have been set as a sort of scarecrow to guard his tomb. Still others say it is the face of his guardian deity, rather than Chephren himself. The image of the sphinx is a depiction of royal power. Only a pharaoh or an animal could be shown this way, with the animal representing a protective deity. In the 1980's, a carefully planned restoration of the Sphinx was in progress. Over 6 years, more than 2,000 limestone blocks were added to the body of the sphinx and chemicals were injected. This treatment did not work. It just flaked away along with parts of the original rock. Later, various mortars and many workers who were not trained in restoration worked for six months to repair it. In 1988 the left shoulder crumbled and blocks fell off. Present attempts at restoration are under the control of the Supreme Council of Antiquities' archaeologists. They are concentrating on draining away subsoil seepage which is damaging the rock. They are also repairing the damaged shoulder with smaller blocks and staying with the original size.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.touregypt.net/
The Great Wall of China - China
About The Great Wall of China :
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in , built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire during the rule of successive dynasties. Several walls, referred to as the Great Wall of China , were built since the 5th century BC. The most famous is the wall built between 220 BC and 200 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang; little of it remains; it was much farther north than the current wall, which was built during the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall is the world's longest human-made structure, stretching over approximately 6,400 km (4,000 miles) from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia, but stretches to over 6,700 km (4,160 miles) in total. It is also the largest human-made structure ever built in terms of surface area and mass. At its peak the Ming Wall was guarded by more than one million men. It has been estimated that somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 million Chinese died as part of the centuries-long project of building the wall. The first major wall was built during the reign of the First Emperor, the main emperor of the short-lived Qin dynasty. This wall was not constructed as a single endeavor, but rather was created by the joining of several regional walls built by the Warring States. It was located much further north than the current Great Wall, and very little remains of it. A defensive wall on the northern border was built and maintained by several dynasties at different times in Chinese history. The Great Wall that can still be seen today was built during the Ming Dynasty, on a much larger scale and with longer lasting materials (solid stone used for the sides and the top of the Wall) than any wall that had been built before. The primary purpose of the wall was not to keep out people, who could scale the wall, but to insure that semi-nomadic people on the outside of the wall could not cross with their horses or return easily with stolen property.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.greatwall-of-china.com
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Santa Fe Square, snowing...
Snow on bunchgrass ...
Outside the coffee shop ...
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Hradec Králové - Czech Republic
About Hradec Králové :
In ancient times the elevation between two rivers, together with many tributaries and marshes, formed the natural barrier, protecting the inhabitants of this region. The first signs of the settling of farmers here in the later Stone Age date from the third century B.C. Many relics from later periods, particularly of the life of the people of the cinerary fielsds, are to be seen in to regional museum. In the 10th century the settlement, called Hradec, belonged to the Slavník family. When they were anihilated, it became the property of the Czech princes of the Poemysl family. In 1225 Hradec became a free royal town. It grew rapidly, new trades sprang up, and the size of its population and its importance soon made Hradec the wealthiest and largest Czech town after Prague. At the beginning of the 14th century it became the dower town of the Czech Queens and later the word Králové was added to its name. In the first half of the same century a new landmark arose in the town, the Gothic brick - built cathedral, a sign of royal favour. In 1337 John of Luxemburg conferred on Hradec all the privileges of a royal town. A famous chapter in the history of Hradec Králové was the Hussite period. In 1420 it became a Hussite town for a long period and a year later it welcomed the great millitary commander, Jan Žižka of Trocnov, at its gates. In the years 1574 - 1580 another outstanding monument arose, the Renaissance White Tower with the second largest bell in Bohemia, Augustin. The town burned down three times during the 15th and 16th centuries. In the first third of the 19th century Hradec Králove became the centre of patriotic activity among the Czechs in the nort-east of Bohemia and, for a time, the most important centre of Czech writing. At the turn of the century the town rid itself of its fortifications and a building plan was worked out which was entrusted right from the begining to famous architects. Architect Profesor Jan Kotira built the Municipal Museum in 1909 -12 according to the new urban conception. Every May, an Air Ambulance Show is held for both the general public and Air Ambulance personnel. Every June the Theatre of European regions, an international theatre festival, takes place. Since 2004, Hip Hop Kemp, one of the biggest European hip hop festivals, has been held every year in August. "Jazz goes to town", an international jazz festival, is held in Hradec Králové every October. The city's museum currently holds one of the oldest surviving collections of Czech Renaissance polyphony, the Codex Speciálník manuscript.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.hradeckralove.org/
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.hradeckralove.org/
Nesebar - Bulgaria
About Nesebar :
Nesebar is one of the oldest region in Europe, well known with its exotic monuments the Antiquity, its fascinating architecture of the Middle Ages and the National Revival period. The municipality of Nessebar and the resorts on its territory are located in the southeastern part of Bulgaria. For this reason the temperatures here are always two or three degrees higher than in the resorts along the northern Black Sea coast. The Municipality of Nessebar consists of 3 towns (Nessebar, Obzor, St. Vlas) and 11 villages (Ravda, Giliovtsa, Orizare, Tunkovo, Kosharitsa, Banya, Panitsovo, Rakovsko, Priseltsi, Emona, Koznitsa) form the administrative unit municipality of Nessebar, with total area of 423 sq.km. and population of about 21,000. The resorts are spread along the Black Sea coast in beautiful bays with wide sandy beaches and crystal clear sea water. The beaches are covered in fine golden sand, and the sea bottom dips slightly, slowly increasing in depth, which makes it fun and safe for children. This is one reason why holiday villages in the region are among the most popular destinations for family tourism. The municipality of Nessebar is a world tourist destination, offering over 250,000 beds. Numerous foreign tourists arrive every summer via the many coach lines connecting the municipality with all corners of the country; the railway station, or the two large airports – Varna and Bourgas, respectively 130 km and 30 km away from Sunny Beach.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Rijeka - Croatia
About Rijeka :
Rijeka is the seat of the Primorsko-goranska County, a region which consists of an unusual link between the sea and mountains extending to the Mount Učka across to the Goran mountains as far as the Velebit. To the west of Rijeka, lies the Opatija Riviera, the oldest and most popular Croatian tourist region. To the east is the Crikvenica-Vinodol Riviera. Rijeka can thank Gorski kotar - the most preserved part of the region - for its high quality drinking water and its clear air. The Kvarner islands: Krk (connected with the mainland by a bridge), Cres, Losinj and Rab are in the immediate vicinity. Platak, a winter resort favoured by the people of Rijeka, is within reach. Rijeka, with its good sea connections, regular line to the islands by catamaran, bus and railway stations, as well as the airport on the island of Krk, is easily accessible. It is only half an hour drive away from the border pass to Slovenia; one hour from Trieste in Italy, and ninety minutes to the capital of Croatia, Zagreb. There is a long tradition of city events in Rijeka, which generally take place in the open public spaces owing to the favourable weather. The best example is the Rijeka Carnival, which during its 24 years has grown into an international manifestation pronounced by the media from abroad as a unique manifestation, not to be missed. The 24th International Carnival held in 2007, brought together about 8,000 participants in the carnival parade and about 100,000 visitors. According to the estimates of tourist journalists, the Rijeka Carnival is the third biggest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro and Venice. The nautical fair in Rijeka has gained status of one of the leading ones in Croatia, with a marked offer of national producers. December in Rijeka is traditionally marked with a whole range of attractive manifestations, the most significant ones being the celebration in the open of the New Year’s Eve, with a concert in Korzo, and the skating rink on the pier next to the sea.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.rijeka.hr/Default.aspx?sec=394
Charles Bridge - Czech Republic
About Charles Bridge :
Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. It was actually called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) during the first several centuries. Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parléř whose other works include the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge. Charles Bridge is one of the many monuments that were built during Charles' reign but it is not the first bridge that ever connected the Prague banks of the Vltava. Another bridge used to stand in its place - the Judith Bridge, which was the first stone bridge over the river. It was built in 1172 and collapsed in a flood in 1342. Unlike its predecessor, Charles Bridge has survived many floods, most recently in August 2002 when the country experienced the worst flood in the past 500 years - so the egg yolks must not have been such a bad idea. There is a tower standing on each end of the bridge. Both the Staroměstská věž on the Old Town end and the Malostranská věž on the Malá Strana end can be climbed for a view of Prague and the bridge from above. Charles Bridge is on the top of every Prague visitor's must-see list. It is also popular with Czech artists, musicians and souvenir vendors whose stands line both sides of the bridge year-round. A great time of day to come to the bridge is at sunset when one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the fully lit Prague Castle against the evening sky. The bridge is now a pedestrian zone (although both tram and car traffic were allowed there in the past) and is almost constantly filled with people. If you want to have it all to yourself, go there at night or very early in the morning.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.myczechrepublic.com/prague/
Monday, December 27, 2010
Az road tripper...
On our first leg,
Road trippin'
Nice sky here ....
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Machu Picchu - Peru
About Machu Picchu :
Machu Picchu 7,970 feet above sea level and nestled on a small hilltop between the Andean Mountain Range, the majestic city soars above the Urabamba Valley below. The Incan built structure has been deemed the “Lost Cities”, unknown until its relatively recent discovery in 1911. Archaeologists estimate that approximately 1200 people could have lived in the area, though many theorize it was most likely a retreat for Incan rulers. Due to it’s isolation from the rest of Peru, living in the area full time would require traveling great distances just to reach the nearest village. Separated into three areas - agricultural, urban, and religious - the structures are arranged so that the function of the buildings matches the form of their surroundings. The agricultural terracing and aqueducts take advantage of the natural slopes; the lower areas contain buildings occupied by farmers and teachers, and the most important religious areas are located at the crest of the hill, overlooking the lush Urubamba Valley thousands of feet below. Hikers, tourists, and the early explorers describe similar emotions as they climb their way through the Inca Trail. Many call the experience magical. Glancing out from the Funerary Rock Hut on all the temples, fields, terraces, and baths seems to take you to another time. Blending in with the hillside itself, many say the area creates a seamless and elegant green paradise, making it a must for anyone who travels to Peru.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.peru-machu-picchu.com/
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Kopaonik - Serbia
About Kopaonk :
Among Serbian mountains, Kopaonik is unrivalled by its natural beauty and mineral wealth. Its boundaries are set by quite distinct natural borders-the deep valleys of the Ibar, Jošanica, Rasina, Gornja Toplica and Lab rivers. Kopaonik, the biggest mountain of the central Serbia, spreads its wide mountain-ridge 82.7km long, its greatest width being 63km, in the direction from the mountainous region over Kosovska Mitrovica, to the north-west over the series of peaks higher than 1600m, to the highest part of the massif called Ravni Kopaonik (Flat Kopaonik) with the peaks: Gobelja (1934m), Karaman Vucak (1936m), Suvo Rudište (1976m) and Pancicev vrh (Pancic Peak) (2017m). The northern border of the massif is separated from the massif of the mountain Željin by the rivers Jošanicka reka and Koznicka reka. At the western side, along the whole Kopaonik mountain-ridge, the river Ibar gorge is placed. The eastern side is bounded by the rivers Rasina and Toplica valleys. It is very spacious, taking up a full 2756 square kilometers. By its geographical location, Kopaonik is predestined to be a large to Europe. The Ibar, Zapadna Morava and Toplica highways provide for easy access from the large industrial centers of Šumadija, Pomoravlje, Toplica, Kosovo and the Skopje valley (Skopska dolina). Due to good asphalt roads and railways, the mountain can be reached in five hours' time even starting from Belgrade, which is about 250km away. In its highest part, Kopaonik somewhat resembles a flat-roofed house; its side are almost wall steep and the top so level that it induced the people to aptly name is Flat Kopaonik (Ravni Kopaonik). The western sides of the mountain are a little steeper than the eastern, but also more inaccessible and bare. Kopaonik is rich in cold and radioactive waters at higher altitudes and hot ones in the lower parts. Kopaonik have and much natural monuments : Geomorpholigical monuments-stone granite sculptures: Lisicja stena, Pajin grob, Suvi vrh, Jankov breg, Babin grob, Visoki deo, Karaman-Vucak. Geomorphological monuments-traces of Pleistocene glaciation : Circ Krcmar, Circ Široki do, Circ Velika Gobelja. Geological monuments : Velika stena, Velika Sijaca, Jelica, Žljeb, Gvozdac, Oštri Krš. Hydrological monuments-springs and fountainheads : Fountainhead Duboka, "Geyser" Gvozdac, Spring Marina voda, Spring Krcmar, Waterfall Barska reka, Semeteško jezero-lake. Hydrological monuments-strictly protected water-courses of the river basins: Samokovska reka, Gobeljska reka, Barska reka, Brzecka reka, Duboka reka...
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.kopaonik.net/eng/_html/home.php
Angel Falls - Venezuela
About Angel Falls :
Angel Falls is located in the Guayana highlands, one of the five regions of Venezuela. The water comes in a free fall of 979 meters from the Churum river hovering of the edge of the "Auyantepuy" Table mountain, this the largest Tepuy (table mountain) in Canaima Venezuela. This height makes it the highest waterfall in the world. Angel Falls is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls with its total of approximately 52 meters. This fall is named for Jimmy Angel, an adventurous pilot from Missouri, United States, who flew to the air circus Lindberg. James Crawford Angel (Jimmy Angel) is a modern legend. He saw the waterfall for the first time in 1933 with his partner while searching for the legendary McCracken River of Gold, or the Golden City. James returned again in 1937 with his wife and his friend Gustavo Henry Gardener where they had an emergency landing on top of the Auyantepuy. The aircraft was able to reach safely to the top of the Tepuy and stayed there for 33 years until it was taken down by a helicopter. Jimmy Angel and his three companions managed to descend from Tepuy and return to the civilization walking through the jungle for 11 days. Angel's plane is currently in the Aviation Museum in Maracay, and nowadays on top of the Auyantepuy you will find a replica of Jimmys airplane. Today Angel Falls is a big tourist attraction and many tourists come to see this natural wonder.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.salto-angel.com/
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Winchester Cathedral - United Kingdom
About Winchester Cathedral :
Begun in 1079 in the Romanesque style, this Cathedral is at the heart of Alfred's Wessex and a diocese which once stretched from London's Thames to the Channel Islands. Its bishops were men of enormous wealth and power, none more so than William of Wykeham, twice Chancellor of England, Founder of Winchester College and New College Oxford. The chantry chapels and memorials of these great prelates are a feature of the Cathedral. These influential bishops also developed, re-fashioned and adorned this great Cathedral. There pilgrims sought the shrine of local saints, notably a former bishop, Saint Swithun, whose festival (15 July) was said to set the pattern for the weather for the next forty days. The Cathedral was also the church of the community of Benedictine monks from its earliest days. Elements of the monastic buildings may still be traced through the Cathedral Close. Central to the life of the monks was the opus dei (the Work of God), the regular offering of prayer which they sang in the quire. The discipline of praying regularly for the world is continued today, most notably in the said morning office and the daily singing of Evensong by the Cathedral choir. Winchester Cathedral is famous for its chantry chapels, where daily masses were said for the bishops buried within them. The two earliest are in the nave: that of William of Edington (Bishop 1345-66) was designed to stand below the Norman arcade; William of Wykeham's soaring monument was built at the same time as his reconstructed nave. The remaining four chantry chapels stand in the retrochoir. Cardinal Henry Beaufort (1404-47) chose a site next to the final shrine of St Swithun. On a corresponding position on the north side is the chantry chapel of William Waynflete (1447-86), who was provost of Eton (1442-7) and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford. The chapel of Richard Fox (1501-28) was built during his lifetime, on the south side of the feretory platform behind the high altar. The aged, blind bishop is said to have spent much time here in prayer and meditation. His chapel is a marvellous example of the stone-carver's art. The small statues are modern; the original figures of saints were destroyed at the Reformation. The Bishop's 'cadaver' effigy facing the south aisle reminds the passer-by of the transient nature of life. On the north side of the feretory platform, Bishop Gardiner's Chantry Chapel is an amazing hybrid of English late Gothic and Continental Renaissance style deriving ultimately from Fontainebleau. Today Winchester Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Winchester, which is part of the Church of England.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/
Viana do Castelo - Portugal
About Viana do Castelo :
The magnificent municipality of Viana do Castelo with its seducing landscapes is situated in the core of a triangle with the cities of Vigo, Porto and Braga as the apexes, roughly remote at 65 kilometers from each other, surrounded by the green mountains, where the sun rises, by the vivid blue reflections of the Atlantic Ocean and by the serenity of the Lima River. A contrasted scenery is suggested by the sea with its golden sandy beaches, by Santa Luzia hill that draws the horizon and by the Lima River that bathes the serene fluvial beaches, which represents, without any doubt, one of the most beautiful landscapes, generated by nature and fortunately preserved by Humanity. Enjoy walking on foot or on a bicycle, through the mountains, where the atmosphere is healthy with aromas of a diversified flora, in order to discover the beautiful corners of the municipality. We will always meet warm-hearted inhabitants ready to indicate us the right way to reach a watermill, a waterfall or a chapel. You will have the opportunity to meet groups of pilgrims, in the direction of Santiago de Compostela, or even naturalist adventurers, who take advantage of the selected geographical conditions of the stopping places, in order to practice mountaineering as well as other "radical sporting activities". The city of Viana do Castelo is like a living museum, with countless monuments and mansions of different periods and styles. But it is also the capital of the rich Minho folklore, with an important handicrafts industry and animated festivals . South of the city of Viana do Castelo, the fine beach of Praia do Cabedelo is a popular holiday resort that stretches as far south as the popular holiday resort of Esposende. It is also very nice to see S. Claudio Church - an old Benedict Monastery classified as a national monument in 1910 ...
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.portugalvirtual.pt/
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Statue of Liberty - USA
About Statue of Liberty :
The Statue of Liberty (New York) is more than a monument. She is a beloved friend, a living symbol of freedom to millions around the world. These exhibits are a tribute to the people who created her, to those who built and paid for her, to the ideals she represents, and to the hopes she inspires. The Statue of Liberty exhibit, which opened in July 1886 and is located on the second floor in the pedestal of the Statue, traces the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty through museum objects, photographs, prints, videos and oral histories. In addition to historical artifacts and descriptive text, full scale replicas of the Statue's face and foot are also on display. The main historical sections include: From Idea to Image, Fabricating the Statue, Stretching Technology, Fundraising in France, The Pedestal, Fundraising in America, and Complete at Last. The next area focuses on the symbolism of Liberty with sections titled Mother of Exiles, Becoming the Statue of America, Century of Souvenirs, The Image Exploited and The Statue in Popular Culture. Torch Exhibit includes the original 1886 torch and much altered flame in the lobby. On the second floor balcony overlooking this torch is a display on the history of the torch and flame, explaining the various alterations through diagrams, photographs, drawings and cartoons. The famous sonnet written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. A bronze plaque, dedicated in memory of Emma Lazarus' contribution to the completion of the Statue's pedestal, has been affixed to the inner walls of the pedestal since the early 1900's. This plaque, currently located in the Statue of Liberty exhibit, has come to symbolize the statue's universal message of hope and freedom for immigrants coming to America and people seeking freedom around the world.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.statueofliberty.org/
Olten - Switzerland
About Olten :
Olten, with its approximately 17,500 residents, is the largest city in the canton of Solothurn. Together with the communities of the Olten-Gösgen-Gäu area, it represents a considerable pillar of the canton's economic strength. Motto of the city is : 'Live and work in the heart of Switzerland'. The central location of the city of Olten in the heart of Switzerland is and will remain one of the most important advantages for the city and the region of Olten. About 80% of all Swiss inhabitants can reach the 'Three Pines City' (Dreitannenstadt) by train or car in under an hour. Connections to Basel and Zurich airports by both rail and road round out this offer. Hotels and conference centers have recognised this stategic advantage. In addition, city officials plan to more actively promote the status of the town as a conference city by enlarging the city theater to a seminar and culture center. The move away from production industries such as iron and cement has been compensated for in the last few years by numerous new jobs in the services and in education. These are offered not only by firms such as SIS Sega Intersettle AG, Atel, and Swisscom, but also the regional agencies of all large banks and insurance institutes. To the educational area belong, for example, the Kanton School Hardwald, the Commercial School Olten-Balsthal, and the Trade and Industry School, as well as the training centers for the Post and the Swiss Railway. In addition to numerous private schools, the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland is located in Olten, offering business, social, technical, and optical studies. Besides employment and residential opportunities, Olten is a gastronomic center and a multifaceted sports and cultural city. Ice hockey and field hockey, to name just two of the countless sports run by clubs, have made the 'Three Pines City' known well beyond the cantonal borders, just as have our cabaret, jazz, and dance sessions. Every year, on August 1, a large firework show occurs from boats floating down the river. It is also home to a wooden foot bridge, one of the towns landmarks. In Olten's railway station restaurant, the Gruppe Olten (Olten Group), a group of writers that included Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt, was founded, as was the Swiss Alpine Club in 1863.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.olten.ch/
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Zielona Gora - Poland
About Zielona Gora :
Zielona Gora (Green Mountain) lies on the historic route between Wroclaw and Szczecin. Zielona Gora (Poland) is one of the two capitals of the Lubuskie region, with 117,557 inhabitants within the city limits (June 2009) and 294,000 inhabitants within the metropolitan area, including three neighbouring counties, and is situated 12 km. south of the River Odra. Zielona Góra is an important centre of machine and textile industries, and is also seen by many Poles as the cultural centre of the region with two high-level institutions of higher learning. Zielona Gora obtained its municipal rights in 1323. And was until recently the only centre of wine production in Poland. Since the 16th century, Zielona Gora was also a centre of woollen cloth production. The majority of buildings in the centre of Zielona Gora were built in the early 20th century. Historical monuments include the late-Gothic Church (mid-15th century), half-timbered church from the 18th century, and remnants of old fortifications. The palm house cafe surrounded by a vineyard located on the hill which towers over the city is well worth a visit. It also offers a wonderful view of the city. It is also worth paying a visit to the Lubuskie Regional Museum which has an interesting section devoted to wine making. The city has been known for its wines for centuries. It is now one of two places in Poland with wine grape cultivation mainly for white wines (the other being the wine growing region near the town of Warka in Masovia). The first wineries around the city were built in 1314. At Paradyż (Paradise) Abbey near Zielona Góra, monks have been making wine since 1250. The number of vineyards at peak production is estimated at 4,000 in the region, and 2,500 in Zielona Góra itself. During the communist era wine production was reduced, but since 1990 it has recovered. However, nowadays wine is no longer produced in Zielona Góra itself (the last factory was closed in the early 1990s). The most famous locally produced wine is called "Monte Verde". Since 1852 an annual Wine Festival has taken place in the town. Near Zielona Gora, in the village of Ochla, there is an open-air ethnographic museum of traditional country architecture from this part of present day Poland.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://polandpoland.com/zielona_gora.html
Amsterdam - Netherlands
About Amsterdam :
Although the seat of Netherlands government is in The Hague, Amsterdam is the nominal capital. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of more than 750,000, and the most visited, with over 3,5 million foreign visitors a year. The Netherlands is a country situated in Western Europe, bordering Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. The currency in the Netherlands is the Euro ( € , EUR), which is used in almost all countries within the European Union. Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. Amsterdam developed round a dam in the Amstel river at the end of the 12th century. The name Amstelledamme occurs for the first time in the toll concession of Floris V, Count of Holland, dated October 27, 1275. During the 14th, but especially the 15th century, Amsterdam underwent a rapid development, which laid the foundation for the Golden Age. Only very few medieval buildings survive today. Some examples: the Old and New Churches and the Houten Huis (Wooden House) at the Begijnhof. Throughout the Middle Ages houses were generally built of wood, a vulnerable type of construction material. The famous Houten Huis is no exception to this rule. Consequently, most of them were destroyed. Nevertheless, a surprisingly large number of Amsterdam dwellings still have timber frames. The period 1585-1672, the Golden Age, was the hey-day of Amsterdam's commercial success. At the time Amsterdam was the staple market of the world. During this period the characteristic Amsterdam cityscape developed; the 1613 and 1663 urban expansions still determine the city's characteristic appearance. In 1795 the government of the patrician oligarchies was overthrown and the old Republic ceased to exist. Soon the French were to occupy the country. During the period 1795-1813 Amsterdam suffered badly from the economic recession, a state of affairs reflected by the stagnation of the demographic development. Many houses were vacant and some even collapsed for lack of maintenance. Fortunately some facades and interiors dating back to the Empire period survive today. 1813-1940: Recovery and Expansion beyond the Singelgracht. The period 1813-1940 is marked by economic recovery and, from 1870 onwards, by expansion. The increasing wealth brought about a rapid population growth. This development was primarily the result of the Industrial Revolution which triggered off a New Golden Age. The city now ventured into the area beyond the Singelgracht. Large poorly built working-class neighbourhoods were built. The period 1920-1940 was a time of economic recession. Therefore it is all the more remarkable that the so-called Ring 20-40 compares favourably to the 19th century jerry-building. This was also the period of large-scale damage to the historical city centre; canals were filled in and new traffic breakthroughs were realised. Today Amsterdam is a very romantic city and museums with Red-light district are the main tourist attraction. Everyone knows the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, but there is much more. Amsterdam has over fifty museums which attract millions of visitors each year. See our suggested. Coffeeshops in Holland are allowed to sell small amounts of cannabis and are strictly regulated and taxed. Furthermore, coffeeshops must not sell to anyone under 18 and they must not sell more than 5g to any customer. Hard drugs are strictly prohibited.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.amsterdam.info/
Monday, December 20, 2010
El Tatio Geyser Field - Chile
About El Tatio Geyser Field :
El Tatio Geyser Field (locally known as Los Géiseres del Tatio) is located within the Andes Mountains of northern Chile at 4,200 meters above mean sea level, 150 kilometers east, southeast of Calama, Chile. The name Tatio would hold its origin from Aymara tata, grandfather. Tata-iu, the original name would mean the grandfather who cries. With over 80 active geysers, El Tatio is the largest geyser field in the southern hemisphere and the third largest field in the world, following Yellowstone, USA, and Dolina Giezerov, Russia. From March 19-21, 2002, the authors visited the geothermal field to inventory the geysers and their behavior. Of over 110 erupting springs documented, more than 80 were identified as true geysers and an additional 30 were perpetual spouters. Despite reports that geyser activity occurred only in the morning, no abatement in activity was observed at any time within any part of the field. Although the observed activity was vigorous, eruptions commonly reached less than one meter. Of the erupting springs cataloged, the mean spouting height was 69 centimeters. Of the true geysers cataloged, the eruptions averaged 76 centimeters. El Tatio Geyser Field contains approximately 8 percent of the world’s geysers.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.visit-chile.org/
Sveti Stefan - Montenegro
About St.Stefan :
Sveti Stefan is an unusual and unique place not only at Montenegro or Budva's Riviera but in the whole Mediterranean. It stands on the cliff of a rocky island with roofs red like rubies. A sand isthumus looking like a stem connects it with the land. It came into existence in a unique way. According to the memory of people,this happened in XV century. The big Turkish fleet sailed into the Adriatic sea to rob and plunder rich seaside towns, especially those one in Boka. One day, when the weather was bad, that fleet sailed into Jaz beach, a place into bottom of Grbaljsko field, near Kotor. Guards were left on the galleys, wich were anchored or grounded on sand, while the rest of Turkish soldiers set off for Kotor, across Grbaljsko field, to attack and devastate it from the land.When Pastrovics heard about this, they quickly gathered their soldiers and went to Kotor by shortcut to attack Turks and help Kotorans in defense of their town. After the victory, on their way back, they attacked Turkish galleys at the beach Jaz. With God's help they managed to kill the rest of Turkish crew and took the conquered galleys to Drobni Pijesak - the beach and the valley where they used to anchore their fishermen's boats and ships - to unload the war trophies there. Pastrovics have decided not only to divide the rich war trophies but to build a fortress on the rocky island near the coast as well as houses for each of Pastrovic's 12 tribes, and the church decided to St. Stefan the protector of Pastrovics. The fort was made to serve defense against Turks, pirates and other enemies as well as an asylum and shelter: asylum for women, children and old people during the time of enemy's attacts and shelter for food and groceries: corn, oil, vine, meat, honey and others. They drownded the conquered Turkish galleys leaving no trace of them. This folktale finds confirmation in written documents where St. Stefan was mentioned for the first time(1442)as an advanced guard house. It is also written that the forst was built earlier and called St. Stefan after the church with the same name constructed at the same time when the settlement in the fort was built. In ancient documents Sveti Stefan is mentioned by the name of “place of justice” - the pivotal place of Pastrovics township and tribe. This name originated from the fact that the court “Benkada” had been sessioning in it for 400 years. It was usually done at Pjaca, a space in front of the entering gate. Tribal disputes and misunderstandings were solved at that spot until 1929. Fortress Sveti Stefan achieved a grand rise in the first half of XIX century when it counted 100 houses, three churches, and 400 inhabitants on its small space limited by the sea and the walls. There was no space for more. At the beginning of XX century it suddenly lost its economic power and political importance. The inhabitants left it. The best men went to war and many more emigrated to America. In 1912 there were 150 inhabitants, and in 1954 only 20. A group of smart architects and artists began adaptation of abandoned houses in 1954 with help of the comunist power who removed the left 20 inhabitants to the land, and as early as 1957 they turned them into an unique town - hotel - the most attractive and the most luxurious hotel complex at the Adriatic and the Mediterranean, intended for tourism of the highest level. Adaptation was done expertly and heartedly so the buildings from outside look exactly as they were before, while the inside spaces were richly decorated and turned into luxurious apartments. The left 20 inhabitians who were removed from the island are establishers of todays modern settlement on the land also called Sveti Stefan. To the old settlement with the original folklore architecture are added onto the complex: a swimming pool, a restaurant and a terrace overlooking the beautiful azure sea. Today, Sveti Stefan is gorgeous. Apart from luxury, comfort and wonderful beaches, it offers some kind of special autonomy, self-confidence, inspiration and intimacy that most of well known extra hotels don't have.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.sveti-stefan.net/english/
Bled - Slovenia
About Bled :
With immense natural beauty, Bled, together with its surroundings, ranks among the most beautiful alpine resorts, renowned for its mild, healing climate and thermal lake water. The beauty of the mountains reflected on the lake, the sun, the serenity and the fresh air arouse pleasant feelings in visitors throughout the year, guaranteeing an ideal base or a relaxing break or an active holiday. Bled attracts businessmen, artists, athletes, explorers, sport enthusiasts, the old and the young, from all over the world, enchanting them to return again and again. The thermal springs which are led into the swimming pools at the Grand Hotel Toplice (23°C) and the Park and Golf Hotels (28°C - the water is additionally heated) enable pleasant swimming and successful treatment of stress related illnesses, exhaustion, neurovegetative disorders and age-related fatigue. Analyses of the thermal water at the Grand Hotel Toplice were performed by Dr. V. Kletzinski. These show the temperature of the spring to be constant at 23°C. The breakdown of the analyses show that 10 litres of water contain 1520 cm3 of free carbonic acid and 5.36 g of naturally occurring salts: 0.12 g of sodium chloride, 0.57 g of sodium sulphuric acid, 0.30 g of sodium carbonic acid, 2.31 g of calcium carbonic acid, 1.16 g of magnesium carbonic acid, 0.44 g of carbonic iron oxide acid, 0.27 g of silicic acid, clay phosphoric salts, manganese and some other ingredients. Bled's is a mild, healthy sub-Alpine climate with the longest swimming season of any Alpine resort. The ridges of the Julian Alps and the Karavanke protect it from the chilly northern winds. During the summer months there is no fog. The average monthly temperature in July is 19°C and in January -1.7°C.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.bled.si/en/
Twilight from Singapore Flyers
Enjoying twilight with the natural or urban landscape that stretched before it would be fun to briefly escape the daily routine. Moreover, if the scene is viewed from a height of 165 meters, would be a new sensation in felt. At least this is what Singapore has to offer Flyers, a new torist attraction of the state Singapore. Officially opened in 2008, where it became the largest observation wheel in the world of high equivalent to 42 high-level building. A gust of fear may be stopped ourselves to try out up to the Flyers. However, the fear was gone when we entered this mill. Because the mill is running very slow, stable spinning clockwise in a 360-degree rotation, and supported by a comfortable interior capsule. Just info, when opened in 2008, this mill had spun counter-clockwise, but now it rotates clockwise in accordance with feng shui elements harmonization considerations.
Singapore Flyers consists of 28 capsules each of which has a size of a bus and can accommodate 28 passengers with a bench in the middle of the capsule. Before entering the capsule, giving the officer gave us "Singapore Story Audio Guide", an audio device such as mobile phones that function Singapore's history and making the story into a modern country and the metropolis as well as feng shui affecting , building, design and architecture.
Capsule interior comfort is supported by the cool air from air conditioner and the glass-covered UV-blocking films. Visitors can freely move and walk around the capsule as they saw the panorama of the Marina Bay. Not just the view obtained, but also faintly visible neighboring countries, Malaysia and Indonesia. Capsule interior was so good. It is operator Singapore Flyers did not waste the opportunity. They can be transformed capsules as a complete meal and covered desert or cocktail of champagne. Of course, this becomes an attractive added value for tourists. After 30 minutes passed, the mill had stopped spinning, and we came out covered with a sense of satisfaction.
Singapore Flyers consists of 28 capsules each of which has a size of a bus and can accommodate 28 passengers with a bench in the middle of the capsule. Before entering the capsule, giving the officer gave us "Singapore Story Audio Guide", an audio device such as mobile phones that function Singapore's history and making the story into a modern country and the metropolis as well as feng shui affecting , building, design and architecture.
Capsule interior comfort is supported by the cool air from air conditioner and the glass-covered UV-blocking films. Visitors can freely move and walk around the capsule as they saw the panorama of the Marina Bay. Not just the view obtained, but also faintly visible neighboring countries, Malaysia and Indonesia. Capsule interior was so good. It is operator Singapore Flyers did not waste the opportunity. They can be transformed capsules as a complete meal and covered desert or cocktail of champagne. Of course, this becomes an attractive added value for tourists. After 30 minutes passed, the mill had stopped spinning, and we came out covered with a sense of satisfaction.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Modane - France
About Modane :
Modane is a realy nice Alpine town nestled at the heart of the Vanoise National Park in the Savoie region of the French Alps. It sits at an altitude of 1000 metres above sea-level and is surrounded by three ski resorts. The untouched, raw beauty of the Maurienne Valley with its restored farmhouses, wooden chalets, spectacular ski resorts, and breathtaking landscapes is a must for those who would like to live like the French during their stay. France is, after all, the fabled land of good food and wine and known the world over for its art and history. This is the timeless land whose people have a natural joie de vivre and savoir faire and have for centuries. Modane, and its surrounding villages, have many sights and activities to offer. Savour art and romance in our Baroque chapels and churches, see glorious pasts blaze forth at our fortresses and medieval villages, enjoy sumptuous cheeses or French wines and typical Savoyard meals in Alpine villages or mountain huts and indulge your jet-set fantasies in one of our surrounding ski resorts just 15 minutes away: Aussois, Valfrejus and La Norma. There is something for everyone to do no matter what the season. Winter is synonymous with downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snow-shoe touring and sledging. In spring, summer and autumn the inhabitants of the Maurienne Valley delight in rock-climbing, via ferrata, hiking and canyoning. Sparkling turquoise alpine lakes and glimpses of deer, ibis and marmots in the Vanoise National Park should please nature-lovers. The surrounding ski resorts offer an exciting nightlife during the winter and summer seasons...bars, cafés, restaurants, theatre, cinema, bowling, nightclubs and much more for those who wish to let their hair down in the evenings! Modane itself has a cinema, theatre, museum, restaurants, bars and cafés which are open all year round. Weekend trips can be taken to beautiful Annecy and its lake which is the second largest lake in France formed 18 000 years ago from large Alpine glaciers, to Italy via the Mont Cenis mountain pass in summer and the Frejus tunnel in Winter, to mountain shelters in the Vanoise National Park for a nature-lovers weekend, to Chambery for shopping, to one of our ski resorts for a skiing weekend...there really is so much to choose from. Modane is an hour away from Chambery, Albertville, Grenoble and Turin (Italy) and an hour and a half from Annecy, Lyon and Geneva (Switzerland). Schools in these major cities in France, Italy and Switzerland are always looking out for teachers with a recognised TEFL certificate so you should have little trouble finding a teaching post once you have graduated. Paris is just a four hour train trip from Modane on a direct line if you wish to work in the historical, romantic capital of France.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.teflfrancesavoie.com/rubrique,why-modane,631790.html
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Prince's Palace - Monaco
About Prince's Palace of Monaco :
The Prince's Palace of Monaco is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Founded in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, during its long and often dramatic history it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family who first captured it in 1297. The Grimaldi ruled the area first as feudal lords, and from the 17th century as sovereign princes, but their power was often derived from fragile agreements with their larger and stronger neighbours. Thus while other European sovereigns were building luxurious, modern Renaissance and Baroque palaces, politics and common sense demanded that the palace of the Monaco rulers be fortified. This unique requirement, at such a late stage in history, has made the palace at Monaco one of the most unusual in Europe. Ironically, when its fortifications were finally relaxed during the late 18th century, it was seized by the French and stripped of its treasures, and fell into decline, while the Grimaldi were exiled for over 20 years. The Grimaldi's occupation of their palace is also unusual because, unlike other European ruling families, the absence of alternative palaces and land shortages have resulted in their use of the same residence for more than seven centuries. Thus, their fortunes and politics are directly reflected in the evolution of the palace. Whereas the Romanovs, Bourbons, and Habsburgs could, and frequently did, build completely new palaces, the most the Grimaldi could achieve when enjoying good fortune, or desirous of change, was to build a new tower or wing, or, as they did more frequently, rebuild an existing part of the palace. Thus, the Prince's Palace reflects the history not only of Monaco, but of the family which in 1997 celebrated 700 years of rule from the same palace.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.palais.mc/monaco/x-net/internet-palais-princier/english/home.577.html
Batam Sights
- Vihara Budhi Bhakti Temple : This is a colorful modern Buddhist temple in Nagoya which is actively used by the Chinese community on Batam
- Tiara Indah Handicraft Center : This large handicraft center in Batam Center a huge selection of handicraft from most Indonesia's 32 provinces ranging from tourist junk to some attractive, interesting items. A huge mural covers the back wall with gaudy paintings of cultur scenes.
- Cockfighting Arena : Cockfights are held every Saturday night at tumble-down arena town a rough dirt road. There are lots of colorful action as the bets are placed.
- Belakang Padang and Pulau Sambu : Belakang Padang is an old fashioned town with no motor vehicles till 2005 on a small island near Sekupang. Pulau Sambu is mostly covered with oil storage tanks. But there is also a small town, an interesting colonial guest house ( only for official visitors ), and a lovely beach walk with colonial bungalows on one side and the Singapore skyline on the other. Both islands offer a quite escape from the hustle and bustle of Batam. stay at one of the small guest houses.
- Pulau Buluh : This was the largest village in the Batam area before development started. It is still a traditional village with houses built over the water. Stay at tiny guest house and stroll around the island. Rent a boat for day trips around neighboring islands. to get to Pulau Buluh take a taxi to Sagulung and then a sampan from the Sagulung jetty.
- Dapur Dua Belas ( Dapur 12 ) : This is a small isolated village on the south-west coast of Batam. Many traditional wooden sailing boats are usually anchored at the village. The boats are mostly used for exporting mangrove poles to Singapore. Dapur 12 offers a glimpse of a way of life that has vanished from the rest of Batam. The literal meaning of Dapur 12 is "kitchen number 12", referring to charcoal klin number 12. The only way to get there is to rent a boat from Pulau Buluh.
- Nongsa Beach : This is the only decent public beach on Batam. It is a good place to relax, enjoying good food at Setia Budi Seafood Restaurant and wandering along the beach and through Nongsa Village, which is one of the original villages on Batam. Nongsa Homestay provides air-conditioner comfort.
- Coastarina : Concrete names in Coastarina Batam housing weighs a total of 600 tons recognized founder of Indonesian Record Museum ( MURI ) Jaya Suprana, as the world biggest paper, even beating Hollywood writing at Mount Lee, United States ( U.S. )
Riau Islands Province
Originally part of Riau Province, the Riau Islands were split off as separate province in 1 July 2004 with Tanjungpinang as its capital, located at Bintan Islands. The major ethnic group of the province is Malay, others are Javanese, Sundanese Buginese, Minangkabau and Batak.
Total area of this province is 21,992 km2. This province consists of hundreds of islands. The province has no land borders with other provinces. All of the borders are waters. Riau Islands borders to The South China Sea and Singapore Strait in the north, Karimata Strait in the south and east, and Berhala Strait in the west side.
The economy of Riau Islands is contributed mostly by industrial and mining sector, for instance, bauxite deposits in Singkep Islands. Indonesia government determines Batam as one of the biggest industrial area in Indonesia.
Queensbridge - USA
About Queensbridge :
Queensbridge is a large public housing complex that is located in Long Island City in Queens area (New York). The complex was opened in 1939 and has 3,142 units accomadating about 7,000 people. It comes under Community Board 1 and is the property of New York Housing Authority. The complex is seperated as the North Houses, which lie on the 40th Avenue and the South Houses, which lie on the 41st Avenue. Because the complex is located just north of the Queensboro Bridge, it has derived the name Queensbridge. The 21st street-Queensbridge station lies on the eastern side of the complex and people residing and travelling by subway find it extremely convenient. The entire complex consists of individual 96-unit six-storey buildings. Every two such buildings form the shape of two Ys, which are connected at the base. This design was chosen to provide more sunlight and also to reduce the cost of construction. In the early stage, the elevators were designed to stop at odd numbered floors like 1,3 and 5. But later this system has been altered and now the elevators can be stopped at all floors. Most of the kitchens and bathrooms have been renovated with new lights, tubs, vanities and floor tiles in 2000. As this complex houses mostly people in the low to middle income groups, a majority of them are African-Americans and Latino families. The buildings are seperated by small lawns. There are several basketball courts within the complex and just across lies the Queensbridge Park, which has running tracks and lawns which are ideal picnic spots. This complex gained much popularity because of the number of talented hip hop musicians, like rapper Nas, Cormega, Nature, Screwball and Big Noyd. Queensbridge has historically proved to be a hotbed of hip hop musical talent. Famed producer Marlon “Marley Marl” Williams was the first in a long succession of acclaimed artists from “The Bridge”, which became one of the most prolific hip hop-producing neighborhoods in the country. Marley's Juice Crew collective, hugely influential in the 1980s, featured among its members Queensbridge rappers MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté, and Craig G, each noted names in their own right. Most notable of today's Queensbridge hip hop artists is the well acclaimed rapper Nas, who has since the 1990s frequently used his music and lyricism to reference Queensbridge and its hip hop history. Other noted artists associated with Queensbridge include Prodigy and Havoc of Mobb Deep, Cormega, Tragedy Khadafi, Nature, Screwball, Capone-N-Noreaga and Big Noyd. Bars N Hooks, Lakey the Kidd, Infamous Mobb (Ty Nitty, Godfather Part 3,Twin Gambino aka. Big Twinz) In regards to the Queensbridge music scene, XXL columnist Brend.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.kosmix.com/topic/queensbridge
Easter Island - Chile
About Easter Island :
Easter Island is over 2,000 miles from the nearest population center, (Tahiti and Chile), making it one of the most isolated places on Earth. A triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific - it is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island "Te Pito O Te Henua" (Navel of The World). With his three ships, "Eagles", "Thienhoven" and the "African Galley", the Dutch Admiral, Jacob Roggeveen (1659 - 1729), went in search of the "Southern Continent" in August 1721. Until his southerly travels were prevented by ice floes, he managed to make the latitude of 60o. With this, he turned his ships west towards the Juan Fernandez Islands thinking that there might be an opportunity to found a settlement. On April 6th, 1722, his course brought him to a lonely island. As it was Easter, he baptized the island "Easter Island". Another account suggests that Roggeveen was in search of Davis or David's Island. Reported in latitude 27o by an English buccaneer named Davis, in 1687. He claimed that it was five hundred miles from the coast of Chile, low and sandy and some 12 leagues to the west of it was seen "a long tract of pretty high land". This description in no way applies to Easter Island, as sometimes suggested, but is possibly a description of Crescent Island. The latitude of Easter Island is 27o 8'S, Crescent Island is 23o 20'S. Roggeveen concluded this was not the island he was looking for2. Today, Easter Island is home to 2,000 islanders. They have Chilean citizenship, and many Rapanui have moved there for educational and professional purposes. Polynesian culture thrives, enmeshed with a modern lifestyle. The standing moai, re-erected by archaeologists, demonstrate the Rapanui's reconciliation with their past. Tourism is an important part of the island's culture, and sociologists and travelers report that the Rapanui are some of the friendliest people in the world. If you travel to Easter Island (you don't have to go in a canoe -- the island has its own airport that you can fly into via special flights from Chile), you can even stay with a Rapanui host family for an authentic experience
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://islandheritage.org/wordpress/
Venezia Santa Lucia - Italy
About Venezia Santa Lucia station :
Santa Lucia is train station at the end in Venice. 'Venezia Mestre' is the train station just before St Lucia, on the other side of the Liberty Bridge, on the mainland of Venice municipality. (8 km) This typical head station, the only real access gate to the city of canals, is located right in the heart of the city, in Fondamenta Santa Lucia, and is frequented by an average of 82 thousand persons per day, for a total of around 30 million presences per year; it hosts some 450 trains per day. The public transport system in its vicinity consists solely of “vaporetto” boat-transport lines along the Grand Canal, while the urban and extra-urban road transport lines are concentrated in Piazzale Roma. The project for the construction of Venezia's Santa Lucia station went through a series of upheavals before a definitive solution could be reached. The architect Angelo Mazzoni was the first person who developed plans for it in 1924 and studied possible solutions for over a decade. In 1934 a design competition was launched for the railway station’s construction: it was won by the architect Virgilio Vallot, whose project remained suspended until 1936, when it was decided to entrust jointly to Mazzoni and Vallot the construction of the travellers’ building front block, which continued until 1943, and the redesigning of the railway facilities building to Mazzoni. The final solution was completed after the second world war, on the basis of a project drafted by the architect Paolo Perilli.
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.venice-hotels.redflag.info/santa-lucia-station.htm
Friday, December 17, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Hilversum - Netherlands
About Hilversum :
Hilversum lies some 30 km south-east of Amsterdam and 20 km north of Utrecht.The village is often called "media city" since it is the principal centre for radio and television broadcasting in the Netherlands. Radio Netherlands, heard worldwide via shortwave radio since the 1920s, is based here. Hilversum is home to an extensive complex of audio and television studios belonging to the national broadcast production company NOS, as well as to the studios and offices of all the Dutch public broadcasting organizations and many commercial TV production companies. As a result many old radio sets in Britain had a "Hilversum” dial position marked on their tuning scales (along with other exotic locations like Athlone). Hilversum is also known for its architecturally important "Raadhuis" or town hall, designed by Willem Dudok (1884-1974). Hilversum has one public library (it used to have three but two were closed due to financial problems), two swimming pools (Hellemond Sport and De Lieberg), a number of sporting halls and several shopping centers (such as Hilvertshof, Kerkelanden, Riebeeck-Galerij, Severijn, Seinhorst and Chatham). In the region the city center is known as 'het dorp' which means 'the village'. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, most tourists come to Hilversum for a relaxing day off from the hectic city. The best way to spend your time is by hiking or biking in the forests and heathlands surrounding the city...
MORE INFORMATIONS : http://www.hilversum.nl/
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