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Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence 918

2017-09/4836/en_head.json.gz/16843

Chinas Tibet Best Walks With A View with Julia Bradbury South Africa Walks with Julia Bradbury Rick Stein's Long Weekends Palin's Brazil Today in the age of information with jet aircraft, highways and the network of computers, mysterious places are rare to be found. But, Tibet is an exception. Referred to as Shangri La, The Forbidden Land or The Roof of the World the mysterious Buddhist Kingdom remained long closed to foreigners, exerting a strong hold on the imagination of the world. For centuries, it has fascinated mankind. It was hardly accessible to the outside world and has been always a challenge to human beings. Tibet, a "forbidden land" not only by man but also by nature, attracted many explorers, scholars, pilgrims and adventure lovers, all in pursuit of the "Real Shangri-la". It is not only the geographical and natural that enchants but a long historical culture and religion that intrigues the world. Tibetan history can be traced thousands of years back. However, the written history only dates back to the 7th century when Songtsan Gampo, the 33rd Tibetan king, sent his minister Sambhota to India to study Sanskrit who on his return invented the present Tibetan script based on Sanskrit. The content of this program covers all aspects of Tibetan society over a 700-hundred-year period. On the basis of history and facts, with informative documents and objective narration, this program is a rare textbook for people who want to know Tibet. Catalogue No: DT103-08

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Cerro Castillo Palace » This building, which dates back to 1929, is the vacation residence of the President, and also hosts ministerial and diplomatic meetings. This neo-colonial style home was designed by the architects Luis Browne and Manuel Valenzuela and is recognized as one of the most emblematic and traditional buildings in Viña del Mar. Construction on the building began at the end of the 1920’s thanks to the First Lady, Graciela Letelier Velasco, who encouraged her husband, Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, to build a presidential summer home atop the Cerro Castillo (Castle Hill) when the Garden City (Viña del Mar’s nickname) was booming. Since then, this building has been used by various presidents and acquired an even more important role when the National Congress was moved to Valparaíso. On May 9, 2000, the City Council voted to designate the Place as an architectural and historic building. In 2005, the Cerro Castillo was declared a National Monument in the Typical Zone category (recognizing the area as a whole), and the Presidential Palace in the Historical Monument category. The Cerro Castillo During Colonial times, the Cerro Castillo was called the “First Sister” hill, since together with the Agua Santa hill they formed the first of seven elevations that designated the land belonging to the Portuguese millionaire trader Francisco Álvarez. People began settling in the area at the end of the XIX century, associated with the arrival of the Miramar Train Station that began service in 1886. The Cerro Castillo boasts views of nearly all of the city as well as some of the most popular beach areas. Just below is the iconic symbol of the Garden City: the Flower Clock. The location is closely linked to Viña del Mar’s history and still today is the site of buildings with enormous architectural value. One of its most important characteristics is that the area remains purely residential, defined by its calmness, a contrast from the constant hustle and bustle of the city just a few meters away. With a nearly 3-million-peso investment at the time, the Presidential Palace was placed on land belonging to the Fuerte Callao (Callao Military Fort), built after the war with Spain in 1866. Later, during the 1891 Revolution, the fort served as a stronghold for Balmaceda’s troops. Construction of the 2,260 meter palace was led by engineer Fortunato Castro, under the administration of the North American firm Fred T. Leig. The building was turned over to the Chilean Government in January of 1930 and media at the time called it “one of the most luxurious and architecturally pleasing structures in South America.” With reinforced concrete structures and foundations covered in tile, this construction has architectural details from various time periods in Spanish and Mexican architecture, incorporating exterior and interior patios, as well as elements made from wood, iron bars, a series of arches, ornate fireplaces and the use of decorative concrete and plaster molding. Cannons were kept from the original fort which adorn the gardens. Large brick walls were removed, along with two ammunition storage areas and a casemate, which was where the soldiers stayed. Chile, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar’s coat of arms are proudly displayed on the front of the building. Structure and Furniture The building has three stories as well as a basement with several areas designed for work and meetings. The furniture has been changed several times based on modifications made by each president. The living room, dining room, three terraces staggered on the hillside, the kitchen and bathrooms are located on the lower level. The President’s quarters are located in the left wing. Among other furniture, it boasts a beautiful desk made from native Chilean wood and covered in a dark leather that accents the impressive presidential chair. It also has a library, console tables in a variety of models, a coffee table with a crystal top and onyx base, and, just as in the dining room, the walls are covered in a fine native wood with rectangular edges. The second story houses the President’s bedroom and guest bedrooms, eight in total. The master bedroom has an English couch and a Butler table. The first and second floor house Luis XIV sofas, a Pembroke table, console and English side tables, Queen Anne chairs and Trigalle armchairs. On the top floor, distributed en two towers, is the library, a radio room, an office and an observatory. There is now also an interior elevator that connects the basement with the top floors. Throughout the years, the Presidents have used the Palace in different ways. For example, Juan Esteban Montero did not enjoy the house, which led him to consider converting it into an orphanage at one point, but the idea never caught fire. President Alessandri Rodríguez contemplated selling the home. In the end however, he gave in to its beauty and kept the palace. During Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle’s government, the Arboretum Project was carried out with the aim of reviving the Palace’s park, a 2,500 square meter area that houses native species like palm trees and exotic Araucaria trees. Republican Traditions The palace and its gardens are the traditional location of the official photograph with the President and her cabinet, which will be taken before the State of the Union address on May 21. The Palace has also been the setting of many important international meetings and conferences, such as the VI Ibero-American Summit, the II Summit of the Americas, the Progressive Leaders’ Summit and the Unasur meeting, among others.

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What It's Like to Live in a Celebrity Hot Spot Learn the ups and downs of living in a city frequented by the rich and famous. Shannon Petrie Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Nashville locals are protective and respectful of music celebrities’ privacy. Photo by: Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Cities are a bit like people: All have their own special qualities, but a few have that certain something -- a unique allure that makes them stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s the pristine beaches of East Hampton, N.Y. or the vibrant music scene of Nashville, Tenn., it’s no surprise that celebrities flock to these exceptional cities. Locals living in these celebrity hot spots find themselves in a unique position: While some people spend a massive amount of time and energy seeking out celebrities, for these homeowners, star sightings are just part of life. Lisa Johnson, a seven-year resident of world-class ski resort and celebrity playground Aspen, Colo., says you never know who you’ll run into in the Rocky Mountain city: Jennifer Aniston, Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson, Antonio Banderas and Michelle Pfeiffer are some of the usual suspects. Johnson is founder of Aspen Fashion Week, an annual event that showcases top brands in winter resort, ski and technical outerwear. 2009 was the first year of the event, and Johnson was thrilled to have legendary Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani in attendance, who came for a screening of the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor. Robin McClain, a Los Angeles resident for 10 years, says living in the entertainment capital of the world certainly comes with one major perk: Whether it’s to spot celebrities or simply to enjoy the Southern California lifestyle, friends and family are always eager to visit. But living in a celebrity hot spot can come with drawbacks as well. A long-time retreat for the wealthy, the Hamptons received an influx of both Hollywood types and second homeowners in the 1980s, says Renee Palmer, a Hamptons resident for 35 years and a member of the East Hampton Historical Society. Since then, the area has gotten clogged and home prices have soared, making day-to-day life difficult for long-time residents. GETTING AROUND Bright lights, paparazzi and throngs of screaming fans. This might sound like a typical scene in the day of a life of a celebrity, but it’s a rare sight for locals of these cities. “There’s not that mania you see when people arrive at airports at other countries,” McClain says. “I think the mania happens in L.A. surrounding an event, like the Oscars or a movie premiere.” Frequent star sightings. Even outside of major events, Los Angeles and celebrities go hand-in-hand. So for McClain and other locals of the California city, running into Brad Pitt at a restaurant or Jennifer Garner at the grocery store is just a part of life. In fact, McClain is so accustomed to recognizing famous faces, she once mistook someone she knew in person for a celebrity. While standing in line at her favorite bagel place, she saw someone who looked familiar but -- assuming she was a celebrity -- thought nothing of it. The “celebrity” approached her and turned out not to be a celebrity at all, but a former co-worker from Salt Lake City. Protective of privacy. While McClain says star sightings elicit no reaction from her, Jennifer Schwartzenberg, a born-and-raised New Yorker who moved to country music capital Nashville, Tenn. three years ago, admits she gets excited when she sees the singers and songwriters behind her favorite songs. But that doesn’t mean she’ll approach them for an autograph or a picture. (“Maybe Jimmy Buffet,” she says.) While seeing stars like Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney and Nicole Kidman is not an uncommon occurrence in the Southern city, Schwartzenberg says Nashville locals are protective and respectful of celebrities’ privacy. “They’re just living their lives here,” Schwartzenberg says. “Yes, it’s cool and exciting, but at the end of the day they’re just regular people who happen to make a living doing something that gives them notoriety and publicity.” Delays unlikely. Luckily, this low-key outlook means living in a celebrity hot spot doesn’t cause many hold-ups for Schwartzenberg -- even if she does end up in line behind Keith Urban at Starbucks. While living in downtown Nashville, she also saw road closures for the filming of Hannah Montana: The Movie, but even this wasn’t a major inconvenience. “I’m so used to New York traffic that when people complain about traffic down here I’m like, 'Really? You should go sit on the Long Island Expressway for two hours,'” Schwartzenberg says. No pictures, please. Paparazzi are generally nowhere to be found in Nashville, but McClain has seen her fair share of them in Los Angeles. It’s a funny experience, she says, to leave a restaurant where paparazzi are waiting outside for a celebrity, and to see their disappointment when they realize she’s not the one they’re waiting for. “It’s kind of a fun observation,” she says. “It’s never impacted me in a negative way, but having observed it, there’s absolutely no desire on my part to be famous.” OWNING A HOME Famous neighbors. “Celebrity” is a new concept, East Hampton resident Palmer says. Jackson Pollock, one of the most famous American painters of the 20th century and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, lived in the East Hampton hamlet of Springs from 1945 until his death in 1956. Pollock, along with the many other artists and writers who called the Hamptons home, were never considered “celebrities,” she says -- they were just normal people who you might see at the local coffee shop. Palmer even lived next door to Willem de Kooning, another famous abstract expressionist painter who lived in East Hampton from 1963 to 1997. Now, with tabloids and television shows devoted to following the lives of the famous, celebrities can’t pull off anonymity as easily, making it less likely for locals of these cities to have well-known neighbors. In Aspen, Johnson says celebrities typically flock to the city’s luxurious Red Mountain, West End and Starwood neighborhoods, while Aspen locals usually opt for condos downtown. Endless options. In Los Angeles, McClain says celebrities generally live in the "West side," home to several major movie studios and A-list communities like Brentwood, Bel Air and Beverly Hills, among others. But since the City of Los Angeles spans nearly 500 square miles, locals have many options when deciding where to live. Similarly, Schwartzenberg says up-and-coming musicians might live in downtown Nashville near Music Row, while some celebrities might opt for space and privacy in Franklin or Hendersonville, both located about 20 miles outside of downtown. But throughout the city, there’s so much variety offered in housing and neighborhoods, anyone can find a fit for their budget. Schwartzenberg and her husband lived in a condo in downtown Nashville for two years, but recently bought a larger home with an in-ground swimming pool in the backyard. “In New York or Los Angeles, this house would be over $1 million, and that’s certainly not what we paid for it here,” she says. “We laugh about it all the time because we’re both born-and-raised New Yorkers; we can’t believe we live in this beautiful house, because we wouldn’t be living in this house if it were somewhere else.” FINDING FUN No matter who you are, these cities are appealing for a reason, whether it’s beautiful beaches, rich cultural activities or world-class skiing. In Aspen, locals and celebrities alike share a mutual love of the mountains and the winter lifestyle, so a typical day for either looks about the same: a long, luxurious lunch at Ajax Tavern or Il Mulino -- two popular base-of-the-mountain restaurants -- a day of skiing and a delicious dinner at the Caribou Club or one of Aspen’s other top-notch restaurants. “Celebrities are sort of in the mix -- in the restaurants, going to the bars, on the gondola and doing the same things that we do,” Johnson says. Aspen Fashion Week is also an attraction for both celebrities and non-celebrities. While other fashion weeks are more industry- and trade-oriented, Aspen Fashion Week is more like a festival, with musical performances, in-store events, and of course, runway shows. “We wanted it to be more friendly for second homeowners and residents to attend events as well as visitors planning their trips around attending,” she says. Culture everywhere. Schwartzenberg says she was drawn to Nashville because of its manageability and wide offering of arts and cultural activities, and she thinks celebrities see the same appeal. It’s a place where they can maintain a level of normalcy when they’re not on tour or on location, yet they can still find plenty of opportunities for fun. Schwartzenberg runs NowPlayingNashville.com, an arts and entertainment guide for Middle Tennessee, so she attends many events throughout the area. From art shows to hockey games, she’s spotted celebrities everywhere. “Vince Gill will play the Grand Ole Opry a couple of times a year at least, and you’ll see him at the Country Music Hall of Fame for things,” she says. “But then, he’s a season ticket holder for the Nashville Predators, so you’ll see him there in his jersey cheering on the team. So it’s kind of cool to see what their interests are.” Perks for locals. These cities may offer a low-key lifestyle for celebrities, but for locals, they bring exciting opportunities. A concert scene for Country Strong, a film starring Gwyneth Paltrow as a struggling country singer and Tim McGraw as her husband and manager, was filmed at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The producers needed extras to serve as the audience of the concert, so they opened the doors to the first 2,500 Nashvillians to arrive. The extras were able to enjoy a free concert featuring Paltrow, Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meester, Friday Night Lights,’ Garrett Hedlund and McGraw’s tour openers, The Lost Trailers. (McGraw did not perform, but he did welcome the crowd.) “It’s kind of cool that they thought, 'Let’s incorporate Nashville, and the people who live here and our fans,'” Schwartzenberg says. “There are a lot of really cool opportunities like that.” Conducive to creativity. Schwartzenberg says one of her favorite things about living in Nashville is the proximity to the amazing local songwriting community. “I go to the Bluebird Cafe a lot, where it’s just these songwriters -- the people behind these hit songs,” she says. “Those are the people that I get excited about. I love that they all live here, work here, collaborate here, and their creative juices are flowing here in Nashville. That’s exciting.” TALLYING THE COST OF LIVING One downside of living in a place frequented by celebrities: The high demand for these areas can make them quite pricey. According to a 2006 study based on data collected by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association and the city of Aspen, the cost of living in Aspen is more than 300 percent higher than the national average. But Aspen is not a place you end up by accident, Johnson says, and the people who want to live there are willing to make concessions to do so. She says it’s not uncommon for well-educated, accomplished people to make extra money by bartending or waiting tables on the side. “It’s one of the things that make Aspen so special: If you want to be here, you make the sacrifices in order to be here,” Johnson says. Money-saving secrets. Thrifty local tricks also make living in Aspen more affordable. Take, for instance, dining out. The cost of eating at Aspen’s world-class restaurants can add up quickly, but there’s an economical solution: the bar menu. Aspen locals know that ordering off the bar menu is a great way to have a five-star meal at a reasonable price. The only drawback is you don’t get to eat in the dining room, but Johnson says she and her friends are more than willing to eat at the bar to get great food for less. McClain says one of the biggest perks of living in Los Angeles is that many of the city’s best activities are very affordable. “I love walking at the beach, and that’s free,” she says. “And I love going to new breakfast places on the weekends, and that tends to be very reasonably priced. Eggs and coffee can only cost so much.” Soaring costs. In other places frequented by high-profile people, the cost of living can be a major pain for long-time residents. In the '60s and '70s, Palmer says the Hamptons were a relatively affordable place for young people just out of school looking for a beach lifestyle. With plenty of pools to service, houses to clean and gardens to maintain, many of these newcomers were able to make a comfortable living in the service industry. But since housing prices have exploded in the area, many long-time residents are selling their homes and moving to more affordable areas. “Services have become expensive because we have to import a grass cutter from 40 miles away,” she says. “The local kid who used to do it is gone -- he couldn't afford to live here.” However, not all celebrity hot spots come with huge price tags. Schwartzenberg says Nashville has a lot to offer for a very moderate cost of living. “You can have a beautiful home and the taxes aren’t that much, there’s a lot of space that you can’t necessarily get in other cities,” she says. A Doggie Day Care Service That Comes to Your Building Mitch Marrow, founder of The Spot Experience, brings pet services to the doorstep of luxury buildings in New York City. What It's Like to Live in New Orleans Indulge in the rich history of the Creole culture and find out why locals love the Big Easy. What It's Like to Live in a Tourist Town Locals share the ups and downs of living in five world-famous vacation destinations. What It's Like to Live in a Sports City Depending on your lifestyle, living next door to a sports arena can be either a perk or a pain. What It's Like to Live in New Bern, N.C. This historic town blends convenience with small-town charm. Moving to and Living in Atlanta, Georgia Whether you have a family of six or require a table for one, Atlanta has the right home for you. Steamboat Springs, Colo.: Like No Place Else Here, the shops, spots and traditions make this mountain town unique. Living in Stowe, Vermont This picturesque mountain town lies between Mt. Mansfield and Worcester Mountains. Places to Go and Things to Do in Stowe, Vermont Find out what to do and where to go for essentials in this picturesque mountain town. What’s It Like to Live in Winter Haven, Florida This picturesque "Chain of Lakes City" in central Florida has a rich history and a features a wealth of natural resources.

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All times are UTC + 2 hours Table Mountain claims a top 7 spot!! Table Mountain claims a top 7 spot!! Mon Nov 14, 2011 3:54 pm Guru Yep, Table Mountain has secured itself a space as one of the world’s seven most wonderful natural sites.Read here for more insight.Thanks to everyone who voted Regards:Lesego NkoWeb forum and Online Stakeholder [email protected] mikef Re: Table Mountain claims a top 7 spot!! Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:38 pm Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:44 pmPosts: 117 Great news for SA - congratulations to all who helped drive the voting process. This is however based on a provisional result. I am surprised that the Sanparks Media release makes no mention of this fact. Refer below for the official "provisional results" from the official website:http://www.new7wonders.com/Quote:The above are the provisional New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results on 11/11/11.It is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners.The above provisional New7Wonders of Nature are listed in alphabetical order, not in any position or ranking.The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies. Fri May 04, 2012 9:44 am Guru Well now it has been confirmed. Cheers to Table Mountain Cape Town, Thursday, 3 May 2012: Table Mountain’s status as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature has become official after an international audit confirmed the result of a global voting process.The New7Wonders Foundation based in Switzerland has confirmed that Table Mountain’s “provisional” status after international voting closed on 11 November 2011 has been changed to “official”. The results followed three years of intense campaigning in a contest that drew more than 100 million votes from 220 countries worldwide.Table Mountain is the 5th site to have its status confirmed, along with Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island and Puerto Princesa Underground River. The Amazon and Komodo Island remain on the provisional list.Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille described the title as “a great accolade for a unique wonder of nature that belongs to all the people of Cape Town, South Africa, Africa and the world. The New Seven Wonders title has great long-term marketing value for Cape Town and South Africa. The wonder becomes part of school curricula, it becomes a “must see” and “bucket list” item for travellers and explorers.”Sabine Lehmann, chairperson of the Table Mountain official supporters committee (OSC), said the official confirmation would provide a significant boost to the South African tourism industry.“Visitor numbers to Table Mountain reached record numbers after the mountain was named on the provisional list of seven sites on 11 November 2011, and we expect the official confirmation to further boost visitor interest locally and abroad. This is already the case for the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the New7Wonder site in the Philippines,” Lehmann said.The Philippines island that is home to the Puerto Princesa Underground River used to have three flights a week and now has 22 flights a week; the site used to attract an average of 150 visitors a day and now has 2 000 visitors a day. “The Island is building a new international airport to cope with the influx of visitors,” Lehmann said.Lehmann expressed her gratitude to all those who had supported the Vote for Table Mountain campaign including Nobel Peace Prize winners Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former President FW de Klerk, the Springbok rugby team and countless everyday fans.“I am very grateful to the people of Cape Town, South Africa and the entire African content for making this wonderful news possible," said Lehmann.Gary de Kock, regional general manager of SANParks, said: “We value that this award recognizes SANParks’ significant investment in the natural heritage of this beautiful mountain chain and that conservation adds value to the tourism economy.”Paddy Gordon, manager of the Table Mountain National Park, also welcomed the news: “It is an honour that Table Mountain is now linked to other new and exciting places and we hope that visitors from those places will now visit us in return, and bring new tourism markets with them.”Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, said it was of great significance that Table Mountain was chosen by voters globally to be the representative of Africa's unique natural heritage.“Along with possessing a biodiversity that is exceptionally important, given its proximity to a major city, Table Mountain is notable for the historic role it played in helping Nelson Mandela cope with his long years of imprisonment," said Weber.“Through the bars of his cell on Robben Island, the sight of the peak with its table cloth of cloud offered him hope of brighter days to come, and the statement issued by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory on 8 November last year supporting the call to vote for Table Mountain was both an endorsement of the South African finalist and a tribute to its ability to inspire."The Table Mountain OSC will now plan the official inauguration ceremony. An impressive commemorative plaque will be officially presented by the New7Wonders Foundation to Table Mountain in October. Contact the Table Mountain OSC on 021 424 0015 for further information.Issued by:Splash PR & Media Consultants on behalf of Table Mountain Official Suporters CommitteeFor further info:Bianca Bouwer021 447 [email protected] For comment:Sabine LehmannChairperson, Table Mountain Official Suporters Committee 082 305 9019orCollette van Aswegen021 424 0015 Fri May 04, 2012 9:50 am Moderator Whoo Hoo We can all be Proudly South African!! Whooo Hoooo again D Fri May 04, 2012 10:09 am Senior Virtual Ranger Table Mountain. Top Fri May 04, 2012 10:14 am Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:44 pmPosts: 117 Great news Top Fri May 04, 2012 12:49 pm Legendary Virtual Ranger Fri May 04, 2012 1:41 pm Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:22 pmPosts: 889Location: Centurion, Gauteng

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from $1071.20Delhi to Kathmandu AdventureTour style - Wildlife & Nature, Culture & History15 daysIf you’re looking to experience the diversity of India and Nepal, this 15-day trip contrasts the colourful culture of India with the pristine serenity of Nepal's Himalayan mountains. From the ghats that line the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi to a jeep safari in Chitwan National Park, our expert CEOs will take you through a region of unsurpassed natural beauty and spirituality before revealing to you the rugged Himalayan landscape of Nepal’s magical capital, Kathmandu.Or call 800.781.4040Day 1 DelhiArrive in Delhi at any time. Opt to book an arrival transfer with G Adventures and be picked up by Women on Wheels, a Planeterra-supported project. This program provides safe and reliable transport for women travellers, while providing a dignified livelihood for local women from resource-poor communities. There are no planned activities till the late afternoon, so check into to the hotel (check-in time is 12.00 midday) and enjoy the city. At 14.00pm we will have a group meeting where you will meet your fellow group members (Check the notice board in hotel lobby to confirm time) to go over the details of your trip. This will be followed by a short orientation to Connaught Place by metro and a walk to India Gate. Check the notice board to see where the group meeting will be held. New Delhi, the capital of India is one of the most historic capitals in the world and three of its monuments- the Qutab Minar, Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb - have been declared World Heritage Sites. It offers a multitude of interesting places and attractions to the visitor, so much so that it becomes difficult to decide from where to begin exploring the city. In Old Delhi, there are attractions like mosques, forts, markets and other monuments depicting India's Muslim history. New Delhi, on the other hand, is a modern city designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. Tree covered wide streets with many roundabouts are notable in New Delhi. Home to many government buildings and embassies, as well as Rashtrapati Bhawan, the one-time imperial residence of the British viceroys; India Gate, a memorial raised in honor of the Indian soldiers martyred during the Afghan war. Further out in the southern suburbs you will discover more history including Humayun's Tomb, said to be the forerunner of the Taj Mahal at Agra; the Purana Quila, built by Humayun, with later-day modifications by Sher Shah Suri; Qutab Minar, built by Qutb-ud-din Aybak of the Slave Dynasty; and the incredible lotus-shaped Bahá'í House of Worship. There are a number of outstanding museums worth visiting including the Craft Museum, National Gallery and Birla House (Ghandi Smirti) and Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum. (Note many museums are closed on Monday). There are so many options for dining, from age-old eateries in the by lanes of the Old Walled City to glitzy, specialty restaurants in five-star hotels, Delhi is a movable feast. Restaurants and bars cater to all tastes and budgets. The best of Mughlai cuisine can be enjoyed at Karims, (both in Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin) where recipes, dating from the times o the Mughals have been the closely guarded secret of generations of chefs. The finest Frontier cuisine is available at the Bukhara, recently voted as the best Indian restaurant in the world!! And at the other end of the scale there are the many popular roadside eateries where kebabs, naan and rotis (Indian breads) and dosa (South Indian pancakes) are the order of the day. A delightful outlet offering a range of Indian cuisines are the food stalls at Dilli Haat. Here, the cuisine of different states is made available. Set in the midst of a spacious crafts bazaar these cafes are a very pleasant place to enjoy food.Days 2-3 JaipurLeaving the chaos of the capital New Delhi, we travel by way of a private van to Jaipur, known as the Pink City (approx 6hrs). Jaipur was first painted terracotta pink by Maharajah Sawai Ram Singh in 1853, to celebrate the visit of Prince Albert. During our stay in Jaipur we visit the Amber Fort clinging to the surrounding hills. We walk up to the fort. We also visit the amazing City Palace with its fine collection of textiles and costumes as well as the Hawa Mahal or Palace of the Winds. This famous building is in fact only an elaborately carved facade built to enable the purdah ladies in the zenana to watch the goings-on in the street below without being seen. There are so many things to do in Jaipur you will enjoy some free time. You may want to head out to the nearby village of Sanganer to see blue pottery, hand made paper or hand block printing. Or you may want to discover more of the wisdom and history of the rulers of Jaipur by wandering around the Jantar Mantar, an observatory built in the 1700's. Or you may just want to sip a cocktail in any of the luxuriously converted palaces, now operating as 5 star hotels. And of course a visit to a Bollywood film is a must and there is no better place than the spectacular Art deco film house - the Raj Mandir. Jaipur is one of the most important centers in the world for gems and jewelery and cutting of small diamonds and also a great place to buy block printed textiles, blue pottery and hand made paper. There are many shops selling these items and some wonderful markets in the Old City selling more traditional items such as mojari, Rajasthani slippers. If buying gems or jewelery please take caution as there have been several instances of scams where fake jewellery has been passed off as real.Day 4 AgraTravel by private van (approx 5 hrs) to the Muslim city of Agra, site of India’s most famous landmark, the Taj Mahal. Visit this icon of Mughal architecture either early in the morning or late afternoon for the best light. We ride one of the ubiquitous cycle rickshaws to visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. The Taj Mahal was constructed between 1631 and 1654 by a workforce of 22 000, the Taj Mahal was built by the Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his favourite wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal. Mumtaz had already borne the emperor fourteen children when she died in childbirth, and it is the romantic origin of the Taj as much as its architectural splendour that has led to its fame worldwide. Actually an integrated complex of many structures, the Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, itself a combination of Islamic, Hindu, Persian and Turkish elements. The walled palatial city of the Agra Fort, was first taken over by the Moghuls, at that time led by Akbar the Great, in the late 16th century. Akbar liked to build from red sandstone, often inlaid with white marble and intricate decorations, and it was during his reign that the fort began changing into more of a royal estate. However, it was only during the reign of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan (who would eventually build the Taj Mahal) that the site finally took on its current state. Unlike his grandfather, Shah Jahan preferred buildings made from white marble, often inlaid with gold or semi-precious gems, and he destroyed some earlier buildings inside the fort in order to build others in his own style. At the end of his life Shah Jahan was imprisoned in the fort by his son, Aurangzeb. It is said that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with an excellent view of the Taj Mahal. The fort was also a site of one of the most important battles of the Indian rebellion of 1857, which caused the end of the British East India Company's rule in India, leading to a century of direct rule of India by Britain.Days 5-6 OrchhaToday we travel by train from Agra to Jhansi before jumping in a tempo, a large type of auto rickshaw to the picturesque town of Orchha (approx 4 hrs). We spend two days enjoying the peaceful rural charm of this riverside town. Sitting on the banks of the Betwa River, Orchha is the perfect antidote to the chaos of India’s cities. Experience a piece of the ‘real’ India, one that will likely change your image of this diverse country. While here, opt to visit a local family for a cooking class and lunch. A typical, small Indian town, Orchha owes its popularity to an architectural heritage bequeathed it, by its history as the oldest and highest in rank of all the Bundela states. Orchha dates back to the 16th century when it was founded by the Bundela chief Rudra Pratap. In the early 17th century, Raja Jujhar Singh rebelled against the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, whose armies devastated the state and occupied Orchha from 1635 to 1641. Orchha was the only Bundela state not subjugated by the Marathas in the 18th century. Hamir Singh, who ruled from 1848 to 1874, was elevated to Maharaja in 1865. Maharaja Pratap Singh (born 1854, died 1930), who succeeded to the throne in 1874, devoted himself entirely to the development of his state, himself designing most of the engineering and irrigation works executed during his reign. In 1901, the state had an area of over 2000 sq. mi, and population of over 300 000, warranted a 15-gun salute, and its Maharajas bore the hereditary title of First of the Princes of Bundelkhand, all hard to believe as you wander the sleepy town as it appears today. Eventually, Vir Singh, Pratap Singh's successor, merged his state with the Union of India on January 1, 1950. With our local guide, we explore some of the many temples and palaces spread along the river and surrounding countryside, including the town’s imposing 17th century fort, Chaturbhuj temple built on a vast platform of stone, and the numerous cenotaphs that dot the landscape. Remember to make time for the evening puja ceremony between 7pm and 8pm - at the Ram Raja Temple. We also visit Tarragram, a unique paper making plant, set up to assist tribal women from the area. All the paper is made from recycled clothing and wood pulp. Then you will have free time to hire a bicycle and head out into the countryside, a great opportunity to meet some locals. Or simply relax and stroll along the banks of the river. On the evening of Day 6 we return to Jhansi and take the overnight train to Varanasi (approx 13 hrs).Days 7-8 VaranasiWe arrive in the morning into Varanasi, the quintessential Indian holy city where millions of Hindu travel, for pilgrimage, to worship, to mourn or to die. Walk the narrow twisting alleys, poke around some of the literally hundreds of temples and shrines, and experience the energy of the dawn rituals of bathing and burnings as you float past the numerous ghats of the River Ganges. The legends, myths and aura surrounding Varanasi led Mark Twain to famously remark. "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". Sitting on the banks of the River Ganges, you can contemplate what it means to be in Varanasi, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world, dating back thousands of years. The culture of Varanasi is deeply associated with the river Ganges, its reigning deity Lord Shiva and its religious importance; the city has been a cultural and religious center in northern India for thousands of years. Or wander through the Old City with its maze of narrow alleyways full of small shops and stalls. Perhaps you could visit the monasteries and ruins of nearby Sarnath, the site of Buddha's first sermon. During our stay we take boats out onto the sacred Ganges River, both for sunrise and sunset. For the evening boat journey we enjoy a candle flower ceremony.Day 9 LumbiniLeave Varanasi by early morning train to Gorakhpur (6 hours) and drive 2-3 hours from Gorakhpur to the border where we meet our Nepalese transport. Crossing at the border town of Bhairawa we then continue on to the great Buddhist pilgrimage center and birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini. This will be a longer travel day, it may take up to 12 hrs total to reach Lumbini. Lumbini (Sanskrit for "the lovely") is the historical birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who lived between approximately 563 and 483 BCE. Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located 25kms east of the municipality of Kapilavastu, the place where the Buddha grew up and lived up to the age of 29. It is possible to get a Nepalese visa at the border, you will need at least one passport size photograph and $25 USD, Nepal is 15 minutes ahead of India. Days 10-11 Chitwan National ParkLeaving Lumbini we travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Chitwan National Park (approx 4-5 hrs). Known as the Terai Tarai ("moist land"), the landscape you travel through today is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests at the base of the Himalayas. The Terai zone is composed of alternate layers of clay and sand, with a high water table that creates many springs and wetlands; the zone is inundated yearly by the monsoon-swollen rivers of the Himalaya. The Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands form an eco-region that stretches across the middle of the Terai belt. They are a mosaic of tall grasslands, savannas and evergreen and deciduous forests; the grasslands are among the tallest in the world, fed by silt deposited by the yearly monsoon floods. It is this eco-region that is home to the endangered Indian Rhinoceros, as well as elephants, Bengal tigers, bears, leopards and other wild animals. Much of the region has been converted to farmland, although both Royal Chitwan National Park and Royal Bardia National Park preserve significant sections of habitat, and are home to some of the greatest concentrations of rhinoceros and tiger remaining in South Asia. Arrive Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP), the oldest national park in Nepal. Established in 1973, it became a World Heritage Site in 1984. Within its area of 932km², the Royal Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles including sambars, chitals, rhesus monkeys, and langurs. Until 1950 the Chitwan Valley was a hunting reserve for big game. Happily, today tourists come only to spot wildlife, rather than shoot it, and the park offers some great wildlife viewing opportunities. We explore the national park by a jeep safari. There will also be free time to go on a canoe ride or to enjoy a spot of bird watching. In the evening we interact with the local Tharu community and experience their cultural through dance and song along with a traditional meal of Tharus. The Tharu's are an indigenous community of the Terai belt of Nepal and work toward living self sufficiently. They live in eco friendly homes made of mud, straw and material found in abundance in the region. They also produce and farm all their own food. Days 12-13 PokharaTravel from the plains to the mountains by bus (approx 5 hrs). Nestled in a tranquil valley at an altitude of 827m, Pokhara is a place of natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fish-tailed summit of Machhapuchhre (6977m) rising behind it create an ambiance of peace and tranquility. Pokhara lies on a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. The enchanting city has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks - creating the ambience that has made it such a popular place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Relax in a café, hire a boat and float around the lake, or shop for Nepali and Tibetan souvenirs in the endless stalls and shops. Clearly the most stunning of Pokhara's sights is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range. We travel out to Sarangkot (1592m) only 5 kms north east of Pokhara for a spectacular sunrise of the surrounding mountains (weather permitting). The walk back down through farms and forest to Pokhara is wonderful and takes between 2-2 1/2 hours.Day 14 KathmanduTravelling the last leg of the trip through the wild, rugged Himalayan landscape to Nepal’s magical capital and largest city, Kathmandu. For many, simply the name alone is sufficient to conjure up images of temple pagodas, long-haired saddhus in clouds of hashish smoke and the ever-present Himalayas. Kathmandu is all this and more. Sitting in a bowl-like valley surrounded on all sides by some of the highest mountains on earth, Kathmandu has been a crossroads of cultures since hundreds of years before Christ, a tradition very much alive today. We visit Swayambhunath before reaching Kathmandu, the monkey temple, sitting high above Kathmandu city. Swayambhunath is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu valley. Its lofty white dome and glittering golden spire are visible for many miles. On each of the four sides of the main stupa there are a pair of big eyes. These eyes are symbolic of God's all-seeing perspective. There is no nose between the eyes but rather a representation of the number one in the Nepali alphabet, signifying that the single way to enlightenment is through the Buddhist path. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye, signifying the wisdom of looking within. No ears are shown because it is said the Buddha is not interested in hearing prayers in praise of him. To reached Swayambhunath you climb 365 steps that lead up the hill and the area surrounding the stupa is filled with temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. Arrive by bus late in the afternoon and we will have a short orientation walk. Highlights in Kathmandu include world-famous Durbar Square, the King’s Palace, the burning ghats at Pashupatinath and Boudhanath Stupa. But more than almost any city in the world, Kathmandu is fascinating at every turn, and some travellers prefer to just wander, seeing where chance, fate or the city may lead them.Day 15 KathmanduOur tour ends today. You are free to depart any time today, though your accomodation is only till noon. You CEO can help you arrange your onward travel. MOUNTAIN FLIGHTS Regular flights are conducted daily from Kathmandu towards the Himalayan Range in the North and East of Kathmandu. The flight generally takes off in the morning and lasts for one full hour. This is the quickest way to get a close look at Mt. Everest, the highest mountains in the world. Other mountains that can be viewed at close range are Nuptse (7879 M), Lhotse (8501 M), Cho Oyu (8000M), Makalu (8475 M) and Kanchenjunga (8584 M). Or call 800.781.4040

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Egypt's antiquities fall victim to political chaos Published: Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013 12:30 p.m. CST CAIRO (AP) — The home of Egypt's mummies and King Tutankhamun's treasures is trying to make the best out of the worst times of political turmoil. But the Egyptian Museum is taking a hammering on multiple levels, from riots on its doorstep to funding so meager it can't keep up paper clip supplies for its staff. The museum, a treasure trove of pharaonic antiquities, has long been one of the centerpieces of tourism to Egypt. But the constant instability since the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak has dried up the industry, slashing a key source of revenue. Moreover, political backbiting and attempts to stop corruption have had a knock-on effect of bringing a de facto ban on sending antiquities on tours to museums abroad, cutting off what was once a major source of funding for the state.Optimistically looking ahead, the museum is trying to turn its fortunes around with an extensive renovation of the 111-year-old salmon-colored buildingThe repeated eruption of protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, where the museum is located, has also scared away visitors. Over the summer there were the giant rallies that led to the July 3 military coup ousting Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. In recent weeks, protesters have returned to Tahrir, now venting their anger at the military-backed government that took its place."Tahrir Square is considered as the birthplace of the Egyptian revolution, and the museum is like a thermometer. It gets affected by the political situation at the square," said Sayed Amer, the director of the Egyptian Museum, in a recent interview with The Associated Press.The antiquities minister, Mohammed Ibrahim, tried to put a brave face, saying at least the museum remains open."Sometimes the square is closed but we keep the museum open," he said.On recent visits to the museum by the AP, there were only a handful of foreign visitors, and none at its most prized exhibits of mummies and King Tut's treasures.The palatial museum is trying to make the most of the dry times. The décor will get a makeover, and lighting and security systems will be upgraded in an overhaul, in cooperation with Germany, costing more than $4.3 million.Plans are also being drawn up to demolish the neighboring high-rise that housed the former headquarters of Mubarak's National Democratic Party, which was burned during the uprising, to create an open-air, Nile-side exhibition garden for the museum. King Tut's treasures will be moved to a new Grand Egyptian Museum under construction near the Giza pyramids, due to be finished in 2015. The plan reflects in part the embarrassment of riches Egypt enjoys in pharaonic artifacts: The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir is so overflowing with objects that more than half its collection sits in storage in its basement — in less than ideal conditions — meaning there's plenty to draw visitors to both museums.Amid the budget crunch, staffers are trying to find other sources of revenue.Yasmin el-Shazly, the head of the Documentation Department that tracks the museum's 200,000 items, set up a fundraising mechanism to bring in donations for the museum independently of the government.Donations collected by the Friends of the Egyptian Museum group will help fund academic research in the museum, raise awareness of its projects and empower Egyptian experts and museum's staff, who have gone without salaries for months."We don't even have the money to buy office supplies like paper clips and pens, and pay for computer maintenance," el-Shazly said. "It's always been difficult because the money generated by the museum went to the government and rarely came back to us. But now, with no money coming from tourism, it's worse than ever."Ibrahim said the ministry's revenues, including the entrance fees from tourist sites, fell from 111 million Egyptian pounds ($16 million) in October 2010 to 7 million Egyptian pounds ($1.14 million) in October 2013.Even more detrimental, few if any of Egypt's precious antiquities are touring abroad.A visit in October by a team of experts from the British Museum resulted only in words of hope for a renewed cooperation in the future and some training opportunities for Egyptian staff in London. Japanese exhibition organizers interested in a tour exhibit for objects from the King Tut collection left Egypt with no deal.Such foreign tours were a lucrative revenue source, but virtually ground to a halt after Egypt's chief archaeologist during Mubarak's rule, Zahi Hawass, was forced to resign in 2011 on corruption allegations. Hawass denied the allegations, and he was not charged.Last year, Morsi's government cut short a Cleopatra-themed exhibit on tour in the United States after a Cairo court ruled that some of its pieces are too unique to allow out of the country and had to return immediately.Antiquities officials are now reluctant to sign any deals with exhibitions abroad for fear of being accused of corruption — or worse — of being unpatriotic for sending away Egypt's patrimony amid the nationalist wave sweeping Egypt following the July coup. The Cleopatra exhibit toured four U.S. cities, starting with Philadelphia's Franklin Institute in June 2010. It included artifacts ranging from tiny gold coins to a pair of towering eight-ton granite figures, raised by French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio from submerged ruins off the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.Ordering it home lost Egypt millions of dollars, said Lotfi Gazy, the museum's antiquities affairs director.Egypt was earning $450,000 dollars from each city the exhibit traveled to, plus $1 million for every 100,000 visitors and a 10 percent cut from merchandizing sales, Gazy said."It was a disaster for us," Gazy said. No new contract has been signed since then.___Follow Barbara Surk on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BarbaraSurkAP . Trump signs executive order signaling commitment to improving black collegesFeb. 28, 2017 - 11:20 pm Russia and China veto new U.N. sanctions on SyriaFeb. 28, 2017 - 11:18 pm No immediate ruling made on Dakota Access pipeline workFeb. 28, 2017 - 11:18 pm Sessions suggests police need less federal scrutinyFeb. 28, 2017 - 11:09 pm

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Tickets for events at Royal Opera House Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD Royal Opera House tickets Madama Butterfly Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg Royal Opera House, Covent Garden The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Originally called the Theatre Royal, it served primarily as a playhouse for the first hundred years of its history. In 1734, the first ballet was presented. A year later, Handel's first season of operas began. Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premieres there. The current building is the third theatre on the site following disastrous fires in 1808 and 1857. The facade, foyer, and auditorium date from 1858, but almost every other element of the present complex dates from an extensive reconstruction in the 1990s. The Royal Opera House seats 2,256 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery. The proscenium is 12.20 m wide and 14.80 m high. The main auditorium is a Grade 1 listed building. Use Covent Garden tube station on the Piccadilly Line. The nearest train station is Charing Cross. The venue is in central London so it is advised to use public transport where possible. 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 68, 76, 77a, 91, 168, 171, 176, 188, 501 (southbound only), 505, 521, X68 all go to the Aldwych, which is close to the Theatre. There is no designated parking at the Royal Opera House for ticket holders. The nearest NCP car parks are five minutes walk away at Drury Lane and Shelton Street. There is a drop-off point outside the Bow Street entrance. A limited number of orange badge bays are available in the vicinity, but are not reserved for the use of Royal Opera House patrons. There is lift access to all levels of the main auditorium except the Orchestra Stalls, which can be reached by a minimum of nine steps and a maximum of 18. There are more than 100 seats in the Stalls Circle, Balcony and Amphitheatre which are accessible without the need to negotiate steps. In addition to this, many seats in these areas and in the Grand Tier are accessible by 10 steps or less. You can borrow a wheelchair when you visit the ROH. Please contact the box office on 020 7304 4000 to arrange this facility in advance. There are up to 19 spaces for wheelchair users in the main auditorium, which can be made available at every performance. They are in the Stalls Circle, Grand Tier, Balcony and Upper Amphitheatre level. Hearing Systems One Box Office sales position, the Information Desk and bars have induction loops to assist customers with impaired hearing. A Trantec radio system assisted-hearing facility has been installed inside the main auditorium and the Linbury. The Clore and the Crush Room are scheduled to have the system installed in the near future. To benefit from the system, you are welcome to borrow a free set of headphones and a special receiver from the Front of House Duty Manager in the Main Entrance Foyer. The unit is designed to pick up a radio signal which amplifies the sound. Alternatively, if you wear a hearing aid, you may borrow an induction collar which can be used in conjunction with the "T" position of your aid. You may reserve this equipment in advance from the Box Office on 020 7304 4000. Assistance dogs are welcome in all spaces of the Royal Opera House. Please inform the venue before booking. For more information and to book disabled tickets, please call 020 7304 4000.

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Taiwan Eats: Pork Belly Buns (Gua Bao) Cathy Erway Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns. [Photographs: Cathy Erway] Taiwanese Pork Belly Buns (Gua Bao) Despite all the iterations found on menus across the United States, there is only one true Taiwanese pork belly bun, or gua bao. The classic fluffy steamed bun is filled with a rich, meaty, salty, savory slice of braised pork belly, but it's the three accoutrements served with it that are its true signature. To be considered the real thing, gua bao must always have pickled mustard greens, cilantro, and peanut powder. Pork belly is cut into slabs, then braised with soy sauce and five-spice powder. Let's go over each of the fillings. First, there's the pork belly, which is cut into bun-sized slices and then red-braised, which means it's stewed in soy sauce and and rice wine that's flavored with five-spice powder and other aromatics. This style of pork is commonly found on Taiwanese tables, and is often served with sides that help cut the richness, such as lightly cooked vegetables and/or pickled vegetables like mustard greens. Five-spice powder, ginger, garlic, star anise and chile pepper are the main flavorings in the braising liquid for the pork. That's why pickled mustard greens are an integral part of gua bao—it's the classic pairing in bite-sized portions. These pickles are made by lacto-fermenting a head of mustard greens (a process similar to making sauerkraut, kimchi, or Jewish deli pickles), which gives them a tangy flavor and turns them a dark, not entirely beautiful lizardy green color. The greens are then shredded or finely chopped. The five key ingredients on gua bao: steamed buns, braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, fresh cilantro, and peanut powder. To balance the fermented flavor and drab color of the mustard greens, fresh, bright green cilantro is added as well. Cilantro is a common topping in Taiwan, sprinkled on everything from soup to ice cream. When chopped, it has a way of sticking to whatever it's on, which is especially helpful in the case of a somewhat messy bun. To maintain its crisp bite, the cilantro is typically chopped with its stems. Lastly, the bun is topped with peanut powder. Unlike the crushed peanuts commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisines, Taiwanese peanut powder is blended with rock sugar, and ground quite fine. You can make it yourself in a food processor or blender, swapping in brown sugar or raw sugar for rock sugar instead. All combined, the Taiwanese pork belly bun is a messy, colorful, glorious combination of salty, sweet, pungent, and fresh flavors, with multiple textures to boot. About the Author: Cathy Erway is the author of The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove. She blogs at Not Eating Out In New York and hosts the weekly podcast, "Eat Your Words" on Heritage Radio Network. Cathy Erway's most recent book is The Food of Taiwan. She is the author of The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove and blogs at Not Eating Out In New York. Tune into her podcast, Eat Your Words on Heritage Radio Network.

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Why Scarborough is on the crest of a wave Girls on one of the shellfish stalls in South Bay, from left, Taniya Glendinning, Sammy-Jo Stringer and Nicole White. SCARBOROUGH is putting itself on the map with a number of new festivals and events to attract visitors to the area it has been claimed. This weekend there will be the Scarborough Surf Festival in the North Bay as well as a smaller gathering of Morris Dancers at various locations around the town. Late Summer sunshine on Southbay.113932c Picture Richard Ponter Organisers were hoping that the recent heatwave would continue throughout the weekend and help draw thousands of visitors to the area. Steve Parrott, the organiser of the North Bay event, said the forecast was good. He added: “It’s guaranteed – it’s here to stay until Monday. We will get 1,000s of people in the North Bay to watch skateboard, BMX, mountain bike and surf events.” James Corrigan, a local businessman and investor, said that variety of recent special events in the area had helped fuel the increase in visitor numbers. He said: “It’s been a really good back end of the season. A lot of this is free for people.”Mr Corrigan said that Scarborough Council was also helping by making it easier for people to organise events. He said: “I’ve been down here for 24 years and in the last five years or so they’ve got a real can do attitude.”He said that, as a result of the current economic climate, people were opting to stay in the UK for holidays and that was to Scarborough’s advantage. He said: “It’s prolonging the season – a large proportion of businesses in the South Bay now trade 52 weeks a year.”Brian Bennett, the council’s head of tourism, said it was good to have the festivals, particularly towards the beginning or end of the traditional holiday season. He added: “They extend the season that little bit longer. We have people that come to Scarborough for the first time and think what a fantastic place – hopefully they’ll come back time and time again.” David Frank, the admin director at the Crown Spa Hotel in Esplanade, agreed that unusual events helped to put Scarborough on the map. He added: “They bring people that are interested. Festivals are important particularly with the economy being in a state.”

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In 2017, venture to Montréal, Canada A CITY LIKE NO OTHER In 2017, we welcome you to Montréal, Canada. Nicknamed "The City of Festivals," Montréal is set to be one of the most lively and invigorating locations for a WorldMUN conference yet. Built on an island, in the famous Canadian province of Québec, it is a city of cultural, historic, economic, and political prowess. Having been a host to the World Fair in 1967, and the Summer Olympics in 1976, it is truly a prominent international destination. As the cultural capital of Canada and the UNESCO City of Design, it is home to a wide range of vibrant events, including the largest international jazz festival in the world, the largest comedy festival in the world, the Canadian F1 Grand Prix, and more! The city is also committed to central WorldMUN ideals like sustainability and cooperation, and is one of only three cities in North America to hold offices for the United Nations. With Montréal's 375th anniversary and Canada's 150th anniversary also taking place in 2017, there could be no better location for the twenty-sixth Harvard WorldMUN conference.

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New to Leeds: Jamaica Blue · Ali Turner · Food and Drink Trinity Leeds has a brand new café, just in time for Christmas. Share Offering a little slice of serenity in the midsts of Trinity Leeds, Jamaica Blue is a new cafe that aims to help you escape the hustle and bustle of the shopping madness. The new Jamaica Blue cafe in Leeds is the third to open in the UK, but the brand itself is a global hit. It started life in Australia in 1989, and has since spread across the world and they now have 170 venues in 7 countries. When it came to the UK, Cambridge was their first choice, then came Chelmsford, and now Trinity Leeds has joined the fray. So what’s it all about? Well, it’s inspired by Jamaica, as you might have guessed. The coffee comes from the Blue Mountains, one of the best coffee producing regions in the world, and the ethos also takes its cue from the Caribbean island, more specifically from one of their favourite sayings. ‘Wan wan coco ful baskit’ basically means that success doesn’t come suddenly, it takes time – and that’s certainly true here, as they’ve built their empire from scratch over 27 years. “Jamaica Blue was built on two simple beliefs that have guided everything,” Lisa Palmer, General Manager explained. “A belief in sourcing the very best coffee and a belief in using only fresh, locally sourced ingredients.” The proof is in the pudding, so you’ll have to try it for yourself to see if they’ve pulled it off, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get stuck in, because they’re open from breakfast through to dinner, with a menu that has something for everyone. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it certainly takes priority on the Jamaica Blue menu. You can go for something quick, like sourdough toast, savoury croissants and fruit bread or get down to some serious breakfast business with their hot dishes. We’re talking pancakes smothered in maple syrup and bacon, or alternatively blueberries and vanilla, alongside fry ups, sarnies and avocado smash. Lunch is a surprisingly diverse affair, as peri peri chicken burgers rub shoulders with pork meatballs served with a parmesan flatbread, an almond & sesame chicken schnitzel focaccia and three cheese macaroni with bacon. Then after 5pm, they start with dinner – think caesar salad, fish tacos and spicy quinoa & sweet potato fritters, sandwiched between starters and puddings, depending on just how much space you have to spare. For Lisa, it’s not just about the dishes themselves though – it’s what and how they’re made that will make Jamaica Blue stand out, “It’s all about ingredients. Every dish served at a Jamaica Blue café is created using simple, fresh, quality ingredients; our recipes are simple and uncomplicated – classic dishes with a twist. Also our menu is conceived to make the most of locally sourced, seasonal produce.” And the same goes for the coffee, which is as much of a draw here as the food. They have everything from flat whites and cappuccinos to piccolo, affogato and chilled lattes, so you’re sure to find your favourite on the menu, but with a Blue Jamaica twist. “Since we opened our doors, back in 1989, we have been sourcing the best coffee beans in the world to create the perfect coffee experience. We also create our own unique blend, the Jamaica Blue Signature Blend,” Lisa told us. Trinity Leeds can be something of a maze if you’ve never been before (hell, sometimes it befuddles us and we’ve been in a million times), so if you want to check out Jamaica Blue, you’ll find it on the top floor, between Costa Coffee and The Entertainer – let us know what you think in the comments. Jamaica Blue, Trinity Leeds, 27 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5ER. Don't miss... 10 New Bars and Restaurants Coming Soon to Leeds Leeds Restaurant Offers & Deals WIN Tickets to Northern Ballet’s Casanova with a 7-course Tasting Menu Worth Over £200 Why Opera North’s Cinderella is So Full of Surprises You Won’t Want to Miss It Feeling lucky? Check out our latest competitions... Take a look Popular on Leeds-List... Awesome Leeds Restaurants You’ve Probably Never Been To WIN Barista Training for 2 at the 200 Degrees Barista School The Best Yorkshire Escapes You’d Never Think Of Leeds-List.com

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Cuba, Havana, University Stairs Thomas Blanket Photo of the main entrance to Havana University Copyright: Thomas Blanket Tags: havana; university; stairs; city Markin Aleksandr Novosibirsk city (Russia) from Helicopter view Longmen Grottoes-1280 Cave -4Panorama Trogir, Crotia 13 Trogir, Crotia 3 Karel Schwartzenberg Painting on the Side of an Abandoned Factory - 2 More About Havana The World : North America : Caribbean : Cuba : Havana Overview and HistoryCome and see five decades of decay and neglect fueled by men in green preaching for la Revolucion. Havana is a breathing contradiction, poor by European standards but rich in resources; happy and cheerful folks making the best of the crumbling infrastructure and basic shortages. Once opulent, now a shadow that doesn't have much longer to go before it all falls apart. These images were taken a few months after the twentieth century's longest-ruling dictator, Fidel Castro, stepped down. Here is a place where there are still no mobile phones, and where about half of the cars date from before 1960. Strangely beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time, Havana is something that everyone should see.Facts: Havana is the capital of Cuba, the heartbeat of its fourteen provinces, and the largest city in the Caribbean. With 2.1 million people, the pace of life is a lot faster here than in the rest of Cuba, so get ready to stay up late and drink some rum.Panfilo de Narvaez gets the credit for founding the first settlement here in 1514, although Sebastian de Ocampo first charted the island in 1509. Anyway, colonists were hard on their heels. (Or keels as the case may be.)Spanish navigators fell in love with Cuba because it was so close to the Gulf Stream, an ocean current that could zip them back across the Atlantic to Europe at the drop of a conquistador's helmet.King Philip II of Spain gave Havana the title of City in 1592 whereupon it could officially become the gateway to the new world and its abundant streams of wealth. The original Havana was located on the southern coast of Cuba, but it moved several times (for reasons of mosquito infestations, the story goes) and ended up in a neat bay on the northern coast, with the Almendares river running through it.The Spanish built forts and battlements to protect against devilish French, Dutch and English navies which were attacking the city in their own hunt for the fountain of youth, or at least untold riches. French pirates burned Havana to the ground in 1539 and the English stopped in for a raid in the 1620's, easily laughing off the Castillo del Morro's defenses. Huge fortresses at the entrance to the bay loom as testament to the ferocity of sea battles circa 17th century.As everyone knows, if you want to have a country, first you need a perimeter that you can defend. Ask Alexander Hamilton, the architect of the United States, who cut his chops as a shipping clerk in the West Indies... the coast guard was no joke back in the colonial times.The Spanish response to these black market marauders most foul was to decree that all merchant ships must travel together in a flotilla, which could more easily be protected by the Spanish Armada, and thus avoid a treacherous end in the watery deeps.Because of this decree, ships accumulated in the port of Havana waiting for fair weather and a large enough group to travel. For months they would wait in harbor while the supplies of gold, silver, alpaca wool, mahogany, leather and cocoa piled up. Tobacco and cane sugar made their debut in Europe as hitch hikers on the load. Imagine the debauchery Havana must have experienced in those decadent dangerous days! Literally thousands of ships would be assembled in the harbor by the end of summer, waiting to take off across the high seas of the Atlantic.In any case, Havana soon became the main Spanish port in the Caribbean so let's keep going, as did Hernan Cortes when he used Cuba as a stepping stone for his conquest of Mexico. Legends of El Dorado and the seven cities of gold attracted more conquistadores, but since Cuba itself had none of these mineral deposits, it remained largely undeveloped until later.For a brief stint Havana was occupied by British forces which were busily battling the Spanish, during the Seven Years' War declared in 1762. However, in a crafty maneuver the Spanish traded Cuba for Florida, showing impressive intuitive savvy considering the budding American Revolution.Besides a minor epidemic or two in the seventeenth century, Havana expanded rapidly from then on. Her population hit 80,000, third only to Lima and Mexico City, as of the 1750's. Known as the most heavily fortified city in the Americas, it continued building everything a nation needs, from warships to cathedrals.The wealth streaming through Havana brought cultural influences right alongside. Havana was referred to as the Paris of the Antilles in the nineteenth century, proudly displaying theaters and museums, and as of 1837 it became only the fifth country in the world to have a railroad.Spanish colonial control pretty much ended with the Spanish-American war when the United States invaded Cuba after the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.Cuba became a gambling vacation paradise for swanky gangsters and movie stars alike in the 20th century, exceeding even Las Vegas in revenues. Unfortunately for American high rollers, a revolution came along in 1959 and Fidel Castro declared Cuba to be a communist state.Next up, missile crisis! Cold War tensions, Russian nuclear-armed missiles ninety miles off the coast of Florida, and Kennedy on the phone with Kruschev talking about whether or not to destroy life on earth as we know it.Fidel Castro has only just stepped down as the country's leader, and the United States continues its embargo on Cuba today, astonished that the little country has survived the collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent loss of subsidies. Cuba has made up the difference in their budget by promoting tourism to the world, and if these panoramas don't explain why, you've got your eyes closed.Getting ThereCuba's main airport is Jose Marti International (HAV). It's about fifteen km from Havana, an easy drive or bus ride.Transportation to and from the airport is by taxi or minibus. Bus service from the airport to your hotel can cost anywhere between $8 and $25.TransportationCuba has great taxi service, as well as the option to rent a van, car or motorcycle. What you need to do here is hop into one of the Coco taxis, they're the bright yellow three wheelers that rip around the city like crazed bears on honey day.Also keep an eye out for the amazing old Chevies and Cadillacs still on the road. Rolling or functioning they may not be, but on the road they are.Do you like bargaining? You can always grab an illegal car service driver to get around. These are dudes with their own car who pick people up and take them around, for no set price. Take your chances on getting ripped off or finding an amazing local guide.People and CultureCuba is cool. People are friendly and the ones who might rip you off are pretty obvious about it. Don't be flashy with your cashy, as usual, or wander around the restaurant drunk with your wallet on the table, you know what I mean?It's Latino culture, where men rule and Patron is in charge. The man, not the tequila. Don't be surprised if you go for lunch and there are no prices on the menu. The women serve, the men handle the cash and the receipt is oral.Cuba is kind of busted out. Lots of run down cars, buildings and graffiti. It's absolutely fascinating and you should visit before they rebuild everything newly whitewashed, pinkwashed, pastel washed, etc..For example of the setting: Ancient Elevator Things to do & RecommendationsGo to the Hangout Crossroads smack dab in the center of the action.Have you heard of a cuban sandwich? Cubano? They're everywhere, it will be easy. You take roast pork and also ham, grill it on a submarine roll of some sort with pickles, cheese and garlic.They are so delicious and greasy AND cheap, I don't know what to do. I get dizzy just thinking about it. If you haven't had one yet, you'd better get one before The End. Try to imagine the perfection of bacon, plus a choir of angels, floating on an ocean of melted god. In your stomach.Text by Steve Smith.

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Disneyland Resort and California Adventure Matterhorn: The First Disneyland Mountain Discussion in 'Disneyland Resort and California Adventure' started by Wendy, Jul 4, 2014. A hui hou kakou Makuakane ​Since June 1959, the Matterhorn has been a highly visible landmark for Disneyland Park, a sign to travelers that they are nearing The Happiest Place on Earth. Now part of the Disneyland “Mountain Range of Thrill Rides†– including Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain – Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first Disneyland roller coaster. The Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction is unique to Disneyland park and does not appear at any other theme park The Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction premiered June 14, 1959, as part of the first major expansion of Disneyland Park. Other attractions celebrating their 55th anniversary this summer are the Disneyland Monorail and the Submarine Voyage. The introduction of these big new attractions in 1959 coincided with the introduction of what soon became another Disneyland cultural icon – the “E Ticket.†Since 1959, the Matterhorn has been the highest point in Disneyland Park, at 147 feet. It is the second-highest point in the Disneyland Resort, behind the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which stands 183 feet tall in Disney California Adventure Park. Matterhorn Bobsleds was the first roller coaster in the world to employ a tubular steel track and an electronic dispatch system, which enables more than one car at a time to be on the track. The most recent update to Matterhorn Bobsleds, completed in June 2012, added glistening new paint and “snow caps†on the outside, along with new lighting on the menacing Abominable Snowman inside. New, three-person bobsleds now allow guests to be seated individually. The attraction was inspired by the 1959 live-action Disney adventure film, “Third Man on the Mountain,†which starred James MacArthur and Michael Rennie as mountaineers. The movie was filmed in Zermatt, Switzerland, on and around the real Matterhorn. The mountain was built to 1/100th scale of the original Matterhorn, or 147 feet versus the 14,700 feet of the original. Scale and color were key components in the landscaping of the Matterhorn, with designers recreating the mountain meadow feel near the base of the mountain and the stark absence of growth above the timberline. Careful pruning and replacement of overgrown trees is done to maintain the proper scale. From 1959 to 1994, the Skyway (which opened in 1956) carried guests between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, passing through an opening in the mountain. Guests who look quickly while whizzing through the Matterhorn caverns may spot mountaineering supplies and other evidence of the “Wells Expedition.†These scenic details are a tribute to the late Frank Wells, who was President and Chief Operating Officer of the Walt Disney Company from 1984 until his death in 1994. Wells was an experienced mountain climber and skier. The first major modifications to the attraction occurred in 1978, when the first tandem bobsleds appeared and the Abominable Snowman began to haunt the mountain caverns. matterhorn-disneyland.jpg Looking forward to seeing this! Oreo, Villa Owner http://www.storytellersvilla.com I love the Matterhorn, it was the highlight of my first ever trip to a Disney park back in 1987. I rode it again last year and my goodness, I didn't realise how jarring it can be! Still a wonderful attraction and I wouldn't hesitate to queue again for it. Tony G,

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Florida Georgia Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Hawaii Georgia Facts and Trivia Okefenokee Swamp encompasses over 400,000 acres of canals; moss draped cypress trees, and lily pad prairies providing sanctuaries for hundreds of species of birds and wildlife including several endangered species. Cumberland Island National Seashore contains the ruins of Dungeness, the once magnificent Carnegie estate. In addition, wild horses graze among wind swept dunes. The late John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his future wife stopped in Kingsland on the way to their marriage on Cumberland Island. Historic Saint Marys Georgia is the second oldest city in the nation. The City of Savanna was the first steamship to cross the Atlantic.It sailed from Georgia. Ways Station was renamed Richmond Hill on May 1, 1941, taking the name of automaker Henry Ford's winter estate. The pirate Edward "Blackbeard" Teach made a home on Blackbeard Island. The United States Congress designated the Blackbeard Island Wilderness Area in 1975 and it now has a total of 3,000 acres. On January 19, 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy. The official state fish is the largemouth bass. In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork. Georgia was named for King George II of England. Stone Mountain near Atlanta is one of the largest single masses of exposed granite in the world. Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three Ps--peanuts, pecans, and peaches. At the Hawkinsville Civitan Club's Annual Shoot the Bull Barbecue Championship, people from all over Georgia and surrounding states flock to this small south Georgia town to enter their tasty barbecue concoctions in this famous cook-off. The funds raised from this event benefit the Civitan International Research Center and its work toward a cure for Down's syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Each year Georgia serves as a host to the International Poultry Trade Show, the largest poultry convention in the world. The oldest portable steam engine in the United States is on display at Historic Railroad Shops in Savannah. Known as the sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia onion can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Georgia's population in 1776 was around 40,000. Cordele claims to be the watermelon capital of the world. The annual Masters Golf Tournament is played at the Augusta National in Augusta every first week of April. Georgia is often called the Empire State of the South and is also known as the Peach State and Cracker State. In 1828 Auraria, near the city of Dahlongea, was the site of the first Gold Rush in America. Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name "Coca-Cola" was suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable. Berry College in Rome has the world's largest college campus. The Little White House in Warm Springs was the recuperative home of Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1942 Jekyll Island was a private resort sold to the state by the owners, a group of millionaires. Providence Canyon State Park, near Lumpkin, is known as the Little Grand Canyon of Georgia. The Cherokee rose is the official state flower, the live oak the official tree; and the brown thrasher the official bird. United States Highway 27 runs the length of Georgia and is known as Martha Berry Highway, named after a pioneer educator. Marshall Forest in Rome is the only natural forest within a city limits in the United States. The popular theme park - Six Flags Over Georgia, was actually named for six flags that flew over Georgia. England, Spain, Liberty, Georgia, Confederate States of America, and the United States. The locomotive engine popularly known as The General is housed in the Big Shanty Museum in Kennesaw. It was stolen in the Andrews Railroad Raid in 1862 and later depicted in The Great Locomotive Chase, a popular movie. The name of the famous south Georgia swamp, the Okefenokee, is derived from an Indian word meaning the trembling earth. Brasstown Bald Mountain is the highest point in Georgia. It has an elevation of 4,784 feet. The Cyclorama is a three dimensional panorama that depicts the famous Battle of Atlanta, and is located in Grant Park in Atlanta. Thomasville is known as the City of Roses. Chickamuga National Park is the site of the bloodiest battle in American history. Plains is the home of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President. The figures of Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis, and Robert E. Lee make up the world's largest sculpture. It is located on the face of Stone Mountain. Additionally Robert E. Lee's horse, Traveler, is also carved at the same place. Savannah was the landing site for General James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia. The world's largest Infantry training center is located at Fort Benning. The largest Farmer's Market of its kind is located in Forest Park. Ralph Bunch, United States diplomat, was the first Georgian to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Callaway Gardens is a world famous family resort, known for its azaleas. Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. Madison is known for its beautiful antebellum homes spared during Sherman's fiery march to the sea. Chehaw in Albany is a well known wild animal park. Ocmulgee National Monument in Macon is the largest archeological development east of the Mississippi River. Athens is the location of the first university chartered and supported by state funds. Thanks to: Clyde Sherman, meddy42, Jhirsch39, Gabbatha, Ken Tarter, lfreda Find on Areaconnect Yellow Pages

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Valley of Fire brings the drama. Valley of Fire State Park is one of the places Southern Nevadans are most proud of - it's as spectacular during the day as the Strip is at night. more...Whether you've been there or not, you've likely seen it dozens of times. Its vivid red formations have proven irresistible for photographers and movie directors alike; a scene-stealing backdrop for countless films and TV commercials. Valley of Fire's spectacular red rocks have even doubled for Mars in numerous sci-fi flicks.The movies first came to Valley of Fire in 1966, when Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin rolled in to shoot The Professionals. In the mid-'90s, it was here that Star Trek's Captain Kirk fell to his death, with Lake Mead clearly visible in the background.More recently, Michael Bay's Transformers filmed a scene where the autobots are driving along the valley with other military vehicles during sunset. And even the video game "Need for Speed: The Run," features a pivotal scene shot here.Valley of Fire State Park is the oldest state park in Nevada and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968. It derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great, shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs, 150 million years ago. These bright, red features were often said to appear almost "on fire," especially at sunrise or sunset.As far as tours, Valley of Fire adventures run the gamut: You can hike, ride the bus or even see much of its beauty from your car. So whether you're driving or hiking, Valley of Fire knows how to bring the drama. Keyword A Day at Valley of Fire Location: Valley Of Fire A Valley of Fire Tour EagleRider Motorcycle Rental and Tours 7660 Dean Martin Dr, Las Vegas, NV Type: Motorcycle Rentals EagleRider is a motorcycle/adventure tourism company specializing in daily/weekly rentals, self guided tours & sales of motorcycles & apparel. Their products are developed an... More Love Hikes Type: Hike/Walk,Other

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Booming|Peacock Alley, a Bar that Lives Up to Its Name and Setting https://nyti.ms/YD58J5 Booming Peacock Alley, a Bar that Lives Up to Its Name and Setting A Quiet Drink By STEVE REDDICLIFFE The Bull and Bear at the Waldorf-Astoria has distinctive trappings, if less distinguished cocktails than its fellow bar Peacock Alley. The Bull and the Bear Sometimes, a cocktail bar in a landmark hotel really can be as impressive as its setting, and Peacock Alley at the Waldorf-Astoria is, happily, one of them.The bar sits off the enduringly grand Art Deco lobby of the hotel, just steps from the bronze clock made for the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 by the London firm Goldsmith (one of its eight plaques features Queen Victoria; Grover Cleveland, if you were wondering, is on another).Frank Caiafa, who as the manager at the Peacock Alley bar is responsible for its drinks, said he is well aware of what comes with the location: “People have expectations that are so high because they’re in the lobby of the Waldorf. I find it a good challenge to meet them, and exceed them.”His cocktail list says as much; the drinks are excellent, including the nicely calibrated Peacock (cranberry-infused vodka, fresh sour, Marie Brizard apricot brandy; $18); a deeply flavored highball named for a former Waldorf resident, Cole Porter, (Willett rye whiskey, Lustau Almacenista Oloroso sherry and sour made in house; $18); and a particularly well-made 1860 Manhattan (with Elijah Craig 12-year single-barrel bourbon, Noilly Prat sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier, house-made bitters; $20). Continue reading the main story There are a dozen featured drinks on a roster that has real range: a Champagne cocktail (this one with peppercorn-infused Galliano), a big-deal martini (made with either Double Cross vodka or Berry Brothers & Rudd No. 3 gin), and a milk punch (vanilla-bean-infused bourbon, nutmeg and simple syrup). Frank Caiafa, manager of the Peacock Alley bar at the Waldorf Astoria, strives for a classic New York bar with first-rate cocktails. Peacock Alley The beers fit the profile: Four on tap, including three from New York (among them, Six Point Bengali I.P.A. and the Long Ireland Breakfast Stout, both $9). Wines too, from a White Rock Vineyards Chardonnay from California ($20) to a Boedecker Cellars Pinot Noir from Oregon ($18).All of these are served by efficient waiters in a contemporary, comfortable space that offers a good view of the lobby but also functions as something of a retreat. It’s relaxed, but not overly casual; there are lots of suits here, and not many jeans. On a recent Friday night, the pianist Emilee Floor’s selections ran from the Earth, Wind and Fire hit “After the Love Is Gone” to “My Favorite Things.” But it’s the drinks that are the most memorable aspect of Peacock Alley. Mr. Caiafa, who has been in charge since 2005, clearly is a committed cocktail guy. In addition to his Peacock Alley position, he is the consulting bar manager at the Vault at Pfaff’s in Greenwich Village. He has had a cocktail blog (handlebarsnyc.blogspot.com) that he has put on hiatus while he finishes work on an updated version of Albert Stevens Crockett’s 1935 “Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book.” (Sample wisdom from Crockett’s book: “Moderation is the secret of enjoyment of anything, if one wishes to retain the faculty for enjoyment.”)Mr. Caifa said he was a devoted fan of the classics, within reason. “I don’t want to get carried away,” he said. “There are many people today who are taking these old books and these recipes to the extreme, and I kind of liken it to, if these guys were able to live 150 years, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be making the same drinks that they made back then. It would be an evolving of the practice. So that’s the angle I come in and try to keep it at.” Peacock Alley, off the enduringly grand Art Deco lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria. Peacock Alley Advertisement The second of the Waldorf’s bars, the Bull and Bear, is not as much fun (a third, Sir Harry’s, is being renovated). It is well-known for its rectangular, highly polished mahogany bar and the brass bull and bear statue in the center of it, as well as the oversize ticker that reports stock prices and sports scores.But on a Friday night when Peacock Alley seemed festive, the Bull and Bear seemed to have little energy. The ticker, which looks like a colossal version of the crawl on ESPN, offered N.B.A. and spring training scores. A guy at the bar, whose cufflinks also qualified as colossal, alternated between loudly flirting with the woman to his left and checking his phone (which may have been more interested in what he was saying). The sound system played Faith Gibson’s version of the Guess Who song “Undun” and then, continuing the evening’s Cole Porter theme, Frank Sinatra singing, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” Even with all its hallmarks, the Bull and Bear seemed as if it could it could be a pricey bar just about anywhere on a relatively quiet night. At 9:15 there were plenty of seats to be had, and a waiter who at first was pleasantly all-business pretty much vanished.In the bar’s favor is a fine hamburger — as a $29 burger should be.The drinks here seem interesting enough, although the Fig “N” Stormy ($19), made with fig-infused rum and ginger beer, was short on effervescence. Bull and Bear has a reputation for making a first-rate martini, and a Stoli edition ($18) was just that. Mr. Caiafa does not do the drinks at Bull and Bear. For those you have to go to Peacock Alley, where, he said, he wants customers to know that “they’ve certainly been to a classic New York bar and that it’s on par with any other cocktail bar in the city.” Consider it done.The particulars: Peacock Alley at the Waldorf-Astoria, 301 Park Avenue (212) 872-4895. Web site: peacockalleyrestaurant.com. Hours: Daily 5 p.m. to midnight. Bull and Bear, 570 Lexington Avenue (212) 872-1275. Web site: bullandbearsteakhouse.com. Hours: Daily 5 p.m. to midnight. Continue reading the main story A Quiet Drink Bars and restaurants where one can have grown-up conversation over a good drink. A Star or Two, Sure, but a Just-Us Aura A Stage Set for Savoring Autumn in New York A Heady Mix of Food, Cocktails and Showmanship In Los Angeles, Old-Fashioned Glamour or Hip Mixology Conversation Served With Cocktails See More »

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God's Great Outdoors Gerry Caillouet About God's Great Outdoors Join us on The Trail to Adventure a weekly 25-minute radio program that takes you on the journey to meet with well-known Christians who enjoy the outdoors. About Gerry Caillouet Gerry Caillouet was born the 21st of April 1955 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The family were members of a church that sadly emphasized good works at the expense of grace. This perpetrated Gerry's youthful rebellion against the things of God - until later in life, when his first son was born. The two most memorable years of Gerry's childhood were spent living on his grandparents farm in upstate New York. Gerry's father instructed him in firearm safety, archery and fly fishing. Gerry spent summers visiting his older sister in the upper peninsula of Michigan. All this stirred a desire for adventure in the outdoors. After finishing high school, Gerry joined the Marine Corps for adventure. There his rebellion increased. He occasionally dropped in on church, but had no interest in knowing God. When his tour of duty over in 1976, Gerry and Cyndi were married. To their joy, they had their first son, Courtney. But the young marriage was in trouble. The couple stayed together for their child's sake. Finally, a co-worker of Gerry's shared about a father's responsibility to care for his children's spiritual well-being in addition to the physical needs. Gerry, feeling condemned by how he had lived - and not understanding God's unconditional love and grace, was sure he would go to Hell when he died. But Gerry did not want his son to make the same mistakes and then to suffer the same fate. So, Gerry began to seek the truth, and he eventually accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1978! Within two weeks his wife Cyndi received the Lord also! Soon their daughter Katie was born, then two years later their second son, Clinton was born. Praise the Lord for this Christian family! God turned Gerry's love of the outdoors and of adventure in to a ministry that reaches out to unsaved men, women, and children that share these interests. Gerry hosts and produces this nationally syndicated Christian radio program, and Cyndi is the Director of Operations. Contact God's Great Outdoors with Gerry Caillouet Website: http://www.ggoutdoors.org/ Mailing AddressGod's Great Outdoors8193 Emerick RoadWest Milton,OH 45383 Telephone Numbers 1-877-TALKGGO (1-877-825-5446)(937) 698-36569 am TO 6 pm EST

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Business Up In Alaska 30th January 2007 | By Miguel Strother Resorts in this article: "Our business is definitely up over the last couple of winters," says Brett Crook, manager of Peter Glenn Ski & Sports. "We run a bus to Alyeska that picks up here and in Eagle River and couple of other locations. There's lots more people on the bus, which is great for business." The Anchorage snowfall record is 336.55 centimetres, set in the winter of 1955-56. "It's warmed up a bit in the last few days but there's still a ton of snow," says Crook. "I feel bad for people that walk or commute because the sidewalks are not as clear as they should be and there's lots of people walking on the road."

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Spanish Wine History and Style Written by Tynan Szvetecz Spanish Wine History: Make no mistake about it: if you are from Spain, wine is poetry. Despite a torrid past, a visitor is more likely to hear the invocation of the country's great artists, writers and poets than anything else, and it is this same love of life, culture and the arts that has been pored into Spain's wine making tradition for years. While this reality is nothing new to most European countries, it has been slow to take hold in the United States (with the exception of Ernest Hemingway who caught on early and spent a great deal of time in Spain). Whether the result of a stigma that was formed from the Spanish tradition of aging both red and white wines for an unusually long period of time (a twenty-five year aging period was not uncommon), or the history of political instability, many Americans remain unaware that Spain has a deep-rooted wine-making culture that is steeped in nothing less than passion and dedication. As Spain embarks on a wine revolution in its own right, it is developing an appreciation for younger wines that still carry the spirit of its distinctive traditions, notably Long Oak Aging (see Spanish Wine Style at left). Spain is the third largest wine producing country in the world and owes a great deal of its heritage to the outbreak of the Phylloxera Pest in 19th Century France. The infestation caused widespread destruction of French vineyards and a massive exodus to Spain where new vines could be planted and grown. As French wine makers flooded the Rioja Region during the 1850's and 1860's, they brought with them rich wine making techniques and helped spark the first great wine boom in Spanish history. Wine was exported all over the world to make up for the lost French vineyards. Though the Phylloxera Pest eventually made its way to Spain and wiped out the majority of Spanish vineyards at the dawn of the 20th century, the Spaniards had their first taste of a rich wine-making culture and that was all they needed. However, it would take surviving Phylloxera, the destruction and destitution that resulted from World War I and World War II, and the return of financial stability to the country, before the skill and dedication of its wine makers could come to fruition on a global scale. As the 1970's dawned, Spain saw an astonishing influx of capital aimed at renovating insolvent vineyards and replanting vines where wheat had been forced to grow to feed the hungry. In this way, the Rioja region grew into Spain's most famous wine growing area creating distinctive and well-aged reds made from the Tempranillo grape and viscous and acidic whites made from the Viura grape (also known as Macabeo). Spanish Wine Style The debate continues to rage in Spain over the practice of Long Oak Aging. While today's Spanish wines are aged less than their predecessors, it is still par for the course to age Rioja style reds for four years or more. Proponents of the practice argue that the Tempranillo grape, like Pinot Noir, needs a good deal of time to develop the earthy complexities it is capable of. Critics argue that the fruitiness of the grape and too much acidity is lost in the oak. It's important to note that while Rioja wines are oak-aged for a considerable amount of time, the oak barrels are almost always used American oak barrels or French oak barrels (both of which impart much more subtle oak qualities and won't over-oak the wine as would happen with new American oak barrels). Aside from the Rioja Region, the other wine growing regions of note are: Ribera del Duero Jerez (known for Sherry) Penedes Rias Baixas Priorato (up and coming wine region) Spain, of course, has a remarkably hot countryside. From the discussion on how climate determines style, you can understand how many stereotype Spanish wines as being almost Australian like - big and lacking in earthy subtleties. This turns out not to be the case as Spanish grape varieties like Garnacha (known as Grenache in France), Graciano and Mazuelo have all been cultivated to add excellent aroma, spice and depth to stalwarts like Tempranillo. In many regards, the Spaniards have mastered the art of blending to bring more character from the land into each wine. Given the above discussion, it's important not to confuse the Tempranillo grape style with Cabernet Sauvignon, even though the Rioja Region is often referred to as Spain's Bordeaux. With the exception of Tempranillo-Cabernet blends, which can be quite remarkable, the style of Tempranillo is closer in its delicacy and subtleties to French Burgundies. Outside of Rioja, you can find truly outstanding white wines like Albarino, from the Rias Baixas region and Parellada, from the Penedes. The International Wine Guild Wine School

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London tourist guide on Tourist info centers, London airports, Universities in London,London business directories, London Weather and much more Home> London Guide > Airports > LONDON AIRPORTS London is home to a 5 great airports; Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and City. Use our guide and find out more about these airports in London. London Heathrow Aiport London Heathrow Airport or Heathrow as it is commonly known to travellers is not only the capital’s largest airport, but also that of the entire country and in the past has had approximately 66... Nearest Tube - N/A More � Second only to Heathrow, London Gatwick is the United Kingdom second largest. With close to 33 million passengers to have flown in and out of this airport located 45 kilometres to the South... One of London’s main airports, London City Airport is situated in what used to be a Docklands site that overlooks the waters of what was formerly the Port of London. London City Airport serves... Located farther away from London, this passenger airport is located in Essex at the Stansted Mountfitchet. London Stansted can be found approximately 48 kilometres away from Central London’s... London Luton is one of the capital’s international airports, which is situated farthest from Central London at a distance of 56.5 kilometres in the borough of Luton in Bedfordshire. Busy and...

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HOMEAGENT PERKSNEWSCOMPETITIONS & GAMESDIGITAL MAGAZINEBROCHURESEVENTSTBTVSTAR AWARDSTRAVELGYMMEET THE TEAMSUBSCRIBE Latest News Philippine Airlines & Tourism Australia launch ‘The Great Australian Challenge’ Wednesday, 01 March 2017 13:22This month... Norwegian launches direct Rhodes flightWednesday, 01 March 2017 09:40Norwegian ... Traveltek launch from Scenic benefits agents Tuesday, 28 February 2017 15:00Scenic has... Hampton by Hilton lands at Bristol AirportTuesday, 28 February 2017 12:00Hilton’s H... Riviera Travel christens two river cruise ships Tuesday, 28 February 2017 09:51Last week ... Etihad launches ‘Closer’ campaignMonday, 27 February 2017 12:00Etihad Air... Jet2 launches new routes to NaplesMonday, 27 February 2017 10:41Jet2 has i... New itineraries announced for Brand USA’s Mega FamFriday, 24 February 2017 16:51Brand USA,... Flying high at Europa-ParkFriday, 24 February 2017 12:00A new attr... Competitions & Games Showcase Events Travel Bulletin Showcases 2017 Join us at the trade's most informative, fun events...Click here The TravelGym is open! Drop in to our dedicated Training zone, to buff up your travel expertise.Click here Amsterdam Named after the dam in the River Amstel which is found at Dam Square, Amsterdam is one of the most iconic cities in Europe. Annually it attracts more than four million visitors many of them enticed by the city’s relaxed attitude to recreational drugs and legalised red light district but just as many come to see the historic canals, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in the Netherlands with 1.36 million inhabitants and makes up the northern part of the Randstad which with 6.7 million is the sixth largest metropolitan area in Europe. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village in the 12th century to being the hub of the world’s Superpower during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, Amsterdam is still a major player on the world stage with 7 of the world’s largest companies having their headquarters there including Philips and ING. How to get there From the UK there are several options to get to Amsterdam. Flights Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has direct daily flights from 23 different airports from the UK and Ireland. This season, nine airlines will be operating between the UK and Ireland and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It concerns KLM, easyJet, British Airways, BMI, flyBE, Aer Lingus, VLM Airlines, Jet2.com and BMI Baby. Ferry From the UK you have a list of ferry options. Stena Line: Sails from Harwich to Hook of Holland twice a day. Average journey time is 6hr 15 min. Fares start from £49 one-way for a car and driver. P&O Ferries: sails overnight from Hull to Rotterdam. Fares start from £119 each way for a car and two people, with an en-suite standard cabin DFDS Seaways: sails overnight from Newcastle to IJmuiden. Fares start from £129 each way for a car and two people with en-suite cabin Train There are currently six trains daily from London to Amsterdam via Brussels. Journey times are on average five hours. From December 13, the high speed line opens and there will be an additional train each day. Journey times will be slashed by 51 minutes. Tickets can be booked on www.raileurope.co.uk, call 0844-848 4070, or visit the Rail Europe Travel Centre at 1 Regent Street, London SW1. How to get around The best way to get around Amsterdam is by tram or bus as the city as an extensive network. Trams run from 6am to midnight. Buses run whole day although they have a limited timetable at night. The OV-chip card is an oyster-like concept will see every traveller touch their cards in and out to activate the ports. Tourist can buy disposable cards at the GVB Ticket Vending and Add Value machines. A disposable card already carries a travel product. At the Ticket Vending and Add Value machines you can pay cash (except in Amstelveen) and with PIN, chip or credit card. If you travel more regularly to Amsterdam you can buy an anonymous OV-chip card. This card can be bought at GVB Tickets & Info points, at the GVB Ticket Vending and Add Value Machines. The card itself carries a one-time price of €7,50 and is valid for five years. You can then recharge your card every time you come back to the city. An alternative and very traditional way to move around is by bicycle. Rent a bike from about €8-10 a day. Make use of the generous Dutch bicycle lanes but remember to look the right way! Where to stay Travellers are spoilt for choice in Amsterdam. Whether you are on a budget or have a suitcase filled with money. Do you prefer to stay in the well-know chain hotels or perhaps something quirky or with big design features. Or stay on a traditional Amsterdam houseboat and mingle with locals. The city caters for every taste and budget. For more info visit www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/accommodation or www.holland.com Budget options include the Hotel la Bohème which is a small two star hotel with 18 rooms. The hotel is about 200 yards from the Leidseplein, the main night-life area of Amsterdam. See more details at www.la-boheme-amsterdam.com Another affordable, but luxurious, hotel is CitizenM in the heart of the city. Award-winning design agency, Concrete, is responsible for the aesthetic and there are some real high-end touches at a budget price. More information is available at the website www.citizenmamsterdamcity.com Slightly more expensive include The Lloyd Hotel in the heart of the Oostelijk havengebied (eastern docks) in Amsterdam. Once a national monument and now renovated into a hotel dates back to 1921, the hotel’s 116 rooms all vary in size and décor. The design is the result of the input of a number of renowned Dutch architects and artists. More information is available on their website www.lloydhotel.com At the other end of the spectrum is the Hotel 717 which combines the features of an original 19th century building with all the mod-cons of 21st century living. Its magnificent façade hints at the splendour within with marble floors and a solid oak staircase leading to one of two suites that look out on to Prinsengracht at the front of the house and six other suites at the back which give out on to a rustic patio complete with maple tree. Check out www.717hotel.nl for more information. The Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam is located in the Shipping House. It is right at the city centre only 500 metres from Central Station and 1100 metres from Dam Square. It has 165 spacious rooms decorated in the Art Deco style of the building. Website is www.amrathamsterdam.com Eating Out Amsterdam is a cultural and, consequently, a culinary melting pot. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés specialising in every cuisine your palate desires. In Holland people generally eat earlier than in the UK. So when visiting restaurants in Holland take into consideration that the kitchen generally closes about 10pm. Typical Dutch food might include a hearty pea soup, dinner pancakes, meat croquettes, thick fries with real mayo as well as variations of meat and potato dishes. Fresh seafood, such as herring, mussels and shrimp are available all year round. There is also a strong Indonesian influence in Dutch kitchens, with Nasi Goreng and peanut sauce as common as the Dutch kibbeling (deep-fried cod) and poffertjes (mini-pancakes). For those in a hurry there are also plenty of fast food options. Apart from the international chains, there are plenty of deep-fried products to be found in ‘snack bars’ throughout the city. There are also ‘Febo’ snack bars where, after inserting some change, you can get your treat right out of the wall. Brown cafés and pubs normally serve up great sampling plates with bitterballen (mini meat-croquettes), or cubed Dutch cheese and liverwurst served with a strong mustard. All are best complimented with a pint of Dutch beer. A popular spot for locals and home to a wide variety of cuisines is the area surrounding the Albert Cuyp market. Another great place to enjoy a meal is in the gardens of restaurants located along the Regulierdwarsstraat and Herengracht. During summertime these restaurants book up fast, so it is best to reserve in advance. Shopping When it comes to upscale designer labels then the Museum District (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum) is home to the majority of Amsterdam’s luxury boutiques and designer stores. The P.C. Hooftstraat is Amsterdam’s most exclusive shopping street. Along three short blocks is every label and designer you desire: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, DKNY, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and more. On the Van Baerlestraat there is a large Vanillia (popular Dutch brand) store. Famous Dutch designers Percy Irausquin and Marlies Dekkers have shops on the Cornelis Schuytstraat. Also check out Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat. For Department stores and shopping centres, The Maison de Bonneterie is an upscale department store on the Kalverstraat. Vroom & Dreesmann is the largest department store of the Netherlands, and it offers easy and affordable shopping. De Kalvertoren shopping centre, home to some 45 shops, sells many leading labels including Mango and Tommy Hilfiger Denim. Magna Plaza, an exclusive shopping centre in a stunning monumental building, is located close by at the Dam Square. Antiques Following the construction of the Rijksmuseum in 1900, the Spiegelkwartier emerged into Amsterdam’s centre for antiques and curiosa. Shops in this area boast impressive collections of paintings, ceramics, glass, jewellery, furniture, coins, books and Art Deco items. The Haarlemmerdijk The Haarlemmerdijk is a fantastic shopping street, nice and long, filled with shops all the way to Central Station. It is a lively strip where you will find everything from shoes, independent labels and second-hand clothes to food, interior design and Dutch collectables. Nine Streets Between Leidsestraat and Raadhuisstraat there is an area known as De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Streets), named after the nine side streets connecting the main canals. Together they constitute an appealing neighbourhood full of young designer boutique shops, art galleries, jewellers, gift shops, fashion shops and there are plenty of trendy bars, cafes and restaurants to refresh you along the way. Main Attractions On 20 June 2009, Queen Beatrix, together with the Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev opened Hermitage Amsterdam after extensive renovations and expansions. As the western arm of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia, this new museum gives an insight into worldwide culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century, collected by the Russian institution. This major new addition to a city already bursting with art history re-enforces Amsterdam as a cultural capital of the world. www.hermitage.nl If you are visiting Amsterdam then a canal cruise is an absolute 'must'! Cruising along the canals is a real journey of discovery. The cruise boats will take you on an hour-and-a-quarter trip past the stately canal houses, the colourful houseboats, the canal with seven arched bridges, the Dutch East Indies Company replica ship and much more. www.canal.nl A visit to the Van Gogh Museum is a unique experience. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It provides the opportunity to keep track of the artist's developments, or compare his paintings to works by other artists from the 19th century in the collection. www.vangoghmuseum.nl After drastic renovation work the Stedelijk Museum, one of the pillars of Amsterdam’s museum world, will be reopening its doors to the public in spring 2010. The renovation work comprised the complete restoration of the existing building and the construction of a new extension. The renovation has turned the new Stedelijk Museum into one of the finest modern art museums in the world. www.stedelijk.nl At the Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht 263 Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding in the annex of the building where Anne’s father, Otto Frank, had his business, for more than two years. The Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer were in hiding with them. The doorway to the annex was concealed behind a moveable bookcase constructed especially for this purpose. The office personnel knew of the hiding place and helped the eight people by supplying them with food and news from the outside world. On August 4, 1944, the hiding place was betrayed. The people in hiding were deported to various concentration camps. Only Otto Frank survived the war. Nowadays, the rooms at the Anne Frank House, though empty, still breathe the atmosphere of the hiding period. Quotations from the diary, historical documents, photographs, film images, and original objects that belonged to those in hiding and the helpers illustrate the events that took place. Anne’s original diary and other notebooks are on display in the museum. www.annefrank.org The former Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam, a national monument and listed in the European Route of Industrial Heritage, has now been transformed into the Heineken Experience. Millions of hectolitres of Heineken beer have been brewed here until 1988, when the Heineken brewery in Zoeterwoude took over production from the Amsterdam brewery. www.heinekenexperience.com For more than 400 years Amsterdam has been the ‘City of Diamonds’ as its extensively known for its great quality of polishing. Visit the diamond factory Gassan Diamonds for the ultimate diamond experience. Gassan Diamonds is the historical diamond polishing factory of Amsterdam. Experience the craftsmanship of the diamond polishers, while multilingual staff presents the dazzling world of diamonds. www.gassandiamonds.com An absolute must for anyone who wants to visit the crème de la crème of Dutch art from the Golden Age is of course the Rijksmuseum. The museum is the largest, most important museum in Holland, with a collection of almost a million objects, among which are many masterworks. The museum’s greatest treasure is probably Rembrandt’s Nightwatch. www.rijksmuseum.nl Museum Van Loon is the residence of the Amsterdam merchant family of Van Loon. In 1602 Willem van Loon was one of the founders of the Dutch East India Company (the VOC). Several members of the family were on the city council of Amsterdam. In the early nineteenth century the family was raised to the peerage. Right into the twentieth century the family played a significant role on the Amsterdam stock exchange. www.museumvanloon.nl Nightlife Amsterdam’s nightlife is as varied as the city’s residents themselves. The city offers everything from night theatre, art parties and live music from well-known and up-and-coming international bands, to packed clubs with the best DJs spinning everything from R&B and house to hard rock and hip-hop. You’ll have plenty of time to take it all in, as most nightclubs stay open until 04:00, with some extended to 05:00 or 06:00 on weekends. The nightlife in Amsterdam is versatile, cosmopolitan and never sleeps. Enjoy an intimate dinner or dance to top DJs until 5:00. From night theatre to lounge bars to clubs; cosy pubs to grand cafes, Amsterdam offers something for every taste. Brown Cafes If you’re curious what that favourite Dutch word ‘gezelligheid’ (cosy) really means, a visit to an authentic Dutch pub known as the ‘brown café’ is a must. The reason these charming café-style pubs are brown is pretty simple: nicotine. Some of the nicest brown cafés can be found around the Zeedijk close to Central Station, in the Jordaan district and the along the Utrechtsestraat. The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein areas are also popular, especially among tourists. Proeflokalen (tasting houses) Taverns known as ‘proeflokalen’ (tasting houses) were very popular during the 17th century. Customers could sample alcoholic beverages before purchasing one or more bottles. The tasting houses typically specialise in old Dutch liquors such as ‘jenever’. There are still 'proeflokalen' in Amsterdam, though nowadays these samples are seldom free of charge. Lounge and DJ bars Over the last ten years, an emergence of design cafés and lounge bars has made their mark on Amsterdam’s nightlife. Smaller versions of nightclubs in a way; with the latest DJs, trendy crowds and the best cocktails. Most lounge bars stay open until 01:00; some until 04:00. Events Queen’s Day Queen's Day must turn every other monarchy in the world green with envy as Amsterdam and the rest of Holland turn a bright shade of orange to celebrate their royal family. Queen's Day is a public holiday but certainly not a day of rest. The Dutch, expats and tourists alike fill every public space in Amsterdam in a day of harmonious chaos. Over Koninginnenacht (Queen’s Night) and into Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day), the carnival atmosphere spreads; DJs play parties on public squares; brightly decorated boats fill canals; and live music spills onto streets from cafe patios. Amsterdam Festivals Every July & August, Europe’s number-one festival city hosts numerous exciting performances and concerts featuring leading artists from all over the world. Language will be no barrier at these festivals, some of which are even accessible free of charge. Besides concert halls and theatres, the venues for the international, highly varied programmes include parks, town squares and even Amsterdam's canals. www.amsterdamfestivals.com Vondelpark outdoor theatre The Vondelpark Outdoor theatre in Amsterdam is an open air stage in the middle of Holland’s most famous park, the Vondelpark. There is no other place where as many people from different ages, backgrounds, nationalities, and from as many different city districts, come together. From June 7th until August 23rd 2009 the Outdoor theatre will offer a diverse programme of about 125 free performances. During these summer months around 100,000 people are likely to visit the Outdoor theatre. www.openluchttheater.nl Amsterdam Gay Pride Amsterdam Gay Pride celebrates the lifestyles of the gay, lesbian and transgender communities in an open and upbeat festival atmosphere with a diverse programme of parties, club nights, exhibitions, talks, weddings and of course the big canal parade. Amsterdam's famous liberal-mindedness over the years has encouraged a welcoming and safe environment for gays, lesbians and transgenders to both visit and live in. www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/things-to-do/gay-pride Amsterdam Art City This year Amsterdam is an Art City. The city is brimming over with cultural attractions. There are a tremendous range of remarkable exhibitions for you to visit. The Hermitage Amsterdam reopened and the new Stedelijk Museum will be opening its doors to the public in 2010. Amsterdam has always been a leading cultural centre, with top attractions such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The opening of the Hermitage Amsterdam and the impressive range of exclusive exhibitions will make a visit to Amsterdam an absolute must in 2009. www.amsterdamartcity.com Uitmarkt The Uitmarkt is the national opening of the cultural season and the largest cultural festival in Holland. Over the years, the Uitmarkt has evolved into a festival attracting 500,000 visitors and featuring 2,000 performers at more than 30 venues. information market. www.uitmarkt.nl Dutch Design Double Two Dutch cities, more than 25 design-events, spread over five weeks. Dutch Design Double celebrates Dutch design and fashion from the 4th of September until the 11th of October 2009. Last year Dutch design was celebrated under the name of FreeDesigndom, with four weeks of events in Amsterdam and Utrecht. This year there is a new name and run for one extra week. The two Dutch cities host a great variety of internationally orientated design and fashion events. These events cater to the needs of design and fashion aficionados, people from the industry and media professionals, but also to the general public. www.design.nl/item/dutch_design_double Fast Facts Location: Province of North-Holland next to provinces of Utrecht and Flevoland Time: GMT +1 hour Language: Dutch is the official language but English is widely spoken. Area: City- 219 km2 , Urban- 1,003 km2, Metropolitan- 1,815 km2 Population: City- 762,057, Urban- 1.3 million, Metro- 2.16 million. Religion: The Netherlands is a secular country with just 39% of the country religiously affiliated; Roman Catholicism is the single largest with 26.3% of the population. Electricity: The Netherlands uses a 50 Hz and 230 V power system. Telephone Code: +58 Currency: The Euro Passport/visa requirements: British passport holders do not need a visa to travel to the Netherlands. Airports: The International airport, Schipol, is the largest in the Netherlands and the fifth largest in Europe in terms of passengers. Flight time: Under half an hour. Public Holidays- 2009 1 Jan New Year's Day. 10-13 Apr Easter. 30 Apr Queen's Day. 5 May Liberation Day. 21 May Ascension. 1 Jun Whit Monday. 25 Dec Christmas Day. 26 Dec Boxing Day. 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day. 2-5 Apr Easter. 30 Apr Queen's Day. 5 May Liberation Day. 13 May Ascension. 24 May Whit Monday. 25 Dec Christmas Day. 26 Dec Boxing Day. For more information contact: oNetherlands Board of Toursim & Conventions, PO Box 30783, London WC2B 6DH. Tel: 020 7539 7950 Email: [email protected] Website: www.holland.com Digital Magazine click here to view our latest magazine Subscribe to Travel Bulletin The Travel Bulletin teamFeatures list 2017Showcase Calendar 2017Print Advertising SpecificationsOnline Advertising Specifications Privacy PolicyTerms of UseContact UsDesktop Site Are you sure that you want to switch to desktop version?

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Category: World What is the Kakadu National Park? Frogs live in the Kakadu National Park. Kakadu National Park is an enormous park in Northern Australia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Fauna may refer to the wildlife of a certain environment. Brendan McGuigan Kakadu National Park is an enormous park in Northern Australia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1981, being expanded in 1987 and again in 1992. Kakadu National Park contains a huge swath of relatively unspoiled terrain, with a wide range of flora and fauna. The park also offers an amazing view into the deep history of the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. Kakadu National Park covers more than 4.7 million acres, or nearly 7,700 square miles (20,000 sq. km). This makes it about one-and-a-half times the size of the state of Connecticut, or roughly the size of Israel. Kakadu National Park is home to more than 10,000 species of insect, more than 1,500 species of plant, more than 50 species of aquatic animal, more than 50 species of mammal, and nearly 300 species of bird. It contains four important river systems, the East, West, and South Alligator Rivers, and the Wildman River. Kakadu National Park represents a swath of land that has been inhabited by Aboriginal people anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 years, without interruption. Visitors can experience at least part of this habitation by viewing any of the more than five-thousand art sites that dot the park. The park is still inhabited by Aboriginal people, a population of about 500, who are officially recognized as the owners of more than half of the park, and have a claim to the other half. Kakadu National Park is actually leased by the Aboriginal people to the Australian government to manage it under the National Parks system. Two species of crocodile are found in the Kakadu National Park, and are one of the most popular attractions for visitors looking for fauna. Kangaroos, wallabies, various butterflies, and an incredible range of frogs are other highly visible animals found within the park. Many of the mammals found within the park are nocturnal, but for those willing to spend the time and energy on the lookout for them, they can provide a rare opportunity to see these marsupial creatures. Visitors interested in flora will find a great deal of diversity in Kakadu National Park. There are a number of distinct biomes, each with their own specialized forms of life. A handful of endemic species, which can only be found within Kakadu National Park, may be found as well, including Eucalyptus koolpinensis. Mangroves, banyan figs, paper bark trees, some unique water lilies, various resurrection grasses, and kapok trees are among the flora to be found in the park. Kakadu National Park is enormous, and contains a huge range of beautiful landforms for sightseers. The park contains excellent swimming, and has some truly majestic waterfalls. Good hiking and climbing can be found throughout Kakadu, and the various wetlands and rivers offer opportunities for water travel. Ad What Is Lamington National Park? What Is Kosciuszko National Park? What Is Kinabalu National Park? What Is Waterton Lakes National Park? What Is Daintree National Park? What Is Springbrook National Park? What Is Yanchep National Park?

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Petone Settlers Museum Historic Petone Map Welcome to Petone The museum has re-opened after undergoing a major refurbishment, both inside and out! To keep up-to-date on what’s going on at Petone Settlers Museum, join our newsletter, The Sometimes Times, and visit our Events page for all of our upcoming events. Situated on the shores of Wellington’s ever-changing harbour, the Petone Settlers Museum Te Whare Whakaaro occupies one of New Zealand’s most significant memorial buildings—the Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial. The memorial was built to commemorate the arrival of the first British immigrants to Pito-one’s shores in 1840. The Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial was officially opened on the 22nd of January 1940, and, serving also as a bathing pavilion, it became the heart of Petone’s thriving beach scene. In May of 2016 the Petone Settlers Museum re-opened, with a major refresh, both inside and out. Changes to the exterior brought back the original look and feel, returning the building to its original colour and reinstating features such as decorative window grills. The inside now boasts exciting new exhibits. Discover the real story of two of Petone’s important streets: Jackson and Patrick Streets. Enjoy the stylish glamour of Miss Hutt Valley 1968 and feel the raw determination of Petone’s sporting champions. Walk back in time to marvel at fabrics and fancies on sale at Carey’s Drapery in 1954. And, back by popular demand, a brand new version of old favourite: experience the conditions that European settlers endured to get to Petone’s shore in 1940, in our replica of a ship’s steerage cabin. We’ve worked with locals, young and old, to bring you the stories and memories of Petone. Come and enjoy! Photo: Mark Tantrum The Petone Settlers Museum receives core funding from Hutt City Council and is operated alongside The Dowse Art Museum. By providing museums the Council enables people to freely access arts and cultural facilities that enrich, inspire and offer a range of lifelong learning opportunities. The museums act as a focal point for the community, enhance cultural life and diversity, and promote civic pride and community values. The Esplanade, Petone, New Zealand(04) 568 8373FREE ENTRY Open Wed to Sun, 10am–4pm (Closed Christmas, Boxing and New Year's Days)Links [email protected] The Sometimes Times newsletter Local History Enquiries For all family and local history enquiries contact the Heritage Centre at Hutt City Libraries. © Hutt City Council 2013

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Havana was founded by the Spanish in 1519 in the natural harbor of the Bay of Havana. It became a stopping point for the treasure laden Spanish Galleons on the crossing between the New World and the Old World. In the 17th century it was one of the main shipbuilding centers. The city was built in baroque and neoclassic style. Main Sights: The Malecón is the avenue that runs along the seawall at the northern shore of Havana, from Old Havana to the Almendares River. Castillo del Morro, picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay. The construction of the castle Los Tres Reyes del Morro owed to the step along in Havana of the English pirate Sir Francis Drake. The king of Spain arranged its construction on a big stone which was known by the name of El Morro. He sent the field master Juan de Texeda, accompanied of the military engineer Battista Antonelli, who came to Havana in 1587 and began the task at once. Castillo de la Real Fuerza, The fortress or (lit.) Castle of the Royal Army is another big monument that closes the Plaza de las Armas. It was the first big fortification of the city, initiated in 1558 on the ruins of an ancient fortress. In the same year, the Crown sent to Cuba the engineer Bartolomé Sanchez, supervised by 14 official and main stonemasons in order to reconstruct the castle, which had been set fire and destroyed by the French corsair Jacques de Sores. Catedral de San Cristóbal, the most prominent building on the Plaza de la Catedral. The Cathedral was raised on the chapel after 1748 by order of the bishop from Salamanca, Jose Felipe de Trespalacios. It is one of the most beautiful and sober churches of the American baroque. National Capitol, styled after the Panthéon (Paris), looking similar to the U.S. Capitol. Plaza de Armas – the main touristic square. The origin of its name is military, since from the end of the 16th century the ceremonies and the military events took place here. Gran Teatro de la Havana, the Great Theater of Havana is famous, particularly for the acclaimed National Ballet of Cuba and its founder Alicia Alonso. It sometimes performs the National Opera. The theater is also known as concert hall, Garcia Lorca, the biggest in Cuba. The Museum of the Revolution, located in the former Presidential Palace, with the boat Granma on display in front of the museum. San Francisco de la Habana Basilica, Habana Vieja, The set of church and convent of San Francisco de Asis, byline of the year 1608, and it was reconstructed in 1737. Casa Kadir - Miramar Rentals Havana City - Miramar Casa Kadir - Miramar Rentals: Colonial Luxury House with comfortable bedrooms that features a double-bed with full bathroom. The outdoor space is intriguing with huge terrace, and beautiful landscaping. Every room of the home has air conditioner. The Living room features with a style furniture. Other amenities include, TV and a DVD player, and an In-room Safe. The house is perfectly situated in Miramar, near to The Almendares River, restaurants and night clubs and shopping are all a short walk away. Read more Read less Currency Change Air Conditioning Non Smoking Airport Pick Up svc Terrace/Balcony Night Club Property location Map

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Emirates.com Inflight advertising International & Government Affairs Emirates Celebrates Successful First Year on World’s Longest A380 Non-Stop Route Dubai, UAE. 1 March 2017 - Upgrading the aircraft type to the double-decker A380 on its daily non-stop service connecting Dubai and Auckland was one of the key reasons for a successful first year on the route, the world’s longest A380 flight, says Emirates. Emirates today (1 March) celebrated 12 months on the non-stop route, flown firstly with a 266-seat Boeing 777-200LR and then, since 30 October last year, with the A380, providing up to 491 seats. The upper deck on the A380s features 14 first class suites and 76 business class pods, as well as shower spas up front and an Onboard Lounge at the rear. The airline says the Boeing 777-200LR was an ideal aircraft to start with on the route and it has been able to build on that successful launch period with the upgrade in capacity provided by its flagship A380s. The versatility and popularity of the A380 has led to the expansion of the aircraft’s destinations, which now number 44 and which will include Sao Paulo in Brazil and Casablanca in Morocco from late March. The A380’s introduction on the Dubai-Auckland non-stop flight last October after only eight months’ of Boeing 777 operation at very high load factors, was a very successful move for Emirates, especially as it can now offer A380 service all the way between a number of destinations in Europe and New Zealand with only one stop, at the airline’s Dubai hub, and a simple six- to seven-hour journey beyond. In addition, from a customer’s point of view Emirates has been able to offer a total consistency of product on its New Zealand routes, with A380s also on its three daily services to Auckland and daily flight to Christchurch via Australia from Dubai and beyond. In its first year of operation on the non-stop route between Auckland and Dubai, Emirates enjoyed an overall load factor of more than 80%. The average flight time northbound has been 16 hours 57 minutes and southbound the duration (usually with tail winds) has been 15 hours 38 minutes; somewhat better than scheduled flight times. This has given passengers the opportunity to watch several full-length films, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, topped up with a popular television series box set or two and music choices from across the decades. Over the past year, more than 210,000 meals have been provided in-flight on the non-stop route. Emirates now has 93 Airbus A380s in its fleet and a further 49 on order. Among its A380 destinations in Europe are: London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Manchester and Birmingham in the UK; Paris, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona; and other popular cities such as Moscow, Zurich, Prague, Vienna, and Copenhagen. Travellers can depart UK-Europe through one airport and return to another. Emirates has been strongly supporting New Zealand’s tourism industry, in 2016 carrying more than 1.1 million passengers to and from New Zealand in a year in which the nation’s export earnings from tourism reached a record NZ$10.1 billion (US$7.26 billion). All of Emirates’ services to New Zealand offer First Class private suites, lie-flat seats in Business Class and comfortable Economy Class seating. Several courses of gourmet foods and award-winning wines are complimentary on all flights to and from New Zealand. Free wifi is also available in all three cabins, as is Emirates’ famous ice inflight information, communication and entertainment system, offering more than 2500 channels in widescreen digital format. Emirates has generous free baggage allowances – up to 35kg for Economy Class passengers, 40kg for Business Class and 50kg for First Class. To read more about the Emirates A380, click here. Emirates to Unveil Enhanced A380 Onboard Lounge at ITB Berlin Emirates to Offer Services to Phnom Penh in Cambodia Emirates Marks Four Years of Operations to Poland Emirates sets standards for on-board medical care Emirates opens access to its premium lounges at Dubai International Airport Emirates recognises top employees Emirates offers special fares to its US network Emirates to launch daily service to Newark via Athens Emirates to Launch Third Daily Flight to Nairobi Emirates introduces sustainable blankets made from 100% recycled plastic bottles Emirates Brings Daily A380 Service to Sao Paulo About Emirates Our Media centre contains all of our business updates, including the latest press releases and articles and our contact details.The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.We inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine and world-class service. Find out more. Annual reports You can download the latest annual report or read our previous reports for detailed information on our commercial results and strategies. Please email us on [email protected] if you want to get in touch with our media team. If you’re a customer and you have a general question about our services or would like some help, please visit our Help centre. Get updates in your mailbox © 2017 Emirates published with Prezly

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http://www.celinachamber.org - Specification Required - In the northwest corner of Collin County, Celina was settled in 1879 and named for the postmaster's hometown in Tennessee. A railway came through the area in 1902, and in 1915, Celina became the site of the first road in the country built exclusively for automobiles--the Celina Pike. Today, this community north of Dallas is growing but retains its small-town feel. The historic downtown plaza, at Walnut Street and Ohio Street, features a war memorial, shops and restaurants. Founder's Station Park downtown offers a playground, picnic area, gazebo and tennis courts. The Celina Balloon Festival and Family Fun Day is held in October.

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New Mexico uses Billy the Kid's legacy to draw tourists Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:48am EDT Email This Article | Share This Article By Zelie Pollon Santa Fe, New Mexico (Reuters) - Wild West gunslinger Billy the Kid was shot and killed in southern New Mexico 130 years ago, but state officials still can't seem to let him rest in peace. Last year, then-Governor Bill Richardson made headlines by suggesting he might pardon the 19th-century outlaw, only to decide against it on his last day in office. This year, Richardson's successor, Governor Susana Martinez, has launched a statewide "manhunt" for the Kid in a campaign to boost tourism to the Land of Enchantment. The promotion offers a $10,000 grand prize reward to the search "posse" that first completes a prescribed series of challenges in a scavenger hunt-like contest to slap the Kid with a symbolic arrest warrant. The prize is based on the $500 reward posted for his capture in 1881 by New Mexico Territorial Governor Lew Wallace, adjusted for inflation. "Others may have considered pardoning Billy the Kid, but we're not letting him off the hook," Martinez said. Born Henry McCarty but known in New Mexico as William Bonney, the outlaw was shot to death at point-blank range by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881. The Kid was believed to be 21 or 22 at the time of this death. In weighing the pardon, Richardson said he was acting on a promise of amnesty Wallace was widely believed to have made in 1879 in return for the outlaw's grand jury testimony against three men accused of murder during the so-called Lincoln County War of 1878, a bloody conflict between cattle barons.

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When Hinesville was a spa Mineral springs drew tourists By Debra Ayers Brown The Hines Hotel (originally built as a home by Charlton Hines and now Claude Dryden's office) was one of many local inns that catered to tourists who came here from the late 1800s into the 1900s to "take the waters." “Daddy spoke of people coming from near and far back in the 1930s to benefit from the restorative waters,” Hinesville native Sandy Burch said. “They were just sulfur water, but they attracted many visitors to Hinesville.” The Hinesville Gazette confirmed that downtown mineral springs provided excellent drinking water and a place for baths. Bath houses were built for the convenience of out-of-town guests who stayed in the Moore House, the Magnolia Hotel and the Caswell Hotel. In no time, Hinesville had a reputation as a health resort due to the presence of the mineral springs. “The biggest springs ran from where Shane’s BBQ and the old Board of Education office are located and through downtown,” Burch said. “It flowed between Coastal Bank and the Coca Cola building to the location of the old ice plant, now The Heritage Bank drive-through, on Main Street and went to the Ford Motor Company on Oglethorpe Highway,” she said. “In fact, the ice plant was located there because of the proximity to the springs.” Former Mayor Fred Mingledorff built the first water system in Hinesville, using the springs. However, the pumping of groundwater for manufacturing by Interstate Paper dried up the springs. According to U S Geological Survey data, excessive pumping of wells can greatly influence water levels below ground. If the water is withdrawn from the ground at a faster rate than it is replenished, the water table may be lowered so much that the springs go dry. Today, residents rely on city drinking water and area spas for restorative health benefits.

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» Shangri La Home / Visit / Shangri La Learn about Shangri La tours. Book a tour online. About Shangri La In the late 1930s, Doris Duke built her Honolulu home, Shangri La, on five acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. Shangri La incorporates architectural features from the Islamic world and houses Duke’s extensive collection of Islamic art, which she assembled for nearly 60 years.One of Hawai‘i’s most architecturally significant houses, Shangri La was a retreat and sanctuary for a woman who greatly valued her privacy. In her will, Duke set in motion plans to open Shangri La to the public as a place for the study of Islamic art and culture. Today, Shangri La is open for guided, small group tours and educational programs. In partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art—which owns and supports Shangri La—the Honolulu Museum of Art serves as the orientation center for Shangri La tours.As part of this partnership, the museum also serves as a venue for additional programs and educational activities that focus on Islamic and Hawaiian art and culture, such as exhibitions, classes, workshops, lectures, film series and performances. Learn more about Shangri La Visit www.shangrilahawaii.org, where you can scroll through a timeline of the property’s history, take a virtual tour of the estate, and search for and view objects in the collection. Connect with Shangri La on social media: Get free admission to the museum all year long—and many other benefits! Help support the museum's mission and keep the arts thriving in Hawai‘i. Hours of operation and admission fees. All you need to know to plan a Honolulu Museum of Art visit.

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World Travel Awards Prepares for its 10th Anniversary - Set to Announce 2003 Nominees World Travel Awards, the most comprehensive and arguably the most prestigious awards program in the worldå‘s travel and tourism industry has announced a date for the release of this yearå‘s nominees. The nominee list for the 160 categories of the World Travel Awards 2003 will be announced on 31 March and will be made available on the World Travel Awards website at www.worldtravelawards.com/nominees . Hundreds of thousands of travel professionals from across the globe will be invited to vote for their preferred nominees from 1 March right up until the awards ceremony in October. To reflect the global status of the Awards, this year’s marketing campaign, voting forms, emails and competitions will be delivered in 12 different languages. The winners of this year’s World Travel Awards will be announced at the 10th Annual Gala Ceremony, hosted at The Plaza, New York on Monday, October 13th 2003. World Travel Awards is one of the highlights in the travel industry calendar, gaining even more impetus this year as the event will mark a decade of acknowledging and celebrating the achievements in all areas of the world`s travel and tourism industry. Additionally this year has seen the launch of a chic, new-look 2003 web site, the most accomplished site in the Awards’ ten year history. Dynamic features include a media-rich photo-gallery, capturing exciting moments from the 9th World Travel Awards ceremony, vibrant virtual images of the World Travel Awards taking the Centre Stage at the World Travel Market 02, along with a new page dedicated to the winners of Travel Personality of the Year category.ADVERTISEMENT “Despite a slow start to the year for the travel industry, the World Travel Awards’ tenth anniversary is gathering momentum as the event draws closer and excitement is mounting. We look forward to revealing the nominees for our tenth annual awards ceremony!” commented President, Graham E. Cooke. World Travel Awards web site is available at www.worldtravelawards.com Notes to editors The World Travel Awards were set up for the express purpose of acknowledging and celebrating the massive achievements in all areas of the world`s travel & tourism industry. And with the 9th Awards coming up, it`s becoming harder to remember a time when this major event didn`t take place. World Travel Awards Limited was established in 1993 and, since then, the Awards have gone from strength to strength. Every year, hundreds more travel agents round the globe participate in the voting and during the build-up to the Awards Ceremony, the level of excitement that is now generated throughout the travel industry can only be described as fever-pitched. Candidates for nomination are based upon the previous year`s voting. This is the world`s most comprehensive travel awards ceremony, with trophies awarded in an all areas of the industry. Voting is cast by travel agents in over 200 countries around the world. Regional geographical categories are broken down from the Whole World category into eight smaller areas - Africa, Asia/Pacific, Caribbean, Central & Latin America, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America. These are then further divided into all areas of the travel industry. Additional worldwide awards covering specific markets, such as World`s Leading Sports Resort, World`s Leading Private Island, to name but two, broaden the scope of the voting. Hundreds and thousands of votes each year are registered online at the official World Travel Awards website, with most of the leading travel internet sites offering additional online voting facilities. First Courtyard Planned for Rome Blue Star Jets Selected as Exclusive Private Air Travel Partner for Canyon Ranch Health Resorts

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Avanti Resort Avanti Resort 8738 International Drive Orlando 32819 USA This hotel is located in the heart of International Drive. Pointe Orlando shopping and entertainment complex is easily reached on foot. The hotel was built in 1983. Guests are welcomed at the accommodation, which has a total of 672 rooms. These are located either in the 4-storey main building or in one of the 3 adjacent buildings, which have up to 4 storeys. Individual storeys are accessible via the lift or stairs. Amenities include a cloakroom and a safe. Wireless internet access is available to travellers in the public areas. Among the culinary options available at the establishment are a restaurant, a dining area, a café and a bar. Additional features at the hotel include a newspaper stand and a playroom. Those arriving in their own vehicles can leave them in the car park of the accommodation. Additional services include room service and a laundry service. In addition, a shuttle service is offered. Each of the rooms is appointed with air conditioning, central heating and a bathroom. The carpeted accommodation units feature a king-size bed. There is also a safe. A fridge and a tea/coffee station ensure a comfortable stay. An ironing set is also available for guests' convenience. Internet access, a telephone, a TV, a radio and WiFi add to the comfort of the holiday. The bathrooms are fitted with a shower and a bathtub. A hairdryer is also available. The establishment offers family rooms and non-smoking rooms. The hotel offers attractions including sport and entertainment opportunities. The accommodation features an outdoor pool and a children's pool. Sun loungers and parasols are ideal for relaxation. The establishment offers a gym (for a fee) to travellers. An entertainment programme is offered for children. Avanti ResortOrlando, Florida8738 International Drive

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Life & Style People Obituaries Weddings New to the Parish All Life & Style Food & Drink Allen Flynn, proprietor of the Old Ground, Ennis Sat, Jun 8, 2013, 01:00 Patrick Freyne Allen Flynn, proprietor of the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare. Photograph: Eamon Ward A llen Flynn is a calm, still point at the centre of the bustle in the Old Ground’s lobby. Children in Communion dresses move between newly arrived American tourists. A funeral party has arrived and there’s a wedding later. He ushers me to a comfortable couch and rustles up a sandwich and coffee for me. In the background someone drops a plate. “They’re smashing things up for you!” he says. Flynn and his brothers, who together own three other hotels – the Park Hotel in Dungarvan, the Imperial hotel in Cork and the Newpark in Kilkenny – are, he says, “ground-floor people first and foremost”. They learned about the business from a young age, working at the Park Hotel, which was owned by their parents. “We’d be up before breakfast preparing rooms and then in the evening there were chips to be cut – this was the days before frozen chips – and bottles to be sorted. That was from the age of four to five upwards. It was before child-labour laws,” he laughs. “I don’t think it ever did us any harm.” Flynn didn’t immediately enter the hotel business. On graduating from a business degree in UL, he spent eight years working for Price Waterhouse in New York. “All 21-year-olds should spend time in New York,” he says, but in 1995 his breeding asserted itself, and he and his brother John bought the Old Ground from the international Trust House Forte hotel group. “In the Park we always aspired to the level of service of places like the Old Ground,” he says. The hotel dates back to 1895. In the 1940s then-owners the O’Regan family expanded the hotel to cater for US airline crews. “You hear fantastic stories from older people,” says Flynn. “Flight attendant was a very glamorous job back then and it was also a lot of people’s first exposure to the American style. Let’s just say they weren’t as quiet as the locals.” A blow-in to Ennis himself, Flynn still can’t get over how welcoming people were. “I arrived on a Friday and on the Sunday, Clare won the All-Ireland after 85 years of a hiatus,” he says. “Within 72 hours 100,000 people descended on Ennis. It was a baptism of fire. I don’t think we closed the bar for 34 hours. I was behind the counter and it was never less than seven deep. I remember at seven the following morning looking across the counter at men and women in their 70s still celebrating.” He didn’t have a master-plan, but it was a great time for hotels. “The Irish customer base just grew. People were willing to take more than one holiday. You could see the movement of money through Irish society. From 1997 to 2007 it was very rare that we would have had anything less than 100 per cent occupancy at weekends.” In contrast, “this year we’ve only been two or three Saturday nights with 100 per cent occupancy. Our average room rates would have gone down 15 or 20 per cent.” It’s not the only thing that’s changed in the industry. Thirty per cent of their bookings are now made through the internet, and 64 per cent of their guests consult Trip Advisor (they did a survey). “I’m the odd man out in my family,” he says. “I have four brothers who ate and slept for horseracing. I’m more interested in theatre.” It began when doing pro bono work for a theatre group in New York. Now each year he both acts and directs with the Ennis Players, takes a regular holiday to see the Edinburgh Fringe and he’s just spent a week at the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Awards. “I often wonder do I spend more time acting on stage or in the hotels dealing with customers,” he says. He takes me on a tour. There are four sections. The original building, two extensions, one built in the 1940s and one in the 1960s, as well as the former Ennis Town Hall, which now contains a bistro. There he points out a Tom Climent canvas measuring the exact dimensions of the travelling cinema screens older Ennis residents will remember being hoisted into the same spot. In the lobby there are black-and-white photos of traditional Clare life and up in the banquet suite, past some children joyously banging on a piano, is a fireplace dating from 1533. It’s from Lemanagh Castle, explains Flynn, and will return there if that building is ever restored. Flynn feels they’re doing well. Unofficial family “gatherings” have led to solid business and an increase in flights to Shannon has seen the return of a phenomenon Flynn relishes: “people checking in at 6.30 in the morning after an early flight”. He laments the plethora of “build-them-and-they’ll-come” boom-time hotels with no business plans, but feels Irish family hotels are unique (he singles out Longville House and the Quay House in Clifden). He has a simple ethos: “We don’t treat our guests as customers but as friends staying the night . . . Our parents always taught us this: take care of your customer. Whether they’re in for a cup of coffee or a conference for €100,000, treat everyone the same.” Patrick Freyne Allen Flynn Beauty blenders: adding a condom might be taking it too far Drink Warm up the chilly evenings with a taste of sunny Portugal Europe’s Car of the year: how I see the finalists Will ‘Alien: Covenant’ give fans exactly what they want? Sponsored Saying goodbye to the Merriman Tavern 6 Seven shipping containers become a family home 8 Deceptively spacious redbrick villa by the Botanic Gardens 9 How much money can you save by giving up stuff for Lent? Character actor with impressive body of work including role in Aliens Obituary: Bill Paxton Leon Ó Morcháin An Appreciation Obituary: Frank Delaney Author, broadcaster and champion of James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ Something For The Weekend Sign up to receive our email sent every Friday featuring offers, competitions and a preview of what’s coming up in the weekend edition.

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DECK THE HOLIDAY'S FOLKLORE, FACTS AND FEATURES ABOUT HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD GHOSTLY TALES AND HORRORS OF EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND! One of the all time favorite places for ghost sightseeing, is Edinburgh Scotland...It is so unlike anywhere else you could visit, including many areas of England. One of the aspects of the city that is so fascinating, is the history, the ghostly, unexplainable stories and legends that are so much a part of the Royal Mile, the hub of the ghastly goings on which have been talked and written about for centuries. Back to those later... The city itself is full of excitement, all the people hustling and bustling through the streets as you take in all the sights... And those sights? There are so many of them, but none can compare with the sight of Edinburgh Castle...what an imposing structure, it's what gives the town that erie feeling, including the very beginnings of the spot where it was built, on the site of a dead volcano, called Castle Rock. Lets play circle the ghost game! Inside the Castle people flock to visit tiny St. Margaret's chapel, which had been built in the 12th century and, not to be missed, are the States apartments, the most popular one, the bedroom where Queen Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to James VI, who later became James the first, King of England. Another room you just can't miss is the Crown Chamber, here you find on display the Royal Crown, the Sword of Scotland and the Royal Scepter. But the most eerie are the French Prisons. where huge storerooms had been turned into a prison and a dungeon during the 18th century, hundreds, maybe thousands, of Napoleons soldiers were imprisoned there. During their captivity they carved their initials and pictures onto the walls, still visible today. Napoleonic graffiti! On the other side of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's oldest street, is the Palace of Holyrood...this palace is filled with mysterious hidden chambers where all sorts of strange goings on took place, including murders and political intrigues throughout the centuries. Today, the Queen of England still takes her yearly trips to the Palace and, during those visits, tourists aren't allowed in. You can tell when she is there by the royal flag displayed above the palace. We were lucky to have been there when she wasn't there so we had a most interesting tour of the place including the old ruined Abbey...these ruins are quite a sight and has some very interesting stories to tell as well. I left my heart and the rest of my body in Edinburgh Scotland But I've decided to concentrate on what seemed to intrigue me the most, The Royal Mile itself with all the spine chilling legends of witches, ghouls, ghosts, and quite a few really disturbing tales of the mile. Most of which remain unexplained! If you have any interest at all in ghostly doings, witches and things that go bump in the night then the Royal Mile is a walk you must take....This famous mile, an old cobbled street, runs from the Castle to the Palace and, in every nook and cranny, there are stories to be told of the past...The historial John Knox house, from the 15th century, is certainly interesting to tour, Knox began the Presbyterian Church of Scotland with all the reforms that went with it and did not make the citizens very happy at the time...this is the only original Timbered house left and the hand painted ceilings inside are still intact...Knox is buried on the property. You can also tour the Gladstone Estate from the 17th century..once owned by a merchant of great wealth, the tour shows off the original furnishings and decorations, all quite elaborate, demonstratring the taste of the times...Gladstone Estate is run by the National Trust and conveys the feeling that it's still lived in today. There are quite a few other historic sights to see on this Royal Mile but it was the alleyways and the small neighborhoods called "The Close", where strange goings on have always intrigued those who have been there...myself included! These alleys leading off the main street certainly have had their share of "ghostly going's on....The most famous is called Mary Kings Close....It was here that the plague struck very hard, killing more people than anywhere else during the epidemic of 1645...in order to prevent the disease from spreading the magistrate sealed off the Close so, all those poor unfortunates, who were within the enclosure were trapped and doomed to death. Nothing like a little fog to make a castle more eary Those who were outside couldn't get in either so more tenements were hastily built for the destitute but eventually the homeless made their way back inside the Close...Soon strange ghost stories were told, folks who died of the disease were seen again, more and more stories came out, even about dogs that fell sick, roaming the streets. It became so bad, that the Close was eventually abandoned. Then a fire broke out destroying all that had been left behind to decay and rot.....Now there is a big gate where once the entranceway stood leading off into different directions.......Nobody but nobody is allowed in, but there are whispers in the night, are they keeping us out? Or something in? Another tale that has been documented has to do with music which seems to come from under the ground The story goes like this: once there was an underground tunnel that ran from the castle dungeon all the way to the Palace...a young piper was told to explore the pathway and was ordered play the entire time, so those above could follow him. But, only halfway through, the music stopped. This poor young man was never seen again... It is said that pipe music can be heard today. Supposedly some pictures of ghosts Other stories are rampant. One, called the death coach...a ghostly wagon is recorded in some old documents as being seen, just before a disaster strikes, galloping from the Palace to the Castle led by a headless horse, breathing fire as it races through the streets. There was always something strange going on in and around the Mile. Our story wouldn't be complete without a tale of witches. Edinburgh was once thought to be the principal center for witchcraft. Between 1479 and 1722, more than 300 women were burned to death on Castle hill after being found guilty of "working with the devil". Today a plaque in a wall at the foot of the esplanade, opposite Cannonball house, marks the spot. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Presbyterians of Scotland, under strong Puritan influence, gave the go ahead for the burning, no matter how flimsy the evidence. Some of the catacombs Most of the women had probably never committed a crime, but we have to remember, those ancestors were extremely superstitious and truly believed that some seemingly ordinary women took the form of old hags at nightfall, to fly through the air on brooms, dispensing evil spells like confetti. They were not allowed any defense and were always proven guilty. Even some men were considered witches and were similarly punished. Edinburgh is also famous for some very heinous crimes and murders...In 1827-1828, two men, Burke and Hare, are said to have strangled 16 people, at least, in order to sell the bodies for medical experiments and research...at first corpses were dug up from graves but those gruesome men decided it was easier to kill then to dig... And, last but not least, one of the most famous pubs, Deacon Brodies Tavern, opened in 1806, (which is pointed out when you are on a tour), has another myth most of us have heard about...Deacon Brodie, the owner of this tavern, is said to be the inspiration of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous book, "The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"....Brodie was a model citizen by day but at night he was said to be a thief and probably a murderer....He ended up being hung in October, 1778.....today, the tavern is a very popular one for locals and of course visitors, many who come just to say they have been there, to the house of Dr. Jekyll. The ghost in the pictures is circled The Castle itself has many stories of strange sightings and things that go bump in the night...It would be no surprise since so many people had been murdered or just disappeared after being brought to the dungeon. It seems to me that if ghoulish happenings, unexplained noises, witches tales and strange disappearances seem to happen often along this famous Royal Mile, they shouldn't come as any surprise...with all that went on for so many centuries, I certainly wouldn't want to be there alone, on All Hallows Eve, or, at any time, for that matter...Would you? Herr DOKTOR Braun HOLIDAYS TO CELEBRATE IN JULY! When you think of July holidays, Independence Day is probably the first that comes to mind. There are a lot of holidays in July; here is a list of observances to celebrate each day this month - and, of course, ideas for clebrating them. July 1: Zip Code Day - Honor this holiday by memorizing the zip codes for all the neighboring cities.July 2: I Forgot Day - Today you don't need an excuse; just say, "Sorry - I forgot." July 3: Compliment Your Mirror Day - Take a good look in the mirror and compliment the person you see on the other side. July 4: Independence from Meat Day - No, it's not just Independence Day on the 4th of July; it's also Independence from Meat Day! July 6: Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day - I wonder who made up this holiday...? July 7: Chocolate Day - Finally, it's here! You can eat all the chocolate you want - for the whole day - without the guilt. July 8: SCUD Day (Savor the Comic, Unplug the Drama) - Sounds like a scuddy holiday. July 9: Martyrdom of the Bab - I was curious who the Bab was, so I looked it up. No wonder I didn't know what it was; Martyrdom of the Bab is a Baha'i holiday. Silly me. July 10: Don't Step on a Bee Day - Every day should be don't step on a bee day. I've done it. It hurts. July 11: World Population Day - You make up less than a billionth of the world population. Don't you feel special? July 12: International Town Criers Day - I bet you didn't know the town crier had a day of his own, did you? July 13: Embrace Your Geekness Day - Come on, we all have an inner geekness. Embrace it! July 15: Gummi Worm Day - Mmm...another excuse to celebrate sugar! July 16: Hot Dog Night - How will you celebrate Hot Dog Night 2010? July 17: Yellow Pig Day - If you can't find a yellow pig, just paint one yellow. I'm sure no one will notice.July 18: National Ice Cream Day - Have it any way you want. July 19: National Get Out of the Dog House Day - What were you doing in there, anyway? July 20: National Lollipop Day - Jeez, whoever makes up the national holidays sure likes his or her sugar! I won't complain, though. July 21: Legal Drinking Age Day - Hmm, I wonder what you're going to do on Legal Drinking Age Day? July 22: Rat-catchers Day - What would we do without them?? July 23: Gorgeous Grandma Day - To celebrate all you hot grandmas out there! July 24: Tell an Old Joke Day - Tell everyone you see the oldest, moldiest joke you've got. July 25: Thread the Needle Day - Apparently this is a game, but I've never played it. July 26: One Voice - You've only got one voice, so be sure to use it. July 27: Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day - What?? You've never taken your houseplant for a walk? No wonder it's getting so big. July 28: National Milk Chocolate Day - Wow, are there really two days in a month dedicated to chocolate?! July 29: Rain Day - I wonder if it always rains on July 29th... July 30: Cheesecake Day - This is my favorite, so make sure you don't forget to celebrate Cheesecake Day. JULY FOOD HOLIDAYS!! Beyond Independence Day Barbeques, There’s A National Food Holiday Every Day! It's National Food Day of?Day-Long ObservancesIce Cream Sundae Day is the third Sunday in July July 1 - July 2 - National Anisette Day July 3 - National Chocolate Wafer Day / Eat Beans Day July 4 - National Barbecued Spareribs Day July 4 - Caesar Salad Birthday July 4 - Sidewalk Egg Frying Day July 5 - National Apple Turnover Day July 5 - Graham Cracker Day July 6 - National Fried Chicken Day July 7 - National Strawberry Sundae Day July 7 - Chocolate Day July 7 - Macaroni day July 7 - Ice Cream Cone Day July 8 - National Milk Chocolate with Almonds Day July 9 - National Sugar Cookie Day July 10 - National Pina Colada Day July 11 - National Blueberry Muffin Day July 11 - Vegetarian Food Day July 12 - National Pecan Pie Day July 12 - National Blueberry Muffin Day July 12 - Eat Your Jello Day (Bill Cosby's Birthday) July 13 - National Ice Cream Day July 13 - National French Fries Day July 14 - National Grand Marnier Day July 15 - National Tapioca Pudding Day July 15 - Gummi Worm Day July 16 - National Corn Fritters Day July 16 - Ice Cream Sundae Day July 16 - Fresh Spinach Day July 16 - National Ice Cream Day July 17 - National Peach Ice Cream Day July 18 - National Caviar Day July 19 - National Daiquiri Day July 20 - National Lollipop Day July 20 - National Ice Cream Soda Day July 20 - Fortune Cookie Day July 21 - National Junk Food Day July 21 - National Ice Cream Day July 21 - National Creme Brulee Day July 22 - National Penuche Fudge Day July 22 - Maple Syrup Day July 23 - National Vanilla Ice Cream Day July 23 - National Hot Dog Day July 24 - National Tequila Day July 25 - National Hot Fudge Sundae Day July 26 - National Coffee Milkshake Day July 27 - National Scotch Day July 27 - National Cream Brulee Day July 28 - National Milk Chocolate Day July 29 - National Lasagna Day July 29 - Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day July 30 - National Cheesecake Day July 31 - National Raspberry Cake Day July 31 - Cotton Candy Day July 31 - Jump for Jelly Beans Day Posted by A LITTLE BIO FOR YOU I am passionate about Halloween and Christmas. Many nights spent in the lab making and creating new props and decorations. I have been married for 25 years and have teenage twins (a boy and girl). I like 80's rock, all kinds of sports,thriller and action movies. I also moonlight as a pastry chef/baker.

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Redwood National Park Reopens Tall Trees Access Road By NPT Staff on February 28th, 2014 Tall Trees Grove and Redwood Creek. NPS photo. While closed much of last year and early this year due to mandatory budget cuts, the Tall Trees Access Road in Redwood National Park was scheduled to reopen today. The Tall Trees Access Road provides visitor access to the Tall Trees Trail, Emerald Ridge Trail, and, during low-water periods, dispersed backcountry camping areas on Redwood Creek. Required vehicle permits for the Tall Trees Access Road are free and available at all Redwood National and State Park (RNSP) Visitor Centers, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors should plan at least four hours to drive to the Tall Trees trailhead and complete the five mile round trip walk. The Tall Trees Access Road is a six-mile improved gravel road. Trailers and motor homes are not permitted due to the narrow road width and low-hanging vegetation. The road is passable for most regular passenger vehicles; high-clearance vehicles are not required. Due to recent rains, drivers should expect to encounter some slippery spots, a few small potholes and rutted sections. The park plans for additional improvements to the road as weather permits which may result in occasional weekday closures when heavy equipment is operating. The Tall Trees Trail is a five-mile round trip walk, descending 800 feet in elevation over two miles into the world-famous Tall Trees Grove. The grove was named after the world's tallest tree was measured at 368 feet during a 1963 National Geographic Expedition. The Tall Trees Grove and the surrounding old-growth redwood forest became the impetus for the creation of Redwood National Park in 1968. While that one tree is no longer the world's tallest, the Tall Trees Grove remains an outstanding day hike into the tallest forest on the planet. Redwood Creek, which during the summer and fall is accessible via Tall Trees Trail for backcountry camping, currently is running too high and too fast for safe crossing. Visitors interested in backcountry camping along Redwood Creek or other backcountry sites within RNSP may visit any park visitor center for current creek conditions and required camping permits. Redwood National & State Parks offer more than 100 miles of hiking trails, most of which travel through spectacular stands of old-growth redwood forest. Lady Bird Johnson Grove, the Berry Glen Trail, and Trillium Falls Trail, all located near Orick, make for outstanding alternatives to the Tall Trees Grove, with trees that rival those of their more famous cousins on Redwood Creek. In addition, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, just north of Orick, California, holds more than 50 miles of roads and trails almost entirely within old-growth forest. Parks in the News Add comment

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Internacional (Español)International (English)International (Deutsch)International (Français)ArgentinaBelgique (Français)België (Nederlands)BrasilCanada (English)Canada (Français)DanmarkDeutschlandFranceIndiaItaliaIrelandMéxicoNederlandNorgeÖsterreichРоссияPolskaPortugalSchweiz (Deutsch)Suisse (Français)SuomiSverigeUnited KingdomUnited StatesGCC (English)مجلس التعاون الخليجي (عربي)中国日本한국 Sharing with friends Oviedo Oviedo Cathedral Rua de Cimadevilla street Autonomous region: Asturias Province/Island: Asturias The former Ovetum has been closely linked to the Asturian monarchy since its foundation (8th century), and even became the capital of the Kingdom. This fact has left an unquestionable medieval flavour in the historic quarter, which in modern times has been given a carefully-considered urban layout which is easy to move around. An exceptional starting point to approach examples of pre-Romanesque art with World Heritage status, the coastline of the Costa Verde, incredible natural landscapes for all kinds of sports and, of course, a first-class gastronomic culture. A pedestrian historic quarter makes strolling in Oviedo a pleasure, from the University to the Cathedral, and from the palace of the Marquis of San Félix to the Camposagrado. A walk littered with statues which appear on the pavements on sites of historic importance. To take a rest, there are a great many squares and small squares filled with chigres (cider bars). The tower of Oviedo's Cathedral marks the starting point of any tour of the provincial capital. Built in the flamboyant Gothic style, its tower, rose window and entrance portico guard the greatest symbols of Asturias. The chapel of San Miguel, or Cámara Santa, houses the Holy Chest, the Cross of los Ángeles and the Cross of la Victoria, relics also visited by the pilgrims heading for the holy city of Santiago de Compostela. These symbols appear on the coats of arms of both Oviedo and the Principality of Asturias. In the cathedral area we can see examples of some of the most significant buildings in Oviedo: the church of San Tirso, the Fine Arts Museum or the Archaeological Museum, these latter two housed in the former Velarde Palace and the convent of San Vicente. Given the impossibility of preserving a great many architectural features and sculptures in the pre-Romanesque style (8th- 10th centuries) in their places of origin, in buildings scattered among the valleys, mountains and small villages, pieces from these churches can be found in the Archaeological Museum. In this way, we can cover the entire history of art in Asturias from the Bronze Age, as well as seeing prehistoric, Roman, Visigothic and Romanesque collections. The innovative pre-Romanesque style of Asturias, a precursor to the Romanesque and Gothic styles, is a heritage unique to these lands. Oviedo itself provides the opportunity to take in some of the most significant buildings, such as Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo and San Julián de los Prados, all of them National Monuments. These temples and palaces, along with Santa Cristina de Lena, la Cámara Santa and la Foncalada (a medieval fountain) have been given World Heritage status by UNESCO. The city of Oviedo is made up of interesting squares which help us to get around the city. The Cathedral square leads us to the square of Alfonso II the Chaste, which gathers together the palaces of Valdecarzana and la Rúa. In Cimadevilla, the oldest part of the historic quarter, we will find the unusual plaza de Trascorrales, which houses the former exchange, and Constitution Square. The 18th-century City Hall building and the church of San Isidoro stand here. And next door, the arcaded Fontán Square, a name also given to the old iron and glass market. The coloured houses which stand on this square also give on to the lively square of Daoíz y Velarde. A great many porches open out onto this area serving natural cider. The University of Oviedo can be considered the last building in the historic quarter before arriving at the New Districts. Its plateresque façade, from the 16th century, gives way to a cloister which hosts any number of cultural events throughout the year. The nearby façades of the palaces of Toreno and Camposagrado are worth a visit. Starting from this point is the Oviedo of the late 19th century, around the plaza de la Escandalera and the Campo de San Francisco park. Gathered here are the Regional Palace, headquarters of the Principality's governing body, the Caja de Asturias building and the old Banco Herrero. All of them built in a “frenchified” style. Also close by you will find the Campoamor Theatre, where each year the Príncipe de Asturias awards ceremony is held. The Modern Arts Centre is also to be found here. Continuing along calle Uría takes you to Oviedo's main shopping area. Taking one of the side streets, Gil de Jaz, leads you to the old Provincial Hospice (18th century), today the site of the luxurious Hotel Reconquista. At any point on a tour of Oviedo we can sample the region's gastronomy. Our tasting must include Cabrales, Vidiago or Gamonedo cheeses, Asturian fabes (haricot beans), pixin (monkfish), seafood or "carne gobernada" (stewed meat). For dessert the choice is enormous: rice pudding, frixuelos (a kind of crêpe), almond cake... Oviedo, located in the centre of Asturias, provides easy access to the entire province via a variety of routes. Eastern Asturias boasts fishing villages such as Lastres and summer resorts with a strong historic flavour such as Ribadesella and Llanes, on the so-called Costa Verde (Green Coast). Almost in Cantabria, Colombres preserves the legacy of the Spaniards made good in America. The intricate orography of the eastern interior gives us treasures such as the Picos de Europa National Park and Cangas de Onís, a place closely linked to the history of Asturias. Not forgetting emblematic Gijón, whose Parador de Turismo is housed in an old mill, Villaviciosa, or to the south of the province, the Redes Nature Reserve. The Western coast, until the the border with Galicia, offers us seafaring villages such as Candás and Luanco, beautiful beaches such as Salinas and towns spread between the sea and the mountains, such as Cudillero. All are ideal places to try the seafood from the Cantabrian. Lighthouses and cliffs form the profile of the coastline in Luarca, Navia and Tapia de Casariego, between kilometres of beaches. The western interior will take us to fascinating historic quarters like those of Grado or Salas, prehistoric caves such as Peña de Candamo, or landscapes where popular architecture merges with the natural surroundings, as in the area of los Oscos. The Somiedo Nature Reserve and the Muniellos Biological Reserve are testimony to the natural and environmental wealth of Asturias. And all of them are ideal for doing environment-friendly sports. Routes where we can see hórreos (square raised granaries made of wood and standing on smooth stone legs with a tiled roof to keep food dry) or Nabob architecture (exotic mansions built by Asturias natives made good in the Americas) are just some of the many options. A branch of the Piligrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela, the so-called Northern Road, runs along the entire coast of Asturias, from Colombres to Tapia de Casariego. While Oviedo is also linked to León and Lugo. A tour which brings us closer to the culture of Asturias and its influence on the Piligrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela through its churches and pilgrims' hospitals. The Cider Route, focusing on the region's emblematic drink, covers an area in which apple trees flood the landscape, where we can visit factories, lagares (the presses for extracting the juice from the apples) and the Nava Cider Museum. Those interested in the mining industry of Asturias can tour the Nalón and Caudal vallies for a closer look at the unusual industrial landscapes. The Mining Museum is in El Entrego, where the visitor can see the reconstruction of a mine. Mieres also has also been marked by mining. Nearby are the Sanctuary of the Mártires de Valdecuna and, in Pola de Lena, the pre-Romanesque church of Santa Cristina, a gem of Asturian art. See all the information on the destination at: http://www.turismoviedo.es/ Must see views in: Oviedo San Julián de los Prados Church Church of San Esteban de Sograndio Church of San Juan de Priorio San Miguel de Lillo Church Camposagrado Palace Asturias Museum of Fine Arts Santa María del Naranco Church NORTHERN SPAIN WITH INTERRAIL Immerse yourself in authentic northern Spanish culture ...(+See more) Bilbao,Santiago de ... The Primitive or Original Way from Oviedo to Santiago The Original Route or Camino Primitivo was the first ...(+See more) Santiago de ... OviedoMax.17ºMin.6ºSee forecast: Oviedo>The weather in Spain> >America Day in Asturias. Oviedo. 19-Sep-2017 >Príncipe de Asturias Prizes. Oviedo. Nearby destinations >Pola de Lena >Gijón >Avilés Your journey begins in Asturias. Europe's "Jurassic Park". The Laboral, a centre for art, culture and business. View all Apps and downloads DegustaOviedo Degusta Oviedo

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*E-mail address:*Password: remind the Password Find the place > Vilnius county > Vilnius district municipality > Vilnius city Vilnius. Catholic church of St. Theresa (of the Carmelites) Vilnius - travel guide - photos and attractions History of VilniusVilnius is the largest city and the capital of Lithuania, with a population of 555,613 as of 2008. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County.Vilnius is known by many derivate spelling in different languages throughout its history. Most notable non-Lithuanian names for the city include: Polish: Wilno, Belarusian: Вільня (Vilnia), Slovene: Vilna, German: Wilna, Latin: Vilna, Latvian: Viļņa, Russian: Вильнюс, Yiddish: ווילנע (Vilne). An older Russian name is Вильна / Вильно (Vilna/Vilno), although Vilnius is now used. The names Wilno and Vilna have also been used in older English and French language publications. The name Vilna is still used in Finnish and Hebrew languages.Vilnius is situated in southeastern Lithuania (54В°41 N 25В°17 E) at the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris Rivers. It is believed that Vilnius, like many other cities, was named after a crossing river, Vilnia. Lying close to Vilnius is a site some claim to be the Geographical Centre of Europe.Vilnius is a cosmopolitan city with diverse architecture. There are more than 40 churches in Vilnius. Restaurants, hotels and museums have sprouted since Lithuania declared independence. Like most medieval towns, Vilnius was developed around its Town Hall. The main artery, Pilies (Castle) Street, links the royal palace and the Town Hall. Other streets meander through the palaces of feudal lords and landlords, churches, shops and craftsmen's workrooms. Narrow, curved streets and intimate courtyards developed in the radial layout of medieval Vilnia.The Old Town, the historical centre of Vilnius, is one of the largest in Europe. The buildings in the old town were built over several centuries, creating a splendid blend of many different architectural styles. Although Vilnius is known as a Baroque city, there are examples of Gothic, Renaissance, and other styles. The main sights of the city are High Castle and Cathedral Square, symbols of the capital. Their combination is also a gateway to the historic centre of the capital. Owing to its uniqueness, the Old Town of Vilnius was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.The Vilnius (onwards - Vilnia, Vilna or Wilno as it was called in different periods) was first mentioned in written sources in 1323, in letters of Grand Duke Giedymin (lit. Gediminas) that were sent to German cities and invited Germans and members of the Jewish community to settle in the capital city. In 1387, the city was granted city rights by Jagiello (Jagaila, Jogaila), one of Giedymin' successors.Between 1503 and 1522 the walls were built to protect the city, and at the time it had nine city gates and three towers. Vilnia reached the peak of its development under the reign of Sigismund August, who moved his court there in 1544. In the following centuries, it became a constantly growing and developing city. This growth was due in part to the establishment of the university by the King Stephen Bathory in 1579.During its rapid development, the Vilnia was open to migrants from both abroad and far reaches of territories of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Each group made its unique contribution to the life of the city, and crafts, trade and science prospered. During the Moscow-Polish War (1654–1667), Wilno was occupied by Moscow for several years. The city was pillaged and burned, and its population was massacred.After the Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 15 April 1795, Wilno was annexed by Russian Empire. Following the November Uprising in 1831, University was closed and Russian repressions halted the further development of the city. During the January Uprising in 1863 heavy fighting occurred within the city, but was brutally pacified. After the uprising, all civil liberties were withdrawn, and use of the Polish, Belarusian and Lithuanian languages was banned. in early 20th century Lithuanian speaking population constituted only a small minority then, with Polish, Yiddish, and Belarusian speakers being most of the population of the city.During World War I, Wilno was occupied by the German Empire from 1915 until 1918. The Act of Independence of Lithuania, that restored Lithuanian independence from any affiliation to any other nation was proclaimed in the city on February 16, 1918. On October 9, 1920 the so-called Polish-Belarusian Army under General Lucjan Żeligowski seized Wilno. The city and its surroundings were proclaimed as the separate state of Central Litva, that include a parts of territory of contemporary Lithuania and Belarus. On February 20, 1922 after an elections, the whole area was attached to Poland, with the city as the capital of the Wilno Voivodship.In the meantime, for yet another time in its history, the city enjoyed a period of fast development. Wilno University was reopened under the name Stefan Batory University and the city's infrastructure was improved significantly. By 1931, the city had 195,000 inhabitants.Following the secret protocol of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, on September 19, 1939, Wilno was seized and annexed by the Soviet Union. There were plans to include the city and the region as a part of the Belarusian Soviet Republic (most of inhabitants of the villages around the Wilno were Belarusians), but eventually it was decided that the city might be used as a way to exert significant influence on Lithuania. On October 10, 1939, after a Soviet ultimatum, the Lithuanian government accepted the presence of Soviet military bases in various parts of the country in exchange for restoring the Vilnius to Lithuania. Though the process of transferring the capital from Kaunas to Vilnius was encouraged by Soviet emissaries initiated soon after, and the whole of Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union in June 1940. An illegitimate Soviet government was installed, with Vilnius as the capital of the newly created Lithuanian Soviet Republic. Up to 40,000 of the city's inhabitants were arrested by the NKVD and sent to gulags in the far eastern areas of the Soviet Union.In June 1941, the city was occupied by Germany. Two ghettos were set up in the old town center for the large Jewish population. During the Holocaust about 95% of the 265,000-strong Jewish population of Lithuania was murdered. In July 1944 Vilnius was taken from the Germans by the Soviet Army and the Polish Armia Krajowa. Vilnius was again incorporated into the Soviet Union as the capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic shortly thereafter. The majority of the remaining Polish population was compelled to relocate to the Poland in 1946, and the city was inhabited by Lithuanians and Russians.On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic announced its independence from the Soviet Union and restored the independent Republic of Lithuania. The Soviets responded on January 9, 1991, by sending in troops. On January 13 during the Soviet Army attack at least fourteen civilians were killed and more than 700 were seriously injured. The Soviet Union finally recognized Lithuanian independence in August 1991.Vilnius has been rapidly transformed and the town has emerged as a modern European city. Many of its older buildings have been renovated, and a business and commercial area is being developed into the New City Center, expected to become the city's main administrative and business district on the north side of the Neris river.Vilnius is the Roman Catholic center of the Lithuania, with the main church institutions and Archdiocesan Cathedral located here. Additionally, Eastern Rite Catholicism has maintained a presence in Vilnius since the Union of Brest. Also, Vilnius has been home to an Eastern Orthodox Christian presence since the 13th or even the 12th century. Many Old Believers, who split from the Russian Orthodox Church in 1667, settled in Lithuania. A number of Protestant and other Christian groups are represented in Vilnius, most notably the Lutheran Evangelicals and the Baptists.Once widely known as Yerushalayim De Lita (the "Jerusalem of Lithuania"), Vilna since the 18th century was comparable only to Jerusalem, Israel, as a world center for the study of the Torah, and for its large Jewish population. That is why one part of Vilnius was named Jeruzalė. At the end of the 19th century, the number of synagogues in Vilna exceeded one hundred. A major scholar of Judaism and Kabbalah centered in Vilna was the famous Rabbi Eliyahu Kremer, also known as the Vilna Gaon. His students have significant influence among Orthodox Jews in Israel and around the globe. Jewish life in Vilna was destroyed during the Holocaust; there is a memorial stone dedicated to victims of Nazi genocide located in the center of the former Jewish Ghetto — now Mėsinių Street.According to:Vilnius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VilniusVilnius. : Places of interest | selected photos Gate of Dawn Interior of Vostraja Brama chapel. Drawing from the middle of XIX century Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity and the monastery of Basilians (Uniate) The monastery of Basilians in Vilnius cemetery Rasos Catholic church of the Holy Spirit and the Dominican Monastery View at the church from North-East Catholic church of St. John the Baptist and St. Jonh the Apostle and Evangelist Main facade, belfry and the gate of the University Catholic church of St. Peter and St. Paul Higher Castle Vilnius University The Piotr Skarga (or Great) courtyard with the entry into University, fragment Catholic church of St. Casimir and the Monastery of Jesuits St. Casimir church in Vilnius Hill of Three Crosses Catholic church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Monastery of Franciscan Main facade of the church and fragment of the monastery Catholic church of St. Theresa (of the Carmelites) Church of St. Theresa and the Chapel of the Vastrabramskaja Mother of Mercy Vilnius. : Lost heritage | Photo Vilnius. Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1913-1916, 1920-x) Photo © Анатолий, http://vilnius.fastbb.ru Vilnius. Synagogue Great (1572 (1), 1630-1633 (2)) Vilnius. Catholic church of St. Joseph (1638) Church of St. Josef the Betrothed. Photo by Józef Czechowicz Jack Paradowski cemetery St. Perer and St. Paul (Sunny) Eugienia Maciejewska nauczycielka i poetka?... Zita Karklelytė Catholic church of Our Lord Jesus and the Trinitarian monastery Dzien dobry!Bardzo wazna jesti mi informacja, co bylo w samym kosciele Pana Jezuza przy klasztoze Trynitarzy w 1918-1933 roku. Wiadomo, ze w klasztorze byl szpital. A w koscielie?Serdecznie dziękoje!Zita Karklelytė, Vilnius... Anna Braams cemetery Bernardine Dzień dobry,Mój pradziadek, Władysław Oskierko herbu Murdelio, został pochowany na cmentarzu pobernardynskim dnia 25.03.1928 roku. Zastanawiam się czy istnieje jeszcze jego grób, a jeśli nie, to czy są jakieś dane archiwalne z tego okresu.... К. Шастоўскі Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity and the monastery of Basilians (Uniate) W prawej nawie - nagrobek burmistrza Wilna Atanazego Bragi z 1576 r.... К. Шастоўскі Orthodox church of St. Michael the Archangel К сожалению, у нас нет такой информации. Уточните на сайте Виленской и Литовской епархии - http://www.orthodoxy.lt/ ... The first written mention: 25.01.1323 Spelling variations:Вільня Вильнюс Wilno Vilnius Вільно Вильно Вильна Vilnia Vilnya Vilno Vil'no Vil'nyus Vilna Vilnyus Wilna Coordinates:54° 41'21.80"N, 25° 16'48.09"E What to see: Gate of Dawn Catholic church Cathedral Orthodox church of the Holy Spirit and the monastery Orthodox church of the Assumption cemetery Bernardine Catholic church of StSt. Francis and Bernardine and Monastery of Bernardine Catholic church of St. Anne cemetery Antokol Catholic church of St. Nicholas Catholic church of St. Bartholomew Catholic church of All Saints and monastery of Carmelites Catholic church of St. Catherine and the Convent of Benedictine Catholic church of St. Raphael and the Monastery of Jesuits Catholic church of Our Lord Jesus and the Trinitarian monastery Catholic church of the Holy Cross and the Monastery of Bonifratri Estate Royal cemetery Lipoŭka (St. Euphrosyne) Catholic church of St. Jacob and St. Philip and the Monastery of Dominican Town hall .. Catholic church of the Holy Trinity Estate of Sapieha Neighbourhood Old Town Catholic church of St. Michael the Archangel and the Bernardine Convent Catholic church of the Assumption and the Missionary monastery Catholic church of the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox church of St. Michael and St. Constantine Orthodox church of St. Nicholas Estate of Radziwiłł Estate of Chodkiewicz Estate of Tyszkiewicz Estate of President Orthodox church of St. Paraskieva Synagogue Choral cemetery Evangelical cemetery St. Perer and St. Paul (Sunny) Estate of Słuška Catholic church of St. George the Martyr and the Monastery of Carmelite Catholic church of St. Ignatius and the Jesuits Monastery Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Convent of the Visitants Orthodox church of St. Euphrosyne of Połack Catholic church of St. Stephen cemetery Jewish Estate of Łopacinski / Sulistrowski Orthodox church of the Apparition of the Holy Mother of God Evangelical Reformed Church Catholic church of Blessed Mary the Comforter and the Augustine Monastery Neighbourhood Užupis Chapel of St. Jacek Estate of Tuskulanum (Tuskulėnai) Estate of Raduškievič Estate of Pac Landscapes . Estate of Abramowicz Estate of De Reuss Orthodox church of St. Michael the Archangel Estate of Brzostowski Pre-Christian Vilnius Estate of Zawisza Neighbourhood Antakalnis Neighbourhood Lukiškės Neighbourhood Šnipiškės Kenessa Estate of Harecki Orthodox church of St. Aliaksandar Neuski Estate of Łopacinski Estate of Vileisis Orthodox church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin Neighbourhood Žvėrynas Orthodox church of Saint Nicholas (at Lukiškės) Estate of Tyzenhaus Estate of Umiastoŭski Soldierly (WWI) Cemetery .. Orthodox church of St. Uladzimir Orthodox church of St. Catherine Orthodox church .. Museum Arsenal Chapel of Repnin Catholic church of the Divine Providence Museum Jewish Estate .. Lost heritage Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Synagogue Great Catholic church of St. Joseph Find your roots in Belarus and LithuaniaAdministrative details of Poland before 1939, list of parishes, search for surnames and localities © Radzima.org, 2002-2017

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Car Hire in Dublin Airport Terminals 1 & 2 Car Hire in Dublin Airport Terminals 1 & 2 Dublin Airport, Dublin. Tel: +353 1 6057500 24-hour drop-off 05:00 - 23:30 Find your perfect car hire at Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 Settled at the mouth of the River Liffey, Ireland’s vibrant capital has much to offer every visitor. When you arrive at Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2, pick up your Avis car rental and head out to explore this charismatic city and beyond. At Terminal 1 We'll be waiting for you in arrivals. At Terminal 2 We'll meet you at the multi-storey car park. Plan your journey from Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 Ireland’s capital city is just a 25-minute drive from Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 via the M50. There are many attractions to enjoy in this cultured city, including outstanding Georgian buildings, numerous museums, galleries and a vibrant nightlife. St Patrick’s Cathedral is a good spot to start your city tour. Founded in 1191, this medieval sight is the largest cathedral in Ireland. Other famous landmarks include Trinity College Dublin, home to the Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript dating back to 800 AD. If you’re an art lover make sure you visit the National Gallery of Ireland, which boasts extensive collections by Irish and international artists. Highlights include works by Monet, Vermeer and Picasso. The National Museum of Ireland, located on Kildare Street, is another must-see with its collection of Medieval and Celtic art. It houses the famous Ardagh Chalice, which dates back to the 8th century AD. There are also plenty of options for outdoor sightseeing. The Botanic Gardens (located on the south bank of the Tolka river) are definitely worth visiting. An arboretum, rock garden and sensory garden are among its many features. Dublin and Ireland’s charming east coast are waiting to be discovered from the comfort of your Avis hire car. Beyond Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 The province of Leinster, situated on Ireland’s east coast, is a beautiful part of the country offering visitors incredible countryside, historic castles and a treasure trove of ancient monuments – including the Royal Seat on the Hill of Tara. As well as being home to Ireland’s buzzing capital, there are a host of other attractions to enjoy on your road trip around this intriguing part of the ‘Emerald Isle’. County Kildare If you’re looking for a traditional Irish market town, head off from Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 and drive (via the N7) for around 55-minutes to reach County Kildare. Visit the old market hall in central square (now a tourist information centre) to plan your day. Highlights include St Brigid’s Cathedral and Ballindoolin House and Gardens. Howth Drive for 30 minutes from Dublin Airport Terminal 1-2 via the R105 through Sutton and you’ll arrive in the pretty village of Howth. Located on a peninsula to the northeast of Dublin, this delightful village and harbour provides a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. Here you’ll find a fine choice of restaurants, many specialising in fresh seafood dishes. Other attractions include Howth Castle and the National Transport Museum. County Wicklow Just under a two-hour drive from the airport, County Wicklow is a prime daytrip destination. This lush county is blessed with some of the best scenery in Ireland, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Take your pick from a number of coastal, mountain walking and hiking trails, all waiting to be trodden. Hiring an Avis car makes it easy to explore all that Dublin and Ireland’s east coast has to offer. En route you’ll see incredible landscapes and stunning scenery, guaranteeing an unforgettable journey. Avis Home Dublin Airport Terminal 1 2

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• Kenya • The Gambia • Egypt • Thailand • India • India 2 • Sri Lanka • Malaysia • Vietnam • Americas • Cuba • Brazil • Greece • Cyprus • Spain • Photo Album • Travel Album • Baby Album Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 7:54pm Thailand lies in Southeast Asia, with Laos and Cambodia to its east, the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia to its south, and the Andaman Sea and Myanmar to its west. Introduction to THAILAND Date travelled: 26th January to 17th February 1998 Tour Operator: Kuoni The Grand Palace in Bangkok, known as Wat Pho, should be the first place on any visitor's itinerary. Patterned after the ancient city of Ayutthaya, it is a huge compound surrounded by high white walls and occupying an area of about 260 hectares (2.6sq km). The palace consists of several buildings with highly decorated architectural details. The Royal Chapel, Wat Phra Kaeo, which is in the same compound, houses the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. Photography is forbidden inside the building housing the Emerald Buddha. Ayutthaya The ancient city of Ayutthaya (full name Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya), the Thai capital for 417 years, is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions. The 16th-18th century temple ruins at Ayutthaya in Bangkok date from 1350. Several kings of various Siamese dynasties reigned here until the city was conquered by the Burmese in 1767. Ayutthaya was named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana and the ruins of the old city now form the Ayutthaya historical park, which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Patpong Bangkok is a shopper's paradise and just about anything can be bought here if you know where to look. The night market at Patpong is the place to be. This maze of small stalls crammed into a few blocks in the southern end of the city is a bargain hunters dream. Be warned. Patpong is also known for its 'adult entertainment' and is not for the prudish. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep This temple is Chiang Mai's most important and visible landmark, and overlooks the city from its forested mountain backdrop. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is 3,520 feet above sea level, and dates from 1383. The temple is approached on foot by climbing a steep Naga staircase comprising 290 steps. The less energetic may ascend by funicular railcars. The temple's golden pagoda contains holy Buddha relics, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world throughout the year. Wat Traimit has a wonderful solid gold seated Buddha nearly 5 metres high and weighing five and a half tons. Situated at the top of a hill, with some 300-odd steps to climb to reach the temple. On a clear day the panoramic views of the city from the temple ground are truly spectacular! Mae Taem Elephant Camp 40 miles north of Chiang Mai brings you to the town of Mae Taem and one of Chiang Mai's most famous attractions, the Elephant Training Centre. Inside a vast forested area, bisected by a river, mahouts teach elephants to drag logs, to respond to commands and to work the jungle. Until a logging ban was introduced in 1989, many of these elephants were used to drag timber down to the river, whence the logs would be floated down to saw mills further down stream. These days, the centre caters specifically to tourists, but still remains one of the great highlights of any trip to Chiang Mai. You can also see anything up to 30 elephants being washed and soaped down in the river. Great place for elephant trekking. Travel Advice for Thailand WEATHER The best overall time for visiting Thailand is between November and February. The south is best from March to May. The north is best from mid-November to early December PASSPORT A passport valid for at least six months after return is required for entry VISA Visa not required except for stays of over 30 days for UK citizens MONEY Major international credit cards are accepted by banks, restaurants, hotels & shops Currency is the Thai Baht (B/THB) ELECTRICITY Electricity is 220v AC with sockets for 2-pin plugs TIME ZONE Time difference is +5½ hours GMT FLIGHT Flight time approx.11 hours WATER It is highly recommended that bottled water should be used DISEASE Recommended vaccinations - Hepatitis, Meningitis, Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, TB (children only). Anti-malaria drugs for rural areas LINKS Embassy - Tel: Bangkok 0839 300 800 or link to Thai Embassy ** Information on the travel pages was correct at the time of publishing. Passport & Visa information applies to UK citizens. homepage | contact | Site Established 2002 • Copyright � 2017 Denise Mitchinson

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var varux = 'english_culture'; Culture » Guatemala » Society » Customs in Guatemala » Guatemala Weather and Climate About Argentina About Bolivia About Chile About Colombia About Costa Rica About Dominican Rep. About Guatemala About Mexico Tourism & Travel Guides don Quixote Museum Guatemala is often called the Land of Eternal Spring due to its sub-tropical and tropical climate. Find out more about the Guatemala weather. Read the Spanish version Guatemala is often called the “Land of Eternal Spring” due to its sub-tropical and tropical climate. Guatemala's humid tropical climate is commonly known to be wonderful for traveling during most of the year round. However, during certain times of the year the weather in Guatemala can be affected by tropical storms, humidity and rain. Guatemala's weather and climate is affected by its geography. There are two major mountain chains in Guatemala which essentially divide the country into three major geographical regions: the highlands (mountainous areas), the Pacific Coast region located to the south of the mountains, and the Petén tropical region to the north of the mountains. These three regions in Guatemala vary in climate and weather due to the difference in elevation and altitude which causes sharp contrasts between the hot and humid lowland areas and the colder and drier mountainous regions. In addition the major geographical regions in Guatemala, there are three recognized climate zones based on altitude: the temperate zone, the tropical zone and the cool zone. In addition to altitude there are also two main seasons: the dry (summer) and wet seasons (winter). Altitude and season are the two most important weather factors to consider when traveling to Guatemala. Guatemala Highlands - Temperate Climate Zone Most of the population of Guatemala is located in the hilly valley highlands where the climate is subtropical all year round with considerable cooling occurring at night. The highlands are located in the temperate zone of Guatemala and generally range from 3,300 ft (1,000m) to 6,600ft (2,000m) above sea level. Daytime temperatures do not often exceed 85°F (30°C) and nights are often cool. Some of the Guatemala's most popular tourist destinations are located in the highlands including Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan, Coban and Semuc Champey. Guatemala Pacific Coast Region - Tropical Climate Zone The weather in the Pacific Coast region of Guatemala is part of the tropical climate zone. These lowland areas generally encompass altitudes from sea level up to 3,300 ft (1,000 m). Guatemala lowlands are tropic, hot and humid with daytime temperatures reaching 100° F (40° C) and nights rarely dropping below 70°F (20°C). Popular destinations on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala include Monterrico, Puerto San Jose, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal and Retalhuleu. Peten Plains and Jungle - Tropical Climate Zone The Peten plains and jungle lowlands of Guatemala are known for their humid tropical climate. The Peten region is located in northern Guatemala and is also part of the tropical climate zone. The largest cities are Flores and Tikal, although the jungle region is otherwise sparsely populated. The annual rainfall in the lush jungles of the Peten region can reach 59 inches (1500 mm) and the temperature is often above 85°F (30°C) and never below 77°F (25°C). Tourists visiting the many ruins and pyramids in these Guatemalan jungles should prepare for the extreme heat and humidity and avoid the rainy season from May to October. High Mountainous Areas - Cool Climate Zone In addition to the tropical climate zone and the temperate zone of Guatemala, there is also a cool zone located at altitudes above 6,600 ft (2,000) in mountainous regions and peaks. Daytime temperatures are known to be cooler than in the temperate zone and the nights can sometimes drop below freezing and frost or snow. The only major Guatemalan city in the cool zone is Quetzaltenango, located in the northwestern highlands. Guatemala Dry and Wet Seasons The tropic temperature and climate of Guatemala are fairly uniform throughout the year. The exception to this is the amount of precipitation, which essentially defines the seasons. The two periods to keep in mind about the weather in Guatemala are: the dry season (summer) and the wet season (winter). In the winter months of mid-May to October or November, the climate in Guatemala is generally very rainy. The rainy season usually brings periodical tropical showers in the late afternoons. From November through April are the dry summer weather months in Guatemala. Strangely, the clear skies and nice weather in Guatemala during the summer are actually cooler than the rest of the year. The cooler drier weather in Guatemala during the summer season makes it the best time of the year for tourism. The coolest temperatures occur in December and January, which are generally considered the best months to visit Guatemala, although it can occasionally frost or snow at high altitudes. The weather in Guatemala is hottest during the months of transition between seasons, normally from April to May, before the winter rains arrive. + Views La Tomatina, Buñol (Valencia) Fun Facts about Spain Spanish Eating Customs The Spanish Civil War Spanish Flag Facts about Spain Día de la Raza - Hispanic Day La diada de Sant Jordi, Barcelona Guatemalan Independence Day The Garifuna Guatemala independece

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貴方がここにいます: HomeExperience FlorenceChianti & Tuscany Chiesa di Orsanmichele The relationship between art, religion and commerce hardly gets closer than in the church of Orsanmichele. Upon a site that had, since the VIII century, hosted the Oratory of San Michele in Orto, in 1290 Arnolfo di Cambio built a loggia to serve as the grain market. It burned in 1304. In 1337 Francesco Talenti, Neri di Fioravante and Benci di Cione began the present structure, which was supposed to be a larger grain market. In 1380 the two upper floors were added to store grain for emergencies, and Simone Talenti closed the arcades of the ground floor to transform it into a church. The building is square in plan, and there are still, on the ground floor, the 13th century arches that formed the loggia. On the exterior of the chapel marble tabernacles were built to host statues of the patron saints of the Guilds, who commissioned the greatest artists of the period. Thus we find Verrocchio's Saint John the Baptist and Doubting Thomas, Giambologna's Saint Luke, Donatello's bas-relief of Saint George freeing the King's Daughter, and a Madonna with Child by Luca della Robbia. Inside, to the right, is the tabernacle Andrea Orcagna's painstakingly built and decorated between 1355 and 1359. Via dei Calzaioli (055 284944). Open 9am-noon, 4-6pm, daily from Nov 2005. Admission: free. Add to wishlist Travellers' Choice Expensive & Luxury Hotels Mid Range Hotels

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Doubletree by Hilton New Orleans TripAdvisor Traveller Rating: Based on travellers 1613 reviews Doubletree by Hilton New Orleans 300 Canal Street New Orleans 70130 USA The hotel is located close to all that is happening in downtown New Orleans. With dozens of local attractions and hundreds of shopping venues only minutes away, it is the ideal choice when visiting this great city. It is less than 1 km away from Bourbon Street and Audubon Insectarium and Aquarium of the Americas, and a stone's throw away from Harrah's Casino. The hotel on Canal Street offers full service at a premier downtown New Orleans location overlooking the Mississippi River and t The air-conditioned hotel comprises a total of 367 rooms. At the accommodation, guests are welcomed at the reception area with 24-hour reception and a 24-hour check-in/check-out service. Most storeys are accessible by lift. Amenities include a safe. Among the culinary options available at the establishment are a restaurant, a café and a bar. Shopping facilities are also available. Additional facilities at the hotel include a newspaper stand. Those arriving in their own vehicles can leave them in the car park of the accommodation for a fee. Available services and facilities include room service and a laundry service. Lectures, presentations or meetings can be held in one of the 8 conference rooms. Each of the rooms is appointed with air conditioning, central heating, a kitchen and a bathroom. The carpeted rooms feature a double bed or a king-size bed. A fridge and a tea/coffee station ensure a comfortable stay. An ironing set is also available for travellers' convenience. Internet access, a telephone, a TV, a radio and WiFi add to the comfort of the holiday. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are also bookable. The bathrooms are fitted with a shower and a bathtub. A hairdryer is also available. In the bathrooms, cosmetic products ensure additional comfort. Bathrooms with wheelchair access can also be booked. The establishment offers non-smoking rooms. The hotel offers attractions including sport and entertainment opportunities. The accommodation features a pool and an outdoor pool. Sun loungers and parasols are ideal for relaxation. The establishment offers a gym (for a fee) to guests. Travellers can choose options including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Gift/Sundry Shop Parking (Fee) Doubletree by Hilton New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana300 Canal Street

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Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Provides Comprehensive Report To the Public By Kurt Repanshek on June 22nd, 2010 How's your national park being managed? It's a good question, one that at times can be hard to find answers to. At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, though, managers have distributed a 20-page publication for those interested in what was accomplished during 2009 and what continuing issues are being confronted. While the full-color report can't go into too much depth on every issue, it does provide an overview of some of the projects the lakeshore's staff has been working on. For instance: * More than 600 acres of the Great Marsh, which once stretched from Michigan City to the Illinois border, is in varying stages of restoration. "Wildlife, including beavers and a variety of birds, has returned to the area, creating a watchable wildlife site for visitors. In 2009, invasive plants like reed canary grass, hybrid cattail, common reed and purple loosestrife were removed and 3400 native plants representing 14 species were planted." * In 2009 the National Park Service embarked on a multi-year plan to restore the Cowles Bog Wetland Complex. This year white cedar saplings are being planted in the complex, which some regard as the "birthplace of American ecology," with the help of The Nature Conservancy. * Lakeshore staff have worked to return native plants to beach habitats and in 2009 completed "restoration work on 20 acres of Mnoke Prairie, transplanting over 5,100 native plant plugs from the park greenhouse." * Indiana Dunes was the focus of a 24-hour BioBlitz that identified more than 1,200 species, including several not previously known to inhabit the lakeshore. More than 5,000 "citizen scientists," including 2,000 who were school students, turned out for the event. * The lakeshore is working on an array of historic structures projects, ranging from restoration of the Bailly Homestead, which is the only National Historic Landmark in northwestern Indiana, and developing a plan for what to do with the Good Fellow Club Youth Camp to completing work on the Century of Progress Homes and the Oscar and Irene Nelson Site. The report also has sections on visitor use and recreation (among the information here is how the lakeshore took a more proactive approach in 2009 to educate beach-goers on water safety after there were three drownings in 2008; there were no drownings in 2009); one that explains the "Park Neighbors" program instituted in 2009 to get folks who live in and around the national lakeshore to become more involved in protecting its resources; planning and management, and; 2010 projects. You can download a pdf of the report at this site. While this report is not all-encompassing nor deep in details, it's a good overview of how the lakeshore is being managed and a good document to read if you want to know what's going on there and how you can get involved. Submitted by admin on June 22, 2010 - 10:14am. Indiana Dunes is a true demonstration park. Did you know it has had more documents produced about it than any other park area by far (administrative related). I learned this fact at Boston Public Library while doing much of my NPS archival research (Boston Library ranks up there with HFC and the cumbersome Library of Congress). Constantine Dillon is the Park Superintendent there at INDU and seems to thrive in urban/rural interface management responsibilities. He previously worked at Fire Island National Seashore in Greater New York. Fire Island and Indiana Dunes are both an awesome blend of natural and cultural attractions, yet they border some of the ugliest challenges confronting the national park system. Susan Erickson on Fort Union National Monument Receives Funding For New Exhibits 15 hours 16 min ago Gene S on Bald Eagles Trying To Nest Again At Cuyahoga Valley National Park 16 hours 14 min ago All comments Recent Forum Comments

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travel advice10 places to visit while they are still cheapFebruary 20, 20141:37pmVideoImageBest beaches: Cook Islands1:58The Cook Islands, Travel Video Guide - Around Rarotonga. Courtesy: funtraveltv.comOctober 23rd 20133 years ago Riga towers in winter. Picture: ThinkstockCHRISTINE SARKIS, SMARTERTRAVELHuffington PostShareShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Google+Share on RedditEmail a friendDO YOUR travel ambitions eclipse your bank account?We’ve got just the fix: destinations around the world that offer plenty of cheap ways to stay, play, and eat.Whether you’re on the prowl for a perfect beach or a city bursting with culture, these cities and countries deliver big but cost little. Not all of them will stay cheap in the years to come, though, so if you’re inspired to go, do it soon.Philippines Bargain hunters, outdoorsy types, and the food obsessed should look to the Philippines. The country’s combination of cosmopolitan affordability and splendid nature make it a destination that offers a lot for the money. Lonely Planet recently named it one of the top value destinations for 2014, and according to CIO Wealth Management Research’s Prices and Earnings report, Manila has some of the cheapest shopping and upscale dining in the world. For example, a couple can buy a new wardrobe there for about $US410 ($456) — seven times less than what you’d pay for similar items in Tokyo. And the average cost of a three-course meal in a good restaurant is a mere $20, compared to about $106 in Geneva or Oslo (two of the cities featured in our recent story on the world’s most overpriced destinations). The best islands in the world revealed Travel mistakes you think you’re too smart to make Sunbathing visitor causes a sceneIf you’re concerned about whether a visit to the Philippines is appropriate so soon after Typhoon Haiyan, know that the country considers tourism to be an important part of its recovery. Large portions of the country — and the majority of popular vacation destinations — were undamaged. GreeceLike an ancient epic adapted for modern life, after years of strife, Greece is once again on a quest. The economic crisis that racked the country also dampened tourism — a serious blow to a destination that depends so heavily on holiday seekers. Now, Greece hopes to be the place that launches a thousand ships, aeroplanes, and trains, all carrying visitors back to its ancient ruins and famed beaches. Beguiling budget travellers with a siren song of lower prices and smaller crowds, Greece’s only real question is: Are you listening?Riga, LatviaRiga remains affordable in part because it’s still relatively undiscovered. But that may be about to change as Riga takes its place on the world stage as a 2014 European Capital of Culture. For now, though, travellers can still stay, play, and eat on the cheap. In fact, Riga scored a spot in the top 10 on both Price of Travel’s Europe 3-Star Traveler Index (with an average daily cost of about $82 for accommodations, transportation, meals, and activities) and its Europe Backpacker Index (with an average daily cost of about $33).Riga towers in winter. Picture: ThinkstockSource:ThinkStockMexico City, Mexico Once you’re in Mexico, you can enjoy luxury for a whole lot less than in other major cities. And while that makes it a slightly different style of “cheap,” it’s certainly one worth embracing, particularly if you’re focusing more on maximising value than on paying as little as possible. According to the Prices and Earnings report, Mexico City is one of the cheapest places in the world to stay in a five-star hotel: The average rate is $233 per night. Compare that to $811, the average rate at a luxury hotel in New York City, and upscale Mexico City starts to seem dazzlingly within reach.Dominican RepublicCan you afford azure waters and silky white-sand beaches? In the Dominican Republic, you can. While the Caribbean isn’t known for its affordability, the Dominican Republic remains — at least for now — a bastion of value in a sea of high prices. With service from low-cost carriers including AirTran, Frontier, and JetBlue, and air-and-hotel vacation packages from not only a slew of airlines but also discount providers like CheapCaribbean.com, the Dominican Republic seems to have an endless supply of affordable options. Prefer to head off the beaten path once you arrive?El Limon waterfall, Dominican Republic. Picture: ThinkstockSource:ThinkStockNicaraguaEvery few years, a new Central American country gets crowned “the next Costa Rica” — meaning it’s relatively safe and bursting with natural beauty, but it’s not yet expensive and overrun with tourists. This year, Nicaragua is working hard to earn the title. Volcanoes, rainforests, rivers, and Caribbean beaches lure travellers looking for off-the-beaten-path adventure on the cheap.But as the term “the next Costa Rica” implies, if Nicaragua becomes more popular in the years to come, it will likely become more expensive as well. Until then, expect to be able to spend as little as $22 per day, or live the high life for not a whole lot more. Note that many see the recent constitutional amendment that removes term limits on the presidency as a potential threat to democracy, but it seems unlikely that there will be any immediate effect on travellers.Lisbon, PortugalLisbon is as easy on the eyes as it is on the budget. Stretched across a series of hills, the city is a captivating combination of friendly locals, picturesque winding streets, and affordable pursuits. How affordable? According to the Prices and Earnings report, Lisbon’s mid-range hotels are the cheapest among the 72 cities surveyed, with an average rate of $89 per night — a whopping 50 per cent lower than the global average.Sofia, BulgariaMid-range and budget travellers rejoice: Sofia is still a bona fide affordable destination. Bulgaria’s capital has the cheapest mid-range hotels among the 72 world cities surveyed in the Prices and Earnings report: At around $89 per night, they are 50 per cent less expensive than the global average. The city also scored the number one spot on Price of Travel’s annual Europe 3-Star Traveler Index, with an average daily cost of about $54 for accommodations, transportation, meals, and activities. It’s not just Sofia, either; Lonely Planet recently recognised all of Bulgaria as a great deal.Sofia centre by night, Parliament Square. Picture: ThinkstockSource:ThinkStockBucharest, Romania Still harbouring the scars of more than two decades under the Communist rule of Nicolae Ceausescu, Bucharest’s melancholic edge is offset by its metropolitan verve. And while more and more visitors are discovering the unique appeal of the city once known as “Little Paris,” it’s still a very affordable destination and a great place to go upscale for less. In fact, its luxury accommodations have an average rate of $190 per night, making Bucharest among the cheapest cities in the world to stay at a five-star hotel.According to the Prices and Earnings report, Bucharest is the least expensive city for a weekend getaway that includes accommodations, a meal with wine, taxi and public transport, a car rental, and extras: The average cost of $411 is a mere fraction of the cost of a similar holiday in Paris, estimated at $1222.IndiaIf you can absorb the higher price of airfare to get all the way to India, you’ll be rewarded by a favourable exchange rate, inexpensive accommodations, an abundance of free attractions, and wildly affordable dining and shopping. Both Frommer’s and Lonely Planet named India a top destination for budget travel this year, and the Prices and Earnings report put Delhi and Mumbai at the forefront of the world’s most affordable major cities.This is especially true when you start looking at the prices of goods, services, and food. However, keep in mind that violence against women has become a high-profile issue, so while a trip to India can be incredibly rich and memorable, travellers should factor safety into their plans.This article originally appeared on the HuffingtonPost.Jump back to topRight now in travel74ReadersBali alternatives: Why we should all head to Lombok instead58ReadersUber founder Travis Kalanick yells at ‘bankrupt’ driver over...24ReadersNot wearing a seatbelt: Most dangerous thing you can do on a...22ReadersPakistan International Airlines: Did passengers have to stan...29ReadersSkiing in Japan: Australians getting hurt in huge numbers

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Belmont Hall, downtown district opens its doors for Christmas tours this weekend Explore "Christmas past" this weekend when the Friends of Belmont Hall host "A Civil War Christmas at Belmont Hall" this weekend. Historic homes will also be open for visitors this weekend for a Sunday afternoon home tour. With one eye on the past and one foot rooted firmly in the present, several local organizations will host a handful of Christmas-themed tours and activities this weekend.It all starts with a "Civil War Christmas at Belmont Hall." Using the historical house—it was finished in 1773 by Thomas Collins, a man found on many pages of Delaware history books due to various positions in the politics and military movements of the day—as a backdrop, the Friends of Belmont Hall will host a tour of several of the home's rooms as well as a Civil War encampment."There will be between 15 and 30 Civil War re-enactors set up outside with tents," said FBH volunteer Morgan Booker. "We were supposed to do the reenactment in October but we had all that rain, which forced us to cancel the event and move it to Christmas."In addition to the encampment, there will also be sleigh rides around the property, ornament-making activities, a conversation about "Christmas on the Home Front" by Sarah Kuntz, performances by the Field Soup Camp Band, readings of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.Visitors will also get a chance to see the home decked out in holiday trimmings, many of them reminiscent of the history of the house. Tours will take guests through five decorated rooms, showcasing three large-scale Christmas trees. One of the trees boasts a theme dedicated to the early 20th century with replicas of ornaments from the 1920's, the 1930's and the 1940's.One of the largest trees this year is a nod to the home's Victorian heritage. At eight or nine feet tall, FBH President Susan Wolfe said that they needed a ladder to decorate the top of the tree."We just started decorating it today," Wolfe said on Monday while at Belmont Hall. "I think it's going to take us about five hours to decorate because we've got hundreds and hundreds of ornaments to place."The ornaments include a combination of natural elements as well as a nod to the technological advances made at the time like chromolithography, a method for making multi-color prints."We've got quite a few Victorian reproductions like three-dimensional angels, small musical instruments, cards, crocheted snowflakes and shadowboxes," Wolfe said. "We try to utilize ornaments that represent what people would have used back then."She added that, with the help of the Duck Creek Horticulture Society, the tree will also feature fruit and fresh components like pine, boxwood and hydrangeas that would have been found on the property."The Victorian era tree is my favorite of the trees this year," Wolfe said, explaining that reminders of the time period harken to a time when the holidays weren't so commercial. "I'm just not into the glitz. I don't need the multi-colored lights, the blinking lights and the ornaments that talk. I mean, they have their place but the trees that I most admire remind me of Christmases past."Wolfe's love of history leads her to gush about the weekend's other big holiday event, sponsored by the Downtown Smyrna Renaissance Association: "The Holiday Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Smyrna." At press time, there were six homes confirmed for the tour but more homeowners could decide to participate, she said."By keeping it as a free event, we're able to add and subtract homes as people can participate," Wolfe explained. "Keeping it free keeps the event casual, too, and lets us focus on our mission to just make people aware of our historic district and how worthwhile it is."Maps will be available Saturday at Belmont Hall and at the Smyrna Museum. The museum will also be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., for anybody who wants to stop by and pick up a map. The tours will continue until 6 p.m., but the last maps will be given out at 5 p.m., so people have enough time to visit each stop."With both SDRA AND Friends [of Belmont Hall], our goals are similar," Wolfe, who is a member of both, said. "We just want people to see how accessible these places are and to experience everything Smyrna has to offer."The only event with an admission fee is "Christmas at Belmont Hall." Adults will be charged $5 while children (through 18 years old) will be charged $2. All the other events, including the Smyrna Museum's Open House and the walking tour of historic homes are free. On Sunday, Friends of Belmont Hall will also open the house up for free to guests who'd like to tour the rooms and see the decorations, free of the hustle and bustle of Saturday's events.

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Tour Packages Online Car Rental States of India Cities Views Flights Time Uttaranchal >> Bhimtal Travel Bhimtal, situated at a distance of 22kms from Nainital, is named after one of the Pandav brothers called Bhim. The largest lake in the district of Nainital, Bhim Tal is 1701 metres by 265 metres, 265 metres longer than Naini Lake. The lake known for its magnificent majesty is situated at an altitude of 1371.6 metres above sea level. Bhim Tal has an island, to the north-east side, which is an exquisite gem in the middle of the lake. It is situated within the range of temple bells, which have been chiming for the last 300 years in the 17th century edifice, beneath the shadow of the towering mountain rushing precipitously down to the emerald green lake. The island is only 91.4 metres from the shore. Location: 36 Kms from Kausani (Uttaranchal) Famous As: Pilgrimage Center Attraction: Baijnath Temple Base: Bageshwar One Way Trek: 41 Kms It is about 22 Kms. from Nainital and 11 Kms. from Bhowali at an altitude of 1370 mts. The pride of Bhimtal is a beautiful lake which offers magnificent vistas for tourists. The lake is larger than Naini lake. Tourist enjoys here boating in lake. There is an island amid lake a restaurant is located atop it. Tourist visit here by boats. The distance of island from lake shore is 91 mts.There is a 17th century Bhimeshwar temple complex along the 40 feet high dam . The local bus stand and taxi stand is situated near it. One road from Bhimtal leaves for Naukuchiatal while the another one goes to Kathgodam 21 Kms from here. The main tourist attraction of this small hill station is its lake. It is one of the largest lakes in the district of Nainital. The lake offers scope for boating to the travelers. In the middle of the lake, there is a beautiful island with a restaurant. The island provides a panoramic view of the lake as well as its luxuriant surroundings. Travelers can also explore the region around the lake and take a walk through the quiet forest surrounding the lake. There is a large Victorian dam at one end of the lake and terraced flower gardens can be found on either side. Bhimtal is also known for its lovely dappled paths, ravines festooned with dog rose and wild raspberry. Farmhouses are set among terraced fields and citrus trees laden with fruits. There is a Folk Culture Museum in Bhimtal, which is a private institution. It has a good collection of artifacts and information about the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh. The collection includes ancient wooden artifacts, information about traditional rites, rituals, stone implements, and items of archeological importance. It also houses a sizable collection of reproductions and photographs of rock art. Nainital: A small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by mountains on three sides. Once this area had many lakes and it was called the City of 60 lakes or 'Chakta'. Naina Devi Temple: On the northern side of the Naini lake is built a temple dedicated to Sati and is called the Naina Devi temple. Naini Lake: Naini Lake or Naini Taal, the picturesque blue green lake is located in the district of Nainital. It is from this lake that the city of Nainital, the beautiful settlement by the lake, derives its name. Naukuchia Tal: Situated at an altitude of 1,219 m, Naukuchiatal is picturesque lake. It has nine corners and hence the name. 26 km away from Nainital, Naukuchiatal attracts migratory birds, which makes it a ¿bird watchers¿ paradise¿. Snow View Trek: The Snow view point is located at a height of 2270 meter above sea level. It can be reached by the ropeway or the ponies available at Mallital. Dakpathar Gaumukh Khirsu Rudranat Sitlakhet Travel to India | about us | weekend getaways | how to pay | privacy policy | advertising | faqs | career | user agreement

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Often referred to as “Vacationland,” Maine offers attractions for all kinds of tourists, from nature enthusiasts to city aficionados. The epitome of New England, Maine is comprised of eight regions, each of which provides a varied-yet-harmonious view at the Pine Tree State. Covered mostly by forest, Maine is the outdoor lover’s paradise. Nicknamed “The Crown of Main,” Aroostook County provides unparalleled Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice fishing in the winter months. Just south of Aroostook is the Maine Highlands, an ideal site for camping. Here, campers have easy access to the rapids of the state’s longest river, the Penobscot, the waters of its largest flat water, Moosehead Lake, and the trails of its tallest peak, Mt. Katahdin. Traveling south into the Kennebec and Moose River Valleys, nature converges with history in Maine’s capital city, Augusta. While adrenaline junkies entertain themselves with some of the best whitewater rafting and snowmobiling in the country, theater and film fans can explore the area that inspired Ernest Thompson’s On Golden Pond. The capital city itself provides much in the way of arts and culture. Home to the Maine State Museum, Augusta also plays host to the oldest wooden fort in the nation, Old Fort Western, constructed in 1754. During the summer, visitors can explore historic sites along the capital city’s streets on the Museum in the Streets tour or journey back in time to Hamlet’s day at the city’s Shakespeare festival.A picturesque New England shoreline peppered with lighthouses stretches along the state’s southern coast. The oldest and most famous of these lighthouses is the Portland Head Light at Cape Elizabeth. While in Maine's largest city, Portland, visitors can stroll the waterfront, shop in the historic buildings in the Old Port and dine on fresh lobster and oysters. Bed and breakfasts are common along Maine’s coast and provide a laid-back way to get a taste of New England’s coastal lifestyle. Look for quaint establishments in some of Maine’s most picturesque seaside towns, like Bath along the mid-coast or the historic southern towns of Kittery and York.

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Airport Expansion - A New Plan for the Future - 09/01/2011 - View Document At the August New Orleans Aviation Board meeting, the following letter from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was presented to the Board Chairman Nolan V. Rollins by New Orleans city officials: Dear Nolan: The Louis Armstrong International Airport ("MSY�) serves as a gateway to millions of tourists and business travelers each year and is a critical driver for the creation of jobs and economic development. MSY is the front door of our City, and improving our airport is integral to our success as a world-class travel destination and hub for commerce. I know the New Orleans Aviation Board ("NOAB�) shares my commitment to the revitalization of MSY. MSY is a critical asset for the City, the region and the State. MSY carries approximately 80% of the State�s enplanements. It provides over 12,450 direct and indirect jobs for our community and facilitates over $2.6 billion in tourism spending. I commend Aviation Director Iftikhar Ahmad, the NOAB and MSY staff for their efforts over the last year. Significant progress has been made to improve the air service, facilities and customer experience at MSY. We�ve seen renewed confidence by air carriers in the strength of the New Orleans market. International service to Toronto was added, and we gained nonstop service to several new domestic destinations, including Milwaukee, Kansas City and San Francisco. To make facilities more attractive and customer friendly, MSY completed an upgrade of the flight information display system throughout the terminal and opened 11 sets of completely renovated restrooms and 9 sets of restrooms with minor renovations. We also began the mid-term terminal renovations to enhance the look of the terminal inside and out prior to Super Bowl 2013. To improve customer service, concession hours were increased from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. to 5:00 am-8:00 pm. And ground was broken on the new Consolidated Rental Car Facility to house all rental cars in one convenient garage location. MSY�s financial condition was recently recognized as improving, as both Standard & Poor�s and Fitch upgraded its bond ratings. As we continue our efforts to grow our air service to meet the demands of our residents, businesses, visitors and conventioneers, we see continued growth in passenger traffic from MSY. MSY exceeded 8.2 million passengers in 2010 with a 5.1% increase, a post-Katrina high. Further, we understand that, in the first quarter of 2011, enplanements at MSY were up 7.9%, compared to a national average of only 2.2%. However, we know we have a long way to go to achieve the world-class airport that this City deserves. The Tourism Master Plan I commissioned as Lieutenant Governor identified the dated airport infrastructure and poor arrival experience as major "dissatisfiers� inhibiting our ability to grow as a top tourism destination, which we know also inhibits our ability to compete as a top destination for business and industry. Our current facility is over 50 years old, much older than any of its peer airports. As a result of our crumbling infrastructure and other factors that drive costs up, we�ve seen the cost per enplanement (the cost to airlines to operate service from MSY) increase over the last several years, putting New Orleans at a competitive disadvantage to other cities with lower costs. We must take measures to correct these issues. A world-class city like New Orleans deserves a world-class airport. MSY�s facilities must enable it to achieve excellent customer service, amenities and most importantly, connectivity and more direct flights. We must modernize our existing facility to improve efficiency and costs, while allowing us to grow and compete in this 21st-century economy. As the 300th anniversary of New Orleans approaches in 2018, my vision is to create a world-class, international airport that will contribute to the economic vitality of our region. For over 30 years, we have studied this issue, and we have collectively rejected proposals to move the airport to other locations. We cannot afford to let another 30 years go by without a clear path forward. To that end, we have reviewed MSY�s master plan and, in particular, its evaluation of options regarding the current airport facilities. The plan considered the option to build a brand new state-of-the-art airport terminal on the north side of current airport property, and rated it very highly. It also considered the possibility of expanding the airport adjacent to and west of the existing facility. I am writing to request that the NOAB immediately undertake an in-depth and robust analysis of the proposed northside plans and make a recommendation to me for further action. The analysis should include: financial feasibility, environmental impact, design, and operational impacts, including potential uses for the existing terminal and surrounding infrastructure. This report should also include: comparative analysis between the westside and northside options; cost-benefit analysis of continuing with current plans to improve the existing facility infrastructure, including the terminal and ground transportation improvements, in light of the potential construction of a new or expanded facility. We will only pursue a course of action that is in the best interest of the citizens of New Orleans � one that is financially feasible and delivers a strong return on investment. We must also take into account the needs of MSY�s neighbors, the City of Kenner, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish and others, to ensure their quality of life is protected. Finally, any new plan must be acceptable to airlines and should promise to lower MSY�s cost per enplanement, which will increase the marketability of New Orleans for more air service. I look forward to continuing to work with you and the NOAB to ensure the success of MSY and the economic growth and competitiveness of our City. Sincerely, Mitchell J. Landrieu City of New Orleans, Mayor As we move forward, we will do everything possible to deliver an airport facility that is sound and mirrors the greatness of this city. I look forward to reporting our progress.

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Library of Traveling the World Attractions all around the World February 27, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Attractions – Below are the best attractions list in every continent on earth. Find your favorite tourist attractions and get wonderful moments of it. Best and Popular Europe Attractions Europe is a continent that comprises the westernmost part of Eurasia. Europe is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the east and southeast, Europe is generally considered as separated from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways of the Turkish Straits. These are the best and most popular attractions in Europe. Zurich-Switzerland Zurich and Its Beautiful Lake Zurich is a beautiful city, located in the center of Switzerland. It is very popular and almost 25 millions of people visit Zurich every year. The churches and houses of the old town are clustered here, as are the most expensive shops along the famous Bahnhofstrasse. The Lindenhof in the old town is the historical site of the Roman castle, and the later Carolingian Imperial Palace. This city is one of the major tourist attractions in Switzerland. Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris and one of the popular structures in the world. It is located in Champ de Mars, in the edge of the Seine River, Paris, France. This tower was designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. It is the most popular tourist attraction in France, especially Paris. More than 200 million of people visited Eiffel Tower from its first open. Colosseum as One of the Best Europe Attractions Colosseum Italy Colosseum was a big building for show. It was popular used as a place or stadium for the gladiators fighting. Name ‘colosseum’ was taken from the name of a 40 m high statue, Colossus. It also called Amphitheatre or Flavian Amphitheatre. In Italy, people usually call it ‘il colosseo’. But, in another Rome’s language call it ‘le colisee’ or ‘el coliseo’. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world, located in the capital city of Italy, Rome. Royal Buckingham Palace in United Kingdom Royal Buckingham Palace This Palace is located in the city of Westminster. Royal Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters ot the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. The Buckingham Place became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. Now, the Buckingham Palace is often at the center of state occasions and royal hospitality. Sagadra Familia in Spain Picture of the Sagadra Familia at Night Sagadra Familia is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. It was designed by Catalan Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926). The Church will have three grand facades, the Navity facade to the East, the Passion facade to the West and the Glory facade to the South (yet to be completed). The Navity facade was the first facade to be completed, it was constructed between 1894 and it’s dedicated to the birth of Jesus. Keukenhof Garden is the Garden of Europe Colorful Keukenhof Gardens in The Netherlands Keukenhof Garden means Kitchen Garden or also known as the Garden of Europe is one of the largest and popular gardens in the world. It is located in Lisse, the Netherlands. Keukenhof Garden features many kinds of different gardens and gardens style. For example, the English Landscape Garden shows winding paths and unexpected see-through points (designed by Zocher in 1830), the Historical Garden of Keukenhof is an enclosed garden where you can see many old types of bulbs and the Japanese Garden is a non-traditional garden in a natural environment. The Fisherman’s Bastion in Hungary Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest The Fisherman’s Bastion is one of the most popular attractions in Budapest, Hungary. It is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill in Budapest, around Matthias Church. Louvre Museum in Paris The Louvre Museum The Louvre Museum (in France: Musée du Louvre) is one of the biggest museum, the most visited museum and a historical monument in the world. This museum is located in Rive Droite Seine, First Arondisemen in Paris, France. The famous collection in this museum such as “The Seated Scribe” from Saqqara, Egypt (from 2600 BC until 2350 BC) and “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci. London Eye Location The London Eye is a giant and the biggest Ferris wheel in the world. It is located on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, England. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and offered the highest public viewing point in London. These days, the London Eye is being a popular tourist attraction in London with over 3.75 million visitors annually and has made many appearances in popular cultures. Best Americas Attractions The Americas, also collectively called America, encompass the totality of the continents of North America and South America. The topography is dominated by the American Cordillera, a long chain of mountains that runs the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by large river basins, such as the Amazon, St. Lawrence River / Great Lakes basin, Mississippi, and La Plata. These are the best and most popular attractions in North America and South America. Double Rainbows at Niagara Falls This waterfall is located in Ontario Canada and United States of America. Niagara waterfall is popular as a tourist attraction because of its beauty, and getting more beautiful when Polar Vortex covers almost a half of USA area. One of the attractive things of Niagara falls is rainbow across waterfall. If you are lucky, you would see double rainbows across this waterfall. An Amazing Walk On Christ The Redeemer Christ the Redeemer is a colossal statue of Jesus Christ, situated at the summit of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. This popular statue is the largest Art Deco style sculpture in the world and one of the Rio de Janeiro’s most recognizable landmarks. Statue of Liberty Photo It is one of the most popular attractions in the United States. Statue of Liberty is a national monument in USA. More than one hundred years ago, the people of France gave this statue for the people of America as a symbol of friendship along the revolution of America. The Statue of Liberty as symbols of freedom, democration and friendship between France and United States of America. The Central Park in New York Central Park is one of many places that make New York such a great place to live. This park is located in the center of Manhattan. This park offers several lakes, theaters, rice rinks, fountains, tennis courts, baseballs fields, many playgrounds and other facilities. Vernal Falls at Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The high country of Yosemite contains beautiful areas such as Tuolumne Meadows, Dana Meadows, the Clark Range, the Cathedral Range, and the Kuna Crest. The Lyell Glacier is the largest glacier in Yosemite National Park and is one of the few remaining in the Sierra Nevada today. Grand Canyon National Park is the first national park in the United States, located in the north part of Arizona, USA. The Grand Canyon also called as “Red Rock Country”. It is one of the popular tourist attractions in the United States. It is very beautiful because all parts of this canyon have orange color. Great Smoky National Park It is the most popular and most visited national park in the United States. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a national Park in the United States which straddes the ridge-line of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are several historical attractions in this park and the most popular is Cades Cove, a valley with a preserved historic buildings, including log cabins, barns and churches. Hawaii Tourist attractions Hawaii consists of islands and belongs to the Oceania. It was found for the first time by a Britain explorer, James Cook in January 10th 1778. With Honolulu as its capital city, tourist attractions in Hawaii that popular in the world. Acapulco de Juarez in Mexico Acapulco de Juarez Acapulco de Juarez is popular as the oldest and most well-known beach resorts in Mexico. The resort area is divided into two area, those are the north end of the bay is the traditional area and the south end of the bay is dominated by newer luxury high-rise hotels. Acapulco is still famous and attracts many tourists both local and foreign, although the most of the visitors are from Mexico itself. Amazon is a Home for the Extremes Amazon River is not only the greatest river in the world, but also a “home” to many other “extremes” of the natural world. One of the largest freshwater fish in the world is found living in the waters of this river. It is also one of the longest river in the world with 6,259 kilometers or 3,903 mi long. Best Australia Attractions Australia is a continent comprising mainland Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, Seram, possibly Timor, and neighbouring islands. The continent lies on a continental shelf overlain by shallow seas which divide it into several landmasses—the Arafura Sea and Torres Strait between mainland Australia and New Guinea, and Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania. With a total land area of 8.56 million square kilometres, Australia has many beautiful places and attractions. Belows are the best and most popular tourist attractions in Australia. Gold Coast is a popular destination for tourists both local tourists and foreign tourists with surfing beach, canal and waterway systems, theme parks, night life and rainforest. In the Gold Coast, there are Dreamworld, Sea World, White Water World and many more attractions for tourists. The Gold Coast is the sixth largest city in Australia and the second largest in Queensland. Blue Mountains National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. This mountains is one of the major tourist attractions in Australia. Its national park is the most popular national park in Australia. Activities for the visitor include short walks to lookouts above cliffs and waterfalls, overnight and longer walks to more remote areas of the park, canyoning, abseiling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Australia Sydney Opera House Sydney Opera House, it was designed by architect Jorn Utzon to reflect the image of a huge sailing ship and surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Sydney Harbour and the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is one of the Australia’s famous landmarks. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands. The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The Great Barrier Reef has long been known to and used by the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and is an important part of local groups’ cultures and spirituality. The reef is a very popular destination for tourists, especially in the Whitsunday Islands and Cairns regions. It is the largest national park in Australia and located in Australia’s Northern Territory, about three hours from Darwin. It’s also home for many different species of wildlife such as wallabies, dingoes and crocodiles. Kakadu’s flora is among the richest in northern Australia with more than 1700 plant species recorded which is a result of the park’s geological, landform and habitat diversity. Kakadu is also considered to be one of the most weed free national parks in the world. Best Asia Attractions Asia is Earth’s largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. Asia is notable for not only its overall large size and population, but also dense and large settlements as well as vast barely populated regions within the continent of 4.4 billion people. Asia covers an area about 30% of Earth’s total land area. With its area, Asia has many popular tourist attractions. Belows are the most popular attractions in this continent. The Great Wall of China is a 21,196 km long wall, streching from Dandong in the east to Lop lake in the west. The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world. It was built by a king from the Zheng Dynasty, Shi Huangdi, started built in 221 BC to 206 BC. The Great wall of China was made from stones, bricks, woods and other materials. Jeju Island in South Korea Jeju Island South Korea Jeju island is a famous tourist destination in South korea. This island is the biggest island in South Korea, located in the south of Korea Peninsula. This island has 1,845.55 km2 area and it is one of the World’s Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its beautiful nature. Mount Hala is one of the major attractions in this island. This mount located inthe center of Jeju Island. Namiseom island in South Korea Namiseom island Tour Nami island or Namiseom island is a tiny-half-moon shaped island, located in Chuncheon, South Korea. Nami island is one of the popular tourist destination in South Korea. It attracted about 270,000 Korean and many foreign visitors. his island formed as it was inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of of the construction of the Cheongpyeong Dam in 1944. Borobudur Temple Top View The Borobudur temple is the biggest Buddha temple in the world. The Borobudur temple is located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia and about 40 kilometres from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Borobudur temple consists of 6 levels of a square with 10 stupas. At each level, there are several stupas. The main stupa symbolizes the perfection which is the highest level. The Borobudur structure describes the patterns of human thought and Buddhist cosmology. It is one of the major attractions in Indonesia. Komodo island is an island in Nusa Tenggara islands, Indonesia. It is popular as a house of the komodo dragon, and also known as Komodo National Park. The Komodo National Park includes Rinca island and Gili Motong. More than 2,000 of komodo dragons are living in this national park. It has been declared as one of the World Herritage Sites in the world by UNESCO. Rice Paddies in Ubud Bali is a popular tourist in Indonesia. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is popular for its temples, arts, natures and also marines. Its major tourist attractions are Sanur Beach, Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua, Tanah Lot Sea Temple, Ubud, Uluwatu Sea Temple, Seminyak and many more. Grand Palace in Thailand Thailand Grand Palace The Grand Palace or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang (in Thai) is a complex buildings at the center of Bangkok, Thailand. The Grand Palace of Thailand is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangkok city of Thailand. This palace consists of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open laws, gardens and courtyards. It is currently partially open for the public as a museum. Mount Fuji in Japan Mount Fuji is the Most Popular Attractions in Japan Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan (3,776 m or 12,388 ft). About 200,000 people climb Mount Fuji every year and 30% of them are foreigners. Mount Fuji is a well-known symbol of japan and a popular tourist attraction for sightseers and climbers. It is popular as a landmark of Japan. Osaka Castle in Japan Osaka Castle is a Japanese castle in Chūō-ku, Osaka, Japan. The castle is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Osaka, Japan. Best Africa Attractions Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most-populous continent. he continent is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, both the Suez Canal and the Red Sea along the Sinai Peninsula to the northeast, the Indian Ocean to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The continent includes Madagascar and various archipelagos. Africa hosts a large diversity of ethnicities, cultures and languages. These are several popular tourist attractions in Africa. Picture of Victoria Falls Victoria Falls is considered to be the largest waterfall in the world. It is the only waterfall with more than one kilometer in lenght and more than hundred meter in height. The noise of this waterfall can be heard from a distance of 40 kilometers and the spray and mist from its falling water is rising to a height of over 400 meters and can be seen from a distance of 50 kilometers. It is located in the fourth largest river in Africa, Zambezi River. Nile River, One of the Most Popular Attractions in Africa Amazing River Nile Nile River is the longest river in Africa and in the world. It flows through Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Burundi and Egypt. The source of the Nile River is generally thought from Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa. In the northern edge of this lake, water pours over a waterfall, known as the Ripon falls. Ripon falls may be the starting-point of this great river, but there are many streams that flow into Lake Victoria also could claim to be the true source. Sahara Desert Oasis Sahara desert divides the continent of Africa be North Africa and “the real” Africa. This desert is located in the north of Africa. This large desert is 2.5 millions years old, streching from the Atlantic ocean to the Red sea and from Maurritan in the west part to Egypt in the east part. In this Sahara desert, there are several oasis. Those 90 oasis are spreaded in this desert. the Great Sphinx of Giza Amazing Great Sphinx Photograph The Great Sphinx of Giza, also known as the Sphinx of Giza or called just the Sphinx is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx, a mythical creature with a lion’s body and a human head. It is located in the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in Giza, Egypt. Today, the Great Sphinx is being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Egypt. Many tourists both local and foreign tourists visit this great monumental sculpture to see its beauty. Travelingabu dhabi attractions, attractions a bordeaux, attractions a disneyland, attractions a dubai, attractions a las vegas, attractions a lyon, attractions a montreal, attractions a paris, attractions a quebec, attractions around here, attractions baltimore, attractions bay area, attractions birmingham al, attractions book, attractions boston, attractions by state, attractions california, attractions charlote nc, attractions chicago, attractions close to me, attractions colorado, attractions colorado spring, attractions columbus ohio, attractions dallas, attractions detroit, attractions east coast, attractions el paso, attractions england, attractions for adult, attractions for kids, attractions in atlanta, attractions in california, attractions in chicago, attractions in disney world, attractions in disneyland, attractions in houston, attractions in las vegas, attractions in miami, attractions in orlando, attractions in san diego, attractions near me, bali attractions, bangkok attractions, blue peter badge attractions, budapest attractions, dubai attractions, e ticket attractions, iceland attractions, kyoto attractions, merlin attractions, nearby attractions, osaka attractions, pattaya attractions, seattle attractions, sentosa attractions, seoul attractions, singapore attractions, taipei attractions, tourist attractions in dubai, tourist attractions near me Pattaya Attractions are the Best of Thailand February 25, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Pattaya Attractions – Pattaya is a resort city in Thailand. It is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-east of Bangkok, within, but not part of, Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi. Pattaya is the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area – the conurbation in Chonburi Province. Pattaya has a tropical wet and dry climate, which is divided into the following seasons: hot and dry (December to February), hot and humid (March and April), and hot and rainy (May to November). The Pattaya Bay area is one of Asia’s largest beach resorts and the second most visited city in Thailand, after Bangkok. The main sweep of the bay area is divided into two principal beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to the city centre, and runs from Pattaya Nuea south to Walking Street. Along Beach Road are restaurants, shopping areas, and night attractions. Pattaya Attractions List These are Pattaya Attractions list that you should visit if you come to this tropical city. Picture of Jomtien Beach Jomtien Beach, on road signs and road maps also often written Chom Tian, is a town on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand about 165 km south-east of Bangkok in Chonburi Province. It is about 3 km south of Pattaya and is home to high-rise condominiums, beach side hotels, beaches, and restaurants. This is one of the best and most popular Pattaya Attractions. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden It is a botanical garden and tourist attraction at kilometer 163 on Sukhumvit Road in Chonburi Province, Thailand. The garden focus on Southeast Asian, Tropical American and Central Africa species of Cycads, but a collection of almost every species can also been seen here. It is one of the major Pattaya Atractions. It is a temple construction in Pattaya, Thailand. The sanctuary is an all-wood building filled with sculptures based on traditional Buddhist and Hindu motifs. The style of the sanctuary evokes Khmer architecture, displaying hand-carved wooden sculptures indicative of the imperial setting at Angkor. Travelingbest place in pattaya, jomtien beach, pattaya, pattaya attractions, pattaya beach, pattaya hotel, pattaya resort, pattaya tourist attractions, pattaya trip advisor, sanctuary of truth Blue Mountains in New South Wales February 20, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Blue Mountains is is a mountainous region and a mountain range located in New South Wales, Australia. Officially the Blue Mountains region is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo rivers to the north.[5] Geologically, it is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin. The Mountains Range comprises a range of mountains, plateaux and escarpments extending off the Great Dividing Range about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) northwest of Wolgan Gap in a generally southeasternly direction for about 96 kilometres (60 mi), terminating at Emu Plains. Several established towns are situated on its heights, including Katoomba, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, and Springwood. The Mountains are a dissected plateau carved in sandstone bedrock. A large part of the Blue Mountains is incorporated into the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site, consisting of seven national park areas and a conservation reserve. Blue Mountains National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. This National Park is the most central of the eight protected areas within the World Heritage Site and it forms part of the Great Dividing Range. The park is also listed on the Australian Heritage Register and the overall complex of the Mountains regional walking tracks is listed on the State Heritage Register. This mountains is one of the major tourist attractions in Australia. Its national park is the most popular national park in Australia. Activities for the visitor include short walks to lookouts above cliffs and waterfalls, overnight and longer walks to more remote areas of the park, canyoning, abseiling, rock climbing and mountain biking. It is also home to the world’s steepest railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railway. There are several larger mammal species found in the park. The largest native carnivorous predator is the tiger quoll. The largest bird found in the area is the emu. Picture of Tiger Quoll The Australian Emu Travelingblue mountains, blue mountains australia, blue mountains australia hiking, blue mountains national park, blue mountains weather, tour a blue mountains Crystal Cave February 18, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Crystal Cave – Giant Crystal Cave is a cave connected to the Naica Mine 300 metres (980 ft) below the surface in Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico. The main chamber contains giant selenite crystals some of the largest natural crystals ever found. The cave is relatively unexplored due to these factors. Without proper protection, people can only endure approximately ten minutes of exposure at a time. The cave was discovered by the brothers Eloy and Javier Delgado. A group of scientists known as the Naica Project have been heavily involved in researching these caverns. Giant Crystal Cave was discovered in April 2000 by miners excavating a new tunnel for the Industrias Peñoles mining company located in Naica, Mexico, while drilling through the Naica fault, which they were concerned would flood the mine. The mining complex in Naica contains substantial deposits of silver, zinc and lead. Two other smaller caverns were also discovered in 2000, Queen’s Eye Cave and Candles Cave. The new cave, named Ice Palace, is 150 m deep and is not flooded, but its crystal formations are much smaller, with small “cauliflower” formations and fine, threadlike crystals. All of the caves discovered currently are: Cave of Crystals, Queen’s Eye, Candles Cave, Ice Palace and Cave of Swords. Formation of the crystals in the Crystal Cave Naica lies on an ancient fault above an underground magma chamber below the cave. The magma heated the ground water which was saturated with sulfide ions. Cool oxygenated surface water contacted the mineral saturated heated water, but the two did not mix due to the difference in their densities. The oxygen slowly diffused into the heated water and oxidized the sulfides into sulfates. The hydrated sulfate gypsum crystallized at an extremely slow rate of over the course of at least 500,000 years forming the enormous crystals found today. Gallery of the Crystal Cave Picture of the Crystals in Naica Cave Giant Crystal Cave in Mexico Naica Mine, The Cave of Giant Crystals Picture of the Crystal in Naica Cave Naica Crystal Cave in Mexico Travelingcrystal cave, giant crystal cave, giant underground crystal cave, underground crystal cave, weird life in crystal cave April Fools Day History and Facts February 17, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment April Fools Day (sometimes called All Fools’ Day) is celebrated every year on April 1 by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. The jokes and their victims are called April fools. People playing April Fool jokes expose their prank by shouting April Fool. Although popular since the 19th century, the day is not a public holiday in any country. April Fools – New Year’s Day Moves Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year’s Day on or around April 1. It closely follows the vernal equinox (March 20th or March 21st.) In medieval times, much of Europe celebrated March 25, the Feast of Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day to Jan. 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year’s Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe. April Fools in United Kingdom In the UK, an April Fool joke is revealed by shouting “April fool!” at the recipient, who becomes the “April fool”. A study in the 1950s, by folklorists Iona and Peter Opie, found that in the UK, and in countries whose traditions derived from the UK, the joking ceased at midday. A person playing a joke after midday is the “April fool” themselves. Quotes of April Fools Day Happy April Fool’s Day 2017 Funny April Fools Day Quotes April Fools Day Images and Pictures Image of April Fool’s Day Happy April Fool’s Picture April Fool’s Day on April 1 April Fool’s Day or April Mop Happy April Fool’s Day Pictures Picture of April Fools Day April Foolsan april fools joke, an april fools prank, an april fools trick, april fools, april fools day, april fools day joke, april fools joke, april fools movie, april fools trick Busan Attractions in South Korea February 16, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Busan Attractions – Busan or formelly written as Pusan, is is the largest port city and second-largest city in South Korea. Located on the southeast tip of the Korean Peninsula, It is important for transport and shipping. This city is best known for Busan Port and Haeundae Beach. The southern part of Busan is surrounded by the Yellow Sea, and the east of Busan is surrounded by the South Sea. Best Busan Attractions Haeundae Beach is One of the Popular Busan Attractions Haeundae Beach is a beach in Busan, South Korea. Along the 12 km of coastline is Busan’s most popular beach, and with Seogwipo’s, it is one of the most famous beaches in South Korea. Visitors to the beach come from all over South Korea as well as outside of Korea. Haeundae is home to most of Busan’s expatriate population. Taejongdae, One of the Busan Attractions Taejongdae is a natural park of Busan, South Korea with magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the southernmost tip of island of Yeongdo-gu. It is one of the best Busan attractions which has dense evergreen trees and several facilities for tourists such as an observatory, an amusement park, a light house, a cruise ship terminal. Sea Life Busan Aquarium As one of the Busan attractions, it is an aquarium located in Haeundae Beach, South Korea. There are about 250 species and up to 35,000 marine animals on display. here are 40 exhibits, which include penguins, otters, piranha, sea jellies and a touch tank for a close up “hands on” look at a variety of sea creatures. It is a park located in Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea. It has 70 different species of trees growing in it. One of the highlights of the Yongdusan Park is the statue of Yi Sun-sin, Korea’s 16th-century naval hero. Travelingattractions around busan, attractions at busan, beautiful place in busan, busan airport destinations, busan attractions, busan attractions 2014, busan attractions blog, busan attractions in april, busan attractions in autumn, busan attractions in summer, busan attractions in winter, busan attractions map, busan attractions must see, busan attractions tourist, busan attractions tripadvisor, busan attractive places, busan tourist attractions, popular busa attractions, popular busan attractions, things to do in Busan Yosemite National Park in the United States February 15, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Yosemite National Park is is a national park spanning portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in Northern California. The park, which is managed by the National Park Service, covers an area of 747,956 acres and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, glaciers, and biological diversity. Yosemite National Park is one of the largest and least fragmented habitat blocks in the Sierra Nevada, and the park supports a diversity of plants and animals. The Park contains five major vegetation zones: chaparral/oak woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, subalpine zone, and alpine. Popular Features of Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley represents only one percent of the park area, but this is where most visitors arrive and stay. El Capitan, a prominent granite cliff that looms over Yosemite Valley, is one of the most popular rock climbing destinations in the world. Because of its diverse range of climbing routes in addition to its year-round accessibility. The high country of Yosemite contains beautiful areas such as Tuolumne Meadows, Dana Meadows, the Clark Range, the Cathedral Range, and the Kuna Crest. The Lyell Glacier is the largest glacier in Yosemite National Park and is one of the few remaining in the Sierra Nevada today. Yosemite National Park Attractions Bridalveil Falls Bridalveil Falls at Yosemite Standing more than 60 stories high, the falls are most impressive in the spring when snowmelt swells the flow into a thundering roar. Bridalveil Falls is subject to the wind in any season, and the way the falls blow from side to side is part of what makes this water feature so distinctive. Mariposa Grove Located in the southernmost part of Yosemite National Park, the Mariposa Grove is a protected forest of giant sequoias. Open-air trams offer engaging tours of Mariposa Grove, and visitors can hop on and off the tram to walk around the mammoth trees. Yosemite Falls pours down a cliff side in three cascades and provides picturesque views from multiple locations within Yosemite National Park in California. It is the tallest fall in the United States. The best time to enjoy the splashing water and thunderous roar of the falls is in the spring after the winter thaw. Tunnel View Tunnel View is an overlook where visitors can enjoy amazing views of El Capital, Bridalveil Falls, Half Dome and the gorgeous Yosemite Valley. Located in Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of central eastern California. Travelers can find Tunnel View at the east end of the Wawona Tunnel off of Wawona Road. Glacier Point of Yosemite National Park Glacier Point not only commands panoramic views of the valley but brings visitors eye level with the park’s iconic Half Dome as well. It is accessible by foot, car or bus during the long warm-weather season and by cross-country skiing in winter. Vernal Falls Vernal Falls flows into the Merced River all year, even when other waterfalls in the park go dry. It is situated in the eastern section of Yosemite Valley, the 317-foot (97-meter) high. Climbing the more than 500 granite steps to the top of the falls is one of the park’s most popular hikes. Half Dome Half Dome at Yosemite Valley Half Dome is Yosemite’s most recognized geological feature. Visitors who don’t find the idea of a day-long trek up Half Dome appealing can enjoy beautiful views of the park’s most famous landmark from dozens of valley locations and viewpoints in the park. The granite monolith El Capitan is one of the most famous sights in Yosemite National Park. It is is a favorite challenge among expert rock climbers. This famous Yosemite attraction is best seen from the roads in western Yosemite Valley, including Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall area, and El Capitan Meadow. Travelingbest view of yosemite, yosemite attractions, yosemite falls, yosemite firewall, yosemite national park, yosemite tourist attractions Valentine’s Day Coloring Printables February 13, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Valentine’s Day Coloring Printables Valentines coloring pages –Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a WesternChristianliturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world. Valentine’s Day is a time when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship. It is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on February 14 each year. Hearts, the colors red and pink, roses, images and statues of cupids, and cupids’ bows and arrows symbolize the feeling of romance and love on Valentine’s Day. Cupid is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who fall in love are sometimes said to be “struck by Cupid’s arrow”. The day focuses on love, romance, appreciation and friendship. Many people celebrate their love for their partner by sending cards or letters, giving gifts or flowers and arranging meals in restaurants or romantic nights in hotels. People who would like to have a romantic relationship with somebody may use the occasion to make this known, often anonymously. Valentine’s cards are often decorated with images of hearts, red roses or Cupid. Galery of Valentines Coloring Pages Add a little color to Valentine’s Day with free Valentines coloring pages—for kids and adults. Valentines Day Coloring Pages Valentine Bees Coloring Page For School Pooh valentines day coloring page Bee Mine Valentines Day free coloring page Free Coloring Pages Valentine Days Valentine Day Coloring Pages Valentine Day Coloring Pages For School Teachers Valentine Printable Coloring Pages Free Printable Pictures Coloring Pages Free Coloring Pages For Kids Coloring Pages of Valentine Day Heart Valentines Day Online Coloring Page Happy valentines day Coloring Page Online coloring printables for valentines day Princess valentines day coloring book page ariel Valentines Day Heart Coloring Pictures Valentine Day Roses Printable Valentines Coloring Pages For Kids Free Valentine Coloring Pages Valentines Day coloring pages februar 14 Valentines Day Coloring Page Valentines Coloring Pages Teddy bear with a big valentine HELLO KITTY COLORING PAGES ColoringBee Mine Valentines Day free coloring page, Free Coloring Pages Valentine Days, Pooh valentines day coloring page, Valentine Bees Coloring Page For School, valentine coloring pages, Valentine Day Coloring Pages, Valentine Day Coloring Pages For School Teachers, Valentine's Day Coloring Printables, Valentines Day Coloring Pages Best Bangkok Attractions are Fabulous February 13, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Best Bangkok Attractions – Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city is well known for its vibrant street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its notorious red-light districts. The historic Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the nightlife scenes of Khaosan Road and Patpong. Bangkok is among the world’s top tourist destinations. Best Bangkok Attractions The Grand Palace in Thailand Grand Palace is one of the best Bangkok attractions. The Grand Palace or Phra Borom Maha Ratcha Wang (in Thai) is a complex buildings at the center of Bangkok, Thailand. The complex of this palace has a combined area of 218,400 square meters ( 2,351,000 sq feet) and surrounded by four walls. It is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River at the center of the Rattanakosin Island. read more about Grand Palace Lumphini Park Lumphini Park as One of the Best Bangkok Attractions Lumphini Park is a park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees, and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent boats. Paths around the park totalling approximately 2.5 km in length are a popular area for morning and evening joggers. Dusit Zoo is one of the Best Bangkok Attractions Dusit Zoo Bangkok Thailand As one of the best Bangkok attractions, it is a zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. Located at Khao Din Park in Bangkok’s Dusit District next to the Parliament House and Dusit Palace, it is the oldest zoo of Thailand, built by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) as his private garden adjacent to the royal palace. Dusit Zoo or “Khao Din”, spans a total area of 188,800 square meters, and is regarded as the most popular zoo in Thailand, attracting approximately 2.5 million visitors annually. Wat Phra Kaew Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple (wat) in Thailand. It is one of the best Bangkok attractions. It is located in Phra Nakhon District, the historic centre of Bangkok, within the precincts of the Grand Palace. The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, is in a standing form, about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall, carved from a single jade stone. Wat Saket is One of the Best Bangkok Attractions Wat Saket is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Sakae. When Bangkok became the capital, King Rama I renovated the temple and gave it its present name. TravelingBangkok, bangkok attractions, bangkok grand palace, bangkok tourist attractions, best bangkok attractions Seoul Tourist Attractions are Wonderful February 12, 2017 tary krissanoLeave a comment Seoul Tourist Attractions – Seoul is the capital and largest metropolis of the Republic of Korea (commonly known as South Korea), forming the heart of the Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi province, the world’s 16th largest city. Situated on the Han River, Seoul’s history stretches back more than two thousand years when it was founded in 18 BCE by Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. It continued as the capital of Korea under the Joseon Dynasty. Seoul Tourist Attractions Gyeongbokgung as One of Seoul Tourist Attractions Also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395, it is located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings’ households, as well as the government of Joseon. Today, the palace is arguably regarded as being the most beautiful and grandest of all five palaces. It also houses the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum within the premises of the complex. Myeong dong as One of Seoul Tourist Attractions As one of Seoul tourist attractions, it is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It is mostly a commercial area, being one of Seoul’s main shopping and tourism districts. The area is known for its two historically significant sites, namely the Myeongdong Cathedral and the Myeongdong Nanta Theatre. Gwanghwamun Gate is One of Seoul Tourist Attractions Gwanghwamun is one of popular Seoul tourist attractions. It is the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Located at a three-way intersection at the northern end of Sejongno, It is a landmark and symbol of Seoul’s long history as the capital city during the Joseon Dynasty. Lotte World as One of the Most Popular Seoul Tourist Attractions Lotte World is a major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park called “Magic Island”, an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail, shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities, and movie theaters. Bukhansan means “mountains north of the Han River.” It is one of the most popular Seoul tourist attractions, especially for hikers. The park contains forested areas, temples and granite peaks. The three main peaks are Baekundae, Insubong, and Mangnyeongdae. There are many trails and the most known routes include Baegundae, which is Bukhansan’s highest peak at 837 meters, the fortress wall, and the Insu-bong. Namsan as One of Seoul Tourist Attractions Nam Mountain, also called as Namsan Mountain or Mount Namsan s a peak, 262 metres (860 ft) high, in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. It offers some hiking, picnic areas and views of downtown Seoul’s skyline. The Namsan Seoul Tower is located on top of Mt. Namsan. Its attractions include Namsan Seoul Tower observation deck and Namsan Hanok Village. Hangang Park or Han River Park Picture of Yeouido Hangang Park Han River Park is one of the most popular Seoul tourist attractions. It encompasses nearly the entire shoreline on both sides of the river. There are 12 kinds of parks around the Han River, those are Kwangnalua Park, Yeouido Park, Jamsil Park, Seonyudo Park, Ttuksom Park, Yanghwa Park, Jamwon Park, Mangwon Park, Banpo Park, Nanji Park, Ichon Park, Gangseo Park. eouido Park, Jamsil Park, and Ttukseom Park are especially popular because of the ferry cruise services on Han River. Changdeokgung Palace It is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the “Five Grand Palaces” built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). As it is located east of Gyeongbok Palace, it is also referred to as the “East Palace”. Behind the palace lies the 78-acre Rear garden which was originally constructed for the use of the royal family and palace women. The garden incorporates a lotus pond, pavilions, and landscaped lawns, trees, and flowers. Tapgol Park in Seoul As one of Seoul tourist attractions, Tapgol Park, formerly Pagoda Park, is a small public park located at 97 Jongno (street), Seoul, South Korea. One of the monuments in the park is the Monument of Wongaksa built in 1471 to record the founding of Wongaksa (temple) in 1465. Namdaemun, officially known as the Sungnyemun is one of the Eight Gates in the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea, which surrounded the city in the Joseon dynasty. The gate is located in Jung-gu between Seoul Station and Seoul Plaza, with the historic 24-hour Namdaemun market next to the gate. It was once one of the three major gateways through Seoul’s city walls which had a stone circuit of 18.2 kilometres (11.3 mi) and stood up to 6.1 metres (20 ft) high. Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain As one of the major Seoul tourist attractions, Banpo Bridge is a major bridge in downtown Seoul over the Han River, South Korea, connecting the Seocho and Yongsan districts. The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain on the Banpo Bridge is the world’s longest bridge fountain. Inwangsan Entrance to the Inwangsan Mountain in Seoul Inwangsan is a mountain with a height of 338 meters, located in Jongno-gu and Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, central areas of Seoul, South Korea. Inwangsan is famous for its view, so many painters depicted the mountain in their works such as Jeong Seon’s Inwang jesaekdo. The Fortress Wall of Seoul surrounds the mountain in which Inwangsa temple and Guksadang shrine are located as well. Seoul Forest Park It is a large park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea and also one of Seoul tourist attractions. This Ecologic Park has over 40 different species of roses. This park offers visitors the opportunity to stroll along the river and admire these colorful, intoxicating flowers, while also viewing some fish along the way. The roses are one of the most beautiful attractions at this park located on Ttukseom Island. Travelingbeautiful places in seoul, best places in seoul, places to visit in seoul, seoul attractions, Seoul tourist attractions, things to do in seoul Posts navigation Recent Posts Attractions all around the World Pattaya Attractions are the Best of Thailand Blue Mountains in New South Wales Crystal Cave April Fools Day History and Facts Recent CommentsRomana Dihel on Burj Khalifa is the Tallest Structure in the WorldCharissa Lantey on Bunaken National Marine ParkCAROLL on Machu Picchu is a Beautiful Place in PeruBen Mickelson on Mount Krakatau IndonesiaErminia Vilcheck on The MaldivesArchives February 2017 Categories April Fools Delicious Foods | Theme: beautytemple by AwoThemes.

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Mountain Hiking in East Africa For those who enjoy being active, hiking vacations are great opportunities to experience East Africa from a different perspective. The smells and sounds of the area are sharper, nature is closer and the views stunning. Mount Kilimanjaro - Tanzania Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's most popular trekking destination, and at 19,336 feet it's Africa's highest peak. The trek to the summit takes you through 5 different climatic zones. More than 20,000 people attempt the climb every year. Routes vary in degree of difficulty, traffic and scenic beauty. The least difficult routes are Marangu and Rongai; the more difficult routes are Machame, Shira and Limosho. The longer routes have more difficult hiking but you'll be more acclimatized and your chances of reaching the summit are therefore higher. An average trek will cost from $2500-$5000 per person. Inquire about Mt Kili hiking Mount Kenya - Kenya Africa's second highest peak. While the highest peaks Batian (5200m) and Nelion (5188m) require some technical climbing, Lenana (4985m) is the peak trekkers head to. Mount Kenya's slopes are cloaked in forest and moorland which gives way to rock, ice and snow. The mountain is part of a larger reserve. The best time to climb Mount Kenya is between January - February, and July - October. There are huts on the mountain, or you can camp. Expect to pay around $850 per person on up, depending on the route you take. Simien Mountains – Ethiopia The Simien Mountains are a vast mountain range in Ethiopia with many summits above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). The highest peak is Ras Dashen which stands at 4,543 meters (14,901 feet), making it the fourth highest mountain in Africa. Trekking here is fantastic, not only because of the scenery, gorges and streams, but also because you get a chance to see some unique, endemic wildlife like the gelada baboon and Walia Ibex. Most treks start from Debark (or Debarek), which is a 3-4 hours drive from Gondar. Equipment, porters, donkeys and more can be arranged from here. Rwenzori Mountains - Uganda The Rwenzori Mountains (Mountains of the Moon) lie just north of the Equator along the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Mount Stanley is the highest mountain in the range, with twin summits each standing over 5,000m high making it Africa's 3rd tallest mountain. Permanent glaciers adorn the peaks. The main trail up Mount Stanley's peaks is called the Central Circuit and takes 4-10 days. Along the route you'll encounter thick forest, bogs, boulders, glaciers and elephants. Guides and armed rangers are compulsory. There are basic huts along the routes. Best time to trek is December - February and June - August. Nyiragongo Volcano - DR Congo Nyiragongo volcano is located in Virunga National park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC and is situated around 19 kilometers of Goma, very close to Rwandan border. The Nyiragongo is one of Africa 's most dangerous and the most famous for its semi permanent lava lake. Though it is currently safe to hike Nyiragongo. The volcano is also known to the people of Congo as a sacred mountain where an angry spirit is trapped. The volcano is still active and it has erupted several times throwing lavas toward the town of Goma and other neighboring villages.Hiking Nyiragongo Volcanoe is not a piece of cake but any fit individual would find it fairly easy to climb. It takes 5 hours to get to the top of this active volcanoe. The hike starts in hot forest and ends at the desolate volcanic rocky cone, where it's also cold at 5 degrees. The most stunning view while on top of Nyiragongo is the bubbling lava at night. There are a few new wooden shelters with two mattresses each. If you don't have a spot arranged, you need to bring a tent. Either way, warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag are necessary. You also need to bring food and water for the 1 1/2 days, including dinner up on top. The rangers make a fire that you can cook or BBQ on. If you have space to bring extra food, they are really excited to gobble it up. Make sure to bring enough for the hike and the night, plus whatever cooking you plan to do while on top as most hiking spend the night there. Lakes of hot lava are one of the most spectacular forms of volcanic activity, but they are very difficult to see since there are currently only a few of them in the world. So, if you want to see a really impressive lava lake, you have only one option left: Hiking Nyiragongo Inquire about Nyiragongo hiking rates. Karisimbi Mountain - Rwanda Mount Karisimbi is an inactive volcano in the Virunga Mountains on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 4,507 metres (14,787 ft), Karisimbi is the highest of the eight major mountains of the mountain range, which is a part of the East African Rift Valley. Karisimbi is flanked by Mikeno to the north, Bisoke to the east and Nyiragongo to the west, on the other side of the Rift Valley. The volcanoes Park is famously known for its endangered gorillas mountains. The name Karisimbi probably comes a word in the local language, Kinyarwanda, which means Little white shell. This is an allusion to the white snow cap that can sometimes be found on the volcano. Between Karisimbi and Bisoke is the Karisoke Research Centre, which was founded by Dian Fossey in order to observe the mountain gorillas living in this area. Karisimbi was first successfully climbed by Berthelmy in 1903. The best months to climb Karisimbi are January, February, March, July, August, September, October. Anyone interested in hiking any of the above mountains should send email to [email protected]. Terms and Conditionsl Contact usl Advertise with usl SitemapI Travel LinksEasyBlog

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Other Attractions in the Area Newtown was once referred to as the “Venice of Newfoundland” as it was built on several tiny islands joined by bridges. The Barbour Living Heritage Village is located on a point of land surrounded by tickles and beaches and it is highly visible when entering Newtown. Newtown and Cape Freels are located along a strip of coast known as oceanic barrens. There plenty to see and do when you head out on the Road to the Shore. In addition to taking in all the attractions at the Barbour Living Heritage Village, we highly recommend you plan the following: Visit the Greenspond Courthouse and walk the trails Walk the Cape Island Walking Trail Take in some bird watching Greenspond Courthouse Greenspond was once known as the “Capital of Bonavista Bay” and has a history dating back to the late 1600’s. It had a customs office and its own courthouse, where many cases were tried. At the peak of its settlement, it had a population of 1,800, but has less than 400 residents now. The Greenspond Courthouse is located in Greenspond, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. Along with a tour of the Barbour Living Heritage Village in nearby Newtown, it is another ‘must see’ when you visit our area. Designed by the Superintendent of Public Buildings, William Henry Churchill, in 1899, the Greenspond Courthouse is one in a series of courthouses built on a standard plan. It remains an important example of this period of courthouse design in Newfoundland. It has a dome, jailrooms, and upstairs living quarters, which are features unique to the property. The building has been restored to its 1899 state. Both the courthouse and the Barbour Living Heritage Village, Newtown are supported by a wealth of scholarly books, anecdotal accounts, letters, photographs, and original art. Also available for viewing is a multitude of artifacts relating to the seal and cod fishery, related business activity, and courtroom cases, which demonstrate the extraordinary qualities of courage, ingenuity, and tenacity of the rural Newfoundlander. The Courthouse is open to the public during the tourist season. Friendly hosts will show you around the main floor of the courthouse, the jails and the upstairs quarters. Crafts, souvenirs, and gifts are also available in this historic building. While visiting Greenspond, take a stroll around this historic town and walking trail. At the lookout, you will have a glorious view of Puffin Island and the majestic icebergs that frequent the area. But drop by the Olde Shoppe Restaurant at the Barbour Living Heritage Village in Newtown first to pick up a picnic lunch to take with you. For information regarding the Greenspond Courthouse, contact us. Cape Island Walking Trail The community of Cape Island was abandoned 1951-1953 as a result of a decline in the fishing and sealing industries. Until that time, people made their living from a small boat inshore cod fishery, capelin and seal hunting. Situated off the eastern tip of Cape Freels in Bonavista Bay, along the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland, it had been settled in the late 18th century by fishermen and trappers from nearby settlements such as Greenspond and Bonavista. By the time of the 1836 Census of Newfoundland, there were 100 people living in this tiny fishing village. Many artifacts have been found along the trail. Look for a copy of the book at the Poop Deck Craft and Gift Shop located in the Barbour Living Heritage Village, Newtown. Drop by the Olde Shoppe Restaurant to pick up a picnic basket before heading out to the walking trail in Cape Island. Bird watchers will find the community of Cape Freels particularly interesting since the beaches are heavily populated with hundreds of small seabirds. The Piping Plover was once common here. An interesting fact about this area – Beothuk Indians are known to have lived in this region. Enjoy a stroll on the new walking trail. For more information about bird watching in Cape Freels, click here. Recent Posts Neptune II – 1929 Christmas Parties and Other Notices Kevin Collins Returns December 9th The MISFITS – November 28th

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Dogs Accepted Parking Wi-Fi Sea views PropertiesAbout Save this item Thomas Hardy's Cottage Thomas Hardy's Cottage Things To Do Not only does the quaint thatched cottage in which Hardy was born still stand, but it’s one of the most popular family attractions in Dorchester. Hardy’s Cottage was built by his great-grandfather in 1800, and little has changed since. Hardy lived in the cottage until he was 22, and returned to it to write after 5 years in London. Visitors can sit in the very spot where Dorset’s most famous writer penned some of his best-loved works, including ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ and ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’. Picture the quintessential English country garden and it’ll probably look just the one that Hardy admired from his bedroom window. There’s also an orchard, and the whole area is full with the sound of birds singing all year round. The property may be beautiful but as you discover more about day to day rural life you’ll start to appreciate that it had its challenges during the 19th century, and the friendly staff are always on hand to answer questions or just enjoy a chat about the author. Look out for the peep hole in the porch used by Hardy’s grandfather for smuggling escapades, and the small room upstairs in which the author wrote. The cottage is open to visitors between March and October, and is now owned by the National Trust. Address: Higher Bockhampton, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 8QJ The Great Dorset Steam Fair Events don’t come much more traditional than the Great Dorset Steam Fair, and it takes place every year in the pretty... Ratty's Trail This circular walk starts from Dorchester and it was carefully designed to showcase the area’s wildlife. The River... The Lawrence of Arabia Trail We know everyone’s familiar with the extraordinary life and career of Lawrence of Arabia, but did you know that he... Rajpoot Restaurant Rajpoot Restaurant is all about imaginative Indian cuisine served in style. The colourful lighting throughout the... The Blue Pool The Blue Pool has drawn curious visitors in their hundreds since its discovery in 1935, as its waters are forever... Dorchester Town Walks Dorchester is often described as the ‘small town with the big story’, and as most of it is within walking distance from... The Jerram Gallery Sherborne’s Jerram Gallery displays the work of British contemporary artists, and the exhibitions showcase the work of... Roman Town House The grounds of County Hall are home to a famous Dorchester attraction, the Roman Town House. Described by Tony Robinson... Badger Watch There’s always something to see during a holiday in Dorchester, and it’s not just the daytimes that are packed with... Ghost Walks With so much history to its name, the choice of walks in Dorchester wouldn’t be complete without the spooky ghost walks... Sherborne Castle and Gardens The lake at Sherborne Castle is all thanks to Lancelot “Capability” Brown, and it’s made the gardens one of Dorset’s... Dorchester Borough Gardens You’ll find Dorchester’s Borough Gardens tucked away just minutes from the town centre and they’re a handy place to... Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens were created by the first Countess of Ilchester in 1765, and they continue to dazzle... The Eastbury Hotel Restaurant Voted ‘Dorset Restaurant of the Year’ and the holder of all kinds of other awards, a visit to The Eastbury Hotel’s... Jurassic Coast Activities Lulworth Cove is by far one of the UK’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, so why not go one step further than... Walking Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door Discover Dorset’s Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site by walking its most famous section. Together, Lulworth Cove and... Cerne Valley Walk Wherever you pick up the circular Cerne Valley Walk we think you’ll be bowled over by the beauty and changing landscape... Maiden Castle You'll find Maiden Castle just two miles from Dorchester, and it's one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hill... A Roman Town If it's Dorset's history you want to experience then head to Dorchester. The town's extensive history is still visible... La Gondola La Gondola is the perfect eatery for your first night in Dorchester accommodation. When you’re after good food with no... Athelhampton House and Gardens The name suggests that Athelhampton House and Gardens are going to be pretty grand, and anyone who’s visited will tell...

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http://www.chron.com/life/article/Boston-on-foot-3860414.php Boston on foot By Jennifer Latson Photo: Rob Hill A statue of George Washington looks over the Boston Public Garden. Boston Public Garden is one of the city's major attractions. Photo: email - Kristin Finan Cities with the highest income when adjusted for the cost of living 15. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA Average 2015 annual wages: $64,723 Wages adjusted for 2013 cost of living and 2014 housing cost: $50,373 Source: Forbes less Wages adjusted for 2013 cost of living and 2014 housing cost: $50,373 ... more Photo: Arthur Goh Twilight view of Boston skyline from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Memorial Drive and Charles river on forground. Cutline: A view of Boston at night from Cambridge. Credit: Fotolia Photo: Jorge Salcedo KRT TRAVEL STORY SLUGGED: TRAINRIDE KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY ALAN SOLOMON/CHICAGO TRIBUNE (May 5) A statue of Col. William Prescott guards the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, Massachusetts. (mvw) 2003 (Diversity) Photo: ALAN SOLOMON A relief displayed at an entrance to Boston Common, May 11, 1999, depicts the historic founding of Boston in 1630. Views of Boston are both historic and futuristic, as a city recognized as the birthplace of the American Revolution and also the center of technological innovation. (AP Photo/Julia Malakie) less A relief displayed at an entrance to Boston Common, May 11, 1999, depicts the historic founding of Boston in 1630. Views of Boston are both historic and futuristic, as a city recognized as the birthplace of the ... more Photo: JULIA MALAKIE ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **The old John Hancock building, left of the large tower, and the new John Hancock, the large tower, dominate the skyline in Boston, in this June 24, 2004, file photo. Behind and to the far right is the Prudential tower, and foreground is the Boston Common and Public Garden. (AP Photo/Robert E. Klein) less ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **The old John Hancock building, left of the large tower, and the new John Hancock, the large tower, dominate the skyline in Boston, in this June 24, 2004, file photo. Behind and to the ... more Photo: ROBERT E. KLEIN Back Bay cityscape in the spring, from Boston Common, Beacon Hill. View includes John Hancock Tower, Prudential and other office building along residential apartments. Cutline: A view of Boston's Back Bay from Boston Common. Credit: fotolia.com less Cutline: A view of Boston's Back Bay from ... more Old South Church from the front steps of the Boston Public Library. Photo: Jennifer Latson Park Street Church in Boston, a keystone in the Abolitionist movement and a stop on the Freedom Trail. Boston's Granary Burying Ground is where Paul Revere, John Hancock and Sam Adams rest. Sidewalk insignias mark Boston's Freedom Trail, a historical walking tour. Faneuil Hall, near the waterfront and Government Center, has a unique grasshopper weather vane. The line of red bricks trailed right, toward Paul Revere's house, but we veered left instead and stopped at that less historic, but equally prominent, North End fixture: Mike's Pastry. At the halfway point on Boston's Freedom Trail, it pays to stop for cannoli, or you could have a revolution on your hands. Boston is no place for tourists to bring a car. The city's notoriously poor street signs and confusing six-way intersections make driving a hassle, and then where would you park, anyway? But in this relatively compact Colonial capital, where you'll find Revolution-era landmarks woven in among the Dunkin' Donuts franchises on nearly every block, it's much easier, and more rewarding, to go on foot. This is particularly true of the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile hike, blazed by a line of red bricks embedded in sidewalks and pavement, which connects the dots of 16 historical sites from Boston Common to Bunker Hill. The walk takes longer than you'd think: urban hiking is not quite as effortless as walking through the woods on a snowy evening. You'll find intersections to wait at, plaques to read and cannoli to eat along the way. When I did the walk with a group of visiting Texans recently, it took us close to eight hours from start to finish, and by the time we got to Bunker Hill, I was too exhausted to climb the 294 steps to the top. Tourists have been walking the Freedom Trail since the red line was first marked in 1958, but today's technology allows you to be your own tour guide along the way. My friends and I visited the Boston city website (cityof boston.gov/freedomtrail) and found informational blurbs about the trail's landmarks, so at every historical stop we each pulled out our smartphones and learned about what the colonists had been up to. Alternatively, you can find detailed descriptions or download an audio tour from the Freedom Trail Foundation (store.the freedomtrail.org), which also provides guided tours the old-fashioned way: in person, given by historical interpreters portraying figures like Paul Revere's wife, Rachel, and Boston Massacre casualty Crispus Attucks. I'm not a diehard American history enthusiast, partly because I've always thought that everything I needed to know about Colonial times I learned in elementary and middle school. But even for a New England native like me - I share a hometown with Revolutionary War hero Israel Putnam, to whom some historians have attributed the famous line "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," during the Colonial army's poorly-armed standoff at Bunker Hill - the tour was eye-opening. While in recent years I've gone ice-skating on the Common's Frog Pond and watched college students play Quidditch on its grassy fields - galloping with broomsticks wedged between their legs in an awkwardly athletic tribute to Harry Potter - I was unaware of the grim purposes it served in Puritan days. Apart from grazing cattle there, the Puritans also used the Common as a public hanging ground, where notorious criminals met their ends. Those criminals included pirates and murderers, witches and Quakers. The Puritans, it turns out, were only interested in their own religious freedom; seeing people practice a different religion drove them to murderous fury. Boston's British governor learned this lesson when he tried to build an Anglican church in the late 1680s and found that no one would sell him the land. He picked a corner of the city's first public burying ground, dug up the bodies, moved them to a different corner, and built King's Chapel - another stop on the Freedom Trail. The stone church is a beautiful example of Georgian architecture, but it did not endear the royal governor to the colonists he governed. They weren't fond of the taxes he levied in the first place; exhuming the bodies of their beloveds was another nail in the coffin of colonial discontent. The Freedom Trail is heavy on history, but a few steps from the brick line will get you back to the future. One of the most interesting things about Boston is how the historical and the modern coexist, sometimes right on top of each other, since many historical buildings have been preserved but re-purposed. Take the Old State House, a Freedom Trail site where the Declaration of Independence was first read aloud to Bostonians in 1776. Today you can see John Hancock's velvet suit and some of Paul Revere's silver on display on the first floor, then board the T in the basement: the building does double duty as cultural artifact and subway station. Or take the Old Corner Bookstore, another stop on the trail. Built in 1712, it was once a printing shop that first published American classics by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today it houses a Chipotle. We passed up the opportunity to eat a burrito where "Uncle Tom's Cabin" rolled off the press, and waited until the trail took us past Quincy Market, where we ate clam chowder in a domed dining area built for food vendors in 1822. Then we trekked on to the North End, one of the oldest sections of Boston, where tiny cobblestone streets are lighted with gas lamps - even during the day, since it's cheaper for the city to leave the lights on than to extinguish and relight them daily. This is the neighborhood where you'll find Paul Revere's home: a dark, cramped wooden structure built in 1680, making it downtown Boston's oldest surviving building. Today the neighborhood is Boston's Little Italy, where you'll find the streets crammed with small Italian restaurants, gelaterias and bakeries. Mike's Pastry is the most heavily trafficked of the latter - the line usually snakes out the door, and you'll see the bakery's ubiquitous white boxes tied tight with blue-and-white string in the hands of half the people on the crowded sidewalks. The cannoli, though, are worth the wait, and generous enough to fuel the rest of your walk: across the bridge to Charlestown, where you can tour Old Ironsides and then hike to the top of Bunker Hill - which, as the historical plaques will tell you, is actually Breed's Hill; it will also tell you that the Colonial forces lost this first battle of the Revolutionary War. I don't remember that part of the story from elementary school; the prevailing message I learned was of the colonists' bravery - particularly our own General Putnam's. Sometimes you have to walk a mile - or 2.5 - in your forefathers' shoes to get closer to the historical truth. If you go Stay: The Boston Sheraton will put you right in the heart of downtown, adjacent to the Prudential Tower, one of the city's modern landmarks, and a block away from Newbury Street, Boston's high-end commercial corridor. For cheaper digs, use Airbnb to find rentals in Cambridge, Somerville or Jamaica Plain, which are an easy T ride from downtown Boston. Eat: The North End is a popular for its tiny upscale Italian restaurants; we liked Il Villagio, although we had to wait an hour for a table despite having made a reservation. On the Freedom Trail, Quincy Market is your best bet for lunch, with a diverse food court that's a step or two above what you'd find at your average mall. We liked the clam chowder at Boston Chowda Co. Or try a restaurant facing the market, Durgin Park, where you'll get traditional New England food served by famously surly waitstaff. Off the trail: You don't have to stick to the Freedom Trail to immerse yourself in Boston's history. Take a tour of Fenway Park, which turned 100 this year, and learn about the Curse of the Bambino. Or take a Duck Tour (bostonducktours.com) in a World War II-era amphibious tank; you'll follow sections of the Freedom Trail by tank before dipping into the Charles River, on a tour narrated by spirited-if slightly cheesy-con "duck" tors. Or rent a kayak-we used Charles River Canoe & Kayak (paddleboston.com) to paddle from MIT to the Museum of Science and get a sweeping view of Boston's skyline. J.L.

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HomeLeisure & OutdoorsTravelMuseum InternationalAbraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Mueum (Illinois, USA) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Mueum (Illinois, USA) Address: 212 N. Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62701 / This is in the capital city of Illinois home of Abraham Lincoln..A huge modern museum devoted to the story of Abraham Lincoln. It also has a large research library as part of the set up. „ catsholiday A very thorough museum devoted to telling the story of President Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum212 N. Sixth Street, Springfield, IL 62701Springfield is the home of this one of the USA's most famous presidents and everywhere in the city reminds you that he lived here. This museum is huge and very modern and is dedicated entirely to Lincoln and his life's achievements. The library is a separate building across the street and is a research library not a book lending library. PRICES AND TIMES OF OPENINGMUSEUM9:00 AM - 5:00 PM DAILYThe Museum's admission fee is:Adult $12.00Senior (62 and up) $9.00Children (5 - 15) $6.00Military (ID required) $7.00Students (ID required) $9.00Child (under 5) No ChargeMembers No ChargeLIBRARYPublic and Research Hours: Monday - Friday - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PMSaturday, Sunday - Open for Exhibit Viewing OnlyPARKINGThe Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum parking ramp is off 6th Street between Madison and Mason streets. The rate is $.75 cents per 1/2 hour or $1.50 per hour. The RV and bus parking lot is a flat rate of $5.00. We had our car parked back at the hotel but the city seemed amazingly empty to us so you may find on street parking if you are prepared to walk a little way. RULES AND REGULATIONSAs you enter the museum you are security checked and any large bags and coats can be left in a cloakroom. My handbag was checked and our bottles of water and cameras were okay.You can take photos in the Plaza area and Mrs. Lincoln Attic but not in the theaters, galleries or exhibits.You are not allowed to take in any food, drinks, sweets or gum and the Museum is smoke-free. The museum is monitored by video surveillance. You are not allowed to touch the exhibits. OUR VISITTHE PLAZAOnce in you arrive in this huge room that looks like the outside of the Whitehouse with Lincoln and his wife and sons in the centre. He looks really small but when we stood beside the models we discovered they were life size and he was actually really tall. He was taller than my husband who is 6' 3". His wife was pretty short though and I felt okay beside her. You were allowed to pose beside this famous family and take photos in most places in the museum. We were busy taking photos when one of the security guides came over and told us that a film was just about to start in one of the theatres so we rushed in and sat down to watch.THE UNION THEATREThis presentation was amazing. It was called 'Through Lincoln's Eyes' and it began with a n actor telling us to look at Lincoln's eyes and one side of his face when split in half, look like he was happy and the other looked sad and yet it was the same face - made me wonder what my face would look like split in half vertically. The actor who was the artist painting Lincoln's portrait then went on to tell us how he struggled to understand all the things he saw in Lincoln's eyes: sorrow, resolve, hope, vision, forgiveness, and so on.The presentation then moved on to telling the story of Lincoln's life and what etched these things into his facial expression. The story focuses on the personal and political dramas and key issues of Lincoln's presidency, especially slavery and the Civil War.This sets the scene and introduces you to the character who is President Lincoln. We learned that he had immense courage to do what he felt was right, even though it led to the Civil War. He stood firm in his vision to do what he felt was right which cannot have been easy.This is a pretty impressive show using a combination of real actors and different digital projection screens as well as other pretty good special effects. We came out really very impressed with the show and much more knowledgeable about Lincoln and his life.JOURNEY ONEWe didn't realize that this was a huge exhinition of Lincoln until he was elected. We thought it was just a re creation of his childhood home which was a small log cabin. You enter through this log cabin and then follow through a pretty comprehensive display with lots of information until you finally come out in to the central Plaza again.In the cabin we learn that Lincoln was self taught and was an avid reader and he read by candlelight in the tiny cabin that housed his family of Dad, step mum and five other siblings in one pretty small room.We move on to discover that Lincoln earned his first wages as a ferryman crossing the Ohio River. The next display shows a slave auction which Lincoln must have seen at some stage and obviously had a huge impact on him helping to inspire his beliefs that all men should be free man and his efforts to abolish slavery in the USA.We progressed through to see Lincoln courting, him becoming a lawyer, the fact that he couldn't control his children and allowed them to create havoc in his law office which made me smile.We end up with the election that makes him President and the family moving to Washington.The displays are all life size models with pictures and information to support the displays. I found it interesting and informative enough without overkill and child friendly too.THE THEATREThe show we saw was called 'Ghost of the Library' which was told by an actor who was looking after the library. The show uses holograms and as objects appear the actor tells you a little about how that fits in the story of Lincoln and his years as President. It was again, very well done and informative as wll as being high tech and almost like magic with the holograms.MRS LINCOLN'S ATTICWe didn't really spend a lot of time in here as we had no children with us but the teacher in me felt I had to take a look. This area is specifically aimed at children with lots of hands on activities and exhibits. Children cannot be left in here as they must be accompanied by an adult. There is a lot to see and do in a fairly small space and children can try on clothes such as Lincoln's suit ,his wife's dress or maybe a Civil War Soldier. They can try using a buzz-saw or play with an old style doll house. There was also one of those things you can stand behind and stick your head through a hole to pose for a picture like they have at seasides, this one was of Lincoln and his family.JOURNEY TWO- THE WHITE HOUSE YEARSThis part of the museum is once again entered through the Plaza and passed the Lincoln family. We then noticed another figure near the wall, that of John Wilkes Booth .On the veranda stand General McClellan and General Grant who are eyeing each other with suspicion. As you enter you are met with Mrs Lincoln dressed for Washington and other ballgowns of society ladies in Washington at the time who all have something snide to say about Mrs Lincoln whom they consider rather homely.Much of this section of the museum is taken up with the Civil War and decisions Lincoln makes with the other men in government at the time. One set is a recreation of Lincoln's office in the White House and his colleagues in the government at the time. There is even a discussion in the White House kitchen about the Lincoln's and the President is palnning.No wonder Lincoln aged during his time in the White House as not only did he have to take the country through a civil war but he also had his son, Willie which we see takes place while the Lincoln's host a White House party and they sit by his bed in their party clothes.This scene follows the whispering gallery which is a really quite an unpleasant display of caricatures and comments said about the Lincoln's while they are in office. I had no idea they were so unpopular both in the USA and abroad.This section takes us through the ups and downs of the Civil War battles and then into Fords Theatre and the Presidential box where Lincoln was shot. Strangely despite his lack of popularity when in the White House, his body was taken all over the USA lying in state and the map shows that this was indeed " the longest, most elaborate funeral in American history."We are able to walk passed the Lincoln coffin in the re-creation of the Representatives Hall in Springfield's Old State Capitol, at the exact moment in May, 1865 when Lincoln lay in state. This is the most amazingly elaborate funeral scene like a very Victorian-era mourning scene and it is as though we as visitors are actually paying our last respects. It is silent in there and you cannot fail to be moved by the scene even though you know it isn't real.AND SO MUCHMORE IN THE MUSEUM ALONEThere is an "Ask Mr Lincoln" small interactive exhibition where you can choose a question and then hear the answer from 'Lincoln' himself.The Gateway map shows all the other cities and places where you can visit to learn more about Mr Lincoln in the USA.THE CAFÉThis was actually a Subway but we only wanted a coffee and then I was tempted by a cake too. It was light and airy and a Subway so sold all that Subway usually sell.THE LIBRARYWe crossed over the road to take a peek at the Presidential Library which is really a big research library but they do have exhibitions in there which the public are invited to view.The exhibition when we visited was The Boys in Blue which was an exhibition a about and a tribute to Illinois soldiers in the Civil War told through the Library's collection of Civil War photographs, letters, books, newspapers, and artifacts.We felt we had seen a fair bit and were ready to move on to other Lincoln sites in the city which I shall review at some time in the future.I would definitely recommend a visit to this very interesting and well put together museum dedicated to President Lincoln's life and of course if you need to do any research into American history then the library is the place across the road. If you are in the Springfield area then this place is a must visit on your list.Thank for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same user name.©Catsholiday Comments Brooklyn Museum (New York, USA) Cloisters (New York, USA) Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum (New York, USA) Frick Collection (New York, USA) American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA) Haden Hill House Museum and Haden Old Hall (England) Museum of Victims of Occupational Regimes (Lviv, Ukraine) Kyoto International Manga Museum (Japan) International Spy Museum (Washington) National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis)

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Arts and Culture Bloem's very own Hobbit hole A hotel celebrates the famous author, but there's little else to mark the city as Tolkien's birthplace. Not exactly Middle-Earth: The Hobbit Boutique Hotel in Bloemfontein doesn’t go all out to exploit the association with JRR Tolkien. (Rian Horn) Above the laminated breakfast menus in a guest house on President Steyn Avenue, Bloemfontein, is an unexpected sight. “John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was born on this site on 3 January 1892,” reads an iron plaque engraved in English and Afrikaans. In fact this is not quite true: Tolkien was born a few streets away in a house that would be lost to a flood in the 1920s. Some remnants of that building, along with the plaque, are now incorporated in the structure of the Hobbit Boutique Hotel — one of South Africa’s last visible links with the author, who left for Britain at the age of three. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are among the biggest selling books of all time. Peter Jackson’s film adaptations are no less phenomenal: his Lord of the Rings trilogy raked in $2.91-billion in global ticket sales and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last weekend broke the United States record for a December opening. Yet the much-hyped release of The Hobbit is unlikely to bring legions of fans to South Africa. The country does little to promote its claim on Bilbo Baggins and the Bloemfontein tourism website omits its most famous son from a list of local attractions. Even the four-star Hobbit Boutique Hotel is relatively coy. Although each of the 12 rooms draws on the Tolkien universe, don’t expect Gandalf and Gollum salt and pepper pots. The chandelier, blue and white crockery, fireplaces with bellows, framed illustrations of butterflies and flowers, pendulum clocks, wood cabinets and mantelpiece decorated with golden angels are quaint but not necessarily Middle-Earth. “I’d almost say we’re borderline Elizabethan,” said the manager, Obakeng Marintlhwane. Niche appeal One British guest did propose Hobbit-­themed music in the garden and TV screens showing Jackson’s movies 24 hours a day. Marin-tlhwane was unimpressed. “You don’t want to be too over the top,” he said. The hotel is typically half or two-thirds full in an average week, he added, not all of them Tolkien devotees. “We don’t do mass marketing. We cater for a particular niche, just as Tolkien appealed to a particular niche. We get calls from people planning to see South Africa and they include the Hobbit in their itinerary even if they don’t stay here.” A decade ago there were grand plans in Bloemfontein for a Tolkien statue in a park inhabited by characters from his books, a Tolkien stamp series and an annual literary festival to coincide with his birthday. Marintlhwane said he is unaware of any homages in the city today; an organised “Tolkien trail” has petered out. The trail included the site of the bank where Tolkien’s British father, Arthur, was manager, the Anglican cathedral where the writer was baptised and the cemetery where Arthur is buried. He died from rheumatic fever in 1896, a year after his wife, Mabel, returned to Britain, “exhausted by the climate”. Three-year-old Tolkien and his younger brother, Hilary, took the long voyage with their mother and settled in the West Midlands in central England. The South African Tourism website does acknowledge Tolkien’s brief time here, stating: “As a boy, Tolkien was a favourite among his family’s employees. On one occasion, Isaak, who worked for his father, took Tolkien home to his kraal for a night to show the baby off to his family. Isaak went on to name his first son Isaak Mister Tolkien Victor.” It adds: “Tolkien himself claimed to have few memories of South Africa, except for a vivid encounter with a large spider — an experience he is said to have put to good use later on in his writing.” The Hobbit is playing at cinemas in Bloemfontein, but not everyone realises its local significance. “I’m amazed,” said Phindile Magagula, 43, a chef and painter. “I watched the movies but I didn’t know he was born here. I would never have imagined.” A museum or statue would boost tourism and help the local economy, she added. “They need to present all this history. They should do something about it. There isn’t much going on in this area; you have to go out of town.” Cornel van Tonder, 24, a waiter at an Italian restaurant close to the Hobbit Boutique Hotel, was not so sure. “He was a great writer but his books weren’t based on our landscapes or weather,” he reflected. “They’re not culturally connected to South Africa — he was just born here. Anyway, we still have Charlize Theron: she won an Oscar.” — © Guardian News & Media 2013 Hobbit fever grips New Zealand Sarah Jessica Parker - Oscar de la Renta's favourite 'New York girl'Designer Oscar de la Renta diesTalib Kweli Q&A: 'Nah son ... the world owes you nothing'The cape leopard coins: Conservation's gold standard Talib Kweli Q&A: 'Nah son ... the world owes you nothing'National gallery a victim of Iziko structureDesigner Oscar de la Renta diesAli Mazrui: Unafraid to confront contentious issues

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HomeLeisure & OutdoorsUK / Ireland GuideSightseeing NationalEltham Palace (Eltham) Eltham Palace (Eltham) First inhabited as a royal residence in 1311 and frequented for the next four hundred years by successive monarchs, mainly for entertainment. Opening Times: April - September: open Thursday Friday & Sunday 10am-6pm. October - March: open Thursday Friday & „ A very worthwhile visit Eltham Palace has been on my list of things to visit for many years. Renowned as an Art Deco gem in the heart of London, I had heard wonderful things about the unique design and the opulent decoration. The May bank holiday provided an excellent opportunity for the whole family to go out and see for ourselves.Eltham Palace was once a beautiful medieval royal palace and home to Henry VIII. In the 1930s the glamorous millionaires Stephen and Virginia Courtauld bought what remained of the palace and commissioned a spectacular and luxurious house to be built as a kind of extension. As strange as this may sound, the end result is something quite special. The house was completed in 1936 and was very strongly influenced the Art Deco fashion of the time, designed to simulate a Cunard ocean liner, each room was specially created to reflect the work of various contemporary architects and interior designers.Now the palace is still a very special place; an echo of a millionaire lifestyle that has long gone, but which was dedicated to breaking the traditional design mold and to putting a great deal of money into making the living environment the most luxurious and amazing home. Walking into it today, you can transport yourself back to that time and imagine what it must have been like to party amongst such sumptuous surroundings.~~History~~Henry VIII was the last monarch to spend a substantial amount of time living in Eltham, and in the sixteenth century the palace started to fall into ruin quite rapidly. Over the next two hundred years the magnificent Great Hall was used as a barn and Eltham Palace spent some time being used as a farm. The Courtaulds, with their modern ideas for new design transformed the site during the 1930s but they left the area in 1944 and the site was used by the army until 1992. Luckily English Heritage took over the management of the Palace in 1995 and in 1999 they restored it to its 1930s glory and opened it to the public. Today it is a special place to visit, but not particularly high profile in terms of fame and publicity. This could be partly because the grounds have been reduced to a very small percentage of their original size, leaving the palace sitting rather incongruously in the middle of surburban Eltham. From this point of view it compares strangely to more rural stately homes such as Hatfield House or Knebworth which are approached through vast pastures of private land and long drives. ~~Our Visit ~~As we walked the short distance from the car park to the house, I had a rising sense of excitement - walking along the outskirts of the property I could catch tantalising glimpses of the house and gardens over the brick perimeter wall and I couldn't wait to get in.Access to the house is over a small wooden footbridge that crosses over the moat. Going through a large door, the ticket office is small and informal - and somewhat confusing. There were two cashiers but no obvious queue. Some people appeared to be walking straight through - either going straight on into the garden or turning left to the kitchen and scullery. As one of the restaurants was in this area of the house, I imagine they were heading there - but the whole place was just a milling crowd of people with no clear direction or signs from the staff.Eventually we managed to reach a till, and paid for out tickets. We were then directed back towards the kitchen, and after the walk down the long dark corridor and past the restaurant, we found ourselves stepping into the most photographed and famous room in the palace; the entrance hall.~~Entrance Hall~~The entrance hall is just simply spectacular, and everything that I was expecting when I decided to visit the house. Lit from above by a multi-paned glass dome which allows light to pour down into the circular carpet and furniture arranged in a circle to mirror the dome. The curator was especially vigilant with the recreated brown and beige Dorn rug, but despite his constant orders to keep off the carpet, visitors still tried to walk across. Small white furniture in the art deco style are arranged around the carpet, with side tables holding papers and magazines from the 1930s. It was like stepping back in time.The room itself is triangular in shape and very simple, with several rooms radiating off, a large front door which is currently unused, and a long corridor.Male and female toilets are located by the large front door, but manage to be very discrete and in keeping despite the central location. This is probably because they are not modern additions, but the original toilets that the Courtaulds installed for the convenience of their many guests.A huge decorated wooden panel with scenes from around the world (1930s Venice and Olso) dominates the room, with two winding wooden panelled staircases at either side taking visitors up to the first floor. Each wall is lined with a lovely mellow blackbean veneer and enormous marquetry panels depicting a Roman legionnaire and a Viking, tower over the visitors. The room was designed by Engstromer, and is the first example of Swedish interior design in England. Everything in this room is curved and curving - the furniture, the walls, the window dome, the patterns on the carpet. It is quite beautiful and very different.To one side of the room is a small cubicle that housed the old fashioned telephone (recreated to show us what life was like) - and whilst here I was mystified by a rope ladder that led upwards through a hole in the ceiling. I later discovered that this was so that the Courtauld's pet lemur, Mah-Jongg, could come down from his cage on the upper floor to be fed.~~Other Downstairs Rooms~~Numerous rooms lead off corridors from all sides of the entrance hall and radiate from the entrance hall itself. These include Stephen Courtauld's study and the magnificent Italian Drawing Room. It is the unsymmetrical nature of this layout that I find so attractive - it is difficult to get the plan of the house into your head.There are so many beautiful rooms downstairs that it would be impossible to go into detail about them all. Unusual things that I noticed were the innovative vacuuming system in place around the house, best seen in the study. Using this system involved plugging a hose into the vacuuming pipe system that was hidden behind the skirting boards. The engine for the system was kept in the basement and once activated sucked up dust from all around the house, whisking it away neatly into the basement without the maids having to lug a large vacuum cleaner around.Another room that remains in my memory is the Dining Room, accessed through some really spectacular black and silver doors. These doors had images of animals and birds in silver which stood out amazingly against the black. The animals were inspired from those at London Zoo. The ceiling in this room is decorated with fine aluminium leaves in the Art Deco style and the furniture is upholstered in pink leather.A long corridor leads from the entrance hall to a very ancient room and it is a surprise to find yourself entering a very different sort of stately home. This is the original Great Hall which was built for Edward IV in the 1470s as a dining room, and which was incorporated into the 1930s house as a surprising addition. You can see this huge hall from two perspectives; from the ground floor or from the first floor minstrels gallery which leads from the upstairs bedrooms. This hall seems strangely incongruous - 100 feet long and dominated by the enormous and intricately constructed wooden hammer beam roof, this hall was used by the Courtaulds as a music room. Although impressive, I found it strangely out of place amongst the art deco finery of the rest of the house.~~Upstairs~~Going upstairs is a treat in itself. Continuing the theme of a Cunard liner, the curved stairs really are like those on a luxury ship, with small port holes in the wall as you walk up so that you can look out on the downstairs visitors.As is sometimes common in 1930s houses, some of the bedrooms seem rather disappointingly functional after the unrelenting luxury of downstairs. The most amazing exception to this is Virginia Cortauld's bedroom, which is truly opulent and the last word in extravagance. This room was designed by Malacrida; the famous and popular Italian interior designer, and is totally flamboyant and delightfully over the top. The walls are curved, which I always love, and are lined with sycamore veneer in the style of an ocean liner. The ceiling is mirrored with hidden lighting which is also found in the walls. These hidden light fittings illuminate jade and crystal statues that are dotted around the room above the lights. The most popular sight in this room was Virginia's en suite bathroom which is more like a shrine to the gods than anything else. This bathroom is dominated by a statue of Psyche which sits above the large bath in an alcove that is decorated with real gold mosaic tiles. The whole bathroom is decorated in gold leaf and onyx and is very much the most impressive and excessive thing I have ever seen.A number of bedrooms, including Stephen Courtauld's suite, impress with original features and tasteful design, finishing with the servant's bedrooms at the very end of the corridor. These servants bedrooms are closed to the public.As you walk along the upstairs corridor, it is impossible to miss Mah-Jongg's Quarters. At last you can see where the mysterious little ladder led to; the pet lemur had a large, centrally heated cage on the landing so that he could sleep with his owners, but he also had a private hatch with a rope ladder so that he could nip downstairs to the kitchen for a late night snack. ~~The Gardens~~It is certainly worth making sure that you have time to see the gardens before you leave. The gardens have also been fully restored and are a fantastic example of 1930s garden design. In addition a fair amount of the parkland remains around the house, giving views over London and providing a lovely place to walk or picnic in fine weather.The Courtaulds were both interested in horticulture and gardens design in general. It is likely that they contributed to the design themselves; a design which included the flooding of the original moat and the creation of ornamental plantations, sunken rose gardens, a rock garden and a woodland garden.The variety in this garden is amazing and the addition of the water filled moat adds a lot of atmosphere to the area close to the house. The terrace outside the double doored entrance has also been wonderfully designed with a radiating pattern of brick paths. The Courtaulds put their own mark on this area too with 4 reliefs which illustrated some of their favourite pastimes, such as mountaineering and yachting. ~~Refreshments ~~There are two main areas to take a snack break in the Palace. The Orangery is a small takeaway snack bar in the gardens. In nice weather you can eat on the tables that sit outside, but there is no indoor seating. The Orangery sells pre-wrapped sandwiches of a limited choice (egg and cress, cheese salad) for around £2.95. These were really not at all appetising and I was disappointed.Inside, hot food is served in a small, overcrowded tearoom which is just next to the gift shop by the entrance. The food here once again is expensive and really not inspiring. We took one look at the huge queue waiting to sit down in the tiny square room and decided not to bother, making the short walk to Eltham town centre in a few minutes and having our lunch in the local BHS cafe.~~Getting there~~Driving there seemed to take much longer than it should. Eltham is not an easy place to find for the initiated, and seemed to involve a whole day of dreary south London streets and grey dual carriageways. The A2, A20 and M25 all run close to the palace.Located in the middle of a residential, the Palace itself is not well signposted and seemed hidden away in a maze of small residential streets.For those who are not familiar with the area, I would recommend catching a train directly from London Charing Cross to Eltham or Mottingham Stations, or perhaps catching the 124, 126 or 160 bus, all of which stop close to the palace.~~Opening times and prices~~The palace is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. Summer 10:00 - 17:00, winter 11:00 - 16:00.Prices are £9.30 per adult, £5.60 for children and £8.40 concessions. A family ticket is £24.20 and entry is free to English Heritage members.~~Overall Opinion~~Eltham Palace is a lovely and unique place, and one which I would readily visit again. We visited on a Bank Holiday and found that the large crowds did detract a little from our enjoyment, so I would recommend trying to visit at a quieter time. The palace is small and the rooms and corridors are also small - it is easy to feel a bit claustrophobic once the visitors arrive in force.We were able to buy a family ticket, which was good value - but I do think the adult prices are on the high side if you arrive as a couple or individually.On the down side, the organisation was poor, from the buying of the tickets to the queues in the restaurants. Considering that so many pubs, supermarkets and cafes are within a few minutes walk of the palace, I would expect them to offer better quality and value to be competitive. However, we did have an enjoyable time, especially walking around the gardens once we had finished in the house. The atmosphere of the 1930 has been really well captured without feeling too much like a museum or a false recreation of every day life. It was a real glimpse into history and one that I was glad to make.Eltham PalaceCourt YardGreenwichLondonSE9 5QE Comments duskmaiden mediaeval paalce and art deco showhouse in one When you think of royal residences in the London area you think of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and perhaps the Tower of London or Hampton Court. No one would mention Eltham Palace even though it is where the young Henry VIII spent the vast majority of his childhood.. Eltham Palace is in a far flung corner of suburban south east London thus is a little known gem far far away from the touristtrap of central London. It's a palace with a difference as it is more cosy, intimate and at first sight not very royal at all due to the new 1930s wing. You may recognise the interiors as it has been used in films and television programs set in the 30s such as I capture the Castle and Brideshead Revisited. Eltham Palace is a fascinating building architecturally, with a very interesting history. It's actually half medieval Great Hall and half chic 1930s Art Deco The two halves are melded together to make a very pleasing historic house to visit. The Great Hall was constructed in the 1470s in the reign of Edward IV and was used as a royal palace until the 16th century. It fell into disrepair by the 18th and 19th centuries, with its spectacular Great Hall being used as a barn and then a picturesque ruin. In the 1930s Sir Stephen Courthald and his wife Virginia (commonly known as Ginny) restored the hall to its former glory whilst adding a new wing in the modern Art Deco style. The couple moved out in 1944 due to the effects of World War 2 where it was taken over by the Royal Army Education Corps until 1994 when English Heritage took over ownership of the complete house (the Great hall was already under their care beforehand). I have been meaning to visit Eltham Palace for a while, as Eltham is almost on my doorstep. However I took the plunge to visit on a sunny Sunday afternoon in June and I wish I had visited sooner, as I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Being fairly local I accessed the Palace by bus. The easiest way to get to Eltham from central London is to take a Dartford train via Bexleyheath from London Bridge. It should take roughly half an hour. It's about a quarter of an hours walk from the train station but is well signposted. Once past the car park you cross a bridge with a moat flowing under it to reach the ticket office. Its a medium priced attraction. I paid £8.20 for a ticket to the house and gardens. This included a very detailed but entertaining and interesting audio guide thus I felt this was fairly good value for money. Once in the courtyard you get your first proper glimpse of the frontage of Eltham Palace with it s magnificent curved At Deco facade and the Great Hall jutting out to the right. Walk through into the entrance hell of the Palace where you are greeted by the staff who hand you fetching blue plastic covers to put over your shoes to protect the vast swathes of cream carpet inside. It did look funny seeing everyone with these blue poly bag type things on their feet but it makes prefect sense and saves on cleaning bills. It is useful to note that there is no photography inside the house so keep your camera for outside shots only. The entrance hall sets the tone for the rest of your experience. It's a huge light space crowned by a concrete and glass done poring in light like a modern day St Paul's. Underneath this is a wonderful circular huge carpet which your eyes are dawn to. Walk round the room and adore the lovely marquetry panels and take a peek at the private pay phone installed so the guests could call out with the house without the Coulthard's getting the bill. The Art Deco part of the house was designed by the architects John Seely and Paul Page with the stunning interiors designed by Peter Malacrida. Eltham Palace is a joy to behold as the then cutting edge design is now one of the best examples of Art Deco in England. I found the drawing room to be very interesting as it is very different to the rest of the rooms in the new part of Eltham Palace. Olde worlde beams replace the graceful curves and geometric patterns of the Deco style rooms. This was the room designed to keep Sir Stephen's collection of old masters and Italian furniture so a more old fashioned effect was desired. I liked the room as it seemed like a bridge from the new to the old. Talking of the old, it was wonderful to follow in the footsteps of Chaucer, Henry VIII and Erasmus to visit the oldest part of the building, the Great Hall. It is a large hall with a grand hammer beamed ceiling, an almost throne like chair and sumptuous long drapes. It is hard to believe that a century ago this was just a romantic ruin, as the hall was pain painstakingly reconstructed by the Couthards. They even constructed a minstrels gallery above th hall which you can visit and stand and admire the grandness of it all. I retraced my steps to visit Stephen's study and Ginny's boudoir. The boudoir was not a boudoir in the normal sense but more a morning room where Ginny ran the house. I was fascinated by a leather map of the Elthm area. It was difficult to see though and it would have been nice to have a replica in one of the rooms so people could look at it closer. What struck me most about the house was all the little new fangled touches such as the in house telephone system alongside the integrated vacuum system housed in the basement (although I am sure I have seen one of those somewhere else). There were even speakers in each ground floor room to pipe gramophone music. I found all these little ingenious gadgets fascinating. At this point we climbed the stairs to th upper level. The highlight for me was Ginny's luxurious bathroom paneled in onyx and marble with a luxurious looking marble bath, gold ostentatious taps and a lions mouth spout backed by golden mosaic and a statue of a Greek god. I really wanted that bathroom complete with the little passageway for the maid to discreetly fill the bath. The other area that fascinated me upstairs was the centrally heated cage of Mah Jong (Jonngy) who was the Couthard's beloved pet ring tailed lemur. This cage has bamboo wall paper to make Jongy feel right at home, and a little bamboo ladder so he could access Giinny's flower room and the floor below. I think the (ringed) tale of Jonggy is the one thing of real interest for children and I thought it would be nice if there was a trail to do with him available. However there is an interactive game to explore the house with Jonggy on English Heritage's excellent website. The tour ends in another spectacular room, th dining room. This shrikes Art Deco at its best with the beautiful ceiling, and the Greek key design on the doors and fire place. Children may enjoy identifying the beautiful depictions of animals on the doors which were based on sketches of animals at London zoo. I really enjoyed my tour of the house. It took about an hour which was about the right length as I did not get the feeling of "not another room". It was also nice to have something fairly modern and maybe less formal than some of the better known historic houses. It was great not to see any servants quarter with mangles etc!At this point we stopped for a bit of light refreshment in the tea room. This was small but the service was excellent as was the food. I was impressed that a scone, jam and cup of coffee only came to £2.30 My companion had ordered organic banana cake and had expected a slice of banana loaf. She received a huge chunk of light moist cake which was exceedingly good value. I felt the prices were very reasonable as the food was very good quality. It was also nice to get a cop of coffee in a china cup that had a vague nod to Art Deco. It's these little touches that male English h Heritage tearooms what they are.Next to the tea room is the shop. It had the usual English Heritage knick knacks and jar of jam but a lot of the stock was nicely chosen to reflect the individual property. There were some lovely(but expensive) Art deco tea sets alongside cheaper photograph albums and address books. I shall certainly be plundering the shop for gifts for a family member who is keen on all things Art Deco. For the children there were cute cuddly lemurs so they could take home their own Jonggy. Once outside there are the gorgeous gardens to explore. We were lucky to visit in June as everything was in flower. These gardens are not extensive unlike th great historic houses but there is enough space to have a picnic, let the kids run wild or get away from it all and forget you are actually only 8 miles from the centre of London. I really would recommend a visit to Eltham Palace and would allow for half a day by the time you have seen the house and the gardens. Take a picnic and enjoy the peace and tranquility. Eltham Palace may be suitable for the more patient child as there are special themed family days alongside Jongy. However there are no interactive display or dressing up boxes that I could see .Whilst at the property I found it to be busy without being packed. There was enough room to move about. It was nice to get away from the hustle of bustle of London and certainly the coach parties of American and Japanese tourists. Perhaps I should not have written this review so I can keep this little architectural gem well and truly to myself.!Opening times21 Mar - 31 Oct10am-5pmMon, Tue, Wed, & Sun.1 Nov - 21 Dec11am-4pmMon, Tue, Wed, & Sun. 1 Feb - 31 Mar11am-4pmMon, Tue, Wed, & Sun. Closed 22 Dec-31 Jan PricesAdult: £8.20Children: £4.10Concession: £6.60http://www.elthampalace.org.uk Comments Richada A superb art deco palace with ancient origins. For many years I have been a card carrying member of English Heritage, taking an interest in all aspects of historic sites and buildings. As with many such memberships, after the initial flush of interest passed, and having visited most of the sites in the south of England my annual membership card rarely came out of my wallet. Then, just over four years ago, one of those life changing events occurred, I met my Polish wife, who amongst many other things in life, shared my interest in historic buildings and the more simple pleasures of days out in the English countryside.On her first visit to England, for two weeks, during the Foot and Mouth summer of 2001, we spent a wonderful holiday visiting as many such places as it was possible to pack in. Previous conversations on the phone had indicated to me that she would enjoy visiting castles and palaces, but the one place on visiting this country that she wanted to see was Stonehenge.Stonehenge is not the subject of this review, and does not really need any introduction anyway, suffice to say here that it is in the care of English Heritage and was the first such property that Adrianna, now my wife visited. As such it whetted her appetite for English country houses, gardens and Castles - my English Heritage card very quickly joined me in gaining a full time partner!Now living permanently in this country, my wife has been amazed at just how many English Heritage sites there are to visit. Of course The National Trust is also a very strong Heritage organisation too, and we have been to many of their sites also during our travels around the country. In Poland there are also castles and palaces to visit, most very cheaply too. However there is no organisation there to ensure that such places are well cared for, neither to my knowledge is there an organisation listing such properties. The main advantage of National Trust or English Heritage membership, apart naturally from free admission to all of their properties, is that you are sent a very comprehensive guide book each year.We do not tend to plan our visits, merely taking advantage of a sunny Sunday or Bank Holiday in order to enjoy a trip out. Obviously there are exceptions to that such as the wonderful Osborne House on the Isle of Wight (involving a car ferry ticket!) but, by and large, there are enough sites within an hour or so from where we live to satisfy our need for the Heritage experience. Whilst we have visited all of the English Heritage properties in Hampshire, Sussex and Kent, due partly to the traffic congestion we had not, until recently, visited any of the London properties.There are several to choose from and really quite randomly we fell upon Eltham Palace in the 2005 English Heritage handbook. It looked like an easy enough run anti-clockwise round the M25 from the M23, then off at junction 3 (M25) and join the dual-carriageway A20 heading in towards central London. Eltham is to be found as you enter the Borough of Greenwich, SE9.Either from the centre of Eltham town or from the A20 which runs through it, the brown English Heritage sign posts will clearly direct you to Eltham Palace. From Brighton we had travelled around 65 miles, the journey taking an hour and ten minutes, the only real traffic encountered being on the A20 approaching Eltham itself.Our first impressions on entering the rather small but immaculately kept car park were all positive. You cannot see the house from the car park, (and therefore the car park from the house!) and from previous experiences at much better known sites, namely Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House (neither English Heritage), where rows of parked cars ruin whole vistas of the house, this is a very good thing.Eltham Palace is a three minute walk from the car park, there is clearly displayed disabled parking immediately adjacent to the entrance however, this is a very friendly site for the less able bodied amongst us, witnessed by the number of wheelchair users visiting the day we did.When we left at around 2.30p.m there was a long queue (outside) to gain entry, however at 11.55a.m upon our arrival we had waited maybe 5 minutes to show our membership cards and purchase (for £3.75) the excellent guide book. From the cash desk you are directed to the house entrance through the door and across the circular courtyard to the porticoed entranceway. There you are met by English Heritage staff who issue you with plastic covers for your shoes (to keep the carpets inside clean) and if you so desire an audio guide. A tip here is that the only public toilets on the whole (not terribly large in truth) site are located either side of the main entrance. It did seem a little ironic that the blue plastic shoe covers were issued before attending to a call of nature!However these toilets, female to the right, male to the left, were original to the 1930's house (rather than put there for our 'convenience' by English Heritage!). The owners and designers of this house entertained on a grand scale and if you use these toilets, some very well known millionaires and even film stars from that glamorous era (Stephen Courtauld had a large stake in the famous Ealing Studios) have "been" before you!Photography (including flash) is allowed inside the house, but mysteriously I was stopped and asked not to use my camcorder indoors.Rather than viewing the house immediately, this was Sunday lunchtime after all, we decided to head straight to what used to be the kitchen in order to have lunch in the tea room. This turned out to be a very utilitarian pair of rooms, originally kitchen and scullery, where there were large refectory tables, mostly laid out to seat six people. At spot on midday this place was packed and we were soon to find out why! The food was superb, and by the standards of eating in this area very reasonably priced. For £21 we enjoyed a hot baked vegetable flan, new boiled potatoes and deliciously crisp, fresh salad, followed by really yummy chocolate fudge cake served with whipped cream and drenched in thick, hot, chocolate sauce. A glass of mineral water each completed our lunch.Ignoring a big notice saying: "no re-admittance to the house" we re-entered the house via the dining room and then back to the showpiece main entrance hall.Before proceeding, as briefly as I can, to describe the house and gardens, probably a little history here might come in handy. There had been a palace of sorts on this site since medieval times, it was recorded as such in the Doomsday Survey of 1086, it was the home of the Bishop of Bayeux, half brother to William the Conqueror. Obviously at that stage, London was far from the mighty metropolis it now is, Eltham would have been a tiny village some miles out from what we now recognise as the City of London. The very unusual house you see before you now bears no relationship to that original palace. The Great Hall, looking rather like a village church from the outside is by many centuries the oldest part of the current palace, having been originally built in the 1470's as the dining hall for the court of Edward IV. It was restored during the 1930's when the rest of this extraordinary house was built by and for Virginia and Stephen Courtauld, millionaires in the days when that really meant that you were truly rich!What really sets this house apart though is that it is so much unlike any of the usual stately or country homes that we have ever visited. Being a contemporary 1930's design, it is far more modern for a start. There are some slightly unusual surprises such as a (real) Tudor gabled front - only visible from the upstairs landing windows, but mostly this house, Great Hall apart, is a shrine to art deco design.Now I'll own up to not previously being a fan of art deco, often thinking that the design was an excuse to rather cheapen every day items and in terms of architectural style, in most cases, have viewed it rather as "non-style".However, Eltham Palace is not your typical inter-war art deco three bed suburban semi, oh no! There is a lot of that architecture to be seen in towns such as Eltham, Northolt and many other outer London suburbs, all now submerged onto one huge city, but the Courtaulds did it in real style, using shed loads of their considerable fortune in turning this into a wonderful family home - fitted with all mod cons.Probably the most striking space, difficult to call it a room with these extraordinary proportions, is the grand entrance hallway. The Great Hall is also mighty impressive, but not as totally unusual as the first room into which you step.What makes it so unusual? Well to start with it is almost triangular in shape, but with rounded corners. Everything about it is extraordinary; most of the detailing is unique. The walls are covered (as are those in several other rooms) in the most exquisite Australian blackbean wood veneers, when I say covered, I mean covered, from floor to ceiling!Into these veneers are inlaid marquetry panels depicting highly detailed scenes of the Courtaulds favourite cities of Venice and Florence. Even for those of us who would not claim to be art connoisseurs, these scenes are breathtaking and beautifully portrayed.I'm not going to go into the last detail here, because all of you who have the opportunity would be well advised to go to Eltham and admire it for yourselves. However I cannot lead you from this room without making mention of THAT ceiling!One of the most breathtaking aspects of the whole house is the ceiling in the entrance hallway. You notice upon entering the room that it is flooded with the most beautiful natural, yet defused daylight. The moment that this registers, your eyes are drawn inescapably upwards - towards the most fabulous ceiling that I have ever seen. We're not talking Sistine Chapel style here, oh no, this is an ultra modern homage to concrete and glass, designed and constructed in the early 1930's and looks simply stunning. Hopefully I will be able to do justice to this extraordinary design feature with a photograph inserted below, but they are always too small to fully appreciate such a breathtaking feature! In simple words you are looking at a domed ceiling 23 feet (7 meters) in diameter with hundreds of circular glass "bullets" set into the concrete. They are not placed at random however, and make up a series of circles - stunning, simple but stunning to look at and a very efficient way of naturally lighting this large space.Before moving on from the hall (I can feel a rather long review coming here!) a brief mention of the telephone booth situated here. Stephen Courtauld had a dislike of telephones; in the 1930's telephone calls were expensive too. His guests, if they wished to make a call were directed to the payphone booth in the hall! To the left of the hall is situated the dining room and to the right is the drawing room. These two rooms are of very different character, the drawing room being if anything the only room that seemed 'out of character' in the whole house. It has what look like wooden beams on the ceiling which actually turn out to be finely painted plasterwork. To my eyes though this room smacks too much of an old American TV movie, even the artwork displayed here compared to the rest of the house feels somehow phoney.You could not however say the same of the dining room. An entirely modern "Art Deco" room, here you are looking at walls covered in bird's-eye maple, floor to ceiling and with an extraordinarily beautiful 1920's style (electric) fireplace. Complimenting this are the unique lacquered ebony door panels depicting various animals and birds. Other items drawing the eye here are the very plain dining table and modern, pink leather high backed dining chairs and the mirror backed display cabinets set into the walls. This is by any standards another breathtaking room.Leading off from the drawing room is a corridor taking you through to the great hall, but not before viewing another couple of quite extraordinary rooms. Firstly you enter Virginia Courtauld's boudoir, the room from which as "lady of the house" she organised the daily life at Eltham palace with the help of a secretary who was situated in a back room - "en-suite" to the main boudoir. Next to the boudoir is a rather unconventional library. Like the boudoir it is, again fully veneered but rather than a large number of books displayed on shelves, there are some, Stephen Courtauld primarily designed this room to show off his fine art collection. Priceless and delicate watercolours were shielded from the light by being mounted behind a series of pull down wooden shutters.We are now about to enter the medieval Great Hall, so breathtakingly contrasting in scale and appearance from the rest of the house that it is like stepping through a door into another world. The purpose of this room I have already covered, suffice to mention here the most fantastic oak hammer beam roof that I have ever seen. In fact this great hall is probably best appreciated from the minstrels' gallery, upstairs, which is where we are now going.Unlike all of the other big houses visited (in actual fact this is small in comparison, but never mind it is quality that counts here!) the staircase at Eltham is nothing to write home about, a half circle partly encased going up either side of the main entranceway. There is no strict order of viewing the rooms, each one is numbered and you just press the corresponding number on the audio guide. For some reason though as far as the stairs are concerned, on the day we visited at least, the rules of the road applied - everybody went up to the left and came down the right staircase!No part of this splendid house could in anyway be described as ordinary, and yet the bedrooms upstairs whilst extravagantly decorated and furnished were all of homely proportions. This you could say would be the type of home that maybe we ordinary mortals could dream about on winning a substantial lottery jackpot as opposed to having to have inherited old money as at Blenheim or the like. For this very reason, the much more 'intimate' and private quarters upstairs are just as interesting as the lavish reception rooms below.I'm not going to describe the upstairs room by room, there are simply too many of them for that, two that particularly appealed to me were Virginia's semi-circular bedroom and the rather large "zoo cage" which was Mah-Jongg's quarters.Ok as I write this it's getting late, you know who Virginia is, but you are getting bored and now Mah-Jonng? Well you see one of their many pets was a ring tailed lemur, purchased from, of all places, Harrods department store in 1923. He lived to the age of 15, having travelled all over the world on their yacht, finally being laid to rest in the grounds here at Eltham Palace. In the early Second World War years when the Courtaulds left London and took up residence in (the then) Rhodesia, Mah-Jonng's body was exhumed and re-buried in the grounds of their new home! However, here he had his own centrally heated quarters, complete with private little staircase to the ground floor. During the day he enjoyed having the run of the whole house!By comparison with his quarters, certainly Virginia's were rather more plush! As is the custom of "the upper crust" husband and wife had separate bedrooms, both with double beds and in this case a hidden communicating door between the two rooms. For the period of the day this was an extraordinarily well appointed house for BOTH of these rooms had their own en-suite bathrooms.Virginia Courtauld had extravagant taste and certainly 'let rip' with it in these most private of quarters! The bedroom is entered from the hallway outside through a curved sliding door, as you enter there are three slots let into the wall to house fresh flowers. The room itself is almost circular, veneered floor to ceiling in maple, it is quite simple in design and yet at the same time exquisite. What you do not actually notice here is that the lighting, and indeed central heating, are recessed into the circular (classic white plastered) ceiling, this would be the perfect room in which to get a good nights sleep - perfect karma, free of all unnecessary distractions and yet luxuriant at the same time. Even more spectacular is the en-suite bathroom, quite the most lavish room I could ever imagine performing my ablutions in! The full sized marble bath is recessed into a semi-circular alcove, this being tiled with tiny (inch square) gold mosaic tiles. To either side of the bath are floor to ceiling, gold shelving units backed with mirrors. There are far too many details here to remember and describe, but the bespoke gold plated taps and lion's head water pipe are quite remarkable and in my experience at least, unique.There are guest rooms, all with en-suite facilities, rather less lavish but all individually designed, something that we particularly appreciated about this house was that it is all "open", there are no locked rooms to leave you guessing what may lie beyond closed doors.I mentioned earlier the "mod cons". One notable feature of Eltham Palace is its built in, centralised vacuum cleaning system. Rather than pushing a noisy, heavy portable cleaner around the house, all of which, excepting the bathrooms, was carpeted, the servants merely plugged a flexible hose into sockets in the wall which sucked all the debris downstairs to the basement. Other centralised and modern, by today's standards, features include a music system throughout downstairs and an internal telephone system. Ironic that as Stephen Courtauld was known to dislike telephones so!Having completed our tour of this simply superb house - a tour which took well over an hour and a half, the rest of our visit was taken up enjoying the magnificent gardens.As this review has, I am sure, already outworn your patience, I will save the gardens for another day. The Palace is set in 19 acres of land, certainly not over large by the standards of your "average" stately home, but like the house, what they lack in size, the gardens very much more than make up for in beauty.You may look at the prices below and consider them rather expensive, we of course got in for nothing on our £52 joint annual English Heritage tickets and therefore paid nothing. Unusually I will offer two recommendations here:If you enjoy this sort of outing then £52 a year is a true bargain - you can get into any English Heritage property in the country and obtain a discount on many more - or return week after week to this superb venue! ORPay £7.30 each for a house and garden ticket and enjoy Eltham Palace. Richada's tip; if you like it as much as we did, then join English Heritage here and have your entry fee refunded! Then you can go back again and again as we fully intend to!Eltham Palace is OPEN from:1st April to 31st October - Sunday to Wednesday 10.00 to 17.001st November to 31st March - Sunday to Wednesday 10.00 to 16.00But CLOSED - 22nd December to 31st January and 18th July. Comments Eltham Palace is a short train ride out of central London (regular trains from Victoria or Charing Cross), and well worth the trip. This English Heritage property is a fascinating house and garden, combining the remains of a mediaeval palace with state-of-the-art 1930s design. In the Middle Ages, from the 14th Century, Eltham was a royal palace. The Courtaulds bought the Palace in the 1930s, and somewhat controversially set about building their dream home. They kept what remained of the original palace – basically the great hall with its fabulous hammerbeam roof, to which they did add some faux mediaeval touches of their own. These include stained glass and a decidedly inauthentic minstrel’s gallery. However, with its relatively sparse, heavy, wooden furnishings the great hall retains its atmosphere and dignity despite these alterations. The attached new house built by the couple made no concessions to the site’s history: it combined Art Deco, ocean liner design, and the latest technology. Nonetheless, the overall effect is reasonably harmonious: neither building looks out of place next to the other. The entrance hall has a circular carpet mirroring the glassy dome in the ceiling, with marquetry panelling on the walls. There are ‘portholes’ in the stair walls, an effect mirrored in the built-in furnishings elsewhere. Ladies’ and men’s cloakrooms at the entrance are a reminder that the house was used a great deal for entertaining. Perhaps the most memorable room is Mrs Courtauld’s bathroom. Although small, it is stunning. Behind the bath is an alcove lined with gold mosaic tiles, housing a Classical statuette: this achieves the desired effect of a temple to Venus. The en suite bathrooms are part of the modern amenities found throughout the house. Others include a central vacuum cleaning system and a speaker system playing music throughout the ground floor from one source (revolutionary at that time). However, Mr Courtauld’s love of technology did not extend to the telephone. Guests were expected to use a pay phone just off the hall, not only because of the expense of telephone calls but also because he personally disliked the instrument: most in the house are internal only. This kind of personal feature emphasises just how much the house was created to the design of two individuals, rather than simply a fashionable showpiece. Another such feature is the home of the couple’s pet ring-tailed lemur. This was being renovated when I visited, but somebody with a sense of humour had placed a cuddly version of the animal disappearing down its ladder! The ladder allowed the lemur to move from its own quarters to the ground floor. So beloved was this pet that a memorial was built to him when he died, in striped stone to reflect his tail (that memorial is now at another of the couple’s homes). I visited on a sunny Sunday, and the house was extremely busy. There is an audio tour available but no equipment was left when I arrived. The tea room provided good light lunches and cream teas, but was hectically busy too. However, the house itself was not overcrowded: I felt able to wander at leisure and properly appreciate each room. While bringing the crowds, the sunny weather did also mean that I could fully enjoy the gardens. These are well worth walking around, combining relatively formal water features, a large rock garden at the side of the river, a mediaeval bridge and a host of other pleasing features. Get the map when you arrive at the Palace, and make the most of exploring! There is also a shop, with the usual range of English Heritage products. The guidebook is well worth buying. It’s copiously illustrated, and as well as the tour of the house it offers further information on the history of the Palace, the designers involved, et cetera. I would definitely recommend taking the train out of London to Eltham Palace. It has a huge amount to offer, whether your interest is mediaeval or modern architecture, or gardens. Worth a visit! Comments Attractions in Eltham in general Millennium Bridge (London) Hyde Park (London) Highgate Cemetery (London)

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Rules and Regulations Governing the Carriage of Pilgrims by Air For a pdf version of this document, click here Every year, approximately (1,500,000) pilgrims travel by air to the Holy Places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is to use all possible efforts and measures to facilitate the proper atmosphere and provide for the pilgrims convenience and safety in conformity to Article (24) of the Fundamental Government Regime issued by the Royal Decree (A/90) dated 27/8/1412H, which states that: "The Government is obliged to improve and modernize the infrastructure and facilities of the two Holy Mosques and provide quality services and security for the sake of the Guests of Allah in order to perform their Hajj and Umrah safely." In light of the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation and General Inspector, all governmental and private sectors function together to ensure pilgrims convenience and safety in both in-bound and out-bound phases. Since airports are the starting point to serve the traveling pilgrims, the Presidency of Civil Aviation has made the necessary arrangements for pilgrims starting from the embarkation process to the disembarkation and acting side-by-side with the rest of the governmental systems. In accordance with the leadership's directives to offer the pilgrims, who are the "Guests of God", the best services and to provide them with all attention and convenience to enable them to fulfill their religious duties with ease and in comfort and return to their countries safely, Presidency of Civil Aviation (PCA), together with other concerned national and government agencies, has the responsibility and honor to implement the following directives. PCA undertakes to make the necessary arrangements to receive these pilgrims arriving by air at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), their first point of arrival in the Kingdom. On basis of higher authority directives, these rules and regulations are formulated to organize the air transport operations to serve the pilgrims and further to ease and simplify procedures related to their arrival and departure in a safe, secure and regular fashion. The regulations stipulate the procedures and actions required for submission of operation requests as well as the measures regulating these applications. It also includes flight scheduling, slot allocation and other related approvals. Moreover, it contains the basic operational and safety requirements need to be fulfilled for obtaining the required operation permission. These rules and regulations also define the technical measures and operational provisions applied on all flights either operated by an aircraft fully owned by the air carrier or a leased aircraft. However, other technical measures and additional provisions are incorporated to regulate other air carrier only operating (Charter) Hajj flights. Safety standards, general rules and more provisions are provided to define the scope of air operation as well as the commensurable fines to be imposed against the occurrence of any violation. Consideration is given in compliance with the Chicago Conventions rules and principles together with other international treaties, other issued governmental instructions and relevant bilateral air transport agreements concluded between the Kingdom and other States, as well as the contents of the Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) related to air operation instructions. To meet the above objectives, PCA in coordination with other related entities are looking forward to maintaining a safe regulated air traffic flow, smooth passenger processing and most importantly to avoid over-capacity pressure on KAIA facilities. To ensure the smoothness and efficiency of Hajj air traffic and other services, PCA has undertaken to authorize a certain number of Hajj flights per hour, distributed evenly throughout each 24-hour period. The flight schedules, as outlined in the following instruction, submitted by the airlines will result in slot allocations being assigned for each flight for both the inbound and outbound phases. A review of previous Hajj traffic operations has shown that certain procedural and operational changes are necessary. Therefore the 1426/2005 Regulations and Rules of Pilgrims Air Transportation include all necessary arrangements to secure the return of pilgrims to their respective home countries. Fines shall be imposed on the air carrier in case of violation. Compliance with the regulations is mandatory and any air carrier must conform to the outlined rules, otherwise appropriate measures and penalties shall be imposed against the violator. Air carriers may be subjected to final exclusion and discontinuance of its operation to and from the Kingdom in the future, if non-compliance with on time returning of Hajj passengers is observed or in cases of failure to submit the required passengers manifest. In this regard, PCA circulates to all concerned parties these rules and regulations for the year 1426 AH (2005-06) Hajj program that define the scope of responsibility of Hajj air carrier, their general sales agencies in the Kingdom and other charter operated Hajj flights and handling agencies for full adherence and compliance. These provisions may be implemented at King Abdulaziz International Airport and at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport at Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and any other airport declared for operation as a Relief Airports by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. See:Application Requirements Flight Scheduling and Slot Allocation Procedures Technical Measures and Conditions Governing Air Operations Applied on all Flights Technical Conditions/ Requirements Pertaining to Air Safety and Standards Regulating Air Operation Important PCA Requirements Additional Technical Conditions Applicable to Air Carriers Operating Only Hajj Charter Flights Penalties for Violation Main reference point: Ministry of Hajj

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Helsinki Airport is the leading Nordic airport in transfer connections around the world Helsinki Airport is the leading Nordic airport in transfer connections around the world Category: Airport & Airline Published: Tuesday, 06 September 2016 12:00 According to a recent study published by the airport association ACI Europe, Helsinki Airport is the 12th most important hub in Europe. The significance of Helsinki Airport as a hub of international transfer flights is greater than that of any other Nordic airport. The number of transfer connections provided by Helsinki Airport has increased by more than 75% within the last 10 years. This has enabled the airport to become one of the key air traffic hubs in Europe. The study examined the transfer connections offered by major airports as a single ticket available for purchase from the carrier. In terms of transfer connections, the selection at Helsinki is larger than that of the airports in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. The development of transfer traffic benefits everyone. This can also be seen in Finland as Finns enjoy excellent international connections in proportion to the population. According to Kari Savolainen, CEO of Finavia, air traffic strongly supports the competitiveness of Finnish economy. He believes that Finland now needs a national project to utilise our excellent air traffic connections to the maximum in both the development of tourism and in making Finland an attractive location for investments and offices of foreign companies. – A successful international airport stimulates the financial situation and employment rate of its country and is extremely important for the entire national economy. In Finland, for instance, air traffic employs 100,000 people and constitutes about 3% of the gross domestic product. This is one of the reasons why airports aim to increase their share of transfer travelling and why there is so much competition between airports, says Savolainen. The development programme of Finavia is preparing Helsinki Airport to serve 20 million passengers per year within a few years. Expanding the airport also guarantees excellent flight connections in the future. New growth is sought not only by increasing capacity but also by investing more heavily in marketing and sales. – In addition to a great geographic location and competitive services, one of the advantages of Helsinki Airport is that it has room to grow. The terminals can be expanded and there is runway capacity for increasing traffic. In addition, the number of people living in the area affected by airport noise is small compared to many European airports, says Savolainen. Most connections to Asia The status of Helsinki Airport as a significant European air traffic hub is particularly emphasised by the large route selection between Helsinki and Asia. Helsinki offers 31 direct weekly flights to Japan, the third largest selection in all of Europe. In terms of routes to Japan, Helsinki Airport is the largest airport in Europe at the moment. There are seven weekly flights from Copenhagen to Japan and none from Stockholm and Oslo. Helsinki also offers 25 weekly flights to destinations in China, whereas Copenhagen offers 14 and Stockholm nine. The number of routes has increased again in 2016, thanks to Finnair’s new routes to Guangzhou, China and Fukuoka, Japan, which were launched in May. In October, the status of Helsinki Airport as the leading air traffic hub in the Nordic Countries will stand out even further as Qatar Airways opens a connection between Helsinki and Doha, the fastest growing hub in the Middle East. The new route will open even more diverse air traffic connections, connecting Finland not only with the Middle East, but also with India, Africa and Australia. According to the study published by ACI Europe, Helsinki Airport offers 8,509 relevant transfer connections, ranking the airport 12th in the listing of European airports. The corresponding figure for Copenhagen is 5,831 (ranking 14th), for Oslo, 3,948 (ranking 17th), and for Stockholm, 2,898 (ranking 22nd). More airport/airline news

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Spain Overview Spain Books Spain Sacred Sites Spain Destinations Avila Madrid Books Madrid Sacred Sites Almudena Cathedral M-30 Mosque Monasterio de La Encarnación San Francisco el Grande San Nicolás de Los Servitas San Pedro el Leal Frommer's Madrid DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Madrid Paintings of the Prado Traveller's Companion To Madrid Rick Steves' Madrid & Toledo Snapshot Lonely Planet Madrid Prado: New Edition Rough Guide to Madrid Prado Museum Evening falls on a shopping street in downtown Madrid. Photo © Sacred Destinations. Located in the geographical center of Spain, Madrid is the Spanish capital and largest city, with more than 5 million inhabitants. Madrid makes its first major appearance in history in the 9th century AD, when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet I arrived and built a palace, a mosque and a citadel here. Nearby was the River Manzanares, which the Turks called al-Magrit ("source of water"), leading to Madrid's modern name. The Ottoman citadel was conquered in 1085 by King Alfonso VI in his advance towards Toledo. The kingdoms of Castille, with its capital at Toledo, and Aragón, with its capital at Barcelona, were combined into modern Spain under King Carlos I. Though King Carlos favored Madrid, it was his son, Felipe II (1527-1598) who moved the court to Madrid in 1561. Madrid has functioned as the capital of Spain ever since. After spending much of the 20th century at the center of a totalitarian regime, Madrid has burst back onto the world stage as an open, democratic, growing metropolis. Best known for its shopping, culture and nightlife, Madrid's religious sites do not quite approach the grandeur of those in Barcelona or Toledo. Still, Madrid is home to numerous religious sites worth seeing, especially the huge, modern Almudena Cathedral (paid for in part by Pope John Paul II), the world-class National Archaeological Museum, and even an Ancient Egyptian temple that overlooks tranquil reflecting pools. view larger map of Madrid This Hapsburg convent was founded in 1559 by Joan of Austria, whose daughter hid away here rather than endure marriage to Felipe II. It is now a museum of the treasures given to the convent. Beautifully situated on a reflecting pool near the Plaza de España, this Egyptian temple dates from the 4th century BC and was brought to Madrid in 1971. The Centro Cultural Islámico in Madrid, popularly known as the "M-30 Mosque" because it stands beside the motorway, is the largest mosque in Europe. Nestled in a charming little square, the second of Central Madrid's royal Hapsburg monasteries contains a fascinating relics room. This 18th-century Franciscan church boasts the largest dome in Spain. Almudena Cathedral Dating from the late 19th and 20th centuries, Madrid's cathedral is very new by European standards and its traditional-meets-modern design reflects its youth. Madrid's second oldest church, San Pedro el Leal has an original Mudejar tower with a slight lean. Located near the cathedral, this is the oldest church in Madrid (13th century). Its bell tower is the oldest structure in the city (12th century) and may have been part of a mosque. Sacred Sites & Religious Places

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I love the mountain… Oct 09, 2013 | 1527 views | 0 | 8 | | slideshow LIFE IN A NUTSHELLby Terri WinderSometimes I wonder if we got to choose, during our pre-mortal existence, where on this earth we would get sent to. If so, did I have a hard time choosing between a tropical paradise and the high desert mountain? Did four seasons and fluctuating sunlight win over moderate temperatures and balanced sun and moon time? As much as I love swimming in the ocean and walking along a (sparsely populated) beach, I think my most favorite place to be is on a mountain—perhaps because mountains are inherently sparsely populated. Moreover, there is something about the scent of pine mixed with mountain soil and the rustle of aspen that is magical; no wonder the words “enchanted” and “forest” are so often linked together. The Navajo have their four sacred mountains; Blanding and Monticello are blessed to share Blue Mountain, literally, between them. And while the drive between the communities along the base of the mountain is beautiful by anyone’s standards, going over the mountain is an indulgence – especially in the fall, when the leaves are changing.The road in itself is a miracle to me. How does a man decide which ridge to follow, which trees to cut down, which canyon to cross? Surely the men who settled these communities were inspired. The road over the mountain was finished in the late 1040’s, as the Blanding water tunnel was in the process of being built. Blanding had its road going to and just beyond the Grove, where the community gathered for summer celebrations. Monticello also had a road up the mountain that ended at Buckboard Flat, a popular camping area. As the Forest Service contracted out the connecting portion, it provided the section needed to access the north side of the tunnel. The Blanding side of the road, beyond Johnson Creek, has been improved twice since it was first built, which makes one wonder how difficult it was to traverse in the beginning. A pickup or four wheel drive vehicle does much better on the road than a car, even now.After the Pioneer Day parade this past July, my parents accompanied our family on a trip over the mountain. Having them along added another dimension to the trip as the mountain is where their courtship unfolded. My dad’s parents and their four sons lived on the mountain at different times, as my grandfather had the contract for the water tunnel. In 1950, my dad attended a spring dance one evening at Monticello High School, where he was attracted to dark-haired girl. She had gone to the dance with someone else, but she danced several times with my dad. After a few more weeks of dating, he invited her to come up to the tunnel and visit. She talked her friend, Bill Quigley, into taking her from Monticello over the mountain to the south side of the tunnel. (Thank you, Bill Quigley.) It was there, the next day, as Dad looked up from his work and saw her coming out of the trees and walking through a meadow, that he realized she would be his wife. I love looking at that meadow and visualizing that special scene. There are other landmarks along the road, though now they can only be identified through memory. In the early days of Blanding there were several gold mines near Camp Jackson, complete with a gold stamp mill by Cooley’s Gulch. The venture was not profitable enough to continue and was eventually abandoned. However, during its heyday, there were reportedly more people living on the mountain than lived in town, and one mining camp had its own post office.Walter C. Lyman hoped to access the gold in a more direct way than the original miners had (going from the surface), by blasting through a hard rock drift in Cooley’s Gulch. He was hoping they could retrieve enough gold to fund the Blanding water tunnel. In the end, it wasn’t gold that built the water tunnel but faith and sacrifice, two commodities more rare than gold. At the time, it was said that there was $6 million worth of gold in that mine, but it would take $12 million to get it out. The gold stamp mill was eventually dismantled and its beams used to shore up parts of the water tunnel.I am sure that most county residents have their own stories to go with the road over the mountain; a collection of the tales would probably make a great Blue Mountain Shadows edition. Last July, as we were picnicking at the north side of the tunnel, I happened to see among the wild flowers a clump of short stems. Someone had apparently cut all the flowers in that particular cluster. I’m sure it evidenced another love story in the making and though it was anonymous, seeing it touched my heart.It’s a beautiful time to take a ride over the mountain and see the fall colors, the deer and turkeys, and possibly a bear. Take along someone you love and drive slow enough to savor the sights and smells. You may not come away with a stand-alone story, but I’m sure the experience will seep into your store of wonderful—and probably even magical—memories. Copyright 2017 San Juan Record - Classifieds, Events, Businesses in Monticello, San Juan County, Utah. All rights reserved. Cherries, chocolate and love City of Blanding debates new city logo Nancy Carol Barton Bradford | 22 hrs ago

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American leads French Michelin guide By Michelle Locke THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Something new is in the stars for the Michelin Guide — the French restaurant reviewing institution is getting an American accent.Colorado-born Michael Ellis, who took over the job early this year but made his debut U.S. tour as ambassador of the guides this fall, is the first American to head the Michelin Guide.The idea that an American would be put in charge of “this bible of French gastronomy is kind of a big deal,” says Colman Andrews, editorial director of TheDailyMeal.com. “The Guide Michelin is such a French institution, it would have been unthinkable even probably 10 years ago to think that an American would ever run it.”Another big deal: Ellis’ challenge of finding a way to keep the guides relevant, and solvent, in an eat-and-tweet world.As Ellis pointed out during a recent interview on a foggy morning along the San Francisco waterfront, “There’s a lot of noise out there.”Founded in 1900 by brothers and tire makers Edouard and Andre Michelin, the Michelin Red Guide listed places to get gas, food and other necessities to encourage motorists to get on the road, a good thing for the tire business. In 1926 the company introduced its star-rating system for restaurants, and, in time, being a one-, two- or three-star Michelin chef became a byword for quality.Though having a high Michelin ranking can be a significant boost to a restaurant’s takings, none of that revenue has been going to the guides, whose main source of revenue has been the sale of printed books. “Paper products are not a growth industry, I’ll put it that way,” said Ellis.Last year, the Financial Times reported the guides were losing millions of dollars annually. Company officials don’t divulge internal figures, but say they’ve made significant financial changes since then.Ellis has a number of other changes under consideration:•Expand the listings, including more cities in Asia, and add more U.S. cities. (Currently, only New York, Chicago and San Francisco are reviewed.)•Widen the scope of the restaurants reviewed. It’s a misconception that Michelin is strictly high-end, said Ellis. Only about 10 percent of reviews are starred restaurants. There also are a number of restaurants included that don’t have stars but are judged worthy of a visit, as well as the “Bib Gourmande” rankings of more casual places. Still, Ellis would like to see the guides get more comprehensive with coverage of such things as the best places to go for family pizza night.•Increase the guide’s online presence and identify new sources of income. Michelin has e-books and mobile apps and in France has launched a restaurant search engine with a promotional component. Only places that have been endorsed by Michelin inspectors are listed, but those that have made the cut can pay about $90 a month for a “visibility pack” that makes their listing more prominent. The French website also has a comment section. “People look for opinions now,” Ellis said.In a way, Michelin Guide faces the same problem as hallowed restaurants such as Maxim’s in Paris or the 21 Club in New York, said Andrews. “How do they modernize without losing their core identity? It’s hard for restaurants to do it; I think it’s hard for Michelin to do it.”Ellis thinks the Michelin legacy makes it uniquely fitted to take on the challenges of the Internet age.“We have our respected core — our professionals, they’re food professionals,” he said. “They’re salaried Michelin employees; they’re anonymous so no one knows who they are and they always pay their check. So they really have experiences that the ordinary customer would have, unlike, say, food writers or journalists that can be recognized or don’t pay their bills sometimes. That really gives us the independence that I think no one else has.”Leading Michelin Guide is “a dream come true,” said Ellis, who was smitten with all things French on his first trip to France as a 16-year-old on a high school trip. He resolved to train as a chef and got so far as working as an apprentice at a Michelin one-star restaurant before realizing “that I was probably more cut out to be a client of a restaurant.”But he remained keenly interested in food, regularly mining the Michelin guides for places to take business clients to lunch and dinner in his subsequent career working in hospitality-related jobs in Europe. He joined Michelin in 2007, heading the motorcycle tire division, and got the call for his current job after mentioning in a regular career counseling session that he’d be interested in working with the guides.“I literally fell out of my seat and said, ‘Ok, I’ll think about it … Yes!’ ” Ellis said with a laugh.Married to a Frenchwoman and fluent in French, not to mention Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, Ellis has “a great love and respect for France and most, I won’t say all things French, but most things French and I think the French appreciate that in me, certainly.”But despite all those years abroad, Ellis hasn’t gone the way of Madonna. His words are still delivered in a Standard American English accent.“That I’ll never give up,” he said with a smile.

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America’s Best High-End Restaurants Although New York City can easily lay claim as America’s top destination for high-end restaurants, there are other locations nationwide that also deserve merit. Therefore, for this list, all five restaurants are unquestionably among the world’s most prominent, yet located in distinct and travel-worthy parts of the country. Using resources such as the James Beard Foundation, known as the “Oscars of Food,” the Michelin Guide, Zagat and many others, a significant number of award-winning restaurants were accessed to finally arrive with a shorter list. With a nod to the other equally deserving high-end American restaurants, here is a list of five of the best that are worth a trip on their own. Photo Credit: Alinea www.alinearestaurant.com Led by chef/owner Grant Achatz, Alinea is Chicago’s only Michelin three-star restaurant and was recently named the World’s Best Restaurant by Elite Traveler for the third consecutive year. Winner of multiple honors, including five James Beard awards and protégé of the French Laundry’s Thomas Keller, Achatz is a master of avant-garde food preparation, with an impeccable attention to detail. The seasonally changing prix fixe menu currently features 18 incredible dishes, including oyster leaf mignonette, lobster with carrots and chamomile, a black truffle explosion with romaine and parmesan and the delightful balloon dessert with helium and green apple – a tantalizing dessert replete with edible helium-filled balloons made of dehydrated apple. Following the success of the ticket system utilized by Achatz’s second Chicago restaurant – Next – Alinea sells advance tickets two to three months in advance and encourages guests to view ticket sale dates through its Facebook and Twitter pages. Top attractions within a few miles of Alinea include Wrigley Field, Lincoln Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. Photo Credit: Commander’s Palace Commander’s Palace www.commanderspalace.com Arguably the most famous restaurant in New Orleans, Commander’s Palace has been enticing customers with haute Louisiana Creole dishes for more than 130 years. Executive Chef Tory McPhail, last year’s James Beard winner of Best Chef: South, continues a long-standing Commander’s Palace tradition of celebrated executive chefs, including two of New Orleans’ most famous – Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse. Yet unlike other high-end restaurants, the chef’s tasting menu is a splendid bargain at just $95 with optional wine pairing for $48. The dinner menu, which changes almost daily, may include sweet Florida stone crabmeat, the classic sautéed Louisiana crawfish with fried green tomatoes and smoked tomato rémoulade and Lake Pontchartrain soft shell crab served with fresh local and seasonal produce. Located in the stately Garden District, the Commander’s Palace has won numerous awards, most notably Zagat’s Best New Orleans Restaurant an astounding 18 times, three-time winner of Food and Wine Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best Restaurant in America and a James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award for co-owner Ella Brennan, whose family owns several well-known restaurants, including Mr. B’s Bistro and Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse in the historic French Quarter. Photo Credit: Eleven Madison Park 11 Madison Ave. www.elevenmadisonpark.com Ask a New York foodie what the city’s best high-end restaurant might be and the answer could involve a painstaking thought process. That’s because New York boasts seven three-star Michelin restaurants, all with consistent inclusions among lists of the world’s best. But by virtue of recent awards – S. Pellegrino’s fifth best restaurant in the world, 2012 James Beard Chef of the Year for co-owner and Executive Chef Daniel Humm and perfect ratings by The New York Times and the Michelin Guide, Eleven Madison Park seems like a worthy choice, although celebrated restaurants such as Daniel, Le Bernardin and Per Se will rightfully disagree. Yet all will agree Eleven Madison Park is consistently ranked among the top five and continually raising the bar in fine dining excellence. Sample dishes from the restaurant’s multi-course menu include sturgeon-smoked tableside poached lobster with escarole and almond and langoustine with fennel, sour cherries and clam. Located in the historic Metropolitan Life North Building overlooking Madison Park in Manhattan’s historic Flatiron District, the restaurant is co-owned by restaurateur and native New Yorker Will Guidara, who previously served as the restaurant’s general manager. MGM Grand Hotel (L) – The Emerald City (Credit, Randy Yagi) www.mgmgrand.com Michelin no longer produces a guide for Las Vegas, but if it did, at the top of the list would be Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip. That’s because it’s the only restaurant in the Gambling Capital of the World to earn that distinction. Led by the legendary French chef once named as his country’s Chef of the Century by the revered French restaurant guide Gault Millau, the Vegas restaurant is also the only one in the U.S. to bear his name. The 16-course menu dégustation is among the world’s most expensive including signature dishes such as La Langoustine, Le Poulet Fermier and L’oeuf de Poule. Joël Robuchon at the MGM Grand also offers an a la carte menu and prix fixe a la carte menu. With 12 restaurants located throughout the world, Chef Robuchon currently has 25 Michelin Guide stars, the most of any chef in the world. The Napa Valley (Credit, Randy Yagi) Restaurant at Meadowood 900 Meadowood Lane St. Helena, CA 94574 www.therestaurantatmeadowood.com Nestled within the pristine hills of the Napa Valley, the fabulous Restaurant at Meadowood Resort is just one of two restaurants west of the Mississippi River to earn three Michelin stars. Executive Chef Christopher Kostow, last year’s James Beard winner for Best Chef West, is a master in precision food preparation and presentation in the dining room and his arrival has been credited for catapulting the restaurant into the world’s upper echelon of fine dining. For the ultimate dining experience at Meadowood, Chef Kostow offers a 15- to 20-course Chef’s Counter Tasting Menu, which may feature lavish dishes such as tuna venison kohlrabi sorrels caviar and king crab uni cauliflower butter presented over several hours. The restaurant’s wine list features more than 1,200 selections, including selections from the Napa Valley’s Harlan Estate and Screaming Eagle wineries, owned by Meadowood partners H. William Harlan and Stan Kroenke. Related: Best Summer Backpacking Trips In America Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com. Filed Under Travel Related TagsAlineablack truffle explosionchef of the centuryChicagoChristopher KostowCommander's PalaceDanielDaniel HummEleven Madison ParkElla BrennanEmeril LagasseFine DiningFrench LaundryGarden DistrictGrant Achatzhigh end restaurantsJames BeardJoel RobuchonLas VegasLe BernardinMGM GrandMichelin star restaurantnapa valleynew orleansNew YorkPaul PrudhommePer SeRandy YagiRestaurant at MeadowoodSt. HelenaThomas KellerTory McPhailtravelWill GuidaraZagat Watch & Listen

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San Felipe in the Past | Aerial Photos San Felipe, Baja, Mexico Located 120 miles south of the Mexican border on the northwestern Baja, San Felipe is an entertainment, a frustration, a wonder and a paradox. It is nestled in the northern hook of the Bahia de San Felipe, between Punta El Macharro and Punta Estrella. The convergence of the Sierra San Felipe and the San Pedro Martir ranges form a wide, rocky horseshoe. A few adventurous peaks break away from this formation and collect on the east side of Highway 5. The town of San Felipe leans like a small book of sonnets against two of these sloping giants. To the west, through sheer energy of disposition, the parent range continues its errant and unathletic run southward another hundred miles. Unassuming in the eyes of a true mountain man, the range is impressive enough to the citizens of San Felipe. Picacho del Diablo, one of its peaks, shoulders up over ten thousand feet into the air. In winter, its summit is often a claw of snow and ice. For those who have uncontrolled geologic zeal, try this site for a chiropractic history of the Baja's granite bones. It is nearly always sunny in San Felipe, warm for most of the year and something of a smithy's forge in the summer months. This is because the town has chosen to sleep in a desert, part of the Gran Desierto, the scorched, juiceless area that begins in the northwestern corner of the state of Sonora. Of course, without water there can be no community. But San Felipe is blessed with reasonably clean water, drawn from an underground river located several miles south of town. The water is piped through pumping stations into town and plumbed into homes that can afford it or transported in pipas, great lumbering trucks with huge sloshing water tanks on their backs. These trucks supply the outlying campos and communities. Because the water is not immediately potable, being slightly saline straight from the ground, several filtration stations were built to provide the town with drinking water. History Where you can buy Baja Satellite Photos... The history of San Felipe is much like the history of mankind itself, which is believed to begin with God and suspected to end with greed. The first European to set foot on the sands of what he called San Felipe de Jesus, was the Jesuit Padre Juan de Ugarte, in 1721. De Ugarte was exploring the inner coast of the Baja. Twenty five years later Father Fernando Consag, another Jesuit, mapped the area and marked the location of the bay. In the late eighteenth century the Dominicans, third and last of the religious orders to embrace the indigenous peoples of the Baja Peninsula with their dogmas, attempted to make San Felipe a supply post for its northern missions. Attacks on their storage sheds and supply trains by the aggressive Yuma Indians persuaded the Dominicans to relocate their depositories to the Pacific coast. In the mid-eighteen hundreds, gold fever seemed to grip the entire west coast of North America. Prospectors flooded over the American borders into Mexico and shacks began to spring up in the San Felipe area. But when the mines didn’t yield as expected, the shacks were left to the heat and wind. Plans to develop San Felipe as a mining port were abandoned. In 1855, Guillermo Andrade leased 30,000 hectares around the bay. In 1876, he made a contract with the Federal Government to colonize the area, but died before he could complete his project. In the early nineteen hundreds the governor of the territory, Coronel Esteban Cantú Jiménez moved the capital of Baja from Ensenada to Mexicali. He planned to connect the new capital by roads and railway to a young port at San Felipe. In 1916, Coronel Cantú began the first of three expeditions to San Felipe. Problems and supply shortages aborted the first two journeys, but the third one was successful. It was Governor Cantú's engineers who built the first car-access road to San Felipe. Cantú's administration permitted precious metal prospecting in the area and that is what attracted the first white 'settlers'. But available funds could not support his ambitions and again San Felipe was abandoned. The San Felipe property purchased by Cantu gradually moved into the hands of his descendants, where it appreciated in value merely from proximity to someone else's partially realized or failed real estate scheme. In the 1940's, ex-President of Mexico Aberlardo Rodríguez, wanting to increase tourist activity in the area, graded and paved Cantú's deteriorating road. At the same time, his brother José María Rodríguez Luján, who owned over 4,000 hectares of San Felipe, established the Port of San Felipe and other enterprises. Commercial benefits began to attach themselves to San Felipe as the Colorado River was harnessed to provide irrigation to the farmlands of the Imperial Valley to the north. Mexicali slowly became an oasis of rich, arable land and the population increased. During the Second World War, the American Army's Corps of Engineers constructed a usable road to San Felipe where it built a Submarine-Watch Station. Sharks began to be harvested for their livers, which were discovered to contain ten times the amount of vitamin A as the livers of codfish. Alongside this enterprise, local Chinese shipped the bladders of the huge totuava fish back to China where they were dried and ground into powders used to enrich and thicken soups. When two American entrepreneurs saw the great corpses of the bladderless totuavas simply pushed into the surf, they began their own business by hauling ice from across the border and transporting the fish to California, where they were sold to restaurants as "sea bass". Then a former Mexican president, Ableardo Rodriquez, and a lawyer named Guillermo Rosas, seeing the generosity of the sea's abundance, purchased a large part of the village. They planned to make San Felipe the center of a tourist sports fishing industry. They sent an American fisherman into the area to assess the angling potential of the surrounding waters. Two years later the road was improved and the town began to attract tourists, both for its beauty and its sport fishing. Since then, San Felipe has grown on a solid foundation of hooks, nets, pangas, shrimp boats, restaurants and the American dollar. And more recently, the investment and retirement potential of the area. Landmarks San Felipe is generously supplied with striking landmarks that can be seen from nearly anywhere in town and a few that can be seen from miles out of town. There are the arches, called by the Department of Tourism The Gateway to the Sea of Cortez. These are two tall plaster and metal "goal posts" standing so close together they form the letter M. The inside profile is of two arches painted a blinding white. They sit in the middle of a traffic circle at the entrance to the town. About three miles north of town the highway curves into a view of these "gates" and they can be seen from almost anywhere in town. Then there is El Machorro, a high peak on Punta San Felipe, a promontory at the northeastern end of town. From the top of this hill there is a spectacular view of the entire Valle de San Felipe, the sprawling San Pedro Martir mountains and the vast Sea of Cortez which sparkles like an opened jewelry box against the endless blond beaches. There is the Cerro de la Virgen, a hill where a very recognizable capilla or chapel faces east toward mainland Mexico. The chapel (dedicated to La Virgen de Guadalupe) is white and built of cement blocks. It's highest wall, facing south, was cleverly designed so that two rows of missing blocks formed a cross. It is during times of severe weather the wives of local fishermen make the long ascent up the stairs to the altar where they offer up candles and flowers to the resident statue of the Virgen de Guadalupe and pray for the safe return of their husbands from the sea. Another prominent landmark, very close to the chapel, is the lighthouse. This can also be seen from many parts of town and anywhere along the south shore as far as El Faro. In the evening it is a beacon for all visitors as well as any boats fishing at night. Modern San Felipe Most areas of San Felipe now have electricity. Telephones, both cellular and land-line, reach many miles north and south of the town. In San Felipe, you can find almost every amenity offered by larger communities. There are laundri-mats, beauty salons, video rental stores, storage facilities, upholsterers, glass repair shops, sign painters, appliance repairs, lumber yards, doctors, dentists, masseuse, and even a chiropractor. Soon, the Cobach High School Theater Project will be finished, bringing plays and musical events to an indoor venue. Because of its proximity to the US, the once-inaccessible fishing village has gradually become a place where two very different cultures mingle under the conflicting influences of their respective conditioning. One culture shapes its behavior according to the natural laws it perceives in its environment. The other has been taught to bend and shape those laws for its own purpose. This difference in world-views is in itself enough to fuel some interesting exchanges. Where the norteamericanos were nurtured by a system designed to meet expectations (because this brings back the customer), Mexicans have never had any of their expectations fulfilled. And so they have not been conditioned to think or behave accordingly. American values are measured against progress, which in turn is the parent of expectation. What passes for a lie to an American is just a campaign promise to a Mexican, who has been suckled from cradle to grave on the assurances and covenants of politicians. But a campaign promise is not the fuel that feeds the engine of material progress, and it is not enough to satisfy the expectation of an American waiting for pledges to be fulfilled. Because the average Mexican has no expectation, either from himself or the person at the other end of a promise, interactions between the norteamericano and local comerciantes often result in frustration and bewilderment. But by and large, San Felipe is like any other community. Some people struggle from morning until night to feed their growing families and only have a better life in their dreams while they sleep. Others take their dreams to the sidewalks and by force of will and a thirst for the 'good goal', shake and bend the system until it surrenders the lifestyle they want. Max. 47° C (117° F) Min. 3° C (38° F) Ave. 22° C (72° F) Sea Temperatures: Current Water Temperatures Water temperature further south The Sea of Cortez Fishing Report sometimes gives temperatures. 31° 02´ Latitude 114 ° 46´ Longitude Tides Local Geology Pop'n in 2005 Special Local Festivals and Celebrations: Carnavál Spring Break Foam Parties Samana Santa Marine Day Paellas Fesitival Snowbird Festival Folkloric Dancing Annual Paellas Revolution Day Mike Spurgin's Video Street Tour Maps of San Felipe and the Baja Map of the new Border Crossing Old Border Crossing Traffic Cams Articles About San Felipe, Baja The San Felipe Way Snowbirds Head to San Felipe San Felipe Awakens Secure in San Felipe Sunsets and Seafood The Northern Coastline Camping in Baja Summer Visit Heading South Off-Road

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City Bites OPENING: Introducing Mitla, Vanier’s authentic Mexican take-out food shop and tortilleria BY Shawna Wagman POSTED December 7, 2012 8:45 am Ana Collins was inspired by life in Oaxaca Mexico to open a funky take-out food shop and tortillaria in her neighbourhood Ana Collins wants to prove there is more to Mexican food than tacos. The indigenous food of Oaxaca — the region in southwest Mexico famous for its corn-based cuisine and known as the land of seven moles—is the inspiration for her new shop in residential Vanier. She chose to call it Mitla, the name of an archeological and UNESCO World Heritage site in the Oaxaca Valley, because it’s easier to spell and pronounce than Oaxaca. But it’s the densely nutritious, fresh, and vibrant food — as well as the warmth of the culture — that she experienced while living and studying in Mexico that she is aiming to bring to her Ottawa neighbourhood. Collins, who grew up in Ottawa and has family in Mexico, returned to the capital in 2008 and worked at the Wild Oat and the now-defunct Delish Catering. She gained a deep appreciation for the importance of corn to Oaxacan culture while working at a restaurant and tortilleria there called Itanoni that is dedicated to preserving organic heirloom corn varieties. The idea of serving anything less than good fresh corn tortillas at her shop was out of the question. “I am really trying for authenticity as much as possible,” she says. Tucked into a residential street in Vanier, Mitla aims to be a community hub With the help of friends, family and neighbours, Collins has transformed a former corner store — vacant for the last 10 years — into a colourful, cozy space that she hopes will become a community hang-out, a place to stop in for morning coffee (she brews the locally roasted Happy Goat beans) and pan de yema (egg-bread) for breakfast. Hungry locals will be tempted by quesadillas, memelas (like little corn tortilla pizzas or open-faced quesadillas), soups, salads, and daily specials — all featuring her own freshly-made, organic, GMO- and preservative-free whole-grain white corn tortillas. “We will be selling our tortillas by the kilo, just like the tortillerias in Mexico,” says Collins, “These tortillas are not available anywhere else in the city. They are simply the best you can get.” She says her packaged tortillas are like ACE Bakery baguettes that you buy in the supermarket; they are slightly under-cooked so when you heat them up they are moist and not dry. Collins' relatives in Mexico shipped over her favourite drinking chocolate from Oaxaca that includes cocoa beans, cinnamon and almonds While Collins will open up the doors to the public this Saturday, she is planning a proper Grand Opening in the New Year. For now, she is taking orders for weekly specials via her facebook page to try and help her gauge the demand. She is also offering holiday catering, including traditional Mexican cookies by the dozen. MITLA, 62 Barrette St., 613-842-9058, facebook.com/mitlaottawa Open weekdays 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays.

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Wednesday, 16 May 2012 12:43 Cherokee crafts plans for tree-top canopy walk and family adventure park The next five years could include the construction of an adventure park, a canopy walk and another casino for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, according to a preliminary outline of its 2012 economic development plan. Every five years, the Eastern Band creates an updated economic development plan that outlines what the tribe accomplished during the previous five years and its plans for the future. Several items in the 2012 strategic plan are simply continuations of work started in 2007, such as diversifying its attractions. With the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel being its main draw, a number of Cherokee’s visitors are 21 years or older. To create greater family appeal, the tribe is looking into the possibility of adding a canopy walk — a high-elevation nature stroll through the tree tops. The attraction would feature suspended bridges stretching from tree to tree and give visitors a bird’s eye view of the area. “The environment, the mountains, the streams and everything are so important to Cherokee,” said Doug Cole, a strategic planner with the Eastern Band. “(The canopy walk) takes advantage of that; it doesn’t try to degrade it.” A likely locale for the canopy walk would be near Mt. Noble in Birdtown, Cole said. In addition to the walk, the tribe is also making plans to construct a family friendly adventure park, an idea that it has tossed around for a while. The park could include various activities, such as a zipline and climbing wall, as well as a water park. The facility would be open year-round, with some elements inside and some outside. “There is an opportunity there for the kids and family market,” Cole said. “It could be something that all Western North Carolina could be proud of.” After finding that project is indeed feasible and that there is enough demand, the Eastern Band then began looking into how it could finance its construction — something it is still figuring out. The park could cost between $90 million and $100 million, Cole estimated, calling the numbers a “pure guess.” “It really depends upon … how much we want to build,” Cole said. An adventure park would also help with another goal of the tribe — to diversify its job opportunities and revenue streams. “I think diversifying the income from the tribe is very important. Right now, we depend on the casino quite a bit,” Cole said. “You don’t want to have all of your eggs in one basket.” That is not to say that enrolled members are not grateful for the support the casino provides. In fact, the tribe has discussed expanding its gambling operations, not just within its current casino but also to another part of the reservations. For a while, the tribe has discussed the possibility of building new casinos on other tribally owned lands. And now that the living gaming compact is looking more likely to pass, building a small-scale casino in Cherokee County is the gaming commission’s No. 1 priority, said Don Rose, a member of the commission. It would not be a full-fledged casino but would be more than a bingo hall, and Harrah’s would not necessarily be affiliated with the new casino. “This would be a totally separate casino,” Rose said. Although a large portion of the economic plan involves tourism, it also addresses quality of life for enrolled members. The reservation only has one large commercial grocery, Food Lion, and no national retail stores. Many enrolled members must drive to the Walmart in Sylva for the simplest things. “If you wanted to buy a tie or shirt, you would have to drive to Sylva and back,” Cole said. “We need to have that available.” There is also no drug store, like a Walgreens or CVS, where enrolled members or even visitors can easily pick up a prescription when necessary, he said. The tribe will also look into investing more into tribally owned businesses through operations such as the Sequoyah Fund. The blueprint, formally called the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, helps the tribe when applying for federal monies. Since 2007, when the last plan was drafted, the Eastern Band has received $3.37 million for economic development projects, states the report. Mostly, however, the economic strategy plan is a map detailing what the Eastern Band hopes to achieve during the next half decade. “The real reason we do this is to keep us on strategy on what we want to do during the next five years,” said Cole. “Hopefully by 2017, we can make a lot of that happen, too.” It’s track record on seeing project through has been surprisingly good. Past CEDS projects include the construction of the Sequoyah National Golf Club, a movie theater, a skate park and smattering the reservation with painted bear statues, among others. The tribe will spend this month prioritizing projects and developing action plans. A final draft of the economic development strategy will be submitted to the U.S. Economic Development Administration by the end of September. To voice your opinion, review the plan or find out information about public meetings regarding the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, visit nctomorrow.org/cherokeequallaboundary. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Permanent tourism director hired in Jackson Tourism tax hike for Haywood is DOA Proposed room tax hike already in jeopardy « GroWNC inspires neighboring counties to think like a region Voices of the Smokies to go live in oral project » back to top This Must Be the Place I finally had a moment of silence. After a raucous Saturday night attending the Perpetual Groove show at The Salvage Station in Asheville, I found myself in the living room of my friend’s house in West Asheville. Midnight had come and gone, and there I was, sitting on the couch, wide awake as folks were already asleep atop the air mattress on the floor and in the back bedroom. Readers of this column know I am a sucker for books about books. Novels like The Little Paris Bookshop, collections of reviews by such notables as Michael Dirda and Nick Hornsby, books touting other books like Book Lust, memoirs like The Reading Promise: My Father And The Books We Shared, all reach out from the shelves of bookstores or libraries,… A&E Briefs Previously in A&E Six life lessons from a backdrop artist Mountain Heritage Center exhibit on African-American community, music SCC pottery chosen for NC Welcome Center Sharing the craft: Jo Ridge Kelley Fine Art This must be the place: So many miles, so many roads ‘Blackbeard’s Ghost’ wins national award HART welcomes Arnette, Dykes Feet in the sand, not your head This must be the place: Ode to Butch Trucks, Texas sunsets

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» Information » Ukraine Transportation Guide Ukraine Transportation Guide Trying to figure out how to get where you need to go can be a difficult task in a foreign country. This section will help you make sense of Ukraine's transportation infrastructure and provide you with the resources you need to plan your movements around the country. If you have your own car, read about driving in Ukraine here. Travelocity SAVES You 20% or MORE on Air Fares Ukraine's transportation network Ukraine has a very well-developed system of public transportation, and the country is much less reliant on private automobiles than the U.S. or western Europe. Every large city and regional capital is connected to the railway network and receives passenger trains daily from other major cities. The train station is the main transportation hub of every Ukrainian city. From there minibuses, trolleybuses, and private taxis take passengers to other parts of the city. The other main transportation hub of any Ukrainian town is the intercity bus station. Often, but not always, the bus station is located next to the train station. The largest cities generally have several bus stations located at different ends of town. Intercity buses leave from the station that is in the direction of their destination. Most Ukrainian regional capitals also have an airport on the edge of town for domestic flights and, occasionally, a small selection of international flights. Ukraine has recently got its first low-cost connections. Inter-city travel in Ukraine is quite a bit less expensive than in Europe, but prices have been rising steadily in recent years. Public transportation in Ukrainian cities Every Ukrainian town and city has a complex network of public transportation dominated by minibuses, followed by trolleybuses, street trams, buses, and subway systems (only in the largest Ukrainian cities). These means are sufficient to get you where you need to go in town — after you learn how to use them (follow the links for detailed information). Fare on public transportation is very low by European standards, usually costing 2 UAH ($0.25 USD) or less. In addition to public transportation, taxis are available everywhere at prices lower than in Europe. About About TryUkraine.com

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It’s The Best Place On Earth To Work At And Plus You Get $14,000 Of Travel Allowance (19 pics) on Wednesday, April 06, 2016 According to Glassdoor’s 2016 rankings, online travel company Expedia is the happiest place in London to work at. Expedia employees get unbelievably generous benefits like travel allowance between $8,515 and $14,192. And they have Formula One simulators, a huge roof terrace that hosts regular BBQs and other staff parties, various free bars, and more "chill out zones" in the at the company's two huge offices in London. From the outside, Expedia's office building looks a little dreary, like many others in London. However, as you get inside, things start to appear brighter. The wall behind the reception is covered in pictures from employees' holidays. Everyone is able to travel a lot thanks to the generous travel allowances, which range from between $8,000 and $14,000, depending on your grade. Inside, just like many other tech firms, you can play ping-pong and table foosball. More rare is the opportunity to play on the Formula One simulators, which are hooked up to gaming platform Steam. There are also more conventional games consoles like Xbox and Playstation. These two were casually playing FIFA in the middle of work hours. "What we try and encourage here at Expedia is to make it feel like we’re big kids in a big kids sandbox," director of tech Liz Estaugh said. Staff even created a GPS tracked trolley to carry cake and booze around the office. "We can't be bothered to walk to the 'Mobile Much Trolley.' So we’re trying to do a little mini-hackathon internally, to see if we can figure out a way to add sensors to the trolley, so it can navigate around corners, it can sense walls and we can control it from our iPhones," Estaugh explained.

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» Impressum » Terms of Use » Privacy Policy Posts Tagged ‘Tom Morris’ Tony Baxter Masterclass April 12th 2012 was Disneyland Paris’ 20th birthday with special events and celebrations during the day. One of these special events was meeting Tony Baxter (Senior Vice President, Creative Development, Walt Disney Imagineering) who would talk in front of an audience of devoted Disney fans about Disneyland Paris and his big participation into creating it. It will be to nobody’s surprise that the whole audience was captured for this hour long masterclass with Tony. The masterclass was being hosted by the two Disneyland Paris Ambassadors, Régis Alart and Osvaldo del Mistero, who both did a fantastic job. Not only did they get the questions to Tony, they also had to translate everything in French and sometimes those where very long sequences. Great job. But for those that could not be there, here is an almost full transcript of Tony Baxter’s Masterclass. Tony started of with some explanation of the name Imagineers and how it put artists together with engineers and how this results in all the amazing things that they do and that work most of the time. After a first translation to French Tony asked “What did I say”, making the public laugh. Before Tony took on the role of executive producer for Disneyland Paris he already worked on many other projects as Imagineer. The question to Tony was to talk a little bit about these projects. “I got to play a few years before tackling this project. First there was Big Thunder Mountain. It was designed for Walt Disney World but the first one got build in Disneyland but the best one of all is here in Paris. We all know what it does it, it goes under the river and back under the river and it is totally awesome.” Then he worked on Star Tour and after that he mentioned Indiana Jones and the Temple of the forbidden eye. Tony already said wouldn’t it be great if that would be our movie and years later they could indeed build attractions related to the franchise. Tony mentioned how Disneyland Paris has somehow a duplicate Fantasyland compared to Disneyland abut how our Castle is spectacular. Tony went on mentioning Splash mountain, quickly saying that the best one is in Tokyo, but there are very good once in the US parks. The next questions asked by the Ambassadors was how did he feel when they announced they where going to create Euro Disney (As it was know before changing its name to Disneyland Paris) and he would be in charge of it. “well it wasn’t like being the person being in charge as I couldn’t do this alone. I had five friends who grow up with Disneyland as children and all of knew on how to make it right. It wasn’t as being in charge of it but we get one more chance to do this. We know all the things about Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and let’s put all these things together and put it right creating the most beautiful Disneyland and it still is. That being said Disneyland is still the most charming, Walt Disney World the most spectacular, and DisneySea is amazing.” A picture of a Disneyland Main street Picture was showing up on the screen. “I see my friends, Jeff Burke Frontierland, Tim Delaney Discoveryland, Tom Morris fantasyland, Eddie Sotto Main Street and Chris tietz for Adventureland. Chris is still working with us on Princess Fantasy Faire for Disneyland. Next question was how did he take an American concept and adapt it to European audiences and made it relevant for them since they didn’t have the Disney park experience before. “It started with a wonderful trip to Europe. It started with a trip trough England, we went to Denmark, of course Germany and visited all the great sites tourists do. I went to visit book shops in small communities, so not in the center with the tourist, but to see what people would think about the rest of the world. Look at coffee table books to see what sells and look at what people are interested in.” “Frontierland was easy because the French and Europeans are very interested and intrigued in the wild west. Adventureland, there where a lot of theme parks that copied the original Jungle Cruise from Disneyland. In fact, one I remember, had viking boats going past the guys that where going past the pool with the men going up. So we decided not to do that. We rethought Adventureland in more of an Arabian Nights fantasy because stories like Aladdin where very popular here in the same way the fairy tales from France where popular in America, so there was a shift.” “Sometimes things where very exited for us. We knew pirates where going to be exited for the Europeans so we build a whole island based on Pirates of the Caribbean and strengthen the pirate ride as you see here. How did we know so many years later pirates was going to be such a huge franchise for the Disney company so it was fortunate that we made it such a big part of Adventureland.” “The big question was of course Fantasyland and the castle.” Europe already had a lot of real castle so the Disney believed a replica of such a castle would not work in Euro Disney. “So we decided to go much more to the fairy tales and the story books and particular the art designed by Eyvind Earle” “And finally here we are in Discoveryland. Part of the contract that we signed with the government in France was to develop an area based on celebrating European culture and when you look at space mountain , that is directly from Jules Verne’s Story from Earth to the Moon, the Orbitron out here could be Leonardo Da Vinci. These are the type of visionaries that really inspired the whole world to go into space to do the things in the future. This was a natural fit.” (Tony was keeping Main Street for later, when talking about the hotels) Next question was related how the Imagineers worked together to make this dream come true. “We where close friends, Tom Morris, who was in Fantasyland, came to me when he was in high school and he wanted to write a report on an Imagineer and as he went true college he became on board and we worked together on many projects and I think he was typical of what my relationship was with Jeff Burke and Tim Delaney and everyone else. I knew their specialties. Tim is a genius in doing futuristic imaginative art, Tom loved fairy tales, Chris loved adventures and if you look at Jeff Burke, he is a cowboy.” “You always hear about Casting in the theme part, but the most important casting we do is at Imagineering and each one of these people was absolutely perfect so that made my job really easy.” Next question from the Ambassadors was what kind of challenges or problems he encountered when creating Disneyland Paris. “It was very cold” (laughter) “Sometimes it was so cold we had to put plastic covers and put heaters inside to keep the spray from turning to snow instead of landing on the rocks. That was very challenging. Midway trough the construction we had partnered with an English firm to manage the project and it so difficult, so Disney and so not normal, as they where used to with hospitals and hotels. We had to take the management of the project back and create our own staff right in the middle of construction and I think our management group at Imagineering did an incredible job of that switch over midway in the project” “We had the same amount of money as Tokyo did to build that park and so the challenge for each of our designers was to find a way to get more of that money out where guests could enjoy it and I think they did a fantastic job. In Tokyo you find that the street is covered, and that cost a lot. We where able to put the arcades, and if you haven’t walked trough them, they are beautiful, they where a lot less money and with the remainder we put more beautiful details in the rest of Main Street.” Tony said that Disneyland Paris is the most beautiful park in the world so the next question was to find out why he thinks so. “It is a combination of things. The climate, which can be harsh, also allows you to grow things we cannot in California and Florida, so as you walk into the park, especially now during spring time, the landscaping is spectacular. Our hardwood forest in Frontierland is more beautiful then in California or Florida and is the youngest. It already looks fantastic. Landscaping is a big part of it.” “The Orbitron was placed on the ground so the extra money saved was used to put all the great ornaments on it so it became a gorgeous sculpture. Those kinds of way of thinking of the park was ways to make it more spectacular. We are next to the most beautiful city in the world, so we had to live up to that.” Tony is now in charge of Disneyland California and the question now is how it feels to go back to the one that started it all. “I grew up with Disneyland, so it is my backyard and to get to play in your backyard is the best thing a kid can ever do.” That where the questions from the Ambassadors, but now it was time to get some facebook fans questions. They where asked by the Disney Ambassadors from all the other Disney parks around the world. The first question was about him meeting Walt Disney in person and to tell us about the experience. “I was working in Disneyland as an ice cream vendor, scooping ice cream, and Walt would come to the park every Friday, staying at an apartment above the fire station on Mainstreet and then on Saturday he would fire up one of the cars and drive over Mainstreet. I never thought he would visit a humble ice cream vendor but the word went out that he was coming so we had to work very hard to clean the area up. Then I saw him moving towards me and I had all these ideas that I wanted to share with him. I was going to tell him all these things we could do and I wanted to be part of it and then I felt his hand on my shoulder and he said – how are things going with you here – and I said just fine”. (big laughter in the room). “missed opportunity” “My sister got to ride small world with him, she was younger, she was twelve. She saw him going to small world and she ask if she could ride it with him and he said of course you can. She and her girlfriend, one on either (of Walt’s) side went through and at the end he asked if the wanted to go trough again and they said of course. But you would have to sing this time. They sang the song and then he gave them a picture, an autograph and tickets. She still has those today.” The Ambassadors said they where jealous and Tony answered he was too. “I had to work at Disneyland, scooping ice cream and my sister went to the big football game on new years day and Walt Disney was the grand marshal that year of the ball game. So she went down, she is 12 years old, she went up to him and said my brother had to work at Disneyland today and couldn’t come down to the game would you sign the program for him. So I have a signed program saying; Tony I thank you for working at Disneyland and I am sorry you weren’t here to see the football game today, Walt Disney” The audience loved it. The next facebook question was, what was the best part of creating a Disney park in Europe and how did you came up with the design of Sleepy Beauty Castle. “The best part was getting to come to Europe and I took holidays every weekend to go visit Europe. It is all so beautiful and so different. Each country has its own culture and its charm. Regarding the Castle, I already told a little bit about it, we where very concerned that it would be taken poorly so we convinced management to recreate the castle from scratch. We made it a little bit smaller then Walt Disney World but bigger then Disneyland and the most important think was the shift in making it a fairy tale setting. In all of the other Disney parks the castle is flat on the same level as Main Street and we wanted to try and create that image where the castle is up on a hill side and the prince would ride up to the castle hill sides and dragons would live underneath it. Those where the things that guided us.” Next question was, what is the best example of detail that went into the creation of this park. “Only one? I love all the thing in the park but the Disneyland hotel was such a challenge in the park and no money to do it. We had to convince Michael Eisner to get rid of one of the hotels out in the village and give us that funding to do that hotel. Everybody at the company said people would be standing in their underwear on the balconies, they’ll be hanging their clothing out to dry, they’ll be bothered by the parades on Main Street. There where million reasons why we shouldn’t do it. But Both Frank (Wells) and Michael agreed it was a beautiful design and Eddie Sotto worked very hard to incorporate that into Main Street. We shrunk the train station so the hotel works as the icon at the end of the street as the train station does for the other parks. It was the hardest thing as it was never been done before and now of course there is one in Tokyo, we have the Grand Californian in California and it has become a Disney thing.” “The reason we build that hotel, as we studied how people go to resorts, there is a great appreciation in the European community on the scent of arrival. In the US you get processed a lot before you get into the beauty of the parks. It is a great gift to the people who arrive at the RER and train station to see the gardens and the hotel on arrival. We felt it was important to do this.” Next was a question about all the homages to the original park that can be found in the park. Some of them are obvious but what is the most hidden or mostly overlooked tribute to Disneyland. “You better get the people ready in the Fantasyland restaurant after this. In Pizzeria Bella Notte patio there is a broken china pattern of mosaics in there. When we put in Start Tours in California we had to demolish a portion of Mary blair’s murals. The majority is still there, but a portion was destroyed and Tom Morris picked up all the pieces and if you look at that in Belle Notte and pick out the very orange pieces, that came from the sun from that mural.” “The other one is mine. In Disneyland we had an exit sign that was off-centered because there was a beam. In Au Chalet de la Marionnette there is a sign that is perfect, in Disneyland I added a Figaro cat pulling the sign to make it look balanced. Here the exit sign was right so they asked what I was going to do this time. So I added a Figaro cat leaning on it showing we got it right this time.” Another question was if he had the possibility to expand a land, which one would he pick and why? “Discoveryland! If you leave today (the videopolis building) you’ll see two circles on the wall. They are tubes that would bring you to Space Mountain. All attractions would be connected with Space Mountain. It was going to be a land in there. Tubes would take you of to each of the attractions (some artwork was shown with the tubes). And that was how you where going to get to all the attractions. We weren’t able to do that, we couldn’t afford that. So I would love to come back now and spend some more effort and really complete this land. That would be great.” The next question is about one of many fans favorite attraction. What is the mystery story of Phantom Manor as the whole fan base is torn between two possible explanations. First of all Henry Ravenswood would be the Phantom, or the second one could be the Phantom could be the result of a curse around Thunder Mountain. “You know I am going to be hung on this one” (laughter in the room) “There is probably 400 stories on this. I am going to give you my story. It is not official, it is mine. I love Charles Dickens’ story Great expectations. Miss Havisham (from the book), who is gilded as a bride, grow older and older and the rats came in, the spider webs and everything else and that was the basis that I saw in this (attraction). But I wasn’t the only voice in this. So we see the young beautiful daughter preparing for her marriage at the start. She is in the hall and all the guests are arriving. She is very wealthy, this is her fathers home who made lot’s of money from the gold rush from the mines of Big Thunder. Now she is waiting for her groom. She waits and waits and waits and gets older and older and older in the progress. When he finally comes at the end it is to late and the only place where the celebration can be is down under. So he invites us to descend down beneath the ground into the spirit world where all the residents of Thunder Messa come to celebrate this long, long overdue marriage. And of course she waves goodbye trowing us the flowers at the end. And that’s my version. (big applause). What is so special about Disney stories is that you write the stories. If we scripted the whole thing and give you a book report of a movie (attraction) that we’ve done it is not as exciting as if when you going home and tell your family and friends of what you saw and the different things that happened. It makes it very exciting to go on the attraction again. If it is the same old thing and scene, scene, scene, that’s not any fun.” Ambassador Régis response that this is why after 20 years we are all still wondering. “And that’s why people keep going” “And while the picture is up here (picture showing of Phantom Manor exterior building) you can see the importance of making it look readable visually. So instead of a sign telling you that is a haunted house we created a look that looked haunted because of the multiple languages here so it was really important to make it speak visually. The great actor Vincent Price by the way, here comes some trivia, Vincent Price provided the scream at the end of the elevator part. He also did the complete narration but we where warned against using it because the felt it was to American even though it was in French but I think hearing an American accent would have actually been good and if you guys (to the fans) yell enough maybe we can bring that back. (applause) It was the last thing that Vincent Price ever did. And the other trivia thing is, the music was re-orchestrated by a young man who has gone on with fame and fortune, by the name of John Debney who has gone on doing big motion pictures and it was a beautiful score.” After this the Ambassadors thanked Tony and the fans did the same with a standing ovation. He was going to take some time to meet fans for pictures and autographs. Many fans wanted to meet him but a busy program forced him to stop early before every fan could meet him. He tried his best, even canceling one meeting but at the end he had to apologize and go as more cancellations where not possible. He mentioned he hated doing this and had hoped to meet everybody, but his filled agenda for today just didn’t allow the extra time. It does show how great Tony is and how much he cares to meet and speak to his many, many fans which all had a fantastic time during this incredible masterclass. Tags: Anaheim, Baxter, California, Chris Tietz, Discoveryland, Disney, Disneyland, DisneySea, Eddie Sotto, EuroDisney, Fantasyland, Florida, Frontierland, Haunted, Hong Kong, House, Imagineer, Imaginners, Jeff Burke, Main Street, Manor, Masterclass, Orlando, Paris, Park, Phantom, price, Theme, Tim Delany, Tokyo, Tom Morris, Tony, U.S.A., Vincent, Walt, WDW, World Posted in Disneyland Resort Paris | 2 Comments » News Overview --> Click WordPress.org Copyright 1999 - DLP.info - All Rights Reserved.

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Resort Jobs Resume Centre Adventure Jobs Post New Jobs Resort Jobs in Canada 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 8 Jobs at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and sparkling lakes, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge welcomes you to the Grand Canadian Lodge Experience. Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, the charming cabins and rustic elegance of The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge make it the embodiment of peace, tranquility and natural beauty. Having the #1 Best Golf Resort in Canada, as rated by the readers of SCOREGolf Magazine, spectacular outdoor adventure opportunities, uncrowded ski slopes and fine cuisine, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is more than a vacation... it's a life experience. http://www.fairmont.com/jasper/ Jobs at Waterton Lakes National Park Parks Canada has more than four thousand employees from coast to coast to coast. They work at national parks, national historic sites, national marine conservation areas, national historic canals, administrative offices and service centres. Some examples of jobs include park wardens, interpreters, historians, archaeologists and trades people. Their work can be of a permanent, full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal nature. Parks Canada also employs a fair number of students. Employees work to further the mandate of Parks Canada, which is to preserve and present Canada's national heritage for current and future generations. http://www.parkscanada.ca/ Jobs at Whistler Blackcomb Perhaps no other mountain resort in the world can boast the sheer magnitude and scope of improvements that Whistler Blackcomb has delivered over the past 40 years. And as we celebrate our anniversaries in the upcoming 2005/06 season, we're keeping up the tradition! http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/employment/index.htm Jobs at Whistler Westin Resort With Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains in our backyard and the driving range in the front, we place you in the heart of one of Canada's great year-round recreation destinations. It really is little wonder that Condé Nast Traveler and TRAVEL + LEISURE Magazine have named us to their respective prestigious award lists of places to stay in North America. http://www.westinwhistler.net/careers.html Jobs at Wine Lake Camp Our scenic location is the perfect place for those looking to introduce their families and friends to the sport of freshwater angling. It's the ideal get away for a retreat from the fast-paced world - where Mother Nature decides the activity for the day. Our region of Canada is known for its hundreds of crystal-clear lakes and its breath-taking, wilderness landscapes. http://www.winelakecamp.com Province Display All Please select a province Job Search City, Job Name, or Keyword Copyright © 2017 ExtremeJobs.ca. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

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Travel|Trying to Be Green, With Very Little Water Travel | Heads Up | Sustainable Mediterranean Resorts Trying to Be Green, With Very Little Water By JOANNA KAKISSISAUG. 19, 2007 POTENTIAL PLAYGROUND An arid region of Crete that is the proposed site of the Cavo Sidero resort development. Yannis Kolesidis for The New York Times ONE of the Mediterranean’s prized stretches of virgin coast lies on the eastern tip of the Greek island of Crete — more than 6,000 acres of land on a craggy peninsula dotted with scrubby bouquets of thyme and sage. If all goes as planned, a group of international investors will turn that land into Cavo Sidero, which is already being promoted as the largest eco-friendly luxury tourism development in southeastern Europe.On paper, Cavo Sidero looks like the ideal confluence of traditional elegance and environmental respect. A brochure shows watercolors of whitewashed village homes and photographs of starfish, birds and a father and his young son surf fishing. Local environmentalists, however, say water-starved Crete cannot support this $1.6 billion year-round resort, which would include hotels, vacation homes and golf courses.The debate over the project reflects a concern throughout the Mediterranean, which is now facing drought and scorching heat waves: can a resort built on fragile land be ecologically sound?“In the Mediterranean, where there’s still a dynamic tourism industry, sustainability is crucial,” said Gabor Vereczi, environmental quality chief in the sustainable development department of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, based in Madrid. “Unfortunately, there are many developments going up in very arid areas. If they want to survive, it’s just good business sense to make sure all environmental safeguards are followed rigorously.” Continue reading the main story Indeed, signs of an environmental crisis are everywhere in the region. Parts of Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey are facing desertification, or the degradation of once-fertile soil, because of overbuilding, overgrazing, poor water resource management and an explosion in hothouse agriculture. Many hoteliers and developers say they have already adopted greener practices. For instance, the Vila Sol Spa and Golf Resort in the Algarve region of Portugal and the Amathus Beach Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus, are touting their water management operations, while the Grecotel chain in Greece is experimenting with water-efficient organic farming in raising food for its hotels. Key Resorts, which operates the Mosa Trajectum resort near the southern city of Murcia in Spain, is promoting “100 percent ecological golfing”; its courses are built on biodegradable foam that is said to reduce water evaporation.Dolphin Capital Partners, an Athens-based private equity firm specializing in real estate developments in southeast Europe, is working with resorts in Greece, Cyprus and Croatia that will have on-site desalination and wastewater treatment plants and use native plants for landscaping. One Dolphin project, Sitia Bay, is set to go up near the Cavo Sidero site.“If you are somewhere with water problems, like eastern Crete, you cannot make the area all green, as if you’re recreating Norway,” said Spyros Tzoannos, Dolphin’s asset management director. “You have got to work with the natural environment.” The Minoan Group, the developers who are planning Cavo Sidero, spent about 2 million euros on an environmental study and also pledged to build desalination and wastewater treatment plants. They say their golf courses will be filled with seashore paspalum, a salt-tolerant grass, and with local flora instead of grasses that require a lot of water. The developers have also partnered with a British-based environmental organization, Forum for the Future, and plan to educate vacationers and homeowners at Cavo Sidero on responsible water use.“The last thing we want is for people to come here and drive through a desert,” said Christopher Egleton, president of the Minoan Group. The Greek government strongly supports the project, which includes six villages with traditional homes, villas and apartments as well as hotels, sports facilities, restaurants and shops on about 1 percent of the site. The rest will be set aside for trails, nature areas and three golf courses. When the developers presented their plans earlier this year, the Greek tourism minister, Fani Palli-Petralia, said it would be “one of the greatest projects ever carried out in Greece.” The Cavo Sidero land belongs to Toplou, a wealthy monastery that owns much of the land in eastern Crete, where it grazes goats and cultivates olives. Philotheos, the monastery’s abbot, has long wanted to invigorate the local economy with more tourism. In 1994, a foundation of which the abbot was a founder agreed to lease the tract, more than 6,000 acres, to the Minoan Group (then called Loyalward Ltd.) for 40 years with an option for 40 more years, in exchange for 10 percent of the gross annual revenue.But many environmentalists and residents do not want the project. “We don’t want to be in the position of running out of water because it’s being pumped to the tourists there,” said Manolis Tsantakis, an Itanos council member who voted against Cavo Sidero. Scientists say Greece’s water reserves could dwindle by a quarter by 2030 because of rising temperatures and a decrease in rainfall. The situation is especially sensitive in Crete, which faces chronic droughts and where half of the island is at risk of desertification. Mr. Tsantakis and other critics of the project would rather see the site used for a public cultural park or not developed at all. They have taken their appeal to Greece’s highest court, which is set to hear the case late this fall. Mr. Vereczi of the United Nations tourism organization says assessing the ecological viability of luxury developments can be difficult because it’s hard to define exactly what “eco” means in this context.For many ecotourism devotees, “luxury is the opposite of eco,” said Antonis Petropoulos, director of the Athens-based Ecoclub, an international network of affordable lodges that focus on nature. In Spain, for instance, Ecoclub’s sole member is Mas Lluerna Eco Farm in Catalonia, where visitors live on an organic farm and surrounding wetlands and cook on solar-powered ovens. Those looking for affordable ecotourism accommodations in the Mediterranean can check with groups such as Sustainable Travel International in Boulder, Colo., and the British-based Responsible Travel, which screen their member hotels for ecological responsibility. The European Union also awards “eco-labels” to accommodations that meet several guidelines, including limiting water usage and waste production. But the eco-label has gone to only a handful of operators, including Sunwing resorts in Greece, Cyprus and Spain.“Part of the problem is that sustainability is a difficult thing to measure,” said Brian Mullis, president of Sustainable Travel International, which is working with Leading Hotels of the World to draft eco-certification guidelines for that organization’s 440 member hotels. That will take at least a year, said Kristin Glass, marketing director for Leading Hotels of the World.Meanwhile, the Rome-based Luxury Camps and Lodges of the World offers an international directory of 89 small-scale “eco-luxury” options. Enrico Ducrot, the organization’s president, says he hopes more leisure resort developers in the Mediterranean get serious about sustainability.“Unless a new model of sustainability is adopted,” Mr. Ducrot said, “it is hard to know who is just talking and who is the real thing.” Correction: September 2, 2007 An article on Aug. 19 about sustainable Mediterranean resorts misstated the affiliation of an organic farm and Ecoclub, an international network of affordable lodges that focus on nature. In Spain, Mas Lluerna Eco Farm in Catalonia is Ecoclub’s sole ecolodge partner; it is not Ecoclub’s sole member there. A version of this article appears in print on , on Page TR5 of the New York edition with the headline: Trying to Be Green, With Very Little Water. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe

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Saving CA state parks: the end of public funding? Melissa Block | NPR Coe Park is California's second-largest state park, spanning more than 87,000 acres. Melissa Block/NPR For the first time in California's history, 15 state parks are slated to be permanently closed to the public on July 1. They're the victim of budget cuts in a state with a $16 billion shortfall. Over the last year, park enthusiasts have scrambled to save dozens of parks from closure, including Henry W. Coe State Park, California's second-biggest state park, located about 30 miles south of San Jose. With 135 square miles of spectacular wilderness in the Diablo mountain range, Coe Park is considered one of the Bay Area's greatest secrets. Its namesake Henry Coe was a cattle rancher whose land became a state park in 1958. The park will stay open for at least three years, thanks largely to the generosity of one man: an avid hiker and wealthy businessman named Dan McCranie. 'Crazy About This Place' McCranie made his money in the semiconductor industry. For 30 years now, when he needs to escape the grind of Silicon Valley, McCranie seeks refuge in Coe Park, where an inscription on a monument to Henry Coe reads, "May these quiet hills bring peace to the souls of those who are seeking." "I'm crazy about this place," McCranie says. "I think everybody who comes here is crazy about it." When McCranie heard that Coe Park was on the list slated for closure, he stepped up with three quarters of a million dollars to help keep it open for the next three years. While McCranie is Coe Park's main donor, others have also contributed smaller amounts. In total, about $900,000 of private donations will be given to the state of California to fund rangers and maintenance staff for three years. McCranie, who's turning 69 soon, says he couldn't think of a better thing to do with his excess wealth than to preserve Coe Park. Still, he admits he did not tell his wife before making the donation. "I figured forgiveness would be better than permission," he says with a laugh. A New Funding Model? Unlike some other California parks where operations will be taken over by private companies or nonprofits, Coe Park will still be managed by the state. But its funding will all come from private donors and entrance fees. While McCranie is a firm believer in free enterprise who considers himself "right of Attila the Hun" on economic issues, he also believes turning the park over to private hands would be a big mistake. Since the announcement of his donation, he's turned down offers from potential donors interested in privatizing the park. McCranie says he prefers a large group of medium-sized donors to keep Coe Park running so that no one donor can dominate. He is also against giving donors naming rights to parts of the park. "We got the first $900,000 for nothing," he says. "Why don't we get the next $900,000 for nothing? Why wouldn't it be enough to say that you contributed to keeping the park open?" A Slippery Slope? McCranie figures that now that private donors have stepped up, state money will never come back to Coe Park. So it will be up to them to create an endowment fund big enough to keep this park open in perpetuity. But this model is precarious if enthusiasm flags or fortunes shift. Getting the state off the hook for funding parks may also set into motion a slippery slope, says Rob Reich, who is a co-director of Stanford University's Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. On one level, Reich says, McCranie's donation makes a sweeping philanthropic statement. But Reich is also troubled by the questions it raises: What about parks in areas that don't have a lot of money? Who saves them? And what about donors who attach all kinds of strings to their gifts? And does private philanthropy replace the common good? "You get lots of people like [McCranie] or others who do this who have great intentions and are civically minded and spirited," Reich explains. "But acting one by one by one, they set into motion this dynamic ... where suddenly we're not acting collaboratively or collectively as a public. We're acting individually as philanthropists to benefit the thing we're most passionate about. And suddenly we don't have a civic sphere anymore. We don't have political participation. We don't have an 'us.' We have a bunch of 'I's.'" A New Lease On Life In a parking lot in Coe Park, Brad Beadell and his 11-year-old son William from Sunnyvale, Calif., are strapped with heavy packs, ready to set out onto the trails, when they meet Dan McCranie. "This is my son's first backpacking trip," Brad Beadell explains. "And this where I did my first backpacking trip." McCranie tells him he took his son backpacking at Coe Park for the first time when his son was 11 too. Beadell, a schoolteacher, knows all about budget cuts and the threat to the state parks. "It's sad that it's come to this, but it's where we're at right now in California," he says. He thanks McCranie for his contribution. Then, father and son head into Coe Park, which has been given a new lease on life — at least for now. Copyright 2012 National Public Radio.

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Travel South-central Texas's Readers' Choice Awards Texas's Readers' Choice Awards Voters in this year's Readers' Choice Awards tell us that there's a lot to love about Texas. Les Thomas You love to drive on wildflower-lined roads such as U.S. 290. Subscribe Folklorist J. Frank Dobie liked to say that every Texan has two hometowns--his own and San Antonio. Maybe that's why the urban oasis with the beloved River Walk got top votes as every Texan's favorite Southern city and family vacation destination. (It feels like home to me too.)Other voters ranged across the vast expanse of the Lone Star State to pick winners, from family restaurants (Babe's Chicken Dinner House and the Blue Bonnet Café) to the rugged mountains of Big Bend.Drive This WayIn a state where the roads go on forever, you ranked some of the most scenic highways (Route 66, State 7, and U.S. 281). "What I like best about Route 66 is the historical aspect of the highway," says LaDonna Ratliff of Amarillo. "It usually goes through an older part of a town that always seems to be lined with antiques shops, lots of trees and flowers, old nostalgic buildings and trendy cafes and coffee shops."Shoppers adore Dallas, San Marcos, and Houston. Bonnie Schoonover of College Station says you can't beat the outlet capital. "San Marcos has both a Tanger Factory Outlet and a Prime Outlet mall, and between them there is such a wide variety of high- end stores, with quality items at discount prices, from china to baby clothes," she says.Flowers GaloreIn spring, Texans love to hit the road to search for wildflowers, but bluebonnets aren't the only blossoms you're partial to. If you've seen the legions of tulips and azaleas that dazzle visitors during Dallas Blooms at The Dallas Arboretum, it's easy to understand how it's your favorite public garden. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden has many fans too.Readers love to stay in Texas-size places, such as the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, The Westin La Cantera Resort (both in San Antonio), and the wide-open spaces of the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (near the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport). (I've stayed at all three, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, near Austin, rank higher in years to come, when more people get to know it. I'm looking forward to seeing how you vote on all the categories next time.)When you head to the beach, Galveston and South Padre Island are top choices, and Gaido's Seafood Restaurant (in Galveston) gets your vote again for seafood.Watch Our PagesI hope you find these results as helpful as I do. I'm looking forward to seeing what's new at some of your favorite places. I can't wait to try some of the things I haven't done--such as dining at III Forks in Dallas or driving the whole route of State 7. It's surprising to me as a lifelong Texan to find so many things we agree on. Just think of us as a very, very big family. Click here to enter the 2008 Readers' Choice Awards. See More South-central Outdoors Enthusiast's Guide to Birmingham South-central Fannie Flagg's Birmingham Alabama's Readers' Choice Awards Dallas: Tastes Beyond Texas Tennessee's Readers' Choice Awards Kentucky Readers' Choice Awards Mississippi's Readers' Choice Awards 16 Adventures in Texas' Hidden Hill Country South Carolina's Readers' Choice Awards

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Kerala >>Kumarakom Travel In 1878, the marshy mangrove on the bank of the Vembanad Lake was cleared and replaced by coconut plantations. The person in the wake of this maneuver was one George Alfred Baker of Essex who had arrived in India sixty years earlier to take up missionary work in Kottayam. The Englishman was so awestruck by the splendor of Kumarakom that he settled here and made Kumarakom his abode. Location: Northern Part of Kerala Main Attractions: Dolphin's Point Formed on: Calicut Best Season: September to May TOPOGRAPHY Positioned 14 kms from Kottyam and around Kuttanad region lies Kumarakom popularly known as the rice bowl of Kerala. A huddle of tiny islets on the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is a pictorial, unsoiled village. An incredibly stunning ecstasy of mangrove forests, pea green paddy meadows and coconut coppices intermingled with enthralling waterways and canals. Kumarakom, located on the Southern coast of India enjoys a proportionate tropical weather. Nature has poised its magic to perfection here. Copious luxuriant coconut palms lining the rivers bow to look at its likeness on the shimmering rivers. Ubiquitously, nature is unsurpassed. The flourishing pastures and the countryside life are interspersed with the beautiful Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Stretched across 14 acres, the bird sanctuary is a desired haven of migratory birds and a bird lover’s paradise. Teals, egrets, darters, herons, teal, waterfowl, cuckoo, wild duck and migratory birds like the Siberian stork that live there in teems are an enthrallment for guests. The finest way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islets 16 km west of Kottayam on the Vembanad lake. The Sanctuary teems with local waterfowls and over wintering migratory birds such as the Siberian storks. Boats are available for backwater cruises in the lake. BACKWATER The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. Local people call it Kayals The backwaters of Kerala- twisty inland lakes networked by canals - extend to over 1900km.. Vembanad lake is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 sq km, and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. Just 12 km from Kottayam, this exclusive backwater destination sited on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered the gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake's outlet to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey, populariy known as " Venice of the East" has a network of canals that meander through the town. Boating across these soothing stretches is an experience exclusive to Kerala. Large Kettuvalloms (traditional country crafts over 60ft. in length) have been renewed into luxury houseboats for these cruises The Vallam Kali (the Snake Boat Race) held every year in August is a major attraction. 12km from Kottayam, this unique backwater destination situated on the banks of the Vembanad lake is considered the gateway to the backwaters of Kuttanad. BIRD SANCTUARY Inhabiting an islet on the Vembanad Lake at a distance of 12 kilometers from Kottayam in Kerala, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an enjoyment for the bird lover. Showcasing a mystifying collection of unique birds among the pantheon of general bird population it is an ideal place for tourists to enjoy the serene loveliness of the environs. The solitary tones that can be heard at this point are that of placid flow of water and smooth calls of the birds. Tourists can chill out here for a while if they are worn out of leading a swift existence. A visit to this sanctuary will endow with them a peep into the astounding work of the natural world. The main attractions are local birds like the waterfowl, cuckoo, owl, egret, heron and the water duck, as well as the migratory Siberian cranes. A travel tour to Kumarakom bird sanctuary would show that it is a place located and the main draws of the bird sanctuary happen to be the waterfowls and Siberian cranes. Migratory birds happen to be the major attractions of the bird sanctuary with the most appropriate time to visit being from November to February. The centrally located place in the Kumarakom bird sanctuary being the much popular, "Baker's Mansion" which happens to a 50 year old construction and once a Kerala tourism development corporation's hotel used to run in it. CLIMATE The temperature in summers ranges between 34.2°C to 22.6°C. Winter temperature ranges between 18 °C to 35 °C. Best Time to visit - The ideal time to visit the park is between June to August. For those, desirous of watching the migratory birds, November to February is the best time. NATIVES The people living on the banks of Vembanad Lake are generally amiable and pursue an orderly and fit existence. Their clothing is spotless, usually pristine whites and they maintain their home and environs unsoiled. Fishing is an occupation for the natives and they are noticed walking neck-deep in water carrying terracotta pots loaded with fish. LANGUAGE The main language of Kerala is Malayalam. Besides Malayalam, English is also spoken and understood by the mainstream of the inhabitants, as are Hindi and Tamil. FOOD The food largely consists of rice and fish. Fish is a very significant item in their menu. 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish) is a special gift of the backwaters. However South Indian, North Indian, Tandoori, Chinese and Continental cuisine are likewise enjoyed. Toddy tapped from coconut trees is a preferred drink among the men folk as well as visiting tourists. 'Kappa' Tapioca) and fish curry, served with toddy make an exceptional combination. BOAT CONTEST The yearly Snake boat races are a exhilarating fiesta held in Alappuzha, Kerala, India, just before the festival of Onam in August or September every year. These annual races characterize many classes of boats, but the most magnificent event is the race involving the colossal Snake Boats or Chundanvallams at the annual races or Vallamkalis held on the Punnamada Backwaters at Alappuzha. The Snake Boats or Chundanvallams, can seat up to 100 people. The rowers pull with all their strength, sitting two in row along the length of the Snake Boat. The boats drift low in the water and have an elongated curvature. The prow is pointed in shape or may have an ornamental knob at the end. The prow rides low in the water with the length of the Snake Boat expanding behind it. Kerala Pathanamithitta Periyar Wildlife Thekkady India Travel Portal | about us | weekend getaways | how to pay | privacy policy | advertising | faqs | career | user agreement

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Failure in the Saddle Book Trailer Here’s a trailer for friend Dave Powell’s upcoming Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joseph Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign (see his interview with Bull Runnings here). Tags: ACW Books, Articles, Chickamauga, David Powell, Failure in the Saddle, Joseph Wheeler, Nathan Bedford Forrest Categories : Articles, Books Interview: David Powell, “Failure in the Saddle” Dave Powell has been an acquaintance of mine for seven or eight years. I’ve had the pleasure to stomp the ground at Chickamauga, the Shenandoah Valley, and Shiloh with him and have enjoyed his company and expertise immensely. He’s what I call a “good guy”. He leads annual battle walks for the Chickamauga Study Group in conjunction with the NPS; hosts Chickamauga Blog; has authored numerous magazine articles on Gettysburg and Chickamauga; has designed award-winning board war games; and recently published The Maps of Chickamauga with Savas Beatie. His next book, Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joseph Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in the Chickamauga Campaign, is set for release on October 30, 2010. Dave took some time out from his very busy schedule to answer a few questions for Bull Runnings. BR: Dave, can you provide a little background for the readers out there? DP: I run a courier company in the Chicago area, a family business with 30 or so employees. Outside of work, however, my main interest is military history – all kinds, but with a primary focus on the American Civil War. That interest was reinforced by attending that most Civil War of places, the Virginia Military Institute, from where I graduated with a BA in History in 1983. I have been a re-enactor, have designed more than a dozen boardgames on Civil War Battles, and read extensively on the subject. In addition to our Civil War, I am also interested in European Military history, including the 19th Century, WWI, and WWII. I have published articles in Gettysburg Magazine, North & South, and last year Savas Beatie published my first book, The Maps Of Chickamauga. BR: You’re widely regarded as an expert on Chickamauga – what made you decide to make it a focus of your studies? DP: I started on a familiar trajectory in civil war studies – the eastern theater, especially Antietam and Gettysburg. In fact, for ten years or so, I attended (and sometimes led) annual tours and battle walks at Gettysburg. I started to write on the subject, but I soon realized that everyone else wanted to study and write about Gettysburg as well. In short, it was a crowded field, and I didn’t have much new to say on it. At the same time, I did a game on Chickamauga and noticed that almost no one was writing or studying that battle. At first I explored the limited secondary literature on Chickamauga, but since there is so little of it, I soon worked through it all. I began to collect primary source accounts of the battle, especially unpublished material, and was soon making frequent research trips to various archives. Dr. William Glenn Robertson allowed me to tag along on one of his staff rides, and later opened his archival holdings for me; while James Ogden, the Historian at Chickamuaga-Chattanooga National Military Park allowed me equally free access to their holdings. Within a few years, I had amassed a huge number of items. I had some 2000 different primary source accounts, both published and unpublished, with few of them getting much use. I wanted to put them to use, give them life again, as it were. BR: The story of the performances of Forrest and Wheeler during the Chickamauga campaign is the subject of your new book, Failure in the Saddle. How did this study come about? DP: Failure in the Saddle was really the first book I wrote, but not the first to be published. Cavalry historians have in recent years made a mark on the Civil War literary community, and I quickly saw how important the cavalry was to the success or failure of the Chickamauga campaign. As I worked on the maps project, I returned periodically to the cavalry project, adding new material or revising passages as needed. The pause improved the final product and helped me hone my focus on how to tell a difficult story. BR: I agree with W. W. Averell (a First Bull Run vet you quote in the book) when he describes the principal roles of cavalry as scouting and screening, and I guess that’s why I’ve never been enamored of the popular image of “raiders” as successful cavalry commanders. Can you give us a brief explanation of how the failures of the Wizard and the War Child in these critical areas impacted the performance of the AoT in August and September, 1863 and beyond. DP: Even during the war, spectacular raids grabbed the headlines and made stars out of successful raiders. This attention turned even the heads of many seasoned cavalrymen, but in reality few raids ever achieved significant results, more often they were more stunt than military strategy. The day-to-day work of scouting and screening, on the other hand, had a direct impact on many of the war’s battles, and cavalry operations should be viewed in that light. We tend to view commanders as either “winners” or “losers” often without understanding how information flow effected the decisions – good and bad – that determined outcomes. Unfortunately for the Confederacy, and for Braxton Bragg, his two principal cavalry commanders during the Chickamauga Campaign failed to deliver critical information in a timely manner. Quite often, the information they provided was either wrong or fatally out of date. The poor quality of this information flow directly affected the quality of the decisions being made at headquarters. Bragg has received the lions’ share of the criticism, but some of that scrutiny really belongs at the level of his cavalry commanders. BR: Given the traditionally positive light in which Forrest in particular has been viewed, what has been the early reaction to Failure in the Saddle? If it’s too soon to tell, from where do you anticipate incoming fire? Does Wheeler have similarly rabid supporters of his military record? DP: So far, reaction has been positive, though I do expect that I will see complaints, especially from fans of Forrest. I think I strike a balanced view of the man, and I would like to point out that this period of the war saw Forrest rise very quickly from commanding a brigade of partisan raiders to corps command with conventional cavalry missions, something he had little previous experience in. It is not surprising that he or any general might need to gain experience in a new role. Wheeler, with both conventional training and corps experience under his belt, has less excuse, but he also has fewer partisans – certainly nothing like the cadre of Forrest fans out there. I suspect any comment that comes my way will not be because I take Wheeler to task, though he receives the harshest assessment in Failure in the Saddle. BR: Do you see in Failure in the Saddle an opportunity for Chickamauga micro-studies, similar to what we’ve seen over the years with Gettysburg? DP: I certainly hope so. Steven Woodworth has just published an essay collection on Chickamauga, available through Southern Illinois Press, (I have a piece on Union Major General Negley) which explores aspects of the battle from several perspectives, and I know of another collection intended for publication in 2012. There’s another guy working on a history and tour of Snodgrass Hill/Horseshoe Ridge. The recent publication of the five-part series in Blue & Gray Magazine by Dr. Robertson only whets our appetite for a more complete study by him, and of course, I have other projects in mind. BR: What’s next? DP: I am working on four projects, with others waiting in the wings. First, I am doing a Maps of Chattanooga book, the natural follow-on to the first title that explores the October and November battles in similar detail. We hope to include Knoxville in that one, as well. Then, in lesser stages of completion, I want to do a book on Tullahoma, one of New Market (my VMI connection kicking in) and something on Tupelo, in 1864. Tullahoma and Tupelo have an obvious cavalry connection. The Tupelo work is part of a joint project with Eric Wittenberg to examine Nathan Bedford Forrest in more detail – Eric wants to look at Brice’s Crossroads, while I tackle the Tupelo battle a month later. And of course, I cannot leave Chickamauga alone. I have been working on a very large study of the battle, not a map book but a fully detailed battle narrative. It has been nearly 20 years since a full-length study of the battle was published. I hope to present that work in two volumes, focusing on September 19th and 20th respectively, and use as many primary sources as I can. I have nearly 50% of that project done now, but no contract as of yet nor any projected completion date. It will take some time to finish, which is why I don’t count it as an “active” project listed above. It’s the labor of love I return to when I can. Failure in the Saddle is set for publication this coming Saturday. I’m really looking forward to the ensuing debates! Tags: ACW Books, Articles, C. S. Cavalry, Chickamauga, David Powell, Failure in the Saddle, Interviews, Joseph Wheeler, Nathan Bedford Forrest Categories : Articles, Books, Interviews

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Trivop launches as video guide for hotels Launched recently, Trivop.com is a hotel review site with a twist - users can see video footage of hotels. Plenty of holiday/travel websites, such as Travelistic, or TripAdvisor are using videos of holiday destinations, but Trivop claims to be the first to offer video footage of hotels. Launched by French company VideoAgency, the site currently has videos and reviews for hotels in London and Paris, with plans to expand it coverage. The hotel locations are plotted on Google Maps, while hotel reviews are taken from TripAdvisor. Videos are submitted by the hotels themselves. For anyone who has ever booked a hotel, then turned up to find that it didn't match the brochure, this site could be extremely useful. Trivop plans to add more user-generated video at a later date, allowing for comparison of official hotel videos and private videos. It also plans to expand its coverage to other European cities. Published 4 June, 2007 by Graham Charlton Graham Charlton is the former Editor-in-Chief at Econsultancy. Follow him on Twitter or connect via Linkedin or Google+. 2565 more posts from this author

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2017-09/4837/en_head.json.gz/1924

GC1DG1T Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier A cache by PeanutsParents In Alaska, United States Terrain: Size: (not chosen) From Wikipedia: A fjord or fiord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides, created in a valley carved by glacial activity. The seeds of a fjord are laid when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley through abrasion of the surrounding bedrock by the sediment it carries. Many such valleys were formed during the recent ice age. Glacial melting is also accompanied by a rebound in the earth's crust as the ice load is removed. In some cases this rebound may be faster than the sea level rise. Most fjords are, however, deeper than the adjacent sea; Sognefjord, Norway, reaches as much as 1,300 m (4,265 ft) below sea level. Fjords generally have a sill or rise at their mouth caused by the previous glacier's terminal moraine, in many cases causing extreme currents and large saltwater rapids (along the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Saltstraumen in Norway is often described as the worlds strongest tidal current. These characteristics distinguish fjords from rias (e.g. the Bay of Kotor), which are drowned valleys flooded by the rising sea. Question: Where are fjords found? Answer: The principal mountainous regions where fjords have formed are in the higher middle latitudes where, during the glacial period, many valley glaciers descended to the then-lower sea level. The fjords develop best in mountain ranges against which the prevailing westerly marine winds are orographically lifted over the mountainous regions, resulting in abundant snowfall to feed the glaciers. Hence coasts having the most pronounced fjords include the west coast of Europe, the west coast of North America from Puget Sound to Alaska, the west coast of New Zealand, and the west coast of South America. Other areas which have lower altitudes and less pronounced glaciers also have fjords or fjord-like features. Tracy Arm is a magnificent glacier-carved fjord just south of Juneau. Many cruise itineraries include a visit to this incredible place, often as a substitute for the comparable Glacier Bay National Park. The fjord is truly one of the most dramatic locations in Alaska, or in all of the world, for that matter. The sheer, glacier-carved walls are often shrouded in mist. Visiting glaciers is surely one of the highlights of a journey to Alaska. There are an estimated 100,000 glaciers in the State, covering three percent of the landscape and creating most of its rivers. Glaciers are rivers of ice that flow from ice packs high in the mountains, where more snow falls than melts. In constant motion, they can move ahead at speeds of several feet a day, or sudden surges of as much as 300 feet. Some are retreating, or shrinking due to increased melting or a lack of new snow to feed them. Tidewater glaciers flow to the sea and are found at the head of fjords or inlets which they carved while retreating. Calving occurs when pieces of a tidewater glacier break off and fall into the sea. The creaking sounds associated with calving glaciers and the roar as pieces fall into the sea are as impressive as the visual scene. The beautiful blue colour associated with glaciers is created by the density of the ice which absorbs all the colours of the spectrum except blue, which is reflected. Glacial calving in Tracy Arm can often be quite spectacular, as huge chunks of ice break off and plunge into the frigid waters below. Many of these chunks of ice are larger than several busses combined, so the effect can be simply jaw-dropping. Literally hundreds of waterfalls cascade down the sides of the fjord, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Famed naturalist John Muir compared the glacial-carved sheer granite cliffs in the area to those of Yosemite, saying that this region was even more spectacular than the more well known Yosemite valley. Today, Tracy Arm and nearby Endicott Arm are part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area, itself part of the Tongass National Forest (can link to www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass). Like national forests across the country, the Tongass is public land managed for a variety of uses, including recreation, wildlife habitat, timber harvests and more (can link to www.fs.fed.us). These lands belong to the American people and are managed for the benefit of present and future generations. Wilderness areas like Tracy Arm-Fords Terror are special parts of our public lands that Congress has permanently protected. Roads, timber harvests and development do not occur in these areas. Instead, they are preserved so that people can experience the myriad benefits of wilderness, including education, recreation, science, inspiration and spiritual renewal. To learn more about wilderness, and to find the federally designated wilderness area that is likely a day's drive from your home, visit www.wilderness.net). One thing is certain when you visit Tracy Arm Fjord - you will be impressed and struck with awe at the magnitude and beauty of the place. For visitors to Alaska who are not cruise passengers, tours of the fjord are available from nearby Juneau. It makes a wonderful day trip. Shore excursions are also available from Juneau if your cruise itinerary doesn't include a stop here. In addition to cruises of the fjord, other options are available in Juneau to explore this magical place. Kayak excursions into the fjord are offered in Juneau. This is an incredible way to explore this pristine environment and observe its wildlife and other natural features. However you get there, you are sure to be inspired and impressed by the grandeur and beauty of Tracy Arm Fjord. It is one place I highly recommend you include on your Alaska itinerary. The Sawyer Glaciers at the end of Tracy Arm may not be the most famous glaciers in Alaska, but many visitors find them to be the most dramatic. Framed by mountains on either side, the glaciers are often bathed in a light mist that amplifies the blue hue of the ice. This earthcache is meant to be cruise ship friendly. Each cruise ship and tour company must obtain permission to cruise the fjord and have a naturalist on board to explain the geology of the area as you travel along. You never have to leave the ship/tour to log your visit. The photo that follow is of the Sawyer South Glacier. Near the posted coords you will be able to see the Sawyer North Glacier as well. As the glacier receeded up the canyon, the glacier split into two parts. At some point in time it was one glacier. To log this cache as found, answer the following: 1. How long and wide is the Tracy Arm Fjord? 2. Estimate how high the walls of the canyon are. 3. What evidence exists to show that the Glacier formed the canyon and fjord? 4. What is different about the color of the water in the Fjord? 5. How much of the icebergs are still underwater? 6. OPTIONAL: Post a photo of you or your team at this location. A special thanks goes out to the Rangers of the Tongass National Forest who helped secure permission for the placement of this earthcache and their time and dedication in making this a great place to visit. Educational Caches in Alaskaby behikers Alaska's Earthcachesby NorthWes Alaska Cachesby SparrowsGold View all 21 bookmark lists... 265 3 12 1 View Logbook | View the Image Gallery of 375 images Current Time: 3/1/2017 12:10:22 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (8:10 PM GMT)Last Updated: 2017-01-30T12:19:22Z on 1/30/2017 4:19:22 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (12:19 PM GMT) Rendered From:UnknownCoordinates are in the WGS84 datum

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2017-09/4837/en_head.json.gz/1969

Find A Park > Gravesend Park Gravesend ParkGravesend ParkThis text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park. The origin of this park’s name is somewhat unclear. There are two possibilities. The name might have been chosen due to the site’s proximity to Washington Cemetery. In this sense it would literally imply that the park is at the grave’s end. It is also possible that this property is somehow named for the neighborhood of Gravesend, which today lies more than a mile to the south, or for Gravesend Avenue, present-day McDonald Avenue. Gravesend was the first English settlement in New York. Founded by Lady Deborah Moody (c.1583-1659) in 1645, the solitary English town developed an air of self-sufficiency that lasted until 1894 when it was finally annexed by the City of Brooklyn. Over the centuries, Gravesend grew in importance and size. A map dating to 1850 indicates that this property was within the Gravesend town line. By 1890, however, it clearly belonged to New Utrecht. Gravesend Avenue was a key route though Kings County, connecting the City of Brooklyn, and all towns on its way, to Gravesend. In 1933, the thoroughfare was renamed to honor an Alderman (equivalent to a Council Member) who had died as a result of swallowing a chicken bone. The City of Brooklyn first acquired this parcel in 1896 for construction of a disciplinary training school. The school closed in 1916 and parks acquired the property in 1917. Only 23 years had passed since Gravesend was its own town. McDonald Avenue, which lies a few blocks to the east, was still known as Gravesend Avenue, and parks were often named for nearby, major streets. While it is difficult to say absolutely, it seems likely that this park was named to honor Gravesend. Today, Gravesend Park is located in the Mapleton area of Borough Park. The neighborhood of Borough Park grew out of colonial New Utrecht, which, like its neighboring Gravesend, was one of the six original Brooklyn townships. The community of Borough Park was founded in 1902 when New York State Senator William H. Reynolds (1868-1931) purchased a tract and subdivided the area into lots for development (Reynolds also later pursued the development of the Dreamland Amusement Park in Coney Island). In 1904, the first synagogue was built in Borough Park. By 1910 large numbers of Russian Jews had relocated from Manhattan’s Lower East Side to Brooklyn’s Borough Park. Following World War I (1914-1918), improvements in transportation, such as the elevation of the New Utrecht Avenue train line, prompted the neighborhood’s growth. Developers built several low-rise apartment buildings to accommodate the rapid influx of new residents. During the early 1930s, about half of Borough Park’s residents were Jewish, while the other half consisted largely of Irish and Italians. During the late 1950s, the area drew Hasidic Jews from Crown Heights and Williamsburg, who had been displaced by the construction of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and Hungarian Jews who immigrated after the 1956 revolution. In 1995, Gravesend Park received a $53,000 capital requirements contract renovation sponsored by Mayor Giuliani. The rehabilitation included the installation of modern safety surfacing. Today, the park features tennis courts, a baseball field, game tables, a comfort station, play equipment, a full basketball court, four handball courts, benches, and swings. In 2001, a $550,000 capital renovation will be completed. Sponsored by Council Member Noach Dear, this renovation includes the demolition of tennis courts and the construction of a fully equipped, modern roller hockey rink. Park InformationMainHistoryHighlightsNewsMapMonumentsInspectionsProjectsLost and Found InformationDirections to Gravesend ParkStarting AddressI am traveling by:Public TransportationBikingWalkingCarGravesend Park WeatherWed62°FThu43°FFri37°FSat35°F7-day forecastNewsNYC Parks Continues To Transform Gravesend Park And Breaks Ground On Phase Ii Of RenovationsGravesend Park in Brooklyn Is Named February’s Park of the Month Gravesend Park in Brooklyn Is Named February's Park of the MonthMore newsFacilitiesBaseball FieldsBasketball CourtsBathroomsFitness EquipmentHandball CourtsPlaygroundsRoller HockeySpray ShowersWi-Fi Hot SpotsHighlightsGravesend ParkVaccaro PlaygroundMore About Gravesend ParkZip Code: 11204Community Board: 12Council Member:David G. GreenfieldPark ID: B042Acreage: 6.38Property Type: Neighborhood Park Was this information helpful? Thank you for yourfeedback.(Optional) Please tell us how we can make this page more helpful.If you need a response,please use the Contact the Commissionerform instead. Copyright The City of New YorkContact UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of Use

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YodelOut! Travel You are here: Home / Lisbon And Portugal / Portugal – Northern PortugalPortugal – Northern Portugal THE VALLEY OF THE MINHO, DOURO AND MONDEGO. THE mountains of Lusitania are a portion of the great orographical system of the whole peninsula ; but they are not mere spurs, gradually sinking down towards the sea, for they rise into independent ranges; and the individuality of Portugal is manifested in the relief of its soil quite as much as in the history of its inhabitants. The mountains rising in the north-eastern corner of Portugal, to the south of the Minho, may be looked upon as the outer barrier of an ancient lake, which formerly covered the whole of the plains of Old Castile. From the Pyrenees to the Sierra de Gata this barrier was continuous, and the breaches now existing date only from a comparatively recent epoch, and are due to the erosive action of torrents. The most considerable of these breaches, that of the Douro, could have been effected only by overcoming most formidable obstacles. The most northern mountain mass of Portugal, that of the Peneda of Gavieiro (4,727 feet), rises abruptly beyond the region of forest, and commands the Sierra Penagache (4,065 feet) on the Spanish frontier to the east, as well as the hills or Santa Luzia (1,814 feet) and others near the coast. Another mountain mass rises immediately to the south of the gorge through which the Limia passes after leaving Spain. This is the Serra do Gerez (4,815 feet), a range of twisted, grotesquely shaped mountains, the only counterpart of which in the peninsula is the famous Serrania de Ronda. This range, together with the Larouco (.5,184 feet), to the east of it, must be looked upon as the western extremity of the Cantabrian Pyrenees, and like them it consists of granitic rocks. The flora of these northern frontier mountains of Portugal much resembles that of Galicia, and on their slopes the botanist meets with a curious intermingling of the vegetation of France, and even Germany, with that of the Pyrenees, Biscay, and the Portuguese lowlands. On the southern summits, however, and more especially on the Serra de Marto (4,665 feet), which forms a bold promontory between the Douro and its important tributary the Tamega, and shelters the wine districts of Oporto from north-westerly winds, the opportunities for examining into the arborescent flora are but few, for the forests which once clad them have disappeared. The schistose plateaux to the east of them and to the north of the Douro have likewise been robbed of their forests to make room for vineyards. Most wild animals have disappeared with the forests, but wolves are still numerous, and are much dreaded by the herdsmen. The mountain goat (Capra aegagrus), which existed until towards the close of last century in the Serra do Gerez, has become extinct. The Serra da Cabreira (4.196 feet), to the east of Braga, is probably indebted for its name to these wild goats. If the Serra do Gerez may be looked upon as the we-tern extremity of the Pyrenean system, the magnificent Serra da Estrella (6,540 feet), which rises between the Douro and Tejo, is undoubtedly a western prolongation of the great central range of Spain which separates the plateaux of the two Castiles. These ” Star Mountains ” are attached to the mountains of Spain by a rugged table-land, or mesa, of comparatively small height. The great granitic Serra da Estrella rises gently above the broken ground which gives birth to the Mondego. It can easily be ascended from that side, and is hence known as the Serra Mansa, ” the tame mountain.” On the south, how ever, above the valley of the Zezere, the slopes are abrupt and difficult of access, and are know n for that reason as Serra Brava ; that is, ” wild mountain.” Delightful lakelets, similar to those of the Pyrenees and Carpathians, are met with near the highest summit of the range, the Malhao de Serra. The tops of the Serra da Estrella remain covered with snow during four months of the year, and supply the inhabitants of Lisbon with the ice required for the preparation of their favourite sherbet. The orographical system of the Estrella ends with the Serra de Lousao (3,940 feet), for the hills of Estremadura, which terminate in the Cabo da Roca, a landmark well known to mariners, belong to another geological formation, and consist for the most part of Jurassic strata overlying the cretaceous formation. The mountains of Beira and Entre Douro e Minim are exposed to the full influence of the moisture-laden south-westerly winds, and the rainfall is considerable. The rain does not descend in torrents, as in tropical countries, but pours down steadily. It is more abundant in winter and spring, but not a month passes without it. Fogs are frequent at the mouths of valleys and along the coast as far south as the latitude of Coimbra. At that place as much as sixteen feet of rain has fallen in a single year, an amount only to be equalled within the tropics. The humidity of the air accounts for the great equability of the climate of Northern Portugal. At Coimbra the difference between the coldest and warmest month amounts to but 20′ F. Frosts are severe only on the plateaux exposed to the north-easterly winds, and the heat becomes unbearable in deep valleys alone, where the air cannot circulate freely.* At Penafiel, where the rays of the sun are thrown back by the rocky precipices, the heat is almost that of a furnace. This, however, is an exception, and the climate generally can be described as temperate. Running water is abundant. Cami`Les has sung the beauties of the fields of Coimbra watered by the Mondego, the charms of cascades sparkling amidst foliage, and the purity of the springs bursting forth from rocks clad with verdure. The Vouga, the affluents of the Douro, the Ave, Cavado, and Lima, likewise take their devious courses through smiling landscapes whose beauties are set off by rocks and mountains. The Lima, whose delights might well cause Roman soldiers to forget the rivers of their own country, is the only river of the peninsula still in a state of geological transition. All others have drained the lakes which gave birth to them, but in the case of the Lima that old lake basin is still occupied by a swamp, known as Laguna Beon, or Antela, the only remains of a mountain-girt inland lake as large as that of Geneva. The current of the rivers of Northern Portugal is too great to permit of their being utilised as high-roads of commerce. They have ports at their mouths, but the Douro, which drains nearly a sixth of the Iberian peninsula, is the only one amongst them which facilitates access to an inland district. Mariners dread to approach the coast when the wind blows on shore. Between the Minho and Cabo Carvoeiro, a distance of 200 miles, the coast presents features very much like those of the French landes. Its original indentations and irregularities have been obliterated by barriers of sand. The lower valley of the Vouga was formerly an inlet of. the sea extending far inland. The basin of Aveiro resembles geologically that of Arcachon. Its waters abound in fish, but the Douro is the southernmost river of Europe visited by salmon. The abundance of life in certain localities of it is figuratively expressed by a Spanish pro-verb, which says, “‘The water of the Douro is not water, but broth.” The rectilinear beach of Beira-mar is lined for the most part with dunes, the oid gulfs behind which are gradually being converted into insalubrious swamps, fringed by heath, ferns, strawberry-trees, and broom, whilst the neighbouring forests consist of oaks and pines. Formerly these dunes invaded the cultivated portions of the country, as they still do in France, where like geological causes have produced like results. But long before a similar plan was thought of in France these Portuguese dunes were planted with pines, and as early as the reign of King Diniz ” the Labourer,” at the beginning cf the fourteenth century, they had ceased to ” march.” The population of the cultivable portions of the basins of the Minho and Douro is very dense, and in order to maintain themselves es the inhabitants are forced to work zealously. Their country is the most carefully cultivated of the peninsula. In a large measure this industry is due to the fact of the peasantry being the owners of the land they cultivate, or at least affarados—that is, copy holderswho only pay a few shillings annually to the lords of the manors. Many of the peasants are wealthy, and the women are fond of loading themselves with jewellery, amongst which necklaces macle in the Moorish taste are most prominent. The cultivation of the fields is attended to with scrupulous care ; and the most ingenious methods are employed for the irrigation of the upper slopes of the hills, which are frequently cut up into terraces, or geios. These Northern Portuguese are as distinguished for moral excellence as they are tor industry. Their sweetness of disposition, gaiety, and kindliness are the theme of universal praise, and as regards their love of dancing and music they are veritable Theocritan shepherds. Challenges in improvised erses form one of the amusements of young men. Nor is the population devoid of physical beauty. The women of Aveiro, though often enfeebled by malaria, have the reputation of being the prettiest in all Portugal. The cultivation of the vine and the making of port wine constitute the principal branch of industry of the country. The chief vine-growing district, ordinarily known as Paiz do Vinho, lies to the north of the Douro, between the Serra de Marao and the Tua, and is exposed to the full force of the rays of the summer sun. In the middle of the seventeenth century the cultivation of this district had hardly begun. The English had not then learnt to appreciate these growths, and were content w ith the various Portuguese wines shipped from Lisbon. It was only after the treaty concluded by Lord Methuen in 1702 that the cultivation of the vine assumed certain dimensions in the district of the Douro, and ever since the reputation of port has been on the increase. The Marquis of Pombal founded a company for the production of wine, and the small town of Pezo da Regoa, on the Corgo, then became famous for its wine fairs, at which fortunes were lost and w on, and a town of wine cellars and stores sprang up opposite the tow n of Porto, or )porto, near the mouth of the Douro. For more than a hundred years port and sherry have kept their place on the tables of English gentlemen, and nearly all the wine produced on the banks of the Douro finds its way to England or to British colonies. Indeed, up to 1852 the best quality, know n as ” factory wine,” could be exported to England alone. Next to the English the Brazilians are the best customers of Oporto : they receive nearly 1,000,000 gallons of wine annually. The breeding of mules and fattening of Spanish cattle for the London market yield considerable profit. Early vegetables are forwarded not only to London, but also to Rio de Janeiro. Manufactures were already of some importance in the Middle Ages, and have recently been much developed by enterprising English capitalists. Oporto has cotton, linen, silk, and woollen mills, foundries and sugar refineries, and its jewellers and glove-makers enjoy a good repute. But agriculture, industry and legitimate commerce, and even the smuggling carried on in the frontier district of Braganca, do not suffice to support the ever-increasing population, and thousands emigrate annually to Lisbon and Brazil. Northern Portugal may be described as the cradle of the existing kingdom, and it was Porto Cale, on the site of Villanova de Gaie, the southern suburb of Oporto, which gave a name to all Lusitania. At Lamego, to the south of the Douro, the Cortes met, according to tradition, in 1143, and constituted the new kingdom of which Oporto became the capital. When the country recovered its independence after the short dominion of Spain, the Dukes of Braganca were invested with the regal power. Though Lisbon occupies a more central position than Oporto, the latter frequently takes the initiative in political movements, and the success of any revolution is said to depend upon the side taken by the energetic population of the north. If we may accept the estimate of the Pa) tuense., they are morally and physically the superiors of the Lisbonenses. They alone are the true sons of the great people whose vessels ploughed the ocean during the age of discoveries, and there can be no doubt that their gait is more determined, their speech and their glance more open, than those of the inhabitants of the capital. In vulgar parlance, people of Oporto and Lisbon are known as tripeiros and alfasinhos; that is, tripe and lettuce eaters. Porto, or O Porto, the “Port ” par excellence, is the natural capital of Northern Lusitania, the second city of Portugal on account of its population and commerce, the first in manufactures. As seen from the banks of the Douro, here hardly more than 200 yards in width, and spanned by a magnificent railway bridge, it rises like a double amphitheatre, whose summits are crowned by the cathedral and the belfry dos Clerigos, and the narrow valley separating them covered with houses. The lower town has broad streets, intersecting each other at right angles, but the streets climbing the hills are narrow and tortuous, and even stairs have frequently to be ascended in order to reach the more elevated quarters of the town. Cleanliness is attended to throughout, and the citizens are most anxious in that respect to insure the praises of their numerous English visitors. Gaia, a long suburb, occupies the opposite side of the river. It abounds in factories and store-houses, and its vast cellars are stated on an average to contain 80,000 pipes of wine. Beautiful walks extend along the river bank and its terraces, and the long reaches of the stream are covered with shipping, and fringed with gardens and villas. The hills in the distance are crowned with ancient convents, fortifications, and villages half hidden amongst verdure. Avintes, famous for the beauty of its women, who supply the town daily with brow, or maize bread, is one of them. Suburbs extend along both banks of the river in the direction of the sea. The river at its mouth is only two fathoms in depth during low water, and dangerous of access when the wind blows from the m est. Even at Oporto vessels of 400 or 500 tons are exposed to danger from sudden floods of the river, which cause them to drag their anchors. The port of the Douro has therefore to contend m ith great difficulties in its rivaly with Lisbon. The small town of Sao Joao da Foz, at the mouth of the Douro, has a light-house, but carries ou no commerce, Near it are Mattozinhos and Leca, the latter of which boasts of an ancient monastery resembling a fortress, and is much frequented on account of its fine beach and refreshing sea breezes. Espinho, to the south of the Douro, is another favourite seaside resort, in spite of the all-pervading smell of sardines. The small ports to the north of the Douro are frequented only by coasting vessels or by seaside visitors. The entrance to the Minho is defended by the castle of Insua, on a small island, as its name implies, and by the insignificant fortress of Caminha. The river is accessible only to vessels drawing less than six feet. The mouth of the Lima, though even more difficult of access, is nevertheless occupied by a town of some importance–coquettish Vianna do Castello, beautifully ensconced amidst the verdure of its fertile plain. Other towns are Espozende, at the mouth of the Cavado, and Villa do Conde, at that of the Ave. Formerly most of the vessels engaged in the slave trade and those employed in the great maritime enterprises of the Portuguese were built here, and it still boasts of a few shipyards. Amongst the inland tow es of Entre Douro e Minho are Polite de Lima, famous for the beauty of the surrounding country ; Barcellos, overhanging the shady banks of the Cavado ; and Amarante, celebrated for its wines and peaches, and proud of a fine bridge spanning the Tamega. But the only towns important on account of their population are Braga and Guimaraes, both placed on commanding heights overlooking a most fertile country. Braga Bracara Augusta), an ancient Roman colony, the capital of the Galicians, then of the Suevi, and later on the residence of the Kings of Portugal, became the primatial city of the whole of the peninsula when the two kingdoms were temporarily united under the same sovereign. But Braga is not only a town of the past, it is even now a bustling place, where hats, linens, arms, and beautiful filigree are manufactured for exportation to the rest of Portugal and the Portuguese colonies. Guimaraes is equally as interesting as Braga on account of its monuments ami mediaeval legends. Visitors are still shown the sacred olive-tree which sprang from a seed placed in the soil by King Warmba, when still a common labourer ; and Affonso, the founder of the Portuguese monarchy, was born in the old castle. Guimaraes is a busy manufacturing town; it produces cutlery, hardware, and table-linen, and English visitors never fail to purchase there a curiously ornamented box of prunes. Near it are much-frequented sulphur springs, known to the Romans as The towns of Traz os Montes and Beira Alta are too far removed from high-ways to have attracted a considerable population. Villa Real, on the Corgo, is the busiest place of Traz os Montes, owing to the vineyards in its neighbourhood. Chaves, an old fortress near the Spanish frontier, boasts of one of those Roman bridges which have rendered the century of Trajan famous: it was formerly noted for its mineral springs Aque Flavie). Braganca, the old provincial capital, has a commanding citadel, and, owing to its geographical position, is an important place for smugglers, the legitimate exports fluctuating regularly with the customs tariff. It is the most important place in Portugal for the production of raw silk. Lamego, a picturesque town to the south of the Douro, opposite the Paiz do Vinho, enjoys a great reputation for its hams; Almeida, which keeps in cheek the garrison of Spanish Ciudad Rodrigo, was anciently one of the strongest fortresses of Portugal ; and Vizeu is an important station between the Douro and the Mondego. Its fairs are more frequented than any others in Portugal, and in its cathedral may be seen the famous masterpiece painted by the mythical Gran Vasco. The herdsmen around Vizéu are noted for their strength and beauty. Their uncovered heads and bare legs give them an appearance of savagery, but their manners are as polished and dignified as those of the rest of their countrymen. Coimbra (Eminium), in Beira-mar, is the most populous tom n between Oporto and Lisbon. It is known more especially for its university, whose professors and students impart to it the aspect of a mediaeval seat of learning. The purest Portuguese is spoken there. The environs are delightful, and in the botanical garden the plants of the tropics mingle w ith those of the temperate zones. From the banks of the Mondego, upon which the city is built, visitors frequently ascend to the Quinta das Lap-ham (” house of tears “), the scene of the murder of the beauteous Inez de Castro, whose death was so cruelly revenged by her husband, Peter the Judge. Few countries in the world can rival the beautiful valley of the Mondego, that “river of the Muses” held dear by all the Lusitanians, because it is the only one which belongs to them exclusively. Condeixa, a town near Coimbra, fully deserves to be called the ” Basket of Fruit,” for its gardens produce most exquisite oranges. In the north the ruins of the monastery of Bussaco occupy a mountain terrace covered with a dense forest of cypresses, cedars, oaks, elms, and exotic trees. This delightful place and the hot springs of Luso, near it, are a favourite summer residence of the citizens of Lisbon and Coimbra. Figueira da Fos, the port of Coimbra, is well sheltered, but, like most other ports of Northern Portugal, is obstructed by a bar of sand. It is nevertheless much frequented by coasting vessels, and amongst its exports are the wines of Barraida. Ovar and Aveiro, in the ” Portuguese Netherlands,” on the banks of a lagoon separated by a series of dunes from the high sea, are the tw o other ports of this part of the coast. They were important places during the Middle Ages, but the shifting bars, which render access to them difficult, have put a stop to their prosperity. The seamen of these two places have a high reputation for daring. They engage in sardine-fishing, oyster-dredging, and the manufacture of bay-salt. Portugal – Present And Future LITTLE Portugal no longer shares with her neighbour, Spain, in... Portugal – Southern Portugal, Alemtejo And Algarve THE mountains beyond the Tejo rarely assume the aspect of... Portugal – General Aspects PORTUGAL, one of the smallest states of Europe, was nevertheless... Travel Abounds In Lisbon, Portugal It would be difficult to imagine what city might have... Filed Under: Lisbon And Portugal Return to top of pageCopyright © 2013 YodelOut · Log in

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Blue Anchor Blue Anchor Postcode for Sat Nav: TA24 6LG Today the station boasts two long platforms and its signal box controls a level crossing whose gates are operated by the traditional capstan wheel apparatus. The down platform side building houses a small Great Western Railway Museum which opens on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays between Easter and the end of September and most Galas. Blue Anchor Station has a booking office which sells our full range of tickets for the railway. Please see the Fares Pages to find out more about fares from this Station. Toilets are available on the Station but there are no disabled toilet facilities though the platforms are accessible by ramp. Blue Anchor is a quiet seaside village with a long sandy beach perfect for families and children. At high tide the promenade is a popular destination for fishermen hoping for a large catch. Blue anchor gives stunning coastal views to Minehead and Exmoor and across the Bristol Channel to South Wales and as far as Weston-super-Mare. For meals and snacks visit The Driftwood Cafe or the Smugglers Pub. History of Blue Anchor Station Until Doniford Halt was constructed in the 1980s Blue Anchor was the �newest� station on the Line being built in the 1870s. Opened after Washford, Dunster and Minehead when the original line was extended to Minehead the station was first known as Bradley Gate before reverting to a name whose explanation is a source of some debate. The station grew to its present form and size gradually as seaside holidays grew in popularity. In this early part of the 21st Century the population grows enormously as holiday makers arrive at the local park spread along the top of the esplanade that runs outside the station.

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Home/Cyclosource Store/Underground Railroad Section 5 Underground Railroad Section 5 Map Details: Erie, PA - Owen Sound, ON (378 miles) BC-5005 $15.75 Current Stock: 154 Riding northeast from the city of Erie you will enjoy a long stretch of waterside along Lake Erie, the southern-most of the five Great Lakes. Then, after turning back inland south of Buffalo, you will ride through Orchard Park, home of the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum and one of the largest collections of antique and classic American bicycles to be found. There is a great deal of history to be explored in the Buffalo/Niagara area, ranging from American Revolution times to the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. This region became a natural funnel for freedom seekers, due to its remoteness, its proximity to Canada, and the anti-slavery sentiment that ran strong throughout New York state. After crossing into Canada, from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, the route mainly uses the Niagara River Recreation Trail and short portions of the Niagara Parkway along the scenic Niagara River. The route near Niagara Falls is extremely busy in summer, with many international tourists visiting the area. Numerous plaques memorializing people, structures, and events important to the Underground Railroad and other periods of black history are found on or close to the route as you proceed northwest through the Niagara area. Throughout Ontario the route traverses the Niagara Escarpment, so expect climbs and descents. This will provide a challenge for the fully loaded cyclist, especially when going off-route for services or exploration. Owen Sound, where your ride of discovery ends, was known as the final terminal of the Underground Railroad. It is where many former slaves found their hard-earned freedom, and many of them settled in the village originally called Sydenham. Every year since 1862 the community has held its Emancipation Picnic, which today celebrates two historic milestones of freedom: the British Emancipation Act of 1834, and the United States Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. Current Printed Version: 2013 Underground Railroad Detroit Alternate Section 1 Worked Great - as expected A customer from Cleveland, Ohio on 10/21/09 Our plan was to ride from Cleveland to Niagara on the Lake and back. It was our first self supported adventure. Having the map was comforting. We learned that we need a gps (points of interest) to help identify were lodging is in relation to the route. The maps were correct, but at the end of the day you do not want to ask "how far is the Holiday Inn". Our next adventure is to head west with Adventure Cycling Maps and a gps for exact motel location. The GPS I bought was $119 and it helps finding unusual local restaurants also. A customer from Fairport, New York on 8/7/11 I have been using Adventure Cycling maps since 1986 when Adventure Cycling was called Bike Centennial. They are Great.

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Asia Europe Africa Middle East North America South America Central America Oceania Adventure Travel Budget Travel Travel Tech Luxury Travel Photography Airlines Hotels Cruises Food & Drink Arts & Culture Articles tagged “RealityTelevision” NBC Looking For Contestants For New Show Hosted By Bear Grylls by Kraig Becker on Nov 8, 2012 NBC has put out a casting call for a new reality show that promises to be quite an adventure. The unnamed show will be hosted by Bear Grylls of “Man vs. Wild” fame and features a large cash prize, although just how large remains to be seen. The show’s format sounds vaguely familiar with the premise being that teams of two will be dropped in a remote location and will have to learn to exist in the wild while racing against others towards a finish line. The description indicates that the competitors will need to work together as a team, while maintaining their courage and determination, in order to avoid being eliminated. That seems to indicate that there will be distinct stages and challenges for the competition, not unlike CBS’s popular show “The Amazing Race.” To audition for the show simply email the names of the two people on your team as well as the nature of your relationship, to [email protected]. The email should also include brief bios, occupations, contact info, photos and a note as to why you should be picked to be on the show. Contestants must be legal residents of the United States and 21-years of age or older on February 2013. A valid U.S. passport is also a requirement, which seems to indicate that this adventure will take place in a foreign country. In the press release info that I received, the show is being billed as the “Ultimate Outdoor Adventure Competition.” If that sounds like it’s your cup of tea, than blast out that email ASAP. Now if only we can get a “Team Gadling” into the competition. [Photo credit: Bear Grylls] Gordon Ramsay to host new hotel makeover show by Jessica Festa on Oct 4, 2011 While mostly known for his angry outbursts on reality cooking and restaurant-themed shows such as Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, and Kitchen Nightmares, the screaming Scottish chef apparently also has talent in hotel management. While no air date has been set, Gordon Ramsay has been chosen to host a new Fox reality show called Hotel Hell where he will partner with hospitality experts to revive struggling properties around the United States. Apparently, Ramsay has taken college courses in hotel management and has also been in charge of several hotel-based restaurants. According to Entertainment Weekly, in a statement about the new project Ramsay said, “These are stories that everyone can relate to, because virtually all of us have had a bad hotel experience that’s turned a holiday or business trip into a total disaster. It’s time to put the hospitality industry to the test.” Adventure travel show Expedition Impossible begins tomorrow by Kraig Becker on Jun 22, 2011 Fans of reality television and adventure travel shows will want to set their DVR’s for tomorrow night’s premiere of ABC’s Expedition Impossible, the latest creation from Mark Burnett, the man who brought us Survivor. The show looks to be a combination of The Amazing Race and the sport of adventure racing, mixing in puzzle solving and physical challenges while crossing through a remote and exotic location – in this case Morocco. When the show debuts at 9PM ET tomorrow night, there will be 13 teams of three lining up at the starting line in hopes of winning $150,000 in cash. Judging from their team bios on the ABC website, the show’s producers found some interesting, if a bit predictable, characters for the race, including teams of jocks, cops, fireman, and the obligatory “California Girls.” Once the starting gun goes off, they’ll be racing across deserts, up mountains, and down rivers over ten grueling stages, with teams being eliminated each week until an ultimate winner is crowned. Will the show be an epic competition that will have us riveted to our seats all summer long? Or will it feel like a made-for-television adventure? We won’t know for sure until it begins tomorrow night, but you can get a sneak preview of the show right now. ABC has made the first 14 minutes available online which you can check out below. Post your thoughts in the comments section for this story. Is this going to be a hit or summer let down? Mark Burnett casting for new adventure travel show by Kraig Becker on Nov 14, 2010 Mark Burnett, the famous television producer responsible for such reality shows as Survivor and The Apprentice, is looking for teams of contestants to compete in a new race that will send them to remote places, where they’ll solve problems and compete in various challenges. The new show is entitled Expedition Impossible and seems to resemble The Amazing Race, at least on a cursory level. The program will pit teams of three against one another as they race through deserts, up mountains, and across rivers. In all, there will be ten legs to the race, with a new one being revealed each week, as the contestants battle it out for the, as of yet, undisclosed prize. The casting notice can be read in full by clicking here, but in a nutshell, the three people on each team will need to have the entire month of April free to compete in this race. All competitors must also be 18 years of age or older, be a resident of the United States and hold a valid U.S. passport that is good through the end of 2011. To be considered for the show, teams will need to send the following information to David Polanzak at [email protected]: •
Name,
age,
location and contact info for
all three (3) team members
•
Recent photo of all 3 team members
•
Level of individual and team’s experience with competitions/races, etc.
•
Brief description of why your team
is
great for
this competition and why
you will
win
•
Anything else that makes your team memorable and unique
Expedition Impossible sounds a bit like a project that Burnett produced back in the mid-1990’s called Eco-Challenge, which saw teams of four racing non-stop against one another through a remote course in some of the most challenging environments on the planet. It’s doubtful that this new show will come anywhere close to being as challenging as that race, but it sounds interesting for adventurous travelers looking to compete in a reality television show. I can’t wait to hear more details about the race. Reality TV show seeks travelers that lead a “double life” by McLean Robbins on Nov 3, 2010 Want to make it on the small screen? Never mind trying out for Survivor, The Amazing Race or (god forbid) The Bachelor. If you use your career, money or frequent travel as a way to lead a “double” life, a new TV show wants you. Gadling got a request from an L.A.-based television studio seeking people for a new prime time show who have two lives – one at home and one on the road. Anonymity is available, and participants are promised, in the words of our contact, anyway, “A LOT” of money. So if the prospect of making a gagillion dollars (insert Dr. Evil face) and reality TV fame intrigues you, e-mail your story to Bill at [email protected]. [Flickr via Leunix]

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Search Collapse of Alaska Highway strands motorists Northbound travelers may face 500-mile backtrack until temporary fix put in place Posted: Wednesday, June 06, 2001 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WHITEHORSE, Yukon - The Alaska Highway is closed about 30 miles south of Watson Lake in Canada due to a culvert collapse that left a 100-foot gap in the roadway. Highway officials hope to have a temporary span in place in a couple of days. In the meantime, southbound travelers can detour down the rugged Cassiar Highway to join up with the road that connects Prince George and Prince Rupert in central British Columbia. Northbound motorists who reach the break unawares will have to either wait for the repair or backtrack about 500 miles, nearly to Dawson Creek, before they can reach the detour to the Cassiar and head north again. The culvert that collapsed was touted as the largest of its type in the world when it was installed across Iron Creek, near the Yukon-British Columbia border, in 1998 at a cost of about $7 million. The old span was only taken down this past spring, said Evelyn Robertson at the nearby Iron Creek Lodge, run by her daughter and son-in-law, Vern and Dee Hinson. It wasn't clear what caused the collapse, but Robertson said the culvert appeared to be completely gone. "The water's been coming up," she said. "It's been raining here the last four days." She said motorists were being stopped in Watson Lake, so there wasn't a big backup of travelers at the lodge about a mile north of the stream. "There is definitely a hole in the road about 100 feet across, the width of the road," said Robert Magnuson, director of transportation maintenance for the Yukon government. "That superstructure has basically collapsed." Magnuson wouldn't guess at whether the collapse had anything to do with heavy rainfalls recently, or whether it was purely a structural matter. "It is flopped down in the middle. What is left on each end, I do not know." The culvert was installed in September 1998. It was heralded at the time as the largest culvert arch in the world, measuring 76 feet wide, 27 feet high and 115 feet long. It replaced an old narrow bridge. Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they learned of the bridge failure about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. They had no reports the collapse caused any injury to motorists. Its expected to take two days to ship in a temporary bridge from Fort Nelson. Pat Irvin, who owns the three hotels in Watson Lake, said the washout could mean closing up businesses and laying workers off for a short while if travelers detour down the Cassiar and bypass his town. "This is devastating," he said. Irvin predicted that by Thursday, his hotels would be vacant. The closure could cause problems for the town's RV park as well, at a time of the year when the tourism season is just beginning, he said. BRITISH COLUMBIA USD FORT NELSON WATSON LAKE YUKON GOVERNMENT SON-IN-LAW EVELYN ROBERTSON PRINCE DEE HINSON TRANSPORTATION MAINTENANCE PAT IRVIN RUPERT CASSIAR HIGHWAY CANADA VERN ROBERT MAGNUSON YUKON ALASKA HIGHWAY IRON CREEK LODGE DAWSON CREEK Trending this week:

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Forbidden Montreal: an ancient set of downtown tombs Published Sunday, November 18, 2012 7:01PM EST Last Updated Tuesday, November 20, 2012 2:14PM EST The ancient stone towers tucked behind the walls of downtown’s Grand Seminaire on Sherbrooke just east of Atwater are among Canada’s most ancient structures. The towers also form part of one of the country's most mysterious places as well. Some of the city’s very earliest European settlers came from France to establish a settlement on the spot in the 1680s. Their aim was to promote what they considered a sacred mission to establish a new creed for the New World. Those missionaries sought to spread their unique vision with First Nations people but they brought most of the details of the plan to their graves. Those tombs, deep underneath the seminary, are off limits to all but the custodians. Among those whose remains lie in the crypt, first established in 1661, is Francois Vachon de Belmont who came from Burgundy, France to fund and operate the mission. The Grand Seminaire has since remained one of the city’s longest-running institutions and is also home to many other architectural treasures, including an alluring chapel, where around 8,000 priests have been trained. If there is any off-limits place you'd like to see, just send us an email at [email protected]. We'll be back with another series in 2013. Forbidden Montreal: Royal Vic's secret storage Forbidden Montreal: Inside the city's beacon Forbidden Montreal: Inside our sewers More Special Reports CTV News at Six Montreal for Monday, February 27, 2017 Distracted walking?

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Locations Heiden Hotel Heiden Hotel Located in South Fallsburg, NY Genre:Hotel / Resort Opened:1906 Age:111 years Closed:1986 Demo / Renovated:2008 Decaying for:22 years Last Known Status:Demolished Photo © 2007 Tom Kirsch, opacity.us View full size photo Heiden Hotel History This small hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York was originally a boarding house, started by David Heiden in 1906. The hotel would later primarily cater Jewish visitors, many coming from New York City during the summers. Guests recall the family-like atmosphere of being greeted by the entire Heiden Family upon arrival, as opposed to the almost-anonymous process of checking into hotels in contemporary times. Some livestock were kept out back, chickens and the like, and the children were encouraged to pet them and assist in some light daily chores. Entertainment was provided inside a casino room, a large porch with games, a bandstand, concessions and outdoor pool. Comedians and entertainers such as Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Mason, and Red Buttons have performed at the Heiden during its heyday. In 1987, Hollywood visited the tiny hotel to film the movie Sweet Lorraine, starring Maureen Stapleton. In the film, the Heiden Hotel pretty much played the same role as in real life - an aging family-run resort in the Borscht Belt, trying to stay afloat amid changing times. It painted an intimate portrait of life here; many of the extras in the film were Sullivan County locals, and even the producer's grandfather was once the salad chef at the Heiden during the 1950s. Unfortunately, the film was eclipsed by Dirty Dancing, which takes place at the nearby Grossinger's Resort (although it was filmed in North Carolina), and did not receive much interest. David Heiden's son Herbert, who was born and raised at the hotel, eventually ran the place during the summer from his home in Florida. The decline of the Catskill entertainment region, in conjunction to much larger resorts who could keep afloat longer, led to the eventual demise of the Heiden when it closed in 1986. It stood vacant for twenty-six years until a fire broke out in May of 2008, destroying the entire structure. The memories of Shirley Paris is a great read for anyone looking to recall the old Heiden Hotel. Photos of Heiden Hotel Deep into the Mattresses Shot: August 2007 Posted: November 2015

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Best Airports to Get Stuck In Keri Ann O'Riordan, It’s fair to say that nobody actually looks forward to a layover. But rising prices make it tough to find an affordable nonstop fare, so layovers are becoming part of a typical travel itinerary. However, it doesn’t have to be such a bummer. There are plenty of airports that offer enjoyable amenities for travelers of all kinds, and we’ve put together a list of our favorites to help guide you through those hours between flights. (Photo courtesy of Minute Suites) Best for a Snooze Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) Minute Suites, located in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, offers five quiet and private suites for travelers to relax, nap, or work in during their time in the airport. Each suite has a daybed sofa, pillows, and clean blankets to snuggle up in while taking a nap, as well as a sound-neutralizing system to keep things quiet—perfect for the traveler who needs to catch some Z’s during a long layover. If you don’t want to sleep but still want to relax before taking off, the rooms also have TVs with access to DIRECTV, as well as an Internet connection and the airport’s flight-tracking system, so you can stay on top of any changes to your upcoming flight. (Photo courtesy of Miami International Airport) Best for Stress Relief Miami International Airport Miami, Florida (MIA) What could be better for stress relief than a puppy? After you get through security at Miami International Airport, you’ll be greeted by a fluffy pup who’s ready to put a big smile on your face! A few airports now have this program, but Miami’s only therapy dog, Casey, stole our hearts. Casey, a golden retriever, has her own website and is developing quite a fan base! (Photo courtesy of Denver International Airport) Best for Being Part of the Action Denver International Airport Denver, Colorado (DEN) The pedestrian bridge at Denver International Airport is both functional and inspirational. The bridge spans 345 feet and connects the main airport terminal directly with Concourse A, and travelers standing on it can see planes taxiing beneath them while taking in the beautiful surroundings of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the high plains to the east. In fact, it’s the only passenger bridge in the country where you can watch an airplane taxi beneath your feet! (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Best for Between-Flight Exercise Chicago O’Hare International Airport Chicago, Illinois (ORD) While Chicago O’Hare International Airport does have its own yoga room, we suggest obtaining a day pass to the 8,000-square-foot, on-site Hilton Athletic Club instead, so that you can take advantage of the exercise facilities between flights. The club has plenty to offer—free weights, cardio equipment, a steam room, a sauna, a lap pool, a Jacuzzi, locker rooms—you name it! Plus, the full-service club also throws in some travel-friendly amenities, like an iron and an ironing board. A regular traveler who is not staying at the hotel can get a day pass for $20, plus tax. If you’re just passing through the airport, but you’re a Hilton HHonors Silver, Gold, or Diamond member, the fee is $15, plus tax. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Best to De-Stress San Francisco International Airport San Francisco, California (SFO) Back in 2012, San Francisco International Airport opened a room in the airport specifically dedicated to yoga—the first airport yoga room in the world! The room was designed to make the traveler’s experience better, and it’s in the perfect spot. Once you’re done waiting in lines and passing through security, decompress at the yoga room, located in Terminal 2. It’s open 24 hours a day, so no matter what time you find yourself needing a breather, the space is there for you to use for free. (Photo courtesy of TLC Magazine) Best for Nostalgia LaGuardia Airport New York, New York (LGA) LaGuardia Airport in New York City hosts Terminal A, which, to this day, is the only active airport terminal that dates back to the first days of passenger travel in the United States. The terminal stands as the original terminal building of LGA. It was first known as the Overseas Terminal, then the Marine Air Terminal, and now Terminal A. The terminal served international flights through the 1940s, and its art deco design will bring any traveler passing through right back to that era. (Photo courtesy of Flight Path Learning Center & Museum) Best for History Buffs Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles, California (LAX) Located in the Imperial Terminal of Los Angeles International Airport, the Flight Path Learning Center & Museum is a great way to spend time during a long layover, and it doesn’t cost a thing! The Flight Path Learning Center is the only aviation museum and research center located at a major U.S. airport. The Learning Center features various exhibits that focus on things like the history of flight and collections of artifacts that highlight airlines, manufacturers, and companies in the industry. It even has a flight-simulator training program, which provides participants with experience and instruction so that they can pursue careers in the field of aviation. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Best for Foodies Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas, Texas (DFW) Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport has more than 100 options for food and beverages inside the airport terminals and the possibilities speak to tastes of all kinds! Here are some of our favorites: If you’re in the mood for some authentic barbeque grub, check out Cousin’s Bar-B-Q. Want something a little more upscale? Grand Hyatt DFW’s M Lounge has cool cocktails and appetizers. Itching for something from the sea? Swim your way through the crowd and head to Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. If you require a glass of vino to relax before your next flight, La Bodega Winery is the place to go. (Photo courtesy of Hyatt) Best for Hotels Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas, Texas (DFW) Sometimes a flight layover or delay is long enough that a last-minute hotel booking may be necessary. Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport hosts one of the easiest-to-find and most centrally located airport hotels, The Grand Hyatt Dallas/Fort Worth. You can find it conveniently located inside Terminal D, but it’s tucked away from the commotion of security checkpoints and ticket counters. The hotel has on-site dining options, along with a rooftop pool and spa, an all-hours fitness center, and—our favorite—an espresso bar! When it’s time to prepare for your next flight, you can hop on the complimentary transportation that connects the hotel to the airport. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Best for Proximity to the City Boston Logan International Airport Boston, Massachusetts (BOS) Boston Logan International Airport (our hometown hub!) is our top pick for airports closest to a major city. Logan is technically located in East Boston, but it’s less than four miles away from downtown Boston—only about a 10-minute ride in a car or taxi. However, one of the perks of Boston transportation is that there’s a free shuttle bus to the local MBTA public transportation system, where you can access any part of Boston that you’d like to visit. This can be especially helpful during a long layover when you have the time to leave the airport without risking a missed flight. (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock) Best to Shop ‘Til You Drop Portland International Airport Portland, Oregon (PDX) Portland International Airport has a variety of unique shops, which makes it our favorite place to make between-flight purchases. In the airport, you’ll have your pick of top-notch boutiques, duty-free outlets, and local and regional stores such as Oregon-based Nike. But our favorite shop is Made in Oregon, which stocks all kinds of products made within the state lines, like craft beer, cheese, jam, handmade jewelry and other unique gift items. Curious About Canada? 5 Places You Need to Visit, Whether You're Trying to Move There or Not Clear Your Head With These Off-The-Beaten-Path National Park Getaways Looking for a New California City to Love? Don't Sleep on Sacramento. The Best Place to Stay in Los Angeles Right Now Orlando Is for Art Lovers: a Survival Guide for Culture Vultures 8 Tips to Make the Most of Your Next Air Travel Experience

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More A year later - and far from Fukushima - Tokyo is still a great place to visitLarissa Liepins, Postmedia News 09.18.2013A Buddhist statue in the garden at the Nezu Museum, one of many green oases in Tokyo.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsSenso-ji's five-storey pagoda reflected in the pond at Denbo-in, a strolling garden on the temple grounds.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsA girl attends Meiji shrine for the Japanese children's festival, Shichi-go-san. Every November, five-year-old boys and seven- or three-year-old girls are dressed in traditional outfits and taken to the local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsTakeshita-dori, a shopping alley in the heart of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district, caters to fashion-conscious teens.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsThe star of the bento lunch at Ten-Ichi is the restaurant's signature tempura -- delicate, light, and non-greasy.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsThe view of Tokyo from the 52nd floor of Roppongi's Mori Tower.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsThe Tokyo Tower (inspired by the Eiffel Tower) as seen from the 52nd floor of Roppongi's Mori Tower, which also houses an excellent modern-art museum.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsA bride and groom in traditional Japanese wedding attire.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsYou'll never go hungry (or thirsty) in Tokyo. Casual bars and eateries compete for space in this alley near Shinjuku station.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsThe faithful enter the main hall of Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, Senso-ji, founded in 628 AD and famous for its giant paper lanterns.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsThe view from inside the main hall of Tokyo's oldest temple, Senso-ji, famous for its giant paper lanterns.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsA seated copper Buddha (cast in 1690) sits serenely in the courtyard of Tenno-ji, a Buddhist temple inside Tokyo's scenic Yanaka cemetery.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsA young woman shows off her "cosplay" outfit in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsMother and son attend Meiji shrine for the Japanese children's festival, Shichi-go-san. Every November, five-year-old boys and seven- or three-year-old girls are dressed in traditional outfits and taken to the local shrine to pray for their safe and healthy future.Larissa Liepins / Postmedia NewsFans of the cartoon series, The Powerpuff Girls, have their pick of trinkets in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district.Larissa Liepins Where to stay in Tokyo As they say in Tokyo, itadakimasu! (let’s eat!) Getting around Tokyo TOKYO - “EE-RA-SHY-MA-SAY!” The phrase is shouted by a chorus of enthusiastic female sales clerks who bow deeply in my direction. They are literally telling me to “come in” - the standard greeting delivered by everyone, from the grizzled owner of the tiny neighbourhood bar, to the army of smiling, uniformed staff at the 14-storey department store I’ve just entered on this unseasonably warm November day in Tokyo.Ah, Japanese service. It’s part of what makes visiting this small island country so appealing to us westerners. Here, it’s not just service with a smile: its service with a bow and a hearty “irasshaimase!” But no matter how loudly they shout, the world’s tourists don’t seem to be listening.On March 11, it will have been one year since a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit the northeast coast of Japan, killing nearly 16,000 people and displacing 300,000 more. It also triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant - an unprecedented tragedy for the immediate region that also triggered panic and anxiety the world over. Tourist numbers plummeted, and have yet to bounce back.This is why I’m here. The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau wants the world to know that the capital was nowhere near the zone of nuclear fallout. (Tokyo is 250 kilometres from Fukushima.) They’ve brought in reporters from all corners of the globe, and produced charts to show that radiation in Tokyo is actually lower than in other major world cities. (According to their numbers, it’s twice as high in Seoul, for instance.) They point to a city-government website that shows levels have been falling steadily since the disaster. And they stress that radiation is not elevated in precipitation, nor in tap water.Certainly, all seems business as usual. The rush-hour subways are still packing in hordes of sweaty commuters. The high-end designer stores in Ginza are still full of impossibly elegant women. Busloads of hardy seniors roam the city’s spacious gardens. And there are plenty of foreigners about, including resident expats with their young children.Yet a visitor to Tokyo today has more room to enjoy the sights than she would have over a year ago. Couple that with a decade-long hangover that has lowered prices since Japan’s bubble economy burst, and this is an excellent time to visit one of the most vibrant and varied cities on the planet. Yes, many neighbourhoods are noisy, crowded neon jungles, and some subway stations resemble high-speed mazes. But among them, you’ll also find quiet neighbourhoods full of Buddhist temples - and so many pretty, peaceful gardens, you’d need months to visit them all. There’s also contemporary design and architecture you won’t find anywhere else in the world. All you need is a good guidebook, a willingness to get lost despite your guidebook, and some key Japanese phrases.I spent a week there in November, but a visit in springtime is ideal, when clouds of pink and white cherry blossoms blanket the city and the usually staid Japanese let their hair down, gathering in parks to eat and drink under the trees until well into the night.There are also lots of festivals (matsuri) in spring, from Buddha’s birthday and the Tokyo International Anime Fair in April, to May’s rowdy Sanja Matsuri (when ornate palanquins are carried around Asakusa Shrine) and Design Festa, a huge arts and design fair.Summer in Tokyo’s no slouch, either, with hours-long fireworks displays in July. And in August during O-Bon, the Japanese visit the graves of their ancestors, while folk dances lit by thousands of paper lanterns are performed on temple grounds.Here are some highlights of my visit, which can be enjoyed year-round. Because of Tokyo’s immense size, I’ve broken them down by area. If your time is limited, start at the top. Irasshaimase!Asakusa (northeast)Asakusa is Tokyo’s tourist mecca, and for good reason. The side streets and back alleys surrounding the city’s oldest temple, Senso-ji, are a nostalgic, pedestrian-friendly throwback to the Edo period, when the Tokugawa shoguns ruled Japan. Walk off your jet lag after dark, when the crowds have left, the streets are lit by lanterns, and the temple complex is illuminated to spectacular effect.Approach Senso-ji from the Thunder Gate (Kaminari-mon, impossible to miss with its massive red paper lantern) and walk the 950 metres down Nakamise-dori, a lane lined with souvenir stalls. Since the temple’s founding in 628 AD, pilgrims have stopped at these small shops, which still sell pretty paper products, woodblock prints, handbags and samurai swords. (Today, you’ve also got your pick of Pokemon key chains and temple-shaped fridge magnets.) Grab a steaming-hot bun filled with sweet bean paste to go, or an attractive box of traditional snacks to take home.After weaving through the throngs at the temple itself, head to the right for a look at Asakusa-jinja, a Shinto shrine built in 1649. On the opposite side of Senso-ji, you’ll find the small but beautiful Japanese garden of the same vintage, Denbou-in. (There’s a small entrance fee.)Getting there: Ginza line to Asakusa station (exit 1) or Toei Asakusa line to Asakusa station (exit A5) Just south of Asakusa on the other side of the Sumida River is the Edo-Tokyo Museum, essential if you’re at all interested in the city’s history, from its humble beginnings in 1590, to when Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964. The museum’s size is somewhat overwhelming, but the exhibits are excellent, including the life-size kabuki stage (actors and all), a replica of the Nihonbashi bridge, re-creations of houses and stores through the ages, and palanquins and rickshaws kids can climb onto. (edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/english)Getting there: Toei Oedo line to Ryogoku station (exit A4) or JR Sobu Line to Ryogoku (west exit) Ueno & Yanaka (northeast)Ueno Park (Ueno Koen) is home to a wealth of museums and shrines, including the must-see Tokyo National Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of Japanese art. (The kimonos and samurai armour alone are worth the price of admission.) Tokyo’s oldest public park is also a great spot for cherry-blossom viewing.For a break from the congestion of central Tokyo, nearby Yanaka is a quiet area crammed with small Buddhist temples. Stroll down the pedestrian street, Yanaka Ginza, with its tasteful gift stores and casual eateries, before heading into the scenic Yanaka cemetery, home to a large population of feral cats. At the far end of the cemetery, look for the impressive seated copper Buddha (cast in 1690) in the courtyard of Tenno-ji, a Buddhist temple belonging to the Tendai sect.Getting there: Hibiya, Ginza, or JR Yamanote lines to Ueno stationHarajuku & Shibuya (west)If you visit no other religious site in Tokyo, make it the urban oasis that is the grand Meiji jinja, a popular Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. Write a wish on one of the small wooden plaques called ema, then keep an eye out for one of the Shinto weddings that frequently take place on the grounds. (A children’s festival was on when I visited). The shrine also hosts an annual spring festival called Haru no Taisai, featuring imperial court music and dance, as well as Noh and kyogen plays - all open to the public. (meijijingu.or.jp/english)Getting there: Getting there: Yamanote line to Harajuku station, or Chiyoda or Fukutoshin lines to Meiji-Jingumae station (exit 2)From the sublime to the frivolous (and the old to the young), cross the street to Takeshita-dori, a shopping alley aimed at teens looking for the latest retro-punk fashions. Get an eyeful of the Harajuku girls in their elaborate “cosplay” outfits, but ask first before taking a photo.The headquarters of Design Festa, the annual arts and design festival held in May, is a rabbit warren of tiny avant-garde galleries, where you’re likely to find the artists themselves hard at work. You can’t miss the colourful graffiti-covered entrance. Try some cheap and cheerful okonomi-yaki (a delicious savoury pancake) at Sakuratei, the on-site restaurant that’s popular with students and artists alike. (designfestagallery.com/index-en.html)Getting there: Ginza, Hanzomon or Chiyoda lines to Omotesando station (Exit A2), or Chiyoda or Fukutoshin lines to Meiji-jinguman station (exit 5) In an area full of high-end designer stores, the exquisite Nezu Museum houses East Asian antiquities collected by rail magnate Kaichiro Nezu. Even more impressive than what’s inside, though, is the adjacent garden full of pagodas, tea houses and sculptures. The minimalist cafe overlooking the garden is a tranquil place to have lunch. (nezu-muse.or.jp/en)Getting there: Chiyoda, Ginza or Hanzomon lines to Omotesando station, exit A5. No visit to Tokyo is complete without making the famous Shibuya Crossing. Join the hundreds of pedestrians who surge simultaneously into this massive intersection from all directions. It’s a thrilling, Blade Runner-esque experience, made all the more impressive at night, when towering video screens light up the mass of humanity below.Getting there: JR Yamanote or Ginza line to Shibuya station (Hachiko exit)Roppongi (south-central) The cool, ultra-modern Roppongi Hills is the perfect counterpart to Old Japan. This city-within-a-city is an architectural feast for the eyes, with the 54-storey Mori Tower at its young heart. It costs about $20 to reach “Tokyo City View” on the 52nd floor, where you’ll get a breathtaking, nearly 360-degree view of the city, but that also includes entrance to the Mori Art Museum, with its excellent collections of contemporary Japanese art. While you’re up there, have a drink in the Mado Lounge, which is part of the observation deck. Both the deck and the museum are open late. (roppongihills.com/en/guide)Getting there: Hibiya or Toei Oedo line to Roppongi station (exit 1) The nearby Tokyo Midtown is another district of modern buildings with stunning architectural features, but these surround a large, formerly private garden, Hinokicho-koen. In the middle of the garden sits 21-21 Design Sight, a small museum curated by fashion designer Issey Miyake that features temporary exhibits of cutting-edge art and design. The sleek building, which descends underground, is itself inspired by Miyake’s trademark one-piece clothing. (2121designsight.jp/en)Getting there: Hibiya or Toei Oedo line to Roppongi station (exit 8) Akihabara (central) Fans of Japanese comics won’t want to miss Akihabara. One of Tokyo’s most bizarre districts, anime aficionados can hang out in themed cafes, or gawk at fellow devotees dressed as their favourite characters. Also, “Akiba” is THE place to shop if you’re in the market for state-of-the-art Japanese electronics. For lower prices and better variety, try venturing beyond the big-name stores right near Akihabara station.If that’s not your thing, there’s a brand-new, futuristic shopping arcade in Akihabara called 2k540 Aki-Oka Artisan. (The number indicates its distance of 2 kilometres and 540 metres from Tokyo Station.) A long line of small shops selling high-quality, handmade crafts runs under an elevated train track. Regular workshops are offered by the on-site craftspeople. Getting there: Yamanote line to Okachimachi or Akihabara stations, or Ginza line to Suehirocho station.Shinjuku (west)Shinjuku Station: You haven’t truly experienced the Tokyo subway until you’ve navigated the colossal hub that is Shinjuku, with its 50 (!) exits, multiple levels and kilometres of tunnels. You, too, could be among the four million people who move through it every day, making it the world’s busiest station. After dark, take either the west or east exit for a stroll through the neon-lit side streets, all packed with hopping bars, casual eateries and karaoke joints.If you hit one store in Tokyo, make it Tokyu Hands, a multi-level department store that’s geared to DIY-ers, but is actually a fascinating showcase of everyday Japanese design. If you’re looking for practical and unique souvenirs, be they lunch (bento) boxes, travel accessories, pet supplies, or stationery, there are worse ways to spend a couple of hours. Stores also in Ginza, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. (tokyu-hands.co.jp/en)Getting there: Shinjuku station (New South exit) If you’re lucky enough to be in Tokyo when the cherry trees bloom, the huge park that is Shinjuku Gyoen has 1,500 of them, so get your camera ready. Check out the traditional tea house at the park’s south end.Getting there: Marunouchi line to Shinjuku-gyoenmae station (exit 1) xShareA year later - and far from Fukushima - Tokyo is still a great place to visit

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Livius.org Articles on ancient history Bosphorus or Bosporus (Βόσπορος) is the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Bosphorus, seen from Topkapi The Bosphorus is 32 kilometer long and, at its narrowest point, 550 meter wide. Together with the Hellespont, which connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea, the Bosphorus is often called "The Straits". From a geological point of view, the zone is notoriously active. Because rivers and rainfall continue to feed the Black Sea, the surface water of the Bosphorus is not very salty, and the surface current is north-south. The current is extremely fast (2 m/s); you can not swim upstream. It was a brilliant feet of engineering that the Greek engineer Mandrocles of Samos, working for the Persian king Darius I the Great, managed to build a bridge across the Bosphorus.note[Herodotus, Histories 4.87.] The modern Fatih Bridge is at the site of Darius' bridge Because the winds are predominantly from the north, it is very difficult to move from the south to the north, which explains why Byzantium, situated on the southern entrance, became an important town: sailors had to go ashore and rest before they could start rowing to the Black Sea. Once they were working their way upstream, the sailors would at least find navigation easy, because there were many sanctuaries along the shores. Byzantium is also the place where the Bosphorus empties itself in the Sea of Marmora, and the speed of the current suddenly diminishes. As a result, the sweet surface waters and the waters of the salty understream start to mingle - sweet here, salty there. Many kinds of fish can live there next to each other, so that this part of the Bosphorus is proverbially rich in fish. Coin of the Bosphorus The Greeks believed that the name Bosphorus meant "passage of the cow", and believed that this animal was in fact Io, the Greek girl who was the lover of Zeus and had been changed into a cow because the god wanted to hide his infidelity from his wife Hera. Io had wandered all over the world and had crossed from Europe to Asia at the Bosphorus. It is possible that "the cow" was originally the name of a hilly part of the east bank, just north of Byzantium.note[Polybius, World History 4.43.6.] However this may be, the Byzantines were to strike coins showing a cow, often shown while crossing the straits, which were represented as a dolphin. Golden Horn The most important city in this area was, as we already noted, Byzantium - later called Constantinople. It was situated on a promontory between the Sea of Marmora (in the south), the Bosphorus (in the east), and the Golden Horn (in the north). The last-mentioned tract of water is essentially the estuary of two rivers, but is so wide that sea ships can easily enter it. As a consequence, Byzantium had two harbors on its northern shore. This page was created in 2008; last modified on 31 July 2015. Home » Articles » Place » Bosphorus AuthorJona LenderingMore picturesBosphorusCountryTurkeySubdisciplineGeographyTagWatercourse Donate to support Livius About Index Pictures Sources Countries Languages Categories Tags Thanks FAQ Donate Contact All content copyright © 1995–2017 Livius.org. All rights reserved.

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Enjoying the Journey By Ronnie Bray, Moroni ChannelYorkshire England, United Kingdom ​The eagerness and impatience of children on a long journey are well known, especially to those who have had the good fortune to drive them any distance, especially to a place of adventure and excitement where the arrival and what follows is of more importance to them than the journey itself. Languid shouts of “Are we there yet?” taunt faithful parents who know that it will be many miles and several hours until the promised treat is sighted. ​There are few places of interest between whose location and the point of departure for it lies in so vast and deserted a wasteland that the journey affords no pleasant prospects and no points of interest to travellers, however intent they are to arrive at their destination. Even the almost trackless deserts of Southern Arizona, or the bare mountain fastnesses of Northern Utah, whilst stark and deserted when compared with the teeming cities and towns of modest size furnish pleasures and enjoyments to those who will avert their gaze from the distant goal and enjoy the journey.When scaling the Alps or facing more extreme challenges in the Himalayas, the view from the top signals the end of the venture, and all that remains is to get back down. Yet the most dedicated climbers are those who understand that getting from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ is not the sole purpose of climbing. Each narrow ledge, or crevice, or chimney to be overcome, each beetling icy crag, or sheer face that must be mounted laboriously is an exciting part of their climb. Finding or making purchase places which enable them to continue the journey are an integral part of the overall undertaking without which their arrival at the summit would be anti-climactic.Explorers seeking the source of the River Nile considered the prospect of finding its spring of great importance, but that was not the sole purpose of their expedition any more than those who have journeyed to the North and South Poles regarded arriving at one particular geographical point the only worthwhile thing in the venture. There was much to experience on the way, a great deal to see, and even more to learn, and only fools would miss the fruits of the journey and still consider it worthwhile.Some years ago, Radio Luxembourg carried a programme, “People Are Funny,” in which one of the prizes was a trip around the world – blindfolded! The ‘winner’ was not impressed with his award, even though he arrived at the great international destinations, but he had not enjoyed the sightless journey.The Children of Israel did not enjoy the journey to the Promised Land because although they were excited to leave slavery and the chains of Egypt, their vision of the Divine Destination was frequently obscured by the hardships their pilgrimage held and they allowed these to blot out their glorious inheritance and wished to be back in Egypt or, at certain times, even die and so escape, not only the journey, but also their endowment at the hands of Almighty God.Ancient Israelites under the guidance of Moses, alternated between a bitter sense of deprivation and a morose yearning for the life they had left behind; the same life that had been the cause of their cries for deliverance rising to the throne of God that had resulted in His calling Moses to be the prophet-saviour of the House of Israel to lead them out from the iron chains of false gods to a better life in the land that God gave to their father Abraham and his posterity. Each person born into mortality is a traveller on a journey that will not end until death has claimed us as its own and after which the journey continues until each receives the reward to which he has risen through obedience to the laws and ordinance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the degree of faithfulness shown in keeping sacred covenants.A Jewish proverb declares, “To be bored is an insult to God who made us!” To be bored is to not be enjoying the journey. The bumper sticker that announces, “I’d rather be fishing,” identifies another who is not enjoying the journey. Tennyson, characterised the inevitability of unhappy experiences as part of the weave of everyday life: ​“Be still sad heart and cease repiningBehind each cloud is a silver lining.Thy lot is the common lot of all,Into each life some rain must fall,Some days must be dark and dreary.” ​As the poet says, no one’s life is free from disappointment, hardship, or discouragement, for an easy path through mortality was not promised. Life is a divine gift, an opportunity for each child of God to grow through experiences not available in any other place or by any other means. The scripture make known to us that the moment the opportunity for mortality, including the realisation of our divine destiny was shown us, we “shouted for joy.” Yet, even in our exultation, we knew that life would have challenges, and that the growth that would come by the hands of vicissitude and advantage would be visited upon us through successfully making our journey, sometimes under the brilliance of heaven’s light, and sometimes in the gloom of “the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” If, with eyes of faith, we can see now as we saw then, our mortality as a pilgrimage; a journey that, while it holds terrors and anxieties, also holds happiness and peacefulness, while maintaining our vision of the crown of glory to come in the eternal worlds, what should prevent us from placing all our trust in Him whose hands are firmly on the wheel and making the best of our time here and enjoying the journey? MCH is a Selection Of Church News, LDS Trends, Stories, Mormon Lifestyle And Other Useful Ideas For The LDS Community. We provide fresh articles from members of The LDS Church and feature real-life stories of their Trials, Conversion, Missionary Work, and Personal Experiences. Join our Monthly Newsletter

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Thursday, October 27, 2015 , 9:30am-2:30pm This tour experience will offer a combination of the finest art and architecture that San Francisco has to offer. On this inspiring and educational excursion, you will gain a deeper appreciation of the City’s architectural past, present, and future. Overlooking Lincoln Park, the City, and the Golden Gate, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor is unique in America for its emphasis on the art and culture of France. Adapted from the design of an 18th‑century palace in Paris, the Legion of Honor is dedicated to the memory of Californians who died during World War I. As visitors make their way through the museum, the history of art begins to unfold with the rich tapestries and religious art of the Middle Ages, 17th and 18th century decorative art, continuing with the Impressionists and Post Impressionists of the last century and concluding with early contemporary works. You will enjoy a private guided tour of the Legion’s collection. The knowledgeable, trained docent will take you through the museum, offering insight into the masterpieces. A special highlight is the famed Rodin collection, one of the finest outside Paris. The casts date almost exclusively within the artist’s lifetime, including one of the five original bronze castings of The Thinker. You will also enjoy a visit to The Japanese Tea Garden, located inside Golden Gate Park, is the oldest public Japanese garden. The beautiful site is a historical Japanese-style garden originally built as the Japanese Village for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. Japanese immigrant and gardener Makoto Hagiwara designed the bulk of the garden and was officially appointed caretaker in 1894 until the World War II. In the years to follow, many Hagiwara family treasures were liquidated from the gardens, but new additions were placed. Today, the Tea Garden features beautiful monuments, bridges, native Japanese plants and ponds. $85 Per Person Where Dreams Come to Life: Walt Disney Family Museum Followed by lunch at Perry’s on Union Street Thursday, October 27, 2015 – 10:00am-2:45pm The Walt Disney Family Museum is one of the Bay Area’s unique museums. Housed in a restored 1890s army barracks, located in the Presidio of San Francisco, with the Golden Gate Bridge to the west, Crissy Field to the north, and the City to the east. Once the U.S. Army’s premier West Coast base, Congress decommissioned The Presidio in 1989 and transferred the buildings to the National Park Service. This is no Mickey Mouse museum, but a fascinating, comprehensive telling of the story of Walt Disney— the man who raised animation to an art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy. You will experience interactive audio and video exhibits, original animation art, his photographs, film clips, examples of the technologies Walt Disney pioneered, and his most extraordinary, hand-crafted model of his imagination, Disneyland. Guests will enjoy lunch in classic San Francisco style at Perry’s on Union St. Perry’s has been a San Francisco tradition for over three decades. In 1969, Perry Butler, a 26-year-old Dartmouth College graduate, was working as an advertising executive, when he set out to follow his dream of opening his own restaurant. Freshly relocated to San Francisco, and compelled to recreate the hustle and bustle of the New York neighborhood saloons that he missed, Butler opened Perry’s on Union Street. Perry’s has now become a family business with his grown children active in its substantial success. His restaurant is beloved by locals for innovative American cuisine served by attentive staff in a relaxed and lively ambiance. $165 Per Person Including Lunch Magical Marin With Luncheon at the Spinnaker Friday, October 28, 2015 – 9:30am-3:30pm Start the day by crossing the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge into fabled Marin County, with its astonishingly varied land and seascapes. Driving along the slopes of Mount Tamalpais, the deluxe mini-coach will thread their way down the winding mountain road to Muir Woods National Monument. One of the first parks ever set aside for the coastal redwoods, this national park was named for the renowned conservationist. The redwoods located here have a biological ancestry dating back well over a million years. Fossils of virtually identical trees appear in the record from some 160 to 170 million years ago, preceding the Jurassic Age of dinosaurs. These fossils are found across the Northern Hemisphere, in Manchuria, France, Alaska, Greenland and even on Arctic islands. Redwoods have no aging mechanisms, are extremely resistant to disease, and have few natural enemies. Thus individual redwoods can live to be thousands of years old. Your guests will have time to wander among these ancient trees and they will come away with a sense of the immense grandeur and spans of time encompassed by this noble forest. Next, your guests will visit sparkling Sausalito, a Riviera‑like bayside village with its winding wooded streets, eclectic houseboats, unique boutiques and art galleries. Here, your guests will have time to explore before lunch at The Spinnaker. Located on the waterfront The Spinnaker Restaurant offers unparalleled views of the City and the Bay, as well as sumptuous cuisine. Upon arrival, guests will be lead to the elegant main dining room where grand window panes look out upon the Marina Harbor, Richardson Bay, Mt. Tamalpias, Angel Island and Marin County. The room is elegantly appointed with warm interior ceiling and wall design. Guests will be seated to a wonderful, three-course gourmet meal. $175 Per Person Including Lunch

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Smooth Cruise Encore: Spyro Gyra Hornblower Infinity Pier 40, Houston St @ West Side Hwy October 3rd, 7:00PM TICKETS: Standard: $55 ($65 at Dock, Day of Show) Standard + Buffet: $80 Deluxe Ticket Package: $135 AVAILABLE AT: Purchase Tickets Now at TicketWeb.com OR BY CALLING: 1-866-468-7619 Join us for a special Friday Night Smooth Cruise Encore! Come aboard FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3 at 7:00PM for a Smooth Cruise with the iconic contemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra! To mark the 35th anniversary of the release of their breakthrough Morning Dance album, Spyro Gyra will be performing it start to finish at their NYC show. Then they will continue the show with highlights of more of their memorable music. Catch the Hornblower Infinity at Pier 40 at Houston Street @ the Hudson River/West Side Highway, at the north side of the pier. Cruise departs promptly at 7pm (Boarding begins: 6pm) Cruise Departure Info The Hornblower Infinity departs from Pier 40, located at Houston Street @ West Side Highway. (Take 1 train to Houston St. or M8 or M21 bus) Cruises sail rain or shine, no refunds or exchanges. Click here for driving directions, public transportation details, and parking information. Optional Food, Beverage & Package Info - Buffet Dinner may be purchased for an additional $25 in advance or at venue. - Cash Bar available. - Limited Number of Deluxe Packages priced at $135 per person include: separate boarding line, Premium Buffet on a private dining deck, premium open bar, and reserved seating section. PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are available online or by phone only. There are no advance ticket sales or pick ups at Hornblower’s offices. Limited tickets will be sold on site the evening of the show (for that night’s show only) after 5:00pm. Deluxe Ticket sales (if still available) end at 3pm on the day of the show and are not available at the dock. ABOUT SPYRO GYRA: For over three decades, Spyro Gyra has maintained a strong position at the forefront of the modern jazz world. The band’s debut album Morning Dance, released in 1979, included the title track that became a Top 40 single and proved to be the band’s breakout single. To this day, the Calypso-inspired track is still in heavy rotation on contemporary jazz stations across the country. Soon after the first album’s release, the band initiated a heavy touring schedule that has been in perpetual motion ever since. Spyro Gyra signed with Heads Up International in 2001 and recorded In Modern Times, an album that spent 64 weeks on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, peaking at the number two position. Two years later, the band released Original Cinema, followed by The Deep End in 2004. Both of these albums spent a considerable amount of time on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts. 2006’s Wrapped in a Dream cemented the band’s position as heavyweight contenders in the contemporary jazz arena, earning a GRAMMY nomination and wide critical acclaim. Spyro Gyra continued this momentum into 2007, releasing Good To Go-Go, an album that captures a more live groove with the help of new drummer Bonny B. Good To Go-Go scored two GRAMMY nominations in December 2007: Best Pop Instrumental Album and Best Pop Instrumental Performance (the latter nomination for the track “Simple Pleasures”). In 2009, Spyro Gyra added the album, Down the Wire, to its voluminous discography and earned the group a GRAMMY nod for Best Pop Instrumental Album. Spyro Gyra has continued to remain an exciting and dynamic instrumental group, constantly pushing and exploring the boundaries of contemporary jazz. Their most recent album “The Rhinebeck Sessions” was released in Fall 2013. Join us Friday, October 3 to enjoy an amazing live performance by Spyro Gyra!

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Getting AroundPATH – Toronto's Downtown Pedestrian Walkway You are on: Getting Around PATH – Toronto's Downtown Pedestrian Walkway Visiting a client? Shopping for a gift? Taking in a movie? Catching the subway? PATH is downtown Toronto's (mostly) underground walkway linking 30 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment. Follow PATH and you'll reach your downtown destination easily in weatherproof comfort. PATH provides an important contribution to the economic viability of the city's downtown core. The system facilitates pedestrian linkages to public transit, accommodating more than 200,000 business-day commuters, and thousands of additional tourists and residents on route to sports and cultural events. Its underground location provides pedestrians with a safe haven from the winter cold and snow, and the summer heat. PATH facts: The approximate 1,200 shops and services, such as photocopy shops and shoe repairs, found in PATH, employ about 5,000 people. Once a year, businesses in PATH host the world's largest underground sidewalk sale. More than 50 buildings/office towers are connected through PATH. Twenty parking garages, six subway stations, two major department stores, eight major hotels, and a railway terminal are also accessible through PATH. It also provides links to some of Toronto's major tourist and entertainment attractions such as: the Hockey Hall of Fame, Roy Thomson Hall, The Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, and the CN Tower. City Hall and Metro Hall are also connected through PATH. There are more than 125 grade level access points and 60 decision points where a pedestrian has to decide between turning left or right, or continuing straight on. The average size of a connecting link is 20 metres (66 feet) long by 6 metres (20 feet) wide. The building furthest north on the PATH network is College Park at College and Yonge Streets. The building furthest south that can be accessed through PATH is the RBC WaterPark Place building which is just across the street from the Toronto Island ferry terminal and the Westin Harbour Castle hotel. PATH does not follow the grid patterns of the streets above. Each letter in PATH is a different colour, each representing a direction. The P is red and represents south. The orange A directs pedestrians to the west, while the blue T directs them to the north. The H is yellow and points to the east. Signage includes a symbol for people with disabilities whenever there is a flight of stairs ahead. PATH history The first underground path in Toronto originated in 1900 when the T Eaton Co. joined its main store at 178 Yonge St. and its bargain annex by tunnels. By 1917 there were five tunnels in the downtown core. With the opening of Union Station in 1927, an underground tunnel was built to connect it to the Royal York Hotel (now known as the Fairmont Royal York). The real growth of PATH began in the 1970s when a tunnel was built to connect the Richmond-Adelaide and Sheraton Centres. In 1987, City Council adopted the recommendation that the City become the co-ordinating agency of PATH and pay for the system-wide costs of designing a signage program. In 1988, design firms Gottschalk, Ash International, and Keith Muller Ltd. were retained in by the City of Toronto to apply the design concept for PATH. PATH's name and logo are registered to the City of Toronto. The City co-ordinates and facilitates the directional signage, maps and identity markers throughout the system. Each segment of the walkway system is owned and controlled by the owner of the property through which it runs. There are about 35 corporations involved. In the early 1990s, signage for PATH was developed to provide pedestrians with better ease of use and functionality. The signage enhances PATH's visibility and identity, ultimately increasing its use, attracting more people to downtown Toronto, and drawing more businesses there. Download the PATH map Download a printable copy of the PATH map Back to: Getting Around Translate Contact us Connect 311 Accessibility Privacy City of Toronto, 1998-2017

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A Day in Umbria Filed under: Archaeology, cuisine, Italian Art, Topography of Perugia, Travel around Italy, Umbria by Rebecca K. Schindler — 2 Comments June 23, 2014 View of Lago Trasimeno from Tuoro Saturday we had an Umbrian day: Lago Trasimeno, Roman/Carthaginian battle site, torta al testo, a Lombard tower, an Etruscan tomb, and home-made wood-fire pizza with friends as we watched the sun set against Perugia. June 21 was the 2231st anniversary of the Battle of Lake Trasimene (217 B.C.), an epic disaster for the Romans at the hands of the Carthaginians and not generally commemorated in Italy. Nevertheless, in the morning we set out for Tuoro, the Umbrian village above the battle site (which, diplomatically, now has Lamta, Hannibal’s home town, as a ‘sister city’). From here we followed part of the battle itinerary. Basically, the Romans were trying to catch the Carthaginian army, which had come over the Alps (yes, with a few elephants) and then soundly defeated a Roman army at the Trebbia River. The next spring, Hannibal goaded the Roman army sent to track him, led by the new consul Gaius Flaminius, into following him into a narrow area between the hills and the north shore of Lake Trasimeno. A good part of Hannibal’s army was visible, but he had hidden light troops in the tree cover on the hills, and so when the Romans came through the pass to the small plain near that part of the lake, Hannibal closed the trap, encircling the Romans on three sides, while the muddy shores of the shallow lake served to trap and drown Roman soldiers who were trying to escape. Perhaps 15,000 of the 30,000-strong Roman army perished. It was one of the biggest debacles in Roman history. We visited several of the informative displays arranged around the battlefield area (12 in all; maps and brochures can be obtained at the Information center at the heart of the town of Tuoro). At one location, the boys reconstructed the Carthaginian ambush. Hannibal’s forces are in orange. The Romans are taller but unprepared for the sneaky Carthaginians. The death of Gaius Flaminius, the rash and unfortunately incompetent Roman consul and commander: Caught between the Carthagnians attacking from the hills and the edge of lake, many of the Romans drowned: Today there is a sculpture park and beach at Tuoro sul Trasimeno: By this time all of our forces needed nourishment. For months friends in Perugia have been telling us we must try the torta al testo dalla Maria in Montebuono di Magione. “Torta al testo” is an Umbrian flat bread that is traditionally cooked on a stone disc in a wood burning oven. Its production can be traced back to pre-Roman times. It is cut into triangular wedges and filled with meat, cheese, vegetables, pretty much anything you want. The torta al testo dalla Maria can be found at the Trattoria Faliero, a self-service type restaurant with lots of outdoor seating and views of the lake. The forno where the torta is made. The ‘testo’ is the stone disc on which is it baked. When you walk in, you take a ticket, and wait for your turn. There is sort of a menu posted on the wall, but it is not entirely complete. In addition to the torta, there are daily specials displayed in a case. You select what looks good: We ended up with four torta al testo ‘sandwiches’ filled with various items, a lovely plate of baked lake fish, and some side dishes. Micah decided he now really likes fagiolini (green beans): We lingered over lunch. The weather was beautiful and we had nowhere to be until later in the afternoon. So we got dessert. In fact, the best tiramisu we have ever had: As we pulled out of the parking lot, we could not resist taking this shot: Orange boy, orange Cinquecento Our next stop was unplanned. We had about half an hour to kill before we needed to be on the road to Perugia. The manager of Simon’s Don Bosco soccer team, Massimo Cecconi, had invited us for a pizza party at his house. The dinner was scheduled for 7:00 pm, but Massimo had asked us to come early so he could show us an Etruscan tomb under a neighbor’s house. We wanted to get him a guest-gift, perhaps some wine from a cantina on the lake. We took a detour into Magione in search of something interesting. As I was keeping my eyes peeled for open shops (it was the middle of the day and most stores had not reopened), Pedar spied a sign touting a “Torre dei Lambardi“. We decided to follow the road up…and up…and up. We were not expecting to find the tower open, much less an art exhibition on the inside. We were the only visitors. The inside of the 13th-century tower had been heavily restored with steel beams and new floors on each level. The exhibition was an installation by the Umbrian artist Umberto Raponi: Malizie sul Perugino, 2013 Near the top of the tower was a spiral stair to access the roof: And the push of a button lifted off a small pyramidal cap that revealed a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside: After stocking up on some local books about Trasimeno (as we might come back to do some archaeological research and teaching in the area), we found a nice bottle of wine in Magione and we arrived at our friends’ house on the wooded slopes northeast of Perugia in time to see the tomb. The hills around Perugia are filled with Etruscan remains, many on private property, and it is not uncommon to see spolia built into walls, such as this piece at a corner of Massimo’s house: Etruscan cinerary urn built into a house wall. One of his neighbors (not next door, but nearby), lives on the property of a former convent. The complex sits on top of a rise with views to the west, north, and east. The Etruscan tomb was discovered accidentally at the beginning of the 19th century when the roof collapsed. Although simple inside, with an undecorated sarcophagus, the tomb and the artifacts buried with its owner, a woman of some status, were intact, including a gold diadem now in the archaeological museum in Florence. Simon entering the tomb. The stone door was still in place when the tomb was discovered. The now empty sarcophagus. Our visit to the tomb was facilitated by a local expert/guide/enthusiast (who also seems to be the keeper of the keys). He has a collection of photographs relevant to the tomb. He demonstrated how the diadem was found still resting on the head of the deceased: There is a lot of local knowledge in Umbria that deserves recognition and documentation. There is also the ageless technology of the perfect wood-burning oven and the incomparable atmosphere of an outdoor kitchen. We headed back to the Cecconi’s for pizza expertly prepared by him and Simon’s coach, Nicola Titoli. For months we had been hearing about coach Titoli’s pizza prowess (when younger he had worked in a pizzaria). Here was our chance.. The Cecconi’s outdoor kitchen. Coach Titoli works the fire in the forno. To the left is an open hearth for grilling. Further to the left (out of the picture) is a sink and regular gas stove top where Paola made patatine fritte (french fries) for the kids. Massimo and Coach Titoli prepare the toppings. The pizza above is a standard preparation with sauce, mozzarella, and sausage. We also got to sample several pizzas with fresh ingredients from the Cecconi’s garden, including sweet onions. Here Coach Titoli uses zucchini flowers and scamorza cheese. Note the plate of fresh herbs to the left. The finished product. The freshness and flavor still linger in our memories. The kids arrive. The pizza disappears. Pizza and beer. What could be better? Ok..pizza, beer, and Umbria at sunset. (The view from the Cecconi’s yard.) It aches to gaze upon the landscapes here. But it is a happy pain, one of the appreciation of beauty and the relationship between people and their environment. And the values of friendship and family, which tie everything together. We only have a few weeks left, but increasingly we are seeing these days not as finishing our experience in Umbria, but as the end of the beginning of our time here. This was one day in Umbria: a full day, and a day of fullness. We are very fortunate, and can’t thank our new friends here enough. Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleLike this:Like Loading... Tags: Lago Trasimeno, Magione, Torre dei Lambardi, torta al testo, Tuoro 2 Comments: Alan Schindler June 23, 2014 at 16:01 Wow! Thank you. Dad Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 12:47:29 +0000 To: [email protected] Reply Julia Bruggemann June 23, 2014 at 22:21 One of my father’s college friends owned a house in the hills above Tuoro and we spent several summers there when I was a teenager. We went to the local market, ate in the pizzerias, swam in the lake, of course, and took in many of the same sights. Thanks for bringing some of those memories back. « The End of School Not Going Home »

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Night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports Department for Transport and The Rt Hon Simon Burns Aviation and airports The first of 2 night noise consultations is announced today. On 26 March 2012 the government announced that it would extend the existing restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports for a period of 2 years until October 2014. This extension will ensure a new night flying regime can take account of the aviation policy framework which the government has committed to have in place by the spring. Today I have published the first of 2 consultations which will inform the development of the next night noise regime. This first consultation seeks views and evidence on a range of issues including the effectiveness of the current regime, the costs and benefits of future options and airlines’ fleet replacement plans. Additionally this consultation includes a review of current evidence on the costs of night flights, particularly noise, and the benefits of these flights. It sets out our thinking on how we would expect to appraise the policy options for the next night flights regime and seeks views on our approach. We will publish the second consultation later this year and this will include specific proposals for the new regime, such as the number of permitted night flights. These proposals, which will be informed by the evidence we receive from this first stage consultation, will need to strike a fair balance between the interests of those affected by the noise disturbance and those of the airports, passengers and the UK economy. The Rt Hon Simon Burns

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South Korea Trips Find your own 'gangnam style' with our range of trips to South Korea that include a week-long guided tour, private journeys departing whenever you like and tailor-made holidays as unique as you are. Local guides Lots of authentic experiences Award winning holidays South Korea Trips:South Korean ExpressSeoul & Silla KingdomsSeoul Searching & JejuSpectacular South KoreaDeparture Dates For: Tailor-Made Holidays South Korea Discover the best of South Korea from its glitzy capital to its fast-paced cities, its stunning UNESCO World Heritage Sites to its dramatic volcanic islands, its picturesque mountains to its quiet temples and much more. Cheongpung Lake Mount Hallasan Mount Seoraksan National Park Seongsan Sunrise Peak Gwangyang Yeongju South KoreaTravel Guide Start planning for a holiday where K-Pop and kimchi is likely to feature with our travel guide resources that cover everything from visas to currency, what to see and when to go.View Our Travel Guide 1 USD = 1,133 KRW  / South Korea Best places to visit in South Korea South Korea offers a whole lot more than the buzzing urban expanse of its vibrant capital and a swathe of treasure from the ancient kingdom of Silla. Consider, heading off the beaten track to take a dip in one of the bubbling hot springs at Seoraksan National Park, taking time to explore the natural wonders on the island of Jeju or touring the fascinating DMZ! Here we've list some of the best places to visit in South Korea - some possibly familiar and some new. SeoulGyeongjuSeoraksan National ParkJeju IslandThe Demiliterized Zone (DMZ)Andong & Hahoe Folk Villages Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #1SeoulThe vibrant, modern city of Seoul definitively lives up to the ‘24-hour party’ tag that other cities can only pay lip service to. A buzzing urban expanse that is striving to reshape its hardened concrete and steel edges with gorgeous city parks, cultural landmarks and tasteful design. You’ll find a host of exciting places to eat, drink, shop and relax, whether you’re in Hongdae’s chic bars and restaurants or the stylish boutiques of Apgujeong. Those shopping for arts, crafts, jewellery, antiques or souvenirs, should head to the wonderful markets and shops of Insa Dong. Whilst Seoul is embracing all that is modern, it is also rich in history. In the city there are five major palace complexes, which were built under the Joseon Dynasty and provide fine examples of traditional architecture. Whilst all of the palaces are worthy of a visit, Changdeokgung Palace with it's beautiful Secret Garden and the ornate Gyeongbokgung Palace which has an hourly changing of the guard ceremony with soldiers dressed in Joseon-era uniforms are highly recommended. Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #2GyeongjuOnce the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, Gyeongju is a coastal city in South Korea with a rich selection of cultural and historical attractions. Its Silla heritage stretches back over 1000 years, with ancient sites, relics and ruins found throughout the city. The Gyeongju National Museum is home to countless treasures and the 23 ton Emille Bell cast in AD771. Gyeongju's other highlights include the scenic Anapji Pond, Tumuli Park which is the site of incredible giant grass-covered burial mounds and the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Listed Bulguk-sa Temple. Just out of town, dramatically located on the slopes of Toham Mountain, Seokguram Grotto is another must see! Gyeongju is the historical and cultural heart of South Korea, providing an unrivaled insight into the country's history, religion and culture. Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #3Seoraksan National ParkDesignated as a Biosphere Protection Site by UNESCO, the 400 000 sq km Seoraksan National Park’s unique rock formations, wildlife, hot springs, dense woodland and temples from the Silla-era make it an area of South Korea that simply has to be visited. Each area of this incredibly beautiful park has its own unique appeal and attractions. Translated as Snowy Crags Mountain, Seoraksan is the third-highest mountain in South Korea. Seoraksan provides a spectacular backdrop for the park's two temples - Sinheungsa and Baekdamsa. Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #4Jeju IslandAlthough it lies only 85km off the coast of South Korea, Jeju Island (more specifically Jeju-do) has developed its own unique history, traditional dress, architecture and linguistic traditions. With a moderate climate that differs surprisingly from the mainland, Jeju-do has a sub-tropical southern side and a more temperate northern region. On the island, which was recently voted one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, you’ll find exquisite botanical gardens, sandy beaches, lava caves, a folk village and the O’Sulloc Tea Museum where you can learn about South Korea’s famous traditional tea culture. Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #5The Demiliterized Zone (DMZ)The Korean DMZ or Korean Demilitarized Zone is a buffer zone between North and South Korea. Created in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, the DMZ remains as one of the most militarized regions in the world. The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) runs directly through the middle of the DMZ, marking the exact point where the front lines were before the agreement between the Soviet Union, The People’s Republic of China and North Korea, and the UN and South Korea. Although tensions still exist between South Korea and North Korea, fascinating tours operate to the DMZ, allowing visitors to get a better understanding of the events that resulted in Korea’s division and take a peak into North Korea! Visit Imjingak Park, which commemorates all those who lost their homes or were separated from their families when South Korea was divided. See also the 3rd North Korean Infiltration Tunnel, revealed in 1978 with the help of a North Korean defector, which was intended to allow a surprise invasion by North Korea. Best places to visit in South Korea: Our pick #6Andong & Hahoe Folk VillagesAndong’s peaceful, rural surroundings are in stark contrast to the buzz of Seoul. Set in the heart of Gyeongsangbuk-do, Andong is noted for having preserved much of its traditional spirit. A great place to see Korean traditions unfold is the cultural village of Hahoe, where the noble Ryu family originated and have lived for the past 600 years. Traditional buildings, beautiful surroundings and a range of cultural activities make a visit to Andong and Hahoe Village a good opportunity to take in the local culture and learn a thing or two about Korea’s rich heritage. Top South Korea Deals 19 Mar 2017 15% off South Korean Express - 7 days USD $2,274was $2,675 View the trip > South Korea Trip Styles Travel in 2017 Travel in 2018 Best places to visit Best time to visit Traveller reviews

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The History Of A Once And Future World-Class Resort By Corey Flintoff Feb 24, 2014 TweetShareGoogle+Email People watch the sunset Monday while standing under the Olympic rings hanging outside a train station in Sochi, Russia. President Vladimir Putin isn't the first Russian leader to try to create a world-class resort in Sochi. That story is told in one of Sochi's best attractions, an excellent city history museum. Deputy museum director Alla Guseva says the first major effort to build up the city by the Black Sea as a vacation destination was led by Czar Nicholas II, who aimed at creating an aristocratic watering hole like the ones he had visited in Germany. Wealthy merchants started building spas and luxury hotels with health facilities for taking the supposedly healing waters and enjoying the combination of sea and mountain air. But Nicholas' plans were disrupted by the outbreak of World War I, and then permanently derailed by the 1917 revolution that ended his dynasty. Stalin's Project Guseva says the luxurious hotels and villas were nationalized by the Bolsheviks and taken over by Stalin, who began the second major resort project. Around the beginning of the 1930s, the Soviet government allocated 1.4 billion rubles to develop the city. "That was huge money for that period," Guseva says, "and they invited the best architects, the best engineers, the best artists, to build a resort here. The resort was to show the whole world how a person would live under communism, that is, a resort as a Utopian fairy tale." Sochi's museum shows the drawings and models for palatial constructivist and neo-classical hotels and hospitals, many of which were actually built to serve as vacation spots for deserving Soviet workers and the Communist Party elite. But the museum also has displays devoted to the many people who worked on those projects who were later killed or sent to labor camps as a result of Stalin's paranoid repressions. Guseva says that Stalin's plans for a Sochi showplace were disrupted by World War II, when many of the spas became hospitals for wounded Soviet servicemen. A Favored Soviet Destination During the decades after the war, Sochi became a favorite vacation spot for Soviet families, most of whom weren't allowed to leave the country. Many people in Russia today have fond memories of the city's stony beaches and sleepy, tree-lined parks. But Sochi was definitely in decay by the time Putin won his bid for the Winter Olympics in 2007. That meant that infrastructure for the games would have to be built from scratch. The original bid document for the project put the total cost at about $12 billion. Today, the price tag for the entire project is commonly quoted as $51 billion dollars (The Washington Post's Paul Farhi did a useful analysis of that number here). The figure was supposed to include everything — from sports venues to city infrastructure such as roads and a rail line, plus privately financed hotels and tourist facilities — but the contracting process was so murky that it's very hard to figure out where the money went. And while the Sochi Games have been judged among the very best, it's not so clear Putin's project to build the city will ultimately be more successful than his predecessors. Sochi is still relatively remote, compared with other resorts on the Mediterranean, and it's unlikely to attract a lot of European tourists. Today's Russians who can afford to travel are much more likely to fly to white-sand beaches in Turkey or Cyprus, Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt or Goa in India. And the city may find that its thousands of new hotel rooms (and thousands more that weren't finished in time for the Olympic boom) will be on the deeply discounted rack for decades to come.Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. Connect with us!

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Enjoy Spring on Ocracoke Island! Now taking reservations. Book 2 Nights, Get the 3rd Night 50% Off. (Excludes holidays and special events. Promotion ends 5/25/17) Book Now Rooms & Rates Hotel Policies Things To Do Fishing Massage and Wellness Things to Do on Ocracoke Island Ocracoke Ghost Walk Tours begin at Village Craftsmen on Howard Street, are about 1 1/2 miles long, and take approximately 90 minutes. You will learn some of our unique island history, hear about harrowing hurricanes & shipwrecks, listen to tales of the supernatural & creepy local legends, and visit the graves of some of Ocracoke's founding families. villagecraftsmen.com (252) 928-6300 Ocracoke Preservation Society and Museum 49 Water Plant Road For a peek into Ocracoke's past, visit the Ocracoke Preservation Society's Museum. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving the island's history and cultural heritage and to protecting its environment. Housed in the turn-of-the-century home of Coast Guard Capt. David Williams, the museum lets visitors glimpse island life in the early to mid-1900s. Many of the architectural elements are intact, and a bedroom, living room and kitchen are decorated with period furnishings donated by island families. The museum has photographs, artifacts and exhibits that pertain to island life and culture. A favorite is a video on the Ocracoke brogue. The museum also houses special rotating exhibits and a pleasant gift shop. During the summer, OPS hosts free porch talks that feature a variety of islanders sharing their knowledge of Ocracoke Island stories and history. Stop at the OPS gift shop for a schedule of these events. It's free to visit the museum, though donations are encouraged. (252) 928-7375 Beach on Ocracoke Island Ocracoke's beach has attracted increasing national attention as it worked its way up Dr. Beach's acclaimed list of Best Beaches. In 2007, Ocracoke became America's #1 Beach! The wide, sandy beach is clean, and there are plenty of spots where, with a little effort, you can enjoy it undisturbed by others. The ocean reaches high temperatures of 85 F in the summer and can adopt the clear aquamarine hues of tropical waters when the conditions are right. Board sports, surf fishing, swimming, shelling, reading and napping are all popular beach pastimes. The 16 miles of oceanfront beach are part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and are free of development. Pets are welcome, but must be on a 6' leash at all times. Confirm seasonal routes, beach closures, and ramp openings with the National Park Service. All vehicles on the beach must apply for an off-road vehicle (ORV) beach driving permit. The 2015 annual permit, which costs $120 per vehicle, will be valid from the date of purchase through December 31, 2014. Weeklong permits, valid for 7 consecutive days, cost $50. Those who purchase a permit will be required to watch a 7-minute educational video at one of the park's visitor centers. The ORV permit offices are open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round except Christmas Day. Permits can be obtained at the NPS visitor center (40 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke, NC). There are restrooms, changing rooms and a shower facility located at the day use area on Highway 12 just outside the village. There are plenty of good spots for those looking for more solitude along the entire beach up to the Hatteras Ferry. Look for the paved parking areas, not the sandy shoulder along the highway, for parking your vehicle. Several threatened and endangered species, such as the piping plover and several species of sea turtles, nest on the island's beaches, and sections may be closed to the public in order to protect these nests. You will see NPS signs posting hours of access and closures at entry ramps where there are endangered species breeding and nesting. Be sure to pay close attention to the park regulations. Violations for intrusions into protected areas and for pets off leash are strictly enforced by park rangers. Check with the National Park Service Visitor Center on Ocracoke for the most updated information. Ocracoke Lighthouse 360 Lighthouse Road Ocracoke Lighthouse may be the shortest of the four Outer Banks lighthouses but that only makes it all the more charming. Rising only about 70 feet into the sky, the whitewashed tower sits on a lawn of flawless green surrounded by a white picket fence, outbuildings and a quaint keeper's cottage, creating a picturesque scene of old island life. Built in 1823, this is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina and the second-oldest in the nation. It is still in operation, and its beam can be seen 14 miles out to sea. During the 4th of July celebrations, native historians are on hand to answer questions and offer a peek into the interior of the lighthouse, though climbing is not permitted. Historic Marker of Fort Ocracoke 38 Irvin Garrish Highway, behind the NPS Visitor Center This marker is a little hard to find, but it's worth seeking out. It's on a grassy patch behind the National Park Service Visitor Center and next to the boat ramp. Park the car and walk out to the sound and you'll see it. The marker commemorates Fort Ocracoke, the remnants of which lie submerged in Ocracoke Inlet toward Portsmouth Island. The fort was constructed by volunteers beginning on May 20, 1861; the day North Carolina seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. One side of the marker lists all the men from Ocracoke and Portsmouth islands who served in the Civil War. British Cemetery 220 British Cemetery Road On May 11, 1942, about 40 miles south of Ocracoke, a German submarine torpedoed and sank the British vessel HMS Bedfordshire. The 170-foot ship was one of 24 antisubmarine ships loaned to the United States by Winston Churchill. The entire crew of four officers and 33 crewmen drowned. U.S. Coast Guard officers found four of the bodies washed ashore three days later. The soldiers were buried on a plot of land next to a family's cemetery on land donated to Britain. The Coast Guard still maintains the grave sites and flies a British flag over the graves. Every year on the Friday closest to the May 11th anniversary of the sailors' deaths, there is a formal military ceremony with invited guest speakers to honor the British sailors. The adjacent village cemetery also provides an interesting look back into Ocracoke Island's past. Ocracoke Working Watermen's Exhibit and Education Site 294 Irvin Garrish Highway, Community Square Docks Round out your Ocracoke cultural education and learn about the life and history of the local Ocracoke watermen. Located at the former Will Willis Store & Fish House on the Community Square docks, the exhibit explores the traditions and daily lives of island watermen, past and present. The mission of the exhibit is to educate people about the important link between community, environment, traditional work methods and the local economy—and of course the benefit of buying fresh local seafood! The exhibit is open usually from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the summer. While you're there, sit on the porch and enjoy the scenic view of the Ocracoke Lighthouse across Silver Lake Harbor. Ocracoke Working Watermen\'s Exhibit and Education Site 276 Irvin Garrish Highway, Community Square Dock Come dockside and visit the Skipjack Wilma Lee. Berthed at the historic Ocracoke Community Square dock, the Skipjack Wilma Lee is a beautifully restored 50-foot wooden boat from a bygone era. One of only a few remaining Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks, the Wilma Lee is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in Wingate, Maryland in 1940 by Bronza Parks and restored in 2002, the Wilma Lee was then donated to Ocracoke Alive Inc, an Ocracoke based non-profit organization dedicated to arts and education. Skipjacks were single-purpose, sloop-rigged oystering boats with a huge sail plan for pulling oyster dredges through the rich oyster beds of Chesapeake Bay. As the oyster beds of the Chesapeake were depleted and decimated by disease, skipjacks moved south where they were used and built by Albemarle and Pamlico sound watermen. Though not an Ocracoke boat in origin, the Wilma Lee holds the spirit of hard work and adventure that characterizes the oystering trade then and now. Step back to the time of sail power and visit the Wilma Lee. Stop by for free dockside talks aboard the Wilma Lee this summer. For more information, call 252-928-SAIL or visit www.ocracokealive.org. Molasses Creek's Deepwater Theater And Music Hall 82 School Road Molasses Creek's Deepwater Theater and Music Hall is the home venue of Molasses Creek, Ocracoke Island's hometown band that's built an international following with its blend of soulful singing and songwriting, blazing instrumentals and occasionally wacky sense of humor. From June through September, Molasses Creek plays here on Thursday evenings. There's also a weekly show on Wednesday night, Ocrafolk Opry, featuring a variety of island musicians and storytellers. Detailed schedules and information about other special events are posted online, at the entrance to the theater and around the village. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and shows begin at 8. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $7 for children. Beach Jumper Marker on Loop Shack Hill Irvin Garrish Highway When driving to the village from the lifeguard beach, look for a large black granite marker on the right side of N.C. Highway 12 just before you reach the village boundary. Behind the marker, up past the dunes is an area of the island called Loop Shack Hill, the site of a little known WWII U.S. Navy project called the Beach Jumpers. This marker was installed in the fall of 2009 at a reunion of the U.S. Navy Beach Jumper Association held at Ocracoke to commemorate the island's participation in this top secret operation. The story of the Beach Jumpers has only come to light in recent years. In 1943, during WWII before the Naval Station was built on the island, Ocracoke hosted an advanced amphibious training base where tactical cover and deception units, precursors to the celebrated Navy Seals, were organized and trained for the U.S. Navy. This undercover military project was known as the Beach Jumpers and existed not only on Ocracoke but also in other prime locations along the East Coast. In addition to training, these tactical cover and deception units monitored hidden German submarine activity off the eastern coast of the United States during the war. As part of the project a facility was established at Loop Shack Hill to receive pulses from a magnetic cable that ran from Ocracoke to Buxton that indicated when underwater vessels, possibly German submarines, were in the area. Blackbeard Museum at Teach's Hole 935 Irvin Garrish Highway Since 1992 this shop and pirate exhibit has delighted visitors of all ages. The life-like re-creation of Blackbeard is a highlight of a museum also featuring weapons, old bottles, original art, pirate flags and hand-crafted models of Blackbeard's ships, Queen Anne's Revenge and Adventure. Take time to browse the exhibit, enjoy the history and shop for a pirate souvenir to take back home. Located across from the Variety Store, Blackbeard's large parking area is a nice convenience for guests. Teach's Hole is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day, and is closed on Sunday and Monday during the off season. Ocracoke Ponies and Pen 7669 Irvin Garrish Highway There are many theories about how ponies found their way to Ocracoke Island. Some say they arrived on English ships during 16th-century exploration, others say they were victims of Spanish shipwrecks and some say they were simply livestock for the locals. However they got here, the ponies roamed the island freely for at least two centuries and were very much a part of the island lifestyle in days gone by. The local Boy Scouts even rode them, making them the only mounted troop in the country. When N.C. Highway 12 was paved in 1957, cars and ponies began to collide. The National Park Service wanted to get rid of the entire herd, but the islanders protested and the Park Service agreed to contain some of the ponies on the island. In 1959, they developed the Ocracoke Pony Pens, a 180-acre pasture area that today houses about 24 ponies. Several ponies are rotated up to the front pasture so that visitors can always get a look at these unusual equines. The Ocracoke ponies have distinctive physical characteristics: five lumbar vertebrae instead of the six found in most horses, 17 ribs instead of 18 and a unique shape, posture, color, size and weight. The pens are located on N.C. 12 about 7 miles north of the village. It's free to visit, but donations are welcomed to help pay for the food and veterinary care of the ponies. Remember: The ponies are not tame, and they may try to kick or bite you if you try to feed or touch them. Also, remember that people food can be very dangerous for horses, so don't take the chance of making one of these wonderful creatures ill by offering chips or the rest of your sandwich. Hammock Hills Nature Trail Just across from the National Park Service's Ocracoke Campground, the Hammock Hills Nature Trail is a 3/4-mile trail through the island's maritime forest and salt marsh. It's a great trail for nature lovers and bird watchers, and there are informative signposts along the way. The hike takes about 30 minutes. There are parking places for several vehicles, or you can access the nature trail by foot or bicycle using the paved bike trail that starts at the village edge across from Howard's Pub. Be sure to bring along insect repellent—the trail is also popular with mosquitoes! National Park Service Ocracoke Island Visitor Center 38 Irvin Garrish Highway The majority of land on Ocracoke is part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and is publicly owned and administered by the National Park Service. The NPS Visitor Center, located at the southernmost end of N.C. Highway 12 near the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferry docks, is a clearinghouse for all types of island and national seashore information. You'll find an information desk, helpful staff, a bookshop, free maps, informational brochures and exhibits about the island and public restrooms. From Memorial Day through Labor Day three or four ranger-led programs are offered daily. The visitor center is open year-round. Springer's Point 100 Loop Road Springer's Point covers about 90 acres of maritime forest bordering Pamlico Sound near South Point. In 2002 after 10 years of research and negotiation, the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust purchased a 31-acre tract of this land and established a nature preserve. A high point of land overlooking the inlet, Springer's is believed to be the site of the earliest settlements on the island. Supposedly Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, met up with some fellow pirates here shortly before his 1718 death for several days of rum drinking, a pig roast, bonfires and music. He was discovered at his hangout in November and beheaded in a bloody battle. The deep hole just off the point is a popular fishing spot and still called "Teach's Hole." Today the preserve is available for more serene pleasures. A half-mile stroll along the groomed trail takes you among the gnarled and ancient live oaks and maritime evergreen forest to the water's edge, where a rookery of heron, egret and ibises can be spotted to the east. Along the trail visitors will see an old well, all which is left of a former home site. Also, take time to notice the amazing fences made of natural wood and vines. The inimitable Sam Jones, who once owned the property, is buried here, next to his horse. Parking is not available; you must walk or bike to access the property. Donations supporting maritime forest restoration can be made at the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Portsmouth Island Portsmouth Island, just across the inlet from Ocracoke Island, is an enchanting place to visit. This uninhabited island is rugged and remote, one of the last Atlantic coast islands that is free of development, thanks to its status as part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There is much to do on this island, all of it free and simple, filled with history and the allure of the natural world. On the north end of the island is a veritable ghost town known as Portsmouth Village. The village was once one of the largest settlements on the Outer Banks, though no one lives there now, save a caretaker. Portsmouth Village was established in 1753 on the shores of Ocracoke Inlet, and it was predominantly a "lightering" village. Large ships that used Ocracoke Inlet as a major trade route to the mainland would have to be unloaded to pass through the inlet and the shallow sounds and then reloaded as they found deeper waters. The residents of Portsmouth Village did the lightering of the load by moving goods to several smaller flatboats and then reloading the ships a ways down the water. A large community sprang up around this business, with a post office, a church, a school and many homes. In 1846 Hatteras Inlet opened in a hurricane and was deeper and safer than Ocracoke Inlet. The shipping route shifted to the north, and the Portsmouth villagers had to find other ways to make a living. Later, during the Civil War, many islanders fled to the mainland to avoid advancing Union troops and never came back after the war. Portsmouth Village's population continued to decline until there were only three residents left in 1970. In 1971, one of them died and the other two left the island reluctantly. In 1976 Portsmouth Village was saved when Cape Lookout National Seashore was established. The village is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the buildings have been restored, and visitors can enter the church, Coast Guard station, school house and post office for a peek at old island life. The interiors look as if the people have just left, and you can look into the windows of some old buildings and see the villagers' former belongings. There is also a visitor center in a restored house where you'll find restrooms and exhibits on the island's history. You can walk from the village to the beach, though it is a long walk so be prepared. The beach at Portsmouth Island is expansive and clean, and the shelling is outstanding. Conveniences are few on Portsmouth Island. Restrooms are available, but drinking water and food are not. Bring your own, plus sunscreen and insect repellent. The mosquitoes are voracious on Portsmouth Island. The island is only accessible by boat. Tours to Portsmouth are available through Rudy and Donald Austin. Their number is (252) 928-4361 or (252) 928- 5431. Share on Facebook.Share on Twitter.Share on Google+Share on LinkedInPin It!Share on StumbleUpon Now taking reservations. Blackbeard’s Lodge CALL (800) 892-5314 OR (252) 928-3421 FOR GREAT MID-WEEK SPECIALS! BLACKBEARD’S LODGE • PO BOX 298 • 111 BACK ROAD • OCRACOKE, NC 27960. ©2017 Blackbeard's Lodge – All Rights Reserved. Website Design by Outer Banks Media.

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/ go / 14 FACTS ABOUT THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS 14 Facts About The Pitcairn Islands Bounty Bay Harbour / Copyright Andrew Randall Christian The UK announced the creation of the world's largest marine reserve around the British overseas territory of the Pitcairn Islands last week. To celebrate, we have drawn a list of 14 things you didn’t know about the Pitcairn Islands 1 The Pitcairn Islands consist of four islands, Ducie, Henderson, Oeno, and Pitcairn. 2 Only the second-largest island, Pitcairn, is inhabited. It has a population of 56, all men and women who are direct descendents of the Bounty mutineers and the Tahitians they brought with them in 1789. 3 While all islanders speak English, their first language is Pitkern, a creole language that has derived from 18-century English dialects and Tahitian. 4 The Pitcairns make up a total land area of just about 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi). The fastest way to travel around Pitcairn is by quad-bike or foot and you can view some of the footpaths of Pitcairn on Google Streetview. 5 The volcanic islands are are situated in the central South Pacific and are one of the world's most remote island groups, with the Gambier Group of French Polynesia lying 390km to the west and Easter Island (1,900km) and Salas y Gómez (2,300 km) to the east. 6 The mutineers re-discovered Pitcairn Island by chance after it had been misplaced on Royal Navy charts. 7 Shortly after their settlement the men and women set fire to the HMS Bounty. 8 In contrast to the islands low population, the flora and fauna on the islands is abundant. 1,249 known species, including 365 species of fish, 22 species of whales and dolphins and two species of sea turtles live on the islands. Two of the fish species found here are endemic to the islands, the Henderson triplefin (Enneapterygius ornatus) and the many-spined butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys multispinosus). 9 The Pitcairn waters are in a near-pristine condition. In fact, the clarity of the water allows corals to grow at depths greater than expected in Pacific reefs. 10 At some sites, visibility can reach a staggering 75 metres. 11 The area is also home to the world’s deepest living plant known to man - a species of encrusting coralline algae. 12 The newly created Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve encompasses 834,334 square kilometres (322,138 square miles) and will protect one of the two remaining raises coral atolls. 13 40 Mile Reef is the deepest and most well-developed coral reef on record. 14 The sea surrounding the Pitcairns boast 69 seamounts, underwater mountains formed by submarine volcanoes. Share eco NEW MARINE RESERVE FOR PITCAIRN ISLANDS eco CORAL TROUT THRIVE IN MARINE PARK eco ASCENSION ISLAND TO BECOME MARINE RESERVE eco ROBOT PATROL eco VAST OCEAN RESERVE ANNOUNCED eco CHILE TO CREATE EASTER ISLAND MARINE PARK More TRAVEL items like this... EGYPT'S DIVE CENTRES STRUGGLING SAUDI'S UNTOUCHED REEFS 12 ARTIFICIAL REEFS AROUND THE WORLD 12 BEST PLACES TO SEE MANTAS 12 BEST PLACES TO SEE WHALE SHARKS 14 FACTS ABOUT THE PITCAIRN ISLANDS 20% OFF TRAVEL INSURANCE 20TH ANNIVERSARY PRINT EDITION 5 LIVEABOARDS FOR THRILLSEEKERS 5 Polar Expeditions

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Museum Of Islamic Art in Qatar The Museum of Islamic Art is, in my opinion, one of the best and most gorgeous architectural treasures of Doha. As a matter of fact, I find it hard to imagine the city’s Corniche without this magnificent landmark standing grandly on its private island. Deemed as one of Doha’s most recognized and prized landmarks, the museum’s image has been featured in countless television commercials, postcards and books, thanks to its dazzling design and beauty. While the MIA is relatively new (established in 2008), it has quickly become an emblem of the architectural landscape in Qatar. A captivating architectural design The MIA was designed by the internationally renowned award-winning Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (also called as I.M. Pei). Fondly nicknamed as the “master of modernist architecture”, I.M. Pei was also the brains behind the stunning glass pyramid landmark in Louvre’s forecourt. With his creative genius, I.M. Pei was able to majestically design the Museum of Islamic Art, and put Doha on the map as a cultural epicenter. photo by Jan Smith The museum on its own is a marvelous work of art. Even I.M. Pei defines his work as a lovely piece of sculpture. A fascinating blend of traditional Islamic and modern styles, the MIA is an imposing white edifice designed with cubic shapes and geometric patterns. To protect the MIA against the harsh climate of the region, Pei opted to overlay the building with Shamisen stone, a type of stone in France that could resist sea water and the sun’s heat. Furthermore, he placed a crescent cape in the museum’s front, to add more protection to the building from the sea. As for the interior, I.M. Pei adored it with Brazilian lacewood and Porphyry Stone. A mesmerizing display of exhibits Its unique and eye-catching design, however, is not the only reason tourists flock to the Museum of Islamic Art. After all, it is an exhibit area meant to showcase the artifacts and art masterpieces that the Al Thanis, the Royal Family in Qatar, have been collecting for a number of years. Trust me, a visit to this museum is an absolute feast to your eyes. As you make your way inside this treasure vault, you will be able to catch sight of a vast and wonderful collection of exhibits, including weaponry, textiles, jewelry, glass, manuscripts and ceramics. Likewise, the museum displays 600-year old artifacts of silk and ivory inscribed with Arabic and Islamic texts. As far as I’m concerned, the visual highlights of the Museum of Islamic Art are Shah Jahan’s jade pendant, the pages of Ancient Quran, and the Book of Secrets. Enter your email address to get job updates in Qatar: Next post: Top 5 Things To Do In Qatar Previous post: Aspire Zone Sporting Complex in Qatar

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Too Close for Comfort: Thailand’s Tiger Temple By Krista Mahr @kristamahrSept. 21, 2010 Share Everybody makes ill-informed decisions. This photograph, taken at a popular tourist stop in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, is a testament to a recent one of mine. Photos like these are the bread and butter of the so-called “Tiger Temple,” a sprawling monastery-cum-wildlife-sanctuary a few hours outside Bangkok, which functions both as a draw for tourist dollars and a home to over 70 tigers and other animals roaming the grounds. Correction: The tigers aren’t exactly roaming. The tigers I saw during my visit were all chained, so that in the afternoons, paying visitors like yours truly can sign a quick waiver and dish over 500 baht — $16, roughly the equivalent of a (legal) massage in Bangkok — to get up close and personal with the tigers at the “Tiger Canyon.” There, the animals are chained up and trained to sit quietly while tourists pose next to them. For an extra 1000 baht ($32), you can get your picture taken sitting on a tiger’s back, etc. As Bryan wrote here last week, wild tiger populations across the globe are in dismal shape. Though by some estimates there are over 10,000 tigers in captivity in the U.S. alone, there are less than 3,500 wild tigers in the entire world today. Their numbers have suffered from habitat loss, loss of prey from human hunting, and poaching for their skins, body parts and bones, which are used for medicinal purposes. The same day I visited the temple, an article ran in the Bangkok Post that an enormous wildlife trafficking ring was broken up in Hanoi, a hub for the illegal wildlife trade in Asia. Over 1300 pounds of rare animal bones, including tiger and elephant bones, were confiscated in the raid. The Tiger Temple’s past – and, according to critics, its present — is also linked with the lucrative tiger trade. According to the organization, the first tiger cub arrived at the monastery in 1999 after her mother was killed by poachers near the Thai-Burma border. The cub, too, had been sold to a businessman to be stuffed, but for whatever reason, was delivered to the temple instead, which had started to gain a reputation for collecting injured animals. That first cub died, but other cubs were later delivered from the hands of poachers to the temple. From those first few rescues, as the story goes, the tiger population has grown to 75 tigers living at the temple today. To the temple’s critics, however, that population growth is a problem, chiefly because they say the temple is employing tactics which are illegal. A controversial report released in 2008 by Care for the Wild International (CWI) concluded: Although the Tiger Temple may have begun as a rescue centre for tigers, it has become a breeding centre to produce and keep tigers solely for the tourists and therefore the Temple’s benefit. Illegal international trafficking helps to maintain the Temples’ captive tiger population. There is no possibility of the Temples’ breeding programme contributing to the conservation of the species in the wild. The report claims, among other things, that the temple has illegally traded its tigers with tiger breeders in Laos to mix up the temple’s genetic pool, and that the temple does not have appropriate permission to breed tigers on property or enough information about the tigers origins or genetic makeup to meet international criteria for aiding tigers’ conservation. The report also writes the tigers are at risk of malnourishment and routinely handled too roughly by staff. The temple has denied wrongdoing or mistreatment of the animals. Why are the temple’s tigers so tolerant of humans hanging around them? Despite rumors, CWI did not find any evidence of the tigers’ being drugged to stay docile for the tourists, nor has there been any other hard evidence found to indicate drugs are used. On the day that I visited, I asked Archie Ezekiel, a Canadian backpacker and volunteer at the temple, why the tigers seemed so mellow. He said, in line with the temple’s literature, that the tigers had just been fed (chicken and vitamin supplements) and were taking their regular afternoon snooze. “No matter what you do with animals there’s going to be controversy,” Ezekiel said. In the afternoon, he told me, there is a special session when visitors can observe cubs playing outside in less restrictive conditions. “There is no way you can tell me those animals are drugged.” When I asked if he felt like this was a positive place for tiger conservation, Ezekiel said given the shrinking numbers of tigers in the wild, he did. “If this is what we have to do for people to see these amazing animals, then I’m all for it.” But perception is everything, and places that put tigers on display as tame creatures could actually be damaging their cause. Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach, the wildlife veterinary program officer of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, writes in an email: “Breeding tigers to such numbers in captivity might lead to the misconception that there are plenty of tigers, and protection of those dangerous tigers in the wild is not required anymore.” Schmidt-Burbach, who is based in Bangkok and has visited the temple himself, goes on to say: I do not see how cuddling tigers could be an effective conservation measure…In my opinion, there is a valid threat in making tigers appear sweet and harmless; in real life they would not be, and any news on human-tiger conflict situation would cause adverse reactions by demonizing those wild tigers, making tamed captive tigers appear as the ‘better’ tigers. It’s undeniable that it was striking to see the tigers so close. They are gorgeous, strong and scary. But knowing that in the abstract — or at the least from behind some fence — is more than enough. Some human-tiger incidents have been reported at the temple and other places like it, but nothing disastrous has happened yet. When and if it does, unfortunately, it’s the tigers that are very likely going to pay for it. Perhaps naively, I didn’t really feel like I was in danger that day posing with the tigers. But I do have a moral hangover from the whole thing. As somebody who tries to avoid zoos, I personally found the spectacle of tigers on chains a little depressing, a feeling that was confirmed when I watched a staffer swat a beautiful cub on the nose. It wasn’t a hard swat, but there was something out of the natural order about watching a human discipline a tiger for a photo op. I guess that’s why this kind of role reversal is usually a circus act – and not an act of conservation.

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Senior Moments – Week of February 3rd SHREWSBURY, Massachusetts – I’m an armchair mountain climber and it’s all my son’s fault because he introduced me to that sport by giving me a book entitled “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, about the disastrous scaling of Mt. Everest in 1996. Since then I’ve read of many other encounters with peaks in the Himalayas and elsewhere, as well as pilgrimages and retreats to Hindu and Buddhist sites throughout Asia. It’s interesting, but the one thing I can’t understand is how so many intelligent, educated, seemingly responsible married men or women can desert their families for months on end in the search of adventure or spirituality or whatever it is they’re chasing. I don’t get it. When George Mallory astutely said “because it’s there” when asked why he was a mountain climber I get it, and when men like the famous author and Trappist monk Thomas Merton spent years in solitude to find grace, or when Henry David Thoreau “went to the woods to live deliberately, and see what it had to teach,” I get that too. They at least were unmarried so no one was adversely affected by their absences. Books abound on mountain climbing and while most of the expeditions are successful, they’re still fraught with dangers and setbacks due to unforeseen snow storms, avalanches, illnesses, and constant problems with the sherpa guides and porters. Delays of weeks are common, and once a trek to the summit is begun there’s no turning back unless success is deemed impossible, a very rare occurrence due to the amount of preparation, time, and money invested. In one book called “The Snow Leopard,” the author had promised that he’d return in time for his young son’s birthday, but when events on the mountain prevented the climber from getting back in time he just shrugged it off as one of the hazards of climbing. When reading that I wondered how casually his son took the disappointment. In the ill-fated climb of 1996 mentioned above, one of the fatalities was the head guide of the tour whose young wife, left alone in New Zealand, was pregnant at the time. One of the survivors was a Texas pathologist who suffered severe hypothermia and frostbite, ultimately losing an arm, all fingers, parts of both feet, and his nose. Can you imagine performing autopsies without hands? Nine in all died on that climb, a mere drop in the bucket compared with the hundreds from all over the world who have perished reaching for the sky. Though hardly as dangerous, there are accounts of people who just left their families to fend for themselves while they went in search of inner peace. A book about the Dalai Lama also mentioned an American woman who left her husband and child to live with the Lama in exile as one of his disciples. It’s inconceivable to me that a mother would do such a thing, and I also found it surprising that the Lama allowed her to stay. In another story, a man left his pregnant wife back in the States while he spent several months at an Ashram in India, searching for tranquility and contentment. What a crock. The guy obviously shirked his duties and his wife was a fool for letting him go. The most ridiculous of all was the tale of a guy who couldn’t afford to travel so he meditated alone in his room for 3 months, only coming out for meals while his family had to observe total silence throughout. If I tried that, my wife would poison me the first night, and rightfully so. Sure, at times everyone dreams of running away to exotic lands to slay dragons and live carefree but a sense of responsibility always wins out before we get started. It’s not that we’re afraid or lack an adventurous spirit, we’re just not that selfish. Maybe as a youth in my next incarnation I’ll sail to Tahiti or pan for gold in the Yukon or fly to Mars like Buck Rogers, but right now I’m content to climb Everest while sitting in my living room, and then to eat a hot meal when my wife calls. And no… she doesn’t keep quiet either. Spencer Did you like this article? Share it with your friends by clicking one of the icons below...TweetShare this:GoogleFacebookEmailTwitter A few Select Shrewsbury Listings

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